-35 
 1583 
 

 12^ ^ o^ i^ «^:^ i:^. ^^ 
 
 AT 
 
 PRINCETON, N. J. 
 
 x> c» ::v _^. T X <3 :v c» !•• 
 
 SAMUEL AONEW, 
 
 OF PHILADELPHIA. PA. 
 
 
 Th/fiA/cJ^ M y&^j«^\ 
 
 ;<!►-„. ^ - - 
 
 SheJf, Section. 
 
 
% 
 
^p 
 
THE 
 R E D E E M E R's CHARGE 
 
 Againft his declining 
 
 CHURCHES, ^c. 
 
 Price One Shilling, 
 
THE 
 
 R E D E E M E r'S C H A R G E 
 
 Againft his Declining 
 
 CHURCHES, 
 
 Exemplified in the Cafe of the 
 
 CH^RCH of EPHESUSy 
 
 And applied to the State of Religion, in thepre- 
 lent Time. 
 
 In which the Symptoms, ^Caufes, and Confe- 
 -• quences of Declenfions in the Churches 
 of C H R I s T, are particularly confider'd. 
 
 Fiid preached, and now publiflied with fome En- 
 largement at the Requeft of thofe who heard it. 
 
 / 
 
 . By BENJAMIN^t^'ALLIN. 
 
 Cry aloud, fpare not, lift up thy voice like a. trumpet, and fliew 
 my people their tranfgreffion, and the hoj^ile of Jacob their 
 fins. Isaiah Iviii. i. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for J. Wa r d at the King's- Anns in 
 Little-Britain ; and fold by E. G a r d i n e r in 
 Lcmbard'Street. M dcc xlviii. 
 
THE 
 
 PREFAC 
 
 H 
 
 ^^MM^ is v^ £/ for the doSfrines and ordU 
 nances of the Go/pel is now become 
 very iinfajhionable ^ and too generally 
 efteemed a chke of hypocrijy, or the 
 fruit of ignorance and bigotry ; infomuch that 
 a per 1071 who is animated to plead for them^ fmijl 
 expeB to fall under reproach y while he that dej- 
 pifes them^ or is indifferent about his religious 
 Jentime?its and praBiceSy is applauded as a f?ian of 
 Jeftfe and candour. If we would ejcape the cen- 
 fare ofmapy in this day, who make high preten- 
 fions to charity, wc muft be fure to avoid con- 
 tendifig for the truth we love, whatever meafures 
 are taken by them, or others to imdervalue, a?ui 
 Jink it into contempt. Thus when errors dia- 
 
 A metrically 
 
ii The PREFACE. 
 
 metrically oppofite to the faith once delivered to 
 the Saints J are induftrioujly fpread amongft us, 
 thofe who have embraced it^ however aff'edled 
 with its importance y are by no means tojlirfor 
 its vindication and honour. But 'tis unreafo- 
 jiable to expeSf fuch ccncejjions fro7n thofe who 
 are friends to the Go/pel \ or that while iuany^ 
 under the charaSfer of Proteftants, are takitig 
 pains to dcjlroy the credit of thofe glorious do- 
 Brines that were rejcued from Popery at the 
 Peformation^ and are of the lafl importance to 
 the intereft oj true religion ; thofe who are con- 
 vinced of their excellency fhould keepfle7ice, 
 
 IT is a great jnercy the Bible is in our hands ^ 
 and that nGtwithftanding the fad departure^ 
 there is among us, from the principles of our 
 Reformers^ the doctrines they preached arife 
 with the fullefl evidence from the facred word 
 to the confciences of inany^ who embrace them, 
 with no lefs fatisfa£lion and joy -, nor is it any 
 fmall happinefs there a7'e fill fotne left who are 
 both able and willing to engage in the neceffary 
 work of defending this Gofpel^ both frotn the 
 pulpit and the prefs. 
 
 BU'T I apprehend the enemy has none of the 
 leaft of his advantages againfl the truths from 
 
 the 
 
 I 
 
The PREFACE. iii 
 
 the lukewarm and inadlive Jlate of thofe, ivho 
 profefs their adherence to it, and which therefore 
 jhoiild not be overlook d ; for it is of great irn- 
 portance to maintain the ordiiiances in their 
 primitive purity and ife, and keep up to a be- 
 coming converjation, in order to preferve the fim- 
 plicity andfoundnefe of Chrijiian doSlrine. Theje 
 muji not be divided, if we niDOuldfee the ifttereji 
 of true religion flour ifi. The prefent defeSlion 
 rf profefors, efpecially in their relative capa- 
 cities as members of the Churches ofChrifty has 
 induced me to comply with a reque/ifor the pub- 
 lication of this fmall piece, in hopes it might be 
 fubfervient, under the divine blefling, to provoke 
 feme who are greatly declined from their firjl 
 principles of their profejfon, and their many 
 obligations and vows, to repent and do their 
 firll works. 
 
 I am very fenfble it is an unthankful oflice to 
 attempt the awakening thofe who are betrayed 
 into fo drowfy a frame as to love toflumber ; 
 and I fear this is the condition of feme in our 
 day. In fuch a cafe, if a man is not happily 
 infirumental oj convincing the perfons he difturbs 
 of the necejjity of the alarm, he is fire to draw 
 on himfelf their difpleafure, and muJi expe£i to 
 meet with a fever e rebuke, for what they will 
 A 2, call 
 
iv The ? R E F A C E. 
 
 call bis impertinence and folly. But as I am 
 perjiiadcd there 7nuft be an alteration in our con- 
 duSi before the candle/iicJzs, yet continuing with 
 lis^ will fiine with that glory and brightnejs we 
 are daily praying for -, I am willing to venture 
 the confequence^ in hmnble cxpediation that at 
 leajl one backfliditig profeffor will Jo accept the 
 word of exhortation^ as to return to his former 
 works ; this will redound to the hojiour of Chrift, 
 and be an advantage to thoje with whom he is 
 infellowfip. 
 
 ALL the labours of Minifiers both in 
 preaching a?2d writing for the conviBion of 
 gainfayers^ and for the warning or ejiablifoment 
 of thofe who are under a profejion, are like to 
 prove ifieffcBual, if the latter remain fleepy and 
 liupified. When fuch are not vigorous and di- 
 ligent to fill up their chara^er^ by a holy a?id 
 fpiritual converfation^ by a conftant and reve- 
 rent attendance upon the inftitutions of their 
 Lord, and by bringing forth the fruits of love ^ 
 it fire ngt hens the prejudices of car?jal men againfl 
 the importance and influence of the truth, and 
 adminifiers to their infidelity. It is to little 
 purpofe to have a tiame in a Church, without 
 dljcharging the duties or enjoyiitg the privilerres 
 of filch a relation ; to hearfermons without pon- 
 dering 
 
The PREFACE. v 
 
 dering them over in our hearts^ or to fiibjcribe 
 for or piirchafe paraphrajes, expojitions^ &c. 
 without J'e arching into the?n : yet there is ground 
 to fujpeB this is the conduSl of mcmy^ who are 
 fiink into a fupine a?jd carnal frame : hence they 
 arefofoon ahafhed by thofe who defpife the Gofpel^ 
 and turned afide thro their fubtleties, 
 
 'The declenfions lamented are the more af- 
 feSiing, as they difcover how little praBical 
 godlinefs there is in the clofets and families of 
 Chriftians ; for private negleBs of duty are al- 
 ways previous to a vifible abatement of publick 
 ^eal: True religion fir/i dif plays itfelf in fecret \ 
 and in our retired devotion^ its decays are firfi 
 to be difcerned. When our Congregations bear 
 the melancholy Jymptoms laid down in the fequel, 
 there is room to be jealous of a too general omif- 
 fion offecret a fid family prayer ^ of reading and 
 meditating on the Scriptures^ and of every other 
 branch of private duty. When I fee a perfon 
 make a practice of coming very late into publick 
 fervicey without any apparent catfe, I am f care- 
 ful he has f pent little or no ti?ne in his clofet for 
 obtaining a f lit able frame for the fandiuary^ or 
 a blefjing on the Word and Ordinances. For 
 thd in fome infiances it may be unavoidable^ 
 yety confidering the thne of day appointed for our 
 
 fated 
 
vi The P R E F A C E. 
 
 flated ajfemblies, I believe upon examination it 
 will be found in mojl cafes to be utterly inexcu- 
 fable, 
 
 '\tHERE is another thing which I appre- 
 hend has had 710 fmall influence towards our pub- 
 lick declenfiojis^ \\z. the little care taken byfome 
 Profejjors of late years, to inftil into the minds 
 of their children the principles of religion, by 
 caufing them to read the Scriptures daily, en- 
 , couragijjgthem to learn Joine peculiar parts of it 
 by hearty catechifmg them, and putting them 
 upoji, and infiruBing them in the performance 
 of the 7iecefj'ary and reafonable duty of prayer* 
 Our not being able to bejlow Jpecial grace on the 
 fouls of our children, is no excufe for the negleSi 
 of thefe means -, it is exceeding weak, and jnay 
 be of dangerous confequence to argue againft our 
 endeavours after the fpiritual profit of thofe un- 
 der our care, becauje we are not able to give a 
 faving eficacy to thetn. T^he force of the objeBi- 
 on is the fame againjl all inflrudlions with reJpeSi 
 to the ignorant and unconverted ; and upon this 
 principle, preaching the word itfelf (the necef- 
 fary means of falvation) mujl be laid afide as 
 fruitlefs, with refpedi to unbelievers. I am 
 inclined however to think, that the negleSi 
 of this duty is in moft inflames owij2g ra^ 
 ther to a fpiritual Jlothy and declenf on of pa- 
 rents 
 
The PREFACE. vil 
 
 rents front that fervent Jpiritual affeBion^ which 
 animated our itmnediate predecejjors to a diligent 
 difcharge of it. But from what occafwn foever 
 the omi[jion arifes, it is attended with very bad 
 effedls on the minds of our youth ; and to this I 
 conceive is owing in a great meafure that flight 
 and contempt^ which isfo vifibly caft by many of 
 the prefent and rifmg generation on the profefjion 
 oj their fathers^ without any juflifabk reafon^ 
 or decent excife, together with other fad confe- 
 quenceSf which for brevity fake I forbear to re- 
 late. 
 
 lAMfarf'om thinking the Dijj'enters^ or 
 any part of them ^ whom I may be fuppofed prin- 
 cipally to refer to, are alone in their declenfions ^ 
 there is a general Jcorn of religion too apparent 
 almoft every-where, and particularly to be dif- 
 cerned in publick Worjhip j a negledi of which 
 has remarkably prevailed in proportion to the 
 fpread of thefefentimentSy which are fubverfive 
 of the glory of divine grace in the falvation of 
 flnners by the Blood of Chrifl, and other peculiar 
 doSlrines of the GoJpeL I am credibly inform- 
 ed, in many of the Affemblies of thofe who are of 
 the eftablified perfuafion, this negleB is notorious, 
 to the grief of all ferious perfons among them. 
 Lamentable cafe indeed! On what denominatioti 
 
 foever 
 
viii The P R E F A C E. 
 
 Jbever we turn our eyes, we behold the contempt 
 of dhine Ordinances. We have need therefore 
 all to unite in humbling ourjelves before God^ on 
 account of this fur e token of a growing infidelity 
 in the nation^ and of the dreadful hardnefs and 
 impenitency cf the people , who can thus impioufiy 
 defy the Almighty^ and defpif'e his providence^ by 
 cafiing off the form of his fear ^ at a time when 
 we are chaftifed by a deflating and expenfive 
 war^ and a fpreading peflilential difeafe among 
 cur cattle. Judgments which have often fore- 
 run the de/iruBion of a wicked nation, who 
 have objiinately perfiflcd in their rebellion againfl 
 God, 
 
 MT requefl to the Reader is, that his can- 
 dour inperujing thefe fleets, ?nay be followed with 
 his prayers for the blefjing of God upon themy 
 that they ?nay be of fo7ne fervice towards the re- 
 vival of vital and experimental Religion among 
 us, to which I remain a mojlfmcere and hearty 
 well-wijher. 
 
 REV. 
 

 *'l^HEO LOGICAL 
 
 REV. ii. 4. ■'^^^fAP-I-^^ 
 
 Neverthelefs^ I have fomewhat agaijjjl 
 thee^ becaufe thou haft left thy ji?'Jl love, 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 T'he introduBion, the accufation laid againjl the 
 
 church of Ephejiis explain d, their having left 
 
 their firft love no prejudice to the faints filial 
 
 per fever ance^ the awfulnef of the charge con- 
 
 fdering who brings it. 
 
 TH E fadts contained in the Epidles to 
 the feven Churches in Ajia were 
 doubtlefs literally true concerning 
 them, and all the threatnings and 
 promifes they comprehend were immediately 
 diredled to them; but yet they are juftly 
 efteemed prophetical and typical of the future 
 condition of the Churches of Chrift in different 
 periods of time, and of his difpenfations towards 
 them. It is evident froipi experience that Chri- 
 flian focieties in all ages are incident to the like 
 circumftances 3 and as no fcripture is of private 
 interpretation, lb thefe Epiftles are recorded 
 for the learning of the people of God to the end 
 of the world. Chrifl and his word are un- 
 
 B chani^eablv 
 
2 T^he Redeemer s Charge 
 
 changeably the fame; with him there is no 
 refpeS: of perfons ; what he fays to his Churches 
 and thofe who make a profeflion of his name in 
 any Age, and under any circumftances, he fays 
 to all his Churches in every Age under the Uke 
 circumftances to the end of time ; and there- 
 fore if we are found in the condition our text 
 defcribes the Ephefian Chwxh to be, what Chrift 
 fays to them he fays to us, and woe be to them 
 who defpife the words of the prophecy of this 
 book. Chap.\. ver, '^. and 22 'uerjes 18 and 
 19 compared. 
 
 Th E pafTage before us contains, as you fee, 
 a?2 accujation /^/^ again ft the Church of Ephefus, 
 in an Epiftle wrote at the command of Jefus 
 Chrift, and fent by John to the Angel, or Mi- 
 nifter who had the overfight of that Church. 
 It is prefaced with a defcription of him who 
 fends it, who is reprefented as holding the feveii 
 Jiars in his right handy and walking in the mid/i 
 of the feven golden candleftich : the fignification 
 of which figures is obvious from the laft verfe 
 cf the preceding chapter ; and there are various 
 inftrudtions to be gather'd from this reprefen- 
 tation for the encouragement of the faithful dif- 
 ciples of Chrift, which the brevity I intend will 
 not permit me to mention. 
 
 Th e Epiftle goes on to take notice of the 
 zeal and fruitfulnefs of this Church : [i;^r. 2, 3.] 
 the fenfe of which feems to be as follows: 
 
 ■'' J know th\ works, and thy labour y dec. thy in- 
 
 " duftry 
 
againjl his declining Churxhes. 3 
 
 ** duftry, care, and pains in maintaining the 
 ** purity of my docflrine, and my ordinances, 
 " and tho' exercifed with many trials, thou 
 " haft endured them with patience j yea, fuch an 
 " indignation haft thou continued to difcover 
 " againft fin and error, that thou canjl not bear 
 " them which are evil^ either in do6lrine, or 
 " pra(5tice. Such a becoming diligence has 
 ** been ufed in examining thofe that have been 
 " received into thy communion, that their fpi- 
 " fits have been tried whether they be of God ; 
 " and thou haft been ftill more exad: and care- 
 " ful in examining thofe who have claimed the 
 " Apoftolical Charadter without any Autho- 
 " rity from Chrift, and haft found them 
 " liars. Thus thou haft detedied many pre- 
 " tenders of this fort, bearing thy teftimony 
 ** againft, and rejeding of them : This thy 
 " zeal has expofed thee to much reproach and 
 " periecution, not only from the prophane of 
 " the world, but alfo, and more especially, 
 " from thefe hypocritical profeffors and their 
 " adherents j but thou haft born up with cou- 
 *' rage and conftancy ; and this thou haft done 
 " not out of oftentation, or for the fake of con- 
 " tention, or with any finifter view, but for 
 " my names fake^ purely out of love to me, 
 '' and with regard to my honour, thou haft la- 
 " bouredy and hafi not fainted^ Noble Cha- 
 rader indeed ! How beautiful is a Church of 
 Chrift thus exerting herfelf ? And how honour- 
 able doth this Church appear, when her Lord 
 condefcends to bear witnefs in this manner to 
 her becoming condud ? B 2 But 
 
4 T*he Redeemers Charge 
 
 But the Epiftle does not run thus fmooth 
 and delightful to the End 3 had it ftopp'd here, 
 we fliould have finiOied the account with a 
 pleafing admiration : but, alas, the note chan- 
 ges ! and here is a melancholy antithefis in the 
 text which calls for lamentation. Nevertbelejsj 
 *' notwithftanding all this thy former zeal and 
 " fruitfulnefs, O thou Church oiEphefuSy once 
 " fo famous for thy watchfulnefs and diligence, 
 " thy courage and conftancy for my name's 
 " fake, / have a charge againji theCy becaiife 
 5' thou are declined and fallen, thou haft: left 
 " thyjirft love!' Sad news indeed ! what went 
 before in this epiftle was highly in favour of 
 this Church, and much to their honour ; but 
 this is againji her, and greatly to her dijgrac^y 
 and carries in it an awful intimation of the dif- 
 pleafure of him that wrote it. 
 
 I N the words we may obferve, 
 
 (i.) The Charge j and 
 
 (2.) Tji E Perfon that lays it. 
 
 (j.) The Charge, viz. 7hou haft left thy 
 firjl love. 
 
 Christian love is ^ fpirltual grace, which 
 has God and Chrift for its prime objed:s, and 
 naturally difplays itfelf upon every perfon, and 
 every thing that bears their image and authori- 
 ty ; and as it is that which no man, in his na- 
 tural 
 
againjl his declining Churches. 5 
 
 tural and depraved ftate experiences; for the 
 carnal mind is en??iify againjl God, [Rom. viii. 7.] 
 {o it is what no true believer is deilitute of, for 
 he that loveth not^ knoweth not God-, i. e. \% 2l 
 flranger to the regenerating influences of the Di- 
 vine Spirit, and fellowfhip with God ; for God 
 is lovey [i John iv. 8.] Indeed brotherly love, 
 which is the fruit of this grace, feems intended 
 in this palTage -, but the principle itfelf muft 
 needs be included : for if he that is cold and 
 unprofitable to his Brother, lays himfelf under 
 fufpicion with regard to his relation to God, and 
 wants the evidence of being his fon, becaufe he 
 is deilitute of the fruits of divine love in the 
 heart ; furely the man in whofe heart this love 
 dwells not, can have no juflifiable claim to this 
 Charadler. This love is wrought by the al- 
 mighty energy of the Divine Spirit ; he implants 
 this principle in regeneration, by his illumina- 
 ting and attra6ting influences, as a Spirit of life 
 from Chrifl:, and the Spirit of adoption from 
 the Father ; hence it is faid, the fruit of the 
 Spirit is love. [Gal. v. 22.] 
 
 Now when this divine principle is wrought, 
 in the foul, it abides there, whofoever is born 
 of God his feed remaineth in him, fays the 
 Apofl:le, [ 1 John iii. 9.] There is no extir- 
 pating this principle ; it would be a work un- 
 worthy its glorious Agent, confidering the pro- 
 fefled end of his fandifying influences, viz, the 
 falvation of the fubjed:, if any power in earth or 
 hell could poflibly deftroy it : but we know 
 
 from 
 
6 'Ihe Redeemer s Charge 
 
 from the word of the Lord, as well as the na- 
 ture of the thing, it is an eternal principle j for 
 we are confident of this very things that he which 
 hath begun a good work in us, will perform if 
 until the day of fefus Chriji : [Philip, i. 6 J 
 And tho' what the Apoftle takes notice of with 
 fo much pleafure and triumph, [Romans viii. 
 39.] is generally underftood as referring to the 
 love of God to his people, yet it is at leaft ap- 
 plicable to their love to him. Not a7zy creature 
 ihall be able to feparate them. And therefore the 
 Believer may be perfuaded neither Satan, nor his 
 indwelling Corruptions, (from which the danger 
 is naturally the greateft) 1 fay the Believer may be 
 fully aflured that neither of thefe, much lefs any 
 other creature Jh all be able to feparate \\\vcifrom 
 the love of God, which his Spirit has kindled in 
 his heart, and which is in Chriji fejus his Lord, 
 This divine principle exerted under the affiflancc 
 of its bleffed author, is the fpring of all thofe 
 fpiritual exercifes and duties, whereby the di- 
 fciples of Chrift diftinguifh themfelves under a 
 profeffion of his name, and in fellowfhip one 
 with another. 
 
 It muft be acknowledged, that in this 
 flate of imperfedion, this love is liable, from a 
 variety of caufes, to decline in its vigour, in pro- 
 portion to which its precious fruits difappear, 
 and this is verified in the Inftance before us. 
 There was formerly much of this love to God 
 and Chrift difcovered in the temper and con- 
 duct of the members of the Church at Ephe- 
 
 fus. 
 
againfi his declining Churches. 7 
 
 fuSy but now they were declined, and charged 
 with leaving, or relinquiihing the vigorous 
 exerci/e of it, tho' not with entirely lofing 
 it. As our tranflators render it thou hajl left 
 thyjirft love ; fo any one that will examine the 
 original will find * the word by no means ne- 
 ceffarily implies the final and total lofs of that 
 to which it is applied, but is clearly expreflive 
 of a remitting, or abating in the fervency of it: 
 •f* I mention this becaufe it is afi^erted, that this 
 text deflroys the protejimit dodlrine of the 
 faints final perfeverance j tho' I apprehend with- 
 out the leaft foundation j for if it were admit- 
 ted that the term might be tranflated lofl, it is to 
 be obferved the words would not then read, they 
 had loft their love^ but their fir ft love j which 
 plainly intimates love ftill fubfifted among 
 them, and that the degree of this love, and 
 thofe fervent ad:ings by which it formerly dif- 
 covered itfelf, was loft, and not the eflence or 
 exiftence of the principle itfelf. 
 
 Besides, 
 
 • ^\<^yig.i from et'(pfH(Uj , relinquo, remitto, omit to — not amit- 
 terey to lofe his love ; but remittere, to abate of the fervency 
 thereof. — The fame word is ufed in the Septuagint, i Kings xvii. 
 40. of David's leaving the fheep to a keeper, when he fought 
 Goliath, to which he afterwards returned. Fid. LeighV Critica 
 facra. The word agrees to the Hebrew ^iJ Jj . Vid. Trommius^ 
 Vol. I. f>. 232. 
 
 •}- The Papifts of the feminary at Rheims, who tr.mflated the 
 New Teftament out of the vulgar Latin, with great confi- 
 dence aflert, that this Text plainly refutes that which fomt 
 hereticks hold, 'That a man once in the grace of charity can 
 never fall from it. See Dr. Fulk's confutation of the h\k g'offes 
 of that fet of mf n, printed anno 1 601 . 
 
8 Z5^ Redeemers Charge 
 
 Besides, fuppofing it was faid they had loft 
 their love, it is fpoken to a colleBive Body, and 
 it is no juft arguing here from a general to a 
 particular. If it could be demonftrated that all 
 the Churches in E?igland were utterly deftitute 
 of love to God, it would fall fhort of proving 
 that any one true Believer ever loft this prin- 
 ciple of Divine Grace, which we are fpeaking 
 of; fince (tho' in charity we hope better of 
 every vifible body of faints incorporated in a 
 Church ftate, how much foever declined, yet) 
 it is not impofjlble but there might be the form 
 of a Church without any one true Believer in it; 
 and till this is proved impo[jible, I think it is 
 unreafonable to argue from the defection of a 
 Church, to the falling away of any true Be- 
 liever : and therefore all objections againft the 
 important dodrine of perfeverance, taken from 
 fuch inftances, are to be rejeCled, as having no 
 foundation in the word of God, or the reafon 
 of things : and confequently the infmuations of 
 its Adverfaries from this text, in favour of that 
 uncoffifortabk, unfa-iptural, and Popijh do6lrine 
 of falling away from grace, are impertinent and 
 groundlefs. 
 
 The matter of the accufation againft this 
 Church of Ephejiis was not their having loft their 
 love ; for love they had ftill, as appears from 
 the teftimony bore in the context : but they are 
 charged with having fallen off, gone backward, 
 and not keeping up to their former zeal, cou- 
 rage, 
 
agahijl his declining Churches. 9 
 
 rage, and fruitfulnefs,, which was greatly to 
 their fliame and reproach, as it is to every Com- 
 munity under the hke declenfion. Bat I 
 proceed, 
 
 2^/y, To confider who it is that lays this 
 Charge again ft the Church of Ephefus. 
 
 This is a Circumftance of great weight, and 
 has no fmall influence on the importance and 
 Gonfequence of an accufation, as might eafily 
 be fhewn. The profefTed difciples of Chrift and 
 his vifible Churches compofed of fuch, have 
 many accufers. The Devil is not a litde forward 
 to this work J this adverfary is unwearied in his 
 accufations of the brethren, as appears from 
 [Rev. xii. 10.] and doubdefs lays his charges 
 againft them in a coUeBive as well as an indi" 
 vidual view. The men of the world, as they 
 naturally defpife and hate fuch who are fepa- 
 rated from them by a profeffion of the name of 
 Chrift, and that in proportion to their zeal and 
 fpirituality of converfation, are ready to accufe 
 them upon every falfe ftep, and every apparent 
 deficiency, either as a bod}'', or feparately con- 
 lidered. And if they were at a lofs for fads of 
 this kind, (as would to God they always might 
 be) yet they will rail againft them unjuftly, 
 rather than fail of charging them with hypocrify, 
 and ilanderoufly accufing even their good con- 
 verfation. Sifter Churches may accufe a Church 
 of Chrift, they may have juft caufe of com- 
 plaint againft her, or may accufe her thro' in- 
 C advertency 
 
lo l!he Redeemers Charge 
 
 advertency and mifunderftandlng without foun- 
 dation: for Churches are not infallible, and 
 fometimes err in their complaints againft each 
 other. Now accufations from either of thefe 
 Quarters are to be deprecated, they often fill 
 the minds of good men with forrow, throw a 
 Community into much trouble and confufion, 
 hurt its character, and terrify the minds of the 
 members. Charges brought from thefe accufers 
 are not to be difregarded, but all occafions for 
 them, as much as poflible, avoided. But of 
 how much greater importance and more defer- 
 ving ferious attention, is a charge from Chrift 
 himfelf, who is the Perfon that lays the accu- 
 fation in our text. 
 
 The words ftand in immediate connexion ^ 
 with the firft verfe : Thefe things fays he that 
 holdeth the feven ftars in his right handy i. e. 
 Jefus Chrift ; I have fomewhat againji thee, &c. 
 
 There are three things that aggravate this 
 charge and render it awful, which are to be 
 gathered from the confideration of him that 
 lays it. 
 
 (i.) The truth of the fad. 
 
 (2.) The heinous nature of the crime, and, 
 
 (3.) The dreadful confequences of impeni- 
 tency under it. 
 
 Firf^ 
 
againjl his decli/iing Churches, i r 
 
 Firji, This charge is awful from him who 
 lays it, as it is, and muli: be iindouhtediy fad:: 
 This is certain from the infinite knowledge and 
 inviolable faithfulnefs of Jefus Chrifr, who is the 
 Amen^ the true and jaithfulwitnejs, \Cbap.\. 3.] 
 The Epiftle to the Church of Laodicea is 
 ufliered in with this confideration, \Chap. iii. 14.] 
 Chrill: is no falfe accuferj oti^Ys may bring 
 wrong accufations, either thro' miftake, or by 
 delign ; but this cannot be tlie c^de with hh7i 
 who lays the charge in our text \ the perfe- 
 (Slions of his nature, and his Love to his Church 
 and people, forbid our entertaining any fuch 
 thoughts of him. He is the omnifcisnt and 
 faithful Jefjs j and therefore charges brought by 
 him will certainly be made good : and thofe he 
 lays any accufation againft will furely be found 
 guilty. The Church of Ephefus, like other 
 Churches who leave their firft love, feemed in- 
 (enfible of her cafe. Thefe declenfions are for 
 the moft part gradual ; confcience grows lilent 
 under the allowance of fin, and a people by 
 this means become unaffeded with their own 
 condition. Now Chrift's accufing them in 
 perfon might juftly awaken them ; forafmuch 
 as the leafl; credit given to the report, muft, 
 without any further enquii y, upon the firft re- 
 fledion on his perfon and charader, ftrike them 
 with a deep convidion of their guilt. 
 
 Secondly^ This charge is very awful if we 
 
 confider from whence it comes, if we refled on 
 
 the relation fubfifting between Chrift and them, 
 
 C 2 the 
 
1 2 T^he Redeefners Charge 
 
 the obligation they were under to him, and 
 their conftant dependance upon himj 1 fay, if 
 we confider all thefe circumftances the" hei- 
 noufnefs of the crime will abundantly appear. 
 This accufation was not laid by a ftranger, or 
 an enemy, one that had no affedion for, or 
 (lood in no relation to the Church of Ephefus ; 
 but by him, who was her Friend and Redeemer, 
 lier Lord, Head, and Kufband ; for this is the 
 relation Chrift Aands in to every vifible Church, 
 and indeed to every individual believer as well 
 as to the Catholick Chiirch, or body of the eled: 
 in general. It was laid by hirn, who had done 
 great things for her, and laid her under the 
 bigh-fl; obligat'ons; and, in a word, by him 
 on whom fhe abfoluteiy depended for all fupply 
 as a Church, for her proted:ion, for her furniture, 
 and for her continuance. Thefe confiderations 
 (hew tl:e rebellion, ingratitude, and folly of all ■ 
 fuch back-fiidingS;, and how threatening an af- 
 ped: tPie difpleafure of ChriO: muft cany within, 
 which is a great addition to the awfalnefs of the 
 charge, efpecially if we fubjoin. 
 
 Thirdly^ The power and authority Chrift 
 has, as God and Mediator, to take vengeance 
 on thofe who, being found guilty, are impeni- 
 ' tent. Thefe things taken together render the 
 accufition very iblemn and important j and it is 
 as if he had iaid, " I the true and faithful v/it- 
 " nef-^, I your fovereign Lord and gracious Re- 
 " dcerner, who gave you being, who have 
 ^' from time to time fupplied you with every 
 
 " needful 
 
againfi his declining Churches. 1 3 
 
 " needful vhing, and done great wonders for, 
 " and in the inidfc of you j I, on whom you 
 " depend f jr your continuance and profperity, 
 " -d-w^ am able to favc or deftroy ; I, who have 
 " all authority to recompenfe vengeance on 
 " them that deipife me, and flight my caufe; 
 " / ha-ve jomeixhat againjl thet\ becauje 'thou 
 " haft left thy jirfi love.'' This was the cafe of 
 the Church of Ephefus ; fhe was greatly fallen 
 off from her zeal and affedtion for Chrifl and 
 his caufe, and had abated much in that ferven- 
 cy and fruitful nefs (he had formerly been famous 
 for. This the Lord Jefus Chrifl: himfelf charges 
 her with, which might juftly awaken her to a 
 kwit of her aggravated crime, and of his dif^ 
 pleafure, and ought to have deeply humbled 
 every particular member before him, left he 
 {hou'd come forth in a way of judgment againft 
 them. 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 Some general obftTvations fro?n the charge brought 
 againfi the Ephefian Church for having left 
 her firft love, applicable to the Churches of 
 Chrifl in all Ages, &c. 
 
 AVING, in the former chapter, ex- 
 plained the cafe of the Church of 'Ephe^ 
 fuSy and, I hope, fet it in a true light, I pro- 
 ceed to lay down the following obfervations, 
 viz, 
 
 (I.) That 
 
14 ^^ Redeemers Charge 
 
 (I.) Th at it is ufual for the Churches of 
 Chrift to be very zealous and adive, upon their 
 firfl eilabhOitnent. 
 
 (II.) It has been found by fad experience, 
 that Churches, once famous for their love and 
 fruitfulnefs, have declined and abated in their 
 zeal for the name and caufe of Chrift, and vital 
 Religion. And, 
 
 (III.) Th at all fuch declenfions are taken 
 notice of by Jefus Chrift, are. highly difpleafmg 
 to him, and are fuch, againft which he will 
 furely, fooner or later, teftify his refentments. 
 
 These truths are obvious to every obferving 
 Chrifiian, and are fo evidently founded, partly 
 on the facred Word, and partly on the experi- 
 ence of all Ages, that it would be needlefs to 
 take up time in the proof of them. 
 
 I F we confider the materials of a Church, 
 when firft gathered, we (hall not wonder at the 
 activity and zeal difcovered in the midft of it. 
 Whenevery/Vc/j a Community is raifed, efpeci- 
 ally where darknefs and ignorance have former- 
 ly reigned, as was the cafe at Ephejiis, whofe 
 Inhabitants were very remarkable for their Ido- 
 latry, it is always owing to the mighty power 
 of the Divine Spirit working with the word of 
 faith, enlightening, convincing, and convert- 
 ing fuch who were afar off from God, and 
 dead in trefpaffes in fins. Now 'tis reafonable 
 
 to 
 
agalnjl his declining Churches. 1 5 
 
 to fuppofe, that altho', where the word of the 
 Gofpel has thus prevailed, before a competent 
 number are fufficiently difcipled into the order 
 of Chrift's houfe, fome hypocritical perfon, or 
 perfons, may creep in among them, (as feem- 
 cd to be the cafe in the earlieft times) yet, I 
 fay, it is reafonable, and in charity we ought 
 to conclude, that the greateft number of thofe 
 who conftitute a Church, on its firft fettlement, 
 are indeed true difciples, whofe hearts are glow- 
 ing with fincere and ardent afFe(5lion to Chrift. 
 Thefe perfons, in the love of their efpoufals, 
 and the kindnefs of their youth, are iludying 
 how to teftify their affedion to Chrift, being 
 willing to deny themfelves, or, as far as they 
 can judge, even to lay down their lives for his 
 fake. Young converts, who have been lately 
 delivered from the terrors of an awaken'd con- 
 fcience, in the views of death and damnation 
 for fin, by a manifeflation of the all-fufficient 
 Saviour, and appropriating faith in his blood, 
 they are filled with peace and joy -, they fee fuch 
 an excellency in the Perfon, offices, facrifice, 
 and grace of the Redeemer, and are fo fenfible 
 of their infinite obligations to him, for dying in 
 their room and ftead, that his love conftrains 
 them to make the moft lively and affectionate 
 returns. Such perfons unfeignedly delight in 
 his word, his ordinances, and his people 3 and 
 every perfon, inftampt with his image, and 
 bearing his authority, is highly eileemed and 
 readily embraced by them. Now a body cor- 
 porate, compofed chiefly of fuch members 
 
 whofe 
 
1 6 T'he Redeemers Charge 
 
 whofe hearts burn with love to Chrift, muft 
 needs be very adtive and zealous, according to 
 their light in thofe things v^^hich their Lord has 
 appointed, and which make for the advance- 
 ment of his honour in the world, and their 
 mutual edification. 
 
 Churches are indeed eftablifh'd through 
 other occafions, fometimes through divifions 
 that happen among thofe who are in commu- 
 nion together, which may arife either from the 
 ill fplrits of fome, who promote contention, 
 and caufe a feparation ; or from the corruptions 
 that may have crept into a Church, to the of- 
 fence of many, whereby they were obliged to 
 fet up a feparate community, to fatisfy their 
 confciences. Thefe fad occafions are to be 
 avoided if poflible, yet fometimes are permitted 
 and over-ruled for the railing honourable and 
 ufeful Communities in the world : but in thefe 
 inftances I apprehend the obfervation will alfo 
 hold, efpecially in the latter, which mofl fre- 
 quently happens. I believe it will appear up- 
 on examination, that if for the fake of any dc- 
 fpifed or negledted Do6trine or Ordinance of the 
 Gofpel, after proper endeavours to convince the 
 Body of their guilt, any number of Members 
 feparate and embody themfelves, a peculiar zeal 
 for the glory of Chiifl, and love to each other, 
 will commonly be found to prevail upon this 
 their firfl eftablifhment : witnefs the temper and 
 condud: of the Proteflant Churches at the glo- 
 rious Reformation from Popery, and the be- 
 haviour 
 
agai7ijl his declining Churches. 1 7 
 
 havlour of the Proteflant DiOenters in this land 
 at their firft feparation from the Eftabhiliment 
 upon the Hime principles: On the mentioning 
 of which, one can fcarce forbear at leafl: to wifh 
 that the like zeal had continued to this day. 
 
 But, lively and vigorous as the Churches of 
 Chrift are upon their firft fetting out, 'tis evi- 
 dent that, thro' one temptation or another, they 
 are liable to decay, and to leave this their jirjl 
 love. Such was the In fiance of the Church of 
 EpheJuSy and every Age has produced too many 
 examples of this fad truth : Our land abounds 
 with inftances of the fame kind, to be lament- 
 ed over. What numbers of Churches, once 
 famous for their zeal and fruitfulnefs, bear the 
 tokens of this melancholy alteration ? Are there 
 not, in all the denominations of Proteflant Dif^ 
 fenters, many Communities, where formerly 
 the honour of Chrifl, and the mutual welfare 
 of the members were profecuted with that una- 
 nimity and vigour, that it was evident to all 
 about them, which now, if we may judge by 
 outward appearance, tho' they may not openly 
 difavow the do6lrines of the Gofpel, and change 
 the ordinances of Chrifl, yet they are fadly de- 
 clined from their firfl love ? How are the 
 members of many Churches feized, in thefe 
 days, as with a dead palfy ? Are they not as 
 cold and as inaftive in fpiritual things, and 
 what concerns the body they belong to, as a 
 natural limb when flagnated and wither'd with 
 that frightful difeafe ? Such \s the ftupidity and 
 
 D unpron- 
 
1 8 T^he Redeemer s Charge 
 
 trnprofitablenefs of too many, who continue in 
 the relation of Church- memberftiip in our day ; 
 there appears no warmth of Chriftian love, no 
 motion towards works of edification ; thefe 
 members have the fame unhappy influence on 
 the fpiritual body, as the natural members have 
 on the body of a man, when under the circum- 
 ftance before-mentioned : they fink the fpirits, 
 they fill the lively members with difcouraging 
 apprehenfions, they chill the whole conflitution, 
 and occaiion their fellow - members to move 
 heavily, fo that the love of the beft circulates 
 but flowlyi and when this is the cafe, very 
 little is done by that Church either for the glory 
 of the Redeemer, or the advantage of precious 
 and immortal fouls. Thus we fee it is often 
 found, after the fad example of the EphefianSy 
 that Churches, once famous for their vigour 
 and fruitfulnefs, decline from their zeal, or, as 
 in the words of the text, leave their firji love. 
 
 Now, when Churches decline in this man- 
 ner, the Lord Jefus Chrift takes notice of it, 
 and is greatly offended with it; his eyes are 
 upon thofe who engage in fellowfhip under a 
 profeflion of his name : he walks among the 
 golden candlefticks, and however infenfible a 
 cold and lifelefs people may be themfelves of 
 their defedion, Chrift marks every degree of 
 apoftacy, and remembers hovv^ fhort they come 
 of their former zeal. Thefe abatements and 
 fhamefal backflidings are highly difplealing to 
 the Redeemer, who is very jealous of his glory j 
 
 and 
 
againjl his decU?ting Churches, 1 9 
 
 and nothing is more provoking to him, than to 
 behold his inftitutions deipifed and abiifed by 
 thofe to whom they are committed : A cold and 
 formal people, who make light of the provifi- 
 ons of his infinite wifdom and love, are very 
 obnoxious in his fight. It is no better than fly- 
 ing in the face of Chrifi:, infulting his dignity, 
 and trampling upon his grace, to treat the la- 
 cred privileges of his houfe with indifFerency ; 
 and tho' he may wait long, and manifeft great ^ 
 patience towards Churches in this lifelefs con- 
 dition, yet after many warnings, if they repent 
 not, they muft expeft he will teftify his refent- 
 ment againfl them, in a manner fuitable to the 
 righteoufnefs and dignity of his Charadter. 
 
 This being the fi:ate of the cafe, and the 
 declining condition of the Churches being fo 
 vifible in our lukewarm day, I fhall, for our 
 further improvement of this awful Complaint, 
 confider it in the following method. 
 
 Firji^ I SHALL attempt to (hew by what 
 iymptoms it will appear, that a Church of 
 Chrifi has left h^rjirji love. 
 
 Secondly^ Point out fome of the principal 
 caufes of thefe declenfions j 
 
 thirdly. Consider how Chrifi: exprefles his 
 difpleafure, at all fuch defeBions from a 
 lively zeal for his Interefl and Glory ^ 
 
 D 2 But 
 
20 The Redeemer s Charge 
 
 But before I proceed, I would premife, 
 that 
 
 Th E charge given in the text by our Lord 
 again 1l this Church is appUcable, not only to 
 all other Churches, but alfo to every individual 
 difciple of Chrift, and more efpecially fliould 
 every Church-member apply it for his ov^n 
 warning ; tho' I have chofen to follow the cafe 
 the text relates to, and with a view to the pre- 
 fent melancholy fituation of Churches, lament- 
 ed by all ftrious Perfons in the midft of us, to 
 coniider it as referring to profefs'd Saints in a 
 collective capacity ; yet each particular Chrifti- 
 an (liould examine himfelf, and look back on 
 his former experience and condudl, and upon 
 conviction of backiliding receive thefe awful 
 words, as fpoken to his own foul : I fhall there- 
 fore take leave to make one reflection appli- 
 cable to particular Perfons, viz. 
 
 Th is fhould alarm flothful Profeflbrs, who, 
 notwithflanding vifible and great declenfionsfrom 
 their former love, are fatisfyingthemfelves at leafl-, 
 if they can keep up their character in the Church 
 to v/hich they belong, and are under no cenfure 
 by the Community with whom they have fel- 
 lov/fhip. It muft be owned with grief, many 
 are fo hardened and fcornful in the prefent day, 
 that they defpife the cenfures of a Church, tho* 
 founded on the plaineft fcriptural authority ; it 
 is fometimes feen that reproofs, miniftred by a 
 Church of Chrift according to the divine rule, 
 •^.re treated with contempt or anger, and fet the 
 
 delin- 
 
agatnji his declining Churches. 2 1 
 
 delinquents a reviling inftead of repenting: fuch 
 Defpifers are far gone in impenitence and unbe- 
 lief indeed ! But there are many ProfefTors who, 
 though they have not thus trampled on all the 
 powder inverted in a Church by the Lord for edi- 
 fication, nor fo defpifed their privilege, as to 
 make it an indifferent thing whether they are in 
 fellowfhip or not j yet they remain unconcern- 
 ed, in a fupine and negligent ftate, and feem to 
 think, if their ftation in the Church is unim- 
 peached, and if they are in full Communion, all 
 is well : this is the cafe with fome who have 
 notorioufly left their firft love, and who do by • 
 no means maintain their former zeal for the 
 glory of Chrift, and the profperity of that bo- 
 dy, of which they, by their own con fen t and 
 defire, are conflituent members. There arc 
 fome ProfefTors who are thus at eafe in Xion^ 
 and look upon thcmfelves as honourable Chri- 
 flians, if they are clear of any charge in the re- 
 cords of the Church to whom they are joined. 
 But the egregious folly of this will appear, if we 
 confider the accufations laid by our Lord him- 
 felf, as in the pafTage before us, againfl all his 
 people who abate in their fervency under a pro- 
 fefiion of his Name. Know, O backfliding 
 Chriflian, Chrifl has fomewhat againfl you, 
 tho' his Church has not : If you have left your 
 firft love, it will be of little comfort or advan- 
 tage to you hereafter, that you have efcaped the 
 cenfure of the Church, under your unprofitable 
 condud:, fmce it evidently appears the Lord 
 himfelf, whofe judgment is in truth and righ- 
 
 teoufnefs, 
 
2 2 ^he Redeemer s Charge 
 
 teounefs, will furely cenibre you. Perhaps it will 
 appear hereafter, that Chrifl has a charge againfl: 
 the Church to which you ftand related, among 
 other things, becaufe they have not duly exhi- 
 bited and profecuted a charge againft you : this 
 may be an inftance of their declenlion and difo- 
 bedience, which if it does not add to your 
 guilt, can never be fuppofed to diminifli it. "Tis a 
 great mercy to have the watchfulnefs of a Church 
 over us j or, if we go aftray, to have its difci- 
 pline properly exercifed upon us, Thefe are 
 fome of the privileges of Chriftian fellowfhip ; 
 but if the Community to which we relate has fo 
 abated in its zeal, as to let us alone under our 
 manifeft departure from our firft love, either for 
 want of care or courage, there is neverthelefs an 
 accufation in Chrift's Book againft us ; he notes 
 all our unfaiihfulnefs, ingratitude, and difobe- 
 dience. There is not a negled: we are guilty of, 
 or an evil practice we allow ourfelves in, under 
 a profeffion of his name, and as members of a 
 particular Church, but he will reckon with us 
 for. Let every Chriftian therefore, who values 
 the comfortable prefence of his Lord, and the 
 tokens of his love, fearch his own heart and 
 ways, and under all his declenfions, remember 
 from whence he \s fallen, and repefit, and do his 
 Jirji works ; for otherwife he muft not expedl to 
 efcape fome fevere token of his difpleafure. I 
 now come to the profecution of the particulars 
 propofed. And, 
 
 Firji, 
 
againft his declining Churches. 2 3 
 
 Firfiy I AM to fhew by what fymptoms it 
 will appear, that a Church of Chrift has 
 left her fir ft love. 
 
 I N general, the relinqui(hment of this love is 
 to be oblerved by a decay of its fruits. The 
 example before us fhews, that fuch declenfions 
 are difcernible in the temper and condud of a 
 people, who are negligent and flothful in the 
 difcharge of thofe duties incumbent upon them. 
 In the verfe following the text, the Church of 
 Ephefiis is charged with not doing her Jirft 
 works : i. e. there was a ceafing from the per- 
 formance of thofe things (he was heretofore in 
 the practice of, which tended to the glory of 
 her Lord, the advantage of his intereft in ge- 
 neral, and the edification of her own particular 
 body : fo when any Church has left its firfl 
 love, It v/ill difcover itfelf in an indifferency and 
 backwardnefs to, if not a tcral negledl of many 
 neceffary duties and works, which when fer- 
 vent in fpirit were diligently performed. 
 
 To enter into a minute confideration of the 
 many duties incumbent on, and exercifed in a 
 Community of Chriftians while in their priftinc 
 zeal J and to ftiew how thefe are neglected when 
 they are fallen into the fad circumftances men- 
 tion'd in the text, would take up too much 
 room J let it therefore fuffice, that I touch on 
 fome common, known inftances, whereby a 
 Community thus declined will appear to be fo. 
 And, 
 
 (i.)ThI3 
 
24 ^^- Redeemer s Charge 
 
 (i.) This abatement of love will be vlfible 
 in their publick alTemblies. A Church of 
 Chrift properly fpeaking, has no perfonal ap- 
 pearance, but as its feveral Members are colledl- 
 ed together for thofe exercifes appointed for her 
 edification; fuch are prayer, and finging the 
 praifes of God together, hearing the word, at- 
 tending the adminiftratlon of the facraments, 
 and the exercife of difcipline. Thus far a 
 Chriftian Church agrees with all other Societies, 
 "jiz. it is a collcBive Body ; and I think it mud be 
 allowed, that the gatherings together of the in- 
 dividual Members at dated, convenient feafons, 
 for the particular ends of its incorporation, are 
 neceffary to its edification, and indeed to its 
 exiftence. Now a concern for maintaining 
 thefe alTemblies is what Churches, when firft 
 fettled, are noted for, or when upon any re- 
 markable revifal their love is fervent ; but when 
 a people grow cold, thefe meetings together are 
 foon negleded. There are two confi derations 
 indeed, which one would think (hould be ef- 
 fe(ftual again ft this deftru(5tive prad:ice of 
 forfaking thefe Aflemblies, even tho' the af!ed:i- 
 ons of a People (hould in a great meafure abate, 
 'oiz, (i.) The voice of reafon, with refpedl to 
 the abfolute neceffity, as I juft now obferved, 
 of maintaining fuch AiTemblies, in order to pre- 
 vent their diffolution. And, (2.) The voice of 
 confcience, with refpejft to the obligations 
 Chijrch-members have folemnly laid themfelves 
 under, to ufe their utmoft endeavours for the 
 fupport of the Body to which they join : but 
 
 experience 
 
againjl his declining Churches. 25 
 
 experience fadly verifies, that when perfons de- 
 cline in their fpiritual love under a profeffion of 
 Chrift's name, they are deaf to the united cry 
 ©f thefe Monitors, and being deadened in their 
 affedtions to the things of Chrift, are left to adt 
 inconfiftent with both. 
 
 We have a lively {pecimen of this forward- 
 nefs to Church-afTemblies, when love is fervent, 
 in the ufual behaviour of young Converts upon 
 their firft entring into fellowfhip : tho' it muft 
 be acknowledged, in thefe cold times, the good- 
 nefs of fuch too frequently goes off as the early 
 deWy their love is of (hort continuance, and in 
 many inftances, 'tis to be feared, the zeal of 
 thefe newly enlighten'd perfons is quenched by 
 the converfation of thofe, who, by their ftand- 
 ing in the Church, ought to be as nurfmg Fa- 
 thers and Mothers in IJrael. However, for a 
 time ufually this zeal for the Affemblies is dif- 
 cernible ; all opportunities of this kind are defi- 
 red, delighted in, and attended upon, as fea- 
 fons in which the foul hopes to find communion 
 with Chrift, and her fellow-members, and 
 whereby fhe may attain further degrees of light, 
 and be inftrumentally ufeful to promote the in- 
 creafe and profperity of the Body. 
 
 Let fuch who have felt the power of God's 
 grace, and who have enter'd into the fellowfhip 
 of the Saints under the conftraints of divine love, 
 refledl on their paft experience. I need not tell 
 thofe who can remember the love of their Efpou- 
 
 E fals, 
 
26 I'he Redeemer s Charge 
 
 fals, how glad they were then to come up to 
 the houfe of the Lord. " How different was 
 *' your frame and condudl, O revolting Be- 
 ** liever, at that time to what it is now ? What 
 " a privilege did you think it to have a place in 
 " the Church ? What an afBidion was it to 
 " you to be difappointed of coming to her At- 
 *' femblies, even fuch as were of a more com- 
 " mon and publick kind j but efpecially when 
 " there was any thing to be performed peculiar 
 " to the Church, fuch as confulting the affairs 
 " of God's houfe, hearing the experiences of 
 " thofe who were brought home to a Redeem- 
 *' er, ^^. ? In the profped; of fuch opportuni- 
 '* ties, how did you rife early, fit up late, and 
 " contrive, if poffible, coniiftent with the dif- 
 " charge of your civil duty, to be prefent? " 
 
 This, I am perfuaded, many mufl own was 
 their difpofition and behaviour at firft conver- 
 fion. When the love of Chrifl thus conftrains 
 the Members of a Church, her Affemblies are 
 frequent, early, and full, in proportion to the 
 number and circumftances of thofe who confti- 
 tute it ; all her publick appearances are beauti- 
 ful and encouraging. But when love abates, 
 the face of things is fadly altered, thefe gather- 
 ings together are negledled. Members are not 
 careful to maintain their places, they will be at 
 litde pains or expence to be prefent when ordi- 
 nances are to be adminiftred, Church-meetings 
 are defpifed, and 'tis difficult to uphold any fpe- 
 cial feafons for prayer in the Church. Thus 
 
 thefe 
 
againjl his declining Churches, 2 7 
 
 thefe declenfions are vifible in all their AfTem- 
 blies, whether private or publicki inftead of be- 
 ing frequent, readily and univerfally attended 
 to, they are feldom, late, and thin ; there is a 
 general backwardnefs to them, and a fhameful 
 negle<ft of them. Now, that the omiffion of 
 thefe Aflemblies is owing to a declenfion in 
 love, appears from [//f^r. x. 24, 25.] where 
 the infpir'd author exhorts us to provoke one afi- 
 of her to love^ to prevent tht forja king the affem- 
 bling OURSELVES together^ as the manner of fbrne 
 is. This fymptoin I have more largely infixed 
 upon, becaufe here begins the apoftaiy which 
 often ends in the ruin of Churches. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 Divers fymptoms of the declenfions of Churches -, 
 felfifonefs offpirit^ and a fo7'getfulne)s of divine 
 mercy ^ the frequent occafons of them, 
 
 HAVING fpoken fomewhat particularly 
 to the appearances the declenfions of the 
 Churches of Chrift make in their Aflemblies, 
 which fail in proportion to a want of love, and 
 by a negledl of which many flourifliing Com- 
 munities have been finally diflblved ; I proceed 
 to confider fome other fymptoms of the like 
 melancholy and threatening defedion j and, 
 
 (2.) Where a Church falls into this unhappy 
 
 condition, of leaving herfirft love^ it is further 
 
 E 2 . difcerni- 
 
2 8 l!he Redeemers Charge 
 
 difcernible in the conduct of the feveral Mem- 
 bers towards each other. The firfi: love of the 
 primitive Chriftians was apparent in a kind af- 
 fedionate carriage towards one another, and 
 their great concern for each other's welfare. Thus 
 it always will be, where love to Chrift, and a 
 zeal for his intereft operates with any degree of 
 fervency ; this effedt of love will difplay itfelf in 
 a variety of fruits, each Member endeavouring 
 to prefer the other [Rom. xii. lo. Philip, ii. 3.] 
 forbearing with o?ie another [ Ephef. iv. 2- — 32. 
 Col of. iii. 13.] and by love J^-ving one another 
 [Gal. v. 13.] 
 
 Influenced by a fpirit of religion, Chri- 
 ftians will not only take delight to meet toge- 
 ther on proper occafions, but in all their meet- 
 ings will be courteous, pitiful, carefully avoid- 
 ing all occafions of offence, feeking every me- 
 thod to be helpful, and to render each other as 
 comfortable and as extenfively ufeful as poffible. 
 Thus they a(ft when under the conftraints of 
 divine love; but when this love abates, thefe 
 good fruits difappear, and this lovely carriage 
 ceafes in proportion j members walk at a di- 
 ftance from, and are (hy of each other. If we 
 may judge by the condud of fome they have no 
 care in their hearts, left they ftiould offend and 
 grieve thofe they are in fellowftiip with, no 
 compaffion for them when in diftrefs; they 
 fcarce know one another in the Church, much 
 lefs can it be hoped that they (hould take notice 
 of one another when out of it : they are unac- 
 quainted 
 
againjl his declining Churches. 29 
 
 qualnted with each others afflictions and tempta- 
 tions (the natural confequence of forfaking their 
 affembling themfelves together) and if the for- 
 rows with which any are exercifed providen- 
 tially turn up to the view of the reft, they ex- 
 prefs little or no fympathy, or difcover any fear 
 left the temptation fhould occafion them to fall ; 
 and there is reafon to be jealous, that under fuch 
 circumftancesvery few, if any private interceffions 
 are put up in the behalf of thofe that are in diftrefs. 
 Thus there is a general backwardnefs to that mu- 
 tual endeavour after the honour, comfort, fafety, 
 and ufefulnefs of each other, which is evident 
 in the Churches of Chrift, where an ardent fpi- 
 ritual affedion prevails ; and this difcovers their 
 declenfion from their firft love. 
 
 Where this becoming temper and condudt 
 prevails in a Church, it will difcover itfelf in 
 the converfation of its Members with relation to 
 thofe that are abfent : if the perfon fpoken of be 
 under affliction, or have been overtaken with a 
 fault, fomething ftiall be dropt to exprefs the 
 fympathy and defire of feeing him reftored : if 
 he be in profperity, and is enabled to walk 
 with honour and ufefulnefs in the Church, fuch 
 will teftify their joy and thankfulnefs, for cha^ 
 rity envieth not. Thus their difcourfe of one 
 another will tend to raife the compaffion or 
 cfteem of thofe they converfe with towards 
 their Fellow- Chriftian, 'according to the cir- 
 cumftances he is in ; but when a people league 
 ihti: Jirji love, flander and envy takes place, 
 
 and 
 
30 Tlje Redeemer s Charge 
 
 and the Members of Churches are too apt to 
 rail againft, and backbite one another. But, 
 
 (3.) This is further evident when erroneous 
 or ungodly perfons, and fuch who defpife the 
 Church by their continual allowed neglecfts, are 
 permitted to go on without cenfure or rebuke. 
 One thing in which the Church oi Ephejus dif- 
 covered her zeal was in a due adminiftation of 
 difcipline, thou canfi not bear them which are 
 evil: and thou haft tried them which fay they are 
 apoftlcs, and are not ; and ha/i found them liars, 
 [ver. 2.] It is a melancholy fymptom of the 
 defection we are fpeaking of, when a people be- 
 come indifferent as to theDo6lrine or behaviour of 
 thofe employ'd to preach among them, when they 
 are unconcerned about the fentiments or con- 
 verfation of thofe who are in fellowfhip with 
 them, when thro' cowardice, carelefsnefs, or 
 partiality, there is not a watchfulnefs to avoid, 
 and a faithfulnefs in dete»5ting and bearing tefti- 
 mony againft fin and error in whomfoever it be 
 found ; and yet to this fad pafs do Churches, 
 when decayed in their love to Chrift, gradually 
 decline : And indeed it naturally follows upon 
 their forfaking of their afTemblies, and falling 
 into that indifferency towards each other before- 
 mentioned j for hereby they leave the proper 
 motive and means of exercifing the difcipline of 
 God's houfe, and then it muft ceafe of courfe. 
 
 (4.) Such declenfions from love will be 
 difcernable in their converfation with one ano- 
 ther. 
 
3^ 
 
 againjl his declining Churches. 
 
 ther. This fymptom is of a private nature, and 
 is peculiar, as its appearance is in a great mcafure 
 confined within themielves, and not fo vifible to 
 them that are without, Hke thofe already men- 
 tioned: but the fubjeds their difcourfe turns 
 upon when together, is a natural and good rule, 
 by which Profeffors may form a judgmeni of the 
 warmth and fpirituality of each others hearts. 
 While there is a fervency of fpirit towards the 
 things of Godjthere will be a frequent fpeaking of 
 them with pleafure.The converfation of fuch who 
 are in a fpiritual and lively frame will be much 
 employed on the Sermons they have heard, 
 the opportunities they have enjoyed, the reli{h 
 and experience they have had on thefe occa- 
 fions, and the heavenly city where they exped: 
 to dwell with Chrift and one another for ever. 
 When in a right fpirit, believers in fellowfhip 
 will be glad to meet together to confer about 
 thefe things ; and when they are affembled ei- 
 ther occafionally or otherwife, the love of Chrift, 
 the fulnefs of Chrift, the affairs of the Church 
 of Chrift, and their fpiritual concerns will be 
 the chief fubjeds of their difcourfe. Where 
 love prevails in the heart Chriftians delight to 
 think of thefe things, and therefore will be 
 ready to fpeak of them ; how backward foever 
 they may be when in a carnal frame to fuch 
 converfation. This is the true ftare of the cafe : 
 'Tis prepofterous and abfurd to fuppofe any thing 
 fhort of this will be the effed of a zeal for Chrift 
 and the gofpel ; foj- out of the abundcrnce of the 
 heai^ the mouth fpcaketh, [Matt. xii. 34.] This 
 
 is 
 
32 7^^ Redeemers Charge 
 
 is natural to man in every ftate, both in relpecft 
 to civil and religious matters. 
 
 But when a Community declines, the con- 
 verfation of its members when together upon 
 any occaiion degenerates, ('tis to be hoped) not 
 into filthy talking, fiich as thofe who are en- 
 tirely under the dominion of fenfual lufts delight 
 in, yet too often into fooliQi jefting, condemned 
 by the Apoftle [Ephefv. 4.] and at beft their 
 difcourfe turns upon trifles, fuch as are far be- 
 neath, and quite foreign to the purpofe of their 
 Chriftian character and affociation. I am fen- 
 iible the people of God have occafion to enter 
 into difcourfe both with the men of the world 
 and one another, about worldly concerns, and 
 thatwhen unavoidably incumber'd with the com- 
 pany of ignorant perfons for a feafon, it may be 
 convenient to refrain from that religious conver- 
 fation otherwife fo defirable ; and I am far from 
 condemning every fubjedl of a civil nature 
 among profeft Chriftians when by themfelves ; 
 difcourfe of this fort may be many ways fub- 
 fervient to their edificatiop : but I fay when 
 profeflbrs of religion, whether members of one 
 and the fame particular Church, or of different 
 Communities meet together from time to time, 
 without any particular view to temporal con- 
 cerns, and when they have no interruption from 
 worldly men, and yet fay little or nothing of 
 thefe heavenly things, 'tis a lad fign they have 
 left their Jirji love. 
 
 Under 
 
againfl his declining Churches. 3 3 
 
 Under this head we might obferve the too 
 general negled: of profefTors, as to converfation 
 with the Minifter of the Church to which they 
 belong. 'Tis no fmall difcouragement, in the 
 prefent day, to many Paftors of Churches, wlio 
 long after the fpirituality of their People in the 
 bowels of Jefus Chrift, to hear no more from 
 thofe under their care about their fpiritual aftairs. 
 In this refped: how mournful are the flated fea- 
 fons (for it is cuftomary and reafonable to fix on 
 fuch feafons) wherein thofe who have any thing 
 to communicate, efpecially in relation to their 
 fouls, are invited to come ? how many weeks 
 and months are fpent without anfwering the 
 Ipiritual end of fuch appointments ? If the back- 
 fliding profeiTors of our times were to find 
 themfelves negledied in their civil ftations by 
 thofe they expe(5l to be concerned with, as they 
 flight their minifters j I believe it would fadden 
 their fpirits much, if not wholly difcourage 
 them. Thefe negleds oblige the Minifters of 
 the Gofpel either to lay afide fuch appoint- 
 ments, or at leaft to put up with now and 
 then a few vifits that are but carnal at beft. 
 'Tis a trying cafe for a Faftor to difcharge his 
 duty with faithfulnefs and earneftnefs to a people 
 year after year, and perhaps for many years to- 
 gether, and to be able to obtain but very feldom 
 a free acknowledp^ment of the influence of his 
 adminiftrations. But as thi,s is cruel to a faith- 
 ful laborious minilier, fo it is a token that the 
 people are declined from that love which is 
 the fource of all true religion. And, 
 
 F (5.) To 
 
34 7^^ Redeemer s Charge 
 
 (5.) To thefe particulars I would fubjoin 
 another fymptoni of a Church leaving her firfl 
 love, viz, when animofities and divifions pre- 
 vail. Charity is the bond of perfe5lnejs^ [Colof. iii, 
 14.] but carnality brings contention and fchifm 
 in the body. Thus it was in the Corinthian 
 Church [ I Cor. i.] All reparations and confu- 
 fions in communities are owing to this defe- 
 ction for the effedls of love to Chrift and one 
 another are unity and order. When this fym- 
 ptom appears it is a very threatning cafe, and 
 there is danger of a dilTolution ; if not imme- 
 diately, as when the natural body is burnt up 
 in a few days by a malignant fever, yet more 
 gradually, as when, from the dregs of feme bad 
 diforder, or fome other caufe, a perfon falls into a 
 confumption, and waftes away. This dangerous 
 fymptom is naturally produced thro' the declen- 
 lions we have been treating of: for when once the 
 members of a particular Church become negli- 
 gent of gathering together, grow fliy, and are un- 
 concerned about each others fpiritual welfare, 
 when once they come to be indifferent about the 
 dodrine, the fentiments or converfation of their 
 minifters, and fuch who are in fellowfhip with 
 them j when once they leave off quickening 
 one another in private converfation, the enemy 
 foon finds matter for contention and divifion; 
 roots of bitternefs quickly fpring up thro' thofe 
 corruptions indulged, and the many vain perfons 
 which are permitted to creep in while the body 
 continues in this carnal ftare. This naturally- 
 lead s me to the next general head propofed, viz. 
 
 ScGondly^ 
 
avainjl his declining Churches. 3 5 
 
 Secondly^ To point out the principal caufes 
 of fuch declenfions in the Churches of Chriil. 
 
 And it is eafy to fee that the immediate 
 and diredt caufe of this defection in a Church 
 arifes from the degeneracy of thofe individual 
 perfons whereof 'tis compofed, who for the 
 moft part are all in general culpable, more or 
 lefs, and who, (awful confideration !) ftand ac- 
 cufed by Jefus Chrift himfelf, in proportion to 
 their guilt for every fuch melancholy alteration. 
 But I fhall attempt in a few particulars very 
 briefly to give fome idea of the rite and progrefs 
 of fuch declenfions; and I think it will appear 
 in fome meafure from the following known oc- 
 cafions of degeneracy in thele communities. 
 
 ( I.) It originally fprings from the indulgence 
 of carnality and felfifhnefs in many of its 
 members. 
 
 As the corrupt heart of man is the fountain 
 from whence proceed all the adulteries, impieties, 
 and cruelties feen on the face of the earth ; fo 
 the beginnings of thefe forrowful declenfions, 
 vifible at any time on the Churches of Chrift, 
 are to be traced to the individual perfons who 
 conftitute them, and are owing to the de- 
 ceitful lufis that war in their members. Some 
 luft fallies forth at an unguarded hour with 
 fuccefs, and betrays the profeflor into its hands; 
 this demands obedience, and is permitted to cap- 
 tivate the foul to its will, and thus brings forth 
 F 2 thq 
 
36 T^he Redeemer s Charge 
 
 the bitter fruit ; indulgence of fin lays the founda- 
 tion of declenfion in the perfon overtaken, from 
 whence the Church he is related to is infeded, in 
 proportion to his influence in the body. Here we 
 may date the partial apoftacy of a Church, 
 which if grace prevent not will iflue in its utter 
 deftrudtion. 
 
 When perfons firft fet out in a profeffion of 
 the name of Chrift, warmed with a fenfe of di- 
 vine love, and rejoicing in the bleffing of re- 
 demption thro' the blood of Chrift, they are 
 humble, fpiritual, and generoufly difpofed to 
 lay themfelves out for the Redeemer's caufe ; 
 then they are vigorous and adtive, careful to 
 fill up every duty and exert themfelves in their 
 feveral ftations j but after they have run well for 
 a feafon, Satan, vigilant and fubtle, is often per- 
 mitted to fet his trap and hinder them. This 
 is more frequently the cafe, where perfons are 
 cali'd in their minority before they are entan- 
 gled with the cares and concerns of public life ; 
 tbefe profeiTors unexperienced in the world, to- 
 gether with the deceitfulnefs of their hearts and 
 the devices of Satan (an unfkilfulnefs common 
 to perfons firft enlightened) are very liable to 
 be enfnared, and indeed are for the moft part 
 drawn afide more or lefs from th€\vjirft love in 
 this way. The God of this world prefents 
 fome bait: there is perhaps an advantageous 
 marriage, or fettlement, or opportunity for mend- 
 ing his outward and temporal circumftances 
 that offers itfelf to the profefibr, but fo plainly 
 inconfiftent with his continuing in the zealous 
 
 difcharge 
 
againfl his declining Churches. 3 7 
 
 difcharge of his duty in the Church of Chrift, 
 that the danger, cannot be overlook'd; this 
 throws him into great diftrefs of mind, for tho* 
 fome may be fo void of fhame as to make no 
 fcruple under fuch a circumftance to feize the 
 earthly treafure, yet where the love of God is in 
 the heart, and even, in moft cafes, where only 
 ftrong convi(ftion may have afFedled the mind 
 of a perfon and brought him under a profeflion, 
 confcience will ftartle, and the profeffor helitate 
 what ftep he had befl to take. Now while this 
 net is at his feet, and he is parlying with the 
 temptation, the great Seducer fteps in, he ftirs 
 up carnal reafonings, and all the lufts of the 
 flefh and the mind, as far as he is permitted. 
 Well, fays Satan, this may be done without cart- 
 ing off your profeffion or forfeiting your cha- 
 ra(5ter in the Church 5 fee how fuch and fuch a 
 Church-member lives and ads : you may do it 
 with as much fafety to your eternal welfare as he, 
 for this does not depend on a number of duties 
 and ordinances. Thus the Devil knows how to 
 mifapply the great efi truths to pervert the fouls 
 of men into mifery. Yea, further fays the 
 Tempter, thou art poor, and mayft never have 
 fuch another opportunity of rifing in the world, 
 and tho' the propofal before you may oblige you 
 to flacken your diligence and zeal for the pre- 
 fent, yet hereafter when you have got into 
 poffeffion of abundance, you will be better 
 able to ferve the Church of Chrift. O horrid 
 deceiver ! alas ignorant profeffor ! how like a 
 filly bird does this Fowler catch thee in his 
 
 fnare ? 
 
38 *jthe Redeemer s Charge 
 
 fnare? not confidtring the unfatisfying nature 
 of the creature-portion, the unhappy influence 
 of worldly enjoyments to take away the heart 
 from Godj it fpecial grace prevent not, the 
 unwary profefTor flies to the net, and coveting 
 after this world deftroys his credit and ufefulnefs 
 as a Chriftian, and pierces hitnfelf thro with 
 many Jbrrows. Multitudes are drawn afide after 
 this manner, 'till the things of time and fenfe 
 imperceptibly gain on their affedions, then they 
 grow proud, carnal, and felfifli, and inftead of 
 being as heretofore, provokers of love, are like 
 cold water to the affedions of others. 
 
 Those who attain the riches of this world at 
 the expence of their duty in the Church of 
 Chrift, are ufually by their fad example under 
 the influence of thefe fenfual enjoyments the 
 greatell; inftruments of her declenfion and ruin. 
 But whatever caufe it arifes from, where felf- 
 love creeps in, and fenfuality prevails, a fervent 
 aflfedion to Chrift and fpiritual things goes out, 
 and when the members of a Church are carnal 
 and felfifh, it tends to the evil lamented. We 
 are told that in thefe lafi days among other ex- 
 ercifes, the Church is to be tried with fuch who 
 are lovers of their ownj'elves ; [2 Tim. iii. 2.] and 
 fo remarkable did this fpirit prevail even in the 
 Apoftolick age, that there is a complaint, 
 \Phil ii. 21.] T^hat all fought their own, and not 
 the things of ye fus Chrift. I have been the more 
 particular on this head, it being the main fource 
 of every other temptation, w/'/V/^ ^<?/^fj place to the 
 
 prejudice 
 
againji his declining Churches. 39 
 
 prejudice of zeal and all fpiritual proiperity in 
 the Churches of the living God. But, 
 
 (2.) Another occafion of declenfion among 
 profefTors is a forgetfulnefs of the mercy and 
 kindnefs of God, both to their own fouls, and 
 to the Church to which they belong. 
 
 This was the cafe o^ Ifraeloi old [Jer. ii. 2.] 
 I remember thee^ the kindnefs of thy youth ^ the love 
 of thine ejpoufals, when thou wenteji after me in 
 the wildernefs, &c. The Lord charges her 
 \yer, 6.] with not faying, where is the Lord that 
 brought us out of the land 0/ Egypt, that led us 
 thrd the wilder nefs^ thrd a land of defarts and 
 fits, &c. They had forgot his wonderful works, 
 he reminds them therefore, how he brought them 
 into a fruitful country to eat the fruit thereof 
 and the good thereof [ver. 7.] So when perfons 
 are captivated by their lulls, and entangled with 
 the pleafures and profits of this world, it lulls 
 them into a forgetfulnefs of the love and grace 
 of God, that was manifefted to them at their 
 converlion, and when he brought them out of 
 fpiritual Egypt-, how kindly and feafonably light, 
 and a view of pardon broke in upon them, 
 'when they were filled with terror, and under 
 the apprehenfions of the divine wrath j they 
 forget the condefcention of the Lord in hearing 
 their prayers in fuch times of diftrefs, and the 
 vows they made upon it. And thus when a 
 Church declines thro' the defedion of its 
 members, there is a forgetfulnefs of their pall 
 
 experience, 
 
40 Hoe Redeemer s Charge 
 
 experience ; the providences that fettled them at 
 firft, and how kind the great Shepherd had been 
 from time to time, in proteding and furnifliing 
 the Church to which they relate with gifts, 
 railing up one and another to fupport his caufe 
 among them, and preferving the candleftick in 
 its place. When a people lofe a fenfe of God's 
 paft goodnefs, and forget the many wonderful 
 favours he has wrought for, and in the midft 
 of them, no wonder they decline in their zeal 
 for his glory. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 A further account of what promotes declenfom 
 in Churches^ together with the manner in which 
 Chrift exprejfes his difpleafure againfl the com^ 
 munities on who?n they are found. 
 
 FROM the confideration of the indulgence 
 of a carnal felfifh fpirit, and a forgetful- 
 nefs of divine mercy thro' various temptations, 
 as the frequent occaiions of a Church leaving 
 htvfrji love; I pafs on to (hew, 
 
 (3.) These declenfions are not a little pro- 
 moted thro' the increafe of formal profeffbrs. 
 Hypocrites ufually multiply upon the abatement 
 of zeal in the true difciples of Chrift; when 
 fuch who fear God are betrayed thro' carelefs- 
 nefs into a carnal frame, and flacken in their 
 diligence, with refped: to thofe they admit 
 
 among 
 
 ii 
 
agatnfl his declining Churches. 4 1 
 
 among them j there are perfons who take oc- 
 cafion to enter into their fellowfhip, defiring 
 for feme finifter ends the form of godlinefs. 
 Therefore when a Church is in a cold lake- 
 warm ftate, it becomes each member to exa- 
 mine himfelf J for there is room to be jealous 
 there are not a few who deceive their own fouls 
 in the midft of them : Thefe carnal profelTors 
 can by no means comply with the pains and 
 patience, the felf-denial and watchfulnefs necel^ 
 fary to the Churches profperity, and which 
 when fervent in fpirit (he is careful to exercife; 
 they are not for that purity in dod:rine, that 
 flricftnefs in difcipline, that holy and fpiritual 
 converfation, which thofe who are animated 
 with zeal for Chrift aim at ; 'tis burthenfome 
 to their minds, yea, 'tis dangerous ; for as they 
 like not to conform hereunto, fo if this godly 
 zeal (hould too much prevail, their contrary 
 converfation will foon expofe them to cenfure, 
 and hereby they will either lofe their places in 
 the Church, or at lealT: lofe their end in main- 
 taining them, which is to be efteemed righteous 
 and holy perfons. Carnally minded profeflbrs 
 will always, in proportion to their influence in 
 a Church, render abortive the endeavours of the 
 fpiritually minded believer, to promote a fer- 
 vency for the dodlrines and ordinances of the 
 Gofpel; efpecially thofe which, thro' the de- 
 generacy of the times, are defpifcd. They are 
 for the moll popular notions, for having the 
 greateft reputation, but for meeting with no oppo - 
 fition in their profeffion ; hence they will fecretly 
 
 G or 
 
4 2 ^he Redeemer 5 Charge 
 
 or openly dlfcountenance all thofe meafures ta- 
 ken for the revival of true godlinefs, vi^hen de- 
 cayed. Such men are very foothing, and ufu- 
 ally have fome fpecious pretence for the oppo- 
 fition they make to the propofals and attempts 
 of others, for the reftoring meetings of prayer, 
 for keeping up watchfulnefs over the members 
 of the Church, for calling fuch to an account 
 who walk diforderly, and for reviving fpiritual 
 difcourfe, all which may have long lain ne- 
 gleded J I fay, this oppoiition of formal pro- 
 feffors is for the moft part carried on under fome 
 fpecious pretence; a cry of liberty and charity 
 fliall glofs over their condu6l, and thereby de- 
 ceive many. Thus they become the occafion 
 of a Church leaving her firfi love more and 
 more ; and thro' their obtaining a majority in 
 number or power, hath many a lively and re- 
 putable Community of faints been difgracedand 
 deftroved. 
 
 (4.) Sometimes the coldnefs of other 
 Churches, fituated in the neighbourhood, ad- 
 minifters to this evil. 
 
 Apostacy, in what fubjedt foever it refides, 
 in all fliapes and degrees is infectious like the 
 plague ; as one member in a community con- 
 nived at in the indulgence of fin leavens ano- 
 ther, and thereby, if the appointed means is 
 neglected, the whole body will be gradually 
 corrupted: fo one community of profefTors de- 
 clining in their zeal, is often the occafion of 
 
 anothers 
 
againjl his declining Churches, 43 
 
 anothers going off from tneir former love. The 
 iniquities indulged, and the duties negledied in 
 one Church, like roots of bitteriieji fpring up 
 and defile others; the infediion fpreads infen- 
 fibly, and fometimes conveys its poilon to a 
 great diftance ; but, however, where feveral 
 Chnrches lie contiguous, 'tis leldom feen that 
 one decays alone. It is true, the conftitution 
 of particular Churches, which are independant 
 bodies, makes it poffible, that where divers 
 border upon each other, one may drop and the 
 reft ftandj but fad and abundant experience 
 {hews us that this is fcarcely to be expe(5ted. It 
 is obfervable, that where one has declined, un- 
 lelb a remarkable fpirit of reformation has been 
 given, the reft have foon followed. All the 
 Churches in Jljia were infedled, more or lefs, 
 pretty near together, and decayed within a little 
 of each other. 
 
 We are prone to be content with a com- 
 parative righteoufnefs and goodnefs; there ftill 
 lurks in the hearts of true Chriftians fomething 
 of this vanity, and it often very much affeds 
 their condud:, not only in a private but a col- 
 lective capacity ; and 'tis evident how greatly 
 this unhappy propenfity muft needs expofe them 
 to injury, from bad example. The beft of us 
 are too apt to fquare our condud: by this falfe 
 rule of comparifon, a rule that deceives many 
 fouls into a groundlefs hope, and moft fatal fe- 
 curity, to their utter deftrudlion ; and that be- 
 trays Chriftians in fellowftiip into a negled of 
 G 2 their 
 
44 TZ^ Redeemer s Charge 
 
 their relative duties, and an indifferency of fpirit 
 towards the doctrines and ordinances of the 
 Gofpel, before they are aware. The heft an- 
 fwer many profelTors can give upon enquiry, 
 why they are fo feldom, fo late, fo inad:ive in 
 their places in the Churches to which they be- 
 long, is that they come up to, or it may be in 
 feme little degree exceed, what fame back- Aiding 
 members of neighbouring Churches do : Sur- 
 prizing ftupidity 1 but fuch is the fad trifling of 
 fome in a carnal frame j they boafl themfelves 
 in a comparative way, by the conduft of formal 
 and diforderly perfons, under a like profeffion 
 with themfelves; tho' they might juftly be 
 afhamed to compare their prefent behaviour 
 even with their own former conduct, much 
 lefs with the rule of Chrift's word, and with ♦ 
 the facred vows that are upon them. 
 
 We fee then, that the defection of a Church 
 arifes from the degeneracy of its members, it 
 originally fprings from their being betrayed 
 thro' the remainders of fin by the fubtlety of 
 the Tempter into a fenfual and private fpirit, 
 which occafioning a forgetfulnefs of the mercies 
 of God heretofore manifefled in their favour ; 
 in this indifferent ftate formal profelTors mul- 
 tiply, who ufe all their intercft to prevent the , 
 revival of fpirituallty and religious zeal, and 
 thefe declenfions are not a little promoted thro* 
 the ill example of other Churches who are fallen 
 from their ftedfaftnefs. Which brings me to 
 the laft thing propofed, "uiz. 
 
agamjl his declining Churches. 45 
 
 thirdly. To confider, how Chrift exprelTes his 
 difplealbre at all fuch defedions from a lively 
 zeal ior his intereft and glory. 
 
 This is clearly illuftrated In the cafe of the 
 Church of Ephejus^ and plainly related in the 
 context 5 therefore any conliderable enlargement 
 is unneceflary. The fubjedls on which the ef- 
 fed:s of his anger will terminate, are doubtlefs 
 the people under a profeflion of his name, who 
 may expedl to feel his refentment, as private 
 perfons, and as a publick body. It is not fuit- 
 able to my delign to enter into an enquiry after 
 the tokens of his difpleafure againft particular 
 perfons, who are the inftruments of thefe de- 
 clenfions in a Church flate, fuch will have their 
 reward in this life, or that which is to come ; 
 but Chrift expreffes his difpleafure againft his 
 Churches, 
 
 (i.) By charging them with their declen- 
 fions. Thus, in the text, he accufes the Ephe- 
 fian Church, I have Jbimwhat againft thee, thou 
 haft left thy firft love. 
 
 In the times of the Prophets, under the for- 
 mer difpenfation, the Lord charges the back- 
 flidings of bis revolting people Ifrael upon her ; 
 and by fuch charges they might fee how dif- 
 pleafed he was with their forfaking his ordi- 
 nances and defpifing his word. So the Lord 
 Jefus by charging his Churches with their de- 
 clenlions, teftifies his difpleafure againft them. 
 
 It 
 
46 The Redeemer s Charge 
 
 It is not to be expeded there (hould be a frelh 
 revelation from heaven, as in the inftance be- 
 fore us ; he has by this very paffage iffued out a 
 Handing charge againft all his Churches, who 
 like this at Ephefus^ leave \ht\v Jirfi love. Chrift 
 is here (as obferved in the introdudlion) fpeak- 
 ing in his word to his Churches, and when any 
 Church is under the like appearance with that 
 to whom the words were firft directed, the 
 Minifter ought to apply the accufation faith- 
 fuully, and woe be to thofe who contemn the 
 charge on account of the mefTenger that brings 
 it in the name of the Lord. It is remarkable 
 that this accufation was not miniftred by the 
 Angel that aflifted in the Revelation, nor by 
 John to whom the revelation was made, but 
 by the Minifter or Overfeer of the Church to 
 whom it was fent for that purpofe ; fo that the 
 Churches in the prefent day, if back-fliding, 
 have the word adminiftred in the fame way the 
 Church of Ephefus had. But, 
 
 (2.) Christ expreffes his difpleafure by 
 warning his backfllding Churches to repentance, 
 which warning is accompanied with a threat- 
 ning in cafe of obftinacy. 
 
 Th I s alfo ftands recorded in the eternal, fa- 
 cred Word to be miniftred out by his faithful 
 AmbafTadors. When a people are vifibly upon 
 the decline indeed, there is a mixture of .kind- 
 nefs in thefe warnings. 'Tis a mercy and an 
 undeferved favour, when a people forfake their 
 
 zeal. 
 
agai?ifl his decli?iing Churches. 4-7 
 
 2eal, that he does not fuddenly, and immedi- 
 ately pour out his vengeance on them for their 
 ingratitude, treacheiy, and difobedience : But 
 he is a merciful God, flow to anger, and of 
 great compaffion. Thefe warnings however 
 belpeak his refentment againft their proceedings, 
 and involve in them the awful intimations of 
 his difpleafure. Sometimes to his word he adds 
 other warnings by the Difpenfations of his Pro- 
 vidence 5 as when he withdraws the light and 
 fuccefs they formerly were indulged with ; when 
 he removes a laborious Minifter, and many 
 other valuable perfons by death, or otherwife ; 
 when he fufFers great trials to the body, thro* 
 the diforderly condu(5l of its members : thefe 
 and fuch like intimations call upon a people to 
 remember whence they 2lxq fallen, and fhould be 
 received as tokens of Chrift's controverfy with, 
 and difpleafure againft a declining Church. 
 But then, 
 
 3. It is certain, if a people perfift, and all 
 the inftrudlion of his Word and Providence do 
 not awaken them to repentance, he will at 
 length execute his anger in their diffo- 
 lution. This was the threatning againft the 
 Church of Ephefus : and what was the confe- 
 quence ? Chrift removed the candleftick out of 
 its place \yer, 5.] This the Lord will do, if a 
 Church continues to revolt, under all the char- 
 ges laid againft them in his word, miniftred by 
 his faithful fervants, and after many rebukes 
 and warnings. And this Chrift can do, con- 
 
 fiftent 
 
48 lloe Redee^ners Charge 
 
 fiftent with the purpofes of his heart, and the 
 unchangeable covenant of grace. The promi- 
 fes that infallibly fecure the falvation of every 
 true Believer, and the flability of the Church of 
 God, are no fecurity againft the utter ruin of 
 particular Churches, if they degenerate into a 
 contempt of his inftitutions. The Lord can 
 ilrip a nation, full of formal Churches, of all 
 the means of grace, and remove every appear- 
 ance of the Gofpel from them, confiftent with 
 all that he has purpofed or declared j and he is 
 able to teftify his anger by thefe fatal means. 
 All the dependance of a Church is upon him ; 
 gifts neceflary for edification are in his pofTeffi- 
 on, and mu ft be given forth from him j yea, 
 the Spirit itfelf comes from him. 
 
 Christ has a fbvereign jurifdicftion in the 
 univerfal Church, and all particular Churches 
 are at his difpofal : he is the only true Head of 
 the univerfal Church, the chief Shepherd of the 
 flock, and will let no Church continue longer 
 than may conduce to his own glory, and the 
 good of his true difciples : He can take them 
 down at his pleafure. I apprehend indeed a 
 Church (efpecially in times of outward eafe) 
 never dilTolves but thro' her own default; and 
 many particular profelTors provoke the Lord to 
 anger, and may be called to his bar before the 
 expiration of the Church they have been the oc- 
 cafion of deftroying ; but Chrift is able, when 
 the iniquity of a backfliding people is full, foon 
 to diflblve them, by withdrawing his prefcnce, 
 
 by 
 
againjl his declim7ig Churches, 49 
 
 by calling home faithful Minifters, and permit- 
 ting difqualified perfons to fucceed for a while; 
 by withholding the Spirit of truth, on whofe 
 operations all fuccefs depend. In a word, by 
 leaving them to their own fpirits j then, alas ! 
 their floth, pride, hypocrify, and covetoufnefs 
 prefently introduce contention, by which they 
 often bite and devour one another, till the Bo- 
 dy is confumed. When carnal profefTors by 
 this means come to have their full fwing of 
 power and influence, the ufeful zealous mem- 
 bers, if a few remain alive, are obliged to leave 
 the Church, and betake themfelves to feme 
 other Communion j or if they are at too great a 
 diftance from fuch a relief, they are obliged to 
 mourn in filence at the view they have of the 
 approaching ruin of the Community, which 
 they cannot prevent. By thefe and fuch like 
 forrowful methods Chrift takes down a Church- 
 ftate, and will teftify his refentment againfl a 
 body of people, who, under that character, 
 impenitently trifle with his Inftitutions. 
 
 Th u s I have endeavoured to give fome ac- 
 count of the fymptoms that appear upon a 
 Church that has left her firft love, the fources of 
 thefe declenfions, and the way in which the 
 Lord Jefus Chrift will exprefs his difpleafure 
 againft fuch departers from him. 
 
 H CHAP, 
 
^6 7. he Redeemer'' s Charge 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 An application of the foregoi?ig truths to the 
 temper and conduB of the profjjhrs of religio7i 
 in our day^ and the pernicious tendency of all 
 notions which lead believers to an indiff-'erency 
 to the duties of their flation in the particular 
 Churches to which tljey fever ally belong. 
 
 TH E application of the things laid down 
 in the preceding Chapters, is eafy to every 
 obferving Chriftian j and I think there is too 
 great a likenefs in the prefent temper and conduct 
 of many profeiTors amongft us, to be overlook'd 
 by conliderate and knowing perfons. Who that 
 refleds on the prefcnt ftate of Religion amongft 
 us can deny, that in general, and efpecially on 
 many particular Churches in our day and land, 
 thefe melancholy fymptoms too vifibly appear ? 
 If an abatement in zeal for affembling together 
 is any proof of having forfaken our frfi love^ 
 furely the charge llands good againfl us. How 
 fadly is the houfe of God neglected ! The more 
 publick ftated feafons for worlhip, are fo 
 fhamefuUy treated, that (unlefs arrived to a great 
 degree of infenfibility) one cannot take a ferious 
 review without blufhing. We agree to meet 
 God and one another at o?ie hour, and gene- 
 rally come together near upon the borders of 
 the 7iext I What a ftrange difturbance do the 
 few that come early meet with near half the 
 time of their devotion, from the rufliing in of 
 thofe who come late, and are by far the greater 
 
 number 
 
agai?ijl his declining Churches. 5 i 
 
 number in many places? The Minifter, and 
 they who make confcience of being in the af- 
 fembly to begin with him, could never proceed 
 with any compofure in the divine lervice, for 
 the ruilling of cloaths, and the clattering of 
 doors, were it not that curtom has at length ren- 
 der'd it fomewhat tolerable : And, in fhort, were 
 we to wait for a decent fileuce before we begin, 
 we (hould have fcarce any time for either of the 
 branches of publick worfliip. And after fo 
 much time is elapfed with little or no religious 
 fervice performed, is it not grievous to fee how 
 many fall afleep under the word, while others 
 give too much fufpicion of a wandering heart, 
 by the roving of their eyes ? Many fymptoms of 
 a reftlefsnefs, during the {hort fpace, are ap- 
 parent in fome, who feem more watchful of 
 the clock, left the preacher fhould exceed the 
 time, than of the word fpoken, left at any time 
 they fliould let it flip : Nor will fome fpare their 
 refledtions if they are detained a few minutes 
 longer than common. I acknowledge it is ne- 
 ceflTary for the moft part to keep to the time ap- 
 pointed, and am far from pleading for a conti- 
 nuance in publick fervice to the diforder of fa- 
 milies; but when people are offended upon 
 every little excurfion of this kind, however the 
 fubjed; may call for it, (as is the cafe of fome) 
 it is a fad lign of carnality, and want of afFed:ion 
 for the things of Chi ift. This is the manner 
 in which even Proteftant Diflenters are too 
 geiferally found to attend their religious 
 aflemblies. 
 
 H 2 Now 
 
5 2 I'he Redeemer s Charge 
 
 Now let any ferious perfon refle<ft on thefe 
 things; is not this the true ftate of the cafe? 
 and IS this right ? Is this becoming the courts of 
 the Lord's houfe, or anfwerable to the great 
 defign of fuch meetings? If a yew or Maho- 
 metan^ who never heard the juft complaints of 
 our declenfions, was, upon enquiry after the 
 time and places of our worfhip, to attend as a 
 fped:ator, would he not be (urprized, think 
 you, to fee the houfe empty near half the time 
 appointed for devotion ? would not a ftranger 
 be tempted to think, that after all our pro- 
 feflion, we had no fuch fenfe of our obliga- 
 tions to Chrift, no fuch reverence for our Sa- 
 viour and his word, no fuch apprehenfions of 
 the authority and importance of his inftitutions, 
 no fuch delight in his fervicej in a word, no 
 fuch expe6lation of his fpiritual prefence, or of 
 a blefling from his hands, as we talk of? Men 
 who are in good earneft about their temporal 
 honour and interefts, will not thus attend the 
 Exchange, or other places of publick refort for 
 the negotiating of bufinefs, according to their 
 feveral profeffions; nor if they have acknow- 
 ledgments to make to their earthly Prince, or 
 any favour to afk of him, will they atiend his 
 prefence-chamber, in this manner, if they have 
 any regard for acceptance with him. And why 
 then fhould they think it fufficient, or decent 
 thus to attend the worfhip of the great God ? 
 How thoughtlefs foever we may be, the Lord 
 is difpleafed with fuch fervices, and will not 
 accept them ; what he fays by his Prophet is 
 
 applicable 
 
agawjl his declining Churches, 5 3 
 
 applicable to the cafe in hand. [Malach.i. 8.] 
 Off'er it now to thy governor^ will he be plea fed 
 with theey or accept thy perfoii ? faith the Lord 
 ofHofis. Strange, that men, and good men too, 
 {hould bs funk into fo carnal a frame, or be fo 
 ftupined, as^ to conceive, that what would be 
 ju<tJy refented by an earthly Prince, {hould be 
 acceptable to the glorious Jehovah, who is 
 declared in his Word to be a jealous God.— 
 It is not at all to be wondered at, that we have 
 fo little of the divine prefence in thofe affem- 
 blies, in which his Majefty and grace arc 
 thus affronted. 
 
 It may be thought that in this reprefentatlon 
 I have deviated from my fubjedt, feeing this 
 negligerxe and indecency is chargeable upon the 
 hearers of the word in general, and not peculiar 
 to Church-members. I admit it, but I thought 
 it. not unnatural to introduce the account here, 
 and indeed it was almoft neceflary in refpecSt to 
 the firfl fymprom laid down of a declining 
 ftate ; and I appeal to all who make any ob- 
 fervation on our publick aifemblies, if many 
 Church-members by their late attendance, and 
 in fome inftances by their behaviour, are not ill 
 examples to others j and whether when perfons 
 under fuch a profeffion generally condud: them- 
 felves in this manner, it is not highly criminal 
 in itfelf, and an undeniable token of their having 
 left their firji love. 
 
 But 
 
54 ^^^ Redeemers Charge 
 
 DuT if we look into meetings of prayer of a 
 more private nature, how are they attended ? 
 in how many Churches are they entirely laid 
 afide ? — Church-meetings, for hearing the 
 experiences of fuch who propofe for Communi- 
 on, enquiring into the converfation of the feveral 
 members, purging out evil perfons, and other 
 neceffary duties for the admonition and comfort 
 of every one in fellowfhip, and the prefervation 
 of the body ; are they better attended, than the 
 more pubhck affemblies? If any judgment can 
 be formed by what is feen and heard, many 
 under a profefTion of the name of Chrift have 
 much to anfwer for, for their negled: of his 
 caufe, and their own fouls in the omiffions of 
 fuch neceffary meetings. It is complained that 
 in fome Communities there is fcarce any appear- 
 ance of fuch afTemblies, which the nature of 
 their conftitution, and the command of Chrift 
 fo earneftly demands : and the few who, un- 
 der the difcouragements of the prefent luke- 
 warm time, attend the exercifes, are witnefles 
 in almoft every Church, that many never ap- 
 pear in thefe her weekly or monthly affemblies, 
 or dlfcover any concern for the welfare of the 
 body. The like is to be obferved with regird 
 to fympathy with fellow members in dirtrefs, 
 and fpiritual converfation among them : Some 
 profeitors never give any proper evidence of the 
 one, or are found engaging in the other, from 
 year to year ; but are mere nominal members of 
 the Church to which they relate, excepting now 
 and then hearing a Sermon in publick, or re- 
 ceiving 
 
againjl his dccUri'nig Churches. 5 5 
 
 ceiving the Sacrament, and even thefe are too 
 frequently omitted, by feme, and that upon very 
 flight occafions. 
 
 While I am fpeaking of thefe forrowful 
 backllidings, I would obferve, it is however to 
 be acknowledged that many proi'tflbrs are very 
 generous with their fubftance, efpeciaily in and 
 about the City of London ; beiides other occa- 
 fional and liberal exhibitions, there are many 
 noble charities fupported by yearly contributions 
 in the Churches, and even by thofe, on whom" 
 too many of the fad fymptoms 1 have been defcri- 
 bing are to be found. This difpofition indeed is 
 truly worthy of the Chriftian Charadter j may 
 the Lord continue and increafe it. But fuch 
 charities can never be thought to excufe the de- 
 clenfions we lament. Our bounty will not atone 
 for our formality, nor our generous donations 
 to pious defigns fave us from the difpleafure of 
 Chrift, if in other refped:s we (light nis Gofpel, 
 and pour contempt on his Ordinances. And 
 indeed if irreligion increafes upon us in this 
 manner, there is reafon to fear that this chari- 
 table difpofition will foon decline, or the cha- 
 rities themfelves be mifapplied. 
 
 This is the fad fituation of the Churches; 
 thefe the tokens of declenlion upon us; yea, I 
 might fubjoin, that, fo ignorant, or fo much in- 
 difpofed are fome members of Churches, that they 
 feem aftonifhed and are even offended if their 
 Minifters tell them of thefe things, and flir tb.eni 
 
 up 
 
56 T^e Redeemers Charge 
 
 up to a more vigorous difcharge of their duty. 
 Melancholy alteration indeed from thofe times, 
 when through afBidion and perfecutions the 
 Churches I am fpeaking of, were firft eftabliOied 
 in our land ! Then the fellowfliip of the Saints 
 was efteemed honourable j then it was the mu- 
 tual endeavour of Chriflians to build up each 
 other in their holy faith, and to encourage one 
 another in the ways of the Lord ; then few were 
 miffing at the times appointed for affemblies of 
 every fort neceffary to edification, and then there 
 was a general forwardnefs to every good word and 
 work. O that it were with us as in years part, 
 as in the days when the love of God was (hed 
 abroad in the hearts of his people, and the zeal 
 of his houfe was ready to eat them up ! 
 
 I come now to make fome refledions upon 
 the whole ; and, {hall clofe this chapter with 
 obferving, 
 
 F/Vy?, How prejudicial to the Churches of 
 Chrift are all notions and prad:ices, that flacken 
 the zeal and diligence of believers in the duties 
 of their profeffion ? 
 
 I fhall enlarge fomewhat particularly on this 
 reflexion, becaufe I think it highly neceflary, 
 confidering the temper and condudl of many 
 profeflbrs at this time, who are, I apprehend, 
 unwarily, employing themfelves in this un- 
 thankful office} and inflead of building up (as 
 
 I be. 
 
againfl his decli?iing Churches, 5 7 
 
 I believe moft of them intend) are pulling down 
 the Churches of Chrift *. If tiie negligence 
 and declenfions of a particular Church are fo 
 difpleafing to the Redeemer, and what he will 
 refent in the awful manner we have feen ; it 
 muft needs be very injurious to the Churches, 
 and the vifible intereft of Chrift in the worlds 
 to propagate any fentiment, or give into any 
 conduct, that has a tendency to abate the con- 
 cern of a profeft believer, to fill up his ftation 
 in the houfe of God. It appears from the con- 
 ftitution of a Church, (he can only be zealous 
 and fruitful in proportion to the adivity and 
 vigour of her feveral members 5 who by a fre- 
 quent and ready aflembling together, difcharge 
 the duties of their reiped:ive Nations in the 
 body. 
 
 Every thing therefore that leffens the obliga- 
 tion upon a believer's confcience, or alienates his 
 
 I defires 
 
 * It is dear to me from Scripture, that the catholick vifible 
 Church on earth is divided into many particular Churches, at 
 the appointment of our Lord, who by his infpired Apoftles in- 
 ftrufted us into their formal conftitution. Such particular 
 Churches, I apprehend, with many of my Chriftian Brethren, 
 to be diftinft independant bodies from each other, and are to be 
 confidered as different parts of the one Catholick Church, 
 which Church appears with beauty and luftre in the world, in 
 proportion to the number and brightnefs of thefe particular 
 communities, ftyl'd in in Scripture ^o/f/tw candlejiicks : Now the 
 continuance and glory of thefe particular communities are main- 
 tained thro' the adlivity and zeal of their coniHtuent members ; 
 who under the conftraints of divine love, thro' the afliftance of 
 the bleffed Spirit, are diligent in the exercife of every grace 
 and difcharge of every duty. If this be a juft reprefentaticn, 
 'tis eafy to fee the dreadful tendency of breaking in upon the 
 orderly and lively difcharge of theie duties incumbent upon 
 Chriftians as members of particular vifible Churches. 
 
58 T'he Redeemers Charge 
 
 defires to be found adive, according to his ability 
 in the body whereof he is a member, tends to the 
 declenfion of that body, occafions the difpleafure 
 of Chrift againft it, and ftrikes at the very being 
 thereof; and indeed as far as the influences of 
 fuch bad examples reach, it is levelled at the 
 exilience of all other Churches. 
 
 We are not without deluiions and tempta- 
 tions of this kind in the prefent day. It has even 
 been infinuated there is no particular rule in 
 Scripture for the order of a Church-ftate *, this is 
 
 making 
 
 * This at once takes off all authority from the difcipline of 
 a Church, the neceflary and appointed means of preferving the 
 body from being corrupted and ruined, by erroneous, immoral, 
 and diforderly members ; and is in efFedl what is called Era- 
 Jiianifm, from one Thomas Erafius a Svoifs phyfician, who arofe 
 during the time of the Civil W'ars in England: his diftinguifli- 
 ing tenet was that the Church had no right to difcipline. The dif- 
 ference indeed is, that Erafius feems to acknowledge a Church, 
 but difowns her power to excommunicate, abfolve, i^c. but 
 this notion I have mentioned, virtually deftroys the very being 
 of a Church, by denying there is any fuch Corporation, i. e. 
 any fociety whofe formal conititution is according to the exprefs 
 direftion of the Lord Jefus ; for this is impolfible if there is no 
 particular rule in Scripture for it. They come much to the 
 fame ; for a Church without difcipline will foon difToIve, or at 
 leaft be fo defiled as to be no fit habitation for a heavenly-minded 
 perfon ; yet the latter feems the more bold and prefumptuous 
 aflertion. Chriftians indeed have differed in their opinions 
 concerning the mind of Chrift in this important article, thro' 
 the different degrees of light they have in this imperfeft ftate ; 
 and this is confiftent with an univerfal acknowledgment of 
 the authority of our Lord in his word. But when perfons come 
 to queftion there being any command or exprefs rule for Church 
 order, this overturns all things in the houfe of God, and opens 
 awide door to all the inventions of men. Chriftianity itfelf, in my 
 opinion, in this cafe is in great danger ; for when the Churches 
 
 are 
 
againjl his declini?ig Churches. 5 9 
 
 making fliort work with ordinances indeed : upon 
 this principle a voluntary fociety of Chriflians 
 cemented by a few bye-laws and inventions of 
 their own, and deftitute of the fpecial ordinan- 
 ces of Chrift, has equal authority with a 
 Church which has no other efTential band of 
 union, than what is prefcribed in the divine 
 word, and where there is a facred regard to all 
 the wife and gracious inftitutions of the Re- 
 deemer ; but fuch vain imaginations are to be 
 protefted againft as derogating from the Kingly 
 office of Chrift, and as a means of introducing 
 anarchy into his Churches, which, where it 
 takes place; if not timely remedied, muft na- 
 turally iflue in their dilToiuticn. 
 
 *Tis much to be lamented that many private 
 Chriftians, and even fome of a more publick 
 chara6ter in the Churches have countenanced 
 practices that favour of a notion fo deftrudive to 
 the honour of Chrift in the world. Far be it 
 from me to fuppofe, that all who give into fuch 
 a condu6t, have any felfifti view, nor would I 
 allow myfelf to judge any one individual Ring- 
 leader of thefe pernicious fentiments ; 'tis the 
 prerogative of the great fearcher of hearts to 
 
 I 2 judge 
 
 are demolifhed religion is in a defencelefs ftate : the prefence 
 of Chrift and his Spirit departs from a nation when the Candle- 
 flicks are removed, and nothing but grofs darknefs can be exr 
 pefted, as it is now in Afia, once fo famous for gofpel-light, 
 now over-run by the ^urk, and fubjefl to the blafphemy and 
 fnperftition of that vile Impoftor Mahomet : for tho' there is a 
 toleration, this is the eftablilbcd and prevailing religion. 
 
6o 'The Redeemer $ Charge 
 
 judge and condemn ihofe who feek theml'elves, 
 under a pretence of fecking the things of Chrift. 
 I would hope there are very few if any fuch a- 
 mong us. But what ends foever perfons may have 
 who efpoufe fuch unfcriptural notions, it appears 
 to me that thefe fentiments may be fubfervient 
 to defigning men, who he in wait to captivate 
 weak and unwary Chriftians, and that they are 
 calculated to deftroy religion from the face of the 
 land, and bring in an inundation of enthufiafm, 
 fuperftition, and error among us. 
 
 Let us remember our Lord is a God of order, 
 and maintain a reverence for his inflitutions, 
 according to the light of our confciences, if we 
 would efcape the inare of the Devil, for he al- 
 ways fets up his flandard in confufion. It is 
 not a general notion of the dodlrines of the 
 Gofpel, or a flaming zeal for one or two par- 
 ticular truths, how important ibever, that will 
 atone for the contempt of the appointments of 
 infinite wifdom for fupporting the caufe of 
 Chrift. When the enemy has led one part of 
 a religious community into an apoflacy from 
 their facred engagements with the Church of 
 God, and rendred the reft indifferent about fel- 
 lowfliip in the method prefcribed in his word, 
 his bufinefs is done; the breach is made; he will 
 foon remove the remaining part of the treafure, 
 and find means to pervert men from that do- 
 d:rine, which for a feafon has been the bait to 
 unguarded perfons. 
 
 Therk 
 
agatnji bis declining. Churches, 6 f 
 
 There have been divers attempts of late 
 years on. the members of Churches, in order to 
 aHenate them from the communities to which 
 they belong. It has, with too much fuccefs in 
 many inftances, been infinuated, that fuch are 
 really u:^,der no obligation to fill up their places, 
 that it is as acceptable to Chrift if we are but 
 where any of his dear children are gathered to- 
 gCchcr, as tho' we were prefent with thofe in 
 pukticular with whom we are engaged to walk 
 in feilowfliip : a fentiment fb glaringly unjuft, 
 tha. i'c is wonderful it fhould ever captivate any 
 horded ferious mind. Much pains has been ta- 
 ken to draw off fuch whofe names are in the 
 Churches, by diredtly or indire(5lly accufing 
 their minifter or their fellow members to them, 
 with want of fpirituality and Chriflian love 
 in g'.neral, or with want of aifedion to them 
 in particular, or perhaps under a pretence of 
 finding more of the prefence of Chrift and 
 communion with him ehewhere. But who 
 cannot fee that the drawing afide of profelTors 
 by thefe or any other bafe methods or fpecious 
 pretences, is naturally levelled againft, and in- 
 jurious to the Churches of Chrift in general ; 
 that it muft neceflarily incapacitate them for 
 doing their former works which they performed, 
 when the members adted a rational and faithful 
 part in difcharging their duties; and confe- 
 quently, that, according to the example of the 
 Church of Ephefus it muft bring down the dif- 
 pleafure of Chrift upon them. Can this be an 
 acceptable fervice to the Lord .? muft not they 
 
 who 
 
6 2 ^he Redeemer s Charge 
 
 who arc found in fuch pradices be under great 
 deluflon ? 
 
 There are others who pra<5lically prejudice 
 the Churches and Inftitutions of Chrift j among 
 whom may be reckoned, fuch who through an 
 indulgence of carnal pleafure are neghgent of the 
 Church they belong to. Alfo thofe who, in the 
 judgment of charity, are true difciples, and 
 who in private profefs they believe in Chrift, 
 refting their falvation upon him, and yet fubmit 
 not to his publick ordinances. And, if there are 
 any perfons more injurious to the Inftitutions of 
 of our Saviour than either of thefe, I apprehend 
 they are fuch, who having met with fome offence 
 in the Church they belonged to, paffionately with- 
 draw, and go on year after year, and perhaps 
 to the end of their days, out of Church-fellow- 
 ihip ; as if becaufe of the infirmities of thofe 
 who, it may be, have given them juft caufe of 
 offence, they are difcharged from their obliga- 
 tions to obey the Lord Jefus, and from being 
 found in the ways of his appointments. Thefe 
 Chrift ians do not confider the ill effects their ex- 
 ample has to bring the importance of Chriftian 
 Ordinances into fufpicion, if not contempt. I 
 perfuade myfelf they are not defignedly, but I 
 am certain they are really, in proportion to 
 their influence, greatly prejudicial to the vifible 
 Church of Chrift in the day in which they 
 live. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
agalnjl his declining Churches. 6 3 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 Shewing how this charge condemns jiich^ who nc- 
 'ver manifefted any proper zeal for the name of 
 Chrift ; with a call to felf-examination j and 
 the conclufion. 
 
 IT is greatly to be lamented that there appears 
 fo much of the fame fpirit and behaviour, 
 with which the Church at Ephejus is accufed, 
 among the Churches of Chriil in the prefent 
 time ; and that there are fo many vain and 
 foohfti notions prevailing, which tend to ener- 
 vate the Arength, and mar the beauty of fuch 
 communities: This was the mournful fubjecft 
 of the preceding chapter. I {hall efteem it a 
 great happinefs, if the reprelentation given is 
 inftrumental of ftirring up the zeal of any of 
 Chrift's people, who may be funk into a luke- 
 warm frame, to lay it to heart, and fpread it 
 before the Lord ; and that any fuch (hould here- 
 by be animated to an earneft endeavour after a 
 different temper and condud: for the future. As 
 a further means of convi(ftion and revival, un- 
 der the divine bleffing, I proceed, by way of 
 reflection, to obferve, 
 
 Seco?idlyy This charge againfl the Church of 
 Ephefus, and by them to all Churches and their 
 feveral Members who leave their firfi: love, re- 
 proves thofe who never difcovered any zeal for 
 Chrirt and his ordinances at all. Of thefe there 
 
 are 
 
64 7^^ Redeemer s Charge 
 
 are two forts ; viz, fome who are under a pro- 
 feffion, and others who never took upon them 
 the name of the Redeemer in a publick manner. 
 
 Some perfons fet out under a profefTion of the 
 name of Chrift, in thefe lukewarm days, in fo 
 cold and lifelefs a fpirit, that they never give any 
 publick token of the fervency ufually difcover- 
 cd by young converts. It becomes fuch to con- 
 fider, wherefore they are deftitute of fruits fo 
 natural to the love of the Believer in the day of 
 his efpoufals, whence it comes to pafs they have 
 nofirji love. Spiritual afFedtions are not alike 
 flrong in every one upon firft converfion, nor 
 have all an equal talent for the di{play of them ; 
 but fome zeal is found with every convert ; and 
 the fruits of this love, at leaft in a defire and 
 readinefs to affociate with the Church, is to be 
 expe<^ed from them. Under what temptation 
 then does the young ProfefTor feem to come 
 fhort of it ? 
 
 But there arc others, who tho* they private- 
 ly declare their love for Chrift, and dependance 
 upon him for falvation, yet never joined them- 
 felves to his difciples, or bore a teftimony of 
 their obedience to him by a publick profeffion. 
 Thefe perfons do well to beware, that the con- 
 tempt ignorant and carnal men caft upon the 
 Inftitutions of Chrift is not the caufe of their 
 negleft; for our Lord has plainly declared, 
 Whojhever fkall be ajhamed of -rim and h i s 
 words in an adulterous and finful generation^ of 
 
 him 
 
againfl his declining Churches. 65 
 
 him nljojljall the Son of man be afia?ned^ nvken 
 he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy 
 angels. [Mark viii. 38.] I hope this is not the 
 cale with many. 
 
 But there are others who never (hew any 
 love to Chrift by a publick profeffion, thro' 11a- 
 vilh fear of their incapacity to grapple with the 
 corruptions of their hearts, to withftand the 
 temptations to which they are Hable^ and to 
 difcharge the duties that will be incumbent on 
 them under that profeffion. Thefe fears are too 
 often indulged under a falfe notion of their pro- 
 priety and fitnefs to a weak and fmful creature, 
 but are to be condemned as what indeed favour 
 of unbelief and felf-confidence ; all fuch fliould 
 confider, that the grace of Chrift is fufficient for 
 them, who has enjoined this duty upon his 
 people, and that difobedience to him, thro' a 
 diftruft of his promifes, is a very provoking fin. 
 
 To thefe inftances it may be added, that 'tis 
 to be feared many keep at a dillance from the 
 Churches of Chrift from the profped of the in- 
 different behaviour of fome perfons who are un- 
 der a profeffion of religion. It muft be ac- 
 knowledged with grief many walk nnbeccming 
 the Gofpel they profefs, and that this is a great 
 ftumbling-block : but let thofe who flumble at 
 it remember, the unprofitablenefs of thofe who 
 have taken upon them the name of Chrift, and 
 the flight fuch put upon the privileges of his 
 houfe, can afford no juft excufe for the omiffion 
 
 K of 
 
66 iTje Redeemers Charge 
 
 of their duty. The guilt of fuch profeflbrs is 
 very deep, but it is fo far from juftifying any 
 indifferency to the ordinances of Chrifl: in them 
 that love him, that it aggravates their neglect j 
 for in proportion to the contempt that others 
 caft on his authority, they ought, and if in a 
 right frame would naturally be forward to te- 
 ftify their zeal for his glory. 
 
 Those who have altogether omitted a pro- 
 feffion of Chrift's name, or under a formal pro- 
 feffion, never difcovered any zeal for his honour, 
 are not chargeable indeed with having kfi their 
 Jjr/l love. But Reader, if thou haft any well 
 grounded hopes of an intereft in Chrift, and art 
 among this number; confider, this charge 
 brought by Chrift again ft thofe who have de- 
 clined in his ways, implicitly condemns thee. 
 By it you may eafily difcern, the dilpleafure of 
 your Saviour at your condu(fl ; for if Chrift is 
 dlfpleafed with thofe who abate in their dili- 
 gence in his Church, notwithftanding the ma- 
 ny things they have done for his name's fake 
 heretofore ; he can never be well pleafed with 
 you that have not fo much as fet your hand to 
 the plough. If fuch who profefs his name arc 
 rebuked and threatened becaufe of their forma- 
 lity and unfruitfulnefs, what muft be exped:ed 
 from him towards thofe who are even deftitute 
 of the form ? 
 
 T'hirdly\ Let each of us who are under a 
 profeffion, on the prefent melancholy ap- 
 pearance 
 
agalnji his dcclbiing Churches, • 67 
 
 pearance of things in the Churches, examine 
 ourfelves, and fee what we have done, what we 
 have negled:ed j how far we have been acceObry 
 to the declenfions of the particular Community 
 we ftand related to. Cold unaffeded believer, 
 that art inadive in thy flation in the Church of 
 Chrift, confider whence^ and tvherefore thou art 
 fallen; remember thy former zeal and repent: 
 Confider it is not our part works and labour that 
 will excufe our prefent (loth and barrennefs ; 
 yea, rather our zeal in former times (hall be 
 brought in evidence againft us, and reprove the 
 lukewarmnefs of our prefeiit frame, if we con- 
 tinue to revolt. We are never to lay down our 
 arms, or go off from our watch while in this 
 ftate of fin and temptation ; nor are we conti- 
 nued any one feafon in the vineyard here below, 
 without an expecflation of bringing forth fruit 
 to the glory of him that has planted us. So 
 long as we remain in the body, the Church, it 
 (hbuld be our ftudy to edify it in love. Satan 
 fometimes betrays a perfon into the negled of 
 his duty, from the confideration of what he has 
 already done ; he takes occafion from his having 
 been kept ftedfaft, and enabled to continue 
 active under a profeffion for a confiderable time, 
 to ftir up high thoughts and prefumptuous con- 
 ceits of his future ftanding ; and thus old pro- 
 fefibrs are fometimes captivated, who were too 
 vigilant and wary for the Serpent, when firfl 
 they fat out in religion. Be not ignorant of 
 Satan's devices ; what he cannot compafs at one 
 time, he will at another, if we are not on our 
 K 2 watch. 
 
68 lloe Redeemer s Charge 
 
 watch. Beware Chriftian of thinking you have 
 done enough, you mutl work while it is day^ 
 i. e, (o long as Hfe lafts. In this refpedt we are 
 to forget the things that are behind and to prefs 
 forward towards the mark for the high calling of 
 God in Chrijl Jefiis : Thus it bccometh us 'till 
 our race is finifhed, and our warfare fully ac- 
 compliftied. 
 
 To conclude; Confider, O Believer, who 
 haft deviated from thy former zeal, and art in- 
 different about the things of Chrift, whofe caufe 
 thou art flighting, and trifling with ; is it not 
 the caufe of thy Redeemer, who has bought 
 thee with his precious blood ? Is it not trifling 
 with the moft facred infl:itutions, and abufing 
 that truft which thy Lord has put into thy 
 hands, by granting thee a place in his vifible 
 Church, and. muft thou not Ihortly be account- 
 able to him for it ? O, Sirs, confider the obli- 
 gations you are under to Chrift, the obligations 
 you have laid yourfelves under to his Church, 
 what vows are upon you, and what opportuni- 
 ties you mifs of communion with your Lord, 
 and a blefling from his hand, when you flight 
 and negledl your duty among his people. Con- 
 fider the offence and grief you are to your Mi- 
 nifter and your Fellow-members, to whom you 
 owe, in the Sight of God, and by all the ties 
 of gratitude and fidelity, your utmoft endea- 
 vours after their comfort and encouragement. 
 If thefe things are not fuflicient to move your 
 t>owels, and rouze your carnal, fluggifli Spirits, 
 
 remember 
 
agalnjl his declining Churches, 69 
 
 remember again, and more particularly, the 
 ilrong love of Chrift which perfevered through 
 all his dreadful fufFerings for your guilty fouls, 
 even to the drinking up the cup of divine 
 wrath, and thereby faved you from everlafting 
 deftru6tion, and made way for your eternal 
 happinefs. This is your hope, if you are true 
 Believers in Chrift 5 and is it poffible to have 
 this hope in you, and be unconcerned about the 
 honour of this Redeemer ? Is it poffible to be 
 daily exercifing faith upon him, as having 
 made reconciliation for you, and at the fame 
 time to make lighter of the privileges of his 
 houfe, than of the common bounties of his 
 providence, and treat his Church and Ordinan- 
 ces in a manner you would fcorn to treat any 
 thing you have the leaft efteem for ? 
 
 Consider, O negligent and carelefs Be- 
 liever, Chrift has not left his firji love to you ; 
 he is unchangeable in his afFed:ion ; his love is 
 ft ill employed in your behalf in the court of 
 heaven. We have an advocate iinth the Father ^ 
 Jefiis Chrift the righteous, [i John ii. i.] Great 
 reafon have we all who profefs to hope he has 
 loved us, and given himfelf for us an offering 
 and facrifice to God, and have joined ourfelves 
 to his people, to be aftiamed of every wilful 
 omiffion of duty in his houfe, and confounded 
 at every inftance in which we have been back- 
 ward to glorify his name ; for the ingratitude 
 and unfaithfulnefs of fuch condu6l is not to be 
 expreffed. However, bleffed be his name, this 
 
 is 
 
yo It he Redeemer s Charge 
 
 is our unfpeakable and undeferved mercy, that, 
 if with grief of heart for thefe backflidings, we 
 humble ourfclves before him, his love will co- 
 ver all this folly, his arms are open to embrace 
 his repenting people j he is always faying with 
 aftonifhing kindnefs in his word to every one 
 who bemoans his departure, I will heal your 
 backjli dings ^ I will love you freely. [Hofea xiv, 
 4-] 
 
 In a word, let us, under a convidbion of the 
 decays from our former love, invoke the Holy 
 Spirit, whom we have grieved and provoked. 
 A declined people are not without a charge of 
 ingratitude and fin againft God the Spirit. As 
 men grow cold to the things of Chrift, and are 
 carnal in their frames, it will be found upon 
 examination his glory has not been afferted, nor 
 his influences fo fincerely depended upon, or 
 earneftly fought after, as they ought to have 
 been. The beft of us, in this lukewarm day, 
 may perhaps on refled:ion fee caufe to acknow- 
 ledge our indifferency towards him, and his 
 honour. Infidelity abounds with refpedt to this 
 glorious divine Perfon in our day and nation : I 
 fear he has been too much negled:ed by us that 
 profefs a regard to him. The little concern we 
 have {hewn for his Perfon and Operations, while 
 denied by fome, and defpifed by others who 
 have the form of godlinefs, is a humbling con- 
 fideration, and renders us unworthy his notice : 
 but he is a gracious and loving Spirit, and is 
 ready, on our humiliation before the Lord, and 
 
 fuppli- 
 
againjl his declining Churches, 7 1 
 
 fupplications for him, to return with his fvvect 
 and powerful influences. We (hould not there- 
 fore be difcouraged from applying for his al- 
 mighty aids. Through his efficacious operati- 
 ons we fhall revive and flouri(h again. With 
 contrite fpirits then let us hft up our eyes to him 
 from whence our help muft come, and in the 
 language of the Church, [So/omon's Song, chap, 
 iv. 16.] fervently cry, Awake, O north wind^ 
 and come thoufouth, blow upon my garden, that 
 the Jpices thereof may flow out : then will all 
 thefe mifls of vanity, raiied by fenfuality and 
 delufions of one kind and another, that damp 
 our fpiritual affe<5tions, and under which we are 
 wandering from the path of duty, be difpelled, 
 our graces will renew their vigour, and be 
 drawn forth into lively exercife. Thus we may 
 expedt the manifeflation of Chrifl's fpiritual 
 prefence, to our own joy and the glory of his 
 Church, according to the requefh or hope ex- 
 prefs'd in the latter part of the fame verfe. Let 
 my beloved come into his garden, and eat of his 
 pleafant fruits. 
 
 M AY the Lord gracioufly heal the backfli- 
 dings of his children in every Church of every 
 denomination in the midfl: of us. O that he 
 would, for his name's fake, defcend as the dew 
 upon our Ifrael, fo fhall our branches fpread, 
 our beauty floall be as the olive-tree, and our 
 fmell as Lebanon ! Hofea xiv. 
 
 FIN! S. 
 
An Exhortation againjl quenching tha 
 Spirit, 
 
 SERMON 
 
 Preached to a 
 
 Society of Young Men, 
 
 No VEMEER the 7^\ ^748. 
 
 By BENJAMIN WALLIN 
 Fublified at their Reqiieji. 
 
 But they rebelled and vexed his Holy Spirit : therefore he 
 was turned to be their enemy, and he fought againft 
 them. Isaiah Ixiii. 10. 
 
 L N B IS!: 
 
 Printed for J. Wa r d in Little-Britain, and fold 
 by E. G A R D I N E R in Lo?nhordj}yeet^ 
 
 M DCC XLVIIl. 
 
T O T H E 
 
 SOCIETY, 
 
 Affembling on a Lord's-Day Even- 
 ing, at the Meeting-Houfe near 
 the Maze-Pondy Southwark 
 
 My dear Friends, 
 
 AT your importunity I have con- 
 fented to publilli this plain dif- 
 courfe, and it will yield me 
 pleafure, if it fhould be the 
 evident means of your improvement. 
 
 There are fome alterations, and addi- 
 tions which I thought neceflary in tran- 
 fcribing what was compofed without the 
 leafl expedation of its appearing in the 
 world ; nothing however is inferted, butwhat 
 the fubflance of was intended, and would 
 have been exprelTed had time permitted. 
 
 In this day of growing infidelity, the 
 Deity, Perfonality, and Operations of the 
 bleffed Spirit, are boldly denied and im- 
 pioufly derided ; Happy fuch who have a 
 
 witnefs 
 
witnefs in themfelves of the reality arid 
 efficacy of his gracious influences j fuch 
 trufl: I have concerning you, and therefore 
 hope this exhortation will not be in vain. 
 
 The temptations I have warned you 
 againft, are frequently known t6 captivate 
 young Profeffors, many arc utterly ruined 
 by them, and few efcape fome degree of 
 injury from their unhappy influence j I 
 would therefore advife you in the words 
 of the Apoflle, Seeing you know thefe things 
 before ^ beware y left ye aljb being led away ■ 
 with the error cf the wicked, fall from your 
 own Jiedfaftnefs. Remember, that he only 
 who enduieth to the end, (hall be faved. 
 
 That the holy Spirit may defcend upon 
 you with his heavenly gifts and graces, 
 enable you to flee youthful lufts, and fol- 
 low after righteoufnefs, and keep you by . 
 his mighty power thro' faith unto falva- 
 tion, is the unfeigned deflre, j.nd fervent 
 prayer, of - 
 
 l^our fincere Friend, and 
 
 Servant in the Lord, 
 
 Benjamin Wallin, 
 
2Thessalonians v. 19. 
 ^luench not the Spirit, 
 
 IT has been the forrowful experience of 
 every age, that many perfons iiave been 
 excited in their younger days to make 
 fome promifing fhew of" rdigion, whofe 
 goodnefs has been as the fiiorning cloud, and 
 as the early dew : Among thefe. Tome Jike 
 the ftony-ground hearers, having no root 
 in themfelves are turned afide ; they fet them- 
 i^lves openly againfl the truth, and after all 
 their profeffion become fcofFers walking accor- 
 ding to their own ungodly lufts : It happens un- 
 to them according to the true proverb^ the dog is 2 Pet. ii. 
 turned to his own vomit again ; a}id the fow that 
 was wajhed, to her wallowing in the mire. And the 
 latter end is worfe with them than the beginning. 
 But there are others concerning whom we may 
 charitably hope better things, neverthelefs be- 
 ing too little acquainted with the deceitfulnefs 
 jf their own hearts and the devices of Satan, 
 are foon captivated thro* the fubtlety of thisTem- 
 pter, and led away with divers lufts into luch 
 Ihameful backflidings, as greatly prejudice their 
 future comfort and ufefulnefs. 
 
 B For- 
 
 20. 22. 
 
An Exhortation againjl 
 
 Forafmuch as I have engaged to addref^ 
 fome of you this evening under the charader 
 of a religious Society, I thought it might be 
 feafonable to warn you of the temptations to 
 which you are cxpoled, left the Adverfary get 
 an advantage of you and break in upon your 
 mutual endeavours for fpiritual edification, or 
 deftroy the credit and comfort of any one a- 
 nnongfl; you. 
 
 The pafTage read is fhort but comprehenfive ; 
 it contains an exhortation to what is of great 
 importance to our perfeverance in faith and 
 holinefs, and it implies a watchfulnefs againft 
 that which is the original fource of all declen- 
 fions that appear among profefibrs, and which 
 to fome prove the forerunner of their final 
 apoftacy and eternal deftruflion. I would hope 
 better things of you, many of whpm I truft 
 are the feals of my own miniftry in the Lord, 
 as the reft are the property of anothers. O 
 that neither of you, after the example of fome, 
 may thro* carelefnefs become the pccafion of 
 fhame to thofe who have rejoiced over you as 
 the inftances of fpecial grace through their 
 labours. With a view under the divine blefling, 
 to prevent this with refpeft to thofe of you 
 who have made a profefTion, together with 
 the edification of all who are companions 
 with you in this Society, and our general pro- 
 lit, I have at this time chofe to explain, and 
 attempt the improvement of thefe words. 
 
 The 
 
qtienclnng the Spirit, 
 
 The evident defign of the apoftle y/as 
 to promote the perfeverance of the '^ejjalo- 
 riians, earneftly defirmg tlielr com'pleat fanfti- 
 fication in order to their future joy : It is plain 
 froin the context he has in profped, that bleffed 
 hope and glorious appearance of our Lord 
 jefus, when all the chofen feed having obtained 
 a part in the firft refurreftion, and put on thei^* 
 fhining bodies, will bear a luftre round their 
 glorified Lord and head. Agreeable to this we 
 find the apoftle prays, vei\ 23. that thefe dif- 
 ciples might be preferved blamelefs to this 
 joyful feafon ; and if my prefent difcourfe fiiould 
 in any meafure contribute as a nieans to our 
 meetnefs for joining the-redeemed in that -day.;' 
 we Ihall then rejoice. together, at the opportu- 
 nity now put into our hands. 
 
 In treating on thefe words I propofe ; 
 
 i. A brief defer iption of the perfon fpoken 
 of in the Text. 
 
 II. To explain the caution given us con- 
 terning him. 
 
 III. Offer fome reafons to excire our re- 
 gard to this exhortation. 
 
 IV. To fet before you various methods by 
 which many who enjoy the means of grace, 
 become guilty of quenching the Spirit. And, 
 
 V. Shew the melancholy confequence of 
 fo doins. 
 
 '£3* 
 
 B 2 LI 
 
4 An Exhortation againjl 
 
 I. I am to give fome defcription of the per- 
 fpoken of in our text. l!be Spirit. 
 
 By the Spirit we are not to underftand the 
 fplrit of man, or light of reafon and voice of 
 confcience ; this is natural and common to 
 every one •, and what profane, immoral per- 
 fons fin againfl, and as it were, quench the 
 light of, by their abominable praftices : Some 
 perfons who bear the name of Chriftians talk 
 much of the Spirit, and feem by their difcourfc 
 as if they defired to be guided by the Spirit, 
 and were led by the Spirit, when, alas! upon 
 examination it is found they mean nothing more 
 than reafon, and natural confcience, or their 
 own fpirits ; they know nothing, nor do they 
 own any thing properly fpeaking of the di- 
 vine Spirit, or his gracious influences. Sad 
 delufion indeed I May the Lord the Spirit 
 open their underftandings, and (hew fuch their 
 dangerous conceit. The inward light of na- 
 ture, or light of reafon, is not here intended •, 
 in being guilty of the evil dehorted, perfons 
 do indeed ad irrationally, and confcience is 
 abufed, as we may fee hereafter. But this is 
 not intended by the Spirit in the text. 
 
 Nor are we to underftand by the Spirit 
 any of the angelic hofl:, thofe chofen fpirits 
 that refide in the heavenly courts above. Our 
 text fpeaks not of one of that innumerable 
 and glorious company j thefe are all fpi- 
 rits, 
 
quenchi?ig the Spirit, 5 
 
 rits, holy, wife, powerful and obedient to the 
 will of Jehovah, and by the miniftration of 
 whom the Lord has frequently inftruded his 
 people Into his mind. A difobedience to, or 
 difbelief of one of thefe heavenly meflengers, 
 has been followed with the tokens of God*s 
 difpleafure. * However, Angels are vifibly 
 employed only on fpecial occafions. It is not 
 the common experience of the fons of men to 
 be fenfible of an Angel's miniftration ; but this 
 exhortation is given to all the faints, or pro- 
 feflbrs at Thejfalonica^ and the perfon intended 
 muft be one whofe influences they are all fup- 
 pofed to have been fenfible of. 
 
 The fubjeft of the text, is that uncreated di- 
 vine Spirit who bears record in heaven, even Je- 
 hovah the Spirit, who is a real diftindt divine 
 perfon, equal in perfection and glory with the 
 Father and the Son. This Spirit is the holy 
 Ghoft. Thus our Lord promifes his difciples John xiv. 
 the Father fhould give them another comforter, 16, 17. 
 even the Spirit of truth j the fame perfon is 
 ftyled the holy Ghoft, ver. 16. and indeed the 
 original word is the iame. This is that Spirit to 
 
 whom 
 
 * Thus Zacharias was ftruck deaf and dumb becaufe 
 he believed not the angels words, concerning the birth of 
 John, Luke i. 22. The term tranflated dumb, fignifies 
 both deaf and dumb, becaufe thofe which naturally are 
 deaf, are in confequence dumb, and that Zacharias was 
 deaf is plain from ^er. 62. Now this temporary depriva- 
 tion of thefe natural fenfes, was indeed a fufficient fign for 
 the confirmation of the angels tidings, but at the fame 
 time, a manifeft token of the divine difpleafure at the un- 
 belief of Zacharias, 
 
6 -^n "Exhortation agalnji 
 
 whom every divine perfefbion is mofl: truly and 
 propedy afcribed \ he is omnifcient, for he 
 t Cor. ii. fearcheth all things^ yea the deep th'inp of God, 
 *°* His perfonalty and deity are both ftrongly im- 
 
 plied in that palTage, for fuch knowledge is 
 incommunicable to a Creature ; none but he 
 that is God can know all the fecrets of the di- 
 vine mind. This Spirit is alio omniprefent ; 
 P/cxxxix. thus the Pfalmift fays, Whither /hall I go from 
 ^* thy Spirit? Or whither fhall I flee from thy pre- 
 
 fence ? And this is evident from his inhabitation 
 in the hearts of believers in every age all over 
 the world ; it is the felf-fame Spirit which re- 
 fides in each perfon that is called by the grace 
 -of God in every place, and who is proraifed 
 -to abide with them for ever, and confequently 
 he muft be omniprefent. Moreover, omni- 
 potence is afcribed to this Perfon ; he is faid 
 to be the power of the Highefl: ; not as a pro- 
 perty, or perfeftion, in the divine nature, for 
 that is inconfiftent with many things revealed 
 concerning him, which fhews him to be a di- 
 llin<5t and true Perfon ; but he is fo called as he 
 is no lefs than the mofl high God ; and that he is 
 fo, appears from his creating the world ; for as 
 Pf. xxxiii. ly the word of the Lord the heavens were 
 made^ fo were the hoft of them by the breath of 
 his tmutb. Elibii afcribes the formation of his 
 Job xxxiii. nature to him. iToe Spirit of God hath fnade me^ 
 4- and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. 
 
 Jehovah the Spirit, who had an equal concern 
 with the other divine Perfons in the works of 
 creation, is here intended. This 
 
i6. 
 
 quenching the Spirit, f 
 
 This is that glorious divine Perfon, who 
 proceedeth from the Father and the Son, and 
 who in Jove to the chofen feed has condefcended 
 to operate in fubferviency to the wonderful and 
 gracious defign of their falvation. According- 
 ly this divine Spirit wrought in the Prophets 
 from the foundation of the world j for as fal- 
 vation thro' the blood of Chrift was their uni- 
 ted teftimony, they all bore their witnefs under 
 his infpiration ; thefe holy Men of God fpake, 
 not according to their own will, but as ibey were 2 Pet. I. 
 moved by the holy Ghofi. And he that infpired ^^' 
 thefe inftruments of revelation, is God, all 
 fcripture is given by infpiration of God. This 2 Tim. iii. 
 Spirit formed the human nature of Chrift, and 
 forms Chrift in every Believers heart. He is 
 the Author, or Agent of all that light, fandi- 
 fication and grace, whereby any of the loft race 
 of apoftate Adam are brought to the faving 
 knowledge of the Redeemer. He is ftyled a 
 holy Spirit, and is juftly lb called both in re- 
 fped of the perfe<5t holinefs eflential to his di- 
 vine nature, and alfo as he is the Immediate 
 efficient caufe of all holinefs in the fouls of 
 God*s children •, for it is not mere moral fwafion 
 or the exertion of any human gifts in the preach- 
 ing, even of the true Gofpel, that can effedu- 
 ally convince, humble, and turn finners to 
 God, as experience abundantly teftifies ; but 
 it is owing to this Spirit of wifdom and revela- 
 tion that any are changed and renewed. This 
 
 is 
 
8 An Exhortation agatnjl 
 
 is the Spirit that convinces of fin, righteouf- 
 nefs and judgment to come. He begins, car- 
 ries on, and compleats the work of converfion, 
 and his operations and influences are abfoluteJy 
 neceflliry : He alfo is the Author of all fpiri- 
 tual gifts, which he difpenfes in a fovereign 
 
 1 CoA-. xii. '^^y> i^^'^'^^wg io every man fever ally as he will. 
 
 II. This is the perfon of whom our text fpeaks* 
 
 even that divine perfon whofe perfedlions are 
 adorable, and whofe love to the faints is con- 
 fpicuous in the office he executes in order to their 
 falvation, to whom, as well as/or whom. Believ- 
 ers are to pray -, thus the Apoftle, jind the Lord 
 dire^your hearts into the love of God, and into the 
 
 iTheff m.P^^^^^^ ^<^f/w^/c'r Chrifi. * In a word, he is 
 
 5. that Spirit, without whofe aids neither parti- 
 
 cular perfons, nor focieties, nor churches, can 
 flourilh, or even fubfift with any fpiritual ad- 
 vantage ; for he is the life and foul of all true 
 
 powerful 
 
 * Nothing can be clearer than that the divine Spirit 
 is the perfon addreft in this paflage, who is evidently di- 
 ilinguifhed from the Father, into whofe love the hearts 
 of the faints were to be directed, and from Jefus Chrifi: 
 whom they were alfo to be direfted into a patient wait- 
 ing for ; and this agrees with the work afcribed to hini 
 in other places, where he is promifed to guide, and is pray- 
 ed for, and faid to lead the children of God, and fhed 
 abroad the love of God in the heart, ^c. Pfal. cxliii. i o. 
 Rom. viii. 14. John xvi. 13. Rom. v. 5. 
 
 Now this addrefs proves the Spirit to be a perfon, a diftin£l 
 perfon from the Father and the Son, and no lefs than 
 the true God, both as the objedl of prayer, and as capa- 
 ble of performing what is requefted of him ; for 'tis God 
 alone that fearches and bears an uncontroulable fway in 
 riie hearts of men, or is able to anfwer fuch a requeft. 
 
quenching the Spirit, "9 
 
 powerful godlinels, who worketh in and among 
 the faiiKs according to his own good pleafure. 
 Which leads me, as propo fed, 
 
 II. To explain the caution given us concern- 
 ing this glorious divine perfon. Here is a 
 caution concerning this Spirit and his opera- 
 tions, V12.. not to quench him •, quench not the 
 Spirit. The Spirit who is the inditer of^ll re- 
 velation, has thought fit to reprefent himfelf 
 to us under a variety or metaphors in the facred 
 writings, each of which is adapted to our in- 
 (Iruftion and comfort. Sometimes he is com- 
 pared to water, Except a man he horn of water John iii. 5. 
 and of the Spirit^ i. e. I apprehend, born of the 
 Spirit as with water •, for I conceive his regene- 
 rating and fanftifying influences are intended, and 
 not water baptifm, becaufe regeneration is the 
 profefs'd fubjefl of our Lord's difcourfe ; thefe 
 his influences are fitly compared to water ; 
 for as water cleanfeth that which is foul, fo the 
 operations of the divine Spirit enlightening and 
 ^hanging a finner's heart, purifies it from all 
 that fpiricual defilement in which it lay while 
 under the dominion of luft. And this allufion 
 anfwers to the promife given thro* the mouth 
 of the prophet Ezekiel, Then will J fprinkle clecij^ r. ? 
 water upon \ou^ and ye fJ:all he clean^ i^c. His xxxvi. 25. 
 gifts are likewife compared to the fame ele- 
 ment -, He that helieveth on me, as the fcripture jg^„ y^ 
 hath [aid y out of his helly /hall flow rivers of liv- 3*» 39' 
 
 C in^ 
 
lO Ail "Exhortation againjl 
 
 tng -water. * This [pake he of the Spirit ^ which 
 they that believe on himjhould receive^ i^c. Thus 
 the Spirit is compared to water both in his gifts 
 and graces. 
 
 Again, fometimes the Spirit is compared to 
 wind v under which allufion is convey*d an 
 idea of the fovereignty, and imperceptible na- 
 ture of his influences, together widi their quick 
 ^<7^«iii.S. and powerful effe61s. Thus, the wind hloweth 
 ivhcre it lijieth, and thou hearefi the found there- 
 of ^c. -^^ So is every one that is horn of the 
 Spirit I q. d. thus are the Spirit's operations on 
 the foul he regenerates. 
 
 But at other times this holy Ghofl: is com- 
 
 Natt. iii. P^r^^ fo fii"^* fh^s (^^ys Jo^^f^ the baptift, 
 \ I . fpeaking of Chrift) He fball baptize you tvith the 
 
 holy Ghoft and with fire. The gifts and graces 
 of the divine Spirit are comparable to this 
 element alfo for their illuminating and purify- 
 fying effecls -, and, agreeable to this metaphor, 
 we find the Spirit's vifible appearance was, 
 cloven tongues like as of fire, when it fat upon 
 Abs \\. 2. each of the apojiles in the day of Pentecofl. To 
 this miraculous appearance moft have thought 
 
 the 
 
 * See Jfaiah, xliv. 3. yoel. 11. 28. where the gift of 
 the Spirit is termed a pouring out, anfwerable to the 
 element of water. 
 
 -|- The Spirit feems addfefs'd under this charadler, 
 Solomon s Song, chap. iv. 1 6. Anjoake O north ivind, and, 
 come thou fouth', agreeable to this, we read the Spirit 
 came down in the day of Pentecoft with a found from, 
 heaven as of a mighty rufhing 'ivind, A£ii ii. 2, 
 
quenchi77g the Spirit, 1 1 
 
 tlie Baptlft refers. The Spirit, however, Is re- 
 prefented by fire •, and this aptly fets forth his 
 influence on the hearts of men, enlighteningj 
 Warming, and melting them down as it were, 
 thereby purging out the drofs of pride, igno- 
 rance, fenfuality^ and unbelief. Under his ef- 
 ficacious operations the word of God burns like 
 fire, either in a way of convidion, or confola- 
 tion : It fometimes burns by way of convi- 
 dion : Is not my word like fire ? Thus when the Jer. xxilii 
 prophet thought to fpeak no more in the ^^' 
 name of the Lord to a fcornful generation, he 
 found the word of the Lord was in his heart as a 
 burning fire fhut up in his hones. Sometimes the chap. xjc, 
 hearts of God's children burn with joy, when the 9- 
 Spirit works upon them under the miniftration 
 of the word : Thus the difciples found it when 
 their rifen Lord taught them as they were go- 
 ing to Emmaus -, hence on his difappearing, 
 they [aid one to another^ Did not our heart hum ^^ f y -^ 
 within us while he talked to us hy the way^ and 32. 
 'while he opened to us the fcriptures. 
 
 Now the Spirit is im,plicitly reprefented to 
 Us under this figure in the' text, for the term 
 quench^ ufed in the caution, evidently alludes to 
 fire, being proper alone to that element. Thus 
 the Pfalmift ufing the fame figure in reference 
 to his Enemies and their utter deftrudlion, 
 fays. They are quenched as the fire of thorns. To /v cxviiii 
 quench fire, we know is to put it out, or, at ^2. 
 lead, to abate its force and influence by throw- 
 C 2 ins 
 
1 2 An Exhortation agatnjt 
 
 ing water upon it, or by fome other means. 
 Now every degree of damp which by any 
 method is put upon a fire, whereby its heat 
 and influence is leflened, may be juftly (lyled 
 quenching, as well as a total extinguifhing the 
 fame. In this light I take the phrafe by which 
 our Lord fets forth the torments of hell, when 
 Mark ix. ^^ ^^Y^ there the fire is not quenched. It feems to 
 44. imply, there Ihall be no abatement * of that 
 
 wrath which Ihall be poured out on the impe- 
 nitent in the ftate of punifliment. As fire ex- 
 prelTes the torment to be exquifite, fo its not 
 being quenched intimates there fhall be no al- 
 lay, but that it fhall be perpetual, and even 
 increafing. Fire is an aftive principle, and 
 by its conftant motion is ever changing its 
 degree of heat to greater or kfs^ if it does not 
 decreafe it will increafe ; therefore when it is 
 faid it is not quenched, it points out the in- 
 creafing torment of the damned, and that this 
 fire fhall be blown up ftronger and ftronger ; 
 all which is fuitable to the account we have 
 in the Scriptures. 
 
 I believe the Spirit will have his concern, 
 and be the principal efficient caufe of the mifery 
 of the wicked ; as the communications of di- 
 vine love are thro* his agency, fo I apprehend 
 this divine Perfon will be the more immediate 
 
 convey- 
 
 Za/f XVI * T^hus the rich man in the parable being in hell lift 
 up his eyes and makes application to Ahrahatriy but is 
 
 ^' refufed one drop of water to cool his tongue which was 
 
 tormented in the flame. 
 
quenching the Spirit 13 
 
 conveyancer of the wrath of God ; this I think 
 is fuggefted to us in Scripture. The wicked, it is 
 faid, Jhall be punijhed with everlajling deftru^ion zTheJfA. 
 from ihe-prefence of the Lord, and from the glory ^' 
 of bis power *. Who is the glory of his power ? 
 but him who is called the power of the higheft ; 
 which we have already feen is one of the cha- 
 rafters of the holy Ghoft, and he feems in- 
 tended, where we have an awful defcripiion 
 of Tophet, which clofes thus ; the breath of the Ifai. xxxi 
 Lord, like a fir earn of brimjlone, doth kindle it \^^' 
 even that breath of the Lord by which the hoft 
 of the heavens were made, as before ob- 
 ferved. 
 
 However (to return from this digrelTion ;) as 
 quenching confifts in abating, cooling, or extin- 
 guifliing a fire, fo it Hands oppofed to quicken- 
 ing, or maintaining the fame, and therefore a 
 caution againit the former naturally involves an 
 exhortation to the latter, and it neceflarily fol- 
 lows, that when we are forbid to quench the 
 Spirit, we are commanded to do every thing 
 required towards preferving, and increafing 
 his work, and the gift he has bellowed upon 
 us. 
 
 But 
 
 * T\\e prefence of the Lord^ and the glory of his po^Jtcr 
 are phrafes and chara£lers particularly applied to the 
 divine Spirit ; and I apprehend the particle, from, is ca- 
 fual, as fome eminent Writers have obferved, and ic 
 feems to imply that from, or by the Spirit, as the im- 
 mediate efficient caufe^^ the punifhment of the wicke4 
 will arife. 
 
j|. An eDihortation agaiftji 
 
 But in the application of this figure to the 
 divine Spirit, we mud carefully avoid any 
 notion that is unworthy his perfeflions, ot 
 the declarations of the gofpel. In order thereto, 
 let it be premifed ; 
 
 Firfi, We are not to conceive by this cau- 
 tion, that the ftrength of lull in the heart of 
 man, whereby he perverfly oppofes and refifts 
 the Spirit, prevails agalnft the will and power 
 of this divine Agent : The influences of the 
 Spirit are efficacious and irrefiftible •, indeed 
 fuch is the (late of the human foul by nature, 
 and under the dominion of fin, that were it 
 pofTible for the bafenefs and ftoutnefs of men* 
 fo to refift the Spirit as to fruftrate his workj 
 none would ever be converted , for man is na- 
 turally, through pride, ignorance and vile af- 
 fections, not only indifpofed, but even averfe 
 to a change, and confequently will naturally 
 oppofe it to the utmoft of his power ; but the 
 Spirit is uncontroulable in his operations ; with 
 refpeft to him it may be faid. Who hath re- 
 fifted his will ? When he works none can let j 
 hence it is that any are made willing in the day 
 of his power.. 
 
 Figures taken from inanimate beings, and 
 applied to intelligent ones, are not to be drained 
 to the deftruftion of their nature, who are re- 
 prefented by them, this would be highly un- 
 reafonable ', but this would be the cafe if it 
 were to be inferr'd from the caution in the 
 
 text, 
 
quenching the Spirit, i^ 
 
 text, that the perverfenefs of man could per^ 
 vert the Spirit's defigns, or oblige him to ceafe 
 from his work. It is unworthy the perfecflions 
 of the holy Ghoft to conceive that a created 
 power, in any ftate or condition, is capable of 
 obftrudiing his almighty arm, or rendring a- 
 bortive his gracious defigns j to fuppofe the crea- 
 tures obftinacy and wickednefs can fniftrate the 
 will, orovercome the power ofthe divine Spirit is 
 abfurd and impious, a notion that contradidts 
 the fovereignty and omnipotence of this glo- 
 rious perfon, and deprives him of the honours 
 due to his divine nature. Moreover, this would 
 render the regeneration and compleat fanftifica- 
 tion of every one precarious ; the everlafting 
 abode ofthe Spirit in the heart he has taken pof- 
 fefTion of would then be uncertain, and therefore 
 his inhabitation no infallible evidence of being 
 favingly wrought upon. If this were the cafe, 
 he could not be the earned of the inheritance Ephefiam 
 which Chrlflians are called to the hope of, as ^" ^^' 
 the fcriptures fhew ; fo that fuch a conceit de- 
 rogates from the glory of the Spirit, and de- 
 ftroys the comfort of the Believer. 
 
 Secondly^ Nor are we to imagine from this 
 exhortation, that where the Spirit has wrought 
 efFedtually, his work can be deflroyed ; it is not 
 in the power of fm or Satan to do this. True 
 light, faving faith, and divine love, which are 
 the fruit of his operations, as a Spirit of life 
 from Chrift, Ihall never be totally eclipfed, or 
 
 utterly 
 
1 6 An Exhortation againfl 
 
 utterly and finally extinguifhcd. This is in- 
 confillent wiui the engagements of the Father 
 in the covenant of grace, wherein he has pro- 
 mifed his Spirit Ihall not depart from his peo- 
 Ifaiab lix. pie. Wherever the Spirit takes up his abode 
 ''• as the Comforter, from the Father and the Son, 
 
 he abides for ever, purfuant to this gracious 
 promife ; and we are confident of this very 
 thing, that he which hath begun a good work 
 in us, will -perform it until the day of Jefu^ 
 Philip. I. Chrifl. The holy Ghoft will never forfake the 
 work of his hands, nor fliall the habits of grace 
 and holinefs once implanted be ever rooted up. 
 Thus Ihould we beware of entertaining any no- 
 tions from this caution, inconfiftent with the ir- 
 refiflible and efficacious influence of the divine 
 Spirit on the hearts of finners, or the certain 
 continuance and completion of the work of 
 grace where it is really begun ; for all fuch cont* 
 ceptions are unworthy the perfed:ions of,this 
 glorious Agent, and contrary to the aflTurances 
 given in the everlafting covenant. What then 
 are we to underftand by quenching the Spirit? 
 To quench the Spirit is the fame as to' refiftj^vex, 
 grieve, rebel againfl, or do defpite unto him •, all 
 which are applied to the condu6l of men with 
 refpe(^t to the blefled Spirit, and arc expreflive 
 of a greater or lefi^er degree of oppofition to, 
 or provocation of him ; and, 1 concieve in ge- 
 neral 
 
 * j^Sisvn. 51. * I/arablxni. 10. Efhefiam iv. 30, 
 
quench'ifig the Spirit, ij 
 
 ^^eral it fignifies a neglecting, or defpiring the 
 tokens of his pov^er and grace, and thereby of- 
 fending his holinefs, fo as to occafion his volun- 
 tary departure in a way of chaflifement, or 
 Judgment. When perfons are found in the 
 practice of thofe things which naturally tend, 
 and which by experience has appeared to ex- 
 tinguifh the light, and abate the warmth pro- 
 duced at any time by the divine Spirit, in and 
 among them, and when they alfo omit what is 
 adapted and appointed for the continuance and , 
 increafe thereof, they may be faid to quench 
 the Spirit •, for by thus prejudicing his work, 
 and adling contrary to him, they greatly offend 
 him, and caufe him to withdraw. 
 
 That the Spirit of grace has met with fuch 
 treatment is evident from the facred writings ; 
 
 'jiriany with whom he has contended by the ex- 
 ternal miniftry of his word, by the mouth of 
 the Prophets, yea by ftirring in them con- 
 victions, by gifts, ancf common illuminations, 
 I fay, many fueK;*'t?ir6' the hardnefs and im- 
 peniteney of their hearts,' have rebelled againft 
 him, and he has ieft them in judgment to fill 
 
 •up the meafure of their iniquity. Thus their 
 fin has been the procuring caufe of his de- 
 par tufe from them, an4 their damnation has 
 followfed. The finners of the old world are a 
 fearful example of this, who were fwept away 
 ^vith the flood, and whofe fpirits are in prifon. , p,tei> 
 Many of literal Ifraet:, riot only in the wilder- "i. ig- 
 
 D nefs. 
 
i8 An Exhortation againjl 
 
 nefs, where their carcafTcs fell becaufe of un- 
 belief, but afterward, and efpecially at the time 
 of our Saviour's appearance on earth, erred in 
 their hearts, and refifted the holy Ghofl to 
 their deftruftion. Time would fail to re- 
 cite the Perfons and Communities, yea So- 
 cieties that have been in the form of a gofpel 
 Churchy who are upon record, facred and pro- 
 fane, as monuments of this fad truth, that men 
 have been left to quench the Spirit to their 
 utter ruin. By this means many, who have 
 been partakers of the holy Ghofl in divers of 
 ^lis gifts and operations, have apoftatized, and 
 Heh. vi. 4, tJone defpite to this Spirit of grace. Thus per- 
 compared. ^^ns may enjoy many favours of an external 
 nature, and be followed with convidlions, and 
 yet be void of faving grace ; their un mortified 
 lufts may return and quench the light, and 
 thefe refiftings aggravate their future con- 
 demnation. 
 
 Moreover, there are-fweet and peculiar in- 
 fluences of the divine Spirit on the hearts of 
 the regenerate, whereby they are indulged with 
 that degree of light and capacity, which mini- 
 fters to their joy and ufefulnefs ; thefe may, 
 through their own folly, be fufpended and 
 withdrawn ; for tho* (blefled be God) the ha- 
 bit of grace cannot be deftroy'd, yet the vi- 
 gour of our graces may decline, and their lively 
 exercife abate \ the Spirit may fo withdraw 
 from his own people as to leave them low and 
 
 dead 
 
quenching the Spirit, 1 9 
 
 deatl in their frames i their hearts may be 
 
 forrowful and diftrefl: in confequence of his 
 
 departure, and this ufually follows upon thei^ 
 
 fpiritual Hoth and negle<5l of his work : Hence 
 
 the apoftle exhorts. Grieve not the holy Sprit Ephef. iv. 
 
 of God ^ whereby ye are fealed unto the day of re- ^°* 
 
 defnption. 
 
 This is what thefe I'beJ/'alonians are com- 
 manded, viz. that they would do nothing to 
 offend the divine Spirit ; beware of neglecting 
 his kindnefs and grace in the midft of them, 
 left he fliould withdraw and fufpend thofe in- 
 fluences and manifeftations of his power, with 
 which they had hitherto been indulged •, but on 
 the contrary, that they would cherifh his mo- 
 tions upon their hearts, and feek to promote 
 his honour and work amongft them. 
 
 Now this is a leffon to all perfons who 
 have felt any thing of the divine work upon 
 their fouls, or that are indulged with any de- 
 gree of fpiritual light and comfori:, whether 
 in fellowfliip with the Churches of Chrift or 
 not. It is no lefs adapted for the warning of all 
 religious Societies, whether incorporated in the 
 order of a Church- ftate or otherwife. 
 
 The inllru6lion of the paffage thus ex- 
 plain'd may be comprized in the following 
 obfervation, viz. It Ihould be the great con- 
 cern of all who profefs the fear of God, and 
 are favoured with the divine prefence and bJef- 
 fmg, whether in a private, or publick capa- 
 D 2 city. 
 
^9 An Exhortation againjl 
 
 cjiy, to, take heed they quench not the Spirit. 
 Which brings me to the next thing propofed, 
 
 III. To ofTering fome rcafons for exciting 
 our regard to this exhortation. 
 
 The reafonablenefs and importance of at- 
 tending to the caution is fo obvious upon what 
 has been faid, 1 fhall not multiply or enlarge 
 on this head, but content myfelf with little 
 more than mentioning two or three arguments, 
 that I may have the greater opportunity for 
 treating on the next head of difcourfe, which 
 • I have principally in view for our farther im- 
 
 L provement. 
 
 FirJI:^ T{ien, in order to quicken our atten- 
 tion, let us confider, to the Spirit we are in- 
 debted for all that degree of light and thofe 
 heavenly gifts wc enjoy : If we have any true 
 knowledge in the gofpel, any faving faith in 
 Chrift, any degree of the love of God in our 
 hearts, he is the efficient caufe : It is owing to 
 the manifeftations and operations ot the bleffed 
 Spirit, that a perfon is endowed with any va- 
 luable gift, or the leaft meafure of grace ; If 
 religious Societies, or gofpel Churches exift, 
 are furnifliM and edify, it muft be afcribed to 
 his Jove and power ; to quench the Spirit 
 therefore, and thereby offend his holinefs, is 
 to abufe the richeft grace, and be guilty of 
 the higheft ingratitude. 
 
 Secondly^ The continuance of his prefence 
 and gracious operations are abfolutely neceffary 
 
 to 
 
' quenching the Spirit, ^i 
 
 to our future comfort and edification. Duties 
 are pcr;o;m'd, and privileges enjoy'd, without 
 zuy iCiifibJe pleafare and advantage in the hearts 
 or Socierics of Chriftians, when the Spirit de- 
 parts and ceafes to exert his mighty power; 
 for under, this alone, the bed of means becomes 
 effedlual to filvation ; the fufpenfipii of his 
 heavenly influences is attended with darknefs, 
 and dedenfion, if not deftrudlion. 
 
 'Thirdly, The Spirit has withdrawn from 
 many perlbns and Societies, who rebelling a- 
 gainft him have quenched his work in and a- 
 mong them ; he will not always drive ; wc 
 have already mention'd divers inilances of this 
 kind. Thefe have been overthrown and de- 
 ftroy'd thro' their perverfenefs and unbelief; 
 we fhould therefore be warned left we fall after 
 the fame example. Thefe things may juftly 
 awviken our diligence, to avoid every thing 
 that has the leaft tendency to quench the Spi- 
 rit : To him we are indebted for all the fpiri- 
 tual gifts and graces we enjoy, his prefence 
 and influence are necefi^ry to our comfort and 
 advantage, and there are awful inftances of his 
 leaving thofe who have rebelled againfl: him» 
 and vexed him. I pafs on *, 
 
 IV. To fet before you fome methods by 
 which many who enjoy the means of grace be- 
 come guilty of quenching the Spirit. 
 
 Now 
 
 • If this fermon be thought too long to read at once, 
 here is a proper period. 
 
22 An Exhortation againjl 
 
 Now as perfons may be confidered enjoying 
 the Spirit in his fpecial prefence, and fenfiblc 
 operations, under a twofold capacity, vix. pri- 
 vate, and publick, I Ihall attempt fome in- 
 llru(5tion by ranging my thoughts under this 
 head into two general divifions, the particular 
 branches of which I fhall endeavour to adapt to 
 each of thefe capacities diflinftly ; by this means 
 I may the more advantageoufly deteft and guard 
 againft thofe temptations peculiar to the one 
 and the other, and fo under the divine blef- 
 fmg, profitably addrefs each perfon on this im- 
 portant fubjed as he may be refpedively cir- 
 cumftanced. 
 
 Firfi^ I would expofe to view and caution 
 againrt fome occafions, or methods of quenching 
 the Spirit in regard to private experience, and 
 with refpeft to the Spirit's work on the fouls 
 of men feparately confidered. And, 
 
 I. This is done by ftifling of convi(5lion ; 
 that there are many inward motions and con- 
 vidions raifed in the minds of men under the 
 means of grace, which they thro* the power 
 of fin and unbelief ftifle, is generally allowed, 
 and indeed few, if any, upon refleftion, can 
 acquit themfelves from the guilt of this per- 
 verfenefs •, this is far from proving any thing 
 againft the irrefiftible nature of the Spirit's 
 operations, as fome would fuggeft, but it mews 
 the wretched difpofition of our depraved 
 hearts, and the melancholy condition of fuch 
 
 from 
 
quenching the Spirit. 23 
 
 from whom the Spirit finally fufpends his un- 
 fruftrable grace : The Spirit may have concern 
 in raifing thofe convidions in perfons which 
 they, being left to themfelves, ftifle and render 
 abortive, in doing which they may be faid to 
 quench the Spirit. 
 
 I apprehend thofe who Tit under the preach- 
 ing of the word fooner, or later, fall under 
 fuch con virions with refped to fin, and righ- 
 teoufnefs, and judgment to come, as in cafe 
 of final impenitcncy will aggravate their con- 
 demnation, in that day when God fhall judge 
 the fecrets of hearts by Jefus Chrifl: : In that 
 awful day of revelation, multitudes, yea I 
 believe all who perilh under the means of 
 grace, will then be fclf-condemned, and will 
 appear wilfully^ tho* perhaps fecretly^ under the 
 power of fome Jud, or temptation, to have 
 rejefled the council of God againft themfelves, 
 and negledted the great falvation (God for- 
 bid it Ihould be the lot of any prefent) but I 
 am of opinion * all who difobey the Gofpel 
 will be found quenchers of the Spirit. 
 
 The Perfons addreft in our text are fuppofed 
 to have received fome fenfible imprefilons, and 
 that their hearts were enlightened and warmed 
 by the divine Spirit, otherwife they could not 
 be the proper fubjeds of this exhortation ; to 
 
 quench, 
 
 * But thofe mine enemies which njoould not that I fhould 
 reign over them, l^c. Luke xix. 27. Thus the enemies 
 of Chrift will be charged with perverfenefs upon the 
 execution of divine vengeance. 
 
24 An Exhortation againjl 
 
 quench, implies fire or light, fo that there 
 mull have been fome kindlings and illumina- 
 tions of the Spirit, either of an ordinary and 
 common, or of an extraordinary and faving 
 nature, to render the caution pertinent. Now 
 when perfons thus wrought upon refill thefe mo- 
 tions, and ftifle thefe conviftions that arife from 
 ,., fuch impreflions, they are guilty of quenching 
 the Spirit. 
 
 For inftance, when the word enters the con- 
 fcience under the influences of the Spirit fo as 
 to give a fenfe of fin in heart. Or life, and 
 thereby calls for humiliation and repentance, 
 whether this refpedls our conduft in the houfe 
 of God, or our own, if we endeavour to 
 fupprefs the conviftion and fhake ofi^ the con- 
 cern raifed in our minds, or if we continue in 
 that fin, we are then guilty of this evil. Again, 
 when under hearing of the word, or by any 
 other means we are reproved for a practice we 
 cannot without felf-denial forfake, or when we 
 are convinced of a docffcrine, or an ordinance of 
 the gofpel, an open .and zealous avouchraent 
 of which will expofe us to fcorn and difficulty : 
 I fay, when under fuch circumftances, we do 
 thro* the prevalency of fome luft, from fear 
 and cowardice, or for the fake of eafe, ftifle 
 thefe convictions ; in fuch inftances, we quench 
 the Spirit. 
 
 1 believe it will appear upon examination^ 
 
 that fometimes even while perfons are hearing, 
 
 reading. 
 
quenching the Spirit, 2 e 
 
 reading, or meditating on the word, they are 
 betrayed into this evil, and at the very inftanc 
 of illumination, betake themfeJves to carnal 
 reafonings, by which they labour as much as 
 poflible, to reconcite themfelves to a difregard 
 of the voice of conicience J fuch are frequently 
 the workings of our vain and hypocritical 
 minds, even when engaged in an attendance 
 on the means of grace ; thus the flefh is luft^ 
 ing againft the Spirit in folemn duties, info- 
 much that were our hearts differed and laid 
 open to view, we fhould have juft caufe of 
 fliame ; but thefe convidions recei\^ed under 
 the miniftration of the word, are oftner ftifled 
 by rufhing into the cares of the world, or the 
 pleafures of fenfe, after the opportunity is 
 over ; by what means foever it is effedled, 
 this is quenching the Spirit. 
 
 2. The Spirit is quenched when thofe duties 
 are neglefted, that are adapted and appointed 
 tofeedandcherillithls fire in the foul. * Agree- 
 able to what has been obferved in the expla- 
 nation, when we are commanded not to quench 
 the Spirit, it implies an exhortation to ftir 
 E him 
 
 * What the apoftle exhorts timothy rerpe<?Hng his ex-» 
 traordinary gift, 'u'ljt. not to negleft, but to ftir it up, 
 1 Ephef. iv. 14. 2 Ephef. i. 6. is applicable to all gifts, 
 and graces of the Spirit ; for by not ftirlng them up 
 in the ufe of means, light grows dim, and love abates 
 its fervency. Believers themfelves ihamefully leave, tho' 
 they Ihall not utterly lofe their firft love. 
 
26 An "Exhortation agatnfl 
 
 -him up, and by all appointed means, to main- 
 tain his work upon us -, now there are divers 
 methods of attaining this, iuch as frequent 
 fupplication at the throne of grace, felf-exa- 
 mination, and ferious meditation on what we 
 have felt of his operations upon us v to the 
 fame tendency is diligent reading the fcriptures, 
 converfation upon fpiritual things, making 
 fuch our companions who fear God, and in a 
 word, following the diclates of our confcien- 
 ces i thefe and fuch like are the natural and 
 proper methods to maintain and promote the 
 Spirit's work on our hearts, and the omiflion 
 of thefe duties bring a perfon under the charge 
 of quenching the Spirit. A fire neglected 
 goes out ; he whofe interefV, or duty it is to 
 preferve it, if he does not ufe the means, is as 
 really, tho' not fo heinoujly^ guilty, as he that 
 pours water upon it, Jlnd thereby extinguifhes 
 it. Many are warmed under hearing the 
 word, they are favoured with fome fpiritual 
 light, and their affedtions are railed to divine 
 things, fo that their hearts have burned with- 
 in them •, but for want of meditation, private 
 prayer, and fpiritual converfation, it has all 
 been loft and gone off like a vapour. This is 
 too generally the cafe in the prefent day ; 
 there is no occafion to prove it by any parti- 
 cular inftances, if we may judge by the tem- 
 per and condu(5l of many, who feem to tafte 
 fome fv\^eetnefs in hearing, yet regard the word 
 
 but 
 
quenching the Spirit* ^y 
 
 bat as a lovely fong •, the little favour of 
 divine things in their converlation, and want 
 of zeal for the ordinances of Chrill, fo jufl:- 
 \y lamented, manifeftly difcover it. Altho* 
 perfons may not be fo abandoned and harden- 
 ed as to fet himfelf againfl, and wilfully 
 oppofe the work of the Spirit, yet thro* neg- 
 ligence of this fort, they may give place to 
 the devil and leave room for their lufts to 
 quench it. Such are guilty of this evil, and 
 have reafon to humble themfelves before 
 God. 
 
 3. The Spirit is quenched when gifts are 
 negledled or experience concealed ; a fire oft- 
 en goes out when it is confined and kept too 
 clofe, by this means it always deadens and 
 lofes much of its heat and vigour. This 
 obfervation may feem a little foreign to the 
 metaphor in the text, but it anfwers the in- 
 (truftion intended thereby ; the defign of the 
 pafiliges and the allufion in it, is to warn us 
 againft abating, or extinguifliing the Spirit 
 and his motions, as fire is extinguifhed or put 
 out •, now this is fometimes the confequence 
 of not ftirring it up, or opening it and giving 
 it room to difplay itfelf, and diffufe its heat 
 abroad ; every thing that obftru(5ls the opera- 
 tion and influence of the Spirit*s work, is 
 included in the exhortation. 
 
 There are diverfities of gifts among profef- 
 
 Ibrs which are diftributed from the exalted 
 
 E 2 head 
 
3 8 An 'Exhortation againjl 
 
 head of the Church for the work of the mi- 
 niftry and the edification of his myflical body •» 
 I Cor. xii. thefe are all wrought by the Spirit i when his 
 "' gifts of wifdom and knoNvledge, utterance and 
 
 prophecy are neglected, defpifcd, or fuppreft, 
 cither in ourfelves, or others, the Spirit is 
 quenched : perfons are fometimes tempted to 
 fupprefs the gifts be(tov/ed upon others thro* 
 pride and prejudice, or perhaps thro* an over- 
 value of thofe human acquirements, which 
 fome fuch gifted perfons may be deftitute of, 
 and which however to be efteemed in their 
 place, are of fmall fervice for fpiritual profit, 
 unlefs the fubjetfl is endowed with fome fpiritual 
 gift from above *. There is room to fear we 
 are very guilty in this point in our day, and 
 by all appearance this negligence will foon be 
 lamented, in the want of Inftruments for the 
 fervice of the fanduary ; but this feems more 
 properly belonging to the methods of quenchr 
 ing the Spirit in a focial, or publick capacity. 
 It is no lefs certain many are tempted to 
 hide their talents, and ftifle the gifts they 
 themfelves have received for ufefulnefs, thro* 
 (loth and felfiftineis, thro' fhame and fear, or 
 b^&^ . it 
 
 ♦ When gifts are not prayed for, not fought after, 
 not cultivated, or when they are not encourged and 
 employed, it tends greatly to oiFend the divine Spirit 
 and quench his wcrk j and whether by all lymptoms, 
 thefe defires and endeavours are not greatly wanting in 
 the prefent time, I leave every obferving Chriftian OH 
 Tefle<iUon to judge. 
 
quenching the Spirit. 29 
 
 It may be thro' a love to their pleafures and 
 fenfual enjoyments which the diligent and con- 
 Hant exercife of their talents would interrupt, 
 thus they negled: the gift that is in them. Va- 
 rious are the caufes that betray men into this 
 evil ; but all fuch negligence is criminal, 'tis 
 quenching the Spirit j gifts are loft for want of 
 exercife, and if they remain, the end of their 
 being beftow'd is ioft ; for the manifefiation i Or. xli. 
 of the Spirit is given to every man to profit 7' 
 withal ; let every one therefore beware of yield- 
 ing to fuch temptations. '^■'^■ 
 Moreover, when perfons conceal their ex-^ 
 perience and are backward to make known 
 the divine power they have felt, to acknow- 
 ledge their con virions, and confefs the mani-' 
 feftations of love and mercy vouchfafed unto 
 them, they hereby quench the Spirit. The 
 paffage laft quoted is applicable to an expe- 
 rience of the grace of God in converfion, and 
 when after illuminations and comforts are re- 
 ceived, as well as to gifts ; for the defign of 
 all the difpenfations of divine love and grace 
 into our hearts by the holy Ghoft Is that his 
 name may be praifed, and hi$ people encou- 
 raged ; fuch who keep filence and are not rea- 
 dy to fay with David ^ Come, and hear all ye pr , gg 
 that fear God, and 1 will declare what he hai 16. 
 done for my foul, are chargeable with the evil 
 dehorted in the text. But 1 proceed, 
 
 4. The 
 
JO An exhoj'tation agamjl 
 
 4. The indulgence of any known fin has a 
 fure and unhappy influence to occafion the Spi- 
 rit's departure, and put out the light, or a- 
 bate the fpirituai warmth begotten in our fouls 
 under his gracious influences. Many quench 
 the Spirit by allowing themfelves in the omif- 
 fion of known duties, which is a great affront 
 to this holy One, who has revealed and convin- 
 ced us of any infl:itution of the Lord appointed 
 for his honour and our fpirituai edification ; 
 but the tendency this has to extinguifli the Spirit 
 we have feen under a former head. 
 
 More efpecially does the wilful gratification 
 of any lufl: tend to quench the Spirit ; when 
 perfons after being warmed with convifbions, 
 or entertained with delight in any ordinance 
 publick, or private, go away and plunge 
 themfelves into any iniquities their confciencies 
 teflify againft, it obdurates the heart, darkens 
 the underftanding, fenfual affeflions gain the af- 
 cendant, and over-run the foul, fo that all fpi- 
 rituai light and heat with which their minds were 
 impreft mud vanifh and wear off in courfe. Thus 
 the iron of the Smith when heated in the fire till 
 'tis almoft melted down, glows and burns as 
 the fire itfelf, but being haftily thrown into 
 •water inftantly changes its complexion, and 
 becomes cold and even harder than before it 
 paffed under the operation ; t;he application is 
 eafy. 
 
quenching the Spirit, 31 
 
 Fire is quenched by pouring upon it the 
 oppofite element, water : Now water is not 
 more oppofite to fire, than the lulls of the 
 flefh are to the divine Spirit and his opera- 
 tions ; the Spirit's work takes place upon and 
 tends to the deftrudlion of fin j there is a na- 
 tural, neceflary, and violent conteft between 
 the motion of the Spirit and the motion of 
 fin in the members j the flejh lujleth againjl Cal. \C 
 the Spirit, and the Spirit againji the flejh: *7* 
 and thefe are contrary the one to the other^ 
 &c. Nothing therefore has a more dired: and 
 dreadful influence towards extinguifhing fpiri- 
 tual light and holy afFeftions than the indul- 
 gence of pride, paflion, fenfuality, or any finful 
 appetite, foon after the enjoyment of the means 
 of grace and fome imprefTions upon the mind 
 under it. To thefe crifriinal allowances Satan 
 is continually waiting to captivate the minds, 
 efpecially of young profeffors, whofe youthful 
 lufts greatly expofe them to his fnare. 
 
 Thus the Spirit is often quenched by perfons 
 in a private capacity, or with refpeft to his 
 work on their own fouls. They frequently, 
 under one temptation and another, are doing 
 this, by ftifling their convidtions, by negledling 
 thofe duties that are adapted and appointed to 
 maintain and promote the Spirit's work upon 
 them ; by negleding their gifts, and concealing 
 their experience, and by allowing themfelves in 
 the pra6tice of any known fin. Thefe things tend 
 
 to 
 
32 An Exhofiailon againji 
 
 to prejudice,; and are often permitted to hinder" 
 the influence of the Spirit's motions, they ex- 
 tinguifh the light, and abate the fpiritual warmth 
 produced under ordinances, and grieve or offend 
 the holy Spirit, who is often hereby provoked 
 to withdraw : this is quenching the Spirit. 
 Which brings me, as propos'd. 
 
 Secondly^ To fet before you fome of thofe 
 methods by which the Spirit is quenched by 
 profefTors confider'd in a focialj or publick 
 capacity. And, 
 
 I. When the members of religious focieties 
 or churches negled thofe dated aflemblies by 
 which the work of the Lord is to be carried 
 on in the midft: of them ; perfons who enter 
 into facred engagements with one another for 
 the ends of fpiritual edification, and are floth- 
 ful and backward to afiemble with the body 
 at the appointed feafons for coming together 
 are guilty of this evil. Union is neceffary to 
 warmth, the brifkeft: fire will go out upon 
 feparating the coals and keeping them afunder ; 
 a zealous affeftion for Chrift, his caufe and one 
 another is promoted in a chriftian fociety by 
 frequent and univerfal afTociating of its feveral 
 members 5 and this vigour abates in propor- 
 tion to a negligence thereof. Yet fuch is the 
 condud. of many who have entered into church- 
 fellowfliip, or contradled with a religious fo- 
 ciety of a lower clafs, that they wander about 
 till thro* the fpread of fuch a vagrant incli- 
 nation 
 
quenching the Spirit, 3 3 
 
 nation, to ufe the words of the prophet, 2 Ifaiah 
 there is not a coal to warm, and the whole ' ^^ 
 ftrudure beconnes lifelefs and unprofitable : 
 This unreafonable conduft in the members of 
 any Society*, as it tends tothededrudlion of the 
 body, fo It difcourages the hearts of thofe with 
 whom they are thus engaged ; thefore every 
 nich wilful omifllon of a member throws fome 
 quantity of cold water on the Society to which 
 he belongs : If perfons in fellowfhip, thro' love 
 to their temporal profits and carnal pleafures, or 
 from a wavering djfpofition, make a pradlice 
 of abfenting themfelves when there is a gather^ 
 ing. together for the miniftration of the word 
 and adminiflration of the ordinances and.dif- 
 cipline of Chrift's houfe, they are quenchers of 
 the Spirit -, for hereby their own affediions are 
 more and more deadned to the body, hereby 
 alfo the fpirits of their fellow-members are 
 fadened, and thus the fpiritual fervour, joy and 
 zeal, which once prevailed and would otherwife 
 be maintained, is extinguifh'd and loft. Too 
 many who are join'd to chriftian Societies, by 
 their temper and behaviour feem to have crept in 
 F for 
 
 * The reafonablenefs and juftice of avoiding this de- 
 ftrudlive praftice I lately took occafion to mention in 
 the Redeemer s charge agai>:Jt his declining Churches, 
 pag. 24. The fame negleft which is owing to the abate- 
 ment of love, if continued in, decreafes it liill more, 
 and at length, as it has been experienc'd, in fome 
 melancholy inllances, it has utterly extinguifh'd the 
 power and fpirit of religion in a Society, and itTued in 
 , their diffolution. 
 
34 ^^ Kxhortatton againjl 
 
 for no other purpofe but to be the Engines for 
 quenching the fire of divine love and that holy 
 zeal which is the animating fpring of adion in 
 every fpiritual Corporation, whereby its feve- 
 ral members are edified : Whatever their own 
 defigns may be, this is the evident ufe Satan 
 makes of them under a profeflion ; and how- 
 ever they may defpife the entreaties, or exhor- 
 tations of their minifters and fellow-chriftians, 
 who are grieved fnr their condufl, if fuch 
 perfons are not humbled under a fenfe of their 
 felly, it may be expefted their end will be 
 according to their works. 
 
 2. The Spirit is fometimes quenched by a mif- 
 improvement of the time when we are alTem- 
 bled together ; a deficiency of this kind may 
 be found in Churches, efpecially in thofe Af- 
 femblies that are appointed for the difcipline 
 of Chrifl;*s houfe ; it becomes each member to 
 behave himfelf with reverence and order in 
 the houfe of God, to avoid every thing that 
 is light and airy, and much more every thing 
 that favours of arrogance and felfifhnefs ; fuch 
 ■ ought to ftudy wifdom, humility and love in 
 all they fay or do, as they are call'd upon in 
 the fight of the Lord : Sometimes members of 
 Churches do not behave themfelves after this 
 manner on fuch folemn occafions ; the confe- 
 quence has been confufion and contention a- 
 mong them. This tends to prejudice the in- 
 tereft of Chrift and the work of the Lord in 
 
 the 
 
quenching the Spirit. 3 5 
 
 the midfl: of them, the holy Spirit ufually with- 
 draws from fuch a people, and rhey quickly 
 become coJd and formal. 
 
 But under this head I have a more immedi- 
 ate regard to Chriftian Societies of an inferior 
 order. The old Serpent is generally too cunning 
 for young converts. Man is a focial Being in 
 every ftate and condition ; agreeable to which 
 thofe who are beginning to feek the kingdom 
 of God and his righteoufnefs, naturally fall into 
 fociety. Now when Satan cannot tempt them 
 from accompanying together for their mutual 
 edification, he attempts to pervert their defiga 
 by enfnaring them into fpending their time, at 
 leaft fo as to exclude, as much as pofTible, thofc 
 exercifcs that are mod likely to anlwer their end. 
 
 For inftance, inflead of being principally 
 exercifed in earneft fupplications at the throne 
 of grace, an exercife which is moft conducive 
 to promote humility and fpiritual edification, 
 an exercife by which young plants are, as it 
 were, water'd by the Spirit to their growth in 
 grace ; I fay inftead of chiefly exercifing them- 
 felves in this foul-nourifhing duty, they are 
 captivated to lay out much of their time in 
 fpeaking from texts of fcriptures, and in fre- 
 quent and long finging, ^c. inftead of keep- 
 ing clofe in their con verfation, to points of ex- 
 perience, and filling up part of the opportu- 
 nity in relating any frefli excrcifes they have 
 F 2 Iiad 
 
36^ An Exhortation aga'mjl 
 
 had with the corruptions of their hearts, with 
 the temptations of Satan, or in rehearfing any 
 frefh light, or renewed teftimony of divine 
 love whereby their knowletlge and faith have 
 been increafed, or their hopes revived : I lay, 
 inftead of employing themlelves after this 
 manner, and thus declaring in the fimphcity of 
 their minds the dealings of the Spirit with their 
 fouls, the crafty Tempter often deludes them 
 into vain and impertinent queftions which have 
 a fhew of wifdom, but are not for godly edify- 
 ing. 
 
 I fpeak not againft young Profeflbrs admo- 
 nifhing each other in pfalms and hymns and 
 fpiritual fongs when alTembled together, but 
 would rather promote that appointed and de- 
 lightful means of grace -, nor would I difcoun- 
 tenance an humble communication of the light 
 afforded to any, into any particular part of 
 fcripture, or debating fome fpecial points of 
 dodtrine, concerning which feveral may have 
 doubts : Thefe things are profitable when pur- 
 fued with that modefty which becomes thofe 
 who are newly enlighten'd ; but when fuch 
 things, under any pretence, intrude upon prayer, 
 and godly conference about experimental 
 thino-s, it becomes a fnare. It is ufually found 
 fuch condud degenerates into ftrife about 
 words, and adminifters to pride, by which 
 Cometh contention, and this excites thofe lufts 
 which are contrary to the Spirit, and quenches 
 
 hu-D 5 
 
quenchmg the Spirit. 37 
 
 him •, beware therefore of thefe things, for 
 fuch meetings together are not for the better 
 but for the worfe. 
 
 3. Another thing which quenches the Spirit 
 in religious Societies is partiality -, the divine 
 Spirit is no refpefter of perfons, and it offends 
 him, and tends to dcftroy harmony and affedion 
 in a Society when partiality is indulged. Now 
 this generally follows upon the aforementioned! 
 abufe of their folemn meetings ; when young 
 Chriftians employ themfelves in their affmblies 
 after the manner defcribed, the carnality of 
 their minds is excited, and there foon appears 
 a refpedt of perfons ; when this is the cafe, 
 fome are exalted above meafure, and others 
 depreciated as low ; on the one hand, the 
 Spirit himfelf, who is the author of all gifts, 
 and under whofe influence alone they can be be- 
 neficial to each other in the exercife of their 
 fpiritual talents, is neglected ; this divine. Com- 
 forter, I fay, is little thought of, ""or depended 
 upon, and as feldom the fubjeft of their prayers, 
 or praifes •, on the other hand weak believers, 
 whofe knowledge and gifts are but fmall, are de- 
 fpifed and difcouraged j this often occafions the 
 light and affeflion of a Society to go out, it 
 quenches the fpark in thefe little ones, and 
 is highly provoking to that Spirit who created 
 it in their fouls •, for it is contrary to his mind 
 who will not quench the fmoaking fiax, till 
 he hath finilhed his work where he has be- 
 gun 
 
38 -^ft Exhortation aga'infl 
 
 gun it, and hath brought forth judgment unto 
 vidory. 
 
 4. The Spirit is quenched when a Society 
 retains thofe among them who hold errors fub- 
 verfive of the true gcfpel, or indulge them- 
 felves in pradlices that are unbecoming their 
 holy profeffion ; prophane and ungodly per- 
 fons in a Community by their temper and con- 
 dud are quenchers of the Spirit j the exam- 
 ple and influence of fuch make againft the 
 increafe of fpiritual fervour in the fervice of 
 the Lord ; thefe perfons are continually en- 
 deavouring to difcourage all felf-denying mea- 
 fures propofed, or taken, by a Society for 
 the manifeftitative glory of the Redeemer, 
 or their mutual edification; the zeal of others 
 is a refiedion upon them, and therefore they 
 object to it, and by fecret, or open methods 
 difcountenance it as much as pofTible ; it has 
 often been found that connivance at fuch per- 
 fons in a Community has been attended with 
 the lofs of their vigour, till thro* the departure 
 of the holy Spirit, all their vital heat and fpi- 
 ritual light has been extinguifhed. 
 
 5. And laftly, It alfo quenches the Spirit 
 when the meetings of Chriflians for godly edi- 
 fication are followed with vain and trifling 
 converfation ; this is a fnare Chriftians are 
 frequently entangled with, either in different 
 company, or with one another ; if the latter, 
 the more dangerous j when members of churches 
 
 have 
 
quenching the Spini, 39 
 
 have been together in the houfe of God, where 
 their hearts have been affefted with what they 
 have feen and heard, and in fome meafure 
 humbled, rejoiced and inftruded, for any 
 number of them to go away, and immediately 
 tall into converfation about trifling matters is 
 very prejudiciaJ, for this efFedualJy takes off 
 the favour of divine things, and banilhes that 
 fpiritual light and comfort they have received, 
 and renders them carnal in their frames ; what 
 is this but quenching the Spirit ? 
 
 Thus it is in refped: to all ether religous 
 Societies, for this has been a fatal evil and 
 deftroyed the good effedls of many a fweCt 
 opportunity •, young profcfTors after they have 
 been together, and been made inflrumental of 
 exciting in each other fome fpiritual livelinefe 
 and joy, have frequently been deluded into 
 foolifh talking and jefting which is not con- 
 venient, whereby ail the advantage of that 
 feafon has been lofl: i all frothy converfation 
 among fuch perfons. at fuch a time more efpe- 
 cially, fruftrates the defign of their fellowfhip, 
 and pulls down every thing that has been 
 built up in their attendance upon duty to- 
 gether. Beware therefore of this pra(5lice, for 
 our vain minds are exceeding prone to this 
 evil, and Satan is peculiarly vigilant to delude 
 us into it, after having been exercifed together 
 in fpiritual matters, knowing if he (hould pre- 
 vail, (as he too frequently does) it effedlually 
 
 quenches 
 
^ An "Exhortation againjl 
 
 quenches and extinguifhes the holinefs and 
 fpirituality of our frames. 
 
 Thefe are the methods by which perfons 
 quench the Spirit in a fecial, or publick capa- 
 city -, VIZ. by ncglefting the dated aflemblies 
 of the Society whereof they are members, by 
 a mifinprovement of the time when afiembhed 
 together, when a partiahty prevails amongft 
 them, by retaining profane, or immoral per- 
 fons in the Community, and thro' impertinent 
 and frothy converfation together, efpecially 
 after they have been engaged with one another 
 in religious exerciles ; all thefe pra(5tices abate 
 fpirituality and zeal, hinder the advancement 
 of light and holinefs, and often occafion the 
 Spirit of grace to depart in a way of judg- 
 ment. 
 
 It remains only that I attend to the 
 
 V. and lafi: thing propofed, wz. To fhew 
 the melancholy confequences of quenching the 
 Spirit. 
 
 This has been in fome meafure anticipated, 
 efpecially under the fecond general, upon 
 which confideration, together with that of my 
 having already detained you fo long, I Ihall 
 but juft mention the particulars, and draw to a 
 clofe. 
 
 Firfl^ By this means all true pleafure in 
 religion is loft -, fuch violence offered to an en- 
 lightened confcience deftroys all delight in du- 
 
quenching the Spirit, 4 c 
 
 ty, the mind is hereby rendered incapable of 
 Spiritual joy ; the Spirit thus refilled and 
 quenched withdraws his gracious influences* 
 the deferted foul is depreft and funk, and her 
 appetite for heavenly food is gone. "When 
 this is the cafe, the Chriftian finds a leannefs 
 of Spirit, he is exceeding dull and heavy in 
 his private frame, and every thing grows for- 
 mal and lifelefs in a focial way. 
 
 Secondly^ Infeflion incfeafes both as to do- 
 ctrine and praftice ; when the Spirit is quench- 
 ed, the flefii quickens, the hearts of particular 
 perfons are fubjed to deceitful lulls, and eafily 
 captivated to the law of fin in the members j 
 the Church, or Society, where this evil is 
 continued in, being juftly forfaken, is expofed 
 to delufions, and becomes a prey to every De- 
 ceiver, and unlefs the Lord, in great mercy, 
 returns to revive his work, a people grow worfe 
 and worfe. 
 
 Thirdly, It brings great diftrefs on the con- 
 fciences of Believers when they are awakened 
 to convicSt;on ; fometimes it pleafes God to 
 convince fuch of their folly, and make thenl 
 fenfible of their ingratitude, fo that after they 
 have provoked the Spirit to withdraw, they 
 are led to fee the forro\\^ful alteration, and be- 
 wail the unhappy confequences of his depar- 
 ture from them. This is accompanied with 
 bitternefs, and efpecialjy as they are ufually 
 G left 
 
42 An 'Exhortation agalnji 
 
 Jefc to feek and cry a long time before he re- 
 turns with his cheating influences. But, 
 
 Fourthly^ If in judgment, (which is fome- 
 times the awful cafe) any are left to impeni- 
 tency, the end is fore and heavy deftruftioni 
 By this means, Societies without number have 
 been ruined, many Churches have been dif- 
 folved, and a multitude of profeflbrs, who 
 have had only the form of godlinefs, have 
 funk under the weight of aggravating guilt 
 into endlefs mifery. Such are the dreadful 
 confequences of quenching the Spirit ! 
 
 v/I clofe with a Ihort refledion or two. 
 
 I. We fee the bold impiety, and fatal folly of 
 thofe who deny the perfonality, deity, and 
 operations of the blelTed Spirit. It is too 
 common in the prefent day for perfons who 
 call themfelves Chridians, not only to oppofe 
 the do(5lrines that relate to the perfon and glo- 
 ry of Jefus Chrift, and the way of falvation 
 by him, and thereby give juft offence to the 
 Holy Ghoft, by whom the prophets and apo- 
 ftles were infpired j but they alfo deny the 
 reality, and much more the neceflity of his 
 divine agency in the hearts of God's children, 
 yea, they ridicule all Chriltian experience j 
 po wonder fuch are given up to blindnefs 
 of heart, and a reprobate mind ; we need not 
 
 be 
 
quenching the Spirit, 43 
 
 be furprifcd to find their confciences are 
 feared as with an hot iron ; fuch pcrfons refill 
 the Holy Ghoft, who alone can molify, en- 
 lighten, and convert the foul, and if the 
 quenching his work has the forrowful efi^eft on 
 thofe who have not utterly difpifed him, as 
 before- mentioned, how can it be expelled thefe " 
 daring infidels fliould have any difcernment, 
 or fenfation of fpiritual things ? " 
 
 II. Let us bewail the fymptoms of quench- 
 ing the Spirit, that are apparent in the prefent 
 day. Whence is it there is fo much complaint 
 of the fpread of error .? Why is there fo little 
 confolation in Chrift, or edification in fellow- 
 fhip, fo little ftedfafinefs in the ways of the 
 Lord, or delight in his ordinances ? Is it not 
 becaufe we have, and do daily quench the 
 Spirit by our negligence and carnality '^. Do 
 we not ftifle conviftions, and omit thofe du- 
 ties that are proper to the maintaining a live- 
 linefs in our hearts, and in the Societies to 
 which we are related ? Are not gifts negleft- 
 ed ? Is not there too little communication oi 
 our experience, and too much indulgence of 
 fin ? Do we improve our time together as 
 becomes thofe who defire to fee the Spirit's 
 work flourifh in and among us ? Is there 
 that impartiality, and that faithfulnefs which 
 is acceptable to the Holy Spirit ? I prefume, 
 G 2 on 
 
44 -^^^ Exhortation agalnjl^ &'c. 
 
 on examination, it will be allowed that the 
 inftances by which the Spirit is quenched are 
 too frequently tbiind upon us. O let us each 
 examine ourfelves, and be concerned for the 
 Communities to which we feverally belong ; 
 let us watch againft thefe things, and make it 
 our daily and earneft fupplication, that the 
 ^ holy Spirit may not be taken from us. 
 
 In fine, let me befeech you, at whofe re- 
 quefl; I have now been fpeaking in publick, 
 to think of thefe things ; watch over your 
 hearts, be circumfpefl in all your afiemblies, 
 endeavouring by fupplications conjoined to all 
 other graces and duties to build up one another 
 in faith and holinefs ; and let fuch of you who 
 are members of this, or any other Church of 
 ChrilV, purfue this defign confiftent with your 
 duties in the houfe ot God. Remember your 
 greateft honour and higheft obligation is in 
 the Church to which you belong, take heed 
 therefore you are not deficient in your duties 
 there, while you are employing your thoughts 
 and time upon any other fcheme for edifica- 
 tion. In a confcientious regard to this, you may 
 expc(5t the Comforter will abide with you 
 and blefs all your endeavours for encouraging 
 others to tafte and fee the goodnefs of the 
 .Lord, with whom your fellowiliip fliall be 
 flill increafing, till you are made meet for the 
 fujl enjoyment of the inheritance among the 
 faints in light, 
 
 A 
 
45 
 
 A HYMN of Praife to the 
 Blessed Spirit. 
 
 I. 
 
 ADORE, ye faints, the heav'niy Dove, 
 His grace and pow*r proclaim, 
 Whofe quick'ning rays of light and love. 
 Revive your drooping frame. 
 
 II. 
 
 He firft awakens from the dead. 
 
 Doth life from Chrift impart, 
 4nd love divine by him is (hed 
 
 Abroad in ev*ry heart. 
 
 III. 
 
 As Fire refines the drofly Ore, 
 
 Our fouls he purifies. 
 And banifh'd comfort doth reftore. 
 
 Hence joys unknown arife. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Thus doth his grace our minds prepare, 
 
 To view our Saviour's face. 
 And oft before we are aware, 
 
 Enlivens ev'ry grace. 
 
 V. To 
 
46 y^ H Y M N, &^c. 
 
 V. 
 
 To light, from darknefs he doth turn. 
 
 And our affeftions raife. 
 Our hea,rts within us then do burn^ 
 
 To fing Jehovah's praife. 
 
 VI. 
 
 O may we never once offend, 
 . r His glorious holinefs, 
 Left he his influence fufpend. 
 And leave us in diftrefs. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
PubliJISd by the fame Author, 
 Printed for J.Ward in Little-Britain. 
 
 I . A I A H E Chriftian Life, in divers of its 
 X Branches, defcibed and recommend- 
 ed, in Four Parts ; being the Subftance of 
 fcveral Difcourfes on Philippians \v. from the 
 4th to the 7th Verfe inclufive. To which is 
 added, A ferious Exhortation to Prayer ; in 
 Two Sermons on i ^hejf. v. 17. ^vo. Price 
 Bound 5 J. 
 
 2. The Compaffion of the dying Saviour to 
 ibofe that crucified him, confidered and im- 
 proved. In a Sermon on Luke xxiii. 34. 
 Price 6d. 
 
 3. ^be Redeemer* s Charge againfl the Declining 
 Churches, exempHfied in the Cafe of the 
 Church of E-phefiis, and applied to the State 
 of Rehgion in the prefent Time. In which 
 the Symptoms, Caufes, and Confequences of 
 Declenfions in the Churches of Chrift are par- 
 ticuarly confider*d. Preached and publifhed, 
 with fome enlargement, at the Requeft of 
 thofe who heard it. Price i s. 
 
iPBr^ 
 
'ff. 
 

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