THE INCONSISTENCY OF Man's Dagon WITH GOD'S ARK. OR, A sober Discourse, showing the great sinfulness of human Mixtures in Divine Worship.  
From 2. Zeph. the latter part of the 5. v.  
●… ek. 48.8. In their setting of their Threshold and their Posts by my Posts, and the Wall between me and them, they have even defiled my holy name, &c.  
〈…〉 Cor. 6.17. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, &c.  
Superstition is a sin opposite to Religion.  Aquin. 
No matter what the thing be in matters of Religion, but who it is that commands it, we must look to that truth.  Summae Religionis est imitari quem colis. 
LONDON, Printed for Tho. mitchel. 1682.   

TO THE READER.  
Reader,  
I Need make no other Apology for the Publishing of this short Discourse, than what David did to his Brother Eliab, being severely censured and sharply rebuked by him for coming down to see the Battle; What have I now done, saith he, is there not a cause? when the pure Worship of God is both defied and defiled, is there not a cause to speak in the Vindication thereof? That Dumb Son when he saw his Father ready to be slain, though he never spake before, yet his filial Affection did then so break the Bars of his Speech, that he cries out, Oh do not kill my Father! Who is there that hath any filial Affection to God, can behold his holy Name so defiled, by Mens setting their Posts by his Posts( which is a kind of Deicidium) and be silent? It is meet our Mouths that are made for God should speak for God; and Luther would rather be accounted any thing, than be accused of sinful silence in the Cause of Christ. It is not Ambition, or any vain Glory, but a sense of my Duty, that hath engaged me to this adventure, at such a time when men are made Offenders for a Word; but it is God's cause I pled, his Glory, as greatly concerned herein. I am conscious of my own Weakness, and far from thinking I have done any thing worthy of the Readers acceptance.  
Here are plain Truths in plain Expressions, without the Embroideries of Rhetorical flourishes, ever esteeming Truth to be most comely and beautiful when she appears in her native Dress. I pretend not to new discovery, nor to amuse thee with abstruse notions. And if any shall object there are many pieces extant that treat of this Argument, therefore this might well have been spared, I readily grant all they say; but to writ something ( de novo) of this Subject, which is the suffering Truth of the times, may not( I conceive) be unseasonable. What is here presented is but the substance of one Sermon, with a little addition composed many years since, and if it may contribute to the settlement and satisfaction of any who are scrupulous, or in the dark about this great point, or convince any who adhere to sinful mixture in Divine Worship, I have my end.  
Reader, I desire thee to weigh well what I have now inserted, in the balance of the Sanctuary, and then judge. As for the other small piece here annexed, it treats of an excellent Duty, almost anti●… uated and out of use amongst the Professors of this Age, the neglect of whi h hath ●… ad a bad tendency to the decay of the life& power of Godliness; there is but little that I know of, written of this Subject, and I have made this Essay that I might provoke some more able person to writ more fully about it, which certainly would be very seasonable, and through Gods Blessing profitable service. I shall hold you no longer in the Porch: Consider what is here said, and the Lord give thee Understanding in all things.   

THE INCONSISTENCY OF Man's Dagon WITH GOD'S ARK, &c.  ZEPH. I.V. 
— And them that worship, and that swear by the Lord, and that swear by Malcham.  
THE great Truth which the Lord calls his People to contend for at this day, is the purity of his Worship, and the Worship of God is so great a thing as it is worth contending for; I have therefore chosen to insist upon this Argument at this time.  
This Prophet doth threaten a general desolation, v. 3. I will consume Man and Beast: Not only Man is threatened to be cut off that had sinned, but the Creatures also which they had abused to their Lust.  
This People had been often warned and admonished of their sins by former Prophets, but went on incorrigibly, therefore the Lord proceeds to give Sentence against them by this Prophet. Hence this is observable:  
Doctr. That God will not always strive with sinners his abused Patience will have an end. Though God doth long bear with sinners, yet he will not always bear with them, tho long suffering, yet not always suffering; and when he will be no longer burdened with their sins, then they must be burdened with his judgments. In the 4th ver. he tells us who they are that fall under this severe threatening, Judah, and the Inhabitants of Jerusalem: and their sins are pointed at which had provoked the Lord to sentence them thus severely. There is in this Chapter a large Bill of Indictment drawn up against them, and the Sins of Idolatry and Superstition are set in the Front of this Bill, as being sins of the first magnitude; I will cut off the Remnant of Baal from this place: that is, those that notwithstanding Josiah's Reformation held up some part or Remnant of ●… aat's Worship; and them that worship the ●… ost of Heaven: Those were another sort of ●… olaters, such as observed and imagined a ●… ity in the Stars And them that worship, and ●… at swear by the Lord, and swear by Malcham, ●… at divided and mixed the Worship of God ●… h the service of Idols.  
[ That swear by the Lord] To swear is a ●… t of Gods Worship, yea so eminent a part 〈…〉 it is sometimes put for the whole Worship 〈◇〉 God: Psal. 63.11. Isa. 19.18. and so it taken in the Text.[ And swear by Mal●… am] which signifies their King, and it is ●… s one conceives upon the place) Molech the ●… ol of the Amorites, 1 King 1.7. They call ●… eir Idol by the name King, Honoris gratiâ, 〈…〉 Honour sake: Thus they halted between ●… d and Idols, they made a profession of ser●… g the true God, yet did mix his Worship ●… th the service of Idols.  
It is storied of Redwald King of the East●… xens, in the time of the Heptarchy in Eng●… d, in the same place he worshipped God, 〈…〉 set up an Altar to Worship his Idol.  
And it's reported of an Emperor of Rome, ●… at in one Temple he would have Christ and ●… pheus worshipped both together; so they swear by the Lord, and they swear by Malcham 〈…〉 and these are here ranked with the grosser sort of Idolaters, and threatened to drink of the same Cup of Gods Fury and Indignation. The words will afford us this Observation.  
2. Doct. That a mixture in the Worship of God is very sinful and abominable in hi●… sight, and a sin so highly provoking, as it wil●… bring swift destruction upon those who are guilty thereof.  
This Doctrine consists of these 2 Branches.  
1. That a mixture in the Worship of God is very displeasing to, and abominable in hi●… sight.  
2. That it is a sin so highly provoking, as i●… will bring down swift destruction upon thos●… who are guilty of it. For those are put into th●… black Roll to be destroyed with the Remnan●… of Baal, and them that worship the Host o●… Heaven.  
I shall speak something to each of these, t●… begin with the first of these particulars.  
1. A mixture in Gods Worship is greatly displeasing to him. God who is of purer Eye than to behold the least Iniquity with the lea●… approbation, cannot but behold this great ju●… quity with the greatest detestation. Mens tra●… ditions mixed with the pure Institutions and ●… rdinances of God, they are( as one saith) as ●… oak to his Eyes, as gull to his Taste, and ●… n abomination to his Spirit.  
There are 3 Arguments and Demonstrations ●… hich I shall lay down to clear the truth of ●… is Assertion.  
1. If God will be worshipped only accord●… g to his own appointments, then the least ●… ixture in his Worship is very displeasing to ●… m; but God will be worshipped only accord●… g to his own appointments. This is clear in ●… e matter of the Ark, 2 Sam. 6.7. it was ●… t Uzza's putting his hand to the Ark, but 〈…〉 carting the Ark that displeased God, and 〈…〉 which he was smitten, it being not accord●… g to Gods appointments; for by Divine ap●… intment it was to be carried upon the Shoul●… rs of the Levites, 1 Chron. 15.12, 13. Moses 〈…〉 making the Tabernacle was admonished to ●… o all things according to the pattern shewed ●… m in the Mount, Heb. 8.5. Moses must ●… ot go a hairs-breadth from his pattern. The ●… second commandedin building the Altar of ●… ones not to lift an Iron Tool upon them, ●… eut. 27.5. A man would think( saith one) ●… hat to carve and paint the Stones would be ●… etter than to have the Stones rough: No, saith God, if you do but lift up an Iron Tool upon it you pollute it, Exod. 20.25. And Solomon in making the Temple, wherein God placed his Worship, was to do every thing according to Divine appointment, 2 Chron. 3.5. so exact is God to have every thing in his Worship according to his own appointment.  
2. If it be a good thing, and very pleasing to God to keep to the purity of his Worship, then the contrary must needs be displeasing to God; but it's a good thing, and very pleasing to God to keep to the purity of Worship, Joh. 4.23. God seeketh such to worship him, as being highly pleased and greatly delighted with such Worshippers; and v. 24. God is a Spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit, that is with inward Love and Sincerity, and in Truth, that is, according to the true Rule prescribed in his Word: Spirit respects the Inward Power, and Truth the Outward Form: God is not pleased with any thing in his Worship that is not his own.  
3. If to mix the Worship of God with human Inventions be a sin that God will severely punish, then it's very displeasing to him; But it is a sin he will severely punish. They who are guilty of this sin in the Text are threatened with Destruction: So Ezek. 43.8. they set their Post● by Gods Post, and their Threshold by His ●… reshold: i.e. They introduced their own ●… entions into his Worship, and thereby pol●…ed his holy Name; Wherefore( saith God) I ●… ve consumed them in mine Anger. The Wor●… of God( saith one) is a prime and precious ●… ce, the ultimate end of all our sacred per●… mances, though the Edification of Man be ●… end subordinate.  
2ly, Why is God so displeased with mixtures ●… is Worship?  
Reason 1. Because the least mixture in his ●… orship doth defile his Worship, as when any ●… ng that is worse is mixed with that which is ●… er, the better is desiled; so Gold is defiled ●… en mixed with base metal, the Wine is a●… erated when mixed with Water; when the ●… ure Inventions of men are mixed with the ●… e Institutions of Christ, then is Gods Wor●… defiled, when men will mix their Water ●… h Gods Wine, their Dross with his Gold, ●… y defile his Worship; therefore saith God, ●… k. 43.8. In their setting their Posts by my ●… s, and their Threshold by my Threshold ●… y have defiled my holy name. Gods ●… orship is his Name, External Worship ●… is Name, the Temple is called the place where God put his Name, that is, his Wor●… ship, 1 King. 9.3. As a man is known by hi●… Name so is God known by his Worship; no●… this cannot but exceedingly displease God whe●… his Name is polluted.  
Reas. 2. Because mixtures in Gods Wor●… ship dishonour him much, yea, so much di●… honour is reflected upon God hereby, as whe●… his Worship is mixed he doth not accoun●… himself honoured at all; we have a notabl●… Instance 2 King. 17.33. They feared the Lor●… and served their own Gods after the manner 〈…〉 the Nations, whom they carried away from thence. And v. 34. it's said they did not fear him: A divided fear is no fear, a mixed Worship is n●… Worship for Gods approbation. Jer. 32.23. They have done nothing( saith the Prophet) 〈…〉 all that thou commandedst them to do: Why but because their fear was divided. God wi●… have all or none at all. To set up any thin●… in competition with God is a great dishonou●… to him, and high displeasing in his sight God cannot endure any Competitor. Whe●… Darius sent to Alexander to divide with him no, saith Alexander, there can be but one Su●… in the Firmament. Could not Alexander en●… dure a Competitor, and do you think God can The Lord cannot endure that any part of his Honour should be given to another, Isa. 42. To make any thing equal with God is very ●… ishonourable to him, they who set up an Idol ●… ache it equal with God: All false Worship is 〈…〉 setting our Posts by Gods Posts, and of our Threshold by His Threshold; a making( as ●… e saith) both of equal height and worth, ●… hich redounds much to Gods dishonour, Isa.〈…〉. 25.  
3ly, Because it is a great entrenching upon ●… e Kingly Office of Christ; for if Christ be King, 〈…〉 certainly he is, then the Legislative Power 〈…〉 only in the hands of Christ; for he is King ●… one, and none have Power to place an Or●… nance or Ceremony in the Church but Christ ●… ly, who is Head and King of it: This is ●… e Prerogative Royal of Christ. Not Moses 〈…〉 the Tabernacle, nor Solomon in the Temple ●… ight prescribe any Substantial or Ceremonial Worship, Ex. 35.10. 2 Chron. 3.3. and for ●… len to introduce their Inventions into the Worship of God, what a bold intrusion is ●… is upon the Kingly Office of Christ? And if 〈…〉 be death to counterfeit the Kings Coin, what ●… o they deserve that dare to counterfeit the ●… oin of the King of Heaven?  
4ly, Because mixtures in Divine Worship do alienate the Heart from God. Christ faith●… Mat. 6. No man can serve two Masters; and this is so the Prophet tells us, Hos. 4.11. tha●… Whoredom, Wine, and new Wine do take away the heart. False Worship is spiritual Whoredom, that alienates and estranges the Hear●… from God. Who cry down more, or are more careless of the pure Worship and Institutions o●… Christ, than those that are most busy and care●… full to set up the Inventions of Men? Deut. 32.15, 16. Such are all for an outward formality, nothing for the inward Power, and thi●… must needs be displeasing to God, who is a Spirit, and must be worshipped in Spirit and in Truth.  
5ly, Because it frustrates the Commands o●… God. Christ tells the Scribes and Pharisees, Mat. 15.6. that they made the Commandments o●… God of no effect by their Traditions; and saith he, v. 9. In vain do ye worship me, teaching for Doctrine the Commandments of Men. Such Worship is a nullity in the account o●… God, an insignificant Cipher, and therefore highly displeasing to him. So much for the first Branch or part of the Doctrine.  
2. Branch. That it is a sin so highly provoking, as it will bring swift Destruction upon those who are guilty of it, and no sin sooner: Deut. 4.25, 26. It is a ruining sin, for this ●… n chiefly the Lord brought such sad calami●… ies upon his own people the Jews. Oh what ●… gnal and remarkable Judgments did their cor●… upting and adulterating the Worship of God ●… awe down upon their Heads!  
1. It kindles the Lords jealousy. The Lord ●ledge; said to be a jealous God in the matters of his Worship, 1 Cor. 10.22. And in the 2d Com●… andment( which relates to the Worship of ●… odd) he threatens to visit the breach of that ●… on the Children unto the 3d and 4th Gene●… tion. What did God do to the 7 Churches 〈…〉 Asia, for corrupting his Worship? And ●… hat may hang over this Nation for their sin●… l mixtures in Gods Worship I tremble to ●… ink.  
2. It is a sin that will provoke the Lord to ●… have and forsake a People, and no sin sooner. 〈…〉 will make God to break up house and be ●… one. The Temple was called Gods glorious ●… gh Throne, his Habitation, his Sanctuary, ●… e place where he recorded his name; yet ●… hen the Worship of God was corrupted, he ●… aves his Temple, he breaks up house, the ●… lory of the Lord departed from the Cheru●… ms, Ezek. 9.3. If they will come into his House he will out; when the Ark comes in Dagon goes down, and when Dagon comes in the Ark goes out. And when God departs from a People, then all Judgments come upon them. To be deprived of the greatest good is to be invested with the greatest evils, as Night succeeds day, and Darkness Light, so judgement succeed Mercies, and the greater the Mercies the greater the Judgments that follow; whe●… Gods hedge of Protection is taken away from a People, then are they exposed to, and vexe●… with the greatest Evils; when God is further from a People, then Evils are nearest to them●… The Presence of God is Banishment to all Evil, but the Absence of God is Banishment from all Good. When God is once departe●… Destruction cannot be far off, Hos. 9.12. Ye●… woe also to them when I depart from them. N●… thing but Woe and Misery can be written upon the Forehead of such a People. Gods d●… parture is the rise and original of all Evil●… And so I have dispatched both the parts of th●… Doctrine, and come to the Application of th●… whole.  

APPLICATION.  
Use. Is it thus that a mixture in the Wo●… ship of God is a sin so greatly displeasing to him, and a sin that will bring swift destruction upon those who are guilty of it? then here is matter of Reprehension:  
1st, To those that are guilty of this great Evil, in introducing and mixing human Inventions with the pure Worship of God; that halt between two Opinions. Oh! this is a great sin, a God-provoking sin; you do hereby corrupt and defile the pure Worship of God; and is not this very provoking to him? What can you do more to heighten the displeasure of God against yourselves and others? A little Leaven leavens the whole Lump: It was a good work in David to bring the Ark of the Lord from the house of Abinidab, but one Philistine Ceremony spoiled the whole work, 2 Sam. 6.2, 3. A little 'vice mars a great deal of Virtue. Naaman the Assyrian is highly commended, 2 King. 5.1. for a great man with his Master, and honourable, a mighty man of Valour, but he was a Leper, this marred all. One little spot in the Face blemisheth all the Beauty. God must be worshipped in a right Order and in a right Ordinance, and that only is a right Ordinance which is according to his Appointment, without the least mixture of Mans Inventions; quicquid praeter Mandatum est Idolum, whatsoever is besides the Command is an Idol. Though men may look upon their own Inventions as very specious and beautiful, yet they ahve no Beauty but blackness in them in the account of God. The City Hierapolis had the Title of Sacred, as The Sacred City,( for so much the word signifies) yet was it the place of the most detested Idolatry, and wherein was worshipped the Idol of the Mermaid Atergatis( as Pliny writeth.) Though men put the Title of Sacred, Divine, &c. upon their superstitious Inventions, yet they are most detestable in Gods Eyes. One hath this Comparison, The Ape, saith he, is therefore the more deformed, because so like a man, and yet is not a man; so all the Worship which hath the greatest appearance of Humility, Zeal, and Mortification, which yet hath not its Original from God, is the more loathsome; simulata Pietas duplex iniquitas, A counterfeit Piety is a double Iniquity. Superstition, as one saith, is ( Res insana,) and so it is indeed; for it is contrary to the Wisdom of the word and of the Spirit, which are the Ground and Life of the Worship of God.  
2ly, Reproof to those who adhere to, and join with such a Worship, who cleave to, and comply with mixtures in the Worship of God.  
1. Obj. But may some say, we have a good End, and though there be some Corruption yet we do not own that.  
Ans. A good End will never justify a bad Action; though a bad End will make a good Action bad, yet a good End will not make a ●… ad Action good.  
2ly, Whereas thou sayest thou dost not own the Corruption, and yet thou joinest; thy very joining in it is an owning of it.  
2. Obj. But we are necessitated to it, for ●… e cannot enjoy public Ordinances else; and ●… s it not better to yield to some little things ●… e cannot help, than to be deprived of pub●… ck Ordinances?  
Ans. Every little thing is a great thing in ●… e Worship of God: The least mixture of ●… lans Invention in Divine Worship is not to ●… e yielded to; we must not so much as touch ●… e unclean thing, which is the least that can ●… e, 2 Cor. 6.18. Consider what the Lord ●… eaks by the Prophet Haggai 2.12, 13, 14. 〈…〉 one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his Garment ●… d with his skirt do touch Bread, or Pottage, or Wine, or Oil, or any Meat, shall it be holy? and the Priests answered no; then said the Lord if one that is unclean by a dead Body touch any of those, shall it be unclean? And the Priest answered and said, it shall be unclean. So is this Nation, and so is this People before me, saith the Lord; and so is every work of their hands, and that which they offer there is unclean.  
2ly, It's a grand mistake to think that God does not own an Ordinance unless it be publicly administered. Gods People have not always the enjoyment of public Ordinances.  
The Ordinances of God are sometimes thrust into Corners, and he is present with then there, Joh. 20.19. We red here of a private meeting of Christians, and Christ in th●… midst of them, and this according to his Promise, Mat. 18.20. Sometimes Christ's Spou●… is in the Clefts of the Rock, and in the secre●… places of the Stairs, and there Christ loves to hear her voice, and to see her Face, Can. 2.19. God sometimes calls his People into the Wildeness, and there he prepares a Table for the●… Hos. 2.14. and wilt not thou follow the foo●… steps of the Flock, though it be in the Wildeness? and seek for the presence of Christ among the Saints? Cant. 1.7. Tell me, oh th●… whom my Soul loveth where thou feedest, whe●… thou makest thy Flock to rest at Noon, for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the Flocks of thy Companions? Certainly it is good, yea, best to be where Christ is.  
3. Obj. But, say some, the Ordinances are corrupted only to the Dispensers of them, not to those that join in them; therefore we may join without sin.  
Ans. If the Ordinances themselves be corrupted by the mixtures of Mans Inventions, then they are corrupt as well to them that join in them, as to those that dispense them, but the Ordinances themselves are corrupted by the Inventions of men. They are made one entire Worship, and any thing of Human Invention added to the Ordinances of God, and made one entire Worship, do corrupt his Ordinances. This is to set mans Post by Gods Post. Gods word is a perfect Rule of Worship without the Rules of Men. Corruptio optimorum pessima, the best things corrupted, or corruptly used, are the worst: Gold becomes Dross, and holy things but Dung, when they are corrupted. Isa. 1.11, 12, 13. The Lord there reproved the People for their Sacrifices, and calls them vain Oblations; and yet they were such as he himself had appointed; Incense, saith God, is an abomination to me, the New-Moons, and the Sabbaths, the calling of Assemblies I cannot away with, it is iniquity even the solemn meeting. These were things of Gods own Institution, yet when they had abused and corrupted them, they were abominable in his sight, and iniquity to him: So exact is God when any of his own Institutions be prostituetd to the Lusts of men, he owns them not, but looks upon them as abominable.  
4. Obj. But Christ was present at the Worship of the Scribes and Pharisees, which was a corrupt Worship; Is not Christ an Example in this to us?  
Ans. Christ is not an Example to us in all things that he did, we are not to imitate Christ, neither can we, in all things. Christ did many things as God, he wrought Cures, did many Miracles, &c. we cannot follow him in these things.  
2ly, If in this Action Christ be an Example to us, then it's not only warrantable but a Duty to be present at a corrupt Worship; for it's undoubtedly a Duty to do as Christ did, wherein he is to be imitated by us; and then it is a ●… n to be absent, for every defect and failure 〈…〉 our Duty is a Sin.  
3ly, Christ was present at the Worship of ●… e Scribes and Pharisees, but how? not as an ●… pprover, but as a Reprover: This was Christs ●… nd in going, that he might convince them, ●… d reprove their Superstitions, as appears ●… ainly by his declaring so much against their ●… raditions, and superstitious Inventions; and 〈…〉 you will follow Christ in this, then you ●… ust make that your End in going which was ●… hrists End, viz. go to reprove and confute ●… em. But I suppose few that join in the Wor●… ip that is now celebrated in Parishes, make ●… at their end in joining.  
5. Obj. But doth not Christ command the ●… sciples and the multitude to hear the Scribes ●… d Pharisees? Mat. 23.2.  
1. Ans. Here is not a word for hearing them; ●… e commands them to observe and do what ●… ey bad them observe, and so they might do ●… d not hear them.  
2ly, Christ tells them the Scribes and Pha●… sees sit in Moses Seat; now Moses was a Ma●… strate, and they were( as Dr. Hamond saith) 〈…〉 the Sanhedrim, succeeding Moses and the Seventy Elders, and Christs charge amounts to thus much, all those moral Precepts out of Moses Law which they bid you observe, those observe and do: Though they be very superstitious and hypocritical, and say and do not, yet reject not you what they say, because of their wickedness. We are not to reject wha●… is of God because of the wickedness of those that teach it: This seems to be the scope o●… Christs Speech.  
3ly, Some do observe the Words may b●… rendered thus, according to the Original, whatsoever they have bidden you observe, that observ●… and do; the Original Verb being in the Aoris●… which speaks of the time past.  
4ly, If this Text pleads for the hearing of any, it must be for the hearing of such as the Scribes and Pharisees were; now what they were Christ tells us in the same Chapter; The bind heavy burdens upon others, and lay them on Mens Shoulders, but will not touch them with one of their fingers. v. 4. They shut the Kingdom of Heaven against others. v. 13. They devo●… Widows houses. v. 14. They are blind Guides, 〈…〉 15. They pay Tithes of Mint, Annis, and Cummin, and omit the weightier matters of the Law judgement, Mercy, and Faith. v. 23. Th●… made clean the outside of the Cup, but withi●… were full of Extortion and Excess. v. 25. Now 〈…〉 appeal to you whether such as these are to be heard and owned as the Ministers of Christ? And yet if the Text pled for the hearing of any, it's for the hearing of such.  
5ly, These are the men against which Christ did pronounce the greatest woes, and that deservedly, as being very wicked in their Lives, guilty of sins of the first magnitude, and, as some have observed, committed the sin against the Holy Ghost, and their seeming Sanctity was made a Cloak for their Wickedness.  
6ly, Christ bid his Disciples to beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees, Mat. 16.6. therefore doth not enjoin them to hear them. By Leaven is meant their corrupt and unsound Doctrines, as Christ expounds it v. 12. The Scribes and Pharisees as they were wicked in their Lives, so they were corrupt in their Judgments; they had got the leprosy into their Heads, and under the Law such as had the leprosy in the Head were to be pronounced utterly unclean, and to be separated from the Congregation.  
7ly, But grant that these words of Christ do amount to a Command, to hear the Scribes and Pharisees,( though I rather incline to believe they do not, for the Reasons already given) yet no Argument can be drawn from hence for Christians ordinary attendance upon the public Ministry, as it is now constituted; for the Jewish Church was a true Church of a Divine Constitution, and yet standing when Christ spake those words, and the Scribes and Pharisees, as some affirm, true Ministers of this Church, but it will be hard to prove that either the Church of England is of a Gospel Constitution, or that the Officers of this Church are such.  
6. Obj. But is it warrantable to forsake the public Assemblies because of Corruption in the Worship of God?  
Ans. 1st. That for which God did forsake his Temple, for that certainly it's warrantable for Gods People to separate themselves; but for what did God forsake his Temple? Was it not for corrupting his Worship?  
2ly, It is warrantable, yea, a Duty to obey the Commands of God, 2 Cor. 6.17. We are forbidden to touch the unclean thing. Hos. 4.15. The People are expressly forbidden to come unto Gilgal, or to go up unto Bethaven; why? those places were famous, Gilgal was a place famous for many things, there was that great Circumcision after Israel came out of the Wil●… erness; there was the first Passover that ever was kept in the Land of Canaan: And Betha●… en was no other than Bethel, which signifies ●… he House of God, yet they must not come to ●… ilgal, or go up to Bethaven; why so? be use these places, though they were famous ●… rmerly, yet now they are become infamous. They were, as Mr. Burroughs hath observed, ●… efore famous for the Worship of God, but ●… owe become the primest places for Idolatry in ●… e whole Land: Bethel, the House of God, is ●… w Bethaven, the House of Iniquity, Amos 〈…〉 5. There is the same Prohibition again, Isa.〈…〉 2.11. Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from ●… ence, touch no unclean thing, go ye out of the ●… idst of her, be ye clean that bear the Vessels of 〈…〉 Lord. God would not that we should al●… w of the least Corruption in Worship. The ●… imitive Christians would not throw a lit●… e Incense into the Fire to countenance an Idol. 〈…〉 Tertullian's time it was accounted unlawful ●… r Christians to wear a Garland, because it ●… nformed them to Heathens: Christians must ●… ke heed of Simbolising with the World.  
3ly, It is warrantable, yea a Duty for Chri●… ans to keep themselves pure, and to be unde●…ed in the way, Jam. 1.27. This is pure Religion and undefiled before God, for a man to keep himself unspotted from the World. Rev. 14.4. there is an high commendation given of those that keep themselves undefiled; such are pronounced Blessed, Psal. 119.1. But this we cannot do if we join with or allow of any impurity in Divine Worship.  
4ly, If it be a Duty to worship God purely 〈…〉 and according to his own Institutions, then it's warrantable to divide from those places where his Worship is mixed and adulterated; but this surely is a Duty.  
5ly, We may not join in any act of Worship in which we cannot hopefully expect th●… presence of God with us. Let me ask you the question: Can you go to Parish Assemblies and join in the Worship that is there celebrated i●… Faith? Can you do it believingly? Can yo●… promise to yourself the presence of God●… Whatsoever is not of Faith is sin. If a man woul●… see his Face in the Water, he must look int●… it when it is clear, not when it is muddy; 〈…〉 he that would see the face of God in his Ord●… nance must keep to pure Ordinance.  
7. Obj. But may I not be present with m●… Body though my heart be not present?  
Ans. No: For that is a mocking of God; we are not to joinwith our Bodies in any act of Worship we cannot do with our Souls, for that is hypocrisy; what is hypocrisy but the service of the Lips, and distance of the Heart? This is to offer the Sacrifice of Fools; besides, this is a countenancing of a corrupt Worship, a touching the unclean thing.  
8. Obj. But may some say, why should we scruple such things in point of Worship, as the People of God in former Generations never scrupled?  
Ans. To this I answer, that may be sinful now which was not sinful in Gods People in former Generations, though sinful in itself, yet not sinful to them, in regard we have more clear discoveries of Gospel-Light than in former Generations; the Saints lye under clear Convictions of the purity of Gods Worship, the purity of Divine Worship is more discovered in this Age than in former ages; now the Lord hath shown to his People the form of his House, the fashion thereof, the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, that therefore which was not sin to them may be sin to us.  
2ly, We may not make the practise of the Saints in any Age our Rule, but the Word of God: The best men in the World are but Rules regulated, not regulating. We must only set our Watch,( saith one) according to theirs, as they set theirs according to the Sun. And if the Saints in former Ages did err in matters of Worship, is it warrantable for us to do so? It is recorded of Mr. Greenham, the Bishop of Ely( in whose diocese he lived) seeking to draw him to Conformity, objected thus unto him, Why will not you yield? Luther approved of these things, are you wiser than he? His sober and gracious Answer was, I reverence more the revealed Will of God, in teaching that worthy Instrument of God, Mr. Luther, so many necessary things to Salvation, than I search into his secret Will why he kept back from his knowledge other things of less Importance.  
9. Obj. But may we not yield in some things for Peace-sake?  
Ans. I answer, Peace is an excellent thing, Dulce nomen Pacis, the very name of it is sweet, and it could be wished there were more Peace and Unity amongst those that profess Christianity; but we must not for peace sake ●… linquish the truth; peace is excellent, but it is ●… hen it is joined with truth; when peace and ●… uth are in conjunction, this is sweet, this is ●… cellent indeed, but better have no peace ●… an to have it with the loss of truth. If we ●… rchase peace with the loss of the least truth, ●… epurchase it at too dear a rate, better have 〈…〉 peace than to have it in a sinful way: A ●… st War is better than an unjust Peace.  
2dly. Though it may be the way to pur●… ase the outward Peace, yet may it not be ●… e way to lose your inward Peace? and you ●… ill be great losers by such an exchange, for 〈…〉 much as peace with the world can never ●… untervail the loss of peace with God. Peace 〈…〉 Conscience is infinitely to be preferred be e peace with Men, better break with all the ●… orld than to break with God ●… d your own Conscience. 
Nihil praestantius place bonae Conscientiae Ignatius.   
3dly, You that make this ●… lea for your Conformity, may ●… ot have your end answered; you may meet ●… ith a disappointment, saith Christ, Mar. 8. ●5. Whosoever will save his life shall lose it. God doth oftentimes across such in their De●… gn, so that hereby they lose peace with God ●… d the world too; for a little conformity( as they think) will not be look't upon as a sufficient and valuable consideration for such a purchase; if you be not thorough pace't with them, and come up to the same pitch in all things, no peace to be expected long with them. Rather therefore let us consider that to keep our peace with God is the way to obtain●… peace with Men, yea, with Enemies, If 〈…〉 Mans ways please God, he maketh his Enemie●… to be at peace with him, Prov. 16.7. Whoso●… ever, saith Christ, shall lose his life for my sak●… and the Gospel shall save it, Mark 8.35.  
2d Use. Let this then be an admonition t●… all that fear the Lord, to take heed of the lea●… mixture in the Worship of God, not to di●… vide from, but to keep close to the purity o●… Divine Worship; yield not to the least Corrup●… tion in Worship under what pretence soever●… As God( saith one of the ancients) is to b●… admired in the least of his Creatures, as we●… as in the greatest, so Christians should tak●… heed of small things as well as great in th●… matters of Worship.  
The Idolatrous Jews are not only rebuke●… and threatened for eating of Swines Flesh co●… trary to the Law but also that the Broth wa●… found in their Vessels, Isa. 65.4. God is pur●… and his Worship is to be pure like himself. Gods Worship is called his fear, now the fear of God is clean, Psal. 19. It's a good speech of Mr. Burough, that the Holiness of a Duty will ●… ot bear us out in the miscarriages of it. Think ●… ot that because your Duties are Good and ●… oly in themselves, you may venture upon ●… ixtures in Gods Worship.  
Direct. 2dly, But what must we do that ●… e may keep to the purity of Gods Worship 〈…〉 these days, wherein his Worship is so much ●… orrupted? 1. Hold fast this principle, ttha 〈…〉 matters of Worship we are not to look on●… to what is forbidden, but to what is Com●… anded. The not holding firm this Principle 〈…〉 the ground of many great miscarriages in 〈…〉 Worship of God; many think that be use such and such things are not forbidden, ●… at therefore they may be allowed of in Di●… ne Worship, but this is a grand mistake, for 〈…〉 things in Divine Worship must have a Warrant out of Gods Word; it's not enough ●… ey are not forbidden, but they must be Commanded, either expressly, or by some con●… quence drawn from some Command, as Ter●… lion saith about the Crowning of the Sol●… er with bays, if it be said it's lawful, because the Scripture doth not forbid it, it may be equally Retorted, it's therefore unlawful because the Scripture doth not command it. Nadab and Abihu, they were smitten for offering of strange fire, they might have objected, and said, where was other fire forbidden? but it was not commanded; they offered strange fire before the Lord, which be commanded them not, And there went out fire from the Lord and devoured them, Lev. 10.1, 2. for this Cause they were smitten, that they did not keep punctually to Gods Command. Hold fast this principle Christian, if thou wouldst keep close to the purity of Divine Worship.  
2dly. Do as God doth; God stands upon little things in the matters of his Worship, Rev. 11.1, 2. God mensured the Temple and Altar, and them that Worshipped therein, to show( saith one) his utmost exactness about the matters of his Worship and Concernments of his People; imitate God herein, make Conscience of the least things, admit, allow not of the least miscarriage or Corruption in Worship. As Moses when he was to led the Israelites out of Egypt, would no●… leave a hoof behind him, so leave nothing undone in matters of Divine Worship which God hath Commanded, but admit of nothing which he hath not Commanded, go not a ●… airs breadth from the Rule be very exact and precise in matters of Worship.  
3dly, Get much of the fear of God into your Hearts, let that Rule in you; the more the ●… ear of God is prevailing in you, the more ●… ender you will be of the Worship of God; ●… h! maintain aweful apprehensions of God, Psal. 68.35. God is terrible out of his holy ●… lace. Divine Worship is called the fear of God, in regard of that fear and awe of God 〈…〉 saith one) that should be upon men when ●… hey are in Divine Duties, Gen. 28.17. When ●… acob awaked from his vision, he said he was ●… fraid, and said, how dreadful is this place; it is ●… o other but the House of God and Gate of ●… even; Bernard descants very sweetly upon ●… his, Terribilis plane locus& Dignus omni re●… erentia: A dreadful place surely, and wor●… hy of all Reverence, not meaning the ston ●… alls, but the presence of God, in the assem●… ly where the faithful meet, the Angels frequent, and God himself dwelleth.  
4ly, Study well this Text; here you shall ●… ee how severe God is against those that will ●… are to Corrupt his Worship, that swear by ●… he Lord, and swear by Malcham: what a se●… ere, dreadful sentence is pronounced against them? they are put into the black Roll to be destroyed. And study that Text well, Ezek. 43.8. and study the second Commandment, where all Corruption in the Worship of God is forbidden; there you will find that the Lord your God is a jealous God, and will visit this Iniquity unto the third and fourth Generation.  
5ly, Look upon the Worship of God as a great matter; the Lord complains of Ephraim, that he had written to him the great things of his Law, but they were accounted as a strange thing, Hos. 8.12. Divine Worship is one of the great things of Gods Law, and should not therefore be accounted either as a little or strange thing by us. God looks upon it as a great matter, and shall we account it as a little thing? It is a good expression of one, that to worship God aright, and to walk before him in uprightness, are the two Poles upon which the whole body of a heavenly Life is turned; and indeed there is nothing that speaks a man more a Christian than this, Phil. 3.3.  
6ly, Consider not what others do in matters of Worship, but what God hath commanded to be done; make the Word of God and not the practise of men thy Rule, Deut. 12.30. Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, and that thou inquire not after their Gods, saying, how did these Nations serve their Gods? even so will I do likewise. The People were forbidden to inquire how God had ●… estroyed those Nations from before them that ●… erved their Gods; and observe in the 32. v. What thing soever I command you, observe to ●… o it, thou shalt not add thereto, or diminish ●… om it. True Obedience is a readiness to do ●… s we are bidden; we are apt to judge that a ●… uty which most do, not which God com●… ands; but we must, if we will do our Duty, ●… o what God commands, without adding or di●… inishing. Some observe that expression of ●… ve, Gen. 3.5. where she said, that God had ●… id they should not eat of it, nor touch it, lest ●… ey die. 
Nihil ve●causa boni addendum est praecepto. Amb.  We do not red that ●… odd forbade them to touch it, ●… et it's thought this was added ●… y Eve for cautions sake, as if ●… he were so careful to keep Gods ●… ommand about Eating, that she added, they ●… ust not so much as touch it; whence an An●… ent gathereth, that nothing, though it be ●… or a good end, is to be added to Gods Pre●… epts.  
Lastly, Contemplate much the holiness of God. God is originally, gloriously, transcendently and perfectly holy; and as God is, 〈…〉 must his Worship be, he will be worshipped i●… the Beauties of Holiness, not in the blackness o●… Iniquity, 1 Chron. 16.29. A pure and hol●… Worship do svit best with the holy God. A●… you therefore to whom God hath shown th●… form of his House, and the fashion thereof, th●… goings out thereof, and the comings in there●… of, keep close to the purity of his Worship.    

THE Great and Necessary DUTY OF Mutual Exhortation Opened and Applied: From HEBREWS III. XIII. WHEREIN The Nature of the DUTY is opened in the several Branches thereof, the evil of its neglect is shown, and some Motives laid down to press Christians to a more vigorous practise of it; the Hindrances to this Duty are removed, and several helps given for a right performance of it.  
By an unworthy Servant of Jesus Christ.  
Mal. 3.16. Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another.  
Ep. Jud. 20. But ye beloved building up yourselves in your most holy Faith.   

THE Great and necessary DUTY OF Mutual Exhortation Opened and Applied: FROM  Heb. 3.13. But exhort one another daily while it is called to day, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of Sin. 
THE great scope of the Author of this Epistle( whether the Apostle Paul or some other) is to exhort these believing Hebrews to steadfastness in the Faith, perseverance in Grace and Holiness, that it might appear they received not the Grace of God in vain.  
In order to which he doth propose to them the Example of Christ, v. 2. who was faithful to him that appointed him. Christ was faithful to all his betrustments. Moses was faithful as a Servant, but Christ as a Son, v. 5, 6. whose House we are if we hold fast the confidence and rejoicing of the Hope firm unto the end.  
And to discourage and deter them from apostasy, he sets before them the Evil Example of the Israelites, how they tempted God, and through Unbelief departed from him, against whom God swore in his wrath, they should not enter into his rest. v. 11. Hereupon he grounds this cautionary admonition, viz. Take heed Brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of Unbelief, in departing from the living God. A serious and seasonable Caution, take heed, see to it; the word in the Greek signifies not only to look with the Eye, but with the heart also; exercise your greatest care and diligence about this.  
And as a sovereign preservative against this evil of apostasy, he urgeth the practise of this important Duty in the words of the Text, But exhort one another, &c.  
This adversative particle [ but] shows the Antithesis of these words to the former, Take heed of an evil Heart of Unbelief, &c. But exhort one another.  
In the Words these three things are observable.  
1. The Duty enjoined, exhort one another.  
2. The frequency of this Duty, daily, while it is called to day; do it presently, neglect, delay not, it's a duty that admits not of delays, it must be speedily, presently done, while it is called to day, &c.  
3. The Motive to this duty, taken ab incommodo, from the great inconvenience and mischief that may and will follow the neglect of it, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of Sin.  
Where we have two evil effects of sin. 

1. Hardening.  
2. Deceiving.    
Sin hath never a good property in it, it is malum in se, it's evil, and only evil, and all the effects of Sin are evil, no good fruit can grow upon this bad three, &c.  
From the Duty here enjoined, which I chiefly design to speak to, there is this Doctrine.  
Doct. That it is the Duty of Christians to exhort one another. Or thus, Mutual Exhortation is a great Christian Duty, Heb. 10.24. Let us consider one another to provoke unto Love and good works. Jud. 20. And ye beloved building up yourselves in your most holy Faith. It's not the Ministers Duty only, but Christians are to exhort and build up one another; and in Mal. 3.16. it's said, They that feared the Lord spake often one to another, of things no doubt pertaining to mutual edification, they spake( as it's said of Christ, Acts 1.3.) of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. This is a duty at all times seasonable, but especially in evil times.  
In the prosecution of this Doct.  
1. I shall open the nature of this duty.  
2. Give the reasons of it.  
1. What doth this duty of mutual exhortation denote?  
1. A quickening and stirring up one another to all good and holy duties, a provoking to love and good works, a stirring up the Graces of one another, 2 Tim. 1.6. A blowing up every spark into a flamme to sharpen and extimulate, Prov. 27.17. Iron sharpeneth Iron, so a man sharpeneth the Countenance of his Friend; Christians should set an edge upon each others affections, and raise and rouse up the dull spirits, 2 Pet. 1.13. This is the great use and end of Christian Communion, one Christian will help to heat another, a single Coal soon dies, but many live Coals put together will keep life in one another. One Christian by good discourse drops Oil upon another, that makes the lamp of his Grace to shine the brighter( saith one,) but Christians in these daies instead of quickening, how do they deaden each other, dishearten and discourage one another; instead of provoking to love, they provoke one another to Wrath, and instead of provoking one another to good Works, they provoke to evil Works; but this is a great perversion of this duty.  
2. To comfort one another, the word in the Original 〈◇〉 signifies to comfort, as to exhort, to pour oil and Wine into wounded and broken Spirits, to be mutual comforters, to drop Oil into one anothers wounds, 2 Cor. 1.4. Who comforteth us in all our Tribulations, that we may be able to comfort them that are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. Whatsoever comfort we have, it's given for the good of others, we are debtors of it to others, one then ought to comfort another; whatsoever light the celestial Bodies, the Moon and the Stars have, they bestow it upon these inferior Bodies, they have their lights from the Sun, and they reflect it again upon the Creatures below. So Christians should be communicative of their Comforts and experiences, they ought to be mutual Comforters, and so much this duty doth import.  
3. To admonish, it denotes Christian reproof and admonition not to suffer sin to lye upon one another, Gal. 6.1. Brethren if a Man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekness {αβγδ} put him into joint again, Rom. 15.14. The Romans were commended for this that they were filled with all knowledge, able to admonish one another. Col. 3.16. Teaching and admonishing one another, Ephes. 5.11. We are to have no fellowship with the unfruitful Works of Darkness, but rather reprove them and to dehort one another from evil.  
4. A holy care and watchfulness over one another, Heb. 13.17. It's the duty of Ministers in a special manner, therefore they are called Watchmen, but is not their duty solely; but Christians are to watch over one another, thou must not say as Cain said, am I my Brothers Keeper? Cain denied to be his Brothers Keeper, but thou ought not, there is a care and vigilance that Christians are to exercise one toward another.  
5. Praying for one another mutual; exhortation denotes mutual praying, our prayers are not for a private concern, but to be poured out for others, we should bear the conditions of others upon our hearts in all our approaches to the Throne of Grace, and so much the word signifies to be Advocates for one another. judas ●… 0. Praying in the Holy Ghost, Ephes. 6.18. Praying always with all Prayer and Supplica●… m in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with ●… ll perseverance and supplication for all Saints. ●… ames 5.16. Pray one for another. This is the Churches Treasure, the common stock of ●… rayers; by this means the members of Christs Body have Communion together, ●… ought at a distance; this is a great duty, the ●… eak need the Prayers of the strong, and the ●… ong need the Prayers of the weak; it's a du●… incumbent upon all, and needful for all, ●… ea, for the strong and most eminent, 1 Cor. ●… 2.21. The head cannot say to the feet, &c. The Apostle Paul he earnestly begs the Pray●… s of the Thessalonians, 1 Thess. 5.17. So Rom. 5.30. When the Prayers of Saints are twi●…ed together, they make such a strong Cord 〈…〉 cannot be broken; hereby Christians are ●… bliged to each other: Thus I have shown you ●… e import of this duty in these 5 particulars.  
2. But why is mutual exhortation so great Christian Duty?  
1. Because it's Commanded. God requires 〈…〉, and does expect our obedience to his Com●… and: it's Commanded in the Text, and in ●… any other Scriptures already mentioned for ●… e proof of the Doctrine; so that it's necessary, necessitate praecepti, in regard of his Command.  
2. But no man is born for himself, every●… man should be a public good, not to care for his own things, but for the things of others, 1 Cor. 10.24. Let no man seek his own, bu●… every man anothers wealth. Christians should b●… of public Spirits, seeking the good of others●… Gal. 6.8. taking all opportunities to do good●… and this is to answer the end of our Creation●… we are neither born nor born again for ou●… selves.  
3. Because it is the end of the Communion o●… Saints; next to Gods Glory this is the main en●… of the Communion of Saints to edify one another, and where this is neglected, the end is not answered, God hath therefore called us into the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ, tha●… we should mutually promote the good an●… benefit of each other, 1 Cor. 1.9, 10. And whe●… Christians do carry on this end, it makes their Communion very sweet and pleasant, Psal. 133.1.2. Behold how good and how pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in unity, it's like precious ointment upon th●… head that ran down upon the beard, even Aarons beard, that went down to the skirts of hi●… Garment. The multitude of Stars joined i●… Heaven, make the Gallaxia, or milky way, so a company of Christians meeting in one make a glorious light indeed, and such a lustre( saith one) as will dazzle the Eyes of the wicked world, and when this great end of the Communion of Saints is promoted, it makes them beautiful as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an Army with Banners, Cant. 6.4.  
4. The relation that is amongst Christians ●… ne to another, doth evince this to be a great ●… uty; they are members of one and the same ●… ody, Ephes. 5.30. And shall not Members ●… eek the good of one another, 1 Cor. 12.12, 13. Rom. 12.4, 5. As we are all of the body, so we should all serve the body, as members in the natural body have all their different use, they ●… re all serviceable to the body, so should all the members of Christs mystical body; be ●… hey should as Bees bring all their Honey( saith one) to the common Hive.  
5. The common estate and condition of Christians here in the world, doth evidence this to be a duty, in regard of the many temp●… ations, and continual solicitations to evil, while here in the body, and by reason of indwelling corruption we are easily tempted ●… o evil, soon drawn away of our own lusts, and enticed, Jam, 1.14. Every man, saith the Apostle, he takes in the godly too; a Christian is a mixed Creature made up of flesh and Spirit, and we have corruption within, and we meet with temptations without; the grand adversary of our souls goeth about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour, 1 Pet. 5.7. We meet with many hindrances and diversions from our duties; this evil world where we have our commmoration, it's a dulling and deadning world, it takes off the Chariot wheels of our Souls& makes us drive heavily in the ways of God. Our Lord Jesus doth intimate the great and continual danger Christians are in by being in the world, John 17.11. But those are in the world. To say they were in the world, was to say( saith one) they were in the midst of the Sea, under the power of all winds, and tempests, without any Haven; to be in the world, implies those 2 things; to be in a place of Wickedness, where the Godly have daily temptations to sin; and are daily exposed to troubles; it is therefore a very needful duty for the Godly to be exhorting one another to good, seeing they have so many temptations to evil.  
And so much for the reasons of the Doctrine.  

For APPLICATION;  
1. Use. If this be so, that mutual Exhortation is a great Christian Duty, then surely the neglect of it is a great Evil, and much to be deplored; the evil is the greater and more grievous because so general, it's an Epidemical Evil. Oh, that Christians should be so unfruit●… ul and unprofitable! That they should so lit●… e study the good of one another! There are many evils in the Womb of this Evil, as,  
1. This is one great cause of Barrenness amongst Christians, Hos. 10.1. Israel is called an ●… mpty Vine, because he did bring forth fruit ●… o himself; a selfish Spirit is a barren Spirit. The Apostle Paul bewails this, Phil. 2.21. For all seek their own, not the things which be ●… esus Christs: And is not such a Spirit now ●… redominant? And no wonder then that there 〈…〉 so much barrenness amongst us: And is it not ●… n evil for Christians to be barren? Under the ●… awe barreness was a curse, and sure to be barren ●… nder the Gospel is to be nigh to cursing, Heb. ●… 6.7, 8. For the Earth which drinketh in the ●… ain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth Herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, recei●… eth Blessing from God; but that which beareth Thorns and briars is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing, whose end is to be burned. Gods People are called Trees of Righteousness, and of Gods own Planting, Isa. 61.3. And for trees of Righteousness to be barren, this is sad: What! no better fruit in the Lords Vineyard than in the Wilderness? The Spouse of Christ is compared to a Flock of Sheep, whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren amongst them. Cant. 4.2. but how unlike are we to Christs Spouse in this.  
2. Hence it is that there is such a declension of the power of Godliness among us; we retain the form, but little of the power, the life and power of Religion is much decayed, through a neglect of this Duty; though we have the leaves of Profession upon us, yet we have not the fruit of a Gospel-Conversation, Col. 3.16. Christians teaching and admonishing one another is an effectual means to have the word of God dwell richly in us, which makes us rich in holiness, and fruitful in every good work.  
3. This is one great cause of the many miscarriages among Christians by reason of which many are stumbled, and many hardened in their evil ways, and God's name greatly dishonoured, the Spirit grieved, and the infinite ●… ove of Christ wounded; possibly if thou hadst ●… ischarged thy Duty( Christian) to thy Bro●… her, he had not so miscarried, the sins he hath fallen into might have been prevented.  
4. This is the great cause of the feebleness, weakness and unsettledness among us, that ma●… y are so unsettled, so weak and so soon shaken 〈…〉 mind, and not more rooted and built up in Christ Col. 2.6, 7. When Christians walk in Christ, ●… hat is, live in the practise of all the Duties of Godliness enjoined them by Christ, then they are ●… oted and built up in him: Mutual Exhor●… tion is the Jachin and the Boaz, the strength ●… nd the establishment of Christians, and the ●… eglect of it is the cause that so many fall from ●… heir own steadfastness.  
5. The neglect of this gives Satan great 〈…〉 dvantage to plunge many into great fears, ●… oubts, and despondencies; were Christians ●… iligent to discharge their Duty, these fears ●… nd dejections which have sadly oppressed and ●… nk the Spirits of many, might have been pre●… nted. We red in the Gospel, that while the ●… en slept the Enemy came and sowed his tares, ●… o while Christians sleep and are neglective of ●… heir Duty to one another, Satan got advan●… age to sow his Tares, and to inject fears into ●… oor weak Christians, and to plunge them into a Labrynth of doubts and despondencies. 2 Cor. 2.11. The Apostle adviseth the Corin● thians to confirm their Love to the incestuo us Corinthian, who was humbled for his Sin, lest Satan get advantage: The not discharging our duty in exhorting one another, puts an advantage into the hands of Satan against us; our security is his opportunity; as the Flie● will never resort to the Hony when it's hot, but when it's could, so when our Spirits are heated and quickened by mutual Exhortation, then Satan will not come near us with his temptations; but when our Spirits are low and dead, then Beelzebub the god of the Flies will resort to us, and endeavour to plunge us into fears and despondencies.  
6. The Non-performance of this Duty is the cause that many are hardened through the deceitfulness of sin; this evil effect doth proceed from a neglect of it, therefore it's urged in the Text, Exhort one another, lest any of you, &c. This sin hardens not only the wicked but the Godly; to be hardened is not only the sin of a wicked man, but may be the sin of a godly man; a strange crustiness and hardness may grow upon their hearts.  
Thus you see the many evils that the omission of this Duty doth produce, and it's the great cause that many are hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.  
2. Use. Of Exhortation.  
Is it thus that mutual Exhortation is a great Duty incumbent upon Christians? then put it into practise, be active and abundant in this great Christian Duty, be exhorted to exhort one another, to consider one another, to provoke unto love and good works; study one another; Christians should study one anothers cases and distempers, and be solicitous of their cure; the Romans were greatly commended for this, Rom. 14.15.  
Let us do it daily, continually, there must be no intermission, nor remission of this Duty. Christians, put not off the practise of it, 'tis now a very seasonable Duty in these evil days. The time of Malachi's Prophesying was a very evil time, as it appears Chap. 3.15. The proud were called happy, and yet in the 16. v. it is said, then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: They did not omit their Duty because the days were evil, no, but were more frequent in it, for they spake often one to another; the worse the times are the better we should be, and this is the way to make the times better. The day of Christ is approaching, Heb. 10.25. Not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together, but exhorting one another, and so much the rather as you see the day approaching, the day of Christ appearance, the day of judgement, the Audit day, when we must be called to a strict account, how we have discharged our duties to God and one another; the appropinquation of the day of Christ should quicken and awaken us to our Duty. For the enforcing of this Exhortation I desire you to consider these following particulars.  
1. Consider it's the only way to keep ourselves pure from other mens sins, as the Apostle exhorts Timothy, 1 Tim. 5.22. We must not only give an account of our own sins, but of the sins of others that have been committed through a neglect of our Duty to them: One prayed to be delivered from his other mens sins. We contract much relative Guilt by bearing with, and indulging one another in sin, Lev. 19.17. Thou shalt not hate thy Brother in thy heart, thou shalt in any wise rebuk thy Neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. Some render the words thus, Thou shalt not lift up his sin upon him, or display it as a Banner to his disgrace. Our Translators render it thus, Thou shalt not suffer sin upon him. Sin is so hateful a Viper as we should club it down, and stub it up wherever we find it. Wouldst thou not contract the Guilt of other mens sins upon thee? Then discharge this Duty with all faithfulness towards them.  
2. Consider it's an effectual means to keep one another awake in these sleeping times; this is surely a slumbering Age, now the wise Virgins as well as the foolish are slumbering and sleeping, and though God is jogging us by his Providences, and calling aloud to us by his terrible Dispensations, awake thou that sleepest; yet we say with the sluggard, Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands together, Prov. 6.9, 10. A good and effectual means to keep Christians awake is to be quickening and awakening one another to their duty; in the sweeting sickness they that were kept awake escaped; but it was deadly to them that were suffered to sleep, to sleep now may be very dangerous if not deadly to thee, thy sleep may prove the sleep of death.  
3. Consider much good may hereby be procured to ourselves and others, and much evil prevented. 1. Hereby our own good may be much promoted, and words spoken in season how good are they, how forcible are right words, thereby the weak may be strengthened, the staggering settled, and the dejected comforted. Job. 4.3, 4. Behold thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands; thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees. And Job saith of himself, that he was Eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame, Job 29.15. And much sin prevented; thou mayst gain thy Brother, save a Soul by a wise and loving Admonition. Christ directs Matth. 18.15. If thy Brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone, if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy Brother, &c.  
4. Consider for this end God hath given us Gifts and Graces. 1 Cor. 22.7. The Ministration of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. The Greek word imports such a kind of profit as redounds to Community,( as one observes upon the place.) We should employ our Talents for a public good, for that end for which God hath given them, or else we misemploy them.  
5. It will bring great comfort in a dying hour; Hezekiahs integrity did greatly comfort him in the apprehensions of Death; though thy holy Exhortations and wise Admonitions have not had their desired effect upon others, yet thou shalt have comfort, in that thou hast discharged thy Duty; though thou hast not gained thy Brother, yet thou shalt save thy own Soul, Ezek. 3.20. And the neglect of this Duty will gripe sore at the hour of death: It's reported of a godly Minister, that he should utter himself thus upon his Death-bed: I confess that in public I have been somewhat full in Reproof, in Admonition, in Instruction: but in private my backwardness, my bashfulness, my dastardliness, have been intolerable, and I may truly say, that if any thing lye as a burden upon my Conscience, it's this. When Death comes to look thee on the Face,( as shortly it will) then nothing can comfort thee but thy integrity.  
Qu. But what must we do rightly to discharge this Duty of Mutual Exhortation?  
Ans. For Direction herein I shall,  
1. show the hindrances to this Duty.  
2. Give some helps for the right management of it.  
1. Wouldst thou be found in the practise of this great important Duty? Then labour to remove those things which are hindrances to it: as,  
1. Want of affection one to another, we are not kindly affectioned to one another, and the want of love is a great hindrance to this duty, love among Christians is much decayed; the heat and fervour of our love to God is much abated, and no wonder that our love to one another is so remiss; we are fallen into the dregs of time, the last and worst times, of which Christ speaks, Mat. 24.12. That because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax could. The abounding of iniquity is a notable quench-Coal to love. It is the observation of one, the world( saith he) hath been once destroyed with water for the heat of lust, and shall be again with fire for the coldness of love: it was said in the primitive times, how do the Christians love one another; but where is primitive love now to be found among us? Oh! Divine love, whether art thou gone? Oh! little of it doth now reside in the breasts of Christians; if there were true love among Christians, there would be a considering one anothers wants and weaknesses, one anothers trials and temptations, one anothers fears and doubts, one anothers distresses and distractions, and accordingly comport and carry themselves each to other, pitying of, and praying for one another, sympathising with, and bearing one anothers burden; certainly the decay of love among us is a great hindrance to this duty.  
2. Want of Spirituality is another hindrance to this duty; our hearts are not in a spiritual frame, there is spirituality much wanting in the hearts and conversations of Christians, they are Carnal, and walk as Men, as the Apostle charges the Corinth. 1 Cor. 3.3. For ye are yet Carnal, for whereas there is among you envying and strife, and divisions, are ye not Carnal and walk as men? Envying, strife and divisions are works of the flesh; a spiritual carriage and conversation is much wanting, though much expected among Christians; how can he that is Carnal exhort others to Spirituality? How can he restore a a fallen Brother, Gal. 6.1. Ye that are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekness. The decay of the power of Godliness is a great hindrance to this duty.  
3. Another hindrance is bashfulness of Spirit, there is a strange kind of bashfulness among Christians, in reference to this, afraid to reprove, to rebuk, to exhort, lest they should offend; so we choose rather to offend in the neglect of our duty, than to be faithful lest we should offend. Paul was of another Spirit, Gal. 2.11. He would not spare an offending Peter, we are apt to think that to be faithful to one another, will cause a breach of love, when it's the best way to increase it: Many are ready to object, that if they do admonish freely, they shall lose their friend, when it's the only way to keep him. Let the righteous smite me, saith David, it shall be a kindness, and let him reprove me, it shall be an excellent oil which shall not break my head, Psal. 141.5.  
4. Selfishness doth much obstruct and hinder the practise of this duty. Christians are of private Spirits; Oh! it's a very selfish age we live in, all seek their own, we do not walk by the Apostles rule, Rom. 15.1, 2. We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves; let every one of us please his Neighbour for his good to edification.  
5. Want of life and zeal. Many of the professors of this age have a name to live, but are dead, walking sepulchers, a living name written upon the Sepulchre of the dead, many are rather nominal than real Christians, no life, no warmth, no heat in them, how can they that have no life or heat in themselves, quicken or heat others, such will rather deaden than quicken; how do many stifle and quench the motions of the Spirit in one another, cast water upon that holy fire, and instead of ●… irring up, do stop and hinder one another 〈…〉 their Holy Progress? Christians in this ●… ge are more notional than experimental, ●… ore formal than powerful, which is a great ●… inderance to this duty.  
Thus having pointed at the hindrances, 〈…〉 shall lay down some helps which are ●… reatly conducing to the practise of this ●… uty.  
1. Is Knowledge; Would you exhort ●… ne another, then labour after much know●… edge, to be filled with all knowledge, Rom. 15.14. It was the great commenda●… ion of this Church of the Romans, that they were filled with all knowledge, able ●… o admonish one another, he that teacheth others, must be taught himself, he that gives light to others, must himself be enlightened, nihil dat quod non habet, no man can give that which he hath not. Get a spiritual Treasure of the word in your hearts, that it dwell richly in you, 2 Col. 3.16. {αβγδ}, in-dwell in you that you may be like the good Scribe instructed unto the Kingdom of God, which the Lord Christ likens unto an householder, which bringeth forth out of his Treasure things new and old, Mat. 13.52. The Tengue of the Wise is as a three of life, it feeds many, Prov. 10.20, 21. A knowing Christian yields precious and ●●easant food, wherewith many are f●●.  
●… L●ber for a spirit of meekness, a meek spirit i● 〈…〉 exhort and admonish, Gal. 6. ●. 〈…〉 that is overtaken in a fault, must be restored in the spirit of meekness. The Apostle Paul exhorts Timothy, 2 Tim. 2.25. In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves, as meekness becomes Ministers, so all Christians, it's a Garment that becomes every Christians back; as the meek are most fit to receive instruction, counsel, and admonition, so the meek are most fit to instruct, to counsel, and admonish, meekness and wisdom, they are coupled together, James 3.13. Moses is renowned in Scripture for meekness, and wisdom.  
3. Keep up and maintain a Spirit of love, let Brotherly love continue, Heb. 13.1. Love will carry us out to seek the good of one another, make us public spirited, this is one excellent property of love that it seeketh not her own, 1 Cor. 13.5. 1 Cor. 10.33. The Apostle Paul speaking of Timothy, who sought the good of the Philippians, saith, Phil. 2.20. I have no man like minded who will naturally care for your state. Love( saith one) is the spring of labour, actions are ●ffections put forth and made visible; love will make Christians laborious, seeking the good of one another. It's the observation of Austin, that love built the two Cities, holy love built the City of God, and unholy love built, or is daily building the City of Satan; love is a joining or edifying, and condescending Grace, Ephes. 4.16. officium ascendit, amor descendit, duty ascends, and love descends, it makes a man of a condescending Spirit; labour( Christians) to receive and maintain a Spirit of love; our love should be universal to all Saints. Luthers motto was in quo aliquid Christi video diligo.  
4. Labour for more plentiful effusions of the Spirit, to be filled with the Spirit, Eph. 5.18. Call for more Flagons of this holy Wine, press after greater Measures, and higher Degrees of Holiness, get up to the top of Godliness, perfect Holiness in the fear of God; the want of Spirituality and Holiness is a bar to this Duty, Eph. 5.15. See then that ye walk circumspectly, {αβγδ}, exactly, accurately, strive to get to the height of Godliness, as the word imports. If there were more Spirituality among us, there would be more care of this Duty.  
5. Let the fear of God be strong in your hearts; a holy fear of God will restrain us from Sin, and it will constrain us to Duty; 'twill keep us close to all mutual and relative Duties; it will make us fear to sin, either in doing of evil, or in the omission of good, yea, to fear nothing but Sin, as Chrysostome( when he received a threatening Message from the Empress) answered, nile nisi peccatum timeo, I fear nothing but sin. Divine Fear will fill thee full of courage and boldness in the Cause of God. It's observable, that they who are most full of the Fear of God, are most filled with a holy Magnanimity and Courage; it makes a man of a great and large Spirit: A slavish Fear doth straighten the Heart, but a holy Fear doth dilate and much enlarge the Heart, Isay. 60.5. The Fear of God doth expel other Fears; as the lesser Load-Stones are said to lose their virtue in the presence of the greater, so holy Fear doth lessen and drive out of our hearts carnal and distrustful Fears: It is an awakening Grace, and it will cause us to keep one another awake in these sleepy and ●●ambering times.  
Lastly, Often meditate of the approach of the day of Christ, when we shall be all called to an account; and, as one saith well, though men shall be saved according to their Faith, yet they shall be judged according to their works; the Judgment-day is hastening, the Judge standeth before the Door ready to come in; this day is every day nearer to us, let the appropinquation of the day of Christs coming to judgement dwell upon thy thoughts. Exhort one another daily while it's called to day, it's but a day, and we know not how short our day may be. This well considered, will put us upon a more ready dispatch of all our works and Duties, and Blessed are those Servants whom when their Lord cometh he shall find thus doing.   
FINIS.