Wherein is shewed the neceſſity of going out of ourselves,
Preparationsfor Sufferings : Or, and pumping for expreſſions leſs. And thus I have briefly ſhewed you, how toturniſh yourſelves withthis needful quali fication alſo.
CHAP.
XIII.
Wherein is ſhewed theneceffity ofgoing out ofourselves, eum when our habitual and actualpreparations are at the greate height ; anddepending as constantly and entirely upon the Spirit, who is Lord ofallgracious influences, as if we had done nothing : Together with the means ofworking thebeart tofuch aframe.
T Hus you have ſeen your habitual and actual readiness for ſufferings ; and bleſſed is the foul that gives diligèner to this work : But now left allthat I have faid, andyou have wrought, ſhould be in vain ; I must let you know, thatall this will not fecure you, unless you can, by humility, faith, and felf-denial, go out ofyourſelves toChriſt, and live upot him daily for tupply ofgrace, as much as ifyou had none of allthis furniture and provifion for fufferings.
I confefs, grace is a very beautiful and lovely creature, and it is hard for a man to look upon his own graces, and not doat upon them.
But yet know, that ifyou had all theſe excellent preparations that have been mentioned, yea, and all angelical perfections fuperadded, yet are you notcompletewithout this dependance upon Chrift, Col. ii. 10, Wheneveryou go forth to fuffer for Chrift, you ſhouldſay at theheadofallyourexcellent graces, duties, and preparations, as Jehofaphat did, when atthe head ofapuiflant and mighty army, 2Chron. xx. 12. " O Lord,
"have no might nor ftrength, but my eyes areunto thee.
This is one thing in which Paul excelled, and was a fpecial partofhis readineſs. See 1 Cor. xv. 10. What a poor cre ture istheeminenteſtſaint, leftto himselfin an hour oftrial? thehop, the ivy, and the woodbine, are taughtby nature to cling about ſtronger props and ſupporters : What theydoby nature, we should do by grace.
The neceffity andgreat advantage ofthis will appear upon divers confiderations.
Confid. 1. The Chriſtian's own imbecilityand inſufficiency, even inthe ſtrength and height of all his acquirements and preparations ; what areyou, tograpplewith fuch an adverfary!
Certainly, you are no match for him that conquered Adam hand to hand in his ſtateofintegrity.
It is notyour inherent
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ſtrength that enables you to ſtand, butwhatyou receive, and dailyderive from Jeſus Chriſt, John xv. 5.
Without me," or never fo little ſeparated from me, "yecando nothing ; all " yourfufficiency is ofGod," 2 Cor. iii. 5. Upon this very confideration itwas, that the apostle exhorts the Ephesians, to " be strong in the Lord, andin thepower ofhis might," (i. e.) nottodepend upon their own ſtock and furniture ; but Divine affiſtances , and daily communications ; " For we wrestle not " with flesh and blood, but principalities and powers," Eph. vi. 10, 12.
In his own strength ſhall no man prevail.
Confid. 2. It is the great deſign ofGod in the goſpel, to exalthis Son,and to have allglory attributed and aſcribedtohim,
" That in all things he might have the pre-eminence," Col. i. 18. That Chriſt " might be allin all," Col. iii. 11. Hence, no ſaint must have a felf-fufficiency, or be truſted with a ſtock asAdam was, but Chrift being filled with all the fulness of God, and made the πρωτον δεκτικον, or firſt receptacle of all grace; " For it pleaſed the Father, that in him all fulneſs
" ſhould dwell;" all the faints are therefore to go to him for ſupplies, and ofhis fulneſs to receive, John i. 16.
This fulneſs being a ministerial fulness, like that of the fun, or of a fountain, intended to fupply all our wants. And hence is it that faith, a felf-emptying anddenying grace, is appointed to be the inſtrument of fetching our ſupplies from Chriſt.
All must be derivedfrom him, that all the praiſe and glorymaybe aſcribed to him, Phil. iv. 14.
And this is a moſt wife and congruous ordination ofGod, forhereby not onlyare his people the better ſecured,butbythis alſo, the reproach that lay uponChrift is rolled away.
He was reproached on earth, as barren, empty, weak ; " Can any good come out of Naza- " reth ?" He was looked upon as a "Root ſpringing out of a 66 dry ground," butby this ſhallhis reproach be wiped away :
So that unless you will go about to croſs the great deſign of God, in the exaltation of his Christ, you must go out ofyourſelves, and humbly and conſtantly rely upon ſupplies from Chriſt, and his grace, to help in the times of need.
Confid. 3. AChriſtianis conſtantly todependupon Chrift, notwithstanding all his own preparations, and inherent qualifications ; becauſe the activity even ofinherent grace depends uponhim.
Inherent grace isbeholding toexciting and affifting grace for all it is enabled todo. You cannot act agrace without his Spirit, 1 Cor. xv. 10. 2 Cor. iii. 5. John xv. 5.
Itmaybe faid ofgrace in us, as it was ofthe land of Canaan, Deut. xi. 10, 11, 12. " It is not as the land of Egypt, whence
Preparationsfor Sufferings: Or, τι yecame out, where thou ſowedſt thy feed, andwateredft it
" with thy foot, as agarden ofherbs : but a land ofhills and " vallies, drinking water ofthe rain ofheaven ; a landwhich
" the LordthyGodcareth for: his eyes are always upon it, " from the beginning oftheyear, eventothe endoftheyear."
As the life and fragancyofvegetables dependonthe influences of heaven, ſo do ourgraces upon Chriſt. And hence he is called, ( 1.) Aroot, Iſa. xi. 10.
(2.) An head, Col. i. 18.
(3.) Afun, Mal. iv. 2.
(4.) A fountain,Zech. xiii. 1. All which compariſonsdo fully carry this truth inthem.
Confid. 4. Lastly, In this life ofdependance liesyour fecurity; and indeedthis is the great difference betwixt the two covenants. In the firſt, Adam's ſtock was in his own hands, and ſo his ſecurity or miſerydepended upon the unconstrained choiceofhis own mutable andſelf-determiningwill. But now in the new covenant, all are to go to Chriſt, todependupon him for ſupplies,and are ſo ſecured against alldeſtructivedangers, Jude 1. 1 Pet. i. 5. Should you go forth inyour own ſtrength against a temptation, either your gracewould fail, andyou fall in the conflict; or ifyou obtain any victory over itby your own ſtrength, yet it is a thouſand toone but your pridewouldconquer you, when you hadconquered it : Like him that flew an elephant, but was himself ſlainby the fall of that elephant which he flew.
Butnow, by this way, as God hath ſecuredyou againstthe dangers without; ſoalſothe frame and conſtitution ofthis new covenant is ſuch as prevents the danger arising from ourown pride too. NotEgo et Deus me2us; Iand my Goddidthis; as was once faidby a prophane mouth; " but ſelfisabaſed, andthe Lord lifted up inhis own
" ſtrength," 1 Cor. iv. 7. And thus I have brieflyevinced the neceffityofthis dailydependance.
But next itconcerns you toknow, whatthisdependancewe ſpeakof is: this alſo I ſhall briefly open to you, laying down fomewhat negatively, and ſomewhat poſitively about it.
1. Negatively. It is nottodeny the gracewrought inus by the Spirit; this wereboth injustice and ingratitude; we may know our owngraces ſo as tobethankful forthem, though not ſo as tobe proud ofthem, I Cor. xv. 10.
2. Neg. It is not a lazy excuſe from ourduty: you do not depend, but rather dishonour Chriſt by ſodoing ; you must not ſay,becauſe Chriſt muſt do all, therefore I must do nothing : but rather work out your ſalvation, becauſe it is he that workethboth towill and todo,Phil. ii. 12, 13. Theſearenot op posed, butfubordinated.
The best Work in the worst Times.
Butthenpoſitively, it lies in three things.
1. Positively. In ſeeing and acknowledging the infinite fuffi-' ciencyand fulneſs that is in Chriſt : to acknowledge him tobe all inall ; notonlybyway ofimpetration procuring all,Heb. ix. 12. but alſobyway of application, bringing home to the foul all the bleſſings purchaſedby his blood,and ſettling us in thepoffeſſion ofit, John xiv. 3. And fo from firſt to laſtto eyehimas theauthor and finiſher of our faith.
2. Pofit. Infeeing the neceffary dependance that allourgraceshave uponhim.
So that as you ſee the ftream depending onthe fountain, thebeam upon the fun,the branch upon the root, the building upon the foundation,even ſo do our graces uponChrift: onhim they live, and cut offfromhim theydie.
"Our life is hidwith ChriſtinGod," Col. iii. 3. Whenyou feethis, and alſo feethat allyour activity, and ſtriving, is but as the hoifting up of the fails, inorder tothe motion ofthe ſhip,which candonothingtill therecome a gale;when you look upon your grace as a creature that must be upheld, fed, acted, andprefervedbyChriſt, Col. ii. 19. then you are pre-pared for this act ofdependance: As for instance,youcanneverdependupon Chriſt for the acting ofthat grace ofhope, untilyou ſeeChriſt tobe the prop and foundation of it, andthat itdepends uponhim, as upon its cauſe, 1 Pet. i. 3. as upon its object, Heb. vi. 19. and as upon itsfoundation andgroundwork, Col. i. 27.
Youcan neverdependuponChriſt for your joy and comfort, untilyou feewhat a neceſſary dependance this alſo hath upon him, Phil. iii. 3. andthat, both as to itsbeing and acting, John xvi. 22.
معا Youcan never dependupon him, for ſtrength inanyduty, untilyoufeehowyour dutiesdepend uponChriſt,not only for thestrength bywhich they are performed, Johnxv.4,5. but alſo for acceptationwhentheyare performed, 1 Pet. ii. 5.
It wereeaſy toinſtance in anyothergrace.
(3.)It lies in * looking offfromyourowngrace whenever youareputuponthe acting ofit, (I mean in regardofanydependanceuponit) and lookingbyan eye of faith for acceptation toChrift, Heb. xii. 2. Totheputtingforth ofwhichact of dependanceuponChriſt,holy ejaculations inouron-ſets upon مسا duty, or thoſe quick and vigorous lifting up of our fouls to God that way, are of ſpecial uſe, itbeing a duty fitted forthe
Preparations for Sufferings: Or, purpoſe,when there is noroomforfetandfolemnprayer. And thus briefly of its nature.
And tourgeyou to this duty, I ſhall offer theſe ſeven conſiderations : which,oh,thatthey inight prevailuponyourhearts, and make you for ever to clafp and cling about Chrift more than ever you have done.
Confideration 1. You have little reaſon to rely upon the ſtrength of yourown graces, foryou maybe easily deceived in thatmatter, andthink you have much more grace than you have. How often arethe common gifts ofthe Spirit miſtaken for his fpecial graces ! the fixth chapter to the Hebrews is able tomake amantremble in this thing.
Confid. 2. Suppoſe you have much grace, yet have you not ſtrong corruptions, andmayyou not meetwith strong temp. tations alſo ? He that hath leſs ofother graces than you, may have more humility and ſelf-denialthan you,and ſo may ftand whenyou fall.
Great enlargements are often attended with great temptations of pride, &c.
Confid. 3. Whatever meaſures ofgrace you have arrivedat, yet ail is not able to fecure you from falling, ifGod with-hold or with-draw his aids and influences.
Abraham had more faith than you, and yet he fell into a fin contrary to that very grace wherein he ſo excelled others,Gen. xx. 2. Jobhadmore patience than you ; which of you could behave yourſelves as hedid,hadyoubeeninthe likecircumſtances as he was ? chap. i. 2. he is renowned for it in the ſcripture, James v. 11. yet he fell into that fin which is contrary to this grace alſo, chap. iii.
Mofes had more meekness than you : "Now theman Mo- " ſes was the meekeſtmanupon the earth."
If you be but reproved, and thatjuſtlyforyour faults, howwaſpiſh are you ?
Yet ſee how this grace failed even inhim, in an eminenttrial of it, Numb. xi. 13, 14, 15. Adam was much more advantag ed in this reſpect than you, being made upright, and no cor. ruption inherent in him, yet he fell: the angels more again, yet they fell. Ohwhen willyou learn the vanity offelf-dependance.
Confid. 4. Nothing more provoketh the Lord to withdraw hisSpirit, and letyoufall,thanthis fin offelf-confidence doth,
Luke xiv. 29, 30, 31. God will teachyou by fad experience yourown weakness,andwhat frail andvain things you be, it you will learn itbyno other means.
Confid. 5. IfGod permit you to fall, (as doubtless he will, if yoube felf-conceited), then the more eminent you havebeen, or are for grace, the more willthe name ofGodbe reproached
The best Work in the worst Times.
byyour fall.
This will furnish the triumphs oftheuncircum cifed, and the lamentations ofyour brethren, and make them fay, " How arethe mighty fallen !" Whatdiſmal conſequents will attend your fall ?
Confid. 6. Have you not fad experience of yourown weak. neſs from day to day in your leffer trials ? Have you not faid inſome ſmaller conflicts, as David once did, " My feet had
-" wellnigh flipt."
Omethinks this ſhould teach you to look more toGod, and leſs to ſelf. " If you have run with foot- " men, and theyhave weariedyou in the land of peace, think
"fadly how you should contendwith horses inthe ſwellings of " Jordan." Do not you fee that you are but feathers in the wind of temptation ? Conſult your former experiences, and theywill tellyouwhatweaklings you are.
Confid. 7. Lastly, Hath Chriſtgivenyou more grace than o thers, then how much more hath he obliged you to honour him thereby ? And is this your requital of his love ? What ! totake the crown fromhis head, and put it upon your own!
Certainly agreater injurycannotbedone toChriſtthanthis.
Wellthen,by all thisbe perfuadedto ceaſefromyourſelves, yea, from your religious ſelves ; and to all other your preparations, add this as a choice one; if you do theſe things, you ſhall never fall. And thus you fee the complete Chriftian in his equipage for fufferings.
CHAP.
XIV.
Containing the first use of the point by way of conviction, difcovering the unreadiness ofmultitudes ofprofeffors forsuffer ing-work.
YOU have feen, byallthat hath been ſpoken, what the neceffary pre-requifites unto a fuffering condition are: andwhatmanner of perſons you must be, (both for habitual and actual readiness), if ever you honour Chriſt by bonds, or death for him. And I doubt notbut yourjudgments and confciencesyieldtotheevidentneceſſityoftheſethings, where. in I haveplacedthe Chriftian's readiness. But, alas ! where ſhall wefind among the throngs and crowds ofprofeſſors,any confiderable numbers thus qualified and prepared ? To ſuffer for Chriſt, is a giftthat few havereceived. We are fallen intothedregs oftime. Oh how little ofprimitive zealand fimplicity remains among the profeſſors of this age! latter times
VOL . VII.
Bbb
Preparations for Sufferings : Or, have produced a fort ofprofeffors of another ſtamp and fpirit.
Theſe have the light, but theyhad the love : theſefee more, but they did andfuffered more. Howmanythat are no ornament to religion, doadorn themselves with thenameof it!
Now, according to this account givenof a ready Chriftian, divers profeffing perſons will be convicted oftheir unreadiness and inability to manage fuffering-work : As firſt,
1. The politic and hypocritical profeffors,whoſe hearts were never fet right at first, and therefore cannot be stedfaft when trials come, Pfal. Ixxviii. 8.
Their hearts were never found in God'sstatutes, and therefore no wonder ifthey be not only ashame to, but ashamed of their profeffion, Pfalm cxix. 80.
Never wonder ifyou fee that profeſſion which began in hypocrify, to end in apostasy.
Theſe want their habitual readineſs for fufferings, and fo cannot drink of that cup: Needs must they fall when tried; and when they fall, they fall dreadfully, and often irrecoverably; for they neither have thefeed of God in them, nor any promise of God made tothem.
Andare there not manyſuch to be found in every place For, ( 1.) How. difficult is it to perfuade many of you to any dutythat hath lofs or hazard attending on it ? Doth notthe fincere heart ſtand inclinable and diſpoſed to all the known will of God ? Pfalm cxix. 6. Do Chriſtians uſe to enquire morewhat is cheap, eaſy, and ſafe for them, or what is their duty ? Gal. i. 16.
Speak confcience, for tothee do I appeal ; artthounot confcious of fome referves, limitations,and excсер tions ? Doth notthe man, like Naaman, defire the Lordto excuſeand pardon him in this or that thing ? 2 Kings v. 17.
And thinkest thou that this is confiftent with fincere obedience, which excepts no duty, nor quarrelswith any command, becauſethey all flow equallyfrom the fovereignty ofGod, James ii. 11. and ſo doth what itdoth intuitu voluntatis, upon the fight ofGod's will. Say confcience, are there notgreat ftrug. glings, difputes, and contests betwixtthee,and fleſhly intereſts inſuchcafes ? And art thou not frequently over-borne ? Oh fearch your hearts in this particular.
Yea,fecondly, I appealtoyou, whethertherebe not manyamongyou that chooſe ſin rather than affliction ? This is always the hypocrite's option and choice: He judges fufferings the greatest evils, and fo orders himſelf inhis election.
Itwas merely to avoid perfecution that thoſe hypocrites, Gal. vi. 12. conſtrainedothers to be circumcifed, only to gratifythe Jews; that ſo, by a finful compliancewith them, the offence of the ereſs might ceafe.
IfPaulwouldhave done fo, he mighthave
The best Work in the Worst Times.
avoided it too, buthe durſt not whatever he ſuffered, Gal. v.
11. Oh this is a ſhrewd ſign of a falſeheart, Job xxxvi. 21.
And the contrary diſpoſition is always found in the upright heart, Heb. xi. 25.
Nay, are there not ſome thathave, and others that are ready tothrow up their profeffion, when they fee intowhat difficulties itinvolves them ? Whilst they could live upon theprofefſion of truth, they entertained it; but when truth comes to live upon them, they thrust it out, and cry, away with this profeffion, it will beggar and undo us : They then repent of their forwardneſs, and ſecretly wish they had never engaged init. O examine whether your hearts be not thus turnedback, and your ſteps declined.
If ſo, it is manifeſt you are hypcritical profeſſors, andthat it was ſome outward ſelf-refpect at firſt engaged you in yourprofeffion, but can never enable you to hold out when difficult days come.
Iſay it is manifeft by this departure from your profeffion, that fome outward felfreſpect at firſt allured you to it.
As now, when I behold the artificial motions ofthe wheels in awatch, and ſeehow regularlythe needle marks thejournal-hours ofthe fun upon the flat ofthe quadrant, and fee nothing that moves or guides it ; it would cauſe admiration if I had neverſeen it before, or did not understand the cauſe and motion : butwhen I look upon the other fide, and there find wheels, refforts, and counterpoiſes, and a ſpring that cauſes all thoſe motions, I ceaſe to wonder.
Certainly fome luft or other was the ſpring ofall thy religious motions ; ſtop or take off that, and motion ceaſes: And if it be ſo, this fcab of hypocriſy will at laſt break out into that botch of apoftacy.
Thou canst never hold out long under trials, Matth. xiii. 21. Oh how many fuch ſad fights maywe live to fee as trials come! Difficult times are coming on, 2Tim, iii. 1. And woe to ſuch then as want fincerity at thebottom of their profeffion.
2. And as theſe have no habitual readiness for fufferings, - and, conſequently, muſt be ruined by them, ſo there are others that maybe truly godly, and have the root ofthe matter in them, who are yet far from an actual readiness, and fo continuing,are like to be a reproach toreligionwhen their trial comes ; for it is not a little grace in the fleepy habit that will ſecure you from falling ſcandalouſly by the hand oftemptation: and although that feed ofGod which is in you, will re- - cover you again, and prevent total and final apoftacy, yet, Oh,
-confiderwhat afad thing it is toenter into, andbe conquered Bbb2
Preparationsfor Sufferings : Or, by temptation, to be ledaway intriumph bythetempter,and made a reproach to Chriſt. O it is afad confideration tothink howmany there be amongst the people ofGod,that diſcover little or no actual preparation for fufferings : As, firſt,
1. Upon how manyof the faints is the ſpirit of ſlumber poured out ? Eventhe wife, as wellas foolish, feem now tobe afleep.
There is a twofold ſpiritual ſleep: the firſt is total, uponwickedmen : and it is one of God's foreſt and dreadful left ſtrokes upontheir fouls, Ifa.xxix. 10. * The Hebrew word there is the fame with thatwhich is used ofAdam,whenGod caſthim into that deep fleep whilft he tookouthis rib. Andin
2Tim . ii . 26. it fignifies ſucha fleep as thatwhich is occafioned bydrunkenneſs ; out ofſuch afleep doth the Lord awaken all that are faved, and they never fall into it any more. The o ther is partial, Cant. v. 2, and is incident to the people of God, Matth. xxv. 5. This is nothing else but thattorpor or fluggishness of Spiritwhich ſeizethupon the faints, andnever did it prevail, I fear, amongthem more,thannow. For where is their activity for God? Where is he thatftirreth up himself to take hold of God ? Ifa. lxiv. 7. Where is there fuch age neration as that, Pfal. xxiv. 6.? We pray, confer, andhear, for the moſt part, but asmen ſpeak betwixt ſleeping andwaking.
Where can you find, except here and there one, that hath a quick and lively ſenſe ofGod's indignationupon him, or that trembles at hisjudgments ? Isnotthattheverycaſeofthe moft which God deſcribes, Ifa. xlii. ult. ?
2.How many are ſeizedby a private and worldly Spirit, e very man turning tohis own houſe,andeagerly pursuing the world? Hab. i. 9. Jer. xlv, 4, 5. Oh ! how are we intang. led inthe wilderness ? How doth the world eatup ourtime, and eat out our zeal ; cowardize and ſoften our ſpitits, and renderus utterly unfit for theyoke andburden ofChrift ? You that ſee ſo much beauty, and taſte ſo much ſweetneſs in the creature, you will have an hard taſk when called to deny it:
You are not yet preparedto drink of the cup, ortake up the croſs of Chrift.
3. How many poor Chriſtians are of a low andtimorous Spirit, readytotrembleatthe ſhakingofa leaf? Ah poor hearts ! howunfit are you for bonds or death ! This paſſion of fear that ſopredominates in you, is the very paſſionwhich Satan aſſaults, and lays fiege to in the hour oftemptation, aswas beforenoted: And commonly it isoccaſioned(where it flows
The best Work in the worst Times.
38г notfrom the natural constitution) from an exceſſive lovetothe world, or from ſome guilt upon the ſpirit.
It is true, the Lord can ſo aſſiſt weak faith, and ſo ſubdue ſtrong fears, as that you may be enabled to ſtand the ſhock when it comes :
(For, asI noted formerly, our ſtrength lies not in any thing inherent inus, but we are ſtrong or weak, according to the divine preſence and aſſiſtances that we enjoy) butyet if you labour not to mortify this evil, and ſtir not up yourſelves in C theuse ofall appointed means, to rouze your zeal and courage forGod, I know no warrant you have to expect ſuch aſſiſtances.
Lastly, How many poor Chriſtians among us are to this day dark and cloudy intheir evidences for heaven ? Hadtheywalked cloſely with God, been laborious in the diſquifition and ſearchoftheir own hearts, they hadlong finceobtained a clearneſs and fatisfaction about the ftate of their own hearts : But asthecaſe ſtands with them, how unfit are they for bonds or death.
Oh ! it is a fad cafe, when inward and outward troublesmeet together, as you mayfee, Gen. xlii. 21, 22. when there ſhall be fightings without, and fears within : When fuch a pang as that, Lam. iii, 17, 18, shall come over thy heart, what wiltthou do ?
By all thathathbeen ſaid, itappears, that the moſt ofprofeffors are in a very unready poſture for fufferings; ſo that as troubles come to anheight, we are like to ſee many fad ſpectacles : Many offences will come ; religion is liketo bewounded in thehouſe of its friends. Oh! what a day of merey have we enjoyed ? What helps and choice advantages, above any precedent age, and yet unready? Howfad and inexcufableisthis?
CHAP.
XV.
Containinganother use ofthepoint, by way ofexhortation,perfuading all the people of God, whilst the Lord refpites, and graciously delays their trials, to answer the endof God therein, andprepare themselvesfor greater trials : wherefeveral motives are propounded, to excite to theduty .
UP thenfrom yourbeds of floth, awake from your ſecurity, O ye faints, get upon your watch-towers, trembleinyourſelves, thatye mayreſt inthedayof evil, Hab. ii .
1, 3, 16. " Putonthe whole armour ofGod, that yemaybe
Preparationsfor Sufferings : Or, " able to ſtand in the evilday, andwhen you havedoneall,
" to ftand," Eph. vi. 11. O let it neverbe faid of your dwellings, as it is of the tabernacles of the wicked, Job xxi. 9.
" Their houſes are fafe from fear."
Auguſtushearing ofone that was deeply indebt, who yet ſlept heartily, fent for hispillow, ſuppoſing there was fome ſtrange virtuein thatpillow.
I wonderwhatpillow you have gotten, O ye drowſyſaints, that you canfleep ſo quietly upon it, now that allthings about you are conſpiring trouble, andthreateningdanger.
Canyou fleep likeJonah, when feas of wrath are tumbling and roaring round about you, and threatentoentombyouandallyourenjoyments?Behold," The " ſtork in the heavens knows her appointed time," Jer. vii.
8. andhath notGodmade you wiſer than thefowls oftheair, Jobxxxv. 11. Itmaybe the found offome preſent judgment may a little ſtartleyou, like a ſudden clap ofthunder in the air; buthow foondoth ſloth andſecurity prevail, and overcome you again. They ſay poiſon by being habituated, may bemade innocent : We are ſouſed to, or ratherhardenedunder calamities, that nothing moves or effectually awakens us.
Lord, what will the end oftheſe things be ? Wilt thou furprizethypeople at unawares ? Shall thyjudgments find them fecure, and leave them desperate ? O that God would perfuade you " togather yourſelves together, yea, to gather together,"
(not inan unlawful and feditious way,but inthewayofduty), " before the decree bring forth,and thedaypaſs as the chaff,"
Zeph. ii. 1, 2. O prepare to meet your God, Amos iv. 12.
Prepareyour faith, love, courage, &c. beforeGod call you to the exercise ofthem.
Andto exciteyou to thisduty, beſides allthe fore-mentionel benefits ofa prepared ſpirit, conſider theſe following parti. cularsby way ofmotive.
1. Motive. The manycalls whichGod hath givenyou to this work.
The Lord hath uttered his voice, and calledfrom heaven untoyou ; willyoube deaf to his calls ? He hath called uponyou, (1.) By the word : God wouldhave it cry to you first, becauſe he wouldgive the firſt honourtohis word
He hath given all his prophets one mouth, Luke i. 70. and they havewarnedyou faithfully.
(2.) Bythe rod : this alſo hath a loud voice, Micah vi. 9. Pfalm ii 5. Menof underſtanding will hear this voice; and thoſethat will not hear it, ſhall be
Iaſhedby it eventill they are fickwith ſmiting, verſe 13. (3.) Byprodigious andprotentous figns in the heavens and earth, fuch asnoage canparallel, theſe have a loud voice toallthat
The best Work in the worst Times.
regardthe works ofthe Lord, or the operations ofhis hands.
Eufebius calls them God'sfermons to the world *. Oh that we werewife to conſider what God's ends are in theſe things ! one obſerves, That as they are the plaineſt and most obvious
⚫to ſenſe, ſo they are commonly the last fermons which God • intends to preach to nations, before he inflicts his punishmenton them, ifthey repent not ' O let notGod, ſpeaking in ordinary and extraordinary ways to you, ſtill ſpeak in vain.
Your preparation for ſufferings, is themoſt probable means ofpreventingyourfallandruinbythoſeſufferings.
2.Motive. Sufferings prove fatalanddestructivetoſome;but it is to ſecure and careleſs ones : Such as arediligent and faithful in the use ofGod's means, are ſecured from the danger.
* Chriſt lays our conſtancy and perfeverance very n.uch upon our forecasting the worst that may fall out, Luke xiv. 28.
" Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to " ſtand," Eph. vi. He that hath firſt ſevered Chrift in his thoughts from all worldly advantages, andputs the cafe thus to * his own soul, O my foul, canſt thou embrace or love a naked
Chriſt ? Canſtthou be content to be impoverished, imprisoned, andſuffer the loſs of allforhim? He is most likely to cleave
faithfully to him, whenthe cafe is reallypreſentedtohim in- ✓deed.
And can it seem a lightthing in your eyes, tobeenabled to ſtand in ſuch an evil day? If you fall away from Chriſt, then all you have wrought is loſt, Ezek. xxxiii. 13.
Gideon's one bastard destroyed allhis ſeventy fons.
This act renders all former actions and profeſſions vain.
If you fall, you shall thereby be brought into a more perfect bondage to thedevil thanever, Matth.xii. 23. Yea, ordinarily, apoftates are judicially given up to be perfecutors, Hofeav. 12. 1 Tim. i. 20. and are ſeldom or neverrecoveredagainby grace,Heb. vi. 4, 6. Theythat lick up their vomit, ſeldom caſt it upany more.
Itis a fall within a little as low as the unpardonable fin, whence never any riſe again. In some cases thejudge will not allow the offender his book. And is itnot thena choice anddefireable mercy to eſcape and prevent ſuch a fall as this ? O goodfouls, plyyour preparation-work cloſe then ; prepare, or you periſh .
3. Motive. This will beſt anſwer the grace ofGod, in afford ingyou ſuch choice helps and advantages as youhave enjoyed.
How longhaveyou enjoyed thefree liberty ofthegoſpel, ſhin * Τα το Θεκκηρύγματα.
Eufeb. hist. lib. ii. cap. 8,
Preparationsfor Sufferings : Or, ing in its luftre among you ? This fun, which to ſome other nations hath not riſen, and to divers onwhom it hath ſhined, yet it isbut as a winter's fun, remote, and its beams but feeble; butyou have lived, as it were, under the line, it hath been over yourheads, andſhed its richest influences uponyou.
Yea, God's minifters, who are notonlyappointed tobewatchmen, Ezek. iii. 16. but trumpeters to discover danger, Num. x. 8. Theſe have faithfully warnedyou ofadayoftrouble, and given you their beſt aſſiſtance to make you ready for it. And is not their joy, yea, life, bound up in your ſtability in ſuch a day of trial ? Doth notevery one callupon you in the words of the apostle, Phil. iv. 1. " Therefore, my brethren, dearly
" beloved, and longed for, myjoy and crown, ſo ſtand faft " in the Lord, mydearlybeloved."
Will itnot cutthemto thevery heart, ifafter all their ſpending labours among you, theystill leaveyouunready? enemiesſtill to the croſs ofChrift, impoſſibletobe reconciled andperfuaded to fuffering-work for Chrift.
I remember I have read oftheAthenian Codrus, who being informed by the oracle, that the peoplewhoſe king ſhould be flain in battle ſhould be conquerors: he thereupon difrobed himſelf, and in adiſguiſe went into the enemies quarters,that hemight ſteal adeath to make his people victorious.
Oh! howgladwould your miniſters be, ifyou mightcon. querand overcome in the dayoftemptation, whateverbecome of their lives and liberties ! Yea, and if they be offered up up onthefacrifice andfervice ofyourfaith, they can rejoice, and joywithyou all.
Such is their zeal andlonging afteryour fe curityand welfare.
But if ſtill you remain anunready people, anddobecome a prey to temptation,Ohhow inexcufable will you be !
4. Motive. Remember how ready the Lord Jeſus wasto fufferthe hardest and vilest things for you.
He had a bitter cup put into his hands todrink for you, into which thewrath both of God and man was ſqueezed out.
Never hadman ſuch ſufferings to undergo as Chriſt *, whether you confider, (1.) The dignity ofhis perſon, who was inthe form ofGod, andmight have stood upon hispeerageand equalitywith him; he is thesparkling diamond of heaven, Acts vii. 56. the dar:
-lingofthe Father's ſoul, Ifa. xlii. 1. glorious asthe onlybegotten of the Father, John i. 14. yea, glory itſelf, James ii.1. yea, the very brightness ofglory, Heb. i. 3. He is thedeliciae
* Dolor Chrifti fuit major omnibus doloribus, Aquia.
The best Work in the worst Times.
Chriftiani orbis, fairer than thefons of men : And for him to be ſodebaſed, belowſo manythousands ofhis own creatures, become a worm, and no man ; this was a wonderful humiliation.
Itwas Jeremiah's lamentation, that ſuch as were brought up in fcarlet, embraced dunghills ; that princes were hangedup by the hands, and the faces of elders were not reverenced :
Butwhat was that to the humiliation of the Lord of glory ?
Or, (2.) Thathe ſuffered in the prime and flower ofhis years , when full of life and ſenſe, and more capable of exquifite ſenſe ofpainthan others : for he was optime complexionatus t ofa fingular conſtitution; and all the while he hanged on the tree, his ſenſe ofpainnot at all blunted ordecayed, Mark xv. 37, 39. Or, (3.) The manner ofhis death. Itwas thedeath ofthe croſs, which was a rack to Chrift : for in reference tothe diſtention ofhis members upon thecroſs isthat ſpoken,Pial. xxii. 17. " I maytell all my bones." Or, (4.) That all this whileGod hid his face from him.
When Stephen fuffered, he faw the heavens opened. The martyrs were manyof them. raviſhed and tranſportedwith extafies ofjoy in their fufferings; but Chriſt in the dark. Hesuffered in his foul as well as in his body; and the ſufferings of his foul were the very foul of his fufferings.
Itwas the Father's wrath that lay fo heavyon him, as to puthim into fuch an agony, that an inſtance was never given of the like nature ! for he ſweat θρομβοί, great drops, or clodders ofblood, which fellfromhis body to • the ground, Luke xxii. 44. " Itamazed him, andmadehim veryheavy ;" ſee Mark xiv. 33. yea," forrowful even to " death," Matth. xxvi. 38 .
And yet, as bitter as the cup was, he freely andwillingly drank it up, Johnxviii. 11. prepared himselftobe offeredup a facrifice, Pfal. xl. 6, 7. gave his back to the ſmiters,"
Ifa. 1.6. yea, longedexceedingly for thetimetillitcame, Luke xii. 50.
Now, ifChriſt ſo chearfully prepared andaddreſſedhimself to ſuch ſufferings as theſe for you, ſhouldyou not prepare yourſelves to encounter any difficulty or hardship for him ? O my brethren, doth not this ſeem a juſt and fair inferenceto you, from the fufferings of Chriſt for you ? 1 Pet. iv. 1
" Foraſmuch then as Chriſt hath fuffered for us in the flesh, " arm yourſelves likewife with theſame mind."
Oh, trifle no longer, feed not yourſelves with fancies and * Aquinas.
Cce
VOL. VII.