The day of a godly Man's DEATH, Better than the day of his BIRTH.

THE main scope of the royal Preacher in this sacred book (written in his advanc'd years, and the product of great thought, as well as long expe­riment) is to correct many false sentiments, two common, th [...]' very foolish, concerning the chief good, and the [...] to human happiness; and to give us plain and [...] fallible direction in this great pursuit. [Page 2] Here he has laid together an admirable variety of just & wise & useful observations; many of which run counter to some of the receiv'd Notions of Man­kind, and at first view do not a little surprise and shock our Minds; but upon an impartial conside­ration they approve themselves to our enlighten'd reason, and challenge our belief & entertainment of them, as true and faithful sayings. He largely and clearly proves the vanity of this World; the vile­ness of Sin; the wisdom, excellency & manifold ad­vantages of Religion, and the necessity of being re­ligious in order to being happy.

THUS in our Text, He observes to us, that ‘the honour of virtue is preferable to all the enjoy­ments of this World: and that going out of this World is to the godly Man a greater kindness, Henry, in [...]. than his coming into the World was.’

A good Name is better than precious Oyntment: Under this phrase here of precious Oyntment, are comprehended all the riches, pleasures, & honours of the present World. In a good Name is imply'd true solid religion; the reality, as well as a repu­tation for it.

AND the Words carry in them this great truth, That a deserved good Name, or just character for wisdom & piety, is really more valuable, than all the pomp, & pleasures, & profits of this transitory World. A good Name is what all, that have any sense of de­cency or humanity, do put a high estimate upon, and rate even next unto Life: but to deserve a good Name is in truth more to be valu'd & desir'd than Life it self. To be divinely Wise & Good, is un­speakably [Page 3] better, than to be worldly great & rich Wisdom & Goodness are essential to our true happi­ness; but wealth & grandeur are not. The meanest Beggar, that hath, and meriteth a good Name, is infinitely happier, than the greatest Monarch upon Earth without it. Indeed the unthinking part of Mankind do call the proud happy: and there is a vulgar saying, Better be happy than wise; but this is none of Solomon's Proverbs; for [...]e tells us, Wisdom [...]s the principal thing; and Better (says he) is a poor and wise Child, than an old & foolish King, however great in dignity, or mighty in power. The good Man finds in the ways of religion the most solid pleasures, & obtains the truest honours, and durable riches. He is rich towards GOD, a Favourite of Hea­ven, & entituled to an Inheritance in Light, a King­dom of Glory; and when call'd out of this World, receives an open and abundant entrance thereinto. He then leaves behind him the Memory of the Just, which is blessed: He leaves his deceased body to take it's sweet rest in the unactive and impassible Grave, as in a bed of ease and honor, till the bright Morning of the Resurrection; while his better part, the immortal Spirit within him, in the moment of his dissolution returns to GOD, it's great Creator, Redeemer & Judge; into whose hand the departing Saint resign'd it, and by whom it is received to Glory.

HENCE from these blessed prospects of faith, the wise Preacher adds that noble passage, (the latter clause in our Text, and which only is design'd to employ our present Meditations,)— The day of Death is better than the day of one [...]s Birth. He [Page 4] speaks of bodily Death, and of natural Birth. He sets these two extreme points, one over against the other, without regarding the intermediate space; as if there was no more in the World, (so vain a thing he judg'd it,) but a time to be born, and a time to die. And (which is a paradox to foolish Sen­sualists) the latter he votes the more happy period. Not indeed that Death merely in a natural & irre­spective sense, is better than one's nativity: Nor that it is preferrible with respect to all men, the bad as well as good: No; for to the wicked, Death is the King of Terrors; the beginning of never-ending Sorrows; the dark entry, into blackness of darkness; the wages of Sin, and the gate of Hell. As for them that die in their sins, it were better for such, if they had never been born.—The Expression then must be understood in a restrain'd and qualified sense. It is not every one, but the godly man alone, that is here spoken of, the man of a good Name, the man of Wisdom. The Day of such an one's death, is better to him, than the Day of his Birth. ‘Tho' as to others there was Joy when Child was born into the World and where there is Death there [...] Lamentation; Henry, in [...]. yet as to our selves (that are call'd to die.) if we have so liv'd as truly to merit a good Name, the day of our Death is better than the day of our Birth.’

THIS then is the Lesson of Wisdom, now to be explain'd and apply'd; viz.

THAT to a godly Person, the day of his Death is (all things consider'd) abundantly better than the day of his Birth

[Page 5] DEATH in a physical consideration is a disso­lution of the vital union between Soul & Body; and so is a terrible Evil, very shocking to humane nature. And it is yet much more horrible, consider'd in a theological sense, as a fruit of the curse and the rouges of sin. Absolutely & simply consider'd, It is an evil, and an awful rebuke to mankind, having no goodness or worth in it. But relatively to Be­lievers, and in respect of the consequent state which 'tis a preface to, it's formidable aspect is chang'd, So or an enemy it becomes a friend: the curse being happily converted into a blessing. So that for the Believer to die, is Gain. The wicked indeed are great [...]osers; but the godly are unspeakable gainers by their dissolution. The advantages that accrue to them by Death, are infinitely preferrible to those which come to them by their Birth, and in their Life here.

THIS assertion in the Text is contrary indeed to the opinion of almost all mankind, who look up­on the day of birth as a day of joy & gladness, and celebrate their own or Childrens and Friends birth­days with solemn feasts & rejoycings: whereas they look on the day of death as a melancholy mournful time, Pool in loc. and so­ [...]emnize the funerals of others with all expressions of sorrow, and entertain the prospect & approach of their own Death with fear and trembling.

HOWEVER it is a truth with respect to the Chil­dren of God, that their Death-day is infinitely pre­ferrible to their Birth-day, all Circumstances and Consequences of both consider'd: and this will e­vidently appear, if we run the comparison in a few particulars; all which I shall reduce under those two general heads:

[Page 6] 1. DEATH delivers the Saints from those many Evils, which their birth was accompany'd with, or laid them open unto.

2. AT Death the Saints exchange the Gools of the present life & world (which their birth enter'd them into) for infinitely better Enjoyments.

1. AT Death the Saints are deliver'd from the many Evils, which their birth was accompany'd with, or opened the way unto. The day of death puts an end to all those sufferings & miseries, which their birth was the introduction to, or attended with.

1. THEY were born in Sin: but at Death they are discharg'd from all sin & moral pollution. The Saints were born in sin, as well as others. Hence that Confession of the Psalmist, the man after GOD's own heart, in Psal. 51. 5. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. And agreeably we read, in Ezek. 16. 3, &c. Th [...] saith the Lord to Jerusalem, Thy birth and thy nati­vity is of the Land of Canaan, thy father was at Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite. And as for thy nativity, in the day that thou wast born—, tho [...] wast cast out in the open field, to the lothing of [...] person,—polluted in thine own blood.—And now this moral pollution adheres in part even to the Regenerate, so long as they continue in this life. Hence that groan and exclamation of the A­postle, (personating the Saint, as he is generally understood) Rom. 7. 24. O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death!— In Regeneration there is a mortal wound given to this body of Sin in the Elect; but still the Princi­ple remains in them; all their life-long they find a [Page 7] law of sin in their members, warring against the law of holiness in their minds; and after all their weeping and praying and striving against sin, they can't get rid of this vexatious In-mate, while in the pre­sent world: Yea, they are often led aside, and led captive by this Enemy and Traitor within. There is not a just man upon earth, that d [...]th good and [...]in­neth not: but in many things they all offend; & even when they would do good, evil is present with them.

BUT what a happy Change will Death infer! Death will discharge Believers from all the remains of Sin in them, will purge out every corruption, and perfectly mortify every lust; and will bring them under a blessed Impeccability, or a happy ne­cessity of being completely holy. Death dissolves the earthly Tabernacle, and so it is cleansed wholly from the Leprosy that was cleaving to it. The body of sin is left behind with the body of flesh. After Death the Believer shall be perfectly sinless, spotless, and unblemishable. There shall not be the least possible vanity in his thoughts, or irregularity in his will, or saint in his affections, either with re­spect to GOD or Creatures.

AND this surely argues the day of the Believer's death, to be better than the day of his birth. For Sin is the w [...]st of Evils; most subversive of the perfection of our nature, and destructive of our real happiness. It is then a blessed and glorious Change which is made at Death, and of ineffable advantage to the Believer; when he is deliver'd from this pernicious evil.

2. THEY were [...] in a state of Ignorance and [...]; but [...] of [...] remain after Death. [Page 8] Man is born as the wild Asses Colt; without under­standing, like the Beasts, which perish; without the knowlege of the Holy One; having his mind darkned, and his eyes blinded by the God of this World, the Prince of darkness, that ruleth in the hearts of the Children of disobedience. This is man's natural state. Now in Conversion the Elect are deliver'd out of the Kingdom of darkness, and bro't into marvelious light. The eyes of their understan­dings are open'd, and the rays of divine Discove­ries shine into them. They are made to know GOD, and JESUS CHRIST whom he had sent; and have reveal'd to them many mysteries of the King­dom; which things are spiritually discerned by them and by none else. However their Knowlege, a [...] as well as Holiness, in this life is very imperfect. But in the life that is to come, their Knowlege shall be infinitely elevated. 1 Cor. 13. 9,—12. For [...] know in part, and we prophesie in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childist things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; [...] then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. The most know­ing Saints in this world, are but Children in under standing. There are a great many things which they are utterly ignorant of. A great many thing which they know not the particular reasons nor the special ends of; and a great many things which they know not the modus or manner of. And the knowlege, which they have of any thing, is as [...] [Page 9] the degree very imperfect, scanty, and shallow. It is of short compass; and little depth. But in the future State, their knowlege shall be perfected, when the eyes of their bodies shall be clos'd, the eyes of their Souls will be open'd; all clouds shall [...] away, all scales fall off; and no ignorance, darkness, doubt, or error about any thing, remain in their illuminated understandings. This World [...] in darkness; But Heaven is a Land of Light, glorious Light. There the Saints shall see clearly into all the Secrets of Nature, the Riddles of Pro­vidence, the Depths of Satan, the Mysteries of Godliness, the Wonders of redeeming love, and the hidden things of the invisible Regions. They shall have bright manifestations and disclosures made to them of the Divine Nature, Perfections, Persons, Works, &c. and perhaps of many more Attributes, as well as Works, than now we have any notice of. When the Saints die, they as 'twere pass out of ob­scure darkness into the open light, most sweet and pleasant. A far more glorious change they feel, than the man born blind perceiv'd, whose eyes our Saviour open'd, to behold the Heavens and the Earth, with all their glories and pleasancies, which he never before had seen. The light arises to them with a ravishing lustre, beauty, and sur­prise; it breaks forth as the morning (after a black and stormy night) fair and without a cloud; and shining brighter and brighter, to the perfect day of the Resurrection: when it shall receive astonishing advances; the light of the moon becoming as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun, becoming seven sold, as the light of seven days. As much [Page 10] then as Light excelleth darkness; so much doth the day of a godly man's death, excell the day of his birth.

3. THEY were born under the Wrath of GOD, and in a state of Condemnation: but they die in the Favour of GOD, and in a state of [...]. They were by nature Children of wrath, even as others, Eph. 2. 3. The whole world is guilty be­fore GOD. All mankind are born under the Sen­tence of death, under the curse of the divine Law; liable to the severest strokes of GOD's revenging Justice, and being the just objects of his utter ab­horrence; having all his Attributes armed in op­position to them, cloth'd with vengeance, and look­ing with an angry menacing eye upon them.

BUT now Believers ( being found in Christ, not having on their own righteousness, but that which is of God by faith) die in the embraces of divine kind­ness. They fall asleep in Jesus: They die there fore in a justified estate, free from the condemning power of the law, and interested in the special fa­vour of GOD; being the heirs of his love, as [...] reconciled Father; having the gladsome light of his Countenance (many times sensibly) shining into their Souls; and every Divine Attribute speaking peace, and sweetly smiling upon them. As much then as the Favour of GOD ( which is better that life,) is more desirable than his Wrath, (which is worse than death,) so much preferable is the day of a Believer's death to the day of his birth.

4. THEY were born in a state of bondage and servitude: They die in a state of liberty and triumph Sin has degraded and sunk men into a state of the [Page 11] vilest slavery & most ignominious drudgery. They are the born-slaves of Satan, he rules in their hearts, and leads them captive in their natural Condition at his will. Satan conquer'd [...] in Paradise: and all his natural Posterity are therefore by right of conquest under his dominion: And Oh! what more deplorable calamity, than to be under bondage to Satan, our great Adversary? What worse plague than to be slaves to him, who was a murderer from the beginning; to be under the power of this evil one, this bloody Tyrant, whose mercies are cruelty, whose whole aim and endeavour is to plunge us into the depths of woe and misery; and who is exceed­ing subtil, deceitful and powerful, as well as im­placably malicious, and indefatigably industrious in pursuing his accursed designs? O wretched men that we are, who shall deliver us! I thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who giveth his saints the victory. In regeneration the Elect are deliver'd from the power of Satan, rescu'd from the captive-chains he has put upon them, and are no more led and govern'd by him at his pleasure. However while in this world, he manages a war against them, and uses all possible artifices to reduce them under his dominion, and enslave them again in the bond of Iniquity. And sometimes he miserably foils & wounds them, and occasions 'em no little difficulty and disturbance.

BUT when Death comes, then the Saints are dismist from their warfare, discharg'd from all their spiritual conflicts, made free indeed by the Son of God: and enter upon a state of triumph; where they carry Palms of victory in their hands, and [Page 12] wear glittering Crowns of Glory on their heads; and are at an infinite distance from all possible in­jurious influences or assaults of the malignant Pow­ers of Hell and Earth. No fiery dart can reach & annoy them; nor any venomous Serpent sting or hiss at them. There the wicked one ceases from troub­ling; and all their Enemies are made their foot­stool. Thus at Death the scene is alter'd; they exchange their militant State for a triumphant. They pass out of the field of battle into the city of triumph. Indeed when their bodies are thrown into the grave and lie under the bands of Death, they seem to be captives, and close prisoners of war, or rather slain & kill'd by the enemy; but in truth they are conquerors, yea more than conquerors. In dying they obtain a victory more glorious than all the celebrated conquests of Coesar or Alexander. A Mystery this! tho' they die in the fight, yet they overcome by the blood of the Lamb; and ride in a triumphal Chariot, drawn by mighty Angels, with the highest ensigns of victory, thro' the Territories of the Prince of the power of the air, into the hea­venly Kingdom, where they receive not a crown of fading laurel, but a far more exceeding and eter­nal weight of Glory. And surely this bespeaks the day of a Believers Death to be better than the day of his Birth.

5. THEY were born in a state of Trouble, Misery & Sorrow, on outward as well as spiritual Accounts; but at Death they are put out of the reach of all. Innumerable Diseases & Disasters await & threaten every man, as soon as he comes into the World. Job 14. 1. Man that is born of a woman is of few days [Page 13] and [...] of trouble. Job 5. 7. Man is born unto trou­ble, as the sparks fly upward. It is as natural since the fall, which brought death and misery into the world, for man to be in trouble, as 'tis for the sparks to fly upward. Affliction is become in a sense congenial, and proper to man: Evil pur­sues him continually and unavoidably, while in a state of sin or imperfection. Who can enumerate the vast & horrid Train of Calamities, that man as soon as born is compass'd withal! There is sickness, pain, poverty, disgrace, slavery, bereavements, &c. These things all are liable to, as soon as they come into this evil World, and as long as they continue here. Even Believers themselves while here do often me [...] with sore trials. Many are the afflictions of the righteous. Their lives are sometimes filled up with a course and succession of troubles; and in much tribulation they pass the time of their [...] on earth, But now at Death, Believers are deliver'd out of their suffering state. When they die they put off their sackcloth and every to­ken of sorrow. They rest from their labours, fatigues, and inquietudes; never more to eat the bread of ad­versity, or to drink the waters of affliction. At death all their tears and fears are done away, and every threatning cloud vanishes; there remains no more any weak & trembling hand, or feeble knees; no more any quivering lips or fearful heart; no more any weeping eye, or wounded bleeding spirit, no fighting breast, no pale face. nor complaining voice, After death they shall no more get their bread with the sweat of their brows; they shall no more hunger [...] thirst; neither shall the sun light on them, nor [Page 14] any heat. In the grave they'l be hid from the scourge of the tongue, shall no more hear the voice of calumny, nor be trampled on by the foot of pride. There the weary are at rest, and the servant is free from his cruel master; the prisoners rest together, and the poor are saved from the hand of the mighty. The Saints at death pass into a safe harbour & quiet haven, where they are beyond every rough sea, and no proud wave can dash against them, nor any tossing tempest or rude occurrent invade them ever, to disturb their sweet repose. This shews that the day of Believers death is better than the day of their birth; which usher'd them into a World of sin & sorrow & vexation, and brought them on this stage of vanity, where are scenes of care & trou­ble and difficulty without number.

6. THEY were born in a very dangerous & ex­posed condition; liable to the damnation of H [...]ll, but Death puts them out of all danger. Every one is born an heir of Hell. Every Child, as soon a born, is in danger of the Judgment, in danger o [...] Hell-fire, liable to be cast into the devouring flame and everlasting burnings.—But now Believe [...] (having been first in their Justification legally ac­quitted,) are at their death actually deliver'd from the wrath to come; deliver'd for ever from going down into the horrible pit, and their state render [...] eternally safe and secure. This reflection loudly proclames the happy difference between the dea [...] of Believers, and their birth; and tells us that the former is unspeakably preferrible to the latter.

7. THEY were born in a state of exile [...] estrangement from the blessed GOD; but when the [...] [Page 15] die, are admitted into his special & glorious presence Adam in his first & innocent estate walk [...]d with God, and was happy in his gracious presence & blessed fellowship, suting under his shadow with delight; and his banner over him was love. But Adam by his disobedience forfeited and lost this inestimable privilege, both as to himself, and his whole natural posterity: So that all the guilty race of fallen Man are born in a state of distance & alienation from GOD, and are under a sentence of banishment from His presence. All men are by nature Fugitives from the face of GOD, Deserters, Aliens, & Exiles. The Scripture in many places ascribes to them these characters. And tho' the Elect are in their regene­ration restored to communion with GOD, and are said, from being afar off, to be brought nigh by the blood of JESUS: yet as long as they abide in the Earth, walking by faith, and not by sight, they call themselves Pilgrims & Stangers; and are said still to be absent from the Lord. Their fellowship with GOD is but mediate, and very broken & unsettled. But when they die, then they are called home, and receiv'd into their heavenly Father's house; where they are no longer at the least unhappy distance from Him, or under any hidings of His face. Then faith ends in vision, & hope expires in fruition, and love ripens into extasy of joy. When they are absent from the body, they're present with the Lord, 2 Cor. 5. 8. and what unknown happiness does this imply!

THUS the day of the Believers death is better than the day of his birth, inasmuch as it delivers him from those many [...], which his birth was either [...] with or introductory [...].

[Page 16] II. THE truth of the doctrine will more clearly be seen, if we compare the Goods & Advantages of the present & future state; which will appear very diffe­rent and unequal. The glorious Excellencies & Fe­licities of that state Believers die into are infinitely superiour to all the Enjoyments & Advantages that state they are born into. The latter when weighed with the former are but as small dust of the ballance. Here to hint a few things briefly: and I shall be the more brief in some of the particulars, because I find I have somewhat improperly prevented my self in the former part of the discourse.

1. DEATH translates the Elect into a state of Retribution; Birth only introduc'd them into a state of Probation. The present Life is their working season, and time of preparation for Eternity: [...] are here in a state of expectancy, upon their [...] and under discipline; this is the state they are bort into: but Death translates them into a state of it wards; where they are above means & ordinances and no longer wear the style of Candidates or Pro­bationers, but change it for that of Possessors and [...]. Immediately upon their death, comes the particular Judgment, which declares them good and faithful Servants, and decrees to them the eternal recompences. As much then as the End is [...] excellent than the Means, so much does the future state excell the present.

2. DEATH transmits Believers into a Place [...] better than the place, which their [...] them into. They were born into this World, they die into another and Superiour World. They [...] brought forth in a vale of tears; when they [Page 17] die, they ascend into the mount of glory, the ever­lasting [...]ill of blessing. Death transports them in­to a better Country, even an heavenly. Indeed the Bodies of departed Saints are reposited in the gloo­my and noisome grave, (so it is to sense, tho' to faith it's enlightned & persumed by our LORD's once lying in it where cover'd with the clods of the valley, they become a prey to sordid worms; and lie undistinguish'd from the bodies of the wicked, till the day, when the SON of GOD shall raise them out of the polluted earth, and fashion them like His own most glorious body. However as to the sepa­rate Spirits of just men, these immediately pass out of the dark valley into the realms of light & bliss; and are lodged safe in everlasting mantions of rest & joy, magnificence & beauty. Luk. 23. 43. This day (said the crucifyed JESUS to the penitent Thief on the cross with Him) shalt thou [...]e with me in Pa­radise;—a place this, never stain'd with sin, nor shaded by any sorrow; a place design'd by infinite Goodness for the everlasting entertainment of God's Children; contriv'd by infinite Wisdom, created by infinite Power, and purchased by infinite Me­rit: every way becoming the glory and bounty of the great Giver, and conspiring to the happiness of the Possessors: a place all calm, harmonious, and serene, inconceivably bright, glorious & ravishing; which needs neither Sun nor Moon to enlighten it; for the Lamb is the light thereof. Surely this trou­blesome and howling Wilderness is not worthy to be compar'd with the promised Canaan, that good Land, & glory of all lands, the perfection of beauty. Surely Heaven is a place infinitely more eligible [Page 18] than this dark & filthy Earth. And proportionably more desirable to a Believer is the day of his death, than the day of his birth.

3. DEATH unites Believers to infinitely better Society, than what their birth introduced them into. The best company in this world are the Saints; but how imperfect are these? and what a mixture is there of the wicked among them, whose evil conver­sation must needs vex every righteous Soul? And thus it is often, the Saints are so troubled at or by the grievous ways of bold Transgressors, that they cry out one and another, Wo is me that I dwell in Mesech, that I sojourn in the tents of Kedar! and their wish for the wings of a Dove, that so they might flee away and be at rest.—Yea, here on Earth, the Society of the Godly among themselves, is wretchedly imbitter'd & sour'd by the unhappy relicts of the old Leven in them. Pride, Envy, Un­charitableness, Ignorance, and Error do in no little degree too often disturb and spoil the conversation of the Saints themselves.—But there are no Jarrs, Discords, or Misunderstandings among perfected Spirits. There are no storms in the upper & invi­sible regions. The Saints in heaven are all en­tirely joyned together in one mind; they all speak the same pure Language, and sing one uninterrup­ted Song. They are all Unity; Peace and Love, Order, & Concord. Mutual Endearments are con­tinually passing from one to t'other among the An­gels & Saints; and charity reigns which is the bond of perfection. What a happy change then does the Believer make at Death! And how surprising to him to go out of a humor some, foolish, wrangling [Page 19] world, and find himself presently in the midst of Saints and Angels, whose conversation is the most wise, (infinitely wiser than that in Solomon's Court) the most amicable, peaceful, and every way char­ming; embraced by them with the loudest congra­tulations, and receiving from them the highest ex­pressions of Love & Friendship. Is it not desirable then to take our farewell of this lower world, this habitation of cruelty, this den of Dragons; and mounting on the wings of ministring Spirits, to take our f [...]ight up to the heavenly World, the regi­on of peace, tranquillity, and happiness?— Yea, surely! If Peter, when in the Mount with Moses and Elias, and the transfigur'd JESUS, rejoyced in spirit, and said, It is good being here; What a rapture then was he in, when death carry'd him to Mount Zion, to the city of the living GOD, the hea­venly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of Angels, and the spirits of just men, to the glorify'd JESUS, and to GOD the Judge of all?

4. DEATH advances Believers to infinitely higher Honours than any are born to or ever attain in this world. At Death they are fixed in the most honourable Station, and employ'd in the most noble & exalted services; They are care [...]st in Abraham's bosom: they sit down with Christ in his Throne, and share with Him in all His glory, ( Rev. 3. 21. Job. 17. 24.) They shine as the Stars, yea as the Sun in the Kingdom of Heaven. And surely there can be no Dignities in this world comparable to those hea­venly Preferments. The Saints are made Kings and Priests unto GOD & the Father; at death they put on their costly shining robes, and their spark­ling [Page 20] massy crowns of honour; and become Pillars in the Temple which is above, beautiful & glorious. They have a good name, more excellent than the name of the great ones in the earth; and none of the Potentates of this World, none of the chief Cap­tains or mighty men may be compar'd with them. Verily Solomon in all his terrene Pomp and Glory (which the Queen of the South so much admir'd) was infinitely inferiour to them.

5. DEATH possesses Believers of infinitely bet­ter and greater Riches, than any which the Sons of men are ever [...] of in this World. In Heaven there are Treasures unknown, riches unsearchable, the true riches; out-bidding our most raised ex­pectations & exceeding our most extended wishes; In our parison of which all the wealth of this world is but a trifle; a thing of nought, meer emptiness and vanity. In Heaven the Saints enjoy GOD and CHRIST, and the blessed SPIRIT: in whom are all possible treasures of good, and an universal con­fluence of all imaginable Beatitudes. The riches of divine [...]sufficiency are expended on the Saints is Light, They have riches of glory, which no mor­tal eye hath seen, no ear heard, neither have enter'd into the heart of man. 1 Cor. 2. 9.

IN a word, The Saints at death enter Life, a more noble life than this earthly: and into a state of the most refined pleasures. They are admitted then in­to the world of light, and life, and love, and enjoy­ment: into the world of blessed realities, of sub­stantial unmingl'd and immortal delights Where, what was here their consolation, is perfected; and unknown pleasures super [...]dded to enhance the satis­faction. [Page 21] Here they fed on corruptible things: in Heaven they eat Angels unperishing food; the sweetest, purest and most delicious fare imaginable, They are blessed with all spiritual blessings in heaven­ly places in Christ Jesus: Blessings incomparably more sublime and rich, than what this world in it's best estate can afford. The unsparing hand of Divine Love is open and bountiful in the com­municatio [...] of every desirable and satisfying Good. without the least evil mixture or interruption. And the faculties of the humane Soul are invigorated & widen'd to receive, to sustain, and enjoy the ful­lest and most felicitating derivations of divine fa­vour. Here in this world the Soul is not capable of taking in, or subsisting under, what perfected Spirits enjoy. I suppose, Adam himself in Para­dise had not a mind big and strong enough, to ad­mit the rays of heavenly light, and bear up under the excess of glory and felicity enjoy'd above: but in order to this, even his powers needed some fur­ther enlargement and fortification. How weak and [...]ceivible was his understanding; how wavering and mutable his will, how corruptible his affections and appetites? He was form'd and fitted by his nature, to live in a world of sense, to converse with earthly objects, and to feed on the dust. Though there was an admirable rectitude in all his faculties, yet there was not that elevation, activity, capacity, and vigour which the Saints in light have. The natural life of man, even in his state of integrity, was a low mean animal life, in compare with the heavenly. The life of Saints after death is more spiritual, [...], and divine The image of GOD [Page 22] upon them is drawn with more illustrious characters. The divine nature in them is raised to a glorious perfection. Their understandings are filled with beatifical light, & their wills with the most seraphic love. They have the supreme Truth unveiled before them, and the supreme Good immediately prefe [...] with them; and hence their own nature being sub­limated, and enabled to take in the fullest discove­ries, and bear the strongest happy impressions, ho [...] unspeakably blessed must glorified Saints necessarily be! O how rich, glorious and happy beyond a comparison or comprehension! What a most [...] excellent, divine life do they live!—In heaven with all their enlarged powers they serve & glorify and enjoy GOD, in such an exalted manner, as above our present capacity or conception. In the life that now is, the Saints are in their infancy an childhood; but at death their manly state arrives the infant of days commences a perfect man, an the child dies an hundred years old, Isa. 65. 2 [...]. Death is to the Saints a happy transitus from mi­nority to maturity, and advances them to a blessed heighth of knowlege, wisdom, holiness and joy such as was never found in any Saint on earth; [...] not in our first Parents themselves, even wh [...] newly come out of the creating hands of GOD with the glory of his image upon them.

AND, which unspeakably magnifies the bliss an excellency of their state, it is eternal and immuta­ble. The primitive paradisaical state of man we veriable & uncertain. There was a possibility of it coming to a conclusion; as wretched experienced has dolefully manifested. But now the blessed state [Page 23] of glorified Spirits is eternal: their beauty unfa­ding; their inheritance incorruptible, their crown unperishable, a more enduring substance, a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. In which respect the Saints in heaven are vastly hap­pier than Adam in innocence; and are as the Angels of GOD; dwelling in a Kingdom which cannot be moved, in life everlasting. When Believers die, they do in a most emphatical sense pass from Death unto Life. Death is the Soul's flight into the land of the living, the ocean of divine life; even a state of blessedness, eternally progressive.

THUS in various regards, it is made evident that the day of a godly man's death, is better than the day of his birth. In the day of his death he is de­livered from innumerable Evils, which in the day of his birth he was either suffering of or subject unto. And in the day of his Death, he receives possession of innumerable & inestimable Felicities, infinitely superior to all the advantages and blessings which that state can possibly afford, that in the day of his birth he entred into. He had privileges in his birth­day: he has privileges in his death-day: yet the last are more than the first; and better is the end of his life, than the beginning thereof.

BUT before I come to the Application, let me just hint here one thought further, which is, That as the day of a Believer's death is preferable to the day of his birth, with respect to himself, his own comfort and happiness: so it is preferable likewise with respect to GOD, his glory and praise. Preci­ous in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. When a Saint dies, GOD receives more glory, [Page 24] than he did when the man was born. His nativity and introduction into this world, was an ordinary work of Providence; but his departure and transla­tion to a better world is a special work of Redemp­tion. At his birth, the common goodness of GOD to the Person born, to the Parents, and World, was exercised. At his death the peculiar love and rich grace of GOD towards the dissolved Person is dis­play'd in receiving his separated Soul to infinite happiness. At his birth, the Person himself could not actively praise GOD for his goodness: at best he cou'd only borrow assistence from others; and sinful Men on earth were his mouth, if any at all praised GOD on his behalf, in the day he was born: but now in the day of his death, the Saint himself blesses GOD: he ascends to GOD in the chariot of praise, incircled with a bright guard of shouting Angels: He enters into Zion, the city of GOD, with songs and ever­lasting joy upon his head: All Saints and Scrap [...]s triumphantly greet him upon his glad arrival; they exalt the LORD together & magnify his name with thanksgiving. The whole heavens ring with ac­clamations of joy & loud Hallelujahs on the blessed occasion. GOD is glorified in the Saint, whether in life or death; yet the latter is more glorious than the former. But I shall dismiss this thought: and now proceed to draw some useful deductions, and [...] you in the practical improvement of the for­mer notion or thought upon the Text.

USE, I. HENCE [...] much better than the day [...] his birth, will the day of the godly man's Resur­rection [...]!

[Page 25] IF the day of his death has so great a pre-emi­nence above the day of his birth, how much better then will the day of his future Resurrection be! The day of his more public espousals, more glorious coronation, and illustrious triumphs! The day when his body shall be raised out of the silent dust in great power and untarnisht glory; the day, when this corruptable shall put on incorruption, and this mortal put on immortality, and Death shall be swallowed up in victory. The day when Soul and Body (those ancient & long separated Friends) shall be re uni­ted, and their redemption perfected; and a vast ad­dition thereupon be made to the blessedness and glory of the Saint. O happy day! Bright and bliss­ful morning, that shall never know any cloud or evening!

USE, II. HENCE how much worse is the day of the ungodly man's death, than the day of his birth! Contrarys have contrary consequences. The bles­sedness in the text is appropriated to the wise and godly. This plainly informs us of the vast difference there is between the Death of Saints and Sinners. It is a natural inference from the text, that the day of an unbeliever's death is worse than the day of his birth: Worse it is indeed; for the Unbeliever [...]ies in the same miserable state wherein he was born; and this exceedingly aggravated. He dies more under the power of an enraged Devil, and of furious Lusts; under greater guilt, and more terri­ble wrath; loses all the Comforts of this life, with the hopes of a better, and is carried down into E­verlasting Torments, beyond all relief. O how egregiously foolish then are carnal Sinners to pride [Page 26] themselves in an honourable birth, a rich patrimo­ny, beauty of body, bright endowments of nature, and the like; since they were born in a state of sin and wrath, and have such a dreadful doom awaiting them! O the madness that is in the hearts of jovial secure Sinners, who are going down to the dead, and their feet take hold of [...] but they know it not: & the fire besets them round about, yet they lay it not to heart. Eccl. 11. 7, 8 Truly the light is sweet, and pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun. But if a man live many years, and rejoyce in them all; yet let him remem­ber the days of darkness, for they shall be many Isa. 65. 20. The sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.

USE, III. WHAT Obligations then are Believer under to GOD for sending his Son to be our Savio [...] It is by means of CHRIST's Obedience unto the Death, that the day of Believers death is better than the day of their birth. Had not the SON of GOD taken to himself humane nature, been born of woman, fulfilled the Law, and borne the curse, a mankind must necessarily have been forever lost that state of sin and guilt, wherein they are born None eye pityed us, to do any of these unto us, to have compassion upon us; but we were cast out, an must have perish'd, had not the LORD looked upon us, and said unto us, LIVE. Blessed be GOD the GOD of all grace, who has so loved the work as to send forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem and save his Elect. He laid help on one mighty to save; who has for then conquer'd & disarm'd the king of terrors; has take [Page 27] away the bitterness of death of his cross, and turned this cup of affliction, (the last which Believers shall drink,) into a cup of blessing. O what thanks do Believers owe to GOD and CHRIST! O how pre­tious shou'd the Redeemer be unto you, and how glorious in your eyes a compassionate GOD! Take to your selves words, and sing as in 1 Cor. 15. 55, 56, 57. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Let all the saints of the most high, joyn their thankful & triumphant Amen, to this Song of Joy and Praise.

USE, IV. HERE is matter of Comfort to us all under the bereavement of godly Relatives & Friends. It has been a very melancholy dying time among us of late; and (which is a great aggravation of the mortality, and shou'd put the sharpest accents upon our lamentations) the LORD seems not so much to have been weeding up the worst, as trans­planting the best. However, that these are only transplanted; not lost and perish'd; but remov'd to another and better place, having exchanged earth for heaven, is a consideration, which shou'd be improv'd to temper our sorrow, and qualify our mourning. The bereavement of pious and dear Relatives and Acquaintants is one of the tenderest and most affecting trials in the world; and calls for special supports to keep us from being over­whelmed with tears of bitterness. Now what greater support, what greater refreshment, than this, to consider that their death was a blessed and glorious [Page 28] change to them; that they are still alive in their better part or immortal nature, and are with GOD Well then, has Death ravisht from us our dear in­fant Children, that were in covenant with GOD has he taken away our pious, hopeful young ones or elder praying and useful Relations or Friends Here is matter of great Consolation; a reviving cor­dial provided, which may keep us from fainting. If the day of their death was better to them, that the day of their birth, (as we are sure it was) [...] then shou'd we be dejected or impatient, and mou [...] inordinately? Methinks I now hear the decease Godly saying to us, as our departing Saviour to his Disciples, Joh. 14. 28. If ye loved me, ye would re­joyce because I go unto the Father. And as in Lu [...]. 23. 28. Weep not for me: but weep for your selves and for your children.

THE prospect of that happy Change, they have made, should check our hard thoughts of GOD, [...] curb our uneasy resentments. This shou'd almost [...] up our flowing tears, & turn our pensive complain into thanksgiving Songs. We have reason to con­gratulate, rather than to condole their remove. Thus, as to our deceased Children particularly; [...] we not rejoyce at their birth? Why then do we [...] much more rejoyce in their death, as a happy Translation and unspeakable Gain to them; [...] of such (the children of the Covenant) is the King­dom of GOD, If we mourn immoderately, it is [...] carnal self-love, and idolatrous Creature- [...]. O when shall we learn to die to Creatures; and un­der the loss of them, to weep as tho' we wept [...] I would not have you to be ignorant, Brethren, con­cerning [Page 29] them which are asleep, that ye sorrow nor even as others which have no hope: But if we be­lieve that Jesus died and rose again; even so them likewise who sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.—Wherefore comfort one another with these words, 1 Thes. 4. 13,&c.

USE, V. HERE is matter of Support to Belie­vers, under all the various Troubles of Life. What thô you meet with much Adversity, and many tri­als both in the inner and outer man? Yet here is a Consideration sufficient, if duely entertain'd, to alleviate all your heavy burdens, and sweeten all your bitter Cups; The day of your death shall be infinitely better to you, than the day of your birth; and that happy day is not afar off. Let this there­fore encourage you, and invigorate your believing Hope & Patience amidst all your Tribulations, and wise you above all the terrors of se [...]se. By a [...] eye of faith look through the gloomy scenes of Time, and take a prospect of your happy Exit, that draws [...]igh; which will bring on bright & never-ending scenes of glory, & will put an everlasting period to all [...]our present difficulties, doubts, dangers & distresses. O Believer, lift up your hands that hang down, and lay hold on eternal life: lift up your eyes & look for that blessed hope: lift up your heads with joy; for your redemption draweth nigh.

USE, VI. HENCE the Children of GOD need not be afraid of Death; nor unwilling to die, at the all of Providence. This thought shou'd reconcile [...] to Death, change the visage of this last enemy, [...] teach you to look upon it as your Friend, (ra­ [...]ter than your Foe) coming with a message of [Page 30] peace, and not of terror to you; and make you wel­come its approach, at what time, or in what way so­ever. Why shou'd you [...] Death with any a­mazement, or why shou'd you love Life with an fondness and delight, since the day of your death so much to be prefer'd to the day of your birth, any days of your life here? Learn then to [...] with the Apostle, Act. 20. 24. Neither count I [...] life dear unto my self, so that I might finish my [...] with joy. 1 Cor. 5. 8. We are willing rather to absent from the body, and to be present with the [...]. 2 Tim. 4. 6. &c. I am now ready to be offered;— I have fought a good fight. Hence forth there is [...] up for me a crown of righteousness. &c. Let this, Believer, be the temper and language and earned expectation of your Soul. O take heed you do no grieve the divine Spirit, by whom you are sea [...] to the day of redemption; nor reflect on the fai [...] and hope of the Gospel, by a servile love of life, slavish dread of death. Be neither ashamed of [...] reproach, nor afraid for the terror of death; seeing both are taken away by the cross of CHRIST.

USE, VII. HENCE we may infer matter caution & direction, with respect to the celebrat [...] one's Birth-day.

THERE are divers special periods of time, whi [...] have contracted a kind of solemnity, and have us­ually some peculiar regards paid to them. Th [...] the Beginning of the Year is a remarkable season and what every one takes a particular notice of Some of the Servants of GOD have sometimes lem [...]z'd it by a religious employment of it, and found their account in so doing.—There is like­wise [Page 31] one's Birth-day, which is to every man his New-Year's day. This also has been signaliz'd by special respects paid to it. The anniversary cele­bration of birth-days is an ancient custom. Tho' in sacred Scripture we read not of any that practised this, Gen. 40. 20. Mar. 6 21. Hos. 7. 5. but Pharaoh, and Herod, and perhaps Jeroboam (the second) King of Israel. It is not recorded of Abraham, of David, or any of the Saints and Peo­ple of GOD, as I remember. Yet Divires do not universally nor absolutely condemn the custom. As to the thing it self (besure) there is no institution or command of GOD for it. To commemorate our birth and beginning is what the duty of every day requires: however it may be the more special work of an anniversary day, provided all superstition and abuse be avoided. The civil observation of birth­days, and making [...]atalitial entertainments practi­sed by persons of distinction, who on such occasions have the company and receive the civilities of their Friends, as well as confer favours on their Servants and Dependents, Henry's Expos. of Gen. 40. 20. is a usage in it self lawful, and innocent enough if due regard be had to the rules of christian sobriety and moderation. But to devote such days (as the Persons before mention'd did) to perfect Idleness, Luxury and extravagant [...]irth, is to bid defiance to their great Creator, to contradict the ends and reasons of their birth, and to act as if they were sent into the world only to serve their bellys, and gratify the lusts of the flesh. Methinks, in the solemnization of one's birth­day, retirement with fasting and prayer, were a [Page 32] greater propriety than carnal feasting and merri­ment with others. It seems more agreeable and proper to observe it as a time of humiliation, than of rejoycing: at least there should be a pious mix­ture of humble and devout reflections upon such a [...] occasion: For what was the day, which we com­memorate? Truly a day full of unhappy circum­stances, that call for a godly sorrow and shame. [...] observes, That an eminent Person, in his Diaries as often as his Birth-day arrived, wrote this; [...] Calamitatis, i.e. A CALAMITOUS DAY unto me: A day therefore it is for a man to afflict his Soul in. At such a time we shou'd seriously reflect on the guilt, pollution, misery and danger, which attended us in the day of our Birth. It shou'd deeply af­fect us to consider, what we were born; Ignorant, sinful, miserable Creatures: Children of wrath Children of the Devil, and Heirs of Hell. It sho [...] deeply affect us to consider, what we are while in natural State; a seed of evil-doers, rebels again [...] GOD, enemies of CHRIST, hating of, and hated [...] him. It shou'd affect us to consider, how (while [...] unrenewed condition) we spend our years in [...] and in sin; and all the days of our life are ( [...] some sense) worse than the day of our birth.—It should affect us to consider, the patience & [...] of Heaven towards us; and fill us [...] wonder to think, what Cumberers of the gro [...] we have been, and yet are spared, and have had [...] lives fill'd up with mercies.—It shou'd affect us [...] consider the goodness of GOD to us in our [...]. ^† [Page 33] that tho' we came guilty, polluted and wretched, into a wretched, polluted, guilty World, yet we were not born dead, nor born Fools and Ideots, not born among Papists or Pagans, in a land of Dark­ness: but among Christians & Protestants, in a land of light; where we were, almost as soon as born, solemnly given up to GOD in Baptism, in the way of his appointment, engag'd to be the LORD's, and his favour intreated for us; where we were no soon­er come to any maturity, but we had Parental In­structions, as well as Ministerial; where we have the word preach'd to hear, and the word written to read; in which are brought to us the glad tidings of a SAVIOUR, and the gracious offers of Salvation by him made unto us. We shou'd offer praises to GOD, that he has looked upon us in our low estate; sent his Son JESUS CHRIST to purchase for us Re­demption out of the sinful state we were born in, & sent forth his holy SPIRIT to apply the purchased Redemption to all that believe in the name of JESUS. We shou'd bless the Divine SPIRIT for all his strivings with us and breathings in us. More­over, We should solemnly examine ourselves, whe­ther we have been made partakers of spiritual Regeneration; whether we are born from above & renewed in the spirit of our minds. If we find this is not our case, then we shou'd be solicitous it may become so; and immediately apply to CHRIST the head of Influences, for regenerating grace, and resolve not to rest easy till we are born again, and have CHRIST formed in us. But on the other hand, if really we are begotten of GOD, and created in CHRIST JESUS to good works, we shou'd be thankful [Page 34] to the LORD and praise his holy name; con­sidering what a glorious change he has wrought in and upon us, and what blessings he does bestow on us in the life that now is: considering also what a happy Eternity is before us; what a blessed & glo­rious day, the day of our Death will be, and what swift advances we are making towards it; every year that passes over us, bringing us so much nearer to the day of our death, and the end of all our sin and sorrow.—These things we shall do well to con­sider on our birth-days in a solemn manner: and therewith comfort our selves under all our troubles and against all our fears; and thereby quicken our­selves to walk in wisdom, & as becometh our privi­leges; to live holily&serviceably, that so every year we finish may leave us fitter and riper for heaven and to redeem the time, that if the year advancing should be our dying year, we may be found about our work, and finish our course with Joy.

THUS we see the right method of solemnizing our birth-day, and if it be thus employ'd, it will be▪ profitable as well as innocent practice, to observe it, in the annual returns of it.

THE VIIIth & last USE is of Exhortation, [...] to the godly, and then to the ungodly.

1. LET me offer to the Saints and Children of GOD, some words of counsil and exhortation, grounded on the text. I wou'd exhort you then—

OFTEN to make this text the subject of your [...] meditation. Study to obtain the fullest ac­quaintance with the several circumstances of the day of your birth, and also of the day of [...] death. [Page 35] Form a right judgment of both; get a fixed belief of the happy difference between them; and be often entertaining your minds with serious reflections upon the same. This will be of very profitable con­sequence divers ways; and particularly it will tend of preserve you from envying the prosperity of the wicked; for when you mark the peacefull end of the upright man, and consider the end of the ungodly, which is destruction, how can you but chuse with Moses, rather to suffer affliction with the people of GOD, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; and with the Apostle, esteem godliness with contentment to be great gain?

Furthermore, ENDEAVOUR to get [...] assu­rance of your title to the blessed privilege in our text. Be sollicitously enquiring, Will this be my happy case? If GOD shou'd now summon me to depart, am I ready to be offered; and is it proba­ble I shall find the day of my death better to me, than the day of my birth? Inquire what evidences you have of a right to this blessedness: labour to clear up your title, and get a well-grounded hope. Without this your state may be secure yet your frame justly sad and uncomfortable, both in life & death. Wherefore give diligence to make your calling and election sure.

Again, LET Believers possess their souls in humble patience. The saints, when by an eye of faith they take a view of the unseen treasures and glories reserved for them in the coming world, are apt sometimes to grow too uneasy and discontented under the various trials they meet with here; and with inordinate eagerness to wish for their dismission, [Page 36] even as they that watch for the morning. Hence some have not loved their lives to the death; and others have been tortured, not accepting delive­rance; knowing that they had in heaven a better and an enduring substance, and shou'd obtain a bet­ter resurrection.— Impatience under the delays of their departure is an extreme, that Believers do sometimes fall into: but it is very faulty, and not to be indulg'd; as reflecting too much on the wis­dom and goodness of divine Providence. Be pati­ent therefore, Brethren, unto the coming of the LORD. For ye have need of patience; that [...] ye have done the will of GOD, ye might receive the promise.— And verily since the promise is so great and precious, the Believer has need to [...] patience and labor after it. There is danger of to multuous thoughts and impatient wishes, when he considers, that for him to die is gain; and that the day of his death is defer'd. But let him remember also that for him to live is Christ; and this will be the best argument to calm and quiet him.

Again, LET Believers be full of praise an thanksgiving to GOD, under the blessed prospect they have before them. You have all possible rea­sons for gratitude and praise; whether you con­sider the greatness of that good and happiness which expects you; or what divine love has done to pre­pare you for and entitle you to it; or how undeser­ved the favour; or what an astonishing distinction is made between you, and apostate Spirits with the common herd and unbelieving world of mankind O consider these things and praise the Lord. Bless his holy name, and say continually, Let GOD [Page 37] be magnify'd! who hath delivered me from the power of darkness and translated me into the king­dom of his dear Son: who crowneth me with loving kindness and tender mercies: who will redeem my life from destruction, and preserve me unto his hea­venly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever, Amen.—O awake up to sing & give praise; now beginning what will be your eternal employ­ment in the blessed world you are hastning to.

Again, SEE that you live a life of obedience, and walk as becomes your privileges and expectations. Are you the heirs of divine love; and do you look for such things, as a translation to heaven in the day of death, and a resurrection to glory in the day of judgment; what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness? See then that you endeavour to walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing: that you strive to answer your character, and live up in some measure to the ends and bonds of your redemption by CHRIST; being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord JESUS CHRIST: mourning over the deplorable remains of that sin and misery, which you brought into the world with you; sitting loose in your affections from all crea­ture-enjoyments; being watchful against sin; and very diligent that you may be found of your Judge in peace, without spot and blameless. In aword, as you expect to be distinguish'd from sinners in the happiness of your death; so let it be your care to be distinguished now by the holiness of your life; having your conversation in heaven, and not being conformed to this present world. The more [Page 38] holy your life is, the more happy will your death be.

Finally, CAST an eye of pity on the unbelieving Crowd: and do all you can that sinners may be brought to share with you in your blessed privileges. Look on them, whose life is among the unclean, & whose end is to be cut off, unless seasonable repen­tance prevent; look on such, I say, not with scor [...] and contempt, but with christian concern and com­passion. Let your bowels yearn towards them, when you see'em hanging over the devouring furnace nigh to cursing; & save them with fear, pulling then out of the fire. Do all that in you lies to recover them out of the snare of the Devil, and save their Souls from being drowned in perdition. Instruct the ignorant, warn the unruly, and exhort th [...] daily, while it is called, To day; lest any be harde­ned thro' the deceitfulness of sin. [ Let Heads families particularly, thus deal with their Children and Servants; the care of whose souls is most solemn charged on them.] But above all things, my Bre­thren, carry them to the throne of grace in the arm of your faith and prayer; and earnestly plead with GOD, that they may be brought to repentance, a [...] visited with his salvation. O stand before GOD to speak good for them, and to turn away [...] from them. 1 Tim. 2. begin. I exhort therefore that first of all (i. e. as we say, by all means,) sup­plications, prayers, intercessions,—be made for a men;—for this is good and acceptable in the [...] of God our Saviour. 1 Joh. 5. 16. If any man [...] his brother sin a sin, which is not unto death he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them the sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: [...] [Page 39] not say that he shall pray for it.— Surely they have hearts of stone, who can see their fellow-creatures upon the brink of destruction; and do not lift up their fervent crys to heaven for them.

BUT the other branch of the exhortation is,

2. TO the Unregenerate. O let sinners from what has been said, be concerned to get into the number of true Believers; that so the day of their death may be better, than the day of their birth. O unbelievers! GOD now calls you to repent, and turn unto him; to believe on his Son, and flee from the wrath to come, and get ready for the hour of death. And methinks, you have had sufficient mo­tive set before you to engage your speedy compli­ance with the call of GOD.—Know it; die you must sooner or later: so hath GOD ordained, & his word is established for ever: The grave is the house appointed for all living; and when the [...]-time is come, the dust shall return to the dust, and the spirit to GOD, that gave it. There is no resisting, no evading, nor deferring. In the many instances of mortality you have seen, more especially of late, you have had this lesson very convincingly read unto you. And many of you have lately been visited with Sickness; which is the beginning and presage of a dissolution. The LORD has chasten'd you sore: but he hath not given you over to death. The sor­rows of death compassed you, and the pains of hell gat hold upon you: you found trouble and sorrow. Then (it may be) you call'd upon the name of the LORD; and made vows to him in the anguish of your souls. And behold, the LORD hath dealt bountifully with you: you was brought low, and [Page 40] he helped you. O consider the patience of a good GOD in sparing of you: and hearken to his voice, both in your sickness and recovery; whereby he loudly calls upon you to consider your latter end and so to number your days as to apply your heart unto wisdom. O that there were such an heart in you! That you wou'd study the ends, and comply with the calls of Providence to you, both in your affliction and relief: that you may learn righte­ousness from his judgments, and by his goodness be led to repentance: be awaken'd to confess your sins and give glory to GOD; in whose hands your breath is, and before whose eyes are all your ways.

Consider, TO prepare for death is the most impor­tant business of life. Time is a trifle to Eternity; Earth is nothing to Heaven. The end of your being in this world is, by serving and glorifying GOD to prepare for another. The grand concern is to finish well, to die safely, and be lodged happily in the future state. It matters little how it fares with you here, if you are well-provided for hereafter. Eternal Salvation is the one thing needful. And nothing that is gain'd in the ways of sin, will coun­tervail the loss of that. Mat. 16. 26. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, [...] lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in ex­change for his soul?

Again consider, HOW inexcusable you will be if you die under the guilt and power of sin, and [...] of salvation. For the way of peace, the path of life is plainly laid out in the Gospel. And the s [...]ptre [...] mercy is held forth to you; many invitations and the most solemn calls given you in the word written [Page 41] and preach'd, to come unto CHRIST, that you might have life.—Salvation is tendered to you on the most gracious and condescending terms; the most fair & reasonable. You have also divine help graci­ously offered, in order to your compliance with the terms; and if under a sense of your own weakness [...] unworthiness, together with the use of means, you ask the same, it will be granted you. Finally, The holy SPIRIT has been striving with you, and divine Patience has been waiting on you, to just astonish­ment. How inexcusable then art thou, O man, who neglectest so great salvation? How shall you escape? And what wilt thou say, when the Judge shall sum­mon thee to appear before his enlightned tribunal? Verily, those Scriptures will be fulfilled in you, to your shame and confusion,— How often would I have gather'd you, as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and ye wou'd not? Because I have called, and ye refused, I have stretched out my hand and none regarded; but ye have set at nought all my counsil, and wou'd none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh.

Again consider, HOW miserable you will be if you miscarry at last. Your natural state is unspeak­ably miserable: but if you die in your sins, that word will be fulfilled in you, The last state of that man is worse than the first. When you come to taste of Death, you'll find it a bitter cup, full of fire and brimstone, and the wine of indignation; the dreggs whereof shall be wrong out & given you to drink. The day of your death will be a day of trouble, and of treading down, and of perplexity; a day of [Page 42] slaughter & destruction by the Lord GOD of holy in the valley of darkness. In that day when you fear cometh as a desolation, and your destruction as a whirlwind, when distress & anguish cometh upon you, then (saith the LORD) they shall call upon me, but I will not answer; they [...] seek me early but they shall not find me: They [...] call upon me saying, Lord, Lord, open to us: [...] I will say unto them, Depart from me ye cursed I know you not.—In the dreadful minute, the your dissolution is accomplish'd, your guilty [...] will drop down into the fiery Lake, and be over whelmed with consuming terrors. GOD will ren­der unto you indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish; and an horrible tempest shall be [...] portion of your cup. Know it; the infamous S [...] ­mite, & vilest Heathen shall have a more toler [...] punishment than you. They were born as guilt and miserable as you; but they do not die so. The Gospel-advantages you have had, will astonishing aggravate your condemnation; and be as oyl to [...] fire, which makes the flame more intense and [...] ­vouring. The condemnation of the Devil will [...] phatically be the lot of Gospel-sinners. Mat. 41. Depart from me ye cursed, into everlasting [...] prepared for the Devil and his angels. Gospel- [...] ­ners are charged with trampling under foot the [...] of GOD, and crucifying him afresh: and such [...] read their doom in Matth. 26 24, Wo unto that [...] by whom the son of man is betrayed: IT HAD BE [...] GOOD FOR THAT MAN, IF HE HAD NOT BE [...] BORN.—And having receiv'd your doom, you will loudly curse the day of your birth, your [...] [Page 43] inlet into the present evil world; you will curse every day of your life, in which you were treasu­ring up so much guilt and wrath: you will curse the day of your death, in which you were cast into [...]uter darkness. You'l curse every minute you spend in hell: you will call to the mountains and rocks to fall on you, and hide you from the wrath of the Lamb; but all in vain: you shall seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, but death shall flee from you. Divine power will uphold you in being, and almighty vengeance will plague you every moment, with plagues, that are infinite­ly worse than ten thousand deaths.—Behold! This is the portion of a wicked man from GOD; the portion of hypocrites and unbelievers! O what dismal lessons of terror are sounding in their ears!

AND, will you not be sollicitous to escape this dreadful misery? Or are you made without fear? Or [...] you shift off this concern for the present, hoping for a more convenient season hereafter?— O do not thus flatter & deceive your self; thou fool, this [...]ight thy Soul may be required of thee, for ought thou knowest! O do not put far from you the evil day: Boast not thy self of to morrow, for thou knowest not what a day, or an hour may bring forth. Hear now this, thou that dwellest carelesly and layest not to heart thy latter end, who hast been often reproved and still hardnest thy neck; hear [...]ow GOD threatens such an one, (Prov. 29. 1.) [...] shall suddenly be destroy'd, and that without re­medy. O tremble lest these things come upon thee [...] one day, in a moment, Death, and Hell, and eternal Vengeance. The grave waits for thee; and [Page 44] hell from beneath is moved to meet thee, [...] openeth it's mouth to receive your guilty Soul. [...] be persuaded to realise your danger, to consider [...] uncertainty of Life, the vanity of this World, and the awfulness of Eternity. Look forward, and [...] a prospect of a departing world; think how it [...] appear to you in the hours of sickness and death and at the door of eternity: then it will lose it fine shew and deceitful mask, and will appear all ghastly, ugly, and deform'd; it's riches vanity it's honors false, it's pleasures superficial; and the all your earthly hopes will perish in one moment Again, Look into the coming world, and anticipate those distressing tho'ts and views, which you [...] have in a dying hour. Think how awful, Death [...] Eternity will appear unto you! How glorious a [...] desirable Heaven will look! How dreadful [...] terrible Hell will look! And how full of horn shame, despair, and confusion your departing S [...] will be! What bitter reflections, and what fearing expectations will seize your guilty mind! O be per­suaded to look forward; and let conscience med [...] ­terror, and read to you the fearful doom of impe­nitent sinners. Consider it often, and fear left [...] day it befall you; lest it come upon you unaware in an hour that you think not. O hearken to the solemn counsil, Job, 36. 18. Because there is [...] beware lest God take thee away with his stroke; [...] then a great ransom cannot deliver tree.—O [...] ye, turn ye; for why will ye die? Consider yo [...] ways and turn to the LORD. Make hast and [...] for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before you Tremble lest the fatal blow be given, before you [Page 45] are provided for a happy removal. Now in order to this, two things are absolutely requisite; you must be interested in Christ, and born of the Spirit. Wherefore, You must,

1. SEEK an Interest in CHRIST. If you would escape the wrath of GOD. & die the death of the Righteous; you must get united to Jesus Christ by faith, in whom is all your safety & happiness, and union to whom is the foundation of all Gospel­hope. He that believeth on the Son, hath life everlasting; but he that believeth not, the wrath of GOD abideth on him, and he shall not see life. Blessed are the dead, who die in the LORD. Them that sleep in Jesus, will GOD bring with him. There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ: in whom we have redemption thro' his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of divine grace. Christ is the city of refuge; and if death find you in him. [...]he Executioners of vengeance will not be able to reach or [...] you. They that believe in Christ, have a Right to Salva­tion with Eternal Glory, thro' his merits. But such as are out of Christ, are without hope. This made the Apostle count all things but loss and dung, that he might win Christ and be found in him. O let this be likewise your aim & care.

2. YOU must seek after the New-birth; that you may be meet for (as well as have a title to) the inheritance of the [...]aints in light, and be fit to enter into the holy presence of GOD at Death. Justification entitles you to this happiness: and Regeneration qualifies you for it. Without a divine light and holy rectitude in the Soul, you are not capable to per­form the elevated duties and services of the heavenly state: nor to relish the spiritual enjoyments, or delight in the holy Society there. To be carnally-minded is Death, in the natu­ral tendencies and necessary effects of it: you must be spi­ritually minded, in order to your obtaining life and peace. To them that are defiled and unbelieving, nothing in heaven is pure or pleasant. We may as reasonably imagine the Swine, that love to tumble in the mire, can be delighted to lie [...] beds of Ivory and stretch themselves upon soft couches; [...] a lifeless Carcase to be charmed with the melody of Mu­ [...]k; as suppose an unregenerate Soul capable (while such) [...] being happy in heaven. He can't be happy, unless he [...] made so against his will and the whole bent of his nature; which is a contradiction in terms; all felicity or pleasure [...]ing in an agreement of the object and the appetite. In [...]der therefore to the Sinners entrance into the heavenly [Page 46] kingdom, his vicious nature must pass under a renewing sanctifying change. The honor of GOD, as well as the reason of things, requires this: and it is become necessary, by the determinate council of GOD: who has said, Without [...] the Lord. Except [...] converted, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of [...] Except a man be [...] again, he cannot see the kingdom of GOD. If then you wou'd die a happy death. You must seek after the washing of Regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost. You must not think of going to heaven in your present case: and how then can you [...]ear to think of dying in it? Or how [...] you think of living any longer in it? Your [...] pro­longed for this end, even that you might prepared to die: and how ungrateful to GOD, as well as injurious to your our Soul, are you, if you trifle away your precious opportu­nities? O awake out of your carnal security; shake off you slothful frame and dilatory spirit. No [...] abuse the pa­tience of GOD: no longer harden your [...]; but to [...] while it is called, To day, be sollicitous to obtain a saving conversion to GOD. O strive to enter in at the [...] gate, and walk in the narrow way, that leads unto life. Rest not in a partial work of conviction, or a superficial work of refor­mation. Beware of hypocrisy: beware of formality; [...] against a self flattering, a self sufficient and a self righteous spirit. Content not your self with any thing short of ( [...] instead of) a saving work of grace in the heart. By [...] and in the use of all appointed means wait on GOD, for [...] renewing influences. Beg of GOD that he would [...] in you a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within [...] Cherish every good motion, and improve every season of [...]. Work out your Salvation with fear and trembling: for is GOD, that worketh in you to will and to do of his [...] pleasure. Repent therefore and be converted, that your [...] may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the LORD. Before the decree bring forth, before the day of the LORD's anger come upon you [...] seek ye the LORD. Seek the LORD while he may be [...] and call upon him while he is near. And all the days your appointed time be waiting till your change comes, a daily expectation of it, and a diligent preparation for [...]. Do with your might what your hands find to do: and [...] up in store a good foundation against the time to come, [...] when you are called hence, you may have treasure in Hea­ven: and be presented before the face of GOD in Glory with exceeding Joy. AMEN.

A SERMON on NEW-YEAR's Day.

MANY and various were the Rites and solemnities to be attended under the Ceremonial Dispensation. Most of Them were contain'd in the Mosaical Law of Commandments. But here in our Text we have a new Institution; which I don't remember to have met with before. It is the anniversary Solemnity of Cleansing the Sanctuary by a sacrifice of atonement in the [...] of the Year. Thus saith the Lord GOD, in the first month, &c.

HERE 1. We may observe the Work assigned:

2. The Time fixed.

1. HERE is a Duty prescrib'd; namely, The offering a sacrifice to GOD, for purging of the Temple. [Page 50] The matter of the sacrifice was a Young Bullock without blemish. ‘Being design'd for the Honour of GOD, who is infinitely perfect, it ought to be the most perfect in it's Kind, else we do not give him the glory that is due unto his name.—Moreover, This signify'd the complete strength and purity that was to be in CHRIST, the dying sacrifice; and the sincerity of Heart, and unblame [...] ­bleness of Life that shou'd be in Believers, who are presented to GOD as living sacrifices.’ The Oblation was to be of the Fattest and Choicest; for GOD deserves our Best; and Wo to them who pre­sent unto Him only the Halt, the Lame and the Blind, the Torn and the Sick. Should I accept this of your [...]ands? saith the LORD. Cursed is the De­ceiver, who sacrificeth to the LORD a corrupt thing: For I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts ^†

NOW the End of this offering was to make Recon­ciliation for the House of Israel to cleanse the Sanctu­ary, to expiate for the sins of the preceding Year; the Iniquities of the holy Things, both of the Priest­hood, and the Congregation: And also to bespeak the necessary Aids and Restraints of Divine Grace for the Future; that they might escape former Er­rors and Pollutions, and worship and serve GOD in a more holy and acceptable manner.

AND hereby They signified Their Repentance and Humiliation for what had been amiss in Them and in Their Performances in Time past: as well as Their Vow and Promise to be more watchful, faithful & diligent in serving GOD for Time to come.

[Page 51] 2. HERE is the Time appointed, even the first Day of the first Month. The work aforesaid was to be the annual Employment of the New-Year's Day. And 'twas Employment sutable to the Day, well-fitting the season; very proper work to begin the Year withal.

THE first Day of the first Month is a famous Day in Scripture, for many memorable Actions & Events. 'Twas on this Day that Noah ^† first looked out of the Ark, after the Flood, and had the joyful sight of the restored World. A happy New-Year's Day indeed was This.—'Twas on this Day also that Moses ^‖ (the man of GOD) reared the Taber­nacle for Divine Worship; according to the Com­mandment of the LORD. And a good New-Year's Day's Work it was.—And 'twas on this Day that Ezra the Priest ^* began his Journey from Babylon to Jerusalem, on the pious Intention to set up the House of GOD there, and to teach in Israel, the good Knowlege of the LORD. A good beginning of the New-Year!—And so was that in Hezekiah's Time ^†, when on the first Day of the first Month, he began to repair and purify the Temple, and set in order the Service thereof; having it in his heart at the same Time to covenant with the LORD GOD of Israel, that his fierce wrath might turn away from Them.

BY these and other Things, the first Day of the first Month has been signaliz'd, and hath contracted a sort of solemnity; and challenges a special Re­gard from Us, in the annual Reversion of it; not [Page 52] indeed a superstitious Observation of it as holy Time, but an Application of it to some religious Exercises, which at this Juncture are peculiarly seasonable. And accordingly it has been the laudable Usage of many serious Christians both ancient and modern, to distinguish this Day (in the Yearly Returns of it) by agreeable Exercises of Devotion: Which pious Custom they have found to contribute exceedingly to the inflaming their Zeal, exciting their Diligence, and promoting their attainments in Religion. And this Reflection (methinks) is Argument enough to recommend the Practice, were there no Scripture-Rule to enforce it. But I doubt not, The Precept in my Text is a sufficient Warrant. For tho' the Jewish Institution of a Sin-offering on a New-Year's Day be out of Date; Yet the general Reason of the Solemnity remains in full force. Christians are still to offer spiritual Sacrifices, tho' the Legal or Cere­monial be abrogated: and we have the same occa­sion as the Jews had, to solemnize the Beginning of the Year, by presenting these unto GOD. And will it not be our Reproach, to fall short of Them in Care of our Souls, and Duty to our great Master & Benefactor?

BUT (to say no more here) surely it can't be amiss to begin the Year with Religion; with which every Week, yea every Day shou'd commence. GOD in the First and Best Being, and the supreme LORD of all our Time: Hence the First of every period and Season belongs to Him; and therefore the First-Fruits of the yearly Revolution should be consecrated to his Glory and Service.

[Page 53] BY the good Hand of our God upon us, We are are now arriv'd to the Beginning of another year, according to the common Account. And as it falls out in Providence, our New-Year's Day is the L ord's Day, [is Sacrament-Day with us,] and so is filled up with religious Dutys. Thus we begin the year with GOD.—Now the LORD keep this in the Imagination of the Tho't of our Hearts, and establish our way before Him: and grant that the Services and Entertainments of the present Day may have a good Influence on the whole succeeding Year: that, if we are spared this Year also, we may on the Sabbath, which will close the year, still feel the happy Impressions of this Sabbath, and have them abundantly increased.

THERE are special Meditations, religious Tem­pers, and Actions, which are eminently sutable to preface & introduce the year withall. Wherefore I thought, to put you in Mind of These, and exhort you to them, would be a word in season. And the LORD grant it may be not only seasonable, but al­so profitable both to You and to Me, being mixed with Faith!

MY Business now then is to direct you in, and excite you to, a good Improvement of a New-year's Day.

THE Method I shall go in is this; (1) I shall mention & recommend some things respecting the year past. (2) Others that respect the year begin­ning.

SOME think, this first Month has it's Name from [...]anua (the Latin for) a Door, because it is (as were the Door) the Opening or Beginning of a New-year. [Page 54] But 'tis most commonly thought, it derives from Janus (a famous Person in heathen Story, supposed to be the same with Noah in sacred Histo­ry) who was wont to be painted with two Faces, which at once saw things past and future.—And agreeably this Month (that wears his name) has like him a two-fold Aspect, it points backward as well as forward. Accordingly the customary In­scription of the Year at present is Double; both the Year passing, and that advancing come into the usual Date of things. This may give us occasion, not improperly to take both Years under our conside­ration. Wherefore as propos'd before,

1. I shall instance in some Dutys of Religion re­lative to the Year concluded; that very properly chal­lenge a place among the pious Exercises of a New-Year's Day. This indeed I wou'd defer to be the Matter of our Entertainment on the finishing Sab­bath of the Year; but that I know not whether [...] opportunities shall be continued so long; and pro­bably some of my present Hearers will then be gone down into the place of Silence. Therefore I shall prevent my self in saying,

1. WE must look back on the Year concluded with Solemn Repentance for the many Sins & offen­ces of it. We shou'd begin the present Year with Penitent Reflections on the Sins of the foregoing Year: Our own sins, that is; for we are call'd [...] judge our selves, and not others. Indeed we shou'd lay to heart, and sigh and weep for the Abomina­tions committed by others; because of the Dished nor done thereby to the Name of GOD, and also th [...] we may not partake of their Guilt & Doom, [...] [Page 55] that which I am now urging more especially, [...]s a deep Self-abasement and Humiliation for our own Personal Miscarriages, particularly in the last Year. We must be sensible, that we are daily sinning more or less in Tho't, Word, & Deed, thrô the influence of corruption within and temptations without. The sorrowful Experience of the most improved Saints on earth speaks loudly to the truth of this. 'Twas the complaint of a humble Penitent, My sins are more than the hairs of my head. Who can understand his errors?—Doubtless, if we strictly examine the Records of Conscience, and take an impartial view of the frames of our heart, and the manner of our conversation in the Year past, We shall all find we've been (some in a greater, others in a lesser degree) making sad work for Repentance and have heavy complaints to exhibit against our selves. In many things we all offend. In all things the very Best come vastly short of their just obligations. Are there not innumerable instances, wherein we can charge our selves, either with Omission of, or Negligence in Duty, or Contradiction to it? Can't we justly accuse our selves of greatly m [...]spending Time, and frequently foregoing desireable opportu­nities of doing and getting good?—Has not a quarter-part of the Year at least with all, and nigh half with the generality been altogether wasted in our Beds? Truly it is a very humbling consideration, that we've been oblig'd, for the relief of our impo­tent Nature, entirely to lose so many valuable hours in Sleep as we have, But it is matter of more sad Reflection, that so much preti [...]s Time has by many been spent in Sleep unneccessary in indulgence of [Page 56] the Flesh; or unseasonably, as in the solemn Wor­ship of GOD, to the dishonour of his Name, and the wounding of their own Souls. O that all who are guilty in this point wou'd seriously reflect, and grie­vously resent their Sin!—But then we have in many other ways lost a great deal of our Time. It is to be fear'd, that some among us have in a manner wholly fool'd & squander'd away the Year, having been idle every Day and all the Day, as well as Night: Slothful & unprofitable Servants, who have [...]id their Talents in a Napkin, nay have to [...] Lord's Goods in riotous living. Have not only don [...] nothing at all for the honour of GOD, for the good of their Neighbor, or the salvation of their own Souls: but have done much to the contrary; casting off Fear and restraining Prayer before GOD; deny­ing the LORD that bought them, and despising their own Souls; walking after the Imagination of the [...] evil hearts; indulging themselves in vain Thoughts and vile Affections, corrupt Communication, and wicked Deeds; being proud, passionate, covetous, or sensual, unclean, intemperate, unjust, uncharita­ble, & to every good work reprobate. Thus they [...] spent their Days in Vanity, and brought their [...] to an end, as a Tale that is told ^†. A Tragical Story indeed!—And as to others of us, who have not let the Year altogether run waste; yet [...] great Portions of it have we thrown away in Idle­ness, Folly, and Impertinence; and fill'd up no [...] of it (as we ought to, and might, have done) with [...] labour and industry. If we have not [...] stood still yet we've walk'd but [...]; or gone in [...] [Page 57] round of Duties, making no progress; and it may be, some have gone back from the LORD in too sad and shamefull degrees.—How many of us are there, who have done but little work this year, and got but little good, and but little improv'd the blessed means and seasons of grace we've so plen­tifully and undeservedly enjoy'd! Have we not many of us loytered away much of our Time, and let numberless pretious Minutes, if not Days and Works, slip away in sloth and negligence, which might have been employ'd to excellent purposes in the worship and service of GOD, or in the work of our Generation? How often have we voluntarily neglected, or been needlesly diverted from holy Duties, Christian Conversation, and various good Works, which we have had opportunity for, and an outward Call, as well as inward impulse to? How have Sabbaths been trifled away, and lost? How have Sermons been forgotten or perverted? And Sacraments omitted or prophan'd? How have Closet-Devotions, and Family-Religion been neglected, or carelesly attended and shuffled over? And how have Relative Dutys been transgressed? How have the various Providences we've passed under, been un­heeded or unprofitable? Mercies slighted and abu­sed; Afflictions ill-resented and un-improv'd? In a word, How have our Souls and Eternity been disregarded, the World pursu'd, Sense indulged, GOD dishonor'd, and the Devil gratify'd, by the Transgressions of the wicked, the unfruitful [...] of Christians, and the Apostasies of Professors! For as some of the Best have liv'd to very small purpose, and [...] forth but little Fruit: So many others [Page 58] (we may fear) have liv'd to very ill purpose, bring­ing forth Fruit to themselves, wild grapes, the grapes of Sodom, and clusters of Gomorrha. Have we not reason to lament, that there are some Professors, who have this Year miserably fallen behind-hand, and gone back in Religion, decay'd in Grace, and de­clin'd in their Zeal & Activity for GOD, Love to his House and Day, Ordinances and Ministers, and the Communion of Saints! Are there not some, wh [...] profess to know GOD; yet in works have deny'd him Being disobedient, proud, prophane, earthly, sen­sual; Careless about and formal in religious Dutys, disorderly in their walk, gradually leaving off to be wise and to do good, and frequently allowing themselves in those sinful neglects or vitious practi­ces, which (it may be) once they abhor'd & trem­bled at; securely venturing into the way of Temp­tations, and patiently suffering the World, or the Flesh, by degrees to recover it's Dominion and le [...] them captive. It may be there are those here pre­sent, who having begun in the spirit, have [...] in the flesh; who little thought in the Beginning of the Year, that such a fearful Change wou'd come upon them so soon. And if it had then been prog­nosticated, what they wou'd be, and how they wou'd speak, and behave themselves before the Year's End, they wou'd have said, GOD forbid! Be it far from me! Am I [...] Dog, that I should do this abominable thing?—Oh! How treacherous & deceitful are our Hearts! How sickle & false, how variable and unsteady a Creature is Man! Unstable, as water, carry'd about with every wind, an easy Prey to every Adversary; and never able to stand in the [Page 59] hour of Temptation, unless almighty Grace prevent, restrain, support, and strengthen!

O Let us all now consider our Ways, look back upon the past Year, and weep over the manifold miscarriages of it. Thus, let the Sinner & ungodly review his Life, and call to mind (as far as possible) and lay to heart the many sins he has been guilty of. O let there not be occasion for the LORD, to renew that Complaint (Jer. 8. 6.) I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: No man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? But from an humbling Conviction that there is just ground for it, seriously put this Inquiry to your Consciences; and accomplish a diligent search, that if possible you may find out all that has been amiss. And when you remember all your Transgressions ^†, wherewith you have displeased GOD and defiled your selves, Repent in sackcloth and ashes, loathing your selves in your own sight, asham'd of your folly, and afraid of the Judgments of GOD, which hang over your guilty Heads.

LET Hypocrites in Heart, that have been heap­ing up wrath ^*, mocking GOD, flattering them­selves, and deceiving others, by a plausible Pro­fession, by specious Pretences, and external Perfor­mances of Religion; being Saints in appearance unto Men; but Sinners exceedingly before the Lord; I say, let these sinners in Zion be afraid ^‖. May Fearfulness surprize the Hypocrites! O let your Heart meditate the Terror, and your Ear hearken to the Advice that is set before you in those applica­ble & awfull words, (Acts 8. 21, &c.) Thou hast neither [Page 60] Part nor Let in [...] matter: for thy heart is [...] in the sight of God. Repent therefore of thy wicked­ness, and pray God, if perhaps the tho' [...] of [...] heart may be forgiven thee For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the! [...]ond of iniquity.

LET Apostate Professors consider & bewail their sad Declensions; and tremble at that terrible word of the LORD, (Heb. 10. 38.) If any man brace back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

LET the Children of GOD, whose Hearts are establish'd with Grace, also revive the memory of their Failing and Follys in the last Year, and re­new their Repentance for'em. Let every one make a Review, and see what has been the ordinary Tem­per of his Heart, and the general Tenour of his Life: and be greatly bumbled for his unfruitfulness, unusefulness, and many mistakes and faults both of common infirmity and grosser aggravation; abun­dance whereof (no doubt) will come to mind upon diligent self-examination, O let us all deeply blush and mourn, in the Remembrance of what has been amiss in us. Let us be cover'd with a holy confu­sion of face, and fill'd with unfeigned Contrition of heart; and let us give glory to GOD, by the Re­newal of our humble & penitent Confessions to him.

EVEN among Christians now (as well as among the Jews of old) there shou'd be a Remembrance had of Sins every Year ^*, and our Remorse for them anew excited and express'd; and fresh applications by Faith, made to the Blood of Atonement, for the confirmed Pardon of our sins, and the acceptation of our Repentance, former as well as latter.

[Page 61] THE Jews of old were to have their annual day of Atonement, notwithstanding the daily expiatory Sacrifices preceeding: & it argu'd the Invalidity of the ceremonial oblations to take away Sin, that in them there was a Remembrance again made of sins every year. The Repetition of them did infer (and was occasion'd by) their insufficiency to make the Comers thereunto perfect; as the Apostle argues in Heb. 10. 1, 2.—But indeed now under the Gospel, We have a better Sacrifice ^*, which having been offer'd once for all ^†, is a sufficient Propitiation, not for out Sins only, but for the Sins of the whole World ^‖, is of unceasing and unbounded Efficacy, and needs not to be offer'd again: nor need the a­toning Virtue of it be more than once apply'd by GOD for the same Sin. Yet this do's not forbid the repeated Exercises of Faith & Repentance, nor render a Yearly Recollection of Sins improper or unnecessary. For such were the manifold Defects of our former Repentance (both as to the Extent and the Intense­ness of it,) that we may well renew our penitential Tears over that: And then, thô the Guilt & dam­ming Efficacy of Sin repented of, be perfectly put a­way by a complete Remission: yet the Stain and Lust is but imperfectly done away by Mortification and Sanctification; and moreover the Sin may re­mane in many afflictive evil Effects. Now these things are matter of great Humiliation, & may well open again the springs of Repentance, and make our hearts to flow afresh with godly Sorrow; and quicken us to apply anew by Faith to the Bloud of Sprinkling, for the Confirmation of our Pardon, and [Page 62] the gracious accepting of our Repentance past an [...] present.

OF old on the New-Year's day, was the Feast [...] Trumpets; when with uncommon Solemnity the Jewish Priests sounded (as some think ^*) Ram's Horns in memory of Isaac's Deliverance, & a Ram's being sacrificed in his room; which typify'd CHRIST the Mediator and Propitiatory Sacrifice. And this blowing the Horn might typify the Preaching of the Gospel, which calls Sinners to repent, and believe in CHRIST. I have therefore been doing but the pro­per work of a New-Year's day, in sounding the Gos­pel-Trumpet, and calling upon you to repent of Sin and fly to the Sacrifice of Atonement.

BUT so much for the first Head; which I've been the longer upon, because of the singular Impor­tance of it; and it's Influence into the other religi­ous Exercises of a New-Year's-Day: which I [...] proceed more briefly to speak of.

2. WE shou'd make sutable Reflections on the several Occurrences & Events of the Year. We shou'd endeavour to recollect the various Providence which have passed over us, our Persons, Families Relatives; and every remarkable Dispensation public or private, wherein we have been any way interested: but especially such as were of mean [...] concernment to us, We shou'd take a particular Notice of. Here I may say,—

(1.) WE shou'd look back on the Mercies of the Year with Gratitude & Praise. We shou'd reflect on the several favourable Passages of the Year; an [...] remember the Loving-kindness of the LORD accor­ding [Page 63] to all His Mercies, which He hath bestowed on us. We shou'd magnify His Name with Thanks­giving, & not forget all His Benefits.—In general, We shou'd adore the Divine Patience and Goodness towards us, in undeservedly lengthening out our Abode on Earth, and adding one Year more to the Days of the Years of our frail & sinful Lives. It is a Fruit of the Long-suffering and Forbearance of a good GOD, that we have yet a Standing in his Vineyard! Such barren Trees & unprofitable Cum­berers of the Ground might justly have been long since cut down, and cast (as proper Fewel) into the unquenchable Fire.—O let us therefore take a thankful Notice of the Divine Patience, in sparing us to the End of another Year.—Moreover, in parti­cular, let us call to mind and be thankful for those many Mercies and Blessings, that the Year has been replenish'd withal, & whereby it has been brighten'd and sweeten'd unto us.

THUS the Mercies of a Temporal Nature and ex­ternal Reference should be gratefully remembred and acknowleged. Have the eyes of the LORD our GOD been upon us for good, from the begin­ning of the Year to the end thereof? Has He crow­ned the Year with His goodness, and fill'd it with the tokens of his favour on civil, secular, & bodily Accounts? Have we had the supports & comforts of Life continu'd to us; success in our Trade and Business granted us; Happiness in Relations and Neighbors; quiet Habitations & convenient Dwel­lings; the use of our Reason, the vigour of our Sen­ses and soundness of our Limbs? Have we had continu'd Ease, Health, and Strength of Body? Or [Page 64] been rais'd up from Sickness, & recover'd of threat­ning Diseases? Have we been safely & comforta­bly carry'd thro' any other considerable Dangers and Distresses, and had the Divine Providence re­markably interposing for us in seasonable Succours, Preservations, and Deliverances?—In a Word, Has it been a Year of Peace & Liberty, of Plenty and Prosperity with us?—We must remember these Things; own the Hand of GOD, and acknowlege his Wisdom, Power, and Goodness in them, with all Thankfulness. We must adore and praise GOD as our constant Protector, and bountiful Benefactor; and give him the praise & glory of all that, which we have had the Good & Comfort of.

ESPECIALLY, Let us be thankful to GOD for Spiritual Blessings; Divine Mercies relating to our Souls and everlasting Concerns. Thus, has it been a Year of desirable Opportunities for our Souls? Have we had an uninterrupted Course of quiet and holy Sabbaths, the free and full Enjoyment of Sanc­tuary-Privileges & Entertainments; the Means of Grace in purity & plenty dispensed to us?—We shou'd bless GOD for such invaluable advantages.

HAS it been a Year of blessed Spiritual Experi­ences; powerful strivings of the holy SPIRIT with us, and heavenly Impressions on our Souls? We shou'd especially bless GOD for such Mercies.

HAS this been the Year of our Conversion to GOD; the acceptable Year of the LORD, the Year of our Redemption, and the time of Love? O let us remember the loving-kindness of GOD our SA­VIOUR, and rejoyce in his good Work upon us! triumphing in the Praise of his rich & sovereign Grace abounding toward us.

[Page 65] OR has this been a Year of our special Sanctifi­cation, and Consolation? Have we had the great Shepherd & Bishop of our Souls continually leading and feeding us; and by his powerfull Influences nourishing, and cherishing, and maturing us? Have we been increasing with the Increase of GOD, and growing in Spiritual Knowlege, Faith, Holiness, & Comfort? Have we had special Communion with GOD in Ordinances & Providences? Have we re­ceiv'd any signal answers of Prayer; or experienc'd the fulfilment of Divine Promises in any remarkable Instances? Have we been preserved from, or sup­ported under, and saved out of any peculiar Temp­tation to Sin or Error? Have we been reduced from initial Wandrings at any time? Have we been much quicken'd to the Duty of our respective Sta­tions and several Relations; been assisted, enlarged, and succeeded therein?—In a word, Have we had any singular opportunities of glorifying GOD, and serving our Generation; been spirited to im­prove them, [...] had Prosperity following our pious Attempts.

VERILY, those are favours, which they can never enough be thankful for, who have been made the hap­py Subjects of them. O let us every one consider what has been our Experience in these things: and wherein we have tasted the loving kindness of the Lord, (whether in this or that instance, & in what degree forever) let us, with the devout Psalmist, call upon our Souls, and all that is within us to bless the Lord; and let us magnify his holy Name with thankfull Hearts and joyfull Lips.—Thus the Mercies of the Year are to be recorded & reflected [Page 66] on with Gratitude & Praise. And I might add here, not improperly; What is the matter of our Joys & Praises, as to the time past, let it be the Encourage­ment of our Hopes for the future. "Let the last Year's Experience help to support and cherish this Year's Expectations". He that hath delivered, we may trust [...] yet deliver, and still prevent us with the blessings of Goodness.

(2.) WE shou'd look back on the Troubles and Trials of the Year, with humble, Patience, Meekness, and Submission. Doubtless we have all had our Af­flictions of one sort or other, in greater or lesser de­grees. And as we shou'd recollect our Mercies; so it is no less proper to recall our Afflictions. But then we must beware of all carnal Regret, Repining and Impatience (which we shall be much in dan­ger of) under the remembrance of them. We must see & own the Hand of GOD in all the sad Occur­rences of the Year; and adore his Sovereignty, Ho­liness, Justice, Wisdom, and Goodness in them: and be reconciled to all Events, however cross & adverse.

THUS, has it been a Year of Trouble with us on Spiritual Accounts? Have we been exercis'd with grievous Temptations; have we been under the awful Withdraws of the Spirit of GOD, been left to Decays in Grace, and Falls into Sin, which have provoked GOD to hide his Face from us, and remove our Souls far off from Peace, and fill us with great Bitterness? Have we had but little Communion with GOD; little Assistence from GOD, and little [...] in the Work & Service He has been calling us unto?—In a word, Whatsoever Soul- wants, or Soul- [...], we have been under [...] these things [Page 67] we must recall to mind and lay to heart; remem­bring our Affliction & our Misery, the Wormwood and the Gall. My Soul hath them still in remem­brance, and is humbled in me ^*.

OR, has it been a Year of Trouble with us on Temporal Accounts? Thus, Have we met with dis­appointments in Trade by Sea or Land; has Busi­ness fail'd; have Thieves robb'd, Debtors defrau­ded, or Creditors oppress [...] us, and the like? Have we received unkindnesses from Friends, or met with Crosses in Relations? Have we suffer'd in our good Name, and been vexed with the strife of Tongues, and the scourge of lying [...]. Have we been visi­ted with Sickness in our Persons or Families? Has Death come up into our Windows, to cut off our lovely Children; to take away the Desire of our Eyes; or Lover & Friend to put far from us, and our Acquaintance into Darkness?

IN short; Whatever Danger or Disaster we've met with, We must see that all proceedeth from the Lord, and therefore hold our Peace, and not open our Mouths in any way of Murmuring and Com­plaint. Psal. 39. 9. I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it. We must justify GOD in all his Proceedings, however (seemingly) harsh or rigorous; and to the Glory of his Name acknow­lege, with afflicted humble Ezra,—after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, Thou our GOD hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve ^†.

3. WE shou'd make our fervent Addresses to the Throne of Grace, in the way of Prayer:—In­treating, [Page 68] that GOD wou'd pardon all the Sins of the Year past and of our whole Life, and not remem­ber them against us: that old Guilt may be purged away, now we are entring on a New-Year. Again, That he would accept us in all the Services of the Year; that our spiritual Sacrifices, and all the good Deeds, which by the help of his Grace we have done, or desired to do, for the honor of his Name, and serving of our Generation, may be accepted in his sight. So Nehemiah pray'd; ^†' Remember [...] O my God, concerning this also, and spare me ac­cording to the greatness of thy mercy. Remember me, O my God, for good.—Finally, That the good Impressions of the Year may remane; that the Ordi­nances and Providences (whether mercifull or af­flictive) wherein we have met with GOD, may have a fresh and lasting Influence on our Souls; that the good Effects of them may abide, and our spiritual Experiences not be forgotten nor become useless to us: But that we may always reap some benefit and advantage from them.—Such Petiti­ons as these, we must put up to GOD, relating to the Year past; therewith acting Faith in JESUS CHRIST, for the application of his cleansing Blood, and the communication of his sanctifying and comforting Spirit, for these ends.—But, thus much may suffice to have been said concerning the time past, and the duties reflex.

I proceed in the next place,

II. TO instance in some prospective Dutys; or Religious Frames and Exercises, relative to the Year advancing.

[Page 69] THUS, in the 1st. place, We must make a serious Dedication of our selves to the Service of GOD, with the most solemn Resolutions to live unto his Glory more than ever. This is what a grateful sense of Divine Goodness to us in the past Years of our Lives, as well as the consideration of Duty & Inte­rest, shou'd engage us unto. I beseech you therefore, Brethren, by the Mercies of GOD, that ye present your Bodies, a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to GOD; which is your reasonable service: and be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good will of GOD ^†. If the LORD spare is this Year also, he will come seeking Fruit from us; and we must give an Account unto Him. We shou'd therefore be engaging our selves to that Duty, which He requires, by the bonds of holy Resoluti­ons. We must, by lively acts of Devotion, conse­crate all the Powers of Soul & Body, all our Strength, and Time, and Talents to the use and honour of our great LORD and Master; resolving to be His, wholly, only, and continually; resolving to redeem the Time, to be fruitful in every good word and work; and to glorify him in all things thrô JESUS CHRIST. We must particularly oblige our selves by sincere and solemn Vows, to endeavour the Re­formation of ourselves and our Families from, and to be watchful against, all those Sins which we have been most incident&inclined to; to take up the practice of those Duties we've hitherto omitted, and come into a speedy attendance on those Ordinances we've hitherto neglected; to be more vigorous in [Page 70] those Performances, which heretofore we have been too apt to trifle in: to be diligent in the discharge of those Trusts of any consequence, which we may be now in the exercise or expectation of: and faith­full in the Improvement of all those Opportunities of doing or receiving Good, which we may proba­bly look to meet with, in the several Stations and Relations we hold among Men. In a word, we shou'd devote to GOD, to his use and service, the whole ensuing Year, and all the days and moments of it: unfeignedly desiring that they may all be some how improv'd to his Glory; and resolving that we will live to his Praise more than ever heretofore will be more zealous for his Interest, & more Zealous of good Works; more laborious & constant in work­ing out our own Salvation, as well as doing good in our Generation: reserving no secret Lust of the mind or of the flesh to be gratify'd, nor grudging any Pains, and boggling at no Difficulty, that we may serve, please and glorify GOD, win CHRIST and finish the course of this Year with Joy, if we shou'd live to see the Period of it.—But Oh! how improbable is this, as to some of us at least? This may be the last Year of our Lives; it may be so [...] many of us; none, but the GOD of Life, knows who will this Year be called to die. O let us seriously entertain this Tho't.—The Conclusion of One Year more shou'd put us upon thinking of the Conclusion of all our Years: And this Reflection shou'd quicken us (methinks) to begin well the Year advancing as not knowing but that it may be our dying Year and therefore to resolve with holy Job, that all the days of our appointed time we will wait till [...] [Page 71] Change shall come; in a daily expectation of it, and a diligent preparation for it; doing with might what our hands find to do, referring to the Glory of GOD, to our own or others Good.—O let us not stir out of these Doors, without such pious Resolves, and such a solemn act of self-Dedication. ‘This shou'd be the Axis and Centre of every Year's Revolution. Have any of you had any good Purposes and Re­solutions in your minds, the prosecution whereof has hitherto been delay'd? Put it off no longer. Is the House of GOD yet to be set up in your hearts, the work to be begun? Begin it to [...]ay, as Moses did, who on the first day of the first month set up the Tabernacle. Are there things amiss with you to be amended, Corruptions to be purged out, and things wanting to be set in order? Begin this day to reform, as Hezekiah did, who on the first day of the first [...] began to sanctify the House of the Lord: So will you make this Day in the best manner remarkable, and this Year comfortable ^†.’

2. WE shou'd be mindfull of the Changes, that we are liable to; and begin the Year with a holy Fear and Trembling, not knowing the things that shall befall us. As to our Spiritual Concerns, we should look forward with a godly Jealousy, a humble Self-diffidence and Self-suspicion; considering that the way we have to go, is through an Enemies Coun­try; and knowing how apt we are to stumble and stray, and how easily ensnar'd by Temptations, [Page 72] which surround us continually. Who knows what Snares the Enemy has laid for him this Year; what Temptations may assault him; and into what Sins he may fall, to the dishonour of GOD, and the wounding of his own Soul? Who knows, what Troubles of Conscience and Anxieties of mind he may be left to; what decays in Grace and losses of Comfort he may suffer? We should endeavour so to fear the worst, as to avoid Security; and yet so to hope the best, as not to sink into Despondency. Be not high-minded, but fear. Fear falling into Sin; fear falling under GOD's Displeasure. Happy is the man, that thus feareth always.—Again, as to our Temporal Concerns, we shou'd begin the Year with very humble Prospects; knowing, that our Times are in GOD's hand, and that he changeth the Times according to his sovereign Pleasure; knowing that the Fashion of this World passeth away; and that we have forfeited all our Enjoyments into the hands of Divine Justice; and therefore may well look for dark and afflictive Revolutions of Provi­dence. Have we the World at present smiling [...] us? Are we in Health and Ease and Esteem Business growing, Family flourishing, Relatives & Neighbours comfortable, and every Circumstances affording very bright and hopeful Prospects to us. Yet we shou'd beware of securely trusting in World­ly Enjoyments, or vainly flattering our selves with Worldly Hopes. Trust not in uncertain Riches. Say not in your Prosperity; I shall never be moved [...], I shall die in my nest. Say not; We will [...] into such a City, and continue there a Year, and [...], and get gain: For ye know not what [...] [Page 73] be on the morrow ^†. Say not; Soul, eat, drink and be merry; Thou hast Goods laid up for many Years: since thy Soul may this night be required of thee. Boast not thy self of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day [...]ay bring forth. In a little while your Riches and Worldly Goods may take to them­selves wings and fly away, and leave you: or Death will come, and carry you away from them; and then whose shall all these things be? In that very day all your Thoughts and Hopes about this World shall perish, and all your earthly Comforts be taken from you. O let the Rich and Covetous consider this; and not set their hearts on that which is not. Let the Brisk and Voluptuous consider this; and not dwell carelessly, putting far from them the evil day. Let such as are Young and beginning the World consider this; and not labour to be rich nor seek great things for themselves: but lay their Ex­pectations & Desires low; remembring the days of Darkness, which shall be many.

3. THERE must be a mixture of Hope, and Trust in GOD. Hope & Fear must be kept on a Ballance. Amazing Dread is to be avoided, as well as Presuming Confidence. We must be so appre­hensive of Changes, as not to grow secure: and yet we must maintain a good Hope thro' Grace; not casting away our humble confidence. We must not be so afraid of Evil Tidings, as to be dispirited and despondent. We must not let our Fears so pr [...] ­vale, as to silence our Prayers, or weaken our Hands in Duty, and interrupt us in our Work. We must encourage our selves in the Lord, as David ^* in his [Page 74] distress did; and fetch relief from the Divine Pro­mises, when Dangers look us in the face, or Bur­dens lie on our backs. We should realise the Truth of those great & pretious Promises which GOD hath given us in His Word; and look forward with Sa­tisfaction in the Goodness, Power, and Wisdom of Divine Providence; to the watchful Care where­of, we must in well-doing commit our selves: en­trusting GOD with all our Concerns Temporal and Spiritual, Personal and Relative. In the fairest and most pleasing Prospects, owning His Sovereign Do­minion, and having all our Relyance on His Provi­dence & Promises; but renouncing all Creature-Dependencies. And in the darkest Views and Ap­pearances of things still keeping up a chearful Trust and humble Hope in GOD; being quiet from the inordinate fear of Evil; and anxiously careful about nothing: Having our hearts fixed, trusting in the LORD, and waiting for His Salvation. We must act Faith on all the Promises of GOD; but especi­ally those great and pretious Promises, wherein we are assured, that the LORD is a Sun and a Shield; that He will give Grace & Glory, and with-hold no good thing from them that walk uprightly; and that all things shall work together for good to them which love GOD. Psal. 84. 11. Rom. 8. 28.

4. THERE must be a hearty Resignation to the Will of GOD, as to the Events that may be in the womb of Providence. We must lay our selves, and all our's, at the foot of Divine Sovereignty; sub­mit all that we have and are to the Divine Dispose; and resolve to acquiesce in every Allotment of our heavenly Father: [...] follow the Spirit of GOD in all [Page 75] ‘our Affections,& the Providence of GOD in all our Affairs, whatever He shall appoint us to, this Year’ ^†. We must commit our Wayes to the Lord, and cast all our care on him, who performeth all things for us; stedfastly purposing to welcome the will of GOD in all His Dealings with us, respecting either our Souls and the concerns of our spiritual State, or our Bodies & the circumstances of our outward Con­dition. We must resign all our Interests, and re­fer all our Cares unto Him. We must sacrifice to GOD our Persons, Lives, Names, Estates, Families, even all our Enjoyments, and all our Hopes; resol­ving to be satisfy'd whether it be a Year of Trou­bles, and Trials, or of Peace and Joy. Come Sick­ness, or Health; Confinement, or Liberty; Pain, or Ease; Poverty, or Plenty; Loss, or Gain; Re­proch and Disgrace, or Reputation and Preferment; Sorrow & Mourning, or Consolation & Rejoycing; Death & Bereavements, or continuance of Life and Increase of our Offspring; Crosses, or Comforts in Neighbours & Relations, &c. In a word, whatever comes, we must resolve to be easy, and to welcome every Occurent however evil; endeavoring after the same resigned frame as David was in when he ut­tered those words, (2 Sam. 15. 25, 26.)— If I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation. But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee: behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.

[Page 76] 5. THERE must be the exercises of a lively Faith in JESUS CHRIST. We must go forth in [...] Righteousness & Strength, from a conviction of our own Unrighteousness, Unworthiness & Weak­ness. We must act faith on CHRIST for all that Wisdom & Grace, which we may need in doing the Work, and bearing the Afflictions of the Year; in fulfilling the Resolutions we have made,& resisting the Temptations we may meet withall. We must rely on Him for His holy SPIRIT, to accompany Ordinances & Providences, and sanctify them unto us. We must rely on His Merits for acceptance with GOD in our present acts of Devotion, and in all the future Performances & Works of the Year. In a word, We must by an eye of faith have a view to CHRIST, as the meritorious & the efficient [...] all our hopes of needful Benefits for one [...]; and of [...]fulness we must expect to receive the Blessings we ask for. We must look on the Promises as founded in the Mediator; and desire to receive all our supports and comforts from them, through His hand.

6. And lastly, THERE must be earnest Prayer to GOD, with respect to the ensuing Year. There are many Errands to the Throne of Grace, many Petitions proper to be put up on the present occasi­on. Here to give a [...] hints briefly;—

AS to our selves, personally consider'd; we shou'd pray that the hand of our GOD may be upon as for Good, from the beginning of the Year to the [...]nd thereof. We shou'd pray with submission to the Will of GOD, that He wou'd provide for us, as to our outward man; that He wou'd smile upon us [Page 77] in our worldly Affairs & Concerns; that He wou'd daily follow us with His Benefits, and crown the Year with His Goodness; that it may be a Year of continu'd Health, Peace, Liberty, Plenty, Success in our Callings, and Prosperity in all our lawful De­signs & Undertakings: and that all our Blessings may flow to us from Covenant-Love; that we may see & enjoy GOD, and taste His special Favour in the fruits of His common Bounty.—Or however we must pray that GOD wou'd prepare us, if it is to be a Year of Trials and Troubles; whether Personal Troubles in Mind or Body, Name or Estate; or Family-Troubles; or Publick Grievances: Whatever be the Affliction or Afflictions which Pro­vidence has designed for us, that we may be fitted therefor; and enabled to endure them patiently, as well as to improve them fruitfully: and to do the Duty of every new Condition we may be brought into.—We must pray, that the Presence of GOD may be afforded to us, His spiritual & graci­ous Presence: that GOD wou'd be with us through the Year and keep [...] in all way we have to go: that He wou'd continue to us the Means of Grace, and all our pretious advantages for our Souls; and [...] us to make a wise & faithful Improvement of [...]: That He wou'd add His special Blessing to the Means, and make them effectual for saving Good unto us.—Thus, Sinners Unregenerate shou'd pray, that this may be the happy Year of their Conversion: Yea, that this first day of the Year may be the day of God's [...] upon them; that now the [...] may be made a willing People, a [...] People to GOD: that old things may pass away and all things [Page 78] become new within them: that they may have a new Heart, and lead a new Life; and may no longer spend their Years in Vanity, nor consume their Days in Wrath.—So the Saints of the most High shou'd pray, that this may be to them a Year of eminent Growth in every Grace, of Progress in uni­versal Holiness, of much Communion with GOD, and special Usefulness in their respective Places & Relations. We shou'd pray, that in the diligent at­tendence to Ordinances & Duties we may this Year be built up in CHRIST, receive more of the Spirit in His Gifts & Graces, as well as Comforts; and be advanced Heaven-wards: also that in the prudent and faithful use of all our Opportunities, we may bring much Glory to our GOD, & be Blessings to our Generation. That GOD wou'd restrain us from every Sin; more & more mortify our Lusts; forti­fy us against Temptations; and furnish us to every good Thought, Word, and Work. That He wou'd help us to acknowlege Him in all our Ways, and to serve Him in all our Capacities according to His will. That He wou'd ordain to Himself special Ho­ [...]our from us, and to the World special Benefit That we may be ready to all good Works; and do even our common Actions after a godly manner, in the Name of CHRIST, as well as for the Glory of GOD; and fill up our whole Time with Work, as the Duty of every Day requires: that if we live to the close of this Year we may be able to give a bet­ter Account of it, than we can of the last.—And if this shou'd, by the will of GOD, be the Year of our Death, and the End of our appointed Time, (as probably it will with some of us) that we may [Page 79] be found about our Master;s work; ready to be offer'd, and willing to die; and may enter into our Master's Joy. In a word, It shou'd be our Hearts Desire & Prayer, that CHRIST may be magnify'd in us, whether it be by Life or Death; and that whether present or absent we may be accepted of [...] the Lord. Thus as to our selves.—Again, As to our Families & Friends, this is a proper time to recommend them to GOD's Blessing with a peculiar solemnity. We shou'd in Prayer seriously wish a good Year to all our Domesticks, all our Relatives, and Acquaintants, as well as our selves. Now it is a fit Season in a more solemn manner to bless our Household, and pray for our Relations and Friends, our Parents, our Consorts, our Children, our Neigh­bours; even all that are near and dear to us: to resign them unto GOD by lively acts of Faith, and commit them to the Divine Keeping & Blessing by servant Prayer.—Further, As to the Church of CHRIST in the World; now is a fit opportunity to be more large & Solemn in our Intercessions for this: that the Year of the Lord's Redeemed may be hast­ned, and the Time of Reformation come, the Time of Refreshment from the Presence of the LORD, and the Year of Enlargement.—Again as to our Nation & Country, that it may be to them a Year of Peace, & advancement in Happiness, & Glory, So, as to the particular Town & Church which we belong to; that it may be a good Year unto them, a Year of Tran­quillity and Prosperity. That the Town may have a Year of Health, and Success, and be made to flou­rish in all it's Interests: that the Church may have [...] to it daily such as shall be [...] [Page 80] the Officers & Members of it may be under the spe­cial Conduct & Blessing of the great Bishop of Souls; walking together in the Fear & Favour of GOD, in the Faith & Order of the Gospel, and in the Com­forts of the Holy Ghost.

THUS I have in some imperfect manner gone thro' what was proposed; and have set before you some of those religious Frames & Exercises, which are especially seasonable on a New-Year's Day.

AND new what remains? But that we all apply what has been said, and put these Rules in practise. O that there were such an Heart in us! That we might every one be persuaded & enabled thus to begin the Year with GOD; every Year, and the ad­vancing Year particularly.

TO excite hereunto, consider,—

1. THIS is most highly Reasonable. Every Act and Exercise, that hath been directed to, is at all times our reasonable Service; and at such a time as this peculiarly seasonable. Indeed the Work is in general the common Business of every Day: How­ever, this hinders not but that it may be the more solemn Employment of some special Days on the Year. And so indeed it ought to be. Not only the first Day in every Week (thô this indeed especially) ought to be thus devoted to religious Exercises: but also the Beginning of every Month, and the Begin­ning of every Year are very fit seasons for the like Employment. ‘It is but [...]it & just that GOD, who is the First, shou'd have the First, and be first [...]. The Heathe [...] cou'd say: A [...]. Begin with GOD, whatever you do.’

[Page 81] 2. THIS will be of very Profitable Tendency; and afford us the best Prospects, as to the ensuing Year. 'Tis the general Salutation of the Day, I wish you a happy New Year. This is what [...] seri­ously and heartily wish you all; and in Token of my good Wishes, I have entertain'd you with such a Discourse at this Time; in which I have directed you to one of the most excellent methods to obtain the happy Year we wish one another.

THUS to begin the Year with GOD, is the most hopeful way to render it a good and holy, a prospe­rous and comfortable Year. This is a way to engage our selves to spend the Year with GOD, in his Ser­vice and for his Glory. It is a proper and very effectual means to keep up a lively Zeal for GOD, to keep us close to Duty, to make us wise in the Improvement of our Time, and quicken us to an unwearied activity in doing the Work of the Year. Moreover, This is a way to engage the special Presence of GOD to be with us through the Year; which is the Source of all true Prosperity, and which we have absolute need of, to direct and protect us in all our Ways, to assist and succeed us in all our Undertakings, to supply our Wants, and sweeten out Enjoyments, to support us under Afflictions, and make every Event (whether prosperous or ad­verse) to work together for our real (that is spi­ritual) Good. These Benefits are the desirable Fruits of the Divine Presence; and what, a good beginning of the Year has a happy Tendency to se­cure unto us.

LET us take he Advice then given (in Job 22. 21.) Acquaint now thy self with him, and [...] at [...]: [Page 82] thereby Good shall come unto thee, Let us begin the Year with GOD; sincerely applying our selves to the Work before us, and giving diligence there­in: so shall we take a sure method to obtain a good and happy Year, if we live; and a blessed Eterni­ty, if we die. If we now give up our selves to GOD in CHRIST, and continue walking with him, in all his Ordinances & Commandments, we shall spend our Days, not under the Wrath and Rebukes of GOD, but under his gracious Conduct, Smiles and Blessing: and shou'd it be our dying Year, we shall end our Days in his Favour, shall finish our Course with Joy, and be received into the Heavenly Paradise, where there is neither Beginning of Days, nor End of Years; where there is no more Death, neither Sorrow, nor Crying, nor any more Pain; but an uninterrupted Eternity of perfect Happiness and Glory. This will be our Crown and Reward. This is our blessed Hope. O let us be looking, long­ing and preparing for it. And as the Apostle ex­horts, Heb. 4. 11, 16. Let us labour to enter into that Rest:—For which end, Let us come boldly to the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Heb. 3. 12, 13, 14. Take heed, brethren, l [...]st there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily while it is called, To day; [...] any of you be hardned through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we [...] the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end.

A SERMON Preach'd ON THE Last Day of the Year.

I Shall for brevity's sake wave the Formality of a Preface; and imme­diately take these Words under Con­sideration. In which we may—

I. OBSERVE the Person speaking, i. e. Jesus; The Eternal SON of GOD, incarnate in our Nature: the great Teacher & Prophet, the true & faithful Witness; whose Say­ings are faithful sayings, and worthy of all Accep­tation.—It is He, that now speaks: they are His words; they are gratious Words proceeding out of the Mouth of Him that is True, and whose Lips are a Well of Life. Let us therefore believe what is said, and be affected with it. Surely it must be some­thing [Page 84] great & good, wise & weighty, that falls from the Tongue of that Just One, that Wisdom of GOD.

II. OBSERVE the Speech it self; which is an In­vitation to thirsty Souls, to come unto CHRIST, & drink.—(I.)Observe the Persons invited; namely, All those that thirst, i. e. are concern'd about and desirous of the salvation of their Souls—He in­vites Such as thirst. Now this Thirsting implys several things. As, a Sense of Indigency; Those that thirst, feel their want of Refreshment.—Also, an Appetite and Craving: a making out & reach­ing after some sutable Good to supply the Wants of the Soul. Such as thus are spiritually athirst, our Saviour speaks to in the Text. Yea, all such. The Invitation is general and indefinite;—If any man. Man is the Object of this Invitation; not Devils. O astonishing Distinction of Sovereign Grace!— Any man that thirsts, is invited. O amazing Ex­tent of Divine Mercy!—The Rock, that so plenti­fully gush'd out refreshing Water to the Israelites in the parched Wilderness, was a Figure and Type of CHRIST; and every one had liberty to drink of that Rock ^*. Even thus the waters of Life, that flow from the Spiritual Rock, are free for any man that is thirsty. Not the vilest & most unworthy Person is excepted. All that find their want, and desire a supply, are here invited. In CHRIST there is enough for all; and the Offer takes in all. None are excluded, but such as shut out themselves by Unbelief. No thirsty Soul need doubt of a welcome Reception with CHRIST.—O happy News this, [...]o poor self-condemned distressed Sinners! How [Page 85] shou'd we admire the Riches of free Grace! And how shou'd we love and honour the Gospel, which brings to us these glad Tidings of great Joy?—But in the next place, (2) Observe what these thirsty Souls are invited to; i. e. To some & drink. [1] Here is a Duty requir'd; namely, To come unto CHRIST. This implys an entertaining his Doctrines; a laying hold on his Righteousness; a putting our selves under his Government; a submitting to his Discipline, &c. This coming to CHRIST implys a believing on Him, a receiving of Him in all his Me­diatorial Offices, and a relying on Him for Pardon, Grace, & Glory.—We must thus come to CHRIST by Faith. We must see & own CHRIST, to be the Fountain of living Waters. We must feel our need of Him; We must depend on him, and seek to him (and no other) to be a Fountain of Life unto us. The Invitation from CHRIST is, Let him come unto ME. So Mat. 11. 28. Come unto ME, all ye that la­bour and are heavy laden. Come to CHRIST, who is the Fountain open; the Rock smitten; from whence issue streams, which make glad the City of GOD.—Go not to the World; for this ^‖ is no­thing but Vanity & Vexation of Spirit. Go [...]ot to Philosophy; for this ^† is full of vain Deceit & kil­ling Poison. Go not to the Law; for this ^* is but a shadow, and cannot make the Comers thereunto perfect. These Things can neither cleanse nor ap­pease the Conscience of a thirty Sinner. Whither then shou'd be go, but to CHRIST? With whom are the words of eternal Life ^†. [2] Here is an Offer made, a Promise of Satisfaction given. Come [Page 86] unto Me, and Drink: q. d. Come, and I will give you to drink: Come to Me, & you shall be supply'd & satisfy'd. Ask of Me, and I will give you [...] water, Joh. 4. 10.—O what great Encouragement is here given to poor thir [...]ty Sinners! Blessed be [...] GOD & Saviour for this pretious Promise: and O that by his Grace we might be enabled to lay [...] on this Hope set before us!

III. OBSERVE the Posture & Manner, in which Jesus deliver'd this Invitation: He stood, and cri [...], saying, If any man, &c. The Jewish Teachers [...] to sit, when they taught publickly: and this [...] general Custom with Jesus likewise. But now [...] chang'd his Posture, (perhaps) to accommodate his Voice, & express his Earnestness. Our Saviour at this time was much mov'd; was fervent in Spirit: and he cry'd aloud, standing up, that all might hear & mind what he was saying: as well as to show that He was not asham'd nor afraid to proclame Himself, as the Fountain of Life, in the midst of the Pharisees, [...] Doctors, his greatest Enemies. The Matter of his Speech was of infinite Importance and the last Con­cern to all. He himself was deeply affected with sense hereof; and really sollicitous that all might be under the like Impression. This made him [...] earnest in his speaking on this occasion: this made him stand up that all might behold & hear him.—O the astonishing Love and Compassion there is in CHRIST unto perishing Souls! What manner [...] Love is this, that the SON of GOD, the LORD of Glo­ry, shou'd stoop to beseech rebellious Sinners; and be so importunate with them, to come unto him, th [...] he may supply all their wants, & make them happy [Page 87] for ever!—And how amazing the Stupidity of Sinners, that we must be intreated, urg'd, and im­portun'd to accept his gratious Offers and yield to is blessed Designs of everlasting Kindness towards [...]!

IV. OBSERVE the Occasion, and Time, when this l [...]vitation was made: in the last day, that great day of the Feast.—The Feast here spoken of, was the Feast of Tabernacles ^*. The Reason of this Title is ^†, because all the time of this Feast the People re­main'd in Tents, and Booths, made of Boughs after the manner of Arbours. This was an Annual So­lemnity, and was kept in the Close of the Year (ac­cording to the common or civil Computation among the Jews) when the Harvest was fully ended; [...]ence it is also call'd, The Feast of Ingathering which [...] in the end of the Year ^*. One principal Design of [...] Institution was to remember the Jews of their [...]-fathers dwelling in Tents and their unsettled [...] in the Wilderness ^‖; to humble them by this sellection; and to call forth their Praises of GOD, for the gratious Conduct&Protection afforded to their Fathers when tabernacling in the Wilderness, as also for the happy Settlement, the more convenient Ha­bitations and sure Dwellings now vouchsafed them. The Jews were at this Feast to dwell in Tents, that [...] they might know a little by their own Experience, [...]hat their Fathers endur'd; and that they might [...]earn to value more the Mercy of GOD to them in the Comforts of their own fixed and commodious dwellings.

[Page 88] BUT furthermore, Another special Design of this sacred appointment was to stir them up to a thank­ful acknowleging of the Divine Goodness, where­with the Year (which now they were come to the Period of) had been encompass'd ^†. It was insti­tuted, as a solemn Thanksgiving unto GOD for the Harvest and Vintage newly gather'd in; to put them in mind, that the Mercies they had receiv'd were all from the Divine Providence: and that unto this they must look, for the like supplies in the Year ensuing.

HENCE infer; We shou'd sometimes seri­ously look back upon & consider the Hardships and Difficulties our Fore-fathers met with, in their co­ming to and settling in this Land: we shou'd call to mind their mean Circumstances and desolate Condition; and be very humble in our own eyes, when we remember our low Beginnings.

AGAIN, I might observe to you, That the great Goodness of GOD to our Fore-fathers in bringing them safe to this Land, planting them in it, protecting and prospering of them, &c. should sometimes be thankfully commemorated by us their Posterity. And the consideration of what Straits & Hardships they conflicted with, shou'd put an Edge on our Gra­titude, and make us very thankful for the Comforts and Accommodations we do so liberally partake of, thô much more unworthy than our Predecessors.

BUT the Observation that I shall here most insists on, is this, That as every Year ends, We shou'd do something like observing the Feast of Tabernacles or In-gathering. Gospel-Duty was of old prophesy'd [Page 89] of under this Notion; as we read, Zech. 14. 16. It shall come to pass, that every one—shall even go up from Year to Year to worship the King the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.—Now it may be instructive and profitable to us, a little to consider, and apply the Laws of this Feast. Wherefore I shall offer a few Hints here. Thus, It was one Law of this Feast (in common with seve­ral others ^*) that all the Males shou'd go up to Je­rusalem, (and they often carry'd their Wives and Families with them ^†: Thither the Tribes went up, the Tribes of the LORD to the Testimony of Israel) to worship GOD in the Place and Way of his Appointment. Thither they went thrice in the Year: and this, that by often meeting together in one Place they might contract a more intimate Ac­quaintance with, and greater Affection to one ano­ther: and by often joyning together in the same Acts of religious Worship, they might increase their holy Communion, as the People of GOD, as well as keep pure & entire all those Ordinances that were deliver'd to them, & faithfully hand down the same to Posterity.— Again, At this Feast they were to appear before the LORD GOD, the GOD of Israel ^‖; as just Debtors, to pay their thankful Acknowlege­ments to Him for the Mercies lent them: As hum­ble Petitioners, to ask those further Benefits they needed: As obedient Subjects, to own his Domini­on over them, and to receive his Commands: As his Friends & peculiar People, to renew the Covenant and League of Amity & Love between them; eye­ing Him, as the GOD of Israel, even their Cove­nant-GOD. [Page 90] Moreover, Then they were to appear before GOD, in the public Tabernacle, or the Tem­ple; which were instituted Types of CHRIST, the Mediator: in and through whom GOD is well-pleased with the Prayer of Faith & Labour of Love.— Another Law was, that none shou'd appear before the LORD empty ^*; not empty- hearted, but with Souls full of Grace & Gratitude towards GOD: not empty- handed, but every man must give to the needy, as he is able, according to the Blessing of the LORD upon him ^†, a free-will-offering, in testimony of his gratefull respect of GOD, his Benefactor, and the Poor's Patron.— Again, At this Feast they were to offer Sacrifices in Abundance; Burnt-offerings of Praise every day, with Meat-offerings and Drink-offerings in proportion attending them; also Sin-offerings and Peace-offerings were added; besides the Common Sacrifices of the New Moon, and the Offerings made continually every Morning & Even­ing. Thus they were to be much in Communion with GOD, and to abound in the Duties of religious Worship all the days of this Feast. As this Month was honor'd with as many Feasts as were celebra­ted in all the Year besides: so there were more Sa­crifices to be offer'd at this Feast, than at any other ^‖, because this Feast was in the Close of the Year, when it was meet to supply the Defects of the Year past, and when they had gather'd in all their Fruits; and therefore ought to make larger Returns & Ac­knowlegments to GOD. Again, These days of a­bundant Offerings were to be days of abundant Re­joycing. [Page 91] They were to feast very chearfully toge­ther before the LORD their GOD, Rejoycing in the thankful sense of his great Goodness to them in the Year past, as well as in Hope of the like Goodness to crown the Year coming on ^*. They were to express their Joy by Feasting, Thanksgivings, and Songs of Praise; also (as some think ^†,) by carrying in their hands green Boughs of goodly Trees: which ap­pears to have been a usual Expression of Joy and a Token of Triumph upon other Occasions.— Another Law of this Feast was, that they shou'd desert their pleasant and secure Houses, and dwell in moveable uncomfortable Booths or Huts for seven days ^‖, which (as it was typical of the Incarnation of CHRIST, who was about this time of Year to come into the World & pitch his Tent among men, dwelling in a Tabernacle of Flesh ^†; so it might be for other Ends and Reasons; particularly [not to repeat those before-mention'd] it) was design'd to exercise their Self-denial, & teach them a Contempt of the World: It might also allude to, & be inten­ded to mind them of, their mutable condition, being Strangers on Earth; & the Frailty of their Bodies, that were their Souls earthly Tent or Tabernacle ^*, and in a few days to be dissolved: By which morti­fying Reflection, together with their humbling Con­finement to contemptible & unpleasant Booths in the open Air for their Habitations, the Joy of the Solemnity was sutably temper'd & corrected; for which end also, that is to qualify and sanctify their [Page 92] Mirth, they were to read the Law of GOD ^*, in a solemn manner upon this occasion.

THUS we see in part what were the Laws of this Feast of Tabernacles or In-gathering, and in some measure the Meaning of them. Now since Gospel-Duty is represented, in the fore-mention'd Prophecy of New Testament Times, under the notion of keep­ing the Feast of Tabernacles, this intimates what GOD expects from Christians, even that all those Graces be brought into Exercise and exhibited in their Lives, which were especially acted and signify'd in this Feast of old. Likewise, since this Feast was observ'd among the Jews in the End of the Year (according to the civil Calculation of their Year) and since it was prophesy'd, that Christians under the Gospel shou'd keep this Feast from Year to Year, at the times appointed for this Solemnity; it seems but an Ac­complishment of that Prediction, if at every Year's End we take Occasion to do something like obser­ving the Feast of Booths or In-gathering. Indeed the whole Life of Christians shou'd be a perpetual keep­ing the Feast of Tabernacles, in a spiritual and e­vangelical Sense. Every day we shou'd be worship­ing as in that Feast; Going to CHRIST, the true & living Temple, with our spiritual Sacrifices, of Re­pentance, Prayer, Thanksgiving, Charity, and Obe­dience; Going up to CHRIST by lively acts of Faith; Going forth to JESUS without the Camp ^† by imitation of Him in Patience, Self-denial and Mortification; Dwelling in Tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn Feast ^‖, exercising a holy Con­tempt of things on the Earth, knowing that here [Page 93] we have no abiding City; and in Faith and Hope ascending to Mount Zion, the City of the Living GOD, the heavenly Jerusalem; setting our Af­fections upon things above, and having our Conver­sation in Heaven: Meditating in the Law of GOD day and night; Rejoycing in the LORD evermore, rejoycing in CHRIST JESUS, triumphing in his Praise; hoping in his Mercy; rejoycing in Hope of an House not made with hands, a Tabernacle that can never be taken down, Eternal in the Hea­vens. Thus the Gospel teaches Christians to live continually; and such a Life wou'd be a perpetual keeping the Feast of Tabernacles. Every day of such a Life wou'd be a day of this solemn Feast.—However, this hinders not but that we may (in con­formity to the Jewish Pattern, and the Prophecy aforesaid) keep this Feast at every Year's End with greater Solemnity & in an extraordinary manner. Those Graces & Duties, holy Frames and Exercises, that have been mentioned, are now peculiarly sea­sonable. Let us then look back, and look over the several Laws of this Typical Feast; and in the Gospel-sense, put each of them in practice. "Let this Feast ^* at the End of the Year, be kept to the Honour of that GOD, who is the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last", the first Cause, and the last End of all Things. "As we must begin every Day and Year with GOD, so with him likewise we must end both. For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things." Some are of opinion, that the Devotion of Cain and Abel, (mention'd, Gen. 4. 3.) was their Yearly Sacrifice, their more solemn Wor­ship [Page 94] at the End of the Year; when they kept their Feast of In-gathering, honour'd the LORD with their substance, and made offerings to him of the Increase of the Year, according to their respective Occupati­ons and Possessions. A learned Expositor ^† saith on the Place; "At the Year's End, men were wont in most solemn manner to sacrifice unto GOD, with Thanks for his Blessings, having gathered in their fruits; so the Law of Moses did command: which order (as by this appeareth) the Fathers observed from the Beginning". This Feast then is of ancient Date. And it is a famous Solemnity. 'Twas one of the three great Feasts appointed in the Law of Moses. And it is the more famous for its being the Time of our LORD's ^* Birth, and Baptism; and the season, when that glorious Invitation in our Text was given— In the last day, that great day of the Feast, Jesus stood and cryed.—The Last, i. e. the eighth day; which, thô some wou'd make it a distinct Festival, and it be not strictly one of the days of the Feast of Tents, yet in a larger sense be­longs to it,& has ever been call'd the last day of it. They kept up their Tents and dwelt in them only during the first seven days: but on the eighth day they were at liberty and met together publickly in the Temple, to keep there an holy Assembly, (suppose) in remembrance of their quiet & happy settlement in the Land of Canaan, after their long dwelling in Tents and their tedious Travels in the Wilderness: and so this eighth day was rather an Appendix to the Feast of Tabernacles, than any Part [Page 95] properly of the Feast it self ^†. The first and the last days of this Festival were to be kept as [...]; in which they were to rest from all servile Labour, and to worship GOD publickly. The Rule we have in Lev. 23. 35, 36. On the first day shall be an holy Convocation: ye shall do no servile Work, therein. Seven days shall ye offer an offering made by [...] unto the Lord. On the eighth day shall be an [...] Convocation, unto you—It is a solemn [...], and ye shall do [...] servile Work therein. [...] pas­sage, It is a solemn assembly, might be translated ^‖. It is a day of Inhibition, Forbiding, Forbearing, or Keeping up: All servile Work being prohibited on said day, and the People being oblig'd to [...] together for the performance of public Wor­ship; till which was over, they were not permitted to return Home ^*. Or it might be render'd, a day of Conclusion or shutting up; because it was (as 'tis call'd in our Text) the last day, the closing day of the Feast.—This eighth and last day is call'd— the great day of the Feast. Perhaps because it was the day of the greatest Joy. On this day was to be seen most of the Joy of Harvest. Some judge that this was more especially the Day of Thanksgiving to GOD for the Harvest of the Year past, and had a particular view to this Ground of the Festival ^†. Agreeably on this day there us'd to be the loudest Acclamations, the greatest Pomp and Show of Joy. Moreover, on this day the People were dismiss'd from their Booths, & had leave to remove into their own Houses again; which Release, was an aggra­vation [Page 96] of their Joy, and brighten'd the Triumphs of the Day. It was in it self a Refreshment; but espe­cially it might well be so to them for this reason ^†, because it was a Memorial & Emblem of that happy time wherein their forty Years tedious march in the Wilderness terminated with an Introduction into and Settlement in the Land of Promise, where they had goodly Dwellings & fruitful Fields: A Mercy, which ought to be kept in everlasting Remem­brance, and the Consideration whereof might well fill every Israelite with abundant Joy.—There­fore on this last day of the Feast; there were the highest Expressions of Gladness & Triumph; whence it is styled the great day. The several days of this whole Feast of Tabernacles were termed Hosan [...]a ^‖; because they us'd once on each day to compass the Altar, holding Boughs in their hands and waving them to'n'again, often crying out, Hosanna, i. e. Save now, I pray. But on the last day, they compass'd the Altar Seven times, with the like Ce­remonies and Acclamations; whence it came to pass, that this last day was call'd Hosanna Rabba, i.e. the great Hosanna, or as in our Text the great day of the Feast.—Upon this day also (as One ^* ob­serv [...]s) they did read the last Section of the Law, and likewise began the first; left; they might other­wise seem more joyfull in ending their Sections; than willing to begin them.—Upon this day there was an universal Concourse and public Appearance of the People at the Temple; all being oblig'd to give their attendence on GOD's Worship there. The [Page 97] day of solemn Assembly in any Feast, us'd to be term'd an high or great day ^†. Hence the last day in this Feast was so call'd; & it is call'd with an em­phasis that greatday, because it was eminently a day of calling assemblies. On this day they were said emphatically to make a solemn Assembly ^*. Perhaps there was ordinarily at this time a more full Con­gregation than upon the first day; and therefore it might be call'd the great day: or it might be so call'd in comparison of the six days immediately preceeding, on which there was no such holy Con­vocation appointed.—But further ^‖, On this day

People (say the Jews, by the Institution of the Prophets Haggai & Zechariah) were wont (and 'twas a custom peculiar to this Feast) with the great­est pomp and gladness to fetch water [in a golden [...]essel ^*] from the Fountain of Siloam, and to bring it into the Temple [with the sound of the Trum­pet ^†] where the Priests receiving the same of them, poured it out upon the Altar together with the Wine of the Drink-offering. And, all this while the People sang that Passage of the Prophet, (Isai.12.3) With joy shall ye drew water out of the Well of salvation. This pouring out of water did (in their apprehensi­on) denote the Effusion of the holy Spirit, and they hoped at this time to have the Spirit of GOD fall on them, as (according to Tradition) He did on the Prophet Jonah, when he was attending this Cere­mony with Transports of Joy ^‖.—Thus we see. [Page 98] why the last day was call'd the great day of the Feast.

Now this was the solemn Occasion, upon which the Invitation in our Text was given. There is an Emphasis in the words, which speaks something re­markable in the season: In the last day, that great day of the Feast, Jesus stood, &c. There are various Grounds of this season's being chosen; which may be conjectur'd at. As,—

1. OUR Saviour might make this Invitation in the People on the last day of the Feast, to b [...]nt man them the Insufficiency of all their Sacrifices on the foregoing days and the Inability of the Law to make the Comers thereunto perfect. At this Feast of Ta­bernacles (as was before observ'd) they offer'd a Multitude: of Sacrifices. Every day had a certain Proportion assign'd ^‖. On the first day of the Feast they were to offer thirteen young Bullocks; two Rams, and fourteen Lambs without blemish; on the second day twelve Bullocks: and so on, every day the number of Bullocks, (the most costly part of the Sacrifice) gradually lessning; till at length it came to be but one Bullock, one, Ram, and seven Lambs; so that on the last and great Day of the Festival, the Sacrifices were sewer than on any other Day. Now the Account which some Jewish Expo­sitors give of this Dimination, is to this purpose; that the number of Bullocks to be sacrific'd in the first seven days of the Feast amounted to seventy ^†, according to the number of the Heathen Nations then in the known World: for whom (as they tell [Page 99] us) these Oblations were made: and the Abating of the Sacrifices (say they) signify'd, that there wou'd be a Diminution of those Nations, until all things were brought under the Government of the Messiah, who was the Expectation and Hope of the G [...]tiles ^†. Whereas the single Sacrifice on the eighth day (the great Holiday as they call'd it) purely respected the Israelitish Nation, and beto­ken'd their special Endeardness to GOD, as a holy & peculiar People.—The Account, which our Christi­an. Expositors give of that Abatement of the Offe­rings, is this, "It was to teach the Jews (says One ^* not to tr [...]st to the multitude of their Sacrifices, nor [...] expect Remission of Sins from them, but from the one and only Sacrifice of CHRIST. It might signi­fy (savs another ^‖) a diminishing or wearing away of the legal Sacrifices and Ceremonies. It signify'd into them (faith another ^† that the LORD was to abolish those Sacrifices, and bring in a perfect Sacrifice in place of them, Jesus Christ once offered for all. It was hereby intimated to them (saith another ^* that the legal Dispensation shou'd wax all and vanish at last; and the multitude of their Sacrifices shou'd end in ONE great Sacrifice, infi­nitely more worthy than them all".—And perhaps the might be one thing our Saviour had in view, when he made the Invitation, in our Text on the last day. He would have them to know, that the Mul­titude of Sacrifices, they had been offering, wou'd not suffice; that they needed another and better Sa­crifice; that He himself was the only Sacrifice, ac­ceptable [Page 100] and pleasing to GOD. Therefore on the last day, after a vast number of Offerings had been made, He stood forth, and called upon all, that (be­ing sensible of the Insufficiency of the legal Sacrifi­ces, and considering them as Types and Shadows of Things to come) still thirsted after something further (as necessary) to take away Sin and justify them in the sight of GOD: These (I say) He call'd upon, and invited them to come unto Him; whose Flesh is meat indeed, the great Sacrifice to be fed upon by Faith; and whose Blood is drink indeed; the Fountain, at which only the thirsty Soul (la­bouring under a sense of Guilt and Wrath) can have it's longing Thirst quenched.

2. OUR Saviour might deliver this Invitation on the last and great day of the Feast, because then (as hath been observ'd) was a great (if not the greatest Concourse of the People. Much People were on this day gather;d together at the Temple; it being a Sabbath day, and the great day, when they were no longer oblig'd to dwell in their Texts; when they had taken their Fill of Mirth & Feast­ing, and were now most at leisure to attend the public Worship.—Our Saviour then wou'd not miss or forego so special an Opportunity of doing Good: but took occasion now to preach the Gospel unto to the People; that many hearing, many might come to Him and be saved! Seeing the Multitude, he was moved with Compassion toward them; and see­ing how the Priests (their Teachers) neglected them. He (who is the great Prophet) fat himself with the greater diligence to teach the People, and deli­ver the Calls of GOD unto them.

[Page 101] 3. THE People were now about to return Home and there cou'd not be a more proper parting Word The Assembly was that day to break up, the Con­gregation to disperse, and all return to their own Dwellings. Our Saviour therefore gave 'em this Word (the best the cou'd be) to carry home with them. It was affecting to him, to think, that all that Assembly were soon to divide & scatter; that He himself was never more to see their Faces on this occasion (having now begun his dying Year) our indeed ever like to have an Opportunity again of speaking to so great a Body of People together, at least under such Advantages. And He might [...]sider also, that many of those, who were now [...]ven'd on this occasion, were never like to enjoy such another opportunity; it being probable that Death wou'd prevent them.

HENCE our Savior takes his leave of the People, in the most proper manner, with this solemn Invi­tation in our Text. Some it's likely there were, who had not heard his Instructions and Exhortations in the Temple ever before; and were never like to hear him, if not at this Time. Some that heard him before, did not bred his Words: He now there­fore renews the Gospel-Call unto them. Others perhaps had taken some notice of his Preaching and were almost perswaded to receive the Gospel: Now to confirm the Impressions made on such & to finish the good Work begun in their Souls, He again preaches to them; inviting those who had the Be­ginnings of a holy Thirst after GOD, to come unto HIM, and drink.

BUT finally, This might be occasion'd by certain [Page 102] Customs & Ceremonies of the Day, Thus, on this day the Jews delighted much in feasting, allow'd themselves to eat & drink plentifully, and to make great Mirth; which our Saviour observing, He might thence take occasion to instruct them concer­ning the true spiritual Drink, and invite them there­unto ^‖. Again, Our Savior in his Speech might have reference to the Law, & design to call them off from their carnal Boasting and Rejoycing in that. Upon this day they kept the Feast of the Joy of the Law; because then they ended the Reading of the Law. Festum letitie Legis. Upon this day CHRIST, who is the End of the Law, stood up ^†; & call'd them off from their vain Boast­ing in the Law ^*, to believe in HIM as the Messiah & Saviour, who came to fulfill & abolish the Law of Moses. Again, These words of our Saviour might be spoken in Opposition to he fore-mention'd Jewish Rite and solemnity of fetching Water; a Ceremo­ny peculiar to this Feast, and perform'd on the last day of it. The 'forecited passage in the Prophet Isaiah, [...] shall draw water with Joy. &c. is the chief Authority they pretend for that Custom ^*. This Joy, they call'd the Joy of the Law: for by Waters (in Isai.55.1. and else-where) they understood the Law. And for this reason they drew and brought the Waters from the River Siloam to the Temple with so much pomp and joy. Moreover they add, that the Pouring out of the water there signify'd the Effusion of the holy Spirit; and therefore the Pouring out of the Water was accompany'd with so [Page 103] much Gladness &Singing, because they expected the holy Spirit wou'd be so pleas'd with their Mirth and Musick, as to be charm'd down, and fall upon them in the midst of the Solemnity, with his Divine In­spirations ^†.—Now to this Rite and Ceremony, accompany'd with so much Folly and Superstition, Our Savior's Speech in the Text & Context may be an Antithesis. As if he had said; ^‖ "What, Have you so great joy only for a little water fetcht out of the Fountain of Siloam? Verily, if any man believe on ME, even Rivers of living Water shall out of his own Belly flow unto him; i. e. in his own Soul he shall have Plenty of the Waters of Life: He shall be filled with all the Fulness of GOD ^†, who is the Fountain of Life. He shall be so filled with the Spirit of GOD, as a Spring of Water, that it shall out of his heart break forth continually in his Actions ^*.—Do you imagine the Waters (spoken of by the Prophet) metaphorically taken, do de­note the Law? Nay, but they denote the Gifts and Influences of the holy Spirit, which the Messiah shall supply Believers withall.—And do you expect the Giving of the holy Spirit from the Lave, or for your carnal Joy in the Law? Behold, the Spirit is re­ceived thro' Faith, and comes not by the Law" ^†.—If any man therefore desire any spiritual Good, let him come unto ME, believing on Me as the only and alsufficient Saviour, and he shall receive of the Fulness that is in me, to the supply of all his wants.—But finally some say ^* This Water-offering or Li­bation of Water, (as they call it) was to denote [Page 104] the Blessing of Rain, which they then pray'd for, as of special use against the approching Seed-Time. For they judg'd, that at this Feast (when they were celebrating the goodness of GOD in the Harvest of the last Year) Divine Providence decreed & de­termin'd what Rains there shou'd be in the follow­ing Year. [Perhaps this Notion might take coun­tenance from Zech.14. 17. Where GOD threatens such as neglect the Feast of Tabernacles, that upon them there shall be no Rain.] However, it was their Custom at this Feast to pour out Water before the LORD upon the Altar together with Wine; the de­sign of this Drink-offering was, that the Rains of the Year might bless them. At this Feast they offer'd Water to GOD to engage his smiles on the Seed-Time. Even as at the Passover they offered a [...] or Homer; to obtain from GOD his blessing on the Harvest; and at Pentecost they offer'd a new Meat-offering, call'd the First Fruits, to obtain from GOD his blessing on the Vintage ^‖ . And this Ceremony of fetching and offering Water was accompany'd with the sound of the Trumpet, and with Singing of Voi­ces and Instruments; with great Vociferation and noisy Acclamations. Now in relation to this, some think, CHRIST here is said to have cryed, or (as the word properly signify's ^* ) Proclamed with a loud Voice, lifted up his Voice like a Trumpet; ma­king this apposite Proclamation, If any man thirst let him com unto me, and drink: taking occasion from their fetching Water out of Siloam, and offer­ing it to bespeak the blessing of Rain; I say, from hence, our Saviour who us'd to spiritualize Earth­ly [Page 105] Objects, and from all kinds of Occurrences dis­course of heavenly Things, took occasion to exhort the People (as 'twere in the words of the Prophet ^† ) To seek the Lord, till be rain Righteousness, upon them: and he invites them to repair unto Him, the true and living Fountain, (as 'twere in the words of another Prophet ^* ) Ho, every one that thirsteth, came to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye bay & [...] yea, come, buy wine & milk without money & without price. Wherefore do ye spend your money for that which is not Bread? And your labor for that which satisfyeth not? Hearken diligently into me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your car, and come unto me; hear & your soul shall live.— With many such like words (we may suppose) He exhorted the People. It seems to be only the ge­neral Subject of his Discourse, that is hinted in our Text. No doubt there were considerable Enlarge­ments, which it hath not pleased the holy Ghost to put on Record. However we must be thankful, that we have any part of what he said, written. For it is truly a golden Passage, a good Word, and wor­thy of all Acceptation.—The Contents of it have been in some little measure open'd unto you: and the Occasion, whereon this blessed Speech was deliver'd has been shewn: Upon which I have made some large Remarks, suting the season; it be­ing now the last day of the Year, according to vul­gar apprehension & account.—It becomes your spiritual Instructors to study to discern both Time and Judgment ^‖, and to find out acceptable words ^† [Page 106] Now such, seasonable Words are wont to be. A word spoken in due season, how good is it ^*? How grateful and useful?—Wherefore, this Year co­ming in with a Sabbath, I took occasion (hoping I shou'd speak a word in season) to counsil and ex­hort you to begin the Year with GOD. And it fal­ling out, that it likewise ends with a Sabbath, I have also (thro' Divine goodness) an opportunity now to tell you, How to close the Year with GOD.—The Conclusion of the Year is a remarkable Period; and a very agreeable Time for more enlarged Devo­tions, for Self-examination; and for serious Reflecti­ons; which indeed do then very naturally flow in upon the minds of pious and thinking Christians, who accustom themselves to take a solemn and dis­tinguishing Notice of such particular Seasons. There are many religious Meditations and Exercises, that at this time are peculiarly seasonable, which I might remember you of and exhort you unto: but as to these things, I have prevented my self in a great measure in my former Discourse, on the first day of the Year; wherein I spake somewhat large­ly of the Duties reflex, as well as prospective.—This notwithstanding, I have thought fit to say what has been already offer'd in the present Dis­course; and shall now add two things further, rela­ting more especially to our Saviour's Speech in the Text; which it seems necessary to resume the Con­sideration of.

I wou'd in the first place, call upon you all to examine your selves, and, inquire, what regard you have had (more particularly in the course of the [Page 107] Year past) to the Duties requir'd, and what Fulfil­ment you have experienced of the Promise made, in our Text. And then I shall conclude with a word of Exhortation; calling upon Sinners to hearken to and comply with the gracious Invitation of our Savior.

1. EXAMINE your selves every one, What Regard you have had to the Duties Mention'd in the Text; and what Fulfilment of the blessed Promise of our Saviour therein offer'd.

HERE are two distinct Particulars. Wherefore—[I.] INQUIRE what Respect you've had to the Duties mention'd. Consider what has been your general Temper and Carriage in reference to those first and great Duties, of Thirsting after, and Coming to CHRIST for, spiritual Good.

LET me ask you here particularly,—

1. WHETHER you've been truly & rightly thirsting? Whether a real spiritual Thirst has been in your Soul?

(1.) HAVE you been thirsting after right Things? Have your Desires been placed on proper Objects? Have you been thirsting after the Favor, Image, and Presence of GOD, an Interest in CHRIST, his Righteousness, his Graces, and Comforts, &c? Or, Have you been craving after things of a contrary Nature? Have you not been thirsting after the Pleasures of Sin, and been drinking in Iniquity like Water?—Have you not been thirsting after World­ly Enjoyments, and the Delights of Sense; panting after the Dust of the Earth; and (as was affirm'd of the King of Babylon) enlarging your Desires, as Hell, which can't be satisfy'd? Have you not been [Page 108] too greedy of Gain; had a Heart exercised with co­vetous Practices: and gone astray, following the error of Balaam, who loved the Wages of Unrighteousness? Or, have you not been thirsting after the Honours of this World; been vainly ambitious of Preferments and Applause among Men?—In­quire whether your Heart has not thus been set up on Temporal & Earthly Blessings. What has been your Language? That ^‖, Who will shew us any Good? What shall we eat? What shall we drink? And wherewith shall we be clothed?—Or that ^†, Where­with shall I come before the Lord, and how my self before the High God? What must I do to be saved?— Inquire whether you have been thirsting after spiri­tual Blessings; the things that are above and from above; the good and perfect Gifts, that come down from the Father of Lights; the River of his Plea­sures, who is the Fountain of living Waters.—Thus, Have your Desires been carry'd out after a Righteousness, to justify you; being sensible of your need of a Righteousness, and the insufficiency of your own? Have you been thirsting after Grace, to sanctify you? Divine Strength, to uphold your Goings in the way of Truth? Divine Consolations, to pacify your wounded Spirits, and refresh your Souls in the midst of your distressing Thoughts? Have you thus been thirsting after the Waters of Life, spiritual Blessings?—Make solemn Inquiry into the Frame of your Souls with respect hereunto.

(2.) HAVE you been thirsting in a right Manner and Measure? Has your Thirst had the several Pro­perties of a spiritual Thirst?— Have your Desires been [Page 109] Hamble? accompany'd with a lowly sense of your utter Unworthiness of the least Favour from the LORD; and a renouncing of all Creature-Depen­dences for supplies.

AGAIN, Have your Desires been Eager, ardent advehement? [...]ake David's ^†, when he longed, and said, Oh that one would give me Drink of the water of the Well of Bethlehem! Have you felt mighty Pain within, for want of the good desired? Have you felt in your breast a mighty ardour of Love unto CHRIST & his Benefits, because of their Superlative excellency and worth? Has your Soul been e'en broken for the longing it hath had to them?—Or have you (on the other hand) con­tented yourself with saint Desires, feeble and cold Velleities?

AGAIN, Have your Desires aster Spiritual Bles­sings been Transcendent and Superlative; and pe­temptory, without any Reserve? Have these Spiri­tual Desires been the Predominant, the ruling De­sires of your Soul? Have other Desires been duly subordinated to these? No Desires entertain'd and cherish't that stand in Opposition to, or come in Competition with, or but what might be serviceable into this great Desire of the Soul: Have you been willing to part with all other things that [...] might obtain these spiritual & heavenly things? Have you sound in your Heart a chearful Readiness to sacri­fice all earthly Enjoyments, that you might have Righteousness, and Grace, and Peace from GOD and a Title to the Inheritance in Light? Has nothing been able to quiet your longing Apposite Has your [Page 110] Desire been so strong as to allay all worldly Con­tentments, and quench worldly Desires; and dis­pose you to welcome the greatest losses and severest Trials; so that you might enjoy CHRIST, and Co­venant-Blessings in him? Have you thus sought the LORD with your whole Desire ^*? Has your Expectation been only from the LORD, and have your Desires been thus resolute, absolute, and not standing upon Terms; nor having any Reserves? Has that been the unfeigned sense and language of your Soul, I count all things but loss, that I might win Christ ^†.

AGAIN, Have you been uneasy and (in a sort) impatient, [...]ill you cou'd get your Desire accomplish'd? Hope deser'd maketh the Heart sick. ^‖. Hath it been thus with you? Have you not been able to rest con­tented without those good Things you desire? And have you been longing with a holy Impatience? Has that been the Disposition & Language of your Soul, (Psal.143. 6, 7.) I stretch sorth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Hear me speedily. O LORD, my spirit saileth: bide not thy face from me, lest I he like unto them that go down into the pit. And that, (Psal.63. 1.) O God, thou art my God, early will I seek thee: my soul thir [...]ib thee, my flesh l [...]ngeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.

AGAIN? Have your Aspirations been Constant & Abiding? Can you say, (as in Psal. 119. 20) My Soul breaketh for the Longing, that it hath to thy Judgments at all Times? Have your Desires been unweary'd and unceasing? Have you not been [Page 111] tired with Waiting & Expecting? Or, Have your Desires been only in Some particular Moods; by Fits, & Starts, and in some Pangs of Conscience?

AGAIN, Have your Desires been Unlimited and Insatiable? Would no small Measures of Grace, no inferior Degrees of spiritual Blessings satisfy you? Have you been unwilling to fit down with, and stop at imperfect Beginnings of Sanctification & Conso­lation? Have your Desires been enlarged & unsa­tisyable; never quieted, but always craving after still higher degrees of spiritual Good, and Enjoy­ment? Or have they been stinted to certain Mea­sures; and limited, only so far as may consist with such & such Ends & Designs?

FURTHERMORE, (and I shall add only this one word, which perhaps might more properly have been placed before) Have your Desires been Active and Industrious? Has your Thirst put you upon diligent Endeavours to obtain the desired Blessings? Or, have you contented yourself with idle Wishes, (such as the Desires of the Generality are) mere, lazy, fruitless Wouldings? Many Sinners seem wonder­fully affected now and then under some awakening Word, or rousing Providence; and perhaps express their Desires in very pathetical Terms: but they don't proceed to sutable Efforts & Endeavours; they take no Pains, to obtain that which they pretend so vehemently to long after. They rest in Desire. The soul of the sluggard desireth ^† but his Hands refuse to labour ^*.—I appeal to you then, and call upon you to enquire, Whether this has been your unhappy Case, or no? Have you contended your [Page 112] self with empty, formal, unactive Wishes? Or, Has there been an agreeable Working a vigorous Labo­ring & striving after the good Things you desire?—The Psalmist said, O My God, my soul thirsteth for thee: and cou'd moreover say, My soul followers hard after thee ^‖. If there be true &c fervent De­sires, then the awakned Soul will follow hard after the LORD in the Way of his Appointment.—Let it be inquir'd then: Have you been soilici­tous & studious to get rightly acquainted with the Gospel-method of Salvation by JESUS CHRIST? And have you given Diligence to comply with the Terms? Not objecting against them, nor discourag'd by any Difficulties in the way. &c.

THUS let every one examine himself concerning the first thing, this spiritual Thirst. If your Desires be found thus qualify'd; if they have been placed on proper Objects, and been exerted in due Ways and Measures, (such as I have mention'd) then you have truly thirsted in the sense of the Text; and are such as CHRIST invites to come unto him; which is the subject of the next Inquiry. Wherefore,

2. INQUIRE, Whether you have been rightly go­ing to CHRIST, for the satisfaction of your thirst. Unto him shou'd the Gathering of the People be ^† Who is the Fountain of Salvation, the true Fountain of Shiloam; out of whom do flow Rivers of living & healing Waters. Well then, inquire; Whether you have been going to CHRIST in a right manner, to have your Thirst quenched.

HAVE you been going to CHRIST, in the way of Faith? Realizing his Sutableness & Safficiency [Page 113] to satisfy all the longing Desires of your thirsty Soul; having your whole Dependence on him, and a lively Hope in him for Mercy to help you. Coming to CHRIST, and believing on him, are equivalent Terms ^†.

AGAIN, Have you been going to CHRIST, in the way of prayer? Have you gone daily to the Throne of Grace, and made known your Request by Prayer and Supplication; laying open all your Wants, and Griefs & Fears, and spreading all your Desires before the LORD? Have you gone to the Fountain; cast your self at the Foot of Sovereign Grace, and upon your Knees labor'd fervently in Prayer, continuing therein without Ceasing, as the importunate Widow did, who is set forth as an Ex­ample ^*? Can you appeal to Heaven, and say with the Psalmist, ^* Lord, all my Desire is before thee, & my Groning is not hid from thee.—My heart was [...]ot within me, while I was m [...]sing the fire burned; then spake I with my Tongue.—And now Lord, what wait I for? My Hope is in thee—I poured out my complaint before the Lord: When my spirit was o­verwhelmed within me; I looked on my right, hand, and beheld; but Refuge failed me. I cryed unto thee, O Lord, Thou art my Portion in the Land of the Living.

FINALLY, Have you been waiting on CHRIST, in the way of his Ordinances, and the use of Means? Have you been searching the Scriptures, attending on the Word preacht, & going from one Ordinance to another, stretching forth your hands to GOD, and seeking the LORD diligently?—We read (Psal. 1 [...]7. 9.) He satisfyeth the longing Soul. "The longing [Page 114] Soul (as one observes) is in the Original the running Soul, the Soul that runs up and down (in quest of some desired good) from one Means to another; leaving none unattempted". Thus we shou'd ex­press our longing after CHRIST, and his Benefits. We must make due Improvement of all proper Means & follow him in every Way of his Appoint­ment. We must go to the Wells of Salvation, to the Brooks of Water; and lay our Mouths to every Conduit-Pipe. If one Means will not do, then we shou'd try another; if the more ordinary fail, then apply extraordinary: and never satisfy our selves in any Duty or Ordinance, unless we meet with CHRIST (the desire of our Souls) therein, and of the Fulness that is in him, receive some pretious Gifts.—Now let it be inquir'd: Had it been thus with you, in the general Course of your Life past and particularly this last Year? Have you been going to CHRIST, weary and thirsty, in the way of his holy Institutions; diligently improving the Means of Grace, and religiously attending all Gos­pel-Ordinances, with the whole Bent of your infla­med Powers?

LET every one solemnly put these several Inqui­ries to himself; and thus examine into his Temper and Carriage (this Year more especially) with re­ference to the Duties mention'd in the Text.—And if you find your self faulty, mourn your Guilt with deep Remorse. But if you have been truly thirsting after Spiritual Blessings, & rightly coming to CHRIST for them, Adore and magnify him for his Grace in you and with you; to which belongs the Praise of all your good Desires and good Deeds [Page 115] For it is the Spirit of CHRIST, who hath been work­ing in you both to will & to do, of his good pleasure ^†.

Now in the next place,

[2.] LET it be inquired, What your Receipts and Experiences this Year have been; or what Ful­filment you have bad of the blessed Promise in the Text. Our Savior promises here, That they who being athirst come unto him, shall drink, i.e. receive the Spiritual Goods, Influences, and Refreshments they need and crave.—Inquire then what Expe­rience you had of the Accomplishment of this pre­tious Promise. Have you receiv'd the Blessing from the LORD, and Righteousness from the GOD of your Salvation? Have you receiv'd the Remission of your Sins, the Gift of the HOLY GHOST, & Ear­nest of eternal Life? Have you met with CHRIST, and had Communion with Him in Ordinances & Providences? Have you had your Wants filled, your Graces & Comforts increased?

WHAT Nourishment have you receiv'd? What growth in Grace, in Holiness, & Virtue? Thô your Beginning (it may be) was small; yet has your latter End greatly increased ^*? Have you made gradual Improvements in Piety and Wisdom, been built up in CHRIST, & advanc'd in spiritual Sta­ture? Or, have you come to a Stand, a Pause, & per­haps declined? Have you been as a watered Garden, bringing forth much Fruit? Or, as a parched Wil­derness and an empty Vine? Has CHRIST been to you a Fountain open'd, or a Fountain shut up, as to the Dispensations of sanctifying Grace?

AND then as to the Dispensations of Comfort, [Page 116] How has it been with you? Have you been re­freshed with the Comforts of the HOLY GHOST, been made to drink of the River of Life, & had your Consolation abounding by CHRIST? Or, have you been deny'd those streams which make glad the City of GOD; and gone to every Pit for water, but come away asham'd, with your vessel empty, Your Soul dry & thirsty?—If this latter hath been your Case, be deeply humbled in the Remembrance here­of, mourning the Absence of the Comforter; and sollicitous to find out the Cause, why good Things are with-held from you. But if the former be your Case; if you have open'd your Mouth wide, & had large Draughts of living Waters, acknowledge the rich Mercy of our Lord JESUS CHRIST unto you: Adore Him as the blessed Fountain; Admire his free & distinguishing Grace towards you; Maintain a humble sense of your Unworthiness: Realise your unspeakable Happiness: Envy not the Men of this World the filthy Pleasures of Sin, & dreggy Delights of Sense Retain the memory of your former happy Experiences, and let these whet your Appetite and raise your Expectations for the future; make you long for immediate access to the Fountain itself' and make you more frequent in your approaches to the Throne of Grace, more diligent in your atten­dance upon the holy Ordinances of CHRIST.

LET me here apply all the foregoing Inquiries, and Counsels, particularly to such as have this Year met with Sickness, Bere [...]oments, and the like. It has been a very sickly & dying Time of late among us, and few there are but what have been visited [Page 117] with fore Sickness, either Themselves or Families, The Small Tax and many of us have met with bereaving Dispensations. Now let us Inquire, What have been our Frames, Carriages, and Experiences in the Months of Affliction that have passed over us. What was our Petition & Con­cern in the days of our Distress? Did we thirst after spiritual Blessings, or bodily Comforts, most? Was [...] Life & Health & Ease, that we desired chiefly? a Pardon, Grace & Glory? Did we hunger & thirst after Righteousness, and our Souls pant after GOD, the living GOD? When his Waves and his Billows called over us, was our Prayer to the GOD of our Life? When we were in the Furnace, d [...]d'we in­great his Favour with our whole hearts? Was our Desire towards Him and the Remembrance of his Name? Did we hope in his Word, and our Eyes fail for his Salvation?—Did we experience the Ma­nifestations of his Love, and enjoy his gratious Pre­sence? Did He command his loving-kindness in the Day-time, and was his Song with us in the Night­season?—Have we come forth, as Gold out of the Fire, purify'd and refin'd? Can we truly say, as the Psalmist did, It is good for me that I have been afflicted: Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now have I kept thy Word. Beho'd I have longed after thy Precepts: Teach me thy Statutes. I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous Judgments. Are these the present Sentiments, the Desires, & Resolutions of our Souls? Or, are our Vows forgotten, our Desires cool'd, our Lusts reviv'd, and our former vain Conversation returned to?—Let every one very seriously [...] their [Page 118] these Questions to himself, and let Conscience give a faithful answer. Such whose Hearts condemn them, let 'em be cover'd with shame, and fear left some more aggravated Judgments sp [...]lily overtake them. But let such who have the Testimony of a good Conscience, rejoyce in the LORD, and walk worthy of the LORD to all pleasing.

THUS much for the first general Head; the Ex­amining our selves with Relation to the Duties and Promise in the Text.

11. LET it be a record of Exhortation to Sinners, that they would now hearken to the Invitation of our Saviour, and comply with the Duties requir'd by been in the Text. The Invitation of CHRIST is, If any man thirst let him come unto me. O let every Sin­ner see to it, that he get his Soul instamed with a spiritual Thirst, and go to the Lord JESUS CHRIST for spiritual Satisfaction.

(1.) LET secure Sinners laber to get their Sends inflam'd with a true spiritual Thirst, O don't he cool towards the spiritual Blessings and heavenly Things, that are in CHRIST JESUS. Labour to see the Evil, and get a rooted Abhorrence, of Sin, which separates between CHRIST and you, & with­holds those good Gifts from you. Labor to see the Vanity of the World, and Emptiness of all Creature Comforts. Be convinced of the Excellency & Ne­cessity of Spiritual Blessings. Realise it, that these are the best of Blessings; that they only can afford solid Satisfaction to the Soul of Man, & really sup­ply it;'s Wants. Remember, You are naturally in a perishing State; your Souls are as the dry & parched Desert, or as the chased panting Hart; and without [Page 119] seasonable Relief you must needs saint & die. You can't be happy, but must be miserable, so long as you abide in your present forlorn Condition, whe­ther you resent it be not; And the less you resent it, your Case is so much the more wretched & hope­less. O labour therefore to see the wofull Indigency and Misery of your natural State; to know your Trouble, and feel your Need: and he concern'd to obtain Help & Supply. Be in an Agony of Soul, and give no Rest to your Thoughts nor Sleep to your Eyes, 'till you have found where and how you may escape the dolefull Misery, which is upon you. If you remane in carnal security, there is no Reme­dy for you; Die you must unavoidably, and you will perish wonderfully.

(2.) LET awakened thirsty Sinners go to JE­SUS CHRIST for spiritual Satisfaction. Such of you as are under Convictions, that have your Eyes open'd to see your perishing Condition by nature, and whose Souls are inquisitive and craving after the Waters of Life; Be directed and encourag [...]d to go to JESUS CHRIST for a supply as the hunted Hart to the Water-brooks, or the thirty Israelites in the Wilderness to the Rock smitten.

To animate you, considers,

1. SUPPLY and Satisfaction is to be bad in CHRIST, and no ahere else. A Thirst after Hap­piness in general, 'tis what all Mankind do conspire in, tho' they exceedingly vary in their Judgment and Choice of the Object of Blessedness But now infallible Divine Declaration, as well as constant human Experience, abundantly shows, that nothing can satisfy the Cravings of the Soul, but a Good [Page 120] that is spiritual, immortal and immutable; agree­ing with the Nature of the Soul, and proportionable to it's Necessities in our fallen State. Now all this Good is treasur'd up in CHRIST, and in Him alone. There is nothing of it in the Creature. The World is but a broken Cistern, that can hold no Water, nor yield any true Satisfaction: and if you seek any where among Carnal Objects for Refreshment; they will certainly deceive your Expectations. CHRIST is the Fountain of living Waters. All our springs are in Him. All Fulness dwells in Him: a Fulness of Sufficiency for Himself, a Fulness of Redundancy for Believers: a Fulness of Merit & Righteousness; a Fulness of the Spirit of Grace & Comfort; a Ful­ness of Glory. In CHRIST there is enough to sup­ply all our Wants, and to satiate our utmost Cra­vings. In him there is an exceeding Abundance of all Good, above what we can ask or think. Enough for You; enough for Me; enough for All that thirst: and infinitely more than enough. Joh. 4. 13, 14. Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whoso­ever drinketh of the water that I shall give him, shall never thirst: but the water that I shall give him, shall be in him a well of water springing up to everlasting life. Consider,

2. You are invited to come to CHRIST for all needful supply & satisfaction. The Good that is Fountain'd in CHRIST is communicable; and thirsty Souls are bidden to come unto CHRIST for it. He is not a Fountain sealed, and inaccessible: but a Fountain opened, and freedom of Access to it is allow'd yea, Invitations to repair unto it are gi­ven [Page 121] CHRIST is exhibited, and offer'd to thirsty Souls, in the Word written & preach'd: and there they are woo'd with much importunity to come un­to CHRIST, and accept of him. Isai. 55. begin. Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the Waters Where­fore do ye spend your Lab us for that which satisfyeth not? Incline your Ear, and come unto Me, and your soul shall live. 2 Cor. 5. 20. We are Embassadors for Christ, as tho' God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

3. THE Invitation is back'd with many Promises and Assurances of Satisfaction in Case you will come. The LORD has oblig'd himself by the most invio­lable Promises, to make you welcome, to give you a kind Reception, and so supply all your Need ac­cording to his Riches in Glory, if you repair unto him in the Gospel-way of Faith and Repentance. Thus, Isai.41. 17, 12. When the Poor & Needy seek Water and there is none, and their Tongue saileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them. I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open Rivers in high places, &c. Rivers of Grace, Rivers of Consolation, Rivers of living Water; But this spake he of the Spirit, which they who believe on him shou'd receive ^†. Isai. 44. 3. I will [...]our Wa­ter upon him that is thirsty, and Floods upon the dry Ground: I will pour my Spirit, &c. Mat. 5. 9. Blessed are they which do bunger & thirst after Righteous­ness: for they shall be filled. Joh.6. 35. 54. He that believeth on me shall never hirst (never want any good thing, but shall have all things necessary for Life & Godliness) Whoso drinketh my Blood, hath e­ternal [Page 122] Life, and I will raise him up at the last day. Mat. 11. 28. Come unto Me, all ye that labour & are weary, and I will give you Rest.—Thus you have many great and pretious Promises, to encourage your Faith & Flight to CHRIST. And from hence you may be sure of meeting with a kind Entertain­ment, if you go unto Him. He hath expressly said, Joh.6. 37. Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out.

4. THE Invitation is most gratious, and conde­scending, [...] well as the Offer universal. The Foun­tain stands open for all believing Comers, to partake at free Cost. No Exception is made against any thirsting penitent Soul, however vile & sinfull. No Personal Merit is insisted on; No Price demanded, nor any Returns expected but those of Gratitude & Obedience. You that are utterly unworthy, and have no Qualifications to recommend you, nor any Thing to tender as a valuable Consideration, are not­withstanding invited to come, if you thirst. So runs the Invitation, Isai.55. 1. He, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no Money; Come,—without Money, and without Price.—And so stands the Promise, Rev. 21. 6. I will give to him that is [...] of the Fountain of the Water of Life freely. O the abounding Riches, and astonish­ing Freeness of Divine Grace! Let every Soul be transported with this Thought; and hereby be per­suaded to close with CHRIST upon Gospel-Terms.

5. YOUR going to CHRIST is undispensably necessary to your Participation in the [...] of the Promise. You must go to the Well of Salvation, & draw water out of it, in the Gospel Way; Otherwise [Page 123] you will never partake of the Waters of Life. If you do not drink of these living Waters, what will it profit you to have had the Discovery & Offer of them made unto you? And you will never have them given you to drink, unless you go to CHRIST for them in the way of Faith & Repentance. Unless CHRIST dwell in your hearts by faith, unless you receive him upon Gospel-terms, you will certainly miss of Satisfaction & Happiness. Hence that Com­plaint of our Savior, Joh. 5. 40. Ye will not come unto me, that ye might have Life. Hence likewise that solemn Expostulation of the Apostle, Heb.2. 3. How shall we escape, if we neglect so great Salvation?

O let every thirsty Sinner then be persuaded to come to JESUS CHRIST in the way of his Ap­pointment: Accept his Invitation, & venture your Soul upon his gracious Offer, If any man thirst, let him come, and drink. Don't proudly stand upon Terms; but submit to the humbling Methods of the Gospel, and comply with it's reasonable Demands. Make no vain trifling Excuses. Say not, I have nothing where­with to purchase these Benefits: For they are freely tender'd to you. Say not, I am unworthy and, dare not come: For the more unworthy you are, the more will Divine Grace abound and triumph in the free bestowment of Gospel-benefits upon you. And the more humbly sensible you are of your own Un­worthiness, the more welcome you shall be to Gospel­Grace. O come then at the Master's Bidding; see that you refuse him not ^*. Come to the Well-head; Open your Mouth wide, and it shall be filled ^‖: You shall be abundantly satisfy'd with the Fatness of [Page 124] his House and drink of the River of his pleasures ^†. But if you reject his Invitation, and refuse to come, you will e'er long be parched up with a fiery Thirst, and perish with a burning Drought. O realise the absolute Necessary of your Coming to CHRIST, and get your Heart affected more and more with the sense hereof. Realise the utter Emptiness of the World, and Renounce all Creatures, as perishable Streams, s lying Vanities & Refuges of Deceit. Renounce every Lust, as an opposition to CHRIST; and dis­clame all Confidence in any supposed Righteousness of your own, as standing in Competition with CHRIST: and say with Ephraim ^*, What have I any more to do with Idols? Let all the Disappoint­ments you have hitherto met withall, when wan­dring from Mountain to Hill in pursuit of Happi­ness, help to drive you to CHRIST, and hasten your Flight to him for Satisfaction; who only can flake the Thirst of your longing Soul. Realise CHRIST's Ability & Willingness to do this: and Plead his Suf­ficiency. Go to his Throne of Grace; fall down at his Foot, and beseech his tender compassions, Come near to his Seat, & fill your Mouth with Arguments; Take to your self Words, and tell him, That your thirsty Soul is ready to faint & famish; and that you know not whither else to go but to him for Relief and Refreshment; that he is able, yea has offer'd to bestow the same upon you; and that this will be a glorious display of his sovereign Grace,—Thus plead his own Glory; plead his Promises; plead your own absolute Necessity: and Resign your­self to his Covenant-Mercy; begging that he would [Page 125] take Pity upon you, & make your perishing Soul an Instance of the glorious Triumphs of his Grace and saving Power.—Seek the LORD, & wait on him in the use of all proper Means, attending on all his holy Institutions, resolving to be found in the Way of his Blessing.—Wait patiently & perseveringly; keeping up your Appetite, and maintaining an humble Ex­pectation: referring it to his infinite Wisdom to chuse his own Time & Way; but still resolving that you will expect all needfull & saving Communica­tions from him, that you will follow him with your importunate Sollicitations and never give him any Rest, till he hath satisfy'd you with good Things; that (with Jacob) You will not let him go, except he bless you,—Let not any Delay of Divine Supplies discourage your Hopes. damp your Thirst, or check your Pursuits after them. But wait resolutely: Re­pair frequently to the Fountain of Grace; Come time after time, and trust in the LORD at all times: Pour out your Heart before him, continuing in Pray­er without Ceasing; and in due season you shall re­ceive, if you saint not.—Come with enlarged Desires for it is a full Fountain, over-flowing, & ever-flow­ing; it's Waters fail not, but an infinite Plenitude remains, tho' an innumerable Multitude have drank thereof & been satisfy'd. "Come away then to the Fountain, and drink your Fill of it ^†. Come as you are however vile & unworthy,—for the Fountain is free. Come to have all your Wants supply'd here; for the Fountain is full. Come now, while it stands open, and is accessible. Come speedily, instantly: Defer not so important an Action one Moment [Page 126] longer. You have delay'd too long already; & have thereby grieved the Spirit of GOD, & wrong'd your own Soul. Notwithstanding, there is still Hope that you many speed, if you come to CHRIST [...] seek him with your whole Heart. Now is the accepted Time. But possibly, if your miss the present season, it may be afterwards too late. E'et long the streams of Or­dinances may be dry'd up; and the Fountain shut up the Passage to it stop'd, and an unpassable Gulph fixed between that & you. Death may soon out you off, period all your Opportunities, and dash your Hopes in one Moment. You may die this Year, this Month, or Week; yet this Night thy Soul may be requir'd of thee: & then what will become of you if not found in CHRIST, the Fountain of Sal­vation! You may read your Doom in Prov.1. 24. &c. Because I have called, & ye refused, I also will length at your calamity, I will [...] when your Fear cometh. When your Fear cometh as a Desolation, and your Destruction cometh as a Whirlwind. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me. O tremble lest these Words of Terror be one day pronounced con­cerning you. Beware then of dangerous & sinfull Delays. If any man thirst, let him come to the Waters now, even now while it is called, To day. Make Haste; and what thou doest, do quickly. Rev. 22. 17. The Spirit and the bride say Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let [...] that is [...]thirst come: And whosoever will, let him take tho water of life freely.

THESE are the words of Jeremiah, who (we may observe) was the last Prophet, sent to the [...] Nation before their captivity in Babylon. He was one of the common Priests in Anathoth. He was advanc'd to the extraordinary office of a Prophet (in the days of good Josiah) when very Young: and continu'd a long whole; thô not nigh so long as Hosea (the first writing Prophet, us some think) who is said ^† to have prophesy'd near Ninety Years. And yet Je­remiah's Book is larger considerably than his. We have reason to think that Hosea preach'd as much as he, and perhaps had as many Revelations: but there was not so much of his publish'd, or at least not handed down in the sacred Records. ‘Many ex­cellent Prophets wrote nothing, and others but little; who yet were very useful in their day. And so in the Christian Church there have been many burning and shining Lights, who are not known to Posterity by their Writings; and yet were no way inferior in gifts & graces, and servi­ceableness to their own Generation, than those that are; and some that have left but little behind [Page 129] them, and make no great figure among Authors, yet were as valuable men as the more voluminous Writers.’ Men's natural Gentus, as well as Op­portunities vary; and to this may the difference in part be owing: thô there is a special direction of Divine Providence in this affair.

THE Style even of the inspir'd Writers is very curious; the Spirit of GOD serving his own designs by the different genius and capacity of those▪ by whom he spake, at sundry times and in divers men­ers. As Pan [...] & Apolles, & [...], under the New Testament are noted as very different Speakers; so were Hosea, Isaiah, and Jeremiah under the old.

HOSEA (as Criticks observe) us'd a Style ve­ry close & sententions, peculiar to himself; and in some places it seems to be like Solomon's Proverbs.

ISAIAH used a Style more copious & flowing, but incomparably curious & polite, full of majesty, and full of oratory; sometimes sublime & towering always elegant and lively. But

JEREMIAH was less of an Orator: his man­ner of speaking was more familiar, plain, and un­polish'd. However, there appears a great deal of holy flame & server in his Preaching. He was a very painfull, faithfull, zealous Prophet. In the nineteen first chapters of his Book of Prophecies, we have some of his Sermons; (I suppose, in abstract; perhaps Baruck's Roll might have many of the En­largements) and here we find a Variety of the most pathetical Exhortations, with the most mo­ving Admonitions, Reproofs and Warnings. But all very little regarded by the Men of that gene­ration, to whom he preach'd. It was a great favour [Page 130] to the People, that this excellent Minister so long continu'd laboring in the word, and zealously af­fecting them. And yet it seems he had but little success in his Ministry; which is the melancholy Lot of many of the best Preachers in all times of the World. They had him a great while among them, but to very little purpose. They des­pis'd his youth, and regarded not his age. They gave him very base, harsh, and ungrateful Treat­ment. He seems to have met with more ill Usage and Persecution, than any of his brethren the Pro­phets. He calls himself a man of Contention to the whole Earth; and complains of his people, saying, Every one doth curse me, thô I have done no man any wrong. Neither the innocence of the Dove, nor the Wisdom of the Serpent, cou'd secure him from unjust Calumny, Malice, and Ill will. As became a faithful Prophet, he set himself to bear Witness a­gainst, and to reform, the Corruptions of the Times: but was always oppos'd, and malign'd by his thank­less and ungenerous Country-men. They despis'd his preaching, sought to ruin his Reputation, and even to take away his Life. This in many places be pathetically complains of; and particularly in our Context, which I shall read to you, and make some brief Remarks upon. Verse 18 & 19. Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Je­remiah: for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the pro­phet: come and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give beed to any of his words. Give heed to me, O LORD, and bearken to the voice of them that contend with me.

[Page 131] Now if we reflect, we shall find, that the Occasion of the People displeasure at the Prophet was his plain dealing with them, his faithfull reproving their Sins, and warning them of approaching Judgments. The occasion is hinted in the introductory word, T HEN said they, &c. Which affords us this Obser­vation; That it is sometimes the Humour of a vain World, to be enrag'd at the Ministers of GOD, for their Fidelity and holy Zeal: because they don't prophesy smooth things, and flatter Sinners in their Carnality and Hypocrisy? but with plainness of speech tell them their whole Duty, sharply rebuke their Sins, & set the awfull Threatnings of GOD before them; This kindles their Anger.—But what an unrea­sonable humour is this, and how very wicked? 'Tis as if the Patient shou'd fly in his Physician's face: and as if one shou'd rudely spurn at a Messenger from his Royal Master.

AGAIN, if we consider Who the Persons were, that thus malign'd the Prophet, namely Professors of Religion; we may very naturally observe, That Formalists in Religion, when their Lusts are touch'd and grated upon in the faithful preaching of the Word, do usually turn the vilest Haters of GOD's Servants, and shew the most implacable Enmity to them: and this many times under the cloke of sanctimonious Zeal and with a carnal dependence on their Temple-Privileges: For thus they insinua­ted. The Law shall not perish from the priest, nor Counsel from the Wise, nor the Word from the Pro­phet; Come, let us smite him, &c. As if they shou'd have said, He is a false Prophet, and contradicts our Teachers, (who have the promise of GOD's perpe­tual [Page 132] presence) and therefore 'tis no Injustice to op­pose & persecute such a [...]roubler of Israel: or he is but [...] Prophet; and whatever becomes of him, we shall yet have others, and enjoy our Church-privi­leges still.

AGAIN, We might observe, That when any are enrag'd at the Servants of GOD, it is too common for them to propagate their undue Prejudices among their Companions.—Then said they, come let us &c.—They call'd on & stir'd up one another. And by this unhappy means, the Wise Man's observation is too often verify'd, One sinner destroys much Good.

AGAIN, We might note; Sinners often lay their heads together to plot against the Just. Then said they, Come, and let us devise Devices against Jere­miah; consult what to do and say against him.

AGAIN, It is observable; One common method of Revenge is Defamation & Derision. They said, Let us smite him with the Tongue; heap Reproaches upon him, and make a Laugh at him; banter, bely, and expose him.—And thus Jeremiah afterwards complains they abus'd him. Chap. 20. 7., &c. I am in [...] daily every one mocketh me. For since I spake,—the word of the LORD was made a re­proach unto me.—Then I said,—I will not speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart, as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay. For I heardth defaming of many fear on every side: Report say they, and we will report it; all my Fa­miliars watched for my halting saying, Peradven­ture he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, & we shall take our revenge on him. But the [Page 133] LORD is with me as a mighty terrible one: there­fore my Persecutors shall stumble, and be greatly ashamed, &c.

WE may further observe; It is often the unhap­py fruit of Persons Rage & Prejudices against the LORD's Ministers, that they despise their Preaching and disregard the solemn Messages of GOD deliverd [...]y them.—And they said, Let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not [...] beed to any of his words.—They call them His words the Prophet's Persons under prejudice against Ministers, are apt to look on what they deliver, as the word of Man, and not the word of GOD: and accordingly turn a deaf ear to all their Admonitions; prophanely scoff at their Warnings and Reproofs; and revile them as only serving their own Passions, when per­swading by the Terrors of the LORD.

NOTE again, Sometimes the Masice & Rage of Sinners proceeds to such a height, as to conspire he Death, and offer violence to the persons of GOD's servants. This was Jeremiah's C [...]se; v.20. They free digged a pit for my soul. They took counsel to­gether, (as he tells us in Chap. 11. 19.) saying, let us cut him off from the Land of the Living, that his name may be no more remembred.—It was a true, but infamous Character given by our Savi­our of Jerusalem in his day, and was put on Record for the Jews shame and Christians admonition; Je­rusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the Prophets, & stonest them which are sent unto thee, &c. Matth. [...]. [...]. See also a like Charge upon them by the Apostle, 1. Thes. 2. 15.

FINALLY observe, Tis too common among Men [Page 134] to require Good with Evil. Jeremiah complains v. 20. That Evil was recompensed him for Good, And so doth the Psalmist, Psal.109.4. For my Love they are my Adversaries, &c. And Psal.35.12. They rewarded me Evil for Good, to the spoiling of my soul. Some of the best of Zion's Friends have many times been ill-requited by an ungratefull People. But how base is such ungratitude, and how cutting to [...]ngenuous Spirits! How cruel & barbarous, and de­vilish is such usage! To return Good for Good, is to act like Men; To return Good for Evil, is to act like GOD: but to render Evil for Evil, is to act like Brutes, and to render Evil for good is to act like Devils. But what will not Malice, Envy, and Hypocrisy do!

THUS I've noted several things from the People's Carriage to the Prophet. Now let us see what was his Conduct under all this wicked and unsufferable Treatment.

HE sadly resented their evil Carriage, laid to heart their Perverseness & dreadful Impiety; and was a mournful; Spectator of the Judgments coming upon them. This is imply'd in the Text, and fully express'd in many places. As where he says; My Soul shall weep in secret places for your Pride, and mine eye shall weep sore and run down with tears, because the LORD'S flock is carry'd away captive, And again, When I would comfort my self against sorrow, my heart is saint in me.—Oh that I had in the wilderness a Lodging-place of way-faring men, that I might leave my People! for they be all A­dulterers an assembly of treacherous men: and they bend their tongues like their bows for Lies &c. J [...]r. 13. 1.—8. 13.—9. 2.

[Page 135] HE appeal'd to GOD, to vindicate his innocence [...] apply'd to him for Redress of his Difficulties. He car­ry'd his Complaint to the Throne of Grace,& open'd his Cause to GOD; asserting his own Integrity and begging Divine appearance for him v. 19. 28. Give beed to me, O LORD, and [...] to the voice of them that contend with me. Shall evil be recompensed for good: for they have digged a [...] for my soul: re­member that I stood before thee to speak good for them, and to turn away thy wrath from them.

WE may observe here in general, He makes his Complaint to GOD; and from hence infer,— When the Servants of the LORD meet with Reproaches and Vexations from Men, especially for Righteousness sake, their Way and Wisdom is to bring their case to GOD; to shew him their trouble, and pair out their complaint before him ^†, Thus did holy [...] Hezekiah, Hannah, and others.—The Saints know that GOD is their chief Friend, and permits them to speak to him as a Man to his Friend: Unto whom therefore shou'd they unbosom themselves but to Him?—Moreover, they know, they may depend upon Secrecy with him: They can talk ever to him the frowardness, and follies of their Relatives or Neighbours, which Charity or Prudence requires them to conceal from Men.—Again, they know that GOD is infinitely wise & discerning, king & inparti­al: that he cannot mistake their Case or pervert their words; that he is acquainted with all their Ways, and knows their Thoughts even afar [...] and will judge righteous Judgment. And upon this view, they open their Cause unto him. [...] More­over, [Page 136] over, they know that GOD is able & ready to relieve the Oppressed, and hear the prayer of the Destitute: and therefore they make him their Refuge, who is a Patron of the Innocent: They spread all their Cures before him, and pour out their Griefs & Re­sentments into his ear, & bosom. By which means, they often obtain Peace & Ease of Mind, and re­fresh their oppressed Spirits.—'This is a Method, which all in the present Case shou'd pursue. But then they must see to it, that they mourn in the'r Complaint after a godly sort. They shou'd make their Complaints, in a penitent and humble frame, [...] the hand of GOD, and acknowledging his Justice, in all they meet with: Also in a meek and patient frame; free from all sinfull Passions, re­vengefull Motions and rancorous Invectives: And in a durable frame; blessing such as curse them and praying for such as despitefully use them: Fi­nally, with hope & trust in GOD; encouraging them­selves in the LORD: as David did, in his distress when the People spake of stoning him, I Sam.30. 6.

But now more particularly, we may observe what the Prophet says in his Complaint and Prayer to GOD. We have first that petition, Give bred to me, O LORD, He had before complain'd that the People whom he preach'd unto, were resolv'd to give [...] unto him. MEN wou'd not hear the World from his mouth, nor give heed to his Preaching: however, he trusts that GOD will have regard to this labour of Love, and accept him in it. NOTE, It is matter of comfort to faithful Ministers, that thô [...] & despite their Preaching, yet they may hope that GOD will accept & [...] their Endea­vours; [Page 137] and thô Israel be not gathered, yet their Re­ward is with GOD.—Or, Men wou'd not take no­tice of his Grievances, and do him Justice: he there­fore applies himself to GOD, who is a Refuge for the Oppressed; and refers his Cause to him, who is an upright Judge. [...] d. Thô men will not receive my Complaints; yet LORD, do then admit them, and judge between me & my adversaries: Hearken to the voice of them that contend with me; hear how clamorous they are in their false Accusations, and appear for my vindication; take notice of all their Rage & Spite, and take me under thy Protection; Let them be blasted in their cruel Designs & Wick­ed Attempts; let them be confounded & dismayed; but let not me be confounded nor dismayed ^†.

AND then he backs his petitions with several Pleas. Shall Evil be recompensed for Good? Shall such base Ingratitude go unpunish'd? For they have digged a Pit for my Soul: and shall such Malice and Wickedness pass unrevenged? Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest, mischief & spite to requite it with thine own hand:—Break thou the arm of the wick­ed ^*, Save me from all them which persecute me. My Defence is of GOD, who saveth, the upright in heart ^‖. Let them curse, but bless thou ^†— Remem­ber,. that I stood before thee to speak Good for them, and to turn away thy wrath from them. He humbly ap­peals to GOD concerning his Fidelity & Compassion to that sinfull People. Q. d. Thô I have met with many Abuses from them; yet LORD, thou knowest I have faithfully done my duty as a prophet, in preaching & praying for their good: Or as he ex­presses [Page 138] it (in Chap.17.16.) As for me, I have not bastned from being a Pastour in follow thy Instructi­ons; neither have I desired that woful day; thou knowest that which came [...] of my lips was right be­fore thee.— Thô I have met with much Opposition, Injury, & Discouragement from them; yet LORD, thou knowest, I have not ceased from my work, nor given over my Labours among them in the Word & Prayer: but have stood in the Gap. & done my utmost to turn away thy wrath from them.—LORD, remember this—Herein he seems to refer unto some Promise of GOD, engaging spe­cial mercy to such as tremble at his word, and es­pouse his cause, and intreat his favour, In a day of wrath on a professing People. He throws himself upon the Divine Pity, and Covenant-faithfulnes. Q. d. Thô the People forget my Kindness to them; yet, LORD, do Thou remember and accept it. Thô I cannot prevale to turn away thy wrath from them yet, LORD, remember that I faithfully & compas­sionately endeavour'd it; Think upon me, my GOD, for good; according to all that I have done for this People: & hide me under the shadow of thy wings in the day of thine Indignation, hastning upon them.—This is probably the Prophet's Meaning in the Text; as may he infer'd from like Express­ions else-where. Thus Chap. 15. 15. O LORD Thou knowest; remember me [...] the and revenge me of (or rather, vindicate & distinguish me from) my Persecuters; take me not away, but spare ine it thy Long-Suffering: Ruine that for thy sake I have suffered Rebuke. And also, Chap.17. 14, 17. [...]ave me O LORD, and I shall be saved: for thought [Page 139] my Praise. Be not a terror to me; Thou art my Hope in the day of evil.—My dependence is upon thee and my hope in thee for comfort in the worst of times; let thy favour rejoyce my heart, when my Enemies do all they can to terrify me; and now such an awfull day of common Calamity is in­evitably approaching, LORD, in the midst of my tho'ts let thy Comforts delight my Soul.

FROM the Text thus explain'd we might raise se­veral Observations. As; That the true Servants of GOD and Friends of Zion will be resolute & hearty in seeking the Good of Jerusalem, thô they may be very unworthily requited for it.— Again It becomes the Servants of GOD to be very mournfull Specta­tors of the Sins of a professing People, and of the Judgments inflicted, or threaten'd therefor.— Again They shou'd labor by all possible methods to prevent Judgments coming on a People; or if come, to remove them.— Again, They shou'd keep up a chearfull Hope in GOD in the worst times & under the darkest prospects. Finally, when they have done their best Endeavour, and yet cannot prevale, to turn away Divine Wrath, they may humbly plead it with GOD, that they have done their Duty; and may comfortably expect, that GOD will re­member this, and think on them for Good, according to all they have done or desired to do; although the same may be ill resented & ill requited by men. The testimony of a good Conscience may be their Rejoycing in the day of Evil, and their Support un­der the unjust Reproches, & ungrateful Treatment of such as they deserve better Usage from.

[Page 140] BUT the only DOCTRINE, I design to insist upon is this—

IT is the work & office of GOD's Ministers not only to warn the Wicked and reprove the Unruly: but likewise to admonish the Godly, to teach them in the things of GOD, and put them in mind to be ready to every good Work, Tit.3. 1.—My business now is, in the name of CHRIST, and by his help, to exhort the Children and Servants of GOD to a Duty, very seasonable at this time, though too much neglected; I mean the endeavouring to reconcile a provoked GOD to a sinning People, & using pro­per methods to put a stop to the course of his Judg­ments that we may not be consumed utterly.

IN the Doctrin are several Propositions ex­press'd, or imply'd. As,

PROP. I GOD is angry with his own professing People, when they sin against Him. Sin exposes them, as well as others to the wrath and destructive ven­geance of the Almighty. An External Profession and Covenant-Privileges are no sure Defense of a People; no Screen from wasting Judgments, if they sin against the holy One of Israel. GOD sees Sin in his own People, as well as others: and the Provocation in them is not at all the less; nay, 'tis vastly greater, [Page 141] being aggravated by the Advantages they enjoy a boy [...] others.—That GOD is angry at Sin in a pro­fessing People, might be evidenced from Divine De­clarations, Threatnings and Warnings; and from many sorrowfull Examples of Vengeance, &c.—National Sins bring national Judgments every where. But if Israel, (the holy Nation) sin, they shall be punish'd seven times more.

PROP. II. WHEN GOD's wrath is kindled against a provoking People, He is yet reconcilable to them; ready to forgive, and to turn from the fierceness of his holy anger; easy to be intreated, and willing to reverse the sentence of wrath, upon the easiest and most condescending Terms. Hence when he is, angry at a People, he often spares them a while, & only threatens and warns them, and uses means to prevent their Ruin. And when he comes to the Ex­tention, he ordinarily begins with fewer and lesser Judgments, proceedings gradually, from gentler strokes to severer scourges ^*. And he is represen­ted as not knowing how at last to give the fatal Blow, & bring total Destruction, even on the obsti­nately, Impenitent, See. Hos.6.4. and, Chap. 11. 8, 9.

PROP. III. THERE are certain Means and Ways to appease the Divine Angry, when incensed against a People. And these are Humiliation under the hand of GOD, Deprecation of his Wrath, and Reformation of Sin, the procuring Cause thereof. GOD hath so limited the Threatning, that if these Duties be generally attended by a People, they may expect a stop of Judgments begun. Jer.3. 12, 12. J [...]cl.2. 12, &c. And we've Instances of GOD's [Page 142] staying his Controversy, & Suspending the Inflicti­ons of his Wrath, upon a Peoples thus doing; thô indeed it were only in Shew and Hypocrisy. Thus Psal.78.34.—38.—38. So. Jon.3. 8—10.

PROP. IV. AMONG a prosessing People, even in times of the greatest degeneracy, there is ordina­rily a Remnant of GOD's faithful Saints & Ser­vants. Thus at the times, which our text refers to, thô all Religion seem'd in a manner to be lost among the Jewish Nation; yet there was Jeremiah, Barach, and some few others perhaps, whose hearts, were right with GOD.—So in Elijah's time, when there was so little appearance of Religion among the Peo­ple of GOD, that Elijah complain'd, saying, I am left alone and they seek my Life; yet what saith the Answer of GOD to the Prophet? I have reserved to my self seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knie to Baal. And the Apostle Paul speaking of the Jewish Nation in his day, says, Even so at this time also there is a Remnant according to the Electi­on of Grace ^‖.— Abraham, when interceding for So­dom, hop'd there were Fifty Righteous within the City: which Hope of his was not only owing to his Charity (the nature of which Grace is to hope all things, and to think all the Good it can) but was grounded on the common conduct of GOD's Provi­dence, in casting some of his Elect into the most wicked places, and in the most degenerate times to maintain a Seed to serve the LORD. And thô there was not as Abraham hoped, Fifty of GOD's Chosen ones in Sodom, yet there was righteous Lot, and his Family in it.

[Page 143] PROP. V. WHEN GOD has a Controversy with his People, it is the Duty of all his Saints and Servants among them, to do what they can to turn away his wrath from them, and obtain a blessed Re­conciliation. In all approved methods they must do what in them lies, to recover the Divine Fa­vour, and secure the Divine Presence with such a People, which is all their Safety, Glory and Hap­piness. They shou'd thrust into the Gap, and stand between an offended GOD, and a provoking Peo­ple; doing their utmost by interceding with Him to stop the Current of his Judgments. And then likewise they should endeavor to repair the Breach, that Sin has made; and remove the provoking Cause of Divine Wrath, by using most diligently all pro­per means to effect a true and thorough Reforma­tion among a backsliding People. Thus there is Work, first respecting GOD, and secondly, respect­ing Men; which they are called to attend.

[1.] THEY shou'd stand before GOD, making In­tercession for an afflicted People. This was one me­thod, which Jeremiah took to turn away GOD's Wrath, as he professes in our Text: I stood before thee, to speak Good for them, &c. Jeremiah as a Prophet, foretold the approaching Ruin and Des­lation of Judah & Jerusalem; and yet we find him, in all the postures of Grief and Anxiety, praying for their Preservation, hoping perhaps the Decree were not absolute. We do not find him out of frame as Elijah, who male Intercession to GOD against Israel for like Jonah, who quarrel'd with GOD. because He delay'd the Execution of Vengeance on [Page 144] Niniveh. No; he was far from desiring the evil day, as he professes, Jer.17. 15. Thô he was perse­cuted, malign'd, and reproached by the People; and thô they lightly esteem'd his Prayers; yet he was a fervent Intercessor for them: for so it be­cemes the Children of GOD, (who is kind to the evil and unthankfull) to overcome Evil with Good, and to return Blessing for Cursing. Indeed some­times we find this Man of GOD passionately beg­ing the Divine Appearances for him against his more malignant Persecutors, & prophetically imprecating Judgments upon them; but as to the People in gene­ral he was a hearty & constant Intercessor for their peace & welfare; & herein has set a worthy Example, to Posterity, which challenges universal Imitation.—Now to excite the Servants of GOD hereunto, I shall here briefly represent to them some of those Obliga­tions, which the Saints are under to make interces­sion for a professing People, among whom they dwell, to turn away the Divine Wrath from them.

Wherefore,

1. THE Command of GOD obliges them hereto. A divine Precept constitutes any thing a Duty. Now it is in several places of Scripture expressly en­joyn'd on the Saints to pray for the People of GOD, especially in a day of the LORD's anger. Thus; Psal. 122. [...]. pray for the peace of Jerusalem. So, Isa. 62. 6. Ye that make mention of the Lord keep not [...], and give him no rest, till be establish, and till [...] make Jerusalem a praise in all the earth.—And in the New-Testament: Eph.6. 18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and because there unto with [...], and suppli­cation [Page 145] for all Saints. Heb. 13. 3. Remember them (in Prayer) that are in bonds, as bound with them. Jam.5. 16. Pray one for another, that ye may be boal­ed. These are plain Commands to our purpose, & evidently infer the Saints Obligation to the Duty before us. It is not then a matter of Indifferency, to be attended or neglected as Men please; but they are oblig'd to the doing of it, by the inviolable Au­thority of GOD, their great Lawgiver and King.

2. THIS is very pleasing to GOD, The LORD loveth the gates of Sion, and desireth it for his ha­bitation. And th [...] he will be angry with his Peo­ple, if they forsake his Law, and will visit their Iniquity with stripes; yet he doth not afflict willing­ly. Judgment is his strange work. He delighteth in Mercy. And when his anger is kindled against Israel. he doth not at once utterly cast off his Peo­ple, and forsake his Inheritance. He for a long while keeps somes Reserves of Kindness for them; sympathizes with them under their Adversity; in his love and pity he long bears with and forbears them; and in all their affliction be is afflicted, as the Prophet tells us, Isa. 63. 9. And in such a case, He looks to see, if there be none to help; to call upon him in the day of trouble; to turn away his anger, and stir up his bowels, and set his wisdom & power o'work, to bring Deliverance. Ezek.22. 30. I sought for a man among them, that should make up the Hedge, and stand in the Gep before me for the Land, that I should not destroy it.—If there are none to be found, the LORD is represented as bro't to a stand, and not knowing what to do: Isa.59. 16. He saw that there [...] man, and wonder'd that [Page 146] there was no Intercessor,—was displeas'd & amac'd astonish'd as it were, not knowing what method to take.—Whereas if any of his Saints stir up them­selves to call on GOD, and stand before him to speak good for his afflicted Israel; with this he is well pleased. The LORD hearkens, and hears, and a Book of Remembrance is written before him for them that fear him, and that think upon his name ^†. The LORD taketh pleasure in them, that hope in his Mercy ^‖, and are sincere Suppliants at the Throne of Grace for his People; and the Prayer of the Righteous is, eminently on such an occasion, his Delight ^*. Moses, that memorable Intercessor for Israel, is emphatically styled the Man of GOD; and the LORD is said, to have spoken to him face to face. So, David was much in Prayer for Jerusalem; and he is called a Man after GOD's own Heart, So, Daniel, when interceeding for Jerusalem, had an Angel from Heaven dispatch'd to him, with an An­swer of Peace; approving his Serious Address to this Daty, and pronouncing him a Favorite of Heaven. Dan. 9. 20. &c. Whiles I was presenting my suppli­cation before the Lord my God, for the holy moun­tain of my God; yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel,—being caused to flie swiftly, touched me—and he talked with me, & said, O Daniel,—At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth; and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved.—GOD is very ready to hear the Prayer of the upright, espe­cially when it is for his holy mountain. And when the Saints pour out their hearts before him in such [Page 147] a Prayer, it renders them greatly belov'd, and very acceptable to him.—Which consideration affords a very strong argument to enforce the duty upon them: since they are bidden to chuse the things that please GOD, and to walk worthy of the LORD, unto all pleasing.

3. THE Glory of GOD requires this of them. The Name and Honour of GOD is what his Saints shou'd be very tender of, and jealous for: This shou'd be dearer to them, than all other interests and concerns whatsoever: This challenges their first care and highest regards. Now the Glory of GOD's Name is eminently concern'd in the Feace and Prosperity of his professing People,—When the ways of Zion mourn, and her gates are desolate; when the horn of Israel is cut off, and the beauty of Jacob cover'd with a cloud, in the day of GOD's holy indignation: when the adversaries of Zion mock at her Sabbaths; and they that honoured her, despise her; and they that pass by, hiss and wagg their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city, that men call the perfection of beauty, the joy of the whole earth;—I say, when it is thus, the Name of GOD suffers, and his manifestative Glory is eclipsed. Hence the LORD is said to have had pity for his body Name, When he turned the captivity of Jacob, Ezek.36. 21.—Will not all the Friends of GOD then be concern'd for his suffering honour; and from this Principle, be fervent Inter­cessors for Zion? This was the governing Motive with the Royal Psalmist, when he made that Prayer for Jerusalem, Peace be within thy walls; (Psal. 122. 7.) For he adds, (V. 9) Because of the house of [Page 148] the LORD our GOD, I will seek thy Good,—Holy Jeremiah was sway'd by this argument, and there­fore made use of it to strengthen his faith, in plea­ding for Zion. Jer. 14. 21. Do not abbor us; for thy names sake do not disgrace the throne of thy Glory.—So, Joshua, (Chap.7. 8, 9.) O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turn their backs before their enemies?—And what will thou do unto thy great Name?

IN praying for Israel, the Saints shew their Love to the House and Cause of GOD; and their Desire toward the Remembrance of his Name.— Besides, by their prayers to GOD, they make an open Acknow­ledgment of their dependence on him for needfull salvations, and their belief of his ability & willing­ness to save his People, &c. And thus they give him the Glory of his Sovereign Dominion, Power, Wisdom, and Goodness.—Moreover, hereby they discover a generous and enlarged mind; which is an ornament and glory to Religion, and ultimately reflects honor on GOD.—Which Considerations speak the duty of Prayer, to be very incumbent on the Saints, in a day of Israel's distress. The [...] Regard they owe to the Glory of GOD, demands this of them.

4. THE Regard, which they owe to the professing People of GOD, among whom they dwell, requires it of them. To illustrates this Argument, consider,—

(1.) THEY owe a peculiar regard to the Wel­fare and Prosperity of the Place and People, where and among whom they dwell. The Public has a Right to the benefit of their Prayers, and all other good Offices. Every one shou'd seek the Good of the [Page 149] Country and Community, where Divine Providence casts his Lot. No. man is born to seek his own things: but to serve his own Generation, according to the Will of GOD. Every one shou'd be a Well-wisher especially to the Land of his Nativity: and if it be Christian Land, all the Servants of CHRIST are under double obligations, to concern themselves for he welfare of it. Where there is near Relation, here shou'd be also tender Affection. All the Pro­cessors of Religion are very nearly allied to one a­nother. They are Fellow-brethren by Nature, as Men; and by religious Profession, as Christians: And it is requir'd of them, that they love as Bre­thren; having compassion one of another, being pi­tifull, and courteous, 1 Pet. 3. 8. Yea, they are Fellow- members; being all baptized into one Body, (1 Cor. 12. 13.) And the Members shou'd all have the same Care one for another, and every one for the whole; and whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it: or the Body in general suffer, all the members in particular shou'd suffer with it. Rom. 12. 15. keep with hem that weep. Heb. 13. 3. Remember them which suffer adversity, as being your selves also in the body: Members of one and the same Body with them.—Queen Esther (of glorious memory) so lov'd the Jews, (then the only professing People of GOD, and the Nation she be­long'd to) that when Royal Letters were written to destroy them, she put her L [...]fe in her hand; and went in unto the King, uncalled, which was cont­ry to Law, to beg the Lives of her Nation; thus arguing with her self, ( [...]th.8.6.) For [...]ow can I en­dure to see the evil that shall come unto my people [Page 150] or how can I hear to see the destruction of my kind­red?—This Consideration was one motive of King David's noble Resolution, to seek the good of Jerusalem: Psal. 122. 8. For my brethren and com­panions sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee. So great was the Love of this good King unto Zion, that of her he says, (Psal.87. 7.) All my springs are in thee. Consider,—

(2.) PRAYER is necessary, if they wou'd obtain from GOD the Mercies, which they desire, and the People need. The Saints must ask, if they wou'd receive; and seek, if they wou'd find. Even when GOD has promis'd to do great things for his People; yet for the exercise of their Faith, and to put ho­nour upon the Duty of Prayer, He demands that his Favours be asked for. Ezek.36. 36, 37. I the LORD have spoken, and will do it. Thus saith the LORD GOD, I will yet for this be inquir'd of by the house of Israel to do it for them: Some render it, for the house of Israel, or on their behalf. The Saints are the LORD's Remembrancers: They then shou'd, in the Name of the House of Jacob, inquire after GOD, and seek his face, in the day of trouble, Unless Prayer be made of the Church of GOD in such a season, a People cannot expect the Returns of divine Favour. Consider,—

(3.) THE Saints have a powerful Interest in Heaven, and by their earnest prayers do often turn away Wrath from a sinful People. Long and happy Experience testifys to the Truth of the Psalmist's Observation, Psal.34. 15. The eyes of the Lord are up­on the Righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. We have heard with our Ears, and our Fathers have [Page 151] told us, what Answers of Prayer they knew in their days: and the holy Scriptures tell us, what the Prayer of Faith has done in the times of old; how it has many a time stay'd the hand of GOD, when listed up to execute vengeance.

THUS the fervent Supplications of holy Lot Ob­tain'd deliverance for Zoar, when the LORD con­demned Sodom, and the Cities about it, with an utter overthrow. Thus Moses, being man mighty in Prayer, often prevaled with GOD by his inter­cessions for the Salvation of Israel. Psal. 106. 23. He said that he wou'd destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath. Thus when Sennacherih invaded Judah, and thought to win the fenced cities there­of for himself, Hezekiah the King, and Isaiah the Prophet prayed, and cry'd to Heaven; and the Lord saved Jerusalem from the Enemy. So when the Jews were in Captivity, and the walls of Jeru­salem broken down, Nehemiah wept, & fasted, and prayed to the GOD of Heaven, that he would grant him favour before the King of Persia, and incline him to smile upon his good design to rebuild the City and House of GOD. And in answer to his Request, the LORD so inclin'd the King's heart that Nehemiah has left it on record, The King granted me according to the good hand of my God upon me

THESE Instances may suffice to show, that the Saints have a strong Interest in the Court of Hea­ven; and by their Prayers do often prevale to keep off, moderate, or remove Judgments from a People; and sometimes obtain a Reprieve even for places ripe for Ruin and devoted to Confusion. Indeed [Page 152] in some extraordinary cases, the LORD declares, as in Jer. 15. 1. Tho' Moses and Samuel stood before me. yet my mind could not be towards this people. And as in Ezek.14. 14. Tho' these three men, Noah Daniel and Job were in the land, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord God:—Yet these words plainly carry this Intimation, that such men have Power with GOD, and that he will ordinarily forgive much, and for­bear long, for their sakes. Hence when the LORD is unalterably resolv'd to bring speedy Destruction on a People, he bids his Servants not to pray for 'em any more; because he wou'd not be put to the pam of denying their ardent requests. See Jer. 7. 16.

Now since the Godly have such an Interest at the Throne of Grace; and since GOD expects their Intercessions; and the Public has a just Title to the benefit of them; it hence evidently follows, they ought to give themselves unto prayer & supplication.

5. IN so doing, they will consult their own Peace and Welfare. They shall not seek God's face in vain. If he grant the Petitions that they ask, they will have their share in the public Tranquillity and Prosperity: The prospect whereof shou'd encourage 'em to Prayer. Jer. 29. 7. Seek the peace of the city,—and pray unto the Lord for it; for in the peace there of shall ye have peace.

BUT however, their Prayers shall return into their own bosoms, and shall not return empty. Ve­rily; it shall go well with praying Saints, thô it go if with a sinning People, Such are sometimes ex­ampled from common Calamities. GOD orders the destroying [...] not to touch them. They are [Page 153] mark'd for favor and protection. (Ezek.9. 4, 6.) And this prospect shou'd encourage them to pray. Zeph. 2. 3. Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth: it may be ye shall be bid in the day of the Lord's an­ger.—Howbeit, their prayers shall be accepted of GOD, and abound to their good Account in the day of the LORD. They are all hung upon the file; and shall be remember'd, and recompensed in that day when a Cup of cold Water given to a Disciple, shall not be forgotten, nor lose it's Reward. There is a blessed Promise in Psal. 122. 6. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: They shall prosper that love thee: Which as it intimates, that they are not Zion's Friends, who do not pray for her welfare; so it as­sures a Reward to them that are her praying Friends.

HENCE from a principle of Self-Love, the Saints are strongly oblig'd to the Duty under considera­tion. Their own Interest is a Bond upon them, and bespeaks their diligent attendence to the Work.

6. THE Saints are many times oblig'd to pray for their People, when a day of GOD's anger is passing over them, because their own sins have conspir'd to pull down Judgments upon them. The Sins of GOD's own Children, which in times of Temp­tation they fall into, are peculiarly offensive to the pure Eyes of his glorious Holiness & Justice; and are instrumental, as well as the Sins of open and daring Transgressors, to kindle a fire in Zion, and call down Vengeance of a Place. The most zea­lous Magistrates the most faithfull Ministers, and even the best of GOD's people, can seldom acquit themselves from contributing to the publick guilt and misery, by their own personal sins, or by their [Page 154] being someways accessory to the sins of others. Sometimes a Jonah, the LORD'S Prophet, the best man in the Ship, may more immediately occasion the Storm. Sometimes a good old Eli, the High-Priest of Israel, may by a criminal want of Zele, and a foolish Connivence at ways of wickedness, pro­voke GOD to make a Breach upon his house, and a dreadful Gap in the Walls of Jerusalem, Some­times a David, King in Israel, and a man after GOD's own heart, may by great transgressions provoke GOD to send a wasting Pestilence on his People, or lay them open to the devouring Sword. Sometimes a Solomon, the wisest man, may by his foolish ways provoke GOD to stir up Adversaries against Israel, and make a breach among the Tribes of his People. Sometimes an holy Hezekiah may, by the Pride of his heart, & a criminal Ingratitude to GOD (as well as a wicked Manasseh by his Murders & other horrid sins) have a peculiar hand in bring­ing wrath upon Judah and Jerusalem.—Thus the most eminent and faithful Servants of GOD may sometimes by their own Provocations help to lay open the Sluices of divine Vengeance, and make a Gap to let In Wrath upon a backsliding People. And it is very rare, that any of the Saints can ex­empt themselves altogether from this Imputation.

Now surely it must needs be very congruous, & most agreeable to the Rules of Equity and Propriety, that GOD's Children and Servants deeply sym­pathize with a People under Afflictive visitations, which they themselves have been in a greater or less degree Instruments of procuring to them; and to deprecate those Judgments, which their own Sins [...] upon them

7. THE Saints shou'd be led to this duty, by the Example of GOD's Servants in all Ages. They have the practice of the Saints in all times of the World to confirm them herein. Thus the psalmist in innumerable places, breaths out his heart's de­sire and prayer to GOD for Israel: Thus particu­larly in Psal. 102. 13, 14. Thou shalt arise and have mercy upon Zion; for the time to favor her, you the sett time is come,. For thy servants take pleasure in her stones & favour the dust thereof.—So, Psal.137. 5, 6. If forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget it's dexterity, If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I pre­fer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.—And what shall I more say? for the time wou'd fail me, to tell of Gideon, and Joshua, and Mordecai, and Nehe­miah, and the Prophets, of Moses, and Adron among the Priests of the LORD, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; with all those other Wor­thies, who thrô faith & prayer obtained deliveran­ces for Jacob.—It was a noble saying of the Prophet Samuel ^*, The Lord will not forsake his people for his great names sake:— Moreover, as for me, God forbid, that I should sin against the Lord, in ceasing to pray for you. As for Moses; he had such a Sense of his Duty in this Matter, and such an unalienable Love to his People, that he closely follow'd the LORD with his continual Intercessions for them, until the LORD space unto him saying, as in Deut.9. 13, 14. I have seen this people and behold, it is a stiff necked people; Let me alone, that I may destroy them. And then the LORD made him an [Page 156] Offer, as it follows; And I will make of the [...] Na­tion mightier and greater than they.—Yet this cou'd not bribe the man of GOD into Silence: but he went on to pray for his People, as we read in the following Verses. And he died blessing the children of Israel ^†. So great was his Zele for them; not­withstanding the Abuss he had receiv'd from them: which might seem enô to have stopt his mouth, and turn'd his heart from them.—Thus we have the Saints in former ages for our Pattern. These things were written for our Admonition and Imi­tation, upon whom the Ends of the World are come. They reproch our Neglect, and countenance our Discharge of the Duty under consideration.

FROM the Premisses, I think the Conclusion is sufficiently evident, That the Godly among a de­generate People ought to be Intercessors for them in the days of wrath, which roll over them. But it is time for me now to turn the Observation into an Exhortation.

Wherefore, LET me call upon them, that fear the LORD among you, to give your selves unto Prayer & Intercession. The LORD be blessed! that (as degenerate as the times are) we have still a Remnant among us of the S [...]ed of Jacob, who have Power with GOD, and are men for the Gap; qua­lified to stand in the Breach; and O that they might be more & more spirited thus to do! Let me then exhort every Jonah, to arise & call upon his GOD; if so be that GOD will think upon us, that we perish not ^‖. Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem ^*. Gather your selves together; before the fierce anger of [Page 157] the LORD come upon us: Seek ye the LORD. all ye meek of the earth ^†. Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out your heart like water before the face of the LORD ^‖. Trust in him at all times; ye People, pour out your heart before him: GOD is a refuge for us ^*: And let the Priests, the, ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar; and let them say, Spare thy people O LORD ^†!—And then it may be the LORD will be jealous for his Land, and will speak peace to his people and to his saints.— Be­hold, it is now a day of Jacob's Trouble: by [...] shall be arise? It is a day of darkness & perplexity and a time of rebukes from GOD. Thro the wrath of the LORD of hosts the Land is darkned, and the cry of the City goeth up to Heaven. And in such a day as this, the LORD looks to see if their be none to help by their prayers; and doth wonder if there be no Intercessor. O let there not be occa­sion to renew that Complaint of the Prophet, (Isa. 64. 7.) There is none that calleth upon thy [...], th [...] stirreth up himself to take told of Thee. If the mouths of GOD's Children are shutt, and a spirit of Prayer for Zion be wanting, it will be a threat­ning Symptom. Such a stupid prayerless Frame is very criminal in it self, a high Provocation to GOD, as well as an awful Judgment on a People; and is a sad roguestick of Wrath to the uttermost coming upon them. As we are taught from, Ezek. 22. 30, 31. I sought for a man among them, that shou'd make up the bedge, and stand in the gap before me her the Land, that I should not destroy it; but I sound [Page 158] none; therefore I have poured out mine Indignation upon them, &c. Whereas on the other hand When the Spirit of Prayer pr [...]vales among the Godly in the several orders and degrees of men, and the Children of GOD are awakened to cry mighti­ly unto him, this looks like a comfortable Pre­sage, as if the LORD were coming to such a People in the paths of Mercy & Kindness. Hence when GOD had designs of Love towards Jerusalem, he promis'd ( Isa. 62. 6, 7.) as a Preparatory for and Earnest of approaching Salvations, that he wou'd stir up some to be fervent & constant in their Intercessi­ons to him.— Oh that there might be this Token for Good, this happy Symptom found on us! That this Light might dawn upon us in our present Clouds and Darkness!—Let Moses the Man of GOD, and Aaron his Priest, take their Censers, and stand be­tween GOD and his People, and make Atonement for us. Let Hezekiah the Ruler, and Isaiah the Prophet together, cry to Heaven for Divine Re­liefs. Yea, for this let every one that is godly, pray to the LORD, in a time wherein he may be sound. Pray, Pray, Pray, (as the Martyr said.) never more need than now. This is a Ge­neration-Service, which even the poorest and low­est of the People may attend. The least & weakest may be the Pillars of a Place, and instrumental Sa­viours of a People, by their powerfull Supplicati­ons. They that can do little in a Civil Capacity, may do much in their Spiritual Capacity, by their Prayers. Hear then, ye Righteous! Consider, and act up to your Character, given in Isa. 62. 6. Ye that make mention of the LORD, or are the LORD's Re­membrancers [Page 159] Awake up, and watch unto Prayer. Resolve with the Psalmist, Psal. 122. 8, 9. For my brethren and companions sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee. Because of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek thy good. And with the Prophet, Isa. 62. 1. For Zions sake will I not hold my peace and for Jerusalems sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the Salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth, Whatever you make mention of besides, you must besure remember Zion, and not leave the Public out of your Prayers. Let your Closets and your Families beat witness, that you pray particular­ly for the Peace of our Jerusalem, as those that prefer it above your chief Joy. Deprecate all, that destroys our Peace, and stirs up Divine Anger against us Implore the Returns of Divine Favour towards us, and all that which is necessary to prepare for and entitle to the same. Beg that GOD wou'd take a­way all Iniquity, which ft ins our Glory and with­holds good things from us: that he wou'd heal our Backslidings, receive us graciously, and love us free­ly. Beg, that he wou'd pour out his HOLY SPIRIT on Magistrates, and Ministers, and on all his Peo­ple; and succeed proper means used for promoting a general Repentance among us; that Glory may still dwell in our Land. All that have any Inte­rest at the Throne of Grace, are this day solemnly called upon to list up their servent Cries to GOD, in whom is all our Help; and by their Prayers to be emptying the Vials of Divine Wrath, which the Sins of this People are so constantly filling up. It is time to seek the LORD till he come, & rain Righ­teousness [Page 160] and Showers of Blessings on his People

BUT then if you wou'd be heard in your Suppli­cations, you must take heed how you pray. Let me hint a few things here, by way of Direction.

(1.) YOU must pray, confessing the Publick Guilt: in the first place humbling your Souls before GOD for your own Sins, and then for the Sins of others. Herein you have holy Daniel for an Example, Dan.9. 20. I was speaking, and praying and confessing my Sin, and the Sin of my People Israel; and pre­senting my supplication before the LORD my GOD, for the holy mountain, &c. His Prayer and Con­session you may read, in the foregoing Context.—You have also the Example of pious Ezra: See the 9th Chapter of his Book. You have likewise the Example of godly Nehemiah; who when he pray'd day & night, for the Children of Israel, did also con­sess the Sins of the Children of Israel; his own Sins, & the Sins of his Father's House: the Sins of their Kings. & Princes, & Priests, & Prophets, & Fathers, & all the People. See the first & ninth Chapters of Ne­hemiah's Book. And the whole Book of Jeremiah's Prophecy, as well as that of his Lamentations, a­bounds with Humiliations, and with Consessions of the sins of GOD's People.—It has been the Tem­per & Practice of the Saints in all Ages to mourn the Public Guilt, when asking for Publick Mercies; to confess the Sins of the Times & Places in which they liv'd; the Sins of all Orders and Degrees of Persons; the Sins of Magistrates, Ministers and People. It is the Character of the Godly, that they sigh and cry for all the Abominations, that are done [Page 161] in the midst of Jerusalem ^†. Even thus must you (Our praying Saints) humble your Souls before GOD, for the Sins that are found among us; and in the name of our Rulers, and Priests, and People of all degrees, make penitent Confessions to the LORD, if you expect to be heard in your Suppli­cations for the Restoring of his Favor and Pity to­wards his Land.

Again,

(2.) YOU must pray justifying of GOD. You must make such humble Acknowlegements, as those, to the Glory of GOD:— The Lord is righteous; for we have rebelled against his Commandment. It is of the LORD's Mercies that we are not consumed, because his Compassions fail not ^‖.—O LORD, Righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us Con­fusion of Faces, as at this day, because we have sinned against thee ^*.—After all that is come upon us for our evil Deeds, Thou our GOD hast pun­ished us less than our Iniquities deserve. O LORD GOD of Israel, thou art righteous. We cannot stand before thee, because of our Trespasses ^†—Let not all our Trouble seem little: Howbeit, thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly ^‖.—Such Ac­knowledgments as these you must make, with GOD's Servants of old, when praying for this sinful People. You must, in their Name, take to your selves the Shame and Blame of their Destruction; ascribing Righteousness to your Maker, and sanctifying the HOLY ONE of Israel.

[Page 162] (3.) YOU should mix Thanksgivings with your Prayers. Thus you are directed in 1 Tim. 2. 1. So in Phil. 4. 6. In every thing by Supplication, with Thanks­giving let your Requests be made known to God. Thus, devout Ezra, when confessing the People's Sins, rehearsing GOD's Judgments, and imploring his Mercies, took occasion to praise GOD for Delive­rance begun: Ezra 9. 8, 9. And now for a little space, Grace hath been shewed from the Lord our God,—to give us a little Reviving,—our God hath not forsaken us in our Bondage, &c. So we read in Neh.9. 5. that the pious Levites, upon a solemn day of Fasting & Prayer, began their Confessions of Sin with Thanksgiving and Praise, saying, Bles­sed be thy glorious Name, which is exalted above all Blessing and Praise, &c. And afterwards they go on to celebrate particular Instances of Divine Good­ness. So likewise the 106th Psalm is a beautifull Mixture of Confessions, Prayers, and Praises. It principally contains a History of Israel's Rebellions and the Judgments inflicted therefor. And yet begins and ends with Hallelujah: for we must sing of Mercy, as well as Judgment ^†

(4) YOU must pray in Faith: humbly hoping in the Promises of GOD, and entirely Depending on the mediation of JESUS CHRIST, for ob­taining the Favours you are asking. You must pray in the Faith of our Father Abraham, that emi­nent and famous Intercessor. The LORD has gi­ven gratious Encouragement to his People to hope, that the Prayer of Faith shall save the Afflicted ^†. You must maintain and exercise a holy Trust in [Page 163] the Promises of GOD, hope in his Mercy, & rely on his Fathfullness. I Joh.5. 14. This is the Con­fidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his Will, He heareth us.—You must bring the LORD JESUS CHRIST in the Arms of your Faith, hold him up as the expiatory Sacrifice, and the only Atonement for the Congregation; and place your whole Affiance in his Merits and Inter­cession for the Audience of your Prayers. Let your Supplications be offer'd up in the Name of the bles­sed Mediator CHRIST JESUS. Pray in somesuch Words as those of the Prophet Daniel, (Chap.9. 17, 18) O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant and cause thy face to shine upon thy desolate Sanctu­ary, for the Lord's sake. O my God, incline thine ear and hear—, for we do not present our suppli­cations before thee for our righteousness, but for thy great mercies.

5. YOU must pray fervently and importunately. Tis the inwrought fervent Prayer of the Righteous, that avails much. They then, that would obtain the Blessing, must wrestle with GOD, and agonize in their Prayers, for the Peace & Welfare of Israel. You must pray, as those that have at Heart the Public Concerns; as those that indeed desire not the wofull Day; as those that are affected with every Token of GOD's holy Anger, are afraid of his Judgments; and tremble at his wrathfull Presence. This made Moses so importunate, Deut.9. 18, 19. I fell down before the Lord as at the first, forty days and forty nights; I did neither eat bread, nor drink water: because of all your sins which ye sinned in doing wickedly in the sight of the Lord, to provoke [Page 164] him to anger. For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure, wherewith the Lord was wroth against you to destroy you. The Prophet Jeremiah was the more fervent in his Prayers for Jerusalem, because the Destruction from GOD, threatened to be bro't upon it, was a Terror to him. How pathetical & melting are his Complaints, Jer.4. 19. My bowels my bowels, I am pained at my very heart, &c.—You must be under the like Impressions; and from aw­ful Resentments of the Divine Displeasure, as well as from tender Compassions to this poor afflicted People, you must be very earnest in your suppli­cations for them. Beware of Formality and Re­missness in your Prayers. As Israelites indeed, you must plead hard with GOD, and fill every one his mouth with Arguments. Take to your selves Words, and plead as in Dan.9. O LORD I beseech thee, let thine anger be turned away from thy City Je­rusalem, thy holy Mountain: because for our sins, thy People are become a reproch to all about us. O LORD hear; O LORD, forgive, O LORD hearken and do, defer not, for thine own sake, O my GOD; for thy city & thy people are called by thy name.—Plead the Glory of GOD as Moses did, Deut. 9. 26.—19. And as Jeremiah likewise did, in those moving Words (in Jer. 14. 7, 8, 9, 19, 21.) which are too many to be here repeated.

(6.) YOU must pray without Ceasing. You must continue instant in Prayer, and not faint, nor be discouraged. You must never hold your. Peace, day nor night. You must cry mightily to GOD, and give him no Rest, till he stir up his Strength and come, and save his People. Ye that make [Page 165] mention of the LORD, keep not silence, and give him no Rest, till he establish, and till he make our Jerusalem a Praise in the Earth ^‖. Thus Jeremiah stood before GOD to speak Good for his Jerusalem; which may denote the Constancy, as well as Vehe­mency, of his Supplications.

(7.) YOU must pray with due Resignation to the holy Will of GOD. Though you must be fervent and constant in your Prayers; yet you must not go about to limit the Holy One of Israel, or pre­scribe to Him, either as to Methods, or Seasons. You must intirely submit it to Him, in his infinite Wisdom, to answer your Prayers for Zion, in what Way, and at what Time he pleaseth. You must refer all to his good Pleasure, as the Psalmist, in Psal. 51. 18. Do Good in thy good pleasure unto Zion. You must leave it to Him to bestow what Good he pleases; by what Means, & in what Season, he shall see fit. You must wait patiently for the LORD, without Discontent or Despondency under delays of favourable Appearances, As he Isa.8. 17. I will wait upon the LORD, who hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him. It is said of him that believeth that he maketh not baste ^*, doth not impatiently anticipate the Time set in GOD's Counsils, but with a fixed heart quietly waits for his Salvation. Indeed there is a lawful provoking or calling on him to hasten; which has been practis'd by the Saints, as you see in Psal.70. 1, 5. Psal. 102. 13. Rev.6. 10. & else where. But this preceeded from a Spirit of Faith in them & was not without a full Submission to the Divine Determinations.

[Page 166] (8.) YOUR Prayers must be accompany'd with the diligent Use of all proper Methods, tending to engage the Return of Divine Favour: & obtain the Averting of GOD's righteous Displeasure. Prayer, without the use of Means (when in our power) is Presum­tion, and profane Mockery of GOD. They are some of the main Articles of Prayer;— That GOD would direct to all proper Means, quicken 10 the diligent application of them, and follow regular Endeavours with his effications Blessing.—If then you wou'd have Success in your Prayers, you must joyn with them the Use of all wise and good Me­thods to turn away GOD's Anger from a sinful Peo­ple. Thus, You must inquire into the Grounds of GOD's Controversy with them, and indeavour to get the same removed; that the Provocations being taken away, his Wrath may cease.—You must care­fully call your selves to an Account for what you have done to provoke GOD to Anger against this People; repent of and reform all that is amiss in your selves, and take Care to make and keep Peace between GOD and your own Souls. You must sanctify your selves, there must be a personal Re­formation of Heart and Life, if you expect GOD to return in a way of Favour, and do Wonders among his People ^†. Let every Israelite, as once every Ninevite ^‖, not only cry mightily to GOD, but also turn from his evil way; and then who can tell that GOD will yet return and repent, and leave a Blessing behind him? Lift up your Heart with your Hands unto GOD in the Heavens ^*. List up Hands ^†. Let the work of Reformation (that [Page 167] great Charity to the Public) begin at Home; But let it not end there You must keep your selves from the Sins of the Times; and you must also contri­bute what you can to promote a happy Reformation of the Times; endeavor the Amendment of others as much as in you lies.—But this introduces the other general Head propos'd; which is,—

[2.] THE Saints shou'd jealously and reso­lutely labour, in their respective Places, to promote the Reformation of a degenerate People; to suppress those Sins, that ripen the Land for Judgments; and to propagate that Righteousness, which exalteth a Nation; that Repentance, which (according to the Tenor of the covenant) heals up the Breach, that Sin hath made, and turns away GOD's Anger from a backssiding Generation. If a Professing People humble themselves under the Judgments of GOD, & pray, & seek His face, & turn from all their evil ways; then will He hear in Heaven, and forgive their Sin, and heal their Land ^†. But if they [...] not to him that smiteth them, he will punish them yet seven times more his Hand will be stretched out still, and his Anger not turned away ^†; not­withstanding the earnest Intercessions of his Ser­vants and Children for them. The Prayers and Tears of the Saints will be but like Water spilt on a Rock, as to any real Advantage to an evil and untoward Generation; and will not save them from deserved Ruin, except they likewise re­pent, and become a willing & obedient People In­deed the Humiliations & Prayers [...] [Page 168] may obtain, for an unreformed Place, some little Respite, or Reprieve for a while from Destruction. But unless there by a Public Repentance and tho'ro' Reformation among a sinfull People, they can't ex­pect the Recovery of Divine Favour. The Inha­bitants of the Land must themselves learn Righte­ousness from Divine Threatnings and Judgments; else the LORD will not visit them with his Salva­tion, not be appeased to them.—Hence the Ser­vants of GOD must use their endeavors to find out and reform those Sins and Sinners that provoke GOD to anger, if they wou'd prevent or remove the Effects of his fiery Indignation. It is remarka­ble, when Achan had committed a Trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the Con­gregation of Israel for it, that Joshua and the Elders, betaking themselves to Fasting and Prayer, without sutable Care to find out and punish the Sin they probably suspected, met with that Re­buke from GOD, (Josh. 7. 10, &c.) The Lord said to Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou upon thy face? Israel hath sinned; I will not be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed Per­son from amongst you. Up sanctify the People, &c. This shou'd awaken the Saints to add unto their ar­dent Prayers the most active & vigorous Endeavours, in their several Stations, and according to their re­spective Capacities, to effect a blessed Reformation among us; and oppose the growth of Vice and Li­centiousness, which is too much become the genius and Complexion of the unhappy Times we live in, to the great dishonour of GOD, the reproch of our christian Profession. the injury of our common [Page 169] Welfare, and the danger of our being laid waste by yet heavier Calamities, unless a speedy and ge­neral Repentance Prevent. To promote this is there­fore the Duty of all, and will be the Endeavour of such as have a just Regard to the public Good.

BELIEVE it; without a tho'ro' Reformation there will be no Remission of the crying Sins of our Land; and unactive Wishes are not sufficient to obtain the desired Reformation. Indeed we must acknowlege and affirm constantly, that it belongs to GOD alone (as the efficient Cause) to revive dying Religion among his People. Means and Instruments can't by any Virtue or Efficacy of their own, pro­duce this great and noble Effect; but need a Divine Hand to actuate and Succeed them. It is only the Ministration of the Spirit, that can turn away Un­godliness from Jacob, and cause Righteousness to run down Jerusalem's Streets, as a River. And GOD expects to be inquired of, to be sought to by Prayer, till he come and bestow this comprehensive Blessing upon us. Nevertheless, he expects also, that his praying Saints use their utmost Endeavours in the Application of all those Means, that have a Ten­dency to the Revival of GOD's Work among us. You must study the best Methods or Expedients for this End, & every one in his place, according to his Talent, put them in Execution. You must search out the impediments or Obstructions that are in the way; & seek the speedy Removal of them. You must stand up for God against the Workers of iniquity, and la­bour to teach Transgressors his Ways.—Prayers and Tears are not all the Weapons, to be used in the defense of GOD's Cause among a declining Peo­ple: [Page 170] those are not the only Instruments, which the work of Reformation calls for. Unactive Suppli­cations are like be as successless and insignificant, as prayerless Endeavours. You must not sit still, and idly neglect the due Use of Means, looking that GOD shou'd do the whole Work alone. You must not fit down astonied, (as Ezra in a like case) sup­posing all Attempts desperate, and in vain. No; but GOD expects, that you be up & doing; that in the strength of the LORD JESUS CHRIST you go forth to labor, and employ all your Opportuni­ties with Zele & Vigor, in setting forward and car­rying on a Work of so great Importance to the Glo­ry of GOD, to the Publick Safety and Prosperity, as well as to your own Comfort & Security. Suffer ye then the word of Exhortation; and let every one apply himself to the diligent performance of the Duty incumbent on him in his place.

I know, indeed the Discouragements, that lie in the way, seem not a few, nor very small. They sail against Wind & Tide, that attempt to reduce the exorbitant power of Profaneness & Immorality and to correct the Iniquity of the Times. They that zealously (thô it be also with the utmost Meekness of Wisdom) reprove the works of darkness, shall be voted precise Fools, or Hypocrites; and be secret­ly laught at by the daring Heroes of Wickedness, or openly hufft & insulted by the more outragious Sons of Violence. There are many scoffing Ishmaels,& cursing Shimei's in the World, from whom you may expect to meet with rude Affronts & unjust Measures, whatsoever methods you take to prosecute the great Work of Reformation, whether more gentle or se­vere [Page 171] ‘Neither John the Baptist, by his rigid Aus­terity; nor our Blessed Saviour, by his free and obliging (thô most innocent) Conversation, cou'd escape the bitter Scoffs & Reproches of that wick­ed and perverse Generation of Vipers they liv'd amongst, who were always fastning their inve­nom'd Teeth upon them.’

BUT surely his Zele for GOD and Love to his Country are very remiss, who will suffer himself to be flatter'd flouted, or frighten'd out of his just and reasonable Duty; and beaten off this great & noble Design of reforming a vitious Age; which is so be­neficial to Mankind, and which every good Man is therefore call'd to engage in with zele & courage—O! where is your Love to CHRIST? Where are your Bowels, towards the Souls of Sinners? Where is your public Spirit, and regard to the common Welfare & Safety, if some Difficulties, in the way of this blessed Undertaking, damp your Resolution, and prevent your warm and active Engagement in it? What pusillanimous Souls they, who dare not appear in the Cause of GOD in evil times, and here­by approve themselves hearty Friends to their Country: but tamely yield to the Enemies of both, without ever regularly confronting them!—To ani­mate you, let me lay before you those Words of the Apostle, (I Pet. 3. 13, 14.) Who is He that will harm you, if ye be Followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for Righteousness sake, happy are ye, and be not afraid of their Terrour, neither be troubled. Let me bring you that Exhortation of the Prophet, (Hag. 2. 4, 5. Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel; and be strong, O Joshua; and be strong all ye People of the [Page 172] land, and work; for I am with you, saith the Lord of hoss—my spirit [...] among you: fear ye not. If the Servants of GOD among us in every Order & Degree wou'd unite their active & Zelous Efforts and with Prudence, Fidelity & Constancy use their Power & Interest, to restrain Sin and pro­mote Virtue, We might hope that a revolting Peo­ple wou'd he reclamed; and so the dreadful Fruits of that desolating Vengeance which seems to an eye of Reason hanging over our guilty Heads, preven­ted and the gratious Presence of GOD recover'd, which in this dark day is very awfully withdrawn from us—Let me then with all humble free­dom and faithfulness call upon Christians of every Character among us, to do their utmost for the Re­formation of those provoking Evils, which so a­bound in the Land.—A word of Exhortation this, which (if I mistake not) will be voted a word in season, by all that have understanding in the Times: but whether addresst by a Person not so sutable, I must submit to the free Censure of others; and shall not decline apprehended Duty for fear of unjust Reflections. It wou'd be proper here to consider distinctly what Duties lie upon the several Members of a Christian Community, in their different ranks, capacities and relations, in order to prevent the In­crease of Sin, and serve the support & Flourishing of Religion amongst them.

LET it then be a humble Address (in the first place) to all that are in Civil Authority, or entrusted with the Administration of Justice, in one degree and another. Honored Fathers, and Brethren, will you suffer me to be your humble, but faithful Mo­nitor [Page 173] this day? May I put you in mind to be ready to every good Work, and call upon you to appear with greater Warmth & Vigour, in oppositi­on to rampant Vice, and in vindication of despised Virtue and Religion? The Apostle pronounces the Magistrate a Minister of GOD for Good, to the Pub­ic: inasmuch as he is ordain'd a Revenger to exe­cute wrath upon him that doth Evil; a Terror to evil Works, and an Encourager of them that do that which is good ^†.—GOD expects from you, that you be active in your several places to promote the Publick Tranquillity and Prosperity; and in order to this, that you faithfully use all your Abi­lity and Interest to serve the Support and Progress of Reformation, and practical Godliness among us, GOD expects that you be [...]tterns of good Works in your own Lives; and that you be Patrons and Promoters of Religion & Virtue in others. GOD ex­pects that you not only be strict Observes, but like­wise faithfull Guardians & Assertors of his holy Laws (as well as the Laws of the Land) and that you be just Animadvertrs on the Transgressions of them, as far as your Authority extends, in your several Posts and Districts.—You have singular Powers and Advantages in your hands (which are so many Talents you are accountable for) that afford you special Opportunities to promote the good Work of Reformation among us. Your very Example car­ries with it Authority & attractive Influence. And then you have a Coercive Power, and can by the due ministration of Justice compel Men to cease to do Evil, when others can only persuade by the [Page 174] Terrors of the LORD. A great deal might every one in Authority do towards the desired Amend­ment of the Times, by a Zelous prudent and impar­tial Execution of the Laws against Profaneness and Immorality; and truly if our Civil Rulers do not very vigorously engage in this Affair, 'tis to be fear'd others will but in vain urge & persuade to Refor­mation.—I know you can't change and renew the Heart of any, althô in truth you shou'd propose & desire this, in all your attempts for the restraint and reformation of Offenders ^‖. However, you can do much towards amending the Lives of many; which external Amendment (if general wou'd by a natural and proper Efficiency prevent many Ca­lamities, and produce those things that are neces­sary to our temporal Prosperity: and peradventure GOD wou'd turn from the Fierceness of his Anger. Thus; you can do a great deal (by the due Pro­vision and careful Execution of wise & good Laws) to guard the first Table of the Divine Precepts, as well as the second: to reform the growing Neglect of GOD's Public Worship; to stop the Mouths to profane Swearers and Evil Speakers; to vindi­cate the Honor, and correct the criminal Violation of GOD's holy Sabbath; to suppress the visible Pride, notorious Idleness, Intemperance and Tavern­haunting, Wantonness, and Unchastity; and to heal the scandalous Contentions among us: which are the reigning Evils of this unhappy day, do un­dermine the foundations of our public Peace, and threaten to bury us all (with the guilty Actors) [Page 175] in a general Desolation, unless there be some sea­sonable Remedy.—Hear then, Ye that tremble at the Commandment of the Lord, and let it be done according to the Law. Arise, for this matter be­longeth unto you; we also will be with you [...] be of good Courage, and do it ^*. It belongs to you to search out the Works of Darkness, and to punish haughty Sons of Wickedness: to countenance them that re­buke in the Gate, and to discipline with the Rod those that will not be won by the Word; by whose sins the Land is greatly defiled, and our holy LORD highly incensed against us. And he will be yet more dreadfully incensed, if the Leaders of this People do not stand up for GOD against the Evil-Doers, & tho'ro'ly execute Judgment. Isa. 59. 14, 15. Justice standeth afar off; Truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Yea Truth faileth and be that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw [...]t, and it displeased him, that there was no Judgment. ‘Sin is a publick Evil; and if Vice pass uncontrolled, Religion will soon be brought into Contempt, with your Authority; and then a Deluge of Miseries and Judgments will be the fatal Consequence.’ As then you wou'd not be Instruments of our Ruin; as you wou'd approve your selves the Shields of the Earth, a Defense and Glory to us; as you wou'd answer the Oath of GOD which is upon you, and obtain Honour from the LORD; let us beseech you, SIRS, to do the utmost you can, in your respective places, with a resolute Industry to discountenance Sin, and advance Re­formation. Remember and imitate Nehemiah, [Page 176] that famous Reformer and excelling Ruler, who testified against those that bro't wrath upon Israel by profaning the Sabbath, and contended with the Nobles of Judah, who connived at them. Remem­ber Job, who put on Righteousness, and it clothed him: his Judgment was as a Robe and a Diadem: He was Eyes to the Blind, and Feet was he to the Lame: He was a Father to the Poor; and the Cause which he knew not, he searched out, and he brake the Jews of the Wicked, and pluckt the Spoil out of his mouth ^†. Remember how Phinchas in a holy Zele stood up and executed Judgment on the two Criminals in the very Act of Sin: by which means he turned away Wrath from the Children of Israel, & stayed the Plague that was begun among them ^‖. By these Examples, let every one be awakened to put on Judgment, and cloth himself with Zele. Resolve not to bear the Sword of Justice in vain. Neglect not giving due Discipline, from a carnal Fear, at any time: but boldly interpose your Au­thority, without Connivence or Toleration, where the Honor of GOD, and the public Good call you to do your Office; crying to the LORD (with Ne­hemiah in a like case) to strengthen your hands and expostulating with your self, as he did, Shou'd such a man as I flee ^*?—It was a pityfull Excuse out of the Mouth of a supreme Magistrate once in the neglect of his Duty, (1 Sam 15. 24) I have sin­ned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord; because I scared the People—pretty agree­able to Pilate's Pretence for condemning the Just One, Luk. 23. 23, 24. They were instant with loud [Page 177] Voices, requiring that be might be crucified:—and Pilate gave Sentence, that it should be as they requi­red.—Remember Jehoshaphat's solemn Charge and Counsil to his Judges, 2 Chron. 19. 9, &c. He char­ged them saying, Thus shall ye do in the Fear of the Lord, faithfully, and with a perfect Heart: And what Cause soever shall come to you of your Brethron,—ye shall worn them that they trespass not against the Lord, and so wrath come upon you, and upon your Brethren: this do ye and ye shall not trespass.—Deal couragiously, and the Lord shall be with the Good.—Hear also the Exhortation that speaks to you in Amos. 5. 15. Hate the Evil, and love the Good, & establish Judgment in the Gate: it may be the Lord [...] will be gratious to the Remnant of Joseph.

BUT in the next Place,—

THE Ministers of the Gospel are under very special Obligations, by the awful Charges of GOD upon them, as well as by their own solemn Engage­ments, to put forth their most diligent Endeavors in promoting the Conversion and Reformation of Sinners. The sacred and the civil Orders must con­spire, and conjoyn Heart and Hand (according to the various ways of their administration and Influ­ence) for the Support and Propogation of Religion: as when Zerubbabel and others began to build the House of the LORD at Jerusalem, there were with them the Prophets of God helping them, Ezra.5. 2. Thus our Prophet Jeremiah was in his early days raised up very seasonably to assist, and encourage Young King [...] in that good work of Reformation which he had enter'd upon. As it is an Encouragement [...] to be counteranced and preached by [Page 178] such pious Magistrates as Josiah was: So it is a great Help to Magistrates in any Attempts of Reforma­tion to be advised & animated, and to have a great Deal of their Work done for them, by such faith­full zelous Ministers as Jeremiah was ^‖. With what glorious Success (thrô the Blessing of CHRIST) might we hope the Work of Reformation wou'd be carry'd on, by the united Labours of a wife and zelous Magistracy and Ministry! The one reaches the outer Man, t'other the inner Man: Both combi­ned wou'd soon bring Religion into deserved Credit, but make Vice and Impiety sneak into a corner, and hide it's head in darkness.— Having then Gifts and Offices, differing according to the Grace that is given to us, whether Civil or Ecclesiastical, let us wait on our Ministring: He that teacheth, on Teach­ing; He that exhorteth, on Exhortation; and be that ruleth, let him do it with Diligence ^†. Whatsoever is commanded by the God of Heaven let it be dili­gently done, for the House of the God of Heaven ^*: For why should there be Wrath against the Land?

MINISTERS bear a public Character; and we owe this duty to the Public, to wish and endeavor it's Prosperity in every proper way: also the Office we sustain is of common Concernment, and has an immediate Reference to the general Good. It' [...] are peculiarly oblig'd to be under the Rule & Conduct of a public Spirit. Ministers are as Luminaries in a public Orb; and shou'd study to communicate Light and Heat to all about them. An idle, or narrow-spi­rited, self-seeking Minister is a Contradiction in [Page 179] terms. It most highly becomes and behoves the LORD's Ministers to be very solicitous for the Pub­lic Weal of GOD's People every where, but espe­cially for the Good of the Places where they live. We shou'd rejoice in the Prosperity of a People, and tenderly sympathize with them in a day of Ad­versity. We shou'd lay to heart the Frowns of Heaven, and mourn the Sins of a backssiding Ge­neration: grieved to behold our People, printing a­way in their Iniquities, and perishing under the Judgments of a provoked GOD. And from a deep Compassion to them (as well as in Fidelity to CHRIST, whose we are and whom we serve) we shou'd employ all our Tho'ts, and Cares, and con­tribute our utmost Assistences to save a People, con­suming under GOD's holy Wrath. GOD hath pla­ced Ministers as Watch-men upon the walls of Jeru­salem; and requires that we set our selves to search into the Grounds of his Contending with the Inha­bitants of the Land; and diligently inquire what meaneth the Heat of his Anger; that we study to find our and bear faithfull Testimony against the Sins of the Times; that with all boldness & plain­ness we declare the whole Council of GOD, and impartially exercise the holy Discipline of his House towards Offenders. Let us hear the Apostle's Charges to young Timothy;— These things command and teach: let no man despise thy Youth ^†. Them that Sin, rebuke before all, that others also may fear. I charge thee before GOD and the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and the elect Angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, [Page 180] doing nothing by partiality,— Neither be par­takers of other men's sins: keep thy self pure ^*. I charge thee before GOD, and the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing & his kingdom: Preach the word, be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and doctrine. For the time will come, when they will not endure sound doctrine ^†.—Let us hear also what the LORD said, to young Jeremiah;—Say not, I am a Child: for thou shalt go to all, to whom I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their face; for I am with thee, saith the LORD ^‖. He that hath my word, let him speak my world faithfully ^†—In like manner the LORD spake to Ezekiei, saying, Thou, Son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, thô briers and thorns be with the, and thou dost dwell among Scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor dismayed at their looks, thô they be a rebellious house. And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear. Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious House ^*.—An Expositor ( ^‡) on this last Place has these Notes; "Those that will do anything to purpose in the Service of GOD, must not be afraid of the Face of Man; for the Fear of Men will bring a snare, which will be very en­tangling to us in the Work of GOD.—"The Un­tractableness and Unprofitableness of People under the Word is no good Reason why Ministers shou'd [Page 181] leave off Preaching to them; nor must we decline an Opportunity by which Good may be done, thô we have a great deal of Reason to think no Good will be done.—"If Ministers, that are Reprovers by Office, connive at Sin, and indulge Sinners; either shew them not their Wickedness, or shew them not the fatal Consequences of it, for fear of displeasing them; They hereby make themselves Partakers of their Guilt, and are rebellious like them. If People will not do their Duty in reforming, yet let Ministers do theirs in reproving; and they will have the Com­fort of it in the Reflection, whatever the Success be". As that Prophet had, (Isa. 49. 4, 5.) I have labour­ed vain, yet surely my judgment is with the Lord. Though Israel be not gathered, yet I shall be glo­rious in the eyes of the Lord. And as the Apostles had, (2 Cor. 2. 14, 15.) Now thanks be to God, who always causeth us to triumph in Christ;—for we are unto God a sweet Savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish—So I Thes. 2. 2,&c. We were bold in our GOD to speak unto you the Gospel of GOD with much Contention, For our Exhortation was not of Deceit:—But as we were allowed of GOD to be put in Trust with the Gospel, even so we speak not as pleasing Men, but GOD who trieth our Hearts. For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, &c.—It is sadly true that Sinners love to hear smooth things and hate him that rebuketh in the Gate: They abhor him that speaketh uprightly ^*. And when the Pro­phets accommodate themselves to the evil Humours of a degenerous People, speak the Deceits of their [Page 182] own Heart, and do not cause Israel to hear the Words of the LORD; as the LORD is against such Prophets that thus Smooth their tongues, so it is an awfull Sign of his Departure from such a People, & the hastning of destructive Vengeance upon them ^†. But if GOD hath any Reserves of Benignity & Pity for them, He will raise up some that will dare to carry to 'em the most awfull, Messages, the most unwelcome Tidings, and to Preach the Preaching watch he has bid then whatever it be; not sparing any Pains; not sparing the greatest of Men; nor sparing the most popular Vices.—Thus must every one be temper'd and dispos'd, if he wou'd be found faithfull to GOD, to his own soul, or to the Public Weal. We must be bold in our GOD, and not fear the Faces of Men: nor spare their Lusts in favour to their Persons, or from any finister Views whatsoever. Neither the Pride and Imperiousness of some, nor the Peevishness. Rage, and Rancour of others must break our Courage, cool our Zele, or slacken our Endeavours in the pursuit of a Design, so really excellent in it self, and so abundantly be­neficial to Mankind, as the Intention of recovering a revolted World to GOD and Goodness. We shou'd patiently endure the Contradiction of Sinners as our blessed LORD has set us an Example: Yea we shou'd rather be animated by Discouragements & Oppositions and in spite of all, with Patience, A­lacrity, and Fidelity Prosecute the Cause of GOD, and the Public Interest: setting our faces as a stint, and being full of Power and Judgment by the SPI­RIT of the LORD; thô for our Faithfullness, Zele. [Page 183] and Activity we may by Venomous Tongues be made the Subjects of impotent Raillery, be branded as the Troublers of Israel, and doom'd unprofitable Burdens of the Earth. But if this is to be vile, let us (with David) be more vile than thus, and he base in our own sight ^*. ‘In all our dealings with Men, let us be plain and faithfull: let us do all we can (and more than we do) if it be possible, to save a Generation from the wrath of GOD, and impending Calamities: Let us be still more plain, more particular, more serious [and zelous] in this great Work’ ^†. Let us pursue that solemn Charge, (Jer. 15. 19.) Let them return unto thee, but return not thou unto them. Let us gird up our Loyns, and put on the whole Ar­mour of GOD; not be slothfull in business, but fervent in Spirit, serving the LORD; warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom: be­ing bold and resolute and strong in the LORD, thô also humble and meek and wise: of some having Compassion, and pulling others out of the Fire. If any go on still in their Trespasses, and hate to be reformed: spurn at all the endearing methods of Persuasion, yea laugh at the shaking of the Spear, and account our most awfull spiritual Weapons but as Stubble; yet let them know that the Irophers of God have been among them. Let us not shun to de­clare unto them all the Counsil of God; being instant in season, and out of season; Exhorting and rebu­king with all Authority; and ceasing not to warn every one night & day with tears, if by any means we may save some; at least deliver our own souls, [Page 184] and keep them pure from the blood all men,—Now to quicken ourselves to such Fidelity &Diligence, let us labour to get our Hearts inspired with a greater Hatred of Sin; with a more tender Pity towards the Souls of Sinners; with a more generous Ardour for the public Good; with a more confirmed Hope in the Mercy of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, and a more inflamed Zele for the Glory of GOD.—I shall only add under this head; I wou'd not be mistaken, as to what I have said here with respect to those in the Ministry: it is not design'd to in­struct, excite or reprove my reverend Fathers and Brethren, so much as to admonish and quicken my­self; and to let the People know what is the Duty of Ministers: that seeing what Obligations lie upon us to be faithfull & open-hearted in our dealing with them, in this dark and degenerate day, they may not so angrily resent the performance of our Duty, as they are apt to do.

BUT now I proceed to offer a word or two to Christians who move in a less public Sphere, Thus I might call upon the Teachers of our Schools, the Tutors of our Children & Youth, to use their utmost Endeavors for the propagating of Religion among the rising Generation. You have peculiar Advan­tages in your hands for this End; which GOD and the Public justly expect you improve with the greatest Care & Diligence. You shou'd use your Au­thority in reforming the Manners of vitious Youths & Children. You shou'd use your Knowlege & Learn­ing in giving them seasonable Instructions about their Spiritual Concerns and opening to them sa­cred Doctrines, in the most familiar manner. You [Page 185] shou'd use your utmost Wisdom and Care to affect their Consciences with Divine Truths, and bring them to reverence all serious Dictates, from within; to study and conform to the practical Lessons of the Gospel; to love and practise secret Prayer, Reading GOD's Word daily, &c. You shou'd in­quire into the State of their Souls, and watch over their Ways: frown on the first appearances of Evil and check the beginnings of Sin; but cherish and encourage every hopefull Symptom. You shou'd labour to mortify betimes their youthfull Lusts; to restrain their exorbitant Passions, & rectify all irregu­lar Affections; ‘to subdue every proud, ambitious and haughty Spirit at it's first appearance; to re­duce every peevish and discontented Humour, to correct every selfish niggardly Temper; to civi­lize & reform every ungenerous ungratefull Dis­position; and to kill all the seeds of Vice:’ On the Contrary endeavor to implant good and sober Prin­ciples in their young minds; to bring them into the Liking and Practice of all Theological & Moral Virtues; and form their Souls to worthy ge­nerous Designs, and excellent Tempers; that they may be "usefull Citizens of this World, and hope­full Candidates for heaven". In thus doing, you'll show a just Concern for the Good of both the present and succeeding Generations; and such a public Spirit, well becomes your public Capacity.

FURTHER, I might direct the Exhortation to Heads of Families, and call upon them to walk within their Houses (like David) with a perfect heart, and like Abraham to command their Chil­dren and Houshold to serve the LORD. Families [Page 186] are the first Source and Seminary of the Church & Common-Wealth: and upon the well-ordering of them does not a little depend the Flourishing and Prosperity of both. The Neglect of Domestic Go­vernment and Houshold-Piety is the Rise and Spring of innumerable Mischiefs to a People; and speaks all Religion to be in a decaying expiring posture among them. This is the great Wound & Disease of this Place & People, that Family Worship and Discipline is shamefully cast off by multitudes, and so remisly attended by the Generality; that there are so many Tabernacles of Iniquity, so ma­ny Houses of the Wicked among us, wherein GOD is not served; and that among the Godly themselves, there is such a lamentable Decay of Family-Reli­gion in all the parts of it. Family- Prayer is too much degenerated into a Formality. Family- In­struction is not duely upheld: and Family- Govern­ment seems to be almost lost and perisht out of the Earth. Children do not honour their Parents, and Servants do not [...] their Masters; nor do Heads of Families take regular Methods to maintain their Au­thority, and govern their respective Charges, accor­ding to the Will of GOD. They don't bring up their Children in the Admonition of the LORD, nor command their Household to keep his ways; but a criminal Indulgence reigns & prevales.—Now these Family-Disorders are very provoking to GOD, the GOD of all the Families of the Earth, who looks down from his holy Habitation, into the Ha­bitations of Men, and beholds all that is amiss in our Houses, For these things among others, Divine Justice has lately been visiting us with corro­ [...]ive [Page 187] Dispensations. GOD has been distributing Sorrows in his Anger, and smiting our Houses with the Rod. How many are there among us that may take up the Lamentation, and say, I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his Wrath: my Virgins end my young men are fallen: the Children and the sucklings thou hast slain them in the day of thine An­ger. Thou hast called at in solemn day my Ter­rors round about, and best compassed me with Gall, and Travel: thou hast covered me with ashes, and made my Chain heavy. Thou hast pulled me in pieces, and, made me Desolate— How great have our Fa­mily- Distresses been of late, by reason of the Conta­gious Sickness spreading so swiftly thro' the Town, and so fatally? The Slain of the LORD have been many: GOD hath been breaking our Families with great Breaches, with very grievous Blows. And has he not been herein pouring our Wickedness up­on us? Have not our Family- Sins drawn down these Effects of his holy Vengeance on our guilty Heads? Shou'd we not hearken to the voice of his Rod, which loudly calls upon us to put away all Iniquity far from our Tabernacles? And since he has been mixing so much Mercy with his Judgments however severe, shou'd we not by his Goodness be led to Repentance? After all that is come upon us for our evil Deeds, if we go on to break his Commandments, may we not justly fear, that GOD in his holy Providence will renew the Tokens of his Displeasure? If young People, like the Sons of good old Eli, make themselves vile, and their Parents, like him, restrain them not; what can they expect but to be punished like him, [Page 188] and to have their Houses visited with still heavier Judgments? Wherefore, if you wou'd not drink yet deeper of the Cup of Divine Fury, & when you are come out of one Fire, go into another which shall devour you, be [...]elous & repent. Get your Hearts and Houses purged from Sin, that abomina­ble thing, which GOD's Soul hateth. Let this Fa­mily-Reformation be vigorously and generally en­gag'd in; and it will open to us the fairest Prospects of a public Reformation. For the most zelous Attempts of Magistrates, Ministers, Tutors, &c. towards the Reformation of Manners, particu­larly among the rising Generation, will be but of little Significancy, without the concurrent Endea­vors of Heads of Families. The work must begin and take it's Rise here. Salt must be first cast into these little Springs; else the waters in general are not like to be healed. Let every Parent and Master then take up Joshua's pious Resolution, (Josh. 24. 15.) As for me, and my house, we will serve the Lord—And that of David (Psal. 101. 2, &c.) I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine Eyes. I will not know a wicked Person. Whoso privily standreth his neighbor, him will I cut off from my Family and Employ. He that worketh Deceit, shall not dwell within my house, &c. Let every one resolve upon and set a­bout Reforming his own House, keep up a strict Discipline there, and diligently use the Influence and Authority he has over his Children & Servants, to engage them in a real Love and Obedience to the Law of the LORD. This is the way to form and fit them to be Blessing to the Public, in their [Page 189] day and generation; this is an excellent Medium to revive and propagate Religion in the Land; and consequently to regain the lost Presence and Favour of GOD, and secure the same to rising Posterity: which (methinks) shou'd be every one's solicitous Care and Ambition.

NOW in the last place, I come to speak unto Christians at Large, to all Professors of Religion con­sider'd in a private Capacity. Every one of the meanest Rank and lowest Circumstances in the World, had some Occasions and Opportunities to promote and strengthen the Interests of Religion; and in his place shou'd lend a helping Hand, for this Purpose, Christians in private (as well as those in public) Stations, are indispensably oblig'd, for the honor of GOD and the general Good, each of them in their respective places to be buisy and in­tent in the Cause of Reformation. This is incum­bent on you as Christians, & as Subjects; as Mem­bers of the Church, and as Members of the Common Wealth. A Regard to the Good of the World, to the Safety and Prosperity of the Land, the Town, and N [...]i borhood where you dwell, shou'd influence you to do your utmost for the averting and ap­peasing of GOD's righteous Anger; and by Conse­quence for the suppressing those Sins, which have inflamed the Divine Displeasure against us.—You must not go about to shift off from yourselves this Work of Reformation, as if it belong'd only to Ma­gistrates, Ministers, and other Authorities. No, it shou'd be every single Person's Concern. It is a common Duty, and universally obliging. Some undeed have greater Advantages than others. How­ever [Page 190] ever, let your sphere of Activity be never so small, and your Opportunities never so few; yet you are not without your Opportunities.—The least Star has it's Light; the meanest Member, it's use. There are various Ways, in which private Christians may display their zele for Religion, and minister to it's Support & Increase. Thus, You may contribute not a little to serve the Design of Reformation, as by your fervent Prayers, so by a bright Example of all Virtue & Goodness. Let your Light plan so shine before others, that they seeing your good Works, may likewise be induced to glorify GOD.—You may also do good by serious Discourse in your friendly Converses with others. Wherefore let your Speech be always with Grace, seasoned with Salt, and good to the use of godly edifying: such as may manifest grace in him that speaks, & minister Grace to him that hears.—Again, You may be serviceable, by brotherly Watch over your Fellow Christians, and a faithful attending the several Duties, which Chruch­Order doth require at your hands. 1 Thes. 5. 14. Now we exhort you Brethren, Warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, &c. Heb. 3. 13. Exhort one another daily while it is called, To day, lest any be hardned through the deceitfulness of Sin. Tit. 2. 1, 3. Speak thou the things which become sound doctrine;—that the aged Women be teachers of good Things; that they may teach the young women to be sober, &c. How narrow and inferiour soever your sphere is, undoubtedly there are some within it. some Relatives or Acquaintance, that you may use a Freedom with, who need your Counsils, Cau­tions Admonitions, and the like; which you shou'd [Page 191] be ready to dispense unto them, as the Case may require—Moreover, You may do much Ser­vice by making prudent & seasonable Informations or Complaints to Authority against open & daring Offenders. You shou'd call for Civil Justice, to be done upon criminal Delinquents; and for Ecclesi­astical Discipline to be exercised upon scandalous Impenitents. If it be an Iniquity to be punish'd by the Judges, a Sin that exposes to Temporal Cor­rections, You must inform the Magistrate; Go and tell Moses of it, as they, Lev. 24. 11. Or, if it be an offence that exposes to Spiritual Censures, Go tell it unto the Church, as our Saviour directs, Mattb.18. 17. This you must do, if you wou'd not partake of other mens sins & plagues. Deut. 13. 6. &c. If thy Brother, or thy Son, or thy Daughter, or the Wise of thy Bo­som, or thy Friend which is as thine own Soul offend, thine eye shall not pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him. And all Israel shall hear & fear, and shall do no more any such wick­edness. To inform Authority is the way to wash your own hands from the Guilt; and to put away the Evil from the Community, if Justice be duly administer'd. As then you would be just to your own Souls, and true to the Public Interest, you must be faithfully in this Matter; and especially are you called to be so, in this time of prevailing Iniquity.—In a word, You must rejoyce in acts I Justice, against provoking Evils among us; thankfully re­sent the holy Zele & faithful Service of Pious Ru­lers, Ministers, & Tutors; and do and you can encourage their hearts, and strengthen their hand in their Work. Approve the laudable [...] [Page 192] of such as are diligent & faithful in their respective Trusts: And what they do for the honour of GOD, and for the welfare of this People, let it be accepted always with all thankfulness by you, as becometh Saints. Don't cherish a penarious Spirit, or indulge querulous: Behaviours towards them. Don't play the Busy Body in other men's matters, either by words or actions: not by irregular Excursions from your proper Line of private Duty, make a breach on public Order, and justle with others, regularly mo­ving in their appointed Spheres. The wild Zele of pragmatical restless Spirits is one of the greatest Ene­mies to the desired Reformation, & tends to produce inconceivable Mischiefs They are not the best Refor­mers, that by an envious or over-Officious Zele are frequently transported out of their proper Post into the Province of others; undertaking the actual Ma­nagement of Work that belongs not to them, or set­ting up for Inspectors, & Censors of others Manage­ments & making critical Remarks & perverse Com­ments on all that is said or done by the Servants of the Public. ‘Those are not the best Reformers, that make the most tragical Outcries against the Aposta­sy of the Times, & are always making Invectives against these or those, as the only in others of it: & in the mean time considers [...] what hand they themselves have [...] in the prevailing Disorders; nor what they can do in their own place to bring things under a better Regulation, Reformation will never be carr [...]d on by popular Glamours or the un­govern'd Emotions of an [...]gitimate Zele: But by every mans keeping to his [...] est, & there regu­lating What he has advantage for very man must [Page 193] first reform himself, his Family; & then do all that he may regularly in his sphere to promote this Work in those about him’ ^‖: without interfering with others in their just & proper motions; without envying the dignity of superiours, or uncharitably reflecting on the fidelity of those that sit at Helm. It was a happy day in Israel, when the People took a thankful notice of what Good David did; and what­soever be King did, it pleased all the People. It was a good Time, when there were of the Heads of Iss [...]char, Men that had under standing of the Times, to know what Israel ought to do; & all their Brethren were at their Commandment. But it was an unhappy Time, when the People in the Wilderness murmured against Mo­ses the Ruler, & against Aaron the Priest; & found fault with almost all their Conduct & Administra­tions. Such a Spirit reigning is one of the most threat­ning Symptoms on a People. O let not this evil Frame be found among US. And if there he any that indulge themselves in it, I wish that all their Complaints were turned into Praises for the good, & Prayers for the bad. Observe the Apostles Direction, (1 Tim. 2. begt.) I exhort therefore that first of all Supplica­tions, prayers, Intercessions, & giving of Thanks be made for all men: for Kings, & for all that are in Authority; that (under them) we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness & honesty, For this is good & acceptable in the sight of God our Savi­our. Take this method: & who knows how far the Prayers of the Righteous may prevale to reform a degenerate Magistracy & Ministry, if they must be [Page 194] stigmatiz'd as such? O set your selves to pray down a blessed Effusion of the holy Spirit; that the work of Grace may be revived on the hearts of GOD's Children & Servants, in Places of Public Trust; that they may be inspirited to serve their Generation with better Fidelity, with greater In­dustry, & the wisest Application of all their Powers. Brethren, pray for us: for we trust we have a good Conscience, in all things willing to live honestly. But We beseech you the rather to do this ^† at this time, because our Work is now peculiarly great & difficult, our strength is small, & an uncommon day of Temp­tation seems to be before us. Now therefore I beseech you, Brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, & for the Love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with us in prayers to God for us ^‖.—They that can do little or nothing in an active way towards the desired Reformation, may thus help together by Prayer for us ^*. They that can do nothing further towards the preventing of Sin, may stand in the Breach and weep in secret Places, and shine down the works of darkness by the Light of an holy Example.

AND now upon the whole; Did all the Servants of GOD, as well public Persons, as private People, unite their zelous Attemts, in a regular discharge of the Duties respectly incumbent on them, together with their fervent Supplications at the Throne of Grace: we might hope quickly to see a happy Change of the Times, a blessed Resurrection of practical Christia­nity, with the joyfull Return of GOD's favourable Presence.

[Page 195] I shall here crave Leave to add a few Sentences borrow'd, and then conclude this long Discourse. "Here is a wide and noble Field (says one) before us, for all good Men to shew their Zele, and exert themselves in: and cou'd but all good. People so far agree, as to lay down their undue Heats and Animosities; and to let their Warmth and Zele run together for a while, in this Channel; to imploy their Prayers, their Labours their Parts, and their Purses, to extirpate that Impiety and Profaneness, which reigns amongst us, and is the occasion of separating the Favour and gratious Presence of GOD from us; who (though He may bear for a while in expectation of our A­mendment) can never delight to do good to a re­bellious and impenitent People: we need not doubt when we have thus made our Peace with GOD, He will heal our Divisions among our selves (which probably are a just Judgment of GOD upon us for our other Sins, one of the bitter Fruits of that Im­morality, Unbelief and Contempt of the Gospel, which first took Root amongst us) and incline our hearts to Peace one with another.

"LET me tell you (says eminent Divine of our own ^‖) that for the Divisions of Reuben there are great Searchings of Heart. Those Evil Surmisings and uncharitable Jealousies one of a­nother; those Aspersions cast one upon another, and upon some of the best Friends of our Zion; [those Strifes and Contention among us. in Towns, Churches, Families, &c.] are very provoking to GOD. and like to be ruinating to our selves. See. Hos.10. 2. Gal.5. 15. Jam 3. 15, 16. Our safety is only in Unity: Our Security in being one for GOD, one with CHRIST, and one among our selves. O let us consider how little GOD's Work goes forward, and how his Glory [Page 196] suffers, while men spend their little Zele, in Oppositions & Invectives one against another. This picketh out the Cement, and crumbles away the Mort [...], which is the Strength of the Building; and when gone, with what ease may it be made to fall? To remedy this put on Charity. Brotherly Love, & Christian Forbearance. There are enough abroad, that watch for our Halting; we need not lay open one another's Infir­mities Devouring Beasts enough there are, which with open mouths wait to make a Prey of us".—'Tis Pity, we shou'd destroy our selves. As we love the peace of our Jerusalem, let all Bitterness, and Wrath, and Clamour, and Evil speak­ing be put away from us. with all Malice: and let us be kind one to another, tender hearted pityfull, and courteous ha­ving the same Love, being of one Accord, of one Mind: Seeking the Things, which make for Peace, and whereby one may edify another: Following Peace with all Men, and Ho­liness: without which no Man shall see the LORD. Thus shall the Breaches in our Hedge be made up: Other­wise they will be but widen'd and aggravated. Men of a censorious dividing Spirit, how specious foever their Pretences of Zele for Reformation may be, are no real Friends to this Cause; but its most effectual Adversaries. Unpeaceable, Party­spined Reformers are dangerous Coals, fitted to kindle a destroying Fire [...] a Place. The Spirit of holy Zele is a Spirit of holy Love, and of Meekness, and of a sound Mind. O that such a Spirit might rest upon us! May the GOD of Peace, who maketh Men to be of one mind in an house unite us all in the Bonds of TRUTH, HOLINESS & LOVE! May He give us ONE HEART & ONE WAY, that we may fear him for ever, for the good of our selves, and of our Children after us. May he turn away his Wrath from us, and re­joyce over us to do us good, with his whole Soul. May he purge away our Dross, and take away all our Tin! May he restore us Rulers, as at the First: Counsillers and Judges, as at the Beginning; make our Officers Peace, and our Ex­acters Righteousness! May he purify the Sons of Levi, and clothe his Priests with Salvation! May Zion be redeemed with Judgment, and her Converts shout aloud for Joy! May our Jerusalem be called, The City of Righteousness, the faithfull City, a City that is Compact together, and fitly framed: The Habitation of Holiness. The Perfection of Beauty, and the Joy of all the Earth! May Glory dwell; in our Land, and peace be upon Israel, and the whole Earth be filled with the Knowlege of JESUS CHRIST. AMEN