FEAR OF LOSING THE OLD LIGHT. OR, A SERMON PREACHED IN EXETER. BY THOMAS FULLER, B. D. LONDON, Printed by T. H. for john Williams, at the sign of the Crown in Paul Church-yard. 1646. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL Mr. COOPER, Mayor of the City of EXETER, and to all the Members of that ancient Corporation. WHat the sin against the holy Ghost is in Divinity, the same Ingratitude is in Morality; an offence unpardonable. It argues a base Disposition in those who are glad to receive what others give, but loath to confess what they Receive. I must acknowledge my engagement unto you to be great, Is not Exeter a little one, and my soul shall live? where I safely anchored in these tempestuous times: It is a high advancement in this troublesome Age, for one with a quiet conscience to be Preferred to Life and Liberty: It fared better with me; for whilst her Infant Highness, (on whose Soul and Body God crowd all blessings Spiritual and Temporal, till there shall be no room to receive more) though unable to feed herself, fed me, and many more of her servants: other accommodations were bestowed upon me by your liberality. In expression of my gratitude, I present this Sermon unto you, hoping it shall receive the same entertainment from your eyes, as it formerly found from your ears, and still be read with as much favour, as it was once heard with attention. And then, this widow's mite of mine will be made a talent by your courteous acceptance thereof. May the sbield of Divine providence, which only is of proof against the fiery arrows of his shooting, defend you from the noisome pestilence, and encompass you with a wall of Help and Deliverance: yea, may God himself stand watchman at the Gates of your City, to forbid the entrance of any thing that may be prejudicial unto you, And give full and free admittance to whatsoever may tend to the advancement of your happiness here and hereafter. So resteth Your servant in all Christian offices, THOMAS FULLER. FEAR OF LOSING THE OLD LIGHT. REVEL. 2. 5. And will remove thy Candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. 1. THis Epistle was wrote to the Angel of the Church of Ephesus, to him eminently, not exclusively, to Him chief, not only; to Him, yet so to Him, as a Letter of Public concernment, directed to the Prolocutor, with intent that He (according to his office) should acquaint all the Christian Members of the Ephesian Church with the contents thereof. Yea, the very word Angel imports no less, signifying a messenger, employed by appointment, and entrusted for the benefit of others. 2. Ministers ought not to monopolise the spiritual intelligence which they have received from God, but to communicate it to others. And the more precious the knowledge is which they have, the greater is their obligation to impart it. David saith, * Psal. 119. 11. Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee; and yet the same David had * Psal. 40. 10. said, I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart, I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation. Ministers must, and must not hid God's word in themselves; must, as faithful Stewards, must not, as crafty Hucksters; must, out of carefulness to observe it; must not, out of covetousness to engross it. 3. The Epistle consists of three principal parts. 1. A commendation of the Ephesians former Piety and Patience. 2. A Reproof of their present backsliding, that they had forsaken their first love. 3. A Threatening of them with future misery, in case they did not quickly amend. Preachers must vary their voices interchangeably using frowns, smiles, swords, salves, cordials, corrasives as occasion is offered. If all the Body of our Sermons be Praising, where is reproving? if all be Reproving, where is Comforting? Physicians advise Nurses, not always to give the same receipt to their Infants sick of the worms, but rather to make use of several Medicines, lest otherwise, the Worms accustomed to the constant taking of the same thing, by degrees turn that Physic into their food, and so are increased, by what was intended for their destruction. It is wisdom in Ministers to try all ways, to work on the hearts of their Hearers, full of ill Humours, and whose Corrupt Nature, if ever used to one Receipt, will improve their badness upon it, and be the more confirmed by what was prescribed to confute them. 4. See here, no Church in this world can be free from all Faults. Even Ephesus, the best of the Seven, had somewhat amiss in it. As long as there be spots in the Moon, it is vain to expect any thing Spotless under it. The earnest of Perfection (which is Sincerity) may be received in this life, but the full Payment thereof must be expected in another. Such as Fancy a Possibility of a Perfect Church here, must not only mould a New form, but make a new matter, cause frailty to be firm, folly to be wise, flesh to be Spirit, Men to be Angels, Saints being too little in this Life, as full of their Infirmities. Witness the Church of Ephesus: For though He that was, praiseth them for what they had been, yet He that is reproveth them for what they were, and He that is to come, threatneth them with what they shall be. And will remove thy Candlestick out of his Place, except thou repent. 5. I will sing (saith * Psal. 101. 1. David) of Mercy, and judgement. Of these two, judgement the most solemn, Mercy the most pleasing Music. Behold them both in the Text. Judgement pronounced in the Commination; And I will remove thy Candlestick out of his place. Mercy promised in the Condition, except thou repent. Yea, the Text consists wholly of Mercy, and Mercy, there being Mercy in the very Commination; God, not surprising this Church with sudden Destruction, but in some manner arming it against himself, by forewarning it. Satan never barks before he bites, never tells before he tempts, because he desires and endeavours the ruin of mankind. But God who intends their Amendment, not confusion, always warns before He wounds, that so by tendering them the Opportunity of a seasonable Submission, they may prevent the misery of their final destruction. And I will remove the Candlestick out of his Place, etc. By Candlestick is meant not the dull and dead Candlestick, but it quickened and enlivened with a Candle, namely the Word of God. Which amoun●eth to this effect, that God would Un-church Ephesus, and deprive it of the Benefit of the Gospel, which enlighteneth men's Souls in their ways to heaven. In the Commination three Doctrines are observable, whereof this the first. 6. I. Doct. God alone is the manager of the motions of the Candle of the Gospel. He that causeth it to * Amos 4. 7. rain upon one City, and causeth it not to rain upon another City, one piece was reigned upon, and the Piece whereupon it reigned not withered: He it is that vouchsafed the Gospel unto unrepenting Corazin and Bethsaida * Mat. 11. 21, 22. , and denied it to Tyre and Sidon, bestowed it on unthankful Capernaum, and withheld it from Sodom, which would have made better use thereof; God alone it was that forbade Paul to preach the word in * Acts 16. 6. Asia, yea, when he assailed to go into Bithynia, the * Acts 16. 7. Spirit suffered him not, but he was diverted with a Vision, Come over into Macedonia, and help Vs. 7. Nor can any other Reason be rendered hereof, save only the Council of his * Ephes. 1. 5. Will. This appeareth plainly in the People of the Jews. The Lord did not set his love upon * Deut. 7 7. you, nor chose you▪ because ye were more in number then any People (for ye were the least of all People) but, Because the Lord loved you etc. Fewest of all People, being soon summed up in Abraham and Sarah, no more than two Ciphers in point of Procreation, without a Miracle. And as their number was inconsiderable, so their Nature was intolerable, for when they wandered 40. years in the wilderness, their intricate wind in their Progress seemed straight in comparison of their crooked Conditions, and their ways towards God, were more indirect, than their walking on Earth. Yea, in every outward respect; some of their neighbouring Nations did surpass them. The Egyptians excelled them in Wit, the Phaeniceans exceeded them in wealth, the Edomites in Antiquity, the Persians in Industry, the Arabians in Activity, the Syrians in Cunning, the Assyrians in command, the Philistims in strength, and the Anakims in stature, notwithstanding all which, the Lord loved the Jews before and above them all, even so Father because it pleaseth thee. 8. And blessed be God that it is in his power alone, to order the Motions and Stations of the Gospel. Good success have He with his Honour: He that hath the most might and right holdeth the Candle. It cannot be put into a better Hand. Had some Envious or Covetous men (such as our Age affordeth too many) been employed in so great a trust, absolutely to dispose of the Gospel, when, where, and to whom they pleased, O what strange work would they have made? Our Saviour said, * Mark 10. 23. How hardly shall they that have Riches enter into the Kingdom of God? But in this Case, how Hardly should they which want wealth be saved? their Poverty being unable to Purchase God's Word for themselves, and such Miser's charity unlikely freely to bestow it upon them. Such Simoniacal Patrons as Sell so dear their Presentations to Church-livings, what unconscionable rates would they set on the Gospel itself, if it were in their Power to make merchandise thereof? But this mars their Mart, that the giving of the Gospel to any Place or Persons, sooner or later, the continuing it longer or shorter, the removing it, slowly, or suddenly, are all, and every one, only and absolutely placed in his power and pleasure, who speaks in my Text, And I will remove the Candlestick out of his place, except you repent. 9 Come we now to the second Doctrine contained in the Commination, which may thus be propounded. God will not finally extinguish, but only remove the Candlestick of his word. The Dove will not wholly fly away, but only build her a new Nest; the Setting of the Gospel in one Place, will be the rising thereof in another, what is lost in a Kingdom, will be found in the World; Particular Churches may, the Church cannot fall away. And it is worth our observing, that when the word hath been slighted and neglected by some, immediately it hath been embraced and honoured by others. 10. Thus the Gaderens * Luke 8. 37. , the whole multitude of their country besought Christ to departed from them. Strange that this wind should blow from all parts of the Compass, that Wanderers should entreat the Right Way to leave them. Sure the Patient is more sick in Mind then Body, that is importunate to send away his Physician. Well, their Suit is granted, ask and ye shall have, the Gospel is a Guest which will not stay, where it perceiveth itself not to be welcome. Away goeth our Saviour to the other Side, (opposite to the Gadarens in Position, and Disposition) where behold his entertainment, And it came to pass that when jesus was returned, the People gladly received Him, for they were all waiting for him. Thus God's word is a Commodity of quick Vent, it will not lie long on the Merchant's hand for want of Chapmen, but if one will not, another will have it. Another Instance is presented us in the Jews, who despised the Preaching of S. Paul at * Acts 13. 42. Antioch, And when the jews were gone out of the Synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. The Leave, yea the Loathe of the Jews, were the long of the Gentiles; the ones fragments, the others feast. They requested not the Apostles to make new Provision for them, (conscience desires not what is novel, but what is needful) but would be pleased with the Repetition of what He had formerly delivered; and indeed, a Sermon being newly broached, tasteth the best at the second draught. The Result of all is this, Those feet of God's Ministers, who finding themselves unworthily used, do shake the dust off from them, (according to Christ's * Mat. 10. 14. command) in witness against an ungrateful Place. I say, those very selfsame Individual feet, shall elsewhere be welcomed, as the * Rom. 10. 15. Beautiful bringers of the Gospel of Peace, and glad tidings of good things. II. And here it will be neither improper nor unprofitable, to observe some Passages concerning the Motions and Postures of the Candlestick in my Text. And first, we may take notice, that the Persecution gave the Occasion to the speedy propagation of the Gospel. Had Satan been contented to suffer the Saints to dwell peaceably in Jerusalem, probably Christianity had not made its Progress so fast, and so far into the world. But it was Death to Him to see Good Men live in quiet, and therefore his malice mustered all his might to disperse * Acts 8. 1. them, after the martyrdom of Stephen, whereby he scattered the fire of the Gospel instead of quenching it. Infant Christianity, like infant * Luke 2. 52. Christ, increased in stature, and in favour with God and Man. Yea, it is uncertain, whether Martyrs which did die, or Confessors who did fly, contributed more to the advance of Religion, the former by their patiented suffering confirming more, and laying the Truth the thicker, the latter by their Painful preaching converting more, and spreading the Truth the broader. Thus the Devil did the Church an ill office, and God made it a good turn. We will pay our thanks where they are due, not to his malice who intended it to our mischief, but to his strength, wisdom, and goodness who disposed it for our happiness. 12. Secondly, we hitherto cannot find a Country, from which the Gospel did totally departed, to which it ever afterwards returned. The white * Revel. 6. 2. horse in the Revelation, (which generally is interpreted the word of God) went forth conquering, and to conquer. Went forth, still in a Progressive not Retrograde motion, like the Sun in the Firmament, which * Psal. 19 5. cometh forth as a Bridegroom out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a Giant to run his course, his retreating ten Degrees on the Dial of * King. 20. 11. Ahaz, being extraordinary and miraculous. Wherefore seeing it seems not to stand with the State of the Gospel, to go away animo revertendi, it will be our wisest course, carefully to retain, what we have no Precedent to recover. 13. Thirdly, Christendom is a Zoar, a little one, in comparison of the Pagan part of the world. Call for a Map, as our Saviour did for a Penny, and see how small a circuit thereof hath the Image and superscription of Christ upon it. Thus it is meet, that all the Earth being God's Demeanes, his Private Garden should be less than his common grounds about it. There was a place in the city of Jerusalem, called the Daughter of Zion, so named, saith an * Adricomius Theatro. Ter. Sanct. p 152. numb. 26. Author, because it was a parcel of buildings, which branched or issued out of old Zion, as a Colony thereof, and surely pretty it was to behold this Babe in the arm of her Mother. But, oh that I might but live to see a Daughter of Christendom borne! I mean a Plantation of Piety amongst the Pagans, a Copy like our Original, (save only that it be not written with such red Ink) in matter of doctrines, and knowledge of Religion. 14. Fourthly, Christianity hath been these last hundreds of years, little effectual in converting of Heathen. For, be it reported to Serious Consideration, whether those Indians, rather watered then baptised, driven into the Church, as the money changers out * John 2▪ 15. of the Temple, deserve to be accounted solid Christians. Abate these, and then we shall find small impression and Improvement of the Gospel in these latter Ages on Paganism. I have not heard of many fish (understand me in a mystical meaning) caught in New England, and yet I have not been deaf to listen, nor they I believe dumb to tell of their Achievements in that kind. I speak not this, (God knoweth my heart) to the disgrace of any Labourers there, being better taught, then to condemn men's endeavours by the success; and am so sensible, how poorly our Ministry prevaileth here at home, on professed Christians, that I have little cause, and less comfort, to censure their Preaching, for not taking effect upon Pagans. Only I speak this, to the intent that we all should enter into a strict Scrutiny in our own souls; what may be the Reason, of this unusual barrenness of our Christian Religion. Surely it is no infirmity in the Doctrine itself, disabled with Age, like Naomi that could have * Ruth 1. 11. no more Sons in her womb: the fault is not in the Religion, but in the Professors of it, that of late we have been more unhappy in killing of Christians, then happy in converting of Pagans. 15. Lastly, from Jerusalem (whence the Gospel first started) this Candlestick is observed to have a favourable inclination to verge more and more Westward. This putteth us in some hopes of America, in God's due time; God knows what good effects to them our sad war may produce, some may be frighted therewith over into those Parts (being more willing to endure American, than English Savages) or out of curiosity to see, necessity to live, frugality to gain, may carry Religion over with them, into this Barbarous country. Only God forbidden we should make so bad a bargain, as wholly to exchange our Gospel for their Gold, our Saviour for their Silver, fetch thence lignum Vitae, and deprive ourselves of the Tree of life in lieu thereof. May not their planting be our subplanting, their founding in Christ our confusion; let them have of our light, not all our light; let their candle be kindled at ours, ours not removed to them, as God threatened the Ephesians in my Text, I will remove thy Candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. 16. The third and last Doctrine couched in the Commination is this, God never removes the Gospel from a Nation, until they or their Ancestors first remove themselves from his service. Where the Gospel is given, it is God's Mercy, not man's Merit, where it is denied, it is God's Pleasure, no Injury to man; where it is removed, it is God's Justice, and man's punishment, who hath been unthankful for it, and unprofitable under it. Thus the Jews our elder brethren were disinherited for their Infidelity, at this day wand'ring in all lands, yet having no Land, sine Rege, Lege, Solo, Salo, (I had almost said Coelo too) stumbling at Him that should stay them, unhappy if they knew their condition, and more unhappy, because they are ignorant of it. 17. Object. But this is hard dealing, so just, that it is unjust, that children for the default of their Parents shall be debarred from the means of their Salvation. Will God banish the sound of a Proverb * Ezek. 18. 3. out of Israel, and practise the Sense thereof in his own proceed, setting the children's teeth on edge, (even to their * Mat. 8. 12. gnashing in Hell fire) for the Sour grapes which their fathers have eaten. 18. Ans. The Day of Judgement will be the day of the manifestation of the righteousness of God, whose actions which now are just, shall then appear so, to the clearing of his ways, and convincing of others wickedness. The Damned shall want a drop of the water of a colourable excuse, to cool their tongues with, discontented with their condition, but satisfied with the cause thereof, so that they may blaspheme, but not complain. Until then let us be content, to tarry the Lords leisure, suspending our Censures, and admiring what we cannot understand. David saith to God, Thy way * Psal. 79. 19 is in the Sea, and the sense is the same though inverted, There is a Sea in thy way, and that a bottomless one, (not like the Adriatic, Acts 27. 28 wherein the Mariners sounded, and found it 20. fathoms, and when they had gone a little farther, they sounded again, and found it 15. fathoms,) but in this Ocean the farther we sail the deeper we sink; and therefore let us make what speed to the Shore, except the Pilot here had more skill, or his tackling more strength. 19 Mean time, how careful ought Parents to be, lest by their wickedness they wilfully deprive their Posterity of the Gospel. Here, O let me plead for them who cannot speak for themselves; yea, I know not how to call my Clients, being as yet unnamed, unborn, unbegot, I mean such little little Levi's, which as yet lie hid in the Loins of their Grandfathers: Oh let not their Souls be slain before their bodies be borne, by wilful debarring them, by the profaneness of this present Age, from the future benefit of God's word. Let that sturdy father, careless of himself, be conjured into Piety, by that potent charm, per spem crescentis juli. Who can read the horrid History of so many thousand children's corpses, drowned (as they say) in one fishpond in Italy, by those Votaries, their mothers, and is not instantly ready, if the fact be proved, to arraign, condemn, and execute the Memory of such Monstrous Murderers. What then shall we say to such Parents as plunge the Souls of Millions in the Pit of Perdition, sacrificing the Spiritual lives of their Sons and Daughters to Devils? so that as they walk on in their wicked ways, the floor whereon they tread, may be said to be paved with slaughtered Infants, and that they trample on a Charnel-House of children's Souls of their own kill, because the candlestick of the Word, was removed from them for their father's offences. 20. See a sad spectacle hereof, in the Church of Ephesus, to which God at this Day hath done, what he threatened in the Text. Indeed, some hundreds of years after the writing of this Epistle, Ephesus still continued the Staple of Religion and learning, where some General Counsels were celebrated. Till at last, growing notoriously erroneous in doctrine, and vicious in Manners, it is at the present reduced to a miserable condition, shrunk almost invisible in our Modern Maps, save that some charitable Geographers, in reverence of what she hath been, allow her a bare remembrance in their larger Descriptions. The few Christians therein, and thereabout, grow contented vassals to the Turk, and the soundest of them are infected in the Point of the Progression of the holy Spirit, with many other grievous errors. Generally in those Parts, God hath permitted his Ark to fall down before Dagon, the Koran hath banished the Bible, the Candle of the word is put out, and in the room thereof the Moon of Mahomet is risen, whose Light is worse than darkness itself. All which had been seasonably prevented, if the Ephesians had been but as careful to take, as God was kind to tender the Caution in my Text. And will remove the Candlestick out of his Place, except you repent. 21. Now for application, to leave Ephesus and come to England: Know then in the first place, our Land hath equalled Ephesus in favours received. No Island in the world so fare distant from Jerusalem, saw the Light of the Gospel so soon; yea, it was morning here, when it was midnight in Germany, the last, was first, our Country placed in the Rear of the world, marched one of the foremost in receiving the Christian Religion. And since the Word was here once planted, hitherto it was never totally lost, but still grew amongst the barren Mountains in Wales; as Piety hath ever an ambition to keep company with Poverty. Yea, here Religion hath enjoyed herself as purely and plentifully, as in any other place, and though often sick of several Superstitions, yet these were not the Peculiar Diseases of England, but the Epidemical Infections of those Ages. 22. Secondly, England (what by her sins, which have caused this war, and which this war hath caused,) hath equalled Ephesus in faults committed. In one particular hath exceeded Her. For, the holy Spirit commendeth Ephesus in the next verse, for hating the Nicolaitans, whom he also hated. These Nicolaitans were so called, from * Acts 6. 5. Nicolas one of the seven Deacons, who (as Ecclesiastical History reporteth) having a Beautiful wife, and being taxed for being causelessly Jealous of Her, to confute his Accusers, prostituted his wife to the unchaste embraces of any, thereby to wipe off the Aspersion of Jealousy. So then, those who evidence their opposition to any Error in Judgement, or demonstrate their distance from any vice in practice, with such violence and furious indiscretion, that they fall into the opposite error, or reel into the contrary Vice, are most truly and properly, though not Literal, spiritual Nicolaitans. And in this Sense, how many we have of this Sect in our Kingdom, not hated, but favoured, and fostered, I am grieved to think, and unable to number. 23. But now the third Parallel I dare not speak, and I dare not conceal. Yet, why should I not speak it? In Spain, great rewards are given to such, as first are the messengers of Bad news, provided they do not disperse it to the Disadvantage of the public, but impart it only to the State, which may mend ill accidents before they become worse. Sure then, though I desire no favour, I deserve no frown, if from the simplicity of my heart, without sinister intents, I show the danger likely to cease on us, if not providently diverted by speedy repentance. Plainly 'tis this, I fear we shall be like Ephesus in future punishment, and that the candlestick will be removed out of his place. 24. Objection. There is no danger of the departure of the Light which now daily increaseth. Preaching now a days is like Silver in the reign of * 1 King. 10. 21. Solomon, so plentiful that it was nothing accounted of. The Gospel formerly going afoot, now rides on horseback. Wherefore concerning the removing of the Word, you fancy causeless fears, then fear your causeless fancies, it now shineth brighter than ever before. 25. Answ. As all is not Gold that glisters, so all is not light that shines, for Glow-worms and rotten wood shine in the dark. Firebrands also do more harm with their Smoke, then good with their Light; and such are many Incendiaries, which without either authority of calling, or ability of learning invade the Ministerial function. Whose Sermons consist only of two good Sentences, the first, as containing the Text, and the last, which must be allowed good in this respect, because it puts an end to a tedious and impertinent discourse. Notwithstanding all pretended new lights, and plenty of preaching. I persist in my former Suspicion. Yet am I not so much affrighted with all the Prodigies reported to have appeared in the Air, as with the portentous Sins which I daily behold committed on the Earth. And this I say. God commonly moves the candle before he removes it. The light seems sick and faint before it dies. In Mines, before a damp cometh, candles begin to burn blue, as by instinct mourning their own funeral before hand. Some such sad symptoms discover themselves in our Candle, in the preaching of the word, if seriously considered. 26. First, it is an ill sign that so many wantonly play with the Word. When children begin to try Conclusions with a Candle, sporting themselves at in and out with it, their Parents use to take it from them, leaving them to do penance in the Dark, for their wantonness. I am afraid God will serve us in like manner: so many have dallied with the Scripture, producing it for the maintenance of their upstart monstrous Opinions. Secondly, so many Thiefs in the Candle, such variety of Sects and Schisms, which waist and misspend the light, is another ill boding Symptom. Yet whilst others wonder that they are so many, I wonder they be no more; for until a good Peace be settled, which God Speed, and whilst the great Bond of Discipline is broken, every stick in the Faggot will be absolute and set up for itself. Lastly, if the wax be taken away from the candle, (as in many places it is, and Tithes denied for the Minister's maintenance) the light must decay; the five foolish * Mat. 25. 8. Virgins having so much wisdom, as to know that their Lamps could not burn when they wanted oil, except any do think Ministers may be like the miraculous * Exod. 3. 2. Bush, which did burn and not consume, that so they may always work, and yet never waste. Put these together, (and others I could instance in) and though Ministers, God's Doves, delight not to be Ravens to croak Funerals, though they Gods fixed Stars, would not be Comets presaging sad Events, though these * 2 Cor. 5. 20. Ambassadors, praying you to be reconciled to God, are loath to be Heralds to proclaim war: Yet be these things seriously considered, and may they not amount to make us jealous over England with a godly jealousy, what for the future will become of us? And this I will boldly add, that an awful fear of losing the Candlestick is the best Hope we have to keep it. 27. But I foresee a Postern Door ready to be opened, that escaping thorough it my Auditors may decline whatsoever this Day I have delivered. Some will say, what Josiah was * ● Cron. 34. 28. promised, we presume on, the Evil will not come in our Days. The Gospel will last my life in the Land, and if we are not to care for to morrow, much less will we cark for the Day after our Death. Besides, if a general Judgement should come in my Time, I shall bear but my share, and shift as well as another. 28. Well, Beloved 'tis true, this inconvenience attends all general discourses, (such as this Day's Sermon is) that as filius populi hath no father, so public reproofs are seldom particularly applied by any to themselves. But, that I may catch some fish, I must wove my net closer, and draw the threads thereof nearer together. Be it granted what we hope, and thou believest, that the light of the Gospel will last thy life, yet how long or little time thy life will last, there is the Question. Nor will it be any violence to my Text, in a secondary Sense, to expound this Candle, of the Life of every man, which how long since it hath been kindled we know, but how soon it may be quenched God knows. Some wares in England, are usually set to sale by the candle; that chapman carrieth them, who giveth the most before the candle is burnt out. Such is all our condition at this time; Heaven now is to be had, Happiness to be purchased, * Prov. 23. 23. Buy the truth, and sell it not, lose not a good bargain, bid bountifully, be not body wise, and soule-foolish; the candle wears, the candle wastes, casualty may, sickness will, Age must extinguish it. If once the light be out it is too late, there is no work, * Eccles. 9 10. nor devise, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave, whither thou goest. 29. I should now come to the Condition, except thou repent. But it is high time for me at this present to leave preaching, and more than high time for us all to begin practising of this point of repentance. Let us rend our hearts, and not our garments, and turn to the Lord our God. The melting of marble, so that it become fulfil or runnable, is recounted one of those Mysteries, which are lost in our Age, though formerly known to, and performed by the Ancients. But, O let us labour that the Art of melting stony Hearts, (such as ours are by Nature and custom of sinning) be never lost or forgotten, but kept in ure, and put in daily practice. That so the Candlestick may remain amongst us, not only 50. days, the time prescribed for * Jonah 3. 4. Niniveehs Repentance, or 15. years, the lease of * 2 King. 20. 6. Hezekiahs' health restored, or term of our life outright, a gift granted to good * 2 Ch●. 34. 28. Josiah, or for an hundred and twenty years, so long was allotted for the * Gen. 6. 3. amendment of the old world, or for four generations successively, which Lease of Lives on the Throne of Israel, was bestowed on * 2 King. 10. 30. Jehu, but so long as the Gnolam the Eternity of this world shall last, as long as the * Psal. 72. 7. Moon endureth in heaven. 30. Men naturally decline Death, and the Quick at the day of Judgement desire, not to be * Cor. 5. 4. unclothed, but clothed upon that mortality may be swallowed up of Life. The same is our request, that there may be no interruption or intermission of our Light, that it may be not put out, but took up, not destroyed, but devoured in the transcendent Splendour of Glory. Then it will be no thrift to burn Day, and there shall be no night there, and they need no * Revel. 22. 5. candle, no use of preaching, Sermons shall cease, and God alone shall be the Text, the Hallelujahs of Angels and Saints the Comment upon it. 31. And now I am to take my final farewell of this famous City of Exeter. I have suffered from some, for saying several times, that I thought this or this would be my last Sermon, when afterwards I have preached again. Yet I hope the Guests are not hurt, if I bring them in a course more than I promised, or they expect. Such would have forborn their censures, had they consulted with the Epistle to the Romans. In the 15. Chapter, verse 33. the Apostle seems to close and conclude his Discourse, Now the God of Peace be with you all, Amen. And yet presently he beginneth afresh, and continueth his Epistle a whole Chapter longer. Yea, in the sixteenth Chapter, verse 20. S. Paul takes a second solemn vale, The grace of our Lord jesus Christ be with you all, Amen: and notwithstanding still he spins out his matter three verses farther, till that full and final Period, verse 27. To God only wise be glory, thorough jesus Christ for ever, Amen. Thus, loath to Departed, is the tune of all loving friends; The same I may plead for myself, so often taking my farewell, wherein if any were deceived, none I am sure were injured. Now this is all, The Rabbins have a conceit, that Manna relished so to the palates of the Jews, just as the eater thereof did fancy or desire. Consult with yourselves, and wish your own spiritual and temporal conveniencies, wish what you will, for Body, Soul, both, You, Yours, your Private, the Public; confine not your happiness with too narrow measure of your own making. And my constant Prayer to God shall be, that he would be pleased to be to you all in General, each one in particular, that very thing, which You for your own Good do most desire. Amen. FINIS.