%K ■T ■ ■ ■ U i s .*? g J «f 2 % *** 3 -I— 1 £5 ^ 2 *J* Scc. Exodp .13* Let my people go % that they rkay ferve me. Ifa. 27. 7. Hath he fmitten him as hefmote thofe that [mote him ? &c. — ■ ■ . ■■ . — >■■■> m ■■■!■■■ ■_ »■ » ■■ tmwmmmmm *w iw ■*■■ 1 t * London^ Printed AnnoDom. 166$. To all that love our Lord Jcfusin fincerity, peace be multipJyed. [T is a law of Cu* flomes ntakingyto uJJjer in, what- foever is wade fublikc,by anE- piftle : That wbicb invites me to this general Dedication , is that of the ApoUle in i Cor. 3. 21, 11. All things are yours, whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas : The abilities of the Saints are in* tended for the benefit of the Saints, and thofe of a lower as well as of a higher Orbe; he A 2 that The Epiftle. that hath but one Talent, it ts given him for the edification of the body, as well as he that hath ten 5 and therefore I am willing to caji my Mite into your Trea- fury. Such who are taught of God , are alfo taught to bear with whatever weaknefs may dif cover it f elf in the following Treatife. If you will be at the pains to looh^ it over , you will find (I hope) truth ufeful, though in a plain and homely drefs 5 Mil\, rather then meat for Urono men\ and though but Milk^yet my hope is % lt will be ** q m> > aA " , fincere Milh^ as Peters exprejfion is, i Pet.2o2„ I have not at all endeavored to mal^e things acceptable byflou- rifies of Wit and Learning, beiw The E piftle. being per [waded, that that fire in which the Lords people have bin held, now fome years, hath purged yon from the drofs of nice and curious appetites : My defign through the whole ts , to help yon a little through the dijireffes of the prefent day $ and after that to prefent yon without blame in the day of Chriji : I thinly I may fay be- fore the fearcher of hearts , my defegns in this undertaking have been upright j and as far as I am able to judo e , I have been drawn to this Publication by the over-ruling hand of the hordj in as much as fuch a thing was never in my thoughts, until! eight parts of ten of this little Treatife were $ni- TheEpiftle, fnijhed. The day in which we livens a J c altering day\ and as the fad providences of the day drew me to conjider the 'text which I have enlarged upon y fo the fcatterings of poor fouls, and the remembrance of abfent friends , whofe faces I have not longfeenQnto whofe hands what I have written wiU I hope fall) hath much engaged me to fend it abroad. Into what handfoever it fhaU come, whe* ther Saint orfinner, the Lord, who fupplyeth feed to the Sow- er^ and Bread to the Eater j blefs this feed f and make it tifeful to its intended ends y as is the prayer of Tho. Blake. LIVING TRUTHS I N DYING TIMES. Some Medications upon this Text, Luk. 2i. j5.- Watch therefore and pray always 5 *^£ )/ and of his own coming : He is anfwering that que(Uon> which you will find the Dif- dples put to htm>whatthe figns Ibould B be, -z inlying t rmtjs be j and what ftiouldbe the fore-run- ners of the detfru&ion of Jernfalem; and alfo what fhould precede his own appearance and coming ; and he tells them that there fhould be providences very amazing and dreadful, that fhould be the Antecedents of both : So it is expreffed in the 2<;> i6.verfes> And there fhall beftgns in the Sun , and In the JUdoon* and in the Stars y and ny$rr the earth dlftrefs y anddiftrefs not limited and confined to a little corner onIy>£#f diftrefs of Nations ; and the dittrefs of Nations (hAuld have this effeft, Mens hearts (hould fall them for fear , and for looking at the things that were coming en. Now conficlcring thofe things that were to come to pais, our Lord fub- joyns a ferious and weighty piece of counfel for the directing of his own poor difciples, what they were to do, and how they were to carry it $ that ye have in the words I have read, Watch 7*,&c. In which words you have thefe three things obfervable, among o* thers. i. Dreadful things fuppofed, and that you have in that expreffion , Thefe things t n Dying Times. 5 things that (hall come to pafs ; that is* thefe wonderful, amazing and tremen- dous providences that I have hinted to you. 2. You hive a double duty impofed and given in charge , to the poor Dif- ciples of Chrili , and that is, Watch- fuinefs and Prayer ; welhfaith he^watch ye and pray, 1 f faith he) and pray al- ways ; not always in every time > that is not the meaning ; but pray always in every feafon (as the Origindl word is properly to be underftood ) pray in every feafon > be as much at it as you can ; get to it in every opportunity you can meet with , and follow the work clofely. And then 3. You have a double end propofed* to which thefe duties are a means ; and that is 5 firtt, The efcaping rht (hock and weight of thefe dreadful providences ; And fecondly, after thar* the being enabled to ft and before the Son of wan : For truely that is that we are to have a look unto , and not onely to fix the eye upon and be anxious about prefent Difpenfations, and the wea- thering through fuch a ftorm, but how to fiand before the Son of man * which B % will 4 Living i raws will be more weighty, and a greater and I other kind of thing, then any prefenc f providence can be ; it will have more I of terror in it then any prefent provi- dences canpofiibly have. There are abundance of excellent truths would flow from this Scripture ; I fhall con- cent my felf to colle£t four or five, which I conceive to be the efpecial de- fign of our Lord Jefus in thefe words, and that ( through Grace ) may be ef- pecially ufeful to your fouls. i . Then from hence I would com- mend to you this truth > that there are certain times and feafons , in which dreadful things , fad providences muft inavoidably break in upon the world : this I gather thus, All thefe things that fhall come to pflfs : as if he fhould have faid D There are fad things, there are providences very grievous, fuch as fhall make the heart to ake > and trembling to poffefs the fpirits of moft men up- on the face of the earth s yet faith he, they are fuch as muft come to pafe, if all the Angels in heaven ftood up to prevent the breaking in of thefe provi- dences; there is an unavoidable oecef- fity of it> come they muft* 24 I in Dying Times. 5 2. I would note, that in and under thefe dreadful providences, the God of heaven is efpecially thoughtful for* and careful about his own people ; when he thruHs thefe providences into the world > I fay the Lord is efpecially thoughtful of and careful about his own people- this 1 fuppofe alfotobe fairly gathered from this Scripture, Watch ye and fray (faith he) that y oh may ejcape thefe things : As if he fhould have faid, My brethren my poordif- cip'es with whom my heart is , and for whofe weal and welfare* I am greatly ingaged ; it is true, fad things muft be in the world , but I would take a little care of you, and Hand by you, and be a help to you by what means I may,that you may ride fa fe in and through that Horm 5 and when the world (hall be in aflame, and every comer of it full of trouble , I would that things might then go well with you , and your weal might go forward notwithftanding: that is the fecond. 3. But note this, that theefcaping of common calamity ,it is a great honor and great mercy , and that that graci- ous hearts ought to put out earneftly B 5 for. 6 Living Truths for. I gather this note thus, that it is a great honor j a great mercy 3 from that expreilion, That ye may be accoun- ted worthy to efcafe ; I tell you fouls* thofethatQod thus in a way of mercy Ihelters and preferves, and carries through days of evil and times of com-' mon calamity * it is a mark of honor that God puts on them ; and it is a mercy alfo that gracious fouls fhould make after > and put themfelves for* ward for the attaining of , that I gather thus, Watch ye and fray always 9 make out after this mercy > put out earneftly for it : look not upon it as an indifferent thing* whether you efcape or not , but look upon it as a mercy worth the feek- ing after ; that is a third thing that lyeth plainly in the words. Again 4- Note, that watchfulnefs and prayer are the neceflary mediums, the proper means , at leaft a part, and great part of the proper means 2 to which we are dirs&ed for prefervation in times of common calamity. 5* And then one thing more I would alio recommend to you from thefe words, and that is this , that it is not the efcaping common calamities only* that in uying i imes 7 that we are to be folicitous about > buc alfo,and above all, and more efpecially, bow we may after all ftand before the Son ofman&c. Alas my brethrerLwhac if God fhould fatis'he and affure you or me , and cell you from heaven , you fliall furvive* and outlive the diftreffes of your day ; buc yet when this is done, and you are pattihisttorm, you mult itand before the judgement-feat of Chritt* every foul mutt appear ac than great Tribunal, from which there is no exemption by any means what- ever : and the prefence and glory, the dread and ma jetty of that day is more, and another kind of thing, then any difpenfation upon earth can be fuppo- fed to be 5 rhercfore how to holdup the head and ftar.d with comfort at fuchatime, is the great thing that we are efpectally to be folicitQus about, and that whxh qur fouls fhould be ma- king out the hardeli after. Now I cenfefs the two latter of thefe notes will be mott fpi ritual, and that that the foul and its concernments lye mott in; and therefore 1 (hall be much the fhorter in the three former, though it is requifite to fpend fometime B 4 on » Living Truths onthem> confidcring the difpenfations of God at tbisday. I (hall begin witf? with the firft> and (hall be brief in the fpeaking unto it,t//*. That fome dreads ful providence muft break in upon the world ; there are times and feafons when dreadful things muft come upon the earth, fuch as (hall fink the fouls of many of the inhabitants of the earth and there is a threefold reafon of ir. i. Becaufe God hath fpoken it, and he Rmft not be a Iyer; he is true>there-. fore what he hath faid mutt come to pafs. I tell you, though it were the ra- ting up the foundations of the earth,or the moft dreadful evil that the heart of man can imagine , if God have faid ir, his word muft ftandj that muft be ef- fected, rather then any reflection fhould be upon the truth and faichful- nefsof God ; therefore faith our Lord Jefus in Lnl^ 21.33. Heaven and earth {hall pafs away , but my wordjbaH not fafsaway : God ftands fo much upon his word, that he will not give any on earth occafion to reflect upon him as unfaithful and wanting in his truth ; nottheleaft Iota or tittle of the Lords word in Dying Times. $ word fhall fail, but fhall be fulfilled to every letterof it; and therefore Mat. 25. i8 t ic is thus written, I fay to you* ZJntil heaven and earth pafs away>one jot or title jhall in no wife pafs from tke law* untill all be fulfilled. 1 he Law is taken here in a co.nprehenfive fence * for the whole book of Scripture '; and hea- ven and earth fhall pafs away, but not one title of the mind and will of God that he hath revealed 3 {ball be made void 3 but fhall (land and be accom- plished : and it is fufficiently bound and ccnfirmecyn that the mouth of the Lord hath fpoken it. You {hall find in Scripture that God ftands greatly upon his word : what he fpeaketh tou- ching a particular people or perfon, he will be kreto accorrplifh it , whether it be good or evil; and therefore in Gen.i 8. it is laid of ^/ibraham^ that he will command his children to keep the way of tbeL*ord 3 C^f, that he may bring upon Abraham ihat which he hath fpoken cf him in verfe 19. as if be {hould have faid, God bath fpoken a great deal of good concerning Abra- hams now having fpoken it, bemuft bring ic to pate. Truely God hath been io Livixg Truths been wont to do fo , he is accuftomed to ir 3 he is ufed co confirm his word unto his fervants, and co do to them according po what word is gone out of his mouth ; and therefore when difcr.eet Abigail comes to plead with David that he fhould not cake revenge i?pon Na- tal, i Sam. 25. 30. ("he teiis him, that when the Lord fhould have done ac- cording co all the good that he hath fpoken concerning him, it fhould then be a grief co him that he had fhed blood caufelefly, fhe concludes that God would co David good as he had fpo- ken : And it is as if fhe fhould have faid > I know the word of God having gone forth * he will do good unto <£>*- vid according as he hath faid:' And therefore you fliall find David doth wonderfully rejoyce in a word from God; if God do but fp£akif 3 ying Times. 1 1 trouble : but now God hath fpoken, and given me a word thac in fhallgowel with me; and in thac I am fatisfied, in thac I can bear up my heart* I will re- Joyce. 1 will divide Sechem , and mete cut the valley of Succoth .• Judah is mine, &c. fo when God hath ipokena word to a people, he will make it good : hence is chat of Balaam, Numb.i^.i 9. You know he was fenc to curfe lfrael, but inrtead thereof he bleffech them* and fpeaketh good to them; and where- fore did he do it ? Why* faith he, God hath fpoken good of lfrael f and that he will do 1 fo that what God fpeaketh , he Hands upon his word to have ic accom- plifhed. Secondly, when hefpeakse- vil againfi a people thac mult be ac- cotnpliftied : God hath fpoken evil a- gainlt Babylon* Jer. 5 1 . #2. verfe to the end, And what, mult it be accomplifh- ed ? Yea ic mu(t-,3nd as a fign that what he had fpoken fhould be confirmed , It (hall be, faith the Lord .there, that when thou haft made an end of reading this book^, thou (halt binde a (lone to it, and caft it into the midft of Euphrates ; {lie fhali not rife from the evil thac I will bring upon her ; IJbave not fpoken evil onely, 1 2 Living Truths onelyj but I will bring evil upon her • and as a fign for confirmation of this, the book was to be catt inro the River Euphrates $ and fofhould-God catt her down, that (he (hould never rife more* So take for confirmation of thistfer.i 2. 24. God had threatned evil againft Jc- rnfalemfhvL the Caldeans (hould come and fight againttit , and take it ; and what then? behold themounts*they are come unto the City to cake it, and chat chic Godtmhfpokeniscome to pafs, and chou feeft it> thy eyes behold; the thing the Lord hath fpoken and threatned* ic is come to pafs:chatis the firft reafon what God hath fpoken muft come topafs , and God hath fpo- ken dreadful things , that fad judge- ments /hail break in upon the world, the vials of the wrath of God (hall be poured forth , and in this Chapter he hath faid diftrefs of Nations (hall be 5 and having determined it/it (hall be ac? complifhed. 2. It muft be to (lain the pride of all glory (and fo I fuppofe where that ex^ predion is, that I (hall turn you toby andby,the Spirit of God intends) the ftaining the pride of alj glory is the let- ting in Djtng Times. 1 3 ting us fee the vanity and empty nefs of all the glory in the world 3 and what- ever we are apt to be taken with : now for the letting us fee theemptinefs of it* the Lordmuli introduce fad providen- ces upon the worldmothing elfe will do it : Alas* where the Gofpel of Chrirt is , God hath been preaching it a great while ; we have been told of the excel- lency of God, and of Communion with hiiTb&theexcellencyoffpiritual things$ but who is fufficiently affiled with their excellencies) and the emptinefsot the things of this world ! anr if this way will not do it , God wiil go another way to work, and will caufe judgement to break in, and that will caufe him that hath honor to fee how little that is worth 5 and they that have the riches of this world, to fee how little they are worth ; the judgements of God knock off our fingers from thefe things , they open our eyes and poffefs us throughly with a fence of the vani- ty of all thefe things. That is a full Scripture that you have to this purpofe* If 4. 23.9. The Lord of hofts hath pur- pofed it to flaw the pride of allglorj>&& Now for opening this Scripture , and letting 1 4 Living i ruws letting you fee how ic is corny prefent purpofe > give me leave to take up a little time, and I defire you to confider two things in this Text, that I may let . you fee how it is to my prefent pur- pofe. Fir ft, Confider who are the honor- able that (Sod will bring into con- tempt. And fecondly* By what means God will bring contempt upon them : and when I have done this , you will find that the judgements of God are Gods great ways and means to ftain the pride of all glory. I. Confider, who this was fpoken unto, it was to the City Tyre, the bur- then of Tyre ; wellj and what was the glory of this City ? There are divers things that were its glory. Firft of all, it was a City , that was part of its glory \ and fo it is called once and again in this Chapter? as at vcrf. 7. Is this your joyous City ? Secondly, It was a City in ah Iflandj therefore of more then ordinary ftrength , and fome peculiar excellen- cy it had upon that accompt; and that it was upon an Ifland^is plain from v.i.Be i fiiU in Dying Tiwes. \ 5 ft ill ye Inhabitants of the Jjles ; be fpeaks Hill zoTyrus: and fo at verf.6. Howl ye inhabitants of the J fie 3 he fpeaks Hill to this City Tyru*. Thirdly ,Ic was an ancient Ciry^fo you fee at verf 7. Is this jonr joyoas City* whefe antiquity is of ancient days ? that was a part o< irs glory and honor ; the antiquity of it could plead its Charter for a long time. Fou:thly> A great trading City, that you have at verf. 3, The harvejl tfihe River is her revenue > and fhe is a mart of Nations, with which the Nations of the world come and trade > whither they come from all pares of the world: well* that is a fourth pare of her glory. Fifthly, It was a very rich City 3. which is excellently exprefled at w/.8. Who hath taken this counfel againfi the crowning City 1 mark theexpreflionby which it is calIed>The crowning City 5 the meaning of the expr-ffion is this* Tyre it is fuch a City that it crowns her Merchants > makes them Princes* rich and mighty ones in the world ;her Mer- chants are Princes* and her traffickers the honorable ones of the earth , as is after 1 6 LtvtngTiutbs after expreffed ; {he fills them with treafure, and makes them admired in the world : now this was the glory that che Spirit of God here fpeaks thac he would ftain > to be a City, a City in anlfland, an ancient City, a great tra- ding City$ and a rich crowning City ; this was Tyres great glory, and yet this the Lord purpofed to ftain. But now 2. How will Goddoic? You will find it mutt be by judgement 3 Howl ye (hips of Tarjhljl?) for it u laid wafle, verf. I . That is the way to fhew men the emp- tinefs of the things of this world * and to bring them out of conceit with them ; and therefore in verf.%. who hath taken this connfel againji Tyre> thac ia 3 of laying ic warte* who hath fuch pur- pofe ? Oh> faith he in verf.p* The Lord hath purpofed it : this little word It hath a ftrong reference to the 8. and i . verf. Who hath tafyn this connfeU dec. that is> the Lord hath done it, and who hath laid it wafte ? it is the Lord hath done it, he hath purpofed to bring judge- ment, and to lay wattes and fo to ftain the pride of their glory. Thus you fee that this Text is fall to my purpofe > that the judgements of God /;) DjifigTtrhes. ij God are needful in order to the ftain-* ing the pride of the world. Thus alfo in the cafe of Nebuchadnezzar in Dan.^. What was it that humbled the heart of that man? it was the judg* mencs of God did it ; he comes in a proud fpirit>more like a God then matt, and in the pride of his heart hefwells exceeding , Is not this great Babylon that I have bmlt*&c.verf. 30. Wethbuc what courfe doch God take to humble him? Why in **r/. 3 1 • while the word was in his mouth , he was took from men, and turned to graze among the hearts ; this was Gods way to Rain the pride of '^ebmhadnesuz.ar^.o bring him down in a way of judgement, the like we never read or heard of • and yort find when his feven years Were accom* plifhed, then he comes aftd adores God in a calm fpirit , and gives glory to him 5 the man was cooled and hum- bled, and it was this dreadful ftroke upon him that did it. Takd one Scrip- ture more, and that you have in Jfa. *Y you may perufe the whole Chapter* and you (hall rhere fee how the judge- ments of God are defigned to s humble - but parrkuJarly at verf, 1 7, And C the, 18 LivingTruths the lofmefs of manfhaU be bowed down* &c. Now how (hall this be brought to pafs ? look back to verf. n. and there he tells you, The da} of the Lord of hofts jkati be upon ever) one that is proud and lofty ^ ice. the day of the Lord of hottsfhall be upon him, that is* the day ©f Gods indignation* of his judgements , the day of his breaking forth in great difpleafure, that (hall bring them down : We poor creatures, a Httle thing lifteth us up, but it mutt be a great thing mutt bring us down * it muli be the day of the Lord of hofls ; he that commands the Armies of hea- ven and earth* he that commands the Armies of Angels* and fends them out to do execution 5 he that com- mands judgements : they are his hotts, the creatures are his hotts , and the Angels are his hotts ; he fets the fword to work , and the peflilence to work ; and by fighting againft them with thefe hotts* he humbles them* and brings them down * and layeth the heart of the haughty and lofty low ; and fo ia the 19, 20, zi.verfes* 7hey {hall go Into the holes of the rocks>Scc. What is it makei therti do it ? It is for fear of the tn Dyissg Times. ip the Lorded for the glory of his majtfly^ when he arifeth to fhakc terribly the earth ; then all men they throw away their Idols. Oh that we might all throw away our idols ! have we nude the world , riches^ honors, pleafures, our idols? Oh it is time to throw them to the Owls and to the Bits; it is fie for them onely to live upon fiich things as thefe are : when God comes forth thus in judgement , then they fhali throw their idols to the Owls and to the Bats ; and why fo ? it is becaufe they fhall then be convinced of the vanity and emptinefs of thefe things. That is my fecond reafon why fuch pro- vidences muft be i it is to (tain the pride of all glory \ God hath refer ved himfelf no other way to doit for ought we know 3 and the heart Qf man will not be brought down at any cheaper rate : Alas,the great men of the world they think they may do as they pleafe, but when God comes thundering with his judgements > he makes them to tremble, and confefs that they are but as other men. But then one reafon more why fuch' fuch things muft come to pafs in G 2 their 20 LrjifigTruths their time and leafon , why ic muft be. 3, To vindicate Gods holinefs, that there may not be a reproach left upon the God of heaven > as if he were plea- fed with the fin and wickednefs of an evil genera tion. With reverence be it fpokem the God of heaven hath no o- ther way to vindicate his holinefs* but by the execution of thefe judgements of his ; I fay that is the Lords way : do but mark how the wicked of the world do fometimes challenge God to fliewhimfelf in his judgements 9 if he be a holy 1 God,* and therefore God is contained to do it. In Mai. 2. 17. Ton have weary ed God with your words* and wherein? even when you fay every me that both evil U good in the fight of the Lord, or where is the Cjod of judgement? Wicked men they fay that God loves men that walk wickedly ; and though we. fin> he loves us never the worfe : why. if he do not love the workers of iniquity , where is the God of judge- ment ? If our evil doings difpleafe him. why doth he not execute judgement ? why doth he not let us fee his difplea* fure? God may fay in his word what he in Vying Times. 2 1 he will, wicked men will not under- (land that 5 They better underltand the language of his judgements,and there- fore if he be not the God of evil, and do hate all iniquity , why doth he not fhew it by his judgements ? Now I fay God is put upon this, he is conft rained to vindicate his own holinefs by his judgement : Becaufe Sentence agalnfi an evil-work^, is not executed fpeedi/y^ therefore the hearts of the fonsof men are fully fet in them to doevil>Eccl.$.i 1, The meaning of the Text is plainly this, becaufe wicked men are not puni* died in ways of fin, fay they, we may live as wickedly as we will , for ought we fee , we (hall fare as well as thofe that are more precife : This is the def- perate wickednefs of the heart,butGod will make known himfelf by his judge- ments , and thereby he will take off this reproach ; and therefore that is a notable place Tfalm. 9.16. I think you have not this word Higgalon Selah z- bove once more in the Scripture 5 this Higgala^oxh import. Confide r, Me- ditate upon this : why what is it we fhould rakeXuch notice of? why it is this, 1 he LofttifJ&own by the judge- C 1 mtnts 2 2 Living Truth ments that he executes, that is, God is known by his judgements > in his holi- nefs,in his pu:ity,and it is that that fets him forth in the glory of his attributes j when God brings judgement on the wicked, then they muft confefs that God is a holy God : and therefore take that Scripture more, where you have this confirmed* Ffal. 58.9, 1 o. Be- fore pur pots can feel the thornes ; it is a metaphorical expreflion , and I fup- pofe the meaning is this , before the thornes or any other combuftible mat- ter put under the pot can heat it, that is, in a very little time , God fhall take away the wicked : what (hall be the effeft of this ? The righteous JhaU re* jo) ce when he feet h the vengeance, and a man fhall fay , Verily there is arexvard for the righteous , verily there is a God that jttdgcth in the earth : See what effe<9t Gods judgements have* that a meer man that hath not any thing of grace in his foul, fhall be forced to fay that there is a reward for the righteous. They that fay, Where is the God of judgement? when God comes forth in ways of judgement, he will make thetii change their note , and fay, There is a Gad tn vywg i tmes z 3 Cod that doth righceoufly. Now here you have my reafons why God will bring great judgements upon the world 1 having fpoken it 1 as alfo to ttain the pride of all flefhj and laflly to vindicate his own holinefs. Now we will try a little how this may be improved , what ufe we may make of it: truely I think it may in- form us of fome fuch things as thefe. 1. If it be thus that difmall provi- dences rr.ufl: come into the world , that Godh th fpoken of id and given warn- ing of i: , then what a ttupid fottifh thing is a carnal heart > that will not believe ituntillhe feels it I I fay, fuch is the ftupidity of a carnal heart * that it will not believe ic untill he feels it ; this we find oft in Scripture* a nd confider it you that forget God ! You do not think what I am > untill I come C4 to 24 MVirdglYUWS to tear you in pieces : confider it you that forget God; confider h : s holinefs, his purity, histruth> his faithfulnefsin his threatning , for faith God, I am coming to tear you in pieces, I am coming with providences that will a-< waken you : So % Tet. 3. 3,4. This is thehardnefs, thefottifhnefs of wicked men> they are faying, Where is the fro- wife of his coming ? and who is the God of judgement? they would believe that all things continue as they were; they will not confider it until the judge- ment of God breaks forth among them. That is th* firft inference* what a ftupid fottifh thing is a carnal heart. Again 2. It may inform us farther of the defperate eft ate of finners that are not awakened with the judgements of God that are begun ; fuch there are in the world, that though God be come forth in a way of judgement* and have begun to do what he hath fpoken^ yet they do little confider it. Indeed many finners before judgements are begun/ do hope they will never begin, & they feed themfelves much with fuch fancies : much fuch a people you read of in 8**k: 1 1» 2. It is not near^ letm irnid in Dying Times. 2 5 (wild hotifes lice, there were a people there, that the Prophet had threatned grievous things again!*. Well,whatfay they ? why if thefe things (hall come, they are a great way off; and though they come>it is not like that it will be in our days ; and fo hardened themfelves againft the judgements of the Lord that were to come uponth&m: Sothac Amos 6. 3. Te put far away the evil day 9 and perfwade your felves that things are like to go well enough > and that judgements were a great way off,if they fhould ever come ; and therefore the Lord dire&s the Prophet in his meffage^*,^ 1 2. 22, Sonofmanwhat is that pr over b^Uc. Ufually God did in Scripture give fome time between threatning and execution $ and what effeft had this ? Why the days are pro- longed, faytheys and every vifion fail- eth : Judgements did not come pre- fently , therefore they minded them not ; and therefore faith God> I will caufe this proverb to ceafe ; the days are at hand and the effeEl of every vifion ; judgement fhall come : and yet fuch is the fecurity of mens hearts, they would firft fecurethemfelves that judgements fhould 26 Living Truths (hould not begin ; and when they are begun y they are not much minded : doubtlefs this is great carnal fecurity , therefore Amos 3. 8. The lion hath roared, who would not fear ? I will at lead aliude to it j when the Lion doth roar, when God is comeont in the way of his judgements , who would not fear? it is a great evil to be of a ftupid fpirit under the judgements of God. I fliall here a little , before I leave this head> fliew firft when fouls are not af- fected with the judgements of God: And fecondly » whence it is that thty 3renonaffe£ted. 1. When ouls are not aflfe&ed with the judgements of God * it is when they do not hear and confider what providences they lie under, Ifa* 26.1 1. when thy hand is lifted up they mil not; fee ; they go on in their own courfe> and do not fo much as confider that there is a fire kindled, and a fire that may burn very far , and do dreadful things. 2. Again fecondly* The heart is not affe<9:ed t when it doth not inquire in- to the ground of the controverfie : we are not onely to fpetk of the judge- meat in Dyi/g Times. 2 7 merit it felf D but we are co inquire into the ground of the controverfie : when lfracl fled before (he men of Ai, Jofbna he fell on his face co inquire what the matter was > what the ground of this controverfie was. How many are there in this great City that do not fay, What have I done? wherefore doth God do this ! 3. When men do not endeavour to fct things right ; when they do not la- bor to find out what is the controver- fie* and having found it out > compofe the breach that is between the Lord and bis people/) *r. 8» &c. obferve k : What is a right fpirit in a day of judgement ? It is to be fayingj What have 1 done? to fay>What hath the Nation done , is a duty y and What have others done, but efpecially to fay,Wha t have I done ? and wherein have I contributed to the evil of the day ? Nay and this inquiring fpirit is not 2 8 Living Truths not all > but there muft be a reforming fpirit* he muft turn from his courfe>and leave the trade of fin that he was wont ro drive ; thus is it when we are not affe&ed with the judgements of God. And whence is it ? it is from ten cau- fes. i» From fecrethope it may go well with them: and I tell you* for the moft part , wicked men are apt to think themfelves moft fecure i Amos 9. 10. You read there of a ftrange fpirit; they werefinnersja wicked people* and yet faith he, They fay the evil (hall not over^ take nor prevent us : but faith Godj The Jinners of my people (hatl dye by the fmrd, I ftiall meet with them ; that is the purpofe and determination of God. 2. They do not confider the dread that there is in the judgement of God : I found a poor foul fpeaking of this judgement Iately 5 faying, What fliould we fear ? we mult all dye, and of what fhould we be afraid ? but I fear fuch fouls that can look upon things of fuch moment fo flighrly 5 hardly know what dying means, Ffal. 2. Kip the Son, left Ipe be angry y and ye per ijk from the way $ when inVytngTwes. 1$ when his wrath is kindled but a little, blejfed are all they that put their trufi in him ; a little of the wrath of God is dreadful: God is very terrible in his judgements )t hough wicked men do noc tninde \t>Pfal.66*$. Say unto the Lord* How terrible art thou in all thy workj ? In thy works of judgement how ter- rible art thou ? the judgements of God would make men bow, but they do not confider the dread of thenbuntiil they are under them; the fervantsof God rhsydomelt under -them, and have a fence of them , not a dread and fear thatdifcompofeth thefouU and puts it by its duty>but fuch as is an awful fence^ PfaL 52.5^6. Obferve what a mixture there is in the fpirit of a Saint under Gods judgements : Gods judgements as they are revelations of his righteouf- nefs, making good his threatmngs* working out bis glory $ fothe righteous laughs * but yet he fears too : There is a holy dread and awe upon his foul when he feeth how much of msjefty fhines forth in them : Yea hypocrites are brought to fear becaufe of Gods judgements fometimes ; but now they thn io not fee what dread ihere is in them go Living Truths them 3 they are not affe&ed. Ifa. i6* When the judgements of God are abroad in the earthy the inhabitants thereof {hall learnrighteonfnefs, that is>the good in- habitants of the earth {hall do fo : mercy doth not any good to the wick- ed* nor will judgement a becaufe they mind not the majerty of the Lord > therefore they are not aflfefted * that is a fecond inference. 3. If it be thus that fad judgements muft break in upon the world j then how miferable will the wicked of the world be?Tru!y they fall under a double mifery 5 miferable firftjin that they fhall have the greateft part of prefent judge- ment. Secondly* In that they fhall have an eternity of mifery hereafter. Miferable in that they (hall have the greater pare of prefent judgement : Mind that Ifa. 33. 1 3, 14. Hear ye that are afar off what I have done, and you that are neer acknowledge my might ? Thejinners in Sion are afraid, &c\ mark* as if he (hould fay,Men ac length begin to confidcr : Ob prefent judgements are fad , Ton that are near acknowledge my might : you fee much of terror is in prefent judgements j but if fuch be ter- ribie* in Dying Ttmes. 3 1 riblej what will an after- judgement be? what will devouring fire be ? therefore t$ke heed where your lot is catt, and among what fort of men you are. 4. What fhould finners do? will fuch judgements break in upon the world ? what fhould finners do ? they fhould come and fubmit to Chritf. Be any of you finners ? I tell you dreadful things will be upon the world* whe- ther they be now begun or no, I can- not tell you ; but fuch there (hall be ; and what will you do? your work is to come and ciofe with Chritf ; the fe- condTfaimis worth your reading an hundred times over, he tells you what he will do with the wicked , he will break them in pieces > he will fcatter them ; Well* what then ? Oh, Kifs theSw* left he fa angry , come bow be- fore him (for that kifs is a kifs of fubje- #ion) it is a dreadful thing to meet with an angry Chrifl: He is a Lambjand he is a Lion ; he is a Lamb (lain, and come but and kits him> and he will be a Lamb (lain to yo» ; if not, he will be the Lion of the tribe of Judah y to tear you in pieces. Nq» knming* faith the ApoBIc 3 2 Living T? itths Apoftle j the terror of the Lord, we per" fwade fhen\ we perfwade them >to what ? why we befeechjou to come andfnbmit to Jefm Chrifti that is that that we pray of yoiband that we are earnett with you for : and one text more I would give you to this purpofe^ //*. 28 14,1 5,1 tf. Take the fence of this text, and you fliall fee it much to my purpofe: God Was coming forth in dreadful judge- ments, but the wicked of the world they think ro fecure themfelves ; How ? When the over -flowing fcourgt {hall pafs over >it fh*H not come nigh to us: Why not ? why. We have compounded With death ^and with hell are we at agree* went. I but faith the Spirit of God, take a little of my advice ; do not give truft and confidence to your own ways, But 3 faith hfij I have laid in Sion a chief corner-flow > atld truft to that : this is the meaning of it 5 do not talk of your agreeing with Death 5 and compounding with hell 3 but to go to Chrift, to the foundation that I have fet and laid for you to build upon for your fafety & fe- curity.Will you ask your heart how it is with you? Have you built on this foun- dation-ftone? if you have i that is the vijay in Vjing Tirrtes. 3 * way not to be afhamsd; he chat be- lieveth (hall not be confounded. 5. Muft fuch judgements break in upon the work? it fhould teach us and direct us in praying with refpeft to prefent judgements^and that thus : we cannot abfolutely or peremptorily beg that prefent judgements might be (fay- ed, but with this relerve* that provi- ded it be not the time> when God is coming forth with his great work ill the world; if icbe not that time> that God would ftay his hand 5 andalfoif God do purpofe to do dreadful things in the land j that he would make them ferve the defigns of his glory, and for the furtherance of thofe things which he hath to do in the world: but I fiy abfolutely we may not (lchink)begg of God that he would remove fuch a judgement 3 begg chat he would pre- serve his people, and do them good by it , and if it be not the beginning of what he hath faid himfelf (hall come to pafs, then that he would divert it and flay his hand. 6. If God be coming forth in judge - ments,and fuch terrible ones too, how good is ic co be a Saints and co be found D in 54 Ltvmg Truths in a right fpiric in the day when God contends and comei out with his indig- nation againft the world? I tell thee^if thou art a Saint, and that in a right fpi- rit; it will be well with thee in the day that God contends. And thus I have difpatched the firft Doftrine, namely* that dreadful providences muft come upon the world : and having done with this, I pafs on to the fecond note from the words, 2. Namely, that when God doth come forth with thefe dreadful difpen- fations, he is efpecially thoughtful for and careful about the weal and welfare of his own people. He doth not hurl his judgements into the world at all adven- tures, carelefly and inconfiderately, not caring where they light ; but his eye is much upon, and his care much after his own people : He hath a great refpeft to them in all that he doth in the world. i. In profecution of this truth, I (hall firft confirm it to you , that in publike calamities.God is very mindful of his people , and his heart is much to them* And in Dying Times. 3 5 And 2. Give you the Reafonrof it, and then make a little Applica- tion, But firft of all, for confirmation of the truth, it is evident from two or three things that the Lord doch take a fpeci- all care of his people in days and times of common calamity : It is evident from what he hath done in fuchfeafons in times part; you (ball fcarce find a common calamity recorded in the book of God , but youfhall findfome care taken of his people: therefore though there is a true fence in that word > chac all things come alike to ally I fay a fence that hatha truth in it > yet this is alfo true* that God hath a care of his peo- ple in all the common calamities that ever come upon the world : Thus ic it was when God came to fweep away a whole world * was there none to be thought of? nobody to be remembred? yes> there was a TSfoah that God could not forget jG God came with refolution to deftroy that place* Gen. ip,i2) 13. Great provocations call for great defolation 5 dreadful judge- ments are the neceffary confequents of great preceding iniquities: but Lot he muft be taken care of, and a fhelter and refuge muft be provided for him. Thus in thelandof Egyp^ when the Lord fent his Plagues amongft them, ye this very judgement of the Plague t believe that was the judgement > and I will give you a Scripture to prove it 5 the threatning was > he would deftroy all the firft-born oiPhareah^ Exod. 1 1 . 55637. Now the queftion is what judgement it was that he did deftroy the firft-born of Egypt by 5 I think it was the Plague* and that that confirms me in my thoughts of it, is that Amos 4.10. where he faith 3 Ihavejent a- mongyou\he P eft Hence after the manner of Egypt : Now I do not know any time in Dying! ime$ 9 37 time when God did fend the Peftilence into Egypt , unlefs when he deftroyed the firit-born ; and yet at that time when he did deftroy the firft-born of all the houfe of Egypt > the Lord took care of his people > Ifrael muft be pre- ferved,not a dog mull move the tongue againft any of them. Gen. 42, when there was a famine in Canaan, yea a fa- mine in all lands , and a great fcarcity grew over the face of the Land of Egjvt ; yet Jacob and his children mult be provided for , and God muft look after them , and he bids them go down to Egjpt ; and you find how they were there fed^God had by a fignal providence fent Jofeph before hand> as he faith himfelf > to fave Jacob and his family aiive. Jeremiah in the time of captivity 5 and great deftru&ion, what muft become of him ? muft he perifli with the reft ? No, faith God , I will deliver thee in that day, fir. 39. 17, 18. Now this is my firft argument to confirm this general truth,that in times of common calamity , God takes an efpecial care of his people , as is evi- dent from what he hath done, D 3 2. From 3o Living Truths z. From the pronaife of what he will do ; he makes fpecial promifes to his people of what he will do in fuch fea- fon<^ PfaL 91.9,10. Becaafe thou haft made the moft High thy refuge , there fhall no evil befall thee, neither fh all any Plague ceme nigh thy dwelling : Souls that are Saints, and Saints in a right fpiritj here is a promife, a fingular fpe- cial promife made to them ; and fo you have it in I fa. 58. Jerufalem is ruined* and Judah is fallen, becaufe their tongue and their doings are againfi the Lord : By the way obierve* God takes notice what we fay 5 as well as whst we do : welhwhat how?is } erufalem fallen ,and Judah ruined ? what fhall become of the Saints then ? why faith God, Say unto the righteous > It (hall be well with thenty verf. 10. II. ferufalem it is true is ruined 3 but why? why, fay to the wicked it (hall be ill with them 1 but unto the righteousit fball be well with theob If a* 26.21. Behold* the Lord tomes out of his place to punifh the inha- bitants of the earth for their iniquity : Doth he fo? what then ? what will he do unto hi-' people? why if you look f erf. 20* Come } faith hc> my people* ex- W in Dywg Times 3 p ter into your chambers* and (hut the doors about you j hide y our f elf for a little mo- ment) untill mine indignation be over* paft. I am coming to punifh the world for their iniquity ; but my people I have a word for your comforts I will find retiring Chambers for you ; Hide your fe If faith he > for a little moment % untill mine indignation be over-faffed : So Joel. i*\6. tie fhall roar out of Sion> &c. the Lord will work for his people* and do his people good ; he will be the hope of his people* and the ftrengthof the children of Ifrael : Therefore this is my fecond argument jGod makes fpe- ciai promifes to his people* therefore , he will take fpecial care of them, 5. He gives fpecial counfel anddi- re&ion to them what to do in order to their prefervation in times of common calamity. There are three parts of counfel that the Lord gives to his people in fuch feafons* and he directs them fomecimes to one of thefe things , and fometimes to another > according as he thinks good in himfelf ; fometimes he calls his people out of the places that fhall be the feats of his judgements : he did D 4 fo 40 Living I ruWS fo in the cafe of Sodom : and it is worth your considering that you have Luk^ 21.20,21. WbenyoH fhall fee '{erufalem compaffed with Armies* know the defla- tion thereof is nigh ; that (hall be a fign to you,chat I am coming againlt it with a defolating judgement : Well* what then muft be done ? Let them that are In Judah flye to the mountain , and let them that are in the City depart out y and let not them that are in the Countries en- ter thereinto. This was his counlel at that time; and thus God doth fome- times : he calleth fome out of rhe pla- ces by the method of his providence* he tells them his will, and brings them out of the feat of his judge- ments, 2. He calls all in all times in, order to prefervation, from clofing with and cleaving to the fins of the places which are to be judged, and for which he judgeth and condemneth ; that one known Text may ferve in ftead of ma- ny* Rev. 18.4. Come out of her my peo- le (that is, our o* Babylon) and be ye fe- par ate , p*nake rot of her fins , left ye alfo partake of her plagues 5 fin as din- ners do, and you mult expe& to fuffer as they do. 3. He inDjingTirnes. 41 3. He dothdireft his people to fome fpecial duties that have an elpecial ten- dency to prefervation 5 fometimes to faith> to truft in , and dependance upon the Lord ; and fometimes to prayer and watchfulnefs , as here in my Text : to fome fuch fpecial duties, that have an efpecial ufe in order to the preferva- tion of a people from deliroying and ruining calamities, Thus 3 l fay,put thefe things together, what God hath done, what he hath promifed to do, whac counfel he gives unto his people, in re- fpeft to common calamities, they are evident tokens of love to his people in times of diftreffe : But now what is the reafon ? wherefore is it that God fhould efpecially be careful of his peo- ple in days of great diftrefs and trouble? I anfwer, he doth ic for two or three reafon*. 1. For the love he bears them, and the intereft that he hath in them ; he hath an interelUn his people, they are neer unto him in aneer relation , and he hath great love to them ; therefore it is he efpecially bears an eye to his people,and looks after thenwhat things may go well with them in the days of evils 4 2 Living Truths evil ; fome Scriptures you have to (his purpofe: That Jer* 30.10, n. Fear not, Omy fervant Jacob, &c. t hough* faith God , I make a full end of other Nations and people? 1 will fave thee, Truely one might have replyed to the Lord as Jndas did ( not Ijcariot) And why us Lord, and why not the world ? Becaufe thou art Jacob my fervant, thou art IfraeU people that I have in- tereft in 5 therefore I will look after thee, and ftiewkindnefsunto thee ; I will do it for that reafon: and add to this* that Jer. 43.4. Obferve here* I will give men for thee, and people for thy life. What is the meaning of that ? I Will let my wrath and rage vent it felf upon the world > but I will fpare my people : Why fo ? I have loved them* therefore I will give men for them • hundreds of men God will give for his people,they are ncer the heart of God* therefore he ispleafedto exercife this peculiar kindnefs to them. 2. He doth it becaufe of the preci- oufnefs and worth that is in them ; not that a Saint by nature is better then others j but through grace he is become a choice and precious one 5 and be- caufe in Dying Times. 4 3 caufe of the worth* choicenefs^and ex- cellency of a gracious foul, God loves him : The Saint is an excellent piece; The righreous is mo;e .excellent then his neighbor: It may be the righteous man is in a poor low condirion in the worldj& his neighbor a great rich man, abounding in the things of this world, and yet for all that the righteous is more excellent then his neighbor. God bath a great care of his people , and that be- caufe they are preciousJ/^.43.4. Since thou waft precious in my fight j thou haft been honorable , and 1 have loved thee ; therefore others fhall dye, and thou fhalc be faved : Why } namely, be- caufe thou art precious in my fight, I fee a worth in thee , and an excellency in thee, and therefore others {hall go for thee ; they fhall perifh, but thou fhalc he preferved. In TfaL jig. 15* <~David hath an expreflion tothispur- pofe* Precious In the fight of the Lord is the Death of his Saint /; and ihePfal- mift gives this as a reafon why the Lord did preferve him when time was , faith he, Precious in the fight of the Lord is the death of his Saints. Pfa/.ji. 14. You have a Scripture fomething of like na- 44 Living Truths nature , Precious jfhall their blood be in his fight. 3> Burtme reafon more. Why the Lord in comtfion calamities is efpecial- ly careful of his people 3 it is becaufe they truft God with themfelves > they charge God with them 5 and God will be faitnful to his charges he will not betray his truft , he is the hope of his people. So Jer. 14.8. Oh thou the hope of lfraeU the Saviour thereof in the time of trouble : So Jer. 17.16, 17. As for me* 1 have not haftexed from being a Paftor to follow thee , nor have I defired the wofulday ; be not a terror unto me , Thou art my hope in the day 0/ evil r Oh faith the Lord, think upon me, I defire to be faithful unto thee, to mind thee in thy work , and follow thee in thy way $ and 1 have not defired the evil day, thou knoweft, that that came out of my lips was right before thee, and thou art my hope : Mind it, this was the reafon why God did give Je- remiah a fpecial prefervation ; it was becaufe he made the Lord his truft* Jer. 39. 1 8« For 1 will furely deliver thee> &c. thou haft committed the keeping thy felf unto me , therefore I will be good in&yingTimes. * 45 good to theej and 1 will preferve thee. 1c is worth the thinking of > that the Lord doth it becaufe his people truft in him. Thus much for confirmation of the poinr,and the Reafons of ir. Objeti. But you will lay, If this be a trutb^his may be objefted, If the Lord chafe to have a particular refpeEl unto his people in times of common calamity* how comes it to pafs that anj of his peo- ple fkould fall in fuch a difpenfation 5 as we fometimes fee they do ? To that I anfwe-i There aretheie reafons why > notwithftanding Gods fpecial care of his people in common calamities, forru of them do fall there- in : it is for one or more of thefe rea- ionsuiualiy. 1. It is fometimes through unbe- lief 1 God keeps them while they truft him> but when their truft fails 9 then the promife fails 3 and God is not a fe- curity to them : ic is fometimes through unbelief 5 fo we find it in the cale of Ifraels going to Canaan ; there were abundance fell in the wildernefs* and truely among thofe that fell we may think there were fome upright ones that had grace in their hearts* but yec 4<£ Living Truths yet they diftrutied God , they thought the journey was long r.nd tedious, and the way was difficult > therefore they fell in the wildernefs, it was becaufe of their unbelief : By whom was he grieved fotirty years in the wildernefs ! Was it not by them whofe car cafes fell in the wilder nefs ? To whom he fware in his wrath that they fhould not enter into his reft, Heb. 3. 17,18* 19- And why en- tered they not? becaufe of unbeliefs So it is in this cafe 3 God makes fpecial promifes of prefervation 5 but when the faith of his people failesjbmetimes God fuffers them to lofe the Iruit of the promife. 2. When his people fin as the world doth, thenhecaufeth them to tatfeof judgement with the world* when they keep not clear from the fin for which God contends , he fuffers them to fall in and by the judgements wherewith he contends; So in that of the Reve- lations 5 Partake not of her Jinsj leftyott jar take of ^ her ylagues : in which words you have a promife and a threatnings promife* if you do not partake of her fin, then you (hall not fuffer with her ; but if you do, you may expe& to (hare with" in Dying Times. 47 wicb her in judgement : and therefore you find Mofes a choice fervant, and he fuffered in the wildernefs as well as the reft; and it was becaufe he finned as they did that dyed in the wildernefs, Numb. 27. 1 2. Why mi^bt he not go into Canaan? Why, faVLhhz>Forye rebelled againft my commandment in the defer t of Zin } &c. You rebelled when the Congregation rebelled , and therefore for that reafon j although ic was the one time that Mofes did mif- carry in his way towards Canaan % and yet for joyning with the people in that one fin of murmuring > he was cue Abort of Canaan : and fo it is in cafes of common calamity , if we fin with the world 3 we may be led tofuffer with the world. Therefore by the way, make this your care > Touch not with the abominations of the Day in which you live > for which you may conclude God contends ; rather fuffer any thing in the world > then put your felf under the ftroke of God* by doing any thing againft him ; and fay not it is a little fin , becaufe Mefcs finning but once with the people , he felt with them in the wildernefs. h 1^ 48 Living Truths 5. It is fometimcs for want of ma- king ufe of the means that the Lord hath appointed for prefervation. It is not good to fin againft the ufe of means : God doth great things j buc he doth ufqpo tye us to the ufe of means: Na&man he came to the Pro- phet j and the Prophet bids him go to Jordan, and wafh (even times > and he ifhould be whole. Now he was vexed ac this, and why would not other waters do as well ? but his fervams incouraged him to ufe the means the Prophet had prefcribed ; and if he had not>he might have gone a Lemper to his grave. So Chrifthe takes clay and fpittle 3 and an- noints the eyes of the blind man there- with, and bids him go wa(h in the wa- ters of Siloam > and he {hould receive his fight : Now the negled of the means the Lord is pleafed to provide for us> is enough to make us fall by the publike and common ttroke. Ths children of Ifracl* as you read* AEls 7.15, When Mofes was full fourty years old* he fuppofed that they would have underftood he was to have been their Saviour , and that they would have taken hold of him for their deli- verance in Dpng Times. 49 verancc at thac time ; but they did not fee the means propofed , and did not maki ule of it, and what followed? youfhall find it was fourty years after L efore he returned unto them again, as you may fee at verf 30. This is plain* . that Mofes did offer himfelf to them ac that time, as a deliverer appointed by God > but they not fee it , and make ufe of it, and therefore they continue ed in their bondage fourty years more, I quote this, to tell you that you oughc to look up unto the Lord for what means he doth allow, for the communi- cation df thac mercy that we wait for, and by his providence he feems to point out to us : That the negledfc hereof may be the occafion of our fal- ling. 4. God doth fometimes fuffer Saints to fall by common ftrokes* to prevent fome greater evils,as you have it//*. 57* The righteous perijheth and no man lay- eth it to heart* and merciful men are ta» ken away , none considering that they art taken away from the evil to come. Truely God fometimes takes away his people in the beginning of a calamity , and thac beuufe there are more dreadful E things 50 LivingTruths things behind ; and that becaufe he wbuld preferve them from that evil* he is pleated to fuffer them to fall. And theie may ferve as an account why notwithftanding Gods peculiar and fingular care of his people* he fuf- fers fometimes fome of them to fall in and by publike calamities. And thus I have difpatched the Dodtrinal part of this truth , and I fhall conclude what I have more to fay to it in a little Application. Is this true 5 that God doth in a pe- culiar way in times of publick calami- ty look after his people ? ' i. Surely then it fhouldftirup all that have any mercy of this kincVto give the Lord the glory of his good- nefs, and fpeak good of his name, that heispleafed thus to bear a hand upon his own people. 2. The Lord taking this care for his people , you ought to ferve him in the making ule of any thing that he pre- fcribes you in order to felf-prefervati- on , to wait upon the Lord in watch- fulnefs and prayer t and whatever means he doth direft you unto , in or- der to prefervation : As the life of a Saint in Dying Times. 5 1 Saint is precious in his eyes , fo fhould it be in yours , and whatever God looks upon as a mercy worth the be- ftowingj you fhould look upon as worth the receiving : Ah foals 1 let me tell you, the judgements of God they are no flight things , but things that carry a great deal of dread along with them , and it is eminent kindneis (as I hope to fhew you hereafter) to be fafe guarded at fuch times and under fuch providences. 3. If it be thus, that God in calami- ty takes a Angular care of his people* you alfo fhould take fingular care to glorifie God, and anlwer his provi- dence and defigne in and under com- mon calamities : Ever mark this, in whatever thing God fhews kindnefo unto his people, they alfo ftand much ingaged to fhew kindnefs unto God, as I may with reverence phrafe it, that is, that they be careful to honor him. But you will fay, How are we to carry it in fuch a day ? Why for anfwer, Fir ft of all ftudy the judgement well ; when the hand of God is abroad, do not flight it , do not make light of it , but fee that it is E % Gods 52 Livi fig Truths Gods hand , and his hand in a more then ordinary way • labor to fee and be affe&ed with that majefty that lhines forth in it : David faith, CM) fie(b trembles for fear of thee , and I am afraid of all thy judgements, Pfal. 119. 120. He did not look upon the judgements of God with a flight fpirir* but did fee much of the glory of God {hining therein. 2. You are much to ftudy your own hearts ; fuch dealings of God without you, do call upon you to be looking within you 3 to be considering the frame of your fouls • it calls upon you loudly to be finding out the plague of your own heart, 1 King. 8. 38* Every man is to ftudy his own heart, to la- bor to know that , and fee the finful- nefs, vilenefsjand wretchednefs of that. I tell you fouls, the judgements of God that are abroad are not things of an empty found, but they do fpeak power- fully and plainly > and are loud calls of God unto you, that you fhould make it your bufinefs and the defign of your fouls, to \ e more acquainted with your felves then ever. 3. He inDyingTimes. 53 5. He calls to you to mourn over your own and ochers abomination^ £*^9-4- The fpiric of God ipeaks of them that mourn , figh and weep* for the abominations of the wicked ; that is it that the God of heaven calls for at your hands. And then latily, if this be a truths that the Lord bears a fpecial eye of fa- vour to his people in cbedayof their calamity>then let every foul of you pafs into the number of Saints. There are three forts of perfons in the world, and but one of the three that can promifethemfelves fafety in a day of evil. 1, Openly prophane* 2.Secrec hypocrite*. And 3. real Saints: and of the three, it is but the latter fort that can promife themfelves any fecuricy. 1. Of the openly prophane > what fhall come of them? Jfa. 5. 11. Wo to the wickfdy it fhall go ill with them > for the reward of their hands fhall be given them. 2. As for the fecret hypocrites, what ftiail become of them ? things {hall go ill enqugb with them alfo, as you have it in the prophecy of Ifsith, Ihefin^ E 1 mr$ 54 Living Truths tiers in Sioy are afraid , and fear hath furprifed the hypocrite > and who can dwell in ev&lafting burnings ? But 3. The Saints they are the peo- ple that fliall have the efpeciai kind* neisiof God over them 5 they are the people that God will look afters and therefore I recommend this to you, to make it yourbufmefs to fee that there be fomething of God in you in truth* and that you may be fouud in a fpirit fuiting the providences of this day, and then the Lord may make you par- takers of this fpecial mercy of being preferved in the time of common cala- mity. Which leads me to the third Do- ctrine, namely, That it is a great honor and an efpecial mercy 3 and that that Saints fhould put out earneftly for y to be preferved and kept in times of com- mon calamity. In treating of wfiich , I {hall endea- vour diftinftly to confirm thefe three things. 1. That it is a great honor, 2. A great mercy. 3. That the Saints fhould put out hard for preferva- tion in a time of common cala- mity. For For the firft therefore^ that ic is a great honor to be preferved , when God cometh forth with defolating judgement : Methlnks that Scripture carrieth much of weight in it, that you have Gen. 6.8. But T^oah found grace in the eyes of the Lord : What is that? Noah found favour in the eyes of God 5 thatisjhe was a man that became a favorite of Godj he was one honored in the Court of heaven.lt i$ the known iignificaiionof the term in our common language, fuch a one finds grace in the fight of his Prince, that is, he is his fa- vourite , and he is honored by him : So Noah he was one that God put an ho- nor upon ; and what was the honor? ic was to make him a preferved one in the time of that common calamity. Ic may appear if we confider three things* that it is a great honor to be preferved in a defolating calamity. I. If you confider this* Thatufual- ly fuch as the Lord preferves, they are fuch upon whom there are fome marks of honor found, or ( mind what 1 add more) if any other be preferved > it is for the fake of them upon whomfome- thing is found very honorable and E 4 wor- 56 Living iruws worthy. I (hall clear up this from ma- ny inftances, that there is fome excel- lent thing found in and upon thofe whom the Lord ufually preferves in a defolating judgement ; and my firft in- ftance is that ofAW>>and yop (hall find fomething in him very honorable and commendable : Tsfoah found favor with God y and what was the reafon that he fhould be marked by God for this fpe- cial favouf ? If you look C/m 5. 9. you fliall find that Noah was a juft man and perfeft in his generation, and he walked with God : You muft bear with me if I take up a little time in in- fixing upon this , that I may (hew you the defign I have herein. There were three excellent things found upon Nbab 9 upon which account fincere, fingle-hearted man ; he was a man that did in the truth of his foul follow God i which is an admirable thing : Hypocrifie and guile is one of the moft difhonorable things under heaven j I tell you fouls^a hypocritical pro- in Dying Times. 57 profeffor is worfe then a downright tinner , and fo the Lord himfelf ac- counts him, -ffai. 51.6. Thou dejireft truth in the inward fart, and in the hid- den fart thou Jkalt rvalue me totttder- ftand mfdom} thou arc* faith ^David^ for iimplicicy^ for fincerity and integri- ty ; that is a thing that takes much with the heart of God. Hypocrihe is one of the worlt things > and hath one of the faddetf iflfues and confequences in the world* and therefore hypocrites they are faid to heap up wrath, in Job 36.13. Hypocrites in heart they heap tip wrath : This jugling and falfe-hearted- nefs is a moli difpleafing thing to God, and is of molt wretched confequence, for they {hall not onely fall under wrath* but under heaps of wrath, that are found in this frame; they fhall have the indignation of God heaped upon them : now I conclude on the other j hand,fmcerity is a thing of great worth* ( and this was found upon Noah. 2. He was a perfect man in his ge- neration , that is thus , he was perfect in the fight of men among whom he lived and converfed ; he was fuch, and fo walked, that none about him could tell 5 8 Living Truths tell how to accufe him ,• he was a man that gave them no juft offence, nor laid a ftone of tumbling before thofe that lived about him: the world ( as wicked as it was ) could not fay that he gave them any ill example, but he was up- right in that wicked world ; now this is a very honorable thing : I tell you many profeflors do profeflion more hurt then good , and it were well they were out of it, for they carry it fo wic- kedly and bafely, that they harden the hearts of finners, and make them think ill of the ways of God: but it is an excellent thing fo to carry it, that they may be good examples : is not this Chrifts command? Mat. 5. 16. Let your light fo (hlne , as that ethers fee- ing your good workj , may glorlfie your Father which is In heaven ; carry itfo in the world , as that you may incou- rage all,and difcourage none,that is the meaning of it, that you may not be a hinderance unto any in their clofing with and giving up themfelves unto God. Paul that fervant of the Lord injoyned the lame thing, 1 Cor. 10.32. Give none offence neither to few not Gen* tile y nor to the Chnrch of Cod ; carry 1C in Dying Times. 5 9 it fo>that you may not juftly caft a flone of ftumbling in their way 5 this was found in Noah , and was a thing very honorable in him * and it is commend- ed in others in that Luk. u and the beginning: it was the commendation of Zacharj and Elizabeth* that they wal- ked in all the commandments of the Lordblamelefs>as you have it In ver. 6. Obferve what is commended in thefe two perfons, what marks of honor were upon them > they were righteous before God ; a righteoufnefs they had, that was fo inGods account$and in their walking before men they were blame- lefs * as to commandments and ordi- nances. Mark this text > there is a great fault in many in the world ; two forts of people efpecially are to blame by vertue of this Text : fome walk in commandments , but are not for ordi- nances ; and tome in ordinances* and not in commandments : whereas it is the glory of a people to walk both in commandments and in ordii&nces : my meaning is* the carrying of it fo in. the ! worfhip of God, and in your conven- tions alfo among men* that they may pot have juft occafion of offence* Now this 60 Living Truths this was found upon Noah, he was juft in his generation. And the other thing is this , And Noah walked with God, that is the third honorable chara&er upon T$oah , He walked with God : Wh*t is th it ? true* ly 1 think walking wirh God is the ha- ving friendship and acquaintance with God: Can two walk together unlefs they be agreed? faith Amos, 3". 3. Noah he had friendftiip and acquaintance with God, and therefore he could walk with him* he could keep company with him : in walking together we have the company of one another ; this had Noah, he was in Gods way, he kept in his way, Alfo the having and main- taining peace and communion with God > is intended in this walking with God. We are apt to account it a great happinefs to have friendftup with great menj furely it is much more and a great deal better to have communion with the God of heaven ; to have it and keep it, is the great glory of a Chrifti- an. This Noah had* and it was greatly his honor : Saith 1 John 1. 3. Our f el- lowjhlp U with the father and with his SonJefmChrifii as if he fhould have faid, in Vying Times. 61 faid, Brethren 3 we are a people intereft- ed in choice and excellent mercies, and we would invite you co a part in them ; but pray what is this choice mercy ? Why it is this , We have fellowfhip with the Father through his Son Jefn* Chrifi : A great honor to the fouls that have it ; and thefe were the honorable marks up- on this Noah: Now he was the -man that God pickc out to deliver and keep in this common calamity when all the world was drowned, he and thofe that went upon his (core (for Hs family was taken inupop, tijis account) they muft bepreferved: and that is my firft in- ftance. My fecond is tbeinftanceof Lot) a manpreierved in a common calamity > and a few others for his fake : Well, was there any honorable Chara&^r found upon him ? Yes> there was, 190k 2 Pet. 267. He delivered jttft Lot vex- ed with the filthy converfation of the wic- kjd. Here is the honorable Character I found upon Lot : He was jutt Lot* and juft Lot vexed with the filthy conver fatt- en of the wicked ; I fhall onely alictle infitt upon that claufe, Vexeb with the filthy converfation of the wicked. The 6l Living Truths The fin of the world was a bprthen to his loul $ and tbac that he could hardly bear up under : You {bail find that is an excellent frame , and chat that God is pleafed much to honor: faith David, VfaL 139 21. Do 1 not bate them that hate thee ? and am 1 not grieved with them that rife up against thee ? Ob> faith he, Lord* thou know- eft my heart , and thou knoweft that there is fomething in me that thou prized that is his meaning ; now what is it ? Why* faith he, they that grieve God,they grieve me too;they that carry it fo as that they are a burthen to the Spirit of Grace, they are alfo a bur- then to my fpirit , I cannot bear it : And hence he cryech out in Pfal. 120. ^ . Wo is me that Ifojourn in Mefech,that I dwellin the tents of Kedar ; that is, that I dwell among a wicked ungodly people, a people whereby God is greatly dishonored ; wo is me that my lot is catt among fuch a people : This was the honorable character found up- on Lot, he was grieved with the filthy converfation of thewicked> therefore God markes him out* and would not fuffer him to fall- by that judge- ment. My inDyingTimes. 6$ My next inftance is , that of Cakb and Jojbua, upon them were alfo fome marks of honor, upon C*Wefpecially, Numb. 1 4. 2 4. But my fervant £aleb> becanfe he had another fpirit , and hath followed me fully* &c. Here was Calebs mercy, his going into Canaan , and the honor put upon him , was his not fal- ling in the wilderneis among the many thoufancs that fell, but he mutt go into the good land* His honorable chara&ers were thefe two. Firft, he was a man of another fpirir. Secondly, He had followed God fully. 1. He was a man of another fpirit, of a more excellent fpirit then the reft of Ifrael : I, let me tell you, a man of a more excellent fpirit then fome of the worthies of Jfrael : To have fome ex- cellency of fpirit, is one of the moft excellent things in the world ; a man is truely excellent according to the excellence of his fpirit , and that was found upon Caleb. Mofes was a man of a very good fpirit, yet (it feems ) £aleb was of a more excellent fpirit then het I fay 5 Mofes was a man of a very good fpirit, J^um* 12.3. Now the man Mofes, was 6% Living Truths was very week^ above allthe men on the face of the earth ; he had great meek- nefs of fpirir, which is one of the moft excellent fpirics in the world : See what teftimony God gives of fuch in that i*pet. 3.4. The ornament of a meel^ Andqttiet ffirity which is in the fight of God of great price* Now, 1 fay 9 .Mofes he had this excellence of a meek fpirit, and yet it feems Caleb had fome greater excellency of fpirit then he ; for Mofe$ dyeth in the wildernefs , and Caleb is carryed unto Canaan: that was one of the marks upon him , he was a man of a more excellent fpirit : And the other was, he followed God fully. What is the meaning of that ? It is this, he he was for all forts of work, eafie and hard,and all. together,never made a dif- ficulty where God made none ; what- ever God called him to, that he was for. You fhall find wherein he did dis- cover his following of God fully 3 N/*w. 13*31* When thebadfpies came and brought an ill report on the good land, and cryed there are great difficulties, we (hall never be able to encounter with them : Now Caleb he difcovers his excellency 3 and (hews that he was in Dying Times. £ j a man of another fpirit; faith he in Numb. 14.6*7. Ic is an excellent good land ; and in Chap. 1 3.30. fayshe> W4 are well able to overcome it : in this he followed God fully * refolving accor- ding to the call of God* though the difficulty were ever fo great: a heart to follow God, and following of him through all difficulties, was the excel- lency of this Caleb. Here is a man that followed God to purpofe, this excellence was upon him> and he is the man muft go to Canaan to poffefs the good land, though Mofes and Aaron muft dye by the way. In £z,ek^ p. 14. you have there an Angel commiflion- ed to go forth and fet a mark upon the foreheads of thofe that figh and cry for the abominations that were com- mitted in that day : Here are fome men muft be fpared 5 Who are they, pray> They are a people fighing for the abominations of their day j luch a fpiric as Lot hid % vexed for the abomi- nations of their time, therefore thefe muft be preferved : and this is what I ihall fay to the firfthead ? th^citisan honor to be preferved ; ic is fo from this confederation, that nfually God F pre* 6 6 LivingTrutbs ■preferves none in fuch a feafon, but thofe upon whom there isfomething of excellence to be found ; or if others* ic is for the fake of thofe upoa whom thofe honourable Characters are found. 2* It-B a great honor to be prefer- red from common calamity 5 if you confider , that thofe that he doth pre- ferve are ufually fuch as he doth mean to honor with himielf for ever ,• or if he do honor others with this mercy > ic h for the fake of thofe that he intends to honor with himfdf for ever: There was a kind of typ tying rut of this^in itee ftaying the fifft-born of Egypt : M chat time , who mult be prefer ved ? Why Ifrael : Now all Ifrael were Types of Gods own people , and in that God dWTypically tbteteii what be -would do* in afcercime , efpecially in she latter times , that his laved ones Hiould be his true Ifrael. There is a Scripture I will recommend to you, make what laieof it the Lord flull help tyou> If a* 4. j. And It (h< come to pafj^ %km ht fhm ds left In Zion , and he that vemuimth i* ^erufalem (ha/I be atUid fol)\ei;)tfi4&ery*Y* that is m\m* among the the living in Jerhfalem:liofi what tine doth this relate unco ? It was a time of great deftru&ion, as you have it Chap. 3.26. Her gates (hall lament and mourn* and [he being desolate (had [it upon the ground 5 and in vcrf. %%. Thy me*]h*tt fall by the (word , and thy mighty men in war: Now in this defolation fome fhali efcape, and who fhall they be ? What fort of men (hall they be ? Mark what he fays, and make of it as much as the Lord fhall help you 5 they that efcape of IfraeU they that are left in Sio** and they that remain in Jernfalem fhall be called holy 5 that is>(hall be holy,for Cod calls things as they are, or he will make them to be what he calls them : And is that all ? No,f*tchas are written among the livings (as the word may ^e rendred ) fuch as are written to life in Jerufalem : written to life 3 is the fame with being written in the Lambs bookof life,fuch as he will make holy , they fhali be the efcaped,they (hall be prefer ved.I will give you another text, /W*r. 3 4. 21. It fpeaks of the tribulations of the lat- ter times , moft dreacful things ; And what then ? Except thefe days be'(hort~ *ed % vofiejh (hall befaved : They (hould F 2 be 6 IS Ltv&gl ruths be fuch as fhouid cut off every foul from the earth: but God hath an deft upon whom his heart is fet, and for their fakes it fhall befhortned* The meaning of the text > I take to be thi^ there fhall be dreadful tribulations in the latter days* fuch as if they were let run on their courfe , would cut off eve- ry foul 5 but they (hall be fo cut (hort» that a people written unto life fhall out-live them. And if this be fo, fure- ly it is a great honor to out- live com- mon calamities , efpecially in the lat- ter days , into which we are come , or unto which we are drawing nigh a- pace. But one thing more, a third argu- ment is this, it is an honorable thing to have prefervation in times of common calamity? if you confider, That fuch who are fo preierved , are preferved to very honourable ends ; God doth not preferve them for nothingy but to very honorable ends 5 the Prophet If a. 66. tells us of dreadful providences, verf I?* 16. For beboidithe Lord will come withfire&c. Well, fhall any efcape ac that day ? Yes, there fhall, if you look to verf 1 4. And when )e fee this > yonr heart in Dyivg Times. 6 9 heart tyall rejojjce&c. The hand of the Lord that (hall be known to his friends for their prefervation , to his enemies for rheir dettru&ion ; bur to what end will he referve them that he doth pre- serve ? That you have in verf. 19. I will fet a fign among them, andlmll [end thofe that efcape of them to the na- tions \ the efcaped people ? what (hall they be for ? They (hall be to make known> fet up* and advance the glory of Godi and to tell of his wondrous workings. I confefs > that I conceive this text doth relate to the Jewifli Na- tion ; but there ih*ll be a remnant prefer ved 3 and the referved are refer- ved to honorable ends, to make known much of God > to reveal and fpeak of his glory : To which add that Jer. 50. 28. you read of fome that efcaped thee in that day of diftrefs ; and what do they efcape for? It is to de- clare in Zion the vengeance of the Lord • they are a remnant referved to fpeak the praife of God, to magnifie and admire him in the difpenfations of his providence; and therefore being re- ferved w honorable ends > it is an ho- p 3 nor- JO Living Truths norable preservation : That is the firft thing in the Do&rine. 2. As it is an honor, fo itisanefpe- ciall mercy, to be preferved in times of publike judgements 5 it is not like the honor of this world, which is but an empty blaft of breath * but fuch as is a mercy ar well as an honor i and, Oh how great is the mercy of furviving, and out-livin? common calamities! I fhall briefly fhew you it is great mer- cy , and it will be evidencediln the confederation of fix or fevenparticu* Ian. i. It appears to be fo, from the thankfulnefs of thofe that have been preferved : You (Kail find fome fouls have been much taken with the good- nefs of God , and have admired his kindnefs in the delivering a people from common calamity. David in his time under a common diftrefs , how doth he admire the grace of God > that jfhined forth in hi* prefervation? What* faith David , they cut off, and 1 alive ! What have I done ? thefe fheep what have they done? £2,^9.738. here was a refer ved people , a peoole brought back from Captivity, and what doth Ez^rx in vying i tmes / i T £z,rahy} Oh> faith he/ic is great grace* there is abundance of mercy in it, that we fhould be preferved, that the Lord fhould keep us alive, and hath not buf- fered us to fall in our bondage, but hath given us a nail in his houfe. Now the thankfuluefs of a people delivered from fuch calami- y> is a great ground to think ic a grejat mercy, jer. 20*13. Sing unto the JLorA- pralfe ye the Lord% for he hath deliver e: the foul of the poor from the hand of evildoers, Now thaci fay that the people ofGod are fo thank- ful for, and do praife God for, certainly kis a great mercy. 2. Ic is a great mercy to be prefer- red in common calamities , if you con- sider this welj , that though Godmay find fome honorable things upon hU people , that he is pleated to honor with prcfervation, yet (if he would look throughly ) he might find fome- thing in them that mignt provoke him to let them fall with others: Ic is true* God when he doth preferve y doth find fomenting honorable upon thofe that he doth preferve , ic isfo for the moft part ; as he found faith in Jeremiah, a relying and recumbency upoa'hiau F 4 and and therefore honored hicn with pre- fervation. In Pfal. 91. the Lord found three things honorable upon a people, to which he annexeth a promife of pre- fervation ; one you have verf. 9, 10. He finds faith thercand that he honors with a promife of prefervation ; and in the 1 1, 1 2. He Jhall give his angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways: Here he finds a people walking with him, and therefore he promifeth them preservation. Now if God do find any thing of excellence upon a people? yet how often is it cold and deadi and at a very low ebb ? if he finds faith , How much of unbelief is therein the foul ? Alfo if he finds him walking with God, how much turning afide? And is it not great mercy that God is yet pleafed to crown them with prefer- vation, became he finds but fome fmall matter of excellency upon them ? You (hall fee how Vavid fpeaks,/*/*/. 1303. If thou jhenldeji mark^ iniquities > Oh Lord$ who jhall jland? That is, if thou comeft to fearch us throughly , and refolveft to do according to all that thou feefl: in us, who then (hall ftand ? Bqt it isthekindnefs of God^that he doth in Djing Times. 73 doth not mark all iniquity , and doth noc look upon every mifcarriage of his poor people j he covers many of them ; therefore in Lam. 3. how much are they there taken with Gods mercy ? It is of the Lords mercies that we are not consumed , becaufe his compajjions fail iw^verf. X2. 3. lcisagreacmercy, ifyouconfider Gods 4 preservations are fpecial kind- neffcs, a great deal of love goes there- with: Hez,akjah when he was Tick of the Plague , Godcarryeth him through it, he did not let him fall by it 5 and wnat faichhe ? If a. 38. 17. Thou hatt not let me fall, but halt kept me , and thou hall done it in love to my foul : And to this add that 2 King. 19.30,31. Mark it, the t/lffyrian (1 think ic was) that did hardly betfead poor Ifrael , who were greatly diltreffed hy them ; well, but faiih God > Om of Sionjhall go a remnant^ and fome Jhall ef cape ; but hov ? Why , the z,eal of the Lord of hoftsfiall perform it. That is, his love J and care (hall be ingaged for a -rem- nant 5 fo that it is great mercy to be preferved , and that becaufe God doth preferve in great kindnefs, 4. Ic 74 Living Truths 4. It is a great mercy, if you confi- der that God oft (hews a great deal of mercy to the fouls of them that doef- cape •' in lj that J may recover mj ftrengtb before 1 go hence and be no more feen* Length of time is an advantage to gcc- ting more of tfrength, Und they that are wife whom Cod hath delivered, they fhould improve ir, Lz.e\.6. 8,9* Tec rvMIleave aremva*ty&c This im- provement fhali the efcaping remnanc make of their efcaping , they fhall mourn over their hearts and ways at a greater rare then ever: So E&eh^ j,i($ But they that tfcsipe cf them fhall efcape, avdjhaH be on the mountains like doves of the valleys* all of \htm mourning every one for his Iniquity. The beft of Saints, I am perfwaded , that God carries through common calamity , they do there 7 6 Living Truths there & thence take opportunity ofloo- lung into their hearts more throughly > and bemoaning them in the prefence of God j Theyfhall mourn every one for his iniquity : and is not this a mercy> to have a refer ve of time to mourn o- ver their waies in the prefence of God? 6. It is a mercy, if you confider the teferved people are a reconciled peo- ple 5 ufmlly God is well pleafedwich them,and pacified towards them,as He~ z,ekjah faid in the text I quoted to you juftnoWjI/^38.17. Beholdyfor peace I bad great bitter nefs y but thou haft in love to my foul y delivered it from the fit of corruption , for thou haft caft all my fins behind thy back^ This is ufually Gods method j a people that he referves through calamity , to them he pacdons all iniquity , with them he is at peace, and unto them he ispleafed gracioufly to be reconciled. So Jer. 50.20. /W// pardon them whotH Ireferve ; I will not onely referve thern , but I will pardon them : that is a mercy 5 and double mer- cy, to be a referved and a pardoned people, 7- ft tn Dying Times. 77 7. It is a great mercy to be pr efer- ved through publike calamities, if you confide r God often makes the lflue of it the inabling che foul to be more for God, and to walk more with him than ever at former times* Ifa m 37. 31. And the remnant that is efcaped of the houfe of Jndah i {hall again take root down- wards >and bear fruit upward : J t hath a fpiritualas well as a iitteral fence, no doubt , They fhallbe a rooted people, and alfo a fruitful people : it is a mer- cy when God makes the iiTue of thefe Difpenfations , the purging of us, to make us bring forth more fruit 5 the fire of affliction, a tfieans for their pur- ging, and confequently of their bearing more fruit to thz praife of God: So J fa. 1 o. 20) 2 1 . Avid it {hall cotnc to pafs in that dap the remnant (hall retumrfven the remnant of Jacob to the mighty God. We are apt to be running horn God, but there fhall be an efcaping remnant, and what ftiall the iffue of it be? They that return unto the Lojd, God (hall have more of their hearts then ever he had before. This is a great mercy, and doubtlefs the foul Ihould admire ir, and feek it; which leads mc co the third thing 7o isivtngkYuim thing in the Do&rine , namely 3 that ic is that that gracious fouls fhould put out hard after, to be delivered and preferved in the times of publike cala- mities. You (hall find fometimes the people of God have been very earneft for the diverting a judgementafor the taking of it ofFif it rright be$ that was the cafe of Abraham) Oh how he pleads for poor Sodom! And in times when that can- not be prevailed for > how do the peo- ple of God fue for particular preferva- tion ! That they may be the fpared people 5 the Prophet Jeremiah begs this mercy from God, 'jer. ij.i6> 17. As for me<) 1 have not hajlexed&c. Oh, faies he 3 1 have not done any thing to- ward the pulling down of thefe troubles : I have not indeavoured to hatten them 5 Lord let not me feel the dread and terror of them : here I fay the good man is begging for an im- munity and freedom* for a particular prefcrvation in times and days of evil fi §o and cry, Lord {pare thy people* &c. Whatever thou doeft* and whatever fad providences be abroad 3 Oh, faith he> Spare thy people : That was the thing they fhould feek and begg at the hands of God 5 and truely could we pray more, and feek more > who knoweth what might be done ? In I fa. 37. you find there King He^ek^ah fends to the Prophet* and bids him lift up a prayer for the remain- ing remnant > ac verf. 4. It may he the Lord thy God mil hear&c* Wherefore litt up thy prayer tor the remnant that is left: Here are fome efcaped out of *hehand of the King of Affyria , Oh> faith he, Pray unto the Lord > and beg hard* that this efcaping remnant may be delivered from the rage of the King of Atfyria , and may not fall by the iiroke 8d LivingTruths ftrokc of bis hand : Thus we (hould beg for preferva-non in times of com* mon calamity : how and in what man- ner^and at whit rate this prayer ft to be managed* will be (hewed in the next Do&rine. And if you would know the reafon why we (hould beg thismercy^ much might be faid > but onely this {ball fuffice. i. Becaufe it is a mercy of great worth, and therefore (hould be great- ly fought ; and alfo I might fay> it is the proper means to fetch down this and every orher mercy ; and therefore if we would have it* we mult fet to the feekingof it. Bat here an Obje&ion may be made againft what I have Did > If we (hould beg prefervation in times of common calamity, what (ball we fay of "David t 2Sam>r^\n.And David /pake unto the Lord&c.l have been (hewing you that Saints (hould beg prefervation in com- mon calamities, and Let thine hand be againfi in tying Times. S r againft ntd I pray thee, and againjl my fathers honfe 5 and therefore how (hail we reconcile thefe, and bring chem to- gether ? I anfwer therefore in t*vo or three things plainly thus. - x. David he ipeaks this, becaufe he fuppofed that a finctnefs or" juiiice re- quired it ffioul^befo; he itwasch c was the onely offending perfori , it was the numbering the people that caufed God to fend this judgement, ard that David did, and no body elfe, therefore he could not butconfefs thatinftrift- nefs of juttice he (hould have dy- ed, and the people have lived, and therefore he could not but fay , Lord let thy hand be upon me * but as for thefe fheep what have they done ? 2. This is to be conhdered, that it is a particular cafe, we have not the like of it that I know ; it was the punifh* ment of a particular fin, znd^avid had chofen the punifhment , he had fiibmitted himfelf to it , and before- hand given himfelf up to the ftrokeof God 5 for the Prophet comes unto him,, and tells him, he had finned , and novt he muft fall under one of the three G judged 8 * htvtng Truths judgements, fword, famine , or pefti- letice ; and therefore, faith he, Let us have the Peftilence; it was his own fin , and he chofe the judgement , and therefore he fuppofed it was his due to fuffer becaufe be had fin- ned. And 3. It argues his great love to the people , he would willingly have dyed if their lives might have been fa* ved 5 and I know not but another might fay in fuch a cafe * Lord, if the hand of God being upon me , might fave many others* let it be fo : Not that he did fimply defire to fall under the fteoke~ , but conditionally, if his life might fave the lives of others : But this was a particular cafe. Now the judgement of God as it comes among us, we know not who it is particularly pointed at; it is our duty in the mean time to feek unto God that we may be his hidden ones in the day of his an* Thus I have difpatcht the do&rina! part, the Application now remains. Is it true that it is a great honor, and a mercy much to be fought for, to out* live a diftrei? and common calamity ? - ' fQ b ~ Then in by i#g Times. 8 3 Then what fhall we fay co the defpe- ra*e wickedneisof thoie that run them- fehes tpon the judgements ot God? I mean* rhat do the things, and goon defperately in the fins that fejdom find an efcape under fuch judgements ? Ah, my friends^ we are a people wiih whom God is contending) hb hand is lifted up* Oh that there were none found among us pertinaciotfly going on in thofe def-r perate ways of tin and rebellion, that are ufually atcended with deltru&ion and defolatioft. My triends, let me tell you , the men that adhere to > and are found readily going on in the ways of fin > chat provoke to deiolation i their cafe is very defperate: Oh that we could ail with brokennefs of heard mourn over fuch a generation! That we could lay their cafe to heart I It is a dreadful thing to ftarid before the ftroke of Divine indignation, a dread* full thing to dare the God of heaven to his face j to bid defiance to him, as if he were not a God of power, as if there were no dread in his judgements* as if ttariding before his rebuke were an eafie matter. But you will fay, Are there any fo defp-rate in common G z eala- $4 Living Truths calamities to Hare God to his face ? I wifh there were none. But I (hail tell you of fix or feven things that God hath refolved thofe that be found under fuch fins , they (hall not be of the ef- caping remnant. I. ,Nuch as grievoufly corrupt the worftiip of God,when he cometh forth in ways ot judgement he fome times determines againlt them that they (hall notefcape 3 E*^.$.io>n. Wherefore as J live faith the Lord (jod > becanfe thou baft defiled my Sarfiuarj with thy de- te ft able things* mine eyes fhall not J "fare 9 &c.Oh miierable ! how fad is the cafe of fuch a people? I will follow thee with- out mercy 3 thou fhalt have no mercy in fuch a day : here is the fin, grievous corrupting the worihip of God > and Gods determination concerning fuch* he will deftroy them utterly : Oh ftand at a diftance from fuch a people > it will be fad to have any thing to do with them in fuch a day, Ifa. 13.19. ±An& 'Babylon the glory of Kingdoms sice. And at verf. 15. Every one that u found Jhall be thrufi through , and every one that is joyned to hernial be thrufi through&Lc. 2. Corruption in wprihip^ whicl* God in Vying Times. 8 5 God hath wicneffed againft : when God comes to judge for fuch things, there is feldom any e(capin£, fer.i 1.10,1 1 ,12. They are turned back^ to the iniquity of their forefather /<&c. Mark>faics God, they live in the fins of their fore-fa- thers > fins that I mifliked , reproved, and punifhed in them ; and Therefore thus faith the Lord J will bring evil upon them that they (hall not efcape;n ay though they cry tome, I will not hear them: though they would then come to me* and fawn upon me, and be glad of pro- tection and prefer va tion , 1 will noc hear them ; and wo to them upon whom this lot light?, I may allude to that that you have in Ez,ra 9.14 Should roe again breaks thy commandments, and joy n our f elves in affinity with the people in thefe abominations? &c. Mark , we were a vHe people , and lived in a great m^ny fins , whit then {hould we return unro them again ? if we (hould do fo, the vengeance of God would reft upon us , fo that we fhould be fure there (hould fcarce be any efcaping for us. 3. Sinning under Gods warnings , not ducly minding of themmhether in G 5 his 8 6 Living Truths his'Vto-d* or by his works ; fuch a peo- ple (hill efcape very hardly, if at al! 9 j € r i 3 . j. o ? his evil people which refnfe to hear my words ^lc. An • \x\v t \ 3>fzt* Th'vjbjlt thw fay who them, 1 mil d«jk them one agai-il another, &c* Tt is a dreadful thing to hn ^gainli fairwarn- ing> I will mine them utterly : Yea if ttu warning be by the woiksof God ; What then ? Why if there be noc waril'ne i aken > whuwi't corre of it? Ifa 5 Hi 12. Wo to them that rife up early, dec* Bm regard not thew^s of the Lord nor confider the operation of his hands. 1 hefeech you mind it ; by th£ works of God* Iunderttand his works of providence) by whicn he fpeaketh terriHe things: Well, whit co t ey do in fuch a day > Why they drown all thefe voices in their cups : Now what fhill comeofrhefe? that you have in V* r.i 314. Therefore my people are gone into captivity fee. It is a full rext *o my furpofej a people thn God warns by his word and by his works , and yec W f n.ld not take warning : Hell hath opened her mouth* &c. they frullgoby thousands to hell and to the grave 3 for the original word fignifieth both. 4 # Co- in Dying Times 87 4. Covenant -breaking is a fiti, that where-eve- God finds it 3 in the day of his judgements , they upon whofe skirts thfe fin is found,do hurdly efcape. In Jer. 34. 8, If you read on feveral verfes , ycu (hall find that Zedekjah made a covenant, and he after breaks the Covenant ; and fee what comes Of breach of covemhc, mverf. ij % 18. Therefore thm faith the Lord y &c. T lis fhall be your judgements lays he, the judgement of the God of heaven (hall be fure to light upon you that have broken the Covenant : look Ez>ek> . 1 7. 1 5 ,1 6 But he rebelled aga'nft htto^&c. Shall he breaks the covenant and be delivered? furely no fuch mat- ter. f. Hard dealings with the people of God , which is fuch a fin that when God comes to deal for it , thofe that are found in that fin hardly efcape. There is much in the Scripture to this purpofe ; you have one p'fTage very fuitablein Jer. 2?. 123I33I4. And it (hall com* to ptfs when fevtnty years arc accomflifhedy&c. It is a ftrange Script ture> if you confider it well : The peo* pk of //>**/ by Gods ordination were G 4 to 85 giving Truths to be fcventy years captive in Babylon* and yet, faith he , when this captivity ftiall have an end , I will be lux to punifti them, that is Babylon* they ftnll be furenottoefcape the fadp oviden- ces that God will bring them under. Now though perfecutors in perfecution do norhing but by Gods permiflion, yet he will punifti them for it; and the rea- fon is in £z*kj 25, 1 J. / mil deflroy them utterly ^ I will cm off the rem->ant% Sec. Why fo? B c^ufe thoug' I put my people ii)to their hands, they did not deal with you , becaule I rut them upon it, but they a&ed from a prin- ciple of rage and malice. And truely, fouls, whoever are found under any fuch (ins as thefe , the Lord give them repentance , or it is like to go very ill with them : fhat is the firft thing in the Ufej how defpqrate i* the folly of fuch who contend with God , with whom there is no contending, and do daring- ly venture upon t >ofe fins that God will be fure topunifh. z. h efcaping fuch a mercy ? well then fouls , let us look homeward ; wbat honourable marks have we upon u^ that may give us ground to hope we {hall in Dying Times. 89 (hall efcape ? My friends, 1 mufl dea]l faithfully vviih you, and lee us confide* if we fhoula be weighed in the balance , what little reafon may moft of us have to bold up our beads oji high > and to be found with confidence of an efcape in fuch a day as this is ! Dare we fay yve have fome of thefe honorable matks upon us> which God hath been pleafed to honor with prefervation in times part ? It is not good to build a confi- dence too haftily , but it is good to fee upon wh>t good ground we do conclude our prefervation. Let me fpeak a little home to youf confeiences > and ask your fouls thefe quertions. 1. What fence have you upon your fouls of the fins of the generation a- mong whom you live? It was an ho- norable chara&er found upon Lot 5 that he was grieved with the filthy conver? fation of the wicked ; and upon them inEzskitl* That the) did Jigh and } mourn for the abominations and the evil of that day .-Now is this mark upon you,that the great burthen of your fouls is the fin & wickednsfs of the days in which your lot is cart ? It is worth the confiderin* and po Living Truths and inquiring into your hearts about it? Bur if you fhould ask me how fhould I know whether my heart be af- feftcd with the abominations of the day in which you live ? i. Ob you mourn in fecret bec*ufe of thofe abominations ? iaies the Pro- phet j crtm'th in Chap. 13,1 7. ff Jon will not hear 9 my foul 'flail weep in Jeer e£>&c. Can you fay when you come into the prefence of God in fecret , not bnely your own > but O; hers fins affeft your heart ? You know God is as eminently dishonored in this Natioa > as he harh been in moll Nations of the world 5 as noto ious defperate finning againil Jighcy and againft thegoodnefsofGod, asaltioli any people have been guilty of; greater breach of Covenant>finning againrt light, defpight done to the Spi- rit of G r ace > flighting of and ne°le&- Jug of the Gospel of Chri(t, has fbarce been found among a people for many years : and by all this, how i Goddif- henored ? to have bisGofpel flighted, and turned our of doors , and mens polls fee up by G 'xte ports; for him that departeth from evil 3 thereby to make himfelf a prey j Can you fay for thefe things in tying Times. p r things as the Prophet > My eyes tun down wkh tears, and for thefe things yoa: foul mcurneth in fecret ? I would onely put it to your conscience > and tik yoUr fouls the queftton ; you would (I bdievej be glad to get on the other fide tof this Hormthatis now I egun * and have fome affurance that you fhould our-live the prefent provi- dence ; why it you would, then labor to get fome of the mark!? that are to be found upon thofe that God dbth ufe to deliver from fuch calamities. 2. What love hive you for God ? Becaufe he hath fet his love upon me> faith Gqd> therefore will I dcliver'bim. Put the quefUon home to your own fouls , and fee what anfwcr will be made ; Can vou fay you have fet your love upon God and Chrili ? I believe we may fay moft of us , We fee him lovely, wehave ni r ed affections and defires after him ; bar can we fay we have fet <^ur love upon him , that he is? the center udod whirh our fouls have fixed; rhar we fee no excellence in any thing that can (atisfie our fouls > fave onely in him? Can you fay you have lived up to that direction of the Apo- ftie, 9 } Living Truths ftle,Set your affeftions on thing? above and not on things on the earth? Faith and Love^re the two great things that diflinguiflh a Saint and an empty pro- feflbr. Now what iay you ? Do you love him? If your heart be not onely running out after him , but fee upon him, then he is yours , and then you may expeft he will look after your pre- fer vation : onely this I would fay, fone fouls there are that dare not fay they love Qod , they have a great ma- ny doubes and fears , whether they do tuelylove God or no; and therefore if you fhoub ask me , But how (hall I kaow where my heart is , and whether 1 have this love or no , I would onely fay for prefent, What defires are there in thee after acquaintance with God ? And what defires have you to be found doing the will of God ? If thou cantt fay. Above alkhings,oh I would know him* and injoy him above all things in the world, 1 am jealous left I fliould difhonor him* then I would fay to thee that thou haft ground to hope the Lord hath circumcued thy heart in truth to Jove him. But; in tying Times. g 3 But 3. How do yon walk with God? You muftbe in Gods way. if you will have his preservation, Hep all give his Angels charge over thee , to kjep thee in all thy v>ays y that is> in all his ways, for wc fhould have no way , but Gods ways, all our ways fhould be his ways. There are fome things incorififtenc with the walking with God, and tc Will be well if none of thofe thing's be to be found upon our fouls. 1. The harboring of boforiv fins, if thou harboureli and alloweft thy felF in any fecretfin, thou arc not one that walkeft with God. 2. If thou art not one purfuing the death of all fin ; if thou doll not labor to mortifie the deeds of the body, i dare pronouncfe thee one that art wal- king after the flefh. 3. This I add, that if thou art not one that ftandeft upon thy w itch, thou art none of thofe that walk with God; a carelefs profeffor f that minds' not what he is, nor what hedorh,will hard- ly ever be found in Gods way ; the path is too narrow for a foul to keep in, without much diligence. Ask vouf Coulsir £ 4 Living Truth! fouls y and examine what you have within you* to witneU to you that you arp a peqplc walking with God. 4. Would you he of the efcaping nu Tiber , pray what Faith have you ? how Hands your Faith? examine that a little ; fome there are that fay, I blefs God I can trutthim without any he(i« tation, without any fturnbling ; but I befeech ,you b:ar with me a little if I try your frith, and help you fo to do. There be three things that expofe men to the ftrokeof the judgement of God , and cut them fhort of mercy many timesyw^. Unbelief* Preempti- on, and Security 5 and any one of them doth it as well as the other. 1 . Unbelief, I fay that cuts fhort of a great deal of mercy , particularly in fuch a day as this : if you will be car- ry^ through the wildernefs* watch a* gain!* unbelief. 2. Security ; a people not being af- fe&ed with the judgements of God, it lays them as much open to the freight of the judgement, as any thing clfe* Ij "4, 5. 1 1. And the harp > and the yiolficc. a regardlefs,for tifboflupid peo- ple , that are not afte&ed with the judgements of God, {hall fall by them. 3. Preemption alfo> which they call Faith j and that doth as certainly 'lay open the foul to miiery, as any other thing that hath been hinced* Now confider a lktle how it is with you ; is your Faith true Faith* oris it not Security ? Is it not Preemption ? Are you fure it isFaith?if not/it will do you no fervice. You may think it is Faith 5 when it may prove fomewhat elfe , it may prove iecurity : you think you have faith* becaufe you have not fear: I tell you fouls * there may and fhould be an aw of God > and yet be faith, as I will tell you by and by. You may think it faith > becaufe you are fe- ciire, andnotmuchaffe&edj but take heed left it fhould difappoint thee : if it be not faith* it may lay you open to the judgement of God * and cut you ' fhort o£ being one of the efcaping remnant*as well as any thing elfe what^ ever. If you have true Faith* you will know it by one or two things. 1, You 2 6 Living Truths i. Youwillbefeofible of your great ttnworthinefs to receive any thing at the hand of God* or to be preferved by him ; that is the property of faith, it is an humbling Grace, a felf-abafing <3nce 5 Lam. $• 22. It is of the Lords mercy we are not eo^fnmed : Here was faith at work, and whateffe& had it upon their fouls? On it made them ve- ry fenfible of their unworthinefs, to receive any mercy at the Lords hand, It is of the Lords mere J that we are not confnmed. Call thy confidence whac thou wilt, if it have not fome effe& up- on thee of this kind , it is not true^ faith. 2 If thou haft faith, it hath an allay and mixture of a holy aw of the judge- ment sof God; faith is not a thing that mikes a man ftupid , but fenhble and tender ; faith as it looks to the pro- mife for prefervation , fo it feeth God in the judgements, and itisaffefted with that Glory 2nd Mijefty of God* that flvnes forth in fuch a judgement : it feeth it is the band of the great, glo- rious, mighty, terrible God,and there- foie ths foul that knows who he is, and what he is, cannot but have an awe 61 his in Dying Times. ?y Ms judgement refling upon him, D*- vid was no Infidel , yet a man of fear* q>faU 1 19. 1 20. My fiefhtrcmblethfor fear of thee 3 and I am afraid of all thy judgements. David bad this > and it was no unbecoming fear* he had a holy awe of God : a dread of the judgements of God upon the foal, is fo far from being inconfiftent with faith* that it is a neceflary concomitant of ir. Again?. Faich cuts not the throat of the ufe of means , but whilft thoa believed for prefervation > thou arc waiting on God in the ufe of^that means that he directs thee to j faith it pucs upon the ufe of means , but doth not call off fromic: Youbdieve God for falvation* What then ? you wait upon God in the ufe of Ordinances : Now by thefe things ask your hearts whether you have faith or no. Two or three things more^ and I have done. Is prefervation fuch a mercy ? I would firlt fay to you, Labor then to be Saints in earned, for if youftiould beprefer- ved and not be Saints , you loofe the nercyof your prefervation* If a. 15.4* His life jhatl be grievous unto him&c* (The cafe of evil men is fuch fojietincs, H that 9 8 LivtngTritihs that the very living is a burthen to them : and iuch may be the cafe of a (inner, though he may not be cur off> iheir life may be worfetothem then ,oi tting off • Jer. 8. 3. And death (hall he chofen rasher then lifeficc. the life of a (inner is not worth the liv- «>g- 2. Above all things 3 have as little to do with fin as you can, that is one of che beft prefer vatives, Job 11.14. If iniquity be in thy tabernacle > put it far away from thee. 3. And lately, while you are in the world j and difirefs is in the world, ef- pecially remember and be follicitous for the S\on of God. Oh rtand up and plead for the poor people of Sion, Jer* 51. 50. Let Jerufalem come into your mind*. Oh my friends , while the di- ftrdTes of this day lalte 5 Let Jernfalem aome into your mind ! If God prefervp you, I fay 5 while.he prefer ve* you,think of Jerufaltm* plead with God for his poor people, that that interest maybe fecured , that the Lord would he to his people the (hadow of a great rock in a weary land* inDyittgTimef* 99 And t bus I have difp^cched the third Doftrine j namely,thar it is a great ho- nor, and an efpeciai mercy* and that that Saints (hould put out hard for, to be deiivered in times of common cala- mity. I fhall now go on with the fourth Obfervation from the yvords, Thac watchfitfaefs and prayer are rare pre- fcrvatives, and excellent means i#r fefety in the time of corhmon calami- ties. I dare not fay they are never-fail- ing means jbut they are the belt means, and that as feldom fail as any ; they are the beftprefervativesyou can hav^ and will do you moft fervice of any thing; if there be any fafety to be had , ic is in the ufe of thefe means. That is the note I would fpend a little time upo;i ; the God of all our mer- cies knows how to make it of ufe to I would treat a little diftin&ly ont each of them y and (hew how far each of theqi ierve to this defign ; what |>art prayer hath in k , and what^parr watchfulnefs : I (ball begin with th£ fii&>yiz, % Prayer 5 and in what I have H % .. to iCO Li-jir.g Truths to fay to that > I (hall propound three things to be treated on. 1 1 Confidera little what prayer is, becaufc if we miftake the thing itfelf, we are out in the whole > as if a skilful Phyfician prefcribe one potion, and it be milhkeh , and another taken for ir, in ftead of doing good it may do much • harm ; therefore ic is good to know what prayer is. 2. Confider, what prayer is wont t*o do : •Wfteh Phyhcians prefcribe a remedy', they will tell you what great cures fuch medicines have effe&ed; and therefore I (hall {hew you what prayer hath done ^ and then how ic comes to be particularly ufeful in this cafe of a common calamity. For the firfi then, what is Prayer.-we oft fpeak of going to prayer , but what is praying ? Why prayer tt may be thus defcribed : .Ic is the breathing of a gra- cious foul, in the help of the Spirit of Grace , whereby it is rnabled to go to God in a promife , in the Name of Chrift, to begg fuitable mercy as the caie may require. I will take this de- fcription in parrs D and confirm each part unto you , that you may fee it is a de- fcrip- in Dying Times, I O I fcription confonant and agreeable un- co the wore} of truth. Firft ofall>Ifay>prayer is the brea- thing of the foul ; heartlefs prayer is no prayer , it is the work of the foul y theworkoftheheartjandthn in which the heart is nor, is not prayer ac all; hence you have that expreflion in Jam, 5.16. The efftttnal fervent prayer of the righteqm availeth much ; it may be better rendred> The Inwrought prayer, ot the righteous 5 prater it is an In- wrought thing , it is firtt wrought in the heart^before it is brought forth into petitions; and if it be not firii wrought in the heart before ic is brought fprth into deftres and paitions> it is not prayer. The heart muft go whatfoever is w:ming ^ whether you pray witb the voice or not , you muft pray with the heart 5 fuch a thing you read of in the known cafe of Hannah^ \Sam.\.\%» Hannah jhe fpeak^s *"* her heart onely^her lips moved, her voice was not heard, {he fpake in her heart > her hearc was in the prayer, and it was a hgn it was, by the good iffue it had. David TfaL up. j 45. hath anexpreflion that looks that Way , I cryed with my whole heart , Oh H 2 Lord 102 LiviagTruths Lo'rd I wiH keep thy fiatutes : If you cry>it mutt be with the heart* that mult not be wanting; for if chat be Wanting* truely the beft ingredient of*prayer is wanting; hence you have that expref- fion in Ffal. 25.1. I lift up my foul un- to the : the meaning is, 1 pray unco ibee, I call unto thee ; but he doth ex- prefs it by lifting up the foul, becaufe the foul was ingaged in the work* I lift up myjoulunto thee ; the like expreflion you have ?fal%6.+. yf £Jowthat is the firft thing in thede- F fcription > it is the breathing of the foul* 2. It is the breathing of a gracious foul : it is not every heart > but a gra- cious heart that knoweth how to pray* thfe breathings of a gracious foul , and therefore whatever name the defires of a wicked crtan may have* yet alas it doth not amount to prayer* Prcv.15.%. The facrifice of the rpickfd it is an abominati- on unto the Lord , but the prayer of the Upright U hi* delight: Awieked man rhay bring his facrifice* may think to put up his petition^ but what is it ? It is an abomination unto the Lord , but the grayer of the upright that is his delight* When tnuyingumes 103 When Sod comes co fpeak of thqpray* er of the wicked > feeh whe isplea- fed co phrafe it, Hof.-j. 14. Says he> They hmtnot cryedm tome with their hearts i when they have honied upon their teds : The prayer they put up is no better then the howling of ai dogg ; if it be not the voice of a gracious heart* it is but the voice of a dog, and you know ic isfocajledintheSeripture;and hence in Zach* I 2. 10. it is faid, He will pour ouc upon the houfe of David the Spirit of G ace and of fupplication; fi ft the Spirit of Grace, and then the Spirit of Supplication ; if there enot firft a fpirit of grace* truely there can be no fpirit of Application : and it was hence that Saul when he was effectually wrought upon, and the work of grace was begun in bis heart s the fpirit of God takes notice of ir, Behold he fr*y- cth : doubtlefs he had made many a long prayer , and done fomething that he called prayer before that time , be- ing a Pharifee* and one of thettri&eft Se& j but yet he never prayed untill now; now there is grace in his heard and he prayeth to pu:pofe : that is the fecond thingjit is the breathing of a gracious foult H 4 3, Ic 104 LiywgTrutbs 3. It is done in the help of the Spi- rit of Grace: for if a gracious foul come and fpeak his own words* that is not praying, ic muft be fpeakingthe words of the Spirit of God, the breath- frig out the petitions that are put into the heart by the Spirit of God. Zach. 12. 10. a place I quoted even now , you read that it is a Spirit of- Supplica- tion 5 Gods good Spirit it helps and furthers , and forwards the foul in this great work, Rom. 8. 26. We know not what to fray for as we ought* but the Spirit it felf helps our infirmities % and truely fouls , this is very considerable* when praying is as it (hould be> it is done in the help of the Spirit of grace. 4. In prayer the foul goeth to God* as the Father and fountain of mercy; he goes to him* dire&s a prayer unto him* therefore David fays in Pfal. 2 and to go to him as to a Father. And inDyifigTimes. 105 And further, 5. Prayer is going co Qod> and a going to him in a promife • you muft have a promife to incourage you to pray : mark this as a certain rule 9 you have no warrant to ask that of God of which you have not a pro*- mife, or fomething that is in the nature of a promife: and if you ask me what I mean by fomething in the nature of a promife 3 why it is the experience of the Saints of God > what he hath done for them> and wrought for them; this is in the nature of a promife , and you may plead it with God , that what he hath wrought for his fervants of oldt that he would do again: now by pro- mife I mean the Word of Godi to plead for fomething that God hath gi- ven h's word to give : JacobinGeH.%2. 11. he was inaftreight, and he goes to God, and what hath he to plead with God ? Why he had a promife , And tbottfaidftj will farely do thee good.* fyc.verf .ii. HeurgethGod wftn his promife, Lord thou haft faid thou wile do me good, and make my feed as the fand of the Sea ; If Efaucome and kill my children, How fhall this promife be fulfilled? Therefore deliver we> I pray thee T o come Lord Jef$a, Mario here is the promife > and the pleading of it alfo , both in this verfe ; the promif^Chrift faies , Surely I come; the pleading of the promife, ^/tmc^ even Ja com Lord Jefus : fo if we come to God in prayer* we muft plead a pro* mife, or fomething in the nature of a promife , or elfe it is not pray- ing. 6. We muft go to God in the name of Chritt : % now that is not (you will eafily g*?mj the bare faying we ask thi* in r he name of Chritt , and beg ic for Chrifts fake; bur v. t putting forth an iJSk of £n h upon Chrift , as he to whom ail promife? a? e made , and who hath pu .chafed for us an intereft in the promifes ; that U what I mean when T fay we are to come in the name of Chritiyfoh. 1 6. % j. Whatever you (ball asl^ the Father In my name* that yotijhaU have ; cotte toGod^and tell him,Lord thou haft made a great many promifes to poor fouls rhrough Chrift Jefus ; Chrift hath purchafed thefe promifes at thy hand, therefore we come to be- feech in Dying Times. 1 07 fecch thee , for the merit 'and righte- outbefs of Jefus Chiift , that thou wouldeft make good thofe ptomifes that thou haft made, 2 Cor. x. 20. /* fcimare all the promifes Tea and Amen ; in him, that is, in Chrift; arid in him they are Yea and Amen f that is, they are made good to the foul through Chrift ; firft the foul believes in Chrift, and hath inrereft in him, and then hath intereft in the promifes, 7. They go for fuitable mercy* ac- cording as their needs and ne # ceiTtties are: The necefluies of the Saints are not always the fame*, fometimes they are of one kind and iometimes of ano- ther, and the fpiric of g r ace helps the foul to begg mercies fuitable to its w ants ; fometimes not to be led into temptation, as Chrift teacheth us to pray, and fometimes to be delivered from trouble 5 as David Pfal. 59 . i. <2)eliver me fr$m mine enemies , O God 9 defend me from thofe that rife ftp agaivft me. And thus I have given you an ac- count whar prayer is , and (hewed you that it is the breathing of a gracious t foul in the help of the fpirit of grace, whereby I oo Living Truths whereby it is inabled to go to God in a promife, in the name of Ghrift, to ask futtable mercy as the cafe requiretb. That is the firit thing propounded>whac player is. But 2. What can prayer do, what hath it don;. ? To that I anfwer* Very great things. I. Prayer hath prevailed to pull down very dreadful judgements upon a people : Thus they that mocked the Prophet and fcofc at hufba little prayer of the Prophet brought very dreadful things upon thofe people? 2 King. 2. Ana hi went up from thence } $cc,u verf 2 3. it is fpglfen concerning Slijha>md ic isfaidj that He turned backhand ctirfed them in the name of the Lo-di thatis> he prayed that God would meet wich them for this 5 and whu came of ic? you read, there came two (he-bears om of the mod, and tare fourty and two chil* dren of them> that mocked the Prophet. David with a very (horc prayer, he b;hgs do.vn judgement and evil upon A chit op he U 2 Sam. 1 He prayed earnejily that it might not rain , and it rained not for the fpace of three years and fix moneths : And let me tell you, all the dreadful judgements that come upon the world* they come down as an anfwer to the prayer of the people of God : Look Pfal. 65. 5. By terrible things inrigh- teonfnefs wilt thou anfwer #&>8tc« I quote this for thispurpofe, to tell you that the terrible judgements that fall upon the world > they do come in anfwer co the prayer of the Saints: yea let me tell no Livtng Truths tell you* this very judgement on foot at this day^t which our hearts do tremble, it comes in anfwer to the prayet of the people of God ; I mean tnus, the peo- ple of God have prayed that God would promote his intereft, that he would advance the fcepterof his Son* that he would pull down his enemies; and they leave him to do it which way he pleafeth : Now this is Gods way to advance his intereft , and you will find it 16 ; and I fay moreover, the dread- ful rhings that fhall be in the world>and (hall come upon the beads of the un- godly of the world * they come all in aniwer to the prayer of the Saints. The ninth Pfalm is a Ffalm concerning Anrichrift the great deiiroyer : We!J> what faies it of him ? in verf. 1 i, 12. Sing praifes to the Lord which dwellsth in Stan : when he maketh inqmfmon fpr bloody he remembreth them > he forget" teth not the cry of th humble : There is a time j fairh T)avid y when he will make inquilition for blood > that is, when he will contend with Amichrift, the great deftroyer, for all the flaugh- ter that hath been made upon his peo- ple } be will come and recompence them tn vying i mcs. HI tb^na for this blood • and which way (ball ft come to pafs ? Htforgmetb not the cry of the humble ; he heareth them j and that itirteth him up to make inqui- fition for blood, fo that I fay many great judgements that have been in the worid , they have many times come in anfwer to the prayer of the Saint*. Again a. Prayer it lonrtetimes pre- vents the evil we fear. Jacob in the in- fUnce given but now > had a great deal of fear upon him* Gen. 3 2. 6^ 7,11* 12* be was greatly ditiretfed, and then hegoethto prayer, and what cometh of it ? in Chap. 3 3.4. -gfau ran to meet him y and falls on his neck and kifles him ; here was the word of their meet- ing : he thought verily Ef<*# would have come to kill him* and therefore fethimfelf to feek the Lord , and then God prevented his fear j for JLfauidi on his neck and kifled him. Thus God fomctimes prevents the t^ing that we fear ; and fo in 2 Chron. 20. int *e cafe o(]ehofaph*t9 when many Nati- ons combine to fight again!* him, verf. 3. Jthofapbat feared, and what th^n ? /& fit bwjtlf t* fuk the Lord* and fro* 1 1 2 Living Truths proclaimed a faji thorow out alljudah .* And whac came of it ? truly God deli- vered him very wonderfully: in verf. I j.YtefhaB not need to fight in this battle* Sec. And God makes thofe men thac came again!* him todeftroy one' ano- ther,^ verf+iz. I quoce all chis ? c6 this end orfely, to cell you what great work and mighty fervice fometimes prayer doth, it helps to keep off the things rhac we fear. 3. Ic helps to remove the evils we feel, as well as prevents what we fear : you know when "Ifrael was in bondage, what was a means to help them oar, Exod. 2. 2 3. They cryed> and their cry came Hp $ they cryedi and it was not in vain, for God heard them, their pray- ing and feeking his face it did not prove fruitlefs : in Judges 5. you have a notable expreffion of Deborah , O my fottltthoH hajltroden down ftrength : the people of Ifrael were greatly opprefled and d^alt hardly with, and there were fome ftirred up to go out and oppofe ; but what got the.viftory ? Oh, faith fhe , My fottU thou haft trodden down jlrength ! It was her fouls going to God in prayer , it was thac did the work, and in T>ying Times. 1 1 3 and it was inftrumental for the remo- ving that great oppreffiori chat was up* on them ; and therefore the Prophet in Ifa. 10. When he foretells their deli- verance from the yoak of the Affyrian bondage, faith he; the yoak (hall bede- ttroyed becaufe of the anointing, vcrf. 27. that evil (hall be removed^ How ! by the anointing, one part of the fenfe whereof is , that a part of chefpirit of grace and fupplication fhould be paw- red forth on the people, they fhould plead with God > and becaufe of thae anoindng , they fhould be delivered, Pfal. 40. 1 5 2. I waited patiently for the Lord and cry ed unto him , and he incli- ned unto me% and heard my cry : he pray- ed and God heard him, and this was the iffue , He brought me up alfo&c. lierf 2, 3. that is a third thingut delivers from 'many evils felt as well as fearedo 4. It prevails for ftrength to ftand up under,and grapple with great difficulty: when God chinks not fit to remove dif- ficulty, then the foul prays for ftrength to Hand up under thofe difficulties, Ifa. 40. 31. "they that wait on the Lor d$ all renew their ftrength, Sic. they may have difficulty j but if they wait on the X Lord j H4 LivtngTruths Lord , they (hall have ftrength as well as difficulty* Tfal. 138.3. In the day when 1 cryed> thon anfweredft me* and ftrengthnedft me mthftren^th in my foul. David was under many difficulties and (freights, but yef in calling upon the Lord>the Lord gave him ttrength ; to which add that, Heb.i 1.34* Ihztjome optt of weakness rpere made ftrong 5 that is the fourth thing that Prayer doth. 5. It prevails alio for prefervation. in common calamities ; that mercy Jf- remiah had in a way of Prayer/7^17. he doth addrefs himfelf unto God by prayer > in verf. 17. Be not a terror unto mc^ thou art my hope in the day of evil: And God gave him a promife of pre- fervation, and was with him according to his promife. Thus you fee what great things prayer doth, 1. It, hath pulled down dreadful judgments. 2. Prevented evils feared* 3. Removed evils felt. 4. Prevailed for ftrength to bear up under difficulties. And 5. Prevailed alfo for preferva* rion in timed of great diftrefs. To the third thing. Then how comes prayer prayer to be ufefal for our pretervation in common calamity ? It comes to be ufeful in that* as in all other cafes, thefe four or five wayes : i« From a great deal of efficacy that is in it ; it is a thing that hath a greac deal of efficacy and p^wer going along with \t y Mat.j.j.lf^.2i 9 22*Jam.^.i6 9 Bur, 2. It comes to be effectual* in that ic lues out and pleads the Promife: the prayer of Faith ic challengeth God with his word* it pleads out the Promife in the prefence of God;ic goes to that, and takes hold of it ; and many p.omifes I have heretofore quo- ted you, that God hath given for pre- fervacion in common calamity. Now it is the work of the people of God? to goto God and fue them out*to remem- ber him of his promife* s Chron. io% Jehofaphat, when he is at prayer there* he remembers God of his promife* vcrf. 8, 9> 10. he goeth to prayer* and there he pleads the promife; Lord, faith he* at the dedication of this Tern* fie , didft than not * n g*ge> that if wefiood by this houfe y called by thy Name y in a time of calamity % didji thou not promife that thou wonldfi be with w ? This i$ chat n 6 Living Truths that he remembers God of 5 and the people of God chey are called Gods re- membrancers D in the Prophefie of Jfaiah> Chap. (5 2. v. 6. You that make mention of the Lord ; it is in the mar- genc> Tots that are the Lords remem* brancers : Prov. 1 8. 1 o. ic is faid* The Name of the Lord is aftrong Tower ^the righteous run thither and are faved t this running is a running in prayer* in a prayer of faith* when the foul in prayer doch put the Lord in mind* that he hath faid, he is a ftrovg lower, and will btz Refuge, and therefore beg of him to be according to his word ; that is a fecond thing> it prevails for prefer- vation, in that it pleadeth the promife. 3. It prevails, in that it is Gods own Ordinance and appointment>the means that he hath given us to prevail in any cafe; and he is pleafed to put that ho- nour upon the head of prayer* that ic jfhall be a door to let in mercy to us. When he had promifed to do a great deal for IfraeU yet, Cayes ht,for all this 1 wit! he fought of them ; it is prayer fetcheth in the mercy, Job it, 13. If thou prepare thine heart, and ftretch out thine hand towards h'W)&c% And in verfn wDywgTimes. 117 verf. I 5. Thottfralt beftedfafi^ and {halt not fear. Mark, particular preiervr.tion is promifed to be given forth in a way of prayer. 4. As it is ufefu! to remove that that may pull on a calamity, and may make the Lord ftrike us with fuch a ftroke : you know fin is that that brings ali judgment $ now the prayer of Faith is very instrumental and Serviceable in order to the taking away of guilt, and removing of fin ; a nd by faith in prayer we go to Chrirt, and take hold of him, and leave our guile upon him, leave him to grapple with the Fathers dif- pleaiure : This we do by Prayer. ?><*• vid you know, when he would be pre- fer vedhimfelf from the Plague, hego- eth and offereth a Sacrifice 5 I think I have hinted to you what that was $. Thus it comes to do us fervice : if i: be right, and as It fhould be , we .put up no pet'tion but what Godfirft puts into our hearts. Now, if prayer be right} it is God's work, and he is ob- liged to Hand to nis own aft ; if God put me upon pleading for preferva- tion> it is a tye upon God to anfwer iti for ic is his own work, and therefore he I 5 muft 1 1$ LivittgTrutm tnuft not difown his own work. Upon this account it is that prayer comes to jbe ufeful to our pre(ervation;I (hal now proceed to fhew you a Title the great ufe of watchfulnes,in order to prefervation. 1. In that it helps to prayer 5 prayer is a great means to our prefervation, and watchfuinefs is a hand-maid to praye r ; there is no praying well without it: It is a furtherance and help to us> 1 • In that it finds out the molt apt and fit feafon for prayer : there are certainly fit 5 and apt y and proper feaibns in which the foul may do much more in prayer then it can do at other times ; and it is the part of watchfuinefs to fpie and finde out thofe opportunities ; and therefore you have a notable expreflion in 1 Pet. 4. 7. The end of ail things is at handy be ye fober therefore? and watch unto frayer • that is, let your watch ferve you to find out the belt, fitteft and apteft feafons, and the greateft ad- vantages to further you in prayer: doubtlefs there are feafons in which the heart isbeft framed for the duty 3 and feafons in which God feems to give fome fecret inclinations to the foul? that he will pleafe to be befought: Now in Dying Times 119 Now when the foul hath any great fuic to go forward with. and. any great re- quett to prefent at the Throne of grace, the foul then watches to find out fuch a feafon ; and this doth further the duty of prayer exceeoingly. 2. it furthers prayer>in that it keeps up the heart when it is engaged in thac work ; and therefore you find them coupled together in ^Mat. 26. 41. Watch andprajt)ti\xh he. Souls, let me tell you, if you pray>and donot watch* you will hardly get the heart to pray ; but if you do get the heart there, you will hardly keep it there* unlets you ftand upon your watch. It is a truth much experienced , that a foul is no longer kept to duty, then a watchful eye is born over ic : confider it /it may help you many times* if it be remem- bred> that watchfulnefs confidershow the heart is, how the Tempter deals with the foul, what pains he takes to diftraft, and get the fouloir of a duty in which ic is engaged ; iom itimes you are dead, it is warchfulnels fiadesit out ; and thereftre Tywld being upon his watchj as well as in the way of his duty > he prays often in Ffal. 119. I 4 Quick** 120 iitvwgiruws §hkken thou me ; fometimes the heart is dilira6ted,wandring and getting aftde from the work that is before it, it is Watchfulnefs that makes this difcovery; it obierves how Satan moves 5 & how the foul moves in a duty,whether toGod or no ; I may allude to that you have>G^. 1 5.9. when God comes to confirm the Covenant unto Abraham* and bid him Sacrifice and divide the Hftfer, and the Turtle-doves, and young Pigeons, itiverf 11. When the fowls came down upon the carcafe$ y Abraham drove them away. 1 may allude to it thus : When you come to facrifice 3 fowlyr>g Times. 121 ers,and thac is the part of watchfulnefr; watchfulnefs loc}^ after the petitions put up, and oblerves how they fpced, and what comes of them: fayes Ha- fykk&kj I wiU ft and upon my watch- tower ', and will watch to fee what he will fay tint me : you mult watch unco prayer j watch in prayer, and watch when you have prayed , watch to fee what comes of the petitions you have put up* and what anfwer you have re- ceived, and how God comes into your fouls in a way of return to the requetts you have lodged with him, Mich. 7.7. Therefore J will look,.* &c. I will look unto God by Faith and Prayerj and when 1 have done, I will watch to fee what the God of my falvation fairh to me. Ffal. 40. 1 • / waited patiently for the Lord* and he heard me. I cryed, and when I had done, I waited to fee what would come of it, Pfal. 5. 5. / will di- rect my prayer unto thee, and I will look^ after it % I will fee how it will fucceed. Well, you will fay, w hat if watchfulnefs do help to look after anfwers of prayer, how doth this farther preservation ? Why, thefe two wayes it's helping you to fee what anfwer God makes to prayer, j 2 2 Living Truths prayer, furthers yourprefervation two ways* i. if you have no anfwer, it puts you upon praying again 3 umillGod doth give you a word to hope in for your fafety in days of evil. Or fecondly , If when you have prayed, and are upon your watch * fo that you have found an anfwer > it helpes you to improve it for your pre- fervacion ; it helpes you to plead the ^anfwer that God hath given you : if you find he hath anfwered you in the defire of your hearts > it helps you to hang upon God , and plead it with God as did David* Pfalm.1 19.49. Re- member thy word hmo thy ftrv ant upon which thou haft caufed him to hope: God may give anfwer ; and if thou art not upon thy watch, thou mayeft not fee it. 3. Ic is ferviceable to prefervation as ic helps to keep you from the fin and provocations* that might* if lived in, provoke God to cut you off among the number that fall. I tell you fouls* there are many provocations ; when a foul is found under them* they do won- derfully ftir up the Spirit of God againtt him; in Dying Times. I 2 3 him, and provoke God to cut them off in the time of his anger; and ic is the part of watchfulnefs to keep you from them* Rev* 16. Blejfed is he that watches and keepeth his garments ; you cannot keep your garments if you do not watch ; fuch are the corruptions of your hearts, and thefubtilty of the tempter , that he will quickly make you defile your garments, \Thef<$.6. Let not us fleepas do others % but let m watch and he fober. All kind of finic is an intemperance* if you are not up- on your watch you will be wanting in your fob;iety 3 you will quickly run in- to ways of hn> if you are not found upon the duty of Watchfulnefs. Watch- fulnefs doth efpecially keep you from the fins , which if you are not kept from, will by you open to the judge- ments of God \ confidcr Lu\. 21. 34, 35. compared with my texti Mark^i thrift my brethren, a day of dreadful judgements is coming , it will come upon the world, when they little think of ir, when they are not well aware of it ; and there are many fins that provoke God to pulldown thefe judge- ments on you, furfeting and drunken- nefs, 1 24 Living Truths nefs, and the cares of this life; but, lay they , how may we be preferved ? Ob faith he, watch, that will keep you from the fin * from forfeiting and from drunkennefs, and whatever other fins mav be a provocation to the Divine Majefty, There are four or five fins that it is very bad to be found under * againft all which watchfulnefsis an excellent pre- fervativfc. 1. The fins of the times, the very fins for which God doth primarily con- tend, and at which hedire&s his judge- ments ; Come out of her my fecple, and be not partakers of her fins 3 left yon partake of her plagues : It will be bad being found in Babjlons (ins 3 they do provoke God mightily, therefore par- take not of her fins : Murmuring was the fin of Ifrael of old , a fpe&al fin that God contends for ; you find t.hac CMofes liept but once into that fin in JVtirnb.zj. and for it he mult dye in the wildernefsj in verf. 14. Whatfo* ever fin it is that God efpecially con- tends for in any day of common cala- mity > Oh fouls as you love tender and regard your own prefervadonj come in Dying Times. I 2 5 come doc nigh it : But of Lhis be- fore. 2. Leaning unto your own wifdom, that is a very bad things we are to truft the wifdom of God >" and lean upon him for all our preservation. The peo- ple of Ifracl) feme of them when r here * was a great part carryed captive by the King of Babylon in Jer. 42. 15. 16. Hear the word of the Lord> ye remnant of Judah^icc. I qdote it to this puf- pofe 5 to fhew you that when a man fees up his wifdom in direct opposition to Qods wifdom > he thereby forfeits his prefervation 5 but w,:en a foul comes- and fays 3 Lord I frill be urbat thou wouldelt have me } and do what thou required of me 5 this is a good frame : but I fay to lean unco cur own under- ftanding > and not to ask counfel of God, not to w:lk ashedire&Sj it is the direct way to forfeit ou: preferva- tion. 3. Not confidering the judgements of God > is another fin that watchful- nefs will keep the heart from 5 you know how ill God takes it at the hand of a people to be infenfible under his judgements, J fa. 5» n, 12. Wo unto therny \i6 Living Truths them&c. they are a fottifh people* a people that are not affeited with Gods judgements, and therefore what then ? at verf. 14.. The Lord will deftroy themj Therefore, faies he* hell bath in- Urged her border s,$cc. Now I tell you fouls, a watchful ipiric will not eafily run into this evil ; no, no, it looks out, » it (pies the hand of God 5 watchfulnefs keeps the eye of faith open, it keeps the foul from (limbering and keeping, and inables the foul to fee that mercy that (hines forth in the difpenfations of God. 4. Unthankfulnefs for daily prefer- vation> this is a great evil , and that that watchfulnefs will excellently pre- ferve you from 5 God ufually walks by this rule , he that prizeth and impro- veth a little, to him he gives more y fo he chat prizes and improves,and thank- fully owns , the daily prefervation and protection of God , fuch a one is in the way to receive more at the hand of God 5 but when the daily goodnefs of God is flighted and paft over , without confideratiomand being carefully heed- ed and regarded by any foul ; fuch a foul is like to be left to fall under the ftroke in Dying Times. 127 ftroke of Gods indignation ; it was the care of che Church in the Lamen* tmons to give God his glory* Chap. 3.22*23. It is of the Lords mercies that rve are not coKftimed^&c. his mercy eve - ry morning fliould be prized and im- proved by u*. And laitly,A proud unhumbled frame of fouI> is that that watchfulnefs will help us again!* : fouls*wherever that is found, it is a grievous provocation; God he delights to do good unco his poor broken humble fouls 5 He refifts the frond , but he gives grace unto the humble } and therefore watchfilneis being an excellent means to keep 11s from thefe and other fuch like fins* which by a people exceedingly open to the tfroke of Gods indignation 5 ic fo becomes very ufeful and ferviceable to our prefervation. And thus I have difpatched the do- ctrinal part. Give me leave to con- clude this Doftrine in a little Applica- tion , and to inforce thefe duties of watchfulnefs and prayer. Let me hence* firft,take up a few things for in- formation. And 128 Living Truths And if fo be that watchfulnefs and prayer are means that have fo great a tendency to prefervation > ic may in* form us of two things. i . How ill it is like to fare with poor iinners, chat can neither watch nor pray : if the infinite over-flowing goodnefs of God prevent not > they mullperifti j they cannot make ufe of the mean? of prefervation : What can we expe& but that they (liould perifti ? Oil that we could put on bowels of pitty for fuch fouls ! the facrifiLe of the wicked, what is it, but an abomination unto the Lord : finners in the day of their prosperity they will no t look af- ter God* nor his counfel , neither will they mind his dealings • if they do come in a day of diirefs * and cry and howl, and make much ado* they may dofo> but yet Cod hath told them it fhall be little to ihdr comfort , for and inockjvhen their fear cometh. 2. We may infer alfo chat here is room for the fall of Saints : whatever promife of prefervation is made > up- right fouls may fall j and why fo? Why wc in Djmg Times. \ig we miy negleft the being found in our dutyj'-ve may not watch, and pray 3 as we fhoul^ and ought; we may pray, but it may be coldly, and without any fer- vour of fpiiit; we atiay not follow clofe- ly our duty wi:h God; and therefore miffing in the meafts 3 we may mils in the end xlfo : and that is my ftft life, a life of Inference. 2. Ic fhould Sir us up to commune with our hearts a little : what do we ? do we watch and pray? are we in the Ufe of the Means ? whatever other means we ufe 5 we fhould node*- this be negle&ed • it is not prefervatives and removing from place toplace> thac can do you chat fervice, thac watchful- nefs and prayer can. You will fay, you do pray ; let me ask you again* do you watch unto prayer ? I hope you can fay you do. And if you fhould ask me how you may know watchful prayer* I {hall give you a few Charadterstif it. 1 . If it be watchful prayer, there is anexciting, (tirring and calling up tile heart unto th* Ducy, jxdges 5,1 2. A- wake Deborah awake ; fhe calls up her felf> andiiirs up her (elf to this K Doty ^130 LivingTtuths ;Duty,as you finde rta Servants of God have done* they ftirred up all the fa- culties of their fouls, Pfal.^.%. A- wake tip my glory-, faith David ; It is the Soul he calls his glory: And Take feafons for prayer when you may bell attend the Work, and hope moft to prevail with God. If you ask me what are the fea- fons ? a word or two of that, and I fhall come to the fifth Proportion from the words. K 2 1. I 132 LivingTruths 1. I fay your leifure-feafons * when you are not engaged in bufmefs. 2. The fealons when your fpirits are moH fcriou^ and leatt diltiafted 5 it is not good to fee to duty in a croud* if you can help ir# 3. When the Spirit of God pro- vokes you to come into [he prefence of God j you that are experienced Chri- ftians, can fay , that you have found fometimes your fouls longing to be in his Pretence ; You have hungred after Communion with God in Duty ; Oh, take that time! that is a fitfeafon. 4. When God hath warmed and re- frefhed thy heart in a Duty, under any Ordinance with any tokens of love 3 it is I fay a fir feafon for thee to improve with the Lord : God doth fometimes give the foul a look of love to in- courage it to wait upon him ; Now take that feafon: it is a great part of Wifdom to know a feafon * and if you /hall findea feafon offering it felf to you,apt,and fit,and proper for your go- ing to God j take it and blefs God for it, and improve it with all your foul and might ; it is much Mercy, and a great deal ofgoodnefs may come in to you at that door» And in Dying Times. I 3 3 And thus now I have difpatced the fourth Obfervation,mmely,that wacch- fulnefs and prayer are the bell means and have the gre3teft tendency to pre- fervation in times of common cala- mity. I come now to the fifth and laft Note from the words, namely thi^That the efcaping common calamities , is not the only thing* nor the chief thing that we are to be careful abour, but e- fpecially, and above other things, how we (hall Hand before the Son of man. AUs ! to Hand in a day of calamity is one Thing,! ut to ftand betore the Son of man is another 9 and a far more weighty thing* as 1 purpofe to (hew a- non* This is that the Lord faies in this Scripture, Do what yon may, watch and pray, and ufe the beft means you can 5 toeicapein a day of calamity ; Luc remember, when that isdone^llis not done , nor is the great thing done ; remember after all, whether you Hand or fall in a calamity, you muft ftand before the Son of man : If you fall in a calamity, that will not end all. It is appointed to all men once to dye* and K 3 after 134 Liviy.g Truths after that the judgement : if you do e- fcape a calamity j there will be a time when you malt Hand before the Son of man ; fothat whether youftand or falh that is not the main thing, nor e- fpecially conhderable bufinefs, but the great and main thing about which you are to be efpecially careful^ is how you may do to look Chrift in the face at laftj how you may do to hold up your head before the Son of man. Standing be- fore the Son of man is taken three ways in Scripture. i. Meerly for appearing before him, for appearing at his Tribunal ; fo it is taken fometimes in the Scripture* for ini*ance> that in the R0w.i4.1o. We fhall all appear before his [udgtment- feat. So, 2 Cormh%%* 10. For we mufi all appear before the 'judgement- feat of Ghrift) &c. Revel.lo 1 2. verf. ^/ind Ifaw the dead , bothfmall and great* ftand before God^ &c. That is the firlt fcneeit is taken in in Scripture , meer- ly for appearing before the Son of man. 2. To fland : before him? it is taken for an ertate of honour and promotion* as 10 fland before a Prince, we reckon fuch tn DytfigTtmes. 135 fuch a perfon is preferred and highly honoured, as it was laid of Solomon** fervaats, Happy are thy [erv ants * which ftand continually before thee ^d hear thy Wifdom, as you have it, 2 Chron.grf. And thirdly, it is taken for {landing with joy, and comfort, and boldnefsj and it is upon that accompt, that you have that exprefli^n , Tfal. i. $. The ungodly (hall not ft and in the judgement* nor fmners in the Congregation of the Righteous \ They (hill (iand in one fence, though nor in another • they fhali all ftand in it , fo as to come to it ; but they {hall not ib.nd with comfort, fo as to holdup their heads : ftanding here is oppofed to adjfc&ion of fpirir, of falling before the dreadful Majefty of God, andourSiviour: Theyfhall not Hand ; tbac is, fuch dread (hall feize upon their foul;, that they (lull no: he able to life up their heads, they fhall be fo filled with confufion and fhame, that they {hall not be able to hoUiup their heads in that day.. So ftanding before the Son of man is ta- ken in this fence in my Texcefpecully; that you may be able to Hand before the Soa of man, is, that you rriay be K 4 able i 3 6 Living Truths able to fland before him with comfort* that you may lift up your head with joy, when the Lord Jefus Chritt fhall ap- pear. In th*p H o r ecution of this great truths I frail propound the confidemion of fever al things to you 5 and I would do it fo 5 a6 1 may bett keep to the delign of the text , as the Lord (hall inable me. 1. I would indeavor to fhew you that the (landing before Chritt is a much more feriousand weighty thing, then anv calamity in this world can be; whatever dread there is upon the heart at the thoughts of a calamicy, we may have much more fear , and many more thoughts of heart upon the ac- count of (landing before the Son of man at his appearance and King- dom. 2. I (hall indeavour to fhew you that they that will not tremble at a judgement, that they that are like to laugh a calamity in the face, will yet tremble when the Son of man fhall ap- pear y that will put fach out of coun- tenance as are not abafhed by any ca- lamity they meet with in the world. 3. Shall in Dying Times* 137 3. Ifhall fhew you who they arc that (ball never be able to (land before the S n of man. 4. Who they are, and what they mult be that ftiall ftand before him. And fifthly, What is chebetiframe a foul canbein* in order to a meeting wich Chrift r with the greateft confi- dence and boldnefr. And fixthly andkllly, conclude all in a little Application. Bur. firil ot the fi ft 3 namely to flhew you that the (landing before Chrift is a much more ferious and weighty thing, and ought to be more fenoufly thought of* and more folemnly provided for y then any common calamity whatfoever: Many gracious hearts do tremble at the thoughts of a common calamity ; and truely there is reafonwhy they fhould do fo ; T^avid himfeif did thus Pf*l* 119. 120. My fiefh trembleth for fear of thee 2 and I am afraid of thy judge- ments: but you (hall find that fome- times Tinners themfelves do tremble more > and are much more aflfe&ed with the thoughts of induring thepre- fence of Chrift > then the bearing up under any common calamity that can be- 138 Livhg Truths befall them* //I*. 33. 15, faies the Spi- rit of God there, Hear ye that are afar cff what I have done> a dye that are neer acknowledge my might , that is in my judgements which i execute ; faies he 3 confider them* fee what weight and force there is in them : But mark, how is it with finners? in verf> 14. The Jin- ners in Sion are afraid. Afraid of what ? Fearfulnefs hath furfrifed the hypocrite s What is he afraid of? Whofhall ftand before the devouring fire ? who (halt dwell with everlafting burnings fas if they fhould have faid, There is a might , and there is a power and ma- jeliy of God appearing, and {hining forth in all his judgements; but if you would have us ipeak our hearts , and tell what we dread moft , it is Handing before him in that great day , when he •fhall appear as a devouring fire; it is the being able to hold up the head at that feafon > th it doih diRrefs us moft, #nd fill us with dread and fear : I fay, the (landing in the day of Chrift is a much more difficult, thing 5 then the (landing in a common calamity; and I Hull (hew yon in feveraJ particulars how that day will out-do every thing that in Vying Times. 13^ that can be in a common calamity: I {hall (hew ic you in eleven or twelve particulars. 1. Thedayof Chrift is more dread- ful then a calamity in this refpeft, that every calamity in chis world is a call to repentance, but the day of Chritts ap- pearance is onely a call unto judge- ment: I fay calamines in this world, they are calls to repentance* to a finful people to return 5 the voice of the word is the firft call 5 and finners arc deaf and will nor hear that call, and therefore God founds an alarm bj his judgements, and by them he calls unto poor finners to repent and turn unto him ; but now I fay in the day of Chrilt there is no call unto repentance , nor place for repentance, he onely then calls to judgement : you (hall find ca- lamities are caiis to repentance, and that is the fruit that God cxpe&s fiom them, that they fhonJd work upon a rebellious people , and turn thesi to himfeif : look Ames 4. in divers verfes of that Chap er> you have God fee- ting down the calamities heexercifed the people with, and whir he expedted from thenb *4mos 4, 6. Here was a famine , 1 40 Living Truths famine j a dreadful calamity that is, upon whomsoever it lights : vvhac doth he exp^ft fro 11 thence ? T.et have you not returned unto me ; as if he (hould have faidjthis calamity I have exercife j you with, but it hath not brought forch itsdefired fruit, it hath not anfwered my defign upon you ; I expected you fliould have been a broken people, but jet have you not turned unto me : he goes on in verf. 7, 8. Alfo I have withhold denrain&c yet have you not returned unto me ; and fall God intends the fame thing, to call in , andbrkg over a rebeUiou people unto himfelf : In verf.y. I have [mitten you with blafk- ingfitc. Here was another judgement, God Urates them in the fruicsof the earth, and took way the creatures of the earth from them, and what was Gods expectation from them ? yet have you not returned unto me; In verf. io. / have fentymong you the pefii/ence, and what doth be expe£ that {hould do? your young men have I Jlain with the fjvord; and what work did this do ? yet have ye not returned unto me* I gather from al! this, that the cefign of God in pubiike calamities, is to make a re- belli- in Dying limes. 1 41 bellious people turn unto him • calami- ties are loud calls corepentance> 2 Joel 11,12,1 3.Itwasa day of calamity, a day of outward ctftrefs, that is here fpoken of, and a dreadful day , therefore faies the Loid in verf. 1 2. Turn yon unto me •with all your hearts: &c. You fee here there was a dreadful judgement of God upon the backs of this people j and Gods call was , return wito me : Gods expectation from this people in.com- pafTed abour with thefe judgements , was that they fhould le a repeming,re- lenting,retuming ^broken -hearted peo- ple j that they fhould come in unto God , and that their uncircumcifed hearts might be turned. Rev. 9. dread- ful Plagues the Lord fetic forth, and for ought we know > we may he at this feafon , in this time f and many holy men are of that perfwaficn) God was fending for th ratling judgements under the fecend wo : there are many thitfgs in the KeveUt torts > that point out the periods of time, the knowing of which tells us what times we are in, and what God is doing : now this text relates to thefecond wo 3 which the judicious do fuppofe relates to thole that we are un- der; 142 Living Truths derj and now yvhat it is God expe&s, you may judge by the complaint is made* They repented not of the works of their hands,\ r zit. 2os 21. God experts that his people fhould be a repenting, relenting people : to which add that Rev. 19. 9? 10, 1 1. Men were fcorched with great heat,&cc< in thepotuing out of the vials 3 that are the lafl judgements that God will execute 5 they^re the gteateil : and mark novv 5 even from the greateft and laft calamities that fhall come upon the world , what is it God expe&s ? it is a relenting, repenting, reforrtring, he ftill calls to it ; the grea- ter calamities that he biings upon the world , that is the effeft that he looks they fhould have. But the coming of vChrift will be another thing , when he comes it will not be a call to repen- tance* hut a call to judgement ; not a call to reform what thou haft done a- mifs » but to receive a doom for thy mifs-doing. Therefore when mention is made of appearing before the Son of nun* it is called appearing before his judgement-feat ; not to get thee an intereft in Chrift > but to be judged by Chrift, 2 Cor. 5. 10. For we mnfi all appear in Dying Tims. 143 appear before the judgement- feat, &<;• That is the firft thin£ 3 the day oi Cbii(t will be a much moreferious thing then any judgement in 1 he world* becaufe judgements are calls junto repen- tance, but when we conic to fund be- fore Chrirt j it is a call unto judge- ment. 2. Standing before Chrifl is a thing of much more ferioufnefsand weight, rhen the ftanoing under a common calamity,upon a fecond accompr, In outward calamities we deal with God remoteiy, and at a diftance ; but in the day of Chrill , we mult deal with Chrift immediately. Oh that we could confider this thing ferioufly ! it is a weighty thing indeed to have to do with God immediately. Beloved, let me tell you, you would not be able to bear the prefence of Chritt, if he fhould but fpeak to you immediately, you would not be a! le to bear his prefence ;it would be fo full of Glory and Majefty, that you would not poffibly Hand up under it ; much leis fhall we be able to bear the imme- diate prefence of Chriii, when he comes to judgement. You cannot, I fay, bear 144 Living Truths bear the immediate prsfence of Chrift, if he were only to fpeak ro yoxxJLxodus 20. 19. Speaks thoti unto Hi , and we will hear : but let not G>d fpeak to ns y left we dye : Mirk the requeft they make; Let not God fpeak. to #/, they were not abb to hear a word imme- diately from God, Speaks thou to us, but let not Godfpeakjo hs> left we dye* And therefore it is that God haih gracioufly fo ordered it > that we fhould have the Gofpel delivered to us by Creatures like our felves, becaufe we are nota- ble to bear the immediate prefenceof God : And therefore faith the Apoftle, We have this treafure In earthen veffelsy 2 Corinth.^.-]. VVe are not able to bear the communication of it other- wife, but onely by poor Creatures like ourfelves • you are not able to bear the immediate pretence of Angel?, who are infinitely lefs in glory then the God of Glory, and his Son Jefus Chriftj 1 Chron.zi* 20. And Oman turned batk^and f aw the An gel \ and his fourfons that were with him hid them* f elves 1 they were noc able to endure theprefence of the Angeh they run a- way from him 5 as a fight too glorious for them to bean But in Djing Times. 145 But my Brethren, in the day of Chritt you mutt have to do immediate- ly with Chrilt himfelf 5 you muft have to do with him immdiately, nothing (landing between Chritt and you. A- las ! in a common calamity it is not foj God deals with you remotely, and at a dittance : you do not fee him in his Glory and Ma jettyj but in that day you mutt have to do with him immediately: and therefore it is faid> We muftfiand before His Judgement- feat* God exe- cutes his judgements now in fecret and hidden ways > but then he will him- felf execute it immediately. 3. The day of Chrilt will be much more dreadful then any 'calamity* upon this accountt becaufe in any calamity the Ma jetty of God is veiled and hid; but in the da y of Chritt, God and Chritt will appear in all their Majefty* Beauty and Glory* in all their Excellence: I fay> in a day of calamity the Majefty and Glory of Chritt is veiled and hid 5 ic cannot be feen, they that fee moft of it, fee but little: but in the day of Chritt he will appear in all his Royalty and Glory. Wicked men will not fee what of the Glory and Majefty of God may L be 146 , Lixtngl ruths be feen in a judgement* I fan 26. 11. Lord, when thy hand is lifted up^ they will mt fee ; that is, in a judgement,they will not fee : Wby^ what will they not fee ? rhey will not behold the Majefty of the Lord) as it is in the io.verf. What of God may be feen, and what of his Majefty doth fhine forth in a day of common calamity 5 they will not fee, that they will not confider : and Saints fee but very little of God in a judgement neither, Micah6*g* The Lords voice cryeth to the City, the man of wlfdom (hall fee thy Name. A Saint doth fee fomeching of the Name and Glory, fomething of the greatnefsand Majefty of God that doth fhine forth in a calamity : but of that that they do fee, as was Spoken in another Cafe, Jobq. 12. Now a thing was fecretly brought unto me , and mine ear received a little thereof. So mutt I fay, as to the Majefty of God in a judgement 3 we Receive a little thereof: it is a fmall part of the Majetty of God, that we are able to conceive of, and to take in, asitisfaid in Job 26* fpeaking about the Works of God,L thefe are parts of his ways* bm how little a portion is feen of him? When we confider (Sods creating Works , his work of Provi- dence, and his works of judgement; How little a Portion can we cake in of God? tait Chriit when we (lull come to (hnd before the Judgement-feat , he will then appear in all his Royalty and Glory , his Majefty and Beauty (hall then difcover it felf eminently : There- fore in Revelations 20. 12. ic is faid, / faw the dead both fmall and great ft anding before God : Chritt (hall then appear in his Royalty* as he is God, and equal with the Father ; he {hall ap- pear not onely clad with his humanity, but with his God-head in that day. It is true, we are faid to appear before the Son of man •, He {hall fit as the Son of mam but yet he {hall alfo he as God ; which how {hall it fhrrfe every ChriftJefs foul, that fhall Hand before the glory of that day! Mait. 1 J* 3 1 33 2. When the Son of man (hall come in his (jlory> Sec. Jefns Chrift he is King in the world* and he governs the Providences in the world, and fends a- L 2 bouc 148 Living Truths bout the judgements that are abroad ' but who fees the Majefty and Glory of Chrift, that is now hid ? but in the day of Chrift that (hall appear 5 then his Glory fhall (bine forth eminently! iWrftt.24.30. Ihen fhall appear the ftgn oftheSonofman&c. They (ball fee the Son of man coming in Power and great ©lory. Now that is another difference : in a calamityj the Majefty of Chrift is veiled 5 but in the day of Chrift, Chrift: will then appear in his Glory, 4, In the foreft calamicy that ever was, or (ball be in the world , the Lord doth not deal in ftri&nefs of ju- ftice, nor doth he come forth with all his wrath 5 but in the day of Chrift he will then fit upon the Throne , judge- ing with exa&nefs of Juftice, and ren- dring ro every one according to the ut- moft extent of all that they have done: There is much of the wrath of God is kept in,in the moft wrathful providence that cometh upon the world; what Ezra fpeaks intbepfA.chap. and 1 3 .v. thou Haft pumfhed us lefs then our ini- quities deferved) &c. So it may be faid with refpeft unto any judgement that ever was, is, or may be upon earth, the Lord in Dying Times. 1 49 Lord punifheth lefs then iniquity de- deferves; the moH dreadful calamity hath not that tetrour in it* that inquity calls for, and deferves at the hand of God : And therefore the people of God in the Lament, 5. 22. do acknow- ledge, It Is the Lords mercies they are not confumed. Any thing on this fide being confumedi and cue off from the prefenceof God, is Mercy. Ah my Friends ! however fevere the Lord may feeminany of his pro- evidences j he is not fo fevere as he might be, if he did tfir up all his wrath* and deal in ftridaefs and exa&nefs of feverity ; but when Chrili comes to judgement* every man ftiall have ac- cording to his work : Poor finners {hall then receive the utmoft peny, 2 Cor.%. I o. We muft all appear before the judge- ment-feat of Chrtjl , that every one may receive the things done In his body* ac- cording to what he hath done > whether good or bad. Upon earth men do not receive according to what is done 5 ac- cording to the finfulnefs of fin , but God in wrath remembers mercy; but ac that day all men fhall receive accord- ing to what they have done 5 there ftiall L 3 be 1 50 LtvingTrutm be a retribution according to the ftri&nefs of JuHice, Rom.i.<;>6. Bm after thy hardnefs , treafureft up wrath againft the day of wrath, &c. and fo, Matt*i6,2j* For the Soft of man jh all rqme in the Glory of his Father with his Angels: and then he jhall reward every man according to his works ; That is a- nother thing in which the g:eateft day of common calamky> and the day of Cbrift differ exceedingly. 5. There is this Difference: Cala- mities in this world they mainly light upon tb&outward man j but when Je- fus Cbrift (hall fit in judgement, he will judge both inward and outward man together; he will reach the foul as well as the bodyi ind have to do with tha t. Prefent calamity lights upon the outward man, it is the body at the ut- moft, is the feat of that. There be ma- ny fore calamities that do not reach the body, as the firli diftrefles that fell on fob* which.were fore diftrefles > yet at firft they did not fomnch as reach his body, job 1.1^16. there ca)ne a wejfenger that told him his Cattle were taken, &c, thefe were fore diftrefles, (harp calamities ; but yet all this while the /// Dying i imes 151 the body of Job was not to much as couched. And alto fomecimes cala- mities do reach the body ; the hand of God was upon Job himlelf in the con- clusion rand foinetimes it reaches ihe life ; the poor carcaie is carryed to earth. Thus it was with the firft-born of Egypt ; in the days of c David, when many fouls fell by that judgement* by the Plague ; and if it do (q 9 yet the dread of this is not like that that (hall attend the coming of Chrid : He fhall fit in judgement upon inward and out- ward man at once: He (hall reach the body as well as the foul at once. And therefore is that' prayer of Paul* 1 Thejf* $.23. And I pray God fan&ifie you wholly, and the Lord keep you in foul, body and fpirit*^. as if he would have faid* The Lord look after the in- wardand outward man, and keep them to the day of Chrift , for Chrili in his day will have to do with both: It will not he as it is in outward calamity* in which the body falls onely > but Chrift will fit in judgement upon the inward man alfo: And therefore it is faid in Mat. 2 3. Fear not him that can kill the body onely > but him that cane Ml both I 4 i$i LivingTrutbs body and foul into hell : Chrift is able to reach fouls as well as todies, and he will make it known that he is able to do it in the day of Chrift. 6. Common calamity and the day of Chrift differ upon this account : if in outward calamities upon the body* any fin be brought to remembrance * it is not fuch a bringing (in to remem- brance as (hall be in the day of Chrift j I confefs in days of outward calamity! there is a bringing of fin jto remem- brance, but no: fuch as (hall be in the day of Chrift : God did bring fin to Jobs remembrance in the time of his calamity, 'job i 3.26. Thou wntett bit* ter things againft me , and makeft me %q pojfefs the iniquities of my youth : This was the cafe of poor Job , he was un- der outward affli&ions* and Godalfo did fet home fomc fin upon his foul, and brought that to remembrance. And this was alfo the cafe of Look upon my pain , faies he , and forgive me my fin ; and therefore he prays in another verfe> forgive me the fins of my youth: In his affli&ion God made him remember the fins of his youth : but in the day of Chrift there will be another kind in Dying Times. 153 kind of bringing fin to our remem- brance, then there is in any calamity whatfoever : All the finners fins {hall then be prefented to him at once, with all their aggravations, with every cir- cumftance attending it;and what dread, what confufion will it bring upon the heart, when it (ball be at thispafs? Ffal.^o.z 1 . Thefe things thou haft done* and I kept Jilence , and thou thought eft I was altogether [uch a one as thy felf: hnt Imllfet them in order before thee. Now the great day of fetting them in otfer, it will be the day of Chrift , that will be the fpecial feafon when the Lord will fet them in order before theToul. 7. Farther, there is this difference: In outward calamities, God deals fe- cretly with men , but in the day of Chrift he will deal with them in the fight of the whole world : In a cala- mity God deals fecretly, and cuts off a finnernow and then, and there is no great noife about it ; but in the day of Chrift he will deal with them in the fight of all: now the publikenefs or folemnity of an aftion makes it the more eminent and terrible: It puts a great deal more of dread and terror in- to ij4 Living Truth to themalefaftor, xo be tryed and exe- cuted in the face of the Country 5 the folemnity increafeth the terror. Oh my friends , when you come to ftand before the Son of man > you (hall ftand alfo before men and Angels ; the work of that day fhall not be done in a cor- ner 3 but whole heaven and earth fhall be fpe&ators , and witnelfesof what is done * and what partes in that day ; and therefore it is (aid in that foremen- tionedplacej£*t'.2o.i2. Ifawthedead both [mall and great ft anding before the Lord; they were all ftanding before God, 32. 'The Son of man fhall come in his glory y and aft bis holy Angels with him : the whole hott of Angels fhall beprefent : And what more ? And before him {ball be gathered Ml nations : This (hall be a great ap- pearance, and in the fight of Godj An- gels and men > all fhall be done at that day : and in that refpeft thete is a great deal of difference* 8 There is a great deal of difference upon this account ; as for common calamities it is poffible they may be ef- taped 5 you may live in the midft of Gods judgements and yet be preferved; yea in Dying Times. I 5 5 yea poffibly a tinner for the fake of lome that fear the Lord , may be pre- served in a common calamity* as was Noahs cafe , he and his wife* and his fons and their wives , all efcaped the flood ; but it was Noah was the righte- ous perfon, the red were given in for his fake : it may be a righteous foul beggs prefervation for fome poor fin- ners or other* and for their fakes God gives them a prefervation ; but none can be indulged in the day of Chrift, every one muii then fall under the fen- tence that fhall he pronounced by Chrift, whatever h be : There is n<* way to prevail for indulgence for thy abfence at that c^ay, Heb. 9. 27. It is appointed for all men once to dye y and af- ter that the judgement ; good and bid, all mufipafs through the gate of death? and mult all appear before the judge- ment-feat of Cbrili : and as the wife man fpeaksof cleat hi fomay 1 fpeakof fucceeoing judgement) SccL 8. 8. 'No man hath porter in the day of death ^ and there is no discharge in that war ; fo may I fay. No man hath power in the day of Chrift, and there is no dif charge from that war : Thou mutV ride out that ftorm 156 Living Truths ftorm, and fee and bear the worftof it, for thou muft appear before the judge- menc-featof Chrift. 9. There is yet this difference: fome that fall under a common calamity , fuppofe this of the Plague, God takes away their reafon , fo that they do not feel the dread of it ; ic is no more to them , nor are they fenfible of any more pain then thofe that are in health andftrength; but in the day of Chrift we fhall all ftand before him in our fences , we fhall then know , and un- derttand and feel > what the weight , and dread* and majefty of Chrift is in that day , and at that time, Rev. i. y. He comes in the clouds , and every eye fhall fee him , and they alfo that pierced him ; they that would be moft willing not to fee and behold Chrift * they muft fee* their fences fliall all be fet at work , to underftand what the dread* glory, and majefty ofthatdayis. \ o. There is this difference alfo ; in a common calamity, it may be if it lights upon thee, fome friend, fome in- dulgent relation will ftand by thee, to help> fupport thee , and bear thee up ; but in the day of Chrift thou muft ftand fingle : in Dyi/jg Times. 157 iingle. My friends * though thefe be plain things* they may do our fouls a great deal of good > if God will blefs them ; it is a great relief in a calamity* when the hand of God is upon you* when you are fick,and weak* and full of pain* if fome friend will Hand by to help thee* to bear thee up , and indea- vouf to relieve the outward man 5 but in the day of Chrift all will (land at a difhnce* the knots of all relations (ex- cept thofe onely thtt are fpirituai ) muft be at an end when life ends ; and when thou corned to ftand before Chiifti thou muft ftand fingly , naked- ly, and alone * none to ftand by thee, thou wilt have none to befriend thee at that hour* unlefs Chrift be thy friend ; it is well for them that have a Chrift to befriend them at that day. I (hall only make a little allufion to that Text that you have, Matt. 22.30. When the quettion was put to Chrift concerning the woman that had feven Husbands * in the Refurrection, whofe wife (hould fhe be ? Anfwer is made? In the Refnrrettion they neither marry* nor give in marriage • all Relation then ceafeth : the friend that was unto thee as 158 Living Truths as thy own foul, and thou as dear unto him, in the day of Chrift, (unlefs there be any fpiritual tye, unlefs you and he have union with God in Chrift ) he will have no piety? no tendernefs for you, but you mult (land alone to re- ceive a fentence from the Lord. 11. There is this farther difference: any outward calamity, though never fo fharp, may be of (hort continuance; the hand of God may light upon thee in fuch a difpenfation as is now abroad, and in a few days it may fend thee to another world, or the extremity of it may be paffed over in a little time : but when thou comett to ftand before the judgement- feat of Chrift, the iiTueof that day will laft to all eternity. Mat* 25.32. Before htm fhall be gathered all Nations ) and he [hall fe far ate them one from another ^ as the [hefherd divideth the fheep from the goats : and what fhall the iffue of this feparation be ? In verf. 46. Theft (hall r go away into ever- lafting fmifoment , bm the righteom into life eternal : eternity will be the refult and produft of thy ftanding before the judgement-feat of Chrift: calamity, outward diftrefs, may foon come to a period tnDytngTiweS. 1 59 period , but Handing before Chrift will reach thy everlafting condition. And 12. This cutference there is alfo between common calamity , and liandiiig before Chrili ; in that the ucmoli dread and worft part of outward • calamity is this t that it lets thee in un- to rhe dreadful tribunal of Chrift 5 wherefore do you fear > or any that are in fear of a judgement 5 but onely be- caufe poffibly you conhder that that may let the ioul in to the judgement- feac of Chrili ? but now the dread of the judgement-feat of Chrili, is thi?> in that it determines thy ettate fore- ver: I fay> the dread of sny calamity lyeth in this> that poifibly it may bring thee to death , and fo let thee in to judgement 5 but this is the dread of (tanding before the judgement- feat of Chrift , it lets thee into an everlatting ftate, to the parting of a ientence not to be revoked for ever : God many times threatens in outward calamities) and afterwards repeals it, Hof. 11. 8. How (hall I give thee up, Oh Efhraint, &c. God was determining to make Ephrsim as Admah , and to fetf'frim as 'Zcfoimjthtt is,to cut him off iii a judge - menc-i 1 60 Living Truths ment > and by deftru&ion ; But how ftiall I do it , faies God ? His bowells were turned in him , he repented him of the evil » and he was troubled for what he had done : fo in Jonah*), the people repented > and the Lord repen* ted of the evil , and was pleafed to re- voke the fencence he had pa fled upon that City of Niniveh i So in Amos 4. you have mention made of the Lords repenting* that is, fome judgement or other he was thinking to fend upon a people y and yet he revokes the fen- cence, and refolves it fhould not come upon them : but when you come to ftand before the judgement-feat of Chrift * you fhall receive a fentence there that fhall ftand forever, it (hall Hand without any recalling. And thus I have briefly difpatched the firft thing propounded > to (hew you* that to ftand before the Son of Mantis a much more weighty and feri- ous thing , then (landing under any temporal calamity. I do not fpeak thus to make you flight any temporal or common ftroke , but onely to raife up your hearts to a much more ferioas thoughtfulnefs about the ftanding be- m fore in Dying Times. 161 fore the Son of man, and to (hew you that chat is a thing much more weighty; which leads me to the fecond thing propounded for the profecution of this Point ; namely, that fecure finners that are fo confident that they can laugh the moll dreadful calamity in the face , they (ball be made feriou?, and broughc to tremble in the day of Chrift ; They (hall finde it to be no laughing matter. Indeed, the Servants of God fometimes are faid to laugh at calamity, but it is in a good fenfe, Job 5. 20, 2 1 , 2 i.In famine he (hall redeem thee&c. At deflruSlion and famine thoti (halt laugh : but you muft know, the fenfe of that expreflion here is this , they (hall not make light of a calamity , they (hall confider the dread and Majefty of God that (hines forth in it ; but when they confider their fecurity , through the goodnefs of God, they (hall look up- on calamity as that that is not able to touch them : Such may be the fafety and fecurity of the Saints and Servants of God, through his kindnefs, that they may laugh at a calamity, as a thing that (hall not be able to come nigh them. Such is the wretchednefs and the hard- M nefs 162 Living Truths nefsof the hearts of finners, that the moO ftarding judgements do not a- waken them ; let God threaten, they are not moved : And therefore you fliall finde what the Lord by the Pro- phet complains of as a great evil; Wo unto them that draw iniquity with the cords of vanity , and Jin as it were with a cart r&pejfaiah 5.1952c* Mark what it is, They fay y Let him make fpeed and haft en his workj that we may Jee it ; Ic was a taunting and deriding fpeech, wherewith this people mocked thePro- phet : he tells them that judgement would come ; fame, fay they, let us fee what he will do 5 It was a daring and in- fulting fpeech. And by the way, let me tell you what the reafon is of the defpe- rate finfulnefs of finners/m time of Gods judgement j They draw>hhh he, iniqui- ty with the cords of vanity , and fin as it were with a cart-rope ; that is, they fin as faft as they can, theydonotminde the judgements of God, if they did, they would put a check upon them; they fear not, come what will, they think it will be well enough with them. That this is the guife of finners, you fhall fee , 2 Chron. 3 <5i 1 tf. But they mocked ■ mocked the Mcffengcrs of God^ &c. Lcc che Lord threaten what he will, they for their parts were noc concerned with it ; rh^ry mocked the Meflengers, defpifed the Prophets, and all :he judgements of God were light in their accounts. And it is no wonder that Tinners fear noc judgement , for they fear not fin, which is a thing that is much more dreadful then judgement^ rightly considered, Prov. 14. 9. Fools make a mock^at fin : And the very ap- pearance of Chrift himfelf, (the moll dreadful of all difpenfations) before ic comes, (inners will but mock and feoff atit,asyouhave it, iPet.%. faies he, They will feoff at the coming of Chrift* at the great Day of the Lord ; they will but make a mock of it, and fay, Where is the Chrift you talk of? we fee no preparation to it: For face the fathers fell a/leep^ll things continue as they were: When Chrtli coxes in earneft, he will make them fear in earneft^ and then the moft daring & confident of finners fhall tremble : it is evident from five or fix things I would go over very briefly. 1. From hence, in the day of Chrift, the confeienceof every finnerftallbe M z effeftu- ercectaany awaKenea : mere inaii ne no fecure confcience in the day of ChriHs appearing. Now* though a {inner with a fleepy confcience may not coniider, may not be affe&ed with and moved by the prefent judgements of God 5 yet when Chrift {hall apear>and confcience {hall be awakened with it, it will fet him into a fit of trembling: For prefencj under word and works, ic is poffible hardnefs of heart may re- main upon finners. Scripture makes mention of a very delperate hardnefs of heart upon fome : it was faid of fome>they were part feeling) confcience was fo ftupified , that they had no kind of fenfe, no kind of tendernefs at all> i T/w. 4. 2. Speafyg lies in hjfocrijiey having tke.r confcience s feared as with a hot Iron : You knovi^ that that which is feared with a hot Jron> if it be the flefih, it becomes fenfelefs) and benum- med 5 fo it is with the confcience>there are conferences feared as with hot Irons; the fenfe, and vigor, anda&ivity of it is taken away : but in the day of Chrift this fleepy dead confcience {hall be quickned ; that Scripture in the $th. chap, of Markj is ufually applyed to this in Dying times. \6% thispurpoTe, v. 44^5. You read of a Worm that never dyeth , which is granted on all hands to be the confer- ence 5 and this receives a quickning when it comes to ftand before the Seat of Chrift, and fhall remain fo for ever, with aquickned conscience (hall they becatt inco Hell: .So the ^#^3.20. The time of Ghrifts comingi is called. The time of the rejiitntion of all things ; There fhall be a reftitution of all thhgs^ with refpett to the comfort of the Siints; Therefore it is called, A time of refrefhing to them , 19. verf. When Chrilt (hall come, there will be a refchmion of all things* to the refrefti- ing of the Saiius : but mark, It will tend to the mifery of tinners 3 anda- mong other things, upon this account, becaufe then the conference of finners fhili be returned unto them. Man at firft Creation had a lively a&ivc con- feience, that could quickly feel the lealt ftirring from God ; but that man by Tin bath loft in a gear meafure : and at that day I am fpeakingof, confeience fhall be reitored to its a&ivity, life and tfrength: and what a dread will an a* wakened guilty confeience put the fin- M x ner i66 Livif/gTruths ner into ? A wakened guilty conference, of all things, dteads the pretence of God moft j it cannot away with that? abovi any thin?. Meihinks that ex- predion fhould help a little this way, that you have concerning Cain, Gen^ % 1 6. i/4#d Cain went out from the pre- fence of Cjod: He was full of guild the blood of Abel was upoa him ; he had guilt upon him> and he gat him out of die prelence oPGod: and fo Adam be- tore hiitband his Wife ; what did they ? Gen.y.iQ. 1 heard thy voice in the gar* 4*# 9 and I was afraid : He had a guilty awakened confeience , and therefore he could not bear the prefence of the Lord. A poor finner ! What will he do in the day of Chrift, when his con- feience fhall be awakened > and it (hall be guiity enough? and yet he muft in- cure the prefence of Chrift ; there fhall be no refuge for -him to run to, nor place where he fhall be able to hide himfelf. Now upon this account that Tinners will be awakened>they will be filled with trembling* 2. When Chrifl fhail come, all the Aiheifmin their hearts will be effe&u- a!ly confuted : You cannot conceive whac in Dying Times I 6y what a deal of Atheifm rhere is in the heart of man by Nature* unlefs you have obferved it in your own hearts, and that will rell you there is this A- theifm in the heart of man by Nature* they think there is no God * or at Ieaft, wifh there were none ; and they are ready to fay* All this preaching is but to keep us in awe* ana to hinder us from living merrily ; and with fiich kind of Atheifm as this is* the heart of man is fraught by nature* P/4/.14.1. the fool hath f aid in his hearts There is no God : ^nd PfaL 1 0.4. The wicked through the pride of his countenance will not feck. a f~- ter God : God is not in all his thoughts ; or as ic may be rendred , All his thoughts are, There is no God : it may be he Mil not fay fo openly* but he doth it in his heart* and he thinks fo: Few will fpeak ic openly* though they have fecret thoughts that there is no God, nor Chriftj nor judgement to come. But now* how will rhey trem- ble when they (hall come to fee all their Atheiim confuted, when they fhall fee Chritf in his Glory, and fitting upon his Throne, and there fitting to execute judgement according to a Scri- M 4. pture 168 Lnihg Truths pture-Rule, according to what they have often heard ? Oh> what a plunge will they be in at fuch a feafon ? what a damp will this ftrike upon their fpirits, when all their Atheifm fhall be confu- ted ? 2 Thef.i.j. it is hid>ChriftJhallbe revealed from Heaven in flaming fire. Revealed from Heaven ! Why is he noc revealed in the Scripture ? Do we not know there is a God, and Chrift, and judgement * by the Scripture ? Yes, but that will not Convince fome ftupid finners : There be many will not be- lieve there is a God, a Chiitt, and a Judgement, for all this; but hemuft be Revealed from Heaven , before the finners Atheifm will be wholly confu- ted. Chri(l in the Gofpel is Revealed from Heaven : this word it is not of mens making, it is of Divine Autho- rity ; but yet this will not dilpel the Atheifm ? he mtjft Be revealed from Heaven in flaming fir ^ v efore this work will be done. That is the fecond thing* to fhew that fqme will tremble at Chrills judgement, that would not tremble at any previous judgement. 3. They will then be filled with trembling, becaufe they will then be convinced in Vying Times. \6 that helps him to pafs away his time merrily. Some finners theie are that havte ten- dernefs enough to tremble at the thoughts of judgement though not to tremble at fin* 'jtb 36.21. Take heeds regard not iniquity ; for this haft thou chofen rather then vffl'Bion. This is the finners choice, they do fee a dread in judgement, but none in fin ; therefore they rather chufe to fin then fuffer, or fell under outward trouble*. Sinners have mighty flight thoughs offings ap- pears by that* {jWalach. 2.17. Why , fay they, what great matter have we done to weary God? Why * faies God, you have finned* and thereby yoq have wearied me ; and yet ye cry> Wherein have we wearied thee? we can cell no great hurt we have done thee : This is the guife of finners j but the !7o Li vis/g Truths the time will come when Chrift fliall appear, and then finners {hall be con* vinced of fins , in the i 5 verf o&jude, To execute judgement , &c. V Vhac will Chritt do, when he comes? he will come to convince them of their fins, of all their ungodly deeds , and to {hew them what finfulnefs there is in their fin. Andjiow, I fay, when finners fliall fee and he convinced of the fmfulnefs of fin, that will make them tremble, that will awaken rhem, and that will be done when Chi ill comes. 4. Becaufe then they fliall have all their rntfcoQceivmgs and falfe appre- henfions of God removed. It is crue, it may be finners think there is a God, but yet fuch a God *s an Idol would make ; they have fuch mifconceprio'ns of him, which vvill then be effectually removed: if they think that he is a God, yet a God chat doth not fee and oblerve all that they do, € Pfal.p4.6,j m - The) [lay, &c. Tet they fay, He [hall not fee: he is a God, buc fuch an one as an Idol might make ; a God>but a God at a diibnce 5 tine d0ch not trouble himfelf with our concernment : So Vfal. inDyi '% Times. 171 Pfa!.lo*iOyil. He croncheth and hum- bleth himfcfj that the poor may fall by .hisftrong ones : This is that thac Tinners fay , Suppoie we grant he be Gcd 3 and doth fee whar we do> yet he will not trouble himfelf to call us to an ac- count for every thing that we do: fo you have it in the l^.verf He hath [aid in his hearty Thou wilt not require it : Thefe are the misconceptions that finners have of God 5 either he will not fee? or if he do, he will not regard, he wiU not call to account : but now how will finners be Jtartled when they frnll finde there is a God* and all their mifapprehenfions of him are confuted ? R*w/.6. the later end, They (hall call unto the Rockjto fall on them* and to the Aionntainsto cover them from the pre- fence of the Lamb ,who flhill appear as a Lyon r and he thar fit c upon the Throne; and Pfal.fS. la II verf So that a man fhall fay, Verily there is a reward for the r'ighteoui : verily he is a God that jtidg- ethinthe earth: Once it may be they faid, There is no God $ or if there be a God, he feerb net, and will not judge : but now they {hall fay, Verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth. This is 172 Living Truths is that that will make them tremble ex- ceedingly. 5. This {hall fill them with tremb- ling , thai they (hall find they are not able to bear up againft rhe glory and maje(iy of that day : To Rev. 6. latter end > Hide us from the wrath of the Lamb* and him that Jitteth upon the throne ; they (hall fee that infinite dread in the wrath of the Lamb, that they fhall not be able to (tand up under: fo 7/4.3. 1 4. Who {hall ft and be- fore a devouring fire ? who (hall dwell -with everlafilng burning ? 6. And fixthly and laftly , Sinners that did not dread judgement, (hall dread the appearance and coming of Chritt, for then they will be overcome and ftricken clown with defperate des- pairing thoughts i they will fincTtfek condition then incurable for ever • they make light of their eftate for pre- fentj but they will then find it paft remedy for ever : now I would fay this, If there be any finners fo ftupid that prefent judgements donotaffeft them, I would fay, let them alone un- till Chritt comes. The tn Dyng Times. i73 The third thing propounded, to ftiew who they are that (hall never be able to ftand before the Son of man. Doubtlefs my friends it is a very greac honor to be accounred worthy to Hand before Jefus Chrifi : If the Queen of Sheba could fay, and thac upon fome grounds to Solomon* Haft) are thy men^ and hap fy are thefe thyfer* vants which jiand continually before thee to hear thy mjdom : How much more may we fay , Happy are thy mem and happy are thy fervants, O Lord Jefus* who fhail liand before thee to hear thywifdomj tofhare with thee in thy glory 3 and to behold thy face to all e- terriity I furely that is a far greater honour : therefore in Tfal.i fit. who frail abide in thy tabernacle ? who {hall dwell in thy holy hill? the tabernacle of God, and the holy hill of God* is both the place where his worfhip was of old , and ic is alfo put for heaven fometimes in Scripture; and in both there is the prefence of God and of his Chritt } he is met withall in his worfhip , and moft cf all and moft eminently in glory 5 but bur now, fays the yfalmift* Whojhall ft and in thy holy place ? whojhall ft and in thy prefence ? Where fhal! ihere be any found that {hall be dignified with this honor ? What fort of people mult they be chat thou wile thus promote? Doubtlefs there are very many that {hall never be able to ftand before Chrift, Z^-. 13.23. the quelUon was put 3 Are there few that Jkall be faved ? Chrift anfwers, Strive to emer in at the ftr eight gatt ', for many I jay unto yon jhallfeek^ andfhall not 'be able to emer : and hence it is that it isfaid, Mat.j. 22, 23. Many will fay unto me in that day 3 Lord, Lord^ic Now in treating on the fourth, who they are that fhall not Hand* I (hall {hew you that there are ten forts of perfons that will never be able totfand before the Son of man : The Lord grant we may not be of that num- ber. I. Ungodly finners , openly pro- phane, who fpend their days without any awe of God upon them , they are perfons never like to be honored by Chrtft in his day, and at his appearance and coming, Pfal. 1.5. 7 he ungodly jhall jfrall not jtana not ji ana in ti:e ]uagcment> &c. the ungodly* fich as live in a neg- lect of Duty ; the (inncrsj fuch as live in the acting of all in piety > faith he, theie fhall not Hand in the judgement* I /Vf.4. 18. // the righteous fcarcely befaved, where (ball the [inner and un- godly appear ? If they find feme diffi- culty in alcencing rhe meunc of glory* what then (lull finners do ? doubtlefs they will never he able to iiand in the pretence ot Chrift. 2. Such as promote and incourage fin in oihersjthey are not like ro be owned, snd honored>and promoted by Chrift in his day : fome there are that are fuch 2nd fo good favors for the Devil 3 that they wonderfully promote his trade in the world, and as a recomptnee of all their trouble they fhall receive the fa- lary of eternal mifery ; whatever fouls they are that are fo in love with fin 3 and the ways and works thereof, that they help it on , and further it by what means they can , rxijuft never expeft to be owned and honored by Chriti when they (hall Hand before him at his judge- ment-feat : there are fuch in the world as the Prophet complains of > £%*£• 13* 176' Living Truths 13.2a. Who ftrengt hen the hands of the wicked • many ways there are to do it> but it is miisrable work* whoever is found in it : we promote and incourage fin y either when we provoke and in- ticeunto it 3 as Solomon warns his (on, Vrov. I. 10. When firmer s intice thee* con fern not to them ; there are fuch fin- ned that intice unto fin, asthewho- rifh woman, Vrov.y. %\. With many fair fpeeches (he caufed him tojeild>th3it is a promoting of fin ; and much-more do they promote it , that by what means they can do conftrain others to it. Thus do the wicked great men of the earth , that compell others unto their idohtry , and to (hare in their abominations , as Jeroboam did in 2 King.iy. 2 1 ;&c. They alfo promote fin in others , who do labour to exte- nuate and le(Ten fin, and make people believe it is not what it is, to the end they may lefs fear and dread it j and go on in it with the more confidence ; fuch a kind of people as the Lord by the Prophet meets with in cftf*'* 2 - I 7» Te have wearied me* &c. when you tell people fin is not fuch a thing as fome would inDywgTtmet. 1/7 would have you believe 3 and he will love you for all that , this is an incicing unco evil : I bucwhac will become of them ? chat will you fee in Roma 1.32. Whv knowing the judgement^ &c* in which words you have both the (in and punifhmcnt chat fhall follow upon the iinner : the hn is exprelfed* that they fin? and love -to have others do fo ; the punifhmcnt is implyed* they that fo fin are worcby of death, and that they fhall have, they (hall have their de- meric * not life from Chrirtj nor fhall they live with Chrirt, but everkfiing death is their demerit* and that they fhall have, that fhall be their portion ; and lo that Mat. 5. ip. Whofoever Jba/l breaks any of thefe little command' mentsj and teach men [o to dos&c. who- ever {lull (in > and incourage others in it, what fhall become of him ? he fhall be lead in the Kingdom of Heaven r the words are a figurativeipedchjwhere lefs is fpoken then intended : leaflet isjhe (halbe fo lictle 3 thac he fhall not be at all in the Kingdom of heaven : That is the fecond fort that Hull not ftaitd before the Son of man.- Onely I would pitc in a caution > That it is poffible N good i7o Ltvtrg Truths good fouls j even the Lords own peo- ple 3 may (ometimes prove a means of incouraging tin in others , and that ei- ther by iome ill example? asfuch a cafe is intimated, I Cor. 8. 10. Ifan)man> &c. The example of a Hronger Chri- ftian may incourage a weak one to do things againft his confcience , things he is not fatisfied in , and fo it may be a fin unto that weak one , he may fin being led to it by the example of ano- ther ; or we may further fin in others, when we do not reiirain it according as we may and ought : Thus did £//, who was a very good man > but yet he did further the fin of his fons ,in that he did not reftrain them 3 he did onely give them a gentle and mild reproof , when he fhould have put a refiraint ppon them 3 as you mayread 5 1 Sam. 2. 22. and forward, Now Eli was very old^ &c. in a mild way he reproves them> when as he was a Magillratehe (houldhave put a reftraint upon them : and fee how God punifhes this upon him in C hap. 3 . 13. It is not enough to reprove a fin> but where we can we ought to reftrain it, as Matters* Parents, Magiftrates, and the like, that is their duty , and they tn Dying Times. 179 they that are not faithful in the dif- charge of it 3 may be thereby an in- couragjtr of (in in others:only chis note, * that though (inners imy encourage Cm, and Saints may incourage iin too,yet ic is greatly different; Saints may incour- age fin eventually and accidentaily^but tiot inten ionally; ir is not their defign: finners do ic defignedly >and Saints acci- dentally, and that is a wide diff-rence. To proceeds thirdly. They may not expeft to Hand in the day of Chrift, that ru(h on upon ways of fin> contrary to lighc and con virions received,R*w. 1 . 2 1 . Becattfe that when they tyew God 3 &c. in a due proportion to the lighc we have received, fuch (hould our walk- ings andaftingbe, and he that fins a- gamft his light > fins greatly : Many make dreadful havock of their lighc , and great inrodes upon their confci- ence : You read in Prov. 20- 27. The fpiric of a man is the candle of che i Lord j the conscience of a man ic is the candle of che Lord,and we otcen Cm ^againft it> untill we fin it out, although this cannot be done at a cheap rate,and yet how often do wedoic! Pfal.125 5. A$ for fuch as mm afide 3 the Lord [hall N 2 lead 180 LivtngTruths lead them forthwith the workers of ini- qmt)(vci which is implyed,not only thac God will leave them to iin as the wic- ked do , but to the fame punifhmenc thac doth attend and betide the work- ers of iniquity: and alfo to thispur- pofe take that text again, Rom. i. 32. Who knowing the juft judgements of God ; there is a great emphafis, in that they thac know that he thac finneth foand fo what he doth deierve , they are like to fall under his juft judge- ment, Lh\. 1 2. 47. The fervant that knows his Lords will&c. What, (hall he be rewarded? No, But he (hall be bea- ten w ith many ftrifes* A fourth lore of perfons thac fhall never fiand before Chart, are they thac turn the grace of God and Chritt into wantonnefs ; they that from the kind- nefs of God in the Gofpel , take occa- fion to (lengthen their hands in ways of rebellion againft God and Chrift : I teli you fuch fouls will have a fad ac- count to make in the day of Chrift* and will ftand with much palenefs of face, and dejeftion of fpiric 5 in verf.q. of fades Epiftle * we are pointed to fuch a people, who turned the grace ef God in uyt/2g i tmes 1 5 I God into lafcivioufnefs ; chat is> Make ufe of the grace of God in the Gofpel, asanoccafion to lafcivioufnefs i Oh it is fad indeed to make rhe greatett mer- cy a prop and farthererof thegreateft iniquity ! Paul tells us in Rom.*], n. That fin took occafion by the Com- mandment; that is, there is fuch an enmity and contrariety in the heart of man naturally againft God > and the minde of God* that the very command to holinefs is a fpur and furtherance unco wickednefs ; fuch is the enmity that is in the heart unto God. Now it is a very great fin, that the Law that is intended to keep from fin* fhould be an occafion of finj.it is a great aggrava- tion : but it is much more a great fin, when the Mercy and Grace of God that fhould be the greateft hindrance, pnd lee 5 in the way of fin, if that fhould become an occafion of fin> and a means to further it : The Rule is* I John 2. i. tJMy llnlc Children> thefe things I write y that J on fin not. And if any man fj,n> we have an Advocate* &c. We have an Advocate \ we have a Chrirt, to rhe end that it fhould keep us in from fin > and not that it fhould N z te 1 8 2 Living Truths beanoccafiontofinj and in Rom.6>%. faxes Pau^ what frail we fay then f frail we fin that grace may abound ? God for- bid , God forbid char the kirtdneis of God in the Gofpel (liould be a means to further us in any provocation, that were a dreadful evil. And yet this is the guife of feme poor Creatures ; be- caufe God hath found out a way for Pardon and Reconciliation > therefore fome poor foul?: venture upon (in the more boldly : And what will be the iffue of this ? Oil fuch {lull fmart and fiffer dearly for it : they ftull be pu- nifhed after the Example of Sodomy in the feventh verfe of ] tides g- piftle* 5. Such a? negleft and flight the Gofpel of Chrift , and the Grace of Chrift in the Gofpel : They do not much minde it> God he offers us fairly, he offers us a great deal of kindnefs and mercy in the Gofpel; but we do not minde it, and what will the refulc of it be ? Rom.2>4>5> Or de(pife\l thou the riches of hugo$dnefs ? &c. It hath been the Lot of the Gofpel to meet with very courfe androu^h ufage^rff. ^^. 4>5« And Again >>bt *j r ent forth other fer- in Dying Times. 1^3 fervants, &c. They flighted the offer as a thing not worth the considering, not worth the giving heed to 5 let thy preparation and dinner go as it wi U they made light of ic: But: what will the iffue of this be ? what will this come to ? This is not the way to ftand before Chritt 5 look to the £/*£.2;3« Howfhall we efcapey if we negkftfo great falvation ? 6. Secret Hypocrites and Apoftates will never be able to ftand in the day of Chrili. Secret Hypocrites that profels to be for Guilt 3 but are in- wardly again!* him* their hearts are not with him ; fuch fouls will come off with fhame in the day of Chrift: Therefore you finde what is faid* Job 36.13. The hypocrite in heart heaps up wrath,&c. and Afof.24.^1. intimates to us that the portion of hypocrites fhall be of all the moil: fad and difmai portion. And alfo for Apofiares that have begun in the fpirir ? but do end in the ftefli ; that have profeffed a love to Chriii, but really have their hearts at a diftance from C u .rift ; fuch as Paul wiihes the Cjalathians might never prove, Gal.-$. 3. Are ye fofoollfh ? ha- N 4. ving j 84 Living Truths vin& begun in thefpirit> are ye now made perfett by thefiejh ? Such fouls as fhall do thus, they will finde their cafe fad ac laft; fuch as Pd#/fpeaksof, iT/w.1.19. that make Shipwrack^of faith and a good conscience : That have profeffed the Faith? and have had fome light and ten- dernefs of Confcience 3 but have thrown off allrhow will it be with fuch? Heb. \ o. 2 3 . Hold fad the profeffion of jour Faith without waverings &c. and 2*).verf. F 'o-rfake not the affcmbling your ft Ives together 5 as the manner of fome is : For if you An afrer the receiving the knowledge of the Truth, it will be fad : For D faieshe, it is a dreadful thing to fill into the hands of the living God. 7. Carnal and Formal profeflbrs that fet out and keep up in a Profeffion, but are without fpirit and life? that have nothing but a form and outhde of godlinefs, withouc the power : Such fouls there are in the world: But alas, fuch fouls will fit down fliort of a com- fortable enjoyment of Chrift. How., niany are there in days in which pro- feffion is crowned, that attend diligent- ly upon opportunity \ But how little is that in Bying Times. 185 thatconhdered 3 in John 1.24. Cjodis a Spirited mil be rvor (hipped infpirlt and in truth ? How many poor creatures are there that onely minded little lifer lefs y hearrlefs worfhpipinp of God? Though the number of the Children of Jfrael be as the [and of theSea y a Rem- nant fhall be faved. Though Prcfef- forsbe as the r ; ndof the Se?> a great m*ny ; yec but a remnant fhall be faved : And why hue a remnrnc ? it is becaufe though 1 hey were Ifrael 5 yet they were ^uc fornriab 'hey are fpiiitu- ally Sapiefs profeflors : And there- fore becauie they are but 10, but a rem- nant fhal! efc; but fhould not fet to the work in earnett? they fhould feek to 1 8 6 Living Truths to enter » but the 1 flue of fuch a feeking fhould be this ; They fhould not be a- ble : So, tJMat. 11.12. The Kingdom of Heaven fuffcreth violence^ &c. Tjie preaching of John had put another fpi- rit into the people* that they were e- ven preflfmg into the Kingdom of Hea- ven ; The Kingdom of heaven fnjfereth violence : Many were prefling into the Kingdom of God 3 and the violent they would take no denial ; they would take the Kingdom of Heaven by force. Thefe hot- me tied fouls > rhey were hot upon the Kingdom of Heaven > and there was no fatisfying them without it : but the Faint feckers will bede* nyed* 10. Ic may be they that havefome railed confidence * though upon bad grounds, and think to challenge Hea- ven with as much boldnefs as any, a- mong them there may be fuch that fhall fall fhortj CM*t. 7. 22*23. They fhall come unto him,, and fay* Lord, Lord) Sec. They fhall come and chal- lenge an entrance) with a great deal of boldnefs and confidence , as if they doubted not of their reception and en- tertainment j but yet he fhall fay unto them, in Dying Times, 187 them* Verily I know yon not, 1)epart from me ye workers of iniquhy^ j ob 8» 13 14- i he hypocrites hope fhittperifh i And thus* I fay, thefe feveral lores of peifons are like to fall fhort of Handing before the Son of mm with comforu But then if thefe lliail not (land, who are they, and what muft they be, that fhall Hand before him with joy ? That is the fourth thing. There are fouls that fliill ftand. Chrift hath not dyed in vain* he (hall fee of 1 he travel of his ioul ; there are them that fhall life up their heads when the Son of man (lull appear; and that {hall be the time of thdr redemption* the time of their refrefhing : and who are they ? I fhaU give you thisdefcri- ption of him that fhall Itand before the Son of man: He is fuch a one, who having denied and renounced his own righteoui'neis > hath put on Chrifls Righteoufneis ; is renewed in the Inner man, and bound in fpirit for God ; de- firous to he found in the whole VVill of Godjboch in doing and in fuffering : Of iuch an one I fhall fay, as the Tftlmift fpeaks, in the PfaU 24. ?. He fall receive the bUffwg from the Lord, and i83 Lizixg Truth and right eoufnefs from the God of his falvation. 1 fhall take this defcription in parrs , andclear up every part of ir, and fhall bag of you to put the quetiion unto your own hearts , How far you can Experience fuch a VVork of God upon your own fpirits ? i. He chat fhall be accounted worthy to ftand before the Son of man* is one char hath denyed and renounced his own iigbreoulheis; he is one that is brought to fee he hath no righteouf- nefs oi h i> own ; and therefore defires togi e up "lithe rhoughs of hanging upon my righreoufnefs of his own whatever: Heisone> I fay, that fee th he huh no righceoufnefs of his own 5 and that fight arifeth from the fight of his Original pollutiomandof his a&u- al departure from the Lord : he fees his Original pollution* and that makes him cry out as 'job* Job 14-4. Who can bring a clean thlvg om of an unclean ? not one : It makes him cry out as David* Pfal*fi*5< Behold, I was fhaf en in ini- quity* and in fin did my mother conceive me. And the foul alfo feeth its own a&ual departure from the Lord,and that makes it cry out as they in lfau6^6* We in Dyixg Times. 1 8^ We arc all as an unclean thing, andalfo ull our righteoufnejfes are as filthy rags. This you fhall finde is the fpiric that the people of God have been found in; they have put off their own righteouf- nefSj turned their backs upon it. Paul once thought he b.2d as much as other?, and as we ufe to fay, Thought his peny was as good filver as anothers : He thought he was in as good a condition as the bed 5 but you have him crying out in />/?//. 3.7. What things I counted gain-, thofe I count I >fs for thrift. Out- ward priviledges, gifts* duties* whate- ver he thought would itand him in liead in times pad* hclaies ic down* snd calls ic but dung and drofs. And fouls* this frame we mutt be in* or we are not like elfe to {land before Chrirt with comfort. Jf**J man will come af- ter me, hemufl deny himfelf : That is it that Chrift calls for * thatisChrifts Rule, He muft deny himfelf, Ma%.\6. 24. If any man mil come after Chrijl* and end where he did* that* is in Glory, The firft thing is. He mv ft deny him- felf y and nothing can be more pro- perly called our felves * then our own 1^0 Living Truths own righteoufnefs $ and this you muft abjure, this you mofl refolve not to own : And that Text is commonly quoted to this purpofe* Mat. 25. 22. &c Now my Friends, confider what have been the dealings of God with your fpirits 5 what have you experi- enced of fuch workings upon your foul ? Have you been brought to fee your own natural pollution; the defile- ment of your fouls with guilt and filth by nature ? and have you been brought to fee your tu nings from God in your whole courfe? and hath it wrought this upon you? to fee that you have no- thing of your own to commend you to God ? that all in you* and all without youj is but what may be a provocation to the Divine Majefiy , and thar you do renounce it all as dung and drofs ? 2. You mutt put on Chrifts Righte- oufnefs, for the putting off youi own will not do it ; you muii have a righteoufnefs the putting off your ownmuftbe followed with the putting on of Chrifts ; ani with that you may be able tolhnd before the Lord in the great in Dying Times. 191 great day : This you finde is our Duty^ and that to which we are called. Mat. 11.18. Come unto me : Corr.ing unco Chriif, it is beKfc\itigj raking hold of his Righteouinds : It is nor enough that you know there is a Righceoufnefs held forth, a Rightecufneis offered; but it ir.nlt be taken, you mutt put on Chri(},as the phrafe of Scripture is: Paul you finde did thus, in that Phil. 3. 7. / count aUdu»g for Chrift 5 and in the S.verf, Tea donbtlefs I count all lofs 9 &c. t/ill lofs for Chrift ! and in the 9. verf. you have the reafon, that I may be found in him* not having my own right eoufncfs^&c. Msrk, he made ic his buhnefs not only to put off his own> hut to put on Chrifis Righteoufnefs ; that was his care, And this, I fay, will do the work : the foul (tending clad with the Robes of Chrifts Righteouf- nefs, will Hand with comfort in the day of Chrift. I will recommend to your confederation, that Revel."] 9 you read of ^4 great multitude , whkh no man could number* that flood before the Throne , and flood before the Lamb, clothed with 7vhite y and palms in their hands. And who are they that are thus \<)^ Living Trmhs thus before the Throne ? In the 1 3*14. verfesy he tells you> They were they that had wajhed their Robes y and made them white in the blood of the Lamb : and in the next verf. Ire adds, Therefore are they before the Throne • they had wajhed their Robes* and made them white in the blood of the Lamb : That is, they had the Robes of Righteoufnefs, that were purcha fed by the Blood of Chritt ; and the Righteoufnefs of Chritf was found upon them* and upon this account they flood before the Lamb: and hence in Mat. zt. ii^I 2. When the feaft was made* and the King comes to view his gmfts) be faith unto one of them y How comeji thon in hither^ not having on a Wedding- garment? He warned the Righteouinefs of Chriftj that was the Wedding- garment ; that not being found upon him, he mult be ca(t out to be a companion of them that knew not God. Now this is the queflion j Have you put off your own Righteoufnefs, and put on Chrifts, without which there is no ftandinga with which you may and willfland before the Son of man? What is the anfwer of your hearts in this cafe ? You will fay D It is a inuyngTimeS. Ipj a hard matter to determine whether I have put on Chrilts Rigbceoulnefsor no. I anfwer , Whether it. be hard or eafie to determine whether you have done it or no 5 yet this is concluded on that it muft be done , if we would Hand before Chrift: but a little to help, you 3 before I leave it > confide; thele* two things. i. Coniiderthat the putting on the Righteoufnefs of CHriftj ic is but one Utk, The foul feeth a Beauty and Excellency in Chriit , and likes him. 2. Itisaconfentinga&,a Marriage- aft: when the ibui as it likes Chrift* fo is willing to receive him according to the terns of the Gofpel , at thac time ic doth put on GiUUt , and his Righteoufnefs. Now this is the que- ftion you are to ask your felves 5 Have you found fuch a contenting unto Chritt, fuch a giving up your felves un- to Chrilt, upon the terms of the Gof- pel ? You like hiob and approve hitrb and liking of him* you willingly cake him upon the terms he hath offered himfelf untoyou: Ifyoucanfay> You have found fuch an a and thoughts of fin you had not, and tbougbcs of holinefs that you were once utter Grangers unto ? 4. This is in the defcription ^ .the foul is mode to he for Chrilt, Tims 2. 13,14. Who gave him f elf for us% that he might purifie to himjelf a peculiar people ,&c. Chritt did purchafe a peo- ple to himfelf: Time was thou were all for fin, and Sathan, but now thou art for Chrlii ; thy Vote is on his fidc> though fotneumes (in and Sathan may carry itagainftthee. 5. The benr of the heart is for God; the (hip that is bound for the Indies (a long voyage J it meets with trany crofs winds > and is often driven back 5 but yet being bound for the fame place * ic tiillfets out wi:h the firft fair wind>and makes forward as much as it can : It is thus with the foul that fhall itnnd with Chrift, it is bound for Godi for hea- O 2 ven \g6 LtvingTruths ven \ it meets with many crofs witfds; the winds makes the waves of the fea boifterous > and the foul is brought back again to as bad, or it may be* to its own apprehenfion , a worfe condition thenatfirft, whenitfet out for God, yet bound for God it is , and therefore it improves all its opportunities for God j that is the bent and frame of fuch a foul , I fa. 26.8. The de fires of our foul are toward thee fee. 6. Itisdefirous to be found in the whole will of God; not that it is always found in the will of God,but yet the de- fires are after it , that is the inclination of the heart;& to be found in the whole will of God , in one part as well as another : Caleb was a type of them that fhall ftand before Chritl, Num. 14. 24. But my fervant Caleb* becaufe he had a- xother fpirlty and had followed the Lord fullpScc. He was to go to Canaan^ and he was a type of all that fhall inhabit the heavenly Canaan^ that (hall fit down in the land of reft 5 they are per- fons of fuch fpirits , that they are wil- ling to follow the Lord fully, to be found in the whole will of God , in the duties of the firft Tabtain the wor- (hip in Dying Times l$J (hip of God with his people in their family 3 Pfal. 4. 3. Therefore called the godly man : They are for the fe- cond Table-duties > to do the duty of their places and relations towards God and all men , therefore Tit. 2. 1 1. The grace of God teacheth to deny all mgodlinefs and worldly tufts* &c. Now fee,how is it with thee ? thou haft cor- ruptions remaining , tin dwelling in thee , and thou art found but little in the way and work of God ; but which way is the bent of thy heart ? which way do the ftrongett defires of thy heart run ? 7. It is willing notonely to do but to fuflfcr for God 3 to be true to his name> his honor and glory* whatever it may coft him; to fubmit his life , liber- ty > elhte 3 honor 5 or whatever he hath, to the will of Chriii: if the Lord wills me to fuflfer, T will undergo it, if I may but any way further and promote his glory ; that is the requirement of Chrift in Mark^.%. 38. Whoever (ball be afhamed of me, &c. he that will not own Ch:ift3 and his way and work in the face of the utmoft hazard that he can run > he fhall not be owned of O 5 Cirifi, ip 8 Living Truths Chrift wheu he (hall come : fo Rev. z. Fear none of thofe things^ be faitiofu! to death >&c. So confider and commune with your fpiritsin this matter; are you willing to do his will > and r uffer his will ? is it the defign of your Ipirits, to ftand perfeft in the whole will of God? It is good if fo> and fuch as I have here defc r ibed ftiall befureto ftanc before Ch ift>whoever be reje&ed in that day. And this brings me to the fifth thing * to fhew you what is the belt frame that ^ efoulfhould be molt ambitious of> and that will bert fit it to ftanH before the Son of man : What is the beft frame to ftand before Chrift in the day of Chrift ? There are thefe five things neccffary , if you would be able to meet Chrift without any confirmation of fpirit? if you would be able to meet him with fetled confidence &boldnefs, befides what I have already laid down. Five things are needful, i. To have the love of God in Chrift witneflfed andfealed up to the foul : It is a great mercy to have an intereft in Chrift > to have taken hold on his righteoufnefs ; but it is a further and greater mercy: to have the love of God in Chrift wit- neffed* in vying itmes. 199 neflfed y and manifefted* andfealedup to the foul by the Spirit of Chrift; fouls, this is that mercy which the Saints have been breathing after, Tfau 4. 6. Lift up the light of thy countenance up- on us 1 this is that mercy which the Saints have prized above the deareft and I- eft of all the mercies of thislite 3 Ffal.i6$* 3. Becaufe thy loving kind- nefs is better then life, &c. life is better then any other thing in this world,.buc the love of God manifested to the foul that is better then life; this is that that the Saints of God have travelled for, and for which they are travelling-, for which they are waiting upon the Lord from time to time 5 and from duty to duty ; this is that that their fouls ar* fet upon, Pfal. 77. 4. One thing have I dejlredof the Lord , and that mill feek^ after, that I may dwell in the houfe of the Lord to behold his f ace y&c. Ffal.63. I. O God y thou an my God^ early mil Ifec^ thee^ &c. This is that the foul of the Pfalmifi was feeking after 5 this is that that carries the foul couragiqufly and comfortably through the moft rugged and impleading paths and paffages it meets with in this world* Rom. 5.3. We O 4 ihrj glory in tribulations ; and what is ic thn makes the foul glory in tribulati- on ? fays he* Becaufe the Love of God is fhed abroad in our hearts by the Spi- rit of God > that is the inftrument to do that work upon the foul > tnat is it that makes the foul rejoycein 3 and go chearfully through , whatever irkfome providence it may poffibly meet With in the world : it hath the light of Gods countenance > a fence of his love and favour ; it hath the. good will of God fealed up to it by the Spirit of Chrift * and this is that that will give the foul the greateft boldnefs in the day of Chrift, 2^.1.105 H. Givb all di- ligence that you may be found of him in peace* &c. by this means you {hall be carryed with the greateft chearful- nefs and comfort unto the day and coming of our Lord Jefus. 2. This is needful 3 that the foul be weaned from this world, and dif-in* gaged to all the intanglements and in- cumbrances of it ; that it fit loofe from the cares and comforts of this. world ; this is requifite to be the frame of thofe that would meet with Chrift with comfort and boldnefs : You {hall find t n Dywg Tt met. 2 o I find the things of this world are of a very burtf»>' tendency to the fouls of the Saints* they do a wonderful deal of harm; they are often a means to carry off the heart from God * if it be not exceedingly careful : therefore Chrilt gives this counfcl* Mat. 6* 25. There- fore I fay mto yon* Take no thought for yoHrlife£L<^hz nor much taken up with the things and concernments of this life: Why what is the hazard? why* faies he* in verf. 4. No man can ferve two rafters* &c. Let not the heart run out too much after the world > for fear the world take the heart away from God ; a man cannot have his heart too much let out to this world > but it will draw the foul too much from Chrift, z Tim. 2* g> 4. Thou therefore indure kardvefs : TSJ^ rmn that warreth entang- leth hlmfelf with the affairs of this life : If you are for Chrift, and ever mean to do Chrift any fervice , make this your care, rhat the heart be nor taken up with the concerns of this life: if you let it out to things ^elow, Chritt will have little of your love? and little of your fervice by this means; 10 that I fay is an excellent frame in order to the d \j 2 living i Yrnvs the meeting with Chrift with thegrea- tett comfort and boldnefSj Lu\^ % 2 1.34. Take heed to your felves^ left at any time&iz. take heed your hearts are not (Wallowed up with things below, and fothat day come upon you unawares : whofoever hath his heart too much in- gaged in the things of this life > the day of Chrift will take him at a difad- vantage , he will not be able to meet Chrift with fo much boldnefsas other- wife he might : Chrift in Luk^i 2. gives his difciples this counfeh verf. 3 5. Let your loyns be girded about >&c. What muft we be if we would be found in the greateft poflure of fitnefs for the Lord? Why, let your loyns be girded about : The loyns here* is that that is called elfewhere the loyns of the mind* 1 Vet. 1.1 3. Now thefe are the affe&ions and workings of the heart 3 which muft be girt up , and not fuffered to hang loofe to the things of this world > noc fuffered to wan- der after the concernments of this world; that will not do well ; but you tnu\ have them fetled upon and kept dole to due and proper obje&s : Affe- ctions in Dying Times. 203 clions fee on things above 5 is afpi- rit fir to meet with Chrili in. 5. This is needfub chat grace be in itsadt andexeicife. I tell you the foul may have grace in the heart* but yet if you would meet with Chrilt with that bokmefs and comfort that ir is fit we fhould aim *;t> it is neceflary more- over that the habit be drawn forth into exercife. Grace in the heart of a Saint, it is not there to be ufdels, but it is there i'eated, that it may from thence fhine forth, iW^.5.16. Let jour light fojhine before men> &c. 1 he exercife of Grace is a very grateful and pleafing thing to our Lord Jefijs : he takes very much delight in it* Cant, 2. 14. Cone* fates he , let me fee thy countenance* &c. The exercife of Grace> in a Saint* is pleafing and delightful to our Lord J&- fus Chrirt ; and then is it that Gra and then it fends forth its fmells. The fweet- aefs of Grace is not found but in its exercife ; and it is tjien when Grace is in exercife* that a foul is fit to meet Chrift. It was not the commendati- on, nor the mercy of the wife Virgins* that The) jlumbred and jlept, Mat.i^^.. And they knew it was not : therefore it is faid, chey arofe> and trimmed their Lamps , they rouzed up t hemfelves , and ftirred up the Grace of God that was in them: This is that chat Chrift calls fori Luke i 2.35. Let your loins be girt about > and your Lamps burning : The burning of the Lamps> is the ex- ercife of Grace : it may be thou haft thy Lamp , but Oh ! labour that it may be a burning and finning Lamp* to have thy Grace a&ing and difplay- ing it felf , that is your Duty, and you will meet wich Chrift with much the more comfort. If God fhould come, how little of this would he finde in us ! our pride is working, our covetoufnefs, our enmity and animoiity , and fuch like ? But who of us can fay that Grace is in exercife ? Well, that is the third thing in Dying Times. 205 thing requifite in order to the meet- ing Chdll with comfort and bold- rte fs. 4. Communion with God, and a holy conversion maintained and kept up> is very neceflary > if we would meet with Chrift with comfort and boldnefs. Communion with God,which are thofe fweet interchanges of love be- tween God and the fouhthe preferving and maintaining as well as getting whereof* is much the duty, and much the excellency and glory of a Chriftian, to carry it fo, that you may not give Chrift occafion to ftand as a ftranger unto the foul ; to preferve the Unity and Amity between Chrift and the fculjis much the Duty of a poor Crea- ture: it was the mifery and unhappi- nefsoftheSpoufe* that {he was want- ing in that work, Cant. 5.2. When Chrift invites her unto opportunities of Communion with himfelf, (he faiesj / have put off my coat* &c. She trifles away that opportunity, and out of a flothfulfpiritnegle&s it 5 and thisoc- cafioned a ftrangenefs between him and her for fome time after : The avoiding of this is much op: wifdom> and will much aog Living Truth much advantage in the day of Chrift; the preferving alio a very holy conver- iation, hil. ?. 20. faiesche Apolile, Our converfatlon u in heaven , from whence we look for a Saviour : And if thou art looking for a Saviour in ear- ned keep thy convention in heaven : Now our conventions being in hea- ven> it implies both the maintaining communion, and triendfhip> and con- cord between God and us ,• and alio a holy and upright com erfation : He that lives in heaven 3 keeps his peace with God ; and he that lives in heaven> walks cloddy with God : fuch a frame as that, becomes one that looks for Chritf, and waits for his appearance 5 that is moft certain, Titus 2.1 4. The Apoftle there is telling wh: t is the Ex- pectation of the Saints , 1 3. verf. Looking for 9 faies he, that bieJfedhope y &c. How did they carry it in this time of their hope and expectation ? Why? chey were taught to Deny un- go^inefs and worldly tufts ; and in iuch a pofture 'bey jid Look for that tieJfcdhop.fi s^d the gkripus appearing of the great (fod. 1 Pr.ij, 14, Gird up the /oyns-of yoHt mnc es y bejoberand hope in Dfmg Times. 207 hope unto the end* Sec. He wiflies them to look for the appearance and coming of Chrift ; but wharpotfure mutt they be in while they are thus, looMng ? Why* as obedient Children* &c 5. And longing of foul for bis ap- pearance and coming, is alfo neceffary; that is \u that is in Scripture called, A wailing for ; it is a waiting with de- fire and longing: laft of Canticles and the laft verf. Make haft^ my Beloved 3 and be as a %oe or a young Han upon the (^fountains of Spices. The foul thinks the coming of Chrift long>fcW* 2 2.21. He that faith the fe things teftifi- eth)Behold,I come qmckjj : even fo y come 'Lord Jeftu. That is the frame the foul fhould be in, to be ftill crying, fame Lordjefus. And thus I have given you what I intended in anfwer to the fifth thing: What is the beft frame the foul can be in, in o^der to its meeting with Chrift, with the greareft comfort and bold- nefs ? As firftj to have the love of Chrift witnefled and fealed up unto the foul* by the Spirit of God. 2. To be dihngaged from this world and 2 o 8 Living Truths and all the intanglements and* incum- brances thereof. 3. To have Grace in its exer- cife. 4. Communion with God > and a holy convention maintained and kept up. 5. Raifed defires> and longing of foul for his appearance. The Application of the Point onely remains : And I (hall be brief in what 1 add more. {. If it be a truth* as I have indea- voured to make it good , that (landing before Chriftisfoferious and weighty a thing : The life of the Point will be in three or four things, fome of which will concern us all. TTie firft Ufe would be* to put us a little upon inquuy; Where are you? what poiiure are you in ? whac prepa- ration have we made for that folemn day ? what have we done that may fit us to fiand before the Son of man ? It will be a day of great folemnity ; great will be the Majefty of that D^y ; and how fares it with us ? Can we fay that Chrift is become our Friend* that we have made peace with God through him, him j that all ccntroverhes Decween God and oar fouls are taken up and compounded ? The counfel that isgi- ven> Ma't,2 5>z$. t/4gree with thy ad- verfarj cjtuokjp while heisjn the way with himy is very good, There is enmi- ty b an d man by nature : the counsel given, is to compound and make up tlie breach $ and that is to be done ma& we ^re in the way with him: % If we let it alone until the coming of drift, we (hall be delivered unto the Officer jan8 by him be hurried to priion> from whence we lhall not be delivered for ever : And therefore it is a very fe- rious quefiioa which you had all need to pui to your foul?, whether you have received Chrift and made fure of him * that fo all differences between God and you be compounded and made up, thit you may be able to. hold up your heajs in the great and notable day of the Lord ; for fuch it will be > and fo ic is called in the Word of Truth, , I have already fhewed you what kind of perfons they mull: be that (hall ttand before Cnrift, that it muft be one that hath renounced his own righteoufnefs* P and a io LivtngTfuths and put on Chrifts Righteoufnefs , and is renewed in the inner man,and bound in fpirit for God j defirous to be found in his Will both by doing and fuffering : you may refleft upon what hath been laid, and confult your fpirits thereby* But here you will fay > Whether have I received Chrift or no, that is that that fticks with me* and I cannot an- fwer that to my own latisfa&ion. Why ? confider, Oh foul* thou mayft know it, by the precious thoughts, and high efteem thou haft of Chrift 1 i Vet. 2.7. To yoti therefore -which believe b$ is preciow : and you may turn it thus^ You to whom Chrift is precious, you believe in him : You fay> He is preci- ous and worth a world, but whether he be yours ? that is the queftion. Why fouls, I tell you/if your hearts be in love with him, it is becaufe he firft loved you ; and thou canft not have a true I6ve unto Chrift without the work of his Spirit, 2e You may know it by thofe holy breathings ydu have £fer more of likends and conformity to hlmj this i$ certain > the'fcul of this Skint is not what I what it (hould be? but is longing to be what it isrnot ; prefiing mer more qf Cbriftj and the Image of God. There was a time when Paul thoi^ght that he had enough, and was in an excellent good cojimtiqiiibut God caught hirntfc fee it was no fuch nialtefy JI0W.7.9. I was (faitiS Paul), alive once wuhont the law* bm when the cornmnndmeni ckme^ &c. Wi:.c rt >.ae Law ^■nt In tt$ un Rzndinp and in its Applies tlbn ; when ^eifras able to utiderftand the L its extent an ^ ility 3 and apply itto himfelf e found he had a gre?t dtfal bf irft > and little of God in i -him: chenhc con ;e$ rofc l Ji> wrctch- I edn* his burthen: and th vhere the foul hath v ^teceived life from Chrift. How is ic wuh thee ? doi 4 thbu lee thy n!:hmefe, and iy burthen ? Ic is a hgn, it fo, rind a token for good, that there is a principle of new Life > of new and fpi ritual life communicated to thee, and chat thou ha(t received 'life from Chrilij who is the Fpuncain cf Life j and of it thou mayft affure thy P z 3. From 212 LivmgTrutbs . 3. From that holy awe and dread that is upon thy heart* left thou (houldeft be left to fin againft and dishonour God. Where there is a clofing with Chrift in earneft, there is an awe of God arifing from a fenfe ofduty*and from a fence of goodnefs*//*/^^. where it is fpo- ken concerning the Jewifh people* at the time of their Converfion, that tkey Shall fear the Lord and his good- nefs in the latter day. When they (hall in the latter days be brought neer unto God * there fhall be a holy awe "of God upon their hearts , that fhall keep them and preferve them* and lay a reftraint upon them , that they fhatt not be left to do th$ things that are grievous in his fight. Now it is good to inquire whether you finde fuch an awe upon your fouls > that you can look upon what he hath done * and thereby find a kind of reftraint laid up- on you* to keep clofe to him* to attend his work, and minde the things that are pleafing in his fight. A fecond Ufe is this : Is ftanding before Chrift fuch a ferious thing ? it may help a little for the fupporc pf them them that tremble at the thoughts of Handing before him; There are fome fouls that do conclude, or at leaft are very apt to conclude * they {hall never ftand before Chrift with comfort* that they (hall never be able to bear his prefence $ that that day will be a day of fuch dread and terrour to them, that they fhall fall before his great and glo- rious Majefty. I would fay, Is there any that have fuch workings of heart ? Why, what is the ground of it ? what is it that fills you with this fear ? Why* faies the foul* I am full of fear, that his appearance and coming will have fo much dread in it* that I (hall not be a - bletobearit. Unto fuch I would fay* It is true, the appearance of Chrift will be dreadful ; but unto whom ? 2 Thef. 2.8. It is the wicked that the Lord will c on f time with the brightness of his com- ing. The dread of the day will not light upon his people* but his enemies; it will be upon them that know not God : And therefore foul*thou needeft not tremble •, though it will be dread- ful unto them that are his enemies* thou mayft notwkhftanding hold up P 3 thy 2 14 Living Truth thy head. I but,faies the foul, this is my cafe* I have a rebellious n^art , a hard hearts that will not ttoopandlub- je& icfelf co Chali ; and therefore his coming will he terrible unto me. To that I anfrver, Paul after he was con- verted had rebellion in his hear-t 5 lulis In his heart j rifingup againlVGod, as as thou haft* Romj.ig, Jfinde* law in my members warring againji the Up? of my mind, Ghrifts corning into the foul, do^h not difpcflfefs. fin aU at once $ it idoth begin the work, but ir doth not turn fm wholly out of doors, no, that ir doth not j but it dorh give an e neft o£ .what (hall be cone, thai he yvillat length fubdue thy corrupt tif chrouehlv: But confider this, though thou haft a rebellious hearr, is it not that that thou mowneft over? is k not that that is thy burthen, that thar is grievous unto thy loul ? if it be, fear not, Chrift will come and refine thee, not deftroy thee 5 he will take >away thy drofs, he will deftroy thy corrupti- on, but not /thee, Ma/ach* 3. z, g. But who may abide the day of his coming ? tie will Jit as a Refiner tfp/ven &c. So tn vying i imes. 215 I may fay unto fuch a foul as I a q* now fpeaking to ; he will fit as a refi- ners fire y he will purifier buc he will not dettroy 5 he will take away thy drofs , he will conquer thy corrupt ion* buc thee he will fave. I bucfaies the foul, I dread the thoughts of his com- ing 5 and therefore fure it will not he to be born by me. To that Ianfwer, Thy prefenc apprehenfion is no ground from whence thou may ft make a cer- tain conclufion j for wicked men (ob- ferve it) they do not dread the coming of Chriftj they make a light matter of it > and yet it (hall be dreadful unco them: So thou doft dread his coming, and the thoughts of it are irkfome to thee , but it may be, ic may not be dreadful when it doth come : we have other thoughts of God then we (hould havei many times ; and therefore the Prophet in Jfr.17.17. he prayes, Bi not thou 4 ttrnmr mto me : Hz did miftake God 5 God h> intended to de- liver him* and not to be a terrour to him : and fo we are apt to think that Chritt will be a terrour unto usjwhen ic is no fuch matter; when he comes only P 4 10 216 Livixg Truths totakeusuntohimfelf, to fetus with himfelf in glory. And that is the feconcL 3. Will the day of Chrifts appearing be fo dreadful ? How fhould ic quicken and ftir up our hearts then, to get in- to fome readinefs for that day ? Mo- tives I might give you many; but let this fuffice 5 the coming of the Lord drawerh nigh 5 not according to that expreflion > A thou J and years is as one day^ and fo God may fay it is nigh ; but really, and in truth, the Judge ftands at the door ; and furely there is but a little time between us, and rhat notable day of the Lord. Oh the figns that we have of the Son of man ! Immediately before the tribulation of that day. The Snnfhall hedarhned^ and the Moon (ball not give her light* &c, Luke 21.25. Truely* this hath been abundantly of late, in a more then or- dinary manner. ' 2. Dlftrefs of Nations 3 which is added : God feems to found an Ala- K rum to the world , by that diftrefs that he brings upon Nations: And (if th$. report at leaftbetrue) a fpirit Hirring among the Ancient Jewilh people, is as tn Dying Times. 2 L 7 as eminent " lign of Ghrifts coming, as any thac we have met with before. This I am fatisfied about, that thftig* do look as if the day o; the Son 6£ man did haften. greuly, as if it were even at the doer 5 and I am fare k doth call loudly unco us topackup for Eternity* and make ready for that folemnday : There are preparations in heaven to- wards it 5 all things are fetting in or- der againtt that great Affize , and let not us be behind-fiand. Oh* faies the foul, what fhall I do ! la rebel againft Chrift, is there any hope for me> that I may yet make peace ? my heart is full of fear, what I fhall do when Chrift (hall fit upon the Throne. I will give thee anfwer, foul, in allufion to that cafe between Adonijah and Solo- mon : Adonijah rifes up in rebellion* fcrambles for the Crown, but Solomon was crown'd before him, and in the 1 King. 1.51,52. It was told Solomon, f<*}ivg> Adonijah faith, Let King Solo- mon [wear I fhall not dye, &c. I allude to it, and I think it doth point to what I am fpeaking of. Thou haft been a rebel againft Chrift ; thou hearef t the Father 218 Living truths Father will fee the Crown upon his head* that he (hail be inchroned : And now thy heart trembles* and thou cry- eft, Oh that King Solomon would fwear unto me> that 1 (ball wt dye : Oh that Chrift would affure me that I fhould finde Grace and Favour with him, ic may be, that is thy language : take the anfvver of Chrift the true Solomon^ If thou fhew thy felf a worthy man> there {hall not a hair of thine head-fall to the tarthi that is, if chon wilt lay down thy arms, and come qnd fubmit unto Chrift heartily, and (incerely 5 if thou wilt come and bow before him, and ac* knowledge him for thine Head, Lord and Law-giver , the Lord Jefus gives his royal Word, Not a hair of thy head {hall fall to the ground : But if thou wilt continue in thy rebellion, and ini- quity be found in you, you (hall dye. Now foul, what is the anfwer of thy heart? art thou purpofed in ths ilrength of the Lord, to come and fub- mit to Jefus? If fo, thou (heweft thy felf a worthy man , and things {lull then go well with thee, and thou may ft meet tr* jwjtfg *■ */"C*« * A y meet him with comfort* and fland be- fore biro with joy. ad one life more : If (landing be- fore Chrift will be fo ferious a work* then tc you that are able to fay^ Through Grace* things are at that pafs* that you have ground to think you can and (hall ftand before him with com- fort 5 What thankfulnefs doth this call you up unto? What a day will that be to you ? a wonderful day, a day filled with Wonder; a day rich and glorious in a way of mercy to you 5 the wonders o£ that day unto you will be many : Thefe two or three among o- thers. 1. A wonderful freedom from all your burthens* both of fin and fuf- fering* 2. Wonderful meeting with all your friends; the Saints of all ages fhall be gathered together before the throne : if the light of one friend be fo refrefhing, what will it be when all the Saints of all ages fhall meet toge- ther ? 3. A wonderful in joy meut of Chrift and 220 Living Truths and God > and this to all eternity: never more complaining of abfence* and diftance* of hiding and withdraw- ing; but you {hall be caught npto the Lord* to be for ever with him : there- fore do as is the exhortation of the Apoftle* I Thejf. 4. 18. Comfort one Mother with thefe words : you may have your burthens of fin and outward trouble for a while , there may be breakings and fcatterings of Saints from one another for a time, and fome hidings of Gods face ; but in the end thefe things will end , and God and you, and the Saints and you, (hall fit down together to rejoyce in one ano- ther to all eternity. Soli Deogloritk finis. / ■ scan BP ■ is 9R£ *, Mr &£1 M