26. Mr. Beerman's Farewell Sermon

26. Mr. Beerman's Farewell Sermon
Beloved, I know you are not ignorant, that I am called by Authority to depart from you, which for Conscience sake we must obey; and were it not for the breach of Conscience, I think I could be content to undoe myself to stay with you. I shall now in love and tenderness take my leave of you all, with that large portion of Scripture, in the 20th. of the Acts, from the 17th. Verse to the end; they were Paul's parting words to the Ephesians.
Verse 17 and so forth.
"And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the Elders of the Church, and when they were come unto him, he said unto them, Ye know that from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you, serving the Lord with all humility of mind, with many tears, and temptations, which befell me, through the lying in wait of the Jews, and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but having shewed you, and taught you publickly, and from house to house, testifying to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance towards God, and Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ; and now, behold, I go bound in the Spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there, save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every City, saying, that bonds and afflictions abide me, but none of these things move me; neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the Ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testifie the Gospel of the grace of God; and now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the Kingdom of Heaven, shall see my face no more. Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men, for I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto your selves, and to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers, to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood; for know this, that after my departure, grievous Wolves shall enter, not sparing the flock: also of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things, to draw away Disciples after them; therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years, I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now Brethren I commend you to God, and to the Word of his Grace, which is able to build you, and to give you an inheritance among all those that are sanctified. I have coveted no mans silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, your selves know, these hands have ministred to my necessities, and to those that were with me. I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring, ye ought to support the weak, remembring the word of our Lord Jesus, how he said, it is more blessed to give than to receive. And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all, and they all wept sore, and fell upon Pauls neck and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more; and they accompanied him unto the Ship."
Beloved, I have read unto you the words of a departing Minister to his Hearers. The case being my own, I thought I could not pitch upon a more fit place to take my Farewell withal. I shall not stand to open all these words, only speak a word or two at parting, as Paul did to the Ephesians; and I shall only hold forth something to you by way of Analysis of it, and thereby you may judge of the Analogy of it. In this parting speech of Pauls you have two parts.
1. Pauls carriage to them.
2. Their carriage to him.
First, Pauls behaviour towards them, that was very pious, as you may read from verse 17. to verse 37.
Secondly, the peoples behaviour towards their departing Minister, which you have in the two last Verses. Wherein is observable,
1. Their Love.
2. Their Sorrow.
First their Love, expressed by kissing him, and accompanying him unto the Ship.
Secondly, Their Sorrow, expressed by their weeping, they could not part with such a Minister with dry eyes; but saith the Text, they all wept sorely, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. They wept, and they all wept, and they wept sorely; a sore weeping when this Minister and this People parted. From whence note this, that there is occasion and matter of great sorrow when people lose a godly Minister. Paul was not the first Minister that ever parted. People, nor the Ephesians the first People that ever lamented at the departure of a faithful Minister. See how the people lamented Samuel, 1 Samuel 25:1. And Samuel died, and all Israel were gathered together, and lamented Samuel; O that brave, that powerful preaching Samuel is gone! How did Elisha lament Elias, catching hold of his garments, and cried out, My Father, my Father, the Chariots of Israel, and the Horsemen thereof. Christ himself, when he saw the children of Israel scattered abroad upon the Mountains, as Sheep without a Shepherd, how did his bowels yern towards them? But to name no more, take St. Stephen (Acts 8:2.) when Stephen was departed, dead and gone, devout men carried Stephen to his grave, and made great lamentations over him; they could but lament to think that that noble, couragious, and heart-daunt∣ing Minister should never preach more before them. When Christ was put to death, how did his followers lament him! Is it not a lamentable sight to behold a poor weather-beaten rotten Ship, without mast or tackling, in a tempest? Good Lord, what will become of the Ship and Mariners? Is it not a sad sight to see a flock of Sheep invironed with a band of Wolves, and no Shepherd to protect them? Thus it is with the people when their Minister is gone. Ministers themselves have wept and lamented, when they have thought of departing from their own people, and that for these two causes.
First, because they knew they would corrupt themselves.
Secondly, because they knew they would suffer others to corrupt them.
First, because they knew they would corrupt themselves. Moses he knew this (Deut. 13:29.) he is there leaving the world, and the people thereof. Call unto me the Elders of your Tribes, that I may speak a word in their audience, and call Heaven and Earth to record against them, for I am sure that upon my departure you will utterly be corrupted, and turned from the way that I have commanded you, for behold I being yet alive with you this day, you are rebellious against God, how much more then after my death? I assure you it is cause of lamentation to think on this. Thus it was with Joash while Jehojadah that good Minister lived with him, and instructed him in the way that he should walk, he kept to the worship of God; but after Jehojadah died, he turned Idolater, and persecuted the sons of Jehojadah, (2 Chronicles 24:21.)
Secondly, they knew that after their departure they would suffer others to corrupt them. This was that that made Paul use these words to the Ephesians, (v. 29.) For I know that after my departure Wolves shall enter, not sparing the flock. And therefore well may you mourn when a faithful Minister is taken from you. I shall say no more, only a word or two to Pauls speech, wherein you have.
First, Paul speaking to God for them.
Secondly, Paul Speaking from God to them.
First, he spake to them from God, and then prayed to God for them. I shall divide his speech to them from God, into these two parts.
First, he spake something by way of Vindication of himself.
Secondly, he spake something by way of Exhortation to them.
First, you may observe in Paul's Farewell-speech, something by way of vindication of himself; and it is not amiss for a Minister, when he is to depart from a people, to say something in vindication of himself: there are enough that will, when his back is turned, lay falshoods & scandals to his charge, which they never durst do to his face; Samuel knew this, and therefore provided for it, (in 1 Samuel 12:1.) And Samuel said unto them all, Behold, I have hearkened to your voice, and have made you a King; now behold the King walks in and out before you; I am old, and of gray-hairs, and must now leave you. I have walked before you from a child to this day, and now witness against me before the Lord, whose Oxe have I taken? or whose Ass have I kept? whom have I done wrong to? or whom have I hurt? and of whose hand have I received a bribe, to blind mine eyes therewith? He stood here upon the justification of his life and carriage towards them, that he had not been a self-seeking, or oppressing man unto them: And thus did Paul vindicate himself to the Ephesians; give me leave to divide Pauls vindication into four or five parts.
First, he tells them that he had constantly preached amongst them, notwithstanding all the afflictions which encountred him (v. 19.) Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, with many tears, and temptations which befell me through the lying in wait of the Jews.
Secondly, He vindicates himself by telling them the matter of his preaching, (v. 20.) I have taught you publickly, and from house to house: you know, I may fitly apply this to myself, for I have not only taught you publickly, but in many of your houses also. But,
Thirdly, He vindicates himself, by telling them the matter of his preaching; and I bless God it hath been my method ever since I preached among you, (v. 21.) Testifying to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ; and this is my rejoycing (now I may preach no more) that I have spent my time in declaring unto you the Fundamentals, and grounds of salvation, and not in frivolous Ceremonies.
Fourthly, He vindicates himself by declaring the impartiality of his preaching, (v. 27.) I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Oh, my Brethren, though I cannot say, I have declared all the counsel of God; yet this, through grace, I can say, that I have not shunned to declare any of it.
Fifthly, Paul doth clear his Doctrine, and withal himself, by telling them he had preached freely, (v. 32. and 33.) I have coveted no mans silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye your selves know, that these hands have ministred to my necessities, and to those that were with me. I bless the Lord I can with a good conscience safely say, I have coveted neither your silver nor gold, neither am I a penny the richer for what I have received of you; it was not a desire of anything of yours, that made me first accept of this place; yet this shall I say for your honour, that you have richly and liberally bestowed your favours upon me. But as there is something in his own vindication; So
Secondly, there is something by way of Exhortation to them (v. 18.) Take heed therefore unto your selves, &c. Paul, before he leaves them, hath something from God to say to them; from whence I note this, That the Ministers of God, before they quite leave, have something to say to them for God. It was thus with the holy men of old; Jacob, when he was dying, called all his Sons before him, and to everyone he gave counsel and blessing. David, when he was upon leaving the World, and he knew he should not live long, he called all Israel unto him, and saith thus unto them, (Chron. 28:8, 9.) Now therefore in the sight of all Israel, the Congregation of the Lord, and in the audience of our God, keep, and seek for all the Commandements of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good Land, and leave it for an inheritable to your Children after you forever. And thou Solomon, my Son, know the God of thy Fathers, and serve him with a perfect heart; and with a willing mind, for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: If thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will east thee off forever. Thus you see it hath been the custom of holy men of old, when they were leaving the World, to say something to their people; so now here, I am come unto you this day as a dying man; (for you know when this day is gone, I must no more preach among you) and I know you are here come, to see what I shall leave you for your Legacy; which that I may do, take these twenty things, as counsel and advice from a dying man; and O that they may remain with you when I am dead. First, I shall give you ten by way of Caution; and secondly ten by way of Counsel. My Cautions are:
First, Beloved, I beseech you, as you tender the welfare of your souls, take heed of breaking the Sabbath day, of prophaning the Lords Day. It hath been observable, that where ever Religion hath flourished among any people, there they have ever been careful, and conscientious of the Sabbath day: And, on the contrary side, where Religion is gone to decay, and people grown to prophaneness, there they are always loose on the Sabbath day. Pray remember, I hope you will remember, for God calls upon you, and commands you so to do, (Exodus 20. ver. 8.) Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Do not you take so much liberty as some will give you. Whosoever you are that refuse thus to do, I will leave this assertion upon you, "Thou wretched man, hath "God given thee six dayes, and reserved but one for himself, and "wilt thou rob him of that too? What if he had given thee but one, and kept six for himself, would you be so vile, as not to keep them? How much more then, when God hath given thee so much preeminence in time. This is the first, be conscious in keeping the Sabbath day.
Secondly, take heed, and beware of Idolatry; this was Johns Caution to his beloved Children (1 Epist. 5. v. 21.) Little Children keep your selves from Idols. There is no sin to which, nor no sin by which we are more in danger, than Idolatry.
1. There is no sin to which we are in more danger, than Idolatry; Moses back was no sooner turned, but the people made them a brazen Calf, and bowed down to it, and worshipped it as their brazen God, (Exodus 32. v. 4.) Jehojada was no sooner dead, but Joash returned to Idolatry. If we were not prone this to sin, what is the reason all the World turns Antichristians so universally?
2. As there is no sin to which we are in more danger, so there is no sin by which we are in more danger, than Idolatry. I do confess if you will keep your garments clean, and undefiled with the mark of the Beast, it may be you may come under shrewd temptations; yet I entreat you as a dying man, as you love your souls, and for Gods sake, flee from Idolatry, notwithstanding your temptations that happen to you, he will support you, if you flee, and withstand the thing you are tempted to, (1 Corinthians 10:13.) There hath no temptation taken you, but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, and will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able to bear, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it: Now see what use the Apostle makes of this promise; in the next Verse he follows with these words, Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from Idolatry, Seeing God will uphold us; let us withstand any temptations, to this end, that God may uphold us. This is the second Caution.
Thirdly, take heed of Apostacy, of a degenerating back-sliding spirit, that you do not fall off from the truth and ground of the wayes of God, which ye have known and professed. It is is true, it may be for standing to your Principles, you may lose the love of man; I acknowledge it may be so; but hear what God saith, If any man fall back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him: If thou goest on, mans soul may have no pleasure in thee; but if thou fallest back, Gods soul will have no pleasure in thee: Thou doest by Apostacy declare to all the World, that thou hast made trial of the wayes of God, and thou dost not find them to be as thou thoughtest they were, nay, not so good as others. Oh, take heed of scandalizing the ways of God, hear how God complains of those that so do, (Jeremiah 2:10.) Go unto the Isles of Chittim, and behold, and send unto Kedar, and take diligent heed, and see whether there be such a thing: Hath a Nation changed their Gods, which are yet no Gods? But my people hath changed their glory for that which will not profit. Hear, O Heavens, and be astonished at this: for my people have committed two evils, they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed to themselves broken cisterns, that will hold no water. Whatever it is that would lead thee to Apostacy, beware, and fly from it, especially evil company (of which I shall speak more anon) let your love to Christ be augmented, and love of your selves abased; for unless you love Christ very much, and your selves very little, I cannot hope that you will stand to your Principles.
Fourthly, Beware of Covetousness; it is Christs Caution (Luke 2:15.) Take heed and beware of Covetousness: Here is a Caution, with a double Action, take heed, and Beware. Believe me, Brethren, it stands us upon so to do, for it steals upon us before we be aware of it; There is no person will deal more injuriously with a Christian, than a Covetous man will; He will betray his Life (if it were in his hands) into Enemies hands for Money, as Judas did. A Covetous man will injure Christ in his Ordinances, he will not come at them, for the love he bears to the World will not suffer him; truly (quoth he) I have lost this, or that, while I was hearing a Sermon, I'll go no more, I must stay at home, and look after my business; I could give you many instances of this, but time will not give me leave; I shall only touch this one: What was it but the love of this World that kept those who were bid to the Marriage Feast of the Great King of Heaven from coming? One had bought a piece of Ground, and he must needs go see it; another had bought Oxen, and he must go to prove them; a Third had married a Wife, and therefore he could not come. Of all persons in the World, a Covetous man cannot, nor will not endure to bear the Cross of Christ. (Php_3:18.) For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you weeping, that they are the enemies of the Cross of Christ, whose end is destruction; Who are these? what manner of persons are they? why, they are such who make their belly their God, whose glory is their shame, and who mind earthly things. A covetous man he will lye, with Ananias and Saphira; he will steal, with Achas; he will murther, with Aban; he will betray, with Judas: what will he not do, to attain his covetous desire? This is the fourth, Beware of Covetousness.
Fifthly, you that have not taken warning yet, I beseech you take warning now: Have a care and avoid evil company (Ephesians 5:11.) Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them, and be ye separated from them. Never go into a wicked mans company, if, before you go, you have not a probability of doing good, or getting good. Confider with thy self, is there any likelyhood that thou by thy wholesome reproofs maist do him any good; if there be, then go on; if not draw back, avoid them, flie from them, for their steps tend to perdition. By wicked company, these two things have been effected,
Good men made Bad.
Bad men made Worse.
Good men have been made bad by wicked company. Jehosaphat that good King, is an example of this, who by the company of wicked Ahab, was drawn to fight against those whom God favoured, and to help Ahab in his wicked enterprise.
Bad men have been made worse by evil company: Ahab was made worse by the Instigation of his wicked Wife Jezabel. Oh, can you bear when you are in their company to hear them blaspheme the holy Name of God, and not reprove them? Truly, if you can, it is a sign you are not so good as you should be.
Sixthly, my sixth Caution is this: Oh, have a care of having the least finger on your hand against a Saint; it is dangerous to have a thought, word, or act against the people of God; it is dangerous to have a thought amiss of them, (Psalms 62:3.) They imagine mischief against a man, (that is, against a Saint) therefore they shall all be slain, for their bare imagination they shall all be cut off. It is dangerous to speak against them, how durst thou (saith God to Miriam) to speak against my servant Moses? and immediately he smote her with a leprosie as white as snow: it is dangerous to act against them; and it is forbidden by God, (Psalms 105:5.) Touch not mine Anointed, nor do my Prophets no harm. Perhaps you would say, you would not do them any harm, if you thought they were Gods people; Oh, but take heed lest they prove Gods people, and then it were better for you, if a Millstone were hung about your neck, and you cast into the Sea, than to offend the least of them.
Seventhly, let me beseech you all to take heed of complying with this sinful World; whoever doth, do not you; but take up that good resolution of Joshuah's, As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Though all else forsake God, yet will not I, yet let not us: I beseech you (saith he) that you would not conform your selves to the fashions and manners of this wicked world. Oh take heed of conforming your selves to the conversation of this world, but walk harmless, and shine as lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation; if we will comply with the world, I mean, to be as most of the world are, that is, temporizers, time-servers, preferring the pleasing of Man before the pleasing of God, then we must lye in wickedness, as all the World doth, (1 John 2:16.) For all that is in the World is either the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, or the pride of life; and these are not of the Father, but abideth in the wicked one, the Prince of the power of the Air, after whom the men of the world walk. This is the seventh. Take heed of conforming your selves to this World.
Eightly, take heed of a hasty spirit when you are under sad dispensations; when you are under sufferings you are apt to seek, and close with relief, come it which way it will, and on what terms it will. Let me beseech you Christians, to have a care of such a hasty and impatient spirit, (Esa. 26:18.) He that believeth maketh not haste; that is, he maketh not haste to get out of his afflictions. The people of Israel were of hasty spirits, and murmured, because they were kept so long in the Wilderness, for which God slew an innumerable company of them. Saul was of a hasty spirit, and by it lost his Life and Kingdom. Jacob's Mother no sooner told him his Fathers intent, but he was resolved to have the first blessing, though he cheated his Brother, and lyed for it, and so told his Father that he was his eldest Son; but he himself was afterwards deceived by a lye, with having the eldest Daughter given him instead of the younger. Take David for your example, he waited Gods time, the Kingdom was promised to him after Saul's death, and when Saul pursued him, you know David had him twice in his power, and with ease might have destroyed him, but he would not, Far be it from me (saith he) that I should touch the Lords Annointed; let God smite him by the hands of his Enemies, I will not. It is far better to be Gods Bondslave, than the Devils Freeman. Do not use any the least action whatever, in any indirect way, to deliver thy self, but patiently sit down, and wait Gods good time, which, when once come, thy deliverance will assuredly come with it. Take heed then of a hasty and sullen spirit under afflictions; some men, when God takes away any comfort from them, are of so sullen a spirit, there is no pacifying of them: God will now this day take something from you, which I believe you would willingly keep; will you therefore be of so sullen a spirit, that, because you cannot enjoy all, you'l not injoy any, but will rob your selves of all? What though you cannot enjoy your Minister any longer, will you not make use of the Ordinances of God? I beseech you refrain this spirit, and let the deprivation of one mercy, be a means to make you make better use of those that are left.
Ninthly, my ninth Caution is this, Take heed of an ungodly Minister; I speak not to any mans person in particular, neither can I because I know not as yet who will succeed me; but whosoever he be, if he be wicked, beware of him; for if he be ungodly, the people will follow him; for, like Priest, like People: And I pray God deliver you from such Ministers, as for Doctrine, do teach the traditions of men; and cry Peace, Peace, when sudden destruction hangs over their heads; Such Ministers may please you, but believe me they will never profit you; but at last you will find, that through the Vale of Security, you are led to the Pit of Perdition. They will tell you, you need not be so strict and diligent in your conversations; nor Heaven is not so hard and difficult to gain, as some would make you believe: believe them not, but remember, that without holiness none shall see God; and that neither Fornicaters, Adulterers, Idolaters, Thieves, Murtherers, Covetous persons, Drunkards, Revilers, nor Extortioners, shall inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.
Tenthly and lastly, take heed you be not found professors of the Gospel only. Christ, when he was preaching to a throng of people (as I am here this day) said unto them, take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is Hypocrisie. Oh, that I had no cause to say, the leaven of the Pharisees is among you! I mean that there are many here that are but bare Professors! let me ask you that are only Professors this one question; Is Religion good, or bad? If it be not good, what is the reason thou art not ashamed to profess it? if it be good, what is the reason thou dost but profess it? By thy bare professing, thou losest the love of Man; by no more than professing, thou canst never gain the love of God; so that on all sides thou art like to be miserable: The World will hate thee for being so good, and God will hate thee for being no better. What a sad thing is it, that thou losest thy comforts in this life, by professing so much; and thy comforts in the life to come, by no more than professing? Thus you have heard what I have to say by way of Caution: I shall now speak to you by way of Counsel. The former ten were Negative, these shall be Positive.
First, I intreat you all, that above all things, you would mind the one thing necessary: that you would not trouble your selves so much with many things of little concernment, but mind the great thing for which you came into the World. Oh my friends, will you spend your time for that which will not profit you, and your money for that which is not Bread? Look after Grace, labour to get an interest in Christ, of which you being unprovided, you will be undone forever, & it will be better for you, you had never been born: Oh! gain Christ, and then you will be fitted for all times, all troubles, and all conditions that can happen unto you; you will be endued with all wisdom, and with all riches; if you gain not Christ, all that God doth to you, and for you, will nothing at all avail you.
Secondly, my second Advice and Counsel unto you is this; That you would live, as you would die; live today, as if you must dye tomorrow.
Let me ask you, would you be content to dye in the state you are in? If my Soul doth not desire to be in a better state when I come to dye, than now I am in, I may very well sit down satisfied; if not, then surely it greatly concerns me to look after a better. Would any man be content to dye a Drunkard? I ask you that are Drunkards, I do believe you will answer no; why then do you live in Drunkenness? How know you that God will spare you when you are drunk, until you are sober again? We may read of many that have dyed in their drunken fits. God doth not always send his Herald to warn thee, before he sends his Serjeant to arrest thee. How knowest thou but Death may strike thee on a sudden? What will then become of thy Soul? Oh Beloved, I beseech you live not in that you are unwilling to dye in. Balaam was not such a Wretch, but he could cry out, Good Lord, let me dye the death of the righteous.
Thirdly, lay up for suffering times; there are few of you I believe are so bad husbands, but will lay up for a rainy day; I mean against a time of sickness comes, wherein you will be unable to work; are you thus careful to maintain your bodies? and will you be careless of your souls? O be careful to provide for stormy weather; you have winter garments for your bodies to preserve them from cold, oh let patience be your winter garment, to preserve & keep your selves warm in afflictions; I know that he that will live godlily in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution, and that through tribulations and sufferings we must enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; shall I not then provide for them? But you may say, what, doth persecution attend all the godly? A man may escape them, as well as suffer them? Put case afflictions should not come, thou wilt be never the worse for being provided for them; for he that is fit to dye, is fit to live; & that man that is fit to suffer afflictions, is fit to live without them. It was Paul's Exhortation to the Ephesians 6:10. Finally, my Brethren, put on the whole Armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand the wiles of the Devil. And it is wisdom in a man, to provide for a misery before it comes. There is mention made of a Nation (the Spartans, I think) that useth to chuse their King, as we do our Lord Mayor, every year, & whilst they are in their annual Government, they lived in all abundance of state, have all the fulness their hearts can wish; but when their year is over, all their pomp & glory is over too, & they banisht into some obscure remote place for ever, where they spent the remainder of their lives in great want and misery. One King (knowing this) being called to rule over this Nation, made such use of his time wherein he reigned as King, that by his provident living, he heaped up so much treasure, and sent it before him to the place where he knew he should be sent, as maintained him all his life time. Thus it is, God hath appointed to everyone a time to live in, and that bur a short time too; and in that time he hath appointed afflictions to attend us, if we will live godlily in Christ Jesus; it is not wisdom in us then to provide for them? Take heed then, to avoid sufferings, you do not commit sin; to commit sin, to avoid suffering, is as if a man should run out of the mouth of a barking Dog, into the mouth of a devouring Lyon; What is the wrath of man to the wrath of God? Man can but destroy the body, and no more; but God can destroy both body and soul into Hell fire to all eternity.
Fourthly, my fourth word of Counsel and Direction is this, be serious in serious things; when you come to perform serious things, do them seriously. I do not know that ever I saw a man fall asleep while he was telling of Money, for if he should, how could he tell whether it were right or no? Yet alas! too many sleep when they should be taking Truth, not only by natural sleep, but also by spiritual sleep; they are so careless in receiving the Word they hear, and so lazy withal, that rather then they will try the Word they hear, they will take all for truth the Minister tells them. Beloved, I believe you will scarce put so much confidence in a man, as to receive a summ of Money without telling it, because he saith it is right; and yet will you receive all that your Minister tells you is truth, for truth, without trying it? You must not be sluggish in your working for God, but put forth your selves to the uttermost: You must make the Kingdom of Heaven suffer violence, and take it by force. But then.
Fifthly, the fifth Direction which I shall give you is about hearing the Word, how you must behave your selves when you hear. I take it for granted you will hear, I hope you will; for brown bread is better than none, and a little is better than none at all; yet I intreat you take these two words of Direction.
First, Try the Word you hear by the Truth.
Secondly, Try your selves by the Word.
First, Try the Word you hear by the Truth; if it be not consonate to that, believe it not, let who will preach it. Paul exhorteth the Galatians so to do, (Galatians 1:8-9) But though we, or an Angel from Heaven, preach any other Doctrine unto you, than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. How Paul, accursed? sure you speak too high; what if an Angel, must he be accursed? sure you will call in your words again: Nay, instead thereof, he repeats them over again, as we said before, so I say again; If any one preach any other Gospel, than that which you have received, let him be accursed. If any man pretend a Revelation from Heaven, and cannot bring Scripture for what he saith, do not believe one syllable. Take the noble Bereans for your Example; they would not believe Pauls Doctrine, until they had searched to see whether it were so or no.
But then, as you are to try the Word you hear, by the Truth; so try your selves by the Word: You hear as a Truth, that there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Now try your selves by this Truth, and see whether or not you walk after the Flesh, or after the Spirit: I have likewise two Directions about the preaching of the Word.
First, do not you receive the Word for the persons sake that brings it. I am apt to think that many of you will receive a Truth of one mans bringing, which you would not receive of anothers: and thus ye receive the Word of God with respect of persons, which you ought not: But first, receive the Word for its own sake; and secondly, receive the Person for the Words sake, (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13.) We beseech you, Brethren, to know them which are over you, to admonish you, and labour among you in the Lord, and to esteem of them very highly in love, for their works sake.
Sixthly, my Direction in the sixth place, shall be concerning the Times we live in; and I shall tell you how you ought to behave your selves, in two particulars.
First, blame thyself most, that the Times are so bad; there is a general complaint about the sadness of the Times, but no particular; every one puts the cause away from him, and instead of accusing themselves, are always accusing others: Ahab he said to Elisha, thou art he that troubled Israel; Elisha said unto Ahab, Thou art he that troubled Israel; Adam said to God, The woman which thou gavest me, did give to me, and I did eat: the Woman she said, the Serpent beguiled her: Thus do we put it off from ourselves to others. No man saith with Jonas, my sake is this come upon you, I am the cause of all this; no man saith, what have I done? Would you have the Times mend? Oh, then every soul of you condemn your selves, and amend your wayes; the Times would not be so bad, if we were not so bad: would you have the effect cease, then seek to remove the cause. But then
Secondly, pray not so much for better Times, as for better Hearts; for had you never-so-good Times, and not good Hearts, your blessings would be cursings; good Times without good Hearts, will but fatten you the sooner to the slaughter.
Seventhly, if you cannot do the good you would, then do the good you can; many people are so sullen, that because they cannot do all they would do, they will do none at all. I beseech you be not of this temper; what though you cannot serve God in publick, will you not therefore serve in private; why may you not do as S. Austin was bid to do; take up and read? This will be a reading and praying time with you; and now you cannot hear as formerly you have done, oh, pray more, and read more; and the less you have in publick, the more you may have in private; you may read and pray, we are not forbidden that yet; let us then make use of them.
Eighthly, my intreaty is unto you all, That you would be careful and circumspect in your conversation, (Ephes. 5:15,16.) See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the dayes are evil. Walk as becometh the Professors of the Gospel, and labour to be blameless towards God and Man. Oh, what notice will there be taken, when any Professor doth but slip aside, and do anything amiss; it is the joy of wicked mens hearts to see it, and how diligently do they watch for it, and often wish it? We have a Proverb, that one man may better steal a Horse, than another look on: I am sure a wicked man may better commit seven sins, than a Professor one: For it is the failings, the bad lives of Professors, that makes Religion ill spoken of, and hinders many a weak soul from closing with it: Sure think they, their Religion cannot be good, their Conversations are so bad: Let us therefore be wary and careful in all our actions.
Ninthly, mourn, and lament for the sin you cannot hinder. It was said of Lot, (2 Peter 2:8.) That his righteous soul was vexed with the wicked Conversations of the Sodomites. Oh, that we were but so good as we should be, then sure it would grieve us more than it doth, to see the wicked and abominable lives of those among whom we live: Though thou dost not blaspheme God thy self, yet it is thy God that is blasphemed, and shall not that trouble thee? How canst thou but reprove them whoever they be? When a sick man seeth his Wife, Children, Friends, and Physitian, lamenting his condition, sure it will make him think his condition is worse than he thought it, or very bad at least, or else why do they take on so, if there was no cause of fear? Thus, it may be, thy reproof may work upon a wicked man; If when thou hearest him blaspheme God, thou lamentest his condition, and puts him in mind of his sad estate, it may make him lay that to heart then, which he never did before.
Tenthly, the last thing that I have to beseech of you, is, that you would love one another: I have not at all sought to proselyte you to my way, but whatever you see in whoever it be, that is of God; Oh, love it, be he of what profession he will, he is a godly man: O then love him; you cannot love God, if you do not love his people; Let brotherly love continue, (1 John. 1:20.) If any man saith he loveth God, and hateth his Brother, he is a lyar, and the truth is not in him: For if he loveth not his Brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? We believe, saith John in the next Chapter, That Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and he that loveth the begetter, must also love him that is begotten. You would be loath to do otherwise in civil business: Will you refuse commerce with a man, because he is contrary to you in opinion, because he is not a Freeman of our City? Be not then so far from loving one another, as to bear hatred one to another.
Thus you have heard what I had to say unto you by way of Caution and Counsel: O that they may make such impressions on your hearts, that they may be your continual practice in your lives and conversations. I shall now close with the words of St. Paul, (2 Corinthians 13:11.) Finally, Brethren, farewell; be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you. And the Lord grant, that both ye and I, when we come to the Judgment-Seat of God, render up our account with joy, and receive an immortal Crown with Christ in Heaven; until which Day, I beseech Almighty God to keep you, and preserve you in his fear. Amen.