,the ,works of the ,reverend ,george ,whitefield1 ,m4,a4 ,transcriber's ,notes ,punctuation has been standardized4 ,most of the abbreviations used to save space in printing have been expanded to the non-abbreviated form for easier reading4 ,the text is inconsistent in its usage of quotation marks4 ,the transcriber has attempted to make their use consistent throughout this work for improved readability4 ,characters in small caps have been replaced by all caps4 ,non-printable characteristics have been given the following ,italic text3 -- text emphasized text within italics -- text ,this book was written in a period when many words had not become standardized in their spelling4 ,words may have multiple spelling variations or inconsistent hyphenation in the text4 ,these have been left unchanged unless indicated with a ,transcriber's ,note4 ,footnotes are identified in the text with a superscript number and are shown immediately below the paragraph in which they appear4 ,transcriber's ,notes are used when making corrections to the text or to provide additional information for the modern reader4 ,these notes are identified by symbols in the text and are shown immediately below the paragraph in which they appear4 ,,the ,,works ,,of ,,the ,,reverend ,,george ,,whitefield1 ,m4,a4 ,late of ,,pembroke-,,college1 ,,oxford1 ,and ,chaplain to the ,right ,honourable1 the ,countess of ,,huntingdon4 ,,containing ,all his ,,sermons and ,,tracts ,which have been already published3 ,,with ,a ,,select ,,collection of ,,letters1 ,written to his most intimate ,friends1 and ,persons of ,distinction1 in ,england1 ,scotland1 ,ireland1 and ,america1 from the ,year #agcd1 to #aggj1 including the whole ,period of his ,ministry4 ,,also ,some other ,,pieces on ,,important ,,subjects1 never before printed2 prepared by ,himself for the ,press4 ,to which is prefixed1 ,an ,,account of his ,,life1 ,compiled from his ,original ,,papers and ,,letters4 ,,volume ,v4 ,,london3 ,printed for ,,edward and ,,charles ,,dilly1 in the ,poultry2 and ,messrs4 ,,kincaid and ,,creech1 at ,edinburgh4 ,,mdcclxxii4 ,,contents4 ,the ,sermons marked with a 991 are now first published from the ,author's own ,manuscripts4 8,seamons0 replaced with 8,sermons0 ,,sermon ,i4 ,the ,seed of the ,woman1 and the ,seed of the ,serpent4 ,,genesis iii4 #e4 ,and ,i will put enmity between thee and the woman1 and between thy seed and her seed2 it shall bruise thy head1 and thou shalt bruise his heel4 ,,sermon ,,ii4 ,walking with ,god4 ,,genesis v4 #bd4 ,and ,enoch walked with ,god1 and he was not1 for ,god took him4 ,,sermon ,,iii4 ,abraham's offering up his ,son ,isaac4 ,,genesis xxii4 #ab4 ,and he said1 ,lay not thine hand upon the lad1 neither do thou any thing unto him2 for now ,i know that thou fearest ,god1 seeing thou hast not withheld thy son1 thine only son from me4 ,,sermon ,,iv4 ,the great ,duty of ,family-,religion4 ,,joshua xxiv4 #ae4 ,as for me and my house1 we will serve the ,lord4 ,,sermon ,v4 ,christ the best ,husband3 or1 an earnest ,invitation to ,young ,women to come and see ,christ4 ,preached to a ,society of ,young ,women1 in ,fetter-,lane4 ,,psalm xlv4 #aj1 #aa4 ,hearken1 ,o daughter1 and consider1 and incline thine ear3 forget also thine own people1 and thy father's house3 so shall the ,king greatly desire thy beauty2 for he is thy ,lord1 and worship thou him4 ,,sermon ,,vi4 ,britain's ,mercies1 and ,britain's ,duty4 ,preached at ,philadelphia1 on ,sunday1 ,august #bd1 #agdf1 and occasioned by the ,suppression of the late unnatural ,rebellion4 ,,psalm cv4 #de4 ,that they might observe his statutes and keep his laws4 ,,sermon ,,vii4 ,thankfulness for ,mercies received1 a necessary ,duty4 ,a ,farewel ,sermon1 preached on board the ,whitaker1 at ,anchor near ,savannah1 in ,georgia1 ,sunday1 ,may #ag1 #agch4 ,,psalm cvii4 #cj1 #ca4 ,then are they glad1 because they are at rest1 and so he bringeth them unto the haven where they would be4 ,o that men would therefore praise the ,lord for his goodness1 and declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of men6 ,,sermon ,,viii4 ,the ,necessity and ,benefits of ,religious ,society4 ,,ecclesiastes iv4 #i1 #aj1 #aa1 #ab4 ,two are better than one1 because they have a good reward for their labour4 ,for if they fall1 the one will lift up his fellow3 but woe be to him that is alone when he falleth2 for he hath not another to help him up4 ,again if two lie together1 then they have heat2 but how can one be warm alone8 ,and if one prevail against him1 two shall withstand him2 and a threefold cord is not quickly broken4 ,,sermon ,,ix4 ,the ,folly and ,danger of not being righteous enough4 ,,ecclesiastes vii4 #af4 ,be not righteous over-much1 neither make thyself over-wise3 why shouldst thou destroy thyself8 ,,sermon ,x4 ,a ,preservative against unsettled ,notions1 and want of ,principles1 in regard to ,righteousness and ,christian ,perfection4 ,being a more particular ,answer to ,doctor ,trapp's four ,sermons upon the same ,text4 ,,ecclesiastes vii4 #af4 ,be not righteous over-much1 neither make thyself over-wise3 why shouldst thou destroy thyself8 ,,sermon ,,xi4 ,the ,benefits of an early ,piety4 ,preached at ,bow ,church1 ,london1 before the ,religious ,societies4 ,,ecclesiastes xii4 #a4 ,remember now thy ,creator in the days of thy youth4 ,,sermon ,,xii4 ,christ the ,believer's ,husband4 ,,isaiah liv4 #e4 ,for thy ,maker is thy husband4 99,,sermon ,,xiii4 ,the ,potter and the ,clay4 ,,jeremiah xviii4 #af4 ,the word which came to ,jeremiah from the ,lord1 saying1 ,arise and go down to the potter's house1 and there ,i will cause thee to hear my words4 ,then ,i went down to the potter's house1 and behold1 he wrought a work on the wheels4 ,and the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hands of the potter1 so he made it again another vessel1 as seemed good to the potter to make it4 ,then the word of the ,lord came to me1 saying1 ,o house of ,israel1 cannot ,i do with you as this potter8 saith the ,lord4 ,behold1 as the clay is in the potter's hand1 so are ye in mine hand1 ,o house of ,israel4 ,,sermon ,,xiv4 ,the ,lord our ,righteousness4 ,,jeremiah xxiii4 #f4 ,the ,lord our righteousness4 99,,sermon ,,xv4 ,the ,righteousness of ,christ an everlasting ,righteousness4 ,,daniel ix4 #bd4 ,and to bring in everlasting righteousness4 ,,sermon ,,xvi4 ,the ,observation of the ,birth of ,christ1 the ,duty of all ,christians2 or the true ,way of keeping ,christmas4 ,,matthew i4 #ba4 ,and she shall bring forth a son1 and thou shalt call his name ,jesus3 for he shall save his people from their sins4 99,,sermon ,,xvii4 ,the ,temptation of ,christ4 ,,matthew iv4 #aaa4 ,then was ,jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness1 to be tempted of the devil1 c4 ,,sermon ,,xviii4 ,the ,heinous ,sin of profane ,cursing and ,swearing4 ,,matthew v4 #cd4 ,but ,i say unto you1 ,swear not at all4 ,,sermon ,,xix4 ,christ the ,support of the ,tempted4 ,,matthew vi4 #ac4 ,lead us not into temptation4 ,,sermon ,,xx4 ,worldly ,business no ,plea for the ,neglect of ,religion4 ,,matthew viii4 #bb4 ,let the dead bury their dead4 ,,sermon ,,xxi4 ,christ the only ,rest for the ,weary and ,heavy ,laden4 ,,matthew xi4 #bh4 ,come unto me1 all ye that are weary and heavy laden1 and ,i will give you rest4 ,,sermon ,,xxii4 ,the ,folly and ,danger of parting with ,christ for the ,pleasures and ,profits of ,life4 ,,matthew viii4 #bc1 to the ,end4 ,and when he was entered into a ship1 his disciples followed him1 c4 99,,sermon ,,xxiii4 ,marks of a ,true ,conversion4 ,,matthew xviii4 #c4 ,verily1 ,i say unto you1 except ye be converted1 and become as little children1 ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven4 ,,sermon ,,xxiv4 ,what think ye of ,christ8 ,,matthew xxii4 #db4 ,what think ye of ,christ8 ,,sermon ,,xxv4 ,the wise and foolish ,virgins4 ,,matthew xxv4 #ac4 ,watch therefore1 for ye know neither the day nor the hour in which the ,son of man cometh4 ,,sermon ,,xxvi4 ,the ,eternity of ,hell-,torments4 ,,matthew xxv4 #df4 ,these shall go away into everlasting punishment4 ,,sermon ,,xxvii4 ,blind ,bartimeus4 ,,mark x4 #eb4 ,and ,jesus said unto him1 ,go thy way2 thy faith hath made thee whole4 ,and immediately he received his sight1 and followed ,jesus in the way4 ,,sermon ,,xxviii4 ,directions how to hear ,sermons4 ,,luke viii4 #ah4 ,take heed1 therefore1 how ye hear4 ,,sermon ,,xxix4 ,the ,extent and ,reasonableness of ,self-,denial4 ,,luke ix4 #bc4 ,and he said unto them all1 ,if any man will come after me1 let him deny himself4 99,,sermon ,,xxx4 ,christ's ,transfiguration4 ,,luke ix4 #bhcf4 ,and it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings1 he took ,peter and ,john and ,james1 and went up into a mountain to pray1 c4 ,,sermon ,,xxxi4 ,the ,care of the ,soul urged as the one thing needful4 ,,luke x4 #db4 ,but one thing is needful4 ,,sermon ,i4 ,the ,seed of the ,woman1 and the ,seed of the ,serpent4 ,,genesis iii4 #ae4 ,and ,i will put ,enmity between thee and the ,woman1 and between thy ,seed and her ,seed2 it shall bruise thy ,head1 and thou shalt bruise his ,heel4 ,,on reading to you these words1 ,i may address you in the language of the holy angels to the shepherds1 that were watching their flocks by night2 8,behold1 ,i bring you glad tidings of great joy40 ,for this is the first promise that was made of a ,saviour to the apostate race of ,adam4 ,we generally look for ,,christ only in the ,new ,testament2 but christianity1 in one sense1 is very near as old as the creation4 ,it is wonderful to observe how gradually ,,god revealed his ,son to mankind4 ,he began with the promise in the text1 and this the elect lived upon1 till the time of ,abraham4 ,to him1 ,,god made further discoveries of his eternal council concerning man's redemption4 ,afterwards1 at sundry times1 and in divers manners1 ,,god spoke to the fathers by the prophets1 till at length the ,,lord ,,jesus himself was manifested in flesh1 and came and tabernacled amongst us4 ,this first promise must certainly be but dark to our first parents1 in comparison of that great light which we enjoy3 ,and yet1 dark as it was1 we may assure ourselves they built upon it their hopes of everlasting salvation1 and by that faith were saved4 ,how they came to stand in need of this promise1 and what is the extent and meaning of it1 ,i intend1 ,,god willing1 to make the subject-matter of your present meditation4 ,the fall of man is written in too legible characters not to be understood3 ,those that deny it1 by their denying1 prove it4 ,the very heathens confessed1 and bewailed it3 ,they could see the streams of corruption running through the whole race of mankind1 but could not trace them to the fountain-head4 ,before ,,god gave a revelation of his ,son1 man was a riddle to himself4 ,and ,moses unfolds more1 in this one chapter 7out of which the text is taken7 than all mankind could have been capable of finding out of themselves1 though they had studied to all eternity4 ,in the preceding chapter he had given us a full account1 how ,,god spoke the world into being2 and especially how he formed man of the dust of the earth1 and breathed into him the breath of life1 so that he became a living soul4 ,a council of the ,trinity was called concerning the formation of this lovely creature4 ,the result of that council was1 8,let us make man in our image1 after our likeness4 ,so ,,god created man in his own image1 in the image of ,,god created he him40 ,moses remarkably repeats these words1 that we might take particular notice of our divine ,original4 ,never was so much expressed in so few words3 ,none but a man inspired could have done so4 ,but it is remarkable1 that though ,moses mentions our being made in the image of ,,god1 yet he mentions it but twice1 and that in a transient manner2 as though he would have said1 8man was made in honour1 ,,god made him upright1 #8in the image of ,,god1 male and female created he them4' ,but man so soon fell1 and became like the beasts that perish1 nay1 like the devil himself1 that it is scarce worth mentioning40 ,how soon man fell after he was created1 is not told us2 and therefore1 to fix any time1 is to be wise above what is written4 ,and1 ,i think1 they who suppose that man fell the same day in which he was made1 have no sufficient ground for their opinion4 ,the many things which are crouded together in the former chapter1 such as the formation of ,adam's wife1 his giving names to the beasts1 and his being put into the garden which ,,god had planted1 ,i think require a longer space of time than a day to be transacted in4 ,however1 all agree in this1 8man stood not long40 ,how long1 or how short a while1 ,i will not take upon me to determine4 ,it more concerns us to enquire1 how he came to fall from his stedfastness1 and what was the rise and progress of the temptation which prevailed over him4 ,the account given us in this chapter concerning it1 is very full2 and it may do us much service1 under ,,god1 to make some remarks upon it4 8,now the serpent 7says the sacred historian7 was more subtile than any beast of the field which the ,,lord ,,god had made2 and he said unto the woman1 ,yea1 hath ,,god said1 ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden80 ,though this was a real serpent1 yet he that spoke was no other than the devil2 from hence1 perhaps1 called the old serpent1 because he took possession of the serpent when he came to beguile our first parents4 ,the devil envied the happiness of man1 who was made1 as some think1 to supply the place of the fallen angels4 ,,god made man upright1 and with full power to stand if he would3 ,he was just1 therefore1 in suffering him to be tempted4 ,if he fell1 he had no one to blame except himself4 ,but how must satan effect his fall8 ,he cannot do it by his power1 he attempts it therefore by policy3 he takes possession of a serpent1 which was more subtile than all the beasts of the field1 which the ,,lord ,,god had made2 so that men who are full of subtilty1 but have no piety1 are only machines for the devil to work upon1 just as he pleases4 8,and he said unto the woman40 ,here is an instance of his subtilty4 ,he says unto the woman1 the weaker vessel1 and when she was alone from her husband1 and therefore was more liable to be overcome2 8,yea1 hath ,,god said1 ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden80 ,these words are certainly spoken in answer to something which the devil either saw or heard4 ,in all probability1 the woman was now near the tree of knowledge of good and evil2 7for we shall find her1 by and by1 plucking an apple from it7 perhaps she might be looking at1 and wondering what there was in that tree more than the others1 that she and her husband should be forbidden to taste of it4 ,satan seeing this1 and coveting to draw her into a parley with him1 7for if the devil can persuade us not to resist1 but to commune with him1 he hath gained a great point7 he says1 8,yea1 hath ,,god said1 ye shall not eat of every tree in the garden80 ,the first thing he does is to persuade her1 if possible1 to entertain hard thoughts of ,,god2 this is his general way of dealing with ,,god's children3 8,yea1 hath ,,god said1 ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden8 ,what6 hath ,,god planted a garden1 and placed you in the midst of it1 only to teaze and perplex you8 hath he planted a garden1 and yet forbid you making use of any of the fruits of it at all80 ,it was impossible for him to ask a more insnaring question1 in order to gain his end3 for ,eve was here seemingly obliged to answer1 and vindicate ,,god's goodness4 ,and therefore1 ,verse #b1 #c4 ,the woman said unto the serpent1 8,we may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden3 ,but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden1 ,,god hath said1 ye shall not eat of it1 neither shall ye touch it1 lest ye die40 ,the former part of the answer was good1 8,we may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden1 ,,god has not forbid us eating of every tree of the garden4 ,no2 we may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden 7and1 it should seem1 even of the tree of life1 which was as a sacrament to man in a state of innocence7 there is only one tree in the midst of the garden1 of which ,,god hath said1 ye shall not eat of it1 neither shall ye touch it1 lest ye die40 ,here she begins to warp1 and sin begins to conceive in her heart4 ,already she has contracted some of the serpent's poison1 by talking with him1 which she ought not to have done at all4 ,for she might easily suppose1 that it could be no good being1 that could put such a question unto her1 and insinuate such dishonourable thoughts of ,,god4 ,she should therefore have fled from him1 and not stood to have parleyed with him at all4 ,immediately the ill effects of it appear1 she begins to soften the divine threatning4 ,,god had said1 8the day thou eatest thereof1 thou shalt surely die20 or1 dying thou shalt die4 ,but ,eve says1 8,ye shall not eat of it1 neither shall ye touch it1 lest ye die40 ,we may be assured we are fallen into1 and begin to fall by temptation1 when we begin to think ,,god will not be as good as his word1 in respect to the execution of his threatnings denounced against sin4 ,satan knew this1 and therefore artfully 8,said unto the woman1 7verse #d47 ,ye shall not surely die10 in an insinuating manner1 8,ye shall not surely die4 ,surely1 ,,god will not be so cruel as to damn you only for eating an apple1 it cannot be40 ,alas6 how many does ,satan lead captive at his will1 by flattering them1 that they shall not surely die2 that hell-torments will not be eternal2 that ,,god is all mercy2 that he therefore will not punish a few years sin with an eternity of misery8 ,but ,eve found ,,god as good as his word2 and so will all they who go on in sin1 under a false hope that they shall not surely die4 ,we may also understand the words spoken positively1 and this is agreeable to what follows2 ,you shall not surely die2 8,it is all a delusion1 a mere bugbear1 to keep you in a servile subjection40 ,for 7verse #e47 8,,god doth know1 that in the day ye eat thereof1 then shall your eyes be opened1 and ye shall be as gods1 knowing good and evil40 ,what child of ,,god can expect to escape slander1 when ,,god himself was thus slandered even in paradise8 ,surely the understanding of ,eve must have been1 in some measure1 blinded1 or she would not have suffered the tempter to speak such perverse things4 ,in what odious colours is ,,god here represented6 8,,god doth know1 that in the day ye eat thereof1 ye shall be as gods10 7equal with ,,god47 ,so that the grand temptation was1 that they should be hereafter under no controul1 equal1 if not superior1 to ,,god that made them1 knowing good and evil4 ,eve could not tell what ,satan meant by this2 but1 to be sure1 she understood it of some great privilege which they were to enjoy4 ,and thus ,satan now points out a way which seems right to sinners1 but does not tell them the end of that way is death4 ,to give strength and force to this temptation1 in all probability1 ,satan1 or the serpent1 at this time plucked an apple from the tree1 and ate it before ,eve2 by which ,eve might be induced to think1 that the sagacity and power of speech1 which the serpent had above the other beasts1 must be owing1 in a great measure1 to his eating that fruit2 and1 therefore1 if he received so much improvement1 she might also expect a like benefit from it4 ,all this1 ,i think1 is clear2 for1 otherwise1 ,i do not see with what propriety it could be said1 8,when the woman saw that it was good for food40 ,how could she know it was good for food1 unless she had seen the serpent feed upon it8 ,satan now begins to get ground apace4 ,lust had conceived in ,eve's heart2 shortly it will bring forth sin4 ,sin being conceived1 brings forth death4 ,verse #f4 8,and when the woman saw that the tree was good for food1 and that it was pleasant to the eyes1 and a tree to be desired to make one wise1 she took of the fruit thereof1 and did eat1 and gave also unto her husband1 and he did eat40 ,our senses are the landing ports of our spiritual enemies4 ,how needful is that resolution of holy ,job1 8,i have made a covenant with mine eyes60 ,when ,eve began to gaze on the forbidden fruit with her eyes1 she soon began to long after it with her heart4 ,when she saw that it was good for food1 and pleasant to the eyes1 7here was the lust of the flesh1 and lust of the eye7 but1 above all1 a tree to be desired to make one wise1 wiser than ,,god would have her be1 nay1 as wise as ,,god himself2 she took of the fruit thereof1 and gave also unto her husband with her1 and he did eat4 ,as soon as ever she sinned herself1 she turned tempter to her husband4 ,it is dreadful1 when those1 who should be help-meets for each other in the great work of their salvation1 are only promoters of each other's damnation3 but thus it is4 ,if we ourselves are good1 we shall excite others to goodness2 if we do evil1 we shall entice others to do evil also4 ,there is a close connection between doing and teaching4 ,how needful then is it for us all to take heed that we do not sin any way ourselves1 lest we should become factors for the devil1 and insnare1 perhaps1 our nearest and dearest relatives8 8she gave also unto her husband with her1 and he did eat40 ,alas6 what a complication of crimes was there in this one single act of sin6 ,here is an utter disbelief of ,,god's threatning2 the utmost ingratitude to their ,maker1 who had so lately planted this garden1 and placed them in it1 with such a glorious and comprehensive charter4 ,and1 the utmost neglect of their posterity1 who they knew were to stand or fall with them4 ,here was the utmost pride of heart3 they wanted to be equal with ,,god4 ,here's the utmost contempt put upon his threatning and his law3 the devil is credited and obeyed before him1 and all this only to satisfy their sensual appetite4 ,never was a crime of such a complicated nature committed by any here below3 ,nothing but the devil's apostasy and rebellion could equal it4 ,and what are the consequences of their disobedience8 ,are their eyes opened8 ,yes1 their eyes are opened2 but1 alas6 it is only to see their own nakedness4 ,for we are told 7verse #g47 8,that the eyes of them both were opened1 and they knew that they were naked40 ,naked of ,,god1 naked of every thing that was holy and good1 and destitute of the divine image1 which they before enjoyed4 ,they might rightly now be termed ,ichabod2 for the glory of the ,,lord departed from them4 ,o how low did these sons of the morning then fall6 out of ,,god1 into themselves2 from being partakers of the divine nature1 into the nature of the devil and the beast4 ,well1 therefore1 might they know that they were naked1 not only in body1 but in soul4 ,and how do they behave now they are naked8 ,do they flee to ,,god for pardon8 ,do they seek to ,,god for a robe to cover their nakedness8 ,no1 they were now dead to ,,god1 and became earthly1 sensual1 devilish3 therefore1 instead of applying to ,,god for mercy1 8they sewed or platted fig-leaves together1 and made themselves aprons10 or things to gird about them4 ,this is a lively representation of all natural men3 we see that we are naked3 we1 in some measure1 confess it2 but1 instead of looking up to ,,god for succour1 we patch up a righteousness of our own 7as our first-parents platted fig-leaves together7 hoping to cover our nakedness by that4 ,but our righteousness will not stand the severity of ,,god's judgment3 it will do us no more service than the fig-leaves did ,adam and ,eve1 that is1 none at all4 ,for 7verse #h47 8,they heard the voice of the ,,lord ,,god walking in the trees of the garden1 in the cool of the day2 and ,adam and his wife 7notwithstanding their fig-leaves7 hid themselves from the presence of the ,,lord ,,god1 among the trees of the garden40 ,they heard the voice of the ,,lord ,,god1 or the ,word of the ,,lord ,,god1 even the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 who is 8the word that was with ,,god1 and the word that was ,,god40 ,they heard him walking in the trees of the garden1 in the cool of the day4 ,a season1 perhaps1 when ,adam and ,eve used to go1 in an especial manner1 and offer up an evening-sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving4 ,the cool of the day4 ,perhaps the sin was committed early in the morning1 or at noon2 but ,,god would not come upon them immediately1 he staid till the cool of the day4 ,and if we would effectually reprove others1 we should not do it when they are warmed with passion1 but wait till the cool of the day4 ,but what an alteration is here6 ,instead of rejoicing at the voice of their beloved1 instead of meeting him with open arms and inlarged hearts1 as before1 they now hide themselves in the trees of the garden4 ,alas1 what a foolish attempt was this8 ,surely they must be naked1 otherwise how could they think of hiding themselves from ,,god8 ,whither could they flee from his presence8 ,but1 by their fall1 they had contracted an enmity against ,,god3 they now hated1 and were afraid to converse with ,,god their ,maker4 ,and is not this our case by nature8 ,assuredly it is4 ,we labour to cover our nakedness with the fig-leaves of our own righteousness3 ,we hide ourselves from ,,god as long as we can1 and will not come1 and never should come1 did not the ,father prevent1 draw1 and sweetly constrain us by his grace1 as he here prevented ,adam4 ,verse #i4 8,and the ,,lord ,,god called unto ,adam1 and said unto him1 ,adam1 where art thou80 8,the ,,lord ,,god called unto ,adam10 7for otherwise ,adam would never have called unto the ,,lord ,,god7 and said1 8,adam1 where art thou8 ,how is it that thou comest not to pay thy devotions as usual80 ,christians1 remember the ,,lord keeps an account when you fail coming to worship4 ,whenever therefore you are tempted to withhold your attendance1 let each of you fancy you heard the ,,lord ,,god calling unto you1 and saying1 8,o man1 ,o woman1 where art thou80 ,it may be understood in another and better sense2 8,adam1 where art thou80 ,what a condition is thy poor soul in8 ,this is the first thing the ,,lord asks and convinces a sinner of2 when he prevents and calls him effectually by his grace2 he also calls him by name2 for unless ,,god speaks to us in particular1 and we know where we are1 how poor1 how miserable1 how blind1 how naked1 we shall never value the redemption wrought out for us by the death and obedience of the dear ,,lord ,,jesus4 8,adam1 where art thou80 ,verse #aj4 8,and he said1 ,i heard thy voice in the garden1 and ,i was afraid40 ,see what cowards sin makes us4 ,if we knew no sin1 we should know no fear4 8,because ,i was naked1 and ,i hid myself40 ,verse #aa4 8,and he said1 who told thee that thou wast naked8 ,hast thou eaten of the tree1 whereof ,i 7thy ,maker and ,law-giver7 commanded thee1 that thou shouldst not eat80 ,,god knew very well that ,adam was naked1 and that he had eaten of the forbidden fruit4 ,but ,,god would know it from ,adam's own mouth4 ,thus ,,god knows all our necessities before we ask1 but yet insists upon our asking for his grace1 and confessing our sins4 ,for1 by such acts1 we acknowledge our dependence upon ,,god1 take shame to ourselves1 and thereby give glory to his great name4 ,verse #ab4 8,and the man said1 the woman which thou gavest to be with me1 she gave me of the tree1 and ,i did eat40 ,never was nature more lively delineated4 ,see what pride ,adam contracted by the fall6 ,how unwilling he is to lay the blame upon1 or take shame to himself4 ,this answer is full of insolence towards ,,god1 enmity against his wife1 and disingenuity in respect to himself4 ,for herein he tacitly reflects upon ,,god4 8,the woman that thou gavest to be with me40 ,as much as to say1 if thou hadst not given me that woman1 ,i had not eaten the forbidden fruit4 ,thus1 when men sin1 they lay the fault upon their passions2 then blame and reflect upon ,,god for giving them those passions4 ,their language is1 8the appetites that thou gavest us1 they deceived us2 and therefore we sinned against thee40 ,but1 as ,,god1 notwithstanding1 punished ,adam for hearkning to the voice of his wife1 so he will punish those who hearken to the dictates of their corrupt inclinations3 ,for ,,god compels no man to sin4 ,adam might have withstood the solicitations of his wife1 if he would4 ,and so1 if we look up to ,,god1 we should find grace to help in the time of need4 ,the devil and our own hearts tempt1 but they cannot force us to consent1 without the concurrence of our own wills4 ,so that our damnation is of ourselves1 as it will evidently appear at the great day1 notwithstanding all mens present impudent replies against ,,god4 ,as ,adam speaks insolently in respect to ,,god1 so he speaks with enmity against his wife2 the woman1 or this woman1 she gave me4 ,he lays all the fault upon her1 and speaks of her with much contempt4 ,he does not say1 my wife1 my dear wife2 but1 this woman4 ,sin disunites the most united hearts3 it is the bane of holy fellowship4 ,those who have been companions in sin here1 if they die without repentance1 will both hate and condemn one another hereafter4 ,all damned souls are accusers of their brethren4 ,thus it is1 in some degree1 on this side the grave4 8,the woman whom thou gavest to be with me1 she gave me of the tree1 and ,i did eat40 ,what a disingenuous speech was here6 ,he makes use of no less than fifteen words to excuse himself1 and but one or two 7in the original7 to confess his fault1 if it may be called a confession at all4 8,the woman which thou gavest to be with me1 she gave me of the tree20 here are fifteen words2 8,and ,i did eat40 ,with what reluctance do these last words come out8 ,how soon are they uttered8 8,and ,i did eat40 ,but thus it is with an unhumbled1 unregenerate heart3 ,it will be laying the fault upon the dearest friend in the world1 nay1 upon ,,god himself1 rather than take shame to itself4 ,this pride we are all subject to by the fall2 and1 till our hearts are broken1 and made contrite by the spirit of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 we shall be always charging ,,god foolishly4 8,against thee1 and thee only1 have ,i sinned1 that thou mightest be justified in thy saying1 and clear when thou art judged10 is the language of none but those1 who1 like ,david1 are willing to confess their faults1 and are truly sorry for their sins4 ,this was not the case of ,adam3 his heart was not broken2 and therefore he lays the fault of his disobedience upon his wife and ,,god1 and not upon himself2 8,the woman which thou gavest to be with me1 she gave me of the tree1 and ,i did eat40 ,verse #ac4 8,and the ,,lord ,,god said1 ,what is this that thou hast done80 ,what a wonderful concern does ,,god express in this expostulation6 8,what a deluge of misery hast thou brought upon thyself1 thy husband1 and thy posterity8 ,what is this that thou hast done8 ,disobeyed thy ,,god1 obeyed the devil1 and ruined thy husband1 for whom ,i made thee to be an help-meet6 ,what is this that thou hast done80 ,,god would here awaken her to a sense of her crime and danger1 and therefore1 as it were1 thunders in her ears3 for the law must be preached to self-righteous sinners4 ,we must take care of healing before we see sinners wounded1 lest we should say1 ,peace1 peace1 where there is no peace4 ,secure sinners must hear the thunderings of mount ,sinai1 before we bring them to mount ,sion4 ,they who never preach up the law1 it is to be feared1 are unskilful in delivering the glad tidings of the gospel4 ,every minister should be a ,boanerges1 a son of thunder1 as well as a ,barnabas1 a son of consolation4 ,there was an earthquake and a whirlwind1 before the small still voice came to ,elijah3 ,we must first shew people they are condemned1 and then shew them how they must be saved4 ,but how and when to preach the law1 and when to apply the promises of the gospel1 wisdom is profitable to direct4 8,and the ,,lord ,,god said unto the woman1 ,what is this that thou hast done80 8,and the woman said1 ,the serpent beguiled me1 and ,i did eat40 ,she does not make use of so many words to excuse herself1 as her husband2 but her heart is as unhumbled as his4 ,what is this1 says ,,god1 that thou hast done8 ,,god here charges her with doing it4 ,she dares not deny the fact1 or say1 ,i have not done it2 but she takes all the blame off herself1 and lays it upon the serpent2 8,the serpent beguiled me1 and ,i did eat40 ,she does not say1 8,,lord1 ,i was to blame for talking with the serpent2 ,,lord1 ,i did wrong1 in not hastening to my husband1 when he put the first question to me2 ,,lord1 ,i plead guilty1 ,i only am to blame1 ,o let not my poor husband suffer for my wickedness60 ,this would have been the language of her heart1 had she now been a true penitent4 ,but both were now alike proud2 therefore neither will lay the blame upon themselves3 8,the serpent beguiled me1 and ,i did eat4 ,the woman which thou gavest to be with me1 she gave me of the tree1 and ,i did eat40 ,i have been the more particular in remarking this part of their behaviour1 because it tends so much to the magnifying of ,free-grace1 and plainly shews us1 that salvation cometh only from the ,,lord4 ,let us take a short view of the miserable circumstances our first parents were now in3 ,they were legally and spiritually dead1 children of wrath1 and heirs of hell4 ,they had eaten the fruit1 of which ,,god had commanded them1 that they should not eat2 and when arraigned before ,,god1 notwithstanding their crime was so complicated1 they could not be brought to confess it4 ,what reason can be given1 why sentence of death should not be pronounced against the prisoners at the bar8 ,all must own they are worthy to die4 ,nay1 how can ,,god1 consistently with his justice1 possibly forgive them8 ,he had threatened1 that the day wherein they eat of the forbidden fruit1 they should 8surely die20 and1 if he did not execute this threatening1 the devil might then slander the ,almighty indeed4 ,and yet mercy cries1 spare these sinners1 spare the work of thine own hands4 ,behold1 then1 wisdom contrives a scheme how ,,god may be just1 and yet be merciful2 be faithful to his threatening1 punish the offence1 and at the same time spare the offender4 ,an amazing scene of divine love here opens to our view1 which had been from all eternity hid in the heart of ,,god6 ,notwithstanding ,adam and ,eve were thus unhumbled1 and did not so much as put up one single petition for pardon1 ,,god immediately passes sentence upon the serpent1 and reveals to them a ,saviour4 ,verse #ad4 8,and the ,,lord ,,god said unto the serpent1 because thou hast done this1 thou art accursed above all cattle1 and above every beast of the field2 upon thy belly shalt thou go1 and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life20 i4 e4 he should be in subjection1 and his power should always be limited and restrained4 8,his enemies shall lick the very dust10 says the ,psalmist4 7,verse #ae47 8,and ,i will put enmity between thee and the woman1 and between thy seed and her seed3 it shall bruise thy head1 and thou shalt bruise his heel40 ,before ,i proceed to the explanation of this verse1 ,i cannot but take notice of one great mistake which the author of the ,whole ,duty of ,man is guilty of1 in making this verse contain a covenant between ,,god and ,adam1 as though ,,god now personally treated with ,adam1 as before the fall4 ,for1 talking of the second covenant in his preface1 concerning caring for the soul1 says he1 8,this second covenant was made with ,adam1 and us in him1 presently after the fall1 and is briefly contained in these words1 ,genesis iii4 #ae4 where ,,god declares1 #8,the seed of the woman shall break the serpent's head2' and this was made up1 as the first was1 of some mercies to be afforded by ,,god1 and some duties to be performed by us40 ,this is exceeding false divinity3 for these words are not spoken to ,adam2 they are directed only to the serpent4 ,adam and ,eve stood by as criminals1 and ,,god could not treat with them1 because they had broken his covenant4 ,and it is so far from being a covenant wherein 8some mercies are to be afforded by ,,god1 and some duties to be performed by us10 that here is not a word looking that way2 it is only a declaration of a free gift of salvation through ,,jesus ,,christ our ,,lord4 ,,god the ,father and ,,god the ,son had entered into a covenant concerning the salvation of the elect from all eternity1 wherein ,,god the ,father promised1 ,that1 if the ,son would offer his soul a sacrifice for sin1 he should see his seed4 ,now this is an open revelation of this secret covenant1 and therefore ,,god speaks in the most positive terms1 8,it shall bruise thy head1 and thou shalt bruise his heel40 ,the first ,adam1 ,,god had treated with before2 he proved false3 ,,god therefore1 to secure the second covenant from being broken1 puts it into the hands of the second ,adam1 the ,,lord from heaven4 ,adam1 after the fall1 stood no longer as our representative2 he and ,eve were only private persons1 as we are1 and were only to lay hold on the declaration of mercy contained in this promise by faith1 7as they really did7 and by that they were saved4 ,i do not say but we are to believe and obey1 if we are everlastingly saved4 ,faith and obedience are conditions1 if we only mean that they in order go before our salvation2 but ,i deny that these are proposed by ,,god to ,adam1 or that ,,god treats with him in this promise1 as he did before the fall under the covenant of works4 ,for how could that be1 when ,adam and ,eve were now prisoners at the bar1 without strength to perform any conditions at all8 ,the truth is this3 ,,god1 as a reward of ,,christ's sufferings1 promised to give the elect faith and repentance1 in order to bring them to eternal life3 and both these1 and every thing else necessary for their everlasting happiness1 are infallibly secured to them in this promise2 as ,mr4 ,boston1 an excellent ,scots divine1 clearly shews1 in a book entitled1 8,a view of the covenant of grace40 ,this is by no means an unnecessary distinction2 it is a matter of great importance3 for want of knowing this1 people have been so long misled4 ,they have been taught that they must do so and so1 as though they were under a covenant of works1 and then for ,,doing this1 they should be saved4 ,whereas1 on the contrary1 people should be taught1 ,that the ,,lord ,,jesus was the second ,adam1 with whom the ,father entered into covenant for fallen man2 ,that they can now do nothing of or for themselves1 and should therefore come to ,,god1 beseeching him to give them faith1 by which they shall be enabled to lay hold on the righteousness of ,,christ2 and that faith they will then shew forth by their works1 out of love and gratitude to the ever-blessed ,,jesus1 their most glorious ,redeemer1 for what he has done for their souls4 ,this is a consistent scriptural scheme3 without holding this1 we must run into one of those two bad extremes2 ,i mean1 ,antinomianism on the one hand1 or ,arminianism on the other3 from both which may the good ,,lord deliver us6 ,but to proceed3 ,by the seed of the woman1 we are here to understand the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 who1 though very ,,god of very ,,god1 was1 for us men and our salvation1 to have a body prepared for him by the ,holy ,ghost1 and to be born of a woman who never knew man1 and by his obedience and death make an atonement for man's transgression1 and bring in an everlasting righteousness1 work in them a new nature1 and thereby bruise the serpent's head1 i4 e4 destroy his power and dominion over them4 ,by the serpent's seed1 we are to understand the devil and all his children1 who are permitted by ,,god to tempt and sift his children4 ,but1 blessed be ,,god1 he can reach no further than our heel4 duplicate word 8a0 removed ,it is not to be doubted but ,adam and ,eve understood this promise in this sense2 for it is plain1 in the latter part of the chapter1 sacrifices were instituted4 ,from whence should those skins come1 but from beasts slain for sacrifice1 of which ,,god made them coats8 ,we find ,abel1 as well as ,cain1 offering sacrifice in the next chapter3 and the ,apostle tells us1 he did it by faith1 no doubt in this promise4 ,and ,eve1 when ,cain was born1 said1 8,i have gotten a man from the ,,lord20 or1 7as ,mr4 ,henry observes1 it may be rendered7 8,i have gotten a man1the ,lord1the promised ,messiah40 ,some further suppose1 that ,eve was the first believer2 and therefore they translate it thus1 8,the seed1 7not of the1 but7 of this woman30 which magnifies the grace of ,,god so much the more1 that she1 who was first in the transgression1 should be the first partaker of redemption4 ,adam believed also1 and was saved3 for unto ,adam and his wife did the ,,lord ,,god make coats of skins1 and cloathed them3 which was a remarkable type of their being clothed with the righteousness of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,this promise was literally fulfilled in the person of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,satan bruised his heel1 when he tempted him for forty days together in the wilderness3 he bruised his heel1 when he raised up strong persecution against him during the time of his public ministry3 he in an especial manner bruised his heel1 when our ,,lord complained1 that his soul was exceeding sorrowful1 even unto death1 and he sweat great drops of blood falling upon the ground1 in the garden3 ,he bruised his heel1 when he put it into the heart of ,judas to betray him3 and he bruised him yet most of all1 when his emissaries nailed him to an accursed tree1 and our ,,lord cried out1 8,my ,,god1 my ,,god1 why hast thou forsaken me80 ,yet1 in all this1 the blessed ,,jesus1 the seed of the woman1 bruised ,satan's accursed head3 for1 in that he was tempted1 he was able to succour those that are tempted4 ,by his stripes we are healed4 ,the chastisement of our peace was upon him4 ,by dying1 he destroyed him that had the power of death1 that is1 the devil4 ,he thereby spoiled principalities and powers1 and made a shew of them openly1 triumphing over them upon the cross4 ,this promise has been fulfilled in the elect of ,,god1 considered collectively1 as well before1 as since the coming of our ,,lord in the flesh3 for they may be called1 the seed of the woman4 ,marvel not1 that all who will live godly in ,,christ ,,jesus1 must suffer persecution4 ,in this promise1 there is an eternal enmity put between the seed of the woman1 and the seed of the serpent2 so that those that are born after the flesh1 cannot but persecute those that are born after the spirit4 ,this enmity shewed itself1 soon after this promise was revealed1 in ,cain's bruising the heel of ,abel3 it continued in the church through all ages before ,,christ came in the flesh1 as the history of the ,bible1 and the xith chapter of the ,hebrews1 plainly shew4 ,it raged exceedingly after our ,,lord's ascension2 witness the ,acts of the ,apostles1 and the ,history of the ,primitive ,christians4 ,it now rages1 and will continue to rage and shew itself1 in a greater or less degree1 to the end of time4 ,but let not this dismay us2 for in all this1 the seed of the woman is more than conqueror1 and bruises the serpent's head4 ,thus the ,israelites1 the more they were oppressed1 the more they increased4 ,thus it was with the ,apostles2 thus it was with their immediate followers4 ,so that ,tertullian compares the church in his time to a mowed field2 the more frequently it is cut1 the more it grows4 ,the blood of the martyrs was always the seed of the church4 ,and ,i have often sat down with wonder and delight1 and admired how ,,god has made the very schemes which his enemies contrived1 in order to hinder1 become the most effectual means to propagate his gospel4 ,the devil has had so little success in persecution1 that if ,i did not know that he and his children1 according to this verse1 could not but persecute1 ,i should think he would count it his strength to sit still4 ,what did he get by persecuting the martyrs in ,queen ,mary's time8 ,was not the grace of ,,god exceedingly glorified in their support8 ,what did he get by persecuting the good old ,puritans8 ,did it not prove the peopling of ,new-,england8 ,or1 to come nearer our own times1 what has he got by putting us out of the synagogues8 ,hath not the word of ,,god1 since that1 mightily prevailed8 ,my dear hearers1 you must excuse me for enlarging on this head2 ,,god fills my soul generally1 when ,i come to this topic4 ,i can say with ,luther1 8,if it were not for persecution1 ,i should not understand the scripture40 ,if ,satan should be yet suffered to bruise my heel further1 and his servants should thrust me into prison1 ,i doubt not1 but even that would only tend to the more effectual bruising of his head4 ,i remember a saying of the then ,lord ,chancellor to the pious ,bradford3 8,thou hast done more hurt1 said he1 by thy exhortations in private in prison1 than thou didst in preaching before thou wast put in10 or words to this effect4 ,the promise of the text is my daily support2 8,i will put enmity between thy seed and her seed2 it shall bruise thy head1 and thou shalt bruise his heel40 ,further3 this promise is also fulfilled1 not only in the church in general1 but in every individual believer in particular4 ,in every believer there are two seeds1 the seed of the woman1 and the seed of the serpent2 the flesh lusting against the spirit1 and the spirit against the flesh4 ,it is with the believer1 when quickened with grace in his heart1 as it was with ,rebekah1 when she had conceived ,esau and ,jacob in her womb2 she felt a struggling1 and began to be uneasy2 8,if it be so1 says she1 why am ,i thus80 ,thus grace and nature struggle 7if ,i may so speak7 in the womb of a believer's heart3 but1 as it was there said1 8,the elder shall serve the younger20 so it is here1grace in the end shall get the better of nature2 the seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head4 ,many of you that have believed in ,,christ1 perhaps may find some particular corruption yet strong1 so strong1 that you are sometimes ready to cry out with ,david1 8,i shall fall one day by the hand of ,saul40 ,but1 fear not1 the promise in the text insures the perseverance and victory of believers over sin1 ,satan1 death1 and hell4 ,what if indwelling corruption does yet remain1 and the seed of the serpent bruise your heel1 in vexing and disturbing your righteous souls8 ,fear not1 though faint1 yet pursue3 you shall yet bruise the serpent's head4 ,,christ hath died for you2 and yet a little while1 and he will send death to destroy the very being of sin in you4 ,which brings me ,to shew the most extensive manner in which the promise of the text shall be fulfilled1 viz4 at the final judgment1 when the ,,lord ,,jesus shall present the elect to his ,father1 without spot or wrinkle1 or any such thing1 glorified both in body and soul4 ,then shall the seed of the woman give the last and fatal blow1 in bruising the serpent's head4 ,satan1 the accuser of the brethren1 and all his accursed seed1 shall then be cast out1 and never suffered to disturb the seed of the woman any more4 ,then shall the righteous shine as the sun in the kingdom of their ,father1 and sit with ,,christ on thrones in majesty on high4 ,let us1 therefore1 not be weary of well-doing2 for we shall reap an eternal harvest of comfort1 if we faint not4 ,dare1 dare1 my dear brethren in ,,christ1 to follow the ,captain of your salvation1 who was made perfect through sufferings4 ,the seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head4 ,fear not men4 ,be not too much cast down at the deceitfulness of your hearts4 ,fear not devils2 you shall get the victory even over them4 ,the ,,lord ,,jesus has engaged to make you more than conquerors over all4 ,plead with your ,saviour1 plead3 plead the promise in the text4 ,wrestle1 wrestle with ,,god in prayer4 ,if it has been given you to believe1 fear not if it should also be given you to suffer4 ,be not any wise terrified by your adversaries2 the king of the church has them all in a chain3 be kind to them1 pray for them2 but fear them not4 ,the ,,lord will yet bring back his ark1 though at present driven into the wilderness2 and ,satan like lightening shall fall from heaven4 ,are there any enemies of ,,god here8 ,the promise of the text encourages me to bid you defiance3 the seed of the woman1 the ever-blessed ,,jesus1 shall bruise the serpent's head4 ,what signifies all your malice8 ,you are only raging waves of the sea1 foaming out your own shame4 ,for you1 without repentance1 is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever4 ,the ,,lord ,,jesus sits in heaven1 ruling over all1 and causing all things to work for his childrens good3 he laughs you to scorn3 he hath you in the utmost derision1 and therefore so will ,i4 ,who are you that persecute the children of the ever-blessed ,,god8 ,though a poor stripling1 the ,,lord ,,jesus1 the seed of the woman1 will enable me to bruise your heads4 ,my brethren in ,,christ1 ,i think ,i do not speak thus in my own strength1 but in the strength of my ,redeemer4 ,i know in whom ,i have believed2 ,i am persuaded he will keep that safe1 which ,i have committed unto him4 ,he is faithful who hath promised1 that the seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head4 ,may we all experience a daily completion of this promise1 both in the church and in our hearts1 till we come to the church of the first-born1 the spirits of just men made perfect1 in the presence and actual fruition of the great ,,god our heavenly ,father6 ,to whom1 with the ,son1 and the ,holy ,ghost1 be ascribed all honour1 power1 might1 majesty1 and dominion1 now and for evermore4 ,amen4 ,,sermon ,,ii4 ,walking with ,,god4 ,,genesis v4 #bd4 ,and ,enoch walked with ,,god1 and he was not1 for ,,god took him4 ,,various are the pleas and arguments1 which men of corrupt minds frequently urge against yielding obedience to the just and holy commands of ,,god4 ,but1 perhaps1 one of the most common objections that they make is this1 that our ,,lord's commands are not practicable1 because contrary to flesh and blood2 and consequently1 that he is 8an hard master1 reaping where he has not sown1 and gathering where he has not strewed40 ,these we find were the sentiments entertained by that wicked and slothful servant mentioned in the xxvth of ,st4 ,matthew2 and are undoubtedly the same with many which are maintained in the present wicked and adulterous generation4 ,the ,holy ,ghost foreseeing this1 hath taken care to inspire holy men of old1 to record the examples of many holy men and women2 who1 even under the ,old ,testament dispensation1 were enabled chearfully to take ,,christ's yoke upon them1 and counted his service perfect freedom4 ,the large catalogue of saints1 confessors1 and martyrs1 drawn up in the xith chapter to the ,hebrews1 abundantly evidences the truth of this observation4 ,what a great cloud of witnesses have we there presented to our view8 ,all eminent for their faith1 but some shining with a greater degree of lustre than do others4 ,the proto-martyr ,abel1 leads the van4 ,and next to him1 we find ,enoch mentioned1 not only because he was next in order of time1 but also on account of his exalted piety4 ,he is spoken of in the words of the text in a very extraordinary manner4 ,we have here a short but very full and glorious account1 both of his behaviour in this world1 and the triumphant manner of his entering into the next4 ,the former is contained in these words1 8,and ,enoch walked with ,,god40 ,the latter in these1 8and he was not3 for ,,god took him40 ,he was not2 i4 e4 ,he was not found1 he was not taken away in the common manner1 he did not see death2 for ,hebrews xi4 #e4 ,,god had translated him4 ,who this ,enoch was1 does not appear so plainly4 ,to me1 he seems to have been a person of public character4 ,i suppose1 like ,noah1 a preacher of righteousness4 ,and1 if we may credit the ,apostle ,jude1 he was a flaming preacher4 ,for he quotes one of his prophecies1 wherein he saith1 8,behold1 the ,,lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints1 to execute judgment upon all1 and to convince all that are ungodly among them1 of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed1 and of all their hard speeches1 which ungodly sinners have spoken against him40 ,but whether a public or private person1 he has a noble testimony given him in the lively oracles4 ,the author of the epistle to the ,hebrews saith1 that before his translation he had this testimony1 8that he pleased ,,god20 and his being translated1 was a proof of it beyond all doubt4 ,and ,i would observe1 that it was wonderful wisdom in ,,god to translate ,enoch and ,elijah under the ,old ,testament dispensation1 that hereafter when it should be asserted1 that the ,,lord ,,jesus was carried into heaven1 it might not seem a thing altogether incredible to the ,jews2 since they themselves confessed1 that two of their own prophets had been translated several hundred years before4 ,but it is not my design to detain you any longer1 by enlarging1 or making observations on ,enoch's short1 but comprehensive character4 ,the thing ,i have in view1 being to give a discourse1 as the ,,lord shall enable1 upon a weighty and a very important subject2 ,i mean1 walking with ,,god4 8,and ,enoch walked with ,,god40 ,if so much as this can be truly said of you and me after our decease1 we shall not have any reason to complain1 that we have lived in vain4 ,in handling my intended subject1 ,i shall1 ,first1 ,endeavour to shew1 what is implied in these words1 walked with ,,god4 ,secondly1 ,i shall prescribe some means1 upon the due observance of which1 believers may keep up and maintain their walk with ,,god4 ,and1 ,thirdly1 ,offer some motives to stir us up1 if we never walked with ,,god before1 to come and walk with ,,god now4 ,the whole shall be closed with a word or two of application4 ,first1 ,i am to shew what is implied in these words1 8walked with ,,god20 or in other words1 what we are to understand by walking with ,,god4 ,and ,first1 ,walking with ,,god1 implies1 that the prevailing power of the enmity of a person's heart1 be taken away by the blessed ,spirit of ,,god4 ,perhaps it may seem a hard saying to some1 but our own experience daily proves1 what the scripture in many places assert1 that the carnal mind1 the mind of the unconverted1 natural man1 nay1 the mind of the regenerate1 so far as any part of him remains unrenewed1 is enmity1 not only an enemy1 but 8enmity itself against ,,god2 so that it is not subject to the law of ,,god1 neither indeed can it be40 ,indeed one may well wonder that any creature1 especially that lovely creature man1 made after his ,maker's own image1 should ever have any enmity1 much less a prevailing enmity against that very ,,god in whom he lives1 and moves1 and hath his being4 ,but alas6 so it is4 ,our first parents contracted it when they fell from ,,god by eating the forbidden fruit1 and the bitter and malignant contagion of it1 hath descended to1 and quite overspread their whole posterity4 ,this enmity discovered itself1 in ,adam's endeavouring to hide himself in the trees of the garden4 ,when he heard the voice of the ,,lord ,,god1 instead of running with an open heart1 saying1 ,here am ,i2 alas6 he now wanted no communion with ,,god2 and still more discovered his lately contracted enmity1 by the excuse he made to the ,most ,high4 8,the woman1 or this woman1 thou gavest to be with me1 she gave me of the tree1 and ,i did eat40 ,by saying thus1 he in effect lays all the fault upon ,,god2 as though he had said1 if thou hadst not given me this woman1 ,i had not sinned against thee1 so thou mayst thank thyself for my transgression4 ,in the same manner this enmity works in the hearts of ,adam's children4 ,they now and again find something rising against ,,god1 and saying even unto ,,god1 what doest thou8 8,it scorns any meaner competitor 7says the learned ,doctor ,owen in his excellent treatise on indwelling sin7 than ,,god himself40 ,its command is like that of the ,assyrians in respect to ,ahab1 ,shoot only at the ,king4 ,and it strikes against every thing that has the appearance of real piety1 as the ,assyrians shot at ,jehosaphat in ,ahab's cloathes4 ,but the opposition ceases when it finds that it is only an appearance1 as the ,assyrians left off shooting at ,jehosaphat1 when they perceived it was not ,ahab they were shooting at4 ,this enmity discovered itself in accursed ,cain2 he hated and slew his brother ,abel1 because ,abel loved1 and was peculiarly favoured by his ,,god4 ,and this same enmity rules and prevails in every man that is naturally engendered of the offspring of ,adam4 ,hence that averseness to prayer and holy duties1 which we find in children1 and very often in grown persons1 who have notwithstanding been blessed with a religious education4 ,and all that open sin and wickedness1 which like a deluge has overflowed the world1 are only so many streams running from this dreadful1 contagious fountain2 ,i mean the enmity of man's desperately wicked and deceitful heart4 ,he that cannot set his seal to this1 knows nothing yet1 in a saving manner1 of the holy scriptures1 or of the power of ,,god4 ,and all that do know this1 will readily acknowledge1 that before a person can be said to walk with ,,god1 the prevailing power of this heart-enmity must be destroyed4 ,for persons do not use to walk and keep company together1 who entertain an irreconcilable enmity and hatred against one another4 ,observe me1 ,i say1 the prevailing power of this enmity must be taken away4 ,for the inbeing of it will never be totally removed1 till we bow down our heads and give up the ghost4 ,the apostle ,paul1 no doubt1 speaks of himself1 and that too not when he was a pharisee1 but a real christian2 when he complains1 8that when he would do good1 evil was present with him20 not having dominion over him1 but opposing and resisting his good intentions and actions1 8so that he could not do the things which he would10 in that perfection which the new man desired4 ,this is what he calls sin dwelling in him4 8,and this is that 1 which1 7to use the words of the ninth article of our church17 some do expound the wisdom1 some sensuality1 some the affectation1 some the desire of the flesh1 which doth remain1 yea1 in them that are regenerated40 ,but as for its prevailing power1 it is destroyed in every soul that is truly born of ,,god1 and gradually more and more weakened as the believer grows in grace1 and the spirit of ,,god gains a greater and greater ascendancy in the heart4 80 replaced with 80 ,but ,secondly1 ,walking with ,,god not only implies1 that the prevailing power of the enmity of a man's heart be taken away1 but also that a person is actually reconciled to ,,god the ,father1 in and through the all-sufficient righteousness and atonement of his dear ,son4 8,can two walk together1 7says ,solomon71 unless they are agreed80 ,,jesus is our peace1 as well as our peace-maker4 ,when we are justified by faith in ,,christ1 then1 but not till then1 we have peace with ,,god2 and consequently cannot be said till then1 to walk with him4 ,walking with a person1 being a sign and token that we are friends to that person1 or at least1 though we have been at variance1 yet that now we are reconciled and become friends again4 ,this is the great errand that gospel ministers are sent out upon4 ,to us is committed the ministry of reconciliation3 ,as ambassadors for ,,god1 we are to beseech sinners1 in ,,christ's stead1 to be reconciled unto ,,god2 and when they comply with the gracious invitation1 and are actually by faith brought into a state of reconciliation with ,,god1 then1 and not till then1 may they be said so much as to begin to walk with ,,god4 ,further1 ,thirdly1 ,walking with ,,god implies1 a settled1 abiding communion and fellowship with ,,god1 or what in scripture is called1 8,the ,holy ,ghost dwelling in us40 ,this is what our ,,lord promised when he told his disciples1 that 8the ,holy ,spirit should be in1 and with them20 not to be like a wayfaring-man1 to stay only for a night1 but to reside and make his abode in their hearts4 ,this ,i am apt to believe is what the ,apostle ,john would have us understand1 when he talks of a person abiding in him1 in ,,christ1 8and walking as he himself also walked40 ,and this is what is particularly meant in the words of our text4 8,and ,enoch walked with ,,god40 i4 e4 ,he kept up and maintained a holy1 settled1 habitual1 though undoubtedly not altogether uninterrupted communion and fellowship with ,,god1 in and through ,,christ ,,jesus4 ,so that to sum up what has been said on this part of the first general head1 walking with ,,god consists especially in the fixed habitual bent of the will for ,,god1 in an habitual dependance upon his power and promise1 in an habitual voluntary dedication of our all to his glory1 in an habitual eying of his precept in all we do1 and in an habitual complacence in his pleasure in all we suffer4 ,fourthly1 ,walking with ,,god implies1 our making progress or advances in the divine life4 ,walking1 in the very first idea of the word1 seems to suppose a progressive motion4 ,a person that walks1 though he move slowly1 yet he goes forwards and does not continue in one place4 ,and so it is with those that walk with ,,god4 ,they go on1 as the psalmist says1 8from strength to strength20 or1 in the language of the ,apostle ,paul1 8they pass from glory to glory1 even by the ,spirit of the ,,lord40 ,indeed in one sense1 the divine life admits of neither increase nor decrease4 ,when a soul is born of ,,god1 to all intents and purposes he is a child of ,,god1 and1 though he should live to the age of ,methuselah1 yet he would then be only a child of ,,god1 after all4 ,but in another sense1 the divine life admits of decays and additions4 ,hence it is1 that we find the people of ,,god charged with backslidings1 and losing their first love4 ,and hence it is1 that we hear of babes1 young men and fathers in ,,christ2 and upon this account it is that the ,apostle exhorts ,timothy1 8to let his progress be made known to all men40 ,and what is here required of ,timothy in particular2 by ,st4 ,peter1 is enjoined all christians in general1 8,but grow in grace1 7says he7 and in the knowledge of our ,,lord and ,saviour ,,jesus ,,christ40 ,for the new creature increases in spiritual stature2 and though a person can but be a new creature1 yet there are some that are more conformed to the divine image than others1 and will1 after death1 be admitted to a greater degree of blessedness4 ,for want of observing this distinction1 even some gracious souls that have better hearts than heads1 7as well as men of corrupt minds1 reprobates concerning the faith7 have unawares run into downright ,antinomian principles1 denying all growth of grace in a believer1 or any marks of grace to be laid down in the scriptures of truth4 ,from such principles1 and more especially from practices naturally consequent on such principles1 may the ,,lord of all ,lord's deliver us6 ,from what then has been said1 we may now know what is implied in the words1 8walked with ,,god10 viz4 ,our having the prevailing enmity of our hearts taken away by the power of the ,spirit of ,,god2 our being actually reconciled and united to him by faith in ,,jesus ,,christ2 our having and keeping up a settled communion and fellowship with him2 and our making a daily progress in this fellowship1 so as to be conformed to the divine image more and more4 ,how this is done1 or1 in other words1 by what means believers keep up and maintain their walk with ,,god1 comes to be considered under our second general head4 ,and1 ,first1 ,believers keep up and maintain their walk with ,,god1 by reading of his holy word4 8,search the scriptures10 says our blessed ,,lord1 8for these are they that testify of me40 ,and the royal psalmist tells us1 8that ,,god's word was a light unto his feet1 and a lanthorn unto his paths20 and he makes it one property of a good man1 8that his delight is in the law of the ,,lord1 and that he exercises himself therein day and night40 8,give thyself to reading10 7says ,paul to ,timothy72 8,and this book of the law1 7says ,,god to ,joshua7 shall not go out of thy mouth40 ,for whatsoever was written in afore time1 was written for our learning4 ,and the word of ,,god is profitable for reproof1 correction1 and instruction in righteousness1 and every way sufficient to make every true child of ,,god thoroughly furnished to every good work4 ,if we once get above our ,bibles1 and cease making the written word of ,,god our sole rule1 both as to faith and practice1 we shall soon lie open to all manner of delusion1 and be in great danger of making shipwreck of faith and a good conscience4 ,our blessed ,,lord1 though he had the ,spirit of ,,god without measure1 yet always was governed by1 and fought the devil with1 8,it is written40 ,this the ,apostle calls the 8,sword of the ,spirit40 ,we may say of it as ,david said of ,goliah's sword1 8,none like this40 ,the scriptures are called the lively oracles of ,,god3 not only because they are generally made use of to beget in us a new life1 but also to keep up and increase it in the soul4 ,the ,apostle ,peter1 in his #b;d epistle1 prefers it even to seeing ,,christ transfigured upon the mount4 ,for after he had said1 chapter i4 #ah4 8,that the voice which came from heaven we heard1 when we were with ,him in the holy mount20 he adds1 8,we have also a more sure word of prophecy2 whereunto ye do well that ye take heed1 as unto a light shining in a dark place1 until the day dawn1 and the day-star arise in your hearts30 i4 e4 ,till we shake off these bodies1 and see ,,jesus face to face4 ,till then1 we must see and converse with him through the glass of his word4 ,we must make his testimonies our counsellors1 and daily1 with ,mary1 sit at ,,jesus feet1 by faith hearing his word4 ,we shall then by happy experience find1 that they are spirit and life1 meat indeed1 and drink indeed to our souls4 ,secondly1 ,believers keep up and maintain their walk with ,,god by secret prayer4 ,the spirit of grace is always accompanied with the spirit of supplication4 ,it is the very breath of the new-creature1 the fan of the divine life1 whereby the spark of holy fire kindled in the soul by ,,god1 is not only kept in1 but raised into a flame4 ,a neglect of secret prayer has been frequently an inlet to many spiritual diseases1 and has been attended with fatal consequences4 ,origen observed1 8,that the day he offered incense to an idol1 he went out of his closet without making use of secret prayer40 ,it is one of the most noble parts of the believer's spiritual armour4 8,praying always1 says the ,apostle1 with all manner of supplication40 8,watch and pray1 says our ,,lord1 that ye enter not into temptation40 ,and he spake a parable1 that his disciples should pray1 and not faint4 ,not that our ,,lord would have us always upon our knees1 or in our closets1 to the neglect of our other relative duties4 ,but he means1 that our souls should be kept in a praying-frame1 so that we might be able to say1 as a good man in ,scotland once said to his friends on his death-bed1 8,could these curtains1 or could these walls speak1 they would tell you what sweet communion ,i have had with my ,,god here40 ,o prayer1 prayer6 ,it brings and keeps ,,god and man together4 ,it raises man up to ,,god1 and brings ,,god down to man4 ,if you would therefore1 ,o believers1 keep up your walk with ,,god2 pray1 pray without ceasing4 ,be much in secret1 set prayer4 ,and when you are about the common business of life1 be much in ejaculatory prayer1 and send1 from time to time1 short letters post to heaven upon the wings of faith4 ,they will reach the very heart of ,,god1 and return to you again loaded with spiritual blessings4 ,thirdly1 ,holy and frequent meditation is another blessed means of keeping up a believer's walk with ,,god4 8,prayer1 reading1 temptation1 and meditation10 says ,luther1 8make a minister40 ,and they also make1 and perfect a christian4 ,meditation to the soul1 is the same as digestion to the body4 ,holy ,david found it so1 and therefore he was frequently employed in meditation1 even in the night season4 ,we read also of ,isaac's going out into the fields to meditate in the evening2 or1 as it is in the margin1 to pray4 ,for meditation is a kind of silent prayer1 whereby the soul is frequently1 as it were1 carried out of itself to ,,god1 and in a degree made like unto those blessed ,spirits1 who by a kind of immediate intuition always behold the face of our heavenly ,father4 ,none but those happy souls that have been accustomed to this divine employ1 can tell what a blessed promoter of the divine life1 meditation is4 8,whilst ,i was musing1 says ,david1 the fire kindled40 ,and whilst the believer is musing on the works and word of ,,god2 especially that work of works1 that wonder of wonders1 that mystery of godliness1 8,,god manifest in the flesh10 the ,lamb of ,,god slain for the sins of the world3 he frequently feels the fire of divine love kindle1 so that he is obliged to speak with his tongue1 and tell of the loving-kindness of the ,,lord to his soul4 ,be frequent therefore in meditation1 all ye that desire to keep up and maintain a close and uniform walk with the most-high ,,god4 ,fourthly1 ,believers keep up their walk with ,,god1 by watching and noting his providential dealings with them4 ,if we believe the scriptures1 we must believe what our ,,lord hath declared therein1 8,that the very hairs of his disciples heads are all numbered2 and that a sparrow does not fall to the ground1 7either to pick up a grain of corn1 or when shot by a fowler7 without the knowledge of our heavenly ,father40 ,every cross has a call in it1 and every particular dispensation of divine providence1 has some particular end to answer in those to whom it is sent4 ,if it be of an afflictive nature1 ,,god does thereby say1 8,my son1 keep thyself from idols30 if prosperous1 he does it as it were by a small1 still voice1 say1 8,my son1 give me thy heart40 ,if believers1 therefore1 would keep up their walk with ,,god1 they must from time to time hear what the ,,lord has to say concerning them in the voice of his providence4 ,thus we find ,abraham's servant1 when he went to fetch a wife for his master ,isaac1 eyed and watched the providence of ,,god1 and by that means found out the person that was designed for his master's wife4 8,for a little hint from ,providence10 says pious ,bishop ,hall1 8is enough for faith to feed upon40 ,and as ,i believe it will be one part of our happiness in heaven1 to take a view of1 and look back upon1 the various links of the golden chain which drew us there2 so those that enjoy most of heaven below1 ,i believe1 will be most minute in remarking ,,god's various dealings with them1 in respect to his providential dispensations here on earth4 ,fifthly1 ,in order to walk closely with ,,god1 his children must not only watch the motions of ,,god's providence without them1 but the motions also of his blessed ,spirit in their hearts4 8,as many as are the sons of ,,god1 are led by the ,spirit of ,,god10 and give up themselves to be guided by the ,holy ,ghost1 as a little child gives its hand to be led by a nurse or parent4 ,it is no doubt in this sense1 that we are to be converted1 and become like little children4 ,and though it is the quintessence of enthusiasm1 to pretend to be guided by the ,spirit without the written word2 yet it is every christian's bounden duty to be guided by the ,spirit in conjunction with the written word of ,,god4 ,watch1 therefore1 ,i pray you1 ,o believers1 the motions of ,,god's blessed ,spirit in your souls1 and always try the suggestions or impressions that you may at any time feel1 by the unerring rule of ,,god's most holy word3 and if they are not found to be agreeable to that1 reject them as diabolical and delusive4 ,by observing this caution1 you will steer a middle course between the two dangerous extremes many of this generation are in danger of running into2 ,i mean1 enthusiasm1 on the one hand1 and deism1 and downright infidelity1 on the other4 ,sixthly1 ,they that would maintain a holy walk with ,,god1 must walk with him in ordinances as well as providences1 c4 ,it is1 therefore1 recorded of ,zachary and ,elizabeth1 that 8,they walked in all ,,god's ordinances as well as commandments1 blameless40 ,and all rightly informed christians1 will look upon ordinances1 not as beggarly elements1 but as so many conduit-pipes1 whereby the infinitely condescending ,jehovah conveys his grace to their souls4 ,they will look upon them as childrens bread1 and as their highest privileges4 ,consequently they will be glad when they hear others say1 8,come1 let us go up to the house of the ,,lord40 ,they will delight to visit the place where ,,god's honour dwelleth1 and be very eager to embrace all opportunities to shew forth the ,,lord ,,christ's death till he come4 ,seventhly and lastly1 ,if you would walk with ,,god1 you will associate and keep company with those that do walk with him4 8,my delight1 says holy ,david1 is in them that do excel0 in virtue4 ,they were in his sight1 the excellent ones of the earth4 ,and the primitive christians1 no doubt1 kept up their vigour and first love1 by continuing in fellowship one with another4 ,the ,apostle ,paul knew this full well1 and therefore exhorts the christians to see to it1 that they did not forsake the assembling of themselves together4 ,for how can one be warm alone8 ,and has not the wisest of men told us1 that1 8as iron sharpeneth iron1 so doth the countenance of a man his friend80 ,if we look1 therefore1 into church history1 or make a just observation of our own times1 ,i believe we shall find1 that as the power of ,,god prevails1 christian societies1 and fellowship meetings prevail proportionably4 ,and as one decays1 the other has insensibly decayed and dwindled away at the same time4 ,so necessary is it for those that would walk with ,,god1 and keep up the life of religion1 to meet together as they have opportunity1 in order to provoke one another to love and good works4 ,proceed we now to the ,third general thing proposed1 ,to offer some motives to excite all to come and walk with ,,god4 ,and ,first1 ,walking with ,,god1 is a very honourable thing4 ,this generally is a prevailing motive to persons of all ranks1 to stir them up to any important undertaking4 ,o that it may have its due weight and influence with you1 in respect to the matter now before us6 ,i suppose you would all think it a very high honour to be admitted into an earthly prince's privy-council1 to be trusted with his secrets1 and to have his ear at all times1 and at all seasons4 ,it seems ,haman thought it so1 when he boasted1 ,esther v4 #aa1 that besides his being 8advanced above the princes and servants of the king2 yea1 moreover1 ,esther the ,queen did let no man come in with the ,king unto the banquet that she had prepared1 but myself2 and to-morrow am ,i invited unto her also with the ,king40 ,and when afterwards a question was put to this same ,haman1 chapter vi4 #f4 8,what shall be done unto the man whom the ,king delighteth to honour80 he answered1 verse #h4 8,let the royal apparel be brought which the king used to wear1 and the horse that the king rideth upon1 and the crown royal which is set upon his head2 and let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes1 that they may array the man withal whom the ,king delights to honour1 and bring him on horseback through the street of the city1 and proclaim before him1 ,thus shall it be done to the man whom the ,king delighteth to honour40 ,this was all then1 it seems1 that an ambitious ,haman could ask1 and the most valuable thing that he thought ,ahasuerus1 the greatest monarch upon earth1 could give4 ,but alas1 what is this honour in comparison of that which the meanest of those enjoy1 that walk with ,,god6 ,think ye it a small thing1 ,sirs1 to have the secret of the ,,lord of ,lords with you1 and to be called the friends of ,,god8 and such honour have all ,,god's saints4 8,the secret of the ,,lord is with them that fear him30 and 8,henceforth1 says the blessed ,,jesus1 call ,i you no longer servants1 but friends2 for the servant knoweth not the will of his master40 ,whatever you may think of it1 holy ,david was so sensible of the honour attending a walk with ,,god1 that he declares1 8,he had rather be a door-keeper in his house1 than to dwell even in the tents of ungodliness40 ,o that all were like-minded with him6 ,but1 ,secondly1 ,as it is an honourable1 so it is a pleasing thing to walk with ,,god4 ,the wisest of men has told us1 that 8,wisdom's ways are ways of pleasantness1 and all her paths peace40 ,and ,i remember pious ,mr4 ,henry1 when he was just about to expire1 said to a friend1 8,you have heard many mens dying words1 and these are mine2 ,a life spent in communion with ,,god1 is the pleasantest life in the world40 ,i am sure ,i can set to my seal that this is true4 ,indeed1 ,i have been lifted under ,,jesus's banner only for a few years2 but ,i have enjoyed more solid pleasure in one moment's communion with my ,,god1 than ,i should or could have enjoyed in the ways of sin1 though ,i had continued to have went on in them for thousands of years4 ,and may ,i not appeal to all you that fear and walk with ,,god1 for the truth of this8 ,has not one day in the ,,lord's courts1 been to you better than a thousand8 ,in keeping ,,god's commandments1 have you not found a present and very great reward8 ,has not his word been sweeter to you than the honey1 or the honey-comb8 ,o what have you felt1 when1 ,jacob-like1 you have been wrestling with your ,,god8 ,has not ,,jesus often met you when meditating in the fields1 and been made known to you over and over again in breaking of bread8 ,has not the ,holy ,ghost frequently shed the divine love abroad in your hearts abundantly1 and filled you with joy unspeakable1 even joy that is full of glory8 ,i know you will answer all these questions in the affirmative1 and freely acknowledge the yoke of ,,christ to be easy1 and his burden light2 or 7to use the words of one of our collects7 8,that his service is perfect freedom40 ,and what need we then any further motive to excite us to walk with ,,god8 ,but methinks ,i hear some among you say1 8,how can these things be8 ,for1 if walking with ,,god1 as you say1 is such an honourable and pleasant thing1 whence is it1 that the name of the people of this way is cast out as evil1 and every where spoken against8 ,how comes it to pass that they are frequently afflicted1 tempted1 destitute1 and tormented8 ,is this the honour1 this the pleasure that you speak of80 ,i answer1 ,yes4 ,stop a while2 be not over-hasty4 ,judge not according to appearance1 but judge righteous judgment1 and all will be well4 ,it is true1 we acknowledge the 8people of this way10 as you1 and ,paul before you1 when a persecutor1 called them1 have their names cast out as evil1 and are a sect every where spoken against4 ,but by whom8 ,even by the enemies of the most high ,,god4 ,and do you think it a disgrace to be spoken evil of by them8 ,blessed be ,,god1 we have not so learnt ,,christ4 ,our royal ,master has pronounced those 8blessed1 who are persecuted1 and have all manner of evil spoken against them falsly40 ,he has commanded them 8to rejoice and be exceeding glad40 ,for it is the privilege of their discipleship1 and that their reward will be great in heaven4 ,he himself was thus treated4 ,and can there be a greater honour put upon a creature1 than to be conformed to the ever-blessed ,son of ,,god8 ,and further1 it is equally true1 that the people of this way are frequently afflicted1 tempted1 destitute1 and tormented4 ,but what of all this8 ,does this destroy the pleasure of walking with ,,god8 ,no1 in no wise2 for those that walk with ,,god1 are enabled1 through ,,christ strengthening them1 to joy even in tribulation1 and to rejoice when they fall into divers temptations4 ,and ,i believe ,i may appeal to the experience of all true and close walkers with ,,god1 ,whether or not their suffering times1 have not frequently been their sweetest times1 and that they enjoyed most of ,,god1 when most cast out and despised by men8 ,this we find was the case of ,,christ's primitive servants1 when threatened by the ,jewish sanhedrim1 and commanded to preach no more in the name of ,,jesus2 they rejoiced1 that they were accounted worthy to suffer shame for the sake of ,,jesus4 ,paul and ,silas sang praises even in a dungeon2 and the face of ,stephen1 that glorious proto-martyr of the christian church1 shone like the face of an angel4 ,and ,,jesus is the same now1 as he was then1 and takes care so to sweeten sufferings and afflictions with his love1 that his disciples find1 by happy experience1 that as afflictions abound1 consolations do much more abound4 ,and therefore these objections1 instead of destroying1 do only more enforce the motives before urged to excite you to walk with ,,god4 8prilege0 replaced with 8privilege0 8disciciples0 replaced with 8disciples0 ,but supposing the objections were just1 and walkers with ,,god were as despicable and unhappy as you would represent them to be2 yet ,i have a third motive to offer1 which1 if weighed in the balance of the sanctuary1 will over-weigh all objections1 viz4 ,that there is a heaven at the end of this walk4 ,for1 to use the words of pious ,bishop ,beveridge1 8,though the way be narrow1 yet it is not long2 and though the gate be straight1 yet it opens into everlasting life40 ,enoch found it so4 ,he walked with ,,god on earth1 and ,,god took him to sit down with him for ever in the kingdom of heaven4 ,not that we are to expect to be taken away as he was3 no2 ,i suppose we shall all die the common death of all men4 ,but after death1 the spirits of those who have walked with ,,god1 shall return to ,,god that gave them2 and at the morning of the resurrection1 soul and body shall be for ever with the ,,lord4 ,their bodies shall be fashioned like unto ,,christ's glorious body1 and their souls filled with all the fulness of ,,god4 ,they shall sit on thrones2 they shall judge angels4 ,they shall be enabled to sustain an exceeding and eternal weight of glory1 even that glory which ,,jesus ,,christ enjoyed with the ,father before the world began4 ,o gloriam quantam et qualem1 says the learned and pious ,arndt1 just before he bowed down his head1 and gave up the ghost4 ,the very thought of it is enough to make us 8wish to leap our seventy years10 as good ,dr4 ,watts expresses himself1 and to make us break out into the earnest language of the royal ,psalmist1 8,my soul is athirst for ,,god1 yea for the living ,,god4 ,when shall ,i come to appear in the immediate presence of my ,,god80 ,i wonder not that a sense of this1 when under a more than ordinary irradiation and influx of divine life and love1 causes some persons even to faint away1 and for a time lose the power of their senses4 ,a less sight than this1 even a sight of ,solomon's glory1 made ,sheba's queen astonished2 and a still lesser sight than that1 even a sight of ,joseph's waggons1 made holy ,jacob to faint1 and for a while1 as it were1 die away4 ,daniel1 when admitted to a distant view of this excellent glory1 fell down at the feet of the angel as one dead4 ,and if a distant view of this glory be so excellent1 what must the actual possession of it be8 ,if the first fruits are so glorious1 how infinitely must the harvest exceed in glory8 ,and now what shall ,i1 or indeed what can ,i well say more1 to excite you1 even you that are yet strangers to ,,christ1 to come and walk with ,,god8 ,if you love honour1 pleasure1 and a crown of glory1 come1 seek it where alone it can be found4 ,come1 put ye on the ,,lord ,,jesus4 ,come1 haste ye away and walk with ,,god1 and make no longer provision for the flesh1 to fulfil the lust thereof4 ,stop1 stop1 ,o sinner6 turn ye1 turn ye1 ,o ye unconverted men6 for the end of that way you are now walking in1 however right it may seem in your blinded eyes1 will be death1 even eternal destruction both of body and soul4 ,make no long tarrying1 ,i say3 at your peril1 ,i charge you1 step not one step further on in your present walk4 ,for how knowest thou1 ,o man1 but the next step thou takest may be into hell8 ,death may seize thee1 judgment find thee1 and then the great gulph will be fixed between thee and endless glory1 for ever and ever4 ,o think of these things1 all ye that are unwilling to come and walk with ,,god4 ,lay them to heart4 ,shew yourselves men1 and in the strength of ,,jesus say1 ,farewel lust of the flesh1 ,i will no more walk with thee6 ,farewel lust of the eye1 and pride of life6 ,farewel carnal acquaintance1 and enemies of the cross1 ,i will no more walk and be intimate with you6 ,welcome ,,jesus1 welcome thy word1 welcome thy ordinances1 welcome thy ,spirit1 welcome thy people1 ,i will henceforth walk with you4 ,o that there may be in you such a mind6 ,,god will set his almighty fiat to it1 and seal it with the broad seal of heaven1 even the signet of his ,holy ,spirit4 ,yes1 he will1 though you have been walking with1 and following after1 the devices and desires of your desperately wicked hearts1 ever since you have been born4 8,i the high and lofty one10 says the great ,jehovah1 8that inhabiteth eternity1 will dwell with the humble and contrite heart1 even with the man that trembleth at my word40 ,the blood1 even the precious blood of ,,jesus ,,christ1 if you come to the ,father in and through him1 shall cleanse you from all sin4 ,but the text leads me to speak to you that are saints1 as well as to you that are open or unconverted sinners4 ,i need not tell you that walking with ,,god is not only honourable1 but pleasant and profitable also3 for ye know it by happy experience1 and will find it more and more so every day4 ,only give me leave to stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance1 and to beseech you by the mercies of ,,god in ,,christ ,,jesus1 to take heed to yourselves1 and walk closer with your ,,god1 than you have in days past3 for the nearer you walk with ,,god1 the more you will enjoy of ,him whose presence is life1 and be the better prepared for being placed at his right-hand1 where are pleasures for evermore4 ,o do not follow ,,jesus afar off6 ,o be not so formal1 so dead and stupid in your attendance on holy ordinances6 ,do not so shamefully forsake the assembling yourselves together1 or be so niggardly1 and so indifferent about the things of ,,god4 ,remember what ,,jesus says of the church of ,laodicea1 8,because thou art neither hot nor cold1 ,i will spew thee out of my mouth40 ,think of the love of ,,jesus1 and let that love constrain you to keep near unto him2 and though you die for him1 do not deny him1 do not keep at a distance from him in any wise4 ,one word to my brethren in the ministry that are here present1 and ,i have done4 ,you see1 my brethren1 my heart is full2 ,i could almost say it is too big to speak1 and yet too big to be silent1 without dropping a word to you4 ,for does not the text speak in a particular manner to those who have the honour of being stiled the ambassadors of ,,christ1 and stewards of the mysteries of ,,god8 ,i observed at the beginning of this discourse1 that ,enoch in all probability was a public person1 and a flaming preacher4 ,though he be dead1 does he not yet speak to us1 to quicken our zeal1 and make us more active in the service of our glorious and ever-blessed ,master8 ,how did ,enoch preach8 ,how did ,enoch walk with ,,god1 though he lived in a wicked and adulterous generation8 ,let us then follow him1 as he followed ,,jesus ,,christ1 and ere long1 where he is1 there shall we be also4 ,he is now entered into his rest3 yet a little while1 and we shall enter into ours1 and that too much sooner than he did4 ,he sojourned here below three hundred years2 but blessed be ,,god1 the days of man are now shortened1 and in a few days our work will be over4 ,the ,judge is before the door3 he that cometh will come1 and will not tarry3 his reward is with him4 ,and we shall all 7if we are zealous for the ,,lord of ,hosts7 ere long shine as the stars in the firmament1 in the kingdom of our heavenly ,father1 for ever and ever4 ,to ,him1 the blessed ,,jesus1 and eternal ,spirit1 be all honour and glory1 now1 and to all eternity4 ,amen1 and ,amen4 ,,sermon ,,iii4 ,abraham's offering up his ,son ,isaac4 ,,genesis xxii4 #ab4 ,and he said1 ,lay not thine ,hand upon the ,lad1 neither do thou any thing unto him2 for now ,i know that thou fearest ,god1 seeing thou hast not withheld thy ,son1 thine only ,son from me4 ,,the great ,apostle ,paul1 in one of his epistles1 informs us1 that 8whatsoever was written aforetime was written for our learning1 that we through patience and comfort of the holy scripture might have hope40 ,and as without faith it is impossible to please ,,god1 or be accepted in ,,jesus1 the ,son of his love2 we may be assured1 that whatever instances of a more than common faith are recorded in the book of ,,god1 they were more immediately designed by the holy ,spirit for our learning and imitation1 upon whom the ends of the world are come4 ,for this reason1 the author of the epistle to the ,hebrews1 in the xith chapter1 mentions such a noble catalogue of ,old ,testament saints and martyrs1 8who subdued kingdoms1 wrought righteousness1 stopped the mouths of lions1 c4 and are gone before us to inherit the promises40 ,a sufficient confutation1 ,i think1 of their error1 who lightly esteem the ,old ,testament saints1 and would not have them mentioned to christians1 as persons whose faith and patience we are called upon more immediately to follow4 ,if this was true1 the apostle would never have produced such a cloud of witnesses out of the ,old ,testament1 to excite the christians of the first1 and consequently purest age of the church1 to continue stedfast and unmoveable in the profession of their faith4 ,amidst this catalogue of saints1 methinks the patriarch ,abraham shines the brightest1 and differs from the others1 as one star differeth from another star in glory2 for he shone with such distinguished lustre1 that he was called the 8friend of ,,god10 the 8father of the faithful20 and those who believe on ,,christ1 are said to be 8sons and daughters of1 and to be blessed with1 faithful ,abraham40 ,many trials of his faith did ,,god send this great and good man1 after he had commanded him to get out from his country1 and from his kindred1 unto a land which he should shew him2 but the last was the most severe of all1 ,i mean1 that of offering up his only son4 ,this1 by the divine assistance1 ,i propose to make the subject of your present meditation1 and1 by way of conclusion1 to draw some practical inferences1 as ,,god shall enable me1 from this instructive story4 ,the sacred penman begins the narrative thus2 verse #a4 8,and it came to pass1 after these things1 ,,god did tempt ,abraham40 ,after these things1 that is1 after he had underwent many severe trials before1 after he was old1 full of days1 and might flatter himself perhaps that the troubles and toils of life were now finished2 8after these things1 ,,god did tempt ,abraham40 ,christians1 you know not what trials you may meet with before you die3 notwithstanding you may have suffered1 and been tried much already1 yet1 it may be1 a greater measure is still behind1 which you are to fill up4 8,be not high-minded1 but fear40 ,our last trials1 in all probability1 will be the greatest3 and we can never say our warfare is accomplished1 or our trials finished1 till we bow down our heads1 and give up the ghost4 8,and it came to pass1 after these things1 that ,,god did tempt ,abraham40 8,,god did tempt ,abraham40 ,but can the scripture contradict itself8 ,does not the apostle ,james tell us1 8that ,,god tempts no man20 and ,,god does tempt no man to evil1 or on purpose to draw him into sin2 for1 when a man is thus tempted1 he is drawn away of his own heart's lust1 and enticed4 ,but in another sense1 ,,god may be said to tempt1 ,i mean1 to try his servants2 and in this sense we are to understand that passage of ,matthew1 where we are told1 that1 8,,jesus was led up by the ,spirit 7the good ,spirit7 into the wilderness1 to be tempted of the devil40 ,and our ,,lord1 in that excellent form of prayer which he has been pleased to give us1 does not require us to pray that we may not absolutely be led into temptation1 but delivered from the evil of it2 whence we may plainly infer1 that ,,god sees it fit sometimes to lead us into temptation1 that is1 to bring us into such circumstances as will try our faith and other christian graces4 ,in this sense we are to understand the expression before us2 8,,god did tempt or try ,abraham40 ,how ,,god was pleased to reveal his will at this time to his faithful servant1 whether by the ,shechinah1 or divine appearance1 or by a small still voice1 as he spoke to ,elijah1 or by a whisper1 like that of the ,spirit to ,philip1 when he commanded him to go join himself to the eunuch's chariot1 we are not told1 nor is it material to enquire4 ,it is enough that we are informed1 ,,god said unto him1 ,abraham2 and that ,abraham knew it was the voice of ,,god3 for he said1 8,behold1 here ,i am40 ,o what a holy familiarity 7if ,i may so speak7 is there between ,,god and those holy souls that are united to him by faith in ,,christ ,,jesus6 ,,god says1 ,abraham2 and ,abraham said 7it should seem without the least surprize7 ,behold1 here ,i am4 ,being reconciled to ,,god by the death and obedience of ,,christ1 which he rejoiced in1 and saw by faith afar off2 he did not1 like guilty ,adam1 seek the trees of the garden to hide himself from1 but takes pleasure in conversing with ,,god1 and talketh with him1 as a man talketh with his friend4 ,o that ,,christ-less sinners knew what it is to have fellowship with the ,father and the ,son6 ,they would envy the happiness of saints1 and count it all joy to be termed enthusiasts and fools for ,,christ's sake4 ,but what does ,,god say to ,abraham8 ,verse #b4 8,take now thy son1 thine only son ,isaac1 whom thou lovest1 and get thee into the land of ,moriah1 and offer him there for a burnt-offering upon one of the mountains which ,i shall tell thee of40 ,every word deserves our particular observation4 ,whatever he was to do1 he must do it now1 immediately1 without conferring with flesh and blood4 ,but what must he do8 8,take now thy son40 ,had ,,god said1 take now a firstling1 or choicest lamb or beast of thy flock1 and offer it up for a burnt-offering1 it would not have appeared so ghastly2 but for ,,god to say1 8take now thy son1 and offer him up for a burnt-offering10 one would have imagined1 was enough to stagger the strongest faith4 ,but this is not all3 it must not only be a son1 but 8thine only son ,isaac1 whom thou lovest40 ,if it must be a son1 and not a beast1 that must be offered1 why will not ,ishmael do1 the son of the bond-woman8 ,no1 it must be his only son1 the heir of all1 his ,isaac1 by interpretation laughter1 the son of his old age1 in whom his soul delighted1 8whom thou lovest10 says ,,god1 in whose life his own was wrapped up3 and this son1 this only son1 this ,isaac1 the son of his love1 must be taken now1 even now1 without delay1 and be offered up by his own father1 for a burnt offering1 upon one of the mountains of the which ,,god would tell him4 ,well might the apostle1 speaking of this man of ,,god1 say1 that 8against hope he believed in hope1 and1 being strong in faith1 gave glory to ,,god30 ,for1 had he not been blessed with faith which man never before had1 he must have refused to comply with this severe command4 ,for how many arguments might nature suggest1 to prove that such a command could never come from ,,god1 or to excuse himself from obeying it8 8,what6 7might the good man have said7 butcher my own child6 it is contrary to the very law of nature3 much more to butcher my dear son ,isaac1 in whose seed ,,god himself has assured me of a numerous posterity4 ,but supposing ,i could give up my own affections1 and be willing to part with him1 though ,i love him so dearly1 yet1 if ,i murder him1 what will become of ,,god's promise8 ,besides1 ,i am now like a city built upon a hill2 ,i shine as a light in the world1 in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation3 ,how then shall ,i cause ,,god's name to be blasphemed1 how shall ,i become a by-word among the heathen1 if they hear that ,i have committed a crime which they abhor6 ,but1 above all1 what will ,sarah my wife say8 ,how can ,i ever return to her again1 after ,i have imbrued my hands in my dear child's blood8 ,o that ,,god would pardon me in this thing1 or take my life in the place of my son's60 ,thus1 ,i say1 ,abraham might have argued1 and that too seemingly with great reason1 against complying with the divine command4 ,but as before by faith he considered not the deadness of ,sarah's womb1 when she was past age1 but believed on him1 who said1 8,sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed20 so now1 being convinced that the same ,,god spoke to and commanded him to offer up that son1 and knowing that ,,god was able to raise him from the dead1 without delay he obeys the heavenly call4 ,o that unbelievers would learn of faithful ,abraham1 and believe whatever is revealed from ,,god1 though they cannot fully comprehend it6 ,abraham knew ,,god commanded him to offer up his son1 and therefore believed1 notwithstanding carnal reasoning might suggest many objections4 ,we have sufficient testimony1 that ,,god has spoken to us by his son2 why should we not also believe1 though many things in the ,new ,testament are above our reason8 ,for1 where reason ends1 faith begins4 ,and1 however infidels may stile themselves reasoners1 of all men they are the most unreasonable3 ,for1 is it not contrary to all reason1 to measure an infinite by a finite understanding1 or think to find out the mysteries of godliness to perfection8 ,but to return to the patriarch ,abraham3 ,we observed before what plausible objections he might have made2 but he answered not a single word3 no1 without replying against his ,maker1 we are told1 verse #c4 that 8,abraham rose up early in the morning1 and saddled his ass1 and took two of his young men with him1 and ,isaac his son1 and clave the wood for the burnt-offering1 and rose up and went unto the place of which ,,god had told him40 ,from this verse we may gather1 that ,,god spoke to ,abraham in a dream1 or vision of the night3 ,for it is said1 he rose up early4 ,perhaps it was near the fourth watch of the night1 just before break of day1 when ,,god said1 ,take now thy son2 and ,abraham rises up early to do so2 as ,i doubt not but he used to rise early to offer up his morning-sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving4 ,it is often remarked of people in the ,old ,testament1 that they rose early in the morning2 and particularly of our ,,lord in the ,new1 that he rose a great while before day to pray4 ,the morning befriends devotion2 and1 if people cannot use so much self-denial as to rise early to pray1 ,i know not how they will be able to die at a stake 7if called to it7 for ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,the humility as well as the piety of the patriarch is observable3 he saddled his own ass 7great men should be humble27 and to shew his sincerity1 though he took two of his young men with him1 and ,isaac his son1 yet he keeps his design as a secret from them all3 nay1 he does not so much as tell ,sarah his wife3 for he knew not but she might be a snare unto him in this affair2 and1 as ,rebekah afterwards1 on another occasion1 advised ,jacob to flee1 so ,sarah also might persuade ,isaac to hide himself2 or the young men1 had they known of it1 might have forced him away1 as in after-ages the soldiers rescued ,jonathan out of the hands of ,saul4 ,but ,abraham sought no such evasion1 and therefore1 like an ,israelite indeed1 in whom there was no guile1 he himself resolutely 8clave the wood for the burnt-offering1 rose up and went unto the place of which ,,god had told him40 ,in the second verse ,,god commanded him to offer up his son upon one of the mountains which he would tell him of4 ,he commanded him to offer his son up1 but would not then directly tell him the place where3 this was to keep him dependent and watching unto prayer3 for there is nothing like being kept waiting upon ,,god2 and1 if we do1 assuredly ,,god will reveal himself unto us yet further in his own time4 ,let us practise what we know1 follow providence so far as we can see already2 and what we know not1 what we see not as yet1 let us only be found in the way of duty1 and the ,,lord will reveal even that unto us4 ,abraham knew not directly where he was to offer up his son2 but he rises up and sets forward1 and behold now ,,god shews him3 8,and he went to the place of which ,,god had told him40 ,let us go and do likewise4 ,verse #d4 8,then on the third day ,abraham lifted up his eyes1 and saw the place afar off40 ,so that the place1 of which ,,god had told him1 was no less than three days journey distant from the place where ,,god first appeared to him1 and commanded him to take his son4 ,was not this to try his faith1 and to let him see that what he did1 was not meerly from a sudden pang of devotion1 but a matter of choice and deliberation8 ,but who can tell what the aged patriarch felt during these three days8 ,strong as he was in faith1 ,i am persuaded his bowels often yearned over his dear son ,isaac4 ,methinks ,i see the good old man walking with his dear child in his hand1 and now and then looking upon him1 loving him1 and then turning aside to weep4 ,and perhaps1 sometimes he stays a little behind to pour out his heart before ,,god1 for he had no mortal to tell his case to4 ,then1 methinks1 ,i see him join his son and servants again1 and talking to them of the things pertaining to the kingdom of ,,god1 as they walked by the way4 ,at length1 8on the third day1 he lifts up his eyes1 and saw the place afar off40 ,and1 to shew that he was yet sincerely resolved to do whatsoever the ,,lord required of him1 he even now will not discover his design to his servants1 but 8said1 verse #e4 to his young men10 7as we should say to our worldly thoughts1 when about to tread the courts of the ,,lord's house7 8,abide you here with the ass2 and ,i and the lad will go up yonder and worship1 and come again to you40 ,this was a sufficient reason for their staying behind2 and1 it being their master's custom to go frequently to worship1 they could have no suspicion of what he was going about4 ,and by ,abraham's saying1 that he and the lad would come again1 ,i am apt to think he believed ,,god would raise him from the dead1 if so be he permitted him to offer his child up for a burnt-offering4 ,however that be1 he is yet resolved to obey ,,god to the uttermost2 and therefore1 ,verse #f4 8,abraham took the wood of the burnt-offering1 and laid it upon ,isaac his son2 and he took the fire in his hand1 and a knife1 and they went both of them together40 ,little did ,isaac think that he was to be offered on that very wood which he was carrying upon his shoulders2 and therefore ,isaac innocently1 and with a holy freedom 7for good men should not keep their children at too great a distance7 8spake unto ,abraham his father1 and said1 ,my father2 and he 7with equal affection and holy condescension7 said1 ,here am ,i1 my son40 ,and to shew how careful ,abraham had been 7as all christian parents ought to be7 to instruct his ,isaac how to sacrifice to ,,god1 like a youth trained up in the way wherein he should go2 ,isaac said1 8,behold the fire and the wood2 but where is the lamb for a burnt-offering80 ,how beautiful is early piety6 how amiable1 to hear young people ask questions about sacrificing to ,,god in an acceptable way6 ,isaac knew very well that a lamb was wanting1 and that a lamb was necessary for a proper sacrifice3 8,behold the fire and the wood2 but where is the lamb for a burnt-offering80 ,young men and maidens1 learn of him4 ,hitherto1 it is plain1 ,isaac knew nothing of his father's design3 but ,i believe1 by what his father said in answer to his question1 that now was the time ,abraham revealed it unto him4 ,verse #h4 8,and ,abraham said1 ,my son1 ,,god will provide himself a ,lamb for a burnt-offering40 ,some think1 that ,abraham by faith saw the ,,lord ,,jesus afar off1 and here spake prophetically of that ,lamb of ,,god already slain in decree1 and hereafter to be actually offered up for sinners4 ,this was a lamb of ,,god's providing indeed 7we dared not have thought of it7 to satisfy his own justice1 and to render him just in justifying the ungodly4 ,what is all our fire and wood1 the best preparation and performances we can make or present1 unless ,,god had provided himself this ,lamb for a burnt-offering8 ,he could not away with them4 ,the words will well bear this interpretation4 ,but1 whatever ,abraham might intend1 ,i cannot but think he here made an application1 and acquainted his son1 of ,,god's dealing with his soul2 and at length1 with tears in his eyes1 and the utmost affection in his heart1 cried out1 8,thou art to be the lamb1 my ,son20 ,,god has commanded me to provide thee for a burnt-offering1 and to offer thee upon the mountain which we are now ascending4 ,and1 as it appears from a subsequent verse1 ,isaac1 convinced that it was the divine will1 made no resistance at all3 ,for it is said1 8,they went both of them together20 and again1 when we are told1 that ,abraham bound ,isaac1 we do not hear of his complaining1 or endeavouring to escape1 which he might have done1 being 7as some think7 near thirty years of age1 and1 it is plain1 capable of carrying wood enough for a burnt-offering4 ,but he was partaker of the like precious faith with his aged father1 and therefore is as willing to be offered1 as ,abraham is to offer him3 ,and 8so they went both of them together40 ,verse #i4 ,at length 8they came to the place of which ,,god had told ,abraham4 ,he built an altar there1 and laid the wood in order1 and bound ,isaac his son1 and laid him on the altar upon the wood40 ,and here let us pause a while1 and by faith take a view of the place where the father has laid him4 ,i doubt not but the blessed angels hovered round the altar1 and sang1 8,glory be to ,,god in the highest10 for giving such faith to man4 ,come1 all ye tender-hearted parents1 who know what it is to look over a dying child3 fancy that you saw the altar erected before you1 and the wood laid in order1 and the beloved ,isaac bound upon it3 fancy that you saw the aged parent standing by weeping4 7,for1 why may we not suppose that ,abraham wept1 since ,,jesus himself wept at the grave of ,lazarus87 ,o what pious1 endearing expressions passed now alternately between the father and the son6 ,josephus records a pathetic speech made by each1 whether genuine ,i know not3 but methinks ,i see the tears trickle down the ,patriarch ,abraham's cheeks2 and out of the abundance of the heart1 he cries1 ,adieu1 adieu1 my son2 the ,,lord gave thee to me1 and the ,,lord calls thee away2 blessed be the name of the ,,lord3 adieu1 my ,isaac1 my only son1 whom ,i love as my own soul2 adieu1 adieu4 ,i see ,isaac at the same time meekly resigning himself into his heavenly ,father's hands1 and praying to the most ,high to strengthen his earthly parent to strike the stroke4 ,but why do ,i attempt to describe what either son or father felt8 ,it is impossible3 we may indeed form some faint idea of1 but shall never fully comprehend it1 till we come and sit down with them in the kingdom of heaven1 and hear them tell the pleasing story over again4 ,hasten1 ,o ,,lord1 that blessed time6 ,o let thy kingdom come6 8belove0 replaced with 8beloved0 ,and now1 the fatal blow is going to be given4 8,and ,abraham stretched forth his hand1 and took the knife to slay his son40 ,but do you not think he intended to turn away his head1 when he gave the blow8 ,nay1 why may we not suppose he sometimes drew his hand in1 after it was stretched out1 willing to take another last farewell of his beloved ,isaac1 and desirous to defer it a little1 though resolved at last to strike home8 ,be that as it will1 his arm is now stretched out1 the knife is in his hand1 and he is about to put it to his dear son's throat4 ,but sing1 ,o heavens6 and rejoice1 ,o earth6 ,man's extremity is ,,god's opportunity3 for behold1 just as the knife1 in all probability1 was near his throat1 verse #aa4 8the angel of the ,,lord1 7or rather the ,,lord of angels1 ,,jesus ,,christ1 the angel of the everlasting covenant7 called unto him1 7probably in a very audible manner7 from heaven1 and said1 ,abraham1 ,abraham4 7,the word is doubled1 to engage his attention2 and perhaps the suddenness of the call made him draw back his hand1 just as he was going to strike his son47 ,and ,abraham said1 ,here am ,i40 8,and he said1 ,lay not thine hand upon the lad1 neither do thou any thing unto him3 for now know ,i that thou fearest ,,god1 seeing thou hast not withheld thy son1 thine only son from me40 ,here then it was that ,abraham received his son ,isaac from the dead in a figure4 ,he was in effect offered upon the altar1 and ,,god looked upon him as offered and given unto him4 ,now it was that ,abraham's faith1 being tried1 was found more precious than gold purified seven times in the fire4 ,now as a reward of grace1 though not of debt1 for this signal act of obedience1 by an oath1 ,,god gives and confirms the promise1 8that in his seed all the nations of the earth should be blessed10 verse #ag1 #ah4 ,with what comfort may we suppose the good old man and his son went down from the mount1 and returned unto the young men6 ,with what joy may we imagine he went home1 and related all that had passed to ,sarah6 ,and above all1 with what triumph is he now exulting in the paradise of ,,god1 and adoring rich1 free1 distinguishing1 electing1 everlasting love1 which alone made him to differ from the rest of mankind1 and rendered him worthy of that title which he will have so long as the sun and the moon endure1 8,the ,father of the faithful60 ,but let us now draw our eyes from the creature1 and do what ,abraham1 if he was present1 would direct to2 ,i mean1 fix them on the ,creator1 ,,god blessed for evermore4 ,i see your hearts affected1 ,i see your eyes weep4 7,and indeed1 who can refrain weeping at the relation of such a story87 ,but1 behold1 ,i shew you a mystery1 hid under the sacrifice of ,abraham's only son1 which1 unless your hearts are hardned1 must cause you to weep tears of love1 and that plentifully too4 ,i would willingly hope you even prevent me here1 and are ready to say1 8,it is the love of ,,god1 in giving ,,jesus ,,christ to die for our sins40 ,yes2 that is it4 ,and yet perhaps you find your hearts1 at the mentioning of this1 not so much affected4 ,let this convince you1 that we are all fallen creatures1 and that we do not love ,,god or ,,christ as we ought to do3 for1 if you admire ,abraham offering up his ,isaac1 how much more ought you to extol1 magnify and adore the love of ,,god1 who so loved the world1 as to give his only begotten ,son ,,christ ,,jesus our ,,lord1 8that whosoever believeth on ,him should not perish1 but have everlasting life80 ,may we not well cry out1 ,now know we1 ,o ,,lord1 that thou hast loved us1 since thou hast not withheld thy ,son1 thine only ,son from us8 ,abraham was ,,god's creature 7and ,,god was ,abraham's friend7 and therefore under the highest obligation to surrender up his ,isaac4 ,but ,o stupendious love6 whilst we were his enemies1 ,,god sent forth his ,son1 made of a woman1 made under the law1 that he might become a curse for us4 ,o the freeness1 as well as the infinity1 of the love of ,,god our ,father6 ,it is unsearchable3 ,i am lost in contemplating it2 it is past finding out4 ,think1 ,o believers1 think of the love of ,,god1 in giving ,,jesus ,,christ to be a propitiation for our sins4 ,and when you hear how ,abraham built an altar1 and laid the wood in order1 and bound ,isaac his son1 and laid him on the altar upon the wood2 think how your heavenly ,father bound ,,jesus ,,christ his only ,son1 and offered him upon the altar of his justice1 and laid upon him the iniquities of us all4 ,when you read of ,abraham's stretching forth his hand to slay his ,son1 ,think1 ,o think1 how ,,god actually suffered his ,son to be slain1 that we might live for evermore4 ,do you read of ,isaac carrying the wood upon his shoulders1 upon which he was to be offered8 ,let this lead you to mount ,calvary 7this very mount of ,moriah where ,isaac was offered1 as some think7 and take a view of the antitype ,,jesus ,,christ1 the ,son of ,,god1 bearing and ready to sink under the weight of that cross1 on which he was to hang for us4 ,do you admire ,isaac so freely consenting to die1 though a creature1 and therefore obliged to go when ,,god called8 ,o do not forget to admire infinitely more the dear ,,lord ,,jesus1 that promised seed1 who willingly said1 8,lo1 ,i come10 though under no obligation so to do1 8to do thy will10 to obey and die for men1 8,o ,,god60 ,did you weep just now1 when ,i bid you fancy you saw the altar1 and the wood laid in order1 and ,isaac laid bound on the altar8 ,look by faith1 behold the blessed ,,jesus1 our all-glorious ,emmanuel1 not bound1 but nailed on an accursed tree3 see how he hangs crowned with thorns1 and had in derision of all that are round about him3 see how the thorns pierce him1 and how the blood in purple streams trickle down his sacred temples6 ,hark how the ,,god of nature groans6 ,see how he bows his head1 and at length humanity gives up the ghost6 ,isaac is saved1 but ,,jesus1 the ,,god of ,isaac1 dies3 ,a ram is offered up in ,isaac's room1 but ,,jesus has no substitute2 ,,jesus must bleed1 ,,jesus must die2 ,,god the ,father provided this ,lamb for himself from all eternity4 ,he must be offered in time1 or man must be damned for evermore4 ,and now1 where are your tears8 ,shall ,i say1 refrain your voice from weeping8 ,no2 rather let me exhort you to look to him whom you have pierced1 and mourn1 as a woman mourneth for her first-born3 for we have been the betrayers1 we have been the murderers of this ,,lord of glory2 and shall we not bewail those sins1 which brought the blessed ,,jesus to the accursed tree8 ,having so much done1 so much suffered for us1 so much forgiven1 shall we not love much8 ,o6 let us love ,him with all our hearts1 and minds1 and strength1 and glorify him in our souls and bodies1 for they are his4 ,which leads me to a second inference ,i shall draw from the foregoing discourse4 ,from hence we may learn the nature of true1 justifying faith4 ,whoever understands and preaches the truth1 as it is in ,,jesus1 must acknowledge1 that salvation is ,,god's free gift1 and that we are saved1 not by any or all the works of righteousness which we have done or can do3 no2 we can neither wholly nor in part justify ourselves in the sight of ,,god4 ,the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ is our righteousness2 and if we are accepted with ,,god1 it must be only in and through the personal righteousness1 the active and passive obedience1 of ,,jesus ,,christ his beloved ,son4 ,this righteousness must be imputed1 or counted over to us1 and applied by faith to our hearts1 or else we can in no wise be justified in ,,god's sight3 and that very moment a sinner is enabled to lay hold on ,,christ's righteousness by faith1 he is freely justified from all his sins1 and shall never enter into condemnation1 notwithstanding he was a fire-brand of hell before4 ,thus it was that ,abraham was justified before he did any good work3 he was enabled to believe on the ,,lord ,,christ2 it was accounted to him for righteousness2 that is1 ,,christ's righteousness was made over to him1 and so accounted his4 ,this1 this is gospel2 this is the only way of finding acceptance with ,,god3 good works have nothing to do with our justification in his sight4 ,we are justified by faith alone1 as saith the article of our church2 agreeable to which the apostle ,paul says1 8,by grace ye are saved1 through faith2 and that not of yourselves2 it is the gift of ,,god40 ,notwithstanding1 good works have their proper place3 they justify our faith1 though not our persons2 they follow it1 and evidence our justification in the sight of men4 ,hence it is that the apostle ,james asks1 was not ,abraham justified by works8 7alluding no doubt to the story on which we have been discoursing7 that is1 did he not prove he was in a justified state1 because his faith was productive of good works8 ,this declarative justification in the sight of men1 is what is directly to be understood in the words of the text2 8,now know ,i1 says ,,god1 that thou fearest me1 since thou hast not withheld thy ,son1 thine only ,son from me40 ,not but that ,,god knew it before2 but this is spoken in condescension to our weak capacities1 and plainly shews1 that his offering up his son was accepted with ,,god1 as an evidence of the sincerity of his faith1 and for this1 was left on record to future ages4 ,hence then you may learn1 whether you are blessed with1 and are sons and daughters of1 faithful ,abraham4 ,you say you believe2 you talk of free grace and free justification3 you do well2 the devils also believe and tremble4 ,but has the faith1 which you pretend to1 influenced your hearts1 renewed your souls1 and1 like ,abraham's1 worked by love8 ,are your affections1 like his1 set on things above8 ,are you heavenly-minded1 and like him1 do you confess yourselves strangers and pilgrims on the earth8 ,in short1 has your faith enabled you to overcome the world1 and strengthened you to give up your ,isaacs1 your laughter1 your most beloved lusts1 friends1 pleasures1 and profits for ,,god8 ,if so1 take the comfort of it2 for justly may you say1 8,we know assuredly1 that we do fear and love ,,god1 or rather are loved of him40 ,but if you are only talking believers1 have only a faith of the head1 and never felt the power of it in your hearts1 however you may bolster yourselves up1 and say1 8,we have ,abraham for our father1 or ,,christ is our ,saviour20 unless you get a faith of the heart1 a faith working by love1 you shall never sit with ,abraham1 ,isaac1 ,jacob1 or ,,jesus ,,christ1 in the kingdom of heaven4 ,but ,i must draw one more inference1 and with that ,i shall conclude4 ,learn1 ,o saints6 from what has been said1 to sit loose to all your worldly comforts2 and stand ready prepared to part with every thing1 when ,,god shall require it at your hand4 ,some of you perhaps may have friends1 who are to you as your own souls2 and others may have children1 in whose lives your own lives are bound up3 all ,i believe have their ,isaacs1 their particular delights of some kind or other4 ,labour1 for ,,christ's sake1 labour1 ye sons and daughters of ,abraham1 to resign them daily in affection to ,,god1 that1 when he shall require you really to sacrifice them1 you may not confer with flesh and blood1 any more than the blessed patriarch now before us4 ,and as for you that have been in any measure tried like unto him1 let his example encourage and comfort you4 ,remember1 ,abraham your father was tried so before you3 think1 ,o think of the happiness he now enjoys1 and how he is incessantly thanking ,,god for tempting and trying him when here below4 ,look up often by the eye of faith1 and see him sitting with his dearly beloved ,isaac in the world of spirits4 ,remember1 it will be but a little while1 and you shall sit with them also1 and tell one another what ,,god has done for your souls4 ,there ,i hope to sit with you1 and hear this story of his offering up his ,son from his own mouth1 and to praise the ,lamb that sitteth upon the throne1 for what he hath done for all our souls1 for ever and ever4 ,,sermon ,,iv4 ,the great ,duty of ,family-,religion4 ,,joshua xxiv4 #ae4 ,as for me and my ,house1 we will serve the ,,lord4 ,,these words contain the holy resolution of pious ,joshua1 who having in a most moving1 affectionate discourse recounted to the ,israelites what great things ,,god had done for them1 in the verse immediately preceding the text1 comes to draw a proper inference from what he had been delivering2 and acquaints them1 in the most pressing terms1 that since ,,god had been so exceeding gracious unto them1 they could do no less1 than out of gratitude for such uncommon favours and mercies1 dedicate both themselves and families to his service4 8,now therefore1 fear the ,,lord1 and serve him in sincerity and truth1 and put away the ,gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood40 ,and by the same engaging motive does the prophet ,samuel afterwards enforce their obedience to the commandments of ,,god1 #a ,samuel xii4 #bd4 8,only fear the ,,lord1 and serve him in truth1 with all your heart2 for consider how great things he hath done for you40 ,but then1 that they might not excuse themselves 7as too many might be apt to do7 by his giving them a bad example1 or think he was laying heavy burdens upon them1 whilst he himself touched them not with one of his fingers1 he tells them in the text1 that whatever regard they might pay to the doctrine he had been preaching1 yet he 7as all ministers ought to do7 was resolved to live up to and practise it himself3 8,chuse you therefore1 whom you will serve1 whether the ,gods which your fathers served1 or the ,gods of the ,amorites1 in whose land ye dwell3 but as for me and my house1 we will serve the ,,lord40 ,a resolution this1 worthy of ,joshua1 and no less becoming1 no less necessary for every true son of ,joshua1 that is intrusted with the care and government of a family in our day3 and1 if it was ever seasonable for ministers to preach up1 or people to put in practice family-religion1 it was never more so than in the present age2 since it is greatly to be feared1 that out of those many housholds that call themselves christians1 there are but few that serve ,,god in their respective families as they ought4 ,it is true indeed1 visit our churches1 and you may perhaps see something of the form of godliness still subsisting amongst us2 but even that is scarcely to be met with in private houses4 ,so that were the blessed angels to come1 as in the patriarchal age1 and observe our spiritual oeconomy at home1 would they not be tempted to say as ,abraham to ,abimilech1 8,surely1 the fear of ,,god is not in this place80 ,genesis xx4 #aa4 ,how such a general neglect of family-religion first began to overspread the christian world1 is difficult to determine4 ,as for the primitive christians1 ,i am positive it was not so with them3 ,no1 they had not so learned ,,christ1 as falsely to imagine religion was to be confined solely to their assemblies for public worship2 but1 on the contrary1 behaved with such piety and exemplary holiness in their private families1 that ,st4 ,paul often styles their house a church3 8,salute such a one1 says he1 and the church which is in his house40 ,and1 ,i believe1 we must for ever despair of seeing a primitive spirit of piety revived in the world1 till we are so happy as to see a revival of primitive family religion2 and persons unanimously resolving with good old ,joshua1 in the words of the text1 8,as for me and my house1 we will serve the ,,lord40 ,from which words1 ,i shall beg leave to insist on these three things4 ,i4 ,first1 ,that it is the duty of every governor of a family to take care1 that not only he himself1 but also that those committed to his charge1 8serve the ,,lord40 ,,ii4 ,secondly1 ,i shall endeavour to shew after what manner a governor and his houshold ought to serve the ,,lord4 ,and1 ,,iii4 ,thirdly1 ,i shall offer some motives1 in order to excite all governors1 with their respective housholds1 to serve the ,,lord in the manner that shall be recommended4 ,and ,first1 ,i am to shew that it is the duty of every governor of a family to take care1 that not only he himself1 but also that those committed to his charge1 should serve the ,,lord4 ,and this will appear1 if we consider that every governor of a family ought to look upon himself as obliged to act in three capacities3 as a prophet1 to instruct2 as a priest1 to pray for and with2 as a king1 to govern1 direct1 and provide for them4 ,it is true indeed1 the latter of these1 their kingly office1 they are not so frequently deficient in1 7nay in this they are generally too solicitous27 but as for the two former1 their priestly and prophetic office1 like ,gallio1 they care for no such things4 ,but however indifferent some governors may be about it1 they may be assured1 that ,,god will require a due discharge of these offices at their hands4 ,for if1 as the apostle argues1 8,he that does not provide for his own house10 in temporal things1 8has denied the faith1 and is worse than an infidel20 to what greater degree of apostasy must he have arrived1 who takes no thought to provide for the spiritual welfare of his family6 ,but farther1 persons are generally very liberal of their invectives against the clergy1 and think they justly blame the conduct of that minister who does not take heed to and watch over the flock1 of which the ,holy ,ghost has made him overseer3 but may not every governor of a family1 be in a lower degree liable to the same censure1 who takes no thought for those souls that are committed to his charge8 ,for every house is as it were a little parish1 every governor 7as was before observed7 a priest1 every family a flock3 and if any of them perish through the governor's neglect1 their blood will ,,god require at their hands4 ,was a minister to disregard teaching his people publicly1 and from house to house1 and to excuse himself by saying1 that he had enough to do to work out his own salvation with fear and trembling1 without concerning himself with that of others2 would you not be apt to think such a minister1 to be like the unjust judge1 8,one that neither feared ,,god1 nor regarded man80 ,and yet1 odious as such a character would be1 it is no worse than that governor of a family deserves1 who thinks himself obliged only to save his own soul1 without paying any regard to the souls of his houshold4 ,for 7as was above hinted7 every house is as it were a parish1 and every master is concerned to secure1 as much as in him lies1 the spiritual prosperity of every one under his roof1 as any minister whatever is obliged to look to the spiritual welfare of every individual person under his charge4 ,what precedents men who neglect their duty in this particular1 can plead for such omission1 ,i cannot tell4 ,doubtless not the example of holy ,job1 who was so far from imagining that he had no concern1 as governor of a family1 with any one's soul but his own1 that the scripture acquaints us1 8,when the days of his childrens feasting were gone about1 that ,job sent and sanctified them1 and offered burnt-offerings1 according to the number of them all2 for ,job said1 ,it may be that my sons have sinned and cursed ,,god in their hearts3 thus did ,job continually40 ,nor can they plead the practice of good old ,joshua1 whom1 in the text1 we find as much concerned for his houshold's welfare1 as his own4 ,nor lastly1 that of ,cornelius1 who feared ,,god1 not only himself1 but with all his house3 and were christians but of the same spirit of ,job1 ,joshua1 and the ,gentile centurion1 they would act as ,job1 ,joshua1 and ,cornelius did4 ,but alas6 if this be the case1 and all governors of families ought not only to serve the ,,lord themselves1 but likewise to see that their respective housholds do so too2 what will then become of those who not only neglect serving ,,god themselves1 but also make it their business to ridicule and scoff at any of their house that do8 ,who are not content with 8not entering into the kingdom of heaven themselves2 but those also that are willing to enter in1 they hinder40 ,surely such men are factors for the devil indeed4 ,surely their damnation slumbereth not3 for although ,,god1 in his good providence1 may suffer such stumbling-blocks to be put in his childrens way1 and suffer their greatest enemies to be those of their own housholds1 for a trial of their sincerity1 and improvement of their faith2 yet we cannot but pronounce a woe against those masters by whom such offences come4 ,for if those that only take care of their own souls1 can scarcely be saved1 where will such monstrous profane and wicked governors appear8 ,but hoping there are but few of this unhappy stamp1 proceed we now to the ,second thing proposed2 ,to shew after what manner a governor and his houshold ought to serve the ,,lord4 #a4 ,and the first thing ,i shall mention1 is1 reading the word of ,,god4 ,this is a duty incumbent on every private person4 8,search the scriptures1 for in them ye think ye have eternal life10 is a precept given by our blessed ,,lord indifferently to all3 but much more so1 ought every governor of a family to think it in a peculiar manner spoken to himself1 because 7as hath been already proved7 he ought to look upon himself as a prophet1 and therefore1 agreeably to such a character1 bound to instruct those under his charge in the knowledge of the word of ,,god4 ,this we find was the order ,,god gave to his peculiar people ,israel3 for thus speaks his representative ,moses1 ,deuteronomy vi4 #f1 #g4 8,these words10 that is1 the scripture words1 8which ,i command thee this day1 shall be in thy heart1 and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children10 that is1 as it is generally explained1 servants1 as well as children1 8and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house40 ,from whence we may infer1 that the only reason1 why so many neglect to read the words of scripture diligently to their children is1 because the words of scripture are not in their hearts3 for if they were1 out of the abundance of the heart their mouth would speak4 ,besides1 servants as well as children1 are1 for the generality1 very ignorant1 and mere novices in the laws of ,,god3 and how shall they know1 unless some one teach them8 ,and what more proper to teach them by1 than the lively oracles of ,,god1 8which are able to make them wise unto salvation80 ,and who more proper to instruct them by these lively oracles1 than parents and masters1 who 7as hath been more than once observed7 are as much concerned to feed them with spiritual1 as with bodily bread1 day by day4 ,but if these things be so1 what a miserable condition are those unhappy governors in1 who are so far from feeding those committed to their care with the sincere milk of the word1 to the intent they may grow thereby1 that they neither search the scriptures themselves1 nor are careful to explain them to others8 ,such families must be in a happy way indeed to do their ,master's will1 who take such prodigious pains to know it6 ,would not one imagine that they had turned converts to the ,church of ,rome2 that they thought ignorance to be the mother of devotion2 and that those were to be condemned as heretics who read their ,bibles8 ,and yet how few families are there amongst us1 who do not act after this unseemly manner6 ,but shall ,i praise them in this8 ,i praise them not3 ,brethren1 this thing ought not so to be4 #b4 ,pass we on now to the second means whereby every governor and his houshold ought to serve the ,,lord1 family-prayer4 ,this is a duty1 though as much neglected1 yet as absolutely necessary as the former4 ,reading is a good preparative for prayer1 as prayer is an excellent means to render reading effectual4 ,and the reason why every governor of a family should join both these exercises together1 is plain1 because a governor of a family cannot perform his priestly office 7which we before observed he is in some degree invested with7 without performing this duty of family prayer4 ,we find it therefore remarked1 when mention is made of ,cain and ,abel's offering sacrifices1 that they brought them4 ,but to whom did they bring them8 ,why1 in all probability1 to their father ,adam1 who1 as priest of the family1 was to offer sacrifice in their names4 ,and so ought every spiritual son of the second ,adam1 who is entrusted with the care of an houshold1 to offer up the spiritual sacrifices of supplications and thanksgivings1 acceptable to ,,god through ,,jesus ,,christ1 in the presence and name of all who wait upon1 or eat meat at his table4 ,thus we read our blessed ,,lord behaved1 when he tabernacled amongst us3 for it is said often1 that he prayed with his twelve disciples1 which was then his little family4 ,and he himself has promised a particular blessing to joint supplications3 8,wheresoever two or three are gathered together in my name1 there am ,i in the midst of them40 ,and again1 8,if two or three are agreed touching any thing they shall ask1 it shall be given them40 ,add to this1 that we are commanded by the ,apostle to 8pray always1 with all manner of supplication10 which doubtless includes family prayer4 ,and holy ,joshua1 when he set up the good resolution in the text1 that he and his houshold would serve the ,,lord1 certainly resolved to pray with his family1 which is one of the best testimonies they could give of their serving him4 ,besides1 there are no families but what have some common blessings1 of which they have been all partakers1 to give thanks for2 some common crosses and afflictions1 which they are to pray against2 some common sins1 which they are all to lament and bewail3 but how this can be done1 without joining together in one common act of humiliation1 supplication1 and thanksgiving1 is difficult to devise4 ,from all which considerations put together1 it is evident1 that family prayer is a great and necessary duty2 and consequently1 those governors that neglect it1 are certainly without excuse4 ,and it is much to be feared1 if they live without family prayer1 they live without ,,god in the world4 ,and yet1 such an hateful character as this is1 it is to be feared1 that was ,,god to send out an angel to destroy us1 as he did once to destroy the ,egyptian first-born1 and withal give him a commission1 as then1 to spare no houses but where they saw the blood of the lintel1 sprinkled on the door-post1 so now1 to let no families escape1 but those that called upon him in morning and evening prayer2 few would remain unhurt by his avenging sword4 ,shall ,i term such families christians or heathens8 ,doubtless they deserve not the name of christians2 and heathens will rise up in judgment against such profane families of this generation3 for they had always their houshold gods1 whom they worshipped1 and whose assistance they frequently invoked4 ,and a pretty pass those families surely are arrived at1 who must be sent to school to pagans4 ,but will not the ,,lord be avenged on such profane housholds as these8 ,will he not pour out his fury upon those that call not upon his name8 #c4 ,but it is time for me to hasten to the third and last means ,i shall recommend1 whereby every governor ought with his houshold to serve the ,,lord1 catechizing and instructing their children and servants1 and bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the ,,lord4 ,that this1 as well as the two former1 is a duty incumbent on every governor of an house1 appears from that famous encomium or commendation ,,god gives of ,abraham3 8,i know that he will command his children and his houshold after him1 to keep the way of the ,,lord1 to do justice and judgment40 ,and indeed scarce any thing is more frequently pressed upon us in holy writ1 than this duty of catechising4 ,thus1 says ,,god in a passage before cited1 8,thou shalt teach these words diligently unto thy children40 ,and parents are commanded in the ,new ,testament1 to 8breed up their children in the nurture and admonition of the ,,lord40 ,the holy ,psalmist acquaints us1 that one great end why ,,god did such great wonders for his people1 was1 8to the intent that when they grew up1 they should shew their children1 or servants1 the same40 ,and in ,deuteronomy vi4 at the #bjth and following verses1 ,,god strictly commands his people to instruct their children in the true nature of the ceremonial worship1 when they should enquire about it1 as he supposed they would do1 in time to come4 ,and if servants and children were to be instructed in the nature of ,jewish rites1 much more ought they now to be initiated and grounded in the doctrines and first principles of the gospel of ,,christ3 not only1 because it is a revelation1 which has brought life and immortality to a fuller and clearer light1 but also1 because many seducers are gone abroad into the world1 who do their utmost endeavour to destroy not only the superstructure1 but likewise to sap the very foundation of our most holy religion4 ,would then the present generation have their posterity be true lovers and honourers of ,,god2 masters and parents must take ,solomon's good advice1 and train up and catechise their respective housholds in the way wherein they should go4 ,i am aware but of one objection1 that can1 with any shew of reason1 be urged against what has been advanced2 which is1 that such a procedure as this will take up too much time1 and hinder families too long from their worldly business4 ,but it is much to be questioned1 whether persons that start such an objection1 are not of the same hypocritical spirit as the traitor ,judas1 who had indignation against devout ,mary1 for being so profuse of her ointment1 in anointing our blessed ,,lord1 and asked why it might not be sold for two hundred pence1 and given to the poor4 ,for has ,,god given us so much time to work for ourselves1 and shall we not allow some small pittance of it1 morning and evening1 to be devoted to his more immediate worship and service8 ,have not people read1 that it is ,,god who gives men power to get wealth1 and therefore that the best way to prosper in the world1 is to secure his favour8 ,and has not our blessed ,,lord himself promised1 that if we seek first the kingdom of ,,god and his righteousness1 all outward necessaries shall be added unto us8 ,abraham1 no doubt1 was a man of as great business as such objectors may be2 but yet he would find time to command his houshold to serve the ,,lord4 ,nay1 ,david was a king1 and consequently had a great deal of business upon his hands2 yet notwithstanding1 he professes that he would walk in his house with a perfect heart4 ,and1 to instance but one more1 holy ,joshua was a person certainly engaged very much in temporal affairs2 and yet he solemnly declares before all ,israel1 that as for him and his houshold1 they would serve the ,,lord4 ,and did persons but redeem their time1 as ,abraham1 ,david1 or ,joshua did1 they would no longer complain1 that family duties kept them too long from the business of the world4 ,,iii4 ,but my ,third and ,last general head1 under which ,i was to offer some motives1 in order to excite all governors1 with their respective housholds1 to serve the ,,lord in the manner before recommended1 ,i hope1 will serve instead of a thousand arguments1 to prove the weakness and folly of any such objection4 #a4 ,and the first motive ,i shall mention is the duty of gratitude1 which you that are governors of families owe to ,,god4 ,your lot1 every one must confess1 is cast in a fair ground3 providence hath given you a goodly heritage1 above many of your fellow-creatures2 and therefore1 out of a principle of gratitude1 you ought to endeavour1 as much as in you lies1 to make every person of your respective housholds to call upon him as long as they live3 not to mention1 that the authority1 with which ,,god has invested you as parents and governors of families1 is a talent committed to your trust1 and which you are bound to improve to your ,master's honour4 ,in other things we find governors and parents can exercise lordship over their children and servants readily1 and frequently enough can say to one1 ,go1 and he goeth2 and to another1 ,come1 and he cometh2 to a third1 ,do this1 and he doeth it4 ,and shall this power be so often employed in your own affairs1 and never exerted in the things of ,,god8 ,be astonished1 ,o heavens1 at this6 ,thus did not faithful ,abraham2 no1 ,,god says1 that he knew ,abraham would command his servants and children after him4 ,thus did not ,joshua3 no1 he was resolved not only to walk with ,,god himself1 but to improve his authority in making all about him do so too3 8,as for me and my houshold1 we will serve the ,,lord40 ,let us go and do likewise4 #b4 ,but ,secondly1 ,if gratitude to ,,god will not1 methinks love and pity to your children should move you1 with your respective families1 to serve the ,,lord4 ,most people express a great fondness for their children3 nay so great1 that very often their own lives are wrapped up in those of their offspring4 8,can a woman forget her sucking child1 that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb80 says ,,god by his ,prophet ,isaiah4 ,he speaks of it as a monstrous thing1 and scarce credible2 but the words immediately following1 affirm it to be possible1 8,yea1 they may forget30 and experience also assures us they may4 ,father and mother may both forsake their children3 for what greater degree of forgetfulness can they express towards them1 than to neglect the improvement of their better part1 and not bring them up in the knowledge and fear of ,,god8 ,it is true indeed1 parents seldom forget to provide for their childrens bodies1 7though1 it is to be feared1 some men are so far sunk beneath the beasts that perish1 as to neglect even that7 but then how often do they forget1 or rather1 when do they remember1 to secure the salvation of their immortal souls8 ,but is this their way of expressing their fondness for the fruit of their bodies8 ,is this the best testimony they can give of their affection to the darling of their hearts8 ,then was ,dalilah fond of ,samson1 when she delivered him up into the hands of the ,philistines3 then were those ruffians well affected to ,daniel1 when they threw him into a den of lions4 #c4 ,but ,thirdly1 ,if neither gratitude to ,,god1 nor love and pity to your children1 will prevail on you2 yet let a principle of common honesty and justice move you to set up the holy resolution in the text4 ,this is a principle which all men would be thought to act upon4 ,but certainly1 if any may be truly censured for their injustice1 none can be more liable to such censure1 than those who think themselves injured if their servants withdraw themselves from their bodily work1 and yet they in return take no care of their inestimable souls4 ,for is it just that servants should spend their time and strength in their master's service1 and masters not at the same time give them what is just and equal for their service8 ,it is true1 some men may think they have done enough when they give unto their servants food and raiment1 and say1 8,did not ,i bargain with thee for so much a year80 ,but if they give them no other reward than this1 what do they less for their very beasts8 ,but are not servants better than they8 ,doubtless they are3 and however masters may put off their convictions for the present1 they will find a time will come1 when they shall know they ought to have given them some spiritual as well as temporal wages2 and the cry of those that have mowed down their fields1 will enter into the ears of the ,,lord of ,sabaoth4 duplicate word 8the0 removed #d4 ,but ,fourthly1 ,if neither gratitude to ,,god1 pity to children1 nor a principle of common justice to servants1 are sufficient to balance all objections2 yet let that darling1 that prevailing motive of self-interest turn the scale1 and engage you with your respective housholds to serve the ,,lord4 ,this weighs greatly with you in other matters3 be then persuaded to let it have a due and full influence on you in this3 and if it has1 if you have but faith as a grain of mustard-seed1 how can you avoid believing1 that promoting family-religion1 will be the best means to promote your own temporal1 as well as eternal welfare8 ,for 8,godliness has the promise of the life that now is1 as well as that which is to come40 ,besides1 you all1 doubtless1 wish for honest servants1 and pious children3 and to have them prove otherwise1 would be as great a grief to you1 as it was to ,elisha to have a treacherous ,gehazi1 or ,david to be troubled with a rebellious ,absalom4 ,but how can it be expected they should learn their duty1 except those set over them1 take care to teach it to them8 ,is it not as reasonable to expect you should reap where you had not sown1 or gather where you had not strawed8 ,did christianity1 indeed1 give any countenance to children and servants to disregard their parents and masters according to the flesh1 or represent their duty to them1 as inconsistent with their entire obedience to their father and master who is in heaven1 there might then be some pretence to neglect instructing them in the principles of such a religion4 ,but since the precepts of this pure and undefiled religion1 are all of them holy1 just1 and good2 and the more they are taught their duty to ,,god1 the better they will perform their duties to you2 methinks1 to neglect the improvement of their souls1 out of a dread of spending too much time in religious duties1 is acting quite contrary to your own interest as well as duty4 #e4 ,fifthly and ,lastly1 ,if neither gratitude to ,,god1 love to your children1 common justice to your servants1 nor even that most prevailing motive self-interest1 will excite2 yet let a consideration of the terrors of the ,,lord persuade you to put in practice the pious resolution in the text4 ,remember1 the time will come1 and that perhaps very shortly1 when we must all appear before the judgment-seat of ,,christ2 where we must give a solemn and strict account how we have had our conversation1 in our respective families in this world4 ,how will you endure to see your children and servants 7who ought to be your joy and crown of rejoicing in the day of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ7 coming out as so many swift witnesses against you2 cursing the father that begot them1 the womb that bare them1 the paps which they have sucked1 and the day they ever entered into your houses8 ,think you not1 the damnation which men must endure for their own sins1 will be sufficient1 that they need load themselves with the additional guilt of being accessary to the damnation of others also8 ,o consider this1 all ye that forget to serve the ,,lord with your respective housholds1 8lest he pluck you away1 and there be none to deliver you60 ,but ,,god forbid1 brethren1 that any such evil should befal you3 no1 rather will ,i hope1 that you have been in some measure convinced by what has been said of the great importance of family-religion2 and therefore are ready to cry out in the words immediately following the text1 8,,god forbid that we should forsake the ,,lord20 and again1 verse #ba1 8,nay1 but we will 7with our several housholds7 serve the ,,lord40 ,and that there may be always such a heart in you1 let me exhort all governors of families1 in the name of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 often to reflect on the inestimable worth of their own souls1 and the infinite ransom1 even the precious blood of ,,jesus ,,christ1 which has been paid down for them4 ,remember1 ,i beseech you to remember1 that you are fallen creatures2 that you are by nature lost and estranged from ,,god2 and that you can never be restored to your primitive happiness1 till by being born again of the ,holy ,ghost1 you arrive at your primitive state of purity1 have the image of ,,god restamped upon your souls1 and are thereby made meet to be partakers of the inheritance with the saints in light4 ,do1 ,i say1 but seriously and frequently reflect on1 and act as persons that believe such important truths1 and you will no more neglect your family's spiritual welfare than your own4 ,no1 the love of ,,god1 which will then be shed abroad in your hearts1 will constrain you to do your utmost to preserve them2 and the deep sense of ,,god's free grace in ,,christ ,,jesus1 7which you will then have7 in calling you1 will excite you to do your utmost to save others1 especially those of your own houshold4 ,and though1 after all your pious endeavours1 some may continue unreformed2 yet you will have this comfortable reflection to make1 that you did what you could to make your families religious3 and therefore may rest assured of sitting down in the kingdom of heaven1 with ,abraham1 ,joshua1 and ,cornelius1 and all the godly housholders1 who in their several generations shone forth as so many lights in their respective housholds upon earth4 ,amen4 ,,sermon ,v4 ,,christ the best ,husband3 ,or an earnest ,invitation to ,young ,women to come and see ,,christ4 ,preached to a ,society of ,young ,women1 in ,fetter-,lane4 ,,psalm xlv4 #aj1 #aa4 ,hearken1 ,o ,daughter1 and consider1 and incline thine ,ear3 ,forget also thine own ,people1 and thy ,father's ,house3 ,so shall the ,king greatly desire thy ,beauty2 for he is thy ,lord1 and worship thou him4 ,,this psalm is called the song of loves1 the most pure and spiritual1 the most dear and delightful loves2 namely1 those which are between ,,christ the beloved1 and his church1 which is his spouse2 wherein is set forth1 first1 the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ in regard of his majesty1 power1 and divinity1 his truth1 meekness and equity3 ,and then the spouse is set forth1 in regard of her ornaments1 companions1 attendants and posterity2 and both in regard of their comeliness and beauty4 ,after the description of ,,christ1 an invitation to his espousals1 is given the children of men1 called by the name of daughter2 and therefore1 particularly applicable unto you1 my dear sisters1 as being the daughters of men1 yet not so as excluding the sons of men4 ,i shall now1 therefore1 consider the words1 as spoken to you in particular1 and containing this doctrine2 ,that the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ doth invite the daughters of men to be his spouse2 and is exceeding desirous of their beauty2 who1 forgetting their people and father's house1 do hearken1 consider and incline to his invitation1 and join themselves to him in this relation4 ,i shall shew1 ,i4 ,how ,,christ doth espouse himself unto the children1 but1 more especially1 unto the daughters of men4 ,the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 doth espouse himself unto the children of men1 in this world1 but the public solemnization of the marriage1 is reserved until the last day2 when his spouse shall be brought forth to him1 in white robes1 and a raiment of perfect righteousness1 more rich and curious1 my dear sisters1 than any of your needle-work2 and the marriage feast will be kept in his ,father's house1 in heaven1 where they shall be received into the nearest and closest embraces of his love4 ,the marriage knot is tied here1 in which are included four things3 ,first1 ,mutual ,choice4 ,secondly1 ,mutual ,affection4 ,thirdly1 ,mutual ,union4 ,fourthly1 ,mutual ,obligation4 ,first1 ,my dear sisters1 there is a mutual choice1 which is not only in ,,christ1 as ,mediator1 but also by ,,christ as the eternal ,son of ,,god1 yea1 ,,god himself2 notwithstanding all that the polite ,arians and ,socinians say to the contrary4 ,the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 my dear sisters1 doth chuse you merely by his free grace2 it is freely of his own mercy1 that he brings you into the marriage covenant3 ,you1 who have so grievously offended him1 yet1 the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ hath chosen you2 you did not1 you would not have chosen him2 but when once1 my dear sisters1 he hath chosen you1 then1 and not till then1 you make choice of him for your ,lord and ,husband4 ,the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ when he first comes to you1 finds you full of sin and pollution2 you are deformed1 defiled1 enslaved1 poor1 miserable and wretched1 very despicable and loathsome1 by reason of sin2 and he maketh choice of you1 not because of your holiness1 nor of your beauty1 nor of your being qualified for them2 no1 the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ puts those qualifications upon you1 as may make you meet for his embrace2 and you are drawn to make choice of this ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ because he first chose you4 ,secondly1 ,in this espousal of your's1 my dear sisters1 there is a mutual affection2 this doth accompany the choice4 ,your hearts are drawn out after ,,christ2 your souls pant and long for him2 you cannot be at rest until you are engaged to this ,,jesus3 ,you are ready to cry out continually1 none but ,,christ1 none but ,,christ3 this is the language of your hearts1 if you are truly sensible of your need of him4 ,the more acquaintance you have of this ,,lord ,,jesus1 the more pleased you are with your choice1 and the more your affections are drawn towards him4 ,and where can you place your affections better than upon that ,,jesus who shed his blood for your sakes8 ,surely he deserves both your loves and affections3 ,go on1 go on1 my dear sisters1 that your affections may grow stronger and stronger4 ,thirdly1 ,there is not only mutual choice1 and mutual affection1 but likewise mutual ,union3 ,and here doth the marriage lie chiefly1 in this union2 ,,christ and souls are contracted1 and the knot is tied so fast1 that neither men on earth1 how great soever they be1 nor devils in hell1 though they should combine all their wrath and rage together1 still they cannot dissolve1 they cannot untie it2 no1 my dear sisters1 it is indissolvable1 for the union is1 by the spirit1 on ,,christ's part1 and by faith on your's3 ,by the spirit1 ,,christ doth lay hold on you2 and by faith1 you do lay hold on him2 and thus the match is made2 ,,christ becomes your's1 his person1 portion1 and all his benefits are your's2 and you become ,,christ's1 your persons1 your hearts1 and all that you have is resigned up unto him2 and ,o that they may be so more and more4 ,fourthly1 ,there is a mutual ,obligation between ,,christ and his spouse4 ,,christ obliges himself to love you here2 he will not1 indeed he never will leave you1 he will protect you from the malice of the ,pharisees of this generation1 he will provide for you in all difficulties2 he will live with you here1 and at last he will take you to himself1 to live with him for ever4 ,and you are engaged to him to be loving1 loyal1 faithful1 obedient2 and you are to stick close to him as long as you live2 and then you will find yourselves to be married to the best advantage1 both for soul and body1 for time and for eternity4 ,,ii4 ,,christ doth ,invite all of you to be his spouse4 ,and it is on this account that he sends forth his ministers to preach4 ,it is this1 that makes me thus come among you2 that you would accept of this invitation1 to which1 in the name of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 ,i do call and intreat you to take him1 on his own terms4 ,he calls all of you1 my sisters1 whether elder or younger1 whether married or unmarried1 of higher degree1 or of the meanest quality1 the poorest servants1 yea1 the rabble of this world1 as the world calls you1 who are willing to be espoused unto the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,i say1 the poor are as welcome to be ,,christ's spouse as those that are rich4 ,he regardeth not the rich more than the poor3 he chose a mean virgin1 espoused to a carpenter1 to be his mother2 and he chuseth and calleth all such to be his spouse2 then be not discouraged at your being despised in the world2 for if you are but loved by ,,christ1 and espoused to him1 it will be an over-sufficiency for all the trouble that you have met with here4 ,,iii4 ,those who would be espoused unto ,,christ1 must hearken1 consider1 and incline to his invitation1 and forget even their father's house4 ,such as would be espoused unto ,,christ must hearken4 8,hearken1 ,o daughter40 ,many amongst you1 my sisters1 stop their ears against the calls of the gospel2 they shut their ears like the deaf adder1 which will not hearken unto the voice of the charmer1 though he charm never so wisely4 ,you will not hearken unto the invitations of ,,christ2 you can hearken unto the vanities of the world1 and be delighted with the espousals of the world1 but never think1 or are delighted with the espousals of ,,christ4 ,it was by the ear1 that the temptation of sin was received by the first man1 when he departed from ,,god2 and by the ear1 the invitation to be ,,christ's spouse must be received1 before the heart will be opened to receive ,,jesus ,,christ in this conjugal relation4 ,if you would1 my dear sisters1 be espoused to ,,christ1 you must consider ,,christ's invitation4 ,it is not a slight or bare hearing of ,,christ's invitation1 which will be of any service to you1 or make up the match between ,,christ and your souls2 no1 you must receive ,,christ in the heart2 you must consider the thing itself1 the advantages of it1 the difference between ,,christ's invitations and the devil's temptations1 or any of the world's proffers4 ,those who would be espoused to ,,christ1 must be inclined to accept of ,,christ's invitation4 8,hearken1 ,o daughter1 consider and incline thine ear40 ,this is to incline your hearts3 ,you must consent with your wills2 there must be a compliance to the motion of ,,christ1 and you must have desires after ,,christ1 and then your hearts will say1 #8,,lord1 let us be thy spouse1 and be thou our beloved4' 8you0 replaced with 8your0 ,you must likewise forget your father's house4 8,hearken1 ,o daughter1 and consider1 and forget thy father's house40 ,you are not here to cast off all affections unto natural relations2 but you must forget all relations1 so as to be ready to forego all their favour1 when it standeth in competition with that of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ2 and do not let your carnal friends and relations hinder you from closing with1 and espousing the ,,lord ,,jesus4 ,i earnestly beseech you to suffer the loss of any thing1 rather than to lose his favours2 you must indeed forget your own people1 that is1 you must forget all your evil customs which you have learned in your father's house1 and forsake all your vain conversation1 your reading of plays1 novels1 or romances2 and you must keep from learning to sing the songs of the drunkard2 for ,,christ1 if you are his spouse1 hath redeemed you4 ,such of you1 my dear sisters1 as are espoused to the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ are very beautiful4 ,i do not mean in respect of your bodies2 you may have less of external comeliness than others1 in respect of your bodies1 but as to your souls you will exceed in beauty1 not so much in the eyes of man1 as in the eyes of ,,god2 such have the most beautiful image of ,,god stamped upon them2 none in the world1 beside them1 have the least spark of spiritual beauty4 ,such as are not married to ,,christ1 are unregenerated1 they are not born again1 nor brought from sin unto ,,god1 which must be done before you be espoused to ,,christ4 ,and the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ desireth to see this beauty in his spouse1 for he cries out1 8,o my dove1 thou art in the clefts of the rock1 in the secret places of the stairs1 let me see thy countenance1 let me hear thy voice1 for sweet is thy voice1 and thy countenance is comely40 ,he calleth his spouse his love1 being the dear object of his love2 and he admireth her loveliness2 he repeats it twice in one verse1 8,behold thou art fair1 my love1 behold thou art fair40 ,thus you see he describes their beauty4 ,and then1 my sisters1 we have a wonderful expression of ,,christ to his spouse1 8,thou hast ravished my heart1 my sister1 my spouse1 thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes1 with one chain of thy neck40 ,thus you see how pleased the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ is with his spouse2 and will not you1 therefore1 be espoused unto the ,,lord ,,jesus8 ,i offer ,,jesus ,,christ to all of you2 if you have been never so notorious for sin1 if you have been as great a harlot as ,mary ,magdalen was1 when once you are espoused to ,,christ1 you shall be forgiven4 ,therefore be not discouraged1 at whatever slights and contempts the world may pass upon you1 but come and join yourselves to the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 and all your sins shall be washed away in his blood2 and when once you are espoused to ,,jesus1 you are disjoined from sin1 you are born again4 ,you are now1 as it were1 espoused unto sin2 sin is your husband1 and you are too fond of it1 but when once you are married to ,,christ1 when you are born again1 then you may be said to die unto sin2 but till then1 sin liveth in your affections2 therefore1 my sisters1 give sin its death-wound in your hearts2 you have been called by the word time after time1 and it has had no effect upon you2 but when you are espoused unto the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 then you will be brought to him by his ,spirit3 ,you will then lay hold on him by faith1 his ,spirit will draw you unto himself2 he will make you to be willing in the day of his power2 he will give you faith in him4 ,faith is the hand of the soul which layeth hold on ,,christ2 therefore1 do not rest contented till you have this grace of faith wrought in you with power2 do not be contented till you have received the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,embrace ,,christ in the arms of your dearest love2 then you love the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ with sincerity1 when you love and esteem him before father1 mother1 or all the delights and pleasures of this life2 but if you do delight in any thing that this world can produce1 more than in the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 you have no true love to him4 ,if you are espoused to ,,christ1 you have acquaintance and converse with him2 you will endeavour to promote his interest1 and advance his name in the world2 when others are going to the polite and fashionable diversions of life1 you will be labouring to bring honour to the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ2 you will commend your beloved above all other beloveds1 and endeavour to bring others into love to him4 ,can you1 my dear sisters1 who are now assembled to worship ,,god1 shew such evidence of your espousals unto the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ8 ,o6 how joyful1 how comfortable an estate is this6 ,surely this is a marriage worth seeking after2 this is the only desirable marriage1 and the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ is the only lover that is worth seeking after4 ,now1 my dear sisters1 ,i shall speak a few words to those of you who have not yet espoused yourselves to the ,,lord ,,jesus4 ,it is a great sin1 and surely you highly affront the ,,lord that bought you4 ,it is likewise your folly to refuse and neglect the gracious proffers of being the spouse of ,,christ2 hereby you forfeit all that love which he would bestow upon you2 hereby you chuse rags before robes1 dross before gold1 pebbles before jewels1 guilt before a pardon1 wounds before healing1 defilement before cleansing1 deformity before comeliness1 trouble before peace1 slavery before liberty1 the service of the devil before the service of ,,christ4 ,hereby you chuse dishonour before a crown1 death before life1 hell before heaven1 eternal misery and torment before everlasting joy and glory4 ,and need there a farther evidence of your folly and madness1 in refusing and neglecting ,,christ to be your spouse4 ,my dear sisters1 ,i should exceed the limits of your time1 should ,i particularize all the advantages which you would obtain by being espoused to the ,,lord ,,jesus4 ,this is your wisdom2 they are foolish virgins who refuse2 but you are the wise virgins who have accepted of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 and have disposed of yourselves to him2 you have made the wisest choice2 and however the blind world may deem you fools1 and despise you as being methodically mad1 yet you are wise in the esteem of ,,god1 and will1 one day1 appear so in the esteem of them that now despise you4 ,it is your glory that you are espoused unto the ,,lord ,,jesus2 and therefore glory in your espousal2 glory not in yourselves1 but in the ,,lord who hath thus freely and graciously bestowed these favours upon you4 ,it is your safety to be espoused unto the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 he will protect and defend you even from sin and satan1 and eternal ruin2 and therefore thus far you are safe2 he hath a regard for you in times of danger from men1 and these times of danger seem to be hastening2 it is now arising as a black cloud no bigger than a man's hand1 and by and by it will overspread the heavens1 and when it is full it will burst2 but if you are espoused to ,,christ1 you are safe4 ,now1 my dear sisters1 ,i shall conclude with an earnest exhortation to high and low1 rich and poor1 one with another1 to be espoused unto ,,christ4 ,let me speak unto you1 young women1 who are not yet espoused unto ,,christ1 in an especial manner4 ,it may be to satisfy your curiosity1 has brought many of you here2 though1 perhaps1 this may be the time when you shall be brought home to embrace the ,,lord ,,jesus1 and be espoused to him4 ,and ,o1 that ,i may persuade you1 by his ,spirit1 to espouse yourselves unto the ,,lord of life4 ,and if you are but brought to close with the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 ,i shall attain my end1 and then both you and ,i shall rejoice that ,i preached this sermon to you4 ,come virgins1 will you give me leave to be a suitor unto you1 not in my own name1 but in the name of the ,,lord8 ,o6 that ,i may prevail with you for your affections1 and persuade you to give them unto ,,christ6 ,may ,i be instrumental of bringing your souls to ,,christ6 ,may ,i be instrumental to join you and ,,christ together this day6 ,be not coy1 as some of you possibly are in other loves3 modesty and the virgin blush may very well become you1 when proposals of another kind are made unto you2 but here coyness is folly1 and backwardness to accept of this motion1 is shame3 you have ten thousand times more reason to blush at the refusal of ,,christ for your beloved1 than at the acceptance2 when otherwise the devil and sin would ravish your virgin affections4 ,never had you a better motion made to you2 never was such a match proffered to you as this1 of being matched and espoused unto the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,consider who the ,,lord ,,jesus is1 whom you are invited to espouse yourselves unto2 he is the best husband2 there is none comparable to ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,do you desire one that is great8 ,he is of the highest dignity1 he is the glory of heaven1 the darling of eternity1 admired by angels1 dreaded by devils1 and adored by saints4 ,for you to be espoused to so great a king1 what honour will you have by this espousal8 ,do you desire one that is rich8 ,none is comparable to ,,christ1 the fulness of the earth belongs to him4 ,if you be espoused to ,,christ1 you shall share in his unsearchable riches2 you shall receive of his fulness1 even grace for grace here1 and you shall hereafter be admitted to glory1 and shall live with this ,,jesus to all eternity4 ,do you desire one that is wise8 ,there is none comparable to ,,christ for wisdom4 ,his knowledge is infinite1 and his wisdom is correspondent thereto4 ,and if you are espoused to ,,christ1 he will guide and counsel you1 and make you wise unto salvation4 ,do you desire one that is potent1 who may defend you against your enemies1 and all the insults and reproaches of the ,pharisees of this generation8 ,there is none that can equal ,,christ in power2 for the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ hath all power4 ,do you desire one that is good8 ,there is none like unto ,,christ in this regard2 others may have some goodness1 but it is imperfect2 ,,christ's goodness is compleat and perfect1 he is full of goodness1 and in him dwelleth no evil4 ,do you desire one that is beautiful8 ,his eyes are most sparkling1 his looks and glances of love are ravishing1 his smiles are most delightful and refreshing unto the soul3 ,,christ is the most lovely person of all others in the world4 ,do you desire one that can love you8 ,none can love you like ,,christ3 ,his love1 my dear sisters1 is incomprehensible2 his love passeth all other loves3 ,the love of the ,,lord ,,jesus is first1 without beginning2 his love is free without any motive2 his love is great without any measure2 his love is constant without any change1 and his love is everlasting4 ,it was the love of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 my dear sisters1 which brought him down from heaven2 and which veiled his divinity in a human soul and body2 for he is ,,god over all blessed for ever3 ,it was love that made him subject to hunger1 thirst and sorrow2 he was humbled1 even unto death for you2 for you who are espoused to him1 he underwent the painful1 shameful and ignominious death of the cross3 and can you1 my sisters1 hear this1 and not be concerned to think that the blessed ,,jesus underwent all this for such sinful creatures as you and ,i are8 ,and when out of love he had finished the redemption on earth1 as to what was needful for satisfaction2 it was his love that carried him back to heaven1 where he was before1 that he might make application of what he had purchased1 that there he might make intercession for those whom he had redeemed1 and prepare a place for them1 even glorious mansions with himself1 in the house not made with hands1 which is eternal in the heavens4 ,it is out of love that he sendeth such tokens to his people from heaven to earth1 which he conveyeth through his ordinances1 by his ,spirit unto them4 ,surely then none is so deserving as the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ for you to espouse yourselves unto3 if you be espoused unto ,,christ he is your's1 all that he is1 all that he hath2 you shall have his heart1 and share in the choicest expressions of his dearest love4 ,the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 my dear sisters1 doth beseech you to be his spouse4 ,we ministers have a commission from the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ to invite you1 in his name1 unto this very thing2 and ,,christ's invitations are real2 general2 frequent2 earnest2 free4 ,,christ's invitations of you1 to be his spouse1 are real2 and as the thing is real1 so you1 my dear sisters1 are really invited unto it4 ,the ,,lord doth not mock and dissemble with you1 as some pretending lovers1 who dissemble love unto virgins1 until they have gained their affections1 and then falsely and basely relinquish them1 never really intending either to espouse1 or marry them3 but the ,,lord doth really intend the thing1 in his invitations of you2 he never cast off any whose consent and affections he had gained4 ,again1 ,,christ's invitations of you1 my dear sisters1 are general4 ,all of you are invited1 none of you are excluded2 all sorts of sinners are invited2 the most vile and abominable sinners1 the most notorious transgressors are invited to be ,,christ's spouse1 and shall be as welcome as any unto the embraces of his love4 ,,christ's invitations of you are frequent3 ,,jesus ,,christ calls on you frequently2 he hath waited on you time after time1 one year after another2 and he doth now invite you1 by me this day1 to come unto ,him4 ,do not slight this invitation1 but receive it with joy and thankfulness4 ,come1 ,i beseech you1 to this ,,jesus1 who thus invites you to be his spouse4 ,again1 ,,christ's invitations to be his spouse are earnest2 he doth call upon you1 and not only call1 but call earnestly too2 yea1 he useth many arguments with you3 he will press you to come unto him2 he is loth to take any denial from you3 he knocks1 and knocks hard at the door of your hearts for entertainment2 and surely you will not deny the ,,lord of life and glory who died for you1 and gave himself for you3 ,o my dear sisters1 let this be the evening of your espousals to the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,he invites you freely to be his spouse1 for all his invitations are free2 he doth not expect a portion with you1 as worldly lovers do2 ,he wants nothing of you3 nay1 you must have nothing1 if you be espoused unto the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,if you be poor1 miserable1 blind1 naked1 ,,jesus ,,christ will supply all these defects of his own free mercy2 he will fill and supply you with all things out of his treasury2 he will make you meet for himself2 he will prepare you to live with him for ever4 ,consider1 if you be once espoused unto ,,christ1 if once joined in this relation1 you shall never be separated from him2 neither men nor devils shall be able to separate you3 none1 none1 shall disjoin you2 and when death doth break all other bonds1 it shall not break the conjugal bond between you and ,,christ1 but bring you unto the most full and everlasting possession of your beloved4 ,and what do you now say1 young women8 shall ,i have a grant for my master1 or be sent away with a repulse and refusal2 no1 ,i cannot carry such a message to my master2 ,i hope better things of you1 my sisters1 and things which accompany salvation3 methinks by this time ye should begin to have a mind unto ,,jesus ,,christ2 you look as if you did desire2 you hearken as if you would consent4 ,what do you say8 ,shall the match be made up this evening between ,,christ and your souls8 ,o that ,i may be instrumental in joining your hands1 or rather your hearts together3 ,o that ,i may be instrumental to tie that knot1 which never can be unloosed4 ,some marry in haste1 and repent at leisure2 but if you were once espoused unto ,,jesus ,,christ1 you would never repent2 nothing would grieve you1 but that you were not joined to him sooner2 and you would not be disjoined again for all the world4 ,shall this be the day of your espousals8 ,some of you have stayed a long time2 and will you defer any longer8 ,if you will not now1 perhaps you may never have another opportunity2 this may be the last time of asking2 and therefore it is dangerous to refuse3 some of you are very young1 too young for other espousals2 but none of you1 my dear sisters1 are too young to be espoused unto the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ3 in other espousals1 you must have the consent of your parents2 but in this you are at your own disposal2 you may give1 and ought to match yourselves to ,,christ1 whether parents do consent or not4 ,but if any of you should ask1 what you must do that you may be espoused unto ,,christ8 ,you must be sensible of your need of being espoused to him2 and untill you are sensible of your need of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 you cannot be espoused to him3 ,you must have desires after this ,,jesus1 and seek unto him for an interest in him2 you must cry nightly unto him to espouse you to himself3 put off the filthiness of sin and all its defilements2 and then1 my sisters1 put on the white raiment1 and clean garments1 which ,,christ hath provided for you1 the robes of his righteousness2 in these garments you shall be beautiful2 and in these garments you shall be accepted3 you must have the wedding garment on2 you must put off all your own good works1 for they will be but a means to keep you from ,,christ2 no1 you must come as not having your own righteousness1 which is of the law1 but you must have the righteousness of ,,christ4 ,therefore1 come unto the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 and he will give it to you2 he will not send you away without it4 ,receive him upon his own terms1 and he is your's for ever3 ,o devote yourselves to him1 soul and body1 and all1 to be his for ever2 and ,,christ will be your's1 and then happy1 happy you1 that ever you were born6 ,but if any of you die before this espousal unto the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 then woe1 woe1 unto you1 that ever you had a being in life2 but if you go to ,,christ you shall be espoused unto the ,,lord ,,jesus3 though your sins have been never so great1 yea1 the blood of ,,christ will cleanse you from them2 the marriage covenant between ,,christ and your souls will dissolve all your sins2 you will then be weary of your old ways1 for all things will become new in your souls4 ,now1 my dear ,sisters1 ,i shall conclude by just speaking a word or two to those of you1 who are already espoused unto the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,o admire1 admire the rich and free grace1 which hath brought you to this relation3 ,is not this an instance of the greatest of love1 that you should be the spouse of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ8 ,you that had no beauty1 you that had no comeliness1 that was full of sin1 that ,he should embrace such as you and ,i are2 that we should be taken into the embrace of this ,,lord ,,jesus4 ,o infinite condescending kindness6 ,o amazing love6 ,reverence1 reverence1 ,i beseech you1 this ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,he is your ,,lord1 and you must reverence him1 love and be faithful unto him1 be subject to him1 and careful to please him in every thing2 endeavour to keep up a daily communion with him2 look1 long and prepare for ,,christ's second appearance1 when the nuptials between you shall be solemnized1 and you live with him in mansions of everlasting joys1 where you shall love and live with this king of glory for ever and ever4 ,i know not how to conclude2 methinks ,i could speak to you till midnight1 if it would bring you unto the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 and make you be espoused to him1 for indeed1 that will be the espousal which will turn to the greatest advantage1 as you will find by experience1 if you will but make the trial2 and that you may do so1 my prayers and my constant endeavours shall be used4 ,i will1 my dear sisters1 spend and be spent for you1 and by the assistance of ,,god1 will persevere in this that ,i have begun2 and as many of you may have opportunity some evening in the week1 without breaking in on the business of life2 ,i shall therefore1 my sisters1 either be here1 or where you shall be publicly acquainted with3 ,i will not mind being reproached or despised3 the men of this world may use what language they please2 they may say ,i am a ,methodist4 ,indeed1 my sisters1 ,i am resolved1 by the grace of ,,god1 to use all methods ,i can1 to pluck you from ,satan1 that you may be as brands plucked from the burning fire3 this shall be my method1 which ,i hope will be the means of effectually saving your precious and immortal souls4 ,and if ,i am the instrument of this1 ,i shall rejoice1 yea1 and ,i will rejoice in spight of what men1 or devils1 can say or do to the contrary3 and may the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ direct1 and assist me at all times1 to act what will be most for his glory1 and the welfare of your souls3 and may you all say a hearty ,amen thereto4 8,now the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 who is ,,god over all1 blessed for ever1 assist and watch over you1 keep you from all evil and sin here1 and present you before his ,father faultless at the great day of account6 ,to this ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 the ,father1 and the blessed ,spirit1 three persons and but one eternal and invisible ,,god1 be ascribed all honour1 power1 glory1 might1 majesty and dominion1 now1 henceforth1 and for ever more4 ,amen1 ,amen40 8,the grace of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 the love of ,,god1 and the fellowship of the ,holy ,ghost be with you all1 to comfort under1 and deliver you from tribulation2 to preserve you to your respective places of abode2 and when there1 to keep you in his fear1 that you may live to his glory2 that to live may be ,,christ's1 and to die be your eternal gain2 so that you may live with him through eternal ages1 and sing ,hallelujahs to him for ever4 ,amen40 ,,sermon ,,vi4 ,britain's ,mercies1 and ,britain's ,duty4 ,preached at ,philadelphia1 on ,sunday1 ,august #bd1 #agdf4 and occasioned by the ,suppression of the late unnatural ,rebellion4 ,,psalm cv4 #de4 ,that they might observe his ,statutes and keep his ,laws4 ,,men1 brethren1 and fathers1 and all ye to whom ,i am about to preach the kingdom of ,,god1 ,i suppose you need not be informed1 that being indispensibly obliged to be absent on your late thanksgiving-day1 ,i could not shew my obedience to the governor's proclamation1 as my own inclination led me1 or as might justly be expected from1 and demanded of me4 ,but as the occasion of that day's thanksgiving is yet1 and ,i trust ever will be1 fresh in our memory1 ,i cannot think that a discourse on that subject can even now be altogether unseasonable4 ,i take it for granted1 further1 that you need not be informed1 that among the various motives which are generally urged to enforce obedience to the divine commands1 that of love is the most powerful and cogent4 ,the terrors of the law may affright and awe1 but love dissolves and melts the heart4 8,the love of ,,christ10 says the great apostle of the ,gentiles1 8constraineth us40 ,nay1 love is so absolutely necessary for those that name the name of ,,christ1 that without it1 their obedience cannot truly be stiled evangelical1 or be acceptable in the sight of ,,god4 8,although1 7says the apostle7 ,i bestow all my goods to feed the poor1 and though ,i give my body to be burnt1 and have not charity10 7i4 e4 unless unfeigned love to ,,god1 and to mankind for his great name's sake1 be the principle of such actions1 howsoever it may benefit others7 8it profiteth me nothing40 ,this is the constant language of the lively oracles of ,,god4 ,and1 from them it is equally plain1 that nothing has a greater tendency to beget and excite such an obediential love in us1 than a serious and frequent consideration of the manifold mercies we receive time after time from the hands of our heavenly ,father4 ,the royal psalmist1 who had the honour of being stiled1 8the man after ,,god's own heart10 had an abundant experience of this4 ,hence it is1 that whilst he is musing on the divine goodness1 the fire of divine love kindles in his soul2 and1 out of the abundance of his heart1 his mouth speaketh such grateful and extatic language as this4 8,what shall ,i render unto the ,,lord for all his mercies8 ,bless the ,,lord1 ,o my soul1 and all that is within me1 bless his holy name40 ,and why8 8who forgiveth all thine iniquities1 who healeth all thy diseases1 who redeemeth thy life from destruction1 who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies40 ,and when the same holy man of ,,god had a mind to stir up the people of the ,jews to set about a national reformation1 as the most weighty and prevailing argument he could make use of for that purpose1 he lays before them1 as it were1 in a draught1 many national mercies1 and distinguishing deliverances1 which have been conferred upon and wrought out for them1 by the most high ,,god4 ,the psalm to which the words of our text belong1 is a pregnant proof of this2 it being a kind of epitome or compendium of the whole ,jewish history3 at least it contains an enumeration of many signal and extraordinary blessings the ,israelites had received from ,,god1 and also the improvement they were in duty bound to make of them1 8,observe his statutes and keep his laws40 ,to run through all the particulars of the psalm1 or draw a parallel 7which might with great ease and justice be done7 between ,,god's dealings with us and the ,israelites of old3 ,to enumerate all the national mercies bestowed upon1 and remarkable deliverances wrought out for the kingdoms of ,great-,britain and ,ireland1 from the infant state of ,william the ,norman to their present manhood1 and more than ,augustan maturity1 under the auspicious reign of our rightful ,sovereign ,king ,george the second2 howsoever pleasing and profitable it might be at any other time1 would1 at this juncture1 prove1 if not an irksome1 yet an unreasonable undertaking4 ,the occasion of the late solemnity1 ,i mean the suppression of a most horrid and unnatural rebellion1 will afford more than sufficient matter for a discourse of this nature1 and furnish us with abundant motives to love and obey that glorious ,jehovah1 who giveth salvation unto kings1 and delivers his people from the hurtful sword4 ,need ,i make an apology1 before this auditory1 if1 in order to see the greatness of our late deliverance1 ,i should remind you of the many unspeakable blessings which we have for a course of years enjoyed1 during the reign of his present ,majesty1 and the gentle1 mild administration under which we live8 ,without justly incurring the censure of giving flattering titles1 ,i believe all who have eyes to see1 and ears to hear1 and are but a little acquainted with our public affairs1 must acknowledge1 that we have one of the best of ,kings4 ,it is now above nineteen years since he began to reign over us4 ,and yet1 was he seated on a royal throne1 and were all his subjects placed before him1 was he to address them as ,samuel once addressed the ,israelites1 8,behold here ,i am1 old and grey-headed1 witness against me before the ,,lord1 whose ox have ,i taken8 ,or whose ass have ,i taken8 ,or whom have ,i defrauded8 ,whom have ,i oppressed80 ,they must1 if they would do him justice1 make the same answer as was given to ,samuel1 8,thou hast not defrauded us1 nor oppressed us40 ,what ,tertullus1 by way of flattery1 said to ,felix1 may with the strictest justice be applied to our sovereign1 8,by thee we enjoy great quietness1 and very worthy deeds have been done unto our nation by thy providence40 ,he has been indeed ,pater ,patri1 a father to our country1 and though old and grey-headed1 has jeoparded his precious life for us in the high places of the field4 ,nor has he less deserved the great and glorious title1 which the ,,lord promises1 that kings should sustain in the latter days1 ,i mean1 8a nursing father of the church40 ,for not only the ,church of ,england1 as by law established1 but all denominations of christians whatsoever1 have enjoyed their religious as well as civil liberties4 ,as there has been no authorized oppression in the state1 so there has been no publicly allowed persecution in the church4 ,we breathe indeed in free air2 as free 7if not freer7 both as to temporals and spirituals1 as any nation under heaven4 ,nor is the prospect likely to terminate in his majesty's death1 which ,i pray ,,god to defer4 ,our princesses are disposed of to protestant powers4 ,and we have great reason to be assured1 that the present heir apparent1 and his consort1 are like minded with their royal father4 ,and ,i cannot help thinking1 that it is a peculiar blessing vouchsafed us by the ,king of kings1 that his present ,majesty has been continued so long among us4 ,for now1 his immediate successor 7though his present situation obliges him1 as it were1 to lie dormant7 has great and glorious opportunities1 which we have reason to think he daily improves1 of observing and weighing the national affairs1 considering the various steps and turns of government1 and consequently of laying in a large fund of experience1 to make him a wise and great prince1 if ever ,,god should call him to sway the ,british sceptre4 ,happy art thou1 ,o ,england6 ,happy art thou1 ,o ,america1 who on every side art thus highly favoured6 ,but1 alas6 how soon would this happy scene have shifted1 and a melancholy gloomy prospect have succeeded in its room1 had the rebels gained their point1 and a popish abjured pretender been forced upon the ,british throne6 ,for1 supposing his birth not to be spurious1 7as we have great reason to think it really was7 what could we expect from one1 descended from a father1 who1 when ,duke of ,york1 put all ,scotland into confusion2 and afterwards1 when crowned ,king of ,england1 for his arbitrary and tyrannical government1 both in church and state1 was justly obliged to abdicate the throne1 by the assertors of ,british liberty8 ,or1 supposing the horrid plot1 first hatched in hell1 and afterwards nursed at ,rome1 had taken place2 supposing1 ,i say1 the old ,pretender should have obtained the triple crown1 and have transferred his pretended title 7as it is reported he has done7 to his eldest son1 what was all this for1 but that1 by being advanced to the popedom1 he might rule both son and subjects with less controul1 and by their united interest1 keep the three kingdoms of ,england1 ,scotland1 and ,ireland1 in greater vassallage to the see of ,rome8 ,ever since this unnatural rebellion broke out1 ,i have looked upon the young ,pretender as the phaeton of the present age4 ,he is ambitiously and presumptuously aiming to seat himself in the throne of our rightful sovereign ,king ,george1 which he is no more capable of keeping1 than ,phaeton was to guide the chariot of the sun2 and had he succeeded in his attempt1 like him1 would only have set the world on fire4 ,it is true1 to do him justice1 he has deserved well of the ,church of ,rome1 and1 in all probability1 will hereafter be canonized amongst the noble order of their fictitious saints4 ,but1 with what an iron rod we might expect to have been bruised1 had his troops been victorious1 may easily be gathered from those cruel orders said to be found in the pockets of some of his officers1 8,give no quarters to the ,elector's troops40 ,add to this1 that there was great reason to suspect1 that1 upon the first news of the success of the rebels1 a general massacre was intended4 ,so that if the ,,lord had not been on our side1 ,great ,britain1 not to say ,america1 would1 in a few weeks or months1 have been an ,aceldama1 a field of blood4 8arbritrary0 replaced with 8arbitrary0 ,besides1 was a ,popish ,pretender to rule over us1 instead of being represented by a free parliament1 and governed by laws made by their consent1 as we now are2 we should shortly have had only the shadow of one1 and it may be1 no parliament at all4 ,this is the native product of a ,popish government1 and what the unhappy family1 from which this young adventurer pretends he descended1 has always aimed at4 ,arbitrary principles he has sucked in with his mother's milk1 and if he had been so honest1 instead of that immature motto upon his standard1 ,tandem triumphans1 only to have put1 ,stet pro ratione ,voluntas1 he had given us a short1 but true portrait of the nature of his intended1 but blessed be ,,god1 now defeated reign4 ,and why should ,i mention1 that the sinking of the national debt1 or rending away the funded property of the people1 and the dissolution of the present happy union between the two kingdoms1 would have been the immediate consequences of his success1 as he himself declares in his second manifesto1 dated from ,holy-rood ,house8 ,these are evils1 and great ones too2 but then they are only evils of a temporary nature4 ,they chiefly concern the body1 and must necessarily terminate in the grave4 ,but1 alas6 what an inundation of spiritual mischiefs1 would soon have overflowed the ,church1 and what unspeakable danger should we and our posterity have been reduced to in respect to our better parts1 our precious and immortal souls8 ,how soon would whole swarms of monks1 dominicans and friars1 like so many locusts1 have overspread and plagued the nation2 with what winged speed would foreign titular bishops have posted over1 in order to take possession of their respective sees8 ,how quickly would our universities have been filled with youths who have been sent abroad by their ,popish parents1 in order to drink in all the superstitions of the church of ,rome8 ,what a speedy period would have been put to societies of all kinds1 for promoting christian knowledge1 and propagating the gospel in foreign parts8 ,how soon would our pulpits have every where been filled with these old antichristian doctrines1 free-will1 meriting by works1 transubstantiation1 purgatory1 works of supererogation1 passive-obedience1 non-resistance1 and all the other abominations of the whore of ,babylon8 ,how soon would our protestant charity schools in ,england1 ,scotland and ,ireland1 have been pulled down1 our ,bibles forcibly taken from us1 and ignorance every where set up as the mother of devotion8 ,how soon should we have been deprived of that invaluable blessing1 liberty of conscience1 and been obliged to commence 7what they falsely call7 catholicks1 or submit to all the tortures which a bigoted zeal1 guided by the most cruel principles1 could possibly invent8 ,how soon would that mother of harlots have made herself once more drunk with the blood of the saints8 ,and the whole tribe even of free-thinkers themselves1 been brought to this dilemma1 either to die martyrs for1 7although ,i never yet heard of one that did so7 or1 contrary to all their most avowed principles1 renounce their great ,diana1 unassisted1 unenlightened reason8 ,but ,i must have done1 lest while ,i am speaking against antichrist1 ,i should unawares fall myself1 and lead my hearers into an antichristian spirit4 ,true and undefiled religion will regulate our zeal1 and teach us to treat even the man of sin with no harsher language than that which the angel gave to his grand employer ,satan1 8,the ,,lord rebuke thee40 ,glory be to ,,god's great name6 the ,,lord has rebuked him2 and that too at a time when we had little reason to expect such a blessing at ,,god's hands4 ,my dear hearers1 neither the present frame of my heart1 nor the occasion of your late solemn meeting1 lead me to give you a detail of our public vices4 ,though1 alas6 they are so many1 so notorious1 and withal of such a crimson-dye1 that a gospel minister would not be altogether inexcusable1 was he1 even on such a joyful occasion1 to lift up his voice like a trumpet1 to shew the ,british nation their transgression1 and the people of ,america their sin4 ,however1 though ,i would not cast a dismal shade upon the pleasing picture the cause of our late rejoicings set before us2 yet thus much may1 and ought to be said1 that as ,,god has not dealt so bountifully with any people as with us1 so no nation under heaven has dealt more ungratefully with ,him4 ,we have been like ,capernaum1 lifted up to heaven in privileges1 and for the abuse of them1 like her1 have deserved to be thrust down into hell4 ,how well soever it may be with us1 in respect to our civil and ecclesiastical constitution1 yet in regard to our morals1 ,isaiah's description of the ,jewish polity is too applicable1 8,the whole head is sick1 the whole heart is faint2 from the crown of the head to the sole of our feet1 we are full of wounds and bruises1 and putrifying sores40 ,we have1 ,jeshurun-like1 waxed fat and kicked4 ,we have played the harlot against ,,god1 both in regard to principles and practices4 8,our gold is become dim1 and our fine gold changed40 ,we have crucified the ,son of ,,god afresh1 and put him to an open shame4 ,nay1 ,,christ has been wounded in the house of his friends4 ,and every thing long ago seemed to threaten an immediate storm4 ,but1 ,o the long-suffering and goodness of ,,god to us-ward6 ,when all things seemed ripe for destruction1 and matters were come to such a crisis1 that ,,god's praying people began to think1 that though ,noah1 ,daniel and ,job1 were living1 they would only deliver their own souls2 yet then in the midst of judgment the ,most ,high remembered mercy1 and when a popish enemy was breaking in upon us like a flood1 the ,,lord himself graciously lifted up a standard4 ,this to me does not seem to be one of the most unfavourable circumstances which have attended this mighty deliverance2 nor do ,i think you will look upon it as a circumstance altogether unworthy your observation4 ,had this cockatrice indeed been crushed in the egg1 and the young ,pretender driven back upon his first arrival1 it would undoubtedly have been a great blessing4 ,but not so great as that for which you lately assembled to give ,,god thanks3 for then his ,majesty would not have had so good an opportunity of knowing his enemies1 or trying his friends4 ,the ,british subjects would in a manner have lost the fairest occasion that ever offered to express their loyalty and gratitude to the rightful sovereign4 ,france would not have been so greatly humbled2 nor such an effectual stop have been put1 as we trust there now is1 to any such further ,popish plot1 to rob us of all that is near and dear to us4 8,out of the eater therefore hath come forth meat1 and out of the strong hath come forth sweetness40 ,the ,pretender's eldest son is suffered not only to land in the ,north-,west ,highlands in ,scotland1 but in a little while he becomes a great band4 ,this for a time is not believed1 but treated as a thing altogether incredible4 ,the friends of the government in those parts1 not for want of loyalty1 but of sufficient authority to take up arms1 could not resist him4 ,he is permitted to pass on with his terrible banditti1 and1 like the comet that was lately seen1 spreads his baleful influences all around him4 ,he is likewise permitted to gain a short-liv'd triumph by a victory over a body of our troops at ,preston-,pans1 and to take a temporary possession of the metropolis of ,scotland4 ,of this he makes his boast1 and informs the public1 that 8,providence had hitherto favoured him with wonderful success1 led him in the way to victory1 and to the capital of the antient kingdom1 though he came without foreign aid40 ,nay1 he is further permitted to press into the very heart of ,england4 ,but now the ,almighty interposes4 ,hitherto he was to go1 and no further4 ,here were his malicious designs to be staid4 ,his troops of a sudden are driven back4 ,away they post to the ,highlands1 and there they are suffered not only to increase1 but also to collect themselves into a large body1 that having1 as it were1 what ,caligula once wished ,rome had1 but one neck1 they might be cut off with one blow4 ,the time1 manner1 and instrument of this victory1 deserves our notice4 ,it was on a general fast-day1 when the clergy and good people of ,scotland were lamenting the disloyalty of their perfidious countrymen1 and1 like ,moses1 lifting up their hands1 that ,amalek might not prevail4 ,the victory was total and decisive4 ,little blood was spilt on the side of the ,royalists4 ,and1 to crown all1 ,duke ,william1 his ,majesty's youngest son1 has the honour of first driving back1 and then defeating the rebel-army4 ,a prince1 who in his infancy and youth1 gave early proofs of an uncommon bravery and nobleness of mind2 a prince1 whose courage has increased with his years4 ,who returned wounded from the battle of ,dettingen1 behaved with surprizing bravery at ,fontenoy1 and now1 by a conduct and magnanimity becoming the high office he sustains1 like his glorious predecessor the ,prince of ,orange1 has delivered three kingdoms from the dread of popish cruelty1 and arbitrary power4 ,what renders it still more remarkable is1 ,the day on which his ,highness gained this victory1 was the day after his birth-day1 when he was entering on the #bfth year of his age2 and when ,sullivan1 one of the ,pretender's privy-council1 like another ,ahitophel1 advised the rebels to give our soldiers battle1 presuming they were surfeited and over-charged with their yesterday's rejoicings1 and consequently unfit to make any great stand against them4 ,but1 glory be to ,,god1 who catches the wise in their own craftiness6 his counsel1 like ,ahitophel's1 proves abortive4 ,both ,general and soldiers were prepared to meet them4 8,,god taught their hands to war1 and their fingers to fight10 and brought the ,duke1 after a deserved slaughter of some thousands of the rebels1 with most of his brave soldiers1 victorious from the field4 ,if we then take a distinct view of this notable transaction1 and trace it in all the particular circumstances that have attended it1 ,i believe we must with one heart and voice confess1 that if it be a mercy for a state to be delivered from a worse than a ,catiline's conspiracy1 or a church to be rescued from a hotter than a ,dioclesian persecution2 if it be a mercy to be delivered from a religion that turns plough-shares into swords1 and pruning-hooks into spears1 and makes it meritorious to shed protestant blood2 if it be a mercy to have all our present invaluable privileges1 both in church and state1 secured to us more than ever2 if it be a mercy to have these great things done for us1 at a season1 when for our crying sins1 both church and state justly deserved to be overturned2 and if it be a mercy to have all this brought about for us1 under ,,god1 by one of the blood-royal1 a prince acting with an experience far above his years2 if any1 or all of these are mercies1 then have you lately commemorated one of the greatest mercies that ever the glorious ,,god vouchsafed to the ,british nation4 ,and shall we not rejoice and give thanks8 ,should we refuse1 would not the stones cry out against us8 ,rejoice then we may and ought3 but1 ,o let our rejoicing be in the ,,lord1 and run in a religious channel4 ,this1 we find1 has been the practice of ,,god's people in all ages4 ,when he was pleased1 with a mighty hand1 and out-stretched arm1 to lead the ,israelites through the ,red-,sea1 as on dry ground1 8,then sang ,moses and the children of ,israel2 and ,miriam the prophetess1 the sister of ,aaron1 took a timbrel in her hand1 and all the women went out after her4 ,and ,miriam answered them1 ,sing ye to the ,,lord2 for he hath triumphed gloriously40 ,when ,,god subdued ,jabin1 the ,king of ,canaan1 before the children of ,israel1 8then sang ,deborah and ,barak on that day1 saying1 #8,praise ye the ,,lord for the avenging of ,israel4'0 ,when the ark was brought back out of the hands of the ,philistines1 ,david1 though a king1 danced before it4 ,and1 to mention but one instance more1 which may serve as a general directory to us on this and such-like occasions3 when the great ,head of the church had rescued his people from the general massacre intended to be executed upon them by a cruel and ambitious ,haman1 8,mordecai sent letters unto all the ,jews that were in all the provinces of the ,king ,ahasuerus both nigh and far1 to establish among them1 that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month ,adar1 and the fifteenth day of the same yearly1 as the days wherein the ,jews rested from their enemies1 and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow unto joy1 and from mourning into a good day3 that they should make them days of feasting and joy1 and of sending portions one to another1 and gifts to the poor40 ,and why should we not go and do likewise8 ,and shall we not also1 on such an occasion1 express our gratitude to1 and make honourable mention of1 those worthies who have signalized themselves1 and been ready to sacrifice both lives and fortunes at this critical juncture8 ,this would be to act the part of those ungrateful ,israelites1 who are branded in the book of ,,god1 for not shewing kindness to the house of 8,jerub-,baal1 namely ,gideon1 according to all the goodness which he shewed unto ,israel40 ,even a ,pharaoh could prefer a deserving ,joseph1 ,ahasuerus a ,mordecai1 and ,nebuchadnezzar a ,daniel1 when made instruments of signal service to themselves and people4 8,my heart1 says ,deborah1 is towards 7i4 e4 ,i have a particular veneration and regard for7 the ,governors of ,israel that offered themselves willingly4 ,and blessed above women shall ,jael the wife of ,heber the ,kenite be2 for she put her hand to the nail1 and her right-hand to the workman's hammer1 and with the hammer she smote ,sisera1 she smote off his head1 when she had pierced and stricken through his temples40 ,and shall we not say1 8,blessed above men let his ,royal ,highness the ,duke of ,cumberland be2 for through his instrumentality1 the great and glorious ,,jehovah hath brought mighty things to pass80 ,should not our hearts be towards the worthy ,archbishop of ,york1 the ,royal ,hunters1 and those other ,english heroes who offered themselves so willingly8 ,let the names of ,blakeney1 ,bland1 and ,rea1 and all thole who waxed valiant in fight on this important occasion1 live for ever in the ,british annals4 ,and let the name of that great1 that incomparable brave soldier of the ,king1 and a good soldier of ,,jesus ,,christ1 ,colonel ,gardiner1 7excuse me if ,i here drop a tear3 he was my intimate friend7 let his name1 ,i say1 be had in everlasting remembrance4 ,but1 after all1 is there not an infinitely greater debt of gratitude and praise due from us1 on this occasion1 to ,him that is higher than the highest1 even the ,king of kings and ,lord of ,lords1 the blessed and only ,potentate8 ,is it not his arm1 his strong and mighty arm1 7what instruments soever may have been made use of7 that hath brought us this salvation8 ,and may ,i not therefore address you1 in the exulting language of the beginning of this psalm1 from which we have taken our text8 8,o give thanks unto the ,,lord1 call upon his name1 make known his deeds among the people4 ,sing unto him2 sing psalms unto him2 talk ye of all his wondrous works2 glory ye in his holy name2 remember his marvellous work which he hath done40 ,but shall we put off our good and gracious benefactor with mere lip-service8 ,,god forbid4 ,your worthy ,governor has honoured ,,god in his late excellent proclamation1 and ,,god will honour him4 ,but shall our thanks terminate with the day8 ,no1 in no wise4 ,our text reminds us of a more noble sacrifice1 and points out to us the great end the ,almighty ,,jehovah proposes1 in bestowing such signal favours upon a people1 8,that they should observe his statutes1 and keep his laws40 ,this is the return we are all taught to pray1 that we may make to the ,most ,high ,,god1 the ,father of mercies1 in the daily office of our church1 8,that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful1 and that we may shew forth his praise1 not only with our lips1 but in our lives1 by giving up ourselves to his service1 and by walking before him in holiness and righteousness all our days40 ,o that these words were the real language of all that use them6 ,o that there were in us such a mind6 ,how soon would our enemies then flee before us8 ,and ,,god1 even our own ,,god1 would yet give us more abundant blessings6 ,and why should not we 8observe ,,god's statutes1 and keep his laws80 ,dare we say1 that any of his commands are grievous8 ,is not ,,christ's yoke1 to a renewed soul1 as far as renewed1 easy2 and his burden comparatively light8 ,may ,i not appeal to the most refined reasoner1 whether the religion of ,,jesus ,,christ be not a social religion8 ,whether the ,moral ,law1 as explained by the ,,lord ,,jesus in the gospel1 has not a natural tendency to promote the present good and happiness of a whole commonwealth1 supposing they were obedient to them1 as well as the happiness of every individual8 ,from whence come wars and fighting amongst us8 ,from what fountain do all those evils1 which the present and past ages have groaned under1 flow1 but from a neglect of the laws and statutes of our great and all-wise law-giver ,,jesus of ,nazareth8 ,tell me1 ye men of letters1 whether ,lycurgus or ,solon1 ,pythagoras or ,plato1 ,aristotle1 ,seneca1 ,cicero1 or all the antient lawgivers and heathen moralists2 put them all together1 ever published a system of ethics1 any way worthy to be compared with the glorious system laid down in that much despised book1 7to use ,sir ,richard ,steel's expression7 emphatically called1 the ,scriptures8 ,is not the divine image and superscription written upon every precept of the gospel8 ,do they not shine with a native intrinsic lustre8 ,and1 though many things in them are above1 yet1 is there any thing contrary to the strictest laws of right reason8 ,is not ,,jesus ,,christ1 in scripture1 stiled the ,word1 the ,logos1 the ,reason8 ,and is not his service a reasonable service8 ,what if there be mysteries in his religion8 ,are they not without all controversy great and glorious8 ,are they not mysteries of godliness1 and worthy of that ,,god who reveals them8 ,nay1 is it not the greatest mystery1 that men1 who pretend to reason1 and call themselves philosophers1 who search into the arcana natur1 and consequently find a mystery in every blade of grass1 should yet be so irrational as to decry all mysteries in religion8 ,where is the scribe8 where is the wise8 where is the disputer against the christian revelation8 ,does not every thing without and within us1 conspire to prove its divine original8 ,and would not self-interest1 if there was no other motive1 excite us to observe ,,god's statutes1 and keep his laws8 ,besides1 considered as a protestant people1 do we not lie under the greatest obligations of any nation under heaven1 to pay a chearful1 unanimous1 universal1 persevering obedience to the divine commands4 ,the wonderful and surprising manner of ,,god's bringing about a reformation1 in the reign of ,king ,henry the ,eighth2 his carrying it on in the blessed reign of ,king ,edward the ,sixth2 his delivering us out of the bloody hands of ,queen ,mary1 and destroying the ,spanish invincible armada1 under her immediate protestant successor ,queen ,elizabeth2 his discovery of the popish plot under ,king ,james2 the glorious revolution by ,king ,william2 and1 to come nearer to our own times1 his driving away four thousand five hundred ,spaniards1 from a weak 7though important7 frontier colony1 when they had1 in a manner1 actually taken possession of it2 his giving us ,louisbourg1 one of the strongest fortresses of our enemies1 contrary to all human probability1 but the other day1 into our hands3 these1 ,i say1 with the victory which you have lately been commemorating1 are such national mercies1 not to mention any more1 as will render us utterly inexcusable1 if they do not produce a national reformation1 and incite us all1 with one heart1 to keep ,,god's statutes1 and observe his laws4 ,need ,i remind you further1 in order to excite in you a greater diligence to comply with the intent of the text1 that though the storm1 in a great measure1 is abated by his ,royal ,highness's late success1 yet we dare not say1 it is altogether blown over8 ,the clouds may again return after the rain2 and the few surviving rebels 7which ,i pray ,,god avert7 may yet be suffered to make head against us4 ,we are still engaged in a bloody1 and1 in all probability1 a tedious war1 with two of the most inveterate enemies to the interests of ,great-,britain4 ,and1 though ,i cannot help thinking1 that their present intentions are so iniquitous1 their conduit so perfidious1 and their schemes so directly derogatory to the honour of the ,most ,high ,,god1 that he will certainly humble them in the end1 yet1 as all things in this life happen alike to all1 they may for a time1 be dreadful instruments of scourging us4 ,if not1 ,,god has other arrows in his quiver to smite us with1 besides the ,french ,king1 his ,catholick ,majesty1 or an abjured ,pretender4 ,not only the sword1 but plague1 pestilence1 and famine1 are under the divine command4 ,who knows but he may say to them all1 8,pass through these lands80 ,a fatal murrain has lately swept away abundance of cattle at home and abroad4 ,a like epidemical disease may have a commission to seize our persons as well as our beasts4 ,thus ,,god dealt with the ,egyptians3 who dare say1 he will not deal so with us8 ,has he not already given some symptoms of it8 ,what great numbers upon the continent have been lately taken off by the bloody-flux1 small-pox1 and yellow-fever8 ,who can tell what further judgments are yet in store8 ,however1 this is certain1 the rod is yet hanging over us3 and ,i believe it will be granted on all sides1 that if such various dispensations of mercy and judgment do not teach the inhabitants of any land to learn righteousness1 they will only ripen them for a greater ruin4 ,give me leave1 therefore1 to dismiss you at this time with that solemn awful warning and exhortation1 with which the venerable ,samuel1 on a public occasion1 took leave of the people of ,israel3 8,only fear the ,,lord1 and serve him in truth1 with all your heart3 for consider how great things he hath done for you4 ,but if ye shall still do wickedly1 ,i will not say as the ,prophet did1 ,you shall be consumed2 but ye know not but you may provoke the ,,lord ,almighty to consume both you and your king40 ,which ,,god of his infinite mercy prevent1 for the sake of ,,jesus ,,christ3 to whom1 with the ,father1 and the ,holy ,ghost1 three persons1 but one ,,god1 be all honour and glory1 now and for evermore4 ,amen1 ,amen4 ,,sermon ,,vii4 ,thankfulness for ,mercies received1 a necessary ,duty4 ,a ,farewel ,sermon1 preached on board the ,whitaker1 at ,anchor near ,savannah1 in ,georgia1 ,sunday1 ,may #ag1 #agch4 ,,psalm1 cvii4 #cj1 #ca4 ,then are they glad1 because they are at rest1 and so he bringeth them unto the haven where they would be4 ,o that men would therefore praise the ,,lord for his goodness1 and declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of men6 ,,numberless marks does man bear in his soul1 that he is fallen and estranged from ,,god2 but nothing gives a greater proof thereof1 than that backwardness1 which every one finds within himself1 to the duty of praise and thanksgiving4 ,when ,,god placed the first man in paradise1 his soul no doubt was so filled with a sense of the riches of the divine love1 that he was continually employing that breath of life1 which the ,almighty had not long before breathed into him1 in blessing and magnifying that all-bountiful1 all-gracious ,,god1 in whom he lived1 moved1 and had his being4 ,and the brightest idea we can form of the angelical hierarchy above1 and the spirits of just men made perfect1 is1 that they are continually standing round the throne of ,,god1 and cease not day and night1 saying1 8,worthy art thou1 ,o ,lamb that wast slain1 to receive power and riches1 and wisdom1 and strength1 and honour1 and glory1 and blessing40 ,revelation v4 #ab4 ,that then1 which was man's perfection when time first began1 and will be his employment when death is swallowed up in victory1 and time shall be no more1 without controversy1 is part of our perfection1 and ought to be our frequent exercise on earth3 and ,i doubt not but those blessed spirits1 who are sent forth to minister to them who shall be heirs of salvation1 often stand astonished when they encamp around us1 to find our hearts so rarely enlarged1 and our mouths so seldom opened1 to shew forth the loving-kindness of the ,,lord1 or to speak of all his praise4 ,matter for praise and adoration1 can never be wanting to creatures redeemed by the blood of the ,son of ,,god2 and who have such continual scenes of his infinite goodness presented to their view1 that were their souls duly affected with a sense of his universal love1 they could not but be continually calling on heaven and earth1 men and angels1 to join with them in praising and blessing that 8high and lofty one1 who inhabiteth eternity1 who maketh his sun to shine on the evil and on the good10 and daily pours down his blessings on the whole race of mankind4 ,but few are arrived to such a degree of charity or love1 as to rejoice with those that do rejoice1 and to be as thankful for others mercies1 as their own4 ,this part of christian perfection1 though begun on earth1 will be consummated only in heaven2 where our hearts will glow with such fervent love towards ,,god and one another1 that every fresh degree of glory communicated to our neighbour1 will also communicate to us a fresh topic of thankfulness and joy4 ,that which has the greatest tendency to excite the generality of fallen men to praise and thanksgiving1 is a sense of ,,god's private mercies1 and particular benefits bestowed upon ourselves4 ,for as these come nearer our own hearts1 so they must be more affecting2 and as they are peculiar proofs1 whereby we may know1 that ,,god does in a more especial manner favour us above others1 so they cannot but sensibly touch us2 and if our hearts are not quite frozen1 like coals of a refiner's fire1 they must melt us down into thankfulness and love4 ,it was a consideration of the distinguishing favours ,,god had shewn to his chosen people ,israel1 and the frequent and remarkable deliverances wrought by him in behalf of 8those who go down to the sea in ships1 and occupy their business in great waters10 that made the holy ,psalmist break out so frequently as he does in this psalm1 into this moving1 pathetical exclamation1 8,o that men would therefore praise the ,,lord for his goodness1 and declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of men60 ,his expressing himself in so fervent a manner1 implies both the importance and neglect of the duty4 ,as when ,moses on another occasion cried out1 8,o that they were wise1 that they understood this1 that they would practically consider their latter end60 ,december xxxii4 #bi4 ,i say1 importance and neglect of the duty2 for out of those many thousands that receive blessings from the ,,lord1 how few give thanks in remembrance of his holiness8 ,the account given us of the ungrateful lepers1 is but too lively a representation of the ingratitude of mankind in general2 who like them1 when under any humbling providence1 can cry1 8,,jesus1 ,master1 have mercy on us60 ,luke xvii4 #ac4 but when healed of their sickness1 or delivered from their distress1 scarce one in ten can be found 8returning to give thanks to ,,god40 ,and yet as common as this sin of ingratitude is1 there is nothing we ought more earnestly to pray against4 ,for what is more absolutely condemned in holy scripture than ingratitude8 ,or what more peremptorily required than the contrary temper8 ,thus says the ,apostle1 8,rejoice evermore2 in every thing give thanks10 #a ,thessalonians v4 #af1 #ah4 8,be careful for nothing2 but in every thing by prayer and supplication1 with thanksgiving1 let your requests be made known unto ,,god10 ,philippians iv4 #f4 ,on the contrary1 the ,apostle mentions it as one of the highest crimes of the ,gentiles1 that they were not thankful4 8,neither were they thankful10 ,romans i4 #ba4 as also in another place1 he numbers the 8unthankful10 #b ,timothy iii4 #b4 amongst those unholy1 prophane persons1 who are to have their portion in the lake of fire and brimstone4 ,as for our sins1 ,,god puts them behind his back2 but his mercies he will have acknowledged1 8,there is virtue gone out of me10 says ,,jesus ,,christ1 ,luke viii4 #df4 and the woman who was cured of her bloody issue1 must confess it4 ,and we generally find1 when ,,god sent any remarkable punishment upon a particular person1 he reminded him of the favours he had received1 as so many aggravations of his ingratitude4 ,thus when ,,god was about to visit ,eli's house1 he thus expostulates with him by his prophet3 8,did ,i plainly appear unto the house of thy fathers1 when they were in ,egypt1 in ,pharaoh's house8 ,and did ,i chuse him out of all the tribes of ,israel1 to be my priest1 to offer upon mine altar1 to burn incense1 and to wear an ephod before me8 ,wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice1 and at mine offering1 which ,i have commanded in my habitation1 and honourest thy sons above me1 to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of ,israel my people8 ,wherefore the ,,lord ,,god of ,israel saith1 ,i said indeed1 that thy house1 and the house of thy father1 should walk before me for ever2 but now the ,,lord saith1 ,be it far from me1 for them that honour me will ,i honour1 and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed40 #a ,samuel ii4 #bg1 #bh1 #bi1 #cj4 ,it was this and such like instances of ,,god's severity against the unthankful1 that inclined me to chuse the words of the text1 as the most proper subject ,i could discourse on at this time4 ,four months1 my good friends1 we have now been upon the sea in this ship1 and 8have occupied our business in the great waters40 ,at ,,god ,almighty's word1 we have seen 8the stormy wind arise1 which hath lifted up the waves thereof4 ,we have been carried up to the heaven1 and down again to the deep1 and some of our souls melted away because of the trouble2 but ,i trust we cryed earnestly unto the ,,lord1 and he delivered us out of our distress4 ,for he made the storm to cease2 so that the waves thereof were still4 ,and now we are glad1 because we are at rest1 for ,,god hath brought us to the haven where we would be4 ,o that you would therefore praise the ,,lord for his goodness1 and declare the wonders that he hath done for us1 the unworthiest of the sons of men40 ,thus ,moses1 thus ,joshua behaved4 ,for when they were about to take their leaves of the children of ,israel1 they recounted to them what great things ,,god had done for them1 as the best arguments and motives they could urge to engage them to obedience4 ,and how can ,i copy after better examples8 ,what fitter1 what more noble motives1 to holiness and purity of living1 can ,i lay before you1 than they did8 ,indeed1 ,i cannot say1 that we have seen the 8pillar of a cloud by day1 or a pillar of fire by night10 going visibly before us to guide our course2 but this ,i can say1 that the same ,,god who was in that pillar of a cloud1 and pillar of fire1 which departed not from the ,israelites1 and who has made the sun to rule the day1 and the moon to rule the night1 has1 by his good providence1 directed us in our right way1 or else the pilot had steered us in vain4 ,neither can ,i say1 ,that we have seen the 8sun stand still10 as the children of ,israel did in the days of ,joshua4 ,but surely ,,god1 during part of our voyage1 has caused it to withhold some of that heat1 which it usually sends forth in these warmer climates1 or else it had not failed1 but some of you must have perished in the sickness that has been1 and does yet continue among us4 ,we have not seen the waters stand purposely on an heap1 that we might pass through1 neither have we been pursued by ,pharaoh and his host1 and delivered out of their hands2 but we have been led through the sea as through a wilderness1 and were once remarkably preserved from being run down by another ship2 which had ,,god permitted1 the waters1 in all probability1 would immediately have overwhelmed us1 and like ,pharaoh and his host1 we should have sunk1 as stones1 into the sea4 ,we may1 indeed1 atheist like1 ascribe all these things to natural causes1 and say1 8,our own skill and foresight has brought us hither in safety40 ,but as certainly as ,,jesus ,,christ1 the angel of the covenant1 in the days of his flesh1 walked upon the water1 and said to his sinking disciples1 8,be not afraid1 it is ,i10 so surely has the same everlasting ,i ,,am1 8who decketh himself with light as with a garment1 who spreadeth out the heavens like a curtain1 who claspeth the winds in his fist1 who holdeth the waters in the hollow of his hands10 and guided the wise men by a star in the east2 so surely1 ,i say1 has he spoken1 and at his command the winds have blown us where we are now arrived4 ,for his providence ruleth all things2 8,wind and storms obey his word30 he saith to it at one time1 ,go1 and it goeth2 at another1 ,come1 and it cometh2 and at a third time1 ,blow this way1 and it bloweth4 ,it is he1 my brethren1 and not we ourselves1 that has of late sent us such prosperous gales1 and made us to ride1 as it were1 on the wings of the wind1 into the haven where we would be4 8,o that you would therefore praise the ,,lord for his goodness10 and by your lives declare1 that you are truly thankful for the wonders he had shewn to us1 who are less than the least of the sons of men4 ,i say1 declare it by your lives4 ,for to give him thanks1 barely with your lips1 while your hearts are far from him1 is but a mock sacrifice1 nay1 an abomination unto the ,,lord4 ,this was the end1 the royal ,psalmist says1 ,,god had in view1 when he shewed such wonders1 from time to time1 to the people of ,israel1 8,that they might keep his statutes1 and observe his laws10 ,psalm cv4 #dd4 and this1 my good friends1 is the end ,,god would have accomplished in us1 and the only return he desires us to make him1 for all the benefits he hath conferred upon us4 ,o then1 let me beseech you1 give to ,,god your hearts1 your whole hearts2 and suffer yourselves to be drawn by the cords of infinite love1 to honour and obey him4 ,assure yourselves you can never serve a better master2 for his service is perfect freedom2 his yoke1 when worn a little while1 is exceeding easy1 his burden light2 and in keeping his commandments there is great reward2 love1 peace1 joy in the ,holy ,ghost here1 and a crown of glory that fadeth not away1 hereafter4 ,you may1 indeed1 let other lords have dominion over you1 and ,satan may promise to give you all the kingdoms of the world1 and the glory of them1 if you will fall down and worship him2 but he is a liar1 and was so from the beginning2 he has not so much to give you1 as you may tread on with the sole of your foot2 or could he give you the whole world1 yet1 that could not make you happy without ,,god4 ,it is ,,god alone1 my brethren1 whose we are1 in whose name ,i now speak1 and who has of late shewed us such mercies in the deep1 that can give solid lasting happiness to your souls2 and he for this reason only desires your hearts1 because without him you must be miserable4 ,suffer me not then to go away without my errand2 as it is the last time ,i shall speak to you1 let me not speak in vain2 but let a sense of the divine goodness lead you to repentance4 ,even ,saul1 that abandoned wretch1 when ,david shewed him his skirt1 which he had cut off1 when he might have also taken his life1 was so melted down with his kindness1 that he lifted up his voice and wept4 ,and we must have hearts harder than ,saul's1 nay1 harder than the nether milstone1 if a sense of ,,god's late loving kindnesses1 notwithstanding he might so often have destroyed us1 does not even compel us to lay down our arms against him1 and become his faithful servants and soldiers unto our lives end4 ,if they have not this effect upon us1 we shall1 of all men1 be most miserable2 for ,,god is just1 as well as merciful2 and the more blessings we have received here1 the greater damnation1 if we do not improve them1 shall we incur hereafter4 ,but ,,god forbid that any of those should ever suffer the vengeance of eternal fire1 amongst whom1 ,i have1 for these four months1 been preaching the gospel of ,,christ2 but yet thus must it be1 if you do not improve the divine mercies3 and instead of your being my crown of rejoicing in the day of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 ,i must appear as a swift witness against you4 ,but1 brethren1 ,i am persuaded better things of you1 and things that accompany salvation1 though ,i thus speak4 ,blessed be ,,god1 some marks of a partial reformation at least1 have been visible amongst all you that are soldiers4 ,and my weak1 though sincere endeavours1 to build you up in the knowledge and fear of ,,god1 have not been altogether in vain in the ,,lord4 ,swearing1 ,i hope is1 in a great measure1 abated with you2 and ,,god1 ,i trust1 has blessed his late visitations1 by making them the means of awakening your consciences1 to a more solicitous enquiry about the things which belong to your everlasting peace4 ,fulfil you then my joy1 by continuing thus minded1 and labour to go on to perfection4 ,for ,i shall have no greater pleasure than to see1 or hear1 that you walk in the truth4 ,consider1 my good friends1 you are now1 as it were1 entering on a new world1 where you will be surrounded with multitudes of heathens2 and if you take not heed to 8have your conversation honest amongst them10 and to 8walk worthy of the holy vocation wherewith you are called10 you will act the hellish part of ,herod's soldiers over again2 and cause ,,christ's religion1 as they did his person1 to be had in derision of those that are round about you4 ,consider further1 what peculiar privileges you have enjoyed1 above many others that are entering on the same land4 ,they have had1 as it were1 a famine of the word1 but you have rather been in danger of being surfeited with your spiritual manna4 ,and1 therefore1 as more instructions have been given you1 so from you1 men will most justly expect the greater improvement in goodness4 ,indeed1 ,i cannot say1 ,i have discharged my duty towards you as ,i ought4 ,no1 ,i am sensible of many faults in my ministerial office1 and for which ,i have not failed1 nor1 ,i hope1 ever shall fail1 to humble myself in secret before ,,god4 ,however1 this ,i can say1 that except a few days that have been spent necessarily on other persons1 whom ,,god immediately called me to write and minister unto1 and the two last weeks wherein ,i have been confined by sickness2 all the while ,i have been aboard1 ,i have been either actually engaged in1 or preparing myself for instructing you4 ,and though you are now to be committed to the care of another 7whose labours ,i heartily beseech ,,god to bless amongst you7 yet ,i trust ,i shall1 at all seasons1 if need be1 willingly spend1 and be spent1 for the good of your souls1 though the more abundantly ,i love you1 the less ,i should be loved4 ,as for your military affairs1 ,i have nothing to do with them4 ,fear ,,god1 and you must honour the ,king4 ,nor am ,i well acquainted with the nature of that land which you are now come over to protect2 only this ,i may venture to affirm in the general1 that you must necessarily expect upon your arrival at a new colony1 to meet with many difficulties4 ,but your very profession teaches you to endure hardship2 8be not1 therefore1 faint-hearted1 but quit yourselves like men1 and be strong10 ,numbers xiv4 ,be not like those cowardly persons1 who were affrighted at the report of the false spies1 that came and said1 that there were people tall as the ,anakims to be grappled with1 but be ye like unto ,caleb and ,joshua1 all heart2 and say1 we will act valiantly1 for we shall be more than conquerors over all difficulties through ,,jesus ,,christ that loved us4 ,above all things1 my brethren1 take heed1 and beware of murmuring1 like the perverse ,israelites1 against those that are set over you2 and 8learn1 whatsoever state you shall be in1 therewith to be content10 ,philippians iv4 #aa4 ,as ,i have spoken to you1 ,i hope your wives also will suffer the word of exhortation1 ,your behaviour on shipboard1 especially the first part of the voyage1 ,i chuse to throw a cloak over2 for to use the mildest terms1 it was not such as became the gospel of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,however1 of late1 blessed be ,,god1 you have taken more heed to your ways1 and some of you have walked all the while1 as became 8women professing godliness40 ,let those accept my hearty thanks1 and permit me to intreat you all in general1 as you are all now married1 to remember the solemn vow you made at your entrance into the marriage state1 and see that you be subject to your own husbands1 in every lawful thing3 ,beg of ,,god to keep the door of your lips1 that you offend not with your tongues2 and walk in love1 that your prayers be not hindered4 ,you that have children1 let it be your chief concern to breed them up in the nurture and admonition of the ,,lord4 ,and live all of you so holy and unblameable1 that you may not so much as be suspected to be unchaste2 and as some of you have imitated ,mary ,magdalen in her sin1 strive to imitate her also in her repentance4 ,as for you1 sailors1 what shall ,i say8 ,how shall ,i address myself to you8 ,how shall ,i do that which ,i so much long to do2 touch your hearts8 ,gratitude obliges me to wish thus well to you4 ,for you have often taught me many instructive lessons1 and reminded me to put up many prayers to ,,god for you1 that you might receive your spiritual sight4 ,when ,i have seen you preparing for a storm1 and reefing your sails to guard against it2 how have ,i wished that you and ,i were as careful to avoid that storm of ,,god's wrath1 which will certainly1 without repentance1 quickly overtake us8 ,when ,i have observed you catch at every fair gale1 how have ,i secretly cried1 ,o that we were as careful to know the things that belong to our peace1 before they are for ever hid from our eyes6 ,and when ,i have taken notice1 how steadily you eyed your compass in order to steer aright1 how have ,i wished1 that we as steadily eyed the word of ,,god1 which alone can preserve us from 8making shipwreck of faith1 and a good conscience80 ,in short1 there is scarce any thing you do1 which has not been a lesson of instruction to me2 and1 therefore1 it would be ungrateful in me1 did ,i not take this opportunity of exhorting you in the name of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 to be as wise in the things which concern your soul1 as ,i have observed you to be in the affairs belonging to your ship4 ,i am sensible1 that the sea is reckoned but an ill school to learn ,,christ in3 and to see a devout sailor1 is esteemed as uncommon a thing1 as to see a ,saul amongst the prophets4 ,but whence this wondering8 ,whence this looking upon a godly sailor1 as a man to be wondered at1 as a speckled bird in the creation8 ,i am sure1 for the little time ,i have come in and out amongst you1 and as far as ,i can judge from the little experience ,i have had of things1 ,i scarce know any way of life1 that is capable of greater improvements than yours4 ,the continual danger you are in of being overwhelmed by the great waters2 the many opportunities you have of beholding ,,god's wonders in the deep2 the happy retirement you enjoy from worldly temptations2 and the daily occasions that are offered you1 to endure hardships1 are such noble means of promoting the spiritual life1 that were your hearts bent towards ,,god1 you would account it your happiness1 that his providence has called you1 to 8go down to the sea in ships1 and to occupy your business in the great waters40 ,the royal ,psalmist knew this1 and1 therefore1 in the words of the text1 calls more especially on men of your employ1 to 8praise the ,,lord for his goodness1 and declare the wonders he doth for the children of men40 ,and ,o that you would be wise in time1 and hearken to his voice to-day1 8whilst it is called to-day60 ,for ye yourselves know how little is to be done on a sick bed4 ,,god has1 in an especial manner1 of late1 invited you to repentance3 two of your crew he has taken off by death1 and most of you he has mercifully visited with a grievous sickness4 ,the terrors of the ,,lord have been upon you1 and when burnt with a scorching fever1 some of you have cried out1 8,what shall we do to be saved80 ,remember then the resolutions you made1 when you thought ,,god was about to take away your souls2 and see that according to your promises1 you shew forth your thankfulness1 not only with your lips1 but in your lives4 ,for though ,,god may bear long1 he will not forbear always2 and if these signal mercies and judgments do not lead you to repentance1 assure yourselves there will at last come a fiery tempest1 from the presence of the ,,lord1 which will sweep away you1 and all other adversaries of ,,god4 ,i am positive1 neither you nor the soldiers have wanted1 nor will want any manner of encouragement to piety and holiness of living1 from those two persons who have here the government over you2 for they have been such helps to me in my ministry1 and have so readily concurred in every thing for your good1 that they may justly demand a public acknowledgment of thanks both from you and me4 ,permit me1 my honoured friends1 in the name of both classes of your people1 to return you hearty thanks for the care and tenderness you have expressed for the welfare of their better parts4 ,as for the private favours you have shewn to my person1 ,i hope so deep a sense of them is imprinted on my heart1 that ,i shall plead them before ,,god in prayer1 as long as ,i live4 ,but ,i have still stronger obligations to intercede in your behalf4 ,for ,,god1 ever adored be his free grace in ,,christ ,,jesus6 has set his seal to my ministry in your hearts4 ,some distant pangs of the new-birth ,i have observed to come upon you2 and ,,god forbid that ,i should sin against the ,,lord1 by ceasing to pray1 that the good work begun in your souls1 may be carried on till the day of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,the time of our departure from each other is now at hand1 and you are going out into a world of temptations4 ,but though absent in body1 let us be present with each other in spirit2 and ,,god1 ,i trust1 will enable you to be singularly good1 to be ready to be accounted fools for ,,christ's sake2 and then we shall meet never to part again in the kingdom of our ,father which is in heaven4 ,to you1 my companions and familiar friends1 who came over with me to sojourn in a strange land1 do ,i in the next place address myself4 ,for you ,i especially fear1 as well as for myself2 because as we take sweet counsel together oftner than others1 and as you are let into a more intimate friendship with me in private life1 the eyes of all men will be upon you to note even the minutest miscarriage2 and1 therefore1 it highly concerns you to 8walk circumspectly towards those that are without10 ,i hope1 that nothing but a single eye to ,,god's glory and the salvation of your own souls1 brought you from your native country4 ,remember then the end of your coming hither1 and you can never do amiss4 ,be patterns of industry1 as well as of piety1 to those who shall be around you2 and above all things let us have such fervent charity amongst ourselves1 that it may be said of us1 as of the primitive christians1 8,see how the christians love one another40 ,and now ,i have been speaking to others particularly1 ,i have one general request to make to all1 and that with reference to myself4 ,you have heard1 my dear friends1 how ,i have been exhorting every one of you to shew forth your thankfulness for the divine goodness1 not only with your lips1 but in your lives3 ,but 8physician heal thyself10 may justly be retorted on me4 ,for 7without any false pretences to humility7 ,i find my own heart so little inclined to this duty of thanksgiving for the benefits ,i have received1 that ,i had need fear sharing ,hezekiah's fate1 who because he was lifted up by1 and not thankful enough for1 the great things ,,god had done for him1 was given up a prey to the pride of his own heart4 ,i need1 therefore1 and beg your most importunate petitions at the throne of grace1 that no such evil may befal me2 that the more ,,god exalts me1 the more ,i may debase myself2 and that after ,i have preached to others1 ,i myself may not be cast away4 ,and now1 brethren1 into ,,god's hands ,i commend your spirits1 who1 ,i trust1 through his infinite mercies in ,,christ ,,jesus1 will preserve you blameless1 till his second coming to judge the world4 ,excuse my detaining you so long2 perhaps it is the last time ,i shall speak to you3 my heart is full1 and out of the abundance of it1 ,i could continue my discourse until midnight4 ,but ,i must away to your new world2 may ,,god give you new hearts1 and enable you to put in practice what you have heard from time to time1 to be your duty1 and ,i need not wish you any thing better4 ,for then ,,god will so bless you1 that 8you will build you cities to dwell in2 then will you sow your lands and plant vineyards1 which will yield you fruits of increase10 ,psalm cvii4 #cf1 #cg4 8,then your oxen shall be strong to labour1 there shall be no leading into captivity1 and no complaining in your streets2 then shall your sons grow up as the young plants1 and your daughters be as the polished corners of the temple3 then shall your garners be full and plenteous with all manner of store1 and your sheep bring forth thousands1 and ten thousands in your streets10 ,psalm cxliv4 ,in short1 then shall the ,,lord be your ,,god2 and as surely as he has now brought us to this haven1 where we would be1 so surely1 after we have past through the storms and tempests of this troublesome world1 will he bring us to the haven of eternal rest1 where we shall have nothing to do1 but to praise him for ever for his goodness1 and declare1 in never-ceasing songs of praise1 the wonders he has done for us1 and all the other sons of men4 8,to which blessed rest1 ,,god of his infinite mercy bring us all1 through ,,jesus ,,christ our ,,lord6 to whom with the ,father and ,holy ,ghost be all honour and glory1 might1 majesty1 and dominion1 now1 henceforth1 and for evermore4 ,amen1 ,amen40 ,,sermon ,,viii4 ,the ,necessity and ,benefits of ,religious ,society4 ,,ecclesiastes iv4 #i1 #aj1 #aa1 #ab4 ,two are better than ,one1 because they have a good ,reward for their ,labour4 ,for if they fall1 the ,one will lift up his ,fellow3 ,but woe be to him that is alone when he falleth2 for he hath not another to help him up4 ,again1 if ,two lie together1 then they have heat2 but how can ,one be warm alone8 ,and if ,one prevail against him1 ,two shall withstand him2 and a threefold ,cord is not quickly broken4 ,,among the many reasons assignable for the sad decay of true christianity1 perhaps the neglecting to assemble ourselves together1 in religious societies1 may not be one of the least4 ,that ,i may therefore do my endeavour towards promoting so excellent a means of piety1 ,i have selected a passage of scripture drawn from the experience of the wisest of men1 which being a little enlarged on and illustrated1 will fully answer my present design2 being to shew1 in the best manner ,i can1 the necessity and benefits of society in general1 and of religious society in particular4 8,two are better than one1 c40 ,from which words ,i shall take occasion to prove1 ,first1 ,the truth of the wise man's assertion1 8,two are better than one10 and that in reference to society in general1 and religious society in particular4 ,secondly1 ,to assign some reasons why two are better than one1 especially as to the last particular4 #a4 ,because men can raise up one another when they chance to slip3 8,for if they fall1 the one will lift up his fellow40 #b4 ,because they can impart heat to each other3 8,again1 if two lie together1 then they have heat2 but how can one be warm alone80 #c4 ,because they can secure each other from those that do oppose them3 8,and if one prevail against him1 two shall withstand him2 and a threefold cord is not quickly broken40 ,from hence1 ,thirdly1 ,i shall take occasion to shew the duty incumbent on every member of a religious society4 ,and ,fourthly1 ,i shall draw an inference or two from what may be said2 and then conclude with a word or two of exhortation4 ,first1 ,i am to prove the truth of the wise man's assertion1 that 8two are better than one10 and that in reference to society in general1 and religious societies in particular4 ,and how can this be done better1 than by shewing that it is absolutely necessary for the welfare both of the bodies and souls of men8 ,indeed1 if we look upon man as he came out of the hands of his ,maker1 we imagine him to be perfect1 entire1 lacking nothing4 ,but ,,god1 whose thoughts are not as our thoughts1 saw something still wanting to make ,adam happy4 ,and what was that8 ,why1 an help meet for him4 ,for thus speaketh the scripture3 8,and the ,,lord ,,god said1 ,it is not good that the man should be alone1 ,i will make an help meet for him40 ,observe1 ,,god said1 8,it is not good10 thereby implying that the creation would have been imperfect1 in some sort1 unless an help was found out meet for ,adam4 ,and if this was the case of man before the fall2 if an help was meet for him in a state of perfection2 surely since the fall1 when we come naked and helpless out of our mother's womb1 when our wants increase with our years1 and we can scarcely subsist a day without the mutual assistance of each other1 well may we say1 8,it is not good for man to be alone40 ,society then1 we see1 is absolutely necessary in respect to our bodily and personal wants4 ,if we carry our view farther1 and consider mankind as divided into different cities1 countries1 and nations1 the necessity of it will appear yet more evident4 ,for how can communities be kept up1 or commerce carried on1 without society8 ,certainly not at all1 since providence seems wisely to have assigned a particular product to almost each particular country1 on purpose1 as it were1 to oblige us to be social2 and hath so admirably mingled the parts of the whole body of mankind together1 8that the eye cannot say to the hand1 ,i have no need of thee2 nor again1 the hand to the foot1 ,i have no need of thee40 ,many other instances might be given of the necessity of society1 in reference to our bodily1 personal1 and national wants4 ,but what are all these when weighed in the balance of the sanctuary1 in comparison of the infinite greater need of it1 with respect to the soul8 ,it was chiefly in regard to this better part1 no doubt1 that ,,god said1 8,it is not good for the man to be alone40 ,for1 let us suppose ,adam to be as happy as may be1 placed as the ,lord of the creation in the paradise of ,,god1 and spending all his hours in adoring and praising the blessed ,author of his being2 yet as his soul was the very copy of the divine nature1 whose peculiar property it is to be communicative1 without the divine all-sufficiency he could not be compleatly happy1 because he was alone and incommunicative1 nor even content in paradise1 for want of a partner in his joys4 ,,god knew this1 and therefore said1 8,it is not good that the man shall be alone1 ,i will make a help meet for him40 ,and though this proved a fatal means of his falling2 yet that was not owing to any natural consequence of society2 but partly to that cursed apostate1 who craftily lies in wait to deceive2 partly to ,adam's own folly1 in rather chusing to be miserable with one he loved1 than trust in ,,god to raise him up another spouse4 ,if we reflect indeed on that familiar intercourse1 our first parent could carry on with heaven1 in a state of innocence1 we shall be apt to think he had as little need of society1 as to his soul1 as before we supposed him to have1 in respect to his body4 ,but yet1 as ,,god and the holy angels were so far above him on the one hand1 and the beasts so far beneath him on the other1 there was nothing like having one to converse with1 who was 8bone of his bone1 and flesh of his flesh40 ,man1 then1 could not be fully happy1 we see1 even in paradise1 without a companion of his own species1 much less now he is driven out4 ,for1 let us view him a little in his natural estate now1 since the fall1 as 8having his understanding darkened1 his mind alienated from the life of ,,god20 as no more able to see his way wherein he should go1 than a blind man to describe the sun3 that notwithstanding this1 he must receive his sight ere he can see ,,god3 and that if he never sees him1 he never can be happy4 ,let us view him in this light 7or rather this darkness7 and deny the necessity of society if we can4 ,a divine revelation we find is absolutely necessary1 we being by nature as unable to know1 as we are to do our duty4 ,and how shall we learn except one teach us8 ,but was ,,god to do this himself1 how should we1 but with ,moses1 exceedingly quake and fear8 ,nor would the ministry of angels in this affair1 be without too much terror4 ,it is necessary1 therefore 7at least ,,god's dealing with us hath shewed it to be so7 that we should be drawn with the cords of a man4 ,and that a divine revelation being granted1 we should use one another's assistance1 under ,,god1 to instruct each other in the knowledge1 and to exhort one another to the practice of those things which belong to our everlasting peace4 ,this is undoubtedly the great end of society intended by ,,god since the fall1 and a strong argument it is1 why 8two are better than one10 and why we should 8not forsake the assembling ourselves together40 ,but farther1 let us consider ourselves as christians1 as having this natural veil1 in some measure1 taken off from our eyes by the assistance of ,,god's holy ,spirit1 and so enabled to see what he requires of us4 ,let us suppose ourselves in some degree to have tasted the good word of life1 and to have felt the powers of the world to come1 influencing and moulding our souls into a religious frame3 to be fully and heartily convinced that we are soldiers listed under the banner of ,,christ1 and to have proclaimed open war at our baptism1 against the world1 the flesh1 and the devil2 and have1 perhaps1 frequently renewed our obligations so to do1 by partaking of the ,,lord's supper3 that we are surrounded with millions of foes without1 and infested with a legion of enemies within3 that we are commanded to shine as lights in the world1 in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation3 that we are travelling to a long eternity1 and need all imaginable helps to shew1 and encourage us in our way thither4 ,let us1 ,i say1 reflect on all this1 and then how shall each of us cry out1 brethren1 what a necessary thing it is to meet together in religious societies8 ,the primitive christians were fully sensible of this1 and therefore we find them continually keeping up communion with each other3 for what says the scripture8 ,they continued stedfastly in the apostle's doctrine and fellowship1 ,acts ii4 #db4 ,peter and ,john were no sooner dismissed by the great council1 than they haste away to their companions4 8,and being set at liberty they came to their own1 and told them all these things which the high priest had said unto them10 ,acts iv4 #bc4 ,paul1 as soon as converted1 8tarried three days with the disciples that were at ,damascus10 ,acts ix4 #ai4 ,and ,peter afterwards1 when released from prison1 immediately goes to the house of ,mary1 where there were 8great multitudes assembled1 praying10 ,acts xii4 #ab4 ,and it is reported of the christians in after-ages1 that they used to assemble together before day-light1 to sing a psalm to ,,christ as ,,god4 ,so precious was the ,communion of ,saints in those days4 ,if it be asked1 what advantages we shall reap from such a procedure now8 ,i answer1 much every way4 8,two are better than one1 because they have a good reward for their labour3 for if they fall1 the one will lift up his fellow2 but woe be to him that is alone when he falleth1 for he hath not another to help him up4 ,again1 if two lie together1 then they have heat2 but how can one be warm alone8 ,and if one prevail against him1 two shall withstand him2 and a threefold cord is not quickly broken40 ,which directly leads me to my ,second general head1 under which ,i was to assign some reasons why 8two are better than one10 especially in ,religious ,society4 #a4 ,as man in his present condition cannot always stand upright1 but by reason of the frailty of his nature cannot but fall2 one eminent reason why two are better than one1 or1 in other words1 one great advantage of religious society is1 8,that when they fall1 the one will lift up his fellow40 ,and an excellent reason this1 indeed6 ,for alas6 when we reflect how prone we are to be drawn into error in our judgments1 and into vice in our practice2 and how unable1 at least how very unwilling1 to espy or correct our own miscarriages2 when we consider how apt the world is to flatter us in our faults1 and how few there are so kind as to tell us the truth2 what an inestimable privilege must it be to have a set of true1 judicious1 hearty friends about us1 continually watching over our souls1 to inform us where we have fallen1 and to warn us that we fall not again for the future4 ,surely it is such a privilege1 that 7to use the words of an eminent christian7 we shall never know the value thereof1 till we come to glory4 ,but this is not all2 for supposing that we could always stand upright1 yet whosoever reflects on the difficulties of religion in general1 and his own propensity to lukewarmness and indifference in particular1 will find that he must be zealous as well as steady1 if ever he expects to enter the kingdom of heaven4 ,here1 then1 the wise man points out to us another excellent reason why two are better than one4 8,again1 if two lye together1 then they have heat2 but how can one be warm alone80 ,which was the next thing to be considered4 #b4 ,a second reason why two are better than one1 is because they can impart heat to each other4 ,it is an observation no less true than common1 that kindled coals1 if placed asunder1 soon go out1 but if heaped together1 quicken and enliven each other1 and afford a lasting heat4 ,the same will hold good in the case now before us4 ,if christians kindled by the grace of ,,god1 unite1 they will quicken and enliven each other2 but if they separate and keep asunder1 no marvel if they soon grow cool or tepid4 ,if two or three meet together in ,,christ's name1 they will have heat3 but how can one be warm alone8 ,observe1 8,how can one be warm alone80 ,the wise man's expressing himself by way of question1 implies an impossibility1 at least a very great difficulty1 to be warm in religion without company1 where it may be had4 ,behold here1 then1 another excellent benefit flowing from religious society2 it will keep us zealous1 as well as steady1 in the ways of godliness4 ,but to illustrate this a little farther by a comparison or two4 ,let us look upon ourselves 7as was above hinted7 as soldiers listed under ,,christ's banner2 as going out with 8ten thousand1 to meet one that cometh against us with twenty thousand20 as persons that are to 8wrestle not only with flesh and blood1 but against principalities1 against powers1 and spiritual wickednesses in high places40 ,and then tell me1 all ye that fear ,,god1 if it be not an invaluable privilege to have a company of fellow soldiers continually about us1 animating and exhorting each other to stand our ground1 to keep our ranks1 and manfully to follow the captain of our salvation1 though it be through a sea of blood8 ,let us consider ourselves in another view before mentioned1 as persons travelling to a long eternity2 as rescued by the free grace of ,,god1 in some measure1 from our natural ,egyptian bondage1 and marching under the conduct of our spiritual ,joshua1 through the wilderness of this world1 to the land of our heavenly ,canaan4 ,let us farther reflect how apt we are to startle at every difficulty2 to cry1 8,there are lions6 ,there are lions in the way6 ,there are the sons of ,anak0 to be grappled with1 ere we can possess the promised land3 ,how prone we are1 with ,lot's wife1 to look wishfully back on our spiritual ,sodom1 or1 with the foolish ,israelites1 to long again for the flesh-pots of ,egypt2 and to return to our former natural state of bondage and slavery4 ,consider this1 my brethren1 and see what a blessed privilege it will be to have a set of ,israelites indeed about us1 always reminding us of the folly of any such cowardly design1 and of the intolerable misery we shall run into1 if we fall in the least short of the promised land4 ,more might be said on this particular1 did not the limits of a discourse of this nature oblige me to hasten1 #c4 ,to give a third reason1 mentioned by the wise man in the text1 why two are better than one2 because they can secure each other from enemies without4 8,and if one prevail against him1 yet two shall withstand him3 and a threefold cord is not quickly broken40 ,hitherto we have considered the advantages of religious societies1 as a great preservative against falling 7at least dangerously falling7 into sin and lukewarmness1 and that too from our own corruptions4 ,but what says the wise son of ,sirach8 8,my son1 when thou goest to serve the ,,lord1 prepare thy soul for temptation30 and that not only from inward1 but outward foes2 particularly from those two grand adversaries1 the world and the devil3 for no sooner will thine eye be bent heavenward1 but the former will be immediately diverting it another way1 telling thee thou needest not be singular in order to be religious2 that you may be a christian without going so much out of the common road4 ,nor will the devil be wanting in his artful insinuations1 or impious suggestions1 to divert or terrify thee from pressing forwards1 8that thou mayst lay hold on the crown of life40 ,and if he cannot prevail this way1 he will try another2 and1 in order to make his temptation the more undiscerned1 but withal more successful1 he will employ1 perhaps1 some of thy nearest relatives1 or most powerful friends1 7as he set ,peter on our blessed ,master7 who will always be bidding thee to spare thyself2 telling thee thou needest not take so much pains2 that it is not so difficult a matter to get to heaven as some people would make of it1 nor the way so narrow as others imagine it to be4 ,but see here the advantage of religious company2 for supposing thou findest thyself thus surrounded on every side1 and unable to withstand such horrid 7though seemingly friendly7 counsels1 haste away to thy companions1 and they will teach thee a truer and better lesson2 they will tell thee1 that thou must be singular if thou wilt be religious2 and that it is as impossible for a christian1 as for a city set upon a hill1 to be hidden3 that if thou wilt be an almost christian 7and as good be none at all7 thou mayest live in the same idle1 indifferent manner as thou seest most other people do3 but if thou wilt be not only almost1 but altogether a christian1 they will inform thee thou must go a great deal farther3 that thou must not only faintly seek1 but 8earnestly strive to enter in at the strait gate30 that there is but one way now to heaven as formerly1 even through the narrow passage of a sound conversion3 and that in order to bring about this mighty work1 thou must undergo a constant1 but necessary discipline of fasting1 watching1 and prayer4 ,and therefore1 the only reason why those friends give thee such advice1 is1 because they are not willing to take so much pains themselves2 or1 as our ,saviour told ,peter on a like occasion1 because they 8savour not the things that be of ,,god1 but the things that be of men40 ,this then1 is another excellent blessing arising from religious society1 that friends can hereby secure each other from those who oppose them4 ,the devil is fully sensible of this1 and therefore he has always done his utmost to suppress1 and put a stop to the communion of saints4 ,this was his grand artifice at the first planting of the gospel2 to persecute the professors of it1 in order to separate them4 ,which1 though ,,god1 as he always will1 over-ruled for the better2 yet1 it shews1 what an enmity he has against christians assembling themselves together4 ,nor has he yet left off his old stratagem2 it being his usual way to entice us by ourselves1 in order to tempt us2 where1 by being destitute of one another's help1 he hopes to lead us captive at his will4 ,but1 on the contrary1 knowing his own interest is strengthened by society1 he would first persuade us to neglect the communion of saints1 and then bid us 8stand in the way of sinners10 hoping thereby to put us into the seat of the scornful4 ,judas and ,peter are melancholy instances of this4 ,the former had no sooner left his company at supper1 but he went out and betrayed his master3 and the dismal downfal of the latter1 when he would venture himself amongst a company of enemies1 plainly shews us what the devil will endeavour to do1 when he gets us by ourselves4 ,had ,peter kept his own company1 he might have kept his integrity2 but a single cord1 alas6 how quickly was it broken8 ,our blessed ,saviour knew this full well1 and therefore it is very observable1 that he always sent out his disciples 8two by two40 ,and now1 after so many advantages to be reaped from religious society1 may we not very justly cry out with the wise man in my text1 8,woe be to him that is alone2 for when he falleth1 he hath not another to lift him up80 ,when he is cold1 he hath not a friend to warm him2 when he is assaulted1 he hath not a second to help him to withstand his enemy4 ,,iii4 ,i now come to my third general head1 under which was to be shewn the several duties incumbent on every member of a religious society1 as such1 which are three4 #a4 ,mutual reproof2 #b4 ,mutual exhortation2 #c4 ,mutual assisting and defending each other4 #a4 ,mutual reproof4 8,two are better than one2 for when they fall1 the one will lift up his fellow40 ,now1 reproof may be taken either in a more extensive sense1 and then it signifies our raising a brother by the gentlest means1 when he falls into sin and error2 or in a more restrained signification1 as reaching no farther than those miscarriages1 which unavoidably happen in the most holy men living4 ,the wise man1 in the text1 supposes all of us subject to both3 8,for when they fall 7thereby implying that each of us may fall7 the one will lift up his fellow40 ,from whence we may infer1 that 8when any brother is overtaken with a fault1 he that is spiritual 7that is1 regenerate1 and knows the corruption and weakness of human nature7 ought to restore such a one in the spirit of meekness40 ,and why he should do so1 the apostle subjoins a reason 8considering thyself1 lest thou also be tempted20 i4 e4 considering thy own frailty1 lest thou also fall by the like temptation4 ,we are all frail unstable creatures2 and it is merely owing to the free grace and good providence of ,,god that we run not into the same excess of riot with other men4 ,every offending brother1 therefore1 claims our pity rather than our resentment2 and each member should strive to be the most forward1 as well as most gentle1 in restoring him to his former state4 ,but supposing a person not to be overtaken1 but to fall wilfully into a crime2 yet who art thou that deniest forgiveness to thy offending brother8 8,let him that standeth take heed lest he fall40 ,take ye1 brethren1 the holy apostles as eminent examples for you to learn by1 how you ought to behave in this matter4 ,consider how quickly they joined the right hand of fellowship with ,peter1 who had so wilfully denied his master3 for we find ,john and him together but two days after1 ,john xx4 #b4 ,and verse #ai1 we find him assembled with the rest4 ,so soon did they forgive1 so soon associate with their sinful1 yet relenting brother4 8,let us go and do likewise40 ,but there is another kind of reproof incumbent on every member of a religious society2 namely1 a gentle rebuke for some miscarriage or other1 which though not actually sinful1 yet may become the occasion of sin4 ,this indeed seems a more easy1 but perhaps will be found a more difficult point than the former3 for when a person has really sinned1 he cannot but own his brethrens reproof to be just2 whereas1 when it was only for some little misconduct1 the pride that is in our natures will scarce suffer us to brook it4 ,but however ungrateful this pill may be to our brother1 yet if we have any concern for his welfare1 it must be administered by some friendly hand or other4 ,by all means then let it be applied2 only1 like a skilful physician1 gild over the ungrateful pill1 and endeavour1 if possible1 to deceive thy brother into health and soundness4 8,let all bitterness1 and wrath1 and malice1 and evil-speaking1 be put away0 from it4 ,let the patient know1 his recovery is the only thing aimed at1 and that thou delightest not causelesly to grieve thy brother2 then thou canst not want success4 #b4 ,mutual exhortation is the second duty resulting from the words of the text4 8,again1 if two lye together1 then they have heat40 ,observe1 the wise man supposes it as impossible for religious persons to meet together1 and not to be the warmer for each other's company1 as for two persons to lye in the same bed1 and yet freeze with cold4 ,but now1 how is it possible to communicate heat to each other1 without mutually stirring up the gift of ,,god which is in us1 by brotherly exhortation8 ,let every member then of a religious society write that zealous apostle's advice on the tables of his heart2 8,see that ye exhort1 and provoke one another to love1 and to good works2 and so much the more1 as you see the day of the ,,lord approaching40 ,believe me1 brethren1 we have need of exhortation to rouse up our sleepy souls1 to set us upon our watch against the temptations of the world1 the flesh1 and the devil2 to excite us to renounce ourselves1 to take up our crosses1 and follow our blessed master1 and the glorious company of saints and martyrs1 8who through faith have fought the good fight1 and are gone before us to inherit the promises40 ,a third part1 therefore1 of the time wherein a religious society meets1 seems necessary to be spent in this important duty3 for what avails it to have our understandings enlightened by pious reading1 unless our wills are at the same time inclined1 and inflamed by mutual exhortation1 to put it in practice8 ,add also1 that this is the best way both to receive and impart light1 and the only means to preserve and increase that warmth and heat which each person first brought with him2 ,,god so ordering this1 as all other spiritual gifts1 that 8to him that hath1 i4 e4 improves and communicates what he hath1 shall be given2 but from him that hath not1 or does not improve the heat he hath1 shall be taken away even that which he seemed to have40 ,so needful1 so essentially necessary1 is exhortation to the good of society4 #c4 ,thirdly1 ,the text points out another duty incumbent on every member of a religious society1 to defend each other from those that do oppose them4 8,and if one prevail against him1 yet two shall withstand him2 and a threefold cord is not quickly broken40 ,here the wise man takes it for granted1 that offences will come1 nay1 and that they may prevail too4 ,and this is no more than our blessed master has long since told us4 ,not1 indeed1 that there is any thing in christianity itself that has the least tendency to give rise to1 or promote such offences3 ,no1 on the contrary1 it breathes nothing but unity and love4 ,but so it is1 that ever since the fatal sentence pronounced by ,,god1 after our first parents fall1 8,i will put enmity between thy seed and her seed20 he that is born after the flesh1 the unregenerate unconverted sinner1 has in all ages 8persecuted him that is born after the spirit30 and so it always will be4 ,accordingly we find an early proof given of this in the instance of ,cain and ,abel2 of ,ishmael and ,isaac2 and of ,jacob and ,esau4 ,and1 indeed1 the whole ,bible contains little else but an history of the great and continued opposition between the children of this world1 and the children of ,,god4 ,the first christians were remarkable examples of this2 and though those troublesome times1 blessed be ,,god1 are now over1 yet the apostle has laid it down as a general rule1 and all who are sincere experimentally prove the truth of it2 that 8they that will live godly in ,,christ ,,jesus1 must 7to the end of the world1 in some degree or other7 suffer persecution40 ,that therefore this may not make us desert our blessed master's cause1 every member should unite their forces1 in order to stand against it4 ,and for the better effecting this1 each would do well1 from time to time1 to communicate his experiences1 grievances1 and temptations1 and beg his companions 7first asking ,,god's assistance1 without which all is nothing7 to administer reproof1 exhortation1 or comfort1 as his case requires3 so that 8if one cannot prevail against it1 yet two shall withstand it2 and a threefold 7much less a many-fold7 cord will not be quickly broken40 ,,iv4 ,but it is time for me to proceed to the fourth general thing proposed1 to draw an inference or two from what has been said4 #a4 ,and first1 if 8two are better than one10 and the advantages of religious society are so many and so great2 then it is the duty of every true christian to set on foot1 establish and promote1 as much as in him lyes1 societies of this nature4 ,and ,i believe we may venture to affirm1 that if ever a spirit of true christianity is revived in the world1 it must be brought about by some such means as this4 ,motives1 surely1 cannot be wanting1 to stir us up to this commendable and necessary undertaking3 for1 granting all hitherto advanced to be of no force1 yet methinks the single consideration1 that great part of our happiness in heaven will consist in the ,communion of ,saints2 or that the interest as well as piety of those who differ from us1 is strengthened and supported by nothing more than their frequent meetings2 either of these considerations1 ,i say1 one would think1 should induce us to do our utmost to copy after their good example1 and settle a lasting and pious communion of the saints on earth4 ,add to this1 that we find the kingdom of darkness established daily by such like means2 and shall not the kingdom of ,,christ be set in opposition against it8 ,shall the children of ,belial assemble and strengthen each other in wickedness2 and shall not the children of ,,god unite1 and strengthen themselves in piety8 ,shall societies on societies be countenanced for midnight revellings1 and the promoting of vice1 and scarcely one be found intended for the propagation of virtue8 ,be astonished1 ,o heavens at this6 #b4 ,but this leads me to a second inference2 namely1 to warn persons of the great danger those are in1 who either by their subscriptions1 presence1 or approbation1 promote societies of a quite opposite nature to religion4 ,and here ,i would not be understood1 to mean only those public meetings which are designed manifestly for nothing else but revellings and banquetings1 for chambering and wantonness1 and at which a modest heathen would blush to be present2 but also those seemingly innocent entertainments and meetings1 which the politer part of the world are so very fond of1 and spend so much time in3 but which1 notwithstanding1 keep as many persons from a sense of true religion1 as doth intemperance1 debauchery1 or any other crime whatever4 ,indeed1 whilst we are in this world1 we must have proper relaxations1 to fit us both for the business of our profession1 and religion4 ,but then1 for persons who call themselves christians1 that have solemnly vowed at their baptism1 to renounce the vanities of this sinful world2 that are commanded in scripture 8to abstain from all appearance of evil1 and to have their conversation in heaven30 for such persons as these to support meetings1 which 7to say no worse of them7 are vain and trifling1 and have a natural tendency to draw off our minds from ,,god1 is absurd1 ridiculous1 and sinful4 ,surely two are not better than one in this case3 ,no2 it is to be wished there was not one to be found concerned in it4 ,the sooner we forsake the assembling ourselves together in such a manner1 the better2 and no matter how quickly the cord that holds such societies 7was it a thousand-fold7 is broken4 ,but you1 brethren1 have not so learned ,,christ3 but1 on the contrary1 like true disciples of your ,lord and ,master1 have by the blessing of ,,god 7as this evening's solemnity abundantly testifies7 happily formed yourselves into such societies1 which1 if duly attended on1 and improved1 cannot but strengthen you in your christian warfare1 and 8make you fruitful in every good word and work40 ,what remains for me1 but1 as was proposed1 in the last place1 to close what has been said1 in a word or two1 by way of exhortation1 and to beseech you1 in the name of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 to go on in the way you have begun2 and by a constant conscientious attendance on your respective societies1 to discountenance vice1 encourage virtue1 and build each other up in the knowledge and fear of ,,god4 ,only permit me to 8stir up your pure minds1 by way of remembrance10 and to exhort you1 8if there be any consolation in ,,christ1 any fellowship of the spirit10 again and again to consider1 that as all christians in general1 so all members of religious societies in particular1 are in an especial manner1 as houses built upon an hill2 and that therefore it highly concerns you to walk circumspectly towards those that are without1 and to take heed to yourselves1 that your conversation1 in common life1 be as becometh such an open and peculiar profession of the gospel of ,,christ3 knowing that the eyes of all men are upon you1 narrowly to inspect every circumstance of your behaviour3 and that every notorious wilful miscarriage of any single member will1 in some measure1 redound to the scandal and dishonour of your whole fraternity4 ,labour1 therefore1 my beloved brethren1 to let your practice correspond to your profession3 and think not that it will be sufficient for you to plead at the last day1 ,,lord have we not assembled ourselves together in thy name1 and enlivened each other1 by singing psalms1 and hymns1 and spiritual songs8 ,for verily1 ,i say unto you1 notwithstanding this1 our blessed ,,lord will bid you depart from him2 nay1 you shall receive a greater damnation1 if1 in the midst of these great pretensions1 you are found to be workers of iniquity4 ,but ,,god forbid that any such evil should befal you2 that there should be ever a ,judas1 a traitor1 amongst such distinguished followers of our common master4 ,no1 on the contrary1 the excellency of your rules1 the regularity of your meetings1 and more especially your pious zeal in assembling in such a public and solemn manner so frequently in the year1 persuade me to think1 that you are willing1 not barely to seem1 but to be in reality1 christians2 and hope to be found at the last day1 what you would be esteemed now1 holy1 sincere disciples of a crucified ,redeemer4 ,oh1 may you always continue thus minded6 and make it your daily1 constant endeavour1 both by precept and example1 to turn all your converse with1 more especially those of your own societies1 into the same most blessed spirit and temper4 ,thus will you adorn the gospel of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ in all things3 ,thus will you anticipate the happiness of a future state2 and by attending on1 and improving the communion of saints on earth1 be made meet to join the communion and fellowship of the spirits of just men made perfect1 of the holy angels1 nay1 of the ever-blessed and eternal ,,god in heaven4 ,which ,,god of his infinite mercy grant through ,,jesus ,,christ our ,,lord2 to whom with the ,father and the ,holy ,ghost1 three persons and one ,,god1 be ascribed1 as is most due1 all honour and praise1 might1 majesty and dominion1 now and for ever4 ,amen4 ,,sermon ,,ix4 ,the ,folly and ,danger of being not righteous enough4 ,,ecclesiastes vii4 #af4 ,be not righteous over-much1 neither make thyself over-wise3 why shouldst thou destroy thyself8 ,,nothing is more frequent1 than while people are living in a course of sin1 and after the fashion and manner of the world1 there is no notice taken of them2 neither are their ways displeasing to their companions and carnal relations3 but if they set their faces ,zion-ward1 and begin to feel the power of ,,god on their hearts2 then they are surrounded with temptations from their friends1 who thus act the devil's part4 ,the enemies1 the greatest enemies a young convert meets with1 my dear brethren1 are those of his own house4 ,they that will be godly1 must suffer persecution2 so it was in ,,christ's time1 and so it was in the ,apostles time too2 for our ,,lord came not to send peace1 but a sword4 ,our relations would not have us sit in the scorner's chair2 they would not have us be prodigals1 consuming our substance upon harlots2 neither would they have us rakes or libertines1 but they would have us be contented with an almost christianity4 ,to keep up our reputation by going to church1 and adhering to the outward forms of religion1 saying our prayers1 reading the word of ,,god1 and taking the sacraments2 this1 they imagine1 is all that is necessary for to be christians indeed2 and when we go one step farther than this1 their mouths are open against us1 as ,peter's was to ,,christ3 8,spare thyself1 do thyself no harm40 ,and of this nature are the words of the text4 ,they are not the words of ,solomon himself1 but the words of an infidel speaking to him1 whom he introduces in several parts of this book2 for ,solomon had been shewing the misfortunes which attended the truly good1 as in the verse before our text4 ,upon this the infidel says1 8,be not righteous over-much1 neither be thou over-wise3 why shouldst thou destroy thyself80 i4 e4 ,why shouldst thou bring these misfortunes upon thyself1 by being over-strict8 ,be not righteous over-much2 eat1 drink1 and be merry1 live as the world lives1 and then you will avoid those misfortunes which may attend you1 by being righteous over-much4 ,this text has another meaning2 but take it which way you will1 my brethren1 it was spoken by an unbeliever2 therefore it was no credit for the person who lately preached upon this text1 to take it for granted1 that these were the words of ,solomon3 the words of an infidel was not a proper text to a christian congregation4 ,but as ,david came out against ,goliah1 not armed as the champion was1 with sword and spear1 but with a sling and stone1 and then cut off his head with his own sword2 so ,i come out against these letter-learned men1 in the strength of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ2 and1 my dear brethren1 ,i trust he will direct me to use my sling1 so that our enemies may not gainsay us2 and by the sword of ,,god's word1 cut off the heads of our ,redeemer's enemies4 ,but though they are not the words of ,solomon1 yet we will take them in the same manner the late writer did2 and1 from the words1 shall1 ,first1 ,shew you what it is1 not to be righteous over-much1 that we may not destroy ourselves4 ,secondly1 ,i shall let you see what it is to be righteous over-much4 ,and then1 ,thirdly1 ,conclude with an exhortation to all of you1 high and low1 rich and poor1 one with another1 to come to the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,first1 ,the first thing proposed1 is to shew you what it is not to be righteous over-much4 ,and here1 ,it is by no means to be righteous over-much1 to affirm we must have the same ,spirit of ,,god as the first ,apostles had1 and must feel that ,spirit upon our hearts4 ,by receiving the ,spirit of ,,god1 is not to be understood1 that we are to be inspired to shew outward signs and wonders1 to raise dead bodies1 to cure leprous persons1 or to give sight to the blind2 these miracles were only of use in the first ages of the church2 and therefore christians 7nominal christians1 for we have little else but the name7 may have all the gifts of the ,spirit1 and yet none of the graces of it3 ,thou1 ,o man1 mayest be enabled by faith to remove mountains2 thou1 by the power of ,,god1 mayest cast out devils2 thou1 by that power1 mayest speak with the tongues of men and angels2 yea1 thou mayest1 by that power1 hold up thy finger and stop the sun in the firmament2 and if all these are unsanctified by the ,spirit of ,,god1 they would be of no service to thee1 but would hurry thee to hell with the greater solemnity4 ,saul received the spirit of prophesying1 and had another heart1 yet ,saul was probably a cast-away4 ,we must receive the ,spirit of ,,god in its sanctifying graces upon our souls2 for ,,christ says1 8,unless a man be born again1 he cannot see the kingdom of ,,god40 ,we are all by nature born in sin1 and at as great a distance from ,,god1 as the devils themselves4 ,i have told you often1 and now tell you again1 that you are by nature a motley mixture of the beast and devil1 and we cannot recover ourselves from the state wherein we have fallen1 therefore must be renewed by the ,holy ,ghost4 ,by the ,holy ,ghost1 ,i mean1 the third ,person of the ever-blessed ,trinity1 co-equal1 co-essential1 co-eternal1 and consubstantial with the ,father and the ,son2 and therefore1 when we are baptized1 it is into the nature of the ,father1 into the nature of the ,son1 and into the nature of the ,holy ,ghost3 and we are not true christians1 till we are sanctified by the ,spirit of ,,god4 ,though our modern preachers do not actually deny the ,spirit of ,,god1 yet they say1 8,christians must not feel him20 which is in effect to deny him4 ,when ,nicodemus came to ,,christ1 and the ,,lord ,,jesus was instructing him1 concerning the new birth1 says he to our ,,lord1 8,how can these things be80 ,nicodemus1 though a master of ,israel1 acts just as our learned ,rabbi's do now4 ,the answer that ,,christ gave him should stop the mouths of our letter-learned pharisees3 8,the wind bloweth where it listeth1 and we hear the sound thereof1 but cannot tell whence it cometh1 nor whither it goeth40 ,now till the ,spirit of ,,god is felt on our souls as the wind on our bodies1 indeed1 my dear brethren1 you have no interest in him3 religion consists not in external performance1 it must be in the heart1 or else it is only a name1 which cannot profit us1 a name to live whilst we are dead4 ,a late preacher upon this text1 seems to laugh at us1 for talking of the ,spirit in a sensible manner1 and talks to us as the ,jews did to ,,christ3 ,they said1 8,how can this man give us his flesh to eat80 ,so he asks1 8,what sign or proof do we give of it80 ,we do not imagine1 that ,,god must appear to us1 and give it us3 no2 but there may be1 and is1 a frequent receiving1 when no seeing of it2 and it is as plainly felt in the soul1 as any impression is1 or can be1 upon the body4 ,to what a damnable condition should we bring poor sinners1 if they could not be sensible of the ,spirit of ,,god2 namely1 a reprobate mind and past feeling8 8,what proof do they give80 says the writer4 ,what sign would they have8 ,do they expect us to raise the dead1 to give sight to the blind1 to cure lepers1 to make the lame to walk1 and the deaf to hear8 ,if these are what they expect1 ,i speak with humility1 ,,god1 by us1 hath done greater things than these3 many1 who were dead in sin1 are raised to scripture-life3 those1 who were leprous by nature1 are cleansed by the ,spirit of ,,god2 those1 who were lame in duty1 now run in ,,god's commands2 those1 who were deaf1 their ears are unstopped to hear his discipline1 and hearken to his advice2 and the poor have the gospel preached to them4 ,no wonder people talk at this rate1 when they can tell us1 8,that the ,spirit of ,,god1 is a good conscience1 consequent thereupon40 ,my dear brethren1 ,seneca1 ,cicero1 ,plato1 or any of the heathen philosophers1 would have given as good a definition as this3 ,it means no more1 than reflecting that we have done well4 ,this1 this is only ,deism refined3 ,deists laugh at us1 when we pretend to be against their notions1 and yet these men use no other reason for our differing from them1 than what is agreeable to ,deists principles4 ,this writer tells us1 8,it is against common-sense to talk of the feeling of the ,spirit of ,,god40 ,common-sense1 my brethren1 was never allowed to be a judge2 yea1 it is above its comprehension1 neither are1 nor can the ways of ,,god be known by common-sense4 ,we should never have known the things of ,,god at all by our common senses3 no2 it is the revelation of ,,god which is to be our judge2 it is that we appeal to1 and not to our weak and shallow conceptions of things4 ,thus we may see1 it is by no means to be righteous over-much1 to affirm we must have the ,spirit of ,,god as the ,apostles had4 ,nor1 ,secondly1 ,is it to be righteous over-much to frequent religious assemblies4 ,the preacher1 upon this text1 aims at putting aside all the religious societies that are in the kingdom3 ,indeed1 he says1 8,you may go to church as often as opportunity serves1 and on ,sundays2 say your prayers1 read the word of ,,god2 and1 in his opinion1 every thing else had better be let alone3 and as for the ,spirit of ,,god upon your souls1 you are to look upon it as useless and unnecessary40 ,if this1 my brethren1 is the doctrine we have now preached1 christianity is at a low ebb indeed3 but ,,god forbid you should thus learn ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,do you not forbear the frequenting of religious assemblies2 for as nothing helps to build up the devil's kingdom more than the societies of wicked men1 nothing would be more for pulling of it down1 than the people of ,,god meeting to strengthen each others hands2 and as the devil has so many friends1 will none of you be friends to the blessed ,,jesus8 ,yes1 ,i hope many of you will be of the ,,lord's side1 and build each other up in christian love and fellowship4 ,this is what the primitive christians delighted in2 and shall not we follow so excellent an example8 ,my brethren1 till christian conversation is more agreeable to us1 we cannot expect to see the gospel of ,,christ run and be glorified4 ,thus it is by no means to be righteous over-much1 to frequent religious assemblies4 ,nor1 ,thirdly1 ,is it to be righteous over-much1 to abstain from the diversions and entertainments of the age4 ,we are commanded to 8abstain from the appearance of evil10 and that 8whatsoever we do1 whether we eat or drink1 we shall do all to the glory of ,,god40 ,the writer upon this text tells us1 8,that it will be accounted unlawful to smell to a rose30 no1 my dear brethren1 you may smell to a pink and rose too if you please1 but take care to avoid the appearance of sin4 ,they talk of innocent diversions and recreations2 for my part1 ,i know of no diversion1 but that of doing good3 if you can find any diversion which is not contrary to your baptismal vow1 of renouncing the pomps and vanities of this wicked world2 if you can find any diversion which tends to the glory of ,,god2 if you can find any diversion1 which you would be willing to be found at by the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 ,i give you free licence to go to them and welcome2 but if1 on the contrary1 they are found to keep sinners from coming to the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ2 if they are a means to harden the heart1 and such as you would not willingly be found in when you come to die1 then1 my dear brethren1 keep from them3 for1 indeed1 the diversions of this age are contrary to christianity4 ,many of you may think ,i have gone too far1 but ,i shall go a great deal farther yet3 ,i will attack the devil in his strongest holds1 and bear my testimony against our fashionable and polite entertainments4 ,what satisfaction can it be1 what pleasure is there in spending several hours at cards8 ,strange6 that even people who are grown old1 can spend whole nights in this diversion3 perhaps many of you will cry out1 8,what harm is there in it80 ,my dear brethren1 whatsoever is not of faith1 or for the glory of ,,god1 is a sin3 ,now does cards tend to promote this8 ,is it not mispending your precious time1 which should be employed in working out your salvation with fear and trembling8 ,do play-houses1 horse-racing1 balls and assemblies1 tend to promote the glory of ,,god8 ,would you be willing to have your soul demanded of you1 while you are at one of those places8 ,many of these are1 7,i must speak1 ,i cannot forbear to speak against these entertainments2 come what will1 ,i will declare against them7 many1 ,i say1 of these are kept up by public authority3 the play-houses are supported by a public fund1 and our newspapers are full of horse-races all through the kingdom3 these things are sinful2 indeed they are exceeding sinful4 ,what good can come from a horse-race2 from abusing ,,god ,almighty's creatures1 and putting them to that use he never designed for them3 the play-houses1 are they not nurseries of debauchery in the age8 and the supporters and patrons of them1 are encouragers and promoters of all the evil that is done by them2 they are the bane of the age1 and will be the destruction of those who frequent them4 ,is it not high time for the true ministers of ,,jesus ,,christ1 who have been partakers of the heavenly gift1 to lift up their voices as a trumpet1 and cry aloud against these diversions of the age8 ,are they not earthly1 sensual1 devilish8 ,if you have tasted of the love of ,,god1 and have felt his power upon your souls1 you would no more go to a play1 than you would run your head into a furnace4 ,and what occasions these places to be so much frequented1 is the clergy's making no scruple to be at these polite places3 they frequent play-houses1 they go to horse-races1 they go to balls and assemblies1 they frequent taverns1 and follow all the entertainments that the age affords2 and yet these are the persons who should advise their hearers to refrain from them2 but instead thereof1 they encourage them by their example4 ,persons are too apt to rely upon1 and believe their pastors1 rather than the scriptures2 they think that there is no crime in going to plays or horse-races1 to balls and assemblies2 for if there were1 they think those persons1 who are their ministers1 would not frequent them3 but1 my dear brethren1 observe they always go disguised1 the ministers are afraid of being seen in their gowns and cassocks2 the reason thereof is plain1 their consciences inform them1 that it is not an example fit for the ministers of the gospel to set2 thus1 they are the means of giving that offence to the people of ,,god1 which ,i would not for ten thousand worlds3 they lay a stumbling-block in the way of their weak brethren1 which they will not remove1 though it is a stumbling-block of offence4 8,woe unto the world because of offences1 but woe unto that man by whom the offence cometh40 ,the polite gentlemen of the age1 spend their time in following these diversions1 because the love of ,,god is not in their hearts2 they are void of ,,christ1 and destitute of the ,spirit of ,,god2 and not being acquainted with the delight there is in ,,god and his ways1 being strangers to these things1 they run to the devil for diversions1 and are pleased and delighted with the silly ones he shews them4 ,my dear brethren1 ,i speak of these things1 these innocent diversions1 as the polite part of the world calls them1 by experience2 perhaps none1 for my age1 hath read or seen more plays than ,i have3 ,i took delight in1 and was pleased with them4 ,it is true1 ,i went to church frequently1 received the sacrament1 and was diligent in the use of the forms of religion1 but ,i was all this while ignorant of the power of ,,god on my heart1 and unacquainted with the work of grace2 but when ,,god was pleased to shine with power upon my soul1 ,i could no longer be contented to feed on husks1 or what the swine did eat3 the ,bible then was my food2 there1 and there only ,i took delight3 and till you feel this same power1 you will not abstain from the earthly delights of this age1 you will take no comfort in ,,god's ways1 nor receive any comfort from him2 for you are void of the love of ,,god1 having only the form of godliness1 while you are denying the power of it2 you are nominal christians1 when you have not the power of christianity4 ,the polite gentlemen say1 8,are we to be always upon our knees8 ,would you have us be always at prayer1 and reading or hearing the word of ,,god80 ,my dear brethren1 the fashionable ones1 who take delight in hunting1 are not tired of being continually on horseback after their hounds2 and when once you are renewed by the ,spirit of ,,god1 it will be a continual pleasure to be walking with1 and talking of ,,god1 and telling what great things ,,jesus ,,christ hath done for your souls2 and till you can find as much pleasure in conversing with ,,god1 as these men do of their hounds1 you have no share in him2 but when you have tasted how good the ,,lord is1 you will shew forth his praise2 out of the abundance of your heart your mouth will speak4 ,this brings me to the second thing proposed1 which is an extream that very seldom happens3 ,secondly1 ,to shew what it is to be righteous over-much4 ,and here1 ,first1 ,when we confine the ,spirit of ,,god to this or that particular church2 and are not willing to converse with any but those of the same communion2 this is to be righteous over-much with a witness3 and so it is1 to confine our communion within church-walls1 and to think that ,,jesus could not preach in a field as well as on consecrated-ground2 this is judaism1 this is bigotry3 this is like ,peter1 who would not go to preach the gospel to the ,gentiles1 till he had a vision from ,,god3 and when his conduct was blamed by the disciples1 he could not satisfy them till he had acquainted them with the vision he had seen4 ,and1 therefore1 we may justly infer1 the ,spirit of ,,god is the center of unity2 and wherever ,i see the image of my ,master1 ,i never enquire of them their opinions2 ,i ask them not what they are1 so they love ,,jesus ,,christ in sincerity and truth1 but embrace them as my brother1 my sister1 and my spouse3 and this is the spirit of christianity4 ,many persons1 who are bigots to this or that opinion1 when one of a different way of thinking hath come where they were1 have left the room or place on the account3 this is the spirit of the devil2 and if it was possible that these persons could be admitted into heaven with such tempers1 that very place would be hell to them4 ,christianity will never flourish1 till we are all of one heart and of one mind2 and this would be the only means of seeing the gospel of ,,jesus to flourish1 more than ever it will by persecuting those who differ from us4 ,this may be esteemed as enthusiasm and madness1 and as a design to undermine the established church3 ,no2 ,,god is my judge1 ,i should rejoice to see all the world adhere to her articles2 ,i should rejoice to see the ministers of the ,church of ,england1 preach up those very articles they have subscribed to2 but those ministers who do preach up the articles1 are esteemed as madmen1 enthusiasts1 schismatics1 and underminers of the established church3 and though they say these things of me1 blessed be ,,god1 they are without foundation4 ,my dear brethren1 ,i am a friend to her articles1 ,i am a friend to her homilies1 ,i am a friend to her liturgy2 and1 if they did not thrust me out of their churches1 ,i would read them every day2 but ,i do not confine the ,spirit of ,,god there2 for ,i say it again1 ,i love all that love the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 and esteem him my brother1 my friend1 my spouse2 aye1 my very soul is knit to that person4 ,the spirit of persecution will never1 indeed it will never make any to love ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,the pharisees make this to be madness1 so much as to mention persecution in a christian country2 but there is as much the spirit of persecution now in the world1 as ever there was2 their will is as great1 but blessed be ,,god1 they want the power2 otherwise1 how soon would they send me to prison1 make my feet fast in the stocks1 yea1 would think they did ,,god service in killing me1 and would rejoice to take away my life4 ,this is not the ,spirit of ,,christ1 my dear brethren2 ,i had not come to have thus preached2 ,i had not come into the highways and hedges2 ,i had not exposed myself to the ill treatment of these letter-learned men1 but for the sake of your souls3 indeed1 ,i had no other reason1 but your salvation2 and for that 7,i speak the truth in ,,christ1 ,i lie not7 ,i would be content to go to prison2 yea1 ,i would rejoice to die for you1 so ,i could but be a means to bring some of you to ,,jesus3 ,i could not bear to see so many in the highway to destruction1 and not shew them their danger3 ,i could not bear1 my brethren1 to see you more willing to learn1 than the teachers are to instruct you3 and if any of them were to come and preach to you1 ,i should not envy them1 ,i should not call them enthusiasts or madmen2 ,i should rejoice to hear they had ten thousand times more success than ,i have met with2 ,i would give them the right-hand of fellowship2 ,i would advise them to go on2 ,i would wish them good luck in the name of the ,,lord1 and say as ,,christ did1 when the disciples informed him of some casting out devils in his name1 and were for rebuking of them1 8,forbid them not1 for they that are not against us are for us20 or as ,st4 ,paul says1 8,some preach ,,christ of envy1 and some of good-will2 notwithstanding1 so ,,christ is but preached1 ,i rejoice2 yea1 and will rejoice40 ,the gospel of ,,jesus1 is a gospel of peace4 ,thus you may see1 that to be righteous over-much1 is to be uncharitable1 censorious1 and to persecute persons for differing from us in religion4 ,secondly1 ,persons are righteous over-much1 when they spend so much time in religious assemblies1 as to neglect their families4 ,there is no licence given by the blessed ,,jesus1 for idleness2 for in the very infancy of the world1 idleness was not allowed of4 ,in paradise1 ,adam and ,eve dressed the garden1 ,cain was a tiller of the ground1 and ,abel was a keeper of sheep2 and there is a proverb amongst the ,jews1 8,that he who brings his son up without a business1 brings him up to be a thief30 and therefore our ,saviour was a carpenter2 8,is not this the carpenter's son10 said the ,jews3 and ,st4 ,paul1 though brought up at the feet of ,gamaliel1 was a tent-maker4 ,labour1 my brethren1 is imposed on all mankind as part of the divine curse2 and you are called to be useful in the society to which you belong3 take care first for the kingdom of ,,god1 and all things necessary shall be added4 ,to labour for the meat that perisheth1 is your duty2 only take care1 that you do not neglect getting the meat for the soul3 that is of the greatest consequence1 for this plain reason1 the things of this life are temporal1 but those of the next are eternal4 ,i would have rich men to work as well as poor3 it is owing to their idleness1 that the devil hurries them to his diversions2 they can be in their beds all the morning1 and spend the afternoon and evening in dressing1 visiting1 and at balls1 plays1 or assemblies1 when they should be working out their salvation with fear and trembling4 ,such a life as this1 occasions a spiritual numbness in the soul2 and if ,,jesus ,,christ was not to stop those who thus spend their time1 they would be hurried into eternity1 without once thinking of their immortal souls4 ,but ,,jesus ,,christ has compassion upon many of them1 and while they are in their blood1 he bids them 8live40 ,and though ,i preach this doctrine to you1 yet ,i do not bid you be idle2 no1 they that do not work should not eat4 ,you have two callings1 a general one1 and a special one3 as we are to regard the one in respect of our bodies1 so we are to regard the other on account of our souls4 ,take heed1 my brethren1 ,i beseech you1 take heed1 lest you labour so for the meat that perisheth1 as to forget that meat which endureth for ever4 ,seek the things of ,,god first2 look well to obtain oil in your lamps1 grace in your hearts4 ,i am not persuading you to take no care about the things of the world1 but only not to be encumbered with them1 so as to neglect your duty towards ,,god1 and a proper concern for your souls4 ,it is meet1 it is right1 it is your bounden duty1 to mind the callings wherein ,,god hath placed you2 and you may be said to be righteous over-much not to regard them4 ,this brings me1 ,thirdly1 ,to give you another sign of being righteous over-much2 and that is1 when we fast and use corporal austerities1 so as to unfit us for the service of ,,god4 ,this1 my brethren1 you may think there is no occasion at all to caution you against1 and indeed there is not a great necessity for it2 however1 many persons1 upon their first being awakened to a sense of their sin1 are tempted to use austerities to that excess which is sinful4 ,it is our duty to fast1 it is our duty to fast often1 and it is what we are directed to by ,,jesus ,,christ himself2 but then we are to take care to do it in a proper manner3 to bring our bodies under for the service of ,,god1 is that which we are commanded by our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,the late preacher upon this text1 runs into great extremes1 and charges us with saying and acting things1 of which we never thought2 but ,i do not regard what he said of me3 ,i do not mind his bitter invectives against my ministry2 ,i do not mind his despising my youth1 and calling me novice and enthusiast2 ,i forgive him from my very heart3 but when he reflects on my ,master2 when he speaks against my ,redeemer2 when ,,jesus ,,christ is spoken against1 ,i must speak1 7,i must speak indeed1 or ,i should burst37 when he gives liberty to persons to take a chearful glass1 and alledges ,,christ for an example1 as in the marriage-feast1 saying1 8,,christ turned water into wine1 when it is plain there had been more drank than was necessary before20 what is this1 but to charge ,,christ with encouraging drunkenness8 ,it is true1 the ,governor says1 8,every man in the beginning sets forth good wine1 and when men have well drank1 that which is worse2 but thou hast kept the good wine until now30 but it does not at all follow1 that it was not necessary1 or that there had been a sufficient quantity before3 ,i would not speak thus slightingly of one of my ,master's miracles1 for the whole world4 ,and we may observe1 that as ,,christ chiefly visited poor people1 they might not have wherewithal to buy a sufficient quantity of wine2 or having more guests than were expected1 the wine was expended sooner than they thought2 then the ,mother of ,,jesus tells him1 8,they have no wine20 he answers1 8,woman1 what have ,i to do with thee8 ,my hour is not yet come40 ,after this he commanded them to fill the water-pots with water1 and they filled them to the brim1 and this water he turned into wine3 now it does not at all follow1 that there was more drank than was necessary2 neither would the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ have continued in the house if there had4 ,but we have an excellent lesson to learn from this miracle3 by the water-pots being empty1 we may understand1 the heart of man being by nature destitute of his grace1 his speaking and commanding to fill them1 shews1 that when ,,christ speaks1 the heart that was empty of grace before1 shall be filled2 and the water-pots being filled to the brim1 shews1 that ,,christ will fill believers hearts brim full of the ,holy ,ghost3 and from the ,governor's observing1 that the last wine was the best1 learn1 that a believer's best comforts1 shall be the last and greatest1 for they shall come with the greatest power upon the soul1 and continue longest there3 this1 this my dear brethren1 is the lesson we may learn from this miracle4 ,but one great inconsistency ,i cannot avoid taking notice of in this late learned preacher4 ,in the beginning of his sermon1 he charges us with 8laying heavy burthens upon people1 which they are not able to bear20 in the latter part he charges us with being ,antinomians1 whose tenets are1 8,so you say you believe in the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 you may live the life of devils40 ,now1 he charges us with being too strict1 and by and by with being too loose4 ,which side1 my brethren1 will you take8 ,thus you see1 when persons forsake ,,christ1 they make strange mistakes2 for there can be no greater opposition of sentiments than this letter-learned writer has made3 as opposite as light and darkness1 good and evil1 sweet and bitter4 ,and1 on this account1 to find out these lettered-learned gentlemens notions of the new-birth1 ,i put a paragraph in my ,journal2 and1 blessed be ,,god1 ,i have obtained my desires1 and have plainly perceived1 that the persons who have lately written concerning the new-birth1 know no more of it than a blind man does of colours1 nor can they have any more notion of it1 7by all their learning1 falsely so called7 than the blind man1 who was to give an account what the sun was1 and1 after a considerable time allowed for study1 he said1 8,it was like the sound of a trumpet40 ,and till they are taught of ,,god1 they will be unacquainted with the new-birth3 therefore1 if you have a mind to know what the devil has to say against us1 read ,dr4 ,trapp's sermons4 ,it is with grief ,i speak these things1 and were not the welfare of your souls1 and my ,redeemer's honour at stake1 ,i would not now open my mouth1 yea ,i would willingly die 7,,god is my judge7 for the person who wrote such bitter things against me1 so it would be a means of saving his soul4 ,if he had only spoken against me1 ,i would not have answered him2 but1 on his making my ,redeemer a pattern of vice1 if ,i was not to speak1 the very stones would cry out2 therefore1 the honour of my ,redeemer1 and love to you1 constrains me to speak4 ,it is of necessity that ,i speak1 when the divinity of ,,jesus ,,christ is spoken against1 it is the duty of ministers to cry aloud1 and spare not4 ,i cannot forbear1 come what will2 for ,i know not what kind of divinity we have now among us3 we must have a righteousness of our own1 and do our best endeavours1 and then ,,christ will make up the deficiency2 that is1 you must be your own ,saviour1 in part4 ,this is not the doctrine of the gospel2 this is not the doctrine of ,,jesus3 no2 ,,christ is all in all2 ,,jesus ,,christ must be your whole wisdom2 ,,jesus ,,christ must be your whole righteousness1 ,,jesus ,,christ must be your whole sanctification2 or ,,jesus ,,christ will never be your eternal redemption and sanctification4 ,inward holiness is looked on1 by some1 as the effect of enthusiasm and madness2 and preachers of the necessity of the new-birth1 are esteemed as persons fit for ,bedlam4 ,our polite and fashionable doctrine1 is1 8,that there is a fitness in man1 and that ,,god1 seeing you a good creature1 bestows upon you his grace40 ,,god forbid1 my dear brethren1 you should thus learn ,,jesus ,,christ6 ,this is not the doctrine ,i preach to you3 ,i say1 salvation is the free gift of ,,god4 ,it is ,,god's free grace1 ,i preach unto you1 not of works1 lest any one should boast4 ,,jesus ,,christ justifies the ungodly2 ,,jesus ,,christ passed by1 and saw you polluted with your blood1 and bid you live4 ,it is not of works1 it is of faith3 we are not justified for our faith1 for faith is the instrument1 but by your faith1 the active as well as the passive obedience of ,,christ1 must be applied to you4 ,,jesus ,,christ hath fulfilled the law1 he hath made it honourable2 ,,jesus ,,christ hath made satisfaction to his ,father's justice1 full satisfaction2 and it is as compleat as it is full1 and ,,god will not demand it again4 ,,jesus ,,christ is the way2 ,,jesus ,,christ is the truth2 and ,,jesus ,,christ is the life4 ,the righteousness of ,,jesus ,,christ1 my brethren1 must be imputed to you1 or you can never have any interest in the blood of ,,jesus2 your own works are but as filthy rags1 for you are justified before ,,god1 without any respect to your works past1 present1 or to come4 ,this doctrine is denyed by the learned rabbi's2 but if they deny these truths of the gospel1 they must not be offended1 though a child dare speak to a doctor2 and1 in vindication of the cause of ,,jesus ,,christ1 a child1 a boy1 by the ,spirit of ,,god1 can speak to the learned clergy of this age4 ,if ,i had a voice so great1 and could speak so loud1 as that the whole world could hear me1 ,i would cry1 8,be not righteous over-much10 by bringing your righteousness to ,,christ1 and by being righteous in your own eyes4 ,man must be abased1 that ,,god may be exalted4 ,the imputed righteousness of ,,jesus ,,christ is a comfortable doctrine to all real christians2 and you sinners1 who ask what you must do to be saved8 how uncomfortable would it be1 to tell you by good works1 when1 perhaps1 you have never done one good work in all your life3 this would be driving you to despair1 indeed3 no2 8,believe in the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 and you shall be saved30 therefore none of you need go away despairing4 ,come to the ,,lord ,,jesus by faith1 and he shall receive you4 ,you have no righteousness of your own to depend on4 ,if you are saved1 it is by the righteousness of ,,christ1 through his atonement1 his making a sacrifice for sin3 his righteousness must be imputed to you1 otherwise you cannot be saved4 ,there is no difference between you1 by nature1 and the greatest malefactor that ever was executed at ,tyburn3 the difference made1 is all owing to the free1 the rich1 the undeserved grace of ,,god2 this has made the difference4 ,it is true1 talking at this rate1 will offend the pharisees1 who do not like this levelling doctrine1 7as they call it72 but if ever you are brought to ,,jesus ,,christ by faith1 you will experience the truth of it4 ,come by faith to ,,jesus ,,christ2 do not come1 pharisee-like1 telling ,,god what you have done1 how often you have gone to church1 how often you have received the sacrament1 fasted1 prayed1 or the like3 no2 come to ,,christ as poor1 lost1 undone1 damned sinners2 come to him in this manner1 and he will accept of you3 do not be rich in spirit1 proud and exalted1 for there is no blessing attends such2 but be ye poor in spirit1 for theirs is the kingdom of ,,god2 they shall be made members of his mystical body here1 and shall be so of the church triumphant hereafter4 ,acknowledge yourselves as nothing at all1 and when you have done all1 say1 8,you are unprofitable servants40 ,there is no salvation but by ,,jesus ,,christ2 there is no other name given under heaven amongst men1 whereby we may be saved1 but that of the ,,lord ,,jesus4 ,,god1 out of ,,christ1 is a consuming fire2 therefore strive for an interest in his ,son the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ2 take him on the terms offered to you in the gospel2 accept of him in ,,god's own way1 lay hold on him by faith4 ,do not think you are christians2 do not flatter yourselves with being righteous enough1 and good enough1 because you lead moral decent lives1 do no one any harm1 go to church1 and attend upon the outward means of grace2 no1 my brethren1 you may do this1 and a great deal more1 and yet be very far from having a saving1 experimental knowledge of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,beg of ,,christ to strike home upon your hearts1 that you may feel the power of religion4 ,indeed1 you must feel the power of ,,god here1 or the wrath of ,,god hereafter4 ,these are truths of the utmost consequence2 therefore1 do not go contradicting1 do not go blaspheming away4 ,blessed be ,,god1 you are not such cowards to run away for a little rain4 ,i hope good things of you2 ,i hope you have felt the power of ,,god2 and if ,,god should bring any of you to himself through this foolishness of preaching1 you will have no reason to complain it was done by a youth1 by a child3 no2 if ,i could be made an instrument to bring you to ,,god1 they may call me novice1 enthusiast1 or what they please1 ,i should rejoice2 yea1 and ,i would rejoice4 ,o that some sinner might be brought to ,,jesus ,,christ6 ,do not say ,i preach despair3 ,i despair of no one1 when ,i consider ,,god had mercy on such a wretch as ,i1 who was running in a full career to hell3 ,i was hasting thither1 but ,,jesus ,,christ passed by and stopped me2 ,,jesus ,,christ passed by me while ,i was in my blood1 when ,i was polluted with filth2 he passed by me1 and bid me live4 ,thus ,i am a monument of ,,god's free grace2 and therefore1 my brethren1 ,i despair of none of you1 when ,i consider1 ,i say1 what a wretch ,i was4 ,i am not speaking now out of a false humility1 a pretended sanctity1 as the pharisees call it3 no1 the truth in ,,christ ,i speak1 and therefore1 men and devils do your worst2 ,i have a gracious ,master will protect me2 it is his work ,i am engaged in1 and ,,jesus ,,christ will carry me above their rage4 ,those who are come here this night out of curiosity to hear what the babbler says2 those who come to spend an idle hour to find something for an evening-conversation at a coffee-house2 or you who have stopped in your coaches as you passed by1 remember that you have had ,,jesus ,,christ offered to you2 ,i offer ,,jesus ,,christ to every one of you3 perhaps you may not regard it because it is in a field4 ,but ,,jesus ,,christ is wherever his people meet in sincerity and truth to worship him3 he is not confined to church walls3 he has met us here2 many1 very many of you know he has2 and therefore you may believe on him with greater confidence4 ,can you bear to think of a bleeding1 panting1 dying ,,jesus1 offering himself up for sinners1 and you will not accept of him8 ,do not say1 you are poor1 and therefore are ashamed to go to church1 for ,,god has sent the gospel out unto you4 ,do not harden your hearts3 oppose not the will of ,,jesus4 ,o that ,i could speak to your hearts1 that my words would centre there4 ,my heart is full of love to you4 ,i would speak1 till ,i could speak no more1 so ,i could but bring you to ,,christ4 ,i may never meet you all1 perhaps1 any more4 ,the cloud of ,,god's providence seems to be moving4 ,,god calls me by his providence away from you1 for a while4 ,,god knows whether we shall ever see each other in the flesh4 ,at the day of judgment we shall all meet again4 ,i earnestly desire your prayers4 ,pray that ,i may not only begin1 ,jehu-like1 in the spirit1 but that ,i may continue in it4 ,pray that ,i may not fall away1 that ,i may not decline suffering for you1 if ,i should be called to it4 ,be earnest1 ,o be earnest with ,,god in my behalf1 that while ,i am preaching to others1 ,i may not be a cast-away4 ,put up your prayers for me1 ,i beseech you4 ,go not to the throne of grace1 without carrying me upon your heart2 for you know not what influence your prayers may have4 ,as for you1 my dear brethren1 ,,god knows my heart1 ,i continually bear you on my mind1 when ,i go in and out before the ,,lord2 and it is my earnest desire1 you may not perish for lack of knowledge1 but that he would send out more ministers to water what his own right-hand hath planted4 ,may the ,antient of ,days come forth upon his white horse1 and may all opposition fall to the ground4 ,as we have begun to bruise the serpent's head1 we must expect he will bruise our heel4 ,the devil will not let his kingdom fall without raging horribly4 ,he will not suffer the ministers of ,,christ to go on1 without bringing his power to stop them4 ,but fear not1 my dear brethren1 ,david1 though a stripling1 encountered the great ,goliah2 and if we pray1 ,,god will give us strength against all our spiritual enemies4 ,shew your faith by your works4 ,give the world the lye4 ,press forward4 ,do not stop1 do not linger in your journey1 but strive for the mark set before you4 ,fight the good fight of faith1 and ,,god will give you spiritual mercies4 ,i hope we shall all meet at the right-hand of ,,god4 ,strive1 strive to enter in at the strait gate1 that we may be borne to ,abraham's bosom1 where sin and sorrow shall cease4 ,no scoffer will be there1 but we shall see ,,jesus1 who died for us2 and not only see him1 but live with him for ever4 ,which ,,god1 of his infinite mercy1 c4 ,,sermon ,x4 ,a ,preservative against unsettled ,notions1 and want of ,principles1 in regard to ,righteousness and ,christian ,perfection4 ,being a more particular ,answer to ,doctor ,trapp's ,four ,sermons upon the same ,text4 ,to all the ,true ,members of ,christ's ,holy ,church4 ,dear ,fellow ,christians1 ,,the great1 and indeed the only motive which prompted me to publish this sermon1 was the desire of providing for your security from error1 at a time when the deviators from1 and false pretenders to truth1 are so numerous1 that the most discerning find it a matter of the greatest difficulty to avoid being led astray by one or by other into downright falshood4 ,there is no running divisions upon truth2 like a mathematical point1 it will neither admit of subtraction nor addition3 ,and as it is indivisible in its nature1 there is no splitting the difference1 where truth is concerned4 ,irreligion and enthusiasm are diametrical opposites1 and true piety between both1 like the center of an infinite line1 is at an equal infinite distance from the one and the other1 and therefore can never admit of a coalition with either4 ,the one erring by defect1 the other by excess4 ,but whether we err by defect1 or excess1 is of little importance1 if we are equally wide of the mark1 as we certainly are in either case4 ,for whatever is less than truth1 cannot be truth2 and whatever is more than true must be false4 ,wherefore1 as the whole of this great nation seems now more than ever in danger of being hurried into one or the other of these equally pernicious extremes1 irreligion or fanaticism1 ,i thought myself more than ordinarily obliged to rouze your1 perhaps1 drowsy vigilance1 by warning you of the nearness of your peril2 cautioning you from leaning towards either side1 though but to peep at the slippery precipice2 and stepping between you and error1 before it comes nigh enough to grapple with you4 ,the happy medium of true christian piety1 in which it has pleased the mercy of ,,god to establish you1 is built on a firm rock1 8and the gates of hell shall never prevail against it40 ,while then you stand steadily upright in the fulness of the faith1 falshood and sin shall labour in vain to approach you2 whereas1 the least familiarity with error1 will make you giddy1 and if once you stagger in principles1 your ruin is almost inevitable4 ,but now ,i have cautioned you of the danger you are in from the enemies who threaten your subversion1 ,i hope your own watchfulness will be sufficient to guard you from any surprise4 ,and from their own assaults you have nothing to fear1 since while you persist in the firm resolution1 through ,,god's grace1 to keep them out1 irreligion and enthusiasm1 falshood and vice1 impiety and false piety1 will combine in vain to force an entrance into your hearts4 ,take then1 my dearly beloved fellow-members of ,,christ's mystical body1 take the friendly caution ,i give you in good part1 and endeavour to profit by it3 attend wholly to the saving truths ,i here deliver to you1 and be persuaded1 that they are uttered by one who has your eternal salvation as much at heart as his own4 8,and thou1 ,o ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 fountain of all truth1 whence all wisdom flows1 open the understandings of thy people to the light of thy true faith1 and touch their hearts with thy grace1 that they may both be able to see1 and willing to perform what thou requirest of them4 ,drive away from us every cloud of error and perversity2 guard us alike from irreligion and false pretensions to piety2 and lead us on perpetually towards that perfection to which thou hast taught us to aspire2 that keeping us here in a constant imitation of thee1 and peaceful union with each other1 thou mayest at length bring us to that everlasting glory1 which thou hast promised to all such as shall endeavour to be perfect1 even as the ,father who is in heaven is perfect1 who with thee and the ,holy ,ghost lives and reigns one ,,god1 world without end6 ,amen1 ,amen40 ,,ecclesiastes vii4 #af4 ,be not righteous over-much1 neither make thyself over-wise3 ,why shouldest thou destroy thyself8 ,,righteous over-much6 may one say2 ,is there any danger of that8 ,is it even possible8 ,can we be too good8 ,if we give any credit to the express word of ,,god1 we cannot be too good1 we cannot be righteous over-much4 ,the injunction given by ,,god to ,abraham is very strong3 8,walk before me1 and be thou perfect40 ,the same he again lays upon all ,israel1 in the eighteenth of ,deuteronomy3 8,thou shalt be perfect1 and without blemish1 with the ,,lord thy ,,god40 ,and lest any should think to excuse themselves from this obligation1 by saying1 it ceased when the old law was abolished1 our blessed ,saviour ratified and explained it3 8,be ye1 therefore1 perfect1 even as your ,father who is in heaven is perfect40 ,so that until our perfection surpasses that of our heavenly ,father1 we can never be too good nor righteous over-much2 and as it is impossible we should ever surpass1 or even come up to him in the perfection of goodness and righteousness1 it follows in course that we never can be good or righteous in excess4 ,nevertheless ,doctor ,trapp has found out that we may be righteous over-much1 and has taken no small pains1 with much agitation of spirit1 to prove that it is a great folly and weakness1 nay1 a great sin4 8,o ,,lord6 rebuke thou his spirit1 and grant that this false doctrine may not be published to his confusion in the day of judgment60 ,but if what this hasty1 this deluded man advances had been true1 could there be any occasion1 however1 of warning against it in these times1 8when the danger 7as he himself to his confusion owns7 is on the contrary extreme2 when all manner of vice and wickedness abounds to a degree almost unheard of80 ,i answer for the present1 that 8there must be heresies amongst you1 that they who are approved may be made manifest40 ,however1 this earthly-minded minister of a new gospel1 has taken a text which seems to favour his naughty purpose1 of weaning the well-disposed little ones of ,,christ from that perfect purity of heart and spirit1 which is necessary to all such as mean to live to our ,,lord ,,jesus4 ,o ,,lord1 what shall become of thy flock1 when their shepherds betray them into the hands of the ravenous wolf6 when a minister of thy word perverts it to overthrow thy kingdom1 and to destroy scripture with scripture6 ,solomon1 in the person of a desponding1 ignorant1 indolent liver1 says to the man of righteousness3 8,be not righteous over-much1 neither make thyself over-wise3 ,why shouldest thou destroy thyself80 ,but must my angry1 over-sighted brother ,trapp1 therefore1 personate a character so unbecoming his function1 merely to overthrow the express injunction of the ,,lord to us2 which obliges us never to give over pursuing and thirsting after the perfect righteousness of ,,christ1 until we rest in him8 ,father1 forgive him1 for he knows not what he says6 ,what advantage might not satan gain over the elect1 if the false construction1 put upon this text by that unseeing teacher1 should prevail6 ,yet though he blushes not to assist satan to bruise our heel1 ,i shall endeavour to bruise the heads of both1 by shewing1 ,i4 ,first1 ,the genuine sense of the text in question4 ,,ii4 ,the character of the persons1 who are to be supposed speaking here2 ,and ,,iii4 ,the character of the persons spoken to4 ,from whence will naturally result these consequences4 ,first1 ,that the ,doctor was grosly 7,,lord grant he was not maliciously7 mistaken in his explanatory sermon on this text1 as well as in the application of it4 8applicaion0 replaced with 8application0 ,secondly1 ,that he is a teacher and approver of worldly maxims4 ,thirdly1 ,that he is of course an enemy to perfect righteousness in men1 through ,,christ ,,jesus1 and1 therefore1 no friend to ,,christ3 ,and1 therefore1 that no one ought to be deluded by the false doctrine he advances1 to beguile the innocent1 and deceive1 if possible1 even the elect4 ,i4 ,to come at the true sense of the text in question1 it will be necessary to look back1 to the preceding verse1 where the wise man1 reflecting on the vanities of his youth1 puts on for a moment his former character4 8,all things1 have ,i seen in the days of my vanity3 7and among the rest7 there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness1 and there is a wicked man who prolongeth his life in his wickedness40 ,now it is very plain1 that he is not here talking of a man1 who is righteous over-much1 in the ,doctor's manner of understanding the words1 that is1 8faulty1 and criminal by excess40 ,for on one side he commends him for being a just man1 and full of righteousness1 and yet on the other tells us1 that his righteousness is the shortening of his life4 ,whereas1 had he looked upon his perishing in righteousness to be an over-righteousness1 he would never have called him a just man4 ,neither by a wicked man1 can he mean a man given up to the utmost excess of wickedness1 since he tells us1 that he prolongeth his life in 7or by7 his wickedness4 ,who does not know1 that the excess of almost every kind of vice1 is of itself a shortener of life4 ,so that the whole opposition and contrast lies between a good man1 and a bad man4 ,a good man whose goodness shortens his life1 a bad man whose iniquity lengthens his life1 or at least is not excessive enough to shorten the thread of it4 ,solomon1 absorbed in these reflections1 speaks here by way of prosopopeia1 not the sense of ,solomon1 the experienced1 the learned1 the wise2 but of the former ,solomon1 a vain young fellow1 full of self-love1 and the strong desires of life4 ,in the quality of such a one then1 he looks with the same eye upon the righteous man1 who perishes in his righteousness1 as he would on a wicked one1 who should perish in his wickedness4 ,for it is neither the righteousness of the one1 nor the wickedness of the other1 that offends him1 but the superlative degrees of both2 which tending equally to shorten life1 he looks upon them as equally opposite to the self-love he fondles within him4 ,and1 therefore1 he deems an excess of debauchery as great an enemy to the lasting enjoyment of the pleasures of life1 as an extraordinary righteousness would be4 ,well then might he say to the latter1 in this character1 8,be not over-much wicked1 neither be thou foolish2 why shouldst thou die before thy time80 ,and to the former3 8,be not righteous over-much1 neither make thyself over-wise3 ,why shouldst thou destroy thyself80 ,what wonder then1 that a youth of sprightliness and sense1 but led away by self-love to be fond of the pleasures and enjoyments of life1 when attained without hurry1 and possessed without risk2 what wonder1 ,i say1 that such a youth should conceive an equal dislike to the superlative degrees of virtue and vice1 and1 therefore1 advise such of his companions as give into the excess of debauchery1 to refrain from it3 as it must infallibly tend to clog their understandings1 stupify their senses1 and entail upon their constitutions a train of infirmities1 which cannot but debilitate their natural vigour1 and shorten their days8 8,be not over-much wicked1 neither be thou foolish3 ,why shouldst thou die before thy time80 ,what wonder1 that the same self-love should prompt him to dissuade such of his friends or acquaintance1 as he wishes to have for companions1 and countenancers of his worldly-minded pursuits1 from pursuing righteousness and wisdom to a degree that must destroy in them all taste of earthly pleasures1 and may possibly impair their constitutions1 and forward their end8 8,be not righteous over-much1 neither make thyself over-wise3 ,why shouldst thou destroy thyself80 ,this is the sense in which ,solomon 7placing himself in the state of vanity of his youth7 speaks to the one1 and the other3 to the righteous1 and to the ungodly4 ,this is the true1 genuine sense of the letter2 and every other sense put upon it1 is false and groundless1 and wrested rather to pervert than explain the truth of the text4 ,o christian simplicity1 whither art thou fled8 ,why will not the clergy speak truth8 ,and why must this false prophet suffer thy people1 ,o ,,lord1 to believe a lye8 they have held the truth in unrighteousness4 ,raise up1 ,i beseech thee1 ,o ,,lord1 some true pastors1 who may acquaint them with the nature and necessity of perfect righteousness1 and lead them to that love of christian perfection which the angry-minded1 pleasure-taking ,doctor ,trapp1 labours to divert them from1 by teaching1 that 8all christians must have to do with some vanities40 ,is not the meaning of this text plain to the weakest capacity8 ,i have here given it to you1 as ,i have it from the mouth of the royal preacher himself4 ,i have made use of no 8philosophy and vain deceit after the tradition of men1 after the rudiments of the world1 and not after ,,christ10 to impose a fleshly sense upon you1 for the sense of the word of ,,god4 ,no1 ,i have given you a natural exposition1 obvious from the very words themselves4 ,hence you may see1 my fellow-strugglers in righteousness1 how grosly our angry adversary is mistaken in his explanation of this text4 ,,lord6 open his eyes1 and touch his heart2 and convert him1 and all those erring ministers1 who have seen vain and foolish things for thy people1 and have not discovered their iniquity1 to turn away thy captivity4 ,for they have erred through wine1 and through strong drink are out of the way3 ,the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink1 they are swallowed up of wine1 they are out of the way through strong drink1 they err in vision1 they stumble in judgment4 ,it is plain from the words of the text1 that the royal ,preacher was speaking in the person of a vain worldling1 when he said1 8,be not righteous over-much20 whereby he meant to exhort the truly righteous not to be dismayed1 terrified1 or disturbed from their constant pursuit of greater and greater perfection of righteousness1 until they rest in ,,christ2 notwithstanding the derision1 fleshly persuasion1 ill-treatment and persecution of worldly men3 ,who1 one day1 repenting and groaning for anguish of spirit1 shall say within themselves1 8,these were they whom we had sometime in derision1 and a proverb of reproach4 ,we fools1 accounted their lives madness2 and their end to be without honour4 ,how are they numbered among the children of ,,god1 and their lot is among the saints60 ,how blind then is the application 7not to say perverse7 which this self-wise clergyman makes from the text1 to such as1 following the advice of the apostle1 7,colossians iii4 #b47 8set their affection on things above1 not on things on the earth40 ,must hastiness in anger get the better of sense and truth8 ,must the people be misled because the pastor cannot1 or will not see8 ,or must the injunction of ,,christ1 8,be perfect1 even as your ,father1 who is in heaven1 is perfect10 give place to the maxim of the heathen ,tully3 ,the greatest reproach to a philosopher1 is to confute his doctrine by his practice2 if this be the case1 alas1 what a deplorable1 unspeakably deplorable condition is that of some christians6 ,wherefore1 8thus saith the ,,lord0 concerning the prophets who make his people to err1 that bite with their teeth and cry peace2 and he that putteth not into their mouths1 they even prepare war against him3 therefore night shall be unto you1 that ye shall not have a vision1 and it shall be dark unto you1 that ye shall not divine1 and the sun shall go down over the prophets1 and the day shall be dark over them4 ,but ,i will leave these lovers of darkness1 and turn to you1 ,o beloved1 elect of ,,god6 ,i beseech you1 by the bowels of ,,christ1 suffer not yourselves to be deceived by their flattering1 sin-soothing speeches4 8,be not of that rebellious people1 lying children1 children who will not hear the law of the ,,lord3 who say to the seers1 see not2 and to the prophets1 prophesy not unto us right things1 speak unto us smooth things1 prophesy deceits40 ,follow not those1 who flatter you in the vanities they practise themselves4 ,o may you never be of the number of those1 in the person of whom ,solomon here says1 8,be not righteous over-much20 for their character is the character of the beast4 ,,ii4 ,the character of the persons1 who are to be supposed speaking here in the text1 is in a word the same with the character of those whom ,solomon here personates3 who1 as is already shewn1 are a vain set of men1 neither righteous enough to have an habitual desire of improving virtue to its perfection1 nor quite so flagitious as to give into self-destroying vices3 in a word1 they are self-lovers1 the sole end of whose pursuits1 whether indifferent1 bad1 or laudable in themselves1 is self-enjoyment4 ,insomuch that they look upon virtue and vice1 righteousness and wickedness1 with the same eye1 and their fondness or aversion for both is alike1 as their different degrees appear to be the means to enhance and prolong the enjoyment of pleasure1 or to lessen and shorten those pleasures4 ,thus any virtue1 while it is kept within such bounds as may render it subservient to the pleasurable degrees of vice1 will meet with no opposition from them2 on the contrary1 they will even commend it4 ,but the moment it becomes a restraint to vice in moderation 7if ,i may be allowed to make use of terms adequate to their system7 from that moment it gives offence1 and they put in their caveat1 8,be not righteous over-much40 ,in like manner1 vice1 while confined to certain limits1 which rather improve than obstruct pleasures1 is with them a desirable good2 but no sooner does it launch out into any depth1 sufficient to drown and diminish the relish of those pleasures1 than they declare open war against it2 8,be not over-much wicked40 ,and the reason they assign for their opposition in both cases1 is the same3 8why shouldst thou destroy thyself8 ,why shouldst thou die before thy time80 ,such is the prudence of the world1 the flesh1 and the devil4 ,such the maxims of these refined libertines1 so much the more dangerous as they are less obvious2 so much the more insinuating1 as they are removed from certain extravagancies capable of shocking every man who has the least sense and delicacy4 ,o ,,lord1 how true is it1 that the sons of darkness are wiser in their generation than the sons of light6 ,you are not then1 beloved in the ,,lord1 to imagine that your greatest opposition1 in struggling for perfect righteousness1 is to come from profligates1 from men whose enormous vices create horror even to themselves3 no1 your most dangerous1 most formidable enemies1 are the kind of men ,i have painted to you1 who render vice relishable with a mixture of apparent virtue1 and cloath wickedness in the apparel of righteousness2 8,beware of them1 for they come to you in the cloathing of sheep1 but inwardly are ravenous wolves40 ,this perverse generation will ensnare you into ungodliness1 by seeming oppositions to vice1 and allow you to swallow the seemings of virtue and righteousness like an emetic1 only to puke forth the reality of them4 ,they paint black1 white1 and the white they convert into black4 ,not content with seeming what they are not1 they labour to make you1 what they are4 ,righteousness and wickedness they interweave in an artful tissue1 capable of deceiving the very elect1 and difficult for the most discerning among them to unravel2 as alms-giving and avarice1 pride and humility1 temperance and luxury1 are dextrously blended together2 while as mutual curbs to each other1 they combine to stem the tide of impediments to worldly enjoyment1 which might flow from extraordinary degrees on either side4 ,thus 8,alms-giving 7you are told7 is very excellent10 and you believe the proposition1 without knowing the particular sense it is spoken in1 which is1 that alms-giving is an excellent curb upon avarice1 by preserving a rich man from such a superlative love of money as deprives him of the self-enjoyment of it4 ,and upon the strength of this belief1 the worldly-minded man1 who labours to deceive you1 gains credit enough with you to establish this maxim1 that all superlative degrees of alms-giving1 are great sins1 and that a man must never sell all he has and give it to the poor1 because some may have families of their own1 and ought to make sufficient provision for them1 according to that proverb1 8,charity begins at home20 when no one1 at least scarce any one1 is wise enough to know1 when he has a sufficiency4 ,o ,,lord1 which are we to believe1 these worldlings1 or thee8 ,if thou dost deceive us1 why dost thou threaten us with punishments1 if we do not heed thee8 ,and if the world is deceitful1 shall we not flee from it to cleave to thee8 8,pride is a great sin0 even with these worldlings1 inasmuch as the external excesses of it1 may obstruct the way to many ambitious terminations of view1 and its internal agitations are the destruction of that peace1 to which even self-love aspires2 besides1 the frequent extravagancy of its motions may not only be prejudicial to health1 but a shortner of life4 ,and1 therefore1 no wonder they should object against it1 8,be not over-much wicked3 why shouldst thou die before thy time80 ,for this reason1 they look upon a little mixture of humility to be not only commendable1 but even necessary to curb the extravagant sallies of an over-bearing pride4 ,but then a superlative degree of humility1 that is1 humility free from the least tincture of pride or vanity1 which is the same with them1 as 8an over-strained humility1 is a fault as well as folly20 because1 forsooth1 it is an expediment to the self-enjoyment of the world and its pleasures2 8,all christians must have to do with some vanities1 or else they must needs go out of the world indeed2 for the world itself is all over vanity40 ',tis nothing1 therefore1 surprising1 my brethren1 to see a man of this cast of mind making a vain ostentation of his little superficial acquaintance1 with the antient ,greeks and ,romans4 ,what is this but acting conformably to his own principle1 that 8all christians must have to do with some vanities80 ,and shall we wonder to hear such a one prefer their writings1 to those of an apostle2 or be astonished to see him wound the apostle with raillery1 through your sides1 for wishing to know nothing but ,,jesus ,,christ1 and him crucified8 ,no1 with him it is consistency to laugh and reprove you out of the perfection of righteousness1 which1 however he may play with terms1 is with him the same as being righteous over-much2 but with you it would be inconsistency1 who ought to know no difference between being righteous1 and living in a perpetual1 habitual desire of being superlatively so4 ,it is no more then1 than you ought to expect to hear such advocates for the world cry out to you1 8,be not righteous over-much3 why should you destroy yourselves80 ,but1 ,o ,,lord1 surely this is not the same voice which tells us1 that unless we humble ourselves like unto children1 we shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven1 and that he is greatest there1 who humbles himself the most like a child6 ,but what will not men advance who are drunk with passion1 and intoxicated with self-love8 8,the vice of intemperance in eating1 and drinking1 is plain to every body10 they own4 ,and1 therefore1 they give it up as an excess which cannot but tend to the impairing of health1 and shortening of life3 nay1 it drowns the very relish of pleasure in actual eating and drinking4 ,hence will every refined debauchee exclaim against it with ,dr4 ,trapp3 8,be not over-much wicked3 why shouldst thou destroy thyself80 ,little sobriety1 say they1 is requisite to give a zest to luxury and worldly pleasures4 ,but too much of it is too much1 8to eat nothing but bread and herbs1 and drink nothing but water1 unless there be a particular reason for it 7such perhaps as ,doctor ,cheyne may assign7 is folly at best1 7that is1 even though it be done for ,,christ's sake7 therefore no virtue30 8,be not then righteous over-much1 why shouldst thou destroy thyself80 ,and if you should answer these carnally-minded men with the words of the apostle1 ,romans viii4 8,we are debtors1 not to the flesh1 to live after the flesh3 ,for if we live after the flesh1 we shall die3 but if we1 through the spirit1 do mortify the deeds of the flesh1 we shall live40 ,if you answer them thus1 they will tell you1 8this is teaching for doctrines the commandments of men40 ,and it will be to as little purpose to answer them1 with what ,st4 ,paul says elsewhere 7,romans xiv4 #ag47 8,the kingdom of ,,god is not meat and drink1 but righteousness1 and peace1 and joy in the ,holy ,ghost30 ,they will not blush to tell you1 that 8our blessed ,saviour came eating and drinking1 nay worked a miracle to make wine 7at an entertainment7 when it is plain there had been more drank than was necessary40 ,to such lengths does the love of the world hurry these self-fond1 merry-making worldlings6 ,tell them of self-denial1 they will not hear you1 it is an encroachment upon the pleasures of life1 and may shorten it of a few days1 which you are never sure of possessing2 it is being 8righteous over-much3 why shouldst thou destroy thyself80 ,,jesus1 you will say1 tells us 7,john xii4 #be47 8,he that loveth his life shall lose it1 and he that hateth his life in this world1 shall keep it unto life eternal40 ,but this and the like1 they will inform you1 8are hyperbolical phrases40 ,now what signifies minding ,,jesus1 when he speaks hyperbolically1 that is1 speaks more than is strictly true4 ,yet1 ,o ,,lord ,,jesus1 grant us to mind thee1 whatever these worldlings may say2 remind us1 that if any man will come after thee1 he must deny himself1 and take up his cross1 and follow thee6 ,o how enlarging is it to the soul1 to take up the cross of ,,christ and follow him6 ,but you are charged1 ye beloved lovers of perfect righteousness1 with extravagances4 ,you allow of 8no sort of recreation or diversion2 nothing but an universal mortification and self-denial2 no pleasure but from religion only30 you teach 8that the bodily appetites must not be in the least degree gratified1 any farther than is absolutely necessary to keep body and soul together1 and mankind in being3 ,no allowances are to be made for melancholy misfortunes1 or human infirmity2 grief must be cured only by prayer20 7a horrid grievance this1 to such as think prayer burdensome at best7 8,to divert it by worldly amusements is carnal40 ,a heavy charge this3 but lest it should seem so only to those carnal persons1 who are resolved to give way to their carnal appetites2 what you look upon as advisable only1 these perverters of truth insinuate to be looked upon by you as indispensable duties4 ,and lest prevarication should fail1 downright falshoods must be placed to your account1 8so that to taste an agreeable fruit1 or smell to a rose1 must be unlawful with you10 however you disown it4 ,but ,o1 my beloved christians1 be not discouraged from the pursuit of perfect righteousness by these or such vile misrepresentations4 ,for 8blessed are ye when men shall revile you1 and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for the sake of ,,christ ,,jesus4 ,rejoice1 and be exceeding glad3 ,for great is your reward in heaven3 for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you40 ,thus far1 then1 may suffice to shew clearly with what dangerous views the worldly-minded men1 whom ,solomon personates in the text before us1 lay siege to your souls in fair speeches4 ,what ,i have said1 is enough to convince you1 that their character is that of the beast1 whom ,st4 ,john1 in the ,revelations1 8saw coming up from the sea 7that is1 the flagitious world7 with seven heads40 ,and what shall we say of a man1 a clergyman1 who teaches1 and is an advocate for their perverse doctrines8 ,may we not1 nay1 must we not1 for the glory of ,,god1 and your good1 inform you1 that he is a 8,teacher and approver of worldly maxims40 ,may ,i not1 nay1 must ,i not1 give you this caution with the royal preacher3 8,when he speaketh fair1 believe him not1 for there are seven abominations in his heart80 ,but how different is the character ,i have given you1 from the character of the persons to whom the text under consideration is spoken3 that is1 the character of all such1 as1 like you1 are resolved never to rest1 'till they rest in ,,christ ,,jesus4 ,to shew this1 ,i shall now pass to my third point4 ,,iii4 ,to what sort of persons does ,solomon in the character of a worldling address himself1 when he says1 8,be not righteous over-much1 neither make thyself over-wise3 why shouldst thou destroy thyself80 ,not to the wicked1 'tis plain2 for besides that it would have been an unnecessary precaution1 he turns to these in the next verse with another kind of warning1 which however has some analogy with this4 8,be not over-much wicked1 neither be thou foolish1 why shouldst thou die before thy time80 ,was it then to the righteous1 in a common way2 that is1 to such as content themselves with the observance of the absolute essentials of ,,god's laws8 ,surely our adversaries will not allow this1 unless they be of opinion1 that to be righteous at all1 is to be righteous over-much4 ,and yet it cannot possibly be supposed that the persons spoken to1 are men perfectly righteous2 since1 as ,i proved to you1 in the introduction of this discourse1 till we come up to the perfection of our heavenly father1 we can never be righteous enough1 much less perfectly righteous3 wherefore1 as in this life1 men cannot attain to the perfection of their heavenly father1 it follows in course that the persons here spoken to1 cannot be men perfectly righteous1 there being no such men existing2 for as ,st4 ,john saith1 8,if we say that we have no sin1 we deceive ourselves1 and the truth is not in us40 ,alas1 ,o ,,lord1 when shall we be delivered from the body of this death8 ,it remains1 that the persons spoken to1 in the text1 are such only1 as persisting stedfastly in a firm adherence to all the essential laws of ,,god1 content not themselves with the practice of common virtues in a common degree1 but live in a perpetual habitude of desires1 struggles1 and yearnings towards an intimate union with ,,christ1 the perfection of righteousness4 ,they are not of the number of those righteous with indifference1 who would fain blend the service of ,,god and mammon1 would fain have ,,christ and the world for their masters1 and halting between two1 like the children of ,israel of old1 with their faces to heaven1 and their hearts to the earth1 are neither hot nor cold4 ,alas1 would they were cold or hot6 ,but 8because they are luke-warm1 and neither cold nor hot1 the ,,lord shall spew them out of his mouth40 ,not so the persons spoken to in my text2 not so you1 ,o beloved in ,,god1 who having shaken off the world and worldly affections1 to run the more swiftly after righteousness1 hate your own lives for the sake of ,,christ4 ,happy1 happy are all you1 who put on our ,,lord ,,jesus1 and with him the new man6 8,you are the true circumcision which worship ,,god in spirit1 and rejoice in ,,christ ,,jesus1 and have no confidence in the flesh40 ,what wonder then1 christians8 ,to you ,i speak1 all ye lovers and strugglers after the perfect righteousness of your divine ,master ,,christ2 what wonder is it1 that you should be charged with enthusiasm1 with folly1 with fanaticism and madness8 ,were not the apostles so before you1 when they preached ,,christ ,,jesus8 ,nay were they not reputed drunk with wine8 ,can you be amazed at it in an age1 8when all manner of vice abounds to a degree almost unheard of10 when the land is full of adulterers1 and because of swearing the land mourneth4 ,o how is the faithful city become an harlot6 my heart within me is broken1 because of the clergy1 all my bones shake8 ,i am like a drunken man1 and like a man whom wine hath overcome2 because of the ,,lord1 and because of the words of his holiness1 perverted by this deluded clergyman4 ,when the clergy1 whom ,,christ has appointed to teach his people 8to walk before him and be perfect10 become teachers of worldly maxims1 what can be expected from the laity8 ,it is notorious1 that for the moralizing iniquity of the priest1 the land mourns4 ,they have preached and lived many sincere persons out of the church of ,england4 ,they endeavour to make you vain3 7as the prophets did in the days of ,jeremiah7 they speak a vision out of their own mouth1 and not out of the mouth of the ,,lord4 ,in a word1 8both prophet and priest are prophane1 and do wickedness in the very house of the ,,lord40 ,nay1 they say still to them who despise the ,,lord1 ,the ,,lord hath said1 ye shall have peace2 and they say to every one who walketh after the imagination of his own heart1 ,no evil shall come upon you4 ,such is the language1 my beloved lovers of christian perfection1 which the indolent1 earthly-minded1 pleasure-taking clergy of the church of ,england1 use to strengthen the hands of evil-doers1 that none may return from his wickedness4 ,such is the doctrine of the letter-learned divine1 who has dipped his pen in gall1 to decry perfect righteousness1 and to delude you from it1 with a false application of that text so grosly misunderstood by him3 8,be not righteous over-much1 neither be thou over-wise3 why shouldst thou destroy thyself80 ,but suffer not yourselves1 my fellow-christians1 to be deluded by him4 ,for as ,i have already shewn to you1 he is grosly 7,,lord grant he was not maliciously7 mistaken in his manner of explaining this text2 and so far from making a right application of it according to the wise1 the experienced ,solomon's intention1 he acts the character of a vain libertine1 full of self-love1 and earthly desires1 whom ,solomon but personated1 to ridicule4 ,but the doctor by realizing that character in himself1 becomes the teacher and approver of worldly maxims1 which he applies to you1 on purpose to destroy in you the yearnings after perfect righteousness in ,,christ4 ,may ,i not then1 nay1 must ,i not warn you1 my beloved1 that this man is an enemy to perfect righteous in men through ,,christ ,,jesus1 and1 therefore1 no friend to ,,christ8 ,o that my head was an ocean1 and my eyes fountains of tears1 to weep night and day for this poor creature1 this hood-winked member of the clergy4 ,pray you1 ,o true christians1 pray and sigh mightily to the ,,lord2 importune him in the behalf of this erring pastor2 pray that he would vouchsafe to open the eyes1 and touch the stubborn heart of this scribe1 that he may become better instructed4 ,otherwise1 as the ,,lord said by the mouth of his true prophet ,jeremiah1 8,behold1 ,i will feed him with wormwood1 and make him drink the water of gall2 for from him is prophaneness gone forth into all the land40 ,this good1 however1 hath he done by attempting to shew the folly1 sin1 and danger of that which he miscalls being righteous over-much1 that is1 being superlatively righteous1 in desire and habitual struggles2 he has thereby given me the occasion to shew you1 brethren1 in the course of this sermon1 the great and real folly1 sin1 and danger of not being righteous enough2 which1 perhaps1 ,i should never have thought of doing1 had not his false doctrine pointed out to me the necessity of doing it4 ,thus does the all-wise providence of ,,god1 make use of the very vices of men to draw good out of evil2 and chuse their very errors to confound falsehood and make way for truth4 ,though this should be more than our angry adversary intended1 yet1 ,,lord1 reward him according to his works2 and suffer him no longer to be hasty in his words1 that we may have room to entertain better hopes of him for the future4 ,blessed be ,,god for sending you better guides6 ,i am convinced it was his divine will3 our dear fellow-creature1 ,doctor ,trapp1 falling into such errors1 has given so great a shock to the sound religion of christian perfection1 that unless ,i had opposed him1 ,i verily believe the whole flock who listened to his doctrine1 would have been scattered abroad like sheep having no shepherd4 8,but woe to ye scribes and pharisees6 ,woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture1 saith the ,,lord40 ,full well ,i know that this sermon will not be pleasing to my poor peevish adversary2 but correction is not to pleasure but to profit3 few children can be brought willingly to kiss the rod which rebuketh them2 though1 when they become of riper understanding1 they will bless the hand that guided it4 ,thus shall this angry man1 ,i trust1 thank me one day for reproving him1 when his reason shall be restored to him by the light of the holy spirit4 ,o ,,lord1 grant thou this light unto him1 and suffer him to see with what bowels of pity and tenderness ,i love him in thee1 even while ,i chasten him4 ,neither am ,i insensible1 brethren1 how offensive my words will be to worldlings in general1 who loving falsehood better than truth1 and the flesh before the spirit1 will still prefer the doctor's sin-soothing doctrines to the plain gospel verities preached by me4 ,o how my soul pities them4 ,but ,i have done my duty1 ,i wash my hands1 and am innocent of the blood of all4 ,i have not sought to please my hearers1 but have spoken plain truth though it should offend4 ,for what things were gain to me1 those ,i counted loss for ,,christ2 and hope ,i shall ever do so4 ,not that ,i presume to think myself already perfect4 ,but 8,i press forward towards the mark1 for the prize of the high-calling of ,,god in ,,christ ,,jesus40 ,none of us1 as ,i before told you1 can boast of having attained the summit of perfection2 though1 he is the nearest to it1 who is widest from the appetites of the flesh1 and he stands the highest1 who is the lowliest in his own esteem3 wherefore1 as many of us as have made any advances towards ,,christ and his kingdom1 8whereto we have already attained1 let us walk by the same rule1 let us mind the same thing40 ,walk not then1 brethren1 according to the ways of the world3 but be followers of ,,christ together with me4 ,and if any1 even an angel of light1 should presume to teach you any other gospel than that which ,i have here taught you1 let him be accursed4 8,for you will find many walking1 like such of whom ,i have told you already1 and now tell you weeping1 that they are the enemies of the cross of ,,christ3 whose end is destruction1 whose ,,god is their belly3 and whose glory is in their shame1 for they mind worldly things4 ,but your conversation is in heaven1 from whence also you look for the ,saviour1 the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ3 who shall change your vile bodies1 that they may be fashioned like unto his glorious body1 according to the working whereby he is able to subdue even all things unto himself10 even the stubborn heart of our perverse adversary4 ,which ,,god of his infinite mercy grant1 c4 ,,sermon ,,xi4 ,the ,benefits of an ,early ,piety4 ,preached at ,bow ,church1 ,london1 before the ,religious ,societies4 ,,ecclesiastes xii4 ,i4 ,remember now thy ,creator in the ,days of thy ,youth4 ,,the amiableness of religion in itself1 and the innumerable advantages that flow from it to society in general1 as well as to each sincere professor in particular1 cannot but recommend it to the choice of every considerate person1 and make1 even wicked men1 as they wish to die the death1 so in their more sober intervals1 to envy the life of the righteous4 ,and1 indeed1 we must do the world so much justice1 as to confess1 that the question about religion does not usually arise from a dispute whether it be necessary or not 7for most men see the necessity of doing something for the salvation of their souls27 but when is the best time to set about it4 ,persons are convinced by universal experience1 that the first essays or endeavours towards the attainment of religion1 are attended with some difficulty and trouble1 and therefore they would willingly defer the beginning of such a seemingly ungrateful work1 as long as they can4 ,the wanton prodigal1 who is spending his substance in riotous living1 cries1 a little more pleasure1 a little more sensuality1 and then ,i will be sober in earnest4 ,the covetous worldling1 that employs all his care and pains in 8heaping up riches1 though he cannot tell who shall gather them10 does not flatter himself that this will do always2 but hopes with the rich fool in the gospel1 to lay up goods for a few more years on earth1 and then he will begin to lay up treasures in heaven4 ,and1 in short1 thus it is that most people are convinced of the necessity of being religious some time or another2 but then1 like ,felix1 they put off the acting suitably to their convictions1 'till1 what they imagine1 a more convenient season3 whereas1 would we be so humble as to be guided by the experience and counsel of the wisest men1 we should learn that youth is the fittest season for religion2 8,remember now thy creator1 7says ,solomon7 in the days of thy youth40 ,by the word remember1 we are not to understand a bare speculative remembrance1 or calling to mind1 7for that1 like a dead faith1 will profit us nothing17 but such a remembrance as will constrain us to obedience1 and oblige us out of gratitude1 to perform all that the ,,lord our ,,god shall require of us4 ,for as the forgetting ,,god in scripture language1 implies a total neglect of our duty1 in like manner remembring him signifies a perfect performance of it3 so that1 when ,solomon says1 8,remember thy ,creator in the days of thy youth10 it is the same as if he had said1 keep ,,god's commandments2 or1 in other words1 be religious in the days of thy youth1 thereby implying1 that youth is the most proper season for it4 ,i shall in the following discourse1 ,first1 ,endeavour to make good the wise man's proposition1 implied in the words of the text1 and to shew that youth is the fittest season for religion4 ,secondly1 ,by way of motive1 ,i shall consider the many unspeakable advantages that will arise from1 8,remembering our ,creator in the days of our youth40 ,and1 ,thirdly1 ,i shall conclude with a word or two of exhortation to the younger part of this audience4 ,first1 ,i am to make good the wise man's proposition1 implied in the words of the text1 and to shew that youth is the fittest season for religion3 8,remember now thy ,creator in the days of thy youth40 ,but to proceed more clearly in this argument1 it may not be improper1 first1 to explain what ,i mean by the word religion4 ,by this term1 then1 ,i would not be understood to mean a bare outward profession or naming the name of ,,christ2 for we are told1 that many who have even prophesied in his name1 and in his name cast out devils1 shall notwithstanding be rejected by him at the last day3 nor would ,i understand by it1 barely being admitted into ,,christ's church by baptism2 for then ,simon ,magus1 ,arius1 and the heresiarchs of old1 might pass for religious persons2 for these were baptized3 nor yet the receiving the other seal of the covenant1 for then ,judas himself might be canonized for a saint2 nor indeed do ,i mean any or all of these together1 considered by themselves2 but a thorough1 real1 inward change of nature1 wrought in us by the powerful operations of the ,holy ,ghost1 conveyed to and nourished in our hearts1 by a constant use of all the means of grace1 evidenced by a good life1 and bringing forth the fruits of the spirit4 ,the attaining this real1 inward religion1 is a work of so great difficulty1 that ,nicodemus1 a learned doctor and teacher in ,israel1 thought it altogether impossible1 and therefore ignorantly asked our blessed ,,lord1 8,how this thing could be80 ,and1 truly1 to rectify a disordered nature1 to mortify our corrupt passions1 to turn darkness to light1 to put off the old man1 and put on the new1 and thereby to have the image of ,,god reinstamped upon the soul1 or1 in one word1 8to be born again10 however light some may make of it1 must1 after all our endeavours1 be owned by man to be impossible4 ,it is true1 indeed1 ,,christ's yoke is said to be an easy or a gracious yoke1 and his burthen light2 but then it is to those only to whom grace has been given to bear and draw in it4 ,for1 as the wise son of ,sirach observes1 8,at first wisdom walked with her children in crooked ways1 and brings them into fear2 and torments them with her discipline1 and does not turn to comfort and rejoice them1 'till she has tried them and proved their judgment40 ,no2 we must not flatter ourselves that we shall walk in wisdom's pleasant ways1 unless we first submit to a great many difficulties4 ,the spiritual birth is attended with its pangs1 as well as the natural3 for they that have experienced it1 7and they only are the proper judges17 can acquaint you1 that in all things that are dear to corrupt nature1 we must deny ourselves1 lest1 after all1 when we come to the birth1 we should want strength to bring forth4 ,but if these things are so2 if there are difficulties and pangs attending our being born again2 if we must deny ourselves1 what season more proper than that of youth8 ,when1 if ever1 our bodies are robust and vigorous1 and our minds active and couragious2 and1 consequently1 we are then best qualified to endure hardness1 as good soldiers of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,we find1 in secular matters1 people commonly observe this method1 and send their children abroad among the toils and fatigues of business1 in their younger years1 as well knowing they are then fittest to undergo them4 ,and why do they not act with the same consistency in the grand affair of religion8 ,because1 as our ,saviour has told us1 8,the children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light40 ,but1 ,secondly1 ,if pure and undefiled religion consists in the renewal of our corrupted natures1 then it is not only a work of difficulty1 but1 the perfection of it1 of time4 ,and if this be the case1 then it highly concerns every one to set about it betimes1 and to 8work their work while it is day1 before the night cometh1 when no man can work40 ,could we1 indeed1 live to the age of ,methuselah1 and had but little business to employ ourselves in1 we might then be more excusable1 if we made no other use of this world1 than what too many do1 take our pastime therein3 but since our lives are so very short1 and we are called to work out our salvation with fear and trembling1 we have no room left for trifling1 lest we should be snatched away while our lamps are untrimmed1 and we are entirely unprepared to meet the ,bridegroom4 ,did we know a friend or neighbour1 who had a long journey of the utmost importance to make1 and yet should stand all the day idle1 neglecting to set out till the sun was about to go down1 we could not but pity and condemn his egregious folly4 ,and yet it is to be feared most men are just such fools2 they have a long journey to take1 nay1 a journey to eternity1 a journey of infinite importance1 and which they are obliged to dispatch before the sun of their natural life be gone down2 and yet they loiter away the time allotted them to perform their journey in1 till sickness or death surprizes them2 and then they cry out1 8,what shall we do to inherit eternal life80 ,but leaving such to the mercies of ,,god in ,,christ1 who can call at the eleventh hour1 ,i pass on to ,the ,second general thing proposed1 ,to shew the advantages that will arise from remembering our ,creator in the days of our youth2 which may serve as so many motives to excite and quicken all persons immediately to set about it4 ,and the first benefit resulting from thence is1 that it will bring most honour and glory to ,,god4 ,this1 ,i suppose1 every serious person will grant1 ought to be the point in which our actions should centre2 for to this end were we born1 and to this end were we redeemed by the precious blood of ,,jesus ,,christ1 that we should promote ,,god's eternal glory4 ,and as the glory of ,,god is most advanced by paying obedience to his precepts1 they that begin soonest to walk in his ways1 act most to his glory4 ,the common objection against the divine laws in general1 and the doctrines of the gospel in particular1 is1 that they are not practicable2 that they are contrary to flesh and blood2 and that all those precepts concerning self-denial1 renunciation of and deadness to the world1 are but so many arbitrary restraints imposed upon human nature3 but when we see mere striplings not only practising1 but delighting in such religious duties1 and in the days of their youth1 when1 if ever1 they have a relish for sensual pleasures1 subduing and despising the lust of the flesh1 the lust of the eye1 and the pride of life2 this1 this is pleasing to ,,god2 this vindicates his injured honour2 this shews that his service is perfect freedom1 8that his yoke is easy1 and his burden light40 ,but1 ,secondly1 as an early piety redounds most to the honour of ,,god1 so it will bring most honour to ourselves3 for those that honour ,,god1 ,,god will honour4 ,we find it1 therefore1 remarked to the praise of ,obadiah1 that he served the ,,lord from his youth3 of ,samuel1 that he stood1 when young1 before ,,god in a linen ephod3 of ,timothy1 that from a child he had known the holy scriptures3 of ,st4 ,john1 that he was the youngest and most beloved disciple3 and of our blessed ,,lord himself1 that at twelve years old he went up to the temple1 and sat among the doctors1 both hearing and asking them questions4 ,nor1 ,thirdly1 will an early piety afford us less comfort than honour1 not only because it renders religion habitual to us1 but also because it gives us a well-grounded assurance of the sincerity of our profession4 ,was there no other argument against a death-bed repentance1 but the unsatisfactoriness and anxiety of such a state1 that should be sufficient to deter all thinking persons from deferring the most important business of their life to such a dreadful period of it4 ,for supposing a man to be sincere in his profession of repentance on a death-bed 7which1 in most cases1 is very much to be doubted7 yet1 he is often afraid lest his convictions and remorse proceed not from a true sorrow for sin1 but a servile fear of punishment4 ,but one1 who is a young saint1 need fear no such perplexity2 he knows that he loves ,,god for his own sake1 and is not driven to him by a dread of impending evil2 he does not decline the gratifications of sense1 because he can no longer 8hear the voice of singing men and singing women20 but willingly takes up his cross1 and follows his blessed ,master in his youth1 and therefore has reason to expect greater confidence of his sincerity towards ,,god4 ,but farther1 as an early piety assures the heart of its sincerity1 so1 likewise1 it brings its present reward with it1 as it renders religion and all its duties habitual and easy4 ,a young saint1 was you to ask him1 would joyfully tell you the unspeakable comfort of beginning to be religious betimes3 as for his part1 he knows not what men mean by talking of mortification1 self-denial1 and retirement1 as hard and rigorous duties2 for he has so accustomed himself to them1 that1 by the grace of ,,god1 they are now become even natural1 and he takes infinitely more pleasure in practising the severest precepts of the gospel1 than a luxurious ,dives in a bed of state1 or an ambitious ,haman at a royal banquet4 ,and ,o how happy must that youth be1 whose duty is become a second nature1 and to whom those things1 which seem terrible to others1 are grown both easy and delightful6 ,but the greatest advantage of an early piety is still behind1 ,fourthly1 ,it lays in the best provision of comfort and support against such times as we shall stand most in need thereof1 viz4 all times of our tribulation1 and in particular1 against the time of old age1 the hour of death1 and the day of judgment4 ,this is the argument the wise man makes use of in the words immediately following the text3 8,remember now thy ,creator in the days of thy youth1 while the evil days come not1 nor the years draw nigh1 wherein thou shalt say1 ,i have no pleasure in them40 ,observe1 the time of old age1 is an evil time1 years wherein there is no pleasure3 and ask those that are grown old1 and they will inform you so4 ,cordials surely1 then1 must be exceeding proper to support our drooping spirits3 and ,o what cordial comparable to the recollection of early piety1 depending wholly on the righteousness of ,,christ8 ,when the eyes1 like ,isaac's1 are grown dim with age2 when 8the keepers of the house1 the hands1 shall tremble10 as the wise man goes on to describe the infirmities of old age2 when 8the strong men bow themselves10 or the legs grow feeble2 and the 8grinders10 the teeth1 shall cease to do their proper office1 because they are few2 for a person then to hear the precepts of the gospel read over to him1 and to be able to lay his hand on his heart1 and to say sincerely1 notwithstanding a consciousness of numberless short-comings1 8,all these have ,i endeavoured1 through grace1 to keep from my youth30 this must give him1 through ,,christ who worketh all1 comfort that ,i want words to express and thoughts to conceive4 ,but1 supposing it was possible for us to escape the inconveniences of old age1 yet still death is a debt1 since the fall1 we all must pay2 and1 what is worse1 it generally comes attended with such dreadful circumstances1 that it will make even a ,felix to tremble4 ,but as for the godly1 that have been enabled to serve the ,,lord from their youth1 it is not usually so with them2 no1 they have faith given them to look upon death1 not as a king of terrors1 but as a welcome messenger1 that is come to conduct them to their wished-for home4 ,all the days of their appointed time have they waited1 and it has been the business of their whole lives to study to prepare themselves for the coming of their great change2 and1 therefore1 they rejoice to hear that they are called to meet the heavenly ,bridegroom4 ,thus dies the early pious1 whose 8path has been as the shining light1 that shineth more and more unto the perfect day40 ,but follow him beyond the grave1 and see with what an holy triumph he enters into his ,master's joy2 with what an humble boldness he stands at the dreadful tribunal of ,,jesus ,,christ2 and can you then forbear to cry out1 8,let me die the death of the righteous1 and let my latter end1 and future state1 be like his80 ,need ,i then1 after having shewn so many advantages to arise from an early piety1 use any more arguments to persuade the younger part of this audience1 to whom1 in the ,third and last place1 ,i address myself1 to 8remember their ,creator in the days of their youth80 ,what6 will not all the arguments ,i have mentioned1 prevail with them to leave their husks1 and return home to eat of the fatted calf8 ,what6 will they thus requite our ,saviour's love8 ,that be far from them6 ,did he come down and shed his precious blood to deliver them from the power of sin2 and will they spend their youthful strength and vigour in the service of it1 and then think to serve ,,christ1 when they can follow their lusts no longer8 ,is it fit1 that many1 who are endowed with excellent gifts1 and are thereby qualified to be supports and ornaments of our sinking church1 should1 notwithstanding1 forget the ,,god who gave them1 and employ them in things that will not profit8 ,o why will they not arise1 and1 like so many ,phineas's1 be zealous for the ,lord of ,hosts8 ,doubtless1 when death overtakes them1 they will wish they had3 and what hinders them1 but that they begin now8 ,think you that any one yet ever repented that he began to be religious too soon8 ,but how many1 on the contrary1 have repented that they began when almost too late8 ,may we not well imagine1 that young ,samuel now rejoices that he waited so soon at the tabernacle of the ,,lord8 ,or young ,timothy1 that from a child he knew the holy scriptures8 ,and if you wish to be partakers of their joy1 let me persuade you to be partakers of their piety4 ,i could still go on to fill my mouth with arguments2 but the circumstances and piety of those amongst whom ,i am now preaching 8the kingdom of ,,god10 remind me to change my style2 and1 instead of urging any more dissuasives from sin1 to fill up what is behind of this discourse1 with encouragements to persevere in holiness4 ,blessed1 for ever blessed be the ,,god and the ,father of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 ,i am not speaking to persons inflamed with youthful lusts1 but to a multitude of young professors1 who by frequently assembling together1 and forming themselves into religious societies1 are1 ,i hope on good ground1 in a ready way to be of the number of those 8young men1 who have overcome the wicked-one40 ,believe me1 it gladdens my very soul1 to see so many of your faces set heaven-wards1 and the visible happy effects of your uniting together1 cannot but rejoice the hearts of all sincere christians1 and oblige them to wish you good luck in the name of the ,,lord4 ,the many souls who are nourished weekly with the spiritual body and blood of ,,jesus ,,christ1 by your means2 the weekly and monthly lectures that are preached by your contributions2 the daily incense of thanksgiving and prayer which is publicly sent up to the throne of grace by your subscriptions2 the many children which are trained up 8in the nurture and admonition of the ,,lord10 by your charities2 and1 lastly1 the commendable and pious zeal you exert in promoting and encouraging divine psalmody1 are such plain and apparent proofs of the benefit of your religious societies1 that they call for a public acknowledgment of praise and thanksgiving to our blessed ,master1 who has not only put into your hearts such good designs1 but enabled you also to bring the same to good effect4 ,it is true it has been objected1 8,that young mens forming themselves into religious societies1 has a tendency to make them spiritually proud1 and to #8think more highly of themselves than they ought to think4'0 ,and1 perhaps1 the imprudent1 imperious behaviour of some novices in religion1 who1 8though they went out from you1 were not of you10 may have given too much occasion for such an aspersion4 ,but you1 brethren1 have not so learned ,,christ4 ,far1 far be it from you to look upon yourselves1 as righteous1 and despise others1 because you often assemble yourselves together4 ,no2 this1 instead of creating pride1 ought to beget an holy fear in your hearts1 lest your practice should not correspond with your profession1 and that1 after you have benefited and edified others1 you yourselves should become cast-aways4 ,worldly-mindedness1 my brethren1 is another rock against which we are in danger of splitting4 ,for1 if other sins have slain their thousands of professing christians1 this has slain its ten thousands4 ,i need not appeal to past ages2 your own experience1 no doubt1 has furnished you with many unhappy instances of young men1 who1 8after 7as one would have imagined7 they had escaped the pollutions which are in the world through lust10 and 8had tasted the good word of life10 and endured for a season1 whilst under the tuition and inspection of others3 yet1 when they have come to be their own masters1 through a want of faith1 and through too great an earnestness in 8labouring for the meat which perisheth10 have cast off their first love1 been again entangled with the world1 and 8returned like the dog to his vomit1 and like the sow that was washed1 to her wallowing in the mire40 ,you would1 therefore1 do well1 my brethren1 frequently to remind each other of this dangerous snare1 and to exhort one another to begin1 pursue1 and end your christian warfare1 in a thorough renunciation of the world1 and worldly tempers2 so that1 when you are obliged by ,providence to provide for yourselves1 and those of your respective housholds1 you may continue to walk by faith1 and still 8seek first the kingdom of ,,god1 and his righteousness20 not doubting1 but all other things1 upon your honest industry and endeavours1 shall be added unto you4 ,and now1 what shall ,i say more8 ,to speak unto you1 fathers1 who have been in ,,christ so many years before me1 and know the malignity of worldly-mindedness1 and pride in the spiritual life1 would be altogether needless4 ,to you1 therefore1 ,o young men1 7for whom ,i am distressed1 for whom ,i fear as well as for myself7 do ,i once more address myself1 in the words of the beloved disciple1 8,look to yourselves1 that we lose not those things which we have wrought1 but receive a full reward40 ,be ever mindful1 then1 of the words that have been spoken to us by the apostles of the ,,lord and ,saviour4 8,give diligence to make your calling and election sure4 ,beware1 lest ye also being led away by the error of the wicked1 fall from your own stedfastness4 ,let him that thinketh he standeth1 take heed lest he fall4 ,be not high-minded1 but fear4 ,but we are persuaded better things of you1 and things that accompany salvation1 though we thus speak4 ,for ,,god is not unrighteous1 to forget your works and labours of love4 ,and we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence1 to the full assurance of hope unto the end3 that ye be not slothful1 but followers of them1 who through faith and patience inherit the promises40 ,it is true1 we have many difficulties to encounter1 many powerful enemies to overcome1 ere we can get possession of the promised land4 ,we have an artful devil1 an ensnaring world1 and above all1 the treachery of our own hearts1 to withstand and strive against4 8,for strait is the gate1 and narrow is the way that leadeth unto eternal life40 ,but wherefore should we fear1 since he that is with us is far more powerful1 than all who are against us8 ,have we not already experienced his almighty power1 in enabling us to conquer some difficulties which seemed as insurmountable then1 as those we struggle with now8 ,and cannot he1 who delivered us out of the paws of those bears and lions1 preserve us also from being hurt by the strongest ,goliah8 8,be stedfast therefore1 my brethren1 be immoveable40 ,be not 8ashamed of the gospel of ,,christ3 for it is the power of ,,god unto salvation40 ,fear not man2 fear not the contempt and revilings which you must meet with in the way of duty2 for one of you shall chase a thousand2 and two of you put ten thousand of your enemies to flight4 ,and if you will be contented1 through grace1 to suffer for a short time here2 ,i speak the truth in ,,christ1 ,i lye not2 then may ye hope1 according to the blessed word of promise1 that ye shall be exalted to sit down with the ,son of ,man1 when he shall come in the glory of his ,father1 with his holy angels1 to judgment hereafter4 ,may ,almighty ,,god give every one of us such a measure of his grace1 that we may not be of the number of those that draw back unto perdition1 but of them that believe and endure unto the end1 to the saving of our souls1 through our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,which ,,god1 c4 ,,sermon ,,xii4 ,,christ the ,believer's ,husband4 ,,isaiah liv4 #e4 ,for thy ,maker is thy ,husband4 ,,although believers by nature1 are far from ,,god1 and children of wrath1 even as others1 yet it is amazing to think how nigh they are brought to him again by the blood of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,eye hath not seen1 nor ear heard1 neither hath it entered into the heart of any man living1 fully to conceive1 the nearness and dearness of that relation1 in which they stand to their common head4 ,he is not ashamed to call them brethren4 ,behold1 says the blessed ,,jesus in the days of his flesh1 8my mother and my brethren40 ,and again after his resurrection1 8go tell my brethren40 ,nay sometimes he is pleased to term believers his friends4 8,henceforth call ,i you no longer servants1 but friends40 8,our friend ,lazarus sleepeth40 ,and what is a friend8 ,why there is a friend that is nearer than a brother1 nay1 as near as one's own soul4 ,and 8thy friend1 7says ,,god in the book of ,deuteronomy7 which is as thy own soul40 ,kind and endearing appellations these1 that undoubtedly bespeak a very near and ineffably intimate union between the ,,lord ,,jesus and the true living members of his mystical body6 ,but1 methinks1 the words of our text point out to us a relation1 which not only comprehends1 but in respect to nearness and dearness1 exceeds all other relations whatsoever4 ,i mean that of a ,husband4 8,for thy ,maker is thy husband2 the ,,lord of ,hosts is his name2 and thy ,redeemer the ,holy ,one of ,israel1 the ,,god of the whole earth shall he be called40 ,these words were originally spoken to the people of the ,jews1 considered collectively as a peculiar people1 whom our ,,lord had betrothed and married to himself2 and they seem to be spoken1 when religion was on the decline among their churches2 when they had1 in a great measure1 lost that life and power1 which they once experienced2 and their enemies began to insult them with a 8where is now your ,,god80 ,such a state of things must undoubtedly be very afflicting to the true mourners in ,zion2 and put them upon crying unto the ,,lord in this their deep distress4 ,he hears their prayer1 his bowels yearn towards them2 and in the preceding verse1 he assures them1 that though the enemy had broken in upon them like a flood1 yet their extremity should be his opportunity to lift up a standard against him4 8,fear not1 7says the great ,head and ,king of his church7 for thou shalt not be ashamed 7finally or totally72 neither be thou confounded1 7dissipated or dejected1 giving up all for gone1 as though thou never shouldst see better days1 or another revival of religion7 for thou shalt not 7entirely7 be put to shame20 though for a while1 for thy humiliation1 and the greater confusion of thy adversaries1 ,i suffer them to triumph over thee3 8,for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth1 and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widow-hood any more20 i4 e4 ,i will vouchsafe you such another glorious gale of my blessed ,spirit1 that you shall quite forget your former troubled widow-state1 and give your enemies no more occasion to insult you1 on account of your infant-condition1 but rather to envy you1 and gnash their teeth1 and melt away at the light of your unthought-of glory and prosperity4 ,and why will the infinitely great and condescending ,,jesus deal thus with his people8 ,because the church is his spouse2 8,for1 7as in the words just now read to you7 thy ,maker is thy husband2 thy ,redeemer1 the ,holy ,one of ,israel20 and therefore he loves thee too well1 to let thy enemies always trample thee under foot4 8,the ,,lord of ,hosts is his name1 the ,,god of the whole earth shall he be called20 and therefore he is armed with sufficient power to relieve his oppressed people1 and overcome and avenge himself of all their haughty and insulting foes4 ,this seems to be the prime and genuine interpretation of the text and context1 especially if we add1 that they may have a further view to the latter-day glory1 and that blessed state of the church1 which the people of ,,god have been looking for in all ages1 and the speedy approach of which1 we undoubtedly pray for1 when we put up that petition of our ,,lord's1 8thy kingdom come40 ,but1 though the words were originally spoken to the ,jews1 yet they are undoubtedly applicable to all believers in all ages1 and1 when inlarged on in a proper manner1 will afford us suitable matter of discourse both for sinners and for saints2 for such as know ,,god1 as well as for such who know him not2 and likewise for those1 who once walked in the light of his blessed countenance1 but are now backslidden from him1 have their harps hung upon the willows1 and are afraid that their beloved is gone1 and will return to their souls no more4 ,accordingly1 without prefacing this discourse any farther1 as ,i suppose that a mixed multitude of saints1 unconverted sinners1 and backsliders1 are present here this day1 ,i shall endeavour so to speak from the words of the text1 that each may have a proper portion1 and none be sent empty away4 ,in prosecuting this design1 ,i will1 ,i4 ,endeavour to shew1 what must pass between ,,jesus ,,christ and our souls before we can say1 8that our ,maker is our husband40 ,,ii4 ,the duties of love which they owe to our ,,lord1 who stand in so near a relation to him4 ,,iii4 ,the miserable condition of such as cannot yet say1 8their ,maker is their husband40 ,and ,,iv4 ,i shall conclude with a general exhortation to all such unhappy souls1 to come and match with the dear ,,lord ,,jesus4 ,and ,o6 may that ,,god who blessed ,abraham's servant1 when he went out to seek a wife for his son ,isaac1 bless me1 even me also1 now ,i am come1 ,i trust1 relying on divine strength1 to invite poor sinners1 and recal backsliders1 to my ,master ,,jesus6 ,and ,first1 ,i am to shew1 what must pass between ,,jesus ,,christ and our souls before we can say1 8,our ,maker is our husband40 ,but before ,i proceed to this1 it may not be improper to observe1 that if any of you1 amongst whom ,i am now preaching the kingdom of ,,god1 are enemies to inward religion1 and explode the doctrine of inward feelings1 as enthusiasm1 cant and nonsense1 ,i shall not be surprized1 if your hearts rise against me whilst ,i am preaching2 for ,i am about to discourse on true1 vital1 internal piety2 and an inspired apostle hath told us1 8that the natural man discerneth not the things of the spirit1 because they are spiritually discerned40 ,but1 however1 be noble as the ,bereans were2 search the ,scriptures as they did2 lay aside prejudice2 hear like ,nathaniel1 with a true ,israelitish ear2 be willing to do the will of ,,god2 and then you shall1 according to the promise of our dearest ,,lord1 8know of the doctrine1 whether it be of ,,god1 or whether ,i speak of myself40 ,i would further observe1 that if any here do expect fine preaching from me this day1 they will1 in all probability1 go away disappointed4 ,for ,i came not here to shoot over people's heads2 but1 if the ,,lord shall be pleased to bless me1 to reach their hearts4 ,accordingly1 ,i shall endeavour to cloath my ideas in such plain language1 that the meanest negro or servant1 if ,,god is pleased to give a hearing ear1 may understand me2 for ,i am certain1 if the poor and unlearned can comprehend1 the learned and rich must4 ,this being premised1 proceed we to shew what must pass between ,,jesus ,,christ and our souls1 before we can say1 8our ,maker is our husband40 ,now1 that we may discourse more pertinently and intelligibly upon this point1 it may not be amiss to consider1 what is necessary to be done1 before a marriage between two parties amongst ourselves1 can be said to be valid in the sight of ,,god and man4 ,and that will lead us in a familiar way1 to shew what must be done1 or what must pass between us and ,,jesus ,,christ1 before we can say1 8our ,maker is our husband40 ,and ,first1 ,in all lawful marriages1 it is absolutely necessary1 that the parties to be joined together in that holy and honourable estate1 are actually and legally freed from all pre-engagements whatsoever4 8,a woman is bound to her husband1 7saith the apostle7 so long as her husband liveth40 ,the same law holds good in respect to the man4 ,and so likewise1 if either party be betrothed and promised1 though not actually married to another1 the marriage is not lawful1 till that pre-engagement and promise be fairly and mutually dissolved4 ,now1 it is just thus between us and the ,,lord ,,jesus4 ,for1 we are all by nature born under1 and wedded to the law1 as a covenant of works4 ,hence it is that we are so fond of1 and artfully go about1 in order to establish a righteousness of our own4 ,it is as natural for us to do this1 as it is to breathe4 ,our first parents1 ,adam and ,eve1 even after the covenant of grace was revealed to them in that promise1 8the seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head10 reached out their hands1 and would again have taken hold of the tree of life1 which they had forfeited1 had not ,,god drove them out of paradise1 and compelled them1 as it were1 to be saved by grace4 ,and thus all their descendants naturally run to1 and want to be saved1 partly at least1 if not wholly1 by their works4 ,and even gracious souls1 who are inwardly renewed1 so far as the old man abides in them1 find a strong propensity this way4 ,hence it is1 that natural men are generally so fond of ,arminian principles4 8,do and live10 is the native language of a proud1 self-righteous heart4 ,but before we can say1 8our ,maker is our husband10 we must be divorced from our old husband the law2 we must renounce our own righteousness1 our own doings and performances1 in point of dependence1 whether in whole or part1 as dung and dross1 for the excellency of the knowledge of ,,christ ,,jesus our ,,lord4 ,for thus speaks the apostle ,paul to the ,romans1 chapter vii4 #d4 8,ye also are become dead to the law 7as a covenant of works7 by the body of ,,christ1 that ye should be married to another1 even to him1 who is raised from the dead40 ,as he also speaketh in another place1 8,i have espoused you1 as a chaste virgin to ,,jesus ,,christ40 ,this was the apostle's own case4 ,whilst he depended on his being a ,hebrew of the ,hebrews1 and thought himself secure1 because1 as to the outward observation of the law1 he was blameless2 he was an entire stranger to the divine life3 but when he began to experience the power of ,,jesus ,,christ's resurrection1 we find him1 in his epistle to the ,philippians1 absolutely renouncing all his external privileges1 and all his pharisaical righteousness2 8,yea1 doubtless1 and ,i count all things but loss1 nay but dung1 that ,i may win ,,christ1 and be found in him1 not having mine own righteousness1 which is of the law1 but that which is through the faith of ,,jesus ,,christ1 the righteousness which is of ,,god by faith40 ,and thus it must be with us1 ere we can say1 8our ,maker is our husband40 ,though we may not be wrought upon in that extraordinary way in which the apostle was1 yet we must be dead to the law1 we must be espoused as chaste virgins to ,,jesus ,,christ1 and count all external privileges1 and our most splendid performances 7as was before observed7 only 8as dung and dross1 for the excellency of the knowledge of ,,jesus ,,christ our ,,lord40 ,but further2 before a marriage among us can stand good in law1 both parties must not only be freed from all pre-engagements1 but there must be a mutual consent on both sides4 ,we are not used to marry people against their wills4 ,this is what the ,jews called betrothing1 or espousing1 a thing previous to the solemnity of marriage4 ,thus we find1 the ,virgin ,mary is said to be espoused to ,joseph1 before they actually came together1 ,matthew i4 #ah4 ,and thus it is among us4 ,both parties are previously agreed1 and1 as it were1 espoused to each other1 before we publish1 what we call the banns of marriage concerning them4 ,and so it will be in the spiritual marriage1 between ,,jesus ,,christ and our souls4 ,before we are actually married or united to him by faith2 or1 to keep to the terms of the text1 before we assuredly can say1 that 8our ,maker is our husband10 we must be made willing people in the day of ,,god's power1 we must be sweetly and effectually persuaded by the ,holy ,spirit of ,,god1 that the glorious ,emmanuel is willing to accept of us1 just as we are1 and also that we are willing to accept of him upon his own terms1 yea1 upon any terms4 ,and when once it comes to this1 the spiritual marriage goes on apace1 and there is but one thing lacking to make it compleat4 ,and what is that8 ,an actual union4 ,this is absolutely necessary in every lawful marriage among men4 ,there must be a joining of hands before witnesses1 ere they can be deemed lawfully joined together4 ,some men indeed of corrupt minds1 are apt to look upon this as a needless ceremony1 and think it sufficient to be married1 as they term it1 in the sight of ,,god4 ,but whence men get such divinity1 ,i know not4 ,i am positive1 not from the ,bible2 for we there read that even at the first marriage in paradise1 there was something of outward solemnity2 ,,god himself 7if ,i may so speak7 being there the priest4 ,for we are told1 ,genesis ii4 #bb4 that1 after ,,god had made the woman1 8he brought her unto the man40 ,and indeed1 to lay aside all manner of outward ceremony in marriage1 would be to turn the world into a den of brute beasts4 ,men would then take1 or forsake as many wives as they pleased1 and we should soon sink into as bad and brutal a state1 as those nations are1 amongst whom such practices are allowed of1 and who are utterly destitute of the knowledge of our ,,lord and ,saviour ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,whoever has experienced the power of his resurrection1 ,i am persuaded will never plead for such a licentious practice4 ,for the terms made use of in ,scripture1 to represent the mystical union between ,,christ and his church1 such as1 our being 8joined to the ,,lord10 and 8married to ,,jesus ,,christ10 are all metaphorical expressions1 taken from some analogous practices amongst men4 ,and as persons when married1 though before twain1 are now one flesh2 so those that are joined to the ,,lord1 and can truly say1 8our ,maker is our husband10 are in the apostle's language1 one spirit4 ,this was typified in the original marriage of our first parents4 ,when ,,god brought ,eve to ,adam1 he received her with joy at his hands1 and said1 8this is bone of my bone1 and flesh of my flesh40 ,they had there1 primarily1 but one name4 ,for thus speaks the sacred ,historian1 ,genesis v4 #a1 #b4 8,in the day that ,,god created man1 he blessed them1 and called their name ,adam40 ,and why8 because they were one flesh1 and were to have but one heart4 ,the self-same terms are made use of in ,scripture1 to express the believer's union with ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,we are called ,christians1 after ,,christ's name1 because made partakers of ,,christ's nature4 ,out of his fulness1 believers receive grace for grace4 ,and therefore1 the marriage state1 especially by the apostle ,paul1 is frequently made use of1 to figure out to us the real1 vital union1 between ,,jesus ,,christ and regenerate souls4 ,this is termed by the apostle1 ,ephesians v4 #cb4 8,a great mystery40 ,but great as it is1 we must all experience it1 before we can say assuredly1 that 8our ,maker is our husband40 ,for what says our ,,lord1 in that prayer he put up to his ,father before his bitter passion8 8,father1 ,i will that those whom thou hast given me1 shall be where ,i am1 that they may be one with thee2 even as thou1 ,o ,father1 and ,i are one1 ,i in them1 and they in me1 that we all may be made perfect in one40 ,o infinite condescension6 ,o ineffable union6 ,hence it is1 that believers are said to be members of his body1 of his flesh1 and of his bones4 ,hence it is1 that the apostle speaking of himself1 says1 8,i live1 yet not ,i1 but ,,christ liveth in me40 ,what an expression is that8 ,how much does it comprehend8 ,and1 that we might not think this was something peculiar to himself1 he puts this close question to the ,corinthians2 8,know ye not1 that ,,christ is in you1 unless you be reprobates80 ,agreeable to what he says in his epistle to the ,colossians1 8,,christ in you1 the hope of glory40 ,and hence it is1 that our church1 in the communion-office1 directs the minister to acquaint all those who receive the sacrament worthily1 that they are one with ,,christ1 and ,,christ with them2 that they dwell in ,,christ1 and ,,christ in them4 ,words that deserve to be written in letters of gold1 and which evidently shew1 what our reformers believed all persons must experience1 before they could truly and assuredly say1 that 8their ,maker is their husband40 ,from what has been delivered1 may not the poorest and most illiterate person here present easily know whether or not he is really married to ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,some indeed1 ,i am afraid1 are so presumptuous as to affirm1 at least to insinuate1 that there is no such thing as knowing1 or being fully assured1 whilst here below1 whether we are in ,,christ or not4 ,or at least1 if there be such a thing1 it is very rare1 or was only the privilege of the primitive believers4 ,part of this is true1 and part of this absolutely false4 ,that this glorious privilege of a full assurance is very rare1 is too1 too true4 ,and so it is equally too true1 that real christians1 comparatively speaking1 are very rare also4 ,but that there is no such thing1 or that this was only the privilege of the first followers of our blessed ,,lord1 is directly opposite to the word of ,,god4 8,we know 7says ,st4 ,john1 speaking of believers in general7 that we are his1 by the spirit which he hath given us20 and1 8,he that believeth hath the witness in himself20 8because you are sons 7saith ,st4 ,paul7 ,,god hath sent forth his ,spirit into your hearts1 even the spirit of adoption1 whereby we cry1 ,abba1 ,father40 ,not that ,i dare affirm1 that there is no real christian1 but what has this full assurance of faith1 and clearly knows1 that his ,maker is his husband4 ,in speaking thus1 ,i should undoubtedly condemn some of the generation of ,,god's dear children1 who through the prevalence of unbelief1 indwelling sin1 spiritual sloth1 or it may be1 for want of being informed of the privileges of believers1 may walk in darkness1 and see no light2 therefore1 though ,i dare not affirm1 that a full assurance of faith is absolutely necessary for the very being1 yet ,i dare assert1 that it is absolutely necessary1 for the well being of a christian4 ,and for my own part1 ,i cannot conceive1 how any persons1 that pretend to christianity1 can rest satisfied or contented without it4 ,this is stopping short1 on this side ,jordan1 with a witness4 ,and gives others too much reason to suspect1 that such persons1 however high their profession may be1 have1 as yet1 no true saving grace at all4 ,men1 whose hearts are set on this world's goods1 or1 to use our ,,lord's language1 8the children of this world10 act not so4 ,i suppose there is scarce a single merchant in this great congregation1 especially in these troublous times1 that will venture out either his ship or cargo1 without first insuring1 both against the violence of an enemy1 or a storm4 ,and ,i suppose there is scarce a single house1 of any considerable value1 in any populous town or city1 but the owner has taken out a policy from the fire-office1 to insure it1 in case of fire4 ,and can ,i be so irrational as to think1 that there is such a thing as securing my goods1 and my house1 and that there is no such thing as insuring1 what is infinitely more valuable1 my precious and immortal soul8 ,or if there be such a thing1 as undoubtedly there is1 what foolishness of folly must it needs be in men1 that pretend to be men of parts1 of good sense1 and solid reasoning1 to be so anxious to secure their ships against a storm1 and their houses against a fire1 and at the same time1 not to be unspeakably more solicitous1 to take a policy out of the assurance-office of heaven2 even the seal and witness of the blessed ,spirit of ,,god1 to insure their souls against that storm of divine wrath1 and that vengeance of eternal fire1 which will at the last decisive day come upon all those1 who know not ,,god1 and have not obeyed his gracious gospel8 ,to affirm therefore1 that there is no such thing as knowing1 that 8our ,maker is our husband20 or that it was a privilege peculiar to the first christians1 to speak in the mildest terms1 is both irrational and unscriptural4 ,not that all who can say1 their ,maker is their husband1 can give the same clear and distinct account of the time1 manner and means of their being spiritually united and married by faith1 to the blessed bridegroom of the church4 ,some there may be now1 as well as formerly1 sanctified from the womb4 ,and others in their infancy and non-age1 as it were silently converted4 ,such perhaps may say1 with a little ,scotch maiden1 now with ,,god1 when ,i asked her1 whether ,,jesus ,,christ had taken away her old heart1 and given her a new one8 8,sir1 it may be1 7said she17 ,i cannot directly tell you the time and place1 but this ,i know1 it is done40 ,and indeed it is not so very material1 though no doubt it is very satisfactory1 if we cannot relate all the minute and particular circumstances1 that attended our conversion2 if so be we are truly converted now1 and can say1 the work is done1 and that1 8our ,maker is our husband40 ,and ,i question1 whether there is one single adult believer1 now on earth1 who lived before conversion1 either in a course of secret or open sin1 but can1 in a good degree1 give an account of the beginning and progress of the work of grace in his heart4 ,what think ye8 ,need ,i tell any married persons in this congregation1 that they must go to the university1 and learn the languages1 before they can tell whether they are married or not8 ,or1 if their marriage was to be doubted1 could they not1 think you1 bring their certificates1 to certify the time and place of their marriage2 and the minister that joined them together in that holy state8 ,and if you are adult1 and are indeed married to ,,jesus ,,christ1 though you may be unlearned1 and what the world terms illiterate men1 cannot you tell me the rise and progress1 and consummation of the spiritual marriage1 between ,,jesus ,,christ and your souls8 ,know you not the time1 when you were first under the drawings of the ,father1 and ,,jesus began to woo you for himself8 ,tell me1 ,o man1 tell me1 ,o woman1 knowest thou not the time1 or at least1 knowest thou not1 that there was a time1 when the blessed ,spirit of ,,god stripped thee of the fig-leaves of thy own righteousness1 hunted thee out of the trees of the garden of thy performances1 forced thee from the embraces of thy old husband the law1 and made thee to abhor thy own righteousness1 as so many filthy rags8 ,canst thou not remember1 when1 after a long struggle with unbelief1 ,,jesus appeared to thee1 as altogether lovely1 mighty and willing to save8 ,and canst thou not reflect upon a season1 when thy own stubborn heart was made to bend2 and thou wast made willing to embrace him1 as freely offered to thee in the everlasting gospel8 ,and canst thou not1 with pleasure unspeakable1 reflect on some happy period1 some certain point of time1 in which a sacred something 7perhaps thou couldst not then well tell what7 did captivate1 and fill thy heart1 so that thou could say1 in a rapture of holy surprize1 and extacy of divine love1 8,my ,,lord and my ,,god6 my beloved is mine1 and ,i am his2 ,i know that my ,redeemer liveth20 or1 to keep to the words of our text1 8,my ,maker is my husband40 ,surely1 amidst this great and solemn assembly1 there are many that can answer these questions in the affirmative4 ,for these are transactions1 not easily to be forgotten2 and the day of our espousals is1 generally1 a very remarkable day2 a day to be had in everlasting remembrance4 ,and can any of you indeed1 upon good grounds say1 that your ,maker is your husband8 ,may ,i not then 7as it is customary to wish persons joy who are just entered into the marriage state7 congratulate you upon your happy change1 and wish you joy1 with all my heart8 ,sure am ,i that there was joy in heaven on the day of your espousals3 and why should not the blessed news occasion joy on earth8 ,may ,i not address you in the language of our ,,lord to the women that came to visit his sepulchre1 8,all hail60 for ye are highly favoured4 ,blessed are ye among men1 blessed are ye among women6 ,all generations shall call you blessed4 ,what6 8is your ,maker your husband8 the holy one of ,israel your ,redeemer80 ,sing1 ,o heavens1 and rejoice1 ,o earth6 ,what an amazing stoop is this6 ,what a new thing has ,,god created on the earth6 ,do not your hearts1 ,o believers1 burn within you1 when meditating on this unspeakable condescension of the high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternity8 ,whilst you are musing1 does not the sacred fire of divine love kindle in your souls8 ,and1 out of the abundance of your hearts1 do you not often speak with your tongues1 and call upon all that is within you1 to laud and magnify your ,redeemer's holy name8 ,is not that ,,god-exalting1 self-abasing expression frequently in your mouths1 8,why me1 ,,lord1 why me80 ,and are you not often constrained to break out into that devout exclamation of ,solomon1 when the glory of the ,,lord filled the temple1 8,and will ,,god indeed dwell with man80 ungrateful1 rebellious1 ill1 and hell-deserving man6 ,o1 my brethren1 my heart is enlarged towards you6 ,tears1 while ,i am speaking1 are ready to gush out4 ,but they are tears of love and joy4 ,how shall ,i give it vent8 ,how shall ,i set forth thy happiness1 ,o believer1 thou bride of ,,god6 ,and is thy ,maker thy husband8 ,is his name 8,the ,,lord of hosts80 ,whom then shouldst thou fear8 ,and is thy ,redeemer the holy one of ,israel8 the ,,god of the whole earth should he be called6 of whom then shouldst thou be afraid8 ,he that toucheth thee1 toucheth the very apple of ,,god's eye4 8,the very hairs of thy head are all numbered20 and 8it is better that a man should have a milstone tied round his neck1 and be drowned in the sea1 than that he should justly offend thee40 ,all hail1 7,i must again repeat it7 thou ,lamb's bride6 for thou art all glorious within1 and comely1 through the comeliness thy heavenly bridegroom hath put upon thee4 ,thy garment is indeed of wrought gold2 and1 ere long1 the ,king shall bring thee forth with a raiment of needle-work1 and present thee blameless before his ,father1 without spot1 or wrinkle1 or any such thing4 ,in the mean while1 well shall it be with you1 and happy shall you be1 who are married to ,,jesus ,,christ3 for all that ,,christ has1 is yours4 8,he is made of ,,god to you1 wisdom1 righteousness1 sanctification1 and eternal redemption40 8,whether ,paul1 or ,cephas1 or the world1 or life1 or death1 or things present1 or things to come2 all are yours40 ,all his attributes are engaged for your preservation1 and all things shall work together for your good1 who love ,,god1 and1 by being thus married to the ,,lord ,,jesus1 give an evident proof that you are called according to his purpose4 ,what say you8 ,when you meditate on these things1 are you not frequently ready to cry out1 ,what shall we render unto the ,,lord for all these mercies1 which1 of his free unmerited grace1 he hath been pleased to bestow upon us8 ,for1 though you are dead to the law1 as a covenant of works1 yet you are alive to the law as a rule of life1 and are in1 or under the law 7for either expression seems to denote the same thing7 to your glorious husband1 ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,pass we on therefore to the ,second general head1 under which ,i was to shew1 what duties of love they owe to ,,jesus ,,christ1 who are so happy as to be able to say1 8,my ,maker is my husband40 ,i say1 duties of love4 ,for being now married to ,,jesus ,,christ1 you work not for life1 but from life4 ,the love of ,,god constrains you1 so that1 if there was no written law1 or supposing ,,jesus would set you at liberty from his yoke1 so far as grace prevails in your hearts1 you would say1 we love our blessed bridegroom1 and will not go from him4 ,and what does the ,,lord require of you8 ,that we may speak on this head as plainly as may be1 we shall pursue the method we begun with2 and1 by carrying on the allegory1 and examining what is required of truly christian wives1 under the gospel1 infer what our ,,lord may justly demand of those who are united to him by faith1 and can therefore say1 8our ,maker is our husband40 ,and here let us go to the law and to the testimony4 ,what says the scripture8 8,let the wife see that she reverence her husband40 ,it is1 no doubt1 the duty of married women to think highly of their husbands4 ,from whom may husbands justly command respect1 if not from their wives8 ,the apostle's expression is emphatical4 8,let the wife see that she reverence her husband20 thereby implying1 that women1 some of them at least1 are too prone to disrespect their husbands2 as ,michal1 ,saul's daughter1 despised ,david in her heart1 when she tauntingly said1 #b ,samuel vi4 #bj4 8,how glorious was the king of ,israel to-day1 who uncovered himself to-day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants1 as one of the vain fellows shamlessly uncovereth himself40 ,this is a source and fountain1 from whence many domestic evils frequently flow4 ,women should remember the character that husbands sustain in scripture4 ,they are to them1 what ,,christ is to the church4 ,and it is mentioned to the honour of ,sarah1 that she called ,abraham 8,lord40 8,shall ,i have a child who am old1 my ,lord being old also80 ,it is remarkable1 there are but two good words in that whole sentence1 8my ,lord10 7for all the others are the language of unbelief7 and yet those two words the ,holy ,ghost mentions to her eternal honour1 and buries1 as it were1 the rest in oblivion4 8,even as ,sarah 7says ,st4 ,peter7 obeyed ,abraham1 calling him ,lord40 ,an evident proof how pleasing it is in the sight of ,,god1 for women in the married state to reverence and respect their husbands4 ,not that husbands therefore should lord it over their wives1 or require too much respect at their hands4 ,this would be unchristian1 as well as ungenerous1 indeed4 ,they ought rather1 as ,,god has taken such care to keep up their authority1 commanding their wives to reverence and respect them2 they ought1 ,i say1 to be doubly careful1 that they live so holy and unblameable1 as to lay their wives under no temptation to despise them4 ,but to return from this digression4 ,does the apostle say1 8,let the wife see that she reverence her husband80 ,may ,i not pertinently apply this caution to you who are married to ,,jesus ,,christ8 ,see to it that you reverence and respect your husband4 ,i say1 see to it4 ,for the devil will be often suggesting to you hard and mean thoughts against your husband4 ,it was thus he beset our mother ,eve1 even in a state of innocence4 ,he would fain persuade her to entertain hard thoughts of her glorious benefactor4 8,what1 has ,,god said1 ye shall not eat of the trees of the garden80 ,has he been so cruel to put you here in a beautiful garden only to vex and teize you8 ,this he made use of as an inlet to all his succeeding insinuations4 ,and this trade he is still pursuing1 and will be pursuing to the very end of time4 ,besides1 in the eyes of the world1 ,,jesus ,,christ has no form or comeliness that they should desire him2 and therefore1 unless you 8watch and pray10 you will be led into temptation1 and not keep up such high thoughts of your blessed ,,jesus as he justly deserves4 ,in this you can never exceed4 ,women1 perhaps1 may sometimes think too highly of1 and1 through excess of love1 idolize their earthly comforts4 ,but it is impossible for you to think too highly of your heavenly husband1 ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,farther1 what says the apostle in his epistle to the ,ephesians8 ,speaking of the marriage state1 he says1 8,the wife is the glory of her husband20 as though he had said1 a christian wife should so behave1 and so walk1 as to be a credit to her husband4 ,as ,abigail was an honour to ,nabal1 and by her sweet deportment made up1 in some degree1 for her husband's churlishness4 ,this is to be a help-meet indeed4 ,such a woman will be praised in the gate2 and her husband get glory1 and meet with respect on her account4 ,and ought a woman to be the glory of her husband8 ,how much more ought you1 that are the ,lamb's bride1 so to live1 and so to walk1 as to bring glory1 and gain respect1 to the cause and interest of your husband ,,jesus8 ,this is what the apostle every where supposes1 when he would draw a parallel between a temporal and spiritual marriage4 8,the woman1 is the glory of her husband1 even as the church is the glory of ,,christ40 ,agreeable to this1 he tells the ,corinthians1 8,whether you eat or drink1 or whatsoever you do1 do all to the glory of ,,god20 and as he also speaks to the ,thessalonians1 #a ,thessalonians ii4 #aa1 #ab4 8,as you know how we exhorted1 and comforted1 and charged every one of you 7as a father doth his children7 that you would walk worthy of ,,god who hath called you to his kingdom1 and his glory40 ,what an expression is here6 8,that you would walk worthy of ,,god40 ,o6 how ought this1 and such like texts1 to stir up your pure minds1 ,o believers1 so to have your conversation in this world1 that you may be what the apostle says some particular persons were1 even 8the glory of ,,christ40 ,you are his glory2 he rejoices over you with singing2 and you should so walk1 that all who know and hear of you1 may glorify ,,christ in you4 ,subjection1 is another duty1 that is enjoined married women1 in the word of ,,god4 ,they are to 8be subject to their own husbands in every thing10 every lawful thing3 8,for1 the husband is the head of the wife1 even as ,,christ is the head of the church40 ,and knowing how unapt some base minds would be to submit to the husband's authority1 he takes care to enforce this duty of subjection by many cogent and powerful arguments4 8,for ,adam was first made1 and not ,eve4 ,neither was the man made for the woman1 but the woman for the man40 ,and again1 8,the man was not first in the transgression1 but the woman40 ,upon which accounts1 subjection was imposed on her as part of her punishment4 8,thy desire 7says ,,god7 shall be to thy husband1 and he shall rule 7though not tyrannize7 over thee40 ,so that1 to use the words of pious ,mr4 ,henry1 those who attempt to usurp authority over their husbands1 not only contradict a divine command1 but thwart a divine curse4 ,and if women are to be subject to their own husbands in every thing1 how much more ought believers1 whether men or women1 to be subject to ,,jesus ,,christ3 for he is the head of the church4 ,he has bought her by his blood4 ,believers therefore are not their own1 but are under the highest obligations to glorify and obey ,,jesus ,,christ1 in their bodies and their souls1 which are his4 ,add to this1 that his service1 as it is admirably expressed in one of our collects1 is perfect freedom4 ,his commandments holy1 just1 and good4 ,and therefore it is your highest privilege1 ,o believers1 to submit to1 and obey them4 ,earthly husbands may be so mean as to impose some things upon their wives1 merely to shew their authority2 but it is not so with ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,he can and does impose nothing1 but what immediately conduces to our present1 as well as future good4 ,in doing1 nay1 in suffering for ,,jesus ,,christ1 there is a present unspeakable reward4 ,and therefore ,i may say to believers1 as the blessed ,virgin said to the servants at the marriage in ,cana1 8,whatsoever he says unto you1 do it40 8,for his yoke is easy1 and his burden is light40 ,and ,i believe it might easily be proved in a few minutes1 that all the disorders which are now in the world1 whether in church or state1 are owing to a want of being universally1 unanimously1 chearfully1 and perseveringly conformed to the laws and example of our ,,lord and ,saviour ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,again1 ,faithfulness in the marriage state1 is strictly enjoined in the scriptures of truth4 8,marriage is honourable in all1 and the bed undefiled4 ,but whoremongers and adulterers ,,god will judge40 ,nay1 adultery is an iniquity to be punished by the earthly judges2 it dissolves the marriage relation4 8,for the man has not power over his own body1 but the woman2 neither has the woman power over her own body1 but the man40 ,the heathens themselves have been taught this by the light of nature2 and adultery1 among some of them1 is punished with immediate death4 ,and ought married persons to be thus careful to keep the marriage-bed undefiled1 how carefully then ought believers to keep their souls chaste1 pure1 and undefiled1 now they are espoused to ,,jesus ,,christ8 ,for there is such a thing as spiritual adultery2 8,o ye adulterers and adulteresses10 saith ,st4 ,james4 ,and ,,god frequently complains of his people's playing the harlot4 ,hence it is1 that ,st4 ,john1 in the most endearing manner1 exhorts believers to 8keep themselves from idols40 ,for the lust of the eye1 the lust of the flesh1 and pride of life1 are always ready to steal away our hearts from ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,and every time we place our affections upon any thing more than ,,christ1 we do undoubtedly commit spiritual adultery4 ,for we admit a creature to rival the ,creator1 who is ,,god over all1 blessed for evermore4 8,little children1 therefore1 keep yourselves from idols40 ,but it is time for me to draw towards the close of this head4 ,fruitfulness was a blessing promised by ,,god to the first happy pair2 8,increase and multiply1 and replenish the earth40 8,lo1 children1 and the fruit of the womb1 7says the ,psalmist7 are a gift and heritage1 which cometh of the ,,lord40 ,and so1 if we are married to ,,jesus ,,christ1 we must be fruitful4 ,in what8 ,in every good word and work3 for thus speaks the ,apostle1 in his epistle to the ,romans3 8,wherefore1 my brethren1 ye also are become dead to the law1 by the body of ,,christ1 that ye should be married to another1 even to him who is raised from the dead40 ,what follows8 8,that we should bring forth fruit unto ,,god40 ,glorious words1 and proper to be considered in a peculiar manner1 by such who would explode the doctrine of free justification1 as an ,antinomian doctrine1 and as though it destroyed good works4 ,no2 it establishes1 and lays a solid foundation1 whereon to build the superstructure of good works4 ,titus is therefore commanded to 8exhort believers to be careful to maintain good works40 ,and 8herein 7says our ,,lord7 is my ,father glorified1 that ye bring forth much fruit4 ,let your light so shine before men1 that they may see your good works1 and glorify your ,father which is in heaven30 with a multitude of passages to the same purpose4 ,moreover1 it is required of wives1 that they not only love and reverence their husbands1 but that they also love and respect their husband's friends4 ,and if we are married to ,,jesus ,,christ1 we shall not only reverence the bridegroom1 but we shall also love and honour the bridegroom's friends4 8,by this1 shall all men know that ye are my disciples1 if ye love one another40 8,by this we know1 7says the beloved disciple7 that we have passed from death to life1 because we love the brethren40 ,observe1 the brethren1 indefinitely1 of whatever denomination4 ,and this love must be 8without dissimulation1 and with a pure heart fervently40 ,this was the case of the primitive christians4 ,they were all of one heart1 and of one mind4 ,it was said of them 7,o that it could be said of us67 8,see how these christians love one another60 ,they were of the same spirit as a good woman of ,scotland was1 who1 when she saw a great multitude1 as is customary in that country1 coming from various parts to receive the blessed sacrament1 saluted them with a 8,come in1 ye blessed of the ,,lord1 ,i have an house that will hold an hundred of you1 and a heart that will hold ten thousand40 ,let us go and do likewise4 ,once more4 ,persons that are married1 take one another for better or for worse1 for richer or for poorer1 to love and to cherish each other in sickness and in health4 ,and if we are married to ,,jesus ,,christ1 we shall be willing to bear his cross1 as well as to wear his crown4 8,if any man will come after me1 let him deny himself1 take up his cross1 and follow me40 ,neither will they be compelled to do this1 as ,simon of ,cyrene was1 but they will be volunteers in his service2 they will cry out1 ,crown him1 crown him1 when others are crying out1 8,crucify him1 crucify him40 ,they will never leave or forsake him1 but willingly follow the ,captain of their salvation1 though it be through a sea of blood4 ,i might run the parallel still further1 and also enlarge upon the hints already given2 but ,i fear ,i have said enough already to reproach most believers2 ,i am sure ,i have said more than enough to abash and upbraid myself4 ,for alas6 how vilely1 treacherously1 and ungratefully have we behaved towards our spiritual husband1 the dear ,,lord ,,jesus1 ever since the day of our espousals8 ,had our friends1 or even the wives of our own bosoms1 behaved to us as we have behaved to our great and best friend1 our glorious husband1 we should have broken off our friendship1 and sued for a bill of divorcement long ago4 ,under our first love1 what promises did we make to him8 ,but how frowardly have we behaved ourselves in this covenant8 ,how little have we reverenced him8 ,how often has our ,beloved been no more to us than another beloved8 ,how little have we lived to his glory8 ,have we not been a shame and reproach to his gospel8 ,have we not crucified him afresh1 and has he not been sorely wounded in the house of his friends8 ,nay1 has not his holy name been blasphemed through our means8 ,for alas6 how little have we obeyed him8 ,how careless and indifferent have we been1 whether we pleased him or not8 ,we have often said1 indeed1 when commanded by him to go work in his vineyard1 ,we go1 ,,lord2 but alas6 we went not4 ,or if we did go1 with what reluctance has it been8 ,how unwilling to watch with our dear ,lord and ,master1 only one hour8 ,and of his sabbaths1 how often have we said1 ,what a weariness is this8 ,as for our adulteries1 and spiritual fornications1 how frequent1 how aggravated have they been8 ,have not idols of all sorts1 been suffered to fill up the room of the ever-blessed ,,jesus in our hearts8 ,you that love him in sincerity1 will not be offended if ,i tell you1 that the xvith chapter of ,ezekiel gives1 in my opinion1 a lively description of our behaviour towards our ,,lord4 ,we were1 like base-born children1 cast out in the field to the loathing of our persons3 no eye pitied or had compassion on us4 ,,jesus passed by1 saw us polluted in our own blood1 and said unto us1 8,live10 i4 e4 preserved us1 even in our natural state1 from death4 ,and when his time of love was come1 he spread the skirt of his imputed righteousness over us1 and covered the nakedness of our souls1 entered into covenant with us1 and we became his4 ,he washed us also with water1 even in the laver of regeneration1 and thoroughly washed us by his precious blood1 from the guilt of all our sins4 ,he cloathed us also with broidered work1 and decked us with ornaments1 even with righteousness1 and peace1 and joy in the ,holy ,ghost4 ,we did eat fine flour and honey at his ordinances1 and we fed on ,,jesus ,,christ in our hearts by faith1 with thanksgiving4 ,in short1 we were made exceeding beautiful1 and the kingdom of ,,god was erected in our hearts4 ,we were renowned among our neighbours for our love to ,,god1 and all that knew us took knowledge of us1 that we had been with ,,jesus4 ,but alas6 how have we fallen1 who were once sons of the morning6 ,how have we trusted in our own beauty1 have grown spiritually proud1 and provoked our patient and unspeakably long-suffering ,,lord to anger8 ,where is that ardent love we spake of1 when we told him1 that1 though we should die for him1 we would not deny him in any wise8 ,how desperately wicked1 and deceitful above all things1 have we proved our hearts to be1 since we have done all these things1 even the work of an imperious woman8 ,these are great and numerous charges2 but great and numerous as they are1 there is not a single believer here present1 but1 if he knows his own heart1 may plead guilty to some1 or all of them4 ,but this is a tender point3 ,i see you concerned3 your tears1 ,o believers1 are a proof of the anguish of your souls4 ,and can any of us give any reason1 why ,,jesus ,,christ should not give us a bill of divorcement1 and put us away8 ,may he not justly speak to us as he did to his adultress ,israel1 in the forementioned xvith of ,ezekiel1 8,wherefore1 ,o harlot1 hear the word of the ,,lord2 ,i will judge thee as women that break wedlock1 and shed blood1 are judged4 ,i will give thee blood in fury and jealousy1 because thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth1 but hast fretted me in all these things4 ,behold1 therefore1 ,i also will recompence thy way upon thy head4 ,i will even deal with thee as thou hast done1 who hast despised the oath1 in breaking the covenant1 the marriage contract that was between us40 ,this1 ,i am persuaded1 you will confess to be the treatment which we all most justly deserve4 ,but be not overwhelmed with over-much sorrow3 for though the ,,lord our ,,god is a jealous ,,god1 and will certainly visit our offences with a rod1 and our backslidings with a spiritual scourge1 yet his loving-kindness will he not utterly take from us1 nor suffer his truth to fail4 ,though we have changed1 yet he changeth not3 ,he abideth faithful3 his loving-kindness abideth for evermore4 ,hark6 how sweetly he speaks to his backsliding people of old2 8,o ,israel1 thou hast destroyed thyself1 but in me is thy help4 ,i will heal their backsliding1 and love them freely40 ,and in the verses immediately following the words of the text1 how comfortably does he address his espoused people6 8,in a little wrath1 ,i hid my face from thee for a moment2 but with everlasting kindness will ,i have mercy on thee1 saith the ,,lord thy ,redeemer4 ,for this is as the waters of ,noah unto me3 for as ,i have sworn1 that the waters of ,noah should no more go over the earth2 so have ,i sworn1 that ,i would not be wroth with thee1 nor rebuke thee4 ,for the mountains shall depart1 and the hills be removed1 but my kindness shall not depart from thee1 neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed1 saith the ,,lord that hath mercy on thee40 ,o that this goodness may lead us to repentance6 ,o that this unparalleled1 infinite1 unchangeable love1 may constrain us to an universal1 uniform1 chearful1 unanimous1 persevering obedience to all the commands of ,,god6 8vsit0 replaced with 8visit0 ,brethren1 my heart is enlarged towards you1 and ,i could dwell a long while upon the many great and precious invitations that are made to backsliders1 to return to their first love1 and do their first works3 but it is high time for me1 if1 as was proposed1 ,,iii4 ,i give to every one their proper portion2 to speak to those poor souls1 who know nothing of this blessed ,bridegroom of the church1 and consequently cannot yet say1 8,my ,maker is my husband40 ,ah6 ,i pity you from my inmost soul2 ,i could weep over1 and for you1 though perhaps you will not weep for yourselves4 ,but surely you would weep1 and howl too1 did you know the miserable condition those are in1 who are not married to ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,will you give me leave 7,i think ,i speak it in much love7 to inform you1 that if you are not married to ,,jesus ,,christ1 you are married to the law1 the world1 the flesh1 and the devil1 neither of which can make you happy2 but all1 on the contrary1 concur to make you miserable4 ,hear ye not1 ye that are married to the law1 and seek to be justified in the sight of ,,god1 partly1 at least1 if not wholly1 by your own works1 what the law saith to those that are under it1 as a covenant of works8 8,cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law1 to do them40 ,every word breathes threatening and slaughter to poor fallen creatures4 ,cursed1 both here and hereafter1 be this man1 and every one1 naturally engendered of the offspring of ,adam1 without exception1 that continueth not1 even to the very end of life1 in all things2 not only in some1 or many1 but in all things1 that are written in the book of the law1 to do them1 in the utmost perfection3 for 8he that offendeth in one point1 is guilty of all40 ,so that1 according to the tenor of the covenant of works1 whosoever is guilty of one wicked thought1 word1 or action1 is under the curse of an angry sin-avenging ,,god4 8,for as many as are under the law1 are under the curse40 ,and do you know what it is to be under the curse of ,,god1 and to have the ,wrath of ,,god abide upon you8 ,if you did1 ,i believe you would not be so unwilling to be divorced from the law1 and be espoused1 as chaste virgins1 to ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,and why are ye so wedded to the world8 ,did it ever prove faithful or satisfactory to any of its votaries8 ,has not ,solomon reckoned up the sum total of worldly happiness8 ,and what does it amount to8 8,vanity1 vanity1 saith the preacher1 all is vanity10 nay he adds1 8and vexation of spirit40 ,and has not a greater than ,solomon informed us1 that a man's life1 the happiness of a man's life1 doth not consist in the things which he possesseth8 ,besides1 8know ye not that the friendship of this world is enmity with ,,god2 so that whosoever will be a friend to the world1 7to the corrupt customs and vices of it7 is an enemy to ,,god80 ,and what better reasons can you give for being wedded to your lusts8 ,might not the poor slaves in the gallies1 as reasonably be wedded to their chains8 ,for do not your lusts fetter down your souls from ,,god8 ,do they not lord it1 and have they not dominion over you8 ,do not they say1 ,come1 and ye come2 ,go1 and ye go2 ,do this1 and ye do it8 ,and is not he or she that liveth in pleasure1 dead1 whilst he liveth8 ,and above all1 how can ye bear the thoughts of being wedded to the devil1 as every natural man is3 for thus speaks the scripture1 8,he now ruleth in the children of disobedience40 ,and how can ye bear to be ruled by one1 who is such a professed open enemy to the most high and holy ,,god8 ,who will make a drudge of you1 whilst you live1 and be your companion in endless and extreme torment1 after you are dead8 ,for thus will our ,,lord say to those on the left hand1 8,depart from me1 ye cursed1 into everlasting fire1 prepared for the devil and his angels40 ,but1 ,,iv4 ,will you permit me1 ,o sinners1 that ,i may draw towards a close of this discourse1 to propose a better match to your souls4 ,this is a part of the discourse which ,i long to come to1 it being my heart's desire1 and earnest prayer to ,,god1 that your souls may be saved4 8,and now1 ,o ,,lord ,,god ,almighty1 thou ,father of mercies1 and ,,god of all consolations1 thou ,,god and ,father of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 who hast promised to give thy ,son the heathen for his inheritance1 and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession1 send me good speed this day1 ,o ,,lord1 send me now prosperity4 ,behold1 ,i stand here without the camp1 bearing a little of thy dear ,son's sacred reproach6 ,hear me1 ,o ,,lord1 hear me1 and according to thy word1 let thy dear1 thine only begotten ,son1 see of the travel of his soul1 and be satisfied6 ,o help me so to speak1 that many may believe on1 and cleave unto thy blessed1 thine holy child ,,jesus60 ,but who am ,i1 that ,i should undertake to recommend the blessed ,,jesus to others1 who am myself altogether unworthy to take his sacred name into my polluted lips8 ,indeed1 my brethren1 ,i do not count myself worthy of such an honour2 but since it has pleased him1 in whom all fulness dwells1 to count me worthy1 and put me into the ministry1 the very stones would cry out against me1 did ,i not attempt1 at least1 to lisp out his praise2 and earnestly recommend the ever-blessed ,,jesus to the choice of all4 ,thus ,abraham's faithful servant behaved1 when sent out to fetch a wife for his master ,isaac4 ,he spake of the riches and honours1 which ,,god had conferred on him2 but what infinitely greater honours and riches1 has the ,,god and ,father of our ,,lord ,,jesus1 conferred on his only ,son1 to whom ,i now invite every christless sinner6 ,to you1 therefore1 ,i call1 ,o ye sons of men1 assuring you1 there is every thing in ,,jesus that your hearts can desire1 or hunger and thirst after4 ,do people in disposing of themselves or their children in marriage1 generally covet to be matched with persons of great names8 ,let this consideration serve as a motive to stir you up to match with ,,jesus4 ,for ,,god the ,father has given him a name above every name2 he has upon his vesture1 and upon his thigh1 a name written1 8,the ,king of kings1 and the ,lord of lords20 and here in the text we are told1 8,the ,lord of ,hosts is his name40 ,nor has he an empty title1 but power equivalent2 for he is a prince1 as well as a saviour4 8,all power is given unto him1 both in heaven and on earth30 8,the ,,god of the whole earth1 7says our text7 he shall be called40 ,the government of men1 of the church1 and of devils1 is put upon his shoulders3 8,thrones1 principalities and powers1 are made subject unto him2 by him kings reign1 and princes decree justice2 he setteth up one1 and putteth down another3 and of his kingdom there shall be no end40 ,will riches be an inducement unto you to come and match with ,,jesus8 ,why then1 ,i can tell you1 the riches of ,,jesus are infinite3 for unto me1 who am less than the least of all saints1 is this grace given1 that ,i should preach to poor sinners1 the unsearchable riches of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,i appeal to you that are his saints1 whether you have not found this true1 by happy experience2 and though some of you1 may have been acquainted with him thirty1 forty1 fifty years ago1 do you not find his riches are yet unsearchable1 and as much past finding out1 as they were the very first moment in which you gave him your hearts6 ,would you match with a wise husband8 ,haste then1 sinners1 come away to ,,jesus3 ,he is the fountain of wisdom1 and makes all that come unto him1 wise unto salvation2 8,he is the wisdom of the ,father3 the ,,lord possessed him in the beginning of his way1 before his works of old4 ,when he prepared the heavens1 he was there2 when he appointed the foundations of the earth1 then was he with him1 as one brought up with him2 he was daily his delight1 rejoicing always before him40 ,as he is wise1 so is he holy2 and therefore1 in the words of our text1 he is stiled1 8,the ,redeemer1 the ,holy ,one of ,israel30 and by the angel ,gabriel1 8,that holy ,thing40 ,the apostles1 addressing ,,god the ,father1 stile him his 8holy child ,,jesus30 and the spirits of just men made perfect1 and the angels in heaven1 cease not day or night1 saying1 8,holy1 holy1 holy40 ,nor is his beauty inferior to his wisdom or holiness2 the seraphs veil their faces1 when they appear before him3 8,he is the chiefest among ten thousand1 nay1 he is altogether lovely40 ,and1 as he is altogether lovely1 so is he altogether loving3 his name and his nature is ,love4 ,,god1 ,,god in ,,christ is love3 love in the abstract4 ,and in this has he manifested his love1 in that1 whilst we were yet sinners1 nay open enemies1 ,,jesus1 in his own due time1 died for the ungodly4 ,he loved us so as to give himself for us4 ,o what manner of love is this6 ,what was ,jacob's love to ,rachel1 in comparison of the love which ,,jesus bore to a perishing world6 ,he became a curse for us4 ,for it is written1 8,cursed is every man that hangeth upon a tree40 ,what ,zipporah said to her husband improperly1 ,,jesus may say properly to his spouse the church1 8,a bloody wife hast thou been to me1 because of the crucifixion40 ,for he has purchased her with his own blood4 ,and having once loved his people1 he loves them unto the end4 ,his love1 like himself1 is from everlasting to everlasting4 ,he hates putting away3 though we change1 yet he changeth not3 he abideth faithful4 ,when we are married here1 there comes in that shocking clause1 to use the words of holy ,mr4 ,boston1 8,till death us doth part20 but death itself shall not separate a true believer from the love of ,,god1 which is in ,,christ ,,jesus his ,lord3 for he will never cease loving his ,bride1 till he has loved her to heaven1 and presented her before his ,father1 without spot or wrinkle1 or any such thing4 ,nay1 his love will1 as it were1 but be beginning1 through the endless ages of eternity4 ,and now1 ,sirs1 what say you8 ,shall ,i put that question to you1 which ,rebecca's relations1 upon a proposal of marriage1 put to her8 8,will ye go with the man80 ,with the ,god-man1 this infinitely great1 this infinitely powerful1 this all-wise1 all-holy1 altogether lovely1 ever-loving ,,jesus8 ,what objection have you to make against such a gracious offer8 ,one would imagine1 you had not a single one2 but it is to be feared1 through the prevalency of unbelief1 and the corruption of your desperately wicked deceitful hearts1 you are ready to urge several4 ,methinks ,i hear some of you say within yourselves1 8,we like the proposal1 but alas6 we are poor40 ,are you so8 ,if that be all1 you may1 notwithstanding1 be welcome to ,,jesus3 8,for has not ,,god chosen the poor of this world1 to make them rich in faith1 and heirs of his everlasting kingdom80 ,and what says that ,saviour1 to whom ,i am now inviting you8 8,blessed are the poor in ,spirit1 for theirs is the kingdom of heaven40 ,and what says his ,apostle concerning him8 8,though he was rich1 yet for our sakes he became poor1 that we through his poverty might be made rich40 ,but say you1 8,we are not only poor1 but we are in debt2 we owe ,,god ten thousand talents1 and have nothing to pay20 but that need not keep you back3 for ,,god the ,father1 from the ,,lord ,,jesus1 his dearly beloved ,son1 has received double for all believers sins3 the blood of ,,jesus cleanseth from them all4 ,but you are blind1 and miserable1 and naked2 to whom then should you fly for succour1 but to ,,jesus1 who came to open the eyes of the blind1 to seek and save the miserable and lost1 and cloath the naked with his perfect and spotless righteousness4 ,and now1 what can hinder your espousals with the dear and ever-blessed ,lamb of ,,god8 ,i know but of one thing1 that dreadful sin of unbelief4 ,but this is my comfort1 ,,jesus died for unbelief1 as well as for other sins1 and has promised to send down the ,holy ,spirit to convince the world of this sin in particular3 8,if ,i go not away1 the ,comforter will not come unto you2 but if ,i go away1 ,i will send the ,comforter1 and he will convince the world of sin40 ,what sin8 of unbelief2 8because they believe not on me40 ,o that this promise may be so fulfilled in your hearts1 and ,,jesus may so become the author of divine faith in your souls1 that you may be able to send me the same message as a good woman in ,scotland1 on her dying bed1 sent me by a friend3 8,tell him1 7says she7 for his comfort1 that at such a time he married me to the ,,lord ,,jesus40 ,this would be comfort indeed4 ,not that we can marry you to ,,christ3 ,no2 the ,holy ,ghost must tie the marriage knot4 ,but such honour have all ,,god's ministers2 under him they espouse poor sinners to ,,jesus ,,christ4 8,i have espoused you 7says ,st4 ,paul7 as a chaste virgin to ,,jesus ,,christ40 ,o that you may say1 ,we will go with the man2 then will ,i bow my head1 as ,abraham's servant did1 and go with joy and tell my ,master1 that he has not left his poor servant destitute this day3 then shall ,i rejoice in your felicity4 ,for ,i know1 my ,master will take you into the banqueting-house of his ordinances1 and his banner over you shall be love4 ,that this may be the happy case of you all1 may the glorious ,,god grant1 for the sake of ,,jesus his dearly beloved ,son1 the glorious bridegroom of his church2 to whom1 with the ,father1 and the ,holy ,spirit1 be all honour and glory1 now and for evermore4 ,amen1 and ,amen4 ,,sermon ,,xiii4 ,the ,potter and the ,clay4 ,,jeremiah xviii4 #af4 ,the word which came to ,jeremiah from the ,lord1 saying1 ,arise1 and go down to the potter's house1 and there ,i will cause thee to hear my words4 ,then ,i went down to the potter's house1 and behold1 he wrought a work on the wheels4 ,and the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hands of the potter1 so he made it again another vessel1 as seemed good to the potter to make it4 ,then the word of the ,lord came to me1 saying1 ,o house of ,israel1 cannot ,i do with you as this potter8 saith the ,lord4 ,behold1 as the clay is in the potter's hand1 so are ye in mine hand1 ,o house of ,israel4 ,,at sundry times1 and in divers manners1 ,,god was pleased to speak to our fathers by the prophets1 before he spoke to us in these last days by his ,son4 ,to ,elijah1 he revealed himself by a small still voice4 ,to ,jacob1 by a dream4 ,to ,moses1 he spake face to face4 ,sometimes he was pleased to send a favourite prophet on some especial errand2 and whilst he was thus employed1 vouchsafed to give him a particular message1 which he was ordered to deliver without reserve to all the inhabitants of the land4 ,a very instructive instance of this kind we have recorded in the passage now read to you4 ,the first verse informs us that it was a word1 or message1 which came immediately from the ,,lord to the prophet ,jeremiah4 ,at what time1 or how the prophet was employed when it came1 we are not told4 ,perhaps1 whilst he was praying for those who would not pray for themselves3 ,perhaps1 near the morning1 when he was slumbering or musing on his bed4 ,for the word came to him1 saying1 8,arise40 ,and what must he do when risen8 ,he must 8go down to the potter's house0 7the prophet knew where to find it7 8and there 7says the great ,jehovah7 ,i will cause thee to hear my words40 ,jeremiah does not confer with flesh and blood1 he does not object that it was dark or cold1 or desire that he might have his message given him there1 but without the least hesitation is immediately obedient to the heavenly vision4 8,then 7says he7 ,i went down to the potter's house1 and behold he wrought a work upon the wheels40 ,just as he was entering into the house or workshop1 the potter1 it seems1 had a vessel upon his wheel4 ,and was there any thing so extraordinary in this1 that it should be ushered in with the word ,,behold8 ,what a dreaming visionary1 or superstitious enthusiast1 would this ,jeremiah be accounted1 even by many who read his prophecies with seeming respect1 was he alive now8 ,but this was not the first time ,jeremiah had heard from heaven in this manner4 ,he therefore willingly obeyed2 and had you or ,i accompanied him to the potter's house1 ,i believe we should have seen him silently1 but intensely waiting upon his great and all-wise ,commander1 to know wherefore he sent him thither4 ,methinks ,i see him all attention4 ,he takes notice1 that 8the vessel was of clay20 but as he held it in his hand1 and turned round the wheel1 in order to work it into some particular form1 8it was marred in the hands of the potter10 and consequently unfit for the use he before intended to put it to4 ,and what becomes of this marred vessel8 ,being thus marred1 ,i suppose1 the potter1 without the least imputation of injustice1 might have thrown it aside1 and taken up another piece of clay in its room4 ,but he did not4 8,he made it again another vessel40 ,and does the potter call a council of his domestics1 to enquire of them what kind of vessel they would advise him to make of it8 ,no1 in no wise4 8,he made it again another vessel1 as seemed good to the potter to make it40 8,then10 adds ,jeremiah1 whilst he was in the way of dutythenwhilst he was mentally crying1 ,,lord what wouldst thou have me to do8 8,then the word of the ,,lord came unto me1 saying1 ,o house of ,israel1 cannot ,i do with you as this potter8 saith the ,,lord4 ,behold1 as the clay is in the hands of the potter 7marred1 and unfit for the first designed purpose7 so are ye in mine hand1 ,o house of ,israel40 ,at length1 then1 ,jeremiah hath his sermon given to him3 short1 but popular4 ,it was to be delivered to the whole house of ,israel1 princes1 priests1 and people3 short1 but pungent1 even sharper than a two-edged sword4 ,what6 says the sovereign ,,lord of heaven and earth1 must ,i be denied the privilege of a common potter8 ,may ,i not do what ,i will with my own8 8,behold1 as the clay is in the potter's hands1 so are ye in mine hands1 ,o house of ,israel4 ,i made and formed you into a people1 and blessed you above any other nation under heaven3 but1 ,o ,israel1 thou by thy backslidings hast destroyed thyself4 ,as the potter therefore might justly have thrown aside his marred clay1 so may ,i justly unchurch and unpeople you4 ,but what if ,i should come over the mountains of your guilt1 heal your backslidings1 revive my work in the midst of the years1 and cause your latter end greatly to increase8 ,behold1 as the clay is in the hands of the potter1 lying at his disposal1 either to be destroyed or formed into another vessel1 so are ye in my hands1 ,o house of ,israel3 ,i may either reject1 and thereby ruin you1 or ,i may revisit and revive you according to my own sovereign good will and pleasure1 and who shall say unto me1 what dost thou80 ,this seems to be the genuine interpretation1 and primary intention of this beautiful part of holy writ4 ,but waving all further enquiries about its primary design or meaning1 ,i shall now proceed to shew1 that what the glorious ,jehovah here says of the house of ,israel in general1 is applicable to every individual of mankind in particular4 ,and as ,i presume this may be done1 without either wire-drawing scripture on the one hand1 or wresting it from its original meaning on the other1 not to detain you any longer1 ,i shall1 from the passage thus explained and paraphrased1 deduce1 and endeavour to enlarge on these two general heads4 ,first1 ,i shall undertake to prove1 that every man naturally engendered of the offspring of ,adam1 is in the sight of the all-seeing1 heart-searching ,,god1 only as a 8piece of marred clay40 ,secondly1 ,that being thus marred1 he must necessarily be renewed3 and under this head1 we shall likewise point out by whose agency this mighty change is to be brought about4 ,these particulars being discussed1 way will naturally be made for a short word of application4 ,first1 ,to prove that every man naturally engendered of the offspring of ,adam1 is in the sight of an all-seeing1 heart-searching ,,god1 only as a piece of marred clay4 ,be pleased to observe1 that we say every man naturally engendered of the offspring of ,adam1 or every man since the fall3 for if we consider man as he first came out of the hands of his ,maker1 he was far from being in such melancholy circumstances4 ,no3 he was originally made upright2 or as ,moses1 that sacred penman1 declares1 8,,god made him after his own image40 ,surely never was so much expressed in so few words2 which hath often made me wonder how that great critic ,longinus1 who so justly admires the dignity and grandeur of ,moses's account of the creation1 and 8,,god said1 ,let there be light1 and there was light20 ,i say ,i have often wondered why he did not read a little further1 and bestow as just an encomium upon this short1 but withal inexpressibly august and comprehensive description of the formation of man1 8so ,,god created man in his own image40 ,struck with a deep sense of such amazing goodness1 and that he might impress yet a deeper sense of it upon our minds too1 he immediately adds1 8in the image of ,,god made he him40 ,a council of the most adorable ,trinity was called on this important occasion3 ,,god did not say1 ,let there be a man1 and there was a man1 but ,,god said1 8,let us make man in our image1 after our likeness40 ,this is the account which the lively oracles of ,,god do give us of man in his first estate3 but it is very remarkable1 that the transition from the account of his creation to that of his misery1 is very quick1 and why8 ,for a very good reason1 because he soon fell from his primeval dignity2 and by that fall1 the divine image is so defaced1 that he is now to be valued only as antiquarians value an ancient medal1 merely for the sake of the image and superscription once stamped upon it2 or of a second divine impress1 which1 through grace1 it may yet receive4 ,let us take a more particular survey of him1 and see whether these things are so or not3 and first1 as to his understanding4 ,as man was created originally 8after ,,god in knowledge10 as well as righteousness and true holiness1 we may rationally infer1 that his understanding1 in respect to things natural1 as well as divine1 was of a prodigious extent3 for he was made but a little lower than the angels1 and consequently being like them1 excellent in his understanding1 he knew much of ,,god1 of himself1 and all about him2 and in this as well as every other respect1 was1 as ,mr4 ,collier expresses it in one of his essays1 a perfect major3 but this is far from being our case now4 ,for in respect to natural things1 our understandings are evidently darkened4 ,it is but little that we can know1 and even that little knowledge which we can acquire1 is with much weariness of the flesh1 and we are doomed to gain it as we do our daily bread1 ,i mean by the sweat of our brows4 ,men of low and narrow minds soon commence wise in their own conceits3 and having acquired a little smattering of the learned languages1 and made some small proficiency in the dry sciences1 are easily tempted to look upon themselves as a head taller than their fellow mortals1 and accordingly too1 too often put forth great swelling words of vanity4 ,but persons of a more exalted1 and extensive reach of thought1 dare not boast4 ,no3 they know that the greatest scholars are in the dark1 in respect to many even of the minutest things in life3 and after all their painful researches into the ,arcan ,natur1 they find such an immense void1 such an unmeasurable expanse yet to be travelled over1 that they are obliged at last to conclude1 almost with respect to every thing1 8that they know nothing yet as they ought to know40 ,this consideration1 no doubt1 led ,socrates1 when he was asked by one of his scholars1 why the oracle pronounced him the wisest man on earth1 to give him this judicious answer1 8,perhaps it is1 because ,i am most sensible of my own ignorance40 ,would to ,,god1 that all who call themselves christians1 had learnt so much as this heathen6 ,we should then no longer hear so many learned men1 falsely so called1 betray their ignorance by boasting of the extent of their shallow understanding1 nor by professing themselves so wise1 prove themselves such arrant pedantic fools4 ,if we view our understandings in respect to spiritual things1 we shall find that they are not only darkened1 but become darkness itself1 even 8darkness that may be felt0 by all who are not past feeling4 ,and how should it be otherwise1 since the infallible word of ,,god assures us1 that they are alienated from the light and life of ,,god1 and thereby naturally as incapable to judge of divine and spiritual things1 comparatively speaking1 as a man born blind is incapacitated to distinguish the various colours of the rainbow4 8,the natural man1 7says an inspired apostle7 discerneth not the things of the ,spirit of ,,god20 so far from it1 8they are foolishness unto him20 and why8 ,because they are only to be 8spiritually discerned40 ,hence it was1 that ,nicodemus1 who was blessed with an outward and divine revelation1 who was a ruler of the ,jews1 nay a master of ,israel1 when our ,,lord told him1 8he must be born again20 appealed to be quite grappled4 8,how 7says he7 can a man be born when he is old8 can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born8 how can these things be80 ,were three more absurd questions ever proposed by the most ignorant man alive8 or can there be a clearer proof of the blindness of man's understanding1 in respect to divine1 as well as natural things8 ,is not man then a piece of marred clay8 ,this will appear yet more evident1 if we consider the perverse bent of his will4 ,being made in the very image of ,,god2 undoubtedly before the fall1 man had no other will but his ,maker's4 ,,god's will1 and ,adam's1 were then like unisons in music4 ,there was not the least disunion1 or discord between them4 ,but now he hath a will1 as directly contrary to the will of ,,god1 as light is contrary to darkness1 or heaven to hell4 ,we all bring into the world with us a carnal mind1 which is not only an enemy to ,,god1 but 8enmity itself1 and which is therefore not subject unto the law of ,,god1 neither indeed can it be40 ,a great many shew much zeal in talking against the man of sin1 and loudly 7and indeed very justly7 exclaim against the ,pope for sitting in the temple1 ,i mean the church of ,,christ1 and 8exalting himself above all that is called ,,god40 ,but say not within thyself1 who shall go to ,rome1 to pull down this spiritual antichrist8 as though there was no antichrist but what is without us4 ,for know1 ,o man1 whoever thou art1 an infinitely more dangerous antichrist1 because less discerned1 even self-will1 sits daily in the temple of thy heart1 exalting itself above all that is called ,,god1 and obliging all its votaries to say of ,,christ himself1 that ,prince of peace1 8we will not have this man to reign over us40 ,,god's people1 whose spiritual senses are exercised about spiritual things1 and whose eyes are opened to see the abominations that are in their hearts1 frequently feel this to their sorrow4 ,whether they will or not1 this enmity from time to time bubbles up1 and in spight of all their watchfulness and care1 when they are under the pressure of some sharp affliction1 a long desertion1 or tedious night of temptation1 they often find something within rising in rebellion against the all-wise disposals of divine ,providence1 and saying unto ,,god their heavenly father1 8what dost thou80 ,this makes them to cry 7and no wonder1 since it constrained one of the greatest saints and apostles first to introduce the expression7 8,o wretched man that ,i am1 who shall deliver me from the body of this death80 ,the spiritual and renewed soul groans thus1 being burdened2 but as for the natural and unawakened man1 it is not so with him2 self-will1 as well as every other evil1 either in a more latent or discernable manner1 reigns in his unrenewed soul1 and proves him1 even to a demonstration to others1 whether he knows1 or will confess it himself or not1 that in respect to the disorders of his will1 as well as his understanding1 man is only a piece of marred clay4 ,a transient view of fallen man's affections will yet more firmly corroborate this melancholy truth4 ,these1 at his being first placed in the paradise of ,,god1 were always kept within proper bounds1 fixed upon their proper objects1 and1 like so many gentle rivers1 sweetly1 spontaneously and habitually glided into their ocean1 ,,god4 ,but now the scene is changed4 ,for we are now naturally full of vile affections1 which like a mighty and impetuous torrent carry all before them4 ,we love what we should hate1 and hate what we should love2 we fear what we should hope for1 and hope for what we should fear2 nay1 to such an ungovernable height do our affections sometimes rise1 that though our judgments are convinced to the contrary1 yet we will gratify our passions though it be at the expence of our present and eternal welfare4 ,we feel a war of our affections1 warring against the law of our minds1 and bringing us into captivity to the law of sin and death4 ,so that video meliora proboque1 deteriora sequor1 ,i approve of better things but follow worse1 is too1 too often the practice of us all4 ,i am sensible1 that many are offended1 when mankind are compared to beasts and devils4 ,and they might have some shadow of reason for being so1 if we asserted in a physical sense1 that they were really beasts and really devils4 ,for then1 as ,i once heard a very learned prelate1 who was objecting against this comparison1 observe1 8a man being a beast would be incapable1 and being a devil1 would be under an impossibility of being saved40 ,but when we make use of such shocking comparisons1 as he was pleased to term them1 we would be understood only in a moral sense2 and in so doing1 we assert no more than some of the most holy men of ,,god have said of themselves1 and others1 in the lively oracles many ages ago4 ,holy ,david1 the man after ,,god's own heart1 speaking of himself1 says1 8so foolish was ,i1 and as a beast before thee40 ,and holy ,job1 speaking of man in general1 says1 that 8he is born as a wild ass's colt10 or take away the expletive1 which as some think ought to be done1 and then he positively asserts1 that man is a wild ass's colt4 ,and what says our ,,lord1 8,ye are of your father the devil20 and 8the whole world is said to lie in him1 the wicked one1 who now rules in the children of disobedience10 that is1 in all unrenewed souls4 ,our stupidity1 proneness to fix our affections on the things of the earth1 and our eagerness to make provision for the flesh1 to fulfil the lusts thereof1 evidence us to be earthly and brutal2 and our mental passions1 anger1 hatred1 malice1 envy1 and such like1 prove with equal strength1 that we are also devilish4 ,both together conspire to evince1 that in respect to his affections1 as well as his understanding and will1 man deservedly may be termed a piece of marred clay4 ,the present blindness of natural conscience makes this appear in a yet more glaring light2 in the soul of the first man ,adam1 conscience was no doubt the candle of the ,,lord1 and enabled him rightly and instantaneously to discern between good and evil1 right and wrong4 ,and1 blessed be ,,god6 some remains of this are yet left2 but alas1 how dimly does it burn1 and how easily and quickly is it covered1 or put out and extinguished4 ,i need not send you to the heathen world1 to learn the truth of this2 you all know it by experience4 ,was there no other evidence1 your own consciences are instead of a thousand witnesses1 that man1 as to his natural conscience1 as well as understanding1 will and affections1 is much marred clay4 ,nor does that great and boasted ,diana1 ,i mean unassisted unenlightened reason1 less demonstrate the justness of such an assertion4 ,far be it from me to decry or exclaim against human reason4 ,,christ himself is called the 8,,logos1 the ,reason20 and ,i believe it would not require much learning1 or take up much time to prove1 that so far and no farther than as we act agreeably to the laws of ,,christ ,,jesus1 are we any way conformable to the laws of right reason4 ,his service is therefore called 8a reasonable service40 ,and however his servants and followers may now be looked upon as fools and madmen2 yet there will come a time1 when those who despise and set themselves to oppose divine revelation1 will find1 that what they now call reason1 is only reason depraved1 and as utterly incapable1 of itself1 to guide us into the way of peace1 or shew the way of salvation1 as the men of ,sodom were to find ,lot's door after they were struck with blindness by the angels1 who came to lead him out of the city4 ,the horrid and dreadful mistakes1 which the most refined reasoners in the heathen world ran into1 both as to the object1 as well as manner of divine worship1 have sufficiently demonstrated the weakness and depravity of human reason3 nor do our modern boasters afford us any better proofs of the greatness of its strength1 since the best improvement they generally make of it1 is only to reason themselves into downright wilful infidelity1 and thereby reason themselves out of eternal salvation4 ,need we now any further witness1 that man1 fallen man1 is altogether a piece of marred clay8 ,but this is not all1 we have yet more evidence to call2 for do the blindness of our understandings1 the perverseness of our will1 the rebellion of our affections1 the corruption of our consciences1 the depravity of our reason prove this charge2 and does not the present disordered frame and constitution of our bodies confirm the same also8 ,doubtless in this respect1 man1 in the most literal sense of the word1 is a piece of marred clay4 ,for ,,god originally made him of the 8dust of the earth40 ,so that notwithstanding our boasting of our high pedigrees1 and different descent1 we were all originally upon a level1 and a little red earth was the common substratum out of which we were all formed4 ,clay indeed it was1 but clay wonderfully modified1 even by the immediate hands of the ,creator of heaven and earth4 ,one therefore hath observed1 that it is said 8,,god built the man20 he did not form him rashly or hastily1 but built and finished him according to the plan before laid down in his own eternal mind4 ,and though1 as the great ,,god is without body1 parts1 or passions1 we cannot suppose when it is said 8,,god made man after his own image10 that it has any reference to his body1 yet ,i cannot help thinking 7with ,doctor ,south7 that as the eternal ,logos was hereafter to appear1 ,,god manifest in the flesh1 infinite wisdom was undoubtedly exerted in forming a casket into which so invaluable a pearl was in the fulness of time to be deposited4 ,some of the ancients are said to have asserted1 that man at the first1 had what we call a glory shining round him2 but without attempting to be wise above what is written1 we may venture to affirm1 that he had a glorious body1 which knowing no sin1 knew neither sickness nor pain4 ,but now on this1 as well as other accounts1 he may justly be called ,ichabod2 for its primitive strength and glory are sadly departed from it1 and like the ruins of some ancient and stately fabric1 only so much left as to give us some faint idea of what it was when it first appeared in its original and perfect beauty4 ,the apostle ,paul1 therefore1 who knew how to call things by their proper names1 as well as any man living1 does not scruple to term the human body1 though in its original constitution fearfully and wonderfully made1 a 8vile body20 vile indeed6 since it is subject to such vile diseases1 put to such vile1 yea very vile uses1 and at length is to come to so vile an end4 8,for dust we are1 and to dust we must return40 ,this among other considerations1 we may well suppose1 caused the blessed ,,jesus to weep at the grave of ,lazarus4 ,he wept1 not only because his friend ,lazarus was dead1 but he wept to see human nature1 through man's own default1 thus laid in ruins1 by being subject unto such a dissolution1 made like unto the beasts that perish4 ,let us here pause a while1 and with our sympathizing ,,lord1 see if we cannot shed a few silent tears at least1 upon the same sorrowful occasion4 ,who1 who is there amongst us1 that upon such a melancholy review of man's present1 real1 and most deplorable depravity both in body and soul1 can refrain from weeping over such a piece of marred clay8 ,who1 who can help adopting holy ,david's lamentation over ,saul and ,jonathan8 8,how are the mighty fallen6 ,how are they slain in their high places60 ,originally it was not so4 ,no1 8,,god made man after his own image3 in the image of ,,god made he man40 ,never was there so much expressed in so few words4 ,he was created after ,,god in righteousness and true holiness4 ,this is the account1 which the sacred volume gives us of this interesting point4 ,this1 this is that blessed book1 that book of books1 from whence1 together with an appeal to the experience of our own hearts1 and the testimonies of all past ages1 we have thought proper to fetch our proofs4 ,for1 after all1 we must be obliged to divine revelation1 to know what we were1 what we are1 and what we are to be4 ,in these1 as in a true glass1 we may see our real and proper likeness4 ,and from these only can we trace the source and fountain of all those innumerable evils1 which like a deluge have overflowed the natural and moral world4 ,if any should object against the authenticity of this revelation1 and consequently against the doctrine this day drawn from thence1 they do in my opinion thereby very much confirm it4 ,for unless a man was very much disordered indeed1 as to his understanding1 will1 affections1 natural conscience1 and his power of reasoning1 he could never possibly deny such a revelation1 which is founded on a multiplicity of infallible external evidences1 hath so many internal evidences of a divine stamp in every page1 is so suited to the common exigencies of all mankind1 so agreeable to the experience of all men1 and which hath been so wonderfully handed and preserved to us1 hath been so instrumental to the convicting1 converting1 and comforting so many millions of souls1 and hath stood the test of the most severe scrutinies1 and exact criticisms of the most subtle and refined1 as well as of the most malicious and persecuting enemies1 that ever lived1 even from the beginning of time to this very day4 ,persons of such a turn of mind1 ,i think1 are rather to be prayed for1 than disputed with1 if so be this perverse wickedness of their hearts may be forgiven them3 ,they are in the very gall of bitterness1 and must have 8their consciences seared as it were with a red-hot iron10 and must have their eyes 8blinded by the ,,god of this world10 otherwise they could not but see1 and feel1 and assent to the truth of this doctrine1 of man's being universally depraved2 which not only in one or two1 but in one or two thousands1 in every page1 ,i could almost say1 is written1 in such legible characters1 that he that runs may read4 ,indeed1 revelation itself is founded upon the doctrine of the fall4 ,had we kept our original integrity1 the law of ,,god would have yet been written in our hearts1 and thereby the want of a divine revelation1 at least such as ours1 would have been superseded2 but being fallen1 instead of rising in rebellion against ,,god1 we ought to be filled with unspeakable thankfulness to our all bountiful ,creator1 who by a few lines in his own books hath discovered more to us1 than all the philosophers and most learned men in the world could1 or would1 have discovered1 though they had studied to all eternity4 ,i am well aware1 that some who pretend to own the validity of divine revelation1 are notwithstanding enemies to the doctrine that hath this day been delivered2 and would fain elude the force of the proofs generally urged in defence of it1 by saying1 they only bespeak the corruption of particular persons1 or have reference only to the heathen world3 but such persons err1 not knowing their own hearts1 or the power of ,,jesus ,,christ3 for by nature there is no difference between ,jew or ,gentile1 ,greek or ,barbarian1 bond or free4 ,we are altogether equally become abominable in ,,god's sight1 all equally fallen short of the glory of ,,god1 and consequently all alike so many pieces of marred clay4 ,how ,,god came to suffer man to fall8 how long man stood before he fell8 and how the corruption contracted by the fall1 is propagated to every individual of his species8 are questions of such an abstruse and critical nature1 that should ,i undertake to answer them1 would be only gratifying a sinful curiosity1 and tempting you1 as ,satan tempted our first parents1 to eat forbidden fruit4 ,it will much better answer the design of this present discourse1 which is practical1 to pass on ,,ii4 ,to the next thing proposed1 and point out to you the absolute necessity there is of this fallen nature's being renewed4 ,this ,i have had all along in my eye1 and on account of this1 have purposely been so explicit on the first general head3 for as ,archimedes once said1 8,give me a place where ,i may fix my foot1 and ,i will move the world20 so without the least imputation of arrogance1 with which1 perhaps1 he was justly chargeable1 we may venture to say1 grant the foregoing doctrine to be true1 and then deny the necessity of man's being renewed who can4 8has0 replaced with 8as0 ,i suppose1 ,i may take it for granted1 that all of you amongst whom ,i am now preaching the kingdom of ,,god1 hope after death to go to a place which we call ,heaven4 ,and my heart's desire and prayer to ,,god for you is1 that you all may have mansions prepared for you there4 ,but give me leave to tell you1 was you now to see these heavens opened1 and the angel 7to use the words of the seraphic ,hervey7 cloathed with all his heavenly drapery1 with one foot upon the earth1 and another upon the sea2 nay1 were you to see and hear the angel of the everlasting covenant1 ,,jesus ,,christ himself1 proclaiming 8time shall be no more10 and giving you all an invitation immediately to come to heaven2 heaven would be no heaven to you1 nay it would be a hell to your souls1 unless you were first prepared for a proper enjoyment of it here on earth4 8,for what communion hath light with darkness80 ,or what fellowship could unrenewed sons of ,belial possibly keep up with the pure and immaculate ,,jesus8 ,the generality of people form strange ideas of heaven4 ,and because the scriptures1 in condescension to the weakness of our capacities1 describe it by images taken from earthly delights and human grandeur1 therefore they are apt to carry their thoughts no higher1 and at the best only form to themselves a kind of ,mahometan paradise4 ,but permit me to tell you1 and ,,god grant it may sink deep into your hearts6 ,heaven is rather a state than a place2 and consequently1 unless you are previously disposed by a suitable state of mind1 you could not be happy even in heaven itself4 ,for what is grace but glory militant8 ,what is glory but grace triumphant8 ,this consideration made a pious author say1 that 8holiness1 happiness1 and heaven1 were only three different words for one and the self-same thing40 ,and this made the great ,preston1 when he was about to die1 turn to his friends1 saying1 8,i am changing my place1 but not my company40 ,he had conversed with ,,god and good men on earth2 he was going to keep up the same1 and infinitely more refined communion with ,,god1 his holy angels1 and the spirits of just men made perfect1 in heaven4 ,to make us meet to be blissful partakers of such heavenly company1 this 8marred clay10 ,i mean1 these depraved natures of ours1 must necessarily undergo an universal moral change3 our understandings must be enlightened2 our wills1 reason1 and consciences1 must be renewed2 our affections must be drawn toward1 and fixed upon things above2 and because flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven1 this corruptible must put on incorruption1 this mortal must put on immortality4 ,and thus old things must literally pass away1 and behold all things1 even the body as well as the faculties of the soul1 must become new4 ,this moral change is what some call1 repentance1 some1 conversion1 some1 regeneration2 choose what name you please1 ,i only pray ,,god1 that we all may have the thing4 ,the scriptures call it holiness1 sanctification1 the new creature1 and our ,,lord calls it a 8,new birth1 or being born again1 or born from above40 ,these are not barely figurative expressions1 or the flights of eastern language1 nor do they barely denote a relative change of state conferred on all those who are admitted into ,,christ's church by baptism2 but they denote a real1 moral change of heart and life1 a real participation of the divine life in the soul of man4 ,some indeed content themselves with a figurative interpretation2 but unless they are made to experience the power and efficacy thereof1 by a solid living experience in their own souls1 all their learning1 all their laboured criticisms1 will not exempt them from a real damnation4 ,,christ hath said it1 and ,,christ will stand1 8,unless a man10 learned or unlearned1 high or low1 though he be a master of ,israel as ,nicodemus was1 unless he 8be born again1 he cannot see1 he cannot enter into the kingdom of ,,god40 ,if it be enquired1 who is to be the potter8 and by whose agency this marred clay is to be formed into another vessel8 ,or in other words1 if it be asked1 how this great and mighty change is to be effected8 ,i answer1 not by the mere dint and force of moral suasion4 ,this is good in its place4 ,and ,i am so far from thinking1 that christian preachers should not make use of rational arguments and motives in their sermons1 that ,i cannot think they are fit to preach at all1 who either cannot1 or will not use them4 ,we have the example of the great ,,god himself for such a practice2 8,come 7says he7 and let us reason together40 ,and ,st4 ,paul1 that prince of preachers1 8reasoned of temperance1 and righteousness1 and a judgment to come40 ,and it is remarkable1 8that whilst he was reasoning of these things1 ,felix trembled40 ,nor are the most persuasive strains of holy rhetoric less needful for a scribe ready instructed to the kingdom of ,,god4 ,the scriptures both of the ,old and ,new ,testament1 every where abound with them4 ,and when can they be more properly employed1 and brought forth1 than when we are acting as ambassadors of heaven1 and beseeching poor sinners1 as in ,,christ's stead1 to be reconciled unto ,,god4 ,all this we readily grant4 ,but at the same time1 ,i would as soon go to yonder church-yard1 and attempt to raise the dead carcases1 with a 8come forth10 as to preach to dead souls1 did ,i not hope for some superior power to make the word effectual to the designed end4 ,i should only be like a sounding brass for any saving purposes1 or as a tinkling cymbal4 ,neither is this change to be wrought by the power of our own free-will4 ,this is an idol every where set up1 but we dare not fall down and worship it4 8,no man 7says ,,christ7 can come to me1 unless the ,father draw him40 ,our own free-will1 if improved1 may restrain us from the commission of many evils1 and put us in the way of conversion2 but1 after exerting our utmost efforts 7and we are bound in duty to exert them7 we shall find the words of our own church article to be true1 that 8man since the fall hath no power to turn to ,,god40 ,no1 we might as soon attempt to stop the ebbing and flowing of the tide1 and calm the most tempestuous sea1 as to imagine that we can subdue1 or bring under proper regulations1 our own unruly wills and affections by any strength inherent in ourselves4 ,and therefore1 that ,i may keep you no longer in suspence1 ,i inform you1 that this heavenly potter1 this blessed agent1 is the ,almighty ,spirit of ,,god1 the ,holy ,ghost1 the third person in the most adorable ,trinity1 coessential with the ,father and the ,son4 ,this is that ,spirit1 which at the beginning of time moved on the face of the waters1 when nature lay in one universal chaos4 ,this was the ,spirit that over-shadowed the ,holy ,virgin1 before that holy thing was born of her3 and this same ,spirit must come1 and move upon the chaos of our souls1 before we can properly be called the sons of ,,god4 ,this is what ,john the baptist calls 8being baptized with the ,holy ,ghost10 without which1 his and all other baptisms1 whether infant or adult1 avail nothing4 ,this is that fire1 which our ,,lord came to send into our earthly hearts1 and which ,i pray the ,,lord of all lords to kindle in every unrenewed one this day4 ,as for the extraordinary operations of the ,holy ,ghost1 such as working of miracles1 or speaking with divers kinds of tongues1 they are long since ceased4 ,but as for this miracle of miracles1 turning the soul to ,,god by the more ordinary operations of the ,holy ,ghost1 this abides yet1 and will abide till time itself shall be no more4 ,for it is he that sanctifieth us1 and all the elect people of ,,god4 ,on this account1 true believers are said to be 8born from above1 to be born not of blood1 nor of the will of the flesh1 nor of the will of man1 but of ,,god40 ,their second1 as well as their first creation1 is truly and purely divine4 ,it is1 therefore1 called 8a creation20 but put ye on 7says the apostle7 the new man which is created,and how8 ,even as the first man was1 8after ,,god in righteousness and true holiness40 ,these1 these are the precious truths1 which a scoffing world would fain rally or ridicule us out of4 ,to produce this glorious change1 this new creation1 the glorious ,,jesus left his ,father's bosom4 ,for this he led a persecuted life2 for this he died an ignominious and accursed death2 for this he rose again2 and for this he now sitteth at the right hand of his ,father4 ,all the precepts of his gospel1 all his ordinances1 all his providences1 whether of an afflictive or prosperous nature1 all divine revelation from the beginning to the end1 all center in these two points1 to shew us how we are fallen1 and to begin1 carry on1 and compleat a glorious and blessed change in our souls4 ,this is an end worthy of the coming of so divine a personage4 ,to deliver a multitude of souls of every nation1 language and tongue1 from so many moral evils1 and to reinstate them in an incomparably more excellent condition than that from whence they are fallen1 is an end worthy the shedding of such precious blood4 ,what system of religion is there now1 or was there ever exhibited to the world1 any way to be compared to this8 ,can the deistical scheme pretend in any degree to come up to it8 ,is it not noble1 rational1 and truly divine8 ,and why then will not all that hitherto are strangers to this blessed restoration of their fallen natures1 7for my heart is too full to abstain any longer from an application7 why will you any longer dispute or stand out against it8 ,why will you not rather bring your clay to this heavenly ,potter1 and say from your inmost souls1 8,turn us1 ,o good ,,lord1 and so shall we be turned80 ,this1 you may and can do3 and if you go thus far1 who knows but that this very day1 yea this very hour1 the heavenly ,potter may take you in hand1 and make you vessels of honour fit for the ,redeemer's use8 ,others that were once as far from the kingdom of ,,god as you are1 have been partakers of this blessedness4 ,what a wretched creature was ,mary ,magdalene8 ,and yet out of her ,,jesus ,,christ cast seven devils4 ,nay1 he appeared to her first1 after he rose from the dead1 and she became as it were an apostle to the very apostles4 ,what a covetous creature was ,zaccheus8 ,he was a griping cheating publican2 and yet1 perhaps1 in one quarter of an hour's time1 his heart is enlarged1 and he made quite willing to give half of his goods to feed the poor4 ,and to mention no more1 what a cruel person was ,paul4 ,he was a persecutor1 a blasphemer1 injurious2 one that breathed out threatnings against the disciples of the ,,lord1 and made havoc of the church of ,,christ4 ,and yet what a wonderful turn did he meet with1 as he was journeying to ,damascus8 from a persecutor1 he became a preacher2 was afterwards made a spiritual father to thousands1 and now probably sits nearest the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ in glory4 ,and why all this8 ,that he might be made an example to them that should hereafter believe4 ,o then believe1 repent2 ,i beseech you1 believe the gospel4 ,indeed1 it is glad tidings1 even tidings of great joy4 ,you will then no longer have any thing to say against the doctrine of ,original ,sin2 or charge the ,almighty foolishly1 for suffering our first parents to be prevailed on to eat such sour grapes1 and permitting thereby their children's teeth to be set on edge4 ,you will then no longer cry out against the doctrine of the ,new ,birth1 as enthusiasm1 or brand the assertors of such blessed truths with the opprobrious names of fools and madmen4 ,having felt1 you will then believe2 having believed1 you will therefore speak2 and instead of being vessels of wrath1 and growing harder and harder in hell fire1 like vessels in a potter's oven1 you will be made vessels of honour1 and be presented at the great day by ,,jesus1 to his heavenly ,father1 and be translated to live with him as monuments of rich1 free1 distinguishing and sovereign grace1 for ever and ever4 ,you1 that have in some degree experienced the quickening influence 7for ,i must not conclude without dropping a word or two to ,,god's children7 you know how to pity1 and therefore1 ,i beseech you also to pray for those1 to whose circumstances this discourse is peculiarly adapted4 ,but will you be content in praying for them8 ,will you not see reason to pray for yourselves also8 ,yes1 doubtless1 for yourselves also4 ,for you1 and you only know1 how much there is yet lacking in your faith1 and how far you are from being partakers in that degree1 which you desire to be1 of the whole mind that was in ,,christ ,,jesus4 ,you know what a body of sin and death you carry about with you1 and that you must necessarily expect many turns of ,,god's providence and grace1 before you will be wholly delivered from it4 ,but thanks be to ,,god1 we are in safe hands4 ,he that has been the author1 will also be the finisher of our faith4 ,yet a little while1 and we like him shall say 8,it is finished20 we shall bow down our heads and give up the ghost4 ,till then1 7for to thee1 ,o ,,lord1 will we now direct our prayer7 help us1 ,o ,almighty ,father1 in patience to possess our souls4 ,behold1 we are the clay1 and thou art the ,potter4 ,let not the thing formed say to him that formed it1 whatever the dispensations of thy future ,will concerning us may be1 ,why dost thou deal with us thus8 ,behold1 we put ourselves as blanks in thine hands1 deal with us as seemeth good in thy sight1 only let every cross1 every affliction1 every temptation1 be overruled to the stamping thy blessed image in more lively characters on our hearts2 that so passing from glory to glory1 by the powerful operations of thy blessed ,spirit1 we may be made thereby more and more meet for1 and at last be translated to a full1 perfect1 endless1 and uninterrupted enjoyment of glory hereafter1 with thee ,o ,father1 thee ,o ,son1 and thee ,o blessed ,spirit2 to whom1 three persons but one ,,god1 be ascribed1 as is most due1 all honour1 power1 might1 majesty and dominion1 now and to all eternity4 ,amen and ,amen4 ,,sermon ,,xiv4 ,the ,,lord our ,righteousness4 ,,jeremiah xxiii4 #f4 ,the ,,lord our ,righteousness4 ,,whoever is acquainted with the nature of mankind in general1 or the propensity of his own heart in particular1 must acknowledge1 that self-righteousness is the last idol that is rooted out of the heart3 being once born under a covenant of works1 it is natural for us all to have recourse to a covenant of works1 for our everlasting salvation4 ,and we have contracted such a devilish pride1 by our fall from ,,god1 that we would1 if not wholly1 yet in part at least1 glory in being the cause of our own salvation4 ,we cry out against popery1 and that very justly2 but we are all ,papists1 at least1 ,i am sure1 we are all ,arminians by nature2 and therefore no wonder so many natural men embrace that scheme4 ,it is true1 we disclaim the doctrine of merit1 are ashamed directly to say we deserve any good at the hands of ,,god2 therefore1 as the ,apostle excellently well observes1 8we go about10 we fetch a circuit1 8to establish a righteousness of our own1 and10 like the ,pharisees of old1 8will not wholly submit to that righteousness which is of ,,god through ,,jesus ,,christ our ,,lord40 ,this is the sorest1 though1 alas6 the most common evil that was ever yet seen under the sun4 ,an evil1 that in any age1 especially in these dregs of time wherein we live1 cannot sufficiently be inveighed against4 ,for as it is with the people1 so it is with the priests2 and it is to be feared1 even in those places1 where once the truth as it is in ,,jesus was eminently preached1 many ministers are so sadly degenerated from their pious ancestors1 that the doctrines of grace1 especially the personal1 all-sufficient righteousness of ,,jesus1 is but too seldom1 too slightly mentioned4 ,hence the love of many waxeth cold2 and ,i have often thought1 was it possible1 that this single consideration would be sufficient to raise our venerable forefathers again from their graves2 who would thunder in their ears their fatal error4 ,the righteousness of ,,jesus ,,christ is one of those great mysteries1 which the angels desire to look into1 and seems to be one of the first lessons that ,,god taught men after the fall4 ,for1 what were the coats that ,,god made to put on our first parents1 but types of the application of the merits or righteousness of ,,jesus ,,christ to believers hearts8 ,we are told1 that those coats were made of skins of beasts2 and1 as beasts were not then food for men1 we may fairly infer1 that those beasts were slain in sacrifice1 in commemoration of the great sacrifice1 ,,jesus ,,christ1 thereafter to be offered4 ,and the skins of the beasts thus slain1 being put on ,adam and ,eve1 they were hereby taught how their nakedness was to be covered with the righteousness of the ,lamb of ,,god4 ,this is it which is meant1 when we are told1 8,abraham believed on the ,,lord1 and it was accounted to him for righteousness40 ,in short1 this is it of which both the law and the prophets have spoken1 especially ,jeremiah in the words of the text1 8,the ,,lord our righteousness40 ,i propose1 through divine grace1 ,i4 ,to consider who we are to understand by the word ,,lord4 ,,ii4 ,how the ,,lord is man's righteousness4 ,,iii4 ,i will consider some of the chief objections that are generally urged against this doctrine4 ,,iv4 ,i shall shew some very ill consequences that flow naturally from denying this doctrine4 ,v4 ,shall conclude with an exhortation to all to come to ,,christ by faith1 that they may be enabled to say with the ,prophet in the text1 8,the ,,lord our righteousness40 ,i4 ,i am to consider who we are to understand by the word ,,lord4 ,the ,,lord our righteousness4 ,if any ,arians or ,socinians are drawn by curiosity to hear what the babler has to say1 let them be ashamed of denying the divinity of that ,,lord1 who has bought poor sinners with his precious blood4 ,for the person mentioned in the text1 under the character of the ,,lord1 is ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,verse #e4 8,behold1 the days come1 saith the ,,lord1 that ,i will raise unto ,david a righteous branch1 a king shall reign and prosper1 and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth4 ,in his days 7verse #f47 ,judah shall be saved1 and ,israel shall dwell safely2 and this is his name whereby he shall be called1 ,the ,,lord our righteousness40 ,by the righteous branch1 all agree1 that we are to understand ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,he it is that is called the ,,lord in our text4 ,if so1 if there were no other text in the ,bible to prove the divinity of ,,christ1 this is sufficient3 for if the word ,lord may properly belong to ,,jesus ,,christ1 he must be ,,god4 ,and1 as you have it in the margin of your ,bibles1 the word ,lord is in the original ,jehovah1 which is the essential title of ,,god himself4 ,come then1 ye ,arians1 kiss the ,son of ,,god1 bow down before him1 and honour him1 even as ye honour the ,father4 ,learn of the angels1 those morning-stars1 and worship him as truly ,,god3 for otherwise you are as much idolators1 as those that worship the ,virgin ,mary4 ,and as for you ,socinians1 who say ,,christ was a mere man1 and yet profess that he was your ,saviour1 according to your own principles you are accursed3 for1 if ,,christ be a mere man1 then he is only an arm of flesh3 and it is written1 8,cursed is he that trusteth on an arm of flesh40 ,but ,i would hope1 there are no such monsters here2 at least1 that1 after these considerations1 they would be ashamed of broaching such monstrous absurdities any more4 ,for it is plain1 that1 by the word ,lord1 we are to understand the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 who here takes to himself the title of ,jehovah1 and therefore must be very ,,god of very ,,god2 or1 as the ,apostle devoutly expresses it1 8,,god blessed for evermore40 ,,ii4 ,how the ,,lord is to be man's righteousness1 comes next to be considered4 ,and that is1 in one word1 by imputation4 for it pleased ,,god1 after he had made all things by the word of his power to create man after his own image4 ,and so infinite was the condescension of the high and lofty ,one1 who inhabiteth eternity1 that1 although he might have insisted on the everlasting obedience of him and his posterity2 yet he was pleased to oblige himself1 by a covenant or agreement made with his own creatures1 upon condition of an unsinning obedience1 to give them immortality and eternal life4 ,for when it is said1 8,the day thou eatest thereof1 thou shalt surely die20 we may fairly infer1 so long as he continued obedient1 and did not eat thereof1 he should surely live4 ,the #c;d of ,genesis gives us a full1 but mournful account1 how our first parents broke this covenant1 and thereby stood in need of a better righteousness than their own1 in order to procure their future acceptance with ,,god4 ,for what must they do8 ,they were as much under a covenant of works as ever4 ,and though1 after their disobedience1 they were without strength2 yet they were obliged not only to do1 but continue to do all things1 and that too in the most perfect manner1 which the ,,lord had required of them3 and not only so1 but to make satisfaction to ,,god's infinitely offended justice1 for the breach they had already been guilty of4 ,here then opens the amazing scene of divine philanthropy1 ,i mean1 ,,god's love to man3 ,for behold1 what man could not do1 ,,jesus ,,christ1 the son of his ,father's love1 undertakes to do for him4 ,and that ,,god might be just in justifying the ungodly1 though 8he was in the form of ,,god1 and therefore thought it no robbery to be equal with ,,god2 yet he took upon him the form of a servant10 even human nature4 ,in that nature he obeyed1 and thereby fulfilled the whole moral law in our stead2 and also died a painful death upon the cross1 and thereby became a curse for1 or instead of1 those whom the ,father had given to him4 ,as ,,god1 he satisfied1 at the same time that he obeyed and suffered as man2 and1 being ,,god and man in one person1 he wrought out a full1 perfect1 and sufficient righteousness for all to whom it was to be imputed4 8persan0 replaced with 8person0 ,here then we see the meaning of the word righteousness4 ,it implies the active as well as passive obedience of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,we generally1 when talking of the merits of ,,christ1 only mention the latter1his death2 whereas1 the former1his life and active obedience1 is equally necessary4 ,,christ is not such a saviour as becomes us1 unless we join both together4 ,,christ not only died1 but lived2 not only suffered1 but obeyed for1 or instead of1 poor sinners4 ,and both these jointly make up that compleat righteousness1 which is to be imputed to us1 as the disobedience of our first parents was made ours by imputation4 ,in this sense1 and no other1 are we to understand that parallel which the apostle ,paul draws1 in the vth of the ,romans1 between the first and second ,adam4 ,this is what he elsewhere terms1 8our being made the righteousness of ,,god in him40 ,this is the sense wherein the ,prophet would have us to understand the words of the text2 therefore1 ,jeremiah xxxiii4 #af4 8,she 7i4 e4 the church itself7 shall be called1 7having this righteousness imputed to her7 ,the ,,lord our righteousness40 ,a passage1 ,i think1 worthy of the profoundest meditation of all the sons and daughters of ,abraham4 ,many are the objections which the proud hearts of fallen men are continually urging against this wholesome1 this divine1 this soul-saving doctrine4 ,i come now1 ,,iii4 ,to answer some few of those which ,i think the most considerable4 ,and1 ,first1 they say1 because they would appear friends to morality1 8,that the doctrine of an imputed righteousness is destructive of good works1 and leads to licentiousness40 ,and who1 pray1 are the persons that generally urge this objection8 ,are they men full of faith1 and men really concerned for good works8 ,no2 whatever few exceptions there may be1 if there be any at all1 it is notorious1 they are generally men of corrupt minds1 reprobate concerning the faith4 ,the best title ,i can give them is1 that of profane moralists1 or moralists falsely so called4 ,for ,i appeal to the experience of the present as well as past ages1 if iniquity did and does not most abound1 where the doctrine of ,,christ's whole personal righteousness is most cried down1 and most seldom mentioned3 ,arminian being antichristian principles1 always did1 and always will lead to antichristian practices4 ,and never was there a reformation brought about in the church1 but by the preaching the doctrine of an imputed righteousness4 ,this1 as that man of ,,god1 ,luther1 calls it1 is 8,articulus stantis aut cadentis ,ecclesi10 the article by which the ,church stands or falls4 ,and though the preachers of this doctrine are generally branded by those on the other side1 with the opprobrious names of ,antinomians1 deceivers1 and what not2 yet1 ,i believe1 if the truth of the doctrine on both sides was to be judged of by the lives of the preachers and professors of it1 on our side the question would have the advantage every way4 ,it is true1 this1 as well as every other doctrine of grace1 may be abused4 ,and perhaps the unchristian walk of some1 who have talked of ,,christ's imputed righteousness1 justification by faith1 and the like1 and yet never felt it imputed to their own souls1 has given the enemies of the ,,lord thus cause to blaspheme4 ,but this is a very unsafe1 as well as a very unfair way of arguing4 ,the only question should be1 ,whether or not this doctrine of an imputed righteousness1 does in itself cut off the occasion of good works1 or lead to licentiousness8 ,to this we may boldly answer1 ,in no wise4 ,it excludes works1 indeed1 from being any cause of our justification in the sight of ,,god2 but it requires good works as a proof of our having this righteousness imputed to us1 and as a declarative evidence of our justification in the sight of men4 ,and then1 how can the doctrine of an imputed righteousness be a doctrine leading to licentiousness8 8licentousness0 replaced with 8licentiousness0 ,it is all calumny4 ,the apostle ,paul introduceth an infidel making this objection1 in his epistle to the ,romans2 and none but infidels1 that never felt the power of ,,christ's resurrection upon their souls1 will urge it over again4 ,and therefore1 notwithstanding this objection1 with the ,prophet in the text1 we may boldly say1 8,the ,,lord is our righteousness40 ,but ,satan 7and no wonder that his servants imitate him7 often transforms himself into an angel of light3 and therefore1 7such perverse things will infidelity and ,arminianism make men speak7 in order to dress their objections in the best colours1 some urge1 8,that our ,saviour preached no such doctrine2 that in his sermon on the mount1 he mentions only morality30 and consequently the doctrine of an imputed righteousness falls wholly to the ground4 ,but surely the men1 who urge this objection1 either never read1 or never understood1 our ,,lord's blessed discourse1 wherein the doctrine of an imputed righteousness is so plainly taught1 that he who runs1 if he has eyes that see1 may read4 ,indeed our ,,lord does recommend morality and good works1 7as all faithful ministers will do7 and clears the moral law from many corrupt glosses put upon it by the letter-learned ,pharisees4 ,but then1 before he comes to this1 'tis remarkable1 he talks of inward piety1 such as poverty of spirit1 meekness1 holy mourning1 purity of heart1 especially hungring and thirsting after righteousness2 and then recommends good works1 as an evidence of our having his righteousness imputed to us1 and these graces and divine tempers wrought in our hearts4 8,let your light 7that is1 the divine light ,i before have been mentioning7 shine before men1 in a holy life2 that they1 seeing your good works1 may glorify your father which is in heaven40 ,and then he immediately adds1 8think not that ,i am come to destroy the moral law3 ,i came not to destroy1 7to take away the force of it as a rule of life7 but to fulfil1 7to obey it in its whole latitude1 and give the compleat sense of it470 ,and then he goes on to shew how exceeding broad the moral law is4 ,so that our ,,lord1 instead of setting aside an imputed righteousness in his sermon upon the mount1 not only confirms it1 but also answers the foregoing objection urged against it1 by making good works a proof and evidence of its being imputed to our souls4 ,he1 therefore1 that hath ears to hear1 let him hear what the ,prophet says in the words of the text1 8,the ,,lord our righteousness40 ,but as ,satan not only quoted scripture1 but backed one temptation after another with it1 when he attacked ,,christ in the wilderness2 so his children generally take the same method in treating his doctrine4 ,and1 therefore1 they urge another objection against the doctrine of an imputed righteousness1 from the example of the young man in the gospel4 ,we may state it thus3 8,the ,evangelist ,mark1 say they1 chapter x4 mentions a young man that came to ,,christ1 running1 and asking him what he should do to inherit eternal life8 ,,christ referred him to the commandments1 to know what he must do to inherit eternal life4 ,it is plain1 therefore1 works were to be1 partly at least1 the cause of his justification3 and consequently the doctrine of an imputed righteousness is unscriptural40 ,this is the objection in its full strength3 and little strength in all its fulness4 ,for1 was ,i to prove the necessity of an imputed righteousness1 ,i scarce know how ,i could bring a better instance to make it good4 ,let us take a nearer view of this young man1 and of our ,,lord's behaviour towards him1 ,mark x4 #ag4 the ,evangelist tells us1 8,that when ,,christ was gone forth into the way1 there came one running 7it should seem it was some nobleman2 a rarity indeed to see such a one running to ,,christ67 and not only so1 but he kneeled to him1 7perhaps many of his rank now1 scarce knew the time when they kneeled to ,,christ7 and asked him1 saying1 ,good ,master1 what shall ,i do that ,i may inherit eternal life80 ,then ,,jesus1 to see whether or not he believed him to be what he really was1 truly and properly ,,god1 said unto him1 8,why callest thou me good8 ,there is none good but one1 that is ,,god40 ,and1 that he might directly answer his question1 says he1 8,thou knowest the commandments3 do not commit adultery1 do not bear false witness1 defraud not1 honour thy father and thy mother40 ,this was a direct answer to his question2 namely1 ,that eternal life was not to be attained by his doings4 ,for our ,,lord1 by referring him to the commandments1 did not 7as the objectors insinuate7 in the least hint1 that his morality would recommend him to the favour and mercy of ,,god3 but he intended thereby1 to make the law his schoolmaster to bring him to himself2 that the young man1 seeing how he had broken every one of these commandments1 might thereby be convinced of the insufficiency of his own1 and consequently of the absolute necessity of looking out for a better righteousness1 whereon he might depend for eternal life4 ,this was what our ,lord designed4 ,the young man being self-righteous1 and willing to justify himself1 said1 8,all these have ,i observed from my youth30 but had he known himself1 he would have confessed1 all these have ,i broken from my youth4 ,for1 supposing he had not actually committed adultery1 had he never lusted after a woman in his heart8 ,what1 if he had not really killed another1 had he never been angry without a cause1 or spoken unadvisedly with his lips8 ,if so1 by breaking one of the least commandments in the least degree1 he became liable to the curse of ,,god3 for 8cursed is he 7saith the law7 that continueth not to do all things that are written in this book40 ,and therefore1 as observed before1 our ,,lord was so far from speaking against1 that he treated the young man in that manner1 on purpose to convince him of the necessity of an imputed righteousness4 ,but perhaps they will reply1 it is said1 8,,jesus beholding him1 loved him40 ,and what then8 ,this he might do with a human love1 and at the same time this young man have no interest in his blood4 ,thus ,,christ is said to wonder1 to weep over ,jerusalem1 and say1 8,o that thou hadst known1 c40 ,but such-like passages are to be referred only to his human nature4 ,and there is a great deal of difference between the love wherewith ,,christ loved this young man1 and that wherewith he loved ,mary1 ,lazarus1 and their sister ,martha4 ,to illustrate this by a comparison3 ,a minister of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ seeing many amiable dispositions1 such as a readiness to hear the word1 a decent behaviour at public worship1 and a life outwardly spotless in many1 cannot but so far love them2 but then there is much difference betwixt the love which a minister feels for such1 and that divine love1 that union and sympathy of soul1 which he feels for those that he is satisfied are really born again of ,,god4 ,apply this to our ,,lord's case1 as a faint illustration of it4 ,consider what has been said upon the young man's case in general1 and then1 if before you were fond of this objection1 instead of triumphing1 like him you will go sorrowful away4 ,our ,saviour's reply to him more and more convinces us of the truth of the prophet's assertion in the text1 that 8the ,,lord is our righteousness40 ,but there is a fourth1 and a grand objection yet behind1 which is taken from the #beth chapter of ,matthew1 8where our ,,lord is described as rewarding people with eternal life1 because they fed the hungry1 cloathed the naked1 and such-like4 ,their works therefore were a cause of their justification1 consequently the doctrine of imputed righteousness is not agreeable to scripture40 8they0 replaced with 8the0 ,this1 ,i confess1 is the most plausible objection that is brought against the doctrine insisted on from the text2 and that we may answer it in as clear and brief a manner as may be1 we confess1 with the ,article of the ,church of ,england1 8,that albeit good works do not justify us1 yet they will follow after justification1 as fruits of it2 and though they can claim no reward in themselves1 yet forasmuch as they spring from faith in ,,christ1 and a renewed soul1 they shall receive a reward of grace1 though not of debt2 and consequently the more we abound in such good works1 the greater will be our reward when ,,jesus ,,christ shall come to judgment40 8words0 replaced with 8works0 ,take these considerations along with us1 and they will help us much to answer the objection now before us4 ,for thus saith ,matthew1 8,then shall the ,king say to them on his right hand1 ,come1 ye blessed children of my ,father1 inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world4 ,for ,i was an hungred1 and ye gave me meat2 ,i was thirsty1 and ye gave me drink2 ,i was a stranger1 and ye took me in2 naked1 and ye cloathed me2 ,i was sick1 and ye visited me2 ,i was in prison1 and ye came unto me4 ,i will therefore reward you1 because you have done these things out of love to me1 and hereby have evidenced yourselves to be my true disciples40 ,and that the people did not depend on these good actions for their justification in the sight of ,,god1 is evident4 8,for when saw we thee an hungred1 say they1 and fed thee8 or thirsty1 and gave thee drink8 ,when saw we thee a stranger1 and took thee in1 or naked1 and cloathed thee8 ,or when saw we thee sick1 or in prison1 and came unto thee80 ,language1 and questions1 quite improper for persons relying on their own righteousness1 for acceptance and acquittance in the sight of ,,god4 ,but then they reply against this3 8,in the latter part of the chapter1 it is plain that ,,jesus ,,christ rejects and damns the others for not doing these things4 ,and therefore1 if he damns these for not doing1 he saves those for doing2 and consequently the doctrine of an imputed righteousness is good for nothing40 ,but that is no consequence at all2 for ,,god may justly damn any man for omitting the least duty of the moral law1 and yet in himself is not obliged to give to any one any reward1 supposing he has done all that he can4 ,we are unprofitable servants2 we have not done near so much as it was our duty to do1 must be the language of the most holy souls living2 and therefore1 from or in ourselves1 cannot be justified in the sight of ,,god4 ,this was the frame of the devout souls just now referred to4 ,sensible of this1 they were so far from depending on their works for justification in the sight of ,,god1 that they were filled1 as it were1 with a holy blushing1 to think our ,,lord should condescend to mention1 much more to reward them for1 their poor works of faith and labours of love4 ,i am persuaded their hearts would rise with a holy indignation against those who urge this passage1 as an objection to the assertion of the prophet1 that 8the ,,lord is our righteousness40 ,thus1 ,i think1 we have fairly answered these grand objections1 which are generally urged against the doctrine of an imputed righteousness4 ,was ,i to stop here1 ,i think ,i may say1 8,we are made more than conquerors through him that loved us40 ,but there is a way of arguing which ,i have always admired1 because ,i have thought it always very convincing1 by shewing the absurdities that will follow from denying any particular proposition in dispute4 ,,iv4 ,this is the next thing that was proposed4 ,and never did greater or more absurdities flow from the denying any doctrine1 than will flow from denying the doctrine of ,,christ's imputed righteousness4 ,and first1 if we deny this doctrine1 we turn the truth1 ,i mean the word of ,,god1 as much as we can1 into a lie1 and utterly subvert all those places of scripture which say that we are saved by grace2 that it is not of works1 lest any man should boast2 that salvation is ,,god's free gift2 and that he who glorieth1 must glory only in the ,,lord4 ,for1 if the whole personal righteousness of ,,jesus ,,christ be not the sole cause of my acceptance with ,,god1 if any work done by or foreseen in me1 was in the least to be joined with it1 or looked upon by ,,god as an inducing1 impulsive cause of acquitting my soul from guilt1 then ,i have somewhat whereof ,i may glory in myself4 ,now boasting is excluded in the great work of our redemption2 but that cannot be1 if we are enemies to the doctrine of an imputed righteousness4 ,it would be endless to enumerate how many texts of scripture must be false1 if this doctrine be not true4 ,let it suffice to affirm in the general1 that if we deny an imputed righteousness1 we may as well deny a divine revelation all at once3 for it is the alpha and omega1 the beginning and the end of the book of ,,god4 ,we must either disbelieve that1 or believe what the prophet hath spoken in the text1 8that the ,,lord is our righteousness40 ,but farther3 ,i observed at the beginning of this discourse1 that we are all ,arminians and ,papists by nature3 for as one says1 8,arminianism is the back way to popery40 ,and here ,i venture further to affirm1 that if we deny the doctrine of an imputed righteousness1 whatever we may stile ourselves1 we are really ,papists in our hearts1 and deserve no other title from men4 ,sirs1 what think you8 ,suppose ,i was to come and tell you1 that you must intercede with saints1 for them to intercede with ,,god for you2 would you not then say1 ,i was justly reputed a popish missionary by some1 and deservedly thrust out of the synagogues by others8 ,i suppose you would4 ,and why8 ,because1 you would say1 the intercession of ,,jesus ,,christ was sufficient of itself1 without the intercession of saints2 and that it was blasphemous to join theirs with his1 as though it was not sufficient4 ,suppose ,i went a little more round about2 and told you that the death of ,,christ was not sufficient1 without our death being added to it2 that you must die as well as ,,christ1 join your death with his1 and then it would be sufficient4 ,might you not then1 with a holy indignation1 throw dust in the air1 and justly call me a 8setter forth of strange doctrines80 ,and now then1 if it be not only absurd1 but blasphemous1 to join the intercession of saints with the intercession of ,,christ1 as though his intercession was not sufficient2 or our death with the death of ,,christ1 as though his death was not sufficient3 judge ye1 if it be not equally absurd1 equally blasphemous1 to join our obedience1 either wholly or in part1 with the obedience of ,,christ1 as if that was not sufficient4 ,and if so1 what absurdities will follow the denying that the ,,lord1 both as to his active and passive obedience1 is our righteousness8 ,one more absurdity ,i shall mention1 as following the denying this doctrine1 and ,i have done4 ,i remember a story of a certain prelate1 who1 after many arguments in vain urged to convince the ,earl of ,rochester of the invisible realities of another world1 took his leave of his lordship with some such words as these3 8,well1 my lord1 if there be no hell1 ,i am safe2 but if there should be such a thing as hell1 what will become of you80 ,i apply this to those that oppose the doctrine now insisted on4 ,if there be no such thing as the doctrine of an imputed righteousness1 those who hold it1 and bring forth fruit unto holiness1 are safe2 but if there be such a thing 7as there certainly is7 what will become of you that deny it8 ,it is no difficult matter to determine4 ,your portion must be in the lake of fire and brimstone for ever and ever4 ,since you will rely upon your works1 by your works you shall be judged4 ,they shall be weighed in the balance of the sanctuary2 and they will be found wanting4 ,by your works therefore shall you be condemned2 and you1 being out of ,,christ1 shall find ,,god1 to your poor wretched souls1 a consuming fire4 ,the great ,stoddard of ,northampton in ,new-,england1 has therefore well intitled a book which he wrote 7and which ,i would take this opportunity to recommend7 8,the ,safety of appearing in the ,righteousness of ,,christ40 ,for why should ,i lean upon a broken reed1 when ,i can have the rock of ages to stand upon1 that never can be moved8 ,and now1 before ,i come to a more particular application1 give me leave1 in the apostle's language1 triumphantly to cry out1 8,where is the scribe1 where the disputer80 ,where is the reasoning infidel of this generation8 ,can any thing appear more reasonable1 even according to your own way of arguing1 than the doctrine here laid down8 ,have you not felt a convincing power go along with the word8 ,why then will you not believe on the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 that so he may become the ,,lord your righteousness8 ,but it is time for me to come a little closer to your consciences4 ,brethren1 though some may be offended at this doctrine1 and may account it foolishness2 yet1 to many of you1 ,i doubt not but it is precious1 it being agreeable to the form of sound words1 which from your infancy has been delivered to you2 and1 coming from a quarter1 you would least have expected1 may be received with more pleasure and satisfaction4 ,but give me leave to ask you one question2 ,can you say1 the ,,lord our righteousness8 ,i say1 the ,,lord our righteousness4 ,for entertaining this doctrine in your heads1 without receiving the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ savingly by a lively faith into your hearts1 will but increase your damnation4 ,as ,i have often told you1 so ,i tell you again1 an unapplied ,,christ is no ,,christ at all4 ,can you then1 with believing ,thomas1 cry out1 8,my ,,lord and my ,,god80 ,is ,,christ your sanctification1 as well as your outward righteousness8 ,for the word righteousness1 in the text1 not only implies ,,christ's personal righteousness imputed to us1 but also holiness wrought in us4 ,these two1 ,,god has joined together4 ,he never did1 he never does1 he never will put them asunder4 ,if you are justified by the blood1 you are also sanctified by the ,spirit of our ,,lord4 ,can you then in this sense say1 ,the ,,lord our righteousness8 ,were you ever made to abhor yourselves for your actual and original sins1 and to lothe your own righteousness2 for1 as the prophet beautifully expresses it1 8your righteousness is as filthy rags80 ,were you ever made to see and admire the all-sufficiency of ,,christ's righteousness1 and excited by the ,spirit of ,,god to hunger and thirst after it8 ,could you ever say1 my soul is athirst for ,,christ1 yea1 even for the righteousness of ,,christ8 ,o when shall ,i come to appear before the presence of my ,,god in the righteousness of ,,christ6 nothing but ,,christ6 nothing but ,,christ6 ,give me ,,christ1 ,o ,,god1 and ,i am satisfied6 my soul shall praise thee for ever4 ,was this ever the language of your hearts8 and1 after these inward conflicts1 were you ever enabled to reach out the arm of faith1 and embrace the blessed ,,jesus in your souls1 so that you could say1 8my beloved is mine1 and ,i am his80 ,if so1 fear not1 whoever you are4 ,hail1 all hail1 you happy souls6 ,the ,,lord1 the ,,lord ,,christ1 the everlasting ,,god1 is your righteousness4 ,,christ has justified you1 who is he that condemneth you8 ,,christ has died for you1 nay rather is risen again1 and ever liveth to make intercession for you4 ,being now justified by his grace1 you have peace with ,,god1 and shall1 ere long1 be with ,,jesus in glory1 reaping everlasting and unspeakable fruits both in body and soul4 ,for there is no condemnation to those that are really in ,,christ ,,jesus4 8,whether ,paul or ,apollos1 or life or death1 all is yours if you are ,,christ's1 for ,,christ is ,,god's40 ,my brethren1 my heart is enlarged towards you6 ,o think of the love of ,,christ in dying for you6 ,if the ,,lord be your righteousness1 let the righteousness of your ,,lord be continually in your mouth4 ,talk of1 ,o talk of1 and recommend the righteousness of ,,christ1 when you lye down1 and when you rise up1 at your going out and coming in6 ,think of the greatness of the gift1 as well as of the giver6 ,shew to all the world1 in whom you have believed6 ,let all by your fruits know1 that the ,,lord is your righteousness1 and that you are waiting for your ,,lord from heaven6 ,o study to be holy1 even as he who has called you1 and washed you in his own blood1 is holy6 ,let not the righteousness of the ,,lord be evil spoken of through you4 ,let not ,,jesus be wounded in the house of his friends2 but grow in grace1 and in the knowledge of our ,,lord and ,saviour ,,jesus ,,christ1 day by day4 ,o think of his dying love6 ,let that love constrain you to obedience6 having much forgiven1 love much4 ,be always asking1 ,what shall ,i do1 to express my gratitude to the ,,lord1 for giving me his righteousness8 ,let that self-abasing1 ,,god-exalting question be always in your mouths2 8,why me1 ,,lord8 why me80 why am ,i taken1 and others left8 why is the ,,lord my righteousness8 why is he become my salvation1 who have so often deserved damnation at his hands8 ,my friends1 ,i trust ,i feel somewhat of a sense of ,,god's distinguishing love upon my heart2 therefore ,i must divert a little from congratulating you1 to invite poor christless sinners to come to him1 and accept of his righteousness1 that they may have life4 ,alas1 my heart almost bleeds6 ,what a multitude of precious souls are now before me6 how shortly must all be ushered into eternity6 and yet1 ,o cutting thought6 was ,,god now to require all your souls1 how few1 comparatively speaking1 could really say1 the ,,lord our righteousness6 ,and think you1 ,o sinners1 that you will be able to stand in the day of judgment1 if ,,christ be not your righteousness6 ,no1 that alone is the wedding-garment in which you must appear4 ,o christless sinners1 ,i am distressed for you6 the desires of my soul are enlarged4 ,o that this may be an accepted time6 that the ,,lord may be your righteousness6 ,for whither would you flee1 if death should find you naked8 ,indeed there is no hiding yourselves from his presence4 ,the pitiful fig-leaves of your own righteousness will not cover your nakedness1 when ,,god shall call you to stand before him4 ,adam found them ineffectual1 and so will you4 ,o think of death6 ,o think of judgment6 ,yet a little while1 and time shall be no more2 and then what will become of you1 if the ,,lord be not your righteousness8 ,think you that ,,christ will spare you8 ,no1 he that formed you1 will have no mercy on you4 ,if you are not of ,,christ1 if ,,christ be not your righteousness1 ,,christ himself shall pronounce you damned4 ,and can you bear to think of being damned by ,,christ8 ,can you bear to hear the ,,lord ,,jesus say to you1 8,depart from me1 ye cursed1 into everlasting fire1 prepared for the devil and his angels40 ,can you live1 think you1 in everlasting burnings8 ,is your flesh brass1 and your bones iron8 what if they are8 hell-fire1 that fire prepared for the devil and his angels1 will heat them through and through4 ,and can you bear to depart from ,,christ8 ,o that heart-piercing thought6 ,ask those holy souls1 who are at any time bewailing an absent ,,god1 who walk in darkness1 and see no light1 though but a few days or hours2 ask them1 what it is to lose a sight and presence of ,,christ8 ,see how they seek him sorrowing1 and go mourning after him all the day long6 ,and1 if it is so dreadful to lose the sensible presence of ,,christ only for a day1 what must it be to be banished from him to all eternity8 ,but thus it must be1 if ,,christ be not your righteousness4 ,for ,,god's justice must be satisfied2 and1 unless ,,christ's righteousness is imputed and applied to you here1 you must hereafter be satisfying the divine justice in hell-torments eternally2 nay1 ,,christ himself shall condemn you to that place of torment4 ,and how cutting is that thought6 ,methinks ,i see poor1 trembling1 christless wretches1 standing before the bar of ,,god1 crying out1 ,,lord1 if we must be damned1 let some angel1 or some archangel1 pronounce the damnatory sentence3 but all in vain4 ,,christ himself shall pronounce the irrevocable sentence4 ,knowing therefore the terrors of the ,,lord1 let me persuade you to close with ,,christ1 and never rest till you can say1 8the ,,lord our righteousness40 ,who knows but the ,,lord may have mercy on1 nay1 abundantly pardon you8 ,beg of ,,god to give you faith2 and1 if the ,,lord gives you that1 you will by it receive ,,christ1 with his righteousness1 and his ,all4 ,you need not fear the greatness or number of your sins4 ,for are you sinners8 so am ,i4 ,are you the chief of sinners8 so am ,i4 ,are you backsliding sinners8 so am ,i4 ,and yet the ,,lord 7for ever adored be his rich1 free and sovereign grace7 the ,,lord is my righteousness4 ,come then1 ,o young men1 who 7as ,i acted once myself7 are playing the prodigal1 and wandering away afar off from your heavenly ,father's house1 come home1 come home1 and leave your swines trough4 ,feed no longer on the husks of sensual delights3 for ,,christ's sake arise1 and come home6 your heavenly ,father now calls you4 ,see yonder the best robe1 even the righteousness of his dear ,son1 awaits you4 ,see it1 view it again and again4 ,consider at how dear a rate it was purchased1 even by the blood of ,,god4 ,consider what great need you have of it4 ,you are lost1 undone1 damned for ever1 without it4 ,come then1 poor1 guilty prodigals1 come home3 indeed1 ,i will not1 like the elder brother in the gospel1 be angry2 no1 ,i will rejoice with the angels in heaven4 ,and ,o that ,,god would now bow the heavens1 and come down6 ,descend1 ,o ,son of ,,god1 descend2 and1 as thou hast shewn in me such mercy1 ,o let thy blessed ,spirit apply thy righteousness to some young prodigals now before thee1 and clothe their naked souls with thy best robe6 ,but ,i must speak a word to you1 young maidens1 as well as young men4 ,i see many of you adorned1 as to your bodies3 but are not your souls naked8 ,which of you can say1 the ,lord is my righteousness8 which of you was ever solicitous to be dressed in this robe of invaluable price1 and without which you are no better than whited sepulchres in the sight of ,,god8 ,let not then so many of you1 young maidens1 any longer forget your chief and only ornament4 ,o seek for the ,,lord to be your righteousness1 or otherwise burning will soon be upon you1 instead of beauty6 ,and what shall ,i say to you of a middle age1 you busy merchants1 you cumbered ,martha's1 who1 with all your gettings1 have not yet gotten the ,,lord to be your righteousness8 ,alas6 what profit will there be of all your labour under the sun1 if you do not secure this pearl of invaluable price8 this one thing1 so absolutely needful1 that it only can stand you in stead1 when all other things shall be taken from you4 ,labour therefore no longer so anxiously for the meat which perisheth1 but henceforward seek for the ,,lord to be your righteousness1 a righteousness that will entitle you to life everlasting4 ,i see also many hoary heads here1 and perhaps the most of them cannot say1 the ,,lord is my righteousness4 ,o gray-headed sinners1 ,i could weep over you6 your gray hairs1 which ought to be your crown1 and in which perhaps you glory1 are now your shame4 ,you know not that the ,,lord is your righteousness3 ,o haste then1 haste ye1 aged sinners1 and seek an interest in redeeming love6 ,alas1 you have one foot already in the grave1 your glass is just run out1 your sun is just going down1 and it will set and leave you in an eternal darkness1 unless the ,,lord be your righteousness6 ,flee then1 ,o flee for your lives6 be not afraid4 ,all things are possible with ,,god4 ,if you come1 though it be at the eleventh hour1 ,,christ ,,jesus will in no wise cast you out4 ,seek then for the ,,lord to be your righteousness1 and beseech him to let you know1 how it is that a man may be born again when he is old6 ,but ,i must not forget the lambs of the flock4 ,to feed them was one of my ,,lord's last commands4 ,i know he will be angry with me1 if ,i do not tell them1 that the ,,lord may be their righteousness2 and that of such is the kingdom of heaven4 ,come then1 ye little children1 come to ,,christ2 the ,,lord ,,christ shall be your righteousness4 ,do not think1 that you are too young to be converted4 ,perhaps many of you may be nine or ten years old1 and yet cannot say1 the ,,lord is our righteousness2 which many have said1 though younger than you4 ,come then1 while you are young4 ,perhaps you may not live to be old4 ,do not stay for other people4 ,if your fathers and mothers will not come to ,,christ1 do you come without them4 ,let children lead them1 and shew them how the ,,lord may be their righteousness4 ,our ,,lord ,,jesus loved little children4 ,you are his lambs2 he bids me feed you4 ,i pray ,,god make you willing betimes to take the ,,lord for your righteousness4 ,here then ,i could conclude2 but ,i must not forget the poor negroes2 no1 ,i must not4 ,,jesus ,,christ has died for them1 as well as for others4 ,nor do ,i mention you last1 because ,i despise your souls1 but because ,i would have what ,i shall say1 make the deeper impression upon your hearts4 ,o that you would seek the ,,lord to be your righteousness6 ,who knows but he may be found of you8 ,for in ,,jesus ,,christ there is neither male nor female1 bond nor free2 even you may be the children of ,,god1 if you believe in ,,jesus4 ,did you never read of the eunuch belonging to the queen of ,candace8 a negro like yourselves4 ,he believed4 ,the ,,lord was his righteousness4 ,he was baptized4 ,do you also believe1 and you shall be saved4 ,,christ ,,jesus is the same now as he was yesterday1 and will wash you in his own blood4 ,go home then1 turn the words of the text into a prayer1 and intreat the ,,lord to be your righteousness4 ,even so1 come ,,lord ,,jesus1 come quickly1 into all our souls6 ,amen1 ,,lord ,,jesus1 ,amen and ,amen6 ,,sermon ,,xv4 ,the ,righteousness of ,,christ1 an everlasting ,righteousness4 ,,daniel ix4 #bd4 ,and to bring in everlasting ,righteousness4 ,,on reading these words1 ,i cannot help addressing you in the language of the angels to the poor shepherds1 who kept watch over their flocks by night1 8,behold1 ,i bring you glad tidings of great joy10 such tidings1 that if we have ears to hear1 if we have eyes to see1 and if our hearts have indeed experienced the grace of ,,god1 must cause us to cry out with the ,virgin ,mary1 8,my soul doth magnify the ,,lord1 and my spirit doth rejoice in ,,god my ,saviour40 ,the words which ,i have read to you1 are part of one of the most explicit revelations that was given of ,,jesus ,,christ1 before he made his public entrance into this our world4 ,it has been observed by some1 and very properly too1 that it is one mark of the divine goodness to his creatures1 that he is pleased to let light come in gradually upon the natural world4 ,if the sun from midnight darkness1 was immediately to shine forth in his full meridian blaze1 his great splendor would be apt to dazzle our eyes1 and strike us blind again3 but ,,god is pleased to make light come gradually in1 and by that means we are prepared to receive it4 ,and as ,,god is pleased to deal with the natural1 so he has dealt with the moral1 with the spiritual world4 ,the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ did not appear in his full glory all at once1 but as the sun rises gradually1 so did the ,,lord ,,jesus1 the ,sun of righteousness1 rise gradually upon men1 with healing under his wings4 ,hence it was1 that our first parents had nothing to fix their faith upon1 but that first promise1 8,the seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head40 ,and in future ages1 at sundry times1 and after divers manners1 ,,god was pleased to speak to our fathers by the prophets1 before he spake to us in these last days by his son2 and the prophets that were more peculiarly dear to ,,god1 it should seem had more peculiar and extraordinary revelations vouchsafed to them1 concerning ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,it is plain from the accounts we have in ,scripture1 that the ,prophet ,daniel was one of these2 he is stiled by the angel1 not only a 8man that was beloved10 but a 8man that was greatly beloved10 or as it is in the margin of your bibles1 8he was a man of desires10 of large and extensive desires to promote the glory of ,,god2 he was a desirable man1 a man that did much good in his generation1 and therefore his life was much to be desired by those who loved ,,god4 ,the words which ,i have chosen for the subject of our present meditation1 contain part of a revelation made to this man4 ,if you look back to the beginning of this chapter1 you will find how the good man was employed1 when ,,god was pleased to give him this revelation2 verse #b4 8,in the first year of ,darius's reign1 ,i ,daniel understood by books the number of the years1 whereof the word of the ,,lord came to ,jeremiah the prophet1 that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of ,jerusalem40 ,daniel was a great man1 and withal a good man2 great as he was1 it seems he was not above reading his ,bible2 he made the ,bible his constant study2 for it is the ,bible we are to understand by what is here termed books1 and elsewhere1 the scriptures of truth4 ,he found1 that the time for ,,god's people being delivered from the captivity1 was now at hand4 ,well1 one would have thought1 that therefore ,daniel needed not to pray2 but this1 instead of retarding1 quickened him in his prayers3 and therefore we are told in the third verse1 8,i set my face unto the ,,lord ,,god1 to seek by prayer and supplications1 with fasting and sackcloth1 and ashes40 ,it is beautifully expressed3 8he set his face10 as though he was resolved never to let his eye go off ,,god1 till ,,god was pleased to give him an answer2 he was resolved1 ,jacob-like1 to wrestle with the ,,lord ,,god1 until ,,god should be pleased to give him the desired blessing4 ,we are told in the fourth verse1 that 8he prayed unto the ,,lord1 and made confession10 not only of his own sins1 but the sins of his people4 ,and when ye retire home to your houses1 before ye go to bed1 ,i would recommend to you the reading of this prayer2 every word of it bespeaks his exceeding concern for the public good4 ,it would take me up too much time1 was ,i to make such observations as indeed the prayer deserves2 to bring you sooner to the words of the text1 let us go forward to the twentieth verse1 and there you will find the success that ,daniel met with1 when praying4 ,says he1 8while ,i was praying and confessing my sin1 and the sin of my people ,israel1 and presenting my supplication before the ,,lord my ,,god1 for the holy mountain of my ,,god2 yea1 while ,i was speaking in prayer1 even the man ,gabriel1 whom ,i had seen in the vision at the beginning1 being caused to fly swiftly1 touched me about the time of the evening oblation40 ,the manner in which ,daniel expresses himself1 is very emphatical3 8,while ,i was speaking in prayer20 implying1 that ,,god suffers us1 when we draw near to him by faith in prayer1 to lay all our complaints before him2 he suffers us to speak unto1 and talk with him1 as a man talketh with his friend4 ,daniel at this time too was making confession one part of his prayer2 for we are never1 never in a better frame to receive answers from above1 than when we are humbling ourselves before the ,,lord4 ,he was not only confessing his own sins1 but he was confessing the sins of his people2 he was praying for those1 who perhaps seldom prayed for themselves2 8while ,i was speaking in prayer1 the man ,gabriel30 which word1 by interpretation1 signifies the strength of ,,god2 a very proper name1 says ,bishop ,hall1 for that angel who was to come and bring the news to the world1 of the ,,god of strength1 the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,this angel is here represented as flying1 and as flying swiftly2 to show us how willing1 how unspeakably willing those blessed spirits are1 to bring good news to men4 ,and it is upon this account1 ,i suppose1 that we are taught by our ,,lord to pray1 8that ,,god's will may be done by us on earth1 as it is done in heaven10 that we may imitate a little of that alacrity and vigour1 which angels employ1 when they are sent on errands for ,,god4 ,well1 here is not only mention made of the angel's flying swiftly1 but there is mention made of the time that he came2 8,he came and touched me1 about the time of the evening oblation10 that is1 about three o'clock in the afternoon2 at this time there was a sacrifice made to ,,god1 and this sacrifice was in a peculiar manner a type of the ,,lord ,,jesus1 who in the evening of the world was to become a sacrifice for sinners4 ,we are told in the #bb;d verse1 what message this angel delivered1 8,he informed me1 and talked with me1 and said1 ,o ,daniel1 ,i am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding2 at the beginning of thy supplication1 the commandment came forth1 and ,i am come to show thee1 for thou art greatly beloved1 therefore understand the matter1 and consider the vision40 ,this passage1 with such-like passages of scripture1 hath often comforted my soul1 and may comfort the hearts of all ,,god's people4 ,there are a great many of you1 perhaps1 have prayed1 and prayed again to ,,god1 and probably you do not find any answer given you3 you pray for an enlarged heart1 you pray for comfort1 you pray for deliverance2 ,,god is pleased to withhold it for a while2 then the devil strikes in1 and says1 ,,god has shut out your prayers1 ,,god will never hear1 ,,god will never regard you1 therefore pray no more4 ,but1 my dear friends1 this is a mistake2 a thousand years are with ,,god as one day2 and the ,,lord ,,jesus has bid us1 8to pray always1 and not faint40 ,you may have had your prayers heard1 the very moment they went out of your lips1 though it may not please your ,,god1 7and it may not be proper for you7 to let you know that they are heard4 8,at the beginning of thy supplication1 the commandment went forth20 and this very angel some hundred years after1 told ,zacharias1 that his prayer was heard2 a prayer for what8 a prayer for a child2 it could not be supposed that at the very time ,zacharias was praying for a child2 but his prayer he had put up forty years before1 ,,god was pleased to answer so long afterwards4 ,but to proceed with ,gabriel's declaration1 verse #bd4 8,seventy weeks are determined upon thy people1 and upon thy holy city1 to finish transgression1 to make an end of sins1 and to make reconciliation for iniquity1 and to bring in everlasting righteousness10 ,i do not intend to trouble you about the critical exposition of these seventy weeks2 commentators are divided exceedingly upon this subject2 some of them explain them one way1 and some another1 and perhaps we shall never know till the day of judgment1 till the glorious day spoken of in the ,new ,testament1 which are right4 ,my intention is to dwell upon this particular part of the angel's message1 that some one person was to do something unspeakable for ,,god's people1 even 8to bring in an everlasting righteousness40 8years0 replaced with 8weeks0 ,if you want to know who was the person that was to do this1 look to the #bfth verse1 and you will find the person mentioned1 the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ3 8after threescore and two weeks shall the ,messiah be cut off1 but not for himself30 he is the person spoken of1 he was 8to put an end to sin1 to make reconciliation for iniquity1 and to bring in everlasting righteousness40 ,from these important words1 ,i shall endeavour1 ,first1 ,to shew you what we are to understand by the word1 8,righteousness40 ,secondly1 ,i shall endeavour to shew you1 upon what account it is1 that the righteousness mentioned in the text1 is called an 8everlasting righteousness40 ,thirdly1 ,i shall shew1 what we are to understand by 8bringing it in40 ,and1 ,then speak a word to saints and sinners4 ,and while ,i am speaking to your ears1 may ,,god1 for the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ's sake1 speak to your hearts6 ,first1 ,to explain what we are to understand by the word1 8righteousness40 ,if ,i was to ask some people what we are to understand by the word1 righteousness2 if the person was an ,arminian1 or an enemy to the doctrine of free grace1 he would answer me1 it signifies what we commonly call moral honesty1 or doing justice between man and man4 ,and1 indeed1 in various passages of scripture1 the word righteousness has no other meaning1 at least1 it bears that meaning4 ,i suppose1 we are to understand it in this sense1 when we are told1 that ,paul1 preaching before ,felix1 8reasoned of temperance1 of righteousness1 and of a judgment to come40 ,felix had been a very unrighteous and unjust man1 and therefore1 to convince him of his wickedness1 to alarm his conscience1 to put him upon seeking help in the ,,lord ,,jesus1 ,paul preached not only of temperance1 7for ,felix had been a very intemperate man7 but he preached to him of righteousness1 of the necessity of doing justice1 because he had been an unjust man2 and he puts before him the judgment to come1 in order to make him fly to ,,jesus ,,christ for deliverance from the bad consequences of that judgment2 and there are other places of scripture1 where the word righteousness may be understood in this sense4 ,it likewise signifies inward holiness1 wrought in us by the blessed ,spirit of ,,god4 ,but1 ,i believe1 the word righteousness in my text signifies1 what1 ,i trust most1 ,i should be glad if ,i could say1 all who attend this night1 will be glad to hear of3 ,what is that8 ,it is what all reformed divines1 that have clear heads and clear hearts1 call an imputed righteousness1 or the righteousness of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ to be imputed to poor sinners upon their believing3 and1 if you ask me1 what ,i mean by an imputed righteousness2 not to shoot over your heads1 but rather1 if ,,god shall be pleased to make me1 to reach your hearts1 ,i will tell you1 by this word 8righteousness10 ,i understand all that ,,christ hath done1 and all that ,,christ hath suffered3 or1 to make use of the term generally made use of by sound divines1 8,,christ's active1 and ,,christ's passive obedience20 put these two together1 and they make up the righteousness of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,my dear friends1 thus stood the case between ,,god and man3 at first ,,god made man upright4 ,moses gives us a short1 but never was so full a description of the origin and nature of man given by any other but himself4 8,in the image of ,,god made he man10 says that sacred historian1 being inspired by the ,spirit of ,,god4 ,,god said1 and it was done2 ,,god commanded1 and the world arose before him2 8,let there be light10 and instantaneously behold light appeared3 but when that lovely1 that divine1 that blessed creature ,man1 the ,lord of the creation1 ,,god's vicegerent1 was to be made1 ,,god calls a council1 and says1 8,let us make man after our own image40 ,now1 this image is to be understood1 no doubt1 in respect of man's soul2 for ,,god being no corporeal substance1 man could not be made after his image that way4 ,well1 in this condition ,,god made man4 ,adam stood as our representative4 ,adam and ,eve had but one name originally1 8,,god made man1 and called their name ,adam40 ,,god left ,adam to his own free will2 he was pleased to enter into a covenant with him1 which1 indeed1 is an amazing instance of ,,god's condescension4 ,,god might have ordered man to do so and so1 and not made him any promise of a reward3 but the great ,creator was pleased to promise him1 that if he performed an unsinning obedience1 if he abstained from eating a particular tree1 that he and his posterity should live for ever2 but if ,he broke that command1 in the day that he ate thereof1 he and all his posterity were to die4 ,now1 ,i verily believe1 had you and ,i been there present1 however some people may object against ,,god's severity1 in imputing ,adam's sin to us2 yet ,i believe1 if you and ,i1 and all the world had been present1 we should have heartily come into this agreement4 ,supposing ,,god had called the whole creation together1 and had said1 8,ye1 my creatures1 ,i have made here a man after my own image1 ,i have breathed into him the breath of life1 ,i have caused him to become a living soul1 ,i have filled him with righteousness and true holiness2 he has not the least propensity to sin1 only he is a fallible and mutable creature2 all that ,i desire of this man is1 that he abstain from yonder tree3 ,i have given to him all the trees of the garden1 ,i have made him1 and planted for him a garden with mine own right hand1 ,i desire he may abstain from plucking yonder fruit3 ,will ye stand or fall by this man1 will ye let him be your representative1 will ye be content that his obedience or disobedience be imputed to you80 ,if we had been all there1 every one of us would have said1 8,,lord ,,god1 we will let him be our representative20 the terms were so easy1 the improbability of his falling was so exceeding great1 that ,i believe every one of us should have all put our hand to the covenant4 ,and supposing us alive1 and that we had agreed to that covenant1 who is that man or woman that could find fault with ,,god's imputing ,adam's sin to us4 ,well1 my friends1 ,,god made man in this condition2 the devil envied his happiness2 it is supposed by some1 that man was made to supply the places of the fallen angels4 ,but the devil envied man1 and had leave to tempt him2 ,eve soon reached out her hand and plucked of the forbidden fruit1 and afterwards ,adam transgressed also2 and from that very moment1 to make use of ,mr4 ,boston's words1 8,man's name was ,ichabod10 the glory of the ,,lord departed from him4 ,adam and ,eve then fell3 you1 and ,i1 and all their posterity 7whom they represented7 fell in them4 ,mankind had but one neck2 and ,,god might have served mankind1 as ,caligula would have served ,rome1 according to his own words1 8,i wish it had but one neck1 and ,i would cut it off with one blow40 ,,god1 if he pleased1 might have sent us all to hell4 ,here ,calvin represents ,,god's attributes as struggling one with another2 ,justice saying to ,,god1 seeing ,justice had framed the sanction1 8,is the law broken1 damn the offender1 and send him to hell40 ,the mercy of ,,god1 his darling attribute1 cries out1 8,spare him1 spare him40 ,the wisdom of ,,god contrives a way1 that justice might be satisfied1 and yet mercy be triumphant still4 ,how was that8 ,the ,,lord ,,jesus interposes1 the days-man1 the dear ,redeemer6 he saw ,,god wielding his flaming sword1 and his hand taking hold of vengeance2 the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ saw the sword ready to be sheathed in the blood of the offender2 when no eye could pity1 when no angel or archangel could rescue1 just as ,,god was1 as it were1 about to give the fatal blow1 just as the knife was put to the throat of the offender1 the ,son of ,,god1 the eternal ,logos1 says1 8,father1 spare the sinner2 let him not die2 ,father1 ,father1 ,o hold thy hand1 withdraw thy sword1 for ,i come to do thy will2 man has broken thy law1 and violated thy covenant3 ,i do not deny but man deserves to be damned for ever2 but1 ,father1 what ,adam could not do1 if thou wilt prepare me a body1 ,i in the fulness of time will go1 and die for him2 he has broken thy law1 but ,i will go and keep it1 that thy law may be honoured2 ,i will give a perfect unsinning obedience to all thy commandments2 and that thou mayst justify ungodly creatures1 ,i will not only go down and obey thy law1 but ,i will go down and bleed2 ,i will go down and die3 here ,i am2 ,i will step in between thee and sinners1 and be glad to have thy sword sheathed in my heart's blood for them40 duplicate word 8will0 removed ,in the fulness of time descends the eternal ,logos1 8,in the fulness of time ,,god sent forth his ,son made of a woman1 made under the law1 to redeem them that are under the law from the curse of it1 being made a curse for us40 ,the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ being cloathed in human nature1 fulfilled all righteousness2 he submitted to every institution of ,,god1 and was pleased to obey the whole moral law2 and afterwards1 ,o can we think of it1 ,o can you hear of it1 without a heart leaping with joy1 at last the ,,lord ,,jesus bled and died6 and when he was just expiring1 just as he was about to bow down his head1 and give up the ghost1 what do ye think he said8 ,he said1 8,it is finished60 ,as much as to say1 8,now the arduous work1 the difficult task ,i had undertaken1 blessed be ,,god1 is now completely over2 all the demands of the law are finished2 now ,,god's justice is satisfied2 now a new and living way is opened by my blood to the holiest of all for poor sinners40 ,so that when ,,christ's righteousness is here spoken of1 we are to understand 8,,christ's obedience and death10 all that ,,christ has done1 and all that ,,christ has suffered for an elect world1 for all that will believe on him4 ,and blessed be ,,god for this righteousness6 blessed be ,,god for the epithet which in the text is put to this righteousness2 it might be called a blessed righteousness1 it might be called a glorious righteousness2 it might be called an invaluable righteousness2 but the angel calls it an everlasting righteousness2 ,,god give you to take the comfort of it6 ,secondly1 ,i am now to shew1 on what account1 this righteousness is here called an everlasting righteousness2 and pray why do you think is ,,christ's righteousness called an everlasting righteousness8 ,i suppose it is called an everlasting righteousness1 ,first1 ,because ,,christ's righteousness was intended by the great ,,god to extend to mankind even from eternity4 ,all of you know1 that old love is the best love4 ,when we have an old acquaintance1 a friend1 that has loved us for many years1 indeed that love is sweet3 though we may love new friends1 yet when an old friend and a new friend meet together1 we may say1 that the old is better4 ,now this should endear ,,god to us1 to think that from all the ages of eternity ,,god had thoughts of you2 ,,god intended the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ to save your souls and mine3 hence it is1 that ,,god1 to endear ,jeremiah to him1 tells him1 ,i have loved thee with an everlasting love4 ,hence it is1 that the ,,lord ,,jesus1 when he calls his elect people up to heaven1 says1 8,come1 ye blessed of my ,father20 what follows8 8receive the kingdom prepared for you20 how long8 8from the foundation of the world40 ,all that we receive in time2 all the streams that come to our souls1 are but so many streams flowing from that inexhaustible fountain1 ,,god's electing1 ,,god's sovereign1 ,,god's distinguishing1 ,,god's everlasting love2 and1 therefore1 the righteousness of ,,jesus ,,christ may properly be called an everlasting righteousness1 because ,,god intended it from everlasting4 ,secondly1 ,it is called an everlasting righteousness1 because the efficacy of ,,christ's death took place immediately upon ,adam's fall4 ,christianity1 in one sense1 is as old as the creation4 ,great ,professor ,franck1 of ,germany1 says1 8,that ,,christ is the sum and substance of all righteousness40 ,mr4 ,henry observes1 8,that the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ is the treasure hid in the field of the ,old ,testament1 under the types and shadows of the ,mosaic dispensation40 ,we have the ,sun of ,righteousness shining in his full meridian in the ,new ,testament dispensation4 ,now the righteousness of ,,jesus ,,christ1 may be called an everlasting righteousness1 because all the saints that have been saved1 or that ever will be saved1 are all saved by the righteousness of ,,christ4 ,a great many censorious people are mighty inquisitive to know1 what will become of the heathens1 that never heard of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,i would say to such persons1 as the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ did to another curious enquirer1 8,what is that to thee8 follow thou me40 ,pray1 for what should you and ,i trouble ourselves about the heathens8 ,are not we heathens8 ,it is too true1 that we have too much of the heathens temper and practice with us4 ,but why should we lose our time in enquiring about what will become of the heathen1 and not rather enquire what will become of our own souls8 ,we may be sure ,,god will deal with heathens according to their light3 if he has given them no revelation1 they will not be judged by a revelation2 if they have not had a law1 they will be judged without law4 ,but as for the ,jews and ,gentiles1 who have the gospel revealed to them1 however ,deists may argue contrary to it2 however they may set up reason in opposition to divine revelation2 we may be sure none were ever saved1 or will be saved1 but by the righteousness of ,,christ4 ,it was through faith in him1 that ,abel was saved2 it was through the sacrifice of ,,jesus ,,christ1 that ,abraham was accepted1 and that all the prophets of old were accepted2 and there is none other name given under heaven1 whereby we can be saved1 but that of ,,christ4 ,and therefore1 since persons under the law1 and under the gospel1 are to be saved only through ,,christ2 therefore1 ,,christ's righteousness may properly be called an everlasting righteousness4 ,but this is not all4 ,thirdly1 ,the righteousness of ,,jesus ,,christ1 is not only to be called an everlasting righteousness1 because that all persons under the law1 and all persons under the gospel1 are saved by it2 but because the efficacy thereof1 blessed be ,,god for it6 is to continue till time shall be no more4 ,blessed be ,,god for ,,jesus ,,christ6 the efficacy of whose blood1 death1 and atonement1 is as great and as effectual now to the salvation of poor sinners1 as when he bowed his blessed head1 and gave up the ghost3 8,,jesus ,,christ is the same yesterday1 to-day1 and for ever20 and whosoever believes on him now1 whosoever comes to1 and accepts of him1 shall now see his power1 shall taste of his grace1 and shall be actually saved by him1 the same as if he had been in company with those who saw him expiring4 ,fourthly1 ,,christ's righteousness may be called an everlasting righteousness1 because the benefit of it is to endure to everlasting life4 ,indeed1 some people tell us1 that a person may be in ,,christ to-day1 and go to the devil to-morrow3 but1 blessed be ,,god1 ye have not so learned ,,christ6 ,no1 my dear friends1 thanks be to ,,god for that divine text1 8,there is now no condemnation to them that are in ,,christ ,,jesus40 ,though ,,god's people may fall foully2 and though many are full of doubts and fears1 and say1 8,one day ,i shall fall by the hands of ,saul20 however ye may say in your haste1 8,all men are liars20 however your poor souls may be harassed1 yet no wicked devil1 nor your own depraved heart1 shall be able to separate you from the love of ,,god3 ,,god has loved you1 ,,god has fixed his heart upon you1 and having loved his own1 he loves them unto the end4 ,the ,,lord of life and of glory1 the blessed ,,jesus1 will never cease loving you1 till he hath loved and brought you to heaven2 when he will rejoice1 and say1 8,behold me1 ,o my ,father1 and the dear children that thou hast given me2 thou gavest them me2 thine they were1 ,i have bought them with my blood1 ,i have won them with my sword and with my bow1 and ,i now will wear them as so many jewels of my crown40 ,therefore1 ,,jesus ,,christ's righteousness may be called an everlasting righteousness1 because those who once take hold of1 and are interested in it1 shall be saved everlastingly by ,,christ3 8,it is ,,god that justifies us1 7says ,st4 ,paul7 who is he that condemneth8 ,it is ,,christ that died1 yea rather that is risen again40 ,he gives devils the challenge1 8,o death1 where is thy sting1 ,o grave1 where is thy victory8 ,who shall separate us from the love of ,,god8 ,i am persuaded that neither death nor life1 neither principalities nor powers1 nor any other creature1 shall ever be able to seperate us from the love of ,,god1 which is in ,,christ ,,jesus our ,,lord40 ,those whom ,,god justifies1 he also glorifies4 ,and because ,,christ lives1 blessed be ,,god1 we shall live also4 ,i know not what you may say2 but though ,i trust ,i have felt the grace of ,,christ1 yet ,i find that ,i have as much need to come to ,,christ every day for fresh strength1 as if ,i had never believed before3 and if ,i was to depend upon my own faithfulness1 and not the faithfulness of the ,son of ,,god1 ,i am sure ,i should soon desert the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,but glory be to ,,god1 he is faithful that hath promised6 ,glory be to ,,god1 our salvation depends not upon our own free will1 but upon ,,god's free grace6 ,here is a sure bottom2 the believer may build upon it2 let the storms blow as long and as high as they please1 they may make the poor creature tremble1 but blessed be ,,god1 they never shall be able to take him off the foundation2 though they may shake him1 they shall only shake off his corruption3 and ,i believe all that fear ,,god1 will be glad to part with it4 ,on all these accounts1 ,,christ's righteousness may be called an everlasting righteousness4 ,,iii4 ,it is said1 in my text1 that ,,jesus was to bring it in4 ,what are we to understand by his bringing it in8 ,our ,,lord's promulgating and proclaiming it to the world4 ,indeed1 it was brought in under the law2 but then it was brought in under types and shadows1 and most of the ,jews looked no further4 ,but ,,jesus ,,christ brought life and immortality to light by the gospel4 ,the light of ,moses was only twilight2 the light of the gospel1 is like the sun at noon-day1 shining in his full meridian4 ,therefore1 ,,jesus ,,christ may be said to bring in this everlasting righteousness1 because he proclaimed it to the world1 and commanded it to be preached1 that ,,god sent his ,son into the world1 that the world through him might be saved4 ,again1 ,the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ brought in this righteousness1 as he wrought it out for sinners upon the cross4 ,some ,antinomians1 for want of a proper distinction1 run into a grievous error1 telling us1 ,because ,,god intended to justify by the righteousness of ,,jesus ,,christ1 therefore man is justified from all eternity3 which is absurd3 a person cannot be justified1 till he is actually existing2 therefore1 though man is justified1 as it lies in ,,god's mind from all eternity1 yet it was not actually brought in till the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ pronounced those blessed words1 8,it is finished20 the grand consummation6 then ,,jesus brought it in4 ,a new and a living way was to be opened to the ,holy of ,holies1 for poor sinners1 by the blood of ,,christ4 ,but ,i do not think that the expression1 brought in1 is to be limited to this sense1 though ,i suppose it is the primary one2 it implies not only ,,christ's bringing it into the world1 as promulgating1 and having it written in the word of ,,god1 and as having wrought it out for sinners in his life1 and on the cross2 but he brings it in1 in a manner1 which1 ,i pray ,,god may take place this night2 ,i mean1 bringing it1 by his blessed ,spirit1 into poor believers hearts4 ,all that ,,christ hath done1 all that ,,christ hath suffered1 all ,,christ's active obedience1 all ,,christ's passive obedience1 will do us no good1 unless by the ,spirit of ,,god1 it is brought into our souls4 ,as one expresses it1 8,an unapplied ,,christ is no ,,christ at all40 ,to hear of a ,,christ dying for sinners1 will only increase your damnation1 will only sink you deeper into hell1 unless we have ground to say1 by a work of grace wrought in our hearts1 that the ,,lord ,,jesus hath brought this home to us4 ,hence it is1 that the ,apostle1 speaking of ,,christ1 says1 8,who loved me1 and gave himself for me40 ,o that dear1 that great1 that little1 but important word1 me4 ,happy they1 who can adopt the ,apostle's language6 ,happy they that can apply it to their own heart2 and when they hear that ,,christ has brought in an everlasting righteousness1 can say1 ,blessed be ,,god1 it is brought in by the blessed ,spirit to my soul6 ,are there any here that can go along with me on this doctrine8 ,but why do ,i ask this question1 when preaching to numbers1 who1 ,i hope1 have tasted of the grace of ,,god long ago8 ,i do not know2 ,i cannot distinguish you2 you are just like other people1 as to your looks and habits2 but if ,i do not1 and if your neighbours cannot know you1 that great ,,god1 in whose presence you are1 knows you2 ,he1 before whose tribunal we are shortly to appear1 knows you4 ,if ,,christ ,,jesus hath brought his everlasting righteousness into your heart2 if it is applied by the ,spirit of ,,god to your soul1 what shall ,i say to you8 ,i will say as the ,angel to ,john1 8,come up hither10 thou child of ,,god6 ,come up hither1 thou son1 thou daughter of ,abraham6 ,come and join with me1 in calling upon angels and archangels1 in calling upon the spirits of just men made perfect1 to help thee to praise that loving ,redeemer1 that has brought in an everlasting righteousness4 ,o was ever love like this6 ,when ,abraham was about to offer up his son1 ,,god said1 8,now ,i know that thou lovest me1 since thou hast not withheld thy son1 thine only son from me40 ,now may each child of ,,god say1 8,now1 ,o ,,god1 ,i know that thou hast loved me1 since thou hast not withheld thy ,son1 thy dear ,son1 the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 from dying for me40 ,if thou hast got ,,christ brought into thy soul by faith1 ,o look forward1 look towards a happy eternity2 ,o look towards those everlasting mansions1 into which ,,god will bring thee after death4 ,my dear friends1 ,i could say much from this text to comfort ,,god's people3 ,but ,i must address myself to you1 poor souls1 who cannot say1 that this righteousness has been brought home to your souls2 but if it was never brought home before1 may ,,god1 for the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ's sake1 bring it home now6 ,are any of you depending upon a righteousness of your own8 ,do any of you here1 think to save yourselves by your own doings8 ,i say to you1 as the ,apostle said to one that offered money for a power to confer the gift of the ,holy ,ghost1 your righteousness shall perish with you4 ,poor miserable creatures6 ,what is there in your tears8 what in your prayers8 what in your performances1 to appease the wrath of an angry ,,god8 ,away from the trees of the garden2 come1 ye guilty wretches1 come as poor1 lost1 undone1 and wretched creatures1 and accept of a better righteousness than your own4 ,as ,i said before1 so ,i tell you again1 the righteousness of ,,jesus ,,christ is an everlasting righteousness3 it is wrought out for the very chief of sinners4 ,ho1 every one that thirsteth1 let him come and drink of this water of life freely4 ,are any of you wounded by sin8 ,do any of you feel you have no righteousness of your own8 ,are any of you perishing for hunger8 ,are any of you afraid ye will perish for ever8 ,come1 dear souls1 in all your rags2 come1 thou poor man2 come1 thou poor1 distressed woman2 you1 who think ,,god will never forgive you1 and that your sins are too great to be forgiven2 come1 thou doubting creature1 who art afraid thou wilt never get comfort2 arise1 take comfort1 the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 the ,,lord of life1 the ,,lord of glory1 calls for thee3 through his righteousness there is hope for the chief of sinners1 for the worst of creatures4 ,what if thou hadst committed all the sins in the world8 ,what if thou hadst committed the sins of a thousand1 what if thou hadst committed the sins of a million of worlds8 ,,christ's righteousness will cover1 the blood of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ will cleanse thee from the guilt of them all4 ,o let not one poor soul stand at a distance from the ,saviour4 ,my dear friends1 could my voice hold out1 was my strength equal to my will1 ,i would wrestle with you2 ,i would strive with arguments1 till you came and washed in this blood of the ,lamb2 till you came and accepted of this everlasting righteousness4 ,o come1 come6 ,now1 since it is brought into the world by ,,christ1 so in the name1 in the strength1 and by the assistance of the great ,,god1 ,i bring it now to the pulpit2 ,i now offer this righteousness1 this free1 this imputed1 this everlasting righteousness to all poor sinners that will accept of it4 ,for ,,god's sake accept it this night3 you do not know but ye may die before to-morrow4 ,how do ye know1 but while ,i am speaking1 a fit of the apoplexy may seize1 and death arrest you8 ,o my dear friends1 where can ye go8 where will ye appear8 ,how will ye stand before an angry ,,god1 without the righteousness of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ put upon your souls8 ,can ye stand in your own rags8 ,will ye dare to appear before a heart-searching ,,god1 without the apparel of your elder brother8 ,if ye do1 ,i know your doom3 ,,christ will frown you into hell3 8,depart1 depart1 ye cursed1 into everlasting fire10 shall be your portion4 ,think1 ,i pray you1 therefore1 on these things2 go home1 go home1 go home1 pray over the text1 and say1 8,,lord ,,god1 thou hast brought an everlasting righteousness into the world by the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ2 by the blessed ,spirit bring it into my heart60 then1 die when ye will1 ye are safe2 if it be to-morrow1 ye shall be immediately translated into the presence of the everlasting ,,god3 that will be sweet6 ,happy they who have got this robe on2 happy they that can say1 8,my ,,god hath loved me1 and ,i shall be loved by him with an everlasting love60 ,that every one of you may be able to say so1 may ,,god grant1 for the sake of ,,jesus ,,christ1 the dear ,redeemer2 to whom be glory for ever4 ,amen4 ,,sermon ,,xvi4 ,the ,observation of the ,birth of ,,christ1 the ,duty of all ,christians2 or the true ,way of keeping ,christmas4 ,,matthew i4 #ba4 ,and she shall bring forth a ,son1 and thou shalt call his ,name ,jesus3 ,for he shall save his ,people from their ,sins4 ,,the celebration of the birth of ,,christ hath been esteemed a duty by most who profess christianity4 ,when we consider the condescension and love of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 in submitting to be born of a virgin1 a poor sinful creature2 and especially as he knew how he was to be treated in this world2 that he was to be despised1 scoffed at1 and at last to die a painful1 shameful1 and ignominious death2 that he should be treated as though he was the off-scouring of all mankind2 used1 not like the son of a man1 and1 therefore1 not at all like the ,son of ,,god2 the consideration of these things should make us to admire the love of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 who was so willing to offer himself as a ransom for the sins of the people1 that when the fulness of time was come1 ,,christ came1 made of a woman1 made under the law3 he came according to the eternal counsel of the ,father2 he came1 not in glory or in splendor1 not like him who brought all salvation with him3 no1 he was born in a stable1 and laid in a manger2 oxen were his companions4 ,o amazing condescension of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 to stoop to such low and poor things for our sake4 ,what love is this1 what great and wonderful love was here1 that the ,son of ,,god should come into our world in so mean a condition1 to deliver us from the sin and misery in which we were involved by our fall in our first parents6 ,and as all that proceeded from the springs must be muddy1 because the fountain was so1 the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ came to take our natures upon him1 to die a shameful1 a painful1 and an accursed death for our sakes2 he died for our sins1 and to bring us to ,,god2 he cleansed us by his blood from the guilt of sin1 he satisfied for our imperfections2 and now1 my brethren1 we have access unto him with boldness2 he is a mediator between us and his offended ,father4 ,therefore1 if we do but consider into what state1 and at how great a distance from ,,god we are fallen2 how vile our natures were2 what a depravity1 and how incapable to restore that image of ,,god to our souls1 which we lost in our first parents3 when ,i consider these things1 my brethren1 and that the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ came to restore us to that favour with ,,god which we had lost1 and that ,,christ not only came down with an intent to do it1 but actually accomplished all that was in his heart towards us2 that he raised and brought us into favour with ,,god1 that we might find kindness and mercy in his sight2 surely this calls for some return of thanks on our part to our dear ,redeemer1 for this love and kindness to our souls4 ,how just would it have been of him1 to have left us in that deplorable state wherein we1 by our guilt1 had involved ourselves8 ,for ,,god could not1 nor can receive any additional good by our salvation2 but it was love1 mere love2 it was free love that brought the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ into our world about #agjj years ago4 ,what1 shall we not remember the birth of our ,,jesus8 ,shall we yearly celebrate the birth of our temporal king1 and shall that of the ,king of kings be quite forgotten8 ,shall that only1 which ought to be had chiefly in remembrance1 be quite forgotten8 ,,god forbid6 ,no1 my dear brethren1 let us celebrate and keep this festival of our church1 with joy in our hearts3 let the birth of a ,redeemer1 which redeemed us from sin1 from wrath1 from death1 from hell1 be always remembered2 may this ,saviour's love never be forgotten6 but may we sing forth all his love and glory as long as life shall last here1 and through an endless eternity in the world above6 may we chaunt forth the wonders of redeeming love1 and the riches of free grace1 amidst angels and archangels1 cherubim and seraphim1 without intermission1 for ever and ever6 ,and as1 my brethren1 the time for keeping this festival is approaching1 let us consider our duty in the true observation thereof1 or the right way for the glory of ,,god1 and the good of immortal souls1 to celebrate the birth of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ2 an event which ought to be had in eternal remembrance4 ,it is my design to lay down rules for the true keeping of that time of ,christmas1 which is now approaching4 ,i4 ,i shall shew you when you may be said1 not to observe this festival aright4 ,,ii4 ,i shall shew you1 when your observation and celebrating of this festival is done according to the glory of ,,god1 and to the true manner of keeping of it4 ,,iii4 ,shall conclude with an exhortation to all of you1 high and low1 rich and poor1 one with another1 to have a regard to your behaviour at all times1 but more especially1 my dear brethren1 on this solemn occasion4 ,i4 ,my brethren1 ,i am to shew when your celebration of this festival is not of the right kind4 ,and ,first1 you do not celebrate this aright1 when you spend most of your time in cards1 dice1 or gaming of any sort4 ,this is a season1 for which there is no more allowance for wasting of your precious time in those unlawful entertainments1 than any other4 ,persons are apt to flatter themselves that they are free and at liberty to spend whole evenings now at cards1 at dice1 or any diversion whatsoever1 to pass away1 as they call it1 a tedious evening4 ,they can do any thing now to pass away that1 which is hastening as fast as thought3 time is always upon the wing2 it is no sooner present but it is past1 and no sooner come but it is gone4 ,and have we so much to do1 and so little time to do it in1 and yet complain of time lying heavy upon our hands8 ,have we not the devil and the beast to get out of our souls8 ,are not our natures to be changed1 our corruptions to be subdued1 our wills to be brought over to ,,god1 our hard hearts to be softened1 all old things to be done away1 and all things to become new in our souls8 ,is there not all this to be done8 ,and yet we have too much time upon our hands6 ,it is well1 that instead of having too much time1 it be not found that we have got too little1 when we come to die3 then we shall wish1 my brethren1 that we had made more account of our time1 that we had improved it for the glory of ,,god1 and the welfare of our immortal souls4 ,good ,,god6 how amazing is the consideration1 that many can go to church in the morning1 and take the ,sacrament1 and come home and spend the afternoon and evening in cards3 ,is this1 my brethren1 discerning the ,,lord's body8 ,is this taking the sacrament according to its institution8 ,is not this a pollution thereof1 and making the blood of the covenant an unholy thing4 ,therefore1 those of you who have made this your practice in times past1 let me beseech you1 in the bowels of mercy1 not to do so any more2 for1 indeed1 it is earthly1 it is sensual1 it is devilish4 ,consider what is said of those who eat and drink at the ,,lord's table unworthily1 that they eat and drink their own damnation3 ,and can they1 my brethren1 be said to eat and drink any otherwise1 who no sooner go from the table of the ,,lord1 but run to the diversions of the devil8 ,indeed this is exceeding sinful1 and displeasing unto the ,,lord2 then forbear those diversions which are so evil in themselves3 ,o be not found in those exercises1 and in that pleasure1 which you would not be found in when you come to die4 ,thus1 my brethren1 you see it is not a right celebration of the birth of the ,,lord ,,jesus1 to spend it in cards1 dice1 or any other diversions1 which proceed so directly from the devil1 and are destructive to all true goodness4 ,secondly1 ,they cannot be said truly to celebrate this time1 who spend their time in eating and drinking to excess4 ,this is a season when persons are apt to indulge themselves in all manner of luxury3 iniquity now abounds apace2 nothing is scarcely to be seen but things of the greatest extravagance imaginable2 not only for the necessities of the body1 but to pamper it in lust1 to feed its vices1 to make us go on in sin1 to be a means for gratifying our carnal appetite2 and this is a means to make us forget the ,,lord of glory4 ,this makes us only fit to do such drudgery1 as the devil shall set us about2 this is only preparing to run wheresoever the devil sends3 this1 instead of denying ourselves1 is indulging ourselves2 this is not1 nor cannot be called1 a celebration of the birth of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 when we are making ourselves worse than the beasts that perish4 ,i am not speaking against eating and drinking of the good things of life1 but against the eating and drinking of them to excess1 because1 thus they unqualify us for the service of ,,god2 and to our fellow-creatures they make us unsociable1 and may occasion us to be guilty of saying and acting those things1 which we should be ashamed to think of1 if we had only eat or drank with moderation4 ,therefore1 my dear brethren1 let me beseech you to set a watch over yourselves2 be careful that you do not run into that company which may tempt you to evil2 for would a man run himself into danger on purpose8 ,would a man enter himself into that company1 where1 before he goes1 he knows he shall be exposed to great temptations2 and therefore1 if you have any reason to think that the company you are going into will be a temptation1 ,i beseech you1 by the mercies of ,,god in ,,christ ,,jesus1 that you would not run into it4 ,how can you say1 8,lead us not into temptation10 when you are resolved to lead yourselves into it1 by running into the occasions of sins4 ,you are commanded to keep from the appearance of evil2 and do you do that1 by running into the place and company where it is like to be committed8 ,no1 this is so far from avoiding1 and shunning it1 that it is a plain proof to the contrary2 therefore1 if you are for observing this time1 this festival of our church1 let it not be done by running to excess2 for you plainly see1 that those who are guilty thereof1 cannot be said properly to celebrate it4 ,thirdly1 ,nor can they1 my brethren1 be said to keep1 or rightly observe the commemoration of the birth of our ,redeemer1 the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 who neglect their worldly callings to follow pleasures and diversions4 ,alas6 many1 instead of keeping this time as it ought to be1 run into sin with greediness2 instead of devoting their time to the ,,lord1 it is only devoted to the devil and their own lusts4 ,how many who thus mispend their time1 at this season1 lay by the work of their callings for a considerable time1 with no other view1 but to follow earthly1 sensual1 and devilish pleasures4 ,if they should go to hear a sermon1 or to a society1 my brethren1 the mouths of all the ,pharisees at once are open against them1 that they are not only a going to be ruined themselves1 but are going to ruin their families too2 they think it needless to make so much ado2 this is being righteous over-much2 but you may be as wicked as you please1 and they will not cry out2 however1 when you are wicked over-much1 by serving the devil and your own pleasures for a week or a month together1 then1 my brethren1 with them you are only taking a little recreation1 spending your time in innocent diversions2 no one cries out against you1 there is no outcry that you are going to be ruined4 ,again1 if you give never so small a matter among the poor people of ,,god1 for their relief1 then you are robbing your families1 then you are going to turn madmen1 and in a few days will be so methodistically mad1 that you are not fit for a polite gentleman's conversation2 but if you spend one hundred times the money in playhouses1 c4 on your lusts and pleasures1 then you are liked and esteemed as a good friend and companion2 but1 my dear brethren1 these good companions in the world's account1 are never so in the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ's4 ,you cannot serve ,,god and mammon2 you must either lose your lusts1 your pleasures1 and your delights1 or you cannot expect to find favour with ,,god2 for indeed1 and indeed1 the ways that too many follow at this time1 are sinful1 yea1 they are exceeding sinful4 ,you see they cannot be said to celebrate this holy time1 who thus mispend their precious time to the neglect of their families2 such are destroying themselves with a witness4 ,thus1 my dear brethren1 ,i have shewn you who they are who do not rightly observe this holy festival4 ,,ii4 ,i come now1 in the second place1 to shew you1 who they are who do rightly observe1 and truly celebrate the birth of our ,redeemer4 ,and ,i shall shew you who they are in two particulars1 directly opposite to the others2 and then1 my brethren1 take your choice3 you must choose the one or the other1 there is no medium1 you must either serve the ,,lord or ,baal2 and1 therefore1 my dear brethren1 let me beg of you to consider1 ,first1 ,that those spend their time aright1 and truly observe this festival1 who spend their hours in reading1 praying1 and religious conversation4 ,what can we do to employ our time to a more noble purpose1 than reading of what our dear ,redeemer has done and suffered2 to read1 that the ,king of kings1 and the ,,lord of lords1 came from his throne and took upon him the form of the meanest of his servants2 and what great things he underwent4 ,this1 this is an history worth reading1 this is worth employing our time about3 and surely1 when we read of the sufferings of our ,saviour1 it should excite us to prayer1 that we might have an interest in the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ2 that the blood which he spilt upon mount ,calvary1 and his death and crucifixion1 might make an atonement for our sins1 that we might be made holy2 that we might be enabled to put off the old man with his deeds1 and put on the new man1 even the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ2 that we may throw away the heavy yoke of sin1 and put on the yoke of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,indeed1 my brethren1 these things call for prayer1 and for earnest prayer too2 and ,o do be earnest with ,,god1 that you may have an interest in this ,redeemer1 and that you may put on his righteousness1 so that you may not come before him in your filthy rags1 nor be found not having on the wedding garment4 ,o do not1 ,i beseech you1 trust unto yourselves for justification2 you cannot1 indeed1 you cannot be justified by the works of the law4 ,i intreat that your time may be thus spent2 and if you are in company1 let your time be spent in that conversation which profiteth3 let it not be about your dressing1 your plays1 your profits1 or your worldly concerns1 but let it be the wonders of redeeming love3 ,o tell1 tell to each other1 what great things the ,,lord has done for your souls2 declare unto one another1 how you were delivered from the hands of your common enemy1 ,satan1 and how the ,,lord has brought your feet from the clay1 and has set them upon the rock of ages1 the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ2 there1 my brethren1 is no slipping2 other conversation1 by often repeating1 you become fully acquainted with1 but of ,,christ there is always something new to raise your thoughts2 you can never want matter when the love of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ is the subject3 then let ,,jesus be the subject1 my brethren1 of all your conversation4 8thnigs0 replaced with 8things0 ,let your time be spent on him3 ,o this1 this is an employ1 which if you belong to ,,jesus1 will last you to all eternity4 ,let others enjoy their cards1 their dice1 and gaming hours2 do you1 my brethren1 let your time be spent in reading1 praying1 and religious conversation4 ,which will stand the trial best at the last day8 which do you think will bring most comfort1 most peace1 in a dying hour8 ,o live and spend your time now1 as you will wish to have done1 when you come to die4 ,secondly1 ,let the good things of life1 you enjoy1 be used with moderation4 ,i am not1 as the scoffers of this day tell you1 against eating and drinking the good things of life2 no1 my brethren1 ,i am only against their being used to an excess2 therefore1 let me beseech you to avoid those great indiscretions1 those sinful actions1 which will give the enemies of ,,god room to blaspheme4 ,let me beseech you1 to have a regard1 a particular regard to your behaviour1 at this time2 for indeed the eyes of all are upon you1 and they would rejoice much to find any reason to complain of you4 ,they can say things against us without a cause2 and how would they rejoice if there was wherewith they might blame us8 ,then they would triumph and rejoice indeed2 and all your little slips1 my dear brethren1 are1 and would be charged upon me4 ,o at this time1 when the eyes of so many are upon you1 be upon your guard2 and if you use the good things of this life with moderation1 you do then celebrate this festival in the manner which the institution calls for4 ,and instead of running into excess1 let that money1 which you might expend to pamper your own bodies1 be given to feed the poor2 now1 my brethren1 is the season1 in which they commonly require relief2 and sure you cannot act more agreeable1 either to the season1 to the time1 or for the glory of ,,god1 than in relieving his poor distressed servants4 ,therefore1 if any of you have poor friends1 or acquaintance1 who are in distress1 ,i beseech you to assist them2 and not only those of your acquaintance1 but the poor in general4 ,o my dear brethren1 that will turn to a better account another day1 than all you have expended to please the lust of the flesh1 the lust of the eye1 or the pride of life4 ,consider1 ,,christ was always willing to relieve the distressed2 it is his command also2 and can you better commemorate the birth of your king1 your ,saviour1 the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 than in obeying one of his commands8 ,do not1 my dear brethren1 be forgetful of the poor of this world2 consider1 if providence has smiled upon you1 and blessed you with abundance of the things of this life1 ,,god calls for some returns of gratitude from you3 be ye mindful of the poor1 and when you are so1 then you may be said to have a true regard for that time which is now approaching2 if you would truly observe this festival1 let it be done with moderation1 and a regard to the poor of this world4 ,thirdly1 ,let me beg of you not to alienate too much of your time from the worldly business of this life1 but have a proper regard thereunto1 and then you may be said rightly to observe this festival4 ,,god allows none to be idle3 in all ages business was commended2 and therefore do not think that any season will excuse us in our callings3 we are not1 my brethren1 to labour for the things of this life inordinately1 but we are to labour for them with all moderation3 we are not to neglect our callings2 no1 we are to regard those places and stations of life1 which ,,god in his providence has thought convenient for us2 and therefore1 when you neglect your business to the hurt of your families1 whatever pretence you thereby make for so doing1 you are guilty of sin2 you are not acting according to the doctrine of the gospel1 but are breaking the commands of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 both according to his word1 and to his own practice4 ,at this festival1 persons are apt to take a little more liberty than usual2 and if that time from our vocations is not prejudicial to ourselves or families1 and is spent in the service of ,,god1 and the good of immortal souls1 then ,i do not think it sinful2 but there is too much reason to fear1 that the time is spent upon our own lusts1 and then it is exceeding sinful1 it is against our own souls1 and it is against the good of our families1 and instead of commemorating the birth of our dear ,redeemer1 we are dishonouring him in the greatest degree possibly we can4 ,therefore1 enquire strictly into your end and design in spending your time2 see1 my brethren1 whether it proceeds from a true love to your ,redeemer1 or whether there is not some worldly pleasure or advantage at the bottom3 if there is1 our end is not right2 but if it proceed intirely from love to him that died1 and gave himself for us1 our actions will be a proof thereof2 then our time will be spent1 not in the polite pleasures of life1 but according to the doctrines and commands of the blessed ,,jesus2 then our conversation will be in heaven3 and ,o that this might be found to be the end of each of you1 who now hear me2 then we should truly observe this festival1 and have a true regard to the occasion thereof1 that of ,,christ's coming to redeem the souls of those which were lost4 ,let me now conclude1 my dear brethren1 with a few words of exhortation1 beseeching you to think of the love of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,did ,,jesus come into the world to save us from death1 and shall we spend no part of our time in conversing about our dear ,,jesus2 shall we pay no regard to the birth of him1 who came to redeem us from the worst of slavery1 from that of sin1 and the devil2 and shall this ,,jesus not only be born on our account1 but likewise die in our stead1 and yet shall we be unmindful of him8 ,shall we spend our time in those things which are offensive to him8 ,shall we not rather do all we can to promote his glory1 and act according to his commands8 ,o my dear brethren1 be found in the ways of ,,god2 let us not disturb our dear ,redeemer by any irregular proceedings2 and let me beseech you to strive to love1 fear1 honour and obey him1 more than ever you have done yet2 let not the devil engross your time1 and that dear ,saviour who came into the world on your accounts1 have so little4 ,o be not so ungrateful to him who has been so kind to you2 ,what could the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ have done for you more than he has8 ,then do not abuse his mercy1 but let your time be spent in thinking and talking of the love of ,,jesus1 who was incarnate for us1 who was born of a woman1 and made under the law1 to redeem us from the wrath to come4 ,now to ,,god the ,father1 ,,god the ,son1 c4 ,,sermon ,,xvii4 ,the ,temptation of ,,christ4 ,,matthew iv4 #aaa4 ,then was ,,jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness1 to be tempted of the devil4 ,and when he had fasted forty days and forty nights1 he was afterwards an hungered4 ,and when the tempter came to him1 he said1 ,if thou be the ,son of ,,god1 command that these stones may be made bread4 ,but he answered and said1 ,it is written1 ,man shall not live by bread alone1 but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of ,,god4 ,then the devil taketh him up into the holy city1 and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple1 and saith unto him1 ,if thou be the ,son of ,,god1 cast thyself down3 for it is written1 ,he shall give his angels charge concerning thee1 and in their hands they shall bear thee up1 lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone4 ,,jesus said unto him1 ,it is written again1 ,thou shalt not tempt the ,,lord thy ,,god4 ,again1 the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain1 and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world1 and the glory of them3 and saith unto him1 ,all these things will ,i give thee1 if thou wilt fall down and worship me4 ,then saith ,,jesus unto him1 ,get thee hence1 ,satan3 for it is written1 ,thou shalt worship the ,,lord thy ,,god1 and him only shalt thou serve4 ,then the devil leaveth him1 and behold1 angels came and ministered unto him4 ,,dearly beloved1 to-day you are invited to take a walk into the wilderness1 to behold1 sympathize with1 and get instruction and comfort from a ,saviour tempted4 ,in the conflict1 he approves himself to be ,,god's beloved ,son2 and the ,father gives demonstrable evidence1 that with1 and in him1 he is indeed well pleased4 ,let us with serious attention consider1 when1 where1 and how1 our great ,michael fought with and overcame the dragon4 ,the ,evangelist ,matthew is very particular in relating the preparations for1 the beginning1 process1 and issue of this glorious and important combat4 8,then was ,,jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness1 to be tempted of the devil40 ,in the close of the foregoing chapter we are told1 that the blessed ,,jesus had been publicly baptized1 and was also solemnly inaugurated to his mediatorial office1 by the opening of the heavens1 by the ,spirit of ,,god descending on him like a dove1 and by a voice from heaven1 saying1 8,this is my beloved ,son1 in whom ,i am well-pleased20 and then it was1 when he came from the solemn ordinance of baptism2 when he was about to shew himself openly unto ,israel2 when he was full of the ,holy ,ghost 7,luke iv4 #a472 even then was he led1 with a holy unconstrained violence1 as a champion into the field1 to engage an enemy1 whom he was sure to conquer4 ,but whither is this conqueror led8 ,into a lonesome1 wide1 howling wilderness3 probably1 says ,mr4 ,henry1 into the great wilderness of ,sinai2 a wilderness1 not only lonesome1 but inhabited by wild beasts4 ,mark i4 #ac4 ,hither was our ,,lord led1 not only that he might prepare himself by retirement and prayer1 but also that he might be alone1 and thereby give ,satan all the advantages he could desire4 ,in this combat1 as well as that of his last agony1 8of the people1 there was to be none with him40 ,neither does he content himself with praying1 but he fasts also1 and that 8forty days and forty nights10 7verse #b473 as ,moses and ,elias had done1 many years before1 it may be1 in the very same place4 ,all these fasts were miraculous2 and therefore1 though we are taught hereby1 that fasting is a christian duty1 yet1 to pretend1 in an ordinary way1 to imitate them1 by fasting for so long a term together1 is no doubt superstitious1 presumptuous1 and sinful3 but few people1 ,i believe1 need such a caution4 ,during these forty days1 we may suppose1 our ,,lord felt no hunger3 converse with heaven1 to him was instead of meat and drink2 but 8afterwards he was an hungered20 exceedingly so1 no doubt4 ,and now1 the important fight begins4 ,for1 then 8the tempter10 emphatically so called1 because he first tempted our first parents to sin1 and hath ever since been unwearied in tempting their descendants2 then the tempter1 who in an invisible manner had been attacking our blessed ,,lord all the whole forty days1 when he saw him hungering1 and in such distressing circumstances1 came to him1 as it should seem1 in a visible shape1 and probably transformed into the appearance of an angel of light4 ,and what does he tempt him to8 ,to nothing less1 than to doubt of his being the ,son of ,,god4 8,if thou be the ,son of ,,god40 ,what6 put an if to this1 ,satan1 after the glorious ,,jesus had been proved to be ,,god's son1 and repeatedly too in such a glorious manner8 ,surely1 thou thyself couldst not but see the heavens opened1 and the ,spirit descending2 surely1 thou didst hear the voice that came to him from heaven1 immediately after his baptism1 saying1 8,this is my beloved ,son30 ,and dost thou now say unto him1 8,if thou be the ,son of ,,god40 ,yes2 but ,satan knew1 and believed he was full well2 but he wanted to make our ,,lord to doubt of it4 ,and why8 ,because he was in such a melancholy situation4 ,as though he had said1 8,if ,,god was thy father1 he would never suffer thee to starve to death in a howling wilderness1 among wild beasts4 ,surely1 the voice thou lately didst hear1 was only a delusion4 ,if thou wast the ,son of ,,god1 especially his beloved ,son1 in whom he was so pleased1 thou wouldst be taken more care of by him40 ,thus he attacked our first parents1 by suggesting to them hard thoughts of their all-bountiful ,creator3 8,yea1 hath ,,god said1 ,ye shall not eat of every tree in the garden80 8,hath he placed you amidst such a variety of delicious fruits1 only to teaze and make you miserable80 ,and how artfully now does he labour to insinuate himself into our ,,lord's affections1 as he then did to ingratiate himself with our first parents4 8,if thou be the ,son of ,,god1 says he1 come1 prove it1 by commanding these stones 7a heap of which1 probably1 lay very near7 to be made bread3 this will demonstrate thy divinity1 and relieve thy pressing necessity at the same time40 ,thus1 as in all his other temptations1 ,satan would fain appear to be his very kind friend2 but the holy ,,jesus saw through the disguised enmity of his antagonist2 and scorning either to distrust his righteous ,father on the one hand1 or to work a miracle to please and gratify the devil on the other1 although he had the ,spirit of ,,god without measure1 and might have made use of a thousand other ways1 yet answers him with a text of scripture3 8,it is written1 that man shall not live by bread alone1 but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of ,,god40 ,this is a quotation from ,deuteronomy viii4 #c1 and contains a reason given by the great ,,god1 why he chose to feed the ,israelites with manna2 that they might learn thereby1 man doth not live by bread alone1 but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of ,,god4 ,this our blessed ,,lord here applies to himself2 and his being in the wilderness1 made the application of it still more pertinent4 ,israel was ,,god's son3 out of ,egypt was he called to sojourn in the wilderness1 where he was miraculously supported4 ,and therefore our ,,lord1 knowing that he was typified by this ,israel1 and that1 like them1 he was now in a wilderness1 quotes this scripture as a reason why he should not1 at ,satan's suggestion1 either despair of receiving help from his ,father in his present circumstances1 or distrust the validity of his late manifestations1 or make use of any unwarrantable means for his present relief4 ,for as ,,god was his father1 he would1 therefore1 either in an ordinary way spread a table for him in the wilderness1 or support and sustain him1 as he did his ,israel of old1 in some extraordinary way or other without it3 8,for man shall not live by bread alone1 but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of ,,god40 ,thus is the tempter foiled in the first onset2 but he hath other arrows in his quiver1 with which he will farther strive to wound the immaculate ,lamb of ,,god4 ,since he cannot draw him in either to distrust1 or despair1 he will now try if he cannot prevail on him to presume4 ,in order to effect this1 8,he taketh the blessed ,,jesus up into the ,holy ,city10 or ,jerusalem1 called by our ,saviour1 the city of the ,great ,king1 and here called holy1 because the holy temple was in it1 and1 we would hope1 many holy people4 ,this was a populous place1 and therefore1 would greatly befriend the devil's design4 ,and not only so1 but 8he setteth him on a pinnacle10 a battlement or wing1 8of the temple10 the top of which was so very high1 that1 as ,josephus observes1 it would make a man's head run giddy to look down from it4 ,and some think this was done at the time of public worship4 ,how the holy ,,jesus suffered himself to be taken hither2 whether he was transported through the air1 or whether he followed ,satan on foot1 is uncertain2 but certainly it was an instance of amazing condescension in our ,,lord1 that he should permit so foul a fiend1 to carry or lead his holy body about in this manner4 ,well6 ,satan hath now gotten him upon the pinnacle of the temple1 and still harping upon his old string1 8,if thou be the ,son of ,,god1 7says he7 cast thyself down10 and thereby shew to this large worshipping assembly1 7who will assuredly then believe7 that thou art ,,god's beloved ,son1 under the special protection of heaven1 and art that ,messiah1 8who was to come into the world40 ,this was artful1 very artful4 ,but he seems to improve in cunning3 for he brings his ,bible with him1 and backs his temptation with a text of scripture2 8,for it is written1 7says he7 he shall give his angels charge concerning thee1 and in their hands they shall bear thee up1 lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone40 ,but is ,saul also among the prophets8 ,does the devil quote scripture1 yea1 and seemingly such a very apposite one too8 ,i suspect some design1 without doubt3 for herein1 he would mimic our ,,lord1 who1 he perceived1 intended to fight him with this weapon2 and not liking the sharp edge of it1 he thought that if he quoted scripture1 the ,,lord ,,jesus would not employ it against him any more4 8,it is written1 7therefore said he7 he shall give his angels charge concerning thee1 and in their hands they shall bear thee up1 lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone3 and therefore1 since thou art sure of such protection1 thou needst not fear to cast thyself down40 ,this was plausible1 and by the length of it1 one would be apt to imagine1 it was a fair quotation2 but ,satan takes care1 not only to misapply1 but also to maim it1 purposely omitting these important words1 8in all thy ways40 ,it is true1 ,,god had given charge to his angels1 concerning his children in general1 and his beloved ,son in particular1 that they should keep him in all his ways2 but1 if our ,,lord had at this time1 at the devil's request1 and to gratify pride1 thrown himself down from the pinnacle1 and thereby unnecessarily presumed on his ,father's protection1 he would not have been in ,,god's way1 and therefore1 would have had no right to the promised protection at all4 ,satan was aware of this1 and therefore slily left out what he knew would not suit his purpose4 ,but is scripture the worse1 for being abused or perverted by the devil1 or his emissaries8 ,no1 in no wise4 ,our ,,lord1 therefore1 lets him know1 that he should not throw aside this important weapon upon this account1 but puts by this home thrust1 with another scripture3 8,it is written again1 ,thou shalt not tempt the ,,lord thy ,,god40 ,still our ,,lord quotes something out of the book of ,deuteronomy1 and hath his eye upon ,israel in his wilderness state4 ,originally these words were directed to the ,israelites in general1 and accordingly are in the plural number2 but here our ,,lord1 as before1 makes a particular application of them to himself3 ,satan bids him cast himself down1 assuring him1 ,,god had promised in his word1 to order his angels to take care of him3 ,now1 says our ,,lord1 8,it is written in another part of his word1 that the ,israelites should not tempt the ,,lord their ,,god1 by distrusting his goodness on the one hand1 or presuming on his protection on the other3 ,and1 therefore1 as ,i would not command the stones to be made bread1 needlessly and distrustfully set up to provide for myself2 neither will ,i now presume unnecessarily upon ,,god's power1 by casting myself down1 though placed by thee in such a dangerous situation40 ,thus our great ,michael comes off conqueror in the second assault4 ,and doth not the serpent feel his head bruised enough yet8 ,not at all3 on the contrary1 being more and more enraged at such unusual opposition1 and want of success1 8,he again taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain1 7what mountain is not very material7 and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world1 and the glory of them10 ,st4 ,luke adds1 8in a moment of time30 which confirms the common conjecture1 that ,satan did not shew our ,,lord really the kingdoms of the world1 7for that must have taken up more time7 but only took him up into an exceeding high mountain to humour the thing1 and by exerting his utmost art1 impressed on our ,,lord's imagination all at once1 a very strong1 and to any but innocence itself1 a very striking prospect of the kingdoms of the world1 and the glory of them2 not the cares3 that would not serve ,satan's turn4 ,he shewed our ,saviour crowns1 but never told him1 those crowns were gilded with thorns2 8,he shewed him1 7says ,mr4 ,henry1 my favourite commentator7 as in a landscape1 or airy representation in a cloud1 such as that great deceiver could easily frame and put together1 the glorious and splendid appearance of princes1 their robes and retinue1 their equipage and life-guards2 the pomps of thrones and courts1 and stately palaces2 the sumptuous buildings in cities2 the gardens and fields about the country seats1 with the various instances of their wealth1 pleasure1 and gaiety2 so as might be most likely to strike the fancy1 and excite the admiration and affection4 ,such was this shew40 ,our ,saviour very well knew it1 only lets ,satan go to the full length of his string1 that his victory over him might be the more illustrious4 ,and now1 says the devil1 8,all these things 7a mighty all indeed2 a mere imaginary bubble67 will ,i give thee1 if thou wilt fall down and worship me40 ,he would fain have it taken for granted1 that he had succeeded in the two preceding temptations3 8,come1 thou seest thou art not the ,son of ,,god1 or if thou art1 thou seest what an unkind ,father he is2 thou art here in a starving condition1 therefore take my advice1 disown thy relation to him1 set up for thyself1 call me father1 ask of me blessings1 and all these will ,i give thee2 while all that ,i desire in return1 is but a bow1 only fall down and worship me40 ,here ,satan discovers himself with a witness3 this was a desperate parting stroke1 indeed4 ,it is now high time for thee1 ,o thou enemy of souls1 to be commanded to depart6 ,filled with a holy resentment at such hellish treatment1 and impatient of the very thought of setting up for himself1 or alienating the least part of his heart and affections from his ,father1 or dividing them between his ,,god and the world2 8,then said ,,jesus unto him1 ,get thee hence1 ,satan1 7,i know thee who thou art1 under all thy disguises7 get thee hence1 thou grand adversary3 for it is written1 ,thou shalt worship the ,,lord thy ,,god1 and him only shalt thou serve3 this is the great commandment of the law2 this is the commandment my ,father gave unto his ,israel of old1 and wouldst thou have me1 who came to fulfil the law and the prophets1 thus shamefully be a transgressor of it8 ,get thee hence1 ,i will bear thy insolence no longer3 thy other temptations were hellish1 like thyself1 but this intolerably so3 get thee therefore hence1 ,satan3 my heavenly ,father is the ,,lord my ,,god1 and him only will ,i serve40 ,and now the battle is over3 the important combat is ended3 ,,jesus hath won the field3 ,satan is routed and totally put to flight4 8,then10 when the devil found that ,,jesus could withstand even the golden bait1 the lust of the eye and pride of life1 in the two last1 as well as the lust of the flesh in the first temptation1 despairing of the least success1 and quite stunned with that all-powerful ,get thee hence1 ,satan1 8he leaveth him40 ,hell1 we may well suppose1 like the ,philistines of old1 was confounded1 and gave a horrible groan1 when they saw their great ,goliah1 in whom they had so long trusted1 thus shamefully and totally defeated in no less than three pitched battles4 ,the first ,adam was attacked but once1 and was conquered2 but the second ,adam1 though thus repeatedly assaulted1 comes off without the least sin1 not only conqueror1 but more than conqueror4 ,think you not1 that there was joy1 joy unspeakable in heaven1 upon this glorious occasion8 ,think you not that the angels1 those sons of ,,god1 and the multitude of the heavenly host1 who shouted so loud at our ,,lord's birth1 did not repeat1 if possible1 with yet greater extasy1 that heavenly anthem1 8,glory be to ,,god in the highest40 ,for a while they were only spectators1 orders1 we may suppose1 being issued out1 that they should only wait around1 but not relieve their praying1 fasting1 tempted ,,lord2 but now the restraint is removed3 ,satan departs1 and 8behold1 angels came and ministered unto him20 they came to administer to his bodily necessities1 and to congratulate him upon the glorious and compleat victory which he had gained3 some of them1 it may be1 had done this kind office for ,elijah long ago2 and with unspeakably greater joy1 they repeat it to the ,,lord of ,elijah now4 ,his ,father sends him bread from heaven2 and by this lets him know1 that notwithstanding the horrid temptations with which he had been attacked1 he is his own beloved son1 in and with whom he was well pleased4 ,and was there joy in heaven on this happy occasion8 ,what equal1 and if possible1 what infinitely greater joy ought there to be among the children of ,,god here on earth8 ,for we should do well to remember1 that our blessed ,,lord in this great fight with1 and conquest over the dragon1 acted as a public person1 as a fderal head of his mystical body the church1 even the common representative of all believers4 ,we may therefore from this blessed passage gather strong consolations2 since by our ,,lord's conquest over ,satan1 we are thereby assured of our own1 and in the mean while can apply to him as a compassionate ,high-,priest1 who was in all things tempted as we are1 that he might experimentally be enabled to succour us when we are tempted4 ,who1 who after hearing of or reading this1 can think themselves hardly used1 or utterly cast off by ,,god1 because they are tempted to self-murder1 blasphemy1 or any other horrid and shocking crimes8 ,who can wonder at wave being permitted to come upon wave1 and one trial to follow upon the back of another8 ,who can admire1 that ,satan follows them to holy ordinances1 and tempts them to doubt of the reality of all their manifestations1 and of their being ,,god's children1 even after they have enjoyed the most intimate and delightful communion with their heavenly ,father8 ,was not our ,,lord treated thus8 ,and 8shall the servant be above his ,lord1 or the disciple above his ,master80 ,no1 it is sufficient that the servant be as his ,lord1 and the disciple as his ,master4 ,but not to dwell on a general improvement1 let us see what particular lessons may be learned from this affecting portion of holy writ4 ,and ,first1 was our ,,lord thus violently beset in the wilderness8 then we may learn1 that however profitable solitude and retirement may be1 when used in due season1 yet when carried to an extreme is hurtful1 and rather befriends than prevents temptation4 ,woe be to him that is thus always alone2 for he hath not another to lift him up when he falleth1 or to advise with when he is tempted4 ,as a hermit in ,america once told me1 when ,i asked him whether he found that way of life lessened his temptations2 8,dost not thou know1 friend1 7said he7 that a tree which grows by itself1 is more exposed to winds and storms than another that stands surrounded with other trees in the woods80 ,our ,,lord knew this1 and therefore he was led by the ,spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil4 ,,lord1 keep us from leading ourselves into this temptation1 and succour and support us whenever led by thy providence into it6 ,then1 and then only1 shall we be safe amidst the fiery darts of the grand enemy of our souls4 ,secondly1 ,did our ,,lord by prayer1 fasting1 and temptation1 prepare himself for his public ministry8 ,surely then1 all those who profess to be inwardly moved by the ,holy ,ghost to take upon them the office and administration of the church1 should be prepared in the same manner4 ,for though the knowledge of books and men1 are good in their places1 yet without a knowledge of ,satan's devices be superadded1 a minister will be only like a physician1 that undertakes to prescribe to sick people1 without having studied the nature of herbs4 ,and hence1 it is to be feared1 many heavy laden and afflicted souls have been sent by certain ministers1 to surgeons1 to be blooded in the arm1 instead of being directed to apply to the blood of ,,christ to cleanse their hearts4 ,hence1 conviction is looked upon as a delirium1 and violent temptations censured as downright madness4 ,hence1 souls that are truly and earnestly repenting of their sins1 and as earnestly seeking after rest in ,,christ1 have been directed to plays1 novels1 romances1 and merry company1 to divert them from being righteous over-much4 ,miserable comforters are such blind guides6 ,surely1 they deserve no better titles than that of murderers of souls6 ,they go not into the kingdom of heaven themselves1 and those who are entering in they would by this means hinder4 ,go not after them1 all ye young men who would be able ministers of the ,new ,testament2 but on the contrary1 if you would be useful in binding up the broken hearted1 and pouring the oil of consolation into wounded souls1 prepare yourselves for manifold temptations4 ,for as ,luther says1 8prayer and meditation1 reading and temptation1 make a minister40 ,if now exercised with spiritual conflicts1 be not disheartened1 it is a good sign that our ,,lord intends to make use of you4 ,being thus tempted like unto your brethren1 you will be the better enabled to succour and advise those who shall apply to you under their temptations4 ,what says the apostle ,paul8 8,if we are afflicted1 it is for your sake40 ,and if you are afflicted1 it is only that you may save your own souls1 and help to save the souls of those who shall be committed to your charge4 ,be strong therefore in the grace which is in ,,christ ,,jesus1 and learn to endure hardness1 like good soldiers1 that are hereafter to instruct others how they must fight the good fight of faith4 ,thirdly1 ,did the tempter come to ,,christ when he saw him an hungered8 ,let those of you that are reduced to a low estate1 from hence learn1 that an hour of poverty is an hour of temptation1 not only to murmuring and doubting of our sonship and the divine favour1 but also to help ourselves by unlawful means4 8,if thou be the ,son of ,,god1 said ,satan1 command that these stones may be made bread40 ,this is what ,agur dreaded1 8lest ,i be poor and steal40 ,learn1 ye godly poor1 to be upon your guard1 and remember that poverty and temptations are no marks of your being cast off by ,,god4 ,your ,,lord was an hungered2 your ,,lord was tempted on this account to doubt his sonship1 before you4 ,learn of him not to distrust1 but rather to trust in your heavenly ,father4 ,angels came and ministered unto ,,christ2 and he who is ,,lord of the angels1 will send some kind messenger or another to relieve your wants4 ,your extremity shall be the ,redeemer's opportunity to help you4 ,make your wants known unto him1 he careth for you4 ,though in a desart1 though no visible means appear at present1 yet you shall in ,,god's due time find a table spread for you and yours2 8,for man doth not live by bread alone1 but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of ,,god40 ,and may not such among you1 who are exalted1 as well as those who are brought low1 from ,satan's taking the ,,lord ,,jesus1 and placing him upon a pinnacle of the temple1 learn also a lesson of holy watchfulness and caution4 ,high places are slippery places1 and are apt to make even the strongest heads and most devout hearts to turn giddy4 ,how necessary therefore is that excellent petition in our ,litany1 8in all time of our wealth1 7as well as in all time of our tribulation7 good ,,lord deliver us60 ,agreeably to this1 ,agur prays as much against riches as poverty2 if he was poor1 he feared he should be tempted to steal1 if rich1 that he should trust in uncertain riches1 and say1 who is the ,,lord8 ,i charge1 therefore1 all of you1 who are rich and high in this world1 to watch and pray1 lest ye fall by ,satan's temptation4 ,those especially of you1 that are placed as on the pinnacle of the temple1 exalted above your fellows in the church of ,,god1 take heed in an especial manner unto yourselves1 lest by spiritual pride1 vanity1 or any other sin that doth most easily beset persons in such eminent stations1 ye cast yourselves down4 ,this is what ,satan aims at4 ,he strives to make us destroyers of ourselves4 ,and he hath a particular enmity against such as you2 he knows1 that your name is ,legion2 and that if you cast yourselves down1 he shall gain a great advantage over many others2 you cannot fall alone4 ,o that it may be said of us1 as the papists used to say of ,luther1 8,that ,german beast doth not love gold40 ,may the fire of divine love burn up all the love of this present evil world1 and pride of life1 out of your hearts6 ,this1 ,satan reserved for his last1 as thinking it was the most powerful and prevailing temptation1 8,he took our ,,lord up into an exceeding high mountain1 and shewed him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them40 ,he cares not how high he exalts us1 or how high he is obliged to bid1 so he can but get our hearts divided between ,,god and the world4 ,all this will he offer to give us1 if we will only fall down and worship him4 ,arm us1 dear ,,lord ,,jesus1 with thy ,spirit1 and help us under all such circumstances1 to learn of thee1 and say unto the tempter1 8,get thee hence1 ,satan2 for it is written1 thou shalt worship the ,,lord thy ,,god1 and him only shalt thou serve40 ,fourthly1 ,whether beset with this or any other temptation1 let all of us learn of our ,,lord to fight the devil with the sword of the ,spirit1 which is the word of ,,god4 ,though he had the ,spirit without measure1 yet he always made use of this4 ,we may say of it1 as ,david did of ,goliah's sword1 8none like this10 none like this4 ,and supposing ,satan should be permitted to transform himself into an angel of light1 and by false impressions1 and delusive applications of misquoted texts1 attempt to turn this weapon upon us against ourselves2 let us not therefore be prevailed on to let go1 but by comparing spiritual things with spiritual1 as our ,,lord did1 find out ,,god's mind and our duty4 ,had ,,christ's children and ministers only observed this one lesson1 how much strange fire would quickly have been extinguished8 how much real enthusiasm been easily stopped8 how many imaginary revelations have been detected8 how many triumphs of ,satan and his emissaries been prevented8 and how much more would the comforts of ,,christ's people and ministers been continued and increased1 not only in this present1 but also in every age of the christian church8 ,but let us not be discouraged or think worse of ,,christ1 his cause1 or his word1 because through ,satan's subtlety1 any of us1 or others1 may have been drawn in to make some wrong applications of it2 others have been thus tempted and mistaken before us4 ,however1 let us be humbled before ,,god and man1 and be excited by our past ignorance of ,satan's devices1 to adhere more closely to the written word1 and to pray more earnestly for ,,god's holy ,spirit to give us direction by it4 8,then will it still be a lanthorn unto our feet1 and a light unto our paths20 we shall yet be enabled to behave more skilfully under all our future trials4 ,many we must yet expect2 nay1 perhaps our severest temptations are yet to come2 ,satan left our ,,lord1 after his attacking him in the wilderness1 8only for a season10 as ,st4 ,luke has it1 until the season of his death and passion4 ,and thus he may be permitted to deal with us4 ,we are not yet come to our compleat rest2 the ,king of terrors is yet to be grappled with1 and the valley of the shadow of death to be passed through2 long before that1 we may be called to endure many a fiery trial1 and be beset with manifold temptations1 under which we may be as ignorant how to behave1 as under those with which we have already been visited4 ,alas6 we know not what remaining corruptions are in our hearts1 which time and temptation may draw out and discover4 ,perhaps ,satan hath not yet attacked us on our weakest side2 when he does1 if left to ourselves1 how weak shall we be8 ,it is said of ,achilles1 that he was invulnerable1 except in the heel1 and by a wound in that1 at last he died4 8,let not him1 therefore1 that putteth on the harness1 boast as though he had put it off40 ,neither1 on the other hand1 let us be faint-hearted or dismayed4 ,satan may tempt1 but cannot force2 he may sift1 but ,,christ will pray4 ,he who hath helped us already1 will help us to the end4 ,he who conquered for us in the wilderness1 will ere long make us also more than conquerors over all trials and temptations1 inward and outward1 and over death and hell itself1 through his almighty1 everlasting1 and never-failing love4 ,we now sow in tears2 in a very little time1 and we shall reap with joy3 we may now go on our way weeping1 by reason of the enemy oppressing us2 but1 ere long1 angels shall be sent1 not to minister to us in this wilderness1 but to carry us to an heavenly ,canaan1 even to ,abraham's bosom4 ,then shall we see this accuser and tempter of our ,,lord1 of our brethren1 and of ourselves1 cast out3 this wicked one1 as well as the wicked world1 and wicked heart1 will no more be permitted to vex1 disturb or annoy us4 8,but woe unto you that laugh now2 for you shall then lament and weep40 ,woe unto you1 who either believe there is no devil1 or never felt any of his temptations4 ,woe unto you that are at ease in ,zion1 and instead of staying to be tempted by the devil1 by idleness1 self-indulgence1 and making continual provision for the flesh1 even tempt the devil to tempt you4 ,woe unto you1 who not content with sinning yourselves1 turn factors for hell1 and make a trade of tempting others to sin4 ,woe unto you1 who either deny divine revelation1 or never make use of it but to serve a bad turn4 ,woe unto you who sell your consciences1 and pawn your souls for a little worldly wealth or honour4 ,woe unto you who climb up to high places1 when in church or state1 by corruption1 bribery1 extortion1 cringing1 flattery1 or bowing down to1 and soothing the vices of those by whom you expect to rise4 ,woe unto you6 for whether you will own the relation or not1 surely you are of your father the devil2 for the works of your father you will do2 ,i tremble for you4 ,how can you escape the damnation of hell4 ,but ,i have not time to follow such as you any farther4 ,this discourse1 and the present frame of my mind1 lead me rather to speak to those1 who by feeling ,satan's fiery darts1 know assuredly that there is a devil4 ,comfort thou1 comfort thou1 these afflicted ones1 ,o ,,lord4 ,o thou all-merciful and all-bountiful ,,god1 and thou compassionate ,high-,priest1 thou once tempted1 but now triumphant ,saviour1 as thou once didst not disdain to be ministered unto by angels1 bless we pray thee this discourse1 to the support and strengthening of thy tempted people1 though delivered by the meanest messenger thou didst ever yet employ in thy church6 ,i add no more4 ,the ,,lord bless you and keep you6 ,the ,,lord lift up the light of his countenance1 stablish1 strengthen1 and settle you1 and bring you to his eternal kingdom6 ,,sermon ,,xviii4 ,the ,heinous ,sin of ,profane ,cursing and ,swearing4 ,,matthew v4 #cd4 ,but ,i say unto you1 ,swear not at all4 ,,among the many heinous sins for which this nation is grown infamous1 perhaps there is no one more crying1 but withal more common1 than the abominable custom of profane swearing and cursing4 ,our streets abound with persons of all degrees and qualities1 who are continually provoking the holy one of ,israel to anger1 by their detestable oaths and blasphemies3 and our very children1 8out of whose mouths10 the psalmist observes in his days1 8was perfected praise10 are now grown remarkable for the quite opposite ill quality of cursing and swearing4 ,this cannot but be a melancholy prospect1 for every sincere and honest minister of ,,jesus ,,christ1 to view his fellow-creatures in2 and such as will put him on contriving some means to prevent the spreading at least of so growing an evil2 knowing that the ,,lord 7without repentance7 will assuredly visit for these things4 ,but alas6 what can he do8 ,public animadversions are so neglected amongst us1 that we seldom find a common swearer punished as the laws direct4 ,and as for private admonition1 men are now so hardened through the deceitfulness of sin1 that to give them sober and pious advice1 and to shew them the evil of their doings1 is but like 8casting pearls before swine2 they only turn again and rend you40 ,since matters then are come to this pass1 all that we can do is1 that as we are appointed watchmen and ambassadors of the ,,lord1 it is our duty from time to time to shew the people their transgression1 and warn them of their sin2 so that whether they will hear1 or whether they will forbear1 we however may deliver our own souls4 ,that ,i therefore may discharge my duty in this particular1 give me leave1 in the name of ,,god1 humbly to offer to your most serious consideration1 some few observations on the words of the text1 in order to shew the heinousness of profane cursing and swearing4 ,but1 before ,i proceed directly to the prosecution of this point1 it will be proper to clear this precept of our ,,lord from a misrepresentation that has been put on it by some1 who infer from hence1 that our ,saviour prohibits swearing before a magistrate1 when required on a solemn and proper occasion4 ,but that all swearing is not absolutely unlawful for a christian1 is evident from the writings of ,st4 ,paul1 whom we often find upon some solemn occasions using several forms of imprecation1 as1 8,i call ,,god to witness20 8,,god is my judge20 8,by your rejoicing in ,,christ ,,jesus10 and such like4 ,and that our ,saviour does by no means forbid swearing before a magistrate1 in the words now before us1 is plain1 if we consider the scope and design he had in view1 when he gave his disciples this command4 ,permit me to observe to you then1 that our blessed master had set himself1 from the #bgth verse of the chapter1 out of which the text is taken1 to vindicate and clear the moral law from the corrupt glosses and misconstruction of the ,pharisees1 who then sat in ,moses's chair1 but were notoriously faulty in adhering too closely to the literal expression of the law1 without ever considering the due extent and spiritual meaning of it4 ,accordingly they imagined1 that because ,,god had said1 8,thou shalt not commit adultery10 that therefore1 supposing a person was not guilty of the very act of adultery1 he was not chargeable with the breach of the seventh commandment4 ,and likewise in the matter of swearing1 because ,,god had forbidden his people1 in the books of ,exodus and ,deuteronomy1 8to take his name in vain10 or to swear falsely by his name2 they therefore judged it lawful to swear by any creature in common discourse1 supposing they did not directly mention the name of ,,god4 ,our blessed ,saviour therefore1 in the words now before us1 rectifies this their mistake about swearing1 as he had done in the verses immediately foregoing1 concerning adultery1 and tells the people1 that whatever allowances the ,pharisees might give to swear by any creature1 yet he pronounced it absolutely unlawful for any of his followers to do so4 8,you have heard1 that it has been said by them of old time10 7namely1 by the ,pharisees and teachers of the ,jewish law7 8,thou shalt not forswear thyself1 but perform unto the ,,lord thine oaths3 but ,i say unto you10 7,i who am appointed by the ,father to be the great prophet and true law-giver of his church7 8,swear not at all1 7in your common conversation7 neither by heaven for it is ,,god's throne2 7and therefore to swear by that1 is to swear by ,him that sits thereon7 neither by the earth1 for it is his foot-stool2 nor by ,jerusalem1 for it is the city of the great ,king2 neither shalt thou swear by thy head1 because thou canst not make one hair white or black3 but let your communications 7which plainly shews that ,,christ is here speaking of swearing1 not before a magistrate1 but in common conversation7 let your communication be yea1 yea2 nay1 nay1 7a strong affirmation or negation at the most72 for whatsoever is more than this1 cometh of evil20 that is1 cometh from an evil principle1 from the evil one1 the devil1 the author of all evil4 ,which by the way1 methinks1 should be a caution to all such persons1 who1 though not guilty of swearing in the gross sense of the word1 yet attest the truth of what they are speaking of1 though ever so trifling1 by saying1 ,upon my life1as ,i live1by my faith1by the heavens1 and such like3 which expressions1 however harmless and innocent they may be esteemed by some sorts of people1 yet are the very oaths which our blessed ,,lord condemns in the words immediately following the text2 and persons who use such unwarrantable forms of speaking1 must expect to be convicted and condemned as swearers1 at our ,saviour's second coming to judge the world4 ,but to return3 ,it appears then from the whole tenor of our ,saviour's discourse1 that in the words of the text he does by no means disannul or forbid swearing before a magistrate 7which1 as might easily be shewn1 is both lawful and necessary7 but only profane swearing in common conversation2 the heinousness and sinfulness of which ,i come now1 more immediately to lay before you4 ,and here1 not to mention that it is a direct breach of our blessed master's and great law-giver's command in the words of the text1 as likewise of the third commandment1 wherein ,,god positively declares1 8he will not hold him guiltless 7that is1 will assuredly punish him7 that taketh his name in vain30 not to mention that it is the greatest abuse of that noble faculty of speech1 whereby we are distinguished from the brute creation2 or the great hazard the common swearer runs1 of being perjured some time or other3 not to mention those reasons against it1 which of themselves would abundantly prove the folly and sinfulness of swearing3 ,i shall at this time content myself with instancing four particulars1 which highly aggravate the crime of profane swearing1 and those are such as follow3 ,i4 ,first1 ,because there is no temptation in nature to this sin1 nor does the commission of it afford the offender the least pleasure or satisfaction4 ,,ii4 ,secondly1 ,because it is a sin which may be so often repeated4 ,,iii4 ,thirdly1 ,because it hardens infidels against the christian religion1 and must give great offence1 and occasion much sorrow and concern to every true disciple of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,,iv4 ,fourthly1 ,because it is an extremity of sin1 which can only be matched in hell4 ,i4 ,the first reason then1 why swearing in common conversation is so heinous in ,,god's sight1 and why we should not swear at all1 is1 because it has no temptation in nature1 nor does the commission of it1 unless a man be a devil incarnate1 afford the offender the least pleasure or satisfaction4 ,now here1 ,i presume1 we may lay it down as a maxim universally agreed on1 that the guilt of any crime is increased or lessened in proportion to the weakness or strength of the temptation1 by which a person is carried to the commission of it4 ,it was this consideration that extenuated and diminished the guilt of ,saul's taking upon him to offer sacrifice before the ,prophet ,samuel came2 and of ,uzza's touching the ark1 because it was in danger of falling3 as1 on the contrary1 what so highly aggravated the disobedience of our first parents1 and of ,lot's wife1 was1 because the former had so little reason to eat the forbidden fruit1 and the latter so small a temptation to look back on ,sodom4 ,and now if this be granted1 surely the common swearer must of all sinners be the most without excuse1 since there is no manner of temptation in nature to the commission of his crime4 ,in most of the other commands1 persons1 perhaps1 may plead the force of natural inclination in excuse for the breach of them3 one1 for instance1 may alledge his strong propensity to anger1 to excuse his breaking of the sixth3 another1 his proneness to lust1 for his violation of the seventh4 ,but surely the common swearer has nothing of this kind to urge in his behalf3 for though he may have a natural inclination to this or that crime1 yet no man1 it is to be presumed1 can say1 he is born with a swearing constitution4 ,but farther1 ,as there is no temptation to it1 so there is no pleasure or profit to be reaped from the commission of it4 ,ask the drunkard why he rises up early to follow strong drink1 and he will tell you1 because it affords his sensual appetite some kind of pleasure and gratification1 though it be no higher than that of a brute4 ,enquire of the covetous worldling1 why he defrauds and over-reaches his neighbour1 and he has an answer ready2 to enrich himself1 and lay up goods for many years4 ,but it must certainly puzzle the profane swearer himself1 to inform you what pleasure he reaps from swearing3 for alas6 it is a fruitless tasteless thing that he sells his soul for4 ,but indeed he does not sell it at all3 in this case he prodigally gives it away 7without repentance7 to the devil2 and parts with a blessed eternity1 and runs into everlasting torment1 merely for nothing4 ,,ii4 ,but ,secondly1 what increases the heinousness of profane swearing1 is1 that it is a sin which may so often be repeated4 ,this is another consideration which always serves to lessen or increase the guilt and malignity of any sin4 ,it was some excuse for the drunkenness of ,noah1 and the adultery of ,david1 that they committed these crimes but once3 as1 on the contrary1 of the patriarch ,abraham's distrust of ,,god1 that he repeated the dissembling of ,sarah to be his wife1 two several times4 ,and if this be admitted as an aggravation of other persons crimes1 surely much more so of the guilt of common swearing1 because it is a sin which may be1 and is for the generality often repeated4 ,in many other gross sins it cannot be so3 if a man be overcome in drink1 there must be a considerable time ere he can recover his debauch1 and return to his cups again3 or if he be accustomed to profane the sabbath1 he cannot do it every day1 but only one in seven4 ,but alas6 the profane swearer is ready for another oath1 almost before the sound of the first is out of our ears3 yea1 some double and treble them in one sentence1 even so as to confound the sense of what they say1 by an horrid din of blasphemy6 ,now if the great and terrible ,jehovah has expresly declared that he will not hold him guiltless1 that is1 will assuredly punish him1 that taketh his name but once in vain3 what a vast heap of these heinous sins lies at every common swearer's door6 ,it would be apt to sink him into an intolerable despair1 did he but see the whole sum of them4 ,and ,o what a seared conscience must that wretch have1 that does not feel this prodigious weight6 ,,iii4 ,but ,thirdly1 what makes the sin of profane swearing appear yet more exceeding sinful1 is1 that it hardens infidels against the christian religion4 ,it is the ,apostle ,peter's advice to the married persons of his time1 that they should walk as became the gospel of ,,christ1 that those who were without1 might be won to embrace the christian religion1 by seeing and observing their pious conversation coupled together with fear4 ,and what the ,apostle presses on married persons1 we find elsewhere enjoined on each particular member of the church4 ,accordingly we are commanded by our blessed ,,lord1 to 8let our light so shine before men1 that they may see our good works1 and glorify our ,father which is in heaven30 ,and the ,apostle ,paul bids us 8walk circumspectly towards them that are without1 redeeming the time20 that is1 embracing all opportunities to do them good1 8because the days are evil40 ,but alas6 in what a direct contradiction does the profane swearer live to this and such-like precepts1 who1 instead of gaining proselytes to ,,christ from the unbelieving part of the world1 does all he can to oppose it6 ,for how can it be expected1 that infidels should honour our ,,god1 when christians themselves despise him2 or that any should embrace our religion1 when professors of it themselves make so light of one of its strictest commands8 ,no2 to our grief and shame be it spoken1 it is by reason of such impieties as these1 that our holy religion 7the best and purest in itself7 is become a by-word among the heathen2 that the sacred authority of the holy ,,jesus and his doctrine is despised2 and 8,,god's name 7as it is written7 blasphemed among the ,gentiles40 ,these cannot but be sad stumbling-blocks and offences in the way of our brethren's conversion3 8,but woe be to those men by whom such offences come40 ,we may say of them1 as our blessed ,,lord did of ,judas1 8it had been better for such men1 that they had never been born30 ,or1 as he threatens in another place1 8,it shall be more tolerable for ,sodom and ,gomorrah in the day of judgment1 than for such sinners40 ,but this is not all2 ,as profane swearing must undoubtedly harden those in their infidelity1 that are without1 so must it no less grieve and give great offence to those honest and sincere persons that are within the church4 ,we hear of ,david's complaining and crying out1 8,woe is me1 that ,i am constrained to dwell with ,mesech1 and to have my habitation amongst the tents of ,kedar20 that is1 that he was obliged to live and converse with a people exceedingly wicked and profane4 ,and ,st4 ,peter tells us1 that 8,lot's righteous soul was grieved day by day1 whilst he saw and observed the ungodly conversation of the wicked40 ,and no doubt it was one great part of our blessed ,master's sufferings whilst on earth1 that he was compelled to converse with a wicked and perverse generation1 and to hear his heavenly ,father's sacred name profaned and scoffed at by unrighteous and wicked men4 ,and surely it cannot but pierce the heart of every true and sincere christian1 of every one that does in any measure partake of the spirit of his ,master1 to hear the multitude of oaths and curses which proceed daily and hourly out of the mouths of many people1 and those too1 whose liberal education1 and seeming regard for the welfare of religion1 one would think1 should teach them a more becoming behaviour4 ,to hear the great and terrible name of ,,god polluted by men1 which is adored by angels2 and to consider how often that sacred name is profaned in common discourse1 which we are not worthy to mention in our prayers3 this1 ,i say1 cannot but make each of them cry out with holy ,david1 8,woe is me1 that ,i am constrained to dwell with ,mesech1 and to have my habitation amongst the tents of ,kedar40 ,and though the blasphemous and profane discourses of others1 will not be imputed to sincere persons for sin1 so long as they 8have no fellowship with such hellish fruits of darkness1 but rather reprove them20 yet it will greatly enhance the present guilt1 and sadly increase the future punishment of every profane swearer1 by whom such offences come4 ,for if1 as our ,saviour tells us1 8it had been better for a man to have a mill-stone tied about his neck1 than that he should offend one of his little ones1 7that is1 the weakest of his disciples7 how much sorer punishment will they be thought worthy of10 who not only cause ,,god's name to be blasphemed among the ,gentiles1 and the religion of our dear ,redeemer to be abhorred2 but who make his saints to weep and mourn1 and vex their righteous souls from day to day1 by their ungodly1 profane1 and blasphemous conversation8 ,surely1 as ,,god will put the tears of the one into his bottle1 so it will be just in him to punish the other with eternal sorrow1 for all their ungodly and hard speeches1 and cast them into a lake of fire and brimstone1 where they shall be glad of a drop of water to cool those tongues1 with which they have so often blasphemed the ,,lord of ,hosts1 and grieved the people of our ,,god4 ,,iv4 ,but it is time for me to proceed to give my ,fourth and last reason1 why common swearing is so exceeding sinful2 and that is1 ,because it is such an extremity of sin1 that can only be matched in hell1 where all are desperate1 and without hope of mercy4 ,the damned devils1 and damned souls of men in hell1 may be supposed to rave and blaspheme in their torments1 because they know that the chains wherein they are held1 can never be knocked off3 but for men that swim in the river of ,,god's goodness1 whose mercies are renewed to them every morning1 and who are visited with fresh tokens of his infinite unmerited loving-kindness every moment3 for these favourite creatures to set their mouths against heaven1 and to blaspheme a gracious1 patient1 all-bountiful ,,god2 is a height of sin which exceeds the blackness and impiety of devils and hell itself4 ,and now1 after what has been here offered1 to shew the heinousness of profane cursing and swearing in common conversation1 may ,i not very justly address myself to you in the words of the text1 8,therefore ,i say unto you1 ,swear not at all20 since it is a sin that has no temptation in nature1 nor brings any pleasure or profit to the committer of it2 since it hardens infidels in their infidelity1 and affords sad causes of grief and lamentation to every honest christian2 since it is a sin that generally grows into a habit2 and lastly1 such a sin that can only be matched in hell4 #a4 ,and first then1 if these things be so1 and the sin of profane swearing1 as hath been in some measure shewn1 is so exceeding sinful1 what shall we say to such unhappy men1 who think it not only allowable1 but fashionable and polite1 to 8take the name of ,,god in vain20 who imagine that swearing makes them look big among their companions1 and really think it a piece of honour to abound in it8 ,but alas6 little do they think that such a behaviour argues the greatest degeneracy of mind and fool-hardiness1 that can possibly be thought of4 ,for what can be more base1 than one hour to pretend to adore ,,god in public worship1 and the very next moment to blaspheme his name3 indeed1 such a behaviour1 from persons who deny the being of a ,,god1 7if any such fools there be7 is not altogether so much to be wondered at2 but for men1 who not only subscribe to the belief of a ,deity1 but likewise acknowledge him to be a ,,god of infinite majesty and power2 for such men to blaspheme his holy name1 by profane cursing and swearing1 and at the same time confess1 that this very ,,god has expressly declared1 he will not hold him guiltless1 but will certainly and eternally punish 7without repentance7 him that taketh his name in vain2 is such an instance of foolhardiness1 as well as baseness1 that can scarcely be paralleled4 ,this is what they presume not to do in other cases of less danger3 they dare not revile a general at the head of his army1 nor rouze a sleeping lion when within reach of his paw4 ,and is the ,almighty ,,god1 the great ,,jehovah1 the everlasting ,king1 who can consume them by the breath of his nostrils1 and frown them to hell in an instant2 is he the only contemptible being in their account1 that may be provoked without fear1 and offended without punishment8 ,no2 though ,,god bear long1 he will not bear always3 the time will come1 and that too1 perhaps1 much sooner than such persons may expect1 when ,,god will vindicate his injured honour1 when he will lay bare his almighty arm1 and make those wretches feel the eternal smart of his justice1 whose power and name they have so often vilified and blasphemed4 ,alas6 what will become of all their bravery then8 ,will they then wantonly sport with the name of their ,maker1 and call upon the ,king of all the earth to damn them any more in jest8 ,no2 their note will then be changed3 indeed1 they shall call1 but it will be for 8the rocks to fall on them1 and the hills to cover them from the wrath of him that sitteth upon the throne1 and from the ,lamb for ever40 ,it is true1 time was when they prayed1 though without thought1 perhaps1 for damnation both for themselves and others3 and now they will find their prayers answered4 8,they delighted in cursing1 therefore shall it happen unto them2 they loved not blessing1 therefore shall it be far from them2 they cloathed themselves with cursing like as with a garment1 and it shall come into their bowels like water1 and like oil into their bones40 #b4 ,but farther1 if the sin of swearing is so exceeding heinous1 and withal so common1 then it is every particular person's duty1 especially those that are in authority1 to do their utmost towards discountenancing and suppressing so malignant a crime4 ,the duty we owe both to ,,god and our neighbour1 requires this at our hands3 by the one we are obliged to assert our ,maker's honour2 by the other to prevent our neighbour's ruin3 and it is but doing as we would be done by1 and as we ourselves act in cases of lesser consequence4 ,were we to hear either our own or our friend's good name vilified and traduced1 we should think it our bounden duty to vindicate the wronged reputation of each3 and shall the great1 terrible1 and holy name of our best and only friend1 our king1 our father1 nay our ,,god3 shall this be daily1 nay every moment1 defied and blasphemed2 and will no one dare to stand up in defence of his honour and holiness8 ,be astonished1 ,o heavens1 at this6 ,no2 let us scorn all such base and treacherous treatment3 let us resolve to support the cause of religion1 and with a becoming prudent courage manifest our zeal for the honour of the ,,lord of ,hosts4 ,men in authority have double the advantages of ordinary christians3 their very office shews they are intended for the punishment of evil doers4 ,and such is the degeneracy of mankind1 that the generality of them will be more influenced by the power of persons in authority1 than by the most laboured exhortations from the pulpit4 ,to such1 therefore1 if there are any here present1 ,i humbly address myself1 beseeching them1 in the name of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 to do their utmost to put a stop to1 and refrain profane cursing and swearing4 ,and though it must be confessed1 that this is a work which requires a great deal of courage and pains1 yet they would do well to consider1 it is for ,,god they undertake it1 who certainly will support and bear them out in a due execution of their office here1 and reward them with an exceeding and eternal weight of glory hereafter4 ,but it is time to draw towards a conclusion4 #c4 ,let me1 therefore1 once more address myself to every person here present1 in the name of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ2 and if any amongst them have been any way guilty of this notorious sin of swearing1 let me entreat them by all that is near and dear to them1 that they would neither give the magistrate the trouble to punish1 nor their friends any reason for the future to warn them against committing the crime2 but keep a constant and careful watch over the door of their lips1 and withal implore the divine assistance 7without which all is nothing7 that they offend no more so scandalously with their tongues4 ,let them seriously lay to heart1 what with great plainness and simplicity has here been delivered3 and if they have any regard for themselves as men1 or their reputation as christians2 if they would not be a public scandal to their profession1 or a grief to all that know or converse with them3 in short1 if they would not be devils incarnate here1 and provoke ,,god to punish them eternally hereafter2 ,i say unto them in the name of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 8,swear not at all40 ,,sermon ,,xix4 ,,christ the ,support of the ,tempted4 ,,matthew vi4 #ac4 ,lead us not into ,temptation4 ,,the great and important duty which is incumbent on christians1 is to guard against all appearance of evil2 to watch against the first risings in the heart to evil2 and to have a guard upon our actions1 that they may not be sinful1 or so much as seem to be so4 ,it is true1 the devil is tempting us continually1 and our own evil hearts are ready to join with the tempter1 to make us fall into sins1 that he thereby may obtain a victory over us1 and that we1 my brethren1 may be his subjects1 his servants1 his slaves2 and then by-and-by he will pay us our wages1 which will be death temporal1 and death eternal4 ,our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ saw how his people would be tempted2 and that the great enemy of their souls would lay hold of every opportunity1 so he could but be a means of keeping poor sinners from coming to the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ2 hurrying you with temptation1 to drive you to some great sins2 and then if he cannot gain you over1 fall it to a smaller1 and suit his temptations time after time2 and when he finds none of these things will do1 often transform himself into an angel of light1 and by that means make the soul fall into sin1 to the dishonour of ,,god1 and the wounding of itself3 the ,,lord ,,jesus1 ,i say1 seeing how liable his disciples1 and all others1 would be to be overcome by temptation1 therefore advises them1 when they pray1 to beg that they might not be led into temptation4 ,it is so dangerous to engage so subtle and powerful an enemy as ,satan is1 that we shall be overcome as often as we engage1 unless the ,,lord is on our side4 ,my brethren1 if you were left to yourselves1 you would be overcome by every temptation with which you are beset4 ,these words are part of the prayer which ,,christ taught his disciples2 and ,i shall1 therefore1 make no doubt1 but that you all believe them to be true1 since they are spoken by one who cannot lie4 ,i shall1 ,i4 ,shew you who it is that tempts you4 ,,ii4 ,shall shew1 my brethren1 why he tempts you4 ,,iii4 ,mention some of the ways and means he makes use of1 to draw you over to his temptations4 ,,iv4 ,let you see how earnest you ought to be to the ,,lord1 that he may preserve you from being led into temptation4 ,v4 ,i shall make some application by way of entreaty unto you1 to come unto ,,christ1 that he1 my brethren1 may deliver you from being tempted4 ,i4 ,first1 ,we are to consider who it is that tempts ye4 ,and the ,tempter is ,satan1 the prince of the power of the air1 he that now ruleth in the children of disobedience2 he is an enemy to ,,god and goodness1 he is a hater of all truth3 ,why else did he slander ,,god in paradise8 ,why did he tell ,eve1 8,you shall not surely die80 ,he is full of malice1 envy1 and revenge3 for what reasons else could induce him to molest innocent man in paradise8 ,the person that tempts ye1 my brethren1 is remarkable for his subtilty3 for having not power given him from above1 he is obliged to wait for opportunities to betray us1 and to catch us by guile3 he1 therefore1 made use of the serpent to tempt our first parents3 and to lie in wait to deceive1 is another part of his character4 ,and though this character is given of the devil1 if we were to examine our own hearts1 we should find many of the tempter's characters legible in us4 ,do not many of you love to make a lie8 ,and if it is done in your trade1 you therefore look on it as excusable2 but whether you believe it or not1 it is sinful1 it is exceedingly sinful4 ,though you may value yourselves as fine rational creatures1 and that you are noble beings2 and you were so1 as you first came out of ,,god's hands2 but now you are fallen1 there is nothing lovely1 nothing desirable in man2 his heart is a sink of pollution1 full of sin and uncleanness3 ,yet1 though a man's own heart is so desperately wicked1 he is told by our modern polite preachers1 that there is a fitness in men1 and that ,,god seeing you a good creature1 gives you his grace2 but this1 though it is a modern1 polite1 and fashionable way of talking1 is very unscriptural2 it is very contrary to the doctrines of the ,reformation1 and to our own ,articles4 ,but however contrary to the doctrines of the ,church of ,england1 yet our pulpits ring of nothing more1 than doing no one any harm1 living honestly1 loving your neighbour as yourselves1 and do what you can1 and then ,,christ is to make up the deficiency3 this is making ,,christ to be half a saviour1 and man the other part2 but ,i say1 ,,christ will be your whole righteousness1 your whole wisdom1 your whole sanctification1 or else he will never be your whole redemption4 ,how amazing is it1 that the ministers of the church of ,england should speak quite contrary to what they have subscribed6 ,good ,,god6 if these are the guides of the ignorant1 and esteemed to be the true ministers of ,,jesus1 because they have a great share of letter-learning2 when at the same time they are only the blind leaders of the blind2 and without a special ,providence1 they both will fall into the ditch4 ,no wonder at people's talking of the fitness and unfitness of things1 when they can tell us1 that the ,spirit of ,,god1 is a good conscience1 and the comforts of the ,holy ,ghost are consequent thereupon4 ,but this is wrong2 for it should be said1 the ,spirit of ,,god1 are the comforts of the ,holy ,ghost1 and a good conscience consequent thereupon4 ,seneca1 ,cicero1 ,plato1 or any of the heathen philosophers1 would have given as good a definition as this2 it means no more than reflecting we have done well4 ,but let these modern1 polite gentlemen1 and let my letter-learned brethren1 paint man in as lovely colours as they please1 ,i will not do it3 ,i dare not make him better than the word of ,,god does4 ,if ,i was to paint man in his proper colours1 ,i must go to the kingdom of hell for a copy3 for man is by nature full of pride1 subtilty1 malice1 envy1 revenge1 and all uncharitableness2 and what are these but the tempers of the devil8 and lust1 sensuality1 pleasure1 these are the tempers of the beast4 ,thus1 my brethren1 man is half a beast1 and half a devil1 a motley mixture of the beast and devil4 ,and this is the creature1 who has made himself so obnoxious to the wrath of ,,god1 and open to his indignation1 that is told1 that he must be part his own saviour1 by doing good works1 and what he cannot do ,,christ will do for him4 ,this is giving the tempter great room to come in with his temptation2 he may press a soul to follow moral duties1 to go to church1 take the sacrament1 read1 pray1 meditate2 the devil is well content you should do all these2 but if they are done in your own strength1 or if you go no farther than here1 you are only going a smoother way to hell4 ,thus1 my brethren1 you may see who it is that tempts us4 ,but ,,ii4 ,why he tempts you1 is the second thing ,i am to shew you4 ,it is out of envy to you1 and to the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 he endeavours to keep you from closing with ,,jesus2 and if he can but keep you from laying hold by faith on ,,christ1 he knows he has you safe enough2 and the more temptations you are under1 and according to their nature and greatness1 you are more hurried in your minds2 and the more unsettled your thoughts and affections are1 the more apt you are to conclude1 that if you were to go to ,,christ1 at present1 in all that hurry of mind1 he would not receive you2 but this is the policy of the tempter1 to make you have low and dishonourable thoughts of the blessed ,,jesus2 and so by degrees he works upon your minds1 that you are careless and indifferent about ,,christ4 ,this1 this1 my brethren1 is the design of the tempter4 ,nothing will please him more1 than to see you ruined and lost for ever4 ,he tempts you for that end1 that you may lose your interest in ,,jesus ,,christ1 and that you may dwell with him and apostate spirits to all eternity4 ,he knows that ,,jesus ,,christ died for sinners1 yet he would fain keep souls from seeking to this city of refuge for shelter1 and from going to ,gilead for the true balm4 ,it is he that rules in thy heart1 ,o scoffer1 ,o ,pharisee2 the devil reigns there1 and endeavours to blind your eyes1 that you shall not see what danger you are in1 and how much evil there is in those hearts of yours2 and as long as he can keep you easy and unconcerned about having your hearts changed1 he will be easy2 though if he can1 he will tempt you to sin against him1 until you are hardened in your iniquity4 ,o1 my brethren1 do not give the devil a handle wherewith he may lay hold on you3 alas6 it is no wonder that the devil tempts you1 when he finds you at a play1 a ball1 or masquerade2 if you are doing the devil's work1 it is no wonder if he presses you in the continuation thereof2 and how can any say1 8,lead us not into temptation10 in the morning1 when they are resolved to run into it at night8 ,good ,,god6 ,are these persons members of the church of ,england8 ,alas1 when you have gone to church1 and read over the prayers1 it is offering no more than the sacrifice of fools2 you say ,amen to them with your lips1 when in your hearts you are either unconcerned at what you are about1 or else you think that the bare saying of your prayers is sufficient1 and that then ,,god and you have balanced accounts4 ,but1 my dear brethren1 do not deceive yourselves1 ,,god is not to be mocked4 ,you are only ruining yourselves for time and eternity4 ,you pray1 8lead us not into temptation10 when you are tempting the devil to come and tempt you4 ,,iii4 ,i shall now point out some of the ways and means1 he makes use of to draw you to himself4 ,but this is a field so large1 and ,i have but just begun to be a soldier of ,,jesus ,,christ1 that ,i cannot name many unto you4 ,i shall therefore be very short on this head4 #a4 ,he endeavours to make you think sin is not so great as it is2 that there is no occasion of being so over-strict1 and that you are righteous over-much2 that you are ostentatious1 and will do yourself harm by it2 and that you will destroy yourselves4 ,he shows you1 my brethren1 the bait1 but he hides the hook2 he shows you the pleasure1 profits and advantages1 that attend abundance of this world's goods2 but he does not show you the crosses1 losses and vexations that you may have while you are in the enjoyment of the blessings of this world4 #b4 ,when he finds he cannot allure you by flattery1 he will try you by frowns1 and the terrors of this world2 he will stir up people to point at you1 and cry1 8,here comes another troop of his followers30 ,he will stir them up to jeer1 scoff1 backbite1 and hate you2 but if he still finds this will not do1 then he throws doubts1 my brethren1 and discouragements in your mind1 whether the way you are in is the true way or not2 or else he will suggest1 ,what6 do you expect to be saved by ,,christ8 ,also1 ,he did not die for you2 you have been too great a sinner2 you have lived in sin so long1 and committed such sins against ,,christ1 which he will not forgive4 ,thus he hurries poor sinners almost into despair4 ,and very often1 when the people of ,,god are met to worship him1 he sends his agents1 the scoffers1 to disturb them4 ,we saw an instance of their rage just now2 they would fain have disturbed us2 but the ,,lord was on our side1 and so prevented all the attempts of wicked and designing men1 to disturb and disquiet us4 ,,lord ,,jesus1 forgive them who are thus persecuting thy truth6 ,,jesus1 shew them that they are fighting against thee1 and that it is hard for them to kick against the pricks6 ,these1 my brethren1 are some of the ways ,satan takes1 in his temptations1 to bring you from ,,christ3 ,many more might be named2 but these are sufficient1 ,i hope1 to keep you on your guard1 against all that the enemy can do to hinder you from coming to ,,christ4 ,,iv4 ,i come to shew you1 how earnest you ought to be with ,,jesus ,,christ1 either not to suffer you to be led into temptations1 or to preserve you under them4 ,and here1 my dear brethren1 let me beseech you to go to ,,jesus ,,christ2 tell him1 how you are assaulted by the evil one1 who lies in wait for your souls2 tell him1 you are not able to master him1 in your own strength2 beg his assistance1 and you shall find him ready to help you2 ready to assist you1 and to be your ,guide1 your ,comforter1 your ,saviour1 your ,all3 ,he will give you strength to resist the fiery darts of the devil2 and1 therefore1 you can no where find one so proper to relieve you1 as ,,jesus ,,christ2 he knows what it is to be tempted2 he was tempted by ,satan in the wilderness1 and he will give you the assistance of his ,spirit1 to resist the evil one1 and then he will fly from you4 ,in ,,christ ,,jesus you shall have the strength you stand in need of1 the devil shall have no power2 therefore fear not1 for in the name of the ,,lord we shall overcome all our spiritual ,amalekites3 ,let the devil and his agents rage1 let them breathe out threatnings1 yea1 let them breathe out slaughters1 yet we can rejoice in this1 that ,,jesus ,,christ hath them in his power1 they shall go no farther than he permits them2 they may rage1 they may rage horribly1 but they can go no farther1 until they have got more power from on high4 ,if they could do us what mischief they would1 very few of us should be permitted to see our habitations any more2 but1 blessed be ,,god1 we can commit ourselves to his protection2 he has been our protector hitherto1 he will be so still4 ,then earnestly intreat of the ,,lord to support you under those temptations1 which the devil may assault you with2 he is a powerful adversary1 he is a cunning one too2 he would be too hard for us1 unless we have the strength of ,,christ to be with us4 ,but let us be looking up unto ,,jesus1 that he would send his ,spirit into our hearts1 and keep us from falling4 ,o my dear brethren in ,,christ ,,jesus1 how stands it now between ,,god and your souls8 ,is ,,jesus altogether lovely to your souls8 is he precious unto you8 ,i am sure1 if you have not gone back from ,,christ1 he will not from you2 he will root out the accursed things of this world1 and dwell in your hearts4 ,you are candidates for heaven2 and will you mind earth8 ,what are all the pleasures of earth1 without an interest in the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ8 ,and one smile from him is more to be desired than rubies1 yea more than the whole world4 ,o you who have found ,,jesus ,,christ assisting you1 and supporting you under all the temptations of this life1 will you forsake him8 have you not found him a gracious master8 is he not the chiefest of ten thousand1 and altogether lovely8 ,now you see a form and comeliness in ,,christ1 which you never saw before4 ,o6 how do you and ,i wish we had known ,,jesus sooner1 and that we had more of his love2 it is condescending love1 it is amazing1 it is forgiving love1 it is dying love1 it is exalted and interceding love1 and it is glorified love4 ,methinks when ,i am talking of the love of ,,jesus ,,christ1 who loved me before ,i loved him2 he saw me polluted in blood1 full of sores1 a slave to sin1 to death and hell1 running to destruction1 then he passed by me1 and said unto my soul1 8,live20 he snatched me as a brand plucked from the burning4 ,it was love that saved me1 it was all of the free grace of ,,god1 and that only4 ,the little experience ,i have had of this love1 makes me amazed at the condescension1 the love1 and mercifulness of the blessed ,,jesus1 that he should have mercy upon such a wretch4 ,o1 my brethren1 the kingdom of ,,god is within me1 and this fills me so full of love1 that ,i would not be in my natural state again1 not for millions of millions of worlds2 ,i long to be with ,,jesus1 to live with the ,,lord that bought me1 to live forever with the ,lamb that was slain1 and to sing ,hallelujah's unto him4 ,eternity itself will be too short to set forth the love of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,i cannot1 indeed ,i cannot forbear speaking again1 and again1 and again1 of the ,,lord ,,jesus4 ,and if there are any here who are strangers to this love of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 do not despair2 come1 come unto ,,christ1 and he will have mercy upon you1 he will pardon all your sins1 he will heal all your backslidings1 he will love you freely1 and take you to be with himself4 ,come therefore1 ,o my guilty brethren1 unto ,,jesus1 and you shall find rest for your souls4 ,you need not fear1 you need not despair1 when ,,god has had mercy upon such a wretch as ,i2 and he will save you also1 if you will come unto him by faith4 ,why do ye delay8 ,what6 do you say1 you are poor1 and therefore ashamed to come8 ,it is not your poverty that ,,christ mindeth2 come in all your rags1 in all your pollution1 and he will save you4 ,do not depend upon any thing but the blood of ,,jesus ,,christ2 do not stand out an hour longer1 but give your hearts to ,,christ1 give him the firstlings of the flock2 come unto him now1 lest he should cut you off before you are prepared1 and your soul be sent to that pit from whence there is no redemption4 ,do not waver1 but give him that which he desires1 your hearts2 it is the heart the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ wanteth2 and when you have an inward principle wrought in your hearts by this same ,,jesus1 then you will feel the sweetness and pleasure of communion with ,,god4 ,o consider1 my brethren1 the love of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 in dying for you2 and are you resolved to slight his dying love8 ,your sins brought ,,christ from heaven1 and ,i humbly pray to the ,,lord that they may not be a means of sending you to hell4 ,what language will make you leave your sins and come to ,,christ8 ,o that ,i did but know6 and that it lay in my power to give you this grace2 not one of you1 not the greatest scoffer here should go hence before he was changed from a natural to a spiritual life2 then1 then we would rejoice and take sweet council together2 but all this is not in my power3 but ,i tell you where you may have it1 even of the ,,lord ,,jesus2 he will give it to you1 if you ask it of him1 for he has told us1 8,ask1 and you shall receive20 therefore ask of him1 and if you are repulsed again and again1 intreat him more1 and he will be unto you as he was to the poor ,syrophnician woman1 who came to ,,christ on account of her daughter2 and if she was so importunate to him for a body1 how much more should we be solicitous for our souls8 ,if you seek to him in faith1 his answer will be to you as it was to her1 8,thy faith hath saved thee1 be it as thou wouldest have it40 ,o1 do not forsake the seeking of the ,,lord2 do not1 ,i beseech you1 neglect the opportunities which may be offered to you1 for the salvation of your souls2 forsake not the assembling of yourselves together1 to build up and confirm and strengthen those who are weak in faith2 to convince sinners1 that they may feel the power of ,,god pricking them in their hearts1 and make them cry out1 8,what must we do to be saved80 ,the devil and his agents have their clubs of revelling1 and their societies of drunkenness2 they are not ashamed to be seen and heard doing the devil their master's works2 they are not ashamed to proclaim him2 and sure you are not ashamed of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ2 you dare proclaim that ,,jesus1 who died that you might live1 and who will own you before his ,father and all the holy angels3 ,therefore1 dare to be singularly good2 be not afraid of the face of man2 let not all the threats of the men of this world move you3 what is the loss of all the grandeur1 or pleasure1 or reputation of this life1 compared to the loss of heaven1 of ,,christ and of your souls8 and as for the reproaches of the world1 do not mind them2 when they revile you1 never1 never revile again2 do not answer railing with railing2 but let love1 kindness1 meekness1 patience1 long-suffering1 be found in you1 as they were in the blessed ,,jesus2 therefore1 ,i beseech you1 do not neglect the frequent coming together1 and telling each other1 what great things ,,jesus ,,christ hath done for your souls4 ,i do not now1 as the ,pharisees say ,i do1 encourage you to leave your lawful callings1 and your business1 in which ,,god1 by his providence1 hath placed you2 for you have two callings1 the one a general1 and the other a special one2 it is your duty to regard your families1 and if you neglect them out of any pretence whatsoever1 as going to church or to societies1 you are out of the way of your duty1 and offering that to ,,god which he commanded you not4 ,but then1 my brethren1 you are to take care that the things of this life do not hinder the preparing for that which is to come2 let not the business of the world make you unmindful of your souls2 but in all your moral actions1 in the business of life1 let all be done with a view to the glory of ,,god1 and the salvation of your souls4 8familes0 replaced with 8families0 ,the night draws on1 and obliges me to hasten to a conclusion2 though1 methinks1 ,i could speak until my tongue clave to the roof of my mouth1 yea1 until ,i could speak no more1 if it was to save your souls from the paws of him who seeketh to devour them4 ,therefore let me beseech you1 in all love and compassion3 ,consider1 you1 who are ,pharisees2 you1 who will not come to ,,christ1 but are trusting to yourselves for righteousness2 who think1 because you lead civil1 honest1 decent lives1 all will go well at last2 but let me tell you1 ,o ye ,pharisees1 that harlots1 murderers1 and thieves1 shall enter the kingdom of ,,god before you4 ,do not flatter yourselves of being in the way to heaven1 when you are in the broad way to hell2 but if you will throw away your righteousness and come to ,,christ1 and be contented to let ,,jesus ,,christ do all for you1 and in you1 then ,,christ is willing to be your ,saviour2 but if you bring your good works with you1 and think to be justified on the account of them1 you may seek to be justified by them for ever1 and never be justified2 no1 it is only the blood of ,,jesus that cleanseth us from the filth and pollution of all our sins2 and you must be sanctified before you are justified4 ,as for good works1 we are justified before ,,god without any respect to them1 either past1 present1 or to come3 when we are justified1 good works will follow our justification1 for we can do no good works1 until we are cleansed of our pollution1 by the sanctification of the ,spirit of ,,god4 ,o ye scoffers1 come and see this ,,jesus1 this ,,lord of glory whom you have despised2 and if you will but come to ,,christ1 he will be willing to receive you1 notwithstanding all the persecution you have used towards his members3 ,however1 if you are resolved to persist in your obstinacy1 remember1 salvation was offered to you1 that ,,christ and free grace were proposed2 but you refused to accept of either1 and therefore your blood will be required at your own hands4 ,i shall only say this unto you1 that however you may despise either me or my ministry1 ,i shall not regard it1 but shall frequently shew you your danger1 and propose to you the remedy2 and shall earnestly pity and pray for you1 that ,,god would shew you your error1 and bring you home into his sheepfold1 that you1 from ravenous lions1 may become peaceful lambs4 ,and as for you1 ,o my brethren1 who desire to chuse ,,christ for your ,lord1 and to experience his power upon your souls1 and as yet do not find your desires and prayers answered2 go on1 and ,,christ will manifest himself unto you1 as he does not unto the world2 you shall be made to see and feel this love of ,,jesus upon your souls2 you shall have a witness in your own breast1 that you are the ,,lord's2 therefore1 do not fear1 the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ will gather you with his elect1 when he comes at that great day of accounts1 to judge every one according to the deeds done in the body1 whether they be good1 or whether they be evil3 and1 ,o that the thought of answering to ,,god for all our actions1 would make us more mindful about the consequences that will attend it4 ,and now let me address all of you1 high and low1 rich and poor1 one with another1 to accept of mercy and grace while it is offered to you3 ,now is the accepted time1 now is the day of salvation2 and will you not accept it1 now it is offered unto you8 do not stand out one moment longer2 but come and accept of ,,jesus ,,christ in his own way1 and then you shall be taken up at the last day1 and be with him for ever and ever3 and sure this should make you desirous of being with that ,,jesus who has done so much for you1 and is now interceding for you1 and preparing mansions for you2 where may we all arrive and sit down with ,,jesus to all eternity6 ,which ,,god of his infinite mercy grant1 c4 ,,sermon ,,xx4 ,worldly business no ,plea for the ,neglect of ,religion4 ,,matthew viii4 #bb4 ,let the dead bury their dead4 ,,st4 ,paul preaching at ,athens1 tells them1 that as he passed by and beheld their devotions1 he perceived they were in all things too superstitious4 ,but was this apostle to rise1 and come publishing the glad tidings of salvation in any of our populous cities1 he would see no reason why he should charge the inhabitants with this2 but rather as he passed by and observed the tenor of their life1 say1 ,i perceive in all things ye are too worldly-minded2 ye are too eagerly bent on pursuing your lawful business2 so eagerly1 as either wholly to neglect1 or at least too heedlesly to attend on the one thing needful4 ,there cannot then be a greater charity shewn to the christian world1 than to sound an alarm in their ears1 and to warn them of the inexpressible danger1 of continually grasping after the things of this life1 without being equally1 nay a thousand times more concerned for their well-being in a future state4 ,and there is still the more occasion for such an alarm1 because worldly-mindedness so easily and craftily besets the hearts of men4 ,for out of a specious pretence of serving ,,god in labouring for the meat which perisheth1 they are insensibly lulled into such a spiritual slumber1 as scarce to perceive their neglect to secure that which endureth to everlasting life4 ,the words of the text1 if not at first view1 yet when examined and explained1 will be found applicable to this case1 as containing an admirable caution not to pursue the affairs of this world1 at the expence of our happiness in the next4 ,they are the words of ,,jesus ,,christ himself3 the occasion of their being spoken was this2 ,as he was conversing with those that were gathered round about him1 he gave one of them an immediate summons to follow him3 but he1 either afraid to go after such a persecuted master1 or rather loving this present world1 says1 8,suffer me first to go home and bury my father10 or1 as most explain it1 let me first go and dispatch some important business ,i have now in hand4 ,but ,,jesus said unto him1 8,let the dead bury their dead20 leave worldly business to worldly men1 let thy secular business be left undone1 rather than thou shouldst neglect to follow me4 ,whether this person did as he was commanded1 ,i know not2 but this ,i know1 that what ,,christ said here in person1 he has often whispered with the small still voice of his holy ,spirit1 and said to many here present1 that rise up early and late take rest1 and eat the bread of carefulness1 ,come draw off your affections from the things of this life2 take up your cross and follow me4 ,but they1 willing to justify themselves1 make answer1 ,,lord1 suffer us first to bury our fathers1 or dispatch our secular affairs4 ,i say unto all such1 8,let the dead bury their dead10 let your worldly business be left undone1 rather than you should neglect to follow him4 ,from the words thus explained1 naturally arises this proposition1 that no business1 though ever so important1 can justify a neglect of true religion4 ,the truth of which ,i shall first shew1 and then make an application of it4 ,i4 ,first then1 ,i am to prove1 that no temporal business1 though ever so important1 can justify a neglect of true religion4 ,by the word religion1 ,i do not mean any set of moral virtues1 any partial amendment of ourselves1 or formal attendance on any outward duties whatsoever3 but an application of ,,christ's whole and personal righteousness1 made by faith to our hearts2 a thorough real change of nature wrought in us by the invisible1 yet powerful operation of the ,holy ,ghost1 preserved and nourished in our souls by a constant use of all the means of grace1 evidenced by a good life1 and bringing forth the fruits of the ,spirit4 ,this is true and undefiled religion1 and for the perfecting this good work in our hearts1 the eternal ,son of ,,god came down and shed his precious blood2 for this end were we made1 and sent into the world1 and by this alone can we become the sons of ,,god4 ,were we indeed to judge by the common practice of the world1 we might think we were sent into it for no other purpose1 than to care and toil for the uncertain riches of this life3 but if we consult the lively oracles1 they will inform us1 that we were born for nobler ends1 even to be born again from above1 to be restored to the divine likeness by ,,jesus ,,christ1 our second ,adam1 and thereby be made meet to inherit the kingdom of heaven2 and consequently1 there is an obligation laid upon all1 even the most busy people1 to secure this end2 it being an undeniable truth1 that all creatures ought to answer the end for which they were created4 ,some indeed are for confining religion to the clergy1 and think it only belongs to those who serve at the altar3 but what a fatal mistake is this1 seeing all persons are indifferently called by ,,god to the same state of inward holiness4 ,as we are all corrupt in our nature1 so must we all be renewed and sanctified4 ,and though it must be granted1 that the clergy lie under double obligations to be examples to believers1 in faith1 zeal1 charity1 and whatever else is commendable and of good report1 as being more immediately dedicated to the service of ,,god2 yet as we have been all baptized with one baptism into the death of ,,christ1 we are all under the necessity of performing our baptismal covenant1 and perfecting holiness in the fear of ,,god3 for the holy scriptures point out to us but one way of admission into the kingdom of ,,christ1 through the narrow gate of a sound conversion3 and he that does not enter into the sheepfold1 whether clergy or lay-man1 by this door1 will find1 to his everlasting confusion1 there is no climbing up another way4 ,besides1 what a gross ignorance of the nature of true religion1 as well as of our own happiness1 does such a distinction discover8 ,for what does our ,saviour1 by willing us to be religious1 require of us8 but to subdue our corrupt passions1 to root out ill habits1 to engraft the heavenly graces of ,,god's most holy ,spirit in their room2 and1 in one word1 to fill us with all the fulness of ,,god4 ,and will men be so much their own enemies1 as to affirm this belongs only to those who minister in holy things8 ,does it not equally concern the most active man living8 ,is it the end of religion to make men happy1 and is it not every one's privilege to be as happy as he can8 ,do persons in business find the corruptions of their nature1 and disorder of their passions1 so pleasing1 that they care not whether they ever regulate or root them out8 ,or will they consent that ministers shall be alone partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light8 ,if not1 as they desire the same end1 why will they not make use of the same means8 ,do they think that ,,god will create a new thing upon the earth1 and1 contrary to the purity of his nature1 and immutability of his counsel1 admit them into heaven in their natural state1 because they have been encumbred about many worldly things8 ,search the scriptures1 and see if they give any room for such a groundless hope4 ,but farther1 one would imagine there was something of the highest concern and utmost importance in our temporal affairs1 that they should divert so many from purifying their hearts by faith which is in ,,christ ,,jesus4 ,a covetous miser1 who neglects religion by being continually intent on seeking great things for himself and those of his own houshold1 flatters himself he herein acts most wisely2 and at the same time will censure and condemn a young prodigal1 who has no time to be devout1 because he is so perpetually engaged in wasting his substance by riotous living and following of harlots4 ,but yet a little while1 and men will be convinced1 that they are as much without excuse who lose their souls by hunting after riches1 as those who lose them by hunting after sensual pleasures4 ,for though business may assume an air of importance1 when compared with other trifling amusements1 yet when put in the balance with the loss of our precious and immortal souls1 it is equally frivolous1 according to that of our ,saviour1 8,what shall it profit a man1 if he shall gain the whole world1 and lose his own soul2 or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul80 ,and now what need we any further proof8 ,we have heard the decision out of ,,christ's own mouth4 ,but because it is so difficult to convince such of this important truth1 whose hearts are blinded by the deceitfulness of riches1 that we had need cry out to them in the language of the prophet1 8,o earth1 earth1 hear the word of the ,,lord10 ,i shall lay before you one passage of scripture more1 which ,i could wish were written on the tables of all our hearts4 ,in the xivth of ,st4 ,luke1 the #ahth and following verses1 our blessed ,,lord puts forth this parable1 8,a certain man made a great supper1 and bade many1 and sent his servant at supper-time1 to call them that were bidden3 but they all1 with one consent1 began to make excuse4 ,the one said1 ,i have bought a piece of ground1 and ,i must needs go and see it1 ,i pray thee have me excused4 ,and another said1 ,i have bought a yoke of oxen1 and ,i must needs go and prove them1 ,i pray thee therefore have me excused4 ,so the servant returned1 and shewed his master all these things40 ,and what follows8 ,did the master accept of their excuses8 ,no1 the text tells us the good man was angry1 and said1 8that none of those which were bidden1 should taste of his supper40 ,and what does this parable teach1 but that the most lawful callings cannot justify our neglect2 nay1 that they are no longer lawful when they in any wise interfere with the great concerns of religion8 ,for the marriage supper here spoken of1 means the gospel2 the master of the house is ,,christ2 the servants sent out1 are his ministers1 whose duty it is1 from time to time1 to call the people to this marriage-feast1 or1 in other words1 to be religious4 ,now we find those that were bidden1 were very well and honestly employed4 ,there was no harm in buying or seeing a piece of ground1 or in going to prove a yoke of oxen2 but here lay their fault1 they were doing these things1 when they were invited to come to the marriage feast4 ,without doubt1 persons may very honestly and commendably be employed in following their respective callings2 but yet1 if they are engaged so deeply in these1 as to hinder their working out their salvation with fear and trembling1 they must expect the same sentence with their predecessors in the parable1 that none of them shall taste of ,,christ's supper3 for our particular calling1 as of this or that profession1 must never interfere with our general and precious calling1 as christians4 ,not that christianity calls us entirely out of the world1 the holy scriptures warrant no such doctrine4 ,it is very remarkable1 that in the book of life1 we find some almost of all kinds of occupations1 who notwithstanding served ,,god in their respective generations1 and shone as so many lights in the world4 ,thus we hear of a good centurion in the evangelists1 and a devout ,cornelius in the ,acts2 a pious lawyer2 and some that walked with ,,god1 even of ,nero's houshold1 in the epistles2 and our divine master himself1 in his check to ,martha1 does not condemn her for minding1 but for being cumbered or perplexed about many things4 ,no1 you may1 nay1 you must labour1 out of obedience to ,,god1 even for the meat which perisheth4 ,but ,i come1 in the ,second place1 to apply what has been said4 ,i beseech you1 by the mercies of ,,god in ,,christ ,,jesus1 let not your concern for the meat which perisheth be at the expence of that which endureth to everlasting life2 for1 to repeat our blessed ,saviour's words1 8,what shall it profit a man1 if he shall gain the whole world1 and lose his own soul2 or1 what shall a man give in exchange for his soul80 ,were we always to live in the world1 then worldly wisdom would be our highest wisdom3 but forasmuch as we have here no continuing city1 and were only sent into this world to have our natures changed1 and to fit ourselves for that which is to come2 then to neglect this important work for a little worldly gain1 what is it but1 with profane ,esau1 to sell our birth-right for a mess of pottage4 ,alas6 how unlike are christians to christianity6 they are commanded to 8seek first the kingdom of ,,god and his righteousness10 and all other real necessaries shall be added unto them2 but they are fearful 7,o men of little faith67 that if they should do so1 all other necessaries would be taken from them3 they are strictly forbidden to be careful for the morrow1 and yet they rest not night or day1 but are continually heaping up riches for many years1 though they know not who shall gather them4 ,is this acting like persons that are strangers and pilgrims upon earth8 ,is this keeping their baptismal vow8 ,or rather1 is it not directly apostatizing from it1 and deserting the service of ,,jesus ,,christ1 to list themselves under the banner of mammon8 ,but what will be the hope of such worldlings1 when ,,god shall take away their souls8 ,what if the almighty should say to each of them1 as he did to the rich fool in the gospel1 8this night shall thy soul be required of thee20 ,o then1 what would all those things profit them1 which they are now so busy in providing8 ,was eternal life1 that free gift of ,,god in ,,christ ,,jesus1 to be purchased with money2 or could men carry their stocks beyond the grave1 to buy oil for their lamps1 i4 e4 grace for their hearts1 when they should be called to meet the bridegroom1 there might be some reason why ,,god might well bear with them3 but since their money is to perish with them2 since it is certain1 as they brought nothing into the world1 so they can carry nothing out2 or supposing they could1 since there is no oil to be bought1 no grace to be purchased when once the lamp of their natural life is gone out2 would it not be much more prudent to spend the short time they have here allotted them1 in buying oil while it may be had1 and not for fear of having a little less of that which will quickly be another man's1 eternally lose the true riches8 ,what think you8 ,is it to be supposed1 it grieved that covetous worldling before mentioned1 when his soul sprung into the world of spirits1 that he could not stay here till he had pulled down his barns and built greater8 ,or think you not that all things here below seemed equally little to him then1 and he only repented that he had not employed more time in pulling down every high thought that exalted itself against the ,almighty1 and building up his soul in the knowledge and fear of ,,god8 ,and thus it will be with all unhappy men1 who like him are disquieting themselves in a vain pursuit after worldly riches1 and at the same time are not rich towards ,,god4 ,they may1 for a season1 seem excellently well employed in being solicitously careful about the important concerns of this life2 but when once their eyes are opened by death1 and their souls launched into eternity1 they will then see the littleness of all sublunary cares1 and wonder they should be so besotted to the things of another life1 while they were1 it may be1 applauded for their great wisdom and profound sagacity in the affairs of this world4 ,alas6 how will they bemoan themselves for acting like the unjust steward1 so very wisely in their temporal concerns1 in calling their respective debtors so carefully1 and asking how much every one owes to them1 and yet never remembring to call themselves to an account1 or enquire how much they owed to their own great ,,lord and master8 ,and now what shall ,i say more8 ,the ,,god of this world1 and the inordinate desire of other things1 must have wholly stifled the conscience of that man1 who does not see the force of these plain reasonings4 ,permit me only to add a word or two to the rich1 and to persons that are freed from the business of this life4 ,but here ,i must pause a while1 for ,i am sensible that it is but an ungrateful1 and as some may imagine1 an assuming thing1 for such a novice in religion to take upon him to instruct men in high stations1 and who perhaps would disdain to set me with the dogs of their flock4 ,but however1 since ,st4 ,paul1 who knew what best became a young preacher1 commanded ,timothy1 young as he was1 to exhort and charge the rich with all authority2 ,i hope none here that are so1 will be offended1 if with humility ,i beg leave to remind them1 though they once knew this1 that if persons in the most busy employs are indispensibly obliged to 8work out their salvation with fear and trembling10 much more ought they to do so1 who are free from the toils and incumbrance of a lower way of life1 and consequently have greater opportunities and leisure to prepare themselves for a future state4 ,but is this really the case8 or do we not find1 by fatal experience1 that too many of those whom ,,god has exalted above their brethren1 who are 8cloathed in purple and fine linnen1 and fare sumptuously every day10 by a sad abuse of ,,god's great bounty towards them1 think that their stations set them above religion1 and so let the poor1 who live by the sweat of their brows1 attend more constantly on the means of grace than do they8 ,but woe unto such rich men6 for they have received their consolation4 ,happy had it been if they had never been born3 for if the careless irreligious tradesman cannot be saved1 where will luxurious and wicked gentlemen appear8 ,let me therefore1 by way of conclusion1 exhort all persons1 high and low1 rich and poor1 one with another1 to make the renewal of their fallen nature1 the one business of their lives2 and to let no worldly profit1 no worldly pleasure1 divert them from the thoughts of it4 ,let this cry1 8,behold the bridegroom cometh10 be ever sounding in our ears2 and let us live as creatures that are every moment liable to be hurried away by death to judgment3 let us remember1 that this life is a state of infinite importance1 a point between two eternities1 and that after these few days are ended1 there will remain no more sacrifice for sin2 let us be often asking ourselves1 how we shall wish we had lived when we leave the world8 ,and then we shall always live in such a state1 as we shall never fear to die in4 ,whether we live1 we shall live unto the ,,lord2 or whether we die1 we shall die unto the ,,lord2 so that living or dying we may be the ,,lord's4 ,to which end1 let us beseech ,,god1 the protector of all them that put their trust in him1 without whom nothing is strong1 nothing is holy1 to increase and multiply upon us his mercy1 that he being our ruler and guide1 we may so pass through things temporal1 that we finally lose not the things eternal2 through ,,jesus ,,christ our ,,lord4 ,,sermon ,,xxi4 ,,christ the only ,rest for the ,weary and ,heavy-,laden4 ,,matthew xi4 #bh4 ,come unto me1 all ye that are weary and heavy laden1 and ,i will give you rest4 ,,nothing is more generally known than the duties which belong to christianity2 and yet1 how amazing is it1 nothing is less practised8 ,there is much of it in name and shew1 but little of it in the heart and conversation2 indeed1 if going to church1 and to the sacrament1 or1 if our being called after the name of ,,christ1 and being baptized into that name2 if that will make us christians1 ,i believe all of us would have a claim thereto3 but if it consists in the heart1 that there must be an inward principle wrought in us by faith2 that there must be a change of the whole nature1 a putting off the old man with his deeds1 a turning from sin unto ,,god1 a cleaving only unto the ,son of ,righteousness2 and that there must be a new birth1 and we experience the pangs thereof2 and that you must feel yourselves weary and heavy laden with your sins1 before you will seek for deliverance from them2 if this is to be the case1 if there is so much in being children of ,,god1 alas6 how many who please themselves with an outside shew1 a name to live whilst they are dead2 and how few that have any share in this spiritual state1 in this true and living name8 ,how few are they who are weary and heavy laden with their sins1 and seek to ,,christ for rest8 ,they say1 in a formal customary manner1 we are sinners1 and there is no health in us2 but how few feel themselves sinners1 and are so opprest in their own spirits1 that they have no quiet nor rest in them1 because of the burden of their sins1 and the weight that is fallen and lays on their minds8 ,under these burdens1 these heavy burdens1 they are at a loss what to do whereby they may obtain rest2 they fly to their works1 they go to a minister1 and he tells them to read1 to pray1 and meditate1 and take the sacrament3 thus they go away1 and read1 and pray1 and meditate almost without ceasing1 and never neglect the sacrament whenever there is an opportunity for the taking of it4 ,well1 when the poor soul has done all this1 it still finds no ease1 there is yet no relief3 ,well1 what must you do then8 ,to lie still under the burden they cannot1 and to get rid of it they cannot3 ,o what must the burdened soul do6 ,why1 goes to the clergyman again1 and tells him the case1 and what it has done1 and that it is no better4 ,well1 he asks1 have you given alms to the poor8 ,why no4 ,then go and do that1 and you will find rest4 ,thus the poor sinner is hurried from duty to duty1 and still finds no rest3 all things are uneasy and disquiet within1 and there remains no rest in the soul4 ,and if it was to go through all the duties of religion1 and read over a thousand manuals of prayers1 none would ever give the soul any rest2 nothing will1 until it goes to the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 for there is the only true rest2 that is the rest which abideth1 and will continue for ever4 ,it is not in your own works1 nor in your endeavours3 no2 when ,,christ comes into your souls1 he pardons you1 without any respect to your works1 either past1 present1 or to come4 ,from the words1 my brethren1 ,i have now read1 ,i shall ,i4 ,shew you who are the weary and heavy laden4 ,,ii4 ,inquire what is meant by coming to ,,christ4 ,and1 ,,iii4 ,conclude with exhorting you to accept of the invitation which the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ gives unto you to come unto him1 with the assurance of finding rest4 ,first1 ,i am to shew you1 who are the weary and heavy-laden4 ,and here it will be necessary to consider who are not2 and then1 to consider who they are that are really so4 #a4 ,those who think themselves good enough1 and are pleased that they are not so bad as others1 these are not weary or heavy laden4 ,no1 these ,pharisees are not thus troubled2 they laugh and jest at those who talk of feeling their sins1 and think there is no occasion to make so much ado about religion3 it is to be righteous over-much1 and the means to destroy yourselves4 ,they think if they do but mean well1 and say their prayers1 as they call them1 it is sufficient3 though they may say a prayer1 yea1 thousands of prayers1 and all the while be only offering up the sacrifice of fools4 ,they may call ,,god1 ,father1 every day1 when it is only mocking of ,,god1 and offering up false fire unto him2 and it would be just for him to serve them1 as he did ,nahab and ,abihu1 destroy them1 cut them off from the face of the earth3 but he is waiting to be gracious1 and willing to try a little longer1 whether you will bring forth any thing more than the leaves of an outward profession1 which is not all that the ,,lord requires3 no1 he wants the heart2 and unless you honour him with that1 he does not regard your mouths1 when the other is far from him4 ,you may say over your prayers all your lives1 and yet you may never pray over one3 therefore1 while you flatter yourselves you are good enough1 and that you are in a state of salvation1 you are only deceiving your own souls1 and hastening on your own destruction4 ,come unto him1 not as being good enough1 but as vile sinners1 as poor1 and blind1 and naked1 and miserable1 and then ,,jesus will have compassion4 ,o ye ,pharisees1 what fruits do ye bring forth8 ,why1 you are moral1 polite creatures2 you do your endeavours1 you do what you can1 and so ,,jesus is to make up the rest4 ,you esteem yourselves fine1 rational1 and polite beings1 and think it is too unfashionable to pray2 it is not polite enough3 perhaps you have read some prayers1 but knew not how to pray from your hearts2 no1 by no means3 that was being righteous over-much indeed4 ,but when once you are sensible of your being lost1 damned creatures1 and see hell gaping ready to receive you2 if ,,god was but to cut the thread of life1 ,o then1 then you would cry earnestly unto the ,,lord to receive you1 to open the door of mercy unto you2 your tones would then be changed1 you would no more flatter yourselves with your abilities and good wishes3 no1 you would see how unable you were1 how incapable to save yourselves2 that there is no fitness1 no free will in you3 no fitness1 but for eternal damnation1 no free will but that of doing evil2 and that when you would do good1 evil is present with you1 and the thing that ye would not1 that do ye4 ,he knows the secret intent of every heart2 and this is a pleasure to you1 my dear brethren1 who come on purpose to meet with him1 though it be in a field4 ,and1 however some may esteem me a mountebank1 and an enthusiast1 one that is only going to make you methodically mad2 they may breathe out their invectives against me1 yet ,,christ knows all2 he takes notice of it1 and ,i shall leave it to him to plead my cause1 for he is a gracious ,master3 ,i have already found him so1 and am sure he will continue so4 ,vengeance is his1 and he will repay it4 ,let them revile me2 let them cast me out of their synagogues1 and have my name in reproach1 ,i shall not answer them by reviling again1 or in speaking evil against them3 no1 that is not the ,spirit of ,,christ1 but meekness1 patience1 long-suffering1 kindness1 c4 ,ye pharisees1 who are going about to establish your own righteousness2 you1 who are too polite to follow the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ in sincerity and truth2 you1 who are all for a little shew1 a little outside work2 who lead moral1 civil1 decent lives1 ,,christ will not know you at the great day1 but will say unto you1 ,o ye ,pharisees1 was there any place for me in your love8 ,alas6 you are full of anger and malice1 and self-will2 yet you pretended to love and serve me1 and to be my people3 but1 however1 ,i despise you2 ,i1 who am ,,god1 and knoweth the secret of all hearts2 ,i1 who am truth itself1 the faithful and true witness1 say unto you1 8,depart from me1 ye workers of iniquity1 into that place of torment1 prepared for the devil and his angels40 ,good ,,god6 and must these discreet polite creatures1 who never did any one harm1 but led such civil1 decent lives1 must they suffer the vengeance of eternal fire8 ,cannot their righteous souls be saved8 ,where then must the sinner and the ungodly appear8 ,where wilt thou1 ,o sabbath-breaker1 appear1 thou1 who canst take thy pleasure1 thy recreation1 on the ,,lord's-day1 who refusest to hear the word of ,,god1 who wilt not come to church to be instructed in the ways of the ,,lord8 ,where will you1 ,o ye adulterers1 fornicators1 and such-like of this generation appear8 ,whoremongers and adulterers ,,god will judge1 and them he will condemn4 ,then you will not call these tricks of youth3 no1 but you will call on the rocks and the mountains to fall on you1 to hide you from the fury and anger of the ,,lord4 ,where wilt thou1 ,o man1 appear1 that takes pleasure in making a mock of sin1 who despisest all reproof1 who throws about thy jests as a madman does fire1 and asks whether thou art not in sport8 ,where wilt thou1 ,o man1 appear1 that makes it thy business to preach against the children of the ,most ,high2 thou1 who art inventing methods in order to stop the progress of the gospel1 and using thy utmost power to quash the preaching thereof2 who art raising of evil reports against the disciples of ,,christ1 and esteemest them madmen1 fools1 schismatics1 and a parcel of rabble8 ,thou1 ,o man1 with all thy letter-learning1 wilt surely see the judgment-seat of ,,christ1 though1 perhaps1 sorely against your will2 to be cast by him into eternal fire1 a place prepared for the devil and his angels4 ,there is a burning tophet kindled by the fury of an avenging ,,god1 which will never1 never be quenched4 ,the devil longs to embrace you in his hellish arms1 whenever the sentence is past1 where you must for ever bear the weight of your sin3 there is no redemption then2 the day of grace is past2 the door of hope is shut2 mercy will be no more offered1 but you must be shut out from ,,god for ever4 ,o who can dwell with everlasting burnings6 ,however you may think of hell1 indeed it is not a painted fire2 it is not an imagination to keep people in awe3 then1 then you will feel the power of the almighty arm4 ,if you will not lay hold on his golden sceptre1 he will break you with his iron rod4 ,o ye ,pharisees1 who are now so good1 so much better than others1 how will ye stand before ,,christ1 when drest in his glory as judge8 ,you ,arians1 may now despise his divinity2 then you shall have a proof of it2 he will shew1 that he has all power1 and that he was no subordinate ,,god2 he will shew you that he has all power in heaven and earth that he was ,king of kings1 and ,lord of lords2 that he was the mighty ,,god1 the everlasting ,father2 and this power that he has1 he will exercise in preserving you to no other end1 but to punish you for ever4 ,thus you1 who please yourselves with being good enough now1 who are not weary and heavy laden with a sense of your sins here1 will be weary and heavy laden with a sense of your punishment hereafter4 #b4 ,those1 my brethren1 are not weary and heavy laden with a sense of their sins1 who can delight themselves in the polite entertainments of the age1 and follow the sinful diversions of life4 ,now they can go to balls and assemblies1 play-houses and horse-racing2 they have no thought of their sins2 they know not what it is to weep for sin1 or humble themselves under the mighty hand of ,,god2 they can laugh away their sorrows1 and sing away their cares1 and drive away these melancholy thoughts2 they are too polite to entertain any sad thoughts2 the talk of death and judgment is irksome to them1 because it damps their mirth2 they could not endure to think of their sin and danger2 they could not go to a play1 and think of hell2 they could not go quietly to a masquerade1 and think of their danger2 they could not go to a ball or an assembly in peace1 if they thought of their sins4 ,and so it is proved1 even to a demonstration1 that these are not weary and heavy laden3 for if they are not thoughtful about their sins1 they will never be weary and heavy laden of them4 ,but at the day of judgment all will be over3 they shall lose all their carnal mirth1 all their pleasure1 all their delight will be gone for ever4 ,they will say then of their laughter1 it is mad2 and of mirth1 ,what dost thou8 ,their merry conceits1 and witty jests against the poor despised people of ,,god1 are then over4 ,their mirth was but as the crackling of thorns under a pot2 it made a great blaze and unseemly noise for a while1 but it was presently gone1 and will return no more4 ,they think now1 that if they were to fast or to pray1 and meditate and mourn1 they should be righteous over-much1 and destroy themselves2 their lives would be a continual trouble1 and it would make them run mad4 ,alas1 my brethren1 what misery must that life be1 where there is no more pleasant days1 no more balls or plays1 no cards or dice1 those wasters of precious time1 no horse-racing and cock-fighting1 from whence no good ever came1 unless abusing ,,god ,almighty's creatures1 and putting them to that use which he never designed them1 can be called so4 ,how miserable will your life be1 when all your joys are over1 when your pleasures are all past1 and no more mirth or pastime8 ,do you think there is one merry heart in hell8 one pleasing countenance8 or jesting1 scoffing1 swearing tongue8 ,a sermon now is irksome3 the offer of salvation1 by the blood of ,,jesus ,,christ1 is now termed enthusiasm2 but then you would give thousands of worlds1 if in your power1 for one tender of mercy1 for one offer of grace1 which now you so much despise4 ,now1 you are not weary of your diversions1 nor are you heavy laden with the sins1 with which they are accompanied2 but then you will be weary of your punishment1 and the aggravation which attends it4 ,your cards and dice1 your hawks and hounds1 and bowls1 and your pleasant sports1 will then be over4 ,what mirth will you have in remembering your sports and diversions8 ,i would not have you mistake me1 and say1 ,i am only preaching death and damnation to you2 ,i am only shewing you what will be the consequence of continuing in these sinful pleasures2 and if the devil does not hurry you away with half a sermon1 ,i shall shew you how to avoid these dangers1 which ,i now preach up as the effect of sin unrepented of4 ,i mention this1 lest you should be hurried away by the devil3 but be not offended1 if ,i point out unto you more of the terrors which will attend your following these polite and fashionable entertainments of the present age1 and of not being weary and heavy laden with a sense of your sins4 ,they who delight in drinking wine to excess1 and who are drunkards1 what bitter draughts will they have instead of wine and ale8 ,the heat of lust will be then also abated2 they will no more sing the song of the drunkard2 no more spend their time in courting their mistresses1 in lascivious discourse1 in amorous songs1 in wanton dalliances1 in brutish defilements3 no1 these are all over2 and it will but prick each other to the heart to look one another in the face4 ,then they will wish1 that instead of sinning together1 they had prayed together2 had frequented religious societies2 had stirred up each other to love and holiness1 and endeavoured to convince each other of the evil of sin1 and how obnoxious they are to the wrath of ,,god2 and the necessity of being weary and heavy laden with a sense thereof2 that they might have escaped the punishment which they suffer1 by their following the sinful and polite diversions of the age they fell into4 ,but as it was against ,,god himself they had sinned1 so no less than ,,god will punish them for their offences3 he hath prepared these torments for his enemies2 his continual anger will still be devouring of them2 his breath of indignation will kindle the flame2 his wrath will be a continual burden to their souls4 ,woe be to him who falls under the stroke of the ,almighty6 ,thus they are not weary and heavy laden with their sins1 who can follow the polite and fashionable entertainments of the age4 ,but1 ,secondly1 ,i am to shew you what it is to be weary and heavy laden with sins4 ,and #a4 ,you may be said1 my brethren1 to be weary and heavy laden1 when your sins are grievous unto you1 and it is with grief and trouble you commit them4 ,you1 who are awakened unto a sense of your sins1 who see how hateful they are to ,,god1 and how they lay you open to his wrath and indignation1 and would willingly avoid them2 who hate yourselves for committing them2 when you are thus convinced of sin1 when you see the terrors of the law1 and are afraid of his judgments2 then you may be said to be weary of your sins4 ,and ,o how terrible do they appear when you are first awakened to a sense of them2 when you see nothing but the wrath of ,,god ready to fall upon you1 and you are afraid of his judgments6 ,o how heavy is your sin to you then6 ,then you feel the weight thereof1 and that it is grievous to be borne4 #b4 ,when you are obliged to cry out under the burden of your sins1 and know not what to do for relief2 when this is your case1 you are weary of your sins4 ,it does not consist in a weariness all of a sudden3 no1 it is the continual burden of your soul1 it is your grief and concern that you cannot live without offending ,,god1 and sinning against him2 and these sins are so many and so great1 that you fear they will not be forgiven4 ,i come1 ,secondly1 to shew you what is meant by coming to ,,christ4 ,it is not1 my brethren1 coming with your own works3 no1 you must come in full dependance upon the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 looking on him as the ,,lord who died to save sinners3 ,go to him1 tell him you are lost1 undone1 miserable sinners1 and that you deserve nothing but hell2 and when you thus go to the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ out of yourself1 in full dependance on the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 you will find him an able and a willing saviour3 he is pleased to see sinners coming to him in a sense of their own unworthiness2 and when their case seems to be most dangerous1 most distressed1 then the ,,lord in his mercy steps in and gives you his grace2 he puts his ,spirit within you1 takes away your heart of stone1 and gives you a heart of flesh4 ,stand not out then against this ,,lord1 but go unto him1 not in your own strength1 but in the strength of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,and this brings me1 ,thirdly1 to consider the exhortation ,,christ gives unto all of you1 high and low1 rich and poor1 one with another1 to come unto him that you may have rest4 ,and if ,,jesus ,,christ gives you rest1 you may be sure it will be a rest indeed2 it will be such a rest as your soul wants2 it will be a rest which the world can neither give nor take away4 ,o come all of ye this night1 and you shall find rest3 ,,jesus ,,christ hath promised it4 ,here is a gracious invitation1 and do not let a little rain hurry you away from the hearing of it2 do but consider what the devil and damned spirits would give to have the offer of mercy1 and to accept of ,,christ1 that they may be delivered from the torments they labour under1 and must do so for ever2 or1 how pleasing would this rain be to them to cool their parched tongues2 but they are denied both1 while you have mercy offered to you2 free and rich mercy to come to ,,christ3 here is food for your souls1 and the rain is to bring forth the fruits of the earth1 as food for your bodies4 ,here is mercy upon mercy4 ,let me beseech you to come unto ,,christ1 and he will give you rest3 you shall find rest unto your souls4 ,o you1 my weary1 burthened brethren1 do but go to ,,christ in this manner1 and though you go to him weary1 you shall find rest before you come from him3 let not any thing short of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ be your rest2 for wherever you seek you will be disappointed2 but if you do but seek unto the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 there you will find a fulness of every thing which your weary soul wants4 ,go to him this night2 here is an invitation to all you who are weary souls4 ,he does not call you1 ,o ,pharisees2 no1 it is only you weary sinners2 and sure you will not stay from him1 but accept of his invitation2 do not delay2 one moment may be dangerous3 death may take you off suddenly4 ,you know not but that a fit of the apoplexy may hurry you from time into eternity3 therefore1 be not for staying till you have something to bring2 come in all your rags1 in all your filthiness1 in all your distresses1 and you will soon find ,,jesus ,,christ ready to help1 and to relieve you3 he loves you as well in your rags1 as in your best garments2 he regards not your dress2 no1 do but come unto him1 and you shall soon find rest for your souls4 ,what say you8 ,shall ,i tell my ,master you will come unto him1 and that you will accept him on his own terms4 ,let me1 my brethren1 beseech you to take ,,jesus without any thing of your own righteousness3 for if you expect to mix any thing of yourself with ,,christ1 you build upon a sandy foundation2 but if you take ,,christ for your rest1 he will be that unto you4 ,let me beseech you to build upon this rock of ages4 ,o my brethren1 think of the gracious invitation1 8,come unto me10 to ,,jesus ,,christ3 it is he that calls you3 ,and will you not go8 ,come1 come unto him4 ,if your souls were not immortal1 and you in danger of losing them1 ,i would not thus speak unto you2 but the love of your souls constrains me to speak3 methinks this would constrain me to speak unto you for ever4 ,come then by faith1 and lay hold of the ,,lord ,,jesus3 though he be in heaven1 he now calleth thee4 ,come1 all ye drunkards1 swearers1 sabbath-breakers1 adulterers1 fornicators2 come1 all ye scoffers1 harlots1 thieves1 and murderers1 and ,,jesus ,,christ will save you2 he will give you rest1 if you are weary of your sins4 ,o come lay hold upon him4 ,had ,i less love for your souls1 ,i might speak less2 but that love of ,,god1 which is shed abroad in my heart1 will not permit me to leave you1 till ,i see whether you will come to ,,christ or no4 ,o for your life receive him1 for fear he may never call you any more4 ,behold1 the ,bridegroom cometh2 it may be this night the cry may be made4 ,how would you bear this1 if you were sure to die before the morning light8 ,,god grant you may begin to live1 that when the king of terrors shall come1 you may have nothing to do but to commit your souls into the hands of a faithful ,redeemer4 ,now to ,,god the ,father1 ,,god the ,son1 and ,,god the ,holy ,ghost1 be all honour1 praises1 dominion1 and power1 henceforth and for evermore1 ,amen1 ,amen4 ,,sermon ,,xxii4 ,the ,folly and ,danger of parting with ,,christ for the ,pleasures and ,profits of ,life4 ,,matthew viii4 #bc1 to the ,end4 ,and when he was entered into a ship1 his disciples followed him4 ,and behold1 there arose a great tempest in the sea1 insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves3 ,but he was asleep4 ,and his disciples came to him1 and awoke him1 saying1 ,lord1 save us1 we perish4 ,and he saith unto them1 ,why are ye fearful1 ,o ye of little faith8 ,then he arose and rebuked the winds and the sea1 and there was a great calm4 ,but the men marvelled1 saying1 ,what manner of man is this1 that even the winds and the sea obey him6 ,and when he was come to the other side into the country of the ,gergesenes1 there met him two possessed with devils1 coming out of the tombs1 exceeding fierce1 so that no man might pass by that way4 ,and behold1 they cried out1 saying1 ,what have we to do with thee1 ,jesus1 thou ,son of ,god8 ,art thou come hither to torment us before the time8 ,and there was1 a good way off from them1 an herd of many swine1 feeding4 ,so the devils besought him1 saying1 ,if thou cast us out1 suffer us to go away into the herd of swine4 ,and he said unto them1 ,go3 ,and when they were come out1 they went into the herd of swine2 and behold1 the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea1 and perished in the waters4 ,and they that kept them1 fled and went their ways into the city1 and told every thing2 and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils4 ,and behold1 the whole city came out to meet ,jesus1 and when they saw him1 they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts4 ,,if we were but sensible of the great necessity there is1 in this our day1 of being real christians1 sure we should not be contented with being nominal ones2 but we are sunk into ,i know not what2 we are no better than baptised heathens3 ,and how amazing is it1 that we should profess the name of ,,christ1 and yet so little converse about him2 surely1 this name whereby we are called1 should be the theme of our discourse here1 and of our eternal ,hallellujahs in a world to come4 ,but is it not more amazing1 to consider1 that instead of the name of ,,jesus1 whereby we are to have salvation1 we are taught to look for it in ourselves1 and that there must be a fitness in us before ,,god bestows his grace and favour upon us4 ,but what doctrine is this8 ,not the doctrine of the scripture1 not the doctrine of ,,jesus1 not that of the primitive christians1 not that of the reformation1 nor that of the articles of the church of ,england3 ,no1 it is the doctrine of the devil3 this is making ,,christ but half a ,saviour1 and driving man into an error of the greatest consequence1 in making him go to ,,jesus in his own strength1 and not in the name of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ3 ,but1 my brethren1 unless you go in the strength of ,,jesus ,,christ2 unless you depend only upon him for salvation2 unless he is your wisdom1 righteousness and sanctification1 he will never be your redemption4 ,our salvation is the free gift of ,,god2 it is owing to his free love1 and the free grace of ,,jesus ,,christ1 that ever you are saved4 ,do not flatter yourselves of being good enough1 because you are morally so2 because you go to church1 say the prayers1 and take the sacrament1 therefore you think no more is required3 alas1 you are deceiving your own souls2 and if ,,god1 in his free grace and mercy1 does not shew you your error1 it will only be leading you a softer way to your eternal ruin2 but ,,god forbid that any of you1 to whom ,i am now speaking1 should imagine this2 no1 you must be abased1 and ,,god must be exalted1 or you will never begin at the right end1 you will never see ,,jesus with comfort or satisfaction1 unless you go to him only on the account of what he has done and suffered4 ,is it not plain to a demonstration1 that we are acting the part of the ,gergesenes1 who came and desired ,,jesus to depart from them3 ,let us consider the words1 and then we shall see how exactly we are performing the part of these men over again4 ,and when he was entered into a ship his disciples followed him4 ,,christ had been working of many miracles1 as we read a few verses before2 and as he continually went about doing good1 so now he was going to the country of the ,gergesenes to dispossess two1 who were possessed with devils2 and his disciples followed him3 ,no doubt they were reproached and pointed at1 for following such a babbler1 as the ,scribes and ,pharisees esteemed the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ3 ,doubtless they were pointed at1 jeered1 scoffed1 and esteemed madmen1 enthusiasts1 and a parcel of rabble2 but still they followed the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 they did not mind a little reproach2 no1 they loved their ,master too well to forbear following him for the sake of a little persecution4 ,and if you do but love the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 love him above all1 you will follow him in spight of the malice of all the ,scribes and ,pharisees of this generation4 ,and behold there arose a great tempest on the sea4 ,the presence of ,,christ in the ship1 did not preserve the disciples from fears and troubles2 they were filled with uneasiness1 although ,,christ was with them3 this was only for a trial of their faith1 to see if they would stand fast for the ,,lord in a persecuting time4 ,my dear brethren1 if the ,,lord is trying of you1 do not give out2 no1 stand fast in all that the ,,lord may call you to suffer3 ,it is easy to follow ,,christ when all things are safe3 but your love to ,,jesus ,,christ would be seen more1 if you must lose your lives1 or deny your ,,jesus2 it would be a trial of your love1 when fire and faggot was before you1 if you would rush into that1 rather than flie from the truth as it is in ,,jesus4 ,though all things are calm now1 the storm is gathering1 and by and by it will break2 it is at present no bigger than a man's hand2 but when it is full it will break1 and then you will see whether you are sound christians or not4 ,persecution would scatter the hypocrites1 and make nominal christians afraid to worship ,,god2 they would then soon turn unto the world and the things of it4 ,and his disciples came to him1 and awoke him1 saying1 ,,lord1 save us1 we perish4 ,and he saith unto them1 ,why are ye fearful1 ,o ye of little faith8 ,then he arose and rebuked the winds and sea1 and there was a great calm4 ,but the men marvelled1 saying1 ,what manner of man is this1 that even the winds and the sea obey him6 ,here we may see the great compassion of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ2 no sooner had the disciples awakened him1 and he saw their danger1 but he rebuked the winds and seas1 and all things were calm3 ,thus it was in a natural way1 and will be so in a spiritual one2 for no sooner does ,,jesus ,,christ speak peace to a troubled soul1 but all is calm and quiet3 ,now none but ,,god could have performed this great miracle1 and therefore it is no wonder that his disciples and the men of the ship were amazed to see the wonders he performed2 and they could not forbear to express their sense thereof1 by inquiring1 8,what manner of man is this60 ,and when the ,,lord has brought you out of trouble1 you will be amazed at the gracious dealings of the ,,lord with you1 and wonder that he would so easily remove your troubles from you1 when you have deserved nothing but wrath and destruction1 and to be punished to all eternity4 ,and when he was come to the other side into the country of the ,gergesenes1 there met him two possessed with devils1 coming out of the tombs1 exceeding fierce1 so that no man might pass by that way4 ,and behold1 they cried out1 saying1 ,what have we to do with thee1 ,,jesus1 thou ,son of ,,god8 ,art thou come hither to torment us before the time8 ,two men1 who were possessed bodily with that evil one who is going about seeking whom he may devour1 met ,,jesus2 as soon as they saw him they were afraid1 and cried out3 though they made every one afraid of them1 yet they no sooner saw ,,christ1 but their power left them1 and they cried out1 8,what have we to do with thee1 ,,jesus1 thou ,son of ,,god80 ,we know that thou art ,,god2 we do not want thee1 we have no power over thee1 but thou hast over us1 and we fear thou art come to torment us before our time2 we know that we are to be brought to judgment1 and therefore we would not be tormented until that time come4 8creid0 replaced with 8cried0 ,and there was1 a good way off from them1 a herd of many swine feeding4 ,so the devils besought him1 saying1 ,if thou cast us out1 suffer us to go into the herd of swine4 ,the evil spirits were sensible that ,,christ was come to dispossess them1 and that their time was now come1 when they must leave the bodies of these two men2 for when ,,christ comes1 who is stronger than the strong man armed1 all must fall before him2 they could not stand against the power of ,,christ3 ,and here we may observe1 that though the devil is an enemy1 yet he is a chained one2 he cannot hurt a poor swine until he has power given him from above3 and we may likewise see the malice of the devil1 that he would hurt a poor swine rather than do no mischief2 and the devil would1 if in his power1 destroy each of your souls1 but ,,christ1 by his mighty power1 prevents him4 ,and he said unto them1 ,go3 ,and when they were come out1 they went into the herd of swine2 and behold1 the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea1 and perished in the waters4 ,and they that kept them fled1 and went their ways into the city1 and told every thing1 and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils4 ,and behold1 the whole city came out to meet ,,jesus1 and when they saw him1 they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts4 ,here observe1 that no sooner had ,,christ given the devils permission to enter the swine1 but they did1 and their malice was so great1 that the swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea1 and were drowned4 ,what poor spite was here1 that the devil should disturb poor swine6 ,and the city1 therefore1 was so grieved for the loss of a little wealth1 that they came and besought ,,christ to depart2 they did not want his company2 they preferred a few poor swine before the company of ,,christ2 a few worldly goods1 a little pleasure1 or any thing rather than ,,christ1 part with ,,christ before any thing2 but one1 who is sensible of the love of ,,christ1 will part with all1 rather than with the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,thus far the letter of the story goes2 perhaps you think there is nothing to be learned herefrom1 and that this is all you are to understand by it2 but if so1 my brethren1 you are much mistaken2 for here is an excellent lesson to be learned1 and that you will see1 by considering the words again1 in a spiritual sense4 ,and behold1 there arose a great tempest in the sea1 insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves3 but he was asleep4 ,and do not you frequently experience great tempests in this world8 does not the sea of temptation beat over your souls8 you are afraid lest you should be overcome by them2 you can see no way to escape1 for your souls are covered with waves1 and you expect to be swallowed up in the tempest2 you are afraid lest you should fall into the hands of the evil one4 ,o do not fear1 for ,,jesus ,,christ1 though he may be asleep to your thinking1 yet will keep you1 he will preserve you from the raging of the men1 of the ,pharisees of this world2 they may rage and spit forth all their venom against you1 still ,,christ will deliver1 preserve and protect you2 if you but seek unto him in a sense of your own helplessness and unworthiness1 you will soon find he is a ,,god ready to pardon and forgive4 ,o that all that hear me would be persuaded to bow their knee1 and their hearts1 as soon as they go home3 but alas1 how many of our christians go to ,,god1 day by day1 and call him1 ,father1 which is but mocking of ,,god1 when the devil is their father3 ,none have a right to call him father1 but those who have received the spirit of adoption1 whereby they have a right to call him1 8,abba1 ,father40 ,could the brute beasts speak1 they might call ,,god father as well as some of you2 for he is their ,creator to whom they owe their being2 but this will not entitle you to call ,,god father1 in a spiritual sense2 no1 you must be born again of ,,god2 however you may flatter yourselves1 you must have an inward principle wrought in your hearts by faith4 ,this you must experience1 this1 this you must feel before you are christians indeed4 ,the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ takes notice of each of you3 you may think the ,,lord does not take notice of us1 because we are in a field1 and out of church walls2 but he does observe with what view you came this evening to hear his word2 he knows whether it was to satisfy your curiosity1 or to find out wherewith you might ridicule the preacher4 ,the thoughts and intentions of all your hearts are not hidden from ,,jesus ,,christ2 though he may seem to be asleep1 because you are1 at present1 insensible of his workings upon your heart1 and he may not seem to take notice of you1 and regard you1 no more than he did the ,syrophnician woman2 yet he will turn to you and behold you with love2 the ,,lord will be mindful of you in due time1 and speak peace to your troubled soul1 though the sea of troubles is beating over you1 though the ,pharisees of this day are scoffing at you1 yet1 when ,,christ rebukes1 then they shall cease4 ,do not depend on yourself3 say unto him1 8,save us1 ,,lord1 or we perish30 beseech him to be your guide1 and your salvation3 ,i beseech you1 by the tender mercies of ,,god1 which are in ,,christ ,,jesus1 that you present yourselves to him1 as your reasonable service4 ,awake1 you that sleep1 and arise from the dead1 from the death of sin1 and ,,christ then will give you the light of his righteousness4 ,come to ,,christ and you shall be welcome2 ,o come unto this blessed ,,jesus1 come notwithstanding your vileness2 for if you come not you will perish3 ,if ,,christ does not save you1 your own good meaning1 your own good intentions cannot2 no1 as you are in your blood1 so you must perish in your blood2 but if you come to ,,christ you will find mercy1 you shall not perish4 ,you cannot find salvation in any other but in ,,christ2 if the disciples could have saved themselves1 they would not have awoken ,,jesus ,,christ2 but they were sensible that no one could save them but him2 and therefore they cried out unto him2 and so you1 who are under the sense of sin1 who are in fear of hell1 if you seek unto your own works1 you only seek your own death2 for there is no fitness in you4 ,i speak the truth in ,,christ ,,jesus1 ,i lie not1 there is no fitness in you1 but a fitness for eternal damnation2 for what are you by nature1 but children of wrath1 and your hearts are ,satan's garrison4 ,because you have gone to church1 said the prayers1 gone to the sacrament1 and done no one any harm1 you speak peace to your souls2 and all is in peace you think1 and your case is good enough2 but indeed1 all is a false peace1 and if you have no other peace than this1 you must shortly lie down in everlasting flames2 this is an ungrounded1 self created peace1 and if you trust to this peace you will perish4 ,but do as the disciples did when they were in distress2 they go to ,,christ and say to him1 8,,lord1 save us1 we perish40 ,i offer you salvation this day2 the door of mercy is not yet shut1 there does yet remain a sacrifice for sin1 for all that will accept of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ2 he only knows the inmost thoughts of thy heart1 he will embrace you in the arms of his love2 he sees the first risings of grace in you1 and would willingly encourage it3 the angels long for your being in the love and favour of ,,god2 they will rejoice to see you turn from sin unto him4 ,all the ministers of the blessed ,,jesus would be glad to be instruments to turn you from darkness to light1 and from the power of ,satan unto ,,god4 ,and he saith to them1 why are ye fearful1 ,o ye of little faith8 ,and so1 my brethren1 ,i may say to you2 why are you fearful to leave your sins and turn to ,,god8 ,o turn to him1 turn in a sense of your own unworthiness2 tell him how polluted you are1 how vile1 and be not faithless1 but believe2 do not go in your own strength1 and then you need not fear4 ,why fear ye that the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ will not accept of you8 your sins will be no hindrance1 your unworthiness will be no hindrance2 if your own corrupt hearts do not keep you back1 or if your own good works do not hinder you from coming1 nothing will hinder ,,christ from receiving of you3 he loves to see poor sinners coming to him1 he is pleased to see them lie at his feet pleading his promises3 and if you thus come to ,,christ1 he will not send you away without his ,spirit2 no1 but will receive and bless you4 ,o do not put a slight on infinite love3 what would you have ,,christ do more8 ,is it not enough for him to come on purpose to save8 ,will you not serve ,,god in your souls1 as well as with your bodies8 ,if not1 you are only deceiving yourselves1 and mocking of ,,god2 he must have the heart4 ,o ye of little faith1 why are ye fearful lest he should not accept of you8 ,if you will not believe me1 sure you will believe the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ2 he has told thee that he will receive you3 then why tarry ye1 and do not go to him directly8 ,does he desire impossibilities8 ,it is only1 8,give me thy heart30 or1 does he want your heart only for the same end as the devil does1 to make you miserable8 no1 he only wants you to believe on him1 that you might be saved4 ,this1 this1 is all the dear ,saviour desires1 to make you happy1 that you may leave your sins1 to sit down eternally with him1 at the marriage supper of the ,lamb4 ,then he arose and rebuked the winds and the sea1 and there was a great calm4 ,thus1 you see1 it was only in the power of ,,christ to stop the raging of the sea2 he rebuked it3 the disciples might have spoken for ever1 and it would not have ceased3 so it is with the word preached2 ,i may preach to you while ,i live2 ,i may speak till ,i can speak no more2 but the doctrines of ,,christ will never do you good1 unless he impress them upon your hearts3 ,o then1 in all thy troubles look up to ,,christ1 that he may rebuke them2 and if he speaks the word1 then they shall cease4 ,if the ,pharisees of this generation scoff and jeer you1 if they say all manner of evil against you1 do not answer them2 leave it unto ,,christ to rebuke them2 for all you can say will be of no more signification1 than the disciples speaking to the sea2 but when ,,christ speaks the word1 then they shall cease2 let it not discourage you1 for if you will live godly in ,,christ ,,jesus1 you must suffer persecution4 ,it is true1 that those who are sincerely good1 are set up for marks for every one to shoot at4 ,there is a continual enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent2 if you were of the world1 the world would love its own2 but because ,,christ hath chosen you out of the world1 therefore it hateth you4 ,do not think of following ,,christ into glory1 unless you go through the press here4 ,look forward1 my brethren1 into eternity1 and behold ,,christ coming1 and his reward with him1 to give a kind recompence for all the temptations and difficulties of this present life4 ,but the men marvelled1 saying1 ,what manner of man is this1 that even the winds and the seas obey him6 ,the men of the ship were amazed to see the miracle that ,,jesus ,,christ wrought only by his word2 they thought he was something more than a man4 ,and have not we as much reason to admire1 that when we are overwhelmed with troubles1 from within and without1 that ,,jesus ,,christ1 only by the word of his power1 should speak peace1 and then there is peace indeed4 ,when ,,god first awakens us with a sense of sin1 and sets his terrors in array against us1 then there are troubles and tempests2 for ,satan having got possession1 before he will give place1 he will fight and drive hard to keep the soul from closing with ,,jesus3 ,but when ,,christ comes1 he storms the heart1 he breaks the peace1 he giveth it most terrible alarms of judgment and hell1 he sets all in a combustion of fear and sorrow1 'till he hath forced it to yield to his mere mercy1 and take him for its governor2 then ,satan is cast out2 then the storm is rebuked1 and he establishes a firm and lasting peace4 ,can the sea be still while the wind is raging8 no1 it is impossible3 so it is that there can be no peace in the soul1 while it is at enmity with ,,christ2 indeed1 it may flatter itself and speak peace1 but there can be no true peace3 tho' thou1 ,o ,pharisee1 may harden and fortify thy heart against fear1 grief1 and trouble1 yet1 as sure as ,,god is true1 they will batter down thy proud and fortified spirit1 and seize upon it1 and drive thee to amazement4 ,this will be done here1 or hereafter2 here in mercy1 or hereafter in wrath and judgment4 ,o my brethren1 consider what ,,christ hath done1 and you will be astonished that he has done so much for such wicked wretches as you and ,i are4 ,if you are easy under the storm and tempest of sin1 and do not cry to ,,christ for salvation1 thou art in a dangerous condition3 and it is a wonder to consider1 how a man that is not sure of having made his peace with ,,god1 can eat1 or drink1 or live in peace2 that thou art not afraid1 when thou liest down1 that thou should'st awake in hell3 but if ,,christ speak peace unto thy soul1 who can then speak trouble8 ,none2 no1 not men or devils3 ,therefore1 lie down at the feet of ,,christ whom you have resisted1 and say1 ,,lord1 what wouldst thou have me to do8 and he will rebuke the winds and seas of thy troubled mind1 and all things will be calm4 ,and when he was come to the other side into the country of the ,gergesenes1 there met him two possessed with devils1 coming out of the tombs1 exceeding fierce1 so that no man might pass by that way4 ,the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 who went about doing good continually1 very well knew1 that he should meet two poor men in this country of the ,gergesenes1 who were possessed with devils2 and ,,jesus ,,christ went on purpose that way1 that he might relieve them4 ,the devil1 where he has the power1 never wants will3 but as ,i said before1 so ,i say again1 though the devil is an enemy1 yet he is a chained one2 he could not destroy these two poor men1 he could not hurt the people that passed that way1 he could only terrify them3 and thus it is with you2 the devil tries his utmost skill and power to frighten you from coming to the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ2 he uses the utmost of his endeavours to keep poor sick and weary sinners from coming to ,,jesus2 if he can but make you lose your souls1 it is the end he aims at4 ,and how many souls does he keep from ,,christ1 for fear of reproach8 ,many thousands would willingly see ,,christ in his glory1 in the world to come1 and would be happy with him there1 but they are afraid of being now laughed at1 and of hearing the pharisees say1 here is another of his followers3 they are afraid of losing their worldly business1 or of being counted methodistically mad and fit for bedlam4 ,i doubt not but many are kept from ,,jesus ,,christ1 for fear of a little hurt or inconveniency4 ,what will such say1 when the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ shall appear in his glory8 ,would you be glad to be confessed by him then1 you must now not be ashamed of confessing him before men3 let not the fierceness of the devil keep you back from ,,christ1 for fear of being counted fools2 for the time will come1 when it will be found who are truly wise1 and who are truly mad4 ,are you afraid to stand up for the cause of ,,christ in the world8 ,dare not you be singularly good8 ,are you afraid of being members of ,,jesus ,,christ8 ,i tell you1 such persons would crucify him afresh were he in the world4 ,but do not you1 my brethren1 so learn ,,christ2 let not the temptations of the devil keep you from coming to the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ2 he may be fierce1 he may hurry you from place to place1 but strive with him1 so that he may not drive you from ,,christ2 and if you seek unto ,,christ1 he will so help you that you shall resist the devil1 and then he will fly from you2 ,,christ will dispossess him1 be not afraid therefore to meet ,,jesus ,,christ2 tell him all that your souls want1 and he will give it to you2 and you shall not be any longer troubled with the fierce outrages of the devil4 ,and they cried out1 saying1 what have we to do with thee1 ,,jesus1 thou ,son of ,,god8 ,art thou come to torment us before the time8 ,as soon as the devils observed ,,jesus coming near1 then they were afraid1 lest he was come to punish them before that day of accounts1 when all must be brought to judgment4 ,the devils themselves are enough to convince all our polite ,arians and ,socinians4 ,they here own the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ to be ,,god blessed for ever2 they feel his power1 and are assured of his being the ,,god who must condemn them at the great day of accounts2 and they were afraid lest the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ was come to punish them now4 ,but though the devils believe the divinity of ,,christ1 yet the world swarms with ,arians and ,socinians4 ,the ,arians make ,,christ no more than a titular ,,god1 a subordinate deity1 one who was more than man1 and yet less than ,,god2 that he was a prophet sent from ,,god they own1 but deny him to be equal with the ,father4 ,but ,i hope1 my brethren1 he is to you1 what our creed makes him1 ,,god of ,,god1 very ,,god of very ,,god1 co-eternal and consubstantial with the ,father2 that as there was not a moment of time in which ,,god the ,father was not1 so there is not a moment of time in which ,,god the ,son was not4 ,for he says himself1 8,all things were made by him20 and if they were made by him1 he must be ,,god2 and whoever reads but the word of ,,god1 will find divine homage is paid to him1 8and that he thought it no robbery to be equal with ,,god20 he is 8the ,alpha and ,omega40 ,these and a great many more places might be brought to prove the divinity of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ2 he could never have made satisfaction for our sins if he had not been ,,god as well as ,man4 ,as ,man he suffered2 as ,,god he satisfied2 so was ,,god and man in one person2 he took our nature upon him1 and was offered upon the cross for the sins of all those who come unto him1 which if he had not been ,,god he could never have satisfied for4 ,it may be proved1 even to a demonstration1 that the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ is ,,god1 and that he is equal with the ,father4 ,the ,socinians do not go so far as the others2 they look on ,,christ to be no more than a good man1 who told the people their duty1 and died in defence of the doctrines which he delivered unto them4 ,but ,i hope there are none such here1 that have so low and dishonourable thoughts of the blessed ,,jesus1 and that thus despise the divinity of the ,,lord who bought them4 ,no1 ,i hope better things of you1 and things that accompany salvation4 ,think you1 that any one who denies the deity of ,,christ can ever be saved by him1 living and dying in that state8 ,surely1 the time will come1 when they who have denied his ,deity1 shall feel the power of it hereafter2 they shall feel that he is ,,god as well as man2 then he will be owned as ,,god by all those who now dare to deny his truths2 but ,,god forbid it should go undetermined till then6 ,woe unto the polite infidels of this generation1 for the devils will rise up in judgment against them4 ,if any such are here1 consider what you are doing of1 before it is too late2 return1 return ye unto the ,,lord1 and he will have mercy upon you1 and to ,,jesus ,,christ1 and he will abundantly pardon4 ,o my friends1 let me beseech you to consider what you are about1 lest you fall into hell1 and there be none to deliver you4 ,and the devils besought him1 saying1 ,if thou cast us out1 suffer us to go away into the herd of swine4 ,and he said unto them1 ,go3 ,and when they were come out1 they went into the herd of swine2 and behold1 the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea1 and perished in the waters4 ,here we may see1 that no sooner had the devil power1 but he puts it into execution2 thus1 if the devil has but power to tempt1 or to hurry a soul1 ,o how grievous a tyrant he is1 hurrying from one temptation to another1 from one sin unto another1 and would1 if it were possible1 hurry you all into hell with as much violence1 as he did the poor swine into the sea2 but ,,christ by his grace prevents it4 ,,jesus ,,christ died for souls1 and therefore the devil cannot do with them as he will2 he may have the will1 but he cannot get the power4 ,it is plain1 that when the devil himself1 or persecuting men1 get the power1 they will harrass the poor christians2 every thing is too good for them1 and they are not worthy to be set with the dogs of the flock4 ,my brethren1 how joyful would many be1 if the laws of our land would permit them to destroy us2 how would the ,pharisees hurry us to prison and to death2 but1 blessed be ,,god1 he does not say to them1 as to the devil1 8,go30 ,no1 he bids them stay1 he hedges their way up with thorns that they cannot stir to hurt us2 they would fain1 but they dare not destroy us2 nothing withholds them but the power of the blessed ,,jesus4 ,and therefore1 be not afraid of their wrath though it is cruel1 and of their anger though it be fierce3 let them shoot their arrows1 even bitter words1 against us1 blessed be ,,god1 the shield of faith will be a preservative against them all4 ,and when you are thus preserved1 it will be the occasion of joy in the ,holy ,ghost2 though many look on the joy of the ,holy ,ghost as enthusiasm and madness1 and say that there is no such thing2 but well do ,i know there is1 it carries its own evidence along with it4 ,plead therefore with ,,god1 in the name of ,,jesus ,,christ2 continue to wrestle with him1 until he bestows the blessing upon you1 and gives you a feeling of that joy which the world intermeddles not with1 and which they are strangers to3 indeed the devil may stir up his agents to hurry us from one trouble to another2 but it will not signify1 for the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ will not suffer him to hurry us into hell2 no1 but will give us his ,spirit1 which will be a preservative against all the assaults of the devil4 ,now see what followed this miracle1 which ,,jesus had wrought1 by permitting the devil to enter into the herd of swine4 ,and they that kept them fled1 and went their ways into the city1 and told every thing2 and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils4 ,the people were so amazed to see the power that ,,christ had1 and the malice with which the devil was possessed1 that they were afraid1 and told all that had befallen the possessed of the devils3 and so1 when the spirit of ,,god has been at work on your souls1 and you are brought to feel the power of ,,god upon your hearts1 you will be so overjoyed that you will tell to every one what great things ,,god has done for your souls2 you will be so full of joy1 that you will declare the whole working of ,,god on your hearts1 and you will declare how you have been enabled to overcome ,satan1 and how you were affected at such a sermon1 in such a place1 and at such a time4 ,you will then love to talk of ,,jesus2 no conversation will be so pleasing as that of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ2 no1 he will be altogether lovely unto you1 when you have once tasted of his love1 and felt the power of his grace upon your hearts4 ,and behold the whole city came out to meet ,,jesus1 and when they saw him1 they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts4 ,the whole city came to meet ,,jesus1 not to worship1 nor to thank him for the releasing of the two poor men who were possessed2 no1 but to beseech him to go from them2 they valued their swine more than the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 and had rather part from him1 than them3 and have we not among us1 thousands who call themselves christians1 who had rather part with ,,christ than their pleasures8 ,a play1 a ball1 or an assembly is far more agreeable to them than the company and presence of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ3 if they can but indulge their sensual appetite1 please and pamper their bellies1 satisfy the lust of the eye1 the lust of the flesh1 and the pride of life1 they regard no more1 but rest contented1 as if they were to live here always4 ,o my dear brethren1 ,i hope none of you can rest contented with such proceedings as these1 but that you like the company of the ,,lord ,,jesus too well to part with him for a few delights of this life3 and are there not many1 who part with ,,christ for their own good works1 and think they can go to heaven1 if they do but go to church and say their prayers and take the sacrament8 but alas6 they will be much deceived1 for if they rest in any thing short of the ,,lord ,,jesus1 if they do not make him the chief corner-stone1 they will fall infinitely short of what they flattered themselves to attain unto4 ,i would speak a few words to you before ,i part from you this evening1 by way of application4 ,let me beseech you to come to ,,jesus ,,christ2 ,i invite you all to come to him and receive him as your ,,lord and ,saviour2 he is ready to receive you3 if you are afraid to go because you are in a lost condition1 he came to save such2 and to such as were weary and heavy laden1 such as feel the weight and burden of their sins1 he has promised he will give rest3 such as feel the weight and burden of their sins on their souls1 a burden too heavy for them to bear1 are weary of it1 and know not how to obtain deliverance of it1 in the name of my ,,lord and master1 ,i invite you to come to him1 that you may find rest for your souls4 ,if you will but come unto him he will not reproach you1 as justly he might2 he will not reflect upon you for not coming sooner unto him2 no1 my dear brethren1 he will rejoice and be glad1 and will say unto you1 8,son1 daughter1 be of good cheer1 your sins are forgiven you30 these words he said to others2 and if you will but come unto him1 by faith in his blood1 he is ready to say the same unto you now1 as he did to them formerly1 for 8he is the same to-day1 yesterday and for ever30 though he suffered on the cross seventeen hundred years ago1 yet he is the same in goodness and power as ever he was4 ,he calls you1 by his ministers2 ,o come unto him1 beg of him to break your stubborn hearts1 that you may be willing to be brought to him in his own way1 to be made poor in spirit1 and entitled to an inheritance among them that are sanctified4 ,o come and drink of the water of life2 you may buy without money and without price2 he is labouring to bring you back from sin1 and from ,satan unto himself3 open the door of your hearts1 and the ,king of glory shall enter in4 ,but if you are strangers to this doctrine1 and account it foolishness2 or1 if you think you have enough of your own to recommend you to the favour of ,,god1 however you may go to church1 or receive the sacrament1 you have no true love to the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ2 you are strangers to the truth of grace in your hearts1 and are unacquainted with the new-birth2 you do not know what it is to have your natures changed2 and 'till you do experience these things1 you never can enter into the kingdom of ,,god4 ,what shall ,i say1 my brethren1 unto you8 ,my heart is full1 it is quite full1 and ,i must speak1 or ,i shall burst4 ,what1 do you think your souls of no value8 do you esteem them as not worth saving8 ,are your pleasures worth more than your souls8 ,had you rather regard the diversions of this life1 than the salvation of your souls8 ,if so1 you will never be partakers with him in glory2 but if you come unto him1 he will give you a new nature1 supply you with his grace here1 and bring you to glory hereafter2 and there you may sing praises and hallelujahs to the ,lamb for ever4 ,and may this be the happy end of all who hear me6 may the ,,lord guide you by his counsel1 until he comes to fetch you to heaven1 and make you partakers of his glory6 ,may he direct you in his ways1 and lead you in those paths which lead to everlasting life6 ,may you be holy here1 and happy hereafter3 may your lives answer the profession you make1 that we may all be found at the right hand of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 when he shall come to judge the world according to our works1 whether they be good or evil6 and that we then may be presented faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy1 ,,god of his infinite mercy grant1 c4 ,,sermon ,,xxiii4 ,marks of a true ,conversion4 ,,matthew xviii4 #c4 ,verily1 ,i say unto you1 except ye be converted1 and become as little children1 ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven4 ,i ,,suppose ,i may take it for granted1 that all of you1 among whom ,i am now about to preach the kingdom of ,,god1 are fully convinced1 that it is appointed for all men once to die1 and that ye all really believe that after death comes the judgment1 and that the consequence of that judgment will be1 that ye must be doomed to dwell in the blackness of darkness1 or ascend to dwell with the blessed ,,god1 for ever and ever4 ,i may take it for granted also1 that whatever your practice in common life may be1 there is not one1 though ever so profligate and abandoned1 but hopes to go to that place1 which the scriptures call ,heaven1 when he dies4 ,and1 ,i think1 if ,i know any thing of mine own heart1 my heart's desire1 as well as my prayer to ,,god1 for you all1 is1 that ,i may see you sitting down in the kingdom of our heavenly ,father4 ,but then1 though we all hope to go to heaven when we die1 yet1 if we may judge by people's lives1 and our ,,lord says1 8that by their fruits we may know them10 ,i am afraid it will be found1 that thousands1 and ten thousands1 who hope to go to this blessed place after death1 are not now in the way to it while they live4 ,though we call ourselves christians1 and would consider it as an affront put upon us1 for any one to doubt whether we were christians or not2 yet there are a great many1 who bear the name of ,,christ1 that yet do not so much as know what real christianity is4 ,hence it is1 that if you ask a great many1 upon what their hopes of heaven are founded1 they will tell you1 that they belong to this1 or that1 or the other denomination1 and part of christians1 into which ,christendom is now unhappily divided4 ,if you ask others1 upon what foundation they have built their hope of heaven1 they will tell you1 that they have been baptized1 that their fathers and mothers presented them to the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ in their infancy2 and though1 instead of fighting under ,,christ's banners they have been fighting against him1 almost ever since they were baptised1 yet because they have been admitted to church1 and their names are in the ,register-book of the parish1 therefore they will make us believe1 that their names are also written in the book of life4 ,but a great many1 who will not build their hopes of salvation upon such a sorry rotten foundation as this1 yet if they are1 what we generally call1 negatively good people2 if they live so as their neighbours cannot say that they do any body harm1 they do not doubt but they shall be happy when they die2 nay1 ,i have found many such die1 as the scripture speaks1 8without any bands in their death40 ,and if a person is what the world calls an honest moral man1 if he does justly1 and1 what the world calls1 loves a little mercy1 is now and then good-natured1 reacheth out his hand to the poor1 receives the sacrament once or twice a year1 and is outwardly sober and honest2 the world looks upon such an one as a christian indeed1 and doubtless we are to judge charitably of every such person4 ,there are many likewise1 who go on in a round of duties1 a model of performances1 that think they shall go to heaven2 but if you examine them1 though they have a ,,christ in their heads1 they have no ,,christ in their hearts4 ,the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ knew this full well2 he knew how desperately wicked and deceitful mens hearts were2 he knew very well how many would go to hell even by the very gates of heaven1 how many would climb up even to the door1 and go so near as to knock at it1 and yet after all be dismissed with a 8verily ,i know you not40 ,the ,,lord1 therefore1 plainly tells us1 what great change must be wrought in us1 and what must be done for us1 before we can have any well grounded hopes of entering into the kingdom of heaven4 ,hence1 he tells ,nicodemus1 8that unless a man be born again1 and from above1 and unless a man be born of water and of the ,spirit1 he cannot enter into the kingdom of ,,god40 ,and of all the solemn declarations of our ,,lord1 ,i mean with respect to this1 perhaps the words of the text are one of the most solemn1 8except1 7says ,,christ7 ye be converted1 and become as little children1 ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven40 ,the words1 if you look back to the context1 are plainly directed to the disciples2 for we are told1 8that at the same time came the disciples unto ,,jesus40 ,and ,i think it is plain from many parts of ,scripture1 that these disciples1 to whom our ,,lord addressed himself at this time1 were in some degree converted before4 ,if we take the words strictly1 they are applicable only to those1 that have already gotten some1 though but weak1 faith in ,,christ4 ,our ,,lord means1 that though they had already tasted the grace of ,,god1 yet there was so much of the old man1 so much indwelling sin1 and corruption1 yet remaining in their hearts1 that unless they were more converted than they were1 unless a greater change past upon their souls1 and sanctification was still carried on1 they could give but very little evidence of their belonging to his kingdom1 which was not to be set up in outward grandeur1 as they supposed1 but was to be a spiritual kingdom1 begun here1 but compleated in the kingdom of ,,god hereafter4 ,but though the words had a peculiar reference to our ,,lord's disciples2 yet as our ,,lord makes such a declaration as this in other places of ,scripture1 especially in that discourse to ,nicodemus1 ,i believe the words may be justly applied to saints and sinners2 and as ,i suppose there are two sorts of people here1 some who know ,,christ1 and some of you that do not know him2 some that are converted1 and some that are strangers to conversion1 ,i shall endeavour so to speak1 that if ,,god shall be pleased to assist me1 and to give you an hearing ear and an obedient heart1 both saints and sinners may have their portion4 ,first1 ,i shall endeavour to show you in what respects we are to understand this assertion of our ,,lord's1 8that we must be converted and become like little children40 ,i shall then1 ,secondly1 ,speak to those who profess a little of this child-like temper4 ,and ,lastly1 shall speak to you1 who have no reason to think that this change has ever past upon your souls4 ,and ,first1 ,i shall endeavour to show you1 what we are to understand by our ,,lord's saying1 8,except ye be converted and become as little children40 ,but ,i think1 before ,i speak to this point1 it may be proper to premise one or two particulars4 #a4 ,i think1 that the words plainly imply1 that before you or ,i can have any well-grounded1 scriptural hope1 of being happy in a future state1 there must be some great1 some notable1 and amazing change pass upon our souls4 ,i believe1 there is not one adult person in the congregation1 but will readily confess1 that a great change hath past upon their bodies1 since they came first into the world1 and were infants dandled upon their mothers knees4 ,it is true1 ye have no more members than ye had then2 but how are these altered6 ,tho' you are in one respect the same ye were1 for the number of your limbs1 and as to the shape of your body1 yet if a person that knew you when ye were in your cradle1 had been absent from you for some years1 and saw you when grown up1 ten thousand to one if he would know you at all1 ye are so altered1 so different from what ye were1 when ye were little ones4 ,and as the words plainly imply1 that there has a great change past upon our bodies since we were children1 so before we can go to heaven1 there must as great a change pass upon our souls2 ,our souls considered in a physical sense are still the same1 there is to be no philosophical change wrought on them3 ,but then1 as for our temper1 habit and conduct1 we must be so changed and altered1 that those who knew us the other day1 when in a state of sin1 and before we knew ,,christ1 and are acquainted with us now1 must see such an alteration1 that they may stand as much amazed at it1 as a person at the alteration wrought on any person he has not seen for twenty years from his infancy4 #b4 ,but ,i think it proper to premise something farther1 because this text is the grand strong-hold of ,arminians1 and others4 ,they learn of the devil to bring texts to propagate bad principles3 when the devil had a mind to tempt ,,jesus ,,christ1 because ,,christ quoted scripture1 therefore ,satan did so too4 ,and such persons1 that their doctrine and bad principles may go down the better1 would fain persuade unwary and unstable souls1 that they are founded upon the word of ,,god4 ,though the doctrine of original sin1 is a doctrine written in such legible characters in the word of ,,god1 that he who runs may read it2 and though1 ,i think1 every thing without us1 and every thing within us1 plainly proclaims that we are fallen creatures2 though the very heathens1 who had no other light1 but the dim light of unassisted reason1 complained of this1 for they felt the wound1 and discovered the disease1 but were ignorant of the cause of it2 yet there are too many persons of those who have been baptized in the name of ,,christ1 that dare to speak against the doctrine of original sin1 and are angry with those ill-natured ministers1 who paint man in such black colours4 ,say they1 8,it cannot be that children come into the world with the guilt of ,adam's sin lying upon them40 ,why8 ,desire them to prove it from ,scripture1 and they will urge this very text1 our ,,lord tells us1 8,except ye be converted1 and become as little children1 ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven40 ,now their argument runs thus1 8,it is implied in the words of the text1 that little children are innocent1 and that they come into the world like a mere blank piece of white paper1 otherwise our ,,lord must argue absurdly1 for he could never pretend to say1 that we must be converted1 and be made like wicked creatures2 that would be no conversion40 ,but1 my dear friends1 this is to make ,,jesus ,,christ speak what he never intended1 and what cannot be deduced from his words4 ,that little children are guilty1 ,i mean1 that they are conceived and born in sin1 is plain from the whole tenor of the book of ,,god4 ,david was a man after ,,god's own heart1 yet1 says he1 8,i was conceived in sin40 ,jeremiah speaking of every one's heart1 says1 8the heart of man is deceitful and desperately wicked above all things40 ,,god's servants unanimously declare1 7and ,paul cites it from one of them7 8that we are altogether now become abominable1 altogether gone out of the way of original righteousness1 there is not one of us that doth good 7by nature71 no not one40 ,and ,i appeal to any of you that are mothers and fathers1 if ye do not discern original sin or corruption in your children1 as soon as they come into the world2 and as they grow up1 if ye do not discover self-will1 and an aversion to goodness4 ,what is the reason your children are so averse to instruction1 but because they bring enmity into the world with them1 against a good and gracious ,,god8 ,so then1 it is plain from scripture and fact1 that children are born in sin1 and consequently that they are children of wrath4 ,and for my part1 ,i think1 that the death of every child is a plain proof of original sin2 sickness and death came into the world by sin1 and it seems not consistent with ,,god's goodness and justice1 to let a little child be sick or die1 unless ,adam's first sin was imputed to him4 ,if any charge ,,god with injustice for imputing ,adam's sin to a little child1 behold we have gotten a second ,adam1 to bring our children to him4 ,therefore1 when our ,,lord says1 8unless ye are converted1 and become as little children10 we are not to understand1 as though our ,,lord would insinuate1 that little children are perfectly innocent2 but in a comparative1 and as ,i shall shew you by and by1 in a rational sense4 ,little children are innocent1 compare them with grown people2 but take them as they are1 and as they come into the world1 they have hearts that are sensual1 and minds which are carnal4 ,and ,i mention this with the greatest concern1 because ,i verily believe1 unless parents are convinced of this1 they will never take proper care of their children's education4 ,if parents were convinced1 that children's hearts were so bad as they are1 you would never be fond of letting them go to balls1 assemblies1 and plays1 the natural tendency of which is to debauch their minds1 and make them the children of the devil4 ,if parents were convinced of this1 ,i believe they would pray more1 when they bring their children to be baptized1 and would not make it a mere matter of form4 ,and ,i believe1 if they really were convinced1 that their children were conceived in sin1 they would always put up that petition1 before their children came into the world1 which ,i have heard that a good woman always did put up1 8,,lord ,,jesus1 let me never bear a child for hell or the devil40 ,o6 is it not to be feared1 that thousands of children will appear1 at the great day1 before ,,god1 and in presence of angels and men will say1 ,father and mother1 next to the wickedness of mine own heart1 ,i owe my damnation to your bad education of me4 ,having premised these two particulars1 ,i now proceed to shew in what sense we are really to understand the words1 that we must be converted and become like little children4 ,the ,evangelist tells us1 8that the disciples at this time came unto ,,jesus1 saying1 ,who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven80 ,these disciples had imbibed the common prevailing notion1 that the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ was to be a temporal prince2 they dreamed of nothing but being ministers of state1 of sitting on ,,christ's right-hand in his kingdom1 and lording it over ,,god's people2 they thought themselves qualified for state offices1 as generally ignorant people are apt to conceive of themselves4 ,well1 say they1 8,who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven80 ,which of us shall have the chief management of public affairs8 ,a pretty question for a few poor fishermen1 who scarcely knew how to drag their nets to shore1 much less how to govern a kingdom4 ,our ,,lord1 therefore1 in the #b;d verse1 to mortify them1 calls a little child1 and sets him in the midst of them4 ,this action was as much as if our ,,lord had said1 8,poor creatures6 your imaginations are very towering2 you dispute who shall be greatest in the kingdom of heaven2 ,i will make this little child preach to you1 or ,i will preach to you by him3 ,verily ,i say unto you1 7,i who am truth itself1 ,i who know in what manner my subjects are to enter into my kingdom2 ,i say unto you1 ye are so far from being in a right temper for my kingdom1 that7 except ye be converted1 and become as this little child1 ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven1 7unless ye are1 comparatively speaking1 as loose to the world1 as loose to crowns1 scepters1 and kingdoms1 and earthly things1 as this poor little child ,i have in my hand7 ye shall not enter into my kingdom40 ,so that what our ,,lord is speaking of1 is not the innocency of little children1 if you consider the relation they stand in to ,,god1 and as they are in themselves1 when brought into the world2 but what our ,,lord means is1 that as to ambition and lust after the world1 we must in this sense become as little children4 ,is there never a little boy or girl in this congregation8 ,ask a poor little child1 that can just speak1 about a crown1 scepter1 or kingdom1 the poor creature has no notion about it3 give a little boy or girl a small thing to play with1 it will leave the world to other people4 ,now in this sense we must be converted1 and become as little children2 that is1 we must be as loose to the world1 comparatively speaking1 as a little child4 ,do not mistake me1 ,i am not going to persuade you to shut up your shops1 or leave your business2 ,i am not going to persuade you1 that if ye will be christians1 ye must turn hermits1 and retire out of the world3 ye cannot leave your wicked hearts behind you1 when you leave the world2 for ,i find when ,i am alone1 my wicked heart has followed me1 go where ,i will4 ,no1 the religion of ,,jesus is a social religion4 ,but though ,,jesus ,,christ does not call us to go out of the world1 shut up our shops1 and leave our children to be provided for by miracles2 yet this must be said to the honour of christianity1 if we are really converted1 we shall be loose from the world4 ,though we are engaged in it1 and are obliged to work for our children2 though we are obliged to follow trades and merchandize1 and to be serviceable to the commonwealth2 yet if we are real christians1 we shall be loose to the world2 though ,i will not pretend to say that all real christians have attained to the same degree of spiritual-mindedness4 ,this is the primary meaning of these words1 that we must be converted and become as little children2 nevertheless1 ,i suppose the words are to be understood in other senses4 ,when our ,,lord says1 we must be converted and become as little children1 ,i suppose he means also1 that we must be sensible of our weakness1 comparatively speaking1 as a little child4 ,every one looks upon a little child1 as a poor weak creature2 as one that ought to go to school and learn some new lesson every day2 and as simple and artless3 one without guile1 having not learned the abominable art1 called dissimulation4 ,now in all these senses1 ,i believe we are to understand the words of the text4,are little children sensible of their weakness8 ,must they be led by the hand8 ,must we take hold of them or they will fall8 ,so1 if we are converted1 if the grace of ,,god be really in our hearts1 my dear friends1 however we may have thought of ourselves once1 whatever were our former high exalted imaginations2 yet we shall now be sensible of our weakness2 we shall no more say1 8,we are rich and increased with goods1 and lack nothing20 we shall be inwardly poor3 we shall feel 8that we are poor1 miserable1 blind1 and naked40 ,and as a little child gives up its hand to be guided by a parent or a nurse1 so those who are truly converted1 and are real christians1 will give up the heart1 their understandings1 their wills1 their affections1 to be guided by the word1 providence1 and the ,spirit of the ,,lord4 ,hence it is1 that the ,apostle1 speaking of the sons of ,,god1 says1 8,as many as are led by the ,spirit of ,,god1 they are 7and to be sure he means they only are7 the sons of ,,god40 ,and as little children look upon themselves to be ignorant creatures1 so those that are converted1 do look upon themselves as ignorant too4 ,hence it is1 that ,john1 speaking to christians1 calls them little children2 8,i have written unto you1 little children40 ,and ,,christ's flock is called a little flock1 not only because little in number1 but also because those who are members of his flock1 are indeed little in their own eyes4 ,hence that great man1 that great apostle of the ,gentiles1 that spiritual father of so many thousands of souls1 that man1 who in the opinion of ,dr4 ,goodwin1 8sits nearest the ,god-man1 the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 in glory10 that chosen vessel1 the ,apostle ,paul1 when he speaks of himself1 says1 8,unto me1 who am less than the least of all saints1 is this grace given1 that ,i should preach among the ,gentiles the unsearchable riches of ,,christ40 ,perhaps some of you1 when you read these words1 will be apt to think that ,paul did not speak true1 that he did not really feel what he said2 because you judge ,paul's heart by your own proud hearts3 but the more ye get of the grace of ,,god1 and the more ye are partakers of the divine life1 the more will ye see your own meanness and vileness1 and be less in your own eyes4 ,hence it is1 that ,mr4 ,flavel1 in his book called1 ,husbandry ,spiritualized1 compares young christians to green corn2 which before it is ripe1 shoots up very high1 but there is little solidity in it3 whereas1 an old christian is like ripe corn2 it doth not lift up its head so much1 but then it is more weighty1 and fit to be cut down1 and put into the farmer's barn4 ,young christians are also like little rivulets2 ye know rivulets are shallow1 yet make great noise2 but an old christian1 he makes not much noise1 he goes on sweetly1 like a deep river sliding into the ocean4 ,and as a little child is looked upon as an harmless creature1 and generally speaks true2 so1 if we are converted1 and become as little children1 we shall be guileless as well as harmless4 ,what said the dear ,redeemer when he saw ,nathaniel8 ,as though it was a rare sight he gazed upon1 and would have others gaze upon it2 8,behold an ,israelite indeed30 ,why so8 8,in whom is no guile40 ,do not mistake me2 ,i am not saying1 that christians ought not to be prudent2 they ought exceedingly to pray to ,,god for prudence1 otherwise they may follow the delusions of the devil1 and by their imprudence give wrong touches to the ark of ,,god4 ,it was the lamentation of a great man1 8,,god has given me many gifts1 but ,,god has not given me prudence40 ,therefore1 when ,i say1 a christian must be guileless1 ,i do not mean1 he should expose himself1 and lie open to every one's assault3 we should pray for the wisdom of the serpent1 though we shall generally learn this wisdom by our blunders and imprudence3 and we must make some advance in christianity1 before we know our imprudence4 ,a person really converted1 can say1 as it is reported of a philosopher1 8,i wish there was a window in my breast1 that every one may see the uprightness of my heart and intentions30 ,and though there is too much of the old man in us1 yet1 if we are really converted1 there will be in us no allowed guile1 we shall be harmless4 ,and that is the reason why the poor christian is too often imposed upon2 he judgeth other people by himself2 having an honest heart1 he thinks every one as honest as himself1 and therefore is a prey to every one4 ,i might enlarge upon each of these points1 it is a copious and important truth2 but ,i do not intend to multiply many marks and heads4 ,and therefore1 as ,i have something to say by way of personal application1 give me leave therefore1 with the utmost tenderness1 and at the same time with faithfulness1 to call upon you1 my dear friends4 ,my text is introduced in an awful manner1 8,verily ,i say unto you20 and what ,,jesus said then1 he says now to you1 to me1 and to as many as sit under a preached gospel1 and to as many as the ,,lord our ,,god shall call4 ,let me exhort you to see whether ye are converted2 whether such a great and almighty change has passed upon any of your souls4 ,as ,i told you before1 so ,i tell you again1 ye all hope to go to heaven1 and ,i pray ,,god ,almighty ye may be all there3 when ,i see such a congregation as this1 if my heart is in a proper frame1 ,i feel myself ready to lay down my life1 to be instrumental only to save one soul4 ,it makes my heart bleed within me1 it makes me sometimes most unwilling to preach1 lest that word that ,i hope will do good1 may increase the damnation of any1 and perhaps of a great part of the auditory1 through their own unbelief4 ,give me leave to deal faithfully with your souls4 ,i have your dead warrant in my hand3 ,,christ has said it1 ,,jesus will stand to it1 it is like the laws of the ,medes and ,persians1 it altereth not4 ,hark1 ,o man6 hark1 ,o woman6 he that hath ears to hear1 let him hear what the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ says1 8,verily ,i say unto you1 except ye be converted1 and become as little children1 ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven40 ,though this is ,saturday night1 and ye are now preparing for the sabbath1 for what you know1 you may yet never live to see the sabbath4 ,you have had awful proofs of this lately2 a woman died but yesterday1 a man died the day before1 another was killed by something that fell from a house1 and it may be in twenty-four hours more1 many of you may be carried into an unalterable state4 ,now then1 for ,,god's sake1 for your own souls sake1 if ye have a mind to dwell with ,,god1 and cannot bear the thought of dwelling in everlasting burning1 before ,i go any further1 silently put up one prayer1 or say ,amen to the prayer ,i would put in your mouths2 8,,lord1 search me and try me2 ,,lord1 examine my heart1 and let my conscience speak2 ,o let me know whether ,i am converted or not60 ,what say ye1 my dear hearers8 what say ye1 my fellow-sinners8 what say ye1 my guilty brethren8 ,has ,,god by his blessed ,spirit wrought such a change in your hearts8 ,i do not ask you1 whether ,,god has made you angels8 ,that ,i know will never be2 ,i only ask you1 ,whether ye have any well-grounded hope to think that ,,god has made you new creatures in ,,christ ,,jesus8 ,so renewed and changed your natures1 that you can say1 ,i humbly hope1 that as to the habitual temper and tendency of my mind1 that my heart is free from wickedness2 ,i have a husband1 ,i have a wife1 ,i have also children1 ,i keep a shop1 ,i mind my business2 but ,i love these creatures for ,,god's sake1 and do every thing for ,,christ3 and if ,,god was now to call me away1 according to the habitual temper of my mind1 ,i can say1 ,,lord1 ,i am ready2 and however ,i love the creatures1 ,i hope ,i can say1 ,whom have ,i in heaven but thee8 ,whom have ,i in heaven1 ,o my ,,god and my dear ,redeemer1 that ,i desire in comparison of thee8 ,can you thank ,,god for the creatures1 and say at the same time1 these are not my ,,christ8 ,i speak in plain language1 you know my way of preaching3 ,i do not want to play the orator1 ,i do not want to be counted a scholar2 ,i want to speak so as ,i may reach poor people's hearts4 ,what say ye1 my dear hearers8 ,are ye sensible of your weakness8 ,do ye feel that ye are poor1 miserable1 blind1 and naked by nature8 ,do ye give up your hearts1 your affections1 your wills1 your understanding to be guided by the ,spirit of ,,god1 as a little child gives up its hand to be guided by its parent8 ,are ye little in your own eyes8 ,do ye think meanly of yourselves8 ,and do you want to learn something new every day8 ,i mention these marks1 because ,i am apt to believe they are more adapted to a great many of your capacities4 ,a great many of you have not that flowing of affection ye sometimes had1 therefore ye are for giving up all your evidences1 and making way for the devil's coming into your heart4 ,you are not brought up to the mount as ye used to be1 therefore ye conclude ye have no grace at all4 ,but if the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ has emptied thee1 and humbled thee1 if he is giving thee to see and know that thou art nothing2 though thou art not growing upward1 thou art growing downward2 and though thou hast not so much joy1 yet thy heart is emptying to be more abundantly replenished by and by4 ,can any of you follow me8 ,then1 give ,,god thanks1 and take the comfort of it4 ,if thou art thus converted1 and become a little child1 ,i welcome thee1 in the name of the ,,lord ,,jesus1 into ,,god's dear family2 ,i welcome thee1 in the name of the dear ,redeemer1 into the company of ,,god's children4 ,o ye dear souls1 though the world sees nothing in you1 though there be no outward difference between you and others1 yet ,i look upon you in another light1 even as so many kings sons and daughters3 all hail6 in the name of ,,god1 ,i wish every one of you joy from my soul1 ye sons and daughters of the ,king of kings4 ,will not you henceforth exercise a child-like temper8 ,will not such a thought melt down your hearts1 when ,i tell you1 that the great ,,god1 who might have frowned you to hell for your secret sins1 that nobody knew of but ,,god and your own souls1 and who might have damned you times without number1 hath cast the mantle of his love over you2 his voice hath been1 ,let that man1 that woman live1 for ,i have found a ransom4 ,o will ye not cry out1 ,why me1 ,,lord8 ,was ,king ,george to send for any of your children1 and were you to hear they were to be his adopted sons1 how highly honoured would you think your children to be8 ,what great condescension was it for ,pharaoh's daughter to take up ,moses1 a poor child exposed in an ark of bulrushes1 and breed him up for her child8 ,but what is that happiness in comparison of thine1 who was the other day a child of the devil1 but now by converting grace art become a child of ,,god8 ,are ye converted8 ,are ye become like little children8 ,then what must ye do8 ,my dear hearers1 be obedient to ,,god1 remember ,,god is your father2 and as every one of you must know what a dreadful cross it is to have a wicked1 disobedient child2 if ye do not want your children to be disobedient to you1 for ,,christ's sake be not disobedient to your heavenly parent4 ,if ,,god be your father1 obey him3 if ,,god be your father1 serve him2 love him with all your heart1 love him with all your might1 with all your soul1 and with all your strength4 ,if ,,god be your father1 fly from every thing that may displease him2 and walk worthy of that ,,god1 who has called you to his kingdom and glory4 ,if ye are converted and become like little children1 then behave as little children3 they long for the breast1 and with it will be contented4 ,are ye new-born babes8 then desire the sincere milk of the word1 that ye may grow thereby4 ,i do not want that ,arminian husks should go down with you2 ye are kings sons and daughters1 and have a more refined taste2 you must have the doctrines of grace2 and blessed be ,,god that you dwell in a country1 where the sincere word is so plainly preached4 ,are ye children8 then grow in grace1 and in the knowledge of your ,,lord and ,saviour ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,have any of you children that do not grow8 do not ye lament these children1 and cry over them2 do not ye say1 my child will never be fit for any thing in the world8 ,well1 doth it grieve you to see a child that will not grow2 how much must it grieve the heart of ,,christ to see you grow so little8 ,will ye be always children8 ,will ye be always learning the first principles of christianity1 and never press forward toward the mark1 for the prize of the high calling of ,,god in ,,christ ,,jesus8 ,,god forbid4 ,let the language of your heart be1 8,,lord ,,jesus help me to grow1 help me to learn more1 learn me to live so as my progress may be known to all60 ,are ye ,,god's children8 ,are ye converted1 and become like little children8 ,then deal with ,,god as your little children do with you2 as soon as ever they want any thing1 or if any body hurt them1 ,i appeal to yourselves if they do not directly run to their parent4 ,well1 are ye ,,god's children8 ,doth the devil trouble you8 ,doth the world trouble you8 ,go tell your father of it1 go directly and complain to ,,god4 ,perhaps you may say1 ,i cannot utter fine words3 but do any of you expect fine words from your children8 ,if they come crying1 and can speak but half words1 do not your hearts yearn over them8 ,and has not ,,god unspeakably more pity to you8 ,if ye can only make signs to him2 8,as a father pitieth his children1 so will the ,,lord pity them that fear him40 ,i pray you therefore be bold with your father1 saying1 8,abba1 ,father10 ,satan troubles me1 the world troubles me1 my own mother's children are angry with me2 heavenly ,father1 plead my cause6 the ,,lord will then speak for you some way or other4 ,are ye converted1 and become as little children1 have ye entered into ,,god's family8 ,then assure yourselves1 that your heavenly father will chasten you now and then2 8for what son is there whom the father chastneth not3 if ye are without chastisement1 of which all are partakers1 then are ye bastards and not sons40 ,it is recorded of bishop ,latimer1 that in the house where he came to lodge1 he overheard the master of the house say1 ,i thank ,,god ,i never had a cross in my life3 ,o said he1 then ,i will not stay here4 ,i believe there is not a child of ,,god1 when in a good frame1 but has prayed for great humility2 they have prayed for great faith1 they have prayed for great love1 they have prayed for all the graces of the ,spirit3 ,do ye know1 when ye put up these prayers1 that ye did also say1 ,,lord send us great trials3 for how is it possible to know ye have great faith1 humility and love1 unless ,,god put you into great trials1 that ye may know whether ye have them or not4 ,i mention this1 because a great many of the children of ,,god 7,i am sure it has been a temptation to me many times1 when ,i have been under ,,god's smarting rod7 when they have great trials1 think ,,god is giving them over4 ,if therefore ye are ,,god's children2 if ye are converted and become as little children2 do not expect that ,,god will be like a foolish parent2 no1 he is a jealous ,,god1 he loves his child too well to spare his rod4 ,how did he correct ,miriam8 ,how did he correct ,moses8 ,how hath ,,god in all ages corrected his dearest children8 ,therefore if ye are converted1 and become as little children1 if ,,god hath taken away a child1 or your substance1 if ,,god suffers friends to forsake you1 and if you are forsaken as it were both by ,,god and man1 say1 ,,lord ,i thank thee6 ,i am a perverse child1 or ,,god would not strike me so often and so hard4 ,do not blame your heavenly ,father1 but blame yourselves2 he is a loving ,,god1 and a tender ,father1 8he is afflicted in all our afflictions30 therefore when ,,god spake to ,moses1 he spake out of the bush2 as much as to say1 8,moses1 this bush represents my people2 as this bush is burning with fire1 so are my children to burn with affliction2 but ,i am in the bush2 if the bush burns1 ,i will burn with it1 ,i will be with them in the furnace1 ,i will be with them in the water1 and though the water come over them1 it shall not overflow them40 ,are ye ,,god's children8 ,are ye converted and become as little children8 ,then will ye not long to go home and see your ,father8 ,o happy they that have gotten home before you2 happy they that are up yonder1 happy they who have ascended above this field of conflict4 ,i know not what you may think of it1 but since ,i heard that some1 whose hearts ,,god was pleased to work upon1 are gone to glory1 ,i am sometimes filled with grief1 that ,,god is not pleased to let me go home too4 ,how can you see so much coldness among ,,god's people8 ,how can ye see ,,god's people like the moon1 waxing and waning8 ,who can but desire to be forever with the ,,lord8 ,thanks be to ,,god1 the time is soon coming2 thanks be to ,,god1 he will come and will not tarry4 ,do not be impatient1 ,,god in his own time will fetch you home4 ,and though ye may be brought to short allowance now1 though some of you may be narrow in your circumstances1 yet do not repine2 a ,,god1 and the gospel of ,,christ1 with brown bread1 are great riches4 ,in thy ,father's house there is bread enough and to spare2 though thou art now tormented1 yet by and by thou shalt be comforted2 the angels will look upon it as an honour to convey thee to ,abraham's bosom1 though thou art but a ,lazarus here4 ,by the frame of my heart1 ,i am much inclined to speak comfortably to ,,god's people4 ,but ,i only mention one thing more1 and that is1 if ye are converted1 and become as little children1 then for ,,god's sake take care of doing what children often do2 they are too apt to quarrel one with another4 ,o love one another2 8he that dwells in love dwells in ,,god1 and ,,god in him40 ,joseph knew that his brethren were in danger of falling out1 therefore when he left them1 says he1 8fall not out by the way40 ,ye are all children of the same ,father1 ye are all going to the same place2 why should ye differ8 ,the world has enough against us1 the devil has enough against us1 without our quarelling with each other2 ,o walk in love4 ,if ,i could preach no more1 if ,i was not able to hold out to the end of my sermon1 ,i would say as ,john did1 when he was grown old and could not preach1 8,little children1 love one another30 if ye are ,,god's children1 then love one another4 ,there is nothing grieves me more1 than the differences amongst ,,god's people4 ,o hasten that time1 when we shall either go to heaven1 or never quarrel any more6 ,would to ,,god ,i could speak to all of you in this comfortable language2 but my master tells me1 ,i must 8not give that which is holy to dogs1 ,i must not cast pearls before swine20 therefore1 though ,i have been speaking comfortably1 yet what ,i have been saying1 especially in this latter part of the discourse1 belongs to children2 it is children's bread1 it belongs to ,,god's people4 ,if any of you are graceless1 christless1 unconverted creatures1 ,i charge you not to touch it1 ,i fence it in the name of ,,god2 here is a flaming sword turning every way to keep you from this bread of life1 till ye are turned to ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,and therefore1 as ,i suppose many of you are unconverted1 and graceless1 go home1 and away to your closets1 and down with your stubborn hearts before ,,god2 if ye have not done it before1 let this be the night3 ,or1 do not stay till ye go home2 begin now1 while standing here2 pray to ,,god1 and let the language of thy heart be1 ,,lord convert me6 ,,lord make me a little child1 ,,lord ,,jesus let me not be banished from thy kingdom6 ,my dear friends1 there is a great deal more implied in the words1 than is expressed3 when ,,christ says1 8,ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven10 it is as much as to say1 8ye shall certainly go to hell1 ye shall certainly be damned1 and dwell in the blackness of darkness for ever1 ye shall go where the worm dies not1 and where the fire is not quenched40 ,the ,,lord ,,god impress it upon your souls6 ,may an arrow 7as one lately wrote me in a letter7 dipped in the blood of ,,christ1 reach every unconverted sinner's heart6 ,may ,,god fulfil the text to every one of your souls6 ,it is he alone that can do it4 ,if ye confess your sins1 and leave them1 and lay hold on the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 the ,spirit of ,,god shall be given you2 if you will go and say1 turn me1 ,o my ,,god6 thou knowest not1 ,o man1 what the return of ,,god may be to thee4 ,did ,i think that preaching would be to the purpose1 did ,i think that arguments would induce you to come1 ,i would continue my discourse till midnight4 ,and however some of you may hate me without a cause1 would to ,,god every one in this congregation was as much concerned for himself1 as at present 7blessed be ,,god7 ,i feel myself concerned for him4 ,o that my head were waters1 ,o that mine eyes were a fountain of tears1 that ,i might weep over an unconverted1 graceless1 wicked1 and adulterous generation4 ,precious souls1 for ,,god's sake think what will become of you when ye die1 if you die without being converted2 if ye go hence without the wedding garment1 ,,god will strike you speechless1 and ye shall be banished from his presence for ever and ever4 ,i know ye cannot dwell with everlasting burnings2 behold then ,i shew you a way of escape2 ,,jesus is the way1 ,,jesus is the truth1 the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ is the resurrection and the life4 ,it is his ,spirit must convert you1 come to ,,christ1 and ye shall have it2 and may ,,god for ,,christ's sake give it to you all1 and convert you1 that we may all meet1 never to part again1 in his heavenly kingdom2 even so ,,lord ,,jesus1 ,amen and ,amen4 ,,sermon ,,xxiv4 ,what think ye of ,,christ8 ,,matthew xxii4 #db4 ,what think ye of ,,christ8 ,,when it pleased the eternal ,son of ,,god to tabernacle among us1 and preach the glad tidings of salvation to a fallen world1 different opinions were entertained by different parties concerning him4 ,as to his person1 some said he was ,moses2 others that he was ,elias1 ,jeremias1 or one of the ancient prophets2 few acknowledged him to be what he really was1 ,,god blessed for evermore4 ,and as to his doctrine2 though the common people1 being free from prejudice1 were persuaded of the heavenly tendency of his going about to do good1 and for the generality1 heard him gladly1 and said he was a good man2 yet the envious1 worldly-minded1 self-righteous governors and teachers of the ,jewish church1 being grieved at his success on the one hand1 and unable 7having never been taught of ,,god7 to understand the purity of his doctrine1 on the other2 notwithstanding our ,,lord spake as never man spake1 and did such miracles which no man could possibly do1 unless ,,god was with him2 yet they not only were so infatuated1 as to say1 that he deceived the people1 but also were so blasphemous as to affirm1 that he was in league with the devil himself1 and cast out devils by ,beelzebub the prince of devils4 ,nay1 our ,,lord's own brethren and kinsmen1 according to the flesh1 were so blinded by prejudice and unbelief1 that on a certain day1 when he went out to teach the multitudes in the fields1 they sent to take hold on him1 urging this as a reason for their conduct1 8,that he was besides himself40 ,thus was the ,king and the ,,lord of glory judged by man's judgment1 when manifest in flesh3 far be it from any of his ministers to expect better treatment4 ,no1 if we come in the spirit and power of our ,master1 in this1 as in every other part of his sufferings1 we must follow his steps4 ,the like reproaches which were cast on him1 will be thrown on us also4 ,those that received our ,,lord and his doctrine1 will receive and hear us for his name's sake4 ,the poor1 blessed be ,,god1 as our present meeting abundantly testifies1 receive the gospel1 and the common people hear us gladly2 whilst those who are sitting in ,moses' chair1 and love to wear long robes1 being ignorant of the righteousness which is of ,,god by faith in ,,christ ,,jesus1 and having never felt the power of ,,god upon their hearts1 will be continually crying out against us1 as madmen1 deceivers of the people1 and as acting under the influence of evil spirits4 ,but he is unworthy the name of a minister of the gospel of peace1 who is unwilling1 not only to have his name cast out as evil1 but also to die for the truths of the ,,lord ,,jesus4 ,it is the character of hirelings and false prophets1 who care not for the sheep1 to have all men speak well of them4 8,blessed are you1 7says our ,,lord to his first apostles1 and in them to all succeeding ministers7 when men speak all manner of evil against you falsely for my name's sake40 ,and indeed it is impossible but such offences must come3 for men will always judge of others1 according to the principles from which they act themselves4 ,and if they care not to yield obedience to the doctrines which we deliver1 they must necessarily1 in self-defence1 speak against the preachers1 lest they should be asked that question1 which the ,pharisees of old feared to have retorted on them1 if they confessed that ,john was a prophet1 8,why then did you not believe on him80 ,in all such cases1 we have nothing to do but to search our own hearts1 and if we can assure our consciences1 before ,,god1 that we act with a single eye to his glory1 we are chearfully to go on in our work1 and not in the least to regard what men or devils can say against1 or do unto us4 ,but to return4 ,you have heard what various thoughts there were concerning ,,jesus ,,christ1 whilst here on earth3 nor is he otherwise treated1 even now he is exalted to sit down at the right hand of his ,father in heaven4 ,a stranger to christianity1 was he to hear1 that we all profess to hold one ,,lord1 would naturally infer1 that we all thought and spoke one and the same thing about him4 ,but alas6 to our shame be it mentioned1 though ,,christ be not divided in himself1 yet professors are sadly divided in their thoughts about him2 and that not only as to the circumstances of his religion1 but also of those essential truths which must necessarily be believed and received by us1 if ever we hope to be heirs of eternal salvation4 ,some1 and ,i fear a multitude which no man can easily number1 there are amongst us1 who call themselves christians1 and yet seldom or never seriously think of ,,jesus ,,christ at all4 ,they can think of their shops and their farms1 their plays1 their balls1 their assemblies1 and horse-races 7entertainments which directly tend to exclude religion out of the world72 but as for ,,christ1 the author and finisher of faith1 the ,,lord who has bought poor sinners with his precious blood1 and who is the only thing worth thinking of1 alas6 he is not in all1 or at most in very few of their thoughts4 ,but believe me1 ,o ye earthly1 sensual1 carnally-minded professors1 however little you may think of ,,christ now1 or however industriously you may strive to keep him out of your thoughts1 by pursuing the lust of the eye1 the lust of the flesh1 and the pride of life1 yet there is a time coming1 when you will wish you had thought of ,,christ more1 and of your profits and pleasures less4 ,for the gay1 the polite1 the rich also must die as well as others1 and leave their pomps and vanities1 and all their wealth behind them4 ,and ,o6 what thoughts will you entertain concerning ,,jesus ,,christ1 in that hour8 ,but ,i must not pursue these reflections3 they would carry me too far from the main design of this discourse1 which is to shew1 what those who are truly desirous to know how to worship ,,god in spirit and in truth1 ought to think concerning ,,jesus ,,christ1 whom ,,god hath sent to be the end of the law for righteousness to all them that shall believe4 ,i trust1 my brethren1 you are more noble than to think me too strict or scrupulous1 in thus attempting to regulate your thoughts about ,,jesus ,,christ3 for by our thoughts1 as well as our words and actions1 are we to be judged at the great day4 ,and in vain do we hope to believe in1 or worship ,,christ aright1 unless our principles1 on which our faith and practice are founded1 are agreeable to the form of sound words delivered to us in the scriptures of truth4 ,besides1 many deceivers are gone abroad into the world4 ,mere heathen morality1 and not ,,jesus ,,christ1 is preached in most of our churches4 ,and how should people think rightly of ,,christ1 of whom they have scarcely heard8 ,bear with me a little then1 whilst1 to inform your consciences1 ,i ask you a few questions concerning ,,jesus ,,christ3 for there is no other name given under heaven1 whereby we can be saved1 but his4 ,first1 ,what think you about the person of ,,christ8 8,whose ,son is he80 ,this is the question our ,,lord put to the ,pharisees in the words following the text2 and never was it more necessary to repeat this question than in these last days4 ,for numbers that are called after the name of ,,christ1 and ,i fear1 many that pretend to preach him1 are so far advanced in the blasphemous chair1 as openly to deny his being really1 truly1 and properly ,,god4 ,but no one that ever was partaker of his ,spirit1 will speak thus lightly of him4 ,no2 if they are asked1 as ,peter and his brethren were1 8,but whom say ye that ,i am80 they will reply without hesitation1 8,thou art ,,christ the ,son of the ever-living ,,god40 ,for the confession of our ,,lord's divinity1 is the rock upon which he builds his church4 ,was it possible to take this away1 the gates of hell would quickly prevail against it4 ,my brethren1 if ,,jesus ,,christ be not very ,,god of very ,,god1 ,i would never preach the gospel of ,,christ again4 ,for it would not be gospel2 it would be only a system of moral ethics3 ,seneca1 ,cicero1 or any of the ,gentile philosophers1 would be as good a ,saviour as ,,jesus of ,nazareth4 ,it is the divinity of our ,,lord that gives a sanction to his death1 and makes him such a high-priest as became us1 one who by the infinite merits of his suffering could make a full1 perfect1 sufficient sacrifice1 satisfaction and oblation to infinitely offended justice4 ,and whatsoever minister of the church of ,england1 makes use of her forms1 and eats of her bread1 and yet holds not this doctrine 7as ,i fear too many such are crept in amongst us7 such a one belongs only to the synagogue of ,satan4 ,he is not a child or minister of ,,god3 no2 he is a wolf in sheep's cloathing2 he is a child and minister of that wicked one the devil4 ,many will think these hard sayings3 ,but ,i think it no breach of charity to affirm1 that an ,arian or ,socinian cannot be a christian4 ,the one would make us believe ,,jesus ,,christ is only a created ,god1 which is a self-contradiction3 and the other would have us look on him only as a good man2 and instead of owning his death to be an atonement for the sins of the world1 would persuade us1 that ,,christ died only to seal the truth of his doctrine with his blood4 ,but if ,,jesus ,,christ be no more than a mere man1 if he be not truly ,,god1 he was the vilest sinner that ever appeared in the world4 ,for he accepted of divine adoration from the man who had been born blind1 as we read ,john ix4 #ch4 8,and he said1 ,,lord ,i believe1 and worshipped him40 ,besides1 if ,,christ be not properly ,,god1 our faith is vain1 we are yet in our sins3 for no created being1 though of the highest order1 could possibly merit any thing at ,,god's hands3 it was our ,,lord's divinity1 that alone qualified him to take away the sins of the world2 and therefore we hear ,st4 ,john pronouncing so positively1 that 8the ,word 7,,jesus ,,christ7 was not only with ,,god1 but was ,,god40 ,for the like reason1 ,st4 ,paul says1 8that he was in the form of ,,god3 ,that in him dwelt all the fulness of the godhead bodily40 ,nay1 ,,jesus ,,christ assumed the title which ,,god gave to himself1 when he sent ,moses to deliver his people ,israel4 8,before ,abraham was1 ,i ,,am40 ,and again1 8,i and my father are one40 ,which last words1 though our modern infidels would evade and wrest1 as they do other scriptures1 to their own damnation1 yet it is evident that the ,jews understood our ,,lord1 when he spake thus1 as making himself equal with ,,god2 otherwise1 why did they stone him as a blasphemer8 ,and now1 why should it be thought a breach of charity1 to affirm1 that those who deny the divinity of ,,jesus ,,christ1 in the strictest sense of the word1 cannot be christians8 ,for they are greater infidels than the devils themselves1 who confessed that they knew who he was1 8even the holy one of ,,god40 ,they not only believe1 but1 which is more than the unbelievers of this generation do1 they tremble4 ,and was it possible for arch-hereticks1 to be released from their chains of darkness1 under which 7unless they altered their principles before they died7 they are now reserved to the judgment of the great day1 ,i am persuaded they would inform us1 how hell had convinced them of the divinity of ,,jesus ,,christ1 and that they would advise their followers to abhor their principles1 lest they should come into the same place1 and thereby increase each others torments4 duplicate word 8the0 removed ,but1 ,secondly1 ,what think you of the manhood or incarnation of ,,jesus ,,christ8 ,for ,,christ was not only ,,god1 but he was ,,god and man in one person4 ,thus runs the text and context1 8,when the ,pharisees were gathered together1 ,,jesus asked them1 saying1 ,what think ye of ,,christ8 ,whose ,son is he8 ,they say unto him1 ,the ,son of ,david4 ,how then1 says our divine master1 does ,david in spirit call him ,,lord80 ,from which passage it is evident1 that we do not think rightly of the person of ,,jesus ,,christ1 unless we believe him to be perfect ,,god and perfect man1 of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting4 ,for it is on this account that he is called ,,christ1 or the anointed one1 who through his own voluntary offer was set apart by the father1 and strengthened and qualified by the anointing or communication of the ,holy ,ghost1 to be a mediator between ,him and offending man4 ,the reason why the ,son of ,,god took upon him our nature1 was1 the fall of our first parents4 ,i hope there is no one present so atheistical1 as to think1 that man made himself3 no1 it was ,,god that made us1 and not we ourselves4 ,and ,i would willingly think1 that no one is so blasphemous as to suppose1 that if ,,god did make us1 he made us such creatures as we now find ourselves to be4 ,for this would be giving ,,god's word the lie1 which tells us1 that 8in the image of ,,god 7not in the image which we now bear on our souls7 made he man40 ,as ,,god made man1 so ,,god made him perfect4 ,he placed him in the garden of ,eden1 and condescended to enter into a covenant with him1 promising him eternal life1 upon condition of unsinning obedience2 and threatening eternal death1 if he broke his law1 and did eat the forbidden fruit4 ,man did eat2 and herein acting as our representative1 thereby involved both himself and us in that curse1 which ,,god1 the righteous judge1 had said should be the consequence of his disobedience4 ,but here begins that mystery of godliness1 ,,god manifested in the flesh4 ,for 7sing1 ,o heavens1 and rejoice1 ,o earth67 the eternal ,father1 foreseeing how ,satan would bruise the heel of man1 had in his eternal counsel provided a means whereby he might bruise that accursed ,serpent's head4 ,man is permitted to fall1 and become subject to death2 but ,,jesus1 the only begotten ,son of ,,god1 begotten of the ,father before all worlds1 ,light of light1 very ,,god of very ,,god1 offers to die to make an atonement for his transgression1 and to fulfil all righteousness in his stead4 ,and because it was impossible for him to do this as he was ,,god1 and yet since man had offended1 it was necessary it should be done in the person of man2 rather than we should perish1 this everlasting ,,god1 this ,prince of ,peace1 this ,antient of ,days1 in the fulness of time1 had a body prepared for him by the ,holy ,ghost1 and became an infant4 ,in this body he performed a compleat obedience to the law of ,,god2 whereby he1 in our stead1 fulfilled the covenant of works1 and at last became subject to death1 even death upon the cross2 that as ,,god he might satisfy1 as man he might obey and suffer2 and being ,,god and man in one person1 might once more procure a union between ,,god and our souls4 ,and now1 ,what think you of this love of ,,christ8 ,do not you think it was wondrous great8 ,especially when you consider1 that we were ,,christ's bitter enemies1 and that he would have been infinitely happy in himself1 notwithstanding we had perished for ever4 ,whatever you may think of it1 ,i know the blessed angels1 who are not so much concerned in this mystery of godliness as we1 think most highly of it4 ,they do1 they will desire to look into1 and admire it1 through all eternity4 ,why1 why ,o ye sinners1 will you not think of this love of ,,christ8 ,surely it must melt down the most hardened heart4 ,whilst ,i am speaking1 the thought of this infinite and condescending love fires and warms my soul4 ,i could dwell on it for ever4 ,but it is expedient for you1 that ,i should ask you another question concerning ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,thirdly1 ,what think you about being justified by ,,christ8 ,i believe ,i can answer for some of you3 for many1 ,i fear1 think to be justified or looked upon as righteous in ,,god's sight1 without ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,but such will find themselves dreadfully mistaken3 for out of ,,christ1 8,,god is a consuming fire40 ,others satisfy themselves1 with believing that ,,christ was ,,god and man1 and that he came into the world to save sinners in general2 whereas1 their chief concern ought to be1 how they may be assured that ,,jesus ,,christ came into the world to save them in particular4 8,the life that ,i now live in the flesh1 7says the ,apostle7 is by faith of the ,son of ,,god1 who loved me1 and gave himself for me40 ,observe1 for me3 it is this immediate application of ,,jesus ,,christ to our own hearts1 that renders his merits effectual to our eternal salvation4 ,an unapplied ,,christ will do us no service at all4 ,others there are who go still farther3 for they think that ,,jesus ,,christ is ,god-man2 that he is to be applied to their hearts2 and that they can be justified in ,,god's sight1 only in or through him3 but then they make him only in part a saviour3 ,they are for doing what they can themselves1 and then ,,jesus ,,christ is to make up the deficiencies of their righteousness4 ,this is the sum and substance of our modern divinity4 ,and was it possible for me to know the thoughts of most that hear me this day1 ,i believe they would tell me1 this was the scheme they had laid1 and perhaps depended on for some years1 for their eternal salvation4 ,is it not then high time1 my brethren1 for you to entertain quite different thoughts concerning justification by ,,jesus ,,christ8 ,for if you think thus1 you are in the case of those unhappy ,jews1 who went about to establish their own righteousness1 and would not submit to1 and consequently missed of that righteousness which is of ,,god by faith in ,,christ ,,jesus our ,,lord4 ,what think you then1 if ,i tell you1 that you are to be justified freely through faith in ,,jesus ,,christ1 without any regard to any work or fitness foreseen in us at all8 ,for salvation is the free gift of ,,god4 ,i know no fitness in man1 but a fitness to be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone for ever4 ,our righteousnesses1 in ,,god's sight1 are but as filthy rags3 he cannot away with them4 ,our holiness1 if we have any1 is not the cause1 but the effect of our justification in ,,god's sight4 8,we love ,,god1 because he first loved us40 ,we must not come to ,,god as the proud ,pharisee did1 bringing in as it were a reckoning of our services2 we must come in the temper and language of the poor ,publican1 smiting upon our breasts1 and saying1 8,,god be merciful to me a sinner30 for ,,jesus ,,christ justifies us whilst we are ungodly4 ,he came not to call the righteous1 but sinners to repentance4 ,the poor in spirit only1 they who are willing to go out of themselves1 and rely wholly on the righteousness of another1 are so blessed as to be members of his kingdom4 ,the righteousness1 the whole righteousness of ,,jesus ,,christ1 is to be imputed to us1 instead of our own3 8,for we are not under the law1 but under grace3 and to as many as walk after this rule1 peace be on them30 for they1 and they only are the true ,israel of ,,god4 ,in the great work of man's redemption1 boasting is entirely excluded3 which could not be1 if only one of our works was to be joined with the merits of ,,christ4 ,our salvation is all of ,,god1 from the beginning to the end3 it is not of works1 lest any man should boast3 man has no hand in it3 it is ,,christ who is to be made to us of ,,god the ,father1 wisdom1 righteousness1 sanctification1 and eternal redemption4 ,his active as well as his passive obedience1 is to be applied to poor sinners4 ,he has fulfilled all righteousness in our stead1 that we might become the righteousness of ,,god in him4 ,all we have to do1 is to lay hold on this righteousness by faith3 and the very moment we do apprehend it by a lively faith1 that very moment we may be assured1 that the blood of ,,jesus ,,christ has cleansed us from all sin3 8,for the promise is to us and to our children1 and to as many as the ,,lord our ,,god shall call40 ,if we and our whole houses believe1 we shall be saved as well as the ,jaylor and his house3 for the righteousness of ,,jesus ,,christ is an everlasting1 as well as a perfect righteousness4 ,it is as effectual to all who believe in him now1 as formerly2 and so it will be1 till time shall be no more4 ,search the scriptures1 as the ,bereans did1 and see whether these things are not so4 ,search ,st4 ,paul's epistles to the ,romans and ,galatians1 and there you will find this doctrine so plainly taught you1 that1 unless you have eyes and see not1 he that runs may read4 ,search the ,eleventh ,article of our ,church3 8,we are accounted righteous before ,,god1 only for the merits of our ,lord and ,saviour ,,jesus ,,christ by faith1 and not for our own works or deservings40 ,this doctrine of our free justification by faith in ,,christ ,,jesus1 however censured and evil spoken of by our present ,masters of ,israel1 was highly esteemed by our wise fore-fathers3 for in the subsequent words of the forementioned article1 it is called a most wholesome doctrine1 and very full of comfort3 and so it is to all that are weary and heavy laden1 and are truly willing to find rest in ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,this is gospel1 this is glad tidings of great joy to all that feel themselves poor1 lost1 undone1 damned sinners4 8,ho1 every one that thirsteth1 come unto the waters of life1 and drink freely2 come and buy without money and without price40 ,behold a fountain opened in your ,saviour's side1 for sin and for all uncleanness4 8,look unto him whom you have pierced30 look unto him by faith1 and verily you shall be saved1 though you came here only to ridicule and blaspheme1 and never thought of ,,god or of ,,christ before4 ,not that you must think ,,god will save you because1 or on account of your faith2 for faith is a work1 and then you would be justified for your works3 but when ,i tell you1 we are to be justified by faith1 ,i mean that faith is the instrument whereby the sinner applies or brings home the redemption of ,,jesus ,,christ to his heart4 ,and to whomsoever ,,god gives such a faith1 7for it is the free gift of ,,god7 he may lift up his head with boldness1 he need not fear2 he is a spiritual son of our spiritual ,david2 he is passed from death to life1 he shall never come into condemnation4 ,this is the gospel which we preach4 ,if any man or angel preach any other gospel1 than this of our being freely justified through faith in ,,christ ,,jesus1 we have the authority of the greatest ,apostle1 to pronounce him accursed4 ,and now1 my brethren1 what think you of this foolishness of preaching8 ,to you that have tasted the good word of life1 who have been enlightened to see the riches of ,,god's free grace in ,,christ ,,jesus1 ,i am persuaded it is precious1 and has distilled like the dew into your souls4 ,and ,o that all were like-minded6 ,but ,i am afraid1 numbers are ready to go away contradicting and blaspheming4 ,tell me1 are there not many of you saying within yourselves1 8,this is a licentious doctrine2 this preacher is opening a door for encouragement in sin40 ,but this does not surprize me at all1 it is a stale1 antiquated objection1 as old as the doctrine of justification itself2 and 7which by the way is not much to the credit of those who urge it now7 it was made by an infidel4 ,st4 ,paul1 in his epistle to the ,romans1 after he had1 in the first five chapters1 demonstrably proved the doctrine of justification by faith alone2 in the sixth1 brings in an unbeliever saying1 8,shall we continue in sin then1 that grace may abound80 ,but as he rejected such an inference with a 8,,god forbid60 so do ,i3 for the faith which we preach1 is not a dead speculative faith1 an assenting to things credible1 as credible1 as it is commonly defined3 it is not a faith of the head only1 but a faith of the heart4 ,it is a living principle wrought in the soul1 by the ,spirit of the ever-living ,,god1 convincing the sinner of his lost1 undone condition by nature2 enabling him to apply and lay hold on the perfect righteousness of ,,jesus ,,christ1 freely offered him in the gospel1 and continually exciting him1 out of a principle of love and gratitude1 to shew forth that faith1 by abounding in every good word and work4 ,this is the sum and substance of the doctrine that has been delivered4 ,and if this be a licentious doctrine1 judge ye4 ,no1 my brethren1 this is not destroying1 but teaching you how to do good works1 from a proper principle4 ,for to use the words of our ,church in another of her ,articles1 8,works done before the grace of ,,christ1 and the inspiration of the ,spirit1 are not pleasant to ,,god1 forasmuch as they spring not of faith in ,,jesus ,,christ2 rather1 for that they are not done as ,,god has willed and commanded them to be done1 we doubt not but they have the nature of sin40 ,so that they who bid you do1 and then live1 are just as wise as those who would persuade you to build a beautiful magnificent house1 without laying a foundation4 ,it is true1 the doctrine of our free justification by faith in ,,christ ,,jesus1 like other gospel truths1 may and will be abused by men of corrupt minds1 reprobates concerning the faith2 but they who receive the truth of ,,god in the love of it1 will always be shewing their faith by their works4 ,for this reason1 ,st4 ,paul1 after he had told the ,ephesians1 8,by grace they were saved through faith1 not of works1 lest any man should boast10 immediately adds1 8,for we are his workmanship1 created in ,,christ ,,jesus unto good works40 ,and in his epistle to ,titus1 having given him directions to tell the people they were justified by grace1 directly subjoins1 chapter iii4 verse #h4 8,i will that you affirm constantly1 that they who have believed in ,,god might be careful to maintain good works40 ,agreeable to this1 we are told in our ,twelfth ,article1 8,that albeit good works1 which are the fruits of faith1 and follow after justification1 cannot put away our sins1 and endure the severity of ,,god's judgment2 yet are they pleasing and acceptable to ,,god in ,,christ2 and do spring necessarily out of a true and lively faith1 insomuch1 that a lively faith may be as evidently known by them1 as a tree discerned by the fruit40 ,what would ,i give1 that this ,article was duly understood and preached by all that have subscribed to it6 ,the ark of the ,,lord would not then be driven into the wilderness1 nor would so many persons dissent from the ,church of ,england4 ,for ,i am fully persuaded1 that it is not so much on account of rites and ceremonies1 as our not preaching the truth as it is in ,,jesus1 that so many have been obliged to go and seek for food elsewhere4 ,did not we fall from our established doctrines1 few1 comparatively speaking1 would fall from the ,established ,church4 ,where ,,christ is preached1 though it be in a church or on a common1 dissenters of all denominations have1 and do most freely come4 ,but if our clergy will preach only the law1 and not shew the way of salvation by faith in ,,christ ,,jesus1 the charge of schism at the day of judgment1 ,i fear1 will chiefly lye at their door4 ,the true sheep of ,,christ know the voice of ,,christ's true shepherds1 and strangers they will not hear4 ,observe1 my dear brethren1 the words of the ,article1 8,good works are the fruits of faith1 and follow after justification40 ,how then can they precede1 or be any way the cause of it8 ,our persons must be justified1 before our performances can be accepted4 ,,god had respect to ,abel before he had respect to his offering3 and therefore the righteousness of ,,jesus ,,christ must be freely imputed to1 and apprehended by us through faith1 before we can offer an acceptable sacrifice to ,,god3 for out of ,,christ1 as ,i hinted before1 ,,god is a consuming fire3 and whatsoever is not of faith in ,,christ1 is sin4 ,that people mistake the doctrine of free justification1 ,i believe1 is partly owing to their not rightly considering the different persons to whom ,st4 ,paul and ,st4 ,james wrote in their epistles2 as also the different kind of justification each of them writes about4 ,the former asserts in line upon line1 argument upon argument1 8,that we are justified by faith alone30 ,the latter put this question1 8,was not ,abraham justified by works80 ,from whence many1 not considering the different views of these holy men1 and the different persons they wrote to1 have blended and joined faith and works1 in order to justify us in the sight of ,,god4 ,but this is a capital mistake2 for ,st4 ,paul was writing to the ,jewish proselytes1 who sought righteousness by the works1 not of the ceremonial only1 but of the moral law4 ,in contradistinction to that1 he tells them1 they were to look for justification in ,,god's sight1 only by the perfect righteousness of ,,jesus ,,christ apprehended by faith4 ,st4 ,james had a different set of people to deal with2 such who abused the doctrines of free justification1 and thought they should be saved 7as numbers among us do now7 upon their barely professing to believe on ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,these the holy ,apostle endeavours wisely to convince1 that such a faith was only a dead and false faith2 and therefore1 it behoved all who would be blessed with faithful ,abraham1 to shew forth their faith by their works1 as he did3 8,for was not ,abraham justified by works80 ,did he not prove that his faith was a true justifying faith1 by its being productive of good works8 ,from whence it is plain1 that ,st4 ,james is talking of a declarative justification before men2 shew me1 demonstrate1 evidence to me1 that thou hast a true faith1 by thy works3 ,whereas1 ,st4 ,paul is talking only of our being justified in the sight of ,,god2 and thus he proves1 that ,abraham1 as we also are to be1 was justified before ever the moral or ceremonial law was given to the ,jews3 for it is written1 8,abraham believed in the ,,lord1 and it was accounted to him for righteousness40 ,take the substance of what has been said on this head1 in the few following words4 ,every man that is saved1 is justified three ways3 ,first1 meritoriously1 by the death of ,,jesus ,,christ3 8,it is the blood of ,,jesus ,,christ alone that cleanses us from all sin40 ,secondly1 instrumentally1 by faith3 faith is the means or instrument whereby the merits of ,,jesus ,,christ are applied to the sinner's heart3 8,ye are all the children of ,,god by faith in ,,christ ,,jesus40 ,thirdly1 we are justified declaratively2 namely1 by good works3 good works declare and prove to the world1 that our faith is a true saving faith4 8,was not ,abraham justified by works80 ,and again1 8,shew me thy faith by thy works40 ,it may not be improper to illustrate this doctrine by an example or two4 ,i suppose no one will pretend to say1 that there was any fitness for salvation in ,zaccheus the publican1 when he came to see ,,jesus out of no better principle1 than that whereby perhaps thousands are led to hear me preach2 ,i mean1 curiosity3 but ,,jesus ,,christ prevented and called him by his free grace1 and sweetly1 but irresistibly inclined him to obey that call2 as1 ,i pray ,,god1 he may influence all you that come only to see who the preacher is4 ,zaccheus received our ,,lord joyfully into his house1 and at the same time by faith received him into his heart3 ,zaccheus was then freely justified in the sight of ,,god4 ,but behold the immediate fruits of that justification6 ,he stands forth in the midst1 and as before he had believed in his heart1 he now makes confession with his mouth to salvation3 8,behold1 ,,lord1 the half of my goods ,i give unto the poor2 and if ,i have taken any thing from any man by false accusation1 ,i restore him four-fold40 ,and thus it will be with thee1 ,o believer1 as soon as ever ,,god's dear ,son is revealed in thee by a living faith2 thou wilt have no rest in thy spirit1 till out of love and gratitude for what ,,god has done for thy soul1 thou shewest forth thy faith by thy works4 ,again1 ,i suppose every body will grant there was no fitness for salvation in the persecutor ,saul2 no more than there is in those persecuting zealots of these last days1 who are already breathing out threatenings1 and1 if in their power1 would breathe out slaughter also1 against the disciples of the ,,lord4 ,now our ,,lord1 we know1 freely prevented him by his grace1 7and ,o that he would thus effectually call the persecutors of this generation7 and by a light from heaven struck him to the ground4 ,at the same time1 by his ,spirit1 he pricked him to the heart1 convinced him of sin1 and caused him to cry out1 8,who art thou1 ,,lord80 ,,christ replies1 8,i am ,,jesus whom thou persecutest40 ,faith then was instantaneously given to him1 and behold1 immediately ,saul cries out1 8,,lord1 what wouldst thou have me to do80 ,and so will every poor soul that believes on the ,,lord ,,jesus with his whole heart4 ,he will be always asking1 ,,lord1 what shall ,i do for thee8 ,,lord1 what wouldst thou have me to do8 ,not to justify himself1 but only to evidence the sincerity of his love and thankfulness to his all-merciful ,high-priest1 for plucking him as a firebrand out of the fire4 ,perhaps many self-righteous persons amongst you1 may flatter yourselves1 that you are not so wicked as either ,zaccheus or ,saul was1 and consequently there is a greater fitness for salvation in you than in them4 ,but if you think thus1 indeed you think more highly of yourselves than you ought to think3 for by nature we are all alike1 all equally fallen short of the glory of ,,god1 all equally dead in trespasses and sins1 and there needs the same almighty power to be exerted in converting any one of the most sober1 good-natured1 moral persons here present1 as there was in converting the publican ,zaccheus1 or that notorious persecutor ,saul4 ,and was it possible for you to ascend into the highest heaven1 and to enquire of the spirits of just men made perfect1 ,i am persuaded they would tell you this doctrine is from ,,god4 ,but we have a more sure word of prophecy1 to which we do well to give heed1 as unto a light shining in a dark place4 ,my brethren1 the word is nigh you2 search the scriptures2 beg of ,,god to make you willing to be saved in this day of his power3 for it is not flesh and blood1 but the ,spirit of ,,jesus ,,christ1 that alone can reveal these things unto you4 ,fourthly and ,lastly1 ,what think you of ,,jesus ,,christ being formed within you8 ,for whom ,,christ justifies1 them he also sanctifies4 ,although he finds1 yet he does not leave us unholy4 ,a true christian may not so properly be said to live1 as ,,jesus ,,christ to live in him4 ,for they only that are led by the ,spirit of ,,christ1 are the true sons of ,,god4 ,as ,i observed before1 so ,i tell you again1 the faith which we preach is not a dead1 but a lively active faith wrought in the soul1 working a thorough change1 by the power of the ,holy ,ghost1 in the whole man3 and unless ,,christ be thus in you1 notwithstanding you may be orthodox as to the foregoing principles1 notwithstanding you may have good desires1 and attend constantly on the means of grace2 yet1 in ,st4 ,paul's opinion1 you are out of a state of salvation4 8,know you not1 7says that ,apostle to the ,corinthians1 a church famous for its gifts above any church under heaven7 that ,,christ is in you1 7by his ,spirit7 unless you are reprobates80 ,for ,,christ came not only to save us from the guilt1 but from the power of our sins3 till he has done this1 however he may be a ,saviour to others1 we can have no assurance or well-grounded hope1 that he has saved us3 for it is by receiving his blessed ,spirit into our hearts1 and feeling him witnessing with our spirits1 that we are the sons of ,,god1 that we can be certified of our being sealed to the day of redemption4 ,this is a great mystery2 but ,i speak of ,,christ and the new-birth4 ,marvel not at my asking you1 what you think about ,,christ being formed within you8 ,for either ,,god must change his nature1 or we ours4 ,for as in ,adam we all have spiritually died1 so all that are effectually saved by ,,christ1 must in ,,christ be spiritually made alive4 ,his only end in dying and rising again1 and interceding for us now in heaven1 is to redeem us from the misery of our fallen nature1 and1 by the operation of his blessed ,spirit1 to make us meet to be partakers of the heavenly inheritance with the saints in light4 ,none but those that thus are changed by his grace here1 shall appear with him in glory hereafter4 ,examine yourselves1 therefore1 my brethren1 whether you are in the faith2 prove yourselves2 and think it not sufficient to say in your creed1 ,i believe in ,,jesus ,,christ3 many say so1 who do not believe1 who are reprobates1 and yet in a state of death4 ,you take ,,god's name in vain1 when you call him ,father1 and your prayers are turned into sin1 unless you believe in ,,christ1 so as to have your life hid with him in ,,god1 and to receive life and nourishment from him1 as branches do from the vine4 ,i know1 indeed1 the men of this generation deny there is any such thing as feeling ,,christ within them2 but alas6 to what a dreadful condition would such reduce us1 even to the state of the abandoned heathen1 who1 ,st4 ,paul tells us1 8were past feeling40 ,the ,apostle prays1 that the ,ephesians may abound in all knowledge and spiritual understanding1 or as it might be rendered1 spiritual sensation4 ,and in the office for the visitation of the sick1 the minister prays1 that the ,,lord may make the sick person know and feel1 that there is no other name under heaven given unto men1 in whom and through whom they may receive health and salvation1 but only the name of our ,,lord ,,jesus4 ,for there is a spiritual1 as well as a corporeal feeling2 and though this is not communicated to us in a sensible manner1 as outward objects affect our senses1 yet it is as real as any sensible or visible sensation1 and may be as truly felt and discerned by the soul1 as any impression from without can be felt by the body4 ,all who are born again of ,,god1 know that ,i lie not4 ,what think you1 ,sirs1 did ,naaman feel1 when he was cured of his leprosy8 ,did the woman feel virtue coming out of ,,jesus ,,christ1 when she touched the hem of his garment1 and was cured of her bloody issue8 ,so surely mayst thou feel1 ,o believer1 when ,,jesus ,,christ dwelleth in thy heart4 ,i pray ,,god to make you all know and feel this1 ere you depart hence4 ,o my brethren1 my heart is enlarged towards you4 ,i trust ,i feel something of that hidden1 but powerful presence of ,,christ1 whilst ,i am preaching to you4 ,indeed it is sweet1 it is exceedingly comfortable4 ,all the harm ,i wish you1 who without cause are my enemies1 is1 that you felt the like4 ,believe me1 though it would be hell to my soul1 to return to a natural state again1 yet ,i would willingly change states with you for a little while1 that you might know what it is to have ,,christ dwelling in your hearts by faith4 ,do not turn your backs2 do not let the devil hurry you away3 be not afraid of convictions2 do not think worse of the doctrine1 because preached without the church walls4 ,our ,,lord1 in the days of his flesh1 preached on a mount1 in a ship1 and a field2 and ,i am persuaded1 many have felt his gracious presence here4 ,indeed we speak what we know4 ,do not reject the kingdom of ,,god against yourselves3 be so wise as to receive our witness4 ,i cannot1 ,i will not let you go2 stay a little1 let us reason together4 ,however lightly you may esteem your souls1 ,i know our ,,lord has set an unspeakable value on them4 ,he thought them worthy of his most precious blood4 ,i beseech you1 therefore1 ,o sinners1 be ye reconciled to ,,god4 ,i hope you do not fear being accepted in the beloved4 ,behold1 he calleth you2 behold1 he prevents and follows you with his mercy1 and hath sent forth his servants into the highways and hedges1 to compel you to come in4 ,remember then1 that at such an hour of such a day1 in such a year1 in this place1 you were all told what you ought to think concerning ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,if you now perish1 it will not be for lack of knowledge3 ,i am free from the blood of you all4 ,you cannot say ,i have been preaching damnation to you2 you cannot say ,i have1 like legal preachers1 been requiring you to make brick without straw4 ,i have not bidden you to make yourselves saints1 and then come to ,,god2 but ,i have offered you salvation on as cheap terms as you can desire4 ,i have offered you ,,christ's whole wisdom1 ,,christ's whole righteousness1 ,,christ's whole sanctification and eternal redemption1 if you will but believe on him4 ,if you say1 you cannot believe1 you say right2 for faith1 as well as every other blessing1 is the gift of ,,god3 but then wait upon ,,god1 and who knows but he may have mercy on thee8 ,why do we not entertain more loving thoughts of ,,christ8 ,or do you think he will have mercy on others1 and not on you8 ,but are you not sinners8 ,and did not ,,jesus ,,christ come into the world to save sinners8 ,if you say you are the chief of sinners2 ,i answer1 that will be no hindrance to your salvation1 indeed it will not1 if you lay hold on him by faith4 ,read the ,evangelists1 and see how kindly he behaved to his disciples who fled from and denied him3 8,go tell my brethren10 says he4 ,he did not say1 ,go tell those traitors2 but1 8,go tell my brethren1 and ,peter30 as though he had said1 ,go tell my brethren in general1 and poor ,peter in particular1 8that ,i am risen20 ,o comfort his poor drooping heart1 tell him ,i am reconciled to him2 bid him weep no more so bitterly3 for though with oaths and curses he thrice denied me1 yet ,i have died for his sins1 ,i am risen again for his justification3 ,i freely forgive him all4 ,thus slow to anger1 and of great kindness1 was our all-merciful ,high-priest4 ,and do you think he has changed his nature1 and forgets poor sinners1 now he is exalted to the right-hand of ,,god8 ,no1 he is the same yesterday1 to-day1 and for ever1 and sitteth there only to make intercession for us4 ,come then1 ye harlots1 ,come ye publicans1 come ye most abandoned of sinners1 come and believe on ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,though the whole world despise you and cast you out1 yet he will not disdain to take you up4 ,o amazing1 ,o infinitely condescending love6 even you1 he will not be ashamed to call his brethren4 ,how will you escape if you neglect such a glorious offer of salvation8 ,what would the damned spirits1 now in the prison of hell1 give1 if ,,christ was so freely offered to their souls8 ,and why are not we lifting up our eyes in torments8 ,does any one out of this great multitude dare say1 he does not deserve damnation8 ,if not1 why are we left1 and others taken away by death8 ,what is this but an instance of ,,god's free grace1 and a sign of his good will towards us8 ,let ,,god's goodness lead us to repentance6 ,o let there be joy in heaven over some of you repenting6 ,though we are in a field1 ,i am persuaded the blessed angels are hovering now around us1 and do long1 8as the hart panteth after the water-brooks10 to sing an anthem at your conversion4 ,blessed be ,,god1 ,i hope their joy will be fulfilled4 ,an awful silence appears amongst us4 ,i have good hope that the words which the ,,lord has enabled me to speak in your ears this day1 have not altogether fallen to the ground4 ,your tears and deep attention1 are an evidence1 that the ,,lord ,,god is amongst us of a truth4 ,come1 ye ,pharisees1 come and see1 in spite of your satanical rage and fury1 the ,,lord ,,jesus is getting himself the victory4 ,and brethren1 ,i speak the truth in ,,christ1 ,i lie not1 if one soul of you1 by the blessing of ,,god1 be brought to think savingly of ,,jesus ,,christ this day1 ,i care not if my enemies were permitted to carry me to prison1 and put my feet fast in the stocks1 as soon as ,i have delivered this sermon4 ,brethren1 my heart's desire and prayer to ,,god is1 that you may be saved4 ,for this cause ,i follow my ,master without the camp4 ,i care not how much of his sacred reproach ,i bear1 so that some of you be converted from the errors of your ways4 ,i rejoice1 yea and ,i will rejoice4 ,ye men1 ye devils1 do your worst3 the ,,lord who sent1 will support me4 ,and when ,,christ1 who is our life1 and whom ,i have now been preaching1 shall appear1 ,i also1 together with his despised little ones1 shall appear with him in glory4 ,and then1 what will you think of ,,christ8 ,i know what you will think of him4 ,you will then think him to be the fairest among ten thousand3 ,you will then think and feel him to be a just and sin-avenging judge4 ,be ye then persuaded to kiss him lest he be angry1 and so you be banished for ever from the presence of the ,,lord4 ,behold1 ,i come to you as the angel did to ,lot4 ,flee1 flee1 for your lives2 haste1 linger no longer in your spiritual ,sodom1 for otherwise you will be eternally destroyed4 ,numbers1 no doubt1 there are amongst you1 that may regard me no more than ,lot's sons-in-law regarded him4 ,i am persuaded ,i seem to some of you as one that mocketh3 but ,i speak the truth in ,,christ1 ,i lie not2 as sure as fire and brimstone was rained from the ,,lord out of heaven1 to destroy ,sodom and ,gomorrah1 so surely1 at the great day1 shall the vials of ,,god's wrath be poured on you1 if you do not think seriously of1 and act agreeable to the gospel of the ,,lord's ,,christ4 ,behold1 ,i have told you before2 and ,i pray ,,god1 all you that forget him may seriously think of what has been said1 before he pluck you away1 and there be none to deliver you4 ,now to ,,god the ,father1 c4 ,,sermon ,,xxv4 ,the wise and foolish ,virgins4 ,,matthew xxv4 #ac4 ,watch therefore1 for ye know neither the day nor the hour in which the ,son of man cometh4 ,,the apostle ,paul1 in his epistle to the ,hebrews1 informs us1 8,that it is appointed for all men once to die2 after that is the judgment40 ,and ,i think1 if any consideration be sufficient to awaken a sleeping drowsy world1 it must be this1 ,that there will be a day wherein these heavens shall be wrapt up like a scroll1 this element melt with fervent heat1 the earth and all things therein be burnt up1 and every soul1 of every nation and language1 summoned to appear before the dreadful tribunal of the righteous ,judge of quick and dead1 to receive rewards and punishments1 according to the deeds done in their bodies4 ,the great apostle just mentioned1 when brought before ,felix1 could think of no better means to convert that sinful man1 than to reason of temperance1 righteousness1 and more especially of a judgment to come4 ,the first might in some measure affect1 but1 ,i am persuaded1 it was the last consideration1 a judgment to come1 that made him to tremble3 and so bad as the world is now grown1 yet there are few have their consciences so far seared1 as to deny that there will be a reckoning hereafter4 ,the promiscuous dispensations of providence in this life1 wherein we see good men afflicted1 destitute1 tormented1 and the wicked permitted triumphantly to ride over their heads1 has been always looked upon as an indisputable argument1 by the generality of men1 that there will be a day in which ,,god will judge the world in righteousness1 and administer equity unto his people4 ,some indeed are so bold as to deny it1 while they are engaged in the pursuit of the lust of the eye1 and the pride of life4 ,but follow them to their death-beds1 ask them1 when their souls are ready to launch into eternity1 what they then think of a judgment to come8 and they will tell you1 they dare not give their consciences the lie any longer4 ,they feel a fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation in their hearts4 ,since then these things are so1 does it not highly concern each of us1 my brethren1 before we come on a bed of sickness1 seriously to examine how the account stands between ,,god and our souls1 and how it will fare with us in that day8 ,as for the openly prophane1 the drunkard1 the whoremonger1 the adulterer1 and such-like1 there is no doubt of what will become of them2 without repentance they shall never enter into the kingdom of ,,god and his ,,christ3 no2 their damnation slumbereth not2 a burning fiery ,tophet1 kindled by the fury of ,,god's eternal wrath1 is prepared for their reception1 wherein they must suffer the vengeance of eternal fire4 ,nor is there the least doubt of the state of true believers4 ,for though they are despised and rejected of natural men1 yet being born again of ,,god1 they are heirs of ,,god1 and joint heirs with ,,christ4 ,they have the earnest of the promised inheritance in their hearts1 and are assured1 that a new and living way is made open for them1 into the holy of holies1 by the blood of ,,jesus ,,christ1 into which an abundant entrance shall be administered to them at the great day of account4 ,the only question is1 what will become of the almost ,christian1 one that is content to go1 as he thinks1 in a middle way to heaven1 without being prophane on the one hand1 or1 as he falsly imagines1 righteous over-much on the other8 ,many there are in every congregation1 and consequently some here present1 of this stamp4 ,and what is worst of all1 it is more easy to convince the most notorious publicans and sinners of their being out of a state of salvation1 than any of these4 ,notwithstanding1 if ,,jesus ,,christ may be our judge1 they shall as certainly be rejected and disowned by him at the last day1 as though they lived in open defiance of all his laws4 ,for what says our ,,lord in the parable of which the words of the text are a conclusion1 and which ,i intend to make the subject of my present discourse4 8,then10 at the day of judgment1 which he had been discoursing of in the foregoing1 and prosecutes in this chapter1 8shall the kingdom of heaven1 7the state of professors in the gospel church7 be likened unto ten virgins1 who took their lamps1 and went forth to meet the bridegroom40 ,in which words1 is a manifest allusion to a custom prevailing in our ,,lord's time among the ,jews at marriage solemnities1 which were generally at night1 and at which it was customary for the persons of the bride-chamber to go out in procession1 with many lights1 to meet the bridegroom4 ,by the bridegroom1 you are here to understand ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,the church1 i4 e4 true believers1 are his spouse2 he is united to them by one spirit1 even in this life2 but the solemnizing of these sacred nuptials1 is reserved till the day of judgment1 when he shall come to take them home to himself1 and present them before men and angels1 as his purchase1 to his ,father1 without spot or wrinkle1 or any such thing4 ,by the ten virgins we are to understand1 the professors of christianity in general4 ,all are called virgins1 because all are called to be saints4 ,whosoever names the name of ,,christ1 is obliged by that very profession to depart from all iniquity4 ,but the pure and chaste in heart1 are the only persons that will be so blessed as to see ,,god4 ,as ,,christ was born of a virgin1 so he can dwell in none but virgin souls1 made pure and holy by the cohabitation of his holy ,spirit4 ,what says the apostle8 8,all are not ,israelites that are of ,israel10 all are not christians that are called after the name of ,,christ3 ,no1 says our ,,lord1 in the #b;d verse1 8,five of those virgins were wise10 true believers1 8and five were foolish10 formal hypocrites4 ,but why are five said to be wise1 and the other five foolish8 ,hear what our ,,lord says in the following verses2 8,they that were foolish took their lamps1 and took no oil with them3 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps40 ,they that were foolish took their lamps of an outward profession4 ,they would go to church1 say over several manuals of prayers1 come perhaps into a field to hear a sermon1 give at a collection1 and receive the sacrament constantly1 nay1 oftner than once a month4 ,but then here lay the mistake2 they had no oil in their lamps1 no principle of grace1 no living faith in their hearts1 without which1 though we should give all our goods to feed the poor1 and our bodies to be burnt1 it would profit us nothing4 ,in short1 they were exact1 nay1 perhaps superstitious bigots as to the form1 but all the while they were strangers to1 and1 in effect1 denied the power of godliness in their hearts4 ,they would go to church1 but at the same time1 think it no harm to go to a ball or an assembly1 notwithstanding they promised at their baptism1 to renounce the pomps and vanities of this wicked world4 ,they were so exceedingly fearful of being righteous over-much1 that they would even persecute those that were truly devout1 if they attempted to go a step farther than themselves4 ,in one word1 they never effectually felt the power of the world to come4 ,they thought they might be christians without so much inward feeling1 and therefore1 notwithstanding their high pretensions1 had only a name to live4 ,and now1 ,sirs1 let me pause a while1 and in the name of ,,god1 whom ,i endeavour to serve in the gospel of his dear ,son1 give me leave to ask one question4 ,whilst ,i have been drawing1 though in miniature1 the character of these foolish virgins1 have not many of your consciences made the application1 and with a small1 still1 though articulate voice1 said1 ,thou man1 thou woman1 art one of those foolish virgins1 for thy sentiments and practice agree thereto8 ,stifle not1 but rather encourage these convictions2 and who knows1 but that the ,,lord who is rich in mercy to all that call upon him faithfully1 may so work upon you even by this foolishness of preaching1 as to make you wise virgins before you return home8 insert missing word 8the0 ,what they were you shall know immediately3 8,but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps40 ,observe1 the wise1 the true believers1 had their lamps as well as the foolish virgins2 for christianity does not require us to cast off all outward forms2 we may use forms1 and yet not be formal3 for instance1 it is possible to worship ,,god in a set form of prayer1 and yet worship him in spirit and in truth4 ,and therefore1 brethren1 let us not judge one another4 ,the wise virgins had their lamps2 herein did not lie the difference between them and the foolish1 that one worshipped ,,god with a form1 and the other did not3 ,no3 as the ,pharisee and ,publican went up to the temple to pray1 so these wise and foolish virgins might go to the same place of worship1 and sit under the same ministry2 but then the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps2 they kept up the form1 but did not rest in it2 their words in prayer were the language of their hearts1 and they were no strangers to inward feelings2 they were not afraid of searching doctrines1 nor affronted when ministers told them they deserved to be damned2 they were not self-righteous1 but were willing that ,,jesus ,,christ should have all the glory of their salvation2 they were convinced that the merits of ,,jesus ,,christ were to be apprehended only by faith2 but yet were they as careful to maintain good works1 as though they were to be justified by them3 in short1 their obedience flowed from love and gratitude1 and was chearful1 constant1 uniform1 universal1 like that obedience which the holy angels pay our ,father in heaven4 ,here then let me exhort you to pause again2 and if any of you can faithfully apply these characters to your hearts1 give ,,god the glory1 and take the comfort to your own souls2 you are not false but true believers4 ,,jesus ,,christ has been made of ,,god to you wisdom1 even that wisdom1 whereby you shall be made wise unto salvation4 ,,god sees a difference between you and foolish virgins1 if natural men will not4 ,you need not be uneasy1 though one chance and fate in this life may happen to you both4 ,i say1 one chance and fate2 for1 verse #e4 8while the bridegroom tarried10 in the space of time which passed between our ,,lord's ascension and his coming again to judgment1 8they all slumbered and slept40 ,the wise as well as foolish died1 for dust we are1 and to dust we must return4 ,it is no reflection at all upon the divine goodness1 that believers1 as well as hypocrites1 must pass through the valley of the shadow of death2 for ,,christ has taken away the sting of death1 so that we need fear no evil4 ,it is to them a passage to everlasting life3 death is only terrible to those who have no hope1 because they live without faith in the world4 ,whosoever there are amongst you1 that have received the first-fruits of the spirit1 ,i am persuaded you are ready to cry out1 we would not live here always1 we long to be dissolved1 that we may be with ,,jesus ,,christ2 and though worms must destroy our bodies as well as others1 yet we are content1 being assured that our ,redeemer liveth1 that he will stand at the latter days upon the earth1 and that in our flesh we shall see ,,god4 ,but it is not so with hypocrites and unbelievers beyond the grave2 for what says our ,,lord8 8,and at midnight30 observe1 at midnight1 when all was hushed and quiet1 and no one dreaming of any such thing1 8a cry was made20 the voice of the arch-angel and the trump of ,,god was heard sounding this general alarm2 to things in heaven1 to things in earth1 and to things in the waters under the earth1 8,,behold60 mark how this awful summons is ushered in with the word behold1 to engage our attention8 8,behold the bridegroom cometh60 even ,,jesus ,,christ1 the desire of nations1 the bridegroom of his spouse the church3 ,because he tarried for a while to exercise the faith of saints1 and give sinners space to repent1 scoffers were apt to cry out1 8,where is the promise of his coming8 ,but the ,,lord is not slack concerning his promise1 as these men account slackness40 ,for behold1 he that was to come1 now cometh1 and will not tarry any longer3 he cometh to be glorified in his saints1 and to take vengeance on them that know not ,,god1 and have not obeyed his gospel3 he cometh not as a poor despised ,galilean2 not to be laid in a stinking manger2 not to be despised and rejected of men2 not to be blindfolded1 spit upon1 and buffeted2 not to be nailed to an accursed tree2 he cometh not as the ,son of man1 but as he really was1 the eternal ,son of the eternal ,,god3 ,he cometh riding on the wings of the wind1 in the glory of the ,father and his holy angels1 and to be had in everlasting reverence of all that shall be round about him4 8,go ye forth to meet him20 arise1 ye dead1 ye foolish1 as well as wise virgin1 arise and come to judgment4 ,multitudes1 no doubt1 that hear this awakening cry1 would rejoice if the rocks might fall on1 and the hills cover them from the presence of the ,lamb3 what would they give1 if as they lived as beasts1 they might now die like the beasts that perish8 ,how would they rejoice1 if those same excuses which they made on this side eternity for not attending on holy ordinances1 would serve to keep them from appearing before the heavenly bridegroom6 ,but as ,adam1 notwithstanding his fig-leaves1 and the trees of the garden1 could not hide himself from ,,god1 when arrested with an 8,adam1 where art thou80 ,so now the decree is gone forth1 and the trump of ,,god has given its last sound2 all tongues1 people1 nations1 and languages1 both wise and foolish virgins1 must come into his presence1 and bow beneath his footstool2 even ,pontius ,pilate1 ,annas and ,caiaphas2 even the proud persecuting high-priests and ,pharisees of this generation1 must appear before him3 for says our ,,lord1 8then1 7when the cry was made1 ,behold1 the bridegroom cometh67 in a moment1 in the twinkling of an eye1 the graves were opened1 the sea gave up its dead1 and all those virgins1 both wise and foolish1 arose and trimmed their lamps10 or endeavoured to put themselves in a proper posture to meet the bridegroom4 ,but how may we imagine the foolish virgins were surprized1 when1 notwithstanding their high thoughts and proud imaginations of their security1 they now find themselves wholly naked1 and void of that inward holiness and purity of heart1 without which no man living at that day shall comfortably meet the ,,lord6 ,i doubt not1 but many of these foolish virgins1 whilst in this world1 were cloathed in purple and fine linnen1 fared sumptuously every day1 and disdained to set the wise virgins1 some of whom might be as poor as ,lazarus1 even with the dogs of their flock4 ,these were looked upon by them as enthusiasts and madmen1 as persons that were righteous over-much1 and who intended to turn the world upside down3 but now death hath opened their eyes1 and convinced them1 to their eternal sorrow1 that he is not a true christian1 who is only one outwardly4 ,now they find 7though1 alas6 too late7 they1 and not the wise virgins1 had been beside themselves4 ,now their proud hearts are made to stoop1 their lofty looks are brought low2 and as ,dives entreated that ,lazarus might dip the tip of his finger in water1 and be sent to cool his tongue1 so these foolish virgins1 these formal hypocrites1 are obliged to turn beggars to those whom they once despised3 8,give us of your oil20 ,o6 impart to us a little of that grace and holy spirit1 for the insisting on which we fools accounted your lives madness2 for alas6 8our lamps are gone out20 we had only the form of godliness2 we were whited sepulchres2 we were heart-hypocrites2 we contented ourselves with desiring to be good2 and though confident of salvation whilst we lived1 yet our hope is entirely gone1 now ,,god has taken away our souls3 ,give us therefore1 ,o6 give us1 though we once despised you1 give us of your oil1 for our lamps of an outward profession1 and transient convictions1 are quite gone out4 8,comfort ye1 comfort ye1 my people1 saith the ,,lord40 ,my brethren in ,,christ1 hear what the foolish say to the wise virgins1 and learn in patience to possess your souls4 ,if you are true followers of the lowly ,,jesus1 ,i am persuaded you have your names cast out1 and all manner of evil spoken falsly against you1 for his name's sake2 for no one ever did or will live godly in ,,christ ,,jesus1 without suffering persecution2 nay1 ,i doubt not but your chief foes are those of your own houshold3 tell me1 do not your carnal relations and friends vex your tender souls day by day1 in bidding you spare yourselves1 and take heed lest you go too far3 ,and as you passed along to come and hear the word of ,,god1 have you not heard many a ,pharisee cry out1 ,here comes another troop of his followers6 ,brethren1 be not surprized1 ,,christ's servants were always the world's fools2 you know it hated him before it hated you4 ,rejoice and be exceeding glad4 ,yet a little while1 and behold the bridegroom cometh1 and then shall you hear these formal scoffing ,pharisees saying unto you1 8,give us of your oil1 for our lamps are gone out40 ,when you are reviled1 revile not again3 when you suffer1 threaten not2 commit your souls into the hands of him that judgeth righteously3 for behold the day cometh1 when the children of ,,god shall speak for themselves4 ,the wise virgins1 in the parable1 no doubt endured the same cruel mockings as you may do2 but as the lamb before the shearers is dumb1 so in this life opened they not their mouths2 but now we find they can give their enemies an answer3 8,not so1 lest there be not enough for us and you2 but go ye rather to them that sell1 and buy for yourselves40 ,these words are not to be understood as though they were spoken in an insulting manner2 for true charity teaches us to use the worst of sinners1 and our most bitter enemies1 with the meekness and gentleness of ,,christ3 ,though ,dives was in hell1 yet ,abraham does not say1 ,thou villain1 but only1 8,son1 remember30 and ,i am persuaded1 had it been in the power of these wise virgins1 they would have dealt with the foolish virgins1 as1 ,,god knows1 ,i would willingly deal with my most inveterate enemies1 not only give them of their oil1 but also exalt them to the right hand of ,,god4 ,it was not then for want of love1 but the fear of wanting a sufficiency for themselves1 that made them return this answer1 8,not so1 lest there be not enough for us and you30 for they that have most grace1 have none to spare2 none but self-righteous1 foolish virgins think they are good enough1 or have already attained4 ,those who are truly wise are always most distrustful of themselves1 pressing forwards to the things that are before1 and think it well if after they have done all1 they can make their calling and election sure4 8,not so1 lest there be not enough for us and you2 but go ye rather to them that sell1 and buy for yourselves40 ,these words indeed seem to be spoken in a triumphant1 but certainly they were uttered in the most compassionate manner2 8go ye to them that sell1 and buy for yourselves20 unhappy virgins6 you accounted our lives folly2 whilst with you in the body1 how often have you condemned us for our zeal in running to hear the word of ,,god1 and looked upon us as enthusiasts1 for talking and affirming1 that we must be led by the spirit1 and walk by the spirit1 and feel the spirit of ,,god witnessing with our spirits1 that we are his children8 ,but now you would be glad to be partakers of this privilege1 but it is not ours to give4 ,you contented yourselves with seeking1 when you should have been striving to enter in at the strait gate4 ,and now go to them that sell1 if you can1 and buy for yourselves4 ,and what say you to this1 ye foolish formal professors8 ,for ,i doubt not but curiosity and novelty hath brought many such1 even to this despised place1 to hear a sermon4 ,can you hear this reply to the foolish virgins1 and yet not tremble8 ,why1 yet a little while1 and thus it shall be done to you4 ,rejoice and bolster yourselves up in your duties and forms2 endeavour to cover your nakedness with the fig-leaves of an outward profession and a legal righteousness1 and despise the true servants of ,,christ as much as you please1 yet know1 that all your hopes will fail you when ,,god brings you into judgment4 ,for not he who commendeth himself is justified1 but he whom the ,,lord commendeth4 ,but to return2 we do not hear of any reply the foolish virgins make3 ,no1 their consciences condemned them2 like the person without a wedding-garment1 they are struck dumb1 and are now filled with anxious thoughts how they shall buy oil1 that they may lift up their heads before the bridegroom4 8,but whilst they went to buy10 verse #aj1 whilst they were thinking what they should do1 the bridegroom1 the ,,lord ,,jesus1 the king1 the husband of his spouse the church1 cometh1 attended with thousands and twenty times ten thousands of saints and angels1 publicly to count up his jewels2 8and they that were ready10 the wise virgins who had oil in their lamps1 and were sealed by his spirit to the day of redemption1 these having on the wedding garment of an imputed righteousness1 and a new nature1 8went in with him to the marriage40 ,but who can express the transports that these wise virgins felt1 when they were thus admitted1 in holy triumph1 into the presence and full enjoyment of him1 whom their souls hungred and thirsted after6 ,no doubt they had tasted of his love1 and by faith had often fed on him in their hearts1 when sitting down to commemorate his last supper here on earth2 but how full may we think their hearts and tongues were of his praises1 when they see themselves seated together to eat bread in his heavenly kingdom4 ,and what was best of all1 8the door was shut10 and shut them in1 to enjoy the ever blessed ,,god1 and the company of angels and the spirits of just men made perfect1 without interruption for evermore4 ,i say1 without interruption2 for in this life1 their eyes often gushed out with water1 because men kept not ,,god's law2 and they could never come to appear before the ,,lord1 or to hear his word1 but ,satan and his emissaries would come also to disturb them2 but now 8the door is shut10 now there is a perfect communion of saints1 which they in vain longed for in this lower world2 now tares no longer grow up with the wheat2 not one single hypocrite or unbeliever can screen himself amongst them4 8,now the wicked cease from troubling1 and now their weary souls enjoy an everlasting rest40 ,once more1 ,o believers1 let me exhort you in patience to possess your souls4 ,,god1 if he has freely justified you by faith in his son1 and given you his spirit1 has sealed you to be his2 and has secured you1 as surely as he secured ,noah1 when he locked him in the ark4 ,but though heirs of ,,god1 and joint heirs with ,,christ1 and neither men nor devils can pluck you out of your heavenly ,father's hands1 yet you must be tossed about with manifold temptations2 however1 lift up your heads1 the day of your perfect1 compleat redemption draweth nigh4 ,behold the bridegroom cometh to take you to himself1 the door shall be shut1 and you shall be for ever with the ,,lord4 ,but ,i even tremble to tell you1 ,o nominal christians1 that the door will be shut1 ,i mean the door of mercy1 never1 never to be opened to give you admission1 though you should continue knocking to all eternity4 ,for thus speaks our ,,lord1 verse #aa4 8,afterwards10 after those that were ready went in1 and the door was shut2 after they had1 to their sorrow1 found that no oil was to be bought1 no grace to be procured1 8came also the other virgins20 and as ,esau1 after ,jacob had gotten the blessing1 cried with an exceeding bitter cry1 8,bless me1 even me also1 ,o my father20 so they came saying1 8,,lord1 ,,lord1 open to us40 ,observe the importunity of these foolish virgins1 implied in the words1 8,,lord1 ,,lord40 ,whilst in the body1 ,i suppose they only read1 did not pray over their prayers4 ,if you now tell them1 they should 8pray without ceasing10 they should pray from their hearts1 and feel the want of what they prayed for2 they would answer1 they could not tell what you mean by inward feelings2 that ,,god did not require us to be always on our knees1 but if a man did justly1 and loved mercy1 and did as the church forms required him1 it was as much as the ,,lord required at his hands4 ,i fear1 sirs1 too many among us are of this mind3 nay1 ,i fear there are many so polite1 so void of the love of ,,god1 as to think it too great a piece of self-denial1 to rise early to offer up a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving acceptable to ,,god through ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,if any such1 by the good providence of ,,god1 are brought hither this morning1 ,i beseech you to consider your ways1 and remember1 if you are not awakened out of your spiritual lethargy1 and live a life of prayer here1 you shall but in vain cry out with the foolish virgins1 8,,lord1 ,,lord1 open unto us10 hereafter4 ,observe farther1 the impudence1 as well as importunity of these other virgins2 8,,lord1 ,,lord10 say they1 as though they were intimately acquainted with the holy ,,jesus4 ,like numbers among us1 who because they go to church1 repeat their creeds1 and receive the blessed sacrament1 think they have a right to call ,,jesus their ,saviour1 and dare call ,,god their ,father1 when they put up the ,,lord's prayer4 ,but ,,jesus is not your ,saviour4 ,the devil1 not ,,god1 is your father1 unless your hearts are purified by faith1 and you are born again from above4 ,it is not merely being baptized by water1 but being born again of the ,holy ,ghost that must qualify you for salvation2 and it will do you no service at the great day1 to say unto ,,christ1 ,,lord1 my name is in the register of such and such a parish4 ,i am persuaded1 the foolish virgins could say this and more2 but what answer did ,,jesus make8 ,he answered and said1 verse #ab4 8,verily1 ,i say unto you30 ,he puts the word ,,verily1 to assure them he was in earnest4 8,i say unto you10 ,i who am truth itself1 ,i whom you have owned in words1 but in works denied1 8verily1 ,i say unto you1 ,i know you not40 ,these words must not be understood literally2 for whatever ,arians and ,socinians may say to the contrary1 yet we affirm1 that ,,jesus ,,christ is ,,god1 ,,god blessed for ever1 and therefore knoweth all things4 ,he saw ,nathaniel1 when under the fig-tree3 he sees1 and is now looking down from heaven1 his dwelling-place1 upon us1 to see how we behave in these fields4 ,brethren1 ,i know nothing of the thoughts and intents of your hearts1 in coming hither2 but ,,jesus ,,christ knows who come like new-born babes1 desirous to be fed with the sincere milk of the word2 and he knows who came to hear what the babler says1 and to run away with part of a broken sentence1 that they may have whereof to accuse him4 ,this expression then1 8,i know you not10 must not be understood literally2 no1 it implies a knowledge of approbation1 as though ,,christ had said1 8,you call me1 ,,lord1 ,,lord1 but you have not done the things that ,i have said2 you desire me to open the door1 but how can you come in hither not having on a wedding garment8 ,alas1 you are naked6 ,where is my outward righteousness imputed to you8 ,where is my inherent righteousness wrought in you8 ,where is my divine image stamped upon your souls8 ,how dare you call me ,,lord1 ,,lord1 when you have not received the ,holy ,ghost1 whereby ,i seal all that are truly mine8 ,verily1 ,i know you not2 depart from me1 ye cursed1 into everlasting fire1 prepared for the devil and his angels40 ,and now1 he that hath ears to hear1 let him hear what manner of persons these were1 whom ,,jesus ,,christ dismissed with this answer4 ,remember1 ,i entreat you1 remember they are not sent away for being fornicators1 swearers1 sabbath-breakers1 or prodigals4 ,no1 in all probability1 as ,i observed before1 they were1 touching the outward observances of the moral law1 blameless2 they were constant as to the form of religion2 and if they did no good1 yet no one could say1 they did any one any harm4 ,the only thing for which they were condemned1 and eternally banished from the presence of the ,,lord1 7for so much is implied in 8,i know you not07 was this1 they had no oil in their lamps1 no principle of a true living faith and holiness in their hearts4 ,and if persons may go to church1 receive the sacrament1 lead honest moral lives1 and yet be sent to hell at the last day1 as they certainly will be if they advance no farther1 ,where wilt thou1 ,o drunkard8 ,where wilt thou1 ,o swearer8 ,where wilt thou1 ,o sabbath-breaker8 ,where wilt thou that deniest divine revelation1 and even the form of godliness8 ,where will you1 and such-like sinners appear8 ,i know very well4 ,you must appear before the dreadful tribunal of ,,jesus ,,christ3 however you may1 like ,felix1 put off the prosecution of your convictions1 yet you1 as well as others1 must arise after death1 and appear in judgment2 you will then find1 to your eternal sorrow1 what ,i just hinted at in the beginning of this discourse1 that your damnation slumbereth not3 sin has blinded your hearts1 and hardened your foreheads now1 but yet a little while1 and our ,,lord will ease him of his adversaries4 ,methinks1 by faith1 ,i see the heavens opened1 and the holy ,,jesus coming1 with his face brighter than ten thousand suns1 darting fury upon you from his eyes6 ,methinks ,i see you rising from your graves1 trembling and astonished1 and crying out1 who can abide this day of his coming6 ,and now what inference shall ,i draw from what has been delivered8 ,our ,,lord1 in the words of the text1 has drawn one for me2 8,watch therefore1 for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the ,son of man cometh40 8,watch20 that is1 be upon your guard1 and keep your graces in continual exercise3 ,for as when we are commanded to watch unto prayer1 it signifies that we should continue instant in that duty2 so when we are required to watch in general1 it means that we should put on the whole armour of ,,god1 and live every day as though it was our last4 ,and ,o6 that the ,,lord may now enable me to lift up my voice like a trumpet6 ,for had ,i a thousand tongues1 or could ,i speak so loud that the whole world might hear me1 ,i could not sound a more useful alarm than that which is contained in the text4 ,,watch therefore1 my brethren1 ,i beseech you by the mercies of ,,god in ,,christ ,,jesus1 watch2 be upon your guard2 awake1 ye that sleep in the dust3 for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the ,son of man cometh4 ,perhaps to-day1 perhaps this midnight1 the cry may be made3 8for in a moment1 in the twinkling of an eye1 the trump is to sound40 ,however1 supposing the final day of judgment may yet be a great way off1 the day of death is certainly near at hand3 for what is our life8 8,it is but a vapour10 but a span long1 soon passeth it away1 and we are gone4 ,blessed be ,,god1 we are all here well2 but who1 out of this great multitude1 dares say1 ,i shall go home to my house in safety8 ,who knows1 but whilst ,i am speaking1 ,,god may commission his ministring spirits immediately to call some of you away by a sudden stroke1 to give an account with what attention you have heard this sermon4 ,you know1 my brethren1 some such instances we have lately had4 ,and what angel or spirit hath assured us1 that some of you shall not be the next8 8,watch therefore1 for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the ,son of man will come30 ,and it is chiefly for this reason1 that ,,god has hidden the day of our deaths from us4 ,for since ,i know not but ,i may die to-morrow1 why1 ,o my soul1 may each of us say1 wilt thou not watch to-day8 ,since ,i know not but ,i may die the next moment1 why wilt thou not prepare for dying this8 ,many such reflections as these1 my brethren1 croud in upon my mind4 ,at present1 blessed be the ,,lord1 who delights to magnify his strength in a poor worm's weakness1 ,i am at a stand1 not so much about what ,i shall say1 as what ,i shall leave unsaid4 ,my belly1 like ,elihu's1 is1 as it were1 full of new wines2 8out of the abundance of my heart my mouth speaketh40 ,the seeing so great a multitude standing before me2 a sense of the infinite majesty of that ,,god in whose name ,i preach1 and before whom ,i as well as you must appear1 to give an account2 and the uncertainty there is whether ,i shall live another day1 to speak to you any more3 these considerations1 especially the presence of ,,god1 which ,i now feel upon my soul1 furnishes me with so much matter1 that ,i scarce know where to begin1 or where to end my application4 ,however1 for method-sake1 by the divine assistance1 ,i will branch it into three particulars4 ,and first1 ,i would remind you that are notoriously ungodly1 of what our ,,lord says in the text3 ,for though ,i have said that your damnation slumbereth not1 whilst you continue in an impenitent state2 yet that was only to set you upon your watch1 to convince you of your danger1 and excite you to cry out1 8,what shall we do to be saved80 ,i appeal to all that hear me1 whether ,i have said1 the door of mercy should be shut against you1 if you believe on ,,jesus ,,christ3 ,no1 if you are the chief of sinners2 if you are murderers of fathers1 and murderers of mothers2 if you are emphatically the dung and offscouring of all things2 yet if you believe on ,,jesus ,,christ1 and cry unto him with the same faith as the expiring thief1 8,,lord1 remember me1 now thou art in thy kingdom20 ,i will pawn my eternal salvation upon it1 if he does not shortly translate you to his heavenly paradise4 ,wonder not at my speaking with so much assurance3 ,for ,i know 8it is a faithful and true saying1 and worthy of all acceptation1 that ,,jesus ,,christ came into the world to save 7all truly affected and believing7 sinners30 ,nay1 so great is his love1 that ,i am persuaded1 was it necessary1 he would come again into the world1 and die a second time for them on the cross4 ,but1 blessed be ,,god1 when our ,,lord bowed down his head1 and gave up the ghost1 our redemption was finished4 ,it is not our sins1 but our want of a lively faith in his blood1 that will prove our condemnation3 if you draw near to him by faith1 though ye are the worst of sinners1 yet he will not say unto you1 8,verily ,i know you not40 ,no1 a door of mercy shall be opened to you4 ,look then1 look then1 by an eye of faith1 to that ,,god-man whom ye have pierced4 ,behold him bleeding1 panting1 dying upon the cross1 with arms stretched out ready to embrace you all4 ,hark6 how he groans6 ,see how all nature is in an agony6 ,the rocks rend1 the graves open2 the sun withdraws its light1 ashamed as it were to see the ,,god of nature suffer2 and all this to usher in man's great redemption4 ,nay1 the ,holy ,,jesus1 in the very agonies and pangs of death1 prays for his very murderers2 8,father1 forgive them1 for they know not what they do40 ,if then you have crucified the ,son of ,,god afresh1 and put him to an open shame1 yet do not despair1 only believe1 and even this shall be forgiven4 ,you have read1 at least you have heard1 no doubt1 how three thousand were converted at ,st4 ,peter's preaching one single sermon1 after our ,,lord's ascension into heaven2 and many of the crucifiers of the ,,lord of glory undoubtedly were amongst them2 and why should you despair8 ,for 8,,jesus ,,christ is the same yesterday1 to-day1 and for ever40 ,the ,holy ,ghost shall be sent down on you1 as well as on them1 if you do but believe2 for ,,christ ascended up on high to receive this gift even for the vilest of men4 ,come then1 all ye that are weary and heavy laden with the sense of your sins1 lay hold on ,,christ by faith1 and he will give you rest2 for salvation is the free gift of ,,god to all them that believe4 ,and though you may think this too good news to be true1 yet ,i speak the truth in ,,christ1 ,i lie not1 this is the gospel1 this is the glad tidings which we are commissioned to preach to every creature4 ,be not faithless then1 but believing4 ,let not the devil lead you captive at his will any longer2 for all the wages he gives his servants is death1 death often in this life1 death everlasting in the next3 ,but the free gift of ,,god1 is eternal life to all that believe in ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,pharisees are and will be offended at my coming here1 and offering you salvation on such cheap terms2 but the more they bid me hold my peace1 the more will ,i cry out and proclaim to convicted sinners1 that ,,jesus1 ,david's ,son according to the flesh1 but ,david's ,lord as he was ,,god1 will have mercy upon all that by a living faith truly turn to him4 ,if this is to be vile1 ,i pray ,,god1 ,i may be more vile4 ,if they will not let me preach ,,christ crucified1 and offer salvation to poor sinners in a church1 ,i will preach him in the lanes1 streets1 highways and hedges2 and nothing pleases me better1 than to think ,i am now in one of the devils strongest holds4 ,surely1 the ,,lord has not sent me and all you hither for nothing2 no1 blessed be ,,god1 the fields are white ready unto harvest1 and many souls ,i hope will be gathered into his heavenly garner4 ,it is true1 it is the midnight of the church1 especially the poor church of ,england2 but ,,god has lately sent forth his servants to cry1 8,behold the bridegroom cometh30 ,i beseech you1 ,o sinners1 hearken unto the voice6 ,let me espouse you by faith to my dear master2 and henceforward 8watch and pray10 that you may be ready to go forth to meet him4 ,secondly1 ,i would apply myself to those amongst you1 that are not openly profane1 but by depending on a formal round of duties1 deceive your own souls1 and are only foolish virgins4 ,but ,i must speak to your conviction1 rather than your comfort4 ,my dear brethren1 do not deceive your own souls4 ,you have heard how far the foolish virgins went1 and yet were answered with 8,verily ,i know you not30 ,the reason is1 because none but such who have a living faith in ,,jesus ,,christ1 and are truly born again1 can possibly enter into the kingdom of heaven4 ,you may1 perhaps1 live honest and outwardly moral lives1 but if you depend on that morality1 or join your works with your faith1 in order to justify you before ,,god1 you have no lot or share in ,,christ's redemption3 ,for what is this but to deny the ,,lord that has bought you8 ,what is this but making yourselves your own ,saviours8 taking the crown from ,,jesus ,,christ1 and putting it on your own heads8 ,the crime of the devil1 some have supposed1 consisted in this1 that he would not bow to ,,jesus ,,christ1 when the ,father commanded all the angels to worship him2 and what do you less8 ,you will not own and submit to his righteousness2 and though you pretend to worship him with your lips1 yet your hearts are far from him2 besides you1 in effect1 deny the operations of his blessed spirit1 you mistake common for effectual grace2 you hope to be saved1 because you have good desires1 and a few short convictions2 and what is this1 but to give ,,god1 his word1 and all his saints1 the lie8 ,a ,jew1 a ,turk1 has equally as good grounds whereon to build his hopes of salvation4 ,need ,i not then to cry out to you1 ye foolish virgins1 watch4 ,beg of ,,god to convince you of your self-righteousness1 and the secret unbelief of your hearts2 or otherwise1 whensoever the cry shall be made1 8,behold the bridegroom cometh10 you will find yourselves utterly unprepared to go forth to meet him3 ,you may cry 8,lord1 ,lord20 but the answer will be1 8,verily1 ,i know you not40 ,thirdly1 ,i would speak a word or two by way of exhortation to those who are wise virgins1 and are assured that they have on a wedding-garment4 ,that there are many such amongst you1 who by grace have renounced your own righteousness1 and know that the righteousness of the ,,lord ,,jesus is imputed to you1 ,i make no doubt4 ,,god has his secret ones in the worst of times2 and ,i am persuaded he has not let so loud a gospel cry to be made amongst his people1 as of late has been heard1 for nothing4 ,no1 ,i am confident1 the ,holy ,ghost has been given to many at the preaching of faith1 and has powerfully fallen upon many1 whilst they have been hearing the word4 ,you are now then no longer foolish1 but wise virgins2 notwithstanding1 ,i beseech you also to suffer the word of exhortation2 for wise virgins are too apt1 whilst the bridegroom tarries1 to slumber and sleep4 ,watch therefore1 my dear brethren1 watch and pray1 at this time especially2 for perhaps a time of suffering is at hand4 ,the ark of the ,,lord begins already to be driven into the wilderness4 ,be ye therefore upon your watch1 and still persevere in following your ,,lord1 even without the camp1 bearing his reproach3 the cry that has been lately made1 has awakened the devil and his servants2 they begin to rage horribly2 and well they may2 for ,i hope their kingdom is in danger4 ,watch therefore1 for if we are not always upon our guard1 a time of trial may overtake us unawares2 and1 instead of owning1 like ,peter we may be tempted to deny our master4 ,set death and eternity often before you4 ,look unto ,,jesus1 the author and finisher of your faith1 and consider how little a while it will be1 ere he comes to judgment2 and then our reproach shall be wiped away2 the accusers of us and our brethren shall be cast down1 and we all shall be lodged in heaven for ever1 with our dear ,,lord ,,jesus4 ,lastly2 what ,i say unto you1 ,i say unto all1 watch3 high and low1 rich and poor1 young and old1 one with another1 ,i beseech you1 by the mercies of ,,jesus1 to be upon your guard3 fly1 fly to ,,jesus ,,christ1 that heavenly bridegroom3 behold he desires to take you to himself1 miserable1 poor1 blind and naked as you are2 he is willing to cloath you with his everlasting righteousness1 and make you partakers of that glory1 which he enjoyed with the ,father before the world began4 ,do not turn a deaf ear to me2 do not reject the message on account of the meanness of the messenger4 ,i am a child2 but the ,,lord has chosen me1 that the glory might be all his own4 ,had he sent to invite you by a learned rabbi1 you might have been tempted to think the man had done something2 but now ,,god has sent a child1 that the excellency of the power may be seen not to be of man1 but of ,,god4 ,let the learned ,pharisees then despise my youth3 ,i care not how vile ,i appear in the sight of such men2 ,i glory in it4 ,and ,i am persuaded1 if any of you should be married to ,,christ by this preaching1 you will have no reason to repent1 when you come to heaven1 that ,,god sent a child to cry1 8,behold the bridegroom cometh60 ,o6 my brethren1 the thought of being instrumental in bringing one of you to glory1 fills me with fresh zeal4 ,once more ,i entreat you1 8,watch1 watch and pray30 for the ,,lord ,,jesus will receive all that call upon him faithfully4 ,let that cry1 8,behold the bridegroom cometh10 be continually sounding in your ears2 and begin now to live1 as though you were assured1 this night you were to 8go forth to meet him40 ,i could say more1 but the other business and duties of the day oblige me to stop4 ,may the ,,lord give you all an hearing ear1 and obedient heart1 and so closely unite you to himself by one spirit1 that when he shall come in terrible majesty1 to judge mankind1 you may be found having on a wedding garment1 and ready to go in with him to the marriage4 ,grant this1 ,o ,,lord1 for thy dear ,son's sake6 ,,sermon ,,xxvi4 ,the ,eternity of ,hell-,torments4 ,to the ,,inhabitants of ,,savannah in ,,georgia4 ,my dear ,friends1 ,,though the following sermon has been preached elsewhere1 yet as the occasion of my preaching it among you was particular1 as you seemed to give an uncommon attention to it in public1 and afterwards expressed your satisfaction in it to me1 when ,i came to visit you in your own houses1 ,i thought proper to offer it to you4 ,and here ,i cannot but bless ,,god for the general dislike of heretical principles that ,i have found among you2 as also for your zeal and approbation of my conduct1 when the glory of ,,god and your welfare1 have obliged me to resent and publicly declare against the antichristian tenets of some lately under my charge4 ,i need only exhort you to beg of ,,god to give you a true faith1 and to add to your faith virtue1 that you may adorn the gospel of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ in all things4 ,your constant daily attendance upon public worship1 the gladness wherewith you have received me into your houses1 the mildness wherewith you have submitted to my reproofs1 more especially the great 7though unmerited7 concern you shewed at my departure1 induce me to hope this will be your endeavour4 ,how long ,,god of his good providence will keep me from you1 ,i know not4 ,however1 you may assure yourselves ,i will return according to my promise1 as soon as ,i have received imposition of hands1 and compleated the other business that called me hither4 ,in the mean while1 accept of this1 as a pledge of the undissembled love of ,your affectionate though unworthy pastor1 ,london1 #agch4 ,,george ,,whitefield4 ,,matthew xxv4 #df4 ,these shall go away into everlasting punishment4 ,,the excellency of the gospel dispensation1 is greatly evidenced by those sanctions of rewards and punishments1 which it offers to the choice of all its hearers1 in order to engage them to be obedient to its precepts4 ,for it promises no less than eternal happiness to the good1 and denounces no slighter a punishment than everlasting misery against the wicked3 ,on the one hand1 8,it is a savour of life unto life10 on the other1 8,a savour of death unto death40 ,and though one would imagine1 the bare mentioning of the former would be sufficient to draw men to their duty1 yet ministers in all ages have found it necessary1 frequently to remind their people of the latter1 and to set before them the terrors of the ,,lord1 as so many powerful dissuasives from sin4 ,but whence is it that men are so disingenuous8 ,the reason seems to be this3 ,the promise of eternal happiness is so agreeable to the inclinations and wishes of mankind1 that all who call themselves christians1 universally and willingly subscribe to the belief of it3 but then there is something so shocking in the consideration of eternal torments1 and seemingly such an infinite disproportion between an endless duration of pain1 and a short life spent in pleasure1 that men 7some at least of them7 can scarcely be brought to confess it as an article of their faith1 that an eternity of misery awaits the wicked in a future state4 ,i shall therefore at this time1 beg leave to insist on the proof of this part of one of the ,articles of our ,creed2 and endeavour to make good what our blessed ,,lord has here threatened in the words of the text1 8,these 7that is1 the wicked7 shall go away into everlasting punishment40 ,accordingly1 without considering the words as they stand in relation to the context1 ,i shall resolve all ,i have to say1 into this one general proposition1 8,that the torments reserved for the wicked hereafter1 are eternal40 ,but before ,i proceed to make good this1 ,i must inform you that ,i take it for granted1 ,all present do stedfastly believe1 ,they have something within them1 which we call a soul1 and which is capable of surviving the dissolution of the body1 and of being miserable or happy to all eternity4 ,i take it for granted farther1 ,that you believe a divine revelation2 that those books1 emphatically called the ,scriptures1 were written by the inspiration of ,,god1 and that the things therein contained1 are founded upon eternal truth4 ,i take it for granted1 ,that you believe1 that the ,son of ,,god came down to die for sinners2 and that there is but one ,mediator between ,,god and man1 even the man ,,christ ,,jesus4 ,these things being granted1 7and they were necessary to be premised7 proceed we now to make good the one general proposition asserted in the text1 ,that the torments reserved for the wicked hereafter are eternal4 8,these shall go away into everlasting punishment40 ,the ,first argument ,i shall advance to prove that the torments reserved for the wicked hereafter1 are eternal1 is1 ,that the word of ,,god himself assures us1 in line upon line1 that it will be so4 ,to quote all the texts that might be produced in proof of this1 would be endless4 ,let it suffice to instance only in a few4 ,in the ,old ,testament1 in the book of ,daniel1 chapter xii4 verse #b4 we are told1 that 8some shall awake to everlasting life1 and others to everlasting contempt40 ,in the book of ,isaiah1 it is said1 that 8the worm of those that have transgressed ,,god's law1 and die impenitently1 shall not die1 nor their fire be quenched40 ,and in another place1 the holy ,prophet1 struck1 no doubt1 with astonishment and horror at the prospect of the continuance of the torments of the damned1 breaks out into this moving expostulation1 8,who can dwell with everlasting burnings80 ,the ,new ,testament is still fuller as to this point1 it being a revelation which brought this and such-like particulars to a clear light4 ,the ,apostle ,jude tells us of the profane despisers of dignities in his days1 that 8for them was reserved the blackness of darkness for ever40 ,and in the book of the ,revelations1 it is written1 that 8the smoke of the torments of the wicked ascendeth for ever and ever40 ,and if we believe the witness of men inspired1 the witness of the ,son of ,,god1 who had the ,spirit given him1 as ,mediator1 without measure1 is still far greater3 and in ,st4 ,mark's gospel1 ,he repeats this solemn declaration three several times1 8,it is better for thee to enter into life maimed20 that is1 it is better to forego the gratification of thy lust1 or incur the displeasure of a friend1 which may be as dear to thee as a hand1 or as useful as a foot1 8than having two hands and feet1 7that is1 for indulging the one1 or disobeying ,,god to oblige the other7 to be cast into hell1 where the worm dieth not1 and the fire is not quenched40 ,and here again1 in the words of the text1 8,these 7the wicked7 shall go away into everlasting punishment40 ,i know it has been objected by some who have denied the eternity of hell-torments1 ,that the words everlasting and ever and ever1 are often used in the ,holy ,scriptures1 7especially in the ,old ,testament7 when they signify not an endless duration1 but a limited term of time4 ,and this we readily grant3 but then we reply1 ,that when the words are used with this limitation1 they either manifestly appear to be used so from the context2 or are put in opposition to occasional types which ,,god gave his people on some special occasions1 as when it is said1 8,it shall be a perpetual or everlasting statute10 or1 8a statute for ever20 that is1 a standing type1 and not merely transient or occasional1 as was the pillar of cloud1 the manna1 and such-like4 ,or1 lastly1 they have a relation to that covenant1 ,,god made with his spiritually ,israel2 which1 if understood in a spiritual sense1 will be everlasting1 though the ceremonial dispensation be abolished4 ,besides1 it ought to be observed1 that some of the passages just now referred to1 have neither of these words so much as mentioned in them1 and cannot possibly be interpreted1 so as to denote only a limited term of years4 ,but let that be as it will1 it is evident even to a demonstration1 that the words of the text will not admit of such a restrained signification1 as appears from their being directly opposed to the words immediately following1 8,that the righteous shall go into life eternal40 ,from which words1 all are ready to grant1 that the life promised to the righteous will be eternal4 ,and why the punishment threatened to the wicked should not be understood to be eternal likewise1 when the very same word in the original1 is used to express the duration of each1 no shadow of a reason can be given4 ,but1 ,secondly1 ,there cannot be one argument urged1 why ,,god should reward his saints with everlasting happiness1 which will not equally prove that he ought to punish sinners with eternal misery4 ,for1 since we know nothing 7at least for a certainty7 how he will deal with either1 but by a ,divine ,revelation2 and since1 as was proved by the foregoing argument1 he hath as positively threatened eternally to punish the wicked1 as to reward the good2 it follows1 that his truth will be as much impeached and called in question1 did he not inflict his punishments1 as it would be1 if he did not confer his rewards4 ,to this also it has been objected1 ,that though ,,god is obliged by promise to give his rewards1 yet his veracity could not be called in question1 supposing he should not execute his threatenings1 as he actually did not in the case of ,nineveh2 which ,,god expressly declared by his ,prophet ,jonah1 8should be destroyed in forty days30 notwithstanding the sequel of the story informs us1 that ,nineveh was spared4 ,but in answer to this objection we affirm1 that ,,god's threatenings1 as well as promises1 are without repentance2 and for this reason1 because they are both founded on the eternal laws of right reason4 ,accordingly we always find1 that where the conditions were not performed1 on the non-performance of which the threatenings were denounced1 ,,god always executed the punishment threatened4 ,the driving ,adam out of ,eden1 the destruction of the old world by a deluge of water1 and the overthrow of ,sodom and ,gomorrah1 are1 and will be always so many standing monuments of ,,god's executing his threatenings when denounced1 though to our weak apprehensions1 the punishment may seem far to exceed the crime4 ,it is true1 ,,god did spare ,nineveh1 and that because the inhabitants did actually repent1 and therefore performed the conditions upon which it was supposed1 by the ,prophet's being sent to warn them1 the threatened punishment should be withheld4 ,and so in respect to gospel threatenings4 ,if men will so far consult their own welfare1 as to comply with the gospel1 ,,god certainly will not punish them1 but on the contrary1 confer upon them his rewards4 ,but to affirm that he will not punish1 and that eternally to1 impenitent1 obstinate sinners1 according as he hath threatened2 what is it1 in effect1 but to make ,,god like a man1 that he should lie1 or the son of man1 that he should repent8 ,but the absurdity of such an opinion will appear still more evident from ,the ,third argument ,i shall offer to prove1 that the torments reserved for the wicked hereafter are eternal1 ,from the nature of the christian covenant4 ,and here ,i must again observe1 that it was taken for granted at the beginning of this discourse1 that you believe the ,son of ,,god came down to save sinners2 and that there is but one ,mediator between ,,god and man1 even the man ,,christ ,,jesus4 ,and here ,i take it for granted farther1 7unless you believe the absurd and unwarrantable doctrine of purgatory7 that you are fully persuaded1 this life is the only time allotted by ,almighty ,,god for working out our salvation1 and that after a few years are passed over1 there will remain no more sacrifice for sin4 ,and if this be granted 7and who dares deny it87 it follows1 that if a wicked man dieth in his wickedness1 and under the wrath of ,,god1 he must continue in that state to all eternity4 ,for1 since there is no possibility of their being delivered out of such a condition1 but by and through ,,christ2 and since1 at the hour of death1 the time of ,,christ's mediation and intercession for him is irrecoverably gone2 the same reason that may be given1 why ,,god should punish a sinner that dieth under the guilt of his sins for a single day1 will equally hold good1 why he should continue to punish him for a year1 an age1 nay to all eternity4 ,but ,i hasten to the ,fourth and last argument1 to prove1 ,that the torments reserved for the wicked hereafter are eternal1 ,because the devil's punishment is to be so4 ,that there is such a being whom we call the devil2 that he was once an angel of light1 but for his pride and rebellion against ,,god1 was cast down from heaven1 and is now permitted1 with the rest of the spiritual wickednesses1 to walk to and fro1 seeking whom they may devour2 that there is a place of torment reserved for them1 or1 to use the ,apostle's words1 8,that they are reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day20 are truths all here present were supposed to be convinced of1 at the beginning of this discourse1 you believing the ,holy ,scriptures to be written by the inspiration of ,,god1 wherein these truths are delivered4 ,but then if we allow all this1 and think it no injustice in ,,god to punish those once glorious spirits for their rebellion2 how can we think it unjust in him1 to punish wicked men for their impenitency to all eternity8 ,you will say1 perhaps1 that they have sinned against greater light1 and therefore deserve a greater punishment4 ,and so we grant that the punishment of the fallen angels may be greater as to degree2 than that of wicked men2 but then we affirm2 it will be equal as to the eternal duration of it3 for in that day1 as the lively oracles of ,,god inform us1 shall the ,son of ,man say to them on his left hand1 8,depart from me1 ye cursed1 into everlasting fire1 prepared for the devil and his angels40 ,where we find that impenitent sinners are to be cast into the same everlasting fire1 with the devil and his angels2 and that too very justly4 ,for though they may have sinned against greater light1 yet christians sin against greater mercy4 ,since ,,christ took not hold of1 did not die for1 the fallen angels1 but for men and for our salvation4 ,so that if ,,god spared not those excellent beings1 assure thyself1 ,o obstinate sinner1 whoever thou art1 he will by no means spare thee4 ,from what then has been said it plainly appears1 that verily the torments reserved for the wicked hereafter1 are eternal4 ,and if so1 brethren1 how ought we to fly to ,,jesus ,,christ for refuge2 how holy ought we to be in all manner of conversation and godliness1 that we may be accounted worthy to escape this wrath to come6 ,but before ,i proceed to a practical exhortation1 permit me to draw an inference or two from what has been said4 ,and ,first1 ,if the torments reserved for the wicked hereafter are eternal1 what shall we say to those1 who make an open profession in their creed to believe a life everlasting1 a life of misery as well as happiness1 and yet dare to live in the actual commission of those sins which will unavoidably1 without repentance1 bring them into that place of torment8 ,thou believest that the punishments of the impenitently wicked in another life1 are eternal3 8,thou dost well1 the devils also believe and tremble40 ,but know1 ,o vain man1 unless this belief doth influence thy practice1 and makes thee bid adieu to thy sins1 every time thou repeatest thy creed1 thou doest in effect say1 ,i believe ,i shall be undone for ever4 ,but1 ,secondly1 ,if the torments reserved for the wicked hereafter are eternal1 then let this serve as a caution to such persons1 7and it is to be feared there are some such7 who go about to dissuade others from the belief of such an important truth3 ,there being no surer way1 in all probability1 to encourage and promote infidelity and prophaneness1 than the broaching or maintaining so unwarrantable a doctrine4 ,for if the positive threats of ,,god concerning the eternity of hell-torments1 are already found insufficient to deter men from sin1 what a higher pitch of wickedness may we imagine they will quickly arrive at1 when they are taught to entertain any hopes of a future recovery out of them2 or1 what is still worse1 that their souls are hereafter to be annihilated1 and become like the beasts that perish8 ,but wo unto such blind leaders of the blind4 ,no wonder if they both fall into the ditch4 ,and let such corrupters of ,,god's word know1 that ,i testify unto every man that heareth me this day1 8,that if any one shall add unto1 or take away from the words that are written in the book of ,,god1 ,,god shall take his part out of the book of life1 and shall add unto him all the plagues that are in that book40 ,thirdly and ,lastly1 ,if the torments reserved for the wicked hereafter are eternal1 then this may serve as a reproof for those who quarrel with ,,god1 and say it is inconsistent with his justice1 to punish a person to all eternity1 only for enjoying the pleasures of sin for a season4 ,but such persons must be told1 that it is not their thinking or calling ,,god unjust1 will make him so1 no more than a condemned prisoner's saying the law or judge is unjust1 will render either duly chargeable with such an imputation4 ,but knowest thou1 ,o worm1 what blasphemy thou art guilty of1 in charging ,,god with injustice8 8,shall the thing formed say to him that formed it1 why hast thou made me thus80 ,wilt thou presume to arraign the ,almighty at the bar of thy shallow reasoning8 and call him unjust1 for punishing thee eternally1 only because thou wishest it may not be so8 ,but hath ,,god said it1 and shall he not do it8 ,he hath said it3 and let ,,god be true1 though every man be a liar4 8,shall not the judge of all the earth do right80 ,assuredly he will4 ,and if sinners will not own his justice in his threatenings here1 they will be compelled ere long to own and feel them1 when tormented by him hereafter4 ,but to come to a more practical application of what has been delivered4 ,you have heard1 brethren1 the eternity of hell-torments plainly proved1 from the express declarations of holy scriptures1 and consequences naturally drawn from them4 ,and now there seems to need no great art of rhetoric to persuade any understanding person to avoid and abhor those sins1 which without repentance will certainly plunge him into this eternal gulph4 ,the disproportion between the pleasure and the pain 7if there be any pleasure in sin7 is so infinitely great1 that supposing it was only possible1 though not certain1 that the wicked would be everlastingly punished1 no one that has the reason of a man1 for the enjoying a little momentary pleasure1 would1 one might imagine1 run the hazard of enduring eternal pain4 ,but since the torments of the damned are not only possible1 but certain1 7since ,,god himself1 who cannot lie1 has told us so7 for men1 notwithstanding1 to persist in their disobedience1 and then flatter themselves1 that ,,god will not make good his threatenings1 is a most egregious instance of folly and presumption4 ,dives himself supposed1 that if one rose from the dead1 his brethren would amend their lives2 but ,christians1 it seems1 will not repent1 though the ,son of ,,god died and rose again1 and told them what they must expect1 if they continue obstinate in evil-doing4 ,would we now and then draw off our thoughts from sensible objects1 and by faith meditate a while on the miseries of the damned1 ,i doubt not but we should1 as it were1 hear many an unhappy soul venting his fruitless sorrows1 in some such piteous moans as these4 8,o wretched man that ,i am1 who shall deliver me from this body of death60 ,o foolish mortal that ,i was1 thus to bring myself into these never-ceasing tortures1 for the transitory enjoyment of a few short-lived pleasures1 which scarcely afforded me any satisfaction1 even when ,i most indulged myself in them4 ,alas6 are these the wages1 these the effects of sin8 ,are all the grand deceiver's inviting promises come to this8 ,o damned apostate6 ,first to delude me with pretended promises of happiness1 and after several years drudgery in his service1 thus to involve me in eternal woe4 ,o that ,i had never hearkened to his beguiling insinuations6 ,o that ,i had rejected his very first suggestions with the utmost detestation and abhorrence6 ,o that ,i had taken up my cross and followed ,,christ6 ,o that ,i had never ridiculed serious godliness2 and out of a false politeness1 condemned the truly pious as too severe1 enthusiastic1 or superstitious6 ,for ,i then had been happy indeed1 happy beyond expression1 happy to all eternity1 yonder in those blessed regions where they sit1 cloathed with unspeakable glory1 and chanting forth their seraphic hallelujahs to the ,lamb that sitteth upon the throne for ever4 ,but1 alas6 these reflections come now too late3 these wishes now are vain and fruitless4 ,i have not suffered1 and therefore must not reign with them4 ,i have in effect denied the ,,lord that bought me1 and therefore justly am ,i now denied by him4 ,but must ,i live for ever tormented in these flames8 ,must this body of mine1 which not long since lay in state1 was cloathed in purple and fine linen1 and fared sumptuously every day1 must it be here eternally confined1 and made the mockery of insulting devils8 ,o eternity6 that thought fills me with despair3 ,i must be miserable for ever4 ,come then1 all ye self-deluding1 self-deluded sinners1 and imagine yourselves for once in the place of that truly wretched man ,i have been here describing4 ,think1 ,i beseech you by the mercies of ,,god in ,,christ ,,jesus1 think with yourselves1 how racking1 how unsupportable the never-dying worm of a self-condemning conscience will hereafter be to you4 ,think how impossible it will be for you to dwell with everlasting burnings4 ,come1 all ye christians of a lukewarm1 ,laodicean spirit1 ye ,gallio's in religion1 who care a little1 but not enough for the things of ,,god2 ,o think1 think with yourselves1 how deplorable it will be to lose the enjoyment of heaven1 and run into endless torments1 merely because you will be content to be almost1 and will not strive to be altogether christians4 ,consider1 ,i beseech you consider1 how you will rave and curse that fatal stupidity which made you believe any thing less than true faith in ,,jesus1 productive of a life of strict piety1 self-denial1 and mortification1 can keep you from those torments1 the eternity of which ,i have been endeavouring to prove4 ,but ,i can no more4 ,these thoughts are too melancholy for me to dwell on1 as well as for you to hear2 and ,,god knows1 as punishing is his strange work1 so denouncing his threatenings is mine4 ,but if the bare mentioning the torments of the damned is so shocking1 how terrible must the enduring of them be6 ,and now1 are not some of you ready to cry out1 8,these are hard sayings1 who can bear them80 ,but let not sincere christians be in the least terrified at what has been delivered3 ,no1 for you is reserved a crown1 a kingdom1 an eternal and exceeding weight of glory4 ,,christ never said that the righteous1 the believing1 the upright1 the sincere1 but the wicked1 merciless1 negatively good professors before described1 shall go into everlasting punishment4 ,for you1 who love him in sincerity1 a new and living way is laid open into the ,holy of ,holies by the blood of ,,jesus ,,christ3 and an abundant entrance will be administered unto you1 at the great day of account1 into eternal life4 ,take heed1 therefore1 and beware that there be not in any of you a root of bitterness springing up of unbelief3 but on the contrary1 stedfastly and heartily rely on the many precious promises reached out to you in the gospel1 knowing that he who hath promised is faithful1 and therefore will perform4 ,but let no obstinately wicked professors dare to apply any of the divine promises to themselves3 8,for it is not meet to take the childrens meat and give it unto dogs30 ,no1 to such the terrors of the ,,lord only belong4 ,and as certainly as ,,christ will say to his true followers1 8,come1 ye blessed children of my ,father1 receive the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world20 so he will unalterably pronounce this dreadful sentence against all that die in their sins1 8,depart from me1 ye cursed1 into everlasting fire1 prepared for the devil and his angels40 ,from which unhappy state1 may ,,god of his infinite mercy deliver us all through ,,jesus ,,christ2 to whom1 with thee ,o ,father1 and thee ,o ,holy ,ghost1 three ,persons and one eternal ,,god1 be ascribed1 as is most due1 all honour1 power1 might1 majesty1 and dominion1 now and for evermore4 ,,sermon ,,xxvii4 ,blind ,bartimeus4 ,,mark x4 #eb4 ,and ,,jesus said unto him1 ,go thy way2 thy faith hath made thee whole4 ,and immediately he received his sight1 and followed ,,jesus in the way4 ,,when the apostle ,peter was recommending ,,jesus of ,nazareth1 in one of his sermons to the ,jews1 he gave him a short1 but withal a glorious and exalted character1 8,that he went about doing good40 ,he went about1 he sought occasions of doing good2 it was his meat and drink to do the works of him that sent him1 whilst the day of his public administration lasted4 ,justly was he stiled by the prophet1 the sun of righteousness4 ,for1 as the sun in the natural firmament diffuses his quickening and reviving beams through the universe1 so1 wherever this sun of righteousness1 the blessed ,,jesus arose1 he arose with healing under his wings4 ,he was indeed a prophet like unto ,moses1 and proved that he was the ,messiah which was to come into the world1 by the miracles which he wrought2 though with this material difference1 the miracles of ,moses1 agreeable to the ,old ,testament dispensation1 were miracles of judgment2 the miracles of ,,jesus1 who came to bear our sicknesses and heal our infirmities1 were miracles of mercy1 and were wrought1 not only for the cure of people's bodies1 but also for the conversion of their precious and immortal souls4 ,sometimes1 one and the same person was the subject of both these mercies4 ,a glorious proof of this1 we have in the miraculous cure wrought upon a poor blind beggar1 named ,bartimeus1 who is to be the subject of the following discourse1 and to whom the words of the text refer4 8,,jesus said unto him1 ,go thy way1 thy faith hath made thee whole4 ,and immediately he received his sight1 and followed ,,jesus in the way40 ,my design is1 ,first1 to make some observations on the matter of fact1 as recorded by the evangelists4 ,and then1 ,secondly1 ,to point out the improvement that may be made thereof4 ,may ,,jesus so bless this following discourse1 that every spiritually blind hearer may receive his sight1 and1 after the example of ,bartimeus1 8follow ,,jesus in the way60 ,if we would take a view of the whole story1 we must go back to the #dfth verse of this chapter4 8,and they 7our ,,lord and his disciples1 who1 we find by the context1 had been conversing together7 came to ,jericho10 a place devoted by ,joshua to the curse of ,,god2 and yet1 even this place yields converts to ,,jesus2 ,zaccheus had been called there formerly2 and ,bartimeus1 as we shall hear by-and-by1 in all probability1 was called now4 ,for some good may come even out of ,nazareth4 ,,christ himself was born there1 and his sovereign grace can reach and overcome the worst of people1 in the very worst of places4 ,,jesus came to ,jericho4 ,let not his ministers1 if providence points out their way1 shun going to seemingly the most unlikely places to do good1 some chosen vessels may be therein4 ,,jesus and his disciples came to ,jericho4 ,they were itinerants2 and1 as ,i have frequently observed1 seldom stayed long in a place2 not that this is any argument against the stated settlement of particular pastors over particular parishes4 ,but however1 our ,,lord's practice1 in this respect1 gives a kind of a sanction to itinerant preaching1 when persons are properly called to1 and qualified for1 such an employ4 ,and ,i believe we may venture to affirm 7though we would by no means prescribe or dictate to the ,holy ,one of ,israel7 that1 whenever there shall be a general revival of religion in any country1 itinerant preaching will be more in vogue4 ,and it is to be feared1 that those who condemn it now1 merely on account of the meanness of its appearances1 would have joined with the self-righteous ,scribes and ,pharisees1 in condemning even the ,son of ,,god himself1 for such a practice4 8,and as he went out of ,jericho with his disciples1 and a great number of people20 a great number of mob1 or rabble1 as the ,high-priests of that generation termed them3 for these were the constant followers of ,,jesus of ,nazareth2 it was the poor that received his gospel1 the common people heard him gladly1 and followed him from place to place4 ,not that all who followed him1 were his true disciples4 ,no1 some followed him only for his loaves1 others out of curiosity2 though some undoubtedly followed to hear1 and be edified by the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth4 ,,jesus knew this1 and was also sensible how displeasing this crowding after him was to some of the rulers of the ,jewish church1 who1 upon every occasion1 were ready to say1 8,have any of the ,scribes and ,pharisees believed on him80 ,but1 notwithstanding1 ,i do not hear of our blessed ,,lord's sending them home but once2 and that was1 after they had been with him three days1 and had nothing left to eat1 he saw they were as sheep having no shepherd1 and therefore had compassion on them1 and taught them4 ,a sufficient warrant this for gospel-ministers to preach to poor souls that follow to hear the word1 whatever principle their coming may proceed from4 ,at the same time1 they should caution people against thinking themselves christians1 because they follow ,,christ's ministers4 ,this our ,,lord frequently did4 ,for there are many that followed ,,jesus1 and now follow his ministers1 and hear them gladly2 nay1 perhaps do many things1 as ,herod did1 who1 it is to be feared1 will never follow them into the kingdom of heaven4 ,much people followed ,,jesus out of ,jericho1 but how many of them were offended in him2 and afterwards1 it may be1 cried out1 8,crucify him1 crucify him40 ,who would depend on popularity8 ,it is like the morning cloud1 or early dew1 that passeth away4 ,but what a press1 and seemingly continued hurry of business did the blessed ,,jesus live in6 he could not be hid2 go where he would1 much people followed him4 ,he had scarce time to eat bread4 ,happy is it for such who are called to act in a public station in the church1 and to be more abundant in labours1 that their ,,jesus has trodden in this dangerous path before them4 ,popularity is a fiery furnace1 and no one1 but he who kept the three children amidst ,nebuchadnezzar's flames1 can preserve popular ministers from being hurt by it4 ,but we can do all things through ,,christ strengthening us4 ,and ,i have often thought1 that there is one consideration sufficient to extinguish1 or moderate at least1 any excess of joy and self-complacence1 which the most popular preacher may feel1 when followed even by the greatest multitudes2 and that is this1 8,how many of these hearers will go away1 without receiving any saving benefit by my preaching2 nay1 how many1 it may be1 will only have their damnation increased by it60 ,as we find many will say at the great day1 8hast thou not taught in our streets20 to whom ,,jesus shall answer1 8,verily1 ,i know you not40 80 replaced with 8 0 ,but to proceed1 8,as our ,,lord went out of ,jericho with his disciples1 and a great number of people1 blind ,bartimeus1 7the son of ,timeus7 sat by the highway-side begging40 ,it should seem that he was a noted1 though by no means what we commonly call1 a sturdy beggar2 having no other way1 as he had lost his sight1 to get his bread2 his case was still the more pitiable1 if he was1 as some think the name imports1 the blind son of a blind father4 ,it may be1 he begged for his father and himself too2 and if so1 then this may give us light into that passage of ,matthew xx4 #bb4 where we are told1 that 8two men spake to ,,jesus40 ,it might be father and son1 though only one is mentioned here1 because he only followed ,,jesus in the way4 ,thus that holy1 judicious1 and practical expositor of holy writ1 ,mr4 ,henry4 ,but however this be1 he is not blamed for begging1 neither should we discommend others for so doing1 when providence calls to it4 ,it was the unjust steward that said1 8,to beg ,i am ashamed40 ,it is our pride that often makes us unwilling to be beholden2 ,,jesus was not thus minded1 he lived1 as it were1 upon alms2 the women that followed him1 ministred to him of their substance4 ,bartimeus1 not being able to dig1 begs for his living2 and1 in order to make a better trade of it1 sat by the highway-side1 in all probability1 without1 or near the gate of the city1 where people must necessarily pass in and out4 ,but though he had lost his sight1 he had his hearing perfect2 and it should comfort us1 if we have lost one sense1 that we have the use of another1 and that we are not deprived of the benefit of all4 ,happy was it for ,bartimeus that he could hear1 though not see4 ,for in all probability1 upon hearing the noise and clamour of the much people that followed after our ,,lord1 his curiosity set him upon enquiring into the cause of it1 and some one or another told him1 8that ,,jesus of ,nazareth was passing by20 ,,jesus of ,nazareth1 called so1 because he was bred there1 or out of contempt2 ,nazareth being either a very mean1 or very wicked place1 or both1 which made guileless ,nathaniel say1 8,can any good come out of ,nazareth80 ,and what does ,bartimeus do when he hears of ,,jesus8 ,we are told1 verse #dg2 8,and when he heard that it was ,,jesus of ,nazareth1 he began to cry out40 ,this plainly denotes1 that though the eyes of his body were shut1 yet the eyes of his mind were1 in some degree1 opened1 so that he saw1 perhaps1 more than most of the multitude that followed after ,,jesus2 for1 as soon as he heard of him1 he began to cry out2 which he would not have done1 had he not heard of him before1 and believed also1 that he was both able and willing to restore sight to the blind4 8,he began to cry out40 ,this implies1 that he had a deep sense of his own misery1 and the need which he had of a cure2 his prayers did not freeze as they went out of his lips2 he began to cry out1 that ,,jesus might hear him1 notwithstanding the noise of the throng2 and he began to cry out1 as soon as he heard he was passing by1 not knowing whether he might ever enjoy such an opportunity any more4 8,he began to cry out1 ,,jesus1 thou ,son of ,david1 have mercy upon me40 ,the people called him ,,jesus of ,nazareth4 ,bartimeus stiles him1 8,,jesus1 thou ,son of ,david40 ,thereby evidencing1 that he believed him to be the ,messiah who was to come into the world1 unto whom the ,,lord ,,god was to give the throne of his father ,david1 and of whose kingdom there was to be no end4 8,,jesus1 thou ,son of ,david20 or1 as it is in the parallel place of ,st4 ,matthew xx4 #cj4 8,o ,,lord1 thou son of ,david20 of whom it had been long foretold1 ,isaiah xxxv4 that when he should come1 8the eyes of the blind should be opened40 8,have mercy upon me10 the natural language of a soul brought to lie down at the feet of a sovereign ,,god4 ,here is no laying claim to a cure by way of merit2 no proud1 self-righteous1 ,,god ,i thank thee that ,i am not as other men are3 no bringing in a reckoning of performances1 nor any doubting of ,,jesus's power or willingness to heal him1 but out of the abundance of the heart1 his mouth speaketh1 and1 in the language of the poor1 broken-hearted publican1 he cries out1 8,,jesus1 thou ,son of ,david1 have mercy on me40 ,,jesus1 thou friend of sinners1 thou ,saviour1 who1 though thou be the true ,,god1 wast pleased to become the ,son of ,david1 and to be made man1 that thou mightest seek and save those that were lost1 have mercy upon me2 let thy bowels yearn towards a poor1 miserable1 blind beggar6 ,one would have thought that such a moving petition as this would have melted the whole multitude1 that heard his piteous cry1 into compassion1 and induced some at least to turn suitors in his behalf1 or help to carry him to the blessed ,,jesus4 ,but instead of that1 we are told1 verse #dh1 that 8many charged him40 ,the word in the original seems to imply a charge1 attended with threatning1 and spoken in an angry manner4 ,they charged him 8to hold his peace20 and it may be1 threatned to beat him if he did not4 ,they looked upon him beneath the notice of ,,jesus of ,nazareth1 and were ready enough to ask1 whether he thought ,,jesus ,,christ had nothing else to do but to wait upon him4 ,this was1 no doubt1 very discouraging to blind ,bartimeus4 ,for opposition comes closest when it proceeds from those who are esteemed followers of the ,lamb4 ,the spouse complains as of something peculiarly afflicting1 that her own mother's children were angry with her4 ,but opposition only serves to whet the edge of true devotion1 and therefore ,bartimeus1 instead of being silenced by their charges and threatnings1 8cried out the more a great deal1 thou ,son of ,david1 have mercy on me40 ,still he breaks out into the same humble language1 and1 if ,,jesus1 the ,son of ,david1 will have mercy on him1 he cares not much what some of his peevish followers said of1 or did unto him4 ,this was not a vain repetition1 but a devout reiteration of his request4 ,we may sometimes repeat the same words1 and yet not be guilty of that 1 or vain speaking1 which our ,,lord condemns4 ,for our ,,lord himself prayed in his agony1 and said twice the same words2 8,father1 if it be possible1 let this cup pass from me40 ,thus ,bartimeus1 8,,jesus1 thou ,son of ,david1 have mercy upon me40 ,and how does the ,son of ,david treat him8 does he join issue with the multitude1 and charge him to hold his peace8 or does he go on1 thinking him beneath his notice8 no2 for1 says ,st4 ,mark1 verse #di4 8,and ,,jesus stood still10 though he was on a journey1 and it may be in haste 7for it is not losing time to stop now and then on a journey to do a good office by the way7 8and commanded him to be called30 why so8 to teach us to be condescending and kind even to poor1 if real beggars1 and tacitly to reprove the blind1 misguided zeal of those who had charged him to hold his peace4 ,by this also our ,,lord prepares the multitude the better to take the more notice of the blind man's faith1 and of his own mercy and power exerted in the healing of him4 ,for there are times and seasons when we are called to perform acts of charity in the most public manner1 and that too very consistently with the injunction of our ,saviour1 8not to let our right hand know what our left hand doth40 ,for there is a great deal of difference between giving alms1 and exercising acts of charity1 that are seen of men1 and doing them1 that they may be seen2 the one is always sinful1 the other often becomes our duty4 ,,jesus commanded ,bartimeus to be called1 8and they called him40 ,who called him8 it may be1 those who a little before charged him to hold his peace4 ,for it often happens1 that our opposers and discouragers1 afterwards become our friends4 8,when a man's ways please the ,,lord1 he makes his enemies be at peace with him40 ,and it is to be wished1 that all who have charged poor souls1 that are crying after ,,jesus1 to hold their peace1 and to spare themselves1 and not be righteous over-much1 would imitate the people here1 and encourage those they once persecuted and maligned4 8,they call the blind man1 saying unto him1 ,be of good comfort1 rise1 he calleth thee40 ,the words1 and manner of speaking them1 implies haste1 and a kind of solicitude for the blind man's relief4 ,o6 that we might hereby learn to be patient1 and long-suffering1 towards opposers4 ,for it may be1 that many may oppose awakened souls1 not out of enmity1 but through prejudice and misinformation1 through ignorance and unbelief1 and a real1 though perhaps false1 persuasion1 that their relations are going in a wrong way4 ,by and by they may be convinced1 that ,,christ is indeed calling them1 and then they may become real and open friends to the cause and work of ,,god2 if not1 it is our duty to behave with meekness towards all1 and not to render railing for railing1 but contrarywise blessing1 knowing that we are thereunto called1 that we may inherit a blessing2 ,,jesus did not break out into harsh language against these opposers1 neither did ,bartimeus4 8,our ,,lord stood still1 and commanded him to be called2 and they call the blind man1 saying unto him1 ,be of good comfort1 rise1 he calleth thee2 and he1 casting away his garment1 rose and came to ,,jesus40 ,had ,bartimeus not been in earnest when he cried1 8,,jesus1 thou ,son of ,david1 have mercy upon me10 he might have said1 why do you mock me8 why bid ye me arise2 rise indeed ,i can1 but after ,i am risen1 how can ,i1 being blind1 find my way unto him8 ,if he will come to me1 it is well2 if not1 all your calling availeth nothing1 it being impossible for me to find my way4 ,thus thousands now-a-days object to evangelical preachers1 saying1 ,why do you bid us come to1 and believe on ,,jesus ,,christ1 when you tell us it is impossible of ourselves to turn to ,,god1 or to do good works2 and that no one can come unto him1 unless the ,father draw him4 ,is not this like the people's calling upon ,bartimeus1 to arise and come to ,,jesus1 when he could not possibly see his way before him8 true1 it is so2 and would to ,,god that all who make this objection1 would imitate ,bartimeus1 and put forth the strength they have6 ,what if we do call you to come1 and to believe on the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 that you may be saved8 does this imply1 that you have a power in yourselves to do so8 no1 in no wise1 no more than ,,jesus saying unto ,lazarus's dead and stinking carcase1 8,come forth10 implied1 that ,lazarus had a power to raise himself from the grave4 ,we call to you1 being commanded to preach the gospel to every creature1 hoping and praying1 that ,,christ's power may accompany the word1 and make it effectual to the quickening and raising of your dead souls4 ,we also call to you to believe1 upon the same account as ,,jesus said unto the lawyer1 8do this1 and thou shalt live20 that you seeing your utter inability to come1 might thereby be convinced of your unbelief1 and be led to ask for faith of him1 whose gift it is1 and who is therefore in scripture emphatically stiled the ,author1 as well as ,finisher1 of our faith4 ,add to this1 that it is your duty to wait at the pool1 or to make use of the strength you have1 in the earnest and steady performance of all commanded duty4 ,for though you cannot do what is spiritually good1 because you want spiritual principles of action1 yet ye may do what is morally and materially good1 inasmuch as ye are reasonable creatures2 and though doing your duty as you can1 no ways deserves mercy1 or entitles you to it1 yet it is the way in which you are required to walk1 and the way in which ,,god is usually found4 ,while you are attempting to stretch out your withered arm1 peradventure it may be restored2 and who knows but ,,jesus may work faith in you1 by his almighty power8 ,bartimeus has set before such objectors an example2 ,o that they would once submit to be taught by a poor blind beggar6 ,for he1 casting away his garment1 rose1 and blind as he was1 came to ,,jesus2 8casting away his garment40 ,this seems to be a large coat or cloak1 that he wore to screen himself from the rain and cold2 undoubtedly1 it was the most necessary and valuable vestment he had1 and one would have thought1 that he should have taken this along with him2 but he knew very well1 that if he did so1 it might hang about his heels1 and thereby his reaching ,,jesus be retarded at least1 if not prevented entirely4 ,valuable therefore as it was to him1 he cast it away4 ,the word implies1 that he threw it from off his shoulders1 with great precipitancy and resolution1 knowing that if he got a cure1 which he now hoped for1 by ,,christ's calling him1 he should never want his garment again4 ,and thus will all do that are in earnest about coming to ,,jesus here1 or seeing and enjoying him in his kingdom eternally hereafter4 ,they will cut off a right-hand1 they will pluck out a right-eye1 they will leave father and mother1 husband and wife1 yea1 and their own lives also1 rather than not be his disciples4 ,the apostle ,paul1 therefore1 exhorts christians1 to 8lay aside every weight1 and the sin that doth most easily beset them10 or hang about their heels1 as the word in the original imports2 alluding to the custom of the ,romans1 who wore long garments4 ,such a one was this1 which ,bartimeus had wrapped round him4 ,but he1 to shew that he sincerely desired to recover his sight1 casting it away1 arose and came to ,,jesus4 ,and what treatment did ,,jesus give him8 did he say1 come not nigh me1 thou impudent noisy beggar8 ,no1 8he answered and said unto him1 ,what wilt thou1 that ,i should do unto thee80 an odd question this1 seemingly4 ,for did not our ,,lord know what he wanted8 yes1 he did2 but the ,,lord ,,jesus dealt with him1 as he deals with us4 ,he will make us acknowledge our wants ourselves1 that we thereby may confess our dependance upon him1 and be made more sensible of the need we stand in1 of his divine assistance4 ,the blind man immediately replies1 8,,lord1 7thereby intimating his belief of ,,christ's divinity7 that ,i might receive my sight40 ,methinks1 ,i see the poor creature listening to the voice of our ,saviour1 and with looks and gestures bespeaking the inward earnestness of his soul1 he cries out1 8,,lord1 that ,i may receive my sight40 ,as though he had said1 ,i believe thou art that ,messiah who was to come into the world4 ,i have heard of thy fame1 ,o ,,jesus6 and hearing the long-wished-for glad-tidings of thy coming this way1 ,i cry unto thee1 asking not for silver and gold1 but what thou1 thou alone canst give me1 ,,lord1 that ,i might receive my sight4 ,no sooner does he ask1 but he receives4 ,for1 verse #eb1 8,,jesus said unto him1 ,go thy way1 thy faith hath made thee whole2 and immediately he received his sight40 ,with the word there went a power2 and he that spake light out of darkness1 saying1 8,let there be light1 and there was light10 commanded light into this poor blind beggar's eyes1 and behold there was light4 ,the miracle was instantaneous2 immediately he received his sight4 ,and next to a miracle it was1 that by breaking into open light all at once1 he was not struck blind again3 but he that gave the sight1 preserved it when given4 ,o6 happy ,bartimeus6 thy eyes are now opened1 and the very first object thou dost behold1 is the ever-loving1 altogether-lovely ,,jesus4 ,methinks ,i see thee transported with wonder and admiration1 and all the disciples1 and the multitude1 gazing around thee6 ,and now1 having received thy sight1 why dost thou not obey the ,,lord's command1 and go thy way8 why dost thou not haste to fetch thy garment1 that thou just now in a hurry didst cast away8 ,no1 no6 with his bodily eyes1 ,i believe he received also a fresh addition of spiritual sight1 and though others saw no form or comeliness in the blessed ,,jesus1 that they should desire him2 yet he by an eye of faith discovered such transcendent excellencies in his royal person1 and felt at the same time such a divine attraction towards his all-bountiful benefactor1 that instead of going his way to fetch his garment1 8he followed ,,jesus in the way20 and by his actions1 says with faithful1 honest-hearted ,ruth1 8entreat me not to leave thee2 for whither thou goest1 ,i will go2 where thou lodgest1 ,i will lodge2 thy people shall be my people2 and thy ,god1 my ,,god40 ,he followed ,,jesus in the way2 the narrow way1 the way of the cross2 and ,i doubt not but long since he has followed him to his crown1 and is at this time sitting with him at the right hand of his ,father4 ,and now1 my dear hearers1 how find you your hearts affected at the relation of this notable miracle which ,,jesus wrought8 are you not ready to break out into the language of the song of ,moses1 and to say1 8,who is like unto thee1 ,o ,,lord1 glorious in holiness1 fearful in praises1 continually doing wonders60 ,marvellous are thy works1 ,o ,,jesus1 and that our souls know right well6 ,but we must not stop here1 in admiring what the ,,lord did for ,bartimeus2 this1 no doubt1 as well as other parts of ,scripture1 was written for our learning1 upon whom the ends of the world are come2 consequently1 as was proposed in the ,second place1 we should see what spiritual improvement can be made of this history1 upon which we have already been making some remarks4 ,a natural man1 indeed1 goes no further than the outward court of the ,scripture1 and reads this1 and the other miracles of our blessed ,saviour1 just in the same manner as he reads ,homer's battles1 or the exploits of ,alexander4 ,but ,,god forbid1 that we should rest in only hearing this matter of fact4 ,for ,i tell thee1 ,o man1 ,i tell thee1 ,o woman1 whoever thou art1 that sittest this day under a preached gospel1 that if thou art in a natural state1 thou art as blind in thy soul1 as ,bartimeus was in his body2 a blind child of a blind father1 even of thy father ,adam1 who lost his sight when he lost his innocence1 and entailed his blindness1 justly inflicted1 upon thee1 and me1 and his whole posterity4 ,some think indeed1 that they see2 but alas6 such talk only like men in their sleep1 like persons beside themselves2 the scriptures every where represent fallen man1 not only as spiritually blind1 but dead also2 and we no more know1 by nature1 savingly the way of salvation by ,,jesus ,,christ1 than ,bartimeus1 when he was blind1 knew the colours of the rainbow4 ,this1 ,i trust1 some of you begin to feel1 ,i see you concerned1 ,i see you weeping1 and1 was ,i to ask some of you1 what you want to have done unto you8 ,i know your answer would be1 that we may receive our sight4 ,and ,,god forbid1 that ,i should charge you to hold your peace1 as though ,,jesus would not regard you6 no1 your being made sensible of your natural blindness1 and crying thus earnestly after ,,jesus1 is a sign at least1 that you are awakened by his holy ,spirit 7though it is possible1 that you may cry with an exceeding bitter cry1 as ,esau did1 and be lost at last72 however1 christian charity induces me to believe and hope the best2 ,i will therefore1 in the language of those who afterwards encouraged ,bartimeus1 say unto you1 ,arise1 take comfort2 for1 ,i trust1 ,,jesus is calling you2 follow therefore the example of ,bartimeus1 cast away your garment2 lay aside every weight1 and the sin which doth most easily beset you1 arise1 and come to ,,jesus4 ,he commands me1 by his written word1 to call to you1 and say1 8,come unto him1 all ye that are weary1 and heavy laden1 and he will refresh you1 he will give you rest40 ,be not afraid1 ye seek ,,jesus of ,nazareth1 behold1 he comes forth to meet you2 ye are now on the highway side1 and ,,jesus1 ,i trust1 is passing by2 ,i feel his presence1 ,i hope many of you feel it too2 ,o then1 cry mightily to him1 who is mighty and willing to save you2 lay yourselves at the feet of sovereign grace1 say unto him1 8,,jesus1 thou ,son of ,david1 have mercy on me10 in the same frame as ,bartimeus did1 and ,,jesus will answer you1 he will not cast out your prayer2 according to your faith1 so shall it be done unto you4 ,blind as you are1 you shall1 notwithstanding1 receive your sight2 ,satan1 indeed1 and unbelief1 will suggest many objections to you1 your carnal relations will also join issue with them1 and charge you to hold your peace2 one will tell you1 that your blindness is too inveterate to be cured2 another1 that it is too late2 a third1 that though ,,jesus can1 yet he will not have mercy upon such poor1 blind1 despicable beggars1 as ye are2 but1 the more they charge you to hold your peace1 do you cry out so much the more a great deal1 8,,jesus1 thou ,son of ,david1 have mercy on us40 ,,jesus1 thou ,saviour1 thou friend of sinners1 thou ,son of ,david1 and therefore a ,son of man6 gracious words6 endearing appellations6 be encouraged by them1 to draw nigh unto him4 ,though ,david's ,lord1 yet he is become ,david's ,son1 after the flesh1 that ye through him may be made the sons of ,,god3 no matter what thou art1 ,o woman1 what thou art1 ,o man2 though thou art literally a poor beggar1 think not thy condition too mean for ,,jesus to take notice of2 he came into the highways and hedges1 to call such poor beggars in2 or1 if you are rich1 think not yourselves too high to stoop to ,,jesus2 for he is the ,king of kings2 and you never will be truly rich1 until you are made rich in ,,jesus2 fear not being despised1 or losing a little worldly honour3 one sight of ,,jesus will make amends for all3 you will find something so inviting1 so attracting1 so satisfying1 in the altogether-lovely ,lamb of ,,god1 that every sublunary enjoyment will sicken1 and die1 and vanish before you2 and you will no more desire your former vain and trifling amusements1 than ,bartimeus1 after he had received his sight1 desired to go back again and fetch his garment4 ,o that there may be many such blind beggars among you this day6 ,here is a great multitude of people following me1 a poor worm1 this day4 ,i rejoice to see the fields thus white1 ready unto harvest1 and to spread the gospel-net amidst so many2 but alas6 ,i shall return home with a heavy heart1 unless some of you will arise and come to my ,,jesus2 ,i desire to preach ,,him1 and not myself2 rest not in hearing and following me4 ,behold1 believe on1 and follow the ,lamb of ,,god1 who came to take away the sins of the world4 ,indeed1 ,i do not despair of any of you1 neither am ,i discouraged1 on account of my preaching in the highways and hedges2 ,,jesus called ,zaccheus2 ,,jesus called ,bartimeus1 as he passed through ,jericho2 that cursed1 that devoted place2 and why may he not call some of you1 out of these despised fields8 is his arm shortened1 that he cannot save8 is he not as mighty now1 and as willing to save1 even to the uttermost1 all that come to the ,father through him1 as he was seventeen hundred years ago8 assuredly he is2 he hath said1 and he also will do it1 8,whosoever cometh to me1 ,i will in no wise cast out40 ,in no wise1 or by no means4 ,o encouraging words6 sinners1 believe ye this8 arise then1 be of good comfort1 for ,,jesus is indeed calling you4 ,some of you1 ,i trust1 have obeyed this invitation1 and have had a sight of him long ago2 ,i know then1 you will bless and love him2 and if he should say unto you1 as he did unto ,bartimeus1 go you your way2 your answer would be1 we love our master1 and will not go from him4 ,but suffer ye the word of exhortation3 ,suffer me to stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance1 shew that you have indeed seen him1 and that you do indeed love him1 by following him in the way2 ,i mean1 in the way of the cross1 the way of his ordinances1 and in the way of his holy commandments2 for alas6 the love of many waxeth cold1 and few there are that follow ,,jesus rightly in the way2 few there are that cast away their garments so heartily as they should2 some idol or another hangs about us1 and hinders us in running the race that is set before us4 ,awake therefore1 ye sleepy1 though1 it may be1 wise virgins4 ,awake1 awake1 put on strength2 shake yourselves from the dust2 arise and follow ,,jesus more closely in the way1 than ever you did yet4 ,lift up the hands that hang down1 and strengthen the feeble knees4 ,provide right paths for your feet1 lest that which is lame be turned out of the way1 but rather be ye healed4 ,for though the way be narrow1 yet it is not long2 8though the gate be straight1 7to use the words of pious bishop ,beveridge7 yet it opens into everlasting life40 ,o that ye may get a fresh sight of him again this day6 ,that would be like oil to the wheels of your graces1 and make your souls like the chariots of ,aminadab4 ,it is only owing to your losing sight of him1 that you go so heavily from day to day4 ,a sight of ,,jesus1 like the sun rising in the morning1 dispels the darkness and gloominess that lies upon the soul4 ,take therefore a fresh view of him1 ,o believers1 and never rest until you are translated to see him as he is1 and to live with him for evermore1 in the kingdom of heaven4 ,even so1 ,,lord ,,jesus1 ,amen and ,amen6 ,,sermon ,,xxviii4 ,directions how to hear ,sermons4 ,,luke viii4 #ah4 ,take heed1 therefore1 how ye hear4 ,,the occasion of our ,,lord's giving this caution1 was this3 ,perceiving that much people were gathered together to hear him out of every city1 and knowing 7for he is ,,god1 and knoweth all things7 that many1 if not most of them1 would be hearers only1 and not doers of the word2 he spake to them by a parable1 wherein1 under the similitude of a sower that went out to sow his seed1 he plainly intimated1 how few there were amongst them1 who would receive any saving benefit from his doctrine1 or bring forth fruit unto perfection4 ,the application one would imagine should have been plain and obvious2 but the disciples1 as yet unenlightened in any great degree by the ,holy ,spirit1 and therefore unable to see into the hidden mysteries of the kingdom of ,,god1 dealt with our ,saviour1 as people ought to deal with their ministers2 they discoursed with him privately about the meaning of what he had taught them in public2 and with a sincere desire of doing their duty1 asked for an interpretation of the parable4 ,our blessed ,,lord1 as he always was willing to instruct those that were teachable1 7herein setting his ministers an example to be courteous and easy of access7 freely told them the signification4 ,and withal1 to make them more cautious and more attentive to his doctrine for the future1 he tells them1 that they were in an especial manner to be the light of the world1 and were to proclaim on the house-top whatsoever he told them in secret2 and as their improving the knowledge already imparted1 was the only condition upon which more was to be given them1 it therefore highly concerned them to 8take heed how they heard40 ,from the context then it appears1 that the words were primarily spoken to the ,apostles themselves4 ,but as it is to be feared1 out of those many thousands that flock to hear sermons1 but few1 comparatively speaking1 are effectually influenced by them1 ,i cannot but think it very necessary to remind you of the caution given by our ,,lord to his disciples1 and to exhort you with the utmost earnestness1 to 8take heed how you hear40 ,in prosecution of which design ,i shall1 ,first1 ,prove that every one ought to take all opportunities of hearing sermons4 ,and1 ,secondly1 ,i shall lay down some cautions and directions1 in order to your hearing with profit and advantage4 ,first1 ,i am to prove1 that every one ought to take all opportunities of hearing sermons4 ,that there have always been particular persons set apart by ,,god1 to instruct and exhort his people to practise what he should require of them1 is evident from many passages of scripture4 ,st4 ,jude tells us1 that 8,enoch1 the seventh from ,adam1 prophesied 7or preached7 concerning the ,,lord's coming with ten thousand of his saints to judgment40 ,and ,noah1 who lived not long after1 is stiled by ,st4 ,peter1 8a preacher of righteousness40 ,and though in all the intermediate space between the flood and giving of the law1 we hear but of few preachers1 yet we may reasonably conclude1 that ,,god never left himself without witness1 but at sundry times1 and after divers manners1 spoke to our fathers by the patriarchs and prophets4 ,but however it was before1 we are assured that after the delivery of the law1 ,,god constantly separated to himself a certain order of men to preach to1 as well as pray for his people2 and commanded them to enquire their duty at the priests mouths4 ,and though the ,jews were frequently led into captivity1 and for their sins scattered abroad on the face of the earth1 yet he never utterly forsook his church1 but still kept up a remnant of prophets and preachers1 as ,ezekiel1 ,jeremiah1 ,daniel1 and others1 to reprove1 instruct1 and call them to repentance4 ,thus was it under the law4 ,nor has the church been worse1 but infinitely better provided for under the gospel4 ,for when ,,jesus ,,christ1 that great ,high-priest1 had through the eternal ,spirit offered himself1 as a full1 perfect1 sufficient sacrifice and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world1 and after his resurrection had all power committed to him1 both in heaven and earth1 he gave commission to his ,apostles1 and in them to all succeeding ministers1 to 8go and preach his gospel to every creature20 promising to 8to be with them1 to guide1 assist1 strengthen1 and comfort them always1 even to the end of the world40 ,but if it be the duty of ministers to preach1 7and woe be to them if they do not preach the gospel1 for a necessity is laid upon them7 no doubt1 the people are obliged to attend to them2 for otherwise1 wherefore are ministers sent8 ,and how can we here avoid admiring the love and tender care which our dear ,redeemer has expressed for his spouse the church8 ,who1 because he could not be always with us in person1 on account it was expedient he should go away1 and as our forerunner take possession of that glory he had purchased by his precious blood1 yet would not leave us comfortless1 but first settled a sufficient number of pastors and teachers2 and afterwards1 according to his promise1 actually did and will continue to send down the ,holy ,ghost1 to furnish them and their successors with proper gifts and graces 8for the work of the ministry1 for the perfecting of the saints1 for the edifying of his body in love1 till we all come in the unity of the spirit1 to the fulness of the measure of the stature of ,,christ40 ,o how insensible are those persons of this unspeakable gift1 who do despite to the ,spirit of grace1 who crucify the ,son of ,,god afresh1 and put him to an open shame1 by wilfully refusing to attend on so great a means of their salvation8 ,how dreadful will the end of such men be8 ,how aggravating1 that light should come into the world1 that the glad tidings of salvation should be so very frequently proclaimed in this populous city1 and that so many should loath this spiritual manna1 this angels food1 and call it light bread8 ,how much more tolerable will it be for ,tyre and ,sidon1 for ,sodom and ,gomorrah1 than for such sinners8 ,better1 that men had never heard of a ,saviour being born1 than after they have heard1 not to give heed to the ministry of those1 who are employed as his ambassadors1 to transact affairs between ,,god and their souls4 ,we may1 though at a distance1 without a spirit of prophesy1 foretel the deplorable condition of such men2 behold them cast into hell1 lifting up their eyes1 being in torment1 and crying out1 ,how often would our ministers have gathered us1 as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings8 ,but we would not4 ,o that we had known in that our day1 the things that belonged to our everlasting peace6 ,but now they are for ever hid from our eyes4 ,thus wretched1 thus inconceiveably miserable1 will such be as slight and make a mock at the public preaching of the gospel4 ,but taking it for granted1 there are but few1 if any1 of this unhappy stamp1 who think it worth their while to tread the courts of the ,,lord's house1 ,i pass on now to the ,second general thing proposed1 to lay down some cautions and directions1 in order to your hearing sermons with profit and advantage4 ,and here1 if we reflect on what has been already delivered1 and consider that preaching is an ordinance of ,,god1 a means appointed by ,,jesus ,,christ himself for promoting his kingdom amongst men1 you cannot reasonably be offended1 if1 in order that you may hear sermons with profit and advantage1 ,i #a4 ,direct or entreat you to come to hear them1 not out of curiosity1 but from a sincere desire to know and do your duty4 ,formality and hypocrisy in any religious exercise1 is an abomination unto the ,,lord4 ,and to enter his house merely to have our ears entertained1 and not our hearts reformed1 must certainly be highly displeasing to the ,most ,high ,,god1 as well as unprofitable to ourselves4 ,hence it is1 that so many remain unconverted1 yea1 unaffected with the most evangelical preaching2 so that like ,st4 ,paul's companions1 before his conversion1 they only hear the preacher's voice with their outward ears1 but do not experience the power of it inwardly in their hearts3 ,or1 like the ground near ,gideon's fleece1 they remain untouched2 whilst others1 who came to be fed with the sincere milk of the word1 like the fleece itself1 are watered by the dew of ,,god's heavenly blessing1 and grow thereby4 ,flee therefore1 my brethren1 flee curiosity1 and prepare your hearts by a humble disposition1 to receive with meekness the engrafted word1 and then it will be a means1 under ,,god1 to quicken1 build up1 purify1 and save your souls4 #b4 ,a second direction ,i shall lay down for the same purpose1 is1 not only to prepare your hearts before you hear1 but also to give diligent heed to the things that are spoken from the word of ,,god4 ,if an earthly king was to issue out a royal proclamation1 on performing or not performing the conditions therein contained1 the life or death of his subjects entirely depended1 how solicitous would they be to hear what those conditions were8 ,and shall not we pay the same respect to the ,king of kings1 and ,,lord of lords1 and lend an attentive ear to his ministers1 when they are declaring1 in his name1 how our pardon1 peace1 and happiness may be secured8 ,when ,,god descended on mount ,sinai in terrible majesty1 to give unto his people the law1 how attentive were they to his servant ,moses8 ,and if they were so earnest to hear the thunderings or threatenings of the law1 shall not we be as solicitous to hear from the ministers of ,,christ1 the glad tidings of the gospel8 ,whilst ,,christ was himself on earth1 it is said1 that the people hung upon him to hear the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth4 ,and if we looked on ministers as we ought1 as the sent of ,,jesus ,,christ1 we should hang upon them to hear their words also4 ,besides1 the sacred truths that gospel ministers deliver1 are not dry insipid lectures on moral philosophy1 intended only to amuse us for a while2 but the great mysteries of godliness1 which1 therefore1 we are bound studiously to listen to1 lest through our negligence we should either not understand them1 or by any other means let them slip4 ,but how regardless are those of this direction1 who1 instead of hanging on the preacher to hear him1 doze or sleep whilst he is speaking to them from ,,god8 ,unhappy men6 ,can they not watch with our blessed ,,lord one hour8 ,what6 have they never read how ,eutychus fell down as he was sleeping1 when ,st4 ,paul continued his discourse till midnight1 and was taken up dead8 ,but to return4 ,though you may prepare your hearts1 as you may think1 by a teachable disposition1 and be attentive whilst discourses are delivering1 yet this will profit you little1 unless you observe duplicate word 8a0 removed #c4 ,a third direction1 ,not to entertain any the least prejudice against the minister4 ,for could a preacher speak with the tongue of men and angels1 if his audience was prejudiced against him1 he would be but as sounding brass1 or tinkling cymbal4 ,that was the reason why ,,jesus ,,christ himself1 the ,eternal ,word1 could not do many mighty works1 nor preach to any great effect among those of his own country2 for they were offended at him3 ,and was this same ,jesus1 this ,,god incarnate1 again to bow the heavens1 and to come down speaking as never man spake1 yet1 if we were prejudiced against him1 as the ,jews were1 we should harden our hearts as the ,jews did theirs4 ,take heed therefore1 my brethren1 and beware of entertaining any dislike against those whom the ,holy ,ghost has made overseers over you4 ,consider that the clergy are men of like passions with yourselves3 and though we should even hear a person teaching others to do1 what he has not learned himself2 yet1 that is no sufficient reason for rejecting his doctrine3 for ministers speak not in their own1 but ,,christ's name4 ,and we know who commanded the people to do whatsoever the ,scribes and ,pharisees should say unto them1 though they said but did not4 ,but #d4 ,fourthly1 ,as you ought not to be prejudiced against1 so you should be careful not to depend too much on a preacher1 or think more highly of him than you ought to think4 ,for though this be an extream that people seldom run into1 yet preferring one teacher in opposition to another1 has often been of ill consequence to the church of ,,god4 ,it was a fault which the great ,apostle of the ,gentiles condemned in the ,corinthians3 ,for whereas one said1 8,i am of ,paul2 another1 ,i am of ,apollos3 are ye not carnal10 says he8 8,for who is ,paul1 and who is ,apollos1 but instruments in ,,god's hands by whom you believed80 ,and are not all ministers sent forth to be ministring ambassadors to those who shall be heirs of salvation8 ,and are they not all therefore greatly to be esteemed for their work's sake4 ,the ,apostle1 it is true1 commands us to pay double honour to those who labour in the word and doctrine3 but then to prefer one minister at the expence of another1 7perhaps1 to such a degree1 as when you have actually entered a church1 to come out again because he does not preach7 is earthly1 sensual1 devilish4 ,not to mention that popularity and applause cannot but be exceedingly dangerous1 even to a rightly informed mind2 and must necessarily fill any thinking man with a holy jealousy1 lest he should take that honour to himself1 which is due only to ,,god1 who alone qualifies him for his ministerial labours1 and from whom alone every good and perfect gift cometh4 #e4 ,a ,fifth direction ,i would recommend is1 to make a particular application of every thing that is delivered to your own hearts4 ,when our ,saviour was discoursing at the last supper with his beloved disciples1 and foretold that one of them should betray him1 each of them immediately applied it to his own heart1 and said1 8,,lord1 is it ,i80 ,and would persons1 in like manner1 when preachers are dissuading from any sin1 or persuading to any duty1 instead of crying1 this was designed against such and such a one1 turn their thoughts inwardly1 and say1 ,,lord1 is it ,i8 how far more beneficial should we find discourses to be1 than now they generally are8 ,but we are apt to wander too much abroad2 always looking at the mote which is in our neighbour's eye1 rather than at the beam which is in our own4 ,haste we now to the #f4 ,sixth and last direction3 ,if you would receive a blessing from the ,,lord1 when you hear his word preached1 pray to him1 both before1 in1 and after every sermon1 to endue the minister with power to speak1 and to grant you a will and ability to put in practice1 what he shall shew from the book of ,,god to be your duty4 ,this would be an excellent means to render the word preached effectual to the enlightening and enflaming your hearts2 and without this1 all the other means before prescribed will be in vain4 ,no doubt it was this consideration that made ,st4 ,paul so earnestly entreat his beloved ,ephesians to intercede with ,,god for him3 8,praying always1 with all manner of prayer and supplication in the spirit1 and for me also1 that ,i may open my mouth with boldness1 to make known the mysteries of the gospel40 ,and if so great an ,apostle as ,st4 ,paul1 needed the prayers of his people1 much more do those ministers1 who have only the ordinary gifts of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,besides1 this would be a good proof that you sincerely desired to do1 as well as to know the will of ,,god4 ,and it must highly profit both ministers and people2 because ,,god1 through your prayers1 will give them a double portion of his ,holy ,spirit1 whereby they will be enabled to instruct you more fully in the things which pertain to the kingdom of ,,god4 ,and ,o that all who hear me this day1 would seriously apply their hearts to practise what has now been told them6 ,how would ministers see ,satan1 like lightning1 fall from heaven1 and people find the word preached sharper than a two-edged sword1 and mighty1 through ,,god1 to the pulling down of the devil's strong holds6 ,the ,holy ,ghost would then fall on all them that hear the word1 as when ,st4 ,peter preached2 the gospel of ,,christ would have free course1 run very swiftly1 and thousands again be converted by a sermon4 ,for 8,,jesus ,,christ is the same yesterday1 to-day1 and for ever40 ,he has promised to be with his ministers always1 even unto the end of the world4 ,and the reason why we do not receive larger effusions of the blessed ,spirit of ,,god1 is not because our all-powerful ,redeemer's hand is shortened1 but because we do not expect them1 and confine them to the primitive times4 ,it does indeed sometimes happen1 that ,,god1 to magnify his free grace in ,,christ ,,jesus1 is found of them that sought him not2 a notorious sinner is forcibly worked upon by a public sermon1 and plucked as a firebrand out of the fire4 ,but this is not ,,god's ordinary way of acting3 ,no1 for the generality1 he only visits those with the power of his word1 who humbly wait to know what he would have them to do2 and sends unqualified hearers not only empty1 but hardened away4 ,take heed1 therefore1 ye careless1 curious professors1 if any such be here present1 how you hear4 ,remember1 that whether we think of it or not1 8we must all appear before the judgment-seat of ,,christ20 where ministers must give a strict account of the doctrine they have delivered1 and you as strict a one1 how you have improved under it4 ,and1 good ,,god6 how will you be able to stand at the bar of an angry1 sin-avenging judge1 and see so many discourses you have despised1 so many ministers1 who once longed and laboured for the salvation of your precious and immortal souls1 brought out as so many swift witnesses against you8 ,will it be sufficient then1 think you1 to alledge1 that you went to hear them only out of curiosity1 to pass away an idle hour1 to admire the oratory1 or ridicule the simplicity of the preacher8 ,no2 ,,god will then let you know1 that you ought to have come out of better principles2 that every sermon has been put down to your account1 and that you must then be justly punished for not improving by them4 ,but fear not1 you little flock1 who with meekness receive the ingrafted word1 and bring forth the peaceable fruits of righteousness2 for it shall not be so with you4 ,no1 you will be your minister's joy1 and their crown of rejoicing in the day of our ,,lord ,,jesus3 ,and they will present you in a holy triumph1 faultless and unblameable1 to our common ,redeemer1 saying1 8,behold us1 ,o ,,lord1 and the children which thou hast given us40 ,but still take heed how you hear3 for upon your improving the grace you have1 more shall be given1 and you shall have abundance4 8,he is faithful that has promised1 who also will do it40 ,nay1 ,,god from out of ,sion1 shall so bless you1 that every sermon you hear shall communicate to you a fresh supply of spiritual knowledge4 ,the word of ,,god shall dwell in you richly2 you shall go on from strength to strength1 from one degree of grace unto another1 till being grown up to be perfect men in ,,christ ,,jesus1 and filled with all the fulness of ,,god1 you shall be translated by death to see him as he is1 and to sing praises before his throne with angels and archangels1 cherubim and seraphim1 and the general assembly of the first-born1 whose names are written in heaven1 for ever and ever4 ,which ,,god1 c4 ,,sermon ,,xxix4 ,the ,extent and ,reasonableness of ,self-,denial4 ,,luke ix4 #bc4 ,and he said unto them all1 ,if any man will come after me1 let him deny himself4 ,,whoever reads the gospel with a single eye1 and sincere intention1 will find1 that our blessed ,,lord took all opportunities of reminding his disciples that his kingdom was not of this world2 that his doctrine was a doctrine of the cross2 and that their professing themselves to be his followers1 would call them to a constant state of voluntary suffering and self-denial4 ,the words of the text afford us one instance1 among many1 of our ,saviour's behaviour in this matter3 for having in the preceding verses revealed himself to ,peter1 and the other apostles1 to be 8,the ,,christ of ,,god20 lest they should be too much elated with such a peculiar discovery of his deity1 or think that their relation to so great a personage would be attended with nothing but pomp and grandeur1 he tells them1 in the #bb;d verse1 that 8the son of man was to suffer many things10 in this world1 though he was to be crowned with eternal glory and honour in the next3 and that if any of them or their posterity would share in the same honour1 they must bear a part with him in his self-denial and sufferings4 ,for 8,he said unto them all1 if any man will come after me1 let him deny himself40 ,from which words ,i shall consider these three things3 ,i4 ,first1 ,the nature of the self-denial recommended in the text2 and in how many respects we must deny ourselves1 in order to come after ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,,ii4 ,secondly1 ,i shall endeavour to prove the universality and reasonableness of this duty of self-denial4 ,,iii4 ,thirdly1 ,i shall offer some considerations1 which may serve as so many motives to reconcile us to1 and quicken us in1 the practice of this self-denial4 ,i4 ,first1 ,i am to shew you the nature of the self-denial recommended in the text2 or in how many respects we must deny ourselves in order to follow ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,now as the faculties of the soul are distinguished by the understanding1 will and affections2 so in all these must each of us deny himself4 ,we must not lean to our own understanding1 being wise in our own eyes1 and prudent in our own sight2 but we must submit our short-sighted reason to the light of divine revelation4 ,there are mysteries in religion1 which are above1 though not contrary to our natural reason3 and therefore we shall never become christians unless we cast down imaginations1 8and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of ,,god1 and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of ,,christ40 ,it is in this respect1 as well as others1 that we must become fools for ,,christ's sake1 and acknowledge we know nothing without revelation1 as we ought to know4 ,we must1 with all humility and reverence1 embrace the truths revealed to us in the holy scriptures2 for thus only can we become truly wise1 even 8,wise unto salvation40 ,it was matter of our blessed ,,lord's thanksgiving to his heavenly father1 that he had 8hidden these things from the wise and prudent1 and had revealed them unto babes40 ,and in this respect also we must 8be converted and become as little children10 teachable1 and willing to follow the ,lamb into whatsoever mysteries he shall be pleased to lead us2 and believe and practise all divine truths1 not because we can demonstrate them1 but because ,,god1 8who cannot lye10 has revealed them to us4 ,hence then we may trace infidelity to its fountain head3 for it is nothing else1 but a pride of the understanding1 an unwillingness to submit to the truths of ,,god1 that makes so many1 professing themselves wise1 to become such fools as to deny the ,,lord1 who has so dearly bought them2 and dispute the divinity of that eternal ,word1 8in whom they live1 and move1 and have their being30 ,whereby it is justly to be feared1 they will bring upon themselves sure1 if not swift destruction4 ,but1 as we must deny ourselves in our understandings1 so must we deny1 or1 as it might be more properly rendered1 renounce our wills3 that is1 we must make our own wills no principle of action1 but 8whether we eat or drink1 or whatsoever we do1 we must do all1 7not merely to please ourselves1 but7 to the glory of ,,god40 ,not that we are therefore to imagine we are to have no pleasure in any thing we do3 8,wisdom's ways are ways of pleasantness20 but pleasing ourselves must not be the principal1 but only the subordinate end of our actions4 ,and ,i cannot but particularly press this doctrine upon you1 because it is the grand secret of our holy religion4 ,it is this1 my brethren1 that distinguishes the true christian from the mere moralist and formal professor2 and without which none of our actions are acceptable in ,,god's sight3 ,for 8if thine eye be single10 says our blessed ,,lord1 ,matthew vi4 #bb4 that is1 if thou aimest simply to please ,,god1 without any regard to thy own will1 8thy whole body1 7or all thy actions7 will be full of light20 agreeable to the gospel1 which is called light3 8,but if thine eye be evil1 7if thine intention be diverted any other way7 thy whole body1 7all thy actions7 will be full of darkness10 sinful and unprofitable1 we must not only do the will of ,,god1 but do it because it is his will2 since we pray that 8,,god's will may be done on earth as it is in heaven40 ,and no doubt1 the blessed angels not only do every thing that ,,god willeth1 but do it chearfully1 out of this principle1 because ,,god willeth it3 ,and if we would live as we pray1 we must go and do likewise4 ,but farther2 as we must renounce our wills in doing1 so likewise must we renounce them in suffering the will of ,,god4 ,whatsoever befals us1 we must say with good old ,eli1 8,it is the ,,lord1 let him do what seemeth him good20 or with one that was infinitely greater than ,eli1 8,father1 not my will1 but thine be done40 ,o ,,jesus1 thine was an innocent will1 and yet thou renouncedst it3 ,teach us1 even us also1 ,o our ,saviour6 to submit our wills to thine1 in all the evils which shall be brought upon us2 and in every thing enable us to give thanks1 since it is thy blessed will concerning us6 ,thirdly1 we must deny ourselves1 as in our understandings and wills1 so likewise in our affections4 ,more particularly1 we must deny ourselves the pleasurable indulgence and self-enjoyment of riches3 8,if any man will come after me1 he must forsake all and follow me40 ,and again 7to shew the utter inconsistency of the love of the things of this world with the love of the ,father7 he tells us1 8unless a man forsake all that he hath1 he cannot be my disciple40 ,far be it from me to think that these texts are to be taken in a literal sense2 as though they obliged rich persons to go sell all that they have and give to the poor1 7for that would put it out of their power to be serviceable to the poor for the future7 but however1 they certainly imply thus much1 that we are to sit loose to1 sell and forsake all in affection1 and be willing to part with every thing1 when ,,god shall require it at our hands3 that is1 as the apostle observes1 we must 8use the world as though we used it not20 and though we are in the world1 we must not be of it4 ,we must look upon ourselves as stewards1 and not proprietors1 of the manifold gifts of ,,god2 provide first what is necessary for ourselves and for our housholds1 and expend the rest1 not in indulgencies and superfluous ornaments1 forbidden by the apostle1 but in cloathing1 feeding1 and relieving the naked1 hungry1 distressed disciples of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,this is what our blessed ,,lord would have us understand by forsaking all1 and in this sense must each of us deny himself4 ,i am sensible that this will seem an hard saying to many1 who will be offended because they are covetous1 and 8lovers of pleasure more than lovers of ,,god30 but if ,i yet pleased such men1 ,i should not be the servant of ,,christ4 ,no1 we must not1 like ,ahab's false prophets1 have a lying spirit in our mouths1 but declare faithfully the whole will of ,,god2 and like honest ,micajah1 out of pity and compassion1 tell men the truth1 though they may falsely think we prophecy not good but evil concerning them4 ,but to proceed3 ,as we must renounce our affection for riches1 so likewise our affections for relations1 when they stand in opposition to our love of1 and duty to ,,god3 ,for thus saith the ,saviour of the world3 8,if any man will come after me1 and hateth not his father and mother1 his children1 and brethren1 and sisters1 yea and his own life also1 he cannot be my disciple40 ,strange doctrine this6 ,what1 hate our own flesh6 ,what1 hate the father that begat us1 the mother that bare us6 ,how can these things be8 ,can ,,god contradict himself8 ,has he not bid us to honour our father and mother8 and yet we are here commanded to hate them4 ,how can these truths be reconciled8 ,by interpreting the word hate1 not in a rigorous and absolute sense1 but comparatively3 not as implying a total alienation1 but a less degree of affection4 ,for thus our blessed ,saviour himself 7the best and surest expositor of his own meaning7 explains it in a parallel text1 ,matthew x4 #cg4 8,he that loveth father or mother more than me1 is not worthy of me3 ,he that loveth son or daughter more than me1 is not worthy of me40 ,so that when the persuasions of our friends 7as for our trial they may be permitted to be7 are contrary to the will of ,,god1 we must say with ,levi1 8we have not known them20 or1 agreeably to our blessed ,,lord's rebuke to ,peter1 8,get you behind me1 my adversaries2 for you savour not the things that be of ,,god1 but the things that be of man40 ,farther1 we must deny ourselves in things indifferent3 for it might easily be shewn1 that as many1 if not more1 perish by an immoderate use of things in themselves indifferent1 as by any gross sin whatever4 ,a prudent christian therefore1 will consider not only what is lawful1 but what is expedient also3 not so much what degrees of self-denial best suit his inclinations here1 as what will most effectually break his will1 and fit him for greater degrees of glory hereafter4 ,lastly1 ,to conclude this head1 we must renounce our own righteousness3 ,for1 though we should give all our goods to feed the poor1 and our bodies to be burned1 yet1 if we in the least depend on that1 and do not wholly rely on the perfect all-sufficient righteousness of ,,jesus ,,christ1 it will profit us nothing4 8,,christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth40 ,we are compleat in him1 and him only4 ,our own righteousnesses are but as filthy rags4 ,we must count all things but dung and dross1 so that we may be found in him1 not having our own righteousness1 but the righteousness which is of ,,god1 through ,,jesus ,,christ our ,,lord4 ,and is this the doctrine of christianity8 is not the christian world then asleep8 ,if not1 whence so much self-righteousness1 whence the self-indulgence1 whence the reigning love of riches which we every where meet with8 ,above all1 whence that predominant greediness after sensual pleasure1 that has so over-run this sinful nation1 that was a pious stranger to come amongst us1 he would be tempted to think some heathen ,venus was worshipped here1 and that temples were dedicated to her service4 ,but we have the authority of an inspired apostle to affirm1 that they who live in a round of pleasure1 8are dead while they live40 ,wherefore1 as the ,holy ,ghost saith1 8,awake thou that sleepest1 and arise from the dead1 and ,,christ shall give thee light40 ,but the power of raising the spiritually dead belongeth only unto ,,god4 ,do thou therefore1 ,o ,holy ,,jesus1 who by thy almighty word commandest ,lazarus to come forth1 though he had lain in the grave some days1 speak also as effectually to these spiritually dead souls1 whom ,satan for many years hath so fast bound by sensual pleasures1 that they are not so much as able to lift up their eyes or hearts to heaven4 ,,ii4 ,but ,i pass on to the second general thing proposed1 to consider the universal obligation and reasonableness of this doctrine of self-denial4 ,when our blessed master had been discoursing publicly concerning the watchfulness of the faithful and wise steward1 his disciples asked him1 8,speakest thou this parable to all1 or only to us80 ,the same question ,i am aware has been1 and will be put concerning the foregoing doctrine3 for too many1 unwilling to take ,,christ's easy yoke upon them1 in order to evade the force of the gospel precepts1 would pretend that all those commands concerning self-denial1 and renouncing ourselves and the world1 belonged to our ,,lord's first and immediate followers1 and not to us or to our children4 ,but such persons greatly err1 not knowing the scriptures1 nor the power of godliness in their hearts4 ,for the doctrine of ,,jesus ,,christ1 like his blessed self1 is 8the same yesterday1 to-day1 and for ever40 ,what he said unto one1 he said unto all1 even unto the ends of the world2 8,if any man will come after me1 let him deny himself30 and in the text it is particularly mentioned that he said it unto them ,,all4 ,and lest we should still absurdly imagine that this word ,,all was to be confined to his apostles1 with whom he was then discoursing1 it is said in another place1 that ,,jesus turned unto the multitude and said1 8,if any man will come after me1 and hateth not his father and mother1 yea and his own life also1 he cannot be my disciple40 ,when our blessed ,,lord had spoken a certain parable1 it is said1 8the scribes and ,pharisees were offended1 for they knew the parable was spoken against them30 ,and if christians can now read these plain and positive texts of scripture1 and at the same time not think they are spoken of them1 they are more hardened than ,jews1 and more insincere than ,pharisees4 ,law's ,christian ,perfection4 ,in the former part of this discourse ,i observed1 that the precepts concerning forsaking and selling all1 did not oblige us in a literal sense1 because the state of the church does not demand it of us1 as it did of the primitive christians2 but still the same deadness to the world1 the same abstemious use of1 and readiness to part with our goods for ,,christ's sake1 is as absolutely necessary for1 and as obligatory on us1 as it was on them4 ,for though the church may differ as to the outward state of it1 in different ages1 yet as to the purity of its inward state1 it was1 is1 and always will be invariably the same4 ,and all the commands which we meet with in the epistles1 about 8mortifying our members which are upon the earth1 of setting our affections on things above1 and of not being conformed to this world20 are but so many incontestible proofs that the same holiness1 heavenly-mindedness1 and deadness to the world1 is as necessary for us1 as for our ,,lord's immediate followers4 ,but farther1 as such an objection argues an ignorance of the scriptures1 so it is a manifest proof1 that such as make it are strangers to the power of godliness in their hearts4 ,for since the sum and substance of religion consists in recovery from our fallen estate in ,adam1 by a new-birth in ,,christ ,,jesus1 there is an absolute necessity for us to embrace and practice the self-denial before spoken of4 ,if we are alive unto ,,god1 we shall be dead to ourselves and the world4 ,if all things belonging to the spirit live and grow in us1 all things belonging to the old man must die in us4 ,we must mourn before we are comforted1 and receive the spirit of bondage before we are blessed with the unspeakable privilege of the spirit of adoption1 and with a full assurance of faith can say1 8,abba1 ,father40 ,were we indeed in a state of innocence1 and had we1 like ,adam before his fall1 the divine image fully stamped upon our souls1 we then should have no need of self-denial2 but since we are fallen1 sickly1 disordered1 self-righteous creatures1 we must necessarily deny ourselves 7and count it our privilege to do so7 ere we can follow ,,jesus ,,christ to glory4 ,to reject such a salutary practice on account of the difficulty attending it at first1 is but too like the obstinacy of a perverse sick child1 who nauseates and refuses the potion reached out to it by a skilful physician or a tender parent1 because it is a little ungrateful to the taste4 ,had any of us seen ,lazarus when he lay full of sores at the rich man's gate2 or ,job when he was smitten with ulcers1 from the crown of his head to the sole of his foot3 ,and had we at the same time prescribed to them some healing medicines1 which1 because they might put them to pain1 they would not apply to their wounds1 should we not most justly think1 that they were either fond of a distempered body1 or were not sensible of their distempers8 ,but our souls1 by nature1 are in an infinitely more deplorable condition than the bodies of ,job or ,lazarus1 when full of ulcers and boils3 for1 alas6 8our whole head is sick1 and our whole heart faint1 from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot1 we are full of wounds and bruises and putrifying sores1 and there is no health in us40 ,and if we are unwilling to deny ourselves1 and come after ,,jesus ,,christ in order to be cured1 it is a sign we are not sensible of the wretchedness of our state1 and that we are not truly made whole4 ,even ,naaman's servants could say1 when he refused 7pursuant to ,elisha's orders7 to wash in the river ,jordan1 that he might cure his leprosy1 8,father1 if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing1 wouldst thou not have done it8 ,how much rather then1 when he saith to thee1 wash and be clean80 ,and may not ,i very properly address myself to you in the same manner1 my brethren8 ,if ,,jesus ,,christ1 our great prophet1 had bid you to do some far more difficult thing1 would you not have done it8 ,much more then should you do it1 when he only bids you deny yourselves what would certainly hurt you if indulged in1 and he will give you a crown of life4 ,but to illustrate this by another comparison3 ,in the #abth chapter of the ,acts1 we read1 that 8,st4 ,peter was kept in prison1 and was sleeping between two soldiers1 bound with two chains3 ,and behold an angel of the ,,lord came upon him1 and smote ,peter on the side1 saying1 arise up quickly3 ,and his chains fell off from his hands40 ,but had this great apostle1 instead of rising up quickly1 and doing as the blessed angel commanded him1 hugged his chains and begged that they might not be let fall from his hands1 would not any one think that he was in love with slavery1 and deserved to be executed next morning8 ,and does not the person who refuses to deny himself1 act as inconsistently1 as this apostle would have done if he had neglected the means of his deliverance8 ,for our souls1 by nature1 are in a spiritual dungeon1 sleeping and fast bound between the world1 the flesh1 and the devil1 not with two but ten thousand chains of lusts and corruptions4 ,now ,,jesus ,,christ1 like ,st4 ,peter's good angel1 by the power of his gospel comes and opens the prison door1 and bids us 8deny ourselves and follow him40 ,but if we do not arise1 gird up the loins of our mind and follow him1 are we not in love with bondage1 and do we not deserve never to be delivered from it8 ,indeed1 ,i will not affirm that this doctrine of self-denial appears in this just light to every one4 ,no1 ,i am sensible that to the natural man it is foolishness1 and to the young convert an hard saying4 ,but what says our ,saviour8 8,if any man will do my will1 he shall know of the doctrine1 whether it be of ,,god1 or whether ,i speak of myself40 ,this1 my dear friends1 is the best1 the only way of conviction3 ,let us up and be doing2 let us arise quickly1 and deny ourselves1 and the ,,lord ,,jesus will remove those scales from the eyes of our minds1 which now1 like so many veils1 hinder us from seeing clearly the reasonableness1 necessity1 and inexpressible advantage of the doctrine that has been delivered4 ,let us but once thus shew ourselves men1 and then the spirit of ,,god will move on the face of our souls1 as he did once upon the face of the great deep2 and cause them to emerge out of that confused chaos1 in which they are most certainly now involved1 if we are strangers and enemies to self-denial and the cross of ,,christ4 ,,iii4 ,proceed we therefore now to the third and last general thing proposed1 to offer some considerations1 which may serve as so many motives to reconcile us to1 and quicken us in1 the practise of this duty of self-denial4 #a4 ,and the first means ,i shall recommend to you1 in order to reconcile you to this doctrine1 is1 to meditate frequently on the life of our blessed ,lord and ,master ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,follow him from his cradle to the cross1 and see what a self-denying life he led6 ,and shall not we drink of the cup that he drank of1 and be baptized with the baptism that he was baptized with8 ,or think we1 that ,,jesus ,,christ did and suffered every thing in order to have us excused and exempted from sufferings8 ,no1 far be it from any sincere christian to judge after this manner3 for ,st4 ,peter tells us1 8,he suffered for us1 leaving us an example that we should follow his steps40 ,had ,,christ1 indeed1 like those that sat in ,moses' chair1 laid heavy burthens of self-denial upon us1 7supposing they were heavy1 which they are not7 and refused to touch them himself with one of his fingers2 we might have had some pretence to complain3 ,but since he has enjoined us nothing1 but what he first put in practise himself1 thou art inexcusable1 ,o disciple1 whoever thou art1 who wouldst be above thy persecuted self-denying master3 ,and thou art no good and faithful servant1 who art unwilling to suffer and sympathize with thy mortified1 heavenly-minded ,,lord4 #b4 ,next to the pattern of our blessed master1 think often on the lives of the glorious company of the apostles1 the goodly fellowship of the prophets1 and the noble army of martyrs2 who by a constant looking to the author and finisher of our faith1 have fought the good fight1 and are gone before us to inherit the promises4 ,view again and again1 how holily1 how self-denyingly1 how unblameably they lived3 ,and if self-denial was necessary for them1 why not for us also8 ,are we not men of like passions with them8 ,do we not live in the same wicked world as they did8 ,have we not the same good spirit to assist1 support1 and purify us1 as they had8 and is not the same eternal inheritance reached out to us1 as was to them8 ,and if we have the same nature to change1 the same wicked world to withstand1 the same good spirit to help1 and the same eternal crown at the end2 why should not we lead the same lives as they did8 ,do we think they did works of supererogation8 if not1 why do not we do as they did8 or why does your own church set apart festivals to commemorate the deaths and sufferings of the saints1 but in order to excite you to follow them as they did ,,christ4 #c4 ,thirdly1 ,think often on the pains of hell2 consider1 whether it is not better to cut off a right-hand or foot1 and pull out a right-eye1 if they offend us 7or cause us to sin7 8rather than to be cast into hell1 where the worm dieth not1 and the fire is not quenched40 ,think how many thousands there are now reserved with damned spirits in chains of darkness unto the judgment of the great day4 ,and think withal1 that this1 this must be our case shortly1 unless we are wise in time1 deny ourselves1 and follow ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,think you1 they now imagine ,,jesus ,,christ to be an hard master2 or rather think you not1 they would give ten thousand times ten thousand worlds1 could they but return to life again1 and take ,,christ's easy yoke upon them8 ,and can we dwell with everlasting burnings more than they8 ,no1 if we cannot bear this precept1 deny yourselves1 take up your crosses2 how shall we bear the irrevocable sentence1 8,depart from me1 ye cursed1 into everlasting fire1 prepared for the devil and his angels80 ,but ,i hope those1 amongst whom ,i am now preaching the kingdom of ,,god1 are not so disingenuous as to need to be driven to their duty by the terrors of the ,,lord1 but rather desire to be drawn by the cords of love4 ,lastly1 ,therefore1 often meditate on the joys of heaven3 think1 think with what unspeakable glory those happy souls are now incircled1 who when on earth were called to deny themselves as well as we1 and were not disobedient to that call3 ,lift up your hearts frequently towards the mansions of eternal bliss1 and with an eye of faith1 like ,stephen1 see the heavens opened1 and the ,son of man with his glorious retinue of departed saints1 sitting and solacing themselves in eternal joys4 ,hark6 methinks ,i hear them chanting forth their everlasting ,hallelujahs1 and echoing triumphant songs of joy4 ,and do you not long1 my brethren1 to join this heavenly choir8 do not your hearts burn within you8 ,as the hart panteth after the water brooks1 do not your souls so long after the blessed company of these sons of ,,god8 ,behold then a heavenly ladder reached down to you1 by which you may climb to this holy hill4 ,let us believe on the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 and deny ourselves6 ,by this alone1 every saint that ever lived ascended into the joy of their ,,lord3 ,and then1 we1 even we also shall ere long be lifted up into the same most blissful regions1 there to enjoy an eternal rest with the people of ,,god1 and join with them in singing doxologies and songs of praise1 to the everlasting1 blessed1 all-glorious1 most adorable ,trinity1 for ever and ever4 ,which ,,god of his infinite mercy grant1 c4 ,,sermon ,,xxx4 ,,christ's ,transfiguration4 ,,luke ix4 #bhcf4 ,and it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings1 he took ,peter and ,john and ,james1 and went up into a mountain to pray4 ,and as he prayed1 the fashion of his countenance was altered1 and his rayment was white and glistering4 ,and behold1 there talked with him two men1 which were ,moses and ,elias3 who appeared in glory1 and spake of his decease1 which he should accomplish at ,jerusalem4 ,but ,peter and they that were with him1 were heavy with sleep3 and when they were awake1 they saw his glory1 and the two men that stood with him4 ,and it came to pass1 as they departed from him1 ,peter said unto ,,jesus1 ,master1 it is good for us to be here2 and let us make three tabernacles1 one for thee1 and one for ,moses1 and one for ,elias3 not knowing what he said4 ,while he thus spake1 there came a cloud and overshadowed them1 and they feared as they entered into the cloud4 ,and there came a voice out of the cloud1 saying1 ,this is my beloved ,son1 hear him4 ,and when the voice was past1 ,,jesus was found alone2 and they kept it close1 and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen4 ,,when the angel was sent to the ,redeemer's beloved disciple ,john1 we are told that the angel said unto him1 8,come up hither30 ,he was to be exalted1 to be brought nearer heaven1 that his mind might be better prepared for those great manifestations1 which an infinitely great and condescending ,,god intended to vouchsafe him4 ,and on reading the verses that you have just now heard1 when ,i also see such a great and serious assembly convened in the presence of ,,god1 ,i think ,i must address you1 as the angel addressed ,john1 and say unto you1 8,come up hither20 leave your worldly thoughts1 for a time forget the earth4 ,and as it is the ,lord's-day1 a time in which we ought more particularly to think of heaven1 ,i must desire you to pray to ,,god1 that ye may get up on ,pisgah's mount1 and take a view of the promised land4 ,it is true1 indeed1 eye hath not seen1 ear hath not heard1 nor hath it entered into the heart of any man to conceive the great and good things1 which ,,god hath prepared for his people here2 much less1 those infinitely greater and more glorious things1 that he hath laid up for them that fear him1 in the eternal world3 but1 blessed be ,,god6 though we are not yet in heaven1 unless to be in ,,christ may properly be termed heaven1 and then all real christians are there already2 yet1 the blessed ,,jesus has been pleased to leave upon record some account of himself1 of what happened to him in the days of his flesh1 and of some manifestations he was pleased to grant to a few of his disciples2 that from what happened to them here below1 we may form some faint1 though but a faint idea of that happiness that awaits his people in his kingdom above4 ,if any of you enquire1 in what part of our ,,lord's life those instances are recorded1 ,i have an answer ready3 ,one of these instances1 and that a very remarkable one1 is recorded in the verses that ,i have now chosen for the subject of your meditation4 ,the verses give us an account of what is generally called our ,,lord's ,transfiguration2 his being wonderfully changed1 and his being wonderfully owned by his ,father upon the mount4 ,some think that this was done upon a sabbath-day2 and the particular occasion of our blessed ,,lord's condescending to let his servants have such a sight as this1 we may gather from the #bgth verse4 ,it seems our blessed ,,lord had been promising a great reward to those who should not be ashamed of him3 8,whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words1 of him shall the ,son of ,man be ashamed1 when he shall come in his own glory1 and of his ,father1 and of the holy angels40 ,in this threatening is implied1 a reward to those who should not be ashamed of him3 8,but1 7adds he7 ,i tell you of a truth1 there be some standing here1 who shall not taste of death1 till they see the kingdom of ,,god30 ,as much as to say1 ,there will be a day1 when ,i will come in the glory of my ,father and of his holy angels2 but ,i tell you there are some of my favourites2 ,i tell you of a truth1 though you may think it too good news1 there are some of you that shall not taste of death1 till ye shall see the kingdom of ,,god4 ,some divines think1 that this promise has reference to our ,,lord's erecting a gospel church2 and if we take it in this sense1 it means that the ,apostles1 who were then present1 some of them at least1 should not die1 till they saw ,satan's kingdom in a great measure pulled down1 and the ,redeemer's gospel-kingdom erected4 ,some think it has a peculiar reference to ,john1 who it seems survived all the other ,apostles1 and lived till ,,christ came2 that is1 till he came to destroy ,jerusalem4 ,but it is the opinion of ,mr4 ,henry1 of ,bishop ,hall1 of ,burkit1 and others1 who have written upon this passage1 that our blessed ,,lord has a peculiar reference to the transfiguration upon the mount3 8,there be some of you here1 that shall not taste of death1 till ye see my transfiguration upon the mount2 till ye see some glorified saint come down from heaven and pay me a visit1 and consequently see a little of that kingdom of ,,god1 which ye shall have a full sight of1 when ye come to glory40 ,this seems to be the right interpretation4 ,if you will look to the margin of your ,bibles1 you will see the parallel place in ,matthew1 where the account of our ,,lord's transfiguration is given1 and there you will find it immediately follows upon this promise of our ,,lord4 ,well1 as ,,christ had told them1 that they should not taste of death1 till they had seen the kingdom of ,,god1 why the ,evangelist1 at the #bhth verse1 tells us1 8,it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings1 he took ,peter1 and ,john1 and ,james1 and went up into a mountain to pray40 ,about an eight days2 that is1 as ,bishop ,hall thinks1 upon the sabbath-day2 or1 according to some1 the first day of the week1 which was hereafter to be the christian sabbath2 our blessed ,,lord takes ,peter1 ,john1 and ,james3 ,why did not the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ take more of his disciples8 ,why three1 and these three8 ,and why three only8 ,our blessed ,,lord was pleased to take three and no more1 to show us that he is a sovereign agent2 to show us1 that though he loved all his disciples1 yet there are some to whom he is pleased to allow peculiar visits4 ,he loved ,peter1 and all the other disciples2 yet ,john was the disciple that he peculiarly loved4 ,and he took three rather than one1 because three were sufficient to testify the truth of his being transfigured3 8,out of the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established40 ,and he took no more than three1 because these three were enough4 ,and he took these three1 ,peter1 ,john1 and ,james1 in particular1 because these very persons that were now to see ,,christ transfigured1 were hereafter to see him agonizing in the garden1 sweating great drops of blood falling unto the ground4 ,and had not these three disciples seen ,,christ upon the mount1 the seeing him afterwards in the garden1 might have staggered them exceedingly3 they might have doubted whether it was possible for the ,son of ,,god to be in such doleful circumstances4 ,well1 our ,,lord takes these three 8up into a mountain40 ,why so8 ,because ,,christ ,,jesus was to be like ,moses1 who was taken up into a mountain1 when ,,god intended to deliver unto him the moral law3 ,and our blessed ,,lord went up into a mountain1 because a mountain befriended devotion4 ,when he had a mind to retire to pray to his ,father1 he went to such places where he could be most secret1 and give the greatest vent to his heart4 ,thus we are told1 that once when ,peter prayed1 it was upon the house-top4 ,and if we have a mind to be near ,,god1 we should choose such places as are freest from ostentation1 and that most befriend our communion with ,,god4 ,and what doth ,,christ1 when he got up into a mountain8 ,we are told1 he went up into a mountain 8to pray40 ,,christ had no corruption to confess1 and he had but few wants of his own to be relieved2 yet we hear of ,,christ being much in prayer2 we hear of his going up to a mountain to pray2 of his rising up a great while before it was day to pray2 and of his spending a whole night in prayer to ,,god4 8,aud0 replaced with 8,and0 ,in the #bith verse1 you have an account of the effect of our ,,lord's praying2 8,as he prayed1 the fashion of his countenance was altered1 and his raiment was white and glistering40 ,i would have you take notice1 that our ,,lord was not changed in respect of his body1 while he was going up to the mount1 but when he got upon the mount1 and while engaged in prayer4 ,it is sufficient that way for our souls to be transformed3 the time we are more particularly to expect the influences of ,,god's ,spirit1 is1 when we are engaged in prayer4 ,there seems to be a very great propriety in our ,,lord's being transfigured or changed upon the mount4 ,i hope ,i need inform none of you1 that when ,moses went up to the mount of ,,god1 ,,god was pleased to speak to him face to face2 and when he came down from the mount1 the people of ,israel observed that ,moses's face shone so1 that he was obliged to have a veil put upon his face4 ,now the shining of ,moses's face1 was a proof to the people1 that ,moses had been conversing with ,,god4 ,and ,moses told the people1 8,that the ,,lord would raise up unto them a prophet like unto him1 whom the people were to hear40 ,,god the ,father1 in order to give his ,son 7considering him as man7 a testimony that he was a prophet1 was pleased not only to let his face glitter or shine2 but to show that he was a prophet far superior to ,moses1 he was pleased to let his garment be white and glistering1 and 8his countenance 7as we are told by another ,evangelist7 did shine as the sun40 ,what a change was here6 ,what a sight6 ,methinks ,i see ,peter1 ,james1 and ,john surprized3 and1 indeed1 well might the ,evangelist1 considering what happened1 usher in the following part of the story with the word ,behold2 8,behold1 there talked with him two men1 ,moses and ,elias30 ,and in the #cast verse1 you have an account of their dress1 8,they appeared in glory20 and of their discourse1 8,they spake of his decease which he should accomplish at ,jerusalem40 8,behold1 two men1 which were ,moses and ,elias20 these were two very proper persons to come upon this embassy to the ,son of ,,god4 ,moses was the great lawgiver1 ,elias was the great restorer of the law3 ,the body of ,moses was hidden and never found1 ,elias's body was translated immediately1 and carried up in a fiery chariot to heaven3 ,and it may be that this was done particularly1 because these two were hereafter to have the honour of waiting upon the ,son of ,,god4 8,they appeared in glory20 that is1 their bodies were now in that glorious habit1 in which the bodies of believers are to be at the morning of the resurrection4 ,,christ was1 as it were1 now sitting in his royal robes2 and as it is usual for ambassadors1 when they are to be admitted into the king's presence1 on bringing a message from one king to another1 to appear in all their grandeur1 to make the message more solemn2 so here1 these heavenly messengers being to wait upon the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 are invested as with royal dignity1 they appeared in glory1 and 8they spake of his decease which he should accomplish at ,jerusalem10 they came to tell the ,redeemer of his sufferings1 and of the place of his sufferings1 and to acquaint him1 that his sufferings1 however great1 however bitter1 were to be accomplished2 that there was to be an end put to them1 as our ,,lord himself speaks1 8,the things concerning me are to have an end40 ,what other particulars they spoke to our ,,lord1 we are not told4 ,but what effect this had upon the disciples1 you may learn from the #cb;d verse1 8,peter1 and they that were with him1 were heavy with sleep40 ,we are not to suppose1 that ,peter1 ,james and ,john1 were now asleep in a literal sense2 no1 if we compare this1 with another passage of holy writ1 ,i mean the account given us of ,daniel's being impressed and overcome1 when he saw the angel of the ,,lord1 you will find that this sleep implies what we call a swoon4 ,they were overcome with the sight of the glory of ,,christ's garments1 the glistering of his body1 and the glory in ,moses and ,elias appeared3 these quite overcame them1 sunk them down1 and1 like the ,queen of ,sheba1 when she saw ,solomon's glory1 they had no life in them4 ,but they recovered themselves3 8when they were awake10 that is1 when they had recovered their strength1 when ,,god had put strength into them1 as the angel put strength into ,daniel1 8they saw his glory1 and the two men that stood with him40 ,and how do you think they gazed upon ,,christ8 how may we suppose they fixed their eyes upon ,moses and ,elias8 ,peter1 who was always the first speaker1 out of the abundance of his heart1 spoke upon this occasion4 ,verse #cc4 8,and it came to pass as they departed from him1 ,peter said unto ,,jesus1 ,master1 it is good for us to be here2 and let us make three tabernacles1 one for thee1 and one for ,moses1 and one for ,elias1 not knowing what he said40 ,peter1 when he had drank a little of ,,christ's new wine1 speaks like a person intoxicated2 he was overpowered with the brightness of the manifestation4 8,let us make three tabernacles1 one for thee1 and one for ,moses1 and one for ,elias40 ,it is well added1 8not knowing what he said40 ,that he should cry out1 8,master1 it is good for us to be here10 in such good company1 and in so glorious a condition1 is no wonder2 which of us all would not have been apt to have done the same8 ,but to talk of building tabernacles1 and one for ,,christ1 and one for ,moses1 and one for ,elias1 was saying something for which ,peter himself must stand reproved4 ,surely1 ,peter1 thou wast not quite awake6 thou talkest like one in a dream3 ,if thy ,,lord had taken thee at thy word1 what a poor tabernacle wouldst thou have had1 in comparison of that house not made with hands1 eternal in the heavens1 in which thou hast long since dwelt1 now the earthly house of the tabernacle of thy body is dissolved8 ,what6 build tabernacles below1 and have the crown1 before thou hast borne the cross8 ,o ,peter1 ,peter6 8,master1 spare thyself10 sticks too too closely to thee3 ,and why so selfish1 ,peter8 ,carest thou not for thy fellow disciples that are below1 who came not up with thee to the mount8 carest thou not for the precious souls1 that are as sheep having no shepherd1 and must perish for ever1 unless thy ,master descends from the mount to teach1 and to die for them8 wouldst thou thus eat thy spiritual morsels alone8 ,besides1 if thou art for building tabernacles1 why must there be three of them1 one for ,,christ1 and one for ,moses1 and one for ,elias8 are ,,christ and the prophets divided8 do they not sweetly harmonize and agree in one8 did they not prophesy concerning the sufferings of thy ,,lord1 as well as of the glory that should follow8 ,alas1 how unlike is their conversation to thine8 ,moses and ,elias came down to talk of suffering1 and thou art dreaming of building ,i know not what tabernacles4 ,surely1 ,peter1 thou art so high upon the mount1 that thy head runs giddy4 8she0 replaced with 8he0 ,however1 in the midst of these infirmities1 there was something that bespoke the honesty and integrity of his heart4 ,though he knew not very well what he said1 yet he was not so stupid as his pretended successor at ,rome4 ,he does not fall down and worship these two departed saints1 neither do ,i hear him say to either1 ,ora pro nobis2 he had not so learnt ,,christ2 no1 he applies himself directly to the head1 8he said unto ,,jesus1 ,master1 it is good for us to be here40 ,and though he was for building1 yet he would not build without his ,master's leave4 8,master1 let us build10 or1 as ,st4 ,mark words it1 8wilt thou that we build three tabernacles1 one for thee1 and one for ,moses1 and one for ,elias80 ,i do not hear him add1 and one for ,james1 and one for ,john1 and one for ,peter4 ,no1 he would willingly stay out with them upon the mount1 though it was in the cold and dark night1 so that ,,christ and his heavenly attendants were taken care of4 ,the sweetness of such a heavenly vision1 would more than compensate for any bodily suffering that might be the consequence of their longer abode there3 nay farther1 he does not desire that either ,,christ1 or ,moses1 or ,elias1 should have any trouble in building2 neither does he say1 let my curates1 ,james and ,john1 build1 whilst ,i sit idle and lord it over my brethren2 but he says1 8let us build20 he will work as hard1 if not harder than either of them1 and desire to be distinguished only by his activity1 enduring hardness1 and his zeal to promote the welfare of their common ,,lord and ,master4 ,doubtless1 ,peter had read how the glory of the ,,lord filled the tabernacle1 and the temple of old2 and now ,,jesus is transfigured1 and ,moses and ,elias appear in glory1 he thinks it right that new tabernacles shall be erected for them4 ,such a mixture of nature and grace1 of short-sightedness and infirmity1 is there in the most ardent and well-meant zeal of the very best of men1 when nearest the throne of grace1 or even upon the mount with ,,god4 ,perfection in any grace must be looked for1 or expected1 only among the spirits of just men made perfect in heaven4 ,those who talk of any such thing on earth1 like ,peter1 they know not what they say4 ,but how came ,peter so readily to distinguish which was ,moses1 and which was ,elias8 ,he seems to speak without the least hesitation1 8,let us build three tabernacles1 one for thee1 and one for ,moses1 and one for ,elias10 as though he was very well acquainted with them1 whereas they had both been dead1 long1 long before ,peter was born4 ,was there1 do you imagine1 any thing distinguishing in their apparel8 or any thing in their conversation that discovered them8 or rather1 did he not know them here on the mount1 as we may from hence infer1 that departed saints do1 and will know each other in heaven1 even by intuition and immediate revelation8 ,but alas6 how transient are our views of heaven1 during our sojourning here on earth3 ,verse #cd4 8,whilst he thus spake10 whilst ,peter was talking of building tabernacles1 whilst he was saying1 8it is good for us to be here10 whilst he was dreaming that his mountain was so strong that it never could be moved1 8there came a cloud and overshadowed them40 ,st4 ,matthew observes1 it was a bright cloud1 not dark like that on mount ,sinai1 but bright1 because the gospel opens to us a far more bright dispensation than that of the law4 ,this overshadowed1 and thereby not only filled them with an holy awe1 but also screened them1 in some measure1 from the brightness of that glory with which they were now surrounded1 and which otherwise would have been insupportable4 ,this cloud was like the veil thrown on the face of ,moses1 and prepared them for the voice which they were soon to hear coming out of it4 ,i am not much surprized at being informed by ,st4 ,matthew1 that 8they feared as they entered into the cloud10 or by ,st4 ,mark1 that 8they were sore afraid40 ,for since the fall1 there is such a consciousness in us all of deserved wrath1 that we cannot help fearing when we enter into a cloud1 even though ,,jesus ,,christ himself be in the midst of it4 ,ah ,peter1 where is thy talk of building tabernacles now8 is thy strong mountain so quickly removed8 what1 come down so soon8 why do we not now hear thee saying1 8,it is good for us to be here80 ,alas6 he and his fellow disciples are quite struck dumb2 see how they tremble1 and1 like ,moses upon another occasion1 exceedingly quake and fear4 ,but how quickly are those fears dispelled1 how soon is the tumult of their minds hushed and calmed1 with that soul-reviving voice that came from the excellent glory1 verse #ce1 8,this is my beloved ,son1 hear him40 ,st4 ,mark and ,st4 ,matthew add 8in whom ,i am well pleased40 ,the same testimony that ,,god the ,father gave to the blessed ,,jesus at his baptism1 before he entered upon his temptation1 is now repeated1 in order to strengthen and prepare him for his impending agony in the garden4 ,probably1 it was a small still though articulate voice1 attended neither with thunder nor lightning1 nor the sound of a trumpet1 but1 agreeable to the blessed news which it contained1 ushered in with tokens of unspeakable complacency and love4 ,,god the ,father1 hereby gives ,moses and ,elias a solemn discharge1 as though they were sent from heaven on purpose to give up their commission to their rightful ,,lord1 and like the morning star1 disappear when the ,sun of ,righteousness himself arises to bring in a gospel day4 8,this is my beloved ,son1 hear ,him40 ,but the emphasis upon the word this2 this ,son of ,man1 this ,,jesus1 whom you are shortly to see in a bloody sweat1 blindfolded1 spit upon1 buffeted1 scourged1 and at length hanging upon a tree1 ,i am not ashamed to own to be my ,son1 my only begotten ,son1 who was with me before the heavens were made1 or the foundations of the earth were laid2 my beloved ,son1 in whom ,i am well pleased1 in whom my soul delighteth1 and whom ,i do by these presents1 publicly constitute and appoint to be the king1 priest1 and prophet of the church4 8,hear ye ,him40 ,no longer look to ,moses or ,elias1 no longer expect to be saved by the works of the law2 but by the preaching and application of the ever-blessed gospel4 ,hear ye him1 so as to believe on1 love1 serve1 obey1 and1 if needs be1 to die and lay down your very lives for him4 8,hear him20 hear what he hath to say1 for he comes with a commission from above4 ,hear his doctrine2 hear him1 so as to obey him2 hear him1 so as to put in practice his precepts1 and copy after his good example4 ,in the #cfth verse1 we have the close of this heavenly feast2 8,when the voice was past1 ,,jesus was found alone2 and they kept it close1 and told no man in those days1 any of those things which they had seen40 ,if we compare this1 with the account which the other ,evangelists give of our blessed ,,lord's transfiguration1 you will find this was done by ,,christ's order3 ,peter1 ,james1 and ,john1 would otherwise have gone down and told the whole world1 that they had seen the ,,lord ,,christ upon the mount of transfiguration2 but our ,,lord ordered them to keep it silent4 ,why so8 ,if they had gone down from the mount1 and told it to the other disciples1 it might have raised ill blood in the others2 they might have said1 ,why did our ,master single out ,peter1 ,james1 and ,john8 ,why might not we have had the privilege of going up to the mount as well as they8 ,had they said1 that their ,,lord was transfigured1 people would not have believed them2 they would have thought1 that ,peter1 ,james1 and ,john were only enthusiasts2 but if they kept it till after his resurrection1 and he had broken the gates of death1 for them then to say1 that they saw him upon the mount transfigured1 would corroborate the evidence4 ,i have thus paraphrased the words for your better understanding the account the ,evangelist gives of our blessed ,,lord's transfiguration2 but ,i have not yet done2 ,i have been speaking to your heads2 the practical part is yet to come4 ,o that ,,god may reach your hearts6 ,and though1 according to order1 ,i ought to begin with the practical inferences that might be drawn from the first part2 yet1 ,i think it best to show you1 who are the people of ,,god1 especially you young converts1 that have honesty1 but not much prudence1 what instructions our ,,lord would here have you to learn4 8,when the voice was past1 ,,jesus was found alone1 and they kept it close1 and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen40 ,there is nothing more common1 when ,,god vouchsafes communications to a poor soul1 than for the person that enjoys them1 to go and tell all that he has seen and felt1 and often at improper seasons and to improper persons4 ,i remember that ,mr4 ,henry observes1 8,joseph had more honesty than he had policy1 or else he would never have told his brethren of his dreams40 ,young christians are too apt to blunder thus3 ,i am sure it is a fault of which ,i have been exceedingly guilty1 speaking of things which1 perhaps1 had better been concealed2 which is a fault ,,god's people are too apt to fall into4 ,though it is good for those that have seen ,,christ1 and that have felt his love1 to tell others what ,,god hath done for their souls2 yet1 however you may think of it now1 when you come down from the mount1 and know yourselves a little1 ye will find reason often to hold your tongue4 ,young christians are like children1 to whom if you give a little money in their pocket1 they cannot be quiet till they have spent it upon something or other3 young christians1 when they get a little of ,,god1 are ready to talk too much of it4 ,they should therefore beware1 and know when to speak1 and when to be silent4 ,but1 my dear friends1 did our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ take ,peter1 ,james1 and ,john into a mountain to pray8 ,are any of you fathers1 mothers1 masters and mistresses of families8 ,learn then from hence to take your children1 your servants1 and those that belong to you1 from the world1 at certain times1 and not only pray for them1 but pray with them4 ,if ,,christ did thus1 who had few wants of his own to be supplied1 and nothing to confess and lament over2 if ,,christ was such a lover of prayer1 surely1 you and ,i1 who have so many wants to be supplied1 so many corruptions to mourn over2 you and ,i should spend much time in prayer4 ,i do not say that you are to lock yourselves up in your closets1 and not mind your shops or farms1 or worldly business2 ,i only say1 that you should take care to husband all your time3 and if you are ,,god's children1 you will frequently retire from the world1 and seek a visit from your ,,god4 ,was the ,,lord ,,jesus transformed or transfigured1 while he was praying8 ,learn hence1 to be much in spiritual prayer4 ,the way to have the soul transformed1 changed into1 and made like unto ,,god1 is frequently to converse with ,,god4 ,we say1 a man is as his company4 ,persons by conversing together1 frequently catch each others tempers3 and if you have a mind to imbibe the divine temper1 pray much4 ,and as ,,christ's garments became white and glistering1 so shall your souls get a little of ,,god's light to shine upon them4 ,did ,moses and ,elias appear in glory8 ,are there any old saints here8 ,i doubt not but there are a considerable number4 ,and are any of you afraid of death8 ,do any of you carry about with you a body that weighs down your immortal soul8 ,i am sure a poor creature is preaching to you1 that every day drags a crazy load along4 ,but come1 believers1 come1 ye children of ,,god1 come1 ye aged decrepid saints1 come and trample upon that monster death4 ,as thou goest over yonder church-yard1 do as ,i know an old excellent christian in ,maryland did2 go1 sit upon the grave1 and meditate on thine own dissolution4 ,thou mayest1 perhaps1 have a natural fear of dying3 the body and the soul do not care to part without a little sympathy and a groan2 but ,o look yonder1 look up to heaven1 see there thy ,,jesus1 thy ,redeemer1 and learn1 that thy body is to be fashioned hereafter like unto ,,christ's most glorious body2 that poor body which is now subject to gout and gravel1 and that thou canst scarce drag along2 that poor body1 which hinders thee so much in the spiritual life1 will ere long hinder thee no more3 it shall be put into the grave2 but though it be sown in corruption1 it shall be raised in incorruption2 though it is sown in dishonour1 it shall be raised again in glory4 ,this consideration made blessed ,paul to cry out1 8,o death1 where is thy sting6 ,o grave1 where is thy victory60 ,thy soul and body shall be united together again1 and thou shalt be 8for ever with the ,,lord40 ,those knees of thine1 which perhaps are hard by kneeling in prayer2 that tongue of thine1 which hath sung hymns to ,,christ2 those hands of thine1 which have wrought for ,,god2 those feet1 which have ran to ,,christ's ordinances2 shall all1 in the twinkling of an eye1 be changed2 and thou shalt be able to stand under an exceeding and an eternal weight of glory4 ,come then1 ye believers in ,,christ1 look beyond the grave2 come1 ye dear children of ,,god1 and however weak and sickly ye are now1 say1 ,blessed be ,,god1 ,i shall soon have a body strong1 full of vigour and of glory4 ,but as this speaks comfort to saints1 it speaks terror to sinners1 to all persons that live and die out of ,,christ4 ,it is the opinion of ,archbishop ,usher1 that as the bodies of the saints shall be glorified1 so the bodies of the damned shall be deformed4 ,and if this be true1 alas6 what a poor figure will the fine ladies cut1 who die without a ,,christ6 ,what a poor figure will the fine gentleman cut in the morning of the resurrection1 that now dresses up his body1 and at the same time neglects to secure an interest in ,,christ and eternal happiness6 ,it is the opinion1 likewise1 of ,archbishop ,usher1 that damned souls will lose all the good tempers they had here2 so that though ,,god gave unregenerate people a constitutional meekness1 good nature1 and courage1 for the benefit of the commonwealth2 yet1 the use of these things being over1 and they having died without ,,christ1 and it being impossible there will be an appearance of good in hell1 their good tempers will be for ever lost4 ,if this be so1 it is an awful consideration2 and ,i think persons who love their bodies1 should also hence take care to secure the welfare of their souls4 ,did ,peter know which was ,moses and which ,elias8 ,then ,i think1 and ,,god be praised for it1 it is plain from this and other passages of scripture1 that we shall know one another when we come to heaven4 ,dives knew ,lazarus3 8,father ,abraham1 send ,lazarus30 ,and we are told1 8he saw ,lazarus sitting in ,abraham's bosom40 ,adam knew his wife ,eve2 though cast into a deep sleep when ,,god made her out of his rib1 yet1 by a kind of intuition1 he says1 8,this is bone of my bone1 and flesh of my flesh40 ,and it is on this account1 that the ,apostle1 speaking to the ,philippians1 says1 8,ye are my joy and crown of rejoicing1 in the day of the ,,lord40 ,what comfort will this be to a spiritual father6 ,says one1 ,here is the man1 ,o ,,lord ,,jesus1 that brought my soul to taste of thy love2 says another1 ,this is the man1 that at such a time1 and with such words1 struck my heart3 thou1 ,o ,,lord1 knowest it4 ,then the spiritual father will rejoice over his children4 ,you that have met and have prayed together1 sighed and sympathized together1 and told your temptations to one another1 shall be for ever with the ,,lord and with each other4 ,there we shall see ,abraham1 ,isaac1 and ,jacob sitting1 with all the redeemed company2 and we shall know the names of every one mentioned in the book of ,,god4 ,o blessed prospect6 ,o blessed time6 ,who that thinks of this1 of seeing the ,lamb sitting upon the throne1 with all ,,god's people about him1 but must desire to go to heaven1 and be for ever1 for ever with the ,,lord4 ,and if there is such comfort for believers to know one another in heaven1 with what comfort may any of you1 that have lost fathers1 mothers1 or friends1 think of them3 we are parted for a little while1 but we shall see them again4 ,my father died in ,,christ1 my mother died in the ,,lord1 my husband1 my wife1 was a follower of ,,jesus2 ,i shall see them1 though not now2 ,i shall go to them1 but they shall not return to me6 ,this may keep you from sorrowing as persons without hope2 and keep you from being so cruel1 as to wish them to come down to this evil world4 ,but ,o what a dreadful consideration is this for damned souls6 ,i believe1 that as glorified spirits will know one another1 so will damned souls know one another too4 ,and as the company of the blessed increases the happiness of heaven1 so the company of the damned will increase their torments4 ,what made ,dives to put up that petition8 8,i have five brethren2 send somebody to my father's house to testify unto them1 lest they also come into this place of torment40 ,one would imagine at first reading1 that hell had made ,dives charitable1 and that though he was ill natured on earth1 yet he had acquired some good nature in hell4 ,no1 no1 there is not a spark of good nature in the place of torment4 ,but ,dives knew1 if his five brethren came there1 they might say1 ,we may thank you1 next to an evil heart1 for coming hither2 you made us drink healths1 till we were drunk2 you taught us to game1 to curse1 to swear1 c4 ,he knew very well1 that his five brethren being brought to hell by his example1 hell would be heated five times hotter to torment his soul4 ,one will cry out1 ,cursed be the day that ever ,i was companion with such an one in sin2 cursed be the day that ever we hearkened to one another's advice1 and were allured by each others example to sin against ,,god4 ,but did a cloud overshadow ,peter1 ,james1 and ,john8 were heavenly and divine visits here but short8 ,then wonder not1 ye people of ,,god1 if ye are upon the mount one hour1 and down in the valley of the shadow of death the next4 ,there is nothing in the world more common1 after you have been in a good frame1 than for a cloud to overshadow you4 ,we generally say1 8,it is good to be here10 and often make a ,,christ of our graces2 and therefore the ,,lord sends a cloud to overshadow us4 ,but never fear2 ,,god shall speak to you out of the cloud2 ,,god will reveal himself to you2 this cloud shall soon be gone2 ere long we shall be in heaven1 and in that glory where no cloud can possibly reach us4 ,i can now only mention one thing more1 and that is1 ,did the ,father say1 8,this is my beloved ,son1 hear him80 then let every one of our hearts echo to this testimony given of ,,christ1 8,this is my beloved ,saviour40 ,did ,,god so love the world1 as to send his only begotten ,son1 his well beloved ,son to preach to us8 then1 my dear friends1 ,,hear ,,him4 ,what ,,god said seventeen hundred years ago1 immediately by a voice from heaven1 concerning his ,son upon the mount1 that same thing ,,god says to you immediately by his word1 8,hear him40 ,if ye never heard him before1 hear him now4 ,hear him so as to take him to be your prophet1 priest1 and your king2 hear him1 so as to take him to be your ,,god and your all4 ,hear him to-day1 ye youth1 while it is called to-day2 hear him now1 lest ,,god should cut you off before you have another invitation to hear him2 hear him while he cries1 8,come unto me20 hear him while he opens his hand and his heart2 hear him while he knocks at the door of your souls1 lest you should hear him saying1 8,depart1 depart1 ye cursed1 into everlasting fire1 prepared for the devil and his angels40 ,hear him1 ye old and grey-headed1 hear him1 ye that have one foot in the grave2 hear him1 ,i say2 and if ye are dull of hearing1 beg of ,,god to open the ears of your hearts1 and your blind eyes2 beg of ,,god that you may have an enlarged and a believing heart1 and that ye may know what the ,,lord ,,god saith concerning you4 ,,god will resent it1 he will avenge himself on his adversaries1 if you do not hear a blessed ,saviour4 ,he is ,,god's son1 he is ,,god's beloved son2 he came upon a great errand1 even to shed his precious blood for sinners2 he came to cleanse you from all sin1 and to save you with an everlasting salvation4 ,ye who have heard him1 hear him again2 still go on1 believe in and obey him1 and by-and-by you shall hear him saying1 8,come1 ye blessed of my ,father1 receive the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world40 ,may ,,god grant it to you all1 for the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ's sake4 ,amen1 and ,amen4 ,,sermon ,,xxxi4 ,the ,care of the ,soul urged as the one thing needful4 ,,luke x4 #db4 ,but one thing is needful4 ,,it was the amiable character of our blessed ,redeemer1 that 8he went about doing good10 this great motive1 which animated all his actions1 brought him to the house of his friend ,lazarus1 at ,bethany1 and directed his behaviour there4 ,though it was a season of recess from public labour1 our ,,lord brought the sentiments and the pious cares of a preacher of righteousness into the parlour of a friend2 and there his doctrine dropped as the rain1 and distilled as the dew1 on the little happy circle that were then surrounding him4 ,mary1 the sister of ,lazarus1 with great delight made one amongst them2 she seated herself at the feet of ,,jesus1 in the posture of an humble disciple2 and we have a great deal of reason to believe1 that ,martha1 his other sister1 would gladly have been with her there2 but domestic cares pressed hard upon her1 and 8she was cumbered with much serving10 being1 perhaps1 too solicitous to prepare a sumptuous entertainment for her heavenly master and the train that attended him4 ,happy are they1 who in a crowd of business do not lose something of the spirituality of their minds1 and of the composure and sweetness of their tempers4 ,this good woman comes to our ,,lord with too impatient a complaint2 insinuating some little reflection1 not only on ,mary1 but on himself too4 8,,lord1 dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone8 ,bid her1 therefore1 that she help me40 ,our ,,lord1 willing to take all opportunities of suggesting useful thoughts1 answers her in these words1 of which the text is a part1 8,martha1 ,martha1 thou art careful and troubled about many things1 but one thing is needful2 and ,mary has chosen that good part1 which shall not be taken away from her40 ,alas1 ,martha6 the concerns of the soul are of so much greater importance than those of the body1 that ,i cannot blame your sister on this occasion3 ,i rather recommend her to your imitation1 and caution you1 and all my other friends1 to be much on your guard1 that in the midst of your worldly cares1 you do not lose sight of what much better deserves your attention4 ,i shall consider these words1 8,one thing is needful10 as a kind of aphorism1 or wise and weighty sentence1 which dropped from the mouth of our blessed ,redeemer1 and is evidently worthy of our most serious regard4 ,i shall1 ,i4 ,consider what we are to understand by 8,the one thing0 here spoken of4 ,,ii4 ,shew you what is intended1 when it is said to be the one thing needful4 ,,iii4 ,i will shew how justly it may be so represented1 or prove that it is1 indeed1 the one thing needful4 ,and then conclude with some reflections4 ,my friends1 the words which are now before us1 are to this day1 as true1 as they were seventeen hundred years ago4 ,set your hearts to attend to them4 ,o that you may1 by divine grace1 be awakened to hear them with a due regard1 and be so impressed with the plain and serious things which are now to be spoken1 as you probably would1 if ,i were speaking by your dying beds1 and you had the near and lively view of eternity6 ,first1 ,i am to consider1 what we are to understand by the 8one thing needful40 ,now in a few words1 it is the 8,care of the soul10 opposed1 as you see in the text1 to the care1 the excessive care of the body2 to which ,martha was gently admonished by our ,,lord4 ,this is a general answer1 and it comprehends a variety of important particulars1 which is the business of our ministry often to open to you at large3 ,the care of the soul1 implies a readiness to hear the words of ,,christ1 to seat ourselves with ,mary at his feet1 and to receive both the law and the gospel from his mouth4 ,it supposes1 that we learn from this divine teacher the worth of our souls1 their danger1 and their remedy2 and that we become above all things solicitous about their eternal salvation4 ,that1 heartily repenting of all our sins1 and cordially believing the everlasting gospel1 we receive the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ for righteousness and life1 resting our souls on the value of his atonement1 and the efficacy of his grace4 ,it imports1 the sincere dedication of ourselves to the service of ,,god1 and a faithful adherence to it1 notwithstanding all oppositions arising from inward corruptions1 or outward temptations2 and a resolute perseverance in the way of gospel dependance1 'till we receive the end of our faith in our compleat salvation4 ,this is the 8one thing needful10 represented indeed in various scriptures by various names4 ,sometimes it is called 8,regeneration10 or 8the new creature10 because it is the blessed work of ,,god's efficacious grace4 ,sometimes the 8,fear of ,,god10 and sometimes 8his love1 and the keeping his commandments20 and very frequently in the new testament it is called 8faith10 or 8receiving ,,christ1 and believing on him10 which therefore is represented as the 8great work of ,,god10 ,john vi4 #bi4 the great thing which ,,god in his glorious gospel requires1 as well as by his spirit produces in us3 each of these1 if rightly understood and explained1 comprehends all that ,i have said on this head4 ,on the whole1 we may say1 that1 as the body is one1 though it has many members1 and the soul is one1 though it has many faculties1 so in the present case1 this real vital religion is 8one thing10 one sacred principle of divine life1 bringing us to attend to the care of our souls1 as of our greatest treasure4 ,it is one thing1 notwithstanding all the variety of views in which it may be considered1 and of characters under which it may be described4 ,i proceed1 ,secondly1 ,to consider what may be intended in the representation which is here made of it1 as the 8one thing needful40 ,now ,i think it naturally includes these three particulars3 it is a matter of universal concern2 of the highest importance2 and of so comprehensive a nature1 that every thing which is truly worthy of our regard1 may be considered as included in1 or subservient to it4 ,let me a little illustrate each of these particulars4 #a4 ,the care of the soul may be called the 8one thing needful10 as it is matter of universal concern4 ,our ,,lord1 you see1 speaks of it as needful in the general4 ,he says not1 for this or that particular person2 or for those of such an age1 station1 or circumstance in life1 but needful for all4 ,and indeed1 when discoursing on such a subject1 one might properly introduce it with those solemn words of the psalmist1 8,give ear1 all ye people1 hear1 all ye inhabitants of the earth1 both high and low1 rich and poor1 together10 ,psalm xlix4 #a1 #b4 ,for it is the concern of all1 from the king that sits upon the throne1 to the servant that grindeth at the mill1 or the beggar that lieth upon the dunghill4 ,it is needful for us that are ministers1 for our own salvation is concerned3 and woe1 insupportable woe will be to our souls1 if we think it enough to recommend it to others1 and to talk of it in a warm1 or an awful manner1 in public assemblies1 or in our private converse1 while it does not penetrate our hearts1 as our own greatest care4 ,our case will then be like that of the ,israelitish lord in ,samaria1 #b ,kings vii4 #b4 who was employed to distribute the corn when the siege was raised2 though we see it with our eyes1 and dispense it with our hands1 we shall ourselves die miserably1 without tasting the blessings we impart4 ,it is needful to all you that are our hearers1 without the exception of one single person4 ,it is needful to you that are rich1 though it may on some accounts be peculiarly difficult for you2 even as difficult1 comparatively speaking1 as for a 8,camel to go through the eye of a needle10 ,matthew xix4 #bd4 yet if it be neglected1 you are poor in the midst of all your wealth1 and miserable in all your abundance2 a wretch starving for hunger1 in a magnificent palace and a rich dress1 would be less the object of compassion than you4 ,it is needful for you that are poor2 though you are distressed with so many anxious cares1 8what you shall eat1 and what you shall drink1 and wherewithal you shall be cloathed10 ,matthew vi4 #ca4 ,the nature that makes you capable of such anxieties as these1 argues your much greater concern in the 8bread which endures to eternal life10 ,john vi4 #bg4 than in that by which this mortal body must be supported4 ,it is needful for you that are advanced in years2 though your strength be impaired so that the 8grashopper is a burthen10 ,ecclesiastes xii4 #e4 and though you have by your long continuance in sin rendered this great work so hard1 that were it less important1 one would in pity let you alone without reminding you of it3 yet1 late as it is1 it must be done1 or your hoary heads will be brought down to the grave with wrath1 and sink under a curse aggravated by every year and by every day of your lives4 ,it is needful to you that are young1 though solicited by so many gay vanities1 to neglect it1 though it may be represented as an unseasonable care at present1 yet ,i repeat it1 it is needful to you2 immediately needful1 unless you who walk so frequently over the dust of your brethren and companions1 that died in the bloom and vigour of their days1 have made some secret covenant with the grave for yourselves1 and found out some wonderful method1 hitherto unknown1 of securing this precarious life1 and of answering for days and months to come1 while others cannot answer for one single moment4 #b4 ,the care of the soul is 8a matter of the highest importance20 beyond any thing which can be brought into comparison with it4 ,as ,solomon says of wisdom1 that 8it is more precious than rubies1 and that all things which can be desired are not to be compared with her10 ,proverbs iii4 #ae4 ,so ,i may properly say of this great and most important branch of wisdom2 whatever can be laid in the balance with it1 will be found altogether lighter than vanity4 ,this is strongly implied when it is said in the text1 8one thing is needful20 one thing1 and one thing alone is so4 ,just as the blessed ,,god is said to be 8only wise10 #a ,timothy i4 #ag4 and 8only holy10 ,revelation xv4 #d4 because the wisdom and holiness of angels and men is as nothing1 when compared with his4 ,what seems most great and most important in life1 what kings and senates1 what the wisest and greatest of this world are employing their time1 their councils1 their pens1 their labours upon1 are trifles1 when compared with this one thing4 ,a man may subsist1 he may in some considerable measure be happy1 without learning1 without riches1 without titles1 without health1 without liberty1 without friends1 nay1 though 8the life be more than meat1 and the body than raiment10 ,matthew vi4 #be4 yet may he be happy1 unspeakably happy1 without the body itself4 ,but he cannot be so1 in the neglect of the one thing needful4 ,i must therefore bespeak your regard to it in the words of ,moses1 8it is not a light thing1 but it is your life10 ,deuteronomy xxxii4 #dg4 #c4 ,the care of the soul is of so comprehensive a nature1 that 8every thing truly worthy of our regard may be considered as included in it1 or subservient to it40 ,as ,david observes1 that 8the commandment of ,,god is exceeding broad10 ,psalm cxix4 #if4 so we may say of this one thing needful2 or as ,solomon very justly and emphatically expresses it1 8to fear ,,god and to keep his commandments is the whole duty of man10 ,ecclesiastes xii4 #ac4 his whole duty1 and his whole interest2 and every thing which is wise and rational does in its proper place and connection make a part of it4 ,we should judge very ill concerning the nature of this care1 if we imagined1 that it consisted merely in acts of devotion1 or religious contemplation2 it comprehends all the lovely and harmonious band of social and humane virtues4 ,it requires a care of society1 a care of our bodies1 and of our temporal concerns2 but then all is to be regulated1 directed1 and animated by proper regards to ,,god1 ,,christ1 and immortality4 ,our food and our rest1 our trades and our labours1 are to be attended to1 and all the offices of humanity performed in obedience to the will of ,,god1 for the glory of ,,christ1 and in a view to improving the mind in a growing meetness for a state of compleat perfection4 ,name any thing which has no reference at all to this1 and you name a worthless trifle1 however it may be gilded to allure the eye1 or however it may be sweetened to gratify the taste4 ,name a thing1 which1 instead of thus improving the soul1 has a tendency to debase and pollute1 to enslave and endanger it1 and you name what is most unprofitable and mischievous1 be the wages of iniquity ever so great2 most foul and deformed1 be it in the eyes of men ever so honourable1 or in their customs ever so fashionable4 ,thus ,i have endeavoured to shew you what we may suppose implied in this expression of 8one thing being needful40 ,i am now1 ,thirdly1 ,to shew you with how much propriety the care of the soul may be represented under this character1 as the one thing needful1 or as a matter of universal and most serious concern1 to which every thing else is to be considered as subservient1 if at all worthy of our care and pursuit4 ,there let me appeal to the sentiments of those who must be allowed most capable of judging1 and to the evident reason of the case itself1 as it must appear to every unprejudiced mind4 #a4 ,let me argue 8from the opinions of those who must be allowed most capable of judging in such an affair10 and we shall quickly see that the care of the soul appears to them1 the one thing needful4 ,is the judgment of the blessed ,,god 8according to truth10 how evidently and how solemnly is that judgment declared8 ,i will not say merely in this or the other particular passage of his word1 but in the whole series of his revelations to the children of men1 and the whole tenor of his addresses to them4 ,is not this the language of all1 from the early days of ,job and ,moses to the conclusion of the canon of scripture4 ,job xxviii4 #ba1 #bc1 #bh4 8,if wisdom be hid from the eyes of all the living1 surely ,,god understandeth the way thereof1 he knoweth the place thereof20 and if he does1 it is plainly pointed out1 for 8unto man he still saith1 behold1 the fear of the ,,lord1 that is wisdom1 and to depart from evil1 that is understanding40 ,by ,moses he declared to the ,israelites1 that 8to do the commandments of the ,,lord would be their wisdom and their understanding in the sight of the nations1 who should hear his statutes1 and say1 surely this is a wise and an understanding people10 ,deuteronomy iv4 #f4 ,when he had raised up one man on the throne of ,israel1 with the character of the wisest that ever lived upon the face of the earth1 he chose to make him eminently a teacher of this great truth4 ,and though now all that he spoke on the curious and less concerning subjects of natural philosophy is lost1 8though he spoke of trees from the cedar to the hyssop1 and of beasts1 and of fowls1 and of creeping things1 and of fishes10 #a ,kings iv4 #cc4 that saying is preserved in which he testifies1 that 8the fear of the ,,lord is the beginning of wisdom10 ,proverbs i4 #g1 #i1 #aj4 and those ,proverbs1 in almost every line of which1 they who neglect ,,god and their own souls1 are spoken of as fools1 as if that were the most proper signification of the word1 while the religious alone are honoured with the title of wise4 ,but in this respect1 as attesting this truth in the name of ,,god and in his own1 8a greater than ,solomon is here40 ,for if we inquire what it was that our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ judged to be the one thing needful1 the words of the text contain as full an answer as can be imagined2 and the sense of them is repeated in a very lively and emphatical manner1 in that remarkable passage wherein our ,,lord not only declares his own judgment1 but seems to appeal to the consciences of all1 as obliged by their own secret convictions to subscribe to the truth of it4 8,what is a man profited1 if he gain the whole world1 and lose his own soul2 or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul80 ,matthew xvi4 #bf4 ,if it were once lost1 what would he not be willing to give to redeem it8 ,but it depends not on the words of ,,christ alone4 ,let his actions1 his sufferings1 his blood1 his death1 speak what a value he set on the souls of men4 ,is it to be imagined1 that he would have relinquished heaven1 have dwelt upon earth1 have laboured by night and by day1 and at last have expired on the cross1 for a matter of light importance8 ,or can we think that he1 in whom 8dwell all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge1 and all the fulness of the ,godhead bodily10 ,colossians ii4 #c1 #i4 was mistaken in judgment so deliberately formed1 and so solemnly declared8 ,if after this1 there were room to mention human judgment and testimonies1 how easy would it be to produce a cloud of witnesses in such a cause1 and to shew that the wisest and best of men in all ages of the world have agreed in this point1 that amidst all the diversities of opinion and profession1 which succeeding generations have produced1 this has been the unanimous judgment1 this the common and most solicitous care of those whose characters are most truly valuable1 to secure the salvation of their own souls1 and to promote the salvation of others4 ,and let me beseech you seriously to reflect1 what are the characters of those who have taken the liberty1 most boldly and freely to declare their judgment on the contrary side8 ,the number of such is comparatively few2 and when you compare what you have observed of their temper and conduct1 ,i will not say with what you read of holy men of old1 but with what you have yourselves seen in the faithful1 active1 and zealous servants of ,,christ1 in these latter ages1 with whom you have conversed2 do you on the whole find1 that the rejecters and deriders of the gospel1 are in other respects so much more prudent and judicious1 so much wiser for themselves1 and for others1 that are influenced by them1 as that you can be in reason obliged to pay any great deference to the authority of a few such names as these1 in opposition to those to whom they are here opposed8 ,but you will say1 and you will say it too truly1 ,though but a few may venture in words to declare for the neglect of the soul and its eternal interest1 that the greater part of mankind do it in their actions4 ,but are the greater part of mankind so wise1 and so good1 as implicitly to be followed in matters of the highest importance8 ,and do not multitudes of these1 declare themselves on the other side1 in their most serious moments8 ,when the intoxications of worldly business and pleasures are over1 and some languishing sickness forces men to solitude and retirement2 what have you generally observed to be the effect of such a circumstance8 ,have they not then declared themselves convinced of the truth we are now labouring to establish8 ,nay1 do we not sometimes see1 that a distemper which seizes the mind with violence1 yet does not utterly destroy its reasoning faculties1 fixes this conviction on the soul in a few hours1 nay1 sometimes in a few moments8 ,have you never seen a gay1 thoughtless creature1 surprized in the giddy round of pleasures and amusements1 and presently brought not only to seriousness1 but terror and trembling1 by the near views of death8 ,have you never seen the man of business and care interrupted1 like the rich fool in the parable1 in the midst of his schemes for the present world8 ,and have you not heard one and the other of them owning the vanity of those pleasures and cares1 which but a few days ago were every thing to them8 ,confessing that religion was the one thing needful1 and recommending it to others with an earnestness1 as if they hoped thereby to atone for their own former neglect8 ,we that are ministers1 frequently are witnesses to such things as these1 and ,i believe few of our hearers are intire strangers to them4 8mainkind0 replaced with 8mankind0 ,once more1 what if to the testimony of the dying1 we could add that of the dead8 ,what if ,,god were to turn aside the vail between us and the invisible world1 and permit the most careless sinner in the assembly to converse for a few moments with the inhabitants of it8 ,if you were to apply yourself to a happy ,spirit1 that trod the most thorny road to paradise1 or passed through the most fiery trial1 and to ask him1 8was it worth your while to labour so much1 and to endure so much for what you now possess80 ,surely if the blessed in heaven were capable of indignation1 it would move them to hear that it should be made a question4 ,and1 on the other hand1 if you could inquire of one tormented in that flame below1 though he might once be 8clothed in purple and fine linen1 and fare sumptuously every day10 ,luke xvi4 #ai4 if you could ask him1 8whether his former enjoyments were an equivalent for his present sufferings and despair80 ,what answer do you suppose he would return8 ,perhaps an answer of so much horror and rage1 as you would not be able so much as to indure4 ,or if the malignity of his nature should prevent him from returning any answer at all1 surely there would be a language even in that silence1 a language in the darkness1 and flames1 and groans of that infernal prison1 which would speak to your very soul what the word of ,,god is with equal certainty1 though less forcible conviction1 speaking to your ear1 that 8one thing is needful40 ,you see it is so in the judgment of ,,god the ,father1 and the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 of the wisest and best of men1 of many1 who seemed to judge most differently of it1 when they come to more deliberate and serious thought1 and not only of the dying1 but of the dead too1 of those who have experimentally known both worlds1 and most surely know what is to be preferred4 ,but ,i will not rest the whole argument here2 therefore1 #b4 ,i appeal to the evident reason of the case itself1 as it must appear to every unprejudiced mind1 that the care of the soul is indeed the one thing needful4 ,i still consider myself as speaking not to atheists1 or to deists1 but to those who not only believe the existence and providence of ,,god1 and a future state of happiness and misery1 but likewise who credit the truth of the christian revelation1 as many undoubtedly do1 who live in a fatal neglect of ,,god1 and their own souls4 ,now on these principles1 a little reflection may be sufficient to convince you1 that it is needful to the present repose of your own mind2 needful1 if ever you would secure eternal happiness1 and avoid eternal misery1 which will be aggravated1 rather than alleviated by all your present enjoyments4 #a4 ,the care of the soul is the one thing needful1 because1 8without it you cannot secure the peace of your own mind1 nor avoid the upbraidings of your conscience40 ,that noble faculty is indeed the vicegerent of ,,god in the soul4 ,it is sensible of the dignity and worth of an immortal spirit1 and will sometimes cry out of the violence that is offered to it1 and cry so loud1 as to compel the sinner to hear1 whether he will or not4 ,do you not sometimes find it yourselves8 when you labour most to forget the concerns of your soul1 do they not sometimes force themselves on your remembrance8 ,you are afraid of the reflections of your own mind1 but with all your artifice and all your resolution can you intirely avoid them8 ,does not conscience follow you to your beds1 even if denied the opportunity of meeting you in your closets1 and1 though with an unwelcome voice1 there warn you1 8that your soul is neglected1 and will quickly be lost30 ,does it not follow you to your shops and your fields1 when you are busiest there8 ,nay1 ,i will add1 does it not sometimes follow you to the feast1 to the club1 to the dance1 and perhaps1 amidst all resistance1 to the theatre too8 ,does it not sometimes mingle your sweetest draughts with wormwood1 and your gayest scenes with horror8 ,so that you are like a tradesman1 who1 suspecting his affairs to be in a bad posture1 lays by his books and his papers1 yet sometimes they will come accidentally in his way4 ,he hardly dares to look abroad for fear of meeting a creditor or an arrest3 and if he labours to forget his cares and his dangers1 in a course of luxury at home1 the remembrance is sometimes awakened1 and the alarm increased1 by those very extravagancies in which he is attempting to lose it4 ,such probably is the case of your minds1 and it is a very painful state2 and while things are thus within1 external circumstances can no more make you happy1 than a fine dress could relieve you under a violent fit of the stone4 ,whereas1 if this great affair were secured1 you might delight in reflection1 as much as you now dread it2 and conscience1 of your bitterest enemy1 would become a delightful friend1 and the testimony of it your greatest rejoicing4 #b4 ,the care of the soul is the one thing needful1 8because without this your eternal happiness will be lost40 ,a crown of everlasting glory is not surely such a trifle as to be thrown away on a careless creature1 that will not in good earnest pursue it4 ,,god doth not ordinarily deal thus1 even with the bounties of his common providence1 which are comparatively of little value4 ,as to these1 the hand of the diligent generally makes rich1 and he would be thought distracted1 rather than prudent1 who should expect to get an estate merely by wishing for it1 or without some resolute and continued application to a proper course of action for that purpose4 ,now1 that we may not foolishly dream of obtaining heaven1 in the midst of a course of indolence and sloth1 we are expresly told in the word of ,,god1 that 8the kingdom of heaven suffers violence1 and the violent take it by force10 ,matthew xi4 #ab4 and are therefore exhorted to 8strive10 with the greatest intenseness1 and eagerness of mind1 as the word properly signifies1 8to enter in at the strait gate10 for this great and important reason1 8because many shall another day seek to enter in1 and shall not be able10 ,luke xiii4 #bd4 ,nay1 when our ,,lord makes the most gracious promises to the humble petitioner1 he does it in such a manner as to exclude the hopes of those who are careless and indifferent4 8,ask1 and it shall be given you2 seek1 and you shall find2 knock1 and it shall be opened unto you10 ,matthew vii4 #g4 ,if1 therefore1 you do not ask1 seek1 and knock1 the door of mercy will not be opened1 and eternal happiness will be lost4 ,not that heaven is to be obtained by our own good works3 no1 no2 for having done all1 we must account ourselves unprofitable servants4 ,and surely if ,i could say no more as to the fatal consequences of your neglect1 than this1 that eternal happiness will be lost1 ,i should say enough to impress every mind1 that considers what ,,eternity means4 ,to fall into a state of everlasting forgetfulness1 might indeed appear a refuge to a mind filled with the apprehension of future misery4 ,but ,o how dreadful a refuge is it6 ,surely it is such a refuge1 as a vast precipice1 7from which a man falling would be dashed to pieces in a moment7 might appear to a person1 pursued by the officers of justice1 that he might be brought out to a painful and lingering execution4 ,if an extravagant youth would have reason to look round with anguish1 on some fair and ample paternal inheritance1 which he had sold or forfeited merely for the riot of a few days3 how much more melancholy would it be for a rational mind to think that its eternal happiness is lost for any earthly consideration whatever8 ,tormenting thought6 8,had ,i attended to that one thing which ,i have neglected1 ,i might have been1 through the grace of ,,god in ,,christ ,,jesus1 great and happy beyond expression1 beyond conception3 not merely for the little span of ten thousand thousand ages1 but for ever4 ,a line reaching even to the remotest star would not have been able to contain the number of ages1 nor would millions of years have been sufficient to figure them down2 this is eternity1 but ,i have lost it1 and am now on the verge of being4 ,this lamp1 which might have outlasted those of the firmament1 will presently be extinguished2 and ,i blotted out from amongst the works of ,,god1 and cut off from all the bounties of his hand40 ,would not this be a very miserable case1 if this were all8 ,and would it not be sufficient to prove this to be the better part1 which1 as our ,,lord observes1 can 8never be taken away80 ,but ,,god forbid that we should be so unfaithful to him1 and to the souls of men1 as to rest in such a representation alone4 ,i therefore add once more1 #c4 ,the care of the soul is the one thing needful1 because 8without it1 you cannot avoid a state of eternal misery1 which will be aggravated1 rather than alleviated by all your present enjoyments40 ,nothing can be more evident from the word of the ,,god of truth4 ,it there plainly appears to be a determined case1 which leaves no room for a more favourable conjecture or hope4 8,the wicked shall be turned into hell1 even all the nations that forget ,,god10 ,psalm ix4 #ag4 8,they shall go away into everlasting punishment10 ,matthew xxv4 #df4 into a state where they shall in vain seek death1 and death shall flee from them4 ,oh6 brethren1 it is a certain1 but an awful truth1 that your souls will be thinking and immortal beings1 even in spite of themselves4 ,they may indeed torment1 but they cannot destroy themselves4 ,they can no more suspend their power of thought and perception1 than a mirror its property of reflecting rays that fall on its surface4 ,do you suspect the contrary8 ,make the trial immediately4 ,command your minds to cease from thinking but for one quarter of an hour1 or for half that time1 and exclude every idea and every reflection4 ,can you succeed in that attempt8 ,or rather1 does not thought press in with a more sensible violence on that resistance2 as an anxious desire to sleep1 makes us so much the more wakeful4 ,thus will thought follow you beyond the grave1 thus will it1 as an unwelcome guest1 force itself upon you1 when it can serve only to perplex and distress the mind4 ,it will for ever upbraid you1 that notwithstanding all the kind expostulations of ,,god and man1 notwithstanding all the keen remonstrances of conscience1 and the pleadings of the blood of ,,christ1 you have gone on in your folly1 till heaven is lost1 and damnation incurred2 and all1 for what8 for a shadow and a dream4 ,oh think not1 sinners1 that the remembrance of your past pleasures1 and of your success in your other cares1 whilst that of the one thing needful was forgotten1 think not that this will ease your minds4 ,it will rather torment them the more4 8,son1 remember that thou in thy life-time receivedst thy good things40 ,bitter remembrance6 ,well might the heathen poets represent the unhappy spirits in the shades below1 as eagerly catching at the water of forgetfulness1 yet unable to reach it4 ,your present comforts will only serve to give you a livelier sense of your misery1 as having tasted such degrees of enjoyment2 and to inflame the reckoning1 as you have misimproved those talents lodged in your hands for better purposes4 ,surely1 if these things were believed1 and seriously considered1 the sinner would have no more heart to rejoice in his present prosperity1 than a man would have to amuse himself with the curiosities of a fine garden1 through which he was led to be broken upon the rack4 ,but ,i will enlarge no farther on these things4 ,would to ,,god that the unaccountable stupidity of mens minds1 and their fatal attachment to the pleasures and cares of the present life1 did not make it necessary to insist on them so frequently and so copiously6 ,i now proceed to the reflections which naturally arise from hence1 and shall only mention two4 #a4 ,how much reason have we to lament the folly of mankind in neglecting the one thing needful4 ,if religion be indeed the truest wisdom1 then surely we have the justest reason to say with ,solomon1 8that folly and madness is in mens hearts10 ,ecclesiastes ix4 #c4 ,is it the one thing needful8 ,look on the conduct of the generality of mankind1 and you would imagine they thought it the one thing needless3 the vainest dream1 and the idlest amusement of the mind4 ,,god is admonishing them by ordinances1 and providences1 sometimes by such as are most awful1 to lay it to heart2 he speaks once1 yea twice1 7yea a multitude of times7 but man regards not1 ,job xxxiii4 #ad4 ,they profess perhaps to believe all that ,i have been saying1 but act as if the contrary were self-evident2 they will risk their souls and eternity for a thing of nought1 for that1 for the sake of which they would not risk so much as a hand1 or a finger1 or a joint1 no1 nor perhaps a toy that adorns it4 ,surely this is the wonder of angels1 and perhaps of devils too1 unless the observation of so many ages may have rendered it familiar to both4 ,and can we1 my christian brethren1 behold such a scene with indifference8 ,if some epidemical madness had seized our country1 or the places where we live1 so that as we went from one place to another1 we every where met with lunaticks1 and saw amongst the rest1 some perhaps of the finest genius1 in the most eminent stations in life1 amusing themselves with straws and bubbles1 or wounding themselves and others2 surely were we ever so secure from the danger of infection or assault1 the sight would cut us to the heart4 ,a good-natured man would hardly be able to go abroad1 or even be desirous to live1 if it must be amongst so many sad spectacles4 ,yet these poor creatures might1 notwithstanding this1 be the children of ,,god1 and the higher their frenzy rose1 the nearer might their complete happiness be4 ,but alas6 the greater part of mankind are seized with a worse kind of madness1 in which they are ruining their souls3 and can we behold it with indifference8 ,the ,,lord awaken our compassion1 our prayers1 and our endeavours1 in dependence on divine grace1 that we may be instrumental in bringing them to their mind1 and making them wise indeed1 that is1 wise to salvation6 #b4 ,how necessary is it that we should seriously enquire1 how this one thing needful is regarded by us6 ,let me entreat you to remember your own concern in it1 and enquire,have ,i thought seriously of it8 ,have ,i seen the importance of it8 ,has it lain with a due and abiding weight on my mind8 ,has it brought me to ,,christ1 that ,i might lay the stress of these great eternal interests on him8 ,and am ,i acting in the main of my life1 as one that has these convictions8 ,am ,i willing1 in fact1 to give up other things1 my interests1 my pleasures1 my passions to this8 ,am ,i conversing with ,,god and with man1 as one that believes these things2 as one that has deliberately chosen the better part1 and is determined to abide by that choice8 ,observe the answer which conscience returns to these enquiries1 and you will know your own part in that more particular application1 with which ,i shall conclude4 #a4 ,let me address those that are entirely unconcerned about the one thing needful4 ,brethren1 ,i have been stating the case at large1 and now ,i appeal to your consciences1 are these things so1 or are they not8 ,,god and your own hearts best know for what the care of your soul is neglected2 but be it what it will1 the difference between one grain of sand and another1 is not great1 when it comes to be weighed against a talent of gold4 ,whatever it is1 you had need to examine it carefully4 ,you had need to view that commodity on all sides1 of which you do in effect say1 ,for this will ,i sell my soul2 for this will ,i give up heaven1 and venture hell1 be heaven and hell whatever they may4 ,in the name of ,,god1 brethren1 is this the part of a man1 of a rational creature8 ,to go on with your eyes open towards a pit of eternal ruin1 because there are a few gay flowers in the way3 or what if you shut your eyes1 will that prevent your fall8 ,it signifies little to say1 ,i will not think of these things1 ,i will not consider them3 ,,god has said1 8,in the last days they shall consider it perfectly10 ,jeremiah xxiii4 #bj4 ,the revels of a drunken malefactor will not prevent nor respite his execution4 ,pardon my plainness2 if it were a fable or a tale1 ,i would endeavour to amuse you with words1 but ,i cannot do it where your souls are at stake4 #b4 ,i would apply to those who are1 in some sense1 convinced of the importance of their souls1 and yet are inclined to defer that care of them a little longer1 which1 in the general1 they see to be necessary4 ,i know you that are young1 are under peculiar temptations to do this2 though it is strange that the death of so many of your companions1 should not be an answer to some of the most specious and dangerous of those temptations4 ,methinks1 if there were the least degree of uncertainty1 the importance is too weighty to put matters to the venture4 ,but here the uncertainty is great and apparent4 ,you must surely know1 that there are critical seasons of life for managing the concerns of it1 which are of such a nature1 that if once lost1 they may never return3 here is a critical season3 8,now is the accepted time1 now is the day of salvation10 #b ,corinthians vi4 #b4 8,to-day1 if ye will hear his voice1 harden not your hearts10 ,hebrews iii4 #g1 #h4 ,this language may not be spoken to-morrow4 ,talk not of a more convenient season2 none can be more convenient2 and that to which you would probably refer it1 is least of all so1 a dying time4 ,you would not chuse then to have any important business in hand2 and will you of choice refer the greatest business of all to that languishing1 hurrying1 amazing hour8 ,if a friend were then to come to you with the balance of an intricate account1 or a view of a title to an estate1 you would shake your fainting head1 and lift up your pale trembling hand1 and say1 perhaps1 with a feeble voice1 8,alas1 is this a time for these things80 ,and is it a time for so much greater things than these8 ,i wish you knew1 and would consider1 into what a strait1 we that are ministers are sometimes brought1 when we are called to the dying beds of those who have spent their lives in the neglect of the one thing needful4 ,on the one hand1 we fear1 lest if we palliate matters1 and speak smooth things1 we shall betray and ruin their souls3 and on the other1 that if we use a becoming plainness and seriousness1 in warning them of their danger1 we shall quite overwhelm them1 and hasten the dying moment1 which is advancing by such swift steps4 ,o let me entreat you for our sakes1 and much more for your own1 that you do not drive us to such sad extremities2 but if you are convinced1 as ,i hope some of you may now be1 that the care of the soul is that needful thing we have represented1 let the conviction work1 let it drive you immediately to the throne of grace2 from thence you may derive that wisdom and strength1 which will direct you in all the intricacies which entangle you1 and animate you in the midst of difficulty and discouragement4 #c4 ,i would in the last place address myself to those happy souls1 who have in good earnest attended to the one thing needful4 ,i hope1 that when you see how commonly it is neglected1 neglected indeed1 by many1 whose natural capacities1 improvements1 and circumstances in life1 appear to you superior to your own2 you will humbly acknowledge1 that it was distinguishing grace which brought you into this happy state1 and formed you to this most necessary care4 ,bless the ,,lord1 therefore1 who hath given you that counsel1 in virtue of which you can say1 8,he is your portion40 ,rejoice in the thought1 that the great concern is secured3 as it is natural for us to do1 when some important affair is dispatched1 which has long lain before us1 and which we have been inclined to put off from one day to another1 but have at length strenuously and successfully attended4 ,remember still to endeavour to continue acting on these great principles1 which at first determined your choice2 and seriously consider1 that those who desire their life may at last be given them for a prey1 must continue on their guard1 in all stages of their journey through a wilderness1 where daily dangers are still surrounding them4 ,being enabled to secure the great concern1 make yourselves easy as to others of smaller importance3 ,you have chosen the kingdom of ,,god1 and his righteousness2 other things1 therefore1 shall be added unto you3 and if any which you desire should not be added1 comfort yourselves with this thought1 that you have the good part1 which can never be taken away4 ,and1 not to enlarge on these obvious hints1 which must so often occur1 be very solicitous that others may be brought to a care about the one thing needful4 ,if it be needful for you1 it is so for your children1 your friends1 your servants4 ,let them1 therefore1 see your concern in this respect for them1 as well as for yourselves4 ,let parents especially attend to this exhortation1 whose care for their offspring often exceeds in other respects1 and fails in this4 ,remember that your children may never live to enjoy the effects of your labour and concern to get them estates and portions3 the charges of their funerals may1 perhaps1 be all their share of what you are so anxiously careful to lay up for them4 ,and ,o think what a sword would pierce through your very heart1 if you should stand by the corpse of a beloved child with this reflection3 8,this poor creature has done with life1 before it learnt its great business in it2 and is gone to eternity1 which ,i have seldom been warning it to prepare for1 and which1 perhaps1 it learned of me to forget40 ,on the whole1 may this grand care be awakened in those by whom it has been hitherto neglected3 may it be revived in each of our minds4 ,and that you may be encouraged to pursue it with greater chearfulness1 let me conclude with this comfortable thought1 that in proportion to the necessity of the case1 through the merits of ,,christ ,,jesus1 is the provision which divine grace has made for our assistance4 ,if you are disposed to sit down at ,,christ's feet1 he will teach you by his word and ,spirit4 ,if you commit this precious jewel1 which is your eternal all1 into his hand1 he will preserve it unto that day1 and will then produce it richly adorned1 and gloriously improved to his own honour1 and to your everlasting joy4 ,which ,,god of his infinite mercy grant1 c4 ,,end of the ,,fifth ,,volume4