'■.::""•'■.'■••'.':•:•.: laflHOEfiQG '• HOC kH .'/■•'•' .' :*.''. ."' ■'.'•- HbWKQ HhHHNCB '-;■'' '■!■'■'■ '"• •«•.■■' v. oKt JtEfiSfi V - ■'.■■■ ,'. "* : « . •.■N i .-.'"ueens-Colledge in Cambridge, now Vicar ofstaurepaine in the County of Dorfet,and Chaplain to the Right Reverend Father in God, Dr. john D avert ant, late Lord Bilhop of Sam m . TcmporalibM* gaudent, qui bona tterna rtoft neruttt defiderare Aug. in Pfal. 52. We wiU re Joyce in thy Salvation, end triumph in the Name if the Lord eur Cod, Pfal. 20. 5. LONDON, Printed for Edward Thomas at the Adam and Eve in Little tritain, 16 7 I • \ — i — .rta * — * p J? I a •• ■* • *' L • » ' 5 i mtkV .?.?:.!. . --»- Rt«» THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY. To bis Loving Varijhioners and good Neighbours , tbe Inhabitants of Stourepaine in the County of Dorfet, JOHN STRAIGHT^ their Aged Vicar ^ dedicattfb this: Rule of Rejoycing. My good NeighboHYSy p ' a frHere are too many pluckt away with the Errours of thefe Seditr ous and Schifinatical Times : How much it hath been my care co keep you upright y and preferve you from Schifm^Fadion and Separation., you cannot chufe butwitnefs forme. I am now grown old, and ready to go the way of all Flefh 5 and fee- ing I have received feme part of my temporal Mai ntenance from you, I thought it meet for me 3 before I go hence 3 and be no more feeo, to be- ftow fome fpiritual Gift uponyou 5 by which I might D by GodsBleffing uponit 3 fbfeafbnyour Row.*. IX. outward Enjoyments., as you might be further- ed in your paflage to that Countrey 5 which I truft you feek after. G ive me leave to make u(e ' l l ' x *' of a part of S« Peters Exprefiion to the Cripple at *he Temple Gate (Such as I have, give Iunto ^#,3. $. A 2 you) ■ ■■ The Epijlle Dedicatory. you) a few Printed Leaves of Paper , which are indeed the beft Monuments and (utableft Re- membrances that a Minifter can leave behind him -,, .. to his People 5 by which., he being dead, may (with Abel) yet (peak unto you. IfS.Paulwas not afhamed to write the fame things again, fure it is no prefumption then in me to prefent that now to your views , which not long fince I com* mitted to your ears. It (eemed welcome to you then$ 1 hope you will kindly accept of it now} & not only entertain it as a teftimony of my Love, and dear Afieftiontoyou, but that which is far better, viz* That you will make that good ufe of it, for which it was intended} which was, the reftifyingof your Joy here while I am with you, and the continuance of your Comfort hereafter, when I am dead, and taken from you. If God fhall move your hearts (as I truft he hath begun to do, and will more) to the entertainment of that which is the principal Subjeft of this Ser- mon, it will make you fhun the Atheiftical pro- phanenefs of thefe Godlefi times, and bring that upon you, which is only able to make you happy , even that which will make your hearts (table and unblamcable in Joyfulnefs 5 which is the hearty Prayer of him that is Tour very Loving Vicar , and continual Suppliant to the Throne of Grace for you alh John straight. ■Xi To all READERS whatfoever. * r ""lf n He Merchant that hath once put to Sea , though I c meet with fome mifcajualties in -^ his Voyage^ is yet commonly apt to maty an- other Adventure. It hath been my hap^ by the per- jwafionofjomc prevalent Friends ^to make two ad- ventures already before this \ My Ship is once again launch cd D and let loofe to the fwelling waves of ma- licious Cenfure. The boyjlcro/ts blajis of fitch vain winds difmayme not^ nor do the multitude of pil- fering Pyrates who by their prating^ endeavour to rob men of their good Names D put a flop to my courfe c or caufe me to fir the fail. The blejjed Apojlle te Us me^ 2 $ that he was thrice fijipwrackf^th at he was in perils often and among the refi efpecially amongfi falfc Brethren. How can I then lookjo be free from fitch perils ? NO) no y fo long as there are fo many of but little Judgment^ andlefs Honefiy^ I neither can, nor do expect to efcape their Jiripes. But as for fitch^ I I flj all take up the fame Apojlles resolution -> and fay i CV.4.3. with him that Ipajs very little to be judged oft hem. There are too manyfo proud O andfelf-conceited that thcythinknothingwetl donejuut what they do them- felves 5 fitch Readers commonly ufurp the office of rafi) Judges^ andfrjnfteadofhQdLdvesfkey become Liftores. To fitch ' If jail apply my blejjed Saviours words 3 If Ihavefpoken eviU bearwitnefsof the evil 5 if well, why then do you finite me with your i oh * ll %> 2 3 detracting Tongues ? If my God approve me^ Ipafs or *^- not for mans cenfure. As for that Thredbare dry deri- fion of being a Fool in Print 3 lean as chearfuliy bear it^as Davidfomtime did the Taunts oj : Michol 3 2 $am. 6. and 20,21,22. To the Header. and be as well pleafedto be efieemda Fool for the communication of good things ^as S. Paul was con* tented to be accottnteda fool for Chrifts fake. I pall i CV4.10. now dijmifs the captious and cavilling Reader with Mm'iaYsDiJiich : ■/^; ,/ Cum tua non edas, carpis mea Garmina Leli t Carpere vel noli noitra, vel ede tua. Andfo turning to the truly Religious and well affc- ctcd Readers^ who read to profit^ and not to picl^ Holes 3 To you ^ dear Chrjflians^ I willingly prefent this Sermon*, with Jacobs Blejjing and Prayer for his Sons x, God Almighty (end thee mercy in the GV//43.14. fight of the maOjd^. Tou have here (good Friends') a Rule of R.ejoycing 5 a Diredion for your Mirth} accept it from me^ apply it toyourfelves^do asYX\- (ha did to the Child he rai fed from death to life } he 2 Ki»4-lh ftretch'dhimfelfover theChild ? he put his mouth *** on theChildsmouthjhiseiesonhiseies^his hands on his hands, ai:d therewithal he joyned prayer s y and the Child revived 5 fo do you alfo compare your fefcer with this pattern^ me afire out your joy with this Rule '-> where you find a conformity \give thanks to God for it 5 and where not pray to God to quicken you. that you may grow in an holy Similitude and conformity to this Rule. And if thefe little fruits of 7;-!y Miniftry mayfervc any way to guide y m in your journey towards Heaven^ it Jljall be no fm all com- Gal. 2. 2. fort to me jh at Lhave not run nor laboured in vain. And feeing all good things come fr -om above 1 there- fore commend you to the Father of Light s^who is able Q to make yen re Joyce in himjvithjoy unfpeakable and glorious 5 ana rejt Yours to ferve you in what I may. JOHN STRAIGHT. -»_._ SSBSaSGSHSS The Rule of REJOYCING, OR, A Diredion for MIRTH. IN A SERMON Preached in the Parifli-Ghurch of Stonre- paine in the County of Dorfet y on the i8f/;of June y i6yi. Phil. 4, 4. Rejoyce in the Lord alway, again I fay^Rejoyce. ^Hat which Seneca fometime faid of Learn- ing, I may, 'and that not unfitly, affirm of Joy : Vita fine Litem mors eft, vivum- que hominis Sejulchrtim ^ fo he : Vita fine gaudio mors eft, vivumque hominis Sepul- chrnm • fo I. A Life without Learning (He) without Joy (I) is a meer Death, and but the living Sepulcher of man. Afliort Life, if joyous, is far bet- ter than a long Age, if mixt, and continually clogg'd B with %\)t Mult of &ejopcmg, or, with anxious Moleftations : Much rather /liould I chufe to live afewdayes here in merry gladnefs, than defire to accbmphlh the prolonged years of Met huj "el ah Jn fullen Dent. 2$. fadnefs. Heavinefs of heart is the Curfecf God. 'Tis 6? a great fnei ty co our health, which God hath bound us Pro. : 5. j ?. t0 ta * e care i^ : - r dries tne Bone^ ; and briefly, it gives & 17. 22. great : | tage to Sa:an, who Ijke a ro iring Lion walk&tb 1 Pet. %. 8. *b°M I ;; he way devour. . "lis an old Saying, that Melancholia? ft Fthiculum D&mwur>\ and Experi- ence proves, that we are never fo weak, never fo apt to receive the Temptations of Satan, never fo unable to re- fill: them, as when we are opprefs'd with Melancholy and Sadntfs of her.r: : I or this caufe S. Paul chargeth the 2 CV.2,7, Corinthians to comfort the inceftuous perfon, left Satm 1T ' (faith he) circumvent m j for we are rot ignorant of his Devices. Look upon David, a man after Gods own 2 Sam. 18. heart, as the Scripture ililes him ; and yet fee to what an 33- inconvenience fadnefs, and plodding too much on the lofs of his Son Abfolom brought him ; fee how unlike Job 1.1. himfelf it made him. Andfo 'fob, concerning whom the Lord gives alfo a large Teliimony ^ an upright and juft man, one that feared God, andefchwedcvd: Yet obferve how far he forgets himfelf, by yielding too much to fad- Job 3 . 3,4, nefs and heavinefs of heart : he is angry with the Light, 5> 6, 7,8,9, quarrels with the Night, hath a Saying to the S^ars, to &c. his Mother, to the Midwife j theie is no dealing with him in his Fit. Inflances of this kind, there be more than encuph • but they are unpleafant. Without Joy, there is no con- tentment in any thing. Who would wifh for Life it ielf, but to take fome joy and comfort in it ? Joy is all in all.* Well therefore cloth our Apoftle apply himfelf to prefs this Duty upon the Philippians in the words of our Text; Rejoycem the Lord alway, again I fay } re'yyce. In which words obferve thefe four Particulars. 1. A Duty enjoy ned, viz* Rejoycing- Rtfyce Z. The K SDircctton foj •blBtrtlj* 2. The Limitation of this Duty •, our Rejoycing mull not be carnal, but fpiritual, non in Sborn of a mans Beafts mould be fee apart to him, it v - d i? was with this exception- If it were the firft Foal of an iz '13 ' ^ s > i tmou ^ b e redeemed with a Lamb • if it werenot, redeemed, the Neck of it was to be broken • God would not have that to be facriflced unto him. Some, not un- aptly, make this to be meant by it, ■ that God fo appoint- ed, as an evidence of his deteltation of dulnefs and want of Life and Cheerfulnefs in good things, an Afs being one of the dulleft Creatures (for which caufe, I conceive, Sloth is wont to be pi^ured riding upon an Afs) God would not be honoured by the Sacrifice of fuch a JBeaft.. It is the Badge of Chrifts People, that they come wil- lingly at the time of afferabling. And / rejoyced, faith Pfal I io 3 . Dwid, when they fdidumo mc, we will go unto the Houfe Pfal 122.1. °f the Lord. Thofe Services that are offered unto God ■* " without cheerfulnefs, they never find acceptance. And truly great reafon have Gods Children to rejoyce, and to ferve him with alacrity : For, Reaf. I . Ftr fi> Tlieir SinS aiC for i iven tneni > an( * tnat is a juft Ma'tth 9 2. cau ^ e0 ^ i°Y- $on, be of good cheer (faith our Saviour Chrift) thy Sins are forgiven thee. 2 Secondly, God is reconciled unto them in Chrift , and delights in them,and that is another juft caufe of joy. Ln n 2 . him thatgbrieth ( faith the Lord ) glory in this, that he ' under ft? andeth and knoweth me, that I am the JLord which exercife loving kindnefs. This is that loving kindnefs and mercy, which being /hed abroad in the heart by the holy Ghoft, is better than life, as the Pfalmift fpeaks ; The Pfal. 63. 3. Sold is fat is fie d with it at with Marrow and Fatnefs. Pfal.6$. 5. St. P^'calleth this Joy in the Holy Ghoft-. TheHoiy Rom.14-.17. Ghoft works it in the heart, and that witnefsof theSpi- Rom. 8. 16. rit is the Ground of it. St. Peter, for the dignity of it, 1 Pet. 1.8. commends it to be both unspeakable and glorious. (The An- Lnke 2.10. gels to the Shepherds called it great joy. Our blefTed Sa- fohn 16.24-* viour ftiles it a fall joy* And rhe Pfalmift terms it the joy 21 snrcttion fo?£t3tttt> of Gods people, as being their Peculiar: The Stranger Fj\ic6.$. from the Common-wealth of Jfracl meddles not with this Joy. Vfe i. biftmcl. The Religious Life then is the merry Life. Thofe that do unieignediy fear God 9 and have fet their hearts to pleafe him, are the only men of the world , that have juit caufe to be cheerful, that have juft caufe to be com- fortable, that have juft caufe to be joyful. Let the heart of them re]oyce that feek^tbe Lord, faith the Prophet Da- Pfal.iOf.i.. if id : And front for joy all ye that are up right in heart . Pfd . 3 2 . 1 1 » Vfe 2. Reproof I Let this then be a check to our common Lumpiflmefs,. and a reproof to our ufual uncheerfulnefs : Let it ferve to correct that deadnefs of Spirit which doth generally dif- cover itfelfin our performances of Religious Duties. Men- many times look, when they are hearing, or otherwife y attending upon the other Services of Gods Houfe, as if they had no heart to them ; as if (were it not for fhame) they would fay with thofe Jews that the Prophet Malachy fpeaks of, in plain terms, Behold it is a marine]}. The ^al. I. IJ. thoughts of many are even tired and fpent, before an hour be half out ; witnefs that common deadnefs, and filthy drowfinefs, to which many do give thtmfelves over, even in the midlt of the Congregation. Oh, look to your Affections, Beloved! God looks for cheerfulnefs in his Service. He would have nothing taken of any towards the erecting of the Tabernacle, unlefs it were of him that had a willing heart . "Strive therefore, Oh ftrivej I fay, ExodA^.%,. againft your wonted fluggifhnefs, and when you feel a kind of heavinefs to creep upon you, do you check your * \ Lives for it ; rouze up your felves, and blame your felves, who in other things can befo jocund and fre/h , and yet be fo heavy, like men ftruck on the head, when matters %\)t 5atti e of 3&ef opting, or, matters appertaining to the Service of God are in hand, Remc mber the Duty injoyned here by the Apoftle 5 R e - Joyce. Tbo Aa, Rejoyce ; yes : but what is this joy you perfwade us ; * unto ? The Angelical Dodor 'tells you, that it is Paffto mem is ex -citata ex opinion* frafemis beni, vei expe that tone ftiuVi} Joy (faith he) is a paflion of the Mind ftirred up from an opinion of lb me prefent," or at lead from an expectation of fome future good. Now (Belovc) feeing Gods Children have not only an opinion of fome pre- fent, but a moft certain expectation of fome future good 'too, therefore they of all men have mod: caufe to re- joyce, and ferve their God with gladnefs. But to give you yet a more Divine Defcription of true Joy : True joy indeed is afpiritual motion wrought in the minds and hearts of the Faithful by the Holy Ghoft, proceeding from their Reconciliation to God by Faith in Chrift. r Hence is that of Cafarius, Verumgaudiuwnonpo$idctur 3 jj. '■ ' ftififax & jitftitiateneatur ; prima enim eft & qua fi ra- dix Juslitia, fecunda Pax, tertia Gaudium -, de Jufiitia riafcitur Pax 3 de Pace Gaud'wn general ur : That is, True Joy is not there to be fownd , where Peace and Righteoufnels is fbrfaken ; for Righteoufnefs which pro- ceeds from our reconciliation to God by Faith in Chrifl, is flrft, and as it were, the root of all- Peace of Con- fciencefecond, ifluing from the former ; and lailly, true joy fpringing from both* from Righteoufnefs comes Peace, and from Peace proceeds true Joy. This is the joy S . Paul enjoy nes the 'rhilppfiahi to ob- ferve in our Text, and this is that joy which I commend to you to embrace. Would you be joyful ? would you be cheerful? Would you be merry indeed? Oh then labour for Righteoufnefs, whence Peace of Confcience will undoubtedly .proceed, and thence unfpeakable joy Beaa. w jjj neceffarily follow. Gaudete in veritate, non in ini- quit ate i gaudete in Jpe atemitatis, non infiore vanitatis i as Venerable Beda hath it- that is, Rejoyce in Verity, not in Iniquity 5 rejoyce in the hope of Eternity, not in the 21 2Dirccttou fo? Qfrvctl). I the fading flower of Vanity : And thus I am h\kr\ up- on my fecond Particular, which is the Limitation of this Duty enjoyned, exprefs'd in theie words, * Ktp<*, in the Lord* Re Joyce in the Lord. The Second Part, Limitation. This (Beloved) is the qualifying, the feafoning, and the bounding of our Mirth ; It muft be in the Lord : Why? Vllumne gaudium nifi in Lorino? faith Aug, Yes, there is, as the fame Father Ijath it, Gaudtun Va- mt At is, as well as Gaudium Veritatis - y that is, there is a joy of Vanity, as well as a joy of Verity. There is a twofold joy, there is a helliih joy, and there is a holy joy 5 the one is inhibited, the other impofed . The vain joy of the world , or rather, the w r orlds j >y in vanity, is interdicted •, the holy joy , the joy of verity , the rejoycing in the Lord, that is it which is here enjoyned in our Apoiiles Edict, Rejoyce in the Lord. Obf. Rejoycing in the Lord is the only true rejoycing, Obf. llhid eft verum acfumm urn gaudium (faith S. Bernard) Bern, in* quod non de Creatura, fed de Creator e concifitur- y quodcuw Serm. acceperis, nen.o toilet a te j cui aliunde comparata, or/nis jucunditas mceror eft, owns juavitas dolor cft 3 orrme dulce am arum eft, omne dt coram.} aedum eft, omnepoHrcmo quod diletlarifoteJt y mole{l'umejl\ That i 3 true and excellent joy indeed (faith that Father) which is conceived in the Creator, and not in the Creature ; which when thou haft received, no nan can take from thee - y to which, if ail other rejoycing and pleafure be compared, they be but painfulnefs, all other fweetnefs but fadnefs, all other de- iightfomnefs but dulnefs, all other comlinefs but filthi- neis • and ill a word, all other mirth but madnefs. The comfort which the Soul feels in Gods favour, in the pardon ox fin, is that which indeed deferves to be ter- ir d Joy and Rejoycing, And 8 %\)z Bills of 3&ejo?ang> or ; Rc>J\ i . And that finl, Becaufe it will overcome and fwallow up all other occafions of Sadnefs and Difcouragement ; ic fweetens all afflictions whatfoever ; it refolves the Soul, that how fharp foever they are in a prefent fenfe, yet they are the Lo«*ds Chaftenings to prevent future Con- demnation • for when we are judged (faith the Apoftle) we are chaftcned of the Lord, becaufe yve Jljould not be con- demned with the world. Secondly, Rejoycing in the Lord is the only true Re- joycing, becaufe it is lafting ; it abides by us when all o- „ , ther joyes forfake us ; Chrift commends it to his Difci- t° " * pies, by the name of a Joy which no mm could take' from them. It may indeed, Iconfefs, fometime be interrupt- ed and overclouded with fad Paflions, but it can never be clean etftinguilhed. God doth fometime fo hide away his face from his deareft ones, for their humiliation, that they are troubled, and that not a little ; but it is an ab- folute and never-failing truth, that he will turn again and p fa!. j 1. 20. quicken them, that his people may re Joyce in him. As for the joy that is in outward things, as in the wealth, ho- nour, pleafure and glory of this Life, it is but vaniihing, Ecc. 7. 8. M& the voife of 1 horns under a Pot, as the wife man tells us, which crackle and blaze exceedingly for awhile, but are quickly out. It is a fhort rejoycing, even a joy but lob 20. 5. f° r a moment, as Zophzr tells us ; The rejoycing of the wicked is Jhort (faith he) and the joy of Hypocrites is but a moment. As the things themfelves are tranfitory and un- certain, fo muft that joy that is taken in them be ; Vanity it felf is not more light. And then , for the moft parr, thefe iliallow, and foon drying Streams of outward joy, they do empty themfelves into a Sea of Heavinefs : They are as a fhort Winters day, the fairnefs whereof, in re- gard of fome breakings out of the Sun, is at laft fwallow- ed up into a gloomy and tempeftuous nighf. But that Pfal.97.li. Light which is [own for the righteous (as the Pfalmift fpeaketh) and that Joy which is prepared for the upright in heart, though it be fometime darkned, yet it never goes out: It doth alwayes fcatter and difperfe, like the Sun ■ ■■■ « % ^Direction fo? £Dttt!> Su ' ; r iK all Clouds of Affiightment, and all itmeht whatfoever. This relieves, t! Soul, v cher joyes do deceive a man, likcaBroo!^, as holy /6/> fpeaks, which, when we Wwant water, is dry, n , , and when we have no need, overflows. This Joy there- '° ' * % fore, is the only true Joy : This rejoycingin the Lord, is the only true rejoycing. This Dodrine is a Direction for the guiding and order- Vfe, ing of our Defires in the matter of joy. Our Nature arTecls joy ; it is every mans wifli, if he could, to have a glad heart ; but in the point it felf touching joy, and concerning gladnefs, therein generally we miftake. One man placetfi his joy in this, that his Subftance is great, Q y 31, 25. dtb'at hi* hand hath gotten much, as Job fpeaks : Ano- ther is glad with Hawan, for his great Promotion : A Ta- Efth. < , 1 1 , ble richly deck'd, an overflowing Cup, and a faring de- licioufly every day, there is the Epicures joy : They noil: dote upon that mad Mirth which Solomon fpeaks of; £ CC [ % 2 . 2. anuif they may live in pleafures and wantonnefs, ma- king to sorrow as to day, and have their Houfes peace- able, and w^hout fear, without any Rod of God upon them, then they' are glad; and many Fools are apt to think them happy WkO live thus: O, fay they, they live a brave life, as men enjoying their imagined feli- city. But alas! how mucii are meri deceived herein? what are allthofe joysincomp^nfonof this we are now treating of? Indeed if it be rightly confidered, what true comfort can a man take in anything, fo long as he knoweth not how the cafe ftandeth between God and his own Soul? What true comfort, I fay, can any man have, fo long as he knows not what fliall become of him at the day of the great account and reckoning for his fins? Howfoever the Devil teacheth men to forget the confederation hereof, that fo he may lead them on like an Oxe to the flaughter, or as a Fool that goes to the Stocks for correction, not knowing thai they are in danger : Yet if ever at any time the Confidence be a little awakened to think on this, the very remembrance of it is like the C behold- 1 i o XDe &ule of Sftcjopcmg, or, Zto. 5.6. beholding of the hand upon the Wall to £eljhaz,2iar, which when he Taw it, put him quite out of his humour of Jollity ; it was not the prefence of his Princes, nor the company of his Wives and Concubines, nor the be- holding of the Golden Veflels which he had taken out of the Temple of the Lord, nor the pleafmg tafle of the Wine which was before him, none of thefe could keep his countenance from changing, nor his thoughts from troubling him. Nothing indeed can overcome the ter- rour and amazement which is wont to aftoni/h the Soul guilty of fin in itsownapprehenlion, and fenfible of the terrour of the Lord, and yet ignorant withall, and with- out all manner of affurance to be pardoned. Think, Oh think ferioufly with thy Feif in what a cafe thy Soul will be, when as thou art breathing out thy laft Breath, and art even ready to be driven out of the world by a violent and tormenting ficknefs 5 when thou (halt fee the fins of thy Life muftering together before thee, and the juft wrath of God ready to feize upon thee, and Hell in thy own conceit even wide gaping to receive thee, and yet halt no feeling of this joy ilTuing out of the knowledge of Gods being gracioully reconciled to thee in his Son. Oh then (Dear Chriltians) let us labour for this joy above all j let us never give any reft to cur thoughts, till we be brought to hear of this gladnefs in the Lord : A Dram of this is better than all the mirth in the world befide, and Hiall be a fecret comfort of thy Soul, when all that the Earth affords, cannot yield thee fo much as a drop of true refrefhing. R " Wicked joys are like thofe Locufts , upon whofe •'•**'' heads were not Crowns, but as if it were Crowns (not of Gold, but) like Gold: their Faces were (not, but) as it were Faces of men* their Hairs (not indeed, but) as it were the Hairs of Women j their Brefrplates, as it were Breftplates of Iron: All thefe were ihadowy and fimilitudi- nary . but there were firings in their Tails, as you may fee at the 10th. verfe, not as it were, but true ftings in- deed, Gandwt falfis bonis, vsrettnt verii tormemis- Men call 21 ^Direction foi t^tttt). ii call for mh th and jollity here, as the Philiflims did for Samp fort > to make them fport, and it pulls down the Jud.i6.2$. Houfe Upon their heads. It is better (faith S. Gregory) in the words of Solomon, to enter into the houfe of mourn* j , than the habitation of fuch rejoycing. How fooliih is it for a little tickling of the Palat, to hazard eternal comfort ? to adventure our drowning in eternil perdi- tion? Let us therefore (beloved Brethren) think of the joy of this world as it deferves, viz* with contempt; for alas, how iittlecan it do for us? and that little, with what deceit ? What is thy heart the better ? or what the merrier for all thefe falfe joys wherewith at any time it hath befriended thee ? When did it offer Honey, but it fad. 4. 2 1 , brought a Sting withal? When did it tender thee Milk and Slumber, without a Nail and a Hammer? JufHike Joaksltits, it is full attended with afecret Stab. It is no good purchafe, to procure an endlefswo, for a little 2 Sam. 20, ' Hiding lhadow of contentment. Believe them that have 9. bought their experience dear. It is better to avoid this joy, anteguftum, quant pott faftidiuw, before we have tailed it, than after we have furfeitedon it. The more hold we take of this, the more we lofe our hold upon God. Turn ye therefore, my beloved Brethren, from this vain, falfe, and more joy that feeks you, andfeek that joy of verity, that joy in the Lord, which fliall for ever content, and never cloy you. But what (may fome man fty) may we not rejoyce at KUfft' all in temporal things ? May we not chearfully enjoy thofe outward things that God hath been pleafed to be- llow upon us ? Yes Beloved, I deny not but you may , fo as you Anfw. take thefe two Cautions along with you : Firfi, You muft have a diligent care to prevent Ex- cels. Whether we eat or drink^ orwhatfotver we do elf e, 1 Cor, 10,. all muft be done to the Glory of God. Gluttony and 31. Drunkennefs are the works ofDarknefs, contrary to ho- £070.13.13. neft walking ^ you muft take heed therefore left at at any Luke 21.34 time your hearts be opprefled with them. C 2 Secondly 3 12 xue mule of aacjDKmir^ ^ i j _ ^ Secondly, You may reiovce in t\v *„ • outward things, always prov ded " t c\ I ft? ^ ° f the * ed out of your thoughts We £ £ be " 0t bani ">- muftbeby': we ma^ ^ e S bc »«y*butGod pJeafe not him . A II 0U r 1 1 ' V ° Jon § as we dif- i.fe, fome is afforded us o? ^ '^ d ** the „ ext doth not extinguish the lefs. Frfe^kg** 1 "gl" Oyl Health, Liberty, Competent 2 " ren '. «**• fordifcontent; we may not ma J- the' V'°] § ,ven u s vals, butwemayrefo\cein^ J? I J ndeed G °ds Ri- our ; oy. They wrong On4h ' l/^. are <"^ mirth: Ti»<5ofpai» 8 «S&iJ^,-^a«i M?2.io. dings of/ y t0 all Behever s wl "^ but ^T,- madeushappy, fcegh-SSSJK?* ^ hatb m.ferable If welnd God re ended Tf%° Ur fdves vocate, the Holy Sphit our C S*' ourAd - peaceinourCcnfcience and in P* ' ^ -^ have we mould be both angry an/ £f? "' Iahe ™™l P/./42.U. f «« «* >hat <*gL?j£""* ?•**«. to . * a Symbole of the Bread of Uk £i ^ ** bread Beer, a Token of that c'tn 1 n ,ld . 0Ur Wine and What mould difcomforns f P J £ fe* **£ let's be fure, that our Delight IS? W ' th us ? ° n 'y of God. Re;oyce we m y § S nav "f- " 0t defence is o Ur duty e „ o^ned by Te A P oL E T muft ^ i[ limitation, that the Lord be in t % ° k We t0 tIie The Third P m , The Extent. SSSS7 ]t P a »-^yTe X t, The^, Third, which is the i^ f of ^h ' Cv^^ t0 &■ ■2**!. «lmj., x ,i fm i f M FI JZ£ m y>M the word JLordalveay. , 5 A^ rf /^ ^ % &>\Zitiimit}i®$\U§> n we we.^. lament and forrow too, as our blefled Saviour lt.hn6.io- Imufeli' hath faid we ihall • and yet rejoyce ail :, and that alwayes too, as the Apoirle here faith we mould? Rc'oyce in the Lordalway : How is it pofiible that weep- , ing and rcjoycing ihould comply and agree together in one and the fame Subjed,- at one and the fame time ? Do not Contraries expel each other? Yes (Beioved) they do indeed - y but thefe are not contraries : Chriitiau Iie- joycing and Christian Mourning do weil agree together in one and the fame Subject, at one and the fame time too. Take a Similitude from a Traveller, to illuftrate this unto you. A Traveller may rejoyce to fee the Sun irifne, and yet he may be forrowful too at the very fame time, to behold fome Clouds ariiing to eclipfe his Light from him. So it is (Beloved) with Gods Children,they may rejoyce to fee the Sun of Gods Favour mining com- fortably upon them, and yet at the fame time, they may weep too, to behold fome of their cloudy fins ariiing to obfeure it. Kullns enim ]uffim 0* fan it m caret peccato, jfitg. nt€ tamen ex hoc definit ejfe jufins vel farittiu, cum affeclu teneat Sanclitatcm. There is no man fo righteous or ho- ly as to be without fin, and yet he ceafeth not to be righ- teous or holy , fo long as he arfeð Holinefs : fo $yA#g* The burning Bufli in which God appeared to Mofes, that £ xo ^ % 3.2, was not burnt up becaufe God was in it, meweth us^how Gods Church and Chofen, may both weep continually, and yet rejoyce continually too. "Weep they mud con- tinually, becaufe they are alwayes compared about with the fiery flames of Affliction: Again, rejoyce they muft continually, becaufe they are not confumed, but comforted by God in the midft of all calamities. Wehavefeen, faith S. Gregory, Clouds diffolving them- Greg, [elves into drops upon the Earth, and yet the Sun-beams re- Jplendently r e flitting* r 'ej refiment on the fame, at th? fame ^n ft ant of time. So it is with GodsChildren here on Earthy the doleful Clouds of fin,and affliction for fin,do often di- ftilChryftal mowers from their eyes, and yet the Sun of Righteouihefs fhines at the fame inftant jraoft comfortably in 1 4 XJje Bttfe of 3&ctopcmg> or, in their hearts, and caufeth them to rejoyce • witnefs Pfal.94-.19. holy David, who tells- us, that in the multitude of the forrows of his heart, Gods Comforts ftill refreshed his Soul. We will now defcend to the demonstration of this unto you in fome few Particulars. Six Caufes I have former- ly obferved (in my Sermon on the i6tb. of John, at the zoth. verfe, Printed in the Year 1643.) to move the Righteous to weep continually ^ but, lo, now I bring you twice fo many more Caufes out of Gods Storehoufe, to make them rejoyce even in the fame things alwayes. The firft caufe of their weeping is for their own fins pr I 5 ' 6 againftGod: This made David every night to water r V ' o his Couch with hi* Tears. This made Mary Magdalen weep as if fhe poured forth water, not by drops, but by M tth ~6 fl° oc k : This mac ^ e P eter w ee P bitterly • yea, and this * made S. Paul cry out heavily, Mifer ego homo, qui* me if ' 2J eripiet ? &c. Oh wretched wan that I am, who fiall deli- ver me fiom the body of this death ? Yes, blefled Saint, thou haft a Deliverer, Jefus Chrift 1 7 1 1 0U1 "L 01 ^^ he is the Propitiation for thy fins, and not for * ' * thine only, but for all the fins of all the Elefi. Rejoyce therefore in this Oh ye Righteous - y firft, Becaufe there is Q y.o condemnation to them that are in Chrifi Jefits. And Rom. o. 1. t j ien ^ f econc {ly j Becaufe you walk^not after the Fie flu but after the Spirit. Your fins are remitted, and therefore you have caufe to be chearful. If there be forrow in the contrition of fin, much more then is there joy in the re- miffion of fin. One dram of this joy out-values all the loads of the other forrow. Like men over-burdened, we feel moft comfortable eafe, when the Crofs of Chrift takes all this weight from our moulders. When fin is remit- ted, nothing can much arUid. The greatefl forrow to the heart penitent, proves the greateft joy to the heart pardoned. It is not pofTible , for joy and comfort to be there abfent, where Gods kindnefs is prefent. Can that heanbevoidof Confolation, which is inhabited by the God of Confolation ? May he who hath the Fountain and Ocean ;& Direction fo: £0iitln s Oean of Gladncfs within him, remain a dry Pit, and be utterly empty and void of gladnefs ? No, no, they who have been preffed with the burden of fin, will be much refreflied with deliverance from it. They who have been terrified with the guiltinefs of fin, and the horrible fight of Damnation, cannot chufe but be joyful a: the pardon thereof, when their Souls are lif:ed up with the hope of Salvation : As Oyl will overtop all other Li- quors, and cannot be kept under, fo will this joy over- top all other Sorrows, and cannot be fupprefied. The fecond canfe of Gods Childrens weeping here on 2. Earth, is for the fins of others. Davids Eyes guih'd pf a ! t 1 19. out with Rivers of Tears, becaufe men kept not Gods Laws. 136. And righteous Lot mourns for the ungodly converfation 2 Pet. 2. 8. of the wicked Sodomites : for he being righteous (faith S. Peter) and dwelling among them, in feeing and hearing, vexed hi* right (o as Soul from day to day, with their unlaw - fuldeeds. Yet they are to rejoyce in this alfo : Firft, Becaufe God keepeth them from committing fuch (ins as others do commit j becaufe they are preferved from rim- ing with others into the fame excefb of riot : And then, Secondly, Becaufe God will wound the hairy < fcalp of fuch 1 Pet. 4. 4. as go on ft ill in th rir wickednefs . And t he R ig ht :011s jhall PfaL 58.10. rejoyce (faith the Pfalmiil) when he feeth the vengeance. Thirdly s The Third Caufe of their weeping is for the 3 . Judgments of God upon the Land. The Prophet fere- fer. 9.1. mi ah weeps moft abundantly for this ^ Oh th.it mine head (faith he) were full of water , and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep dty and night for the flain of the Daughter of my people ! The Captivity of Babylon pr j j- 7 . marred the Mirth of jerufalem : How fall we. fing the •* Lords Song (in fuch diflrefs) in a (hange Land ? Cer- tainly, when God troubles the ftate of our Peace , he would trouble the eyes of our heads • when the Thunder (hakes the Air, the Clouds weep to dill it. Nothing is more without comfort than Darknef^, nor is there any thing more without joy than Calamity : How then (hail we rejoyce in this, when the Judgments of God area- broavl EiieSUtie tslM^nfcmg, ov : broad in the Earth ? ip; **** Beloved. Firft, Becaufe God hath hitherto preferved us from the Judgments up- on the Land- as namely, fromPlaguC, Pdtilence, Fire, and Famine, from Battel, Murder, and fudden death- pr f infomuch as we may fay with the Prophet David, A ihoufand 'have 'fallen at cm left hand, and ten thoufand at cur right hand, but it hath not C9>ne near us. Unto Gods Children there is alwayes comfort fe calamity • unto the righteous there arifeth Light in Darknels : They need not Tjal.i I2 "4- he afraid for the terrour by night, nor f err the .Arrow that Pfal. 9 1 .\$ . jifafo. yy ^y^ ^ nc j t fo en fecondly , They may re joy ce a- gain in this, that if fo be it mould pleafe God CG ll»Z them away by any fweeping Judgment, yet their Souls cannot be touched :, they are fure to be faved, and to be Z/^.16.22 carried into Abrahams Bofom. It is enough to make themrejoyce in any Judgment whatfoever happens, to Rom. 8.28. know that it ihall work together for the beft for them. 4. Fourthly, The Fourth caufe of Gods Childrens weep- ing , is for the afflictions of poor fofeph, for them that aretofled from Poft to Pillar; for them that are driven from houfe and home ^ in a word, for them that are for Lam. *\a3 Chriftsfake brought to great extremity. Mine eye caft- Art eth out Rivsrs of water (faith the Prophet Jeremy) for ths deftruclion of the Daughter of my people j yea, mine eye dr of peth without fi ay, and ceafeth not. But how lhall we rejoyce in this ? Yes, thus • Firft, Becaufe the light affli- ctions of this prefent life do caufe an eternal weight of Glory - yea, afar more excellent, and eternal weight of Glory, as the bleffed Apoftle afTures us. And then, Secondly, becaufe Sanguis 'Martyr Urn efi Semen Eccleflx, becaufe the blood of Martyrs is the feed of the Church. What is a few drops of Blood here, to the Kingdom of Jam. 1.2, Heaven hereafter ? My Brethren (faith S. fames) count it exceeding joy, when ye' fall into divers Temptations, What S. James? 'joy in trouble? joy in affli-dion ? Will the world believe you S: fames? Yes, the "world of Eleft will ^ they have proved it; they have learned this 3t direction foz ^irilj* this benefit by good experience, they have found their for- rows have been turned into joy -heavinefs might endure for a night, but joy hath come in the morning. We are not desti- tute of comfort even here in the midft of fiery trials,blefled be Col for it -, but this is nothing to that which is to be reveal- ed : The glory to come doth every way furmount the pre- fent affliction^ ;of Gods Children: and therefore in this they have caufe to re Joyce alfo. Fifthly, The Fifth caufe of Gods Childrens weeping, is for ^* the lofs of dear Friends ; thus David, we read, mourned for ~ - Jonathan ; Woe is me for thee my Brother Jonathan. Thus q « Mary, yea, and Chrift himfelf, do weep for Lazarus. And '°* ''3* how lhall we do to rejoyce in this ? Yes, thus we may, yea, **' and thus we muft rejoy ce in this : Fir ft, Becaufe they reft from their Labours : And fecondly, Becaufe they are deli- ^" vered from the Evils to come. They are happy whofe glafs is well run out : Fcelices nimiumquibm eft FiTiuna feral} a ; as the Poet moft divinely. They reft fromthofe Labours which tire us that live; and the works which we are to fol- low, follow them. And are not thefe fufficient Caufes of rejoycing in that Particular ? Sixthly, and laftly, Gods Children are to weep, becaufe 6. they are but as Pilgrims and Strangers here on earth ^ For 2 Cor. 5.2* therefore we figh (faith the Apoftle) de firing to be cloathedwith our houfe which is from hzaven. Yet they are to rejoyce in this too: Firft, Becaufe they have moft Royal Manfions Job. 14.2,3. prepared for them in heaven: And fecondly, Becaufe they are fure to be pofTefTed of them in the end. Thus you fee, Gods Children, though they be as forrowing continually, 2 Cor. 6. 10. yet are they alfo alway rejoycing. Re-oyce in the Lordai- \\\ty. Doft thou feel now in thy felf the Evidences and Pledges jiff lie. of the favour of God in Chrift Jefus ? Oh it is good for thee to rejoyce in them ! The Gofpel is glad tidings of joy, yea, Luke 2.1c. of great joy to all Believers. Doft thou find thy felf fad, Allien and difcontented ? Oh check and chide thy felf for thy unchearfulnefs: Take the Prophet David for thy Pattern, Pfal.4.2^5, who no lefs than three times in two ihort PfaLr.s together, cr li» rebukes himfelf for this very thing. Why art thou cajt down, Pf. 43 . 5. D Oh 1 8 x$e State of IRejopring, or, OhmySci. Ufqmtted within me. ? Neglect not rhofe divine Confolations that have been propounded to thee. Seir up and provoke thy felfto this holy Duty in the lob 15. ii, cxtcntoi it - y & yce in the Lord alwav. That which £//- 12+ fhizi metime faid to fob, , when he would not be comfort- ed by God, nor by his Counfel, let me apply to thedifcon- fokie, dejected and drooping Soul : Are the Collations of Godfniall with thee ? Is this thing ft range unto thee? Why doth thine heart a take thee away ? and what do thine ey:s mean ? Seem the Confolations of God [mall unto thee . ? Thou haft heard twice fo many Caufes of rejoycing, as there is of forrowing, in the fame Particulars ; why then takeft thou no more joy in God ? why then takeil thou no more comfort inChriit? why doll thou not rejoyce in the Lord alway ? Certainly, beloved, the true reafon why we rejoyce not e~ nough, is, becaufe we re not enough Chriftians. Well, would you now for the future praclife this Apofto- lical precept of rejoycing in the Lord alway ? then obferve, Means 1. ^ P ra 3» ^ ie ^ four Means following. Fir ft, Get you a true juftifying Faith 5 get you a good affurance of Salvation ; this is a fure way to keep the heart chearful. The Light of Gods countenance favourably ihining upon us through Chrift, adds more comfort, than when our Corn, and Wine, Tjal\. 0,7. anc | Qj] j 5 increafed. The joy that growetti»from this ground, 1 let. 1. 0. is un/peaka-hle and glorious. This is able to make a man re- joyce, when he hath never fo many means to make him hea- Row.'S'i ,3- V y. f or y e i n g jptftiped by Faith, we have peace with God through Jefos Chrift our Lord : neither that only, but we alfo rejoyce in tribulation, This it was that made Paul and Silas slft.16.25. rejoyce and fing in Prifon. True Faith gives a man many found grounds of comfort ^ it gives a man many Reafons of *• folid rejoycing : For, firft, It affures him of the pardon of his fins, and when he once knows that, no affii&ion need Matth .9,2. trouble him, Son, be of good com fort , thy fins are forgiven th:z, faith Chiilr to the fick of the Palfie : Thy fins which were the caufe of thy Sicknefs, they are forgiven, therefore be of goodchear. 2. Secondly, He that hath true Faith, knows that he (hall ne- . ver lofe the favour of God, after he hath once obtained.it, how 2i 3Dircctton fo? *Jt3ivtl> 19 how many fignes foever of Gods anger may be upon him ; and is noa this a notable ground of rejoycing , when a man is by Faith perfwaded, that neither Life, nor Death, nor Rom.2>.'$%> Principalities , nor Towers, nor things frefent, nor 'things to 39. come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other Creature, f mil be a- bleto fepar ate him from the Love of God which is in Chriftjc- fins our Lord- Ihirdly, He that hath true Faith, knows God will have 3> a tender refped: to his weaknefs in whatfoever af- fliction he fhall lay upon him, that it fhall not exceed his j> m $,26. ftrength ; God will be theftrength of his Spirit ; God will fupporc and enable him to bear it, that he faint not under it. God is faithful, faith the Apoftle, and mil not fuffer youtobe iCor. 10.13 tempted above that you are able ^ but will even give the iffue with the t. .ion , that ye may be able to bear it. fourthly, He that hath true Faith, is afiured that whatfo- 4. ever affliction God layeth upon him, it (hall in the end tend to his good, and to the furtherance of his. Salvation. Alfo we know that all things work^ together for the be ft unto them ^070.8.28. that love God, even to them that are called according to hispur- pofe. So S . Paul. Fifthly, He that hath true faith, knows the end will pay 5. for all , and that after a while all tears ihal! be wiped from his eyes, and he fhall enjoy unfpeakable comfort. / jhould Tfal.2J.il* ha ve fain ted , faith David, except I had be lieved to fee the good- nefs of the Lord in the Land of the living. And this of the firft Means of continual rejoycing : If you would rejoyce in the Lord alway , you muft then get you a true juftifying Faith, a good afluranceof yourfalvation. Secondly, A fecond Means to rejeyce alway, is to rake Means 2. care to keep a good Confcience. That man mar in all things is careful to pleafe God, and to keep Ms Ccrfeience | are, that he fall not into any known and gi ievous fin, fhall ever have a quiet and chearful heart ^ he -may rejoyce alwayes : Our rejoycing is this, faith S. Paul, e. \ the tefl mtony of our 2 Cor. 1.12. Confcience, that in fimflici ty and godly durenefs, w h tvt b d our converfation in the world. This ■* . i it e ake a m< c h ea t iui at all times, not in profperity only, but even inadverfity alfo ; and therefore Solomon calls it a continual Feast And p rQt 15,15. D 2 in J a o Xl)t 3&ule of 3Rcjopcmg> or , -- . 6 in this refped the Apoflle calleth Righteoufnefs (a Breftplate) ±,vD. c. 14. t » nat ^ujefenj t h e heart even in the evil day. Would you therefore have a chearful heart ? would you be comfortable, andrejoyce always, even in affliction, in the time of your ficknefs, and at the hour of your death? have a care then of a good Conference; take heed of known fins. That man only that in all things is careful to pleafe God, and to keep his Confcience pure, that he fall not into any known and grievous fin, ihall have a quiet and chearful heart j he only may rejoyce alwayes. "Thirdly, The third Means to make us rejoyce alway, is M ns 3 to make the Lord our Treafure, and not any earthly thing. . If a man do not overvalue thefe earthly Comforts, as name- ly, Husbands, Wives, Friends, Children, Heakh,Weakh, Liberty, Peace, err. nor account them his chief treafure, but elteem them as they are indeed, even tranfitory Comforts ; and account the Lord, and his Favour and Grace his chief Treafure : If a roan fti nor his heart on thefe things, but love them only in the Lord, then Ihall he not be oppreilcd wi:h immoderate forrow fcr them, when God fball take them a- way : Such a man may rejoyce rtiil ; whereas he that ma- keth thefe worldly things his chief Treafure, and fetteth his heart upon them, he cannot rejoyce alway ; he muft needs be opprefled with forrow, when he ihall be deprived of them. You may fee it in the example of Ahzb, who, when he could not get Naboths Vineyard, his fpirit was exceedingfad, he 1 Kings 2 1 . cou }j not cat his Bread : And why was he fo vexed ? Becaufe S ^ hisPleaiure was his Treafure, he loved Naboths Vineyard too well ; it was even a death to him to be kept from it. To fuch then as have no felicity but in thefe earthly things, as namely^ in their Wealth, in their Belly-chear, in their merry Company, in their Paftimes and Sports, in their brave Ap- parel, in their Credit and Favour with men, and the like : To fuch as love thefe things more then God, to all fuch as arTe& them and care for them more than they do for God Lnfo 21. 6, an d h* s Grace, I may fay as our bielTed Saviour faid in ano- ther cafe, Are thefe the things that you look upon? Have you no better Comforts than thefe? Alas, how woful will your caie be when you muil part with theie things ? Con- sider 31 E>ttectionfo?*J!Btttft. a'« fider of that which /ob faith, Wfott /? 2l - fon which Chrift there renders; for where your treafure is, tbert will your heart be alfo. If you make earthly things your treafure, you can neither truly rejoyce, nor alway rejoyce • you will either immoderately joy in them when you have them,or elfe immoderately grieve for them, when you fhall come to want them. To take ycur thoughts therefore off from thefe things, and to fet them right where they mould be, fet them on Gods Grace and Favour, that is a fpecial means to make you rejoyce alway. And to* this end, that you may the better be enabled to make God and his Grace your Treafure, and not any earthly thing, Confider, Fir ft, That thefe things are not your proper goods, but caft more plentifully on Reprobates than on Gods Children • and therefore our Saviour calleth external goods another T , r mans goods, becaufe we are but Stewards of them, and mult u ^ leave them j but Gods Favour and Grace are our peculiar portion ; fpiritual goods are our own ; they fhall never be taken away. The Fear of the Lord is clean, and endureth pr / JO n forever, faith the Pfal milt. '* ' ™'" Secondly, Confider alfo, that thefe earthly things are vain, and can yield us no hope, no comfort, nor no joy when we fhall RsLrA in need : Riches avail not in the day of wrath, faith p SoUrkon ; but the fenfeof Gods Favour and Grace doth • for ' thatwi I yield us comfort and unfpeakable joy, even in the greated: affliction. If therefore you would rejoyce alway, take heed that you overvalue not thefe earthly Comforts, but make God, his Grace and favour your chiefefl Treafure. y and laftly, The fourth and laft Means which T fhaii prefcribe you to make you rejoyce alway, is to be Mtans% rightly perfwaded of our Liberty in the ufe of the outward com- a a %ty &ult Of %t forcing, or > comforts of this life ; as namely, good diet, good company, &c Let no-man fay , that this means might well be fpared, feeing mod men are apt to (tumble at it. No, for though this age be (I confcf*) a fecure age, and too much fet upon jollity and carnal Mirth , yet mult I prefcribe this Means to fuch as know themfelves to be reconciled to God in jefus Chrift. Many good fouls there are that are apt to give great advantage to Satan, in the anguiih of their Confcience, by perfwading themfelves, they ihould much offend God, if they mould give liberty to themfelves to enjoy the Creatures of God for their delight ^ if they mould keep company, or be merry at any time. Such as thefe are, have need of this Inftru&ion ; to fuch as thefe are, I fpeak, and fay , that a liberal ufe of the outward Comforts of this life, is a good and lawful Means to make them chearful ; provided alwayes that they exceed not the bounds of Sobriety. They that ufe thefe things without fobriety, and arfed them too much, they (hall never receive good by them. It is made the note VC I ia. : a. °^ a man t ^ at ma ^ never E° t0 heaven, to lift up his mind unto j a . 4-3-. van j t y^ jtiseafie for a man to furfeit, and take too much V- i< i6 °^ tn ^ e things. If thou have found Honey, faith Solomon, ^ ' e,it that that is fuffcient for thee, les~t thou be aver -full, and vo- mit it. Of the comfort and refrefhing that many take FroviA.1% * n t ^ ie ^" e tnm 8 s ^ tnat ma y ^e &id, which Solomon likewife faith, that the end of that mirth is heavinefs. Yet cer- tainly there is great force in thefe things being rightly ufed, to keep the heart from being overcome with fadnefs, -and to make it chearful. Thus you have had the Duty ofRejoy- cing, the Limitation of it (in the Lord) and the Extent of italfo, in the word (alway) difcufs'd unto you: I come now in the lalt place to the fourth and laft Particular obfer- ved in my Text, which is the Ingemination of this Duty of Re joy cing, in thefe words, And again I fay ', Rejoyce. 'The Fourth Fart. What need, may fome men fay, is there of this Ingemina- ^tion? What will the Apoftle himfelf tautologize? Why fhould fo ihort a Precept have fo fudden an Iteration ? Solo- mon (Beloved) in the laft of his Ecclefiafres, makes my An- fwer 2i IDirtction to; {pctl> 2 3 fwerfor me, where he faith, That the words of the vp are p -7 as Goads and Nails f-ftned by th: Mafitrs of ttie Ajj As Goad? to prick us forward to our Duty, a:.d as Nails to keep us within our compafs. The Goad, y;u know, ferves - to quicken the dull Oxe, to make him mend his pace ; So likewife doth our Apoftles Ingemination here in our Text, ferve to quicken us, to rouze us from our drowfie duinefs, to a willing chearfulnefs infervrag God ail the tenour of our lives. Let us therefore ferve the Lord with gladnefs, non in amaritudine nfurmurationis, fed in ucunditate dilctlionis, as S. Auguftine fweetly on the place : Elfe Gods plagues ihall be evident figns, that he is offended with us, whofe Curfes (hall come upon us, purfue us, and overtake us, till we be deitroyed , and that, becaufe we ferved not the Lord with n ~ gladnefs, as Mofes tells Gods People in Deuteronomy. * c ' " ' Re'oyce in the Lord ahvay, and again I fay. Re Joyce, n-j>4- A7 m SJpakl by doubling of this Duty of Rejoycing, firives to ftrike the Nail to the head, as we commonly fay in our En- gl iih Proverb : He endeavoureth to prefs the Duty home to the Confcience : A good pattern for us that are Minifters,to follow and imitate. Obf. Every faithful Mini ft er ought after 5. Pauls exam- fie, to endeavour to bring Gods Word ho we to the Confcience s of Obf. his Hearers. We mult not handle the Word of God de- ceitfully; but in declaration of the Truth approve ourfelves 2 Cor .4. 2. to every mans Confcience in the fight of God. There is (Be- loved) as much need (though many perhaps may think it fuperiluous) of Application and of prefling Duties home to the ConfJences of our Hearers, as there was here ofS. Pauls Jngemination. Oh -J-erufalem, ferttfalem, faith our Saviour ^^.23.37 Chrift, thoM.tlMtkjJleft the Prophets, and ft on est them that are fent unto thee! Why what? Would not one Jerufale-n have ferved ttie turn here? No, no^ Beloved, our Saviour himfelf prefTeth Jernfalew moit pathetically ; he comes as near the quick as he could, to teach us this very duty of bringing the Word of God as clofe as we can to the Confciences of our Hearers. And this we are to do for thefe three Reafons following : Firft, Propter ctcitatem Jntelletlas, becaufe of the blindnefs R* J;- of 24 Xlje&ttleof liiqopcmg, or of our underftandings. Secondly , Propter fobilitatew M.- >ria ^ becaufe of the flipperinefs of our Memories. And thirdly, propter perverfitatem Volant at u/n ^ becaufe of the per- verlity of our Wills and Affeftions. And firft, we are to bring the Word of God as clofe as we can to the Confciences of our Hearers, propter c&citatem htelktlus, becaufe of the blindnefs of our Underftandings : For although we are Eagle-ey'd in things belonging to the world, yet are we all by nature,, I exclude none, as blind f4r.iO.46 as Beetles, even as blind as Bartim&us, in things pertaining to our everlaftingfalvation. The Natural man perceiveth not 1 Co/'. 2.14* thethingsth.it are of God, neither indeed can he, faith the A- pofile, becaufe they arefpiritaally difcerned. We have there- fore need of Ingemination, we have need of Application, we ha\ e need of Line upon Line, and Precept upon Precept. & 2. Secondly, We have need of this inculcation, this double commanding of Duty, propter labilitatem Memorial., in regard of the flipperinefs of our Memories ; we are very forgetful, no fooner is a good admonition in at one ear, but inftantly it is out at another, unlefs it be brought home unto the Con- ference, that, that being awakened, may make us revolve it in our minds. Thirdly and laltly, There is great need that Gods Word ^•3- mould be preffed home to the Confciences of our hearers, propter perverfitatem Volant at am, becaufe of the perverfenefs of our wills and affeftions, which are naturally averfe from Aug. God and Goodnefs. Vainer at a, faaciata, vex at a, immoper- dita efl 3 vera confejfione, nonfalfa defenfwne opus habet , faith S. Aug. Preaching, of all Profeffrons, hath the leafthope to prevail, becaufe it deals with the perverfe will of man, which hath naturally no difpofition to goodnefs : but rather indeed an oppoiition againft it ; an averfenefs from good, and a perverfenefs in evil. And yet to work this will to goodnefs, is our Office ; and the bell: way to do this, is to ingeminate, to reiterate, and double our Exhortations to Christian Duties unto you ; for put cafe you fhould remem- ber fome good inftruAions from Gods word, yet if the will be not fubjugated again and again, by Ingemination, and bypreffing Application of them to it felf, it will queilion- lefs % snrettton fo? ^\xt\y. » 5 lefs break out with the Jews into a Nolttmsu obedire, We will not have this man to rule over ns y we will not obey. Co-wela Luke 19.14 us breaks his bonds in [under, and cafi away hi* Cords f? om us. pfai. 2.3. A Word now of Application, and fo an end : Hath God jioplic. indeed fet his Minifters like Trum/ets and Drums to call you to your Arms, to ftiryouup to Chriftian Duties? O then Heb. 13.22* dear Chriftians, do you fuffer the words of Exhortati- on. Let it not be tedious nor irkfom to you to be called up- on again and again to the pra&iie of any Chriftian Duty. The beft in Gods Team (land in need of a pricking forward ; ' -.. there are none living but have need of a Memento. It is our " ln: ' l ' Office to give you the Alarm ; be it your care to maintain the Battel. Take heed of kicking and flinging when you are fpurred ; be not like an over- charged Cannon, which ei- ther burfts,or mifchievoufly recoils againft the Gunner, when he puts the Match unto it : No, no, be contented to hear of your Duty, and be careful to put it in pra&ife too : Remem- ber to whom the Euge bone Serve belongs at the great day •, not to the idle and fluggifli perfon, but to the faithful, dili- -Matth.2f. gent and chearfui Ser va nt . 2l% And now to draw to a Conclufion, and to wind up all in a word ; Call to mind dear Chriftians, the Duty en joyned you here by the Apoftle 5 look to its Limitation ^ confider its Extenfion ^ and fo ruminate upon its Ingemination, that you take up the Prophet Habak&tks Refolution, / will re'oyce in Hab. l<\%. the Lord, I will joy in the God of my Salvation. And thus I leave you with this Rule of Rejoycing ; which if you well obferve here, will bring you to the fulnefs of joy hereafter, even to his prefence at whofe right hand there are pleafures for evermore .- To which fulnels of joy, and never fading pleafures, he in his good time bring us, who hath fo dearly bought us, even Jefus Chrift the righteous •, to whom with thee O Father, and thy blefled Spirit, be afcribed, as is mod due, all Honour and Glory, Power and DominioB,Might andMajefty, now and for ever, A«nen. FINIS. 7* ■-:>; \-^f£-\;..-.,- ow m m ■ ■••-'■ *8» ftgggg HSi - ■ ■■;.-•- - sb >•■ asp* SBilll B«8 • '■ Q315SB283 '■-,' j" '.■■'-•■ '■.'■>,■■'*■■■> JqSBShSSL HHB ,- r. OH SOB