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Coun. I. THat you put hard to it to get that by these hazardous opportunities that may quit all your Cost. What pitty is it that you should adventure much and yet gain but lit∣tle? How sad would it be if you should at last suffer deeply for your Conscientious attendance upon God in such seasons, and when you come into a Prison or into Banishment, should find that you had not got that by them that would bear you out.
Coun. II. That you value no mercy barely as it serves in content to your flesh; but as it stands in order to Eternity; and may serve to the furthering of your Makers Glory. God hath preserved your liberties, and hath restored mine: But what of all this? unless we improve our liberties for Eternity, what are we better then those that are in Prison? If this be all the advantage we have, a little more content to our flesh. The Cypher put to the Figure is of great consideration, but put by it self it signifies nothing at all. These Creature comforts separated from their respect to God, and Eternity, are of no value: but in order to these ends, they signifie much. We have ease and fullness, when many others are in pains, and in poverty; And we have much the start of them if we be wise to improve our health in laying in apace against a wet day, and preparing apace for Eternity: and if we serve the Lord with the more abundant diligence, and chearfulness, and gladness of heart, in the abundance of all things. But if this be all we have by it, that our bones do lie a little softer, and our pallats are tickled with a little the more delight, what profit have we by our health, or our estates? If they that be sick, or poor do love the Lord as well, or serve the Lord as much as we, they have the advantage of us; and better were it for us to be poor and sick as they be.
Coun. III. Rest not in probabilities for Hea∣ven, but labour for certainties. Beloved, certainty may be had: or else the counsel of God to make our Calling and Election sure were in vain, 2 Pet. 1. 10. Else the experience of the Saints were but a de∣lusion,
who tell us they know they are passed from death to life, 1 Iohn 3. 14. 2 Cor. 5. 1. Iob 19. 25. 26. else the power of self-reflection were to no purpose, and the spirit which is in man should not know the things of the man, 1 Cor. 2. 11. Now if a certainty may be had, will you not put in for it, and turn every stone but that you will get it? Sirs, now if ever, you have need to put hard to it to get assurance: We are at miserable uncertainties for all out∣ward enjoyments; we know not how soon we may be called to part with them all: Christi∣ans, what do you mean? will you be content to have nothing sure? will you not settle your everlasting conditions, now you are so unsetled as to your outward condition? What will you do in the day of visitation, when extremity comes upon you, if you have not assurance that God will receive you? It would make ones heart tremble to think of being put up∣on such a fearful temptation to part with all for Christ, and not to be sure of him neither? O man, what an advantage will the tempter now have upon thee, when he shall suggest [wilt thoube such a fool as to let go all at once? Thou seest Heaven is not sure, Christ is not sure, therefore keep the world while thou hast it, and hold what thou hast sure:] Belo∣ved, what a fearful slighting of God and contempt of Heaven and Glory and all the Promises doth this argue, that you can be content to be at uncertainties, whether they be yours or not? How many of you be there that do not know whether you be going to Heaven or to Hell? and what desperate carelesness doth this argue,
to go on from week to week in such a case? Some hopes you have that you shall do well, but put not me off with hopes, never be satis∣fied till you are able to say, not only, I hope I shall be saved, but I know I am passed from death to life; I know that when the earthly house of this Tabernacle shall be dissolved, I have a buil∣ding not made with hands, &c. 2 Cor. 5. 1.
Coun. IV. Be not satisfied with the truth of Grace, but reach after the Growth. Do not think all is done when you have attained the evi∣dence of Grace; but put on hard towards the increase. That person that doth not desire and design perfection, never came up to Sincerity. He that desires Grace truly, desires it not barely as a Bridg to Heaven, and so to seek no more then will just bear his charges thither: but he desires it for its own sake; And therefore desires the height of it. That person that desires Grace only for Heavens sake, and inquires what is the lowest measure of Grace that any one may have and come to Heaven (by which he meaneth but to be saved from misery) upon this design, that if he could but come to that pitch he would desire no more, that person is rotten at the heart. Christans, the Lord doth expect of you, that you should not be Babes and Dwarfs, He looks now especially that you should make some progresse: What do you more then heretofore? What! do you feel his spurs in your sides, and his whip at your backs; And yet never mend your pace in Religion, nor stir one jot the faster? Let me commend to you Pauls study Phil. 3. 12. 13. 14. It argues a base and unworthy
spirit to content our selves with little things in Religion.
Coun. V. Labour that Holiness may become your nature, and Religion your business. Then you are come to somewhat indeed in Religion, when the work of God is become your natu∣ral, and beloved imployment, your Meat and Drink, your Work and Wages. When your Tongues and Hearts do as naturally run on God, as others on and of the world: much of that may be attained by constant care and prayer. Brethren let Gods work be done by you, not by the by, but as your greatest businesse: Seek first the Kingdome of God Matth. 6. 33. And so wherever you be, you may be able to give that account of your selves, that our Saviour did when they enquired of him, That you are about your Fathers business, Luke 2. 59.
Coun. VI. Confine not your Religion to your knees, but carry on an even spun thred of Holiness through your whole Course. Brethren, 'tis the disgrace of Religion that Christians are so un∣like themselves, unless it be when they are in holy duties. This wounds Religion to the quick, when it shall be said of Professors, these men indeed will pray like Angels, but for ought we can see they are as Peevish, and as Touchy as any other men, and they are as Hard in their Dealings, and make as little Conscience of their Words as others do. Beloved, think not Religion lies only or cheifly in Praying, Hearing, Reading. No you must be through∣out Religous. Sirs, bring forth your Reli∣gion out of your Closets into your ordinary Course. Let there not be a life of Holiness on
the outside of the Cloth: But Let Holiness be woven into the whole of your Conversations. Here lies the excellency & difficulty of Religion: when you have the baits of intemperance before you, then to hold the Reins hard, and deny your flesh: when you have provocation before you, then to bite in your passions, and bridle the unruly member? When you have dealings with others, then to proceed by that golden rule of Equity and Charity, To do to others as your Consciences tell you, you would have them do in the like case to you. When you are called upon in your several relations, then to be∣have your selves with that tenderness and love, with that reverence and obedience, with that courtesie and condescension, and kind∣ness that becomes you in your various capacities; In this I say lies the Excellency of Religion.
Coun. VII. Ever walk with your End in your Eye. It is true, according to the usual and useful similitude, The Traveller thinks not of his Journeyes end every step, nor need he: yet there is no Traveller but thinks of it at his setting out: Brethren, there is nothing hinders but that with Prayer and Watchfulness you might come to this, in every solemn action to mind God as your End: Impose this upon your selves as your daily rule to walk by, never to lie down but with these thoughts [Well I will make use of my Bed as an Ordi∣nance of God for my natural refreshment, that a weary Servant of his may be fitted for his work.] Never to rise up but with these thoughts I will set forth this day in the Name of the
Lord, and make it my business this day throughout to please him:] Never to set to your callings but in the entrance to think thus [I will set about my employment in obedience to God, be∣cause this is his will, that I should walk with him in my place and station.] Never to sit down to your Tables but thinking [I will now Eat and Drink not meerly to feed my flesh, but to cherish a Servant of Christ Iesus, that he may have strength for his service:] Charge this upon your selves, and examine in the evening, how you have minded it, and check your selves wherein you come short. Once learn this, and you are come up to something: and you shall have the undoubted evidence of your sincerity, and shall know the inside of that blessed mi∣stery of walking with God.
Coun. VIII. Be and do more then ordinary in your Familys, and Closets now in the defects of the more Publick Ordinances.
1. In your Closets: See that your Consci∣ences be able to bear you witness, that under Gods extraordinary providences, you do more then ever in answer thereunto. It may be you Prayed twice in the day heretofore; why should you not at such a time as this is, make one visit more then ordinary to Heaven, daily to represent before God the calamites of his Church. This be sure of, that somewhat more then heretofore must now be done, else God will look upon himself as intollerably slighted; and upon his Church as most unnaturally neg∣lected, if we do not now put to it. Be more then ever in self-examination. God doth look that when he is trying of us, we should be
much in the trial of our selves. And here let me put it to your Consciences: How are your rules for daily examination looked after? Do you try your selves by them from day to day? Ah wretched negligence! what have you given your approbation and passed your promise, and yet even in such a day as this so much forget your duty? God expects it of you, that now you see him angry, you should with more jealous fear and tender circumspecton and holy watchfulness and self-denial walk before him; else you will greatly incense his indignation, when he shall see that you slight his anger.
2. In your Families: Christians, now the Lord calls aloud upon you to set your houses in order. Oh see what is amiss in them, and strive to cast out that which may be a provocati∣on. Three things I advise you to with reference to your Families.
1. That you set up the Solemn exercise of Cate∣chising weekly among them: Methinks I would not question but that in every Godly Family there is a care of the Catechisme. But when Go∣vernours do onely impose it in general upon their Families; and occasionally take an ac∣count, I find but little progress is made: and therefore I beseech you, to make it a Solemn, standing, and constant exercise; and to expect of your children and servants as due an account weekly of what they have learnt in the Prin∣ciples of Religion, as of any business of your own. Oh the incredible benefit that would speedily come of this, if I could but perswade and prevail with my hearers in so small a re∣quest as this!
2. That you be often enquiring into their spiritual estates; Follow them close, and let them have no quiet till you see they seriously mind and seek spirituall things. Put them upon secret Prayer: Provide helps for them till they are able to go without them: Shew them often the necessity of Regeneration, and Conversion, and the nature thereof. Put them in mind of the fearfull misery of an unregenerate estate. Ask them often whether they are Converted or not. Shew them the danger of delaying in such a case. Beloved, 'tis too sadly evident that as the Ordinances are now somwhere ma∣naged, there is little of Conversion work like to be done. Oh you Governours of Families, do but your duty in your several places, and I doubt not but many Souls will nevertheless be Born to Christ, even in such a day as this.
3. Call them to an account of their proficiency by every opportunity. If there be but a Sermon, or a Chapter read, let them give you some account of it. Thus our Saviour, when the Disciples (his Family) were in private, he was asking them whether they did understand, and profit by what they heard in publick.—Mat. 13. 1.
Coun. IX. Be not discouraged by the present Difficulties of Religion, but rather rejoyce in the op∣portunity to shew your Love and Loyalty to your Lord. Do not think God hath dealt hardly with you now your Religion is like to cost you something, and presently think of shrinking, and drawing back to preserve your safety: If you do love the Lord Jesus you should Rejoyce, and be exceeding glad in the opportunity to shew it. Brethren, what hath your Religion cost
you hitherto? And for shame suffer not your shrinking, and withdrawing to tell the world that you have not Love enough to Christ to en∣gage you to run any hazard for him. Do you indeed Love the Lord? oh then now rejoyce and be exceeding glad, for never had you such an opportunity in all your lives to shew your Love as now; For never were you called to ad∣venture so for him, and his service, as now you be. Now resolve, that if Religion will make you Vile, you will be yet more Vile; and let your Zeal and resolution for God be intended and heightened by the opposition.