3. As it is a _spiritual Cordial_ to comfort your distressed
consciences.
4. As it is a _strong obligation_ and forcible engagement to all acts
of thankfulness and obedience unto Jesus Christ.
Now if you would get the benefit and comfort of the Sacrament, you
must when you come to it, carry these four considerations in your
mind; and labour to draw out good from the Sacrament, according to
each of them.
1. You must consider what sin it is, that is most unsubdued, and
unmortified in you; you must use the Sacrament as a _medicine_ made of
Christs body and blood, to heal that sin.
2. You must consider, what _grace_ is most weak in you; and you must
come to the Sacrament, as to food appointed on purpose to strengthen
weak grace.
3. You must consider what _doubt_ it is, that doth most obstruct your
full assurance of salvation; and you must come to the Sacrament, as to
a cheering Cordial, made for this very end, to revive your fainting
spirit. It is also a _sealing Ordinance_ to seal up the love of God in
Christ, and to be as a _golden clasp_ to fasten you to Christ, and
Christ to you: And in which Christ doth often go from man to man, with
his _privy seals_, and his _hidden manna_ of heavenly consolation.
4. You must consider how apt you are to start from God, and his just
Commands, and therefore you must at the Sacrament _renew your
Covenant_ with GOD, and binde your selves afresh unto GOD, in the
strength of Christ, to be his more faithful servants afterwards, then
ever you were before.
And hereby likewise you may know when you come from the Sacrament,
whether you have received worthily, or no: For if you finde these
Effects from the Sacrament, that it hath been _Medicinall,
corroborative, comforting, and obliging_: If you find your sins more
mortified, your graces more strengthened, your souls more comforted,
and your hearts more engaged unto God in obedience; You may certainly
conclude, that you are worthy Receivers. Nay we adde, for the comfort
of _weak Christians_, if you find any one of these Effects. For
sometimes Christ lets out himself in the Sacrament in a way of
_Comfort_; sometimes he hides, as it were, his face, and sends us home
more _inlarged_ in our _desires_ after him; sometimes he _kisses his
children with the kisses of his lips_, and gives them to eat of his
_hidden Manna_; sometimes he sends them home inlarged with _godly
sorrow_, for want of his imbraces. His dispensations are various. But
if you finde his presence in any one of these waies, You are worthy
Communicants.
6. To endeavour, that your [131]_eyes may affect your hearts_, when
you are at the Sacrament. For as Christ in the Ministery of his Word,
preacheth to the ear; and by the ear conveyeth himself into the heart:
so in the Sacrament he preacheth to the eye; and by the eye, conveyeth
himself into the heart. And therefore it is well called a _visible
Sermon_. Take heed, lest the Devil steal away the benefit & comfort of
it out of your hearts, by a wanton or wandring eye. And when you find
your hearts deaded, and your meditations begin to flag and grow dry,
fasten your eyes upon the Sacramental Elements, and Sacramental
actions. Consider the bread broken, and the wine poured forth, and
_let your eye affect your heart_; and never leave looking upon them,
till Christ be pleased to look upon you, as he did upon _Peter_, and
then your hearts will be affected indeed, as his was.
7. To take heed of passing _rash censures_ upon those that are
admitted to the Sacrament, together with your selves; say not such a
man is unworthy, but say rather with the Centurion, [132]_Lord I am
not worthy that thou shouldst enter under my roof, wherefore neither
thought I myself worthy to come unto thee_; say as _John Baptist_
of Christ, _I am not worthy to untye thy shooe-latchet_, much lesse to
sit with thee at thy table; say not that such a one is a Dog, and not
fit to eat childrens bread, but say rather of thy self, as
_Mephibosheth_ doth, [133]_What am I? that thou shouldest look upon
such a dead dog_, &c. The nature of man is very apt (as one saith)
[134]_to use spectacles, rather then looking-glasses_; spectacles, to
behold other mens faults, rather then looking-glasses to behold our
own. But we hope better things of you. Remember, that when the
Disciples were at the Passeover with Christ, and Christ told them,
that one of them should betray him; They did not passe harsh sentences
one upon another, but every one suspected himself, rather then his
fellow-Apostle, and said, _Master, Is it I?_ Be not offended at thy
brothers wickednesse, which thou art not sure on, but at thine own
unthankfulnesse, which thou art sure is very great.
8. When you are gone from the Sacrament, you must labour to walk in
the _strength of that food_, (as _Elias_ did of his) _till you come to
the mount of God_. As you have been made partakers of an Ordinance, to
which others are not admitted, so you must endeavour to live more
self-denyingly, more heavenly mindedly, more holily and righteously,
then they do, that are not admitted. [135]_You must love your enemies;
blesse them that curse you; do good to them that hate you, and pray
for them that do despitefully use you, and persecute you. For if you
love them that love you, what reward have you? Do not even the
Publicanes the same? And if you salute your Brethren only, what do ye
more then others? Do not even the Publicanes so?_ You are admitted to
an Ordinance, that is not common to all, but peculiar to Saints, and
therefore your lives must have something peculiar in them, which no
wicked man can have. You must believe and repent after such a manner,
as no _Reprobate_ can do; You must pray in your families with more
life and zeal then others; you must be more just & faithful in your
dealings then others; and have more faith, and hope, and love to God.
In a word, You must so carry and demean your selves in all your words
and actions, as that you may be a credit and an ornament, and not a
scandal to the Congregation, of which you are members. [136]_Walking
worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being faithfull unto every good
work, and increasing in the knowledge of God: Strengthened with all
might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and
long-suffering with joyfulnesse_. And this we pray[137], _That your
love may abound yet more and more, in knowledge, and in all judgment:
That ye may approve the things that are excellent, that ye may be
sincere and without offence till the day of Christ: Being filled with
the fruits of Righteousnesse, which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory
and praise of God_.
We have been larger, then we thought, in these particulars about the
Sacrament, out of a holy jealousie which we have over you, (which we
doubt not but you will pardon in us) fearing lest after your first
admission to this Ordinance, you should grow remiss and careless,
satisfying your consciences with the naked approbation that your
Minister and Elders give of your knowledg and conversation; and in the
mean time, neglecting to get the benefit and comfort of this
Ordinance, and to thrive, and increase in knowledg and holiness
proportionably to the expectation of God, and your godly officers.
We shall be briefer in what we have further to say unto you.
3. In the third place we exhort you, to [138]_Obey those that rule
over you, and submit your selves, for they, watch for your soules, as
they that must give an account, that they may do it with joy, and not
with grief; for that is unprofitable for you_. [139]_And we beseech
you, Brethren, know them which labour amongst you, and are over you in
the Lord, and admonish you, and esteem them very highly in love for
their works sake, and be at peace amongst your selves._ And remember,
[140]_That the Elders that rule well, are worthy of double honour,
especially they that labour in the Word and Doctrine_. For the
Scripture saith, _Thou shalt not muzzel the oxe that treadeth out the
corn_, and _the labourer is worthy of his reward_. And it likewise
saith, [141]_Let him that is taught in the word, communicate unto him
that teacheth in all good things_. And further, [142]_Do ye not know,
that they which minister about holy things, live of the things of the
Temple; and they which wait at the Altar, are partakers with the
Altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained, that they which preach the
Gospell, should live of the Gospel.----If we have sowen unto you
spirituall things, is it a great matter, if we reap your carnal
things?_ This we write, not to shame you, but to intreat you to give
liberall and honourable maintenance to your godly Ministers, that they
may not only be [143]_lovers of hospitality_, but also inabled to
exercise it: lest God in anger to you, drive your Ministers into
corners, and take both your estates, and your Ministers from you; so
as you shall neither have Ministers to give maintenance to, nor
estates to maintain Ministers.
4. To perform all those offices which are required of you, as you are
Members of a particular Congregation. For this purpose we exhort you
brethren, to [144]_comfort your selves together, and edifie one
another, even as you also do; to warn them that are unruly, comfort
the feeble minded, support the weak, be patient towards all men: And
see that none render evill for evill unto any man, but ever follow
that which is good, both among your selves, and towards all men, &c.
[145]Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdome,
teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and Hymnes, and
spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
[146]Let no man seek his own, but every man anothers wealth; and
[147]let every one of you please his neighbour for his good, to
edification; for even Christ pleased not himself; but as it is
written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee, fell on me.
[148]Let nothing be done through strife, or vain-glory; but in
lowliness of minde, let each esteem other better then themselves._ Now
though we are far from thinking, (as some do,) that you are bound to
perform these duties only to those to whom you are united in
Church-fellowship, (for if you ought to pluck your neighbours ox and
horse out of a ditch, and to relieve his body, when in want, though
not of the same Congregation with you, much more ought you to extend
acts of spirituall mercy (such as these are) to their souls; and this
you are bound unto by communion of natures, communion of Saints,
communion of Churches; and by that Royal law of love, which commands
us to love our neighbour as our selves,) yet notwithstanding we
conceive that you are more especially tyed by your Congregational
relation, to perform these duties to those that are of your own
Communion.
And therefore we further perswade you, _to watch over one another, to
bear the burdens one of another, and so fulfill the Law of Christ. To
consider one another, to provoke unto love and good works, not
forsaking the assembling of your selves together, as the manner of
some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as you see
the day approaching_. And we likewise desire you not to neglect
private meetings together for holy conference and prayer; that hereby
you may be better acquainted one with another, and be mutual helps one
to another in spirituall things. We think that speech of _Cain_
unbefitting the mouth of any Christian; _Am I my brothers keeper?_ And
though we believe, that none ought to take the Office of a Minister,
but he that is elected and ordained thereunto, yet we believe also,
_that it is the duty of all private Christians, in a brotherly way,
out of the common bond of charity, to build up one another in their
most holy Faith_. And therefore let those [149]_that fear the Lord,
speak often one to another_, especially in these evil daies: _and
strive together for the Faith of the Gospel, standing fast in one
spirit with one mind_. For it seemeth to us to be very unchristian,
that they especially, that have chosen one and the same Minister, and
wait constantly upon his Ministry, and that break bread together,
should live together like Heathens and Publicanes: at as great a
strangeness one from another, as if they lived many miles asunder. And
that Drunkards and Adulterers should meet together to dishonor God,
and to encourage one another in wickednesse; and you should not
assemble your selves together, to honour God, to strengthen and edifie
one another, and to confirm one another in the truth. Only be careful
in your meetings, to take heed of [150]_doting about questions, and
strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railing, evill
surmises, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute
of the truth_. And [151]_avoid all foolish and unlearned Questions,
for they are vain and unprofitable, and gender nothing but strife_;
But help one another in that _one thing necessary_, how to _grow up in
Christ_; how to _make your calling and election sure_; how to _thrive
under Ordinances_; to be _faithfull under Relations_, to adorn the
Gospel you profess; how to advance the power of godliness in your
several spheres; and to be more spiritually serviceable unto God in
your generations, and such like.
And we further exhort you, that if any Brother in the Congregation
walk _disorderly_ and _scandalously_, that you would carefully
remember, It is your duty, first, _to tell him privately_; (and not to
tell it to Others, to his and the Churches disgrace, as the manner of
some is,) The text is plain, _Go and tell him his fault betwixt him
and thee alone_; and if he shall hear thee, thou _hast gained thy
Brother_. But if he will not hear thee, _then take with thee one or
two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word may
be established_. And if he shall neglect to hear them, _tell it to the
Church_. And consider, we beseech you, that the most part of
Sacramental reformation, begins with your performing of this dutie.
For how can the Elders judicially take notice of any scandall, till it
be brought unto them, in the way of Christ, by you that are
Church-Members? There is great complaint amongst well-affected people,
of _Sacramental pollutions_; and many thereupon, though groundlesly,
separate from our Congregations. But if things were rightly
considered, it would appear, that the people themselves are the chief
causes of this pollution; for you are the _first wheel_ of this part
of reformation, and if you neglect your part, how can we discharge
ours? And therefore we intreat you, even for Christs sake, as ever you
desire to keep your selves pure from the sin of those that receive
unworthily, and from being Authors of the prophanation of the
Sacrament, faithfully to discharge this your dutie. And we shall (by
the help of God) be exactly careful of ours, that so the Lord may
delight to dwell in the midst of us.
5. _To labour to keep your selves free from the Errours, Heresies, and
Blasphemies of these Times._ For it is evident to every impartial
Observer, that false teachers, evil men, and seducers are gone abroad
amongst us; subverting of Souls and overthrowing the Faith of some;
speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them;
subverting whole Housholds, teaching things they ought not for filthy
lucres sake; creeping into houses, and leading captive silly women,
laden with divers lusts; and by good words, and fair speeches,
deceiving the hearts of the simple; yea, by slight and cunning
craftiness, lying in wait to deceive (if it were possible) the very
Elect; and not only privily; but now openly and avowedly bringing in
damnable Heresies, denying the Lord that bought them. The _Divine
Authority_ of the Scriptures is oppugned, the _Deity of Christ
opposed_, and his _Holy Spirit_ blasphemed, the Doctrine of the
_Blessed Trinity_ questioned, the _Holy God_ made the _Author of sin_
and sinfulnesse, _Universall Redemption_ preached, and the ends of
Christs death evacuated, _Free-will_ by nature to do _good_
maintained, the _mortallity_ of the _Soul_ affirmed; the _Use of the
Morall Law of God_, the _Observation of the Christian Sabbath_, the
_very calling and Function of the Ministry_, the _very being of a
Church_ amongst Us, and all _the Ordinances of Christ_, are slighted
and rejected. These, and too many more such _monstrous Opinions_ in
the very spring-time of _Reformation_ do so multiply amongst vs, that
the _tares_ are like to _overgrow the Wheat_, if God prevent not. And
that which aggravates the evil of these things is, That _London_
should be guilty of such _Apostacy_ from the truth. _London_! which
hast had able and faithful Ministers of the Word preaching to thee;
that hast been so miraculously preserved from the Sword, Famine, and
Pestilence these last Years, yet have Heresies been hatched and
nourished up under _thy wings_; and from thee have they been spread
all the Kingdom over. How many in this City have turned away their
ears from the truth, faithfully preached by their _Pastors_; and being
turned unto fables, have already followed the pernicious waies of
Seducers, whereby the way of truth is evil spoken on! How is _Religion
degenerated_ into vain janglings, and the _power of Godlinesse_ eaten
up by perverse disputings! And that which should fill Us with more
grief and astonishment is, That this inundation of Errours and
Heresies hath increased upon Us, after such _prayers_, _preachings_,
_disputes_, and _testimonies_ against them; after a _Covenant_
solemnly sworn to _God_, with hands lifted up to heaven, for the
extirpation of them; and after a solemn Fast commanded by Authority,
and observed throughout the whole _Kingdom_, for our humiliation for
them. And yet (with grief of heart we mention it) those Errours which
in the Prelates time were but a few, are now many: Those that of late
crept into corners, now out-face the Sun: Those which the _Godly_
abhor'd from their hearts, are now vented as _new and glorious
truths_: Nay, to such a degree of _Apostacie_ are some arrived, being
waxen worse and worse, that they are labouring for an _odious
tolleration_ of all those _abominable opinions_, as can shroud
themselves under the name of Christian Religion.
Wherefore, in the Name of Jesus Christ, we warn you all to take heed
of these _Impostors_ and _Seducers_; and to keep close to those _good_
and _old_ principles of Christianitie, which you have suck't in at
_your first conversion, out of the Word_, from your godly Ministers:
And seeing ye know these things before, _beware lest you also being
led away with the errour of the wicked, fall from your own
stedfastnesse; But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and
Saviour_ Jesus Christ; _to him be glory, both now and for ever_,
Amen. Oh how happy were it, if it might be said of all You that submit
to the Presbyterian Government; as once of the _Godly_ in _Sardis_.
[152]_There are a few names even in_ London, _that have not defiled
their Garments, and they shall walk with me in white, for they are
worthy._ Which that you may the better be inabled to do, We beseech
You Brethren, in the words of the Apostle, [153]_To mark them which
cause divisions and offences, contrary to the Doctrine which ye have
learned, and avoid them, for they that are such, serve not our Lord_
Jesus Christ, _but their own belly_. Observe here, that you are not
only required to avoid their _Doctrines_, but their _persons_. And so
likewise the same Apostle, [154]_If any man teach otherwise, and
consent not to wholsome words, even the words of our Lord_ Jesus
Christ, _and to the Doctrine which is according to Godlinesse, he is
proud, knowing nothing_, &c. _From such withdraw thyself._ It is your
dutie, not onely to keep your selves from the Heresies of these times;
but, that you may be preserved from the Heresies, you must keep your
selves, and all under your charge, from such as spread them, and from
their meeting-places. For he that without a just cause goeth into a
_Pesthouse_, may thank himself, if he get the plague. And he that runs
headily into temptation, _hath no promise from God to be delivered
out_. The Apostle _John_ refused to tarry in the same _Bath with
Cerinthus_; and he commands us in his second Epistle, _If there come
any unto you, and bring not this Doctrine, receive him not into your
house, neither bid him God speed; for he that biddeth him God-speed,
is partaker of his evil deeds._
Take heed how you touch pitch, lest you be defiled; And remember, we
have faithfully discharged our consciences to you, in this particular;
And that you may be farther instructed against the Errors and
Heresies of these times, We will propound a few _Antidotes_ and
_Preservatives_ unto you, under these general Rules following.
1. Whatsoever Doctrine is _contrary to Godlinesse_, and opens a door
to Libertinism and Prophaneness, you must reject it as _Soul-poyson_.
Such are Doctrines against the _Sabbath_, _Family-duties_, and
_publique Ordinances_: Such is the Doctrine of an _Universall
tolleration_ of all Religions. The Doctrine of the Gospel, is a
Doctrine [155]_according to Godliness_; It is a _Mysterie of
Godliness_; _It teacheth to deny all ungodlinesse and worldly lusts,
and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world_.
2. You must reject all such Doctrines, as hold forth a _strictnesse
above what is written_. Papists teach many strict Doctrines, of
self-whippings, and voluntary povertie, vows of continency, and many
such like; but the Apostle gives you an _Antidote_ against them,
_Col._ 2.18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. And so also our blessed Saviour,
_Matth._ 15.1. to the 10. Devout people are much taken with Doctrines
that carry a shew of strictness, and of much purity; but you must not
be wise above what is written; You must be _Candidates_ of a
_Canonicall_, not an _Apocryphal_ strictness; And therefore when you
are taught, that whosoever will enter into _Church-fellowship_, must
first take a _Church-Covenant_; and that whosoever will be admitted
unto the _Lords Supper_, must not only be free from ignorance and
scandal, but he must have other, and more strict qualifications; you
must enquire what word they have for these assertions; and where _God
hath not a mouth to speak, you must not have an ear to hear, nor an
heart to believe_.
3. Whatsoever Doctrine tendeth to the _lifting up of nature
corrupted_, to the _exalting of unsanctified Reason_, and giveth _free
will in supernaturall things to a man unconverted, is a Doctrine
contrary to the Gospell_. For this is one chief aym of _Pauls_
Epistles, to shew, [156]_That by nature we are dead in sins and
trespasses, and that the naturall man receiveth not the things of the
spirit of God, for they are foolishnesse unto him; neither can he know
them, because they are spiritually discerned_, and that [157]_the
carnall mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the Law
of God, neither indeed can be_. This Rule will preserve you against
all _Arminian Tenets_. For this is the main difference between the
Doctrine of the Gospel, and the Arminians. The Gospel makes _free
grace_ put the distinction between the Elect and Reprobate; and the
Arminians _Free-will_.
4. All Doctrines that set up our own Righteousness, whether of
_Morality_, or _Sanctification_, in the room of Christs Righteousness;
That place good works in the throne of Christ, are Doctrines of
Antichrist, and not of Christ. For the Gospel teacheth us, [158]that
all our best works are imperfect, and that we are justified, not by
our own inherent Righteousness, but by the Righteousness of Christ
only, made ours by Faith: this Rule will keep you from much of the
_poyson of Popery_.
5. All Doctrines that do set up Christ and his Righteousness, as to
decry all works of Sanctification, and to deny them to be fruits and
evidences of our justification, are to be avoided and abhorred. For
[159]the Scripture makes sanctification an evidence of Justification,
and commandeth all Believers to maintain good works. This Rule will
preserve you against most of the Errors of the Antinomians.
6. That Doctrine _that lesseneth the priviledges of Believers under
the New Testament, and maketh their Infants in a worse condition, then
they were in under the Old Testament, cannot be the Doctrine of the
Gospel_. For the Gospel tells you, [160]that Jesus Christ was made a
Surety of a better Testament, and that the new Covenant is a better
Covenant; established upon better promises. This Rule will preserve
you from the poyson of Anabaptism. For if the children of the Jews
were circumcised, and the children of Christians should not be
baptized, either it must be granted, that circumcision was of no
benefit to the Jewish children, which is contrary to _Rom._ 3.1, 2. or
it must be granted, that the children of the Jews had greater
priviledges then the children of Christians.
7. That Doctrine that cryeth up _Purity to the ruine of Unity, is
contrary to the Doctrine of the Gospel_. For the Gospel calleth for
unity, as well as purity, 1 _Cor._ 1.10. _Phil._ 2.1, 2. _Eph._ 4.3,
4, 5, 6. And Christ prayed for the unity of his Church, as well as the
Holiness, _Joh._ 17.21, 22. and it is prophesied of the times of the
Gospel, That in those daies, God will give his people, _one heart, and
one way, and to serve him with one consent_, _Jer._ 32.29. _Zeph._
3.9. This Rule will teach you what to judg of the Congregational-way:
For certainly that Government that carrieth in the front of it _A
tolleration of different Religions_, and is not sufficient to keep the
body of Christ in unity and purity, is not the Government of Christ.
8. Whatsoever Doctrine is contrary to the Rule of Faith, or to any
duty required in the ten Commandements, or to any Petition of the
Lords prayer, is not a Doctrine of Christ, and therefore to be
rejected.
We might add many more Rules, but we forbear, lest we should be
over-tedious. Our prayer to God for you is, That you may be fix't, not
falling Stars, in the Firmament of his Church; _Not children tossed to
and fro, and carried about with every wind of Doctrine_; Not Reeds
shaken with every wind, but firm Pillars in his house. Wherefore,
Beloved Brethren, _Stand fast and immoveable, alwayes abounding in the
Work of the Lord; Forasmuch as you know, that your labour is not in
vain in the Lord_.
But now, because he that would keep himself from the Errour of the
times, must also keep himself from the sins of the times: (For it is
sin that makes God give us up to errour, 2 _Thess._ 2.10, 11. and it
is sin that makes a man like a _piece of wax_, ready to receive the
impression of any errour. The women in _Timothie_ were first laden
with divers lusts, before they were led away captive to divers
errours; and whosoever puts away a good confidence, will quickly
_concerning Faith make ship wrack_, as we are told, 1 _Tim._ 1.19.)
Therefore we are necessitated to inlarge our Exhortation to you in one
particular more; which though it be the last, yet it is not the least
of those things which we have to say unto you, and that is,
6. To exhort you, or rather to require and charge you, _to keep your
selves unspotted_, not only from the errors and heresies, (as before)
but also _from the sins and iniquities of the times wherein you live_.
We say, _unspotted_, and so doth the Apostle, _Jam._ 1.27. It is not
enough for you to keep your selves from being _bemired and besmeared_,
but you must labour to keep your _Garments_ so white, as not to have
the least _spot of defilement_ from the persons or places where you
live. The Apostle tells us, That [161]_in the last daies perillous
times shall come_: _For men should be lovers of their own selves,
covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to Parents,
unthankfull, unholy, without naturall affection, truce-breakers, false
Accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
Traytors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more then lovers of
God; having a form of Godlinesse, but denying the power thereof._
Those words, _having a form of Godlinesse_, must be understood, απο
κοινου, and referred to all the other sins. And the meaning is, That
men would be _self-lovers_, having a form of godlinesse,
_truce-breakers_, having a form of godliness, _truce-breakers_, having
a form of godlinesse, _Traytors and false accusers_, having a form of
godlinesse, _&c_. They should cover all their ungodlinesse, under the
specious form of Godliness: Such are the times in which we live, of
which we may truly say, There were never fewer, and yet never more
Saints; never more nominal, never fewer real Saints; Never more
self-seekers, and yet never more that pretended to seek the interest
of Christ. We are an _hypocritall Nation_, _the people of Gods wrath_;
_We have broken the Covenant of our God, even that Covenant, which in
the day of our distress and fear, we made with hands lifted up to
heaven. We are apostatized from our Principles and practices; We
contemn the pretious ordinances, despise and abuse the Godly
Ministers; We break the Sabbaths, hate the very name of Reformation,
and scorn to submit to the sweet yoke of Christ and his Government; We
are proud, secure, lyars, swearers, and forswearers, Murderers,
drunkards, Adulterers, and oppressors: We have not learned
Righteousnesse, but unrighteousness, by all the Judgements of God; We
are worse and worse by all our deliverances; We have spilt the blood
of Christ in the Sacrament, by our unworthy receiving_, and therefore
it hath been just with God to spill our blood. It would be too long to
reckon up all the particular sins of Magistrates, Ministers,
Husbands, wives, Fathers, Children, Masters, and Servants; neither is
it the design of this Discourse. We may truly say with the Prophet,
[162]_Ah sinful Nation, a people laden with iniquity; a seed of evill
doers, children that are corrupters, that have forsaken the Lord, that
have provoked the holy One of Israel unto anger; that are gone away
backward: Why should we be smitten any longer? we will revolt more and
more, the whole head is sick, and the whole heart is faint; from the
sole of the foot, even unto the head, there if no soundness in us, but
wounds and bruises, and putrified sores_, &c.
Wherefore dearly beloved, we do most earnestly beseech you, in the
bowels of Jesus Christ, that you would be deeply sensible of, and
humbled for these evills that do so much abound in the midst of us,
for which the Earth mourns, and the Heavens are black over us. _Oh let
your souls weep in secret, and your eyes weep sore, and run down with
tears, and sigh to the breaking of your loyns, yea to the breaking of
your hearts with godly sorrow, which may work in you repentance, never
to be repented of._ Mourn more for the sins that have brought these
miseries upon us, then for the miseries our sins have brought; more,
for burdening God with sin, then for being burdened with plagues; more
for your hard hearts, then these hard times.
And we further intreat everie one of you, to put _away the iniquity
that is in his hand_; _to know every man the plague that is in his own
heart_; _to search and try his waies, and to turn unto the Lord his
God_; _to cease to do evill, and to learn to do well_: to be tender of
the oathes which he hath taken, or which may be offered unto him to
take; to keep close to his _Covenant_; to prize the Ordinances,
Reverence Godly Ministers, sanctifie the Sabbaths, to hate hypocrisie
and self seeking, to receive the love of the truth, lest God give him
over to believe lyes. Not to trust to his own understanding, lest God
blind his understanding. To practise the _truths_ he doth know, that
God may reveal unto him the _truths_ he doth not know; not to heap to
himself teachers, having _itching ears_, lest he _turn away his ears
from the truth, and be turned unto fables_; not to have the faith of
our Lord Jesus Christ, in respect of persons, imbracing the Doctrine
for the persons sake, and not the person for the Doctrines sake. To
seek after the truth, for the truths sake, with uprightness of heart,
and not for outward respects, lest God answer thee according to the
Idols thou hast in thy heart. To labour to be more and more grounded
in the Principles of the Doctrine of Christ; to study catechisme more
diligently, and so to be led on to perfection, that he may not alwayes
be a babe, unskilfull in the word of Righteousness, but by reason of
use, may have his senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
In a word, we once more beseech you all that are admitted to our
Sacraments, that your _conversation may be as becometh the Gospell of
Christ_; and as you have given up your names unto Christ by
profession, so give up your hearts to him, by universall, sincere, and
constant obedience: _And let every one that nameth the name of Christ,
depart from iniquity._
* * * * *
Our third and last Exhortation is unto all those _that live within the
bounds of the Province, and have not yet submitted to the Government,
nor are admitted to the Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ in
the_ Presbyterian way: These may be reduced into two ranks: