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.

THE CONTENTS of this following TREATISE.

THE TEXT opened and ana∣lised, Pages 1, 2, 3.

Three Observations raised,

• Observation 1. That the Saints of God pass through many dan∣gers in this life, page 4
  • 1. This shews the folly of carnal men, who boldly conclude from their present prosperous estate, that they are in Gods favour, 5
  • 2. This meets with the mistake of those who think to sail up unto heaven upon a calme sea, 6
  • 3. This reproves those stony-ground Professours, who cast off Christ when the Cross appears, ib.
• Observation 2. That the people of God are sometimes cast upon such straits, that all hopes of deliverance are cut off from them, 7
  • 1. This calls for much thankfulness from those Saints who have met with smiles, and not frowns from an indulgent God, 8

• ...
  • 2. This stirrs up the bowels of rejoycing Christi∣ans to pitty their mourning brothren, ibid.
• Observ. 3. That the appearances of the Lord are eminent and immediate, to the help of his people, in the day of their distress, 9
  • Gen. 21. vers. 17, 18. insisted upon in 5 parti∣culars, 10, 11, 12.

The truth evinced in 5 Considerations.

• Consideration 1. God sometimes leads his people into straits, therefore he is engaged, in point of honour, to fetch them off, 13, 14
• Consider. 2. Sometimes the Saints meet with hard measure from men, because they are faithfull in that business, which is com∣manded them by God, therefore there is much Equity in it, that God should stand by them, 15
• Consid. 3. It is the great designe of God, to give real testimony of his hearty good-will unto his people, therefore he engageth high for them, in their greatest straits, 16, 17
• Consid. 4. God will lay great Obligations upon his people, to love and trust him, therefore he commands deliverance for them, 18
• Consid. 5. The Lord will frustrate all the hopes of the wicked, who look for the destruction of the righteous; therefore he comes in fully and seasonably to their help, when their enemies say, God hath forsaken them, 19, 20.

From these Considerations we may draw these Inferences by way of Information.

• 1. That the Saints are a people of Gods special care. 21, 22.

• 2. That the Saints are a people of Gods special love. 23, 24, 25
• Eccl. 9.1. answered in 5 particulars, 26, 27, 28, 29
• 3. That the sinnes of Saints are circumstan∣tiated with highest aggravations, 30, 31, 32
• 4. That Infidelity, and dispondency of spirit in an evil day, is il-becoming the Lords people. 33, 34, 35, 36.

2. Some things are propounded by way of Caution.

• 1. Take heed of rashly casting your selves into danger, under the protection of this Doctrine. 37, 38
• 2. Beware of abusing this Doctrine by slighting lawfull means of preservation, when offered. 39, 40
• 3. Take heed of laying too great a burden upon a creature-bottome, 42, 43
• 4. Beware of abusing providenciall preser∣vations, by a neglect of those duties we owe to God, as our returnes for signall mercies. ib. 44, 45, 46, 47

The third use of Exhortation, 48

• 1. To some particular persons in distinct capacity. 49
  • 1. To the Magistrates, who are entreated,
  • 1. To consider the out-stretchings of Gods arm for them Ibid.
  • 2. To consider, what an honour God hath put upon them, 50
  • 3. How God hath been a shelter unto them, when both their persons and their power

• ...
  • were struck at, and from hence exci∣ted, 52, 53
    • 1. To bring forth Covenant-duties, as a return for Covenant-mercies. ibid.
    • 2. To lay out themselves in the suppression of sin and wickedness, 54
    • 3. To countenance and protect the good people of the Land, 55
• 2. To the Ministery; who are desired to consider,
  • 1. Our share in National preservations, 56
  • 2. The present freedome we now enjoy, 57
  • 3. What yoaks hath been upon us. ibid.
  • 4. What oppositions we have met withall, ibid.
  • 5. What short Allowances some good Ministers have had for their great pains, 58
  • 6. How, not onely Ministers, but Ministery hath been shot at, by men of bold and daring spirits, 59, 60
    • ...Which Considerations do bespeak us from the Lord,
    • 1. to pitty our poor Congregations, especi∣ally the un-converted in them, 62
    • 2. To be painfull in all our callings, ibid.
    • 3. To carry it with tenderness, one to∣wards another, in cases of smaller dif∣ference, 63
    • 4. To press after purity in Doctrine, and worshipps, 64
    • 5. To breathe after unity in judgments, and affections, 65
• 3. To Military men,
  • 1. To consider their inexperience and unskil∣fulness

• ...
  • in warlike matters, when the Warr first broke out, 66
  • 2. To consider how low their spirits were, at their first taking up armes, ibid.
  • 3. What Midianitish Armies, for multitude, they have encountred with, 67
  • 4. What personal preservations they have had in the heat of war, ibid.
  • 5. The great things which the Lord hath wrought for them, and by them, 68
  • ...Hence these duties are commended,
    • 1. Not to sacrifice to their own nets, 69
    • 2. To own the Lords people who have owned them, 70
    • 3. To be humbled for acts of violence and in∣justice, permitted or practiced by them, 71
    • 4. To quicken up their first zeal for God, his truth, waies, ministry and people. 72, 73
• 4. To Mariners and Sea-trading men, 74
• Psal. 107.23, 24. opened and enlarged upon, 75, 76
• 5. To the recovered ones of the Nation, whom the Lord hath brought off from beds of sickness, 77, 78
  • 1. That they would own with thankfulness the mercies of the Lord. 79

• ...Considerations to quicken up to thankfulness,
  • 1. The disease was Epidemical, ibid.
  • 2. It seized upon men suddenly, 80
  • 3. It was violent, ibid.
  • 4. It was weakening, ibid.
  • 5. It was languishing, 81

• ...
  • 6. It was inevitable, ibid.
  • 7. It was mortall to many, in many places. 82
• 2. That they would make good their sick-bed thoughts and purposes, ibid.
  • Hezekiahs case stated, and his example pro∣pounded, 2 Chron. 32.25. 83, 84, 85.
• 3. That they would commune with their own hearts, to finde out those particular sinnes, for which the Lord hath afflicted them, 87
  • Severall sinnes pointed at, as introducent of sickness. ibid.
• 4. That they would consecrate their lives unto the Lord, which they have received. 1 Pet. 4.2. opened in some Particulars, 88
  • 1. That the time of mans abode in the flesh is fixed and determined by the Lord, ibid.
  • 2. That, Whilest man lives to the lusts of men, he lives not according to the lawes of his Creator, 89
  • 3. That he onely lives to the Lawes of his Creation, who lives up to the will of God, 90
  • Three Conclusions drawn from Acts 13.36.
    • 1. That the best and choicest Saints are not exempted from service, 91.
    • 2. That the great God commands his ser∣vants, not onely to work, but to do the work of their Generation. ibid.
    • Quaest. How shall we know the proper works of our generation? 93

• ...
  • ...
    • Answ. In some particulars, 94, 95, 96
• 5. That they would get their hearts tinctured with an awfull fear of God, 97
  • 1. From the Consideration of his Power, 98
  • 2. From the Consideration of his Good∣ness, 99
  • 3. From the Consideration of his wrath uppon others. ibid.
    • Question. Why should the Saints fear the wrath of God?
    • Answ. 1. They see the provoking nature of sin, ibid.
    • 2. They see the dreadfulness of Gods wrath. ibid.
    • 3. They know that they are not ex∣empted from common calamities. 100
• 6. Labour to make sure of heaven. 101

The second part of the exhortation.

• 1. in a mix'd sence, referring both to temporal and spiritual Preservations, in some Par∣ticulars. 102
  • 1. To perswade the Lords people to keep up memorialls of the Lords mercies, ibid.
  • 2. To communicate and impart them unto others, 103, 104, 105, 106
  • Psalme 66. enlarged upon: From whence is observed, That 'tis a duty, by way of special incumbency, to commemorate and communicate the vouchsafements of the Lord unto them, ibid.
  • ...Arguments, to perswade to this Duty.
    • 1. It will bring a Saint into more heart∣acquaintance

• ...
  • ...
    • with God, 107, 108, 109.
    • 2. It will more draw out the heart in love unto God, 110, 111
    • 3. It will more strengthen faith, 112, 113.
    • 4. It is a notable friend to Religion, 114
      • Gen. 35. opened in some Particulars, ibid.
      • 1. That Family-Reformation lies by way of special care and duty upon the Governours of it. 114, 115
      • 2. That it hath a great tendency to the promoting of Religion, when Master and Family walk together in the wayes of God, 116, 117
      • 3. It administers great hope of much good, when Inferiours obey, their Superiours command and call to Religion, and fa∣mily-Reformation. 128, 119, 120
      • 4. That great Deliverances lay great Obli∣gations upon Governours to act high in personal and family-Reformation, 121, 122
• 2. The pure spiritual part of the Exhortation speaks in three particulars.
  • 1. It exhorts to make enquiry, whether you are delivered from wrath and misery to come, by Jesus Christ, 123
    • 1. To clear it up, that you are brought home to God, 124, 125
    • 2. How, and when the Lord brought you home to himself. 126, 127
  • 2. To quicken up your hearts to duty in all heart-deadness, and damps of spirit, 128

• ...
  • ...
    • Canticles 5.3, 4, 5. Hos. 8.5, 7. insisted upon, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136.
  • 3. To be much in the sense of Grace re∣ceived. 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142.

Three Considerations to provoke unto thank∣fulness for grace received.

• Consid. 1. The danger we were all exposed unto by the breach of the first Covenant, 143, 144.
  • From hence is inferred, That the necessity of sinfull man required, that Christ should dye, ibid.
  • 1. Because man is under the first Covenant, as he hath his standing in the first Adam, ibid.
  • 2. Because man in a state of nature is under such weakness and impotency, which renders a perfect obedience unto the Law of works, impossible unto him, 145
  • 3. Because, as man stands in the first Adam, and in the first Covenant, he is a Childe of wrath, ibid. 146
    • 1. This shews the Saints, how little they are beholding to old Adam, for their spiritual comeforts and attainments, 147
    • 2. This shews us, That eternal life is the free gift of God by Jesus Christ, 148, 149 Ten short considerations to prove this, 150
    • 3. This confuteth that opinion, which ad∣••anceth corrupt nature into the throne, and makes it, at least, co-partner with Christ, in the great work of Sal∣vation. 150

• ...
  • ...
    • 4. This shews the dangerous estate of all men, whilest in a state of nature and unregeneracy, 152, 153
• Consid. 2. Consider, what sad distractions the sense of this danger brought forth in you at your first awakening, 154, 155
• Consid. 3. Consider, how welcome and unexspected grace, and the good news of a Saviour were unto you in those bitter agonies, ib. 156, 157,
  • Hosea 6.1, 2, 3. opened, 158, 159
  • From whence we may draw this Inference, That the sence of recovering and relieving Grace, is of excellent advantage to a Chri∣stian, 160
  • The truth whereof is evinced in 3 particulars.
    • 1. It makes him live best to God, ibid.
    • 2. It makes him live best to himself, ibid.
    • 3. It makes him live best to others, ibid.
    • ...That he will live best to God, appears,
      • 1. Because he will live most by faith upon God, 161
      • 2. because his heart will be drawn out more in love unto God, 162, 163
      • 3. Because he will live most in thankful∣ness unto God, 164, 165
      • Psalm. 103.1, 2, 3. spoken to, ibid.
      • 4. Because he will live most to the glory of God, 166, 167
  • 2. That he will live best to himself, is evinced, 168, 169,
    • 1. Because he will live most off from sin,
      • 1 Cor. 6.13, 14, 15. urged. 170, 171

• ...
  • ...
    • 2. Because his heart will be more fixed for God, 172, 173
      • Some Observations suiteable to our times drawn from Ezek. 34.5, 6.174, 175, 176
    • 3. Because he will live best to his own comfort. 1. In Prayer. 2. In Hear∣ing. 3. In receiving the Sacra∣ment, 177, 178, 179, 180
    • 4. This will give him comefort in every estate, 181
      • 1. In breaking afflictions from God, ib.
      • 2. In battering temptations from Sa∣than, 182
        • 1 Pet. 5.10, 11. opened in five Particulars. 183
      • 3. In the sense of approaching death in 2 Particulars, 184
        • 1. It prevents a two-fold distemper, an overmuch hoping for life, and an overmuch fearing of death 185
        • 2. It fills the soul with ravishing comefort, under the assurance of a blessed eternity. 186
  • 3. A sober and serious Consideration of grace received, will make a Saint live best to others, 187
    • 1. By encouraging young Converts, 188, 189
    • 2. By supporting weak believers, 190, 191
    • 3. By way of comfort unto others, 192
      • 1. In the black day of Persecution, in Three Particnlars, ibid. 193, 194

• ...
  • ...
    • ...
      • 2. In the sad hour of temptation, 195
      • Job 2.7. ibid.
      • 3. In the dark day of spiritual disser∣tion, 199, 200, 201, 202,
      • 4. In the bewailed want of the spirits witness to Sonship and Adopti∣on, ib. 203, 204, 205
  • 4. By way of advancing Religion in the place where he lives, 206
    • The Saints are the best neighbours, 207
    • 1. In communicating to the outward wants of the poor, ibid.
    • 2. In procuring the blessings of God upon the Families and places where they live, ibid.
    • 3. In diverting or delaying of Judge∣ments impending, 208
    • 4. In lengthening out the day of Gods Patience to the prophane world, 209
    • 5. In promoting the Conversion of their carnall neighbours. 210

Considerations to stirr up Saints to endeavour the Conversion of sinners, 211, 112, 213, 214

• Consid. 1. It is a matter of great well-pleasing∣ness unto God, 215
• Consid. 2. It is an honour to Jesus Christ, 216
• Consid. 3. The Providences of God which have gone over the Nation, ib. 217
• Consid. 4. That we ought to do unto others what we would have others do unto us, 218, 219
• Consid. 5. That what your carnal neighbours are, you were, 220

• Consid. 6. That it is a piece of good friendship to your selves, 221
  • 1. It is an high point of spiritual good hus∣bandry, ibid.
  • 2. It makes much for your personall safety, ibid.
  • 3. It makes much for your personall com∣fort, 222
  • 4. It layes a good foundation for poste∣rity, 223, 224
  • 5. It hath a tendency towards your ever∣lasting comfort 225
    • Prov. 7.30. compared with, Dan. 123. 126.
  • Six positions laid down, 127
• Consid. 7. That bad men are very active and industrious to gain over others to their bad Principles, and worse Practises, 229
• Proverbs 1.10, 11. opened in some particu∣lars 129, 230, 231

The 4 Ʋse, by way of comfort and encou∣ragement, in 4 cases,

• 1. When Church-affairs do meet with a dark and gloomy day 232, 233, 234
• 2. When the Saints are under sufferings for the name, and in the cause of Christ. 235, 236
• Some further grounds of comfort offered. 237
  • 1. That God will stand by you in the day of your suffering, because your sufferings are upon you for God, ibid.
  • 2. That the spirits of all the faithfull will be up in prayer for you, 238, 239
  • 3. That God doth many times so moderate and

• ...
  • allay the fury of men, that it extends not to the taking away of life, 241, 242
  • 4. That your death will be life from the dead to others in a spirituall sense 243, 244, 245, 246
  • 5. That 'tis an honourable advancement to be singled out by Christ to suffer for him, 247, 248
• 3. When you are under sore and sharp temptations from the wicked one, 249, 250
• 1 Cor. 1.30. opened, 251, 252, 253, 254
• 4. When you are under castings down, from a fear of your eternall welfare, 255, 256

The last Ʋse, of Reproof.

• 1. The profane and carnal world are reproved in 3 Particulars, 257
  • 1. For their uncharitable censuring of suffering Saints, ibid.
  • 2. For their unjust charge of hypocrisie upon them, 258
    • Job. 8.6, 7. opened, 259, 260
  • 3. For that definitive sentence, which they pass upon suffering Saints, as though they were cast of by God, 261
    • Isa. 49.14. opened, 262
    • Jer. 37.20. opened, 263
• 2. This reproves those, who strengthen themselves with the arme of flesh, and lean upon the crea∣ture, when afflictions overtake them, 264, 265
• 3. This reprooves those, who will not wait the Lords time, but discover Impaciency, if helps come not at their own time, 266
  • The evil fruits of impaciency, 267
  • 1. Ʋnbelief, 268

• ...
  • 2. Discontented murmurings, ibid.
  • 3. Ʋse of unlawfull means, 269
  • Psalme 78.41. opened, ibid.
• 4. This drawes up a charge against those that retain not a remembrance of the great mercies of God toward them, neither give him the glory of them, 270
  • Hosea 13.5, 6. opened 271
• 5. Those are reproved who do not live up to the signal preservation they have received from the Lord. 272, 273, 274.