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A 461597

Ho»ittf #t

mk 'n

THE.

SERMONS,

AND OTHER

PRACTICAL WORKS,

Of the Late Reverekd and Learned

Mr. RALPH ERSKINE,a.m,

Minifter of the Gofpel in Dunfermline.

CONSISTING OF

Above One Hundred and Fifty SERMONS^ befides his Poetical Pieces.

IN TEN LARGE VOLUMES OCTAV9.

To which is prefixed,

An Account of the Author's Life and Writing!, with an Elegiac Poem, and large Contents.

/ cm not ajhamed of the gofpel of Cbrift^ RoM. i. l6« ^

VOL. VII.

FALKIRK:

PRINTED BY PATRICK ^UIR,

For Peter Muirhead, Merchant, the RevJ. John Stewaj^'^;,

and Hugh Mitchell, Bookfeller, the VufcSoffli^^x^*

At.DCCXCVI.

■ E^fS

ISHlWl^O

THE

CONTENTS.

I

r

; SERMON CVII, CVIIL

The Commencement of all Saving Bleffings, 9 Hag. ii. jg.-^From this day will I blefs you*

The words being confidereJ in their coiinedlion, divided and explained,

and the fpirltual meaning contained in them given in a do^inal

propofition, the following topics arc difcuffed, vii.

I. What this fpiritual temple i?^ Ij

a. What is the foundation thereof, 17

3. Hbw this foundation is laid, 22

4. The day defcribed in which the foundation is laid, and from which bleffings take their date, 26

5. Wijat the bleflings are which commence from this day, 32

6. It is proved that faving blelFings do commence from that day, 36

7. The application of the whole fubjedl, in feveral ufcs^ 39 Ufc (r.) Of information, in four inferences, tbid*

(2.) Of exhortation, in fix particulars, 45^

SERMON CIX.

Glad Tidings in Sad Times ; or, the City of God» ill Times of Trouble and Confufion, watered witli the river of Confolation, 62

Psalm xlvi 4* There is a river ^ the pr earns vibereof make glad the city of God.

- After a brief introdu^on, clear anallzation, and fuccin(^ cxpllcallon of the words, and a doflrinal propofition raifed from them, the fol- lowing heads of method are propofed, vt%* 1, To fpeak of the city of God, * '6^

, 2. To fhew what thefc fad times arc, that put the city of God in con- fufion, « 70

3. To enquire what grounds of encouragement the city of God hath in the fe {ad times, 72

4. To deduce fomc inferences for the appliGation, 79 Uf& (I.) Of information, in three particulars, ibid^

(2.) Of c3camination, in fcven particulars^ ^^.

[sO OfexjbQXta^on^ to three forU of pcrfons*^. ^"^

W CONTENTS

SERMON CX,— CXIII.

The giviiig Love of Chrift, a:id the receiving Property of Faith, Page 96

Gal. 11. 20. / ^m crucified vjhb Cbrift : nevertbelefs I , live ; yet not /, but Cbrift livetb in me: and the life '0)hicb I now live in tbe fiefo^ I liv^ by tbe faitb of the Son of Gddy vjbo loved me and gave bimfelf for me.

The verfe being divided and explained, and the former part of it opened

up at fomc length, and applied , two do<5lrincs are raifcd, and profe-

cuted from tlie latter part thereof, — at-fco lc'[}€d me, and gave bimfelf

for me* The ¥irji v^ ^* The love of Chrift, manifcfted in the wotd,

' *^ to finncrs, is a giving- love/' Fioni this ubfcrvation the followiog

heads of method arc handled, v/&.

Ti The doclrine illuftratcd by a chain of inftance?, 100

5. The truth cf it confirmed by an inJu(fHnn of particulars, 105

J, A fiicci»6l application of the whole fubjc^, in

The Second dodlr'me Ls^ *' That it is the property of true faith to en-

^^ tertain the giving love of Chrift, revealed in the gofpcl, with s

" me^ me^ by particular application." And from this propofltion,

the following topics arc propofed, viz,

t. To enquire into the import of this particularizing property of faith,

entertaining Chrift's love with a rtte^ me^ 13^

2. Tc> (hew on what grounds faith makes this particular application, 136

3. To aftign the reafohs why faith hath, and muft have, this appropri- ating quality, 14I

4. To deduce fomc infererces for the application, " 14^ Ufc (t.) For information, in four inferences, H)id*

(2.) For examination, in four particulars, 149

(3.) For exhortation^ both to unbelievers and faints, 15 1

S £ R iNI O N CXIV.

■Gofpel-Humlliation grounded on Faith's View of Di- vine Pacification, 157

EzEK. XVI. 63* Tbat tbou mayeft remember^ and be con^ founded^ and never open tby vioutb any morcy becaufe of tby fbame^ wben I am pacified towards tbccy for all tbat tbou baft doncy faitb tbe Lord,

The words being viewed in their conne^lion, explained, and a do<5lrini! ohfervai'on Jaii • own from them j tlic following topics ofdifcourfa sre inUHed upbny vis.

C O N T E N T S^ y

1. To (peak a little concerning this humiliation, P^gc 1 60 i» Gonfidcr the fpring of it, njiz, God's being pacified, i6y

3. Po'Dt out the connexion between them ; or, the influence that thr vi;;\v of God\ being pacified, hath upon this humiliation, 167

4. The application of the fubje^t, in ten inferences, 170

SERMON CXV,

The Word of Salvation fent to Sinners, 177

Acts xiv^. 26. — To you is tb^ voord of this falvation fent.

The words l>cing explained, and a ilo(^rine raife^ irom them, the foI«-

lowing things aie propofed, viz.

J.- To fpeak concerning tiiijj falvation, 170

2. . of the word of falvation, l9o

3, of the fending of this word, 182

4. To make application of the whole, in ten inferences^ 183

SERMON CXVI,

GofpeUCompulfion ; or, Minifterial Power and Au- thority. 196

J-UKE xiv. ii^'^Comp^l ibem to come in, tbat my boufg may be filled*

The words being viewed in their fcope, divided and explained, and a d i^lrinal propofition raifcd from them^ the fuliowiag topics of difcourfe are propofed, vi^^

t. To fpeak of the miniiierial coqipiii^on at^d authority igfportcd ia

this word, Comf^/ *Z?efl?, in^

(T.) Who have this authority to compel, tbld*

(2.) Whom they are warranted to compel, 201

(3.) What is the nature of tliis compulfion, 203

a. To enquire into ttifi end and dcfign of it, "i/fe. thatthe^r ccmein^ 209

3. To fpeak of the reafops thereof, nam<?lyi /i?^* his boufa may be

filled^ 2*2

■4. To deduce ten inferences for the application of ibc fubjcft, 218

A variety of arguments aduced to inforce the duty, 228

■An appendix, containing fqndry confiderations fuid ^vipcs to

the people, fuddcnly deprived pf their ajinifter, 234

SERMON CXVII, CXVIIL

The Fountain-Head of all Bleflings; or, the great Store-Houfe opened, 240

2 CoBr V. JlS.-— J// fkings are of God,.

vi CONTENT S,

After Viewing the words In their fcopc and connexion, tind clothing

them witii a do6b-inaI obfervation, the following general hcadi

of method arc profccuted, viz.

!• To mention fomc of thcfc all thing*, relating to the new creatioOi-

that arc of God, Page 25 X

2, f'o enquire how all things arc of God, 253

3» To fhew whence it is that all things are of God, ,255

4. To make application of the whole fubje6l, in fcveral inferences, 261

That effedlual calling and jullification arc of God, 285

That fan£i £cation, and every thing relating to it, is of God, proved

by a vaiieijr of confider^tions, 287

SERMON CXIX.

Gad the conquered, yet conquering Tribe ; or, the Vanqiiilhed at firft, the Viftor at laft, 296

Gen. xlix. ig. Gad, a troop Jljall overcome him ^ but bo pall overcome at tb^ laft.

*T\\t fcope and conne^Si'^n of the words Having been confidered, and t.'icir meanin;^ exprefTcd in a U';6lnna1 propofition, the following general heads of method are propofcd, viz,

1. To fpeak of the foils which the Ifracl of God meet with ; (hew what are the troops that defeat tlicm in this world ; and how far thcfc troops ip^y overcome them, 298

2. To fpeak a little of their vidlory, and how far they may be faid to overcome at the laft, 301

3. To affign fomp reafons of the do^rinc, fhcwing why they arc many times overcome, and why tbcy ijiall ovcrpome at the laft, 305

4. To make appUc^tioi> qi ^c vhol<: fubgedl, b^ deducing tea inferences, 311

S E II M O N CXX.

Chrift the true Mofes, fent to deliver his true Ifracl from their fpiritual Egypt, 352

Acts vii. 34. I have feen^ I have feen the aJfiiElion of my people which is in Egypt ; and I have beard their groaningy and am com^ do%»n to deliver th^m. And tiov) comCf J H^illfend thee into Egypt.

' After the words arc vic\Ycd*in their fcopc, ^nd analizcd, the following topics are confidcrcd, v'tz. I, The Jv'fignation of the people that are pitied, 32;;

St The grievous cafe f^nd diftrefs they were in, 328,

CONTENTS. vu

3, Their behaviour under their diftrels, Page 331

4« How the Lord (hewed his pity to thoin, ' 33 2

5. What means he ufed for this end, 334

4» Some ijaprovement made of the whole, -« 334

SERMON CXXI, CXXII, CXXIH/

The Power and Policy of Satan bounded and baffled by the Lord Chrift, 350

Luke xxii. 31, 32. And the Lord Jaid^ Sitnon, Simon/ behold^ Satan batb defired to have you^ that be may Jift you as svbeat: but I bave prayed for tbee^ that thy faitb fail not; and v)ben tbou art converted^, ftrengtben tby iretbren*

After a fuitable ihtrodu^on to the fubjefi, and the words analized and explamed, the following general topics of difcourfe are laid down, viz.

1. Some remarks offered upon the circumftances of the time and oc« cafion wherein theie words are fpoken, 353

2« Upon the circumftances of the text, , 357

3^ -r— - Upon the warning itfelf, 362

4* Some obfcrvations concerning Satan and his temptations, 367, — 383 5. Some meditations ^n the whole text, 383

6« Some concluding advices, 40;^

SERMON CXXIV.

Redemption by Chrift, fliewn to be of God, as the firft Gaufe ; and to God, as the lad End, 407

1 CoR. u 30. Rev. v. 9. — Wbo of God was made unto us redemption. For tbou nuaft flain^ and baft redeemed us to God by tby blood.

The Author having taken a view of the words as they ftand in them- felves, and as compared together, and having exprefTed their mean- ing in a general propoiitioo, the following general heads of method are profecuted, njtz.

!• Some propofltions offered concerning this redemption, 410

2. How redemption is of God as the firft caufe, evinced, 417

3. How it is to God as the laft end, enquired into, ibid.

4. Application made of the whole ful^e^by d^ducingfix infcrencesi 422

Ho»i«tf #f

JJplw /(^

r:v Zziat^rtciitag 9/ Sek.CVIL

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ind the holy

!»; yjtf Commencement of Ser. CVIL

• ..the day that the foundation of the I^ord's temple waar laid; confider it, from this day will I blcfs you." It is the bed day's work tjiat ever was done ; and it is the bell day that ever you had in your life; for, from hence you may date your happinefs, even from the day that the foundation of the Lord's temple was laid.

Now, you are to remember that the temple was typi- cal of Chrill; not only of Chrift p^rfonal, in whom dwells all the fulnefs of the Godhead bodily ; as God^ dwelt in the temple of old fymboUically, towards which facrecj temple, Chrifl Jcfus, we are always to look for accep- tance with God; and, like Jonah, to look again toWards his holy temple; but alfo Chrift myftlcal was typified by the temple ; that is, the church, which is the houfe of God, whereof Chrill is the living ftone, the fure founda- tion; .and all believers, as living Hones, are built up 9, fpiritual houfe in him; as you have it explained, i Pet. ii. 4,5. Hcb. lii* 6. Eph. ii. 20. i Cor. iii. 17. 2 Qor. vi. l6. Thus their building of the temple did fignify the reformation of the church, having laid the foundation, which reprefents the fecuring of the ground-work of rc« ligion.

Now, let us gather fome fpiritual leffon from this, that they were bleffed from the very day in which the foundation of the Lord's temple was laid in a literal fenfe. The fpiritual myftery here reprefented is the fol. lowing dodlrine, which I take from the words, confidered with their conneftion.

O98ERV. That all faving bleffings do aaually com- mence from the day the foundation of the Ipiritual temple- is aftually laid. From this day kuUI I blefs you ; that is, from the day that the foundations of the Lord's temple were laid,

I ufe the word atlually in both branches of the doc- trine, becaufe I fpeak not of what was done decretively, in the purpofe of God, from eternity ; nor of what was done virtually, in the council of peace, and covenant of redemption ; nor of what was done fundamentally and Tneritorioufly, when Chrift died at Jerufalem ; but rather t)f the aQuai fruits aad produce of thefe, when they ac-

alt faving Blejpngf* TJ

tually take place in a day of power: and therefore, I fayi my do£lrine is,*That all faving bleflings do adlaally com- mence, from the day that the foundation of the fpiritual temple is actually laid. See Eph. i. 3. and ii. 21. com*' pared; where you fee all fpiritual faving blcffings do ac- tually take place, from the time that the foul is united to Chrift, the fure foundation; which is the day wherein the foundation of the fpiritual temple is laid.

But for the further clearing and confirming of this do6lrine, I propofe the following method, namely,

I. I would fliew what this fpiritual temple is.

II. What is the foundation thereof.

III. How this foundation is laid.

IV. I would fpeak a little of the day in which the foundation is laid, and from which bleflings take their date.

V. Shew what bleflings do commence from this day. '

VI. Prove, by fome particular arguments and rea- fons, that faving bleflings do attually commenc^ from that day.

VII. Make application of the whole fubject.

L The firft thing we are to do then, is, To fhew what this fpiritual temple is. We told you, that the temple was a type of Chrift mydical, and Chrift perfo- nal ; and I defign to exclude none of them in the pro- grefs of my difcourfe.

Now, the temple was a type of Chrift myftical ; that is, of the church of God, and of particular.believers, in many refpefts ; who, therefore, are frequently called, •the temple of God, and the temple of the H(>ly Ghoft ; and the type and antitype agree in thefe, and the like following particulars.

I. The temple was a very ftately building ; without, very fumptuous ; and within, very glorious : built of ftiany ftones, many materials ; yet all making up but one temple, upon one foundation ; and having three principal partitions, namely, the outward court, foe the people; the fanjauary, for the priefts; and the holy ■of holies, into which the High-prieft only etvl^t^d ^^jvs:.^ iL-ycar, with tk^ blood of the faxiriiOT.— -W tW^ fe\v>^

X4 5^^^ Commencement of Ser. CVIL

here with the fpiritual temple, the church. It is a ftate- \y building, a building of God; her viCble glory with- out is very fplendid, when rightly conflitute with re- fpe£l to doftrine, difcipline, worftiip, and government ; and her invifible glory much more ; for, *' The king's daughter is all glorious within/' Ghrift myftical, being made up of many materials taken out from among Jews and Gentiles; many Hvely ftoncs, built upon Chrill him- felf, v/ho is the chief corner-done; in whom all the build- ing fitly framed together, grows up into a holy temple in the Lord. In which fpiritual t(fmple, there are, as it were, thefe three particulars, viz. the outer court of the vifible church^ including all profeffors ; the fandlu- ary of the invifible church, peculiar to the holy priell- hood, namely, all true believers, who are made kings and priefts unto God ; and the holy of holies, heaven it- felf, wherein the fpirits of juft men made perfeft are triumphant in the prefence of God and of the Lamb, that glorious High prieft, that went into the holieft of all, with the blood of the facrifice, which he had offer- ed of himfelf.

2. The temple was the fettled place of God's public Worftiip, and folemn facrificings: there all the facrifices, oblations, and incenfe were to be offered to God ; there God was folemnly prayed unto, and praifed, and his ordinances adminillred. — So the church of God is the fpiritual temple, wherein all fpiritual facrifices are offered to God, by his royal prieflhood ; and all the or- dinances of Ghrift managed for the perfe£ling of the faints, for the edifying of the body of Ghrift ; and all believers are the receptacles of God's fpiritual inward worfliip, in heart and fouL

3. The temple of the Lord wa^ holy, and not to be defiled with legal impurity. — So this fpiritual temple of God is holy, and not to be defiled with finful impurities : •\If any man defile the temple of God, fays the apoftle, him fliall God deftroy; for the temple of God is holy ; which temple ye are/' i Gor. iii, 17. The church invi- fible is holy not only by feparation from the unholy cor- ' rupt mafs of the world, i Gor. vi. 16, 17. and by dedi- cation to God, and his holy fervice \ but alfo by jufti.

all faving Blejingsl 15

fication, through the imputed righteoufnefs of Chrift, .their Head, in whom they have a perfeft holinefs, or righteoufnefs ; being perfeft through his comelinefs put upon them, £zek. xvi. 14.; and by fanflification,. and implanted holinefs ; having the Spirit of Chrift in them as the principle of fanftification ; and therefore, • »

4. The temple was a place of God's fpiritual prefence and refidence among his people: there were ihefymbols of his prefence; there he dwelt tet ween the cberubims; there he met with his people, and communed with them. So the church of Chrill, and all the true members thereof, are the habitation of God through the Spirit; they are the temples of the living God. God dwells in them ; walks in them ; manifefls himfelf to them ; and affords them communion with himfelf.

In a word* the temple was God's houfe : and fo are all believers, i iPct. ii, 5. they are built up a fpiritual houfe, which God poffeffes five ways. They are his dwelling-houfe, his pleafure-houfe, his treafu re- houfe, his veffel-houfe, his magazine-houfe, and his banquet- ting-houfe.

(i.) They are his dwelling-houfe. God dwells there in a fpecial manner ; " In Salem is his tabernacle, and his dwelling-place in Zion," Pfalm Ixxvi. 2. It is a fweet promife, 2 Cor. vi. 16. *^ I will dwell in them." But, ** Will God, in very deed, dwell with man upon earth ?" Yes ; " This honour have all the faints." — God dwells in them by his holy Spirit, which he hath given them; and hedwells with them,fo as never, totally, to defert his nianfion: when he takes up his refidence in thefoul,he fays,* I will never leave thee,nor forfake thee.'

(2.) They are his pleafure-houfe : as he dwells there, fo he walks there; ** I will dwell in them, and I will walk in them.'* He takes pleafure to walk in them : " This is the hill where God defires to dvvell, Pfal. xlviii. 16. This is my reft,here will Iftay, for I like itwell,Pf. cxxxii,i4. .The Lord takes pleafure in his people," Pfalm cxlix. 4. .0 wonderful! that God ftiould take pleafure 4n any of the linful feed of Adam ; yet, as a man takes pleafure in his houfe, his garden, his orchard, and plantlu^^ {^ doth the Lord in believers^ who ate hcc\vx&TX\\^ c^iSS^

t:6 The Commeneemenf of Ser. CVII.

his garden, Song v. i.; his vineyard, Ifa. v. i.; his planting, Ifa. Ixi. 3.; '* The planting of the Lord, tliat he might be glorified." Thus they are his pleafure-houfe.

3. They are his treafure-houfe. As God is the believer's treafure ; fo believers are God's treafure : ** The Lord's portion is his people ; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance," Deut- xxxii. 9. If you look upon them as they are in themfelves, abllractly from the corner- ftone, he hath but a poor treafure of them. God cannot be enriched with this treafure ; but yet, in Chrift^ he looks upon them as a treafure of jewels ; *' They fliall" be mine, faith the Lord of hofts, in the day that I make up my jewels," Mai. iii. 17.

(4.) They are his magazine-houfe: this fpiritual houfe and temple is built for an armory. Song iv. 4. there the church is compared to '* The tower of David, built for an armoury, wherein hung a thoufand bucklers, all ihields of mighty men." God lays up his ftores of mili- tary provifion in this houfe ; infomuch, that every be- liever is fo well armed with the (hield of faith, and the fword of the Spirit, that he can encounter the ftrongeft Goliath: yea, arid do all things through Chrift ftrength- ening him. God's church is his caltle ; and, " Salva- tion hath God appointed for walU and for bulwarks."

(5.) They are his veflel-houfe. The church is God's houfe, wherein all the veffels of mercy are hung up for ornament, as well as for ufe ; and Chrift is the nail faftened in a fure place, on which all the veffels do hang: ** I will faften him as a rtailin a fufe place; and they fliall hang upon him all the glory of hifi Father's houfe, all vef- fels df fmall quantity, from the veffels of cups, to the vef- fels of flag^^ons," Ifa. xxii. 23, 24. Believers, weak and ftrong, veffels of all forts and fizes. Neither are believers empty Veffels, whatever they be in them fel vies ; for,

(6.) They are his banquetting-houfe; *'He brought me into the banquetting-houfe, and his banner over me was love," Song ii. 4. The church of God, I mean, the affemb- lies of his faints in ordinances, are hh parlour, where he feeds; *' He feedeth among th6 lilies, till the daybreak, and th^ fliadows fly away." He keeps a banquet among hkf people; 0nd both Iw and they feed and fup together.

all faving Bleffings* ly

It is^a wonderful text, tho' ordinarily cited, Rev. iii. 20«

** Behold, I Hand at the door and knock; if any man hear

my voice*, and open the door, I will come in t) him, and

will fup with him, and he with me. He fliall fup with

me;" that is, he fliall partake of ray Spirit and graces,

that fliall be as comfortable to the f ml as meat to the

body: and *' I will fup with him;" that is, I will f.Iace

and c^mf jrt myfelf in thefe their graces which I give

them, as much as any man is comforted with his food-

I will delight to fee my own graces exercifed, as much

as a man, difpofed for meat, delights therein. Hence

Song V. I. " I am come unt> my garden," fays Ghrifl:

to his church; '* I have gathered my myrrh, With my

fplces; I have eaten my h^ney-comb, with my honey; I

have drunk my wine, with my milk." — Thus it is his

banquetting-houfe. This fpiriiual temple, then, is God's

boufe; his d. veiling h vjfe; his pleafure h mfe; his trea-

fure-houfe; his magazine-houfe; his veflel-houfe; his

banquetting-houfe,

IL The fecund thing prop.')fed, in the general method, was. What is the foundation of this fpiriiual temple.

To this we anfwer, with the apoftle, i Cor. iii. ii. "Other foundatiim can no man lay, than that is laid, which is Chrift Jefus." Chrift is the alone foundation of the fpiritual temple, and that if we confider thefe four things. I. What a f iundation implies. 2. How Chrift is the foundation. 3. Wherein he is the foundation* 4. Wherei:>f he is the foundation to the church.

i. Chrift is the foundation of this fpiritual temple, if We confider what a foundation implies. It implies pri- macy, potency, and confirraation.-r-I fay, a foundation imparts primacy and priority. A foundation is ordinarily taken for the firft ftone that is laid in a building, or the firft range of ftones. Now, Chrift is thus the foundation; for he is the firft ftone, that is laid in the church ; and every ftone is laid upon him, in whom believers are rooted and built up. Col. ii. 7, — Alfo, a f lundation im- plies potency, power, and ftrength to bear the whole of the. building, and to fupport the whole fabric. Now, Ghrift is thus a powerful and mighty foundation', *' lVv^\e^

Vol. VJI t jS ' \^\^

f8 The Commencement of Ser. CVITr

taid help upon one that is mighty. He is able to fave ta the uttermoft;" able to hear the whole weight of thefu- perllrnfture. — Again, a foundation implies confirmation, 33 it fallens, cements and unites the building, and brings it t ) an iTamronlous proportion. Well, thus Ghrift is the fouticTati.n or c rner-ffone ; " We are built up uj3onlbe foundatioiToF the apoftles and prophets, Jefu-s Ghrift him- telf being the chief-corner ftone, in whom all the build- i"ng fitly framed together, groweth up into a holy temple rn the Lord,*^ Eph. ii. 20! The corner-ftone faftens al) the reft: and fo df)es Ghrift confirm and conjoin^ all the members of his myfiical body'ni himfelf. But then,

2. Gonfider how he is the foundation. And here, in fhort, you may fee he is the fonrrdation perfunally, doc- trinally, and pradically. — He is the foundation perf-ff- ally; he, even the God man, Ghrift Jefas h-imfelf, is the f undation laid in Zion, for fouls to be built aponp " He that is joined to the L'»rd is one Spirit/' Believers are not joined to the purchafe of Ghrift only, but to the per- fon of Ghrift: they dole with his perfon as the foundati- on.^-Alfo, lie is the foundaii -n dodrinally ; Ghrift is the film of all g()fpel*do£lrine ; the fcriptures telHfy of himr the ap )ftles and pmphets are indeed called the foundati- on ; but Ghrift is the cx)rner-ftone of it. He is tlie foun- dation of tliat fouTicFativ/n r and therefore, I think, it wouli be an odd text that a jrofpei-minifter could not find Ghrift in. — Again, lie is the fc undation pntdically: he is* the copy after which every foul that comes to him, wilt write; his praflice is the rult; and foundation of our prac* tice: '' He hath left us an exarmple, that v/e fllould fol- Icw his fteps." But more particularly,

3. Gonfider whereiti he is the foundation. Why, he iff the foundation in his doing', f<3r, he came ntit to deftroy the Jaw, but to fulfil it; and to fulfil all rightco.afiiefs; and fo to brinj in everlaftlngrighteoufaefs, which is the very ground of our falvation r therefore the gofpel is cal- led; The power of Cod to falvation. Why? Becaufff *' therein is revealed the righteoufnefs of God from fait^ to faith," Roup, i. 7. Tiiis is the righteoufnefs we rauft b«! fourid in, if eVer we be found happy to eternity.— i-And^' agaiu^ he b tlie foundation io his fuffering ; for, 'ou'f ^

nil faving Blcjtngs. tg

iniquity was laid upon him, and he was made fin for us, aqd lo was wounded for our fins, and bruifed for our tranfgreffions; * He gave his life a ranfom for many:' and God hirafelf, having found this ranfom for them, he fays» as it were to juflice, "Deliver tlieir fouls from going down to the pit; for I have found a ranfom." — Henc*, al&vhe is the foundation in his merit and purchafe: he hath purchafed lieayen, and all the m6ans of getting to it. He hath purchafed all blefiing3, and all the graces of the Spirit, vz. faith, repentance, love, joy, hope, affurance;. all the graces are his purchafe: and what he hath pur- chafed, he is ready to give ; yea, readier than you arc to receive; he is ready, by his Father's allowance and appointment, who hath anointed him with the Spirit a- • hove meafure: he is full of grace and truth, that out of his fulnefs we might receive, and grace for grace. — But then he is the foundation- in his refurredlion; for, as he was delivered for our .offences, fo he was raifed again for our juiUScation. His refurrettion, or coming forth out of theprifjn of the grave, being an evidence that the judge who had call him into prifon, was pleafed; and that the debt was all paid; both, the debt of obedience to the law, and fatisfadion to juflice; and fo a way made for the juftification of finners; and a fure ground laid for his people's refiirreftion to glory.-^— Moreover, he is the foundation in his afcenfion and exaltation; for, *' Having

. afcended up on high, he led captivity captive, and re- ceived gifts for men, even for the rebellious, that God the Lord might dwell with them : and accordingly, now, him hath God exalted, with his right-hand, to be a Prince and Saviour, to give repentance to Ifrael, and remiffion of fin." I do not cite all the fcriptures that I repeat for gaining of time. — He is alfo the foundatioa in his interceffion; being '' able to fave to the utter- moft, all that come to God through him, becaiife he ever liveth to make interceffion for them," — And fo finally, he is the foundation in refpeft of the application of his whole purchafed redemption ; being a Saviour by power as well as by price, he powerfully applies, by his

• Spirit, what he hath deafly purchafed wiih Kv^bVicv^L.

^,0! all you tj>at wpuld, by faithy look ^tid\^^iXwAQ ^^^

20 Th'e Commencement of Ser, CVII,

foundation, hear his own word, •' Look unto me, and be ye faved, all the ends of the eartli; for I am Oud, and iherc is none elfe.

4. Gonfidcr whereof he is the foundation to his church. Why, in general, he is the foundation ol all the promifeJ, and the blefiin^s therein c -ntaincd; for, *' In him art all the promifes, Yea ar^d Amen." In him are given to tis, ex 'ceding great and precijus prr.mifes. Thefe that are ftrangers t" Ghrift, are llranjcrsto the coveaants of pr niife; for Chriil is the foundati(»n ot" them all. Hath G )d promifed, *' I will be thy God, and thou flial't be niy •piijple?" Hath he faid, " 1 will take away the heart cf floTie, and I will gWQ you a heart of flefli ?'* Hath be faid, " I will put my Spirit within you ?" O take hold of Chrill, and you have all the promifes in him, Yoli will fay, ' O what ri;^ht have I to the promife, that know not if i be in Ghrift?^ You would know there isi riiTht of accefs, and a right of poffeffion. N.)\v, I would fay of the promife, as I may fay of Ghrift: What right have you to Chrill? fuch right have you to the promifes. All you that are out of Ghrift, and yet hear this gofpcl; you have a right of aecefs to him; ^being called, upon your peril, to come to him for falvation: '^ Wliofoevcf will, let him come, and take the waters of life freely/^ And all you that come to Ghrift, by faith, you have a right pi)fleflion of him, you may fay, " My belc»ved is inine, and I am his.'^ Well, thus it is with the promife; kll that hear me have a right of accefs to the prbmife. I fay to you, as Peter faid, in his preaching to a compai^y of the greateft finners that ever were, even to the mar- derers of the Son of God, Afts li. 39. ** The promife iS to you, and to your children; and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God fliall call.'* The call of the gofpel gives you a right of accefs, and warraiitW plead the promife; arid cry, that God would make di* 'that to you, for the fake of Ghrift, who is the foundii- tion of them: and this is fuch a right, as that you cai- ^ot have a better right thereto, till you get faith. Tit proipife is fo to you, as that it cannot be more to yxiji, ittntll.you believe; and then you have a right of poffrf ^oh ofjt; for, then you are, aslfti^cvi^s^cVvMt^tvT^Cttt

nil favlng Blejlngs, 21

promife, Gal. iv. 28. — If this be a new fcheme, I owu it, becaufe it is the New-tcllament fcheme.

But I proceed. As Ghrift is the foundation of all the promifes, fo he is the fcundati-ni of all the bleflings ccn- vtained in the covenant of pn-mife: more particulajly, to give a fht>rt fum of thefe. — Chrill is the f(jundati( n of our pardon and remiffion; f :r, *' In him we have redemp- tion tiiro' his blood, even the remiffion of fins," Eph. i. 7. He is the foundation of our deliverance from the curie; for he hath redeemed us from the curfe of the law, being inade a curfe for us, C5al. ili. 13. — He is the fuundat uu of our reconciliation with God; lor, *' While we utre enemies, we were reconciled to God, thro' the death of his Son,'* Rom. v. 10. — He is the foundation t;f ■ ur juf- tification; *^ In him Ihall all the feed of iirael be juliified, and fhall glory," Ifa. xlv. 25. and fo the founciaii. n i.f our title toeternal life, Ti:. iii. 7. '* That being juft fjed by his grace, we fnould be made heirs according to tiiC hope of eternal life." — He is the foundation of liie itfelf; ** This is the record, that God halh given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son, h-ta li/e; he that hath not the Son of Gtd, hath not Hie," I John v. 1 1, 12. — He is the foundation of our fanftificati- on, and of cur progrefs in it; for, '' lie is made tX God unto us wifd:)m, righteoufnefs, and fanilification:" and he that abidetli in him, bringeth forth much fruit ; for, ** Out of his fulnefs we receive, and grace for grace." — He is the foundation of our faith, as being not only the pbje£l thereof, but the Author and Finiflier of faith. — lie is the foundation of repentance, being exalted of God to give repentance, and all other graces that VvC need. — He is the foundation of our accefsto God; for, ^' Thro' him, we have accefs, by one Spirit, unto the Father." — He is the foundation of our acceptance with Gcd, in our per- fons and duties; for, *' We are accepted in the Beloved." Accepted in him, you will fay ; that is, for Lis fake ; there is more than that in it; he being our head, and believers the members of his body, and he having performed per- fect </bedience, and given complete fatisfa£lion, the Head 'having done it, the wh«ile body is accepted as having dene it;. and fv we arc accepted in him ; U\s doiog, \Vv^ owx^* —

2 2 Ybe Commencement of Ser. CVU.

He is the foundation cf our bold approaches to the throne of grace, with holy conlidcncc: '* We have boldntfslo enter in to the holiell by the blood of Jtfus, by a new and living way that is cur:fecrated thro' the vnil of his flefli." He is the foundation of our victory over all enemies, over all adverfarics, and adverfiVies; for, *' We are more than conquerors, thn^' him that loved us." He is the foun- dation of our whole falvation^ and of all ( ur happinefe and holinefs; f^;r, " Wc are complete in him, in whom dwelleth all the fulnels of the Godhead." — He is the foundation of our rcfurreftion to glry; for, it is he that fliall change our vile b dies, and fafliion them like to his glorious b.dy, according to the W( rklng whereby he is able to fubdueaM things to himfelf."- He i&the f;)unda- tion of the eternal happinefs of frul and body in the bea- tific vifion; for, '* When he Ihall appear, we (hall be like him; for we /hall fee him as he is: and fo fhall we ever be with the Lnrd."~-In a word, he is the foundation of our union to hlmfelf, being the efficient caufe^Iiereof; for, '* I, if 1 be lifted up, fays Chrill, will draw all Vnea after me. "-r- And thus he is the foundation of our all; for, fays the apoftle, ** Chrili is all in all."

HI. The third thing was, To Ihew how the foundation was laid. How is the foundation of this fpiritual tem- ple laid? Or, how comes people to be built upon this foundation I have been fpeaking of? Hov/ comes a .man to be joined to the Lord, as a lively ihaie to this l.ving foundation? It takes no little work to hew a man out of the old quarry (;f the c venant of works, and bring hira nfFall fandy f(»undations : and it is to be feared tliat the foundation of the temple is not yet laid, as to the m ft part that hear the g fpel; but when it is laid, how is it done, fay you? We anfwer from Zech. iv. 6. *' Not' by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit." Here I will tell you thefe four things that the Spirit of the Lord ufes to d-i, when he razes the foundation of the old houfe, where Saian*s feat is ; and lays the foundation of the fpiritual temple, where G.d dwells.

1. He awakens the confcience in a work of conviflioni whereby he convinces the man that he hath been, all his davs, but erefting a habitaliou for xh^ d^\\\^ vvxlW^cd of

all jfavin^ "Blejpm^. 23

iuilding a temple for G(id: '* The Spirit, when he Ib come, he reproves the world of fin, of unbelief, and enmi- ty again-fl God." If ever then God hath begun the good work t jwards laying thefmndation, he hath difcovcred to you the rubbifh of a natural ilate, and awakened your confciences with a iight and fenfe of fin« Indeed the con- icience is naturally lieared as with a hot irun; like thefe iJiat hav^e a part ot' iheir fleih burnt with an iron, though it be touched yet they do not feei : this hard ikin mult .be pinched; and therefore God makes the knite of con- vidtiun g.i to the quick; makes the man fee -that he is a j?ebel again!l God, a Babel-buildcri and .that ^herelore there is a ftanding quarrel between Gc;d a«nd him, and that tlHs muft be renv-ved before he can be a temple for God-; becaufe he finds that the oldbuikling, the old Hate of nature that he is intj, is but a Babel of confufion and enmity again It Gud.

2. The Spirit of the Lord, in order to the laying the foundation of the fpiritual temple, wounds the heart ia a work of c^mipun6ii<yn ;'he fills the foul with grief and forrow for fin, whereby he hath been pleafing the devil, difli<mouring God, and'building a temple for his idols, and lulls, faying, **• AVo is rae,ihat my heart hath been '** a temple for Sata=n, a cage of unclean birds, a nett "*' of abominations."'* - Indeed men may grieve at fin at iirft, as it brings on afflitlions here, or damnation here- alter. But in this work afterwards, the' Lord creates another kind of forrow; for, he difciA^ers to the -man the finfulnefs of fin, that it is a tranfgrefiion ot the law of Ood: an oppolition to the nature of God^ a ipitting in the face of God. O but this looks well in David, " Agaiutt thee, thee only have I finned.'* Whatl did he 4iot fi« againit others, when he committed murder and adultery? •Yea, true indeed : Oh ! fays DavicJ, 1 fee rijy.finto be agiainll thee, and againll thee only. The affront -lands upon God; he is diihonoured, and the hea^rt that ihould

. be his temple is defiled.

3. The Spirit of the Lord, in order to laying thd f<jun- dati6n cf the fpiritual temple, abafea the foul in a work «f humiliation. He humbles the foul of ihe Y\t\Y\w viwd^^t Gttd'5 almighty hand^ becaufe he. Imd bc?.u ^o \otv^

.JB 4. VixaS^

24 Tt^ Commencement of Ser. CVIIf

building and repairing the cievirs temple, while the Lord's tenipie lay wade in the fuul. A holy God flares the man in the lace; and the unholy fonl lees the holy God, and makes the unholy foul to be afhamed--^Then the fuul comes to be fo far humbled as to take with the whole charge of God and his law againil him. Grod and the law charges the man as being a defiler of God's temple ; and therefore deferving to be deftroyed : the man takes with the charge, and owns it. When mini- fters charge people with fins, they will either deny them, or call a cloak over them, and give excufes about them; j and perhaps fay, they were millaken, or in a paffion, or under I'uch and fuch a temptation; but that is a plain evidence that your fouls were never humbled beforeGod: , tor, if ever God had humbled your fouls, you would be more ready to condemn yourfelves than any miniftcr ' can be capable to do. For, when God humbles the [ foul, he takes with the whole charge of God : and fays, as David to Nathan, '' I am the man; I am the moniler; \ *' I am the devil that hath thus defiled the temple of ' ** God, by ferving divers lulls." — He humblejs him to fee his want of faith; that he is undone if he wants faith, and yet that he can no more believe, than he can make a world. — And then he humbles the f ;ul to a renouncing of his own righteoufnefs, fo as he has no expeftation from the law ; no expeftation of acceptation with God upoa the account of any duty, righteoufnefs, or goodnefs of bis own. No, no; he fees that nothing but the blood and righteoufnefs of Ghrill can fave him from that dam- nation, which the befl of his duties and righteoufnefs do deferve. — And fo, further, the foul comes to be hum- bled, fo far as to clear and juftify God, though he fliould condemn him. Some will fay, '* We cannot think God " will be fo cruel, as to damn the moft part of the world <* for their fins." Alas! man, if you think fo, that is an evidence that your foul was never humbled under a fenfe of fin. But, '^ Oh! fays the humbled foul, death *' and damnation is the due wages of fin ; and if God *^ fhould fend me^o hell he is juft, I might preach his ** righteoufnefs there, and declare that he never wi'ong- *' ed me; ycB, it is my wpndet tUat 1 bav^ be^vv fo loxig

all favimg Bhjffing^* ^j

" put of the bottomlefs pit." — In la word, the fpul comes to be fo far humbled, as to fee th^c, if ever he be brought into God's favour, and it ever God condefcend to nia^e his filthy heart to be a temple for fuch a holy Gcd, it will be in a way of fuvereign and pure grace; and thaf fiuthing but infinite almighty power can lay the founda* tion of the fpiritual temple : and fo he brings the foul to fay, *' Oh ! if God do not pity and lave me, he is ^' jull and righteous ; but it' he do pity me, 1 wil| •> magnify his name for ever; and fo, perhaps, ho " will piiy for his name's fake." Thus he humbles j and then,

4. The Spirit of the L'Td lays the foundation of the fpiritual temple in a work of liiving illumination; and, indeed, the f )undation is never thoroughly laid till now, that the God who commanded light to Uiine out of dark- Hefs, hath fliintd into the heart, to give the light of the knowledge of his glory, in the face ol Ghrill, 2 Cor. iv. 6. The f jul being, as I faid, awakened, wounded, and humbled, and brought to defpair of rehef, in himlclf, finding all his former refuges of lies failing him, a,nd all his former hopes giving up the gholt ; then the Lord pities him, in his low ellate, and reveals his Son in him. Gal. i. 16.; difcovers the glory of Ghrill's perfon an4 righteoufnefs, who is the foundation, whereupon the whole foul is made powerfully, and fweetly, and irrefifti- bly to clofe with the foundation- The Spirit of the Lor4 reveals the foundation, and makes the glory of it to b? feen in the light of God ; and, at the fame moment, works that faith, whereby the foul, being well-pleafe4 with this noble invention of infinite wifdom, and capti- vated thereby, is united to the foundation; for then the foul is made to give a believing affent and confeirit to the truths conceriiing Chrill, upon the authority of God, that he hath given coi^erning his Son ; and to fet to his feal that God is true ; taking hold of Chrill, for hip own particular benefit, with particular application : and thus the foundation of the fpiritual temple is laid. The hand of our exalted Zerabbabel doth lay the foundation -of this hpuf?, whofis Laud muft alfo finifli it^ ZtchAv.c^A

a6 nc Commencement of Skr. CVIL

having paved his own way, by levelling the mountains/ removing the rubbifli in a work of conviction^ contrition/ and humiliation, faying, '' Who art thou, O great moun- tain ? before Zerubbabcl thm- Ihalt become a plain." He comes himielf, and Ihevvs his own glory, as tlie fure foundation that God hath laid in Zion, in a Work of faving illumination; he comes into the heart, and makes the foul to welcome him with a thoufand hol'annas, fay- ing/' Bleffedis he that cometh in the name of the Lord,'' to be the Head-ftone of the corner ; " This is the Lord's ^oing, and wondrous in our eyes-*' And, " This is the day which the Lord hath made ;" and this is the day of which he hath faid, Fr^m this day wiil I iltfs you. And fo I come,

IV. To the F"urth thing propnfed, viz. To fpeak a little of the day on which the foundation uf the fpiritual temple is laid, and from which blcffings take their date; From this day w/// / 6lrfs you. Now, in fpeaking of this, 1 Ihall offer you thele four remarks, or propofitions, concerning this day.

■ The Firft Remark that I offer, is this, *' That this day ♦* comes under feveral names in fcripture." Sometimes it is called a day of el'pouials, and the day of the gladnefs of Chrift's heart; Song iii. 17. '* Go forth, O daughters of Jerufalem, and behold king Solomon, with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his cfpoufals ; and in the day of the gladnefs of his heart." The day wherein the foundation of the fpirilual temple is laid, is the day of efpoufals. — Sometimes it is called a day of power, Pfalm ex. 3. •' Thy people (hall be willing in the day of thy j>ower :" fo called, becaufe in that day, the power of God is created, even its almighty efficacy in hewing the ttones of the temple out of the quarry of a natural flate ; bowing their wills ; and breaking their hard hearts of ftone; and moulding them for a fpiritual temple. — Sometimes it is called the day of falvation, 2 Cor. vi. 2. " Now is the accepted time, now is the day of falvation." This may be applied to /he gofpel-day, but more efpecially, it may be faid of tix^ bujJding'-daj', when the foundation oC X.l\^ tew^le is

. all favlng Bleffings. ly

laid; for then it may be f aid, as Chrift to Zaccheus, * This day is falvation come to thy houfe.'— Sometimes it is'c^lled a day of vengeance, Ila. Ixiii. 4. The day wherein the foundation of the temple is l^id, is the day wherein God deftroys the old building, and takes venge- ance on all ipiritual enemies, fin, Satan, and ilrcng cor- riiptiohs ; and vvhatfcever opp^fed the fpiritual building, 'the Vengeance of God, and^he vengeance of the temple piirfued Ihem in that day. — Sometimes it is called a day of fmair things, Zech. iv. 10.; becaufe when the founda- tion of the temple is a-laying, the beginning jr. ay be very fmall, even like a grain of mullard-feed; and' yet, in the iffue, it fliall be a great and magnificent fabric ; becaufe, *' He that hath begun the good work will perfed it ;'* for, ** The Lord is a rock, and his work is perfedl."— • And fo, finally, it is called a day of the Lord's making, Pfalra cxviii. 24. " This is the day that the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.'* AVhere the pfalniill is fpeaking (;f the day wherein the ftone which the builders rejeft, lliall become the head of the corner, and that is eminently the day wherein the foundation of the temple is laid: from this day <wlll I blefs yon. .But,

A Second Remark concerning this day is, ''That there ** is a very great difference betvv.een the day wherein the •* foundation of the temple is laid, and the day wherein *' the building is perfefted; between the foundati(^n-day •* on earth, and the confummatlon-day in heaven." — For, the foundation day is uihered in with a very darfc morning, or rather an evening, as it was faid, *' The evening and the morning were the firft day;" fo, when the foundation is laid, the evening ufhers in the morning, a dark evening of wrath and legal terror, conviftiun, and humiliation, as 1 told you already. Many a dark cloud may cover the flcy on' that day; but the day of confummation will be a glorious day, and a clear day ; furrounded with all gladening circumftances : for then fliall the head-ftone be brought forth with flioutings, crying, Grace^ grace unto //.—The day wherein the foundation is laid, is a day indeed wherein corruption gets a dead ftroke, and may feem, for a V\l\.\^ >k\\\V^^\s> he almoli Hain ; ret afterwards it gelsupvUVi^s.^ ^^-a^xv^

38 The Commencement qf Ser. CVIL

cads fire into (be fancluary, and many times defiles the temple ; but the d^y wherein the building is coul'u.m- mattd, will put an end to fin and corruption ; there Ihall be no more unbelief and enmity ; no more fins, mift^kes, jealoufies, or fe^rs j no more danger from fpiritual enemies from without or from within.— Again/ the day wherein the foundation is laid, is a day of fecrefy ; perhaps the perfon is fitting at your fide, an^ you do not fee nor know when the Lord is laying the foundation of the fpii itual temple within him, or may be ppon his knees at home : there is a fecret tran faction in V^hich the fouj is laid as a 11 )ne upon the fure founda- tion ; but the confummation is open, before milliwns of feints and angels. — In a word, after the foundation is laid, the believer may many times, through ignorance, ^qd unbelief, and doubts, and fears, be at the razing of the f mndation : but when the temple is perfected, jio fuch thinpj lliall take place ; for then he fliall have pccafi )n to fiiig and fay, " Farewel darknefs,. and wel- *' come light ; farewel death, and welcome life ; fare- ** wel forrow, and welcome joy ; yea, farewel faith, " and welcome vifi »n ; farewel hope, and welcome •* fruition and the everlafting uninterrupted enj >yment " of God.."-TrSo that there is a great difierence between the day wherein the foundation is laid, and the day wherein the building is confummate.

The Third Remark concerning this day is, " That the <* precife time, the particular day wherein the foundation •* of the fpiritual temple is laid, and the foul is united •* to Chrift, is agreed upon, between the Father and the V Son, in the covenant of grace and redemption from •* eternity.*' That moment wherein the firft ftone of the building is laid, is determined by the Father, who Ijath put the times and feafons in his own power, to know and order them according to the counfel of his will, A£ts i. 7. And, to lifp with reverence in the fcripture- ianguage, God, the great Architeft, doth wait, with piatience, for that d^y wherein he hath rcfolved to lay lihe foundation of the temple, r^ccording to that fweet and remarkable fcripture, which may be comfortable (oth^m that P^unot get.tb^t ^t duties, communions.

all fiwing hU£ilfVg^. 29

tmd ordinances which they have been long looking for, and waiting for, Ifa. xxx. 18. '* Therefore will the Lord wait, that hie may be gracious unto you ; and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment, and bleffed arc all they that wait hr him." Are you waiting for a day of power ? Why, God is waiting for this day himfclR The poor humbled foul may be ready to think, " Oh ! •' Chrift is not willing ; I have fet days apart ; I hav6 ** gone to my knees, I hdve fought him in this and the •^ other ordinance ; and yet I could not get cl /ed with ** him : I have been almoil dipt irt hell with affliftion, " and yet my heart was never melted ; furely Chrift " is n6t willing.*' Ah ! Sirs, lieware of that blaiphemy. The Lord Jefus is willing ; but the fulnefs of time ift not yet come. There is a fet day, a fixed moment of his coming ; and for this day he waiiiS ; and for this day you afe to wait : he knows the proper feafon ; the cranfe, the fwallow, atld the ftork know theiV- feafon, by a hatii- ral inftin£l God hath given them ; ^nd will he not knolur his oWn feafon ? Yea, ** He waits to be gracious; attd Bleffed are they that wait for him,*' and wait for thii day of power : for, when it comes, theh there will be an aufpicious conjuhdtion of all ci^cumUances to con- clude the work : the word is liiad^ lively ; the Spirit aflis powerfully ; the foul is drawn fwfcetiy and irrefifti- bly : at!id all things work together harmotiioufly. for lay- ing-the foundation, ahd carrying up the temple-work.

The Fourth Remark concerning this day is,' " That " there are fever6l figns and char afters whdfeby th« ** day may be knoWn, when it comes." t fliall not fay that every convert knows the day of his firft cottverfioii'; bat with refpeft to all adult perfons, I am furt it may be known ; for none are converted fleeping, or in ^ Hream. There Jire many figns of it that are not at dl to be confined to a natural day ; but run through th6 Icveral ftages of a believer's life, 6ver fince the founda- tion of the fpiritual temple was laid. The figns of thid day, then, whereby it may be known, are, in Ihort, f;o this purpofe.

J. hisiL ifyy ofliglbt ; iighit breaks \ti\tto i&v^ ^m*

30 The Commencement of Ser. CVIL

dow of the foul, that puts a man in cafe to fay, " Once, I was blind, now I fee :" tiie man has now another fight of fin, of God, of Chrid, and of religion than the reft of the world; yea, another view than even he himfelf had; before^^ he had heard of him by the hearing of the ear, 6ut now his eyes fee him. He hath an ocular demon- ftration of fpiritual things, by the light of the word and Spirit, xi3 a Spirit of wifdom and revelation in the know- ledge of Ghrift.

. '2. It is alio a day of life, of life from the dead : ** You hath be quickened, who were dead in trefpafTes and fins.". it is true, many think they have a fpiritual life, and are n^jt dead in fin, becaufe they live in the practice of many good duties ; that is very well done : but, O man, woman! know you what a new life, a new obedience is? a life of new and gofpel-obedience ? the meaning of that W;)rd, '' I am alfo dead to the law, that I might live unto God?" Gal. ii. 19. Though you Ihould live like an angel of light, till you know fomewhat of this, in your experience, you are llrangers to this day of life.^ For, you knjw fome things naturally of the firft cove- nant, Do and live; but nothing fpiritually of the new covenant way of living to God. Again,

3. This day is a day of love : O how is the love of God filed abroad upon the heart on this day, whereby the foul is in cafd to f.iy, ** Whom have 1 in heaven, but thee ? and there is none in all the earth, whom I defire befides thee. V G.)d's miglity love is fo difcovered in Chriil, as that it kills the mighty enmity in the foul againft God, and creates love to him.

4; It is a day of joy : when the poor foul gets a vie«r of the mifery it is freed from, the many good things that it is entitled to, and the eternal happinefs that is fccured for it„ how will it rejoice in God its Saviour, be glad in the R/ck of its falvation, and fo hold on its way rejoicing ! -

5. This day IS a. day. of liberty, wherein bonds are loofed, and the prifoners of hope go forth at the call of Chrift, who proclaims liberty to the captives on. that day, and the openingof the prifon to them that are bound; at whofe mighty, word of .power^ the ciafiy„ chains of

all famng Bhjfmgu 31

f n, unbelief, darknefs, aiheifm, and ignorance are Ioofed» and the foul made to walk at libery, and to run the way of God's commandments with an enlarged heart.

6. This day is a day of wonder j wlien the man looks to the rock whence he was hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence he was digged, O he wonders that ever fach a lump of hell fhould be made a fpiritiial temple for the God of heaven ! ** O wonder ! fays weak faith, if ever •' the Lord will pity the like of me» And, O wonder! •' fays ftrong faith, that ever God lliould have loved ** the like of me with an cverlafting love, arid drawn '* me with loving-kindnefs.'' .What an extafy of wonder and amazement is raifed in the man's heart \ WliyJ ** I was dead, now I live ; I was weak, now am I flrong; •* this morning, perhaps, I was under affliflion, and *' under the terrors of God, and now he hath ravidied ** me with the confolations of the Spirit. I was afraid '* of hell, and now I have the hope of eternal life.'' — O what a day of wonder is it 1

7. This day is a day of vi£tory. O do you mind the day when you thought there was a legion of devils, a regiment of luilsy and armies of corruptions within you?; But, beliold, in furprifing niercy^ you got grace to bCn lieve, and lay hold upon Chrift, and io by faith, to turn to flight the armies of the aliens, and overcame by the blood of the Lamb; and thus got vifilory over Satan, over fin, over the world, over an ill heart, and an ill frame-;, and victory over all your doubts and fears.

8. This day is a 4ay of praife, and voice of gratitude.. The foul will be readv to break forth in Tuch a day» crying, ** O what fliaU'l fpeak for Chrift? What fhall *^ I do for him ? What (hall I fuffer for him? It is true^ ** it mud be given me b'>th to do and to fuffer; for I will *' never hold (JUt a moment^ if he leave mc ; I will ne- ** ver have a day to do well, if he leave me : but, Ol " if he would fupport me by his grace, and comfort me ** with his glory, I think I could go through .fire. and *' flames for him.'^

9. In a wordy this day is a day of difcovery ; efpccial- Jy of the gjory of God in the face of Chrift. The man fees tiie Kipjj in his beauty. O I halh ,tvet C\vc\^ ^\.\x!l

32 ^^^ Comtnenceyneni 0/ Ser. CVIL

upon y6ur heart, with a beam of his beauty and glory? Have you feeil him in the beauty of his perfon and offices ? In the beauty of his merit and Spirit ? In the beauty of his righteoufnefs and fulnefs ? '* Why, fome " may think, the man is talking of a fight of Chrift's " glory, that mull be but wild fancies and enthufiafti- *' cal notions ; is not Chrift in heaven ? For our part, ** we never favV any gK^ry beyond that of fun, moon, ** and ftars." O poor f 'ul ! you are an utter ftranger to this day that I am fpeaking of, if you never faw any brighter glory th^n that. There is an infinitely brighter beauty to be feeii than can be feen by your bc^dily eyes, in thefe vifible heavens. Is not that word in your Bible, ** The God who commanded light to fliine out of dark- nefs, hath fhined into our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of his glory in the face of Jefus Chrift?" Is hot that word in your Bible, ** All we, beholding as in agiafs, the glory of the I:.>rd, are changed into the fame image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord ?" It is by faith we fee a God in Chrift, i*ecoiiciling the world unto himfelf : we fee his grace, his glory, his beauty, and we cannot exprefs what we fee : we cannot exfllain to the w^rld what we fee; words caniiot repr^ferit the beauty and glory that is feen in him, or the fweetnefs and comfort that is felt in him, when difcovered. They that fee him can fay no more, but tli'at they fe'e him, all grace, all glory, all beauty, al- together lovely ; infinitely lovely : and it is no fancy or imagination, but according to the Word of God, the fcriptures of tfutii, v/herein he is faid to give us the Spirit of wifdom and revelati'm in the krtowledf.'e of Chrift,— » So you fee fome figns how this duty may be known.

V. 1rhe Fifth thing pr:ipofed, was. To fliew what faving bleflings do commence from this day ; From ibis day ID ill I blefs you,

i/>, What bleffih^rs do commence fr'^m this day Where- in the foundation of the temple is laid? Why, from this day they are blefled with all temporal, fpiritual, and eternal bleffings.

I. From this day they are bleffed with al! temporal"

all faving Bleffingt* ^3

blei&Qgs; having a title taali thioi^s. Byourfall,in thefirft Adam, we forfeited our title to all things; and f.) whatever giKxl things in the w >rld wicked men may enjoy, they have no right thereto, but Hand aufwerable to God for invading his property ; and, tlierefore, the wicked aro called robbers. Job xii. 6. " The tabernacles of robbers profper,'' But whenever the foundation of the fpiritual temple is laid, the forfeited right to all things isrecovered, becaufe the man is uni-.ed to Chrift, who is the heir of all things: " All things are yours, for ye are Chrifl's. — He that fpared not his-own Sc^n, but delivered him upf r ua all ; how (hall he not with him alfo freely give us all things V* All things elfe are but like paper and pack- thread caft in to the bargain. From this day they are blefled, n<it only with a title to, but with a puflcfiion of as much of thefe temporal things as God fees for their advantage: They arc bleffed in their bafket and in theit* ftore ; and, if it were for their good, they fliould be all kings and queens in the earth ; for, " Tiie earth is the Lord's, and the fulnefs thereof: and the cattle on a thou- fand hills are his. — ^The young lions may lack and fufFer hunger, but they that fear the Lord fhall lack no good thing.*^ And tho* they niufl, thro' much tribulation, enter intf» the kingdom of God ; yet, from this day, they are blefied in all circumftances of life. From this day, they are bleffed in adverfity, and in profperity both ; for, ad their profperity is void of the fatal curfe that comes upoit the wicked, who are curfed in their balket and in their ftore ; while the believer's profperity is conveyed thro* the cham^el 6f covenant-love and kindnefs ; beings not the efiedt of common providence, but of covenant-love and promife ; *' Bleffed are the meek for they Ihall in- herit the earth," Mat. v. 5. As tlieir adverfity isftill under the condudl and management of a reconciled Gcd and Fa-» ther, who, tho' he vifit their iniquities with rods, yet his lovinj2:-kindners will he not take away from them. And, therefore, '* Tho* the fig-tree fhould notbloffom, neither fliould fruit be found in the vine, though the labour of the olive ihould fail, and the herd be cut off from the Hall, and the fields fliould yield no meat,yet may they rejoice in the Lord, and \>t)oyiii\ in the God of thair falv^Uoti.'*^ Kxv^^ Vol. VIL t C tVvoM'gx

34 2^^'^ Commencement of Ser. CVIL

Though their houfe be not {o with God, as they would defire ; yea, though their hearts be not fo with God, as they would wifli, yet here is matter of everlafting com- fort to them in every adverfity, that he hath made with them an everlafting covenant, well-ordered in all things, and fure. In a word, they are fo bleffed in profperity of adverfity, that all things Ihall work togetherfor their good. 2. From this day they are bleffed with all fpiritual bleffm^s ; " Bleffed be the God and Father of our Lord JefiisGhri(l,whohath bleffed us with all fpiritual bleflSngs in heavenly places, in Chrifl: Jefus,'* Eph. i.3. This is fo plain from what I have fatd already, upon the fecond head, that I fhall not infift upon it; for, Chrill being the foun- dation of all bleflings, and they being united to this foundation ; from this day and forward they have all fpiritual bleflings in him.—- From this day they are blef- fed with all the fpiritual bleffmgs that accompany the fpiritual life : they live upon free-coft all their days. Their bleffed Jofeph haslaid upfor them a treafure of pro- vifion, not for feven years, but for time and eternity both# Thehypocrite lives upon himfelf, and his duties; but the believer lives, in the way of duty, upon Chrift and his righteoufnefs, for juftification ; upon Chrift and his Spi- rit, for fan6lificati(^n.— From this day they are bleffed with a guard of angels to encamp round about them; '' They are minillring fpirits, fent forth to minifter U the heirs of falvation :" yea, with a guard of divine attributes round about them ; for, '' As the mountains are about Jerufalem, fo is the Lord round about them that fear him.'* They need not fear the armed fquad- rons of hell, when environed with fuch a heavenly hofl# Who then can harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good ? — From this day they are bleffed with all fpirit- ual experiences; fuch as, manifeftations of divine love, now and then; fapport and comfort under trouble, hear- ing au audience of their prayers ; pity after their falls; recovery after their backHidings ; furprizing relief out of foul depths and diftrefs; ravifhing intimations of pardon; aftonilhingcoHKnunicationsof ftrength; fweet in-pourings of words of grace into their heart ; and pleafant out-mak- ings of the word of promife,on which he hath caufed them

ail faving Bljings. Jjf

to hope t and many more fuch-like experiences, which I cannot infift upon. — From this day tliey are blefled with a title to God, and all his attributes ; to Chrill, and ail his fulnefs ; to the Spirit, and all his faving graces, in- fluences and operations : and here, I am fure, there is mofe to fpeak of than the tongues of men or angels can tell. When a poor beggar is married to a royal prince, Ihe may view his palace, furvey his garden, and pleafe herfelf with a delightful profpeft of all his greatncfs and glory, and may fay, ** Thefe are all mine, •* becaufe the prince himfelf is mine :" fo4iiay the poor foul, that is united to Chrift, and laid upon this fure foundation, fay of all the bleflings of the covenant, and of all the plenitude of the'Deity, ** All is mine, becaufe •' Chrift himfelf is mine:" — '' Ye are complete in him^- in whom dwells all the fulnefs of the Godhead bodily."

3. From this day they are blefled with all eternal

bleffingsr ** He that belie veth on the Son, hath everlall-

ing life," John iii. 36. He not only fliall have it, ere

long, in full pofleffun; but he hath it already t he hath it

by faith, which is the fubftance of things hoped for, and

the evidence of things notfeen: he hath it in hope, and

fo may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God : he hath

it in the promifc; he hath it in the beginnirtgs, firft-fruhs

and earneft thereof; and, above all, he hath it in his

Head, in that blefted foundation to which he is joined.

He that can fay, Chriil is mine, can well fay, Everlaft-

ing life is mine. A happy death belongs to him ; for,

being in the Lord, he ihall be amongft the blefled that

die in the Lord. A happy refurreClion belongs to him ;

for, his glorious head will (>pen the pates of the grave^

and gather the fcattered atoms of his rotten duftj and

raife it up in glory. A happy eternity belongs to himj

for, as fure as God is in heaven, the man that is in

Chrift, (hall be there for ever: *' Father, I will, that thefe

"Whom thou haft given me, be with me^ where 1 am, that

they may behold the glory which thou haft given me; for

thoulovedft me before the foundation of the worjd*" Bat

who can tell what a blefled eternity awaits them* frpm

this dav that the foundation of the fpiritual xevvv\\e \^

laid ? 7aul wrapt up to the third hcavena to b^\vo\^ v\ve

C 2 ^ox\^^

36 The Commencement of Ser, CVII.

glories of the upper paradifc, tell lis that he heard « pV'jit» fifMTx^ unfpeakable words ^ 2 Cor, xii. 4.— They will be bleffed in their place, the throne of God and of the Lamb, wliereof we have a magnificent de- Icription, Rev. xxi. 20. — They will be bleffed in their company; ** The innumerable company of angels; the general affembly and church of the firft-born, that arc written in heaven ; the fpirits of juft men made perfed; God the Judge of all ; and Jefus the Mediator of the new covenant," They will be bleffed in their itatc; for, it will be a Rate of rell: " There remains a reft for the people of God. — They will reft from their la- b:»urs, and their works follow them," They will reft from all fin, troubles, trials, temptations, and affli6lions; from all doubts and fears ; no unbelieving thought fliall enter into their hearts to all eternity; and they will reft in the enj jyment of their God in Chrift for ever and ever. They will be bleffed in their work, which will be to con- template his glory; for then they fhall fee him face to face, and make his c;lorious praife rcfound thro' his eter- nal te'7^p!e: their bleffed work will be to fing the fongof Mofes and of the Lamb, faying, " Great and marvellous are thy works. Lord God Almighty; jufl and true are thy ways, thou King of faints. Salvation to our God, that fit* teih on the throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever." For then the myilery of God will be finiflied, and the fpi- ritual temple-work will be compleated,and thehead-Ilona brought forth with fhoutings, fayingyGrace^grace unto it; yea, with Hallelujahs, faying, Glory, glory unto it. Chrift is the foundation, and Chrift is the head-ftone; and allth* joyful harps of Immanuel's land ftiall be turned to his everlalling praife. — Thus I have given a Ihort glance at what bleffings fliall commence from this day.

VI. The Sixth general head of the method wag, To prove, by fome fcriptural arguments amd reafons, that faving bleffings do aflually commence from that day/ Well then, How and by what reafon doth it appear, that blq^ngs do all commence from this day? From this da) ivill I blefs you. Now, it is plain enough, that all faviqg bleffings do actually commence from the day whertin

the

all faving BleJJtngs. jy

the foundation of the fpiritual temple is aftually laid* For,

1. Before this day they are children of wrath; and, therefore, faving blcffings do not aftually take place till this day : 'tliey were by nature children of wrath, even as others, Eph. ii. 3, And while they were in their natural ftate» they had no adlual poffeflion of any faving bleflings, till the day on which the foundation of the temple was laid.

2. On this day they are aftually unite to the Son of God; and, therefore, from this day, the bleffing doth ac- tually commence ; from this day, they are in Chrift, and Chrift in them : their motto is, *** Chrift in you the hope of glory." And they are bleffcd in him with the poffeflim of all fpiritual bleflings, and with freedom from all miferies ; " There is now no condemnation to them that are in Chrift Jefus." As they are freed from fpiritual death, and eternal death ; fo they are freed from all that is hurtful in natural death: " He that be- lieveth in me fhall never die," John xi. 26. Why fo ? becaufe they are members of that bf)dy whereof Chrift is the living Head ; they are ttones of that building whereof he is the living foundation.

3. From this day they are the children of God ; and, therefore, from this day, the bleffing doth aftually com- mence : ** To as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the children of God." And, being the children of God, they have a right to all the'privi- leg^s of the children of God ; to all bleflings, temporal, fpiritual, and eternal ; for they are all connefted with fonftiip: ** Behold, what mariner of love the Father hath beftowed upon us, that we fliould be callefl the children of God. — Now are we the fons of God ; and it doth not yet appear what we fliall be, but we know, /that when he (hall appear, we fhall be like him, for we Ihall fee iiim as he is," i John iii. 1,2.

4. From this day they are the children of prrmife j and, therefore, all the promifed blieflings do adually commence. From this day, when the foundation is laid, they are in him, in whom all the promifes are Yea and Atnen, On this day the decree breaks forth concerning

C 3 mJ^^vcv^

^8 The Commencement ef Ser. CVII.

them, and the womb of the promife is impregnated with the ahnighty efficacy of the Spirit: fo that they are brought forth thereby; and, Of his own will begotten by the word of truth: and being thus actually the children of promife, they are alfo like children of a tender mother, Tiurfed, fqcWed, and brought up up-n the breafts of thefc great and precious promifes, whereby they are made par- takers of the divine nature; feeking all grace and com* fort out of thefe breafts by faith. And T),

5. From this day they are the children of grace, hav-

ing all the gracious qualities of the bleffed; and, there*

fore, the bleCing doth actually commence from this day.

From this day they are poor in fpirit; and, ** BleiTed are

t;he poor in fpirit, fur theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

rr:^m this day they arc fpiritual m»>urners; and, ** Blefied

are they that mourn; for they fliall be comforted," From

this day, they have a conliant appetite after Ghrift, and

his righteoufnefs; and, '' Bleffcd are they that hunger and

thirft after righteoufnefs; for they fliall be filled." From

this day their heart-impurities are their burden, and heart

purity is, through grace, their defire and endeavour; in*

fomuch, that it gives them many errands to the blood of

Chriil, to the fountain opened to the houfe of David, an4

inhabitants of Jerufalem, for fin and uncleannefs. Now,

*' Bleflfed are the p^or in heart: for they fliall fee God/'

I fay, from this day they are the children of grace, hav.

ing, in fome meafure, all the gracious qualities of the

bleffed : I fay not the terms or conditions of the bleffed;

but the qualities of the bleffed; for, many do dreadfully

confound the condition of the covenant with the qualities

of the covenanted. B^t not todigrefs: I fay, from. this

day they have the qualities and characters of the blefied,

and with which bleifings are infeparably connefted; and

fo from this day they are bleffed.

In a word, from this day, the curfe is removed. The old covenant of works curfes all that are under it; for, ** Curfed is every one that continueth not in all things written in the book of the law, to do them. But, Chrift has delivered us from the curfe of the law, being made a QUrfe for \i$;" and, therefore, from the dayj that you ar?

Iai4

I

i

all favlng Bleffings. 39

laid up;)n this bleffed found^Hion, Gcd fays, From this day vjill J blefs you.

VII. The feventh thing propofed, was the application of the fubjecl. And this we ftiall effay in an ufe of in- formation, examination, and exhortation.

i/>, We Ihall improve this fubjefit in an nfe of infor- mation. Well then, Is i^ fo, that all faving bleffings do aftually commence from the day that the foundation of the fpiritaal temple is actually iMd? Then hence fee,

I. What a fearfully curfed ftate and condition we are all into, by nature; lyi,ng under the curfed rubbifli, the old building, the covenant of works. When our great- grand-father, Adam, eat the forbidden fruit, tlie fabric of the old covenant fell down, and the foundation there- of was overturned ; and f > great was the fall thereof, that he and all his poilerity are buried under the ruins thereof; that is, under a heap of fins, miferies, plagues, deaths, and damnation : for, on that day that the cove- nant of works was broken, curfes did commence ; and curfed is Q\try one that is yet in a natural ftate, aod un- der the covenant of works, as all are, that are out of Chrifl; for no faving bleffirig commences, till the new foundation be laid. Oh ! the curfed ftate of unbeliev- ers, and all that are out of Ghrift! As the bleffings commence from the day of union with the fecond Adam, Ghrift Jefufl; fo, the curfe continues as long as you are unite to the firft Adam, and upon an old-covenant bot- tom. Alas! how great is the folly of multitudes, befides tlie openly pfofane, that flatter themfelves as if they were bleffed! And why ? They think they are good, honeft folk, and good livers, as they call them \, they perform many good duties^ and fo they doubt not but God will thereuprm blefs them. But„ I muft tell you, in -the' name of the gr^at God, that you are under the great curfe of this almighty God, as long as the foundation of the fpiritual temple is not laid; and as long as you know not, what it is to be brought off from the old-covenant foundation : you may, indeed, deceive yourfelves and the world, by thinking that you are Chriftrans good e- tt.ougt|, like neighbour and other; but God knows the

C 4 VJ.'a.^-

40 The Commencement of Ser. CVIL

blafphemy of thefe that fay they are Jevys, and are not; that fay they are Chriftians, and arc not ; but are the i}'nagogue of Satan, the temple of the devil, and not of God. And as you blafphenie God, by thinking your religion is good enough, while God's word declares the contrary ; fo God curfes you, and all his attributes (ire againft you ; for, out of Chrilt, he is a confuming fire ; in hina only he is well-pleafed : and therefore, while you arc out of him, he is neither pleafed with your perfons nor duties. If your work be only the re- pairing the fabric of the old covenant of works, thinking to pleafe and latisfy God's juftice, and fulfil God's law by your duties^ that you may live thereby ; I muil tell you, that unlefs your perfon was as innocent as Adam's before tlie tall, and your obedience fo perfeft as never Vi h'\vo fiuned in thought, word, or deed, all your days, but lived lip to the law, in its moll full and fpiritual extent ; 1 fay, unlefs it be thus with you, which is fitiiply imp^flible, of any of Adam's finful race, I mull tell you, that ytju are fo far from being God's people, or in God's favour, by your beft duties, that all the people of God are obliged to fay. That God is in tlie right to curfe you ; they are obliged to fay Amen to all the curfes of the Bible againft you; '* Curfed is he that cmfirmeth not all the words of the law, to do them : and all the people fliall fay. Amen,'* Deut, %xvu. 26. If you could give perfedt obedience to it yoarfelf, then you ftiould be juftifiedby it ; but, whereas you cannot do it, and you are ftill attempting it, without building upon the foundation ofChriil's obedience to the death ; if you will take the old way of doing, that you may live, then you muft take it with a vengeance-, unlefs ybu can do to purpofe ; '' Curfed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them. Gal. iii. 10. And all the people fhall fay. Amen ;" all true believers can fay Amen to it, in the words of Paul, ** Let him that loves not our Lord Jefus Chrift [who is the fure foundation of the fpiritual templcj be Anathema, Maran-atha." Oh! the curfed ftateof all that are out of Chrift, and are yet upon the old founda- tion! If the foundation of the temple be not laid, no

bleffing*

ali faving BUJ/Sngs* 41

Uleflings do yet belong to you, but all divine curfes; and, if you have adventured to a communion-iable this day, in that cafe, you are fo iar tVum being blefl'ed from this day, that you have been eating and drinkiog your own ^ damnation, and getting a feai and confirmation of all the curfes that you are under. Ah! dreadful! man, woman, what if God be faying, *' From tliis day will I curfe you; from this day will I plague your" Gonfider this, ail ye that are in a fecure, ChrilUels, natural ilate.

2. Hence fee on the otlier hand, the bleffed flatc of all believers in Chrilt, ever fince they came to Chrift; they are blelfed: for, they are lively Hones built up a fpi- ritual houfe, to oiler up fpiritual facrifices acceptable to God by Jefus Chrift, i Pet. ii. 5. There is the live and do^ in the covenant of grace, inllead of do and live^ in the covenant of works. Under the law of works, the rajan doth, that he may live ; but, under the law of grace, he lives that he may do ; he gets a fpiritual life in Chrill; being, as a lively Hone built up a fpiritual houfe; and tlien he is put in cafe to offer up ipiritual facrifices, acceptabe to God, by ChriU. Let men build never fuch a high tower of duty and devotion, without coming to Chrill, as unto a living ftone, and fo getting life in him, they build without a foundation ; and fo their Babel-building will be overthrown, as being neither fpiritual nor acceptable to God, by Jefus Chrill. But, O blelfed is the believer in whom the foundation of the fpi- ritual temple is laid, by his being unite to Chrift; for, now he lives and builds upon a good foundation; " Serving the Lord, not in the oldnefs of the letter, but in the newnefs of the Spirit." Becaufe Chrift the foundation lives, he lives alfo; he lives a life of juftificaticn, through the merit of Chrift: and a life of fanftification, by the Spi- rit of Chrift ; faying, *' Surely in the Lord only have I righteoufnefs and ftrength." There is the foundation (HI which he leans all his weight, to the greater credit an4 honour of God's holy law, than the greatett merit- mong- ers and legalifts in the world are capable to give it; for, if he looks to the law as a covenant of works,then he leans upon this foundation for righteoufnefs ; and there he finds perfect obedience to nil the commands, and com-

42 The Commencement of Ser. CVII

plete fatisfaflion to all the curfes of It, as much as the covenant of works can feek: and then, if he lo(>ks to the law as a rule of duty and of obedience, then he leans to his foundation for llrength, that his grace may be fuf- ficient for him, and his ftrength perfected in his weaknefs. O happy believer, which hath learned this myftery, which God hath hidfrom the wife and prudent, and revealed unto babes ; and whereby you can anfwer the law, as a cove- nant, by faying, '* In the Lord have I righte^ufnefs ;" and anfwer it as a rule, by faying, '* In the Lord have \ ftrength," Ifa. xlv. 24. To fay this in reality, and in the experience of faith, is more than thoufands of learned Rabbiesin the world couldever fay or underftand; '* Flefti and blood hath not revealed it unto you, but your Father^ which is in heaven," O blefTed day, that ever the foun- dation of this fpiritual temple was laid? He that hath laid the foundation will carry on the work, till it be fi- ni/hed: ** He that hath begun a good work in you, will perfcd it;- for, He is a Rock, and his work is perfe£t.** He hath been at fome expence already in laying the f jundation; and he will never leave the work incomplete; he hath been at the expence of blood in buying the ftonea of the old quarry out of the band of juftice; for, '* Ye are ni^t redeemed with corruptible things, fuch as filver and gold, but with the precious blood ofChrill:'^ and he bath been at the expence of power and pains, in laying the ftones upon the foundation; for, without a day of power, none would be willing to cleave to this foundation. But for you, believer, he hath made you willing in a day of his power ; and from this day doth he blefs you 5 and blefled fhall you be forever in him. And all God's mi* nifters and people on earth, and all his faints and angels in heaven, will fay. Amen.

3. Hence we may fee, that God hath his term days, his building days, his bleffing days. Every day is not a temple-foundation day; everyday is not a temple-build- ing day; but, O for fuch days of the Son of man amongft ys! for they are very rare, in this dark and heavy day wherein we live ; O for that happy hour in which the dead fhall hear the voice' of the Son of man, and they hc2ir fhall live ! When the minifter is brought

all foving Blejings. 43

to a good and warm frame in preaching, he is ready to think, O now, that happy day is come, when power Ihall accompany the word for deflroying the old build- ing, and laying the foundation of the fpiritual temple: but he may be all miftaken ; for, ** It is not for us to know the times and the feafons." But, notwithftanding of the great reftraint of the Spirit at this day, yet I would fain hope that God^s term-day is coming with refpeft to fomc in this country-fide : O cry for a day of power, I hope of others, that they have met with this day already: and, though the work goes flowly on, while the Lord is fo much withdrawn, becaufe the generation have fin- ned him away ; yet, ever fmce the firft ilone of the tera« pie was laid, the foundation hath never altogether been razed, but they have enjoyed now and then, fome remar* Jcable days; forae days for digging and difcovering the foundation; and fome days for fealing and giving confir«^ rnation, O Sirs, '* Defpife not the day of fmall things;" but put a remark up;m God's days; hiadays of coming, and his days of going ; his days of abfence, and bis days of prefence ; that fo his day of abfence may be a day of prayer to you, and bia day of prefence, a day of praife,

4, Hence we may fee, what makes it go fo ill with the church of Ghrift, in general, at this day, efpecially in thefe lands: why, the Lord's temple is not built; few or none put to their hand to lay the foundation of the temple, or to begin and advance a work of reformation: and, therefore, the Lord is not bleffing us at this day ; but we ly under many curfed fruits and cffcfts of bis anger; curfed divifions and animofitics ; curfed jealou- fies of one another ; and diflferences of judgment an4 principles; curfed diffentions, even about truth and cr» ror ; curfed bondage with refpefl to the difcipline and government of the church : many, many curfes we ly under at this day, in (lead of bleOings ; and none of them all more dreadful than that the word and ordinan* ces of Ghrift are fo much blafted to the generality, that few are getting any faving or converting good of the word ; and the moft part are rather hardened or ftsi^V. fied wider it, Alas ! whence is iV\ xYvvs cwcfe vi.'^ottxx's.^

44 21&tf Commencement of Ser. CVIL

and little bleffing dircerned ? Why, furely temple-work and temple-reformation is Iftid alidc : this is what the Lord complains of, by this fame pruphet Haggai, chap. ^' 2) 3,4. '* People fay. The time is not come, the time to build the Lord's houfe.' Why, fays God, *' Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houfcs, and this houfe ly waile?" Thus many think, O it is not time to think of a public covenanted work of reformation ; to ply the ftate for the redrefs of cHurch-grievances, and the like : but, ah ! is it time f ^r us to dwell in our ceil- ed houfe, while the houfe of the Lord lies wafle ? is it lime for us to be confulting niithmg but our ojva worldly eafe, profit, and fecurity, while God's temple is walled ? Oh ! what will the world be to you, when your eye firings are breaking ? What will the world be to you, when you fee Chrill coming in flaming fire ? Is it time for us to be indulging ourfelves in the enjoyment of outward conveniences, lands, and houfes, and yet na time to be concerned about temple-work, when the foun- dations are like to be deftroyed ? But, what faith the •prophet here? "Confider your ways: have you not been blafted and broken fince temple- work was neglefted?'* So may it be faid of us. Have we not been blafted and curfed many ways ; broken, divided, and rent into a thoufand pieces, becaufe of our little zeal for tempk- i»eformation ? Is it any wonder then God fet our houfe on fire about our ears, when we are become fo coldrife in the zeal of his houfe, which ihould eat us up? I fpeak pi all forts ; both high and low,^ magiftrates, minifters, and people, without diftinftion, as being all in our fc- veral ftations defective with refpeftto temple-reformati- ftn, according to our call, in the diftinft fpheres of our 2|£livity. But, alas! our defeftion is gone to fuch a de- gree, that we can hardly fpeak of the defe6lions of the day, without being mifconftrufled. Biit I fpeak of fuch flefetlions, whereof I defire to accufe myfelf amoogthe :{irft. However, I fay, we need not think ftrange, that it goes fo ill with the church, and that the Lord is not bleffing us as a church, when temple-reformation is lb niqch negleded.

Vf^2.

all faving Blefftngs. 45

. Ufe 2. Our next ufe fhall be for trial and examinatiori, if we are bleffed or^curfed of God according as the foun- dation is laid or not: furely it is our duty to try whetheij or not we have built our fouls and our faivation upon the right foundation or not; *' Examine yourfelves, wliether ye be in the faith; prove your ownfelves; know ye not that Ghrift is in you, except ye be reprobates ?*' Many lay a wrong foundation, and yet think the /oundation, is laid well enough : for example, fome build upon the fandy foundation of a name and profeffion; " They have a name to live, and are dead." — Some build upon the flioulders of their progenitors, efpecially, if religious ; The grandmother Lois, and the mother Eunice. Many follow their forefathers religion be what it will. — Some build upon the foundation of a negative goodnefs ; " O ** God be thanked, fay fome, I am no fwearer, drunkard, •* whoremonger; *' God, I thank thee, that I am noti as " other men;" though I may have my faults, yet th«re ** are worfe folk in the world than I am; for I have al- ** ways a good heart towards God." Wo is me, for you, poor deluded wretch ! if you knew yourfelf, you would fee yourfelf the chief of finners ; yea, worfe than a devil. — Some again build upon the foundation of gracelefs graces, if I may fo call them.. Thus many fay they have hope, but it is a falfe hope; they hope in the mercy of God, but yet it is a damning hope, an igno- rant hope, a delufive hope ; for, they wer^ never be- gotten again to a new and lively hope, by the refurreftioa of Jefus Ghrift from the dead ; and they were never brought to defpair in themfelves. Many fay they have faith, but it is a cradle faith ; " O ! God forbid, fay •* they, but we believe ia Ghrift, and truft in God. " BlefTed be God, I have trufted in God all my days ; ** and I have always believed." And yet never faw their want of faith ; were never convinced of their unbelief; never faw the need of God's power to work faith in them ; and far lefs ever felt this power, I tell you, that cradle faith will lead you to hcU, and not to heaven ; for, it is a faith of the de- vil's making, and not of Qod'a operation.— 5oipe,

46 The Commencement of Ser, CVit*

again, build upon the foundation of their great at* tainments : they do not want knowledge, perhaps ; and, may be, they have fometimes floods of tears, at fermcjns, common motions, and mehings in duty ; enlargements of natural affeftions in prayer ; and ra- vifhments of joy now and then: but what a fandy foun^ dation this is, our Lord Jefus witneffes, while he tells us of the ftony ground hearers, that hear the word with joy ; yea, with a temporary faith ; they receive it with joy; but they have no root in them, and fo all fails thera in the iffue* Some, again, build upon the foundation of a legal righteoufnefs and religious performances, while unacquaint with the foundation: this is not God's right- eoufnefs; •' They being ignorant of God's righteoufnefs, and going about to eftablilh a righteoufnefs of their own< have not fubmitted themfelves to the righteoufnefs of G6d,"'Rom. X. 13.1 the righteoufnefs of God is the righ- teoufnefs of Ghrill; for, " Chrift is the end of the law for righteoufnefs, to every one that believeth.'* Man, wo- man, do you know nothing of what it is to be divorced from the law. as a covenant of life and works, and Ihaken oflF from confidence in the flefh, or expefilations of God's favour by your duties or obedience to the law as a cove- nant? Let none raiftake me, as if I were fpeaking againft the law as' a rule of life and holinefs : I fpeak of a di- vorce from the law as a covenant of works and condition uf life; and am faying no more than what the apoftle fays, Rom. vii» 4. ** ife, brethren, are become dead to the law, by the body of Chrift, that you (hould be married to another, even to him that was raifed from the dead, that we fliould bring forth fruit unto God." And, Gal. ii. 19. *' I thro' the law, am dead to the law, that I might live unto God;" intimating, that as none can perform a gofpel-obedience to the law, as a rule, until they be di- vorced from the law as a covenant, and married to Chrift, in whom they are in cafe of bringing forth fruit to God; fo, that all who are built upon the foundation of a legal righteoufnefs of their own, they are ftranger to true god- linefs, and upon a wrong foundation ; and I infift moft upon this, becaufe it is the moft dangerous foundation that a man can be built upon ; becaufe, being built upon

the

all faving hlejjtiigi* 4y

the righteoufnefs of the law, he thinks that he has the law of God upon his fide, and fo it is harder to convince him of the evil of his righteoufnefs, than it is to convince a hundred profane wretches of the evil of their fins : and, therefore, the greateft of finners Hand fairer for hea- ven than felf-righteous perfons. Mat. xxi. 31. *' Verily, I fay unto you," fays Chrill, fpeaking of the felf-righte- ous Pharifees, '' that publicans and harlots go into the kingdom of heaven before you.'? This might be ftrange doflrine, indeed, to all legalifts, if it were not Chrift's doclrine, I mull tell you, that you are all, by nature, married and wedded to the law, and to a legal righte- oufnefs, built upon that foundation ; and nothing can divorce you from that firft hulband, biJt the almighty power of God's grace, revealing his Son in you. And, therefore, you little need any doftrine that tends to fof. ter up that natural conceit that you have of your own doing, as if God would be appeafed thereby. It is true, a fermon of good works is a noble fubjedt, providing it be evangelically treated: and prefuppofing, that the foundation of all good works is laid by union to Chrift^ in whom all our good fruit is found. But, if I ihould preach a fermon of works and obedience to the law ; and, perhaps, fliould only, at the conclufion of the fer- mon, give a fhort caution, faying, '* Good people, mind *' there is no merit ; and that all your ftrength to do *^ right, is from Chrift.'' Alas! the moft common pro- feffor and ignorant gofpel hearer will own that is true, they may learn many orthodox fentences of that fort, but they are words of courfe, that they have learned by cuftom and conftant hearing; while yet their hope of pleafing God is Hill founded upon fomething done ia them, or by them ; being naturally glued to the law; and fo, they may profefs that there is no juflification by the works of the law, but by the faith of Ghrift, or by the works of Chrill received by faith ; yet they continue as great enemies to the crofs of Chrill, as the moft profane perfons that ever lived; and, if they continue in that llsite, (hall as furely periih, with their righteoufnefs, as others^ with their fins; for, •' If righteoufnefs come by the law, then Ghrift is dead in vain/' And yet fome cannoL.

48 The Comraencsment of Ser, CVII,

endure to hear any thing fpoken againft felf-rightecuf- nefs ; as if ni) perfon were in danger of being ruined thereby: whereas this is a great part of the ftrong man s armour, wliereby he keeps poffeflion of fouls, and as if tliey were all newfdiemers and Antinoniians* that preach up the righteijufaefii of Chrill, as the alone fure founda- tion of the fpiritual temple, in opp.jfition to that natural and damnable felf-righteoufnefs. The apollle of th€ Gentiles was charged thus in his day; but what is his vindication? Why, fays he, ''Do we make void the law, thro' faith? Nay, we ellablifli the law/* We lead to a righteoufnefs whereby God can fave u* to the credit of his law; to the honour of his holinefs; to tlie fatisfac- tion of his juftice ; and to the glory of all his perfedli- ons. And therefore, if I have obtained any favour and grace from the Lt^rd, to be faithful to the fouls of peo- ple in my minillerial Ration, I mull tellify and declare to you all that hear nic, in the awful name and autho- rity of the great and eternal God, who will call yon and me to anfwer for what we do, before his dreadful tribu- nal, that whoever think to {land in judgment upon the rotten foundation of any legal righteoufnefs^ good works, duties, or performances of their own, they Ihall as furely perifh in their righteoufnefs, as ever any of the damned in hell periflied in their fins; becaufe this righte- oufnefs of yours is but a finful righteoufnefs, and there is no falvation but by a perfe6t righteoufnefs. I fpeak noV'qnly to the grolly ignorant, but even to all thefe, who, though they may have found heads and found o- pinions, profeffing that there is no juirification by the works of the law; yet, are fo far from having a found heart, and a found faith, that they are feeking falvalionr, as it were, by the works of the law, as did Ifrael, Rom. ix. 31, 32.; but they periflied in the caufe; '*For, they ilumbled at that ftumbling-ftone,*' that fure and only foundation that I am fpeaking of. 1 muft fay, then, of all other foundations, befides this, that men are ready to build upon; I muft fay of them, as Chrill faid to his difciples, when they fliewed him the fabric of the matc-

* The reafon of this accufation may be fecn opened up, Vol. L page 232. Vol. II. p. 304. 3 9 J. Vol IIL p. 44«

rial

all favittg Bleffingi* 49

rial temple, " There fliall not be left one ftone upon another, that fliall not be thrown down/' The apollle cuts off* all other foundations befides Chrift; x Cor. iii. 1 1* faying, " Another foundation can no man lay, than that 1 wliich is laid, which is Chrili ;" and he did not fpeak ignorantly ; for he faw, by the infpiration of the Holy Gholl, that he was a wife mailer-builder, ven 10. And therefore, we would be but mad builders, if we fliould teach you to build upon any other foundation ; yea, ot to build, as it were, upon any other foundation, by mix- ing any of our own rubbifli with it, as if this were not a fufficient foundation. To daub with untenipered mof tar in this cafe, were enough to bring a curfe upon any an- gel in heaven, let be any minifter on earth : therefore, the apoftle, fpeaking on this very fubjeft, fays, *' If we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gofpcl, let him be accurfed." Curfed be the man or &ngel, that dare build a temple for God,, upon any other ground than this bleffed foundation.

^eft. How fhall we know then, if the foundation of the fpiritual temple be laid in us ? That is, in fliort, if Chrift be formed in you, or not ; and if you be built upon Chrift as your foundation.

I ofier you thefe fcriptural marks for your trial. X. If this foundation be laid, you have been humbled tinder a fenfe of your own fin and folly, in building your hope upon any other foundation, and thereby flighting this foundation. This is imported in the promife of the Spirit to convince of fin, cfpecially of unbelief, John xvi, 8. " He fliall reprove the world of fin, of righteoufncfs* and of judgiTient ; of fin, becaufc they believe not in me ;•* that is, becaufe they have not built upon ftie as the foun- dation. Now, has the Spirit of God ever convinced and huraWed you, for your fin of unbelief in flighting the Son of God ; and feekiog to build on other foundations? If you know nothing of this, it is to be feared, the foun- dation is not yet laid;- but if you do, it is an evidence that God either hath begun, or is beginning the good work.

2. If this foundation be laid, then you have been

made to quit. your hold of all other foundations, and to

give up with them ; yea, to defpife theip as dung, in

Vol. VIL tD wt^v

5© The Commcnccmenf of Ser. CVIL

comparifun of this foundation: ** What things were gaia to me, lavs Paul, thefe I counted lofs for Ghrift,'' Phil, iii. 8. What things doth he fpeak of? Why, it is evea his bed things, his bell righteoufnefs ; for he was, con- cerning the law, a Pharifee ; concerning zeal, pcrfe- cuting the church ; and concerning the righteoufnefe which is of the law, a blanielefs perfon : yet all this he counts Ijfs for Clirift. You will fay, ** That was the •' rijrhteournefs he had before his converfi.'n j but doth *' he not eilecm better of his righteoufnefs after his *' converfion ?'* Nay, he puts that among the defpi- cable dung too; " Yea, doubtlefs, and 1 count all things but 1 h and duns^, [ ir, dags ineat^ as it is in the original] for the excellency of the knowledge of Chrift Jefus my Lord, tliat I may win him, and be found in him, not liaviitg mine own righteoufnefs, which is of the law, but the righteoufnefs which is of God by faith, unto all, and upon all them that believe.'* Have yooi thus been made to quit the hold of all other foundations, and to defpife them as dung in comparifon of this foundation? This fays much for you.

3. Have you cordially and refolutely been made to lay the whole weight of your fouls and bodies, and all that concern them for time and eternity, and the whole weijjht of vour falvation upon this foundation, and upon it onlv ? This is the f )urs echo to that call, Pfal. Iv. 22. *^ Caft thy burden upon the Lord, and he fliall fuftain thee.*' And to that, i Pet* v. 7. '* Cafl all your cares upon him, for he careth for you.''' This is the foul's motion to Chrift hr reft. Mat. xi. 28. ** Come to roe, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and. 1 will give you reft." Now, have you thus come, and found reft to your heart and confcience, by cafting all the burdens of your fin and guilt, all the eares of your falvdtion and eternal happinefs upon this blcffed foundation ? Why then, ynur portion is provided, your everlalHng felicity is fe:ured for ever ; you may fay, truly, what the fool faid, vainly, *' Soul, take thy eft, thou ha^l goods laid ** up not for many years only, but for all tHe ages of *' eternity."- If all your burdens and cares be laid upon the foundation, what have you to care for?—

Why,/

all famng Blejittgi. jt

\VI17, fay youi fliould a foul that is come to Chrift, have no more care about falvation ? I anfwer, There is a finful care of anxiety, doubts,- and fears ; this he ought no more to have : but there is a holy care of adlivity and diligence, to tellify his gratitude to the God of his falvation ; this he ought to have ; both thefe you fee, Phil. iv. 6. " Be careful for tlothing; but in every thing by prayer and lupplicaiion, with thankfgiving, let youi^ rcquefts be made known to God.** Therefore4

4* If this foundation be laid, then you will live Upoii the foundation^ and have a real and conftant commu* nion with the foundation, by cleaving to it, and abiding in it ; juft as the ftone of a building cleaves to, abides with, and, in a manner, lives upon tiie foundation.—* Now, do you live upori this living foundation, fo as j'ou cannot live without him ? As Ghrift himfelf fays^ " Without me ye can do nothing;'* or, ' Separate from * ttte, the foundation, ye can do rtothing.* Hypocrites and legalifts, and all that are not built upotl this founda- tion, they can do all things themfelves ; they can read» and pray, and hear, and communicate^ and what not : they think it is very eafily done, and what fliould hinder them. Alas ! they kn^w not what it is to live upon the foundation^ to lean upon and draw virtue from the foundation : but the believer finds it otherwife, even that he canilot live, he cannot move, he cannot afli fpiritually in any duty whatfoever^ without fpiritual conlilluriications of life, light, and ftrength : his life is hid with Chrift ill God j and fo he lives, yet not he^ but Chrift liveth in him, and the life he lives is by the faith of the Son of Godi Thus he lives in a conftant dependence upon the foundation-

5^ if this foundation be laid, thert jrotl Will riot bnly live upotl, but live to this foundation. Chrift is faid to die for us, ** That they which live, fliould not henceforth live to themfelves, but to him that died for them, and rofe again," 2 Cor. v. 15. Before a man be united to this fotin- dati^m, he lives to himfelf; felf is at the top and bottom of all his beft duties and performances : but whatever re- mainders of felf is with the believer, yet the power and do* minion of felf is fo far broken in him, that his felf-loN^^^OA-

52 The Commencement of Seii. CVII.

aims, and lelf-ends are hife burden ; and to live to the honour and glory of a God in Chrift, is the chief end he defires always to fet before him. In a word,

6. If the foundation of the fpiritual temple be laid^ then the Spirit of the foundation will be in you 5 for, '* If any man have not the Spirit of Chrift, he is none of his; but, he that is joined to the Lord is one Spirit :'* and this Spirit within the man is fometimes a witneffing, and fcaling, and comforting Spirit ; and alfo a cleanfing, pari* fying, and fanflifying Spirit, leading forth the believer habitually to fpirituaj thoughts and meditations j and to a fpiritual walk and convcrfation. — Now, thcfe markSf I am fure, wiU ftand the trial of the Word of God; and> therefore, fearch and try yourfelves thereby, whe- ther the foundation of the fpiritual temple be laid ot not.

UJe 3. The next ufe fliall be for exhortation. Omit* ting all that might be faid by way of terror, to all thefe in whom the foundation is hot laid ; being under tht curfe from the day that they were conceived in fin, And brought forth in iniquity; yea, from the day that you fell in Adam ; from that day you are curfed of God: omitting alfo, what might befaid by way of comfort to believers in whom the foundation is laid, they being ac- tually bleffed from the moment of their union to the Son of God, from this day and for ever they are bleffed: omitting thefe, I lliall clofe with a word of exhortati- on to thofe two forts, viz. unbelievers and believet^. And,

i/>, To all unbelievers, as the moft part are, that art ftrangers to this laying of the foundation of the temple. My exhortation is, O be reftlefs till the foundation of the temple be laid, as you would not be laid under the beavV cnrfe of G ?d to all eternity, and for ever deprived of his bleffing. And in order to the laying of this fotindatieit of the temple, know, that the work is God^s; for, '* Ncft br power, nor by micjht, but by his Spirit," is the founda- tion laid; and therefore, cry for the Spirit of God, to be poured ^ut upon you, and under his influence, follow theft four meansy which I ftiall AireO: 50\i xo.

all faving Ble^ngs. 53

, I. Count the coft of the whole building, before you begia to lay the foundation; ^' Which of you, intending to build a lower, fayi Chrift, fitteth not down firl't, and eounteth the coft, whether he have fufficient tofinifli it? LelU haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finifli it, all that behold it begin to mock him, faying, This man began to build, and was not able to fiaiih it/' Luke xiv. j8, — 30. Some believe too foon, by a temporary faith, vvithc>ct ever counting the coft. This work iiwft be done "with deliberation ; not that you need to deliberate whether itfliould be d^ne or net; but there needs mature deliberation that it be right d^me. Many d > raflily take up a profefli-m of reli;3;ion, and fo comes of them; fur, in an evil day, they make defeftion, give up with all religion, and overturn the foundations that feemed to be laid ; and no wonder, foe the true foundation was never rightly laid. The L'>rd deter- mines all his own fo to count the coft, that they muft have Chrift, coft what it will ; and refolve to cleave to bim though it fliould qoft th^m the lofs o[ their friends, and means, and lives t6 the bargain.

a. Look to this fame Spirit, to help you to dig deep, tiU you come tg the rock. All that lay the foundation right are acquaint with digging deep.. There are thefe ^ur things you ftiould dig deep into.

(i.); Dig deep to fee your natural condition : Oh I was you never afraid for yourfelf, man; as being under ^le curfe of Ood ? Was you never afraid for the wrath af God^ and the threatenings of the law ? Was you sever afraid for the converfion you wa^^ born with, and for the faith and hope ypt| have had all your days, as tf you had been born a convert ? That converfion will ^arry you to bell if you pet no more ; for^ you were :bom an enemy to God, a (lave of Satan, and an heir of heU. Oh ! dig to fee your Uate of fin and mifery by nature, otherwife you will build upon a fandy foun- dation.

{2.) Alfo^ dig deep to fee your heart-plagues ! and fare I am, you will find it to be deceitful above all things, and defperately wicked. If you faw yourfelf, you would never fay, I hope I have a good heart to God\ tx^lVx^-^^

D 3 \n^^\^

34 3^^^ Commencement of Ser. CVII.

heard fame poor, ignorant, brutifh people fay. Dig deep iiit) your heart-plagues, and heart wickednefs, like Ezekiel's digging through the wall, to fee greater abominations; than thefe, and ftill greater and greater. You that dig in any meafure into your hearts, you will find much wickednefs therein ; but if you dig deeper, you \viH find more,

(3.) Again, dig deep to fee your foul-wants and neccflities : he will* never build upon the foundation that doth not fee his need of Chrift, They lay the founda- tion be ft that dig deeped, S »me are full and rich, and think they have enough, and ftand in need of nothing; but the poor foul that is fcnfible of his emptinefs and poverty, deftitute of life, ftrength, liberty, and of all ipiritual gocd whatfoever, it is that foul that is raoft ready to hold by the foundation,

(4.) And thpn dig deep to fee your danger and ha- ?ard coining on: Can any of you promifeyourfelf twenty- four hours health in the world? Canany of yoii promifi? yourfelf twenty-four hours quietnefs and peace, without trouble and vexation, in the world ? Can any of you pro'uife yourfelves a tack of life for ten days to come, or freedom from deaih f)r two days? No, by no means; you are in conllant danger : and if you dig but a little here, yr:u will fee that ms^n in his beft eftate is altogether vanity : dig deeper, and you will find more and more of it ; for, " Vanity of vanities, all is vanity,'^

3. In order to the laying the foundation, take the help and advice of the moft fl^ilful builders. Minifters of the gofpel are under-huilders, and workers together with Gcd i and you are to take their help and advice, Mai. ii. 7. " The priefts lips fliould keep knowledge, ar.d thev (hould feek the law at his mouth ; for he is tiie meiTenger of the I^ord of hofts," And becaufe you fiiOuW take their advice, bfth in public ordinances and in privaie conference j therefore you have need to pray, that tlie;- be wife, faithful builders, not daubing with imteinpered moriar, or laying a wrong foundation ; fof they mu'' anfwer f r every wrong pin of the building, if it come through their default. Their help is much \Vorlh, who are called of Qod himf(?lf to be builders,

all faving Blejfmgs. Sg

and who are built up>n the foundation thcmfclvcs; for fach will be earneft to have others f lunded there; We need t » be all more fkilful in the choice of materials for building, efpecially we that are mmifters ; for, tho ap»^ftle Tpeaks of fpme that build wood, hay, and ftubble upon the f'.undalion, inftead of gold, filver, and preci*. us Hones, I Cor. iii. 12, 13. But the fire will try every man's work, what f >rt it is. If the old hnulc, the old foundation, be n t call d'wn and overthrown, the fire of God will barn and deitroy it. Not only the old f un- dation of fin and lull mull be thr 'wn down, accvr^ling to that word, which fhould always found in our ears, Pfaliii xxxvii. 27. *' Depart fr.m evil. a:^d do g:"'-d, and live f )r evenn .re :" but alio the old fjundation of Self and felf-rip^liteoufnels; thefe filthy rags will not m^ke a good f;undation: they are not proof a.Q[ainIl the flames of hell ; fuch rags will eafily burn : I fay, the fire will try every man's work, and burn up all rotten founda- tions. Therefore, plead of God, that we that are mini- fters, may be all wife builders, and put in cafe to give you good help in laying the foundation. And then,

4. Above all things, come to the f )undation himfeH"; this foundation is laid in Zion, that you may come to it; " Thus faith the Lord, Behold, I lay in Zion, for a foundation, a ftone, a tried (lone, a fure foundation ; he that believeth on him fliall never be confounded," Ife, xxviii. x6. Though this foundation be ncjt yet laid fub- jeflively and efBcacioufly in you ; yet, I can affure you, it is laid objectively and doftrinally for you, in this gofpel, that you may come to it by faith ; for, '* To you is the word of this falvation fent.'* I can declare to you, in. Jehovah*s name, that this foundation is able to bear ^he weight of your foul, and all the burdens that ly upon you, tha* they be mountains of fm and guilt i for, *' H^ is able to fave to the uttermoft.** And, 1 can affure you, in the fame name, that, *' There is no other f undation, no other name given under heaven, whereby you can be faved ;" and that you have all accefs to this foundation: ** Whofoever will, let him come." Let him be never fo black and ugly; yea, tho* he ha? been a drunkard^ viKc^x^- monger, Sabbath-breaker, or evenafcorn^v ^tv<\m<i0^^x A

D 4 ^^^

n

56 Tbe Commencement of SjiR. CVII.

God and godlinefs ; yet "Wifdom cries in the ftreets jul't now, faying, " How long, ye fimple ones, will ye love fimplicity, and ye fcorners delight in fqornin^ r— Turn ye at my reproof, and 1 will pour out my Spirit unto you.'' His complaint againll you is, that you will not come to him, that you might have life. Though you were in ccmpaft with the devil, like Manaffch, and had a legion of devils, like Mary Magdalene ; and tho' there was never the like of you for a finner ; yet come, come ; there was never the like of him fur a Saviour. Are you a wonderful fmner ? Here is a wonderful Savi- our, and a wonderful foundation. I muft tell you too, that as the difadvantage will be great, if you do not come to this foundation, for the curfe of Cod will pur- fue you for ever, becaufe there remains no more facri- fice for fin, no other fuundation, but s^ fearful looking for of judgment, and fiery indignation, which Ihall devour the adverfary : fo the advantage will be great by your coming to this foundation ; fur you fhall be as happy as God's blsffingcan make y. u : for, From this day mil bt blefs you: from this day will he love you, from this day will liQ honour ycu ; becaufe, by coming to this founda- tion, you would put honour upon God, and his law.*^ Oh ! have you not diihonoured God hitherto ? Hav? you not broken his law ? Well, would you put honour upon all God's perfeftions, for all the diflionour ever you have done to him J And, would you put honour upon God's holy law, for 2^11 your breaches thereof? The way to do it, is by coming to, and building on this foundation, Chrift, who has magnified the law, and made it honourable* Would you have God to be pleafed with you, from this day and for ever I Then come, and lay your fouls upon the foundation of his perfefl righteoufnefs, and obedience to the death ; for, *' The Lord is weli-pleafed for his rightcoufnefs fake." Now, is any faying, " Alas! I think, 1 would come, but *" I cannot come, though you ihould ufe all the rhetoric *' in the world." Well, God knows you cannot come; and fo far are you from being able of yourfelf to come, that if a good th ught would win heaven, you cannot, uf yourftlf, bring it forth;'* No man can comcicxcept die

Fath«

all faving Blejings. 57

Father draw him." But tho' you cannot come to this foundation, yet know it is a living fcundation, it caa come to you. Are you willing that the foundation come to you ? That Chrift come to you, and put his Spirit within you, and put your lufts out of you ! That he ra^e the old foundation, and lay you on himfelf as the fure foundation ? If you can fay, in the iight of a heart* fearching Gc^d, that this day hath been fuch a day of puwer, as that the Lord hath fo far broken your natu- ral enm/ity, as to make you willing to cleave to this foundation, and to be put in like a pin of this bleffed building, whereof Chrill is the corner- ftone; and wil- ling that this living foundation come and put life in you^ and do all your works in you, and for you, becaufe you can do notUing of yourfelf, then, I may fay, that this day the temple- work is begun; and from this day will he blefs you. Therefore,

zdly^ I proceed to drop g, word to you who are belie- vers, and either now or formerly have the foundation of the temple laid within you. And my exhortation is, that you would, thro' grace, carry up the building upon this foundation; building up yourfelves in the mod holy faith; and fo working out the work of your falvation with fear and trembling, becaufe it is God that worketh in you, both to will and to do. You will fay, True, I dare not alto* gether deny but the foimdation^is laid; but, bow {hall I carry up the building of the fpiritual temple on the foun- dation ? Why, his grace, that hath begun the good work^ mud be fufl&cient for you ; and hU llrengtfa made perfeQ; iji your wcaknefs : and therefore, renounce your own ftrength, and go on to the work ia the ilrength of the X^ord, making mention of his righteouliiefs, and of his only. And that tlK)fe who have come to the foundation may carry on the building-work more fuccefsfiiUy, \ fliall clofe with a direAion or two to tbem.

1. In order to the right building, feekof the la^iA that he would give you the mafon*s ^t>ord^ if I may fo call it: as builders and mafons have a word, whereby they know another ; fo, the fpiritual builders have a lecret word, a facred inftin^ whereby they know Chrift's voic(^ whenever they hear it ; " My fiieep hear my voice, and

58 The Commencement of Ser. CVII.

they follow me." There is a peculiar word which he gives them, John xvii. 14. *' i have given them thy word; and the world hateth them, bscaufe they are not of the World, even as I am not of the world. — 1 have given them thy word;'* what is that word? Indeed, it is a fecret? and though I fliould tell it, none here will underftand it, but thefe that have gotten it. It is a word that none In the world but builders and believers have; and it is a word which they cannot build. And, I think, the word there meant, is Chrift himfelf ; that Word that was made flefh. '* In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, end the Word was God."— I called him the foundation, and I call him the word too; for, thnui^h you have come to the foundation, yet if Chrift the foundation do not give you the word, or give you hirafclf again, by giving you a new hold of him by faith, you will never be in cafe to build: *' I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up," Afits xx. 32. Where, by the ^ord of bis grace^ fome of the bell divines underftand Chritt bimfelf. And what word but this is able to build you up, or to fit for building the pillars of the temple, Jachih and BoAz,//tf3/7/>y and ftrengtJb.

2. In order to the right building, bring all your flones out of God*s quarry, and all your materials for building out of Chrift*s fulnefs. What are the materials for the building ? They are the graces of the Spirit, viz. faith, love, repentance, knowledge, and all other graces: you cannot build the fpiritual temple without thefe.—* Faith is the clofing with, and j fining to the foundations love is the cement that binds and knits it together; knowledge is like the window of the temple, at which the believer looks out. But what is the quarry out of which we muft take thefe, and the like materials? Why, Chrift himfelf, who is the foundation, is alfo the quarry; and out of his fulnefs we muft receive grace for grace. Where will you get faith, if you go not to him for it ? For he is the Author and finifher of faith. Where will you get knowledge, if you go not to him for it, in whom are hid all the treafuresof wifdom and knowledge? Where will you get repentance, if you go not to hira

Cor

all Saving Bleftngu j^f

for It ? For, *♦ He is a Prince and a Saviour, by the right hand of God, to give repentance to Ifrael." God hath nade him the great Treafurer ; ** It hath pleafed the Father, that in him fhould all fulnefs dwell, that we might be complete in him," But in cafe you think thii quarry is far off, you need not fay, '* Who will go up te heaven, and bring down Chrift ? Or, who will defcen4 into the deep, and bring him up? He is near in the word;" you may dig in this quarry, and yet go no farther thai| the Bible that is in your jjiand. — The promifes of the covenant themfelves are excellent materials for the building. You may find Chrift himfelf in them ; and therefore I would have you, in order to the building, lay up thefe promifes in your heart'. Lay up the promifc of pardon, the promife of a new heart, the promilc of grace and glory. JLay up a promife for every change that may befal you. Lay up a promife of ftrength ; as whea he fays, "My ftrength fhall be perf<e6led in thy weak-* nefs.^' Lay up a promife of prefencej a3 when he fays, ** I will never leave you, nor forfake you.*' Lay up a promife of proteflion ; a^ when he fays, ** The place of your defence ftiall be the munition of rocks; — a manfhaH be a hiding-place from the wind,a covert from the tempefti as rivers of waters in a dry place, and as the (hadow oft great rock in a weary land.'* Lay up aproraife of pro* vifion ; as when he fays, " Bread Ihall be given thee, and your water fhall be fure.'* Lay up a promife of dire£tioa andcondud; as when he fays, ^^ 1 will lead the blind in a way they know not, and in paths which they have toot known.*' Lay up a promife for fupply ; as when he fays, ♦* My God fliall fupply all your needs, according to bia riches in glory, by Chrift Jefus.'* Lay up a promife fo^ death itfelf ; as when he fays, *< Death ftiall be fwallowcd up in viflory." O it would be fureft to travel thro' the valley of the iliadow of death with the promife in your hand. Lay up a promife for every ftate; fee Ifa. xli, X7,-.^2o. I fay, lay up thefe, and the like materials for the building, and bring them all out of God's quarry/

3. In order to the right building, make ufe of God*5 fquare and plumb-line : fee Ifaiah xxviii. 17. I niean^ })i8 law; you, believers, are delivered from the law as a

6q The Commencement of Ser. CVIIi

covenant ; and therefore, there is none in the world fo piuch obliged as you are, to make uie of the law as a rule; ** They that walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and on all the Ifrael of God " Let that word found lliU in your ears, Pfal. xxxvii. 37. ''Depart from evil, and dwell for evermore T' and furely, if you be in your element, you will be faying, *' O that ray ways were directed to keep thy ilatutes! O let me not wander from thy commandments. O enlarge ray heart, that I may run the way of tliy commandments.**— But, befidc the precept of the law, in the hand of a Mediator, there are the examples of the faints in fcripttire thc.t belong to this fquare and line for the building, efpecially the ex- ample of the King of faints, Ghrill Jcfus, " Who hath left us an example, that we Ihould folLw his fteps.'* Set Chrill before you in your building; and learn of him, for te is meek and lowly.

4. In order to the right and fuccefsful building, feek more and more difplays of the glory of God in the face of Chrill; for, fays the Pfalmift, *' When die Lord fhall build up Zion, he will appear in his glory." As the £)undaiioH is laid by faving difcoveries of his glory; fo the building is ftill advanced by this fame means : ac- cording as you are made to behold his glory as in a glafs,, fo (hall you be changed into the fame image, from glory to glory : and thus the building fliall go up.

5. In- a word, call in always the affiltance of tlie grezl Architedland Mafter-builder; for, '" Except the Lord build the houfe, they labour in vain, that build it.'? Be always coming to him, i Pet. ii. 4. Be much about his. hand, in the ufe of means ; praying in fecret, fearching the fcriptures, and the like : but flill remember, what- ever is incumbent on you, in point of means and duty, the whole work is his, in point of power and efficiency. Saints may weep for Zion, but the Lord muft build her. It is he that lays the foundation; for, " The Lord hath founded ^ion.*' It is he that raifes the fuper(lru6lure; by working in us both to will and to do of his good pleafure, And it is he that muft finifh the work, and lay on the pope-ftone, with fhouting, crying, ** Grace, grace, unto it.'^ Therefore,. O give him employment; and let him

have

all fdving BleJ/lngt. 6t

have all tile work, who will have all the glory. Employ him to remove all the mountains of difficulty, that lland in the way of this buildings for, it is he that muft fay, *' Who art thou, O great mountain? before our Zerub- babel, thou flialt become a plain."

Now, I have done, and if any be going away witli- out Chriil, or without having this foundation laid, you are going away with God's curfe upon you ; and though you do not fee it now, yet it will meet with you fear- fully at death and judgment; and ly upon you heavily to all eternity. — You will never do a good turn as long as you are off this foundation ; whatever you may do, that is naturally good, you are incapable of doing any thing fpiritually good, and acceptably good; for, ^^ They that are in the fl6fti," and out of Chrift, ** they cannot pleafe God." Ai?d fo, as long as the fuundation is not laid, you will never have a day to do well. But 1 hope, fome are going away, rejoicing and glorying in this founr dation : and if there be any here that are brought to glory in Chrift as the foundation of their hope ; the foundation of their peace with God ; the foundation of their holinefs and comfort; the foundation of their light and life, ftrength and liberty ; the foundation of their grace, and glory, and eternal falvation : O bleffed are you now! and bleffed Ihall you be for ever: whatever fpiri- tual damps or temporal difficulties you may come under after this, yet you (hall be bleffed in profperity and ad- verfity ; though God Ihould vifit your iniquities with rods, yet the rod is in a friend's hand; ** His loving-kindnefs will he not take away." Yea, if this hath been a be- lieving day to you, a foundation-laying day, or a temple- building day, then 1 muft tell you, in the name of the great God, that from this day will he blefs you.

SERMON

C 64 1 SERMON CIX.

GLAD TIDINGS is SAD TIMES ; or, The Cixt of GOD, in the Times of Trouble and Confufion. watered with the RiVer of Gonfolation *.

PsALii xlvi. 4.

There is a rher^ tbt ftr earns vjbert&f do make ^lad the city of Cod. V ,

T^ H E tide of joy and donfulatioh hath never come -*- to a greater height, in the people of God, than in the time of aflliffcion, perfecution, and tributation; then they are readily raoft zealous Chriftians who are Chriftians indeed ; and wheil 2eal abounds, then joy and peace in believing abound alfo. I remember Mou- lin, fpeaking of the French Proteftants, fays, " When *' Papills hurt us, and afflldt us for reading the fcrip- ** tures, we then burn in zeal to be reading them : *' but when perfecution is over, our Bibles are like old " Almanacks. '^ When the people of G<jd are pafling through the fire of afflidlion, then he ufes to let out the ilreams of the river of life to their hearts, to allay thcf burning heat of the fire, and to give them the oil of joy for mourning.

The Pfalmift here, in the church's name, mod trium- phantly expreffes her confidence in God, and that in det pite of all imaginable dangers, in the fecond and third verfes, ** We will not fear, tho' the earth be removed;

• This fcrmon was preached in Anandalc, on Sabbath, Aoguft 27th. 1738.

and

Glad Tldlrigs^ 8cC. 63

and tho* the mountains be carried into the midfl: of th(i fea: tho' the waters thereof roar, and be troubled, tho? the mountains Ihake with the fwelling thereof." By thefe expreffions we are to underftand the reelings and commotions that are in the worlds with the violence and rage of the enemies of the church. And, in the words of our reading, he fubjoins the matter of the church's coii* folation, amidft all the reeling and confufions in the world, There is a river^ the ftreams thereof do make glad ttc city of God. Where you have thefe four things.

1 4 The name given to the church; it is a city,

2. The owner and proprietor thereof; it is God; the city of God,

3* The fad circumftanccs of the city here fuppofed, while all is in confufion and commotion.

4. The gladdening provifion made for the city, amidft all faddening circumftances of the inhabitants ; There is a river ^ the ftreams H»hereof do make glad the city of God.

DocT- ** That the church, which is the city of God, ** hath the fweeteft grounds of encouragement, even ** in the faddeft times.'^

Thus, amidft all the confufions that encompaffed the church here, we are informed, that Tbere is a river^ the ftreams nuhereof do make glad the city of God.

The method we would lay down, f:jr the profecution of this fubje£ly through divine affiftance, fliall be the followingi

I. To fpeak of the city of God.

II. Shew what thefe fad times are, that puts the city of God into confufion*

III. Speak of thefe fweet grounds of encouragement that the church, or city of God, hath in thefe fad times, imported in this river ^ the ftreams thereof do make glad the city of Cod.

IV. Deduce inferences for the application.

I. To fpeak of the city of God- Many a great and famous city hath been in the world* Tyrus was a ma^*

64 tVjrf Tidings Ser. ClX.

fiificent city; this was turned defolate by Alexander. Nineveh was a great and populous city ; but now it would puzzle a traveller to point out the place where it v/as. Babylon was a great a city; but now, where is it? It is called, Babylon the great ; but, with the fame breath the angel cries, It is fallen. But this city of God hath trampled upcjn the graves of many great and reniar- kable cities, that had their beginnings feveral thoufand years after it, '* Glorious things have been fpoken of ihee, O city of God," Pfal. Ixxxvii. 3, And whence this glory is derived, you fee in the latter claufe of the vcrfc, where ray text lies, '' The holy things of the tabernacle of the Molt High."

Here two tilings may be enquired, i. Why the church of God is compared to a city. 2. Why it is called the city of God.

1A1 Why is the church of God compared to a city?

1. A city is a place of fecurity. Tiiis was the end why men built cities, to fecure themfelves from the e- nemies that might attack them : fo this city of God is of fuch fecurity and defence, that there is no flielter to

"be had elfe where, no place free from the incur Jions of the devil, but this city, wherein his works are deflroycd, and his fiery darts quenched. Cities ufe to have their walls, and then watchmen upon their walls: even fo, this city of God is a llrong city; '* Salvation doth God ap- point for walls and bulwarks," Ifa. xxvi. i. And there are watchmen upon thefe walls, that Ihall never hold their peace, nor keep filence, Ifa. Ixii. 6. God hinifelf is the force that defends it; and this makes it impregnable: '' God is our refuge and llrength, a very prefent help ifl trouble," Pfal. xlvi. i.

2. A city is a place of fociety, infoniuch, that what one wants, another fupplies ; they have mutual fellow- fliip one with another: fo in the church of Ghrift, there is a fweet fociety and communion they have together. The faints pray for one-another, comfort one-anolher, when they meet together, as the apoftlc commands, I Pet. iv. 8,9. " Above all things have fervent charity a- mong yourfclves; for charity fhall cover the multitude of fms. Ufe hofpitality one to another^ without grudging; «$

every

«:L.

in Sad Timet* 65

every man hath received the gift, even fb mJnifter one to another, as good ftewards of the manifold grace of God.'' Yea,

3. A city is a place of unity, that people may there* in live together in peace and concord: fo, in the church of CJod, there is a holy fraternity and agreement in the truth, that fhould take place, otherwife it is a Confpiracy againll heaven.— *A city is a fociety of men that live and dwell together, united by one common intereft t even fo is the church of Ood, namely, a fociety of men united in one undivided intereft, Eph. iv. 4, 5* " There is one body (whereof Chrift is the head), one Lord, one faith, one baptifm, one advocate, one God and Father of alL— Jerufalem is a city built compaftly tog<jther.*'— A city is a fociety of men that live together* under the fame common laws, fubjedl to one and the fame government and fovereign power : fo it is with the church of God ; it is a lovely fociety, having a rule and governor, even Chrift himfelf, the eternal Son of God, on whofe ftioulders the government lies. No crea- ture can, without the moft palpable blafphemy, affumd to himfelf this power over the church of God; " The Lord is our Judge ; the Lord is our Lawgiver; the Lord is our iCing; he will fave us. — ^Rev. xv. 3. Juft and ffue are thy ways, thou King of faints.'' Chrift doth enadl laws, and appoint governors in his houfe; " Obey them that rule over you ; for they watch as they that muft give ah account."

4» A city is a place of trade and traffic, where there h buyiilg and felling; fo the city of God is a place of liiefchandife. Here is the market of free grace; *' Ho^ every oii« that thirfteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy and eat; yea, come, luy wine and milk, without money and without price.'* Btere is the Pearl of creat price expofed to fale; for the iroCuritig of which, tne wife merchant doth fell all that le hath. Here are all things neceffary for poor finnersj iev. ill. 18. ** I counfel thee to buy of me gold tried in be fir^, that Ihou mayft be rich; and eye-falve, that thou hftyft fte;" And all is to be had freely ; '^Whofoever will, fet ttlm Come, and taka of the watery ofclife ftwW,'^ ^<tt^

66 ' Glad Tidings Ser. CIX.

then is a place of trade and traffic : and if you trade the right way, Sirs, in a fhort time, you may make a great purchafs, and gr^w prodigioufly rich.

5. The church is compared to a city, becaufe it is a place of freedtnn and liberty ; fuch as, freedcira from the guilt of fin, the condemning wrath of God, the curfe of the moral law ; from this prefent evil world, bondage to Satan, and dominion of fin; from the evil of affli£lioas, the lling of death, the victory of the grave and everlaft- ing damnation ; as alfo freedom of accefs to God, and yielding obedience unto him, not out of flavifl> fear, but a child-like love and willing mind.

6. A city is a place of order and regularity ; it hath its conftitutions and ordinances : and fuch is the city of G id ; the conftitutions whereof, we think, are the ar- ticles of the gracious covenant of redemption or grace; fuch as, " I will take away the heart of fione, and give an heart of flelh; I will write my law in their hearts; I will be their God, and they fliall be my people ; I will put my fear in their heart, that they fhall not depart from my ftatutes.'* The city of God is not a lavvlcls city :• for whereas the law of God to Adam had the ini- preffij-n thereof defaced by corruption, it is here rellored a.:::a!n by the tenor of the fecond covenant. — ^Again, it bath its infl:itutions and ordinances: the King of the city tells us every day, almoft, from his word, what fervice be will have, and like wife the manner thereof; how the affairs of this city fliall be adminittered, and by whom; and we are not to be wife above what is written, nor to be fnbjecl t'> the ordinrnces, traditions, inventions, and doftrines of men, CA. ii. 20. — 23. — A city is a fociety of perfons, into which we enter in a regular way. You know it is the cuftoni of all cities, that ftrangers arc admitted to the privileges and immunities of the city by their burgefs-acl: fo there is a regular way by which j we enter into the city of God. There is a door ; and | fee what the door is, John x. 9. *' I am 'the door, fays Chrift, by me, if any man enter in, he fliall be fave4f and fhall go in and out, and find.paflure/' Whoever enters into the vifible ^Jittrch, if they come not in bf this door, they are not of the true citizens, or invifibk

church;

/;; Slid Times. 5/

church ; and therefore fliall not partake of the faving privileges thereof.

7. A city is a place of reft, and commodious to Yivt in; and thus it is oppofed to a vvildcrnefs, Pfalni cvii. 44 ** They wandered in a wildcrnefs, in a folitary way; they found no ciry to dwell in :" even fo, this city o^ God is the only place where fiilid reft is to be found, Thefe that arc without the city, without the church, they are in a wildernefs, in a folitary v/ay : there is no reft nor f<^rid peace to any but thcie who are niadd denizons of the city of God.

8. A city is a place of privilei^es, a privileged place: fo the privileges even of the vifible church are many and great, much more the invifible*

(i.) There are privileges of ihe church vifible; they

have the fnintain opened to them for fin and uncleannefs^

Zech. xiii. i. Grace proclaimed- to them, which Turki

and Pa rans have not ; '* Ho, every one that thirfteth^

come to the waters ; he that hath no money, let him

come, buy wine and milk, without money and without

price." — They have a right and title to God's covenant,

by virtue of a general adoption, fo as they may plead

the fame, and lay hold on eternal life, as given to them

in the gofpel,R;m.ix. 4. — i John v. 11. — They have this

right to God's covenant fealed, ratified, and confirmed

in baptifm ; therein God gives them the fure mercies of

David, Ads xiii. 34. ** The promife is to you and to your

children, and to all that are afar ofF, even to as many as

the Lord our God fhall call," A6ls ii. 39. To whom the

covenant belongs, and the promife ; to them belongs the

feal of the covenant of promife. — Hence alfo the door of

acccis to God, through Chrift, is open to them, and they

may come with freedom and boldnefs for mercy and grace

to help in time of need, Heb. iv. 16. — Again, they have,

by virtue of their general adoption, an intereft in many

fatherly aftsof pity towards them, as^children of thefamily;'

tho' in an outward fenfe,fuch asinftru£lion,C(5i*re6lion,and

r-eproof. God in(lru6ls them by his word, cbrrefls them

by his rod, reproves them by his fervants for their fecu-

irity, carnality, formality, unbelief, and whatever other

faults. G^d deals not fo kindly with the reft. — ^Again^

68 Glad Tidhi^s Ser* CIX.

when they go to the right or left hand, they hear d voice behind them faying, '' This is the way, walk ye in it:" they have the way of life and falvation pointed out to them. — In a word, they have miniftefB,word,facraments, ordinances ; many privileges that others watit. They have officers in this fociety ; and, as all cities have a right to chute their officers and magillrates • fo, furely, the city of God hath a right to chufe its own oflfiders and mitiiflers *: If they be robbed of this, they are fpoilcd of their freedom, as burgeffes in the city of God.

(2.) The church invifible hath many great privileges that belong to all the citizens of the city of God, and that none have a right Unto, till they bectortie fellow- citizens with the faints, and of the houfliold of God.-^ Many fpiritual privileges they have, fuch as thefe; peace with the King, pardon and -reconciliation in the blood of Ghrifl ; the Prince of peace is the Lord of the city : they are all like their King that dwells in the midll of the city, changed into the fame image. They are all kings, " Kings and priefts unto their God," Rev. i. 7. ** The Lamb is the light of the place, ard they are light in the Lord/* It refemblcs the city of the new Jerufa- lem, no temple there butChrift, ho light there but Chrift; *' The Lord fliall be thy everlafting light, and thy God thy glory." — They have peace of conlcience, fanftifica- tion, eternal life. — They have accefs to the King'3 tabic; yea, they have the ear of their Prince without a tedignS , attendance at court, as it is in this world ; in Chrift wt have boldnefs and accefs, with confidence, by theTfaith ©f him. — In a word, they have the privileges of an un- doubted title to the city of the New Jerufalem above.-^ Every true citizen here hath letters of condufil from his prince, and death and hell cannot flop the way; they b&Vt their King's pafs, and therefore fliall go forward: they ttt bleffed with all fpiritual Heffings in Chrift, Eph, i. 3.

9. A city is a place of pomp and fplendour, efpeciafly a metropolis, or capital eity : there is a king, the court, the throne : fo in the church, here is the King of kings, his dwelling-place : here is the court, all believers tkit ; attend upon him : here is the thfone of grace ;' and they

dilt

Sec this matter fct in aclcar Vtg\\t,V<A.V. i^%a<3i^,'iii»\\^^^v^y

in Sad Times* 69

that dwell in this city, have continual occafion of feeing the King in his beauty.

10. A city is a place of pleafure and beaijtty, beyond all villages and country-cottages ; fee what is faid of -this city, the church of God, Ral. xlviil. z. "Beautiful for fitu^tion, th? joy of the whole earth is mount Zion.'* Here alfo are to be he^rd the fongs. of Zion 5 the joyful (blind, through the filver truinpet qf the gofpel.

%dly, Why is the church called the city of God? I anfwer, ^

1. It may be called t.be city of God, becau.Cb he dwdb in it; God is in the midftof ber, fays tl]e verfe following my text. The place where a man or woman dwells, i^ called tKeir city ; fo the town of Bethany is called, •"^ The city, or town of Mary and Martha :" fo this is the oity of God, becaufe he hath fixed his refidence there ; ** The Lord hath chofen Zion: this is ray reii, here will I flay:'* it is here the King of glory Keep5 his court; it is the city of the great K^ng, Pfalni xlviii. 2.

2. It is called the city of God, becaufe he founded it, and built it. This is the anfwec that is given to th^ pieflfengers of the nations. Tie Lord batb foumfed ^on^ Ifa- xiv. 32. He hath founded it in hi? eternal decree, laid the foundation of it in the covenant of redemption ot grace, and he hath built it on the founjjation of prophets. and apoftles, Jefas Ghrift himfelf Ueing the chUf cornec- ftone; and fo it may be called the city of Qod.

3.. It may be cajled the pity of GodU |;)ec^ufe it dc- %ives all privileges a^d immunjtie.s froi^i him.. This city hath its tnagnQliay or great tbingsy^ from him : all that it does enjoy was purchased ^y the bbod of (ghrift, and

• c^me to the church by promif? thrgugh him, in whoip all the promifes are Yea and Amep. Grace here, anji

• glory hereafter, all are derived from God, as the fruits and effects of his free grjice : therefor? it may well be

• called the city of God^

4. It may bje called his city, becaufe he is the chief ,^ Ruler apd Governor in the cfty. He i^ the fupreme \ ^Sovereign, that hath* the chief compi^pd pf it. IJe is the ^^J^gilbtor here. Here he publiflies his commands and . Toy al orders; and his will call all U;ie citizeps to an accovxwt:.

E3 ^"^

yo Clad 7*i dings Ser, CIX.

of their obedience, for he will judge every man accord- ing to his works.

5. It is his city ; becaufe it is his property. He not pnly poffefles it, fv->undcd it, privileges it, and governs it, but it is his own property ; it belongs to him, and none other : he hath a manifold claim t'j it. He gave ^ being to all citizens of the city ; '' He made them, ^nd not they themfelves :" he made them as men, and he made them as believers : he redeemed them by his blot.'d. And,

6. He draws the rent of it. There is a revenue of praife that he doth draw from them, more than all the red of the world; ''This people have I farmed for myfelf, and they fiiall iliew forth all my praife." — Upon all thefe accounts the church may well be called the city of God.

n. The next General Head propofed was, To fhew what are thefti fad times that put the city of God into confufion. There are fad times with reference to the church in general, and with reference to the people of God in particular.

i/>, There are fon^e fad times with reference to the church in general. As, ^

1. It is a fad time when God's difpenfations twards his church and people feem to contrauitt his promife, to contradiyl their prayers, and to contradict their hope and expectation; to contradift thelrdefiresand vvrelHings: when the knife of providence is, as it were, at the throat

, of Ifaac, at the throat of the pron;ife and hope of his people.

2. It is a fad time when the church is opprefled by the wicked, perfecuted for the fake of truth, and when the buQi is burning, and all in a flame ; when he ihews his people hard things, and makes them drink the wine of aftonifliment, Pfalm Ix. 3. When the enemy breaks hi pieces his people, and afRifls his heritage, Pfalm xciv,]. And when thefe aflliftions are continued, and enemiel^ make long their furrows, while, like plowers, they plo* Vpon their back, Pfalm cxxix. 3.

3. It is a fad time when the Lord feems to difregari the prayer and cry of his r>eople, and rather to be angry

at

in Sad Times* 71'

^ at them ; PfaL Ixxx. 4. '^ O Lord of hods, how long wilt thou be angry at the prayer (;f thy people! Lam. iii. 8. Wiiea 1 cry and fliout, he Ihutteth out my prayer." — Sometimes he fcems inexorable, and will not grant the fuit of his f[:>ecial favourites, when interceding in behalf 'of the church, even the fuit of a Noah, Daniel, and Jub, the fuit of a Mofes and Samuel, &c.

4. It is a fad time in the city, when the Lord fufFers enemies within or without doors, to over-run all his own work, to pluck up the vine which his own right-hand hath planted, Pfalm Ixxx. 8^, — 16. To caft fire into tiie fanftuary, to pull down his carved work, as with axes and hammers, Pfalm Ixxxiv. 4, 5, 6, 7. He that runs may read, that this is the fad cafe of the church in our day.

^. It is a fad time, when fin and error overflow all their banks, and run in upon the city, and when Satan's feat is in the midft of the city; Rev. ii. 13. ** I know thee where thou dwelled, even whereSatan's leat is; and thou haft them that hold the d;)£lrine of the NicJaitans, which thing I hate.'* When in the church of Chrift there are that hold the do6lrine'of Arians, Atheilts, Deifls ; the ci(^£lrine of Arminians, Socinians, Pelagians, and the like. Oh! but a finning time, wherein profanity abounds, and a time of error in d jftrine is a fad time.

6. It is a fad time when faithful citizens and officers are removed, and few or none left to fill their room ; ,v^hen woful apoftafy takes place ; when the courts of the city are corrupted ; when feminaries of learning are defiled ; ffnd pulpits and Sabbaths profaned ; when Re- formation is hated, inllead of being revived ; and when the Spirit is reilrained, and nothing but barrennefs of the churches appear ; few or no real converts to be feen. When there is both a fcarcity of faithful paftors, and paucity of found profeflc)rs : when minifters are tinc- tured with loofe principles, and lludy flouriftiing ha- rangues, inftead of powerful, evangelical, applicatory preaching: when faints-are become rare, Pfalm xii. 1. Ifa. Ivii. I. Jer. v. i. Micah vii. 2.

2^/v, There are fad times with reference to the people of God in particular,

E 4 ^A\.

7« Glad Tidings Ser. CIX.

1. It is a fad time with them, when the Lord hides his face from them ; '' Thou didft hide thy face, and I was troubled," Pfalm xxx. 7. When they are made to cry QUI, *' How long wilt thou forget me ! how long wilt thou hide thy face !*' Pfalm xiii. i.

2. It- is a fad time, when the X^rd contends with them, and yet doth not tell them wherefore, as it was with Job, when he faid, ** Shew me wherefore thou contendeft with me,"

3. It is a fad time with them, when God is a terror to them, and they are put to fay, ** Lord* be not a terror xinto me, Jer, xvii. 17.— rWhile I fufFer thy terrors, I am diftVafted."

4. It is a fad time with them, when they ar^ in dark- nefs, when they walk in darknefs, and have no light, Ifa. 1. iQ. When encompaffed with the darknefs of fears and doubts, and fad apprehenfions,

5. It is a fad time with them, when grace conies un* der a lamentable decay in their foul, and they are left to pine away in their iniquity ; when inftead of tender- nefs of heart, bardnefs of heart feizes them; Ifa, Ixiii. 17. •* O Lord, why hall thou made us to err from thy ways? and hardened our" heart from thy fear ?"

6. It is a fad time with them, when corruption pre* vails, and when the flaves and ferv^nts come to ridi upon horfes in their foul; and nothing to be heard but, *^ O wretched man that I am ! who fbail deliver mc from the body of this death ?**-^When temptations are throng, and inward hellifh injeftions, tending to atheifm, infidelity, blafphemy, and profanity, and many thorns in the flefh buffeting them. — When nothing is left but complaints of hardnefs, blindnefs, weaknefs, impotency, treachery, failings, Ihort-comings, and the power of Corruptions and temptations,

III. The Third General Head propofed was. To fpeak of thefe fweet grounds of encouragement, thit the church or city of God hath amidft thefe fad times, imported is the River, the ftreams nabereof da make glad tbp city (f Qad. tie re I ihall Ihew what is the river ; why God is

com*

in Sad Times* yj

compared to a river ; and touch ^t the nature of ibis gladnefs.

i/t. What is the River that makes glad the city of God?

I anfwer, God himfelf is the river, ad in the fQllowiog verfe, God is in the mldjt of ler.

1. God the Father is the river; Jer. ii. 13. " For my people have committed two great evils ; they have for- faken me^ the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cifterns, broken cifterns, that can hold no water."

2. God the Son is the river, the fountain of falvationj Zech, xiii. x. " In that day, there ihall be a fountaia opened to the houfe of David, and the inhabitants cf Jeruf^lem, for fin and for uncleannefs.'*

3. God the Spirit is the river; John vii. 38. " He that believeth on me, as the fcripture hath fa^d, out of his belly ftiall flow rivers of living water.. — ^John iv. 14. Whofoever drinketh the Abater that I fliall give him, Ihall never third ; but the water that I ihall give him, fhall be . in him awellof water fpringin^g up into everlafting lifc.^'

idly^ What are the ftreams of this river?

-4«/w. The perfeftions of God, the fulnefs of Chrift^ the operations of the Spirit ; and thefe running in the channel of the covenant of promife.

1, The perfeftions of God, O! what ah ocean of gladnefs and joy is here ? Here is wifdom, to direft ; power, to proted; bolinefs, tofanftify; jullije, to.juftifyi goodnefs, to pity ; and faithfulnefs, to make out all that he hath faid. There is more ground of comfort in that one word, / w/// h tby CQd, than there is in thoufands of worlds. What can they want that have a God to go to? Can they want water that have the ocean, or want light that have the fun ? Befides this, God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in all thefe perfections. "Here then is fpirituality, to make the gladnefs and happinefs fuited to the nature of the foul : the more fpirilual the gladnefs is, the more pure and pleafant. Here 1$ infinity, to make it boundlefs: here is eternity, to make it endlefs : here is unchangeablenefs and immutability, to make it fteady and immoveable.

2. The fulnefs of Chrift is another ftream of tho river : his fulnefs of purchafe ; fulnefs of ,wif4om, .9$ &

74 01^^ Tidings Ser. CIX.

Prophet; righteoufnefs, as a Prieft; and power, as a King; fulnefe of grace, as a Surety, to pay all our debts; fuloefs of flvill, as a Phyfician, to heal all difeafes; and Itilnefs of Ibre, as a treafury, for fupplying all wants : *' Out of his fulnels have all we received, and grace for gra^e,** Jc'hn i. i6. Col. i. 19. and ii. 9, 10.

3. The operatioh^, graces, and influences of the Spirit. Here is atn^ther fource of pleafure and comfort : he is the Comforter; and he gives fometimes ftrong c-mfolation. Iti" all his various operati>ns, there are manifold confolar tions ; and hence the Spirit's working is compared to wind, for fanning and ilirring up the dormant graces, SpQg iv. 16.; fometimes to water, for cleanfing the foul heart, John iii. 5.; fometimes to fire, for warming the Cold nearL', Mat. iii. 11.; and fometimes to oil^ for fof- teniug the hard heart, Pfal. xlv. 7. i John ii. 27. This is the wind that fills their fails, and forwards their voy. age to the heavenly harb^mr : this is the well of water that fprings up in them to everlafting life : this the fire that makes their hearts burn within them : and^his is the oil of j'jy that anoints the wheels of their fouls for running their Chriflian race; the joy of the Lord is their ftrength. And all running in the channel of the cove- nant of promife; for we receive the Spirit, not by the works of the law, but by the hearing of faith. 2 Sam^ xxiii. 5. *' Altho' my houfe be not fo with God, yet he hath made with me an everlalUng covenant, ordered in all things and fure: this is all my falvation, and all my my defire. This is my comfort in my aflliftion, thy word hath quickened me.'* One fcripture-promife is a cordial beyond all riches, pleafures, and honours of a world; thefe evanilh, but, " The word of the Lord en- dureth for ever." What comfort can we find without 2 promife? And what can give forrow when God gives a promife? Sicknefs, with a promife; is better than health; poverty, with a promife, is better than riches; a prifon, with a promife, is better than a palace ; bonds 'and confinement, with a promife, is better than liberty; yea, death, with a promife, is better than life. All that you have^ without a promife, you may lofe this night, ^n4 your fouls and hopes wilVv \\\ bux. o\\ \!cv^\. ^ou \^^ve^

in fa J Klines, 75

With a promife, you may be fure of It; yea, believer, you may be vaftly more fure of thai which you have io a pro- mire, than of that which you have in poffeffion: the com- fort you have in p.'ffeilijn, is but the llream-Ci.nifort, that may be cut off; but the comfort you have in promife, is the fountain comfort, that cannot be cut cS: hence yoa are called to live by faith, and not by fenfe. We may- go thro' death rejoicing, with a promife of life in our hand, while infidels ly down in the duft with defperationu

3^Ay, V/hy is God in Chrift, by the Spirit, running jn the channel of the new covenant, compared to a ri- ver ?

Answ. It may be upon account of thcfe qualities of a river, the opennefs, plenty, powerfulnefs, purity, and perpetu^y of a river.

1. Tifie opennefs and patency of a river. It is open, patent,.- and common to all that pafs by ; fo is Goid ia Chrift, \by the Spirit, ej^hibiting himfclf in the gofpel difpenfation. No finner is excluded among maakindi: *** Go preach the goi] el to every creature."

2. Rivers are profitable to f ime cities, both for navi- gation and fortification.. Some rivers are profitable' for commerce, traffic, and conveyance of rich commodities of one kingdom to another : even fo tife Spirit of God« that chryllal river of the waters of life, proceeding out of the throne of God, and of the Lamb, is that by whiqii we have commerce with heaven: therefore Chrift fays, *' He fhall receive of mine, and lliall flicw it unto you.** There is no trading to heaven, but by failing in this ri- ver. The fliip of faith cannot fail but as fupported by thefe waters of the fanftuary. — Some rivers are profita- ble to cities, for fortification and firength: this river is the ftrcngth of the city of God; *' Not by might, nor by |X)wer, but by my Spirit, faith the Lord of hods, Ztch. iv. 2. When the enemy comes in like a flood, it is the Spirit of the Lord that lifts up a llandard." — Some ri- vers are the fafety of the town that they environ: fo tlie Lord is a place of broad rivers and ftreams, wherein g»eth no galley with oars, nor gallantfhip pafleth thereby^ K^^ xxxiii. 2i» They that are thus env\Tox\ed^tv^tiA.'aRk\.^c« the /lormmgs of men and devils. AtvdasXom^ xvi^w^^ocw

7$ Glad Tidings Ser, CIX.

up fhips of a great burden, fo this river bears up the weight of the whole church and people of God, while failing, like a fliip, along thefe waters.

3. Rivers have plenty of water. O! the infinite ful- nefs of God, of God in Chrift ! O ! the plenitude of the Spirit, that is in Chrift, for the behalf of the city of God! ** Out of his fulnefs we all receive, and grace for grace." Here is all the fulnefs of tl^e Godhead. A veffel may foon be emptied and drunk out; but this river is inexbauftibl^: here is enough for men and angels to eternity.

4. Rivers are powerful, and run irrefiftibly ; tbey cannot be driven back by the force of men : even fo are the influences of the Spirit of God, when the pro^ mife is accompliflaed, Ifa. xliv. 3. " I will pour water on the thirfty, and floods upon the dry ground.'* This mighty flood makes its way through all oppofitioiis, and forces them all down before it. What but this ftopt Paul in his perfecuting career, and made him cry out^ ** Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?'* O! a plentiful effufion of the Spirit would throw down unbelief, a^theifm,, enmity, carnality, and all carnal r^afonings.

5. Rivers are pure and purifying. A fwift ftreanx walhes away all filth. They are more clear and favoury than pools and Handing water. Where-ever this river of the water of fife runs, it carries away all p(41ution.^ wafhesaway all corruption: in Rev* xxii. i. it is called a pure river^ clear as cbryft^l *. What need of thi& river to run through this generation, to purge i^t from the pollution and corruption thereof ?

6. Rivers are perpetually running, never Hand (Rjtt, but are always in motion. Thus God hath proraifed to water his church invifible, and to water it every moment^ Ifa. xxvii.3. And Chrift fays, " He that believeth in me, (hall never thirft,*' never be in total want. He fays," The water that I fliall give him,lhall be in him a well of w&(er fpringing up into everlafting life,'* John iv. 14. In a. word, all earthly elementary water hath a beginning ; but this river is from everlafting to everlafting, without beginning and without ^nd. Other rivers are fed by

» By con fulling the Author's fermon on this text, Vol. VI. p. %yx» tbe reader will &i\4 more on tbis fub}e£U

in Sad Times^ 77

ly^ritigs and fountains ; but the river, as 1 Jaid^ is God himfelf,-and his gracious emanations : therefore, though God hath provided a channel of gofpel-ordinances, to Convey fome of the water of this river to us ; y^t this imrtienfe river cannot be limited or circumfcribed, — This river will run through the city of God for even

/^tbly. What is the nature of this gladnefs, that the ftreams of this river afford to the city of God ?

Anjh). It is fuch as tranfcends all worldly pleafures: for^ 1. It is real, folid, and fubftantial. Hence it is called^ yoy \infpeakabley end full of glory y i Pet. i. 8.; whereas fenfual delights are flight, fleeting, full of w^ind and vanity ; " Like the crackling of thorns under a pot, fo is the laughter of fools," They are like Jonah's gourd, God hath prepared a worm to deftroy them. Creature- comforts, when a perfon promifcs moft in them, then Si Worm eats them up, root and all. They are fuch comforts, as that the wind can wither them, the water can drown them, the fire can burn them, the moth caft confume them, or the thief can fteal them, ficknefs caa fmk them, or death can deftroy them ; fome worm or other can eat them up : but the gladnefs and joy that this river brings, is fo folid and fubftantial, that it caa defy fire and water, Iftu 5:Uii. i, i. It can defy trouble tind diftrefs, famine, nakednefs, peril and fword: it can defy death, and life, and angels, principalities, powers, Sec. Rom. viii. 38, 39. ^'' 1. This gladnefs is rational and well-grounded, not founded upon miftake or fancy, bflt Warranted by the promife and oath of God, the two immutable things, bjr which it is impoffible for God to lye. iTone but a lying devil, and an unbelieving heart, will call in cjueftioa the foundation of their faith, hope, and comfort : but the wicked rejoice in their own delufions ; it is only ignorance and error they are beholden to for their mirth. I have read of a certain weed, which njakes thcfe that eat it to give up their lives laughing : fuch a weed do the wicked of the world eat; it makes them go laughing to hell, to which their xrarnal mirth faaflens them*

3. This gladnefs is fpiritual, pure, and holy. I^ vs. * piece of Commanded duty,it&joice 6^erwi«rt* TVvst^;^'^-

^>ax^

7.8 Glad Tidings Ser. CIX.

fare of Wifdom^s ways are fure, anJ accompanied with the holy fear of Gqd ; they walked in the fear of God, and in the c:^>mforts of the Holy Gho!l, A6\s xix.3 1. They are warranted by his command, and promoted by his promife.; whereas the pleafures cf the ungodly are im- pure, finf il, and forbidden pleafnres; '* There is no peace faith my God, to tlic wicked:" he calleth them to weep- ing and mourning, and renting of heart, Joel ii. 12, 1.3. James v. 1,-^5. This gladnefs gives fpiritual and hcly reft in the midil of trouble: '' h\ the nuiltitiide of my thoughts within me, thy comforts delight my foul:'' it gives relief from prefent fear of danger and diftrefs, and from future fear of death and judgment; whereas thefe fears will foon mar all vvorldly mirth. Thisgladnefs is a purifying gladnefs. No man hateth fin fo much, as he that tafteth of this joy; and he that rejoiceth moft, doth alfo work righteoufnefs moft; '^ The joy of the* Lord is his ftrength;*' whereas flefhly pleaHires are piitrifying inft^iid of purifying. Oh! how littltJ of Gxl is in the nxidft of mens hunting and hawking, dicing and carding, drinking, dancing, ranting, and revelling ? How little of heaven is in their mind ? The heart is thereby not only putriSed, but .petrified, and hardened againll the word and warnings of God; then it Is tiiat they are foolifh, difobedient, deceived^ when they are ferving divers lulls and pleafures. Tit. iii. 3. Such are unwilling foberly to confider the things that concern their everlafting peace; and 'hence f) frequently grow up to be llighters fend fcorners of the means of falvation. This gladnefs is fed and maintained by fpiritual, heavenly, and lofty things. T-lie carnal man's pleafures are fed with trifles, like that of cnild'-en playing with toys and trifles; but, O! this fpiritual pleafure is maintained by the love of God, and the hope of. the glory of God.

4. This gladnefs is lading, ye.a,, everlafting. Indeed, the believer's joy in this world is often interrupted by , the neighbourhood of the flelh, the prevalence .of fin, and the hidings of Gc)d's face: yet flill he keeps their comforts aliv.e, at leaft in the root, and will make them fpring up as we nee4 th|;jra,^and are meet for them; and they are joys that uo man can take from them, John

xvi.

in fad Times* jg

xvi. 2.2« Death cannot kill the believtr's joys ; the grave cannot bury them ; millions of ages cannot end them; *' God hath given us everlafting confolation, and good hope thro' grace," 2 Theff. ii. 16, It is not a mu- table good that the believer rejoices in, but in an im- mutable good, an immutable C^jd, in the immutable love of God, the immutable promife of the covenant, •and in the hope of the kingdom that cannot be moved; thefe are pleafuresfor evermore, Pfal. xvi, 11 • But car- nal joy and gladnefs is of a flitirt duration; it cannot fland before a ferious thought of death. How foolilh are they that chufe the pleafures of fin, that are but for a feafon ! Hcb. xi. 25.; the joy that will be quickly- crowned in everlalling forrow ! If folly and ftupidiiy were not predominant, it would be a wonder that un- godly men can be merry, when their c6nfciencc tells them, that they are not fure if they fhallflay. one hour out of hell, and that they are fovving the feed of ever- lafting forrow ; whereas the gladnefs waterea with the ftreams of this river, is the feed of everlafting*^ joy. The bones of thoufands ly in the church-yard, Jhat have h;^d many a merry, wanton day ; but now what better are they of it? Yea, how much worfe, that^tbey have lived in finful pleafures, that are now turned to everlafting flames ? Whereas thefe fpiritual confol^tions, that are bred by the ftreams of this river, they carry all the dead in Ghrift into the ocean of everlafting joy: " ^t his right-hand are rivers of pleafures for evermore,'*

IV. The fourth head propofed was. To make applicar tion of the fubjeO: : and this we fliall el&y in an ufe of information, examination, and exhortation;

The firft ufe may be for information; and whati fay here, fliall be according to the three heads I have been infifting upon. • .

i/>. Is it fo, that the church of God is a city? Then we mav infer,

I. That the church is an orderly fociety, and that there is a form of government therein. There is a fettled form of church-government, and Jefus Chrift is the Head and Lord of it : neither dare any pref^me to alter it,

Bd Glad Tidhtgf Ser. CIX*

upon the highefl: peril. Chrift is the foundation of the city ; •* And other foundation can no man lay, than that which is laid.'*

2. If the church be a city, then it is the duty of all the citizens to advance the common interell of the whole. There is one common intereft, which they Ihould jointly promote, namely, the glory of the founder of the city^ and their own eternal happinefs. Let us join together, Sirs, in oppofing, by our prayers and endeavours, any thing that may tend to tlie prejudice of the welfare of the city.

3. If it be a city, then all the citizens ftiould love one-another. Let us live. Sirs, in unity and peace, unanimity and concord. Why, " A city divided againft itfelf, cannot ftand. — ^O how pleafant a thing is it for brethreti to dwell together in unity !'*

4. If it be a city, then thefe that go abput to difturb the Comely order of this city, are to be looked upon as fire-brands and incendiaries therein ; " Mark theft that Caufe divi{ions,faysthe apollle,for they ferve not our Lord Jefus Chrift, but their own belly; who, with good word? and fair fpeeches, deceive the hearts of the fimple."

^eff. Who are thefe that caufe divifion, and difturb the peace of the city ? Is it Elijah, that is the troublcr of Ifrael? No; though he be called fo. Is it Micalah, who Would not fun with the current of the -times, nor join with the four hundred prophets that flattered the king and court, but behoved to be fingular? No furely. Nor is it Chrift and his apoftles, who were called the men that turn the world up-fide-down ? No. Who then are thefe that caufe divifions ? I love not to fpeak in the clouds, ' I think,

(i.) Thefe who come not in by the gate of the city, but climb up fome other way, wlwm the fcripture calleth thieves and robbers, look like the difturbers of the peace of the city.

(z.) Thefe who aiFume offices'in the city, from felfifli

ends, for a piece of bread, not for the good of the citjr;

not for feeding of the flock, but feeding themfelves;

who feek the fleece and not the flock.

(3.) Thefe who break dov\rn the walls of Ae city^ and

Uft

in Sad Times* 3 1

lift up ham mars and axes upon the carved work, ta demolilh the doflrine, wgrfhip, difciplinej and govern*- ment thereof.

(4.) Thefe who- wound the citizens: and, indeed, many of tiie people of God, at this day, have occafion to fay of the watchmen, ** They fraote me, they wounded jne, they took away my v^il from me."

(5.) Thefe who are like Gallio, indifferent and eafy whether the walls be broken down or not. We need to be jealous in the caufe of Chrift and his churchy what would have become of us, if Chrift had not been zealous in our caufe? When, in the counfel of peace, it cam^ to the vote. Save them or damn them ? if Chrift had not voted, or if he had been a non liquet^ damnation would have carried it : we Ihould therefore fee how we do with his caufe.

(6.) Thefe who are wholly filent, when the city is in danger; ** Ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not fijence." What! Ihall all be hufhed,.even when the city is in extreme danger ? This look; not like our Reforrnsj- tion-days, wherein there were adls of Affembly for fu- fpending and depofing miniders whofpoke not to thefitua- tion of the times f. We may allude to Efther, to whom Mordecai faid, " If thou altogether hold thy peace at this time, then ftiall there enlargement and deliverance arife from another way, but thou and thy father's houfe fliall

* See AA of the General AflTembly 1596, revived by the AflTembly at GUf- gow, 1638, ami the Aft of AflTembly 1646, Scff. to. And particularly the A&. of the Affembly at Edinburgh, Augufl 3d, 1648. Seff. 26. wherein, inter A I.I A, " They appoint and ordaip, that every miniller do, by the word of ** wifdom, apply his daftrine fairhfolly againft the public fins and corrupri- •* ons of ihefe times ;— that fuch perfons as (hall be found not applying their " do<51rine to corruptions, which is the paftDr<'jl gift, but cold and wanting of " fpiritual zeal, flatterers, and diflembling of public fins, ^nJ-efpecially of *' great perfonages, fhali be cenfured according to the degree of their faults ; " that fileace or ambiguou) (peaking, be timely cenfured ; that if any be found *' too fparing, general, or ambiguous in the forefaid applications and reproofs, " that they be fliarply rebuked, dealt with, and warned to amend, under the " pain of Sufpeniion from their rainiflry by the Prelbytery or Synod ; but •' if there be any who neglcd or omit fuch applications or reproofs, and con- " ilnue in fuch negligence, after admoniiiou and dealing wiiji tliem, they " are to t^e cited ; and, after due trial of thf offence, to be Depoled, for ** being pleafers of men, rather than tliie fervants of Chrift > for giving them- " fclvcs to a detcliable indifFciency or neutrality in the caufe of God ; and fof " defrauding the fouls of pcoplr j yea, for being guilty of the bloo<) of (bub^ '• in not giving them wartung/*

Vox. VJJ. tF N»

82 Glad Tiding f Ser. CIX.

be deftfoyed; and whoknoweth, whether thou art come to the kingdom for fiich a time as this?" Either iv. 14,

zdly^ Is the church the city of God ? Then hence fee,

1. That God hath the abfolute ordering and difpofal of all the concerns of this city. He is the Head and Governor of it himfelf, it being his own property. It is the height of arrogance for any mortal, to take upon them to be fupreme head of it. He needs no colleague lor the vaflnefs of his dominions, no regent in his minority, nor viceroy in his abfence.

2. If it be the city of God, then none have any power, without his warrant, to make laws in his city, and ap- p:>int things without him. The civil laws of men, and the laws of the city of God, do Hand upon feparate foundations ; and when the laws of men do clafli with the privileges and immunities of the church, it is a manifeft encroachment upon, and contempt of the royal preroc;ative of the founder of the city. The church is the city of the living G«)d.

3. If the church be the city of G »d, hence we infer, That the church is a very honourable Afciety; ** Beauti- ful fir fituation, the joy and gl'^ry pf the whole earth is mount Zion, the city of the great King." Indeed, they are contemned by the mod part of the world ; but yet they are the excellent ones of the earth, all glorious within, and Ihall be more glorious one day, when every one c)f tliem fliall fhine as the ftars in the firmament of glory. They have an honourable Governor, honourable privileges ; '* AVhy do ye leap, ye high mountains ? Tliis is the hill where God defires to dwell."

4. If it be the city of G. d, then h is the fafeft city. Why, " God is known in her palaces for a refuge." It is the city of God, It is fenced with the wtfdoin,

.power, and other attributes of God. It is a ftrong city; for, '' As the mountains are round about Jerufalem,fo the Lord is round about his people, from henceforth, even for ever." It cannot be ftraitened without, for weaknefs and wantoffecurity; nor within, for fear of want of food; "The place of thy defence ftiall be the munition of rocks: bread ihall be given thee, and thy water fhall be fure."

in .fad Tinies. • 8 j

5. is the church the city of God ? Then We may* infer the perpetuity thereof. If it be the city of God| it (hall never be totally ruined. The greateft cities have been, brought to ruin and defolation ; Jamfeges ubi, Troja fait. But this is firmly eltabliflied, that the- gates of hell lliall not prevail againft it : *' God is in the midil of her, flie Ihill n -t be moved.'*

6. If it be the city of God, then we fee what fllould be the temper of all the citizens ; furely we ought to imitate him whofti city it is, to be holy as he is holy* We fllould feek to be like the Governor of the city ; ** Be ye perfeft, as your heavenly Father is j^erfeft.''

3^//y, Hath the city of God, the church of God fweet grounds of encouragement amidll all the confufions in the world ? Then hence we may infer^

1. That it is not the ruin of the church to uhdergo. external confufion and affliction. When human fences are gone, we are not to let our confidence and hope go ; for the church hath no dependence on the crea- ture. There is ftill ground of encouragement in God^ on whom it depends. It falls out that the ftate of the invifible church is bed, when the ftate of the vifible church is worft. Lacedaemon was always a gainer by its wars. It is faid of the tribe of Levi, that they got

. no inheritance with their brethren ; for the Lord was their inheritance. Really it was no lofs to them ; for, if they had another inheritance^ perhaps they w^uld have had no ftiare in God.

2. Hence fee, what is the duty of the people of God^ undci' the confufions and commotions of our day* Be net difcouraged; '' Ye are come to mount Zion, to the city of the living God:" and. There is a river ^ the ftr earns v}kere^ of do make glad tke city of God. O what encouragement and comfort have fome martyts had, in embracirig the .very flames ! Vincentius fpoke in thefe terms* " Rage,

." fays he, and do the wortl that the fpirit of raali^ynity *< can. fet thee on work to do ; thou flialt fee God's *' Spirit llrengthen the tormented, more than the devil

- •' can do the tormentor.'* I remember another joyful martyr had thefe triumphant dying words^ '-'- \x. \^ \sviX. ** a fmajl matter^ f^ys he, to die once ior Q\t\&.\ \>xi^.^

84 Glad Tidings Ser. CIX.

*' if it might poffibly be, I could wifli to die a thoufand " deaths for him." O what gladnefs and triumph hath filled the hearts of the people of God, not only in the profpeft of danger, but in the profpedt of death ! And all the matter is, Tbere is a river that makes glad the city of God.

3. If there be a river that makes glad the city of God, then let the citizens be afraid of doing that which may- divert the ftreams of this river from their fouls. Beware of fm, which may provoke God to turn away, and alter the channel of the ftreams; and then you ftiall have for- row inftead of gladnefs. Do not tempt him to withdraw the fenfe of his favour.

The fecond ufe of the doftrine may be for examinati- on. If you be a true citizen, you will not only have the burgefs-ticket, baptifm, (many arc like honorary bur- geffes, that get a burgefs-ticket, and perhaps never fee the city again, nor are concerned about the welfare thereof;) but try what you know,

1. Of the avenue of the city, the avenue that leads to it; I mean, conviftion andhumilialion, Johnxvi. 8. The Spirit convinces, partly by opening the law, both in its fpirituality, as reaching the heart. Mat. v. 28. ; and in its feverity, as pronouncing a curfe againft fin, Glal,, iii. 10.; partly by opening our fm, as a tranfgreffion of the law, and an expofinr: to the curfe and wrath threatened. - — The Spirit humbles as a Spirit of bondage, which im- ports parJy an apj^rehenfion of our prefent evil< finful condition, as a bafe condition, a depraved, enflaved, danj?:erous, weary condition; and partly an expeflatioB of future evil. The man is troubled for what he hath done ajrainft God, and for what God may juftly doa- gainfthim.

2. What do you know of the gate or door of the city; I mean, converfion ? Here the Spirit opens the. door, partly by cpening the. gofpel, and the ftrong grounds rfl faith and hope in gofpel -offers, anfwering doubts and I fears from former iniquity, or prefent unworthincfsanill unfitnefs; thefe the Spirit inwardly anfwers, partly Iff

opening the heart and oveTCoimtv^vx^^xid. A.\^.\K\iigitooc|

in Sad Times* 85

towards Ghrill, fo as it is united to him by faith, love, defire, delight. Thus the dead foul is raifed to life^ and now the man is converted,

(i.) From his own righteoufnefs to reliance upon the Lord our righteoufnefs. Men naturally depend upon a rightebufnels of their own \ fomcthing wrought by them, or in thciK, ia the ground of their hope and confidence. Some trull to ihis, that they are good Chriftians ; Lme to this, tlVat they are good Protellants; fome that they have a good luiiieii mind and meaning ; fome that they do this and the other good duty ; fome that they are good neighbours^ and wrong no-Uidy ; fome that they are zealous for a good caufe, and are always on the bett fide ; fome that they have good afttclions and enlarge- ments at times ; they get a tear flied in hearing, and yoy in hearing, \2^c. Mvery one lays ftrefs upon one thing or another. But evangelical converfion brings a man off from thefe bottoms, and from all confidence in the flefh,

(2.) This converfion free^s men from all their fins anjl idols, reckoning all nothing to the pearl of great pi-ice. The man not only confefles fiii, but forfakes \i\ not only forfakes it, but is grieved for it; not only grieves for it, but hates it; not only hatei^ it, but purfue^. it to death, ' and feeks the utter ruin of it, faying, O to have fin cru- cified ! O to be avenged on thefe Philiftincs ! not only for my two eyes that they ha^ve put out, not only for the hurt they have doue to me, but for the.difhjonour and indignities they do ynto God,

3^. Have you any acquaintance with the ftrects of the city ? particularly thefe two great ftreets wherein the citizens walk, tr/z. obedience to the commanding will of God, and fubmiiEon to his difpofiiig wilL

(i.) A man, by obedieace to the commanding will of G:xl, difputes not any.of liis commands, but approves of his whole wilU difapproves of himfelf for want of con- formity to him. He is difpleafed with himfelf, faying, ** Oh I wretched man that I am!" He hath a fecret .approbation and fatisfaftion with himfelf, when he finds .conformity thereunto wrought :., he is pleafed with this^ as evidential of his intereft ia Cht\R?s T\^\&o\xltv^^'s»,

F3 "^V^vv

86 Glad Tidings Ser. CIX.

When he finds himfclf brought under the power of ho- linefs, and delivered from the power of fin, then he is bell pleafed with hi . felf, who is walking along the ftrcet of obedience to the commanding will of God,

(2,) The other ftreetof the city is fubmiffion to God's difp-ling will : and they that know what it is to walk along this, are brought to a fubmiffion to the providence of God, The man that cannot walk here, he is dif- pleafed with every pr(;vidence, faying, ** Why doth ^« God faffer thefe confufions in the world ? Why dolh *' he fuffer fm to be in me, and in the world ? Why ^* doth not a holy God take courfe with his enemies ♦' on a fudden ? Why am not I redrefled inftantly of ^* my grievances ? Why are not my prayers inftantly ^* beard ?" The man cannot wait God's leifure, nor Gild's time, but limits the holy One of Ifrael, and re- pines at ^vtry difpenfation : but now, when he is brouglit to be a true citizen, and acquaint with the ftreets of the city, he is ready to fay, Alas ! I am alhamed of my felf, and my unbelief, and my hellifh pride, and all my heart-r.ifings againft the divine will. N )W he defires to fay» *^ Lord, what wilt thou have nie *' to do ? What wilt thou have me to fuffer ? Let me *' do what thou pleafeft, provided thou helped me ; let *' me fuffer what thou pleafeft, provided thou upholdeft *' me ; I vvill put a blank in the Lord's hand. Let me *' be reproached, if he fee that good for me ; let me be ** poor, let me be trampled under foot: yea, if he fee it *' meet fometimes to hide his face, to keep me empty, ^* and deny me thefe fvvcet influence? that I would gladly .♦* have at all times ; if it be for his glory and my good, *' that thefe be denied, let him even take ibe govern- *' ment, and rule the reins as lie pleafeth ; let me not ♦' affedl the dominion : let him take his own way of 5* dieting me, and keeping me from hand to mouth. ** I know he will not ftarve me, but defigns my good ** in all things; *' He is a God of judgment, and bleffed *' are all they that wait for him.'* How unpleafant '^* were his providences of this fnrt once a-day to rac! ^* But now he hath brought me to know the ftreets of '^ the city."

4. Are

in Sad Times. 87

4. Are you acquainted with the temple of the city ? *' 1 favv no temple there, but the Lord G(/d ahiiighty, and the Lamb are in the raidll of it.'* What acquaintance have you with the temple ? and with looking again and again to his holy temple in all your llraits ? *' They looked to him, and were enlightened, and their faces were not alhamed." — Are you acquaint with the trade of the city ; trading with heaven, living upon Chrift, and his fulnefs ? Do you endeavour tofupport the walls of the city, the dodlrine, worfliip, dilcipline, and govern- ment of God's houfe ? Are you feeking (he good of the city and citizens ? ^* If I f >rget thee, O Jerufalem, let my right hand forget her cunning."

5. If you be a true citizen, then you will have fome- what of the difpofition of, and conformity v the lieavenly Jer.ufalem ; for, *' Ye are come to mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jcrufalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, t^* the general affembly and church f:f the firlhborn,. which are written in hea- ven," Heb.xii, 22. The church militant and triumphant are but one houfe; the one the lower, the other the upper room. — In that city there is pcrfe»St vifi.)n; they fee him as he is. Now, what begun conformity have you to that ? What views have you got of Chrifl:?— In that city there is full fruition. Now, what conf )rmity have you to that? What fellowfliip with the Father andS-n ? — In that city there is perfedl likenefs to Chrifl. What have ycu of this ? Beholding his glory, are you changed? What holi- nefshave you? or what lamentation over your unholinefs, and longings after it ! — In that city there is perfeft joy. What have you of the be<^innings hereof, by yt^ur fharing of the river that makes glad the city of God ? What drops of divine joy (Irengthen you at times? Though frequently you have forrow, yet Chrifl fays, '' I will fee you again, and your hearts fliall rejoice." Do you find his vifiting you again and again, giving fome joy ? I fpeak not of the raeafure, but of the reality ^ f the thing.

6. Try if y( a be a citizen of this city, by the love which you bear t » fellow-citizens. This is a clear con- .^equence from the union that is between the members of his compacted body : and though fon:e coin is lefs

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88 Glad Tidings Ser. CIX.

than otfiercoin, yet, if it bear the image of Gaefar,' it fliould pafs. If we fee the iraa^re of Chrift, we ftiould love it, though there be fome fuiall differences. Some have a greater, and fome a Icfs degree. ** By this we know that we are paffed from death to life, becaufe w« love the brethren.''

7. If you be among the inhabitants of the city of God, then you are diilinguilhed.from the reft of the world in your garb, your language, your zeal.-^-^-You are dillinguifhed in your garb ; you are, in fome re- fpedls, all glorious within, cloathed with the imputed and implanted righteoufnefs of Chrift. — You will be dif- tinguiflied in your language ; you will love to fpeak of Zion's King, afid the privileges of the city ; and have forgotten the language of Aflidod: the curfed fwearer, and the perfon that Ipves not to fpeak, or hear concern* ing the city of God, he does not look like an inhabi- tant of it. — You will be diftinguiflied alfo as to yoflr zeal, if you be a citizen ; the concerns of the city will ly near your heart : and the zeal you have thereto, will even be like to eat you up.

The laft ufe we Ihall make of the doarine fliall be for exhortation : and this fliall be tendered to three forts of perf ;n3. 1 . To thefe that are not citizens of this city of God. 2. To thefe that are citizens. Aiid, 3. To iill in genera],

i/>, To thefe that are not citizens of this city of God. It will not make you a citizen that you dwell in the city, pro/efs to be a citizen, or be taken for a citizen. O ftudy to be citizens of this city of God! And to enforce this exhortation, confider,

1. The great confufions and commotions that are incur day : The earth is like to be removed, and the mountains call into the midft of the fea; the waters are roaring, and the mountains Ihaking: the heathen raging, and the peo- ple imagining a vain thipg: there are many fecrct and open plots againil the L:>rd and his Anointed.

2. Confider that, notwithftanding of all the confufi- 'rfns and diforders in the world, there is appearance kl greater, if the Lord do not prevent, becaufe of dnr

fruit-

in Sad Tinnes^ %f

ffDitlelffntfB under the gofpcl: drcjadfui fccurity, and many other tokens of the Lord's anger, portending great con* fufion; and what will you do, if you have fiot inteireft ia this city, where aione there is fafety and f)eace?

3^ Cot)fider the mifery of ttefe who are withcvitthe city : the fuburbs is a dangerous poll in time of war';^ for they are lure to be confumed, cither by the citizens or enemies. Though you be belide the ark in a profef- fion of religion^ yet you may periih as certainly as thefe that are an hundred 'miles from iu And if- you ibali NOT efcape who negledl this great falvalion, by refttf- i«g to go into the city, w^hat iKriU become of thefe who pull down the walls of this city, as many arc doing at this cjay ? ** God will render Tengeance to his enemies."

4. Gonfider the happinefs.of thefe that are true citi* zens of this city: they are freed from fin, freed from Satan, freed from the law^ freed from death, freed from hell, freed from trouble, or bleffed with reft in the niidft of lit ; for, in tlie greateff comtiiotions in the world, there is a river ^ the Jireamt ^bereafd$ make ghti the city of God,

Now, if you afk^ What you fliall do to be citizeas ? We anfwer, That there are ttone born free of this city. All thefe that are born under tire external privileges of it, have not a right to the fpecial privileges that belong to the citizens thereof : but if you would become citi- zens,

(i.) You niuft be torn again; it is not your ftatunal .generation, but fpiritual regeneration that will make ytm free in this city ; " Of Ziou it fhail be faid. This matt and that man was born in her."

(2.) You murt leave all other cities ; you muft leave the world, and the pollutions thereof ; you muft come out of Sodom, Tyre, Babylon, Jerufalem, which are in bondage, and come to mount Zion ; we liiuft kaVc all and come to the city of God, to the Lord Jefos Chrill ; break off your fociety with fin and Saltan; your covenant with hell muft be broken, your agreement with death muft be difanulied, and you muft go to the fociety of the godly, howevermeanly you think of them

fO Glad Tidings Seb. CIX.

BOW r " Depart from the tents of wicked men : Gome out from among them, my people, and be ye feparate, faith the Lord."

(j.) Study to get your burgcfs ticket fecured; ** Give all diligence to make your calling and elcclion .fure:" and if you have this in your hand, you may go thro' the wildernefs with gladnefs, whatever difficulties may be in the way, faying> with Habakkuk, *' Altho* the fig-tree Ihall not bljffi»m, neither (hall fruit be in the vine; — yet will I rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my falvati:>ri.'*

(4.) Acquaint yourfelves with the laws. of the city; I mean, tiie I'criptures f truth; ** He hath given his ila- tutcs to Jacob, and his telliraonics to Ifrat^:*' therefore, *' Scarcii the fcriptures ; for in them ye think ye have everlailing life, and thefe are they which teftify of me."

(5.) YiU raut accept of the grant of freedom and li- berty that Ciirift oflfers to you ; he offers to make you all free men in this city; and, *' If the Son make you free, you (hall be freC indeed.'* Accept of the Lord Jefus Chrill, and all his fulnefs, freely ; fay, Even fo, I take him as he is offered in the gofpel.

(6.) You mull take the oath of the city. Here is an oath, Sirs, that you may freely take. Some infnaring oaths in our day arc unfuitable to, and inconfiftent with the corporation of