22. Mr. M. Newcomen's Farewell Sermon

22. Mr. M. Newcomen's Farewell Sermon
"Remember therefore how thou hast received & heard, and held fast, and repent." - Revelation 3:3
I Began this Scripture the last Lords Day in this Congregation. I told you then, there were three Doctrines obvious in the Text; the first was,
Doct. 1. That it is the Duty of Christians, to remember those Truths that: they have heard and received.
Doct. 2. That it is the Duty of Christians, to hold fast the Truth that they have heard and received.
Doct. 3. That continued repentance, is the Duty of Christians, as well as initial Repentance. Remember therefore how thou hast received, and heard, and hold fast, and repent.
The first of these Doctrines, I applied myself to, and applied to the people last Lords-Day, and shall not now say anything of it; but proceed to the next Doctrine, that it is the Duty of Christians, To hold fast the Truths that they have heard and received. That which the Apostle enjoyns on Timothy, in proportion, the duty of all Christians, 2 Timothy 1:13. Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me in Faith, and Love, which is in Christ Jesus. The whole entire body of Divine Truth. Hold it fast against all opposition whatsoever. Now if they that are themselves Teachers of the Truth to others, must hold fast the Truth, according to the Plat-form that hath been delivered to them; then much more is it the duty of private Christians, who are supposed, not to have that latitude of Parts and Gifts that Teachers have: And therefore you shall finde, that Christ requires this not only of the Pastors, but of the Members of his Church: Revelation 2:24. speaking not only to the Angels, but to the Body of the Church: But to you, I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this Doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan as they speak, I will put upon you none other burden, but that which you have already; bold fast till I come. As if he should say, this is all I require of you my people, keep your selves, and hold fast that which you have till I come. And so in Revelation 3:11. Behold I come quickly, hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take away thy Crown. As if he should say, That Divine Truth, that thou hast heard and received, it is thy Crown, thy excellency, therefore hold it fast. This duty of holding fast the Truth, it is thy Crown, thy excellency, therefore hold it fast. This Duty of holding fast the Truth, is urged in many other places of Scripture, under other expressions; as that of continuing in the Word of God. Christ says, if ye continue in my Word, then are ye my Disciples indeed. And continuing in the Faith, Acts 14:22. Paul and Barnabas visiting the Churches, exhorted them to continue in the Faith: And so those terms of being rooted in the Truth, of standing, and standing fast, and many others, they all inforce this Duty. Now for the better handling of this point, I shall do these four things.
First, I will shew you, what Christians are to hold fast.
Secondly, how they are to hold fast.
Thirdly, why they are to hold fast what they heard and received.
Fourthly, I will apply it.
First, What Christians are to hold fast: the Doctrine says, they are to hold fast the Truths they have received. Now Truths are of two sorts.
1. Some are Natural and Moral.
2. Some are Supernatural and Divine Truths: called Truths of God; because they come from God, and conform the Mind and Soul that receives them, to the Image of God.
2. Now, though it is true, it is good for a man to be right in Moral things, and to know, and cleave to that which is Truth in Morality; yet the Truths that we are here called upon to hold fast, they are Divine Truths, Supernatural Truths, Truths in Religion, Truths in the things of God.
Secondly, Again, Religious and Divine Truths, Truths of God, they are either such as are so in name, and in the estimation of some men; or else they are such Truths as are Truths of God, in the truth and reality of the thing. Now, when I say that Christians are to hold fast the Truths they have received, the meaning is not, that whatever any man, or company of men offer as Truths, should be received, and held fast; for then we must hold fast many errours: But whatever men call Truth, or offer as Truth, we must examine it by the un-erring rule of Truth, that is, the Word of God. In these things it is a clear Canon which we have, 1 Thessalonians 5:21. Prove all things, hold fast that which is good. Prove them by the Word of God, and if they hold Truth by that, then receive them, and hold them fast. Divine Scripture-Truths we are to hold fast.
Thirdly, Scripture-Truths, Truths that are grounded, and warranted in the Word of God, they are either such as are immediately and expresly laid down in the Scripture, or such as are mediately contained in Scripture, and by deduction drawn thence. Now those Truths are immediately and expresly laid down in Scripture, we are without dispute to receive and hold: But those Truths that are drawn thence, we may make use of our Reason to examine them by the Word; and so far as we see them to be drawn from Scripture, we are to receive them, and hold them fast.
Fourthly, Divine Truths from Scripture are of two sorts: Either the great and weighty things of the Truth of God, and of Religion, which we call Fundamental Truths; or else they are those things that are of less weight than Religion, and yet Truths of God. Now we are not only to hold fast those Truths of God, that are the Fundamental-Truths; as that there is a God, and but one God; and that there is a Trinity of Persons in Unity of Essense, Father, Son, and Holy-Ghost; and that there is but one Mediator between God and Man, the Man Christ Jesus, and that he is both God and Man in one Person, and that he hath given full satisfaction to Divine Justice, for all that by faith close with him, and the like.
These are the great points in Religion; these we must be sure to hold fast. And not only these, but even the lesser; those truths of Religion that, comparatively, are far less than these, we must hold them fast. You know what our Saviour says of the Commands: there are some that are the first and great Commandments, and there are others that are the lesser: But, whosoever shall break one of the least of Gods Commandments, and shall teach men so, the same shall be least in the Kingdom of God. So, whosoever shall renounce the least Truth, God will be even with him for it. For those Truths of God which are little and small, comparatively, they may be of great weight and consequence in their Sphere. Luther said, Let Heaven run together as a scrowl, rather than one filing of Truth should be parted with. Surely those servants of God, the Martyrs, were not so prodigal of their lives, but they knew what they did when they suffered for such Truths, as men now call Trifles, and not worth standing for; the least Truths of God must be held fast.
Thus you see what we must hold fast, Divine Truths, Scripture Truths, whether greater or lesser: we must hold fast what we have received. I should, but that I fore-see the time will prevent me, answer an Objection: Is there nothing to hold fast but Truth? Doth not the Apostle bid the Thessalonians, in the second of the Thessalonians, the second Chapter, and the fifteenth Verse, Hold the Traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word or our Epistle. The Papists make much of this place for their unwritten Traditions. In a word: know this, though there were some Doctrines of Faith, and matters of Practice, which, when Paul writ this Epistle, were not expresly to be found in Writing, that had been Preached by the Apostles; yet this will not in the least infer, that now, when the Canon of the Scripture is compleated, there should be such unwritten Traditions, to which we are to give up our Faith.
I go on to the second thing, and that is, to shew, how we must hold fast the Truths of God, which we have heard and received.
First, in your Judgements, being fully resolved and setled in your Judgements concerning them, not wavering about them, nor suffering ourselves by any means and ways, to be removed from our stedfastness in them. Says the Apostle, 2 Peter 3:17. Seeing you know these things, beware, lest you also being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. Take heed you be not removed in your Judgements; hold fast what you have received, and suffer not every Wind to blow you off from them.
Secondly, we must hold fast the Truths we have heard and received in our Wills and Affections, in our love to the Truth; we must receive the Truth in the love of it, or else we should never keep the Truth. Love is the strongest hold-fast in the Word, no man will part with that which he loves: What makes the covetous man so unwilling to part with his Money, but because he loves it? What makes the lustful sinner so unwilling to part with his Lust, he will part with Heaven, rather than his Lust? Why, it is because he doth so love it. If men did love the Truth, they would hold it fast.
Thirdly, you must hold the Truth in the profession of it, Hebrews 10:23. Let us hold fast the profession of the Truth, or of the Faith, without wavering. We must not only believe with the Heart, but confess with the Mouth, if we would be saved: When Peter denied his Master with his Mouth, and said, I know him not, I am persuaded, he denied him not in his heart. It is a dangerous thing in word, or outward profession, to renounce the truth or any part of it. Hold fast the profession of the Truth.
Fourthly, We must hold the Truths of God fast in our life and conversation: this the Apostle calls, Walking in Christ; and holding forth the Word of Life, in a blameless and harmless Conversation. We must hold fast the Truths of God in our lives.
Fifthly, We must do all this constantly, hold fast the Truth in our Judgement and Affection, Profession and Conversation, constantly and at all times; as David, I have inclined my heart to perform thy statutes always, even unto the end; We must not only in times of calmness and serenity, when we may have all the peace and applause of the world, hold fast the Truth and Profession of it; but it stormy times when Truth may burn a mans fingers if he hold it, yet even then we must hold it fast.
Sixthly, we must hold fast the Truths we have received resolutely, against all oppositions whatsoever, whether of friends or foes. Paul would not bate an inch, no not to Peter his Brother, his elder Brother in Christ, and in the work of the Gospel; he resisted him to the face, and gave no place to him, no, not for an hour.
Thus should we hold fast the Truth that we have heard and received in our Judgment, in our Wills and Affections, in our Profession, and in our Lives and Conversations. And thus hold them fast constantly, and resolutely against all opposition, on the right hand, and on the left, both of Friends and Foes; and that for these Reasons, which is the first thing I have to do; which is to shew you, Why we should hold fast the Truth of God.
First, for the excellency of Divine Truth; it is more precious than Gold, better than Rubies, and all that you can desire cannot be compared with Truth. And it must needs be so, because it is the immediate issue of God himself, who is the Fountain of Truth, and the Fountain of all Perfection and Glory. Natural men have said, Truth is the daughter of Time. Divines say, Truth is the daughter of God. Divine Truth is the child of God, the Issue and Birth of God. And whosoever therefore God hath pleased to deliver this Truth unto, they must be tenderly careful that it be not deflowred and violated.
Secondly, it is our duty to hold fast the Truth that we have received, because we have received it under the notion of those things that have a kind of constancy in them. I say, we have received the Truth under the Nature of those things that have a kind of constancy and perpetuity in them. The Scripture speaks of the Truths of God, as an heritage, Thy Testimonies have I spoken for mine heritage, saith David in the 119 Psalm Though a mans personal estate may be alienated, yet that which is his heritage, this is unalienable in Law; it is a wrong done to his Posterity if he parts with that: Truth is the inheritance of the Saints, therefore they are to hold it fast. Again, in Scripture the Truth of God is called a Thing committed to mans trust, 2 Timothy 1:14. That good thing which was committed unto thee, keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. That good thing! What was that! Why, the form of sound words, which in the verse before he had bidden him hold fast; this is but a Reduplication of the same thing on him: the Body of Gospel-Truths that was committed to thee, hold it fast; that good thing, a good thing: the Author of it is good, and it makes us good; all that is contained in it is good matter, and it tends to a good end, the saving of our souls. This, saith he, hath been committed to thee, therefore keep it, that it may be re-delivered, and redelivered entire and whole; and re-delivered to the same person that did commit it to us, else we cannot be faithful to our trust. The Truth of God is committed to our trust; we must so keep it, that we may redeliver it, and re-deliver it entire and whole; and re-deliver it thus entire and whole to him that committed it to us, even to God. This is the duty of all Christians thus to keep the word. There is a committing of the Truth to all the Church and Saints of God; as Jude tells us in his Epistle, verse the third, that ye should contend earnestly for the Faith, which was once delivered to the Saints; the Faith, that is the doctrine of Faith, the Truth of the Gospel, which was delivered to the Saints. We have but one Gospel, and it was delivered but once; God means no more to deliver his Gospel, and the Truth of it, therefore you had need strive hard to keep them, and hold them.
Thirdly, we should hold fast the Truth that we have received; because if we do not hold it fast, we do wrong God, and if we wrong ourselves, and we wrong the Truth, and we wrong our posterity.
1. It is our duty, to hold fast the Truths we have received; because if we do not, we wrong God; for Truths are more Gods, then ours: They are ours as to the use of them; but they are his, as he is the Original and Author of them. Truths are Gods Jewels; there is never a Truth of Religion, but God owns it as his; and for us to barter away any of these Truths of God it is Sacrilege, it is a robbing of God, it is a wrong to God. This is that God complains of, by the prophet, in the second of Jeremiah, the eleventh and twelfth verses. Hath a Nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their Glory, for that which doth not profit. Be astonished, O ye Heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the Lord. The Prophet, indeed speaks of a total forsaking of God, and all his Truths; but there is, in the forsaking of every Truth, a proportion of wrong to God.
2. It is a wrong done to the Truths of God, when men having received the Truth, and embracing it, hold it not fast, but cast it off, this is a wrong to the Truths of God. We say, it is less reproach to a man when he comes to my house, to shut the door against him, and not receive him in at all, than when he hath been in a while with me, I turn him out; all the world now think I find cause to be weary of him. They who have shut their hearts against the Truth, and never gave any entertainment to it, they are less injurious to it, than they that have received it, and professed it and yet turn from it. These tell the world, that the Truths of God are not so sweet, and worthy of their entertainment, as they supposed them to be.
3. This is an injury and wrong to ourselves; this is a wrong to our Credit and reputation. Now, though we may make Credit our end in Religion; yet we may make use of our Credit or Reproach, as an argument to hold fast the Truth; and this is injurious to our own Souls, John 8:31. Then Jesus said to those Jews which believed on him; If ye continue in my word, then are ye my Disciples. Indeed, here Christ doth seem to distinguish his disciples; he hath some that are so in name, that are not so in Deed, and he hath some that are so in Deed and in Truth; and of these he gives a character here, If ye continue in my Word. You now profess to believe my Word; but if you hold fast, and continue in my Word, then you are my Disciples indeed: But if you continue not in my Word, you have the name of Disciples only, and that will not save you. You can never be saved, unless you be indeed the Disciples of Christ; and you can never approve your selves to be the Disciples of Christ indeed, if ye continue not in the Truth, 1 John 2:24. Let that therefore abide in you, which you have received and heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning, shall remain in you, ye shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. Hold fast the truth of God which you have received, then shall you continue in the Son: If the Truth of God, which you have received and believed, remain in you, and be held fast by you, ye shall continue in the love of the Father and Son, but not else; according to what he expresseth again; Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ, hath not God, therefore he cannot be saved; he that abideth in the doctrine, hath the Father and the Son. Therefore as you would be saved, hold fast the Truths you have received.
Now here (but I have not time to speak to it) is a Case of Conscience; Whether every error doth cut a man off from God? I Answer, no, God forbid: But this we cannot speak to now.
Fourthly, they that hold not fast the Truth of God, are injurious to their posterity. Our fore-fathers holding fast the truth of God in the day of their trial; and sealing it with their bloud, was the means of transmitting the purity of the Gospel to us their Posterity; and if we, in our Generation hold not fast the truth of God, but carry it loose in our Consciences and Judgements, and we let it fall out of our hands and hearts, we forfeit the Truths of God, not only from ourselves, but also from our Posterity. Thus you see, we shall wrong the God of Truth, and the Truth of God; we shall wrong ourselves and our Posterity, if we hold not fast the Truth we have received. Thus we have the reasons of the Doctrine.
Application.
For Application: here first, I might bewail the general want of the care of the performance of this Duty, which hath appeared many years in this Land.
We have had little care of holding fast the Truths we have received. For holding fast the truth of our Judgement, How many are there, whose Judgements have been perverted with many Errours?
This is that which the Apostle calls A turning aside to another Gospel, in the first of the Galatians, and the sixth verse. And so for holding fast the truth in the love of it, How many are there that have failed in that, which Christ calls, The forsaking of the first Love, Revelations the second, and the fourth verse?
And we should hold fast the truth in the profession of it; and how many are there that have failed in that? this the Apostle calls, in the tenth of the Hebrews, A drawing back unto Perdition.
And for holding fast the truth in the practice of it, how many have failed in that? that have been Professors, and now are grown loose and debauched. This the Apostle Peter calls, A turning aside from the holy Commandments. All these things call for our lamentation.
Exhortation.
But the whole work that I will apply myself to, is, to exhort every one of you, to the care of this duty, To hold fast the Truths that you have heard and received. Hold them fast in your Judgement, hold them fast in your Will and Affections, hold them fast in your Lives and Conversations, hold the Truths you have received constantly; and hold them against all opposition on the right hand, and on the left, from friends and foes.
To press this upon you, I think I shall need to use no other Motive, than what I have laid down before you in the Doctrinal part; only this one thing more, and that is, take notice how urgent the Spirit of God is in pressing this in Scripture.
Now, saith Mr. Hildersham, If in those days, when the Apostles were yet living, who taught the people of God with more Power and Demonstration of the Spirit, than any of us do, or can. Yes, if then they had need of such Exhortation to continue in the Doctrine, and to abide in it, to stand fast, and hold fast the Word and Truth of God; how much more needful are these Exhortations in our days?
If any say, no, there is not more cause; for then the Magistrate was a mortal enemy to the Gospel, and the Professors of it; but we are (thanks be to God) under a Christian Magistrate, who doth not oppose, but Countenance the Gospel, and the Professors of it. If any makes this Objection, I will give you Mr. Hildersham's Answer to it, which I find in a Sermon of his, printed in the Year, One Thousand Six Hundred Thirty and One; which is now One and Thirty years agone; saith he, Though, through the great mercy of GOD, we in this Land enjoy the Gospel in great peace, and have it countenanc'd by Authority; and though through the Religious Disposition of the KING, we may have great hopes of the continuance of the true Religion, and seem to be freed from all fear of the altering of it; Yet (says he) there is need of this Exhortation in these dayes, and that for these Reasons.
Reas. 1. First, Because of the great danger we are in of being over-run, or over-spread with Popery, and the Fiery trail before we are aware: For, sayes he, The great increase of Papists that we daily hear of, and the great declining of many, who are ready to receive an Errour that shall be offered to them: These things give us a just cause to fear the danger of Popery over-spread∣ing us.
And Brethren, if it were so in his time, so many years ago, what is it now?
Reas. 2. Secondly, sayes he, if so be there were no danger of Popery, yet, sayes he, there are so many Errours newly sprung up, that do shew how needful this Exhortation is.
Reas. 3. Thirdly, sayes he, there is such a general decay of the love of Religion in all places, and amongst all sorts of people, and so much irreligiousness every where, that it is the general disease of the Nation.
Therefore he concludes, that in these times of ours, though Religion hath the Magistrate to countenance it, yet there is as much need of pressing this Exhortation, as ever there was; namely, To hold fast the Truths that we have heard and received.
Now, if you ask what you shall do, that you may be able to hold fast the truths that you have received? I will give you some directions.
First, if you would hold fast the Truth that you have heard and received, get into Christ, be rooted and established in him. Brethren, it is not all the Learning in the world, and Abilities that a man can have, that will enable him to hold out, and hold fast the Truths that he hath received, if a time of tryal come, unless Christ be his Bottom and Foundation, unless Christ be his strength. If a man stands upon his own legs, his own Parts and Abilities, to argue and dispute, and repell objections; alas! these things will fail in a day of tryal. Prison, Death, and a Stake, are such Arguments, Brethren, that all the Learning and parts of the world cannot answer, but only Christ and his Spirit, and grace in the heart. Therefore, if you would hold fast the Truth which you have received and heard, and not be beaten off from them in the day of tryal, get into Christ, be rooted and established in him, then shalt thou stand, nor else.
2. If you would hold fast the Truths that you have heard and received, then take nothing upon trust in matters of Religion: whatever Preachers you hear, or whatever Books you read, take not things upon trust, but examine them, and prove them by the Scriptures, and judge what foundation and warrant they have from the Scripture, and accordingly receive them, or receive them not. It is observable in 1 Thessalonians 5. When the Apostle sayes, despise not Prophesyings, in the next word he sayes, prove all things, and hold fast that which is good; as if he should say, though I would not have you despise Prophesying and Preachers, yet I would not have you to take things upon trust, in matters of Religion, but prove all things, and hold fast that which is good.
3. If you would be able to hold fast the truths that you have heard and received, get a clear, distinct, and certain knowledge of what is truth; that which you would hold fast, get a clear, assured knowledge that it is the truth of God, 2 Timothy 3:14. Continue thou, in the things which thou hast learned, and hast been assured of. If a man would continue in the things that he hath learned, he must be assured of them, that they are the truths of God. But how shall a man be assured that such and such things are the truths of God? He may know this; first, by the consonancy of them to the word of God: Secondly, by the power of them on his heart, to convince, or humble, and quicken it.
4. If you would be enabled to hold fast the truths you have heard, and received, then get a valuation and esteem of the truths of God. Such as David had, Psalms 119:72. The Law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of Gold and Silver. Better in itself; all the Gold and Silver in the world, all the riches in the world, will never do a man so much good as that; and better in my estimation, I value it more, I had rather part with all, than with the Word. A man that is of this mind, he will hold fast the truth: Oh! that there were such a heart in every one of you, as to say, The words of Gods mouth, they are better than estate, and better than liberty, and better than Wife and Children; if there were such a heart in us, this would enable us to hold fast the truth of God, and part with all rather than them.
5. If you would hold fast the truth that you have received and heard, then make conscience to practice according to what you know; make conscience to obey the truths of God: obedience is the sinew of constancy. Christ saith, Luke 6:48. Whosoever hears these sayings of mine, and doth them, he is like a man which built his house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation upon a Rock; and when the floud arose, and the streams beat vehemently upon that house, it could not shake it. Mark ye it could not be shaken: the conscionable practical hearer, and receiver of the truth of God, he is the man that is like to hold out, and to hold fast the Word; he that hath been a careless Hearer, and never made conscience to hear for obedience and practice, he is blown over presently; it is a sad passage I have met with in that Reverend man, M. Hildersham, and to me it seems to have much weight in it; What hopes, says he, can we have of many of our Hearers in England, who are willing to give the Word a hearing, and outwardly profess it? but what hope can we have, but that if a time of trial come, they will turn Papists, or profane, or anything; for they never loved the Word when they heard it; and they never obeyed the Word, but lived in known sins; they take up a form of godliness, and hate the power of it; what hope, but that if a time of trial come, these will fall from the truth?
6. If you would be able to hold fast the truth that you have heard and received, then take heed of receiving the least truth of God; take heed, I say, of knowing, and willing forsaking the least truth; and knowing, and willing giving way to the least errour; as the committing of the least sin, may render a man abominable unto God, as you find in Levit. 11:43. You shall not make your selves abominable with any creeping thing; that is, with the eating any creeping thing. Now this was one of the least Commandments that God gave out, for the not eating of such & such things: yet by transgressing this, the people might make themselves abominable: the committing of the least sin may make a man abominable to God; so the embracing of the least errour, and the forsaking of the least truth, may make a man abominable to God: the least truth forsaken knowingly, and the least errour embraced knowingly, becomes a great sin: and a little errrour makes way for a greater: if once a man gives way to one errour: a thousand will follow after. If we would hold fast the whole body of truth, we must take heed we forsake not the least truth; if we forsake God and his truths, whether in lesser matters or greater, and if we turn back again to Popery, and conform to the Papists in lesser matters (saith Mr. Hildersham) know, of a certainty, that Popery shall return again.
7. If you would hold fast the truths you have heard and received, then shun all such persons as would go about to draw you off from the truth of God; shun all Seducers, confer not with them; have nothing to do with them and their ways, Proverbs 19:27. Cease, my Son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge; thou hast been instructed in the words of knowledge, and, if any would instruct thee otherwise, and seek to draw thee off from the words of truth and knowledge, have nothing to do with them: Cease, my Son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge. Now my Brethren, this advice I judge to be more seasonable, because it is in my apprehension, that this present providence of God, in taking off at one stroke so many of his Servants (that have endeavoured in uprightness of heart to instruct you, and the people of God) from this work, it is on my heart to think and fear, this will give a great advantage to Seducers, to seek to corrupt you, and draw you off from the truth to their party. When the Shepherds are smitten, there is a great opportunity given to the Foxes &c Wolves to make a prey of the flock: when God makes it dark, and night, then all the Beasts of the Forest creep out: as the Psalmist saith, Psalms 104:20. When there is a night and cloud on the Ordinances of God, then all the Beasts of the Forest will go forth; many will undertake to be your Instructers, and say here is Christ, and there is Christ; but believe them not: remember the things you have heard and received, and hold them fast: cease from the instructions of those that would turn you aside.
8. And lastly, if you would be able to hold fast the truths of God, then commend your selves and the truths you would hold, to God in Prayer, and beg of God to hold you, that you may keep his truth: Put up those requests to God, that David doth Psalms 15. Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not; and in the 119 Psalm, Be surety for thy Servant for good, hold thou me up, and I shall be safe, and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually. And thus my Brethren, I have done with this Doctrine, and this Sermon, and as far as I know, with my Preaching in this place. The day is at hand, wherein I, and many others of my Brethren shall be (through not naturally dead, yet) civilly dead, dead in Law, dead as to the work of the Ministry. And, as I told them of this particular Congregation the last Lords day, so I tell you; know what I would be willing to speak to you, if I lay on my death-bed, and had the exercise of Reason and Memory that I have now: look, I say, what I would say to you, if I now lay on my death-bed, the same I shall speak to you now, through Gods assistance; and first, I would, and in some measure do give thanks to God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, that hath called me, a poor unworthy Creature, not only to the knowledge, but to the Preaching of the Gospel of his Son Jesus Christ, and that in this place, and in this part of the, and hath pleased in mercy to continue life and liberty to work here, almost Twenty six years. Secondly, I would be, I am in some measure, thankful to God, and to his people, both of this Town, and of the Neighbor-hood, for a great deal of love and respect, and encouragement, that they have given to my Person and Ministry here; and particularly I do acknowledge myself to be greatly obliged to my Reverend Brethren, the Neighbor-Ministers, for the much love I have received from them, their readiness to help me, in supplying my place in the time of my sickness or absense, and sweet society I have had with them: I believe you think it is no easie thing for me to speak, or think of parting with such an Auditory and society, the like to which I never look to have on earth again. But seeing for my sins, and your sins, God will have it so, we must submit, and lie at his feet: that which he hath made crooked, who can make streight? But before we part, give me leave to speak a few words to you; something by way of Request, and something by way of Advice: by way of Request, I would speak this.
First, that if any of you have found any benefit by my poor Ministry, that if any of you have been enlightned, or awakened, or strengthened, and built up in the truth, and encouraged in the ways of holiness, by any thing that God hath put into my mouth to speak to you, let God have the praise, and let me have some room in your hearts, and prayers, however God shall deal with me.
My second Request is, that wherein soever you have seen any failings in me, or any failings in my Ministerial duty, that you would please to pass it by, and to help me in prayer to God, for the forgiveness of them. These are my Requests of you, and that which I have to say to you, by way of Advice is much the same, with what I said to this particular Congregation the last Lords Day. Take it in these particulars.
1. I would advise you and entreat you, that we may all of us lay to heart this present dispensation of God towards us, and the Nation, in this respect, that we may be sensible of it. I remember, when I was young, and my famous Predecessor, Mr. Rogers, was taken off from his Ministry in this kind, though but for a few weeks, these parts were wonderfully sensible of that providence, and laid it to heart, and were much in Humiliation and in Prayer; and I think I may say, they received an answer again within some weeks. Now Brethren, though he was worth some hundreds of us; yet now it is not the laying by of one man, but of multitudes, fifty in one place, and threescore in another, and fourscore in another, and this not by a single Bishop, but by an Act of Parliament, which makes the wound the wider, and the more uncapable of cure; and shall not we be sensible of this? shall so many precious vessels be laid by, as vessels of no pleasure, and none take it to heart?
Shall so many burning lights be quenched together, so may Wells of the Water of Life be stopt up together, and this not be laid to heart? I beseech you consider and be sensible.
2. In the deepest and saddest sense you have of this providence of God, watch over your own spirits, that you lay the blame of it nowhere so much as upon your selves. Some blame the times, and charge it on their iniquities; others are apt to blame us Ministers, and charge it on our niceness and singularity. Might my advice take place with this people, I would desire, that every one of us might lay the blame nowhere so much, as on ourselves, for certainly, we have procured these things to our selves. I find our Predecessors the Martyrs, when by a Law Religion was changed in the Nation, and Idolatry set up, they lay the blame not on the Lawmakers, but on themselves, and their own hearts. One of them saith, all this is come upon us, because we did not love the Gospel; we were Gospellers in lip, but not in life: Much more doth it become us, whose sufferings are far less, to blame ourselves more than we blame any others.
3. My third Advice is this, and I beseech you take it in love, for it is out of love that it is given you; if you should perceive at this time a difference in opinion and practice among us, that are the Ministers of the Gospel in this Nation; standing, and sticking at things that others can digest, and do; and others doing things, that some of their Brethren cannot come up unto: Be not offended, thus it hath always been from the beginning; it is no new thing. Thus it was in King Edwards dayes. If there be any of God's servants that are Learned and Holy, and Faithful, that do now for the enjoyment of their Ministry, yield a conformity to all that is enjoyned, I doubt not but many of them are grieved, that they cannot have the exercise of their Ministry without this: and we who cannot come up to this, are grieved that we cannot come up to it: the one, and the other have grief enough; add not your censures to this grief, that is already upon them. It hath been all along a merciful providence of God, that when some of his servants could not satisfie their consciences, and come up to the things that have been imposed upon them, without injuring their Consciences; yet others have had a greater freedom given them, that they could yield; and if not so, What would have become of the people of God? Therefore in those things, acknowledge there may be some providence of God, for good to you in it.
4. My fourth advice, I shall deliver to you wholly, in the words of that holy man and Martyr of God, Master Bradford, in his Letter to the City of London, saith he, Let us heartily bewail our sins, and repent of our evils, let us amend the evil of our lives, let us every one be diligent in prayer, and attend with reverence on the reading, and hearing of Gods Holy word; let us reprove the works of darkness, let us fly from Idolatry, and which is the particular I would indeed commend unto you, Obey the Magistrate, and them that are set over us in the Lord, in all things that are not against the Word; and when they command anything contrary to the Word, let us answer, It is meet to obey God, rather than man. However (saith he) resist not the Magistrate, nor seek to avenge your selves, but commit your case to God; be patient, and submit to all that are in Authority over you: but resist not, rise not against Authority; but wait on God, till he pleaseth to cause the Light to rise, and shine again upon you. This is my fourth advice.
5. Now it pleaseth God, that Hearing opportunities, at least, some of them are taken from some of us, from many of us, for a time: My Advice and Counsel is, that the less now you hear, the more you will read; read the Word of God much the more, and take all helps for the right understanding of what you read. The Book of Annotations is a great help to enlighten you to understand the Scripture; and next to the reading of the Scriptures, what spare hours you have, I would advise you to bestow your time in reading of the Book of Martyrs; a Book that hath formerly been more prized, than of late in England. Especially, read that part of it which contains the History of Queen Maries dayes; they will inform you of the great controversies that are between us and the Papists; and they will inform you what you shall answer; the reading how cheerfully they went to Prison, and to the Stake, will imbolden you against the fears of sufferings, and death; and the reading of their Letters, will be a great means to edifie, and build you up. This reading of the Scriptures, and other good Books, is my fifth advice to you.
6. My sixth Advice to you is, that seeing God hath taken away your Week-dayes opportunities of hearing the Word here, and in other places, you would be careful that the world may not devour Gods Portion; I mean that portion of time, which some of you have bestowed in hearing these Lectures. It was a good speech of a gracious Woman, now with God, when Mr. Rogers was silenced: Well, said she, by the grace of God, the World shall never have those hours that I was wont to spend in hearing heretofore: her meaning was, she would spend them in her Closet in holy duties. It was an excellent resolution, and worthy of our imitation; and if I might after twenty six years labour here in the Ministry, now at my parting obtain thus much of you, that you having been pleased to be constant hearers here, would lay a Law on your selves, that so much time as you formerly spent in coming hither, sitting here, and returning home, that you will spend that time at home, either in praying, and reading, and meditating in your Closets; or else in praying in, and with your Families, and instructing of them: If I might but obtain this of you, at my parting, I shall believe that the Devil and his Kingdom would be losers by this our parting; if you would spend this time weekly in holy Exercises, reading and praying for your selves, and for the Nation, and for your Families, which you were wont to spend in coming to these Lectures, and in attending here, and returning home; and that is my sixth Advice to you, and therefore let me intreat this of you.
7. And my seventh Advice and Counsel is this, that seeing it pleaseth God to take away from you so many of your publick Instructers, that you would every one of you that are head• of Families, be so much the more instructing and teaching your Families: Be so much the more in this, by how much the less is done in publick. Read the Word in your Families, and catechise your Families, and see that they may understand them: You have many helps for this, as Mr. Perkins, Mr. Ball, and the Assemblies Catechise.
8. And the last advice I have to give you, is this, that you would still continue your reverence of, and love to, and care for the observing of the Lords Holy Sabbath. It is that, my Brethren, wherein God hath been honoured in this Town, and in these Parts, I think as much as in most places in the World; and I pray do so still: And when you have not publick Ordinances, and publick helps for the sanctifying of the Lords day at home in your own Congregations, if you have the Word and Ordinances in any comfortable manner abroad, Travel for it, I say, travel for it; and when you have them not at home nor abroad, be so much the more earnest, and fervent, and aboundant in your family and secret Duties, in the sanctification of the Lords day. I have some fears, lest if time should come to pass, that the Magistrates should connive at the profaning of the Lords day, giving way to Sports and Recreations on it, and Preachers should cry down the strict observation of the Lords day, and the like; I am afraid we have many youth, that in these parts, notwithstanding all the instructions that have been given them, would be ready to dance after these Pipes, and run into the profaning of the Lords day: Therefore you that are Governours of Families, remember the charge that God hath given you more expresly concerning this, than in any other thing that I know of: Thou, nor thy Son, nor thy Daughter, nor thy Man-servant, nor thy Maid-servant, nor thy Cattel, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates, shalt thou suffer to violate the day of the Lord: Therefore, know your Authority, and do your duty; and put on the Holy Resolution of Joshua, Whatsoever others do, I and my house will serve the Lord; so say you, Whatsoever others do, I and mine will sanctifie the Lords day, and keep it holy. So do, and the blessing of God shall be on you all the week long. And now, Brethren, I commend you to God, and to the Word of his Grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified.