Old Jacobs altar newly repaired, or, The saints triangle of dangers, deliverances and duties, personal and national, practically improved in many particulars, seasonable and experimental being the answer of his own heart to God for eminent preservations, humbly recommended by way of teaching unto all ... / by Nathaneel Whiting.

To the Ransomed ones of the Lord; with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Dear Friends:

WHen, with my own people, I thank∣fully owned before the Lord, an eminent Deliverance from an imminent Danger, I then entred uppon this Discourse, which was suited to that Providence: And having often reflected upon that signall mercy, duely considering the opportunities of doing and receiving good, which I have had, since that gracious reprieve from death, I have since drawn up my Meditations, which then were short, suddain and confused, into a more en∣larged, orderly, and methodicall Treatise: I do not covet the applause, of men, nor court your Acceptance with strains of wit, an affected Elo∣quence, new lights put into a dark Lanthorne, or Seraphicall Notions, high and sublimate, but present you with a plain and practical Discourss, desiring to speak from the heart to the heart.

The Treatise is Tripartite, thereby resembling the heart, which is Triangular; and 'tis my single designe, to endeavour, that upon the points or corners of your hearts may be engra∣ven your Dangers, Deliverances, and Duties; that so the mercies of God, which are Records of greatest Import, may be preserved with greatest care, and you may be provoked to act with greatest Conscience for God.

We cannot look back upon Adam in his lapsed Estate, but we may see a deluge of wrath breaking in upon whole mankinde, at the breach of the first Covenant; we cannot read over our own Diaries, but we may read our own Dangers, drawn up in black Characters of our sins, as provoking God unto displeasure against us, nay, the times that lately passed over us, presented us with danger, from the sword of men in the heat of warr; and now are we in dayly hazards from the arrows of the Almighty, in various and violent distempers.

Again, we cannot seriously study the Gospel, but our great Deliverance from wrath to come, by the precious bloud of our Crucified Jesus, presents it self unto our view, nor can we con∣siderately survey our own Soules, but we may read the counterpane thereof, transcribed by the Eternal Spirit; nor own Experiences, but we may meet with large Volumes of eminent Deli∣verances, personall and Nationall, wrought for us by the outstretched arme of an Almighty God: Again, if we turn over those holy leaves

of the Scriptures of Truth, if we consult the Experiences of Gods people in the Ages that are past, or seriously advise with our own spi∣rits, when, in a right frame, we shall finde many Duties charged upon us, as our returnes to God, for our great Deliverances: The great God will not be a loser by his mercies, he exspecteth some incomes into the bank of his glory; if he have it not from us, he will have it out upon us; If we do not give it, he will take it. Deliverances are a great Talent put into the hands of men to trade withal for God; They that lap up this Talent in a napkin by forgetfulness, or squander it away by unsuitable actings, heap guilt upon their own soules, and shall be sure, at the reckoning day, to finde this sin, as the Israelites did an ounce of their golden calf, in all the rebukes of God upon them: The sad Conside∣ration whereof, hath been, and is much upon my heart, and hath been a principall induce∣ment, to thrust this Treatise into the world, which is not Polemical in the main intention of it, my Standard bearing this Motto, LOƲE THE TRƲTH AND PEACE; nor is it provoking, I hope, to any, being the product of that wisdome, which is first pure, then peace∣able, &c. — I have avoided all bitterness, that I might not stirr up any prejudice: my business is to be a Remembrancer from the Lord, unto you, and to provoke unto love and good works, as the genuine improvement of grace and mercy received.

I have not exactly methodised this Treatise, nor cast it into the mould of the Title Page, but laid down all Sermon-wise, handling the Saints Dangers and Deliverances in the Doctri∣nall, and their Duties in the Applicatory part of it; in which, I have respect, as well to Spi∣ritual, as to Temporal Dangers and Delive∣rances, and with respect to all, as they stand in a personall or Relative capacity.

I will not Cramben bis coctam dare, by Epi∣tomizing in the Epistle, what is largely pressed in the body of the Discourse: I shall therefore onely entreat you, to bewail before the Lord, that root which bringeth forth wormwood and gall amongst us, that discontent and sullenness of spirit, by means whereof God is not owned in, nor honoured for those glorious vouchsafe∣ments of mercy, which have been matter of envie and astonishment in all the Nations about us; that land-flood of corrupt Principles and practises, which, like a swift and spreading Torrent hath laid a great part of the Nation under water; that spirit of bitterness and en∣mity against Godliness in the power, and Reli∣gion in the purity of it; and those sad divisi∣ons about, which sadly hinder the work of a thorough Gospel-Reformation, &c. all which are sowre grapes, yea clusters of Gomorrah, and not such a Vintage, which the Lord might reasonably exspect from a people of such rich mercies, such signal preservations, and under the enjoyment of such encouraging advantages as ours have been:

O that your souls would mourn in secret places for these things! O that you were so affected with them, that you would refuse your pleasant bread! O that you would so reprove a carnal and careless Generation of men, by your lively act∣tings for God, that many, yea all, who have experienced the goodness of the Lord in emi∣nent preservations, may glorifie the name of the Lord by an Evangelical conversation, that so the presence of God may still give us rest, that our English Zion may be made an Eternal Excellency, a joy of many generations, that our walls (through the divine Custodiency) may still be called Salvation and our gates praise. But though this spiritual Lethargy be incura∣ble in many, yet be ye, (O ye Ransomed ones of the Lord) awakened unto duty, and let the sense of mercy, in the eminent appearances of God to your help, in the daies of your distress, carry you like wind and tide, full sail in your zeal for his Glory; in order to which, I shall humbly offer these hints unto you, and I entreat the people of my own charge to take special notice of them, as being mainly intended for them.

1. Be frequent in your reveiws of those fea∣red dangers and fretting distempers, those painful sicknesses and perplexing sorrows, from which the good Hand of God has fetcht you; gather up your dangers and deliverances, your pressures and preservations, how the Lord has granted you life and favour, life with the com∣forts

of it to make it sweet and desireable, and his visitation has preserved your spirit; has se∣cured your lives in the midst of many dangers, which surely have been many from infancy to gray hairs; that so you may visite him in duty, who hath so often visited you in mercy: there are frequent visites past betwixt friends: God is your best friend; account that day lost, where∣in you do not visit him and keep up sweet com∣munion with him. It was a gallant speech of a brave man; accursed be that man, who values the wealth of the world worth one daies commu∣nion with God; and act up unto David's pattern, I will bless the Lord at all times, &c. I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me out of all my feares, which were many and lay hard upon him, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech, and acted the part of a mad man, which so sober a person as David, would not have done, had not his fears been strong and his faith weak.

2. Get your Spirits tinctured with a deep sense of that darkness which was upon you, when day first broke upon your souls, what de∣sperate courses you were engaged in, and out of what company the Lord pluckt you, with whom ye were folded, as thornes, before con∣version; own the conduct of that providence, whereby you have been led from Beth-haven to Beth-El, from profane places and societies, in∣to such families, such fellowships, and Congre∣gations, where Religion has been owned, fami∣ly-duties

carefully observed, Sabbath-strictnes advanced, the Word spiritually dispensed, and holiness has been contended for, whereby a save∣ving change has been brought forth in you, or you have been more built up in faith and holi∣ness. Let the consideration of what you are, compared with what you have been, be much upon your spirits, that you may with thankful∣ness adore the riches of that mercy, by which you have been differenced, as to present grace, and hope of future glory, from the profane world.

3. Keep up your first love to Christ, and your first hatred to sin: Yonge converts have usual∣ly strong affections: Those sinnes which have been Peccata in deliciis, which have had most of the heart, are most upon the conscience, most in the confession, most in the holy mournings, and are most the abhorency of new Converts. Again, such is their sense of differencing mer∣cy, that they are all Love to God, and all Zeal for his glory; you may read this in the gallan∣trie of the Ephesians spirit, I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil (either passions in thy soul, or persons in thy society) &c. —a high strain of Love! the stream must needs be strong that turns all these wheeles; it argues a great force of affection, to draw out the soul into all these noble actings for Christ, but as a well-kindled fire abates in heat and light as the fuel wastes; or as a passionate lover remits of

that violent affection, when the person beloved has been some time enjoyed; So it fareth with these Ephesian Christians, they left their first love, the love of their Espousals, and so became Aphesis, remiss, and careless, possest with a spi∣rit of sloth and indevotion: O let not this charg be drawn up against us, that the candle∣stick may not be remooved from us! What at∣tempts have been made to un-church, un-sab∣both, and un-gospel us, and how signally the Lord has appeared, for us, you know; O re∣member that strength of zeal, that warmth of spirit, that height of love to God, his truth, waies, and people, those sighings, prayings, fastings, fightings, &c. that were amongst us, when the yoak was loosned from our necks, and when a doore was first opened unto us for Reli∣gion, and Reformation in the long Parliament: Labour therefore to keep up your first abhoren∣cy of sin, and your first affection to Jesus Christ.

4. Cherish an high esteem of Gospel-ordi∣nances: Remember how pretious the word was then unto you, when visions were scarce, how you blessed God for it, and rejoyced in it, when you ran to and fro to find it; how your feet stood in the house of the Lord, and you flew as Doves to their windows, swiftly and in flocks, when Pulpits began to be filled with zealous, spiritual, and conscientious Preachers: O let not this Manna lose any of it's sweetness upon your tastes, now that you have it in so much peace and

plenty: Bread, if wanting, is called for, though the table be heaped with dishes. The word is bread to all creature-comforts, 'tis that which makes them noble and nourishing. O then be often in the galleries with the King, drink deep of his spiced wine, feed freely of those dain∣ties which, are prepared, and served out by the Eternal Spirit: When you here a Ser∣mon-bell, think you hear a voice from heaven, calling you in the words of Divine Herbert,

Come hither all, whose taste Is your waste Save your cost, and mend your fare, God is here prepar'd and drest, And the feast God in whom all dainties are.

You know and lament the negligence of some; and the wantonness of others: thin Congrega∣tions and empty seats, is not the complaint of a simple Minister, Still desire the sincere milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby. Do not wean your selves from the breast, whilst you are in a growing estate, and never think you are past growth, until you be come to a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ, which state of perfection, Scripture and your own experience, duly consulted with, will tell you, is not attainable on this side Heaven.

5. Maintain an evangelical brotherly love

amongst your selves; Love is the greate Gos∣pel Soder and Cement, a characteristical note of Christ's Disciples, without which, the highest pretence to piety and profession is under cen∣sure by the Holy Ghost; O how did Christi∣ans cling together in times of trouble! What friendly entertainment did Saints find in the hearts and houses each of other, when they were forced from their dwellings by an enraged ene∣my? how did the old Primitive and puritane love begin to spring up and flourish in England? And now, that we have no enemy to quarrel with, will you needs quarrel one with another? What an unsuitable return is this unto the God of Peace, for his astonishing mercies and pre∣servations? Ah friends, well may the Lord take this ill from his people, after such notable deliverances as ours have been; it was a good wish of an Heathen Ʋtinam inimicitiae morta∣les, amicitiae immortales essent, and I wish the same, that your friendships were immortal, your enmites mortal, that your dissentions like to Jonas his Gourd, might die at the root in one night, and that Brotherly love might continue as a Teyle-tree and as an Oake whose substance is in them. O then, preserve this evidence for hea∣ven un-blurred in your souls, that you may know, you are passed from death unto life, be∣cause you love the Brethren: let love be without dissimulation; love not in word and in tongue one∣ly, but in deed and in truth: it is easy to make them two, who were never truly one, to make

them foes who were never truly friends, to keep them oft from being one bread, who were never one body. And in case of difference, leave your gift at the Altar, not leave the Altar, that's not the mind of Christ, and goe and reconcile your selves: There is a memorable story of Aristippus an Heathen, who went of his own accord to Aeschi∣nes his enemy, saying, shall we not be reconciled, until we become a Table-talk to all the Country? To whom Aeschines replied, that he would gladly be at peace with him; remember therefore said Aristippus, that although I am the elder, and the better man, yet I sought first unto thee, thou art indeed said Aeschines a far better man than I, for I began the quarrel, and thou the reconciliati∣on: O stand not upon punctilios, but goe thou and do likewise, you know the sad fruits of contention, where a scar-fire is, the bels ring backward; So, where this fire breaks forth in fellowship and fraternity, Religion is Retrograde; all things go backward and run into disorder; Communion is broken, Prayer is hindred, mu∣tual edification neglected, Brotherly admoniti∣on will not be borne, the weak are offended, and the mouths of the wicked are opened wide in reproaches and calumnies.

6. Preserve oneness in Judgment: beware of dividing opinions and dividing in opinion; La∣bour for stability in judgement, for rooting in the faith: It's a great honour to be standing Chri∣stians in falling times: be much and serious in searching the Scriptures, much and serious in

examining your grounds of profession: Look often to your foundation; be true to your own experiences, and recede not from your appro∣ved principles: follow the foot-steps of the flock, keep close to the Sheapheard tents, conforme to the purest times, the most primitive and Evan∣gelical practises: do not hastily leave the good old way: meddle not with those that are given to changes in fundamentals, Doctrinal or Pra∣ctical: Errour, as one saies, is a whirl-pool, first turns men round, and then sucks them in: He has no sure standing, who leaves the top of the hill. Islebius Agricola, the first Antinomian, at last turned Papist. How gradual has errour been amongst us? unto what a monstrous bulk is Heresy now grown, both as to persons and opinions, which but a few years since was hard∣ly visible? now low did some begin, who now are mounted upon the highest Pinacles? O then, stop the first leak, least the Ship be immersed; quench the first sparks, least the maister-timber become a flame; not onely keep, but contend earnestly for the faith, which was once delivered unto the Saints; we are the trustees of Jesus Christ, the treasure that is committed to our trust is very pretious, above the vaule of hea∣ven and earth, in the account of the great Tru∣ster; and that's an obligation to faithfulness, we are not to look onely to our selves, but to po∣sterity, to that Doctrine which is transmitted to them: one generation teacheth another; and as we leave them Laws and other National privi∣ledges,

so it would be sad, if we should not be as carefull to leave them the Gospel. O then, as the Church is terrible as an army with banners, so is she beautifull, when she marcheth orderly under the Standard-Royal of truth, and surely, if we remember, how we have rejoyced in the salvation of our God, and, in his name have set up our banners, when formidable Armies were drawn up in great fury against us, we cannot but charge blame upon our selves, if we should for∣sake his Colours, and fly to the painted Pageants of the Prince of darkness.

7. Let not evil root in your hearts by the love of money: Lay not up your treasures upon earth, lest they keep your hearts too much out of hea∣ven; seek not great things for your selves, with the neglect of greater; Let not friendship with the world, put you into a state of enmity with God: Remember what a friend God was unto you in the midst of your late straits and dangers: How little a value you set upon your stocks and lands, your shops and trades, in the heat of the late dreadfull Warrs, how they that re∣joyced were as though they rejoiced not, they that bought, as though they possessed not; and will you now doat upon the world, and put any trust in deceitfull riches? What a sad presage is this of another War? what a blemish upon Pro∣fessours? what a Reproach upon Religion? There is no sin so contrary to a true Saint, as earthly-mindedness, whose Conversation ought to be in heaven, his inheritance lying there; O

then, roul away this reproach from you; be content with food and raiment, though none of the finest; time was, when you would have valued peace, and the Gospel, as choice mercies, though with course dress and Diet; make shift a while, ere long, you shall be cloathed with long white Robes, clean and fine, and shall drink of that wine, which shall be ever new in the kingdome of your Father.

8. Lastly, Be most intent upon the quatuor no∣sissima, the four last things; Let your thoughts be much spent upon death, these dying times, by way of preparation, that it may come without a sting and terrour to you; of Judgment, by way of pre∣occupation, judging your selves here, that you may not be judged hereafter of Hell, by way of preven∣tion, waiting for, and making sure your Interest in Jesus, who will deliver you from wrath to come. And of heaven, by way of prelibation, tasting the peace, joy and comfort of that blessed Estate, living upon the foretastes of heaven; living up to the holiness of it, and giving all diligence to make your Calling and Election sure, that as the Lord hath given you an earnest of his mercy, in temporal Preservation, so the Lord may give you the full Treasures of his grace in everlasting Salvation.

To shut up all, (And indeed 'tis time), for according to the Rules of Architecture, the two porches of it are much too big for the building;) my witness is in heaven, that I covet not the ap∣plause of men, I am not carried on by a popular

spirit, to make this publick; nor do I designe it to that end, which Absalon did his pillar; The Lord, I trust, hath given me a name, better then of sons and daughters; but that (like Abel's faith) it may speak when I am dead: The Prophets, do they live for ever? Alas! we are earthen vessels, soon dashed in pieces, every Age hath born sad witness to this, and none more then the present, wherein many honourable vessels, that were san∣ctified, and made meet for the Masters use, and prepared unto every good work; are broken by the hand of heaven, as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the Potter; And therefore, I have spared some hours from my ordinary pains, and studies, to prepare this Treatise; That, when the Lord shall silence me by death, that my voice shall no more be heard from the Pulpit, I may still speak to the people of God from the Press, who are a people lying near my heart, whose Stability in the Faith, Union in Love, Progress in holiness, Growth in grace, and further ripen∣ing for glory, is the hearty desire of an unworthy Minister of the Gospel, who is yours and the Churches, servant in the Lords work,

N. Whitinge.

Notes

• Zech. 8.19.
• Iames 3.17.
• Isay 60.15, 18.
• Iob 10.12.
• Marquess of Vico.
• Psal. 34.2, 4.
• Apoc. 2.2, 3. Mihi sane Auxentius nunquam a∣liud quam diabolus e∣rit, quia Arrianus. Hilar.
• •• Mr. Trap. n loc.
• Cant. 7.5.
• 1 Pet. 2.2.
• Ephes. 4 13.
• Iac. 3.14, 15, 16.
• Livye.
• 1 Ioh. 3.14. vers. 18.
• Cant. 1.8.
• Iude 3.
• 2 Sam. 18.18.
• Isa. 56.5. Heb. 2.4. Zech. 1.4.
• 1 Tim. 2.21.
• Lam. 4.2.