I,...

>^^

tito

**';

S^-i

:^'-^'

'"^^fkm

mw-^-^:.
^*'^--.'^ 2f^-

*X,:.

%,

^=w
.^'^'t'

U^'

^T

y^^*!^H !^\

^
:r. s,.

SMrlsfon

SCC-

G H TE E N

S
Rev.

E R Ml O
Preached by die
late

N
our Light.'

GEORGE WHITE FIELD, A.M

On
the
followi ng

Subjects:
I.0R.D

Sermon
I.

Faithful Minifter's part-

IX.

Sermon The
X.
the

ing Blefnn^.
II.

Self- Enquiry

concerning

Christ,

the Believer's Re-

Work

of

Goo.
'^'

fuge.
III.

XI. Tlie burning Bufh.

XII. Soul Dejeaion.

Soul Profperity,

IV.

The

Gofpel,

dying
XIII. Spiritual Baptifm.

Saint's

Triumph.

V Repentance and Converflon.

VI. Glorifying

XLV. Neglect
killing Sin.

of

Christ

the

God

in

the

Fire, or the right Improve-

XV.

All

Mens

Place.

ment
VII.

of AiHiclion.

XVT. GcD,

a Believer's Glcry.

The Beloved

of

God.

XVII.

Jacob's Ladder.

VIII. The Furnace of Afniccion.

XVIII. The Good Shepherd.

Taken verbatim

in Short-

Hand, and

faithfully Tr.anfcribed

by

Joseph

G u r n e y.

Revifed
<-

by

ANDREW

GIFFORD,

D. D.

M t i.aamam v>**vr^tmt

LONDON:
Printed for and fold by
in

Joseph Gukney,

Eookflfter,

N'

54,

Hoiborn,

oppofite Katton-S:reet.

M.DCC.LXXX.
[ Price Five Shillings in Boards. ]

1^

THE

RIGHT HONOURABLE

N A

COUNTESS DOWAGER OF

HUNTINGDON
THESE SERMONS
ARE MOST HUMBLY INSCRIBED

BY HER LADYSHIP'S

MOST DEVOTED
AND OBEDIENT

HUMBLE SEAVANT

JOSEPH GURNEY.

'

TO THE

READER
POfthumous
is,

publications generally need

an apology.
that
it

This poor Orphan's plea

attempts to preferve the ge-

nuine remains of

One who

has inconteftibly

proved himfelf the

friend

deftitute hclplefs

Orphan's
auditory

yet

fpeaking
his lips

to

ferious

hanging on
fort,

for infl:ru6tion, as

and comthe gloruler

it

though

in

a fainter light,

rious

luminary of the heavens, the

feems
vifible,
its

of

the day,

even

after

is

fet,

by the
to

refradlion of
if

refplendent
let

rays.

As

its fpots,

fuch there are,

them be put

dovv'n to the account of the editor.

A.

G.

Errata.
Page 51,
line 24, for to read for

S2>

II

and 16,

for needy read ttaughtf

y^rzr^

xzOt "

10 and ii for

read l>almt

THE

CONTENTS.
SERMON
Revel,
xxii.
I.

A Faithful Minifter's parting Bleflipg. A Farewell Sermon, February 23, 1763;

21.
Chrtjl be with

THE

grace of

010^

Lord Jefus

you alL

Amen.

page
II.

SERMON
Christ,

the Believer's Refuge.

On

the Death of

Mr. Beckman.
i

Psalm

xlvl.

6.

God
help

is

our refuge and flreizgthy a very prefent

j

in trouble

therefore "will

we

not fear^
the

though the earth be removed^

tains be carried
into

and

moun-

the

midjl of the fea,

though the waters thereof roar ^ and be troubled^

though the mountains fimke- with the fwelling
thereof^

Selah.

Inhere

is

a river y the fr earns

city

whereof foall make glad the

holy place

of God^ the

of the tabernacles

'of the

Mojl-High

God

is

in the midJl of hcr^ f:c J}:all not be

moved

'y

the
moved \ God
early,

contents;
fjail
help her^

and

that right

^6

SERMON
3 Ep.
Beloved^

III.

Soul Profperity,

John

ver, 2,
all
thi?igs

wijlj

above

that

thou

mayfi profper^

and

be in healthy even as thy

foul profpereth.

54
IV.

SERMON
The

Gofpel a dying Saint's Triumph.

A
And
he faid

Funeral Sermon.
xvi.

Mark
unto

15, 16.

them.

Go ye
and

into all the

worlds
ture.

and preach

the gofpel

to every creais

He

that

believethy

baptifedy

fiall befavedy but he that believeth not^ fhall

be damned.

78

SERMON
Acts
fins
iii.

V.

Repentance and Converlion.

19.

Repent ye therefore and be converted^ that your'

may

be blotted out^

when

the times

of

refrefdng f:all come

from

the prejence

of the

Lord.

io3

SEP-

The

CONTENTS.
VI.
;

SERMON
dorifying

God

in the Fire

or, the right

Im-

provement of Afflidion.

Isaiah

xxiv.

15.

Wherefore glorify ye the Lord in the fires,

134

SERMON
The
'And of Benjamin

VII.

Beloved of God.
xxxiii.

Deut.

12.

The beloved of the Lord fiall dwell in Jajety by him ; and the LordJJjall cover him all the day long^ and he
he faid,

Jl:all

dwell between his Jlmdders.

155

SERMON
The Furnace

VIII.

of Afflidlion.

On

the Death of the Rev.

Mr. Middleton.
10.

Isaiah
Ihavechofen

xlviii.

thee in the furnace

of Affii^ion, 179

SERMON
The Lord
Isaiah
^he fun fiall
ther
Ix.

IX.

our Light.
19, 20.
light by day,

be

710

more thy

ncilight

for brightnefs fiall

thee,

the

moon give

unto

but the

Lord Jlmll

be unto thee a}\

everlajling

The

CONTENTS.
and
thy

everlafting light,

God

thy glory.

Thy

fun fiall no more go down, neither JJjall thy moon withdraw itfelfy for the Lord Jhall be thine everlafting light, and the days of thy
mourning
Jloall he ended.

202
X.

SERMON
Self-Enquiry concerning the

Work

of

God.

Numb,
According
to this

xxiii.
it

23.

time

fiall be aid of Jacobs

and

oflfrael.

What

hath

God wrought ! 225

SERMON
The
ExoD.
iii.

XL

burning Bufb;
2, 3.

And

he looked,

and

behold the hujh burned with

not confumed
afide,
-,

fire,

and

the bujh

was
turn
is

and Mofes
this

faid,

I will now
why

and fee

great

fight ^

the buflj

not burnt.

250

SERMON
Psalm
Why
art thou cajl down,
xlii.

XII.

Soul Dejedtion.
5.

my foul? and why

art thou difquieted within

me?

hope thou in

God, for Ifoall yet fraife him for the help of

his countenance.

272

The

CONTENTS.
XIII.

SERMON
Rom.
Kjtow ye
not^ that
vi.

Spiritual Baptifm.
3, 4.

Jo many of us as were lap^

tized into Jefus Chrijiy

his death ?

were baptized

into

Therefore
:

we

are buried with him

by baptifm into death

that like as Chri/i

was

raijed up from the dead

by the glory of the

Father, even fo
nefs

we

alfo

Jhould walk in ncw^

of

life,

293

SERMON
John
v.

XIV.
Sin.

Negledt of Christ the killing

40.

And ye
life.

will

7iot

come

to

me

that ye

may have

317

SERMON
EccLES.
T>o not all go
to one
vi.

XV.

All Men's Place.

6.

place ?

2\S

SERMON
God
Isaiah
A?id thy God thy Glory.
Ix.

XVI.

a Believer's Glorv.
19.

373

The

CONTENTS.
XVII.
Jacob's Ladder.

SERMON
A Farewell
Sermon
at

Tottenham-Court-Road
12, &c.

Chapel, Sunday, Auguft 27, 1769.

Gen.
Ji}id he dreamed,

xxviii.

and

behold,

a ladder fet upon

it

the earth,
'ven:

and

the fop

of

reached

to

hea-

and

behold,

the angels
it.

of God afcending

and food abo've it, of Abraham thy father, and

the land whereon thou
it

defending on

And behold, the Lord and faid, I am the Lord God

the
Heft,
to thee

God of Ifaac will I give

and
dii/l

to

thy feed.
the earth

And
-,

thy feed foall be as

the

of

abroad
north,

to the wefi,

and

to

and thou fmlt fpread to the eaji, and to the the fouth : and in thee, and in and
behold,

thy feed, Jl:all all the families of the earth be

hlefjed.

And

I am with

keep thee in all places, whither thou goeft,

will bring thee again into this

not leave thee, until

and will and land : for I will

thee,

I have

done that which

havefpoken

to thee

of

SERMON
The Good

397
XVIII.

Shepherd.

Farewell

Sermon at the Tabernacle, Wednefday, Auguft 30, 1769.

John

x.

27, 28.

My Jljeep
life,

hear

my

voice,

and I know them, and

unto them eternal

they follow me.

And I give

and they foall never perif?, neither fiall any pluck them out of my hand, 427

;js(

Hii-Ji{-^-4"-

X"'"*$'^'X

^^^jij-^-

';0^

SERMON
A
Revelations
7S^
^;7zr^
xxii.

I.

Faithful Minifter's Parting Bleffino;.

21.

^^^^^^OP^^"^^
ivith

Oi

of our Lord Jefus Chrijl be you all

Amen.

irHSOLOGI
that

)s(^^)eC

is

very remarkable

the

*6ltl
;

, v

v^ teftament ends with the word curfe

J^^'^M vi^hereby we are taught, that the' law made nothing perfed but blefled be God, the new teftament ends otherwife, even a precious
:

bleffing, that glorious grace put into the heart,

and dropt by the pen of the

Jefus loved.

dilciple

whom
calls

My
us
I part

brethren, as the providence of

God

now

to bid each other a long farewel, better than in enlarging a

3

can
little

from you
this fliort

upon

but glorious prayer

can

wifh
you.

Faithful Minijters

Ser.

you, or you me, better in time and eternity,

than that the words of our text

led in our hearts, the grace
Chrijl be ivith you
Firft,
it

may be fulfilof cur Lord Jejiis

ally

Amen, In opening which,

will

be proper to explain what

we

are to underftand

by the w^ord grace.

Secondly, what by the grace of our Lord

Jefus Chrift, and
its

being with us

all
:

and

then to obferve upon the word

Ing you

Amen

fhewwiili,

why

it is

that every

one of us

may

that the grace of our

Lord Jefus Chrifl may

be with us

all.
is

Perhaps, there
of

not a word in the book

God

that has a greater variety

of

interthis

pretations

put upon
:

it

than
don't

this

little,

great

word grace
enough

intend to
all.

fpin
It

out, or wafte the time

by giving you

will be

in general to

obferve, that the

word
but

grace fignifies favour, or

may imply

the

general kindnefs that

it

God
mean

bears to the world;

fignifies that

here which I pray

God we

may
cial

all

experience, I

the grace, the fpe-

grace of the blefled

;

God communicated
blefled Spi-

to his people

not only his favour difplayed to

us outwardly, but the

rit

work of the

imparted and conveyed inwardly and moft powerfully to our fouls^ and tliis is what our

church

Ser. I.

Parting Blefmg.
in

j
fpecial

church
for

the

catechifm

calls

grace;
is

though Jefus Chrift in one refpedt

all,

the

Saviour of

and we are
to
all,

to

offer
is

* Jefus

Chrift univerfally

yet he

faid in a

fpecial manner to be the faviour of them that

believe

fo that the

word grace
all

is

a very

com-

plex word, and takes in

Spirit

that the blefled

of

God

does for a poor finner, from the

moment he firft draws his breath, and brines him to Jefus Chrift, till he is pleafed to call him by death and as it is begun in grace, it
-,

will be fwallovved

up

in
is

an endlefs eternity of

glory hereafter

this
:

called the grace of our

fo
?

Lord Jefus Chrift

chafed

why

becaufe

it

is
:

purthe

for us

by the Lord Jefus Chrift

law was given by Mofes, but grace and

in the

truth^

moft emphatical manner, came by Jefus Chrift the Son of God, If it was not for the
if
it

purchafe of a Mediator's blood,

that Jefus Chrift

was not
price,

had bought us with a

even with the price of his ow^n blood, you and

I

Ihould never have had, you and

could never
all

have had the grace of

our
fouls.

God

manifefted at

to

The
firft

covenant of works being bro-

ken, our

parents ftood convidcd before

God;

they were criminals, though

they did

B
* Preach.

2
f Procured,

not

4
not care to

Faithful Minijiers
it;

Ser, I.

own

condemned before God,

that
like their children
fin.

and

in themfelves,

lb

they made excufes for their

Man

by napleafed
it

ture had but one neck, and if

to have
at

God had

done
;

it,

he might juftly have cut

off

one blow

but no fooner had

man

incurred
is

the curfe of the law, but behold a Mediator

provided under the charadter of the feed of the

woman, which
head
to
;

fliould

bruife

the

ferpent's
firft

implying what the Redeemer was

do without,

and afterwards to do in the

:

hearts of all his people

well therefore are

all

we
our

taught in our church coUeds to end

prayers with the words,

through Jefus Chriji

our Lord,

Moreover, brethren,

this

grace

may be
Chrift,

call-

ed the grace of our Lord Jefus

caufe
it is
it

bebut

is

not only purchafed

^^

by him,

conveyed into our hearts through Chrift 5

is

the federal head of his glorious body,

a head
his

of influence to thofe for blood thus his difciples

:

whom
laid,

he

flied

he was
his

full

of

grace and truth,

all that

and out of

fulnefs

we,

are

true

believers, receive

grace for

grace

-,

grace upon grace, fays

:

Mr. Blackwall,

in his Sacred Clafficks

grace for grace, that

is,

Procured.

Ser. I.
Is,

Farting

Bleffing.
is

j
in Chrift

fays Luther,

every grace that

jefus, will be

by

his bleffed Spirit tranfcribed

into every believer's heart,

even as the

warm
it

wax
as

receives the imprefs

is

of the

feal

upon
feal

there

line

upon

line

upon the

left

upon the wax,

greatly
fl:iort
is

fo in a degree,

though we come
the

of what the law requires,

in Jefus Chriil:
is,

grac3 that

in a

meafure,

implanted in our fouls; but the Lord Jefus

Chrift, blefled

be God, has our ftock

in his

hands.

God

trufted

man

once, but never will

more; he

fet

Adam
him

up, gave

him

bleffed

ftock, placed

in a paradife

of love, and he

fbon became a bankrupt, fome think in twentyfour hours, however,

all

agree

it

was

in fix or

feven days, and that he never had but one fab-

bath

but now, bleffed be God, w^e are un-is

der a better difpenfation, our ftock

Chrift's hands,

put into
it,

he knows

how

to

keep
to

and

us too; fo this grace

may be

faid

be the

grace
his

of our Lord Jefus

Chrift,

fecured

by

blood, and conveyed to our fouls by his

being the head of his church and people.

This grace has a variety of epithets put to it, and I queftion whether there is any kind of
grace but

what

towards his
hour^ every

Lord Jefus Chrift exercifes people fome way or other, every

the

moment

of the day.

Firft,

6
Firfl,

A Faithful MtnzJIers
His reftraining graces why,
this,

Ser.
if

itw2S

not for

God's people would be juft as

as other folks are
:

weak and wicked

ber what David faid

when

Abigail

rememcame to

him} he was going

afti'onting

to kill a

neighbour for

him, forgot that he was a Pfalmift,

as a creature
:

and was only ad:ing

bleffed

be

God,
keep

faya he, that has fent thee to

meet and

me

My

brethren,

pleaie,

and build
little

we may talk what wc upon our own flock y we

walk alone

are juft like

children that will walk by

themfelves

well, fays the father,

then, they tumble

down,

get a broken brow,

and then

are glad to take hold of the father

is

thus Jefus Chrift

always ading in a reftrainy

mg way

to his people

if

it

was not

fo,

by the

blindnefs of their underftandings, the corruptiQn& of their hearts

and affedions,

together
!

with the perverfenefs of

there
is

their will, alas

alas

not a child of
day,
if

God

that

would not run

not
reftrain

away every

Chrift did

him

which from the Lord Jefus Chrift ads every day and
is

Secondly, There

convidting grace,

hour.

Oh

it is

a blefled thing to be
!

under

the Redeemer's conviding grace

fpeak to the ear, but

it

is

the

man may Spirit of God

a

alone

er.

Parting Blefmg.
:

alone can fpeak to the heart

ing

am

not fpeak-

of convidling grace that wounds before

converfion, and gives us a fenfe of our fin and

mifery

no, I

mean convISing
fay,

grace that folIf a hea-^

lows the believer from time

then Socrates could

to time.

that

he had always

monitor
amifs,
furely

witl?

him

to

check him when he did

right,

and

dired:

him when he went

the Chriflian
it,

may

fay,

and

bieffed

be

God
grace

for

that he has got a JefuG that kindly

fliews

him when he goes aftray, and by his puts him into the way of righteoufnefs,

that his feet

may

not

flip

this

is

what the
they have

iJiepherd does to his fheep

when

wandered
fends

what does the fiiepherd do, but

little

fome

cur, his dog, after

?

them,

tr>

bring

them

to the fold again

what does
and

Jefug'
?

Chrift do in temptations,

trials,

afflidions

he fetches

them

that

home, and convincesthey have done amiis.

his

people

^'.*

There is the converting grace of our Lord Jefus Chrid:. Oh! what poor unhappy creatures are they, that think th^y
thirdly.

Then,

can turn to

God when
it

they pleafe, to which

is

abominable principle
leave
it
till

ov/ing,
in

that they

they cannot turn

their

beds

Satan

tells

them

then^

it

Is

too late, their

co^^

fciences

b'

Faithful Minijlers

Ser. I,

fciences are filled

with horror, and they go

j

off in a whirlwind

may

this

be the cafe of

none here
our

That

is

a moft excellent prayer in

Communion

Office,
'y

Turn

us^

O good Lord,

a?id Tje Jhall be turned

we

can no more turn

our hearts than

we

can turn the world upiide

down y

it is

the Redeemer, by his Spirit,

muft

take away the heart of ftone, and by the influence of the holy Spirit give us a heart of
flefli.

might

as

well attempt to reach the

-,

heavens with
to

my

hand

might

as

well go

fome church-yard and command the dead

might
as

to rife; I

foon fliake

my

handker-

chief and bid the ftreams divide, and they give

way,

as to expedl a foul to turn to

God

with-

out the grace of the Mediator.

dear hearers,
that prayed

Come,

my

1 am
life,

of a good man's opinion,

he might be converted every day.

not to go forwards
it

In the divine

is

to

go

backwards

and
Spirit

is

one great part of the

work of the
is

of God, to convert the foul

is

from fomething

that

wrong

to

fomething that
of the

right, every day,

hour, and

moment
:

believer's life, fo that in

fliort his

life is

one
not
is

continued

ad

of converting grace
is

there
;

is

a day but there

fomething wrong
to have taken

there
;

fomething

we want

away

we.

want

Ser.

I.

Farting

Blejjing.

want
of the
every

to get rid

of the old man, and to get more

fo the Spirit

new man, and

day
:

of

my
is

brethren,
!

God works God give us

David

more of

this converting grace

Then

there

eftabhiiliing

grace.

prays. Create in

me a new me
3

hearty

and renew a
it is

right fpirit within

ftant fpiritj

in the margin,

con-

and you hear of fome that are

rooted and grounded in the love of God, and the apoftle prays, that they
in the

may

always abound
it

work of

the

Lord

again,

is
\

good
there

to
is

have the heart

a good

eftabliflied

with grace

many

people

have fome religion in

eftabliflied
\

them, but they are not

are

hence they

mere weather-cocks, turned about by every

as foon
as

wind of dodlrine 5 and you may

fure the

meafome
is

moon

for

fuit

of clothes,
;

people that are always changing

this

for
>

want of more
and
fo as

grace^

more of the

Spirit

of God

as children

riper,

grow that people grow

are got ftronger

in grace,

and

and

in the

knowledge of the Lord Jefus

be more
fettled,

Chrift, they will

:

more confirmed

on

firfl fet*

ting out they prattle, but they will be

mors
Clirif-

manly, more firm, more fteady

tians are

young

like little rivulets that

make
old

a larg

noife,

and have

Ihaliow
<^

\\'ater;

Qiriftians

10

A
good

Faithful Minljicrs
little

Ser. I,
noifc,

tians are like

carries a

deep water that makes

load,

and gives not way.

What

think you,

my

brethren, of the
?

Re-

deemer's comforting grace

what can you

do without

it ?

In the multitude of

my

thoughts

within me, fays the Pfalmifl:, thy comforts have

refrejhed

my

foul,

I believe

you

will

all

find
fine

what
under

lord Bolinbrooke, in fpite of

all his

learning,

and

deiftical
;

principles,

found when

afflidion

he

fent a letter

which

faw
'

and heard read

to
:

me,

at leaft that part

of it in
affile-

which he
tion,

fays

Now I

atn

under

this

I find my

phllofophy fails me.

flriving,
it

With

all

our philofophy and

is

too hard to
it is

work

ourfelves into a pafTive ftate: alas!

to ftrive, but

commendable
content,

we

ihall

never be

we

fliail

never be chearful under fufafTiftance

ferings, but

through the

of the Re-

deemer.

Even now,

in refpcdl of parting

from

one another, what can comfort friends when feparated but the Spirit of God. Paul, when going away for Jerufalem, faid, What mean ye
to

weep and

to

break

my

heart ? he alfo fays,

only,

am

ready not

to he

bound

but alfo to die at

the

jerujalem, for

the

nc.me

of

Lord

Jejus,

which he could not have

felt

faid,

had he not
Chrift.

the

comforting

grace

of Jefus

Our

Ser. I.

Parting Blejjmg.
fays,

Our Lord, when going away,

the Comforter
;

willfend

will not leave will

you comfortlcfs
:

and

helplefs,

come

again
to

the

Lord

helps the

believer

from time

time.

We

can

eafily,

my

brethren, talk
;

when
give

not under

the rod ourfelvcs

there

is

not a phyfician or

apothecary in
vice,

London but can

like

good adpoor

but
!

when they

are fick themfelves,

their
patients,

fouls

they are juft

times are

and
thofe

many

more impatient than

-,

they ufed to preach patience to

the greateft Chriflian,
paffions,

fo

it is

with

we

are

all

men

of like
the

there

is

not one of us

when under

rod,
and,
to the

if left to ourfelves,

but would curfe God,

Ephraim
yoke
'y

like,

be as a bollock imaccuflomed
I

and there are many here,

do not

doubt, that have faid to the Redeemer,

dojl thou'?

What

or,

perhaps,
-,

with Jonah,

We

do

ipell to be

away

his

Lord does but take goard from us, if he is pleafed to

angry
if

the

baulk us in regard to the creatures,

comfortable are
afHidions and

we? and

there are
it

how unfo many

for the

trials,

that if

was not

Lord Jefus ChriiVs comfortings, no

bear them.

flefh

could

In a word, what think you,

my

brethren,

of the

quickning

grace

of cur Lord Jefus

Chriftr

Faithful Minijler's
fays,

Ser. I,

Chrift?
according
quicken

Remember David
to thy ivord,

^icken me
in thy
isjay^

quicken

me
:

me

in thy righteoufnefs

God's people

want quickening every day > this is trimming our lamps, girding up the loins of our minds,
ftirring
is

up

tiie

gift

of
it

God
is

that

is

in us.

It

juft
;

with a foul

as

with the plants and

trees

did

how would it be with them if the Lord not command quickening life to them after
?

the winter
ter days,

the believer has his frofty and win-

and

wo

be

to

them

that think they

at

have always a fummer^ the believer

can
fay,

times

The winter

is paji^

the rain is over

and
of

gone^ the flowers appear on the earthy the tifne

the finging
turtle
is

of birds

is C07ne^

and

the voice

of the

heard in our land^ the fg-tree putteth

forth her green figs ^ ajid the vines with the tender
grapes give a good fmelly
is all this

Cant.

ii.

I2.

What

but God's quickening grace, reftorlng

the believer to his bleffcd joy.

thren,
I

Oh
is

my

bre-

have not time to fhow you in

the

how
5

many ways
you
it

Redeemers
grace
is,
it,

grace

difplayed

but wherever

this

what reafon have

I,

that are partakers of

and

to pray that

may be
is

with us all; the grace of our

Lord
all

Jefus Chrifly fays

it

John

here, be with you all:

it is

not faid

all ii^inifters,

not faid

of

this

Ser. I.

Parting Blepig,
but with
all

this or that particular people,

lievers.

be-

O my
!

friends,

remember what Mr.

be a Catholic, but
have often thought
it

Henry
not a
fince I

faid,

he defined
Cathohc.
to fee

to
I

Roman
went

the

water-works, that
;

was an emblem of Chrif:

rcfervoir
is

there

is

great
city

of water

from which
is it

this great

fupplied; but
?

how

fupphed from that

rcfervoir

why

by hundreds and hundreds of

it

pipes

but where does this water go, does

go

only to the diffenters or to the

only to this or that people
to all in
^

church peo-

ple,

no, the pipes

convey the water

I

and

remember when
great rcferis

faw

it,

it

put

me

mind of the

voir of grace,
Jefus,

that living water that

in Chrift

and the pipes are the ordinances by

his grace
is

which
fouls,

conveyed

to all believing

God
/ nvill

grant

we may
a

be of that happy
it is

number.
faid,

O what

mercy

that Chrift has

be with you always even to the end

of

the worlds

Matt, xxviii. 20. and therefore

this

we

muft look upon

prayer to be as efficacious

now,

as

it

was the moment the words dropt

apoftle's

from the

pen,

believe the
t

mod

minute philofophers, and thofe

greateft
ikill

at

have the
perceive

in

aftronomy,

cannot

there has been any abacerncnt in ihe heat of the

lull

I^^

A
God

Faithful Minifiers
firft

Ser. I*
it

fun.fince

commanded

to rule the

day, then furely, if

that for fo
ate,

my God
warm

can

make
iliall

a fun
irradi-

many
its

thoufands of years

enlighten, and
light

the world, without

fo

loiing any of

and heat,

does the fun

arife

of righteoufnefs, the Son of God,

the children of

upon

God

with healing under his

wings

he

raifes,

warms, nourifhes, and com-

forts his

people, and
earth,-

we have
as

the

gofpel

the ends of the

well as thofe

on who had
all

the honour of converfing with

him
in

in the days,

of

his flefh.

mention

this

anfwer to

thofe

who

have wrote againft the Methodifts,

as fanatics
j

and reprefented them

other

there

is

no

way of talking
it

againft the divine influence,

fo formerly, but that it

but by allowing
is

was

not io

now
it,

they fay the primitive Chrifit is

tians

had

but

not to be fo with us

now
fools,

as

it

was formerly.

O my brethren,
when

what

thefe great

men

are

they talk about things

they knov/ nothing of; give

give

them

a lexicon, give

them a polyglot, them a geographical

of the fcripture,
but v/hen they

text, or the chronological part

they have fomething to fay;

come
w^ord

to talk
Spirit,

of the Spirit of God, they fee the

and they read ths word grace, but

read
it

while

tliey

their hearts

cry,

becaufe
their

S^r.

I.

Parting

Blejjing,

15
furely if
it

their

knowledge pufFs them up,

wasfo,

we

gteat

men

that have been in

it,

the
it

wniverfity

(hould have

Gcd would
it

give

us

and becaufe they

find

not in themfelves,

their

abominable pride will not

own

It

may be
and
of

in any.

Pray what was Peter,

I

James,

John,

don't

mean
as

to fpeak difrefpeftfully

them, they were

nate,

weak,

as blind,

as
till

cbfti^

and worldly-minded

as
;

others,

Jefus

Chrift

changed

their

hearts

and that

fame

grace th^t changed their hearts, changes

now
be

the hearts of God's people

and bleffed
all his

God,
It

that
is

fame grace

is

with

people.
is

fo in his ordinances.

Here

the dif;

ference between a Formalift and a Chriftlan

the Formalift goes to ordinances, but then he

does not feel the

is

God

of ordinances, and that

the reafon moft formal people don't care to

to

go

church very often

who

cares to
?

go

to

the houfe of a pcrfon he does not love

Avill

they
if

only juft knock at the door, and

perfon
is

afic

fiich a

at

home, and
paid

are very glad to

is

hear the fervants fay their mafter or miilrefs not at

home

the

vifit is

fo

it

is

with

many
and
I

people that go to church and m.ccting

do not doubt but there

are

many Metho-

difts,

hundreds and hundreds, that have been

Faithful Minijlers

Ser. I.

at the ordinances,

who

never
to

felt

the

God
is

of

ordinances converting

them

this day.

The
grace
?

grace of our

Lord Jefus Chrift

with

his people in prayer.

Who
at
it

can pray without

as will,
;

they

may

laugh
fpirit
-,

but
let

God
them
be to

give you and I a

of prayer

laugh

as

they pleafe

what

profit will it

us to read this book without the grace of God*

What a

horrid blunder has the bifliop of

been guilty of ?

What
?

do you think

his lord-

fhip fays, in order to expofe the

fanaticifm of

the Methodifts

Why,

fays he,

they fay they

cannot

underftand the fcriptures without the

^ Spirit of
fcriptures

God.

Can any man underftand the without the Spirit of God helps him ?
muft open our underftanding
to

Jefus Chrift

underftand the fcriptures, and the Spirit of God

muft take of the things of Chrift and (how them

unto us
y

as

we

are taught to pray,

Lord^

thou haft caufed thy holy fcriptures to be written^

&c.

as in the

fecond Sunday in Adventj and here

to tell us, there
is

the b

p pretends
here our
:

no need

of

it ;

collefl;

and b

difagree very
it is

much. So with refped

the fame

to all ordinances

what
if

fignlfies

my
of

preaching, and

your hearing,
enlighten
r

the Spirit

God

does

not

Formal

minifters can fteal a fer-

mon.

Scr. I.

Parting
a
little

BleJJing.

17

mon, and add

out of their

own heads,

but

a minifter of the gofpel cannot preach to purpofv^

without the afliftance of the

Spirit

of God, no

more than a
for a carnal
his pocket,

fhip can

fail

without wind.

As
al-

man he may
and you
;

take his fermon in

find his

will

fermon s

ways the fame

feldom
fo
s

but

fpiritual

preachers
are
in

are

fometimes

they

dark-

nefs, fo as to fpeak to thofe that are in

darkas

nefs;

fometimes they are tempted,

are

fo

to

fpeak to thofe that

they have a
full gale,

tempted

fometimes

and go before the wind,

afliftance

and

this

is all

by the

of the

Spirit

of

God, and without

an angel,
to hearing the

this a

man may
at all.
I

preach like
in refpecft
I

and do no good

So

word of God,
I

declare

would

not preach again, if

did not think that

his Spirit
:

God
what

would accompany the word by

are

we

but founding brafs and

tiiikling cymbals ?

If the
Spirit,

word
it

is

preached in the ftrength of the be attended with convidions,

will

and converfions, and the grace of

both with preacher and hearer.

God

will be

^he grace of God

providence.
is

is

with his people in

his

Oh
me

fays biQiop Hall, a little aid

not

enough

for
in

me.

My

going on the
I

waters puts

mind of what

have feen

mqmy

j^

A
times
:

Faithfid Mimjltrs

Ser.

I.-

many

if the failors perceive a

ftorm s

comings they do not chufe

to

fpeak to the

pafTengers for fear of frightening them, they

will

go quietly on deck, and give orders

\

for
tell

proper care to be taken

and

if a failor

can

of ftorms approaching by
can't

the

clouds,

why

God's people

fo with

them

why God does fo and The people of God eye hirrv

tell
y

in his providence

the very hairs of their heads-

are

all

numbered, and the grace of

God
of

is=

with them in the

common

bufinefs

life.

Some
io

people think that the Methodifts preach

fo to

and

make them
at this time,

negled: their bufinefsy

:

and we preach
not preach
to part

at unfeafonable times

we would

but that

from one another ; no,

we are going we preach that

God may attend them in their countingJioufes, and wo be to thofe perfcns that do not take the grace of God with them
the grace of
into their eounting-houfes,

and

in their

comit

mon
be
if

bufinefs.

what

bleffed times

would

every one

employ, that
fay,

made the grace of God their when the Lord comes he mayI

Lord, here

am

waiting for thee.

jcjiis Chrtji is

"The grace

of the Lord

with his

people vA\zr\Jick and

fouls,
^

what

rtiall

when dyi?2g, O my dear we do when death comes ?

What

Ser. I,

Parting
-a

Blejjing.

^xg
a a

What

mercy

it

is

that

we

have got
!

good
poor

mafter to carry us through that time

As

converted Negro that faw

a believer

who wa3

dying

in comfort, faid,

Mader
fafe

don't fear, Je-

fus Chrift will carry

you

through the dark

valley of the

ihadow of death.
was
to

But the time

in

would
us

fail,

if I

(how you

how many
that
I
!

refpeds tbe grace of the Lord Jefus Chrijl helps

;

but what
all
it

have

faid will fliow,

we

need

join in a hearty
fo,

Amen
fo

God

may be be what ? why

fo

it is,

Amen, may it be
j

pray

May
"Jefm

that the grace of the

Lord

Chrijiy conviSing^ re/irainiiigy

convertings ejla-

hlifhing
in his
nefs,

and comforting grace

may be with

us

ordinances, in his providences, in fick-

and when dying

fhall

then, blefTed be

God,

we
in

carry

it

v/ith

us after time.

And

now,

my

dear hearers, by the help of

I defire

my God,
1

whofe flrength
I

once more to go up-

on the waters,
that this grace

fhall

pray wherever

am,
be

of the Lord jfiis Chrif may

with

'iou all.

To whom
provement
verted
? ?

fhall I fpeak

firfl

by way of im-

Are there any of you here unconAre there any of

to

no doubt too many.

this

you here

morning come out of curiofiry

?

hear what the babler has to fay

Many,

per-

hnps

20

A
is

Faithful Minijlers
it
is

Ser. I.

haps, are glad

my

laft

fermon, and that

:

London
graph
are of

to

be
it

rid

of fuch a monfler

don't doubt but

for

has been a pleafant para-,

many

to read

but whoever there

you

that are unconverted, or whatever

fure

you may think,

you cannot be angry

for

my
yozL

v/ifhing that the grace of God

may

be with

foul.

O that O pray
what

it

may
for

be with every unconverted

me,

my
to
if

dear friends, that

the Lord
foul
y

may
?

blefs

me
do

fome unconverted

wilt thou

the grace of

God

is

not with thee

favour of

what

wilt thou

do

\Ni\h the

man

if

thou haft not got the grace of

it

God

you

will find, iTiy brethren,

will not

do, you cannot do without the grace of

God
his

when you come

to die.

There was

a noble-

man

that kept a deiftical chaplain,

-,

and

lady a chriftian one

when he was
it is

dying, he

fays to his chaplain, I liked I

you very well when

lady's chaplain I

was

in

health, but
I

my
fick.

muft have when

that

am

Do

you know
?

you are nothing but

devils incarnate

Do

you know that every moment you

eternal pains
?

are liable to

The Lord

help thee to awake

if

O
the

fmner, awake, awake thou ftupid foul,

grace of God was never with thee before,
grant
it

God
in

may now, Don't

fay I part

with you

an

Ser.

L
humour
;

Parting

BleJJing.

ix

an

ill

don't fay that a

madman left yoa

with a curfe. BleiTed be

tered into the field,

God that when firft 1 en(and bleffed be God that hoI

noured

me
I

with being a field-preacher)

pro-

claimed the grace of

ners,

and

proclaim
-,

God to the worft of finit now to the vileft finner

I

under heaven

could

fpeak fo loud as that

I

the whole world mij^ht hear me,

that the grace of
that
are

would declare
poor fouls

God
to

is

free for all

it

willing

accept of

by Chrift

God make you all willing this day. There are many of you, I doubt
have got
this grace,

not, but

and

believe there are

this

many
with

of you that can fay that

poor defirft

fpifed place

was
it

that

which God honoured

:

giving

you

but v/hether you were

if

converted here, or

elfe where,

you have got

the grace of God, the Lord grant you

grace
;

more
got

grace, mercy

and peace

be multiplied unto

you

alL

My

brethren,

they that have

;

Chrift never have

enough of him

you want

more grace every day, and hour, and moment I fee for my part more of my v/ant of grace than
I did ten or

twenty years ago;

;

may be

that

is
it

becaufe

don't grov/ in grace

but tbofe th

grow

in grace will grov/ every

day more

fenii-'

ble of their

want of grace, they

will feel their

weak

22

Faithful Miniflers

Ser. I.

weaknefs more and more every day.

Some who

are called Chriftians are a moft foul-mouth people,

they abufe their neighbours, but real be-

lievers abufe themfelves moft,

felveS;,
'

and

call

them-

/. e,

v^hat

is

in themfelves, the worfl of

neighbours.

O my

brethren,

may

the

Lord

Jefus Chrift's grace

be with you more and more,

you may be transformed into the divine likenefs, and pafs from glory to glory by the Spithat
rit

of the Lord.

May God

grant that this grace

may be with you all, particularly thofe young men that have given up their fouls to Chriil. It delights my foul when I go round the communion table, to fee how many young fouls have
given themfelves to Chrift, the Lord grant that

you may not return again

-,

to folly.

young

men, flee youthful lufts O young women, the Lord Jefus Chrift grant that grace may be with you all, that you may ftudy the beauties of the
mind,
fliine in

the beauties of holinels, and be

wife to everlafting falvation.

May
needs

the grace of the

all that are in

Lord

Jefus Chrijl be
ftate.

with ycu

the marriage

It

much

grace to bear with heavy

trials,

much
with

grace to deal with fervants, children,

in trade
^

and under difappointments

to

walk
think

God

with a pure heart.

Some people

Ser. I.

'Parting Blejfmg.
it

2%

think

have wives and children, but they want a thoufand times more grace
clever to

when they were fingle; you have need of much grace to honor God in your houfes, much grace to teach you to be prophets, much grace to teach you to be kingij in the family to know, wher to be pleafed j to knoWi v/hen to be lilent to know, when
than they had
5 ;

to be angry

but the greateft grace

called
to
it,

is

to

be

angry
out

when
!

to

be angry with-

fin.
all

O may
in

the grace of

God

be with

you

your

clofets,

every tim.e you prav,

5

every time you

may

the grace

come to an ordinance O? of God be v/ith you all when

place
it
!

you frequent
though
away.

this defpifed

blefled

be
5

God fome may

as

fay, that ever

..as

was
was

built

foon

it

was
as

built I

called

As foon
I

alfo

the chapel was built

J was then called away, and fo

am now
go

and

when

came out of
it.

my

chamber,
as lieve

I could to

hardly fupport
execution, if

would

an
^

my way
?

was not very

but for a

clear

what

is

dying

that

is

moment.

may

the grace of

God

be with

all,

that preach

the gofpel here. Blefled be

God

his grace has

been with them

is

don't

let

the world fay, he

gone, and

all

the people are gone

now;
don't

24
don't

-^ Faithjtd Minijler's

Ser.

weaken the hands of thofe

here
if
;

that

fhall

labour

fliould

not mention fuch

word

was not going away.

The Lord
fteady,

Jefus Chrift grant that

you may keep

and honor the preachers more and more; there will be good Mr. Adams, bleffed be God, from time to time, with Mr. Beridge, and fo
there will be a bleffed change
:

may

the Spirit

of

God
!

be with them, and you,

more

and

O my

dear friends,

more and if the Lord

labours to

God

has vouchfafed to

own

thefe

any of you, do remember me in a particular manner, when gone; for though my body
has been

weak, yet

thank

God

that
it.

he

has enabled

me
I

to fpeak

when

called to

And
that
I I

fo

muft go, whether well or

fliould pleafe

illj

pray, that

if it

God

to fpare

me,

may

fpeak more effedlually to you,

again
;

-when

come back

pray, that the grace

of the Lord Jefus Chrift may be with

in a reftraining, comforting,

me
me

fupporting, and

transforming way, that

when

am

fick,

may and when I

it

be with
die.

O my
Lord
blefs

brethren, I fee I want the grace of the

Jefus Chrift,
in every

one of thefe
the

refpedls,

every

moment;
that

O may

Lord God
to

you

all

have been kind

me, and

for-

give

Ser.

L
every

Parthig BhJJing.
thing that
I

^^

give
i

have

done

amifs,

am afhamed

of myfelf, fo

much of
I

the mail

comes up with me, though

and dare to
is

humbly hope,

fay,

that at the

bottom

my
fin

heart
it

upright towards

God;
is

would employ

to his praife, but there

fo

much

mixed

with

all I

do, that

was not the blood of Chrift

conftantly applied to

my

foul,

and the grace

of

God

continually manifefted to

me,

could

not preach any more.

things

You may
I

fee a

thoufind

wrong

in

me, but

fee

ten thoufand
he ivith you

more,
all.

may the Grace of God Now, dear friends, farewel

!

dear taber-

nacle,

farewel
j

if I

never preach here any

in a better

more

that

we may meet

ta-

when thefe tabernacles are taken down, when thefe bodies fhall drop, when we
bernacle,
fliall

be for ever with the Lord.

I

mufl have
you, the
I

done,

can't bear it; the

Lord

blefi

Lord God* caufe

our

his face to fiine

I

upon you,

cannot fay more,

dare not

The Grace of

Lord

jefus be 'with you

ally

Amen.

SERMON

26

Chriji the Believers Refuge.

Ser. II,

SERMON
Christ
Psalm
God
is

IL

the Believer's Refuge.

xlvi.

6.

our refuge andflrength^ a very prefeni

in trouble
-^

help

tberejore

ivill ive

not fear,
the

though the eaj'th he re?7toved^

tains
be carried into the
^i^aters

and
and

moun-

midjl of the fea^

be troubled^

though the

thereof roar ^

though the mountai?2S fiake with the fwelling

thereof,

Selah.

There

is

a river, the Jlreams

the city

whereof fiall make glad

holy place

of God, the

of the tabernacles

of the Mojl High

be

God
early,

is

in the

midf of

her, fie fjall not

?noved',

God

fiall help her^

and that right

THERE
was
a
little

was

tradition

ancient Jews, that the

among the manna which

it

came down from heaven, though

grain
like

coriander-feed,

yet

faited every

tafle y as

milk unto babes, and

ftrong

6'er. 11.

Chrijl the Belien^ers Refuge,

27
this

flrong meat to

grown

perfons.

Whether

fuppofition be founded on fadl or not, the ob~

fervation will

hold good in a great meafure

^

refpeding the fayings of David

for
if

if

we
has

have eyes to

fee,

and

ears to hear,

God

been pleafed to take away the

hearts,

veil

from our

we

fiiall

jfind,

by happy experience,
be what they
ferve as a
will,

that let our circumftances

the book of Pfalms

may

fpiritual
fpiri-

magazine, out of which

tual

we may draw

weapons

in the time of the hottefl fight,

efpecially thofe that are

under trouble, 'when

gone

the hand, of the

Lord

is

ktmxn^y
is

forth

againjl them

when

unbelief

apt to

make
tne !
if

them

fay, all thefe things

are againjl

we
the

can have the prefence of mind to turn to

book of Pfalms, we may

find fomething
to

there faitable to our cafe, a

word

refrefh

us in purfuing our fpiritual enemy.

true of the

This

is

46th Pfalm
juft

in particular, part

of

which
I

have

now

read to you. and

which

pmy

the blefied Spirit of

God
It
is

to apply to

every one of our hearts.

uncertain at

what time,
wrote
tion,
it>

upon what occafion, David probably under fome fharp afflicor

or

which made him eloquent;

was
over,

when

the

afflidion

when

his heart

was fwiming

28

Cljriji the

Believers Refuge.

Ser. II.

ing with gratitude and love, and

when

out of

the fulnefs of

it

his
It

ready writer.

pen was made the pen of a was a favourite Pfalrrj with

Luther;

for

whenever Melandthon,
turn,

who

w^as

of a melancholy
friends, told

or any

other of his

him fome
let

fad news, he ufed to

fay,

come, come,

us ling the 46th Pfalm

that,

and when he had fung

quiet.

his

heart
here,
!

was
and

May

every true

mourner

afflided perfon, experience the fame

know
man-

not

when
5

I read

it

v^^hich to
3

admire moft, the

piety, or the poetry

the matter, or the

I

ner
all

and

believe

may

venture

to defy

the criticks on earth to

fhew

me

any com-

pofition of Pindar, or Horace, that

any way
an ear

comes up

to the

didion of
:

this

Pfahii con-

fidered only as
to hear, let

human he him hear, God

that hath
is

our refuge

and
Stop

Jlrength^ a very prejent help in trouble.

here,

my

friends, let

us paufe a while,

and

before
to

we go

further,

may
not

the

Lord help us
very
firil

draw fome comfort from

it
is

this

verfe: for obferve,

faid,

God

is

my
but

refuge

'y

David

fays fo in another Pfalm,

is

he

fays here,

God

our refuge

he fpeaks in

the plural number, implying, that this Pfalm

was of no

private interpretation, but

was

in-^

tended

Ser. II.

Chrijl the Believers Refuge.

29

tended for the comfort and encouragement of

all believers, till

time
is

fhall

be no more. Obferve
is

the climax,

God
but

our refuge^
3

one degree

God is our [irengthy another God is our help^ and

not only
io^
is

a prefenf help^ yea, is

a very

prefent help^ and at a time

in the time of trouble. It

when we want it moft,

here fuppofed, that
all

is

man is born to trouble as the /parks fly upward and if we are born to trouble as men, we are much
God's people
,
*,

will have their troubles,

more

fo

as

chriftians.

We

forget ourfelves,

and the

ftation in

when wx fo much refpite from trouble belov/. The decree is gone

of the Medes and Perfians,
tribulation,
all

which God has placed us, much as begin to dream of having

while

we

are here

forth like the laws

alters

it

not j through

through

go

but blefled
it ^

much tribulation, we muft be God we are to be carried

is

through

and blefled be God, glory

it
:

to

be

the end of

may God
!

give us to

know

this

by happy experience
bleffed
lation

in the worlds fays our

Lord, ye

Jloall

have tribulation^
different kinds
;

tribu-

and trouble of
if

and in

another place,

any

man

will

come ajter

mey fays he,

let
-y

him take up
fo

his crofs dai^y^

and follow me
take

that the vvx

day,

when

we

up no

crofs,

may

fay as Ti^us did,

wnea

30

Chrijl the Believers Refuge,

Ser. 11.

when he
ihall

refleded that he had done no good

that day, I

have

loft

a day! But then

what

we

do,

my

dear hearers,

when

trouble

comes,

when

one trouble comes

after another,

and

afflidions

feem
arife

to

purfue

us wherever

we

go,

feem to
as

up out of the ground,

?

meet us
be God,

we

are walking along

why

bleffed

we have an intereft in Chrift, mind that, if we have an intereft in Chrift, God is our help, God is our afylum, our city of refuge, a place appointed by God himfelf, to which the purfued faints may fly by faith, and be fafe. The wicked have no notion of when they are in trouble, what is their this
if
;

refuge

let

a foul be under fpiritual trouble,

to be

and cry out what Jl^all I do

faved"^

let

him
he

g-o

to a carnal minifter, an unconverted

wretch that knows nothing about the matter,

fhall

be

told,

oh! go, and play an innocent

is

game
fay,

at cards,

and divert yourfelf ; that

to

Wordly people have worldly refuges ; and Cain would feem as if he was in earneft when he faid, my pmiJJmient is greater than I can bear ; what
the devil muft be your refuge.

does he do, he goes and diverts himfelf by

building a city, goes and amufes himfelf by
building.

The

devil,

my

brethren, will give

you

Ser. II.

Chriji the Believer

Refuge,

you

leave to

amufe yourfelves 5 you may have

and the devil
fure

your choice of diverfions, only take care to

be diverted from God,
is

of you; but the believer has fomething better:

faith

fweeps aucay the refuge of

turns to
his

Ites^

and the

believer

God,

and

fliys

O my

Gody thou fialt be my refuge.

fues

The

devil pur-

me,

my

falfe friends

have defigns againft

itfelf

me,

my own

wicked heart

molefts me,
;

my
by

foes are thofe of

my

O'jon

houfe

but

do

thou,

God, be
it

my
faid,

refuge I will fly there

thefe

may be
what
you

God
do

is

our refuge.

The

qaeftion

is,

fhall I

to

make him
?

my
you

refuge

how
fly;

fhall I

be helped to do fo
I
?

bid

me
?

fay,

where
ported

fhall I get

wings

may how

fly

there, but

fhall I

be fupnet

Here

is

a blefled word,

God fhall
?

only be our refuge^

alfo.

hntGodJloallbe our ftrength

is

Strength,

what

flrength

why,
through
^i

my
it ^

brethren, to
to us

make

every day of trouble fo eafy

as to carry us
it,

by

his

power,

God
isy

has faid, and will fland to

thy day

fo Jhall thy ftrength be,

AfHiflions even at

a diftance will appear very formidable,

when

viewed by unbelief.

Our
but

fears fay,

iny

God,

if I

come
bear

to be tried this or that

it ?

way,

how

fhall I

we

don't

know what

32

Chrijl the Believers Refuge.

Ser.

IL

we can bear till the trial comes, and we do not know what ilrength God can give us, or what a ftrong God he will be, till he is pleafed to
put us into a furnace of afflidion; and therefore
it

is

faid,

not only that God

that

is

our refuge
alfo.

and ourjirengthy but

God

is

our help

What

help?

why,

my

dear friends, h^elp to

j

fupport us under the trouble

help fo as to
lafts
;

comfort us
blelTed be
us,
till

as

long as the trouble

and

God,

that the help will never leave

we
it.

are helped

quite over and

quite
is
it ?

through

But what kind of an help

is

bleffed

be God, he

a very prefent

help.

We may
off; I

have an helper, but he

I

may

be afar

may be fick, and may be obliged

might be a help
fhall
if
is

may want

a phyfician,

to fend miles for

one

he

he was here^
at a diftance.
is

but what

do

now he

This can-

not be faid of God, he

not only a help, but

he

is

a prefent help

the gates of the

new Jeruneed not

cannot fay

falem are open flight and day.

be afraid to cry unto

We
we

God

of our
is

God

as Elijah

does of Baal, perhaps he'

afeepy or talking ^ or gone

is

a journey

it is
3

not fo with our God, he

is

a prefnt help
that
is,

he

likewife a fufficient help,

a very

prefent help ^ and that ioo in the time of trouble.

It

Ser. 11.
It IS

Chrijl the Believer' i Refuge.

fliort letter,

33
a fhort

but to fend a

mean

prayer,

upon the wings of

faith

and love,
proha-

and God,
help
turn
us.

my

brethren, will
to this

come down and

affixes his

Now

David
it

efly

David proves
if

by

his

own

experience,

and therefore

God

is

our refuge^ therefore if

Ged
is

is

our Jlre?7gthy if

prefeiit help,

God is our help, if God if God is a very frefent helpy

trouble, w^hat

and that too in a time of

therefore will
inference,

then
is

we

not fear.

Therefore,

an

and

it is

a very natural one, a con-

clufion

naturally
;

premifies

for

Paul

drawn from the foregoing fays, if God be for us, who

is

can be againjl us? There

to faith than fervile

not a greater

enemy

fear

and unbeHef.

Mv
;

brethren, the devil has got an advantage over

us

when he

has brought us into a ftate of fear

indeed in one fenfe

we
;

fhould always
ble/fed is the
:

fear,

mean with
this

filial

fear

7nan, in

fenfe, that feareth always

but,

my

bre?

thren, have
this forbids

we

ftrong faith in a
;

God

of refuge

us to fear
?

fays

Nehemiah,

JJoall

fuch a man as Iflee

fay,
I

and the Chriftian

?

may
fliall

fhall a believer in Jefus Chrifl fear

me ? fhall I fear that my God will not fuccour me ? no, fays Davidj we will not fear j how fo ? why though
fear that

my God

will leave

ths

34

Cbrijl the Believers Refuge.

Ser.

IL

the mountains be carried into the midfi of thefeay

though the ^waters thereof roar and be troubled^,

though
thereof

the

mouv.taijis JJoake
is

with the fwelling

is

Where
let

Horace, where

Pindar,,

now

them come here and throw

their
Ifrael.

palms down before the fweet finger of

There

is

not fuch a bold piece of imagery in

in the world.
great,

any human compofition

Can

any thing appear more

able than this
?

more
it

confider-

Imagine

how

was with us
fool

fome

years

ago,

when an

enthuliaftic
;

threatened us with a third earthquake

imagine

how
earth

it

was with us when

at that

God

fent us the
5

fame year two dreadful earthquakes

been
tim.e

had the
fea

not only fhook, but

removed, had the fountains of the

the mountains of England before
dreadful tremor mull:

been
all

permitted to break in upon us, and carry

it,

what a
the

we

all

unavoidably have

been
cafe,

in

David fuppofes
I

that this

may be
it

and

believe at the great day

it:

will

be

fomething hke
therein, are to

the earth and

^

all

things

be burnt up
if

and,
is

my

brethren,

what
if

fliall
is

we do then
apply

God
?

not our refuge,

God

not our ftrength

it

We

may

to

civil

commotions

David had

lately

been befet with the Philiftines,.

Ser. II.
tines,

Chrijl the Believers Refuge.

and other enemies, that threatened to deprive him of his Hfe 5 and there are certain
times

when we
:

fliall

be

left

alone.

This

alfo,

my

brethren,

may
?

be applied to creature-

comforts

fometimes the earth feems to be re-

moved, what then

take delight
in,

why

all

the friends
friends,

we
our

our moft familiar

foul-friends, friends

by nature, and

friends

by

may be removed from us by the ftroke we know not how foon that ftroke of death may come, it may come at an hour we thought
grace,
5

not of;

the

mountains themfelves,

all

the

things that feem to furround and promife us a

lafting fcene

of comfort, they themfelves

fight,

may

foon be removed out of cur

fhall

what then

we do

they
is

may

be carried into the ?nidji

ofthefea-,

what

that?

our friends

may be

laid in the filent grave,

and

the places that k?2ew

It is cafy talk-

them may know the?n no more.

ing,

but
:

it is

not fo eafy to bear up under thefe

faith,
all

things
fay,

but

my

brethren, teaches us to
are

though

friends

gone, bleffed be
a noble
lady's

God, God
weeping
dren,

is

not gone.

As

daughter told

her

mother,

when

fhe
little

was
chil-

for the death

of one of her

a daughter
is

four

years old faid,

Dear
fo

mamma,

God Almighty F 2

dead, that you cry

36
fo long

Chrijl the Believers Refuge.

after

Ser. II.

my

fifter

No, he

is

not dead,

neither does he lleep.

But here the imagery

ftronger,

grows bolder, the painting

thereof roar
tains

and the

refemblance more ftriking, though the waters

and

be

troubled^

though the inoim^^

fhake
this

with the fwelling thereof

what

won't

make
?

us fearful

will not this fhake

us off our bottom, our foundation, and take

up

the roots

No,

no, even then the believer

is

need not fear; why, God

in the midfl

of her.

Don't you remember

of the
call

God

fpoke to Mofes out

bufli

did he ftand at a diftance, and

the
fes !

him at a diftance from the bufh ? no, voice came out of the bufh, Mofes I Moto
as

Mr. Ainfworth, who was a

fays.

fpiritual

critic,

Learn from hence, that in

I

all our afflictions

God

is afflicted'^
!

he

is

in the midft of the bufh-^

and oh

it is

a fweet time with the foul

God
is

fpeaks to

him
it

out of the
talks

under afHidion, and

when bufh, when he to him all the

fire

while.

Though

was threatened by the

with immediate and

which furrounded
defolation
cojijumed,
3

it

total
7iot

yet the bufj burned^

I

and was
I told

do not know whether

you,

but

I believe I told

them

at

Tottenham-court,
chriftian has got

and perhaps here, that every

Sa*. II.

Chrijl the Believers Refuge.

it

37

a coat of arms, and I will give

Chrift*s

you out of
bii/h-,

heraldry,
is

that

is

the burning

every chriftian

burned, but not confumed*

is
5

But hov^

is

it

the faint

held up, whence

or

does he get

this

ftrength

how
little

is

this

ftrength, this fupporting, comforting ftrength,

conveyed to

his heart

read a

further,

you

fliall

find

David
is

fay,

there

is

a river^

mind

that,

there

a river the ftreams whereof God^ the holy place of

of make glad the

city

the tabernacles of the Moji

High

need

I tell

you, that probably here

fituation

is

an allufion to the

of Jerufalem,

and the waters of

Shiloah, that flowed gently through the city

of Jerufalem, which the people found fweet

and

refrefliing in the

time of

its

being befieged.
cities

So the

rivers

run through moft of the

in

Holland, and bring their commodities even to

the doors of the inhabitants.
Pray,
I

what do
believe
that
is

you think

this

river

is?

why,
;

it

means the covenant of grace

river,

the fprings of

which

firfl

burft out in

Paradife,

when God

faid, the feed

;

of the

pall

bruife the ferpenfs head

then

woman God made

as the

this river vifit the

firft

habitation of

man,

opening of his everlafting covenant.

No

Chrifl the Believers Refuge,

Ser. II.

No
even

fooner had the devil betrayed

man, and
pit,

thought he was fure to get him into the

when he was
him

laughing at man's mifery,

and thinking he was revenged of

driving

God

for

out of heaven

at that very

time

did the great

it

God open

this river,

and made

flow

down

in that bleffed ilream to

man-

kind, implyed in thofe words, // JJoall bruife

thy head,

this

is

a ftream which, I pray,

this part

may

this night

make glad
then,

of the

city

of God.

If by the river

we

underiland the
brethren,

covenant of grace,
frojnifes of
it.

my

the

God
is

are the ftreams that flow

in the Bible
5

from

There

no promife

made
the

to an unbeliever, but to a believer

all

promifes of

God

are his,

and no one knows,

it,

but the poor believer that experiences

glad
it

how
s

makes

his heart.

God

only fpeaks one

for

fingle
if

word, or applies one

one's

fingle promife

when

heart

is

overwhelmed
if a

with

forrow,

we

find relief

by unfolding
;

ourfelves

to a faithful difinterefted friend

word of
what

comfort fometimes gives us fuch fupport from

a minifl:er of Chrift,

O my
!

friends,

fupport mufl: a promife from

the foul give? and this
fay,

God

applied to

made

a good

v/oman
mifes

have

oft

had a

blelTed

meal on the pro-

Ser.II.

Chrijl the Believer

Refuge,

39

mifes,

when
for

have had no bread to make a

meal

my

body.
river

But by the

we may

likewlfe underIf

ftand, the Spirit

of the living God.

Chrifl: declared at

you

remember, Jefus
day of the
of his
thisy
feaft,

the great

if any

man

believe on jne^ out

belly JJ^all

flow rivers of living

wafer

faith the

beloved difciple, /pake he of the

fi:ould

Spirit^
receive.

which they that believe on him

My

brethren,

the divine influences

are not only a conduit, but a

river

deep

river,

of broad waters.

Here

is

room

for the

babes to walk, and for the

man of God
to time
5

to

bathe and

fwim

in

from time

and
of

fuppoling that the river means the Spirit

God,

as I believe really

it

does,

why

then the

ftreams that flow from this river are the

means

of grace, the ordinances of God, which

God

makes
his

ufe of as channels,

whereby

to

convey

bleffed Spirit to

the foul.

Nay, by the
is

river

we may underftand,
This

Godhimfelf'^Aio

the

believer's river,

the Three-one, Father, Son,

river
is

and Holy Ghofl.

the city,

in the

midft of
tov/n

not at the court-end of the

only, or one corner, or end, but quite through,

in a variety

of ftreams,
to
it

fo that
;

high and low

may come

for fupply

and not only be

fupported;,

40

Chrtft the Believers Refuge.

Ser.

IL

fupported,

but have their hearts

-,

made

glad

daily thereby

God

help us to drink afrefh of

cafe,

this river. If this

be the

well

may David
in

triumph and
the
city

fay, glorious things

are fpoken of the

of God-, are

fpoken of her^
is

feminine gender.

The church
believers
;

fpoken of in
v^oman, was
apply
this

that fenfe, becaufe Eve, the

firfl:

the mother of

all

we may

to a fingle faint,

as well as to a community,
fl.^e

under trouble,

JJ:all

7iot

be moved-,

not
?

moved ?
it

pray,

would you have them

ftupid

do you love when you

ftrike a child, to fee

hardened and regardlefs? do you not hke

it

the child fhould fmart under

and

cry,

and
wifli

when

it

is

little

penitent,
it

you almoft

you had not ftruck

at all.

God

expeds,

when he
and there

flrikes,
is

that

we

fhould be

moved
to

not a greater iign in a reprobate

heart of a foul given over by

afflI(Sion

God,

have
like

upon

afftidion,

and yet come out

a Jool brayed
dened.

in a mortar,

unmoved and
is

har-

My
or
Jefus
;

brethren,

this

the worft fign

of a

man

woman's being given over by

was moved, w^hen he was under
father
!

God.
the rod

he

cries,

if it be

foffible,

let

this Clip pafs from

me I he was moved
falling to the

fo as to

fhed

tears, tears

of blood,

ground.

Wo

Ser.

IL

Chrij} the Believer's Refuge.

^j

Woe, woe, woe

at the

be to

us, if

when God knocks

fo-*
I

door by fome Ihocking domeftic or

trial,

reign

we

don't fayj

my God
?

my God

wherefore doft thou ftrike

lick

When we
3

arc

we

allow
it

phyficians to feel our pulfe,

whether
are fick,
feel

be high or languid
tried

and when we
it is

and

with

affliction,

time to

our pulfe, to fee if

we were

not going into

a high fever, and do not want

purge.
It is
y

fome

faiutary

expeded

therefore that

we

fhould

murmuring way Job was moved^ and God knows w^hen we are under the rod, we are all moved more than we ought to be in a wrong way ^ but when it is fiid here, Jl:e Jloall not be movcd^
fpeak^ but not in a
:

be moved

we may

it

implies,

not

totally

removed; perplexed^
i

fays the apoflle, but not in defpair

perjecuted^
1

but 7iotJorfaken

caft

down, but not deployed

:

therefore removal

means deflrudion

when

the

earth

is

moved^ the moimtainsfiake^ and the

waters roar^ where can

fee

we
is

flee

what can we
?

but deflrudlion

all

round us

But,

mv

brethren, fmce there

a river the Jlr earns

whereof make glad the

is

city

of God^ fince God

iinca
help^

our refuge^ fince

is

God
fince

our help^ fince

is

God is our firength^ God is a prefent

God

a very prefent help in the time cf

trouble^

42

Chrijl the Believers Refuge,

Ser. II.

trouble^ fince

God
fliall

is

in the midjl of her^ fince

God

caufes the Jlr earns to

make her glady

blefled
totally

be God,

we

not,

my brethren,
itfelf

be

moved
grifly

-,

nay, though death

does remove
terrors,
all

our bodies, though the king of

king, fhould

that
his

Hiafts, yet in the

come armed w^ith rnidft of death we are

in fleep, the foul

in lije^

even then we Jloall not be moved^ even though

the body
is

removed

is

gone

where

it

Ihall

be forrowful no more.
that

One
faid

would have imagined

he
repeats
it

David had
goes
in an

enough, but pray obferve

again, for

how he when we are

on,

un-

believing frame

we have need of line upon line^ words upon words, God JJmll help her 5 ah but when ? v/hen ? when will he help her ? when will he help her? why, right early-y God fdall help ber^ and that 7'ight early. Why fometimes we knock for a friend, but he will not get up early in the morning, but Godfliall
!

help us^

and that right

you,
I

early,

in the

mornings

Ah

but, fay
;

have been under trouble

is

a long while

why

God's morning
j

not

come

'you faid right early

yes^

but you are not yet

till

prepared for
right

it,

you muft wait

the precious

moment comes, and you may be affured of it. God never gives you one doubt more
than

Ser. II.

Chrijl the Believers Refuge.

43

than you want, or even defers help one

mo-

ment longer than

it

ought to be.
hearers, if thefe things are

Now, my dear fo, who dares call

If thefe things are
believer
?

the Chriilian a
fo,

madman

who would
be a

but be a
fol-

lower of

who would not the fon of God ?

faithful

My
is

brethren,

did

you

ever hear any of the devil's children

com;

pofe an ode, that the devil

our refuge

the

God

of

this

world,

whom we
to

have ferved fo

heartily,

we have found
?

be a prefent help

in time of trouble

ah

a prefent help to help

us after the devil

or did

you ever

hear, fince

the creation, of one fingle

fay, that
all

man

that dared to

the forty-fixth pfalm

it is

was founded
fact,

on a

lie ?

No,

founded on matters of

and therefore
joy, although
that
I,

believer, believer, I
it
is

wifh you pray God,

a tautology.
till

l'

from

this

time forth
trouble,

we

die,

you and

when under
let

may

fay with Luther,

jcome

us iing the forty-fixth pfalm.

As
to

for
?

you

that are wicked,

in

what

fliall I
;

fay

you

are

you

high

fpirits to

night

has

curiofity

brought you here to hear what the

?

babler has to fay on a funeral occafion

I

well,

am

glad to fee

you

here,

though

have

fcarce strength

to fpeak for the

violence of

the

44
the heat,

Chrijl the Believers Refuge.

Ser. II.

yet I

pray

God
5

to

magnify his

flrength in

my

weaknefs

and

may

the

God
to

of

all

mercy over-rule
I

curiofity for

good

you.

intend to fpeak about this death to

;

the furviving friends

but,

my

dear hearers,

the grand intention of having the funeral fer-

mon
Give

to night,

is

to teach the living

tell

how

to die.

me

leave to

you, that however brifk

you may be now, you you

will v/ant

God

pulpit
;

may

e'er

come when to be your help. Some long be hung in mourning for

there will a time

the black,

the dreary

appendages of

death

may
',

e'er

long be
in a

brought to your
high fphere, fome

home

and if you move

as

fdch efcutcheon

this,

fome atchievement

may
not

be placed at your door, and woe, woe,

to thofe

woe be
fchemes

who
my

in

an hour of death can-

fay,

God
as

is

refuge.
after

You may form

you have been

you pleafe;

may retreat into another; you may fay, now I will iing a requiem to my heart, and now I fhall have fome pleafant feafon ; but if God loves
driven out of one fool's paradife, you

you he
you

will

knock

oft

your hands from

rofes,

that,

fhall

have thorns even in

and

it

will

imbitter your comforts.

what

will

you do
heats

wh^a

the

dements

(hall

melt with fervent

S^r. II.

Chrijl the Believer's P^cfuge.

4^
furni-

heat
ture,
fliall

when
fhall

this earth,

with
;

all its fine

be burnt up

when

the archangel

cry,

tiTiie Jhall

be no

more! whither then,

ye wicked ones, ye unconverted ones, will ye

flee for

refuge
:

O,

fays one,

I will fly to the

mountains

O filly fool, O
O,
fool,

Ally fool, fly to the

mountains, that are themfelves to be burnt up

and moved.
fea;

fays you,

I will flee

to the

pot
will

O O

you
then

that will

be boiling like a
;

I will flee to

the elements
I

they

be melting with fervent heat.

can fcarce

bear this hot day, and

how

can you bear a hot

element

there

is

no fan

there, not a

drop of
fly to
:

water to cool your tongue.

the

Will you

moon
fl:and
:

that will be turned into blood

will
fall

you

by one of the

fl:ars ?

they will

away
that!

know
is

but of one place you can go

5

to, that

to the devil

God keep you from

lies,

Happy
help

they that draw this inference;

fince every thing elfe will be a refuge of

God

me
be

to

me from this moment, God help m.ake God my refuge here you can
!

never

fail

your expedations here can never high

5

raifed too

but if you

fl;op fliort

of

this,

as the

Lord

liveth^ in

whofe name I
;

fpeak,

you

will only be a fport for devils

a
to

day of judgment will be no day of refuge

46

Chrijl the Believer

Refuge,

Ser.

IL

you, you will only be

fummoned
fentence,

like a cri-

minal that
receive

lias

been

caft already, to the bar to

the

dreadful

Depart^ ye

ciirfedy into everla/ling fire^

prepared for the

devil

and his angels. There

is

no

river to

make
were

glad the inhabitants of hell,

no ftreams to
:

cool
thofe

them

in

that fcorching element

who
as
!

are in hell to

have fuch an

offer

of

mercy
rattle

you have,

how would
!

their chains

how would

they

come with
was

the flames

of hell about

their ears

how would

they re-

joice even there, if a minifter

to tell

them.

Come, come,
lions
river here
to

after

you have been here milfhall

and millions of years, there

come
and oh

a
is
!

make you

glad.

But the day

:

over

God

help us to take warning

ihould

with

vv^hat gratitude

we approach him

to night, for bearing with, and for for-bear-

ing us io long
I out

let

each fay to night,

I

why am

of hell
I

how came
many

not to be damned,
elfe

when

have made every thing

years
?

my God,
goodnefs

my

refuge, for fo

May
:

lead every unconverted foul to repentance,

and
fly,

may God

love conftrain us to obedience

fly,

help thee to

fly,

flnner

hark

hear the

word of the Lord,

fee the

world confumed, the

is

avenger of blood, thisgrirn death,

juft at

thy

heels.

SiM". II.

Chrijl the

Bat ever s Refuge.

this

47
take

heels,

and

if

thou doft not

moment

refuge in God, to-night before to-morrow, you

may
yet
love,

be

damned

for ever

the arms of Jefus

lie

open, his loving heart yet ftreams with

and bids a hearty welcome to every poor

is

foul that

feeking happinefs in God.

i'oul

May
may

God

grant that every unconverted

be of the happy number.

But,
this

my

brethren, the mofl: heavy tafk of

lies

night yet

unperformed

indeed, if

my friendfliip
to
is
it,

for the deceafed did not lead

j

me

fhould pray to be excufed

my

body

fo

weak,

my

nerves

fo

unftrung, and the

heat beats too intenfely on this tottering frame,

for
I

me to am fure
;

give fuch a vent to

I fliould give
if I

my
was

affedions as
in vigorous
I

health

you may

eafily fee,

though

have
I

not

made

that application, with

;

what defign
eafily fee

have chofe this Pfalm

the
turn, I

you may

by

hope no unnatural one,

as

that has

been given to the text

that
I

we have
think

pafled along,

have had

in

my

view a mournful wid^ov/

I

here before me.

furniture

Did

when

was taken from the pulpit

off"

bkck when two

this
I

branches were lopt

after another,

within about a year one

both lopt off from on earth,

to

hope and believe

be planted for ever in

48
heaven,

Chrijl the Believers Refuge.

little

Ser.

IL

did I think that the axe was in

a few months time to be laid to the root of the

father
;

little

did I think that this pulpit

in

was

then to be hung

mourning

for the dear, the

generous, the valuable, the univerfally

volent,

beneevery

Mr. Beckman

a benefadtor to
;

body, a benefactor to the Tabernacle

largely contributed both to the

he has

Chapel and Ta-

bernacle,

and,

my

dear

hearers,
is

now

his

works follow him,

grave.

for

he

gone beyond the

Such a

fingular circumftance I believe

rarely happens, that

though

was

laft

night

at near eleven o'clock

dead almoft with heat,

confequence, I
laft

I thought if death was the

would go
at

to the grave

and have the

;

look
vault

my

dear departed friend

;

to fee a

new

opened

to fee a place of

which he has been,

5

in a great meafure, the founder

to fee a place

which he was enlarging

died
'y

at the

very time he
firfl:

to fee a nev/ vault there father,

inhabited
all

by the

and two only

fons,

and

put
!

there in the fpace of

two
for

years time.

Oh
3

it

was almoft too much

me,

it

weighed
day

me
and

down,

it

kept

me

in

my bed
grant

all this
it

now

have

rifen,

God

may

be to give

a feafonable word

to your fouls.

Oh

my
vmg

friends, put yourfelves

in the ftate of a furvi-

Ser. II.

Chrtjl the- Believer's Refuge.

49
from

ving widow, and then fee

cutting providences.

who
5

is

fecure

The

very children

when

they are young are a

trial

but

the young
5

man

for

whom
the

handiome fortune awaited

to have

for a tender loving fluher to have his fon taken

away;
taken

for

widow
after
;

the hufband

away foon

indeed, dear
forty-fixth

madam,
^

you had need read the

Pfalm

you
the are

may

well fay, call

me

no more Nao??ii^ that

fignifies pleafant,

but call

me Marah^ for
7ne,

Lord hath
eft
faints.

dealt bitterly

with

Thefe

flrokes that are not always given to the great-

Such fudden

ftrokes, fuch
is

blow

upon blow,
refuge,

Oh

if

God

not a ftrength and

it ?

how

can the believer fupport under

I

but bleffed be the living God,

God
that

has

been your ftrength,

has

am a I am
;

witncfs
witnefs

God
I

been your refuge

have,
in

you have
that there

found,
is

know you
fome

already,

a river ^ a river
for

which you have fwam

whereof make
I ftiall

now

years, thejlrea?ns

glad your waiting heart.

forget

Surely

never

the mom.ent

in

which
be

viiited

your

deceafed huft)and,

when

the hiccoughs came,

to
really

and death was fuppofed

fee the difconfolate

come,

to
the.

v/idow flying out of

room, unable

to

bear the fight of a departing

hufband

5a
hufband

Ckriji the BeUever''s Refuge,

:

Ser.

IL

know that God was then your refuge, and God will continue to be your reYou are now God's peeuliar care, and fuge. as a proof that you will make God your refuge, you have chofen to make your firft appearI

ance in the houfe of God, in the Tabernacle^

where

hope God delights

never leave

to

dwell,
I

and
hope

where you met with God, and which

you
will
till

hence.

V/hatever
are

trials

God removes you may yet await you,

remember you
liar care.

now become God's pecubefore a hufband to plead

is

You had
;

for

you

he

is

gone, but your pleader

not

dead, he

lives,

and

will

plead your caufe^

may you

fiad

him
>

better to

you than ten thouthe awful

fand hufbands

may he make up
has

chafm that
portion to

dea.th

made,

and

may

the

Lord God be your

all

refuge in time, and your

y

eternity

and then you will have

are properly a Naofni ^

a bleiTed change.

You

I would humbly hope that your daughter-inlaw,

which

fo lately

ime

nature, will

met with a ftroke of the prove a Ruth to you, and

though young, and having a fortune, fhe

be tempted
1 hope
file

may
yet

to

take a walk

in-

the world,

will fay,

where

thou goe/Iy
y.

I will
pie

go

where thou

lodgejl^

will lodge

thy peo-

Ser. II.

Chrijl the Believer^ s Refuge,

51
;

pie Jhall be

God my God where thou diejl^ will 1 die^ and there rSill I the Lord do fo tomey and more alfo^ he buried It is to if ought but death part thee and me. your honour, madam, and I think it right to
people y a7id thy
^y

my

fpeakofit, you had the fmiles of your departing father-in-law, you had behaved with deference and love
;

he was very fond of you

and

God make you a comfort to mother^ who has adopted you,

Lord Jefus Chrifl enable you
be your portion.

your furviving

to

may the take God to

As

for

you that
is

are the relations of the de-

ceafed, there

one of you that has been ho-

nourably called to the fervice of the m.iniflry

you,
uncle,
fir,

was

fent for over

by an endearing

you have been a

hope, blefied
in.

ftranger in a flrange

land: the Palatines will blefs your man iftryj

God
that

has,

it,

and provided you

grant that

a place to preach

May God
filled

church
his

may
;

be

with

his prefence

and

glory

and you,

madam, be made
news
that
to

the inftrument of fending the

heaven

-to your hufoand, that this

and

man was
the other

born oj

God

there.

As

for you,

friends of the deceafed,

may God
2

grant that

when you

die,

and when you are buried, the

peo-

52
people

Chrijl the Believer's Refuge^

Ser. II.

may

follow you with tears as they did

lail night.

dear Mr.

Beckman
morning
it

was

told

by

one

this

that

walked along with the

to hear

funeral, that

was delightful

what

the people faid

when

the coffin pafled by

they bleffed the perfon contained therein,

Oh

he was
indeed

a father to the poor.

loft a friend
;

The

poor have

and

believe there has

not been a man, a tradesman in London, for

thefe

many
well

years,

that has been

more lamented

than the dear

You

man who now, I hope, is at reft. know how mindful he has been of
after the deceafe

you, and that foon

confolate

of his

dif-

widow,

his fubftance

will be divi-

ded among fome of you.

Give

me

leave to

charge and intreat you, by the mercies of

God
uncle

in Jefus Chrift, to be kind to the honoured

widow.
i?

Don't

fay,

Mr. Beckman

my

dead,
is

ihe

come pluck up, let us plague her now living, we fliall have all when flie is

dead.

The
:

plague of

God

will follow

you

if

you do if you valued your dear uncle, do all you can to make her life eafy ; pay her that refpedl which you would pay the deceafed was
be now
living
3

this

will

fhew your love

is

genuine, and not counterfeit, and do not lay up

wrath againft

the (jay cj ivrath.

Follow the
ex-

Ser. 11.

Chrijl the Believer's Refuge.

53

example of your dear deceafed uncle; the gentleman was vifible in him as well as the
chriftian
in
;

he would be

in his

warehoufe early

the morning, that he

his

might come foon to country-houfe, and there employ himfelf

life,

in his friendly

and open the door

It is

to

the

difciples of Jefus.

time to draw to an end,

to the fervants of the

but

will fpeak a

word
a

family,
tcr.

who have loft May the Lord

that

good and a dear mafChrift

Jefus

be your

mailer for ever,

fervants,
this

you may be the Lord's however you may be difpofed of in

;

world

that

your

miftrefs,

you may meet your mafter, and all the family, in the king-

dom

of the living God, then

eternity to refled

we

fhall

have a

whole

upon the goodnefs of

help us to fing
find

a gracious God.
the forty-fixth

may God Pfalm may v/e

;

him

to

be

our Jlrength and our refuge^ a very prefent help

in
the time of trouble
;

may
all

the river of the

living

God make
Jefus,

glad your hearts,

to

and

may

you be with

God

eternity; even fo^

Lord

Amen

and Amen,

SERMON

54

SERMON
Soul Profperity.
3 Epiftle

III.

John

ii.

Beiovedy

iioijh

above

all things

that thou

mayjl profper^ and be in healthy even as thy

foul profperetb.

WHAT
there
in
it.

a horrid blunder has one of

the famous, or rather infamous, dewriters

iftical

made, when he
of God,

fays,

that the gofpel cannot be

is

becaufe

no fuch thing

as friendship

mentioned

Surely if he ever read the gofpel, hav-

ing eyes he Jaw not^ having ears he heard not

but

I believe

the chief reafon

is,

his heart being

waxen
this
is

grofs,

he could not underftand; for

that the

fo far

from being the cafe,

world

never yet faw fuch a fpecimen of fteady and

difinterefted friendfhip, as
life,

was difplayed

in the

example, and conduft of Jefus of NazaJohn,

reth.

Sfer. III.

Soul Profperit)\

5^

John, the writer of this epiftle, had the honour of leaning on his bofom, and of being
called,

by way of emphafis, the difdple

',

'who?n
is

Jefiis loved

and that very

difclple,

which

very remarkable concerning him, though he

was one of thofe

denly,

whom the Lord himfelf named

Mark
iv.

Sons of Thunder,
as

17.

and was

fo fud-

bifliop Hall obferves, turned into a

fon of lightning, that he

would have
confume
his

called

down
ter's

fire

from heaven

to

Maf-

enemies;

confequently, though he

was

of a natural

fiery

temper, yet the change in

his heart was fo remarkable, that if a judgment

may
fall

be formed by his writings^ he feems as

if

of lovcy
apoftle?.

not

fuller,

than any of his felpity

low

He

learned

and benevo-

lence of the father of mercies > and to fliovv

how

chriflian friendfliip

is

to be cultivated,

h^
but
to

not only wrote

letters to

churches in

genei-al^

even to thofe he never faw in the

private letters to particular
faints,,

ftefh,

friends

whom
friends,

he was attached, and wealthy rich

whom God
it

had, by his Spirit, raifed

diftreffed.

up

to be

helpers of the
us, if

Happy

would

be for

we

could
is

all

learn that

fimplicity of heart
particular

which
happy

difplayed in thefe

words

>

if

we

could learn i\m

one

5^
one
rule,

Soul Profperify,
never to write a
it;

Ser. III.

letter
for,

without fomeas

thingof Jefus Chrift in

obferves,
if

Mr. Henry
if

we

are to anfwer for idle words,

much more

for idle letters;

and

God

has

given us our pens, efpecially if he has given us

the pen of a ready writer^
it

will be

happy

if

we

can improve

our literary correfpondence

for his glory

and one another's good.

ftile,

But
to

what an
Gains.
the

unfafliionable
is

if

compared

our modern ones,

that

of the apoftle to

The
there

fuperfcription

well-beloved
;

from the elder to Gaius^ who??i I love in the

language for you
!

truth

is

fine

Many

who
that^

call

themfelves Chrift's difciples, would

fo
^y

be afhamed to write

and

the other

I fend this, and I fend my compliments

now.
himfelf,

Obferve what he

fliles

not as the

pope ;* but he

fliles
is

himfelf the elder.

A
all

juthe

dicious expofitor

of opinion, that

other apoftles were dead, and only poor John

left
*'

behind.
taller

remember

remark of

his,

we grow, the lower we fliall (loop." The apoftle puts himfelf upon a level with the common elders of a church,
the
*^

that
* Whether Univerfal BIfhop, or Vicar of Chrift, Supreme Hefid, Lord or Governor of the World, or a more blafphe3noiis title, is uncertain, the writer not hearing dillinftly the Latin words in which it was expreficd.

Sen

III.

Sold Profpcj^ity.

vj

that he

might not feem

as a lion,

to take ftaceupon

him,

not to rule

but with a rod of love;

the elder to the well-beloved

Gains y 'whom 1

love

in

the truth.

This Gaius feems

to be in our

modern language, what we

mi7ie hoji

call a

gentleman,

particularly remarkable for his hofpitality, Gaius

'y

and

this

Gaius was well-beloved,

-,

not

only beloved, but well-beloved

that

is,

one

who
is

I greatly

efteem and

am

fond of; but

then he fhows us likev/ife upon what this fondnefs

founded,
are a great

There

whom I love many people

in

the

truth.
fliy,

in waiting
_)Wt'r

dear fir y ox good fir^ and fubfcribe

jervant^ fir
\

humble

and not one word of truth either

in the beginning or

end

but John and Gaius's

love

was

in truth,
;

not only in words, but in

as if

deed and in truth

he had

faid,
I

my

heart

goes along with

my
or

hand while

am

writing,

and

it

gives
as

me

pleafure in fuch a correfpon-

dence

this,
is,

whom I
I

love

for the truth's

fake^ that
larly

whom

love for being particu;

attached to

the truth

and then

our
the

friendfliip has a

proper foundation,
Spirit
it.

when

love of
is

God, and the

of the Lord Jefu%

the bafis and bond of

One would
epiftles

think

this

was enough now; the

originally
that

were not divided

into verfes as
I

now

pcopie

58
pie

Soul Profperity.

Ser. III.

may

the better find out particular places,

fo properly as

though perhaps not altogether

they might.

The
;

apoftle's faying beloved is

not neediefs tautology, but proves the ftrength

of his

afFeftion

I wiflj that

thou mayft pro/per y

end

be in healthy
it

even as thy foul profperefh,

felt

Gaius,

feems, at this time

or a bad habit of

a
^

weak
this

qdfn-

ilitution,

body

may
be

fhow, that the moft

favourites

ufeful perfons, the choiceft

of heaven, muft not expeft

to

without the

common
from

infirmities

of the

human
weakly

frame

fo far

this,

that

it is

often found

that a thoufand ufeful Chriftians have

.

conftitutions.
Ifrael,

That
I

great

and fweet finger of

Dr. Watts,

remember about two and

'

thirty years
I

ago told

me

that

he had got no

fleep for three

months, but what was procured

exquifite art

by the moft
phyficians;

of the moft eminent

and,

my

dear hearers, none but

thofe that have fuch habits of

body can fymunder

pathize

with thofe that

are

them.

When we
might do

are in high fpirits

if they

would,
cannot

we think people but when brought

;

down

ourfelves

we

but notwithftand-

ing his body was in this condition, his foul

profpered fo eminently, fo very eminently^ that

the apoftle could not think
it

a greater mercy, or

Ser. III.

^oul Profperify.

59

or the church a greater bleffing, than that his

bodily

health might
I

be as vigorous

as

the

health of his foul.

nel

remember the

great colo-

Gardiner,

who had

the honour of being

killed in his country's caufe, clofes

laft letters to

one of his

me, with

wifliing I

might enjoy
;

a thriving foul in a healthy

body

but

this is

peculiar

to the followers

of Jsfus, they find

the body
is

the foul profpers mod:

and obferve,
above
all

when he wifhes him

that

worft

a profpering

body

things,

he might have joy and

-,

health with a profperous foul

a

for if
at

we have
the fame

good

heart,

and good health

time, and our hearts are alive to

God, we go
that the foul
a partaker

on with a
of man
a divine
all.

frefli gale.

I obferve,

in general
life

muft be made
it

of

before

can be faid to profper at

our text are particularly
is

The words of
God.
as

applicable to a renewed heart, to one that

really alive to

When

a tree

is

dead
it,

we

don't fo
fee

much
is

expedl leaves from

nor to

any beauty

at all in a plant or

flower that

we know

abfolutely dead

and therefore the

lies

foundation of the apoflle's wifli

here, that

the foul of Gains, and confequently the fouls

of
to

all

true

believers,

have

life

communicated

them from

the

Spirit
I

of the living God.

Such

to
Such a
life

Soul Profperity.

Ser. III.

may God
!

of his

infinite

mercy im-

part to each of us

and

think, if I

am

not

miftaken, and I beheve I

that I

may

venture to fay
life
is

am

not,

that

where the divine

implanted by the Spirit of the hving God, that

life

admits of decreafe and increafe, admits of

dreadful decays, and alfo of

vivings.

fome

blelTed relife

The
new

rays
it

of the divine
will

being
eternal

once implanted,
life
',

grow up
is

to

the

creation

juft like

the

old

when God
light,

faid let there he lights

there

was

which never ceafed

fince

the univerfe

was made, and the

born.

favourite creature

man was

Upon
;

a furvey of his ov^n works,

God
into

pronounced every thing g^od, and entered

his refi
fo
it

will be with all thofe

who

are
'The

made

partiukets

of the divine nature,

JJjall be

icatcr that

jail give him, If

a well of

water [fringing up

into everlajling life.

firft

My

brethren,
till

from our

coming
it

into

the world,
rits of jiif

our pafling out of

to the fpi-

men made perjeB,

all

the

Lord's

Children have found, fome more, and others

lefs,

that they have

had dreadful

as

well as
to

bleffed times,

and

all

has been over-ruled

bring

them

nearer unto

God

but

believe, I
if it

am

fure, I

fpeak to fome this night, that

was

Ser.III.

Soul Profperity.
to their choice,

6i
that

was put
pounds

had rather know

their fouls profpered, than to have ten thoufand

left

them

and
it

it is

fuppofed that

we

may may know

fays,

not only

know

ourfelves, but that others

as

it,

that their profiting^

to all.

Paul

may appear

Becaufe John fays,

that thy body

/ wifl:) above

all thiiigs^

may
all

be in

healthy as thy fitd profpers.

O may
!

that

converfe with us fee

it

in us

We
if

quently

fit

under the gofpel, but

may frewe don't

take a great deal of care, however orthodox

we

are,

we

fhall fall into pradtical

Antinomi-

anifm, and be contented that

we were con-

verted twenty or thirty years ago, and learn,

as

fome Antinomians,

God, fay fome,

Thank we met with God fo many

to live by faith.

months ago, but

ther they
is

are not at

all folicitous
;

whe-j

meet with him any more

and therd
is

not a fingle individual here that

favingly

acquainted with Jefus Chrift, but wifhes his

foul profpered

more than
is,
?

his body.

The
that

great queftion
foul profpers

how

fliall

know
and

my
is

have been told that

there

fuch a thing as
it

knowing

this,

that I can be confcious of

too.
lay
It

myfelf, and others

may

not be mifpending an hour, to

down fome marks whereby we may know

whe-

6z
whether our

Soul Trofperity.
fouls profper or no.

Sen

III.

If there be

any of you of an Antinomian turn of mind,

(I don't

know

there are any of you) I don't

know but you will be of the fame mind of the man that came to me in Leadenhall twentyfive

years

ago

Sir,

fays he,

you preached

upon the marks of the new birth. Marks, O thank God, fays he, I am fays I, yes, fir
:

above marks,

don't

mind marks

at all

and

you may be

aflured perfons are

upon the brink

fay as

of Aniinomianifm, that fay away with your

legal preaching. I

wonder they don't

ftreets,

they go along the

dials,

away with your

away with your dials, we don't want marks, we know what it is o'clock without
If the

any.

marks upon the

foul

of a believer
to
:

are like the fun-dial, there are

marks

prove
if the
is it

that

we

are

upon the

right foundation

jfun does not fhine on the fun-dial, there

'

no knowing what
fhine,

o'clock

it

is ;

but

let

and inftantaneoufly you

%

of the day of God,

fhining

this

is

not

know the known when

time
it

is

cloudy i and
for

who

dare to fay but that a child

righteoufnefs

want of the fun of

his heart,

may write bitter things againft himfelf. A good man may have the vapours, as one Mr. Brown had, that wrote
upon
a

book

Ser. III.

Soul Profperity.

63

book of good hymns, who was fo vapourifli, that no body could make him believe he
a

had a

foul at

all.

Let the fun fhine, the beis

liever can fee

whether the fun

in the meri-

dian at the fixth, ninth, or twelfth hour.

that there
I

might be great fearching of

heart.

have been looking up to

hope the preaching of

to call

God for diredion j this may be to awabacklliders,

ken fome,

back fome

to

awaken fome fmners

that don't care

I don't

whether

their fouls profper or no.

mean

the

Tabernacle comers, or the Foundery comers,

or the church, or diffenters, but
I

fpeak to

ail

of you, of whatever denomination you are

God of his infinite mercy give you his Spirit. You that are believers, come, let us have that common name among us all; if we have got If you want to know it, we go off well.
whether your
fouls

profper, that

is,

whether
a perfon

they are healthy; you

know what
is

means when he wifhes your body

let

to profper

me

alk you

how
we
world

it

between you and

God, with refped

to fecret prayer

Bunyan

fays, if

are

Good Mr. prayerlefs, we are

?

Chriftlefs.

None of God's
the

people, fays he,;

come

into

ftill-born.

Good Mr.
five

Birket (whofe

commentary has gone througk

64

^^^^ Profperity.
3

Ser. Iir,

five or fix-and-twenty editions

and yet

think

if

he was

now

alive,

and

to preach

once or
with his
fpeaks

twice a day, they would cry.

Away

commentary,
born

and preaching and

all)

to the fame purpofe.

!

Cojne into the worldJiilU

is

what language
?

that in

a preacher's

mouth

but

it

will

do

for thofe that

hke
and

to

ufe marks and figns.

/ will pour

out a Spirit of

grace and

fiipplication^ fays the

Lord

will venture to fay, if the Spirit of grace refides

the heart, the Spirit of fupplication will

not be wanting.

Perfons under their

firft

love

dare not go without

God

they go to God,

not as the formalift does, not for fear of going

to hell, or being

damned.

It

is

mercy any

thing drives to prayer ; and a perfon under the

fpirit

of bondage, that has been juft brought

to the liberty of the fons of God, goes freely to

his heavenly father, under the difcoveries
conftraints of divine love.

and
ap-

Come,

I will

peal to yourfelves

did not you, like a dear

the beloved child,
the world, O, fays

fond mother,

if the child,
leafl noife in

made
hufh

but the

the mother, the dear child crys, I muft go and

it:

fo time was,

when many hearkened

in fecret, than a

to the call of

God, and could no more keep

fond

from the prefence of God

S&r. III.

Soul Trofperity.

6$

fond mother from the prefence of her dear

child;

Now.

if

your

fouls

do profpcr,

this

connexion between you and God will be kept up ; I don't fay that you will always have
the fame fervour as
don't fay you

when you

firft fet

out

will always
5

be carried up into
fpirits poffibly

the third heavens

will not

the animal
-,

admit of fuch folace

but you fliould

enquire with yourfelves, whether you would

be eafy to be out of God's company? Steal

from behind your counter, and go and converfe with

God,
for

Sir

Thomas Abney, who

was obfervable
prayer
that
?

keeping up conftant prayer

in his family, being afked

how he

kept up
in

night

he was fworn

Lord-

Mayor
pany

Very

wellj fays he, I

got the

commufl

into

my

room, and entertained them,

I told
I

and when the time came,

leave

them

them

a litde, while
family,

went and prayed

with
grant

my

and returned again.

God
v^ill

we may have many

make

fuch Lord-Mayors*
principle

If our fouls profperj the fame

reign in us, and

us confcientioufly attend
It is a

on the means of grace.

moft dreadful

mark of an
they thank

enthufiaflic turn

of mind,

when

perfons think they are fo high in grace, that

God

they have no need of ordi-

nances.

66
nances.
far

Soul Profperity.

Ser. Ill,

Our being

the children of

God,

is

fo

from being the caufe of our wanting no

the ordi-

ordinances, that, properly fpeaking,

nances are intended for the nourifliing of the

children of
foul at
firft,

God

not only for the awaking the

but for the feeding the foul after-

wards.

If the

fame nourifliment the child

it

re-

ceives before, feeds

after

it

is

born

and as

the

manna never
partook of
till

failed,
it

but the children of

Ifrael nefs,

daily white in the wilder-

they came to Canaan, fo

daily bread,

we

fliall

want our
into our

we

fhall

Want the God

life

of grace and mercy to convey his divine

hearts,
till

we

get into the heavenly

Canaan. There

faith will

be turned into vifion,

;

and then
let

we

fhall

not want ordinances

if

and

people fay what they will,

our fouls

profper
ihall
fliall

we

fhall

be glad of ordinances,

love

the place

where God dwells^

we we

not fay, fuch a one preaches and

I luill not
be glad

go^ but If

we

are

among them we
difli,

fliall

of a good plain country

garniflied defert^
fliall

as

well as a fine

and

if

our fouls profper,

as

wc

be fond of the mefiengers

well as the

meffage:

we

fliall

admire
as

good ram's- horn, fuch

w^alls

much to hear a blov/ed down the

as
filvcr

of Jericho,

as a fine

trumpet.

So
in

Ser. III.

Sou] Profperity

67

in all the ordinances

of the Lord, that of the

;

Lord's-fuppcr for example

not attend thereon,
it is

if

the foul does

it

an evidence that
a

does not profper.

It is

wonder

if that foul
it

has not done fomething to

make

afraid to

meet God
tboii ?

at

his

table.

Adcvn^

u^here

art

fays the eternal

Logos

to his fallen crea-

ture

and every time

it

we

mifs,

whether we
puts
It

think of

or no, the

Redeemer

down

but

if

our fouls profper,

how

fhall

we

run to

the table of the Lord, and be glad to

often to the
I

come
your

commemoration of his
yoa
will

death.

will venture to affirm farther, that if

fouls

profper,
is

grow
will
I

downwards.

What

that?

why you
yourfelves.
that

grow
tlxere

in

the
I

knowledge of
v/as at Liibon,

heard,

when

fome people
firft.

began
I

at the top of the houfe

It is

odd kind of

preaching that will do for the Papifts, refting

merely in externals.
felves
let
is

the

firfi;

The knowledge thing God implants.

was
a prayer that

of our-

LorJ,
one of

me know

myfelj\

the Fathers put up for fixteen years together

and

if

you have high thoughts of yourfelves,

for-

you may knov/ you are light-headed, you

get

what poor

filly

creatures

you

are.

As oar
fenli-

fouls profper

we

fliall

be more and more

2

ble,

68
ble,

Soul Profferify.

Sen

III.

not only of the outfide, but of the infide

firfl:

we we

battle

with the outward man, but as

life,

advance in the divine

we have
another

nearer

views of the chambers of imagery that are in

our hearts
find

and one day

after

we

fhall

more and more abominations

there,

and

confequently

we

fliall

fee

more of
this

the glory of

Jefus Chrift, the wonders of that

Immanuel,
fin

who
death

daily delivers us
;

from

body of

and
is

and

mention

this,

becaufe there

nothing more
Chriftians.
I

common,

efpecially

with young

ufed formerly to have at leaft a

in a day,

hundred or two hundred

who would
fo,
;

come and
with
after

fay,
3

O
!

dear,

I
is

am

fo

and
well

met

God

ah

that

quite
fay,

week
is

they would

come and

O,
3

fir, it is all

delufion, there

was nothing

in

it

what

the

matter?
I

never was fuch a wretch

I

as I

am,

never thought
!

had fuch a wicked

heart.
all

Oh

God

cannot love
all

me

now,
gone
3

fir,

my

fervour,

and

that I felt

is

and what

grow but when it grows upward ? fome trees I fancy grow flownward and the deeper you grow in the knowledge of yourfelf, the deeper you grow
then? does a
tree never
3

in the

knowledge of God and

his grace, that

dilcov^rs the corruptions of ypur hearts.

Do
not

Ser. III.

Soul Profperify.

69

not you find that aged

fome former
can't look

ftates.

back

to fee

men look back upon I know fome people hov/ many fins they have
grace helps us to a fight
it

been guilty of 5 but

if

of our inherent corruptions,

will

make us

weary of

it,

and lead us

to the

blood of Chrifl

to cleanfe us
fouls profper,

from
the

it;

confequently, if your
will
fall

more you

in love

with the glorious Redeemer,

righteoufnefs.
life

and with his

a perfon in

never

knew

my
faw

that diligently ufed the word,

as

and other
grace,

means, but

they improved in

more and more the neceffity of depending upon a better righteoufnefs than their own. Generally when we firft fet out, we have got
better hearts than heads
;

but if

we grow
leads out
flee

in

the divine

life,

our heads will grow as well as

our hearts, and the Spirit of

God
to

of

abominable

felf,

and caufes us

more

and more

to that glorious

and com pleat righ^

teoufnefs that Jefus Chrifl:

wrought

out.

The more your

fouls profper, the

more you

will fee of the freenefs

and

difl:inguiihing na-

ture of God's grace, that

are
all

all is

of grace.

We

naturally
fay,

free-willers,

and generally

young ones
of

O we

have found the Meffiah,

whom

Mofes and the prophets fpoke

which

yo
v/hich
is
%

Soul Frofperlty.
right,

Ser. III.

except that word ive have

Httie
after

found

for the believer a

learns,

that the Mejftah had found him.

this,

I mention,

becaufe

we ought
a

not to

make
a

perfons

offenders for

word

we
not

fliould

bear with

young
blank

Chriftians,

and

knock

young

child's brains out, becaufe

verfe.
it

he cannot fpeak in

Let

not be forgotton
profper,

alfo,

that the

more
get
I

your

fouls

the

more you

will

above the world.

You

cannot think that

mean you
of
this

fhonld be negligent 2bout the things

life.

Nothing

tries

my
^

temper more,
an idle perfon
In the ftate
to drefs the

than to fee any about

me

idle

tempts the devil to tempt him.

of paradife

Adam

and Eve were

garden, and not to be idle there; after

fall

the

they were to
fays

till

the ground

but

if

any

body
idle,
rife

that
injure

the

Methoditls think to be

they

them.

We

tell

people to

and be

at their

work

early and late, that

they
If
all

may redeem
it

time to attend the word.

tlut fpeak againfl the Methodifts

were

as diligent,

would be

better for their wives

and

families.

What do you
?

think a true

Meand

thodift will be idle

his hands,

no, he will be bufy with

is

he knows time

precious,

there-

Ser. III.

Soul Profperity.

f^t

therefore he will
to give to

work hard
that need,

that

he may have
at
;

them

and

the fame

time

he will

hve above the world

is

and you
io
is

know
world.
I

the earth

under your

feet,

the

When
tell

he goes
I

to fleep

he
I

will fay,

care not

whether

wake more.

can look

back, and
t-hat

you of hundreds and hundreds

alive to

once feemed

God, and have been

fi/thy,

drawn away with

little

nafty dirt.

How

many

places are there erhpty here, that

have been

filled

with perfons that once were

zealous in their attendance?

As

a perfon the
it

other day, to

whofe having a place

'u

was
f^iys
,

objeded, that he was

he,
I

Methodift

no,

have not been a Methodifl thefe twd

j

years.

do

not,

for

my

partj wifli
3

people

joy

when

they get

money
let

only take care

;

k
it
'

does not get into, and put your eyes out

your money ihcreaies,

your zeal

for

good

works
fay,

increafe.

Perhaps fome ftranger will

thought you was againft good works,

I tell

you the

truth, I

am

againft

good

vi'orks,

don't run
tence
;

away

before I have finished

my

{enf

we
J

are againft

good works being put

ground of
it,

in the

room of

Chrill, as the

our;

acceptance

but w^e look upon

if

we have
love.

a right faith,

our

faith

vvHl

work by

Ever

7*
Ever
fince I

Svul Profperify,

Sen
to

III^

was a boy,

remember

have

heard a ftory of a poor indigent beggar,

alked a clergyman
to

who
alm^,

give
faid,

him
will
;

his

which being
xlir,

refufed,

he

you

pleafe,

to give

me

your bJeffing

fays

he,

God

Iblefs

you
give

O, replied the beggar, you would

that if
it

not

me

was worth any

thing.

There
for

are

many who

will talk very friend-

ly to you, but if they fuppofe

you

are
as

come
from a

any thing, they will run away

if

pick-pocket; whereas,

our fouls profpered,

to

we

fhould count

it

more blefed
rife

give than

to

receive.

When we
God
I

from our beds

this

would be our queftion

I do for
to

to ourfelve?,
I

what can
do
for the

day ? what can

or five, or
for the

poor? have

two,
to

ten talents?
as

God
if I

help

me
I

do

poor

much

as

knew

was
if

to live only this day.

In a word,
hearers,

your fouls profper,

my
;

dear
are

you

will

grow

in love.

There

fome good
them,
Party

fouls,

but very narrow fouls

they

are fo afraid of loving people that differ

that
fpirits
it
it

from
it.

makes

me

uneafy to

fee

creep in

among
faid,
!

Chriftians,

and
theje

whereas

was formerly

fee

how
it

Chrijiians love one another

faid,

now

may be
I

Jee

how

thefe Chrijliafis hate one a?iother

Ide-

Ser. III.

Soul Profperify,

73
heart, that

I declare

from the bottom of

my

am more and more

convinced that the prin-

ciples I

have preached are the v^ord of God,

at

Pray u^hat do you do

Change

is

there fuch

a thing as a Prefbyterian, or Independent, or

Church- walk there

is

there any chambers

there for the Prelbyterian?, and Independents,

and

Churchmen

to

deal

in

People

may]
theyl

boaft of their wildfire-zeal for

God,

till

can*t bear the fight of a perfon that differs

from them.

The

apoftle

commends Gaius
good
ye

for his catholic love, for his love to ftrangers.

That was
in the

a glorious faying of a

woman

Scotland,

Come

in^ fays

fhe,

Lord ;

have a houfe that will

of hold a hunblejfed

dred, and a heart that will hold ten thoufand.

God
lovey

give us fuch a heart dwelleth in God,

he that dwelleth in

I could

mention twentill

ty marks,

and
;

fo

go on wire-drawing
it is

nine

or ten o'clock
fouls as

but

befi to deal

with our

with our bodies, to

It is fo

eat but little at a

I

time.
proce;ed

with preaching; though

in

don't
blefs

any farther

my difcourfe,

God

what has been

But
is

faid.

there a child of God here that can

go

away without a drooping heart ? I don't fpeak that you may thiak me humble I love fin:

ceritv,

74
cerity,

^0^^ Prcfperity.

Ser. Ill,
guile.

inward and outward, and hate

I

When
how
I

think what

God
when
it
3

has done to me,

often he has pruned

me, and dug and

I

dung'd about me, and

have done for God,
tears

think

how

little

makes
it

poffible

of blood

me weep if makes me cry, O

myfelf

niy leannefsy

my

leannefsy as I exprelTed

with
if

my friend my Itrength

to day.

This makes

me long,
fay

of body would permit, to be-

gin to be in earned for

my

Lord.
all

What

you,

my
to

dear friends, have

?

of you got the

fame temper
ought

have you made the progrcfs you

London! London! highly favoured London! what would fomc people give for thy privileges ? what would
have done?
the people I was called to preach to but this

day fe'ennight

good, a right honourable

miles
off,

lady, about three-and-twenty

has
I

brought the gofpel there.

The

people that
after the

preached to longed and thirfted

meffage; they
faid,

fame

they thought they never

heard the truth before.

You

have the manna

I

poured out round the camp, and

am
leaft,

afraid
I

you
of

are calling

it

light

bread y

at

am

afraid
it,

you have had

bad digeftion.

Conlider

and for Jefus Chrift's fake tremble for

fear

God fiould remove

his

candlefiick

from
atnong

Ser. III.

Soul Profpenty.

75
;

among

you.

Labourers are fick

thofe
out,

that

did once labour are almoft

worn

and

others they only bring thenifelves into a nar-

row

fphere,
are

and

fo confine

their ufefulnefs.
in the fields

There

few that

like to

go out

broken heads and dead

cats are

no more the
fiik

ornaments of a Methodift,

but

fcarves.

Thofe honourable badges

people, and if
all fall

are

now no more
care,

the langour has got from the minifters to the

you don't take

us

we

fliall

dead together.

The Lord
all.

Jefus roufe

us, the

Son of God roufe

Ye

fhould

fliow the world the way, and

ye that have

been Methodifts of many years (landing, (how

the young ones that have not the crofs to bear
as

we once had, what ancient Methodilm was. As for you who are quite negligent about the profpericy of your fouls, who only mind your bodies, who are more afraid of a pimple
than of the rottennefs of your
hearts
tle
;

in your faces,

that will fay,

give

me

good bot-

and a fowl, and keep the profperity of you^

fouls to yourfelves.

what you
at

fay,

your word.

You had better take care for fear God Hiould take you I knew fome trade(men and

farmers, and one had got a wife perhaps with

a fortune

too,

who

prayed
2

they

might be
excufed.

76
excufedj

Soul Profperity.

Ser. III.

they never came to the fupper, and

God
your

fent

them
I

to hell for

it

too

this

may be

cafe.

was

told to-day of a

young wo-

man,
left

that

was very well on Sunday when fhe

her friends,

when

fhe

came home was

in

racked with pain, had an inflammation

bowels,
aiid
is

her

now

a breathlefs corpfe.

Ano-

ther that I heard of, a Chriftlefs preacher, that

always minded his body, when he was near

death he
faid to his wife,
I

fee hell

opened for
fuch a

me,
one
his

I fee

the

damned tormented,
debauched
I
^

I fee

in hell that I

in the midft to thee,

I

of

agony he
I

faid,

am coming

am

coming,

muft be damned, God

and died.
is

will

damn
if you

my
God

foul,
;

Taxke care ofjefting with

in hell,

there

room enough
?

and

negled: the profperity of your fouls

what

will

become of you
of hope

what

will

you give
hark

for a grain

when God

requires your fouls?

!

awake

then thatjleepeji', hark

hark

hear the

word of

the Lord, the living God.

Help me,
with a

ye children of

God

am come

warrant from Jefus of Nazareth

rninifters

to night.

Ye
with

of Chrift that are here, help

:

me

your prayers
Jielp

ye fervants of the living

God,

me

with your prayers.

with what

iuccefs did I preach in Mooriields

when

had
ten

Ser. III.

Soul Profperity.

yy

ten thoufand of God's people praying for

me
don't
blefs
blef^

pray to
afraid I

God
fhall

to ftrengthen

my
if

body

don't be
I

hurt
I

myfelf to-night

care
it^
I

what hurt

do myfelf
little,

can preach but

I

but

God may may God

5

that

little.

weep and cry and humble myfelf

I

before

God

daily for being laid afide

if I

would

not give others the trouble

myfelf.

could preach
of me, and
the angels of

You

have had the

laft

firft
:

you

will

have the

of

me

God

waited for your converfion, and are

now

ready to take care of the foul

the rotten carcafe.

when
in

it

leaves

The

worft creature under

the world,
it

heaven, that has not a penny

may

be welcome unto God.

paft,

However

has

been with us in times

per in time to
infinite

may

our fouls profgrant of his

come 5 which God mercy, Amen.

SERMOr

78

S
^

IV.

The

Gofpel a dying Saint's Triumph.

A Funeral Sermon.

Mark
worldy
ture.

xvi. ver. 15, 16.

jind he [aid unto them^

Go ye
and

into all the.

and preach

the gofpel to every crea-is

He

that

believeth

baptized

JJjallbefaved^ but he that believeth not Jhall

be damned.

AM

perfuaded

need not inform

this

auditory, that
to a prince,

when ambaffadors are fent or when judges go their reit

fpedtlve

circuits,

is

always cuftomary

for

them
]ns

to

fhow

their credentials, to

open and

read their commiflions, by which they adl in

Majefty's name.

neceflary for thofe

The fame is abfolutely who are ambaiTadors of the

fit

Son of God,

as

they would be faithful to their

Lord

fince they are to

with him on the

throne.

Ser.

IV. The Go/pel a Saint* s Triumph.

yg

throne,

when he
aik me,

fhall

come
is

the fecond time

If

to judge both evil angels

ll:iould

and men.

any
?

where

their

commiflion

it

has been jufl

in

now
it is

read unto you.

Here

it is

my

hand,

written with the King's

own

hand, by the finger of the ever-blefled God,

and fealed with the

with
his

fignet

of his eternal
it.

Spirit,

broad
is

feal

annexed to

The comand
it is

miffion

fhort, but v;3ry extenfive;

it

remarkable,

was given out

to

jull before the

it

Redeemer went
infinite

heaven

he referved on

in

wifdom

for his laft blefling, to appoint

and employ vicegerents

to carry

his

work
let

on

earth.

He

that bath an ear^to hear^

fays to a

him hear what the Son of God

pany of poor fifhermen.
fcholar

com-

There was not one

among them

all.

What

does he fay;
the gofpel

Go ye
before

into all the worldy

and preach
us fee

to every creature.

Let us paufe a while, and

let

we go
love,

further

what mercy,

what

and yet withal, what equal ma-

jefty are blended in this expreflion or

comas

miflion.

Go

yc^ ye poor filliermen,

ye that

the letter-learned dodlors

illiterate

will look

upon

men

Go ye^

that

have hitherto been

dreaming of temporal preferments, quarrelling

'who fiouldfit on

my

right hand and on

my

left

hand

8o
hand
in

The Gofpd a

Scr.

IV.

my kingdom 5 Go ye^ not flay till the people come to you, but imitate the condudt of your Mafter 5 Go ye^ remembring that the
ing you

devil will not permit fouls to be fond of hear:

Go

therefore
is

where

into all the

world y there
there never

a commiffion for

you; there
5

never was fuch a commiffion on the earth

was any
is,

like this

Go

into all the

worlds that

into the Gentile as well as the,

Jewifh world.

Hitherto
;

my

gofpel has been

confined to the Jews

once told you, you

;

muft not go
poor

to

the Gentiles

I
//

once told a
is

woman
:

that

came

to

me,

not meet
it

to take

the^childrem breads and give

unto

dogs

but the partition wall being

down, the veil of the tem.pic being

in twain,
fion
'y

now broke now rent

commifworld \
?

he gave them a
ye,

univerfal
all the

Go
1

therefore,

into

how

what go

into other minifters parifhes

for there
fettled

was not

a diftrict

then but what was

with fhepherds,

fuch as they were;

world-,

yes, yes.

Go

into all the

and though

I will not pretend to fay, that this enjoins

nifters to

miyet
if i

go into every part of the world

it,

I infift

upon

and by the grace of God,

I

was

to die for

it,

will fay, that

reflrain

no power on
from
preach*

earth has

power

to

minifters

Ser.

IV

dying Saint's Triumph.

8i

preaching
willing to

where a company of people are hear ^ and if minifters were of a

right temper, they

at

would
to

fay as a mlnifler did

vifit

Oxford,
;

that

ufed

the

prifoners

there

remember once
I

went to afk him

whether
rifh,
vifit

might go and

vifit

fome of
at

his

pa-

whether he was offended

the

our going to
he, I

glad I

No, no, have any fuch young

prifoners?
fly

fays

am

curates as you.

And
Mr.

if minifters

were of fuch a temper now,

before us.

dear the devil would

Philip

As good
of Broad
but

Henry

faid to the minifter

Oaks,

from

whence he

was

ejedted,

preached afterwards in a barn, and meeting

the minifter after fermon was over; Sir,
fays.'

Mr. Henry, I have

a handful oj feed
you,
fir,

been mailing bold to throw

into

your ground.
blefs
it,

fays he,

God

there

Thank is work
not for

enough
will,

for us both.

We may talk of what we

the bottom,
it

fearch

into

is

want of light, but of more zeal and love to the Son of God if we were as warm, and full
:

of the love of

God as we ought to be, thefe pretty excufes we urge to fave our bones, would not be fo much as mentioned we fhould
5

go out and leave thefe

carcafes to the grace

of

God.

I don*t fee

how we

can adt as

priefts

o|

82

The Go/pel a

Ser.

IV.
it.

of the church of England without doing

Be

fo

kind as read the Ordination Service

as

foori as

you go home

for the office

of ordipriefls,

nation

and confecration of bifhops,

is

and deacons,

left

out of moft of the

comof a

mon
prieft

prayer books, fo that people are as ignoit

rant of
is

as
:

if it

was
is

not.

The

office

this

he

not to confine himfelf to

?

his place,

no ; what then

why
-y

he

is

to

go

forth^ andfeek after the children oj

*"-/-i^^
'

God

that

i/r^

difperfed in this needy world

thefe are the

very words that the bifhop fpeaks to us

when
in

we

are ordained

but if

we are
to

confined to one
fliut

particular place,

and are

be

up

one

corner, pray
g^'^'
I

how do we
fettled

feek the children of

^^^
but

^^^^ ^^^ difperfed in this

needy world

Pariffies

and
are

minifters there
infifl:

muft be,

we

not,

on

it,

to be hindered

from preaching Chrift any where, becaufe he

bids us go into all the world
-,

here
is

is

our

li;

cence.

acknowledge the Chapel

and wherever
;

licenfed

here

is

produce
1

my licence, my licence
Mark
;

go

I Will

where
ye^

why

out of the

6th of

Go

and preach the go[pel

is

to all the

world: there

the licence, and the

Spirit oi Chrift helping us to

preach by that
devirs children

licence,

will

make

all

the

cowards

Ser.

IV.

dyifjg Saint's

Triumph.

83
thefe
it

cowards before
thirty years,

us.

We have tried
to

them
fet

would

God we
would

about

now

if I had ftrength I
;

fet

about

it

to-morrow

only grieve that

my

body
elfe

will

not hold out for field-preaching,

Kenpre-

nington-Common
any place
fent.
is

fliould

be

my

pulpit, for
is

confecrated where Chrifl;

Well, what muft

into all the world,
is
is

we go

forth to
-,

do

Go ye what

and preach
original

preach
for

that?

why
loft;

the

w^ord

preach

to fpeak out, as a crier does that cries

goods that are

proclaim

it.

And
?

Ifaiah
if

would be reckoned

a dreadful

enthufiaft

now

alive.

How

does he preach

he preaches and yet

one

in the King's chapels

fuch language and eloall

quence

as

would carry
he preach?

before

it ;

how
pet.

does

Ho^

every

that

thirfteth.

O, he
the

lijts

up

his voice like atriim-'

fignifies

And
like

word preach
cries

to pro-

claim;

to cry aloud,

and [pare
your

not.

How
if

do
he

you

one that
?

loft

goods
to

only whifpers

would you chufe

employ a
and
if
if
<

man

that

you could not hear two yards? O,

fay you, I fhall never find

my
;

goods

perfons have

what

qualifications they
at
all

may,

they cannot be heard

preach
at all.
I

they need not

knov/ a prebend in the cathe-

dral

S4
dral of

^^^ Go/pel a
York,
^

Ser.

IV.

who

fpoke fo very low nobody

faid,
all

heard him

fomebody

they never heard

their lives in that

fuch a moving fermon in

cathedral, for
it

made

all

the people move outy

becaufe they could not hear.

the miniftry of the gofpel
is

The

matter of

of

infinite

impor-

tance:
heard,

unlefs,

my

brethren,

we
for
?

could
It

be

what do we preach
like
\

implies

earneftnefs in the preaching,

and the preacher.

is

You

expecft a perfon,

one that

crying
preach,

your goods, to be in earneft

and

if

and make the King's proclamation,

jbe in earneft.
It
is

we we

ihould

faid,

Chrijl opened his

mouth and taught.

Now

modern
his

critic

would laugh
they,

at

that;

open

mouth, fay

how could he mouth? Would it

in God's book.

fpeak without opening his

not be better to fay, he
is

taught them ? No, no, there

It is
:

no

idle

word
Je/us
in

faid,

the
?

Lord

opened his mouth

what

for

why, to get

breach that he might fpeak loud to the people,

when

the heavens were Lis founding board

then did he open his mouth, and taught them

in earneft, powerfully
-,

and therefore the peo^

pie

make

this obfervation

when he had done

is

fpenking, that he fpoke as one having authority^

^na not fs the

Scribes^.

There

no difpenfa?
tion

Ser.

IV.

dying Saint's Triumph.

ficknefs or

85

tion

from preaching, but

want of

abilities,

to thofe that are ordained to preach

it

and therefore

was a proverb

in the primitive

church, fbat it Becomes a bijhop to die preach^

ing,
Bifliop Jewell, that blefled minifter of

the church of England, gave that anfwer to a perfon that

met

his

lordfhip walking

on

foot

in the dirt, going to preach to a

few people.
as

Why

does your lordfhip,

?

weak
he,

you

are,

cxpofe yourfelf thus

fays

it

becomes a
all

bifhop to die preaching.

Lord fend

the

world that have

bifliops

fuch jewels as he was

?

Pray what are they

to preach
?

not themfelves.

What

are they to preach

:

why

they are to
!

preach not morality

not

morality

come,

don't be frightened, any of you that are afraid

of good works don't be frightened

ing
:

this

mornis

I fay

not morality

that

is,

morality

not to

be the grand point of their preaching

they are not to preach as an heathen philofo-

pher would,

late

bifhop of Lincoln,

who

has not been dead a long while, faid to his

chaplain,

You

are not a minifter of Cicero, or

;

any of the heathen philofophers

you

are not
^

to entertain your people with dry morality, but

remember you
are,

are a minifter of Chrift

you/
if

therefore, to preach

the

gofpel

and

you

86
\

lie Gofpel a

Ser.

IV.

you

will not preach the gofpel in the church,

for the poor people's

' I

you muft not be angry

Igoing out into the fields

where they hear the

gofpel

that

is

to

be your grand theme, Go

''

into all the

world and preach the gofpeL

Now
tidings
:

the gofpel fignifies good news, glad

Behold

I bring

yoUy

faid

the angel,

glad tidings of great

thought now,
the

joy.

temptible as the ofHce of

Mean and cona preacher may be

glad of the
gofpel:

angels were
this

commiffion to preach

and Dr.

Goodwin,
familiar

that learned pious foul, fays in his

is

way of writing, God had but one Son, and he made a minifter of him 5 and I add, he made an itiWell, and fome nerant minifter of him too.
way, and that
the beft
fay,

you muft not preach the law

you

can-,

not preach the gofpel without preaching the

law

for

you

fhall find

by and by, we

are to

preach fomething that the people muft be ved

by

it is

impoffible to

tell

to be faved, unlefs

to be faved fi'om.
takes,
is
:

like that

we tell The way we take

them how they them what they

the Spirit of
in preparing

are are

God
the

ground
and you

do you think any farmer would have

a crop of corn next year unlefs they

plow now j
un-

may

as well

exped; a crop of corn on

Ser.

IV.

dying Saint's Triumph.

as a

87

unplowed ground,
the foul
is

crop of grace, until

being undone with-

convinced of

its

out a Saviour.

That

is

the reafon
fo

many mufhroom
that are always

converts,

we many

have fo
perfons
!

happy
;

happy

happy

and
their

never

were miferable
is

why ?
3

becaufe

ftony ground

not plowed up
;

they have not

got a convicftion of the law

they are ftony-

ground hearers

-,

they hear the

word with
will

ioy^

and

in a time of temptation^
after

which

foon

come

a feeming or real converfion, they

fall away.

They

ferve Chrift

as the

young

man

ferved the

Jews

that laid

hold of him,
be a pri-

who, when he found he was

foner for following Chrift,

like to
his

left

garments;

and

fo

fome people

leave their profeffion.

That
not

makes
foon.

me

fo cautious

now, which

I w^as

thirty years ago, of

dubbing people converts la

to wait a little,
;

I love

now

and

fee if

people bring forth

bloflbms

fruit

for there are fo

many

which March winds vou know blow

I

away, that
till 1

cannot believe they are converts'

fee fruit

brought forth.
to

It wiii
little

do conback
;

verts

no harm
do a

keep them a

it

will never

fincere foul

any harm.
:

We

are to preach the gofpel

:

to

whom ?

to

every creature

here

is

the commiffion,

every crea-

88
creature.

The Gofpel a

Ser. IV.

I fuppofe the apoftles were not to

did not

fee every creature; they

go

into all
j

nations

they had

particular

diftrids

but

wherever they did go, they preached.

Did

you ever hear Paul, or any of the

fent

apoftles,

away a congregation without a fermon ? No, no when turned out of the temple they
:

preached in the highways, hedges,

lanes of the city
:

ftreets,

and
j

they went

to the water-fide

there Lydia was catched.

My
we

brethren,
;

we
and

have got a commiffion here from Chrift

not only a commiffion, but

have a com;

mand
let

to

preach

to every creature

all

that are

willing to hear.

He
if

that hath an ear to hear^

him hear
if

and

fome

Ihall fay,

they will

not come
tried

we do

preach, would to
the car cafe
is

God we
to

them: where

there will the

eagles be gathered together.

We are
tell

preach

glad tidings of falvation; to

a poor be-

nighted world, lying in the wicked one the

devil, their ftate

and condition
to
tell

we

are to tell

them, God
loves

is

love-,

them, that

God

them

better

than

they

do themfelves.

We

muft preach the law, but not leave the

people there.
brings
tell

We muft

tell

them how Mofes

them

to the borders

of Canaan, and then

them of

a glorious Jofhua that will carry

them

Ser. IV.

dying Sainfs T^riumphT

;

89
their

them over Jordan

firft,

to

fhew them

wants; and then point out to them a Jefus that

can fupply, and more than iupply,
wants.
all

their
\

This

we

are to tell e'very creature

and
ers.

it is

for this that

people ftone gofpel preachthe prifoners

to tell

don't

think
if

would be
them, the

angry with us

we were

king commiflions us to declare to them that

they might
chains
to

come

out of their prifon, that their

off.

may
;

be knocked

If you was to go

one of them and fay, Here you have your

chains

and he was

to fay,

I have no chains

on

at

alii
-,

you would think that man*s brains

fo are every

turned

and

man's that does not

fee himfelf to be in the chains of fin

ceit.

and de-

We

are to preach liberty to the captives^

to

proclaim the acceptable year of the

Lord

-,

foimd the jubilee trumpet^ and tell them the year

oj releafe is come
3

that Jefus can

make them

happy.
But, pray,
if

we
tell

are to

preach, what are

the creatures to do that fee their ne^d of this

falvation
?

will

you
is

they are to believe.

He

that believeth^

and

baptized^ &c.

The
in our

grand topics Chrift's minrfters are to preach,

are repentance towards God,

and faith
oi

Lo?:d je/us Chrijl,

The men
N^^

the world

fancy

go

7he Go/pel a

Sef.

IV.

fancy they have believed already, and fome of

them

lift

up

their heads

and

fay,

we
and

have
in

believed ever fince

Thank God^ we were born 3

;

one fenfe
?

many

people believe, but in they

what
ftate

fenfe

juft as
ftill

the devil believes

believe,
5

and

continue devils in their carnal

that
it

is,

they alTent to the gofpel, they

thing that
is

aflent to

as a

credible.
;

This
I

is

our fchool definition of

faith

and

believe

there are thoufands that call themfelves Chrlftians, that don't believe

a thoufandth part of
devil believes

what the
to be

devil does.

The

more
thou

than an Arian, for he does not believe Chrift

God

the devil faysj / know

whom

art^ the Holy

up in more than

One of God. The judgment againft him.

a Socinian,

devil will r:fe

He

believes

who

beheves

Jcfus

Chrift to be no

more than an extraordinary

man; and he

believes

more of
There

Jefus

Chrifl
are nei-

than thoufands of profeffors do,

ther Arians or Socinians.

who
are

a thoupeople,

fand things in this book * that

if

many

you come
they do

to clofe- quarters

with them, will

fay

not

believe,
it.

though
furtheft

they are
that they

afl:iamed to

own

The

go,

is

to affent

to the Creed, to the Lord's-

prayer^
''

Holding oat

his bible*

Sen IV.
prayer, and

dying Saint's Iriumph.

91
;

Ten Commandments
baptized

and

if

perfon can fay thefe in their mother tongue,

and have been

by the

prieft,

and

confirmed by the bi/hop, and go to church

once a week, and

they think they
ftrong believers.

now and
I

then on holidays,
believers,

are not only

but

am

not againft going to

the Lord's;

church,
prayer,

nor againft the Creed,

and the Commandments

I

I love

and

honour them, and

have them
or
articles
;

pray

God we may
for

always
liturgy

and

would not have our

from
ten

departed

thoufand

worlds.

Many would
fome

have them altered, be-

.caufe there are

faults in

them 3 but

if

our

modern people were to alter them, they would make them ten thoufand times worfe than they
are.

But believing

is

fomething more

it is

coming

to Jefus Chrift,

receiving Jefus, rolling

a trufting in the

ourfelves
Jefus.
I

on Jefus do not

it is

Lord

know any
becaufe
it

one fingle thing

more

varioufly expreffed in the fcriptures than

;

believing

why ?

is

the

marrow of

the gofpel.
tified,

Without

faith

we

cannot be juC-

either in our perfons or

performances

and therefore the Holy Ghofl has varioufly

expreflcd
it,

to

let

us fee the importance of

the point.

It is

expreffed by a coming, truft*

ing.

9^
ing^ receiving,

"J^ht

Gefpel a
(all

Ser.

IV.

and relying,

which amounts
conviftion that
2

to the fame thing) under a

felt

we
for,

are loft, undone,

as

condemned without him

Chrift
;

a good old Puritan obferves,

is

beholden to none of us for our hearts

never
fhould

we
the

come
till

to

Jefus
feel

Chrift,

finner's laft

ftiift,

we

we

cannot do

without him.
the bloody
illlie

We
^

are like the

woman

with

flie

fpent a great deal of

if fhe
till

mo-

ney upon phyficians ;

had had the funi

that
to

of one half-guinea more,

fhe never would have

was gone

come

Chrift; but

having fpent

all,

and then hearing that Jefus

way, a fenfe of her need, a
and infufficiency

was
of

to

come

that

feeling fenfe of her impotence,

all

other applications^
in
his

Chrift; faying
touch the

made her come to her heart. If I could but

garment
IJJjould be whole
;

hem of

jefus^ the fon of

./

Davidy would have mercy on

She did not
pray lend

me

or words to that purpofe*

fay,
it

go about and
prayer book
;

me

was not
?

in print

commonthen. Where
a

muft fhe borrow one

her heart, touched by

God, was

the beft

common-prayer 5 and a few

rhetoric,
v^as

words, uttered from a i^wic of her weaknefs

and mifery,
mufic in the

was more
ears of

more
prayer

God, than an extempore

Scr.

IVv

dying Saint's Triwnpbl

93

prayer by a gifted man, admiring himfelf for

an hour and
yefterday>

half..

As

a perfon told

me

but

of a

poor outlandifli Papift that

was condemned to die, held out for a long whiles he would not fpeak to a Proteftant
minifter, but a night or

two before he

fufFered,
,

comes out
cejjity

to

him, and

fays,

Me now fee the ne^

cries

of a greater abfohition than a priefl can.

;

give me
out^

and then,

in his

broken language,

Dear Lord
!

Jefus^ fidow thy charity to thy

is

poor [inner
toric for

There
!

language

there

is rhe-j

you

and

we

ourfelves like fuch lan-

guage.

You
into

don't like fawning people that

their very

come

your room, and by

man;

ner of coming prove they are not fincere

a poor creature that
three words

but

comes

to

pour out two or

you

fee is honeft^

you

will not fay

to

to fuch a one,

Why do
?

you come
language
is

me, and
to

not fpeak blank verfe

why\do you come

?

me, and not fpeak

rity is the

fine

No

fince-

things fnicerity

all

in all.

When

we
that

are once convinced of our need and help-

lefsnefs^
is

and of

Jefus's being

Redeemer,
poor foul
receives

mighty and willing

to fave, a
this Jefus, this

then throws himfelf upon

this Jefus, ventures

upon

Jefus, believes

the word, and by thus venturing on the promife.

94

T;^^ GofpeJ

Ser. IV.

mlfe, receives from Jefus the thing promifed.

Faith comes by hearings and hearing by the

'word of God.
faith,

But then where there

is

true

that will,
?

my
is

dear hearers, be attended

falvation.
faith

with what
believcth,

why, with

He

that

and

baptized^

our Lord,

Jhall be

faved :

faved from

what

why, from

every thing that he wants to be faved from, and

receives every thing that
fpleat his

whole
to

falvation.

God can give to comWhat is It a poor

fin,

finner

wants

be faved from? O,

fin,

the guilt of

fin.

the creatures to

The firft convidion brings God by force ^ there are verylove intirely
:

few

that are
find

drawn by

and

I fei-

dom

any of thofe that have been drawn by

have had dreadful conflids after-

love, but

w^ards: for either before or after converfion,

our hearts mufi: be plowed up,

or

we

fhall

never be prepared for the kingdom of heaven.

Ye
fin
:

fliall

be faved from the painful guilt of

is

what

that

why, the common-prayer

book
the

will tell you, in the

communion
is

office;

remembrance of our Jins

grievous unto us^

and
is

the burden of them is intolerable.

There
v/hy,

methodiftical language.

Cranmer, Latimer,

or Hooper, were,

my

brethren,
;

what

they were Methodift preachers

and they ufed

to

Ser.

IV.

dying Saint's "Triumph.

in

g^

to preach

Paurs-Crofs, a pulpit faid to be

made

in the fliape
i

of a

crofs,

near

St. Paul's

church

and a

falary given for that very pur-

pofe, I believe, to this day.

No

matter where

we

preach, fo that finners feel Chrift's pov^'er

in delivering

them from

this,

which

certainly
I

implies

a confcioufnefs of pardon.

don't

think the poor creature that was refpited the

other day, would have believed
feen
it,

had he not

the king's warrant juft before the others

out.
j

were carried
and

Why,

fay they, here

it

is

his

majefty's pardon
joy,
is

he takes and receives

with

now

freed

from the gallows.

And

if perlbns

can give

this

credence to an earthly

king,

why

cannot a believer have a kn(c of the

his
fins

pardon of

reading this to

God ? me, telling me

from
backed

If a perfon's

the king has

pardoned me, has fuch an

not

effedl,

why may
Soirit,

God's word,

by

his

be

brought
that I

home may be
is

with fuch power on

allured

my

heart,

God

has pardoned me,

as well as a criminal that his

king has faved

fay lome,
till
1

If this

gofpel

away with

it,

who

think

we
!

are not to be juftifitd

we come to
is

judgment.
divinity

bleifed creatures

this

modern
it.

our reformers

knew
if

nothing about

We are

to be declared,

you

pleafe, jiulified,

in

96
in the
it

"The

Gofpel a

Ser. IV.

day of JefasChrift,
all

before

mankind.

who w HI pronounce But, my brethren, we

in

are to be married to Jefus Chrift in this world,

and the marriage

and
!

is

to

be declared

another

I will infift

upon
all

it,

though

I will

not preaffurance

tend to fay that

that

have not

full

are not Chriftians, yet I will fay, that affurance

is

neceflary for the well-being of a Chriftian

the comfortable being, though not for his very

exiflence
foul
:

and

will

venture to fay, that a

to Chrift,

was never brought

want of knowing

but what
;

had fome ground of affurance of pardon

for
better,

tho',

he put

it

by,
it

and

did not
But,

know
Here

the gift of

God when
be

came.
all

my

brethren,
is

we Jhall

favedjrom

ourfms.

glad tidings of great joy now come: fatan may hear that) and any of you
here that are coming into the Chapel as you
pafs along.
I I

am

glad to fee poor creatures

them.,

come, that
lievers,

may
(hall

tell

God

is love.
all all

Befins,

you

be faved from
;

your

every one of them

out.

they fhall

be blotted

Generally,

when

perfons are convinced,

5

the devil preaches defpair

fome

great fin lies

I fliall

upon them

and, fays the poor finner,

all

be faved from

but that 5 had

not been

guilty of fach a cringe I mii>ht

have hope, but

I

am

Ser.

IV.
guilty

dying Saint's Triumph,

gy
fo awful,

am

of fuch

a fin,

which
I

is

with fuch dreadful aggravations,

fhall never

am

afraid I

be pardoned.
;

But,

my

dear fouls,
to forgive,

Chrifl

is

love

and when he loves

he

forgives like a

God

/ will and fins.

blot

out your

iniquities^

tranfgrejjions^
let us

Come noWy
3

faith the Lord,

reafon together

though

your fins are as fcarlet^ yet they Jhall be as white

as /now.
I

am

fo far

from being unwilling to

are

fave or pardon, that the angels, every time the

gofpel

is

preached,

ready to

tune their
to

harps, and long to fing an

anthem

fome

poor

finner's converiion.
fliall

They

be faved from the power of

fin.

Don't you remember that when Jofliua was going on with his conquefts, that there were

fome kings
he ordered

in a cave

and when he returned,

them

to bring the kings out for

God's people

to tread

upon them.

When

read that pallage, I ufed to think thefe kings

were

like

our corruptions hid in the cave of

our hearts, and the ftone of unbelief rolled to

keep them

in

but

when we

receive Chrifl

by

faith,

and have pardon in him, our great

fays,

Jofhua takes away the ftone, and

out thefe
kingSy thefe corruptions,

bring

that have

reigned

over

my

people^

and

by

faith

let^

them

98

The Go/pel a

Ser.

IV.

them tread on the necks of them.

Mafter,
text,

Oar

great
in the

when he
7?iy

gave the

command

fays,

tbefe figns Jhall follow

them that
out devils^
they Jloall

believe^ in

name

they

Jl: all caji

they fiall [peak with

new

tongues^

take up Jerpe72tSy

thing it

f'jall

and if they drink any deadly not hurt them. Thefe were
5

things peculiar, in one fenfe, to the apoilles

but in the power of

faith,

and

as

brought

home
3

to every believer, he cafts out devilifli lufts

and

if they

had drank any deadly thing,

as

God

knows we have, they may do by them as Paul did by the viper, through die power of faith caft them off, and by this means prove that Chrifl is God.
This
tion.
is,

my

dear hearers, a prefent falva-

The

wickedeft

wretch in the world

be faved,

will cry, I

hope

to

though they
after their

have no notion of being ilwed but

death
5

as a

woman

in Virginia told
5

me
I

once,

when
you,

I faid flie
fir,

muft be born again

believe

but that muft be after I

am

dead.

And by
faved
as I

peoples living as they do, one

would
But
that

fuppofe that they think they are not to be

till

they die^ becaule they live

I teh

fo.

have told you,

is

you again, Chiiri^s

and
'^xii

faivation

a great falvation}

Chnft

Ser. IV*.

dying Saififs Triumph,

is

99

Chrlfl does for his people on earth,

earneft of
tion

good things
is

to

but an come, an anticipa-

of what he
fays,

to

do

for

them

in heaven.
is

Our Lord
you
J

the kingdoi7i of
is

God

within

the

kingdom

come nigh unto you.

You

muft not only believe on

in
:

Chrift, but believe

him we are not only to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft,

but

we

are

to

be baptized into the nature of

the Father, Son, and

Holy Ghoft 5
and
all

this

is

the

baptifm of the

Spirit,

this is that falvation

which God grant we may

partake

of.

We

are

to

be

fived,

my

brethren,

from

what? why, from the

to deliver

fear of death.

He came

them whoy through the Jear of deaths

were

all their life time fubje^i to bondage.

What

are there

no children of
afTurance
I

God

but thofe that

have
fo
\

full

you never heard

faft,

me

fay

yet I

am

apt to fpeak a litde

but at

the fame time I

fafl as

would chufe not

to fpeak fo

to

fpeak contrary to the

a great

word of God.
fouls,

There
times

are

many good

that at

may doubt

of the reality of this

work

upon
will

their fouls: a relaxed habit of body, a

nervous diforder, you

may

fay

what you

pleafe,

make

weak

child of

God

doubt of what

God

has done in them,

and that hurts the

mind

'lOo

7he Gofpei a
as
It

Ser.

IV.

mind

has fuch a clofe connexion with

but then a believer
:

the body;

is

low

God's

people are low perfons

iiuiffes are

as the greateft ge-

moft
is

liable to

lownefs of

fpirit,

for

the fcabbard

not ftrong enough for the fword,

talk

and perfons that

time
live
;

much muft wear

it is

out in

but this

I ftand to,

our privilege to

above the

fears

of
till

cleath.

We

do not live
are waitj

up
and

to our dignity

every day

we

ing for the coming of our Lord from heaven

I

am

perfuaded of

this,

though

believe

may be fome why we do not live more above the fear of death is, becaufe we keep in fo much with You may have the thefe nafty earthly things.
there
exceptions, that the reafon
beft eyes in

the world, and

only put your

hands before them, you will find the fun hid

from you

and

fo

you may have

a large

fire,
is

but throw fome earth upon the

fire

that

in

your parlour, or drawing rooms, and you will

find the fire

damped.

And how

can people

have
fo

much of God or heaven, when they have much of the earth in their hearts ? It is our
though
are

privilege to hve above the fear of death,

we

not to be faved from dyings and I

am

fure a believer
for a million

would not be faved from dying

5

of worlds

it

would be death to him

Ser.

IV.

dyhtg
;

Smnfs

I'rhwiph.

loi

him

not to die

but a foul touched with the

love of God,

even in ficknefs, in the midft of

fire

a burning fever, in the midft of a

will

that

burn a thoufand

bodies

up, convulfed

with tortures and pains

liever
is

in every

limb

a be-

enabled fometimes to fay,

;

O my

God^

my

Gody thou art love

am
;

ready to come

to thee in the midfi

of

all.

Blefled be

God,

need not go
the gallery,
dear
faint,

far for
lies

example

yonder, under
the carcafe of a

the remains,

who was
up;
divine,

for twenty-five days toge-

ther burned with a fever,

enough
filled

to fcorch.

any creature

yet,

one

with love

and power

bleflTcd

the

Lord Jefus;

though fhe cried

the agony of
tient
i

out,

If I

was not fupported,

my body
all

would make

me impa-

yet never faid a

murmuring word, but

the comforts that

in the midft of

cried out to thofe about her,

God
feel

is

love !

O my joys ! O
laft
;

and in her very

1 am a coming
and
fiafm,

moments cried out, dear Lord, I am a coming ;

If this
is

fo fweetly flept in Jefus.

enthu-

God

give us a
!

good fhare of it when

are dying

we

come

to die

Thefe

and yet

living

witneffes that

God is love ! She was in raptures when Mr. Sheppard went to vifit her: flie
defired

me

to tell you, that

God

is

love

defired

102
iired

rhe Gojpel a

Ser. IV.
pulpit, that
I

me

to

tell

you

in the

Chapel

fhe was called about four years ago.

think

Mr. Lee was the inftrument of her

converfion.

Now
Now
Do

her body
is

is

to be put to bed at

noon

but her foul

the joys
!

crying,

the joys

the joys

of being faved by a bleffed Emanuel

will

any one dare to deny

this evidence

you

fee

worldly people work themfelves

up into that frame when they die ? Vifit them when they are near death ah dear they are
:
!

in the vapours

they are fo afraid of dying,

that the

dodor

will not fuffer us to

come

near

them ;

no, not

common

clergymen, for fear

:

we fhould damp their fpirits

fay the farewel prayer to

till

they find they

are juft gone, and then they give us leave to

them

but they that

crea-

are born from above, that are

made new

tures in Chrift, feel fomething that fmiles

upon

them in death. She told them, fie believed God would let her go over Jordan dry Jhod-y
that

was her

expreffion.
it

If this
in

is

falvation
?

on

earth,

what muft

be

heaven

If in the

midftof the
Lord,

tortures of a burning fever a rap-

tured foul can cry,

forts
!

the joys
!

the

comRe-

am coming
when

am coming

what muft

that be
?

enclofed in a

deemer's arms

in order to which, the glorious

angels

Sen IV.

dying Sainfs Triumph,

103

angels ftand at the top of the ladder to take a

poor wearied pilgrim home.

not only fuch a frame

Lord, give us
but

when

v/e are dying,

is

while

we

are living

for if it

comfortable to

die in fuch a frame,

to live in

why
faith

not to live in it?

heaven on
I

earth,
j

O, fay you, I
I

thank

God

walk by

have got the have the pro-

promife.

Well, thank

God you

mife

but with the promife, learn to walk by

is

ihdX faith which

the evidence of things notfeen^

which

brings

God down,
Here
is

brings heaven near,

and gives the

foul a heart-felt experience, that

God

is love.
!

a falvation

worthy of a
for this

God
bled,

here

is
!

a falvation
for this

worthy of the Medihe

he
arofe, for this

ator's

blood

he groaned,
for this

for this

he died,
for this

he afcended,
and

he

fent the

Holy

Gho/1:,

for this purpofe

he now fends him

into the

hearts of his people.

My
it

brethren,
to

what

fay

you

to this?

I hope,

is

enough

make you
like hers.

cry out, Lordy let

my

latter

end be

This

may comfort
this

you

that are

mourners about her corpfe,

may
is

comfort a fond hufband,

taken
it,

whole beloved

now
is

away by
that

ftroke.

What

a
to

mercy

fir,

you was. inftrumental

?

bring her uoder the

word

llie

was onceaverfe
to

104
to

^he Gofpel a
:

Scr.

IV.
!

coming here
^

"wkaty leave
to
!

my parijh church
to

laid fhe

what^ go

a conventicle^

a taber-

nacle of JMethodiJls

he advifed her again and

again to

come

at laft,

one day

as

they were go-

ing to

St. Giles's,

fhe fays,
if it falls

Well, come put up

towards
St. Gileses I

your walking-flick,
will

go there
fell

if to

the Chapel,

I will

go there j

the ftick

towards the Chapel, (he came,

and was converted to God.

with what joy

in the king-

muft her huiband meet her again

dom of heaven

and

O happy

day, in

which fhe

was encouraged

to feek after

God. Laft week,

another was buried in the like circumftances

and, bleffed be God, in yonder burying-ground
are the remains of many precious fouls, that in the

day of judgment will

ther this Chapel

let the

world

know wheor not.

in

was

built for

God
is

O
latter

what an awful word

claufe

that

the

of the

text,

he

that

believeth

notfiall be datnned,

Paufe,
-,

I will give

you

time to think a little

as

if you

would have Chrifl

good

as his

will be as

word of prom ife, remember he good as his word of threatning. You

or non-believing, our fal-

hear the necefTity of preaching the gofpel, becaufe

upon believing

vation or damnation will turn.

What

will

you
you

laugh

at

the minifler that cries out. Lord help

Set. IV*

dying Saint's Triumph,

5

105

you

to

we
to

come, come, do you think that have nothing elfe to fay, and are at a lofs

come

for words,
fill

when we
it is

cry come, come, come,

it

up our fermons? no,

one great
are

is

part of our

commiffion,

part.

And,

my
a

fellow-finners,

we
;

come
you

to tell you, that

as well as

our Mafter has a two-edged fword

golden fcepter

and

if

will not

come under

the found of the word, and do not feel the converting

power of it,
It.

yoii

muft feel the confoundit

ing weight of

I repeat

again to you, he that

-^

believe th not Jhallbe

terrible,

damned
are
is

the very

word

is

God
it

grant you

may

never

know how
18.

terrible

is.

You

condemned already;
iii.

he that believeth not

Son of God.

fo, "John

why

becaufe he hath not believed on the

It is

not his being a

name of the whore-monbut his

ger or adulterer that will

unbelief
is

damn him,
fin
j

the
;

damning
for ever

for this

he

wilt

be condemned

banifhed from the pre-

fence of the ever-blelTed

God
tear,

you

rave,

how
your

will

you

how and how

and
fee

will

will

you wring your hands, when you

relations,

your

friends, thofe

whom

you de-

fpifed,

and were glad they were dead out of

your way, fee them in Abraha^n's bofom, and

y ourfelves

lifting

up your

eyes in

tormmt

jc6

The Gofpel a
dear hearers,

Ser.

IV.
in-

my
on

do

let

me

plead, let

me

treat

you;

if that
;

would

do, I
I

would down
would come

my

knees

if that

would do,
you go,

down from
necks,
I

the pulpit, I would hang on your

let

would not

would
feet
j

offer

myfelf to be trodden under your

have

known what of men thirty

temper
linner
;

it is

to be trodden under the foot

years ago, and I ufe

if I

am
I

of the fame

ftill

me

as

you

will,

am

a poor

and

was to be

killed a thoufand

ways,

I fuffer

no more than

my
:

reward as an

unprofitable fervant of

God

but don't tram*

;

pie the dear Jefus under foot

what has he
and plead

done
therms

to

you

was

it

any harm

to leave his fadie,

bofom, come
?

down and

him yonder hang on the tree behold him with his arm ftretched out! fee him all of a bloody gore, and in his lafi: agony preaching love Would you give him a frefh
for linners

See

ftab

Are there any of you here that think the

;

fword did not pierce him enough

that they

did not knock the briers and thorns into his

head deep enough? and

the other
flafh,

will

you give him

?

the other thorns

afrefh,
?

and will

you

pierce

him
is

and go away without

cannot help
it ;

believing he
free

love

am
you

from the blood of you alh

Oh

that

may

Ser. IV.

dying

Sai?2t's

Triuf7jph.

T07
Don't be

may

not

damn your own

;

fouls!

murderers

nor,

like Efau,

fell your birth-

right for a mcfs of pottage.

God

convince
that

you

God

convert you;
;

never believed to believe

God help thofe God help thofe

;

that

have believed to believe more

experience
faith
is
;

that they

may
till

more and more

vifion,
all,

this falvation,

turned into
till

and hope into

faint,

fruition

we

have

with yonder
us,

and

all

that have

gone before
in the

experienced

complcat falvation
even
fo,

Lord

Jefus,

kingdom of heaven Amen and Amen.

SERMON

io8

V.

Repentance and Converfion.

Acts

lii,

ver.

19.

Repent ye therefore and be converted^

that

your fins may be blotted

out,

when

the times

of rejreJJnng Jhall come from the prefence of the Lord,

WH
infpired

AT

pity

is

it

that

moderi^
to

preachers

attend

no more
in

the
firft

niethod thofe took

who were

by the Holy Ghoft,

!

preaching

Jefus Chrift

the fuccefs they were honoured

with, gave a fandtion to their

ing,

manner of preachone w^ould think,

and the divine authority of their difcourfe?,

their elocution,

and energy of

fhould have more weight with thofe that are

called to difpenfe the golpe!,

than

all

modern
mi-

ichemes whatever.
nifters

If this
learn

was the
to

cafe,

would then
5

firft

fow, and then

to reap

they would endeavour to plow up

the

Ser.

V.

Repentance and Converfion.

109

the fallow ground, and thereby prepare the

people for God's raining

down

bleffings

upon
a

them.

Thus

Peter preached

when under
laft

Wcdnefday night: he charged the audience home, though many of them were learned and high
divine influence, as I mentioned

and

great,

with having been the murderers of

the Son of God.

No

doubt but the charge

that

entered deep into their confcience, and

faithful

monitor beginning to give them

lets
it

pro-

per fenfe of themfelves, the apoftle

them

know

that great as their fin was,

5

was not

unpardonable

that

though they had been conhad there-

cerned in the horrid crime of murdering the

Lord of

Life, notwithftanding they

by incurred the penalty of

there was a

eternal death, yet

to

mercy

for

them, the way

which

he points out in the

fays he,

text ;

Repent ye therefore^

and

be converted^ and adds, that your

Jins

may

be blotted out.

Though
-,

they are but

few words, they

this,

are weighty

a (hort fentence
it

but fweet

may God make

blcffed

fweetnefs to every ono. of your hearts

But muft we preach converfion

iing people
to fay,
?

to a profet-

Son:ic

of you, perhaps, are ready

3

go

to

America

go among the favages

tliere;

and preach repentance and converfion

^'^

Repenta77ce and

Con'VerJion.

Ser.

V.

or, if

you muft be a field-preacher, go

to the
;

highways and hedges; go

ramble up and down,
as

to the colhers
to do,

go

you ufed

preach

converiion to the drunkards: would to

God

my

commiffion

might be renev/ed,
fpirit

that I

might have ftrength and

advice
1

to

take the

Poflibly others will fay,

do not preach

it

to

us

pray

who

are

you
;

I anfwer,

one fent to
I

call

you

to repentance

and although

might,

yet I will not

as to

come

fo clofe to

you
are
I
3

at prefent,

inquire in

my

turn,

who

you

yet

permit

me

to pray, that

while

am

preaching

God's
let

may find you out and not only you know who you are, but what you
Spirit

are

and then you will not be eafy with your^

nor angry

felves,

with a minifter

of Jefus

Chrift for preaching converfion to your fouls.

Repentance and converfion are nearly the

fame.

The

exprefiion in the text

is

complex,

and feems to include both what goes before

and follows turning

is

to

God: and

if the

Lord
be
en-

pleafed to

honour

me

fo far to night to
I will

ufeful to

finners, as well as faints,

deavour to fhew you,

Firft,

what

it

is

not to be converted

fe-

condly, w^hat

it is

to

be trulv converted

third-

Scr.
ly,

V.
offer

Repentance and Converfcon.

i \ i

fome motives
:

why you

fliould repent

and be converted and, fourthly, anfwer fome objedlions that have been madki againfl perfons
repenting and being converted
fo blefs
5

and

may God

my

preaching, and your hearing, that

every one
vert

may go away and

more.

fay,

Lord, con-

me more and
I fhall

Firft,
it is

endeavour to fliow you v/hat

;

not to be converted

for I

do

verily be-

lieve there are thoufands,

and ten thoufands,

and yet
at

that think themfeives converted,

the fame time,

if

you come and examine them,

they

know
it

not fo
is
:

much

as fpeculatively

what

real converfion

the general notion

many
from

have of

is,

a perfon's being a convert

the church of
land.

Rome

to the

church of Eno;-

There

is

a particular office in the large

prayer book, to be ufed

when any one publicly

renounces popery

in the great congregation.

When

this is

done, that prayer read, and the

to

perfon faid
occafion,

Amen
is

the colleds upon

the;

every

body wifhes him joy, and

converted
;

thanks
is all,

God he
he
is

whereas,

if this

as
in

much

unconverted to

God

as

ever

he has

words renounced popery, but

fins

never took leave of the

after this

of his heart. Well;,

he looks

into the church,

and does
not

1 1

Repentance and Converfion.

Ser.

V*
he

not like that white thing called a furplice

looks,

and thinks there are (bme rags of the

left ftill
^
:

whore of Babylon
will be converted
ter
:

now,

fays he^ I

how

I will turn Diffen-

fo after

he

is

converted from the churcli

of
to

Rome
the

to the church of England, he goes

diffenting

church

may

be,

curiofity

\may

bring

him

to the Methodifts,

thofemonhe

TOous troublefome

creatures, and, perhaps,

may

then be converted a third time, like their

j

preaching, like their finging

dear, I

muft

have a Tabernacle-ticket,
book, I will come

muft have a Pfalmis

as often as there
;

preach-

ing, or at leaft as often as I can

fits

and there he

down, and becomes an outfide converted

as

Methodift,

demure

as

poflible.

this

is

going a prodigious way^ and yet

verfion

all this is

conIf

from one party only

to

another.

the minifter gives a rub or two he will take

mifF perhaps, and be converted

perfuafion,
left

to

fome other
is

and

all

the while Jefus Chrift

this is

unthought of 5 but

converfion only

from party
fon

to party, not real,

and that which

Poffibly, a per-

will bring a foul to heaven.

may go
fet

further,

and be converted from

;

one

of principfes to another

he may,
all

for

inftance, be born an Arminian,

which

men

naturally

Ser.

V.

Repentance and Converfion.

113
I

naturally are;

and one reafon

is,

why
You

think
\vill

Calvinifm right

becaufe proud nature

not ftoop to be faved by grace.

that are

brought up

in

an orthodox

belief,

under an
al-

orthodox miniftry, caiindt

eafily

make an
yoii

lowance for thoufands that have nothing ringing in their ears but Arminianifm
;

have

fuck'd in orthodoxy with your mother's milk^

many four and fevere profeifors. I knew a risfid man that would beat Chriftianity into his wife ; and fo many beat
and that makes
fo

people with their bibles, that they are likely,

by

their

bitter

proceeding,

to

hinder

them

from attending to the means

for converfion.

God

has defigned

What

is

this

but being con?

verted from one fet of principles to another

and

may

be very zealous for them, without

being transformed by them into the Image of

God.

But fome go further, they think they

:

are converted becaufe they are reformed

fay,

they
j

a reformed rake makes a gcodhujband^ but^

rake will

I think a renewed

Reformation

is

not

make a bettefir I may have: renovation

:

the outfide of the platter wafhed

turned from prophanenefs to a regard

lality
;

may be for mota

and becaufe

do not fwear, nor go

^

the play as I ufed to do

have

left

off cards^

Q^

and

114

Repentance and Converjton,

drefs
3

Ser.

V.

and perhaps put on a plain

lieve,

and

fo be-

or rather fancy, that I

am

converted;

yet the old

heart
is

man

remains unmortiiied, and the

ftill.

unrenewed

Comparing myfelf

with what I once wa?, and looking on

my

companions with
fafter in
felf,

difdain,

may

there (lick

and get into a worfe and more

If any of
are

dangerous ftate than I was before.

you think

me

too fevere,
y

remember you

the perfon I

mean

for

you think
cafe.

me

fo only

becaufe I touch

your

The

drunkards

and fabbath-breakers,
fay
to
us,

curfers

and fwearers,

you can never preach but you

:

preach againft us
to a perfon,
fters for this

as a

good man once replied

put you in a

who

complained againft us miniI will

preaching;

way,

faid he, that

we
?

fhall

never preach againft

leave off curfing
will

you

how

is

that

why,

and
be

fwearing,
clear,

&c. then your confciences

and the minifter will look over your

:

heads

happy they

that are convinced

I

of

it

Ycu

have not heard me,

5

hope, fpeak a word

againft reformation

you have not heard

me

fpeak a word againft being converted from the

church of

Rome

againft
;

being converted to

the church of England

or, againft

being good
;

no ^

all

tkefe are riglu in their place

but

all

thefe

Ser,

V.

Repentance and Converjion.

\ i r

thefe converfions

you may have, and yet never

at all.

be truly converted
then
?

What
be a

is

converfion
in fufpenfe,

I will not
:

keep you longer

my

brethren

man muft
his

new

creature,

and converted from

own

righteoufnefs to
;

the righteoufnefs of the Lord Jefas Chrift

con-

vidion will always preceed

fion
this
;

fpiritual

conver-

and therefore the Proteftant divines make

diftindion,

you may be convinced and

and

not converted, but you cannot be converted

without being convinced

converted,
Vv'e

if v^^e are truly

lliall

not only be turned and

felf,

converted from fmful

verted

but

we

{hall
is

be con-

from righteous

felf;

that

the devil of
itielf

devils: for righteous felf can run

in
its

and hide

own
;

doings,

which
fo

is

the reafon feif-

righteous

people

are

angry

with gofpel
to the

preachers

there are
:

no fuch enemies

gofpel as thefe

there ivere Jcivs

who

trufted in
fet all

themfelves that they

in

were righteous, that

an uproar, and raifed the

mob
:

on the apof-

t!es.

Our Lord denounced

dreadful

woes

againft the felf-righteous Pharifees

fo minifters

muft cut and hack them, and not fpare; but

fay

wo, wo,

wo

to all thofe that will not fub!

mit to the righteoufnefs of Jefjs Chrifl

could almoft fay, this
is

the

lafi:

flroke the

CL2

Lord

1:^6

Repejitance

and

Converjion,

Ser.

V,

Lord

Jefus gave Paul, I

;

mean

in turning

to real Chriftianity

for

having given
injurious,

him him a

blow

as

a perfecutor

and

he then

brought him out of himfeif by revealing his

perfon and office as a Saviour.
1

am

Jefus.

Hence
lofs

that
him
\

fays the apoftle,

/ count
Chrift^

all

thmgs but
be

I may
not

'win

and

jcund

in

having

my own

righteoiijncls^
is

which

is

of the law, but that which

;

through

the faith of Chri/i

the rigkteoufnefs

which

is

of

God by faith.

You
5

hear
as

him not only fpeak

a blafphem.er, but
v/e

of himfeif

as injurious,

alfo as a Pharifee

and
till

in vain

may

talk

of being converted
ourfelves
ners, to
-,

we

are brought out

loft,

of

to

come
to

as

poor

undone

fin-

the
;

Lord Jefus Chrift^

to be waflied

in his blood

be cloathed in his
:

glorious

imputed righteoufnefs
imputation,
or

the confequence of this

application

of a Mediator's

righteoufnefs to the foul, will be a converfion

from
fay,

fin to holinefs.

am

almoft tempted to

it is

perverfenefs in people to preach againffc

the dodrine of imputed righteoufnefs, becaufe

they love holinefs, and charge the Calvinifts

with being enemies to

it

how
its

can they be

charged with being enemies to Sandification,

vvho fo ftrenuoully

infift

on

being

thjf

ge-

nuine

Ser.

V.

Repentance and Co7iverJion.

fruit,

117

nuine

and unqueftionable proof of the

of grace

imputation of the righteoufnefs ot Chrift, and

application of
it

by the

Spirit

They
take

that are truly converted to

tified

Jefus, and are juf-

by

faith

in

the Son of

God,
in

will

care to evidence their converlion, not only

the.

by

having

grace implanted

their

hearts,

but by that grace diffuiing

faculty

itfelf

through every

pf the
in

foul,

and making a univerfal

I

change

the whole man.

am
is

preaching

from

a bible that faith,

He

that

in Chrijl is

a new creature^ old things^ not will be but,

are pajfed away ^
are
all

all

things y not only w/7/ but,

becojjie

new.

As

a child

when born has

it it

the feveral parts of a

it

man,

will

have no

more limbs than

fcore

has now, if
^

lives to four-

years and

ten

fo

Vv^hen
all

perfon

is

converted to God, there are

the
a

the features of

new

creature and growth,

a

till

he becomes
;

young man and

father in Chrift

till

he

becomes
to glory.

ripe in grace,

and

God
;

tranflates
is

him

Any

thing fhort of this

but the

fliadow inftead of the fubftance

and however
enthufiafts,

perfons.may charge us with being

yet

we

need not be
St.

moved
fays,

either to anger or

forrow, fince
till

Paul

travel in birth

Chrijl be formed in your hearts^

The

J 1

Repentance and Con'verfion.

Ser.

V,

The
Ghofl
moral
of the
change
:

author of this converiion

it is

is
;

the
it

Holy
is

not their
;

own

free will

not

fvvafion
Spirit

nothing

fliort

of the influence
can
effefl: this

of the living
3

God

in

our hearts

therefore

we

are faid to

be born again^

born oj God,

of the Spirit^
-,

not of water only^ but of the Holy Ghoji

that

which
which
there

is
is
is

born of the

flefto

is flefh,

but that

bar 71 of the Spirit

is

Jpirit

and tho'

and will be a conteft between thefe and

fpirit,

two
truly

oppofites, flefh

yet if

we

are

converted, the

fpirlt

will get the afcen-

dency; and though for a while nature and

grace

may

llruggle in

the

womb
(liall

of a con-

verted foul, like Jacob and Efau, yet the elder

fliall

ferve the younger,

Jacob

fupplant and

turn outEfau, or atleaftkeep

grant
ed.

him under: God

we may

al!

thus prove that

we are convergat

This converiion, however it begins

home,

will foon
v/as fbon

walk abroad;

as the

Virgin

Mary
it

found out to be with child, fo

is

will
in

be foon found out whether Chrift

the heart.

formed

There

will be

new principles, new

works
;

ways,

new company,
converfion
:

nev^

there will

be a thorough change
this
is

in the heart

and

life ^

at

iirfl: it

begins with terror

it

and

legal forrow, afterwards

leads to joyfulnefs
3

Ser.

V.
;

Repent a?ice and Converfion.

nefs

firft
it
:

from

we work for fpirltual life, firft we are in bondage,

God, becaufe he has been
that

afterwards

afterwards

we
let

receive the Spirit of adoption to long

for

and

thii-ft

pleafed to

us

know

he

will take us to heaven.

Converfion means a being turned from hell to

heaven, from the world to God.
not fo

We
his

have
to

much

as

alked a pcrfon to

fell

all,

leave his lliop, to lay any thing at our feet:

when we talk of being converted from the world, we mean being converted from the love
of it: the heart once touched with the magnet of divine love, ever after turns to the pole,
I

think

it is

faid
it

of a fun-flower, though

quesit

tion

whether

will alv/ays hold true, that

;

turns to the fun

am

fure

it is

true of the

Redeemer's flowers that grow

in his garden,

they not only look to the fun, but they find

fi'efh life,

warmth, and transforming influence

is

from him who

tianity

their all in
its

all.

Here Chrif-

appears in

glory; here the

work

done

is

worthy the Son of God.

is

To

be con-

verted only to a party,

that v/orth ChriiVs

coming from heaven to earth for; that we might have a fet of principles v/ichout having

them

affedt the heart

as

for to

be baotized
i.

when
at

young, or

fome

to

come out of the water

age.

I20
age, and

Repentance and Converfion.

turn out as bad as ever,
is

Scr.

Y^

a plain

proof of the neceffity of being baptized by the

Holy Ghoft.

What
is it

fay

you

to this
is it

change,

my dear fouls ?
is it

not god-like,

not divine,
j

not heafelt

ven brought down

it,

to the foul
it ?

have you
begin to

have you experienced

I

cate-^

chize you already, for

could fpend a v^hole

;

fermon

in fpeaking
fit

of converfion

but

am

afraid thofe that

under the gofpel have more

light
:

need of heat than

v^ould to

God we

had

as

much warmth
!

in our hearts, as light ia

if there

our underftandings

But

be any of you

here that are not yet converted, upon what

grounds do you hope for converfion

leave to fay, that

give

me

you ought

to repent

and be
never
fouls.-

converted, for
will,

till

then you never can,

reft for

never fhall find true

your

What wrong
verfion
!

notions have people got of conit is

;

they think

wretched thing, and

it

dread being converted

is,

not knowing v/hat

I

they think

it is

a frightful thing.
to

knew

one fometime ago that came

difis
5

fome Methoare ehearful,

too,
:

dear, fays the perfon,

you

I could be glad if I

was a Method ift

if

there was a majority of

them

in the land

but

God

help us to go to heaven with the minority.

Ser,

V.

Repentance and Con^oerfion.

majority
will
is

if the

not follow.

But,

my

dear hearers, there

all

not a fingle foul of you

:

that are fatisfied in your ftations

is

not the

language of your hearts

think

we fhall do very
:

when apprentices, we well when journeymen ;

when journeymen, that we fliould do very when fingle, that we fhall well when mafters do well when married and to be fure you think you fhall do well when you keep a car^

riage.

have heard of one

who

began low
I

he

firft

wanted a houfe, then,

fix
;

fays he,

want

two, then four, then

and when he had

elfe

them, he
yes,

faid,

think I want nothing

fays his

friend,
is,
;

you

will foon v/ant

fix to

anocarry

ther thing, that

a hearfe and

you
ble.

to

your grave

and that made him trem-

O if you

are Chriftians, if the

Lord
I

loves

you, he will put a thorn in your

often thought of

flefli.

have

what

good man fays

in

in his
flefli.

Diary,

the

Lord put a thorn

my

Among
may
fall

politicians,

when
his

they

find a

man
he

ambitious, they fay,

kick him up,

that

and break
;

neck

fo

it is

in every

condition
old, but

there

is

not one of you

fifty

years

have had

many changes: have

not

you found thorns even on the

rofe that fmelt fo

fweet, and thorns perhaps that pricked you (o

clofely,

122

Repentance and Converfion.

Ser.

V.

clofcly, that

you have forgot the

Is all

fcent of the

rofe

by

it ?

and what
is

this for,

but to teach

you
be a
be

that happinefs

only to be found in the

Lord.

If a foul

is

truly converted, there v^ill

will never
;

battle,

and an awful chafm that

filled

up but with the love of God

and

therefore
verted,
it

when we
is

fay.

Repent and be confaying, repent

no more than
Indeed
till

and

be happy.
pleatly

happy

we fhall never be comwe get to heaven. O that

like leaves in

every

man
:

could fee the good of every thing

of a fublunary nature drop off

autumn
If

God

grant this

may

be

known by

every one of you.

it

is

afked,
?

why you

(hould repent and

elfe

be converted

anfwer, becaufe

you can

never be happy hereafter.

What do you think

covetous
;

heaven
think
ileal

is?

why,

fays the

man,

it is

a place full of gold

fo
?

you think

to

fome of the gold, do you

heaven very well
if

Others would

like

there was, a
if there

good

gaming-table in heaven;
playing in heaven.
that
I

was card-

have heard of a lady

was

fo fond of

gaming, that though fhe

her, yet

had the pang? of death upon

the midil of her
fits,

when

in

or juft

coming out of

one, inftead of afking after Jefus, v/here he

was

Ser.

V.

Repentance and Converfwn.

fhe aflied,

123
trumps
?

was

to be found,

what
is

is

So the gamefter

will afk,

where
is

the back?

gammon
want

table

where

the box
in

he will
;

to fhake his

ungodly hand

heaven
in

he

will fay, let us

have a gaming-table

heaven,

where,
that

as

he

will find,

he has

loft

the

game

God

has

damned him without an

intereft

in Chrift.

Can two walk together

unlefs they

are agreed ? If you die and do not love

here, if

God
here,

you cannot love praying to

God

and cannot watch one hour, fuppofe you wa?

to be ftruck

by death and be taken

fuch
language
?

to heaven,

there
there,

is

no

and amufement

what would you do

us whether

Why,
go
to

fay you,

thefe Methodifts are prefumptuous people, they

can
no.

tell

we

are to

heaven or

Good. Mr. Rogers,

worfhip

Welfh Boanerges,
faid, Chrift
is

preaching in the mountains,

ven,
if I

hea-

God

here, and

do

all

to

God,

and

for

God, without any hopes of reward

earth.

upon the
vils

My

dear brethren, the de-

would never be troubled with fuch a wretch

he would
fet all hell in

in hell,

an uproar

if

a true Methodift

was to go

to hell, the devil

is

would
to

fay, turn that

:

Methodift out, be

come

torment us

therefore,,

you muft be conDr. Scott

faysj^

verted if you will

go

to heaven.

124
fays,

Repentance and Converfion.

if a natural
it

Ser.

V.

man was

to

be put into hea-

ven,

would be fuch a

hell to

him, that he
:

would be
they hate,
afraid to

glad to go to hell for fhelter

angels

God

they hate

and
and

as

Adam was
fell

meet with God when he

firfl;

from
that

him,
I

fo his fons hate

God

flee

away.
is,

mention one thing more, which

you muft be converted,

that
is

or be damned, and

plain Englifli, but not plainer than

my

.Mafler

made

ufe of,

He

that believeth not Jloall

be dajnned,

I did

not fpeak that word ftrong

enough

that fays.
-,

He

that believeth

mtfiall be
^

damned
it is

that

is

the language of our Lord

and

faidofone of the primitive preachers, that

fpeak the word

ijfed to
all

damned
fear

fo that

it

ftruck

his auditory.

We
for
at

are afraid of fpeaking

the word

damned
a one
\

of offending fuch

and fuch

the fame time they defpife

the minifter for not being honeft to his mafter.

Some have
fo
?

(aid,

and fland

to
:

it,

that hell

is

cnly a temporary puniihment

Who told them

!

temporary punifliment

nothing but a
!

guilty confcience.

go to Bedlam
feels

Do

afk
is

^ child of
abfent
cries,
?

God what he
the fpoufe

when

his

Lord

Aik

what fhe

felt

when

fhe

Saw ye him "JDhom my foul lovetb ? Afk child of God when he is ufmg this plaintive
language^

Ser.

V.

Repentance and ConverJio?i.

125

language.

Why flandeft
tell

thou afar
hell to

off^

Lord'?

and he
but one

will

you,

it is

my

foul to

be

beloved.

moment without the And if his abfence

that
foul

prefence of

my
of

for a quarter

an hour can fcarce be bore by a child of God,

what muft

undergo that
for ever
?

is

com-

manded
they bid

to depart

from him
heaven

and yet

thefe very

words were
fair for

faid to thofe that

;

thought

to thefe Jefus fays,

I hiow ye not. God grant you may never know the meaning of thefe words by awful experience Now, what fay you ? I could make a hundred heads more, but I chufe to make as few as poffible, that you may remem!

ber them.
hereafter,

I fay,

converfion makes you happy

it

and without

you

are dan:ined for

ever.

Are
hearers,

thefe

things fo ?

why

then,

my

dear

do you think there can be any objecconverfion, do you think

tion raifed againft

there can be any argument raifed againft turn-

ing to

God

direcftly

is

there any pcrfon here

that will give himfelf time to confider a

moin a

ment

that will not fay,

though you fpeak

is

rough, incoherent manner, yet there

truth in what you fay
;

fome
I

believe

men ouzat
faying
is,

to be converted^ but the

common

26

Repentance and Converjion.

Ser.

V.
is-

don't care to be converted yet;

we
Is

think

it

time enough to he converted.

not this a6t-

ing like the cardinal, v^hen told he waseledted

pope, and defired to

come

that night and

have

the honour of pope conferred on

it

was pretty

late faid, it is
it

not a

him ^ becaufe work of darkloft

it

nefs, I will

put

offtill

the morning; before

which they chofe another pope, and he

his triple crown.
till

You may
Pray
if

think to put

oiF

the morning, though before the

morning
you not
and

you may be damned.

be converted

why

will

now?

you was

in prifon,

a perfon would take you out, you would chufe

to be
let

out to-night before morning, thatjou

jriight fleep the better ;

why

will
for

you not do
your body
I
fliall
it

that for your foul

you would

Well,

would be converted but

at
:

be

laughed

fuppofe you was to have

pro*

mifed, you fhould have a ten thoufand

lottery ticket, but

pound
at all

you muft be laughed

is

your life-time
g^ive

there

none but v/ould fay^

call

me

the ten thoufand pounds, and

as

me
me
are

Method ift

long as I live: fo if you loved

fouls,

God God
afraid

and your and

call

you would

fay,

give

me what
this

you
at

will.

You

of being laughed

and nick- named,,

placcj,

and ikulk into

and that

becaufe

is

does

Ser.

V.

"Repentance

and Converfwn]
of Methodifm your
hats,

12*7
as this.
let

does not ftink io

much
in

Put your cockades

and

the

world
badge
:

fee that
let

you

are not

afhamed of God*9
fin like

the devil and his agents preach to

you

they can proclaim their

Sodom

they are not

affemblies,
to

afhamed of going
parties

to balls

and

of pleafure,
Is

and fub-

fcribing to horfe-races.

the gofpel the glo-

ry of the land, and are you afliamed of the

gofpel
?

What

think you,

if

you had given an

hundred pounds

to learn fuch a trade,

it
!

would
will

you

fay,

I fhall never attain

no,

you

perfevere,

and by giving diligence make an

excellent mechanic, an admirable tradefman>

and do you think

trouble
?

to

go

to

heaven v/ithout fomc

do you think the leopard can change

Ethiopian put his fkin intirely

his fpots, the

off? can
dies

we

have any thing to nourifh our bo?

without the labour of particular perfons

and therefore
our falvatton

we

are

commanded
7iot

to

work out

with jear a7id tre?nbling.

quench

Rethe

member

our Redeemer will

fmoaking faXy nor break the

are like poor

briiijed

reed > he

will gently lead thofe that are with young,

V/e

fwimmers
and cry

fome people
!

will put

one foot

in

oh

and then another,

in at once,

but a good

fwimmer plunges

and

comes

128

Repentance and Converfwn.

to

Ser.

V*

comes out braced up : would

do

fo,

plunge into

God
in
;

at

God we could once, and God will

I

bear

up our

fouls indeed.
all

But fay you,

good time,

do not chufe
are

to be converted yet

why, what age

to a pretty

you

now?
rate

I will

come down
it

age; fuppofe you are fourteen:

modeand do

not you think

time to be converted? and

yet there are a great

many

here, I dare fay,

twenty years old,

and not converted.

Some

are of opinion, that

verted,

moft people that are conthirty.

are

fo before

There was a

young man buried

free grace

laft

night at

Tottenham
fifty,

Court but feventeen, an early monument of

!

Are you
Is
it

forty,

or

is

not

that time

time for the

are
it
is

poor prifoners
be hanged toit

to be converted that

to

morrow morning
is

if

time for them,

time for you, for you

may

be dead before

them. There was a poor woman, but two or

three days ago, that

was damning and curfing

fhe
is

moft fhockingly,

now

a dead corpfe,

was taken fuddenly,

grant,

and

died away.

God
to

that
;

may

not be

the cafe

with any
be

of you

the only

enabled to
that

way to prevent it is, think that now is an accepted

the day of Jalvation.

timCy

now

is

Let

me

look

round.

Ser.

V*

Repentance and Converfwn.

I

129

roundj and what do you fiippofe

ing
?

was think-

why,

that

It

is

mercy we have not

been in hell a thoufand times.

are there in hell that ufed to fay,
vert

How

many
old

Lord con-

me, but not now

is

One of the good

can
is

Puritans fays^ Hell

tions.

paved with good inten-

Now

can

you blame me,

if this

you

blame the minifters of Chrift

the cafe,

can you blame us for calling after you^ for

fpending and being fpent for your fouls
eafy for
?

it is

you

to

come

to hear the gofpel, but

you do not know what

have
;

nights and days

in our hearts,

we
and

what pangs we have

in birth till

how we travel
hearken,

Jejus Chi'ijl beformTo-night

ed in your fouls ^

Men,

brethren, and fathers,

God
fits

help you, fave, fave, fave your-

fehjes from

an untoward ge?ieratio?i.

fomebody
find any of

up with the
aileep, or

prifoners; if they

them

no

fign
call,

of their

being awake,

they knock and

!

and the

keepers cry, awake

the prefent ordinary

and
fits

have heard that

all

up with them
:

the

night before their execution

therefore, don't
at
!

be angry 'with

me

if I

knock

your door?^
!

and

cry,

poor

finners,

awake

awake

asd
court
is

God
in

help thee to take care thou doft not lleep

ftate

an unconverted

to-night.

The

130
is

Repentance and Converfion.

executioner
ftands

Ser.

V.

juft fitting, the

ready,

and before to-morrow, long before to-morrow,

Jefus

may fay of fome of you, Bind them hand

Theprifoners to-morrow will have
tied

and foot,
their
ftrings

hands

behind them, their thumbfetters

muil be put on, and their

knockthe

ed off; they muft be

tied faft to the cart,

cap put over their

given
5

faces,

and the dreadful fignal

if

you were
?

their relations

would not

you weep

don't be angry then with a poor

minifter for weeping over

them

that will not

at

weep

for themfelves.

If

you laugh

me,

know
I will

Jefus fmiles.
;

cannot force a cry

praifed,
:

when
I am

the

Lord Jefus Chrlfl be

the

free jro7n

blood of you all

if

you are
warning.

damned for want of you are not damned

Thoufands
them,
that have
fay.

converfion,
for

remember

want of

no gofpel preached to

may
is

Lord,

we

never heard what

;

converfion
if there

is ^

but you are gofpel-proof

and

any deeper place

in hell than other^

God

-will

order a gofpel defpifing-Methodift to

be put

in there. to

You
fo

w^ill

have dreadful
is

tor-

ments;

whom

much

given,

much

will be required.

How

dreadful to have mipreacher,

nifter after minifter, preacher after

fa3%

Lord Gody I preached but they would not hear. Think of this, profeflorS;, and God make
'

you

poirefibrs!

Yoa

Ser.

V.

Repentance and Converfion.

that

131
really

You
hour

do
day

pofTefs a little,

and are

converted,

God
5

convert

you and ine every

is

in the

for there

not a believer in

the world, but has got fomething in

him

that

he

fliould be converted

from

the pulling

of the old houfe, and building up the

will

down new one,

be a work

till

death.

Do
God

not think I

am
you

fpeaking to the unconverted only, but to

that are

converted.
in the

convert

you
con;

from lying a-bed

vert

mornings

God

you from your conformity

convert

to the

world

God
own
from

you from lukewarmnefs; God

convert us from ten thoufand things which our

hearts
;

muft

fay

we want

to

be converted
liv-

then you will have the Spirit of the

ing God.

Do

not get into a curfcd Antinolay, I

mian way of thinking, and

thank God,
:

I have the root of the matter in

me

thank

God,

that I w^as
;

converted twenty or thirty

in Chrift

years ago

and once
I

always in Chrift

and though
at cards,

can go to a public-houle and play

like,

or the

yet,

I blefs

God,

am

converted.

merly or

Whether you was converted fornot, you are perverted now; and
convert you
all

may God with God

to clofe Chriftianity

S a

Yoa

132

Repentance and Converpon.

that

Ser.

V.

You

are old profeflbrs,

don't

draw

young ones back from God, by faying, ah! you will come down from the mount by and

by

you

will not always

be fo hot 5 and in-

ftead of encouraging poor fouls,

you will
left

pull
firft

them down, becaufe you have

love
:

your

would you have Jefus Chrill: catch you napping, with your lamps untrimmed ?

ye fervants of the mofi: high God,

to-^night,

if

any
the

of you are here

though
of
I

am
all

chief of finners, and

fuffer the

the leaft

faints,

word of

exhortation,

am
I

fure I

preach feelingly

now^ God knows

3

feldom

Ileep after three in the morning

pray every

morning, Lord, convert me, and make

me
and

more

new

creature to day.

knov/ I want
things,

to be converted

from a thoufand

om
me
;

ten thoufand

more

Lord God, confirm

Lord God,

revive his work.

You young people, I charge you to conGod help you to repent and be con-^ iider verted, who woo's and invites you. You
j

middle-aged people,
pent and be converted.
people.
verted,

that

you would reold grey-headed

You

Lord make you repent and be conthat you may thereby prove that your

fnis are blotted out,

could preach

till

preachc4

Ser.

V.

Repentance and Converfwn.

133

pre.ached

myfelf dead

could

be glad tp
convert
thaf

preach myfelf dead,

if

God would
fruits

you

O God

blefs his

work on you,

you

inay bloflbm and bring forth

unto Godp

4:men gnd Ame^i,

SERMON

SERMON
Glorifying
right

VI.
;

God

in the

Fire

or,

the

Improvement of

Affliction^

Isaiah

xxiv.

ver.

15.

Wherefore glorify ye the Lord in tbejires,

YO U
tell

have

oft,

my

dear hearers,
afflidtion
^

let

me

yau> met with

and I

believe
afflidion
is

you may
fent

perfuade yourfelves

at

hand, vi^hich makes fuch deep

impreffions,
as to

when

and bleffed by heaven,

thaw the very

heart. Faith, like fomeglaffes

to view objeds near us, fets

them

in fo ftrong

a light, that

we

cannot help being

affedted

with the weight of the impreffion^ hence the

prophets',

when under

a divine impulfe, fore;

faw things

at a diftance

fpoke and wrote of

prefent.
^

them

as

though adually

They fimg
fuch
ftrong

both oj

judgment and mercy

ftraihs,

in

and perfuafive
reality

as to

convince of the

of their exiftence.

Ifaiah,

who had

courtly

Ser.

VI.

Improvement of AffliBlons.

13^

courtly education,

being probably brother to

a king, feems to excel in this kind of fpeaking

;

a perfon of
abilities,

good

natural,

as well as ac-

quired

which being tempered by the

a kind of an angel of

Holy Ghoft, made him

an
orator,

of a writer, and a prophet*

this

When

he penned
and
as

chapter,

he probably forcfaw

the dreadful calamities coming on the land

fo ftrong

was

his perfuafion, that

he writes

though he faw the

fays he,
it

things taking place.

Behold^

empty ^ maketh

Lord maketh the earth wajle^ and tiirneth it upfide

the
is

down^ and fcattereth abroad the inhabitants

thereof.

How much
As with

exprefTed in a few

words

the people fo with the priejisy

who

perhaps, on account of their lituation in

the church,

might think they fhould be exfin

empted
with

but if the priefts

with the people,

they fhali be punifhed with the people.

the fervant^ fo

As
with

with

his majier

as

the maidy fo with her

mijirefs-, as
-,

with the

buyer ^ fo with the feller

fo

as

with the lender

with the borrower

-^

as with the taker of

iijury to

ufury^ fo

with the giver of

him.

So
Ver.

yc^u fee that the vifitation

would be

univerfal;

that
3.

it

iliould fall

on

all forts

of people.

T.he land fmll be utterly

emptied and utterly

fpoiled'.

;136
fpoiled
'y

Improvement of
probably,

Affiiciions.

Se'r.

Vt
fliall

by a

foreign foe taking ad-

vantage of the domeftic eonfufions,

deflroy

who

the fruits of the earth.

think, perhaps,
pafs
it.
'y

butj faith

Some may that this will never come to Ifaiah, the Lord hath fpoken
the nation fhould be de-^
:

It pleafed

God

voted to a dreadful flroke

eth

The earth moiirn^

and fadeth away^

the

world languijheth and

fadeth awa)\ the haughty people of the earth do

languifldy

whofe crimes,

one would

think,

would never be brought

to puniihment,
flations
^

on

account of the eminence of their

they
fhall
alfoy

thought themfelves out of danger, but they

feel the

common

fcourge
is

For the earth

as in the fifth verfe,

defiled

under the inhabi-

tants thereof y becaufe they have tranfgreffed the

lawSy changed the ordinances^ broken the ever^

lafling coveiiant.

God

did not flrike without

it

a caufe

for
fins

the earth groaned, as

were,

under the

of the inhabitants for their ne-

gledt of religion, for difowning

God,

for turn-

ing their back on the Mofl High.

Therefore

hath the curfe devoured the earthy (ver. 6.) and

they that dwell therein are defolate.

He
The

does
i?iha--

not fay
bitants
lire

it

fhall be,

but

it

is

done.

of the earth are burnedy with dreadful

left.

of confuming vengeance, and few men

All

Ser.

VI.

Improvement of Affliciiom.

137

All the merry hearted, that minded nothing

but

jollity

and mirth, even they dofigb,

(loall

'The

joy of the harp ceafeth-^ they

not drink
bitter
city^
is

wine with a fong^ firong drink fiall be

to
tlie

them that drink

metropolis,
is

it.

The very great

5

broken down

every hoife

fjiit lip, becaufe

deflation
it,

is left in it.

The
left,

inhabitants forfake

their houles

are

fhct up, becaufe they are afraid

fome foreign
There
joy
:

powder fhould
is

come

to their deftrudion.
all

a crying for wine in the freets^

is

is

darkened^ the mirth of the land

plays,
left

gone

no

no

routs,

no allemblies now ;

the city is
5

dejolate-,

the court not excepted

defola-

tion herfelf takes

her feat and ravages there.

The earth

Poall reel to

andfro
like

like

a drunkard^

a7id foall be

removed

cottage-^

and
it^

the
a?2d

tranfgrejjions thereoffiall be heavy upon

it foall

fally

and
is

not
this
!

rife

again.
to

What
fill

an

amazing fcene
But
there

enough

us

vv^ith
!

horror even at this diftance of time and place

is

no way
through

for efcape
this

is

there
?

no

light breaking

dark (hade

bleiTed
u^ill

be God,

there isj look at ver, 13,

you

find in the midft of dangers,

his prefence.
that, in the

God
among

fhall

lend

When thus

it fall

be ^ pray

mind
what

midf of

the land

the people

138

Improvefnenf of Afflictiom,

Ser.

VI.

what follows?
{171

there fiall be as the JJ:aking of

clrce treey

and

as the gleaning grapes

5

when
but

the vintage is do7ie

there (hall be a few godly

people

left,

let

the devil do

what he

will

there will be but few.

You know,
fruits

after the
tree,

people have gathered the

from the

they fhake

it

to

bring

down
it

the remainder

and

after reaping

of corn there are a few gleanfays,

fliall

ings,

fo the

Lord

deflroy moll

people, yet in fo difcriminating a way, that

God's people
I

fliould

be

fafe,

cannot

well
this
5

recolledt

Ufher applies
there
will

but this

how I am

archbiflioD
fure

he

fays,

certainly

come
ihall

a time

when

the

world will undergo the

ver
it

greatefl Icourge that

felt,

which

chiefly

fall

on the
that

outward-court woriliippers,

upon thofe

know

not

God

of fecuring his

God will take particular care own and when the wicked
;

are all deftroyed, the Chriftians ihai!

little city,

go to a
till

and there
call

fhall

dwell in Goihen,

God
Jews.

fhall

home
be
fafe

his ancient

people the

So

God
lift

will take care of his people,

:

that they they

fliall

pray look to ver. 14,

>

PmU

up their voice

what, to cry

no, they have done with prayers, they have

done with

fafting

they

have

lifted

up

their

Ser.

VI.

Improvement of AjfjUBlom.

159

voice,
flee

and often exhorted their neighbours to from the wrath to come ; but now tliev
fing for the majefty of

fhall

God

when

all

people are mourning, they (hall rejoice.

at the great day,

And
curfcd^

when

Jefus Chrill pronoun-

ces

the wicked

damned,
lift

depart ye

God's people

will then
;

up

their voices

with

majefty and triumph

which made
any more

good
I

man

fay to his fon, juft before

he died,
till

am
!
1

afraid I ftall never fee thee

I liear

Jefus Chrift fay unto thee, depart thou curfed

Some
very
in

years ago, being prefent at the

vile

trial

of a

perfon at the Old-Bailey, and being

fufpenfe whether he

would be brought

in
|

guilty or no,

when
;

the w^ord guilty came, and

it,

the people heard of

they ^id in effedt give

juft or unjuft, I

an eclat
it

to

i:

whether

thought

was an emblem of
the angels of
;

that

av/ful day,
fliints,

when
fay
to

all

God, and

his

fliall

Amen
hell:
cafe.

when God
grant this

configns the wicked

God

may

not be any of your

Says the prophet, they Jhall cry aloud

the fea
fide
;

Jrom
other

fome of them may be on the

of the water, gone abroad while

others flay at

home

but whether

at

home

or

abroad, though they have been

banif]:ied

by
the

perfecution, though they have been driven to

140

Improvement of

AffiiSlions.

Ser.

VI.

the other fide of the water, the cafe of

which has been

many

perfons before
fliall

now,

yet they

JJmll cry aloud-, they

find the

fame

God
ia

abroad

as

they did

at

home.
that

A judge

laid to

a good old Chriftian

was perfecuted

Charles II/s time,

rica
^

I will

banifh you to

Amefhall

fays fhe.

Very

well,

you cannot fend

me
the

out of m,y Father's country.

fea,
;

They

cry aloud from the

wberejore glorijy ye
is

Lord

in the fires

if this
;

the cafe, the

prophet draws the inference

what mufl they

do under
ftudy

tnefe circumftances
to glorify

why, they mufl

not

how

God

in the fires,

to efcape or run
glorify
glorify
lire,

away from him, but

the fire*

how how to
not the

him

wherefore, faith he, glorijy me,

me

the Lord, in

-,

in the lingular
fires.

number, but
are,

in the plural

number,

We
if

my

brethren,

very

much
fire to

miftaken,

we think we have

but one

go through.
bring thera

The words imply, in order to home to ourfelves, that all God's

be put into the
fires.

people mufl

Fire

fcm.etimes denotes

the love of God, fometimes the

work of
denotes

the

Holy Ghoff, and very

tion
;

often
apoftle

it

afflic-

therefore,

the

talks

ot a fiery
it

trials

and

let it

be of whatever kind

will>
let

Ser.
let

VI.
it

Improvement of

Jjli5fio7is,

141
-,

be upon mind,
it

body, or eftate

whe-

ther
it

comes from

friend or foe, or

whether

comes immediately from the hand of God himfelf upon the foul, it may well be compared to
fire,

for

you

all

know

that fire fcorches

God expeds when he ftrikes, that we fhould feel. Of all things in the world to be avoided,
a

ftony

heart,

or a
is

flupidity
to

under

God's
I

afflicting

hand,

mod

be deprecated.

fuppofe you have heard of the Stoics *, with

whom
public
to

the apoftle Paul difputed in the place of

traffic in

Athens. Paul did not take a walk

Change

to talk

on

trade,

he went

to talk about

Jeius Chriil, if he could meet with one to talk

with

wifh the clergy took no other walks

but thefe.

Every thing

is

to be tried

by

fire

we may talk what we pleafe, but we (hall never know what metal we are made of,, till God puts us into the fire. It is very eafy talking what w^e can bear, and what wx can do, but let God lay his hand on us, and we fhall fee what we are. We are apt to find fault,
and be peevifh
v/ith

our friends and relations

5

under fuch circumftances

they are apt to fay,

you
* They taught that a
v/ife

man

fhould be free from

all

afFei^ions and paliions whatloever.

142

Improvement of
patient,

Affliciio72s.

Ser. VI.

you fhould be
tient
;

and patient, and papatient they

ah

put thefe reprovers into the fame

furnace, and fee

how
is

will

be

they fiy, there

no putting old mens heads

upon young mens fhoulders ^ and there is no putting old heads upon fouls young in experience.

The
faid,

devil

knew

very well

how

it

was
all

when he

Haji thou not made an hedge

his hoiife^
j

cboiit Joby

and about

and about

that he hath on every fide

thou hajt bleffed the

is

work of

his

hands ^ and his fubftance

increafed

in the land-y but put forth thy

hand now, and

curfe thee

touch all that he hath,

to thy

and he will
all

face

'y

fo

we

fhould

do

if

God was
is

to leave us to ourfelves,

and our

faith

not

of the right

fort.

How
we

fliall

we know

if

our faith

is

good

often pray. Lord, give us

Abraham's

faith,

but never pray, give us Abraham's

trial at

the

fame time.

was once

in Scotland,

at a great

man's houfe, where

that

feveral rich
^

people were

knew

Jefus Chrift

God
I
I

having bleffed

my

labours at a former
5

vifit,

was defired by
I

the nobleman to pray

and

remember

pray;

ed the Lord to give us great

faith

and patience

O
to

faid Satan,

as ftrong as if

he had fpoke

me, don't pray

for that, for thou fhalt

have
great

Ser, VI.

Improve7nent of AffiiBions.

143
cafe,

great

trials.

O,

faid I,

if that

be the

will turn

the devil's

prayer againft himfelf;

and

prayed,

Lord^ give us great grace^

trials.

end never mind what

words
O,
fays one,

Often

when we
I

are under temptations,

:

God
;

takes us at our

what a prayer
I

had, I

prayed for faith and patience

was upon the

mount, and never thought of coming down,

and feeling a ftorm again.
Fire,

my

brethren,

not
it

only

burns

and

purges,

but you know

feparates

one thing
chycould
it

from another,

and

is

made

ufe of in

millry and mechanical bufmefles.

What

we do without fire ? it tries God Almighty knows, we

more
by
in

metal to purge
are often

purged
than
It is

one hour by a good found

trial,

a thoufand manifeftations

of his love.

a fine thing to

come
us,

purified, to

come
j

parin-

doned oat of the furnace of afHidtion

tended to purge
to

it is

feparate the precious

from
God,

the vile^ the chaff' from the

in order to

wheat

and

do

this,

is

pleafed to put us

into one fire after another,

which makes
afflictions,

me
be-

love to fee a good

caufe
it

man

under

teaches fomething of the

I

work of God
years ago,

in the heart.

remember fome

when

I firft

preached in the north of England,

at

144

Improvement of AffliBions.
Newcaftle,
I

Ser.

VI.

at Shields near

went

into a glafsI

houfe, and {landing very attentive,

ral

faw feve-

maffes of burning glafs of various forms

the
it

workman took one

one furnace,

piece of glafs and put

it

into

then he put
:

into a fe-

cond, and then into a third

him,

why do you
O,

put
fir,

this into

when I afked fo many fires ?

was not hot

he anfwered,

the

firft

enough, nor the fecond, and therefore

it

we
it

put

into the third,

and

that will

make

tranf-

parent.

Taking
it

leave

of him in a proper
this
I,

manner,

occurred to me,
:

would make
this

a good fermon

O, thought
through

does

man
put

put
that

this

glafs

into
fee

one furnace
it
3

after another,

we may
into one

O may God
another, that

me
I

furnace

after
3

my
God
;

foul
'as

may
is.

be tranfparent

that I

may

fee

he

My

brethren,
to

we need
to

to

be purged

how

apt are

we
5

want

go

to

heaven upon

a feather-bed

many go

lying

upon beds of
is

pain and

languilTiing,
thither.

which

the

King's

highway
v/ays in

You know
called

there are

fome

London
is

the king's road, and

they are finely gravelled, but the King's road

to heaven

ftrowed with

croflfes

and

afHidlions,

We
tians

are all apt to

3

think well of being Chrif-

it is

very pretty talking oi being Chrifjians^.

S'ef.

Vli
till
;

Imptovemoit of Affllcliom,

145
after

tians,

we

are put into

one furnace

another

think it notjirange^ faith the apofllc,

is to

concerning the fiery trial which

try you.
in the

What muft
fire,

do

why^

lince I

muft be

muft thank

my

corruptions for
if
;

it 5

God
was

will not put

you or

me into the fire

away
to glorify

there

not fomething to be purged

thing
is

the grand

to learn

God

in the fire.

Wherejore glorify ye

the

When
may
the

do we

glorify

Lord in the fires. him ? when we endea-

vour to get fuch grace from the Lord, that

not diihonour

we
in

him when we

are under

the crofs, and therefore

fire

we

glorify
it

God

when we
near to

quietly endure
:

as a chaf-

tifement for our fins

and

live

you keep watch now, God, you will never find that
if
fire,

you

are put into a

it ;

but you
I

firft

brought

yourfelves into

and

do

verily believe

from

my
he
I

heart, that our fin

is

always to be feen in our

punifliment. If any of you part from a child that

loves dearly,
find

upon examination he

will fay,

now the creature's gone, that the ivy twined too much about the oak ; and then he fays he, God has met with turns off ah me now. And you will find in all the Old
5
!

and

New

Teftament,

that the affiidions

fliults
:

of
Ja-

God's people were

fuitablc to their

cob

146

Improvement of Afflictiom.
his

Ser.

VI*

cob was over-perfdaded by

the bleffing by a
lie
;

mother to get
perfons think
it,

but he was a fimple^

hearted poor creature.

Some

nothing of a

lie ;

if

they can but get by

they do not mind

iliun
it
;

it ;

but an honeft
his

man
my

will

it.

Jacob argues with

fays fhe, the
!

mother againft
fon !

O,

curfe be

o?i fne^

dreadful

for

a good

Doubtlefs,

flie

was perfuaded

woman God would

to fay fo.

give

Jacob the
to obtain
bleffing

bleffing,
it ;

but fhe took a

wrong way
for the

flie

might have waited

a bleffing.
in

to

come with
?

How

did

God

punifh Jacob

why,

a night after-

wards poor Jacob

v/as

impofed upon by a

wrong
there,
life;

wife, he got a

Leah

inflead

of a Ra-

chel^ the poor creature

was impofed upon

end of
his

and

fo all along almoft to the

he bad a furnace of

afflidion.

Happy

who pray in the furnace. Lord, let me know why thou doft contend with me. Therefore God fends this meffage to Ely by Samuel,
they
the thing that thou
kjioisoeji^

feems to

me
;

to

refer to his too great lenity to his fons

the
like

thing that thou

hio%z:eft

thou doft not

ad

a magiftrate.

Thefe fons were the means of

neck

bringing a judgment on his houfe, and breaking

tlieir fither's
:

God Almighty keep

upon
ourfelves.

us from bringing a rod

Wc

Ser.

VL

Improvement of AffliSimis.

j^y

We
it

glorify

God
It is

in

the

fire

patiently.

a dreadful

when we bear thing when we

is

are faying with Cain,

MypuniJIment

greater

than 1 can bear

that glorifies

but the language of a foul

in the fire
is this,

God

fhall I,

Lord,

fhall

I a finful

man, complain
?

for the

punifhment of

my

fins

It is

a glorious thing

when we
whofe
once, that

can fay with a good man, one of

friends told

particular

me more
pain,

than

when he was racked with

all

and

groaning
often fay.

night
I

with trouble, he would

groan
;

Lord,
;

Lord,
Jefus,
I

groan

Lord, I groan

but,
I

Lord
the

appeal to

thee, thou knoweft

do not grumble.
fire,

Then

we we
fay.

glorify
feel

God
we

in

when, though
at the

pain and anguifh,

we

fame time

Lord,

deferve this and ten thoufand

times more.

We
own God

glorify

God
fire

in the fire alfo,

are really

and

fully

perfuaded,

when we God will not

and
his

put us in the
glory.
I as

but for our good,

afraid

am

fome people think

apothecaries, that

does

fome cheating

bring five things

one, efpecially

when they need not bring when they have fome filly
be taking phyfic
;

but pa-

tients that love to

they fend
beft

one

after

another,

when, perhaps, the

thing

148

Improvement of Afflictions \Ser.VL

thing would be to throw

them

all

away;

fo

we

think of God, but

it Is

is

a miftake;

he ne-

ver fends one but

what

necelTary,

and feme-

thing to be purged away.

We glorify
Lord,
don't

God
let
all

in the fire
fire

when we
till

fay.

the

go out

it

has

purged away

my
it

drofs.

Then we
;

glorify
fire,

God when we
foul can fay,

wifh for the good of the

extingulfhed

and not to have

when
I

the

Here I am^ my Gody do with me

\

as feemeth good in thy fight

know

(hall

not have one ftroke but thou will give

plaifter,

me

and

let

me know
in the

wherefore

thou

contendeft with me.

We
me
tell

glorify

God

content to fay,
7ioWy

/ kno'm not but I JJoall know hereafter.

five

when we are what God does with

fire

Do

yoi^

your children that are

years old the

reafon oi things, no; and

will
tell

do you think God

us

What

Jkall this
is

man

do

faith faith
\x\

the

difciples;

what

that to

thee?

Chrift, follow thou me.

You

glorify

God

the
faith

fire,

v/hen you are content to walk by

fight.

and not by
glorify

You
will
3

God
but

in the

fire

when you

ar^

not grumbling,
a

humbly fubmitting
walks not in

to his

humble

fpirit

fulkinels

Scr.

VL

Improvement of Afflidionu
are

149
too

and ftubbornnefs: there

fome

fpirlts

ilout, they will not fpeak.

When

that awful

meflage was brought to Ely, what does he

fay
?

It is the
let

Lord^

let

him do what fcemeth

only. Lord,

him
fave

good',

my

children be killed, whatever

^

be done

it is

the Lord's doing

my

foul at laft.

We
Thqs
nace

glorify

midftof the

God in fire we can

the
fing

fire,

when

in

the

God's high

praifes.
;

the children of Ifrael glorified the Lord

the fong of the three children in the fiery furis

a fweet fong

as are all that are

made
glorify

in the

fire.

all the

works of the Lord^ praife

/

and magnify him for ever

Then we

God in the fire when we rejoice in him, when we not only think, but know it bed, and caa thank God for flriking us can thank God for whipping us can blefs God for pot letting us alone 3 thank God for not faying, Let him alone : this is to glorify God in the fire. Not
;

only foy faith the apoftle, Sut

JpiilatioUy

we

glory in tri-

knowing

that tribulation

worketh

patience.

In a word,

we
3

glorify the

Lord

in the fire

when we have
nefs, humility

in exercife,

patience,

meek-

learning

more

to diilruft our-

iejve?,

having a deeper knowledge of our

own

weakr

150

Improvement of

AffliBions.

Ser. VI,

weaknefs, and of God's omnipotence and grace.

Happy when we
have
I

can look back and fay, thus

been enabled to glorify

God

in the fire.

Who

can put his hand to his heart and fay,

I have glorified
inftead of that I

God in the fire as I ought ? am afraid the foul muft fay,

I
;

that inftead of being thankful and refigned,

have been
fault

fretful

and becaufe
let

I will not find

with myfelf, nor

the world

know

find fault with

God,

I find fault

with

all

about

me.

Did you never

find yourfelf in fuch

humour when your

a good

fpirits

were low

heard

man
is

once fpeak on thofe words, they

:

Jhall briijg forth fruit in old age

faid he,

O
it

the fruit,

peviihnefs

thought

infirmity of old age, the fruit

was the of which ought

to the

to be

heavenly-mindednefs,
livelinefs to

deadnefs

world, and a

God.
ourfelves
to-*

My
fore

brethren, let us

humble

night, and let us be

afhamed and abafhed beftruck us

God, and wonder he hath not

was too
hot, that

into hell
fire

when we have been complaining

the

God
let

fent us not to the

devil.

Let us weep,

us weep, let us

weep
are

for our ilubbornnefs.

Happy
fire

they
!

who
It is

ufed to be put into the

jC7'

betimes

good

a 7nan

to

bear the yoke in hi ^ youth.

Some
years

Ser. VI.

Improvement of

j^ffli^iGns.

151

years ago,

when

was

at

the Orphan-houfe,

they told

me

they were going to yoke

two

fteers together,

one fturdy and old, the other

little

one, on

which they no fooner put the

O, thought
I,
is

yoke, but he kicked once or twice, and then

bore
it

very well

it

good
any

thing to have the yoke betimes.

Are any of you now

no trouble
a calm
^

in the furnace, are

fay, I

of you troubled, or can any of you

;

have

is

fometimes the fore-runin the

ner of a ftorm
fire
is
3

thank God, you are not

in the fire.

furely

you have been

fire
;

There
of the
:

the deviPs
liift

the

fires

of the

luji

fiefht the

of the

eye^

and

the pride of life

fires,

God
they
put

help you to

come

out of thefe

left

damn your
fires

fouls for ever.

fire

You muft be
fire,

eiiiher in

the deviFs

or God's

and
is

the devil's

are hotteft, becaufe there

no

God

to fupport
foul.

under the trouble they bring

upon the

v\^hat a

dreadful thing

it is

to be in the devil's fire continually,

and

to

go

out of the

fire

of the devil here to burn with

!

the devil in hell hereafter

If there are any of

you

in

this

cafe,

Lord Jefus Chrift fhorten

his afiliftions

them, Lord Jefus Chrift fandify

to his people, as
ers laft

he did to one of the prifon:

Wedncfday

how

fwcetly he behaved

while

152

Improvement of AffliBtbns.

Sef.VL

while the others were curfing and fwearing^

toffing

up who fhould

fit

on the right hand in

thanking
exe-^

the cart,

he was glorifying God,

fent there,
faith he,

God
cutcd

he was
:

and going to be
I

God,
go
to

hath ftopt mey

might

have gone on in
father,

fin to ruin.

fend to

my

to

him, warn him

:

to flee from the

wrath

come

fomebody went
back
xkiv^

to his parent,

and the
tell

father fent
to

loving meflage)
!

mind his own foul, and be damn*d O, dear Lord, what lengths has man gone

him

never was fuch a meflTage fent to a fon before

he bid him mind his own foul and be damn*d God grant none of you may ever have fuch a
!

frame of mind

as that

O
5

remember
and
if

fire

har-

dens as well as foftens

better
/

you

are

not

by

afflictions

you

will be worfe:

and
be

indeed you will

know you

cannot come out of

the furnace as you went

in,

you
;

will either
if this

hardened or

elfe

be purified

and

be

the cafe,* the Lord Jefus Chrift help you to

bear the
fire

noWj

that

you may never be

caft

into the fire of hell.

God

hafle you, haften

you

that are out of the devil's fire to flee, flee,

fouls,

ye weary

to

Jefus Chrift

fly

to

the

Lamb

of God, from hell to heaven,

thcfe hellifli
fires,

as far as

you can from

to the fire

of

his bleiL^d merit

and love.

Happy

Sen VI.

hnproveinejit

of

AffliBions,

153
!

Happy you
happy you
fouls
!

that have got into Chrift's fire

his fires
in

that have found

your

I believe

many

fouls

have

O
in

Lord
what-

Jefus Chrift help you to glorify

him

ever

fires

he

fliall

be pleafed to fend you, and

into v^hatever furnaces

he

fhall
**

be pleafed to

put you

we fhall then fing the church triumphant^'' much better than we fing to-niglu we fhall fee Jefus Chrift ready to help us when we are in the furnace O that this thought may make every poor finner fay, by the help of God I will be a Chriftian ; by the lielp of
:

God,

if I

muft burn,
by

it

fhall

be burning with

the love of Chrift,

glorify thyfelf

I will fay then,

Lord,

fjiatching

me as a
this

brand from

the devil's

fire.

that

might be the

cry of every heart

I

am
I

going to afk a favour of you to-night

never did before, and, perhaps,
:

which
plaints

may

not again for fome time

have had com-

made

to

me by
that
I

the perfons that take

the
poor's ftock
js

care

of the poor,
j

very low

though

cannot fpeak on Sunday

night, yet I will fpeak a

word

to the

po

)i

on

Wednefday

evening.

There
love,

are

numbers of
if

poor that are ready to perifh, and

ycu drop
will

Something to them in

God

take
care

54

hnpro'oement of AffiiBions^

Ser.

VI.

care to repay

you when you come

not only glorify

to judg-

ment.

We

fhall

God by

fubmilTion to his will,

in the fire, but in

when he

is

putting us

doing any good,

when we
5

lay

all

the glory at the foot of Jefus

which

God

grant for Chrift's fake.

Amen,

SERMON

'55

SERMON
The
Deut.
And of
xxxiii.
ver.

VIL

Beloved of God.

12.

Benjamin, he faid^

'The beloved
;

of the
the

Lord Jhall dwell infafety, by him Lord Jhall cover him all the day
he JJdall dwell between his fmdders.

and

long^

and

OH
On
man

what

a difmal fight
his

is it,

to fee an

old

man with
fin,

hoary head grown

in iniquity.
all

grey in

and hardened
I

the other hand,

is

believe to

that

con-

fider rightly, there

no grander fight almofl

fee

under the fun, than to

an old grey-headed

keeping up a confident charader; and

condudl, that his path, like
is

proving, by his
that of the
jufl:,

as the

fining

lights that
;

fineth more and

cially

?nore to the

perfe^ day
they

efpe-

when

perfons have been called to a6t in

;

public

charader

when
2

have been

eminent either

for the highnefs of their ftation,

or

1^6

7'he

Beloved of God.

Ser. Vll.
It is
\

or for the largenefs of their income.

this

on

account that

admire old Jacob

leaning

hoW
ftafF,

grand he looked

when

on

his

with

all

the compofufe

iri

the world, under a

divine influence, bleffing his children ftanding

round him.

But, methirlks, there

a

is

one

who

was

called to adt

more public
of

part,

namely,

Mofes,

who was honoured

feet,

God

to be a great

legiflator,

king in Jefhurun, a lawgiver beas pupils ufed to

tween Judah's
feet

be

at

the

of
;

their teachers, to receive their inftruc-

tion

if

you have a mind

to fee

how

bright he

fhines,

you

mufl: read Deut. xxxii. indeed

you

mufl read

all

Deuteronomy, which

is

nothing

but a fermon that Mofes, at various times,

preached to the children of

Ifrael

and having
of his

done preaching, he fang a

compofing, and that too
at

hymn

own

a time

when he
he
fiiould

knew,

at the very finiflung the fong,

immediately have his foul kiffed away, and

be called to fing a better fong in the kingdom

of heaven.

perfon would need a good deal

Spirit's in-

of compofure, a good deal of the

fluences^ a large

meafure of

it,

chearfully thus

tofland in view of death, juft on the very borders of the grave;

you

fee this in chap, xxxii.

and here

in

chap, xxxiii.

One would have

thought

Sen VII.

ne
to

Beloved of God,
faid

157
as

thought he had
it

enough, yet he feems

to leave off;

were not

know how
ill,

he

parted from the people bleffing

them

they

him in the wildernefs; he had bore with them many, many long years fure you would have thought he would have went away in a huff 3 no, that
had ufed him
they provoked
3

eminent fun by no means goes

his eyes

did not fo

much
all

as

down in wrath wax dim, nor

all

his intelledlual

powers impair in

that time

he fweetly gives them

goes.
find

a bleffing before

he

If

you read

this

chap, xxxiii. you will

how

various, yet fpecial, are the bleffings

which,

in a prophetic ffrain,

he

foretels fliould
I

attend particular perfons, or tribes.

have been

reading
all,

them

over, and

though

admire them
till

was

at a lofs

which

to fpeak from,

the bleffing of Benjamin fixed

my

attention,

not only

as fweet,

but inftru6ting.

^he

be-^

loved of the

and

the

Lord Jhall dwell infafety^ by him 5 Lord fiall cover him all the day longy
This
is

he Jhall dwell between his Jhoulders,

bleffing indeed, if

we

look only to the

literal

interpretation of the Words,

and a
;

literal

com-

mentator can go no further

he muft confine
tell

them

to

Benjamin

and will
at the

us, that this

fcripture

was

fulfilled

building of the

Temple,

158

The Beloved of God.

Ser. VII.

Temple.
hills,

The Temple was

tribe
3

built

upon two
built

one in the

of Benjamin, the other

the

in the tribe of
there,

Judah

Temple being
it,

and Benjamin being placed near

in fafety

then

Benjamin dwells
having his
often,
alas
!

by the Lord, by

lot caft
is it

near the Temple.

How
very

the cafe, I

am

fure

it is

often the cafe in

London, the nearer the church

the further from

ufe of
it,

God

but fome

make good
church

and are glad

to get near the

that they

may be

nearer

God.
hills,

The Temple
fo

being placed between two

as
it

Benjamin
fo

were dwells between God*s

flioulders;

far a literal

commentator can go, here he

O,
but
;

ftops

a fpiritual commentator, and a fpiritual reader,

go

further

fays he, this

is

is

true,

at

the

fame time

this

not the whole truth

a perfon
is

and I

am

perfuaded,

when

helped by

the Spirit to read the fcriptures, the declarations that are

made, and thofe

particular pro-

mifes,

the true believer applies with great proI

priety to himfelf 5 and therefore

think I

may

venture to aver, that the bleffing w^hich Mofes

here pronounces upon him in the name of the

Lord, belongs to God's

people

in

all

ages

whatever > God,

that this bleffing

in his infinite mercy, grant

may

defcend

upon us and
ours.

Ser.

VII.

The Beloved of God.

it

159
lateft

ours, that
terity.
.

may

defcend to your

pot.

Obferve

how
it is

wonderfully the pcrfons, to

is

whom

the blefling

given, are characterized

the beloved of the

of Benjamin

faid,

Lord

-^

the beloved of the Lord, pray

who

are they

why, the men

of,

that the fcriptures always fpeak

is,

whofe conftant uniform charadter

they

love

God

in all ages.

It is

not

faid,
;

the Prejf-

byterians fhall

dwell

in

fafety

Mofes never
he never
Indethe

heard of a Preibyterian in his

life 5

heard of the name

pendents
fliall
;

nor

it

is
^

faid

dwell in fafety

he never heard
fhall

of that word

nor
5

is

it

faid the Papifls

dwell in fafety

he
nor

never
is it

heard of Papifls,

nor of the pope

faid that the

fafety,
fliall

Church
in fafe-

of England
is it

fliall

dwell in

no^ neither
dwell

faid that the

Methodifls

ty,

though

I trufl

there are a great

many good
church

people but
it

among
is

thefe mongrels of the

all

fpoken of
all

the
it

people of
to ourfelves.

God

God

help us
is

to apply

Here

a difpute

between the Arminians

is

and the Calvinifts: afk an Arminian what

meant by

the beloved

of the Lord

-,

O, fay they of

that are for general redemption, the beloved

the Lord figniSes,

all

the

men

that

were ever
born

i6o

"The

Beloved of God.
3

Ser. VII.

born into the world

to take

that

is

good broad bridge

the

them

in

but broad bridges are not

bridges
it,

always the

ftrongeft

in

world.

The Arminians will aflert as much beloved of God as

of the apoftles
nians,
;

that Judas

was

Peter, or any other

and thofe that are not Armicall

but are what you

Quakers, and

there are a good

many,

I believe,

amoiig them,

that have better hearts than heads, they fay,

that

we

are

all alike,

that

we all come
fhall

into the

world with a feed of grace, and

be hapj

py according to
hence they
but
loithiti;
!

the improvement of that grace

talk

nothing of a Chrift withoiit

that
is

happy they
and

experience
fure,

Chrift within
all his

God's mercy
in

and over
of

works
is

one knk, our Lord Jefus

all

Chrift
forts

the Saviour of

men,

that

is,

all

of

men

even the wicked are beholden

to Jefus Chrift,

whom

they defpife, for every

;

worldly comfort they enjoy

fliould learn to love as our

in this fenfe

we

Lord,

we

are told,

loved the young n>an

when he faw he had been a harmlefs and good liver but we muft go more to what we call Calvinifm, what I The love which Jefus call fcriptural truth.
:

Chrift bore for the youngv

Ironi
that love

man,

quite differed

with which he loved Martha,

Mary,

Sen Vli.

Ihe Beloved of God.

their brother^

i6i

Mary, and
for

there
3

was a cargo

you

three in

one family
lot

God
!

grant

it

may
and
all

be your happy

and mine

two

fifters

one brother, three to entertain Jefus Chrifl:,

in a peculiar

manner beloved

of the Lord,
that
is,

It is

not

faid

of Benjamin, they

(hall,
fliall

they that love the Lord, they

fafety,

dwell in

no

it

would not be

fo (Irong to

them,

as

to

fay the beloved of the

Lord

for

God
5

knows our
is

love

is

not worth a ihilling

all

the fnth of God's people, fays bifhop Hall,

but meer infidelity

and

all

the love of the

people of

God

is

but

meer

hatred,
his

compared
law juftly

with God's
requires
3

love, or that
it

which
faid,

therefore

is

beloved of the

Lordy and that becaufe

if ever
is

we

love

God,

he

firft

loved us,

which
3

what Mofes's very

fexpreffion

means

as

ftreams flow from the

it.

fountain, fo

they fhall return to

Hence
bre^ well the
love for

the apoflle fays.

thretty

Knowing your
1

elecfion^

beloved of God.

Myfticks talk of loving

know very God with a

love

himfelf only, without any refpedt to the creature at

all
3

that
at

is,

we muft
for

God

without
for

any regard
us
3

all

what God has done

v^e

nay,

fome go

fo far as to fay, that if

we

do not

fo love

God,

are not converted,

though

62

"The

Beloved of God.
as

Scr.

VI I^

though we have
that

we do
for

not

much grace as we can have love God properly till we love

is,

him

what he

not what he has done for

us: I verily believe, the angels do not love

God in that manner and we cannot love God till we are made partakers of a divine nature,
;

and have eyes given us

to fee his glory.

The grand enquiry is then, how fhall I know that I am one of the beloved of the Lord ? The natural man never minds the love of God ^ he flatters himfelf he loves God naturally, that the love of God is a plant that
grows
in nature's garden
fo.
?
^

but a fpiritual per-

fon does not

notice of

What
does
the

does the king take

me
in

king look pleafant

?

upon

me

drawing-room
?

am
let

I called to

wait upon

him
if 1

am I
?

beloved of this, and that,

if I

and the other perfon

care not
;

am,

God
this

go,

have but the love of

and that

courtier, I care not

whether

God

loves

me

or

no 5

this will

not do for an awakened loul

and therefore the grand enquiry, and one proof

of a perfon 's being awakened
is,

how

fliall

know whether God loves me or not ? why try; I am perfuaded of it, that we may as well know that God loves us, and we love God, as we may know that the fun fliines at
noon-.

Set. Vll.

The Beloved of God,

i

163
but by the
it ?

noon-day

how

fhall

know

it

effeds of this love,

great

by the

fruits of

That

man,

Dr. Watts,
Ifrael,

fweet finger of
iirft

who was fay?, " we

called the

fhould go

to the

grammar- fchool of faith and repen-

tance, before
tination
:''

we go

to the univerfity of predef-

whereas, the devil would have

to

them
they

go

firft

to the univerfity,

examine whether
or

they were eledled

or rejected,

no

fhould do as a good
fatan

woman

once did,

when

tempted her, and wanted to

diftrefs her,
;

that there
if there

were but few to be faved

to be faved,

ihe faid,

were but two

flie

would

flrive to

be one of them.
if

Surely

am

beloved

of the Lord,

my

r^atural

enmity againll the

Lord
fon
?

is flain.

How

do

know

love a per-

how

can you prove that you love

me

why,

fay you, I hated

you the ether day

how many

people met

with the other day,

that could a fev/

weeks ago have pulled

me

out of Tottenham-court, but

come

their

hearts.

God has overThe perfon now confeiTcs

is

his former enmity, and v/hen that enmity

removed,

and you are reconciled

to
?

them,
and
if

cannot you

know

that

you love them

God
your

has removed that enmity to Chrift out of

hearts, furely

you are one of the beloved

of the Lord.

We

1 64

*Ihe

Beloved of God.

Ser. VII.
if

^ We

are the beloved

of the Lord,

we

are

brought to abhor and renounce that which ftands

between us and the Lord;

felf-righteoufnefs.

mean, our curfed

that I arn fick of

Can

prove that I have

renounced

my own

duties,

my

duties as well as

my

(ins
:

none but the

only

beloved of the Lord fee this

an enemy to the
is

Lord may have this in his head, but it a friend of the Lord that has this in his
a talkative profeffor can fpeak of
teach,
it
;

heart

you may
it is

perhaps, a parrot to pray, but

parrot,

odds

to talk like a Chriftian.

and experience hke a

Now if I
and

have renounced
helped
to

my own
truft

righteoufnefs,

been

to

Chrifl's, to believe

on the Son of God,

I ana fure I

let fa-

tan fay

what he

will,

am

the be-

loved of the Lord, for none but thofe that are

beloved by

him with an
\

everlafting love, are

brought to believe on him.

I

may know
?

am

beloved of the Lord,

his love

from what

why, experiencing

Jhed

ebroad in my heart by the Holy Ghojl.

than loved David as his

Jona-

own

foul.

Moft of
;

you know what love

if there

is

in a carnal itn^t

and

be a union of fouls between creature

and

creature, furely there

muft be

a union

of

fouls

between the Creator and the creature

belovec}

Ser. Vir,

7he Beloved of God.

i6^
;

beloved of

God

-,

it

cannot be otherwife

this

love will have If I

its

efFeds.
his

am beloved of the Lord, If having love in my heart, I fliow it by loving tliofe

has loved. but
I

he

Some
are not

people

may fay,
to love
civil to
all

I love

you,

do not love thofe about you, your

friends

why
it

you

bound

alike,

but

may
as

teach you to be

that perfon's

beloved.
tian,

As foon

as ever

we

hear of a Chrif-

foon as ever

we
^

hear of a believer, as

foon as ever

we

hear of a finner turning to God,

it

will rejoice us

and

we

fhall

be like the

angels in heaven,
repeiitaJice^

who

rejoice over one fivjiers

more than over ninety-nine ju/i per^

Jons that need no repejitance.

Some people

inay fay,

love dearly to hear of a perfon's

a minifterj I love

being converted by fuch

dearly to hear of perfons converted by a diffenter

;

love dearly to hear of perfons con-

verted by a churchman, but I

do not

like

peo|

ple fliould be converted by this and that perfon

why
is it

believe there are a great

hearts are thus narrow,
\

many

people

whofe

but this mixture

not of God

and

pray

by experience; that

God they may know they may kaocv they

rejoice

are

beloved of God, then they will

when

other people are brought to believe on

him^

66

"The

Beloved of

God

Ser. VII.

him, whoever is made the inftrument. Grace and mercy be with all them that love the Lord
Jefus Chriji in fmcerity.

What would

have

become of poor Paul

if

he had only loved his

never faw
till

own

followers

the

Romans he

he was taken

there a prifoner, but he loved

all
^<

the reft of the apoftles, writ

letters to all forts,

2-^

not to their particular parties or churches, but

to
all
'y

thofe that loved the

Lord

Jefiis

infmce^

rity

and
be

may
for

we do love in this manner, we afTured we are beloved of the Lord,

if

none but the Lord could beget fuch love

in us.

If

we

are beloved of the Lord,

we

(hall

be

hated by the world.

If you

were of

the worlds

the world would love you^ but becaufe you are not of the worlds but
the

I have
the

chofen you out

of

worlds

therefore

world hateth you.

Will you make

are

me
the

believe that any of

you
loft

beloved

of

Lord,
it 5

that

never

your good charadter by

well

why

you may

as

make me
:

believe that
is

you

are emperors of

the world
the

where

the bleffing the fermon on

mount

fpeaks of 5
^

where
is

is

the bleffing of

perfecuticn

where

the bleffing of being

is

hated of

all

men

where
?

the bleffing of be-

ing hated for the crois

you love the Lord, and

Ser. VII.

The Beloved of Go.l

crofs after
as

167

and not carry the

don't fay

you

Lord, and not be hated

all

you love the your Lord was ? I

;
5

are hated alike

poor minifters
;

are fet in the front of the battle

in proportion

to our fuccefles

we

fhall

be hated.
fleep in

There

are

numbers of minifters now

that
vil

whole fkins,
j

were formerly
difturbs

in a

worfe plight

the de-

them not becaufe they

are quite

civil,

and do not trouble and contradidt him

but

if

you oppofe the world and the

will hate

devil, the

world

you

and no greater proof of

than the world
for Chrift*s fake.
all his prophcfy^
;

being beloved of the Lord,

hating you, but
it

muft be

So Ahab
iitg is

faid

of the prophet,
;

againft vie
the

hate

him

the world hated

him
it

world hated me^

j

fays our Lord, before

hated you

and the

apoftles,

when

they be-

gan to fpeak for

like
it is

God

too, they

were hated
for
it,

their

Lord 3 and glory

to

God

for

a bleffed

mark of
till

their belonging to

God,

when

they are honoured to fufFer for him, and

we

are never right

we are bearing the crofs r

fleeping under the crofs,
it,

to fee

men

or

women

fculk/ing

and hiding from

is

this love

give
in his

me
hat,

a profeffor that will

wear a cockade

and

is

never eafier than

when he

is

comIf

bating the enemies of his King,

68
If I

^he BeionHed of God.

Sef. Vlt,

am

the beloved of the Lord, I really

vi^orldi

Ihall live

above the

You may

fay

what

you
low

willj

and you

may

bring the fcriptures as

as

you think

proper,^ but the friendjhip of

the world is hatred to God-,

and

if any

man

love

the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Now
that

by not loving the world,

don't meari

you (hould Ihut up your fhops, and run

into a convent:

how
no

idle

for perfons to fay

they love God, and hide themfelves from the

worlds that
greateft

is

religion

at

all.

But the

proof of a Chriftian's loving

the worlds but not of it;

God
I

is^

am

in

work
is

with

my
it.

hands
I

all

the day, but

my

heart

from

remember
night,

a dear friend once fent

me

word, many years agOj

how

bufy he was
latej per-

morning and
haps,
1

up
will

early

and

fays he,

you

think by
no,
fir,

this accountji
I
:

am

worldly; he

faid,

thank

God
grant

that

my

heart

is

above the world

!

God

we may
fituation

thus prove
that

but many
;

we love God love the Lord may

when
it

I don't fayy

be in another
enabled
to

but

perfons
is

are

leave
.

all

for Chrift,

a great

mercy
^

God
to

be praifed,

we have fome

fuch

God add

their happinefs.

They

Ser. VII.

Ihe Beloved of God.

that

i6g
to

They
damned,
Son
3

love

the

Lord, will ftudy

fear

keepffom ofFending God, not for

there are a great
fin for fear

of being

bat becaufe fin murdered his dear

many
has

people abftain

from
by

of puniihment; but hear what

772aft er

Jofeph
i7ie^

faid.

My
caTi

do7ie thus

and

thus

ednefs

I therefore do this great wick^ a72dfm agai7ift God? my God that loves
how

me

'y

fo they

would not

flab

him, becaufe he

has been

wounded enough

already.

If

we

are the beloved of the Lord,

;

we

fhall

be willing to work for the Lord

out works
is

faith

with-

the religion of every carnal

man
bethat

make an end of one good work and then gin another, and lay it down and wonder
hands.
I
ilill

Jefus Chrifl fhould accept any thing at your

knew
more

a lady
to be

fometime ago,
for

that
-,

wanted

employed

God

fays

fhe, if Jefus Chrift w^ould but help

me

to

do
I

fuch and fuch a thing I have in view,

would

kifs his feet,

and dedicate myfelf more

2

and more

to his

honour

a true Chriftian loves

to be thus employed, but above all

he

is

glad

he has the blood of Chrift to

I fliall

wafh

his duties in.

mention but one thing more, though

might mention twenty

of

God

in our hearts,

we have the love though we cannot get

;

if

over

s;o

Ihe Bek'ved of God.

all

Ser.

VIL

over the fears of death at

the bent of the

times^ yet I think a perfon will be,

mind of fuch
they

when fhall I fee the whom my foul loves ?

and long

objeft of
fit

my
at

love,

him

ordinances,

to be led to the fountain head.

%

lam
word
but

in a (irait between twOy fays Paul

fignifies a ftrong,

the

an intenfe

defire to

be with

Chrift
to

he does not fay to be

is

in heaven,

be with Chrijiy which

is

far

better

but to
fliould

ftay here

better for you, therefore

ftay,

you

be content to

not becaufe you love the

world, but as willing to wait your Matter's

call.

I could not help

it>

admiring while

was
muft

reading

that

when

Chrift afcended to heait

ven, one angel^ one particular angel,

have been a blefled one,

left

thofe that were

attending Chrift into glory,

ftopped in the

way,
ties
:

for

what

why,

to preach to the apot*

into heaven ?
is

Why

ftand ye thus gaxing

fays

am

afhamed of you,

he ; here

an an-

gel,

one of the convoy, waiting upon them

fay, let

he does not
and
let

me

go

to

heaven with thee,

y

me come down
down

again and preach, no

he

ftays

thus to preach to a few pooir

us,

fifliermen.

Lord fearch

Lord

try us,

Lord

God Almighty help us to examine ourfelves^ that we may know whether we are beloved of
the Lord or not.

So

Sen VII.
So
all

'The

Beloved of God.
fay,
I

171
I

that

fome may

think

can apply

the marks, though

I

don't depend upon

marks.

have a number of bills here to-night

if I
?

one

fays,

am

beloved of the Lord,

fays, if I

why

am I fo
tlie

poor

another

am
?

beloved of

Lord,

why am
I

I fo afflidled

fays another,
I left to
I fee

if I

am
;

beloved of the Lord,

why am

ftarve

can

think

God

loves

me, when

thoufands and thoufands fquandered away every

day, and yet

my

poor babes groaning,

my

poor

children quite
little

emaciated, for want only of a

I

bread that I fee in the baker's fliop as

'y

go along
is it

if I

am

beloved of the Lord,

how
;

that

my

poor children are ready to cry for

I

bread,

and

have none to give them

that

others are adorned with diamonds, but I have

not fo
back.
it

much
If I

as a rag to

put on

my

little

one's
is

am

beloved of the Lord,

againft

how

that

my friends are
my heart.

me; my children,
are a curfe,

inflead of being

a bleffing,
If I

and

break

am

beloved of the Lord,

trials

how
journ

is

it

that

have fo many domeflic

that caufe
i?i

me
I

to cry out.

Wo

is
i?i

me
the

that I Jotents

Mejljecky
If

and dwell

of
is

Kedar.
it

am

beloved of the Lord,

how

that

am harraffed with blafphemous thoughts

trials I

fhus; the

meet with

ii)

bringing

down
the

172

The Beloved of God.

If I

Ser.

VII.

the outward man.

am

beloved of the

Lord,
I

how
it

is it

that in (lead of living in plenty,

eat,

now want

bread to

and fhould be glad

to fet

to have

from thofe / once /corned

with

the dogs of my flock ?

chafleneth^

Whom

the

Lord

loveth he

receiveth.

and fcourgeth every /on whom he Our dear Jefus was never more be^

loved of his father than

when he
haji

cried out.

My

God ! my God ! why

thou forfaken

me? never more beloved of his father than when he was fweating great drops of blood, when he cried. Father^ ij it be pojjible let this I remember a dear miniClip pafs jrom me, fler of Chrifl", now in Suffolk, told me, when
he was
in Scotland,
fo

going to receive the facra-

ment, he was

dry and dark, and benumbed

and tempted, that he thought he would go

away

as

he was going

this

word came

to

his

mind, when was Jefus Chrift moft acceptable

to his Father
trial
?

of his love

when did he give the greateft My God ! ? when he cried out,

hajl

my God ! why
then, fays he,
perifh,

thou forfaken
this
I

me f

Why
^

upon

will venture
;

if I

I perilli at

Chrift's feet

and he came

away

filled

with comfort from his bleff^d

in Chrift,

God

and Father

Well

Ser. VII.

The Beloved of God.

173
to thofe that

Well

then,

what

is

to be
?

done

are beloved of the

JI:all

Lord
3

here's for you, they

dwell in jafety

why ?

they Jhall dwell

between his Jhoidders

obferve the expreflion

the prophet fays they JJ:all dwell in love.

Will

God indeed dwell on

God,
fays he,

earth

^^

fays

Solomon
earthly

ves

dwells

in

my

heart,

made heavenly by

the grace of God.

Did ever

any hear fuch an expreflion from the mouth of God, J will be thy God-, I am thy Jhield^ ajid
thy exceeding great

reward ?
if

He

does not fay

an angel

fhall
I

go

God had

only faid in his

I

word,
fure
it

that

was

to

be kept by angels,
defpair,

am
but

my

wicked heart would

all

becaufe
:

would deceive
faith,

the angels in heaven

;

God

/ will be thy keeper

his people,

io they that

would hurt
himfelf.

muft go through

God

They pall dwell on high-, bread jlall

to

he given

them,

and

their watersJloall be fure.

They are kept by the mighty power of God through faith, to everlafling fahation. It is faid, they

fall dwell between

his

fmilder

s :

the govern-

and the wprld, and all ^re upon the Redeemer's flioulders, and the Lord's evcrlafting arms are under his people.
Obferve
it

ment of

the church,

is

faid,

they dwell in fafcty,

and
are

very often

we

are fafefl

wh^n we

think

wc

mo ft

in danger,

^hey

174
7hey

"^^^

Beloved of God.
;

Ser.

VIL

Jloall

dwell in fafety

thofe

that are

lovers of

the

Lord Jefus
earth,

Ihall

dwell fafely

with

God on

and eternally with him

blefs this foolifhnefs

in heaven,

O
to

may God

of preaching

fome of God*s poor, and, per-

haps, doubting beloved ones.

fouls,
I often

Come you

poor
is

think that \K\sJield preaching

particularly

comfortable to the poor;

is

when-

ever jf^/*/ preaching

flopped, farewel to the

power of

religion.

When
all

poor people have

been working hard

it

day,

how
:

fweet muft

be for them to come to a place of worfhip,

lift

and get a

for

to-morrow
!

may

the

Lord

God

blefs this barley-bread

If

you can wrap

plagues and

yourfelves in

God,

let

the world hate you^

greateft

God's children are the

trials

one to another, but God loves them,

God

fmiles

upon them, and

fafety.

therefore they fhall

dwell in

The

devil told
I

me
and

fhould

not dwell in fafety, but

bid

him

defiance,
told hini

and turned him

Benjamin's
lot

to Deut. xxxiii.
;

was mine

the beloved of the

Lord Jf:all

dwell in fafety by him.

Wo,

wo,

wo

be to you that have no marks

of being beloved of the Lord.

Have we any

prophane Efaus here to-night, that are faying,

do not

tell

me

of your being beloved of the

Lord

Ser.

VIL
;

rhe Beloved of God.

jj^

Lord

if I

can have the love of fuch a perfon^

I don't care

whether

God

loves

me

or not

you may
think

tell

me God
I

loves people v^hen they

I

are afflidted,

want none of thefe marks,

becaufe
I

God
;

frame
per
;

me good me I God loves becaufe I think profI God loves me becaufe think am very
loves
in a
5

am

healthy and ftrong

do not care whether

wait upon
not.
I

God

or not, or give to the

poor or
is

will not foftcn the matter, there

no

going to heaven without wearing a

fool's coat

O, you may
dence
5

fay, that is

owing

to

your impru-

you make people uneafy, and fet them upon a falfe fcent, and make them their own
5

perfecutors

thank God,

can go into a hun-

dred companies, and not give them reafon io

fay I

am

a Methodift:

can go into
I don't

and fing an innocent fong,

company tell them I

pocket.

have a Tabernacle hymn-book in

my

There

are

few have the courage

that the gen-

tleman had

who
:

loved God^ and went to fee

fome
for
is

carnal relations after he

fays

became

a fool
it

Chrift's fake

one of the

relations,

always our cuflom after dinner to fing a fong,

to fing
^

and afked him

his turn
;

he

faid,
5

he would

in

two of them fung

come, coufin,
fing

his relation faid

fays he,
I

to him,

have
not

176

The Beloved

of God.

Ser.
if
it

VIL
you
out,

not fung a fong a good while, but,

pleafe, I

will fing

hymn

he fung

but they never afked him to fing again, nor

did they fing afterwards.

How
?

fweet

it is
!

to

go through boldly with a thing

for Chrifl

Do
as to

not you think you are a coward

are

you not

afhamed

are

any of you fuch cowards

plead your prudence:

God

help you to be

unmalked
you go
ful

to-night.

do not know whether

to a mafquerade, but

you have a dreada

mafque upon your

I

fouls,

dreadful

reli-

gious vifage.

heard fomebody appeared the

other night, in order to bring contempt

US) in a
dreffes.

upon

Methodift

drefs,

that

was one of the

O how

can they do fo? fay you;

how

canft thou

do

fo

pretend to be a

Me^

among God's people, and behave light and foolilli among the children of the devil for fhame unmafk yourfelves, for God will, by death, unmafk your foul, and fliow your The word hypocrite is taken from hypocrify.
thodift

a flage- player,

who

ad:s that

part
all

he

is

not:

God, of his

infinite

mercy, keep

here from
^

ftopping fhort.
If any of you are

awakened and convinced,

the

Lord

grant you

may

never

reft

till

you

>know you

are the beloved of the Lord.

Ah
fays

Sen VII.
fay you, I

Ibe Beloved
fliall

QJ

God.
that, that
I

177

never

know
:

am

the beloved of the Lord

am

that old grey-

headed wretch you mentioned

at the

beginning

of your fermon

can

God

love

me

a drunkard,

fabbath-breaker, a

whoremonger, an adulterer,
as ever trod
?

an unclean wretch

on the ground
jailor
?

Pray what was Paul

what was the

their cafe

what were

all

the three thoufand that were

;

converted at once

what was

nay,

what was Adam the firft finner ? and yet Adam and Eve both, I believe, received mercy of

God

flie is

therefore called the mother of all

is

livings becaufe fhe

lievers.

the mother of

all

be-

Come
thyfclf

then

at a venture,
^

come
lay,

then,

throw

upon Chrifl

do not

Parbut

don
fay,

my

iniquities becaufe they are fmall,

Lo7'dy

pardon my
that

iniquities

for they are

for forg-

great.

One

was executed to-day

\

ing fomething to rob his father

deal thus with his fon
?

what
I,

a father
it

well, faid

is

fo

with a man, but our heavenly father

will par-

don

and though the law

is,

is

called a fiery law,

a
!

yet there

bleifed be
finners
!

God,

way.
to

Oh

oh fmners

new and living God help you

you

come and
yet

venture, and flrive, though

have none of the marks that have been mentioned,

fay,

God

can
a

put thele marks

U|:on

178

^be Beloved of God.

I

Ser.
this

VII,

upon me,
coming

have been courting

and that

perfon's love; nay, I

made no
I

other ufe of

to worfhip, but to look out for

fome-

tbing to advance myfelf.

have been look;

ing out for nothing but beauty

have been

looking out for nothing but money, or fomething or other to

make my
;

fortune

but
I

now
are

begone, vain V70rld

now, Lord,

would

look

after thee.

That you may know you

the beloved of the Lord, dwell in fafety on

earth,

and

after

death be conveyed to dwell

eternity,
.

with, and love

for Chrifl's

him to all fake. Amen,

God

grant

SERMON

179

SERMON
The Furnace of
Isaiah
/ have
xlvlii.

VIII.

Afflidion.
-

-r

ver.

10.
affiiElioft.

chofen thee in the furnace of

GRACIOUS

words
!

indeed!

words
that

worthy of a God

who

has promifed

that he "will not qlways chajiife^

he will not keep his anger for ever

but,

on

the contrary, will take care in the midft of

judgment to remember mercy

hope
need not

and

if

he

ftrikes

with one hand, will uphold with the other.

I
ers,

tell

you,

my

dear hear-

that thefe

words were fpoken to comfort,

the captives in Babylon,

fins

who,

for their various

and great backflidings, conftrained the

the

God

of love,

God
them

of mercy,

their covenant

God,
upon
them,

to fend

captives into a foreign foil;

infult

this their
ii'here

enemies take occafion to

are 7iow your fongs ? fay they;

give us one of your

Temple

fongs, with

which
you

a 2

So

7 he Furnace of Jffii^iiGiu
to

S er. VIII.
;

you ufed
fee

pour out your

allelujahs

let

us

now whether you can praife him in a The enemy of fouls joining inflrange land<
fing,

wardly with them without, makes fome that

can
even afraid that God hath forgotten
to

be graciouSy that he hath flmt up his loving

kindjiefs

in

difpleafure^

that

the darknefs

in-

which they were now involved would not be

a temporary, but a perpetual one
\

and not-

withftanding the prophets v/ere fent in mercy

God to comfort them in their trouble, yet many of them were tempted to fay, all men^
of

yea the prophets, were liars

if

it is

very well

they flopped there, and did not fay,

liar too.

God

is

The enemy

being thus fuffered to

it

break in upon them like a flood,

was high
great

time for the blefled

againft

God

to

lift

up a ftandard

him

and therefore the

Re-

deemer, the angel of the everlafling covenant,

lets

them know

that

he would fome time or

appear
affures

other, nay,

very fpeedily,

to relieve

his afllifted

people

he

them, that

however
be
tried,

for a

while he might

fuficr

them ta
as their
this^

he would caufe a fpeedy deliverance,

that ihould

make them look upon him

this

God

and

not for any merit found in

people, not for any good forefeen, but he fays,

for

Set-.

Vlli.

7he Furnace

of Affiidiion,

gi

for my own name's fake-, that the heathen might not fay God had utterly forfaken them, he will appear for their relief, and make them
more than conquerors through him that
them
tion
3

locoed

however dark the feafon of afHicmight be, yet he would let his own peothat
that
all

ple

know

that happened,
it

happened

out of love;
true,
that,

that

was

fo far

from being

that they

were

really caft off

from God,

on the contrary, he intended

to over-rule

thcfe troubles, both foreign and domeftic, to

bring

them

nearer

to,

and

at

lafi:

to lodge

them

fafe in the

world above: well therefore

it

for their

comfort might

be ulhcred in thu?,
7ny

for my name's fake will I defer

for my praife
cut thee not
"will
off\
'tis

anger ^ and
thee^

1 refrain for

that I

And
;

to

fix their attention

and
thee^

gratitude,

added, behold 1 have refined

for this
is

but not with filver

fo far

from

being contrary to the everlafting decree, or purpofe, hid in

it is

my

bofom,
it ;

that,

on the contrary,

the fulfilling
text,

for, faith

God

in the

words of our

1 have chofen thee in the

furnace of affiiBion.

Though
lar

the words are ipoken in the Angu-

number, yet they are of a complex and

;

large import

the great

God

ngt only fpeaks

to

82

7he Furnace of Afflidiion.

Ser. VlII.

to

them

as a people colledively confidered, but

particularizes

chofen you,

them but I
is

in this
ha^ve

manner; not I have

5

chofen thee

for the

word of God
us goodj if
Spirit

itfelf will

never, never, never

do

it

not

applied

by the

blefled

of God to you and

The wifdom and

faid,

kindnefs of the Holy Ghoft deferves our notice

;

had the prophet gone on and

1 have
ah, this
Ifrael>

chofen you, unbelief

might have

faid,

prophefy belongs only to the people of

the words were addrefled to thofe

who were
I to

under the Jewifh difpenfation, what have

do with them
but

or unbelief

would perfuade us
^

to fay fo of fuch a general promife as this

when it is faid I have chofen thee, and we know that no fcripture is of private interpretation,

but, like

its

bleffed author,

is

the

fame yejierday, to-day, and for ever, there is no loop-hole, as it were, for unbelief to creep
out at; but every believer may, in
in the
all

ages,

words of the

text, fay to himfelf,

God
paf-

has

chofen

me

in
is

the jurnace

of

affliBion^

Perhaps,

there

not a

more comfortable
;

fage in the

whole book of God

do not know
to filence a

of one that has a greater tendency

complaining child of God, or to
fuffering

make
reft

a poor

believer

happy, and to

under
the

Ser. VIII.

The Furndce of Jffii5lion.

183

the promife, to kifs the rod of God that ftrikes

the blow.

Where
the very

ihall

I begin,

where

fhall

end?
for us

firft

words open fuch

the time

a field, that eter-

nity itfelf will be but juft long

to take a

enough

view of it

is

come

that even

fome good people

in
their hearts,
at

that have the grace of

fuc4i

God
as to

have

muddy

heads

kick

the dodtrine of eledtion, and look up-

on

it

as

having a tendency to

make

us bad in
3

our heads, or Antinomians in our hearts

if

but

we have

eyes to fee, and ears to hear, and if

Spirit

our hearts are really informed by the

if

we have

been anointed with his eye-falve,

O
as

then elefting, fovereign, diftinguifhing love

flows in fuch a fcene, fuch a tranlporting fcene,

will

make

a believer's heart leap for joy.

part, I

For

my own

know no
5

other dodtrine
for either
;

that can truly

humble the nlan

God

mufl chufe

us, or

we muft
firft

chufe
or

God muft
the

be the

mover,

God either man muft be

firft mover; either God muft chufe them on account of fome goodnefs, on account of fome purity, or ads of piety, or God muft chufe them merely -of his grace, for his own
.

name's fake, and

to let us

know

that
us.

we have
I verily

pot chofen hiin, but he has chofen

believe^

84

^"he

Furnace of AffiiEilm.

S^r>

VUL

believe, that the grand reafon

why

fuch doc-

trine
ple,

is
is,

fo fpurned at,

and hated by carnal peothe very root of huto

that

it

ftrikes at

man

pride, cuts the linev^s of free-v^rill all

pieces,

and brings the poor finner

5

to lie

down

at the foot of fovereign grace

and,

let his at-

tainments in the fchool of Chrift be ever fo

great,
it

conftrains
!

me

why me

him to cry out. Lord, why Our Mafter, and I think we

fhould not attempt to be wifer than our Mailer

was, fpeaks particularly of and to his

fchool,
his
little

own
T^hine

college

of apoftles

they were^

and thou gavefi them

chofenyoUy but ye have not chofen

me, Becauje I

me-y

1 have

have chofen you out of the world, therefore the

world hateth you.

enlightened,

Before they

were

fully

though

they

were

afterwards
at firfl

brought more
faid,

to the light,

two of them
;

we have found

the Meffiah

yet

when

they were funk deeper in the knowledge of

themfelves, they changed their note, and faid,

the Meffiah has found

us.

Obferve the manfirft

ner of the Redeemer's addreffing our

rent,

pa-

when
firfl:,

their guilt

had caufed them

to hide

themfelves, jidam, where art thou ? Pray

called

who
is

did

Adam
him
5

call after Chrifl:,

or did

Chrifl call after

or do

you think there

any

Ser. VIII. T^he

Furnace of AffliEiion,

ig^

any difference between us and Adam, or that we have got better hearts than Adam had

do you think we are wifcr and

better

now

Adam

run away from God, and {o fliould

unlefs Jefus Chrift

we

to this very day,

had

called

us to himfelf.

Some
like your

perfons, perhaps,

dodrine very

may {d,y^ Well, I well; God chufes us,

regard to any good

you

fay,

when we have no
fitter I

works
and the

at all,

therefore I will go on finnino-,

fhall

becaufe the
fitter

be for God's grace

hell.
3

thou mayft be for

Grace
it,

does not deftroy the ufe of the law

heart will

an honeft
as

draw

that inference

from

woman once did when the devil told her, that either God had chofen her and fhe fhould
good
be faved, or
if

fhe was rejeded fhe fliould be

he,

damned,
anfwered,
I

fo, faid
if

you need not

flrlve

flie

there were but

two

to be faved,
:

would

ftrive to

be one of them

God

help

us to

draw
this

that inference.

Now

word
;

chofen^

refers

us to God's
is

eternal eleflion

it

comprehends, and

the

fource of

all

that

God

has done for believers,

when bowed his head Jefus and gave up the ghoil. Hence the apoftle, in the eighth of the RoB b mans.

for every individual believer in particular

t86

lie Furnace of Affliction.

Ser.

VI IL

mans, mentioning

this dodlrine in the cleareft

manner, triumphs over the accufer by afking,

Whojhall
eledi 1

lay

any

tbi?ig to the

charge oj God's
declares, that
glorificait is

and

in the

fame chapter
:

it is

God
is

that glorifies
laft

for

though

tion
firft

the

thing done to us, yet

defigns
for us.

the

thing

God

What

is

the

great thing for a natural

is it ?

why^ not only

that

man to hear ? what God has chofen us,;

but ehojcn us in the furnace of affiiBion : that the Spirit of God may vouchfafe to tran*
fcribe thefe

words
it

into our hearts

God

help
it

thee to take
to thyfelf,

to thyfelf,
^

man ;
it

to take

O woman
art that

to take

ta thyfelf

whoever thou

art either

a Chriftian

now,

or defires or hopes to be a Chriftian be-

fore thou dieft,

/ have

chofen thee in the fur-

mce of affliBion. What can be

why, 'tis very muft be this j
I

the meaning of the words?

plain that the import of

them
it

have chofen thee, and

is

my

determination from everlafting to the end

for ever. I

of time, and
with

have chofen

thee

this determination, that the v/ay to heaafilidlion

ven fhould be through the road of

this
fters
is

the believer's way, efpecially the mini-

of Chrift,

When

Paul was converted,.

Ser, VIII.

The Furnace of u4ffli5lion.

187

pray what preferment did

God

promife

him
it

was

it

to

be a great dignitary
the

in the
?

church?
any

no, nothing about

church

was

more

eafe,

was

it

to

wear a
kifs

triple

crown, were

perfons to

come and

his toe,

what prefays

ferment did

God

chufe

him to? what?

I

God, I willJJjow him what great

fiiffer

thi?igs he mujl

for my name*s fake,

verily

believe,

that if

we were

to have
is

no other preferment
not one in a thouliv-

than

this

of Paul, there

fand of the minifters that would afk for a

ing, if they

knew

they were to have fuch poor

Minifters that hold the

wages

as

Paul had.

ftandard up, muft expedt the

enemy
if

will fire

on them from every quarter

pen
to

and

they hap-

be inftrumental in comforting others,

*with the
[elves

fame comforts wherewith

they therK-

are comforted of God^ they muft expeft

to bear their part, not only for their

fication, but for the benefit

own

puri-

of thofe to

whom
find

they minifter;
that

and

I believe
beft,

audiences

minifters
beft,

minifter
it

and the bread

j

comes

when

comes out of the furnace

of a very complex
tribulation,

of a minifter's

afflidlion.

The word
kind
J

afiliftion

is

it

is

like

the

word

which

comes from the

latin

tribidus^

fignifying a

b 2

pricking

i88

The Furnace of AffliBion. Ser.VIII.

pricking thorn, a fcratching briar, or

ing fpikes concealed in the
;

way afflidion arifes from a word that figniiies fomething that beats down, preffes fore, and is it is a word of very grievous and tormenting
3

woundand the word

fo general import, that

it

takes in
all

all

the trou-

ble

we meet with from men,

receive

the
as

wounds
in

we

from enemies,

as well
all

the

houfe of our friends

tic trials,
all

it

takes in

our domef-

our inw^ard ftruggles and dreadful

temptations occafioned by the fiery darts of a

watchful devil;

and

if I

am
it

not miftaken,

when
is

the great

God

faid,

1 have chofen thee

implys, that this
to the very

in the furnace of affiiBion^

really to continue
:

with us even
is

end of cur days

this

what young
love,
it;

converts,
fee
;

in the time of their

is,

firft

do not

that

do not wholly
were
to

fee
all

for if

young Chriffuffer,
it

tians

know

they have to

would dreaafuUy difcourage them.

his people fhall not
their
firll

God

fays,

do

fo

and

fo,

becaufe at
difheart-

fetting out they

would be
It is
trials

ned, and think of going back.

pinefs
little

our hapbut very

God

lets

us

know

our

before-hand, very

little

notice of

them

have we before the time, and then, perhaps, gives us but little refpite 5 but O when one
trial

Ser. VIII.
trial IS

The Furnace of Jffliaion.

189

gone,

God
one

does with us as maflers do

with their
us
;

Icholars, turns over a

trial is

new

leaf

with

and when
;

over, teaches us ano-

ther

hence our
;

trials

are not only

new, but

conftant

hence
rife

many

a believer

is

apt to fay.

My

trials

out of the ground-^ and

many
fuch a

believers are faying,

who would
befallen
?

have thought

fuch a

trial

would have

me
it

at

time, from fuch a hand

this

may, perhaps,

open

to

us a

gloomy fcene;
if
it

would be
if

gloomy indeed,
of preparation
;

we were

not living in a flate

would be gloomy indeed,

without a caufe
;

God
is

was to

afflid:

but there

fo

much

corruption, fuch remainders of in-

dwelling

fin,

even in God's

own

children that
that are

are to ftand neareft to

him

in glory,

the deareft to him, and

who

are to be blefled
if

with being
to fend

in his

bofom, that

God was

not

them afflidlions, there is not a child of God but would overfet even with the comforts
vouchfafes to them.
that if

God

We
live

find

it

fo

with

our bodies,

we

without exercife

we

are liable to have a variety

of

difeafes,

we

therefore fubmit to various

ways and means

;

that a phyfician can prefcribe

and

if the dif-

orders to

which we

are expofed in our bodies,

make

us willing to fubmit to a regimen prefcribed

Jhe Furnace of AffliBion,

Ser.
it

VIII,

fcribed

by a

fkilful phyfician,

does

not folfor

low by a parity of realoning, that

fouls want fometimes
lenitives,

we

our

and corrofives^
eat off the
it

and

foniething

like a

caaftic to
?

proud

flefh that cleaves to us

and
is

vindicates

God's ways to man, that there

appointed for
us, that there is

an hereafter

another world,

to which, perhaps, v/e fhall

be called to go

before the morning, 'where the inhabitant ij}:)all

no more fay^ I amfick.

Believers

know
if

this,

and

if

they cannot keep a ledger book,

they

cannot pofl a merchant's book, they

fo

much

of divine arithmetic,

as to

may learn know that

the light afflictions "which are but for a moment^

work for

us

afar more
fays,
is

exceeding

and eternal
good
not

weight of glory.
bifhop Beveridge

The way
ftrait,

to heaven,

narrow, but

it is

long; the gates are

lafting
life
;

but open to ever-

and therefore God has chofen us in

the fur?iace of affli^tiouy becaufe if

we were not afflidled, we Ihould never know what we were made of Mr. Bohem, who was chapIain to the prince

of Denmark, that was marin

ried to

queen Anne,

one of his excellent

has this obfervation,
are
5

fermons upon
'^^

affliflion,

Affliftions
falling

and temptations

like fun-

beams

upon a dunghill

they do not
bring

Sen VIII.

ne

Fumace of JffliBion.

191

bring vapours into the dunghill, but they exhale the vapours."

So

afflidtions
3

do not bring

the corruptions into us

v^e

blame fuch and

fuch a one for

ftirring

up fuch and fuch cor-

ruptions in us, but thefe tend to drav^ out the

vapours, and prepare us for the

more

lafting

funfhine of a fmiling God.

God

does not in-

tend to deftroy thee,

to
fift

but to refine thee, and

humble thee by
thee as wheat
>

it.

The

devil

wants to

he thinks

to let the grain

go through the
the chaff
fall

fieve,

but Chrifl: will only let

is

through, and the fooner that

fo
it is

gone the better:

no ways derogatory to

the honour of Chrift, but agreeable to the ftate

in

which we

are,

agreeable to the ftate

and

the preparations to be

made

for eternity, agree-

able to the militant difpofition that our graces

muft

retain.

Hence our Lord was content

fervant.
ele5i in

to

be called God's

Behold my fervant
ivhom myfoul
he learned

"whom 1 have chofeny mine

delight eth.

Though
by

he

was a

fon,

obedience by the things that hefuffered-,

he

Vi^as-

made

perfedl

his

fufferings.

We
we

cannot
ihould

avoid trouble as men, as Chriftians

not attempt

it

man
-y

is bor7t to

trouble as the
efpecially

jparks jiy upwards

the

and Chriftians,
Jf
thefe things

man

new-born,

were done
to

192
to the

"The FurJiace

of Affliction, Ser. VII

to the

green
crofs

tree^

what JJ:all be done

dry ?

The

is

the high-road to heaven, and fo

;

the king's highway

you know there

is

always

a bar upon the king's road, the king has a

particular road for himfelf ; but the

King of

kings will

make

all

bars to be

removed, and

then his people go the fame road he himfelf went : this was the road of all the children of

God
but

there

is

not an heir of

God

in heaven,

is

now
'y

thanking
is

God

for his fufferings here

below

there

not a child of

God

ever re-

ceived into glory, but, I believe, as foon as

he comes

there,

is

made

to

know why he met

with fuch a

trial,

and from fuch a quarter

he was under fuch a rod, why under it fo long ; why it was fhifted, why it was changed, why the whip fometimes was turned to a

why

fcorpion, and the furnace heated

kv^n times
it

hotter

then the believer fees the need of

it

in heaven,
afflidted

makes him wonder he was not I rememfevcn times more on earth.

iEneid to

ber Virgil makes his hero in the

fay, 'twould all
felf

end well ^.

He

comforts him-

with

this confideration

under his trouble,

better
^

that the difcharge

from
his

it

would be the

and
* Babit Deus
Forfan
et

quoque finem,
rerum,

hsec olrm meminiffe juvabit.

tot difcrimina

Per vaiios cafus, per

Tendimus

in

Latium.

Ser. VIII.

TXf Furnace of AfjIiBion,

child of

195

and

if a

God would
much more
is

think of that,

hereafter

he will look with pleafure on what

;

he

fuffered here

a Chriftian en-

riched with the grace of God, will be willing

to die
in

when he

confiders he

hereafter to
fays to

fit

Abraham's bofom, and God

him.

Remember
evil things.

thou in thy life-time received thy

O my

brethren, a fine fchool

!

is

the fchool of Chrift

never
v/ere

knew any one of

believers,

my

acquaintance that

and

have been acquainted with fome thefe twentyeight years

lafl:

pal!:,

but what flourifhed moil

I believe if

under the affliding hand of God,

the devil had his will, he would bid too high

for every believer
;

he does not love money ; a

devil,

covetous
that

man

is

worfe than the

devil fquanders

he loves
;

which the

away

but fay
if

they,

we

think

we

fhould be very good

5

we
it,

had a coach and

pel or foundery;

fix

fo

when

they have

they think they are too good to go to that chait

was a good place when

we walked a-foot, but now we have a coach we will drive by. Happy is it for us that we
are chofen in the furnace of afflidlion;
that
is

a glorious petition in our litany, T^hat in all

time of our tribulation^ good

Lord

deliver us !

You may

very well excufe

me

for preaching

from

194

^^-^^

Furnace of
as this,
I

Ajlitlion.

Ser. VIII.

from fuch a text

in the furnace,
is

becaufe
it Is

have been
;

and

find

very fweet

it

very fweet walking in a burning fiery fur-

nace

when

the Son of

God

leads

by the arm.

In the account

we

have of the three children

being in the fiery furnace, the king could fay,

I fee

one walking with them

v^hat an

emblem
?

of the children of

God

O,

fay you, does the

Son of God walk with you

anfwer, yes
;

in the furnace
it,

make

the worft of

tell

them

the enthufiaft,

the babler fays,

in the furnace
;

God walks
he walks with

with his people

all

that

walk with him, and never walks clofer

in the furnace.

with them than when they are

Daniel
is

generally painted young, but he

was
in

four-fcore years

old

when he was thrown

fits

among
eafy,

the lions, there he^

lion

as fweet

and

and no
hairs.

dare to touch one of his

truth of grace,

grey

Nothing proves the

and fhows the love of

God
you

more, and you

are of being in

may be
this

aflured

of

it

as

place alive, that fanftified afHixftions are

the greateft evidence

love
5

God

can give you of his

fo that if

we

are chofen in the furnace

it 5

of

afHiftion,

we

are to exped:

and

it

not

a great fliame for us, that the heathens out-^

do us

when one came and

told one of the

-heathens

Scr.

VIIL
"

"The

Furnace of Affli5llo.

ig^

heathens that his fon, a darling fon, wl^ dead,

he

faid,

know

that I begot

him

mortal.'*

So Job
this

faid,

The Lord hath given^ and the

Lord hath
drooping

taken away,

that

God may

blefs

poor preaching to the raifing up fome

foul.

Underneath

thee;^

believer,
;

fufferer, are

God's everlafting arms

there*

fore the beloved of the

LordJlo all
him,

dwell infafety^

becaufe they

dwell near

and he that

toiicheth thenty toucheth the apple

This may teach

us,

of God's eye.^ when one trouble is

\

over to expedl another

none of your
I

re-

quiems here.

Abraham,

believe,

thought

when he had
no more
^

got his Ifaac, he was to be tried

but after thefe things God did te?npt

Abrahain.

We

know

not what
are

trials

we

are

to have, but

remember they

marks of oar
do prove us

adoption

not that

all afflictions

children of

God, becaufe

there are
:

fome

afflicall

tions that are

not fandlified
afflidlions
let
1

God

give us

to

have fandified
If this
is

the cafe,
are
to

young

believers
;

know

what they
thofe,

meet with
churches are

and

vifible

God forgive too much pefuntempered

tered with them, that daub with

mortar

formerly,

when
they

the church was unforfake father,

der perfecution,

would
c 2

mother,

ig6

dthe Furnace of ^ffliBion*

all
3

Ser. VIII.

motlier. and

but noWy
Chrijiians

ble/fed be
5

GoJ,

we

arr for
don,

beco?ni7tg

we

live in

Lon-

we live where the church is fmiled iipon^ we may live where we are at eaje, My dear

hearers,

do you think
?

that all the

Londoners
all

are converted

do you think they

^

bring

forth the fruits of the Spirit

that

or have you heard

?

the

devil

is

converted
devil
is is

can any body

not the fame
;

prove to

me

that the

is

can you prove that

God

not the fame

can

you prove
the

that the v^orld

not the fame, that

?

human

heart

is

not the fame

if

you can

prove that neither of thefe are what they were

when

Chrift

came

into the world, I will give

up the pointy but if they are the fame, we mull expecfl the fame trials our forefathers

met

with, if ever
;

we hope

to

meet with them

in the

in glory

God forbid Ifiouldglory, fave

Therefore,
if
fe.t

crofs oj Jefus Chrift,

any of us

have a mind to
ble.

out for heaven, expedl trouenlifted

Indeed,

if

we have

under the

devil's banner,

he fhows you the kingdoms of

the glory of them.

the world, and

When

Peter faid to our Lord, concerning his fufirrings,

far be that jrom

it,

thee

after

having ihown

his difpleafure at

as

a fuggeiiion of fatan's,

he

fays

to all his difciples.

If any man will

come

;Ser.

VIIL

Ihe Furnace
let

of AffliEllon.
his crofs

197

come after mCy

Jollow me.

And

and remember Mr. Law, who

great
told

him take up

was a great man, notwithftanding fome

blunders
years

and miftakes,

me

thirty-two

n2;o, all principles, all

dodlrines, are

comand
you

prehended in thefe few words. If any ma?i

will come after me^ let

him deny

hi?nfelf

take up his crofs

and follow me.

And

if if

do not chufe the furnace of

are too nice to enter in,

you you forfake the Lord,

afflidlion,

^nd are only preparing

to

be company for the

damned
Dives
5

in

hell.

This was the cafe with

Son^ thcu in thy life^tim.e received thy

:

good things

and
;

for a

tuous every day

in fine linen, to

for

man that fares fumpa man that is cloathed

with
all

be tormented by the devil

to fee
loft
3

God,

Chrift, heaven,

he had,

and the torments muft never

this
is

ceafe.
!

One

moments thought of
grant this

very awful

God
in-

may

not be the lot of any ot us

Come,
finite

my

dear hearers,

may God of his

that
devil,

mercy grant

this night,

fome poor
and en-

foul
lift

may

be refcued from the

I

under Chrift's banner!

;

have bore the

it

crofs thirty-four years

never wore
it

long,

but I found to

my

great comfort

was lined

with the love of God.

My

yoke

is eaf)\

my

burden

198
burden
is

T%e Furnace of AffliBion.

light,
is

Ser. VIII.

faith

our blefled Lord.

3

Suf-

fering grace

given for fuffering times not

the

reafon

we have

more comfort
crofTes
:

is,

becaufe
that

we
give

have not more

happy they

fay in this vifitation,

up

all

for thee

my my

Jefus,
life,

my

Lord, I
things,

and

all

I caft behind.

heart that no dejire will move,

Bict Jim to adore y obey,

and
life,

love.

Give me,

7ny

LorJ, my

my

all,
;

I wifh you joy that run this courfe

don't

be weary of it, don't think hard of God, don't

lay, never

was any body

your

tried as I

am, never you was

was any body tempted

to go and
tell

as I

am,

for if

crofs,

there are a thoufand

in the congregation would, perhaps, fay, dear

I have had that and ten times worfe.

One
"
I

Mr. Buchanan,

a Scotchman,

who

died the
faid,

other day, having

lofl his laft child,

am now
that

childlefs,

but, blefled be

God,

am

not Chriftlefs."

A noble

lady told

me

herfelf,

when

flie

was crying on account of one of

little

her children's death, her

daughter came
'*

innocently to her one day and faid,

is

Mamma,
the lady
will
it,

God Almighty
no

dead, you cry lo

-,

blufhing, faid,

flie

replied,
?

Madam,
let

you lend

me

your glove

flic

her take

and

Ser. VIII.

'The

Furnace of Affli^ion.
it

199

and

after

that afked for

faid.

again; upon

which

the child

Now

you have taken the glove

from me,

fhali I

cry becaufe you have taken

away your own glove ? and fhall you cry beOut of caufe God has taken away my fifter.'' the mouths of babes has God perfected praife^
and
nace
will for ever,
!

glorify

God

in the fur-

If any of you are faying, don't

tell

me

of
to^

your ^fflidlons,

will

live,

I will drink,

morrow
more.

Jhall be as to-day^
If there be any of

and Jo much
iflue

the

you that

fay fo, take

care, take care,

God
5

himfelf can't

out a

worfe fentence againft you than

(iloney
let

this,

Let him

him alone

whom

the Lord loves he

chaftens.

What

a pretty creature

would you

make

in heaven, if

you was

to

go

there, with-

out one of Chrift's crofles on your back, you

would be turned out

there.
Chrifliians

no, there are none fuch

endure the crofs

-,

happy ye that

are tried, and

glory.
is

happy they that are gone to Where is Mr. Middleton now ? where
?

my

dear feliow-labourer, that honeft, that

fteady

man of God
all

Oh
>

he was thanking
in
for

God

for the gout in his head, in his feet,

his ftomach,

decays

thanking

God

that

200

The Furnace of AffiiBion*

Ser. VIII.
life,

that laft trouble that cut the thread of

and
the
his

gave the foul a paiTage for heaven

midfl:

if,

in

of that torture,
fay,

he could anfwer

daughter and

heaven upon earthy heaven

a
little

upon earthy and went to heaven but

after
3

now
?

furely

he muft

fay,
fees

heaven in

hea-^

ven

muft he not now he

and by
it

God, and

fees

Chrift

his

comfort, though in fuch

great pain,
his foul,

fhows that
at

God was kiffing away

mouth of God.
his parents
5

he died

the very

may

the bleffed

God

blefs

and

children that are here to-night

I believe

you

may
fo

be glad that

God
I

has chofen

him

in the

furnace of affliftion.

am

glad to hear that

many
for
,

are defirous that fomething

his family,
,

done
.

and Mr.

may be
and Mr,

-,

and Mr.

are willing to take in the

fubfcri'ptions that

any

may

be inclined to fend

them.

May God

blefs the family,

and grant

that his children

may
is

not difgrace the

memory

of their father; that they

of his
faith,

may

live as followers

who
be

promifes of God.
children

now gone to inherit the You know not how your

by you, though there
is

may

left

not one of you here but

may

be called that

have children,

to fay,

by and by

my
;

children

muft be

left to

the goodnefs of

God

and

it

is

a great

Ser.

Vlth The Furnace of AffliBion.

201
fatberlefs

a great happinefs to fee fo

many

children provided for of late: there was never

a time

when

perfons were
;

more

beneficent to

the drftrelied
in

let it riot

be faid that betlevers

London

live

on bread alone, but

may

they
\

be continuing to lay Up tfeafure in heaven

when we
ber me,

plead, not

by way of merit, rememdid fo and fo

Lord,

when others
I plead thy in the fur-

were

in

trouble.

Lord

Jefus,

promifes, if thou haft chofen

me

nace of afBidion

Lord, help

me
;

to lay

hold on thee

that this

may

be your arid
I

my

lot.

am

haftning to the grave

am

aftonifhcd that I have again an opportunity to

preach the word of God.

us
us,

May God
have

prepare

to

follow thofe that

gone before
troubling^
reft

where the wicked

ceafe

from

and the weary foul enjoys everlafting

thee,

with

Father, with thee,

5

Son, and with

the

Holy Ghoft
all

to

whom,

three perfons but

glory,

one God, be
for evermore.

honour and

now and

Amen.

SERMON'

202

SERMON
The Lord
Isaiah
!x. ver.

IX.

our Light,

19,

20.

The fun fiall be no more thy

tinto thee^

light by day^ nei-

ther jor brightneJs Jhall the mooji give light

hut the Lordjhall be unto thee an

lights

everlafling

and

thy

God
the

thy

glory.

Thy fun Jhall no more go down,

thy

neither Jh all

moon ivithdraw

itfelf

for

Lord fmll
the days

be

thine everlafling lights

and

of

thy inourningfhall be ended,

UPON
help

reading thefe wards,

cannot
royal

thinking

of

what

the

Pfalmifl faid, Glorious things are fpo^

ken of thee y

city of

God. Selah. I

am

afraid^

my

dear

hearers^ fhat

even behevers them-

felves,

who

have tailed of the grace of God,

meditate as they ought,
felicity

refleft

not and

on

the glorious

and amazing

they are
called

Ser.

IX.

T.l:)e

Lord our Light.

of

203

called

by the

Spirit

God
attain

to experience in

this life.

We

content ourfelves too

if

much with
hope

our hopes, and

through grace,
got up to the

we

to a good

we

are ready to think

we have
in

laft

ftep of the gofpel ladder, and

reft

have nothing more to do but to

hope,
full

that

without ever attaining to an abiding,

If

aiTarance of faith.

we would examine
them
to raife our hearts
is

the fcriptures, and not chufe to bring

down
up
to

to us, but

beg of

God
life,

them,

we

fhall find the believer

made

partaker of the grace of

as well as

an heir

of it; the one

ven,
other.

is

on

earth, the other in hea-

and one

is

only a

prelibation

of the
fpeaking
faith.

This

bleffed prophet Ifaiah,

of the

privileges of the children of

God,

Eye hath not

it

feen, nor ear heard, neither hath

entered into the heart of man to conceive the

things that

God hath prepared (and

:

that even

here below) for thofe that love him

that
like

God
!

grant

we may
veil,

be of that happy number

Hence,

an evangelift,

the prophet draws afidc

Spirit

the

and

as

one infpired by the

of

God, and

filled

with the rays of divine

light,

gives us a tranfporting view of the gofpel ftate,

and the glory which the church militant enjoys below, befjre
its

triumphant

ftate

above.

d 2

The

204

^he Lord our Light.

text,

Ser.

IX.

The

probably,

refers

to

the

great

change that fhould be made

in the affairs

of

the Jews after their captivity,

fully

how wonder-

God would

appear for them, after their

harps had been long hanging on the willows,

and they could make no other anfwer

infulting
foes than
this

to their

mournful one.
i?i

How

can

njoe

fing the Lord*s fong

is,

ajirange land^

The
joy
J

gofpel

doubtlefs, glad tidings of great

and hov/ever the people of

God might

be encouraged to ^hope that the time w^ould

come, when they fhould tread on the necks

of their enemies, the prophet teaches them
look further, and
pinefs
lets

to

them know

that their

hap-

was not

to confifl in

any external created

good, but in a larger pofTeflion of the graces

and comforts of the Holy Ghofl.

this

So

that

chapter

fpeaks
refl,

not

only of a temporal

deliverance and

which they fhould enjoy

fpiritual refl,

after their trouble,

but a

which,

by

faith,

they fhould enter into here, as the

refl

earneft

and pledge of the

and enjoyment

of the better world hereafter. As we know no more of heaven than is difcovered by the
eye of
faith,

for

even

St.

Paul acknowledges,
'tis

that the things

he faw were unutterable,

is

obferv^ble that heave*^ in fcripture

defcribed
tQ

Ser. IX.

Ihe Lord our Light.

it is

205
by what
it

to us
is.

more by what
in the

not, than
text,

So

words of the

Ihy fimJJjall

no more go down^ neither jh all thy moon ivith-

draw
lafling
fJoall

itfelf^

for the Lord

fkall be thine ever*

and the days of Here are three be ended.

light y

thy

mourning
and
be

negatives,

but one pofitive,

namely, the Lord

fjail

thy everlafiing lights

which
and
as

is

a beautiful alluus to fpifeared

fion to the fun, that fhould teach

ritualize natural things
;

if

we

God,
is

and lived near to him

we
You

ought, there

no objed: of our bodily eyes but might improve our

fpiritual fight.

cannot fuppofe

the prophet meant a time fliould come,

when
that

the fun fliould not literally

go down,

there fhould not be night and day as

now

God

indeed permitted a
it

man

once to
)

fay,

fun^

(land thouflill^ and

was done

but, perhaps,
till

there never will be any fuch thing again

the fun

is

removed from

its

ftation,

and the

moon
blood.

forfake her orbit,

and be turned into

therefore be under-'

The word muft

3

flood in a figurative fenfe

fpiritual things

and then comparing

it

with

fpiritual,

muft certainly

import, that Jefus Chrift, the Sun of Righteoufnefs, fhall be

what the fun

is

to the vifible

world,

that

is,

the light and

life

of

all

liis

people ^

2o6
people
fee
y

^he Lord cur Light.

I fay,
all

Se'r.

IX.

the people of
fhines
faid.

God,
all:

You
never

now, the fun

on us

heard that the fun

Lord, I will not {hine

not fhine on the

on the

Prefbyterians, I will
I

Independants,

will not fliine

on the people
;

called Methodifts, thofe great enthufiafts

the

fun never faid yet,

pifts
5

I will

not

fliine

on the Pafliows that

the fun

fliines
is

on

all,

which
all

Jefus Chrift's love

willing by the
tind therefore

open

to

that are

Holy Ghoft
it is

to accept of

made him j
If

fiid,

the fun of righteoufnejs

fiall arife with healing under his wings.

you were
arofe at
firfl

all

up

this

morning before the fun

five

o'clock,
!

how

beautiful

was

his

appearance

how

pleafant to behold the

!

flowers opening to the riiing fun

appeal to

you

yourfelves,

vthen you were looking out at

window,

or walking about, or opening your

fhop, if in a fpiritual frame, whether you did

not fay, Arife thou fun of righteoufnefs with

healing under thy wings, on me.
natural fun
is

All that the

is,

to the world, Jefus Chrill:

and

more,
fliould

to

his

people

without the fun

fruit

we

have no corn, or

of any kind:

what

a dark place

would the wcrld be withdark would the world

y

out the fun, and

how

b^ without Jefqs Chrift

and

as the fun does

really

Ser.

IX.

7he Lord cur Light.

its

2oy

really

communicate
and to
all this

rays to the earth, the

plants,

lower creation, fo the Son of

life

God

does really communicate his

and power
is

to every

new

created foul, otherwife Chrift

-,

but a painted fun

and

is

Chrift nothing but a

painted Chrift to us,

while

we

receive heat

and benefit by the Holy Ghoft, on account of

the virtue of his blood
fhines brighter than at
?

Sometimes the fun

clouds intervene and

other times, and does

3

not always appear alike

interrupt
foul
its

rays

fo

it

is

between a renewed
of righteouf-

and the Lord

Jefus, the fun

nefs^

O my

brethren, I believe
:

you know

it

by

fatal

experience

hold but )^our hand now,

its

w^hen the fun fhines in

it

meridian, between

and you, and

if

by the breadth of that you

ah
!

can keep
little

the fun from you,

how

very

earth will keep off thy heart

!

from Jefus

Chrift

It

was a very excellent faying of one

of the antientSj that

till

God
him.

never leaves a perfoii

he

firft

leaves

Some people
we
;

think
apt

God

does fo of his fovereignty, but I

am

to think

when

the fun fhines,

fhall find

fome people have taken up with fomething

fhort of the fun of righteoufnefs

and

I believe

there are times,

when the poor

go down, and

believer thinks
rife

his fun will quite

no more

he

coB
he

7he Lord our Light.

tafte

Set.

IX^

lofcs his relifh, his

>

and evidence of

divine things
for a while,

not only are the rays intercepted

but doubts and

fears,

a dreadful
I

cloud of them,

come
of

on.
faith,

Though
yet I

hold

with a

full affurance
'tis

am

of opi-

nion that

not always in a like exercife;

will

and therefore pray that doubting people

not take hold of that, and
I
fay,

Bleffed be
I

God,

am in a The Lord
prifon,

doubting
deliver

ftate,

and

am

content.

you from a mind

to flay in

and prevent the devil from locking the

door upon you,

98

and keeping you there

help

as

long

he can.

The Lord

you

to

come^

come,

come,

and break out of

prifon, that

you may know

how

pleafant

it is

to behold

the Sun, and praife his name.

Sometimes, inftead of the fun there

is

only

moon-light, which fhews the difference a believer feels in his foul,

both in relation to grace

light,

and comfort.
but
the

Both fun and moon give

O how
moon

far fuperior is

the one to the other

gives a very faint, uncertain lights

at befl
is

waxes and wanes, and

thing

almofl no-

when compared with

this
:

the

light->

and the

bleffed reviving heat of the fun.

Hence,
is

my

brethren,

world fometimes
is

a world of

mourners

it

faid,

that the

days

of our

mourn-

Ser.

IX,

The Lord our Light.

ended:,

2op

mourning fiall be

for if the text refers

it

to the future flate, as

no doubt

does,

it

means

that the days

of believers here below

our Lord intimates

are very often mournful, trying, and afflidling,

though they end

in his

in joy,

as

opening his gofpel-fermon almoft with

thefe very words, Blejfed are they that mourUy

for

they Jhall be

comjorted.

Some, perhaps,
5

may

think

it is

an odd kind of blefling

and
of

though worldly people are fond of the

fifth

Matthew,
chapter, I
to preach

and wonder that Methodifts and

gofpel-minifters

do not preach

oftner

on that

am

apt to believe,

when you come

will not

and open that word, they

like that chapter

any more than any other,

becaufe they are for a joyful Chrift, and not

for

any mourning
?

at all.
tell

Do

you know

God

in Chrift

let

me

you, the more you are

acquainted with him, the more your fouls will

Se kept in a mourning
ftate
!

ftate.

mournful
before

O,

fay you, people will

mourn

they are converted.

x^h, that they

will.

iii

don't love to hear of converfions without any

fecret

mourning
I

feldom

fee

fuch fouls efta-

blifhed.

have heard of a perfon

who was

company once with fourteen minifters of the

gofpel,

fome of

whom were E e

eminent fervants

of

2IO

7he Lord cur Light,

Sen IX,
tell

of Chrift, and yet not one of them could

the time
foul.

God

firft

manifefted himfelf to their

Zaccheus's was a very

quick conver-

fion,

perhaps not a quarter of an hour*s con:

vldtion
r

this I

mention, that

we may

not con-

demn one another. We do not love the pope, becaufe we love to be popes ourfelves, and kt up our own experience as a ilandard to others.
Thofe
lor,

that

had fuch a converfion

as the jay-

or the Jews:

O, fay you, we do not

love

like

to hear

you

talk of fhaking over hell,

to

hear of converfion by the

we love of God v
may
as

while others that were fo fhaken, as Mr. Bolton and other eminent

men

were,

fay,

you
like
.

are not Chriftians becaufe

terrible

you had not the

well

experience.

You may
all

fay to your neighbour, you have not had a child,

for

you were not

is,

in

labour
real

night.
is

The

queftion

whether a

child

born, not

how
it

long was the preceding pain, but whether

birth,

was produdive of a new

and whether
-,

Chrift has been formed in your hearts

it is

the birth proves the reality of the thing.

Some
fays fo
?

allow that there

is

mourning
;

before,

but no mourning

after converfion

pray

who
fay,

none but an Antinomian, a rank Anj

tinomian

and when you hear a perfon

that

Ser.

IX.

The Lord our Light.

211
no mou' flis

that after converfion

ing,

you

will have

you may be

afliired that
;

walking by moon-light

bed he does not walk by

at

perfon

the fun, he has got feme dodrine in his head,

but very
!

little
!

grace,

am

afraid, in his heart.

How how my
we
true
are converted
j

brethren,

not

mourn

after
is

why,

till

then there

no

mourning

at all.

The damned
their

in hell are

mourning now, they put on

as foon as they get there.

mourning
I

How am
;

tormen-

ted in this flame, fays Dives

and Cain,

my

punifliment

is

greater than I can bear.

How

many worldly
the
lofs

people break their hearts for

:

of the world

they cannot keep their

as

ufual equipage, nor

do

they would

and

come
this

not to worfhip on Sunday, becaufe they

as

cannot appear fo fine

is

formerly they did:

a forrow of the world that worketh

is

death; but there

gelical
ftate

a bleffed, a
is

more evanfoul.

mourning, which

the habitual, bleiTcd

and frame of a converted

Kow
:

ftrong the expreffion, They Jhall look on him

whom
fliall

they

have pierced^ and Jhall mourn

how
been

they

mourn
only

as one mourneth jor afirft"

born^
called

an
to

child.

Have you
?

ever

bury a child
?

is

there any tender

after

mother here

were you merry diredly

the

212

^he Lord our Light.

?

Ser.
till

IX.

the child was dead

no, perhaps
call to

this

very

day, you continually

little

remembrance your
of your forrow.

one and fhed a

caufes

tear

every thing relating

to

it,

the

repetition
is

When

a poor believer

acquainted with Je-

fus Chrift,

he mourns

for having crucified the

will

Son of God, and you

fin

mourn

for the

fame
fays

after

converfion

as

before.

Surely,

feme,

mourn

for
I

my

fins I

committed before

my

converfion.

do not know whether you

do or no, but I know you fliould. O, fays David, Remember not againjl me thefim of my youth^ in a Pfalm which was wrote when he
was an old man
fhemer and
to be called
;

and Paul

fays,

I was a

blaf--

injurious^

and

therefore not worthy

an

apojlle^

becauje

I perfecuted
See her

the

church oj God-^

and

this after

he had been

wrapped up
feet

to the third heaven.

Mary

rufhing into the houfe, wafhing

Lord's

with her
I

tears,

and wiping them with her

hair:

don't fuppofe fhe was drefl^ed as our

ladies are

now j
3
:

they did not

make fuch

apes

of themfelves
an honeft way

but her hair was very fine in

though fhe breaks the

allibafter

box of ointment given her, perhaps by fome poor filly creature that would die by her frowns,
^nd
live

upon her

fmiles, fee her at the feet

of

he?

Sen IX.
her Saviour
;

The Lord our Light.

and Jefus
Chrifl:

213

anfwers for her,

profufe, that

fome having thought fhe was

having had

much

forgiven,

flie
is

loved much.

The more
more
you
it

the love of

God

manifefted, the
:

will melt the foul

down

I appeal to

Chriilians,

whether the fweeteft times you

ever enjoyed,

were not thofe when you were

much melted at the fight of a crucified Saviour when you could fay. Lord, thou forgavefl me, I feel it, I know it, but I cannot forgive
myfelf ;
this

will
;

always be the

efFe<fl
is

of an
con-

ingenuous mind

and a perfon that

really

verted will thus mourn, and if

you do not

know

this,

you may be

afTured

you know no-

thing favingly of Jefus Chrifl.

You may go

and hear

this

and that warning, and you are

right to gather

honey from every Tdower, but

court, but

you have not got within the inner

are yet

without.

God
will

give you to fee your

folly herein.

true
:

believer
I

mourn over
I

his cor-

ruptions

wonder what they can

think,

who

fuppofe they have no corruptions.

ber
a

remem-

poor creature of Rhode-Ifland,

who
I ever

looked the mofl like the old Puritans

faw,

when

was

talking with him, and faid^

fome people

fay there are

fome men

that

have

np

214
no
fin
5

^^^ Lord our Light.

he
faid, if

Ser.

IX,
to

you fend fuch a

man

me,

I will

pay his charges even from England

I

and back
into the

again.

have often learned fome:

thing from the difference of glalTes

you look

common

glaifes,

and

fee yourfelves
drefs,

there fo fine,

and admire your perfon,

&c, but when you view yourfelves through a

microfcope,

how many worms

are difcovered
to

in that fine fkin of yours,

enough

make you

afliamed of the vermin and

there
:

filth that is feated

fo

it is

in faith, that glafs

would fhow

you

fo

much

corruption cleaving to every ac-

tion of your lives, that

would make you

fo

fin-

Cck, and

mourn

that

you have known God

little.

fo

long, and are like

him

What
knew

fays

Paul

Who
is

Jhall deliver

me from

the body

of

this death ?

Notwithftanding he

that

there

no condemnation to them that are in

Chrijl JefuSy yet cries out,

wretched

man

that

I am!

I fhould
\

have thought,

happy

man
fo

that thou art

formerly a perfecutor, and

that has been

no w a preacher 5 a man

honoured

man in planting churches, which is the higheft honour a man can have under heaven here is a man that hath been
much above
;

every

wrapt up

to the third heaven,

what of him?

wretched man that 1 am^ who^fiall deliver

Sen IX.

I'he

Lord our Light.

of Jin and death
a
little

21^
?

me from
fcience
heart.
fits
?

this body
it

Do you
his

think that

was only
it

qualm of con-

no,

was the habitual temper of

are

Some people
flarts,

and

but Paul

much humbled by felt this daily many

:

things that

we

are not concerned about, Paul

as

looked upon them

fuch that

made

his heart

ach, becaufe he thought he could not live near

enough
good,

to

God.

He

not only watched to

do

but he watched
fo
I

how he

did that good

that

and nature was

I

mixed with
would do,
and

it,

he

faid,

cannot do as

would have
myfeif ta
are like*

ferved

God

like

an angel, but
after all
;

I find if

be a poor finncr

we

minded with Paul, we

corruptions,
fins
It
is

fliL.ll

mourn

over our

we

fhall

mourn

over our hidden

ourfelveSr

that

none know but God and

a very dangerous thing to truft gofpel^

goflips,

who
;

being

flrangers

to

themfelves,

hear with wonder and

betray

contempt,

and often

however, a judicious

friend,
fouls,

mto
and
is

whole bofom
tell

we

can pour out our

our corruptions as well as our comforts,

a very great privilege.

When our corruptions

Chrift, but drive us to

do not drive us from

him,
it

is

the greateft bleffing to

this

commune
and,

with Chrift on

fide

heaven

my

brethren,

2x6

"The

Lord our Light.

Ser.

IX*

brethren, if your hearts arc right with

God,
could

you

will fee fuch

of.

t|;iings

as

nobody

elfe

think

good woman,
faid,

who was charmed

fir,

with Dr. Manton,

-i.^

O,

you have made

wifh
I

an excellent fermon to-day,

heart ;

had your

do you

fo, faid he,

good woman, you

it,

had

better not

wifli for

for if

you had

it,

you would wifh

beft of

for

your

own

again.

The

men fee themfelves in the worft light. How many thoufand things are there that make you mourn here below who can tell
!

the tears that godly parents (hed for ungodly

children
!

O you young

folks,

you don't know

to

what plague your

children

may be
I

you

they are pretty things while young, like rattlefnakes and alligators,
little,

which

have feen

when
are

but put them in your bofom and you

will find they are dangerous.

How many
if it

there in the world that

lawful, that

would wifh,

were

there

is

God had written them childlefs many a poor creature that makes his
I

father's heart ach,

once afked a godly wiis

dow, madam, how afide with tears, and

your fon^ fhe turned

fir,

faid,

he

is

no fon

to

me
that

now.
1

What

in the

world can come up to

here, fays one, I have bred

up

my

chil-

dren, I cannot charge myielf with educating

them

Seh IX.

l!he

Lord our Light,

2Vy
fay that,

them wrong, though few parents can for many parents lead them into the
death,

paths of

and

fo are

murderers of their

own chiU

dren, and by their

to
I

damn them

for

manner of education help ever ; but if you can fay,

have done

all I

could, and yet,

O my

God^
^

my children

are worfe than any other peoples

this is a dreadful flate

indeed

-,

and the more

at

you mourn, the more they laugh

thefe are
their
faid,
Jii?iks

you

O
A

my

godly
like

parents.

They

increafd

trouble,

Dr. Horneck's fon,

who
was

I'here is not

a poji in my father's houfe but

once faw a

of piety.
at

man
fall

that

awakened
out^

the Orphan-houfe,
their

down and

throw himfelf on one of

beds, crying

O,

iir,

what

will

grey-headed father,
this birth
!

become of my poor who knows nothing of

fome
to

It is

a difficulty with

know

how
if

to behave towards unconverted relations

to

you don't go

them,

they will fay you

are faithful, they

are precife; if
will foon fliow

you do, and

you they have enough of your

fends a godly

company
Hiall
I

this

perfon

home
them
alive

mournings and then there comes a thought^

fpeak to

them any more,

This
is

or let

go

to the devil.

not like parting from

your friends by death, but burying them

when

:2iS

*rhe

Lord our Light.

Ser. IX.>

when
part

dead,

we know we mud

ilibmit, but to

from

friends, thofe
till

we

loved, and thought

to heaven, is

to have

hved with

we came

mournful indeed.

Moreover^

the poor ftate of the

church

makes many

a minifter and clofe-walker with

defolations
for thofe

God

to

tuary,

weep over the and to mourn

for

of the fanc-

that will not

mourn

thjemfelves:

thus our

Lord wept

over Jerufalem,

Jerufalem^

Jeriifaie??t,

how

often would I have gathered thy children y as a

hen gatheretb her chickens^ but

thee

it is

over with

now j

the decree

is

gone

forth,

and Je-

rufalem

fliall fufFer.
fail,

Brethren, the time will

I leave
I
it

and therefore
;

to you to fupply more cafes

till

for if
I

was

to preach

to-morroyv morning,

doubt not but a thoufand here would fay,

many things you have not mentioned yet. You know the ftate of your own hearts, and the many particular trials in your own
there are
cafe
trial
'y

and you

may
it is

alfo

know, though your

let it

feems over,

only changed: but

be obferved, the day of your mourning

fhall

be ended
times
lect

mind,

it

is

but days, though fome-

made

very fad ones indeed, by the neg-^

\y ho.

and ingratitude of thofe

have

made
the

Ser. IX.

Jbe Lord our Light.

219
as

the people of

God

though

all

the

them with rigour, world was made for them,

ferve

as

well as their incapacity to help themfelves, by

poverty, pain, fore fickneffes, and of long continuance.

This has been, and

;

is

the lot of ma-

ny
'tis

a child of God

ble/Ted be fovereign

mercy,

but a few
fliall

days.

An end

fhall

arrive,

and

that end

be happy,
fhall

liever's friend,

when death, the become with an angel's face,

all their fin

to difmifs

them from
was

and forrow.

When

laft at Briflol,

could not help

remembring good Mr, Middleton, who ufed

you know
in

to have the gout very

much, and

that clofet
I,

were kept

his crutches:

now,
ours

thought

he needs them no more, the days

are ended, and fo
fliall

of

his

mourning
too,

fliall

by and by
our

when we

no longer want
fliall

fpiritual crutches or

armour, but
the
fliield
;

fay
I

to the helmet of hope,

of

faith,

have no more need of thee

vailing

and the

all-pre-

weapon of prayer be changed

5

into

fongs of endlefs praife

ihall

when God
but
fliall

himfelf

be our everlafting

light, a fun that fliall

pever go

down more,

beam

forth

his infinite for ever.

and eternal love

in a beatific flate

The

profped: of this

made one of
great
!

the fathers cry out,

O glory how
!

how
great

f a

220
great
!

T^e Lord our Light.

Ser.

IX.

what

art
?

thou

a friend alking
I

him
if

what he faw
fight of Chrift

he anfwered,

fee the glory

of the only begotten Son of God.

And

on earth

is

fo great, as could

make good Mr. Wardrobe,

minifter fay, after he

an excellent Scotch
over, ftarting

was given

up
it

in the

arms of an excellent friend

who
!

told

me,

in a rapture of joy,
fhall

crowns
this

crowns
;

crowns of glory
e're

adorn

head of mine

long!
!

^ftars

ftars
!

and ftretching up, added, ftarsl^i)^ (hall e're long fill thefe hands of
fo

mine

and

fweetly

fell

afieep in
is

Jefus

what a

pleafing,

awful
!

trial

that for

aa
is

affedionate friend
to be buried

So our dear

fifter,

who

to-morrow night

at

Tottenhamhour or

court, talked with her friends for an

two, and took leave of her hulband and children, and faid.
riots
!

Now

come, ye heavenly cha-

We

(hall

thank

God

then for
;

all

our
be-

lofTes,

croffes,

and difappointments

and

lieve thofe things

which we mourn
to die:

for moft,

and put$ us moft

comfort
our everlafting
our mourning

to the trial,

will give us

moft
be

when we come
light, as

God

fliall

well as the days of

fhall

be ended.

Take

care,

don't

be

fecure,

pray

don't

think the day of your mourning to be ended

yet;

Scr.

IX.
:

The Lord our Light.

$21

yet

you may put off mourning for your friends, but may have frefli caufe of mourning
for

your fouls
is

whilft

you remember that holy

his ways.

mourning

confident with holy walking, folin

all

lowing the Lord

often heard

You have

me

fpeak of one of our minifters,

who was

not one of your fine velvet mouths,

that faid once in the pulpit,

the fun fhine on

it

my

breaft,

As fure as you fee which at that time

did, fo fure does the Spirit of

God

dwell in

How often has he I am for halving you have godly for^ roWy I wiJJj your hearts were full of ity becaufe
the fouls

of true

believers.

told you,

it

will end in everlajling joy.

Comfort,

my

brethren, one another with thefe things, the

day of your mourning

ever.

fhall

foon be ended for

But what

am

I to fay

apprehend

I fliall

grow

forgetful to-night to faints, I

j I have fpoken
afraid I fhall
:

fo

much
little

am

have but
I

time to fpeak to finners

mean,

have

taken fo

much

time up in fpeaking to you that

but
little

know God, that I have you that know him not.

ftate,

to fpeak to

How

different
!

your
foul

poor hearts
for

poor

hearts

my

mourns
Jng,
is

you

ready to

my blood, whilft I am fpeakcurdle in my veins. The feraphig

%2%
raphic Mr,

^he Lord our Light*

Hervey,

Sen IX,

when he

did

me

that

honour

to fojourn
it is

under

my
and

roof, faid.

My
fee

dear friend,

an awful thing when

die,

we

an unconverted

man

his eyes clofed,

to think that that poor foul will never fee

one

gleam of comfort or
and
a

life

more

to have a fight

of God, of Chrift, and the heavenly angels

faints;

but to fee what the rich

;

man

favv,

God

they want

to to

fee Lazarus,

whom
5

he

would not permit

fee himfelf

be it&n

at his door,

now

taken particular notice of in heaven

and to

now

a beggar in helK
!

The Lord
foon your

help you to think

think

how

gl&m
feel
lofs.

will

go down, and even your bodies will

damnation, not only in refpedl to pain, but

Bifhop Ufher's opinion^ was, and

heartily

concur

in

it,

that thofe

who

value themfelves

mofl on
love
hell,

their

beauty and drefs, and do not

will

God
and

on earth,
their
is

be moft deformed in
fuifer

bodies

proportionally

there.

There

no

drefling in hell, nothing

there,

tut

fire

and brimflonc

and the wrath of

God

always awaiting on thee,

art,

finner,
It

whoa fine

ever thou

man

or

woman.

was

laying of Maclane,
years ago,

who was

executed fome

when

the cap was pulling over his

eyes.

Set.

IX.

"The
I

Lord

our Light.

22;^

eyes,

Muft

never fee the light of yon fun

Chrift, thou

any morei Lord Jefus

righteoufnefs,
arife

fun of

wkh

healing under
!

thy

wings on

my

departing foul
all

Jefus Chrift do that for us

May the Lord When you are

damned, the days of your mourning will be but at their beginning; there is no end of
your mourning in
fong, if
it

hell.

There
fo,

is

bat one

may

be called

in hell, to wit,

that of Dives,

which

will be always repeating.

How am
this,

I tormented

in this flame

Confider
that

ye that forget
blefs

God; and
:

God

may

you to-night with godly forrow*

pray for them

Believers,
finners,

Lord

help you,,

to

pray for your vile

felvcs.

may

think,

what do you cry for?

Perhaps

Soma whyi 1
a,

cry for

you.

you

will

fey as

wicked one did to a poor

woman

in Scotland,
;

when

thoufands were awakened there

faid,

feeing
for
?

her weep, he
for this

what do you weep

;

people,

fays fhe

wxep
;

for yourfelf^
is

fays

he

fhe replied, I

do
!

but what

my

foul, to all thefe

poor fouls

that minifters

may never rife up in judgment againft you O may Mofes, in the hand of the Spirit, make you mourn may the love of God make you cry may you not go home to-night without
! !

an

2^4

^'^^

Lord our Light,

Ser.

IX,
It

an arrow fteeped

in the blood of Chrift.

Was wonderful what a

good woman awaking

thought flie faw written over her head,

earthy earthy bear the ivord of the

O earthy Lord ! May

to

every earthly foul be

arife

made

to hear

it ;

awake,
going

from

their lleep in iin.

The

fun

is

down, and death may put an end to all tonight : the Lord help you to come, though it is the eleventh hour: O that you would fly,
fly this

night to

Chrifl:,

lefl:

Giod defl:roy you

for ever,

Jefus fl:ands ready with open arms

to receive you

whom

he has

firfl:

pricked to

the heart, and

made you

cry out, IVhat JImll

do to be faved ! he will then

lieve in his

name, that

make you beyou may be faved :

all

God

grant this

may

be the cafe of

here

to-night.

Amen,

SERMON

225

SERMON
Self- Enquiry concerning

X.
the

Work

of God.

Numbers
and of
f
Ifrael^

xxiii.

ver.

23.

jic cor ding to this time it Jl.^all be faid of Jacob

what hath God wrought ?

I read you,

HEN
thele

my

dear hearers,

words

when
by

I confider

what

occafion, and
originally fpoke,

whom

they were

I can't help thinking

of that

triumphant expreffion of the royal Pfalmift,

Why
Pilate

do

the

Heathen rage?

When
to

Pontius

and the Jews confpire

deftroy the

caufe of

God, he that fit teth

the

in heaven laughs

them

to fcorn-y

Lord

not only has them in

derijion^

but over-rules even their malice and

violence

(no thanks to them) to promote that

5

very caufe they attempted to deilroy

'tis

fo that

a very

wrong maxim, and argues

us,

great

ignorance in

to

imagine that

God

never
brings

226

Self-Enquiry concerning

Ser.

X.

brings about his defigns

by the means and in-

ftrumentality

of wicked

men.

This
:

is

the

Papifts objedtion againft the reformation

great

pains have been taken to blacken the reformers,

and

to

make

it

believed that a

reformation

could not be good that was begun by people

of bad charader, and a king of an immoral

life.

But fo

far is this

from eclipfmg, that

it

illuftrates

the

wifdom and goodnefs of

and over-ruling

divine

Providence, in obliging the wicked to do what

they

never
for

defigned,

their

ccunfels

the

fulfilling

God's holy, wife,

and fovereign decree.

rally arifes

This obfervation natutext,

from the words of our

I

which

were fpoken by, as far as the vilefi: men upon the

can judge, one of

earth,

you doubtlefs
florid

know

his

name, Balaam, who, though

and high

in his exprefiions,

in profeffion of infine face

tercourfe with
religion,

God, and puts on a

of

was but a rotten-hearted hypocrite,

and fo loved the wages oi unrighas to

for

he divined for money, made a trade of

i

religion

.teoufnefs,

have wiflied
bleffed.
1

to curfe

even thofe

whom God
fent for

had

need not n;iform

you, that this was the end for which balak

him

and no wonder he was

fo wil-

ling to go,

when he knew he was

to be well

paid

Ser.

X.

the

Work of

God.

227
Graccian

paid for his journey.

Achilles, the

hero,

is

faid to

be capable of being wounded

priefts,

only in the heel, but bad

minifters,

and people, have

part to

a great deal
in,

more dangerous
is,

be wounded
3

that

the palm of

the hand

if

you can keep

gold,
his end.
if

that fecure

from

being

wounded with
have

never fear 3 the

devil can*t

Balak promifed

him
or

great preferment,

he would but come and

curfe

the

people
is

of God.

prophet,

foothfayer,

one that pretends to have interor the devil, and Balak did

courfe with

God

not care by which of

them

it

was,
curfed

fo that
3

he

could

but get the

Ifraeliles

Balaam
aflc

catches at the golden

bait,

pretends to
ftrange,

counfel of
bids

God; and what feems

way,

God
meet

him

go, and yet fends an angel to

him

in the

who
it

ftands ready to flay

him

for going.

Does
for

not feem very ftrange, that

God
flay

fhould bid a

man
;

go, and then offer to

him

going

but people' that read this

pafl^age,

fliould

carefully
if the

mind

the particulars
call

of

it.

God
go
;

faid,

men come and

:

thee,

but he did not wait for that, but

faddles his afs

Peter,

and goes

this is called
:

by

St,

the

madnefs of the prophet

witnefs

his rifing early in the

morning, not waiting for

g 2

'

the

228

Self-Enquiry concerning

Ser.

X.

the call of the princes, which fhewed

eager he was to be gone
5

how

and though

this fo-

lution fhould not be allowed,

God was juftly

defign, that
is,

angry for his going with an

ill

malicioufly to curfe a people

whom

he knew

God
The
hopes
pofe
;

refoived fhould be bleffed, and that for

the fake of the

wages of unrighteoufnefs *

king and his nobles wait upon him, in

this

foothfayer will anfwer their purall

but after
:

he can do nothing without

is

God's leave

however, no coft
;

fpared to

obtain the end

fo true

is

it,

that the devil's

children are ten thoufand times

in perfecuting the

more expeniive people of God, than God's

This foothis

people are in promoting his glory.

faying prieft pretends to go to

God, which

permitted,

but

forced
^

to

fpeak

what God

would have him

is

once and again his mouth

Balak, enraged
bids
;

flopped, or

rather his curfes are flopped,

blefiing.

and turned into a

ther to curfe or blefs

at his repeated difappointment,

him

nei-

them

at all

and thinking,

perhaps, that the fight of the people affeded

him,
.

It is

110

unufual thing in holy writ, foF heaven to refent

it

and

punifii
i.

even thofe adions that

has permitted.
xiii. 2.

Witnefs.
xiii.

Deut.

2c

35.
I

comp. with Numb.

viiL 7.

Hof.

11.

comp.. witli
Si, II, 12.

Samt

cap. xv. 23.

cap. xvi.

i.

PCaL

&c, &c.

Ser*

X.
carries

the

Work of God.
to

229

him,
fee

where he would but a fmall part of them ; he goes, and

him

place

there

God made him

curfe,
is

confirm the bleffing in-

fteadof the
fore.

more abundantly than beof the

Oratory

beautiful, thougli out

mouth of
there
is
is

the worfl: of men, Surely^ faid he,

no enchantment againjl Jacoby 7ieither

Behold^

there any divination againjl IfraeL

the people Jhall rife

up as a great
lion
;

lion^

and
lie

lijt

up himf elf as a young

the fain
to this

he jJoall not

down

witil he eat of the prey^

'y

and

drijik the blood

having^'-faid juft before.

of According

time itfiallbefaidofjacobandlfraely
!

what hath God wrought

What words are here out of the mouth of a wicked man and yet I hope it will do no
!

hurt to chufe

them

as a

proper fubjedl for an

this

evening meditation.
diviner,

Let us leave

prophane
vexed

and

the king his

employer,

that they could not get their end of the people

of

God

let

us fnatch the words out of the vile

prophet's mouth,
as

and

fee if

we

can ferve

him

David did Goliah, take

his

fword and cut

religion,

off his head.

Some

people run to extreams,

therealL

and becaufe fome have abufed

fore

they think there

it

is

no

religion at

Perhaps

is

for

this

reafon,

that fo

many

offences

230"

SelJ-Ejiqinry concerning

Ser.

X.

offences are permitted to

happen

in the churches,

that one of the twelve fhould be a traitor, that the devil iliould

and
un-

come with

his bible

der his arm to tempt us to dilbelieve or abufe

it,

by which God

flirs

up the people of God

to watch, fight,

and pray.
take the words of our text
?

How fhould we
by way of

interrogation

or admiration

as

fpeaking in a prophetic ftrain

how God had

wrought, and did then work, and would after-

wards work Jacob and

Suppofe
tion,

for

the profperity of his faithful

his pofterity, the Ifrael

of God.
quef-

we

take

them

in the

way of

which, perhaps,
it

is

moft agreeable to
feryiceable to

the context, and

may be moft

you and

to

me

and

in order that I
field to-night,

may

not

run into too great a

fine

I will

con-

myfelf to
this

Vv'hat

Balaam confines himfelf,

jrom

ti?ne it

fiall be /aid of Jacob

and

Ifraely in

way of

enquiry, "jvhat hath

God

ivrought t
If

we

look round the world and furvey the

creation, the heavens declare

works of
glory:
ivork.

God's

and
If

the

firmament jheweth

his

handy

we look further, my

brethren,

down

upon

thefe bodies of ours, if

curious

we confider the form of them, we may cry, ivhat

hath

Ser.

X.

the
^iirought

Work
!
;

of God.

231
fearfully

bath

God

furely I

am

and

wonderfully made

and when we confider that

we are we confider to what cafualties we are expofed, how wonderfully thefe bodies have been kept
up,

made up of the four elements ^ when

when thou lands have dropped into the grave before us, we may well lay, what hath God wrought ! but I rather chufe to confine
myfelf to that better part
;

and

am

perfuaded

of

it,

we

fhall

never go to heaven unlefs

fouls
:

God

works powerfully on our

fuppoiing you

now were to fuppofing we were

and
I

forget all created beings,

to forget

our neighbours

to-night, and to hear only for ourfelves, as the

ihades of the evening are

coming on, and

as

we
fteal

are going fhortly

this

to reft,

may
if

be to

rife

no more in
a

lower world, what

we

fhould

little

time from our ihop, a

bufinefs, as

litde

time
not

from our worldly

but

we know

we maybe

called to

judgment to-morrow,
foul,

and afk and

fay,

O my
?

what hath God

glad to hear

wrought
wrought

in thy heart

am
is

you

are fo inquifitive.

Obferve, what

hath
in us,

God
is

now done by God

J

whatever
it is all

done

all

-,

done by an Almighty
vvif-

povv-er,

and

it

is

all

the eiFedl of infinite

I

dom

fuppofing then you and

are

new

creatures.

232
tures,

Self'Enquiry concerning

Ser.

X.

hath God,

O my

foul,

wrought
law;
is

in thee

a deep,

a penitent, a

humbling

fenfe of thy
this
is

tranfgreflions

againft his holy

moft

important queftion, this

is

the very beiirft letter

ginning of religion, this

the very
firft

of the Chriftian's alphabet, the

line in his

book
fallen
firft

with

this Chrift

himfelf began to teach

thou ^

man.

Adam^ where art

was the
thou in

queftion that the Son of

5

God

put to his
?

fallen creatures

what condition

art

how
ing
!

art

thou

fallen,

thou fon of the morn-

and when he came to the woman, he

took the fame way, he preached, and minifters

thisy

fliould
faith

preach convidtion
haji

firft

what

is

God, that thou

feems to
3

done? to break

thy hufband, and bring

ruin
5

all

thy pofterity unto

that there

and

it

me
I

was a
in jeft

confcioufnefs in this

and

wonder fometimes,
it

the Deifts have not run fo far as to do

I don't

know
name
guilt

that I ever heard

called

of a female

child's

Eve

probably,

we

are

afliamed to call a child by that name, becaufe

of the
us
all
?
;

of our mother Eve, that brought

into fin.

Now

hath

God wrought
conviction

in to

you you

hath he even given

not a
little

this

flight

now

and then, or a

qualm of thy confcience 3

the devil and natural

coa-

Ser.

X.

the

Work of God.
;

233
it is

confcience
in thy

may do this
by the

but

when

wrought
it

heart

Spirit

of God,
faft,

goes to

the bottom, the arrow flicks

and a poor

foul fometimes endeavours to pray, endeavours

to pull
this in

it

out, but in vain.

?

thy foul

Hath God wrought now when God works this

is

change

in the foul, the devil

always bufy in

tempting the poor convicted finner to defpond,

if not defpair.

Ignorant formahfls,

fome of the worft people under

a perfon
is
is

who are heaven, when

is

under conviftion, think the devil

got into
;

them,

whereas the devil

in

themfelves

for the devil

hoodwinks people,
them, that there
againft
it is

and he endeavours
is

to perfuade

no harm done
It
is

him.

to God -by finning God wounds the foul, and

he

that heals

it ;

has he wrought in thee not only

a deep and humbling fenfe of the

adts

outward

of

fin,

but a humbling fenfe of the inward

corruptions of thy heart? has he led thee be-

yond the

fl:reams,

through the powerful opera?

tions of his Spirit, to the fountain-head

when
;

he has done
and
this

fo,

then are

we

Chrifl:ians

indeed

cannot be the work of the devil,

who
can,

never did, nor do I

know whether he
Spirit

fhow
heart
3

a perfon the inward corruptions of his

it

muft be the

of

God

the devil

may

234

"Enquiry concerning Self

frighten a

Ser.

X.

may

perfon, as to outward things,

but I very

much

queftion whether

it

is

in the

power

or will of the devil to

is
is

fhow

a perfon

that he

totally depraved,

that the

whole

fountain
this

corrupt

this

cannot be, becaufe

would make the devil omnipotent, of equal power with the Holy Ghoft, who alone
fliows thee the guilt
heart.
thirty

and corruption of thy

fad:,

This
years

have found to be the

from

obfervation

and experience of

thoufands, thoufands, thoufands, w^th

I have fpoken about their hearts. I remember,

whom
it

So

was^

when

went

firll

to Georgia,

was about twenty-five years old, I had them day after day, week after week, and
I

when

night after night, faying, JVhat'JJjall

ie faved?
heart,

do to

O my
this in

wicked
to

heart,

my

deceitful

from morning

night.
?

wrought
nature

any of you

Hath God are you com-

plaining of your
?

wicked heart and corrupt

have you found out that your hearts

are cages of unclean birds, only a lodging for

vain thoughts to dwell in

O my
fay,

friends,

my

dear hearers,

may you

turn the queftion

into a note of admiration,

and

what hatb

God wrought ! he
of

has not only convinced

me

my

outward

fins,

but powerfully convinced

me

Ser.

X.

the

Work

'of

GoL
heart.

235

me

of the corruptions of

my

Do

afk
in
?

yourfelves this queftion, has

God wrought
faft in
all

me
till

a view of the fpirituality of his holy law

this
as
is

done, you are as

the devil's

arms

he can clafp you.

Of

the children

the devil has in the v/orid,

I believe

he moll-

]y loves his Pharifaical children: I

was talking

with one of them fome time ago, and fomc-

body very innocently afked

Pharifees lived,
-O, faid
I,

me where
they
live

the

every

where.

Some
vipers

people think that they only

lived in the

times of the apoftles.

Do you

know,

and toads have the moft eggs

?

and moft numerous progeny

fee the eggs

if

you was to

of

toad through a microlcope,

at

you would wonder

titude;

the innumerable

mul-

and the Pharifees are an increafing

generation of vipers,
all

which hatch and fpread

you want
to

over the world

is,

if

know what

a Pharifee

he

is

one

who
its

pretends to en-

deavour, and talks about keeping the law of

God, and does not know

are

fpirituality

they

fome of them very

church

great

men

in their

own

opinion, and always

in the
fon,
:

made

the greateft figure

one of them, a gentleman's

becaufe he had not broke the letter of

the law, thought he was right and without

h 2

fm^.

236
fin
5

'Enquiry concerning Self

Ser.
elfe to

X. do
;

O,

fays he, if I

have nothing
I

but to keep the commandments,

am
;

fafe

have honoured
ftole
;

my father

and mother

never

what need he
?

fteal that

had

fo
;

good an
no, no,

eftate

never committed adultery

his to

he loved

charafter

too

well:

but our

Lord opens
)

him

the law, this one thing thou

;

money more than his God Chrift brought him back to the firft commandment, though he So Paul was catechized him firft in the fifth.
lackejiy

go fell

all thou hajl

:

he loved

his

a Pharifee

he

fays,

/ was

alive without the

law once

-,

I was^ touching
yet,

the law^ blamelefs

how
lav^,

can that be, can a

man

be without the
j

and

touching the law, blamelefs

;

fays he, / was without the law

that

is,

was
I

not brought to

fee

the

fpirituality

of

it ;

thought myfelf a very good man,

could fay of Paul, black
he,
is

no man
but, faith

his eye

when God

brought

the

commandment
then I faw

with power upon

fpecks, and

my

foul,

my

do now.

Pray mind and fay the

commandments, if you go to church you fee them, and if you go to meeting I hope yoa
have not forgot them
witnefs againji
(ovei
i ;

thoufhalt not bear falfe

thou fJmlt not

thy neighbour ^
laft

from repeating the

commandment,

we

Ser.

X.
are

the

Work of God.
is

237
fpiritual,

we

taught that God's law

Jhould not have known fin^ as the apoftle faid,

if the law had not Jaidy thou

J}:alt not covet

now

has

God wrought

in

you

thefe things

ktn his law that it is fpiritual ? have you been made to fee that the law of God
haft thou really

requires perfed:,

finlefs

obedience

have you

been made to fee that you are under the curfe,

becaufe you have finned, by the inward teach-

ing of the bleffed Spirit of

aiTured, as

God

for then

be

fure as thou art in this place,

God
what

has wrought this in thy foul, and thou mayft

turn the queftion to admiration, and fay,

hds

God wrought

has he wrought in thee a

that thou can ft

fenfe of unbelief,

no more
?

believe than thou canft create a world

tion this,
I

men-

becaufe I have told you often, and the fame

am

in

mind

-,

yet there are very

is

few books
unbelief;

that talk about unbelief, there

fins,

long catalogue of

but not one word about

why?

becaufe thefe good folks,

books, take
it

that have wrote

communion
go
to

for
-,

granted, allfolks that

I

church are believers

take

it

there are

church than out of

more unbelievers in the it ; why, fay you, do not

does the devil
tq all

they aifent to the gofpel? fo

do not they

affent

the articles of the

Chriftian

238

Self'Efiquiry concerning
?

Ser.

X.
is

Chriftian faith

fo does the devil

the devil

a ftronger believer than an Arianj the devilis a ftronger believer than a Socinian, he believes
Chrift
is

God,

for

he has
;

felt

his pov^er

by

his

damning him
art^
the
holy

to hell

we know
gone the

thee

who thou
of

one

of God*
is

But remember
Spirit

Chrift fays,
fliall

when he

God
mar-

come

to reprove the world, in the

gin

it is,

convince, and not a tranfient convic-

tion,

but a convidlion that faftens, that brings

falvation

with

it ;

if

conviction brings
its

its

own
evi-

evidence, furely faith muft bring

own
what

dence along with

I

it

too;

now

he Jhall convince
3

the worlds faith our Lord,

I

ofJin

fin

the fin of unbelief, bccaufe they believe not in

me.

It is

mentioned by the dear Mr. Hervey,

hy the dear Mr. Marfhall himfelf, and alfo by fomebody elfe, that when complaining
to a minifter that he could get no eafe to his
foul,

and told the minifter he

day, he put

confefiTed his fins

every

them

all

down,
that can

(a

man
that)
cata-^
is

muft have a good

logue

memory
at all,

do

the minifter faid to him, I think your

is

worth nothing
;

the grand fin

fir,

not mentioned

what
been

is

that

faid he, the

fin
I

of

unbelief, a fin the

poor creature thought

of.

he

had

never

guilty

Has God
wrought

Ser

X.

the

Work of

God.

239

wrought

in thee a fenfe

of thy unbelief? what

in

bleffed times

have

I feen

Old England and Scotland, were awakened at Edinburgh,

and many other
aiked what
places,

New, when
at
I

as well as

thoufands

Glafgow,

when
?

have feen them

taken out of the congregation by fcores, and

is

the matter
!

what do you want

!

I can't believe

can't believe
believe

I can*t

be-

i-

lieve

We

think

we can

but the Spirit alone

when we will, can convince us we have

it

no

faith,

the Spirit alone can convince us of

faith,

our want of
the poor

and can alone impart

finner
j

to

awakened

confequently,

you

may

aik yourfelves whether

God
^

has

wrought
mifery,

in you, not

only a fenfe of your

own
fet

but alfo a fenfe of your remedy

you upby

on hungering and
and

thirfting,

fuch a hungering

thirfting as has never been fatisfied but

an application of the blood of Chrift imputed

to you.
fcriptures
I

do not want

to difpute
:

upon the

with any body

there are a great

many good men have

been prejudiced by

An-

tinomian principles and practices, and becaufe

fome people have run to a dangerous extream, and have not thought proper to make ufe of
the

word imputed

at all.
;

The

beft truth

may
I

be fpoiled by bad books

but, for

my

part,

am

240

Self^Enquiry concerning

Ser.

X.

am more
trine

than ever convinced, that the docis

of imputed righteoufnefs
3

a dodlrine of
is

the gofpel
to me,

and that

as

Adam's

fin

imputed
muft be

fo the righteoufnefs of Chrifl

alfo
:

imputed
finner,

I fland

not only as a pardoned

-,

but as a juftified finner

I ftand before

God juftified,
has purchafed.
thee,
-,

and

fo

do

all

whom

Jefus Chrifl

Now has God wrought this in O man in thee, O woman ? I am not

aflc,

going to

whether

it

was wrought

in thee

by hearing a fermon or reading a book, God may make ufe of a minifl:er, or of a book j
and
I

don't like people to get above minifl:ers

faying,

and books,

we do

not want thefe.

God
rally

draws with the cords of a man, and genedraws us with cords by

Canfl:

men
is

fuch as our-

felvcs.
is

thou

fay,

there

a book, there

the minifter, in reading or hearing which,

Chrift's blood

was applied, and the

with

Spirit

of

God

witneflTed

my
this

fpirit that I
is all

was one
out

of his children? no V7
indeed
it
is,

God *s working,
this, it is

the devil can't do

of his power;

he may attempt
it,

to

perfuade
has not,

them

that

he has done

when he

and cannot.
into ferpents,

The
all

magicians turned their rods

but the rod of Jehovah fvvalup.

lowed them

Has the Lord God wrought

a change

'

Ser.

X.

the

Work of Godi

341
life

a change of heart in theej and a change of

as a-confequence of that
I
5

mention

this,

but
for
as

would have every body

are

that flands

up

Chrift's

imputed righteoufnefs,

efpecially
it

fome good people

Garry
it

apt to fpeak of

and

very high, to be careful in

the fame

difcourfe to fpeak as highly of obedience too,

to Chrift's

commandments.

I don*t
5

like only

to mention
tell

the w^ord promifes

when people
I

me

they hang upon the promifes,

always

afk

them how do you hang upon them ? have

?

you got the thing promtfed

that the Promifer fhould

the promife
to
?

is,
5

come

my
;

foul

the promife

is,

what,

my
that

brethren

the pro-

mife
got

is,

for this

and

good thing
if

have I
to take
?

it ?

How

would you do
you was

you was

falfe

bank

notes, if

to take falfe bills

the people generally afk,

is

the

man

that has
?

given

me

this

note worth any thing

if

you

have a bad note you go to the notary and note

it,

you

fay,

was

to

have had

this

note paid
1

ten,

twenty, thirty
;

days after fight, or upon

?

fight

where
it
:

is

the notary

they hote

it

and

proteft

let

us be careful then to fee that

God
Hafl:

pays his notes, as

we

are that
?

man

does.

thou got the thing promifed

is,

the thing
the thing

promifed

all

peace and
I
i

ail

joy

promifed

242
promifed
is,

Self-Enquiry concerning
is,

Ser.

X.

new
;

heart

the thing promifed

new

nature

and therefore David goes to

and
fays,

God
in

for the thing promifed,

Create

me a

clean hearty

Gody

and renew a
is

right fpirit within me.

Now

this the cafe

of thy heart
creature
;

the devil never can

make

new

am

fure nothing but an

Almighty

power can take away

give a heart of flefh
in thee
?
:

the heart of ftone, and

has

God wrought
it

this

if

he has, though

is

not

come

to

fuch a heighth as thou would

wifli,

yet be

thankful for what he has done, and fay, what

has
I

God wrought in me
lazily,

Attend to the word,

is

do not mean

there

not a thing upon

the face of the earth that I abhor fo

idlenefs or idle people
;

much
if I

as

am

fo far

from hav-

ing a love to people that are lazy, that

the
dealing

had

with a

number
go
is

that are called

Chriftians, they fhould

~|v

to

bed fooner, and

get

up fooner
people

there

one thing that will

make

rife

fooner in the morning in

for

Lon

don, and that

is,

merchants to agree to
at fix,

have the 'Change opened

and that will

morning, as

make

people

as

much

alive in the

the markets are after people have been travelling all

night to prepare for them.

Has

Ser.

X.

the

Work of God.

243

Has God wrought in you

love?
has he wrought
in
?

a fpirit of zeal and

you a love

to his

name,
can
ing

a zeal for his caufe

has he wrought in

thy heart a deadnefs to the world, that you

live

above

it

from morning
in

to night, hav?

your

converfation

heaven

has

he

wrought

in thee a love to his people, not

^

peo-

ple that are Calvinifls only

not people that

hold univerfal redemption only;

as to that
-,

be careful

O
;

what nonfenfe
what nonfenfe
eleSi

is

that, for

people

to hold univerfal redemption, and yet not love

all

mankind

is it

to hold elec-

tion,

and not as the

^

of God

to put

on

boweh

of mercy kindnefs^ humblenefs of uiind^ meekfs and long'juffering ; as the woman faid, I 726
have a hpufe will hold a hundred, a heart i^w
thoufand.

Has he wrought

in thee a love to

thy enemies, fo that thou dofl not only love

them what

that love thee, but

them

that hate thee

fay

you
;

muft
I

put a fnake in

my

bo-

fom, no, no

may
eye^

hate the condudl, and at

the fame time pray to

is,

God

for

them.

Enmity
Love
became a

an

eye for

an

tooth for

tooth.
it

as

archbifhop Cranmer did, that

proverb concerning him, that

if any

man would

make him
jury.

his friend,

he muft do him an inin thee a defire to go*

Has he wrought
I
i

to

244
to heaven
to Jefus,
?

Self-Enquiry concerning

Ser.

X.

has he wrought in thee fuch a love

that
?

you prefer him

to the

heaven

he

dw^ells in

We
I

count heaven a fine place,

and wx may
faints

fay,

am

glad to fee the departed

and the
fee

angels, but all that will be nothing

unlefs I

throne.

Lamb in Has God wrought

the
to be

the midft of the

in thee a defirc to

promote

his glory,

upon
if

the ftretch for

God,

to

deny

thyfelf,
?

to take

up the
from
in

crofs

daily and follow him

this in thee,

God

has wrought

and

I verily believe
it

my
has

foul

he has wrought
you,

in

feme degree
fay,

O
!

you may well

efpecially if

what

wrought
ner,

you confider

many of God the manit

-^

and the time in which he wrought

if

you confider the inftruments he made ufe of, when, and by which he wrought it 5 and if you confider the ineftimable price that was
paid for
it,

and the

Spirit taking poffeffion

of

your

hearts.

One

part of our

entertaintment

in heaven will be, to count the fteps of the

ladder by
will
fay,
3

which God brought

us there

one

God wrought in me when I was young another, when I had grey hairs. Mary Magdalen will fay, God wrought in me when
I was a finner
;

the expiring criminal will fay,

in n^e juft as I

God wrought

it

was turned
I

oiF,

was

Ser.
I

X.

the

Work of Go J.

245

was a brand plucked out of the burning. The anthem, as good Mr. Erfkine obferves,
will be in heaven,

what has God wrought

heart; there was a

Curiofity led

me

to hear the

preacher, and

God
mouth

touched

my

young

fellow, called emphatically

^

wicked Will oj Plyto pick a hole

who

came,

as

he

faid,

in the

preacher's coat,

and the Holy Ghoft

picked a hole in his heart.

What
and not
;

has
in

God
your

wrought, to work
father
;

it

in you,

you, and not your children

in -^j^y

and not a fellow-fervant ;

in another
;

work it work it in

one brother and not

will

all

thefe things

make
I
;

Well,

what has God wrought! do not want you to reft in this by no

us
cry,

means

do not

like to hear people talk,

and

fpeak againft inward frames and inward works,

nor do

I like to
its

hear people

legal,

let

every

thing have

proper place.

It is

about thirtya

three years ago, or very near,

to

when

man came

me,

after I

evidences,

at

had preached upon marks and Whitechapel I think it was,

to tell you, that I don't
;

and

faid, I

am come
at all

chufe any marks

then, faid

I,

you muft
devil,

be content with the marks of the

for

jpu muft have the one or the

other.

Now,

246

Self-Enquiry concerning
brethren,
if

Sen X,

Now, my
this in us,

God
?

has wrought
I pray the

what

ihall I fay

why,

Lord Jefus Chrift that your Hfe and mine

be a Hfe of
praife.

may

would have you not only

dwell upon particular words of

God

fet

home

upon your

hearts,

but his various providences,

the numerous trials he has brought you through:

O think how
how
if

often

you have been kept, think

often

you would have run away from God

5

he had not flopped you

what has God

from
fin;

wrought, by preventing
has

me

what

God

wrought,

by dehvering
^

me from
;

blafphemous thoughts
in fnatching

what has God wrought,

even

me

out of the jaws of ruin

after conveiiion,

foul,

his grace

ourfelves into

when I was damning my own arrefted me. Have we brought trials, how has he made thefe
for

very

trials

work

good

made our

fcolding

hufbands and wives, perfecuting

fathers, friends

and

relations,

that

you have thought would

devour you, made the bulls of Bafhan inftru-

ments of bringing you nearer

eternity will be too

to

God; and

fhcrt to cry perpetually,

what hath God wrought

And
you

if

God

has not wrought this in any of

that are here,

which, perhaps,

may

be

the cafe, though I cannot think what fhould bring

Ser.

X.

the

Work of God.

2^y

bring any body here if they had not a defire

of the falvation of their

fouls

if

wrought
time;

it

in

you

yet,

O that

God hath not this may be the

fome parting
have

that

God may
fome poor

give us

bleffing; that

creatures that

nothing but the devil's work in them yet,

may
Holy

now
let

feek after the blefled

If

work of

the

Ghoft.

we may afk what God

devil

has wrought,

me afk you what the

;

hath wrought in

you

thou unconverted

thee a beaft,

foul, fin has made made thy body, which ought to

be the temple of the living God, a cage of

every unclean bird
in thee
?
;

what hath

fatan v/i-ought

but

made

thee a nefl of vile flinkin'z o

?

fwinc
hell.

and what will he give thee

hell, hell,

The wages
by
;

the devil gives no

is

man

can
I

live

the

wages ojfin

death

and here
tidings

come

to bring
;

you good news, glad

of

great joy

O that God may now

in

counter- work

the devil, and take thee into his

own workJefus,

manfhip, create thee anew

give thee to feel a
little

Chrift
Spirit's

of his

work

on thy

heart,

and

devil, a child of

make thee, of a child of the God Say not, it cannot be

!

fay not,

it

fhall

not be

fay not,

it is

too late

fay not,
brethren,

it is

for others

but not for

me

my
try

God

help you to cry,

and to

to-night.

248

Self-Enquiry cmcerning
canfl: I

Ser,

X^

to-night, if thou

turn the text into a

felt

prayer.
in
is

Lord God,

have

the devil v^ork

me, now, good God,

for thee to

work

in

me know what it me make me a new

Jet
;

creature, create a

new

fpirit

within me, that I

may
iiuhat
is

join

with thy dear people in finging,

hath

God wrought

O remember,
;

if this

not the cafe with you, you muft have a

the note there

dreadful different ditty in hell

will be,

what hath the

wrought
!

devil

wrought
I

what

hath

fin

how am
I

come
is fet

to this

place of torment

fold

my

birthright for a

mefs of pottage

Heaven

or hell
that

before
terrors

you to-night
of the Lord
that

Jefus grant,

the

may awaken you to-night, and you may not reft till you have comfort
that have this

and fupport from God.

You
ftlll

work begun

in you,

look

for better things to

come, even

after deaths

when

our bodies are

made

like Chrift*s glorious

body, and our fouls

filled

with the fulnefs of

God, we
fenters,

fliall

then cry.

Churchmen and Difand"

all

Methodifts
too,

and Foundery-men,
fliall

the

Lock

we

then join without

any bickerings, faying, what has God wrought

I

could enlarge, but

,

am

afraid

have

been too long already

yet as I ^hink the pro-

vidence

Ser.

X.

the

Work of God.
calls

249
I fhall give a

vidence of

God

me, and
call

particular account

of

my

to-morrow evenI

ing, at the other

end of the town,

begin to

think if
it

I fhould keep you a few minutes longer,

might be excufed.

feel already it

muft be executed
that I fhall foon

in a

few days

I feel already

part

from you, and

that

God may awaken many of you

ned
the
fouls
oil
^

poor unawak;

my

heart bleeds for you

O may

of the blefled Spirit foften every hard,

heart,

unconverted
praifing
lafh

that

and

bleffing

we may go away God that we fhall at

by land or by water,
fliall

meet, whether
the
throne,

we go

before
glory,

where we

afcribe
for

and honour, and power,

to

him

evermore.

Amen.

SERMON

250

SERMON
The Burning
Exodus
Aud
he looked^
Jire^
iii.

XI.

Bufli.

ver.

2, 3.

and behold the lujh burned with and the biijh was not conjumed-^ and

Mofes faidy
this

will

now turn
is

afide^

and fee

great fight^ why the bufd

not burnt.

IT

is

common
it is

faying,

and

common

fay-

ings are generally founded

fadt,

on matter of

that

always darkeft before break

of day
juftice

and I
to

our

am perfuaded, that if we do own experience, as well as

fhall find that

confider God's dealings with his people in pre-

ceding ages,

we

man's extremity

has been ufually

that

made God's

opportunity,

and
up a
the

when

the enemy has broke in like a floods the

lifted

Spirit

and providence of God has

:

flandard againjl him

and

believe at

lame time, that however

wc may dream

of a con-

Ser.

XI.

'I'he

Burnuig

BuJIj.

continued fcene of profperity in church or

either
in

ftate,

refped:
affairs,

to

our

bodies,
find this

fouls,

or

temporal

we

fhall

Hfe to be

chequered, that the cloud^r^turn

after the rain,

and the

mofi:'

profperous

ftate

attended with fuch

cloiidy days, ^s

may make
all

even the people of

liar5^

God fometimes cry,

has forgciten
to be

men are

and God
an in-

gracious.
is

The
ftarice

chapter in
this.

which

our text,

is

of

What
s

a glorious

day of the fon

fent for his

of mail

was that when Jofeph

father to jEgypt
after

and the good old patriarch,

his fon

he had thought
years,
to

had been dead

many

agreeably furprized by a meffage

from him

come to liim, with all his family, and are by him comfortably fettled in Gofhen where the good old patriarch, after many a
ftormy day,
died in peace, and
hii.

was highly
his ferfa-

honoured
vants,

at

funeral

by Pharaoh and

and attenacd to the fepulchre of his

thers in

Canaan by

all

his fons.

Aftfcr

which,

Jofeph continued
all

to live in
;

fplendor, lord of

the land gf Egypt

and

his brethren,
:

doubtfad-

lefs, in

the height of profperity

but

how

ly did the fcene change at Pharaoh's death,

foon after which, another king arofe that knew

not
"Jofeph^

verifyin;^

the obfervation.

New
lords.

252
lords,

T^he

Burning Bujh.

Ser.

XI.

new

laws,

by

whom

the defcendants

of Jacob, inftead of

reigning in

Gofhen, were
years,

made

bond-flaves;
in

many, many long

bricks,
call

employed
bability,

making

and, in

all

pro-

had what

we
and

their bibles
to

taken
to the
ftate

from them, by being forced

idolatry of Egypt,
fo

conform
in a

were

worfe

than the unhappy Negroes in America are at

this day.

No

doubt, numbers of

them

either
at

wondered
all,

that ever they

had been profpered

or that

God had
it

forgot

them now; but

what a mercy

is

that

a thoufand years in

God's f.ght are but as one day^ and therefore

when God*s
fition

time

is

come, the
will,

fet
all

time that
the oppo-

he has appointed, he
of

maugre

men and

devils,

he will come
in fuch a

down

and

deliver his people,

and

manner,

that the
it is

enemy

fhall

know,

as well as friends,
is
is

the Lord's doing.

A deliverer

born and

bred in Pharaoh's court, a Mofes

brought

up

in all the learning

of the Egyptians, for

for a

Pharaoh intended him

poft
:

high and exalted

but
are
as

when
made
fome

offers

of the higheft preferat

ment them

to

him, he did not catch

folks
till

now

do,

who

are very

good and humble

fomething occurs to take

as

them from God.

Young

he was, he refufed

Ser.

XL

^he Burning Bujh.

253
it

fufed

the higheft dignity, and fpurned at

with an holy contempt

fufFer

and chufes rather to \ afflidion with the people of God, than

the grandeur and pleafures of, perhaps,
greateft courts
this ftate

enjoy

all

one of the

on

earth.

Forty years

continued he in

of obfcurity, in which

time he acquired fuch a competent degree,

and variety of knowledge,

every thing
iion of this,

as qualified

him

for

God
was

intended
his

him

for

the occa-

kind attempt to compofe

a difference between

two of his brethren, one

of murder, on
in Jefhurun,
;

of

whom

accufed
to

him

which
forced

he that was

be king

is

to fly into a ftrange land

there he fubmits to

the

humble
faid

office

of a fervant, marries, and

lives in a ftate

of fubje^lion for forty years, as

was

before.

At

length,

when he was

eighty years old, dreaming of no fuch thing,

behold

God
is

calls,

and commands him to go

;

and deliver
us,

his people

as

he himfelf informs
book, ver.
i.

who

the author of this

'Now Mofes kept

the foe k of Je thro his father-

in-law^ prieft of Midian: he might have faid,

what fuch
a

a fcholar as I

keep

a parcel

of fheep

fuch a learned

man
!

as I

am employed
hearts

in fuch

menial fervice
firft,

fome proud

would

break

but you never

knew

a truly great

man

2 54

^^^ Burning
but would ftoop
;

Bitjh.

Sen XI.
are called

man
great

fome that
5

men,

fwell

till

they burft

like ftiirdy

oak^i they think

till

they can fiand every wind,

iome dreadful ftorm comes and blows them up by the roots, while the humble reed bends
and
rifes

again

Mofes Was one of the

lattery

he keeps the flock of Jethro his father-in-law; and leads them to the mountain of God, even
to Horeb.

This fliows
their time
;

how

perfons ought to

methodize
of a

but however the

name

rvlethodifl: is defpifed,

they will never be

bad fervants and

rnaflers

you would be only

devotion and
in

weathercocks, unlefs you took care to order

things
in

proper feafons:

the

bufinefs of a Methodift
Vidll affure

go hand

hand

you, Mofes was a Methodift, a very

;

fine one,

a very ftrong one too

that did

he kept
his going

his

flock, but

not hinder
to

to

Horeb,

he took them

the defert, and be-

ing thus employed in his lav/iul buiinefs,

God

met him.
in idlenefs
5

Some
I

fay,
it ;

deny
5

we we

encourage people
fay,

people ought
fay,

to be induftrious
a-

and

I defy

any one to
is

perfon

is

called
'^he

by

God

that

negligent in

his calling,

angel of the

him

in

fame

of fre out

Lord appeared to of the buJJj : fome

and

think this angel was Gabriel, but moft agree,

Ser.

Xr.
I
it

.7he Burning Bufi.

the
greateft

25c
probability,

and
that

believe with

\yas Jefus Chrift, the angel

;

of the ever^
tells

lajiing covenant

and an expofitor
Logos^

yon,

that

the

eternal

longing

to

become
form, as

man, often

viiited this earth in that

an evidence of his coming by and by, and

dying a curfed death for man.

The manner
was.
as

of

this angel's
it
;

appearing

is

taken particular

notice of,

was to Mofes when nobody

I

with him
a boy, or

do not hear he had

3

fo

much

one companion

and

mention

this,

becaufe I believe
are never lefs

we have often found that we alone than when with God ; we

and that companion, but happy
fay,

often

want

this

they that can

Lord,

thy company

is

enough.
I

Mofes was

ftartled at the fight,

is

and

don't
it,

know

that

he

to be

difcommended

for

it

was not

to gratify a bare curioflty,

it

but feeing a bufli burning

tion,

engaged his atten-

and made him think that fomething was

the
btiJJj

uncommon j
was

burned withjire and yet

not conjU7ned\ this flartled

^

him,

as

it

was
to

intended to do
fpeak, he will

for

where God defigns

firft
5

gain attention from the pcrfays,

fon fpoken to

Mofes therefore

now
btiJJj

tur7iafide
is

and fee

this great fight ^

/ li/// why the

but the

not burned'^ he did not,

know

bufh

256
bufli

ne
might take
fire

Burnifig
fire

BuJI:).

Ser.

XI.

by fome accident
above, he faw no
fo

he
fire

faw no
flartle

come from
as to fee,

round the bufh, yet that did not

him,

much
it

though

it

did burn,

was
5

not confumed, or in the

leafl

diminifhed

it

was a

ftrange fight, but

it

was,

my

brethren,

a glorious one; a fight which, I pray God,

you and
this

may
)

behold with

faith

and comfort

evening

for,

my

dear hearers, this bufh,

for our learn-

and the account of it, was given

ing
;

and

will

venture to fay, could Mofes

arife

from the dead, he would not be angry

with

me

for telling you,

is

this

is

of no private

interpretation, but
leflbn, as a

intended as a flanding

fignificant

emblem of the church,

till

and every individual child of God,

it felf fhall

time

be no more.

would

therefore

obferve to you, that this bufh,

In the

firfl

place,

is
;

typical

of the church

God in why might

of
it

all
it

ages

the bufh
tall

was burning,

not be a

cedar,

not be fome large or fome glorious

why might tree, why

little

fhould the great

God

chufe a bufh, a

bufh
?

of

briars

and thorns, above any other thing

but becaufe the church of Chrifl generally confifls

it is

of poor, mean, defpicable creatures

all

tho'

glorious within, yet

it is all

defpicable

without.

Ser.

XL
It

'The Bur?iing Btijl^

is

^y

without.

obfervable,

that

when

the

church came to profper,

fmiled on
it,

when

Conftantine

it

was foon hugged to death;

Milton, obferves,
that
veft^

and that great poet,

when

that

emperor gave minifters rich

ments, high honours, great livings, and golden

pulpits, there

was a voice heard from heaven,

is

faying, this

day there
I

poifon

come
faid

into the
in
dif-

church

and

have fometimes
if

courfe, I don't

doubt but
left

any one made an

!

experiment, and

100,000/. or 200,00c/.

only

among

the Methodifls, there

would be
j

and thoufands that would not be reckoned Methodifls now, that would turn
Methodifls prefently, that would buy an

hundreds

hymnhave

book, becaufe a part of the legacy would pay

for the

hymn-book, and would

;

wiflb to

a living into the bargain

but though not many

called^ yet

mighty men^ not many noble are

are
;

fome
to

if

any of you are rich here,

thank

and are
be

Chriftians,

God
it

for
;

it,

you ought
I

doubly thankful for

like a little

God's people are but

bramble bufh.
faid once,

remember an
I

eminent minifter

when

heard

him
is

preach upon Chriftmas-day, Chrijl perfonal

'very richy

but Chriji myjlical

is ijcry

poor

-,

and

Jefus Chrift does this

on purpofe
I

to

confound
the

258
the world.

The Burning Bufh.

Sex,

XI.

he conies to judgment, millions that have their thoufands now, will be damned and burn to all eternity, and Chrift's
church will be rich to
like a
all eternity,
fire.

When

that

is

now

bramble

all

on

The bu[h burned, what is ^^ihat Chrift's church while

Uions of various kinds

that for
in this

it

fhewed

world, will

|be a bu(h burning 'with fiery trials

s

and

afflic-

this

was a

lively

emof

jblem of the
Ifrael at that

ftate

of religion, and
:

liberty

time

they were bufy making of

brick, and there confequently

were burning
faid, this

continually

as

though the Lord had

fire,

buih

is

burning with
flavery.

fo

my

people are

burning with

Ah
>

but, fay you, that

was only the

cafe of the Ifraelites

when they
has been >
fee

were under Pharaoh

of the church in
all

pray
ages
?

is

not that the cafe

it

yes,

read your bibles, and

that
it is little

you may

inftantly

elfc

than an

hiftorical

account of

a burning bufh ; and though there might be

fome periods wherein the church had

reft,
y

yet
if

thefe periods have been of a fhort date

and

God's people have ^walked in the comjorts of the Holy Ghoft^ it is only like a calm that preceeds an earthquake.
fore the laft earthquake

If
it

you remember, bewas

a fine

morning,

and

Ser.

XL

Tie Burnhig Bujh.

arofe in

259
the morning,

and who, when they

would have thought the earth fhould fhake

under them before night;

and

fo

with the
all

church when they

fafe there,

are in a calm,
:

and

feems

then comes a ftorm

God

prepare

us for

it.

But

this is

not only the cafe with the church

it is

of Chrifl

colled:ed, but alfo

fo

with indi-

vidual believers, efpecially thofe that

God

in-

tends to

make
I

great ufe of ^s prophets in his

church.

know

very well that

:

'tis

faid,

that

now

the caf& is altered

modern commentators
calls

therefore,

and our great Dr. Young,

;

them

downy Dodors
got a Chriftian

they

tell

us,

now we have
fhall

king and governor, and are

adl:,

under

the

toleration

we

have no

perfecution^

and, bleffed be God,

this

we have
time
ftiall fliall

had none
throne
:

fince

family has been on the continue

it till

may God
Yet,

be no more.
find,
if

my
is

dear hearers,
true,

we

God's word

whether we are
|

born under a defpotic power,

vernment, that they that will
Chrift
Jefus

or a free golive

godly in

muft

fufFer

perfecution.

You
and

have heard of that faying, Wonder not at the

Jiery trial whereu/ith you are to be tried \

God

faith,

/ have

chofen tbee^

which

is

appli-

cable

26 o
cable to
affiiBion,

The Burning
every believer,

Biijh.

Scr.

XI, of

in

the fiirnace
is

Now

the

furnace

a hot place,

and they

that are tried in the furnace

muft be

burnt furely.

Now

what muft the Chriftian

I

\burn with

with tribulation and perfecution,

have no
houfe

heard a perfon not long ago fay,

enemies.

Bifhop Latimer came

to a

one day, and the

man of
good

the houfe faid, he

life
;

had not met with a

crofs in all his

give
fure

me my
God
pofe
is

horfe, fays the

bifliop, I
is.

am

not here where no crofs

are not perfecuted
is

But fupis

we
\

by the world,
perfecuted

there one Chriftian but

friends
if there
is
is

by

his

an Ifaac in the family, I

warrant there

an Ifhmael to

mock
in

at

him,

Woe

is

me^ fays David, that 1 muft dwell with

Mejl:eck^

and

in

Kedar

and

one's

own
one's

family, one's

own

brothers and

ftfters,

own

dependants,

though they wait

for our

death,

and, perhaps, long to have us gone,

that they

may

run away with our fubftance,

to have thefe perfons piock at us, and if they

dare not fpeak put, yet

let

us fee they hate

God we worfhip ; if this is fhy cafe, why, God knows, poor foul, thou art a burning bufh but if we have no fuch thing as mock^
the
;

ing, yet if

we

are furrpunded

with afflidions,
domeftic

Ser. XI.

tbe Burning
trials,

BuJJ,\

261

domeftic
friends,

the

lofs

of dear and near

the bad condudl of our children, the

dreadful mifconduft ofthofe that are dependant

upon us ;
is

there
;

is

many

a parent here that

?

a burning bufh
;

burning with what

with

family afHidions

feme don't
;

care
I

what be-

comes of
havp
left

their

children
io

O,

my

bpy

much,
ah!

thank God, I and my daughter

your fon and
poft to the

a coach, perhaps;

well

daughter
devil
:

may

ride in that coach

but the

godly

man

fays,
;

eternal inheritance for

bleffing for

my
is

fon

want an wapt God's

1

him

-,

this

the poor man's prayer,

:

while the poor deluded youth mocks him

liippofing this
is

or,

not the cafe, a perfon

5

may

burn with inward temptation

of the
feel

fiery darts
I
I

of the

devil,

you have heard and was you to

find

them,

believe

you would

them fiery

darts indeed

and you have great reafon to fuCp^dt your experience, your having any interefl

in the love of the

i^ever

Son of

God
;

at all, if devil.

you

found the
I

fiery darts

of the
I

O,

fays one,

never felt the devil

am

fure thou

mayft fed him

child
;

nows thou
is

art

dadda's

own

thou

art

fpeaking the very language of

teaching thee to deny thy
child of the
devil,

the devil, and he

pyvn father

therefore, gracelefs

26 a
devil,
is

^he Burning

BuJIj.

Ser.

XI.
it

you never

felt
is

the devil's fiery darts,

fure of thee
5

beeaufe the devil

he has got
the

thee into a damnable llumber

may

God
!

of love wake thee before

real

damnation comes

The

fiery darts

of fatan are poifoned, and

fill

wherever they

ftick they
fire
5

the perfon with

tormenting pain hke

this I

mention, be-

eaufe there are fome poor fouls perhaps here

to-night,

whom the devil tells,

fin
;

thou haft com-

mitted the unpardonable

you

are afraid to

come

to facrament,

you are

afraid to

go to

prayer, beeaufe at thefe feafons the devil dif-

turbs thee moft, and tempts

feafons
5

you

to leave thefe

and there are fome go on thus burn-

ing a great while.

My

brethren, the time

this difcourfe to

would

fail,

and

I fhall

draw

too great a length, and hinder you from your

families, if I

was

to

mention but a few more

of thofe thoufands that the believer burns with,

the
trials

without, and, what

is

ftill

worfe,

their trials within.

Why,
of you
;

fays one,
3

it is

very
it

ftrange
is

you

talk thus to-night

am

forry

ftrange to any

fure

you are not

lefs

much
fure,

acquainted with your bibles, and

hearts, if

with your

you know not

this.

Why
;

fay fome,

you make God

a tyrant

no,

but having made ourfelves

devil's

incarnate,

we

Ser.

XL
are

The Burning
in a ftate

BuJI:.

263

we

now
trials

of preparation, and thefe

various

are intended
5

by the
and

great

God

to

train us up for heaven

therefore, that

you may not think

without any
that
it is

life,

give

am me

drawing a pidurc
leave to obferve,

particularly remarkable, that

though
it

the bujh burnedJ it

this ftruck

was not

confiimed :
fee

was
the

Mofes, he looked to

why
is

bufh was not confumed.

But the burning I

not

have been here painting forth to you,

a confuming, but a purifying
fire
;

is

not that

enough

to anfwer :the fhade that has been alj

ready drawn
Chrifiian
is

it

is

true the bufli burns, the

is

perfecuted, the Chriftian

op-

prefTed, the
trials,

Chrifiian

is

burned
at

v/ith

inward
is

he

is

perplexed
be

times,
is

he

caji

down-, buty blelled

God, he

not dejiroyed^
that fays
dif-

he

is

not in defpair.
into fuch
?

Who
!

is

that,

he has got
turbs

an eftate that nothing

him

vain
5

man
are

he difcovers an ignogreater then than the

that the apof-

rance of Chrift
apoftle Paul
tles
?

you

fome people think

5

had no

trials

fo

they think, perhaps, of

they are always on the
in the

fome

minifters, that

mount, while, perhaps, they have been

burning to get that fermon for
that are to fpeak for others,
theili.

We
to

muft exped;

be

s64
be tempted
or

7he
fliould

Burning

Btijb.

Sen

XL

in all things like to our brethren,

we

be only
reach

poor whip-fyllabub

preachers, and not

mens

hearts.

But

whether minifters or people burn, the great

God, the angel of the

everlafting covenant,
)

fpoke to Mofes out of the bufli

he did not

iVand at a diftance from the bufh, he did not

ipeak to

him

fo

much as one yard or foot from

him out of the bufh
%

the buflj, but he fpoke to

lie faid,

Moles, Mofes,

my
;

people ihall burn

in this bufli to the end of time, but be not

afraid, I will fuccour

them
is

when

they burn^

I will burn too.

There

a fcripture vaftly
it is

ftrong to this purpofe, in

the good will of
the good will oj

which

not faid>

him that was in the

him that dwelt
ifi

buj};)^

but

the bujh^

Amazing

thought

but as a poor

God dwelt in woman who was once

before fhe

heaven

in dark-^

nefs fourteen years,

was brought

out of

it,

faid,

God

has two homes, one in

heaven, the other in the loweft heart.

dwells in the bufli, and I
not,

He

am
own

fure if

he did

the

devil

and

their

curfed hearts

would burn th*e bufli to aflies. it is not confumed ? why, it

has declared
it

How
is

is it

that

becaufe

God

fliall

not be confumed; he has

made an

everlafting covenant,

and

pity thofe
that

Ser.

XI.

^he Burning Bujh.

with an

265
interefl

that are not acquainted

in

God's covenant

and

it

would be

better that

people would pity them, than dilpute with

them:

really believe a difputing devil

is

one

of the worfl
and book

devils

that can be brought into

God's church,

for

he comes with
I

his

gown
gown

in his

hand, and

fhould always
in his

fufpedl the devil

when he comes

and band, and

difagree.

this is the caufc

they agree and

Some, you

who
tell

it's

to

be hoped are God's

that

children, if

them

God

has loved

them with an
to fuck
it in,

everlafting love, they are afraid

and

efpecially

it

you pop out the

predeflina3

word
tion,

eleftion,

or that hard

word

they will be quite frightned

in another

but talk

to

them

way,

their dear hearts will

rejoice.

God

hasfaid,

^s

the waters of Noah

f:all ceafe for ever^ fo he will not

jorget

the

covenant of his peace

out of his hand.

nothing flM II pluck them

!

Ah

fay fome,

the

apoflle

has
to

faid,

that neither things prefent^ nor things

comCy fhall feparate us

J

from

the

love

of

Cbrijl

but he has not faid an evil heart Hiali

fancy that
is

not

is

one of the prefent things.

if

The
is

bufh

not confumed, becaufe

the devil
-,

in the bufh,

God

is

in the

bufh too

if

the
adts

devil afts one way, the Lord, the Spirit,

Mm

another

266
another to
is

The Burning Bufi.

balance
train
it,

Ser.

XT.

and the
fouls

Spirit

of

God

engaged to

up the

of his people
fhall

and God has determined the bufh

not be

confumed

his Spirit ftands near believers to

fupport and guide, and

make them more than

this

conquerors
fliall
is

all

that are given to Jefus Chrift

v^^ill

come, he

not lofe one of them

food for the children of

God ;
;

bad mind
if
it

will turn every thing to poifon

and

was

not for

this,

that

God had

promifed to keep

them,

my

foul within thefe thirty years

would
then,
this

have funk a thoufand times over.

Come

faifering
is

faints,

to
I

you the word of

know who of you may the Spirit are the followers of the Lamb of the living God point them out, may every
falvation
fent,

don't

one be enabled
fays one, I

to fay,

am

the man.

O,

have been watching and very at-

tentive to-night, but

you have not mentioned

my
ing

burnings
lufts
?

what do you think of

what do you think of

corruptions? what do you think

ing pride
?

my burn-i' my burning of my burn-^

will fay,
like the
;

O, perhaps fome of you

I

thank God,
bifhop

have no pride
as

at

all

of Cambray,

mentioned

by Dr.
iins

Watts,

who

faid,

he had received many

but;,

from

his

lather

Adam,

thank God, he

had

Ser.

XI.

^he Burning
pride.

BifJI.\

267
are
all

had no
proud

Alas

alas

we

as

as the devil.

Pray v/hat do you think

of
all

paffion,

that burns not only themfelves but

?

around them
?

mity
this

what do you think of enwhat do you think of jealoufy, is not

?

fomething that burns the bufn

and thire

are

fome people

that pride themfelves, they

have not got fo

much

of the beaft about them,

they never got drunk, fcorn to

der,

commit murof enmity,

:

and

at the

fame time are

as full

of envy, malice, and pride,

as the devil

the

Lord God help fuch

to

fee

their condition.

Happy

is it

Chrift can dwell in the bufh

:

when
few

we cannot
can
that

dwell ourfelves there

there are

Chriilians can live together, very few relations

live together

under one roof j

that
-,

we

can take

from other people

we
and

can't bear
if

from

our

own
we

flefh

and blood

God

did not

bear with us more than

ther,

we

bear with one ano-

fhould

all

have been dcftroyed every

day.

Does the
up

devil
-,

make you
go

fay,

that

you

will give all

I will

to the

Tabernacle

no more

I will lay

upon
is

my

couch and take

my

eafe

-,

Oh

if this

the cafe of any to-

night, thus tempted

their fouls.

by

fatan,

may God

refcue
will

poor dear

foul,

you never
as w^hen

bave fuch fweet words from

God

you
are

Mm

268

Ihe Burning Bujh.

;

Ser.

XI.

are in the bufli

our fuffering times will be

our beft times.

in

know we had more

comfort

Moorfield?, on

Kennington-Common, and

efpecially

when

the rotten eggs, the cats and

\dogs were thrown upon me, and

jwas
filled
it ;

my gown
this

with clods of
I

dirt that I

could fcarce

move
I

have had more comfort Jn

burning bu{h than

when

have been

in eafe.

remember when I was preaching at Exeter, a ftone came and m^ade my forehead bleed, I found at that very time the word came with
double power to a labourer that was gazing
at

me, who was wounded

another ftone, I
myfelf,
felt for

at the

fame time by

the lad

more than

for

went

to a friend,

and the lad came to

gave

me.

Sir,

fays he, the

man
;

me
I

wound,
bonds

(but

Jefus healed
till I

me

never had

my

broke

had

my

head broke.

appeal to
it

you, whether you v^ere not better

colder than

when

was

now, becaufe your nerves were

you have a day
thus
like

braced up

a dog-day,

now
and

you are weak, and arc obliged to fan

:

yourfelves

it is

profperity lulls the foul,

I fear Chriftians are fpoiled

trials

by

it.

Whatever your
prayer.
let it

arc, let this

bufli
is

be your
burning,
is

Lord,

though the
I

not be confumed.

think that

too

loWj

Ser.

XL
let it
let

The Burm?7g Bujh,

be thus
;

269
the bufli
is

low,

Lord,

when

burning,

me

not burn lower

as the fire does,

:

but

let

me

burn higher and higher

thank

thee,

my
for

God,

for trouble

thank thee,

my
one

God,

putting
;

me

into thefe affliftions

after another

thought I could fing a requiem

I

to myfelf, that

fhould have a

little reft,

but
I

trouble

came from

that very quarter

greateft

where

might reafonably expedl the

I thank thee for

comfort

knocking
I

my

hands off from

help

the creature
belief 5
to
all

>

Lord,

believe, will

my
fiiall

un-

and thus you

:

go on

blefling

God
be

eternity

by and by the bufh

tranflated to the paradife of

God

no burning
troubles

bufli in heaven, except the fire

of love, wonthere,

der,

and gratitude

no

trials

are limited

to this earth,

above our enemies

can't reach u?.

Perhaps there are fome of you here are faying,

burning
I

bujld^

buJJo

burnt and not con^

to

Jumcdl
it,

don't

know what
what

make of this
I

nonfenfe: come, come, go on,

am

ufed to

and
:

I guefs
I

are the thoughts of your

hearts

pray God, that every one of you

afraid

here

may be
?

of comfort,
devil.

left

they fliould
I

be toffed about by the

faid
hov.'

What is it

have

have

talked in fuch an unintelligible

i

270
gible

72>^

Btirntng Eufm.
fay you,
?

Ser.

XI.

manner? why,

what do you
art

mean by

a burning bufh

why, thou
are

the

very man,

how
in

fo?

why, you
5

burning

with the devil

your hearts

you

are burning
the luji

with foppery, with nonfenfe, with

the
life
fle(}.\
\

of

with the
if

luji

of the

eye^

and pride of
you
:

and

you do not
hell,

get out of this ftate, as

e're long
fhall

Lot

faid to his fons-in-law,

be burning in

and not Gonfumed

the

fame angel of the covenant who fpake to Mofes out of the bufh, he fhall eVe long dcfcend,
furrounded with millions of the heavenly hofts,

and fentence you

to everlafling burnings.

you

frighten

me

did
?

you think

did not inI

tend to frighten you

frighten

would
I

to

God
it

might

you enough
you

believe

will be

no

harm

for

to be frightned out of hell, to

:

be frightned out of an unconverted ftate O go and tell your companions that the madman
faid, that

wicked men are

as firebrands

of hell

God

pluck you as brands out of that burning.

BlefTed be

God,

that there

is

yet a day of grace

>

Ohl

that this might prove the accepted time y that this

Oh Oh

might prove

the day of fahation

angel of the everlafling covenant,

5

come

down

thou

bleffed,

dear

comforter, have

mercy, mercy, mercy upon the unconverted,

upon

Ser.

XI.

The Burning Bufi.

friends,

271

upon our unconverted

converted part of
fiall be done-y
cotne to pafs
j

this

upon the unauditory fpeak^ and it

-,

command^

Lordy and

it Pdall

turn the burning bufhes of the

devil into burning bu(hes of the

Son of God

who knows but God may hear our who knows but God may hear this cry,
feen^

prayer,

1 hav^
-,

1 have feen

the affii^iom of ?ny people

the cry
incy

of the children of Ifrael is come up to and I am come down to deliver them : God

grant this

may
;

be his word to you under

all

your trouble
comforter.

God grant he may The Lord awaken you

be your
that are

dead in
hell,

lin,

and though on the precipice of

tumbling in
:

God keep you from

that are
to ftand to

and
help

you

God's burning ^bufhes,

God

you

keep

this

coat of arms,

to fay

when you go home,

is

bleifed be God,' the bujh

burnings but not confumcd.

Jefus.

Amen

even iOy

Lord

Amen

SERMON

272

SERMON
Soul

Xir.

Dejedion.

Psalm
Why

xlii.

ver.

5.

art thou cajl down,

O my

fouly

and why
thou in

art thou di[quieted within

me ? hope

God, for IJhall yet praife him^ for the help of his countenance.

HAVE

often told you, in

is

my

plain

way

of fpeaking, that grace

grafted

very frequently

on a crab-ftock; that the Lord

Jefus picks out perfbns of the

moft peevifh,

churlifh difpolition,
largeft

and imparts to them the

but for want of a

meafure of grace,

better natural

temper, a great deal of grace

does not fhine' fo bright in them, as a fmall

degree in thofe that are conftitutionally good^

natured
rally
:

perfons of this difpofition are gene-

complaining, and are not only tormen-

tors

of themfelves, but are great plagues

are

to thofe

that

about them;

you

will hear

them
always

Sen XII.

Soul D(je5lion.
is

273
the

always complaining fomething or other

matter.
in
.

What
own

a pity

it is

we

cannot

all

agree

one thing,

to leave
felves,

ofF chiding others to

chide our

till
5

we

can find nothing

in ourfelves to chide for

this

we

fhall

find
life>

will be a

good way
get a

to

grow

in the divine to the

when, by conftant application

of God,

Lamb
j

we

maftery over thofe things

which

hitherto have

had the maftery over us

but are thefe the only people that complain

are people of a melancholy difpofition only fubjed: to a difquietude of heart

?

I will venture

to affirm,

that the greateft,

the deareft chil-

dren of God, have got their complaining, and

their

dreary hours.

Thofe

who
as

have been

favoured with large meafures of grace, even

thofe that have been

wrapped up

it

were

to

the third heavens, bafklng on

the

mount

in

the funfhine of redeeming grace, and

in raptures to be here^
;

of love crying

out, It is

goodjor us
to

even thefe muft go

if

down

Gethfemane

and

they would not be fcorched v/ith a ftrong

burning fever from the fun of profperity, fhall

find clouds

from time

to time

overihadowing
It

them, not
is

to burn, but to

keep them low.

fee

on

this account, that

you

good men
t

in

difFcTcnt frames at different times

our Lord

himfelf

274
himfelf was
rit,

'^^^^ Dejeciion.
fo,

-'

SenXiT,
in^

he rejoiced fometlmes

fpi-

but

at

other times

you jSndhim,

efpecially

near the

iaft,

crying out,

My foul is

exceeding

forrowfid
watch.
night, the

eve^i

unto deaths tarry you here

and

And I am going to tell you of one towho had the honour of being called,.
after

man

God's

own heart

and

who,

though an Old Teftament

bleffed

faint,

was greatly
and had

with a New~ Teftament

fpirit,

the honour of compofing

all

Pfalms, which in

pafl ages

of the church have been, and in

future ones will be a rich magazine, and ftore-

hcufe of
children

fpiritual experience,

from which the

fpiritual
faith^,
:

of

God may draw

good
fight

armour

for fighting the

fliall

of

until

God
be

call

them
lot.

to life

eternal

may

this

your happy

What

frame was

this

good

man

in

when he compofed
itfelf

this forty- fecond

Pfalm? the Plalm

feems compofed

can
w^as

beft

tell.

It

when he

either perfehis

cted by
by

Saul, or driven

from

own
;

court

his fondling,

beloved fon,
truly

Abfalom
I

then

David appeared

greats

honour him
a

when
I fee

fee

him yonder,

attending
ftripling,

few

flieepj but I admire the

young

when

him come out with

it

his fling

and ftone,

and aiming

at the

head of Goliah, the ene-

my

Sen XII.

Soul DejeBion.
;

275
filling

my
feat

of

God

or,
;

when
but to

exalted and

the

of

juftice

me
is

he never appears
in

greater,

than

when he
and
faith

bowed down
fide,

low

circumftances, befet on every

flruggling

between
an
to

fenfe

and,

as

the fun after

eclipfe,
all

breaking forth with greater luftre

the fpedtators.
this

In
this

this

view we

mud

confider

great,

good man, David^

when he cries my foul, why

out, Why. art thou cajl dow?2y

art thou difquieted "within me ?

hope thou in God,

Suppofing you underftand the words

queftion.

as

Why

art thou caji down^

O my foul
?

though thou

art in

fuch circumftances

pray

now what is the caufe of thy being fo dejected ? The word implies, that he was finking under
the weight of his prefent burden, hke a perfon
fiooping under a lead that
ders;
lies

upon

his flioul-

and the

confequence of
difquietude,
;

this prefllire

without

was

uneauncr;s

and

anxiety within
contrary, there

for,
is

fay

what yoa

will tc the

fuch a connexion between

foul and body, that

when one

is

difordered,

the other muft fympathize with

friend.

its

ever-loving

Or, you
felf,

may

underfl:and

it

as

chiding Kim-

Why

art thou caJi down^

my foul

ivhy

n 2

art

276

Soul DejeBion.

Ser.XII.

art thou difquieted within me^

it

how
God

foolifh Is
;

to

be thus drooping
for

and dejefted

how

improper

one favoured of

with fo

many

providences,
for fuch

and
a

fpecial particular prias

vileges,

one

thou

art

thus to

ftoop, and be
tion
;

made

fubjedl to every

tempta-

why
to

dofl thou give

thy enemies fuch

room

find fault

with thy religion on aca yoke

count of thy gloomy looks, and the difquietude of thy heart

find to be lined
it
?

which thou

wilt

with love, and

from galling thy ihoulders.

God will keep You fee, he

fpeaks not to others but to himfelf j would to

God we
home.

did thus learn that charity begins at

Then he

goes to

God
is

with

his cafe,

O my God, fays he, my foul cajl down within O that we could learn, when in thefe me.
moods
to

go more to God, and

relief,

lefs

to

man,
would

we
be

fhould find more

lefs

and
fee

religion

difhonoured.

But

how

faith tri*

umphs
knocks

in the midft of
its

all,

no fooner does

unbelief pop up
it

head, but faith immediately

down.

never-failing

maxim
all

is

here propofed, hope thou in Gody truft in God,

believe in
that
too,

Godj for I am know Jefus Chrift

that
all

fure,

and

of you
it

are perfuaded of
arife

our troubles

from our unbelief

Ser.

XII.

Soul Deje5tion.
unbelief,

277

belief:

injurious bar to comfort,

!

fource of tormenting fear

faith bears every thing.

on the contrary,
thy trujl in God^

Put

as in the old tranflation

hope in God^ as in the

new, /

Jloall

yet praije him.

is
^

The

devil tells
lift

me my

trouble

fo great, I fhall never

up
will

my
liars

head again
3

but unbelief and the devi! are

praife him
all
-,

I Jhall yet

my God

carry

me

through

I flVall
;

yet praife him,

even for cafting

me down
is

I fhall praife
all

him
dis-

even for that which

the caufe of

my

quietude ; he will be the health of

my

counte-

nance

though

my

afflidlions

have

now made

my

body low, fuck up

my

fpirits,

and hurt

my
and

animal frame, he wilt be the help of

nance
3

iny coufite-

I fhall

by and by

fee

him

again,

be favoured with thofe transforming

vievv^s,

which

my God has
is

favoured

me

with in times

paft3 he

the health of

my

count enance^

and

my God : though
evil

the devil tempts me, and

fay,

my

neighbours

where

is

now

thy

God^

Doft thou think thou

thy Father
thee, I

art a child

of God, and

fuffers thee to

be

caft

tell

thee,

fatan, that
as

down ? I tell God who I

to believe has

have been fo

vilely

tempted

forfaken me, will

come

over the mountains of

backflidings againfl
himfelf,

my

guilt,

will forgive

my

278
himfelf,

Soul DejeSlion.

Ser. XII.

my

unbelief fhall not

efFecfl
5

mifes of none

while
iliall

I live,

I fhall

make his proI fhall praife him even praife him before I die, I
heaven, where he

praife

him

for ever in

will be, after death, the health of

my

counte-

nance^
better

and my God \ thus faith will get the in a faint. David was fomelimes left to
things are againfl

fay, in efFedl, all

ftill

me;

yet

in

mofl of the Pfalms,

in this, the next,

refl,

the cxiiith, and

in

many of the

he triumphs

God

and he compofed but very few with-

out praifing at the end, though he complains

at the

beginning
it

God

help us thus to do

But
larly

is

time to leave off fpeaking particu-

of David, and to turn to you to

whom
falutary

thefe words, I pray

God, may prove

and

ufeful.
this

have had a great flruggle in

my
;

mind

afternoon what I Ihould preach from

I have been praying

and looking up
for

to

God,

and could not preach

text,

my

life

on any other

which has
it

often been the cafe before,

and v/henever
comforted and

was, fome poor foul has been

raifed

up

and among fuch a

mixed multitude, there are fome, no doubt, come to this poor defpifed place caft down and
difquieted within
\

I fliall

endeavour to enquire
for,

what you

are caft

down

and then

fhall

propofe

Ser. XII.

Scul DejeBion.

279
trufl in

propofe a great cure for you^ namely,

God; and I pray, that what was David's comfort may be yours. Why fhould not we expecSt an anfwer when we pray, that God before you go home may make you whether
you
you
?

will

or no, leave your burdens behind

and

God keep you from

taking

them
that

up
are

as

you go home.

Probably, there
real

may be fome of you

;

believers
:

perhaps,

ought to afk
in the

your pardon
Tabernacle
!

where

am

preaching,

the moft defpifed place in Lon-j

that

don!

fo fcandalous a place,

many of the
\
!

children of

God would
are

rather go elfewhere

God
I

help us to keep up our fcandal

But yet

believe there

here,

place

many King's daughters many of you w^hom God enabled in this firft to fay, My Lordy and my God,
you put your
of Chrift's
fingers, as
it

When
print

were, on the

nails,

and put your hands

faithlefs,

into his fide,

and were no longer

but

believing,
caft

you thought you fhould never be

but

down any more,

miibken
;

now you have

I (hall

found

yourfelves

and

endeavour, in
all

the profecution of this text, to fpeak to

are
caft

that

down, whether before

-

or, after concaft

verfion,

and then to fuch that v/ere never

down

28o

Soul DejeBion.
at all
^

Sef.
caft

XII.

down
before,

and
call:

if

you was never

down
are

God What are

you down now.

perfons caft

down

for
?

what
at

fome of you

difquieted within for

have reaboth

fon to believe, from the notes put

up

ends of the town, that there are

that have

many of you
faft in

arrows of convidtion ftuck

j

your

fouls

have taken in near two hundred

fort-

at the other

end of the town, within a

that

night; if this be the cafe,

work,
the
caft

let

the devil roar,

name of the Lord. down for ? fome poor

fin,

God is thus at and we will go on in And what are you

foul will fay,
it,

with

a fenfe of
it,

the guilt of

the enmity of

the very aggravated circumftances that atit,

tend

appear and

fet

themfelves as in battleI

array before
at leaft, I

me

once

thought I had no

fin,

thought that
but
I

fin

was not
it

fo exceed-

ing finful

now

find

fuch a burden, I
greater than

could almoft fay with Cain,

it is

I can

bear.

And, perhaps, fome of you are

as in

fo caft

down,

your hafte to fay

as colo-

nel Gardiner, that great

man
juft,

of God, told

me

himfelf had faid

*'

when under
Is
this

convidion, " I
unlefs

believe

God

cannot be
foul."
art

he damns
?

"

my

wicked

thy cafe

art

thou wicked,

thou fo

caft

down,

fo dif-

quieted.

Ser.

XII.

Soul DejeSiion,

281

quieted, thit thou canfl not reft night nor day,

away without any comfort ? fhall I fend thee away as the legal preachers do ? as a minifter fome time ago did, when a man told him how wicked he had been 3 O, fays he, if you are fo wicked you are damn'd
fhall I fend

thee

to befure> I fhall not trouble myfelf with you.

When
I

a poor negro

was taken up
faid,
^

for thieving,

another went to

him and
back
to

you
that

are fo
is

bad

muft turn

my
is

you

the law,
j

but the gofpel

not that

turn thy face to

God

think

God,

God is dealing with thee as an abfolute God out of Chrift. I would have
with an abfolute
fire.

nothing to do, fays Luther,

God God

as

fuch he
Chrift,

is

a confuming

Truft

in

throw thyfelf upon

^

him,

throw thyfelf on the Son of God

thy brother, and

cry with

now

thou

art in that
call

temper,

thou wilt not be afhamed to

brother
>

the thief thy

7?ie

fay

with him, Lord^ remember

in

when thou art

praife

thy kingdom
flialt

thou fhalt yet

him, thou
fins
^

yet have the forgivenefs

fhall

of thy

thy pardon

not only be fealed

it

in heaven,

but thou fhalt have

in thy heart
birth,

thefe are only the pangs of the

firft

new

the

ftrugglings of the foul

life
j

immerfing into the

divine

he

flmll

yet be the health of thy

coun-

2Sz
countenance:

Soul DejeBion.

Ser.

XII.

theie poor cheeks, though betears, fhall

dewed with
blufli,

by and by have a

fine

when
it

a pardoning

God comes with

heart

his

love

'y

fliall

even

make
fad,

a change in thy

countenance, for as a heavy

makes a
heart

man's countenance

fo a chearful
:

thou ihait makes the countenance pleafant know him to be thy God, thou flialt fay, my Lordy and my God: Lord Jefus grant this may be the happy moment.
the Redeemer
fure he

Was

Jefus here,
I

was

now

in this metropolis,
ftreets,

am

would go about the

he would

be a field-preacher, he would go out into the

highways and hedges, he w^ould

invite,

he

would run
veil

after

them
as

Lord
let

Jefus, take the

from our

hearts,

and

us fee to-night
1

thy loving heart

the Son of God

it is

Truft in

God, you
fo,

will fay,

very eafy for you to fay

but I cannot truft in

God

can't you,

who

told

you that

that

is

are not far

from the

work of God, you kingdom of God. Who

the
?

convinced thee of thy inability to believe, do

you think the

of
that
If

devil did

no,

it

was the

Spirit

God
was

procured by the blood of the

to

Lamb,
fin.

come

to convince the
truft as

world of

thou canft not

thou wouldft, fay>

out

Lord^ I

believe^ help

my

unbelief'^ ftretch

thy

Ser.

XII.

Soul BejeBion.
I

283
!aft,

thy poor hand.

am

thinking of Sunday
I

when
not

I was giving the facrament,

obferved

there was one blind

fee,

communicant

that could
I

but he thruft out his hand;

obferved

feveral
to give

lame perfons, but there were enough

it

to

them;
I

faw

alfo a

poor barrow-

woman, and
cup
to

took particular care to give the

I

her

fo

put
:

it

up

to the
is

the poor blind

man
I

if that

the

mouth of cafe, what

love muft there be in

But, methinks,
that
that,
I
is

God
I

to the

poor foul

hear fome poor foul fay,

not

my
am

cafe,

am

not caft
becaufe
after I

down
after

for

but I

caft

down

that

knew God

to be

my

God,

knew

Je-

ius to be

my

King, and

after I

had mounted

upon

my

high places, the devil and

my

un-

believing heart threw

me down again
a perfon

would
not

you not have me

have

caft
?

down ? would you

don't
live
tell

me
I

difquieted

of an Antino-

mian
care

fpirit

would

fay,

me

ot
I

your
don't

frames,

have learned to

by

faith,

whether Chrift manifefts himfelf

I

to

me

or no,
I

have got the word and the promife,

am

content with a promife

now

fo thefe

poor creatures go on without any frame, becaufe they will not live in
it
:

from fuch An-

tinomianilm, good God, deliver me.

liow

o 2

how

284

Soul Dejection.
!

Ser.

XII.

how
are

how

not call

not difquieted

down at an abfent God, when God withdraws? where

you are gone
nothing
far

yon gone
3

from your
do,

fa^

ther's houfe

if

elfe will

may your

father hearts

whip

you home

again.

But tender

when they refledl how it was once, are caft down; David fays, My fears have been my meat day and nighty for 1 had gone 'with a
multitude
to the houje

of God.

Here he looks
fpiritual

back upon
profperity,
ral)

his
(as

former enjoyments, his

Job looks back upon

his

tempo-

and
it

fays.
is

Why
I

art thou caft down^

my
in

foul;

becaufe I don't meet

as
!

God
!

his

ordinances

ufed to

do; poor

deferted,

panting foul

poor difquieted foul

he muft
will yet

be the help of thy countenance, be

be thy God.
rowing
Virgin
?

Who
if

was

it

fought Jefus for-

what would you have thought of the

fhe had faid,
;

Mary

don't care

whe-

ther I fee

my

fon or not

ilie

fought him, and

found him in the temple:

God
him

grant every
to-night
^

poor deferted foul

may
fays,

find

mean,
cafe of

in the temple of his heart.

And

in the

Mary, fhe

They have taken away

my Lord, and I know

him
5

not where they have laid

if

they had not taken

rich
:

away her Lord,

fo

Mary would have been

you may fay

your

Ser.

XIL

Soul BejeBio?u

285

your corruptions, your backflidings and ingraLord titude, have taken away your Lord:
grant thou
faid,

may ft

find
call

him

to-night.

He
come

that

Mary, can
thee fay.
j

thee to-night,

and can
to-

make
night

My
I

dear Lord,

he can

call

thee by thy name.

But, fay you,

am

caft
;

down

becaufe I

am
is

wearied with temptation

not only

my God

departed from me, but an evil

fpirit is

come

upon
this

me

to torment

me

am

haunted with

and that

evil fuggeftion,

that I

am

a terror
faith

to myfelf.
in

Come, come, hear what David

the beginning of the Pfalm, jis the kart

panteth after the ^water-brooks^Jo panteth jny joul

after thee^
if

God.
a

What
to

fay
fee

you

to that?

you have
verfe,

mind
will

the beauty of

this

read

Mr. Hervey's Theron and

live

Afpafio,
are dead

which
;

when

its

defplfers

and thofe that have endeavoured

to difparage
that

him

will

be obliged
greateft

to

own,

he was one of the

ever

luminaries
laid

we
the

had,

and one that has

in a

down
to

doftrines of the gofpel,

allure the great

manner

charm and
is
it

and noble.

Well,

thy cafe that unbelief dogs thee go where

?

thou will
yet praife

well,

ftill

truft in

God, thou fbalt

^

him for

the help of his countenance

be will

command

his loving^kindnejs in the day^

and

2 86

Soul DejeBion.
his fo?2g fball be
it

Ser.

XIL

and

with thee in the night.

there
ftars
is
;

Though
bleffed be

be night,

fome moon,
and
if there is

God, or fome

a fog that you cannot

fee,

God

can quiet his

the

people in the dark, he will

flee;

make

enemy
if thou

fear

him

not,

God
for

will comfort thee,

and puniih the devil

truft in

tempting thee,

him.
fay you, I

But,
eted

within

me

am caft down and difquiwhy becaufe I have one

?

afflidion after another,

no fooner
j

is

one
I

trial

gone,
Ihall

but

another

fucceeds

now

think I

have a

little refl,

the tormentor will not

come nigh me
Chriftian
fo

to-day, but

no fooner has the

then
that

faid,

but another ftorm comes,

after the rain
;

and the clouds return

think

we muft be
fay
?

call
;

down, and
this

we we

ought to be difquieted

Was David's

cafe

what does he
after that,

All thy waves and thy biU

I

lows are gone over me,

there were
felt
;

believe he found
to

more waves

come
dif-

than he had yet

treffed
foul,

why

fays a

poor

becaufe

have been fo long in

Chrift,

and have got thefe curfed corruptions

I

yet within.

thought to have been

;

rid

of

them

all

long ago
left

thought

had no cor-

ruptions

thirty- three

years ago, and that

the

Ser*

XIL

Soul BejeBlon.
all

287

the Canaanites were

that

rooted out of the land,

Pharaoh and
j

his hoft
I find

were

all

drowned
is

in

the red-fea
in

but

the old

man
lefs

ftrong

me,

look upon myfelf to be

all

than the

lead of

faints,

God knows
if

and you that

greater advan-

walk near God, and have made

ces in the divine
fay,
life,

you

are honeft

muft

this

body of

fin

and death,

if I fhut

this old

man

out at the fore-door, he comes in

at the
truft in

back-door.

Come, come, come foul, God, he will give power to the faint,
and in due time deliver
3

he

will give flrcngth,

:

thee

go

to

God,

tell

Redeemer
ther than
again.

to take

him of them his whip into

beg thy
hand,
it,

his

either of fmall or large cords,

and ufe

ra-

your corruptions fhould get head

Time would down on thefe

one more
5

fail

to

mention

all

that are call

accounts, but I mufl mention

perhaps, fome of you

may be

cafl

down with
judgment.

the fear not of death only, but of

I

believe there

are

thoufands of

people die a thoufand times, for fear of dying

once.

Dr. Mather and Mr. Pemberton,

oi

New-England, were always

afraid of dying,

when them faid

but

they
to

came to die; one or both of fome that were intimate with

them.

^88
them,

Soul DejeBion.
Is this all^

Sef.

XIL

I can bear

this 'very well:

and

have generally found that a poor

foul,

that cannot adt that faith

on God

it

once did,

or in old age

when

the body grows infirm, as

yet they

they ufed to do,

go off rejoicing

in

God,

as a

good

foul that

was buried

at the

Chapel the other day,

Jordan,
to

faid,

I am going over
foul, leave this

Therefore,

poor

God, he

will take care of thy dying hour.

I

If any of you are poor here, and

was

to

promife to give you a coffin and a fhroud you

would be

eafy

now

can you trufl the word

of a man, and not that of a

God
;

Well, the

Lord help you

his own^ he loves
ful,

to truft in

him

having loved
is

them

to the

end ; he

a faith-

unchangeable friend, that fticketh clofer

than a brother.

Who

would not be

a Chrifiian,

who would
fee

but be a believer,

my

brethren
;

the pre-

cioufnefs of a believer's faith

fay,

the quacks will

is

here buy this packet, which

good
;

for

all difeafes,

and

is

really

worth nothing

but

this will never

fail

the foul.

Now
I

wifh I

could

make you
j

all

angry
I

am

a fad mlfI

chief-maker

but

will

afTure you,

don't

want

to

make you angry with one

another

fome people

that profefs to have grace in their

hearts^

er.

XIL

Sozil

jD ejection.
to fet all

289
at

hearts,

feem refolved

God*s people

variance; they are like Sampfon's foxes with

firebrands in their
tails,

fetting fire to all

about

them.

Are any of you come

ft-om the
?

Foundo not

dery, or any other place to-night

care

where you come

all

fi-om, I pray
;

God you
to
fall

may

quarrel to-night

want you

out with your

own

hearts; if
to be,

we were emlefs

ployed

as

we

ought

we

fhould have

time to talk about the vain things that are the

fubjefts

of converfation
left at

God

grant your crofles

may

be

the crofs of the

Lamb

of

God

this night.

And
he
is

if there

be any of you here, as no doubt

that are crying
[

there are

many,

what nonfenfe

preaching to-night,

fhould not

won-

mimick me when they go home 3 if they fliould fay, I thank God, I was never caft down ; you take God's name
der if they were to
in vain
;

you thank

God you was

never caft

down, the very anfvver ycu have given makes me caft down for you ; why fo ? why, as
the Lord liveth, I fpeak out of ccmpaflion,
there
is

but one ftep between thee and death.

feflions

Don't you know the

began

at the

Old-

Bailey to-day, if there were any capitally con-

vided, what would you

think to fee

them

playing

290

Soul DejeSlion,

Ser.

XII.

p'aying at cardr, o
ing,

go on
?

rattling

and drink-

and fwearing
and
if
it

would not you yourfelf

but yet thou art that
for thee,

cry,
it

were a child of your ov;n, would

?

not break your heart

5

wretch
finner;

muft weep

my

brother^

we ba4
and Eve
;

both 01^ &ther and mother,

^hi^

Adam

was'our id

original.

Dear

Chiiitians,
I

pr^y for

me

to-nfght.

remember once
fome with
Others,
iov,

was preaching

in Scotland^

and law ten thoufand

aifedled in a

moment,
faint-,

others cryino; I cannot believer

God
their

has given
friends

me

faith,

fome

ing in

arms: feeing two ftout

creatures
1

upon

a tomb-ftone, hardened indeed,

rebels

1 cried out,

you

come down, and down

to

Ithey

fell direftly,

and cried before they went

he

away, What Jhall we do

brought from time
but

faved ? Have
you have

any of you got apprentices,

whom

to time to the Tabernacle,

now

will not let

them come, becaufe yoa

and worfe, and you

think they grow worfe

will be tempted to leave off praying for

them

don't do that

who knows

but

this

may

be the

happy

time.

Children of godly parents, ap-.

prentices

of godly people, fervants of people

Lord, that hear gofpei-preachers,
for every iniirmity, that

who

fear the

that are

on the watch

g^

Sen XII.

Soul DJe5lion.

291
thefc faints

goto

their fellow-fervants

and

fay,

love good eating and drinking,

gofpel-goffips
if
it is,
3

they arc only

is

this the cafe

of any of you,
un:

you

are in a deplorable condition,

der the gofpel and not convinced thereby

may God bring down you rebels to-night; may this be the happy hour you may be call down and difquieted within you. What can
I fay

more
till

would fpeak till

I burft,

would
foul,

fpeak

could fay no more.

poor

that haft been never yet caft

down,

I v/ill tell

you,

if

you

die without being caft

down, howin

ever you

may

die and have

-carnal

no pangs

your

death, and

your

relations

may thank

God

that

you died

like lambs,

but no fooner

will your fouls be out of your bodies, but will caft

God
you

you down

to hell,

you

v*^ill

be

lifting

up your

eyes in yonder place of torment,

will

will be difquieted, but there

be nobody

there to fay, hope thou in God-, for

praife him^ &c.

I Jloall yet my God, when I think

of this,
preach.

I
I

could go to the very gates of hell to

thought the other day,

I

O if I
to

had

my

health,

would ftand on the top of every

thofe

hackney coach, and preach Chrift

poor creatures.
converted young

Unconverted old people, unpeople,

will

you have no

P p

com-

292

Soul DejeBion.

Ser.

XII.
will

compaflion on your

own
it

fouls: if
I

you

damn

youifelves,
all.

remember

am

free

from the
will.

blood of you

Lord moil

holy,

O if O God

be thy blefled

moft mighty, take

the hearts of thefe fmners into thy hand.

Mefit-

thinks I fee the heavens opened, the Judge

ting

on

his throne,

the fea boiling like a pot,

to
it

and the Lord Jefus coming

well,
if

judge the world

fhall not

you are damned,

calling after.

be for

want of

O
O

come, come,
is

God

help you to come, whilffc Jefus

ready to receive you.
this night for refuge
;

ftanding

fly to

the Saviour

an unconverted
ever.

flate

remember if you die in you mufl be damned for

that I could but perfuade one poor foul

to fiy to Jefus Chrift,

make him your refuge 5 and then, however you may be cafl down, hope in God^ and youjljall yet praife hm, God
help thole that have believed, to hope more

and more

in his falvation,

till

faith

be turned

into vifion,

and hope into

fruition.

Even

fo.

Lord

Jefus.

Amen

and Amen.

SERMON

293

E R

XIII.

Spiritual Baptifm.

Romans
Know
ye nofy that fo

vI.

ver.

3,

4.

777any of us as

were bap^

tized into Jefus Chriji^ were baptized into

his death ? Therefore

we
:

are buried with him

by baptifm into death

raifed up

that like as Chrift

was

dead by the glory of the Father^ even fo we afo fhould walk in nsw-

from

the

nefs

of life.

IBELEIVE, my
ture to
tell

dear hearers, I

may

venlive,

you, that the longer you

will

the

more you

find that the

faid,

royal
is

preacher fpoke truth

nothing

when he
fun
%

There
is

new under

the

for as

God
flefh,
frail,

al-

ways the fame,

fo the world,

the

and
vile,

the devil will be always the fame,

inimical and deceitful.
us,

New

fcenes furprize

not becaufe they are really new, but becaufe

294

Spiritual Baptiftn.

Ser. XIII.

caufe they are

new
'y

to us

our

lives are

moftly

taken up with viewing only the prefent appear-

ance of things
to look

we have neither time or leifure back as we ought, or might, upon

I will

the events of Providence, or the efFeds of the

dodtrines of grace.

not fay,

my thoughts
I will

always run in a religious channel, but

fay, I

wifh they did.

The words

in

our text,
follows,
:

as

conneded with what preceeds and

contain the unchangeable truths of

God

nor

am

any ways ftaggered by oppofition

to the

vindication of

what the good old

do not

Puritans,

and

the Diffenters of the prefent age,

cal docftrine.
I

call evangeli-

know

man

that has

wrote
in

in a legal ftrain,

or that reads, or talks

common

converfation in a legal ftrain, but

difcovers his ignorance of, if not his

'

enmity

to the dodrine of

juflification

by

faith alone,

by charging
.dodrine,

it

with

very bad confequences,

it

and endeavouring to explode

as a

dangerous

deftrudive of holinefs, which they

to patronize
;

would feem

though

if

one were

always to judge of them by their calumniating

pradice, one would imagine they had never
read with proper attention, either the preceed-

ing or following chapters, nor that wherein

is

our

text,

which proves

it

to

be a dodrine
according

Ser. XIII.

Spiritual Bapfifm,

295

according to godiinefs, and therefore properly

begins.
7iiie

in

What Jhall we fay then^ Jhall we conti^ fm that grace may abound ? You will
have been
iniifting

fay, I

upon the
that 1

univerfal
all

depravity of nature, I have been bringing

down upon

an equal level

have not

only mentioned the dreadful ftate of Heathens,

but the equally dreadful

'ftate

of the' haughty

Jews, and ignorant Gentiles, one only finning

againft the light

of nature, and the other

fin-

ning againft the light of revelation, by which

both, in one fenfe, ftand on an equal footing,

though- the

laft,

who

thinks

he

ftands

upon

higher ground, appears to be only fuperior in

fin
;

why

then,

how

mufl

either or both be
to

faved,

fince they

have nothing
as

recommend
dodrine

them, nothing to plead

their fins
?

an atonement for

Here comes

in the bleffed

of juftiflcation, by the glorious imputed righteoufnefs of Jefus Chrift,

faith as

to

be received by

an inftrument by the poor convided

If this be the cafe,

finner;

pall we

Jin that

grace may abound t

this ferves as a foil, to fet

off the riches of grace with a greater luftre.

Is
it

not a very unfair dedudion, to fay never

holinefs, but fin that grace

mind
that

may

abound,
?

God's grace

may

be more confpicuous

Prav

296
Pray

spiritual Baptifm.

Ser. XIII,

how

does the apoftle

5

treat

this? with
j

the utmoft abhorrence

God

forbid^ fays he

how
that

dare you

charge the doftrine

?

of grace
forbid

with fuch a horrid confequence

it

God
;

fhould enter into our hearts

for

how

Jkall

we
as

that are dead to fin live any longer

therein ?

Know ye
:

not, faith he,

that as

many
from

of

lis

were baptized

into Chrifi^ are baptized

into his death

therefore, faith he, fo far

finning that grace

may

abound,

we

look upon

ourfelves as beiiig buried with Chrifi by baptifm

into deaths that like as Chriji

was

raijed from

the dead by the glory of the Father ^ evenfo

alfo fI:ould

we

walk in newnefs of lije. This I thought a proper fupplement to fome difcourfes

I have endeavoured to deliver
laft

you

for

fome days
and

part,

when

treating

on the

credibility

authenticity ofourblefled Lord's refurredtion.

I cannot

make

fport for the devil by railing

it is

againfl infant or adult baptifm^

a ftrange
fire

thing

how

bigots can fet the

world on

by

throv/ing water at one another, and that people cannot be baptized, or fprinkled, as the
others call
ther,
it,

without befpattering one ano-

and fhow that the chief thing they have

into,

been baptized
this is

are

the waters of ftrife^

catching at fhadows, and

making

fport
for

Ser.

Xllli

Spiritual Baptifrni

297
on both

for the devil, while

fides,

the combatants
in

being thus engaged

throwing the fhalofc the fubftan-

dowy
tials

water

at

one another,

of

religion,
it.

while they are defending the

outfide of

For

my

part,

do not enter

into the debate about infant or adult baptifm;

there has been a difpute about the

mode, as

well as the fubjeds ofbaptifm

fkilled in language,

perfons equally

pretend to bring, various

texts

from the

original, to

prove that the word

j

baptizOy fignifies either fprinkling or plunging

and
to

I believe

you and

might

as well

attempt

draw
at

tv/o parallel

lines,

and bring them to

as to bring thefe
;

meet

fome

certain place,

learned combatants together

tant?, religious

for

of

all

difpufiery

difputants are the

therefore, I

moil

and obftinate
have learned
fire,

am

for thofe that

to

throw water upon bigotted

let
it

to

think y

and

think y

about the mode,

and confider what

It is certain,

imports.

that in the

words of our

text,

there

is

an allufion to the manner of baptifm,

vvhich was by immerfion,

church allows, and

infifts

which our own upon it, that chilafTure

dren ihould be immerfed in water, unlefs thafe

that bring the children to be baptized

*he minifter that they cannot bear the plunging.

CLq

We

29S

spiritual Baptifm.

Ser. XIII.

We

will allow this then, that

one was plunged

when he was young,

he was old
plunged
as
5

another plunged
fad:,it

when

and, in

when
is

adults are

they ought,

backwards at

once
deal,
is

but whether I
or buried with a
it is

am

plunged in a great
water, as a

little

body
and

when

faid.

Earth

to earth, aJJjes to ajhes^

dujl to duft,

what

fignifies it,

if I

go

in

come
unlefs

out,

and continue juft the fame

fay, in

as before,

you can
but

Heathen and out Chrifone

of

tian
bit

',

we

fee very often they are not

the better,

they have not one

grain

Chriflianity more.

Suppofing a child when

to

young
dipped

grov/s

up

man,
I

is

fprinkled,

or

as the children

faw

at

Lifbon,

or in

our font, as they are

dip
in,

made

large

enough to
and

though

now

they fprinkle^ fuppofe

devil,

one of thefe grows up a child of the

fays,

I don't look

upon what was done

that perfon takes

in

my
^

infancy to be baptifm, I will be baptized really

and yet fuppofe

alfo,

up only
and go
of them

the outward fign, and both of

to the
devil,

them

die

would

it

give either

fatisfadion to fay, I

am in hell,
?

but I was bap-

tized

when an
to

infant, or adult

both of them

would have
the flame.

lament they were tormented in

it

Would

not be better for us to

take

Ser. XIII.

Spiritual Eaptifm^

r^pc)

take care not to offend our brethren, not to

raife

one anothers

fpirits

and corruptions, bat

together, talk of the

rather,

when we come

heart,

and enquire whether, when

we

received

the outward lign by fprinkling or dipping,

really received the thing fignified in

we

our hearts,
our
lives.
?

and exemplify that thing

fignified, in

Now
text,

pray what

is

the thing fignified

for

we
into

need not go farther

uis

an anfwer than our

many of them

as

were baptized
:

yefus Chrijl^ were baptized into his death

it is

and

worthy remarking, that our Lord

they were
to

told his

difciples, that

baptize all nations

in the

name of

the Father^

and of
I

the Son^
all

and

of the Holy Ghojl,

Now

believe

perfons

that have but a httle Ikill in fcripture interpretation,

fies

muft allow that the word name

;

figni-

Chrifl

my name

is

in

him, fpeaking in

the Old Teftament of Chrift's

name
it

and

when we

fay, in or by the 7tanie^

has a pecu-

har reference to every thing that bebngs to

God

and

verily believe that

when

the

deemer
ded

faid,

baptize them in the iiame

Gho/l^

Reof Pain

ther^ Son^

and Holy

he not only inten-

to eftablifh the

dodrine of three perfons

one God, but

alfo to point out the nature

of

true baptifm, namely,

to be baptized into the

2"

Q^q

nature

300

Spiritual Baptifm.

Ser. XIII.

pature of the Father, into the

nature of the

Son, and into the nature of the

Holy Ghoft,

and

this

feems to be the meaning of our text^

Know if we

ye not that fo many as were baptia ed \

have been baptized aright, have been

baptized not only in the

name of
in

Chrift, but
is,

have been baptized into Chrift; that

have not only put on Chrift
feffion,

v^e

an outward pro-

but have been fo baptized by the

as to

Holy

Ghoft,

be made members of Chrift's

myftical body, united to

Spirit
fenfe,
y

him by

the bleffed
in every

fo that in a degree,

though not

we

are

one with Chrift, and the Father,

through him.

This

is

religion

common

to

all,

whether we
w^e

are Baptift or Foedo-baptift^ for

may

call

one another by

this

and that name,

we are called, the grand matter is, what God looks upon us to be 5 whether we are become by baptifm, and with the powerful operations of the Spirit of God
it is

no matter what

accompanying

that

ordinance,
It

branches of

Jefus Chrift, the true vine.

has been always

an argument with me, and I

the fame liberty that
fant-baptifm
is

may

plead for

I give,

that I think in-

an ordinance of Chrift, becaufe

if our children are not to be baptized, they are

|eft

inferior

in

their privilegfss

to the

Jews,
their

Ser. XIII.

Spiritual Baptifm.

30
to

their children

were circumcifed
our children be
?

God, and

why
not a

fliould not

as

foon initiated

into Chrift as they

The
is

apoftle faith,

He
is

is

Jew

that

is

one outwardly y neither

that

circumcifion which

outwardly in the

Jlejh^

but circumcifion

is

that of the heart

is

and

of the

Jpirit, wbofe praife

not

of men but of God*,

is

fo

it

may

be faid of outward baptifm, he

not a Chriftian
ly,

who
is

is

baptized only outward-

but he that

baptized inwardly of the

is

Spirit,

whofe praife
get a

not of

When we
them
that

profelite,

men but of God, we are fo fond of

:

we hug them to death I have got the praife of men efpecially when religion walks in filver flippers when a perfon fays, I may get bufinefs if I get into fuch a church, into fuch a fociety a man may become religious as he may go to 'Change for trade, but
; 5

he

is

a Chriftian

who

is

one inwardly,

who

has no worldly views, no defigns but what are

fubordinate to the glory of God.
tive Chriflians

The
;

primi-

gave great proof of their fincerity,

they were baptized over the dead

they do

what

Jloall

who are baptizedfor

or over, the

dead?
bap^
after,

notwithftanding they faw their fellow- creatures

murdered, they dared to go openly

to be

dzed

though they knew very wel| foon

that

302

spiritual Baptifin.

Ser.

XIII.

that for their baptlfm with water, they fhould

be baptized with
openly to avow

fire,

and yet
profeffion
;

they dared

their

of Chrift.
well,

This
then
?

is

being baptized into Chrift

what
his

why, then we

are

baptized
that

into
I

death.

Can you
I

tell

me what

is ?

can-

not fully,

don't

know

that myfelf ;

and

we

fhould preach according to our experience, (a

man
tle,

of

little

true grace,

he

will give
5

you

a Htlit-

little,

little

practical application
little

very

tle,

becaufe he has but

it

himfelf j a

man

that has a good deal of

in his heart,

he will

not negied his principles, but he will give the

people a good found meal of praftical religion)

though

am
in

but a babe in Chrift, though I

Chrift four or five and thirty

have been
years,

and
I

know
tell

but

little

of Chrift, yet

think

can

you

a
to

little

what

it

is

to

be

baptized into Chrift,

death.

be baptized into his

?

Am
we

immediately to die in the body

that does not always follow, but

daily,

we we

are to dief

are to

be conformed to Chrift's
never can
;

death,

which

we

till

have been
till

baptized into Chrift

we
his

can never die

to die.

we
we

have been enabled by

power

When

we

talk of dying

the death of Chrift,

mean

being crucified to the world with him.

livey

Ser.XIII.

Spiritual Baptifm.

303

live,
;

fays Paul, yet not 7, hut Chrifl li-ces in

me

and

the world

is

crucified to me,

and I
and the

unto the world.

Now

we

all

come
flefli,

into the

world
devil.

alive

to the world,

the

Some
it

people fay, a child muft cry in

itfelf
?

order to prove

an heir

what do you

think
'tis

cries for
it

I believe

fome people think

becaufe

is in

pain,
is

but I
y

am

afraid the

child cries becaufe he

hurt
;

believe

he

finds

the air too cool for

does,
is

him

and

thefirft thing

he

giving a proof of original fin to his

parents,
this is

and

all

the attendants
fcripture,

about

him
;

called in

the old

man

and

however fome may

of England, and
be mended, but
its

find fault with the

Church

forms (perhaps they

queftion whether

may

we have

men

capable of mending

them now-a-days,
very good,

cither for zeal

or fpiritual knowledge) yet I

is

am

fure there

fomething in
is

it

particularly there

that

prayer to be put
written in

up

by a

child,

deferves

to be

letters

of gold. Grants
longing to the old

Lord, that

all things be-

man may

die in me-,

and then

follows (what I (hall fpeak of by and byj and

all belonging to the

new man may live and grow There is the whole fum and fubftance in me. of religion, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning,

304
ginning, the

Spiritual Baptifm^

Ser.

XnL>

middle,

and the end,

intitled.

as

Mn
man

Ambrofe's works are

thing but
all

We

want no-

things belonging to the old

all

to die in us, and

things belonging to the

new
grant

to

live,
y

of Chrift

make us fit for the kingdom and if we ean find this in us, God
to

we may
is

not quarrel one with another^

though
old

I verily believe

young men think the

man

very troublefome.

There
a

is

one
is

does not live very far from hence, very worthy man,
I

who

remember

few years

ago he came

in, in his firfl love, faying,

" he

had got on the mount ^ the fire burnt upwards, though there was a good deal of fmoak. Pray^
fays
I,
is

the old

man
j

dead yet? no,

if

faid he,

he

is

not quite dead, but fpoke as

fays
I,

he thought

he was expiring

I will fpeak to

you

three or four years hence.

that,

meeting him,

Some time after afked him concerning

alive

the old man, he

faid,

he thought he was

and worfe than

creature,

ever,
lie

and that he was

a fly

down as if he was afleep, that he may attack you when off your guard the better/* I heard of a good man in the counwould
try,

who

faid,

he found

his corruptions
;

were
is

a monfter of a thoufand heads

called a crucifixion,

now

this

which

is

a painful

and a

gradual

Ser. XIII,

Spiritual Baptiftn.
:

30^

gradual death, but a certain death

Gcd

for-

bid any of you

now

fhould turn the food into

is

poifon, faying, this

like
it 5

a very

good

dodtrine, I

the minifter fays the old

fo I will not crucify

him ^ they

man dies flow, tell me he will

then,

die

by and by, but not

yet, fo I will not trou-

ble myfelf

much

about

him ; why
art,

my
Anj

dear hearer, whoever thou

thou talked

like a (linking hypocrite, or a rank, vile

tinomian
pleafant

how, how,

is

the old

man

fuch a

companion, that you love to have him

dwelling under your roof? would you chufe

to have a parcel of whores

and rogues
if

to live

in your houfes

would you hke,

you lived

by

letting

of lodgings, two or three rooms

fuppofe, to have a parcel of thieves and robberSi

and pickpockets, come

profeffion,

and

tell

you
and

their

would
you
are

it

not be foolifh for

you
juft

to

let

fuch people
fools

in,

would
to let

it

not

fuch

pickpockets,

ftreet-robbers, God-robbers,

vile proftitutes in

your wicked hearts, the

lufts

lufts

of the
life,

flefh,

the

of the eye, and the pride of

till

flay not
:

only

quarter-day,
out,

but long after

before

you turn them

no,
it

you rnay be dead; no,

is

not an inilantaneous, but a gradual,

progreffive

work.

Then

'306

spiritual Baptifm.
are baptized into Chrift,
is

Ser.

XIII.

Then we

when we

ftudy to glorify Chrift; that

the reafon that

God Almighty fends you fo many trials, that you may be baptized into his death and generally you will find, when you have had
5

moft communications from God, that fome

crofs trials foon foUovr.

Haft thou been pray-

ing for refignation

a beloved child
;

perhaps

God

takes

away
for

you have been praying

a crofs wife, a

great patience, perhaps

Naba!

of a hufband, bad

fervants, undutiiul children,

or fomething or other, and the devil at the

head of them, making you uneafy,

fo that

you
the

find

you have not

5

fo

much

patience as
w^as

you thought you had

you never

upon

mount in ypur lives, but when you came down, you were tempted to break the tables was it not fo with Mofes after forty days com-

munion with God

ing the people

down he came, and feedancing round the calf, down

?

he throws the
pieces
all
3

tables,

and breaks them

all

ta

and

if

God was

not to keep us, after

our

communion with him, we

perfon

fhould break
After
day,,

the tables to pieces and be- damned.

all

that

then

is

dying

evei-y
as

who
that

looks
is

upon himfelf every morning

one

to

be crucified afrefh, that looks for

crolTes^j

Sen XIII.
croffe$,.

Spiritual Baptifm,
at

307

and

the.fame time waljvS.fQ jnofI

.aboi;t. the: crofs

fenfivgly. as

to.

bring no profs vipoa liimfelf.

fpoke to a perfon ycfterclay

piay
crqfs
fir,

fays he,

would you

have,

me
*

bring a

upon myfclf ;

no, faid |,

only behoueft,

and you

will find crofles enough.,

Then
as Chrift

we
was

mufl: be raifed to
raifed

newne(s of

life,

from the dead by the glory

points out to us in -what

of the Father;

this,

fenfe Jefus Chriil

life,

is

the refurrcdion and the

and fliews us

that,

every thing Jefus Chri.ft

did and fuftered, mufl be fpirituahy experi-

enced in our hearts.

You have

often heard

me

fay,

as

he was born
in

in the Virgin's
as

womb,
he died
again,
life.

he.mufc be born
for fin,

our hearts, and

as

we muil

die to fin,

lie rofe

we mufl: rife to What is the new

any

newnefs of heart and

birth
?

fays

a great doctor

fuppofe any of thefe dodors were to

come

to

woman
her,

Vv'hen her
flie
fafl:er

travelling

pains

were

upon
pains

and

was crying
and
fafl:er,

cut, and. labour

came on
thefe

and they Ihould

and
fay,

ftand

preaching

at

the door,

good

woman,
this
it is

are

only

metaphorical pains,

is

only a bold exprefiion of the Eafteras,

I quefl;ion

only metaphorical,

whether the

woman would

not wifh the doflors fome of

thefe

3o8

Spiritual Baptifm.

Ser. XIII.

thefe metaphorical pains for talking fo,

which

they would find real ones

not read fhe might
the reality of the
attend
thing.
it,

though fhe could

and the pains that

feel.

But notwithftanding

new

birth,
it is

yet they fay

only a metaphorical

am

of an odd temper, and of fuch a

temper, that I heartily wifh they

may

be put

under the pangs of the

new

birth,

what
is

it is

by

their

own

experience,

nothing in nature more real

and know know there than the new

birth.

The

apoftle
be

Paul

faid,

/
:

travel in

birth

till Chrift

formed
had

in you
this
5

now

don't

you think the

apoftle

metaphorical
the apoftle's

expreffion of fomething
travelling in birth

real

muft be fomething analogous

;

to the

natural birth
as

muft

fay there
feel

is

no

fuch thing I

pangs becaufe I don't

them

am

fearfully

and wonderfully made, that

well
^

my
and

foul

knows
birth

right

and in refpedt to the

I

new
by

we may
;

fay,

am

fearfully

wonderfully redeemed by Chrift, and renewed

the

Holy Ghoft

the

new

life

imparts

new
will

principles, a

new

underftanding, a

new

and new afFedions, a renewed confcience, a

renewed memory, nay, a renewed body, by

making

it

the temple of the living God, an

habitation

of

God

through the

Spirit,

tnd

walking

Ser. XIII.

Spiritual Baptifnu

309
not mifta-

walking
ken,
it

in

newnefs of life;

if I

am

implies

a progreffivc

motion,

going

from ftrength
for grace

to ftrength,

from one degree of

grace

grace to another, pafling from glory to glory,

is

only glory in the bud,

in endlefs glory.

till

is

fwallowed up

A
:

perfon that
fall

walks, though he
as others, yet

may
get

not walk equally

may
to

ground

hence, not t^

go forward
with

is
it

go backward,

Enoch walked

God

befpoke the habitual tendency

of his heart, the actual exercife of grace, that

he was kept in a

lively frame,

walked with

God among
to be

a very wicked generation, dared

all

good when

were wicked around him,

be tranllated to
Mofes^
cafe with Elijah.
to the

and he was
heaven
;

fo favoured, as to

this

was the

fays the

Lord, go up

mount and die

God made him undrefs his own grave cloaths,

Canaan, but to
the very
laft
let

himfelf,
gives

and put on
a fight of

him
that

him know

he even to

would

chaftife his people,

;

when
him,

he

is

even taking them to heaven

fhalt not

tells

thou

go into the earthly Canaan, but

I will take thee to the heavenly one,

far better.

which

is

Being baptized into the death of

habitual
life
5

Chrift,

befpeaks the

tendency and

practice of the heart

and

the old

man muft
die.

3IO
die,

Spiritual Bapfifm.

Ser. XIII.
;

hence the

new man
felf,

mufl: Hve

it

mufl

be emptied of

that there

and more room

your hearts,
this.

for

may be more God: now I appeal to

you have experienced

how

far

I believe the

world pretty well knows,

the temper of
politics

my

mind, both in refpedl

to,

and church-government, and church:

principles
ration,

am

a profelTed avower of
wifli

mode-

and I heartily

that ail

who. a^Q
to

concerned in church and Hate,

take care to
let their

may

particularly

moderation be

known

aU men, for

if

we

fhall

only

we quarrel with one another, make fport for the devil, and
'

cccafion. deftrudlion.

don't
;

care
I

whether
I pro-

you go
fefs,

to

church or meeting

am,

member

of the church of England, and

let

if

they will not

me

preach in the churcJi,

;

I will preach any

parifh,

where

all

the world

is

my
me
an
tell

and

I will

preach wherever

God

gives

xne an opportunity, but you will never find

difputing about
rj religion
;

the
tell

outv/ard

appendages of

don't

me you

are a Baptift,
,

ilndependant, a
I

Preibyterian, a Diffenter,
is all

me

you

are a Chriflian, that

want

this

'is

the religion of heaven,- and mufl: be ours

earth
3

upon

I fay,

are there

any of you under

the gallery, or in the green-feat, or any where,

I will

Ser. XIII.

Spiritual Baptlfml

3
I

I will try to find

you out before

have done

my

fermon, though you are

I will juft at prefent

come

in the dark.

But

fpeak to you
that are

who
bx^e^

underftand the gofpel, to

thren, though,
in all

you

my
is

probability, rriy elder bre-

thren in the gofpel.

Methinks there
to wor/hip

fome-

thing folemn in meeting in the evening, fomething folemn in

coming

after

we
is

have been in the labours of the day; and I

verily

believe, that

when weekly
all

preaching

banifhed from London, that

will be baniflied,
it,

Chriftianity

it

cannot be very long after

there have been fuch inftances,

I think a

you may
tradef-

die before to-morrow.

good

man, whether he deals largely or not, will

take care to keep his day-book well
will not
-,

if a

man

keep

his

day-book well,
a good deal
at

it is

ten to

one but he

lofes

when he comes

to count up his things

Chriftmas; no^v I
fpiritual tradefman.
:

take

it

for granted, a

good

will keep his

fpiritual

day-book well
I

can
little

you

fay, this

day

hope

have died a

more
hope

to
1

the world than yefterd^y, this day I

have been a

little
;

m^ore alive to
I

God
look

than I was yefterday

and yet when

upon

my family,
retail,

whether a

man

trades

whdle-

fale or

when he

finds

he has done but

little

312;
little
little

Spiritual Baptifm.
bufinefs that day,

Ser.

Xllt
and

great going out,

coming

in.

hope when you die but

to

little daily,

that

you go

bed begging pardon,

and begging grace, that you may die more to yourfelves and the world, and live more to God to-morrow j for I am fure I can call you
to witnefs, that you never lived fo comfortably
as

when you

lived near to

God 3 you may

as

well pretend to fay, that a perfon in a cold

winter's day
is

warmefl when he keeps from

can
live

the

fire,

as to fay, a foul

near to

God
fays

when he
them
5

does not die daily to

tell

fin,

O,

one, don't

me

of your frames, don't mind

don' t

I will tell I

you of them,

mind your

frames^

don't in refped to juflification, but

I will to the well-being and comfort of

foul
:

my

man
alive,

that has got but very

little fpirits

may

be

but there

is

a wide difference

between having a diforder that one can hardly

fpeak, having no
fpirits at all,
:

or but very few^

and having

folid health

God

grant

we may
live to
;

be healthy Chriflianss the more you

God, the more you

angry with

will have health

be not

me

affure yourfelves a

lukewarm

more hurt to religion, than all the open infidels in the kingdom; we have
Chriftian does

God

himfelf afferting

this,

T^kou art neither

hot

Set,

XIIL

Spiritual Baptifm.

313

hot nor colJ^ 1 would thou wajl either cold or

Jooty

but becaufe thou art neither cold nor hoty

j

but lukewarm^ Iwilljpew thee out of my mouth

what an
thing
is

expreflion

is

that

what a naufeous
a fick flomach

lukewarm water

to

will come ajid remove

I believe,

my
it

candlejlick

from you.
all

Therefore,
judicious

is

the opinion of

men,

that if

we

fhould have a fevere

it is

rod of correftion to

ftir

us up,

becaufe of
:

the lukewarmnefs of mofl: Chrifiians

thren,

my bre-

God make

us

all

alive

to Chrifl tois

night; come, come,

if

your foul

for Chrift,

to arms, to arms, put that have

fliould

on your cockades, you

fear

them

in

your pockets, for

Chrift's.
of5f
;

you

ards;
if

known to be many foldiers put

be

you cow-

their cockades, as

they were not foldiers

as

many of our
that they

cler-

gy go
not

affed: to drefs like the laity,

to the

plays, that the

may orange-women may

don't care whether
deiire

know them, and they God fees them or no. I

you

will all
it is

appear in your proper

drefles,

let

us fee

painted on the breaft- plates of your hearts,

by

the blelTed monitor, the eternal Spirit of God;

1 don't

want you
faces,

to

wear them
;

as the Papifts,

upon your
baptifm,

no

you
S f

that are for infantfign

were figned with the

of the
crofs,

314
crofs,

Spiritual Baptifm.
for

Ser. XIII.

what

that

you might, when you

came of age, prove

the e7id:

Chrijl's Jaithful Joldiers to

God

grant, the nearer

we come
Chrift.

to

the end the bolder

we may be

for

If there be any of you here that are formalifts,

that have a natne to live

and are dead, the

Lord

grant, that our

raifed

was

Lord Jefus Chrift, who from the dead by the glory of his

Father, caufe a ftirring

among
go

thefe dry bones.

to hell to-night,

Think what
to

it

will be to

want

drop of water, wherewith you was

>

fprinkled, to cool your tongues in hell

think

what

it

will be to
is

go

to hell

by the way of
take
j

heaven, which

the worft

way you can

to take

think what

it

will be to bejuftat the threlliold,

religion

and not have

enough
you.
'

you over
a fon, a

my

heart bleeds for

Had you

father,

a mother, a relation, to be tried at the

this
feffions,

Old-Bailey
concerned,

how would you be

would you enquire
tried,

how

carefully

when your
or no
\

relation

would be

iiow anxious

would you be
and
you,

to hear
if
is

whether he is conderrned
to

fomebody was

qqhx

to tell

now he

about to be tried ahd

is

caft, aiid

now

the judge

going to put his cap on, to

pafs fentence

on him^
ol

how would you

bear it?

I believe

lom^

you would aiop

a tear,

^nd

5er,
fay,

Xin.

Spiritual Baptifm.

315

that this
i

for this

poor creature fhould be born and can you blame a poor minifter of
Chrifl,

Chrift,

a poor finner that has been redeemed

by the blood of

and

humbly

believe

and hope, has been made a partaker of the Spirit, will you blame me for being concerned
for you,

my

brethren and

my

fifters,

for

you

and

fprung from one father

and mother,
all
j

Adam

and Eve, the

common

parents of us

can you blame

can you blame

v^'hen the

me for pouring me for fpeaking

is

out
a

my

foul,

little

home,
I fee

Judge

juft

ready to

mount the

throne,

when

the books are open,

when

the elenients melting with fervent heat,

I fee
all

when

nature concurring to uilier in the awful

Sinners in Zion,

coming of the Son of God.

formalifts,

baptized heathens, profeiTors but not poiTelTors,

believing
unbelievers,

talking

of

Chrift,

talking

of grace,

orthodox in your
turn yc,

creeds, but heterodox in your lives,

turn ye. Lord help you to turn to him, turn

ye to Jefus Chrift, and

infide

may God
the

turn

you
the

out to-night;

may

power of

higheft overfhadow you, and

may that glorious

raife

Father that raifed Chrift from the dead,

your dead

fouls.

Turn
fay, for

the text into a prayer,

go home and

what purpofe have

S f 2

lived?

3i6
lived
?

Spiritual Baptifm.
into
fo
I

Ser. XIIT.
?

what have

been baptized
been baptized
life

have not
Jordan
j

much
when

as yet

into.

have never led a

I

one day of reto

it
:

formation but

was obliged

blefs
;

God
blefs

that

you are not now among the damned

that

God
'y

you are not

now howling

in

hell

blefs

the

Lord

that Jefus ftands

with

pitying eyes, and outftretched arms to receive

you now

will

you go with the man

?

will

you accept of Chrift

will

you begin
;

to live

now

may God

fay,

Amen
in

by, not in anger but in love

may God pafs may he, as he

in

hath hitherto feen you

to you,
live,

your blood, has faid

and has preferved you

your

natural ftate,
cy, and
life,

may
pafs

that

fame

God

of love, mercaft the ikirts

fin-

by you, and

of

his love over you,

and fay to you dead

a
life

ners,

come

forth, live

of faith on earth,
3

live a life

of viiion in heaven

even

fo.

Lord

Jefus.

Amen.

SERMON

31?

ss'.^mi^^^It^gg

SERMON
Neglea of
John
And ye
V,

XIV.

Chrift the killing Sin.

ver.

40.

will not come to

me

that ye

may haix life.

THE

great apoftle of the Gentiles, after

fet

he had

before the

great cloud of witneffes

Hebrews the of Old Tefla-

nient believers, exhorts

them

to look higher,

even to Jefus the

common

Saviour, and that

not tranfiently, but earneftly

in his mediatorial chara(fter

and conftantly,
as

of humiliation,

enduring unheard

of, unparallelled

contradicfays he,

tion of finners againft himfelf ^

leajiy

ye be weary^ and faint in your minds.

If ure

had not fuch an example

brought
hour,
this

fet

before us, and

in a faifering

to us

by the Holy Ghoft

we

fhould never hold out to the end

was not the contradidion of the openly

out.

profape ^nd fcandalous, thofe that were with-

31
out, fo

Negm
much
as

of Chrijl
that

Sen XIV.
were within

from thofe

the pale of the church,

even thofe to

whom
who
That
hands,

were committed the Hvely oracles of God,

had not only the very

but were
fet

bible in their
it

own

apart to explain

to others.

the words of our text were fpoken to them,

appears from the preceeding verfe, in which

he

bids

thtm fearch

the fcriptures

-^

as a perfon

digs for a mine, or fearches for

treafure.
I

fome hidden

The word

bible,

or

book which

have in

my

hand,

is

well applied to the holy

fcriptures, becaufe

it is

the

book of God, writand by thofe

end; and
for that

ten by him, that

is,

by

his order,

who were
yet,

infpired

by him

of

all

writings in the world, thefe are moffc

negleded!

God

has condefcended to

become

an author, and yet people will not read his

writings.
this

There

are very

few

that ever gave

book of God, the grand charter

one
fair

of falva-

tion,

reading through

though

we

profefs to have affented to the truth of fcripture,

as our

Lord
lifey

faid,

in them

eternal

yet moil read

we think we have them as they would

to the devil, but

a proclamation, a romance, a play, or novels,

that help only to bring

them

chufe^ not to read God's book,

which

is

to

be

our guide to glory

the^ are they^ fays Chrift,

which

Ser.

XIV.
tejlify

the killing Sin.

^{^

which

of me

Lord God convert and

in reference to

change our

hearts.
this

However,
that Chrift

was fpoken

the Old Teftament, and certainly fhows us,

is

the treafure hid in that field, yet

as there are equal proofs

of the divinity of the

New

Teftament, the word

Holy
is

Scriptures

include both, efpecially as Chrift

the anti-

type of

all

the types, the

Alpha and Omega,

the beginning and the end of all divine revela-*

tion
:

would
too
!

to

Omega
to

God he was your Alpha and Now, faith Chrift, you pretend
3

reverence the fcriptures

you

that are fet

apart as perfons learned in the fcriptures, ye

Scribes,

ye lawyers, fuch
to-day.

as

were mentioned

in the gofpel

I fancy

feme people

think, that
fcriptures,

when we read of lawyers in the that we mean fuch lawyers as ours,

who

deal only in the civil and

common

law,

but they were thofe that opened and explained

the law to the people;
thefe

were the perfons

who
had

thought and profeffed, that in them they

life,

eternal

that they teftify of Chrift the

great Prophet that

tures to

was promifed
world ^

in the fcrip-

come

into the

yet, faith

our

divine mafter, to thefe

very profelTors, thefe

to

mafters in

Ifrael,

ye will not come

me

that

ye

320
ye

Negkt of
life
:

Chrtjl
I

Sen XIV.
prefent

may have

though
I

am now

with you, though

the fcriptures, and
to proclaim to

am now come to explain fulfil them, am now come

that
life,

you

that eternal

life,

which
liflied

the fcriptures declare were to be pub-

and proclaimed by me, yet ye will not

7ne that

come unto

ye may have

life.
all

By

eternal life

we

are to underftand,
ftate,

the

bleffings

of a converted

particularly the

pardon of lins, not only before converfion but

after.
It is

impoffible but there fliould be fin

every day and every hour in every profeffing

perfon.

My

dear hearers, as I {hall not have

for

an opportunity
take
is

fome time

to fpeak to you,
I

I don*t chufe, efpecially

when

am

about to

my

leave of you, to fpeak any thing that

fevere,

but

I aflure

you without attempting

to offend, with a broken heart I affure you,

i

that this

was the treatment Jefus Chrifl met

with of

old, and,

God

knows,

this
:

is

the treat-

ment Jefus come to me

If I

Chrift meets with

that ye

now

ye will n&t
life.

ma) have

eternal

am

not miftaken, and I think I

the words fuppofe, that they and

am not, we are all

I

dead in fm,

for if

we

are not, I
life
^

do not know
mentioa

why we
this,

need come to have

and

becaufc for want of believing and

knowing

Self.

XIV.
this,

fhe killing Sin.

321
Chrifl

ing
Stnd

fome

that pretend to

know

to preach

him, forget to
fin
5

lay the proper

is

foundation, original
ability

and that there

no

or inclination in the heart of a natural

fo

man,
he
is

much

as to

do any thing
But
if

fpiritual;

ftupid and dead.

if

we have
and
it

eyes

to fee,

we have
waxed

ears to hear,

if

our

hearts are not

hard, doubtlefs

would
its
till

appear as clear to us as the fun fhining in

meridian brightnefs,
that

man was
foul.
I

dead
life,

God

breathed into

him

the breath of

and

then he became a living

know fome
this,

people believe that the words mean

that

God

breathed into man, and he became a natufoul,

ral living

like

other animals
life

but then
did breath

they don't confider what a

into the foul,

God
it

he breathed into

the

life

of

Godj a
it is

fpiritual life

was breathed

into the foul

expreffed in the ftrongeft, but at the fame

is

time in the moft concife terms that

poffible,

none but God, none but a

man
fo

infpired

by
it

God, could

fay fo

fliows great fkill

httle
5

much in in men to
nqian

few words*

fay fo

much

in a

what uninfpired
?

ever wrote fo as

Mofes did

Now

Mofes when he penned the

after his owrf

fcriptures, faid,

God made man

image^ and you

know

ten thoufand volumes

t

could

322
could

Negle^ of
not have faid
it
?

Chriji

Ser.

XIV.

more than
that
I

that.

How

long do you think

was

his original purity

don't

man continued in know that I ever

from Saturday to
is

yet heard, that any one thought he continued

in his bleffed ftate (o long as

Saturday.

Mr. Bofton, who, perhaps,

there
is

one

of the bed writers that ever Scotland produced,

fays, that

an allufion in one of the

fall,
-,

Pfalms

to

man's fudden

Man

bei?2g

born

in honoury continued not

fore

i.

e.

but a night be-

he

fell.

O much good may

power of
their

do

thofe that

boaft of their free-will, that think they

can

ftand

by

own, when father

and

Adam, who had no

a week, perhaps not

corruption, did not ftand

two
let

days

how

can

we we

pretend to ftand,
will,

us have

what grace

when

that grace has fo

it ?

much

cor-

ruption to oppofe

if Jefus Chrift did

not

take care to fecure our ftanding,

fall

we

fhould

to our ruin.

Adam

fell,

and being our

federal head, v^e fell in

him.

Why,

fays

Deift, and too

bufinefs

many profefTors alfo, pray what had God Almighty to make our fall
on another
?

or our ftanding depend

you

will

not objedl to this you church of England

will

you

men, then why have you god- fathers and

god-mothers to promife for you?

why

have

we

Ser.

XIV.

the killing Sin.

323
of

we members of parliament
people do,

to be the heads

the people, and what the parliament does, the

you have
you

conftituted

them your
for a pcrfon,

heads and reprefentatives, you muft ftand and

fall

by them

fo if

are

bound

you muft ftand and fall with him, muft not you? I remember one of the minifters that
preached the morning exercifes,
if not ail the

when
were

moft,
filled

churches in

this city,

with gofpcl-preachers,

till

on Bartholomew-

day near 2,500 of them in the whole were

turned out, and the other minifters that did

not preach the gofpel continued

till

the plague
left

came, and then they ran away, and

pulpits to thofe

the

that

were turned

out,

who
in

were willing

to

go into them, though they

feize

expeded the plague would

preaching Chrift there
fays,
;

them
were
loins

one of thofe minifters

chofe
all

fuppofe

God had

that

to

be created, and

to proceed
prefent,
I

from the

of

Adam, had been

have
faid to

and that he ftiould

them,

have been feven days em-

ployed in preparing the

whole creation;

have made a garden, and will have one chofe

by you

to dwell in

it,

as

my
;

vicegerent and

your reprefentative here below

the father of you
all,

here
I

is

Adam,
with

whom
2

have bleflcd

3-24

l^egka of
partner, that
flefh,
is

Chriji

Seh XIV.
his bone,

witha
flefh

bone of

and

of his
I define

a creature like himfelf ; all

that
that

of your

head and reprefentative

tree,

is,

he abftains from yonder

of every

other tree in the garden he n>ay freely eat

except that; this

ordain as a
it is

teft

of his obe-

dience, to fee whether

iliall all

fulfilled,

and you
be the
parent

ftand or

fdlby
there

this;

who fhall
our
firft

man
to

would they not

all fay,
is

be fure.

not a fingle

man
fall

but

would have chofen Adam to be their fentative, they would rather ftand and

repre-

by

him

"than by any body

elfe

now

pray

why
had

fhould

we

quarrel with

him
?

for

ading

in the

manner

we

ourfelves fhould have done,

we
tle,

been in his fituation

God^

faith the apofis

included all under fin.

is,

What

fin

but a
;

breach, that

a tranfgreffion

of the law

the

wages of fm is death > every tranfgreffion of the law incurs damnation. Have we eaten of the
forbidden
fruit
?

\vq
is

muft
not a
It is

die,

we

are legally

dead; and there

little

child in the
,to

world that

is

not.

enough

make

the
;

parents pray night and day for their children

there
is

not a child borli but, to ufe the words

of our
tion,

own

church,

brings in with it'^corrupit

which renders

liable to the

wrath of

Cod

Ser.

XIV.
forever.

'

the hlltjig Sin.

it is

325
true

God
I

Then, fay feme,

what
little

have heard fay of you, that there are

;

children in hell a fpan long

never hadfuch

a thought in
infants,

my

life

never believed that any

black or white, were

damned
born

in hell.

I think a poor child,

though
I

it is

in a ftate

of
is

original fin,

and

have ofren thought that

children are feized with
as

thereafon

why

little

fuch

terrible

diforders

often

carry

them

out of the world, with ten times more agony

than

parents feel

a great

proof of man's
infant foon after

offence.
it is
fits^

We
.

fee a

poor

little

born, in two or three months taken with

lie

fcreaming and ftruggling,

while the

diftreffed parents arc

breaking their hearts, and

it

wifhing, though they love

dearly, that
Is

God

Would take

it

out of

its

pain.

not this a

ftrong proof that

who
them

can

tell

man is fallen from God? elfe what God defigns hereby hov/:

ever, I

verily believe that

for

by

his grace

he

fits

heaven.

We
we

have broken

Gods

law, and are liable to eternal condemna^!on,

w^e are therefore legally dead,

every one of us
all

without diftindion

-,

are

upon

a level,

frcm the
it

greatefl

king in the world,

who
him

has

in his

power

to write death or life

upon the
to

poor condemned malefaftors;

bring

the

3 26

Negle6l of Cbriji

Ser.
it

XIV.

the bar of God's holy law,

and

will tell

him
fight

there,

thou

art the
thyfelf,

malefador in the

of God, thou
It
is

and thus

God

is

glorified.

not greatnefs of flation, nor

external differences, that

make

a difference in

the internal ftate of the foul.

nobleman

may come
bar,
hall,

with his
tried

ftar

and garter

to the king's

and be
and

by

his peers at

Weftminfter-

may

be attended from the

Tower by

fome of the
bleman be

king's officers, but whether a no-

tried at Weftminfter-hall, or a criat the Old-Bailey, the

:

minal in rags

law muft
ftate to-

be executed upon both

this

is

our

wards God,
fins, are

we have
dead

lived in trefpafles

and
Dr.
lofs
is

legally

now
fays,

is

that
all

all ?

Taylor, of Norwich,

that

the

we

have had by the

Alas
!

fall is,
!

that our mifery

temporary.

alas

when Arminians

talk

of the

fall,

you

will find very

few of them have

courage enough to ftab themfelves. Confcience

makes them cowards; they have loft all by Adam's fall. What death have we fuffered,
not only legally

but fpiritually
?

dead; what

do

mean by
life

that

why,
in

of that
ftood.

of

God

we are deprived which we originally

that

have.

Have you ever feen any body Have you ever feen one of your

die

friends

die?

Sen XIV.

the killing Sin.

327
of your love,
till

die? have you ever ftole into the room, and

looked but once

at the dear objed:

life,

the partner of your

but wait

the next

day, and efpecially in the

fee

fummer feafon, and

objeft I faw, put
in.

how

changed

the
fall I
is

laft

me in mind of the
a change
!

faw nature
departed
!

O what
is

the glory

But belides
rltual

this legal

death, there

a fpi13

death, and the confequence of that

;

eternal death

if I die in that ftate I

is,

muft die
living

for ever
eternally

that

muft be a creature

banifhed from
I die,
it

God

if I

be annihi-

lated
is all

when
'y

then, indeed, temporal death

fo,

but
5

is

not

am to
;

live in

another
tells

world

the wifeft
is

man upon

earth

us,

that there
legal

a future ftate

and therefore by
liable to

and

fpirituai death, I

am

death
this,

eternal.

I have the longer inlifted

it

on

becaufe
that
life

is

impoffible to

know, or
for us,

to value

that Jefus Chrift

came

into the world

to impart to us

and procure

without

coniidering the nature of the death he delivers

us from.

Now
Te will

let

us attend to

not come to

what our Lord me that ye may have

he
fays,

fays,
life ;

in the tenth chapter

/ am come

that

they might have

life^

and

that they might have it

more

328

Negkei of
\

Chrifl
life

.Sen
is

Xm

more abundantly
be
fure, the
is

now what

that? to

life

who
for

tried

by a

which a malefador wants, Jury 5 why, he wants to have

?

the chain taken ofFj what do you and I want

we may want
before
if ever I

to eternity if

we

plead our

innocence 5
guilty

there Is not one of us but muft plead

God;
have

well,
life,

what muft

do

why,

muft be acquitted,

fomething muft pronounce

confcience fays, guilty
3

me

not guilty

my
we
his
%

why, then
a legal
all

Jefus Chrift
that

came
tion

that

we might have
are under

life,

might be acquitted from

that

condemna-

which we
5

by our breaking

law

fo far the

remedy anfwers
therefore,

to the difeafe

but the remedy would not be extenfive enough

if that

was

all

it

was an excellent
the Old-Bailey,
fhe

anfwer a poor

woman made

at
:

I heard of it twenty years ago

was brought
;

fick to the bar to receive a pardon

faid.

the judge

Woman,
:

his majefty has given

you a

pardon
jefty
it,

My
is

lord, fays flie, I

thank his mapronouncing

for a pardon,

and you
I

for
3

but that

not
a

all

want

what

my
if I

poor

foul

wants

is,

pardon from Jefus Chrift;

what

fignifies a

pardon from a judge,

that will kill
I

have
I

a difeafe in

me

me ? whether

am

pardoned or not,

muft have

my

difeafe

cured,

Ser.

XIV.

the killing Sin.

329
good.
I

cured, that the pardon

may do me

thought

it

a ftrange plea of
that
I

of a
for

fliip,

a man, a captain heard tried fome years ago

overboard
^

throwing

poor negro

he

afkedthe furgeon, do you think that the child

will die
?

Sir,

faid he,

it

will not

live
let
it

above

an hour; then, fays he, you

may

down

now: O,
the child.

fays the judge,

I

you have murdered

muft have a pardon from

;

my
the

God,

or I

am damned

and

if I

have

loft

divine image,

which was the

image
I

original

dignity
j

of man,

I fliall

never get to glory without the

reftoration of that
fin.

have
is

loft

by my/
of

Spiritual

life

in the heart,

that which'

comes from

Jefus Chrift, and this

is

the

life

God
life

in the fool of

man ;
Chrift,

it

is

not a meta-

phorical but

a real thing,

refurredion to
is

by the power of

who
is

the rejur-

reclion

and

the
legal

lifey

fo there

connexion
5

between a

and a

fpiritual life

the type

and antitype anfwers

water: thus as
all

as face

anfwers to face in

in

Adam

have died,
are

fo all

in Jefus Chrift, the

alive.

fecond

Adam,

made

We

are apt to think that fuch a one,

and fuch a one, were found Chriftians and gone

to heaven,

but there
;

is

a great deal of falfe

this life

charity in the world

all

without

undone.

we are Now,

330

Negledt of Chrijt
brethren, if this
is

Sen XIV.
the cafe,
?

Now, my
muft
I

how

have

my

life

in

glory
?

dead creature be a Chriftian

ner that
is

how muft a how muft a finlife ?

fpiritually

dead have divine

and

how muft

a creature, every

moment
?

liable
?

to death eternal, be

made

eternally alive

can

any body anfwer that queftion

tell

will reafon

me

no

will philofophy help

me ? no

for if the

world by wifdom knew not

G-od^ furely,

the world by
to

wifdom knows not how

you
proudeft

to turn

God

therefore,

will find the greateft

deifts,

fcholars the greateft fools,

and

moft fcornful

atheifts ^ for

knov/ledge puffeth

up ; and

if

bare knowledge

makes a Chriftian,.
is

the devil muft be very good, he

the moft

knowing, and yet the moft wicked.

The

only

way to get
Chrift
'y

this life reftored, is to

come
faith

to Jefus

ye will riot come unto me^

our text,

may have life-y implying, coming to him they cannot have

that ye
no other

that without
life
:

there

is

name given under heaven whereby we

Jeftts Chrijl.
life.

can be favedy but that of

the wayy the truths

I am
the re^-

and

the

am

jurreBion and the

to have this
it:
I
life,

life ^

faith the

Lord. In order
to Chrift for
to Chrift^

we muft come

hope you don't think coming

means coming

to fee bi$ perfon, that can never

bei

Ser.

XIV.
for

the killing Sin.

331

be

our Lord talks of coming to him

himfelf was the preacher, and they

when he
were
all

about him; though fo

many round
was
let

him, yet there was but one that touched him.

great

many people
I
!

fay,

dear, if Chrift

here,

how would
in

carefs

him
at

would

him

when, perhaps,

the fame

time

turn out one of his members.

like to fee Jefus Chrift

Would you

with a parcel of boys

and

girls

running before him, a parcel of poor

fifliermen with

him,

and Mary

Magdalen,

wdth a

mob

of poor people and publicans fol?

lowing him
people

we have got the fame fpirit the had then, we fliould hoot at him and
as the

defpife him,

Pharifees did.
is

A
to

great

many

people think coming to Chrift

;

come
I love

to the facrament that privilege;

tions I

you know very well

and one of the

that

greateft afflic-

have

is,

my

health will not permit

;

me

to attend

all

the ordinances
that have

but thoufands

come

to ordinances,

no view of the

God
find,

of ordinances in them, therefore you will

that in
all

our public places

it is

as

much
up

the faftiicn to go to public worfliip about eleven

o'clock, as

any where

elfe.

They
;

are not

time enough to their mattins

fay,

they

go and

we thank God, who

has brought us to

u 2

the

332

Negkdi of

Chrijl

Sen XIV.

the beginning of this day, and that

when
to a

perjuft
'

haps the clock

ftrikes

twelve,

and they
as

up; thus people go

to fee

to

church
as

play,

and be ktn, and

aflc

foon as they go out

of church, they
to next,

where
?

they are to go

and what party

to

Thoufands go

to

church, or
don't corTiC

meeting,
Chrift
:

and facrament, and

to

come and

like this

preaching, and numbers

for
left,

who

are called fools

following

us,

eat the fragments that

fifli

are

that hear preaching, eat the

and the

loaves,

and are only feafling upon fhadows

:

and not upon Chrift

this

ihould

make

us

extremely careful to examine whether

we

ever

came to

Chrift or no.

great moral preacher

all

fays of our preaching,

out, then

when

their ftock is

they cry come, come, come, and

that
I

is

the burden of their fong, fay they

that will be the burden
fays.

and
till

hope

of our fong
of

Chrift

Come ye

blejfed

my

Fathe?^-,

what would you have us

a

fay
will

?
;

O,
and

fay you, bid

in the

man do and

live, fo

we

fame
5

fenfe Chrift in the gofpel fays, thou art dead

what
nal

fhall I do,
?

fays the

man,

to inherit eterfaid to

life

thou knoweft our Lord

him.
thou
fcak

Keep

the law.

Our Lord always fpoke

to the

people in their

own

language

that

is,

Sen XIV.
/halt love the

the killing

Sim

333
all

Lord thy God with

thy heart

he began with morality

begin at the
fifth

at the right place,

wc

commandment.
Young,
is

The

great
;

morality, fays Dr.

beginning .with

the love of God.

Thoujhalt love thy neighbour

as thyfelf ; thou haft anjwered rights fays he,

do thisy

and thou jhalt

live.

Whoever
with
;

loves
all

the Lord
foul

God

as

he ought
fliall

to do,

his

and ftrength,

certainly live

but our

Lord

takes pains to convince

;

rance and folly

fays he,

him of his igno*who is my neighbour ?

as to the love of
that.

God, he had no thought of

deceive our

Thus we

Jefus Chrifl opens our eyes.

own fouls, till What muft we

muft believe on
belief^

come

to Chriftfor?

to

be acquitted; come to
j

his blood to be

pardoned

yoii

him, not only with a bare fpeculative

that the devil has,

and

all

the

damned

in

hell,

but to have his blood applied and brought

to the foul
;

home

we muft come
I

thor and finidier

juft

now
is

fay,

him as the auof our faith. Did not you believe in the Holy Ghoft,
to
life;

the Lord and giver of

and the form of

Father, Son, and

baptifm

in the
;

name of the

Holy Ghoft
and
I

it

means, baptize them into the

nature of the Father, Son,

and Holy Ghoft

remember about

three or four and thirty

years

334

ISlegka of Chriji
that

Ser.

XIV,
in

years ago, a friend mentioned

private converfation to

word

it, we we fhould tranflate it, we believe it i?i Gody for we never do till God has put his faith in us, then we have in our fouls a new life in Chrift, then we live a life of faith ; the life I now live is by faith in I live^ yet not 7, but ChriJI the Son of God,

me, we
he,

tranflate

believe in

God

faid

Jiveth in me.

In order

to. this I

muftcome

to

Jefus Chrift,
nal,

and believe on him

for life eter-

the earneft of
in

which

eternal life I

muft
do

have

my

heart before I can be affured I

believe

on him.
this,

O,
this is

my

dear hearers, do

we

think of

no new docSrine 5
this dodtrine.

I fet

out, bleffed be

God, with
I ever

The
that

fecond fermon

made, the fecond fermon

thefe words.
:

I ever preached,
is

wks on

He

in Chriji

is

a new creature

was then about

twenty years and a half old.

The

next fer-

mon
the

preached was upon, Te are juflifiedi

next fermon,

Te are
I

glorified

-y

which
from
I

(hows, that though

old,
yet,
I

am

near fifty-five years

I

thank

my

God,

am
I

fo far

changing

my

principles, v/hich

am

fure

was taught by God's word and am more and more confirmed,

to

Spirit,

that I

that if I

was
have

die

this

m.oment,

hope

I
2r

fhould

ftrength

Sen XIV.

the killing Sin.

335
to fay, I

ftrength and courage given

me

am

more convinced of the efficacy and the power of thofe truths which I preached when I was
twenty years old, when
1 firft

preached them.

Now, my

dear hearers, what could enter

into the heart of

any perfon
as this

in the
?

world, to

reject fuch a falvation

can you think

that

when

a king faith to a prifoner, let

refufe
it ?

him

go,

he would

there are
I

ibns that refufe Chrifl.

fome perremember when, by

the bounty of the people here,

we begged for
and
be

the poor, one man went

faid,
this is

to the turnpike

Dr. Whitefield's bread and

nature,
life!

damned.
Chrift, the
to

Human
that
it

what

is it

without

bread of

We

will not

come

him

we may have
^
:

life,

though

we

may have

for afking

no, not for

life eter-

nal, as a free gift

we

will not
3

come

to Chrift
:

and accept
not
faid,

it

at his

hand

\NQ Jljall not J but

we will not it is we 'zc'/// not. Pray

to Chrift to

why
life
?

will not people

come
it ;

have

becaufe they do not think that they are

dead, and do not want

remember when
that ye are

you
that

fay,

you are rich and increafed in goods^

not, faith Chrift,

you know

poor and mijerable, and blind and naked.

We
not

do not

fee

ourfelves fallen

creatures,

we do

336
not

NeglcEi of Chrifl

Ser.

XIV.

know

that

God
is 710

give thee to

know and
Chriji.
?

feel,

that there

name

gt'ven under heaven

whereby we can be favedy but Jefus

What, faith what would

one, muft I

have inward feeling

the polite world do without feel-

ing? do you think they would go to the play-

houfe and places of public diverfion without

feeling
?

if I

can feel other things that do not

concern religion,

how
we
I

can

come

to

God

till

feel

a need of him.

We don't chufe to come

don't chufe to have

to Chrift,

becaufe
^

as a free gift

we

don't like to

come
I

to

him him as

poor and needy,

remember

heard an ex-

cellent minifler of Chrifl in Scotland,

one Mr.

Wallis, of Dundee, preaching upon thefe words.

Behold 1 ft and at the door and knocks fays he. Chrift comes knocking at the door to come
into your

houfes,

but

you
his

will

not

come

down
my

to

accept
faid,

of

mercy.

When
to

the prodigal

will arife

and go

Father^ and will fay unto him^

I have finned

againji heaven

and

in thy fght^ ajid ajnno more

worthy

to be called thy fon^

:

thy hired fervants

make me as one of now you think that it was

very humble in him, he

who was

a fon

of the

head of the houfe, to be wiUing

vant.

to be a fer-

'Tis true he fays, I will go to rny father's

Ser.

XIV.

the killhig Sin.

337
fays,
I

ther's houfe, but at the

fame time he
he
fliall

will

work
for

for

my
;

living,

not maintain

me

nothing

but v/hen he comes to his

father,

he

is

quite

brought down, he

fays,
\

have finned againU heaven and in thy fight

joyful father clafps

the

him

in his withered arms,

and takes the poor ragged wanderer home.

The
come

lawyers

and other Jews thought they

were righteous, and therefore they would not

to Jefus Chrift,

Our Lord fpoke of the

to

Pharifees,

who

trufted in themfelves that they

were righteous, and would not come

that they

him

might have

life

-,

and

if

we

truft in

ourfelves, neither

I receive
come
to

not

Our Lord fays, honour from men. How canyon

fliall

we.

him, that receive honour one of another?

to

Honour
are
in

whom

honour

is

due.

To

fuch as
ftate,

pov/er,
is

whether

in

church or
fituation.
;

refpedt
for

due

to their

outward

am

no

levelling principles at

all

but,

my breno going

thren, at the

fime time there

is

a fault, that
is

we

love to be applauded.
faith

There

to heaven,

Mr. Gurnal, without wearis

ing a fool's cap and a fool's coat, and there

no going
fools: fo

to heaven without being accounted

you

fee

many

profeflbrs follow the

world, they have not courage enough to live

'in

338

NegJeB of

Chrijl

Ser.

XIV.
and

in holy non-conformity to

the world;

many

people are frightned from Chrift, becaufe

they would not be counted Methodifts; the

fear of

man

has

damned

thoufands.

You

will
truft

not

come

to

him, becaufe you cannot

love the world
love

God, and then we

Chriil.

more than

If any man

the worlds the love

of the Father is720t in him. If I had the management of people, their fliops would be open
three or four hours before they are

now
;

do

not want to hinder mens bufinefs

thofe that
if

have mofl money and moft power,

they

adted as they ought to do, would be the greateft

flaves to their fellow-creatures.

When

I talk

of loving the world,

love: I

mean an

inordinate

may hve

in the

world, and not live

upon

it ;

my

heart

may
is

be towards

God

the love of the world

to be renounced,

and

therefore they will not

come

to

Jefus Chrift

they think,
world.
Chrift,

till

they are
are

going

out of the

If

you

one of thofe

who

hate

why you
him
?
2

are the

man

that will not

come
hrtte

to

why,

fay you, does any

body

Chrift

pray hold your tongue, for fear

:

of difcovering your ignorance

O, fay you,
But,

God

forbid I ftiould hate him.

my

dear

foul, learn

from

this

time forward, that every

one

Ser.

XIV.

the killing Sin\

:

239

one of us by nature hates Jefus Chrifl

this

we

fent

mefTage to him
to reign over us,

man
is

we will not have this we hate him becaufe he

appear-

defpifed,

we

hate

him becaufe of the

ance of the people that are his followers,

hate

him becaufe of the narrownefs of

lufts

the

we way

we

are to pais in to
3

him, becaufe we muft part

hate
I

with our

we

him
hate

becaufe

we muft

be non-conformifts:

that rag of the

whore of Babylon,
all

that

form of prayer,
I

that fluff, I

thank

God

was born a Difin

fenter, I love
rites

to be

a Puritan, I don't love

and ceremonies, no not

yet,

the church,
to the

and

perhaps, are

more conformed

world than numbers of the church, and have

nothing but
rites

and ceremonies about their

houfes and families.

others? a

What do we more
fliould
articles,
3

than

churchman

prove himfelf a

churchman, by having his

and keep-

ing up the practice of religion

and a Diffenter

fhould prove hinifclf one, not by diffenting

from the church,

flcjh^ the
liijt

but from the

liifts

of the

of,

the eye^

and
place

the pride of life,

and then we
and another
to

fliall

agree very

weh

together,

though one went

to a

called a church,

to a place called a meeting.:

would
this

God

every foul

now

pref;nt

would put

X 2

queftion

340

Negka
There

of

Chrijl.

Ser.

XIV.

queflion to himfelf,

Am
a

am

I ijot

is

come to Chrift, or great number of perfons

I

you have heard of Providence calling me abroad, no doubt curiofity brings many of you
here,

here, to hear
tell

what the poor babler

I will fay to

fays

you what

you,

that without

you have an
mufl: be

intereft in the

Son of God, you

damned.

Examine yourfelves whether

whe-

you are in the jaith^ whether your religion

reaches any further than the church-door,
ther

you

are the

inward court worfhippers

confcience, confcience, confcience, thou faithful monitor,

God
I

help thee to give a proper

verdidl.

When
over
earthy

had the honour of opening

I

lady Huntingdon's chapel, as

turned about I

obferved
'Earthy

my

head

were thefe words,

earthy

hear the "word oj the

foul

Lord:
me,
I

that

every earthly

may
life,

hear

God's word

this day.

Don't be angry with

the decline of

am now upon
you

going
claim

toward threcfcore,
leave to fpeak to

farely

now

may

freely;

after

next Sun-

day, perhaps,

you may never hear

I

me

any

more, though
but return,

do not intend

to live abroad,

if pleafe

God,

in a proper

time,
oi*

but long before that thou maylt be in hel!

heaven.

As

the

Lord

live?,

in

whofe name

fpeakj

Sen XIV.
fpeak, if
life,

the killing Sin.

341
have

you

will not

come

to Chrift to

you muft come

to his bar to hear

him proIf

nounce you damned

to all eternity.
life,

you

come
blejfed,

to

him

that

you may have

Come, ye

v^ill

be the fentence there, but if you

will
for

now. Depart^ ye ciirfed, fentence then from the Lord,

refufe

be your
in a
little

while he that
not tarry.

fhall
!

come
!

will

come, and will

Hark

hark

don't you hear him,

don't you hear him, don't you hear der

;

him yongood peo-

hark
?

methinks

hear him, what does

he fay
ple,

fee yonder, don't

is

you

fee,

that yonder fun

darkened, and the

moon

turned into blood.

0, who can abide the day

to think

of

his

coming^ O,

of

his his

coming,

may
is

the finner fay,

when
foul
!

know

coming
finners,

only to

damn my

How

do the mur-

derers dread the affizes, but

pardoned

pardoned criminals, are glad when they hear

the high-fheriff coming
to
:

O, fay they,
I

I lon^^

go

to to

the bar,
plead

becaufe
king's

am

going there

only

the

pardon.

Kappy,
this Je,-

happy, happy you, that have come to

fus Chrift that

you might have

in

life,

that
life

you
and

might walk becoming him

converfation.
to
O,'.

your

Chrift will come, and

5

come
life:

you

as his cliildren

but

God

grant th:j

may

342

NegleB of

Chrijl

Ser.

XIV.

may

be difplayed in you and

If

we are helped to came that we might have

more!
have
it

me more and know that Chrift

life,

and might
that others
I

more abundantly, O, pray

may come,
was
on Mofes
nefsy

bring your children to Chrift.

pleafed one day after I

lifting
it

had been preaching

was

up the ferpent in the wilder^

I think

was

in

New-England,

taken up into a room to repofe myfelf, there

was a mantle-piece,
the brazen ferpent

reprefenting the children

to

brought in the arms of their parents

:

look at

may God

help you to

bring your children and your relations to view

Chrift.

O Lord

help

my
to

mother,

my

fither,

my
to

child,

my fervant,
may have
this
life.

come

to Jelus Chrift

that they

The Lord
people.

help you

come,

come young

charmed

was morning, and every morning I

I

give the facrament, to fee fo

there crouding to the table

many young men may the Spirit of

-,

God
to

keep you near

to Jefus Chrift

and you

young women, may God draw you nearer unChrift.

heart,
I

remember when God touched

fent

my

and

in the country, I

me down to fee my friends prayed God to blefs me to

was called
to

thofe to

whom

dance and to

pl^y at cards with, and, bleffed be

God, he
bleffed

Ser.

XIV.

the killing Sin.

to

343

bkffed

me

them

all

before I

was twenty

years of age,

and

after that

he

fent

me

to

prifon, I there

preached to a murderer, and

fome

others, and, bleffed be

God, they came

fourfcore years

to JeiusChrifl,

and one of them went offmoft

triumphantly.

A poor creature,
has

of age,
read
faid,

who
Sir,

made

it

a pradlice to go and
to

to poor

people,

and

the

prifoners,

"
I

began

late,

but,

by the help of

God,

now work the

harder for Jefus Chrift."

to

May

he incline you

come,

young wo-

men and young men. There was a good woman who died fometime ago, whofe laft word Will you I think was, I now go to my God.
come and go
to-

too,

you old grey-headed

iinners,

that have one foot in the grave,

go,

God remove
made

every

God help you God grant obftacle

-,

that every

mountain may be brought low, and

into

a highway
Chrifl.

your hearts

for Jefus
in a

Don't be angry with

I fliall

me
^

week
I

or

two

be tolling on the ocean^ while

you

are hearing

God's word here

while

am

amidft ftorms and tempefts, you will be upon

the earth.

Paul could ftand

the whipping,

but

it

is

not a whipping, but weeping, that

heart
;

breaks
this

my

my

greatell: trial is,

what

if

fermon iLould help

to

fink thefe people

deeper

344-

JNegM

of

Chrijl,

&c.

Ser.

XIV.

deeper in the
cold.

pit,

that

makes

my

blood run
rife in

that

my
it

fermon

may

never

judgment
believe

againft you,
find

my

poor dear

fouls.

you

hard

forced to be witneffes
dren, your

when any of you are againft your own chiland whoever

fpirit,
is

own

friends,

deals

with the word with a difmterefted

muft

do

it s

the only
;

way
if

to prevent

it,

to
if

come

to Chrift

and
it,

you cannot come,

be praifed
;

you are

fenfible of

God

he

will

come

to

you

if

you cannot come

to Chrift,

he will

come and make you willing in the day of his power; that this may be the happy cafe, God Amen. grant to us all, for his name's lake.

SERMON

345

SERMON
All

XV.

Mens

Place.

EccLE,siASTES

vi.

ver. 6.

Do

not all go

to

one place ?

Remember

an ingenious writer,

who had
profitable
:

I
is

been very copious in his publications, obferved, that the beft

and moft
fifty

were written
the genius

after

he was

years of age
is

it

fuppofed, then the judgment

is

ripened, and
to maturity

as
-,

it

were advanced

and

knowledge

and

experiences
ufeful in

gathered
the de--

when young,
cline of
life,

will be

more

when

grey hairs are it^n here and

It is faid
;

there

upon them.
are twice

indeed, that old

men

children

but there are feme

whofe
ter

geniuffes are fo very

low that they can-

not be twice children, becaufe they are no bet-

than children from their cradle to

i

their

grave

but this

is

not the cafe

with God's
children,

346
children, for
fteps they

Jil Mens Place.

Ser.

XV.

upon

a refledion of the
if
it

wrong

have taken,

proceeds from the

fandilied fenie of afflidions, they ferve to

make
This
fa-

them more infLrudive

was the
voured
cafe of

in their latter day.

Solomon, though highly

when young, for the Lord appeared unto him twice, yet he fell moft awfully, and
had we not read of
dodrine of the
final

his

recovery again, the

faints,.

perfeverance of the

muft feem

to fall to the

ground, but
reftored,

we

have

reafon to think that

he was

and gave

evidence of his recovery by writing in fuch a

manner, that none could but one that knew

much

of

God

and himfelf >

Vv^itnefs

the

book

ofEcclefiaftes,

which
a

in all ages of the

church
Ec-^

has been received with a peculiar refped.

clefiaftes fignifies

preacher,

fuch Solomon

^was from
!

his

own

experience, and exceeded

by none but him who /pake as no man ever did. The chapter in which is the text, defcribes
the vanity and mifery of our prefent
unfandified.
ftate,

if

7here

is

an

evily faith he,

that

I have

feen under the fun^

:

and

it

is

common
walks
hath

among men
and

though he

is

going about to de-

fcribe a monfter, yet

flaiks abroad, a

it is

a monfter that
to

man

whom God

given riches, wealth, and honour, fo that he

wanteth

Scr.

XV.

All Mens Place.

his foul

347
that

wanteth nothing for

fireth,

of

all

he deto

though
is

God

gives

him

not

power

eat,

this

vanity and a great difeafe.

Was

there ever a

more

ftriking

defcription of an

old covetous mifer,

who
it

leaves his
fafler

wealth to

fome perfon
wretch got

that fpends

than the poor

fays,

it ?

He

goes on and

If a jfian

and live many years^ Jo that the days of his years he ma?iyy and his foul be not filled with goody and alfo that be have
beget an hundred children y

no burialy Ifay^ that an untimely birth

ter than he^

is

bet-

for he cometh in with

njanityy

and

depart eth in darknefSy and his namejl^all be coijered

with darknefs.

Moreover^ he hath

?iot

feen

the jun^ ?2or k?20wn any things this hath

re/l

more

than the other.

And

then though

this creature

fhould be fuppofed to live a thou-

fand years twice told,

why,

faith he, yet

hath

he feen no good, he has never been poflelled

of
real

good
for,

to

make him happy

not
all

here or herego,,

after,

adds he, do

both the

abortive and the aged,

young and

old,

high

and low, rich and poor, whether bleffed with

children,

or have no children, whether like

that

Lazarus,

beg

their

bread,
linen,

or

Dives,
fire

cloathed in purple and

fine

and

fumptuoully every day.

place ?

Do
y 2

not all go Jo one

An

34^

'-^/^

Mens

Place.
!

Scr.

XV.
it

An

important queflion
?

ihail I

propofe

to you to-night

do you know what the wife

offers this queftion

man. means when he

your confideration,

to
"^

Do

not all go to one place

?

v/hat can be the defign of this

the thing,

no

doubt, here fpoken of

is
is

death, the place here

fpoken

of,

no doubt,
!

the grave.
firft

An amafentence

zing confideration
that

part of the

the great and holy

God

ever denounced
all,

againft fallen
art^

man, to one and

ditjl firft

Dtijl thou

and unto

ihou JJoalt return.

parentis

On

acit

count of our

tranfgrefllon,
forts

is

appointed unto
the inhabitants

all

men,

all

of men,

all

under heaven,
faith,

once to die;

and therefore the apoftle

Death

hath-

fafjed upon all nien^ even upon thofe ivbo have not fmned after ike fimilitude of the tranfgref-

Jion of

Adam^
adual

that
fin.

is,

who

have

not been

guilty of

Can

there be a flronger
guilt,

proof of the imputr^uon of Adam's

original fin, or a

of

more

cutting

trial

that a ten-

der father and nurfing mother can undergo,

than to fee a dear

little

child juft born, or but

lent to the loving parents for a

few months,

taken away often in the greateft agonies that

we
ers,

can conceive

and

if

God, m.y dear heardenly

has ever fuffered your dear children fud-

Ser.

XV,

M Mem
friend of

Place.

349

denly to be feized with convulfions, and continue in anguifli and agonizing pains for

many

days together, you have had fufficient proof

of

it.

mine

thirty-two years ago, that

London, about was dotingly foncj

in
I

of every child he had, to

ter
Is

whom
for I

wrote a

let-

from Georgia, beginning with thefe words.

your idol dead yet
?

thought

it

was

fuch an idol that would foon go.

The account

he gave
the

me

the

firft

time

faw him was, that was received, the

torture,

day before
In

my

letter

child died
its

fuch agony and

its

that

excrements came out of

mou

th, v^hic

made

the fond and too indulgent parent wifh

to have rather died a thoufand deaths himfelf,

than that his child fhould die

in

fuch a
to

way

>

and added,
defire

was obliged
take

to

go

God, and

him

to

my

darling away.

What

an awful proof are

dren

their fufferings,

that chil-

come

into

the world with a corruption

liable

that renders

them

to

God's wrath and

damnation,

but the blood, the precious blood

it is

of Jefus Chrirt,

to be

hoped, cleanfes them

fin.

from the

guilt

and

filth

of

So any of you.

that have got children dead in infancy,

O may

you improve what

1 fliall

fay

by and by from

the text, and pray and endeavour to go to that

place,

2 so
place,

All Mens Tiace.

fee

Scr.

XV.

where I hope you will making a bleiTed conilellation

cf heaven
place,
:

your children

in the

firmament

in this refped: all

at the

go to the fame
life,

fome

beginning of
at

fome
;

at

the middle,

and fome

the decline

and
if

happy, happy they

their fouls are fived
!

who

go to bed foonefl,

But,

my

dear hearers, in another cafe

contradidl even

wc
for

may venture to if wc confider

ther view,
all

Solomon

the words of our text in ano-

do not go

to

one place

it is

true, all are buried in the grave either

of earth

or water,

but then after death comes judggives the decifive, the feparating

ment 5 death
blow.
text,

Suppofe then in our enlarging on the

we

fhould confine

the

word

all

to the

unregenerate, and to thofe

who

are not born

will, all

of God, thefe indeed, die when they

go

to one place.

If you fhould afk me, for I

love dearly to have an inquifitive auditory,

I

who

mean by unregenerate
all
3

who
?

mean by thofe
I

that are not born of

God
this,

I anfvver,

do not
Jefus

mean
Chrift

that

only

bear the

name of

mention

becaufe a great

many

people think that

all

that are baptized, either

when

they are adult or

when

they are young,

I

whether fprinkled or put under water,

be-

lieve

Ser.

XV.

All Mens Place.

-ci
all

lieve a great

many
I

people think that

1

thcfe

go

to heaven.

remember when

began to

ipeak againft baptifmal regeneration in

my

fii

il

fermon, printed

when

was about twenty5

two
rel

years old, or a

little iix)re

the

firft

quar-

many had with me

all
3

was, becaufe I did not

baptized were

fay that

people
I

who were

born again
trine

would
gives

as foon believe the

doc-

of tranfubftantiation.

Can

I believe that

a perfon
faint,

who

no evidence of being a
his baptifm to the

from the time of

time

perhaps of his death, that never fights againft

the world, the flefh, and the devil, and never

minds one word of w^hat

god-mothers promifed
that perfon
is

his god-fathers

and

for

him, can
?

believe

a real Chriflian
little

no, I can as

foon believe, that a

wafer in the prielVs

is

hand, about a quarter of an inch long,

very blood and bones of Jefjs Chrift,

the

who was
of Jei-u-

hung upon the

falem.
I

crofs without the gates

do believe baptifm
at the

to

be an ordi-

nance of Chrift, but

fame time, no can-

did perfon can be angry for

there are

my

aflerting, that

numbers
or

that have

been baptized
that

when
are

grovv^n up,

when

very young,
Spirit,
is

not

regenerated
to

by God's

who
where
there

will all

go

one place, and that place

$2

Ail Mens Place.

Ser.

XV.

there will be no water to quench that dreadful

lire that

them with thirft* I am fpeaking out of a book which contains the lively oracles of God, and in the name of one
will parch
is

who

truth

itfelf,

who knowing
and that

very well

what he fpoke, is and avv'ful manner

ivater aJid the

plea fed in the moft folemn

to fay, to a mailer

in Ifrael, that if a

man

be not horn again of

Spirit^ he cannot fee the king-

dom of God ; he can have no idea, no proper, no adequate notion of it, much lefs is he to exped: to be happy eternally with God hereafter
;

and therefore

as

our Lord fpoke to this

man, give me
\

leave to obferve to you. I don't

-,

mean

the Deifts only by unregenerate linners

ll don't m.ean the profane

mocker,

who

is

ad-

vanced to the fcorner's chair, nor your open

profligate,

adulterers,

fornicators,

abufers

of

themfelves with mankind, thefe have damnation

as
it

were written upon

;

their foreheads

wdth a fun-beam

and they

may know
die

that

God

is

not mocked, for if they

without
arc

repenting of thele things, they

in an unregenerate flate,

fhow they
thither,

and

will all

go to one

place

if

any of you are going

may

God

ilop

you

this night.
;

But,

my

brethren,

1 will

come

clofer

there are

more

unbelievers

within

Ser.

XV.

All

Mem

Place.

353

within the pale than without the p\le of the

church

of

it

me repeat it again, you may hink when I am tofiing upon the mighty wa^
;

let

ters,

there are

move

unbelievers

within the
all

pale of the church than without:

pofTeflbrs that

are not

are profcfTors, ail have not got

ai!

the thing promifcd,

pror'-jfe,

are not partakers of the

blefs
I

that talk

and
;

the promifcd Saviour

God they have got may have him in my

blcfled

mouth and upon my

the thing promifed, or

tongue, without having

tlie

promile in
can

my
he
i

heart,

Jr\

mora!

man

that

walk

touching the law biameiels, a perfon that thinks

righteous, b-^caale he does not knov/

why

a perfon wiio has got no other religion but to

go

to

particular

place of v/orfhip,

values
diff^^n-

himfelf upon being a churchman or a

ter
5

he

is

fuch a bigot, that he thinks no

man
long

will go to heaven but himfcif; thefe,

however
fo or
bar,

they

may

think themfelves

fafe,

will e'er

go

to

one place, whether they think

no

they will be foon

fummoned

to

one

and

the voice of the archangel founding, Arife^ ye

dead^

and come
^

to

judgment^ will be the great

fliall arife

alarm

the dead

and appear before

all

the Son of God,

as

Judge of

mankind
txcufeilj

thefe, as well as the infidels,

would gladly be

excufed

and

as

they once

faid,

pray to have

me
I

excufed from coming to Chrift, fo they

will fain be excufed

from appearing
as they

before,

and
all

being condemned by him, but they mufl:

go

to

one place

and

know

not God,
life,

and are unacquainted with the divine

they

mufl hear and

fuiFer

the

dreadiul fentence.

Depart^ ye curfedy

info

everlafltiig firc^

preis

fared jor the devil and

w^ere

his angels.

This

thought, that if cur hearts,

properly awakened,
:

my

cear hearers,

would make our

of abfence
be
fouls will
:

blood run cold

to be

in a place

from God,

a place

where damned

for ever curfing

God and
upon
it

one another
a
little,

give
it

me
be

leave to dwell
blefled,

and

may
a

under God, to awaken fome

carelefs

perfon,

who, perhaps, may be taking

and juft ftep
in

walk

to-night,

to
is

hear what the

babler has to fay wliile he

his leave of the people.

about to take
I

When
come

faw you

from

my

fludy crowding to

in,

when
go up

I to

faw you pudiing forward, fome

to

the Tabernacle, or into the veftry, fome to

fill

the area, and others to ftand at the door, I

thought
night,

hew

fliall

manage with myfelf

to-

fhail I

endeavour to

make

thefe

weep

and cry,

fhail I

not earneflly addrefs fo

many

precious

Ser.

XV.

'All

Mens Pkce.
pradical

355
to

precious fouls in a

way,

bring

them not to the preacher, but the preacher's mafler^ knowing the terrors of the Lord, we would fain perfuade all to fl^^e from this wrath
to come.

O
we
to

awful thought
all

and yet

it is

certain truth,

on earth muft go to one

like,

place;

if

live

and are

devils here^

we muft go
for ever
!

and be with them when

blefled

we

die
in

minifter of Chrift,

Scotland, told

me

a ftory he

knew

for truth,

of

a dreadful anfwer a poor creature gave on her

death-bed, for the Scotch, except the people
of

New-England,

are the

moft knowing people

^

in religious matters,

perhaps any where

this

perfon

when dying was aiked by a minifter, where do you hope to go when you die I fays
fhe,
I don't care

where

go

what, fays he,

don't you care whether you go to heaven or

hell
?

no, fays

(lie,

don't care whither

to
flie,

go

but,

fays he, if

you was put

?

your choice
to hell
;

where would you go

that he replied, are
hell
?

fiys

to to

you mad,
I
all

will

you go
?

yes,

fays

flie,
flie,

will

v^hy fo

fays

he

',

why,

fays

my

relations are there.

The

dear minifter of Chtift preached after her

told the
ftory,

death,

and afked,
fay
ftie

is

it

not

fliocking to hear a

woman
z 2

would go
to

356

Jh Mem
are uniegenerate

Place.

Sen XV.
:

to hell becaufe her relations

were there

why,
your

you that
all

mufl go

to hell tor
;

ycur unregenen<te relations are there

is

father the devil

there,

all

damned

angels and
fifiers

damned
there
j

fpirit*^ y

your brothers and

are

as

they went one

way

here,

fo they

muft be banifhed from Jelus Chrift

place hereafter.

to

one

But

I mufi; clofe this

mournful theme,
5

it is

too gloomy to dwell upon

bleffed be
of,

God,

have another place

fort

to tell

you

and another
fliall

of people to fpeak
I

of,

who
of,

all,

as

well as thofe

have fpoken

go to one place >

;

perhaps, here are fome of

it

them

bleffed

ijs

to live in

God.

When
is

death clofes the

eye's

ail

adlual feparation

made,

and inftead of
will hear.

hearing,

Depart, ye curfed^ they

bleffed

Come, ye

of my Father, inherit the king"

dom preparedfor yoii jrom the foundation of the Our bleffed maflcr, and who fpeaks world.
like

him, gives us an awful view of Dives and Lazarus, the one feafting and fattening his body
to the grave,
year,

not keeping one faft-day in a

at his gate,

and the other ftarving

per-

haps buried in the ditch, denied a grave by

the
alfo,
parifli,

while this

vile

wretch,

who

died

had a pompous funeral ^

there^

he was
carried

Ser.

XV.

.Aii

Mens Place
he was, perhaps,

i^^y
laid

carried to
in ftate,

one place;

two mutes attending round the coffin, while damned devils Were gnawing his foul

he

lift

up

his eyes in

torment.

Hark

don't

you hear him, I will flop a little that you may you ungodly ones, do not you hear your brother cry ? he would not pray while alive,
:

but hell makes

him

pray, not to

God
he,

but to

Abraham ; Father j^braham^

Lazarus
and
to dip the tip
3

fays

[end

of his finger in water,

I verily believe, the

cool yny tongue

and

damned
what

will

have a fight of thofe that are in

heaven, to

let

a Chrift,

them know what a heaven, what a glory they have lofl

God
who

grant this

may

be none of your

cafe,

it

will not be if

you are of the number of thofe

from above,
^

are born

that are
for

made new
a

creatures in Chrift Jefus

by being boni
principle

again from above, 1

mean receiving

of

new life, im parted to our hearts by the Holy Ghofl, changing you, giving you new thoughts, new words, new adions, new views,
fo that old

things pafs aWay, and

in

all

things

become new
ploded
again,
I

our

fouls.

know

very well,
is

that the dodrine of a divine influence

:

ex-

have often told you, and I

I

tell

yoa
for

now

am

about going to another clime

358

^All

Mens Place.
quarrel

Ser.

XV*
do

for a-while, that the grand

that our

Lord

Jefus Ciirift has with England,

it

and

not foQ^k

as a

prophet, or the fon of a pro-

phet, but as the

Lord God

liveth, in

whofe
going,

name

I fpeak,

for

whofe glory
his divine
this land

am

abroad, and in whofe fear I defire to die, if

the Spirit of

God and

influence is

not more regarded in

been, wo, wo,

than

it

has
it,

wo

to

thofe that

defpife

they

may by and

by, one day or other,

BlefTed be
it

wonare

der and perifh.

God, there
-,

happy few who do regard

fuaded in

and

am

perin

my
in

very foul, that the

number
in

England,

Scotland, in Ireland,
does, and I pray
It

Wales,
ftill

and

in i\merica,

may,

greurly

increafe.

Yet,

notwithftanding
is

the

Word of God

does run and

glorified,

how
do
the
that

many

are

there at this day, that wilfully

Spirit

defpite to the

of God,

that hate
;

doctrine of the Spirit's divine influences

if it

were

in

their

power, but

we

live

under

revolution principles, and are bleiled with toleration,

which

is

the bulwark

of liberty of

conicience,

otherv/ife

the

ftreet

would run
diifcn-

with the blood of both churchmen and

ters^

but whether the world will hear or for-

bear, bkiTeJ be

God, when

v/e fpeak

of

tiie

new

Ser.

XV.
birth,

All Mens Place]

3^9
what

new

we do
;

not fpeak

of a cunningly
feen,

devifed fable

what our eyes have

our hands have handled, and what our hearts

havje felt of the

word
I

of

h*fe,

that declare

we

unto you.
I began

When
to faft

was

fixteen years

of age

twice a

week

for

thirty-fix

hours together,

prayed

many
all

tim^es

a-day,

received the facrament every Lord's-day, fall-

ing myfelf almoft to death

the forty days

it

of Lent, during which,

duty never to go
lefs

made

a point of

than three times a-day

itv^n times a-day

to public worfliip, befides to

my

private prayers,

yet I

knew no more
than
to if I

that I

was

to

be born again in God, born a

new

creature in Chrift Jefus,

all.

was

never born at
the ftage, but
fcience
3

had a mind

be upon

then 1 had a qualm of conpray can I be

ufed to afk people,

a player, and yet go to the facrament and be a

Chriftian
player,
?

O, fay they, fuch a one,

5

who

is

goes to the facrament

though, ac-

cording to the

law of the knd,

no player

fijQuld receive the facrament, unlefs they give

proof that they repent

Tillotfon's doctrine
cafe,
fiid I,
I will
:

that

was archbifhop

well then, if that be the

be a player, and I thought

the devil as well as any

to

aft

my

part

for

body

360
body;
ip
bijt,

All Mens Place.

blefled be

Ser.

XV.

God, he flopped

me

my journey. my
I

I muft bear teftimony to

my
in

old friend,
into

Mr. Charles Wefley, he put a book

called, the

hands,

Life of

God

the Soul of
that

Man, whereby God fhewed me,

I
it

muft be born again or be damned.

the
place
;

know

may

be luperftitious, per-

haps, but whenever I go to Oxford, I cannot

help running to that place where Jefus Chrift

fii ft

revealed himfelf to

me, and gave me the

new birth. As a good writer fays, a man may go to church, fay his prayers, receive the
facrament,
Chriftian.

and

yet,

How

did

my brethren, not be my heart rife, how did

man
that
left
is

2,

my

heart fliudder, like a poor

his

afraid to look into

account-books,

he
I

fliould find himfelf a

bankrupt; yet
I

fhall

burn that book,

I put
it

fliall

throw

it

down,
it ?

fhall

by, or fhall I fearch into

in

did,

and holding the book

dreffcd the

my

hand, thus adr

Lord, if
real one,

am

not
tor

Godof heaveji and earth: a Chriftian, if I am not a

Jefus Chiift's fake,
is,

God,

Chriftianity
laft.

that I

fhow me what may not be damned at

and the cheat
author,
w^as

I read a little further,

;

difcovered
Icnov^

O,

fays

the

they
it is
a.

that
vital

any thing of

religion^

know

tinioa

Ser.

XV.

All Mens Place.

Chrifl:

361
formed in
lite

union with the Son of God,

the heart
5

O
in

what
upon

a ray

of divine

did

then break
ting to
to the

my poor foul, I fell a wriall my brethren, to my fifters, talked fludents as they came in my room, put
trifling

off

all

converfation,

put

all

trifling

books away, and was determined

be a
that
flint,

to ftudy to
;

and then to be a fcholar

and from

moment God
work
in

has been carrying on his

foul
3

blefled

my

and

as

am now
fixty,

fifty-five years
tell

of age, going towards

you,

my
is

brethren, as I fhall leave you in

a few days, I
that this

am more

and more convinced

God, and without it you never can be faved by Jefus Chrifl: all
the truth of
:

thofe born of
old,
at

God, whether when young or

ninth,

the fixth,

or eleventh

hour,

however feparated from one another, through

the grace of God,
place.

they fhdll

ail

go
I

to

one

If you
blcfl^ed

aflc

where
to

that place

is ?

anfwer,
aflc

be God,

heaven
?

if

you

to

whom
of
jufl:

they fhall go

anfwer, to the
-^

fpirits

men made
If

perfed*

and, what will be

befl:

of all, to Jefus Chrifl, the heavenly inhe-

ritance.

we were
?

not to go to him, what

would heaven be

if

we were
a a

not to fee him,

wlut

362

All Mens Place.

glory be? I
is

Ser.

XV.
what

what would
think heaven

know fome

people

a fine place, foitis; but

makes

it

fo,
?

but the prefence and joy of the

I

God
done

of glory

would

rather die a thoufand

aifedlions as I

deaths, than facriiice

:

my

have

after I

had taken leave of all

Lord,

my

friends

fon^e years ago at Deptford, I burft out into

tears

and

faid,

would not

fuiFer all I

feel for

my

friends but for thee, then returned

to

my

friends
is

and
I

faid,

Now
Bleffed

the bitternefs of

death

paffed,

am

going to be executed,
be God,
after

God*s

will

be done.

death there are no feparations,

to one place
in one pulpit,
>

we

fhall all

go

miniflers that could not preach

and Chriftians that could not

bleifled
;

agree with one another,

be God,

fhall

by and by go go to one place

fignify
:

to one heaven

whether they
does not
;

or

no

in this world,

fays one, I

go to the DilTenters
j

ano-

ther, I
tians

go to church

and a

great many
infidels,

Chrif-

judge of one another

as

bccaufe

they are not of one fcntiment.

good wo-

man came
pertinent,

to

me fome

years ago jufl as I

had

done preaching, fome

people love to be
think, fays
fhe,

imof
faid,

what do you

Cotton Mather and another minifter, one

I ought to receive the facrament before

my

expe-

Sen XV.

All Mens Place.

in,

363

experience was given

I believe the angels

the other faid not, and

were glad to carry them good woman,

it

both

to heaven.

I faid,

believe

they have not talked about

will

fince,

for they

no more

talk

about thefe things.

We
we

have
have

but one Father,

lived in

one Holy Ghoft,

faith
;

one communion of

bleffed be

the living God, e'er long the angels Ihall

come
the

and

call

the eleil from the eaft, the weft, the

north, and the fouth, to be at

home with
it

Lord.
If this be the cafe,

my
1

brethren,

may
pub-

fupport us under

all

the changes and partings

of
Jic

this

mortal

ftate.

As

have been

in a

charader, I fuppofe

may

venture to lay,

that

no one has been

called to fuch trequent

as I

partings

from God*s people

have

am
he

going

now

the thirteenth time over the water

ye^, I find

what

is

faid

of

St,

Paul

i^

true,
:

could bear a whipping, not a weeping

what

mean
heart
i

you, fays he, to

he never

faid,

weep and break whip me and break

:

my my
a

back, no, no.

bleffed ftate
!

All get to one place

to
fee

what

one's fpintual father, to

fee one's fpiritual children,

and hear them

begat

fay,

fuch and fuch a time

felf

God
!

me

to hirait

by your miniltry

what a

bleffing will

a a 2

bf

364

'M
I

Mens

Place.

Ser.

XV.
to

be to hear them
the Spirit

fay,

bleffed be

God, next

owe my coming
!

here to that fer-

vant of thine

and with what ravifhment will

the minifter fay, behold

me

and the children

thou haft given

will they
all

me

with what holy triumph

then caft their crowns at the foot

!

of the

Lamb
and

with what joy wiil they cry,

grace, grace,
forth, praife

when

the

top-ftone

is

brought
fhall

how

will they then try

who
is

redeeming love and rich

!

free grace in

the higheft ftrain

The

difference here

you
each

know,
fome

that

we

fing in parts,
-,

fome

fing treble,
?

tenor,

and fome bafe

what then

part helps the other,

were

all to

ling alike the

harmony would not be compleat; however

Ihocking
it is

in this world, all the differences

that have been

among

the people of God, will

only

make

us fing and unite us the better in a

future ftate.

Well,

my
?

dear hearers, by this time then I

to
afk, to

hope you have began

what place

am
I

going

Suppofe

now you
all

reafon thus

have heard to-night that

unregenerate

perfons

go
^

to

hell,

and

dwell
all

among

the

damned
Chrift,

have heard that

all

that are born

again of

God, and

that

believe in Jefus

whether Jew

or

Gentile,

whether

bp^4

Ser.

XV^
free,

'All Mens Place.

all

365

bond or
angels,

go to dwell with God, with

of juft

and the

fpirits

men made
fiy,

per-

fed

have heard the minifter

though

'he feems fometimes to ramble in his difcourfe,

"that
^I

we
fall

all

go to one place, that

is,

the grave

am

haftening there,

autamn
is

is

coming on,
blaft,

the

of the

leaf

approaching, a

occafioned by the fudden change of weather,

or a

furfeit,

by

fealling too Ickuriantly

5

on the

'fruits

of-

God's bounty

another

illnefs

may

take

me

to

my

long home.

I hear

of fjch-a-

one's dying, and of fuch-a-one, perhaps in an

apopledic, perhaps in a paralytic

lufty

lit

am

and ftrbng,

am
^

glorying in

my ftrength,
it

but

who knows

but that

may

be only making
better

me
that

food for a fever

one'would ftand
I
I

was more emaciated than

am.

If I

fhould be taken this night,

am

going the
Adrian,

way

to hell, or the

way

to heaven.

the emperor, cried out upon a time.

blingy

My trem-

dear departing
thefe

Joiil^

^whither art thou

goi72g?

were

his

words.

Won't you
are loofed
?

hear an emperor preach,

bed,

preach on his dying

life

when

the filver cords of

Confcience, confcience, confcience, thou candle of the Lord,

may he

help thee to light a

I

poor finner into a knowledge of himfelf

charge

3^6
charge
''fitt

'^//

Mens Place]

Ser.

XV,
Jefus

in

the

name of our Lord

Saviour, in
1 truft,

Chrift, in the

name of that

whofe
I

n:.me 3nd

by whofe power,
confciencc
!

now
con-

preach

O
was

thou

Litliful

monitor,
if
?

kt every one hear

fcience
that
if

their

own.

Come,
it

to (peak

what would
for ever.

fay

why,

you

are not acquainted with yourfelfand

Chrift,
\

you

are

lofl:

The Ameri-

cans are

the

moft hofpitable people under

heaven, they love to entertain ftrangers,

who

may

be hereby kindly provided for without

:

going to an inn

always endeavoured to

drop a word
houfes.
I

for Chrift

when

came

to their

remember Mr. Seeward, and fome

other good friends were v/ith

me

when

I firft
j

got into the houfe,

began to talk of Chrift

the mafter of
right
J

it

faid, Sir, I believe

you

are

I can't

open a leaf
:

in

my
to

bible, but

find I

am no
I

Chriftian
leaf

would

God all here

many
?

minded the fame

fay,
fir,

May
;

be,

here
?

fcorn your words

tell

well,
t

don't I

don't
,

God

you that won

will

do
5

you are

a moral man, but don't love

get drunk, becaufe
it

God

you don't

make your head

ach

tery,

you don't commit fornication and adulwhich is common among the great, and

therefore they think

God

will not punifh

them
for

Ser,

XV.
it
;

Mens Placel

367
left

for

perhaps you are not a fornicator,

ftand in a fheet, though

yoa {hould

we have

no

diTcipline

among
3

us

now

you don't do

thefe things for fear of maintaining the baftard^

or being taken up

but does your obedience

i

proceed from love to God, to Chrift

if not,

may God

convince you of your mifcrable

ftate

before you

go hence.
God, there
are

But, blefled be

numbers of
All
dear

dear fouls here, that I hope e'er long to live

in one place
hail,

and

to eternal ages with.

all hail,

my

fellow Chriftians;
;

my

brethren and friends

all

hail,

ye that are chilSpirit,

dren of one parent, born of one

bring forth the
Iruits
>

and

of the Holy Ghoft in

yet a
I
little

your converfation

while,
or

and
die,

we muft
us
;

part;

whether

die,

you

blefled be God, one place

fliall

e'er

long hold

in yonder blefled world

-,

we

fhall e'er

long

meet, and praife free grace

my

brethren,

we

fhall be then for ever with the Lord, for ever

one with Chrift

tis

and

if this

be the

cafe, let

comfort
if

one another with thefe

are
all

things

and

we

going to one place, God, of

his infinite

mercy,

keep us from
fay, I

falling

out

by the way.
dery; dont

Don't
fay, I

am

of the Foun;

am of the Tabernacle

don't

fpend

368

All Mens Place.

Ser.

XV.

ipend your time in talking againft John Wiefley

and George Whitefieldj don t fay, you go to the Tabernacle, Til go to the chapel 5 no,
don't fpeak of Paul and Cephas
us
;

God
;

unite
if

more and more

to Jefus Chrifl:

and

you

are going to heaven,

little fafter

God

help you to travel a

than v^e do.

My

brethren, let us

prefs forward tovi^ard the

mark of the

prize

of

that the our high calling in Chrift Jefus. God of love may fill us with fuch peace and

fuch joy, that every ftorm, every

temptation
to

trial,

every

we meet
US;
all

with,

may

be over-ruled
all

good

for

our

afflidlions,

our
defi-

temptations, are to
table,

make heaven more

and earth more loathfome.

is

If

this

not the cafe with fome of you,

God
dear

convert you to-night.

Help me,
Jefus

my

Tabernacle
help me,

and London hearers,

help

help me^

me

for

ChrilVs fake.

You was

once going to hell yourfelves, for

God's fake endeavour to flop thofe that are going there : pray for your unconverted friends.

Young
w^as
I

people,

young people,
flop

that are going to

hell giddily,

may God
you

you

this

night
fay

to talk to

ferioufly,

you would
I defired

as a

young gentleman

did,

when
to

he

would not fwear; he turned

me

and

faid,

Dodor.

Ser.

XV.

All

Mem
too)

Place.

369

Dodlor, (I was no more a dodior then than

now, and but young

will not let a

it

is

very hard you

man go
you go
fure

to hell his

any of you are of

this

ftamp,
hell

own way if God grant he

;

may
way.
vil

not

let

to

your

own way,
;

but go to heaven in God's way, in Chrifl's

I

am

you

are not

happy

the de:

never had a happy child in the world

that

God may

turn your feet into the

:

way of
I

peace to-night
as

that

it

may be with you

night formerly
:

with a young

man one

remember I had about two hundred notes then 5 I came into mooriields this morning at
fix o'clock, fays

he, to
I

meet

my

fweetheart,

but, blefied be

God,
:

met with
to

Jefus Chrift,

God you may do lo, young men, to-night: when you have gone on to that place, O that it may be with you as it was with good Mr. Crane, who is apfweetheart

my

would

pointed fteward of the Orphan-houle

he went

once
full

to fee a play at Drury-lane, but tliat being

he went to Covent-garden, and that was

fo full
fays he,

he could not put

he told
it

his

head in; well,

me

himfelf^ and

he

is

aa

Ifraelite indeed,

one of the moft honeft men,

world,
;

perhaps, in the
d^^flor

will

go and 'hear
reached his
heart,

Whitefield

there

God

b b

3^0
heart, and

All Mens Place.

Scr.

XV.
that

now he

(hines.

had letters

yefter*

day or the day before from Georgia,

made my

heart leap

for

joy

honeft

Wright, that ingenious,

indefatigable

Mr. man,

and Mr. Crane, have gone on fo well, and

have managed the Orphan-houfe fo well, that
all letters

from

all

parts give
fays,

me

a pleafure

would
Crane
fand
;

to

God, one
to

thoufand fucb people as

you could fend ten Mr. Wright and Mr.

could fend a thou-

would

God you
us.

fuch

over,

and an hundred preachers

to preach Chrift

among

that curiofity

may be
to-night

over-ruled for good to fome of

:

you
tho*

but

forgot myfelf,

and can you

little,

blame
I

me

if I fliould detain

you a

am
I

really afraid
tire

of unfitting myfelf for

I

my
I

voyage, if I

myfelf before

go

to-mor-

row

am to intend, God
I

go

to fee

where

am

to ikep.

willing, to

have a facrament here

Sabbath-day
to

to-morrow,
morning.

and another next

intend,

God

willing,

give

you
give

a parting

word on Sunday

evening, and
laft

you

notice of taking

my

tarewel in

the week, for I muft get a day or two to dif-

patch

my

private bufinefs,

and be ready

to-

ga where

my God

calieth

me.
IfhalL

Ser.

XV.
fliall,

^// Mens Place.

I think,

371

be called to do fomething

which
that
fee
is,

would,

if poffible,

have avoided, and

repaired,

as this place has been

you

'tis frefli

done, which

is

expenfive, and I

am

willing to leave every thing clear before I

go, a collection muft be

made
I

for defraying

the charge.

The

world thinks

am very rich
if I did
I fliould

a man,

the other day,

was

fo

perfuaded of

my

riches, that

he

fent

me

word,

not

lay thirty

pounds

in

fuch a place,

be

killed as fure as I

am
;

alive;
I

but,
fear

blcffed

be

God,

am

alive yet

do not

dying fud-

denly, or being difpatched

piftol to

by a poignard, or a

make

a paffage for

my
;

foul
I

to flee

to

God.

You may

think, perhaps,

get a
I

great deal by preaching here

and

now

am
?

going away,
allowance
I
is

what do you think

for preaching at the
this place

my

ftated

Tabernacle

have no more from

;

than one hunlaft

dred pounds a year

and

afked but

night

how

it

flood,
I
;

andinfteadofhavinga
told there
I,

fingle lix-

pence,
arrears

was

were

fifty
it is

pounds
to

well, faid

ungrateful as

me,

I will

make
;

a coUedtion to-night that

all

may

be

left free

and
it,

if

others are

left to
it

make an

advantage of

may God make

a bleiiing.

There

are not fix people in this place that I

B b

b 2

have

372

All Mens Place.

Ser,

XV.

have had the value of a guinea of from January to Auguft

all thefe
;

nor have

had a guinea from

ordinances towards bearing the expen-

ces of

my
a

voyage.

When
you
fhall

come,

my
you

bre-

thren, to heaven,

then

know with
fhall
is

what
then

fpirit I

have ferved youj

all

know

that

have done
I

to build

places for others,

where

hope God
I

will

meet you and your children when

and gone.

am

dead

that

we may meet
hence
:

in

one place,

when God
you,
fus

calls

me

the Lord quicken

Lord ftrengthen you, the Lord JeChrift be with you, and grant that e'er
the

long

we may

be where there
fhall
5

fhall

be no more

forrow, but

we

dwell with
f.

God and one

Chrift,

another for ever

even

Lord Jefus

Aincn,

SERMON

373

SERMON
God
Isaiah
Ix.

XVI.

a Believer's Glory.

ver.

19,

^nci thy God thy Glory.

LATELY

had occafion

to Ipeak

on the

I
find

verfe immediately

following that of our

I

text

but

when
it

am

reading God's

word,

I often find

is

like being in a

tempt-

ing garden,
it

when we pluck a good, we are apt to

little

little fruit

and

look after and

this difference,

pluck a
the fruit
at the

more, only with

we

gather below often hurts the

it

body
ga-

fame time that

in

pleafes the appetite, but

when we walk

God's garden, when

we

ther fruit of the Redeemer's plants, the

more

we

eat the

freer

we

are

more we are delighted, and the the more welcome 5 if any chapand deIt
this does.

ter in the bible deferves this character

fcription

of an evangelical Eden,

374
It
is

^^^ ^

Believer^s Glory.

Ser.

XVI.

very remarkable,
it,

and

have often told

firft

you of
a

that

all

the apoftlcs preach

the

law, and then the gofpcl, v^^hich finds

ftatc

of death, points out to

life,

man in him how he is

to get
it.

and then fweetly condufts him to

and it ftruck
I

Great and glorious things are fpoken of

;

the church of God in this chapter

me

very

much

this

evening ever fince

came

into the pulpit, that the great

God

fpeaks of

the church in the Angular

that be,

number : how can

is

when

the church

compofed of
of
all

fo

many

millions

gathered
?

out

nations,
that

languages, and tongues

fays thy

how

is it,

God

maker and not your maker, that he fpeaks of the church as though it confifted
only of one individual perfon
IS this,
?

the reafon of

it

and
is

is

very obvious, that though the

compofed of many members, they have but one Head, and they are united by the bond of one Spirit, by whom they have the
church

fame

vital
it

union of the foul with

God

and

therefore

teaches Chriftians not to fay to one

Apollos^

another,

/ am of Paul^ I am of

or

Cephas^ but to behave and live fo, that

the

world may

know

that

we

all

belong to one
continue,

common

Chrift:

God

revive,

and

increafe this

true Chriftian

love

among us!

Qi

Ser,

XVI.
this

God a

Believer's Glory.

^75

Of

church, thus coUeftively confidered,

united under one head, the bleffed evangelical prophet thus fpcaks, Violence Jloall no more

be heard in thy land,

isjafting

nor deJiruBion

'within thy borders, but thou Jhalt call thy walls

fahationy and thy gates,

trates affemble,

where the magif-

and the people go in and out,

praife.

From this text, a great many good and great men have gathered what they call
is

the Millenium, that Jefus Chrift

to

come
I

and reign a thouiand years on mull acknowledge

a great

earth, but

that I have always rejedted

many good mens poiitive opinion about the feafon when this ftate commences, and I
all

would w arn you

for

againft fixing

aoy time

what
a

fignifies

whether Chrift comes to

reign
fince

thoufand years, or
I

when he comes,
very foon; and

you and
grant

are to die

therefore inftead of puzzling our heads about

it,

God

we may
for ever
is

live
;

fo that
it

we may
on
earth,

reign with

him

and

feems to me,

that whatfoever

faid
is

of

this ftate

that the millenium

fpiritual
fenfe,

to be underftood in a

as

an

eternal,

beatific ftate

emblem of a glorious, in the kingdom of heaven.

thy light by day, nor

The funJhaU no more be

jor
but

brightnefs Jhall the moon give light unto thee,

376

God a

BeHeijers Glory.

Ser.

XVL

iut the Lord Jhall be unto thee an everlajling

light
light,
'y

and

in

order

to prepare

us for that
it,

and fliow us the nature of

it

while

we

Ipeak of

may

it

come with
:

light

and power

to our fouls.

He

adds in our text, and thy

this
it

God Jhall
fearful

be thy glory

is
is
;

fpoken to
fpoken to

all
all

believers in

general, but
in

believers

particular

and

don't
fee-

know

that I can poffibly clofe

my
God

poor,

ble miniftration

among you

here,

better than

with thefe words;

though,

willing, I

intend, if he fhall ftrengthen

me

this

week, to

give

you a parting word next Wednefday morning j and O that what has been my comday
in the meditation
all

fort this

on

this paflage,

may

be yours and mine to

eternity.

He

that hath an ear to hear let

evangelic prophet faith,

him hear what the thy God thy glory.

it
;

The Holy Ghofl

cularly

feems, as
expreffion

were, parti-

when God publifhed the ten commandments upon mount Sinai, he prefaced it thus, / a?n the Lord^
fond of this

and not content with

that,
it,

he adds,
I

thy

God;

and

the

frequency of

fuppofe,

made

Luther

fay,

that the gqfpel

confijis

dcah much in pro^

believer's cojrjort
\

nouns y in "which

but

if

there were no other argument than

this,
it

Ser.
it

XVI.

God a

Believer's Glory.

^77
by

would cut up
no fuch thing
is

that deflrudlive principle

tell

the very root that pretends to

is

us that there

as appropriation in the Bible

that our faith

only to be a rational aflent to

applithis is

the

word of God, without a particular cation of that word made to our fouls
as contrary to the gofpel,

and to experience of
is

every real

faint,

as light

contrary to darknefs
I

and heaven

to helK

My

brethren,
it

appeal to
if

any of you, what good would

do you,

you

had ten thoufand notes wrote by the

and
fineft

in large

charaders

hand

that can write

in

London

-,

fuppofc you have got them, as

it is

many men

have,

a very convenient way, that they were

little

put into your

pockets

made on
here

the infide

of your coat
is

fuppofe you fliould fay,

all

buttoned, I have
:

thefe

my coat next my
I find

heart

v/hen

come

to look at

them,

there

is

not one note payable to me, they are

forged, or payable to
are

all either

fome body
me.
is

elfe;

and therefore

good

for nothing to
all

All

the promifes of the gofpel,

that

faid

of

God and Chrift, can do us no good, except that God and Chriil is ours. The great queftion therefore is, v/hether the God we profefs to believe in, is our God ? not only, whether he is fo in general, that the devils may fay but
5

c c

Vf'hether

378

Ocd a
Is

Believer's Glory.

Ser.

XVI.

whether he
can
fay,

our
;

God

in particular.

The devils
God's

O God
:

but the devils cannot fay,

a privilege peculiar to

my

G^.d

that

is

chofen people, vi^ho really believe on the Lord

Jefus Chrift:
deift

and therefore,

my

brethren, a

cannot fay,

my God, my
that

Chrift, becaufe

he does not believe on

medium by which
That was
a noble

God becomes
with
ati

our God.
I will
*'

faying of Luther, "

abfolute

have nothing to do
is,

nothing to
this
\

God do with a God

;
:

that

I will

have

out of Chrift.

Now

is

a deift's glory

Lord Bolingbroke vaI

lues himfelf

upon

if,

am

aftonifhed at that
I don't
like

man's
thofe

infidelity

and cowardice.

men

that leave their writings to be

:

pub*
bold
that

lifhed after their death

in their writings
:

I love to fee

I like

an honeft

men man

will put out his

writings while alive, that

fay againft
it
is

he

may

fee

what men can

j

him, and

then anfwer them

to leave
fet
it

but

meer cowardice
anfwer for
it,

to the

world

to

to

us a cavelling after they are got into the

:

grave

fays he, I will

have nothing to do with

the

God

of Mofes;
that deift

and

fuppole the prin-

ciples of

made one pretty near to

is

him

afk as foon as his breath was out of his

body, where do you think he

gone

to

an-

other

Scr.

XVL

God a

Believer's Glory.

379
hell.

other replies, where do you think, bat to

God
here

grant that

may

not be the portion of any

The
it;
is

queftion then

is,

how God
all
is

is

our

God

thy God.

My
ii

brethren, our
this

depends upon
mine, and that
is

what

fignifies faying,

mine,

you cannot

fay,

God

mine.

The
is

beft thing that

God
:

has

left in

the

New Teftaaljo

ment,

is

himfeif

1
\

will be their God^ that

one of the

legacies

and a new heart

another
;

will

I give

the?ny

that

is

1 will put my

laws in their mind^ and write them in their

hearts^ that
is

another

but

all

that

is

good for

nothing, comparatively fpeaking, unlefs

God
in-

has faid at the fame time, for they are

feparable,

all

I will

be their God^
fhall

and
I

they JJ:all

be

my

people.
is

Now how
?

know
if

that

God
think

my God
is

am

afraid,

fome people
you
and go and

think there
fo,

no knowing; well then,

fet

you

up

a worfhip,

ered: an altar,

and inftead of receiving

God

in

the facrament as yours, go and worfhip an un-

known God. I am fo far from believing, that we cannot know that God is ours, that I am
fully perluaded

of
I

it,

and would fpeak

have

it

with

huniility,

and
in

would not chufe

to leave

you

with a

lie

my

uth, that

kn^wn
\X

c c 2

3 So
it

God a

Believer's Glory.

Scr.

XVI.

for about thirty-five years as clear as the fun

is

in the meridian^ that

ihall I

God

is

my

God. And
?

how

know
to

it,

my

brethren

would

afk you this queftion, didft thou ever feel the

want of God

be thy

God ? No body knows

him
is

God
be

to be their

God
:

that did not feel

to

his

God

in Chrift
fire.

out of Chrift,

God

confuming
riety

know

there are a great vaftill,

of ways in peoples converfions, but

brethren,

my

we muft

all

feel

our mifery,
all

we muft
feel that

all feel

our diftance from God,

we

are eftranged

from God, that

we
is

bring into the world with us a nature that

not agreeable to the law of God, nor poflibly

can be
is

we

cannot be faid to believe that

till

God
a

our God,

we

are brought to be reconhis Son.

till

ciled to

him through

Can

I fay,

perfon

is

my

friend,

am

reconciled to
is

him?

and therefore the gofpel only

Paul

the

miniftration" of reconciliation.
befeech you as ambajfadors

faith.

We

of Chrijly that you

this
;

'would be reconciled unto

God :

is

to

be the

grand topic

of our preaching

we

are to be-

feech them, and

his

God
to

himfelf turns beggar to

own

creatures

be reconciled to him

now
poor

this reconciliation is

brought about by a

finner's

being brought to Jefus Chrift;

and

Ser.

XVI.

God a

Believer's Glory.
fees his

3 Si

and when once he

to

enmity and hatred

God,

feeling the mifery of departing

is

from
of

him, and being confcious that he

to eternal wrath,
flies

obnoxious

to Jefus as to a place

refuge, and

expeds only a

reconciliation
this,
:

thro'

the blood of the

you nor

can

fay,

Lamb God

without
is

neither
there is

my God

no peace^ faith

my Gody

to

the wicked.

The
take

miniflers of Chrift mufi: take care they don't

preach an
care

unknown God, and we mufl

we don't pretend to live upon an unknown God, a God that is not appropriated and brought home to our fouls by the efficacy of the Spirit. But, my brethren, we cannot fay, God is our God, unlefs we are in Jefus Chrift.
Can you
there are
fay,

fuch a one
it ?

is

your father, unlefs

be baftards,

you can give proof of

You may

many baftards laid at Chrift's door. Now, God cannot be my God, at leaft I cannot know him to be fo, unlefs he is pleafed to
fend into
to

my
me

heart the fpirit of adoption,

to enjoy familiarity

and

admit

with Chrift,

My
land
is

brethren, 1 told

you the other night

that the grand controverfy

for the flight

God

has with

Eng-

put on the Holy Ghoft. As

fcon as a perfon begins to talk of the

the

work of

Holy Ghoft, they

cry,

you

are a methodift

382
as foon as

God a

Believers Glory.

Ser.

XVI.

you fpeak about the divine

influences

of the Holy Ghoft,

enthufiaft.
diftical

fay they,

you are an

May

the

Lord keep
us

thefe
to

methoone

enthufiafts

amongfl:

the lateft

poflerity.

Ignatius, fuppofed to have been

in his
v^^rote

of the children that Jefus took up

in his
firfl

arms,

Epiftle

(pray read

it)

loon

after St.

John's death, and

we

value nothing fo
in the three firfl

authentic as

what was wrote

centuries, bears a noble teflimony to this truth.

When
read
it,

was performing
I

my

firfl

exercifes at

Oxford,

ufed to take delight to walk and

and could not help noting and putting

time to time fcveral remarkable
the
fuperfcription
fliles

down from
pafTages,

In
I
i.

of

all

his

Epiflles,

remember, he
e.

himfelf Tbeo-

fhorosy

Bearer of

God
were

*,
fo

and believed
too.

that thofe he wrote to,

Some
about

body went and

told Trajan,

that one Ignatius

was an

enthufiafl, that

he carried

God

him

being brought before the emperor, who,

in other refpefts

though
a cruel

^ good
:

prince,

was
a

enemy

to the Chriflians

but

many

good prince does bad things by. the influence

of wicked counfellors, Vthj
like our

king Henry the

who was
*

brought in to perfecute the pour

Lollards^

Deum

ferens, mfp'reJy iikine^ holy.

Ser.XVI.

God a

Believer's Glory.

383

Lollards, for affembllng in St. Giles's fields to

hear the pure gofpel, by

falfe

accufation o

being rebels againfl him.

Before fuch a prince

was

Ignatius brought

fays Trajan,

who

is

this

that calls
tius,
I

himfelf a bearer of

God ?

lays Igna-

am

he, for v^rhich he quotes this paf-

fage,

will dwell in them^

and will walk in

them J and they Jhall be my fons and daughters^

fayi the

Lord
that,

almighty.

The emperor was

him of
his

fo

enraged

in order to cure

en-

thufiafm, he ordered
lions
'y

him

to

be devoured by
:

at

which
I

Ignatius laughed for joy

?

fays he,

am

going to be devoured

and

when

his friends

for

came about him, he almoft danced gladnefs ; when they carried him to execuand turning about,
faid,

tion he fmiled,

now
I

begin to be a martyr of Jefus Chrift!

have

heard that the lions have leaped from the martyrs,

but

when

they
fall

come
on

to

me,

will

en-

courage them to
lence.

me
fuch

with

all

their vio-

God
!

give you

enthufiafm in a

trying hour

This

is

to have

God

for our

God

he that belicveth hath the witnefs in himfelf] as

it is

written in this blellcd

it

word of God, and

book
that
I

hope

will be

the

laft

fhall

read.

Farewel

father, fareu^el
ftars
!

mother, farewel

fun,

moon, and

was the language of one

of

384

God a

Believer's Glory.

Ser.

XVI.

of the Scotch martyrs

in king Charles's time,

and

it is

amazing

to

me

that even

Mr.

Hume
of

(I believe) a profelTed deift, in his Hiftory

England mentions

this

as

a grand

exit,

and

alfo that feraphic foul

Mr. Hervey,

now with
book

God,

that

the

laft

words of the martyr were,

blefled

Farewel thou precious Bible, thou

of God.
tion,
it

This
is

is

my

rock, this

is

my
my

founda-

now

about thirty-five years fince I

have begun

to read the Bible

upon

pillow.
is

I love to read this book, but the

book

noit

thing but an account of the promifes which

contains,

and almoft every word firom the beit

ginning to the end of

difpenfation,

fpeaks of a fpiritual

and the Holy Ghoft, that unites

our fouls to God, and helps a believer to fay,

my

Lord and
with

my God
:

If you content yourlet

felves

that,

the devil will

you

talk

of

O you fhall turn from ArmiO you fliall be orthodox nianifm to Calvinifm
dodrines enough
;

enough,

if

you

will

be content to

live

without

Chrift's living in you.

Now
may

when you have

got the Spirit, then you

fay,

God

is

mine.

this is very fine, fay

:

fome, every body pre-

tends to the Spirit

as a bifhop

and then you

may go on

once told a nobleman.

My

Lord,
Spirit,

thefe methodifts, fay they,

do

all

by the

fo

Ser.

XVI.

God a

Believer's Glory,

385

fo if the devil bids

ihey will

fay,

them murder any body, the Spirit bid them do it; and

that very bifhop died,

laft

how

why

horrid

the

words he fpoke w. re
is fought,

thefe,

7he

battle is

fought, the battle

but the viBory

the battle

is fought^

is loft for ever.

God

grant,

you

and
I
is

may

not die with fuch words as thefe.

I fhall die
is

hope you and

fought,

and

fay, T^he battle

the battle

fought,
the

the

battle

is

fought,
victory

J have fought
is

good fight ^ and the

gained for ever.

his
!

Thus

died

Mr.

Ralph Erfkine,
vidory, vidlory
their

laft

words were, Vidtory^

call

and they that can

God

God,

fhall

by and by

cry,

Vidory, vidogrant,

ry
all

and that

for ever.

God

we may
ihall

be of that happy number.

If

we

can

call

God

our God,

we

en-

deavour by the Holy Ghoft to be like God,

fhall

we

have

his divine

image ftamped upon our

and
this brings in the

fouls,

and endeavour to be followers of that

is

God who
is

our Father

other part of the text, thy God, thy Glory,

that
?

What

The greateft honor that

is

a poor believer
to boaft that

thinks he can have on earth,

God

is

his

God.
if

When
killed an

it

was propofed

to

David, that

he

hundred

Philiftines,

he (hould have the king's daughter

for

his

d d

wife,

386

God a Believers

Glory.

Ser.

XVI.

wife, and a very forry wife fhe was,

no great
a

gain turned out to

it
is

him
to

fays he,

do you think
to

a jmall thing

be

the fon-in-Iaw

king ?

a poor ftrippling as I

am
!

here
to be

come
maris

with

my

fhepherd*s crook, what

ried to a king's daughter,

do you think
it

that

fmall thing

and
allied

it

David thought

no fmall

thing to be

to a king

by

his daughter,
allied to

what

a great thing

muft
?

it

be to be

the Lord by one* Spirit

am

afraid there are

fome people

that

were once poor that are

it

now

rich, that think

a great thing, that wifli,

;

that

my

family had a coat of arms

fomc

people would give a thoufand pounds,

for one.

I believe^

Coats of arms are very proper to

make

diftindion in Ufe, a great

coats of ably,

many

people wear

arms

that their anceftors got

honouras
is

but they are a difgrace to

their coaches.

them
this

they
out-

wear them on
glory,

But
ride,

whether we walk or

whatever our

pedigree

our

may be in life, this is our honor that God may be our glory, O what manner
is

of love

thisy

faith

one, that the

Lord

doth

beflow on us^ that

we Jhould

be called the fons oj

God ! born
of
flcflh,

not ot the will of man, born not

but born from above.

O God

grant

that this

may

be your glory and mine

My

Ser.

XVI.

God a

Believer's Glory.

387
our

My

brethren, if
tell

God

is

our

God and
prove
it

glory, ril

you what we
or

fliaH

by:
do,

whether we

eat or drink,
all

wiiatevtr

we

we
life

fliould
I

do

to

the glory oi

God.

Reli-

gion, as
into

have often told you, turns our whole

facrifice

one continued

of love to God.
a lodd-

As

a needle,

when once touched by

fo

ftone,

turns to a particular pole,

the heart

that
his

is

touched by the love of God, turns to

God
:

agam.
it

I fhall

have occafion to take

I

notice of
fliip

by and by, w^hen

am
I

aboard a
generally

for as foon as I get

on board,

place mylelf in one particular place under the

compais that hangs over

at
it

my head,
5

often look

by night and by day

needle turns to one point,

find
it

when I rife the when 1 go to bed I

;

turns
I

to the

fame point
at
it,

and often,
has

while

have been looking

to

my heart

been turned

God,

faying,

Lord

Jefu", as that

needle touched by the loadftone, turns to one

point,

may my
love,

heart touched by the

magnet

of God's
people

turn to

him!

great

think,
at

they never worfliip

;

many God but

when

church

and a great many are very

days,

demure on Lord's
leave that off.
face of the
I

though many begin to

of no place upon the
is

know

earth

where the Sabbath

kept
as

388
as
it
is

God a
at

Believer's Glory.
:

Ser.

XVL

Bofton

if a fingle

perfon was to

walk

in

Bofton

ftreets in
5

time of worfhip, ha
is

would be taken up
infignificant

it

not trufted to poor

juftices

men, but the

go out in

time of worfhip, they walk with a white wand,

and

if

they catch any perfon walking in the

they put

ftreets,

them under

a black rod.

the great mifchiefs the poor pious people have

fuffered lately thro' the town's being difturbed

by the

foldiers

When

the

drums

were
fick

beating before the houfe of Dr. Sawell, one of

the holieft

men

that ever was,

when he was

and dying, on the fabbath day, by

his meeting,

where the
fake they

noife of a fingle perfon

was never
they

heard before, and he begged that for Ghrift's

would not beat the drum;

that
this

damned and faid, make him worfe :

glory of

they would beat to

is

not ading for the

a foul
is

God

but
is

when

turned to
is

God, every day

fpiritual

a fabbath, every meal

refrefhment,

and every fentcnce hq

5

fpeaks, fhould be a fermon

ftays abroad or at

and whether he
is

home, v^hether he
clofet,

on th?
fay,

exchange, or locked up in a

he can

God, thou

art

my God
is

Now, my
fay, that

dear friends, can you, dare you

your

God

your glory, and do you

aim

Ser.

XVI.

God a

Believer's Glory.

389
:

aim

at glorifying the
is

Lord your God

fay,

if

your

God

your glory, then

O God forbid that

Lord Je^
is

I JJjould
me^
fay

glory fave in the crofs of our

fus Chrijl^ by

whom

the

world

crucified to

and 1 am
you
to that

crucified to the world.

What

now ?
if

don't talk of God's behis crofs.

ing your glory,

If

you don't love

God

is

our glory,

we

fhall

glory not only

3

in doing,

but in fuffering for him

we

fhall

glory in tribulation, and count ourfelvcs moft

highly honoured

moft

for his great

when we are called name fake. I might

judge by

to fuffer

enlarge,

but you

may
laft

eafily

my

poor feeble

voice this

week, that neither

of voice, or body, will permit

to-night, and yet
I

my flrength me to be long
you
have
this
glor-

will venture to give

3

your

laft

parting falutation

and though

been difluaded from getting up to preach

night, yet I thought as
ry,
I

my God
preaching

was
till
!

my

fhould glory in

I died.

that

God may be

all

our glory
is

Ail our

own

glory fades away, there

nothing will be

valuable at the great day but this,

Thou

art

my God, and

thou

art

my glory.

It

was a glo^

fious turn that

good Mr, Shepherd of Bradford

mentions in one of his fermons, where he represents JefusChrift as

coming

to

judgment

feated
tipoi^

3 90

God a

Believer* s Glory.
a

Sen XVI.

upon

his throne, in

fermon preached before

calls

fome O,

minifters.

Chrifl:

one minifter to
?

him, Pray what brought you into the church

fays he,

Lord, there was a living in the

family, and I

was prefented
:

to

it

becaufe

it

was

a family living

Hand thou by,

fays Chrifl.

A
fine

fecond comes.

What

didfl

thou enter into the

I

church

for

Lord, fays he,

parts,

had a
I

elocution, I

had pretty

and

went

into

the church to fhew

my

oratory and

my

parts

fland thou by, thou haft thy reward.

third

was

called,
?

And what
I

brought you into the

all

church

Lord, fays he, thou knoweft

things,

thou knoweft that

am

a poor creature, vile

helplefs,

and miferable, and unworthy, and

I appeal to thee

but

my

glory, thou fitteft

upon

the throne,
fouls
fays.

that thy

glory and the good of

brought

me

there: "^Chrift immediately

Make room, men, make room, angels, and bring up that foul to fit near me on my
throne.

Thus

fhall

it

be done to

all

that

make God
on
earth,

their glory here below.

Glorify
in

God

and he
hie[fed

will glorify

you

heaven.

Come, ye
dom,

of my Father, receive the king-

prepared for you from the foundation of

fhall

the *world,

be your portion

and

if fo.

Lord God almighty make us content

to be
vilified

Ser.

XVI.

God a

Believer's Glory.

391

vilified

whllft

defpifed

make us content to be while below, make us content to have

here,

evil things

fpoken of

us,

all

for Chrifl's fake,

yet a
flone

little
:

while, and Chrifl: will roll

away the
his

and the more

we

are

honoured by
fliall

grace to fuffer, the

in the

more we

be honoured

kingdom of heaven.
!

that thought!

that blcffed thought

1

that foul tranfportto

ing thought

it is
;

enough

make

us leap into

a fiery furnace

in

this fpirit,
us.

in this temper,

may God
called

put every one of

If there be any of you that have not yet

God

your God, m.ay

God

help you to

do

fo to-night.

When

was reafoning within

myfelf, whether I fliould

it

come

up, or whether

my duty or not ? I could not help thinking, who knows but God will blefs a
was
poor feeble
dear friend

worm to-night. I remember, a fent me word after I was gone to

Your
Jaft

Georgia, "
**

fermon

at the

Tabernacle
I

was

blefled to a particular
:

perfon;"

heard
but

from

that peifon to-day

and

who knows
fay,

fome may come

to-day, and

I will
?

go
for

and hear what the babler has to fay

who

knows
good
?

but curiolity

may

be

over-ruled

who knows

but thofe that have ierved

life

the lull of the fle(h and the pride of

iot

their

2gz
their god,

God a

Believer's Glory,

Scr.

XVL

may now take

!

the Lord to be their

this,

God ?

if I

could but fee

for you.

I think I

could drop

down dead
that can

My

dear Chriftians, will you not help

me
td

to-night^

you

go and

call

God

your

God? go and beg

heaven
for

of

God

for

me, pray

me^ do pray

for thofe that are in

the gall of bitternefs, that have no God, no

Chrift to go to, and if they w^ere to die tonight,
iinner,

would be damned
where
is

for ever.
?

poor
is

your glory then

fine linnen then
?

where

your purple and

your purple
fire,

robes will be turned into purple

ftead of calling

and in-

God
:

your God, will be damn'd

think of your danger
!

with the

devil

word of the Lord ! If you never was awakened before, may the arrows of God, fteep'd in the blood of Jefus Think how Chriftj reach your hearts now
earthy earthy earthy hear the
!

you

live

at

enmity with God, think of your

danger every day and every hour, your danger

of dropping into hell
;

think

in glory will leave you,

ration,

and

how your friends may this confideyour

under the influences of the Holy Ghofty

excite

you
is is

to chufe

God

for

God

Tho'
the*

the fun

going down, tho* the fliadow of

evening

coming on, God

is willing,

O man,
God

Ser.

XVI.
is

God a

Believer's Glory.

393

God

willing,

O woman, to

be a

iinner's

God^

he has found out a way whereby he can be reconciled to you. I remember, when I faw a

nobleman condemned

to

be hanged, the Lord

w*as

High Steward

told

him, that however he

obliged to pafs fentence on him,

and did not

but by the

know

that juftice

would be

fatisfied

execution of the law in this world, yet there

might be a way whereby

tisfied

juftice

might be
:

fa-

and mercy take place

in another

when

I heard his

Lordihip fpeak, I wifhed that he had

there might be a way, but that

not only

faid,

he had found out the way wherein

be
juft,

God

could

and yet a poor murderer coming to

that can call

Jefus Chrift fhould be pardoned.

God help you moment to glorify him more and more and if God be your God and your glory, I am perfuaded, if the love of God abounds
yours,

You
:

God

from

this

in your hearts,

you

will

be willing on every

occafion to do every thing to promote his ho-

nor and glory, and therefore ycu will be willing

at all times to
affift

and help

as far as lies

in

your power to keep up places of worfhip, to

promote

his glory in the falvation

5

and converthis
-,

fion of finners

and

mention

becaufe
I

there

is

to be a

coUedion

this night

would
have

e e

394

God a

Believer

Glory.

Ser.XVL
this

have chofe,

if poffible,

to

have evaded

point, but as this Tabernacle has been repaired,

and

as

the expence

is

-pretty large,

and

as

would chufe
I told

to leave every thing

1

unincumbered,
to

my

friends,

would undertake

make
left

a colledion, that every thing might be

quite clear
:

remember,

it

is

not ior me, but

for yourfelves, I told

you on Wednefday

how

matters were

am now
at

going a thirteenth
expence, and
little,

time over the water on

my own

you
very

fhall
little

know

the great day what

affiftance I

have had from thofe

their fouls

who

owed, under God,

here
:

to

my
will

being

but this

is

for the place I

where you are

to meet,, and

where

hope

God

meet

you,
I

when

am

tofiing

on the water, when

I

am

in a foreign clime.

think I can fay thy

as
I

glory,

God,

calls

me

away, and

am

going towards fixty years of age,

I fhall if I

make

what difpatch I can, and I hope, to come back, that I fhall hear
you
are

am fpared
fome of

that

gone to heaven, or are nearer heaven

I find there is

than you were.

rears
'y

near 70I, arif

hope you

will not
glory,

run away,

you
pufh

can fay

God

is

my

you

will not

one upon another,

as

though you w^ould loofe

yourfelves in the croud, and fay no body fees

me;

Ser.

XVI.

God a

Belt ever' s Giory,

39 r
you
?

me;

but does not

will

God Almighty

fee

hope you

be ready to communicate, and

when I am gone that God will be with you as many of you will not hear me on Wednefday morning. O may this be your prayer, O for Jefus Chrift's fake, in whofe name I preach, in whofe flrength I deiire to come up, and for
whofe honor
a
I defire to

be fpent,

do put up

word
it

for

me,

it

will not

coft

you much
art

time,

will not
;

keep you a moment from your

Jefus Chrift

bufinefs

Lord

thou

his

God
glory

and, Lord Jefus Chrift

!

let

him be thy
fliall

If I die in the waters,

;

go by

water to heaven
Houfe,
I

if

land at the

Orphan
fettle

hope
and
I
^

it

will

be a means to

foundation for ten thoufand perfons to be inilrudted

;

if I

go by the continent,

as I

intend to do,

hope
and

God

will enable

preach Chrift

if I

return again,
fervice.

me to my life

will be devoted to

your

You muft
afFecftion
I

excufe me,

cannot fay
I

much more,

works
it

and

could heartily wifh, and

beg

as a favour,

when

come

to leave you, that

you

will excufe

me

from a

particular parting
I

with you;
pray for you
for

take

my

public farewell;

will

when in the you when ftorms and

cabin, I will pray

tempefts are about

e e 2

me

396

God a
and

Believer's Glory.

Ser.

XVL

me

this fhall

be

my

prayer for the dear

people of the Tabernale, for the dear people

of the Chapel,

for the dear people of

London,

God, be thou

their

God

and grant, that

their

God may
!

be their glory.

Even

fo,

Lord

Jefus

Amen.

SERMON

397

SERMON
Jacob's

XVII.

Ladder.

A Farewel Sermon.

Genesis
ji72d he

xxviii. ver.

12,

&c.

dreamed^ and behold^ a ladder fet upon

the earthy

and

the top

of

it

reached to hea^

God afcending and defending on it. And behold^ the Lord flood above it^ and faid, I am the Lord God of Abraham thyfather^ and the God of Ifaac : the land whereon thou lieft^ to thee will I give
ven
:

and

behold^ the angels of

it^

and

to thy Jeed.

And thy feedflmll

;

be as

the dufl of the earth

a7id thou fjalt fpread

to the eajt^

abroad to the wefl^ and

norths

and to

the

and

to

thefouth: and in thee ^ and in

thy feed fJoall all the families of the earth he

blejTcd,

And

behold,

I am with

thee,

and
this

will keep thee in

goefi,

all places^

whither then

and

will bring thee

again into

land

398

^acob'i Ladder.

Ser.

XVII.
I

land: for 1 will not leave theCy

until
to,

have done that which I have fpoken

of.

thee

TH
affefted
this to

wife

man

obferves, that

in

the

of dreams there is many va^ being often the effedts of a 77itieSy of body, or owing to fome diforder peculiar
rniiltitiide

difturbance of the mind.

They whofe

nervous

fyftem' has been long relaxed,

fevere domeftic
trials,

who

have had

or

have been greatly

by extraordinary occurrences, know

be true by their
this

own

experience

but

however
poffibly

may

be, there have

been, and

may be

ftill,

dreams that have no

indifpofition

manner of dependance on the

of

the body, or other natural caufe, but feem to

bring a divine fandlion with them, and

make

peculiar impreffions on the party, though this

was more frequent before the canon ot fcripGod fpoke to ture was clofed, than now.
his people in a

dream, in avifion of the night j

witnefs,

the fubje6t of our prefent meditation,

a dream of the patriarch Jacob's,

forth as a

when going
ftaff in

poor pilgrim with a

his

hand, from his father's houfe, deprived of his

mother's company and inftrudlion, perfecuted

by an

elaer brother, without attendants or neceflaries.

Ser.

XVII.

'Jacob's

Ladder.

399

ceflaries,

only leaning on an invlfible power,

in

need not inform you

how

extraordinary

way he

got the bleffing, which provoked

his brother to

fuch a degree,

as

determined

him
this

to be the death of Jacob, as foon as ever

:

his aged father dropped

to
rife

what

a height did
faid,

wicked man's envy

when he

the

days of mourning for

my father

will foon conic

and what then

compaffion
for

why, though I have fome the old man, and therefore

hands upon
yet I
is

will not lay

violent
is

my

brother

while
kill

my
is

father

alive,

am
who
:

refolved to

him

before

my

father

cold in his grave.

talked to

This

the very

fpirit

of Cain,

his brother,

and then flew him

this
tells

coming

to the ears of his mother, fhe

the good

old patriarch her huiband,

who

loving peace

and

quietnefs, takes
vefiel,

the good advice

of the
to his

weaker

and orders Jacob to go

mother's brother, Laban, and ftay a Uttle while

out of Efau's fight, (perhaps out of fight out

of mind) and by and by probably, faid he,

thou mayft come to thy father and mother

again
in

peace and

fafety.

Jacob,

though

fure of the bleffing in the end,

by

his father's

confirmation of

it,
^

yet

prudently makes ufc

oi proper means

therefore

he obeyed

bis

parents

^oo
parents
:

"Jacob's

Ladder.
be to thofe

Sen

XVIL
think
!

and wo,

wo

who

a parent's bleffing not worth their alking for

Having had
his father's,

his mother's

bleffing, as well as
I will

without faying,

try

it

out

with

my

brother^ I will let

him know
it

that I

am

not afraid of him, he views

as the call

of God, and like an honeft, fimple pilgrim,

went out from

it

Beerflieba towards Haran.

Was

not a

little

unkind

in his parents not to fur-

nifh

him with fome

?

neceffaries

and conveni-

encies

When
why
;

the fervant was fent to fetch a

wife for Ifaac, he had a great deal of attendance,

fhould not Jacob have

fent

it

now;

his father

might have
but
I

him away with

fpirit

great parade

am

apt to believe this did

;

not

fuit Jacobus real,

pilgrim
in tents,

he was a

plain

man, and dwelt

when, perhaps,

he might have dwelt under cedar roofs ; he chofe a pilgrim's life, and prudence direded

him
fatal

to

go thus

in a private

manner, to pre-

vent increafing Efau's envy, and giving the

blow.
I fee the

Methinks,

young pilgrim weeping

when he
ther
\

took his leave of his father and

foot,

mo-

he went on

and they that are ac-

quainted

with the geography

of the

place,

fay, that the firft

day of

his journey

he walked
not

Ser.

XVII.
lefs

"Jacob" i Ladder^,
;

401 what exer!

not

than forty Englifli miles

all

dfe muft he have had

that

way

no won-

der, therefore, that by the time the fwn was

going down,
weary, for

poor

Jacob

felt

himfelf very

we

are told, ver. ii, that he lighted

GH a certain place^
becaufe the jitn

and tarried
There

there all nighty

is

was fet.

a particular

cmphafis to be put upon

place
"y

this term,

a certain

he faw the fun going down, he was

a ftranger in a ftrange land. (You that are born:

in

England can have very

little

idea of

it,

but)

perfons that travel in the American woods can

form a more proper

travel a

idea, for

you may
of

there,

hundred and a thoufand miles, an4

tradl
tall
5

go through one continued

trees,

green

like

the

tall

cedars of

Lebanon

and

the gentlemen of America, from one end to

the other,
as I

are of fuch an hofpitable temper,

told,

have not only been

but have found

among them upwards of

would not
they
Engiifli
let

thirty years, that they

public houfes be licenfed, that

may have
friends

an opportunity of entertaining
:

mercy, grant
ved.)

this

may God, union may

of his
never be

infinite
dillol-

Well, Jacob got to a certain place,

and

perhaps he faw a good tree that Would ferve

Fff

hioi

402

jfacob's

Ladder.
this

Ser.

XViL
was

him
he
iet,

for a

canopy ; however,
all

we

are told,

tairied there

night becaufe the fun

and he took of the ftones of that place

and put them

that place

was ufed
hear

down in to lleep hard lodgings for him wha to lie otherwife at home: I don't
for his pillow,

and

laid

him

fay,

I wifli I I

was got back

had not
fet

to
5

my
but
lies

mother

again,

wifh

out

upon the hard ground and hard pillow he

down
in his

I believe

never poor

man

flept fweeter

life>
is

for

it is
3

certainly fweet fleep

when

God

near us

he did not
kill

know

but his

brother might follow and

afleep, or

him while be was

might devour
they fleep in the

that the wild beafts

him

(in

America,
I

when
before

woods, and
ing times in
over,
beafts

expedl to have fome fuch fleep-

them
I

twelvemonth
a fire to

is

we

are obliged to
:

make
it,

keep the

from us
I fhall

have often

faid then,

and

hope

never forget

when I
is

rife in

the

morning,

this fire in the

woods
us,

that keeps the

like the fire

wild beafts from hurting

of

God's love that keeps the

devil

from hurting
falls

us:) thus weary and folitary he

afleep,

and fweetly dreams, and behold

ber

I don't

remem-

many
is

paflTages offcripture

where the word,

times in fo fhort
a fpace

heboidy

-repeated fo

many

Ser.

XVII.

Jacob* s Ladder,
us,

403

a fpace as in the pafTage before

Ithe

doubtlefs,

Lord would have us

of
it,

particularly take

no-

tice

even us upon

whom

the ends

of

the world are

the earthy

come

Behold, a ladder fet upon

;

and

the top reached to heaven

and

behold,

the angels of
;

Jcenciing upon it

God afc ending and dcand behold, the Lord jlaod

above

it

fo

here are three beholds in a very

few

lines.

Was
?

there any thing very extraor-

dinary in that

perhaps the Deifls would fay,

tired,
5

your patriarch was

and dreamed among

yes,

other things of a ladder

he

did, but this

dream was of God, and how kind was he to meet him at the end of the firft day's journey,
to ftrengthen
this

and animate him

!

to

go forward in

lonefome pilgrimage
is

[IW^'V-

'^^^^ ladder

reckoned by fome to denote

the providence of

God

it

was

let

down

as it

were from heaven,

particularly at this time to

poor Jacob, that he might

know

that

howpver

he was become a pilgrim, and

for

left

his all, all

God's glory, that

and give

God would
his

take care for

his comfort,

angels charge over

him

to

keep him

in all his ways,

which was

denoted by the angels afcending and defcending

upon the
faints

ladder.

Some

think that particular

and countries have particular guardian

ff2

angels.

404
angels,

Jacob's Ladder.

Ser.

XVIL

and therefore

that

the

angels that
particular

afcended

were thofe that had the

far as

charge of that place, fo

that the angels
fet

Jacob had come;

that dcfcended

were another
to

of angels, iept

down from heaven

5

guard

him

more However, 1 a fancy than the word of God. very much like the obfervation of good Mr.
in his fixture journey

perhaps, this

is

Burket, "

Why

fhould

y^e dilpute

whether

" every individual " lar angel, when

believer has got a particu-

there

is

not one believer

" but has got guards of which

are a great
fervants,

angels to attend him,*'

a great

deal better than

many

that

prove oar plagues,

us

and
wait

inftead of

waiting upon

make

us

upon them.
But,
fpiritual
1

my

dear hearers, I don't

know one
that
this

commentator,
Jacob was

but

agrees

ladder was a type of the Lord Jefus Chrift;

and that

as

now

banifhed from his

father's hcufe,

and while fleeping upon a hard,

pleafed not only to give

cold ftone,

God was

him an
in the

aPlirance that he

would be with him

\vb

way, but gave him a blcffcd fight of

Jefus Chrifl, in

whom

Jacob believed.
is

A
we

ladder

you know

fomeiiiing by
3

which
hence,
in

climb from one place to another

Ser.

XVH.

"^Jacob's

Ladder.

405

in condefcenlion to our

weak
to

capacities,

God
the

ordered a ladder to be
that Chrift
is

let

down,
heaven
;

to
:

fhew us

the

way

/ am

wa)\

the truth y

and
is

the life

/ am

the door^

fays he; neither

for there
is

there falvation in any other,

no other name given under heaven

The Deifts, whereby we muft be faved. who own a God but deny his Son, dare go
to a

God

out
:

of Ghrift; but Jacob

is

here

taught better
golpel unto

how
;

foon does
is

God

reveal the

him

here
5

a ladder,

by which

God

preaches to us

if

you have a mind to you muft get up

but himfelfl

climb from earth

to heaven,
;

by the Son of God

a proper

no one ever pointed out

for us

way

to heaven
fell

When Adam and Eve

the tree of
living
life;

from God, a flaming

fword turned every way to keep them from

but Jefus alone
to
is

new and

way, not only

but into
the

the

Holy of Holies
that

below,

immediate prefence of
he was
to

God

and that

we might know
it

a proper Saviour, the top of heaven

have
;

reached

if

it
!

had flopped fhort Jacob might

the ladder
is

faid,

ah

within a

little
it 3

way
if

of heaven, but does not quite reach

climb up to the top
all
;

I fliall

not get there after

but the top reached to heaven, to point

^

out

406

'Jacob's

Ladder.

Ser,

XVII,

out the divinity and exaltation of the Son of

God

fuch a Saviour became

bleffed for

xis

who was

God, God over all,

therefore the Arian

evermore : and

fcheme
5

is

moft uncomfortof Chrift as a Sa-

able and deftrud:ive

to talk

viour that

God, is no Chrift at all. I would turn Deift to-morrow if I did not know that Chrift was God j but curfed is the man If that builds his faith upon an arm ofjiejh.
is

not

Chrift
their

God, the Arians and Socinians, by own principles, are undone for ever j but
is is

Jefus Chrift

very

God

and very man,

:

be-f

gotten (and not made) of the Father

God^

of

his

infinite

mercy, write his divinity deep

in our hearts

The bottom of
earth
;

the ladder reached to the

this points
5

cut to us the humiliation of

for us

the blcfled Lord

men he came down

which our Lord voto,

from heaven

we

pray to and for a defcending

God.

All the fufFerings

luntarily

expoied himfelf
for

were that he

might become a ladder

you andj^to climb

up

to

heaven by.
fay they,

crofs,

and

Come down from the we will believe thee \ if

he had, v/hat would have become of us? did

they believe on
ried,

and

rifen

him when he was dead, buagain ? no. Some people fay,^

if

Ser.XVlI.
if Chrift

"Jacob's

Ladder.
dear

407
fhould love

was

here,

O
as

we

him;

juft as

much

they did

when

they

when he came down If he had come down from the crofs, before* O that they would have hung him up again you and I might make his crofs a ftep to
turned

him

out of doors,

glory

As
fides

the top of the ladder pointed out his ex-

altation, the

bottom

his humiliation, the

two
in

of the ladder being joined together, point

out the union of the Deity and

the perfon of Chrift
5

manhood

and that
bleffed

as this ladder

God, Jefus Ghrift has found out a way whereby we may

had
fteps

to

it,

fo,

be

go, ftep after ftep, to glory.

The
the
;

firft

ftep is

the righteoufnefs of
paffive obedience

Chrift,

active

and

of the Redeemer

no

fetting

one foot upon

this ladder

without coming out

of ourfelves, and relying wholly upon a better

righteoufnefs

than our

own.

Again,

all

the
5

other fteps are the graces of the blefled Spirit

therefore,

you need not be

inward
holinefs,

afraid

of our de-

ftroying

by preaching the

dodlrine of the imputation of Chrift 's righteoufnefs, that

one

is
;

the foundation, the other

to talk

the fuperftru6ture

of

my

having the

righteoufnefs of Chrift imputed

to

my

foul,

without

4o9
without
parted to

Jacol^'s

LdddeK

Sdr.

XVIIJ

my
it,

having the holinefs of Chrifl im-

and bringing forth the

is

fruits

of

the Spirit as an evidence of it,

ourfelves.
I

only deceiving

would never preach upon im-

puted righteoufnefs, without fpeaking of in-

ward
of

holinefs, for if you don't take a great deal

care,

you

will unawares,

under a pretence

of exalting Chrift, run into Antinomianifm,

depths that Calvin never went into
j

probably,

you

will imbitter others fpirits that don*t agree

at

with you, and

fruits

the

fame time hurt the

may God give you clear heads, and at the fame time warm hearts. On the ladder Jacob faw the angels of God
of the Spirit :
afcending and defcending
to
5

what

is

that for

fhow

that they are miniftring fpirits, fent

forth to minifter to
falvation
;

them

that fhall be heirs of

find

therefore

we

them

attending

upon

Chrift.

We

do

rrot

hear

much

of them
as

after the

canon of fcripture was clofed, but

foon as ever Chrift was born, the angels

till

fang,-

then

we

never hear of their finging below,;

as far as I

can judge, finee the creation

then

the fons of

God

fliouted for joy

but

when
fatal

Eve reached out

her hand to pluck the

apple, and gave to

Adam,
it

earth groaned, and'

the angels hung, as

were, their harps upon

the

Ser.

XVII.

Jacob's Ladder.

409
fecond

the willows;

but

when

Chrift, the

Adam, was born, the angels fang at midnight, Glory to God iii the hi^heji. I pray to God we may all die finging that anthem, and fmg
it

to all eternity.

After his temptations, they

as

came

and miniftred to him,

fome think,

food for his body, and wiflied

him joy and

After his
at

comfort in his foul

and

in his agonies in the

garden, an angel ftrengthned him.

refurredlion

two appeared
that

again,

one

the

head and another

to
let

at the foot

of his fcpulchre,
the fepulchre

thofe

looked

into

know,

would not only wait upon the head but the foot 3 and the angels are glad to
that they

wait upon the meaneft of the children of God.

When
him

our Lord departed, a cloud received

out of their fight, which probably was a

:

cloud of angels

having led his dilciples out

of the

city,

he bleffed them, and then away

heaven
:

he went

to

may

that bleffing reft up!

on you and your children

that

This

intimates

God makes
efpecially
:

u(e

of angels to attend his

people,

when

they

are

departing

into eternity

perhaps, part of our entertainto

ment

in

heaven will be,

hear the angels

declare
affifted

how many
and helped

millions of times they have

us.

Our Lord
g g

fays,

angels

410
gels his

"Jacob' i

Ladder.

Ser.

XVII.
of

do there behold the

little

face of the Father

I

ones

and therefore

love

to talk

to the lambs of the flock, and

why

fhould I
it

not talk to them

whom
;

angels think
if it

their

honour

to guard

and

was not

for this,

how

w^ould any children efcape the dangers

?

they are expofed to in their tender age

it is

owing

to

the particular providence of

is

God,
;

that any one child

brought to manhood

therefore

can't help admiring that part of the

Litany, in

which we

pray, that

God would
but of

take care not only of the

children alfo
:

grown

people,

God

take care of yours both in

body and

foul.

But what gave the

the ladder, which

greateft

comfort to Ja-

cob was, that the Lord was on the top of

I
fo,

do not
if

know whether
I afllire

it

would have been

Jacob had not it^n

God
Ihall

there.

It com.forts

me,

you, to

think, that

whenever God

fliall call

for

me,

be carried by angels into Abraham's bo-

fom

and

have often thought that whenever

long longed-for
ever they have
will be to
?

that time comes, that blefled,

moment
called

comes,-'

as

foon

as

upon me,
where
?

them,
Jefus

is

my firft queftion my dear mafler

that dear

where

is

where

is

Emanuel,

who

has

loved

Ser.

XVIL

"jdeob's

Ladder.

411

loved
called

fetch

me with me by his me home

I fhall

an everlafting love, and has

grace, and

have
?

fent

you

to

to fee his face

But

I believe

you and
he
is,

have no occafion to afk where

us,

for

he will come to meet

he will

ftand at the top of his ladder to take his piU

grims

in

fo

God was
that.

at

the top of the ladder,

fitting,

pray mind

He
here,

appears not

as

he
as

is

often reprefented in heaven, but (landing

fay,

much as to

here, Jacob, thy bro5

ther wants to kill thee

here thou art

come

out without a fervant,

bed, but here I

art lying

upon a hard
thy wearinefs,

am

ready in order to preferve

thee;

ftand above,

and

I fee

I fee the fatigue to

and hardfliips thou haft yet

it

undergo, though thou doft not fee

thy-

felfj

thou haft thrown thyfelf upon

I

my

pro-

vidence and protection, and

the
the
that
his

will give thee

word of a God that I will ftand by thee; Lord flood above if he had faid nothing,
;

would have been enough

readinefs to help.

to

have fhewa

But

God

fpeaks, behold

well might this

be ufhered in with the word behold ; a ladder

fet

on the

earth,

and behold the angels of God

it;
it
!

afcending and
all,

defcending on
fpeaking from

and, above

behold

God

what doth
he

g g 2

412
he
fay
?

Jacob's Ladder.

Ser.XVII.
thy

/ am

the

Lord God cf Abraham

;

Jather.

Oh! happy they that can fay, the Lord God of my father happy you that have
got fathers and mothers in heaven,
ber, about twenty-five years
I

rememthe

ago as
a

I v^as tra-

velling

from

Briftol,

met with

man on

road, and being defirous to

know whether he
I

was

ferious or not, I

began to put in a word

forbid

for Chrift, (and

God

fhould travel

with any body a quarter of an hour without

fpeaking of Chrift to them) he told

me what
fir,

a wicked creature he had been

he, in
the midft
tell

but,

fays

of

my

wickednefs people
a

ufed to
prayers

me, you have got

the
file

good many
fa-

upon

for you,

your godly

ther and mother have prayed very often

for
w\is

you

and

it

was the pleafure of God he

to Chrift.
for your children, get a

wrought upon, and brought

in a

Lay
good

good ftock

many
the

prayers in for them, they

may

be an-

fwered when you are dead and gone.

I ajit

God
5

oj

father

mind what an honour God would put upon him, to make him as it
to
in

Abraham puc him

thy father^ not thy grand-

were the
have

father

of the church.
fays

Though you
you have
the land

many

inftrudtors,
:

Paul,

but one Father

and

the

God of IfaaCy

^whereon

Ser.

XVII.

"Jacob' i
lieft^

Ladder.

41 j
if^

'whereon thou

to thee will
!

I give
!

and to
they

thy feed.

Amazing
perfons

amazing
or

you
to

know very
eftate,

well

when

buy

come
it

an

ufually take pofleflion of

by fome ceremony,
dirt,
title.

fuch as receiving or taking up a piece of or twig,

in their

hand, as a fign of their

doft

Now,
lieft

fays

God, poor Jacob, thou

little

think that this very fpot of ground that thou

on to-night, cold and

ftifF,

intend to

give to thee, and thy pofterity, for an inheritance,

O my
give

brethren, live
all

all

to

God, and
have
:

God
as
if

will

to

you

who would

thought of this,

probably Jacob did not

it is

God
lie

took a pleafure in feeing his dear

children

on fuch hard ground

thou fhalt have

if

he had

been on a feather-bed, he might not have had

fuch a
vifit
:

now a God
and

to lean

upon,

to thee will

I give

it^

to thy fced^

which Jljall be
fl^alt fpread

as the dufl of the earth, a7id thou

to the wefl,
to the

abroad

and
;

to the eaft^

and

to the north,

and

fouth

and

in theCy

and
lois

in thy feed, fl:all all the families cf the

blejfed.

earth be

Thus

did heaven balance the

of the comforts of his father's houfe, by

the difcovery of his and his oftspring's profpelity,

by an

intereft in the

promifed feed.

My

414

Jacob's Ladder.
particular circumftances call

Ser.

XVII,
to

My
ferve,

me
it

ob-

and

believe

God

has done
faith,

on pur-

pofe to encourage me, that

the promife,
is

refting

on

eafily

religned to the lofs of

prefent good, whereas worldly hearts confider

profperity as a portion, they don't care if the

devil takes

them hereafter, fo they have it now^ and that makes carnal people wonder
can give up things in this world, for
^

how we
glorify

the fake of thofe not yet born

but

it

is

to

God, and

lay a foundation for others

happinefs.

Here God
feed

gives Jacob to

know,

that hereafter his

eaft,

fhould fpread on the

his

weft,

north,

and fouth,
at
;

branches
his
?

Ihould multipl}^, and

fhould Jefus Chrift

laft

from
for

loins

come

what

in

whom
:

all the families oj the earth Jhould be blejfed

God Almighty
him.

grant

we may

be bleiled in

Then
beheld

if

Jacob (hould fay

for

in his heart, haft

thou no promife

me

here

is

another

comes

in

Behold^ 1

am with

thee^

and

^ill keep thee in all places whither thou goejl^

WhdX

word

is

this

thou haft nobody with

thee, nothing but a ftaff, (he could not carry

much upon
a napfack

his back,

like a

poor foldier with

bread
in

behind, and a

little

his
J

pocket)

Ser.XVII.
pocket)
thee
well,

Jacob's Ladder.
faith

415

God,

do not dcfpife
but
I

becaufe thou art

it ;

deftitute,

love

thee the better for

to kill thee, but if

thy brother Efiu longs

ftabs thee

Efau

he

fliall

flab

thy

God

firft
I

-,

will not

only be with thee

ftep thou takeft,

now, but
goejl
as

will

watch every

1 will be with
:

thee in all places whither thou

as to
is

much
life

fay,

Jacob, thou art a

pilgrim, thy

to

be a

moving
and keep

life,

don't intend thou

place
art to
J

fiialt fettle

in

one

thy

life is

to

be a

life

of changes, thou
but 1 will

move from
it

place

to place,

be with thee in all places whither thou goejl,

and thereby
cob's

fhail

be

known

that I

am

Ja-

God, and

alfo

by

my

bringing thee again

into this land.

He

not only aifures

him of a

fuccefsful journey,

whither he was
to

now

go-

ing,

but promifes
to fee his
;

bring

him back ones

more
'land
great

dear father and mother, and

relations again
;

will bring thee back to this

and

to

confirm his faith and hope,

till

the

God

adds, 1 will not leave thee

5

I have
is,

done that I have Jpoken to thee of

that

all

the good he had jufl

now
it

promifed.
it

Some
to-day,
I

people promife, but they cannot do

and they

will not

do

to-morrow.

have

known

the world,

and have rung the changes

of

41

Jacob's Ladder.
it

Ser.

XVIL

of

ever iince I have been here

but, bleffed

be God, an unchangeable Chrift having loved

his

own, he loved them

till

to

the end

will

not leave you

I have performed all thi?2gs I have promijed you : may this promife come
upon you and your
fhall call.

children,

and

ail

that

God

Thus fpake

the great Jehovah to poor Ja-

cob, juft letting out to a ftrange land,

knowfpeaks
>

ing not whiiher he went

but

now God

not only to Jacob, but he fpeaks to you

blefTed
alfo,

and,

be the living God, he fpeaks to

me
de-

lefs
is

than the
I

leaft

of

all
tell

and

as

my

fign

(though

cannot

but this

may be

the

laft

opportunity) to fpeak fomething to

you about

my
in

departure; yet, brethren,

my
^

grand delign

preaching to you
to

is,

to

recom
fouls

mend

the

Lord Jefus Chriil

I

your

and, before

go,

to

make

a particular, perleave, therefore,

fonal application. to
afli

Give
be the

me
lail

you,

it

may

time

may

afk

many of you, whether you have

foot

ever fet your

upon
?

this

blefTed
t;he

ladder,

the

Son of
Jelus

God

aik you in

name of the Lord

Chrift, in the

name of

the Father, Son, and

Holy Ghoft, did you ever fet your foot, I fay, upon this ladder? tha^i^^did you ever
"t
'

yet

Ser.

XVII.

"Jacob'i

Ladder.

417

yet believe
as

on Jefus Chrift, and come to him

jfinners,

poor

loft

relying

righteoufnefs

than that
to

perhaps,

if

you was

upon no other of the Son of God ? fpeak, fome of you

away with your ladder; and what will you do then ? why, fay you, I will climb to heaven without it ; what ladder will you
would
fay,

climb upon

O,

think to go to heaven be-

caufe I have been baptized, that ladder will

break under you

water,

what, a ladder made of

?

what
I
fliall

are

you dreaming of

no

O,

think

go to heaven btcaufe
;

have done

nobody any harm

fay,

what, a ladder made of

;

negative goodnefs, no

think to go, you'll

by good works;
that
that
?

a ladder

made of good
its

works,

has

not Chrift for

bottom,

what
good
fand.

is

I think,

fay you, to go to hea;

ven by

my

prayers and faftings

:

all

thefe are

in their place

but,

my

brethren, don't

think to climb to heaven by thefe ropes of

If

you never before

fet

your foot on
grant this

Chrift,

this bleffed ladder,

God
before

may

be the happy time.

I

have been praying

I

moft of you
give

were up

believe^ that
I

God would

me

a
I

parting bleffing.
left

remember,

foon

after

England

laft,

that a dear ChA-^iftian friend

Hhh

told

41
told

"Jacob's

Ladder.

Ser.

XVIL
who
5

me,

that

there

was one woman,

that

came only out of

I blefs

curiofity,

dated her

converflon from hearing

my

lafl:

fermon

and,

God,

never once

left

England, but

fome poor

foul has dated their converflon

from

my
to

lall:

fermon.
out
it

When I

put on

my

furplice,

come

to

read the

fecond fervice, I
de=*
^

thought
cently

was

juft like a perfon's being

dreffed to go out
rather,

to be

executed
it

would
be
io^

was
feel

it

the will of
I

God,

fhould

than to

what

do

in parting fromall

you, then death would put an end to

but

I iim to be executed again and again, and nothing will fupport

me

under the

torture,

but

the confideration of God's bleffing

me

to

fome

poor

fouls.

Do

pray for me, ye children of

give us a parting
blef-*

God,
fing.

that

God would
this ladder

God

help you, young people, to put

^

your foot on

don't climb
it

wrong

the devil has got a ladder, but

to hell
;

reaches

down

all

the devil's children go

down, not

up

the bottom of the devil's ladder reaches

to the depchs of the

damned, the top of

it

reaches to the earth

and when death comes,,

let

then up comes the devil's ladder to

you

dovn;

for

God's
3

fake

devil's ladder

climb,

come away Irom the cliUibv dear young men^

it

Ser.
it

XVII.
delighted

"Jacob's

Ladder.
at the

419 Tato

me
it

on Friday night

bernacle,

when we had

a melting parting fa-

crament^ and
fee fo

delighted

me
!

this

morning
5

many young men at the table God add to the bleffed number Young women,
put your feet upon
ladder
this ladder;

God

lets

one

down from

heaven, and the devil brings

another up from

hell.

O, fay you,
I

would
but

climb up God*s ladder,

1
fhall

think

it is

right,

be laughed

at

do you think
at ?

to

go to

heaven v/ithout being laughed

Jefus Chrifl help

the

Lord

you

to

climb to heaven;

come, climb
their laughter.

till

you get out of the hearing of

truft

not to your

own

righ-

teoufnefs,

your vows, and good

refolutions.

Some of
up
wiili
feet

you, bleffed be God, have climbed

this ladder, at leaft are

cHmbing

well, I

you joy,
on

God
I

be praifed for fetting your

this ladder,

God

be praifed for letting

down

this ladder:

have only one word to

Chrifl's fake,
fafler
;

fay to you,

for Jefus

and your

own

too,

climb a

little

take care the

heels.
It is

world does not get hold of your

fliame the children of

God
is

don't climb fafter

pleale,

you may
people's

talk

what you

but

God's
to

lukewarmnefs
all

more provoking

\Xm than

the

fins

of the nation.
2

We

cry

Hhh

out

420
out againfl the

Jacob's Ladder.
fins

Ser.

XVII.

of the land, would to

God

we did cry out more of the fins of the faints; I will fpue you out of 7?iy mouthy becaufe you
are lukewa7'm, fays Chrift
fay
;

and

if

any of you

you cannot climb becaufe you are lame-

footed, look to Jefus Chrifl:,

my

dear friends,

and your afflidion

fhall

and

if

any of you are

make you climb j coming down the ladder

O,

again, the
nefs

Lord

Jefus Chrift blefs the foolifhto

of preaching

help you up again.

fall
;

fay you, I

am

giddy, I (hall

here, I will

give you a rope, be fure lay hold of it; juft

as the
failors

do when you go aboard a

a rope, fo

fhip,

they

let

down

God

lets
till

down

promife:

climb,

climb, then,

you have

got higher into a better climate, and

God

fhall

put his hand out by and by

when you

get to

the top of the ladder to receive you to himfelf.

BleflTed

be the living God,

hope and believe

I fhall
*

meet many of you by and by.

And now, my brethren, it is time for me to preach m.y own funeral fermon ; and I
would humbly hope
that, as a

poor finner,

may
of

put in
;

my
I

claim for

what God promifed

with
full afliirance

Jacob

and

do put

in,

faith that

God

will be

with me.
time,
to

am now
the

going, for the thirteenth

crofs

n ^^

Atlantic

Ser.

XVII.
:

Jacob's Ladder.
I

421
laft,

Atlantic

when

came from America

all

took

my

leave of

the Continent, from the

to the other, except

one end of the provinces

fome
I took

places w^hich

vv^e
life,

had not then taken

without the
leall

my
;

leave for

de-

fign of returning there again,

{o

my
me
I

health was

bad

and the profped: of getting the orphanfay

houfe into other hands made

iirft

when

came

over,

have no other river to go

thought then

over than the river Jordan.

of retiring,

for

Ididnotchufe
could wiih
to reftore
it

to appear

when
it

my

nerves were fo relaxed that I could not

ferve

God

as I

to

do

but as

hath pleafed
and has
I intend

God

my

health

much,
that
all

fo ordered

by

his providence,

to give

up the orphan-houfe, and

a

the land adjoining, for

public

college.

wiflied to have had a public fanCtion,

but his

grace the late archbifliop of Canterbury put a

flop to it; they

would give

me

charter,

which was
confine

all I

defired, but they infifled

upon,

at leaft his grace

it

and another did, that I fhould

totally to the

Church of England,
fliould be ufed

and thdt no extempore prayer

in a public
ters,

way

in that houfe,

though Diffen-

and
:

all forts

of people, had contributed

to

it

would fooner cut

my

head off than

betray

42
betray

Jacob's Ladder,

Scr.
it

XVII,

my
;

Iruft,

by confining
it

to a

narrow

bottom

always meant

Ihould be kept upon

all

a broad bottom, for people of

tions, that their children

denomina-

might be brought up

in the fear

of

God

by

this

means the orphanj

houfe reverted into

my

hands

have once

more,

as

my

health was reftored, determined

I

to purfue

the plan

had fixed on
ago was a
as

and, thro'

the tender mercies of God, Georgia, (which

iabout thirty-two years
I
'

total defolate
it

place

and when the land,

was given

me
i

by the Houfe of Commons, would have

totally deferted,

been

and the colony have quite

ceafed,

had

it

not been for the

money

have

laid out for the

orpKan-houfe, to keep the poor

is

people together) that colony

rifing to a

moft

amazing height, by the fchemes now going

on, public buildings are eredling.
laft
I

had news
-^

week of the
I
is

great profperity of the negroes

and
wr^

hope by the twenty-fifth of March,

the day, the anniverfary day, I laid
brick, in the year
all

which
^^^the

firil

1739

I fay, I

hope

by that'time

things will be finifhed, and a

blcfled provinon will be

made

for

orphans and
;

poor ftudents that will be brought up there

will

it

be a bl.fT.d fource of provifion for the

la another part of the world,

f hildrpn of God

This

Ser.XVII.

';jacohU

Ladder.
I

423
going upon
;

This
this
is

is

the

grand defign
;

am

my

vifible caufe

but I never yet went

to

them, but

God

has

been pleafed to
them;

blefs

my

miniftration

among

and therefore
affair,

after I

have finiHiedthe orphan-houfe

all

intend to go

along the Continent by land^

(which
fpring)

will

keep
I

me

all

the

v/inter

and

and when
will

which
I

come to the end of it, be Canada and New-England, then

3

hope

to return again to this place

for,

let

people

fay

what they
and

will,

have

not

fo

much
lie

as a iingle

thought of
;

fettling

abroad on|

this fide eternity

am

going in no pub-'

capacity, I fhali fet out like a poor pilgrim,.

at

my own
God
to

expence, trufting upon

to

God
3.

to take

care 01
call

me, and

bear

my

charges

and

witnefs, and I

muft be a curfed
in the pul-

devil
pit

and hypocrite, to ftand here

and provoke
I

God

to

ftrike

me
in

dead for
|

lying,

never had the love of the world, nor

never

felt it

one quarter of an hour

old.
I

my heartJ
built,

fince I

was twenty years

:

might have
is

been rich

but though the Chapel

and

I have a comfortable

room

to lie in, I allure

it

you

I built

it

at

my own

expence,
I

cofl

no-

body buv myfelf any thing.

coat

have a watchlie

made me, and

in that I fhall

everv
night

424
me.
I

"Jacob's

Ladder.

Sen XVII.
Jacob's

night on the ground, and

blefs
I will

not fay

may much
I

God

of myfelf, bat

when

have been preaching,

v.'ith

have read and

thought of thofe words

this is the houje of

pleafure, Surely

God.

And

1 will bring thee

that will be

again

to this land.

Whether
and,

my

experience or not, blefled be God, I have a

better land in

view

my

dear brethren, I
I land in

do not look upon myfelf at home till my Father's kingdom ; and if I am

the way,
forts
if I

to die in
it

am

to die in the
I

fhip,

com-

me

that I

know

am

as clear as the fun,

;

that I

go by the will of God

and though
?

people
will

may

fay, will

you leave the world

?

you leave the Chapel

O,

am

aftonifhed

that

we

cannot leave every thing for Chriil

is,

my
as

greateft trial

to part

with thofe
foul
%

who are

dear to

me

as

my own
me,
I

and however

others

may

forget

as

thoufands have, and

do

forget

me, yet
Jacob's

cannot forget them: and

now may
clofe to

God
dear

be with you;

O
5

keep
I

God,

my
I

London

friends

do
,

not bid you keep clofe to Chapel, you have

done
the

fo

always:

fl:iall

endeavour
in

to

keep up
abfence
;

word of God among you

my

I fhall have the fame perfons that

managed

for

me when

was out

lad,

and they fent

me

Ser.

XVIL

'Jacob's

Ladder.
letter,

425
that
it

me word

again and again, by

that

was remarkable,
were
there.
fee
I

the

Tottenham-court

people were always prefent

when
a
fair

ordinances

You

went upon

bottom

might have had a thoufand

place if I had chofe
it 3

a year out of this

I

when
I

am
it

gone

to
;

heaven you
I

will fee

what

have got on earth *

do not

like to

fpeak now, becaufe

;

may be

thought

boafting

but I

am
if

lure

there are

knsw what I have, would love me as much as they now hate me. When we come before the great
numbers
of people here,

they

Judge
him,
then,
will

ot quick

and dead, while

ftand before

God
it

grant you

may

not part w^ith

me
it

will be a dreadtul

parting then,
fire,

be worfe then to go into the

the devil and his angels
forbid
it
!

to be

among
it
!

God
!

forbid

God
'y

God

forbid

ber that
Chrift

my

lall:

words were,

the Lord help you to

Chrift,

rememcome, come to come to Chi id

it
;

come
give

to

come

10 Jacob's

God

God

you

faith like Jacob's faith.

You
helped

that have been kind to

me, that have

me when

was
I
i

fick,
i

fome of

whom
are

* The

greateft part of the fubilance

vvhicti

this

mm

of

G^d

left

behind him,

was not much, was utqueachcd

to

him by

ficceafed friends.

426
are

"Jacob's

Ladder.

Sen XVII.

here

that

have been very kind to

may God
forgive

reward you,
enemies
;

my
you
here
;

friends,

and

me j God

my
blefs

God, of
will

his

infinite

mercy,
provided

you

all

be amply

for, I believe,

the gefpel every where; and

leave you, nor forlake
Jefiis.

may God fpread may God never

Even
fo^

you.

Lord

Amen

and Amen.

SERMON

427

SERMON
The Good
John
x. ver.

XVIII.

Shepherd.

A Farewel Sermon.

27, 28.

MyJJjeep hear my voice ^ and I know them^ and

they follow me.

And

I give unto them eter-

nal

lifcy

and

they fiall never perijh^ neither

Jloall

any pluck them out of my hand,

a

ITfpeaking,
that
refpedl: to

is

common,

and, I believe, generally

my

dear hearers, a true faying,

lav/s.

bad manners beget good

Whein

ther this will hold

good

in every particular,

the affairs of this world, I

is

am

per-

fuaded the obfervation

very pertinent in re;

fpecS to the things of another

mean bad
God,
to

manners, bad treatment, bad words, have been

over-ruled by the fovereign grace of

produce and to be the caufe of the

bell: fcr-

mons
of the

that

were ever delivered from the mouth

Chrift Jefus.
I i
i

God-man,

One

42 8

The Good Shepherd.

Ser.

XVIII.

V"^

One would have

imagined, that as he
efficience, as

cloathed

with divine

came he came
as

with divine
have
',

credentials, as

he fpake

never

mati fpake, that no one fhould have been able

to
'

refifled

the

wifdom with which he

fliould

fpake

one would imagine they

have

been

fo ftruck

with the demonftration of the

all

Spirit, that

with one confent they fhould

own,

that

he was that prophet that was

to

be

raifed up like unto Mofes.

find our

But you feldom

Lord preaching a fermon, but fome,

thing or other that he faid was cavilled at

nay, their enmity frequently broke through

all

good manners
rupted

they often, therefore,

inter-

him

whilfh he

was preaching, which

their hearts long before

fhows the enmity of

God

permitted

it

to

be in their power to fhed

If

his innocent blood.

this chapter,

we

lock no farther than

where he

reprefents himfelf as a

good fhepherd, one

his fheep
;

that laid

down

his life for

we

fee the beft return

he had, was
;

to
for

be looked upon as pofleffed or diftraded

we

are told that there

was

a divifion there-

among the Jews and many of them faid, he is rnad^ why hear ye him?
fore again

for thefe fayings,

hath a de%il

and

If the mailer of

the houfe was ferved

fo,

pray what are the

fer-

Ser.

XVIII.

The Good Shepherd.

?

429
more foberufed to

fervants to

exped

Others, a

little

minded,

faid,

thefe
devil-,

are not the words of him

the devil never

that hath a

preach or aft in

this

way.

Can a

devil ope?!
friends

the eyes of the blind? So

he had feme

among

thefe rabble.

This did not difcourage

in
his,

our Lord, he goes on

fhali never,

work

and

we

never go on with the

work of
and
as
as

God,

till,

like our mafter,

we

are willing to
;

go through good and through

let

evil report

the devil fee

to flop

one
along.

we are not fo complaifant moment for his barking at us

our Lord was
at

we go

We are km at the
winter
3

told, that
feaft

Jerufait

of the dedication, and

was

the feaft of dedication held, I think,

feven or eight days for the

commemoration of
Altar after
this

the reftoration of the

its

Temple and
:

profanation

by Antiochus

now

was

certainly a

mere human

inftitution,

and had

no

divine image,
it
;

had no divine fuperfcription

I

upon
find

and yet

don't find that our bleffed

againft
it ;

Lord and Matter preached

that

don't
-,

he fpent

his

time about

this
3

his

heart was too

I believe

big with fuperior things

like

and
with

the

when we, Holy Ghoft, we

him, are

filled

fhall

not entertain our

audi-

430

"The

Good Shepherd.

Ser.

XVIII.

audiences with difputes about

rites

and cereof

monies, but (hail

treat

upon the

effentials

the gofpeK and then

rites

and ceremonies will

appear with more indifference.

Our Lord does

feaft,

not fay, that he would not go up to the

for,

on the contrary, he did go

to

there, not fo

much

keep the

feaft,

as to

have an oppor-

tunity to fpread the gofpel-net, and that ihould

be our method not

to follow

difputing

and

is

the glory of the Methodifts, that

we have

been

now

forty years,

and,

thank God,

there has not been one fingle pamphlet v^rote

by any of our preachers about

tials

the non-elTen-

of religion.
the befl of every
he ^walked in

Our Lord always made

opportunity
the
;

and

we

are told,

temple

in

Solomon's porch.

One would
and have
to preach,

have thought the Scribes and Pharifees would

have put him in one of their
flails,

complimented him with

no, they
let

deiiring
in

him

him walk

Solomon's porch
himfelf,

fome think he walked by

choofing to keep
thinks, I fee

nobody

company with him.

v/ithin
;

Meat

him walking and looking

forefeelng

the

temple, and

himfelf

how

foon
five,

it

would be deflroyed

he walked pen-

to fee the dreadful calamities that

would

come

Ser.

XVIII.

The Good Shepherd.

the land, for not
j

431

come upon
of
fee
its

knowing the day

to let the

vifiiation

and

it

was

world
:

he was not
as

afraid to appear in public

as to fay,

he

walked,

much

have any of you

put himlelf

any thing
in their

to fay to

me ? and he
if

way, that

they had any thing to

alk him, he was ready to refolve

to

them

and

fhew them,
fo
ill,

that

though they had treated

him

yet he

was ready

to

preach falva-

tion to them.

In the twenty-fourth

verfe

we

are

told,

Jhen

came the Jews round about him^ and [aid

unto hiniy

how

lojig dojl

thou

make

us to doubt ^

They came round about him when they faw him Vv^alking in Solomon's porch now, fay they, we will have him, now we will attack him. And now was fulfilled that paiTage in
;

the Pjfalms, they compared

to fling

me about

like bees

me, or rather

like wafps.

Now,

fay

they,

we wilPget him in the middle of us, and fee what fort of a man he is; we will fee whether we can't conquer him ; they came to
liim and they fay,
to doubt ?

how

long doft thou

make us

Now

this

feems a plaufible queflion,

us to doubt ? Pray
to

how

long doji thou

fir,
?

make

how
fuC-

long,
ptjill*

do you intend

keep us

in

Some

think the words will bear this

inter-

432

The Good Shepherd.

;

Ser.

XVIII.

interpretation

pray,
ileal

fir,

how

long

do you

intend

thus to
reprefent

away our

hearts? they

would
like

him

to be a defigning

man,
fide,

Abfalom, to get the people on his

fet

and then
carnal
tions.

up himfelf for the Meffiah

interpret
to

thus

minds always

good mens acbe

y

But the meaning feems

this,

they were doubting concerning Chrift

ing Chriftians

doubt-

they doubt,

may think it is God's but God knows it is

make
a
littie

fault that
all

their

own.
I wifh

How
let

long doji thou

us to doubt?
plainer,
fir,

you would fpeak

us have any
us

and not
pray
let

more of your
let

parables
it

from your
tell

know w^ho you are, own mouth; if thou

y

us have

be the Chriji

us plainly

and

don't doubt but they put

en a very

fanclified face

and looked very detell

mure; if thou
is

be

the

Chrift
:

us plainly^

intending to catch
the Chrift,

him
will

if

he does not fay he he

tell
is

we
;

fay

afliamed

of

his

own
is

caufe

if

he does

us plainly that

he

the Chrift, then

we

will

impeach him
tell

to the governor,

vernor that this

ncvv
joftle

we man

will
fays

go and
he
is

the go^

the Meffiah
is

we know of no
make

Meffiah but what

to

Cxfar out of his throne.

it

The

devil

always wants to

beljeved that God^s

people^

Ser.

XVIII.

The Gcod Shepherd.

are the
to

43 j
In the

people,

who

mofl loyal people

world, are

rebels
live
^

the government under

tell

which they
plainly.

if thou be the Chrijl

let

us

Our Lord does not

anfwer
;

them wait long

:

for an
told you

honefly

can foon fpeak

:

and ye

believed not

the works that

/ I

do in

my

Father^ s name^ they bear witnefs of

me.

Had

our Lord

faid,

am
;

the Meffiah,

they would have taken

him up

he knew

that,

and therefore he joined the wifdom of the fer^ pent with the innocence of the dove ; fays he,
I

appeal to

my

works and dodrine, and

if

you

will not infer

I

from them

that

am

the

Meffiah,

have no further argument.

believe

But^

he adds, ye

mfy becauje ye are not of

,

my

fieep.

He

complains twice

for their

un:

belief

was the

greateft grief of heart to Chrift

then he goes on in the words of our text.

fheep hear

My

my
they

voice^

and I hiow them^ and

unto
the?7i eieriial

they follow me.

lifcy

And I give
fall never
voice
to

and
a?2y

perify

?ieither

fall
flieep

pluck

them out of my hand.

>

My
kind

hear

my

you think

to

puzzle

me, you think

believe

chagrin

me

with
3

this

of conducSi but you are miftaken

you don't

on me, becaufe you

are not of

my

(heep.

The

great

Mr.

Stodart, of

New-England.

k k

^34
land,

The Good Shepherd.

(2nd

Sen XVIIJ.

no place under heaven produces

greater divines than

New

Englind) preached
noty

once from thefe words, hut yc believe

caiije

be^

ye are

7iot

of

my-fieep

a very ftrange

text to preach
tion, yet

upon

to convince a congregait,

God
fouls

fo bleffed

that

two

or three
:

hundred

were awakened by that fermon

God
of
all

grant fuch fuccefs to attend

his faithful minifters.
I'oice,

the labours

Myfieep hear my
It
is

and

they follow me.

very remarkable, there are but two forts

in fcripture^
it

of people mentioned
fay the Baptifls

does not

and Independents,
^

nor the

Methodifls and Prefbyterians

I

no, Jefus Chrift

divides the

whole world
:

into but

two

clafTes,

!| ilieep

and goate
to
is

the

Lord give us
thefe claffes

to fee this

morning
But
it

which of

we
are

belong.

obfervable, believers

always

compared
fitable,

to

fomething that

is

good aod pro-

and unbelievers are always defcribed

that
is

by fomething
or nothiiag.
If you aik
called flieep
?

bad, and good for

little

me
as

v/hy Chrifl's
(hall

people

are

God
and

enable me, I will

it

give

you a

fliort^

hope

will be to

you

an anfwer of *peace.

Sheep, you know, gej

Kerally love to be together

we

fay a flock of
flieep.

Ser.

XVIII.

rioe

Good Shepherd.
;

435
flieep

fheep,
are

we

don't fay a herd of flieep

little

creatures,

and Chrift's peopL

are
little

may
in

be
the

called fheep,

becaufe they

eyes of the world, and they are yec

lelb In tlieir

own eyes. O fome people think if the great men were on our fide, it we had ki:ig, lords,
and commons on our
fide,

medn
had

if
all

they
t

were
had;

all

true believers,

if v/e

)e

kings upon
alas!

the earth on our fide, fuppofe

alas!

you do you think the church

?

would go on the
able
to

better

why,
at

if it

was fadiionit

be a Methodift
be a

court, if

was
in-

fafhionable to

Methodift abroad, they

a

would go with
under too
not

a bible or

hymn-book

ilead of a novel; but

religion

ne\er thrives

much

fun-fliine.

many

noble are called^

Not many mighty^ but God hath chojen

the jooliJJd things of the "joorld to conjoiind the

wife^

and God hath

to

chojen the iveak things of

the

world

confound the

things which are

mighty.

Dr. Watts

fays, here

and there

I fee

a king,

and here and there a great

is

man

in

heaven, but their number

but
to

finall.

Sheep are looked upon

harmleis, quiet creatures that

be

the

mofl
:

God

hath made

O
to

may God, of know that we

his

infinite

mercy,

give us

are his flieep,

by our inving
this

k k 2

'436
this

The Good Shepherd.

blefled

Ser.

XVIII.

temper infufed into our hearts by

the Holy Ghoft,

fed

Lord ;

Learn of me^ faith our blefwhat to do, to work miracles ? no 5

for I

Learn
heart.

oj nie^

am

meek and lowly in

very good man,

is

now
is

living,

faid

once, if there
defire

any one particular temper I

another,
to bear
;

more than
quietly

it

the grace of

meeknefs,
forget

bad treatment, to
at the

and

to forgive

and

fame time
not to be

that I

am

fenfible

am
to

injured,

overcome of evil, but

to

have grace given

me

overcome
it is

evil

with good.

To

the honour

of Mofes
eft

declared, that he
earth.
-,

was the meekis

is

man upon
3

Meeknefs
a

neceffary
paffionate

for people in pov/er

is

man

that

dangerous

every governor fhould have a

warm

temper, but a

man

of an unrelenting,
fit

unforgiving temper,

is

no more

for govern-

ment than Phaeton

fun,

to drive the chariot of the

fire.

he only
all

fets

the world on
that flieep of

You
lofts

know,

all

creatures in

the world are the

mod

apt to ftray and be

juftly,
^

Chrift's people

may

in that re-

fpeft,

be compared to

fheep

therefore, in

the introdudion to our morning fervice,

fay, E'\'

we

have erred and ftray ed from thy ways

like loft Jl:eep,

Turn

out a horfe, or a dog,

and

Sen XVIII.

rhe Good Shepherd.

find

437
but a

and they will

fiieep as

their

way home,

wanders about, he

bleats here

and there,

much as to fay, dear flranger, fhew me my way home again thus Chrifl^s fheep are too
:

apt to

wander from the

and that

fold

having their

eye off the great fhepherd, they go into this

field,
field,

over this hedge and that,

lofs

and often return home with the

wool.

of their

But

at the

fame time fheep are the moft ufe*

in

fui creatures

the

world

they manure the

for the feed
;

land, and thereby prepare

it

they
is

clothe our bodies with wool, and there

not

the

leaf];

part of a fheep but

is

ufeful to

man
I

O my brethren,
The
world
fays,

God grant
becaufe
this
is

that

you and

may,

in this refpecSl, anfwer the charadler of fheep.

we

preach faith

we

deny good works ;

againfl the dodrine

the ufual objeftion

of imputed righteoufnefs,

but

it

is

a flander, an
in the

impudent

flander.

It

was
you

maxim

firft

reformers time, that

\

tho' the

Arminians preached up good works,

to

muft go

the

Cakinifls

for

them.

Chrift's fheep ftudy to be ufeful,

all

and to clothe

they can

we

fhould labour w^ith our hands,

to give

that

we may have

to all thofe that

need.
Believers

438

The Good Shepherd.

Ser.

XVIIL
them
>

Believers confider Chrift's property in

he

fays,

My peep
:

bleffed be

God

for that

little,

dear, great

word My.

We

are his

by

eternal eleclion

the Jheep which thou haji given

me^ fays Chrill.

the

They were

given by

God

Father to Chrift

Jefus, in the covenant

made between the Father and the Son from all They that are not led to fee this, I eternity. wifli them better heads ; though^ I beheve,
numbers
hearts:
that
are againft
it

have got better

bear with

the

Lord help us
is

to

one

another where there

an honeft heart.
fheep, they are his
finner,

He
this
lajl

calls

them

my

by

purchafe.

O
'y

fmner,
to hear a

you

are

come
the

morning
farewel

poor creature take his

to iorget

but
is

want you

creature that

preaching, I want to lead you

5

farther than the Tabernacle

where do you

want

to lead us?

why,

to

Mount

Calvary,

there to fee at

what an expence of blood Chrift purchafed thofe whom he calls his own ; he redeemed them with his own blood, fo that
they are not only his by eternal eleftion, but alfo by adual redemption in time ^ and they
wc:re given
dition
heart's
to

him by
iliould
It

the Father,

upon conhis

that

he

redeem them by
bargain,

blood.

was a hard

but

Chrift

Ser.

XVIII.

Ihe Good Shepherd.

439

Chrift was willing to ftrike the bargain, that

you and

might not be damned

for ever.

They
felves

are his, becaufe they are enabled in a

to give

day of God's power voluntarily

them-

up unto him

Chrift fays of thefe flieep

efpecially, that they

hear his voice, and that

"y (311

they follow him.

Wilt
is

te

{o

good

as to
:

-mind that

here

an allufion to a fliepherd

^ow
is is

in

fome

places in fcripture, the fliepherd

^

reprefented as going after his fheep *

that

our

way

in

England^ but

in

the Eaftern

nations,

the fhepherds generally went before

they held up their crook, and they had a particular

a\ll that

the flieep underftood.

Now,
This
is

fays Chrift,

My fheep

hear my voice,

my

beloved Son, faith

God, hear ye him.

the queftion

And
what
?

again, the dead Jloall hear the voice of the Son

oj God,

and

live

now

is,

do we underftand by hearing
Firft,

Chrift's voice

v/e hear
>

Mofes' voice,
there
is

we

hear the
to

voice of the law

no going

Mount
that
is

Zion but by the way of Mount

the
right ftraight road.
I

Sinai,

know fome
:

fay,
^

they don't

know when

they were converted

thofe are, I believe, very few

generally, nay I
deals otherwife.

may

fay almoft always,

God

Some
*
2

Sam.

vii.

8.

Pfal. Ixxviii. 71.

440

The Good Shepherd.

are, indeed, called

Ser.

XVIII.

Some

fooner by the Lord

than others, but before they are made to fee

the glory of God, they muft hear the voice

of the law
the law,
called

fo

you muft hear the voice of

ever

before

you

will

be favingly

unto God.

You

never throw off your

it

cloak in a ftorm but you hug

the law makes a
tions *
',

the clofer, fo
his

man hug

ciofe

corrup-

but

when

the gofpel of the Son

of

God

fhines into their fouls, then they

throw

off the corruptions

fo clofely;

which they have hugged

they hear his voice faying. Son,

dau2;hter, be of

good cheer, thy fms, which

They hear
his

are

many,

are all forgiven thee.

'voice-,

that befpeaks the habitual

:

temper of

their

minds

the wicked hear the voice of the

devil, the lufts

of the

flelli,

the lufls of the

Cbrifl's flieep

eye, and the pride of

life

and

themfelves attended to them before converiion;

but

when

called afterwards

by God, they hear

the voice of a Redeemer's blood fpeaking peace

unto them, they hear the voice of his word

and of

his Spirit.

The

confequence of hearing his voice, and

the proof that

to follow him.

we do
Jefus

hear his voice, will be

fiiid

unto his

difciple.%

If
* Rom.
vli,

7, 8,

9,^

S^r.

XVIIL Ihe Good

Shepherd.

441

If any man will come after me^ let him deny himfelf^ and take up his crofs and follow me.

And

it is

faid

of the

faints in glory,

that they

followed

the

Lamb

foever he went. whither

turns his crook,

Wherever the fhephcrd

and

the flieep hear his voice, they follow him

they often tread upon one another, and hurt

one another, they are in fuch hafte

in their

way

to

heaven.

Following Chrift,

means

following

him through life, following him in every word and gellure, following him out of/ one clime into another. Bid me come to thee upon the water faid Peter and if we are commanded to go over the water for Chrift, God,
\

of

his infinite

mercy, follow us

We

muil

firft

be fure that the Great Shepherd points his

this
is

crook for us: but

the chara(5ter of a

true fervant of Chrift, that

he endeavours to

follow Chrift in thought, word, and work.

Now, my
as this
is

brethren, before
laft

we go
I
fliall

farther,

the

opportunity

have of
live
j

fpeaking to you for fome months if

we

fome of you,
ral

fuppofe,

don't chufe in genethis

to rife fo foon as
I

you have

morning

now
are

hope the world did not

you
let

get into your

;

hearts before

left

your beds
intreat
1

now you
to

here^

do

me

you

enquire

whether

44^

"The

Good Shepherd.

Ser.

XVIII.
no.

whether you belong

to Chrift's Iheep or

Man, woman,

finner,

put thy hand to thy

didft

heart and anfwer

me,

thou

ever

hear

Chrift's voice fo as to follow

him, to give up
I verily
is

thyfelf without
believe

referve to

him?
take
to

do

from

my
I

inmoft

foul,

and that

my

comfort
you,

now

that I

am about to am preaching
for

my

leave of

a vaft body, a

multitude of dear, precious fouls,

who,

if it

was

proper

you to fpeak, would

that

fay.

Thanks be unto God,

fus in the charafter

we can

follow Je-

of fheep, though

we

are

afhamed
thee,

to think

how

often

we wander from
bring unto thee

and what

little fruit

we

if that is

the language of your hearts, I wifh

;

you joy
Chrill.

welcome, welcome,

dear

foul,

to

blefied be

God

for his rich grace,

his diflinguiihing, fovereign, electing love,

by

which he has
if

diftinguiflied

you and me.

you

And

he has been pleafed

to let

hear his voice,

through the miniftration of a poor,..miferable

finner; a poor, but

happy pilgrim, may the

all

Lord

Jefus Chrift have

the glory.
is

If you belong to Jefus Chrift, he

fpeaking

of you

for,

fays

he,

know my jbeep, i

kiK>w them, what does that mean ? why, he knows vheir number, he knows th^ir names,
^

..

be

Ser.

XVIII.

rhe Good Shepherd.

for

443
-,

he knows every one

if there

whom

he died

and

was

to

be one miffing for

whom
Of all,
I
loft

Chriil

died,

God

the Father would fend

him down
faith
no7ie^

again from heaven to fetch him.

he, that thou haji given me^ have

Chrift
their
liar

knows

his fheep

he not only knows

number, but the words fpeak the pecu;

knowledge and notice he takes of them

takes as

he

much

care of each of them,

as if

there

was but that

one

fingle fheep

in

the

world.

To
not

the hypocrite he faith, Verily^

;

I
is

know you

but he
all
-,

knows

his faints,

he

acquainted with

their forrows,
bottles

their trials
their tears,

and temptations
he knows

he

up

all

their domeftic trials,

he knows
all

their

inward corruptions, he knows

derings,

their

wan-

again,
ryat,
er,

and he takes care to fetch them back ^</ I remember I heard good Dr. Mara

who was
once fay

good market- language preachPinnerVhall,

(I

at

hope

that

pulpit will be always filled with fuch preachers)

God

has got a great dog to fetch his

fdeep

back, fays he.

Don't you

know
again the

that

when

the (heep wander, the fliepherd fends his dog

after

them

to fetch

them back

fo

when
go
(

Chrift's fheep wander, he

after

lets

devil
at

them,

^d

fuifers

him
3

to

bark

them,
v/ho.

444
.

5r/j^

Good Shepherd.

Scr.

XVIII.
off,
is

'

who, made

inftead

of driving them farther

to bring

means

them back again

I
;

to

Chrifl's fold.

There
fort

is

a precious
of,

take notice

word 1 know them

your

would have you that may com-

you under

all

trials.

We
we

fometimes

think that Chrift does not hear our prayers,

that

he does not know us

that

are

ready to
j

fufpedt that

he has forgotten to be gracious

it is

but what a mercy

he does

know

us.

We

accufe one another,

are

we

turn devils to one

brethren,

another,

accufers
tvi^o

of the

and

what

will fupport

of God's people
this,

when

judged by one another but

knovs^eft
ters are

Lord, thou

my
with

integrity,

thou knoweft

how mat-

me ?
is

But,
ter,

my
is
;

brethren, here

fomething bet^

here

good news
never

for

you

what

is

that

fay

you

why, I give unto them

periJI:,

eternal

life^

and

they Jljall

neither Jldall any

pluck them out of my hand,

O
as

that the

words

may come
and powder
ago.
I

to
as

your hearts with

much warmth

they did to mine thirty-five years

never prayed againft any corruption I

life,

had

in

my

fo

much

as I as

did againft going

into holy orders, fo foon

for

my

friends

were

having

me

go^ and biihop Benfon was

pleafed

Scr.

XVIII.

Ihe Good Shepherd.

445

pleafed to honour
fo as to offer
for

me

with peculiar friendfhip,

me

preferment, or do any thing

me to mount the church betimes, they wanted me to knock my head againft the pulpit too young but how
:

me

my

friends

wanted

fome young men ftand up here and

preach,
I

there and

don't

them

but

know how it may be to God knows how deep a concern

till

entering into the miniftry and preaching was to

me
that

have prayed a thoufand times

the

<

fweat has dropped

from

my

face

like rain,
let

God, of
thruft

his infinite

mercy, would not

me
and

enter the church before

he

called
I

me

to,

me

forth in his
I

work.

remember

once in Gloucefter,

up

at

along

know the room, I look the window when I am there and walk the flreet I know the window, the
;

bedfide,
laid
fhall

and

the

floor

upon which
I

have

proftrate:

I faid.

Lord,

cannot go, I
fall

be puffed up

with pride, and

;

into

the condemnation of the devil

let

Lord, don't

me go

yet

pleaded to be at Oxford two

;

or three years

more

intended to

make an
however 5
and
I

hundred and
fet

fifty

fermons, and thought I would

in

up with a good flock

trade

but I remember praying, wreflling,

ving with

flri-

God

faid,

am

undone,

am

unfit

446

The Good Shepherd.

Ser.

XVIII.

unfit to preach in

thy great name, fend

me
to

not, pray, Lord, fend

me

not yet.

I wrote

Ito

all

my

friends

in

town and country,

folicitation,

pray againft the bifhop's

inlifted

but they
I

I fliould

go into orders before

all

was

twenty-two.

After
into

their

folicitation thefe

words came
you
out of

my
my

mind, nothing Jhall pluck

my

hand,

may

the words
that I

be

bleifed to you,

dear friends,

am

parting with, as they were to

me when

they

came warm upon

\

my
I

heart
I

then, and not

till

then, I faid, Lord,

will go, fend

I

me
in

when thou wik.

remember when
I

was

a place called Dover-lfland, near Georgia,

we

put in with bad winds

[fifty

had an hundred and

in family to

maintain, and not a fingle

'farthing to

do

it

with, in the deareft part of

^

the king's dominions

minifter of Chrift

remember,
I

told

now

in heaven,

had thefe

words once,

fir,

Nothing JJoalt pluck you out of

fays

my
his

hand,

O,

he,

take

comfort from

them, you may be fure

word,
if

God
tells

will be as

good

as

he never
his

you

fo again.

And
al-

our Lord

knew

poor Iheep would be

ways doubting they ihould never reach heaven,

therefore, fays he,

I give

to

them eternal

life^

end tbeyf^all never

perijb*

Here

Ser.

XVill.

The Good Shepherd.

447

Here
tions,

are in our text three blcfled declara-

or promiffes

Firft.

/ know
"They

them.
(Imll never perijl:
Ihall perifli
^ ;

Second.

though

they often think they

by the hand

of their

lufts

and corruptions

they think they

5

fhall perifli

by the

deceitfulnefs of their hearts

I

but Chrift

fays,

they fiall never periJJj,

have

brought them out of the world to myfelf, and

do you think
that.

I will let
to

them go
life
-,

to hell after

I give
;

them eternal

pray mind
talk of beis

that

not I will, but I do.

Some

ing juftified at the day of judgment, that

nonfenfe;

if

we

are not juftified here,

wefhull
eternal
aflii-

not be
life,

juftified there.
is,

He

give^

them

that

the earneft, the pledge, and

j

ranee of

it

the indwelling of the Spirit of the earneft of glory hereafter.

God
my

here,

is

Third.
hand.

IS either fhall any pluck them out of

He
^

holds
his

them

in his hand, that

ftiall

is,

he holds them by

power, none

pluck

them thence
the
flefli,

there

is

always fomething pluck*

iufts

ing at Chrift's ftieep, the devil, the

of

the lufts of the eye, and the pride

try

of

life,

all

to

pluck them out of Chrift's

hand.
us,

O my
we

brethren, they need not pluck

all

for

help

three to pluck ouriclvt^

cut

^.
<-%

443

ne

Good Shepherd.
j

Ser.

XVIIL
pluck
to to

out of the hand of Jefus

but none

Jloall

them out of my handy fays Chrift.

them eternal
life,

/ give
heaven

I am
it

goi7ig

to

f rep are
be.

a place for them^ and there they Jhall

brethren, if

O my

was not

for

keep-

ing you too long,

and too
could
not a
call

much

exhaufling
to leap

my own
for joy
y

fpirits,

I
is

upon you
blefled

there

more

text to
j

fupport the

final

perfeverance of the faints

and

am
I

aftonifhed any poor foul, and

too, can
fight againft the
faints
5

good
doc-

people
trine
if a

hope

of the perfeverance of the

what

perfon fay they ihould perfevere in wick?

ednefs

ah

that

is

an abufe of the doftrine

fpoii

what, becaufe fome people

are

good food,
brethren,

we

never to eat it?

text I
all

But,

my

upon

this

can leave

my

cares, all

my

friends,

and

Chrifl's fheep to the protection

of Chrifl Jefus's never-failing love.

1
j

thought this morning,

when

came here
it

riding
to

from the other end of the town,

like

was
end

me

coming
I

to be executed publicly
at the

and when the carriage turned juft

of the walk, and
thinks
I,
it is

faw you running

to be executed

here,

O
to

like a perfon
is

now coming juft

:

the place where he

I went

when
it

up

to put

on

my

gown,

thought

was

Ser.

XVIII.

rhe Good Shepherd.

449
and

was

juft like drefling myfelf to

be macle a pub;

lic fpedlacle

to fhed

my

blood for Chrift

I take

all

heaven and earth to witnefs, and

to witnefs,

God
I

and the holy angels

that tho'

had preferment enough offered me,

that tho*

the bifliop took

me

in his
I

arms, and offered

me two
though

parifhes

when

was but twenty-two

years old, and always took

I

me

to his table

had preferment enough offered

me

when I was ordained, thou, O God, knoweft, that when the bifhop put his hand upon my
head, I looked for no other preferment than
publickly to fuffer for the
this
fpirit I

Lamb

of

God

in

came

out, in this fpirit I

I

cams

up

to this metropolis.

was thinking v/hen

brook with a
fo
I

I read of Jacob's going over the

ftaff,

that I

would not fay

a
friend,

much, but
to

came up without

went

Oxford
I

without a friend, I had not a fervant,

not any one to introduce
his

had

me

but God, by
raife
:

Holy

Spirit,

was pleafed
I

to

m.e

up

to preach for his great name's fake

his Divine Spirit
feel

through

continue to this day, and

my

affedions are as ftrong as ever towards

the work, and the people of the living God.

The
Jire

congregations at both ends of the town

dear to

me

God

has

hcnouced

me

to

Mmm

build

450

The Good Shepherd.

-,

Ser.

XVIII.

build this and the other place

his

and, bieff^d be

name,
I

as

he called

me

to

Georgia
to

at firft,

and

left all

London

affairs

God's
in

care,

when
open
ftables
I
i

had moft of the churches

London

for

me, and had twelve or fourteen conkeep the doors, that people might

to

not crowd too

much

had

offers
I

of hundreds

then to

fettle in

London, yet

gave
5

God,
jiow.

to

go into a foreign clime

fingle intention

up for and I hope

it

with that fame

am
I

going

When
I

came

frorn Arnerica

laft^

thought

had no other

river to pafs over but the riI

ver Jordan, I
as

remember

told

you

fo

and

the orphan-houfe was then to be given, I

thought, out of
retire into

my

hands, I then intended to

corner, and pray
fpirits

fome

little

when
low,

I could not preach,

my

were

fo

and

my

nerves and animal frame fo weak, but

his infinite
is

God, of

mercy, has renewed

my
fo

ftrength, and

pleafed to raife

my

fpirits,

that I find
there,

my

heart

is

willing to go here or

wherever

God

fhall call.

The
lege
is

orphan-houfe being turned into a cola matter of great confequence

;

you
but

that have not been in

I heartily wifh, I

America

can't

tell,

am

neither a prophet, nor

the

Ser.

XVIII.

Tbe Good Shepherd.

I

451

the fon of a prophet, and

will ever be driven to

hope none of us
for an afylum,
this

America
clouds

where God's people were driven from

an
hundt-ed years ago
:

land

are

growing

thick,
prevail

and

if a fpirit

of moderation does not

among

governors and governed, what

but
jftrive

confufion

muft happen

to

perfons

who
may
imof
by-

one with another, and are making fport

for the devil

by deftroying one another

the great and gracious

God

avert every

pending ftorm^ and by

moderation
keeping his
thofe liorms,

diflfufing

a fpirit

and of a found
people clofe
thofe
to

mind,

and

to

himfelf,

avert

terrible

judgments,

that

we

have reafon
I

exped from our

going

repeated
fettle

provocations.

am
I
is

now

to
;

the

orphttn-houfe upon a proper bafis

in the
fall,

go

now

that

may
fine

be in Georgia in the

winter,

which

weather there.

The
j

twenty-fifth of

March
I

is

the anniverfary of the

firft

day on which
orphan-houfe
-,

laid

the

brick

of the
all

'

by

that time,

hope,

the

buildings will be finiihed,

fettled
;

and the plantation

to

and then

hope
to

go and preach and

permit me, to
return

along

the continent
I

New-England,

from thence

intend, if

God
2

Mmm

452
return to
again.
I

"the

Good Shepherd.

Sef.

XVIII.
friends

my

dear

London and Englifh

have blefled news from the orphan-houfe

writes

one

me

word,

Would
as

to

God you
fent,

could fend a thoufand fuch

you have

Mr. Dixon, and

fervants

his wife, that

have been old

there

Mr. Wright,

Mr. Crayne,
and thofe that

and Mr.

Wright's brother,

have been employed with them to carry on

the

work of the Lord

intends
to

and

cannot think but

God

lay a foundation for a blefled

:

feminary for Chrifl

prayers

Lord

Jefus,

hear our

upon
I

that account.
to

Now

muft come
:

the hardeft part I

have to adt

was

afraid

when

came out
will help

from home,
but
I

that I could

not bear the fhock,

hope the Lord Jefus Chrifl

it,

me
he

to bear

and help you

let

to give

the bleffed God,

will.

him do with
it is

me up to me what

This

is

the thirteenth

time of
a
little

my
fpi-

croffing

the mighty waters;

difB-

cult at this
rits

time of
in

life

and though

my

are
is

improved
and

fome degree, yet weakilrength

fills
:

nefs

the befl of

my
God

but I delight

in the caufe,

me

with a peace

that

is

unutterable,

which nobody

knows,
:

and a ilranger intermeddles not with

into
his

Sen XVIIL
his hands I

The Good Shepherd.

3

453

that this

commend my fpirit and I beg may be the language of your hearts.

let

Lord, keep him,

nothing pluck

him out
there

of thy hands.

expedl

many

a trial while I

am
will

on board,
keep me.

fatan

always meets

me

but that

God which
I

has kept me,

I

1 believe

thank God,

have the ho-

nour of leaving every thing quite well and eafy at both ends of the town^ and, my dear
hearers,

my

prayers to

God

fhall be,

that no-

thing

may

pluck you out of Chrift's hands.

if I

Witnefs againft me,

for myfelf; did

ever fet

up
that

a party

ever any minifler, or could

the world fay,
I

any

niinifter

in

ever

fpoke againft any one going to any dear minifter

?

thank God, that he has enabled

me
all,

to

be always ftrengthning the hands of

though fome have afterwards been afhamed

to

own me. God will me; and

prayers,
fpirits:

declare

to you, that will

believe

be
I

with
believe

me, and
it
is

ftrengthen

is

in

anfwer to your
to

that

God

pleafed

revive

my
fay.

may

th^ Lord help you to pray on.

in

If I

am drowned
Eoglifli

the waves I will

Lord, take care of

my

London, take care of

pluck them

my

friends,

let notliing

out of

thy hands.

And

454

^^^ ^^^^ Shepherd.

Ser.

t.Vllt
life,

Arid as Chrifl has given us eternal

O
my

my

brethren,

fome of you,

doubt not, will

be gone to him before

dear brethren,
that;

my
it

return; but,

my
I

dear hearers, never

mind

we

fhall part,

but

will

be to meet

again forever.
can't bear your
it

dare not meet you now, i

to

coming

me

to part

from me,

cuts

me

to the

heart and quite overcomes

all

me, but by and by

and
eyes.
at
\

parting will be over,

all

tears {hall

be wiped a Way from our

God

grant that none that

weep now

my

parting,

may weep
;

at

our meeting at

the day of judgment

and

if

you never were

among
I

Chrift*s fheep

before,

may
don't

Chrift Jefee

fus bring
it is

you now.

come, come,
life
:

what
it
5^

to

have eternal
hafte

refufe

hafte,

finner,

away

may
fouls.

the great, the

good

iliepherd,

draw your
that I

never heard his voice before,

Oh! if you' God grant you

this
laft,

may
fort

hear

it

now

may have
I

comthat

when
fouls

am
it

gone that
at

had

fome

are

avv^akened

the parting fcrto'

mon.
you ;

O
that

that
it

may may be

be a farewel fermon
a

means of your taking

a farewel of the world, the lulls of the flefhy the lulls of the eye,

and the pride of

life.

comcj

Sen XVIII.

'The

Oood Shepherd.
to

455
Jefu$

come, come, come,

;

the Lord

Chrifl

to

him

I leave

you.
that are ah-eady in

And
dering
;

you, dear fheep,

his hands,

O may God
what
(liepherds

keep you from wannear Chrift's

feet
;

God keep you

don't care

keep you,

fo as

you

are kept near the

great iliepherd

and bi/hop
you, Hft up

of

fouls.

The Lord God keep

Amen.

the light of his countenance upon you, and

give you pe^ce.

S.

g::5=

Thefe

Sermons
to

being entered in the

Stationers,

Hall-Book
^

of the

Company of
pirate

whoever prefumes
profecuted.

them

will

be

Date Due

j-vsv

fiv'

'

,v.