Davvnings of light wherein the true interest of reformation is opened in generall, and in particular, in this kingdome for the establishment of weaker judgements, and many other things impartially hinted, to a further discovery of truth and light in many of our present controversies : with some maximes of reformation / by John Saltmarsh ...

Maximes of REFOR∣MATION.

Go••s engagement for deliverance.

WHen the people of God are under any spirituall or civill oppression, God will be sure to be mindefull of them, designing some course for their deliverance, not in the way of his common providence, but frō the engagement that he hath laid upon himself by covenant: ••nd in this his season of thoughts to∣wards them, their sighes and com∣plaining•• of soul do move him and put him on, and actuate his wisdome into experiments. And the childre•• of Israel sighed by reason of bondage, & they cried, & their cry came up un∣to

God and God heard their groaning, and remembred his covenant, and had respect unto them.

Eminent workin••s.

When God sets himself to deliver a people, he comes towards some of them in some eminent working, and engages them to go before the peo∣ple.

Come therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou maist bring forth my people.

Disp••si••io••s b••f••rehand.

When God intends actually to en∣large a people, he layes in dispositi∣ons beforehand into the hearts of the Princes and Elders, so that all their motions shall fall easily into such conjunctures as tend that way.

And they shall hearken unto thy voice, and th••u shalt come, thou and the Elders of Israel.

Gods designe upon obstructions.

When the Lord is upon the work of enlargement and bringing out his people, he often allowes the obstru∣ctions which their enemies cast in,

and yet goes on to make up his glo∣rious designe of their impediments.

And I am sure the King of Epypt will not let you go, n••, not by a mighty hand.

Mutuall concurrences.

The Lord in the great designe of leading forth his people, acts both the Elders and Ministers into mutuall concurrences and strengthnings of each other, that the failing of each may be made up by the others sup∣ply.

And Aaron shall be thy spokesman unto the people, and he shall be to thee in stead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him in stead of God.

Some experiments eccentrick to Gods time.

There are oftentimes certain ex∣periments which the people of God make in their way to deliverances before the fulnesse of time come: But still there is such a want of cor∣respondency in the things they look for, that they make no proceeding, but faile, being eccentrick to Gods time of successe.

He supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them, but they under∣stood not.

Successe through disadvantages.

When God stirs up a people to go out from bondage, he gives the ene∣my the liberty of obstructing and ra∣ging, and drawes forth his people through many windings and tur∣nings; so as their passage is not even and direct, but their successe is made up of disadvantages, of contrarieties, and improbabilities.

He brought them out, after that he had shewed signes and wonders in the land of Egypt.

The season of seeking God.

When tidings of publick calamity are abroad, then is the season of seeking God, and enquiring after sin, and putting God in minde of co∣venants and engagements that hee stands in to his people.

And they said unto me, the rem∣nant that are left of the captivity there in the Province, are in great affliction and reproach; the wall of Hierusalem

also is broken down: and it came to passe when I heard these things, that I sate down and wept, and prayed, and I said, I beseech thee O Lord remember now these are thy servants whom thou hast redeemed.

Relations for advantaging the cause of God.

We must observe all our relations in publick times, and see how we are placed for advantaging the cause of God, and we must put forward e∣very engagement, still keeping an eye upon him for directing our de∣signes to his own ends.

Prosper I pray thee thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man: for I was the Kings Cup∣bearer.

When to impart th•• appearances of G••d.

That which will exceedingly ex∣cite the spirits of people to publick endeavours, is a wise imparting the severall preparations that God hath made, and the appearances of God to the rises and beginnings that are attempted; for men are the easilyer

drawn to engage there, where they see God ingaging first.

Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me, as also the Kings words that he had spoken unto me, and they sayed, let us rise up and build: so they strengthened their hands for this good work.

Treating with few, and a just survey.

In the first designing of Reforma∣tion, it is good treating only with few at first, and that in secret, and to take as just a survey of the necessi∣ty as you can.

And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me, neither told I any man what God had put in my heart, to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.

Let your enemies see your interest.

When the enemies of God are beginning to plot against the endea∣vours of Reformation, the safest is to let them see the interest you rest on, and that your judgement and

resolution is seated higher then to bee easily taken downe with con∣tempts, or scandals, or practices.

But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant the Ammo∣nite, and Geshem the Arabian heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despi∣sed us, and said, what is this thing that you do, will you rebell against the King? Then answered I them, and said unto them, the God of Heaven he will prosper us; therefore we his ser∣vants will arise and build: but you have no portion, nor right, nor memo∣riall in Jerusalem.

Holy preparations, foundations, for Reformation.

In the work of Reformation, your beginnings and foundations, must be layed in prayer and holy preparati∣ons, the works of God must be ad∣vanced in the wayes of God, and Reformation must go up in sancti∣fication.

Then Eliashib the High Priest rose up with his Brethren, the Priests, and they built the sheepgate, they sanctifi∣ed it, and set up the doors of it even

unto the tower of Meah, they sanctified it unto the tower of Hananell.

Watching with both eyes.

In the practices of the enemy, we must watch with both eyes, one to∣wards Heaven, & the other towards the work we have to doe; though God is able to fortifie the weakest proceedings, and shade them from violence: yet we must not so tempt God for extraordinaries, as we take not the ordinaries he provides us.

Neverthelesse we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night because of them.

The time of the strongest conspiracies.

The times of the enemies strongest & most effectual conspiracies, is then, when the work of Reformation ap∣pears in some successe and prepa∣ration.

But it came to passe, that when Sanballat and Tobiah, and the Ara∣bians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the wals of Jerusalem were made up, and that

the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth.

When Reformation is violent.

When a people are superstitiously principled, and Nationally conver∣ted, reformation is but violent, and formall, and they turn only by a power from without, and not with∣in.

And yet for all this, her treacherous sister Iudah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but fainedly, saith the Lord.

How people coole.

When the people are all on a flame in Reformation, they coole as soon upon intermissions, and obstructi∣ons, for such heats are but moods and passions. O Ephraim what shall I do unto thee? O Iudah what shall I do unto thee? For your goodnesse is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away. As in the time of Eli∣jah, when they killed Baals Priests one day, and would have killed Eli∣jah the next.

Dispensations of right principles.

That a Reformation which is last∣ing,

must bee sure to abound with dispensation of right princi∣ples, and there must such courses be projected, as the light may be disper∣sed amongst the people, and inte∣rests must be sought for, by laying in good principles to work out the bad.

And with them he sent Levites, and they taught in Iudah, &c.

Carnall reasonings in Reformation.

Take heed of carnall reasonings in Reformation, they will soonest weaken the hands, for there is scarce any Reformation but it will hold out some parts which may offend the darker side of judgements or opi∣nions, there was so much in Ezeki∣ahs as might have stumbled some, be∣cause the very Serpent which Moses set up was broken down; and so much in Christs, because he put down Moses and the Law, which God him∣self had given, though he did but in∣deed fulfill it, and so much in the A∣postles, because they were men with∣out learning, which turned back the Pharisees and Rulers that they could

not believe in him; and so much in ours now, because old customes, and old laws, and old traditions are bro∣ken down.

The designe of Fixation.

In times of Reformation, there must be an eminent designe amongst many others, and that is the designe of fixation, which must be advanced by all spirituall and civill meanes: This Kingdome hath most need of that, for they have still changed Religion with the change of succes∣sors: and yet this designe of fixation must be so cautionary and provisio∣nall, as may let them out to higher degrees of Reformation, this was Israels and Iudahs case, a recovering and backsliding with the succession of good and bad Princes? Oh Iudah what shall I do unto thee? for your goodnesse is as the morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.

Reformation times.

Reformation times prove often very hard and expensive times, and times of murmuring; yet that should not make for discouragement, but redresse.

And there was a great cry of the people: some there were that said, We have morgaged our lands: some also that said, We have borrowed money. Then I consulted with my self.

In publick engagements particu∣lar interests must be laid by, and the yoke of oppressions taken off, and the cause of God must take up all: they that build their own houses and the Temple together, are no fit workmen for a spirituall fabrick.

I rebuked the Nobles and Elders, and said unto them, You exact usury, restore I pray you, unto them their lands and their vineyards.

A sad Preferment.

They that are called out to the publick, ought to let all their designs and endeavours run in such a chanel as may flow thi••ther, and not to stream back, or aside, in any other course. It is a sad preferment to be enriched w^th the calamity of Church or State, and to build up your own ship with the broken planks of the Kingdomes vessels; or to settle your own inheritance, before the publicks.

But the former Governours were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of their bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver: but so did not I, because of the fear of the Lord; I also continued in the work of the Lord, I also continued in the work of the Lord, neither bought we any land.

No hearkening to pretences.

It is no safe hearkening or turn∣ing aside to the pretences of those whom you are not assured of to be cordiall in the work: Such only make out either to stand in your way, or to break the strength of your applic••∣cations to the publick.

Then Sanballat and Geshem sen••t to me, saying, Come let us meet together: bug I sent, saying, I a•• doing a great work, why should the work cease whilst I leave it?

Imaginary dangers.

The fears and jealousies, and ima∣ginary dangers, are usually the con∣trivances of the enemy, nor ought they to be reckoned further into the common work, then cautious for strengthening; they that account

them as other serve not so much the designe of God, as the Enemies:

For they all made us afraid, that we might do so, and sin, and there they might have matter for an evil report.

Astonishment from God.

The more that God is sought to, the more of astonishment will the successe have in it, and the more wonder and fear will it shed upon the hearts of the despisers.

Now therefore, O my God, strength∣en my hands, and, O my God, think thou on Tobiah. So the wall was fini∣shed, and they were much cast down in their own eyes, for they perceived that this work was wrought of God.

Secret workings.

The greatest hinderances, are the secret and inward workings by such who hold correspondency with some without: and if the work be Gods, there will be many of these: there∣fore relations, alliances & dependen∣cies ought to be carefully lookt to; for the Enemy winds in at these, to betray and act by.

The Nobles of Judah sent many

letters unto Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came to them, and there were many in Judah sworne unto him, be∣cause he was the son in law of Sheca∣niah. Heavenly instruments.

It is the safest and most harmoni∣ous in the work of God, to imploy such agents as have much of God in them: Heavenly work is the best set on by heavenly instruments.

Then I gave my brother Hanaeniah the Ruler of the Palace, charge over Jerusalem, for he was a faithfull man, and feared God above many, Neh. 7.2.

Publick designations.

In publick designations to place or imployment, it is good ordering and disposing men abroad, accor∣ding to their nearest relations and interests.

And appoint watches of the inhabi∣tants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, & every one to be over against his own house, Neh. 7.3.

Originations.

In the proceedings of the business of God, he hath his speciall times of working, of new beginnings, and

originations: for God is never at such a losse, but he knowes where to begin: and therefore we fall ve∣ry short of Gods designe, in doubt∣ings and despondencies, seeing that he is so immediate and infinite an Agent as he is.

And my God put into my heart to gather together the Nobles and the Rulers, &c.

Gods Treasurers.

Gods work is of that nature, that drawes out the strength and contri∣bution of all sorts, and God only seems to lay up provisions amongst his people for such a time: Men are but treasurers for God, and must o∣pen their coffers, when providence puts the key into their hands.

And some of the c••iefe of the Fa∣thers gave unto the worke, and that which the rest of the people gave, was twenty thousand drams of gold, &c. Neh, 7.72, 73.

Also we made ordinances for us to charge our selvs yearly for the service of the house of our God, Neh. 10.32.

Scriptures openly consulted.

It is the surest way, to consult the Scriptures of God, and finde out the minde of him in every part of our way to Reformation; and to draw out those principles there, which the people are to work by: The more light the multitude see from thence, the more firmly and faithfully will they walk.

And Ezra opened the book in the fight of the people day by day, from the first day unto the last day he read in the book of the law of God.

The mixed, or Neutralists.

There ought to be a godly and faithfull care in the times of Refor∣mation, to discriminate and sepa∣rate those that are mixed or Neutra∣lists, for they are such as stand in the way; and if the businesse flow into their orbe of negotiation, there it sticks and is retarded.

In those dayes saw I also Jewes that had maried wives of Ashdod, of Am∣mon, and Moab: and their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jewes language: And I contended with them, and

smote them, Neh. 13.23, 24.

Prayer beforehand.

When we expect God down a∣mongst us to do some great thing for his Church, then should be the sea∣son of our holy assemblings & meet∣ings: and it is a signe of Gods imme∣diate following, when he sends out a spirit of Prayer and Supplication beforehand.

Then returned they unto Jerusalem, and all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication. Act. 1.12, 14.

Publick appointments.

In publick appointments there is much godly prudence in selecting those that are not experimentally known amongst us.

Wherefore of those men which have accompanied with us all the time, must one be ordained to be a witnes, Act. 1.21

Resort and consociate.

When evident dangers and ob∣structions are in the way, then it is good for the people of God to re∣sort and consociate, and to make the maine part of their designe a communicating of the state of their

affairs to God, for they relate most to him, and it is the fittest to impart to him those impediments what he can only remove.

And being let go they went unto their own company, and when they heard that, they lift up their voyce to God with one accord, &c. Acts 4.23.

Differences composed.

Differences amongst the godly are best healed, and composed by the godly, and meetings or gatherings of the people of God are remedies very agreeable to the distemper.

There arose a murmuring of the Grecians, against the Hebrews Then the twelve called the multitude of the Disciples together.

Spirituall provid••nce.

When once the Gospel hath been admitted, there must be a spirituall providence used, not only for pro∣pagating, but strengthening and establishing.

Heard that Samaria had received the word, they sent uato them Peter and John.

An eminent Agent.

If there be any one agent whom God hath eminently engaged and prospered in his work, there ought to be an eminent care for his preser∣vation and accommodation, least the light fall out if the candlestick be broken.

And they watched the gates day and night to kill him, then the Disci∣ples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

Gracious seasons.

When the Lord gives any gracious seasons to his people from troubles or persecutions, those times must be only Spirituall, else the people of God come not up to his ends in the mercies received, and it may be just with God to break off such seasons, when they are no better acknow∣ledged.

Then had the Churches rest and were edified, walking in the fear of the Lord.

Care in communicating.

Where any thing is acted by any of the people of God, by a more then ordinary light, there ought to

be much care in communicating and clearing up to the mindes of darker Brethren, the reasons and grounds of such actings, and no such dispu∣tings or contendings as may rather ravell out a controversie, then guide into any orderly information.

And when Peter was come up, they of the circumcision contended with him. And Peter rehearsed th•• matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them.

The whole counsels of God.

It is godly prudence, to prepare people in their way to reformation, with telling them as well of the Crosse as the Crown, and to open the true constitution of things be∣low, and this i•• to publish the whole counsels of God, and to lay in a principle of patience, and premoni∣tion before any thing come to passe.

They returned again, and confir∣med the soules of the Disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through much tribu∣lation we must enter into the kingdom of Heaven.

FINIS.

Notes

• Exod. 2.••3, 34, 25.
• Exod. 3.1.
• Exo. 3.••
• Exo. 3.19.
• Exo. 4.16.
• Acts 7.25
• Act. 7.36.
• Neh. 1.3, 4, 5▪ 8, 10.
• Neh. 1.11
• Neh. 2.18
• Neh. 2.12.
• Neh. 2.19 20.
• Neh. 3.1.
• Neh. 4.9.
• Neh. 4.7.
• 2 Cro. 3••.
• Jer. 3.10.
• Hos. 6.4.
• 2 Cro. 17.8, 9.
• Hos. 64.••
• Neh. 5.••, 3.4, 7.
• Neh. 5.••, 8.
• Neh. 5.16 17.
• Neh. 6.9. •• 5.
• Neh. 6.9.10, 16, 17.18.
• Neh. 6.1.18,
• ••ct. 6.1, 2
• ••cts 8.14
• Acts 19.24, 25.
• Acts 19.31.
• Acts 11.2, 3.
• Acts 14.22.