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T H E 
 
 CROOK IN THE LOT: 
 
 O R, T H E 
 
 Sovereignty andJVifdom of God ^ 
 
 IN THE 
 
 Afflidions of Men, Difplayed; w 
 
 Together with 
 A Chiiftian Deportment under them. 
 
 Being the Substance of ^ ^ 
 
 SEVERAL SERMONS , V 
 
 Eccl. vii. 13. Prov. xvi. 19. and i Pet. v. 6.1 ^ 
 By the Reverend and Learned ^ 
 
 Mr THOMAS B O S T O N,^"* 
 ' Late Mimaer of the Gofpel at EttRI CK. ^ ■ 
 
 Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but theLird T 
 delivereth him out of them all. Pfal. xxxiv. 19, 
 
 To ^^li^h are added, "X ^V* 
 
 Some SERMONS on the Nature of Church-Cf'im^ _ 
 7nunion^it:Om. 1 Cor. x. 17. 
 
 L O N D O N?^ 
 
 PRIKTFI* FeRTH£300KSri.LEIlS IK TOWN AK'» COUNT XT 
 
 A-^fo, 179!. 
 
ADVERTISEMENT, 
 
 T 
 
 HE Rtfverefrrl Mr Thomas Boston is al- 
 ready fo loell known in the Chrijiian Churchy 
 by his many elah^jrate, judicious, and ufeful 
 ".writings^ that t^i fay any thing either in com' 
 mcndati'tn of hir/iy or any of his ptrformances, "jjouU 
 he altogether fiipcrfluoUs, Let it fuffice to fay y that 
 this valuable Treatife, nozi) again offered to the Pub- 
 lic, hath already gone through a number of ini- 
 prejfojis^ and defervedly well rclifned ; and has been 
 extremely ufefuly efpecially to all thofe vjho i?jve 
 laboured under affltdlion. 
 
 We ere very certain it "jjas among his'^ laj? vs'jrks 
 in compoftion, ijuhen he had falUn into a declining 
 Ji ate of health"* ; and among the U^f} pieces he had 
 begun to revife and prepare frr the prejs, with his 
 (Tfun hand, being ivarmlyfclicited thereto, as he him- 
 felf acquaints us, in hir Alemoirs, (p. 506) by a 
 Utter he received from his very intimate friend, Mr 
 Boggy dated Nvv. i^th^ I7?i- 
 
 Js the Lord had made thefe fuhjt&s ufeful to his 
 awn foul, during the compoftion cf them, for the 
 benefit of his own flock, in his ajflitled ft ate ; he the 
 more readily complied with the requefl of puhlifJ:ing 
 them : and when he had any intervals of his ircuhle, 
 began to look over his notes for publication, and h^d 
 -made fome progrej's in the work ; hut got it not com- 
 pletely fnifhed, being prevented hy_ his growing in- 
 difpojition, and was really re-noved by death, ca 
 May iphy I73i. 
 
 What remained was tranfcribed, after his death by 
 another hand; and both it and the Sermons C7Z Church 
 Comm\xmor\, were frft puhlifhed in the year 1777, 
 
 * In the year 173^ and I73»> as we learn from his Memoirs, 
 p. 437, 482, and 4«7' 
 
 A % 
 
[ iv ] 
 
 u'/V/? the fcAlruing recommetidatory Preface, by three 
 of his dear friends who fuhfcr'ibe it* 
 
 Though they acquaijit uf, that the Crook in the 
 Lot if/?J among ft the laft fubjefts the Jut her hat:- 
 Med, and cnnongj} his hft loorks with the pen ; yet 
 they do not tell us hoiu fur he himfelf reiiifed that 
 performance^ and where they began. However^ the 
 intelligent readers of Mr Boflon's different traP.s, 
 prepared for the preff, and publifhed by himfelf in 
 his life-time, will be at no lofs to perceive how far 
 he proceeded in revifing this piece, by his pointing out 
 ai uj'ual, the emphatical words and phrafes in Italic 
 charafiers ; which, in the fif^fh edition of the book, 
 we fee hus only been do7ie in the firfl dodrinc. 
 
 In order to make the whole of this ijnprejfoii as 
 uniform as poffible, an attempt has been made to point 
 out the emphafis throughout the whole. The edition 
 nowofferedto the Public, is carefully corrected by the 
 frfi original one, and freed of fever al i>:aceu'-::,i:s 
 that had crept intoforiie late imprejfc-u. 
 
 L O N D O N, ? 
 
 March 29. jy-ll. J) 
 
THE 
 
 PRE F A C E 
 
 MR Thomas Boston, the youngefl of fevew 
 children, born 1676, of creditable religious 
 parents, in the to%vn of Dunfe, where they had fomc 
 heritage; he was licenfed to preach 1697; ordained 
 miniiier at Simprin* 1699; married 1700, to Cathe- 
 rine Bi'own, of good extrad, in the parilh of Culrofs ; 
 a gentlewoman of fmgular wifdom, and many rare 
 endowments, (by whc/n ht had a good many children, 
 of whomtwofons f, and two daughters furvive them); 
 tranfpofted to Ettrick :}: 1707; died 1732, near five 
 years before his fpoufe J, in the 56th year of 1 is agv 
 He was of a ftature above the middle ilze, of a ve- 
 nerable amiable afpeft, witli his own hair originally 
 black, of a flrcng and fruitful genius, of a lively imagi- 
 nation, (fuch as affords what is called ready ^jo'it^ 
 which, initead of cultivating, he laid und^ a fevere 
 reflraint) of tender affeclions, a clear and folid judge- 
 ment ; his temper candid, -modeilj cautious, benevo- 
 lent, obliging, and courteous ; had a natural averfion 
 
 * The fmallefl: charge of a country parifh perhaps in Scat' 
 land, not being quite ninety examinable perfons in his time. 
 
 f One fucceeded his father, in name, office, and charge. 
 
 \ One of the remoteft and wildeft places in the loijth of Skot* 
 land. 
 
 §. Among her ether uncommon excellercies, fl^.e was eminent 
 for her exempUry bearing of afiiicllon, under whicii fhe was 
 bowed down, well nigh as long as tbaC daoghter of Abraham, 
 mentioned in Luke xiii. 11. 
 
 . ^'^^m 
 
vi PREFACE. 
 
 to any thing rack or uncivil in words cr behaviour, 
 and a delicate feeling in cafe of meeting with ought of 
 that fort ; could be heavy with, and fevere in his 
 words, when there was juft oceafion, or he judged the 
 fame necefiary. 
 
 He was early called by divinp grace ; all along 
 afterwards exercifcd unto godlinefs ; walked indeed 
 with God in all his v/ays ; daily acknowledging him ; 
 frequent in folemn extraordinary applications to 
 heaven (oiz. upon every new emergent of duty, diffi- 
 culty, or trial) followed with evident, comfortable, and 
 confirming tetlimonies of divine acceptance and audi- 
 ence ; a diligent judicious obferver, recorder, and 
 improver of the difpenfations of divine providence, in 
 connection with the word, his own frame and walk, 
 and confequently of great experience in religion: He 
 was accurately and exter/ively regardful of the divine 
 law, in all m.anner of life and converfation, (even in 
 rhings thatefcape the notice of the moft part ofChrif- 
 dans) of a tender confcience, carefully watching againft 
 and avoiding the appearance of evil ; compaliionate 
 nnd fympathizing with the diibreffed ; charitable to the 
 i^edy, (to the degree of religioully fettir* apart the 
 cnrh of his wcrlijy fubilance yearly for tiieir fupply) 
 dutiful hulband, an indulgent father, a fnicere, a 
 fithful, and an aife^lionate. friend ; to which he had a 
 ; Articular call; in liis temper, which proved a rich 
 bieiiing to thcni v.'ho were favoured . with his friend- 
 Ihip. 
 
 He was a conUderable fcholar in all the parts of 
 t 'icolagical learning, and excelled in fom.e of them. 
 \Vhat lie was for a humanift, (even towards the latter 
 nd of his. days) liis tranilaticn of his own work, on 
 'le Hebrew accentuation, into good Roman Latin, 
 . ill abundantly, teftify : He was well feen in the 
 '/reek; and for the (kill he attained in the Hebrew, 
 .=c will, v»e are fatisiied, in ages to come, be admired, 
 s*:. 1 liavl in honour by the learned world; efpecially 
 
P R E F A C E. vii 
 
 when it is unJerllood under what diiadvarstages, in 
 what obfcurity and feciufion from learned ailifiances, 
 the work was compofed; and when it is confidered 
 how far, notwithftanding, he has outUripped all that 
 went before liim in that lludy, namely, of the Hebrew 
 accentuation. He underftood the French ; and for 
 the fake of comparing tranilatioFiS, could read the 
 Dutch Bible. There were few pieces of learmng 
 that he had not fonie good tafte of; but all his know- 
 ledge behoved to be otherwife difcovered than by his 
 proielling of it. He was a hard ftudent, of indefatiga- 
 ble application ; fo that whatever he was once hearti- 
 ly engaged in, he knew not to quit, till, by help from 
 heaven, and inceflant labour, he got through it. He 
 had a great knowledge and underflanding of hum.an 
 nature, of the moll: proper methods of addreifmg it, 
 and of the moft likely handles for catching liold 
 of it. 
 
 He had an admirable talent at drawing a paper, 
 which made a ftatefman *, a very able judge, fay, 
 (when Mr Bofton was clerk of the fynod of JMerie 
 and Tiviotdale) that he was the bell clerk he had ever 
 known in any court, civil or ecclefiaftical. An ad- - 
 mirer of other men's parts and gifts, liberally giving 
 them their due praife, even though in fome things they 
 differed from him ; far from cenforious, affuming, or 
 detraclinir. 
 
 As a minifter he had on his fpirit a deep and high 
 fenfe of divine things ; was mighty in the fcriptures, 
 in his acquaintance with the letter, with the fpirit, 
 and feri'e of them, in happily applying and accommo- 
 dating them, for explaining and illuftrating the fubjea. 
 His knowledge and infight into the myfter^'' of Chriil 
 was great, though a humbling fenfe of his want of it 
 was like to Ipve quite funk and laid him by, after he 
 begun to preach. He had a peculiar talent for going 
 
 • Mr Baillie of Jcrvifwood; 
 
vlii PREFACE. 
 
 deep into the myfteries of the gofpel ; and at the fame- 
 time, making them plain, making intelligible their con- 
 nection with, and influence upon gofpel holinefs ; not- 
 able inftances of which may be feen in liis moid valu- 
 able treatife of the Covenant, and in his ferraons of 
 Chrift in the form of a fervant. 
 
 Hi* invention was rich, but judicioufly bounded ; his 
 thoughts were always juft, and often nev/ ; his ex- 
 preiiions proper and pure; his illuftrations and fimilies 
 often furprifmg ; his method natural and clear ; his 
 deliverv grave and graceful, with an air of earneftnefs, 
 meeknefs, affarance, and authority, tempered together. 
 No wonder his miniftrations in holy tilings were ail of 
 thein dear and precious to the faints. 
 
 He was fixed and eftabliflied, upon folid and ratio- 
 nal grounds, in the reformation principles, in oppofi- 
 tion to papery, prelacy, fuperftition, and perfecution ; 
 hi was pleafant and lively in converfation, but al- 
 ways with a decorum to his characler ; quite free of 
 that fournefs of temper, oi ^yct?//i«7 rigidity, that ge- 
 nerally poilefies men of a retired life. 
 
 He led and watched with diligence the flock over 
 which the Holy Ghoft made him o^'erfeer ; and 
 nDtwithftanding his eager purfuit of that ftudy, vrhich 
 was his delight, he abated nothing of his prepara- 
 tion for the Sabbath, nor of his work abroad in the 
 parilli ; nor di i he fo much as ufe the lliort-hand, 
 whereof he was maitcr, but always wrote out his 
 fermons fair, and generally as full as he preached 
 them ; far from ferving the Lord wdth that whjch coil 
 him nothing. It was his delight to fpend and be 
 Ipent in the fervice of tlie gofpel , was a faithful, and 
 at the fame time a prudent reprover of ftn ; was en- 
 dued with a rich treafure ofChriftian wifdom and pm- 
 dence, without crait or guile, whereby lie was exceed- 
 ing ferviceable in judicatories, and excellently f:tted. 
 for counfel in intricate cafes. 
 
PREFACE. ix 
 
 Zeal and knowledge were in him united to a pitch 
 rarely to be met with ; had a joint concern for purity 
 and peace in the church ; no man more zealous for 
 the former, and at the fame time more lludious of the 
 latter, having obferved and felt fo much of the mif- 
 chief of divifion and feparation. He was exceeding 
 cautious and fcrupulous of any thing new or unprece- 
 dented, until he vv'as thoroughly fatisfied of its neceiTity 
 and grounds. 
 
 It was his fettled mind, that fclidly and ftrongly to 
 eflablifli'tlie truth, was, in many cafes, the bell:, the. 
 fliorteft, and the moft euedual way to conilite error, 
 without irritating and inflaming the paflions of men, to 
 their own and to thetruth's prejudice : therefore, in his 
 expUcation and vindication ot the Proteilant doi^a'ine, 
 ^ in a paroxifm C[uare]led and condemned in a certain book, 
 he anfv/ered all and every body, but took not ice ex- 
 prefsly of no body*. He obeyed the voice, i 'Fiiri. vi. 
 II. But tkou, 7nan of Cad, flee thefe things : Being 
 in an uncommon degree dead to the world f Ending, 
 fays he, in the a.ccuuiu of his life, the bufmefs oi it 
 enfnaring to my mind, I \i?A .neither heart nor }:and 
 for it. On all which accourits he was much reipeifted 
 and regarded, by not only hi->. brethren, that diHea^ed 
 [ from him, but generally by all forts of men. 
 
 To conclude ; be was a fcribe lingularly inftruOed 
 
 uritothe kingdom ; — happy in finding out acceptable 
 
 . words ;— — a v\-orkm-an tlmt needed not be ailiam.ed, 
 
 ,- rightly dividing the word of truth; — a burning and a 
 
 f fhinlng light. The righteous Jhall be had ii^ evtrlajt- 
 
 hig remtiyih ranee, 
 
 r hough a Ikilful hand might, in fewer words, have 
 
 v'. rrr.vn ifn characler to much better purpoie, there 
 
 ■ ' no parLirility by overdoing in what is faid, if inti- 
 
 ., mate friendihip lor many \ears, and the account of 
 
 ; his own Ide, done by himfeif, are allowed for conipe- 
 
 * Alluding to his notes on the Marrow of Mcdrrn Divinity. 
 
X P Pv E F A C E. 
 
 tent evidences : But the hearing him preach one fer- 
 mon would have faid fomething that cannot be faid 
 n^\^'. 
 
 His removal, in the jun£lure v\'herein he was taken 
 away, fome are iatisiieLl, had, on feveral accounts, 
 more of the divine anger in it with reipeil to this 
 church, than is commoiily apprehended. 
 
 It might have been mo^re edifying, had there been 
 room for it here, to have heard of him in his own 
 words, from the general account of liis life, by hira axl- 
 dreffed to his children: Out of which we ihall, with 
 their leave, fLibjoin only a few touches towards the 
 clofe of it, as follows : 
 
 " Thus alio I was much addicled to peace, and 
 " averfe from controverfy; though once engaged 
 " therein, I was fet to go through with it *. I liad 
 '• no great difficulty to retain a due horiour and 
 '' charity for my brethren, diiFering from me in opinion 
 " and pra61icc : But then I was in no great hazard 
 «-*■ neither of being iwayed by them to depart from wliat 
 " I judged truth or duty. Withal, it was eafy to 
 ^' me to yield to them in things wherein I found not 
 " myfelf in confcieiice bound up. Whatever pre- 
 i' cipitant fieps I have made in t];e courfe of my life, 
 ''<■ wliich I defire to be humbled for, raihneis in con- 
 '* dud was not my weak fiie. But Unce .the Lord, 
 '4 by his grace, brought me to confider things, it was 
 '-'■ much my exercife to difcern fm and duty in parii- 
 *^ cular cafes, being afraid to venture on things, until 
 ^<- I lliould fee m.yfelf called thereto : but when the 
 *' matter was cleared to me, I generally iUick fall by 
 " it, being as much afraid to defert tlie way wliich 
 '■'■ I took to be pointed out to me. I never had the 
 *'<- art of making rich., nor could I ever heartily ap-. 
 '■'- ply :.nyicif to the managing ^of fecular aflairs : c- 
 ' ' vcn the fecular way of managing the dilciplinc of 
 
 * The CoiUroverfy relative to the Marrow Do<^iint. 
 
PREFACE. x'l 
 
 *' the church was fo unacceptable to me, that I had 
 *^ no heart to dip in the public church management. 
 *' "What appearances I made, at any time, in thefe 
 " matters, were not readily in that way." He con- 
 cludes : 
 
 " And thus have I given fome account of the days 
 " of my vanity. — Upon the whole, I blefs my God, 
 *' in Jefus, that ever he made me a Chriflian, and 
 '^ took an early dealing v/ith my foul ; tUat ever he 
 '' made me a minifler of the gofpel, and gave me fome 
 " infight into the doctrine of his grace ; and that ever 
 '^ he gave me the bleft Bible, and brought me ac- 
 *^ quainted with the originals, and efpecially with the 
 *-'• Hebrew text. The world hath long been a ftep- 
 *■'■ dame to me ; and whatfoever I would have at- 
 tempted to nePtle in it, there was a thorn of un- 
 eafmefs laid for me. Man is born'crynng, lives 
 complaining, and dies difappointed h'om that quar- 
 ter. ^11 is vanity and vexation offpirit, J havs 
 -waited for thy Jalvation, Lord.'''' 
 Habitual unreconciiednefs to the crofs, and a pal- 
 pable deficiency in many of the duties incumbent on 
 us, as members of the body of Chrift, mightily mar 
 our Chriftian comfort, our edification, cur uiefulnefs : 
 And,infiead of adorning, they caR a dark fliade on our 
 holy profeilion. For remedy in both cafes, the Lord 
 in his kind providence, is fending us frefli aiTiftance in 
 the two following treatifes. Both the fubjecis are fet 
 in a new and in an engaging light. It is not amifs 
 tiiat the reader fiiculd know, that the former, namely, 
 that of the Crook in one^s J ot^ was among the lafl 
 fubjcds the bkfled author handled ; and that the re- 
 viling of it fo far, for he got not through his notes, v.-as 
 
xli PREFACE. 
 
 amongft his lafl works with the pen f. Wc fliall 
 leave it to exercife the reader's attention how far he 
 himfelf revifed ; and where we have only his notes as 
 he preached them. May the fame divine bleffing, 
 which the author often and earneftly fought to ac- 
 company ought of his that was, or 'iliould be called 
 forth for the fervice of the churclygo. along withthefe 
 treatifes that here follow. 
 
 Alex. Golden, 
 Gab. Wi l so n. 
 H. Davidson. 
 
 t The Prefacers of the firft edition of this excellent Trac% 
 publiflied along with it, fome Sermons on the Nature of Church" 
 Communis?: ; but it is only the Crook in the Loty the Authoi's 
 laft genuine work, which has proved fo favory to many in di- 
 ftrefs.— However, at the defire of fome, we have annexed the 
 Sermons on Church-CifKtnunion to tbis e<!ition of that valuable 
 piece, as they have been generally publiilied together, though 
 we dropt them in the laft iropreHioa we printed o^ it. 
 
THE 
 
 Sovereigntj and Wifdom of Gdd, 
 
 IN THE 
 
 Affliftions of Men, Difj^layed 
 
 EccLES. vii. 13. 
 
 Confider the "djork ^fGod: For lijho can make that 
 Jrraighi -vjhich he hath made crooked.^ 
 
 A JUST view of afflicling incidents is altogether 
 neceffaiy to p. Cliriftian deportment - under 
 tlism: And that view is to be obtained only by 
 laith, not by fenfe. For, it is the light of the iv or d 
 alone that reprefents them jtifdy, difcovering in 
 them the work of God, and confequently defigiis be- 
 coming the divine perfe6lions. Thcfe perceived Ly 
 the eye of faith, and duly confidered, one has a juit 
 view of affliaing Incidents, fitted to quell theturbulc -t 
 mociDns of coriupt airedions under difmal outward 
 appearances. 
 
 It is under this view that Solomon, iri the pre- 
 ceding part of this chapter, advances feveral paradox- 
 es, w:]ich are furpriung determinations in favour of 
 ceitain things, that, to the eye of fenfe, looking 
 gloomy and hideous, ajre tiierefore gcricrally reputed 
 grievous and fliocking. He pronounceth the day of 
 one's death to he better than the day of his birth ; 
 ruimely, |^e day of the death of one, who, having be 
 come the 'friend of God througli ftdth, hath led a life 
 to the honour.#God, and fei'vi:e of liis generatioir^ 
 and thereby raifed to himfelf the good and fa^-oury 
 'jame better than precious ointment^ ver. i. In liLc 
 B 
 
14 'TIS Crook in the Zzt, 
 
 manner, he pronounceth the houfe of mourning to be 
 preferable to the hcufe cffeajiing^ forroivto laitghtcr^ 
 and a ivl/s ir.fin's rebuke to a fooVs fong ; for that, 
 howbeit the latter are indeed the more pleafant, yet 
 the fomier are the more profitable, ver. 2 — ^5. 
 And obferving with ccnceiii, iiow n-!en are in hazard, 
 not only from the world's frowns and ill iifaj^c, ^pfrejj'on 
 77iaki'-!g a '■JJiJl' man -mad^ but alfo from its fmiles and 
 CiireiTcs, a gift deftroyeth the heart ; tjierefore, fmdc 
 uha^ever way" it goe?, tlvere is dangei* he pronounceth 
 the £<tid of every worldly thhig better than the begin- 
 ning thereof ver. 7, 8. And from the whole, he juil:- 
 ly infers, that it is better to be humble and patient, 
 than proud and impatient^-^ under aiui<fcmg difpenfa- 
 tions ; fmce, in the former cafe, one wiieiy fubraits 
 to what is really befl ; in the latter, he fights againll 
 it, ver. 8. And he dehorts from being angry with 
 our lot, becaufe of the ad^•erfity found therein, xcw 
 Q. cautions againft making odious companions of 
 lormer and prefent times, in that point iidhiiiaiing 
 undue reflections on the providence of God, ver. 10. 
 and, againib that quemlous ^and fretful difpgfition, 
 lie firft prefcribes a general remedy, nam. eh/, holy 
 v/iidoni, as that which enables one to make the bell 
 of every thing, and even giveth life in killing circum- 
 ftances, ver. 11, 12. And then a particular remedv, 
 confifiing in a due arpHcation of that wifdom, to- 
 v.ards the taking a jufl viev/ of the cafe, Cojidtr tie 
 \hork of God: For who can 7uahe that fraigkt -vl.ich 
 he hath made crooked P 
 
 In which words is propofed, i. The remedy ilfehf. 
 2. The fuitablenefs thereof. 
 
 /"?///, The remedy itfeh", is a wife eying of the hard 
 of God in all we find to bear liard upon us : Corfider 
 ihe -.i'ork (or, fee thou the doing) of God^ viz. in the 
 crooictd, rough, and diipgrceable parts of thy lot, 
 the crolles thcu findefi in it. Tbcu'&tft very well 
 the crofs itiielf; yxa, thcu turncA it ever Jind over in 
 thy mind, and Iciiiuciy Niews it wi all fides : thou 
 
The Crook in the Lot. 15 
 
 looked withal, to this and the other feconJl caure of 
 it , and fo thou art in a foam and a fret : But, wouldft 
 thou be quieted and fatisfied in the matter, lift up 
 thine eyes towards heaven, yK' the doing of God in it, 
 the operation of his hand : Look at that, and confider 
 it well ; eye the firfl c&ufe of the crook in thy lot ; 
 behold how it is thf ivork of Cod^ his d'Ang. 
 
 Set'jndly.^ As for theyz/i/^4'/c?^7f/j-of this remedy, that 
 view of the crook in our lot is very fuitable to ftill in- 
 decent rifnigs of heart, and quiet us under it : For 
 -who can (that is, none can) mnke thatjlraight vjhich 
 God haih made croihed? As to the crQ'jk in thy lot, 
 God hatli made it ; and it muil continue while he will 
 have it fo. Shouldft thou ply thine utmcfi force to even 
 it, or make it Jiraight^ thine attempt will be vain: 
 It will not alter for all thou canld do ; only he who 
 made it can mend it, or make it Jlraight. This con- 
 {idcration, th's view of the matter, is a proper means, 
 at once, to Elence and to fatisfy men, and fo to bring 
 them unto a dutiful fubmiiuon to their Maker and Go- 
 vernor, under the crook in their lot. 
 
 Now, ws take up tlie purpofe of the text in thWe 
 three doclrines. 
 
 DocT. I. Whatfoever crook there is in one^s lot, 
 it i 3 of God's making-. 
 
 DocT. 11. V/hat God fees meet to niar, one will 
 njt be able to mend in his lot. 
 
 DocT. III. The confidering oi the crook in the lot, 
 a3 the work of God, or of his making, is a proper means 
 to bring one to a Chriftian deportment under it. 
 
 DocT. I. Whatfoever crook there is in one^s lot 
 it is of God^s making. 
 
 Here two things fall to be confide red, namely, th- 
 crook itfelf, and God's making of it. 
 
 I. As to the crook itfelf, the crook in the l^t ; hr 
 the better undei ftanding thereof, thefe fev.' things that 
 follo.v are premifed. 
 
 B X 
 
1 6 The Crock in the Lei, 
 
 I. There is a certain train or courfe of evejits^ by 
 the providence of God, falling to every one of us dur- 
 ing our life in this world: And that is our lot, as be- 
 ing allotted to us by the fovereign God, our Crea- 
 tor and Governor, in ivhofe hand our breath is, and 
 "whofe are all our ways. This train of events is wide- 
 ly different to different perfons, according to the will 
 ^nd pleafure of the fovereign manager, who ordereth 
 lacn's condi Lions in the world in a great variety, fome 
 .inoying in a higher, fome in a'' lower Tphere. 
 
 ^erofs events, as well as agreeable ones, in our lot and 
 condition. Sometimes things are foftlv and agreeably 
 gliding on; but, bye and bve, there is fome incident 
 jwliich alters that courfe, grates us, and pains us, a.s 
 v/hen having made a wrong ftep, v»^e begin to halt. 
 . % rE;.:srv body's lot r*"^' thi.> world hath fome crookin 
 it, Complainers are apt to make odious comparifons ; 
 they look about, and taking a diffani Tiew of the con- 
 dition .of others, can diicern nothing in it tut what is 
 Jtra'tght^ and juftto one's wiHi ; fo they pronounce their 
 neighbour's lot vdiolly ftraight. 'But that is a falfe vcr- 
 did'; there is no perfeaibn here ; no lot but of heaven 
 ^-without a crook. For, as to alllhe works that are done 
 under the fun, behold all is vanity andvex{<tion offpirit. 
 jThat which is crooked cannot be made firaight. Eccl. i. 
 14, 15. . VVho vv^ould have thought but Haman's lot 
 v/as very ltraight,\vhile his family vvas in a flouriiiiing 
 condition, and he profpering in riches and honour, be- 
 ing priine miniffer of flate in the Perfian court, and 
 .(landing high in the king's favour? Yet there was, at 
 the fame time, a crook in his lot, which fo galled him, 
 i\i?it all this availed hira nothing. Ellh. v. 13. Every 
 one feels for himfeif, where he is pinched, though o- 
 thers perceive it not. No body's lot," in this world", *'^ 
 wholly crooked; there are always fome "fhraight ande- 
 ven parts in it. Indeed when men's pallions, l^.avihjj; 
 
The Crr^ok in the Lot, 17 
 
 got up, have cail a mill: over tlieir minJs, they arc rea- 
 dy to lay, all is wrong with them, nzthing right ; but 
 tho' in hell that tale is, and ever v/ill be ti-iie,yet it is 
 never true in this world ; for tkere^ indeed, there ij8 
 not a drop of comfort allowed, Luke xvi. 25, but here 
 it always holds good, that // is of the L'^jrd's mercies 
 vje are mi confumed^ Lam. iii. 2Z. 
 
 4. The crook in the lot came into the world by ^G/r 
 it is ov>-ing to the fall, Rom., v. 12. By one man Jin 
 entered into the vJCrrld, and death by fin ; under which 
 death, the crook in the lot, is comprehended, as a ftate 
 of cornfurt or prjfperiiy^ is, in fcripture ftyle, expreft 
 by livings i Sara. xxv. 6. John iv, 50, 51. Sin fo 
 bowed tlie hearts and minds of men, as they became 
 crooked in refpecl of the holy law ; and God juftly fo 
 bowed their lot, as it became crooked too. And this 
 crook in our lot ird'eparably follows our finil:l condi- 
 tion, till, dropping tliis body of fm and death, we get 
 within heaven's gates. 
 
 Thefe being premifcd, a crook in the lot fpeaks, in 
 the general, two tnings, (i.) Adve?fity. (2.) Continu- 
 ance. Accordingly it makes a day of adverjity^ op- 
 pofed to the day of proPperity^ in the verfe immedi- 
 ately following the text. 
 
 The cro-ik in the lot is, Tirf}^ Some one or other pie«se 
 of advirjity. The profperous pait of one's let, which- 
 goes forward according to cue's wiih, is theitraight and 
 even part of it; tlieadverfe part, gomg a contrary way^ 
 is the crooked part thereof. God hath intermixed thele 
 two in men's condition in this vvorld; that, as there is 
 fome profperity tlierein, making the ftraighv line, io) 
 there is alto ff3me adverfity, >naking the crooked. The 
 which mixture hath place, not only in the let of faints, 
 wno are told, that in the lu or Id they ft: all have trifbula-- 
 iion^ but even in the lot. of all, as already obfer-\^ed. Se- 
 cc;idly^ It is adverfity of fome continuance^ We do net 
 reckon it a crooked tidng, wliich, tho' forcibly bend- 
 ed and bowed togetlier, yet prefently recovers its for- 
 mer iUaightneiSr Thefe are twinges of the rod ofad-.- 
 
1 8 The Crook in the Lot, 
 
 vcrfity, which pacing like a ftitch in one's fide, all lb 
 immediate!}^ fet to }'iglits again: one's lot may be lud- 
 denly overclouded, and the cloud evaniili ere he is a- 
 -*are. But under the crook, oiie ha\-lng leiiure to find 
 his finart, is in lome concern to get the crook evened. 
 So the crook in the lot is adverfity, continued for fliort- 
 cr or longer time. 
 
 Now, there is a threefold crook in the lot incident 
 to the children of men. 
 
 I.. One made by a crofs difpeniation, which, howfo- 
 ever in itfetf, pailing, yet hath lafting eiie6ls. Such a 
 crook did Herod's c^elty mai;e in the lot of t-lie mo- 
 thers in Bethlehem, wdio by the murderers were left 
 lueeping foriheir fiain children, and ivoukl not be com- 
 forted , hecaufe i hey "^v ere not^ Mat., ii. i8. A flip of 
 the fbot may foon. be made, which will make a man go. 
 halti:ig all along after. Jis the fffjes are taken in an 
 evil net J — So are the Jons ofjnen I'naredin an tziltime, 
 Eccl. ix. 12,.. The thing may fall cut in a moment, 
 under v.-hicli the party iliall go halting to tlic gra\-e. 
 
 2,. There is a crook miadebya fr^'i;t of crofs difpen- 
 fations, whether of the fame or diiferent kinds, foiiow- 
 ing hard one upon another^ and leaving lafiing eifedls 
 heliind them. Thus in the cafe cf Job, ;.vhil£ one mef- 
 iCDger of evil tidings luas yet /peaking., (inother camc^ 
 jiob i. i6 — 1 8. Crofs events coming, one upon the. 
 '.reck of another y^V^j^ calling unto deep., make afore crook. 
 Li dia.t-€afe the party is like unto one, wd:o recoveiing 
 ^C r.iding foot from one unfirm piece of ground, fets 
 :. V .1 t.nothcr equally unf i-m, which im.mediately gives 
 '.!/.- under hnntoo: or, like unto one, who travelling 
 
 v.-i ; nknown mounlaneous tra'Ic, alter having, ^/ith. 
 
 .', made his way over cue mcuntf in, is expetl- 
 
 . > .^c the plain countiy; but inilead thereof there 
 
 . ::-3 in view, time after time, a nsw mountam to be 
 i,aUijd.. This crook in iVJiph's lot h.ad like to have 
 ^nadc him give up all his religion, «.;iir7 he'ivtnt ijtto the 
 
 I. -l" nary, where this, mvfteiy of providence was un- 
 •. . . .: d :^. him. Pi'd.. Ivir.. ^ ^ — XT. S.ki: on. cb-- 
 
The Crook in the Lot, 19; 
 
 lencs, That there be ju/f men, unto -v: horn it hii}>peneth 
 recording to the ivork of the rajjcked, Eccl. viii. 14. 
 i-oviclence taking u run agairit them, Us if the)'\ were 
 to be run down for good and all. Whoever they be:, 
 whofe life in no part tliereof afFords tliem e5:peuenci^, 
 of this, lure jofepli mi 'fed not ol it in his youhg days,:, 
 nor Jacob in his middle da} s, nor Peter in his eld 
 days, noi' our Saviour all iiis days. 
 
 ■^. There is a craol- made by one croio c..:,..,r,i.;.;o.., 
 with Icijiing- ejf'e^s thereof coming iai the room of ano- 
 ther removed. Thus one erook itraightened, there is 
 another made in its'^ place: andfo there is ftiU a crook. 
 Want of cliildren had long been the crook in Rachel's. 
 lot, Gen. XXX. i. That was at length evened to her 
 mind; but then flie got ancthpr in its ftead, hard* la- 
 bour in travailing to bring forth, chap. xxxv.. 16. I'liis 
 world, is a wildenieis, in wiiich we may indeed get our 
 ilation changed.:., but the remove will be out of one. 
 wildernefs liation to another. V/lien one part of the. 
 Lot is e\^ened, readily fome other part thereof v. ill be 
 crooked.. 
 
 More paiticularly, the crook m the lot hath in it. 
 four things of the nature of that which is crooked.- 
 
 (i.) ^Difugreeahl'^nejs. A crooked, thing is v\"ay- 
 ward ; and being laid to a rule aniwers it nut, but de- 
 clines from it. There is not, \\\ any body's, lot,' any fuch 
 thing as a crook, in refpe<^. of the 'Vjilh.nApu^poftciGod. 
 Take the nicli; haHli and difmal difpenfation in one's 
 lot, and lay it to tiie eternal decree, made in the de[:;th 
 of infmite wlfdom, before the world began., and it will 
 anlwer it cxa«ftly, without the leafl (^cvi3.lioi\all ihi7igs 
 I ting zL-r ought cfter the counfel of his \mll^ Eph. i. 11. 
 Lay it to the providential will of God, in the govern- 
 ment of the world, and there is a perfect harmony. — 
 If Paul is to be bound at Jcrufalem, ^.vAdtliitnd int^j 
 the hands of the Gentiles, it is the luili of the L^rd it 
 lliould be io, Aits xxi. 1 1 — 14. Wherefore,the great- 
 eft crook of the lot, on earth, is flraight in: heaven: 
 
20 The Crook in the Lcf. 
 
 perfon's lot there is a crook iii refpcvft of their mind 
 and natural inchination. The adveriedirpeniationiies 
 crofs to that rule, and will by no means anlVer it, nor 
 harmonize v/ith it. When divine providence lays the one 
 to the other there is a marilfefl difagrceabienefs : the 
 man's will goes one way, and the diipenfation ano- 
 ther Vv^ay ; the will bends upward, the crofs events 
 prefs dovrn : fo they are contrary. And there,and only 
 there lies the crook. It is tJiis diiagreeableneis which 
 .makes the crook in the lot fit matter of trial and exer- 
 cife to us, in this ourftate of probation : in the which, 
 if thou v^7ouldell approve thyfelf to God, v/alking by 
 faith, not by fight, thou mmt quiet th\^felf, in the will 
 and purpofe of God, and not infift that it (liould bs 
 according to thy rrnnd^ Job xxxiv. 33, 
 
 (2.) Unf.ghilincfs. Crooked things are unpleafant to 
 the eye: and no crook in the XcXJeemeth to he j'jyous^ 
 but grizvous. making up an unfightly appearance, lieb. 
 xii. II. Therefore m.en need to beware of gi\ ing vray 
 to their thoughts,^ to dv.ell on the crook in their lot, 
 and of keeping it too much in view. David fhews a 
 hurtful experience of his, in that kind, Pfal. xxxix. 3. 
 IVkils Jii'ii f mi'Jing the fire burned. Jacob aclcd a wii'er 
 part, called his youngeft fon Beujahiin^ the fen of tlic 
 right-hand, v/hcm tlic dying mother had named Bin- 
 oni^ the fon of my for row ; by this means providing, 
 that the crock m las lot flioukl not be fct afrelliini.is 
 view, on every occafion of mentiordng the name of his 
 ion. Inde.ed, a Chriillan may faiely take a fleadyanJ 
 leifurely viev/ of the crook ol his lot in the light of th.; 
 holy word, which leprefcnts it as the difci^linc of tlu 
 covenant. £0 faiih will diicover a hidden iiglitiincfsin 
 it, under b. very unfighdy outward appearance; per- 
 ceiving the fuitablenefs tliereof to the infinite gocdnel:-, 
 love, and wifdom of God, and to the real and moft 
 valuable intereft of the pai'ty : by which means one comes 
 to take pleaiure, aiid that a moft refined pleaiute, in 
 dillrefs, z Cor. xii. 10. iiut whatever the crook iutl;»r 
 
The Crook in the Lot. %% 
 
 lot be to the eye of faith, it is not at allpkafingtothe 
 eye of fenfe. 
 
 (3.) Urifitnefs for motion, Solomon obferves the 
 cauie of the uneafy and ungraceful walking of the lame. 
 Prov. xxvi. 7. The legs of the lame are mA equal. This 
 uneafmefs they find, who are exercifed about the crook 
 in their lot : a high fpirit and a low adverfe lot, makes 
 great diiHculty in the Chriilian walk. There is nothing 
 that gives temptation moreeafy accefs, than the crook 
 in the lot ; nothing more apt to occafion out-of-the- 
 way fteps. Therefore faith the apollle, Heb. xii. 13. 
 Make ^raight paths for your feet^ l/Jt that vjhich is 
 lame be turned out of the vjay. They are to be pitied, 
 then, who are labouring under it, and not to be rigidly 
 cenfured; though they are rare perfons who learn this 
 leilon, till taught by their own experience. It is long 
 fmce Job made an obferve in this cafe, which holds 
 good unto this day, Job xii. 5. ?Ie that is ready to 
 Jlip luith his fett, is as a lamp dcfpifed in the thought 
 of him that ts at eaje. 
 
 (4.) Apinefs to catch hold and entangle, like ]:oohs^ 
 f.fn-hooks, Amos iv. %. Th^e crook in the lot dothl^o 
 very readily make imprefTion, to tjie rufiling, andfiet- 
 ting one's fpirit, irritating corruption, ths-t Satan fails 
 not to make diligent ufe of it to thefe dangerous pur- 
 pofes : the which point once gained by the teinpter,th£ 
 tempted, ere he is avrare, finds himfelf entangled as in 
 a thicket, out of which he knows not how to extricate 
 himfelf. In tliat tem.ptavion it often proves like a 
 crooked flick, troubling a ftanding pool- the vfhich not 
 onlv raifeth up the mud all over, but brings up from the 
 bottom fome very ugly thing. Thusitbrcught upaipice 
 of blafphemy and atheifra in Afaph's caie, Piai. Ixxiii. 
 1 3. Verily 1 have clecnfcdmy heart in vain, andivajhtd 
 njy hands in innocenry .' As.if he h^ad ..faid, there is 
 nothing at all in religion^ it is a vain and empty thing 
 .at protiteth notlung; T was a fool to have been in care 
 about purity and holinels. whether of heart or life. Ah ! 
 is this the pious x\fap]": 1 How is he turned fo quite un- 
 
22 The CvQ-ik in the Lot, 
 
 like himfelf 1 but the crook in the lot is the handle, 
 whereby the tempter makes furprifing difcoveries of 
 latent corruption even in the bed. 
 
 This is the nature of the crook in the lot ; let u% 
 now obferve what part ^f the ht it falls in. And, in 
 the general, three conclufions may be eilablifhed upon 
 this head. 
 
 \f}^ll may fall in any part of the lot; there is no ex- 
 empted one in the cafe : for, fni being found in every 
 part, the crook may take place in any part. Beings// 
 as an unclean things ive inay alt fade as a leaf, Ifa. 
 .Ixiv. 6. The main ilream of fm, which the crook readily 
 follov>^s, runs in very different channels, in the cafe of 
 diiterent perfons. And in regard of the vaiious dif- 
 pofitions of the minis of men, that will prove afinkfng 
 weight unto one, which another would, go very light- 
 ly ur.ier. 
 
 2.^/)', It may at once fall in many parts of the lot, 
 the Lord calling, as in a folemn day, one's terrors 
 round about, L.am. li. 22. Sometimes God makes one 
 notable crook in a man's lot; but its name may be Gad, 
 being but the forerunner of a troop which cometh. — 
 Thsn the crooks are multiplied, fo that the party is 
 made to halt on each fide. Vv'hiie one ftream let in 
 from one quarter, is running full againft Llm, another is 
 let in on him from another quarter, tiii in the end the 
 waters break in on every hand. • 
 
 idly, It often falls in the tender part; I mean, that 
 part of the lot wherein one is leaft able to bear it, or, 
 at leafi thinks he is fo. Pf?dm lv\ 12, 13. It -cjas not 
 an enerny thai reproached me, then I could ho.ve bornit. 
 But it was thou, a man, mine equal, my guide, and 
 mine acquaintance. If there is any one part of the lot, 
 which of all ocherj, one is diipoied to neftle in, the tiiorn 
 will pea^lily be laid there, efpeciaiiy if he belongs to 
 God: in that thing wherein he is leaft of all able to fee 
 touched, he will be fare to be preffed. There the trial 
 will be taken of iiim ; for there is the grand competition 
 with Carift. 1 take from them the dejires of their eyes, 
 and that vjhereubontheyfet their mindsj Ezck. xxiv. 25. 
 
The Crook in the Lot. 23 
 
 Since the crook in the lot is the fpeckl trial appointed 
 for every one, it is altogether reafonabie, and becpm- 
 ing the wiiVlom of God, that it fall on that which, of 
 all things, doth ir.ofi rival him. 
 
 But more particularly, the crook may be obferved 
 to fall in thcie four parts of the lot. 
 
 /";///, In the naturcdv^vt^ afie cling perfcns confider- 
 cd as of the make allotted for them by the great God 
 -that formed all things. The parents of mankind, Adam 
 and Eve, were formed altogetl-ier found and entire, 
 without the lead blemiO.i, whethier In foul or body: 
 but in the formation of their pofterity, there often ap- 
 pears a notable variation from the original. Bodily 
 dcfc£ls, fupei^.uities, deformities, infirmities, natural or 
 accidental, make the crook in the lot of fome : they have 
 fonicthing unfightlv or grievous about them. Crooks 
 of this kind, more or lefs obfervable, are very common 
 and ordinary, the bcR not exempted from them ; and 
 it is purely ov^-ing to fovereign pleafure they are not 
 more nunicrous. Tcndei eyes made the crook in the 
 lot of Leah, Gen. xxix. 17. Rachel's beauty was bal- 
 anced with burrenefs, the crook in her lot, chap.xxx. i.- 
 Paul, the great apofdc of the Gentiles, was, it fliould 
 fccm, no perforiable man, lut of a mean outvv'ard ap- 
 pearance, for which fools were apt to conterr.n him, 
 ;: Cor. x. ic. Timothy v. as of a crazy fram.e, v/eakly 
 and hcklv, i Tim. v. 23. And there is a yet farm.ore 
 confiderable crook in tlic lot of the lamie, the blind, the 
 deaf, and the dumb. Some are weak to a degree in 
 their inteileduals ; and it is the crook in the lot offe- 
 veral bright fouls to be overcaft with clouds, notably 
 bcmifted and darkened, from tlie crazy bodies they are 
 lodred in: an eminent inllance whereof v/e have in the 
 f;rave, wife, and patient Job, going moMrnipg ivithout 
 the J lift; \z2~.JiGru<iy,g vp end cryirg in the corgre^ 
 gaii07i, Job XXX. 28. 
 
 Secondly^ It may fall in the honorary part. There is 
 an honour due to all men, the fmall as well as the great, 
 I Pet. ii. 17, And that upon the ground of the cri- 
 
The Crook in the Lot. ^4 ■< 
 
 ginal conftitution of human nature, as it was framed in ■ 
 the hnage of God, But in the fovereign difpofal of ho- 
 
 \'^ providence, the crook in the lot of fome falls here ; \ 
 
 they arencgleftedandllighted; their credit is ftill kept i 
 
 low; they go through the world under a cloud, being put i 
 
 into an ill name, their reputation funk. Thisfome times | 
 
 is tlx native confequence of their own foolilh and fmful ' 
 
 condudi- as, in the cafe of Dinah, who, by her gadding ■) 
 
 abroad to fatisfy her youthflil curioilty, regardlefs of, •• 
 
 and therefore not waiting for a providential call, brought i 
 a lailing llain on her honour. Gen. xxxiv. But where 
 
 the Lord intends a crook of this kind in one's lot, in- ■ 
 
 nocence will not be able to ward it off in an ill-natured ^ 
 vv^orhl ; neither will true merit be able to make head 
 
 againft it, to make one's lot frand iliraight in that part. ; 
 
 TiiUc. David reprefents his cc-tfe, PfaL xxxi. ii, 12, 13. ' 
 
 Thi'yihat did fee -me vjlthout, fled from me.- I am for- -i 
 
 gotten as a dead man out of mind : I am like a broken | 
 
 vejfel. For 7 have heard the jlander of many . \ 
 
 Thirdly^ It m.a/ fall in the vocatio7ial'^?iY'L. Whate- 
 ver is men's calling orftation in the world, be itfacred : 
 or civil, the crook in their lot may take its place therein., \ 
 lihiah was an einine-nt prophet, but moll unfuccefsful, ' 
 Ila. liii. I. Jeremiah met with fuch a ilrain of difcou- ; 
 ragements and ill ufage, in the exercife of his facred \ 
 fii-vdion, that he was well near giving it up, faying, / 1 
 '■a: ill not make mention ofhlni, nor f peak any more in his \ 
 n:i'}iefJzr,xK.^. The Pfalmildobferves this crook of- 1 
 ten to be made iaa the lot of fome men very induflrious \ 
 in their civil butmefs, who fo-Ji) the fields — and at times ] 
 Godbhfftth tbdm — and fujfertth not their cattle to de- \ 
 creaje : But, agrdn,- they are minified and brought 
 low through opprelTion^ affliction, and forr 010^ Pfah j 
 cvii. 37, 30, 39. SuL'ha crook was made in Job's lot, ' 
 after he had bng ftood even. Some manage their employ- 1 
 ments v.dth all care and diligence ; the hulbandman i 
 carefully labouring his ground ; the ihecp-maller dili- ■ 
 gent io know the J rate of his flocks, and looking luell to 1 
 his herds; the tradefman, early and late at his biifinefs ; ; 
 
Tl)e Crook in the Lot. 25 
 
 the merchant, diHgently plying his watching and falling 
 in with the moft fair and promifmg opportunities ; but 
 there is fuch a crook in that part of their lot, as alltliey 
 are able to do can by no means even. For wliy? The 
 raoft proper means uied for compaiung an end are in- 
 fignificant, without a word of divine appointment com- 
 manding their fuccefs. li'ho is be that faith, and it Com- 
 eth to pafs, ivheti the Lord cormnandeth it not F Lam. iii. 
 37. People ply their bufinefs with fkill and induilry, 
 but the wind turns in their face, Providence croueth 
 their enterprifes, dilccncerts their mcafures,fruilrates 
 their hopes and expe^ations, renders their endeavours 
 unfuccefsful, and 10 puts and keeps them llill in ilrait- 
 ning circumftances. So the race is not to theJwJJt,7ior 
 the battle to thej/rorg, neither yet bread to the iuiJl\ 
 Eccl. ix. 1 2. Providence interpofmg crooks the meafui e 3 
 which human prudence and induftry Lad laid firaight 
 tovv-ards the relpec>ive ends ; fo the fv^ift lofe the race, 
 and the ftrong the battle, aijd the wife mifs of bread ; 
 wlxile, in the mean time, fom^e one or other providen- 
 tial incident, fuppl}ing the i.d&di of hmnan wifdora, 
 conduct, and ability, the flow gain the race, and carry 
 the prize ; the weak win the battle and enrich themfelvest 
 with the fpoil ; and the bread falls into tlie lap of the fool . 
 Laftly^ It m.ay fall in tlie relational 'j>art. Relations 
 are the joints of lociety ; and there the crook in the lot 
 • may take place, one's fmarteft pain being often fjlt in 
 thefe joints. They are in their nature the fprings of 
 man's comfort ; yet, they often turn the greatefl bit- 
 ternefs to him. Sometimes this crook is occafioned by 
 the lofs of relations. Thus a crook was made in the 
 lot of Jacob, by means of the death of Rachel, his be- 
 loved^ wife, and the lofs of Jofeph, his fon and darling, 
 which had like to have made him go halting to the grave* 
 Job laments this crook in his lot, chap, xvi. 7. Thou 
 haft made dcfoUte alt rny compa?iy ; m.earinghis dear 
 children, every one of whom he laid in the grave, not 
 fo much as one fon or daughter left him. Again, fome- 
 times it is made through the aiflifiing hand of God 
 C 
 
-6 The Crook in the lot. 
 
 lying hecivy on them; the wjiich, in virtue of the rela- 
 tion, recoils on the party, as is feelingly expreiTccl bv 
 that believing woman, Mat. xv. 22. rime -yiercy on 
 Me, Lord; my c!n:'ghter is gticvopjlv vexed. Eph- 
 faini felt the fmart of a ccurfe of ailiiilions, ivhtn he 
 called his fan's }iame Beriah, hcci).ufe it -went evilv/tth 
 
 his h:nfe, 1 Chron.vii. 23. Since all is not only vanity, ] 
 
 but vexation of fpirit, it can hardly mifs, but the more ] 
 
 of thefe fprings of comfort are opened to a man, he 'j 
 
 mufl, at one time or other, f nd he. has but the m.ore ! 
 
 fources of forrow to gulli out end fpring in upon him ; '\ 
 
 the foi-rovv always proportioned to the comfort found in \ 
 
 thera.or expe'iled from, them. And, finally, the crook is ' 
 
 fometimcs m.ade by their proving incomibrtable thro' the --_ 
 
 difagreeablenefs of their temper, difpofition, and wav. J 
 
 There was a crook in Job's lot, by means of an unduti- i 
 
 ful, ill-natu-xd v/ife, Job xix. 17. In Abigaihs, by ■ 
 
 means of a furly, ill tempered huiband, i Sam. xx\-. ; 
 
 25. In Eli's, th.rcugh the perverfenefs and obilinaxy' i 
 
 of his ch/ildrcn, chap. ii. 215. In Jonathan's through ' 
 the furious temper of his father, chap. xx. 30, 33. So 
 
 do men oPcentimes find their greateft crofs, where tliey i 
 
 expected their greateft comfort. Sin hath unJiinged ■ 
 
 the wliclc creation, and made every relation fufccpti- i 
 
 ble of tiie crook. In ^the family are found mafters < 
 
 h.ard and unjull, fervants froward and unfaitliful ; in ] 
 
 neighbourhood, men felhili and uneafy ; in the church, ■ 
 
 rrinifters unedifying, and offenfive in their walk, and } 
 
 people contemptuous and diforderly, a burden to the - 
 
 fpirits of rririfters ; in the ftate, magiftratcs oppref- \ 
 
 five and difcountenancers of tliat which is good, and ] 
 
 fubic£l:s turbulent and feditious ; all thefe caufe crooks \ 
 
 in th.e lot of their relatives. And thus far c£ tlie ' 
 
 crook itfeih i 
 
 II. Having feen the crook itfclf, wc are, in tbe ne?:t 'J 
 
 place, to ccnfiier of God's nuiki}:g it. And here is , 
 
 to be fiiewn, i. That it is of God's making. 2. Ml v>^ \ 
 
 it is of his m. iking, 3. \Vhy he makes it. I 
 
The Crook h: the Lot. 27 
 
 First, That the crook in t'he lot, whxatcvcr it is, 
 is of God's makings appears from thefe three confidcr- 
 ations. 
 
 FirJ}^ It cannot be queftioned, but tlie crook in the 
 lot, confidereJ as the crook, is a penal evil, whatever 
 it is for the matter thereof; that is, whttiicr the 
 thing in itielf, its immediate caufc and occafion, be 
 fmful or not, it is certainly a punilhment or aiFiiftion. 
 Now, as it may be, as fuchholily and juilly brought on 
 us, by our Sovereign Lord and Judge, fo he exprefsly 
 claims the doing or making of it, Amos iii. 6. Shall 
 there be evil In a city, and the Lord hath not done it P 
 Wherefore, fmce there can be no penal evil, but of 
 God^s making, and the crook in the lot is fuch an evil, 
 it is neoeiTcirily concluded to be of God's making. 
 
 Secondly^ It is evident, from thefcripture doftrineof 
 di\'lne providence, that God brings about eveiy man's 
 lot, and alt the parts thereof. He fits at the helm of 
 human affairs, and turns them about whitherfoever he 
 liileth, IVhatfoeverthe Lord p leafed, that did he in hea- 
 ven and earthy in thefeas and all deep places^ Pial. cxxxv. 
 6. There is not any thing whatibever^befal us, with- 
 out his over -ruling hand. Th.e fame providence that 
 brought us cut of the womb, bringeth us to, and fixeth. 
 us in the condition and place allotted for us, by him 
 who hath determined the times andthe i^ounds cf our ha- 
 bitation^ Acls xvii. 26. It over-rules the fmalleil and 
 mof!: cafual things about us, fuch as hairs of our head 
 falling on the ground^ Mat. x. 29, 30. J ht cafi into the 
 Idp^ Prov. xvi. 33. Yea, the free ads of cur wiil,where- 
 by we chufefor ourielves, for cxcntbe king's heart inn 
 t >)e hi'.nd of the Lord, as the rivers of water^ Prov. xxi i. 
 And the v/hoie fteps we make, and which others make 
 in reference to us ; for the %vay of man is not in hiraftlf; 
 it is not in man thativalketh to direct hisfeps^Jcr. x. 2,3. 
 And this, whether thefe fteps, cauhng the crook, be 
 deliberate and imfui ones,- fuch as jofeph's bretln^en 
 felling him into Egypt ; or whether they be undefign- 
 edj fu.-h as min-ilaughter purely cafurd, as vrhen one 
 C 2 
 
^S The Crook In t-he Lot. 
 
 hewing wood? kills his neighbour with the head of the ' 
 ax ftipphig from the helve, Deut. xix. 5. Forthereisa. 
 holy and wife providence that governs the finftil and ! 
 the heedlefs aaionsox^nien, as a rider doth a lamehorfe, \ 
 ofwhofe halting, not he, but thehorfe's ownlamenefs, : 
 is the true and proper caufc ; wherefore, in the former ' 
 or thefe cafes, God is faid to have fent Jofeph into \ 
 Egxpt, Gen. xlv. 7. and in the latter, to deliver one ' 
 into his neighbour's hand, Exod. xxi. 13. i 
 
 LaJIly, God liath, by an eternal decree, immoveable ; 
 as -mountains of h-afs, Zcch, vi. i. appointed the whole '' 
 of every one's lot, the crooked parts thereof, as well as , 
 the ftraight. By the fame eternal decree, whereby the \ 
 high and low parts of the earth, the mountains and the \ 
 valleys, were appointed, are the heights and depths, ths ' 
 profperity and adverfity, in the lot of the inhabitants | 
 thereof determined ; and they are brought about, in ■ 
 time, in a perfect agreeablenefs thereto. ; 
 
 The m^v-lleiy of providence, in the government of i 
 the \vorkh is, in all the parts thereof, the building ■ 
 reared up of God- in exact conformity to the plan in his j 
 (j.tcr-zt^'.vhoworketh all things after the counfti f hi s^vj-n \ 
 "jjillj Eph. i. 1 1. So that there is never a crook in one's j 
 lot, but may be run up to this original. Hereof Job \ 
 pioudy fcts us an example in his own cafe, Job xxiii. \ 
 13, 14. He is in one jjiind, and who can turn himP \ 
 yj'nd what his foul defireih^ even that he doth. For he 1 
 performeih the thing that is appointed for me: and \ 
 many j'uch things are with him, ' ; 
 
 Secondly, That we may fee hozv the crook in the - 
 lot is of God's making, we mtLift diftinguiih between • 
 pure ilrdefs crooks, and impure finfal ones. ^ 
 
 Fir//, There are pure and fnlfs crooks ; the which ] 
 are mere affiicftions, cleanly crofies, grievous indeed, j 
 but not defiling. Such were Lazarus's poverty, Ra- 
 chers barrennefs, Leah's tender eyes, the blindnefs of ' 
 tlie man who had been fo from his birth, John ix. i. i 
 Now, the crooks of this kind are of God's mpvking, by ^ 
 the efHcacy of his power dirc£lly bringing them to pais, ! 
 
7he Crook In the lot, %i) 
 
 He is the jMaker of the poor, 
 Prov. xvii. 5. IVkofo niockctb the poor, reproacheih his 
 A'jdher^ that is, reproachcth God who made him poor^ 
 ciccordhig to that, iSam. ii. 7. The Lord maketh poor. 
 It is he that hath the key of the womb, and as he fees 
 meet,{liuts it, i Sam. i. 5. or opens it. Gen. -xxix, 31., 
 Ar<i it is he that fvweth the eye^ Pfahn xciv. 9. And 
 the man was horn bVmd^ that the ivork? of Gid fnould 
 he made mwnlfejl In hiw^ Jo^'^n ix. 3. Therefore he 
 failfh, to Mofes, Exod. iv. 11. Who rnaketh the dumh^ 
 or deaf or the fechig, O) the blind P Have not I the 
 Lord? Such crooks in the let are of God's making, 
 in the mofl ample fenf;j, and in their full eomprehen- 
 fion, being the direct efforts of his agency, as well as 
 tlie heavens and the eaith are. 
 
 ^^econdly-, There are impure finful crooks, which, 
 in their own nature, are fins as well as afRiclions, de- 
 filing as well as grievous. Such v\"as the crook made in 
 David's lot, through his family diforders, the defiling 
 of Tamar, the murder of Aninon, the rebellion of Ab- 
 faloin, all of them unnatural. Of the faine kind was 
 that made in Job's lot, by the Sabeans and Chaldeans,, 
 taking away his fubilance, and flaying his iervants. As- 
 thcfs were the afflictions of David and job reipeciively,. 
 fo they vv'ere thx fins of the aclors, the unhappy in- 
 ftrunients thereof. Thus one and the fame thin^ may- 
 be, to one a heinsus fin, defiling and laying him under 
 guilt, and to anotlier an affiiaion, laying him under 
 fuffe ring only. Now, tiie crooks of this kind are not 
 of God's maiung, in the fame latitude as tiiofe of the- 
 former r For, he r.cither puts evil in the heart cf any,, 
 nor ftirreth up to it; He cannot be tempted -with 
 evil, neither ternpteth he any. rna?i, James i.' 13. But 
 they are of his making, by his holy permidion of them,. 
 po-Acrful bounding of them, and" wife over-ruling oi 
 them t3 feme j^ood end. 
 
 ly/. He holily permits then?, fulferin^ men to -ujaik: 
 m tntir orvn wayj, Ads xiv. 16, Though he is- not 
 tn- author of thcie finful crooks, caiuui-^ theirn ta h^ 
 
30 ^ The C7"ok in the Lot, 
 
 by the eiacacy of Ills po'.ver: vet If he ail not permit 
 them, willing not to hinder them, they could not be 
 at all; for he fryutteth and no manopeneth^ Rev. iii. 7. 
 But he juflly with-holds his grace, wliich the fihner 
 doth not defire, takes off the reftraint under which he 
 is uneafy, and fince the fmner v>all be gone, lavs the 
 reins on his neck, and leaves him to the iwing of his 
 luft. Hof. iv. 17. Ephraim is joined to idols : Let him 
 clone. Pfal. Ixxxi. 11, 12. Jfrael -jjould none of mc : 
 o5 I gave them up to their own heart lufis. In which 
 mikappy fituation, the fmful crook doth, from tlie fin- 
 ner's- own proper motion, natively and infallibly fol- 
 low J even as water i"xins down a hill, wherever there 
 is a gap left open before it. So in thefe circumftances, 
 Jfrael walked in their own counfels^ ver. i:^. And thus 
 tills kind of crook is of God's making, as ajuil JuJge, 
 paniOiing the fafFerer by it. The which vicvv of the 
 Hotter filenced David under Shimei's curlings, a Sam» 
 xvi. 10. Let him alone^ and let him cufe r for ths 
 Lord hath hidden him, 
 
 %dly^ He powerfuUv hounds them, Pfal. Ixxvi. ic. 
 The remainder of wrath (namely, the creature's v/rath) 
 thou fluilt rejira'ir^ Did not God bound thefe crooks, 
 howfoever fore they are in any one's cafe, tliey vvould 
 be yet forer: But he fays to the fmful inftrument, as 
 he faid to the fca, Hitherto fl^ alt thou cornc, hut no fur* 
 ther ; and here fh all thy proud waves he J rayed. He 
 lays a rcftraining band on him, that he cannot go one 
 Itep farther, in the way iiiis im.petuous lufi: drives, than 
 he fees meet to permit. Hence it comes to pafs, that 
 the crook of this- kind is neither more nor lefs, but juil 
 as great as he by his powerful bounding makes it to be. 
 An eminent inftance hereof we have in the cafe of Job, 
 v.hofe lot was crooked through a peculiar agency of tlie 
 devil; but even to that grand fiimer, God let a bound 
 vx the cafe ; The Lord /aid unto Satan^ Behold, all that 
 he hath is in thy powe.r^ only upon hiraj'elf put not forth 
 thine hand^ Job. i. 12. Now, Satan went tne full length 
 of the bound, leaving nothing within the compafs there- 
 of untpuclied, which he ia\y could make for hik. pur- 
 
The Cr'y;k in the D;t ^ jt 
 
 pole, vcr. 1 8, IQ. But he could by no means move 
 one flcp beyon 1 it, to carry liis point, which he could 
 not gain within it^ And tlierefbre, to make the tnal 
 greater, and thecroolvlbrer, nothing remained but that 
 the bound let fiiould be removed, and the fphere of his 
 agency enlarged; for which caufe he faith, But touch 
 his bone aud hisfiefj^ and he will cu^fe thee to thyfacc^ 
 chap. ii. 5. and it being removed accordingly, but with- 
 al a new one fet, ver 6. Behold hs is inthhie hand^ hut 
 J'ave his life ; the crook was carried to the utnioil that; 
 the new bound would permit, in a confiilcncy with his 
 defign of bringing Job to blai'pheme ; ^itiui /mote him 
 nvithfore boils^from the Jole of his foot, unto the rroiu/? 0/ 
 his head, ver. 7. And had it not been for this bound, 
 fecuring Job's life, he, after finding this attempt fuc- 
 cefslefs too, had doubtlefs difpatched hbn for good_ 
 ^^^i:l all. 
 
 3 ///[)', lie wifely nver- rules them to fomc good ptir- 
 pofe, becoming the divine perfe^lions. While the iin- 
 tiil inilrument hath an ill aeiign in the crook caufed by 
 him, God direils it to a holy and good end. In tlie 
 difordcfs of David's famdly, Armion's defign was to gra- 
 tify a brutifli Imt ; Abfalom's, to glut himfclf with re- 
 venge, and to fatisfyhis pride and ambition; but God 
 meant thereby to puniib David for his fui in the matter 
 of Uriah. In the crook made in Job's lot, by Satan, 
 and the Sabeans and Chaldeans, Ids inftruments, Sa- 
 tan's defign was to caufe Job blafphemc, andtheir's to 
 gratify their covetoufnefs : but God had another defign 
 therein becoming himfelf, namely, to manifeii Job's 
 fmcerity and upiightnei's. Did not lie v. iftly and power- 
 fully over-rule tliefc crooks made in men's lot, no good 
 could come out of them ; but he always over-rules them 
 lo, as to Hilfil liis ov.n holy purpofes thereby, how- 
 beit the fmner meaneth not io ; for his defigns cannot 
 miicarry, his counfel jh ail j land ^ Ifa. xlv. 10. So the 
 lintui cfook is, by the over-ruling hand of God, turn- 
 ed about to iiis own glory, and liis peopk's good in the 
 end; according to tlie word, Prov. xv*, 4. 'i/;- LQvd 
 
3- 7l?e Cvj^jK in the Lot. \ 
 
 haih made all things for hjmfelf, Rom. viii. 28. All \ 
 thhig f '■^zrk together for gy^jd to them that love God, Thus : 
 Kamiars plot for the dei-tru^don ofth.e ^o.^^^^vxasturn- \ 
 edto the contrary^ Efth. ix. i. And the crook made "i 
 in Jofeph's lat, b\' his 0x11 brethren felling liim into 1 
 Egypt, though it was on their part moil finlul, and cf \ 
 a molt mifcliievous delign ; yet, as it was of God's mak- • 
 ing, by his holy perniiLiion, pov/erful bounding, and \ 
 wife over- ruling of it, h^ad an iffue well beeoming the ' 
 divine vrifdom and goodnefs : both of which Jofeph j 
 noticeth to them, Gen. 1. 20. AsforyoUy ye thought e- i 
 v'd againfinie ; hut God meant it untogood^ ts bring to { 
 pajc^ as it is this day^ to fwe much people alive. 
 
 Thirdly, It remains to enciuire, Why 6"'>// makes a : 
 ci'ook in one's lotf Andtliis is to be cleared by difco- i 
 vering the dejignoz tA^X. difpenfation ; a matter v^dlich 
 it concerns every one to know, and carefully to notice, '■ 
 in order to a Chridian improvement of the crook in . 
 their lot. The defign thereof leems to be, ciiieilv, ' 
 ieven-lbld. ^ _ ' j 
 
 Fr/'?, The t?^ic;l of one's ^//^/c", Vv'h.ether one is in the \ 
 ftate of grace, or not: Whetlier a fmccrc Chriilian,or \ 
 ahypDcriter ThougiieveiyaffiiiUoni3trying,yethereI \ 
 conceive lies the mtin providential trial a man is brought i 
 upon, v/ithre'erence to iiisiiate, forasmucn as the crook ^ 
 in the lot, being ^a matter of a continued courfe, one J 
 lias occafion lo open and fhew liimfeif ag lin and again I 
 in the fame tid.ig; whence it comes to pais, that it mi- , 
 niRers ground io-i: a deciiion, in that momentous point. \ 
 It was plainly ontiiis bottom that the trial of joo'sllate , 
 was put. Tnequcftion was, whetiicj.- job N^as an up- \ 
 ridit and fin:ere fervant of God, as God himfelf teiii- ' 
 fiedofhim; or but a mercenary one, a hypocrite, as i 
 Satan alledged agalnft him? And 'the. trial hereof wa^ ^ 
 put upon the crcok to be made in his lot, Job i. 8 — i a, i 
 and ii. 3 — 6. Aicordingly, that which all his friends, • 
 fave Elihu the kfl fpeaker, did, in their reafonjng wit li ! 
 him under his trial aim at, was to pro\'e him a hypo- - 
 critc : Satan t^wis making u.': of theic good me:i for 
 
The Crook in the Lot, 33 
 
 gaining his point. \s God took trial of Ifrael in the 
 wildernefs, for the land of Canaan, by a train of affli£l- 
 in^; difpenfations, the which Caleb and Joihua bearing 
 ftrenuoutly, were declared meet to enter the promifed 
 land, 2Ls\-\2.\mgfolloived the Lord fully ; while others 
 being tired out with them, their carcafes fell in the wil- 
 dernefs ; fo he makes tinal of men for heaven, by the 
 crook in their lot. If one can ftand that teft, he is 
 manifefted to be a faint, a imcere fervant of God, as 
 Job was proven to be ; if not, he is but a hypocrite : 
 he cannot fland the tell of the crook in his lot, but goes 
 away like drofs in God's flirnace. A melancholy in- 
 ftance of which we have in that man of honour and 
 wealth, who, v\dth high pretences of religion, arifing 
 from a principle of moral ferioufnefs, addrelTed him- 
 felf to our Saviour, to know ^ojhat he Jhould do that he 
 might inherit eternal life^ Mark x. 17, 21. Our Sa- 
 viour, to difcover the man to himfeif, makes a crook in 
 his lot, where all along before it had llocd even, obli- 
 ging him, by a probatory command, to fell f;nd give a- 
 way all that he had, and follow him, ver. 2 1 . Sell ivhat- 
 fotver thou haj}, and give to the poor ^ and come take u^ 
 the crofs andf'^lhv me. Hereby he Vv as, that moment, 
 in the court of confcience, ftiipt of his great pofiellions ; 
 fo that thenceforth he could no longer keep them, v\-ith 
 a good confcience, as he might have done before. The 
 maninflantly f^lt the fmart of this crook made in his 
 lot; he "^ as fad at that faying^ Y^v, 22. that is, im- 
 mediately upon tl^e hearing of it, being ftruck with pain, 
 diiorder, and confjfion of mind, his countenance chan- 
 ged, became cloudy and louring, as the fam.e word is 
 ufed, iMat. ;ivi. 3. He cculd not ftand the teft cf that 
 crock ; he could by no means fubmit his lot to God in 
 that point, but behoved to have it, at any rate, accord- 
 ing to his own mind. So he went a-jj ay grieved, for he 
 had great poffejjions. He went away from Chriftback 
 to his plentiful eftate, and though with a pained and 
 foiTowfal heart, fat him down again on it, a violent 
 poiTeffor belore the Lord, thwarting the divine order. 
 
34- '^i-'" Cv'i'ik in the Lot. 
 
 And thereis, no appearance that ever this order was re- 
 voke i, nor that ever he came to a better temper in re- 
 ference thereunto. 
 
 Secondly^ Excitation to duty^ weaning one from this 
 world, and prompting him to look after the happinefs 
 of the other world. Many have been beholden to the 
 crook in their lot, for that ever they came to therafelves, 
 fettled and turned ferious. Going for a time like a 
 ijjild ajs uf:'d to the -.jjildej-nefs^ fcorning to be turned, 
 their foot hath did in due time j and a crook being here- 
 by male in their lot, their month hath come, wherein 
 they have been caught, Jer. ii, 2,4. Thus was the 
 prodigal brought to himfelf, and obliged to entertain 
 tlioughts of returning unto his father, Luke x v. 17. 
 The crook in their lot convinces them at length that 
 here is not their reft. Finiingilill a pricking tliorn of 
 uneafmers, wdienfoever they lay down their head where 
 they would faineld take reft in the creature, and that 
 they are obliged to Urt it again, they are brought to 
 conclude, there is no hope fro]n that quarter, and be- 
 gin to cau about for red another way, lb it makes them 
 errands to God, which they had not before ; forasmuch 
 as they feel a need of the comforts of trie other woi Id, 
 to which their mouths were out of ta.ile, while their let 
 flood even to their jnind. V/iiersfore, what^^ver ufe 
 we make of the crook in ouf lot, the veice 01 it is, A' 
 rife ye and depart, this is n^A yrur reji. And it is 
 furely that, wliich of all means of mortitication, of the 
 afiiiftive kind, doth moft deaden a real Cnrifticm to 
 this liii; and world. 
 
 77;//-t//>', Convi6lion of fm. As when one waiving 
 heedlefsly,i3 fuddenly taken ill of alamenefs ; his going 
 halting the reft of his way convinceth him of ha\ing 
 m.ade a wrong ftep ; and every nc-w painful ftep brings 
 ic afredi to his mind: fo God makes a crook in one ^3 
 lot) to convmce iiim of fome falfe flep lie hatli made, 
 or ccurie lie hath talien. Vv^httt tlie fmner would c- 
 t her ways be apt to overlook, forget, or think light of, 
 13 bv this m:;:.n5 recalled to mind, let before hhii-as rin 
 
'lbs Crook in the Lot, - 35 
 
 c^-il and biucr thing, and kept in remembrance, that 
 his heart may every, now and then bleed for it afreih. 
 Thus, by the crook men's fm finds them out to their 
 convidioii, as the t kief is iifl.-imne.drjjht7i he isfiioi^^'Nuni, 
 xxxii. 23. Jer. ii. 26. The vvhichjoieph's brethren do 
 feelingly exprefs, under the crook made in their lot in 
 Egypt, Gen. xlii. :^i. We are verily gi:ilty ctncernir^g 
 our brother^ chap. xliv. 16. God katk found ouUhe ini- 
 quity ^^f thy fervanis. The crook in the lot doth uui- 
 ally, in its nature or ciixumrtances, lb natively refer to 
 the falfe flep or courie, that it ierves for a providential 
 memorial of it, bringing tiiC nn, though of an old date, 
 frefh to rem.em.brance, and for a badge of the fmner's 
 folly in word or deed, to keep it ever before him.. When 
 Jacob found Leah, through Laban's unfair dealing, 
 palmed upon him'fbr Rachel, how cculd he niifs of a 
 flinging remembrance cf the cheat he had feven yearr, 
 at leail, before put on his own father, pretending him- 
 feif to be Efaur Gen. xxvii. 19. How cculd it niifs of 
 galling hiim cccafionally aiterwards during the ccurfe of 
 the marriage i He had im.poicd on his fatlier the younger 
 brother for the elder; and Laban impofed on him the 
 elder filler for the younger. The dimnefs of Ifaac's 
 eyes favc ured tlie former cheat ; and tlie darknefs of the 
 evening oid as rr.uch fa\cur tlie latter. So he behoved 
 to fay, as Adoni-bezck in another cafe, judg. i. 7. As I 
 have done^ Jo God hath re quit td rne^ In like manner, 
 Rachel dying in child-birth, could hardly evite a melan- 
 clioly rcficrtion on bicr ralli and paffionate expreilion, 
 mentioned, Gen. xxx. i. Giie me children^ or elfe I die. 
 Even holy Job read in the crook of his lot, fome falfe 
 fteps he had made in his youth many years before. Job 
 xiii. 26. Thou wriiejr litter things again// 7f:e^ and 
 nw.kcji me to pofj^/s tie iniquities of my youth. 
 
 Fourthly , Corrcclion, or puniinment for fm. In no- 
 thing more than in the crook of the lot, is that word 
 verified, Jer. ii. 19. Thine Q-vn-.vickedneJ'sJijall corre^ 
 thee, and thy baehjlldingsJJjall reprove thee. God may, 
 tor a time^ wink at one's fin, vrhich aftcnvard he'll fet 
 
6 The Cv'jok in the Lot, 
 
 a brand of his indignation upon in crooking the fnmer's ' 
 lot, as he did in the cafe of Jacob, and of Rachel, men- ' 
 tioncd before. Though the hn was a palling a^lioii, or ' 
 a courfe of no long continuance, the mark of the divine ' 
 difpleafure for it, let on the fmner in the crook of his : 
 lot, may pain him long and fore, that by repeated ex- ' 
 perience he may know what an* evil and bitter thing it > 
 v/as. David's Icillin*; Uriah by the IVord of the Ammo- \ 
 nites was foonover: but for that caufe //7<fyu'07Y/«ci;cr ' 
 dd parted from l)is hou/e^ 2, Sam. xii. ic. Geiiazi quickly ■ 
 obtained two bags of money frojn Naaman, in the way \ 
 of faltliood and lying; but as a lailing mark of the di- ] 
 vuic indignation againit the profane trick, he got with- ,: 
 al a leprofy which clave to him while he lived, and to | 
 his poilerity after him, 2 Kings v. 27. This may be \ 
 tiie cafe, as well where the fm is pardoned, as to the : 
 guilt of eternal wrath, as wiiere it is not. And one i 
 maj/ have confefled and fincerely repented ol that fm, 
 which yet Ihall make him go halting tp tiie grave, tho' ; 
 it cannot carry liiiji to hell. A man's perf on may be ac- 
 cepted in the i3elovcd, who yet hath a particular badge J 
 of the divine difpleafure, with his lin hung upon him '\ 
 in the crook of his lot, Pfal. xcix. 8. Thou \\^ajt a \ 
 Cod that forgavejr them, though thou tookefi ven- •: 
 gfdnce on their inventions. \ 
 Fifthly y Preventing of iin, Hofea ii. 6. 1 ivill hedge | 
 up thy Wiiywith thornSj and make a ii'all that fie Jhall \ 
 ■ifot find her paths. The crook in the lot will readily be i 
 found toliecrofsto fome wrong bias of the heart, which J 
 peculiarly fways with the party: fo it is like a thorn- ! 
 hedi'^e or wall in the vv^av which that bias inclines him 
 to. The dcfding objects in the world do iJ^ecially take ^ 
 and prove enfnaring, as they are fuited to theparticu- { 
 lar call of temper in men: but by means of the i 
 crook in the lot, the paint and varnifii is wor-n off tlie j 
 defiling objed, whereby it lofcth ics former taking ap- j 
 pearance: fo the fuel being removed, the edge oi'cor- \ 
 rupt affedions is blunted, temptation weakened, and . 
 m.uch fni prevented ; tlie linncr a&er ^/A'/^/m^ ah:rat ffi 
 
The Crook in the lot, 37 
 
 much to change his -way, returning aflame d^ Jcr. ii. 36, 
 37. Thus the Lord crooks one's lot, that /V?72<?_)'U'///'- 
 clravj man from hi r ptirpofi' ; cmd hide pride from ma)i : 
 And fo, he keepcth back his foul from ihe^it^ Job xxxiii. 
 17, 18. Every one knows what is moft pleafant to 
 hhn; but God alone knows what is the raofl profitable. 
 As all men arc liars^ lb all men are fools too : He is the 
 only -wife God^ Jude, ver. 25. INIany are obliged to the 
 crook in their lot, that they go ,not to thofe exceflcs, 
 wliicb their vain minds anti corrupt affeclions would 
 with full fail carry them to ; and they would from, their 
 hearts blels God for making it, if they did but cahnly 
 confider vrhat would moft likely be the iffue o? the re- 
 moval thereof. Yv'hcn one is in hazard of fretting un- 
 der the hardiliip of bearing the crook, he v;ould do 
 xrell to confider wliat condition he is as yet in, for to 
 bear its removal in a Chrifiian manner. 
 
 Sixthly^ Difcovery of the latent corniption,whether 
 in faints or fmncrs. There are fom.e corruptions ine- 
 Vei'y man's heart, wliich lie, as it were, fo near the fur- 
 face, that they are ready on every turn to caft up : but 
 then there are others alfo which lie fo very deep, that 
 thev are fcarccly obfer\'ed at all. But as the hre iinder 
 the pot makes the fcum to caft up, appear a-top, and 
 run over ; fo the crook in the lot raiieth up fi'cni the 
 bottom, and brinpjs out fuch corruDtion as otherwavs 
 one would iiardly imagine to be ^within. Ys ho would 
 have fufpesfled luchltrength of pailion in the m^eekMo- 
 fes as he difcovered at th-e waters cf ftrife, and for which 
 he Vvas kept out of Canaan, Pfalm cvi. 32,33* Numb. 
 XX. 13. So much bitterneis of fpirit in the patient Job, 
 as to charge God vv-ith becoming cruel to hin'i, Job xxx, 
 21. So much ill-nature in the good Jeremiah, as to 
 curie riot only the day of his birth, but even the man 
 who brougnt tijings of it to his father, Jer. xx. 14, 15, 
 Or, fuch a tv.ang of atheifm in- Afaph, as to pronounce 
 religion a v.dn thing, Piblm Ixxiii. 13. But the crook 
 in the lot, bringing out thefe things, fliewea them to 
 '^"f be?"^ within, how long foever they I^d lurked u::- 
 
2^ 7^ Crook in the lot. ; 
 
 obfervei. And as this clcfign, however iricleocnlly i 
 proud fcoffers allcv/ themfelves to treat it, is in no ways ] 
 ir^confiAcnt^ith the divine perfections; fo the difco- ' 
 very itfelf is nectffary for the due h.uni:l:«tioTi of tinners, 
 and to ftain the pride of all glory, that men may kno^" ''- 
 tiiemfelves. Both which appear, in that it was on this ^ 
 very defign that God made the long continued crook in \ 
 Ifrael's lot in the wildernefs ; even to humble them and '\ 
 prove them,to know what was in their lieart, Dent. 8. 2. ' 
 
 Lafrly^ 'Y\\% exercifc of grace in the children of God. 
 Believers, through the reiiiains of indwelling corruption, " 
 are liable to fits of fpiritual lazinefs and ina£livity, in j 
 which their graces lie dormant for the time. Befides, 'i 
 there are fome graces, which, of their own nature, arc ^ 
 but occafional in their exercifes ; as being exercifed on- 
 ly upon occafion of certain things which tliev liaye a 
 neceffary relation to ; fuch as patience and long-fufFer- • 
 ing. Now, the crook in the lot ferves to roufe up a ' 
 Chriflian to the exercife of the graces, o\xrpowered by ; 
 corruptian, and withal to call fertli to aOion,' tlie oc- i 
 cafional graces, miniftering proper occafions for them. \ 
 The truth is, the crook in the lot is the great engine 
 of Providence for making men appear in their true co- j 
 loursj difcovering both their ill and their good; and \ 
 if the grace of God be in them, it will bring it out, and 
 caufe it to difplay itfelf. It fo puts the Chriflian to -^ 
 his Ihifts, thiat however it makes him ilagger for a * 
 while, yet it wdll at length evidence both the reality 
 and the ftrsngth of grace in him. Te are in hccivimfs \ 
 thro' niamfQld tempt ationSy that the trial 'jf your faith ^ ' 
 being much more precious than of gold that perijhcth^ 
 may be foit;:d unto praije^ i Pet. i. 6, 7. The crook | 
 in the lot gives rife to masy afts of faith, hope, love, ' 
 felf-denial, refignation, and other graces; to , many ' 
 heavenly breathings, pantings, longings, and groan- . 
 ings, wliich otherways would not be brought fortli. , 
 And I make no queilioii but tliefe things, howfoever,- l 
 by carnal m.n dif':)ifed as trifling, are more precious in , 
 toe fight of God thaaeven believers tliemlcbes arc a- \ 
 wwrc of, being afbs of in-:n\ediacciiit:ri».;il\Yorilnp: and , 
 
The Crook in the Lot, 39 
 
 will Ivive a furprlfing notice taken of them, and of tl.« 
 fum of them, at long-run, howbeit the pcrfoiis them- 
 felves oftencanharJly think them woPth their own no- 
 tice at all. We know wlio hath faid to the gracious 
 foul, Let me fee thy countenance ; thy crjiintenance is 
 comely^ Song ii. 24. Th^dihajt ravifbtdmy heart 'xnth 
 one of thine eyes, chap. iv. 9. The fteady a£"ting of a 
 gallant army of horfe and foot to the routing of the ene- 
 my, is lugiily prized ; but the afting of holy fear and 
 humble liope, is in reality far mcrd va.luable, as being 
 fo in the fight of God, vvhofe judgment, we are fure, 
 is according to truth. This the Pfalmift teacheth, Pfal. 
 cxlvii. II, 12. He delightith nrA inthe ftrength of the 
 horfe ; he taktih not pleajure in the legs of a man. The 
 Lord tc'keth pleajure in them that fear him, in thofe that 
 hope in his merry. And indeed the exercife of the graces 
 of iiis fpirit in his people, is fo very precious in his 
 fight, that whatever grace any of them do excel in, 
 they will readily get fuch a crook made in their lot, as 
 will be a ipecial trial ^or it, that will m.al^e a proof of its 
 Tull ftrength. Abraham excelled in the grace of faith, 
 in trufting God's bare word of promife, o\Hr the belly 
 cf fenfe : And God giving him a promife, that he would 
 make of him a great nation, made withal a crook in his 
 lot, by which he had enough ado with all the ftrength 
 of his faith ; while he was obliged for good and all to 
 leave his country and kindred, and fojourn among the 
 Canaanites ; i:iis wife continuing barren, till pall: the 
 age of cl-iild-b earing; and when fhe had at length 
 brought forth Ifaac, and he was grown up, he -was cal- 
 led to offer him up for a burnt-offering, the more ex- 
 quihte trial of histaith, that Ilhmael was now expelled 
 his family, and that it v:as aeclarea, 1 liat in IJaac only 
 hi f feed j/jould be culled, Gen. xxi. 12. I'.Gfes luas vcy 
 meek akrive ail the men ivhic h luere upon the face of the 
 eartn. Num. xii. 3. And he was intiufted ^'ith the 
 conuuct of a moft perverie and unnianageatle people, 
 the crook in his lot plainly defigned for the exercife 
 ci his meekncis. jib excelled in patience, jna Lv the 
 
40 The Crook in the Lot. [ 
 
 crook in his lot, he got as much to do with it. For \ 
 
 God gives none of his people. to excel in a gift, but \ 
 
 fome one time or other, he will afford themufe for the i 
 
 whole compafs of it. ] 
 
 Now, the ufe of this doclrine is threefold, (i.) For \ 
 
 reproof. (2.) For confolation. And, (3.) For exhor- ' 
 
 tation. \ 
 
 UJ'e I. Of reproof. And it meets with three forts ! 
 
 of perfons as reprovable. •■ 
 
 i*/V/?, The carnal \m^v earthly^ who do not with awe \ 
 
 and reverence regard the crook in tlieir lot as of God's \ 
 
 making. There is certainly a fignatuie of the divine-: 
 
 hand upon it to be perceived by juft obfervers ; and that ; 
 
 challengeth an avvfal regard, the neglccl of which fore- ■ 
 
 bodes deflru6lion, Pfal. xxviij. 5. Becaufe they regard ■ 
 
 not the vjorks of the Lord, nor the operation of his hands, ] 
 
 th^uf^\'(lt dejiroy the?n, and 720t buitd therri up. And | 
 
 herein they are deeply gui Ity, who poring upon fecond \ 
 
 cauiss, an-j looking no farthiCi- than the unhappy irillru- • 
 
 ments of the crook in their lot, overlooking the firft [ 
 
 caufc, as a dog fnarles at the ilone, but looks not tor" 
 
 tlie hand that caft it. This is, in effect, to make a 
 
 Gbd of the creature ; fo regarding it, as if it could of ; 
 
 itfelfeffeiiuate any thing, while, in the mean time, it i 
 
 is but a.n inltiuiuent in thie hand of God, the rod of his \ 
 
 dnger^ Ifa. x. 5. Orduined of him for judgrnenty efta- \ 
 
 hiijhed for correCiion^Ho.h. i. 12. O! why fliouidmen I 
 
 terminate their vicv7 on the inftrunien!:3 of 'the crook in | 
 
 their lot, and fo magnify their fcourge 3 i The truth is^ \ 
 
 they are, for the molt part, iTithsr to be pitied, as hav- \ 
 
 ing an undeii rablc olrlce, which, for their gratifying their j 
 
 fenfuality, fet themfelves to ciefpife th.e crook in their lot, j 
 
 to maKiiig notiiing of it, and to their own corrupt af~ : 
 
 feclions, in making the crook in the lot of others, re- ; 
 
 turns on their own head at length wdtli a vengeance, as ■ 
 
 diu tf'.e blood of Jezreel on the honje ofjehu^ Hoi", i. 4. ,j 
 
 And it is fpecially undefiraolc to be fo employed in the , 
 
 cafe of fuch as belong to God ; for rarely is the ground 
 
 of the quarrel the ilims on the part of the inftrument as 
 
 on God's part, but very different; witnefs Shinier s .1 
 
The Crook in the Lot. 41 
 
 curfing DiivicI, as a blpody man, meaning the blood of 
 the houfe of Saul, vv-hich he was not guilty of, while 
 God meant it of the blood of Uriah, which he coulJ 
 not deny, 2 Sam. xvi. 7, 8. Moreover, the quarrel 
 will be, at long nan, taken up between God and his 
 people ; and then their fcourgers will find they had but 
 a thrxnklefs office, Zech. i. 1 5. Ivja^hut a little di'pkaf' 
 edy and they hdpedfor-jjardthe affliclion^ faith God, in 
 refentmentof the heathen crooking the lot of his people. 
 In like manner are tney guilty, who impute the crook; 
 in their lot to fortune, or their ill-luck, which in veiy 
 deed is nothing but a creature of imagination, framed 
 for a blind to keep men from acknowledging the hand 
 of God. Thus, what the Pniliftines doubted, they do 
 more impiou.ly determine, faying, in effeft, It is not 
 his hand t hat Jmote iis^it ivas a chance that hapfenedus^ 
 I SaiTi. vi. 9. And, finally, thofe alio, who, in the 
 way of giving up themielves to carnal mirth and fenfu- 
 ality, fet tliemfelves to defpife the crook in their lot, 
 to make nut-ning of it, and to forget it. I qucftion 
 not, but one committing his cafe to the Lord, and 
 loo'drrg to him for remedy in the firft place, may b.w- 
 fuUy call in the mcd-rate ufe of the comforts of life, 
 for help in the feconi place. But as for that courfe 
 fo frequent and urualinthis cafe among carnal men, if 
 tlie crook of the lot really be, as indeed it is, of Goa's 
 making., it livaft needs be a molt indecent unbecoirdng: 
 courfe, to be abhorred of all good men, Prov. iii. i\^ 
 My fin^ de/pife not the^chaj.enmg of the lord. It is 
 furcly a very defperate methoa of care, wliich cannot 
 mils of liTumg m i'ornethingworfc than the dii'eafe, hoNV^- 
 ever it m.ay palliate it for awhile, Ifa. xxii. \%^ 14.^ 
 In that day aid the Lord God of hfls call 10 -jJteplng 
 an-.t fo niourring, and beheld joy and ^Lidntfi, eating, 
 f fc and drinhing wine r y^nd it ivas rtveakd in nine 
 ears^ hy the Lord of hofii^ f^^'d}' thi^ iniquity JhaW 
 ■ not be purged jiom you till ye die. 
 
 Secondly^ T h& t^n/ub?nij/vey vfho^c hs2irt&^ like CHc^ 
 Oxmrled ('.^ fwell and boil, fi-et and mm^mui^ £gajl 
 . i^M^ 
 
41 The Cro:': In ihe L'i:. 
 
 cannot be at refi under the crook In their lot. This i 
 a mod fmiul ani dangerous courfe. Th.e apoftle jude, ; 
 charaflcrifing fo'iie, to whom is referved the blacknefs of ] 
 darknefs for ever^ ver. i. faith of thcEi, ver. i6, Thefe 
 G.remurmure?'s^ coriiplainers ; nainely,ftill complaining 
 of their lot, which is the import of the word there ufed 
 by the Holy Ghofl. For, fince the crook in their lot, 
 which their unfubdued ipirits can by no means fubiTjit 
 to, is of God's making, this their praftice mui\ needs 
 be a fighting againft God : and thefe their complainings 
 and murmurings are indeed againft him, whatever face 
 they put upon them. Thus when the Ifraelites mur- 
 mured againll Mofes, Numb. xiv. 2. God cliarges tiicm 
 with murmuring againft himfelf: Hrrv longjljull J hear 
 rvith t4ns evil congregation^^vhich mirrrnurtd agabijt rm P 
 ver. 27. Ah! may not he who made and fafaioned us, 
 without our advice, be allowed to make cur let too, 
 >vithout aiking our mdnd, but we m.uft riic up againft 
 him on account of the crook made in it? What -doth 
 this {jDcak, but thiat th£ proud creature cannot endure 
 Ood's work, nv^r digeft what he hath done ? And how 
 black and dangerous is that temper of fpirit? How is 
 it poilible to inifs of being broken to pieces in fuch a 
 courfe? He h --jolfe hi htJ.rt^ and mighty injirength: 
 ]Vho hath hardened hhnfelf againjt him, and hath 
 fyrfperedP Job ix. 4. 
 
 Lajily^ The carelefs ana unfnutfuU '^dio do not fet 
 tjiemiclves dutifally to comply with the defign oi the 
 crook in tjheir lot. God andn^ture do nothing in vain. 
 Since he niakes the crook, there is, doubtlefs, a be- 
 coming dcfign in it, which we. arc obliged ia duty to 
 fail in with, according to that, Micah.vi. 9.. Hear ye 
 the rod. And, indeed, if one fliut not his own eyes, 
 but be wilJing to underiland, he may ealiiy perceive 
 the general defign tliercof to be, to wean him from tins 
 :forld, and mpve him to feck and take up ids heart's, 
 reft in God. And the nature,, and the circujnfl.uices 
 of the crook itfelf being duly confidercd, it will not be 
 veiy hard, to make a more particular uifcovcry of ti}e dc- 
 %x\ thereof.. But, ahs.l. llis. careleis. linner» lunk in 
 
fpirltoal noth and- O-upijity, is in !]o concern tc difco- 
 ver the ctefign of Previdence in the crcok ; fo he cannc;t 
 fell in with it, but reinains unfruitful ; and all the pains 
 taken on him, by the great hufcandmar, in the difpen- 
 fation, are loil. 7 hey cry out by reafon r^fihe arm ^jfthe 
 ?;7ij^^/;/>', groaning under the prelTure of the crook itfelf, 
 and weigjit of the hand of the inftrument thereof: But 
 n^ne faith^ Where h Gcd my maker P they look not, 
 :hey turn not unto God for s-.ll that, job xxxv, 9, ic. 
 UJ'e-i, 0[ confoLitioiu it fpesiks comfort to the af- 
 Hirted children ojf God. Whatever is the crook in your 
 lot. it is oi God's making; and therefore you nnay look 
 upon it kindly. Since it is your Father has made it for 
 you, quefVion not but there is a favourable defign in it 
 towards you. A difcreet child \velcometh his father's 
 rod, knowing that being a father, he fceks his benefit 
 thereby: and ftiail not God's children welccme the 
 croox in their lot, as deilgned by their Father, who 
 cannot uiiitaiiehis racafures to work for tlicir good, ac- 
 cording to the proiniiei' Thetiruthis, the crook in tl;e. 
 iat of a believer, how painful foeverit proves, is apart 
 of the difcipline of the covenant, tb.e nurture fecured 
 by the proraife of the Fatlier to Chrift's children^ 
 PfahnlxxKix. 30, 3a. // /^i-f childreii forfake my Unu^ 
 and walk not in niy jiulginents^ then ■will I "oijit their 
 tranJgrcJj.iinswi,hti)erod, P^artl lennore, all wlio are' 
 difpofed to betake thcinielvcs to God, under the crook 
 m their lot, may take comfort in this, let them know 
 that there, is no crook in tlieir lot, but may be made 
 ftiuigiit; for God made it, iurely then he can mend it. 
 He liimfclf can make draight what he hatii made crook- 
 ed, thou^jii none other can.. Tixcre is nothing too 
 h'.ra foi iiim to do : ' ilc raifctii up the poor cut of tlie 
 <•' uuit, anu. iiitetli the needy out of the dunghill -, that 
 " he may let him with priixcs, lie maketh tiie barren 
 " woman to keep hou.e, and to be a joyful riiother of 
 " chiL.ren," Flalni cxhi. 7 — 9.* Say not that ycur 
 GrooK hatn been of lo long continuance,, that it v,ill 
 never j-uend* Put it in tiie iiafid of God,, who made it,, 
 
44 The Crook in the Ic/. 
 
 that he may mend it, nnd wait on him: and if it be for 
 thy good, that it (liould be mended, it Qiall be mend- 
 ed; for, 710 good thing will he withhold frfjjn them that 
 vjalk up-right iy^ Pfal. hcxxiv. ii. 
 
 Ufe laft, Oi exhortation. Since the crook intlie let 
 is of God's making, then, eyeing the hand of God in 
 your's, be reconciled to it, and fubmit under it, what- 
 ever it is ; I fay, eyeing the hand of God in it, for other- 
 wife your fubrailhon under the crook in your lot can- 
 not be a Chrillian fubmillion, acceptable to God, hav- 
 ing no reference to him as your party in the matter. 
 
 Ohje^. I. But fo:ne will fa.y, ' The crook in my lot 
 ' is from the hand of the creature ; and fuch a one too 
 ' as I deferved no fucli treatment from.' 
 
 An^. From what hath been already faid, it appears, 
 that although the crook in thy lot be indeed im.mcdiate- 
 ly from the creature's hand, 3''et it is mediately from 
 tlie hand of God; there being nothing of that k^nd, no 
 penal evil, but the Lord hath done it. Ti:ierefcre,'.vith- 
 out all peradventure, Cyo^ himfelf is thy principal party 
 whoever be the lefs principal. And albeit thou haft 
 not deferved thy crook at the hand of the initiument 
 or inftruments which he m.akes ufe oi for thy correc- 
 tion, thou certainly defervefl; it at his hand ; and he may 
 ma^e ufe of what inftrument he will in the matter, or 
 may do it immediately by himfelf, even as feems g^3od 
 in nis fight. 
 
 ( bjeCi. 2. ' But the crook in my lot might quickly 
 ' be cvenea, if the uifti-ument or inltruments thei t;- 
 * of pieaied; only there is r^o dealing witn them, fo as 
 ' to convince them of their fault in inaking it.' 
 
 JfiA If It is fo, be fare God's time is not as yet come, 
 that that crook fliould be evened; for, if it were come, 
 though they idand now like an impregnable fort, tlicy 
 woul i give way like a fandy bank under one's feet ; 
 they Ihould how down to thee with their fare toward the 
 ea> thy and lick up the^uji of thy feet, Ifa. xlix. 23. Mean 
 while, that flate of the matter is fo far from juuifydng 
 ciie'snot eyeing the hand ofGod in thecrooK iatlielot,,. 
 
Tke Crbok in tke L^t. 45 
 
 that it makes a piece of trial in which his hiand ver^-e- 
 miner.tly appears, namely^ that men (liould be fignaUy 
 injurious and burdenfome to others, yet by no means 
 fufceptible of conviclion. This vras the trial of the 
 church from her adveriaries, Jer. 1. 7. All that f%iind 
 them have devoured them; arid their adverfaries faid^W e 
 offend not ^hecaufe they have finned egainji the Lor d^ the 
 habitation ofjujiice. They were very abufive, and gave 
 her barbarous ufage ; yet v/culd they take v\ith no fault 
 in the matter. How could they ward off the convic- 
 tion ? Were they verily blamelefs in their devouring the 
 Lord's ftra)dng Iheep .^ iST^^furely; they were not. Did 
 they look upon themfelves as ininifbers of the di\^ne 
 jui\ice againil her? No: th^y did not. 
 
 Some indeed would make a -c^uc^on here, How the 
 advcrfaries of the church could celeb rr.te her God as the 
 habitation of jullice? But the original pointing of the 
 text being retained, it appears, that there is no ground 
 at all for this queilion here, and withal the whole ^nat- 
 ter is fet in a clear light. Jll that found them have de* 
 voured them; and their adverfarits faid^ IV e offend not: 
 becaufe they have fnned againfi the L-jrd^ the habitctioji 
 ofjujiice. Thefe la 11 are not the words of the advcrfa- 
 ries, but the words of the prophet, (hevving how it came 
 to paf^ that the advcrfaries devoured the Lord's fheep, 
 as they lighted on them, and withal ftood to the de- 
 fence of it, when they had done, far from acknov/ledg- 
 iug any wrong; the m.atter lay here, the fncepiiadnn- 
 ned againil the Lord, the habitation of jufucej and, as 
 a juil puniiliment hereof from, his hand, they could iiave 
 no juiVIce at the hand of his aiverfaries. 
 
 Vv'herefore, laying ande thcfe inv olous pretencesjand 
 eyeing the hand of God, as tha,t which hath b^A,ed 
 your lot in that part, and keeps it in the bow, be le- 
 conciled to, and fubmit under the crook, vrhatever it 
 is, faying from the heart, Iruly thins a grief an:. I 
 muji hear it, jer. x. it^. And to move you hereunto, 
 confider. H 
 
 I. It is a duty you o^tc to God, as ^'our fovcr.'gi 
 
46 Thi Crook In the Lot. 
 
 Lord and Benefador. His Sovereignty challeno-cth our 
 fiibmiffion ; and it can in no cafe be meannefs of fpirit 
 to fubmit unto the crook which his hand hath made in 
 our lot, and to go quietly under the yoke that he hath 
 laid on; but it is really inadnefs for the potfhsrds of the 
 earth, by their turbulent andrefradoiy carriao-e under 
 it, to flrive with their Maker. And his oeneficenceto 
 us, ill-deferving creatures, may well ftop-our mouths 
 from our complaining of his making a crook in our lot, 
 who had done us no wrong "had he m.ade the whole of 
 it crooked ; Shall we receive g'^od at the hand of God, 
 and Jhall lue not receive evil F Job ii. lo. 
 
 2.. It is an unalterable ftatute, for the time of this life, 
 that no body fliall li^.tw/ a crook in their lot; for man is 
 lorn unto trouble e*.s the /parks ,iy upvjard.joh v. 7. 
 And thofe who are defigned for heaven, are in a fpecial 
 manner, affuredof a crook in their's,that in the ivorid 
 they Jh all have t>ibulation- John xvi. 33. for by means 
 thereof the Lord jnakes tiiera meet for heaven. And 's 
 how can you imagine that you fliall le exempted from < 
 the common lot ofmankmd? Shall the rock be removed \ 
 cut of his fl ace for thee? And fmce God makes the ' 
 croGKS in men's lot, according to the different exi:^cnce ' 
 of their cafes, you may be furethat your's is neceilary '\ 
 for you. 
 
 P>^3. A crook in the lot, which one can by no meaiii .; 
 fubmit to, makes a condition of all things the likeft to .] 
 that in hell. For theit'e a yoke, which the wretched ': 
 fta.fc rers can neither bear nor (hake olf,is wreathed about \ 
 their necks ; tlicre the ahnisrhtv arm draws ao:ainft ! 
 them, and they agamft it; there they are ever fufle ring j 
 and ever finning ; itili in the furnace, but tlieir drofs ■ 
 not confumed, nor they purified. Even iucii is t;.e ' 
 cafe of tiioie vvhc now cannot fubmit under the crook ; 
 in their lot. 
 
 4. Great is the lofs by not fubmitting under it. The ' 
 crooiv in tlie let, iiglitlyimproven, hatii turned to the \ 
 belt account, and maHc tiie bcft time to fome that ever ' 
 they liad all tacir life long, as the PiahniA from Ifis ov/n I 
 
The Crook in the Lot. 47 
 
 experience teftifies, Pfal. cxix. 67. Before J was ajfii^' 
 ed 1 ".vent aj:ray : But nfrjj have I kept thy word. There 
 are many now in heaven, who are blelling God for the 
 crook they had in tiicir lot here. What a fad thing 
 muft it then be to lofe this teeth-wind for ImmanueFs 
 landr But if the crook in thy lot do thee no good, be 
 lure it will not mifsof doing thee great damage; it will 
 hugely increafe guilt, and aggravate thy condemnation, 
 while it iliall for ever cut thee to the he?irt, to think of 
 the pains taken on thee, by means of the crook in the 
 lot,, to wean tliee from the world, and bring thee to 
 God, but all in vain. Take heed, tlicrcfore, ho-w you 
 manage it, Left — thou mourn at the laft, — and fay, 
 I H$-Ji have / hated inftruclion, and my heart dejpij'ed 
 reproof f Prov. v, 10, 11, 12. 
 
 DocT. 11. JVhat Gnd fees meet to mar^ we will not 
 he able to mend in our lot. JVhat crook Cod 
 wake^ in our lot, we will n^t he able to even. — 
 AVe Puall iiere, 
 
 I. Shew- God's marring and making a crook in one^s 
 lot, as h.e fees meet. 
 
 II. We fliall confider men's attempting to mend ox' 
 even that crook in thicir lot. 
 
 IIL In what fenfe it is tobeunderftood, that we Vviil 
 not be able to mend, or even the crook in our lot. 
 IV. Render fome reafons of the pohit. 
 
 I. As to the firft head, narneiy. Shew God's mar- 
 ring and making a crook in one's lot, as he f^es meet. 
 
 Firfy God keeps the choice of eveiy one's crook to 
 hlmfcir. and therein he exerts his fovereignty. Matt, 
 xx:. 15. It 13 not left to our option what that crook 
 fiiall be, or what our peculiar burden ; but as the pot- 
 ter makes of the fame clay one velTcl for one ufe, an©- 
 ther for another ufe ; fo God makes one crook for one, 
 \3other for anoth.er,accordiiigto Ids own will aedplea- 
 
43 Tke Crook in the Let, 
 
 fure, PfaLn cxxxv. 6. Whafforjer the Lsrd pleafed, 
 that did hey iji heaven and in earth, err. 
 
 Secondly, He fees and obfei'ves the ^/V/j of every one's 
 •.vill and inclination how it lies, and wherein it efpecial- 
 
 ly bends away from ifimfelf, and confequently wherein ' 
 it needs the fpscial bow ; fo he did in that man's cafe, 
 Ivlark X. 2, 1 . One thing thou lackejt; go thy^jcay.f'ell-.vhat- 
 
 foever thou haft, and give it to the poor ^ ^c. Obferve : 
 
 the bent of ms heart to hisgi-eat poffelTions. He takes ; 
 
 notice what is that idol that in every one's cafe is moft \ 
 
 apt to be his rival, that fo lie n:ay fuit the tnal to the I 
 
 cafe, making tlie crook there. ; 
 
 Thirdly y Bv tlie condud of his providence, or a 
 
 touch of his hand, he gives that part of one's lot a ho'JJ ' 
 
 the contrary way; fo that henceforth it lies quite con- , 
 
 trarv to that bias of the party's will, Ezck. xxiv. 25. ] 
 
 And here the trial is made, the bent of the will lying ! 
 
 one way, and that part of one's lot anotlier, that it j 
 
 does not anf\ver the inclination of the part)', bu'c ' 
 
 thwarts with it. j 
 
 Lajily. He vvills that crook in the lotto rt-7r?^/;fw]iih:-. ! 
 
 he fees mcec, for longer or ihorter time, jiift according \ 
 
 to his o-.vn holy en:k he dcfigns it for, 2 Sam. xii. 10. \ 
 
 H)f. V. 15. By that will it is fo fixed, that the whole ; 
 
 creation cannot cdtcr it, or put it, out of tiie bow. - J 
 
 H. Vv e liiall confider men's attempting to mend or i 
 even that crook in their lot. Tliis, in a word, lies in 
 
 their making efrbrls to bring their lot in that point to \ 
 
 their own will, that they m.ay both go one way; fo it - 
 imports three tlui.gs : 
 
 Firjt^ A certain uneafhiefsMni'wi: the crook in the lot ; 
 
 it is a yoke which is hard for the party to bear, till his j 
 
 fpirit be tamed and fubdued, Jer. xxxi. 18. Thou hoji * 
 
 chiy}i('tdme, and I zvas chaj/ijfd,as ahulhckiniaccuf' r 
 
 i'jrnedioihc yoke : Turn thou me, and I fJj all be turned, ' 
 
 tj-f . Aiid it is fc-r the breaking ilown of the weight ofone's ^ 
 
 f<ji ri t that G ^d lav; it on ; for whiffii caule it is de«lared to : 
 
7/;c Crook in the La, 4f 
 
 be a good thing to bear it, Lam. iii. 27. thftt being 
 the way to make one at length as a weaned child. 
 
 Secondly^ A flrong c/tjire to have the crofs removed, 
 and to have matters in that part going according to our 
 inclinations. This is very natural, nature defiring to be 
 freed from every thing that is burdcnfome or crofs to it ; 
 and if that defire be kept in a due fubordination to the 
 xNiU of God, and be ]ict too peremptory, it is not fuiful, 
 Matt. xxvi. 39. Jfit be poj/^hle, let this cup pa/sf ran 
 me ; never t he Ufs'y not as 1 wi/I^'hc. Hence fo many 
 accepted prayers of the people of God, for the remo- 
 val of the crook in th.e lot. 
 
 La/Hy^ An earneii ufe of means for thiat end. This 
 natively follov.'s on tht.t defire. Tiie man, being jn'ef- 
 fed with the crofs, which is his crook, labours all he 
 can in the ufs of means to be rid of it. And if the 
 means ufed be lawful, and not relied upon, but follov.-- 
 ei with an eye to God in them, the attempt is not fm- 
 ful either, v/hether he fucceed in the ufii of them or 
 not. 
 
 Ill, In what y? .»;/^-' it is to be undcrftocd, that wc 
 will not be able to mend or e^'en the crook in cur lot. 
 
 Negatively^ It is not to be underftood, as if the cafe- 
 were abfolutely hcpclefs^ and that there is no rem.edv 
 for the crook in the lot. For there is no cafe fo defpe- 
 rate but God may right it,' Gen. xviii. 14. // c:ny thnr.g 
 too hard for the LordP When the crook has continued 
 long, and fpurned ail remedies one has ufed for it, one 
 is ready to lofe hope about it ; but many a crocki^ giv- 
 en over for hopelefs that would never men:l, God has 
 made perfe»ftly ftraight, as iji Job's cale. But, 
 
 Pojitively^ We Vvill never be able to mend it bv" ouV' 
 felves ; if the Lord him.felf take it not in hu A to re- 
 move it, it v/iU (land before us imrnxOveaKle, like a 
 mountain of brafs, though perhaps it may Idc in itielt 
 a thing that might caiily be removed. W e take it up 
 in thefe three things : 
 
 T. It frill never <io by the mtvc force cf our,j'^-rid 
 
50 The Cry.k in the Lot. 
 
 I Sam. ii. .9. — For, hyf.rcngthjhdl no man prevail — 
 The mofi vigorous endeavours we can ufe v.- ill not e- 
 ven the crook, if God give it not a touch of his hand ; 
 fo that all endeavours tliat v/ay, witliout an eve to God, 
 are vain and fnTitlefs, and v^'ill be but plo\vmg on the 
 rock, Pfalm cxxvii. i, 2. 
 
 2,. 'f lie ufe of all allowa.ble means, for it will he fuc- 
 cefikfsMTilcis the Lord bleis tliem for that end, Lam. 
 iii. 37. Who is he thatj'alth^ and it cometh to pafs^ when 
 the Lord commandeth it not P As one may eat, and not 
 be fatisiied, fo one may ufe means proper for evening 
 the crook in his lot, and yet prevail nothing; for no- 
 thing can be or do for us any more than God makes it to 
 be or do, Eccl. is. 11. The race is nor to the fivift^ nor 
 the hattle to the Jlrong ; neither ytt bread to the ivife, 
 nor yet riches to men tf under ft ayidlng^ &c. 
 
 3. It will never do in our time, but in God's time, 
 which feldom is fo early as ours, John vii. 6. — My 
 time is not yet come, but your time is ahuays ready, 
 Hen:e that crook remains fometimes immoveable, as 
 if it v;ere kept by an invifible hand ; and at another 
 time it goes away with a touch, becaufe God's time is 
 come for evening- it. 
 
 IV. We fnall now affgn the reafons of the point. 
 
 i/?, Becaufe of the abfolute dependence we have u[> 
 on God, Acls xvii. 28. As the light depends on the 
 fun, or the fnadovN^ on the body, fo we depend on God, 
 without lam can do nothing great or Imall. And 
 
 an 
 
 God will have us to find it fo, to teach us our depen- 
 dence. 
 
 'xdly^ Becaufis his. will is irreffiihle^ Ifa. xlvi. 10, 
 My cou'nfel Jlj^ll Jt itnd^ and 1 will do all my pleafure* 
 When God wills one thing, and tlie creature the con- 
 trary, it is eafy to fee which will mull be done. — 
 WT'iKn the omnipotent arm holds, in vain does the 
 creature draw, Job ix. 4. — Who hath hardencd-himf elf 
 againji him and prof per edp 
 
 Inference i. There is a nccejfity of yielding ani 
 
The Crook in fhf Lot. 51 
 
 fabrnktinT: under the crook in our lot ; for v/e may a<j 
 well think to remove the rocks and mountains, which 
 God lias fettled, as to make that part of our lot ftraight 
 wliich he hath made crooked. 
 
 2. The evening the crook in our lot, by main forces 
 of our own, is but a cheat* we put on ourieives, and 
 will not laft, but like a Hick by m.ain force made 
 flraigiit, it will quickly return to the bow again. 
 
 3. The only habile way of getting the crook even- 
 ed is to apply to God for it. 
 
 Exhortation i. Let us then apply to God for re- 
 moving any crook in our lot, that in the fettled order 
 of things may be removed. Men cannot ceafe to de- 
 fire the removal of a crook, more than that of a thorn 
 in the fiern ; but, fmce we are not able to mend what 
 God fees meet to mar, it is evident we are to apply 
 to him that made it to mend it, and not take the even* 
 ing of it in our own hand. 
 
 Alotive I . All our attempts for its removal will, with- 
 out him, be i;^/M and/r^^i/Ayjr, Pfalm cxxvii. i. Let us 
 be as refolute as we will to have it evened, if God fay 
 it not, we wall labour in vain, Lam. iii. 37. Iiovv^fce- 
 ever fair the means we ufe bid for it, they will be in- 
 effe^Ilaal if he command not the blcning, Eccl. ix. 11. 
 
 2. Such attempts will readily make it worje. No- 
 thing is more ordinary, than for a proud fpirit, ftriving 
 with the crook, to ma^e it more crooked, Eccl. x. 8. 
 IVhofo breakefh a hedge, a Jtrpent JhcHl bite ijim. — 
 \ er. 9. Whofo rcmovethjionesjlnill be hurt therewith^ 
 &c. Tliisis evident in the cafe of the murmurers in 
 the wildernefs. It natively com.es to be fo ; becaufe, 
 at tnat rate, the will of the party bends fartlier away 
 iro]n it, and moreover God is provoked to wreath the 
 Y'^'^^ tiie failer about one's neck, that he will by no 
 means Jet it fit eafy on him. 
 
 2. Tiiere is no crook but what may be remedied hy 
 i;'im, and made perfe^ly ftraight, Pial. cxlvi. 8. The 
 ^ora ruifeth them that arc h oivcddo iuh, &:c. He can ruife 
 E 2 
 
52 The CrorA In the Ut, * ' 
 
 the olclcfl fit-faft, conceirnlng which there retnains no : 
 hope with us, Rom. iv. 17. Whf) quicktneth the dead, ] 
 and caileth thofe things luhlch he not^ as though they \ 
 1X3 ere. It is his prerogative to do wonders ; to begin a ' 
 work, v/here the whole creation gives it over as hope- ■ 
 lef?, and carry it on to perfection, Gen. xviii. 14. 1 
 
 4. He loves to be emplo3^ed in evening crooli, and '' 
 calls us to employ him that way, Pfal. 1. \^^. Call upon \ 
 me in the day of trouble^ and I -will deliver thee^ &c. ^ 
 
 . He makes them for that very end, that he may bring -i 
 us to hhii on tliat errand, and may maniieil his power \ 
 and goodnefs in evening of them, Hof. v. 15. The ! 
 flraits of the children of men afford a large field for ' 
 difplaying his^ glorious perfeaions, which otherwifc ^ 
 would be v/anting, Exod. xv. 11. ' 
 
 5. A crook thus got evened is a double mercy. There 
 are fome crooks evened by a touch of the hand of common ; 
 providence, v/hile people are cither not exercifcd about ; 
 them, or when tiiey fret for their removal; tliefe are .J 
 iaplefs mercies, and iliort lived, Pial. Ixxviii. 30^ 31. — | 
 Hof. xiii. II. Fruits thus too hafiily plucked oif the \ 
 tree of providence can hardly mifs to fet the teeth on : 
 edge, and will certainly be bitter to the gracious foul. \ 
 But, O the fweet of the evening of the crook get by a ■ 
 humble applicalion to, and v/aiting on the Lord ! It has \ 
 the image ajid fuperfcription of divine favour upon it, \ 
 which makes it bulky and valuable, Gen. xxxiii. 10. — - 
 For therefore I havefeen thy face, as though I had i 
 
 Jee7i the face of Cod^ &c. Chap, xxi. 6. * ' 
 
 6. God has fignalifed his favour to his dearej} chiU ' 
 dren^ in making and mending notable crooks in their lor. , 
 His darling ones ordinarily have the greatell erooVs \ 
 made in tlieir lot, Hcb. xii. 6. But then they make ■ 
 way for their richeft experiences in the removal of them i 
 upon their application to him. This is clear froin the 1 
 cafe of Abraham, Jacob, and Tofeph. Which of the \ 
 patriarchs had fo great crooks as they? but which o'i 
 them, on the other hand, had fo fignal tokens of the , 
 divine favour? The greatefl of men, as Samfon and ; 
 the j^aptilt, have been born of wo.ncn, n:iiur&lly bar- \ 
 
The Crook in the Lot. 53 
 
 Tcn ; io do the greatefi; crooks iffue in the richefl mer- 
 cies to tljeni that arc exerciled thereby. 
 
 7. It is the fhorteji 2.\\^ furejiw^y to go (Iraight to 
 God with the crook in the lot. If we woula iia\'e our 
 wilh in that point, we muil, as the eagle, firlt icar a- 
 loit, and then come down on tlie prey, Mark v. 36. 
 Oar faithlcfs out-of-the-way attempts to even the 
 crook, are our fool's hafte, that is no fpeed; as in the 
 cafe of Abraham's going in toHagar. God is the firfl 
 mover., who fets all the wheels in motion for evering 
 the crook, the wdiich without him will remain immo- 
 veable, Hof. ii. 21, 22. 
 
 Object. I. ' But it is needlefs, for I fee, that though 
 ' the crook in my lot may mend, yet I will never mend. 
 ' In its own nature it is capable of being removed, 
 < but it is plain, it is not to be removed, it is hopelefs.' 
 
 /Inf. Tiiat is the language of unbelieving hafte, 
 which faith ana patience ihould corred, Pfal. cxvi. 11, 
 12. Abraaaiu hai-as>much to lay for the hopeleiTnefs 
 of his crook, but yd iie applies to God in faith for the 
 menimg of it, irlom. iv. ly, 20. Sarah had made fuch 
 a cGn-laiion,.or whicii 111 e was rebuked, Gen, xviii. 13,- 
 14. Notaiiig can ma-^e it needlefs in iuch a cafe to 
 apply to Gou. 
 
 Ohjt^. 2. '■ But I have applied to him again and a- 
 ' gam for it, yet it is never menaed.' 
 
 Jnf. Delays are not denials of iuits at the court of 
 heaven, but trials of the faith and p:- dence of the peti- 
 tioners. And whofo will hang on will certainly come 
 fpeed at long-run, Luke xviii. 7, 8, 31;- ^nd Jhall not- 
 Godavtnge his own ei^d?y luLic/j cry d^y ^nd night unto' 
 him, though he bear l^.ng with ths7n P ver, 8. 1 tell you 
 that he"vilt ave7ige t/jei?! fpeedily. Sometimes indeed 
 folks growpettiili, in the cafe of the crook in the lot,. ^ 
 and let it drop out in their prayers, in a courfe of d^- 
 fpondency, while yet it continues uneafy tothem ; but,? 
 if God mnid to even it in mercy, lie will oblige them to> 
 take it in again mto them,;Ezek. xxxvi, 37. J wilt' yet- 
 for this bi: ertquired of by the houfe of Jfraek to do it- f of 
 
54 'J^he Crook in the Lot. 
 
 them, he. If the removal come, while it is dropt, there 
 will be little co.xfort in it : though it were never to be 
 removed while we live, that lliould not cut oiF our ap- 
 plying to God for the removal ; for there are many pray- 
 ers not to be anfwered till we come to the other worf J, 
 and there all v,-ill be anfwered at once, P^om.. vii. 24. 
 
 D'tre^ions fo?' right managing the appUcaii jn for re- 
 niTJing the crook m the lot. 
 
 1. Pray for it, Ezek. xxxvi. 37. And pray in faith, 
 believing that, for. the fake of Jefus you (ball certainly ] 
 obtain at length, and in this life too, if it is good for j 
 you.; but without pcradventure in the other life. Matt/ ' 
 xxi. 22... They will not be dif appointed that get the 
 fong of Mofes and of the Lamb, Rev. xv. 3. And, in | 
 fom.e cafes of that nature, extraordinary prayer, with 
 fafting, is very expedient, Matt. xvii. 21. ,. 
 
 2. //ww/7/e yourfelves under it, as -the yoke v.hich h 
 the fovereign hand has laid on you, Micah \ii, 9. /•; 
 ^jo'ill hear ihe indignation of the Lord, becaufe 1 have \ 
 finned again ft himy he- Juftify God, condemn your-*j 
 
 "jelVwS, kifs the.rod, and go quietly under it ; this is-,, 
 the mofl feafible way to get rid of it, James iv. 10. — i 
 When tlie bullock is broken and tamed, as accuftom- *j 
 ed to the yoke, then it is taken off, the end being pb- -; 
 tainei, Plal. x. 17. Thou -ivilt prepare their- hearty ,' 
 ihou "Jjilt caufe thine ear to hear. , j 
 
 '^. Wait on patiently till, the hand that made it mend >l 
 if, i\al. x:xvii. .14. .Do not give up the matter as hope- . 
 Iqfs, becaufe you are not fo foon relieved as you w^ould ; ;; 
 h {it let patience have her perfe<5} -work, that ye may he - 
 terfed and entire, .ixj anting nothing, James i. 4. — J 
 t^eave tlv" timing of the deliverance. to the Lord; his jj 
 time '.vUl at length, to .convi£lion, appear the bcfi, and » 
 it; will. not go beyond it, Ifaiah Ix. 22.../ the Lord will ^ 
 h-iflen it in his. time: waiting on him, you will not.be : 
 dUappointCvl. For ihey ^fiall.riQ.the a/l.amed tliat ivait.t 
 /^,r /?z^, IfAiph.xlix..23^/ 
 
Ths Crtiok in- the Lot. ^S 
 
 Exhoi'tatlon z. What crook there is, that, ni the fet- 
 tle! order of things, cannot be got removed or evened 
 in this world, let us apply to God for fuitable relief 
 under it. For inflanee, the corarrion crook in tiic lot of 
 faints, viz. indvv elling fm ; as God has made that crock 
 not to be removed here, he can certainly balance it, 
 and afford relief under it. Tbie fame is to befaid of a- 
 ny crook, while it remains unremovcd. In both cafes 
 apply yourfelf to God, for-raakirg up your Icflcs ano- 
 ther way. .And there are five things I vvoujd have you. 
 to keep in view, and aim at here. 
 
 I. To take Godin ChriJi^oVi, andinfl-ead of that thing, . 
 the with-holding or taking away of which from you 
 makes the crook in your lot, Pfal. cxlii. 4, 5. Thcre-. 
 is never a crook God makes in our lot, but it is in ef- 
 fect heaven's offer of a bleft exchange to 133 ; fuch as 
 ^Nlark X. 21. Sell xvhatfoevcr thou hajiy and thou J1: a It 
 haz'C trecijure in. hecwen, . In mxanaging of which ex- 
 change, God firll puts out- his hand, and. takes away 
 feme earthly thing from us; and it is expefted vre^put 
 ■ out our hand next, and take fome heavenly thing from 
 iijm in the (lead of it, and particularly, his Chrift. — 
 Wherefore, has God emptied your left-hand of fuch and 
 fuch an earthly comfort? Stretch out your right-hand 
 to God in Ghrift, take him in the room of it, and 
 w-clcorae. . Therefore the foul's clofing with Chrift is 
 called buying, wherein parting v/ith one thing, we get 
 another in its flead. Matt. xiii. 45. The kingdom of 
 heaven is like unto a nierchdnt-man feeking goodly 
 pearls : ver. 46. . IV ho^ ii"J:en he had frjund cne pear I 
 of great price^ he ^jccnt and fold ell that he h^d and 
 hjvgh: it. . Do this, and you will be more than even 
 hands with the crook in your lot. 
 
 2,. Look for the//r£'/2wj running as full from him as 
 ever it did or could run, when the crook of the lot has 
 dried it» This is the work of faith, confidently to hang 
 on for that from God which is denied us from the crea- 
 ture, hihen my Juthcr and mother forfake me^then the 
 J^rd IV ill tah.jne up^ Pfal. xxvii. lOt . This is a raoCt; 
 
.56 The Croo k in the Lot. 
 
 rational expeitatlon : for it is certain, there is no good ; 
 in the creature but what is from God: therefore tiiere \ 
 15 no good to be found in tlie creature, the ftream, but '■ 
 what may be got immediately from God, the fountain. 1 
 And O ! but it is a welcome plea, to ccrne to God \ 
 and fay, Now, Lord, thou haft taken away from me ^ 
 fuch a creature-comfort, I mull; have as good from ; 
 thyfelf. ; 
 
 3. The fpriiual fruits of the crook in the lot, Heb. \ 
 xii. II. We fee the way in the world is, when one,' 
 trade tails, to fall on and drive another trade ; fo fliould { 
 we, when there is a crook in the lot, making our earth- ; 
 ly comforts low, fet ourfelves the more for fpiritual at- ] 
 tainments. If our trade with the world finks, let us ■ 
 fee to drive a trade with Iiea\'en more vigoroufiy ; fee if, x 
 by means of the crook, we ca.n reach more faith, love, | 
 hcavenly-miauednefs, contempt of -the world, humilit}', j 
 fclf denial, 6c\ 2 Cor. vi. 10. So, while we lofe at ; 
 one hanivV^vvlltgain at another. i 
 
 4. C7;y^.C(? to carry us-up under the crook, 2 Cor. xii. 8. ■ 
 F')r tins thing / bcj;ugbt the Lord thrice, Ver. 9. yjnd -( 
 /;- la'idy My grace jsJiifficicntfar thee. Whether a man- : 
 be faint, and hive a light burden, or be refreflied, and,' 
 ilrcngthened, arid hccve a heavy one, it is all a cafe ; the j 
 latter can go as v..ity under his burden, as the former'! 
 under his. Grace proportioned to the trial is wliat v/e ! 
 iliould aim at; g^tclng that, though tiie crook be not • 
 evened, we are even hands with it. \ 
 
 5. The keeping in our eye the eternal rej] £ii?AvJc'ight'^ 
 cf glory in the other woria, 2, Cor. iv. 17, 18. For our'' 
 lioht ajpiejions^'yjhieh are hut for a moment, vjorkethfor 
 us a far- more exceeding and eternal -weight ^f glory ; 
 ivi-ilt vjf Lokr.ot at the things which are Jeenfbut at the 
 th\n^^th,it urenot fcen. Tnis will balance the crook \\\i 
 y gui" 1 )t , be it v/ha i it will ; while thc^'- wlio have no^ well--* 
 grqutiJed hope of falvation, will rind the crook in theirs 
 lot in this world fuch a weight, as they have nothing,- 
 to' counter-balance it: yet the hope of eternal- reil may \ 
 \ips.v up under all the toil and trouble- met with here,> : 
 
The Cro'jk in ihe Lot. 57 
 
 Exhortation 3. Let us then fet ourfelvcs rightly to 
 bear ?.nd carry under the crook in our lot, while God 
 fees meet to continue it. Wliat we cannot mend, let 
 us bear Chriftianly, and not fig'ht againit God, and lb 
 kick ag&inft the pricks. So let us bear it, 
 
 1. P/7//>«f/)', without firing, and fretting, or mur- 
 muring, James v. 7. Pfalm xxxvii. 7. Tho' we lofe 
 our comfort in the creature, through the crook in our 
 lot, let us not lofe the poiTellion of ourielves, Luke 
 xxi. 19. The crook in our lot makes us like one who 
 has but a fcanty cold-rife fire to w^rm at : but impati- 
 ence under it fcatters it, fo as to fet the houfe on fire 
 about us, andcxpofeth us, Prov. xxv. 28. He that hath 
 no rule bver his ovjnJYirit^ is i'lks a city that is brok' 
 en down and without walls. 
 
 2. With Chrijiian fortitude^ without finking under 
 difcouragement — nor faint when thou art rehuktdofhim^ 
 Heb. xii. 5. Satan's werk is by the crook, cither 16 
 tend or break people's fpirits, and oftentimes by bend- 
 ing to break them: our work is to carry evenly under 
 itjilseringa middle courfe, guarding againftfplit ting on 
 the rocks on either hand. Our happinefs lies not in 
 any earthly comfort, nor will the want of anv of them 
 reiiKier us miferable, Hab. iii. 17, 18. So that a e are 
 refolulcly to hold on our way with a holy contempt, 
 and regardleifneis of the hardihips. Job xvii. 9. The righ- 
 teous alfojhall htld on his way, and he that hath clean 
 hands Jhall he (ir^jnger and jironger. 
 
 Quejh ' When is one to be reckoned to fall under 
 ^ finking difcouragement from the crook in his lot:' 
 
 Anf, Wiicn it prevails 10 far as to unfit for the duties, 
 either of our particular or Chriftian calling. We may 
 be fure it has carried us beyond the bounus of n:^'de- 
 rale grief, when it unfits us for the common affairs of 
 lifj, which- the Lord calls us to manage, i- Cor. vii, 
 24. It is recorded to the commendation of AbriiLam, 
 Gen. xxiii. 3, 4, Or forthe duties of religion, jiindering 
 them altogether, 1 Pet. in. 7. — That your ^ruyers be 
 7Vjt hindered. {Gvcckj cut oH't^v up, like a tree from ihe 
 
5^ 7"^^ CrorA in the Lot, ^ 
 
 roots) or making one quite hopeleis in them, MaL 
 li. 13. 
 
 2,' Profitably^ fo as we may gain fome ad\^antage 
 thereby, Pial. cxix. 71.// is good for me that I have been 
 afflicled; that I might learn thyjtatutes. There is an 
 advantage to be made thereby, Rom. v. 3, 4,5. And it 
 is certainly an ill-managed crook in our lot when we get 
 riDt forae fpiritualgood of it,Heb. xi. 21. The crook 
 is a kind of fpiritual medicine ; and as it is left phyfic 
 that purges away no ill humours, but in vain are its un- 
 pleafantnefs to the tafle, and its gripings endured \ fo 
 it is a lofr crook, and ill is the bitternefs of it wared, 
 that we are not bettered by, Ifa. xxvii. 9. By this, 
 therefore, Jhall the iniquity of Jacob he purged^ and 
 this is all the fruity to take away, his fin. 
 
 Motives to prefs this exhortation. Confider, 
 
 1. There vvill be no evening of it while (7oi^ fees meet • 
 to continue it. Let us carry under it as we will, and. 
 make what fallies we pkafe in tlie cafe, it will continue 
 immoveable, as fixed wich bands of iron and hrafs, Job 
 xxii^ 13, 14. But he is of one mind, and who can turn himP. ■ 
 And what his foul dejirt thy even that he doth, V erfe 14. ^ 
 Fq) ■ he performs th the thing that i r appointed for ine: and \ 
 vianyfuch things are wiin him, is it not wifdom then ■ 
 tomake the beil vve may of what we cannot mend? ^ 
 Make a virtue then of necelhty. Vv"hat is not to be 1 
 cured mull be endured, and fiiculd wicii a Chriftiau-; 
 relignation. '2 
 
 2. An aukward carriage under it notably increafes \ 
 'Xhcpai/2 of it. What- makes the yoke gall our necks, ; 
 
 but that we fti-uggle 10 much againil it, and cannot iet,i 
 it nt at eaie on us, Jer. xxxi. 18. How often aie we-J 
 in that cafe, like men dafhmg- their heads aganftarock i 
 to remove it: The rock iiands unmoved, but they are^ 
 v/ounded and lofe e?:ceedingly by their ftruggie. Im-i 
 patience under the crook lays an ovei-weigiit on the. 
 burden, and makes it heavier, while withal it weakens J 
 us, and mak :5 us lefs able to bear it. ^ . 
 
 -;. The crook in tiiy lot is the fpocial /r/^:/ God has 1 
 
The Cro'jk in the Lit. 59 
 
 ehofcn out fcr thee to take thy mcafure by, i Pet. i.6, 7. 
 It is God's fire, whereby he tries what metal men are 
 of; heaven's toiich-flone for difcovcring of true and 
 countcrieit ChriRians. Thxy may bear, and go thro' 
 feveral trials, which the crook in the lot will difcover 
 to b- naught, becaufe b}" no means they can bear that, 
 Mark X. 21, '2,^. ^'hink then with thyf elf under it, 
 No'.v here the trial of my flatc turns, I rcufl by thiis be 
 proven either fincere or a hypocrite; for, can any be a 
 cordial fubiecl of. Chrifl-, without being able to fubmit 
 lot to him ? Do net all who fincerely ccine to Cln-ift, 
 ] Hit a blank in his hand? A^"i:s ix. 6. Pfal. xlvii. 4. And 
 does he~not tell us, that without that difpofition we are 
 not his difciples, Luke xiv. 2,6. // any n:an come to me^ 
 and hate not his father^ and r,:olher^ and'-jnife^ and chil- 
 dren, and brethren, andfiftets ; yea^ and hi^ own life al- 
 fo, he cannot he my dijYtple. Perhaps you find you 
 fulmitioliny thing but th.at ; but will not that hut 
 mar all? Markx. ~2i. Did ever any hear of a fincere clo- 
 fiog with Chrift, with a referve or exce]:llcn of ore 
 thing, wherein they behoved to be their own lords? 
 
 Qii^fr. ' Is tliat difpofition then ^: qualification ne- 
 * cefiT rily pre-required to our believing: And if fo, 
 ' where muft v/e have it? Can we v.-ork it out of cur 
 ' natural pow-ersr' 
 
 Jr.f. No, it is not fo ; but it necciTarily accompanies 
 and goes along witli believing, flowing ti-om the faii^e 
 faving illumination in tlie knowledge of Chrift, wiiere- 
 by the foul is brought to believe on him. Hereby the 
 foul fees him En able Saviour, fo trufts on him for i'alva- 
 tion ; the rightf-il Lord, and infinitely v/ife Ruler, and fo 
 fubmits the lot to him, Ma.tt. xiii. 45, 46. The fcul tak- 
 ing him. for a Saricur, takes him alio for a Head and F.u- 
 ler. It is Chrift's giving himfelf to us, and our re- 
 ceiving him, that caufcs us quit other things to and 
 for him, as it is the liglit dilpels the darknefs. 
 ;e Cafe, ' Alas :"I cannot get my heart freely to fab- 
 ns i mit \\\y lot to him in tiiat point.' 
 
 Anf, I , 'Tli^xjlhmijffion will not be carried on in any 
 
00 The Crook in the Ut. \ 
 
 without a firuggle ; the old man will never fubmit it, J 
 andwlienthe new man of grace is fubmitiingit^the old j 
 man wiliitill be reclaiming, Gal. v. 17. For the flefjy . 
 Iiifiethagainji-thejpirity aiid the rpirii aga'irjt theftejb. 
 And the fe are contrary the one to the other; fo that ye can- 
 not do the things thc't ye woiild^ but are linccrely defirous 
 and habitually aiming to fubmit it. Do )-e, from the 
 ungracious iiruggle againfi the crook, turn away to the 
 flruggle witliyour own heart to bring it to fubmit^be- 
 lieving the proinife, and ufmg the m.eans for it, being i 
 grieved from tlie heart v.'ith yourfelves, that ye cannot ' 
 fubmit it? "This is fubmitting of your lot, in the fa-; 
 vourable conll:rudion of the gofpeL Rom. vii. 17 — so.'' 
 2, Cor. viii. iz. If ye had your choice, wouldye rather j 
 have your heart brought to fubmit to the crook, than 
 the crook evened to your heart's defire r Rom. xii. 22, " 
 2.3. And, do ye not fmcerely endeavour to fubmit it 
 over the belly 0?' the relu£lancy of fieih? Gal. v. 17. 
 
 2. V/here js the Chriftia.n /d-Z/'^/^w/i?/, and taking up i 
 of the crofs^ witliout fubmitting to the crook ? Tliis is | 
 thefirft lelTon Chrift puts in the hands of his difciplcs, ] 
 Matt.xvi. 24. ]f ony man "^iH eorne after rne^ kt him i 
 d^ny himfeij\ and take up his crvfs, andfrAlow me. Self- ' 
 denial would procure a reconciliation with the crook, ' 
 and an adirdttancc of the crois: but w^hile v/e cannot ■ 
 bear our corrupt felf to be denied any of its cravings, ■ 
 and particularly that which God fees meet efpecially ' 
 to be denied in, vre cannot bear the crook in our lot, : 
 but fight againfi it in favour of felf. I 
 
 3. Where is owv co^iforrnlty to Chrifi, vrhilewecan- * 
 u)t f-ibmit to the crook f We cannot evidence ourfelves 
 Chiiftians without conformity to Chrifi. He thatfaith ■ 
 he ubideth in hi^n, ought hirrfelfaljotoivalkeven as he 'a 
 7i\'flked., 1 J-hn ii. 6. There was a continued crook in "i 
 QiiriiVs lot, but he fubmitted to it, Phil. ii. 8. /^ndbe-i 
 i ■' g foundin jajljion as a man^ he huiniblcdhinifelf and he- \ 
 came obedient unto death^even the death of thecrofs ^Kom 1 
 XT. 3. For even Chrift' p leafed not himjelf 8cc. And fo '" 
 
7' he Cryjk in the Lot, 6i 
 
 fnuil we, if we will prove ourfelves ChriAians indeed, 
 Matt. xi. 29. 2 Tim. ii. 11, 12. 
 
 4. How will we prove ourfelves the genuine kindly 
 chilaren of God, if ftill waning with tlie crook? -We 
 Ciumot.pray, Cur Fpther^ — Thy -wi/I be done on earthy 
 &c. Matt. vi. Nay, the language of that practice is, we 
 muft have cur own will, and God's \\ill cannot fatisiy us. 
 
 Motive 4. The trial by the crook here will not laft 
 long, I Cor. viii. 31. What though the work be fore, 
 it may be the better comported with, that it will not be 
 longfome ; a few days or years at farlheft will put an 
 end to it, and take you off your trials. Do not fay, I 
 will ne\^er be eafed of it ; for if ye be not eafed before, 
 ve v.-ill be eafed of it at death, come in the room of it 
 after what vrill. K i&rious view of death and eternitv 
 might m-ake us to fet ourfelves to carry rightly under 
 our crook while it lafteth. 
 
 5. If ye would.in a Chriflian manner, fet yourfelves to 
 bear the crook, ye would find it eafier than ye imagine. 
 Matt. xi. 29, 30. Take 7ny yoke uponyou, end learn of 
 me — and ye Jh a II find reft to your fouls. Ver. 30. For 
 my yoke is eafy^ and my burden is light. Satan hasn> 
 readier way to gain his purpofe, than to perfuademcn 
 it is impoilible that ever their mdnds fliould ply Vv ith the 
 croDk ; that it is a burden to them altogether- infupporta- 
 ble ; as long as you Lelieve thxt, be fure ye will never 
 be able to bear ic. But tlie Lord makes no crook in 
 the lot of any, but what may be fo born of i-hem ac- 
 ceptably,though not fiiilefsly and perfectly, Matt. xi. 30. 
 For tl:iere is rirengtli for that ^li^^ fecured in the co- 
 venant, 2 Gor. iii. 5. Phil. iv. 13. and being by faith 
 fetched, it will certainly come, Pfal. xxviii. 7. 
 
 6. If ye carry Ghriftianly under ypur crook here, ye 
 v/ill not iole your labour, but get a fiiii reward of grace 
 in the other vrorld, through Chrift, 2 Tim. ii. 12. i Gor, 
 XV. 58. There is a bleiiing pronounced on him that en- 
 dureth on this Very ground, James i. 12. Eleffedisthe 
 rnuhi that endiireth tempiution ; for^ luhen he is tried^ 
 he f J all receive the crown of life which the Lord hdthpro- 
 
 F 
 
Bi 'J he Lroo.': in the Let. 
 
 mifed to ilem that hve h'lnu Heaven is the place into 
 which the approve:^, upoii the trial of tlie crook, are' re- 
 ceived, Rev. vii. 14. Theft are they 'cjh'ich came out of 
 great tribulatirm^ajid have luajhed their robes ^ and made 
 thernijjhite in the blood of the Lamb. Wh.en we come 
 there, no vefliges of it will be remaining in your lot, nor 
 will ye have the leail: uneafy remembrance of it ; but 
 it Vv'ill accent your praifes, and fcrew up your jov. 
 
 7, If you do not carry Chriftianly under it, ye will 
 lofe your fouls in the other world, Jude, ver. 15, 16. 
 Thole who are at war with God in their lot here, God 
 will have warwith them for ever. ^ If they will notftibr 
 niitto his yoke here, and go quietly under it, he uill 
 wreathe his yoke about their neck for ever, with. e\ er- 
 lafiing bonds that fnall never be loofcch, Job ix. 4. 
 
 Lajtly\ Wliatever crook is in the lot of any, it is 
 very likely there is a public crook abiding the genera- 
 tion, that will be more tr)ing. This is a day of fni* 
 ning, beyond the days of our fathers ; a day wherein 
 God is making great crooks in the lot of the deareft 
 to himfelf ; l)Ut thefe leem to prefage fuch a general 
 public crook to be abiding the generation, as will make 
 our now private ones of very little weight, i Pet. iv. 
 17, 18. Therefore, let yourielves to carry rightly un- 
 der the crook in your lot. 
 
 If you afk what way one may reach that ; for di- 
 rection we propofe, 
 
 DocT. III. The confidering the crook in the lot ^ as 
 the werk of God^ is a proper means to bring one 
 to carry rightly under it. 
 
 I. What it is to confider rhe crook as the wgrk of 
 God, we take it up in thefe five things. 
 
 FirJ}^ An enquiry into the fpri-ng whence it rifeth^ 
 Gen. XXV. 22. Pv^afon and religion both teach us, not 
 only to notice the crook, whicli we cannot avoid, but 
 to confider and enquire into the fpring of it. Surely, 
 it is not our choice, nor do we defignedly make it for 
 ourfelvcs ; and to afcribe it to fortun<; i^ to afcribc it to. 
 
The Cro'yk in the Lot, 6 j 
 
 nothing ; it is not iprung of itfelf, but fovvnby one hand 
 or another for us, Job v. 6. And v/e are to notice 
 the hand from whence it comes. 
 
 5^ro«^/>',Aperceivingo4'the/;^;?tf'ofGodin it. What- 
 ever hand any creature hath therein, we ought not to 
 terminate our view in them, but look above and beyond 
 them to the fupreme manager's agency therein, ] ob i. 2 1 . 
 Without this we make a God of the creature infirumen- 
 tal of the crook, looking on it as if it were the firil 
 caufe, which is peculiar to God, Rom. xi. 36. and bring 
 ourfelves under that doom, Pfalm xxviii. 5. Becaufe 
 they regard nr^t the works of the Lord^nor the operation 
 of his hands ^hefhalldeftroy them and not build them up. 
 
 Thirdly^ A repreienting it to ourfelves as a work of 
 God, which he hath wrought againft us for holy and 
 wife ends, becoming the divine perfe£tions. This is to 
 take it by the right handle, to reprefent it to' ourfelves 
 under a right notion, from whence a right management 
 under it may fpring. It can never be fafe to overlook 
 God in it, but very fafe to overlook the creature, afcrib- 
 ingit unto God, as if no other hand were in it, his be- 
 ing always the principal thei*ein. It is the Lord^ let hi?n 
 do whatfeerneth him good^ 1 Sam. iii. 18. Thus Da- 
 vid overlooked Shimei, and looked to God in the mat- 
 ter of his curfmg, as one would the ax, fixing his eye on 
 him that wielded it. Here two things are to ccme in- 
 to confideration. 
 
 i//, The decree of God purpofing that crook for us 
 from eternity: for he vjorketh all things by the counfcl of 
 his DVJnroiil^ Eph. i. ii. the fealed book in which are 
 v,'ritten all the black lines that make the crook. What- 
 ever valley of darknefs, grief, and forrovr we are car- 
 ried through, we are to look on them as made by the 
 TjQoimtains of brafs, the imm-oveable divine purpofes, 
 Zech. vi. I. Tiiis can be no prefumption inthat cafe, 
 if vre carry it no further than the event goes in our 
 fight and feeling ; for 10 far the book is opened for us 
 to look into. 
 
 2'//>', The /TSL'/t/c-rtcY of God bringing to pafs that 
 F 3 
 
64. 7 he Crook in the UA, \ 
 
 crook for us in time, Amos iii. 6. There is nothing can ! 
 befal us without hiin in whom we live. Whatever kind 
 of agency of the creatures may be in the making of our 
 crook, vvhatever they have done or not done tov/arcls it, 
 he is the fpring that fets all the created wlxels in mo- 
 tion, wiiich ceafmg they would all flop; though he is 
 ftill infinitely pure in his agency, however impure they 
 be in theirs. Job confideredbothtliefe, chap, xxiii. 14. 
 
 fourthly^ A continuing in the thought of it as fuch. 
 
 It is not a fimple glance of the eye, but a contemplat- \ 
 
 ing and leifurely viewing of it as his work, that is the ! 
 proper mean. We are to be, 
 
 i/?, Habitually impreffed with this confideration: &s j 
 the crook is fome lafting grievance, fo the confidera- "; 
 vion of this, as the remedy ihcuid be liabitually kept up. 
 
 Tiiere are other confi derations befides tliis that v/e i 
 
 muft entertain, fo that vre cannot always have itexpreff- ; 
 
 ly in cur mind ; but we muft lay it down for a rooted ; 
 
 principle, according to v/hich we are to managethe crook, ; 
 
 and keep the heart in a difpofition, whereby it may flip \ 
 
 into our minds, as o,ccafion cktls expressly. j 
 
 2^/>',Occafionally exerci^ec^in it. Whenever v^e be- ! 
 
 gin to feel the fmart of the crook, we^ihould fetch in ^ 
 
 this remedy ; when the yoke begins to gall the neck, ! 
 
 there Ihould be an application oi this fpiritual ointment. ' 
 
 i' nd however often the former comiCs in on ns, it will ■ 
 
 be our wiidom to fetch in the latter as the proper remc- - 
 
 dy ; the oftener it is ufed, it will more eafily come on '< 
 
 1 and, and alfo be the more efFe-flual. ] 
 
 Fifthly^ A cpnfidering it for the end for whicli it is , 
 
 propofed to us, viz, to bring to a dutiful carriage under ': 
 
 it. r»Ien'*s corruptions will caufe them to enter on this ] 
 
 jconfideration : and as is the piinciple, fo will the end - 
 
 and effed of it be corrupt, 2 Kings vi. 33. But we j 
 
 muft enter on, and ufe it for a good end, it we -would \ 
 
 have good of it, taking it as a praciical confideration • 
 
 for regulating our condud under the crook. ! 
 
 ! 
 
 II. Hov/ it is to be underfiood tobe a proper wr^^/ 1 
 to bring one to carry rigb.lly Under the crook. ^ 
 
Ths Crook In the Lot. 6 
 
 I. Negatively ; Not as if it were fufticlent of itfelf, 
 anl as it" (lands alone, to produce that effe£>. Eut, 
 
 -2. Pojitively ; As it is ufed in faith, in the faith of the 
 g^fpel; that islo fay, A finners bare confidering the 
 crook in his lot as the work of God, without any faving 
 relation to him, will never be a way to carry rightly 
 under it ; but having believed in J efus Chnft, and fo 
 the crook as trie work of God, his God, is the -proper 
 means to bring him to that defirable temper and beha- 
 viour. 31any hearers miitake here. AViicn they hear 
 fuch and fuch law confilerations propoied for bringing 
 them to duty, they prefently imagine, that, by the 
 mere force ofthem, they may gain the point. And many 
 preachers too, v/lio, forgetting Ghrift and the gofpel, 
 pretend by the force of reafon to make men Chriitians ; 
 the eyes of both being held, that they do not fee the 
 : corruption of men's nature, which is fuch as fets the 
 true cure above the force of reafon ; all that they are 
 fenfible of, being fome ill habits, which they thi^k 
 may be {baken-ofF by a vigorous application of their' 
 rational faculties. To clear this matter, confider, 
 
 Fir/l, Is it rational to think to fet fallen man. with 
 his corrupted nature, to work the fame way with inno- 
 cent Adam? That is to fet beggars on a level with the 
 rich, lame men to a journey with them that liave limbsc 
 Innocent Adam had a ilock of gracious abilities, v/here- 
 by he might have, by the force of moral condderatioi^s, 
 brought himfelf to perform duty aright. But wiiere is 
 that with us i' 2 Cor. iii. 5. AVhatever force be in 
 them to a foul endued with fpirltual life, what force is 
 ";. them to raife tlie dead, fuch as v/c are? Eph. ii. i. 
 
 Stconlly, The fcripture is very plain on this head^ 
 fiiewing the inJifpenfible neceiTity of faith, Heb. xi. — 
 And that fuch as unites to Chni\ John -xv. 5. jyithout 
 rrtf^ that is, feparate from me, ye can do nothing ; no^ 
 not with all the moral confide rations ye canule. Kovt. 
 were the ten commandments given on Mount Sinai f not 
 bare exactions of duty, but fronted with the go{>:>el, to be" 
 bdicYvd iii the tii'll place. I am the Ldrd thy G^dy ^^ 
 
I 
 66 The Crook In the iJ. i 
 
 And lo Solomon, whom many do regard rather ar. a \ 
 moral philoibpher, than an infpired writer leading to ; 
 Chriil, fronts his writings, in the beginning of ^the ^ 
 Proverbs, with moft exprefs gofpel. And we mu{l ^ 
 have it exprefsly repeated in ourBiblcswith every moral J 
 precept, or elfe Hint our eyes, and take thefe precepts \ 
 ^-/ithout it; thiat is the effefl of our natural enmity to \ 
 Chrift. If we loved him more, we would fee hiiii : 
 more in every page, and in every command, receiving ; 
 the law at his mouth* j 
 
 Thirdly^ Do but conflder what it is to. cany rightly I 
 under the croojc in the lot, what humiliation of foul, \ 
 felf-denial, and abfolute refignation to the will of Go^, ' 
 mtift be in itr what love to God it mufl pi^oceed from ;, j 
 how regard to his glory muft influence it as tlie chief « 
 end thereof; and try and fee if it is not inipoilible for ^ 
 you to reach it without that faith aforc-mentioned. I \ 
 know a Chriftian may reach it without full aflurance:. ': 
 but ftill, according tothe meafure of their perfualion that. ■ 
 Cod is their God, fo will their attainments in it be; thefe : 
 keep equal pace. O what kind of hearts do they imiv \ 
 gine themfelves to have, that think they can for a mo- ' 
 ment empty them of the creature, farther than they can \ 
 iill them with a God, as their God, m its room and \ 
 ^lead! No doubt men may, from tlie force of moral ! 
 confide rations, work themfelves to a behaviour under ; 
 th.e crook, externally right, fu-ch as many Pagans, had ;, -i 
 but a Chrif\ian difpofition of fpirit under it will never •■ 
 XiC readied, without that faith in God.. j 
 
 OhjecJ, '-■ Then it is faints only that p^re capable of 
 ■ iinprovement of thiat conijderation.' 
 
 yf«/C Yea, indeed it is fo', as. to that and all ctficr- '> 
 moral confidcrations, for true Cfiriftian ends : and that ' 
 2.m-Oiint3 to no more, th.an that direclions for walking ] 
 ri^^iitly are only for the living, that have the ufe of ■ 
 .their lifnbs ; and therefore, that ye may improve it, fet ; 
 yourfel.ves to believe, in. the firil place.. 
 
 Kl.. I {hall con^rm,t}-i?Lkitis2i ■^ro^ermctin i,Q bnn« ' 
 
The Crorjk in thd Ijj!, 67 
 
 one to earn' rightly under it. This will appear, if 
 we confider thel'e lour tilings. 
 
 1. It is of great ufe to tdv^ert from the coriidering 
 and dwelling on thefe things about tiic crook, vrhich 
 ferve to irritate our corruption. Such are the baulking 
 of our_\viU and wilhes, the iatisfaclion we wouk. Ijavc 
 in the matter's, going according to our rnind, the in- 
 ilrunients of the crook, how injurious th.ey are to us, 
 how unreafonallc, how cbftinate, err. Tlie dweilir!<^ 
 on thefe conhdcrations is but tive blowing of fre with- 
 in; but to turn our e\-es to it as tlie work of God, 
 would be a cure by way of diverhon, 2, Sam. vi. 9., 
 10. And fuch diverfion >f the thouglits is not only 
 lawful, but expedient aiid necePfary. 
 
 2. It has a moral aptitude for producing tlie gf'od 
 'effe^l. Tl"Lo' our cure is not eom.pailed b) the mere 
 
 force of reafon ; yet it is carried on, not by a brutal 
 movement, but in a rational way, Eph. v. 14. Thi^ 
 confideratian has a moral efficacy on our reafon, is El 
 to awe us into a fubmifiion, and minilters a deal ofar- 
 gument for it, moving to carry Chriftianiy under oio" 
 crook, 
 
 3. It hath a divine appointment on it for that end, 
 which is to be behtved, hrov. iii. 6. So the text. The 
 creature in itfclfis an efficacious and movelefs thing, a 
 mere vanity, Acts xvii. 2,8* What makes any tiling a 
 means fit for the end, is a word of divine appointment, 
 Matt. iv. 4. To ufe any thing then for an end, with- 
 out the fcuth of this, is to make a God of the creature ; 
 therefore it is to be uied in a dependence on God, ac- 
 cording to that word of appointment, i Tun. iv. 4, 5. 
 And every thing is fit for the end for which God ha3 
 ^H^.p^*^"'^*^--^ ^t. Tiiis confi deration is appointed for that 
 end; and thsrefdre is a fit means for it. 
 
 4. The Spirit may be expected to work by it, and 
 does work by it in them that believe, and look to him. 
 for it, forafmuch as it is a mean of his own appcmtment.. 
 Papill:s, LegahRs, and all luperftitious perfons, dc\i£e 
 various incans gf iaodificstion,^ feemin^to liave, or real?. 
 
65 The Crook in the Lot. 
 
 ly having a moral fitnefs for tlie fame ; but they are 
 quite inette^lual, becaufe, like Ahana and Pharphar, 
 they v/ant a word of divine appointment for euringTis 
 of our leprofy ; therefore the Spirit works not fey them, 
 fince they are none of his own tools, but devifed of 
 their hearts. And fmce tlie means of divine appoint- 
 ment are inelfeilual without the Spirit, thefe can ne- 
 ver be eifeclual. But this confi deration having a di- 
 vine appointment, the Spirit works by it. 
 
 tire. Then take this dire^^ion for your carrying 
 ri^ht under the crook in your lot. Inure yourfeives , 
 to confider it as the work of God. And for helping, 
 you to improve it, fo as it -may be eiTeclual, I offer ' 
 thefe advices. ; 
 
 1. Confider it as the wirk of your God in Chrift. ; 
 Tills is the way to fprinklc it with gofpel-grace, andl 
 fo to make it tolerable, Pfalm xxii. i^, 2, 3. The dif- i 
 cernin'2; Q^ a Father's hand in th^e croak w-ill ta'ce out 
 much of th.e bitternefs of it, ani fugar tlie pill to you.,* 
 For this- caafe it will be neceffiiy, (i .) Solemnly to take;; 
 G olfjr your God under youi' crook, Pfalm cxlii'. 4, 5.-,; 
 (j,) In all your encounters with it, refolutely to be- 
 lieve, and claim your interefl in liim. i Sam. xxx. 6^1 
 
 2. Enlarge the confideration widi a xdew of the di-1 
 viae relations to you, aiid the divine attributes. Con- \ 
 fider it, being the v/ork of your God, the work of your J 
 Fatner, elder Brother, Head, Hufband, 6c. wlio there- ^> 
 fore furely confults yoirr good^ C onlider his- iiolinefs- , 
 and jufiice, fliewing he wrongs you not : his mercy | 
 and goodnefs, that it is not worfe; his lovcreignty,. , 
 that may filence you ; his infinite v/ifdom and love, i 
 that may fatisfy you in it. ■ 
 
 3. Cjnfider what a '^jjork of his it is. how it is a^j 
 convincing work, for bringing fm to remembrance; a.' 
 correding work, to chaitife- you for your follies ; a ■ 
 preventing work, to hedge you up from courics of fm,.^ 
 ye would otherwife be apt to run into ; a tryiiig v/ork, : 
 to difcover your Itate, your graces, ?ind ccinupticns;. : 
 a weaning work, to wean you (rom tiic world, and ht i 
 
The Crock in the Lot. 69 
 
 4. In all our confiderations of it, in this manner look 
 upward for his Spirit, to render them effeclual, i Cor. 
 iii. 6. — Thus may ye carry Chriftianly under it, till 
 God even it either here or in heaven. 
 
 P R o V. xvi. 19. 
 
 Better it is to he of an humble fpirit xu-ith the Uwly^ 
 
 than to divide the fp oil with the proud. 
 
 COULD men once be brought to believe, that it 
 is better to have their minds brought to ply with 
 the crook in their lot, than to force even the crook to 
 their mind, they would then be in a fair vvay to bring 
 their matters, in that cafe, to a good account. Hear 
 then the divine decifion in that cafe. Better it is to be 
 of an hurnlle fpirit with the lowly .^ than to dizide the 
 Jpfjil with the proud. In which words, 
 
 Birp^ There is a comparifon inftituted, and that be- 
 tween two par ties, and two points v/herehi tiiey vafily- 
 diifer. 
 
 I/?, The parties are the hivly and the proud., who 
 differ like heaven and the centre of the earth: the proud 
 are ay climbing up and fearing aloft ; the lowly are con- 
 tent CO creep on the ground, if that is tiie will ofGod. 
 Let us viev,' them more particuiariy as the text repre- 
 fents them. 
 
 (i.) On the one hand is the Ir.vly. Here there is a 
 line -reading, and a marginal^both from the Holy Spirit, 
 and they did'er only in a letter: the former is the af- 
 fiided or poor, that are low in their condition; thofe 
 that have a notable crook in their lot through afSicucn 
 laid on them, whereby tlieir condition is lowered in the 
 World. The other is the lowiy or meek humble ones, 
 VN^ho are lovv in their fpirit, as well as their condition,?.nd 
 fohave their minds. brought down to thicir lot. Both 
 togcther making the characler of this lowly party. 
 
70 The Cnok in ihs Lot. 
 
 (2.) On the other hand is the proud^ the gay, and 
 liigh-minded ones. It is fuppofed here that they are 
 croft too, and have crooks in their lot; for, dividing 
 the fpoil is the confequent of a victory, and a vidory 
 prefuppofes a battle. 
 
 %dly^ The points wherein thefe parties are fuppofed i 
 to differ, viz, being of a humble foiric, and dividing i? 
 the fpoil. : 
 
 AfHi£led and lowly ones may fometime get their con- I 
 dition changed, may be raifed up on high, and divide j 
 the fpoil, as Hanna, Job, 6"c. The proud may fome- ! 
 times be thrown down and crulhed, as Pharoah, Nebu- | 
 chadnezzar, cirr. But that is not the queftion, Whc- f 
 ther it is better to be railed up with the lowly,or thrown : 
 down with the proud? There would be no difHculty \ 
 in determining that. But the queftion is, Whether it ' 
 is better to be of a low and humble fpirit, in low cir- 1 
 cumllances, v/ith afRicled humble ones, or to divide the I 
 fpoil, and get one's v;ill, with the proud? If men would ; 
 fpeak the native fentiments of their hearts, that quef- ^ 
 tion would be determined inaccntradiiflion tothetext. ; 
 The points then here compared, and fet againft anc- ' 
 ther are thefe, \ 
 
 (i.) On the one hand, to be of a humble fpirit with-| 
 afiiided lowly ones, (Heb.) to be low of fpirit, for the \ 
 word primarily denotes iownefs in fituation or ftate ; ^ 
 fcthe point herepropofed is to be with or in the flatc' 
 of aiTiided lo'vvly ones, having the fpirit brought dov/n ; 
 to that low lot; the Iownefs of the fpirit, balancing the j 
 Iownefs of one's condition. \ 
 
 (2.) On the other hand, to divide the fpoil with the < 
 proud. The point here propofcd is, to be with or in.; 
 the ftate of the proud^ having their lot by main force ■ 
 brought to their mind ; as thofe who, taking themfeives . 
 to be injured, fight it out with the enemy, overcome j 
 and divide the ipoii according to their will. >! 
 
 Secondly^ The decifion made, wherein the former \s\ 
 preferred to the latter; Better it is to be of a humble] 
 J'pirii with the l-jiuiy^ than to divide the /poll vAth the ' 
 
The Crock In the Lit. /"i 
 
 proud. &c. If thefe two parties v/erc let before us, it 
 were better to take our lot with thofe of a low condi- 
 tion, vv-ho have their fpirits brought as low as tlieir lot, 
 than with thofe, who, b'cing of a proud and iiigh-bended 
 fpirit, have their let brought up to tlieir mind. A 
 humble fpirit is better than a heightened condition. 
 
 Do CT. Thdre is a generation of loiuly affiicfecl oncf^ 
 having their fpirit loiifered and brought doivn to 
 their /c/, lohofd cafe, in that rcfpeTf^ is better 
 than that of the proud getting their ivill^ and car- 
 rying all to their tnind. 
 
 I. We (liall confiderthe generation of the lovjly af 
 fli(^ed ones^ having tht'iv J pir it broU;iht down to their 
 lot. And we faall, 
 
 Firjt^ Lay down fame general confide rations about 
 them. 
 
 1. There is fucli a generation in the world, as bad 
 as th.e world is. The text exorefsly mentions them, and 
 the fcripture elfewherc makes mention of them ; as Pfal. 
 ix. I a. and x. i z. Matt. v. 3, witli Luke vi. 20. \V liere 
 
 'fhall we feek them r Not in heaven, there are no affiid- 
 ed ones there ; nor in hell, there are no lov>dy or humble 
 ones there, vrhofe fpirit is brought to their lot. In 
 this world theymutl then be, where the (late of trial is. 
 
 2. If it v.-ere not fo, Chriit, as he was in thev.orld, 
 would have no followers in it. He wastlie head of that 
 generation whom they all copy after ; Learn of me, f.r 
 I am meek and lowly in hearty Matt. xi. 29. And for his 
 honour, and the honour of hiserofs, they will never be 
 wanting while the world flands, Rom. viii. 29. J'Vho?n 
 he did fore know he alfo aidpredtftinuteto he conformed t^ 
 the^ image of his Son. His image lies in thef- tv.-o, fuf- 
 fering and holinefs, whereof lov/linefs is a chief part. 
 
 3 . Ncverthelefs they are certainly very rare in the 
 world. Agurobierves, that there is another generation, 
 (Prov XXX. 13. Their eyes ar-e lofty y and their eye-lids 
 lifted up) quite oppofite to them, and this makes tlie 
 greateft company by far. The L->v and aHiitced lot is 
 
 t 
 
72 The Crrjok in the Lot, 
 
 not To very rare, but the lov.ly diffofition of fpirit is 
 rarely yoked with it. Many a high bended fpirit 
 lieeps on the bend infpiteof the lowering circumftance. 
 
 4. They can be no more in number than the truly 
 godly ; for nothing lefs tlian the power of divine grace 
 can bring down men's minds from their native height, 
 and make their \^ ill pliant to the will of God^ 2, Cor. 
 X. 4, 5. Men may put on a face of fubmiffion to a low 
 and croft lot, becaufe they cannot help it, and they 
 fee it is in -vain to ftrive : but to bring the fpirit ti-uly 
 to it, muft be the efFe6l of humbling grace. 
 
 5. Though all the godly arc of that generation, yet 
 there are forae of them to whom that chara£ter more 
 efpecially belongs. , The way to heaven lies through 
 ti ihuU:tionlo2i\l,K^5x\\\ 2 :i. and ail Chrift's followers 
 are reconciled to it notwitliftanding, Luke xiv. 26. 
 yet: there are fome oftlicm. more remarkably difciplined 
 
 ' than others, whofe fpirit however is thereby humbled, 
 and brought dcwn to their lot, Pfal. cxxxi. 2. Surtlyl 
 havehehavedandacquiitedmyjelfas a childihatis wear." 
 edofhts mother; myfoidis even as a 'veaned child. Phil, 
 iv. II, 12. For I hcive learnedin-ivhatjoever fiate J a?n 
 therewith to be content. I know koth hoiv to he abqfed^ 
 and i know hovj to abound: every where.^ and in all things 
 J am injlru^ed^ both to h^ full ^^-rJ to be hi.ngry^ both 
 to c:hjitnd a7id to fuffer need. 
 
 6. A lowly difpolition of foul, and habitual aim and 
 bent of the heart that way, has a very favourable con- 
 ftruction put upon it in heaven. Should we look for a 
 generation perfectly purged of pride and rifmgs of heart 
 againll their advene lot at any time, we would find none 
 in tiiib world: butthofe v.'ho are fnicerely aiming and 
 endeavouring to reach it, and keep the wa.y of content- 
 ed iubmiiiion, though foraetimes they are blown afide, 
 and returnhig to it again, God accounts to be that 
 lowly generation, 2 Cor.vii. 12. Jajnes v. 11. 
 
 Secondly^ We Ihall enter into the particulars of 
 their charadcr. There are three things which togc^ 
 ther mulie up their character. 
 
Ths Crojk In the Lot, 73 
 
 I/?, Affli^'cion in their lot. That low^y generation, 
 preferred to the proud and profperous, are a generation 
 of afflicted ones, whom God keeps under the difciplinc 
 of the covenant. We may take it up in thefe t\vo : 
 
 1. There is a yoke of atiiidion of one kind or other 
 oftentimes upon them, Pfahn. Ixxiii. 14. If there be 
 Jilence in heavetu it is but for half an h'.ur^ Rev. ^'iil. i. 
 Gad is frequently vifiting them, as a mafter doth hh 
 fcholars, and a phyfician his patients; whereas others 
 ar^i in a fort o^'erlooked by him. Rev. iii. ig. Tliey arc 
 accuftom.cd to the yoke, and that from the time they 
 enter into God's family, Pfal. cxxix. i, 2, 3. Gcd fees 
 it good for them, Lam. iii. 27, 28. 
 
 2, Therd*is a particular yoke of affliction, wlfioh Gcd 
 ' has chofen for them, that hangs about them, and is 
 
 feldom, if ever, taken off them, Luke ix. 23. That 
 is their fpecial trial, the crook in their lot, the voke 
 
 ' which lies on them for their conftant exercife. Their 
 other trials may be exchanged, but that is a v/eight 
 that fliU hangs about them, bowing them down. 
 
 'Zdly^ 'Lowlinefs in their difpofition and tenor of fpi- 
 rit. They are a generation of lowly humble ones, 
 whofe fpirits God has, by his grace, brought down 
 from their natural height. And thus, 
 
 •^ I. They think fobcrly and meanly of themfelvcs ; 
 what they are, 2 Cor. xii. 11. what they can do, 2 Cor, 
 iii. 5. what they are worth. Gen. xxxii. 10. and what 
 they deferve, Lara. iii. 22. Viewing themfelvcs in the 
 glafs of the divine law andperfeCtioDjtiieyfee themfelvcs 
 as a mafs of imperfection and finfulncfs, Job xlii. 5, 6. 
 
 2. They think highly and honourably c/God, PfaL 
 cxliv. 3. They are taught by the Spirit what God is; 
 and fo entertain elevated thouglits of him. Tliey con- 
 ftder him as the Sovereign of the world, his p€rfecci15ns 
 as infinite, his work as perfecl. They look on him as 
 the fountain of happincfs, as a God in Chrift, doing ail 
 things well ; trmling his wiiliom, goodnefs, and ivvc, 
 even where they caruiot fee, Heb, xi. 8. 
 G 
 
^4 T"/)*? Croo'k hi the Lot. 
 
 3. They think favcurahly of others, as fra* as in juf- 
 tice they may, Phih ii. 3. Though they cannot hinder 
 thenifeU^es to fee their glaring faults, yet they are ready 
 withal to acknovvledge tlieir excellencies, and efteeni 
 them fo far. And becaufe they fee more into their 
 own mercies a.nd advantages for holinefs, and mifim- 
 proving thereot^ than they can fee into others, they 
 «ire apt to look on others as better tliah tkemfeives, 
 circumflances compared. 
 
 4. They are funk down into a ftate of fubordina- 
 tion to God and his will, Pfal. cxxxi. i, 2. Pride 
 fets a man up againll God, lowlinefs brings him back 
 to his Dlace, and lays liim down at the feet of his fove- 
 reign Lord, faying, Thy -ujill be dons on earthy Sec. — 
 They feek no more the crmmand, but are content that 
 God himfelf fit at the helm of their affairs, and ma« 
 nage all for them., Pfahn xlvii. 4. 
 
 5. /rhey are not bent- on high things, but difpofed 
 to ftoop to low things, Pfalm cxxxi. i. Lowhnefs le- 
 vels th.e towering imag'.nations, which pride mounts 
 lip againft heaven ; draws a veil over all perfonal 
 worth and excellencies before the Lord, and yields 
 a 'man's all to the Lord, to be as flepping fiones to 
 the throne of his glory, 2 Sam. xv. 25, 26. 
 
 6. They are apt to magnify mercies beftowed oil' 
 them Gen. xxvii. 10. Prideof heart overlooks and vi- 
 lifies mercies one is poflefl of, and fixeth the eye on 
 what is '^vanting in one's condition, making one like the 
 files, v^hich pais over the found places, and fwarm to- 
 p-etlier on the fore. On the contrary, lowlinefs teach- 
 es men to recount the mercies they enjoy in tb.e low- 
 eft condition, and to fet a mark on the good things 
 
 -tiiey have podeft, or yet do, Job ii. 10.^ 
 
 fdly^ A fpirit brought down to their lot.. Their 
 lot is a low and afRicled one ; but tlieir fpirit is as low, 
 being, through grace, brought down to it. We may 
 take it up in thefe five things. 
 
 I. They fubmittoitas jV//, Mic. vii. 9. I will bear 
 the indlgmti'jn of the Lord^ becaufe I have fru,ed a- 
 
75 
 
 gainj} him* There are no hardfliips in our condition, 
 but we have procured them to ourfelves ; and it is there- 
 fore juft we kifs the rod, and be filent under it, and io 
 lower our fpirits to our- lot. If they complain, they 
 have their complaints on themfelves ; their hearts rife 
 not up againtl the Lord, far lefs do they open their 
 mouths againft th- heavens. Theyjufdfy God and con- 
 demn themfelves, reverencing his holinefs and fpotlefs 
 righteoufncfs in his proceedings againll them. 
 
 2. They go quktly under it as tolerable, Lam. iii. 
 3(^ — 29. It is good that a man fiould both hope andquitt^ 
 ly ivaitfor thefalvation of the Lord. It is good for a man 
 that he bear the yoke in his youth. He Jitteth alone, and 
 keeteth fdence, becaufe he hath horn it upon him ; he put^ ^ 
 teth hi/mouth in the duji^iffo he there maybe hopf. While ' 
 the unfubdued fpirit ragetli under the yoke as a bullock 
 unaccuftomed to it, the fpirit brought to the lot goes 
 foftly under it. They fee it is of the Lord's mercies 
 that it is not worfe ; they take up the naked crofs, as 
 God lays it down, without thefe overweights upon it 
 that turbulent paliions add thereunto ; and fo it be- 
 comes really more eafy than they thought it could 
 have been, like a burden fitted on the back. 
 
 3. They are fatisfied in it, as drawing their com- 
 fort from another airth than their outward condition, 
 even as the houfe ftands faft when the prop is taken 
 awaythat it didnot lean upon. Although the fig trtefh%uld 
 n'jt "hlofpjrn^ neither fruit he in the vines^yet I ivill re- 
 joice in the Lord^ Hab. iii. 17, 18. Thus did David 
 in the day of his diftrefs, he encouraged himfelf in 
 the Lord his God^ i Sam. xxx. 6- It is an argument 
 of a fpirit not brought down to the lot, when one is 
 damped and funk under the hardlhips of it, as if their 
 condition in the world were the. j>oint whereon their 
 l.appinefs turned. It is want of mortification that 
 makes men''s comforts to v.-ax and wane, ebb and flow, 
 according to the various appearances of their lot in 
 the world. 
 
 4. Thev have a complacency m it, as tiiat which is 
 
 'G i 
 
76 The Crfjok in the Lot. 
 
 fit and good for them, Ifa. xxxix. 8. 2 Cor. x'li. lo. 
 Men have a fort of complacency in the working of phv- 
 fic, though it gripes them fore; they rationally tbjiilc 
 with themfeives that it is good and beft for them : fo 
 thefe lowly fouls confider their affiifted lot as a fpiii- 
 tual medicine, neceffary, fit, and good for them ; yea 
 fcefl for them for the time, fmce it is miniftred by tlieir 
 heavenly Father : and fo they reach a holy compla- 
 cency in their low a3li£led lot. 
 
 The lowly fpirit extracts thisfweetoutof thebitter- 
 Refs in his lot, conlidering how the Lord, by means of 
 that alFiifting lot, flops the provifion for unruly lufts, 
 that they may be fiarved; hovv he cuts off theby-clian- 
 nek, that the whole ftream of the foul's love may run 
 towards himfeif ; how he pulls off and holds ou tlie 
 man's burden and clog of earthly comforts, that he may 
 run the more expeditiouily the way to heaven. 
 
 5. Tiiey rejr in it, as what they defire not to come 
 out of, till the God that brought tficm into it, fee it 
 meet to bring them out with his good will, Ifa. xxviii. 
 16. Though an unfubdued fpirit'stimefor deliverance 
 is always ready, a humble foul will be afraid of being 
 taken out of its afRisficd lot too foon. It will not be 
 for a moving for a cliange, till the heavens moving 
 bring it about ; fo tiiis liinders not prayer, and the ufc 
 of appointed means, with dependence on the Lord ; but 
 requires faith, hope, patience^ and rehgnation. % Sam. 
 sv. 25, 26. 
 
 IL Vf e Oiall ccnRdcr the generatk)! of the prr^ud 
 getting their will, and canying all to their mind. And 
 in their chara£ler alio are three things. 
 
 Firji-^ there are croffes in their lot. They alfo lra\e 
 their trials allotted them by over-ruling providence, and 
 let them be in what circumdtances they w ill in theworld, 
 they cannot mifs them altogether. For eoniider, 
 
 I. The confufion and vanity brought into, the crea- 
 tion by man's fin, have made it impolfible to get through 
 the world, but men muft meet with what will rulUe 
 them, Eccl. i. 14. bin liiis turned the \^orid froin a 
 
The Crook jn the Lot, 77 
 
 paradifc to a thicket ; there is no getting through with- 
 
 1 out heing Icracht. As the midges in the fummer will 
 
 L fly about thofe walking abroad in a goodly attire, as well 
 
 as about thofe in fordid apparel; ib will croflcs in the 
 
 world meet with the high as well as the low. 
 
 2. The pride of their heart expofes them particularly 
 to crolTes. A proud lieart will make a crofs to itfelf, 
 where a lowly foul would find none, Efth. v. 13. It will 
 make a real crofs ten times the weight it would be to the 
 humble. The generation of the proud are like nettles 
 and thorn-hedges, upon which things flying about do 
 fix, while they pafs over low and plain things ; fo 
 none are more expoled to crolTes tlian they, though 
 none fo unfit to bear them. ; as appears from, 
 
 Secondly^ Reigning />r/V^ in their fpirit. Their fpi- 
 rits were never lubdued by a vvork of thorough humi- 
 liation, they remain at the height in which the Qorrup- 
 tion of nature fets them ; hence they can by no means 
 bear the yoke Go<X lays on them. 1 he neck is fwoUen 
 with the ill humours of pnde and paflion ; hence, 
 when the yoke once begins to touch it, they cannot 
 have an}' more eafe. We may view the cafe of the 
 proud generation here in three. things: 
 
 1. Tliey have an over-value for themfelvcs; and fo 
 the proud mind fays, The man fiiouldnot ftoop to the 
 yoke'; It is below thern- Vv^hat a Iweliing vanity is in 
 that, Exod v. 2. IVh'j is the L'jid thcH I Jhoi-ld cbey 
 h-is voice F Hence a v»"ork of humiliation is neceiTary to- 
 make one taiie on the yoke, whether of Chrift's pre- 
 cepts or provident; e. The firft error is in the under- 
 {landing ; whence Solomon ordinarily calls a wicked 
 ma,n a fool; accordingly the firtl llroke in ccnverficn 
 is there too, by corxviilion to humble. Men are big' 
 ger in their own conceit, than they are ii\deed; there- 
 fore God fuiting things to what we are reaily, cannot 
 pleafe us. 
 
 2. They have an unmortlfied fcli-wiU, arif.ng froufi 
 that over-value for themfelves, and it fays he will not 
 tl^^op. EioJ* \\ %, The quedion betwixt ticav^n ^a-i 
 
y^ The Cr'jok in thf Lot, 
 
 us, is, Whether God's will or cur own muR carrv it? 
 Our will is corrupt, God's will is holy ; they cannot 
 agree in one. God fays in his providence, our will 
 jnull yield to his ; but that it will not do, till the iron 
 iinew in it be broken, Rom. \'i. 7. lia. xlviii. 4. 
 
 3. They have a crowd of uolubdued palnons taking 
 part with the felt-will ; and they fay. He lliall not 
 iloop, Rom. vii. 8, 9. And fo the war begins, and 
 there is a field of battle within and williout the man^ 
 James iv. i, 
 
 (i.) A holy God crofTcs the felf-will cf the proud 
 creatures by his pro\ddence,over- ruling and difpoiing of 
 things contrary to their inclination ; fometinies by his 
 own immediate hand, as in the cafe of Cain, Gen. iv* 
 4, 5. fometimes by th^ hand of men carrying thing? 
 againil: their mind, as in the cafe of Aliab, to whom 
 Naboth rcmfed his vineyard, r Kings xxi. 4. 
 
 (z.) The proud heart and will, unable to fubmit ta 
 the cvo'ii^^ or to bear to be controuled, rifes up againd 
 it, and fights for the maftery, with its whole force of 
 unmortificd paiFions. Thedefignis to remove thecrofs 
 even the crook, and bring the thing to their own mind ; 
 this is the caufe of this unholy war, in whic]i, 
 
 I. There is one black band of helliili paiiions that 
 marches upward, and makes an attack on heaven it- 
 felf, viz. difcontent, impatience, murmuring, fretting, 
 ^nd tlie like. The f'joli/Jjnefs of mtin perverteth his 
 luay I and his heart fretteth agavnj} the Lord^ Pro v. 
 \ix. 3. Thcfe fire the breaft, fall the countenance, 
 C'.en. iv. 6. let off fomctimes a volley of indecent and. 
 patfibnatc complaints, Judc ver.. 16,. and fometinies oi 
 |:lafpliem:es, 2, Kings vi. 33^ 
 
 2.. There is another that marches forward.and makes, 
 %n attack on tlie inftrument or infiruments of the crofs,. 
 viz. anger, wrath, firy, revenge, bitternefs, dr. Pro\'. 
 x^vii. 4. Thefe carry thie m?.n out of the polTefTion of 
 iiXmdelf, Luke xxi. 19. fill the heart with a boiling li€at», 
 rfal;.. xxxix. 3. tlic mouth with clamour and evil-fpeak- 
 '^i>g, Eph. iv. ji, and threat^cdn^s a]:QbreAUi?4.QUtjA,4l% 
 
The Crrjok in thf l^J. >^ 
 
 \x. I. and foir.ctimcs fet the hands on worlc, v.hicij hhs 
 a moft hea%y event, Mall. v. 2,1, Z2. as in the cafe of 
 Ahab againll Nab(3tb. 
 
 Thus the proud carry on the war, lut oficntimcs 
 they lofe the day, and tlie crois remain*- immoveable 
 for all they can do ; yea, and fometimes they them- 
 ielves fall in the quarrel, it ends in their ruin, Jixod. xv. 
 9, ic. But tliat is not tlie eafe in the tc:;t. YV e are 
 to confide r them as, 
 
 Thirdly^ Getting their irr//, and carrying all to their 
 mind. This ipeaks, 
 
 1. Holy Providence yielding to the man's unmortif- 
 ed ielf- will, and letting it go according to his miind. 
 Gen. vb 3» God fees it meet to let the itruggle with 
 him fall, for it prevails not to his good, Ifa. i. 5. So 
 the reins are laid on the proud man's neck, and. lie has 
 what he would be at ; Ephi-airn is joined to idois^ Izt 
 hi'ni ulone. Hof. iv. i^. 
 
 2. The lull: remaining in its ftrengih ard vigour, 
 Pfab ixxviib 30, They loei'e 7i',t ejn unr^ed J? oni their 
 liijf. God, in the method of his co^'enant, fometimea 
 gives his people their will, and' fets th^era where they 
 w-ouldbe; but then, in that cafe, the lult for the thing 
 is mortified, and they arti as v/eanedv children, Pfalm 
 X. 17. But liere the lult remains rampant ; the proud 
 feei: meat for it, and get it. 
 
 3. The crofs removed, the yoke taken oiF, Pfalm 
 Ixxviii. 29. They could not tiiink of bringing their 
 ]nind to their lot; but they thwarted with it, wrellled 
 and fouglit agamil it., till it is brought up to their 
 jnind: So the day is their ov/n, the vidlory is on their 
 fide. 
 
 4. 'Yhz man is pleafed in hi shaving carried his poiirt, 
 even as one is when he is dividing the fpoil, i Kingi 
 
 XXI.. 18, 19. 
 
 Thus the cafe of tlie afBiiled lowly generation, and 
 the proud generation profpering, is ilated. Now, 
 
 III.. I am t.Q confrm the dQCltlaC)^ or tlie decifiQii q: 
 
go The Cr^^k in the Lof. 
 
 tlie text, That tlie cafe oftl^e former h better than 
 that of the latter. It is better to be in a low aillitiied 
 condition, with the fp'irit humbled and brought down 
 to the lot-, than to be of a proud and high fpirit, getting 
 ths lotbrotiifht up^to it, and matters go to will and 
 wiili, according to one's mind. This will appear from 
 the following confiderations. 
 
 T/.\ Humility is fa far preferable to pride, that iri no 
 ciroumftinces whatfoever its preferablenefs can fail. 
 Let all the affii6tions in a world attend the humble fpi- 
 rit, and all the profperity in the world attend pride, hu- 
 mility will ftill liave the better ; as gold in a dunghill 
 is m.ore excellent tiian fo much lead in a cabinet. For, 
 
 I. Humility is a piece of the image of God. Pride 
 is the mafter-picce of the image of the devil. Let us 
 view him who was the exprefs image of the Father's 
 perfon,. and we iliell behold himjyieek and lowly inbcirf^ 
 M-itt. x:. 29. None m_ore afBiv^ed, yet liis fpii it perfect- 
 Iv brought dovvn tohis xct. Ifa. liii. 7. HevyasoppreJ- 
 f)fd^ and he was jiffli^edf yet he opened not his mouth. 
 That is a fliining piece of the divine image: for though 
 God cannot be lowinrerpe(R: of his ftate and condition, 
 yet he is of infinite condefcenfion, Ifa. Ivii. 15. None 
 bears as. he, Rom. ii. 4.. nor fuiTers patiently 10 much 
 contradiflion to his will, w^hich is propofed to us for 
 our encouragement in affliclion, as it flione m Clirilt. 
 For conJidcK hi;n that cndureth Jo much contradi^ion 
 of Jhmers againPr himfelf left ye he zvearied andfilnt 
 iti yjur minds, Hth. xii. 3. 
 
 Pride, on the other hand, is the very im-age of the 
 devil, I Tim. iii. 6. Will we value ourfclves on the 
 height of our fpirits? S.itan will vie with the highGlt" 
 of us in that point; for, though he is the moft miferable, 
 yet he is the proudeft in the whole creation. There is- 
 the greateil diflance between his fpirit and liis lot; tlie 
 former is as high as the throne of God, the latter as- 
 low as hell: an'J as it is im^polfible that ever liis. lot 
 ftiould be brought up to his fpirit; fo his fpirit will ne- 
 V4;: vo;ne down to hi^ lot; and therefore he will be e- 
 
The Crcok in the IM. 8i 
 
 tcrn&lly in a ftate of war with his lot. Hence, even at 
 this time, he has no reft, but goes about, feeks reil in- 
 deed, but finds none. 
 
 Now, is it not better to be like God, than like the 
 devil? Like him who is the fountain of all good, than 
 him who is the fpring and fmk of all evil? Can any 
 thing poffibly caft the bab.nce here, and turn the pre- 
 ference to the .other fide? Tht?i bttttr it is to he of an 
 humble fpir it with-tke lowly^ he, 
 
 2. Humility and lowlinefs of fpirit qualifies us for 
 friendly communion and intercourfe with God in ChriiL 
 Pride makes God our enemy, i Pet. v. 5. Our happi- 
 nsfs here and hereafter depends on our friendly inter- 
 courfe with heaven. If we have not tliat, nothing ci-n. 
 make up our lofs, Pfalm xxx. 5. If we have that, no- 
 thiiig can make us miferable, Rom. viii. 31. Jf Cod he 
 for us, "Who cci7i l/.r ag^air^jl us P Nov*-, who are they whom 
 God is for but the humble and lowly? tliey who being 
 in Chriil ai'b lo made like him.. He blcfi'es them, and 
 declares them the heirs of the crown of glory: BhJTcd 
 are the poor in fpir it, for theirs is the kirgdoir, of heavtn, 
 Mutt. V. 3. He \'r\\\ look to them be their condition ne- 
 ver lb low, while he overlooks ethers, Ifa. livi. 2. He 
 will have rcfped to them, however they be deipired: 
 Though the I urd be high,y <•/ hath he rejpc^ to the tj^jjly ; 
 bi.t the proud he knovifeth afar off, FiRi. cxxxviii. 6. He 
 will dwell with them, however poorly they dwell, lia. 
 Ivji. 15. He will certainly exalt them m due t^nie, 
 however low they lie now, Ifa. xl 4. . 
 
 Whom is he againft? Wiiorn does he refift? The 
 pixud. Them he curfcth, jer. xvii. 5 and thkt curie 
 will dry up their arm at length. The proud man is 
 God's rival ; he makes himfeifhis own God, and would 
 have thofe about him make him- theirs too; he fages^ he 
 bluflers, if they will not fail down Lcfoie hun;. But 
 God will bring him tlown, Ifa. xh 4. Ffal. xviii. 27. 
 
 iN^ovv, is it not better to be quuliiiect for communi jn 
 witli God. than to have him erigftged a^-uinu u& at any 
 rate ? 
 
8:i The Crook In the L^^it. 
 
 3. Ilunillity Is a duty pleafing to Cod, pride a fin 
 pleafmg to the devil, Ka. Ivii. 15. i Tim. iii. 6. God 
 requires us to be humble, efpecially under affli^lion, 
 and be chthedwlth humility, i Pet. v. 5, 6. That is 
 our becoming garment. The hurable Publican was 
 accepted, the proud Pharifee rejected. We may fay 
 of the generation of the proud, as i Thcil'. ii. 16. — - 
 
 IVrathis come upon them'to theuttermoft. They pleafe \ 
 
 neither God nor men, but only thcmfelves and Satan, \ 
 
 whom they refemble in it. No'.v, duty 13 ay better ] 
 
 than fin at any rate. '\ 
 
 '^dly^ They whofe fpirits are brought down to their 5 
 
 aSliiled lot, have much quiet and repofe of mind, ) 
 
 while the proud, that mufl have their lot brought up \ 
 
 to their mind, have much difquiet, trouble, and vexa- \ 
 
 tion. — Gonfider here, that, on the one hand, \ 
 
 1. Quiet of mind, and eafe v/ithin, is a great blcf- \ 
 frng, upon which the comfort of life depends. Nothing ' 
 without thisxan make one's life happy, Dan. v. 6. — j 
 And where this is maintained nothing can make it mi- ' 
 ferable, Jolin xvi. 33. Tiiis being fecured in God, ' 
 there is a defianee bid to all the trcuMts c^thc "."orl-u ' 
 rTaiin xlvi. 2,, 3, 4. Lile the child failing in the midil .; 
 of the rcliing waves. 
 
 2. The fmrit brought dovvn to the lot makes and \ 
 maintains this iiiward tranquility. Our whole trouble \ 
 in our lot in the world rifeth from the difagreement of ; 
 our mmd therewith: kt tlie mind be brought to the ' 
 lot and the whole tumult is mftantly hu(ht ; let it be I 
 kept in that difpofition, and the man fliall ftand at eafe j 
 in his afiiiflion, like a rock unmoved witli waters ', 
 toeating on it. Col iii. 15. Jnd Itt the peace of God \ 
 rule in your hearts, io the which cdjo yc are called, \ 
 
 On the other hand, confider, ^ ^ j 
 
 I . VYxiat difqjaiet of mind tiie proud do llifler ere th?y ' 
 can get their lot brouglitup to their mind. They have 
 
 taught the ir long uts tnjpcdk Ues^ nndibey lueary them- ] 
 
 Jelvts to commit iniquity^ Jer. ix. 5. J amcs iv. 2 . Ye lajl^ \ 
 
 ' and have not : ye kiil^ and dfjire io have, andcarjiot ol" ] 
 
Tf:€ Crook in the VA, S3 
 
 icAri; ye f pit f.n(lv:a?\y(tye have not. — What arrows 
 of grief go thro' tiieir lieart? what torture of anxiety, 
 fretting, Eiiid vexation rnuU they endure ? what contrary 
 pafnons do fight within them:' and \vi:at fallies of paf- 
 lions do they make? what uneafmcfs wasFlaman in, be- 
 fore he could carry the point of thie revenge againil 
 
 Mordecai obtaining the king's decree? 
 
 2. When the thing is got to their mind, it will not 
 quite the coil. The enjoyment thereof brings not fo 
 much iatisfasflion and pleafure, as the v/ant of it gave 
 pain. This v;as evident inR-achePs cafe, as to the hav- 
 ing of children; and in that cafe, Pfal. Ixxviii. 30, 31. 
 There is a dead liy in the ointment that mars the favour 
 they expecled to find in it. Fruit pluckt off the tres 
 of providence, ere it is ripe, v.ill readily let the teeth 
 on cd.gt. It proves like the manna kept o\'er night, 
 Exod. x\i. 20. 
 
 3. They have but an unfure gripe of it; it doth not 
 lall with them.. Eitlier it is taken from them loon, and 
 they are juib where they v/ere again-: J g,^ v^ thee, a kivg 
 in ?riy anger , and io'jk hiinaivay iii tuy vjiath^ Hoi. xiii. 
 II. Having a root of pride.it quickly withers away ; 
 or elfe tlicy are taken from it, that tlieyhave noaccefs 
 to e:yo)- it. So Kaman obtained the ciccice; but ere 
 the (jayof thiC execution came he was gone. 
 
 3^'//)', They that get their fplrit brought down t3 
 their affiicled iot^ do gain a point far more Vtiluablethaii 
 they who in their pride force up their lot to their 2nind, 
 Prov.. xvi. 32. He that ii Jloijj to ang£r^is better than 
 the mighty ; and he that ruieth hit^Jpirlt^ than he that 
 taketh a city. This v/ill appear, if ye confider, 
 
 r. The latter makes but a better condition in out- 
 v/ard things, the former makes a better man. The lifs 
 is mere than meat. — The man himfelf is more valuable 
 than all external conveniences that attend him. What 
 thiCrefore betters the man is preferable to what betters 
 only his condition. Who doubts, but where two are 
 fick, and tlie one gets himfeif tranfpcrted from a ccarfe 
 bed to fine one, but the fickneis fiiil reinaining ; the 0- 
 
84 The Crook in the Lit. 
 
 thcr lies ft ill in the coarfe bed, but the ficknefs is 
 removed, that the cafe of the latter is preferable? So 
 here, Sec. 
 
 2. The fubduiDg of our own paliions is more excel- 
 lent than to have the whole world fubdued to our will : 
 for then we are mafters of ourfelves, according to that, 
 Luke xxi. 19. Whereas, in the other cafe we are ftill 
 llaves to the worfi of mailers, Rom. vi. 16. In the 
 one cafe we are fafe, blow what ilorm v.ill ; in the c- 
 tlicr we lie expofed to thoufands of dangers, Prov. xxv. 
 28. He that hi^th r.i mle over his ownj'pirit^ is like a 
 city that is broken do'.in^ and vjithout ivalls. 
 
 3. When both fiiall come to be judged, it will appear 
 the one has multiplied the tale of their good works, in 
 bringing their fpirit to their lot ; the other, the tale of 
 tlieir ill works in bringing their lot to their fpirit. We 
 liave to do wjth anomniicient God. in whole eyes every 
 internal ailion is a work, good or bad, to be reckoned 
 for, Rom. ii. 16. 
 
 An atfii£lcd lot is painful, but where it is vrell ma- 
 nigcd, it is very fruitful ; it exercifes the graces of 
 the Spirit in a Chriftian, which ctherwife would lie 
 dormant But there is never an acl of refignation to 
 the will of God under the crofs, nor an aclof trufting 
 in him for his he]p, but they will be recorded in hea- 
 ven's regiiler as good works, Mai. iii. 16. And thefe 
 ai'e ojc? honed b)' afBi^tion. 
 
 On the other hand, there Is never a rihng of the 
 proud heart againft the lot, nor a faithlcfs attempt to 
 bring it to our mind, whether it fuccecd or not, but 
 it paiics for an ill work before God. How then will 
 the tale of fuchbe multiplied by the war in which the 
 fpoli is divided! 
 
 Ufe r. O^i ir.formaiion. Hence \re may learn, 
 
 I. It is not always bell for folk to get their will. Ma- 
 ny there are wlio cannot be pkafedwitliGod''s will a- 
 bout themi, and they get their own will with a ven- 
 geance, Pfal. Ixxxi, II, 12. JJraelwfjuldnaneofmc^f'jI 
 gave thttn up t9 their dwn heart's luff ; and they wu Ike J 
 
The Croon tn the Lot. 05 
 
 i-i their ozun conn f els. It may be pleafantcu and grate - 
 fiilleft for tlie tiiTie, but it is not the faieil:. Let nor. 
 people pride thsrnfelves in their carrying things that 
 uay then by ftrong hand ; let them not triumph on 
 llich vicftory; the after-reckoning will open their eyes. 
 
 2. The VfEiclcd crcffed party, whofe lot is kept 
 low, is fo far from being a loier, that he is a gainer 
 tliereby, if his fpirit is brought down to it. And if he 
 will fee his cafe in the light of God's unerring word, 
 lie is in better cafe than if he had got all carried to 
 his mind. In the one way the veiTels of wrath are fit- 
 ted for deftruclion, Ffal. Ixxviii. 29, 30,31. In the o- 
 ther, the veiTels of mercy are fitted for glory, and fo 
 God difciplines liis own, Lam. iii. 27. 
 
 3. It is better lo yield to Providence than to fight 
 it out thougii we lliould vsin. Yielding to the fove- 
 reign difpofsl is both our becoming duty and our great - 
 eft inteixft. Taking that way we acl nioft honourably; 
 for v;hat honour can there be in a creature's difputing 
 his o:round with Lis Creator? and we acl mofl wifehv' ; 
 for whfttcver may be the fucceis or lonie battles \-'. 
 tliat cafe, we may be fure ^a6tory will be on Heaven's 
 fide in tlie war, i Sam. ii. 9, fs/-, hy Jirength jhali 
 no vuin prevail. 
 
 Lii/Hy^ It is of far greater concern for us to get our 
 Tpirits brought down than our outward condition raif- 
 ed. But who believes this? All men faive to raifc 
 their outward condition; moft men never mind tlic 
 bringing down of their fpiriiis, and few there are v,'ho 
 apply therafelves to it. And what is tliat but to be 
 concerned to minifter drink 10 tiie thirfty Tick, but ne- 
 ver to mind to feek a cure for them, whereby their 
 thirft may be carried off. 
 
 Ufe 2. Of exhortation. As you meet vrith cf oiTes in 
 your, lot in the world, let your bent be rather to have 
 your fpirit humbled and brought dov/n, than to get the 
 crofs removed. I mean not but that ye may ufe all 
 lawful means for the removal of your crofs, in depen- 
 dence on God: but only that you be more conccragd 
 H 
 
to get your fpirlt to hoio and //v, tLan to get ijic 
 crook in your lot evened. 
 
 Motivf I. It is far more needful for us to have our 
 fpirits humbled under the crofs, than to have the crefs 
 removed. The removal of the crofs is needful only 
 for the eafe of the fielli, the humUing for the profit' 
 of our fouls, to purify them, and bring th.em into a 
 ftate of health and cure. ; 
 
 2. The humbling of the fpirit will have a mighty; 
 good efrect on a croiTed lot, but the icmo\ al of the 
 erofs will have none on the unhumblcd I'pirit. The 
 humbling will lighten the crofs mightily lor the tim^e, 
 ;^Iatt. xi, 30, and in due tim.e carry it cleanly cfT, i 
 Pet. v. 6. But the removal of the crofs is not a means 
 to humble the unhumblpd ; though it may prevent ir- 
 ritation, yet the difcafe ftili remairs. 
 
 3. Think with yourfelves how dangerous and hope- 
 ]efs a cafe it is to have the crofs rem.oved ere the fpi- 
 rit is humbled; that is, to have the means of cure 
 pulled away, and blocked up frcm. us, while the power 
 of the difeafe is yet unbroken; to be taken off trials 
 ere we have given any gccd proof of curfclves, and fo 
 to be given over of our phyfician as hcpelefs, Ifa. i. 5. 
 Hof. iv. 17. 
 
 U/e 3. For dirccJion; believing the gofpel, take 
 God for your God in Chrift towards ycur eternal faUl 
 vation, and then dwell miuch on the thcuglits of God's i 
 greatnefs and holinefs, and of your own fmiwlnefs; \cki 
 will ye be humbled under ike wighty hand of Codi'i 
 ^Ay in due tiine^ he v.ill lift ycu uf. 
 
The Cr.}yk U ths L9i, Bf 
 
 I P K t £ R V. 6. 
 
 Bumble youj-felves therefore under the mighty hand of 
 Giod^ that he may exalt you in due time. 
 
 IN the preceding part of this chapter, the apoftle' 
 preffsth the dudes of church-officers towards the 
 people ; and then the duty of the people both towards 
 their officers and among themfelves, which he winds 
 up in one word.^ /ubmiflon. For which caufes he re- 
 commends humility as the great means to bring all to 
 their refpeftive duties. This is enforced with an ar- 
 mament taken from the different treatment the Lord 
 gives to the proud and the humble ; his oppofing him- 
 ielf to the one and iliewing favour to the other. Our 
 text is an exhortation drawn from tha,t ccnfidcration: 
 And in it we have, 
 
 i//, The duty we are therefore to ftudy: Humble 
 \ our fe Ives therefore under the jyiighty hand of Cod^ 
 that he may exdlt you in due time. And therein w^e 
 may notice, 
 
 T. The /?^/d' of thofe whom it is propcfed to, thofc 
 under the mighty hand of God.^ whom his hand has hum- 
 bled, or ftated feme way low in refpeft of their circum- 
 ftances in the world And by tliefe are, I think, meant, 
 not only fuch as are under particular fignal afiti^iicns, 
 wliich is tlie lot of Ibme, but alfo thofe, who, by the 
 providence of God, are any manner of way lowered, 
 w^hich is the lot of all. All being in a (l:ate of fubmil- 
 fion or dependence on otliers. God has miade this life a 
 ftate of trial ; and for that caufe ])e has, by his mighty 
 hand, fubjeded men one to another, as wives, child i en, 
 iervants, to huibands, parents, maftei*s ; and theie, a- 
 gain, to their fuperiors ; among whom, again, even 
 t le higheffc depends on thofe under them, as ir.agi- 
 ft rates and minifters on the people, even the tuprems 
 H a 
 
88 'The Crook m the Lc:. 
 
 maglftrate being major Jingulis^ 7nlnfjr umverjis. This 
 ilate of the world God has made for taking trial of 
 jnen in their feveral Rations and dependence on others ; 
 and therefore, when the time cf trial is over, it alfa 
 comes to an end. Then cometh the end — when he 
 fii:(?.ll have put down all rule, and authority^ andpower^ 
 I Cor. XV. 24, 25. Mean tim^e, while it lafls, it makes 
 humility neceffary to all, to prompt them to the duty 
 they owe their luperiors, to whom God''s mighty hand 
 has fubjefted them. 
 
 2. The duty itfelf, viz. Humiliation of our fpirits un- 
 der the humbling circumllances the Lord has placed us 
 in. Hunibleyourf elves therefore under the mighty ha;id 
 cfGodj that he may exalt you In due time. Whether it is 
 Vv'e are under particular afili£lions, which have cafl; us 
 down from the lieight we were fometimes in, or whe- 
 ther we are only inferiors in one or more relations ; or 
 whiether, which is moft common, both thefe are in our 
 cafe, we mull therein eye the mighty hand of God, as 
 that which placed us there, and is over us there to hold 
 us dow3i in it : and fo, with an awful regard thereto, 
 crouch down under it, in the. temper and difpofition 
 of our fpiriis, luiting our fpirits to our lot, and care- 
 ful of performing the duty of our low fpherc. 
 
 3. A particular y/r/w^ of this duty; therefore wc 
 muft confider, that thiofe who cannot quietly keep the 
 place adignedthem ofGod in their afQi^'tions or relations, 
 cut ilill prefs upward againft the mighty hand that is 
 ever them, that mjghty hand rehl^s them, throwing 
 them down, and often farther dov>'n than before; 
 whereas it treats them with grace and favour that 
 compofe themfclvcs uridcr it, to a quiet difcharge of 
 their duty in their fituation ; fo that eying this we 
 mufi: fet ourfelves to humble ourfelves. 
 
 2r//y, The infallible ijpue o\ that coui-fc ; that he may 
 exalt you in due t.irae. The partible that^ is not always 
 to be iindsrftood finally, as denoting the end or defzgn 
 the agent propofes to himfelf, but fometimes eventual- 
 ly onlv, as denoting the event or iflue of the aition. 
 
The Crook in the Lot, %^ 
 
 John ix. 2. I jolin ii. 19. So here, the meaning is 
 not, Humble your/elves^ on dcfign he ^nay exo.lt you ; 
 hut, and it (liall iirae in his exalting you. Compare 
 James iv. 10. 
 
 (i.) Here is a happy event of humihation of fpirit 
 fecured, and that is exaltation or lifting up on high, 
 by the power of Gcd, that he may exalt you. Exalting 
 will as furely follow on humiliation of fpirit, fuitable 
 to the low lot, as thic morning follows the night, or the 
 fun rifeth after the dawning. And thefe words are 
 fitted to ob\ iate the obje^lion that the world and our 
 corrupt hearts are apt to make againft bringing down 
 the fpirit to the low lot. 
 
 Objedl. I. Jfive let.Qur fph it fall^ ive ivill lie ah 
 ivays among f'ilks feet^ and they will trample on us» 
 
 Anf. No; pride of fpirit unfubdued, will bring men 
 to lie Eynong the feet of others for ever, Ifa. ixvi, 24.- 
 ]3ut humiliation of fpirit will bring them undoubtedly 
 out from among their feet, Mai. iv. 2, 3. They that 
 huiRble thcmfeives now vvill be exalted for e\'er ; thiev 
 will be brought out of their low fituaticn and circum- 
 ftances. Gail ye yourfc4\'os even down with vour lo%v 
 lot, and allure j ourieives ye fiiall not lie there. 
 
 Ol'jecf. 2. jfvje do -not raife our/elves^ 7ioKe ivHi 
 raife us ; and thtrejore lue riuji: Jte to ourf elves t^ 
 do aurfehes rjght^- 
 
 Anf, That is wrong. Humble ye yourielves in re* 
 fpecl of your ipirits, and God v.iil raife you up m re- 
 fpecl ot ;j our lot, or low condition ; and they that have 
 ^od engaged for raifing them, ]:ave no reafon to fay 
 they have none to do it for tliem. Bringing down of 
 the fpirit is our duty, railing us up is God's vcork: 
 let us not forfeit the privilege of God's raifing us up, 
 by arrogating that v, ork to curiehes, taking it out of 
 his hand. 
 
 Cbjtcr. 3. But fur € v:e will revej- rife high^ i/zve" 
 let our J'pirils jalL 1 
 
 Anf. That is wrong too: Godwillnotoufy raife th<! 
 huaibk ones,, but he will lift tiiem ug qjj, h'igjk ;-^ for ib' 
 
90 The Cr'jok in ike lot, 
 
 the word fignifies. They (hall be as high at length as 
 ever they were low, were they ever io low : nay, the 
 exaltation will bear proportion to the humiliation. 
 
 (2.) Here is the date of that happy event, vvhen it 
 will fall out. In due iime^ or in the feafon, the pro- 
 per feafon for it, Gal, vi. 9. In duefeafon ".otJJjull reapy 
 if we faint not. We are apt to weary in humbling try- 
 ing circumfiances, and 3.y we would have up our head, 
 John vii. 6. But Solomon obferves, there is a time for 
 every thing when it does bell, and the wife will wait it, 
 Eccl. iii. I — 3. There is a time too for exalting them 
 that humble themfelves ; God has fet it, and it is thc'^1 
 due time for the purpofe, the time when 'it does bell,, 
 even as fo^-ing^in the fpring, and reaping in the liar- 
 veil. When that time cornes, your exalting diall no, 
 longer be put off,' and it would come too foon iliould 
 it. come before that time., 
 
 DocT. I. 'The hent of one'' s hearty in humbling cir-~ 
 cum/lances^ pjould tie towards dfuitahle hun\bVwg 
 of the fpirit, as under' Cod's mighty hand placing 
 lis in the-rn. We have here, 
 
 I. Some things fifpp of ed in this. It fuppofeth and 
 l^ears In it, that, 
 
 I. God bri/igf men into humbling circumftances, 
 ^Ezek. xvii. 24.. And all i he trees of the field fhatl knoiv^, 
 tkat J tne Lord have brought down the high tree, . There 
 is, a root of pride, in the hearts of all men on earth ; 
 tjiat mult lie mortified ere they can be meet for heaven: 
 ^nd therefore no ma.n can niifs, in this time of trial, 
 fpme things that v/ill give a proof Vvlietherjie canftoop 
 Qr.no.. And God brings them into humbling circmn-- 
 f^^nces for that. very end, Deut. viii. 2. The Lord thy 
 Qod led, thee theft forty years in the -^lU'ernefi^ tv 
 h/umbh thee, and to prove, thee, and to hnroj I'jhat vjas. 
 iii, thine heart. ^ 
 
 2.. Thefe. circumilinces prove prejfrg as a v/tight on 
 i^?jhe&.rt,. tending tp. bear. it. down,^ h^lalm cvii,. I2r.. 
 
The Crook in the L'J. c)I 
 
 Therefore he brought doivn their heart i-kh hboitr. — 
 They l^rike at tiio grain of the licait, and crofs tl.c 
 natural inclination: whence a triiil natively ariiech, 
 whether, wlien God, lays on his mighty had, tlie man 
 can yield under iL, or qot; and coniequentiy, whether 
 he is meet for heaven or not. 
 
 3. The heart is naturally apt to rZ/t* up againftthefe 
 humhling circumiiances, ana conrequentlyagsinll the 
 mighty hand tliat brings and keeps them on. The man 
 naturally bends his force to get off the weight, that he 
 may get up his liead, feeking more to pleafe liimiclf 
 tlian to pleafe his God, job xxxv. 9, 10. "2 /;<?> cry out 
 by reajon of the arm of the mighty.- But none J:.iihy. 
 Where is God my rnak^r? Tnis is the fuTt gate tiiC 
 heart runs to in humbling circuHidanccs ; and in this 
 way the unfubdued fpirit holds on.. 
 
 4. but what God requires, is, rather to labour to 
 bring down the heart, than to get up tlie head, James 
 iv. 10. Here lies th'c pro"^of cne'p mectnefs fcrhea-" 
 ven; and then is one in the ws^t, heaven-ward, wiien. 
 he is more concerned to get down his heart than up 
 his head, to go calmly under his burden tlian to gc: it 
 off, to crouch under tlie mighty hand tl^an to put it 
 off hirn. 
 
 5. There mufl be a notiring of God as cur paity, in 
 irambiing cixxumfiances ; Hear ye the rod^ tind him ivho 
 haih appointed ityly'iiQ. y'l. (),. There is anabjectneis 
 of fpirit, whereby lomie give uptiiemfclvts to the will 
 of others, in the harflieft treatinent, merely to pleafe 
 them, v>-i!:hout regard to the authority and command 
 of God. This is i-ea-1 nicannefs pf jpirit, whereby ore 
 lies quietly to be trampled oh by a fellow-worm, from 
 its irnao-inarv wcio;ht ; and none fo readily fall into it 
 as tlie prouJ, at fometirjaes, to ferve tlieir own turn, 
 Ads xii. 22.. Thefe are men pleafers, Eph. vi. 6.. 
 with Gal. i. 10. 
 
 II. What are ihc^tlumbling circumftances the mdghty 
 hand of God brings them into. Suppofing- here what 
 was before taught concerning the crcok in the let's be-- 
 in^of Goa's. makingj _ thefe. are. circundlauces, , ^ ^ 
 
^)2 The Cr6:k in the lot. 
 
 I. or hnperfe^l'jt!. God has pl-iced all men in fuch 
 circumiiiinceG under a variety of wants and imperfec- 
 tions, Phil. iii. 12,. We Ci.nlook no where, where we 
 are not beietwith them. There is a heap of natural 
 and moral iniperfeclions a jout us : our bodies and oux* 
 fouls, in all their iliculties, jre in aftate of imperfec- 
 tion. The pride of all glory is ftained; and it is a 
 ibame for us not to be humbled unaer fuch wants as 
 attend us; it is like a beggar fiirutting in his rags. 
 
 1. O^ infer io?-ify in relations, whereby men are fet 
 in the lower place in relations and fociety, and made to 
 dt;pend on otijers, 2 Gor. vli. 24. God has, for a trial 
 of men's fubraillion to himfelf, fubjeclcd them to others 
 \rhom he lias fet over them, to difcover what regard 
 they will pay to his authority and commands atfeccnd 
 hand. Dominion or fuperiority is a part of the di- 
 vine image ililning in thicm, I Cor. xi. 7. And there- 
 fore reverence of them, confifling in an awful regard 
 to that ray of the divine image fhining in them, is 
 neceiLtrily required, Eph» v. 33. Heb, xii. g, compare 
 Pfal cxi. 9. The fame holds in all other relations 
 and iuperiorities, riz. that they are fo far in the 
 place of Gad to their relatives, Pfal Ixxxii. 6, And 
 though the parties be worthlefs in themfelves, that he 
 1-ooieth not one from the debt to them, A<^s xxiii. 4, 
 5. Rom. xiii. 7. The reafonis,becaufe it is not their 
 qualities, but their eharafter, which is the ground of 
 that debt of reverence and fubjedion; and the trial 
 God taVies of us in that matter turns not on the point 
 of the former but of the latter. 
 
 Now, God having placed us in thefe circumftances 
 of inferiority, all refraflorinefs in all things, not con- 
 trary to the comjnand of God, is a riling up againi\ 
 his mighty hand, Rom. xiii. 2. becaufe it is niediately 
 upon us for that cfFeil, though it is man's hand tliat is 
 -iiinnediately on us. 
 
 3. O^r^iHtrcidi&i'in^ tending dire idly to baulk us of out 
 will. This was a part of our Lord's flate of humiUa- 
 tu-on, and the apOitlc fuppofcsitwillbea part of curs too,. 
 
The Crorjk in the Lot, 93 
 
 Heb. xii. 3. There is a perfed harmony in heaven, no 
 one to contradi<^ another there ; for they are in their 
 Hate of retribution and exaltation: but we are here in 
 our {late of trial and humiliation, and therefore cannot 
 mifs contradiclion, be we placed ever fo high. 
 
 Whether thefe contradictions be juft or unjuil:, God 
 tryfls men with them to humble them, break them off 
 from addiclednefs to their own will, and to teach them 
 refignation and felf-denial. They are in their own 
 nature humbling, and much the fam.e to us, as the 
 breaking of a horfe or a bullock is to them. And. I be- 
 lieve there are many cafes in v.hich there can be no 
 accounting for them, tut by recurring to this ufe God 
 has for them. 
 
 4. O'i ajjUcllori^ Prov. xvi. 19. Pf'ofperity puffs up 
 jinners wiih pride ; and, O ! but it is hard to keep a 
 
 low fpirit with a high and profperous lot. But God, 
 by afiiictlon, calls men down from their heights to fit 
 in the duft, plucks away their jay-feathers wlierein 
 they prided them.felves, rub:; the paint and "varniili 
 from off the creature^ v.hereby it appears miore in its 
 native deformity. There are various kinds of alRidtiun, 
 fome more, Ibme lefs humbling, but all of them are 
 humbling. • 
 
 VVhercfore,not to lower the fpirit under the aiBiflion, 
 is to pretend to rife up when God is caftingand hclding 
 down, with a witnefs ; and cannot mifs, if continued 
 in, to provoke the Lord to break us in pieces, Ezek. 
 xxiv. 13. For the aiHiding hand is mighty. 
 
 5. Oi'jin^ a.s the punifhment of fin. V/e may allude 
 to that, Job XXX. 19, AH the fm in the world is a pu- 
 nilliment of Adam's fir It fm. Man threw^ himielf in- 
 to the mire at firft, and now he is jmlly left weltering 
 in it. jN5en wilfully make one fulie itep, and for that 
 caufe they are juftly left to mai>x anotiicr vvcricj and 
 fm hangs about all, even the beft. And this is over- 
 ruled of God for our humiliation, that we n:fy be a- 
 fliamed, and never open our niouth any more. Where- 
 fore, not to be humbled under cur nnfulncis, is to liie 
 
94 The Crook in the Lot. 
 
 up againH; the mighty hand of God, and to juAify all 
 our iwSwl departings from him, as lofl to all fenfe of 
 duty, and void of fliame. 
 
 III. What it is in humbling circumflances, to humhls 
 ourfelves under the mighty hand of God, This is the 
 great thing to be aimed at in our humbling circum- 
 ftanecs. And we may take it up in thefe eight things. 
 
 1. Noticing the mighty hand^ as employed in bring- 
 ing about every thing tliat concerns us, either in the 
 way of eSlcacy or permiliion, i Sam. iii. i8. And he 
 faid^- It is the Lord ; letkhn do what feemeth him good, 
 
 2 Sara. xvi. lo. Jnd the kiyigjaid^ The L^rd hathfaid 
 unto him, Curfe David: Who fn all then fay\ WhereUr: 
 hajt thou done fo? He is the fountain of all perfeffdon, 
 but we mult trace our imperfeftions to his fovereign 
 will. It is he that has pofled every one in their rela- 
 tions by his providence ; without him we could not 
 meet with fuch contradi^fticns j for, //;^ king's heart is 
 in the hand of the Lord, 'as the rivers of ivater:' he 
 ttirneth it whitherjoever he pleafethy Prcv. xxi. i. He 
 fends on aiHl<ftioDs, and he juftly puniUics one (wi with 
 anther, li'a. vi. lo. 
 
 2 . A fen fe of our own iv 'jri hlffncfs and n'A hingnefs be - 
 fore him, Pfal. cxliv. 3. Loos:ing to the infinite Ma- 
 jefiy of the mighty hand dealing with us, we iliould fay, 
 with Abraham, Gen. xviii. 27. Behold 1 am but duft and 
 ^Jhes ; and fay Amen to the cry, Ifa. xl. 6. yHlfieJhis 
 grafs, &c. Tiie keeping up of thoughts of our own 
 excellency, unier the preiTures of the mighty hand, is 
 liie very thing that iwelk the heart in pride, caufingit 
 to rife up againft it. And it is the letting of all fuch 
 thoughts of ourfelvcs fall before tlie e) es of his glory, 
 th.it is the humbling required. 
 
 3. A fcnfe of our g, dt und fithinefs, Rom. iii. 10. lia. 
 Ixiv. 6. The miglity haul doth liot prefs us c.own, but 
 as finners ; it is meet ih:n tr.at u: cler it w>. Ue v.ur fni- 
 fulnefs ; our guilt,wh jrebv w: wjl'^ appear c riminals juft- 
 "ly caufed to furTer ; our hit"; n<efs, whereu^jon we may 
 
The Crook In the Lot. 95 
 
 te brought to lothe ourfclves ; and then we'll think no- 
 thing iay-i us lo'.ver than we well deierve. Itistheover- 
 Icokmg cur finfuinc fs that iuflcrs the proud heart tofwell. 
 4. A filtnt fubn'JJfion under the hand of God. His 
 fovereignty challengeth this of us, Rom. ix. zc. JS' ay 
 hut J marly ivho ort thou that repliejt agu'tnjt CodP — 
 And notb.Jng hut imiubdued height and pride of fpirit 
 can allow us to anlv.er again under tlie iovereign hand. 
 A v'.ew of the fovcreign hand humbled and awed the 
 Pfalmift into a fubmifhon, with a profound filence, Pfalm 
 ;:xxix. 9. I was aun-t^ / opejitdnot my mcuth; hecauj'd 
 th:u didjtit. — Job i. zi. The Lord guve, and the L'jvd 
 hath taken aiuay ; llt-jfTcuhe the name of the Lord. — 
 Andxh 4, 5. What Jh a II L arf-jjer thee? IvjIH lay 
 mine hand np'jri my rrjAdh, Once have L fp^iken^ hut L 
 "jj'dl not arjwer f yea^ twice^ hut I iv'ul prcceedno 
 f artier. And Eh, i Sam. iii. 18. J'l is the L^jfd; let 
 him do whatjetnieih him good. 
 
 5. A fnagrj/j i'rtg ofhds niercies towards us in the 
 midil of all liis procfedings againft us, Pfal. cxliv. 3, 
 Has heh-^d us lew? \i we be duly humbled we v.ill 
 wonder he has laid us no lower, Ezra ix. 13. For, how- 
 
 • ever low the hum.ble are laid, they will fee they are 
 not yet fo low as their f:rjsdefej?ve, Lam. iii. 22.. ^ 
 
 6. A holy and filent ad:mratii.n cf the ways aiid 
 counfeis of God, as to us unfearchahle, Rcir. xi. 33. 
 Pride oi heart thinks noihing too high for the man, and 
 fo arraigns before its tribunal the divine proceedings, 
 pretends to fee thro' them., cenfures freely and con- 
 demns ; but humiliation cf fpirit dilpofes a man to 
 think awfully and honourably cf the myileries of Pro- 
 vidence he Js not able to fee through. 
 
 7. A forgetting and laying afide before the Lord all our 
 dignity^ whereby we excel ethers, iiev. iv. 10. Pride 
 feeds itfelf on the man's real or irr.aginary perfonal ex- 
 cellency and di£,nity, and, being fo inured to it before 
 others, cannot forget It before Gcd. Luke xviii. 11. 
 God 1 thank theCyJ atnnot as othe? men. But humili- 
 ation of fpirit makes itaii to evanifii before him as doth 
 
96 The Cro^A in the Lot. 
 
 the fiiado'vv before the iliining fun, and it lays the man 
 in his own eyes, lower than any. Surely 1 am more 
 hrui'fj}} than any man^ a-nd have not the underjlunding 
 cf a rnar^ Prov. xxx. 2. 
 
 8. A fuhmitting readily to ihtmeaneft offices requifite 
 in, or agreeable to our circumftances. i^ride at every 
 turn finds fometliing that is below the man to conde- 
 fcend or floop to, meafuring by his own mind and v.-ill, 
 not by the circumflancesGod has placed him in. But 
 humility meafures by the circunilances one is placed in, 
 and readily falls in with wliat they require. Hereof 
 our Saviour gave us an exar/jple, (Phil. ii. 8. He hum- 
 hied hl.-nj.^lf., a-^d became obeditnt unio deaih^ to be 
 imitated, John xiii. 14. Jf I then your Lord and Mafier 
 have wajbcdy'jurftet.ye ov.ght aljo to -jjajh one another* s 
 feet, 
 
 Ufe. Of exhortation. Let the bent of your heart 
 then, in all your humbling circumflances, be towards 
 the humbling of ycur fpirit, as under the mighty hand 
 of God. This lies in two things. 
 
 1. Carefully notice all yonv* humbling «ircum{ian- 
 ces, and overlook none of them. Obferve )'ourimper- 
 feftions; inferiority in relations; contradictions you 
 meet v/ith; your afiii<ftions ; uncertainty of all th-ingi 
 about you ; and vour finfiilneis. — Look througli tliem 
 defi^iedlv, and confider the ileus of the condu^l of Pro- 
 viience towards you in thefe, that ye may know your- 
 felves, and may not be ft rangers at home, blind to 
 your ov.-n real (late and cafe. 
 
 2. Obferving what thefe circumftances (lo require of 
 you, as fuitable to them ; bend your endeavours towards, 
 it, to bring your fpirits into the temper of luimilia- 
 tion,that, as your lot is really low in all thefe refpeCls, 
 ib your fpii'its may be low too, as under the mi"ghty 
 hand of Go J. Let this be your great aim through 
 vour whole life, and )-our exercife every day. 
 
 Motive I. God is certainly at v/ork to humble one 
 and all of us. Ho\vevcr higli any are lifted up in tins 
 v.'orld, Providence has hung certain badges for humili- 
 ation on them, vvhctlier they will notice them or not, 
 
The Crook In the Lat. 97 
 
 tfa. xl. 6. Now, it is our duty to fall in \rlth the de- 
 fign of Providence, that vv'hile God is humbling us, wc 
 may be humbling ourfclves, and that we may not re- 
 ceive humbling difpenfations in vain. 
 
 2. The humiliation of our fpirit will not take cfFecc 
 without our own agency therein ; while God is work- 
 ing on us that way, we muft work together with him, 
 for he works onus as rational agents, who being mov- 
 ed, move themielves, Phil. ii. 12, 13. God by his pro- 
 vidence may force down our lot and condition without 
 us, but the fpirit muft come down voluntarily and of 
 choice, or not at all ; therefore, llrike in with hum- 
 bling providences in humbling yourfclves, as mariners 
 fpread out the fails when the wind begins to blow, 
 that they may go away before it. 
 
 3. If ye do not, ye refift the mighty hand of God, 
 A<5s vii. 51. Ye refill in fo far as ye do not )ield, but 
 Hand as a rock keeping your ground againft your Maker' 
 in humbling providences, Jer. v. 3. Thou hajl Jlrickcn 
 them, hut they have not grieved; thou haji confumed 
 them, but they have refufcd to receive correciton. They 
 have made their faces harder than a rock ; they have re-^ 
 fufed to return. Much more when ye work againfl hiun 
 to force up your condition, which we may fee God 
 means to hold down. And of this refiftance confider, 
 
 (i.) 'The finfulnefs ; what an evil thing it is. It is 
 a dire6l fighting againfl God, a iliaking off of fubjc6lio£i 
 to our fovereign Lord, and a rifmg in rebellion a- 
 gainft him, Ifa. xlv\ 9. 
 
 (2.) The/o//)ofit. How uneq^ual is the match? Ho'vr • 
 can the fliaiggle end well? Job ix. 4- "vVliat elfe can 
 po^ibly be the iiTue of the potdierd's of the earth daili- 
 ing againft the rock of ages, but that they be broken to 
 pieces? We may fc^y, as Job xli. 8. Ail men mufl 
 certainly bow or break under the mighty hand. 
 
 4. This is the time of humdliation, even the time of 
 this life. Every thing is beautiful in itsfectfon ; and the 
 bringing down of tliC fpirit now is bcautiiul, as in the 
 
 I 
 
98 The Crf^zk in the let. 
 
 tiirie thereof, even as the plov.'ing tntl fc.ving of ihc | 
 ground is in the fpring. ConlKler, ' , 
 
 (i ) liumiliation of fpirit is iii the fight of Cod of \ 
 great^ price, i Pet. iil. 4, As he has a fpecial averfion ; 
 to pride of heart, he has a fpecial liking of humility, , 
 -chap. V. 5. The humbling of tiimers and bringing them 1 
 down from their heights, wherein the corruption of i 
 their nature has fet them, is tiVe great end of his word, 1 
 and of his providences. ' 
 
 (a.) It is no eafy thing to humble m.en's fpirits ; it ' 
 is not little that will do it ; it is a work that is not foon 
 done. There is need of a digging deep for a th.orough 
 humiliation in the work of converfion, Luke vi. 48. 
 Many a ftroke muilbe given at the root of the tree of i 
 the natural pride of the heart ere it fall; oft times it ^j 
 feems to be fallen, and}-et it arifes again. And, even 1 
 when the root-ftroke is given in believers, the rod of I 
 pride buds again, fo that there is ftiil occafion for ■ 
 new humbling work. 
 
 (3.) The whole time of this life is appointed for hu- 
 miliation. This was iigriified by the forty years the 
 Ifraelites had in the wiidernefs, Deut. viii. 2. It was 
 fo to Chriftj and tlicrefcre it mull be fo to men, Heb. 
 xii. 2. And in that tim.e they muft eitJier be formed 
 according to his image, or elfe appear as reprobate \ 
 filver that will not take it on by any means, Rom. • 
 viii. 29. So that whatever lifting up men may now ] 
 and then get in tiiis life, the habitual courfe of it will '■ 
 OiJl be humbling. \ 
 
 (4 ) There is no humbling after this, Rev. xxii. 11. '] 
 If the pride of the heart be not brought down in this 
 life, it will never be; no kindly humiliation is to be i 
 expe'iled in the other life. There the proud will be ^ 
 broken in pieces, but not foftenedj, their lot and con- ; 
 dition will be brought to the lowcft pafs, but the un- 
 huuiblenefs of thicir fpirits will fiill remain, whence ' 
 they will be in eternal agonies, through the oppofxtioa « 
 jijetwiKt their fpirits and lot, Rev. xvi. 21. \ 
 
 V/herefore, bev/arelcft ye Qt your time of b^mjlia- ; 
 
The Cro<ik m the Lot. ^ 
 
 tion : humbled we mufl be, or we are gone for c\^er ; and 
 this is the time, the only time of it; therefore, make 
 your hay while the fun fnines ; ftrike in with humbling 
 providences, and fight not againil them while ye have 
 them, Ails xiii. 41. The feaf on of grace will not lailj 
 if ye ileep in feed-time, ye will beg in harveli. 
 
 5. This is the way to turn humbling circumflances 
 to a good account ; fo that inftead of being lofers, ye 
 would be gainers by them, Pialm cxix. 71. It is good 
 jor me that I have be^n afflicled. Would ye gather 
 grapes of thefe thorns and tliiftles, fet yourielves to 
 get your fpirits humbled by them. 
 
 (i.) Humiliation of fpirit is a moll valuable thing 
 in itfelf, Prov. xvi. 32. It cannot be bought too dear. 
 Whatever one is made to lufFer, if his fpirit is there- 
 by duly brought down, he has what is well worth 
 bearing all the hardfliip for, i Pet. ii'r. 4. 
 
 (z.) Humility of fpirit brings many advantages a- 
 long with it. It is a fruitful bough, well loaden, where- 
 ever it is. It contributes to one's eafc under the crofs, 
 Matt, xi 30. Lam. iii. 27, 28,' 29. It is a facrifice 
 particularly acceptable to God, Pfal. li. 17. The eye 
 of God is particularly on fuch for good, lia. Ixvi. 2. 
 To this man loili I look, even to him that is p'jor, and 
 of a, contrite fpirit^ and fretnhleth at my -word. Yea, 
 ,he dwells with them, Ifa. Ivii. 15. And it carries a 
 line of wifdom through one's whok condu6l, Prov. xi. 
 2. With the lozvly is "jjifdom. ■ 
 
 Lajtly^ Confider it is a mighty hand that is at work 
 with us ; the hand of the mighty God; let us then 
 bend our fpirits towards a compliance with it, and not 
 wreftle a^gainfl it. Confider, 
 
 (i,) We m.ufi fall under 'm. F^'nce the defign of it 
 is to bring us down, we cannot fcand before it ; for it 
 cannot miicarry in its defigns, Ifa. xlvi. 10. My coun- 
 fel Jhall jtand. So, fall before it vre mufl, either in 
 the way of duty or judgment, Pfal. xlv. 5. Thine ar- 
 roivs are fharp in the heart of the king's enemies y 
 lu htrchy the people fall under thee, 
 I 2 
 
IOC The Ciook in the Lot, 
 
 (2.) They that are fo wife as to fall in humiliation 
 under the mighty hand, be they nevei' fo low, the fame 
 hand will raije tiiem up again, Jam. iv. 10. In a word, 
 be the proud never fo liign, God will bring them down : 
 . Be the humble never fo low, God will raife them up. 
 
 Diredions for reaching this humiliation. 
 
 I. General Directions. 
 
 Dire SI, I. .Fix it in your heart to feek fome fpiri- . 
 tual improvement of the condu£l of Providence towards 
 you, Micah vi. 9. Till once your heart get a fetthat 
 way, your hum-iiiation is not to be expefted. Hofea 
 xlv. 9. But nothing is more reafonable, if we would acb 
 either like men or Cliriftians, than to aim at turning 
 ^hat is fo grievous to the flefli unto the profit of the 
 Ipirit ; that, if we are lofers at one hand, v/e may be 
 gainers at anotllcr. 
 
 2. Settle the matter of 3'our eternal falvation, in the 
 firll place, by betaking yourfcif to Ciirift, and taking 
 God for your God in him, according to the gofpel-of- 
 fer, Hof. ii. 19. Heb. viii, 10. Let your humbling 
 5CifvjU.nilances move you to tliis, that while the crea- 
 ture dries up, you may go to the Fountain: for it is 
 im.poffible to reach due humiliation under the mighty 
 hand, without faith in him as your God and friend, 
 -Hcb. xi. 6. I John iv. 19. 
 
 3. Ufe the means of foul-humbling in the faiih of 
 the promifcj Pialm xxviii. 7. Mofes fmiting the rock 
 in faith of the promife, mads water gufh out, vvhich 0- 
 thervvife would not at all appeared. Let us do likewife 
 in dealing with our rocky hearts. They mufi be laid 
 on the foft bed of the gofpel, and ftruck there, as Joel 
 ii. 13. 7 urn to the Lord your Cod; fo' he is gracious 
 ^i:d 'merciful : Or they will never kindly break or fall 
 in hiumiliation. 
 
 II. Particular Directions. 
 
 I. Affure yourfelves that there are no circumftances 
 lonumblingthat you are in, but you m.ay get your heart 
 
The Cr9ok in the Lot. ici 
 
 acceptably brought do-vjn to them, i Cor. x. 13. But 
 God is fi'ithful^ vjho will not fuffer you to he tempted 
 abive luhat ye are ahlc^ but lui/I luith the templation 
 alfo make aivay toe/cape^ that ye may he ahle to bear 
 it. This is truth, 2. Cor. xii. 9. iMy grace is fuffcient 
 for thee ; for my ftreiigth is made perfe6l in iveaknefs* 
 And you would be periuaded of it, with application to 
 yourl'elves, if ever you would reach the end. Phil. iv. 
 13. / can do all things through Chri/l which ftrength- 
 eneth me. God allows you to be perfuaded of it, what- 
 ever is your weaknefs and the difficulty of the tafk* 
 For your Jakes this is written^ That he that ploiveth 
 floould plo-M in hope; and that he thai threfkclh in 
 hope^fhould he partaker of his hope^ i Cor. ix. 10. 
 And' the belief thereof is a piece of the life of faith, 
 2 Tim. ii. i. If you have no hope of fuccefs, your en- 
 deavours, as they will be heartlctis, fo they will be vain. 
 Wherefore lift up the hands that hang down^ and the 
 feeble knees, Heb. xii. 12. 
 
 2. ^Miatever hand is, or is not, in your humbling 
 circumiliances, do you take God for your party, and 
 confider yourfelves therein as under his mighty hand, 
 Mic. vL 9. Men in their humbling circumftances o- 
 verlook God ; fo they find not themfelves called to hu- 
 mility under them; they fix their eyes on the creature 
 iiiftrument, and, initead of humility, theii' hearts rife. 
 But take him for your party, that ye may remember 
 the battle, and do no more. Job xii. 8. 
 
 3. Be much in the thoughts of God's infinite great- 
 nej's : confider his holinefs and majelly, fit to av.x you 
 into deepeft humihation, Ifa. vi. 3, 4, 5. Job met with 
 many liumbling providences in his cafe, but he wss 
 never fuflicicntly humbled under them, till the Lord 
 made a ne-.v difcovciy of himfelf unto him, in his ir.fi' 
 ni^c majelly and greatnefs. He kept his ground againil 
 hii friends, and flood to his points, till the Lord took 
 that method with him. It was begun with thunder. 
 Job xxxvii. I, 2. Then followed GodV voice out of 
 the wiiirlwind, chap, xxxviii-. i. whereonjobi»broughi 
 
loa The Crook In the L:C, 
 
 ^own, chap. xl. 4, 5. It is renewed till b.e is ianhct* 
 humbled, chapter xlii. 5, 6. Jl^herefore 1 abhor myjtif^ 
 €ind repent in dujt and ajhes, 
 
 4. Inure yourfelves filently to admit inyftertes in 
 the condufl of Providence towards you, which you are 
 riOt able to comprehend, but will adore, Pvom. xi. 33. 
 C the depth of the riches, both of theiuifdo?n m'ld know- 
 ledge of God ! ho-JJ unfearchable are his judgments^ 
 lind his vjays pafi finding out I That was the firft word 
 Cod faid to Job,chap. xxxviii. %. Who is this that dark- 
 eneth cotinjel by words without knowledge? It took 
 him by the heart, ftuck with him, and he comes over 
 it again, chap. xlii. 3. as that which paiticularly 
 brought liim to his knees, to the duft. Even in thoie 
 ileps of Providence, which we fcem to fee far into, we 
 may well allow there are fome myileries beyond what 
 \ve fee. And, in thofe which are perplexing and puz- 
 zling, fovereignt)^ fliould filence us ,• his infirdte wif- 
 dom fliould fatisfy, though we cannot fee. 
 
 5. Be much in the thoughts of your own y?«/L'/wf/>, 
 Job xl. 4. Behold J am vile, what fnall I anfwer thee ? 
 J will lay yViine hand upon my mouth. It is overlooking of 
 that which gives us fo much ado with humbling circum- 
 ftances. While the eyes are held tliat tliey cannot fee fin, 
 the heart rifeth againft them ; but when they are open- 
 ed, it falls. Wherefore, whenever God is dealing with 
 you in humbling difpenfations, turn your eves, upon 
 that occafion, on the fmfuhiefs of our nature, heart, 
 and life, and that will help for-.vard your humiliation, 
 
 6. Settle it in your heart, that there is jieedofali the 
 humbling circumiiances you are put in. This is truth, 
 I Pet. i. 6 . Though now for afeafonfifueed b ej ye are in 
 heavinefs through manifold temptations, God brings no 
 needlefs trials upon us, aiBi<i'l3 none but as their need 
 requires^ Lam. iii. 33. For he doth not affii^ willi-ngly^ 
 nor grieve the children of wn. That is an obfer\ able 
 difference betwixt our earthly and heavenly Father's 
 correflion^ Heb. xii. id. They— after — their own plea- 
 jure ; hut n^for our pruft^ that we might be partakers 
 
 '•/ /;."/ h'/tinefs. Look to the temper of your own hearts 
 
The Crz'Ji in iht VJ, . 103 
 
 and nature, how apt to be lift up, forget God, carried 
 away with the vanities of the world ; wliat foolilhnefs 
 is bound up in your heart. Thus you will fee tiie need 
 of humbling circumftances for ballafl, and of the rod for 
 the fool's back ; and if at any time you cannot fee 
 that need, believe it on the ground of God's infinite 
 wifdom that does nothing in vain. 
 
 7. Believe a kind dej.ign of Trovidence in tliem to- 
 wards you. God calls us to this, as the key that opens 
 the heart under them, Rev. iii. 19. Satan fuggefls iiif-' 
 picions to the contrary, as the bar which may hold it 
 Ihut, 2 Kings vi. 33. Thh evil is of the Lvd., vjhat 
 Jhould I vj ait for the Lord any longer P As long as the 
 fufpicions of an ill defign in them againu us reigns, the 
 creature will, like the worm at the man's feet, put. it^ 
 felf in the belt poilure of defence it can, and harden 
 itfelf inibrrowj but the faith of a kind defign will 
 cftufe it open out itfelf in humility before him. 
 
 Cafe. ' O ! If I knew there were a kind defign 
 ' in It, I would willingly bear it, although there were 
 ' more of it ; but I fear a ruining defign of Pros i- 
 * dence againll: me therein.' 
 
 Jnf. Now, what word of God, or difcovery from 
 heaven, have yoTi to ground tbiCie fears upon i None at 
 all, but from hell, i Cor. x. 13. What think ycu the 
 defign towards you in the goi'pel is ? Can ycu believe 
 no kind defign towards you in all the words of grace 
 there heaped up neither t What is that, I pray, but 
 black unbelief in its hue of hell, Ifa. Iv. i. flying in the 
 face of the truth of God, and making him a liar, i John 
 V. 10, II. Thie gofpelis a breathing of love and good 
 will to the v/orld of mankind fmners. Tit. ii. 11. iii. 4. 
 I John iv. 14. John iii. 17. But ye believe it not, in that 
 cafe, mere than devils believe it. But if ye can believe 
 a kind defign there, ye muil: believe it in your humbling 
 eircuraftanecs too ; for the defign of Providence cannot 
 be contrary to the defign of the gofpel ; but contriny- 
 wife the latter is to help forward to the other. 
 
 8. Think with yourfelves, that tliis life is the time 
 
X04 The Crc'.k h: the Lot, 
 
 cf ti'lal for heaven, James i. la Blejfedls the man that 
 endureth temptation; for whenhe is tricd.hefh all receive 
 the crozunofl:fe^''-ur.'ichtheLordhathpronu/edto them that 
 love him. And therefore there ihoukl be a welcoming of 
 hairxbling circumftances on that view, ver, 2. Count 
 it all joy ivhe^n you fail into divers temptations. If there 
 is an honourable office, or beneficial employment to be 
 beflowed, men ftrive to be take q on trials for it, in hope 
 they may be thereupon legally admitted to it. Nciwy 
 God takes trial of men for heaven by humbling circum- 
 ftances, as the whole Bible teacheth; and iliail men- 
 be fo very loth to iloop to them ? I would af<; you, 
 
 (i.) I3 it nothing to you to fland a candidate for 
 glory, to be put on trials for heaven? Is there not an 
 honour in it, an honour which all the faints have had I 
 Jam. v. II. Behold •we count them happy that endure j 
 &c. Andafeir profpettinit, oiCor. iv. 17. For our light 
 affli ction^ nvhich is but for a moment., workethfor us a far 
 more exceeding and eternal ivsight of glory. Do but 
 put the cafe, God ihould overlook you in that cafe, as 
 one whom it is needlefs ever to try on tliat head; that 
 he lliould order your portion in this life with full 
 eafe, as one that is to get no more of him; what 
 would thai be ? 
 
 (2.) What a vad difproportion is there between 
 your trials and the glory? Your moil iiumbling cir- 
 cumilances, how light are they in comparifon of thi 
 weight of it : The longell; continued of them are but 
 for a moment, compared with the eternal v.xight. A- 
 Lis ! there is much unbelief at the root of alb our unea- 
 fmefs under our humbling circumftances. Had we a 
 clearer view of the other world, ntc would r;ot make \o 
 much of either the fmiles or frowns oi"this. 
 
 (3.) \\rimt think ye of coming foul off the tiial cf 
 your humbling circu.'nllances? Jer. vi 29,30. The 
 had is confumed of the fire ; the founder melteii) in vaint 
 f)r the "dticked a? e not plucked aivay^ Reprobate filler 
 fijall me-t call the'U, becaufe the L'jrd hath rejected iheM. 
 Ti^t. the iiTae of it be only, that your lieart appear of 
 
The Crook in the DA, 105 
 
 fuch a temper as ty no means to be humbled ; and 
 that therefore you mud and fliall be taken off them, 
 vvJiile yet no humbling appears. I think the awfulncis 
 of the difpenfation is fuch, as might fet us to our knees 
 to deprecate the lifting us up from our humbling cir- 
 cumftances, ere our heaits are humbled, Ifa. i. 5, 
 Ezek. xxiv. 13. 
 
 9. Think with yourfelves, how it is by humbling 
 circumfxances the Lord prepares us for heaven, Col. 
 i. 12. Civhig thanks UHto the Father, who hath made 
 us meet to be made partakers of the inheritance of the 
 faints in light^ with 2 Cor. v. 5. The ftones and tim- 
 ber are laid down, turned over and over, and hewed, 
 ere they be fet up in the building; and not jufl fet up 
 as they come out of the quarry and wood. Were 
 they capable of a choice, fuch of tlTem as would rcfufe 
 the iron tool would be refufed a place in the building. 
 Pray, hov,- think ye to be made meet for heaven, by 
 the warm funlhine of this world's eafe, and getting all 
 your will here ? Nay, Sirs ; that would put )'our mouth 
 out of taile for the joys of the other world. Veffels 
 Of diriionour are fitted for deftruclion that ^'!'ay; but 
 veiTels of honour for glory by humbling circumftances. 
 I would lie re fay, 
 
 (i.) Will nothing pleafe ycu but tivo heavens, one 
 here, another hereafter? God has fecured one heaven 
 lor the faints, one place where they Ihall get all their 
 will, wifli, and defn^ ; where there fliall be no v/cight 
 en them to hold them down ; and that is in the other 
 world. But ye muft have it both here and there, or ye 
 cannot digelt it. Why do ye not quarrel too that 
 there are not two fummers in one year ; two days in 
 twenty-four hours? The order of the one heaven is as 
 iimi as that of the years and days , and ye v/ill not 
 reverfe it: therefore, chufe ye whether ycu will take 
 your night or your day firll, your winter or your fum- 
 mer, your heaven here or hereafter. 
 
 (2.) Without being i-umbled with liumbling circum- 
 ftanccs in this life, ye are not J^/j^/'/i.' of heaven, 2 Cor, 
 
io6 The CforA In the Lot. 
 
 V. 5. No'd)^ he that hath wrought us for the felf -fame 
 thing is God. Ye may indeed He at eafe here in abed 
 of floth, and dream of heaven, big with hopes ofafoors 
 paradife, wifiiing to caft yourielves juft out of Delilah's 
 lap into Abraham's bofora; but without ye be Hum- 
 bled' ys are not capable, 
 
 (i.) Of the Bible-hc3.vcn, that heaven defcribed in 
 the Old and New Teilament. Is not that heaven a 
 lifting up in due time ? But, how fhall ye be lifted up 
 that are never ^vell gotten down? Where v.-ill your 
 tears be to be wiped away? AYhat place will there be 
 for yo'-i^ triumph, that will not fight the good fight ? 
 Hov/ can it be a red to you, vrho cannot away with 
 labour ? 
 
 (z.) Of the faints'' heaven, Rev.'vii. 14. And he fcid 
 uniome, Thefe^.re they ivhick came nut of great iri- 
 hulaiion^ and have ^ivc^fned their rohes^ and made them 
 li'hite in the blood of the Lamb. This anfwers the 
 qucftion anent Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob, and all the 
 faints vrith them there: they were "^brought down to 
 the dui\ with humbling circumftances, and outofthefe 
 they came to before the throne. How can ye ever think 
 to be lifted up with them, with whom ye cannot t]iin]c 
 to be brought down ? 
 
 (3.) Of Chrifi'shc3LYen, Heb. xii. 2. IVho for the 
 joy that ivns fit before hir/i, ejzdured the crofs^ ^^fp^fi'K^ 
 ihefrjame^ and is now fet down c't the right hand of 
 God. O ! confider how the Forerunner made his way, 
 Luke xxiv. 26, Ought not Chrifi to have fu jf ere d thcje 
 things^ and to enter info his glory P And lay your ac- 
 counts VN-ith it, that if ye get where he is, ye muft go 
 thitiier as he went, Luke ix. 23. y^nd hejaid^ If any 
 will come after me ^ let him deny hirafelf and take ut> 
 his crofs daily andfclkao me. 
 
 10. Give up at length with your tcv;ering hopesirom. 
 this v.'orld, and confine them to the world to come. Be 
 as pilgrim.s and fti angers here, looking for ycur reft in 
 heaven, and not till ye come there. There isaprevail- 
 ji'.g evil. Ifa. Ivii. 10. Th'^u art wt. ai it din the gn atntj's 
 
The Crook in ihe Lot. 107 
 
 tf thy iv/iy : yet aid ft thou not. There is no hcpe-. So 
 the Babel -building is ilill continued, though it lias fal- 
 len down again and again : For men fay. The bricks 
 are fallen do-wriy hut lue ivill build \uith he^jjen fhnes ; 
 the fycamores are cut down^ but vjc vjill change them 
 int'j cedars^ Ifa. ix. 10. This makes humbling work 
 very longibiriC ; we are fo hard to quite the grip of the 
 creature, to fall off from the breaft and be weaned. — 
 But faften vour grips on the other world, and let your 
 grip of this goj fo lliall ye be hu7nhled indeed under the 
 7'iighty hand. The fuller you grip the happinefs of 
 tliat world, the eaf cr will it be to accommodate your- 
 felves to your humbling circumfiances here. 
 
 1 1. Make ufe of Chrlft in all liis cilices, for your hu- 
 miliation under your Irarabling circmnftances. That 
 only is kindly humiliation that comes inthat way,Zech. 
 xii. 10. ^nd they fiiall look upon me itjho??i they have 
 pierced, and x hey p.- all 7110 urn., Sic. That you mud do 
 by trufting on him for tliat efiecl, 
 
 ( I .) As a /■ .'- i: // for you. You liave a confclence full 
 - guilt, and th;it will make one uneafy in any circum- 
 :tances, and farinore in humbling ciicumfrances; it will 
 be like a thorn in the fhoulder en which a burden is 
 laid. But the blood of Chrift v/ill purge the confclence, 
 draw out the thorn, give eafe, Ifaiah xxxiii. 214. and 
 lit for fervice, doing or fuffering, Hcb. :.x. 14- -^'"w 
 viuch more Jh all the blood of Chriff — pf^ge ) our con- 
 fcience from dead 'works to fcrve the living God? 
 
 (-4.) As your Prophet to teach you. Vv'e have need 
 to be taugnt rightly to difcern our humbling circum- 
 fiances ; for, often we miAake tliem fo far, that they 
 prove an oppreliing load ; whereas, could we rightly 
 fee them, juft as God lets them to us, they would be 
 Iiumbling, but not fo opprelfive. Truly we need Chrift, 
 and the light of his word and fpirit, to let us fee cur 
 crofs and trial, as well as our duty, Pfal. xxv. 9, 10. 
 
 (3.) As your Kivg. You have a fdtf heart, loth to 
 bow evenin humbling circumfiances ; take sLlcfTon from 
 Mcfes what to do iiv.fuch a cafe, Exod. xxjtiv. 9* And 
 
io3 The Crook In the Lot, 
 
 heftiid^ — Let my Lord^ / pray thee^ go amotigfl us (for 
 it is a jHff necked people) and pardon our iniquity ^and 
 cur fin. Put it in his hands that is flrcng and mighty, 
 Pfalm xxiv. 8. He is able to caufe it to melt, and like 
 wax, before the fire, turn to the leal. 
 
 Think on thefe dire^ions^ in order to put them in 
 pra£lice, remembering, that if ye kno'w thefe things^ 
 happy are ye, if ye do them. Remember, humbling 
 work is a work that will fill your hand, while you live 
 here, and that you cannot come to the end of till death; 
 and humbling circumflances will attend you, while )ou 
 are in this lower world, A change of them ye may get; 
 but a freedom from them ye cannot, till ye come to 
 heaven. So the humbling circumflances of our imper- 
 le£lions, relations, contradiOions, affli£lions, uncer- 
 tainties, and fuifulncis, will afford matter of exercife to 
 us while here.---Wh.at remains of the purpofe of this 
 tcxl, I ilia 11 comprife in, 
 
 DocT. II. There is a due time, ivkerein thofe that 
 no-M humble themfedvcs under the mighty hand of 
 Cod 'Will certainly he lifted up. We fhall take, 
 
 I. A general tie-M of this point. And confider, 
 
 if/, Some things fuppofed and implied in\i. It bears. 
 
 I. That thole wliofiiall (liare of this lifting up, mufl 
 lay their accounts, in the nrfi; place, with a cafiing 
 do'wn. Rev. yii. 14. John xvi. 33. -^/« the ivorld ye 
 fiall have tribulation,- There is no coming to the pro- 
 mi fed land, according to the fettled method of grace, 
 but through the wildernefs ; nor entering into this ex- 
 altation, but through" a flrait gate. If we cannot a- 
 way with caiVnig down, we will not tafte of the fweet 
 o'i the lifting up. 
 
 %. Being cafl down by the mighty hand of God, we 
 mull learn to Ueflill and quiet under it, till the fame 
 hand that cafl us down raife us up, if we would fliare 
 of thispromifed lilting up, Lam. iii. ^7. It is not the 
 being caft down into humbUng circun^.anccs, by the 
 
he Lot. IC9 
 
 provklence of God, but the coming dc.vn of our fpl- 
 rits under them, by the grace of God, t'nat brings 
 us within the compafs of this promifc. 
 
 3. Never humbled, in humbling ciicumfLances, luver 
 lifted up in the way of this promiie. Men may keep 
 their fpirits on the high bend in their humbling circuni- 
 ftances, and in that cafe mav gcc a lifting up. Prov. 
 xvi. 19-. But note this, what they get will be a lifting 
 up, to the end they may get the more grievous fall. 
 Surely thou didjtjtt them in flippery places^ thou cafiedft 
 themdo-jjnin nmomenty PfaL hcxiii. 18. But they v»'ho 
 will not humble themfehes in humbling circumflan- 
 ces, will find their obflinacy a need nail, that will keep 
 their mifery ever fail: on them without remedy. 
 
 4. Humility of fpirit, in humJjling circumftances, af- 
 ccrtains a lifting up out of them fome time, with tlie 
 good will and favour of lieaven, Luke xviii. 14. / tell 
 y'ju^ this man vjcnt doicnto his houfe ji^fiified rather than 
 the other ; for svet y one that exalteth himfelffJpsU be 
 abafed^ and he that humhleth himfelfjljall he exalted. 
 Solomon obfen'es, Prov. xv. i . that a foft anfjjer 
 turneth avjay -^urath ; but grievjus -jjords Jiir up an- 
 ger. And fo it is^ that while the proud, through their 
 oblbinacy, do but wreathe the yoke faiber about their 
 own ne-oks, the yieliing humble ones, by their yield- 
 iiig, make their relief fure, i Sam. ii. 8, 9, 10. He 
 ruifcth the poor out of the duj}^ and lifteth up the beg- ' 
 gar from the dunghill^ to fet them among princes ^ and 
 to make ihem inherit the throiie ofglo^y. He -will keep 
 the feet of his faints^ and the -ivicked JJjall be Jilent in 
 darknefs ; for by ftrength fl?all no man prevail. The 
 adverj'aries of the^ Lordjball be broken in pieces. So, 
 the cannon-ball breaks down a flone wall, vrhile the • 
 yielding packs cf wool take away its force. 
 
 5. Tliere is an appointed iiine for the lifting up of 
 thoi'e that humble themfelves in their humbling circum- 
 ftances, Hab. ii. 3 . For the vifion is yet for an appointed 
 time, hut at the tnditjhallfpeak and not lie : though it 
 tarry ^ -Wait for it ; becaufe it -jjillfurely co?ne^ it ■vciilrM 
 
 K 
 
no The Cr^^ok in the lot. 
 
 tarry. To every thing tlie re is n time, as for humbling, 
 fb for liftingupi Eccl. iii. 3. V/e know it not, but God 
 ^nows it, who hath appointed it. Let not the humble 
 one fay, I will never be lifted up ; there is a time fixt 
 for it, as precifely as for the rifmg of the fun, after 
 the long and dark night, or the return of the fpring 
 after the long and (liarp winter. 
 
 6. It is not to be expedled, that immediately upon 
 one's humblifig him/e/f] the lifting up is to follow. No ; 
 one is not to lie down under the mighty hand, but lie 
 ftill waiting the due time ; humbling whjvk is longior.ie 
 work; the IfnTelites had forty years of it iii the wii^ 
 dernefs. God's people muftle brought to put a blank 
 in his hand, as to the time ; and widle- they have a 
 long night of walking in darknefs, muft truft, Ifa. 1. 10. 
 IVho is among you that fear eth the Lord^ that chejeth 
 the voice of his fervant^ that walksth in darknefs and 
 hath no lights' Let him truft in the name of the Lor d^ 
 and flay up:n his God. 
 
 7. Tlie appointed time for the lifting up is the due 
 time^ tlie time fittefl for it, wherein it will come moil 
 feafonably. And let us not he weary in -u^ell doing ; for^ 
 in diiefeafon 'J^e fJ) all reap., if "jje faint not.. Gal. vi. 9. 
 For that is the time God has chofen for it ; and be fure 
 his choice, as the choice of infinite wifdom, is the beft ; 
 and therefore faith fets to wait it, Ifa. xxviii. 16. He 
 that helicvethfljall not make hjffe. There is much of 
 the beauty of a thing depends on the timing of it, and 
 he has fixed that in all that he does, Eccl. iii. 11. Be 
 hath made every thing beautiful in his time. 
 
 8. ThiC lifting up of the humble v.lll not nufs to 
 come in the appointed and due time,Hab. ii. 3. Time, 
 makes no halting, in its running day and night .: lb 
 the duetim.e is fafi coming, and, when it comes, it will 
 bring the lifting up along with it. Let the humbling 
 circmnftances be ever lb lo-.v, ever fo hiopelefs,* it is 
 impoflible but ths lifting up from them muil come in 
 the due time. 
 
 IL A word, in the general, to the lifting up^ abid- 
 rag thofe that humble themfclves, Thcie is a two- 
 loii liftin;^- up. 
 
The Crrjok in the Lot. lit 
 
 1. A partial Xi^iiTig up, competent to the bumbled 
 in tip-ie, during this life, Pial. xxx. i. livlll e-xtolthee, 
 
 Lor d^ for thou haft lifted me up^ and haji n:-t rnade my 
 f'.es to rejoice over me. This is a lifting up in part, and 
 but in part, not wholly; and fuch liftings up the hum- 
 bled may expe£l, while in this world, but no more. — 
 Tiiefe give a breathing to the weary, a change of bur- 
 dens, but do not fet them at-perfe£l eafe. So Iirael, in 
 the wildernefs, in midll of their many mourning times, 
 had fome Tinging ones, Exod. xv. i. Num. xxi. 17. 
 
 2. A /o/i?/ lifting up, competent to them at the end 
 of time, at death, Luke xvi. 22. ' It came to pafs, that 
 ' the beggar died, and was carried, by the angels, into 
 ' x\braham's bofom.' Then the Lord deals with them 
 no more by parcels and halves, but carries them relief 
 to perfe£lion, Heb xii. 23. Then betakes off all their 
 burdens, eafes them of all their weights, and lays no 
 more on for ever. He then lifts them up to a height 
 they were never at before ; no, not even at their liigh- 
 efl. He fets them quite above all that is low, and 
 therein fixes them, never to be brought dov/n more. 
 Now, there is a due time for bcth thefe. 
 
 (i.) For the partial lifting up. Every time is not fit 
 for it ; we are not always fit to receive comfort, an eafe 
 or a change of our burdens. God fees there are times 
 wherein it is needful for hds people to be in heavinefs^ 
 
 1 Pet. i. 6. to have their hearts brought doivn vjith griefs 
 Pfal. cvii. 12. But then there is a time really appoint- 
 ed for it in the divine wifcfom, when he will think it 
 as needful to comfort them, as before to bring down, 
 2. Cor. ii. 7 . ' So that contraryway s, ye ought rather to 
 ' forgive, and comfort him, lefl perhaps fuch an one 
 * fhould be fwallowedup with over much forrow.' Wc 
 are, in that cafe, in the hand of God, as in the hand of 
 or.r phyfician, who appoints the time the drawing plai- 
 fler (liall be applied, and leaves it net to the patient. 
 
 (2.) For the total lifting up. When we are fore op- 
 prcifed with our burdens, we are ready to think, O to 
 i)t away, ard fet beycndthem all, Jobvii. 2, 3. 'Asa 
 
iia The Crook In the Lot. 
 
 .' fervant earneftly dcrireth the lliaiovv, and as an hire - 
 ' linglooketh for the reward of his work; fo am I made 
 
 * to pofTefs months of vanity, and wearifome nights are 
 
 * appointed to me.' But it may be fitter, for all that, 
 that we ftay a while, and wreflle with cur burdens, Phil. 
 3. 24, 25. ^ Neverthelefs, ^to abide in the flefti is more 
 
 * needful for you. And having this confidence, I know 
 
 * that I fliall abide and continue with you all, for your 
 ' furtherance and joy of faith.' A few days might have 
 
 *taken Ifrael out of Egypt into Canaan ; but they woirl'd 
 Jiavebeen overfoon there, if they had made all that fpeed ; 
 'fo they behoved to fpend forty years, in the wilder- 
 nefs, till their due time of entering Canaan fliould come. 
 And be fare tlie faints, entering heaven, will be con- 
 vinced, that the time of it is beft chofen, and there 
 will be a beauty in that it was not fooner. And thus a 
 lifting up is lecured for the humble. 
 
 III. The ceriainty of the lifting up of thofe that 
 humble themfelves under humbling circumfiances. If 
 one would ailiire you, v.-hen reduced to poverty, that 
 the time (liould certainly come yet, that ye fliould be 
 rich ; when fore fick, that ye fhould not die of that dif- 
 •cafe, but certainly recover, that would help you to 
 tear your poverty and ficknefs the better, and you 
 vrould comfort yourfelves with that profpe*^. Howe- 
 \er, one may continue poor, and nerer be rich, may 
 be fick, aad die of his difeafe ; but, whoever humble 
 themfelves under their humbling circumftanccs, we 
 call allure them from the Lord's word they fnall cer- 
 tainly, without all pcradventure, be lifted up out of, and 
 relieved from, their humbling circumftanccs: they iliall 
 certainly fee the day of their eafe and relief, wh.entliey 
 fliali remember their burdens as waters that faiL And 
 ye maybe aiTured thereof from the following confidera- 
 tions. 
 
 I. The miture of God, duly confidercd, enfures it, 
 Pfalm ciii. 8, 9. Tks Lord is merciful and gracious^ 
 flovj to anger ^ and pUnteous in msi-cy. He luiilnot al- 
 "djays chide; neither vjill he keep his anger for ez€r. 
 
The Cr^ok In the Ut. 113 
 
 The huinbled foul, looking to God in Chrifl, may fee 
 three things in his nature jointly fecuring it. 
 
 (i.) Infinite jJotufr, that can do all things. No cir- 
 cumftances are fo low, but he can raiie them ; fo in- 
 tangling and perplexing, but he can unravel them ; fo 
 hopelefs, but he can remede them, Gen. xviii. 14. /x 
 any thing too hard for thrt Lor dp Be our cafe what it 
 will, it is never pall; rea-ch with him to help it ; but then 
 is the moft proper feafcn for him to take it in hand, 
 when all others have given it over, Deut. xxxii. 36. 
 For the Lord JJjall judge his people, a;id repent himfelf 
 for his fervants ; when he feet h that their power is 
 gone, and there is none fhut up^ or left. 
 
 (2.) Infinite goodnefs inclining to help. He is good 
 and gracious in his nature, Exod. xxxiv. 6 — 9. And 
 therefore his power is afpirit of comfort to them, Rom. 
 xiv. 4. Men may be wilHng that are not able, or able 
 that are not willing ; but infinite goodnefs, joining in* 
 finite power in God, may afcertain the humbled of a 
 li'iting^up indue time. That is a v/ord of inconceivable 
 fweetnefs, i John iv. 16. Jnd vje kn9w at:d belisze 
 the love that Cod hath to us. Cod if love ; and he that 
 dic^ileth in love, dvjellith in Cod, and God in hiri. He 
 has the bowels of a father towards the huinble, Pfalm 
 ciji. 13. Like as a fatl.er piiieih his children ; fo the' 
 Lord pi tidh them that fear hiw.- Yea, bowels of mercy 
 more tender than a mother to her fucking child, Ifa.. 
 xlix. 15. V/herefore, howbeit his wifdom may fee it 
 
 ■ necelliry to put them in humbling circuraftances, and 
 
 . keep them in them for a time, it is not poliible he caa- 
 
 - leave them in them for aitogether. 
 
 (3.) Infinite wifdom, that doth nothing in vain, and^ 
 therefore will notneedlefsly keep one in humbhng-cir- 
 cumll'arc^js, Lam. iii. 3:2, 33.- ' But though he caufc 
 ' grief, yet he will have compaiiicn,. according to t]ic" 
 ' mukicuie of his mercies ; tor he dcth not ai4ii(^ wil^ 
 ' lingiy, nor grieve the children of men.' God fends^ 
 
 . them on for humbling as the end and defign to be 
 brought about by them ; when thai is- abtaiaed^ andi 
 
114 The Crook In the Lot. 
 
 there is no more ufe for thein that way, we may aflure 
 ourfelves they will be taken oiF. 
 
 2. The /)r&z;z\/<f«rf of God, viewed in its ftatcd me- 
 thod of procedure with its objefts, enfures it. Turn 
 your eyes which way" you will on the divine provi- 
 dence, yc may conclude- thence, that in due time the 
 humble vvill be lifted:. up. 
 
 (i.) Obferve the providence of God, in the revolu- 
 tions of the whole courfe of nature, day fucceeding to 
 the longeil night, a fummer to the winter, a waxing to 
 3t waning of the moon, a flowing to an ebbing of tiie 
 fea,^ <^c. Let not the Lord's humbled ones be idle 
 fpe^lators of thefe things ; they are for our learning, 
 jer. xxxii. 35, 36, 37, ' Thus faith the Lord, which 
 *• giveth the fun fcr a liglit by day, and the ordinan-r- 
 ^ ces of the moon and of the ftars for a light, by inght, 
 'which divideththefea, when thev/aters thereof roar j; 
 ' the Ljrd of hofts is his name. If thefe ordinances. 
 '- depart from before me, fekh the Lord, then the feedL 
 *^ of Ifrael fliail ceafe from being a nation before me 
 ^ for ever.' Will the Lord's hand keep fuch a- Ready 
 courfe in the earth, fea, and vifible heavens, as to 
 bring a. lilting up in them after a caRing down, aixl on- 
 ty forget his hu^abled ones? No, by no means. 
 
 (2.) Obferve the providence of God, in. the difpenfa- 
 tuons thereof, about the man Christ, the m^ofl noble 
 and auguft obiect thereof, more, valuable than a thou- 
 land worlds, Col. ii. 9. Did not Providence keep this 
 courfe with him, firil humbling hh\\ then exalting him, 
 and lifting him up? firii bringing iiim to the dull of 
 death, in a courfe of fuiferings thirty -thrde }-ears, then, 
 t^^Xl him to the. Father's right-hand in eternity of glo- 
 ity?. Hebr xii. 2. — ' Vv^ho, for the joy that was let be- 
 *^lbre him, endured tlie crofs,, defpifing the fhame, and 
 *^is. now fet d.ovrn at the rigb.t hand ot the tlirone of 
 *^Gx)d..' Phil., ii.. 8, 9.. ' And being found in falhion as 
 *»a'.nmn, he hmnbled himfelf, and became obedient un- 
 '-» to death, even the death of the croiV: Wherefore 
 ''^ Q<ld. hath, alio highly exalted iiimJ The. exaltation. 
 
The Cr^y'ik in the l/,t. 1 13' 
 
 Luke xxiv. 26. 
 . * Ought not Chi ill to have futfered thei'e things, and 
 • to enter into his glory r' And he ikw and believed it 
 would follow, as the ipringing of the feed doth the 
 fowing it, John xii. 24. There is a near coneern the 
 humbled ui humbling eircumftances ha\-e herein. 
 
 (i.) This is the pattern Providence copies after in- 
 ks conduct towards: you- The. Father was fo well . 
 pleafed witli this method, in the cafe jof his ovv'ii Son,, 
 tliat it was determined to be followed, a.nd juu copied 
 over again in the cafe of all the heirs of glory, Rom. 
 viii. 29. ' For whom he did foreknow, he alio did prc^ 
 <• deftinatc to be conformed to the im.age of his Son,. 
 ' that he might l>e tlie iirll born among many bretliren.' 
 And who would ntt be pleafed to walk through the 
 dark valley treading his iteps ? 
 
 (2.) This is a fure pledge of your lifLing up. Chrift, 
 in his (late of humiliation, was confidered as a public 
 Perfon and Reprefentative, and fo is. he in his exalta- 
 tion. So Chrift's exaltation enfures your exaltation cut 
 oi your humbling eircumftances, Ifa. sxvi.. 19. > Thy 
 *■ dead men ihall live, together with my dead body fliaii 
 '- they arife ; awake and fmg, ye that dwell in tiie dufi.' 
 Hoi. vi-. I, 2. ' Come and let us letuni unto the Lord; 
 * for he hath torn, and he will heal us ; he hath fmit- 
 ' ten, and he vvdll bini us up. x\fter two days die will 
 ^ revive us : in the third day, he will raiie us up, and 
 <- we fiiall live in his fight.' Eph. ii^ 6. ' And hath 
 *- raifed us up together, and made us fit together in 
 ' heavenly places in Chrift Jefus.' Yea, he is gone in- 
 to the ftate of gLry for us as our forerunner, Heb. vi. 
 20. ' \'V hither tlie forerunner is for us entered, even 
 '^ Jefus, made an High Prieft for ever.' 
 
 (3 ) His humiliation was- the price of your exalta- 
 tion, and Ids exaltation a full teftimcny of the accept- 
 ance of its payment to the full. There are no hum- 
 bling circiuiiilances ye are in, but ye would have pe- 
 riihedin them, had not he purchafed your lifting up. 
 GUv ul tliem by his. own. humiliation,, lia. xxvi. 19.: — 
 
ii6 The Crook In the Lot, 
 
 Now, his liumbling grace in you is an evidence of the 
 aceeptance of hjs humiliation for your lifting up. 
 
 3. Obferv-e the providence of God towards the 
 church in all ages. I'his has been the courfe the Lord 
 has kept with her, Pfal. cxxix. i — 4. Abel was Jlain 
 by the wicked Cain, to the great gi'ief of Adam and Eve, 
 and the reft of their pious children : but then there was 
 another feed raifed up in AbeFs room after, Gen. iv. 2 c.- 
 Noah and his fons were buried alive in the ark more than 
 a year ; but then they were brought out into a ne\T 
 world and bleiied.. Abraham for mapy years went child- 
 lefs ; but at length Ifaac was born. Ifrael was lon?^ 
 in miferable bondage in Egypt ; but at length feated' 
 in the proinifed land, drr. \Ve mull: be content to go- 
 by the fbotfteps of the Piock ; and if in liumiliation, we 
 will furely follow them in exaltation too. 
 
 4. Obferve the providence of God in the difpenfa- 
 tion of his grace towards his children. The general 
 rule is, i Pet. v. 5. Ar God refijreth the proud, and' 
 giveth grace to the hurnble. Hovv^ are they brought 
 into a ftate of grace t Is it not by a found work of 
 humiliation going before ? Luke vi. 48. And ordmari- 
 ly the greater meafure of grace is defigned for one, 
 the deeper is their humiliation before, as in Paul's cafe^ 
 If they are to be recovered out of a back-ilidden cafe, 
 the fame meth.od is followed: fo that deepeft humilia- 
 tion ordinarily makes way for the greatell comforts, 
 and tlie darkelt hour goes before the rifmg of the Sun 
 of Ivigliteoufnefs upon them, Ifa lxvi..,5 — 13. 
 
 5. Obferve the providence of God at length throw- 
 ing down "jjicked men, however long they ftand and. 
 profper, Plal. xxxvii. 35, 36. 'I have feen the wick- 
 ' ed in great power, and ipreadinghimiclf like a green 
 ' bay tree ; yet he paffed away, and lo he vras not ; yea,, 
 ^ I fought him but he could not be found.' They are 
 long green before the fur, but at length they are fud- 
 denly fmitten with an eaft wind, and wither away ;. their 
 Ihmp goes out with a llink, and they are put out in 
 obfcure dai'knefs. Now, it is inconiiftcnt with thebe^- 
 
The Crook in the Lot, 1 17 
 
 nignity of the divine nature, to forget the humble to 
 raiie them, while he minds the proud to abafe them. 
 
 The luor^of God puts it beyond all peradventurc, 
 which, from the beginning to the end, is the htimbled 
 faint's fecurity for lifting up, Pfal. cxix. 49, 50. Re' 
 meinber the ivord unto thy fevvant^ upon which thou 
 hajl cauf^d me to hope. This is my comfort in my 
 pffii^ion ; for thy ivord hath quickened me. His word 
 is the great letter of his name, which he will certainly fee 
 to caufe to lliine, Pfal. cxxxviii. a. For thou ha/i mag- 
 nified thy ivord above all thy name ; and in all genera- 
 tions has been fafely lippePiCd to, Pfal. xii. 6. Confider, 
 
 ( I .) The do6irines of the woi-d, which teach faith and 
 hope for the time, and the happy ilTue the exercife of 
 thefe graces will have. The whole current of feripture, 
 to thofe in humbling ciixumftances is, Not to cajt avjuy 
 their confidence.^ but to hope to the end ; and that for this 
 good reafon, that it fr) all not be in vain. See Pfal. xxvii. 
 14. Wait on the Lord ; be of good courage, an fi he ft all 
 ftrengthen thine heart ; Wait., I Jay'., on the Lord.— 
 And compare, Rom. ix. 33. Ifa. xlix. 2.3. For they 
 Jl) all not be afl?amed that wait for me, 
 
 (i.) The pronilfes of the word, whereby heaven is 
 exprcfsly engaged for a lifting up tq thofe thatjiumbie 
 themfelves in humbling circumdances, James iv. 10, 
 Hunille yourfthesin the fight of the Lord, and he fi: all 
 lift you up. Matt, ijcxiii. 12. ^nd he that hu?ykleth 
 hitrfielffioall he exulted. It may take a time to pre- 
 pare themx for lifting up, but that being done, it is fs- 
 cured, Pial. x. 17. Lord., thou haft heard th^ defire of 
 the humble ; thou wilt prepare their heart ; thou wilt 
 caufe thine ear to hear. They have his word ior deli- 
 verance, Pial. 1. 15. And t'hougli they may feem to 
 be forgotten, they fliall net be always fo ; the time of 
 their deliverance will come, Pfal. ix. 18. For the nee- 
 dy fi: all not always he forgotten : the expectation of 
 the poor fi:all not perifi: for ever. Pfal. cii. 17. He will 
 regard the prayer of the dejtiiutc^ and not aefpije their 
 prayer. 
 
 (3-) The exsimplesoi the word fufRcicntly coniirm- 
 
Ii8 The CvyA In the VA. 
 
 ing th- truth of the doflrlnes and proniifes, Rom. xv. 4. 
 For vjhat/hever thing f v: ere written afire time^vjere 
 vjriftenfor our learning ; that we through patience and 
 comfort of the fcriptures might have hope. \\\ the doc- 
 trines andpromires the liftmg up is propofed to our faith, 
 to be Reckoned on the credit of God's wor^i ; but, in the 
 examples it is, in the cafe of others, fet before our eyes to 
 be feen, Jan. v. 11. Behjld we count tht m happ y which 
 endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job ^ and have 
 feen the end of the L'jrd ; that the Lord is very pitiful 
 and of tend.^r m^rcj. There we fee it in the cafe of A- 
 braham, Job, David, Paul, and" other faints ; but a- 
 bove all, in the cafe of the man Chrift. 
 
 (4.) The intercejfion of Chrift, joining the prayers 
 and cries of his humbled people, in th.dr humbling 
 circumilances, enfures a lifting up for them at length. 
 Be it fo, that the proud cry not when he bindeth them ; 
 yet his own humbled ones will not do fo, they will cry. 
 Pfal. xlii. 7, 8. Deep calkth unto deep, at the nVtfe of 
 thy water-fpouts ; all thy waves and thy hillo'Vi are 
 gone over me. Yet the Lord ivill command his loting 
 kindnefs in the _day-time, and in the night his fong 
 fiall be with rne^ and my prayer untJ the Cod of 
 7ny life. And though unbelievers may foon be out- 
 wearied, and give it over far altogether, fure believers 
 Will not do fo ; but tliough they may, in a fit of temp- 
 tation, lay it by as hopclefs, they will find them^felves 
 obliged to take it up again. Jer. xx. 9. Then I faid, 
 I will not make irention of him nor f peak any more tn 
 his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burn" 
 tng fire Jhut up in ?ny bones^ and I was weary with 
 forbearing^ and I could not ft ay ; and continue to cry 
 on night and day, Luke xviii. 7. knowing no time for 
 giving it over till they be lifted up. Lam. iii, 49, 50. 
 Mine eye trickhth down^ and cecfeth not., without any 
 inter m^J/ion ; till the Lord look d'.ivn, and behold fvtrn 
 heaven. Now, Chrift's intercelTion being joined with 
 thefe cries, there cannot mifs to be a lifting up. — 
 Confider, 
 
 (i .) Chrifl's intercc'IiDn is certainly joined witl: the 
 
The Cr^i'jk hi the Let. 119 
 
 cries and prayers of the humbled in their humbling 
 circumftances. Rev. viii. 3. And an^Aher angel (^ame 
 andjioodatthecltar^ havhig a gohLn cenjer ; and 
 there zvas give?! unto him frruch incenje^ that he pjoidd 
 offer it ivith the prayers of all faints upon the golden 
 altar^ which was before the throne. They are by the 
 Spirit helped to groan for relief, Rom. viii. 26. andtlie 
 prayers and groans, which are through the Spirit, are 
 certr.inly to be made effectual by the interceffion of the 
 Son, Jam. v. 16. And ye may knovv' they arc by the 
 Spirit, if fo be ye are helped to continue praying, hop- 
 ing for your lait at laft on the ground of God's word 
 of promife; for nature"'s praying is a pool that will dry 
 up in a long drought. It is the Spirit of prayer is tlie 
 lafling fprhig, John iv. 14 Plal.cxxxyiii. 3. In the day 
 vjhen I cried^ thou anfweredjt me ; and Jirengthcnedjt 
 me ivith fir ength in my foul. Truly there is an in- 
 tcrccilion in heaven, on account of the humbling cir- 
 cu)r.ftances of the humble ones. ' Then the angel of the 
 ' Lord anfweredand faid, O Lord of hoils, liow long 
 ' wilt thou net have mercy on Jerufalem, and on the 
 ' cities of Judah, againil which tliou hail had indignation 
 ' thefe threclcore and ten years?' Zecli. i. 12. How 
 then can they mifs of a lifting up in due time ? 
 
 (2 ) He'is in decptft tarr.cfr in his intercefiion for 
 his people in their humbling circumftances. Some will 
 fpeal: a good word in favour of the liclplefs, thatwillbc 
 little concerned whether they com.e i'peed or not ; but 
 our Intercedbr is in earneit in behalf of his humbled 
 ones ; for he is touched with fympathy in their cafe, 
 Ifa. ixiii. 9. /;; all their affliciions he vjas afficied. — 
 A mofiv tender fympathy, Zech.ii 8. For he that t ouch- 
 eth you^touchelh the apple of his ^eye. He has their 
 cafe upon his heart, where he is, in the iioly |>lace in 
 the higheft heavens, Exod. xxviii. 29. and he keeps 
 exa£l account of the tim.e. of their humbling circum- 
 ftances, be it as' long as it will, Zech, i. i x, JMoreover, 
 it is Iiis own bufmefs ; the lifting up they are to have 
 is a thing that is fccured to him, iii the promiles made 
 
no The Crook in the Lot, 
 
 tb him on the account of his blood flied for them, Pfalni 
 Ixxxix. 33, 36. So not only are they looking on earth, 
 but the Man Chrift is in heaven looking far the ac- 
 complifhment of thefe promifes, Heb. x. 12, 13. 'But 
 ' this man, after he had offered one facrifice for fms, for 
 ' ever fat down on the right hand of God; from hence- 
 ' forth expelling till hiscnemies be made his foottlooL' 
 How is it pofTible, then, that looking fliould be baulked? 
 Moreover, thefe humbling circumftances are his own 
 fufferings flill, though not in his Perfon, yet in his 
 members, Col. i. 2,4. ' Who now rejoice in my fuffer- 
 " ings for you, and till up that which is behind of the 
 ' afflifftions of Chriil; in my fleili, for his bod)^'^s fake, 
 ' which is the church.' Wherefore there is all ground 
 to conclude he is m deep, earneft. 
 
 (3.)IiisinterceiIion is always effe<f?ua!^ John xi. 42. 
 ^nd J kncj-.'j that thou heai'ejt me alvjays. It cannot 
 mifs to be fo, becaufe he is the Father's well-beloved 
 Son ; hjs intercciiion has a plea of juftice for the ground 
 of it, I John ii, i. JVe have an Advocate ivlth the 
 Father^ Jefui Chr'iJ} the righteous. Moreover, he has 
 'all power in hea\'en and earth lodged in him, i John 
 V. 22. And, finally, he and his Father are one, and 
 their will one. So, for tlie prefent time, both Chrifl 
 and his Father do will the lifting up of the humble 
 ones, but yet only in due time. 
 
 Secondly^ I proceed to a more parilcuhr vkzv of 
 the point. And, 
 
 i/r, We will confiderthe lifting up as brought about 
 in tir/ie which is the partial lifting up. And, 
 
 [i.] Some conliderations for clearing the nature 
 thereof. 
 
 I. This lifting up does not take place in every cafe 
 of a cliild of God. One may be humbled in humbling 
 circumftances, from \\ hich he is to get a lifting up in 
 time. We -vould not from the promife prefently con- 
 clude, that we being humbled under our humbling cir- 
 cumftances, ftiall certainly be taken out of them, and 
 freed from them ere we get to the end of our journey. 
 
The CfQ'jk In the Lof, 121 
 
 Foi^ it Is certain, there are fomc, fucli as our impcr- 
 feilions, and fmfulncfs, and mortality, we can by no 
 means be rid of while in this world. And there arc 
 partrcular humbling circumrtanccs the Lord may hang 
 about one, and keep a.bout them, till they go dc\vn to 
 tlic grave, while in the mean time, he may lift up an- 
 other from the fame. Heman was preffckil down all a- 
 long from his youtk Pfal. Uxx\iii. 15. others ailtlicir 
 life time., Heb. ii. 15. 
 
 Ohje^, *- If tliatbe the cafe, wliat comes of tliepro- 
 
 * mile of lifting up? Whicrc is tjie lifting up, if one 
 
 * may get to the grave under the v.-cigl;tr' 
 
 Jiif'v. Were tliere no life after this, there would be 
 weight in that objection; but fmce there is another 
 life, there is none in it at all. In the other life the pro- 
 mife vcill be accomplifliing to the humbled, as it was, 
 I^uke xvi. 2,2. Confiderthat the great term for accom- 
 plifhing thepromifes, is the other life not tins. ' Thcfc 
 ^ all died in the faith, not having received the proinif- 
 ' es, but having feen them afar olf, and were perfuaded 
 ' of them, and embraced them',' Heb. xi. 13. And that 
 whatever accompliflmient of thepromife is here, it is not 
 tlie nature of the flock, but of a fam.plc or a pledge. 
 
 0.7^. ' But then, may v>-e not give over praying for 
 ' the lifting up, in tliat cafe?' 
 
 j^nfnxf. We do. not know when that is our cafe ; for 
 a cafe may be pafl all hope in our eyes, and the eyes of 
 others, in which God defigns a lifting up in time, as 
 in Job's, chap. vi. 11. * What is my R.rength that I 
 ' iliould hope? And what is mine end that I iliould 
 ' prolongniy life?' But, be it as it will^ v/e fliould 
 never give over praying for the lifting up, fince it will 
 certainly come to all that pray in faith for it ; if not 
 here, yet hereafter. The promife is fure, and that is 
 the commandment ; fo fuch p»raying cannot mifs of a 
 happy ilTue at length, Pfal. 1. 15. ' And call upon me 
 ' in tbe day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou 
 
 * flialt glorify me.' The whole life of a Chriflian is fuck 
 a praying-waiting life, to encourage whereunto all 
 
122 The Cr^jok hi the L^jt. 
 
 temporal Jellverances are given as pledges, Rom. viii. 
 23. '• And not only they, but ourfelves alio, wliich 
 *- have the firil: fruits of the Spirit ; e\'en we ourfelves 
 ' groan within ourfelves, waiting for the adoption, viz, 
 * the redemption of our body.' And whofo obfervcs 
 that fall lifting up at death to be_ at hand, muft cer- 
 tainly rife, if he has given over his cafe as hopelefs. 
 
 7,. Hov/ever, there are fome cafes wherein this lift- 
 ing up does take place. God gives his people fome not- 
 able liftings up, even in time raifnig them out of re- 
 markable humblingcircumibances. The ftorm is clianged 
 into a calm, and they remember it as waters that fail, 
 Pfah xl. I — 4. Two things may be obfervedon this; 
 ( I .) One may be in humbling circ wnilanccs very long, 
 and fore, and hopelefs, and yet a lifting up ma\' be a- 
 biding them, of a much longer continuance. This is 
 fometimxes the cafe of the children ot God, who are fet 
 to bear the voke in their youth, as it was with Tofeph 
 and David ; and of them that get it laid on them in 
 their m.iddlc age, as it vy-ss with Job, who could not 
 be lefs than forty at hi3 trouble's coming, but after it. 
 lived one hundred and forty. Job xlii. 16. Gcdby fuch 
 methods prepares men for peculiar ufefulnefs. 
 
 (2,) One mav be in humbling circuniftances long 
 and fore, and quite hopelefs, in the ordinary ccurfe 
 of providence, yet they may get a clear and warm 
 blink of a lifting- up, ere' they come to their journey's 
 end. The life of fome -of God's children is like -a clou- 
 dy and rainy day, wherein, in the evening the fun 
 breaks out from, under the clouds, fliines fair and clear 
 a little and theniets. ' And it (liall come to pafs in 
 ' that day, that the light fliall not be clear, nor dark. 
 * But it ihallccme to pafs, that at evening-time it iliaSll 
 ' be light,' Zech. xiv. 6, 7. Such was the cafe of Jacob 
 in his old age, brought in honour and comdbrt into E- 
 gypt unto his fon, and then died. 
 
 "^ (3.) .Yet whatever liftirgs up they get in this life, 
 thev will never want fom.e vveiglits hanging about them 
 f^r' their humblhi^. They mi\y have their fir;gijig 
 
times, but their fongs while in this world, will be mix- 
 ed with groanings, 2 Cor. v. 4. For ive that Mre In 
 this tabernacle d^ groan^ being burdened. The un- 
 mixt dilpenfiition is referred for the other world ; 
 but this will be a wildernefs unto the end, where there 
 will be bowlings with the moll joyful notes. 
 
 Laftly^ All the liftings up the humbled meet with 
 now are pledges, and but pledges, famplcs, and arle- 
 pennies, \earnejt\ of the great lifting up, abiding them 
 on the other fide ; and they fliould look on them fo. 
 
 (i.) They are really fo, Hof. ii. 15. And I ivlll 
 give her her vineyards from thence^ and the valley of 
 Achor for a door of hope ; andfJje JJmllfing there as in 
 the days of her youth, and as in the day ivhen fhe 
 came out of the land of Egypt. Our Lord Jefus is 
 leading his people now through the wildernefs, and 
 the manna and water of the rock are earnefts for the 
 time of the milk and honey flowing in the promifed 
 land. They are not yet come home to their Father's 
 houfe j but they are travelling on the road, and Clirift 
 their elder Brother witl-j, them. Song iv. 8. who bears 
 their expences, takes them into inns by the way, as it 
 were, and refreflies them with partial liftings up; af- 
 ter which, they muft get to the road again. But that 
 entertainment by the way is a pledge of the full en- 
 tertainment he will afford them when come home. 
 
 Obje^. ' But people may get a lifting up in time, 
 ' that yet is no pledge of a lifting up on the other fide: 
 * How iliall I knovc it then to be a pledge? • 
 
 Anfvj. That lifting up, which comes by the promi- 
 fes, is certainly a pledge of the full lifting up in the o- 
 ther world; for, as the other life is the proper time 
 of the accompliihing of the promifes, fo we may be 
 fure, that when God once begins to clear his bond, he 
 will certainly hold on till it is fallv cleared. The Lord 
 "0)111 -per fe6i that ivhich concernct'h ine^ Pfal. cxxxviii. 
 8. So we m.ay fay as Naomi to Ruth, upon her re- 
 ceiving the fix meafures of barley from Boaz, Paithiii. 
 18. He-will not he in reji until he 'have finifnedthe thing 
 L % 
 
TX? ~ The Crr^zk m the LU. 
 
 this day. There are liftings up that come by common 
 providence, and thefe indeed are fm^le, and not pled- 
 ges of more ; but tlie promife chains mercies together, 
 lb that one got is a pledge of another to come, yea, 
 of the whole chain to the end, 2 Sam. v. 12. 
 
 Que/}. ' But how fliail I know the lifting up to come 
 *■ by the way of the promife r' 
 
 Anf-^', That which comes by the way of the promife, 
 does at once eome the lo'v way of humiliation, the high 
 way of faith, or believing the promife, and the long 
 way of waiting hope, and patient continuance, Jamxcs 
 V. 7. Be patient therefore^ brethren^ iirAo the coming of 
 the Lord, Behold the hufoandman ivaiteth for the pre- 
 cious fruit of the earthy a-dd hath Ujr.g patience f^r it 
 until he receive the early and latter rain. Humility 
 qualifies for the accomplifhment of the promife, faith 
 fucks the breads of it, and patient-waiting hangs by 1 
 the brealb till the milk com.e abundantly. ^ 
 
 (i.) But no lifting up of God's clnldren here are ■ 
 anymore than pledges of lifting up. God gives worldly \ 
 men their ftock here, but his children get nothing but \ 
 a fample of theirs here, Pfal. xvii. 14. Even as the ■ 
 fervant at the term gets his fee in a round fum, while I 
 the young heir gets nothing but a few pence for fpend- \ 
 ing money. The truth is, the fame fpending money is • 
 more valuable than the world's ftock, Pfal. iv. 7. — ; 
 * Thou haft put gladnefs in my heart, more than in 1 
 "* the time that their corn and their wine increafed.' j 
 But though it is better than that, and their fervices ; 
 too, and more worth than all their on-waiting, yet it I 
 is below the honour of their God to put them off with i 
 it, Heb. xi. 16. ' But nov/ tliey defire a better coun- ' 
 ^ try, that is, an heavenly; wherefore God is not a- i 
 ^ (liamed to be called their God; for he hath prepared j 
 < for them a city.' \ 
 
 II. The /5^rr/V//lifting up itfelf. What they will get, ^ 
 getting this lifting up promifed tothe humbled. Why, ' 
 they will get, ■ 
 
 I. A /-(^wou*?/ of their humbling circumftanccs. God ; 
 
 \ 
 
The Crrjok in the Lot. 125 
 
 having tried them a while, and humbled them, and 
 brought aown their hearts, will at length take off their 
 burden, ren-uve the weiglit fo long hung at them, and 
 fo take them off that part of their trial joyfully, and 
 let them get up their back long bowed down j and this 
 one of two ways. 
 
 (i.) Either in hlnd^ removing the burden for good 
 and all. Such a lifting Job got, when the Lord turned 
 back his captivity, increafed again his family and lub- 
 ftance, which had botli been defolated. David, when 
 Saul his perfecutor fell in battle, and he was brought 
 to the kingdom after many a vv eary day, expefting one 
 day to fall by his hand. It is eafy with our God to 
 mpvke fuch turns in the moll humbling circumftances. 
 
 (2.) Or in eqiiivaknt^ or as good, rem.oving the 
 weight of the burden, that though it remains, it pref- 
 fes them no more, 2, Cor. xii. 9, 10. ' And he faid un- 
 ' to me, My grace is fuiBcientfor thee, for myftrength 
 ' is made perfect in weakneis. Moft gladly therefore, 
 ' will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power 
 ^ of CJirift may reft upon me. Therefore I take plea- 
 ' fure in mine infinnitics.V Tho' they are not got to 
 the fiiore, yet their head is no more under the water, 
 but lifted up. David fpeaks feelingly of fuch a lifting 
 up, Pfal. xxvii. S-)^- '' For in the time of trouble he 
 ' lliall hide me in his pavilion; in the fecret of his ta- 
 ' bernacle fliall he hide me ;, he flialt fet me upon a 
 ' rock. And now Ihall mine head be lifted up above 
 '^ mdne enemies round about nie ; therefore vrill I offer 
 ' in his tabernacle facrifices o^'joy; \ will ^\\\g^ yea, I 
 ' will fnig praifes unto the Ldrd^' Such had the'threc 
 children in the fiery furnace; the" ^^v^ burnt, tut it 
 could burn nothing of them but their bonds ; they had 
 the warmtli and light of it, but nothing of the fcorcli- 
 ing heat. Sometimes God lifts up his people this way 
 in their Irambling circumftances. 
 
 2. A comfortable/'^/.^ of tl.e acceptance of their- 
 prayers, put up in their humbling circumuances : Wiiilc 
 prayers are not ariVered but tiouble continued ,. Uvi 
 L 3 
 
l-z6 The Crcok In ike Lot, 
 
 hangers on about the Lord's band are apt to think 
 they are not accepted or regarded in heaven, becauie 
 there is no alteration in their eale, Job ix. 16, 17. // 
 / had calledy and ke h.id aiifivered rne^ yet would I n'^A be- 
 lieve that he had hearkened ur.tf) my vuce^ for he break- 
 eth me with a tempeff. But that is a miftake ; they are 
 accepted immediately, though not aniwered, i John 
 y. 14. y^nd this is the confidence -jje kav^ in him, thai if 
 lue afli any thing according to his will, he hear eth ns\ 
 The Lord does with them as a Father, with the let- 
 ters coming thick from his fon abroad, reads them one 
 by one with pleafure, and carefully lays them up ta 
 be anfwered at his convenience.. And wlien tlie an- 
 f*.ver comes, the fon will know how acceptable they 
 were to his fadier, Matt. xv. 28. So here, <6c, 
 
 3. A heart-iatisfying ^^//'i^yer of thefeprayei's, ibid,. 
 fo as thev Oiall not only get the th.ing, but lee they 
 liave it as an anfwer of prayer ; and they will put » /^ 
 double value on the mercy, i Sam. ii. i.. Accepted k 
 ■prayers may be very long of anfwering, many years, ^ 
 as in Abraham and David's cafe, but they cannot iriif- j 
 carry of an anfwer at length, Pfal. ix. 18. The time \ 
 v/ill com^e when God will tell out to them^ according .; 
 to tlie promife, that they fliall change their note, and .] 
 fey, Pilil.. cxvi. I. / love the Lord^ hecaufe he hath \ 
 heard my voice, and my fup pile at ion. Looking on their- , 
 lifting up as bearing the fignature of the hand of a 
 prayer-hearing God.. \ 
 
 4. Y\\\\ fatisfat^ion^ as totheconducl of Providence,. - 
 in ?vll the ilteps of the humbling circuniftanccs, and the i 
 del^y of the lifting up, however perplexing theie were . 
 before, Rev. xv. 3.. Standing on the fliore, and look-- \ 
 ipg back to what th^ey have pail through, they will be \ 
 m^d.e to fay, He hath done all things zuelL. Tliefe : 
 tihings which are bitter to Chriuians in the palfing^ ' 
 through, are very fweet in the refleclion on them ; lo ■ 
 i^^ Samfon's riddle verined in their experiences. i 
 
 5. Tlieyget the lifting up, together with the inte^ -■ 
 r,ejt for the time they by out of it. AVhen God pays j 
 his!, byiiil*. of £CO;rikS;^ he j^ays both, (lock and int.cre^ \ 
 
TJ.e Ci-o^jk in the V;t. ii'j 
 
 together ; the mercy is increurcd according- to the time 
 man waited on, and the expences and hardiliips iuflain- 
 ed, during the dependence of the proceis. 'fhe fruits 
 of^common providences are faon ripe, foon rotten ; but 
 the fruit of the prornile is readily long a ripening, but 
 then it is durable j and the longer it is a ripening, it is 
 the more valuable when it comes. Abraham and Sa- 
 rah waited for the promife about ten years, at length 
 tkey thought on a way to hailen it, Gen^ xvi.. i— 6. 
 That foon took in the birth of IlUmael, but he was 
 not the promifed fon. They were coming into ex- 
 treme old age ere the promife brought forth, Gen. 
 xviii. II. But when it came, they got it with an addi- 
 tion of the renewing of their ages, Gen., xxi. 7. and 
 XXV. i^ The mo'd valuable of all the promifes was 
 the longeft in flilhlling, viz ^ the promife of Chriil, that 
 was four thoufand years., 
 
 6, The fpiritual enemies, that flew thick and throng 
 about them in the time of the darknefs of the Ivambling 
 circumftances, will he./cattcred at this lifting up in the 
 promife, i Sam. ii. i^ ^^^J-nd Hannah prayed and fai-Jy. 
 My heart rejoiceth in the Lordy my mouth is enlarged o- 
 verinine enemies. They that luere full have hired out 
 themfelves foj' breads a?iJthey that iv ere hungry ceafed. 
 Formidable was Pharaoh's holl behind tlie Ifraeiites, 
 while they had the Red Sea before tliem: but, when 
 they were through the fea, they fav/ the Egyptians 
 dead on the lliore, Exod. xiv. 30. Such a fight will 
 they that humble themfelves under humbling circum- 
 ftances get of their fpiritual enemies, vrhen the time 
 comes for the lifting up. 
 
 III. The due time of this lifting up. That is a ve- 
 ry natural qucftion of thofe in humbling circumuances, 
 'JVatchmen^ JVhat of the night? And we cannot an- 
 fvv'er it to the humbled foul, but in general, Ifa. xxi. 
 II, i:i. So take thefe general obfervations on it. 
 
 I. The lifting up th; hjimbled willnotbe /5;:^/v,'72^, 
 CQiifiicnng^the vreight of the matter; that is to fay, 
 
1 aS The Crook in the Lot, 
 
 eonficlering the worth and value of the lifting up of the 
 humble ; when it comes it can by no means be reckon- 
 ed long to the time of it. When you fow your corn 
 in the fields, though it does not ripen fo foon as Ibme 
 garden-feeds, but you wait three months or {o^ yet do 
 not think the harveft long a coming, confidering tlie 
 value of the crop. This \dew the apoflle takes of the 
 lifting up in humbling circumftances, 2 Cor. iv, 17. 
 
 * For our light afflidion, which is but for a moment, 
 
 * worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal 
 ' weight of glory..* So that a believer, looking on the 
 promife, with an eye of faith, and perceiving its accom- 
 pliilim-ent, and the worth of it when accompliflied, may 
 wonder it is come info iliort on-coming. Therefore it 
 is determined to be a time that comes foon, Luke xviii. 
 7. foon in refpe£l of its weight and worth. 
 
 2,. When the time comes, it and only it will appear 
 the due time. To every thing there is a feafon, and a 
 great part of wifdom lies in difcerning it, and doing 
 tilings in the feafon thereof. x\nd we may be fure in- 
 iiiiite wifdom cannot mifs the feafon by miftaking it, 
 Dcut. xxxii, 4. ' He is a rock, his work is perfed ; for 
 ' all his ways are judgmxnt.' But whatever God doth 
 will abide the flricleil: examination in that, as all other 
 points, Eccl. iii. 14. ' I knov/ that whatfoeverGoddoth^ 
 '<• it fiiall be forever ; nothing can be put to it, nor any 
 ^ thing taken from it : And God doth it, that men 
 ' may fear before him.' It is true, many times call up 
 to us as the due time for lifting up, which yet really 
 is not fo, becaufe there are ibme circumftances hid to 
 us, which renders that ftafon unfit for the thing.- — 
 Hence, John vii. 6. ' IMy time is not yet come, but 
 
 * vour time is ahvays ready.' But when all the cir- 
 cumftances, always foreknown of God, fliall come to be 
 ©pene I out, and laid together before us, we will then fee 
 the lining, up is come in the nick of time, moft for the. 
 honour of God and our good, and that it would not 
 liave done To well fooner. 
 
 3. Wlienthe time comes that is really the due tiiiic, 
 
The Crook in the Lot, 1 29 
 
 the proper time for the lifting up a child of God from 
 his humbling circumilances, it will not be put off one 
 moment longer, Hab. ii. 3. ' At the end it {hall fpeak, 
 * it will furely come, it will not tarry.' Though it tar- 
 ry, it will not linger nor put off to another time. O 
 what rell of heart would the firm faith of this afford 
 us ! there is net a child of God but would, with the ut- 
 moll carefulnefs, proteil againil the lifting up before 
 the due time, as againft an unripe fruit cailen to him by 
 an angry father, that would fet his teeth on edge. Sith 
 it is fo then, could we firmly believe this point, that it 
 would undoubtedly come in the due time, without lof- 
 ing of a minute, it would afford 9i found reft. It mufl 
 be fo, becaufe God has faid it ; were the cafe never fo 
 hopelefs, were mountains of difficulties lying in the 
 way of it, at the appointed time it will blo-w^ (Heb.) 
 Hab. ii. 3. A metaphor from the wind rifmg in a 
 moment after a dead calm. 
 
 4. The humbling circumflances are ordinarily car- 
 ried to the utmoft point of h'jpeiejfnefs before the lift- 
 ing up. The knife was at Ifaac's throat before the 
 voice was heard. 2 Cor. i. 8, 9. For weivould not, 
 hf'ethren^ have you ignorant of our trouble^ "jjhich came 
 to us In JfiOy that ^ve-xcre prejpd iut of me a fur e, a- 
 hove fir ength^ in fo much that ive df.fpc.ired r<:tn of 
 life ; hut ive had the fentence of death in ourjelves^ 
 that -jjc ^fhould not iruftin ourf elves ^ hut in God^^xhich 
 raiffth the dead. Things foon fe^m to us arrived at 
 that point ; fuch is the haftinefs of our ipirits. But 
 things may have far to go down, after we tliink they 
 are at the foot of the hill. And we are aim oft as little 
 competent judges of the point of hopeleilhefs, as of the 
 due time of lifting up. But readily God carries his 
 people"'s humbling circumftances downward, ftill down- 
 Vvard, till they come to that point. T'.vo reafons aie 
 to be noticed. 
 
 (i.) One from the explanatory caufe of it. Herein 
 God is holding the fame courfe which he held in the 
 cafe of the man Chrift, the beloved pattern copied af- 
 ter in all the difpenfations of ProvUlcnce towards the 
 
1 r/s" i^ru ' JK in ine i^'ii, 
 
 church, and every parti culal^ believer, Rom. viii. 29. 
 He was all along -a man of forrov/s ; as his time went 
 on, the waters f welled more, till hew^.s brought to the 
 duft of dep.th; then he was buried, and the grave -ftone 
 fealed, whicji done, the world thought they were free- 
 ly quit of him, and he would trouble them no more. 
 But they quite miftook it; then, and not till then, was 
 the due time for lifting hiin up. And the liftings up 
 that his people get moil remarkably, are only little 
 pieces fAfaioned after this grand pattern. 
 
 (2.) Another from xlic final caufe, the end and de- 
 fign Providence aims at in it, and that is to carry the 
 believer cleanly off his own, and all created bottoms, to 
 bottom.his truft and hope in tiie Lord alone, % Cor. 1.9. 
 Thai wefhoulduOt triijt in ourfelves^ but in GoJ ivhich 
 raifeth the dead. The life of a Chriftian here is defigned 
 to be a life of faith ;, and though faith may ail more 
 eafilv that it has fome help from fenfe, yet it certain- 
 ly ads moll nobly, when it ac"ts over the belly of fenfe. 
 Then it is pure faith, when it ftands only on its own 
 native legs, the power and v/ord of God, Rom. iv. 19, 
 20. yind being not weak in fuifh^ he confidered not his 
 Qwn kody now dead — neithenyet the deadnef^ of Sarah'' s 
 I'Jomb. He /daggered n'A at the promife of God through 
 unbelief; but vjas Jfrong in the fait h.^ giving glory to 
 God. And thus it muft do, when matters are carried 
 to the utmofl point of hopeleffaefs. 
 
 5. Due preparation of the heart, for the lifting up 
 out of the hunVoling circumftances, goes before the due 
 time of that lifting up, according to the promile. It 
 is n6t fo in every lifting up; the lifting up of the com- 
 mon providences are not fo critically managed; men 
 will h.ave them, vv^ill want them no longer, and God 
 flings them to them in anger, ere they arc prepared 
 for them, Hof. xiii. 11. -/ gave thee a king in mine 
 anger. They can by no means abide the trial, and 
 God- takes them off as reprobate filver that is not able 
 to abide it, Jer. vi. 2,9, 30. 
 
 This due preparation confifts in a due humiliation, 
 
The Crook in the Lot. 131 
 
 Pfal. X. 17. And it often takes much work to bring 
 about this, which is another point that we are very in- 
 competent judges of. AVe would have thought Job 
 was brought very low in his fpirit, by the providence 
 of God bruifing him on the one hand, and his friends 
 on the other, for a long time : Yet, after all he had 
 endured boih ways, God faw it ne(;effary to fpeak to 
 him himfeif, for his humiliation, chap, xxxviii. i. By 
 that fpeech of God {jimfeif he was brought to his knees, 
 chap. xl. 4, 5. And we would have thought he was 
 then fufficiently humbled, and perhaps he thought 10 
 himfelf too. But God faw a furtlier degree of liumi- 
 
 - liation neceflary, and therefore juft begins a-new again 
 to fpeak for his humiliation, which at length laid him 
 in the duft, cliap. xlii. 5, 6. And when he vras thus 
 prepared for lifting up, lie got it. 
 
 There are fix things, I conceive, belong to this hu- 
 mihation, preparatory to lifting up. 
 
 I. A deep fenfe of jwp'lti'^Js and if7ivjoriJ:ip^fs of 
 being lifted up at all, Job xl. 4. Behrjld^ J am vilc^ 
 i^hat Jhall 1 arifivc;r thee ? i iv'dl la^nune lunul itpo?i 
 7uy rnrjuth. People may be long in huml^iing circum- 
 flances, ere they be brouglit this length ; even good 
 men are much prejudiced in their own fas'ours, and 
 may fo far forsict t.hemfelves as fo think God deals his 
 favours unequally, and is mighty fevere on tliem more 
 than others. Elihu maiketh tins wrcijg in Job, un- 
 der his humbling circumftances, Job xxxiii. ic — 12. 
 And I believe it will be found, thicre is readily a. great- 
 er keennefs to vindicate our honour from the im- 
 putation the humbling circumftances fecm to lay upon 
 it, than to vindicate the honour of God in the juf- 
 tice and equity of the difpenfation. The llindnefs of 
 
 , an ill-natured world, fhll ready to fufpeel the word 
 caufes for liumbling; circumfianccs, as if the greatell 
 fufferers were furely the grcaiefi fnmers, Luke xiii. 4. 
 gives a handle for this biafs of the corrupt nature. — 
 But God is a jealous God, and v.-hen he appears fuffi" 
 ciently to humble, he will caufe the m.attei- of our ho- 
 nour to give way, like a fandy brae under our feet, 
 
132 The Crook in the Lof. 
 
 while we fhall be obliged to clever [grip hafilly^ to 
 the vintiiccition of his. 
 
 2. A rn'ignathn to the divine pleafareas totlie time 
 of lifting up. God gives the proniife, leaving thti time 
 blank as to us Our time is always ready, and we rafli- 
 ly fill it up at our own hand. God does not keep our 
 time, becaufe it-is not the due time. Hence we are ready 
 to think his word fails ; whereas it is but our own harfli 
 concluiion from it that fails, Pfal. cxvi. 11. ./ /aid hi 
 myhajlc. j^li men are liars. Several of the faints have 
 gotten on the finger ends by this means, and thereby 
 learned to let alone filling up th.a.t blank. The firtl 
 proiriife was thus ufed by believing Eve, Gen. iv. i. 
 Another- promife was io by believing iVbraham, 
 alter about ten years on-waiting. Gen. xvi. another by 
 David,, foreeited, Pfal. cxvi. 11. 
 
 If this be the cafe of any child of God, let them not 
 be difcouraged upon it, thinking they were over-rafii 
 in applying the promife to themielves; they were on- 
 ly lb in applying the time to the promife ; a fnappcr 
 that faints in all ages have ma^le, which they repente.-l, 
 aud faw the foll)%f, and let alone that point for the 
 time to come; and then the promife was fulfdled in its 
 own due time. Let them in fuch circumftances go and 
 do likcwife, leaving the time entirely to the Lord. 
 
 3. An entire rtjignathn as to the loay and manner 
 of bringing it about. We are ready to do, as to the 
 way of accompUllimg the promife, jufl as with tlie time 
 of it, to fet a particular way for the Lord's Vv-orking 
 of it; and if that be not kept, the proud heart is tum- 
 bled, 2, Kings V. II. But Naama-n "Jjas luroih^^ and ke 
 went a^joay^ and faid^ Behold^ I thought he wUlfure- 
 ly come out to me^ and ft and and call on the name of 
 the Lord his Cod^ and jirike his hand over the place. 
 But the Lord will have liis people broke oiT from that 
 too, that they iliall prefcribe no way to him, but leave 
 that to him entirety, as in that fame cafe, ver. 14. — 
 He "ivent down and dipped himfelfjtven tirnes in Jor- 
 dan^ according to the faying of the man tf God^ — and 
 he vjus clean. The compais of our knowledge at 
 
The Crook in the Lot, I33 
 
 ways and means is very narrow, as if one is blockt up^ 
 , oft-times we cannot fee another; but our Gcci kaows 
 many ways of relief, where we know but one or none 
 at all ; and it is very ufual for the Lord to bring the 
 lifting up of his people in a way they had no view to, 
 after repeated difappointments from thofe airths 
 whence they had great expeftation. 
 
 4. Refignation as to the degree of the lifting up, 
 yea, and as to the very being of it in time. The Lord" 
 "will have his people weaned fo, that however haftv 
 they liave fometim.es been, that they behoved to be fo' ^ 
 foon lifted^up, and could no longer bear, they (Iirdl be 
 brought at length to fet no time at all, but fubm.it to 
 go to the grave under their weight, if it feem good in 
 the Lord's eves; and in that cafe' they will be brought" 
 to be content with any meafure of it in time, without 
 prefcribing how much, 2 Sam. xv. 25, 26. If I JJjall 
 find favour in the eyes of the Lord, he luill bring ?ne 
 again. — But if he thus Jay ^ I have no delight in thee ; 
 hehjld^ here am /, lei hi?n do to me, as Jeemeth good 
 unto him. 
 
 \ 5. The continuing of graying and ivaiting oh th.c 
 Lord in the cafe, Eph. vi. 18. Praying always with all 
 prayer andfuppiicatiun in the Spirit^andwatchingthere- 
 
 ' unto with all perjeverajice. It is pride of heart, and un- 
 fubduednefs of fpirit, that makes people give over pra)'- 
 ing and waiting becailie their humbling circuihftances are 
 lengthened out time after tim.e, 2, Kings vi. 33. But 
 due humility, going before the lifting up, brings mxcn 
 into that temper, to pray, wait, and hang on refolute- 
 ly, fetting no time for the giving it over, till the lifting 
 up come, whether in time or eternity, Lami. iii. 49, ^o, 
 6. Mourning under mifmanage?nents in the trial, 
 
 ' Job xlii. 3. Therefore hcve I uttered that I underjhod 
 not, things too wonderful for me^ which I knew not^ 
 The proud heart dwells and expatiates on the man's 
 fufferings in the trial, and cafls out all the folds of 
 the trial on that fide, and views them again and again. 
 But wlicn the Spirit of God comes duly to humblCj ia 
 M 
 
134 '^he Crook in the Lot. 
 
 erder to lifting up, he will caufe the man to pafs, in a 
 fort, the fuiTering fide of the trial, and turn his eyes on 
 his own condu6l in it, ranf^k it, judge himfelf impar- 
 tially, and condemn himfelf; fo that his mouth will be 
 ftopt. This is that humiHty that goeth before the 
 lifting up in time, jn the way of the promife. 
 
 II. We proceed to confider the lifting up as brought 
 about at the <?;?^^c//fwf, in the otiier world. And, 
 
 i//, A word as to the nature of this lifting up. Con- 
 eerning it we fliall fa}- thefe five things : 
 
 1. There js a certainty of this lifting up, in all ca- 
 fes of the humbled under humbling circum.flances. — 
 Tho' one cannot, in every cafe, make them fure of a 
 lifting up in time, yet they may be alTured, be the cafe 
 what it will, they will, without all peradventur?, get 
 a lifting up on the other fide, 2 Cor. v. i. For-jje 
 know^ that if our earthly hoiife of this tabernacle '•jjcre 
 dijfolved^ ive have a building of God y an houfe not made 
 •with hands^ eternal in the heavens. Though" God's 
 humble children may both breakfail and dirji on bread 
 of ad\^erfity, and water of afflirfion, they will be fure 
 to lup fweetly and plentifully. And the believing ex- 
 pe£lation of the latter might ferve to qualify the for- 
 mer, and make eafy under it. 
 
 2. It v/ill be a /jez/f^? lifting up, Heb. xii. 23. They 
 Vf'ill be perfeflly delivered out of tlieir particular trials, 
 and fpecial furnace, be what it will, that made them ma- 
 ny a weary day. Lazarus was tlien delivered from his 
 poverty and fores and lying at th-j rich man's gate, Luke 
 xvi. "1%. and fully delivered. Yea, they will get a lift- 
 ing up from all their humbling circumftances together. 
 All the imperfe^lions will then be at an end, inferiori- 
 ty in relations^ contradictions, affliilions, uncertainty, 
 and fm. If it was long a coming, there will be-ablef- 
 fed moment when tliey lliall get all together. 
 
 3. They will not only be raifed out of their low con- 
 dition, but they will be fct up on high, as Jofepli: npt 
 
The Crook in the Lot. t^^ 
 
 only brought out of prifon, but made ruler over the 
 land of Egypt, And they will be lifted up, 
 
 (i.) Into a \\i^\ place^ Luke xvi. 22. The beggar 
 died^ and ivas carried by the angels into yibraharn's 
 hofom. Now they art at beft in a low place, but upon 
 this earth; there they will befeated in the higheil. heavens, 
 Phil. i. 23. with Eph. iv. 10. Often, in their hum- 
 bling circumftances, they are obliged now to embrace 
 dunghills ; then they will be fet with Chrill; on his 
 throne. Rev. iii. 21. Ta him that overcometh iviil I 
 grant to Jit "jjith me en my throne. Though their 
 belly now cleaves to the earth, and men fay. Bow 
 down that we maypafs over you, they will then be fet- 
 tled in the heavenly raanfions, above the fun, moon, 
 and ftars. 
 
 (2.) Into a high JJate and condition^ a ftate of per- 
 fe£lion. Out of all their troubles and uneafinefies, 
 they will be fet into a flate of reil ; from their mean 
 and' inglorious condition, they will be advanced into 
 a llate of glory ; their v»xighted and forrowful life will 
 be fucceeded v/ith a fulnefs of joy ; and, for their hum- 
 bling circumftances, they will be clothed with eternal 
 glory and honour. 
 
 4. It will be a /"w^/ lifting up, after v/hich there will 
 be no more caftingdown forever, Rev. vii. 16. When 
 we get a lifting up in time, we are apt to imagine fond- 
 ly we are at the end of our trials ; but we foon find 
 we are too hafty in our conclufions, and the cloud re- 
 turns, Pfal. XXX. 6, 7. In my profperity^ I f^^^f / 
 Jh ail never he moved. Thou didft hide tfiy face^ and 
 J ivaf trouhied. But then indeed the trial is quite o- 
 ver, the fight is at an end ; and then is the time of 
 the retribution and triumph. 
 
 5. There will not be the leaft rcm.aining imeajinefs 
 from the humbling circumftances, but on the contrary, 
 they will have a glorious and defirable eiFe£l. I make 
 110 queftion but the faints will have the remembrance 
 of their humbling circumftances they wxre un.ler here 
 below. Did ti^ie rich man in hell remember his hav- 
 
 M 3 
 
136 The Crook in the Lot, 
 
 ing five brethren on the earth, Iiow fiimptuouily he fa- 
 red, how Lazarus fat at his gate, and can we doubt 
 but the faints vrili remember perfectly their heavy tri- 
 als? Rev. vi. 10. But then they will remember them 
 as waters that fail; as the man recovered to health, 
 remembers his toffings on the fick-bed ; arxd that is a 
 way of remembering that fweetens the prefent ftate of : 
 health beyond what otherwife it would be. Certainly 
 the lliore of the Red Sea was the place, that of all 
 places, v>^as the fitteft to help the Ifraehtcs to fmg in 
 the highell: key, Rev. xv. 3 . And the humbling cir- 
 cumftances of faints on the earth will be of the fame 
 ufe to them in heaven. I 
 
 :i^/y, A word to the due time of this lifting up. — i 
 There is a particular definite time for it in every \ 
 faint's cafe, Vvhich is the due time, but it is hid from ^ 
 us. We can only fay in the general, ' 
 
 1. Then is the due time for it, when our it/ork we I 
 have to do in this world is over. God has appointed j 
 every one their tafk, fight, trial, and work ; and, till | 
 that is done we are in a fort immortal, John ix. 4. 
 and xi. 9. That work is, ^\ 
 
 (i.) Doing \Yovk; work fat to us, by the great ; 
 Mailer, to be done for the honour of God and the good ) 
 of our fellow-creatures, Eccl. ix. 10. We mull be i 
 content to be doing on, even in our humbling circum- • 
 fiances, till that b€ d.one out. It is not the due time 5 
 for that lifting up, till we are at the end of that work, ' 
 and fo have ferved our generation. : 
 
 (2,.) Suffering vvork. There is a certain portion of j 
 fuflering that is allotted for the myflical body ; and ; 
 the head has divided to the feveral members their pro- \ 
 portions thereof; and it is not the due time- for that ' 
 lifting up, till we have exhaulled the lliare thereof al- 
 lotted to us. Paul looked on his life as a going on in ^ 
 that, Col. i. 24. \ 
 
 2. AVhen that lifting up comes, we will fee it is , 
 come exacfly in the due time ; that it was well it was j 
 neither fooner or latter ; for though heaven is always ; 
 better than earth, and that it would be better for us, j 
 
The Cro'jk in the Lot, 137 
 
 abfclutely fpeaking, to be in heaven than on earth ; 
 yet certainly there is a time wherein it is better for 
 the honour of God, and his fervice, that we be on the 
 earth than in heaven, Phil. i. 34. Nevertkelefs to a- 
 hide in the fleJJ? is more needful for you. And it will 
 be no grief of heart to them when there, that they 
 were fo long in their humbling circumftances, and 
 were not brought fooner. 
 
 Ufe I. Let not then th;; humble caft away their corifi- 
 (lence^ whatever their humbling circumftances be ; let 
 them affmx themfelves there will come a lifting up to 
 them at length; if not here, yet to be fure hereafter. 
 ^ Let them keep this in their view,and comfort themfelves 
 with it, for God has faid it, Pfalm ix. 18. The needy 
 fh all not always he fyr gotten. If the night were never 
 fo long, the morning will corae at length. 
 
 2. Let /)^//>«r^ have her perfed work. The hufband- 
 man waits fc-r the return of his feed, the fea-merchant 
 for the return of his iliips, the ftore-mafter for what he 
 calls year-time, when lie draws in the produce of his 
 flocks . ' All thefe have long patience, and wliy fliould 
 not the Chriftian too have patience, and patiently 
 vrait for the time appointed for his lifting up? 
 
 Ye have heard much of the Crook in the Lot ; tlie 
 excellency of humblednefs of fpirit in a low lot, be- 
 yond pride of fpirit, though joined with a high one: — 
 Ye have been called to humble youifelves in your 
 bumbling circumftances, and allured in that cafe of a, 
 lifting up. To conclude: We may allure ourfelves, 
 God -iuill at length break in pieces the proud^ he they 
 never fo high ; and he irill triumphantly lift up the 
 humble, be they nsverfo low. 
 
 The End of the Crook in the Lot^ 
 
T H ■£ ^ 
 
 NATURE 
 
 ^ F 
 
 Church Communion Illujtrated; 
 
 I'he Unity of the Body of Chr i st, and 
 the Duty tlie Members owe to one 
 another opened* 
 
 BEING THE SUBSTANCE CF 
 
 SEVERAL SERMONS, 
 
 On I Cor. X. fy. 
 
? »li rtmm i%r^^?A tJUgpi^^ 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 I^Ji^F^r^i^r^r^^ir^r^r^i^tfigp 
 
 J^y con/nltlng the Author's Memoirs, p. 363. he in^ 
 forms us, that after handling the occajional fubje^s 
 relative to and after the facrament, June \%th, 1720, 
 './ entered, fays he, July loth, on the Communion of 
 ' Saints as one Bread, /rom j Cor, x. 17. The which 
 "•Juhjerl, he there Jays^ I fiudied-mith particular care, 
 ' and conjiderahle earnejtnefs, as a very important 
 ^ point ; and dwelt thereon till Odi. 30//'.' So that 
 the following Sermons were compofed before our Ju* 
 thor fell into his declining fiat e of health. 
 
[ 141 ] 
 
 The Nature of Churcli-Communlon open- 
 ed, in fundry Difcourfes. 
 
 I Cor. X. 17. 
 
 For it'(?, behtg many^ are one hread^ and one body ; 
 for we are all partakers of that one bread. 
 
 ONE great reafon why communions do fo little 
 good, is that communicants are fo little concern- 
 ed in one another for their fpiritual welfare. And this 
 hath its rife from their not difcerning, and ferioully 
 laying to heart, the fpiritual relation there is among 
 them, by them avouched, and publicly teftifed by 
 their partaking of one bread at the communion table. 
 People readily have fome notion, that it is a cornruu- 
 nlon iL'ith ChrisT; but few confider it as a commu- 
 nion rf Saints^ and what duties ^o\\^ from it as fuch. I 
 would therefore lay this matter before ycu, in order 
 to purfue the benefit of our late folemn occafion. 
 
 The fcope of thefe words is to fliew, that thofewho 
 partaked of idolatrous fer.fts were, by that action, de- 
 clared, one body .with idolaters. This is proven by 
 a parity of reafons, viz. that thofe who partake of 
 the Lord"'s tabid, declare- them.felves one body with 
 the faints. In the preceding verfe, he fiiews the nature 
 of the facramen|?Qf Uie fupper ; it is the communion of 
 the body and blwd .af Chrijl : a fign, feaL, and appoini 
 
 icui 
 
 , i:i-^ 
 
 ed means of cur Joint feeding on a Cain Sav 
 fo m.any eagles ^ tjie flain body. Here he fliews the 
 nature o^ X.\\c fo^iety of the faints, for whom it is ap- 
 pointed, -viz. tha^thcy are one body, to wit, the bo- 
 dy of Chrift ; ancf tjhcrcfore, being united to him, they 
 have certainly e^rpmunion in his body and blood; 
 Far we^ being mqny-^ are one bread, and one body ; 
 for ive are all fhrt,akcrs vf that one bread. In the 
 words are two thinR's, 
 
1421 The Nature of 
 
 I. T\-\tfpirUual conjunclion and communion of faints 
 among themfelves afferted: JVe, being many^ are one 
 breads and one body. He fpeaks of the whole multitude 
 of believers : they being many particular faints, fome 
 men, fome women, teachers, taught, weak, ftrong, are 
 yet fo joined, and have fuch intimate union and com- 
 munion one with another, that the\'- are one bread, 
 that is, one body, reprefented by one facramental 
 bread. If yc afk, whofe is that body? or, who is the 
 head of it? It is Chrift^s: A''ou', ye are the body of 
 Chr'ift^ and niemhers in particular^ i Cor. xii. 27. — 
 Not his natural body, but his myftical bodyj and 
 therefore, the many are not fuch as meet at one com- 
 munion-table in one congregation; but ^// the mem- 
 bers of Chrift's myftical body through the world; for 
 Chrift has but one body ; and as many grains do make 
 up but one facramental bread, fo they being many do 
 make up but one bodv, 
 
 a. This fpiritual conjunclion and communion of 
 faints, among themfelves, inferred from their all par- 
 taking of that one bread: For we^ being many^ are 
 one bread ; pAI partakers of that one bread. By that 
 one bread is meant, that bread which is exhibited in 
 t]:ie facrament, viz* botli the iranfihle bread, which is 
 Christ himfelf, and the vifible bread, which WE take 
 in our mouths, tl>e latter .the i^gn of the former. Be- 
 lieving communicants partake of botli ; they partake 
 of that — bread, v/hich is Uie Lord. So, are all unit- 
 ed to, and hold communion with the head as members; 
 and therefore are one body among themfelves. They 
 partake of the facramental bread, which is an inftitut- 
 cd fign of the other, and thereby profefs their com- 
 munion with Chrift the Head, and confequently their 
 communion with the faints, as members of the fame 
 body with them. And, in this lall, hy^xjcritical com- 
 municants join with them, by their partaking, declar- 
 ing, and avouching the:iifelves to be of the communion 
 of faints, of the myftical body oi Chrift, and binding 
 themfelv^es to the duty of that communion; although 
 in reality they are not fo, as not partaking of the in- 
 
Church-Communion opened, 14.3 
 
 vlfible bread, wiiich is Chrifl the Lord. The cafe is 
 tlie fame as to baptifm. For^ by one Spirit vje are all 
 haptijed ints one body^ 'whether lue bi Je'^dJS or Gentiles^ 
 I Cor. xii. 13. The point to be handled is this dodlrine. 
 
 Doer. " There is a communion of faints amongfl 
 *"' themfelves, as being conjoined into one myiiical bo- 
 '' dy of Chrift, declared and avouched by partakers 
 " of the facraments," efpecially that of the Lord's Sup- 
 *' per, every one for themfelves." 
 
 There are two parts of this doctrine. One is, That 
 there is fuch a Jlrait and intimate communion and con- 
 jun^ion among the Jahits^ that they are really and 
 truly one body myjiicaliy^ however many they be. — 
 The other is, That one'' s partaking of the jacrument^ 
 is declaring and avouching himj'elj 10 he of that com- 
 munion. By a comiyiunion^ I mean, d, facie ty liaving a 
 common intercft in things. 
 
 L I fliall enquire into the nature of the communion 
 of faints as one body. And, 
 
 I. Who are the members of tins communion, of 
 this happy fociety, the body of Chrift? There are two 
 forts of members of it, fome \\\ fhtw only, fome in re- 
 ality. As to the former, I ofi'er two things, 
 
 ( 1 .) T he openly u-iti^^' and profane^ araOTigft whom 
 mull be reckoned the g-'ofsly ignorant^ and all fuch as 
 have no form of godlinefs, are not fo much as vifible 
 or apparent members of the communion of faints. — 
 They are excluded from the communion of the faints 
 ahove^ Gal. v. 19 — 21. ' Now, the works of the flefii 
 ' are mamifeft- — adultery, fornication, 6(7. Of the which 
 ' I tell you before, as I have told you in time pail, 
 ' that they v/hich do fuch things (hall not inherit the 
 ' kingdom of God.' — -From the com.munion of faints 
 beloiu^ A£ls xxvi. 18. '■ To open their eyes, and to 
 ' turn them from darknefs to light, that they may re- 
 ' ceive inheritance am.ong them that are fanclitied,' — 
 iaud vifiblv belong to the devil's family, John viii. 44. 
 V/hat though they have been baptifed, aixl are yet iu 
 
144 '^he Nature of 
 
 the vlilble church, they have in eiTc£l renounced it ; 
 Rom. ii. 25. ' But if thou be a breaker of the law, thy 
 * circuincifioD is made uncircumcifion.' For, though 
 they were baptifed into tliis one body, z Cor. xii. 15. 
 yet they will have no communion with that body, nor 
 the head of it. Though they got on Chrill's mark of 
 baptifm in their infancy, they have now got the devil's 
 mark on above it. So, Rom. ii. 25. therefore not to 
 be admitted to the Lord's table : Give not that -which 
 is holy unto clogs^ Matt. vii. 6. 
 
 (z.) Malked hypocrites arc feemingly vifible mem- 
 bers of this communion, but not real members of it. 
 They are brethren of the faints, but only half-brothers, 
 Cant. i. 6. falfe brethren. Gal. ii. 4. The^^are among 
 tlieni, and communicate among them ; but they are 
 not of them^ i John ii. 19. becaufe they want ihciueci- 
 ciing garmer.t ; and though the fervants cannot but 
 admit them as vifible faints, the Mafter will throw 
 them out, as none of that communion, in his fight, 
 Matt. xxii. 12. 
 
 Hypoci'Ites belong to the myftical body, ag a branch 
 bound up, but not knitting with tlieftock, belongs to the 
 tree, or as a tree-l.g belongs to the body; but not other- 
 wife. See the cafe of thefe nrembers in thefe three things . 
 
 1. They are ufeful for tlie myftical body of Chrii\ 
 vrith their gifts, as the tree -leg with its ftrength to the 
 natural body. So was Judas and Demas, C:'r. Grace- 
 leis ^ell-gified mdniftcrs and profeffors, they may have 
 a mouth to fpeak for truth, ay and hands to a£t for it 
 too, and the profit redound to the faints, not to them- 
 felves, who have no heart to embrace it in reality, 
 and to adorn the communioia as long as they keep 
 green, as fuch branches do the tree, by which God is 
 honoured before the world, Pfal. Ixxxi. 15. 
 
 2. They arc under the particular care of the body, 
 as tlie tree-leg, and the branch under the gardener's 
 infpedVion. Hence they get their gifts increafed for tlie 
 good of tiic body, are preferved from many fnarcs tliey 
 would otherwife fall into, if they had nothing at all to 
 do with the communion of faints, as may appear from 
 
Church-Communhn opened. 145 
 
 tlie WAV tliey go when they turn apoflates. They fare 
 the 'better they are in good company. But, 
 
 3. They are laid a(ide at length as the branch, John 
 XV. 1, and the tree -leg, if not before, yet at the time 
 when the body goes to refl, Pfal. cxx\'. 5. Thougli 
 th2 living leg' be broken, fo criizcxl that, for the tim?^ 
 it can be o^ no diiceiTiible ufe for the head, nor for 
 tjis other members of tive body; yet it is not carl by, 
 nor feparate from tb.e body, but its weaknefs born ' 
 with, and it healed at length. But the tree-leg goes 
 for altogether. 
 
 As to the latter, there are three forts of thefe real 
 members. 
 
 I. Real members in God's cfcfign^ but not yet form^ 
 ed. Thefe are all the elect, who are yet to be born, or 
 vet to be born again : and we cannot have a full view 
 of the body without eyeing them, Eph. i. 10. That in 
 the di /pen] at ion of the fuhufs of tlmes^ he might ga- 
 ther together in one all things in Chrijr, They iliall 
 all of them be formed at length, all conjoined unto 
 the body, and they all belong to the perfection of the 
 bodv, for carrying on of vvhich the miniilr)'i3 appointed^ 
 Eph. iv. II, 12, 13. For the body of Chrift is all the 
 eleift knit to him as tr.e head, Eph. v. ^3. For the 
 hufoand is the head of the vjife^ even as Chri/t is 
 the head of the Church, 
 
 2,. Real Tiic':VihQ.Y?: already perfecfed^^t leaft, as to their 
 fouls. Thefe are the faints triumphant, who are with 
 lis members, fellow -members of the body of Chriii, 
 tho' glorified ones. Therefore, Heb. xii. 2,2, 23. Bat 
 ye are come— to the general ^ajfemhly and church of 
 the firft -horn — and to the fpirits of juji men madi 
 perfedl. Even they, as high as they ai'e, are of this 
 communion of faints, of the fame family of heaven, 
 with us militant on earth, though tliey are in the up- 
 per rooms, and we in the lower, Eph. iii. 15. 
 
 3. Real members /i/r^^zd-i, but not perfediedyQt. — 
 Thefe are the faints on earth, even ail of them upon 
 N 
 
*f^*j j^pe i\aiure cj 
 
 the face of tlie earth, whatever particular vifible 
 church they belong to; at whatever diftance they are 
 from one another, though they never faw, nor never 
 will fee one another's face, till they come to meet in 
 glory, tliey are all one body, all members of that one 
 body of Chrii't, i Cor. xti. 12. Ar, as the body is oih\ 
 and hath many mf??7bers, and all the membci's — htin-r 
 juany^ are one body^fo alfo is Chrijj. 
 
 Thefe lall: are they whom our text fpcaks of, as one 
 body, partaking of the facramental bread, viz. the bo- 
 dy of Chrift, as to that part of it which is on earth ; 
 and of which we fpeak. So there is a communion of 
 faints on earth-^ and all the faints are members of it ; 
 wherever they dwell, whatever leffer points of doclrine, 
 worOiip, 6*r. they differ in, they have communion 
 v,-ith one another, as being all conroiacd into oni5 
 bod-, 
 
 II. iVhertin this commuTiion of faints cor.fijis ; or, 
 ^C/W they are one body. 
 
 I. They have all one hsad^ to wit, the Lord Jefus 
 Chrift, w^ho is the head of all the faints, Eph. i. 2Z, 
 23. — ' and gave him to be the head over all things to 
 ' the church, which is his body'. — They are all unit- 
 ed to him by his Spirit, 1 Cor. vi. 17. 'He that is 
 'joined to the Lord is one Spirit.' ^And from him as 
 their head, tliey derive vital influences. Col. ii. 19. 
 — ' from which all the body, by joints and bands, hav- 
 ' ing noarifhment miniflered, and knit together, in- 
 ' creafcth with the increafe of God.' There may be a 
 great difference betwixt members, in refpeft of growth, 
 livelinefs, and ufefuinefs ; but the meaneft have com- 
 tnunion with the higheil in one head, which is common 
 t"> them all. So they are all under the direction, 
 governi'Hent, and infiuente of jefus Chrill;, as their 
 common head. 
 
 z. They arc all animated, enlivened, and aftuated 
 by tnc ^pi''it, to w^it, the Holy Spirit of Chrift. This 
 S^>irlt dwells in Chrifl as the Hcnd, and in all the 
 
church- Communion opcyied, 147 
 
 faints as his members, Rom. viii. 9. and unites them 
 to the Head, and among themfelves too, fo that they 
 are one body, 1 Cor. xii. 13. A tree-leg, though 
 bound clofe to the body, is no member of it. becauf« 
 it is not animated by the foul and life of that body ; 
 but, if there were a body of a man, whofe head did 
 reach the clouds, any toe of that man's foot, tho' de- 
 filed by the ground it toucheth, is as really a memb^ 
 of that body as the fhouldcrs arc, having communion 
 with them in t1ie fame foul or fpirit, which ^iluat.es 
 the one as well as the other. 
 
 Great is the diiference of the faints fouls or fpirits, 
 as men and women ; fome are bold, fome fearful. It is 
 as eafy for fome to draw the fword in C brill's qusir- 
 rel, as for others to fpeak a word for him. Some ar^ 
 of clear, c hear ful, eafy, a^live fpirits; fome under sl- 
 fpirit of heavinefs and indifpofition for a£lion; but, as 
 faints, they have all one fpirit ; whofo could difcevn, 
 how unanimoufly they vote Chrid to be the King of 
 the heari, of the church, of the world, againft the tor- 
 rent of folicitations from the devil, the world, and the 
 fiedi ; how, as with one eye, they look up to God in 
 Chriil as their only h^ppinefs, and away from the 
 worl-i, wHch the reft of mankind fix their eye onj 
 how with one heart and with one foul they all groan 
 under the remains of fm, and for perfeflion in hoUnefa, 
 though fome louder than others; lie behoved to fay, 
 thefe have all one fpirit of faith, holinefs, and con- 
 tempt of the world, Ezek. xxxvi. 2;7. Num. xiv. 24. 
 
 3. They have all one grace of fviith wrought by the 
 felf-fame Spirit in them all, Col. ii. 12. terminates in 
 and knits them to one head, the Lord Jefus, Eph. iii. 
 17* As all the lines dra^vn from the circumference 
 meet in the centre, and there have communiop, fo the 
 faith of all God's ele£l meet in Jefus Chrift, and thus 
 they have communion among themfelves, Tit. i. i — 
 4. Thus are they one body, as being all knit to the 
 Head, by one and the fame ipiritual band for kind. 
 The ftrowg faith grips here, the weak faith rcacheth 
 ?^ 2 
 
148 Tke Nature of 
 
 to him : tho' the weak hand of faith is rxt fo ftcpJ.y, 
 nor grips fo hard as the other, yet both k^it, Cant, 
 iv. 9. V. I. 
 
 4. They have all one heart and inind in refped of 
 fundamentals, Kph. iv. 5. One faith, viz. of do(^rine, 
 the fubflanee of which was and ever will be the fame, 
 Heb. xiii. 8. AVhatever be their different fentiments, 
 as to ini^rior truths, they all agree in the main, A6ls 
 iv. 12. f\ either is there /alvaiion in any other ; 
 fir there is none other name under heaven^ giv 
 en ojuong men, whereby ive mujt he favecL Thus, ac- 
 cording to the promife, Jer. xxxii. 39. have thev ^Aie 
 heart and one v:ny ; for they are all partakers of that 
 ^ne unction which teacheth all things necclTary to fal- 
 vation, i John ii. 20. But ye have an un^rion from 
 the holy One^ and ye know all things. For they are all 
 taught of God ; and that do£lrine which contradicts 
 the experience of the faints, and reliflies not with dif- 
 cerning fouls exercifcd to godli'Jtfs, is juftly to be fuf- 
 pecled; Wifdom is jujiified of her children^ Matt, xi, 
 
 5. They are united to one another in Ijve^ Col. iii. 
 14. Eph. iv. 16. This is a powerful cement. Love ce- 
 ments heai^ts and fouls, and fo knits ffdl. Tiicy love 
 cne another, though they never faw other's faces, if 
 they do but know there arc fuchperfons in the world. 
 They love them for the common image of God which 
 they bear ; and in all the company of faints tliis love 
 will break over all the differences in Icffer matters a- 
 mong them ; fo that it is made a mark of a member 
 of that communion, i John iii. 14. y/e knovj that iL-f 
 have pijfed from death unto hfe^ becaufe u-c- love the 
 brethren. 
 
 6. They have a communion in one anotlier's gifts 
 and graces^ as the cafe i1;ands in tlie natural body, Kph. 
 iv. 16. There is a diverfity of gifts'and offices in the 
 common body of faints. Some are teachers, foir.e 
 taught; fome rulers, others ruled. Some excel in 
 oric gift of grace, ibme ia anociicr; fome, pcihapg, 
 
Church-Communiofi cpsned, 149 
 
 cannot be faid to excel their fellow -faints in any thing; 
 but all thefe are for the common advantage of the bo- 
 dy, 1 Cor. xii. 27. and the glory of the Head. And, 
 t^'hercver they are, they beloTig t'O the whole body, as 
 tlie light that is in tlie eye, the flrcngth in the arms, 
 the fwiftnefs in the legs, belongs lo, and is for the 
 good of the wliole body, i Cor yi. 22,23. P/hether 
 Paul^ or Jp'jllof, or Cephas, or the wo^ld, or life, or 
 death, or i kings pre fenty or things to come; ^ll are 
 your's, and ye are Chriji's. x\nd eveiy thx meaneft 
 member and gift has its own ufe and neceflity. See i 
 Cor. xii. 13. and downwards. 
 
 Ufe, Here \?, ^ felh'^ifjip you may all panake of, 
 and I invite you all to the Communion of faints, i Johfi 
 i. 3. That 'jjhich ive have fe en and heard, declare i^'C 
 unto you, that ye alfo may have felkvjfhip ivith ns.^- 
 Many are ruined with their love of that which they 
 call good-fellowiliip. AVhat is the fellowship deferves 
 that name ? Not the communion of fmrrers, ruining 
 one another, under tlie influence of Satan and their 
 lufts ; not the fellow fhip of drunkards and revellers, 
 whofe common profit and pleafure goes away like the 
 crackling of th'jrns, only that it leaves a ftink behind; 
 not the fellowfliip of the men of the world, in adva«- 
 cing feme temporal gain, but the conununion of faints, 
 the pleafanteil;, richeft, beft fellowfhip in all the world* 
 O ! leave the com.munion of ih:iners for tiiis ; come out 
 from am^jyig thein and he feparate, jokiing yourlelv^ 
 to tl is communion. 
 
 ni. We proceed to the properties of this communion, 
 
 I. It is a mo{\ honourable conuiiunion; for it is a 
 
 com.munion with the holy Trinity, i John h 3. y^nd 
 
 truly our fello^j^f/ip is -jjith the father , and v:ith his 
 
 Son J ejus Chrijt, 
 
 (t.) The Father is the Head and Father of the 
 
 communion, Eph. iv. 6. i Cor. xi. 3. He is Father 
 
 Creator of all men, Kd.^ xvii. 29. but of tlie commu- 
 
 ■ nion of faints he is Father by a Ipecial, gracious, fav- 
 
 ing relation. So that they are ail his children, J^lm 
 
 ' ^.3 . 
 
T50 The Nrdktre r,f 
 
 i. 12. 2 Cor. vi. 17, 18. And they have corninunioti; 
 with hhii, and union through the Lord Jcfus Clirift, 
 fince he and tlie Father are one. 
 
 (2..) The centre of tliis co^iirr.unlcn is the Son-, the 
 blcfrecl Mediator. In him all meet, i Cor. xi. 3. Th.e 
 faints meet in Chrill as their Head, and in iiim tlie 
 Father meets with them, 2 Cor. v. L9. God m.v!f 
 in ChviJI- reconciling the ^coorld unto him ft If, not im- 
 puting their tre/pajfes unto them. Chrift prefents all 
 believers through the world unto his Father, faying, • 
 Behold f, and the children ivhich God hath given me., 
 Heb. ii. 13. So, being the jMediator's, they became 
 his, John xx. 17. In this refpecl Chrift is called the 
 way to the Father, John xiv. 6. / am the luay^ and 
 the truth, and the life : No man cometh unto the Fa- 
 ther hut hy me. 
 
 (3.) The Holy Spirit is the internal original bond 
 of this communion, knitting all the members to Chrift, 
 and among themfelves, Eph. iv. 4. He brings them 
 together into Chrii\, and to his Father, iixes and holds 
 them there by his infinite power, that they can never 
 be broken off again. So believers, members of this 
 communion, have communion with the Father and the 
 Son, I John i. 3. and the Holy Ghod, 2 Cor. xiii. 14. 
 
 2. It is a moft rich communion. There are focie- 
 ties and companies this day jcining Ptocks together, to 
 advance v^'orldly wealtli ; but the richeft of them have 
 nothing but triiles in comparifon with thic company or 
 communion of faints. The comm.union of faints is 
 the company trading to heaven, and their wealth is 
 paft reckoning. For a v[c\v of it confider only thcie 
 two things. 
 
 (i.) They I^.ave communion with Chrif\ a ccmmcn 
 intcrelb v/ith him who is the heir of all thefe things, 
 fo th>t they may fet their name under his, on all tl^at 
 is hir.. Tiiey have communion with himnn his perf^ 
 right eotffnrfs^ Ifa. xlv. 24. Hence tiiey are all fair^ 
 Cant, iv, 7. Clear as the fun^ Cant. .vi. 10. In his ac- 
 iive obedlsn:^) fo that they have obeyed in Chrift, as 
 
Cburcl:- Communion opeyjcd, 1 51 
 
 they fjnriecl in Adam, Rom. viii. 3, 4. InYiisfuffcr'nigs 
 and deaths Gal., ii. 20. In bis rej'urrect'ujn and afcen* 
 jrAi^ Epb. ii. 6. and glory. Compare, Heb. vi. ao. — 
 Thcv bave a common intercft in all bis purchaj? ; 
 and, as poor as fome of tbem lit, they want nothing, 
 but are com})lete, Col. ii. 10. yind ye are complete 
 in him. 
 
 They have a real participatica of Cbriil himfelf, 
 Heb. iii. 14. Of his death and his 'refurreciion, Rom, 
 vi. 4, 5. Of his Spirit, Phil. ii. i. "Of the divine na- 
 ture, 2, Pet. i. 4. Of his offices ; thcv are prophets, 
 Pfal.' cv. 15. priefts and kings, Pcev. i. 6. And of his 
 fubicfs, John i. 16. 
 
 (z.) They have communion with God, for fo runs 
 the covenant, J vj ill he your Cod. And Pfai. cxliv. 
 15. God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghofi is their's. 
 All his attributes arc theirs ; the power of God to 
 prote<ft them, the wiidom of God to guide themi, or, 
 and \vith him all things, {ivicc all is his, and he is 
 their's, i Cor. iii. 21, 22, 23. 
 
 Behold the riches of this company. And, (i.) None 
 of the faints bring any thing with them to put in the 
 ftock; but they are admitted freely. (2.) Not only 
 is a part for every one, but each one has allj and fo it 
 m.ay be, llnce the liock is infinite. 
 
 3 It is a moft exienjivs communion. And it extends, 
 
 (r.) Over the earthy and fo is called the catholic 
 or univerfal church, i Cor. i. 2. Though vaft trails 
 of la.nd, and huge feas interpofe betwixt them ; tho' 
 they have different languages, fo that iome of them 
 cannot underftand what others fay; and their cuflomiS 
 are very different, vet none of all thele hinder their 
 being members of one and tjie faipe body. 
 
 (2.) To tlie heavens. The faints abore belong to 
 the comniunionof faints, Heb. xii. 23. ay, and the holy 
 angels too, in the fame fenfe, ver. 22. for the Head of 
 the faints is the Head of angels too. Colof. ii. 10. 
 
 (3.) It is a holy communion. It is a feilcwfiiip of 
 faints, Epl:. ii. ](;. Te are no r,i(,re J. ranchers arid j'j- 
 
152 The Nature of 
 
 -relgners^ hut felloiu citizens with the faints, and of 
 the houfehold of God. The Head, centre, and bond, 
 and members of this communion^ are all holy. They 
 are a fociety fet apart for God, drawn out of the world 
 lyhig in wlckednefs, walking in the way of holinels, 
 with difplayed banners towards the holy land. 
 
 II. That one's partaking o'i thtfacrament is a de- 
 claring and avouching himfelf to be of that communi- 
 on. By partaking of baptifm, wc have all done it once; 
 and by the Lord's Supper, it is done as oft as we com- 
 municate in it. By the former, in our infancy, it is 
 done with our virtual confent j by the latter, with 
 our exprefs confent. This point will be clear, if we 
 confider the relation the facrament has to the commu- 
 nion of faints. 
 
 1 . It is a fgti and badge of the com.munion of faints : 
 We are one hread^ fays the text. The one bread fig- 
 nifying tjfiat we are one body; and by receiving the 
 fign, and wearing the badge of the fociety, we declare 
 two things, according to the nature of a dillinguifliing 
 fign. 
 
 (2.) That we are no more of the communion of 
 the world lying in v/ickednefs, which i=; the oppofite 
 fociety, i Cor. x. 21. Te cannot he partakers of the 
 hordes table^ and the table of devil', Tiiat we have . 
 left our fatiier's houfe and people, and are no more to 
 fnare with them in their way and manner of life. It is 
 the putting on the fign of Zion's King, that we may be 
 diilinguiflicd from thole that belong to the enemy. 
 
 (i.) That we are henceforth of the communion of 
 faints^ and not neutrals, Rev. xiv. i. That we have 
 joined ourfelves to that bleffed fociety of faints, the 
 Head of which is Jefus Chriil, to take part with them 
 for better and worle. We have faid to them as Ruth 
 to Naomi, R.uth i. 16. JVkither thou goeft^ I will go ; 
 and zvhere thou lodgef}, I will lodge; thy people JJrall 
 he my people^ and thy God my God, 
 
 2. It is afeal of the communion of faints, and fcals 
 it elfeduaily to all thofe that do iiucvrely t^ke hold of 
 
Churck-Commtinl'in opened. 153 
 
 the covenant, Rom. iv. it. The righteoufnefs of faith 
 is the poireflion of the fociety of faints ; and the facra- 
 ment feahng that to a man, feals his being of that 
 communion. A believer may be fore prefled with that 
 quellioD, //ox' Jhall I put thee among the children? 
 But the facraiiient, to put it cut -cf doubt, feals and 
 confirms his being put among thern. Their being c;;^' 
 body is fealed by their partaking of one b?-ead. So i 
 Cor. xii. 13. 
 
 3. The facraments are the external bonds of tins 
 communion, wheixby they arc vifibly embodied into 
 ORC fele£l fociety, i Cor. xii. 13. And hence it is 
 that the uncircumcifed under the Old Teftam.ent were 
 to be cut off from their people. The church of God 
 makes a vifible fociety in the world ; and it is not tlie 
 hearing of the word that is the bond of it, for that is 
 left common to any who will ; but the facram.ents, 
 wliich are not to be given, but to vifible believers. 
 
 4. li: is an engagement to the duties of this commu- 
 nion of faints ; /, therefore^ the prifoner of the Lord, 
 ■befeech you, that ye lualkvjorthy of the vocation ivhere* 
 vjiih ye Jire called.^ ivifh ail hrjjlir.efs and mesknefs , , 
 '■jjith longfuffering., forbearing one another in love: 
 tndeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond 
 ■of peace. There is one body and one fpirit ; even as ye 
 are called in one hope Qf your calling ; one Lord, one 
 faith, one baptifm^ Eph. iv. i — 5. Whofoever is em- 
 bodied into a regular fociety, by his entering into it, 
 
 . is obliged to walk by the rules of it. And fo the facra- 
 I ment is an engagement or oath to walk by the rules 
 of hclinefs, which are the rules of the communion of 
 , faints. 
 
 Now, whofoever does receive the public fign, feal, 
 bond, and engagement of a fociety, does thereby pub- 
 licly declare and avouch himdelf to be of that fociety : 
 but by partaking of the facrament, the partakers do 
 take on the public fign — of the communion of faints j 
 therefore, cr. 
 
 Use. 1 (i':v.ws\GYnQ. prcivtical iiifcrences from this 
 doctrine. 
 
J 54 The Nature of 
 
 Inf. I. Tbcrt is a very near, fpecial, and particular 
 relation amongft the partakers of the facraments, vifi- 
 bly conflituted by their joint partaking of them; they 
 do thereby declare themfelves to be of one body, the, 
 Head whereof is Jefus Chriil; even baptifm alone 
 conilitutes this fpecial relation, i Cor. xii. 13. for, by 
 tliat holy fign the baptized are diftinguiflied from thofe 
 without the vifible church, and have all given up their 
 names to Chrifl. Much more does the receiving of 
 the Lord's Supper alfo, as faith the text. 
 
 As for the invifible real members of the communion 
 of faints, /. e. the real mem.bers of the invifible church, 
 Goi alone certainly knows them in particular. But 
 the vifible members of it ai'e faints by profeiTion, not viij- \ 
 bly contradided by their habitual practice, R.om.i. 7. \ 
 I Their. V. 5. Te are all the children of light ^ and the \ 
 childre-fi of the day; we are not of the flight nor of, 
 darknej's. Amongft thefe there is a fpecial relation, as '■ 
 one vifible body of Chrill: ; thofe who are only baptiz- : 
 ed, though they may be complete members of the invifible ; 
 body, being only incomplete members of the vifible : ■ 
 and fuch as partake of the facrament of the fupper, \ 
 complete ones, as adjnitted unto all external privileges 
 of the communion of faints, even to the highei\ of them, j 
 -which is that of the Lord's table. And therefore ^ 
 there is a more full relation among communicants than < 
 others. Hence I v^^ould fay, \ 
 
 I. Ye who are baptized, yet openly wicked and/ra- j 
 fane^ orgrofsly ignoi>int of the fundamentals of religion, .J 
 being come to years, are apoflates in effe£l, having, by : 
 your way, vifibly cut oil yourf elves from the comm»-. 
 nion of faints : For, in your infancy, you we>x baptiz-' 
 ed into that body, but now, by your unholy lives ye ^ 
 openly declare yourfclves to be none of it, and have: 
 taken on the devil's mark, and declare yourfclves to i 
 be of the world lying in wickednefs, Rom. ii. 25. 'i"o j 
 you I fay, _ ' j 
 
 (i.) Have ye not thus openly rejtcled communion , 
 
Churcb-Commumoji (Opened, 15I 
 
 with God, that you may maintain communion with the 
 world ? If you will have nothing ado with the family 
 of heaven, do ye not renounce the Blather of it for your 
 Father? If you will be none of Chrift's myftical body, 
 do ye not rcfuie him for a head ? Yea, fare \ i John 
 
 (:>.) Had it not been better for you, if yc^ repent not, 
 to liavs lived and died among Pagans, where the name 
 of GhriA wi^s never heard, than to have been baptized 
 in:o one body witli the faints, and yet cafl off all by 
 your openly profane life? 2, Pet. ii. 21. For it hcdheen 
 hcttfr for them not to have known thd luay of right c- 
 oufriefsy than ajttr they hav-e knoiun k to turn from 
 the holy commanclrntnt delivered unto them. 
 
 2. Ye who are faints by profeiTion, yet only baptiz- 
 eil, not partakers of the Lord's table ; v/hy do ye ccr- 
 iirueiot Who is there tliat values a communion or 
 it)Ckety, and does not endeavour to partake of all the 
 privileges thereof, that may be of ufc to themi? And 
 if ye have any value for the communion of faints, v,hy 
 do yo not lay out yourfelves to be one bread with 
 tliCm? Sift your confcienccs before the Lord, and it 
 v^ill not be excufed from contempt of communion v.ith 
 Chrift, with his miyftical body, aiul the means thereof. 
 
 3. Ye who are faints by profeiTion, and both baptiz- 
 ed and partakers of the Lord's table, your external 
 privilege is great; ye ftand vifi My related to tliC com- 
 munion of faints, as vifible members thereof- Wl^at a 
 fad mifs will it be if you fail of real memberihip, and all 
 yciir intereft in it be but flie-w and pretence, as it v^ill 
 be, if ye be not real faints ? It will be a poor plea at 
 tlie great day, Luke xiii. 26. We have eaten anddrimk 
 in thy pre/ence^ and thou haft taught in aur Jireels. For, 
 
 (i,) The focicty ye are vifible apparent mjembers 
 of, is tiie m.yftical body of Chrift, enriched with the 
 higheft fpecial privileges of commiunkn with the holy 
 Trinity, to their eternal happinefs. It will be a fad 
 matter for yeu to cheat yourielves witli a fiiew and 
 fembiance only of partaking with tliem, witli the empty 
 
156 The Nuiitre of 1 
 
 narne, while you have nothing of the thins^, Ga*. vi. 3, ' 
 For^ if a'^nan think himfclf to he Jomtthi'ng^ when he 'i 
 is nothings he deceiveth hbriftlf 1\ 
 
 (2.) Ye are not far from the kinglom of God ; v/ill ;; 
 ye lofe It for not going forward the other ftcp, the main ■!> 
 liep? Ye have gone through the fevcral gates of tlie '' 
 outer court V I'ehgion, the door of tlie inner court ! 
 fiinds open to you. W ill you not enter in there where "' 
 tlie great glory of the houfe Ues? 2 Tira. iii. 17. Tlie J 
 iovm of godhnefs will carry you all the length ye have \ 
 g3ne ' » .hcfe externals; but the power of it is necef- ; 
 far)' to evidence you a real member of that body. ' 
 
 (3.) Ye ^T"lll iofe your good company ere long, if I 
 vju g:t w^l a furer holding than mere viiible member- ' 
 iliip? if ye be not bound up with them by the Spirit of - 
 holinefs dwelling in you, as in them, the external bands \ 
 of fajramcnts will not do* John xv. 2. Every hranc<h \ 
 in nic that bear eth not fruity he taketh away, (i.) Ye \ 
 m:\y fall,' 2 Tim. ii. i3, 19. out from among them, \ 
 while you live by apoftafy, lohng your fair leaves of - 
 a profefilon, as well as fruit, i Jolin ii. 10. They went } 
 out fromw:^ hut they were not of us ; for if they had hei?i 1 
 cfi<s, they would ?io doubt have continued with us. (2.) ' 
 Ye will certainly be ferarated from Jimong them at ' 
 death, Pfal. cxxv. 5. and at judgment, Matt. xxv. 32. i 
 
 4. Ye who arc real faints, baptized with the Holy '■ 
 Glioft, partakers of the invifible bread, as well as of ' 
 the vifible bread in the Lord's-Supper, and the cut- "j 
 v.ard baptifm, happy are ye in tlie thorough relation ; 
 ye have with the communion of the faints. Ye are "\ 
 members of it to all intei^ts and purpofes, true and : 
 real members of the m)'llical body of Chrill; who can 
 cxprefs the happinefs of this privilege 1 I name only I 
 tiiCfiV. ^ .: 
 
 ([.) Ye have paft the ^t/Z/'as to cor;denination,R.om.. :; 
 viii. I. Ye are fct beyond the reach of the condcn)n- \ 
 ing law ; tlie curfe is removed, and ye 'nave got your ' 
 Father's blelhng; and ye fliall bebleft for time a) id e- ; 
 ternity. 
 
Chta'ch'Communton opened, 157 
 
 (z.) Vc are moft lionourably related, of the blood 
 royal of heaven, fince ye are of the niyliical body of 
 Cliriil:. Chrift's Father is your Father, John xx. 17, 
 / afcend unto my Father and your Father^ to my 
 Cod and your God. Godliiinfelf is your Head, Eph. i. 
 2 2, 23. His Spu'it is the bond of your rnyiVical union 
 v/ith him, Eph. iv. 4. The cliurch is your mother, and 
 ve are her true and genuine children. Gal. iv. 26. 
 The glorified faints are your grown brethren, come to 
 their lull llature ; and ye are the little ones oftliefame 
 family, Eph. iii. 15. Ay, and the angels too are fo. 
 Rev xix. 10. All thefe fall to vou bv that member- 
 
 (3.) Ye are innnitely enriched ; for, on that focie- 
 ty, whereof ye are members, all things are fettled by 
 the God of all, i Cor. iii. 21. Jll thitigs are yours* 
 The purcliafe of the Head belongs to the members ; 
 and they liave a title to all, and polTefs all, jn their 
 Head, Col. ii. 10. So ye are heirs of the world to 
 come, heirs of glory, Rom. viii. 17. The coveiiant is 
 your charter, the facraments the feals of it. 
 
 (4.) Ye are perfectly fecured ; ye lliall never pe- 
 riih, come what will come, John iii. 16. — God Jo lov- 
 ed the ixjorld^ that he gave his only begotten Son^ that 
 •whofoevtr hzUeveth in himfcould not perijlj^ hut have 
 everlafling life, Chrift's natural body faw no cor- 
 ruption, even in a grave ; and Chrift's myif ical brxiy 
 cannot periih, nor any member of it, John xiv. 19. — 
 Becauft 1 livc^ ye J'null live alj'o. Ye are fecured a- 
 gainA, 
 
 I. Falling off. The tree-leg may fall off from the 
 body, but the live -leg cannot; lO hypocrites may fall 
 away totally and finally, but the believer cannot, be- 
 cauie a living member of Chrift's body, John x. 28. — ■ 
 / give unto them eternal life, and thdy Jhall ntver pe- 
 rijh., neither Jljall any pluck thtin out of my hand. A 
 faint may fall dow^n into a mire ; he may fall back, 
 but never i'ail off, nor fall aw^ay. 
 
 2.. Cutting cif. It is true, a child of God, as to 
 
158 The Nature of ' 
 
 his fpiritual fiate, may be fick and fore ; he, may be I 
 brulfed, wounded, and broken at fuch a rate, that he ; 
 is of little or no ule for the head or for the body, but i 
 paining and bringing" grief to both ; and fo think he is [ 
 cut off, Pfal. Ixxxviii. 16. Tky fierce wrath gocfh o-] 
 z'er -me; thy terrors have cut me off. But no man' 
 will ever yield to the cutting off a member of hrs bo- ; 
 dy, while it is in liis power to cure it ; and therefore, | 
 forafmuqli as no. c?^fc of a faint is beyond the reach of 1 
 the great Phyfician's ficill, be their cafe what it wlll,-^ 
 they fhall be cured at length, but never cut off. 
 
 3. EKnng off Spiritual death can never overtake i 
 them again ; the infinite Spirit, the bond of the union, \ 
 will alravs prefcrve the communication belv.ixt the. 
 Head and the members, John xiv. 19. And tempo- i 
 i-al death cannot diiTolve the union ; thouglj it feparate ; 
 betwixt foul and body, each of them ftill remains u- ! 
 nitcd to Chrii>, i Theff. iv. 14, All thefe things are i 
 fealed by the facrament. i 
 
 Jn/er. li. The facramental declarait%7i is a matter \ 
 of fuch weight, as dcferves the decpcft impreflioci inj 
 one's fpirit, and the tendered Vcgard in one's life, for I 
 all time thereafter. What that is ye have already \ 
 heard, viz» a folemn declaration made by one's par* \ 
 taking- that he is of the communion of the faints, joined ; 
 with them into one myftical body of Chrifl. This \ 
 is the declaration you have made bv your a6l of par-i 
 taking, and this is what, I fay, deierves the deepcil 
 impreilion, 6c. This will be clear, if ye confider, 
 
 1. ThcJ'ubje^ matter of that declaration, which is 
 molf important. It cc»ncerns the myrlical body of; 
 Chrifi, and tlieir joining themfelves unto it. Is it pof- 
 fible that one cai^ "have a weightier matter than that, 
 in hand? Docs not eternity depend upon it? heaven 
 or hell han^ upon it to thy foul ? Can any rationfil 
 man think that to be a matter for one to play with, 
 not to be in decpefl earncA about it r 
 
 2. The parties to whom it is made, God and all 
 the faints. The Lord has crcv^ed the faints into a 
 
Church'Commumoft opened, 159 
 
 focietv, under Chrift tlie alone Head ; they have their 
 patent in heaven, and God has endowed them with 
 the richelt privileges He (ends out the gofpel-pro- 
 clamation, inviting all to join them, and oflcringthem 
 admillion into it freely, withal making tlie paroiiking 
 of the facraments to be their declaration of entering 
 into it, I Cor. xii. 13. So, it is evident the partaker, 
 by his adion, lays unto God, Ifa. xliv. 5. / am the 
 Lord's ; and to all the faints, We vjHI go -wish you ; 
 for we have heard that Cr,d is with you, Zech. viii. 
 23. If ve think light of making that declaration to 
 them, do but confider the day when the Lord, and all 
 his faints, fhall judge the world, and call you to an 
 account of the declaration made to themfclves. 
 
 3. The nature of that declaration. It is not indeed 
 verbal, but real j not by words, but by an adlon, even 
 that inllituted by Chrift, and fo interpreted by him 
 as importing what it was defignedto fignify. As it is 
 facramental, it is of the nature of an oath, wherein 
 God is invocated as Judge and Witnefs of the finceri- 
 ty of your declaration: So that you have, in effecl, 
 fworn yourfelves of the communion of faintf. And 
 that is weighty. 
 
 4. The Jbiemnity of it. It was not a buiinefs hud- 
 dled up in fecret, but done openly. The facraments 
 are public actions of their own nature ; aad therefore 
 our church has wrcRled againft private baptifm and 
 private communion. Ye were, I fuppofe, baptised 
 in prcfence of the church, a leffcr or a greater num- 
 ber prefcnt. Ye did communicate in the Lord's fup- 
 per in the face of the fun, and before many witnefics, 
 in a moi\ folemn manner. It was a very folemn co- 
 venanting betwixt God and Abram, Gen. xv. 9 — iB. 
 And your covenant-declaration was over the broken 
 body and flied blood of Chritl, reprcfented in the fa- 
 crament; what greater folemnity could there be? 
 
 5. '^he amount of it. If ye do not fmcereiy cJeave 
 to it, >ut in your practice cai\ it behind your back, k 
 will amount to a lie made to God himicif, and to all 
 
 O a 
 
i6o The Nature of 
 
 his faints, in a matter of the utmofl weight, with the 
 greatert folcmnity, yea, to the giiilt of perjuiy in ef- 
 fe£l. Ananias and Sapphira were ftruck dead for a he 
 made in the matter of the price of their land; what 
 will be the punifliment ®f a lie made with fuch folem- 
 nity to God, over the broken body of his Son? Matl;^ 
 xxiv. 46. He J)) all cut him a/under^ and appoint hhn 
 his portion with the hypocrites: compared with Jcr. 
 xxxiv. 18 — 20. I luill give the men that have tranf- 
 gr'cffed my covenant, — -jjhich they had made before 
 rne^ when they cut the calf in tiuain, p.7id pajfed bctiueen 
 the parts thereof J will even give them into the 
 hand of their enemies^ and into the hand of them that 
 feck their life. Wherefore, 
 
 I. Refleft on, and ferioufly confider what ye have 
 avouched folemnly in partaking of the facraments. — 
 Think on the a£lion deeply, and the import of it, and 
 imprefs it on your fpirits. Look back all of you to 
 your baptifm. 
 
 Confider, that, in your haptifm^ ye were given up 
 to Chrii^j to lay hold on hira by faith, A(fts xix. 4. — 
 Th:it therein ye declared and avouched your putting 
 on Chriil:, Gal. iii. 27. For as many of you as have 
 been hapiifed into Chrifly have put on ChrijL Your 
 dying to fin and living to riglitcoufnefs, Rom. vi. 3,4. 
 Kno-w ye not^ that fo many of us asivcre baptifcd into 
 J ejus Chifi^ were baptijedinto his death r Therefore 
 vje are buried with him by bap'.ifni into death; that 
 like as Chriji was raifed up from the dead, evenfo we 
 alfo Jhould walK in newnefs of life. Your being of 
 the myfticalbody of Chrift, 1 Cor. xil. 13. Fur by one 
 Spirit we are all hapiifed into one bjdy.. If people 
 would ferioully confider the import of their baptifm, 
 thev who think thsmfelves loofe by their not being com- 
 municants, would fee they are bound already; and 
 that tlicy do but cheat thcmfelves in thinking, by their 
 negle<5l of the fupper, to keep off thefe bands, which 
 tliey are already firmly under ; the whicli, if they re- 
 gard not, they will hear of it afterward to their coll. 
 
 Look back, Comamnicants, to your partaking ^ 
 
Church-Crmmunion opened, l6i 
 
 ccnfider wViat ye have done. Ye have declared your- 
 i'clves well plealed with the device of faivation through 
 a crucified Chrilt, your taking of him to be your Head 
 Lind Ruler, vour loining you.'iclves to him by faith as 
 ]l\ely members of iiis ir.j ilical body; that you are no 
 more, henceJbrtli, to be of the comruunion of the world 
 lying in wickednefs, but for tife Lord only, wholly, 
 and for ever; to take your part vath the faints in the 
 V. orld, whatever your lot be, Pfal. xlv. lo. Ye have 
 faid all tins, and in effevfl iworn it over th.e broken bo- 
 dy and filed blood of Ghrift, before angels and. men. 
 
 Ye would do well to take fome time alone to rcf.e^l 
 on this, and to revive the impreilions. We f^nd tlrt 
 faints making fuch reiie^tions, and putting themfelvcL 
 in mind of what they have done in fuch a cafe, Piah"!. 
 xvi. 2. my fiul^ thou hajt faid ur.to the Lord^ Th^u 
 art my Lord. And Pfal. cxix. 57, 106. Ihavef'iv'rif:^ 
 and I iviil perform it, that I 'u:!ll keep thy righteous 
 judgments. 
 
 2, Never /or^ff it. Jer. i. 5. People ufed not to 
 forget their marriage-day, and the tranfa6lioiis of it. 
 But alas! the declared marriage confent to Chrift i:^ 
 oftpn forgotten, notwithftancUng o^the folemnity at it, 
 Jer. ii. 32. Ca?"*, a vwid forget her ornaments, or a 
 bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me 
 days '•without number. They are men of proflituted 
 confciences, who forget their oaths, and have wrought 
 tliemifeh^es clean of the impreilions of them. But a- 
 las 1 there are r.iany, who fonietimes made tliis folemn 
 declaration, who feem to have quite forgot it, and 
 the impreihons are razed. But, have ye forgot it? 
 God hath fwom he will never forget it, Amos* viii; 7. 
 7 he Lord hath f-^ or n by the excellency of Jacob, Sure- 
 ly 1 -will never forget any of their -jjorks. See Jer. ii. 2. 
 
 3. Remember it afrtfh on particular occafions, and 
 awe your fpirits with it, when tem.ptations offer to 
 caufe you to go againil it, Remem.ber it as Jenthah 
 did his vow, Judgies xi. 35. / have opened jny mouth 
 untQ the LQrdy and I cannot go back* 
 
j6x The Nature of 
 
 ,{iO When your old lufis come back, and fawn on 
 you. No doabt they will come, but deny them, i Pet. 
 j. 14. y^s obedient childreriy not faflnoningyourjdves 
 according to the former lujls^ in y:ur ignoranci-. Re- 
 member ye have folemnly declared againft them, of j 
 your own accord, and to go back to them mui\ be to 1 
 go over the belly of God's bands on you. 
 
 (2.) When your old companions in hn would draw \ 
 you afide with them, then fay, as Jofeph, Gen. xxxix. '. 
 9. How can I do this great "mckednefs^ and jinagainj} J 
 Godf Remember yc are not of their comm.union, but ' 
 have folemnly renounced it, and have embodied with ' 
 the faints. Is it not a very good reafon not to ferve 
 the devil with men, becaufe ye are not of the commu- ; 
 nien of his fervants and fociety? | 
 
 4. Do not retraS} it. It is too folemn and weighty | 
 a bufinefs to eat in again, Prov. xx. 25. It is a Jnare \ 
 to the 7nan to devimr that which is holy, and after | 
 vows to make enquiry. Eccl. v. 5, B titer is it that \ 
 thou fiouUft not vow^ than that thou Jh'juldji vow and 
 not pay. Some poor wretches exprefsly retrad and ! 
 renounce their facramcntal vows, giving themfelves to I 
 Satan. Many practically retracl their facramental i 
 declaration; particularly, 
 
 (i.) By flighting the renewing of it, when the Lord ; 
 puts an occalion of it in their hands. Thus many ' 
 baptifed perions never fet themfelves to partake of the 
 Lord's table ; fome that have partaked of it fome- " 
 time, leave it off again. Does not this plainly fay, ; 
 that, if they had that to do which is done in that inat- \ 
 ter, it fhould not be done for thera now? And is not ^ 
 that retracing prat^lically^ Luke ix. 62. A^c 7nan hav' ] 
 ing put his hand to the plough, and looking hach^ i-i'fii 
 for the kingdom 'f God, Lot's wife's rueful looking ^ 
 back was dear to her.. \ 
 
 (2.) By living a loofe and licentious life^ as if one ; 
 had never come under bonds to be the Lord's, Tit. i. ; 
 16.. The language of the converfatio^ of many is. Let \ 
 us hreak their tandsj he, O that fucI:^vould confidcr, ' 
 
Church-Communion opened. 163 
 
 Hcb. X. 38. If any man draw back^my JlulJ}?all have 
 no plsafure in him. 
 
 5. BeNvare of every thing unfidtabh' to it. Ye have 
 declared vourielves of the communion of faints, do 
 nothmg unfuitable to that communion, and your own 
 folcmn declaration. -Let not the way of God be evil 
 fpoken of through your unfuitable walk, Rom. ii. 24* 
 Always remember your c]iara6ler as profciTed mem- 
 bers of the commAmion of faints, and walk accordingly. 
 
 Jnf. III. Separation from the inenof the world lying 
 in "jjickedntfs^ and fixed ftanding off from the cornmU' 
 nion ofjinners.^ is the neceflary duty of ail faints by 
 profelfion, and particularly of communicants, Num. 
 xxiii. 9. The people Jhall dwell alnne^ andfiallnot he 
 reckoned among the nations. 2. Cor, vi. 14, 15 — 17. 
 
 * Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbclie\ers; 
 ' for, what fellowfliip hath righteoufnefs with iinrigh- 
 
 * teoufnefs ? And, what communion hath light with 
 
 * darknefs? And, what concord hath Cb.rifi with Be- 
 
 * lial? Or, what part hath he that believeth with an 
 ' infidel? Wherefore, come out from among them, and 
 
 * be ye leparate, faith the Lord.' 
 
 I//, Vv^hereto this holy feparation extends itfelf. 
 
 I. Negatively. It doth not extend, 
 
 (i.) To the cafting oflf the duties of natural affec- 
 tions and relations to them, i Cor. vii. 12, 13. <• If 
 ■* any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and fhe 
 
 * be pleafed to dwell wdth him, let him not put her a- 
 
 * way,' drr. Religion doth not w^eaken, but purify and 
 Arengthen natural affedlion, Rom. ix. 3. And the near- 
 er that finners l\and related, unto faints, tliey will 
 have, and ought to have the greater concern tor them, 
 both for their fpiritual and temporal good. 
 
 (a.) Not to the calling off civil converje with the 
 men of the world, according as one has the call of 
 Providence thereto, i Cor. v. 9, 10. 'I wrote unto 
 ' you — not to company with fornicators : Yet not al- 
 
 * together v/ith the fornicators of this world, or with 
 
 * the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for 
 
1^4 The Nature of 
 
 ' then muft ye needs go out of the world.' The faints 
 sire not ihut up in a corner of the world by theni- 
 felves, and therefore mull needs have civil fociety 
 with the men oi this world. Neither doth religion di- 
 ved Chriftians of humanity, or give them a liberty to 
 be rude and indifcreet to others ; but obliges them to 
 live peaceably with all men^ Horn. xii. i8. to honour 
 them^ I Pet ii. 17. to be courteous^ chap. iii. 8, 9. 
 
 (3.) Nor to the hindering of us to do them all the 
 goodw'C can. Nay, religion obligeth us to fec-k their 
 good, I Tim. ii. i. I exhort^ therefjfe^ that—Juppli' 
 cations^ prayers^ inter cejjifjtis^ and giving of thanks be 
 made for all men.' and. to do good to their fouls and 
 bodies, as we have opportunity. Gal. vi. ic. Js we 
 have therefore opportunity.^ let us do gf.'jd to all wen. 
 
 (4.) Nor to the rcilifing lo ferve God.^ and woifjip 
 him with them, according to his own in'i\itution. This 
 our Saviour himfclf did, Luke iv. 16. y^nd he came to 
 Nazareth ; and, as his cujtorn was.^ he -went into the 
 fy^^agogue on theJabbathday.^andJtoodupfor to read, 
 'Thus did the apofllcs alfo with the jews. Thus, in all 
 congregations of faints in the world, tliere are readily 
 found fome who have no appearanceof faintfiiip, whom 
 yet they do not fo fliun as to rcfufc to worihip God 
 with them, in his own v/ay. 
 
 2. Pcfitively, It extends to, and confiils in, 
 
 (i.) Shunning all unncccjfary focic-ty and familia- 
 rity with them, Pfal. xxvi. 4, 5. J have not fat with 
 vain perfons, neither vjill J go with dijfeinhlers. I 
 have hated the congregation of evil d^.ers ; and liill 
 not fit with the wicked. They are not to be chofen 
 for our companions of converie, or friendfliip, far Icfs 
 for companions of life, v;hcre we can have a choice; 
 but we are to be co?np anions of thofe that f&ar the 
 Lord, The company of linners has been fatal to many, 
 Prov. xiii. 2C. He that walketh with wife men fall 
 be wife ; but a companion of fods jhall he dc-JJroyed, 
 Men of the fame employment, or tliat ar-e going to 
 one place, draw together, and ihould not Chriftians 
 dr^w to Chriftians \ I; is fad to mak^^ Chriftiun con- 
 
Chiirch-Commimion ipened. ^^^' 
 
 gregatlons and families, like Noah's ark, a receptacle 
 
 for clean and unclean; i Cor. xv^ 33. Be not dectiv' 
 
 ed ; evil conimunicationi corrupt good manners, 
 
 (2.) Non-conformity to the world, Rom. xii. 2 — 
 
 >2d he not conformed to this ivorld ; but be ye tranf- 
 
 fjrmed by the renewing of your mind. Ye muit have 
 
 another maruier of life and converlation than they, if 
 
 ve be of tlic communion of faints. It is a difsrace to 
 •' . . . ' ' - 
 
 religion,* for men of the world to have it to fay ol a 
 
 faint by profellion. Behold the man is as one of us. Make 
 them not your rule, your example, nor do you think 
 to ftamp an offenfive way into a lawful one, by the au- 
 thority of the multitude. For the multitude is in the 
 way to deftruclion, Matt. vii. 13. Wide is the gate and 
 broad is the inay that leadsth to dejiru^lion, and many 
 there be which go in thereat ; and their principles are 
 IpvX, and their prafnce licentious; they look on ten- 
 dernefs as nicenefs and precifenefs, and wonder that 
 you cannot take the fame liberty they do, i Pet. iv. 4. 
 IVherein they think it Jirange that you run not with 
 them to tie fame excefs of riot .^ f peaking evil ijf you, — 
 But, lo®k you to God's word for vour way, and fee 
 yourf elves obliged to feparate from them in your man- 
 ner of life. See the general rule, Phil. iv. 8. ^ Finally, 
 ' brethren, whatfoever things are true, whatfoever 
 ' things are honeR, whatfoever things are iuft,%\ hatfoever 
 ' things are pure, whatfoever things are lovely, what- 
 ' foever things are of good report ; if there be any 
 ' virtue, and if there be any praife, think on thefe 
 ' thing?.' 
 
 (3.) Pcefufing communion with them inJJn, Prov. i. 
 10. My J 071, ifjinners entice thce^ confent thou not. — 
 Every man is for his own mafter's interefi, and there- 
 fore they are for bringing you over into the fervice of 
 tlie devil their mafter, as you will be for bringing 
 them to Chrift, if you be real Chrii^ians. Beware of 
 fellowfliip with them in fm, Eph. v. 11. A'nd have no 
 feiiowfjip with the unfruitful vjorks of darknefs, but 
 rather reprove them. Do not homologate their fmRd 
 counes by approving or confenting any manner of 
 
l66 The Nature of 
 
 way thereto, far lefs by a^lual joining with them in 
 their fin, Pfal. 1. i8. It is an affront to heaven, but 
 a plcaiure to hell, to fee Chrii\'s flieep and the devirs 
 goats yoked together in one finful courfe. Nay, com- 
 municant, thou Ihouldft be like the ermine, that will 
 by no means pafs over the mud, that would ftain its 
 precious fur. 
 
 (4.) Refufmg communion with them in the worfhip 
 of God, in a falfe \uay^ or even in a right way, upon 
 jinful terrns. The faints mull feparate from all falfe 
 worlhip, that is, worihip which is not inftituted by 
 God himfelf wholly, but is mixed with human inven- 
 tions and ordinances. Rev. xviii. 4. Nay, where the 
 worfhip is pure, but fome fuiful thing is impofed upon 
 you as a term of communion with the worlhippsrs, you 
 mufl refute communion with them in worfhip on tliefe 
 terms, Rom. iii. 8. In thefe cafes, feparation is not 
 only lawtlil, but a neceflary duty. And could I per- 
 ceive either of thefe this day, in our cafe, in the commu- 
 nion of this church, I fhould not only think it my duty to 
 feparate, but alfo to prels you to it. Bat tho' our mo- 
 ther has gone far back, Hie has not gone that length 
 yet. We have, 
 
 ■zdly, The >?f/7/'^;u of this feparation, Becaufe, 
 
 I. The communion of faints and the communion cf 
 frnners are oppojite focieties, 1 John v. 19. j^nd ive 
 knoiu that 'ive oj'e of God, and the luhole world lieth in 
 'Mickednefs, So that joining to the one particularly in- 
 fers feparation from the Qther. You may as well ima- 
 gine to bring eaft and wcJ^ together, to make fire and 
 water agree, as to make God's family and the devil's to 
 agree ; the feed of the woman and ferpent. Wherefore, 
 having joined to the communion of faints, ye muft needs 
 Separate from the communion of fmncrs, Matt. vi. 2.4. 
 No man car, ferve two mcflers ; for^ either he "JJili hate 
 the one^ and luve the other ; or elje he will held to the 
 Ofie^ and dcj'pife the other, Te cannot Jarre G(td and 
 ynununon* 
 
 2* The communion of faints is gatheixd out of the 
 
Church-Communlojt opened. 1 67 
 
 world lying in Nvickeclnefs , fo that icparation from the 
 world is wrapt up in the very conl\itution of the focie- 
 ty of faints, 2 Cor. vi, 17, 18. Wherefve, come out 
 from among them^ and be ye Jeparatc^ fuith the Lord^ and 
 touch not the unclean things and I'-jj'tll receive you. The 
 myilical hody of Chrift is made up of thofc that were 
 fomctime limbs of the devil ; the branch.es ingrafted 
 into the true vine were all broken off from our natu- 
 ral ftock, the old iVdam, thiat degenerate, dead, and 
 kilhng ftock : Chrifl's family of mankind is wholly made 
 up of runaways from the devil's family, Pfalm xlv. ic. 
 So that if ye be faints at all, ye are ieparatiils. 
 
 3. The defign of erecling the communion of faints 
 is, that they may be ^fcparate foL-iety by themfehes, 
 under Chrill their Head, to his honour, Num. xxiii. 9. 
 Kph. V. 25 — 27. They are a peculiai' pccple^ 1 Pet. 
 ii. 9. How will tliey anfwer the defign of their erec- 
 tion, and the honour of their Head, if they be not thus 
 r. fep;irate people? Our Lord Chrift has appointed 
 badges of this communion, viz, the facraments, to be 
 external figiis of diftin^iion betwixt his and the world ; 
 and can it be thought but-they will diuiirguifh them- 
 felves bv their practice r 
 
 4. The profc]f/jcn of faintChip is the profeffion of" 
 this feparation, i Cor. xii. 13. Let baptifed perfons 
 and communicants be aJliamed to fay they do not pre- 
 tend to be faints. If ye pretend not to be faints, re- 
 nounce vour pretenfions to heaven, for none other 
 come there. Heb. xii. 14. Fellow peace ivith all men^ 
 and holinejs, luithout which no man fkall fee the Lord. 
 It ye pretend not to be faints, ve 7i"iui\ own yourlclves 
 aportates, that have renounced and cafl of the commu- 
 Dion of faints. And, communicants, if ye pretend not 
 to be faints, how durft ye adventure to lit down at tiie 
 Lord's table? AVcll, in fo far as ye were baptifed, and 
 communicated, ye profelTed yourfelves members of 
 ChrilVs body, faints, and fo feparalc from tiie world ; 
 I'hereforc, ye muft live fcparate from them. 
 
 Vfherelbrc, I fay unto all faints by profeffion, and 
 
1 68 The Nature of 
 
 -particularly communicants, — Save ymirf elves from 
 this unt'j'wcird generation^ Acls ii. 40. 2 Cor. vi. 17, 
 18. Shun all unnecdffary Ibciety with thofe of the 
 world lying in wickednefs : confonn not to their ways, 
 have no communion with, them in fm, nor in the fer- 
 vice of God on fniful terms. Remember ye have fo- 
 Icmnly declared yourfe Ives of another communion than 
 with them. 
 
 Motive I. Confulcr the authority o^ God that binds 
 this upon you, Eph. v. 7, 8, 11. Be nut ye therefore 
 partakers nx)ith the-rn: For ye were fometimes darknej}^ 
 but now ye are light in the Lord; *ujalk asthe children 
 of light y — And have no fello-jjjhip ivith the unfruitful 
 work 9 of darhnefs^ but rather reprove them. The 
 men and women of the world are feparate Trom God, 
 Epli. ii. 12. They are walking contrary to himj and 
 therefore he will have you to walkfeparate from thcm,and 
 be as a pcopls divelling alone^ m the midl\ of the world's 
 throng, becaufe they are not of your communion. 
 
 2. The proof of the fmcerity of your pretenfions 
 to faintlliip depends very much on it, Pfal. xvi. 2, 3. 
 My goodnefs extendeth not to thee; but to the faints 
 that are in the turth ; and to the excellent^ in iv horn is 
 all my delight. See alfo Pfal. xxvi. 4, 5. and xv. 4. 
 It is evident, men will choofe fuch company as is moll 
 agreeable, in their opinion, to their own temper and 
 difpofition. And fo one' may very well guefs at the 
 difpofition of a perfon by the company he chufes and 
 delights in. And, if thou art inclined to be a compa- 
 nion of the gracelefs, rather than of the gracious, it is 
 a flirewd fign of a gracelefs heart. 
 
 3. The honour of God lies at ftake here, Rom. ii, 
 24. If thou doli wear Chrift's badge, and yet will not 
 feparate from the communion of fmners, but go with 
 them in their way, religion will be wounded tlirough 
 thy fiJes, and expofed to the mockery of profane men. 
 And there are particularly three commur^ions of fni- 
 ners I would warn )'oa againil;, as ye would not flab 
 religion to the hean. 
 
Church-Communion opened. 169 
 
 (i.) Th.Q comvAXivaon o^ drunkards. O! how unlike 
 is tliat to the comniunion of faints at tlie Lord's table 1 
 For the Lord's fake, communicants, when yc liave the 
 temptation, remember that word, i Cor. x. 21, 22. 
 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lo^d^ and the cup of de- 
 vils. Yc cannot he partakers of the Lord^s table, and 
 the table of devils. Do ive provoke the Lord to jea- 
 Inify ? Are weJJronger than he ? 
 
 (2.) The communion of harlots. That is a com- 
 munion of fmners, in an eminent manner, mofl incon- 
 fnlent with the communion of faints, from which the 
 apoftle argues againft it, i Cor. vi. 15, 16, 17, 
 Knovj ye not^ that your bodies are the members of 
 Cvrijt P flodll I then take the members of Chrift^ and 
 make them metnbtrs of an harlot? God forbid, 
 JVhat J know ye not that he who is joined to an harlot is 
 one body ? — But he that is joined unto the Lord is one 
 
 (3.) The communion o^ i.njufl mcft^ in finfal diilio- 
 neft ways of getting gain. Solomon fpcaks of this, 
 Prov. i. 14, 15. It IS dear bought that is got at the 
 rate ofGod's difpleafure. 
 
 (4.) If ye feparate not from, them, ye w'M periJJ: 
 with them, Rev. xviii. 4. if ye partake of their fms^ 
 ye muft partake of their plagues. 
 
 Inf. IV. There are certain duties of the com- 
 munion of faints lying on all the members of it, by 
 virtue of their memberlliip : the which duties, all faints 
 by profeffion, and efpecially communicants, are fo- 
 lemnly engaged unto by their partaking of the facra- 
 ments. 
 
 To clear t\\t firj} part of this inference, confider, 
 
 I. Every relation wlierein one fta-nds brings along 
 with it a train of duties with refpe^l to one's relatives. 
 Relations are the joints offociety, whereby perfons are 
 joined together for mutual u.efulnefs ; and their union 
 is the ground of this debt they owe to one another. 
 This holds in all relations, natural relations, and volun- 
 tary ones too made bv confent. If one be a father of 
 ' P 
 
170 The Nature of 
 
 children, there are paternal duties lying on him by- 
 virtue of that relation: if he be achild of fuch parents, 
 he owes a duty to them. Ifone become a member of a 
 family, a kingdom, or any corporation, his member- 
 fliip lays him under fuch and fuch duties : wherefore, 
 it 13- not to be doubted, but in as much as one is a mem- 
 ber of the communion of faints, he is under obligations 
 to the duties of that fociety. 
 
 2. There is a certain connexion between privilege 
 bedowed on a man, and duty required of him. Ifone 
 be admitted to the privilege of any fociety, he m-ufl, 
 with the honour, receive the burden of duty belonging 
 to it. If we receive the privilege of fons of God, v.e . 
 muft be obedient children ; — not fajl.toning yout'r 
 
 fclvts according to the former lufis in jour ignorance^ 
 I Pet. i. 14. If we are members of the holy fociety, 
 whereof Chrift is the Head,v\'e muil be holy as he is, 
 \er. 15, 16. But as he ivho hath called you is hcly^Jo 
 he ye boly^ in all manner of converfatizn'. Becaufe 
 it is v:ritten^ Be ye holy, for I am h'^Iy. If we be 
 advanced to be of the ccmmunion of faints, we nvdii 
 carry as becom-cs faints. 
 
 3. Tlie principle o^ fclfprefervatlon^ natural to all 
 men, evidences this, Ifone be taken wiih a pain in 
 his foot, all the members of the body will do their befl 
 to recover it ; for, if one member fufferj all fuf^^r by 
 reafon of the union among ihem; and the evil, if not 
 removed, creeps from one to another. So the apoftl^ 
 will have the faints at Corinth to take heed of a cor- 
 rup: mem.ber, and ufe the m.eans to recover him, 
 from this principle 01 felf-prefervation, i Cor. v. 6. 
 Thev who dwell together find themfelves obliged to 
 take he-i^-l every one to his neighbour's houic, left 
 when t.v^ nei'/hbour's iioufe is on fire, the flames alfo 
 catch hold of their own: wherefore, whofoever is a 
 member of tlis communion of faints, muft fee a duty 
 lying on ium as fuch. 
 
 To clear the fecnnd^^^vl of the inference, confider, 
 I. B7 parcaking of the facrament one declares him- 
 self to be :wt' of the comTuunion of faints, and confe- 
 
Church-Communion opened. i^i 
 
 quently declares his being engaged to the duties of 
 that communion, i John ii. 6. He voluntarily takes 
 on the yoke, while he yokes himfelf with thofe wlio 
 bear it. If one pretends to the privilege, lie cannot 
 in reafon fliake himfelf loofe of the duty. Jnd -x'hy 
 call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things vjhich I 
 
 fny P Luke vi. 46. 
 
 2. The faci-^ments are the external hands of our 
 union with Chrifl the Head, and the members, i Cor. 
 xii. 13. Thereby we are facramentally joined v,"lth 
 the faints into one body, one bread. What is the 
 partaking of them then, lefs than folemnlv, as it were 
 by oath, engagmg ourfelves to the duties of \\\t com- 
 munion of faints? 
 
 Wherefore, all ye who are faints by profelTion, par- 
 ticularly communicants, as ye are one vifible body of 
 Chrifl, a vifible communion of faints, I would prefs 
 on vou the duties which lie upon you as fach. And 
 they are of three forts. 
 
 ' i/?, Thefe are xluties ye owe to the Head, Chritl: 
 is the Head of this body, the communion of faints, Eph. 
 
 i i. 22, 23. Ye are the profefl members of Chrifl, and 
 of his body , confider and confcicntiouOv praflife your 
 
 I duty to your Head. 
 
 I. yic knowledge not, nor o^.on any other for Head 
 of the church, or communion of faints, but Jefus 
 Chrift, Eph. v. 23. Men may diftinguifh as they willj 
 but, as a body with more heads than one, is a rnonfter 
 in nature; the fcripture is plain, the communion of 
 faints, which is the church, is no fuch monfter, Eph. 
 iv. 4, 5. One body, ojie Lo^d, The Koman Anti- 
 chrift has long blafpheirk^udy arrogate to himfelf this 
 headlliip and fupremacy; and, at the lame reforma- 
 tion of England, it was taken from the Pope there, 
 but not reftored to the royal Mediator, but made a 
 part of their king's royal dignity. And, in the days 
 of Scotland's apoftacy from their covenanted God, it 
 was facrilegiouily ufurped over this church by the 
 powers then reigning, but contended againllbv the -fuf- 
 P 2 
 
1 7^- Tke Nature of 
 
 ferings of many of this church ; the Lord having made 
 the Mediator's alone headfliip and fupremacy a pecu- 
 liar piece of this church's teftimony, for which, alasl 
 the prefent generation has not been duly jealous ; the 
 v.'hich has helped to bring this church into the mifera- 
 ble pafs the is at this day. — But why fhould any pre- 
 tend to be head of the body of Chrift? to be her head, 
 while they cannot communicate life or fpirit to her: 
 This is Clirift's peculiar prerogatix'e, communicable to 
 no mortal. 
 
 2- Depend by faith on Jefus Chriil;, as your head 
 for all. He is conftitutc the head of that fociety 
 whereof 3^e are members; and, by virtue of his head- 
 fliip, their life lies in him, the dirctlion and care of 
 them lies on him. 
 
 (i.) Depend on him for trV^/ influences, Col. ii. 19. 
 — from -which all the body by joints and bands^ hav- 
 ing nourifhment mini/tered, and knit together^ irtcreqf- 
 eth tvi'th the increafe of God. The believer's life lies 
 in him, Col. iii, 3, 4. — y'jur life is hid ''.with Cbrijf in 
 G'jd, Therefore it cannot be loft, John xiv. 19. Be- 
 caufe I live ye fjall live alfo. The church is liable 
 to great decays ; flie may be under a fpiritual ccn- 
 i'umption, her pulfe may be very low ; yet the fickncfs 
 cannot be unto death, becaufc tliere is ftill life in the 
 Head, which will be communicated more abundantly 
 to the members. It is our bufinei's to live by faitli, 
 and draw virtue from him, and not live on our inlie- 
 rent ftock of life and grace, 2, Tim. ii. i. Two things 
 are Jiere to be obferved. 
 
 I. That there is a fuhiefs lodged in Clirift as tlie 
 Kead of the body, to be communicated to all the 
 members, Col. i. 19. A fulnefs of a fountain, which 
 jias not onlv enousrh for itfelf, but thofe that come to 
 draw. There is a fulnefs of merit in liim, for the liie 
 of pure pardon and comfort, and refrcihment for the 
 foul flg-in with a fenfe of guilt; a fulneis of Spirit for 
 th.e life of fandincation ; and ready accefs to it for all 
 tJie members, John i. 16, u^nd of his fidnejs haie ive 
 all receivedy and grace for grace. ' 
 
Church'Communhn opened, 173 
 
 2. T\ifprrjmifes nre the conduit-pipes by which in- 
 fluences of grace run into us, and faith is the drawiiig 
 grace by which they are brought into the foul, Gal. ii, 
 28. The fettled method of the difpenfation of grace 
 is that. According to thy faith^ fo be it unto thee. — 
 Faith believes and applies the promifes, and fo life 
 more abundantly is conveyed, Hofca xiv., 7. 
 
 (:i.) Depend upon him for ^ird'<f?io«, Prov. iii. s->^» 
 Ttuji in the Lord 'with all thine heart; and lean not 
 to thine ovj?: - under Jianding. In all thy ways ac 
 knoiuledge him, and he fiali dlretl thy jteps. The 
 direction of tlie whole body belongs to the head, and 
 tlie direclion and guidance of all the members ofChriil 
 10 him by virtue of his headfiiip. Therefore, 
 
 1. Take not the guiding of )-ourfelves upon your- 
 fclves; truft not to your own wit and fkill. If ye do, 
 it is an ufurping of Ghrift's prerogative, Ifa. Iv. 5. 
 and ye will not profper in it, but ilumble at noon -day. 
 Where are the eyes but in the head? and therefore 
 fmce Ghrill is the Head of all the faints, he is appoint- 
 ed of the Father to be eyes to them in the wildernefs. 
 And the way of carnal wit has ay been ruining to 
 cimrches, and particular members. The end of the 
 way, pointed out by it, is always mirer)^ 
 
 2. Look to him, and truil him for direSlion in all 
 ca/es^^Yov. iii. 6, God brings his people into a thick- 
 et of perplexities, and they are at their wits cvA, 
 that faith may begin, and wait for a way, v.'hen they 
 can fee none, Ifa. xlii. 16. Then he leads them, by 
 his word, providence, and Spirit. Ke is the pilot of 
 the Ihip bound to Emmanuers land, with all the heirs 
 of glory as paiiengers; their guide through the way- 
 leis wildernefs, and they muR keep their eye on him. 
 
 (3..) Depend, on liis care^ i Pet. v. 7. Cafiing oil 
 your care upon hitn,^ for he cartth for you. The care 
 of the v/hole communion of faints lies on Ghrill as 
 their Head, i Pet. ii. 25. Tlie Father has given them 
 to him, devolved the care of them upon him, in fuch 
 {bit tiiat he, is to be anfv\-erabk for them, tliat none 
 P -^ ^ 
 
174 The Nature of 
 
 of them be loft, John vi. 39. y^nd this is the Father^ s 
 "juill that hath fent me^ that of all luhich he has given 
 Wf, J J])ould lofe nothing. — Thus the hearts of his peo- 
 ple may fafely trad in him. 
 
 1. ¥or pr ovi/ion. He, as their Head, fees to the 
 provilion of their fouls, /)rc;'y;Vz«^ thefn green paflures^ 
 and JFill wafers^ Pfal. xxiii. 2. He provides for their 
 "bodies, Ifa. xxxiii. 16. Bread f jail be given hirn^ his 
 'water ff) all be fure. The faith of Chrift's headiliip 
 might fiill all anxious thoughts about one's thorough- 
 bearing, in any cafe whatfoever ; for, come what will 
 come, furely the Head will ay fee to the provifion of 
 the members. 
 
 2. For protedrion^ Eph. v. 23. The faints have ma- 
 ny enemies without and within ; but, being fettled un- 
 der fuch a Head, they may be furc of prote£lion in all 
 dangers. They will be ay fafe, if not from trouble, 
 yet in it, John xvi. 33. ' Thefe things have I fpoken 
 
 * unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the 
 
 * world ye fhall have tribulation ; but be of good cheer, 
 *■ I have overcome the world.' — From the fling of it 
 that it fliall do themi no real harm, i Pet. iii. 13. ' And 
 ' who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of 
 
 * that which is good.' 
 
 The faints are oft-times in a mighty ftir,- having 
 great cares on their heads ; but O how happy would 
 they be, if they would lay all their cares on their my- 
 IVical Head, and be at their duty, and leave them all 
 on him ? Be careful for nothing ; but^ in every thing 
 by prayer and fupplications^ — let your requefts be 
 7nade kn-nvn unto Cod^ Phil. iv. 6. 
 
 3. Suhjeir yourfelves wholly to his government^ as 
 to yowr Head, Eph. v. 22, 23, 24. The Head mull 
 rule tb.e body ; and Chrift muft rule you, if you be his 
 members. Coming into the communion of faints, ye 
 refign yourfelves to the Head of that fociety, for good 
 and all, for ever. 
 
 (i.) Be obedient to his commands^ Luke, vi. 46. — 
 Our Lord Jcfus has freed the members of his myftical 
 
Church'Co}n7rMn'iQn opened. 175 
 
 body from the law, as a covenant of works, but with 
 his own hands he binds on them the yoke of obedience 
 to the commands thereof, as his own commands, i Cor. 
 ix. 21. Be not zuithoiii lavj to God^ hut under the law 
 to Chrijt. What confufion would there be in the na- 
 tural body, for the head, to be di reeling and pointing 
 out one way, and the members going another ? If Chriil 
 be your Head, be ruled by him, renouncing your own 
 will, and making his your law. 
 
 (2.) Refign yourfelves to the difpofaJs of his provi- 
 dence^ 2 Sam. iii. 18. and xv. 25, 26. The members 
 of Chrifl have good rcafon for an abfolute refignation 
 of thcmfelvcs and all their concerns to the Lord. The 
 fovereignty of their Head may filence them : the wif- 
 dom and love of their Head to his own members may 
 fatisfy them, that whatever he does with them is bell 
 done. Their intereft is his own, as that of the mem- 
 bers is the interefl of the head. 
 
 5. Let the interefls of Jefus Chrift, as your Head, 
 be your intereft, his honour and glory be dear unto 
 you, Pfal. Ixix. 9. ' For the zeal of thine houSe hath 
 
 * eaten me up ; and the reproaches of them that re- 
 ' proached thee are fallen upon me.' -^ All the members 
 of the body are concerned for the head, as the head is 
 for all the members ; and whofo are not touched with 
 the care of Chrift's honour i-n the world, gives ilirewd 
 evidences they are none of his members. »Then, 
 
 (i.) A61 for the honour of your Head, in eveiy ca- 
 pacity, feekingto advance his ^loiy, Pfal. xlv. 17. ' I 
 ' will make thy name to be remembered in all genera- 
 
 * tions.' There is a party in the world oppofite to Chrift, 
 and they act againft him. — He has been going among 
 us, faying, Who is on my fide ? and ye, by profeding 
 your iubmiflion to him, and declaring yourfelves facra- 
 mentally to be of the communion of faints, have fc« 
 lemnly gone over to his fide. Then a£l for him, his 
 truths, and his ways ; a£l for him in your families, in 
 your neighbourhoods, wherever you have accefs, v.-ho- 
 ever they are that a<^ againft him. 
 
176 The Nature of 
 
 (a.) Be reaay to Coffer for him, as he may call you. 
 Remember the comrnanioTl of which ye Jiave declared 
 yoarfelves menrvhers, is, in this world, like a lily a- 
 mong thorns, whicli will be uncafv' to them; and ye 
 were warned of what is expefted of all the members, 
 Luke xiv. :j6. In fuch a long time of peace, it is no 
 wonder many limbs of the devil have got in a!nong 
 Chriil's members, and many a hollow-hearted finner 
 is externally got into the communion of faints, and 
 the faints, by this time, are much the worfe of their 
 company; and between fooli'li virgins, and fieeping 
 wife ones, the intereft of Ghrift and religion is going 
 to deca}'. So that the cafe of the church, in the com- 
 mon courfe of providence, feem.s to prefage fuch a try- 
 ing ftroke, as will awaken living members, and maks 
 many dead lifelefs members fly off. But if Chrill be 
 your Head, ye will be To minded as to fuffer for him 
 in his Urengch ; )'e know, notiiing is more natural, than 
 when a ilroke is directed againft one's head, to lift up 
 one's arm to ward off the blow from the head. The 
 rage of enemies is againil Ghrift himfelf, and to quit 
 Chrifl, and go ov^er to their fide, is the way m.any 
 take in fuch a da)'. But the real members of ChrilVs 
 body take not that way, more tlian a man will put out 
 his head to keep off a ilroke defigned againft Ifis arms, 
 the head being that which all the members vvill take 
 fpecial care%'. In the mean time, 
 
 (3 .) Suffer vjith him, Pfal. Ixix. 9. If the m.em- 
 bers iiiffer, the head fyTers- with them ; and if the 
 head be pained, all the body fuffers with it ; fu:h is 
 the fympathy. If ChriiVs members fuffer, he fympa- 
 thifeth with them, Acts ix. 4. And it is reafonable 
 that they who think to reign with Ghrift after, fuffer 
 wivh him now. This is a day wherein the glorious 
 Head of the myftical body is faffering egregioufiy a- 
 mong us, and wherein all lis members are called to 
 mourn as fuffering with him, Pfahncxix. 136. Rivers 
 of''^'ater run down mine eyes^ hecaufe they keep r.'A 
 thy Uijj, Our Head fuffers irom his open enemies, is 
 
Church-Communion opened. 177 
 
 wounded in the houfe of his friends, is fufFcring from 
 profeffors, and profane mlnifters and people of all 
 ranks. Happy they who fliall be found mourning for 
 the diflionours done to his name, truths, intereil, ways, 
 <bc. they are like to be hid in the day he rifes up to 
 refent the affronts. 
 
 (4.) Take care of yowfdves for the fake of your 
 Head. The follies of a wife refle6l diflionour on her 
 hufband. Men will take care of their feet, for that, 
 if they catch cold in them, it will fly up to their head. 
 O faints, by profeffion, yea, communicants, remember 
 that from the day you give up your names to Chrift, 
 and declare }'ourrelves of the communion of faints, 
 the honour of Chrlft is concerned in your vralk at an- 
 other rate than ever before. Your fins have a pecu- 
 liar aggravation in them of diflionour to your Head, 
 Rom. ii. 24. For the name of God is bliijphcnied a- 
 monpr the Gentiles through you. Therefore, if ve have 
 any refped to the honour of Chriit, take heed that 
 your converfation be as becometh the gofpel. 
 
 ^dly^ There are duties ye owe to the body in gene- 
 ral, the myftical body of Chrift, which is the church, 
 or communion of faints, Eph. i. 2,2, 23. Yearepro- 
 feffed members of this body, whereof Chrifl is the 
 Head ; and this body is not confined to one particular 
 church, but is made up of all the cliurches of Chrill, 
 and particular faints through the world, united to 
 Chriit by his Spirit dwelling in them. Confider ahd 
 pradife the duties to .this body, King on you by vir- 
 tue of your meraberlhip. 
 
 I. Sympathize with the body, as being vourfelves 
 of it, I Cor. xii. 26. Jnd ^vhether one mcvjiber Jujjer, 
 all the members J'uffer ixjith it. The concerns of the 
 church of Chrill:, through the v orld, (hould be the 
 concern of every member. Diftance of place, and dif- 
 ferences in leffer things, among thofe of the myflical 
 body of Chriit, fliould not take away this concern. — 
 Whofoever are allowed a place in Chrift's myllical bo- 
 dy, fliould liave room allowed them in our hearts. 
 
178 The Nature e/ 
 
 ^ (i.) Mourn \yltli the body under its affliaions and e- 
 vils. Such a kindly member was Nehemiah, c. ii. 3. 
 Thcdiftreffes of foreign churches, as well as of our own, 
 require our coixiial fympathy ; and tke faints are natu- 
 rally led to it, as knit with them to one common Head. 
 
 (2;.) Rejoice with it in its profperity, i Cor. xii. 
 26. And "jjheiber — one member he honoured, all the 
 members rejoice nvith it. The thriving of the king- 
 dom of Chrill, in any place through the world, fhould 
 be refreftitlil to all the members of Chrifl, and fill their 
 mouths with praifes. To bear a part in the joys and 
 moans of the church of Chrift every where, is the na- 
 tural duty of all the members. 
 
 2. Pray continually for the welfare of the body, 
 Pfal. cxxii. 6. Pray for the peace of Jerujalem ; they 
 fhall profper that love thee. Ifa. Ixii. 6, 7. Y? that 
 
 make rnention of the Lord, keep not filence ; and give 
 him no refi till he ejlahlifi, and till he m.ake Jerufa^- 
 lem a praife in the earth. The apoflle is exprefs for 
 all faints, Eph. vi. 18. Praying akuays with all prayer 
 and fupplication in the Spirit, and watrhing thereunto 
 "jjith all perf ever ance artd fupplication for all faints. 
 Confine not your prayers to your own private cafe, 
 but in all earneftnefs extend them to the church of 
 Chriif, in the land where you live, and thro' the world. 
 Prayer is a duty wherein all the members of Chrifl- on 
 earth can have adual communion ; they meet at the 
 throne of grace who never faw one another's face. It 
 is the joint petition of all the faints, Thy kii^dom 
 come. Pray for the building up, increafe, peace, and 
 purity of the church univerfal. 
 
 3. Take your lot with the bodv in foul or fair wea- 
 ther. Ye have faid in effed, to this happy fociety, as 
 Rath i. 16. Sometki"nes there is a Iform on the church 
 of Chrift, when the world lying in wickednefs enjoys a 
 calm. This occafions many naughty members to 
 change fides, to defert the communion of faints, and 
 fall in with the communion of fmners, 2, Tim. iv. 10. 
 Denias hath forfuktn me, having loved this prefent 
 
Church-Communion opened. 179 
 
 vjorld. Ye know not how foon ye may be tried in this 
 point ; but do ye refolutely adhere to the myftical bo- 
 dy. To move you to which, confider theie three things. 
 
 (i.) It is Infer to be with the faints in their lowed 
 condition, than with the fmners in the higheft pinnacle 
 of profperity ; for the darkeft night with the former 
 will ha\^e a joyful morning, Pfal. xcvii. 11. wliile the 
 faireft day with the latter will illue in a black and fear- 
 ful night, Eccl. vii. 5, 6, 
 
 (■2,.) The trial of hncerity of members is one o-f the 
 great ends of the Lord's bringing trouble on the body, 
 to try who are wife and foolifh builders. It is true, 
 when the natural body being fick is laid a-bed, the tree- 
 leg is laid by, but all the living members of the body 
 go with it. So here, 6^. 
 
 (3.) Backfllding is dangerous, and fpeaks one not 
 fit for the kingdom of God, Luke ix. 62,. *• No man ha.v- 
 ^ ing put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is 
 
 * fit for the kingdom of God ;' it expofes one to the 
 fearful difpleafure ofGod,-Heb. x. 38. ' But if any man 
 
 * draw back, my foul Ihall have no pleafurein him ;' and 
 makes their cafe worfe than if they had never fet hea- 
 ven-ward. 
 
 4. Strive in all lawful ways to inalntaln and advance 
 the inttrefts of the body; for the intercft of the church 
 is the intereft of Chrift, and dear therefore to every 
 member. The truths ofGod are afacred trufl commit- 
 ted to the church, the pillar of truth ; and they re- 
 quire our deep concern for the defence thereof, againil 
 the affaults of error, Jude, ver. 3. Contend tarnejrly 
 for the faith which was once delivered unto the faints, 
 Chrift's ordinances and inflitutions, and the feveral 
 privileges thereof, wliich Satan and the world leek to 
 deprive her of and corrupt, they are Chrift's purchafe 
 for his myftical boay ; and therefore they are to be held 
 fail,and the purity of them contended for, rcfuhng to fut- 
 jed them or ourfelves to the lufls of men. Gal. v. i. 
 I Cor. vii. 23. This v;ill always require doing of us, 
 iiolding band to the maintenance of the precicus inte- 
 
I So The Naiure of 
 
 'refts of the myftical body,Pfal. xlv. 17. and feme times 
 fufTering, Hcb. xii. 3, 4. It is a debt we owe to Ghrift, ; 
 to the cliurch, to poikrity, and to our own fouls. ' 
 
 5. Be tender of the unity of the body, Eph. iv. 3, ' 
 4. Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the \ 
 bond rfpeace^ i Cor. xii. 25. Schifms, rents, and di- 
 vifions in the church, arc like wounds, cuts, and ; 
 breaking of bones in the natural body, which exceed- 
 ingly weaken it, and marr its beauty. They are the - 
 Im and judgment of a church, bringing diihonour to 
 the Lord Jefus, marring the fuccefs of the gofpel, and ' 
 ruining the church at length; th.ey bring much grief.; 
 to tlie tender fouls, and expofe religion to the mockery of ^ 
 enemies. The renting of the body of Chrift has fo \ 
 much of horror about it as may make it frightful to 
 ferious members. We muft fej)arate from none far- ; 
 ther than they feparate from Chrift. AVe mull; hot 
 go into fni with members of the myliical body, more ; 
 than witli the world, under the pain of the difpleafure ■ 
 of the Head; but we may lawfully ferve the Lord in ■ 
 liis own ordinances with fmful meinbers; even as 
 though when one foot is in a mire, the other mud not ' 
 go into the mire with it, yet there is no necefiity of 
 ixnting the onedeg from the other, but the one may i 
 ftiil walk with the other on clean ground. i 
 
 idiy^ There are duties ye owe to the members in 
 particular, as ye 2cc^ feilo-^- members with them of the 
 fame body, i Cor. xii. 25. That there Jhould be no ' 
 fchijm in the body^ hut that the 7nembers fhould have \ 
 the fame care one for another. It is not in your 1 
 power to know certainly and infallibly who are real 
 Mionibers of this body, as others cannot know the fame 
 concerning you ; but the vifible body of Chrift is made 
 up of faints 'by profcffion, not openly contradidted by 
 their habitual pradice, i Cor. i 2. and as fuch they 
 are admitted to the Lord's table, upon their defire. 
 
 So there is a pa;rticular vifible relation among all 
 faints by proiVilion, and particularly among communi- 
 cants, a's vifible members of the fame myflical body of 
 
Ghrift.' And, therefore, though they o\Te acluty to all 
 men, of love, goodwill, and beneficence, yet they are in 
 a particular manner engaged to datifulnefs one to ano- 
 ther, as members of the viiibie communion of faints, fe- 
 parate from the world. 
 
 Of this vifible body or communion there are two forts 
 of members, official and fnnple ones ; the former bear- 
 ing office in the body, the other not fo, but private per- 
 fons : both members of the one body. 
 
 F/V//, The offcicil members are the office bearers in 
 the ciiurch, which is tlie body ; and thefe are puflors, 
 teachers, ruling-elders, and deacons. Thefe are in tlic 
 myilical body, as in man's natural body are the ftomach, 
 bearing the office of provifor for the whole bods', ihz 
 legs of fupporters, the eyes of lights to the whole bb- 
 dy. And, 
 
 I. The duty of the official members to the reft may 
 be fummed up in thefe two, aaithey are, Acls xx. 28. 
 viz. taking heed to themfelves and the flock. 
 
 (i.) That they take heed to theinfelves. They mull 
 take heed to their feet, that they walk as becomes the 
 gofpel, and their office and chara£ler : to their tongues, 
 that thicir doctrine andinl\ructionsbe found : and to their 
 hearts, that thefe be upright, that fo both word and walk 
 may be holy. This I reckon a duty they owe to the reft 
 of the members, as well as to themfelves ; becaufe their 
 holy tender walk is an ordinance of Chrill for edifying 
 the body, as well as found dodrine, i Tim. iv. 12,. Be 
 thou an example oftkebelievers^in -jj ordain converjathn^ 
 in charity^ in fpirit^ in 'fait h^ in purity. 1 Pet. v. 3. 
 Neither as being lords over God^s heritage^ hut htifig 
 enfamples unto the flock. And a fcandalous untender 
 pradice, in a church-officer, wounds not only Ijis own 
 confcience, but does a fmgular mifchief to the church ; 
 as a hurt in the eye not only wrongs it, but the whole 
 body. 
 
 (z.) That they take heed to the re/} of the members 
 over v/hom they are overfeers, conicientiomly foilcw- 
 ing the duties of their refpeaive offices in the body, 
 
 a. 
 
- ~ - ^ ■ J IJ\, — J. Z l*HtT~C 177 ^^ 
 
 It is oot enough that they be good men, in their pri- 
 vate capacity ; but that they be good minifters, elders, 
 ©"c. in their pubhc capacity. IF the ftomach had- never 
 luch a good difpofition, yet if it keep ail the nourifli- 
 ment to itielf only, the body would go to ruin : fo, if 
 church officers ply not their oQicial duty, the church 
 fiiflers by them ; they are ufelefs, and worfe thariUielefa 
 in the place they have in the body. 
 
 2,. There is alfo a fpecial duty that the reft of tlic 
 members owe to the oilicial members in the body. And 
 this alfo may be fummed up in two things : 
 
 (i.) A peculiar concern for them, Gal. iv. 15. For 1 
 hearyoii record, thut^ if it hr4d hsenpojjible^ys -jjould have I 
 plucked Qut your own eye s^ and hrve giveti them to me* 
 It is evident, nature itielf teacheth a pecunar concern 
 for thofe m.embcrs which are of the m,oi\ difFufive ufeful- 
 nefs in the natural body, by virtue of their office. Who 
 would not take many thryfts through the leg, ere he re- 
 ceived one throug; i tlie heart ? Who will put a toe in the 
 balance with an eye ? So, in the m.yhieal body, however 
 felfiih many are, yet tender confidering Chril\ians will 
 have a peculiar concern for cflicial members, 
 
 \\ .] This iliould proceed from a reverential ejliiva- 
 tion of them ihv their work's fake, i Theff. v. 12, 13. ' 
 Jnd rje befeech ycii^ brethren^ to know them -which la- 
 h'jur afyiong you^ and arc over you in ths Lord^ and admo- 
 jufo V'jU ; and to ejhem iht'm very highly in love ^ for 
 their -jjork'sfdhe. Their work is great ; if they have 
 the honour they have the burden with it. Their work 
 is for tlie honour of the Head, and the profit of the body: 
 and many a time they arehke the candle, vrhich giving 
 light to others, walks itfelf. The Mafler has put an ho- 
 'nour on them, and a reverend regard to them, as his ofhl- 
 cers, is a duty acceptable to God in Chrift ; yet this re- 
 fped to thern is but civil rcfpetl, tiiough the motive is 
 facredo 
 
 [zJ] It iliould vcnl itfelf in tliefc two refpecls. 
 
 (l.) Vrayivg for them ferioully, ^Thelf. iii . i. F/. 
 tirily^ brethren, pray for uj\ thut the word of t^he Lord 
 
Church-Communion opened* 1S3 
 
 may have free courfe and be glorified. As their work is 
 great, their needs, temptations, and trials are many. 
 The better it fares with them, it is like to fare the bet- 
 ter with you : on the contrary, the worfe it fares with 
 them, the worfe it will fare with you. So much is your 
 your own cafe wrapt up in tlieir's. Pinch the flomach 
 with hunger, the plump members of the body will foon 
 fall : let the diforders of it be cured, and the reft of the 
 body will foon feel the good of it. The devil ftrikes at 
 them, that in them he may ilrike at the whole congrc- 
 gation : and minifters get not only comforts, but afflic- 
 tions from the hand of God, for the good of the people, 
 2 Cor. iv. 5, 6. Even then help them by your prayers, 
 that bear the burden. 
 
 (2.) Supporting of them corcually^-a Tim. i. 16. The 
 Lord give inercy to the houfe of Onefiphorus ; for he oft 
 rrfnfhedrne. Encourage them in their \\'ork, which will 
 be a 1 ightening under a 1 leavy burden. Ye ftiould fupport 
 their credit, and caft a veil over their infirmities, Gal. 
 iv. 14. Jnd my temptcnion which -loas in r/iy flejl)^ ye 
 defpifcd not^ nor rejected ; hui received me as an angel 
 cfG'jd^ even as Chrift Jefus ; and not make mole-hills in 
 them mountains, as many do, who deligb.t to blacken thofe 
 of that chara£ler ; unlike a kindly member of the body, 
 which will not fpread, but endeavour to cure the weak- 
 nefs of an Ox^icial member. And by divine right the reft 
 owe them a competent maintainance according to their 
 ability, I Cor. ix. 14. Even jo hath the Lord ordained^ 
 thai they who preach the go/pel fiould live cj the gzj- 
 
 2. A ready compliance with them in the vrork 01 
 their office ; as the body goes whiLher the eves direct 
 and the legs carry. An implicit faith and blind obedi- 
 ence is due to no m.an; but the mind of the Lord held 
 out by official members to the reft, is to be readily com- 
 plied with, as they wcuL.l not incur thedifplcafure of the 
 Head, i ThefT. ii. 13. For this can fe alfo thank ive God 
 without ceajing, becaufe when yt received the -jjord of 
 God, vjhich -'f h'f.rdofu^.-ye received it. noi as the word 
 
 '_Q^ '. 
 
1 84 The Nature of 
 
 cfmen^ hut^ as It is in truth, the ivord o/ God^ which ef- 
 fe^tually worketh aljo In you that believe. 
 
 (t.) lynitate them, and follow their iteps fo far as 
 they follow Ghriil Be ye therefore follo-ajei's of me^ 
 even as I alfo am of ChriJ}, i Cor. xi. i. Brethren, 
 he fcllo-jjers together of me^ and mark them -which 
 -ivalkfo^ as ye have us for an en/ample^ Phil. iii. i*j. 
 It is a part of the work of their oiiice to be examples 
 to the flock ; and if that be a divine ordinance, for the 
 edification of the church, furely the reil of the mem- 
 bers are obliged to follow -the example ; and if they do 
 not, their pra-^ice, fo far as it is holy, as well as their 
 doitrine, will be a witnefs againft them. 'This is a 
 point but little regarded. Many will tell how church 
 ofiicers (liould vv aik,that neveV once look on themfelves as 
 ctliged to follow their fteps in the way of holinefs : 
 but the way of holinefs is but one to miniilers snd peo- 
 ple, tho' many are ready to make two of them, and 
 ta'tCe the broadcft to themfelves. 
 
 (2,.) Submit lo their inllruclions, admonitions, exhort- 
 ations, ^c. Heb. xiii. 17. Chey them that have the rule 
 over you ^ and fuhmit your felve^ ; for they watch for your 
 fouh. as they that mujt give account. What confufion 
 would be in the natural body, if the members would not 
 be guided by tlie light of the eye, or refufe the nouriih- 
 nient prepared by th« ftomach ? So unnatural is it for 
 the members of the myftical body, to be refractory to 
 the official members in the diicharge of tkeir duty, or 
 refufe their wholefome inilruaions, and to be fatisfied 
 without receiving benefit of ordinances difpenfed by 
 them. 
 
 O ! learn to look on minifbers, and other church-offi- 
 cers, as {landing in this capacity and relation to the bo- 
 dy whereof ye are members. Confidcr them as mem- 
 bers of the fame m)i.ucal body with yourfelves, and as 
 oiiiclal members, inwhofevN-elfare, and regular difcharge 
 of tJieir office, your own welfare is wrapt up. This 
 would, 
 (i.) Make you moierdy and CIudAianly concerned, 
 
Church-CorriTnunlon opened. 185 
 
 that they may do their duty to the edification of the 
 body, PlaL cxxxii. 9. For the people to treat their 
 miniPcers imperiouily and diirelpc(ftMly, and iuper- 
 cihouiiy to dietf.ie to them how to behave in the ex- 
 ercife of their oiHce_, as many do, and value themfelves 
 upon it, is an argument of pride and emptinels, of 
 men's forgetting themfelves, and regardkffnefs of that 
 order which Chrift, the Head, has appointed in his 
 myftical body. But for people, in a modefl, ferious, 
 and Chriilian way, to excite thsir minifters to their 
 duty, to inform and advife them of vrhnt may contri- 
 bute to their carrying on the Lord's work moft fuccefsful- 
 ly,a5 tiie Lord^s word gives them warrant to do it, Col iv. 
 17. and their own foul's intereil in the matter gives them 
 a right to it ; fo a godly minifter v/ould blels God for 
 having fuch an advantage. Are not all the members 
 concerned for tliC eye, fiomach, ^c. in the^natural bo- 
 dy? But do they fall a beating of them, or overchar- 
 ging them that they may do their oflice ? No ; but 
 with all tendernefs to them, triey endeavour to enable 
 them to do their refpective offices. 
 
 (i.) It would put you on to a confcientiou5/"f r/orw' 
 ance of your duty to them, your own foul's inteie:\ 
 engaging you thereto, i TheiT. v. 12. The fable of 
 the members confniring againfl the belh/, to pinch it 
 by with-holding of food, and being forced to give it o- 
 vtv. by reafon that they themfelves fufFered by that 
 means, may reprefent to us, as in an emblem, the fol- 
 ly of a people undutilul to their minifiers, to their 
 own foul's gr-eat lofs. The relation is fo very near» 
 that undutifulnefs en eitlier hand muft be hurtful 
 to both. 
 
 Secondly^ The firyiple members are furh as are not 
 ofUce-bearers in the body, but private Chiiilians; 
 thefe owe a duty, one to anot;jer, as rr.en-bers cf the 
 lame myftical body. They are the viiil fe m.embcri: 
 of the 'oody of Ghrift, and fo obliged to a native .crre 
 xn 
 Q 
 
iS6 The Nature of 
 
 Jhziild have the fame care one for another. This ex- 
 tends to all fuch Chriftians, through the world, as we 
 have occafion to do this duty tovrards ; but, in a fpe- 
 cial manner, it is to be exercifed towards thofe with 
 whom we live in a<^ual church-communion, and par- 
 takers of the Lord's fupper together, are, in a fpecial 
 manner under this obligation. As ye are one bread 
 and one hody^ fo I would exhort you to make confci- 
 ence of the duties ye owe to one another as fuch. 
 
 Communicants are a feparated body from others, 
 diftinguiflied from others by the mod folemn badge of 
 the Cnrillian profeiiion: O! if they would carry them- 
 felves as a people feparated from the world to Jefus 
 Chrift, and joined together for him in one body, then 
 v/ould we fee the benefit of communions, to the honour 
 of Chrin., the fuccefs of the gofpel, and the good of 
 their own fouls. 
 
 The church is a fociety gathered out of the world, | 
 
 vifibly joined together by the ufe of the facraments ; j 
 
 though they are in the world, tHey are. not of it; and ^' 
 
 all the members of it fnould' be a people dwelhng a- ; 
 
 lone, though in the m.idiV of others, not reckoned a- • 
 
 mong the nations. The truth is, there are many ■ 
 
 baptifed in their infancy, who openly go over to the J 
 
 world's fide ; but all ye who are faints by profeffion, \ 
 
 and particularly com.municants, as ye profefs your- ^ 
 
 ielves to be of one body, and owe a Chriflian duty to 'j 
 
 them that are without ; fo, I would lay before you the j 
 
 duties yz owe one to another, by virtue of your being ; 
 
 \'iuble members of one and the fame body. i 
 
 Dutyi. Love one another affe^ionately vlvA fin- , 
 
 cerely, John xv. 12. This is tny comniandynentf That \ 
 
 ye love one mioiher^ as I have loved you. To walk j 
 
 rightly in Chriflian communion, we mui\ walk in love^A 
 
 Eph, v. 2. Ye ought to love all men, being ready to 
 
 (kfire their good, and to do them all the good ye can ; , 
 
 but ye owe brotherly love to all the viuble members 
 
 of Chrifl-'s body, which is fo often recommended to the j 
 
 followers of Chrift, i TheiT, iii. 12. ylnd the Lord, 
 
Church-Communion opened. 1S7 
 
 make you to increafe and abound in love one towards 
 anoth&(f^ and towards all men^ even as ive do towards 
 you. Horn. xil. 10. Be kindly affectionate d one to ano- 
 ther., with brotherly love^ in honour preferring one an- 
 other. O! what an inconfiflency is there in fitting 
 down at the Lord's table together, the table of love, 
 and the hearts of the partakers never united in love ? 
 Obje<Sl. There are Jome fo naughty in their vj ay and 
 manner of life, theft it is hard to love them -lulih bro- 
 therly love. 
 
 Anfw. The decay of love aniDDg the profejTors of 
 Chrillianity is moft vifibie at this day ,- and 1 muft 
 fay, I defpair of feeing due love among church-mem- 
 bers refiored, as long as the church amonsg us is fo 
 mixed with, and fo little feparated from the world; 
 and until the church be more diilinguiflied from the 
 nation, for as fond as we liave been of a national 
 church. God feparated them in tiie late times by the 
 ftre of perfecution, and then this love flamed among 
 them : Peace being reftored, the church even mixed 
 a2:ain with the world Iv^ins; in wickednefs. and that 
 love died out of courfe. And while all are acknow- 
 ledged as church-members, few, veiy few are loved as 
 fuch. The New Teftament Churches, tho' there 
 were many hypocrites in them, yet they feem to have 
 been conftituted of vifible faints, faints by profeffion, 
 not vifibly contradicted by their practices, Rom. i. 7. 
 I Cor. i. 2. I Their, v. 5. But more diredly to the 
 obje£lion. 
 
 It is plain, that brotlierly love is to be proportioned 
 to the degrees of the divine image difcernible in any. 
 And therefore, (i.) Where nothing of it appears, but 
 people are openly wicked, we owe. not this brotherly love 
 to them : and every member of the church.privateChrif- 
 tians as well as church-officers, fliould endeavour that 
 they partake not of that one bread in the facramente 
 But, (2.) Since the beftare not free of feme evils hang- 
 ing about them, even to the difcerning of others, we 
 ought not to rcfufe brotherly love to any ju whom any 
 
1 6b The Nature of 
 
 lineaments of Goi's image appear, tho' they have fe- 
 veral things in their way Mltooether unlovely. It is the 
 work of grace here to pick the pearl of grace out of a 
 dunghill of finful qualities, aoA to love the perfon for it, 
 drawing a veil over many fms, i Pet. iv. 8. Jncl above 
 all things hjve fervent churity among yourf^lves ; for 
 charity jlj all cover a muU.itude of fin ^ And not to ag- 
 gravate the ills about thern, fo as to hide their good from 
 our eycs^ Wu unto us if God iliould treat us fo, yea, 
 or tlie faints \ wherefore, love one another. 
 
 Motive I. It is the principle of the duties of church- 
 communion, therefore called the hznd of perfcclnejs in 
 the churchy Coh iii. 12, 13, 14. In the primitive church 
 they were moll dutifid one to anotlier ; fee the fource 
 of it, Adls iv. 32,. And the multitude of them that believ- 
 ed were of one heart and of one foul. Where it pre- 
 vails, it will make every one concerned for the good of 
 his fellow Ghriftian, as for his own : where it is not, peo- 
 ple, though in church-commuiiion, will be ready to fay, 
 Jrn I my brother'' s keeper P So, the want of it turns 
 all loofe. 
 
 3. It is a badge offjncerity: IVe kno-JJ that we have 
 ■paffed from death unto life ; hecatije we I'jve the bre- 
 thren^ I John iii. 14. And v/ithout it we cannot prove 
 ourlelves true Ghriftians, neither to ourfelves, nor to 
 the world of on-lookers, John xiii. 35. By this 
 fb all all men know that ye are m^ difciples^ '^f y^ have 
 love one to an'Aher. For love to God will produce 
 love to all thofe who bear his image. 
 
 3. It is the moll natural refultof the love of Ghrifl 
 to us, John xiii. 34. As I have loved you, that ye al- 
 fo lov^ one an-Aher. Never was there fuch love as 
 that of Chrii^l: to his people in his dying for them; 
 this Ihed abroad in the heart muft needs make a loving 
 difpofition to him, and all that belong to him for his 
 fake. 
 
 4- The near relation in which the followers of 
 Chrift Rand to one another, pleads for it. They ar:^ 
 feliow-iuembers of the fame body, joined togetlier uu- 
 
Chu?-ch-Commu7uon opened, 189 
 
 der one head, are raembers of one heavenly family, 
 fliall dwell together for evermore in heaven, and are 
 joint obje£ls of the world's hatred. 
 
 Duty 2. Bear with one another's nveahneffcs^ fail- 
 ures^ and infirmities. This has many brandies ; fee 
 Col. iii 12, 13. Put on therefore (as the eUcl of God^ 
 holy and beloved) bowels of mercies^ kindnefs^ humble- 
 nefs of mind ^ meehnefs^ long-fufftrtng^ for b taring one 
 another^ and forgiving one another; if any 
 man have a quarrel againjt another ; even 
 as Chrifl forgave you, fo alfo do ye. Be of a 
 meek, patient, forbearing, and forgiving temper, as to 
 all men, fo particularly to the members of the body 
 of Ghrift, your fellow -members, and that becaufe they 
 are fo. When we come to heaven we will have no- 
 thing to bear with: but till we come there, we vrill- 
 have occafion to exercife this grace towards others, 
 and others tov^'ards us, fmce every one lias their own 
 imperfedions , and there is not one to call a ftcne at 
 another on this fcore. 
 
 It is fad to fee how eahly profefibrs are brought 
 to caft at one another: how they cannbt bear the leail 
 provocation, cannot forgive nor forget injuries ; yea, 
 many there are who rejoice in the failures of others, 
 and are gkd when they get an ill tale of them, or fee 
 fome falfe ftep m-ade by them, v/hich they improve to 
 run them down, and to the judging of their ftate. But 
 confidcr, I pray you, 
 
 I. Kow the lloi>i bears with you, Eph. iv. 32. — 
 y^nd be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiv- 
 ing one another, even as God for ChriJPs fake hath 
 forgiven y^,u, O i w^hat v,-ouid come of lis if (jod would 
 bc^r no more with us than we can bear vvith our fellow -fer- 
 vants 1 Dreadful would the m.eafure be, if God fliould 
 mete to us as we often <lo to our fallow ChrifliaiiS." — 
 Does the Spirit of the Lord fuffer us long, and will 
 not we learn long- fullering? Are we forgiven t?dcnts, 
 and will not ^e fijrgivc a few pence ? 
 
 2. How the Lord bears with ihtm. He overlooks 
 
1^0 The Naiure of 
 
 many things in his people, though he does not approve 
 of them. Shall not his example draw us to imitation? 
 
 3. Do not -o^f ourfelves ftand mntz^oi forhearance 
 ^cnd. for give nefs ^Yom others? Eccl. vii. 21, 22. j^lfo 
 take 710 heed unto all -vords that are fpoken^ left thou 
 hear thyfervant curfe thee. For rfteniimes alfo thine 
 oivn heart knoiveth that thou thyJelflihe^jjayshGf} cur- 
 fed others. And are every day in hazard of being led 
 afide with temptation, Gal. iv. i. Brethren^ if a man 
 he overtaken in a faulty ye ivho are fpirttual reflore 
 fuch an one in the fpirit of meeknefs, conjidering thy- 
 felj kji thou alfQ he tempted. Why lliould we then fo 
 forget ourfelves, as not to allow to others what we 
 nsed from them ? 
 
 Is it not your interell in the matter, fmce you arc 
 of the body with them ? When one hand labours un- 
 der any fore, does not the other tenderly drefs it, and 
 even thofs members of the body., "Jjlnch vje think lefs ho- 
 nourahle, do not ive be/low abundant hanour on them^ 
 I Cor. xii. 23. So fliould we be ready to caft a veil of 
 love over the infirmities of our brethren. 
 
 Duty 3. Watch over one another, Heb. x. 24. And 
 Ut us confide^ one anothe""^ to provoke to I'.ve and to 
 go'jd works : And xii. 15. Looking diligently., Uft any 
 man fail of the grace of Cod ; lejt any root of bitter- 
 nefs fpringing up., trouble you^ and thereby many be de- 
 filed. This is one of the principal duties of church 
 communion, and, if duly managed, v.^ouldbe of notable 
 ufe for the honour of the Head, and good of the body. 
 It is true, the Lord has appointed fome watchmen, by 
 onice, in his church ; but the law of love among the 
 members of the myftlcal bod}-, and the appointment of 
 the Head, makes aifo every one watchman over ano- 
 ther. 
 
 ^ I mean not to encourage men to a cenforicus piy- 
 ing into other men^s matters, malicious i'earching into 
 the tiidden faults of others, to get fomething whereup- 
 on to make them odious. Tliere are abundance of 
 thefe who are ipies from the devirs camp, improving 
 
I' fyurch'Lommumon opened, 19 1 
 
 their difcoveries, fancied or real, to the dlihonour of 
 religion, and wounding the reputation of tlie brethren. 
 But that, with an eye of lo\ e, you would obfervc one 
 another's walk, for your mutual advantage, to ijni- 
 tate what is lovely in one another, and endeavour to 
 amend what is amifs, or to prevent it. I take it un- 
 der thefe following things: 
 
 (i.) Excite and ftir up one another to a holy tends}^ 
 i^salk^ in the feveral parts or duties of it, Heb. x 24. 
 Every meiuber of the body lliould be a fpur to ano- 
 ther, to quicken his pace in the way of duty ; fo far 
 Ihould they be from being hindrances to, and clogs up- 
 on one another. All of us have a principle of lloth in 
 us, which difpofes us to flag andhnkin our endeavours 
 after holinefs; and happy they who have a fellow 
 Chriftian to quicken them by word and example. — 
 Prov. xxvii. 17. Iro7i J})arfeneth iron ^ f^ amanjharp- 
 eneth the countenance of his friend. 
 
 (i.) Warn one another o^ fnares in your wav, as 
 foUow-travcllers towards Zion, i Tlieff. v. 14. Nonv -u;^ 
 exhort you^ hrethren^ warn them that are unruly. One 
 may fee a fnare before another, which he is not aware 
 of that is in the greatefl: hazard of it ; and it is a piece 
 of Chril'tian-duty to warn one of it. This is to blow 
 the trumpet as a watchman, the trumpet of private 
 warni-ng, the which if he does not, he is guilty of the 
 hn his brother falls into, as not preventing it., 
 
 , (3O Confirm ^'^^Q Jiaggering^ and labour to bear up 
 him who is ready to fall, i Theff. v. 14. Comjort the 
 fesble-minded.fupport th weak. 0\ wliat a fubilantial 
 kindnefs did Abigail to David, in preventing the fm he 
 was (lipping into f An enemy is to be helped to raife 
 up liis afs lying under a burden, Exod. xxiii. 5. that he 
 may not lofe it ; how much more, when one fees his bro- 
 ther under a weight of temptation, is he to help him a- 
 bove it? like to be carried away with a llream,is he to 
 eatch hold of him, and do his beft to draw him out? 
 
 (4.) Admonijh and reprove one another, in a fpirit 
 of rr.eekr.efs. for what is amifs, Rom. xv, 14, 2. 'iheff. 
 
192 The Nature of 
 
 iii. 15. Eph. V. II. The infirmity cleavin* to the heft, 
 with the variety of fnares lying in our way, cccafions 
 every one ionietimes to go wrong ; and tho' it is eafy 
 to ftep afide, it is not fo eafy to recover, and come into 
 the way again. TIds makes admonition neceflary. There 
 is a corrapt principle of felf-love in us, that we are apt to 
 look on cur own faults with an eye prejudiced in favours 
 ctf them ; therefore, God has appointed this ordinance of 
 mutual reproof and admonition, that each one holding 
 the glafs to his neighbour's face, they may fee their 
 fpots, and wipe them off. 
 
 There is an aiiiho'^itative2iilmom\\on and reproof ad- 
 minidered by church-offiCers, in virtue of their office, 
 not only to hearers promifcuGufly in the preacliing of 
 the word ; but to perfons particularly bv themdelves,in 
 the way of'difcipline, i Tin^i. v. 20. Them that Jin rs- 
 hiike before all^ that others alfo moy fear : Or private- 
 ly, as Nathan did to David, See i Theff. v. yx. And 
 r^Uc' bsftech yjii, brethren y to knoio them — zvhich are 0- 
 I'er you ifi the Lord^ and admon'ifiJ you. The which, 
 tho' privately adminiflered, is public, in reipe£t of the 
 public perfon who gives it. But of this we fpeaknot. 
 
 There is a charitable admonition and; reproof be- 
 longing to private perfons, in virtue of the law of cha- 
 rity or love, which mfvkes them monitors of, and reprov- 
 ers to one another. This, in refped of the objeds of 
 it, is two-fold: 
 
 K General: common to all iren within or without 
 the church, whether vifible ' members of the mydical 
 body or not. It goes as wide as tlie holy law carries 
 love to our neighbour. "We are not to confine our 
 *cfiaritable admoniticns and reproofs to faints by pro- 
 feiiion, more than our love of benevolence and benefi- 
 cence to them. We owe this duty, even to thofe of 
 the w^orid lying in wickednefs, Eph. v. 11. Jnd hare 
 no fellowfhip with the unfruitful zuorks of darknefs, 
 bid rather reprove them^ compared with ver. 8, \'X» 
 and ought to do it, if To we may contribute to the 
 plucising of the brands out of the burning, - 
 
Church-^ommumon opened, 193 
 
 It is true, there are fomc arrived at fuch a daring pitch 
 of wickednefs, tliat there is not the kaft hope of doing 
 them good by admonition or reproof; but on the con- 
 trary, they are in hazard of being the worfe of them. 
 Concerning fuch, oar Lord's rule is, Matt. vii. 6. ^ Give 
 ' not that which is holv unto dogs, neither caft ye your 
 ' pearls before iwine, kil tlicy trample them under their 
 ' feet, and turn again and rent you.' But \vc (liould 
 take heed that we do not raflily put men in this clafs : 
 they mav be tiie worfe of a reproof at one time, w lio 
 may be bettered by it at another time. And bsfides, a 
 tcrtimony againft fm may be neceffary, even in the cafe 
 offuchanone, in refpsft ®f others, witneiTes thereto. — 
 But neither is it of this fort of admonition and reproof 
 we fpeak. But, 
 
 2. Fraternal or brotherly admonition and reproof, 
 competent to the vinble members o^ the myflical body 
 among themfclves, s Theil. iii. 15. Tho' we owe this 
 duty and kindnefs to all men, yet it is plain tliere are 
 fpecial obligations to it on faints by profcllion, towards 
 one another, and efpecially on communicants, who f.t 
 at one table of the Lord together. They are one body ; 
 they owe more than a common, viz, a brotherly lo\ e 
 to one another : therefore, as in the natural body, one 
 hand w allies the other by fpecial duty ; fo let all com- 
 municants, and all faints by profeliion, know that ti^ey 
 are obliged in confcience to mutual brotherly admoni- 
 tion and reproof, as they are one bodvy and members 
 €}2e of another^ Rom. xii. 5. And the facrar#ients, whe- 
 ther baptifm or the Lord's Supper, mucli more both, 
 bind them thereto. 
 
 This ordinance and fpecial duty of church -commu- 
 nion, which would be of exceeding ufefulnefs, if rlghtiv- 
 managed, as it is, alas ! ver)' little in ufe in our dege- 
 nerate age ; is often fo marred, w!>:n it is uicd, that 
 matters arc made worfe thereby, and the diieafe takes 
 firength by the remedy. People's minds are alienated, 
 one from another ; grudges are raifed betwixt tlie par- 
 ties : and fo It is an occafion of evil. This ariletli trcm 
 K 
 
194 'The Nature 0/ 
 
 two caufes, the indlfcreet maEagement of tljc reprover, 
 and the undue entertainment of it by the reproved. 
 
 i/?, The indlfcreet mariagemeni o{iht reprover^ who 
 often miniiters his remedy in fuch a manner, as it is apt 
 to irritate the corruption of his brother, inftead of ex- 
 citing his grace or good^iefs, as it ought. To rectify 
 this, and remove tlvis grand hindrance of benefit by this 
 duty, I lay before you thefe following tilings. 
 
 1. Look upon this d.Mtj o^. frattrnul aamoniii'jn and 
 rcprorjf ^s an ordhiance of the Lfjrd Jefus Chrijt^ ap- 
 pointed by him, in his vifible myftical bod}', for the fpi- 
 ritual good of the bod}^. It is as really fo, as preach- 
 ing, praying, facramcnts, 6r. are, Matt, xviii. i ^.More- 
 over, if thy brother fjull trefpcfs againjt thee. 00 and tell 
 hhn his fault hct-^een thee and him alone : if he f jail 
 hear theey,thouh.'f I gained thy brother. It has a blef- 
 ung annexed to it, Prov. ix. 8. Rebuke a '■•joif'e rncn^ and 
 he "ivill hve thee. The confidcration of t!;:s might influ- 
 ence men to zo about it v/itii av/ful foicmniiy; and to fear 
 itG bein^maired in their hands. 
 
 2. Jicgiri at h'-j7ne^ in thy own life and cor.vcrfation, 
 toT}urge it, Matt, \ii!, 3, 5. And why bchcldeji th'.u the 
 mote thai is in thy brother's eye, and corf deref? net the 
 beam that is in tZ-ine own eye P Firf cajr out the beam 
 out of trijie o'wn eye ; and then thou ft'alt fie clearly to 
 cajt out the mote out of thy brcther'^s eye. A man who 
 attempt? to reprove his brother, and is guilty of the 
 fame, or like offences, is like a profane m.inifter repro- 
 ving profanity, who cannot expcdl iuccefs, but to have 
 it cait up to him, Phyfcian^ cure thyftlf. And this may 
 let one fee tlic mifclnef tb.at his unlenderrefs does, not 
 oi.lv^ in involving him in pcrfonal guilt, but in tlie guilt 
 of ijis neighbour's fin too, vrhorn he puts Iiimielf cut of 
 fnc capacitv to do good to, 
 
 Queib. Is one.^ in fuch a cafe^fme from lis di:ty then? 
 
 j^.nfjj. No, by n J means ; one's ovs^n nn can ne\ cr free 
 him from this natural dnty. Flis bufmefs is tc fet about 
 the work, removing the impediment ofthe fuccefs by re* 
 
Church-Communlfjn opened. 195 
 
 pi'ofefs refolution to amend, in the firfl place, to his bro- 
 ther, and then to adnioniili him of his fault. 
 
 3. Be not precipitant and rajlj in your reproofs, but 
 procded onkr.owledge of the ofrcnce,^in which fo mucli 
 moral certainty is required, as one cannot be juftly blam- 
 ed for raQmefs in thinking his brother to have offend- 
 ed fo and fo. The too ready crediting every thing that 
 is fpoken to our brother's difadvantage, or judging a 
 thing to be an offence, which may be is none ; a readl- 
 n^fs to tal:c other men's actions by the wrong hand!;, 
 when there is a right one, and thereupon to reprove 
 then, will moix argue the want of that charity, i Cor. 
 xiii. 7. than prudent zeal for God's honour and our bro- 
 ther's good : yet, i^n doubtful mutters, it will often be 
 found duty, prudently to iiiunuate that there is a fufpi- 
 cion, an.l what way he ought to remove it, i Theff. v. 
 2,2,. Aofcain frrrn all appearance of evil. 
 
 4. Let Iroe tn Gjd^ f honour^ and your brother- s 
 good^ be the prinjipk from which your admonition or 
 reproof proceeds ; anl let it f>ppear fo, as much as 
 may be to his conviilion, 2 Tiiclf. iii. 15. Tet count 
 him not as an enemy^ but admonijlj him as a brother. 
 2 Cor. ii. 4. F'jr^ out of much a^i^ic'n an.i anguijh-of 
 heart., I wjote unto you with many tedrs, not that you 
 
 fu'^juld he grieved^ hut that ye might k}rj\o the love 
 which I have mire abundantly unto you. So little of 
 this appears in tliC reproofs of many, that they feem 
 to the reproved rather reproaches than reproofs, and 
 to fliew more contempt of the offender than love to 
 him ,• and fo the benefit by them is marred. 
 
 5. Be fare to found your admonitions or reproofs on 
 the word of God., a:id convey them to your bi;other in a 
 v/ordoftlie holy Icripture, tlie proper vehicle of a 
 medicine for tlie foul or confcience. Let the -luord of , 
 Chrijt dwell in you richly., in all voifdom., teaching 
 and adrnon'-fning one anoth'tj-., Col. iii. 16. Hov\r dfe 
 can you think to reach Ijis confcience? The word is 
 the inldruraent wherev/ith the Spirit works, nnd upon 
 waich we h.ive ground to expect the bkiii»3g. And 
 
 R 2. 
 
19^ The Nature r,f 
 
 happy is he in whom the word dwells richly for this 
 end. 
 
 6. Let it be managed with meeknefs,G3\, vi. i. Re^ 
 Jiore fuch a one in the fpirt of meeknefs. Zeal and 
 mecknefs are very confiftent ; they are fruits of the 
 fame holy Spirit. Beware ofmixingyour own paffions 
 with this duty ; that is to bring common fire to God's 
 altar, which marrs the acceptance ofthc facrifice with 
 God, and is ready to marr the fuccefs of it with your 
 brother; For^ the lutath of man vjorkeih not the 
 righteoufnefs of Cod, Jam. i. 20. O! it is hard to 
 hold off fplitting on this rock : Mofes dafhed on it, 
 tliough the meekefl man on earth ; Ye rebels. Numb. 
 XX. 10. which fnould make us jealous of ounelves up- 
 on fuch an occafion. Happy is that man, who, when 
 he declares God's wrath, can beil hold down his own. 
 In a fpecial manner ufe mildnefs when the offence is a 
 perfonal injury againft yourfelves. Men who are like 
 lions in their own caufe, and lambs in the caufe of 
 God, are felfifa naughty men. — They w^ho are like 
 lions in their own caufe, and in God's' too, owe their 
 pretended zeal to their own fpirits,not to the Spirit of 
 God: but they who are lambs in their own caufe, but 
 as lions in the caufe of God, leave conviaion in the 
 breads of others, that they are a£led bv God's Spirit. 
 
 7. Be putierJaud continue ?XtYiQ duty as occahon of- 
 fers, tho' the fruit doth not fo foon appear, and tho' 
 one and the fame perfon may give frequent occafion, 
 ::i Pet. i. 13. Tea^ J think it meet^ as long as 1 am in 
 this tabernacle, to J: ir you up, by putting you in re- 
 membrance ; Luke xvii.3,4. If thy brother ire/pafs a- 
 gaipjt thee, rebuke him; and if he rt pent, for give him^ 
 and if he trefpafs ^againji thee,feven times a day, 
 and /even timts in a day turn again to thee, faying, 
 J repent; thou jh alt forgive him. Thus the Lord 
 deals with us with long-fuffering ; fo iliould we with 
 our brethren. V*' e ihould hold on us long as their 
 io any hope of doing good by it. 
 
'^Church-Commffuv: Cpened, 197 
 
 Queu. But -iDhai /hall we ffo, i-^hen all w-? am do 
 appTurs to be fruhlffs^ and i? no purpofe ? 
 
 Anf-x. Our Lord's directions are very plain in 
 •.■;u3 cafe, though very iittk pradiled, Matt, xviii. 15, 
 .-, — i Ivlorcover, if thy brother fiiall trcfpafs r.gaimt 
 ^ thee, go and tell hiiii hie fault hetv^een thee and him 
 
 * alone J if he ihall hear thee, thou haft gained tiiy hro- 
 ^ ther; but if he vail not :iear thee, then take with 
 ' thee one or t>vo more ; in the niou:h of two or three 
 
 • ^vitne^s. ever^^ word faall be e0.abli{hed : and if ht 
 ' fliall negle£t to h.ear them. tcH it to the church ; but 
 ^ if he negleflto hear the church, let hiir.be urito thee 
 ' as an heathen man and a publlc&Ji.' 
 
 3. Be fure to take fittefi feafon for difcharge cf 
 this dut%'. Every thing is beautiful in the feafon 
 thereof; and there is a feafon (or reproof, Eccl. iii. 7, 
 The Spirit of the Lord takes notice of Abigail'^ ob- 
 fer\'irig it with hei" iiuPoand, i Sam. xxv. 36, 37. Ar.d 
 of the bleiTed man it is laid, He U^iugs forth fruit in 
 his/ea/bn, Pfah i, 3. Unfeafonable reproofs -rarely dc 
 good, but often do nnuch harm. 
 
 2dly^ An undue eiitertniri^iient of the adi»oi-:ition o' 
 reproof by tlie reproved. God has prefcribed, in his 
 word, hew admoniticns and reproofs are to be taken, as 
 veil as how to be given. They are to be received, 
 
 f I.) With kve and eftcem of the party th_at-docs us 
 that good oince, i Theff. v, 12, 13. As vve eiteem a 
 phyficii-n tliat would cure us of bodily bieniflies, fo him 
 that endeavc-urs to cure us of fpirkual blemidies much 
 more. 
 
 (2.) With /^*r7;^^/<?Wc/j-<j/'wtzW, fufFcrlngcnrfcIvcs lr> 
 be told of our raults, in order to our aniendnient, Heb.- 
 xi:i. 22. *- And I befeech you, brethren, fuffer the word 
 ' of exhortation.' So David, Pfalm cxH. 5. '■ Let the 
 ' righteous fmite me, it fliall be a kindnefs > and let 'nin 
 ' reprov- me, it fliall be an excellent oil^ which lh>i!l 
 ' not break my head.' 
 
 (3.) With 2l prociical Ctnf-jjerirr of the end ca it, 
 JTiiLa cur Lord calls hecTtnir of pur btomcry Matu 
 
19^ The Nature rS 
 
 xvlii. 15 Compare Prov. xv. 31, 3a ' The ear tl^at 
 * hearcth the reproof of life, abkktbx among t]:e wife. 
 ' He that heareth the reproof, getteth unclerftanehng.' 
 But, where are they to be found, who thus entert-ain 
 admonitions and reproofs ? Nav, the moft part cannot 
 endure to be reproved or admonillied of anv thing amifs 
 in their way. Inl^ead of giving a Chriftian entertain- 
 ment to admonition or reproof, their proud hearts rife 
 in paffion againil him that dares tell them their fault : 
 they will defend their deed, which, in calm blood, their 
 own confciences condemn ; and if they can gather any 
 dirt againfl the reprover, riglit or wrong, they will be 
 fure to fling it in his face on that occafion. This de- 
 fcrves to be lamented, with tears of blood if we could 
 command them. To fuch I would fay, 
 
 1. Admonition and reproof is an ordinance ofChr'i/?^ 
 appointed by him in his church among the vifible mcm.- 
 bers of this body. Matt, xviii. 15 — 20. i Tim. v. 20* 
 Why are ye angry at vour brother for doing his duty, 
 which he is obliged to do, under the pain of the Lord's 
 dlfpleafure ? Why will ye be reckoned members of 
 Chrift's family, and will not fubmit to the ordinances 
 and laws of his houfe ? Is it fit the church of Chriil 
 fhould be as when there was no king in Ifrael, every 
 one doing th^at which was right m his own eyes ? 
 
 2. It is that which thy brother has a fpecial inters/} 
 in, and a rig}?t to fee to, as being a member of the bo- 
 dy. Nothing more ordmary than, What are you con- 
 cerned ? The eye might as well queftion the concern 
 of the hand in drawing a mote out of it, or the face in 
 wiping a fpot off it. Jnd the eye cannot fay unto the 
 h^nd^ i kjieno nted of ikee, — ^i Cor. xii. 12. His con- 
 cern is nlain, he is a vifible mem.ber of the fame body 
 with you, and your faults, which give offence, affe(rt him 
 and the body too. In a corporation of tradefmcn, eve- 
 ry member has a liglit to quarrel what is done ag^inft 
 tiie lav.s of the corporation. In a neighbourhood of huf- 
 bandmen, every one has a right to quarrel what is dene 
 sc'-iinit the laws of the neighbourhood. Yetj in a fa- 
 
rLi/rcL-Ch?::r::i!nior2 op'nerf. 199 
 
 ciety of Cliriftiansby profeiTion, one may not l.e allow- 
 ed to reprove another for what is done agalnft the laws 
 of ChrilViamty. Be ajtrjnijhcd^ ^ y^ iK^avtns ! 
 
 3. It is thy ovjn I'nicrtjt^ and the advantage of thy 
 pul^ to be admoniQied and reproved for thy faults, 
 Prov vi. 2.3. Reproofs ofinJii-v.dTi'jn ar? the vraj ''flfc- 
 It is a real kindnefs done thee, Pfal. exli. 5. Why v/ilt 
 thou be angry with thy inerev ? — Many will be ruined 
 for the want of a faithful friend to admonifli thern ci 
 Vv'hat is ai-nifs in their way. Men do not readih.' eli^y 
 their own faults in full light : and when they have none 
 to fay, it is ill they do, they are apt to flatter themfelves 
 in their iniquity to their own ruin. But admonition 
 and reproof is the v.ay to repentanee and reformation. 
 
 4. The trial of thy jhitt whether thou be a real 
 Chriftian or not, depends more on the way of enter- 
 taining admonition and reproof than thou art aware 
 of, Prov. ix. 8. Reprove not a fcorner^ Itji he bate 
 thee I rehiikc a vj'ife man^ and he will love thee. It 
 is a good fign of a gracious foul, to entertain it in a 
 Chrirtian way, Prov. xx. 4. He that regardeih reproof 
 is prudent. It fpeaks a humble foul, one ready and 
 willing to know his faults, and amend them, to whom 
 confcience is dearer than credit, and the approbation 
 of God than the applaufe of m.en. But, on the con- 
 trary, it is a \'erv black m.ark in one, not to bear ad- 
 monition and reproof, Prov. xii. i. IVhoJo Irroeth ik- 
 jtrufiion, laveth kno-wUdge ; hut he that hateth re- 
 pr-orf is hridif? ; and chap. xv. 1%. See how the 
 Spirit of God defcribeth a wicked generation, Ifa. 
 xxix. 2^1. That make a jr. an an offender for a word, 
 und lay a fnare for him that r(proveth in the g.ate. — 
 Amos V. 10. They hate him that rcbuketh in the gate., 
 and they abhor him that fpeakcth uprightly. This 
 temper of fpirit fpeaks a man to be unv.illing to fee 
 his fm, and therefore unwilling to part witliit j to be 
 a lover of darknefs rather than light, a lover of his 
 own credit, more than God's honour; to be proud, 
 ielfilli, v/ithout due regard either to God or his bro- 
 
aoa The Nature «/ 
 
 thei\ It is true, a good man may, at a time, tal:e a 
 juil reproof very ill, as Afa, 2 Ci;roE. xvi. 10. but it 
 is not the habitual dirpofition of his fplrit. 
 
 5. Not taking with admonitioFj and reproof is a 
 forerunner of ru'/n^ Prov. xv. 10. — He that hatflh re- 
 pro'jfjhall die ; and xxix. i. He that being often re^ 
 proved^ hardtneth his neck, Jh all fuddenly he deft try. 
 e.l, and that without remedy. As it is a high pitch of 
 hu^ and runs up the offence to a height, fo it is the 
 preiage oftlie approach of a heavy ftroke. Let no '^lan 
 Jtrive nor reprove another ; for thy people are as they 
 that f hive -.vith the prieft : Therefore foalt thou fall 
 in the day^ and the prophet alfo f Jail fall in the n'.;7ht^ 
 Hof. iv. 4, 5. They v;ho will not take an admonition 
 or reproof from their brethren, may expert God will 
 reach them one from heaven, that they will not get 
 fhifted. It is a terrible rem.ark made on Eli's ions,, 
 their not taking with reproof, i Sam, ii. 25. They 
 hearkened not to the voice of their father hecauft the 
 Lord '^j Old d flay them. See Prov. v. \%, The fum of 
 what is fald, you may teiidi^ Prov. xxv^. 12. As an ear- 
 ring of gold^ and an ornament of fine gold ; fo is a 
 'ivifd reprover upon an obedient ear. Let the reprov- 
 er manage wifely, and the reproved entertain it obe- 
 diently, ib fliall it be profitable to both. 
 
 The impediments tlius removed, I w^ould prefs this 
 duty, of brotherly admonition and reproof, among lU 
 the vifible members of the mydical body, all faints by 
 profeffion, and communicants particularly. Admoniih 
 and reprove one another, for what you difcern to be 
 offenfive in one another's way. Make corifcicrxe of ; 
 this duty ; and to engage you, take the following ?7::- j 
 lives, ;j 
 
 I. For the fake of the Her.d^ that is, for Chriff's jj 
 fake. The tins of profeflbrs andcommunicarits do, in a jj 
 fpecial manner, refiecl diflionour on Jefus Chriil:, z jj 
 Sam. xii. 14. And therefore, while we fee the vifiblc j 
 members of that body dilhonouring their Head, our jj 
 
 hearts (liould ftir within us for lha4 diliionour^ Hci 
 
Chitrch-CDmtnunr.n opened. 7,0$. 
 
 IS a fair occafion to vent our zeal for Chrift, to de- 
 clare our fyrnpathy with him,Pfal. xlix. 9. The reproach- 
 es of them that reproached thee, are fallen upon me. 
 And, in fuch a cafe, ye are upon your trials, as to 
 what regard ye have to his honour. 
 
 2. For the fake of the body. The welfare of the 
 myfl-ical body lies in the welfare of tb.e members ; it 
 cannot be right while the members are wrong. Confi- 
 der the offending party as a member of the body, and 
 thou wilt fee the body of Chriil is concerned in his not 
 walking with a ilraight foot, which may ftir thee up to 
 admonilli him. Scandalous practices, or offenfive 
 fleps in a member, reflecl diHionour on the whole bo- 
 dy, Eccl. ix. 18. Yea, and the contagion, if not time- 
 ly prevented, is apt to creep from one member to an- 
 other, and fo annoy the whole body, Heb. xii. 15. — 
 
 I LeJ/ any root of bitternefs fpringing up trouble you^ 
 : and thereby many be defiled. For this caufe Paul o- 
 penly reproved Peter, Gal. ii. 14. 
 
 3. For the fake of tlie offending m.cmbcr. It is one 
 of the greateft offices of love thou canft do to his foul, 
 to admoniih him of his offence, James v. 19, 20. — 
 ' Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and 
 ' one convert liim, let him know, that he which con- 
 ' verteth a nnner from the error of his way, fhall fave 
 
 a foul from death, and fhall hi^e a multitude of fms.' 
 Thou vvilt thereby do him a double kindnefs. 
 
 (i.) Remove fin from off him, which is a load fo 
 much the more dangerous, as he is not aware of it, 
 Lev. xix. 17. It is a /^^/;;;^ of him, in God''s account, 
 not to rebuke him, as it would be not to draw him out 
 of a mire, when he is flicking in it. If he had disjoint- 
 ed a leg or arm, vv'ouldft thou not fet it again, if thou 
 couldfi^ Such harm do wrong f\eps in a Chriftian's 
 way to his foul ; therefore, — ' if a man be overtaken in 
 
 * a fault, ye which arc fpiritual reflore fuch a one in 
 
 * the fpirit of meekncfs,' Gal. vi. i. 
 
 (i ) It will preve7it his finning more in that way. 
 One wrong flep^ if not righted, makes wav for ano- 
 
'X0% The Nature cf 
 
 ther; and much guilt is contra^led by one's not being 
 told of his fault, being in that cafe, ' like a fon left to 
 ' himfelf, who brings his father to fliame;' wliereas, a 
 faitliful reproof mi-^ht prevent repeating the fame fol- 
 ly. And as it would thus be a kindnefs to him, in re- 
 ipe£l of the putting away of fin, fo confequently in pre- 
 venting of ftrokes from the hand of the Lord. ' 
 
 4. For \'our o-jjnfake. God has laid this duty up- 
 on you, under pain of his difpleafure; fo your own 
 intereil is engaged here. As ye would not partake of 
 other men's fins, makg confcience of this dutv, with- 
 out Nvliich the guilt will creep over on your own fouls, 
 and the punitliment thereof with it, Eph. v. 11. And 
 why fiiould one by tlie neglect of his duty, adopt o- 
 ther men's fins, defile liis own confcience, and marr 
 his peace with God? Better difpieafe all the world, 
 tlian m.ake a breach betwixt God and our own fouls. 
 
 5. For the fake of the common radge of the vifiblc 
 myftical body of the Chriftian proftfiion, the holy Ja- 
 crar/ients^ i Timi. vi. i. Is it not cutting to hear men 
 fay, Take up your profcffors, your commiunicants ? — 
 O that profelTors would conlider the Chriftian profef- 
 fion to be of that dignity, and fo tender a point that 
 they might tremble to think of bringing a itain upon 
 it by their loofe walking! O that communicants would 
 remember, that tlioudb the partaking of the Lord's 
 table is in itfelf a pamng aition, yet it is an abiiling 
 holy figr., whereby they are externally diftinguiihed 
 for Chrift; and that they would beware of fuch prac- 
 tices as may render their badge mean and defpiied in 
 the eyes of the world. Or, if fome will be fo unten- 
 der as not duly to regard it, that others would be fo 
 tender thereof as to check themtfor their offenfive car- 
 riage, out of a regard to the h.oly badge of the Cb.rif- 
 tian profeilion, the holy facraments. 
 
 6. For the fake of thofe who are not of the body, 
 but of the world lyu^^ in wlckcdnefs. It is a piece 
 Gf Ghriflian duty to regard thefe, Col. iv. 5. li'i^ik in 
 ivifU'jm t-jwards ihtni that art nvUl^out. God writes 
 
Church-ComrnunrjH opened. 2.03 
 
 his impartiality in his judgments, in not paffing by the 
 offences of thofe called by his o-jjri nanic^ Ifa. xlii. 4. 
 And it would much contribute to commend i'elip;ion to 
 thofe who are flrangcrs to it, and imprels them with 
 honourable thoughts of the communion of faints, if 
 the members of it were faithful to check every evil 
 thing among therafelves, A6ls v. i. and downwards, 
 compare with ver. 13. otherwife iharcs and tumbling 
 blocks are laid before the blind world. 
 
 Duty 4. Walk /;:-/;/;' and tenderly^ fo as vour con- 
 verfation may becxemplary,andedi:ying to one another, 
 IMatt. V. lO.Heb. xii. 14. Rom. xiv. 19. The church, 
 infcripture language, is often called heaven ; and eve- 
 ry 7ncinbsr tl-ereofouglit to be as a Ihining hght there, 
 and not thcpajiors only, Phil. ii. 15, 16. *■ That )'e 
 •■ may be blamelcfs and harmlefs, the fons of God,#with- 
 ' cut rebuke in tlie midft of a crooketland pervcrfe na- 
 '■ tion, among whom yc Oiine as lights in the world; 
 '' holding forth the word of life.'- — This is the mcft ef- 
 feclual ^^ ay of edifying one another, viz. by a holy 
 example. And it is one great advantage of ci;urcli- 
 communion, wiiereby one's Ibul is ediiied, while the 
 members labour lb to walk. Fci- underftanding of this, 
 two things are to be marked. 
 
 (i.) There is a holinefa of hearty and a holincfs of 
 cotivct'fation., Pfal. xxiv. 3, 4. The former is the 
 ir'ring of the latter; the former lies in the inner m.an, 
 ihe latter in the outward. Holinefs of heart is a per- 
 lonal duty, v»'hich not the church, but God and one's 
 own confcience can take notice of dirc£tly ; thcrelore, 
 I ipeak not of it, while treating of the duties fcf'the 
 members of the body one to another. Holinefs of con- " 
 verfation is a relative duty, in fo far as our fellow- 
 members ought to fee it in us all, and may fee it 
 where it 1= to tlieir own edification; and we owe it as 
 an indifpenfible duty to the body whereof we are mem- 
 bers, VIZ. That our converfation be excm.plarily holy 
 and tender. Cant. i. 8. For, we are not only to knovj 
 Chrift, and fpeak of him, but to //vi him, Philip, i. 2,1.- 
 
2,04 The Nature of 
 
 * For me to live is Chrlfl.'— This is the holinefs 
 and tendernefs I ipeak of. 
 
 (2.), Though it is abominable hypocrify to do good 
 works to hQ/een of mtn^ that they may gain their ap- 
 plaufe: yet it is not only lawful, but a neceflary duty 
 of Chriilianity, and particularly of church communion, 
 to walk i(^ as your walk may be exemplary, and to 
 have an eye to the edification of others in walking ten- 
 derly before them. Matt. v. 16. ^ Let your light fo 
 
 * fiiine before men, that they may fceyour good works, 
 ' and glorify your father which is in heaven*' 2, Theff. 
 iii. 9. Though our internal religion lies only betwixt 
 God and us, yet our overt -a£ls are apt to be copied by 
 our brethren ; th.erefore, we lliculd endeavour to get 
 tlie copy fair, chiefiv to pleafe God, and next to edi- 
 fy ouu brethren. 
 
 Now^, this exemplary, tender, holy walking, requir- 
 ed of every vifible church member, for edifying the fel- 
 lovv-members of the body, hath many branches, being 
 as broad as the wiicle law of God on the outward man. 
 I fnall reduce them to thefe two general heads. 
 
 [i.] Be exemplarily holy and tender with refpeOto 
 the a'jing part of religion and a holy life^ Luke i. 6. 
 The members of Chrift are not to be idle, but a£live, 
 dying to (in, and living unto rightcoufnefs. Be exem- 
 plarily holy and tender. 
 
 (i.) With refpe(^ to duty^ Eccl. ix. 10. Whaffoe- 
 ver thy hand fndtih to do^ do it with all thy might. 
 Let your converfation be filled up with the perfonn- 
 ance and confcientious difcharge of every duty requir- 
 ed at your hands, that it may be uniform: Thenjhe.ll 
 I not be afhamed, 'd)hen I have refpcS} unto all thy 
 comynandinents^ Pfalm cxix. 6. Let your duty be con- 
 fjientioujly performed in all the parts of it ; fince he 
 is your Creator and Redeemer, refufe him no piece 
 of required fervicc, for ye are wholly his, A(^s xxvii. 
 23. — 3e confcientious in your duty to man, for God's 
 fake, and fo join in vour pradiice what God has joined 
 in the commandmcr.t, Acls xxiv, i6. Neglect not 
 
Church-Comnuimo}! cpeKftf. 205 
 
 p.^rfonul duty which lies betwixt you. Tit. ii 12. and 
 have a Ipecial regard to the duties of your ftation, and 
 the relation wherein }'e itand, if ever you would have 
 your converiation edifying. God has fet every one of 
 U5 in iome Ration and relation ; and the comcientious 
 practice of the duty of our refpeftive flations makes a 
 mm or woman lliine, however low a fphere they move 
 in, I Tim. vi. i. Let as many ftrvants as are under 
 the yoke, count their oivn majters worthy of all honiur^ 
 that the name of G:d^ and his do^rine, he not hlij'- 
 pheniul^ I Pet. iii. i, 2. There is no perfon who mav 
 not this way ediiV the body of ChrifL, and be an ufeful 
 member for their ov/n and other's good. 
 
 {x.) With relped to//;?, Jude, ver. 23. O the mif- 
 cliicf done by the frriful liberty church-members take to 
 themielves ! they fearlefsly break down and go o\Tr 
 the h jly hedge, and others, feeing them before, do fol- 
 lov/ after, and fo they prove ruining to thernfelves and 
 others too. Matt, xviii. 7. Think no fin little, fince it 
 is an offence againfl a great God, and makes way for 
 greater, not only in yoarfelves but in others too. For 
 the fake of the Head, and the reft of the members, ab- 
 hor it as hell, Rom- xii. 9. and i Theff. v. 22. 
 
 (3.) In the practice and ufe of indifferent thin 0-3. 
 Txhere the apoftle's rule ftiould take place, Rom, xv. r, 
 2. JVe then that are fh'ong ought to hear the infirmi- 
 ties of the iveak^ and not to pleafe ourflves. Let every 
 one of us pleafe his neighbour J'jr his good to edification. 
 It is not enough, that the thing is in iticlf lawful ; years 
 alfo, in refpecl of your brother, to confider, if it be 
 expedient, i Cor. vi. 12. What is in itfeif indiffer- 
 ent, may in its circumftances be rendered unlawful to, 
 you, in ib far as ye cannot do it without the fcandal 
 of your brother, Rom. xiv. 2Q. The negket of this is 
 one of the crying fins ofttiis da)^ Men conhder their 
 owufclves, w ithout regard to others : and hence fear- 
 lefsly lay ftumbling-blocks before others. The fenfe of 
 the duties of church-communion is much loft among all 
 parties in this ciiurch at this day; in the natural body 
 
2o6 The Nature of 
 
 a thing will be refufed, though it be good for the fto- 
 mach, if it be ill for the head, ^r. But, in this dege- 
 nerate generation, the members of the viuble myflical 
 body are grown fo felfifli,that to pleafe themiclves they 
 can drive over others, u*ithout any regard to their good 
 or hiUrt. 
 
 [ z.] 3eexem;larily holy and tender VA\\\QfufferJng 
 part of religion. And be fo for the edification of the 
 body. Others have been fo for our good, Heb. xii i. 
 lb U'iould we be for tlic good of others. What eroffes 
 and affliclijns th.e Lord may be pleafed to lay on you 
 bear Chriilianly, with patience, i'ubniiilion, and refigna- 
 tioji ; bringing forth the fruit of them, Rom. xii. 12. 
 Kejolcing in h'jpe ; patient in tribulutlon ; continuing 
 injtant in prayer. They are trials, and in them we 
 ought \o Q^vxy fo, as God niay be honoured and our 
 brethren edified, while we are by divine providence 
 brought upon the llage to undergo cur refpective trials. 
 Confider here, 
 
 (i.) God, in laving afBiclions on fome of his people, 
 has an eye to other'' s good, as well as that of the affii£l- 
 ed party : even as blood is let out of the arm or foot, 
 not for the good of the arm or foot only, but the good 
 of the whole body ; though it is only one mem- 
 ber that gets the wound, yet the delign is for the rcfi 
 of the members too, 2 Cor. i. 6. And whether zee he 
 iifftidfcd^ it is for your cc>l/oUtion and fclvatiGn^ 
 ijhich is efftSfucil in the enduring ofthefumefuffcrings 
 *tvhich we ^-l/ofuffer ; or whether we be cornjcrted^ it 
 is for your conjcljtion andfalvation. As when one is 
 examined, t\it reft arc inftru6led ; wh^n one of tlie chil- 
 dren of a family arc cliaftifed, the reft are thereby bet- 
 tered ; fo our gracious Go^ often teaches many at the 
 esptnce of one only. 
 
 (2.) A Ghriftian behaviour under trouble is one of 
 the Hi:;ft influential points of Chrifiian pra^icc, likely 
 to huve the greatcU efficacy on others, Ipeclators ofit, 
 anl vvitiieffes to it, or to whiofe knowledge it may come, 
 ilcb xii. o 1, 3. Hence the hl'^zd rfth-j niartxrj was 
 
Church-C 07nmunl'jn opened. IC] 
 
 faid to be \\\z feed of ihs church; and the cpjafe of the 
 gofpel never loll by perfecution, wliile the peiTecuted 
 were honcftly carried through. Doing well is ready 
 to influence others, but fuffering well is far more fo. 
 A crofs carried evenly and Chriilianly has a certain 
 force to draw others to imitation, as it is moH; admired. 
 
 (3.) Thofe who, by reafon of their affiidions, feem 
 to trie-nfclves to be laid up as ufelefs, are millaken ; 
 they have a moil precious opportunity put into their 
 hand, to ht ferinceahU to Chrill and the members of 
 of his body, 2 Col. i. 24. ' Who now rejoice in my fuf- 
 ' ferin-^s tor you, and fill up that which is behind of the 
 ' aftliilions of Chrill in my tUfh, for his body"'s lake.'' 
 God has brousrht them forth on the Ita^re, to take trial 
 of their fuiTcring gr'aces, for the iullruiling, excitir.^, 
 ftrengthening, and edirying of others. Job was a mau 
 who did much for God m his day j but the fuxiering 
 part of his life has been of the greatcil ufe to the churcn 
 in all ages frice, and v.ili be to the end. The Pialmik 
 David complains, Pial xxxi. 1%. that he was li^e a brc- 
 ken vejfil ; but every Hired o^ that bi^oken pot has beci 
 of good ufe to the church of Ghrift fmce, and has help- 
 ed to liCa] many. 
 
 (4.) Wherefore Chriftians, under their affiidions, 
 ougiu to confider that tliey fufFer as members o^ the bo- 
 dy, bearing that part allotted for them of the fulFerings 
 appointed for Chriil myflical ; for the fufFerings of Chrift 
 perfonal arc at an end, but the fufFerings of Chriil my 1- 
 tical are but yet a-filling up. Col. i . 24. This would 
 arm them with patience, as confidering their particuhr 
 tiir-b to be, infome loit, a common caufe for the gool 
 01 otlier.^ H3 Well ac tlieir own ; and may excite them, in 
 theblackefr lines of providence, to caitfuch a fair copy 
 as others may write after. 
 
 To prcfs this duty of church-communion, conuder, 
 
 I. Tiic intereil oi C^d's name and honour init, John 
 
 XV. S. ' Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear 
 
 ' much fruit ; fo fhall ye be my difcipks.' The fruit- 
 
 fulnefs of tholt .vho are rlrir.ted in the h«uie of the Lord 
 
 ' S z 
 
2io8 The Nature cf 
 
 brings much gloiy to the maRer of the houfe ; and their 
 barrennefs brings much dillionour to him before the 
 v.-orjd. And fhould not the one be vigoroufiy purfued, 
 and the other guarded againil, by all thofe whom he 
 has cuUcd into the fe/Ir>vj/bip of his SonP 
 
 2 The intereft oi yo^av fello-x'-memhcrs in it. It is 
 a dark world ; they are the moft ufcful in the commu- 
 nion of faints, who moft iliine as lights: Every action 
 of yours, every piece of your carriage, being in church- 
 commranion, is apt to be copied. By your tender exam- 
 ple you may do good to many; by your untendernefs, 
 you may prove ftumbling-blocks to others. 
 
 3. The intereil of the go/pel mh-, Tit. ii 9. 10. 
 ' Exhort fervants to be obedient to their own makers, 
 
 * not purloining, but flicwing all good fidelity ; that 
 ' they may adorn the doftrine of God our Saviour in 
 *■ all things.' It is the glory of the gofpel, that the 
 power thereof appears in the lives of the profeffors 
 thereof, ftavnping hohnefs and tendernefs, upon every 
 part of their own walk: and, on the other hand, it 
 brin'T;s great f^candalon the doftrine of Chrift, that the 
 profeiihrs of it are unholy in tlieir lives. 
 
 4. Your o-xn inter eft is in it for tim.e and eternity. 
 As ve fow ve will reap, both for kind and quantity. 
 
 Duty 5. Bear one another's burdens of affiielions, 
 croilcs, temptations, and trials, Gab vi. 2,. * Bear ye 
 ' one another's burdens, and fo fulfil the law ofChrut.' 
 Heb. xiii. 3 ' Pvemember them that are in bonds, as 
 'bound vvi'Ji them; and them which fufier adverfttj, 
 ' as J:>eing yourfelves alfo in the body.' i Cor. xii. 26. 
 ' And wheVher one member fuffer, all tlie member sfuf- 
 
 * fer, with it.' — This is a natui-al duty of tlie m.embers 
 of one body. That part of the commurion of faints, 
 which is above, is got quite beyond tb.cfe : but thofe of 
 them who are yet in the world, are in the place oi tnal, 
 where the clouds return after the rain But not being 
 flanding each one by himfelf, but in the body with other 
 fellow-members, bearing their part of the fufferings 
 allotted for the body, there is ail rer.fon that the aiiiic- 
 
Church' Com w.vni'. n O^ t ncd. 200 
 
 \z^iE, lot fn ov.Vi be looked on as a cornmon csuic. and 
 each one mould -Iielp to bear ti-e burden with theni ; 
 their burdens of finiple &iE.i£lion, or burden of teinpta- 
 tioji. And, 
 
 (i.) Have a covd.\3.l /} mprdly vith them, and heartv 
 concern in their aiHidions and temptations ; and fc ex- 
 prefs it as they kno'.v it, Roin. xii. 15. Let your heaits 
 be touciied \v:th the fellow-feeling of the diftre.'Tcs 
 
 Oi 
 
 your brethren ; and therefore pzd on hwiuels of ricrcy. 
 oic. Col. iii. i:i. andlay afide fslnfiinsii andunconcern- 
 ednefs with the cafe of others. It is a mortified mem- 
 ber that is not touclied v/ith the pain ofothermcnibcr-: 
 of the body : and he vrho has no kindly fyn^patliy with 
 the faints, in their troubles and temptations, feems not 
 to partake of the fpirit of tf at communion, Amos vi. 
 1,6.' AVo to them that are at eafe in Zion, — that 
 ' drink wine in bowls, and anoint thcmfelves with the 
 * chief ointments : but tliey are not grieved for the ai- 
 ' fli6lion of Joleph.'' And let them know it ; for \vhat 
 com.fort can it afford to them though your bowels yearn 
 towards them, if they underftand it not 3 if they fee it 
 not, it is all a cafe to them as if it were rx)t. 
 
 (z.) Bear tiieir burden as it affefts them, and not al- 
 ways as it would afiedl yourfclves, Rom. xv. i. Manv 
 weigh the afRidions and temptations of others in thck: 
 own balance, fo find them very light ; and therefore 
 pafs them as unworthy of their concern. Job xii. 5. 
 ^ He that is ready to flip vvith Ids feet, is as a lamp de- 
 ' fpifed in the thought of him that is at eafe,' But llie 
 true way of judging of the weiglit ofthefe things is, as 
 they are apt to aifecl the anlided party ; and with tliat 
 v>^eight v.e iliould bear them, 2, Cor. xi. 29^ ' Who is 
 ' weak, a.nd I am not weak I Who is ofrended, and I 
 ' burn not V One niote will difturb the eye, when a hun- 
 dred of them lying an the hand will create no trcu" ' 
 no hazard. Shall the liana then be unconcerned 1. - 
 it cut ? That may make a heavy affiidion^ ai 
 rous temptation to ojie, which would Le 
 cmc, and perhaps none at all to anothe ' 
 
 ^_3 
 
210 The Nature of 
 
 be a greater aa of Chriftian obedience, in one to make 
 his way through a temptation or affliaion, in itfelf fmal], 
 than in another tho' ten times greater ; as the widow's 
 throwing in her mite was more than all the gifts of the 
 rich men, Luke xxi. i, i^ 3. 
 
 (3.) Let your mouths be open to enquire into their 
 griefs^ as far as Chriflian prudence will allow, and your 
 hearts open to receive their moans, Col. iv. 7, 8. ' All 
 
 * my ftate fhall Tychicus declare unto you, — whom I 
 
 * have fent unto you for the fame purpofe, that he might 
 ' know your eflate, and comfort your hearts.' If any 
 member of the natural body be fore and wounded, how 
 natural is it for the hand tenderly to uncover and open 
 k up, the eye to pry with compadion on the feveral 
 parts of the fore, <^c. even when tliey cannot re- 
 anove the trouble ? Such is the cafe of human nature, 
 in its prefent iiate of weaknefs, that there is a kind of 
 relief, though but a forry one, in venting of their griefs 
 i^ato the bclbm of one where it may be entertained with 
 fyjnpathy. The want of which makes aiSiftions and 
 temptations often like a fire fhut up, preying on one's 
 fpirits, Pfalm xxxix. 3. and has made the beft of men 
 complain heavily, Micah vii. i, 5. and downwards. 
 
 (4.) Comfort, encourage, advife, and direft them 
 /L/;^/;/cf to their cafe, i Theif iv 18. This is all that 
 is within the compafs of one's power to do for their af- 
 flicled brethren, in fome cafes, Matt. xxv. 36 And 
 thus may one, by a word fitly fpoken, be a happy in- 
 llrument to refreih the bowels of the afRiOed, and blunt 
 the edge of a temptation, 2 Tim. i. 16. Job xvi. 5. ^ I 
 '■ would ilrengthen you v.ilh my m.outh, and the moving 
 ' of my lips fhould aifwage your grief.' And here a 
 fpecial tenderncfs is required ; and, with a due regard 
 to the circumftanccs of the afflidled, all harflmeisis to 
 be rv'ited, kft one add afflidion to the afflidcd ; wliich 
 was the rock Job's friends fplit upon, and caufed liim 
 to make tliat cffeelual refentment, Job xvi. 4, 5. 
 
 (5-) Wliat you can in confcience and reafcn, ward 
 cjfo^ carrj 'j^of their burden, doit ^ for ye are ' mem- 
 
pcncd. 2 1 1 
 
 ' bers one of another.' Roin. xii. 5. Phil. ii. 4 ^ Look 
 ' not eveiy man on his o'.vn things, but every man al- 
 ' fo on the things of others.' So \-e are to give all your 
 fpiritual or temporal alT.flanccs to tlie Icffening or re- 
 moving of their trial in a way of duty. This (hcukl par- 
 ticularly appear in fhielding one another's reputation, 
 wliich is often blafted by venomous tongues and open 
 ears, which together lay a heavy burden on the fuller- 
 ing party, Prov. xxv. 23. 
 
 (6.) In troubles and temptations from mcii^fupport 
 and Hand by the opprefied for their deliverance, efpe- 
 cially in the caufc of Chrift and religion, 2 Tim. iv. 
 16. 'At my firll: anfwer no man ilood with me, but all 
 ' men forfook me : I pray God that it may not be laid 
 ' to their charge.' And chap. i. 16, 17. *• The Lord 
 
 * give mercy unto the hcufe ofOnefphorus ; for lie often 
 
 * refreflied me, and was not ailiamcd of my chain ; but 
 ' when he was in Rome, he fouglit me out very dilgent- 
 ' ly, and found me.' We are not born for ourfch vfs, but 
 for God's honour and the good of our brethren. And 
 the leaving of thofe helplcfs, oji whom bv th.e divine pro- 
 vidence, the ftorm of the trial or temptaton falls, is a 
 forfaking and being afaamed of the caufe of Chriill in 
 the world. Thus ought we to bear one another's bur- 
 den, as members of the body ofChrill;. To ftir you up 
 to w^hich necefl'ary duty, confide r, 
 
 Laftly^ Earned prayer is to be made to God for our 
 brethren under their trials, that they may be fupport- 
 ed, refreflied, and delivered, accoraing to -the will of 
 God ; and this whether their trials be from the imme- 
 diate hand of God or man^ A£is xii. 5. '• Peter there- 
 ' fore was kept in prifon ; but prayer was made vrith.- 
 
 * out ceafiiig of the church unto God for hiiii.' 2 Thcff. 
 iii. 1,2.* Finally, brethren, pray for us, that we may 
 ' be delivered from unreafonable and'.vickedmen.' This 
 is a fpecial way of bearing one anctlier's burdens, to 
 bear them before tlie throne of grace, and to wrellle 
 with God tor thicm tliere. This is one of the greattfl 
 advantages of '.lie comir.ur.icnof faints, viz a cQirm^a- 
 
2; 1 2 The Nature of 
 
 nion oi prayers^ t:\at when any known weiglit lies iipctf 
 a member, tlie reit cry unto tlie Head on their benalf 
 of it. And here I oiTer four things. 
 
 (i.) It is much to be wiilied that ChriAians praying 
 together, when occafionally meeting, were raore in'ufe. 
 And particularly, that thofe who are in difrrefs would 
 not only require miniilers or elders to pray witlitliem, 
 but even fellow Cliriftians viliting them, and that fuch 
 fhould readily comply with fuch a defire, both obferving 
 circumftances, fo as to difcern wlien and in what cafes 
 it may be to edification. It is very agreeable to the 
 communion of faints, and to that love and fympathy 
 wliich ough.t to be among the members of Chrifl. 
 
 (2.) As it is a commendable practice in the church, 
 to require public prayers on behalf of the fick, or thofe 
 otherwife afflicted ;. and as the miniiler is the mouth of 
 t'ne congregation, fo ye would conuder that ye ouglit 
 aite£tionately to join in thefe prayers, as parties near- 
 ly concerned, and whofe prayers for the affiided are 
 defired, forafmuch as the prayers defircd are the pray- 
 ers of the congregation, and not the minifler's only. — 
 The language of thefe papers, is, Brethren^ pray for 
 u^. And therefore, I befeechyou, let not this be a mat- 
 ter of mere form to you, in which you may only notice 
 what is begi^cd for tliem; but let your hearts go along 
 with the words even the length of tlie tl.ronc, for a bro- 
 ther or fiftcr in dillrefs. 
 
 (3-) Carry home with you the cafe of thefe to your 
 family and fecret prayers, and confine not \ our concern 
 for them v/ithin the walls of tlie church. If the afRic- 
 tions of others do touch your heart as they ought, you 
 may carry a copy of the paper home with you on your 
 fympathizing hearts, to mind you to put up petitions 
 for them^in your faniiliea and in fecret. If ye have ne- 
 giec9:ed this formerly, mend it in time to come ; awd, 
 when you have done it, know ye have done no niore 
 than what is your duty, Heb. xiii. ;► ' Remember them 
 *• that are in bonds, as bound with tliem ; and tliein 
 * which fuftcr adverfit\-, as being yourfelvcs alfo in tliv- 
 <■ bodvJ 
 
(4.) Some cafes of others in aiTH^Tticn ir.ay require 
 of you extraordinary prayer, by fetting fome time apart 
 for that very end, eltlier yourfelves alone, or in con- 
 junftion with fellow Chriflians. So David, in the cr.fe 
 of the child — fcijted and went In and lay all right en 
 the earthy 2 Sam. xii. 16. And in the cafe of others 
 too, Pfal. XXXV. 13, 14. And fo in the'ctife of Peter in 
 prifon, A£ls xii. 12. many rj ere gathered t'jgethe.r in 
 the h'jiifd of Mary ^ praying, Tiie ferious ccnildera- 
 ti®a of the kind of the affiiaion, and of the perfon un- 
 der it, with refpe6l to the honour of God, the good of 
 the church, and your own particular intereft depend- 
 ing thereon, muft determine thefe cafes. 
 
 I will add, by the by. That where prayrrs are de- 
 fired for thofe in ailiidtion, the afili6tion being remov- 
 ed, thank /giving lliould likewife be defired. It is but 
 the pre valency of an unallowable cuftom, to give up 
 notes for praying for the fick, and yet to give none 
 for thankfgiving for the recovery c-f the party Vv-hen 
 recovered. If the congregation weep with them, it is rea- 
 fonable they Jiave occifion to rejoice with them too ; 
 if to petition for the mercy, to give thanks for it tco, 
 Luke xvii. 17, 18. 
 
 Motive I. Gonfider it is the fpecial command of 
 your Head, Gal. vi. 2. it is a f>^lpll'tng of the laio if 
 Chriji^ viz, the law of love. Our Lord Jefus loved, 
 his people, fo as to die for them; therefore lie re- 
 quires* th.sm particularlv to love one another. Kis 
 compaiiion to them was v.ithout a parallel ; therefore 
 he will have them full of bowels towards each other; 
 he bare the burden of the whole, the burden of guilt 
 and curfc due to them for fm; therefore he will have 
 them bear one anotlier's burdicn. H^re is the fpecial 
 reafon why it is called the law of ChriJK 
 
 2. Ye fjave the example of the glorious Head for 
 it, John xiii. 1 5". ' For 1 have given you an example, 
 ^ that ye iliould do as I have done to ycu."* Heistcucli- 
 ed with all their afP.idicns, Ifa. Ixiii. o. If .anv annov 
 them, he reckons hiiufelf perfccutcd, Acts ix. 4. A 
 
XT 4 . The Nature of 
 
 mofl tender fympathy he has with thems ' for, he 
 * that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of his eye/ 
 Zech. ii. 8. And as for their temptations, he is not 
 unconcerned about them, Heb. iv. 15. Imitate your 
 head, O members of the body ; fyrapathife with them 
 whom Chril\ fympathifes with, left ye pour contempt 
 on thofe whom Chrifl: honours, and forget the aiRic- 
 tions of thofe whom he tenderly remembers. 
 
 3. The trials and diftreiTes of others are defigned 
 {or your good^ as was faid before. Our merciful Fa- 
 ther, in compalTion to the reft, teaches them at the 
 expence of one. Does it not then require your fym- 
 pathy, that others are aiHifled for your fake? Col. i. 
 24. Should not ye anfwer the dcfign of Providence, 
 in exercifmg of thofe duties and graces which Provi- 
 dence lays alllicftions and temptations on others to 
 bring forth into exercife in you? He lays the rod on 
 your fellow-members, to bring you and many others 
 to the throne of grace. 
 
 4. What is thy brother'* s cafe to-day, may be thine 
 to-morrow. Is he under afflidion now? thou mayeft 
 be under the fame hereafter; or in another as hard 
 for thee to bear, as it is for him now to bear his. Is 
 he under temptation? as faft as thou feemeft to ftand 
 now, thou maveft be as low under the fame, or worie, 
 to-morrow, as he is to-day. Gal. vi. i. i Cor. x. 12. 
 Refufe him not that help of thee, which thou mayeft 
 need of him ere long. There is no trouble, no temp- 
 tation which befals one member of the body, which 
 another can certainly fecure himfelf from. 
 
 5. It is neceffary to evidence thy being of the body, 
 I Cor. xii. 26. Col. iii. 12. How can it be account- 
 ed a living member, that has not fympathy with the 
 reft in pain? but, that Chriftian fympathy of bearing 
 one anotlier's burden fpeaks union with the members 
 of the Head. That hardnefs, felfilhnefs, and carckft- 
 nefs about the trials and temptations of others, which 
 is found in many, cannot but darken tlie evidences of 
 good people lo far as it prevails, and caft them us 
 naught in whom it reigns. 
 
Church-Communion ope?ied. 215 
 
 "Duty 6. Edify one another by Chrijiian conference^ 
 Eph. iv. 29. ^ Let no corrupt" cominunication pro- 
 ' cecd out of your mouth, but that which is good to the 
 ' ufe of edifying, that it may minlfier grace unto the 
 'hearers.' i TheiT. v. 11. ' Wherefore, comfort 
 ' yourfelves togetiicr, and edify one another.' In fo 
 far as the body is made up of icveral Ghriftians, they 
 ought to have iuitable conference, for the edification 
 of one another as members, as they are brought to- 
 gethier by divine providence. It is the duty of joint 
 members, of any lawful fociety, to treat among them- 
 felves of the interef^s of it, and its concerns. E'ellow- 
 travellers to one place are to be ufeful this way to one 
 another. Chriftians are a fociety by themfelves, the 
 communion of i'aints, they arc fellow-travellers to- 
 wards Zion: Chriilian conference is the native refult 
 ofth.e relation. I fhall branch out this in tliefe things. 
 
 1. Thofe wiio by Provideiice are caft together irdi- 
 nar'ily^ whether in a family or neighbourhood, fo as 
 they muft ordinarily converfe together, fhculd labour 
 to be ufeful to, and to edify one another by their com.- 
 municationj Heb. iii. 13. *" But exhort one another 
 
 * daily while it is called to-day, left any of you be har- 
 
 * dened thro' the deceitfulnels of fm.' Religion (hould 
 be carried by us into all our relations; and however 
 we be pofted in particular focieties, we fliould alwa)s 
 reinember our general calling and relation, as vihble 
 members of the myflical body^ that we ccnverfe toge- 
 ther as bccometh faints. 
 
 2. Occajknal meetings of Chriflians together (liould 
 be thus improven. There is a commandment, /oy/>c^i3/t 
 0/ thofe things while men walk by the ivay together^ 
 Deut. vi. 7. We find the two difciples going to Em- 
 maus thus exercifed, and a happy ifiuc of their confe- 
 rence, Luke xxiv. 14, 15. Were men's fpiiits habitu- 
 ally heavenly, even occafional encounters would pro- 
 duce fomething of this fort betwixt fellow Chriftians. 
 
 3. Chrifuans meeting together en holy and ipiiitu- 
 •^Xjacrcd occafions, Hiouid, m a fpeciai rxianr.er, be 
 
21$ The Nature f.f 
 
 thus improven, as on Sabbath-days, and at fcrmons. 
 Then it is the day calls for it ; and the Lord's word 
 and ordinances miniiler matter of Chriftian conference. 
 Days have been, when the people, going or coming from 
 ordinances,. have been fweelly employed this way, Pfalm 
 Iv. 24. and, between fermons, cither went alone for 
 prayer and meditation, or gathered for Chriftian con- 
 ference. Bat, alas 1 this is much decaved, and among 
 none more perhaps than among us. I often fee people 
 ftanding buiy fpcaking together after the public worihip 
 is begun, and with my eye or voice, mud labour to 
 break oiTthe conference : the which if it were not world- 
 ly, would furcly be broken oiT, by the beginning of the 
 public w^orlliip. The worldly difcourfe in our church 
 yard ^" has been, and is an offence and llumbling-block 
 to ilrangers ; and is like to turn the reproach of the 
 place, whereby God is highly difiionoured. — This is 
 a horrid pixifanation ot the Lord's day, an open con- 
 tonpt of it and his ordinances, which ipeaks the gof- 
 pel faplefs and tailelefs to you ; and is a prcfage of a 
 llrokc, Neh. xiii. 18. Alas I how think ye one fliould 
 preach to people making fuch preparation for hearing? 
 How faouid ye profit by preaching after fuch commu- 
 nications ? Ifa. iviii. 13, 14. How ilia 11 we pray for 
 God's bleinng on }'our labours and fubllance, or look 
 to be heard, when )-e facrilegicully rob God of his own 
 day, at tliis rate \ — I beieecii you, for the Lord's fake, 
 and your own foul's fake, and as ye would not provoke 
 the Lord to leave me as an idol-fliepherd among you, 
 who lliall have no power to profit your fouls, reform 
 this pradice, and either go by yourielves for prayer 
 and meditation, or converfe like Chriftians. 
 
 4. Fellow Chriftians fhould communicate their cafes 
 one to another, as far as Chriftian prudence will allow, 
 
 * What the vvorthy autlior Iiere jnftly ccmplains of, is far 
 from being a fiiii^ular cafef but may be too jaftly applied to 
 ri.olV otl.er places, to the difhonour of God, and the lejiroach 
 of religion, arid evrn of the Ciiriltian name ; and many are capa- 
 ble oTtliis finrul pi\iCtice, of^fojiie of whoiu better tilings ir.igbt 
 be ex.JtiJUd. 
 
anJ iliren^then, inftrufc, ?.vA edify one another, Pfalm 
 !xvi. 1 6. The \viie man obierves, that ^ two are bet- 
 ' ter than one ; for, if the one fall^ the other will lift 
 * hiiii UD,' Eccl. iv. lo. And happy are they who thus 
 have a friend in need . How many mi^ht have initm-ilio!! 
 in wfiat they know not, the edge of temptations blant- 
 etl, their hearts warmed, and their fguls bettei'ed, by 
 a mutual commnnication ofcaies, troubles, temptations, 
 and experiences. 
 
 5. Appointed private ma-fiiigs of ieveral Cjiriftians 
 together, for prayer, and Chriilian conference, for their 
 mutual edification, providing it marr not family v.-or- 
 fliip, nor be improven to the prejudice of public ordi- 
 nances, as they are warranted by the word of God, i'o 
 mdght be of good ufe (if righitly improven) to the a<l- 
 vancem.ent of religion, Adls xii. 12. Mai. iii. 16. Col. 
 iii. 16. By this means Chriftians might impiove both 
 in gifts and grace, • in knowledge and love ; and they 
 have been bleffed of God to tliefe holy ends unto man) : 
 and ordinarily, in pariilies where the gcfpel begins to 
 thrive, they are fet up almofl as naturally as the birds 
 draw^ together in the fpring ; and where the gofpel-work 
 is going back, they decay, owing their fall, either to 
 coldrifencfs in God's matters creeping in, or with the 
 fiery heat of divifion. 
 
 jMotive I. The necejjity and ufefulncfs of it is great. 
 It is neceffary and ufeful for the honour of God, i i et. 
 ii, 9. for the good of our brethren, P»,om. xiv. 10. 
 and for our ov^^n good, Prov, xi. 25. The tongue is 
 called OMv g lor )\ becauie it is the inilrument of glori- 
 fying God, and fo doing good to others : and, without 
 this, men are chargeable with laying up their talents 
 in a napkin, hiding their light under a bufhel. 
 
 2,. The thriving or decay of religion goes hand in 
 hand with it. Look to the times wherein religion proi- 
 percd, and you will find, that ihey who feared the Lord 
 /poke often one to another ; and as that w^ore aw- ay, fo 
 religion decayed. Neareft the heart neareil the mouth. 
 Wlicre the fire is burning on the hearth, the fmoke is 
 T 
 
2 1 8 The Naiurc r,f 
 
 going rorth of the cl/imncy. Where religion is lively 
 in the heart, it will appear in men's converfution. 
 
 3. Times g^cJ b'junuii.g fin and approaching ".vrcfth \s 
 a fpeeial feafon for it, and calls the fearers ofGod to fet 
 about it, Mai. iii. 16. Such is the day in whieh' we live, 
 'ivhertin irJquity abounds^ end the love of n, any w^x- 
 ctb cold. (jK}i\ 13 removing the pillars, and his judg- 
 ments are abroad in the world ; and klier ilrokes are 
 fcnt as r^rerunacrs of greater. 
 
 Duty 7th and laftly. B2 ready to af^f ihcf.sfdy nuiri- 
 hers^ and to communicate of your worldly goods totliC 
 poor of the body ; i John iii. 17, 18. ' But whofo hfcth 
 .^ this world's good, and feeth his brother jjave need, 
 ' and duitteth up his bowels of compafuon from him, 
 
 * how- dwelleth the love of Gol inhini? My little chil- 
 ' dren, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, 
 
 * but in deed and in truth.' R.om. xii. 13. ' Diftribut- 
 
 * ing to the neceffity of faints, given to hofpitality.' It 
 is much to be regretted, that many of the poor, efj)e- 
 cially the \'agrant ones, have no lemblance of piety or 
 memberiliip in the body of Chrili ; yet even thcfe have 
 a right to fupply from us, becaui^ they are God's crea- 
 tures. But the poor faints have a double right to it, not 
 only as God's creatures, but as members of Chrift ; and 
 therefore the church is bound particularly to fee to 
 them : Gal. vi. 10. "* As we have therefore opportunity, 
 > let us do good unto all men, efpecially unto them who 
 ' arc of the iioufliold of faith.' The Lord in his wifdom 
 lias feen it meet to make fome of his members poor in 
 the world, not only for their own tried, but the trial 
 of their brethren, who are obliged to fupply tliem, Dcut. 
 .XV. 11.^ For the poor (liall never ceafe cut of the land ; 
 ' therefore I command thee, faying, Thou fnalt open 
 ' thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and 
 ' to thy nee-dy,.in the land.' See Matt. xxvL ir. This 
 duty I branch out in five particulars. 
 
 I . Seaionably a£l tov/ards the reliefof thcfe members 
 who arc fallen into decay in the world, as yc have cp- 
 nortuniWj Lev. x:.v. i^. ' And if thy brotJxr be waxen 
 
Church- Com?ni'v':n ope?!;:!. 2.19 
 
 * pvoor, and fallen in decay whh thee, then thou uialt 
 ' relieve liim ; yea, tho' he be a Ttranger or a fojourner 
 ' that he may live with thee.' As the keeping of a mai 
 that is ftu nbling from quite falling down, is much a- 
 like with helping him up vrhen he is fallen ; fo, the re- 
 lieving of a man at the brink of poverty, is much alike 
 with relieving him in it. This duty I take to be aimed 
 at, Luke vi. 35. ' But love ye your enemies, and do 
 / good, and lend, hoping for nothing again.' And if it 
 Wei'e more exercifcd, there would be fewer poor than 
 there are. 
 
 :j. Abound in private diflribut'ions towards the poor 
 mrmbcrs, at your Iwufes, or otherwife, as you haveoc- 
 cafion for it, Matt. vi. 3 Heb. xiii. 16. ' But to do 
 ' good, an 1 to communicate, forget not ; for witliiuch fa- 
 ' crifices God is well pleafed.' Occafions of this nature 
 are ordinary, whijli try what fort of ilewards we arc 
 of the good thing:^ of this life which providence has pu; 
 into our hand. It was Job's confort in his poverty, 
 that when he was wealthy, he communicated of what 
 he had to the poor, Job xxxi. 19. and downward. 
 
 3. Confcirntiouny give in to thi^ Sahht^th s c'jIIclJ''jj:s 
 to rje diUributed by the church. God has appointed 
 theie, and the Lord Jcfjs has appointed church-ofiicers 
 for taking care of the poor in tlie church, A^cls vi. i, 3. 
 And what they are to give out is to come into then" 
 han-ds by the church cclle^ions, i Cor. xvi. %. ' Upon 
 
 * the firit day of the week, let every one of you lay by 
 Miim in ftore, as God has profpered Idm, that there be 
 
 * no gatherings wr;en I come.' So this m.atter of the 
 Sabbath-day's eoUcdlions is net to be looked upon as a 
 buiinrfs of mere fadiion, but as a divine ordinance of 
 the church, which fhould make people., out of a con- 
 fcience towards God, to give in to it, in a fuitt-bie 
 proportion to the falftance God h:;3 put into their 
 ban Is. 
 
 4. Gru.lge not extr.\',rd'in,iry c!if!nh:-iti'jfU-, towards 
 thj relief, n ,■ onl - of ( ther conu;re2;ationG, but other 
 ch.irches wn.m v-e ne tr f w, nor \viU perbars fee in 
 
 T :;■ 
 
320 ' The Nature of 
 
 the face, Rom. xv 26. * For it hr.th pleafed thcin of 
 ' Macedonia and Achaia, to make a certain coTitribu- 
 ' tion for tiie faints which are at Jerufalem.' This is 
 51 aaty of the communion of faints ; for all the churches 
 and congregations of faints in the world make but one 
 body of Chrift, and they who arc at the greatcft diftance 
 from you are your brethren. Vv^hy fliould any think 
 themfelves unconcerned with their dii-lrcfs \ 
 
 5. Be ready to give of your fubftance for p'lrjus nfe^^ 
 towards tb^e advancing of the good of the body, which 
 is the church, Prov. iii. 9. There are feveral occafions 
 people have of laying out money for pious uies, which 
 v/ant of due confideration makes tiiem to do eruds'ins:- 
 }y. But if thou hail an occafion put into thy hand, by 
 this money to honour God, to bring about good for the 
 fouls of others, to contribute to the good of the church, 
 thou art to look on it as a fpecial duty of the commu- 
 nion of faints, and an occadon of bellowing it to a noble- 
 ufc. 
 
 As to what one is to give, every one mufi; confcien- 
 tioufly determine that for himfelf : but here is the ge- 
 neral rule, viz. that people are to give in a proportion 
 to the necellity of their brethren, and their ovrn ability, 
 R.um. xii. 13. I Cor. xvi. %, One is to e\'e, 
 
 (i.) The necejjity of their brethre?2 : for that may be 
 too little for fome, v/hich may be more than enough to 
 others whofe ftraits are not ib great. And withal, in 
 weighing this their necellity, it Is to be noticed, if the 
 poor walk fuitable to their condition, for, neither re- 
 ligion nor reafon requires us to fofier them in volunta- 
 ry idlenefs, or in living beyond tlie bounds of their con- 
 dition, 2 Thell'. iii. 10, 11. 
 
 (z.) Thc-ir own ability. Vv^hat one gives mull be his 
 owui ani not ^another's, for God hates robbery for 
 burnt-offering. Thofe to whom God has given much, 
 of tlieni much is required ; thofe, who have little, the 
 lefs is required. Oar own llrait conditioxi does not al- 
 together excufe from it. The widow's two mites were 
 reqaired, ani accepted j yea, the people are bound to 
 
Church-Coyjvnunio-n opened. Zli 
 
 labour fo tliat lliey may have to give to the poor, Eph. 
 iv. 28. ' Let him that itole ileal no more; but rather 
 
 * let him labour, working v;ith his hands t\-^ thing uiiich 
 ' is s:ood, thiat he may have to give to him that necd- 
 
 * eth/ And whatever is in their power to do for them> 
 they are obliged to do, Acls iii. 6. 
 
 Motive I. Gonfider our Lord Chr'ijt looks on whati> 
 given to his poor members as given to him.fclf, and will 
 make honourable mention of it at the great day. Matt. 
 XXV. 35, 36. ' For I was an hungred, and ye gave me 
 ' meat ; I VN^as thirfky, and ye gave me dri-=k ; T was a 
 
 * ilranger, and ye took me in ; naked, and ye clothed 
 ' m.e : I was lick, and ye vifited me ; I was in prilc?, 
 ' and ye came unto me.' Ciirid: is in them, his image 
 upon them, they and he are one ; and fliall net their 
 fdlov;-m,embers' regard them as fuch, in fapplying of 
 their neceliities ? We are to part with our all to him at 
 his call. Sometimes he requires it by perfecutors, and 
 then we are to give it up at his call for his fake : fome- 
 times by his needy members ; and the-: alio it is given 
 to him, Lent in the Lord. 
 
 2. We arc not abfolutc rnafters of our labftance, but 
 ftrjjards of it, accountable to the Lord for cur m.anage* 
 
 ment. The church is God's houfiiold, and Chrili has 
 fecured, by tlie covenant, necefiaries for this life to all 
 tliat are his, Ifa. xxxiii. 16. ' Bread fnall be given him^ 
 ' his water fliall be lure.' Only he has put tiie portion 
 of the poor members in the hands of others, to give it 
 out to them, according to their, nee efiity, and vvhat of 
 it is in their hand, Luke xvi, 10, 11, 12. Therefore we 
 fSiall be unfaithful Rewards, if we difbibutc not to the 
 iieceiTities of the faints. 
 
 3. They 2.vt ftllov) mcivhers of the fame bod)- with 
 you, ?.rA fcllow-htirf of the fame inheritance. Gal. \\, 
 10. ' As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good 
 *• unto all men, efpecially unto them who are of the hcuf- 
 ' hold of faith.' The fpiritual relation that is betwixt 
 us and them challengeth it as a debt of love : Have we 
 not ill one Father, one elder Brothei', one Spirit knit- 
 
 T 3 
 
1%1 The Nature c/ 
 
 ting U3 to one Head, and one heritage for ever, to 
 v/hich men are adrnicted witlK)ut refpevil of perfons? 
 Suppofe feveral ii^en were travelling together into a 
 far country to receive a common inheritance, v,'ould 
 not thofe who have abundance of fpending money fup- 
 ply thofe who are run fliort in the way ": So fhould we 
 do with the poor faints. 
 
 4. It tends much to the hzn^Air of God and the cre- 
 dit of the gofpel, and of the church. Every fociety 
 looks on themi'elves as obliged to fee to the fupply of 
 the wants of their members : and (liould not the com- 
 munion of faints be exemplary therein, confidering the 
 moft ftrait ties among them ? By our Lord's own ver- 
 dict, ' Giving is a more bleffed thing than receiving,^ 
 Acts XX. 35. therein we do, in a fpecial m.anner, ap- 
 pear in likenefs to the Lord, Luke vi. 35, 36. And, Oh 1 
 ihould we not honour with our fubitance, HiM, * who,. 
 ' for our fakes, became poor, that vvc might be rich:'' 
 :2r. Cor. viii. 9. 
 
 5, It has a re-'vard of grace annexed to it, being right- 
 ly performed. It is the beft v.ay to fecure a through- 
 bearing for us and ours, Prov. xxviii. 27. ' He that 
 
 * giveth to the poor fhall not have lack.' What we 
 have is liable to many accidents ; but laying out for 
 God is better fecurity than laying up what God calls 
 for at our hand, Eccl. xi. i. '- Gail thy bread upon the 
 
 * waters ; for thou {halt find it after many days.' What 
 is thus laid out brings in to the giver, Prov. iii. 9, 10. 
 
 * Honour the Lord with thy fubftance, and with the 
 ' firu-fruits of all thine increafe : fo Pnall thy barns be 
 
 * filled with plentv, and thy prcffes fliall burPt out with 
 
 * new wine.' Solomon obferves the acccmpiiflnnent of 
 it, Prov. xi. 24. ' There is that fcattereth, and yet in- 
 
 * creafeth.' And tho' our good works do not merit ei- 
 ther the temporal or eternal reward of glory ; yet even 
 tlie eternal reward will be according to our works, and 
 tliat is an eternal truth, 2 Cor. ix. 6. ' But this, I fay, 
 
 * He which fov/eth fparingly (liall reap alio fparingly ; 
 ' and he wliicli ibweth bounufijiiy lliuU reap alio bouii- 
 *tifully,' ' '- 
 
CJiurch-Cormmtr.rjH opened. 223 
 
 Infer. V. Adnnjjirm i'l the Lord' s luhl- is a TTiattcr 
 of the greated weight anl concern, to be managed and 
 gone about with all folcmn ierioufnefs and cautlcni' 
 Whofo confiders t'nat, being one bread, we declare 
 ourfelves thereby one body of Chrifi:, raiift needs fee 
 this ; and that there is great need to take heed to our 
 feet in entering on that holy ground. And confidcring 
 that the church is a communion of faints in prolcdion, 
 whereof G hriit is the Head, tliere is need to look well 
 who be admitted thereto as complete members of the 
 vifible body. And here it is evident, 
 
 I. That there ought not to be a primljcurjus admlf- 
 fion to the Lord's table, which fome have contended 
 for. It is not only contrary to our Lord's exprefs com- 
 mand, Matt. vii. 6. *- Give not that which is holy unto 
 ' the dogs ;' — but contrary to the nature, uie, and 
 ends of that ordinance. It is a dirtlnguifliing fign, to 
 put a viuble difference betwixt the communion of 
 faints and the commuTiion of fmners ; and therefore 
 cannot be common to both: Shall the badge of the 
 members of Ghriit be put upon thofe who bear Satan's 
 rriark on their foreheads ? Shall they be declared ofthe 
 body of Chrift, whoare, to the con vidion of the church, 
 of the luorld lying in ivickednefs P 
 
 2,. Admiifionto the Lord's table is an a£l o^ church- 
 pojjcr and governmenf : for, if the church be a body 
 or fociety by itfelf, and the Lord's table the fpecial pri- 
 vilege of that body, whereby one is declared and allow- 
 ed to be of that body, there can be no lawful adniiflion 
 thereto, but in the way of church-power and govern- 
 ment. For, what corporation is there, w hereunto one 
 may be admitted without an aft of the governing part 
 of it r Our Lord has appointed govern^jj-s in hfs church, 
 I Gor. xii. 2,8. who have a power to admit tc, and de- 
 bar from the facrament, Matt. vii. 6. and this belongs 
 not to the minifter alone, but to the fociety of ruling 
 church-cfHcers ; that is, the minifter and elders, for 
 the keys of government, to which admillion belongs, 
 are not given to (^ns but to the unity of chureh-cfHcers, 
 a Cor. ii. 6. 
 
2 24 Tie y at lire of 
 
 3. There onght to be a ^'i^e trial o^ thofe who are ad- 
 inRtsd to t:i5.L3i\rs table, that it may be feen whether 
 Or not thole who feck to- be admitted are qualified- ac- 
 cording to the laws of the vifibfe kingdom ofChriO., left 
 fach be brought in as may briiiga (lain on the fociety, 
 an :l corrupt and defile them, inllead of eJifving them. 
 This alfo fio%¥.3 from the nature of the cirar'ch, as a fe- 
 parate fociety, and a communion of faints : For, to 
 bring in hand over head, without connderation of the 
 perfons, is -much a cafe with throwing open the doors 
 of the faniluary, that any who pleafes m'ay enter. It 
 15 true, Imee God only knows the heart,' no doubt hy- 
 pDcrites and naughty perfons ma}^ be let in as honeft- 
 hearted Chriidians ; the deviFs goats may come in by 
 their likenefs to Chrift's ilieep ; but if their outfide be 
 promifing, that is all the church can judge of, other 
 things arc left to "God'^s judgment. 
 
 4. The whole matter is of tli: great eft -.\j eight and 
 deepeff coiicern ; and that, 
 
 [i.] To the admitters^ who are, as it were, tlie por- 
 ter's of the Lord's houfe, and fliould look well whom 
 they admit to the Lord's table, that it be not profaned 
 through their default. There arc two things requifite 
 to give one a right, beibre the c;:urch, to the Lord's 
 table. 
 
 . (i.) A competent meafure ol hnz-J^-Udge \ wit^iout 
 this people cannot examine themfelves, nor riglitly dif- 
 rf/77 the Lord's body-, i Cor. xi. 28, 29. and they are 
 declared none of the Lord's people, Ifa. xxvii. 11. 'It 
 *-is a people of no underUanding ; therefore he that 
 ' made them v\ ill not have mercy on them, and he that 
 ' formed them will Iliew them no ftwour.' The miniiler, 
 whofe office is to teach, is the m.old competent, though, 
 perhaps, not the only judge in this point. 
 
 (2.) A blamclzfs iffe^ not fcandalous and profane, 
 M-itt. vii. 6. Thofe cannot be fit guefts at the i:oly ta- 
 ble, v/hofe converfation is openly wicked. A'kI mini- 
 fters and elders, who are, by their oftice, overfeers of 
 i»hc manner:; of the people, are to canuire into tliis^--^ 
 
CJ)iirch-Cohimunijnopene(f» 225 
 
 And whofo duly confiders it, will find it a moll weighty 
 piece of work. 
 
 [i.] To the churchy and every member thereof: Is 
 it not the concern of every one of tlie fociety, who be 
 admitted as fellow-members of the body, to partake of 
 t!ie greateft privileges of the church? It is the duty of 
 all to do what in them lies, that God's^ ordinance be 
 not profaned, that the comiTiunion of faints, -w^hich is 
 one bread, receive not harm by the bringing in there- 
 to fuch.as will i\ain and defile it, and that tliey be not 
 partak-ers of other men's, fms. i Cor. v. 6, 7. Tour 
 glorying is nfj-t good ; knovj ye not that a Utilf kaveyz 
 leavemth the -luhoh lurap P purge cut therefore the 
 ohl leaven^ that ye may he a ne^^o iinnp. as ye are un- 
 leavened: For^ even Chr'ijl our -pajf over is facnficed 
 for as. 
 
 (>aeil:. JVhat can and ought priv::tc Chrifluns tQ 
 do in this cafe P 
 
 Anfj:. If the caf- or orTeiice of the party, being 
 fach as renders him unwortliy to be admitted, cannot 
 be removed with private admonition, either through 
 the party's obflinacy, or the publicncfs of it, in that 
 cafe, they ought to bring it to church officers, in or- 
 der to flop the admiifion, Matt, xviii. 15. If they do 
 not tlfis, they partake of the guilt ; if they do, they 
 have delivered their own fouls, thoudi the church 
 officers GlO not their duty, and may part-d:e witli a 
 good confcience. 
 
 [3.] To the party hiivftlf It is the taking on of 
 the external public badge of the ecmmunion of faints, 
 a folcmn declaration of his being one body with the 
 members of Chrift, th-e which rnuil: needs be of great 
 concern to any one who duly confiders I;ow folemn 
 and awful an a<ftion this is. To 2^0 about this \vork 
 ignorantiy, indeliberatcly, and railily, without due 
 preparation, is a taking of God's name in vain with a 
 witnefs. Wherefore, 
 
 (f.) Let thole who have a liand in admiilion to the 
 Lord's table, be careful and confcientious to approve, 
 thcmfelvcs to God in tnis weight)^ matter. 
 
'2.X6 The \'^ture of 
 
 (2.) Let the whole communicants be conceriied to 
 fee to it as they have opportunitv. 
 
 (3.) Let perfons looking that \va\- duly coniidcr 
 the weight of the matter. 
 
 Thofe who have been on:e orderly advnitted, may 
 at every occafion thereafter claim their privilege, in 
 cafe they have kept free from public fcandal. But as 
 for thofe who have not yet been orderly admitted, 
 they ought to make it a matter of time, that there be 
 no hurry in their admiffion. I have often com-Viained, 
 that foine never ilievv their denre of admiltion, till 
 there be little time left either for themfeives or us to 
 confider of that vreighty bulinefs. I have endeavour- 
 ed to prevent that, by giving intimation fome weeks 
 before, but aLno*! fill! in vain, as, to fome. May vve be 
 helped to take fome method hereafter that may effec- 
 tu-illy prevent iv. Is it not highly reafonable that 
 thofe who by omce are to fee to this, be fatisfied, both 
 as to the knowledge and converfation of thofe tlicy 
 mull admit? And why ffiould people be fo conceited 
 of themfelv^es as not allow a competent time for this? 
 Let all confider, 
 
 1. The ho?Vjiir of Chrift, how it is concerned in this 
 matter, that that be not faid concerning us, Rom ii. 
 24. ' The name of God is biafphemed among the Gen- 
 * tiles through 3'ou.' Tiie comely order of the Lor*l's 
 hoLife is, for Ins fake, to be carefully obferveJ. 
 
 2. Tiie ordinance is in r/.7?i^'-c'r of profanation, and all 
 are in hazard of being guilty of it. — Tiie admitters 
 bring guilt on themfeives when they are negligent in 
 this matter, Ezek. xliv. ^. ' In that ye have brcuglit 
 ' into my fancluary Grangers uncircumciied in heart, 
 ' and un.^ircumcifcd in flelh, to le in my fanctuary to 
 ' {pollute it, even my houfe, when ye ofcr my bread.' 
 Tnc whole church, w^hen they ar-e not in tiicir duty, 
 Lev. V. I. and the party, Ezek. xxiii. 30. 
 
 3. The church is in /;<.-.' z^^zr/^ of being defiled, Ileb. 
 xii. Z5. Lejr uny mot of biUcrmfs fpringing upjhould 
 trouble y(Ai J and thcitby inany he dzpkd. Some pro- 
 
Church-CQmmmirjn opened, 227 
 
 fane leaven brought in, may loon leaven the v.holj 
 lun^p. 
 
 4. The party who comes unwarrantably runs a ter- 
 liblc rifi^ I Cor. xi 29. For he that eiitcth and drink- 
 tth univsrthily^ eateth and drinheth danination to hiin- 
 Jelf^ fiot difcerning the Lord's body. 
 
 5. Tlie i*acran\ent of the Lord's iupper is to be high- 
 ly prized^ and the partakers of it to walk worthy of 
 their charadcr and prixilege. 
 
 (2, ) Let all thiofc wlio are come to ycani of difcre- 
 tion duly value this higli privilege, and tinifeufly pre- 
 pare tliemfelves to partake of it. Tliey milft- needs 
 be under mighty prejudices, or very untender perfons, 
 who, without much ado, live without this ordinance, 
 time afier time. 
 
 (2.) Let thofe who are partakers remxmber their 
 charader, as declared vifible members of the bodv of 
 Ch/iiiy and walk towards the Lord, and towards one 
 another, as thofe who arc the-Lord's by perfonal de- 
 dication, and live in cl^urch communion. 
 
 Thus have I lliewn you what a fociety profeffors 
 and communicants are, and what lies upon them by 
 virtue of their being thus jcir^d in Church Com- 
 munion. 
 
 ^ FINIS. 
 
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