■I 
 
 ^M 
 
 ■ 
 
 TmR 
 
Hfl 
 
 
 " ^ 
 
EmM 
 
 Wi *&^*\' 
 
 2 mm- 
 

 / • h 3 
 
 *£"(' y " Ci 
 
 sc^*Wfo 
 
41 Q £ 
 
 • r— > >• 
 
 o 
 
 r£>^ 
 
 -©. 
 
 3 ~ 
 
 «. 
 
 CO rt 
 
 2 
 
 Ih 
 
 e 
 
 ■*-* 2 
 
 0) 
 
 3 r s 
 
 
 -M [X| 
 
 **3 
 
 t*4 
 
 M ^ 
 
 O w 
 
 1-T-, 
 
 Oh"" 
 
 tN, tfl 
 
 si 
 
 ~ c 
 
 .to ^ 
 
 o g 
 
 "2 » 
 
 r *Q 
 
 
 «H «a 
 
 C/5 "o 
 
 
 3 PL 
 
 5 2§ 
 
 o . 
 
 o c 
 
 ~ 
 
 X 
 
 Q 
 
 gg 
 
 
 
 ^E 
 
 
 >> 
 
 <3 
 
 J2 
 
 
 to 
 
 
 
 ?\ 
 
 5 
 
 " 
 
 sj 
 
 -> 
 
 CD 
 
 V 
 
 
 C 
 
 
 
 Ej 
 
 p va 
 
 
 - 
 
 U 
 
 's? 
 
 hJ 
 
 K 
 
 
 -~ 
 
 
 — i 
 
 '3 
 
 'J 
 
 u 
 
 e 
 
 . £3 
 
 2 
 
 u 
 
 ■** 
 
 
 
 £ 
 
 be 
 
 — 
 
 v. 
 
 C/3 
 
 HO 
 
 fta 
 
 m 
 
 
 
 
 tv 
 
 
 
 
so *n° 
 
Ij±nSrfcf vS C D U GAJL \ THEQL . J*R OF, 
 
 Author of "The Life of God tt» the Soul of Man " 
 Original in the Co Ilea t Hall, Aberdeen . 
 
DISCOURSES 
 
 O N 
 
 IMPORTANT 
 
 SUBJECTS. 
 
 B Y 
 
 HENRY SCOUGAL A.M. 
 and S. T. P. 
 
 To which is added, 
 
 A Sermon preached at his Funeral, 
 By George Gairden, D. D. 
 
 GLASGOW: 
 Printed and fold by R. and A. Foulis 
 
 MDCCLI. 
 
Memoriae Sacrum. 
 HENRICUS SCOUGAL, 
 
 Rcverendi in Chrijlo Patris Patricii 
 
 Epifcopi Ah cr done nfts films ; 
 
 Phihfophiae in hac Acad em i a Regia, 
 
 Per quadriennium, totidemque annis 
 
 Ibidem Theologiae ProfeJJor ; 
 
 Eccleftae in Auchterlefs, uno anno inter ft'itc, Pajtor* 
 
 Multa in tarn brevijfimo curricula 
 
 Didicit, praeftitit, docuit, 
 
 Cocli avidus t et coelo maturus, 
 
 Obiit Anno Dom. mdclxxviii. 
 
 Aetatis fuae xxvni. 
 Et hie exuvias mortalitat'n pofuit. 
 
THE 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 I. The fuperior excellency of the religious. 
 
 On Prov. xii. 26. The righteous is 
 
 more excellent than his neighbour. Page I 
 
 II. The indifpenfable duty of loving our 
 enemies. On Luke vi. 27. But I fay un~ 
 
 to you -which hear, Love your enemies 3 6 
 
 III. The neceflity and advantage of early 
 
 afflictions. On Lam. iii. 27. 28. It is 
 
 good for a man that he bear the yoke in his 
 youth : he fitteth alone, and keepeth filence, 
 lecaufe he hath bom it upon him. 80 
 
 IV. That there are but a fmall number fa- 
 
 ved. On Lukexm. 23. Then faid one 
 
 unto him, Lord, are the re few that befaved? 
 And he faid unto them, &c. 1 1 2 
 
 V. The duty and pleafure of praife and 
 
 thanksgiving. On Pfal. cvii. 1 5*. that 
 
 men would praife the Lord for his goodnefs, 
 and for bis wonderful works to the chil- 
 dren of men 147 
 
VI. On the nativity of our Saviour. From 
 
 Pfal. ii. ii. Rejoice with trembling. 
 Wherein of the ufefulnefsof the two paffi- 
 ons, joy and fear in religion i 74 
 
 VII. On the pafiion of our Saviour. From 
 
 LamA. 12. Is it nothing to you, all ye that 
 pafs by ? Behold and fee, if there be any for ~ 
 row like unto myforrow 2 1 1 
 
 VIII. A preparation for the holy facra- 
 
 ment. On J of ma iii. 5. SanBify your- 
 
 felves : for to-morrow the Lord will do 
 wonders among you. This is imperfect 2 4 1 
 
 IX. Of the importance and difficulty of 
 the Ministerial function. — On 2 Cor. ii. 
 
 1 6 . Who is fufficient for thefe things 2s 5 
 
 A fermon preached at the funeral of the Re. 
 verend Mr. Henry Scougal 9 by George 
 
 Gairden t D. D. On Phil. i. 21. For 
 
 to me to live is Chrijl % and to die is gain. 
 
 307 
 
DISCOURSES 
 
 O N 
 
 Important Subjects. 
 
 The superior excellency of 
 the religious. 
 
 Prov. xii. 26. 
 
 The righteous is more excellent than his 
 
 neighbour. 
 
 HE who confidereth the excellency 
 and advantage of piety and reli- 
 gion, how conformable it is to the bed 
 principle of our nature, and how profi- 
 table to our interefts, may juftly wonder 
 and be furprifed at the bad entertainment 
 it receives in the world ; and eafily con- 
 clude, that this muft needs flow from 
 fome grofs miftakes about it, and preju- 
 dices againfl: it; fince it is fo natural to 
 us to love that which is good, and de- 
 light in that which is amiable ; when 
 things are notmifreprefented, 
 A 
 
2 The fuperior excellency 
 
 Certainly all who are enemies to holi- 
 nefs, have taken up falfe meafures and 
 difadvantageous notions of it. the fen- 
 fual perfon hateth it as harm and unplea- 
 fant, doing violence to his carnal appe- 
 tites ; and looks on religion as a con- 
 trivance to deprive and rob him of the 
 pleafures of this world, by propofing 
 thofe of another, the politic wit flights 
 it as foolifh and imprudent; and though 
 he acknowledge it a neceiTary inftru- 
 ment of government, a good device to 
 overawe a multitude, yet he counts it a 
 great weaknefs to be further concerned 
 in it than may be confident with, and 
 iubfervient to fecular defigns. again, the 
 gallants of our age defpife it as a bafe 
 and ignoble temper, unworthy of a high 
 birth and genteel education, incident to 
 meaner fouls, proceeding from cowardly 
 and fuperftitious fear, deprefling the 
 mind, and rendering it incapable of high 
 and afpiring thoughts, hence they make 
 it their bufineis to pour contempt upon 
 piety, and advance the reputation of 
 thofe vicious courfes which themfelves 
 have embraced ; and becaufe there are 
 
of the religions. 3 
 
 yet fome left, who, by praclifing and re- 
 commending virtue, do oppofe and con- 
 demn their lewd practices, they ftudy to 
 avenge themfelves on them by the perfe- 
 cution of their tongues, and all the fcoffa 
 and reproaches they can invent and ut- 
 ter : which hath proved a mean mod un- 
 happily fuccefsful to deter many weak 
 minds from goodnefs,making them chufe 
 to be wicked ; that they may not be 
 laughed at. 
 
 It is to difcover the groffnefs of this 
 miftake, and expofe the abfurdities and 
 unreafonablenefs of thefe principles and 
 practices ; to vindicate the excellency of 
 piety, and to recommend it to all truly 
 generous fouls, that we have madechoice 
 of this text; which tells us in fhortand 
 plain terms, that i the righteous is more 
 ? excellent than his neighbour.' 
 
 "None can be fo little acquainted with 
 the fcripture-dialecT, as not to know, 
 that though righteoufhefs in its trued 
 acceptation importeth only theobferva- 
 tionofthofe duties we owe our neigh- 
 bour, yet it is ufually taken more large- 
 ly for piety and virtue in general, and 
 A 2 
 
4 The /up e nor excellency 
 
 good reafon too ; fince there is no part 
 of our duty but we owe it as a debt unto 
 God; noexercife of religion but it is an 
 act of juftice. whence the clear impor- 
 tance of the text is, that whatever ex- 
 cellency other perfons may pretend to, 
 the pious and religious men are the truly 
 noble and generous perfons in the world; 
 as the Pfalmifl expreffeth it, \ the faints 
 * are excellent ones in the earth.' 
 
 Now, we fhall not trouble you with 
 any further explication of the words, 
 which are fo clear, or with any divifion 
 of a propofition fo fimple; but fhall il- 
 luftrate and confirm the afTertion, by 
 producing fuch undoubted^evidences of 
 noblenefs and excellency, as are proper 
 to godlinefs, and to thofe who practife 
 it: where we may have occafion to hint 
 at fuch characters of a pious man, as, be- 
 fides the general defign, may perhaps 
 ferve to put us in mind of fome parts of 
 our duty which we are not fo careful to 
 obferve; and which therefore may be 
 ufeful even to thofe who have already 
 embraced the practice of religion. 
 
 Being to fpeak of the noblenefs and 
 
of the religious, $ 
 
 excellency of religion, it may be expec- 
 ted we fhould fay fomething of its origin 
 and extracl ; that being the whole of no- 
 bility which fome imderftand, and others 
 pretend to. we might take occafion to 
 difcover the folly of glorying in the an- 
 tiquity of an illuftrious houfe, or the 
 famed virtue of worthy anceftors, who 
 perhaps, were they alive, would difown 
 their degenerate progeny, but I fhall not 
 infift upon this ; it is a vanity which 
 hath been chaftifed fufficiently even by 
 Heathen pens, nay, we fhall fo far com- 
 ply with the common fentiments of the 
 world, as to acknowledge, that high 
 birth and liberal education may contri- 
 bute much to elevate the minds of men, 
 and accuftom them to great thoughts, 
 but fure, whatever advantages any may 
 pretend to by their birth, there are none 
 to be preferred to the children of God, 
 the blood-royal of heaven, the brethren 
 of Chrift ; of whom we may fay, that ' as 
 4 he is, fo are they, each one refembling 
 the fonof a king.* 
 
 If we trace the lines of earthfy ex- 
 traction; we fhall find them all meet in 
 A 3 
 
6 The fu[>er lor excellency 
 
 one point, all terminate in duft and earth . 
 but in the heraldry of heaven we mall 
 find a twofold pedigree, finis the off- 
 spring of hell, and i wicked men are of 
 1 their father the devil/ whofew r ork they 
 perform, on the other hand, holinefs is 
 the feed of God, and the faints have ob- 
 tained to be called * the fons of the Mofl 
 c High.' and think not thefe are empty 
 titles, and big words, to amufe the world; 
 no, they are equally juft and important, 
 pious men are really * partakers of the 
 * divine nature,' and fhall obtain an in* 
 terefl in the. inheritance which is entail- 
 ed on that relation, never were the qua- 
 lities of a parent more really derived un- 
 to their children, than the image and fi- 
 militude of the divine excellencies are 
 ftamped upon thefe heaven-born fouls : 
 fome beams of that eternal light are 
 darted in upon them, and make them 
 fhine withan eminent fplendor; and they 
 are always afpiring to a nearer conform 
 mity with him, ftill breathing after a 
 further communication of his holy fpi- 
 rit, and daily finding the power thereof 
 correcting the ruder deformities of their 
 
of the religious. y 
 
 natures, and fuperinducing the beautiful 
 delineations of God's image upon them, 
 that any who obferve them may perceive 
 their relation to God, by the excellency 
 of their deportment in the world; as will 
 clearly appear in the fequel of our dif- 
 courfe. 
 
 Having fpoken of the righteous or 
 godly man's excellency , in regard of 
 his birth and extraction, we proceed to 
 confider his qualities and endowments; 
 and fliall begin with thofe of his under- 
 ftanding, his knowledge, and wifdom. 
 thewife man tells us, that i a man of un- 
 t derftanding is of an excellent fpirit. ' 
 and fure, if any man in the world is to 
 be accounted of for knowledge, it is the 
 pious man. his knowledge is converfant 
 about the nobleft objects ; he contem- 
 plates that infinite being, whofe perfec- 
 tions can never enough be admired, but 
 dill afford new matter to nftonifh and 
 delight him, to ravifh his affections, to 
 raife his wonder, he ftudies the law of 
 God, ' which maketh him wifer than all 
 1 his teachers ' as the reverend Dr. Til- 
 lotfon hath it, u it is defervedly accoun- 
 
8 The fuperkr excellency 
 
 u ted an excellent piece of knowledge, 
 u to underftand the laws of the land, the 
 " customs of the country we live in; 
 " how much more to know the ftatutes 
 u of heaven, the eternal laws of righte- 
 u oufnefs, the will of the univerfal Mo- 
 u narch, and the cuftoms of that country 
 u where we hope to live for ever ?" and, 
 if he have a mind to the ftudies of na- 
 ture and human fcience, he is bed dif- 
 pofed for it, having his faculties cleared, 
 and his underftanding heightened by di- 
 vine contemplations. 
 
 But his knowledge doth not reft in 
 fpeculations, but direfteth his practice, 
 and determineth his choice, and he is 
 the moft prudent as well as the moft 
 knowing perfon. he knows how to fe- 
 cure his greateftintereft, to provide for 
 the longeft life, to prefer foiid treafures 
 to gilded trifles, the foul to the body, e- 
 ternity to a moment, he knoweth the 
 temper of his own fpirit; he can mode- 
 rate his paflions, and over-rule his car- 
 nal appetites: which certainly is a far 
 more important piece of wifdom, than to 
 underftand the intrigues of a ftate ; to fa* 
 
cfthe religious. 9 
 
 thom the councils of princes, to know 
 the pulfe of a people, or balance the in- 
 terefts of kingdoms, yea, piety doth 
 heighten and advance even moral pru- 
 dence itfelf; both obliging and directing 
 a man to i order his affairs with difcre- 
 ' tion : it maketh the fimple wife.' and 
 what was faid by holy David, and twice 
 repeated by his wife fon, will hold good 
 in every man's experience, that ' the fear 
 'of the Lord is the beginning of wifdom.' 
 and thus much of the knowledge and 
 wifdom wherein the righteous man ex- 
 celleth his neighbour. 
 
 AVe proceed to another of his en- 
 dowments , the greatnefs of his mind, 
 and his contempt of the world, we can 
 never take better meafures of a man's 
 fpirit, than from the things he delight- 
 eth in, and fets his heart upon : ' qualis 
 ' amor, talis animus.' to be taken up 
 with trifles , and concerned in little 
 things, is an evidence of a weak and 
 naughty mind, and fo are all wicked and 
 irreligious perfons. their thoughts are 
 confined to low and mean things; de- 
 figns of fcraping together money, 01 
 
io The fupenor excellency 
 fpending it in luxury; or of fatisfying a 
 paflion, orpleafing a luft; of obtaining 
 the favour of great ones, or the applaufe 
 of the vulgar, the greateft happinefs 
 they aim at, is, to be a matter of the 
 country where they live; to dwell in (late- 
 ly houfes, and to be backed with a train 
 of attendants; to lie foftly, and fare de- 
 licioufly , and fuch like attainments ; 
 which a wife man would think himfelf 
 unhappy if he could not defpife. 
 
 But the pious perfon hath his thoughts 
 far above thefe painted vanities ; his feli- 
 city is not patched up of fo mean fhreds ; 
 it is fimple, and comprifed in one chief 
 good : his foul advanceth itfelf by ratio- 
 nal paflions towards the author of its 
 being , the fountain of goodnefs and 
 pleafure : ' he hath none in heaven but 
 i him ; and there is none upon earth 
 *■ whom he defires befide him.' 
 
 The knowledge of nature hath been 
 reputed a good mean to enlarge the foul, 
 and breed in it a contempt of earthly en- 
 joyments, he that hath accuftomed him- 
 felf to confider the vaftnefs of the uni- 
 verfe ; and the fmall proportion which 
 
of the religious, II 
 
 the point we live in bears to the reft of 
 the world, may perhaps come to think 
 lefs of the pofTeflions of fome acres, or of 
 that fame which can at moll: fpread itfelf 
 through a fmall corner of this earth, 
 whatever be in this, fure I am that the 
 knowledge of God, and the frequent 
 thoughts of heaven, muft needs prove 
 far more effectual to elevate and aggran- 
 dize the mind, when once the foul by 
 contemplation is raifed to any right ap- 
 prehension of the divine perfections, and 
 the foretafles of celeftial blifs; how will 
 this world, and all that is in it, vanifh 
 and difappear before his eyes ! with what 
 holy difdain will he look down upon 
 things, which are the higheft objects of 
 other mens ambitious defires ! all the 
 Iplendor of courts, all the pageantry of 
 greatnefs, will no more dazzle his eyes, 
 than the faint luftre of a glow-worm 
 will trouble the eagle, after it hath been 
 beholding the fun. he is little concern- 
 ed who obtained this dignity, or that 
 fortune; who fits higheft at table, or 
 goes firft out of the door, his thoughts 
 are taken up with greater matters; how 
 
12 The fuperior excellency 
 he fhall pleafe his maker, and obtain an 
 interefl: in that land of promife, fome of 
 the fruits whereof he hath already tailed . 
 and from thence arifeth that conftant and 
 equal frame of fpirit, which the pious 
 man's mind maintains in all the changes 
 and viciflitudes of things ; while he who 
 hath not his fpirit balanced with religi- 
 ous principles, is lift up and caftdown 
 like a (hip on the fea, with every varia- 
 tion of fortune, and partakes perhaps of 
 all the motions of this inferior world , 
 whereunto his heart and affections are 
 fattened, and certainly he mud be far 
 more happy and generous both, who fit- 
 teth loofe to the world, and can with the 
 greateft calmnefs and tranquillity poiTefs 
 his own foul, while all things without 
 are in hurry andconfufion. private dif- 
 afters cannot difcompofe him, nor public 
 calamities reach him : he looks upon the 
 troubles and combuftions of the world, 
 as men do on the ruin and defolation of 
 cities wherein themfelves have little inte- 
 reft, with no other concernment than 
 that of pity, to fee men trouble them- 
 felves and others to fo little purpofe. ' fi 
 
of the religious. 13 
 
 1 fraclus illabatur orbis : ' if the world 
 fhould fhake, and the foundations of the 
 earth be removed ; yet would he reft fe- 
 cure in a full acquiefcence to the will of 
 God, and confident dependence on his 
 providence : i He (hall not be afraid of 
 * evil tidings : and his heart is fixed, 
 i trufting in the Lord.' 
 
 And this, by the affinity, will lead us 
 to another endowment, wherein the ex- 
 cellency of the righteous man doth ap- 
 pear ; and that is, that heroic magnani- 
 mity and courage wherewith he is infpir- 
 ed, and which makes him confidently at- 
 chieve the mod difficult actions, and re- 
 folutely undergo the hardeft fufferings 
 that he is called to. for this fee the e- 
 piftle to the Hebrews, chap. xi. ver. 3 3 . 
 1 Through faith fome have fubdued king- 
 € doms, &c.' this was their active cou- 
 rage; ver. 35. i others again were tor- 
 i tured/ &c. this was their paflive cou- 
 rage ; which in Chriftians is moft emi- 
 nent andufeful. true valour doth more 
 appear by fuffering than by doing; and 
 doubtlefs this is the hardeft trial of the 
 two. were it not for fuffering hardfhips, 
 B 
 
14 The fupenor excellercy 
 
 the greatefl: coward in the world would 
 be man enough for the highefl: enter- 
 prizes, it is not fo much the difficulty of 
 great actions, as the danger that attends 
 them, which makes men fear to under- 
 take them: fo that to fuffer chearfully 
 mull: be the greatefl proof of courage, 
 and fure, we may appeal to the world to 
 produce fuch eminent inftances of forti- 
 tude and refolution, as Chriftian mar- 
 tyrs have fhewn under thofe torments 
 which cannot be mentioned without hor- 
 ror, how often hath their conftancy a- 
 mazed their bloody perfecutors , and 
 outwearied the cruelties of their tormen- 
 tors ! nor was this patience per-force : 
 they might have faved themfelves that 
 trouble, by throwing a little incenfe into 
 the fire, or fpeaking a few blafphempus 
 words ; but well had they learned i not 
 c to fear thofe who can kill the body,' 
 &c. nor were they borne out by an ob- 
 flinate humour , and perverfe ftoical 
 wilfulnefs : they were neither ftupid and 
 infenfible, ncr proud and felf- conceited ; 
 but their fufferings were undertaken 
 with calmnefs, and fuftained with mo- 
 deration. 
 
of the religious. 15* 
 
 Let Heathen Rome boafl: of a Regu- 
 lus, a Decius, or fome two or three more, 
 ftimulated by a defire of glory, and per- 
 haps animated by fome fecret hopes of 
 future reward, who have devoted their 
 life to the fervice of their country, but, 
 alas ! what is this to an infinite number, 
 not only of men, but even of women 
 and children, who have died for the pro- 
 feffion of their faith ; neither feeking or 
 expecting any praife from men ? and tell 
 me who among the heathen did willing- 
 ly endure the lofs of reputation? nay, 
 that was their idol, and they could not 
 part with it. and certainly it is a great 
 meannefs of fpirit, to be overawed with 
 fear of diigrace, and depend upon the 
 thoughts of the people, true courage 
 doth equally fortify the mind againfl: all 
 thofe evils, and will make a man hazard 
 his honour, as well as other things, 
 when occafion calls for it. 
 
 Now, if the celebrated actions of the 
 heathens come fhort of true courage, 
 what (hall we fay of the furious boldnefs 
 of the hectors of our age, who pretend 
 to prowefs and gallantry by far lefs rea- 
 B 2 
 
1 6 The Juperior excellency 
 
 fonable methods? when, blinded with 
 paffion, and animated with wine, they 
 are ready enough, on half a quarrel, to 
 hazard their own, and their neighbour's 
 life, and foul too, in a duel ? yea, they 
 will not ftand to brave heaven itfelf, and 
 to provoke the Almighty by their hor- 
 rid oaths and blafphemies. and one 
 fhould think, that thefe muft needs be 
 the hardieft and mod valiant people in 
 the world ; if they are not afraid of the 
 Almighty, fure nothing elfe fhould fright 
 them, and yet you fhall find thefe very 
 perfons, when cafl: on a bed by ficknefs, 
 or brought to the fcafFold by juflice, to 
 betray a miferable faintnefs and pufilla- 
 nimity : they are forced now to think on 
 the terrors of death, and the more ter- 
 rible confequences of it; and their coun- 
 terfeit courage, being deftitute of thofe 
 props which formerly fuftained it, doth 
 now difcover its weaknefs. nor is it any 
 wonder: for what fhould make a man wil- 
 lingly leave this world, unlefs he expec- 
 ted a more happy condition in another ? 
 certainly there is nothing can fortify the 
 foul with a true and manly courage, but 
 
of the religious. 17 
 
 a confidence in God, and hopes of future 
 blefTednefs. i The wicked flee when no 
 i man purfueth ; but the righteous is bold 
 € as a lion ; ' and from that accounted 
 'more excellent than his neighbour.' 
 
 From courage and magnanimity, we 
 pafs to that which is the genuine ifTue 
 and ordinary confequent of it, the Li- 
 berty and Freedom of the righteous per- 
 fon . liberty is a privilege fo highly rated 
 by all men, that many run the greateft 
 hazards for the very name of it : but there 
 are few that enjoy it. I (hall not fpeak of 
 thofe fetters of ceremony, and chains of 
 ftate, wherewith great men are tied; 
 which makes their aclions conftrained , 
 and their converfe uneafy: this is more 
 to be pitied than blamed, but wicked 
 and irreligious perfons are under a far 
 more fhameful bondage : they are flaves 
 to their own lufts, and fuffer the vio- 
 lence and tyranny of their irregular ap- 
 petites, this is frequently talked of, but 
 feldom confidered or believed; and there- 
 fore it will not be amifs to bring an in- 
 ftance or two for the illuftration of it. 
 obferve a paffionate man, and you fliaH 
 B 3 
 
1 8 The fuperior excellency 
 
 find him frequently tranfported and o- 
 verpowered by his anger, and carried to 
 thofe extremities, of which a little time 
 makes him afhamed ; and he becomes as 
 much difpleafedwith himfelf, as formerly 
 he was with his adverfary: and yet, on 
 the next occafion, he will obey that fame 
 paflion w r hich he hath condemned, what 
 a drudge is a covetous man to his riches, 
 which take up his thoughts all the 
 daylong, and break his fleep in the 
 night ! how muft the ambitious man fawn 
 and flatter, and crofs his very humour 
 with hopes to fatisfy it ; ftocp to the 
 ground that he may afpire, courting and 
 carefling thofe whom he hates; which 
 doubtlefs is done with a great violence 
 and conftraint ! the drunkard, when he 
 awakes, and hath flept out his cups and 
 his frolic humour, and finds his head 
 aking, his ftomach qualmifh, and per- 
 haps his purfe empty, and reflects on the 
 folly and unhandfome expreffions or ac- 
 tions he may have fallen into in his 
 drink, how will he condemn himfelf for 
 that excefs i what harangues fhall we 
 have frcm him in the praife of tempo 
 
of the religious. io 
 
 ranee ! what promifes and refolutions of 
 future fobriety! and yet, on the next 
 occafion, the poor flave (hall be dragged 
 away to the tavern by thofe whom he 
 muft call his friends ; and thank them 
 who put that abufe upon him, which a 
 wife and fober perfon will rather die than 
 fuffer. further, the luxurious would fain 
 preferve or recover his health ; and to 
 this end finds it requifite to keep a tem- 
 perate and fober diet, no ; but he muft 
 not. he is prefent at a feaft, and his fu- 
 perior appetite calls for a large meafure 
 of delicious fare; and his palate muft be 
 pleafed, though the whole body fhould 
 fuffer for it : or he hath met with a lewd 
 woman; and though his whole bones 
 mould rot, ' and a dart ftrike through 
 i his liver/ yet muft he obey the com- 
 mands of his lufts: i He goeth after her 
 ' ftraightway , as the ox goeth to the 
 * (laughter, or as a fool to the correction 
 € of the flocks.' now, there can be no 
 greater evidence of flavery and bondage, 
 than thus to do what themfelves know 
 to be prejudicial, it were eafy to illus- 
 trate this bondage and thraldom of the 
 
20 The Juperior excellency 
 
 foul, in all the other inftances of vice 
 and impiety, and certainly what St. Pe- 
 ter faith of fome falfe teachers, may be 
 well applied to all wicked perfons , 
 4 While they promife freedom, they 
 4 themfelves are the fervants of corrup- 
 4 tion : for of whom a man is overcome, 
 4 of the fame is he brought in bondage.' 
 
 But the holy and religious perfon hath 
 broken thefe fetters, call off the yoke of 
 fin, and become the freeman of the Lord, 
 it is religion that reftores freedom to the 
 foul, which philofophy did pretend to : 
 it is that which doth fway and moderate 
 all thofe blind paflions and impetuous 
 affections, which elfe would hinder a 
 man from the poffefTion and enjoyment 
 of himfelf ; and makes him matter of his 
 own thoughts, motions, and defires, that 
 he may do with freedom what he judgeth 
 mod honed and convenient, and thus 
 4 the righteous excelleth his neighbour,' 
 as much as a freeman doth the bafeit 
 Have. 
 
 Another particular wherein the noble 
 nefs and excellency of religion does ap- 
 pear, is in a charitable and benign tem- 
 
of the religious. 1 1 
 
 per. there is no greater evidence of a bafe 
 and narrow foul, than for a man to have 
 all his thoughts taken up about private 
 and felfifh intereft ; and fo, if they be 
 well, not to care what becometh of the 
 reft of the world, on the other hand, an 
 extenfive charity and kindnefs, as it is 
 the one half of our religion, fo it is an e- 
 minent point of generofity. ' The righ- 
 ' teous is gracious and full of compaf- 
 i fion; he fheweth favour and lendeth ;' 
 and makes it his work to ferve mankind 
 as much as he is able, his bounty is not 
 confined to his kindred and relations, to 
 thofe of his own party and mode of re- 
 ligion : this were but a difguifed kind of 
 felf-love. it is enough to him that they 
 are Chriftians ; or, if they were not, yet 
 are they men ; and therefore deferve our 
 pity, but not our hatred or neglect, be- 
 caufe of their errors, it is true, he car- 
 ries a fpecial kindnefs for thofe in whom 
 he difcovers a principle of goodnefs and 
 virtue; in thofe excellent ones is all his 
 delight, but then, he doth not take his 
 meafure fo much from their judgment and 
 opinions, as from the integrity of their 
 life, and exaclnefs of their practices. 
 
22 The fup eri or excellency 
 
 His charity doth not exprefs itfelf in 
 one particular inftance, as that of giving 
 of alms; but is vented as many ways as 
 the variety of occafions do call for, and 
 his power can reach to. he aflifteth the 
 poor with his money, the ignorant with 
 his counfel, the afflicted with comfort, 
 the fick with the heft of his skill, all with 
 his bleffings and prayers, if he cannot 
 build hofpitals, yet he will ftudy toper- 
 fuade thofe who can : if he hath no money 
 to redeem captives, yet will he employ 
 his intereft in the court of heaven for 
 their deliverance: though he cannot re- 
 cover a dying child to the afflicted pa- 
 rents, yet will he endeavour to perfuade 
 them to fubmiffion and refignation , 
 v/hich will render them more happy; 
 and will go hard, but he will find fome 
 way, either to benefit or oblige every 
 man with whom he converfeth. let no 
 man upbraid us with the contrary prac- 
 tices of many high pretenders to religion, 
 who are notedly felfifh and churlifh per- 
 fons. we are not to defend the actions 
 of all who would be thought godly : nor 
 muft you take your meafures of piety 
 
of the religious. 23 
 
 from what you obferve in them, but 
 look through the gofpel, and you mall 
 find charity and bounty fo paffionately 
 recommended, fo frequently inculcated, 
 and fo indifpenfably required, that you 
 may eafily conclude there are no Chrifti- 
 ans in earneft, but thofe who praclife it. 
 yea, fo peculiar is this liberal and benign 
 temper to holy and religious perfons, 
 that nothing but a faint refemblance and 
 falfe imitation is to be found elfewhere 
 in the world, other mens feeming boun- 
 ty is always marred by the bafe principle 
 it proceeds from, and felfifh end it tends 
 to. the apoftle hath told us, that i a man 
 \ may give all his goods to feed the poor, 
 c and yet want charity ;' and all thefe ex- 
 pences fhall profit him nothing, impor- 
 tunity may perhaps wring fomething out 
 of his pocket, or a willingnefs to be de- 
 livered from the trouble of a miferable 
 fpedlacle; but vanity, and a defire of 
 applaufe, have ufually the greateft inte- 
 refl: in his diflributions. this made the 
 hypocrites of old proclaim their alms 
 with trumpets ; and this makes their 
 fucceffors in our times delight to have 
 
24 The fuperior excellency 
 
 their good works of this kind recorded 
 to the greateft advantage, that pofterity 
 may read them on walls and public re- 
 giflers. 
 
 To the fame principle muft we refer 
 what in the world pafTeth for a very con- 
 fiderable inftance of generofity, the keep- 
 ing of a great houfe and well-furnifhed 
 table ; which neverthelefs is more ordi- 
 narily the effect of pride and vain-glory, 
 than of humility or hofpitality. it is a 
 part of their fplendor and ftate ; and they 
 deck their tables for the fame end that 
 they put on fine cloaths, to be talked of 
 and admired in the world, you may guefs 
 it by the perfons whom they entertain ; 
 who are ufually fuch as need leaft of their 
 charity, and for whom they have many 
 times as little kindnefs or concernment, 
 as an innkeeper for his guefts : nor are 
 they lefs mercenary than he ; the one fells 
 his meat for money, the other for praife. 
 far more generous is the practice of the 
 pious man; who, as he chufeth moftto 
 benefit thofe who can make him no re- 
 compence, fo he doth not trouble the 
 world with the noifeof his charity j yea 
 
of the religious, 25: 
 
 ' his left hand knoweth not what his 
 1 right hand beftoweth : ' and that which 
 doth mod endear his bounty, is the love 
 and affection whence it proceeds. 
 
 We (hall name but one inftance mofe 
 wherein l the righteous man excelleth 
 1 his neighbour;' and that is, his vene- 
 rable temperance and purity, he hath 
 rifen above the vaporous fphere of fen- 
 fual pleafure, which darkeneth and de- 
 bafeth the mind, which fullies its luftre, 
 and abates its native vigour; while pro- 
 fane pcrfons, wallowing in impure lulls, 
 do fink themfelves below the condition 
 of men. can there be any fpark of gene- 
 rofity, any degree of excellency in him 
 who makes his belly his god, or places 
 his felicity in the embraces of a ftrumpet? 
 we fpoke before of the flavery, we fpeak 
 now of the deformity of thefe fins; and 
 mall add, that one of the mod fhameful 
 and miferable fpe&acles in the world, is, 
 to fee a man born to the ufe of reafon, 
 and perhaps to an eminent fortune, drink 
 away his religion, his reafon, his fenfe ; 
 andfo expofehimfelf to the pity of wife 
 men , the contempt of his own fer- 
 C 
 
26 The fuperior excellency 
 
 vants, the derifion of his children, and 
 fools, to every danger, and to every 
 fnare ; and that this muft pafs in the 
 eyes of many for a piece of gallantry, 
 and necefTaryaccomplifhment of a gentle- 
 man, good God ! how are the minds of 
 men poifoned with perverfe notions ? 
 what unreafonable meafures do they take 
 of things ? we may expect next they (hall 
 commend theft, and make harangues to 
 the praife of parricide ; for they are daily 
 advancing in the boldnefs of their impi- 
 eties, and with confidence avowing them, 
 other ages have praclifed wickednefs ; 
 but to ours is referved the impudence to 
 glory in them, but would men but o- 
 pen their own eyes, and give way to the 
 fentiments of their own minds, they 
 would foon alter their maxims, and dis- 
 cover die miferable deformity of vice, 
 and the amiable beauty and majefty of 
 religion : that it doth at once adorn and 
 advance the human nature, and hath in 
 it every thing generous and noble, chear- 
 ful and fpiritual, free and ingenuous; in 
 a word, that 'the righteous is more ex- 
 € cellent than his neighbour.' 
 
of the religious. 27 
 
 Before we proceed further, it will be 
 neceflary to take off fome prejudices and 
 objections that arife againfl: the noble- 
 nefs and excellency of religion, and the 
 firft is, that it injoineth lowlinefs and 
 humility ; which men ordinarily look 
 upon as an abject and bafe difpofition. 
 what ! will they fay, can ever that man 
 afpire to any thing that is excellent, 
 whofe principles oblige him to lie low 
 and grovel on the ground ; who thinks 
 nothing of himfelf, and is content that 
 all the world think nothing of him ? is 
 this a difpofition fit for any but thofe 
 whofe crofs fortune obliges them to fuf- 
 fer miferies and affronts ? fuch are mens 
 thoughts of humility /which God loves fo 
 much, that wc may fay he fenthisown 
 Son from heaven, to teach and recom- 
 mend it. but if we ponder the matter, 
 we fnall find, that arrogancyand pride 
 are the iffues of bafe and filly minds, a 
 giddinefs incident to thofe who are raif- 
 ed fuddenly to unaccu domed height : 
 nor is there any vice doth more palpably 
 defeat its own defign, depriving a man 
 C 2 
 
2 8 The fuperi:r excellency 
 
 of that honour and reputation which it 
 
 makes him aim at. 
 
 On the other hand, we mall find hu- 
 mility no filly and fneaking quality; but 
 the greateft height and fublimity of the 
 mind, and the only way to true honour : 
 * Before deflrudtion the heart of man is 
 i haughty, and before honour is humi- 
 lity. ' lowlinefs is the endowment of 
 high-born and well-educated fouls, who 
 are acquainted with the knowledge of 
 excellent things; and therefore do not 
 doat upon trifles, or admire little things 
 merely becaufe they are their own. they 
 have no fuch high opinion of riches , 
 beauty, ftrength, or other the like ad- 
 vantages , as to value themfelves for 
 them, or to defpife thofe who want them : 
 but they ftudy to furmount themfelves, 
 and all the little attainments they have 
 hitherto reached, and are (lillafpiring to 
 higher and more noble things, and it is 
 worth our notice, il that the mod deep 
 " and pure humility doth not fo much 
 <( arife from the confideration of our 
 " faults and defects, ( though that alfo 
 i€ may have its own place), as from a 
 
of the religious. 29 
 
 H calm contemplation of the divine per- 
 ■ 6 fections. by reflecting on ourfelves, 
 u we may difcover fomething of our ov/n 
 u finfulnefs and mifery; and thereby be 
 "filled with a kind ofboifterous and 
 " turbulent grief and indignation : but, 
 " by fixing our eyes on the infinite great- 
 u nefs andholinefs of God, wearemoft 
 " fully convinced of our ownmeannefs, 
 " this will fink us to the very bottom of 
 " our beings, and make us appear as no- 
 " thing in our own fight, when beheld 
 11 from Co great a height. " and this is re- 
 ally the greateft elevation of the foul ; 
 and there is nothing in the world fo 
 noble and excellent as the fubiimity of 
 humble minds. 
 
 .Another objection againft the excel- 
 lency of a religious temper, is, that the 
 love of enemies, and pardon of injuries, 
 which it includeth, is utterly inconfiltent 
 with the principles of honour, now, tho* 
 it be highly unreafonable to examine the 
 laws of our Saviour by fuch rules as this, 
 yet we fliall confider the matter a little, 
 nor fnall we feek to elude or qualify this 
 precept, as fome men do, by fuch glofles 
 C 3 
 
30 The fuperhr excellency 
 and evafions as may fuit with their own 
 practices : nay, we fhall freely profefs, 
 that there is no falvation without the 
 obfervation of it. a man had even as 
 well abandon Chriftianity, and renounce 
 his baptifm, as obftinately refufe to o- 
 bey it. but, if we have any value for 
 the judgment of the wife ft man and a 
 great king, he will tell us, that * it is the 
 
 * honour of a man to ceafe from ftrife ; 
 
 * and he that is flow to wrath, is of great 
 
 * under flan ding. ' the meek and holy 
 perfon liveth above the reach of petty 
 injuries; and blunts the edge of the 
 greateft by his patience and conftancy ; 
 and hath companion towards thofe who 
 offend him ; being more forry for the 
 prejudice they do themfelves, than for 
 that which they intended him. and let 
 all the world judge, whether it be more 
 generous to pity and love even thofe who 
 hate us ? and to pardon the greateft of- 
 fences , than peevifhly to quarrel on 
 every petty occafion, and make men fear 
 our paffion, hate our humour, and aban- 
 don our fociety ? fo that what is here 
 brought as an objection againft religion, 
 
of the religious. gi 
 
 might with reafon enough have been 
 brought as an inftance of its noblenefs. 
 
 Having thus illuftrated and confirm- 
 ed what is afferted in the text, that ' the 
 * righteous is more excellent than his 
 < neighbour; * let us improve it in a 
 check to that profane and atheiftical fpi- 
 rit of drollery and fcoffing at religion, 
 which hath got abroad in the world, a* 
 las ! do men confider what it is v/hich 
 they make the butt of their feoffs and re- 
 proaches ? have they nothing elfe to ex- 
 ercife their wit and vent their jefts up- 
 on, but that which is the moft noble and 
 excellent thing in the world ? what de- 
 fign can they propofe unto themfelves 
 by this kind of impiety ? would they 
 have religion banifhed from the face of 
 the earth, and forced to retire for fhame? 
 what a goodly world fliould we then 
 have of it ! what a fine harmony and or- 
 der of things ! certainly the earth would 
 then become a kind of hell, with tumults 
 and feditions, rapines and murders, fe- 
 cret malice, and open frauds, by every 
 vice and every calamity, 'tis only fome 
 little remainders of piety and virtue in 
 
; 2 Tkefhperhr excellency 
 
 the world that keep it in any tolerable 
 condition, or make it pofllble to be in- 
 habited, and muft not thofe be wretched 
 per Tons, and woeful enemies to man- 
 kind, who do what they can to reduce 
 the world to fuch a miferable condition ? 
 but let them do what they will ; they but 
 kick againft the pricks, religion hath fo 
 much native luftre and beauty, that, not- 
 with ftan ding all the dirt they ftudy to 
 caft upon it, all the melancholy and de- 
 formed ihapes they drefs it in, it will (till 
 attract the eyes and admiration of allfo- 
 ber and ingenuous perfons: and while 
 thefe men ftudy to make it ridiculous, 
 they mall but make themfelves fo. and 
 O ! that they would confider how dear 
 they are to pay for thofe dull and infipid 
 jefts wherewith they perfecute religion, 
 and thofe who practife it or recommend 
 it ! what thoughts they are like to have 
 of them when licknefs mall arreft, and 
 death threaten them ; when the phyfici- 
 ans have forfaken them, and the poor 
 defpifed minifter is called in, and they 
 expecting comfort from him they were 
 v tto mock ; and perhaps it is little he 
 
of the religious. 33 
 
 can afford them ! l O that they were wife, 
 1 and underftood this, that they would 
 i confider their latter end i' 
 
 There are others who have not yet 
 arrived to this height of profanenefs, to 
 laugh at all religion ; but do vent their 
 malice at thofe who are more confcienti- 
 ous and fevere than themfelves, under 
 prefumption that they are hypocrites and 
 dilTemblers. butbefides that in this they 
 may be guilty of a great deal of unchari- 
 tablenefs, it is to be fufpecled that they 
 bear fome fecret diflike to piety itfelf, 
 and hate hypocrify more for its refem- 
 blance of that, than for its own vitiouf- 
 nefs : otherwife whence comes it that 
 they do not exprefs the fame animofity 
 again ft other vices ? 
 
 Hither alfo may we refer thofe ex- 
 preflions which fometimes drop from 
 perfons not fo utterly debauched, but 
 which yet are blafphemous and profane ; 
 that this man is too holy, and that man 
 too religious ; as if it were poffible to ex- 
 ceed in thefe things, what ! can a man 
 approach too near to God ? can he be 
 too like his maker ? is it poffible to be q- 
 
34 The fuperlor excellency 
 
 ver-perfect, or over- happy? I confefs a 
 man may o vera ft fome parts of his reli- 
 gion, and be too much in fome particu- 
 lar exercifes of it, neglecting other as ne- 
 cefTary duties, but this is not an excefs 
 of piety, but a defect of difcretion. and 
 reafon would teach us rather to pardon 
 mens infirmities for their pious inclina- 
 tions, than to blame piety for their infir- 
 mities. 
 
 Let me therefore inrreat you all, efpe- 
 cially thofe whofe birth and fortunes 
 render them more confpicuous in the 
 world, to countenance holinefs, which 
 you fee is fo excellent; and beware that 
 you do not contribute to that deluge of 
 wickednefs that overfloweth the earth, 
 by fcoffing at the mod ferious things in 
 the world, and, if I obtain this, I (hall 
 make bold to beg one thing more, but 
 it is in your own favours; that you would 
 alfo abandon every kind of impiety in 
 your own practice, fincein it every vile 
 ruffian may vie and contend with you. 
 in other cafes you forfake modes and 
 cuftoms when they become common, 
 wickednefs is now the mod vulgar and 
 
of the religious. 35* 
 
 ordinary tiling in the world, fhift, I be- 
 fcech you, the fafhion, and embrace pie- 
 ty and virtue ; wherein none but excel- 
 lent perfons (hall rival you. learn to a- 
 dore your Maker: and think it not below 
 you to (land in awe of him who can rend 
 the heavens, and make the foundations 
 of the earth (hake; who needs but to 
 withdraw his mercies to make you mife- 
 rable, or his affiftance to reduce you to 
 nothing, ftudy to ennoble your fouls 
 with folid knowledge and true wifdom ; 
 with an eminent greatnefs of mind, and 
 contempt of the world ; a great liberty 
 and freedom of fpirit ; an undaunted 
 magnanimity and courage ; an extenfive 
 charity and goodnefs ; a venerable tem- 
 perance and purity ; an amiable meek- 
 nefs and humility: fo mall you render 
 yourfelves honourable, ' and more ex- 
 i cellent than your neighbours ■ in this 
 world; and be partakers of immortal 
 honour and glory in the world to come. 
 Amen. 
 
3 6 The indifpenfallc duty 
 
 The indispensable duty of 
 loving ourenemies, 
 
 Luke vi. 27. 
 
 But 1 fay unto you which hear, Love your 
 
 enemies, 
 
 WHile we travel through the wil- 
 dernefs of this world, much of 
 the comfort of our pilgrimage depends 
 on the good correfpondence, and mutu- 
 al fervices and endearments of our fel- 
 low-travellers, therefore our bleffed Sa- 
 viour, whofe precepts are all intended 
 for our perfection and felicity, fitted to 
 procure to us both the good things of 
 this world, and that which is to come, 
 has taken efpecialcare to join and unite 
 the minds of men in the Itrifleft bonds 
 of friend fliip and love, he hath been at 
 great pains by his precepts and by his 
 example , by earned perfuafions and 
 powerful motives, to fmoorh our rugged 
 humours, and calm our paffions, and 
 take off the roughnefs and afperity from 
 our natures, which hinders us from join- 
 
of loving our enemies* 37 
 
 ing and cementing together, now, were 
 we to converfe with none but fuch as 
 are Chriftians in earned, we (hould find 
 it no hard matter to live in concord and 
 love ; we mould meet with no occafion 
 of quarrel and contention; and mould 
 only be obliged to love our friends, be- 
 "caufe all men would be fuch. but well 
 did our Saviour know, that his part was 
 to be but fmall in the world ; that many 
 would oppofe the profeflion, and many 
 more would neglect the practice of that 
 religion which he taught; and that his 
 followers, befides common injuries in- 
 cident to others, were to meet with much 
 enmity and hatred for their mailer's 
 fake : and therefore, that, amidft all thefe 
 dorms, they might maintain that con- 
 dant ferene tranquillity; that amiable 
 fweetnefs and benignity of fpirit, with- 
 out which they could neither be like him, 
 nor happy in themfelves, he was pleafed 
 to injoin fuch an ardent affection and 
 charity towards all men, as no neglect 
 can cool, no injury can extinguifh. to 
 love thofe who have obliged us, is that 
 which nature might teach, and wicked 
 D 
 
38 The hdifpenjable duty 
 
 men pradYife; to favour thofe who have 
 never wronged us, is but a piece of com- 
 mon humanity: but our religion re- 
 quires us to extend our kindnefs even 
 to thofe who have injured and abufed 
 us, and who continue to do and wifh us 
 mifchief ; and that we never defign any 
 other revenge againft our moft bitter 
 and inveterate enemies, than to wifh 
 them well, and do them all the good we 
 can, whether they will or not : for un- 
 to i thofe that hear him,' our Saviour 
 faith, i Love your enemies.' 
 
 But, alas ! how little is this minded 
 by the greater part of thofe who call 
 themfelves Chriftians! other precepts 
 are broken and flighted, but this induf- 
 trioufly baffled and difcredited by us. in 
 other cafes we acknowledge our fault, 
 but ftudy to qualify and excufe it by the 
 frailty of our nature, or violence of a 
 temptation: (We are all finners; it is 
 a fault indeed; but who can help it?) 
 now, though thefe excufes, God knows, 
 are very frivolous, and will be of no 
 force in the great day of our accounts ; 
 yet they imply fomething of modefty 
 
of loving our enemies. 39 
 
 and ingenuous acknowledgment; and 
 men may repent and forfake what they 
 already condemn, but in the inftance of 
 loving enemies, and pardoning offences, 
 many are fo bold and impudent, that, 
 inftead of obeying, they quarrel with the 
 law as impoffibleor unjufl; palling fen- 
 tence upon that by which themfelves 
 muft be judged, how unreafonable is it 
 (fay diey) that we mould love thofe that 
 hate us ? what congruity between that 
 act and thofe objects ? can cold fnow 
 produce heat, or enmity beget affection? 
 muft we be infenfible of the injuries we 
 meet with, or reward him that offers 
 them ? muft we dilTolve the principles 
 of our nature, and ceafe to be men, that 
 we may become Chriftians ? theie, and 
 fuch like, are either the expreflions or 
 thoughts of too many among us; and 
 either Chrift muft come down in his of- 
 fers, and remit fomewhat of the rigour 
 of his laws, or elfe all the promifes of 
 thegofpel, all the pleafures of the other 
 world, fhall not engage them to his obe- 
 dience, they will rather chufe to burn 
 in eternal flames of fury and difcord, 
 D 2 
 
40 The indifpenfabls duty 
 
 than live at peace with thofe that have 
 
 wronged them. 
 
 It can therefore never be unfeaibnable 
 to prefs a duty fo very neceflary, yet fo 
 much neglected, the text I have chofen 
 for this purpofe, is very plain and clear : 
 ' Love your enemies.' but, becaufe ma- 
 ny do drain the precept to fome fuch 
 fenfe as may fuit with their own prac- 
 tice, we mallfirft fearch into the impor- 
 tance of it, and then perfuade you to 
 perform it. the full meaning and im- 
 portance of the precept will appear, if we 
 confider, i ft, who they are whom we are 
 commanded to love ; and, sdly, wherein 
 the love we owe them does confift. 
 
 The perfons whom we are command- 
 ed to love, are called our Enemies, and, 
 left we fhould mi flake them, they are 
 clearly defcribed in the following words, 
 the fountain of their enmity is within, 
 they are thofe i who hate us;' who envy 
 our happinefs, who wifh our mifery, and 
 abhor our perfons and fociety. but, were 
 this fire kept within their breaft, it might 
 well fcorch themfelves, it could not pre- 
 judice us : but € out of the abundance of 
 
of loving our enemies. 4.L 
 
 ' the heart the mouth fpeaketh;' their 
 malice doth fharpen their tongues, they 
 are further defcribed as thofe that ' curfe 
 us;' they vent their wrath in oaths and 
 imprecations, fecret calumnies, and o- 
 pen reproaches, nor are their hands al- 
 ways bound up ; they 6 ufe us defpiteful- 
 ly,' and procure us mifchief. now, if our 
 love mu ft be extended to allthefe,wefhall 
 hardly find any whom we dare fafely ex- 
 clude, of our private enemies there can 
 be no queftion. but what (hall be faid of 
 the enemies of our country, and of our 
 religion ? firft, for the enemies of our 
 country, I fee no warrant to exclude 
 them from our charity, we may indeed 
 lawfully oppofe their violent invafion, 
 and defend our rights with the fword, 
 under the banner of the public magi- 
 strate, to whom fuch authority is com- 
 mitted : but all this may be done with 
 as little malice and hatred as a judge 
 may punifh a malefaclor ; the General 
 may be as void of paflion, as a Lord Chief 
 Juftice ; and the foldier, as the excutio- 
 ner. but charity will oblige a prince ne- 
 ver to have recourfe to the fword, till 
 
 r>3 
 
42 The indifpenfable duly 
 
 all other remedies fail ; to blunt the edge 
 of war, by fparing as much as may be 
 the fhedding of innocent blood, with 
 all other barbarities that ufe to accom- 
 pany it ; and to accept of any reafon- 
 able capitulation. 
 
 We come next to the enemies of our 
 religion, and indeed there are many who 
 are fo far from thinking them to be a- 
 mong the number of thofe whom they 
 are obliged to love, that they look upon 
 it as a part of their duty to hate and 
 malign them, their zeal is continually 
 venting itfelf in fierce invectives againft 
 Antichrift, and every thing they are 
 pleafed to call Antichriftian : and they 
 are ready to apply all the prophecies 
 and imprecations of the Old Teftament, 
 in their very prayers, againft thofe that 
 differ from them, and ordinarily the 
 animofities are greater!: where the diffe- 
 rences are leaft ; and one party of a re- 
 formed church fhall be more incenfed 
 againft another, than either againft the 
 fuperftition and tyranny of Rome, or 
 the carnality of the Mahometan faith. 
 yea ; perhaps ; you may find fome who 
 
of loving our enemies . 4 3 
 
 agree in opinion, and only differ in &• 
 veral ways of exprefling the fame thing, 
 and yet can fcarce look on one another 
 without difpleafure and averfion. but, 
 alas ! how much do thefe men difparage 
 that religion for which they appear fo 
 zealous ! how much do they miftake the 
 fpirit of Chriilianity ! are the perfons 
 whom they hate, greater enemies to re- 
 ligion, than thofe who perfecuted thea- 
 poftles and martyrs for profeffing it ? 
 and yet thefe were the perfons whom 
 our Saviour commanded his difciples to 
 love : and himfelf did pray for thofe 
 that crucified him ; and feverely check- 
 ed the difciples, when, by a precedent 
 brought from the Old Teftament, they 
 would have called for fire from heaven 
 on thofe who would not receive them ; 
 telling them, € they knew not what fpirit 
 1 they were of:* i. e. they did not con- 
 fider by what fpirit they were prompted 
 to fuch cruel inclinations ; or, as others 
 explain it, they did not yet fufficient- 
 ly underftand the temper and genius of 
 Chriftianity ; which is ' pure and peace- 
 ' able, gentle and meek \ full of fweet- 
 
44 The indljpenfable duty 
 
 c nefs, and full of love.' if men Would- 
 impartially examine their hatred and 
 animofities againft the enemies of their 
 religion, I fear they would find them 
 proceed from a principle which them- 
 selves would not willingly own. pride 
 and felf-conceit will make a man difdain 
 thofe of a different perfuafion ; and think 
 it a difparagement to his judgment, that 
 any mould differ from it. mere nature 
 and felf-love will make a man hate thofe 
 who oppofe the interefr and advance- 
 ment of that party which himfelf has 
 efpoufed. hence men are many times 
 more difpleafed at feme fmall miftakes 
 in judgment, than the greateft immora- 
 lities in practice; yea, perhaps, they 
 will find a fecret pleafure, and wicked 
 Satisfaction, in hearing or reporting the 
 faults or fcandals of their adverfaries. 
 certainly the power of religion, rightly 
 prevailing in the foul, would mould us 
 into another temper : it would teach us 
 to love and pity, and pray for the per- 
 fon, as well as hate and condemn the 
 errors they are fuppofed to efpoufe : it 
 would make us wifh their converfion, 
 
of loving our enemies, 45- 
 
 rather than their confufion ; and be more 
 defirous that God would fit them for an- 
 other world, than that he would take 
 them out of this, we may indeed wifh 
 the difappointment of their wicked pur- 
 pofes; for this is charity to them, to 
 keep them from being the unhappy in- 
 flruments of mifchief in the world : but 
 he that can wifh plagues and ruin to 
 their perfons, and delights in their fins, 
 or in their mifery, hath more of the de- 
 vil than the Chriftian. 
 
 Thus you have feen who thofe ene- 
 mies are to whom our charity muft be 
 extended, it follows to be confidered, 
 what is the nature of the love we owe 
 them. I fhall not now fpend your time 
 in any nice or curious fpeculations a- 
 bout the nature of this mafter-paffion. 
 it is the prime affection of the foul, 
 which gives meafures, and fets bounds 
 to all the reft ; every man's hatred, grief, 
 and joy, depending upon, and flowing 
 from his love. I (hall now only obferve 
 to you, that there is a fenfible kind of 
 love, a certain tendernefs and melting 
 affection implanted in us by nature to- 
 
46 The indijpenfable duty 
 
 wards our neareft relations, on purpofe 
 to engage us to thofe peculiar fervices 
 we owe them ; and there is an intimacy 
 and delightful union betwixt friends, a- 
 rifing from fome efpecial fympathy of 
 humours, and referring to the mainte- 
 nance of fuch correfpondencies. thefe 
 are not always at our command; nor 
 are we obliged to love either ftrangers 
 or enemies at this rate, it is not to be 
 expected, that at firfl: fight of a perfon 
 who hath nothing Angularly taking, we 
 mould find fuch a fpecial kindnefs and 
 tendernefs ariflng for him in our hearts ; 
 much lefs can fondnefs and paffionate 
 affection proceed from the fenfe of any 
 harm received from him. the command 
 in the text does not amount to this, 
 (though there be a great advantage in a 
 tender and affectionate difpofition, both 
 to fecure and facilitate our duty) ; but 
 we are certainly obliged to fuch a fin- 
 cere and cordial good-will to all men, 
 as will incline us to perform all the 
 good offices we can, even to thofe who 
 have offended us. but the nature and 
 raeafures of this love will more fully 
 
cf loving our enemies* 47 
 
 appear, if we confider what it does ex- 
 clude, and what it does imply. 
 
 Firft, then, it excludes all harfh 
 thoughts and groundlefs fufpicions. the 
 apoftleteIlethus,that ( charity thinketh 
 1 no evil; that it hopeth all things, be- 
 € lieveth all things.' to entertain, with 
 pleafure, every bad report of thofewho 
 have offended us, and to put the worft 
 conftruftion on their doubtful aclions, 
 is both a clear evidence of our hatred, 
 and an unhappy method to continue it, 
 were once the love we recommend feat- 
 ed in the foul, it would foon cafl: out 
 thofe reftlefs jealoufies, four fufpicions, 
 harfh fnrmifes,and imbittered thoughts; 
 and difplay itfelf in a more candid and 
 gentle difpofition ; in fair glofles, and 
 friendly cenfures ; in a favourable exte- 
 nuation of greater faults, and covering 
 of leffer. it would make a man inter- 
 pret all things in the bed meaning they 
 are capable of; and chufe rather to be 
 miftaken to his own prejudice, by a too 
 favourable opinion, than to his neigh- 
 bour's, by a groundlefs jealoufy. and 
 
4S The indifpenfablc duty 
 
 even in this fenfe it may be, that l cha- 
 
 c rity covereth a multitude of fins,' 
 
 Again, the love which we owe to e- 
 nemies, excludes all caufelefs and im- 
 moderate anger : ' it fuffereth long, and 
 6 is not eafily provoked ; endureth all 
 € things.' our Saviour tells us , that 
 € whofo is angry with his brother with- 
 < out a caufe, mail be in danger of the 
 'judgment;' and if his anger exceed 
 the caufe, he is equally guilty, all anger 
 is not vitious ; we may be angry, and 
 not fin. this paflion, as all others im- 
 planted in us by God, is innocent when 
 kept within its due bounds : it has its 
 proper office in the mind, as the fpleen 
 in the body ; but its excefs and diftem- 
 per fwells into a difeafe. to make it al- 
 lowable, it mult not exceed the value of 
 the caufe, nor the proportion of the cir- 
 cumftances. it muft be governed by dif- 
 cretion, and kept within the bounds of 
 reafon, that it break not forth into in- 
 decent expreflions,or violent and blame- 
 able actions, and further, it muft not 
 be too permanent and lafting ; we muft 
 not let the fun fet upon our anger. 
 
of loving our enemies. 49 
 
 Plutarch tells us, that the Pythagoreans 
 were careful to obferve the very letter of 
 this precept: for if anger had boiled up 
 to the height of an injury or reproach, 
 before funfet they would falute each o* 
 ther, and renew their friendfliip ; they 
 were afhamed that the fame anger which 
 had difturbed the counfels of the day, 
 (hould alfo trouble the quiet and repofe 
 of the night, left, mingling with their 
 reft and dreams, it mould become pre- 
 valent and habitual in them, and, fure, 
 we owe an infinitely greater deference to 
 the precepts of our blefled Saviour, and 
 his holy apoftles, than they did to their 
 mafter's reafonings and advices, and 
 though we mould not take this precept 
 in its ftricleft and literal fignification, 
 yet this we muft know, that tne fame 
 paffion and refentment which was inno- 
 cent and rational in its firft rife, may 
 become vitious and criminal by its con- 
 tinuance, anger may kindle in the bread 
 of a wife man, but i refts only in the bo- 
 < fom of a fool.' and this will lead us to 
 a third thing which the precept in our 
 text does condemn. 
 E 
 
jo The indifpenfable duty 
 
 The love of enemies here command- 
 ed, does exclude all rooted malice and 
 rancour, proceeding from the memory 
 and refentment of injuries, after the pre- 
 judice and harm fuftained by them is o- 
 ver. certainly there is nothing more con- 
 trary to chanty, than a peevifh rumina- 
 ting and poring on the offences we have 
 met with ; and their memories are very 
 ill employed, who feldom remember a 
 courtefy , or forget a wrong, it is ordi- 
 nary for fome who dare not profefs in- 
 tentions of revenge, toexprefs their re- 
 fentment in fome fuch threatening as 
 this : That they will forgive the injury, 
 but never forget it. I hope they do not 
 mean, they will pafs it at this time, and 
 revenge it afterward, this would but 
 make the fin the greater, by being more 
 deliberate, is it then that they intend 
 them no harm, but will ceafe to do them 
 good ? this is a lame and im perfect cha- 
 rity ; exprefsly contradictory to the pre- 
 cept in the text, injoining us l to blefs 
 € them that curfe us, to do good to them 
 4 that hate us, and to pray for them that 
 € defpitefully ufeus.' nor mufl we expect 
 
of loving our enemies. $i 
 
 the bleffing of God, if this be all we al- 
 low to others; ' for with what meafure 
 * we mete, it fhall be meafured to us a- 
 1 gain.' there is but one way we may 
 lawfully remember an injury; and that 
 is fo as to be more cautious in trufling 
 one who hath deceived us, or expofing 
 ourfelves to the power of him who hath 
 wronged us. in this cafe religion does 
 allow and direct us to join the ferpent's 
 wifdom with the dove's innocency. but 
 then, I am fure, it is neither necefTary 
 nor fit to threaten thofe who have 
 wronged us, with our refolutions to re- 
 member the injury, we may be as cau- 
 tious as we pleafe without it ; and thofe 
 threats do nothing but rankle and dif- 
 pleafe our adverfary, which ought to be 
 no part of a Chriftian's defign. a meek 
 and charitable perfon will be loth to 
 have his memory infefted , and his 
 thoughts foured with refentment of 
 wrongs: and if they occur to his mind, 
 he will make no other ufeof them, than 
 to put himfelf on his guard ; unlefs from 
 thence he take occafion to benefit and 
 oblige the perfon who has offended him, 
 E 2 
 
5 2 The indijpenfable duty 
 
 and, as our text exprefsly directs, to 
 * do him good, to blefs and pray for 
 1 him.' 
 
 Again, This precept does exclude and 
 prohibit the taking or procuring any re- 
 venge, by revenge, we mean fuch a 
 fimple evil done to our adverfary ,as does 
 bring no real benefit or reparation to 
 ourfelves. For certainly it is not unlaw- 
 ful to feek the reparation of our own 
 right by an authorifed judge, nor yet to 
 provide for the public fecurity by the pu- 
 nifhment of offenders, unlefs fome fpe- 
 cial circumftance makes it fo. this may 
 many times be done without prejudice or 
 hatred ,yea with great kindnefs and com- 
 panion towards the perfon of the offen- 
 der, but, if we have any charity or love 
 to our adverfaries, we mall be really af- 
 flicted with the evil that befals them; and 
 therefore will never willingly procure 
 ourfelves that trouble by inflicting it on 
 them, it is an evidence of a wicked and 
 malicious humour, to pleafe ourfelves in 
 the mifery of another, or delight in an 
 evil that brings us no good, whatever 
 latitude the Jews either had or pretend- 
 
of loving our enemies. $% 
 
 ed to, it is not lawful for us to defire * eye 
 € for eye, or tooth for tooth/ unlefs we 
 could fay, that his eye would ferve our 
 head, or his hand fit our arm, or his pain 
 allay our torment, which he had procu- 
 red to us. 
 
 From hence we may judge what is to 
 be thought of thofe who are ready to re- 
 venge the fmalleft injury, even an unci- 
 vil expreflion, with the death of the of- 
 fender; never being fatisfied till they 
 have ventured two lives, and as many 
 fouls in the combat : a thing which fhculd 
 not be named among Chriftians, but with 
 the fame deteftation we have againft the 
 vileft actions; for whatever colours of 
 bravery or gallantry it may be painted 
 with, it is really nothing elfe than a more 
 fpecious and formal kind of murder, nor 
 does it differ from the bafeft afTaffinati- 
 on, fave only in this, with the wicked- 
 nefs of attempting another's life it joins 
 the rafhnefs and folly of expofing our 
 own. 
 
 Laftly, The love which we owe our 
 enemies, does exclude all fupercilious 
 and fcornful contempt and neglecl of 
 E3 
 
54 3^ indifpenfdble duty 
 
 them, which I mark the rather, becaufe 
 fome think they have fufficiently obey- 
 ed the precept, if they overlook an in- 
 jury, as thinking the perfon below their 
 revenge, mean while their corrupt na- 
 ture relifhes as much pleafure in the 
 fcorn and difdain of their enemies, as it 
 could in the revenge of the injury : their 
 wicked humours are not flarved, but on- 
 ly change their diet, of this nature was 
 the anfwer of the philofopher, to fome 
 who incited and provoked him to re- 
 venge, ' If an afs kick me, fhall I kick 
 4 him again ? * this is but a lame and 
 "mifhapen charity; it hath more of pride 
 than goodnefs. we fhould learn of the 
 holy Jefus, who was not only ' meek, 
 * but lowly.' we fhould contemn the in- 
 jury, and pity theweaknefs, but fhould 
 not difdain or defpife the perfons of our 
 enemies. u Charity vaunteth not her- 
 " fdf,is not puffed up, doth not behave 
 f* herfelf unfeemly." 
 
 Having thus difcovered thofe things 
 which are Inconfiftent with charity, and 
 excluded by the c love of enemies/ it 
 
of loving our enemies. 5-5- 
 
 remains that we (hew what it does im- 
 port and require. 
 
 Firft, then, it imports an inward 
 kindnefs and affection; which if it does 
 not amount to that paflionate tendernefs 
 which we have for our near relations and 
 intimate friends, yet it implies a good- 
 will towards them, and friendly con- 
 cernment in their intereft. ifwelovean 
 enemy, we (hall wifh his welfare, and re- 
 joice in it, and be unfeignedly forry 
 for any difafter that befals him ; fo far 
 fhall we be from rejoicing in his mif- 
 fortunes. and certainly, had we a right 
 fenfe of things, we fhould be more trou- 
 bled for the harm which our enemy does 
 to his own foul by wronging us, than for 
 the prejudice we fuftain by him: our 
 compaflion towards him would dimi- 
 nifh, if not altogether fwallow up the re- 
 fen tment of what we fuffer from him. 
 
 But our kindnefs and good-will to- 
 wards our enemies muft not reft in emp- 
 ty wi(hes,but exprefs itfelf in kind words 
 and friendly actions, when we fpeak to 
 our enemy, it muft be in fuch fmooth, 
 difcreet,and obliging terms, as aremoft 
 
$6 The indijpenfable duty 
 
 like to mollify and gain him; that by 
 ' foft anfwers ' we may t turn away his 
 1 wrath/ and fhun all ' grievous words, 
 4 which ftir up anger.' when we fpeak of 
 him, it mould be as advantageoufly as 
 we can with truth, concealing or quali- 
 fying his faults, and praifing whatever 
 is good in him. and fure he muft be An- 
 gularly bad in whom we can find nothing 
 to commend. 
 
 Again, We muft perform for them all 
 thofe good offices which their neceffities 
 call for, and our power can reach. i Da 
 ' good to them that hate you.' if our 
 1 enemy hunger, we muft feed him ; if 
 1 he thirft, we muft give him drink : fa 
 ' (hall we heap coals of fire upon his 
 * head,' to mollify his obdurate temper, 
 and overcome his evil by our good ; 
 but not to aggravate his guilt and pu- 
 nifhment, as fome miftake the words : 
 for though that be many times theifTue, 
 yet ought it not to be any part of our 
 defign. 
 
 Laftly, Becaufe all that we can do for 
 the good of enemies fignifies little, we 
 muft employ our intereft in the court of 
 
of lovhig our enemies* 5 7 
 
 heaven in their behalf, begging of God, 
 that he would turn their hearts to him- 
 felf and to us, and blefs them with the 
 pardon of all their fins, particularly the 
 wrongs they have done to ourfelves,and 
 with all things necelTary for their prefent 
 welfare, or future happinefs. ' Pray for 
 * them that defpitefully ufe you.* And 
 this is the fureft evidence of our chari- 
 ty to them, mild words may be defign'd 
 as a fnare to intrap them, and courtefy 
 may be done them to ferve our vanity,or a 
 generous kind of pride; which may make 
 us delight to have our enemy indebted to 
 us, as knowing that it is more glorious 
 in the eyes of the world to raife a fal- 
 len adverfary, than to trample on him. 
 but it muft be only obedience to God's 
 commands, and fincere love to our ene- 
 my, which can make us take him into 
 our clofet, and into our heart ; to (hare 
 our prayers with him, and make him 
 partake of the fruits of our devotion ; 
 and to have that fame concernment for 
 his interefts as for our own, at once re- 
 commending them both to our heaven- 
 ly Father. 
 
53 The hdifpenfable duly 
 
 By this time I hope you underftand 
 the importance of this precept of our Sa- 
 viour, * Love your enemies:' it re- 
 mains, that we exhort you to the per- 
 formance, and I fliall begin with an ar- 
 gument, which may be of force to give 
 the fir ft aflault to our rebellious inclina- 
 tions, and make way for further and 
 more mild perfuafions ; and it fhall be, 
 the indifpenfable neceffity of the duty. 
 we muft not look upon this as a matter 
 which we may do or omit at pleafure ; 
 nor yet as a counfel of perfection, highly 
 commendable, but not abfolutelynecefTa- 
 ry to falvation. it is as indifpenfably re- 
 quired as any other duty of our religion; 
 and he who refolves not to obey in this 
 inftance, may renounce his baptifm, and 
 abandon Chriftianity. none can efcape 
 the obligation of the precept, unlefs he 
 be fo rarely happy as to have no ene- 
 mies; nor muft any think to redeem 
 themfelvesfrom this by fome other per- 
 formance, let our opinions be never fo 
 orthodox, and our zeal in maintaining 
 them never fo fervent; letour prayersbe 
 never fo frequent, and all our difcourfes 
 
of loving our enemies. 5*9 
 
 ravifhing; let our other attainments be 
 never fo great, and our confidence of our 
 falvation never fo (Irong: yet, if we re- 
 fufe to obey this precept, we are none of 
 ChrihVs difciples ; or, in the words of the 
 apoftle, we may fay, ' Though I fpeak 
 
 * with the tongues of men and angels ; 
 i though I have the gift of prophecy,and 
 i understand all myfleries, and all know- 
 1 ledge ; and though I beftow all my 
 
 * goods to feed the poor; yea though I 
 ' give my body to be burned, and have 
 
 * not this charity* and love, even to 
 mine enemies, l it profiteth me nothing.' 
 and our Saviour himfelf tells us in ex- 
 prefs terms, that unlefs we forgive o- 
 
 * thers their trefpafTes, neither will God 
 € forgive us ours.' yea he hath taught us 
 to pray for pardon, in fuch terms as im- 
 ports a dreadful curfe upon ourfelves, if 
 we are malicious and revengeful, while 
 we beg that God would pardon us in the 
 fame manner that we pardon thofe who 
 fin againft us; fnbfcribing, as it were, 
 with our own hands, and confirming 
 out of our own mouths, that fentence 
 which (hall be pronounced againft us j 
 
60 The hidifpenjable duty 
 
 for even fo will ' God forgive us.' i. e. 
 he will take vengeance on us, if we have 
 dealt fo with others, and as thofe who 
 do not love their enemies, do beg their 
 own condemnation in prayer; fo alfo 
 * they eat and drink' it in the holy fa- 
 crament. and men are commonly fo far 
 convinced of this, that many chufe to 
 keep back from the table of the Lord, 
 that they may more freely entertain their 
 animofities. but, alas! what a folly and 
 madnefs this is ! think they to excufe 
 a fin by the neglecl of a duty ? or can 
 they put off death, as they do the parti- 
 cipation of the facrament ? or can they 
 hope to be admitted into the eternal en- 
 joyment of God, if they mould die in 
 that malice, which renders them unfit 
 to approach unto him in that holy ordi- 
 nance ? do not deceive yourfelves : ne- 
 ver (hall any enter into thofe blefled 
 manfions, thofe regions of peace and 
 love, whofe heart is not firft infpired 
 with charity, and foftened into a com- 
 pliance with this very precept, and it 
 were as abfurd, to think that a man may 
 be malicious and revengeful all his days, 
 
of loving our enemies. ^t 
 
 and yet go to heaven, there to learn 
 meeknefs and chanty, as to think that 
 a man may be luxurious and difhoneffc 
 in this world, and become temperate, 
 and honeft, and happy in the other, in 
 a word, whatever fhifts we may make to 
 deceive ourfelves,the command is clear 
 and exprefs, the fanclion fevere and 
 peremptory; we have but our choice of 
 thefe two, ' love of enemies,' or i dam* 
 ' nation.' 
 
 Nor can this feem unreafonable to 
 any who confiders, that God is the au- 
 thor of our natures, the creator of all 
 our faculties; and therefore may juftly 
 rule our inclinations, and difpofeof our 
 love and affection : and yet he is con- 
 tent (if I may fo fpeak) to bargain with 
 us, and to buy off our natural, or ra- 
 ther wicked refentments ; offering us his 
 own mercy and favour, freedom from 
 hell, and everlaftinghappinefs, on this, 
 amongfl: other conditions, that we i love 
 i our enemies.' 
 
 Nay, farther', the duty is in itfelf fo 
 reafonable, that the more fober of the 
 Heathens, who had nothing above rea- 
 F 
 
61 The indifpenfable duty 
 
 fon to teach them, have acknowledged 
 it, if not as neceffary, yet as highly be- 
 coming, and an eminent inftance of a 
 virtuous and generous mind. Plato 
 could fay, That i injury is by no means 
 f to be done, nor to be repaid to him 
 c that has done it.' and when a malici- 
 ous perfon faid to Zeno c Let me perifh 
 ' if I don't do you a mifchief;* his an- 
 fwer was, i Let me perifh if I don't re- 
 € conciie thee to me.' Antoninus tells 
 us frequently, i That all reafonablecrea- 
 1 tures are born for one another; and 
 4 that it is the part of juftice to bear 
 4 with others: that it is through igno- 
 * ranee they offend us, as not knowing 
 4 the right way to their own happinefs ; 
 4 and therefore we mould rather inflrudt 
 4 them better, than hate them : that the 
 ' befl: kind of revenge is, not to become 
 c like them in wickednefs and malice.' 
 and many other excellent arguments 
 does that Royal philofopher biing to the 
 fame purpofe. and Plutarch gives this 
 as one of the reafons why God is fo flow 
 in punifliing wicked perfons, that we 
 snay ' learn meeknefs and patience by 
 
of loving our enemies. 6% 
 
 ' his example •/ adding that excellent 
 obfervation, That i our greateft happi- 
 
 * nefs and perfection confifts in the imi- 
 1 tation of our Maker. 
 
 But, to leave the teflimonies of Hea- 
 thens, the obligation of this precept of 
 loving our enemies may be deduced 
 from another, which every man will ac- 
 knowledge to be highly reafonable, the 
 ' doing to others what we would have 
 c done to ourfelves/ every one of us 
 defires to be loved and cherifhed by o- 
 thers; to have our faults pardoned, our 
 failings overlooked, and our neceffities 
 fupplied. or, if any be fo haughty and 
 ftubborn, that they difdain a courtefy 
 from an enemy ; yet I hope there is none 
 fomad, but he defires the favour of God; 
 whofe hatred hedeferves infinitely more, 
 than his moft bitter enemy can deferve 
 his. how then can we think it unreafon- 
 able, to allow that to others, which our- 
 felves expect and defire ? Can we look 
 that ' our matter fhould forgive us ten 
 
 * thoufand talents,' if we take f ourfel- 
 
 * low-fervant by the throat, and hale 
 him into prifonforonehundredpenceJ* 
 
 F2 
 
<>4 The tndifpenjable duty 
 
 or with what confidence can we fay, 
 4 Pardon our fins/ unlefs we be willing 
 to add, that * we pardon thofe who fin 
 * againft us ?' certainly, if it is reafon- 
 ableto feek pardon, it is juft and equi- 
 table to give it: and nothing but blind 
 felfiihnefs, and extravagant partiality, 
 can teach us to make fo unreafonable a 
 difference betwixt ourfelves and others. 
 Again,The reafonablenefs of this du- 
 ty will farther appear, if we compare it 
 with that malice and revenge which it 
 does oppofe. can there be any thing 
 more againft natural reafon, than to de- 
 light in an evil which can bring no be- 
 nefit to us ? yet this is the very nature 
 and eiTence of revenge : for, if the da- 
 mage we fuftain can be repaired, it is no 
 revenge to feek it; and, if it cannot, it 
 does noway alleviate the evil of the ac- 
 cident, that we draw him that caufed it 
 into as great amifery: nay, unlefs we 
 are unnatural, and without bowels, it 
 will augment our trouble to fee any evil 
 befal him. and he is a miferable perfon 
 indeed, whofe delight is in mifchief, 
 whofe good is the evil of his neighbour. 
 
of loving our enemies. 6$ 
 
 yea, I may fay, that he who returns an 
 injury, is many times more unreason- 
 able than he who offered it : for he who 
 firft wrongs another, hath commonly 
 fome temptation of advantage by it ; 
 which revenge cannot pretend to. but 
 if he has done it out of mere malice, yet 
 he is not worfe than the other who re- 
 turns it; there being as much phantaf- 
 tic pleafure in fpite, as in revenge : both 
 are alike miferable and extravagant. 
 
 And who are they again ft whom we 
 bend our malice and revenge? are they 
 not men, partakers of the fame nature, 
 defcended from the fame ftock with our- 
 felves, fellow- citizens with us in this 
 world, and with whom we mould hope to 
 live for ever in a better? and mould w r enot 
 bear much with thofe who are fo nearly 
 related to us ? nay more, they are the 
 workmanfhip of God's hands, and, for 
 any thing we know, either are, or may 
 become his children and friends : and 
 dare we pretend any love to God, if we 
 do not fpare them for his fake ? and, 
 laftly, if they have done us any real 
 wrong; they are in fo far foulifh, and 
 F3 
 
66 The tndijpenfable duty 
 
 deftitute of reafon: and who would quar- 
 rel with a madman ? certainly an inju- 
 rious perfon knows not what he is do- 
 ing; for he can never wound his neigh- 
 bour but through his own fides, nor 
 prejudice another in a tiifling interefr, 
 without hazarding his own eternal con- 
 cernment; and therefore he deferves 
 our pity rather than our hatred. 
 
 Much more might be brought to de- 
 monftrate the reafonablencfs of what our 
 Saviour calls for in the text : but I hope 
 what has been already faid may fuffice 
 to flop the mouths of malicious and re- 
 vengeful men, who are ready to quar- 
 rel with it. and, if this or any other du- 
 ty feem abfurd or unreafonable to us, we 
 may learn the caufe from the apoflle, 
 
 * The carnal man receiveth not the 
 
 * things of the Spirit of God : for they 
 ' are foolifhnefs unto him' %. it is the 
 carnality of our heart that makes it feem 
 fo: and therefore, inftead of difputing 
 the duty, let us endeavour to purify our 
 fouls, and open the eyes of our mind; 
 and we mall find it to be true, which 
 W ifdom faith of her doftrines ; * They 
 
 } I Cor.ii, 14, 
 
of loving our enemies. 6j 
 
 1 are all plain to him that underftand- 
 1 eth, and right to them that find know- 
 < ledge.* 
 
 But, in the third place, the love of 
 enemies is not only neceffary and rea- 
 fonable, but alfo amiable and delightful; 
 it hath a great deal of pleafure and fweet- 
 nefs in it. of this, I confefs, the greateft 
 evidence muft be had from the experi- 
 ence and practice of it;, the nature even 
 of earthly pleafures being fuch, that on- 
 ly the enjoyment can make a man know 
 them, but, though the full knowledge 
 hereof require a nearer acquaintance, 
 yet even thofe who look at a di fiance, 
 may perceive fomething of amiablenefs 
 in it, efpecially comparing it with the 
 trouble and uneafinefs of that vice it 
 would deliver us from, malice and re- 
 venge are the moft reftlefs and torment- 
 ing pafTions that can pofTefs the mind; 
 they keep it in continual hurry and dis- 
 order; they gnaw a man's heart with 
 anguifh. and vexation, and embitter all 
 his enjoyments ; they marr the pleafures 
 of the day, and interrupt the repofe of 
 the night. Solomon defcribes thefemen, 
 
6 8 The tndifpcnfable duty 
 
 1 They fleep not except they have done 
 i mifchief: and their fleep is taken a- 
 4 way except they caufefome to fall J.' 
 
 On the other hand, the meek and 
 peaceable man, whofe mind is brought 
 to a compliance with this precept, is a- 
 bove the malice of his enemies, it is not 
 in their power to vex him. amidft all 
 theafTaults of injuries and affronts, he 
 is firm as a rock, which no winds can 
 (hake, no waves remove, he is happy in 
 the calmnefs and ferenity of his fpirit ; 
 and is fure either to convert or fhame 
 his adverfary by his patience and friend- 
 ly behaviour, and then the confciouf- 
 nefs of performing his duty, and afiu- 
 rance of future reward, afford him infi- 
 nitely more pure and folid pleafure and 
 delight, than any can expect by indul- 
 ging and gratifying their revengeful hu- 
 mour. 
 
 The advantages of this, duty will 
 more clearly appear, when we take a 
 view of thofe prejudices which common- 
 ly are entertained againft it ; which fhalj 
 be our next work. 
 
 \ Prov. \v. 6. 
 
of loving our enemies. 69 
 
 Fir ft, then, fome cry out upon this 
 precept as injoining impofTibilities, do- 
 ing violence to the very conftitution of 
 nature, and obliging men to a debt that 
 no man is able to pay. they will tell 
 you, that it is as eafy to hate ourfelves, 
 as to love our enemies ; to love pain, as 
 to bear an injury meekly : flefh and blood 
 can't endure it. What arrogance and pre- 
 emption is this, thus to impeach the di- 
 vine laws ? It is impoflible ; therefore 
 God mould nothavecommanded it. fuch 
 is their reafoning. were it not far more 
 rational to argue thus : It is indifpen- 
 fably commanded, therefore it muft 
 needs be poiTible ? and fo it has been to 
 all good men that ever lived ; and fo it 
 will be, by God's affiftance, to all that 
 make it their fludy. i Flefh and blood 
 ' cannot do it.' True enough ; but then 
 take this into the account, ' Flefh and 
 1 blood (hall never enter into the king- 
 ' dom of heaven.' it is indeed againft the 
 propenfion of our corrupt nature; but 
 it is the work of Chriftians to mortify 
 their corruptions, and if we think it 
 impoffible, at the command of God, and 
 
70 The tnd'tfp en fable duty 
 
 for the purchafe of heaven, to love an 
 enemy, and pardon an injury, how 
 would we bear thofe hard trials which 
 Chriftians havefuffered by the cruelty 
 of perfecutors? whether is it eafier to 
 fuffer a wrong, or to ' give our body to 
 ' be burned?' certainly, when we have 
 obeyed this precept, we have not yet 
 - refilled unto blood •/ and therefore 
 that obedience can never be impofTible, 
 fince harder things may be expected 
 from us. therefore ferioufly fet about 
 the work, and endeavour to bring your 
 minds to a compliance with it ; and then 
 your own experience fhall confute thefe 
 idle pretences, and evince the pofTibility 
 of the performance. 
 
 Another prejudice againft this pre- 
 cept, is, that it feems to encourage in- 
 juries, by hopes of impunity and re- 
 ward ; giving the delinquent occafion 
 to expecl kindnefs and love, inftead of 
 the punifhment which he deferves; and 
 fo we mould draw upon ourfelves a fe- 
 cond injury by not requiting the firft. 
 
 But we have already told you, that 
 this precept does not forbid the exercife 
 
of loving our enemies. 7 1 
 
 of juftice by thofe to whom the fword is 
 committed, when the public fecurity 
 calls for it. as a parent may at once 
 love and correct his child,fo may a judge 
 be in charity with the perfon he does pu- 
 nifh. and though it fhould be granted, 
 that, by pardoning injuries, we do ex- 
 pofe ourfelves to new ones ; yet would 
 this amount to no more, but that we 
 may fuffer hardfhips by our obedience to 
 God ; which I hope is not enough to dif- 
 penfe with our duty, but truly the mat- 
 ter goes not commonly thus : for if we 
 confult either our own obfervation, or 
 the experience of others, we fhall find, 
 that meek and charitable perfons are 
 mod feldom expofed to injuries, or en- 
 gaged in troubles, he muft needs be a 
 defperately wicked perfon, who will of- 
 fer a fecond injury to one who hath re- 
 quited the firft with kindnefsand love, 
 fuch a fvveet difpofition will mollify the 
 hard eft hearts, and charm the mod fro- 
 ward humours; efpecially if we carry 
 ourfelves with fuch prudence and dis- 
 cretion, as may teftify that we are acted 
 by a noble and generous charity, and 
 
7 2 The indtjpenfable duty 
 
 not by a ftupid infenfibility. how often 
 ' does a foft anfwer- turn away wrath V 
 and the overlooking of an injury pre- 
 vent farther trouble, throwing water 
 upon thefpark before it break forth in- 
 to a flame ? hence, if we look upon 
 meek and quiet perfons, we (hall ordi- 
 narily find them happy in the peace of 
 their families, and favour and kindnefs 
 of all their neighbours : whereas the an- 
 gry, quarrelfome, and malicious perfon, 
 is an eye-fore to all about him; his 
 neighbours fhun him, his fervants dread 
 him, and all abhor and avoid him. and 
 therefore the obfervation of this precept 
 of our Lord, is fo far from expofing us 
 to new injuries, that by the mercy of 
 God it will prove the bed: means to fe- 
 cure our tranquillity, peace fhall be the 
 reward of a peaceable temper. 
 
 But, laftly, fomewill tell us, that the 
 love of enemies, and pardoning inju- 
 ries, is inconfiftent with the principles 
 of honour; and will expofe us to con- 
 tempt and derifion. but, alas ! to what 
 a fad pafs are we come, if neither reafon 
 nor religion may prefcribe the rules of 
 
of loving our enemies. 73 
 
 honour; if our notions of it muft be ta- 
 ken from the language of the fons of Be- 
 lial, of ftrife and violence ; if to imitate 
 the Deity in his mod glorious attribute 
 of mercy and forgivenefs, and become 
 1 perfect as our Father which is in hea- 
 1 ven is perfect/ be accounted a bafe and 
 difhonourable thing ; and if for this vain 
 imaginary phantaftic fhadow of repu- 
 tation, we will violate all laws, human 
 and divine, and forfeit eternal happinefs! 
 but who are they that will think the 
 worfe of you for your patience ? fome 
 vain empty fools, fome profane atheifti- 
 cal wretches, whofe judgments are not 
 valuable, nor their praife worth the ha- 
 ving, or what can they fay of you, but 
 that you are meek and lowly, imita- 
 tors of that blefTed mafter whom we pro- 
 fefs to ferve ? and why do we own the 
 name of Chriftians, if we be afhamed of" 
 the fpirit and life of Chriftianity ? why 
 do we not call ourfelves after the name 
 of Cain, Nimrod, or fome other angry 
 and revengeful deftroyer, if we efteem 
 thofe qualities more glorious and excel- 
 lent? but, if we have any deference for 
 G 
 
74 Tie indifpenfable duty 
 
 fowife a man and great a king as So- 
 lomon, he will tell us, that i it is the 
 
 * honour of a man to ceafe from ftrife;' 
 and that * he that is flow to anger is bet- 
 
 * ter than the mighty; and he who ru- 
 ' leth his fpirit, better than he who ta- 
 i keth a city.' 
 
 Thus you fee how unreafonable thofe 
 prejudices are which keep men from the 
 practice of this neceiTary duty, it re- 
 mains now, that we hint at fome helps 
 for the performance of it. 
 
 The Heathens were pretty ingenious 
 in devifing motives of patience, they 
 would tell us, that i if we were newly 
 
 * offended, it was toofoon to refent it; 
 4 if long time fince, it was too late, if 
 i the offender be too ftrong for us, it 
 < were folly to contend ; if he were too 
 ' weak, it were a fhame. are we offend- 
 
 * ed by a friend, let us remember our old 
 1 friendfhip; if by an enemy, let us do 
 4 him a kindnefs, and he will do fo no 
 i more,' but Chriftianity will direct us 
 to better means for compofing the foul 
 into the meeknefs and charity which it 
 does require. 
 
of lovhtg our enemies . J 5* 
 
 The rirft I fhall recommend, is hu- 
 mility, let us learn to have low thoughts 
 of ourfelves; and then we both fhall 
 have fewer enemies, and be mote in- 
 clined to love them, pride and felf- 
 conceit makes us over-rate every petty 
 injury, and inclines us to revenge : but 
 if we confider what poor contemp- 
 tible things we are in ourfelves, and 
 what we have deferved, if not from 
 men, yet from God, whofe inftruments 
 they are for our correction, we (hall be 
 little concerned at what the world calls 
 affronts, and eafily reconciled to thofe 
 who have wronged us. 
 
 Secondly, Let us learn to have a low 
 efteem of the prefent world, and all 
 things therein; and this will cut off the 
 occafions of our hatred and animofities. 
 men may wrong us in our fortune or 
 reputation; but they cannot rob us of 
 piety and virtue, of the favour of God, 
 and eternal happinefs. and therefore, if 
 our minds be once raifed above thofe 
 tranfitory vanities, we cannot meet with 
 injuries worth the refenting. if we aim 
 at heaven, and the glory of another 
 G 2 
 
"j 6 The indifpenfablc duty 
 
 world, we mall not (land to quarrel and 
 contend about any trifling intereft in our 
 way thither. 
 
 Thirdly, The frequent and ferious 
 thoughts of death, would conduce much 
 to allay our hatred, and difpofe us to 
 xneeknefs and charity. Naturalifts tell 
 us, that when fwarms of bees fight in 
 the air, they are difperfed, by throwing 
 duft among them . did we in our thoughts 
 often reflect upon that duft whereunto 
 we muft all (hortly return, we mould 
 more eafily lay down our quarrels and 
 animofities. while we contend about 
 imall things, little do we confider that 
 death is coming on apace, and will 
 fwallow up the victor and the vanquish- 
 ed ; him that is in the right, and him 
 that is in the wrong. Look back upon 
 the private contentions, or public com- 
 motions, which infefted the world an 
 hundred years ago. where are they who 
 managed them ? they are all gone down 
 into the dark and filent grave, death 
 hath decided their controverfies, and 
 within a few days it will do fo with 
 ours, and fend us all to plead our caufe 
 
of loving our enemies. 77 
 
 before bur great Judge; and it will go 
 ill.with us, if we appear there in malice, 
 therefore, why mould our hatred be 
 long, fince our life is fo fhort ? one 
 would think we mould find better em- 
 ployment for the fliort time we have to 
 fpend here. 
 
 But, laftly, and above all, letuspro- 
 pofe to ourfelves the blefTed example of 
 the holy Jefus, l who when he was re- 
 c viled, reviled not again ; when he fuf- 
 ' fered, he threatned not; but commit- 
 6 ted himfelf to him that judgeth righ- 
 i teoufly.' 
 
 Let us frequently remember what 
 great things he hath done and fuffered 
 for us poor finful wretches ; even while 
 i we were enemies and rebels to him ;* 
 how that in all the paffages of his life, 
 and all the bloody fcene of his fuffe- 
 rings, he was aclcd by that fame i cha- 
 ? rity and love to his enemies 7 which 
 he calls for at our hands, it was this 
 which moved him todefcend from hea- 
 ven, and clothe himfelf with the frailties 
 of our nature, and endure the troubles 
 of a calamitous life, and the pains of a 
 
 G3 
 
73 The indi /pen fable duty 
 
 bitter death, to deliver us from that e- 
 ternal mifery whereinto we had plun- 
 ged ourfelves. and may not his gcod- 
 nefsand mercy to us, mollify our hearts, 
 and overpower the corruption of our re- 
 vengeful nature, and infpire us with 
 earned defires and refolutions to imitate 
 his blefTed example? after all that he 
 hath done and fuffered for us, can we 
 be guilty of fuch a fhameful ingratitude, 
 as to deny him this poor fatisfaclion 
 and acknowledgment, to pardon an e- 
 nemy for his fake ? has he ' died for us* 
 when we were ' his enemies,' and mail 
 we refufe to live at peace with ours ? re- 
 member with what patience he endured 
 ' the contradiclion of finners againft 
 € himfelf;' with what humility he did 
 condefcend to warn the feet of that 
 wicked mifcreant, who was at the fame 
 time refolved to betray him; with what 
 mildnefs he did bear the fupine negli- 
 gence and ftupidity of his difciples, who 
 flept in the time of his agony, what 
 charity and meeknefs did he evidence 
 toward thofe who fought his life ! he 
 could have called for legions of angels 
 
of loving our enemies. 79 
 
 to deftroy them, or made the earth to 
 open her mouth and fwallow them up : 
 but he would not employ his miracu- 
 lous power, fave only for their good, 
 reftoring a fervant's ear, and reproving 
 the prepofterous zeal of him who cut it 
 off. yea, while he hung upon the crofs, 
 and was approaching to the gates of 
 death, all the cruel pains of body, and 
 far more intolerable prelTure of fpirit 
 which he then fuftained, did not lefTen 
 his wonderful tendernefs and affection 
 for his bloody murderers : f Father, for- 
 € give them, for they know not what 
 ' they do.' let us be frequent and feri- 
 ous in the meditation of thefe things, 
 and if we have any veneration for the 
 example of our Saviour, and any fenfe 
 of his infinite mercy, this will difpofe 
 us to the practice of his precepts, and 
 the obedience of his laws ; and particu- 
 larly the obfervation of this necefTary, 
 this reafonable, and delightful duty, that 
 we ' love our enemies,' 
 
80 The nece]/ity and advantage 
 
 The necessity and advantage 
 of early afflictions. 
 
 La m. iii. 27, 28. 
 // is good for a man that he bear the yoke 
 in his youth, he fitteth alone and keepeth 
 filence, becaufe be hath born it upon him, 
 
 TH E great difference and contra- 
 riety betwixt the maxims of the 
 world, and thofe which religion doth 
 propofe, is in nothing more obfervable 
 than in taking the meafures of happi- 
 nefs and felicity, the world accounteth 
 him a happy man who enjoyeth a per- 
 petual calm and fun- fhine of profperity; 
 whofe pleafant and joyful days are ne- 
 ver overcaft with any cloud, nor his 
 tranquillity interrupted by any difaf- 
 trous accident ; and who was never ac- 
 quainted with any other change, but 
 that which brought him the new and 
 freih relifh of (rill fucceeding pleafures 
 and enjoyments. But religion hath 
 taught us to look upon this as a condi- 
 tion full of danger ; much more to be 
 
of early afflictions . 8 1 
 
 pitied than envied, to be feared than to 
 be defired. it hath taught us to confider 
 afflictions as inftances of the divine 
 goodnefs, as tokens and pledges of his 
 love ; (for i whom the Lord loveth, he 
 \ chaftneth, and fcourgeth every fon 
 € whom he receiveth);' and that thefc 
 fevere difpenfations are very necefTary, 
 and may prove ufeful and advantage- 
 ous: i Blefied is the man (faith the Pfal- 
 i mift) whon> thou chafteneft, O Lord *, 
 &c. ; ' It is good for me that I have 
 
 * been afflicted ; that I may learn thy 
 'ftatutes't. and the prophet in the 
 text, i It is good for a man that he bear 
 ( the yoke in his youth.' he was at this 
 time loaded with the heaviefl weight of 
 trouble and forrow, what for the public 
 calamities of his nation, and what for 
 his own particular fufferings : ' his eyes 
 
 * were running down with rivers of wa- 
 < ter, for the deftruclions of the daugh- 
 i ter of his people;' they trickled down, 
 and ceafed not. Judah was gone into 
 captivity becaufe of affliction : fhe dwelt 
 among the Heathen, and found no red; 
 
 • Ffal. xciv. *i 2. f Pfal. cxix. 7 I. 
 
8 1 The necejflty and advantage 
 all her perfecutors overtook her in the 
 (traits, the ways of Zion did mourn, be- 
 caufe none came to the folemn feafts ; 
 the young and the old were lying on the 
 ground in the ftreets, the virgins and 
 young men were fallen by the fword, 
 and the few that remained, were ftar- 
 ving for hunger, the people did figh, 
 and feek bread ; they gave their plea- 
 fant things for meat to relieve their foul; 
 the children and fucklings did fwoon in 
 the ftreets, their foul was poured out into 
 their mother's bofom ; the women did 
 eat their fruit, their children of a fpan 
 long, and the prophet had a large (hare 
 in thefe calamities, both by his own in- 
 tereft, and his companion towards his 
 neighbour: ' I am the man (faith he) 
 i that hath feen affliction by the rod of 
 f his wrath, furely againft me is he tur- 
 ' ned ; he turneth his hand againft me 
 ' all the day.' 
 
 But after he had thus bemoned him- 
 felf, and given fome vent to his paflion 
 and forrow, he puts a ftop to the current 
 that was grown too impetuous, and 
 turns his thoughts another way. he ac* 
 
of early afflifiions. S} 
 
 knowledgeth the juflice of God's dit 
 penfations ; and that it was a favour 
 that they fufFered no more : ' This I re- 
 € call into my mind, therefore have I 
 1 hope, it is of the Lord's mercies that 
 
 * we are not contained, becaufe his com* 
 1 paffions fail not. they are new every 
 ? morning.' nay, when he had further 
 pondered the matter, he finds himfelf in- 
 debted to the goodnefs of God, even 
 for the' afflictions he endured; f It is 
 1 good for a man,' &c. 
 
 The bearing of the yoke is an eafy 
 and obvious metaphor, importing the 
 reftraint of liberty, when our defires are 
 denied, and we have not our wills, can- 
 not ramble up and down as we pleafe ; 
 and alfo the preiTure of afflictions which 
 gaul and torment us, under which we 
 fmart and grone. fuch is the yoke 
 which the prophet tells us it is ( good 
 
 * for a man that he bear.' a ftrange doc- 
 trine indeed to flefh and blood ! and O 
 how few do believe it! we judge of 
 things by their outward appearance, and 
 as they affect us at prefent, ( ' Now no 
 
 * affliction or ch aliening feemcth for the 
 
84 The neceffity and advantage 
 4 prefent to be joyous, but grievous *;) 
 and we cannot perfuade ourfelves that 
 there is any good in that which we feel 
 to be troublefome and unpleafant. but, 
 if we confult our reafon and our faith, 
 they will foon bring us to the acknow- 
 ledgment of this truth, that l affliction 
 * cometh not forth of the duft, neither 
 1 doth trouble fpring out of the ground.' 
 the crofTes we meet with, are not the ef- 
 fects of blind chance ; but the refults of 
 a wife and unerring Providence, which 
 knoweth what is fitted for us, and loveth 
 u s better than we can do ourfelves. there 
 is no malice or envy lodged in the bofom 
 of that blefTed Being, whofe name and 
 nature is love, he taketh no delight 
 in the troubles and miferies of his crea- 
 tures : * he doth not afflict willingly, nor 
 4 grieve the children of men.' it were 
 infinitely unworthy of his wifdom and 
 goodnefs, to pleafe himfelf in feeing 
 fuch poor creatures as we are, tofled up 
 and down in the world, to behold our 
 anguifh, and hear our groans, it is our 
 faappinefs and welfare which he defigns 
 * Heb. xii. 1 1 . 
 
of early affile} ions. 8 $ 
 
 in all his difpenfations; and he maketh 
 choice of the mod proper and effectual 
 means for that end. he feeth us wan- 
 dering out of the way, ready to ruin 
 and undo ourfelves; and firft he effay- 
 eth to reduce us by milder and more 
 gentle methods : he trieth our gratitude 
 and ingenuity, by all the endearments 
 of mercy and goodnefs; he draweth us 
 with the cords of love, and with the 
 bands of a man. but if we break all thefc 
 bands afunder, and caft away thefe cords 
 from us ; if we abufe his goodnefs, and 
 turn his grace into wantonnefs; then, 
 not only his juftice, but his love to us, 
 not only his hatred to fin, but his af- 
 fection unto us, will oblige him to al- 
 ter his method, and take the rod in 
 his hand, and try what feverity^an 
 do. God's defign in afflicting us is ex- 
 cellently expreffed by the author to the 
 Hebrews, chap. xii. ver. 10. ' Hechaf- 
 i teneth us for our profit, that we may 
 1 be partakers of his holinefs.' holinefs 
 is the higheft perfection and greateft hap- 
 pinefs we are capable of: it is a real 
 participation of the divine nature, the 
 H 
 
8o The necejpjy and advantage 
 image of God drawn on the foul; and 
 all the chaftifements we meet with, are 
 dcfigned to reduce us to this blefTed 
 temper, to make us like unto himfelf ; 
 and thereby capable to be happy with 
 him to all eternity, this will more clear- 
 ly appear, if we reflect on the natural 
 temper of our minds, and the influence 
 which profperous or adverfe fortune is 
 wont to have upon them. 
 
 And, firft, we are naturally proud 
 and felf-conceited ; we have an high e- 
 fteem of ourfelves, and would have eve- 
 ry body elfe to value and efteem us. 
 this difeafe is very deeply rooted in our 
 corrupt nature ; it is ordinarily the firit 
 fin that bewrays it (elf in the little acti- 
 ons and paflions of children ; and ma- 
 ny Jfcmes the lalt which religion enables 
 us to overcome, and fuch is the malig- 
 nity of its nature, that it renders us o- 
 dious and vile, both in the fight of God 
 and man. it cannot but be infinitely dif- 
 pleafing to that great and glorious Ma- 
 jefty, to fee fuch filly creatures, whom 
 he hath brought forth out of nothing, 
 and who are every moment ready to re- 
 
of early affliction u 87 
 
 turn into it again, and have nothing 
 of their own but folly, mifery, and fin ; 
 to fee fuch creatures, I fay, either fo 
 blind as to value themfelves, or fo nn- 
 reafonable as to defire others to value 
 them, good men muft needs hate us for 
 it, becaufe God doth fo ; and evil men 
 hate us for it, becaufe they are proud 
 themfelves, and fo are jealous of the at- 
 tempts of others to exalt themfelves, as 
 of that which tendeth to deprefs and di- 
 minifh them, pride alone is the fource 
 and fountain of almoft all the diforders 
 in the world ; of all our troubles, and 
 of all our fins: and we (hall never be 
 truly happy, or truly good, till we come 
 to think nothing of ourfelves, and be 
 content that all the world think nothing 
 of us. now, there is nothing hath a 
 more natural tendency to foment and 
 heighten this natural corruption, than 
 conftant profperity and fuccefs. the 
 Pfalmift,fpeaking of the profperity of the 
 wicked, who are not in trouble as o- 
 thers, neither are they plagued like o- 
 ther men, prefently fubjoineth the ef« 
 fe6t ; ' therefore pride compaiTeth them 
 H2 
 
8 8 The neceffity an, I advantage 
 
 * about as a chain 1 *. fanctified afflicti- 
 ons contribute to abate and mortify the 
 pride of our hearts, to prick the fwelling 
 impofthume, to make us fenfible of our 
 weaknefs, and convince us of our fins, 
 thus ' doth God open the ears of men, 
 
 * and feal their inftruclion, that he may 
 ' withdraw man from his purpofe, and 
 ' hide pride from man f . And if they 
 ' be bound in fetters, and beholden in 
 
 * cords of affliction; then he fheweth 
 
 * them their work, and their tranfgrefTi- 
 
 * ons that they have exceeded ' J. afflic- 
 tions do both put us on the fearch to 
 find out the offences wherewith we have 
 provoked God, and make us more fen- 
 fible of the heinoufnefs and malignity of 
 their nature: l I have furely heard E- 
 ' phraim bemoaning himfelf thus, Thou 
 
 * haft chaftiied me, and I was chaltifed, 
 4 as a bullock unaccuftomed to the yoke: 
 c turn thou me, and I fhall be turned ; 
 4 for thou art the Lord my God. furely 
 1 after I was chaftifed, I repented ; and 
 ' after I was initructed, I fmote upon my 
 
 * Pfal. lxxiii. 6. j- Job xxxiii. 16, 17. 
 \ Job. xxxvi. 8, 9, 
 
of early afflictions. 09 
 
 ? thigh : I was aftiamed, yea, even con- 
 t founded, becaufe I did bear the re- 
 ' proach of my youth ' *. 
 
 Another diftemper of our minds, Is 
 crur too great affection to the world and 
 worldly things, we are all too apt to fet 
 our hearts wholly upon them ; to take 
 up our reft, and feek our happinefs and 
 fatisfaclion in them, but God knows> 
 that thefe may well divert and amufe a 
 while, they can never fatisfy or make 
 us happy; that the fouls which he made 
 for himielf, can never reft, till they re- 
 turn unto him : and therefore he many 
 times findeth it necelTary, either to re- 
 move our comforts, or imbitter them 
 unto us ; to put aloes and worm- 
 wood on- the breads of the world, that 
 thereby we may wean our hearts from 
 it, and carry them to the end of their 
 being, the fountain of their bleiTednefs 
 and felicity, the few and little comforts 
 of this life, (faith a perfon of great qua- 
 lity and worth), notwithstanding all the 
 troubles and crolTes with which they are 
 interlarded, are apt to keep the hearts 
 
 * Jer. xxxi. 18, 19. 
 
<>o The necejfity and advantage 
 even of good men in too great love of 
 this world, what would become of us, 
 if our whole life mould be altogether 
 profperous and contenting, without a- 
 ny intermixture of crofles and afflicti- 
 ons ? it is too probable we mould ne- 
 ver look any farther ; but conclude, 
 with Peter on the mount of transfigura- 
 tion, ' Lord, it is good to be here.' as 
 Almighty God hath a very great affecli- 
 on to us, fo he is very defirous of our 
 Jove; not that it bringeth any advan- 
 tage to him, but becaufe it is our grea- 
 teft happinefs and perfection, he beftow- 
 eth his mercies to gain our hearts; but, 
 when wc begin to do at on the gifts, and 
 forget the giver, he becomes jealous, 
 and takes them away, that he may not 
 have any rival in our affection, and cer- 
 tainly it is no fmall advantage to have 
 our hearts in any meafure loofened from 
 the world, difmtangled from every 
 thing here below. ' quocunque pretio 
 4 bene emhur :' he makes a good pur» 
 chafe who obtains it, let it cod him nc- 
 ?cr fo dear. 
 
of early afflict ions, p I 
 
 Another bad effed which profperity 
 is wont to produce in our corrupt na- 
 tures, is, that it makes us forgetful of 
 God, and unthankful for his mercies. 
 when fecond caufes anfwer our expec- 
 tations and defires, we are feldom wont 
 to look beyond them : we never regard 
 the fountain, till the cifterns begin to 
 fail, this it was that made Agur to pray 
 again ft a plentiful fortune, i left I be 
 
 * full, and deny thee, and fay, "Who is 
 ' the Lord ?' when the weather is fair, 
 and the fails are filled with a profperous 
 gale, the rough and ftubborn mariners 
 are feldom at their devotion : but when 
 the ftorm is rifen, and the fea begins to 
 fwell, and every wave threateneth to 
 devour them; ' then they cry to the 
 1 Lord in their trouble/ as on him who 
 can alone * deliver them out of their 
 i diftrefs.'the Pfalmift,fpeaking of their 
 flirT-necked and rebellious predeceflbrs, 
 tells us, that ' when God flew them, 
 i then they fought him, and they re- 
 
 * turned and enquired early after him ; 
 *■ and they remembred that God was 
 i their rock, and the high God their re* 
 
92 The necefity and advantage 
 ' deemer' *. * In their affliction (faith 
 ' the Lord by the prophet) they will 
 1 feek me early * f. I doubt not a great 
 many devout perfons will acknowledge, 
 that it was fome affliction or other that 
 firft taught them to pray, and as afflicti- 
 ons contribute to make us remember our 
 dependence on God, and then excite 
 us to feek unto him ; fo alfo they render 
 us more fenfible of our obligations un- 
 to him, and more thankful for the mer- 
 cies he hath beftowed on us. we are fo 
 dull and in fenfible, that we feldom va- 
 lue any of the divine mercies, till we 
 find what it is to want them, we put ve- 
 ry little value on our food and raiment, 
 and the ordinary means of our fubfif- 
 tence, unlefs we have been fometimes 
 pinched with want, we confider not how 
 much we are indebted to God for pre- 
 ferving our friends, till fome of them 
 be removed from us. how little do we 
 commonly prize our health, if we have 
 never had experience of ficknefs or pain ! 
 where is the man who doth ferioufly 
 blefs God for his nightly quiet andre- 
 * Pfal. Ixxviii. 3 4, 3 > . f Hof. v. 1 5-. 
 
of early cfiiiawns* 93 
 
 pofe ? and yet, if ficknefs or trouble de- 
 prive us of it, we then find it to have 
 been a great and invaluable mercy, and 
 that * it is God who giveth his beloved 
 1 fleep.' 
 
 Once more, Profperity rendereth us 
 infenfible of the miferies and calamities 
 of others, thofe i who were at eafe in 
 ' Zion, did not grieve for the afflictions 
 ' of Jofeph.' but afflictions do foften the 
 heart, and make it more tender and 
 kindly ; and we are always mod ready 
 to companionate thofe griefs which our- 
 felves have fometime endured : the fuf- 
 ferings of others make the deepeft im- 
 preflions upon us, when they put us in 
 mind of our own. it is mentioned as a 
 powerful motive to engage the children 
 of ifrael to be kind and merciful to 
 Grangers, that ' they knew very well 
 1 the heatt of a (hanger, having been 
 i Grangers themfelves in Egypt.' now, 
 this tender and companionate temper 
 doth well become a Chriftian, whofe du- 
 ty it is to ' weep with thofe that weep,* 
 and to have as deep a fenfe and feeling 
 
4 The necejfity and advantage 
 
 of the griefs of others, as he is wont to 
 have of his own. 
 
 Thefe and many more advantages do 
 fanclified and well-improved afflictions 
 bring to a Chriflian ; on the account of 
 which ' it is good for him that he hath 
 
 1 born the yoke.' but I haften to that 
 which is mentioned in the text, only 
 by the way (that I may not need to re* 
 turn) let me take notice of the feafon 
 which is here mentioned as the fitteft 
 for a man to bear affliction : ' It is good 
 1 for a man that he bear the yoke in his 
 1 youth. 1 
 
 We are all willing to put off the evil 
 day ; and, if we muit needs bear the 
 yoke, we would chufeto have it delayed 
 till we grow old. we think it fad to have 
 our morning overcaft with clouds, to 
 meet with a dorm before we have well 
 launched forth from the more, we are 
 wont to indulge and applaud children 
 and young folks in their frolicks and 
 jovial humours; and tell them, they 
 will have time enough for cares and 
 troubles when they grow older : we turn 
 that irony of Solomon's into a ferions 
 
advice, ' Rejoyce, O young man, in 
 1 thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy 
 i heart, and the fight of thine eyes.' 
 but the divine wifdom, which knoweth 
 what is fit for us, doth many times make 
 choice of our younger years, as the mod 
 proper to accudom us to the bearing 
 of the yoke, and a little confideration 
 will make us difcover the advantages 
 of this feafon for differing afflictions; 
 they being at that time mod necefTary, 
 mod tolerable, and mod advantageous. 
 fird, I fay, they are then mod necef- 
 fary. for youth is the time of our life 
 wherein we are in greated danger to run 
 into wild and extravagant courfes : our 
 blood is hot, and our fpirits undayed 
 and giddy ; we have too much pride to 
 be governed by others, and too little 
 wifdom to govern ourfelves. the yoke 
 is then efpecially needful to tame our 
 wildnefs, and reduce us to a due dayed- 
 nefs and compofure of mind, then alfo 
 itismodfupportable. the body isdrong 
 and healthful, lefs apt to be affected 
 with the troubles of the mind ; the fpi- 
 rit dout and vigorous^ will not fo eafily 
 
o 6 The nectfjity and advantage 
 break and fink under them, old age is 
 a burden, and will foon faint under any 
 fupervenient load, the fmalleft trouble 
 is enough i to bring down grey hairs 
 6 with forrow to the grave.' and there- 
 fore, fince we mud meet with afflictions, 
 it is certainly a favourable circumftance, 
 to have them at the time of our life 
 wherein we are moft able to endure 
 them, and, laftly, the leflbns which af- 
 flictions teach us, are then moft advan- 
 tageous when we learn them betimes, 
 that we may have the ufe of them in the 
 conduct of our after lives, an early en- 
 gagement into the ways of religion is a 
 great felicity ; and the means whereby 
 this is to be effected, can never be too 
 foon adminiftred. youth is more foft 
 and pliable; and evil difpofitions are 
 more eafily cured, before time and cuf- 
 tom have hardened us in them, a tree 
 needs little force to bend it when it is 
 young ; and there needeth the lefs of 
 the rod, if the child be brought under 
 difcipline betimes, and thus on many 
 accounts i it is good for a man to bear 
 ' the yoke in his youth.' 
 
oj tarty ajjii ctions, o 7 
 
 We proceed to that particular ad- 
 vantage of afflictions which is mention- 
 ed in the text : i He fitteth alone and 
 i keepeth filence, becaufe he hath born 
 ' it upon htm.' the words are capable of 
 a two-fold interpretation, and both fuit 
 well with the purpofe: for we may ei- 
 ther underftand them properly, of foli- 
 tude and filence; or metaphorically, of 
 patience and quiet fubmiflion ; both of 
 which are the good effects of fancYified 
 and well- improved afflictions: and ac- 
 cordingly we fhall fay fomething t6 
 both, nature hath made us fociable crea- 
 tures : but corruption hath carried this 
 inclination unto excefs ; fo that moft 
 perfons think it an intolerable burden to 
 be any confiderable time alone, though 
 they love themfelves out of meafure, yet 
 they cannot endure their own conver- 
 fation ; they had rather be hearing and 
 difcourfing of the moft naughty and tri- 
 vial things, than be fitting alone and 
 holding their peace outward profperi- 
 ty heightens this humour, when the 
 heart is dilated with joy, it feeketh to 
 vent itfelf in every company, when a 
 I 
 
98 The neceffity and advantage 
 man is free of trouble and cares, he 
 thinks of nothing but how to pleafe 
 himfelf with variety of diverfions and 
 converfations.croffes,ontheotherhand, 
 render a man penfive and folitary; they 
 flop the mouth, and bind up the tongue, 
 and incline the perfon to be much alone, 
 fadnefs makes his company difagreeable 
 to others, and he findeth theirs as little 
 agreeable to him : * he fitteth alone and 
 4 keepeth filence, becaufc he hath born 
 1 it upon him.' thus the fame prophet 
 faith, ' I fat not in the afTembly of the 
 € mockers, nor rejoiced: I fat alone be- 
 * caufe of thine hand*.' 
 
 Now, he who confiders, on the one 
 hand, the guilt we are wont to contract, 
 and the prejudice which we fuftain, by 
 too much converfation with others, and, 
 on'the other hand, the excellent improve- 
 ment we may make offolitudc and retire- 
 ment, will account it a good effecl of 
 afflictions, that they incline and difpofe 
 us unto it. in confidering the evils of 
 frequent converfation, we are not to 
 £>rofecute the grofTer and more fcanda- 
 lous vices of the tongue, it might fecm 
 
 * Jer. xv. 1 7, 
 
of early afflifiicns . 9 $r 
 
 a poor commendation of folitude and 
 filence, that a man is not fwearing, or 
 lying, or fcolding, or talking profane- 
 ly when he is alone: a man may con* 
 verfe enough, and keep hi mfelf free from, 
 thefe. we rather chufe to mention fuch 
 evils as are wont to be lefs noticed, and 
 can be more hardly avoided. 
 
 And, firft, experience may teach us all, 
 that much converfation doth ordinarily 
 beget a remiflhefs and diflblutionoffpl- 
 rit ; that it flackeneth and relaxeth the 
 bent of our minds, and difpofeth us to 
 foftnefs and eafy compliances, we find 
 it hard enough at any time to compofe 
 our fpirits to that ftayednefs and feverity 
 which religion doth require: but if we be 
 too much in company with others, it is 
 almoft impoflible to maintain it. that 
 chearfulnefs and complaifance which is 
 judged neceflary to render converfation 
 agreeable, doth eafily degenerate into le- 
 vity and fin : and we are very ready to 
 difpleafe our Maker, when we are too 
 intent on pleafing our friends, this loofe 
 frame and diflipation of mind, which fo- 
 ciety doth occafion, made a good man 
 
 I 2 
 
i co The neccfflty and advantage 
 complain, i ex hominum confortio fern- 
 i per venio minus homo : ' that he al- 
 ways came out of company lefs a man. 
 Another prejudice we receive by fo- 
 ciety, is, that it fills our minds with 
 noxious images, and fortifies our cor- 
 rupt notions and opinions of things. 
 our hearts are naturally too much ad- 
 dicted to the things of the world ; we 
 mind them too much, and put too high 
 a value upon them : and the difcourfes 
 we hear, redouble the temptation, by 
 bringing them continually into our 
 thoughts, and fetting them off to the 
 greateft advantage, when we are alone in 
 a fober temper, and take time to reflect 
 andconfider of things ; wearefometimes 
 perfuaded of the vanity and worthlefTnefs 
 of all thofe glittering trifles whereunto 
 the generality of mankind are fo fadly be- 
 witched : but when we come abroad, and 
 Men to the common talk, and hear peo- 
 ple fpeak of greatnefs, and riches, and 
 honour, with concern and admiration, 
 we quicklv forget our more fober and 
 deliberate thoughts, and furTer ourfelves 
 to be carried awav with the ftream of the 
 
of early affliflwns. 101 
 
 common opinion, and though the efFect 
 be not fo fudden and obfervable, yet thefe 
 difcourfes are (till making fome fecret 
 and infenfible impreilions upon us. 
 
 Thusalfo is our judgment corrupted 
 about the qualities and endowments of 
 the mind, courage and gallantry, wit and 
 eloquence, and other accomplifhments of 
 this nature, are magnified and extolled 
 beyond all meafure ; whereas humility, 
 and meeknefs, and devotion,* and all 
 thofeChriftian graces which render a foul 
 truly excellent and lovely, are fpoken of 
 as mean and contemptible things : for 
 though men have not the impudence for- 
 mally to make the comparifon, and pre- 
 fer the former ; yet their very air, and 
 way of difcourfing about thefe things, 
 fufhciently teftiries their opinion, with 
 what affection and concernment will they 
 reprefent a gallant or learned man ; but 
 how faintly do they utter the character 
 of a good man! and fo,incenft:ringmens 
 failings, they exaggerate the fmalleft in- 
 ftances of weaknefs or imprudence, but 
 fpeak lightly enough of the greateft 
 crimes, drunkennefsand whoredom are 
 I 3 
 
102 The nficefity and advantage 
 mentioned in fuch terms asexprefs littk 
 fenfe of their heinous nature, and tend 
 to leiTen the horror we mould have of 
 them, ambition and revenge, and fuch 
 other plaufible vices, are rather allowed 
 than condemned, and while we converfe 
 in the world, and are accuftomed to fuch 
 reprefentations of things, our judgments 
 are thereby exceedingly corrupted, and 
 we entertain falfe and pernicious ma- 
 xims, and fo hard it is to guard ourfelves 
 againfl the contagion, that we had better 
 fit alone and keep filence, than be con- 
 tinually expofed to the temptation. 
 
 I fhall mention but another of thofe 
 evils wherewith our converfation is com- 
 monly attended, the mod ordinary fub- 
 jecl of our entertainments are the faults 
 and follies of others/ itui in verba, fer- 
 * mo feritur, vita alienadefcrlbiturfwe 
 meet and talk, and fall to defcribe the 
 life and deportment of others, were this 
 one theme of difcourfe difcharged,we 
 would oft-times find but little to fay. I 
 fcarce know any fault whereof good per- 
 fons are fo frequently gu;lty, and fo 
 little fenfible. they know perhaps the 
 
of early afflictions. ' 103 
 
 things are true, and they have no mali- 
 cious defign in reporting them ; they tell 
 them only as they do the publick news, 
 to divert themfelves, and gratify their 
 friends, but, would weconfultour own 
 hearts, and apply the great rule of righte- 
 oufnefs,ofdoingunto others as we would 
 be done unto ourfelves, we mould foon 
 be convinced of a great deal more guilt 
 and finfulnefs in fuchdifcourfes than we 
 are wont to apprehend. how ill do we take 
 it to have our own failings thus expof- 
 ed, and to hear that any perfon hath 
 made as bold with us as we are wont to 
 make with others? again, how loth would 
 we be, that the perfons of whom we 
 (peak fo freely, mould overhear our dif- 
 courfe, or be informed of it? now, if the 
 practice had nothing blameable in it, 
 why mould we be fo fhy to avow it ? 
 
 I have only hinted at thefe things : 
 but he who (hall ferioufly ponder them, 
 will acknowledge, there is no little pre- 
 judice even in thofe entertainments 
 which pafs for very innocent in the 
 world ; and that he fhunneth much guilt 
 and many fnares who ' fitteth alone and 
 
Tc?4 The necejjlty and advantage 
 
 * keepethfilence.' but folitude and retire- 
 ment do not only deliver us from thefe 
 inconveniences, but alfo afford very ex- 
 cellent opportunities for bettering our 
 fouls, thofe hours we mifpend in need- 
 lefs vifits and idle talk, if rightly impro- 
 ved, might fet us a great way forward 
 on our journey to heaven, while we are 
 too bi fy in making cr entertaining ac- 
 quaintance with men, we many times 
 fall out of acquaintance both with God 
 and ourfelves. 
 
 The mo ft profane and irreligious per- 
 forms will find fame ferious thoughts rife 
 in their minds if they be much alone, 
 and the more that any perfon is advan- 
 ced in piety and goodnefs, the more 
 will he delight in retirement, and receive 
 the more benefit by it. then it is that the 
 devout foul takes its higheft flight in di- 
 vine contemplations, and maketh its 
 neareft approaches to God. I find the 
 vulgar Latin rendereth the words of the 
 text, ' fedebit folitarius et tacebit, quia 
 'levavit fe fu'pra fe : the folitary perfon 
 i will fit (till and hold his peace, becaufe 
 
 * he hath lifted up him felf above himfelf;' 
 
of early afflictions* 10 J 
 
 raifedhis fpirit above its ordinary pitch. 
 6 in folitudine (faith one of the fathers) 
 i aer purior, coelum apertius, familiari- 
 1 or Deus : in folitude we breathe, as it 
 ' were, in a purer air, heaven is more o- 
 c pen unto us> and God is more familiar 
 ' and frequent in his vifits.' to which pur- 
 pofe fome have applied that of the Pro- 
 phet' Hofea, l behold, I will allure her, 
 ' and bring her into the wildernefs,ancf 
 ' there fpeak comfortably unto her ;' or, 
 as the original importeth, *• I will fpeak 
 £ unto her heart. ' that rule which our Sa> 
 viourgiveth for our devotion, ' toen- 
 * ter into our clofet, and (hut the door 
 4 behind us,' is as necefTary to preferve 
 us from diffraction, as from vanity and 
 ©dentation, when we have retired as 
 much as we can from the world, we do 
 {till carry too much of it along with us, 
 the images of things do fufficiently per- 
 fecute and diilurb us, though we be not 
 expofed to the objects themfelves. our 
 bleiTed Saviour thought not the moun- 
 tains and defarts retired enough for his 
 devotions ; but would add thedarknefs 
 and filence of the night, little doth the 
 
I o 6 The nccefity and advantage 
 world underftand thofe fecret and hid- 
 den pleafures which devout fouls do feel, 
 when, having got out of the noife and 
 hurry of the world, they fit alone and 
 keep filence, contemplating the divine 
 perfections, which fhine fo confpicuouf- 
 ly in all his works of wonder; admiring 
 his greatnefs, and wifdom, and love, 
 and revolving his favours towards them- 
 felves; opening before him their griefs 
 and their cares, and disburdening their 
 fouls into his bofom; protefting their al- 
 legiance and fubjeclion unto him, and 
 telling him a thoufand times that they 
 love him ; and then liftening unto the 
 voice of God within their hearts, that 
 ftill and quiet voice, which is not wont 
 to be heard in the ftreets, that they may 
 hear what God the Lord will fpeak : for 
 he will fpeak peace unto his people, and 
 to his faints, and vifit them with the 
 expreflions of his love, no wonder if 
 thofe blefTed fouls who have tafted the 
 pleafures of holy retirement, and found 
 themfelves, as it were, in the fuburbs of 
 heaven, grow weary of company and af- 
 fairs, and long for the returning of thofe 
 
of early afflictions , 107 
 
 happy hours, as the hireling for the 
 fhades of the evening : no wonder they 
 pity the foolifh bufy world, who fpend 
 their days in vanity, and know not what 
 it is indeed to live. 
 
 But here I would not be miftaken, as 
 if I recommended a total and conftant 
 retirement, or perfuaded men to forfake 
 the world,and betake themfelves unto de- 
 ferts. no, certainly; we muft not aban- 
 don the ftations wherein God hath pla- 
 ced us, nor render ourfelves ufelefs to 
 mankind, folitude hath its temptations, 
 and we may be fometimes very bad com- 
 pany to ourfelves. it was not without 
 reafonthata wife perfon warned ano- 
 ther, who profeffed to delight in con- 
 verting with himfelf, ' vide ut cum ho- 
 \ mine probo : have a care that you be 
 i keeping company with a good man.' 
 abufed folitude may whet mens paflions, 
 and irritate their lufls, and prompt them 
 to things which company would reflrain. 
 and this made one fay, that i he who is 
 i much alone,muft either be a faint or a 
 f devil.' melancholy/which inclines men 
 moll to retirement, is often too much 
 
1 8 The ncceTity end advantage 
 nourifhed and fomented by it; and there 
 is a peevifh and fullen lonelinefs, which 
 fome people affect under their troubles, 
 whereby they feed on difcontentcd 
 thoughts, and find a kind of perverfe 
 pleafure in refufing to be comforted, but 
 all this fays no more, but that good 
 things may be abufed ; and excefs or dif- 
 order may turn the molt wholfome food 
 into poifon. and therefore, though I 
 would not indifferently recommend 
 much folitude unto all; yet, fure, I may 
 fay, it were good for the mod part of 
 men that they were lefs in company, 
 and more alone. 
 
 Thus much of the firfl and proper 
 fenfe of l fitting alone and keeping fi- 
 i lence.' we told you it might alfo import 
 a quiet and patiem.fubmifTion to the 
 will of God ; the laying of our hand on 
 our mouth, that no expreflion of mur- 
 mur or difcontent may efcape us. % I 
 
 * was dumb,' faid the Pfalmift, ' I open- 
 1 ed not my mouth ; becaufe thou didft 
 
 * it *.' and the prophet defcribeth our 
 Saviour's patience, that c he was oppref- 
 
 Pfalm xxxix. 9. 
 
of early affliftions. 109 
 
 * fed, and was afflicted, yet he opened 
 € not his mouth: he was brought as a 
 € lamb to the (laughter, and as a fheep 
 ' before the (hearers is dumb, fo he o- 
 1 pened not his mouth' f . indeed a mo- 
 deft and unaffected filence is a good way 
 to exprefs our fubmifTion to the hand 
 of God under afflictions, the Heathen 
 moralifts, who pretended much to pati- 
 ence, could never hold their peace ; but 
 defired always to fignalize themfelves by 
 fome fetches of wit, and expreflionsof 
 unufual courage, but certainly the mute 
 and quiet Chriftian behaveth himfelf 
 much better. ' loquaciflimum illud fi- 
 6 lentium :' that eloquent and expreflivc 
 filence faith more than all their vain 
 and Stoical boaftings. we cannot now 
 infift in any length on this Chriftian duty 
 of patience, and fubmiflion to the will 
 of God; we fhall only fay two things 
 of it, which the text importeth. firft,that 
 this leffonis moft commonly learned in 
 die fchool of afflictions : i he fitteth alone 
 1 and keepeth filence, becaufe he hath 
 1 born it upon him.' in that fore-cited 
 t lfa. liii. 7. 
 
 K 
 
1 1 o The necejfity and advantage 
 place of Jeremiah xxxi. 18. 'Ephraim 
 ' bemoning himfelf, acknowledgeth that 
 i he.hadbeen as a bullock unaccuftomed 
 1 to the yoke;' which maketh the greater 
 reluclancy againft it. children that are 
 much indulged, are the more impatient if 
 they come to be crofled; and there is too 
 much of the child in us all. the Apoftle 
 tells us, that' tribulation worketh pati- 
 
 * ence'*. cuflom makes every thing more 
 tolerable unto us ; and if it pleafe God to 
 fanctify the firft ftroke, the fecond is re- 
 ceived with the greater fubmiffion. the 
 other thing I have to fay on this duty, 
 is, that this advantage of afflictions is 
 very great and defirable ; that it is indeed 
 ' very good for a man to have borne the 
 
 * yoke in his youth,' if he hath thereby 
 learned ' to fit alone and keep filence 
 Vwhen the hand of the Lord is upon 
 
 * him.' there is nothing more acceptable 
 unto God, no object more lovely and 
 amiable in his eyes, than a foul thus 
 proftrate before him, thus entirely re- 
 signed unto his holy will, thus quietly 
 fubmitting to his fevered difpenfations. 
 nor is it lefs advantageous unto our- 
 
 * Horn. v. 3. 
 
of early afflictions. 1 1 1 
 
 felves; but fweeteneth the bitterefl: oc- 
 currences ofourlife, and makes us relifh 
 an inward and fee ret pleafure, notwith- 
 ftanding all the fmart of affliction : To 
 that the yoke becomes fupportable, the 
 rod itfelf comforts us ; and we find 
 much more delight in fuffering the will 
 of God, than if he had granted us our 
 own. 
 
 Now,to this God who loveth us, and 
 correcleth us for our profit, that we may 
 be partakers of his holinefs, and there- 
 by of his happinefs; to God the Father, 
 Son, and blefTed Spirit, be all honour, 
 praife, and glory, now and for ever. 
 Amen. 
 
 K 2 
 
1 1 2 That there a*-e but 
 
 That there are but a small 
 number saved. 
 
 Luke xiii. 23. 
 
 Then fat J one unto him, Lord, are there 
 few that be faved ? And he faid unto 
 them, £;c. 
 
 THo s E who have fo much charity 
 and goodnefs as to be nearly 
 touched with the intereft of mankind, 
 cannot but be more efpecially concern- 
 ed about their everlafting condition; 
 and very anxious to know what mail 
 become of poor mortals when this fcene 
 is over, and theyceafe to appear on the 
 ftage of the world, being called off to 
 give an account of their deportment on 
 it. and, feeing we are allured that there 
 are different, and very oppofite eftates 
 of departed fouls, fome being admitted 
 into happinefs, and others doomed to 
 mL'ery, beyond any thing that we can 
 conceive ; this may put them upon far- 
 ther inquiry, How mankind is like to 
 be divided? whether heaven or hell 
 
a f mall number faved. 1 1 3 
 
 mall have the greater (hare ? fuch a lau- 
 dable curiofity as this it was, that put 
 one of our bleffed Saviour's followers to 
 propofe the quefticn in the text, l Lord, 
 ' are there few that be faved V our Savi- 
 our had been lately foretelling the great 
 fuccefs the gofpel fhould have; how, like 
 a little leaven that quickly fermenteth 
 the whole lump it is put into, Chriftia- 
 nity fhould foon propagate itfelf through 
 the world, and many nations embrace 
 the profeflion of it. this difciple, itfeems, 
 wasdefirous to know, whether the effi- 
 cacy fhould be anfwerable to the extent ? 
 whether it fhould take as deep root in 
 the hearts of thofe that owned it, as it 
 wai to fpread itfelf far and wide on the 
 face of the earth ? in a word, whether 
 the greateft part of men were to be faved 
 by it ? I called this a laudable curiofity ; 
 and there is reafon to think it fo, fince 
 our Saviour himfelf, who bed knew the 
 occafion and importance of it, doth not 
 check, but fatisfy the inquiry, which he 
 was not wont to do when the queftions 
 were ufelcfs or blameable. thofe who 
 inquired into the time of the general 
 K*3 
 
114 That there art but 
 
 judgment, received no other account, 
 but that it was c inter arcana imperii ;' 
 among thofe fecrets which God referved 
 for himfelf. and, again, when they asked 
 i of the time that the kingdom fhould be 
 ' reftored unto ifrael,' he tells them 
 roundly, it was not for them , it concern- 
 ed them not at all to know fnch things 
 as thefe. but here, as the queftion feems 
 to have proceeded from a zeal to the ho* 
 nour of God, and concernment in the 
 happinefs of mankind; fothe refolution 
 of it might be very ufeful : and accor- 
 dingly it is improved by our Saviour; 
 who at once refolves the doubt, and 
 prefTeth a very weighty exhortation, in 
 the following words, i drive to enter in* 
 &c.\Ve are not at this time to profecute 
 the whole importance of this latter verfe ; 
 for that we refer you to an excellent 
 fermon, in titled, The Way to Happi- 
 nefs. we mall only confider the anfwer 
 which is implied in it to the foregoing 
 queftion ; to wit, that the number of 
 thofe who are to be faved is really very 
 fmali. 
 
 It is on this point we defign to fix 
 
a fmall number famed. 1 1 ^ 
 
 onr meditations at this time, and indeed 
 there is fcarce any doctrine that needeth 
 to be more inculcated : for, amongft all 
 * the itratagems whereby the great enemy 
 of mankind doth plot and contrive their 
 ruin,few are more unhappily fuccefsful, 
 than the fond perfuafion he hath filled 
 them with, that heaven and everlafting 
 happinefs are eafily attainable, what one 
 faith of wifdom, ' multi ad fjpientiam 
 'perveniirentnifi putaiTentfe pervenif^e, , 
 we may, with a little alteration, apply 
 unto th's purpofe ; that many might 
 have reached heaven if they had not been 
 fo confident of it. the doors of the 
 Chriftian church are now very wide, 
 and men have accefs unto them upon 
 eafy terms : nay this privilege defcends 
 unto men by their birth, and they are 
 reckoned among Chriftians before they 
 come well to know what it means. The 
 ordinances and myfteries of our religi- 
 on are common to all,fave thofe whom 
 grofs ignorance or notorious crimes do 
 exclude, there are no marks on the 
 foreheads of men whereby we can judge 
 of their future condition; they die, and 
 
1 1 6 That there are but 
 
 are laid in their graves, and none co- 
 meth back to tell us how it fareth with 
 them ; and we defire to think the beft 
 of every particular perfon. but, whate- 
 ver charity be in this, there is little pru- 
 dence in the inference that many draw 
 from it,who think they may live as their 
 neighbours do, and die as happily as 
 they ; and, fince the greateft part of men 
 are fuch as themfelves, heaven muft be 
 a very empty place if all of them be de- 
 barred, thus perhaps you have feen a 
 flock ofmeep on a bridge, and the firft 
 leapeth over, and the reft, not knowing 
 what is become of thofe that went be- 
 fore, do each of them follow their com- 
 panions into that hazard or ruin, inte- 
 reft and felf-love do fo ftrongly blind the 
 minds of men, that they can hardly be 
 put from the belief of that which they 
 would very fain have true, hence it is, 
 that, notwithstanding of all we are told 
 to the con trary , the opinion of the broi;d- 
 nefs of the way that leads to heaven ,and 
 the eafy accefs unto it, is (till the moft 
 epidemick, and I think the moft dange- 
 -rous herefy. many of the commonalty 
 
afmall number javed. 1 1 7 
 
 are fo ignorant as to avow it; and the 
 ftrange fecurity of more knowing perfons 
 doth as loudly proclaim it. I know he 
 undertakes an unwelcome errand, who 
 goes about to difpoiTefs the minds of men 
 of fuch a pleafant and flattering error, 
 but what mail we do ? fhall we fufFer 
 them to fleep on and take their reft, till 
 the everlafting flames awake them ? 
 fhall we draw their blood on our heads, 
 and involve ourfelves in their ruin, by 
 neglecting to advertife them of their ha- 
 zard ? no, my friends: duty doth oblige 
 us, and the holy fcriptures will warrant 
 us to afTure you, that there are very ' few 
 ' that fhall be faved ;' that ' the whole 
 * world lieth in wickednefs * ;' and that 
 ' they are a little flock to whom the 
 c Father will give the kingdom* f . 
 
 That this certain, though lamentable 
 truth may take the deeper im predion 
 on our minds, we fhall flrft propofe 
 fome confiderations for the better un- 
 derftandingwhat great things are requi- 
 red in thofe who look for everlafting 
 happinefs, and then reflecl on the acYi- 
 
 * I John v. i p. f Luke xii. 32. 
 
1 1 8 That there are but 
 
 ons and ways of men ; that, comparing 
 the one with the other, we may fee how 
 little ground of hope there is for the 
 greateft part to build on. . 
 
 Firft, then, confider the nature of that 
 divine Majefty,whofe prefence and en* 
 joyment it is that makes heaven itfelf de- 
 firable; and think how inconfiftent it is 
 with his infinite holinefs, to admit im- 
 pure and impenitent finners into the 
 habitation of his glory, certainly c he is 
 
 * of purer eyes than to behold evil, and 
 ' cannot look on iniquity f. He is not 
 ' a God that hath pleafure in wickednefs : 
 
 * neither mail evil dwell with him. the 
 i foolifh (hall not ftand in his fight* *. it 
 is ftrange what conceptions foolifh men 
 mud entertain of Almighty God, who 
 can imagine, that thofe who have been 
 all their days wallowing in fin, (hall be 
 admitted into an everlafting fellowfhip 
 with him. fboner (hall light anddarknefs 
 dwell together, and heat and cold in 
 their greateft violence combine, and all 
 the contrarieties of nature be reconciled, 
 can two walk together except they be 
 
 f Hab. i. 13, *Pfai.v. 4, ;. 
 
afmall number faved. 1 19 
 
 agreed ? can there be any converfe be- 
 twixt thofe whofe natures fuitfo ill to- 
 gether ? fure they who think to come 
 fo eafily by happinefs, mud imagineGod 
 altogether fuch a one as themfelves; 
 elfe they could never hope that he would 
 chufe them, and caufe them to approach 
 unto him. but O how widely fhall they 
 find themfelves miftaken, when he fhall 
 € reprove them, and fet their fins inor- 
 i der before them :' and they fhall find to 
 their confufion , that he is a * confuming 
 f fire to all the workers of iniquity ! 
 men are wont to frame a notion of God 
 according to their own wifhing, as if he 
 were all made up of mercy, and juftice 
 were but an empty name : and this is 
 the common fhelter againft every con- 
 vincing reproof, but this temerity fhall 
 at length fufficiently confute itfelf, and 
 feel that juftice which it will not believe, 
 there is no ftrife among the attributes 
 ofGod,that one of them fhall fwallownp 
 another, mercy is open to all that for- 
 fake their fins, but juftice fhall feize on 
 thofe who continue in them, that com- 
 panion which made God to give his 
 
1 20 That there are fat 
 
 deareft Son for the redemption of man- 
 kind, will never prevail for the pardon 
 and deliverance of any impenitent fin- 
 ner. abu fed good nefs will certainly turn 
 into fury; and infinite mercy, being 
 defpifed, fhall bring down upon finners 
 all the dreadful effects of an omnipo- 
 tent vengeance. 
 
 Confider, fecondly, what that happi- 
 nefs is which every body doth fo confi- 
 dently promife to themfelves; and fee 
 whether it be likely that it mould be fo 
 eafily attained, glorious things are every 
 where fpoken of that heavenly Jerufa- 
 lem ; and all that is excellent or defirable 
 in this world, is borrowed to fhadowit 
 forth in the holy fcriptures : we are told 
 of crowns, and kingdoms, and trea- 
 fures, and rivers ofpleafure, and foun- 
 tains of living waters, and of an ex- 
 ceeding eternal weight of glory. 
 
 But all thefe do not fuffice to convey 
 into our minds any full apprehenfionof 
 the happinefs we expect ; and, after all 
 that can be faid, it doth not yet appear 
 what we (hall be. thefe metaphors and 
 allegories ferve but to affift our minds 
 
a fmall number faved. 1 2 1 
 
 a little, and give us fome confuted ap~ 
 prehenfions of the tilings i eye hath not 
 
 * feen, nor ear heard; nor can it enter 
 1 into the heart of man to conceive, 
 
 * what God hath prepared for them that 
 ' love him/ faid that beloved difciple 
 that lay in the bofom of our Saviour, 
 can we then expect that fo glorious a 
 prize (hall be gained without any la- 
 bour ? mail fuch a recompenfe be be- 
 llowed on thofe who never were at any 
 pains about it ? what toil and travail 
 doth it coft a man to gather together 
 that white and yellow earth which they 
 call money ? with what care and pains 
 do others afcend to any degree of pre- 
 ferment? what induftry and (ludy do men 
 employ to reach a little knowledge, and 
 be reckoned amongft the learned ? and 
 (hall heaven and everlafting happinefs 
 Aide into our arms when we are afleep ? 
 no, certainly. God will never difparage 
 the glories of that place, to beftowthem 
 on thofe who have not thought them 
 worthy of their mod ferious endeavours, 
 but as the greatnefs of that happinefs 
 may juitly difcourage all the lazy pre- 
 
 L 
 
122 That there are but 
 
 tenders to it, fo the nature of it leaves 
 fmall ground of hope to the greateft part 
 of the world. I wonder what moft men 
 do expect to meet with in heaven, who 
 dream of coming thither, think they to 
 feaft and revel, and luxuriate there, and 
 to fpend eternity in foolifh mirth, and 
 vain talk ; in fport and drollery, and 
 fenfual pleafure; which are all the ex- 
 ercifes they are capable of, or find any 
 relifh or fatisfaclion in ? away with all 
 thofeTurkifh notions, whereby we dis- 
 parage the happinefs we pretend to. the 
 joys of that place are pure and Spiritual, 
 and no unclean thing mall enter there, 
 the felicity of bleffed fpirits ftandeth in 
 beholding and admiring the divine per- 
 fections, and finding the image of them 
 mining in themfelves, in a perfect con- 
 formity to the will and nature of God, 
 and an intimate and delightful fociety 
 and communion with him : and mall 
 fuch fouls be blefTed in feeing and par- 
 taking of the divine likenefs, who never 
 loved it, and would chufe any thing ra- 
 ther than to converfe with him ? a little 
 reflexion on the common temper of mens 
 
a f mall number faved. 1 2 3 
 
 minds may allure us, that they are very 
 far from that meetnefs and aptitude , for 
 ' the inheritance of the faints in light'* 
 which the Apoftle fpeaks of. the notion 
 and nature of bleflednefs muft fure be 
 changed, or elfe the temper of their fpi- 
 rits : either they muft have new hearts, 
 or a new heaven created for them, before 
 they can be happy, it is a ftrange infatu- 
 ation of felf-love, that men in the gall 
 ofbitternefs mould think it is well with 
 their fouls, and fancy themfelves in a 
 cafe good enough for the enjoyment of 
 divine pleafures. 
 
 In the fourth place,let us reflect on the 
 attempts and endeavours of thofe who 
 have gone to heaven before us; how they 
 did fight and drive, wreftle and run, for 
 obtaining that glorious prize; and we 
 fhall fee how improbable it is, that the 
 greateft part of men mould come by it 
 with fo little pains. Noah, Abraham, 
 Jacob, Mofes, David, and all thofe an- 
 cient worthies recorded in holy writ, 
 have either done or fuffered fo great 
 things, as gave ground to expect that 
 
 * Col.i. 12. 
 
 L \ 
 
I 24 That there are 
 
 country they looked after, ' accounting 
 
 * themfelves Grangers and pilgrims on 
 
 * the earth ;' as you may fee in the 1 1 th 
 chapter of Hebrews : where, after a 
 large catalogue oftheir excellent perfor- 
 mances, the author tells us of others, 
 1 who were tortured, not accepting deli- 
 4 verance, that they might obtain a bet- 
 1 terrefurrection. and others had trial of 
 1 cruel mockings, and fcourgings, yea 
 1 moreo ver,of bonds and imprifonments. 
 ' they were (toned, they were fawn afun- 
 1 der, were tempted, were flain with the 
 
 * fword : they wandered about in fheep- 
 1 skins, and goat-skins ; being deiHtute, 
 i afflicted , tormented : of w r hom the 
 f world was not worthy, they wandered 
 
 * in defarts, and in mountains, and in 
 ' dens and in caves of the earth.* fuch 
 alfo was that holy violence wherewith 
 the Chriftians of the fir ft and golden ages 
 did force open the gates of heaven, and 
 took polTeflion of it. the ardent affecti- 
 on wherewith thefe blelTed fouls were 
 inflamed towards their Maker and Re- 
 deemer, made them willingly give Dpi* 
 their bodies to be burned in the tire, for 
 
a fmall number faved. 1 2 £ 
 
 the glory of God, and the propagation 
 of the Chriftian faith, their conftancy 
 in their fufferingsdid amaze their bloo- 
 dy perfecutors, andoutweary the cruel- 
 ty of their tormentors : and they rejoi- 
 ced in nothing more, * than that they 
 ( were accounted worthy to fuffer fhame 
 ( for the name of Jefus.' and what mall 
 we fay of their nnivetfal charity and 
 love, which reached their very enemies? 
 of their humility and meeknefs, juftice 
 and temperance, and all thofe other vir- 
 tues, which many of the Heathens them- 
 felves did obferve and admire ? i behold, 
 faith one, how the Chriftians love one 
 another ! Thefe are the men .faith ano- 
 ther, who fpeak as they think, and do 
 as they fpeak.' Pliny, after an exact in- 
 quiry, writeth to Trajan the Emperor, 
 that he could never find any other guilt 
 in the Chriftians,but that they met to- 
 gether before day-break, to fing a hymn 
 to Chrift, as if he were God; and then 
 to bind themfelves with a facramentor 
 oath, not to do any mifchief ; but, on 
 the contrary, that they fhallnot rob, 
 ileal, or commit adultery, or faliifj 
 
\l6 That there are but 
 
 1 their words, or deny their truft, &c* 
 this was the crime of Chriftians in thofe 
 firft ages, to engage themfelves not to 
 commit any crime, and if it fell out 
 that any of them were guilty of drun- 
 kennefs, or uncleannefs, or any other 
 of thofe fins, which, alas ! are fo light- 
 ly cenfured in our days, they were fe- 
 verely punifhed : nay, how bitterly did 
 themfelves lament it! they needed not 
 in thofe days to be purfued by tedious 
 procefTes, or dragged againft their will to 
 the profeflion of their repentance, they 
 would fue for it with tears, and (land 
 many years at the door of the church, 
 begging to be received, the cenfures of 
 the church were then looked upon as 
 very ferious and dreadful things: and 
 they who would encounter death in 
 the mod terrible form, would tremble if 
 threatened with excommunication, now, 
 tell me,I pray you, what you think of 
 thefe men ? did they fupererogate, and 
 go beyond their duty ? or were they 
 fools in doing thefe things, when half 
 the pains might have ferved the turn ? 
 did heaven and happinefs cofl them fo 
 
afmall number faved. 1 1 7 
 
 much labour, and think you to be car- 
 ried faft afleep, or rather while you are 
 bending your forces quite another way i 
 if you cannot look fo far back, or if 
 you imagine thefe but romances, like 
 the poetick accounts of the golden age, 
 wherein all men were happy and good, 
 I (hall then defire you to take notice of 
 a few perfons, whom the divine good- 
 nefs hath refcued from that deluge of 
 wickednefs which overfloweth the world, 
 there are perhaps fome two or three in 
 a city, or in a country, who live very 
 fir beyond the common rate of men, 
 and may be accounted angels upon earth, 
 if compared with them, they have ef- 
 caped the pollution that is in the world, 
 and have learned to defpife all the va- 
 nities of it; their affections are above, 
 and their greateft bufinefs is, to pleafe 
 and ferve their Maker; their thoughts 
 and affeclions are in a great meafure ho- 
 ly and pure, their converfe innocent and 
 ufeful, and in their whole deportment 
 they obferve fuch ftrict rules of holinefs 
 and virtue, as others may think need- 
 lefs or fuperftitious : and yet thefe very 
 
II 8 That there are but 
 
 perfons are deeply fenfible of their own 
 imperfections, and afraid enough to 
 come fhort of heaven. I fpeak not now 
 of thofe fcrupulous perfons whom me- 
 lancholy doth expofe unto perpetual and 
 unaccountable fears; much lefs of o- 
 thers, who make a trade of complain- 
 ing, and would be the better thought of 
 for fpeaking evil of themfelves, and 
 would be very ill pleafed if you mould 
 believe them. I fpeak of rational and fo- 
 ber men, whofe fears arife from their 
 due confideration and meafures of 
 things, from the right apprehenfions 
 they have of the holinefs of God, and 
 the meaning and importance of the gof- 
 pel-precepts. and certainly fnch holy 
 jealoufies over themfelves ought not to 
 be judged needlefs; fmce St. Paulhim- 
 felf, who had been rapt up into the third 
 heaven, and thereby received an earneft 
 of eternal happinefs, found it neceflary 
 to take care, * left that by any means, 
 1 while he preached to others, himfelf 
 i mould be a caft-away*.' I know it is 
 ordinary for men to laugh at thofe who 
 are more ferious and confcientious than 
 ■ i Ccr, ii, :~. 
 
a /mall number Javed. 1 2 9 
 
 themfelves, to wonder what they aim at, 
 and to hope to be as fure of heaven as 
 they, but ere long they fliall difcover 
 their miftake, and (hall fay, with thofe 
 fpokenof in thebook of Wifdom/ This 
 i was he whom we had fometimes in de- 
 ' rifion, and a proverb of reproach, we 
 ' fools accounted his life madnefs, and 
 ' his end to be without honour, how is 
 1 he numbred among the children of 
 1 God, and his lot is among the faints ! 
 ' therefore have we erred from the way 
 ' of truth, and the light of righteoufnefs 
 € hath not fliined unto us, and the Sun of 
 ' righteoufnefs rofe not upon us.' 
 
 To come yet clofer unto our prefent 
 purpofe, a ferious confideration of the 
 laws and precepts of the gofpel, will 
 fully convince us of ' the flraitnefs of 
 ' the gate, and narrownefs of that way 
 ' that leads unto eternal life.' we cannot 
 name them all, nor infill: upon any at 
 length, look through that excellent Ser- 
 mon on the mount, and fee what our 
 Saviour doth require of his followers, 
 you will find him injoining fuch a pro- 
 found humility, as fhall make us think 
 
1 30 That there are but 
 
 nothing of ourfelves, and be content 
 that others think nothing of us ; ameek- 
 nefs which no injuries can overcome, 
 no affronts nor indignities can exafpe- 
 rate; a chaftity which reftraineth the 
 fight of the eyes, and the wandering of 
 the defires \ fuch an univerfal charity as 
 will make us tender other mens welfare 
 as our own, and never to take any re- 
 venge againft our mod bitter enemies, 
 but to wifh them well, and to do them 
 all the good we can, whether they will 
 or not. whatever corrupt glofTes men 
 are bold to put on our Saviour's words, 
 the offering the other cheek to him who 
 fmote the one, and the giving our coat 
 to him who hath taken our cloak, doth 
 oblige us to fuffer injuries, and part with 
 fomething of our right, for avoiding 
 ftrife and contention, the pulling out 
 our right eye, and cutting ofFour right 
 hand that offends, doth import the re- 
 nouncing of the moft gainful callings, 
 or pleafant enjoyments, when they be- 
 come a fnare unto us, and the ufe of all 
 thofe corporal aufterities that are ne- 
 ceffary for the reftraint of our luft and 
 
afmall number faved. 131 
 
 corrupt affections, the hating of father 
 and mother for the fake of Chrift, doth 
 at leaft imply the loving of him infinite- 
 ly beyond our deareft relations, and the 
 being ready to part with them when ei- 
 ther our duty or his will doth call for 
 it. and we muft not look upon thefe 
 things as only counfels of perfection, 
 commendable in themfelves, but which 
 may yet be neglected without any great 
 hazard, no, certainly; they are abfolute- 
 lyneceflary: and it is a folly to expect 
 happinefs without theconfcientious and 
 fincere performance of them all. ' who- 
 1 foever (hall break one of thefe lead com- 
 i mandments, and (hall teach men fo, 
 i he fhall be called the lead in the king- 
 ' dom of heaven :' that is, according to 
 all interpreters, ' he (hall have no inte- 
 * reft in it.' you fee then by what ftrict 
 rules he muft fquare his actions, who 
 can with any ground hope to be faved. 
 but now I muft tell you further, that he 
 muft not be put to the performance of 
 his duty merely by the force and fancti- 
 ons of thefe laws, true religion is an in- 
 ward, free, and felf-moving principle; 
 
132 That there are kit 
 
 andthofe who have made a prog re fs In it, 
 are not acted only by external motives, 
 are not merely driven by threatnings, 
 nor bribed by promifes, nor conftrained 
 by laws ; but are powerfully inclined to 
 that which is good, though holy and re- 
 ligious perfons do much eye the law of 
 God ; yet it is not fo much the autho- 
 rity and fanclion of it, as its reafonable- 
 nefs,and purity, and goodnefs,that doth 
 prevail with them, they account it ex- 
 cellent and defirable in itfelf, and that 
 
 * in keeping of it there is great reward;' 
 and that divine love wherewith they are 
 acted, makes them become a law unto 
 themfelves : i Quis legem det amanti- 
 
 * bus ? Major eft amor lex ipfe fibi.' in 
 a word, what our blefted Saviour faid of 
 himfeif, is in fome meafure applicable 
 to his followers, that it is * their meat 
 i and drink to do their Father's will.' 
 and as the natural appetite is carried 
 out towards food, though we fhould not 
 reflect on the ncceflity of it for the pre- 
 fervation of our lives; fo are they car- 
 ried with a natural and unforced pro- 
 
q J mall number faved. 1 3 3 
 
 penfion towards that which is good and 
 commendable. 
 
 Hitherto we have been fpeaking of 
 thofe qualifications which are neceflary 
 for obtaining an entrance into heaven : 
 it is high time we were cafting our eyes 
 upon the world, to fee how the tempers 
 and actions of men agree with them, 
 and if firfr we look back upon the old 
 world, we fhall fee how foon wicked- 
 nefs did overfpread the face of the earth, 
 and all flefii had corrupted his way-: 
 and of all the multitudes that were then 
 in the world, only Noah and his family 
 were found worthy to efcape the general 
 deluge; nay even in it there was a curfed 
 Cham, the father of a wicked generation, 
 after that the church of God was con- 
 fined unto a very narrow corner; and 
 while darknefs covered the face of the 
 earth, only Paleftine was enlightened 
 with the knowledge of God: f he fhew- 
 * ed his word unto Jacob, his ftatutes 
 'and his judgments unto Ifrael. but 
 € he dealt not fo with every nation : 
 ' as for his judgments, they have not 
 M 
 
134 That there ere 
 
 1 known them*, they were given up to 
 1 the lufts of their own hearts, and wor- 
 1 /hipped the works of their own hands.' 
 their devotions were performed unto 
 devils, and their religious myfteries 
 were full of the groiTeft impurities. I 
 fhall not now enter on the debate, whe- 
 ther ever any Heathen might poffibly 
 have been faved \ we are more concerned 
 to fecure our own falvation, than to dis- 
 pute about theirs : and yet I muft fay, 
 that, amongft all the lives of celebrated 
 Heathens, I could never meet with the 
 character of a truly good man. and 
 though I love not to decry morality, yet 
 that, pride and felf-conceit which ming- 
 led itfelf with their fairelt actions,makes 
 me look upon them as indeed fplendi- 
 da peccata, a more fpecious kind of 
 fins, but fuppofe fomething could be 
 faid for Socrates and Plato, and two or 
 three others, what is that to thoferuige 
 multitudes, who, without all perad ven- 
 ture, ran headlong into everlailir.-: 
 (traction ? but let us leave thefe times, 
 and look upon the prefent condition 
 ■ Pfal. cxlvii. [a, :o. 
 
afmall number faved. i 3 5* 
 
 of the world, it is a fad account of it 
 that is given by Breerwood in his En- 
 quiries, that dividing the whole world 
 into thirty parts, nineteen are Pagan, 
 fix are Mahometan, and only five remain 
 for Chriftians of all perfuafions. I ftnll 
 not warrant the exaclnefs of his rec- 
 koning : but certainly the number of 
 Chriftians carries but a very fmall pro- 
 portion to the reft of mankind, and of 
 thele again, how few are there ortho- 
 dox in their religion ? I dare not con- 
 demn all thofe who live in the Romifh 
 communion: but fure they lie under 
 very great difadvantages ; and, befides 
 the common difficulty of Chriftianity, 
 their errors and fuperftitions are no 
 fmall hinderances unto them. 
 
 But we may perhaps think ourfelves 
 little concerned in them, let us confi- 
 der thofe who live in communion with 
 ourfelves, and fee what is to be thought 
 of the generality of them, and, firft, we 
 (hall find a very great number of them 
 fo grofsly ignorant, that they i know 
 1 not the way that leads to life.' and 
 truly it is not fo broad that people 
 M 2 
 
i%6 That there are but 
 
 fhould keep it by guefs. and however 
 they imagine, that their ignorance will 
 not only be excufable in itfelf, but af- 
 ford a cloak to their other wickednefs ; 
 yet dreadful is that threatening of the 
 prophet Ifaiah, i It is a people of no 
 4 underftanding : therefore he that made 
 
 * them will not have mercy on them,and 
 
 * he that formed them will (hew them no 
 1 favour.' but, befides thofe many thou - 
 fands thatperifh for lack of knowledge, 
 how great are the number of vitious and 
 fcandalous perfons? remove but our 
 gluttons and drunkards, our thieves and 
 deceivers, our oppreflbrs and extortio- 
 ners, our fcolders and revilers, our for- 
 nicators and adulterers, and all that 
 curfed crew that are guilty of fuch hei- 
 nous crimes, and how thin mould our 
 churches be ? to what a fmall number 
 mould we quickly be reduced ? a little 
 corner would hold us all. and think you 
 thefel have been (peaking of,are fit to en- 
 ter into the kingdom of heaven? perhaps 
 you may think us rafh to condemn fo 
 many of our neighbours ;but the Apoftle 
 hath done it to our hands : l know ye 
 
afmall number faved. 1 3 7 
 
 € not that the unrighteous (hall not in- 
 i her it the kingdom of God ? be notde- 
 
 < ceived: neither fornicators, nor ido- 
 ' laters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, 
 
 < nor abufers of themfelves with man- 
 ' kind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor 
 ' drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortio- 
 i ners, (hall inherit the kingdom of 
 1 God *.' you fee what a heavy fentence 
 is pronounced : and O how many are in- 
 cluded under it ! I mall name one other 
 vice, which I fear will drive in no fmall 
 number of thofe who are yet behind ; 
 and that is, the hellifh and unaccount- 
 able cuftomary tin of fwearing, whereby 
 men do commonly throw away their 
 fouls, without any temptation, pleafure 
 or advantage, how often do men baffle 
 the facred name of God, by calling him 
 to witnefs to fuch trifles as they might 
 be aihamed to atteft before any grave 
 or fober perfon ? this they account an 
 ornament of fpeech, and their words 
 would never found big enough without 
 it. I cannot ftand to reckon up 3ll the 
 aggravations of this fin. it is certainly 
 
 * 1 Cor. vi. 9, 1 o. 
 iM 3 
 
That there ore but 
 nfiftent v. ^ioas temper: 
 
 and this alone, if there were no more, 
 would damn the great eU part of theChri- 
 ftian world, and what (hall we fr 
 all thofe other vices, which are fo fre- 
 quently practifed, yea and defended too 
 among us? for, a.: re arrived 
 
 at that height of impiety, that virtue 
 zr.i vice feem to have fluffed ph 
 
 names, it is counted a gallant thing, 
 to defpife all divine and human laws ; 
 
 any thing that may gratify our lofh 
 
 : ccounted an argument of 
 weak judgment; dependance upon Pro - 
 
 that there is no wit but in deceiving o- 
 
 Acis: no man is reckoned generous, 
 
 be extremely ambitious ; and 
 
 i: is courage to forgive an in- 
 
 n, whither art thou fled ! 
 
 in what corner of the world (hall we 
 
 1 thee? {hall we fearchtheein courts 
 
 end • men ! pride and 
 
 luxury hath driven thee thence ; and 
 
 they are too much concerned in the bu- 
 
a/mall number faved. 139 
 
 finefs and pleafures of this world, to 
 mind thofe of another, fhall we feek 
 thee in the cottages of the poor ? envy 
 and difcontent lodgeth there; their out- 
 ward want takes up all their thoughts, 
 and they have little regard for their 
 fouls, -fhall we go into the city ? chea- 
 ting and extortion, and intemperance, 
 are almoft all we can meet with there, 
 and if we retire into the country, we 
 fhall find as little innocence in it \ We 
 1 may look for judgment, but behold 
 ' opprefTion ; for righteoufnefs, but be- 
 1 hold aery.' 
 
 After all that we have hitherto faid, 
 fome may think themfelves fafe enough, 
 being confeious of none of thofe vices 
 which we have named, but, alas ! what 
 is all this ? they may ftill be far from 
 the kingdom of heaven, religion Hands 
 not in negatives ; and the being free 
 from grofs and fcandalous vices, is a 
 poor plea for heaven, look how thy foul 
 is furnifhed with thofe divine graces, 
 which ought to qualify thee for it. I 
 fhall name but one; and it is, the Love 
 of God : and every body pretendeth to 
 
140 That there are but 
 
 it: but O how few are there in the 
 world that underftand what it means ; 
 that feel the power and efficacy of it on 
 their own fpirits ! t amor eft pondus a- 
 ' nimif love is that weight whereby a 
 foul is carried towards the object which 
 it loves, and refteth in it as its proper 
 center, thofe who are acquainted with 
 this noble paflion, even in its wander- 
 ings and deviations from its proper ob- 
 ject, when it is wholly fixed on fome 
 filly creature like ourfelves ; thefe, I fay, 
 do know what mighty effects it is wont 
 to produce in the fouls where it pre- 
 vailed ; how it makes them almoft for- 
 get their own intereft, and only mind 
 that of another; how careful they are of 
 every thing that may pleafe or advan- 
 tage the perfon, and how afraid to of- 
 fend them ; what delight they have in 
 their converfation, and how hardly they 
 endure to be abfent from them, fee 
 therefore if thou findeft any thing an- 
 fwerable to thefe erTe<5h of love, in the 
 affection thou pretended unto God. are 
 his glory and honour the deareft of all 
 things unto thee ; and wouldeft thou ra- 
 
a fmall number favcd. 1 4 1 
 
 ther hear thyfelf and all thy friends re- 
 viled, than his holy name blafphemed ? 
 is it thy greateft care and bufinefs to 
 pleafe him, and art thou watchful againft 
 every fin ? is there nothing in the world 
 fo dear unto thee, but thou wouldeft part 
 with for his fake; and (till defireft he 
 fhoulddohis own will rather than thine? 
 is nothing fo delightful as to converfe 
 with him ? and doth every thing feem 
 burdenfome which detain stheelongfrom 
 him ? if we would examine ourfelves by 
 thefe meafures, I fear moft of us would 
 find our confidence built on a fandy 
 foundation. 
 
 Perhaps you will tell me, that though 
 things be not fo well at prefent ; though 
 you have not yet attained thefe endow- 
 ments that are necelTary to fit you for 
 heaven, nor have indeed begun to en- 
 deavour after them : yet hereafter you 
 hope all (hall be well; you'll repent and 
 amend once before you die. but confi- 
 der,I befeech you, my brethren, what it 
 is that you fay. when think you that this 
 promifed reformation (hall begin r fome 
 two or three years after this, when you 
 
1 4 2 That there are but 
 
 have pleafcd yourfelves, and indulged 
 your lufts a little more ? but what affu- 
 rance have you to live fo long ? are not 
 your neighbours dropping down every 
 day about you, who expected death as 
 little as you ? and fuppofe you live,what 
 greater probability is thereof your re for- 
 mation at that time than now ? had you 
 not the fame thoughts and refolutions fe- 
 veral years ago, which yet have taken no 
 effect at all ? will you not have the fame 
 temptations and fnares ? will your lulls 
 be more eafily overcome, when ftreng- 
 thened by longer cuftom? will it be more 
 eafy to return after you have wandered 
 further out of your way ? belike it is on 
 a deathbed-repentance you have ground- 
 ed your hopes ; you refolve to part with 
 your lufts when you can keep them no 
 longer, and ferve God Almighty with 
 the dregs of your time. I fhall not ftand 
 to tell you what fhrewd objections are 
 propofed by fome great and learned men 
 againfl: the validity and acceptablenefs 
 of fuch a repentance : fome of them per- 
 haps have been too peremptory and fe- 
 vere. true and unfeigned repentance, 
 
a fmall number faved. i 4 3 
 
 which includeth the fincere love of God, 
 and refignation to him, will never come 
 too late; the foundation of heaven is 
 laid in the fouls of thofe that have it. but 
 if we confider what a great matter true 
 repentance is, the fhortnefs of the time, 
 and hinderances of a diftempered body, 
 and the ordinary relapfes of men who 
 have promifed fair on fuch occafions, 
 and have outlived that Ccknefs they 
 thought had been mortal ; we cannot 
 but acknowledge, that a deathbed-re- 
 pentance is feldom fincere ; and that it 
 is an unfit time to begin to fight with 
 principalities and powers, when perhaps 
 we have not ftrength to turn ourfelves 
 on our beds; in a word, that of "thofe 
 who do thus delay and put off the bu- 
 finefs, very few fhall be faved. 
 
 When we have faid all that we can 
 fay, there are many will never be per- 
 fuaded of the truth of that which we have 
 been proving, they cannot think it con- 
 fident with the goodnefs and mercy of 
 God, that the greateft part of mankind 
 mould be damned : they cannot imagine 
 that heaven mould be fuch an empty 
 
144 That there are but 
 
 and defolate place, and have fo very few 
 to inhabit it. but O what folly and mad- 
 nefs is this, for finful men to fet rules 
 unto the Divine goodnefs, and draw 
 conclufions from it fo exprefsly con- 
 trary to what himfelf hath revealed 1 is 
 it not enough that he has taught us the 
 way to be happy, and given his own 
 Son to the death to make it poffible ; 
 that he hath waited fo long, and invi- 
 ted us fo earneftly, and fo frequently 
 told us our hazard? if all this cannot 
 prevail ; if we be obflinately refolved to 
 continue wicked and miferable; if we 
 defpife his goodnefs, and turn all his 
 grace unto wantonnefs; if we flight his 
 threatening?, and will have none of his 
 reproof; if we court damnation, and 
 throw ourfelves headlong into hell : 
 how can we expecl that he fhould in- 
 terpofe his omnipotency to pull us from 
 thence, and place us in heaven againft 
 our will ? thofe bleffed regions are not 
 like our new plantations,which are fome- 
 times peopled with the word fort of 
 perfons, left they fhould be altogether 
 defolate. there are thoufands of angels, 
 
a j mall number faved. 145 
 
 and ten thoufand times ten thoufand 
 that (land about the throne, we know 
 little the extent of the nniverfe, or what 
 proportion the wicked or miferable part 
 of rational beings doth carry to thofe 
 that are happy and good : but this we 
 know, that God was infinitely happy 
 before he had made any creature ; that 
 he needeth not the fociety of the holy 
 angels, and will never admit that of wic- 
 ked and irreligious men. but, that I 
 may hade towards a clofe, 
 
 The doclrine we have been infifting 
 on, is fad and lamentable; but the con- 
 fideration of it may be very ufeful. it 
 muft needs touch any ferious perfon 
 with a great deal of grief and trouble, 
 to behold a multitude of people conveen- 
 ed together, and to think, that, before 
 thirty or forty years, a little more, or 
 great deal lefs, they (hall all go down 
 unto the dark and filent grave, and the 
 greater, the far greater part of their fouls 
 (hall be damned unto endlefs and un- 
 fpeakable torments, but this may ftir us 
 up unto the greateft diligence and care, 
 that we may do what we can towards 
 N 
 
146 That there are but <&c. 
 the prevention of it. were the fenfe of 
 this deeply ingraven on all our minds, 
 with what care and diligence, with what 
 ferioufnefs and zeal would minifters 
 deal with the people committed to their 
 charge, that by any means they might 
 fave fome ? how would parents, and huf- 
 bands, and wives, employ all their di- 
 ligence and induftry, and make ufe of 
 the mod ufeful methods, for reclaiming 
 their near relations, and pulling them 
 from the brink of hell ? laftly, what ho- 
 ly violence would each of us ufe for fa- 
 ving ourfelves from this common ruin, 
 and making our calling and election 
 fure ? this, I fay, is the ufe of what we 
 have been fpeaking : and may Almighty 
 God fo accompany it with his blefHng 
 and power, that it may be fo happily 
 effectual to fo excellent a purpofe. and 
 unto this God, &c. 
 
147 
 
 The duty and pleasure of 
 praise and thanksgiving. 
 
 p s a l. cvii. 15. 
 
 Oh that men would praife the Lord for his 
 goodnefs, and for his wonderful works to 
 the children of men I 
 
 THere is fcarce any duty of reli- 
 gion more commonly neglected, 
 or more flightly performed, than that 
 of praife and thankfgiving. the fenfe of 
 our wants puts us upon begging favours 
 from God ; and the confcioufnefs of our 
 fins conftrains us to deprecate his wrath, 
 thus intereft and felf-love fend us to our 
 prayers, but, alas ! how fmall a part 
 hath an ingenuous gratitude in our de- 
 votion ? how feldom are we ferious and 
 hearty in our acknowledgments of the 
 Divine bounty ? the flender returns of 
 this nature which we make, are many 
 times a formal ceremony, a preface to 
 ufher in our petitions for what we want, 
 rather than any fincere expreflion of our 
 thankful refentment for what we have 
 N2 
 
148 The duty an. I pie a fur e 
 
 received, far different was the temper 
 of the holy Pfalmift, whofe affectionate 
 acknowledgments of the goodnefs and 
 bounty of God, in the chearful celebra- 
 tion of his praife, make up a confider- 
 able part of his divine and ravifhing 
 fongs. how often do we find him exci- 
 ting and difpofing himfelfto join voice, 
 hand and heart together in this holy 
 and delightful employment ? i Blefs the 
 ' Lord, O my foul : and all that is with- 
 1 in me, blefs his holy name * . My heart 
 i is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed. I 
 1 will fing and give praife. awake up, 
 1 my glory, awake, pfaltery and harp : I 
 1 myfelf will awake right early' f. and 
 being confcious of his own insufficiency 
 for the work, he inviteth others unto 
 it; calling in the whole creation to af- 
 fift him : * O ling unto the Lord a new 
 6 fong : fing unto the Lord, all the earth. 
 ' give unto the Lord, O ye kindreds of 
 1 the people, give unto the Lord glory 
 1 and ftrength+. Praife ye the Lord. 
 i Praife ye the Lord from the heavens : 
 
 * Pfal. ci.i. 1. f PUd . lvii. 7, S. 
 
 {Pkl.xcvi. 1.7. 
 
ofpraife and thankf giving. 149 
 praife him in the heights, praife him, 
 ' ye fun and moon : praife him, all ye 
 1 (tars of light; mountains and all hills, 
 ' fruitful trees and all cedars; beads 
 6 and all cattle,creeping things, and fly- 
 c ing fowl *. Blefs the Lord, all his 
 6 works in all places of his dominion' f . 
 many fuch figurative expreffions occur, 
 and allowance mud be made for the 
 poetical [train ; but in the text we have 
 a proper and pafLonate wifh, ' Oh that 
 ' men would praife the Lord,' &c. 
 
 1 Oh that men/ &c. man is the great 
 prieft of this lower world, by whom 
 all the homage and fervice of the other 
 creatures is to be paid to their common 
 Lord and Maker. ' God hath made 
 1 him to have dominion over the works 
 i of his hand ; he hath put all things 
 * under his feet ; all fheep and oxen, 
 1 yea, and the beads of the field: the 
 ' fowl of the air, and the fifli ofthefea, 
 i and whatfoever pafTeth through the 
 ' paths of the feas' %. and the Divine 
 bounty, in maintaining of thefe poor 
 
 * Pfal. cxlviii. 1 . 3. 9. 10. 
 
 t Pfal. Ciii. 22. \ Pfal.viii. <5,7, 8, 
 
 N3 
 
ico The duty and pleafure 
 
 creatures, redound eth unto him ; and 
 therefore it is highly reafonable that he 
 fhould pay the tribute of praife for them, 
 who are not capable to know their de- 
 pendence on God, or their obligations 
 unto him ' The young lions are faid 
 1 to roar and feek their meat from 
 € God *. The young ravens do cry 
 € unto him ' f. but thefe are only the 
 complaints of languifliing nature, heard 
 and relieved by the God of nature ; but 
 not diredlly and particularly addrefTed 
 to him. man alone is capable to enter- 
 tain communion with God, to know his 
 goodnefs, and to celebrate his praife. 
 
 1 Oh that men would praife the Lord/ 
 praife is the acknowledgment of the 
 goodnefs and excellency of a perfon: and 
 though the defire of it, in us who have 
 nothing of our own but folly and fin, 
 and whole belt performances have a mi- 
 ferable alloy of adherent corruption, 
 be ablameable vanity and prefumption; 
 yet certainly it is highly reafonable for 
 God, who is the author and fountain of 
 all good, to require and expect it from 
 * Pfal. civ. 2 1. f J ^ xxxviii. 41. 
 
of praife and thank/giving. 1 5- 1 
 his creatures, he hath made this great 
 world as a temple for his honour, and 
 it mould continually refound with his 
 praife. 'tis true, all thepraifes of men 
 and angels can add nothing to his hap- 
 pinefs and glory; yet there is a fitnefs 
 and congruity in the thing ; and it is 
 our happinefs as well as our duty to 
 perform it : for' it is good to fmg prai- 
 i fes to our God ; for it is pleafant , and 
 1 praife is comely* f. this is the bleffed 
 employment of the holy ones above : 
 and if ever we tafte the pleafures of hea- 
 ven upon earth, it is then when our 
 fouls are raviflied with an overflowing 
 fenfe of the Divine goodnefs, and our 
 mouths are filled with his praife, 
 
 1 Oh that men would praife the Lord 
 ' for his goodnefs.' all the attributes 
 of God deferve our higheft praife. power, 
 wifdom and goodnefs are all one in him ; 
 but, as we have different conceptions 
 of thefe,Goodnefsis that lovely attribute 
 which doth peculiarly attract our affecti- 
 on, and excite our praife. our love to 
 God doth not fo much flow from the 
 
 f Pfahcxlvii. I. 
 
1 5 2 The duty and plea fur e 
 
 confideration of his greatnefs, whereby 
 he can do whatever he will, as from the 
 confideration of his goodnefs, that he 
 always willeth what is bed ; that his 
 almighty power hath infinite wifdom to 
 regulate it, and unfpeakable bounty to 
 actuate and exert it.' 
 
 6 Oh that men would praifethe Lord 
 1 for his goodnefs, and for his wonder - 
 1 ful works to the children of men V the 
 Divine goodnefs doth fpread and ex- 
 tend itfelf overall the parts of the uni- 
 verfe, and embraccth the whole creation 
 in its arms : it not only difplayeth itfelf 
 mo(l illullrionily to the bleiled inhabi- 
 tants of the region above, but reacheth 
 alfo to the meaned worm that crawleth 
 on the ground, the beads of the field, 
 and the fowls of the air, and the fifties 
 of the fea, and the innumerable (warms 
 of little infects which we can hardly 
 difcern with our eyes, are all fubjectsof 
 that Almighty care : by him they are 
 brought forth into the world ; by him 
 they are furnifhed with provifion fuit- 
 able for them: ' thefe all wait upon thee,' 
 (faith the Pfalmid) : ' that thou mayed 
 
of fraife and thankfgiving. 153 
 'give them their meat in due feafon. 
 1 that thou giveft them, they gather: 
 1 thou opened thine hand, they are filled 
 * with good*.' but. here, to excite us to 
 thankfulnefs, he makes choice of anin- 
 ftance wherein we ourfelves are more 
 nearly concerned ; and exhorteth i to 
 'praife the Lord for his wonderful 
 i works to the children of men.' if the 
 goodnefs of God to the holy angels be 
 above our reach, and his bounty to the 
 inferior creatures be below our notice ; 
 yet fure we mult be infinitely dull if we 
 do not obferve his dealings with our- 
 felves and thofeof our kind, as our in- 
 tereft maketh us more fenfible of this, 
 fo gratitude doth oblige us to a more 
 particular acknowledgment of it. 
 
 Thus you have the meaning and im- 
 portance of the text. I know not how 
 we can better employ the reit of the 
 time, than by fuggefting to your medi- 
 tations particular inltances i of this 
 1 goodnefs, and of his wonderful works 
 ' to the children of men/ 
 
 Let us then reflect on the works both 
 
 * ffal. civ. 27, 2 3, 
 
154 The duty and pie ajure 
 
 of creation and providence. Let us con- 
 fider in what a goodly and well- furn idl- 
 ed world he hath placed us, how ' he 
 \ hath ftretched out the heavens as a 
 1 curtain over our heads, and therein 
 1 hath fet a tabernacle for the fun; which, 
 ' as an univerfal lamp,* enlighteneth all 
 the inhabitants of the earth. 6 his go- 
 i ing forth is from the end of the heaven, 
 1 his circuit to the ends thereof; and 
 ' there is nothing hid from his heat.' in 
 the morning he arifeth, and makes the 
 darknefs flee before him, and difcover- 
 eth all the beauty and luftre of things, 
 and truly i the light is fweet, and a 
 ' pleafant thing it is for the eyes to be- 
 ' hold the fun.' nor is it lefs ufeful and 
 advantageous for directing our ways, 
 and ordering our feveral employments : 
 'man goeth forth to his work, and to 
 ' his labour until the evening, he maketh 
 ' darknefs, and it is night*.' the curtains 
 are drawn, and all things huflied into 
 (ilence, that man may enjoy the more 
 quiet repofe : and yet, to lefTen the hor- 
 ror of darknefs, and lighten fuch as are 
 * Pfal. civ. 23. 20. 
 
of pralfe and thankf giving. 155* 
 obliged to travel in the night, while the 
 fun is enlightening another part of the 
 world, we have the moon and ftars to 
 fupply his room. ' O give thanks unto 
 * the Lord, for he is good ; for his mer- 
 1 cy endureth for ever, to him that by 
 c wifdom made the heavens; for his, &c. 
 1 the moon and ftars to rule by night ; 
 ' for his, &c.' 
 
 Again, how wonderfully hath he 
 
 furnifhed this lower world for our main- 
 
 :enance and accommodation! i thehea- 
 
 ven,even the heaven of heavens are the 
 
 Lord's : but the earth hath he given 
 
 to the children of men \. he hath made 
 
 us to to have dominion over all the 
 
 works of his hands ; he hath put all 
 
 things under our feet: all fheep and 
 
 oxen, yea, and the beads of the field : 
 
 the fowl of the air, the fifhofthe fea, 
 
 and whatfoever pafTeth through the 
 
 paths of the feas*.' by the art andin- 
 
 duftry of man the fwifteft fowls are 
 
 caught, the fierceft creatures are tamed, 
 
 the (tronged: beafts are overcome, and 
 
 all made ferviceable unto him. the horfe 
 
 f Pfal.cxv. 16. * Pful. vui. 6. 7. 8, 
 
1 5^ The duty cn.ipleafure 
 
 helpeth our journey both with fpeed and 
 eafe, the oxen labour the ground for us, 
 fheep afford us meat and cloaths : from 
 the bowels of the earth we dig fuels, me- 
 tals, and (tones; which are ftill the more 
 plentiful, as they are ufeful and advanta- 
 geous to us. thofe ftones which ferve for 
 building, are almoft every where ready 
 at hand ; whereas rubies and diamonds, 
 and other fuchgli fieri ng trifles, are found 
 but in a few places of the world, and got- 
 ten with a great deal of toil, and to what 
 hardfhip mould all fort of artificers be 
 put, if iron were as fcanty as gold? the 
 furface of the earth yieldeth grafs for the 
 cattle, and herb for the fervice of man ; 
 1 and wine that maketh glad the heart of 
 1 man , and bread which itrengtheneth 
 * his heart.' thefeit affordeth unto us 
 from time to time ; and, while we are 
 fpending the productions of one year, 
 God is providing for us againft another, 
 there is no fmall variety of feafons and 
 influences, which concur for the pro- 
 duction of that corn, which we murmur 
 fo much for when we want, and value 
 fo little when it doth abound, the win- 
 
ofpralfe and t hankj giving. i y 7 
 ter-cold mull: temper and prepare the 
 earth : the gentlefpring mull cherifh and 
 foment the feed ; vapours mud be raifed, 
 and condenfed into clouds, and then 
 fqueezed out and lifted into little drops, 
 to water and refrefli the ground; and 
 then the fummer heat mud ripen and di- 
 gedthe corn before it be fit to be cut 
 down. i thou viiited the earth,' (faith 
 the Pfalmid), i and watered it : thou 
 ( greatly enriched it with the river of 
 ' God which is full of water : thou pre- 
 pared them corn, when thou had fo 
 ' provided for it. thou watered the ridges 
 ' thereof abundantly : thou fettled the 
 'furrows thereof: thou maked itfoft 
 • with mowers, thou blefTed die fpring- 
 c ing thereof, thou crowned the year 
 ' with thy goodnefs, and all thy paths 
 ' drop fat nefs. they drop upon the paf- 
 ' tures of the wildernefs : and the little 
 i hills rejoice on every fide, the padures 
 'are clothed with flocks; the valleys 
 1 alfo are covered over with corn ; 
 'they fhout for joy , they alfo fing*. 
 
 * O Lord, bow wonderful are thy 
 
 * Pfal. lxv .9.10. 11,12.13. 
 
 o 
 
15" 8 The duly and phofurc 
 
 * works ! in wifdom haft: thou made 
 1 them all : the earth is full of thy riches . 
 4 fo is the great and wide lea, wherein 
 € are things creeping innumerable , both 
 
 * fmall and great limes, there go the 
 
 * mips/ thofe great engines of traffick 
 and commerce, whereby every country 
 is eafily furnimed with the productions 
 of another, and indeed it is a wonderful 
 and aftonifhing contrivance of nature, 
 that men mould be eafily tranfported to 
 the remoteit places in fuch floating hou- 
 fes, and carried (fo to fpeak) upon the 
 wings of the wind ; that they mould be 
 able to find out their way in the wideft 
 ocean and darkeft night, by the directi- 
 on of a trembling needle, and the unac- 
 countable influence of a forry ftone. 
 
 * they that go down to the fea in mips, 
 ' that do bufinefs in great waters : thefe 
 < fee the works of the Lord, and his 
 € wonders in the deep, for he command- 
 € eth, and raifeth the ftormy wind, which 
 
 * lifteth up the waves thereof, they 
 € mount up to the heaven, they go down 
 
 * again to the depths, their foul is mel- 
 c ted becaufe of trouble, they reel to and 
 
ofpraife and thankfgiv'ing. \ 5-9 
 1 fro, and flagger like a drunken man, 
 i and are at their wits end. then they cry 
 1 unto the Lord in their trouble, and he 
 ' bringeth them out of their diftrefTcs.he 
 'maketh the ftorm a calm, fo that the 
 1 waves thereof are dill, then are they 
 4 glad, becaufe they are quiet ; fo hz 
 1 bringeth them unto their defired ha- 
 c ven. oh that men*/ &c. 
 
 But now we are fallen unawares from 
 the works of creation to thofe of pro- 
 vidence, indeed it is hard to keep to 
 any exact method in a fubjecl fo copious, 
 where one thing doth obtrude itfelf upon 
 ns before we have done with another. 
 Let us call back our thoughts to a more 
 orderly confideration of that bountiful 
 providence which followeth us from 
 time to time, we are infinitely indebted 
 to the Divine goodnefs before we fee the 
 light of the world. ' he poureth us out. 
 'as milk, and cruddleth us like cheefe. 
 'he clothes us with skin and flefh, and 
 ' fenceth us with bones and finews. he 
 6 granteth us life and favour, and his 
 6 vifitation prefervethour fpirit' f. this 
 * Pfai. c\ii. 23 . &c. f Job x. 10. 1 1« 12. 
 02 
 
i6o The duty and plea/ire 
 
 is fo entirely the work of God, that the 
 parents do not fo much as underftand 
 how it is performed; ' forwhoknoweth 
 
 * the way of the fpirit,' (how it cometh 
 to enliven a piece ofmatter), * or how 
 
 * the bones do grow in the womb of her 
 
 * that is with child ? I will praife thee,' 
 (faith the Pialmift),' for I am fearfully 
 
 * and wonderfully made : marvellous are 
 
 * thy works, and that my foul knoweth 
 
 * right well, my fubflance was not hid 
 ' from thee, when I was made in fecret, 
 'and curioufly wrought in the lowefl 
 ' parts of the earth, thine eyes did fee 
 e my fubftance yet being unpcrfecl, and 
 ' in thy book all my members were writ- 
 
 * ten, which in continuance were faflii- 
 
 * oned, when as yet there was none of 
 'then*, how precious al r o are thy 
 1 thoughts unto me, O God ! how great 
 
 * is thefum of them* ! See.' nine months 
 ordinarily pafs in the forming of this 
 curious and wonderful piece, before it 
 be expofed to the view of the world ; 
 and then the prifbner is releafed from 
 that narrow confinement, and the mo- 
 
 • Pfal. exxxix, 14. 1 j. 16. 17. 
 
of prat fe an d thankfg wtng. r 6' r 
 ther and the child are delivered toge- 
 ther, the mother * forgetteth her an- 
 * guifh and pangs, for joy that a man- 
 1 child is born into the world.' the poor 
 infant is naked and weak, ready to ex- 
 pire for hunger and cold, unable to do 
 any thing for itfelf but weep and cry : 
 but he that brought it into the world, 
 hath already provided for its fuftentati- 
 on in it. the mother's breads are filled 
 with a wholfome and delicious liquor, 
 which faileth not from time to time, but 
 is invifibly fupplied, like the widow 
 of Sarepta's oil, till the child become 
 capable of ftronger food. 
 
 But it was not enough that mothers 
 mould be enabled to fuftain their in- 
 fants, unlefs they had been alfo power- 
 fully inclined unto it: and therefore God 
 hath implanted thofe bowels of kindnefs 
 and companion, which prompts them 
 to the moft tender and affeclionate 
 care, and makes them as ready to help 
 their childrens neceffities as their own : 
 which, though it do hardly deferve the 
 name of a virtue, being common to 
 them with the brutes, ' for even the fea- 
 
 03 
 
j.ifure 
 * monfte^ . and 
 
 4 give fuck to their 
 tainly it is an effect of the Divine 
 dom, th't inf.. ant thcfe 
 
 vebeen fo 
 effei: 
 
 , and 
 
 nable to endure the nee, 
 
 fr.i vrithal expofed to fc rablc 
 
 folicitudc 
 , ifit 
 :r and in- 
 atcheth fo 
 
 nurfc are 
 l ftom be 
 
 r necefiitics 
 
 r.creafe rather 
 
 more and 
 
 lyof 
 
 the one, and oar pt from the 
 
 othe:. :;ave now 
 
 id c:n provide 
 
 f:ry, 
 
 and L Wei out of buffi 
 
 ^olifa and 
 . : 
 
offraifi and t hank f giving. 163 
 unreafonable thought, there needeth 
 but a little confideration to undeceive 
 us. all that we project and do for our- 
 felves, dependeth on the integrity of 
 our faculties, and the foundnefs of our 
 reafon ; which is a happinefs we can 
 never fecure unto ourfelvc-s. I chufethis 
 inftance the rather, becaufe it is a mer- 
 cy invaluable in itfelf, and I fear very 
 feldom confidercd by us. O what an r.n- 
 fpeakable bleiiing it is, that we are pre- 
 ierved in our right wits , that we are not 
 roaring in fome bedlam, or running fu- 
 rioufiy up and down the {beets; nor 
 have our fpirits funk into that fillinefs 
 or Ihipidity which would make every lit- 
 tle child to mock and deride us ! it is pof- 
 fible enough that this mould befal the 
 wifeft and mod ftedfaft of us all. a ftroke 
 on the head, a few more degrees of heat in 
 the blood, or agitation of the vital fpi- 
 rits, were enough to do the bufinefs. fo 
 weak and mutable creatures are we; fo 
 fmall is the diftance betwixt a wife man 
 and a fool, next to the ufe of our reafon, 
 how much are we indebted to the Di- 
 vine goodnefs for our health and wel- 
 
164 W* - ,; «(>' aid pk& fare 
 
 fare ! thefe bodies of ours are made up 
 
 of fo various parts, and withal fo nice 
 
 J.dicate, that the leaf! thing in the 
 world is enough to intangle and disor- 
 der them, ft drop o£ humour, oragrain 
 of land, will fometimes occafion fuch 
 anguifh and pain, as render a man in- 
 fenfibleof all the comforts he enjoyeth 
 in the world : and they who underftand 
 any thing of the human body. will juftly 
 wonder that all the parts are kept in or- 
 der for mi hour what a mercy ought we 
 therefore I II it, to rind ourfelvcs 
 
 aid) and vigour, no aching in our 
 
 head, no noifcrrenefs in our itomach , 
 
 no fever in the blood, none of thehu- 
 
 mcv . rone of thofe innume- 
 
 ■ en which co: 11 
 
 D the organs performing 
 
 . and a (prig 
 
 vigo ngevcrypartj how much 
 
 are I red to t; ence 
 
 fails and brui- 
 
 fes, i and keepeth all our bones, fo that 
 
 1 none c I broken;' which 
 
 vheth over us when we are afleep, 
 and careth for us when we are not able 
 
to care for ourfelves ! what a bleffing is 
 it to enjoy the repofe of the night ; that 
 we arc not wearied with endlefs tofhngs 
 and rollings, ' nor feared with dreams ? 
 1 and terrified with viGons/ whereof 
 holy Job complains ; that w r e are pro- 
 tected from fire and violence, from evil 
 fpirits, and from evil men ! 6 1 will both 
 1 lay me down in peace, and fleep ; for 
 ' thou, Lord, only makeft me to dwell 
 4 in fafety. ' and what (hall we fay of our 
 food and raiment, of our honfes and 
 manifold accommodations, of the kind- 
 nefs of our neighbours, and the love of 
 our friends, of all the means of our fub- 
 liftence, and all the comforts of our 
 lives ? we are made up, as it were, of 
 a great many feveral pieces, havefuch 
 a variety ofinterefls and enjoyments 
 concurring to onr prefent happinefs, 
 that it is an unfpeakable Goodnefs which 
 continueth them all with us from time 
 to time ; that when we awake in the 
 morning we mould find our minds 
 clear, our bodies well, our houfe fafe, 
 all our friends in health, and all our 
 intcrefts fecure. i He is a wall of fife 
 
\66 The duty and pie aj tire 
 
 i about us, and about all that we have, 
 ' by n], ght> an d by day ; and his mer- 
 1 cies are new every morning. ' I cannot 
 {land to fpeak of all thofe more pubiick 
 mercies, the peace and tranquillity of 
 kingdoms, and all the happy effects of 
 fociety and government. I (hall only fay, 
 that it is a fignal inllance of the Divine 
 wifdom and goodnefs in the govern- 
 ment of the world, that fuch a vafl num- 
 ber of perfons, only acled by felf-love, 
 mould all confpire for the pubiick in- 
 tereft,and fo eminently advance one an- 
 other's welfare ; that magiftrates fhoukl 
 fo willingly undergo the trouble of go- 
 vernment, and a heady and inconfiderate 
 multitude mould be commanded and o- 
 verawed by a fingle man. certainly it 
 can be no other but that fame God 
 1 who ftilleth the noife of the waves,' 
 that can prevent or compofe the tumults 
 of the people. 
 
 Hitherto we have confidered thofe 
 inftances of the Divine bounty which 
 relate to our temporal concerns, but 
 fure we were made for fome higher and 
 more excellent end ; than to pafsa few 
 
of pr oife and thankfg Ivhig . i <5 7 
 months or years m this world, to eat, 
 drink, fleep, and die. God hath defigned 
 us for a more lading and durable life, 
 and hath accordingly made greater pro- 
 vifions for it. he taketh care of our 
 very bodies ; but hath an infinitely 
 greater regard to thofe fpiritual and 
 immortal fubftances which he hath 
 breathed into us. and here in all reafon 
 we ought to begin with that great and 
 fundamental mercy, which is the root 
 and lpring of all his other mercies to- 
 wards the fouls of men; I mean, the 
 incarnation and the death of his only- 
 begotten Son. but, alas ! where are 
 thofe affections wherewith that fhould 
 be fpoken and heard ? our dulnefs 
 makes me almoft afraid to meddle with 
 fo high a theme, that the eternal Son 
 of God, the Wifdom of the Father, the 
 Maker and Lord of all things, mould 
 clothe himfelf with the infirmities of the 
 human nature, and come down from the 
 habitation of his glory, and take up his 
 abode among the wretched and rebelli- 
 ous children of men, to reclaim them 
 from their wickednefs and folly, and re- 
 
1 6 8 77; ? du ty am Ipleafu r e 
 
 ducethem to their duty and their hap- 
 pinefs ; that he fhould have gone up and 
 down in the world upwards of thirty 
 years in poverty, affliction, and con- 
 tempt, doing good and fuffering evil, 
 fcattering bleflings and enduring inju- 
 ries where- ever he came; and at lad 
 fhould have yielded up his life in un- 
 fpeakable anguifh and torment, to be 
 a propitiation for our fins : thefe are 
 matters which ought never to be fpo- 
 ken or heard, without lofing ourfelves 
 (as it were) in a rapture of admiration, 
 gratitude, and love. ' O the breadth, 
 6 length, depth, and height of that love 
 ' which paffeth all knowledge;' which 
 made God afliime our nature, that 
 we might become partakers of his ! it is 
 true, all that our bleffed Saviour hath 
 done and fuffered, proveth ineffectual to 
 the greateft part of mankind, but fure 
 they have themfelves to blame. God 
 hath both ' faidand fworn, that he hath 
 ' no pleafure in the death of finners, but 
 * would have them rather repent and 
 ' live.' and indeed his way of dealing 
 with them, doth fufiiciently declare the 
 
ofpraife and thankfgiving. 1 69 
 fame, with what long-fuffering pati- 
 ence doth he wait for their repentance ! 
 what pains doth he take to reclaim 
 them ! 
 
 It is an aftonifhing thing, to confider 
 what indignities and affronts are every 
 day done unto that infinite Majefly by 
 finful duft andafhes, and that he doth 
 not avenge himfelf by their total over- 
 throw ; that they mould violate his 
 laws, and defpife his threatnings, and 
 defy him, as it were, unto his very face, 
 and yet he mould pity andfpare them, 
 and wait to be gracious unto them, 
 were the government of the world com- 
 mitted to the meekefl: perfon on the face 
 of the earth, he would never endure 
 the outrages which are committed a- 
 gainft Heaven, but would prefently lofe 
 all his patience, and turn the whole 
 frame into ruin, but God is love: 'his 
 i thoughts and ways are not like thofe 
 1 of men; but as the heavens are higher 
 * than the earth, fo are his thoughts and 
 1 ways higher than ours.' and when the 
 obftinate wickednefs of finful creatures 
 doth, as it were, force and extort pu- 
 P 
 
170 The duty and pie afire 
 
 nifhments from his hands , what re- 
 luclancy, what unwiliingnefs doth he 
 exprefs to this work; this ftrange and 
 unnatural work, as himfelf feems to 
 term it? l how (hall I give thee up, O 
 ' Ephraim ? how (hall I give thee up ? O 
 
 * that my people had hearkened unto me, 
 1 that Ifrael had known my ways ! O 
 
 * Jerufalem ! O Jerufalem V &c. 
 
 Again, as God waiteth patiently for 
 our reformation, fo he doth make ufe 
 of many methods and means to bring 
 us unto it. he hath publiflied the gofpel 
 through the world, and brought down 
 theknowledge of it to our days, in fpite 
 ofall the oppofition of devils and men. 
 he hath eftablimed a church, and ap- 
 pointed a whole order of men, whofe 
 peculiar calling and bufinefs in the 
 world is, to take care of peoples fouls,to 
 inftrucl them in the way to heaven, 
 4 and as ambafTadors in Chrift's (lead, 
 ' to befeech them to be reconciled unto 
 i God.' thefe are fome of his common 
 mercies : but who can exprefs that 
 favour and love which he (heweth to 
 his own, to thofe blefled perfons 
 
ofpraije and thankfgiving. 171 
 whom he chufeth, and caufeth to ap- 
 proach unto himfelf, when he refcueth 
 them from the vanity of their converfa- 
 tion, l and that pollution which is in the 
 1 world through lufl:;' when he mould- 
 eth their fouls unto a conformity with 
 himfelf, and ftampeth his bleffed image 
 upon them ; when he vifiteth them with 
 his holy Spirit, and filleth their heart 
 with thofe hidden pleafures which none 
 can underftand but thofe that feel them ! 
 1 a ftranger intermeddleth not with their 
 'joy.' and yet even thefe are but the 
 earned of that great felicity for which 
 he hath defigned us ; * thofe joys that 
 ' ar at his right hand, thofe pleafures 
 1 that endure for evermore, eye hath 
 ' not feen, nor ear heard, nor can it 
 c enter into the heart of man to conceive 
 c what God hath prepared for thofe that 
 1 love him. and it doth not yet appear 
 ' what we (hall be.' mean while, thofe 
 fmall and imperfect difcoveries which 
 are made to us in the holy fcriptures of 
 that inconceivable happinefs, are enough 
 to overwhelm us with admiration and 
 wonder, to think that the bleffed day is 
 P2 
 
172 The duty and pie a fare 
 
 coming, when we (hall be loofed from 
 tbefe dull and lumpifh bodies ; thcfe 
 finks of corruption, difeafes and pains; 
 thofe prifons and dungeons of our hea- 
 ven-born fouls ; and, beingdothed with 
 robes of light and glory, mall get above 
 the clouds, and all thofe ftorms and 
 tempers which are here below ; and be 
 carried into thofe blcifed regions of 
 calmnefs and ferenity,of peace and joy, 
 of happinefs and fecurity ; when we 
 (hall come unto the 'innumerable com- 
 * pany of angels, and the general afTem- 
 1 bly of the church of the firft-born, and 
 6 the fpirits ofjuft men made perfect ; 
 1 and to Jefus the mediator of the new 
 c covenant;' thereto behold the glory of 
 God, and all the fplendor of the court of 
 heaven ; to view and contemplate that 
 infinite power which created the world, 
 that unfearchable wifdom which order- 
 eth all things, that unfpeakable goodnefs 
 which exerteth both ; nay, 'fo to fee 
 f God as to become like unto him* ; and 
 ? beholding with open face the glory of 
 i the Lord, to be changed into the fame 
 4 image, from glory to glory f :' to re- 
 * i John iii. 2. f 2 Cor. ill. i 8. 
 
of praife width ankfgiving. 173 
 ceive the continual ilhpfes of the Divine 
 goodnefs, and the conftant expreiTions 
 of his favour and love ; and to have 
 our own fouls melted and diflblved into 
 the flames of reciprocal affection, and 
 that fire fed and nourifhed by uninter- 
 rupted enjoyments: in a word, to be 
 continually tranfported into ecftafies and 
 raptures, and fwallowedup in the em- 
 braces of eternal fweetnefs, and to be 
 loft, as it were, in the fource and foun- 
 tain of happinefs and blifs ! ' Lord, 
 4 what is man, that thou takeft know- 
 4 ledge of him ? or the Son of man, that 
 
 * thou makeft fuch account of him J ? 
 i what is man, that thou fhouldft thus 
 6 magnify him ? and that thou (houldft 
 i fet thine heart fo much upon him * ? 
 4 Oh that men would therefore praife 
 4 the Lord for his goodnefs, and for his 
 4 wonderful works to the children of 
 
 * men ! O give thanks unto the Lord, 
 1 for he is good r for his mercy endu- 
 
 * reth for ever. BlefTed be the name of 
 4 the Lord from this time forth and for 
 
 * evermore. Amen.' 
 
 iPfal. c;d:v. 3. * Job vii. it. 
 
 p 3 
 
174 
 
 On the nativity or our Saviour, 
 
 Psal. ii. ii. the iat:er part. 
 Rej'/ice w$tl tremtlliig. 
 
 THEobfervation of feftivals being 
 one of thofe balls of contention 
 which have been tofTed fo hotly in the 
 religious debates of this unhappy age, 
 it may perhaps be expected, that we 
 mould begin with a vindication of this 
 day's folemnity from the exceptions 
 that arc wont to be taken againfi it ; 
 and that the one half of our ftrmon 
 fhould be fpent in apology for the other, 
 but I hope we may well enough fpare 
 the pains, and employ the time to better 
 purpofe. for you who are afTembled in 
 this houfeare perfuaded, I truft, of the 
 lawfulnefs of your own practice; and 
 we cannot direct our fpeech to thofe 
 that are abfent from it. and really it 
 were to be wifhed, that there were lefs 
 noife and debate about matters of this 
 nature ; and that, being agreed in the 
 
On the Nativity. 17^ 
 
 more fubftantial parts of religion, we did 
 all charitably acquiefce in that excellent 
 advice of the Apoftle, which he giveth 
 in a parallel inftance, f let not him that 
 ' eateth, defpife him that eateth not ; 
 1 and let not him that eateth not, judge 
 1 him that eateth.' and then, as we mail 
 not abate any thing of that love and re- 
 verence which we owe to the piety and 
 truth of thofe who differ from us in Co 
 fmall matters ; fo we might hope they 
 would not be hafly to condemn us, if, in 
 compliance with the praclife of the anci- 
 ent church, and the prefent conftitution 
 of our own, we take the occafion of this 
 feafon, with thankfulnefs, to remember 
 the greateft benefit that ever was con- 
 ferred on the children of men, and at 
 this time perform that fervice which 
 can never be unfeafonable. however, 
 I am confident it is both more hard and 
 neceifary to rectify and amend the abu- 
 fes of this folemnity, than to juftify the 
 right obfervation of it ; to vindicate 
 it from the difhonour of fome of its pre- 
 tended friends, than to defend it from 
 all the affaults of aggreflbrs : and ac- 
 
1 76 Gn the Nativity. 
 
 cordingly we (hall make it our work to 
 perfuade you to fuch a deportment on 
 this feftival, as may beft fuit with the 
 holy life and religion of that perfon 
 whofe nativity we commemorate. 
 
 The text which we have chofen may 
 feem fomewhat general, but yet it is 
 eafily applicable to the prefent occafion ; 
 efpecially if we remember, that it is an 
 inference drawn from a prophecy, 
 which, though it had its literal com- 
 pletion in the eftabiifhment of David's 
 throne, yet it was, in a myftical and a 
 more fublime fenfe, fulfilled in the in- 
 carnation and kingdom of the Median; 
 astheApoftle in feveral places inform- 
 eth us : ' for to which of the angels hath 
 * he faid at any time, Thou art my 
 4 Son, this day have I begotten thee * V 
 whence he infers, that the angels them- 
 felves are inferior to Chrift, of whom 
 this was fpoken. the only difficulty of the 
 words lieth in the ftrange conjuncti- 
 on of thefe paflions, j o- , and extreme 
 fear , which trembling feems to im- 
 port ; but this will be more fully cleared 
 
On the Nativity. 177 
 
 in the fequel of our difcourfe. mean 
 while ye may obferve, that both thefe 
 words, /£tfr and trembling, are ufed in 
 the text, and, in the fcripture phrafe, 
 ufually import humility, and diligence, 
 folicitnde and caution, and the fear of 
 difpleafing, as being the mod proper 
 qualifications of our obedience, either 
 to God or man. thus are we command- 
 ded to ' work out our falvation with 
 ' fear and trembling* ;'andfervants are 
 commanded to ' obey their matters with 
 1 fear and trembling :' f fo the Corin- 
 thians are faid to have ' received Titus, 
 ' being fent to them, with fear and trem- 
 i bling \ ;' and Chryfoftom faith of the 
 angels, that they aflift with fear and 
 trembling* all which places do import 
 fuch care and diligence, as are very ne- 
 celTary and reconcileable to chearful 
 fervice. reference, and fear to offend, 
 will be happily joined with holy joy in 
 the performance of our duty; there 
 being nothing more pleafant, than to 
 ferve him diligently whom we reverence, 
 and fear to difpleafe. thus much for ex - 
 *l'hil. ii. 1 2. f Eph.vi. >-. \ 2 Cor. vii. 1 J* 
 
i 73 On the Nativity. 
 
 plication, the text is too fhort to be 
 divided into many parts, but doth na- 
 turally fall afunder into two ; the former 
 exciting and encouraging our joy, the 
 latter qualifying and moderating the 
 fame, fir ft, we are allowed, yea and 
 commanded to rejoice ; and then we 
 are cautioned to do it with trembling, 
 and accordingly our difcourfe mall run 
 in thefe two heads ; firfl to exhort you 
 to chearfulnefs and joy, then to fet the 
 right bounds and limits to the fame : 
 and, having done this in general, we 
 fhall endeavour to draw both thefe home 
 to the prefent occafion. 
 
 To begin with the firft: joy and chear- 
 fulnefs are fo far frombeinginconfiftent 
 with religion, when rightly ordered, that 
 we find them many times allowed and re- 
 commended in fcripture. thus in the laft 
 verfe of the 3 2d Pfalm, ' Be glad in the 
 ' Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous : and 
 * fhout for joy, all ye that are upright 
 i in heart.' and in verf. 1 . of the next 
 Pfalm, ' Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righ- 
 6 teous, for praife is comely for the up- 
 .? right.' foPfal. lxviii. 3.' Lettherigh- 
 
On the Nativity* 179 
 
 € teousbeglad : let them rejoice before 
 * the Lord, yea, let them exceedingly 
 ( rejoice.' Pfal.cxlix. 5. ' Let the faints 
 1 be joyful in glory : let them ling a- 
 "' loud upon their beds.' and, that you 
 may not think this a liberty proper on- 
 ly for the former difpenfations, but 
 that Chriitians are obliged to greater 
 feverity, the Apoftle doth no lefs than 
 three times give this admonition to the 
 Philippians, € Rejoice in the Lord ; re- 
 1 joice always in the Lord ; yea, I fay, 
 ' rejoice.' in relation to this perhaps it 
 was, that the old hermit Palladius, ha- 
 ving five hundred fcholars, ufed never 
 to difmif3 them without this admoniti- 
 on, i My friends, be chearful ; forget 
 1 not, I befeech you, to be chearful.' 
 this was the conftant lecture he repea- 
 ted, as often as St. John was wont to 
 do thefe words, ' my little children, 
 i love one another.' 
 
 None of our natural inclinations 
 were made in vain ; and joy is neither 
 an ufelefs nor a fmall pafTion ; but, if 
 rightly ordered, may become an emi- 
 nent exercife of religion, as proper a 
 
180 On the Nativity. 
 
 concomitant of thankful nefs, as forrow 
 ofrepentance. our devotion never foar- 
 eth higher, than when it is carried on 
 the wings of joy and love, when our 
 fouls are filled with the fenfe of his good- 
 nefs,and we heartily applaud the Halle- 
 lujahs of the blefTed fpirits, and all the 
 praifes of the creatures . and as joy is 
 an excellent inftrument of devotion, fo 
 a conftant ferenity and chearfulnefs of 
 fpirit is a fit difpofition for our other du- 
 ties. I fhould be loth to countenance any 
 levity or di Ablution of fpirit; and I hope, 
 before we have done, we fhall leave 
 no ground to fufpect fuchadefign: and 
 yet I would not have you imagine, that 
 innocence and feverity are infeparable 
 companions, or that a free and chear- 
 ful countenance is a certain fign of an 
 ill mind, or that men ought always to be 
 fad under the notion of being ferious. 
 Iwould not have you in love with a ftu- 
 died face,nor think it a crime to laugh, or 
 fcrupuloufly to refufe fuch innocent and 
 ingenuous divcrtifements as you find 
 ufeful to refrefh your fpirits, and pre- 
 ferve their alacrity : for chearfulnefs 
 
On the Nativity. iSt 
 
 enlightens the mind, and encourages 
 the heart, and raifeth the foul, as it were, 
 to breathe in a purer air. it misbecomes 
 none but the wicked, in whom it is 
 commonly a light mirth and foolifh jol- 
 lity, as a curious drefs may fet off a 
 handfome face, which yet will render 
 thofe who are ugly, more ill-favoured ; 
 fo doth chearfulnefs exceedingly become 
 good fouls : in bad men it is rood ridi- 
 culous, on the other hand, a fad and 
 fullen humour, a dumpifh, morofe, and 
 melancholy difpofition, is fo far from 
 being commendable, that at bed it mult 
 be looked upon as an infirmity and 
 weaknefs in the bell of thofe in whom 
 it refideth ; and, if pnrpofely afTec*ted or 
 cheri (lied, may defer ve a feverer cenfure ; 
 being difhonourable to God, injurious 
 to our neighbours, prejudicial to our- 
 feives, and a thing highly unreafonable, 
 fitft, it is difhonourable to God, on 
 whom we profefs to depend, and who, 
 through our morofenefs, maybemifta- 
 ken for a hard and fevere matter, if you 
 mould obferve any man's fervantstobe 
 always fad anddejecled, and could not 
 
1S2 On the Nativity. 
 
 guefs at the reafon of it, you would be 
 ready to conclude, that they were ill 
 treated at home, and ferved an unkind, 
 tyrannical perfon. and therefore, if we 
 have any regard to the honour of our 
 Mafter, we ought carefully to avoid any" 
 thing, from which thofe that are ftran- 
 gers to him, are apt to take occafion to 
 entertain harfh and difadvantageous 
 thoughts of him and his fervice. again, 
 it is injurious to our neighbours ; whom 
 it doth deprive of the comforts of focie- 
 ty, and the innocent delights of.more 
 chcarful converfe ; it being better to be 
 confined to folitude, than obliged to live 
 with thofe who are always fullen. they 
 are not like to be good company to o- 
 thers, who are fo bad company to them- 
 felves ; nor will they eaiily endure to 
 fee others chearful and pleafant, when 
 they cannot allow themfelves fo much as 
 to fmile. peevifhnefs and anger are the 
 ordinary companions of melancholy ; 
 and it is hard for fervants and friends 
 to pleafe them in any thing who are ac- 
 cuftomed tofadnefs and difcontent. but 
 this is not all : there is a greater mifchief 
 
On the Nativity. 183 
 
 in the matter ; for they who are ft rangers 
 to religion, and obferve them who pre- 
 tend to it to be always fad and melancho- 
 ly, are thereby deterred from the ftudy 
 of piety, as that which would imbitter 
 their lives, and deprive them of all their 
 comforts ; and they are apt to imagine, 
 that if once they mould undertake a 
 courfe of godlinefs, they mould never af- 
 ter enjoy a pleafant hour,but,by a melan- 
 choly humour, and auftere behaviour, 
 become a burden to therrrfelves, and a 
 burden to all about them, then they will 
 think devotion a comfortlefs employ- 
 ment, when they fee men come from re- 
 tirements with fad and heavy looks, 
 morofe and untowardly deportment : 
 whereas really the fpirit of religion is 
 in itfelf mod amiable and mod lovely, 
 moftchearful, free, and ingenuous ; and 
 it is only mens weaknefs, and not their 
 piety, that ought to be blamed for any 
 fu ch diforder in their minds. 
 
 Again, melancholy and fadnefs is 
 prejudicial to ourfelves, being an enemy 
 to nature, and hurtful to bodily confti- 
 tutions, efpecially when it grows preva- 
 
 a? 
 
184 On the Nativity. 
 
 lent and extreme ; and therefore men 
 are obliged to be chearful for the fame 
 reafons they take phyfick, and to guard 
 againft melancholy as we would do a- 
 gainft a diCcafc. befides, it is very 
 troublefome to our fpirits, and will make 
 us fmart even when we know not why. 
 although melancholy mufings may be a 
 very delightful entertainment to the 
 mind ; yet, in a little time, they grow 
 to be very troublefome. contrary to the 
 nature of other births, they pleafe us 
 much while we bring them forth, but 
 prove a miferable torment when they 
 are born, but, which is much worfe, 
 it doth exceedingly indifpofe for the 
 duties of rel ; gion. the eyes arenotmore 
 darkened with fumes and vapours, than 
 the underfbnding is when thofe fullen 
 exhalations gather about us. clogs are 
 not a greater impediment to the feet, 
 than this humour to the motions of the 
 (bol. it inclines not only to think worfe 
 of ourfelves and our condition than we 
 need, but to do worfe than otherwife we 
 mould, it reprefents thofe things as ex- 
 ceedingly difficult which may be done 
 
On the Nativity. \%5 
 
 with eafe, and thofe impoffible which 
 have any confiderable difficulty, it quite 
 difpirits us, and will not fufFer us to at- 
 tempt any thing, becaufe we imagine we 
 can do nothing, although, perhaps, in a 
 heat it may pufh us forward, yet it fud- 
 denly flays us, and makes us think we 
 cannot go. if it catcheth fire, it makes us 
 wild; and, when it hath fpent that flame, 
 it leaves us dead and dumpifh. 
 
 Laftly, fadnefs and dejeilion of fpirit 
 in Chriitians, is a thing very unreafon- 
 able : for why fhould they be fad and 
 heavy who ferve fo good a matter, and 
 who are afTured of an infinite reward 
 for their faithful fervice ? if the favour 
 of a prince, or hopes of fome earthly ad- 
 vantage, can fnpport and chear the 
 minds of men ; why mould not religi- 
 ous people, who have the friendfhip of 
 God, and fo many divine bleffmgs in 
 prefent polfefTion, and the certain ex- 
 pectation of more and greater, cheriflx 
 a perpetual joy, and ever be of good 
 comfort ? what fhould afflidt them, or 
 caft them down ? is it worldly crofTes 
 or fears I they have not their portions, 
 
 0.3 
 
iS<5 On the Nativity. 
 
 in things of this world : they are Gran- 
 gers and pilgrims on earth, and cannot 
 in reafon be much follicitous about 
 their accommodation in an inn, which 
 they are To fhortly to leave, befides, 
 where is he that doth not enjoy more 
 and greater comforts than thofe he is 
 deprived and ftands in need of ? why 
 then mould ft thou not be more glad of 
 what thou haft, than forry for what 
 thou wanted ? perhaps thou haft loll 
 part of thy fortune, but yet enjoyed 
 more than many who live happily e- 
 nough notwithftanding. thou wanteil 
 money, but thou haft thy health, if 
 that be impaired, thou enjoyeft the ufe 
 of thy reafon, which is infinitely more 
 valuable, thou haft loft a friend, but 
 perhaps thou haft many behind ; and 
 ihall thatlofs do more to make thee fad, 
 than all the reft to make thee chearful ? 
 or wilt thou, like a peevifh child, throw 
 alLaway, becaufe fomething is taken 
 from thee ? I fay not that moderate 
 fadnefs is blameable on fuch occafions, 
 but that our grief oughtnot to be indul- 
 ged till it grow habitual, and fuie, 
 
On the Nativity. 187 
 
 whatever our crofTes and our fears be, 
 we ought chearfully to acquiefce in a 
 constant dependence on the Divine pro- 
 vidence ; having that infinite wifdom, 
 and goodnefs, and power, which made 
 and doth govern the world, to care for 
 us, and the promife of God for all thofe 
 things which he fees necefTary or conve- 
 nient for us. what is it then that mould 
 deject us, and deprive us of that joy 
 which the text alloweth and commend- 
 eth ? is it the fenfe of our weaknefs, 
 and the fear of miffing that eternal hap- 
 pinefs for which we were created ? if thou 
 be altogether gracelefs, fuch thoughts 
 would feldom troublethee; but if thou 
 be really concerned in religion, and have 
 a mind to heaven in earned ; if thou haft 
 begun thy race, and art preffing forward 
 to obtain thy prize, thou haft no reafon 
 to be difcouraged or caft down. God 
 loves thee better than thou doft either 
 him or thyfelf ; and holinefs is the ge- 
 nuine iffue of the Divine nature : and 
 therefore he cannot hide his face from 
 it, he cannot defert it as an outcaft thing 
 in the world \ nay he is ready to cherifh 
 
1 88 On the Nativity. 
 
 and affift it, and perfecl that gracious 
 work which himfelf hath begun, away 
 then with groundlefs fears and defpon- 
 dent thoughts, which difhonour God, 
 and weaken your own hands, encou- 
 rage yourfelves with the alTuranceof the 
 Divine afTiftance, and chearfully perform 
 that which is incumbent upon yourfelves. 
 check the fadnefs of your fpirits, and 
 chide yourfelf into better temper ; as 
 David did, in Pfal, xlii. and xliii. he 
 took up his drooping mind, with this 
 encouragement, ' why art thou call 
 * down, O my foulr' &c. 
 
 But perhaps you will tell me, that 
 chearful temper which we recommend, 
 is very improper for thefe bad times 
 wherein we live: and, though we had 
 no trouble on account of our own ia- 
 terefts, the miferies of others might ob- 
 lige us to fadnefs, and blunt and damp 
 all our joys. Ianfwer, companion in- 
 deed is a ChrifHan virtue, and a good 
 man will be concerned in the miferies 
 under which he fees his neighbour groan, 
 and be ready to am ft him with his coun- 
 fei, his labour, or his purfe> if that will 
 
On the Nativity. 189 
 
 relieve him. but he is not obliged to 
 fuffer the calamities of others to fink 
 fo deeply into his fpirit, as to difturb 
 the peace and harmony of his foul; elfe, 
 fince the world is a great hofpital of mi- 
 fery, and we fee well nigh as many mi- 
 ferable perfons as men, we muft needs 
 draw as much mifery on ourfelves, as 
 all theirs doth amount to, and fo deferve 
 more compaffion than any of them, a- 
 gain, if we partakeof the miferies of o- 
 thers, fo may we in their happinefs ; if 
 we ought to mourn with thofe that 
 mourn, fo we ought to rejoice with 
 them that rejoice, and though mifery 
 is far more frequent in the world than 
 happinefs, this can be no meafure for 
 the whole creation; and for any thing 
 we know, for one finful wretch, there 
 may be ten thoufand holy and happy 
 fpirits. however, all the mifery in the 
 world carries no proportion to the in- 
 finite happinefs of Almighty God , which 
 ought to be the higheft obi eel of our joy, 
 and may drown and fwallow up all the 
 excufes or pretences of excefllve fad- 
 nefs. we ought to rejoice in God, not 
 
Ipo On the Nativity, 
 
 only that he is our God, but that he 
 is God infinitely holy, and infinitely 
 happy ; that he is felf-blefTed, glorious 
 in all things ; and that his enemies can- 
 not reach nor unfettle his throne, this 
 is the mod certain, and conftant, the 
 mod: pure andheavenly joy. 
 
 There remaineth yet one occafion of 
 grief, which fome may think enough to 
 banifh all joy from a Chriftianfoul; and 
 that is, the multitude of fins whereof 
 we and others are guilty, and certainly, 
 contrition, and zeal for the honour of 
 God, are very necefTary duties ; yet we 
 were not born only to mourn, nor is 
 the lamenting of fin all we have to do 
 in the world, we love to fee a fervant 
 fenfible of his fault, but would be ill con- 
 tent if on that account he did nothing 
 but weep, fadnefs in contrition is ne- 
 ceiTary to make our repentance ferious, 
 and fadnefs of zeal to teftify our con- 
 cernment in God's intereft ; but on 
 neither of thefe accounts ought we to 
 grievcwithout term or meafure. as we 
 ought to grieve that we have offended 
 fo gracious a God, fo ought we to re- 
 
On the Nativity* 191 
 
 joice that the God whom we have offend- 
 ed is fo gracious : and fince the great- 
 nefsof God's mercy is as far above our 
 fins, as the heavens are above the earth, 
 our faith and joy in God's mercy ought 
 to be far above our fadnefs for our fins, 
 whereas the blafphemies and oppofiti- 
 ons of God's enemies, by his wifdom 
 and power, fhall turn to his glory ; our 
 fadnefs for thefe oppofitions muft: end 
 in joy, for that almighty power and 
 fovereign glory, which the enmity of 
 Satan, and the world, and the flefli, doth 
 but make more confpicuous by pulling 
 againft it. 
 
 By this time I hope it doth appear, 
 that joy and chearfulnefs are more al- 
 lowable in Chriflians, than fome men 
 perhaps are ready to imagine. I fhall 
 add no more to this purpofe ; but that 
 it is the privilege of a holy and religious 
 foul, that every thing he meets with may 
 afford him occafion of joy. if he looks 
 up to heaven, it puts him in mind of the 
 manfions that are preparing for him ; if 
 on the earth, it rejoiceth him to think 
 of his intereft in him who made and go- 
 
192 On the Nativity. 
 
 verns the fame, if he confiders the chan- 
 ges and revolutions of human affairs, it 
 fatisfies him to remember, that an uner- 
 ring providence doth over-rule all their 
 feeming diforders, and makes them all 
 ferve to great and glorious defigns.if 
 he live long, he is glad of the large time 
 he is allowed to do his work in ; and, if 
 he die foon, he is glad that he is fo foon 
 come to the end and reward of his work, 
 if he be richer than his neighbours, he 
 rejoiceth in the opportunity of obliging 
 them ; and, if they be richer than he, 
 he rejoiceth that they have the plenty 
 and fplendor which riches afford, and 
 that he wants the care and temptations 
 that attend them, as many miferies as 
 he feeth, fo many arguments he hath to 
 glorify God, and rejoice in his good- 
 nefs, faying, BleiTed be God that I am not 
 maimed like that begging foldier, nor 
 frantick like that bedlamite, nor in pri- 
 fon like that bankrupt, nor like that 
 thief in (hackles , nor in perpetual trou- 
 ble like that counfellor of (tate. 
 
 But joy is a pain on fo pleafing unto 
 nature, that mofl: men are eafily perfua- 
 
On the Nativity. jo; 
 
 deJ unto it, thofe efpecially who have 
 the lead ground for it. and what we have 
 faid hitherto, may have the ill luck to be 
 miftaken or wrefted by profane perfons, 
 for the defence of their jollity and fro- 
 lickfome mirth, but it mould be con- 
 fidered, that our exhortation to che:r- 
 fulnefs and joy, prefuppofeth men to be 
 good and religious, and is addrefTed to 
 them on that prefumption: for we 
 mould never encourage men to rejoice 
 and be chearful, while they are at enmi- 
 ty with their Maker, at feud with the 
 infinite Majefty of heaven, whofe lead 
 frown is enough to confound them, we 
 would not have men to dance on the 
 brink of hell, nor wantonly exult in the 
 way that leads to deftrucYion. another 
 temper would better become their un- 
 happy condition, and they ought to be 
 thinking how a timely forrow may lay 
 a fure foundation for a lading joy. 
 again, the joy which we commend,is a 
 quite different thing from that levity 
 and diflblution of fpirit which fome per- 
 fons would cover under that name, v/e 
 allow not that light airy temper that is 
 R 
 
194 On the Nativii 
 
 inconfiftent with gravity and ferioufnefs. 
 we would not have a man's whole life 
 become a fport, nor mirth to become 
 his whole employment, of fuch laugh- 
 ter we may fay, with the wife man, ' that 
 4 it is mad ; and of mirth, what doth it V 
 the chearfulnefs we have been fpeaking 
 of, mint fpring from the fenfe of the Di- 
 vine goodnefs, and the conference of 
 ourfincerity in hisfervice; though we 
 are not to refufe the afliftance of inno- 
 cent acts to raife and recruit our natu- 
 ral fpirits when they faint and fail with- 
 in us. finally, that our chearfulnefs and 
 joy may be allowable, it mult be rightly 
 tempered, which leads me to the fecond 
 part of the text ; which if it do not 
 check, it doth at leaft mix and qualify 
 •our joy ; rejoice we may, but it mud be 
 with trembling, trembling is a natural 
 effect and fign of fear ; and is here put 
 for the thing fign i tied, now, fear may 
 feem to be the mod ufelefs and unprofi- 
 table paffion in the mind : it is that 
 which prefages mifchief and anticipates 
 our miferies, giving them a being before 
 they liad any, and troubling us with the 
 
On the Nativity. 199 
 
 apprehenfion of thole evils which may 
 never befal us, andhindering us toguard 
 againft many which w r e might have 
 prevented ; betraying thofe fucconrs 
 which reafon offered], as the wife fon 
 of David tells us. the hi Mori an, fpeak- 
 ing of the Perfians, who in their flight 
 flung away their weapons of defence, 
 addeth this obfervation, ' adeo timor 
 ( ipfa auxilia reformidat :' fuch is the 
 nature of fear, that it not only makes us 
 flee from danger, but from thofe helps 
 and fuccours which mould keep it off. 
 but, as Alexander faid of his fierce and 
 (lately horfe, * qualem ifti equum per- 
 i dunt, dum eo per imperitiam uti ne- 
 i fciunt V what a brave horfe is loft for 
 want of skill to manage him ! fo we may 
 fay of fear, that they who would dis- 
 charge it, do lofe an ufeful paflion, not 
 knowing how to order it. fear, doubt- 
 lefs, is an excellent inftrument, both of 
 reafon and of religion, and as all our 
 paflion s, fo efpecially fear, areas winds, 
 which altho' they fometimes drive us 
 upon rocks, yet, rightly improved, may 
 fwcll our fails, and carry us on to the 
 R2 
 
1 9 6 On tbe Nativity* 
 
 haven v. here wc would be. hence we 
 find it fo frequently commanded in 
 fcripture, and fa profitably praclifed by 
 wife and holy perfons. the queftion then 
 is, what kind of fear and trembling is 
 injoined here in the text ? and, firft, as 
 for the object, certainly the wrath and 
 difpleafure of God is the mod proper 
 and fui table obj eel of our fear: it is this 
 that we ought to look on as the greateft 
 evil, and tofhunwith the greateft care, 
 and this fear, if rightly feated in our 
 fouls, will make us very watchful againft 
 the fmalleft fins, and make us heartily 
 forry for the offences of others, but 
 though the fear of God's difpleafure be 
 more excellent and ufeful, yet the fear 
 of our own mifery is not to be con- 
 demned : it is ufeful, not only to wick- 
 ed perfons, whom though it do not make 
 good , yet it keeps them from being 
 worfe; but alfo to holy perfons, whom 
 the fear of hell hath many times helped 
 forward to heave::, our Saviour him- 
 felf advifeth us to ' fear him who can caft 
 i both body and foul into hell-fire. ' and, 
 that we may it, he drives it 
 
On the Nativity. 1 97 
 
 home with an ingemination, ■ yea, I fay 
 'unto you, fear him :' where we are to 
 obferve, that qui imports as much as 
 quia ; the defcription of the perfon 
 carricth the reafon for which we ought 
 to fear him. it were indeed to be wife* 
 ed, that our fouls were knit unto God 
 by the more noble and generous paflion 
 of love, and that we needed neither re- 
 wards to draw us to our duty, nor pu- 
 nifhments to chafe us to our happinefs ; 
 and that we loved goodnefs as Cato was 
 faid to do virtue, becaufe he could not 
 do otherways. but this is, with the 
 hiitorian, i votum accommodare, non 
 1 hiftoriam;' to prefent a wifh, rather 
 than a chacacler of an ordinary Chri- 
 fiian; or, as Xenophon did with Cyrus, 
 to defcribe rather what he mould be, 
 than what he is. perfect love, as St. 
 John tells us> eqftet bout all fear : but,, 
 while our love is imperfect, it leaves 
 room for fome fear, hell is certainly 
 in our creed as well as heaven ; and as 
 the fear of it is ordinarily thefirft ftep of 
 convcrfion, fo it.may be of ufe to quick- 
 en us, and pufh us forward all along 
 R 3 
 
198 On the NaUviiy. 
 
 through our journey toward heaven. 
 but ifChriftians fear may have hell for 
 its object, what kind of fear may this be ? 
 in a word, it ought not to be fuch an 
 anxious and troublefome fear, as may 
 difturbour tranquillity, or extinguish 
 our joy, or difcourage our endeavours ; 
 but fo rational and modeft, as may 
 make us reverend in our love, and mo- 
 deft i:i or.r confidence, and cautious in 
 our joy, that it neither betray us to ; nor 
 vent itfelf in any unfcemly expreiHons. 
 And thus much of the duty re- 
 commended in the text, 'tis high time 
 now to apply thefe generals to the 
 prefent o.ccahon. we are affembled 
 this day to commemorate the great- 
 efl bletfmg that ever was bellowed on 
 the children of men ; a bluffing where- 
 in all the nations of the world are con- 
 cerned, and yet whofe fruits do as en- 
 tirely redound to every good man, as 
 if it had been deGgned for him alone; 
 a mercy that doth at once afionim and 
 rejoice the angels, who in comparifon 
 of us are unconcerned in it. thefe 
 mountains do leap for joy, tecuufe the 
 
On the Nativity. 199 
 
 valleys were filled with a fruitful fhower : 
 for when thofe glorious fpirits did be- 
 hold God (looping to the condition of a 
 man, and man raifed above the lowli- 
 nefs of his ftate, and the happinefs of all 
 the angels, they were tranfported with 
 admiration of the myftery, and joy for 
 the felicity of their fellow-creatures; 
 and did with the greatefl chearfulnefs 
 perform the embaffics they were ient 
 upon in this great affair, for having be- 
 fore advertifed the bleifed virgin of her 
 miraculous conception, left her modefty 
 mould have been offended at fo ilrange 
 an accident, and having removed the 
 fnfpicion of her betrothed husband, 
 they rejoiced to bring the firfl news of 
 that infinite mercy which we remember 
 this day. i for as certain fhepherdswere 
 ' feeding their flocks by night, an angel 
 € of the Lord appeared unto them, and 
 1 the glory of the Lord (hone rounda- 
 
 * bout them ;' and when this glorious 
 appearance had confounded their fenfes, 
 and almoftfcattered their underftanding, 
 the angel faid unto them, ' Fear not : 
 
 * for behold; I bring unto you tidings cf 
 
200 On the Nativity. 
 
 6 great joy, which (hall be unto all peo- 
 c pie. for unto you is born this day in 
 'the city of David, a Saviour, which is 
 1 Chrift the Lord, and fuddenly there 
 ' was with the angel a multitude of the 
 'heavenly holV the whole choir of glo- 
 rious fpirits, who all joined in this hea- 
 venly anthem, i Glory to God on high, 
 ' on earth peace, and good-will towards 
 * men.' and may not that help to height- 
 en and advance our joy and ourthank- 
 fulnefs ? can we be infenfible of our hap- 
 pinefs.when angels do fo heartily con- 
 gratulate it ? 'tis a nativity which we 
 celebrate, and any birth doth much re- 
 joice perfons interefted : a woman for- 
 gets her pangs when a man-child is 
 born into the world. 
 
 But, that our joy and thankfulnefs 
 maybe the more excited, we mall,firft, 
 confider the excellency of the perfon 
 who was born ; fecondly, the defign of 
 his birth ; and, thirdly, glance a little 
 at thecircumftancesofit. 
 
 Firfr, then, he was no common and 
 ordinary perfon whofe birth occafions 
 our joy. if we fhall but fix our eyes on 
 
On the Nativity. 201 
 
 his human nature,andconfider thofe ex- 
 cellencies that were obvious to the eyes 
 of the world, we (hall yet acknowledge, 
 that never fuch a perfon appeared on the 
 face of the earth, it is he whofe nati- 
 vity was promifed immediately after the 
 fall, and fo exactly pointed at by the 
 Prophets many hundred years before it 
 happened, that the Jews could tell the 
 place, and the very Heathens had fome 
 knowledge of the time : for the world 
 was big with expectation, that the pro- 
 phecies mould then be fulfilled which 
 foretold the birth of a great perfon. laft- 
 ly, it is he whofe very infancy not only 
 ftartled a king, and made him fear his 
 throne, but alfo affrighted the powers 
 of darknefs, and filenced the Heathen 
 oracles, ' Ille puer Hebraeus, &c. ;■■ 
 whofe childhood puzzled the knowledge 
 of the aged, and confou nded the doctors 
 of the lav/; who ruled the courfe of na- 
 ture, and made the ftrong winds obey 
 him, and could walk on the billows of 
 the feas as on a pavement ; who fed 
 multitudes by his word, and healed all 
 manner of difeafes, without medicine ; 
 
202 On the Nativity. 
 
 who could command them to leap that 
 were cripple, and make them fee the 
 heavens and the day who had been born 
 blind ; and who could cafl devils out of 
 their poiTeffions, and rcftore the frantick 
 to their wits ; who could break the gates 
 of death, and open the doors of the 
 grave, and call back the fpirits to the 
 buried carcafes. 
 
 It is he who, by the miniftry of 
 twelve fifhermen, made his religion, 
 though contrary to the corrupt affecti- 
 ons and carnal interefts of men, quick- 
 ly fubdue the known world, and made it 
 fubmit to a crucified King, the doctrine 
 which he taught, mattered the under- 
 standing of the moft learned philofo- 
 phers, conquered the fpirits of the mofl 
 valiant commanders, and outwitted the 
 cunning of the fubtleft politicians: it 
 cancelled the ceremonies of the Jew, 
 confounded the wifdom of the Greek, 
 and inftrucled the rudenefs of the Bar- 
 barian ; and remains ft ill in the world 
 a conftant evidence of the author's wif- 
 dom and power, and what fhall we 
 fpeak of the goodnefs and moral en- 
 
On the Nativity* 203 
 
 dowments of that human nature, which 
 were as miraculous as his power ! nay, 
 all his miracles were inftances of the one 
 as well as of the other, mould we (peak of 
 his ardent piety and devotion ,his love to 
 God, and his zeal for his honour, his 
 amiable meeknefs and humility, his u- 
 niverfal charity and companion even 
 toward his bitter enemies, his vene- 
 rable purity and temperance, that noble 
 contempt of the world, and all thofe o- 
 ther virtues which mined fo eminently 
 in his whole conversion ; a fermon 
 were too little for every particular, but 
 this is not all : he was not only far a- 
 bove other men, but infinitely above 
 the angels; being perfonally united to 
 the Divine nature, he was God as well 
 as man. and, by communication of 
 properties, it may be faid, that he whom 
 we now behold in a cradle, hath his 
 throne in the heaven, and filleth all 
 things by his immenhty ; that he who is 
 wrapt in Twaddling cloaths, is now 
 clothed in infinite glory; and he whom 
 we find in a (table among beafls, is the 
 fame with him encircled with millions 
 
£04 On the Nativity* 
 
 of angels, in a word, that great perfon 
 whofe nativity we celebrate, is divine- 
 ly embodied, Cod made fle/b. this uni- 
 on of the Divine and human nature, is 
 a myftery great enough to confound 
 our underftanding, but not to trouble 
 or make our faith, who know many 
 things to be, which we cannot know 
 how they are, and are not able to give 
 anv account of the union betwixt the 
 foul and the body, or ofthe parts of na- 
 ture among themfelves, which yet we 
 never call in queftion. 
 
 And thus much of the dignity of 
 ChriiVs perfon, which is thefirft ground 
 of our jov; we proceed to the fecond, 
 the deiign of his birth, he was Lord of 
 the world ; but came not into it to ex- 
 ercife dominion, nor, as the Jews ex- 
 pected, to procure their temporal re- 
 demption, and reilore the kingdom to 
 lfrael. he came not for fomean a pur- 
 pofe as the Jews expected, to procure 
 their temporal redemption, to make his 
 followers rich and honourable, fortu- 
 nate orconfpicuous in the world; nay, 
 both by precept and example he taught 
 
 
On the Nativity. 20$. 
 
 them to contemn anddefpife all fuch 
 empty trifles: but he came to deliver 
 his people from everlafting deftruction, 
 and from the captivity of fin, and to, 
 teach them how * by a holy life they 
 might obtain an endlefs happinefs. he 
 came not indeed to purchafe us aliberty 
 to fin, without hazard, and then to co- 
 ver all our iniquities with his righ- 
 teoufnefs; to let us live as we lift, 
 and allure us of pardon, nay, it had 
 neither been confiftent with his love to 
 God, to have procured pardon for ob- 
 ftinate and incorrigible rebels; nor fo 
 great a benefit to us, to have obtained 
 rem i (lion without fa notification, had 
 we been delivered from all other punifh- 
 ment, fin itfelf would have made us re- 
 ferable, but Chrifl: came into the world 
 to i fave his people from their .fins*/ 
 as well as from thedifmalconlequences 
 of them ; and to procure for us, ' that, 
 ' being delivered out of the hands of 
 6 our enemies, we might ferve him with- 
 c out fear, inholinefs and righteoufnefs 
 6 before him f .' in a word, Chrift came 
 * Matth. i. 2 i . f Luke i. 74. 75". 
 
 S 
 
zc6 rt/t 
 
 into the world to advance the glory of 
 God, and the happinefs of the earth, by 
 reftoringus to the favour of our Maker, 
 and a conformity to him. and certain- 
 ly, if we have any fenfe of the evil of fin 
 or the mifery of hell, of the beauty of 
 holinefs or the glory of heaven, it mud 
 needs be a matter of great joy, to cele- 
 brate the birth of him who doth deliver 
 us from the one, andgives us afTurance 
 of the other. 
 
 It remaineth yet, that we fp eak of the 
 circumftances of the nativity which we 
 celebrate; and many things prefent 
 themfelves full of comfort and inftruc- 
 tion. we (hall only obferve our Saviour's 
 coming into the world after that man- . 
 ner which did beft fuit with his defign. 
 indeed when a man mould hear of the 
 Son of God's coming down from heaven, 
 and making a progrefs into the lower 
 world, he would be apt to think that his 
 appearance would be with the greateft 
 fplendorand magnificence, and that the 
 glory of heaven lhculd continually at- 
 tend and fignalize his perfon; at lead, 
 that all the princes in the world mould 
 
On the Nativity. 207 
 
 be fummoned to attend his reception, 
 and that the heaven fhould bow at his 
 prefence, and the earth tremble at the 
 approach of his majefty, and that all the 
 clouds fhould clap together in an uni- 
 verfal thunder, to welcome his appea- 
 rance, but, inftead of all this pomp and 
 grandeur, he flips into the world (as 
 they fay) incognito , is born in a village, 
 difcovered by fomepoor (hepherds,and 
 found by them in a (table, and fuch an 
 homely cradle as that afforded, only at- 
 tended by his poor mother ; who, tho* 
 of Royal blood, had nothing but good- 
 nefs to make her eminent, and his e* 
 ducation was anfwerable to his obfeure 
 birth, and his v/hole life a courfe of 
 humility and felf-denial. now, certain- 
 ly, this far bed agrees with the defign of 
 his appearance, who came not on fo 
 mean an errand as to dazzle the eyes of 
 mankind with the appearance of his 
 glory, nor to amaze them with the ter- 
 riblenefs of his majefty, much lefs to 
 make a (hew of the riches and gallantry 
 of the world among them ; but to brmg 
 life and immortality to light } and lead 
 S 2 
 
208 On the Nativity. 
 
 men to eternal happinefs. in order to 
 which, it was necefTary, that, by his 
 example, as well as doctrine, he mould 
 difparage the vanities of the world, and 
 bring them out of that credit and e- 
 fteem they had gotten among foolifh 
 men. 
 
 I fhall proceed no further on this 
 fubject. I hope it doth appear, that we 
 have great reafon to rejoice in the ex- 
 altation of the human nature, and the 
 great falvation purchafed to us by the 
 incarnation of the Son of God. I fhall 
 add, that even this joy admits of holy 
 fear; even on this occafion we mud 
 rejoice with trembling, falvation is 
 come into the world, but wo to them 
 that neglect it ! the gofpel is preached ; 
 but there is great danger in flighting 
 it. let us therefore ' fear, left a promife 
 4 being left us of entering into his reft, 
 € any of us mould come fhort of it* .' 
 little caufe have obftinate finners to re- 
 joice on this feftival. the time is coming 
 that they fhall wifh that either Chrift 
 had never come into the world, or they 
 fcb.iv. i. 
 
On the Nktivitjfc 209 
 
 had never heard of him : i behold, this 
 • child is fet for the rife and fall of ma- 
 i nyf .'and they that are not the better, 
 (hall be the worfe for his coming, oneway 
 I muft name, that many men fet this 
 child for their own fall, when they make 
 this folemn anniverfary an opportunity 
 of finning and debauchery; as if it were 
 indeed a drunken Bacchus, and not a 
 holy Jefus 9 whom they worfhipped. 
 what! firs, becaufe God became man, 
 muft we therefore become beads I or 
 think we to honour that child with dif- 
 folutenefs, who came to the world on 
 defigns of holinefs ? this it is, no doubt, 
 that gives many men a prejudice again ft 
 the feftival itfelf, and perhaps is their 
 moft fpecious argument, we know an 
 anfwer; but you may, and ought to af- 
 ford another, by removing any ground 
 for fnch a pretence, indeed a forenoon's 
 fermon will never compenfate an after- 
 noon's debauch ; nor will your fervice 
 in the church juftify your intemperance 
 at home, but as hereby at leaft fome 
 time is redeemed from the too frequent 
 \ Luke ii. 34. 
 
 s 3 
 
210 On the Nativity. 
 
 courfes of the day, fo I wifb the time 
 we fpend here, may have fome influence 
 towards the right improvement of the 
 reit; that our behaviour on this folem- 
 nity may be fuch as fuits with the in« 
 fin.teholinefs of that perfon whom we 
 profefs to honour, 6 that we may ferve 
 i the Lord with fear, and rejoice with 
 i trembling.' 
 
211 
 
 On the passion of our saviour. 
 
 L A M . i . 12. 
 
 Is it nothing to you, all ye that pafs by P 
 behold and fee \ if there be any for row 
 like unto my for row. 
 
 WE are to-morrow, God willing, 
 to be employed in one of the 
 higheft and mod folemn offices of our 
 religion, to commemorate the death and 
 fufferings of the blefTed Jefus, and to 
 receive the facred pledge of his dying: 
 and how much may the everlafting in- 
 terefts of our fouls depend upon the 
 right performing of this work! 
 
 It is not time now to difcourfe of the 
 nature and ends of that facrament we 
 are about to celebrate ; we are to fup- 
 pofeyou already inftrucled in thefe : we 
 lhall rather fix our thoughts on thofe 
 things which may have a more immedi- 
 ate influence to difpofe us for fo near 
 and folemn an addrefs unto God, and 
 to affift anddireft us in it, and I know 
 
2 12 On the Paffion. 
 
 nothing more proper for this purpofe, 
 than theferious confideration ofthofe 
 fufferings of our Saviour, which are to 
 be fymbolically reprefented unto us in 
 that holy ordinance. 
 
 This pafHonate complaint of the 
 Prophet Jeremiah, which we have read, 
 though in its firft and literal fenfe it 
 may refer to the fad condition of the 
 Jewifh nation and the holy city under 
 the Babylonifn captivity, ( as many 
 prophecies concerning the Meffiah had 
 a literal completion in thofe who were 
 his types); yet certainly in its higheft 
 and fulled fenfe it is only applicable to 
 our blefled Saviour: of him alone it 
 coildbe faid,in ftridtnefs and propriety 
 offpeech, that there was never farrow 
 like his for r aw. 
 
 Let us then confider the words as our 
 Saviour's complaint of the dulnefs and 
 (lupidity of men, who go up and down 
 in the world, who come and pafs, with- 
 out regarding his fufferings, which were 
 fo grievous, wherein themfelves are fo 
 nearly concerned, and from thence I 
 would confider thefe three things. 
 
On the PaJJion. 213 
 
 1. The grcatnefs of our Saviour r s 
 fufFerings, exprefFed in thefe words, 
 * See if there be any forrow like unto 
 'my forrow.' 
 
 2. Our interefl and concernment in 
 them, infinuated in that paflionate in- 
 terrogation, * Is it nothing to you ?' 
 
 3. That his fufFerings ought not to 
 be pailed by, but ferioufly regarded and 
 confidered: i Is it nothing to you, all ye 
 ' that pafs by V &c. 
 
 I. Let us reflect on our Saviour's 
 fufFerings. but O where fhall we begin 
 to recount them ! his whole life, from 
 the manger, his uneafy cradle, unto his 
 crofs and grave, was a continued tract of 
 fufFerings. he did all along anfwer that 
 character given of him by the Prophet, 
 6 A man of forrows, and acquainted 
 4 with grief.' 
 
 To fay nothing of the meannefs of 
 his birth, and the pains ofcircumcifion, 
 the perfections of his infancy, his po- 
 verty and want, his travail and weari- 
 nefs, his falling and watchings, his 
 fweat and his tears, and all the other 
 infirmities incident to our human na~ 
 
2 14 On the Pajfion. 
 
 ture, and inconveniencies attending a 
 poor and ftraitened eftate ; he could not 
 but lead a very fad and afflicted life, con- 
 fidering that he lived in a perverfe and 
 wicked generation, and the continual 
 trouble of being witnefsto the follies and 
 mifcarriages of wicked men; to hear and 
 fee difhonour done unto God, by the 
 profanenefs of fome, and hypocrify of 
 others ; to obferve the covetoufnefs 
 and injuftice, the fraud and oppreffion, 
 the malice and envy, and all the abomi- 
 nable lulls that abounded in the world 
 in his days, we are commonly little con- 
 cerned in the interefts of religion; and 
 therefore do apprehend but little trouble 
 in thefe. but, if the foul of righteous 
 Lot was grieved with the iniquities of 
 the place where he lived, and if David 
 is put to cry out, i Wo is me that I fo- 
 'journ in Mefech, that I dwell in the 
 ' tents of Kedar* ;' how deeply do we 
 think the blefTed foul of the holy Jefus 
 mud needs have been pierced, by every 
 blafphemous word that he heard, by e- 
 very wicked action he beheld ! doubt- 
 * Pfal. cxx. y. 
 
On the Paffion. 215 
 
 lefs it was no fmall forrow that made 
 him cry out, ' O faithleft and perverfe 
 i generation, how long fliall I be with 
 * you ? how long fhall I fuffer you f V 
 nor was he a little moved, when his zeal 
 did carry him to that feverity , which, 
 if we did not confider thecaufe, would 
 feem very unlike to the wonted meek- 
 nefs of his fpirit, in whipping the traders 
 out of the temple, add hereunto his 
 tender compaflion towards men, which 
 could not but makehim exceeding forry, 
 to fee them fruftrate the method of his 
 mercy, and ruin themfelves by their en- 
 mity againfl: him ; to hear them reproach 
 the holy doctrine which he taught, and 
 undervalue the miracles which he per- 
 formed, or elfe condemn them as the 
 unlawful effects of magical skill; that 
 though ' he came unto his own, yet his 
 'own received him not* ;' though he 
 fpake as never man fpake, and did fuch 
 works as would have converted Tyre 
 and Sidon, yet did they baffle their own 
 reafon, and perfift in their infidelity, 
 becaufe, forfooth, they knew the place 
 f Mattb. xvii. 17. * John i. 1 1. 
 
2 1 6 On the P.< 
 
 and manner of his education ; as though 
 his being reputed the carpenter's Ton, 
 had been a fufHcient anfwer to all that 
 he could fay or do. this was the occafi- 
 on ofhis tears over that wretched and 
 ungrateful city : 'OJerufalem, Jerufa- 
 ' lem, thou that killed the prophets, and 
 i (toned them that are fent unto thee, 
 1 how often would I have gathered thy 
 1 children together, even as a hen ga- 
 1 therethher chickens under her wings, 
 'and ye would notf I If thou hadft 
 1 known, even thou, at lead in this thy 
 1 day, the things which belong unto thy 
 'peace! but now they are hid from 
 1 thine eyes!.' 
 
 We have not time to reflect on all the 
 fad pafTages which occur in the hidory 
 of our Saviour's life ; let us fix our eyes 
 a little on fome of the lad fcenes, and 
 we fhall find them the blacked that ever 
 were acted on the human nature, at the 
 approach of death, it is faid, he began to 
 be forrvmfuly as if he had never felt any 
 grief before, his former afflictions were 
 like fcattered drops of rain; but, in 
 
 f- Matth. xxiii, 37. i Luke six. 
 
On the Pajfhr. 2 1 7 
 
 this great deluge, all the fountains be- 
 neath, and all the windows of heaven 
 were opened ; the wrath of God againft 
 a finful world, the malice and cruelty of 
 men, the rage and fury of devils, break 
 out together againft him. if we take the 
 meafure of his fufferings by the appre- 
 henfions which he had of them before, 
 we (hall find, that, when he is talking 
 with his difciples about them, and en- 
 couraging himfelf and his followers with 
 the afTurance of the reward fet before 
 them ; yet he doth not difTemble the 
 fear and trouble wherewith he was fei- 
 zed : ( Now is my foul troubled ; and 
 ' what fhall I fay ? Father, fave me from 
 ' this hour ' *, &c. certainly, if there 
 had been no more in his fufferings than 
 what is commonly incident to human 
 nature, as to endure pain or death, he 
 who had a perfecl innocency, the freed 
 and mod entire refignation, the fullefi: 
 afTurance of the reward to come, would 
 never have been half fo much affrighted 
 with the apprehenfions of them, the 
 view of that fad night's tranfaclion > 
 * John xii. 27. 
 
 T 
 
218 On the Pafficn. 
 
 wherein he was delivered into the hands 
 of tinners, prefents us with a (irange 
 and amazing fpeclacle. look into the 
 garden, and behold the Son of God pro- 
 ftrate with his face upon the ground, in 
 the faddeft difcompofure of fpirit that 
 could poffibly confift with his perfect in- 
 nocency. he was forrowful and very 
 heavy, and tells his difciples, i My foul 
 i is exceeding forrowful , even unto 
 ' death.' it feems, had he remained long 
 In this condition, his own grief would 
 have killed him. here it was that he 
 lurTered that which the Evangelift calleth 
 an agony; but what the nature and mea- 
 fures of it were, he alone can tell who 
 did feel it. it is not poffible for us to 
 comprehend the mixture of that bitter 
 cup ; yet we may guefs at fome of the 
 ingredients of it. and, firft, without 
 queftion, he had a clearer forefight of 
 that painful and curfed death which he 
 was fo fhortly after to undergo, this 
 king of terrors did reprefenthimfelf un- 
 to him in his greateft pomp, clothed 
 with all the cireumftances of horror. 
 snd even this could not but be very 
 
On the Pajjioiu 2 19 
 
 dreadful, perhaps more to him than it 
 would have been to fome other perfon. 
 there is a fort of natural ftoutnefs and 
 courage depending much on the temper 
 and conftifrutionof the body , and which 
 doth commonly accompany the rough- 
 eft and mod ftubborn natures; when 
 thofe of a more fweet and benign difpo- 
 fition, are many times obnoxious to 
 deeper imprefTions of fear, and it will 
 not derogate from the honour of our 
 bleiTed Saviour, though we fhould fup- 
 pofe, that, amongfl: other infirmities, he 
 might be much liable to this natural and 
 innocent paflion. the true greatnefs of 
 the foul, doth not conflft in the vigour 
 of the natural fpirits, nor the fturdy 
 boldnefsofan undaunted humour; but 
 in a holy ftedfafmefs and refolution to 
 undergo thofe things which are dreadful 
 to nature. 
 
 But certainly the fear of death was nei- 
 ther the only, nor the greateft thing that 
 troubled our Saviour's fpirit at that time, 
 he had another fad and more dreadful 
 profpeft, the heinous and innumerable 
 fins of mankind, whofe nature he had 
 T 2 
 
no On the PsjJicB. 
 
 taken, and whofe iniquities he was to 
 bear, he faw the whole world lying in 
 wickednefs, and ready co drop into eter- 
 nal flames; he faw the anger of God 
 kindled, and his hand lifted up; and he 
 knew, that the ftroke would light upon 
 himfelf,and that the chaftifement of our 
 peace was to be upon him. 
 
 And, doubtlefs,it added not a little un- 
 to his grief, that he knew that all he had 
 done, and all that he was about to fuffer, 
 would be flighted and defpifed by the 
 greateft part of mankind, it grieved him 
 to think, that many thou fands, who were 
 to be called by his name, would prove fo 
 bafe and unthankful,asto reject his love, 
 and baffle his paflion, and make a by- 
 word of his blood and wounds; that one 
 would prefer a {trumpet, another his 
 cups, a third his gold and money, to 
 the mercies of a gracious God, and the 
 unfpeakable kindnefs ofadyingSaviour. 
 
 Briefly, in this agony, our Saviour did 
 ftruggle with the violent palTion of fear 
 and grief; which racked his joints, and 
 ftrctched his finews, till, in that cold 
 night, and in the open air, a fweat, and 
 
On the Patfion. Zll 
 
 that of blood, did iffue forth, and moift- 
 en his garments, and tumbled down 
 unto the ground, now he came from 
 \ Bozra with his garments dyed red; 
 1 he had trodden the wine-prefs alone, 
 1 and of the people there was none with 
 'him.' and now behold and fee, * if 
 i there was any forrow like unto his Ibr- 
 i row.' 
 
 But now he awaketh his drov.fy dif- 
 ciples, and calls them to life and be go- 
 ing; i for behold he is at hand that be- 
 1 trays him.' and fcarce had he (poke 
 the word, when behold the traitor, and 
 with him a great multitude from the 
 chief priefts, and elders of the people, 
 they come out as againll a thief with 
 fwords and (laves, for to take him. that 
 monfter of ingratitude gives them the 
 iignal; and, with an horrid impudence, 
 dares approach his infamous and facri- 
 legious lips to that facredand venerable 
 face; which we may reckon as thefirft 
 wound he received from his enemies. 
 O what an indignity, to be killed by a 
 traitor, an apellate, an enemy to God, 
 poifeired by the devil, and who was to 
 T 3 
 
222 On ihe Paffion. 
 
 be lodged in hell ere twenty four hours 
 expired ! and O the infuperable meek- 
 nefs of our blefTed Saviour,who rufFers 
 the indignity, and checks it with no 
 harfher terms than this, c friend ; where- 
 4 fore art thou come ? Judas, betrayed 
 1 thou the Son of man with a kifs V then 
 he turneth unto the armed bands, and 
 faid unto them, i whom fcek ye ? they 
 ' anfwered him, Jefos of Nazareth. 
 ' Jefus faith unto them, I am he.' the 
 meeknefs of this anfwer aftonifhed the 
 foldiers, and the power that accompa- 
 nied it, made them go back and fall to 
 thegrcund. and why did they not fall 
 into hell ? the wicked enterprize they 
 were prefently about to do did juftly de- 
 ferve it ; and how eafy was it for him 
 to have done it ?.but his goodnefs re- 
 ftrained him ; he meancd them no harm, 
 but intended his fall to help them to 
 rife; that the confideration of it, and 
 the other evidences of his divinity, might 
 one day bring them to a fenfe of their fin. 
 nor will he any further employ his mi- 
 raculous power, but only in the cure of 
 an enemy, whom his too forward dif- 
 
On the Pajpon. 223 
 
 ci pie had wounded, but this doth net 
 abate their malice, they lay hold on 
 him, and drag him away, in great hurry 
 and uproar, through that city where he 
 had done fo much good, and into which 
 he had been lately received with joy and 
 triumph, and loud acclamations: • blef- 
 1 fed is he that cometh in the name of 
 ' the Lord.' they carry him from Annas 
 to CaiaphaSjfrom C liaphas to Pilate f fi om 
 Pilate to Herod, from Herod to Pilate 
 again ; treating him with all the indig- 
 nities, all the iriftances of fcorn and 
 contempt that their malice could fug- 
 gelt unto them, now, tho' our extreme 
 impatience of ignominies and affronts, 
 do much proceed from the pride and 
 haughtinefs of our fpirits ; yet is there 
 in fhem a contrariety even to the inno- 
 cent conftitution of the human nature, 
 fhame and difgrace are troublefome to 
 all ingenuous fpirits ; fo that, tho' they 
 could not raife any immoderate pafTion in 
 our bleffed Saviour, yet hisbleffed fpirit 
 had a great abhorrence and deteftation 
 of that bafe and unworthy ufage ; which 
 was infinitely heightened by the worth 
 
224 & n the Pajp.on. 
 
 and excellency of the perfon who differ- 
 ed it. what loyal heart can read or hear 
 of the indignities done by the rude fol- 
 diers to our late Sovereign, but with 
 regret and abhorrence ! but, alas ! what 
 are they, if compared with thofe that 
 were put upon the King of heaven, when 
 they fcoffed and reproached him, when 
 they fmote him on the cheek, and bound 
 thofe hands which had cured Co many 
 difeafes, and defiled that facred face 
 with (pittle, which faints and angels de- 
 light to behold r all which he fuffered 
 with that meeknefs which the Prophet 
 had foretold : ' he gave his back to the 
 ' fmitcrs, and his cheeks to them that 
 * plucked off the hair : he did not hide 
 ' his face from (hameand fpitting* 'they 
 would needs be ingenious in their fcof- 
 fings,and mock him in all his offices. 
 he was a Prophet, and they defire him 
 to prophefy v. ho it was that did fmite 
 him : he was a Prieft, and they bid him 
 fave himfelf as he did others : he was a 
 King, and they crown him with thorns, 
 and array him with fcarlet, and put a 
 •'If. I. 6. 
 
On the PaJJion. 225* 
 
 reed in his hand, and, in fcorn, falute 
 him, King of the Jews, add unto this 
 the violence done unto his virgin mo- 
 defty, when he was ftript naked in the 
 view of the rude multitude, it is re- 
 ported of fome. virgin martyrs, that God, 
 pitying their grief and trouble to have 
 their nakednefs difcovered, when they 
 were to be ftript of their cloaths, did 
 cover them with a vail of light, and 
 fend them to a modeftand defired death, 
 but the holy Jefus, who refufed no 
 fliame, endured alfo this of nakednefs, 
 that we might be clothed with his righ- 
 teoufnefs. 
 
 But though it pleafed their malice to 
 have him expofed to all indignities ima- 
 ginable ; yet nothing would fatisfy it 
 but his torment and his death, he hath 
 already had trial of cruel mockings, 
 and now he mud have fcourgings too : 
 they whip him with violent and unre- 
 lenting hands, tearing his tender flefh, 
 and making long furrows in it. and, now, 
 behold the man! behold him in that fad 
 miferable plight wherein Pilate brought 
 him forth, thinking to have appeafei 
 
2 26 OnthsPaffion. 
 
 the malice of the Jews ! his head pier; 
 with briers, his face blue with ftrokes, 
 his hands bound, that he could not fo 
 much as wipe off the blood which trick- 
 led down his eyes, his whole body dif- 
 colouredwith the marks ofthe fcourge! 
 from the top of his head, to the fole of 
 his foot, there was nofoundnefs in him. 
 Was there ever any for row like unto his 
 forrcrjj ? 
 
 There remaineth yet another fcene, 
 a very fad and difmal one. when no- 
 thing could prevail with the Jews, Pilate 
 yieldeth, and delivereth our Saviour to 
 their hands, they carry him away, fo 
 faint and weak with what he had already 
 endured, that he could not bear the 
 weight of his crofs, but another mull: 
 carry it for him. but now they nail him 
 unto it, hang him up betwixt two 
 thieves, as the moft notorious offender 
 ofthe three, it cannot be expreffed how 
 painful this kind of death was . the very 
 ftretching forth of the arms without 
 any weight , can hardly be endured any 
 confiderable time : but, when the weight 
 ofthe body did hang upon them ; and 
 
On the Patfion. 227 
 
 thereby tear the wounds that were made 
 in the hands; when this torment was 
 continued, till pain alone had overcome 
 the power of nature, and forced the foul 
 to diflodge without any hurt to the vi- 
 tal parts, fcarce any could be invent-, 
 ed more dreadful and cruel; to fay 
 nothing of the fliame that attended it, 
 being only deftined for the meaneft 
 (laves, and the greated offenders, thofe 
 whom the lownefs of their condition, 
 or the greatnefs of their crimes, made 
 unworthy of any refpeft. in this fad 
 and painful pofture did our Saviour 
 hang, without any thing to comfort him. 
 the holy angels, who were accuftomed 
 to ferve him upon other occafions, do 
 now difappear, not one of them to 
 flrengthen or relieve him. as for men, 
 miferable comforters are they all : the 
 foldiers feoff him; thofe that pafs by 
 exult over him ; a companion of his 
 fufferings adds unto them by his re- 
 proaches : his difciples had forfaken 
 him, one of them had betrayed him, 
 another forfworn him, a third run away 
 from him naked, that he might not be 
 
12$ On the Pajfion. 
 
 apprehended with him. indeed fome de- 
 vout women followed him out of the 
 city ; but their compaflion did fo little 
 eafe his grief, that he defired them to 
 referve their tears for the calamities 
 that were to befal themfelves : l Daugh- 
 ' ters of Jerufalem, weep not for me, 
 ' but weep foryourfelves, and for your 
 children*.' he beheld the two perfons 
 that were the deareft to him in the 
 world, his mother, and hrs friend, fit- 
 ting under the crofs: but all that they 
 could do, was but to lament and mourn ; 
 and this but redoubled his forrow. his 
 bleiled mother was bathed in tears ; and 
 felt the effecls of old Simeon's prophecy, 
 that a JhuordJJmild pierce through her foil I. 
 and the beloved difciple, who was wont 
 to lie in his bofom, lay (till very near 
 his heart ; and it was a real fufFering 
 unto him, to fee the anguifh and forrow 
 whereinto his fufferings had caft them, 
 whither then could he look for comfort, 
 but unto heaven ? to whom could he flee, 
 but to the arms of his Father ? but O 
 what (Irange, what aftonifhing words 
 * Luke xxiii. 28. 
 
On the Patfion. 229 
 
 do we hear ! My Gvd, my God, <why haft 
 thouforfaken me ? wonder, O earth ! be 
 aftonifhed, O ye heavens ! at this men 
 and angels admire and ftand amazed ! 
 goodnefs and innocence itfelf forfaken 
 by the author and fountain of goodnefs, 
 the Son of God deferted by his heavenly 
 Father ! certainly the foul of ou r blefTed 
 Saviour was ftill united to the Divine 
 nature, and was ftill as dear unto his 
 Father as before; only the joyful fenfe 
 of the Divine love was fufpended for a 
 while, the faculties of his foul were dif- 
 compofed, and a vail, as it were, drawn 
 before the eyes of hi s mind,which inter- 
 cepted the light of his Father's counte- 
 nance ; and that he felt not thofe re- 
 frefhing emanations which, in the courfe 
 of his life, the Deity conveyed unto him. 
 and, in that fad moment, his mind feems 
 to have been fo intent upon his fuffer- 
 ings, that he was diverted from the actu- 
 al confideration of that glory which he 
 purchafed by them, now, to be thus 
 fufpended from the perfect vifion of 
 God, to be divorced, as it were, from 
 himfelf, and to lofe the fenfe of thofe 
 U 
 
ijo On the Pajfion. 
 
 inward comforts which were wont to 
 fuftain him in all his adverfities, how 
 cutting mud it needs be to his foul, fo 
 pure and holy, and which had fo high 
 a value for the Divine love ? confider 
 then, and fee, if ever there was any for- 
 row likeimto this forrow. 
 
 Now it is finifhed, the fliarp conflict 
 is ataclofe; one cry more, and the 
 blefTed Jefus bowed down his head, and 
 yielded up the ghoft. no wonder then if 
 the powers of heaven and earth be mo- 
 ved, the earth trembleth and fhaketh, 
 the rocks rent, the graves are opened, 
 thevail of the temple was rent in two, 
 the fun himfelf fhrunk in his beams, and 
 darknefs covered the face of the earth ; 
 "which a learned man of Greece is faid 
 to have obferved at that time, and from 
 thence to have concluded, that either 
 the God of nature fuffered violence, or 
 that the frame of the world was about 
 to diflblve : t Aut Deus naturae patitur, 
 ' aut machina mundi folvitur.' thus we 
 have given you fome rude imperfect 
 hints of his great and unfpeakable fufFer- 
 ings. but O how little of them do we 
 
On the Paffion. 231 
 
 underftand to very good pnrpofc! it 
 was for this reafon the ancient fathers 
 of the Greek church in their liturgy, af- 
 ter they have recounted all the particular 
 pains as they are fet down in his paffi- 
 on, and by all and every one of them 
 called for mercy, do after all (hut up 
 with this fupplication : ' by thine un- 
 i known forrows and fufferings, felt by 
 * thee, but not diftinclly known by 
 ' us, have mercy upon us, and fave 
 f us.' 
 
 II. We proceed, in the next place, 
 to confider the interefl: that we have in 
 the fufferings of our Saviour : Is it no- 
 thing to you ? have you no interefl nor 
 concernment at all in them ? much, cer- 
 tainly, every way. we were the occafi- 
 on of his fufferings, and the benefits of 
 them redound unto us. when we fee a 
 perfon undergo any fad and grievous 
 punifhment, we cannot chufe but in- 
 quire into the grounds and occafions of 
 their fufferings ; and the rather if they 
 have the reputation of innocence and 
 integrity, and here not only the moft 
 innocent, but the mod excellent perfon 
 U z 
 
X%1 On the Pv 
 
 that ever was in the world, undergoes 
 thofe dreadful fufTerings which we men- 
 tioned before ; who never had done 
 any fin at all, neither nvas guile found in 
 his mouth *; fo that the judge who 
 condemned him, behoved firft to con- 
 demn himfelf by a folemn acknowledg- 
 ment of his innocence, he had gone up 
 and down all his days doing good unto 
 men, and fcattering bleflings where he 
 came; healing the fick, reftoring fight to 
 the blind, and making the lame to walk, 
 the dumb to fpeak, and the deaf to 
 hear ; feeding the hungry, and inftrucl- 
 ing all that would vouchfafeto hear him. 
 for which of all thefe good works is he 
 punifhed? death is the wages of fin ; 
 how comes he to die that knew no fin ? 
 the Prophet Ifaiah gives us the an- 
 fwer : ' furely, he hath born our griefs, 
 1 and carried our fonows : yet we did e- 
 c {teem him ftricken,fmitten of God, and 
 1 afflicted, but he was wounded for our 
 i tran fgreflions, he was bruifed for our 
 ' iniquities : the chaflifement of our 
 1 peace was upon him, and by his ftripes 
 # i fet. ii. 22. 
 
On the Pafion. 233 
 
 c we are healed, all we like flieep have 
 1 gone aftray : we have turned every 
 ' one to his own way, and the Lord 
 ' hath laid on him the iniquity of us 
 1 all *. Mefliah was cut off, but not 
 ' for himfelf f. he bare our fins in his 
 c own body on the tree 1 ; and gave his 
 ' life a ranfom for many f f .' the race of 
 mankind, by their apoftacy from God, 
 were become liable to his wrath, and all 
 the dreadful effecls of his vengeance : 
 the eternal Son of God, the Wifdom of 
 the Father, whofe delights were always 
 with the fonsof men, refolveth to make 
 up the breach, and reftore us again unto 
 his Father's love : but firtl he muft re* 
 pair the honour of God, and feciire the 
 authority of the divine law; which could 
 not be done, but by fomefignal evidence 
 of God's difpleafure againft lin,andfome 
 valuable compenfation of the puniih- 
 ment which had been denounced a- 
 gainfl: it : and therefore himfelf was 
 pleafed to take our nature upon him ap- 
 pear in the fimilitude of fmful flefh, to 
 
 * If.lin. 4. s . 6. 
 f Dan. ix. 26, 
 
 \ I Pet. ii. 24. 
 ft Matth. xx. 28. 
 
 u 3 
 
2J4 On the Paffion. 
 
 lead a miferable and afflicted life in 
 the world, and at lafl to offer it up as a 
 propitiation for us ; ' that mercy and 
 * truth might meet together, and righ- 
 ' teoufnefs and peace might kifs each o- 
 ' ther * ; and that God might at once 
 'bejuft, and alfo thejuftifterofhim that 
 'believethin Jefus i.' thus then the 
 blefTed Jefus endured all thefe dreadful 
 fufferings for us and for our fins, in 
 vain do we exclaim again ft the treafon 
 of Judas , the malice of the Jews, the in- 
 jufliceof Pilate ; we have ourfelves and 
 our iniquities to blame : our covetouf- 
 nefs and ambition expofed him to po- 
 verty and contempt, our excefs and in- 
 temperance made him hunger and third, 
 our levity and fociifh mirth were the 
 occafion of the anguifh and bitternefs 
 of his foul, our fenfual and finful plea- 
 fures were the occafion of all the pains 
 and tortures which he endured, and is 
 it nothing unto us ? fhall we think our- 
 felves unconcerned in thefe fad ef- 
 fects, whereof we were the unhappy 
 caufe. 
 
 *Pfal,lxxxv. io» tP.om.iii, 26, 
 
On the Pajfion. 235 
 
 Again, we are concerned in our Sa- 
 viour's fufferings, as the benefits of 
 them redound unto us. i by his flripcs 
 * we are healed, we have redemption 
 ' through his blood, even the forgive- 
 ' nefs of our fins i.' God was in Chrift 
 reconciling the world unto himfelf, not 
 imputing their trefpaiTes unto them, we 
 haveaccefs unto the throne of God, and 
 1 boidnefs to enter into the holieft by 
 i the blood of Jefus,bya new and living 
 1 way which he hath confecrated for us, 
 ' through the vail, that is to fay, his 
 ' flefh. Y but this is not all: ' God 
 ' hath not only fet him forth as a pro- 
 ' pitiation, through faith in his blood, 
 1 for the remifiion of fins that are pad # ; ' 
 but doth alfo, for his fake, beftow on 
 us that grace, whereby we may be ena- 
 bled to ferve him in holinefs and righte- 
 oufnefs all the days of our lives. anam- 
 nefty, or act of oblivion for part offen- 
 ces, would never have ferved the turn ; 
 we fhould prefently have run ourfelves 
 upon another fcore : nay, fin itfelf had 
 \ Col. i. 14. f Hcb.x. 19. 20, 
 
 * Rom.iii. 2 j. 
 
236 On the Pajfion. 
 
 been enough to make us miferable, 
 though no other punifhment had been 
 inflicted upon us : and therefore he does 
 not only cover our (ins, but cures them; 
 he forgives all our iniquities, andheal- 
 eth all our difeafes ; as we are juftified 
 by his fufTerings, ' fo we are fanclified 
 ' too through the offering of the body 
 ( of Jefus Chrift once for all *.' in a 
 word, by the merits of our Saviour we 
 are both reconciled unto God, and made 
 partakers of the Divine nature ; we are 
 both delivered from everfafting darknefs , 
 and made meet for the inheritance of the 
 faints in light, and now is it nothing to 
 us ? can we think ourfelves uncon- 
 cerned in thefe fufFerings, from which 
 we reap fo great, fo unfpeakable advan- 
 tages ? 
 
 III. Having fpoken of the greatnefs 
 ofour Saviour's furTerings, and the in- 
 terefr. which we have in them, we think 
 we mould need to fay little of the third 
 particular which we propofed : you 
 cannot but be convinced, that we ought 
 to regard and confider them, were it 
 
 # Heb. x. to, 
 
On the Pcjfion. 237 
 
 nothing to us, the very ftrangenefs of 
 the thing would deferve notice. the holy 
 angels defire to pry into this myftery; 
 they will contemplate and admire it to 
 all eternity, and furely we are far 
 more nearly concerned, what an unac- 
 countable dulnefs and negligence is it 
 then, for men to go up and down the 
 world amufing themfelves with every 
 trifle, hearing and telling of news about 
 matters of the fmalleft importance, and 
 never to confider the ftupendous fuf- 
 ferings of their dying Saviour ! they 
 walk to and fro, they come and pafs, 
 and fcarce vouchsafe to look upon him ; 
 or, if they chance to caft their eyes that 
 way, it is a very fhort and overly view; 
 they prefently turn them away, and 
 this occafions thecomplaintofthe text, 
 Is it nbthlng to you , all ye that pafs by? 
 but fure I am we can no where behold 
 an object Co worthy of our moil fcrious 
 and folemn regards, the whole world 
 does not afford fo ufeful and edifying 
 a profpecft. here it is that we may be ft 
 learn the horrid and heinous nature of 
 fin, which could not be pardoned at a 
 
23S On the PaJJion. 
 
 fmaller rate, here it is that we may 
 difcover mod of the Divinebounty and 
 goodnefs to mankind, and the inexpref- 
 fible love of our bleffed Saviour and Re- 
 deemer ; which are the moft: important 
 leflbns that we can learn, this made the 
 blefTed Apoftle to ' determine to know 
 ' nothing but Chrift,and him crucified*; 
 > tocountall things but lofs, for the ex- 
 4 cellency of the knowledge of Chrift Je- 
 ' fus his Lordt.' let me therefore exhort 
 you to fix the eyes of your mind, and call 
 up your moft ferious attention; reach hi- 
 ther the hand of your faith, and thruft it 
 into the hole of your Saviour's fide ; 
 put your fingers into the print of the 
 nails ; lay to heart all the pafTages 
 of his lamentable ftory ; and this can- 
 not chufe but melt your hearts, unlefs 
 they be harder than the rocks, and deaf- 
 er than the bodies in the grave, let us 
 fix our eyes, I fay, on this aftonifhing 
 object, till our eyes affect our heart f, 
 that while we are l mufing, the fire may 
 i burn.' let us mourn for thofe fins 
 
 * I Cor. ii. 2. ± Phil. iii. 8. 
 
 f Lam. iii. J I. 
 
On the Paffwn. 239 
 
 wherewith we have crucified the Lord 
 of glory, and be grieved that ever we 
 fhouldhave put him to fo much anguifh 
 and pain ; and let us vow a perpetual 
 enmity againft our lulls and corrupt 
 affections, which would crucify him a- 
 frefh, and put him unto open fhame. let 
 us confider and admire the wonderful 
 love of our dying Saviour, that our 
 fouls may be kindled with reciprocal 
 flames, wherein we may offer up our- 
 felves as a living and acceptable facri- 
 fice unto him ; that thus, ' Chriftdwel- 
 4 ling in our hearts by faith, we may be 
 € rooted and grounded in love ; com- 
 9 prehending with all faints what is the 
 ' breadth, and length, and depth, and 
 1 height ; and knowing the love of 
 c Chrift which paffeth knowledge, that 
 * fo we may be filled with all the fulnefs 
 € of God.' fuch meditations and exercifes 
 as thefe will purify and raife our fouls, 
 and bed difpofe us for approaching to 
 the table of the Lord, and the Lord 
 pour out upon us thefpirit of grace and 
 /application, that we may look upon 
 him whom we have pierced, and mourn 
 
240 On the PaJJion. 
 
 for him as one monrneth for his only 
 fon, and be in bitternefs for him as one 
 that is in bitternefs for his firft-born. 
 
2 4 r 
 
 A PREPARATION FOR THE HOLY 
 SACRAMENT. 
 
 Josh. in. ;. 
 SanBify yourf elves: for to morrow the 
 Lord will do wonders among you. 
 
 WHen God is to make any fignal 
 difcovery and manifeftation 
 of himfelf to his people, he calleth them 
 to folemn preparation, that they may 
 be in a fit pofture to attend and receive 
 it. three eminent i n (tan ces whereof we 
 meet with in the travels of his ancient 
 people of IfraeL the firft is in Exodus 
 xix. 10. ii. where, being to defcend u- 
 pon mount Sinai to promulge a law, and 
 enter into a covenant with them, the 
 Lord faid unto Mofes, ' Go unto the 
 4 people, and fanctify them to day and 
 6 to morrow,and let them wafh their 
 1 cloaths, and be ready againft the third 
 f day : for the third day the Lord 
 
 * will come down in the fight of all the 
 
 * people.' thus alfo, when he was at 
 once to fatisfy and punifh the inordi- 
 
 X 
 
242 A preparation fir the 
 
 nate appetite of that people who lothed 
 the manna, and tufted after flefh, by 
 bringing innumerable quails from the 
 fea, and caufing them to fall about their 
 camp, he commanded Mofes to fay un- 
 to the people, l fanclify yourfelves t- 
 i gainft to morrow, and ye fhall eat flefh *. 
 a third inftance is that of the text, the 
 Lord had brought his people to the bor- 
 ders of Canaan, and was now to give 
 them the feifin and pofTeffion of that 
 promifed land : he was to divide the 
 waters of Jordan before them ; and 
 thereby both facilitate their pafTage, and 
 allure their pofTeffion. < hereby, faid 
 * Jofhua, ye fhall know that the living 
 ' God is among you, and that he will 
 ' without fail drive out from before you 
 < the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and 
 '•the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and 
 1 the Girgafhites, and the Amorites,and 
 1 the Jebufitcs. behold, the ark of the 
 € covenant of the Lord of all the earth, 
 'pafTethover before you into Jordan. 
 c and it fhall come to pafs, as foon as 
 4 the foles of the feet of the priefls that 
 * Num. xi. i 8. 
 
holy facrament. 243 
 
 ' bear the ark of the Lord, tile Lord of 
 1 all the earth, mall reft in the waters 
 
 * of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan 
 ' (hall be cut off from the waters that 
 i come down from above : and they 
 i mail ftand upon an heap.' now, to 
 difpofe them for fo great a mercy, Jo- 
 fhua gives them this advertifement in 
 the text, i fanclify yourfelves : for to* 
 
 * morrow the Lord will do wonders a- 
 'mongyou.' 
 
 And fure this fame advertifement 
 mud needs be very feafonable to us, 
 who are expecting that God will mani- 
 feft himfelf to-morrow in this place, in 
 
 * way no- lefs glorious, and far more 
 comfortable and advantageous, than any 
 of thofe we have mentioned unto you. 
 we hope he will defcend from the habi- 
 tation of his glory, that he will rend 
 the heavens, and come down into this 
 houfe; not i with fire, and blacknefs, 
 i and' darknefs, and tempeft, and the 
 
 * found of a trumpet, and the voice of 
 ' words, which they that heard, intreated 
 ' that the word mould not be fpoken un- 
 
 * to them any more ; becaufe they could 
 
 X2 ' 
 
,244 ^ preparation for its 
 
 4 not endure that which was command- 
 6 ed * :' but with the gentle and enliven- 
 ing flames of love, with the refrefhing 
 beams of Divine light, with the dill and 
 quiet whifper of his Holy Spirit; which 
 are only heard in calm and filent fouls, 
 he is coming to proclaim another law, 
 a law of liberty and love ; to enter in- 
 to a new and better covenant with us, 
 not according i to that covenant which 
 1 he made with the houfe of Ifrael, in 
 6 the day when he took them by the 
 6 hand to lead them out of Egypt :' but 
 (his is the covenant he maketh with 
 us, i that he will put his laws into our 
 € minds, and write them in our hearts: 
 
 * and he will be to us a God, and we 
 1 mail be to him a people; that he will 
 
 * be merciful to our unrighteouf- 
 1 nefs, and remember our iniquities no 
 'more +.' 
 
 To morrow the Lord will give us 
 flefn to cat ; not the flefn of quails, and 
 feathered fowls, to fuftain this crazy and 
 decaying frame ; but the fiefo and blood 
 
 * Heb. xii. i 8. 19. 20. 
 f Heb, viii. 9. 1 ' 
 
holy Jacr amen t. 24V 
 
 of the Son of man ; that flefh which is 
 meat indeed, and that blood which is 
 drink indeed ; which giveth life and 
 everlafting happinefs to the foul, and 
 configneth thefe mortal bodies to a blef- 
 fed refurreclion : i for whofo eateth my 
 ( flefli, and drinketh my blood/ (faith 
 our Saviour), l hath eternal life, and 
 ' I will raife him up at the laftday *.' 
 
 To-morrow the Lord will open a 
 paiTage for his people towards the hea- 
 venly Canaan, place them, as it were, 
 in the confines of that promifed land, 
 in the fuburbs of happinefs and glory : 
 at lead he will (hew them a token for 
 good, and fign a right and fecurity un- 
 to it. and, though floods of fin and 
 forrow were ready to overwhelm their 
 fouls, he will reflrain and divert them : 
 1 furely in the floods of great waters, 
 ' they fhall not come nigh unto them f .' 
 what fitter terms could we therefore 
 chufe to befpeak you in, than thofe of 
 this holy man, ' fanctify yourfelves : 
 4 for to morrow, &c.' 
 
 The words contain an exhortation, 
 * John. vi. J4, f Pfal. xxxii, 6". 
 
 X3 
 
246 A preparation for the 
 
 and a reafon inforcing it. in applying 
 them to the prefent occafion, we (hall 
 invert the order, and handle the latter 
 part of the text firft, becaufe of the in- 
 fluence it hath on the former, we mall 
 firft tell you what thofe wonders are 
 which the Lord is to do among us to- 
 morrow ; the confideration of them be- 
 ing of great ufe, both to excite us to 
 fanclify and prepare ourfelves, and alfo 
 to inftruct and direct us in it. 
 
 I. What then are thofe wonders we 
 expect to fee ? a little bread broken and 
 divided among us, a little wine poured 
 forth and drunk, is there any thing to 
 furprife or amaze us here? what better 
 is this than our ordinary entertainment 
 at home ? ' are not Abana and Pharpar , 
 ' rivers of Damafcus, better than all the 
 * waters of Ifrael \ ? ' fuch may be the 
 thoughts of profane and ignorant fools; 
 for the outfide of this ordinance is very 
 poor and mean, hath nothing in it that 
 may dazzle or delight the vulgar eye, 
 that may pleafe or affect a carnal mind : 
 but thofe whofe eyes are opened to 
 
 \ 2 Kings t. 12. 
 
holy facr anient. 247 
 
 right apprehenfions of fpiritual and Di- 
 vine things, can cafily fee through this 
 coarfe and contemptible vail, and dif- 
 cern aftonifhing wonders in this ordi- 
 nance, wonders of power, and wifdom, 
 and love. 
 
 Ifweconfider what is reprefented to 
 us in this facrament, we have therein 
 occafion to behold the moil wonderful 
 and aftonifhing fpectacle that ever was 
 feen in this lower world j the only begot- 
 ten Son of God fuffering for the fins of 
 the world ; the Lord of glory hanging 
 betwixt two thieves : for in this ordi- 
 nance € Jefus Chrift is evidently fet 
 6 forth as crucified before our eyes #.' 
 we may read and hear of it at other 
 times ; but this is a more clear and fo- 
 lemn reprefentation of it: our dying 
 Lord commanded us to do it in re* 
 viembrance of him. here our thoughts 
 are more fixed, and our meditations 
 higher raifed ; we get a nearer and 
 more advantageous profpecl:. and our 
 faith comes not only by the ear ; our 
 other fenfes contribute unto it ; that we 
 
 * Gal, iii. 1, 
 
248 A preparation for the 
 
 may fayinfome fenfe, with the beloved 
 difciple, that we have not only heard, 
 but 'have feen with our eyes, we have 
 ' looked upon it, and our hands have 
 1 handled the Word of life f .' 'tis true, 
 there might have been contrived a more 
 fenfible refemblance, and tragical re- 
 prefentation of the death of Chrift. that 
 fpeclacle reprefented upon the fcene, 
 would perhaps affect our fenfesand fan- 
 cy more, and might fooner draw tears 
 from our eyes, and occafion fome warm 
 and affectionate pafTion. but it is a 
 mean and low devotion that is feated in 
 the inferior faculties of the foul, which 
 outward objects do excite by their na- 
 tural ftrength, without the exercife of 
 the foul's confidering and meditating 
 powers, and therefore ( as one hath 
 well obferved ) " the representation 
 u of ChriIVs death in the facrament is 
 a fo ordered, that it might both help the 
 6i foul, and leave it fomething to do in 
 u forming its own apprehenfions and 
 6i refentment." in it we fee fo much as 
 to awaken our fouls, but not fo much 
 f 1 John i. 1. 
 
holy facrament* 249 
 
 as to keep them awake without them- 
 fclves. the outward object ferves to ex- 
 cite our faith ; but then leaves it to its 
 proper exercife and employment, faith 
 takes the hint which fenfe doth give it, 
 and in the facramental bread and wine 
 can behold the blood and wounds of our 
 bleffed Saviour, it placeth us, as it were, 
 at the foot of his crofs , and makes us 
 obferve the whole tranfaclion. andthus, 
 that holy ordinance we are to celebrate, 
 prefents to our view the wonderful re- 
 demption of mankind, which fhall be the 
 admiration of men and angels to alle- 
 ternity : fo that, if there were not more, 
 on this account we might fay in fome 
 fenfe, ( to-morrow the Lord will do 
 * wonders among you.' 
 
 But this is not all. this facrament 
 doth not only reprefenta wonder that 
 is already paft, but exhibits one anew, 
 the bread and wine that we receive, are 
 not bare and empty figns, to put us in 
 mind of the death and fufferings of 
 Chrift. our Saviour calls them his body 
 and blood ; and fuch, without queflion, 
 they are to all fpiritual purpofes and 
 
2^0 A preparation for the 
 
 advantages, we are not obliged to be- 
 lieve, that, after confecration, the bread 
 and wine do vanifh, and the body and 
 blood of Chrift fucceed in their room : 
 our fenfe and reafon do allure us of the 
 contrary, the fcripture doth no where 
 affirm it, nor did ever the ancient church 
 believe it : nor is it poflible to conceive 
 the ufe or benefit of this ftrange and un- 
 intelligible change. ' it isthe fpirit that 
 1 quickeneth, the flefh profiteth no- 
 * thing *.' thefe words of our Saviour, 
 are fpirit and life, are to be understood 
 in a vital and fpiritual fenfe. but though 
 thefe elements be not changed in their 
 nature and fubftance, yet they undergo 
 a mighty change as to their efficacy and 
 ufe ; and that food which could before 
 but yield a little refrefhment to the body, 
 is now become a mean to nourifh and 
 ftrengthen the foul, an inftrument to 
 convey unto us all thofe bleffings that 
 the body and blood of our Saviour can 
 afford us. 
 
 As under the law a part of fome fa- 
 crifices was burnt on the altar, and a 
 
 * John vi. 63 . 
 
kolyfacrament. 2 J t 
 
 part was eaten by thofefor whom they 
 were offered ; fo our blefTed Saviour, 
 having offered up himfelf on the altar 
 of the crofs, as a propitiation for the 
 fins of men, did fubftitute thefe holy 
 fymbols in place of his body and blood, 
 that we, by feafting on them, might get 
 an intereft in that facrifice, and be par- 
 takers of the atonement that was made, 
 and the pardon that was purchafed by 
 him. 
 
 Again, in this facrament, Chriit doth 
 convey himfelf into the fouls of men, 
 and taketh ftronger poffeflion of them, 
 as after the fop Satan entered into Judas, 
 fo with thefe holy elements Chrift en- 
 tereth into the hearts of his people, be- 
 comes the food and nourifhment of their 
 fouls : he diffufeth himfelf through all 
 their faculties, and animates them with 
 " his life and fpirit ; that they may have 
 no will or affections of their own, no 
 defires or inclinations different from his ; 
 but that every pulfe may anfwer the mo* 
 tionsof his heart, and all their powers 
 be actuated and enlivened by his fpirit ; 
 in a word, that it may not be any more 
 
2 52 A preparation for the 
 they, but Chriji fiat liveth i?i than *. 
 thus are we fed and nourifhed by the 
 body and blood of Chrifi:, while the 
 power of the Godhead doth diffufe its 
 virtue and operation into the human 
 nature, to the enlivening the hearts of 
 thofe who do rightly receive thefe fa- 
 cramental pledges. 
 
 And thus I hope you fee what won- 
 ders the Lord is to do among us. it 
 was a fignal miracle he wrought at the 
 feaft, when he turned water into wine ; 
 but fure it is a greater and more im- 
 portant one, to turn bread and wine 
 into his body and blood, in that fenfe 
 we have been explaining, it was a 
 great matter, to feed a multitude with 
 a few loaves and fmall fifties ; but a 
 greater it is, to make a little bread and 
 wine become the mean of nourifhment 
 to fo many fouls, and, were our eyes 
 opened to the difcerning of fpiritual 
 things, we fhould fee greater wonders 
 wrought, and more gracious miracles 
 performed, by the body and blood of 
 our Saviour, than thofe which were done 
 
 * Gal. ii : 
 
holy fucr am ent \ 15% 
 
 by the touch of his facred body while 
 he lived here among men. I (hall con- 
 clude this point in the words of St. 
 Chryfoftom, only defiring they may be 
 understood according to what hath bee a 
 already faid, making fome allowance 
 for the rhetorical and hyberbolick ftyle, 
 
 Otocv ]$lis roy Kvf,tov t^vclIvov, &C * When 
 
 thou doft behold the Lord of glory of- 
 fered up, and the Pried performing 
 the facrifice, and the people round 
 about, dyed and made red with that 
 precious blood, where, I pray thee, 
 doft thou conceive thy felf to be ? canft 
 thou think thou art yet upon earth,and 
 converfing amongft mortal creatures ; 
 or art thou not rather on a fudden 
 tranfported into heaven ? doft thou not 
 lofe all thoughts of the body, and 
 with a pure mind, and naked foul, 
 behold the things that are done above V 
 O the wonderful mercy and goodnefs 
 of God ! he who fitteth with the Father 
 above, is at the fame time prefent here 
 below, and gives himfelf to all who will 
 receive and embrace him. — compare 
 this, if you will, with another miracle. 
 Y 
 
2 j 4 A preparation for the <bc. 
 imagine you fee the great Elias with an 
 infinite number of people about him, 
 the facrifice laid upon the (tones, and 
 all the reft quiet and filent, while the 
 Prophet poureth forth his prayers, then 
 the fire coming down on a fudden from 
 heaven, and confuming the facrifice. 
 truly thefe things are ftrange, and full 
 of wonder ; but yet are far inferior to 
 our facred and tremendous myfteries. 
 for here the Pried doth not bring fire, 
 but the holy Ghoil; he prayeth not that 
 a flame may defcend from heaven to 
 confume the holy things before him, 
 but that the Divine grace, influencing 
 the facrifice, may thereby inflame the 
 hearts and fouls of all the people, and 
 render them more pure than filver tried 
 in the fire, doubtlefs, when thefe facred 
 and venerable myfteries are performing, 
 the holy angels do (land by, and the 
 place is full ofbleiTed and glorious fpi- 
 rits, who delight to look and pry into 
 them ; and all the orders of the heaven- 
 ly hoft fhout, and raife their voice to- 
 gether. 
 
 [The refru wanting?\ 
 
255 
 
 Of the importance and diffi- 
 culty of the Ministerial 
 
 FUNCTION. 
 Preached before the Synod of Aberdeen. 
 
 2 Cor. ii. 16. 
 
 Who is fuffic'tent for thcfe things ? 
 
 REVEREND and dearly beloved 
 men, brethren, and fathers, It is 
 one of the advantages of that peace and 
 tranquillity wherewith Almighty God is 
 pleafed to blefs this poor church, that 
 the officers of it have liberty of afTem- 
 bling together on thefe occafions, for 
 mutual counfel and affiftance in the ex- 
 ercife of their holy function, and indeed, 
 if there were no matter ofpublick deli- 
 beration, yet ought we gladly to embrace 
 the opportunity of feeing one another's 
 faces, not only that we may maintain 
 andexprefs a brotherly correfpondence 
 and affection, but alfo that we may. a- 
 nimate and excite one another unto 
 greater meafures of diligence and zeal ; 
 
 Y2 
 
2$6 Of the importance and difficulty 
 as coals, being gathered together, do 
 mutually receive and propagate fome 
 new degrees of vigour and heat, this 
 I have always looked upon as none of 
 the meaneft advantages of thefe fynodi- 
 cal meetings ; and (hall think myfelf 
 very happy, if my poor endeavours, in 
 the performance of this prefent duty, 
 may, by the Divine blefting, contribute 
 any thing towards this excellent and de- 
 firablepurpofe. to this end I have made 
 choice of a text, which I hope may af- 
 ford us fome ufeful meditations for ftir- 
 ring up, and av/akening in our fouls a 
 deeper fenfe oft hofe great engagements 
 under which we lie. 
 
 The bleiTcd Apoftle, in the former 
 verfe, and beginning of this, has been 
 fpeaking of the different fuccefs the 
 gofpel did meet with among thofe to 
 whom it was preached ; that it was not 
 like thofe weak and harmlefs medicines, 
 which, if they do no good, are fure to do 
 no hurt ; but like fome perfumes which 
 are comfortable and (lengthening to 
 the wholfome, but troublefome and 
 noxious to the weak, fo doth it prove 
 
of the Mini fieri al function. ff 7 
 a vital favour to thofe who receive 
 and obey it, but a mod deadly poifon to 
 all who reject and defpife it: for i we 
 1 are unto God a fweet favour of Chrift, 
 1 to them that are faved, and in them 
 1 that perifh ; to the one we are a favour 
 'of death unto death, and to the other 
 'a favour of life unto life. 1 and then 
 he takes occafion to confider what a 
 great matter it is to be employed in 
 thofe administrations wherein the hap- 
 pinefs and mifery of mankind is (b 
 nearly concerned, Kal ne «roi? tccvtk, 
 &c. and * Who is fufficient for thefe 
 ' things ? ' 
 
 We (hall not detain you with an 
 explication of the words, two things 
 I conceive are implied in them : 1 . the 
 importance; 2. the difficulty of the Mi - 
 nifterial function, for if a bufinefs be of 
 fmall concern, it is little matter who 
 have the management of it ; there is 
 no great harm done if it mifcarry ; any 
 body is fufficient for that thing, on the 
 other hand, let the matter be never fo 
 weighty, if there be no difficulty in it, 
 there needs no extraordinary endow- 
 
 Y3 
 
2 jS Of the importance an J difficulty 
 ments in thofe to whom it is commit- 
 ted : common prudence, and a little 
 care, will fufEce ; there is no likeli- 
 hood that it can mifcarry. but the work 
 of the ministry is at once h important 
 and To difficult, of fo great confluence 
 and fo hard to be performed, that there 
 is a great deal of reafon for an empha- 
 tick interrogation, ' Who is fufEcient 
 * for thefe things?' 
 
 I. Firft, let us fix our thoughts a 
 while on the weight and importance of 
 the miniftry, and we mail find that it is 
 a greater burden lying on our moul- 
 ders, than if the greateft affairs of this 
 world were devolved upon us, and we 
 did hold up the pillars of the earth, this 
 will appear, whether we confider the 
 relation we ftand in to the Almighty 
 God, or the charge of the flocks we have 
 committed to us. 
 
 To begin with the firft. that infinite 
 Majefty which created, and doth conti- 
 nually uphold the earth, and all things 
 in it*, as thejuft owner and lord of the 
 whole creation, (for all arc his fervants, 
 
 *Pfal,xxiv. 1.2. 
 
of the Mini fieri al fund ion. 259 
 and muft obey his will), is yet pleafed 
 to claim a fpecial property in fome 
 things which he chufeth for himfelf, and 
 employeth for peculiar defigns : * ne- 
 i verthelefs of old didhechufea houfe 
 * for himfelf, and a place to be called by 
 1 his name, at Salem was his tabernacle, 
 ' and his dwelling-place in Zion f . the 
 { Lord loved the gates of Zion more 
 ' than all the dwellings of Jacob.' and 
 the church in all ages hath thought 
 it fit, to feparate fome places from vul- 
 gar and common ufe, and to appropri- 
 ate them to the fervice of God. again, 
 though all times and feafons belong 
 unto God, yet hath he fet apart a day 
 for his worfhip, and fanctified a fabbath 
 for himfelf. all men are created for the 
 honour of God, and are infinitely obli- 
 ged to ferve him ; yet, becaufe the 
 greateft part of mankind are too much 
 engaged in worldly affairs, and have 
 their fouls fettered in the diffracting 
 cares of this life, and almoft buried in 
 their bodies, it hath pleafed the Divine 
 wifdom, to call forth a feleft number 
 f Pfal. Uxvi. 2, 
 
2 60 Of the importance and difficulty 
 of men, who, being delivered from 
 thofe intanglements, and having their 
 minds more highly purified, and more 
 peculiarly fitted for the offices of reli- 
 gion, may attend continually on that 
 very thing, religion is every man's ge- 
 neral calling, but it is our particular 
 calling too. and while the labourer is at 
 his plough, the craftfman at his forge, 
 and the merchant in his fhop, the mi- 
 nifter ought to be employed in the ex- 
 ercife of devotion, for the advancing the 
 intereft of piety, and the honour of our 
 Maker, my beloved, ye are deputed, as 
 it were, by the whole creation, at lead 
 by the inferior world, to prefent their 
 homage and fervice to God, and to 
 praife him for all his works, ye ought 
 to maintain a correfpondence betwixt 
 heaven and earth, to deprecate the 
 wrath of God, and avert his vengeance 
 and plagues from mankind, your bufi- 
 nefs is the fame with that of the holy 
 angels : you dwell in the houfe of God, 
 andfhouldbe continually praifing him. 
 and this is an employment fo holy,that, 
 were our fouls as pure as cberubs ; as 
 
of the Mhitflerlal funSlon, 26) 
 zealous and active as the blelTed fpirits 
 that are above, we fhould yet have rea- 
 fon to cover our faces, and to be fwal- 
 lowed up in a deep fenfe of our own in- 
 fufriciency for thefe things, and what 
 is finful dull and afhes, that he fhould 
 (land in fo near a relation unto the 
 Lord of glory ! what is man,0 blefTed 
 God, that thou fhouldft chufehim, and 
 caufe him to approach unto thee ! i that 
 
 * he fhould dwell in thy courts, and be 
 
 * fatisfied with thegoodnefs of thy houfe, 
 'even of thine holy temple *!' theprieft- 
 hood under the law was a very facred 
 and veneraMe thing, and no profane 
 hand might intermeddle with the mean* 
 eft offices that belonged unto it. all the 
 zeal and feemingly religious care that 
 Uzzah had for the tottering ark, ferved 
 not to excufe his preemption, when he 
 intruded upon the Levitical function, 
 but, certainly, as the gofpel-miniftry is 
 fo much more excellent and fublime, 
 being intruded with the adminiftration 
 of thofe holy myfteries which were but 
 fh ado wed in the former \ how pure and 
 
 * i'fal.lxv. 4. 
 
262 Of the importance and difficulty 
 holy ought thofe lips to be, by which 
 God fpcaketh unto his people, and by 
 which they fpeak unto him ; which 
 fometimes pronounce thofe powerful 
 and effectual fentences of abfolution and 
 excommunication, that are fo furely 
 ratified in heaven ; and thofe hands 
 which are employed in the laver of rege- 
 neration, and to handle the bread of life ! 
 Hi funt y (faith holy Chryfoftom, de 
 facer d. lib, 3.) quibus> &c. u thefe are 
 1 c the men that afTift at the pangs of the 
 " new birth, and to whom baptifmal 
 u regeneration is committed ; by thefe 
 u we put on Chrift, and are buried with 
 u the Son of God, andfo become mem- 
 * € bers of that bleifed head, upon which 
 " account the facerdotal function is 
 " more creditable than that of kings 
 u and princes ; and we owe more ho- 
 u nour unto priefts than unto parents 
 "tbemfelves : for they have begotten us 
 " of blood, and of the will of the ne.ih ; 
 u but thefe are the authors of that na- 
 tivity which we have from God; that 
 u adoption, whereby, through grace, 
 u we become the children of the Moft 
 
of the MiniJIerial funftion. 1 63 
 High." and, again, the fame father, 
 fpeaking of the facerdotal power, ex- 
 preffes it in thefe terras : * Qui terram 
 4 incolunt, atque in ea verfantur, his 
 i commiUum eft, ut ea quae in coelts 
 1 funt difpenfent, &c.' " men that live 
 €i on earth, do difpenfe the things that 
 u are in heaven ; and are intruded with 
 u a power that neither angels nor arch* 
 44 angels can pretend unto : for to 
 u none of thefe was it faid, What ye 
 bind on earthy fhall be bound in heaven. 
 " earthly princes have the power of 
 " binding, but it is only the bodies of 
 " men. thefe bands that I fpeak of take 
 " hold of the fouls of men, and reach 
 u unto the very heavens : fo that God 
 u doth ratify above, what the pried 
 " determines below ; and his fervants 
 u decrees are ratified by their Lord, the 
 <( Father hath given all judgment to the 
 iC Son ; but now, it feems, the Son does 
 H deliver it to the paftors of the church. 
 u . and fb eminent is this authority, 
 " that one would think the perfons 
 u inverted with it muft needs be raifed 
 u above the common condition of men, 
 
z6% Of the importance and difficulty 
 C( and exempted from human affeclion3, 
 u and, as it were, already placed in 
 " heaven " thus far this holy father. 
 nor can I pafs by what he fays of that 
 ineffable privilege of the celebration 
 of the holy facrament, though fome of 
 his exprefllons, being figurative and 
 hyperbolical, have been abufed by the 
 Romifh party : Dum confpicis Dominum 
 in itninolatione, et facerdotem facrificio 
 i?icumbentem y &c. " when thou deft 
 " behold the Lord of glory offered up, 
 " and the prieft performing the facri- 
 " fice, and the people round about dy- 
 u ed, as it were, and made red with that 
 11 precious blood ; where, I pray thee, 
 " doft thou conceive thyfelf to be ? 
 11 doft thou think thou art on earth, and 
 €t converfing among mortal creatures ; 
 u or art thou not rather on a fudden 
 " tranfported into heaven? doft thou 
 " not lofe all thoughts of the body, and 
 " material things, and with a pure 
 " mind, and naked foul, behold the 
 u things that are done in thofe regions 
 " above ? and when the Minifter has 
 " invoked the Divine Spirit, and per- 
 
of the Miniflcrial funftion. 265 
 " formed thofe reverend and dreadful 
 " myfteries, and holdeth the Lord of 
 " all things in his hand, tell me, I be* 
 " feech you, in what order of things we 
 " are'to place him ? what uprightnefs, 
 " what purity is required of him ! what 
 u hands mould they be that adminiiler 
 u thofe things ! what lips that utter and 
 u pronounce thofe words ! for at that 
 " time the holy angels (land by the 
 ic prieft ; the place is full of blefTed fpi- 
 " rits, who deiire to look into thofe 
 " things ; and all the orders of the 
 " heavenly hod do (hout, and raife 
 1 6 their voice together, as we may eafi- 
 " ly believe, if we confider the work 
 u that is then in hand. " I cannot 
 ftand to relate all that this excellent 
 perfon fpeaketh to the fame purpofe, 
 but (hall proceed to the next thing we 
 propofed, 
 
 The weight and importance of the 
 ?vliniiterial function, confidered in re- 
 lation to the people committed to our 
 charge, we are not intruded with their 
 fortune and eftate, nor with their bodi- 
 ly health and welfare, nor with the af- 
 Z 
 
1 6 6 Of the importance and difficulty 
 fairs of (late, or the intereftofkingdoms ; 
 though indeed relig ; on hath no fmall 
 influence on thefe, and the labours of 
 Miniflsn (if fuccefsful) would contri- 
 bute exceedingly to the public tranquil- 
 lity, and the prefent felicity Qfmen. but 
 our main bufinefslieth another way. we 
 have to do with rational and immortal 
 fouls, thofe mod noble and divine 
 fubftances which proceeded from God, 
 and are capable of being united to him 
 eternally, but withal in hazard of be- 
 ing eternally feparated from him ; thefe 
 
 ., as Sy- 
 nefius calls them, l thefe (takes between 
 1 God and the devil :' and on us it doth 
 infome meafure depend to whofe (hare 
 they mail fall, whether they (hall be an- 
 gels or fiends, we may fay with reafon 
 of our wcrk, what the painter did vain- 
 ly boaft of, L. nitati : the 
 imprefTes we make mail laft for ever, 
 my beloved, the rooft ferious of our 
 thoughts come very farfhort of the in- 
 eftimable worth of the depqfitum 7 that 
 treafure which is committed to our care. 
 he who did create and redeem the fouls 
 
of the Mi mjl e rial f unci ioiu 26 7 
 of men, doth beft underftand their va- 
 lue ; and we fee what efteeni he putteth 
 upon them by the pains he is pleafed 
 to take about them, their falvation 
 was contrived before the mountains 
 were brought forth, before the founda- 
 tion of the earth was laid ; the defign 
 was formed from all eternity ; and glo- 
 rious are the methods by which it is 
 accomplifhed. ' hue magiftra lex ten- 
 1 dit ; hue, inter Chriftum et legem in- 
 1 terjecli, prophetae,' faith St. Greg. 
 Naz. " at this both the law and the 
 " prophets did aim." hue exinanita 
 Deltas ; hue ' ajfumpta caro ; hue nova 
 ilia mixtio. " to this purpofe did the 
 " Deity empty itfelf, and was clothed 
 u with the human nature ; to this pur- 
 u pofe was that ftrange and wonderful 
 €i conjunction, God and man united 
 " together." hitherto did all the actions 
 and all the fufferings of our blefled Savi- 
 our aim ; for this he was born, and for 
 this he did die. and fhall we under- 
 value the price of his blood, or think 
 it afmall matter to have the charge of 
 thofe for whom it was fhed ? it is the 
 
 Z2 
 
2 63 Of the importance and difficulty 
 church of God we mufl overfeeand feed ; 
 that church for which the world is up- 
 held, which is fanclified by the holy 
 Gboft, on which the angels themfelves 
 do attend, what a weighty charge is 
 this we have undertaken ? ' who is fuf- 
 * ficient for thefe things V 
 
 Thatthefe matters may yet take the 
 deeper impreflion on your hearts, let us 
 farther confider the dreadful confe- 
 quences of mifcarriage in the difcharge 
 of the Minifterial function ; and we 
 fhall find that it reflects a great deal of 
 difhonour on the Divine Majefty, and 
 on our blefled Saviour; that it doth 
 very much hazard the fouls of our peo- 
 ple, and certainly ruin our own. I fay, 
 it doth reflect difhonour on Almighty 
 God, as the faults of fervants do com- 
 monly prejudice the reputation of their 
 matters, and the failings of ambafTadors 
 are imputed to their princes, we (land 
 in a nearer relation to God, and are 
 fuppofed to be bed acquainted with his 
 will, and to carry the deepeft impreffions 
 of his nature on our minds, and igno- 
 rant people will entertain the meaner 
 
of the Minifterialfunflion. 1 69 
 thoughts of the holinefs of God, when 
 they mifs it in thofe who are called his 
 fervants. certainly it is no fmall re- 
 proach which the faults or mifcarriages 
 of Minifters do bring upon the ways 
 of godlinefs, and the holy religion we 
 profefs. it is no fmall affront that is 
 hereby put on the blefTed author of it; 
 greater, without queftion, than all the 
 malice and fpite of his open enemies is 
 able to pradlife : for hereby he is cruci- 
 fied afrefh, and put unto open fhame. 
 and O how great is the hazard our poor 
 people do run by our negligence or 
 failings, even as much as the worth of 
 their fouls amounteth to ! if the watch- 
 men be not faithful, and give not timely 
 warning, the fword will readily come, 
 and the people be taken away in their 
 fins. i caufa funt ruinae populi facer- 
 1 dotes mali.' like people, like priefts, 
 will ftill be a proverb of a general truth, 
 but, if the negligence and mifcarriage 
 of a Minifter doth hazard the fouls of 
 others, it doth certainly ruin his own \ 
 which made St Chryfoftom fay, i equi- 
 ' dem ex eccleliae miniftris non arbitcor 
 Z3 
 
270 Of the importance and difficulty 
 1 multos fervari ; ' words fo terrible, 
 that I tremble to put them into Englifh : 
 and yet, if a man fhould fpeak fire, 
 blood, and fmoke, if flames could come 
 out of his mouth inftead of words, ifhe 
 had a voice like thunder, and an eye 
 like lightning, he could not fufEciently 
 reprefent the dreadful account that an 
 unfaithful paftor (hall make, what hor- 
 ror and confufion (hall it cad them into 
 at the lad day, to hear the blood of the 
 Son of Cod plead againftthem ; to hear 
 our great Mafter fay, It was the purchafe 
 of my blood which ye did neglect ; 
 God died for thefe fouls, of whom ye 
 took fo little pains: think not there- 
 fore to be faved by that blood which 
 ye have defpifed, or to efcape the tor- 
 ments whereunto many others are plun- 
 ged through your faults ! by this time 
 I hope it doth appear, that the work 
 of the Miniftry is of great weight and 
 importance ; that much doth depend 
 on the right difcharging of it ; and 
 that mifcarrying in it is the moft dan- 
 gerous thing in the world. 
 
 II. The fecond tiling we had to 
 
of the Minlflerial funftion. 2 71 
 fpeak to, is the difficulty of managing 
 this charge aright, and this will appear 
 if we confider ; 1. the end and defign 
 of the Minifterial function ; 2 . the im- 
 pediments we have to overcome in they 
 profecution of that end; and, 3. the 
 feveral forts of duties and exercifes in. 
 cumbent upon us. as for the firft, the 
 great bufinefs of our calling is, to ad- 
 vance the Divine life in the world; to 
 make religion fway and prevail ; frame 
 and mould the fouls of men into a con- 
 formity to God, and fuperinduce the 
 beautiful lineaments of his bleflTed image 
 upon them ; to enlighten their under- 
 itandings, and inform their judgments, 
 rectify their wills, and order their paf- 
 fions, and fanclify all their affections, 
 the world lieth in (in ; and it is our 
 work to awaken men out of that dead- 
 ly fleep, to refcue them out of that 
 difmal condition, we are the inftru- 
 ments of God for effectuating thele 
 great defigns : and, though we be not 
 accountable for the fuccefs, when we 
 have done what lieth in cur power, yet 
 nothing below this mould be our aim ; 
 
2 - : Of the importance and difficulty 
 
 and we inould never ceafe our endea- 
 vours, until that gracious change be 
 cry perfon committed to 
 
 our charge, and, i£ any think this an 
 cafy work, let them pitch on iome per- 
 fon of their acquaintance, whom they 
 know to be addided to fome one par- 
 
 i 
 to reclaim. 
 
 .in, to forfake his cups ; the 
 covetous 
 nor. >n but the wild gal 
 
 fober deportm 
 
 irhood of grois cri: 
 f: a r. dab us vices ; i 
 
 : you to I 
 men. in ti 
 intage of J. 
 
 eafi 
 
 if temporal 
 licit 
 
 ;;ru ; ind yet you 
 
of the Mi mflerialfun El ion, 273 
 performed, but to raife men unto the 
 greateft heights of mortification and 
 felf-denial ; to make them truly hum- 
 ble, meek, and refigned to the will of 
 God ; to overpower that felfifh princi- 
 ple which is fo deeply rooted in the 
 conftitution of our fouls, and doth fo 
 readily infinuate itfelf into all our af- 
 fections and defigns ; to fet Divine love 
 and univerfal charity upon the throne, 
 that the honour of God, and the wel- 
 fare of others, may be as dear unto 
 men, as their own concerns ; to have 
 religion become another nature unto 
 them, and they, as it were, a living lav/ 
 unto themfelves : this, this is fo great 
 and wonderful a change, that, as only 
 Omnipotence is able to produce it, fo 
 certainly they have a mighty task 
 who are employed as inftruments in 
 it. 
 
 Again, let me appeal to theconfcience 
 and experience of every one, what dif- 
 ficulty they find in dealing with their 
 own fouls, in regulating their own paf- 
 fions, and in mortifying their own cor- 
 rupt affections, yet here we have the 
 
274 Of tke importance and difficulty 
 advantage of a nearer application : we 
 can carry home our reafons with more 
 force upon ourfelves than others ; our 
 thoughts and meditations muft be 
 more clear and lively than our words 
 andexpreflions are. if it be hard then 
 to perfuade ourfelves to be good, it is 
 fure much harder to perfuade others to 
 befo. 
 
 Confider, in the next place, the e- 
 nemies we have to encounter with, 
 which oppofe the defign of our employ- 
 ments. ? we wreftle not againft flefhand 
 1 blood, but againft principalities and 
 < powers.' all the forces of hell are up in 
 arms againft us, all the powers of dark- 
 nefs do continually oppofe us; and 
 little do we know thofe hidden arts 
 whereby thefe accurfed fpirits do apply 
 themfelves to the fouls of men, to fug- 
 ged and infinuate their temptations, the 
 world alfo, with all its cares and plea- 
 fures, is daily fighting againft us ; and 
 there is no eftate or condition in it, but 
 what is furrounded with a thoufand 
 temptations, the poor are fo much ta- 
 ken up in providing for the neceflities 
 
of the Miniflerial ' f until on. 275- 
 of this life, that they can hardly be per- 
 fuaded to thinknpon another, the rich 
 are commonly drowned in fenfual plea- 
 fures ; and our Saviour tells us, i it is 
 1 eafier for a camel to go through the eye 
 1 ofa needle, than for a rich man to en- 
 ' ter into the kingdom of heaven.' the 
 influence of fenfual objects is very ftrong. 
 and though the poffeflions of the other 
 world be as far beyond our enjoyments 
 here, as this world is above nothing ; 
 yet, becaufe the things of this world 
 areprefent, and are ever and anon of- 
 fering themfelves unto us, and beating 
 upon our fenfes, therefore they do too 
 frequently prevail againft all the perfua- 
 fions of reafon and religion too. and 
 what (hall we fay of the evil company 
 and bad example that inveigles the fouls 
 of men ? we perhaps fee them once a 
 week, and bring them to fome degree 
 of fobriety, and a found mind; but then 
 their wicked neighbours, and the com- 
 panions of their fin, do meet them every 
 day, and, by their counfel and example, 
 obliterate any good impreffion that has 
 been made upon them : and hereby we 
 
27 6 Of the importance and difficulty 
 lofe more in a week, than we are able 
 to recover in a whole year, but the 
 greatefl enemies we have, are thofe 
 within the fouls of men ; their depraved 
 affections, their lulh and corrupt in- 
 clinations, when phyficians undertake 
 the cure of bodily diflempers, they 
 have the confent of the party ; he is 
 ready to comply with their prefcripti- 
 ons. but our greatefl: difficulty is in 
 dealing with the wills of men, and 
 making them confent to be cured, they 
 hug the difeafe, and fhun the medicine 
 aspoifon, andhavenodefireto be well, 
 hence it is they do all they can to keep 
 us (hangers to their fouls, and take as 
 much pains to conceal their inward dif- 
 tempers, as they ought to do in reveal- 
 ing them, we have juflly fhaken off 
 the tyranny of the Romifh confeffion. 
 but, alas ! our people go too far in the 
 other extreme ; and, becaufe they are 
 not obliged to tell every thing to their 
 paftors, in effect they acquaint them 
 with nothing at all. perhaps fome per- 
 fons, lying under fome terrors and 
 trouble of mind, may apply themfelvcs 
 
of the Mirafteriai function. 277 
 unto us, to give vent to the fire that 
 burnetii within them ; but otherwife 
 they content themfelves to fee us in the 
 pulpit, and care not how little we be 
 acquainted with their temper and way. 
 it will be long ere any come to tell us, 
 that they find themfelves proud, or paf- 
 fionate, or revengeful, and inquire how 
 they fhall get thefe vices fubdued ; that 
 they are covetous and uncharitable, and 
 befeech us to tell them how they fhall 
 amend ; to acquaint us with their temp- 
 tations, and to learn the fitteft methods 
 to oppofe them, we are feldom troubled 
 with address of this nature ; and it is 
 hard to do any thing towards a cure, 
 when they will not let us know the 
 difeafe. 
 
 The difficulty of the Minifterial func- 
 tion will further appear, if we will con- 
 fider the feveral duties and exercifes of 
 it. we (hall but touch at fome of them 
 at prefent, and may perhaps have oc- 
 cafion to (peak more in the applicati- 
 on. 
 
 Catechijhig is a neceiTary, but painful 
 one. it is no fmaii toil, to tell the fame 
 Aa 
 
278 Of the importance and difficulty 
 things a thoufand times to fome dull 
 and ignorant people, who perhaps fhall 
 know but little when we have done, it 
 is this laborious exercife that does fome- 
 times tempt a Minifter to envy the con- 
 dition of thofe who gain their living by 
 the fweat of their brows, without the 
 toil and diffraction of their fpirits. 
 
 Preaching is an exercife that many 
 are ambitious of, and none more than 
 thofe that are leaft qualified for it; and, 
 it is probable, the defire of this liber- 
 ty is no fmall temptation to fome of 
 our giddy people to go over to that 
 feci and party, where all ranks, and both 
 fexes, are allowed the fatisfaclion to 
 hear themfelves talk in publick. but it 
 is not fo eafy a matter to perform this 
 task aright ; to (land in the prefence 
 of God, and to fpeak to his people in 
 his name, with that plainnefs and fim- 
 plicity, that ferioufnefs and gravity, 
 that zeal and concern, which the bufi- 
 nefs requires; to accommodate ourfelves 
 to the capacity of the common people, 
 without 4ifgu (ting our more knowing 
 hearers by the infipid flatnefs of our 
 
of the Mimjleriaffunfihi. 279 
 difcourfe; to excite and awaken drow- 
 fy fouls, without terrifying and dif- 
 turbing more tender confciences; to 
 bear home the convictions of fin, with- 
 out the appearance of fome perfonal re- 
 flexion ; in a word, to approve ourfelves 
 unto God ' as workmen that need not 
 1 be afhamed, rightly dividing the word 
 < of truth *.' 
 
 Dlfcipline is an edged tool ; and they 
 had need be no fools that meddle with 
 it: it is a hard thing, to manage the 
 procelTes of the cenfures of the church 
 with fuch care and prudence, that may 
 neither encourage flagitious perfons by 
 our remiiThefs, nor tempt to irritate 
 others by needlefs feverity, nor give 
 advantage to captious and troublefome 
 men for want of fome legal formali- 
 
 But certainly the greateft and mod 
 difficult work of a Minifter, is in apply- 
 ing himfeif particularly to the feveral 
 perfons under his charge ; to acquaint 
 himfeif with their behaviour, and the 
 temper of their fouls ; to redrefs what 
 
 * 2 Tim. ii. iy. 
 
 A a 2 
 
280 Of the importance and difficulty 
 is amifs, and prevent their future mif- 
 carriages. without this private work, 
 his other endeavours will dolittlegood. 
 and, confidering the great variety that 
 is among the humours and difpofitions 
 of men, (equal almofl to that of their 
 faces), this muft needs be an infinite la- 
 bour, 'tis the art of arts, ( faith Gregory 
 Nazianzen in his Apologetick Oration), 
 and the mod difficult of all feienccs, to 
 govern fuch a manifold and various 
 creature as man, and another Gregory 
 hath written a whole tractate i of the 
 ' diver fity there is amongfl mens tern - 
 'pers, and the feveral ways of dealing 
 i with them.' what a martyrdom is it 
 for fome modeft and bafhful tempers, 
 when they find themfelves obliged to 
 ufe freedom and feverity in reproving 
 the faults of thofe who/in quality or age, 
 are above themfelves ! and O what a 
 hard matter it is to deal with people 
 that are ready to leave the world, and 
 ftep in upon eternity ; when their 
 fouls do, as it were, hang on their lips, 
 and they have one foot (as we ufe to 
 fay) already in the grave ! the Minifter 
 
of the Mhriftcrial funttion. 2 8 £ 
 Is feldom fen t for till the phyfician has 
 given the patient over ; and then they 
 beg him to drefs their fouls for heaven, 
 when their winding-meet is preparing, 
 and their friends are almoft ready to 
 drefs the body for the funeral, now, 
 though fome of thefe have lived well, 
 and, like the wife virgins, have oil in 
 their lamps ; yet it is a great matter to 
 calm them, and to difpofe their fouls 
 for that great change they areprefently 
 to undergo, but, alas ! it fares other- 
 ways with the greateft part, they are 
 yet ftrangers to the ways of religion, 
 the work of their falvation is yet to be- 
 gin ; and their lulls to be mortified, 
 their corruptions fubdued, the whole 
 frame of their fouls to be changed : and 
 though they have fcarce fo much ftrength 
 as to turn them on their beds, yet their 
 warfare againft principalities, powers, 
 and fpiritual wickednefs is but newly 
 commenced ; their work is great , their 
 difadvantages many, and the time very 
 fliort that is before them, perhaps they 
 are dull and infenlible, and we fliall 
 hardly perfuade them of their danger, 
 A a 3 
 
282 Of the importance and difficulty 
 they will acknowledge they are finners, 
 and fo are all others as well as they : 
 they truft in the mercies of Chrift, and 
 have confidence enough of their falvati- 
 on; and cannot be pcrfuaded they want 
 any thing that is neceifary for the fame, 
 others of thefe, again, are fei zed with 
 fear, and call for the Minifter to com- 
 fort them, what mail he do ? fhall he 
 tell them that all their terrors arejuft, 
 and it is now too late to repent ? I know 
 ibme divines are peremptory in this 
 cafe, and think they mould be left in 
 defpair. but, fure, it were a fad employ- 
 ment for a Minifter, to go to vifit a dy- 
 ing man, only to tell him he is damned ; 
 and withal it is too great boldnefs in us, 
 to limit the grace and mercy of God. 
 true and fincere repentance will never 
 come too late ; but certainly a death- 
 bed-repentance is feJdom fincere : and 
 it is hard either for the Minifter, or 
 the roanhimfelf, to tell, whether it be 
 only the fear of hell, or a true and god- 
 ly forrow that he feeleth in his foul, 
 ail that a Minifter can do, is, to prefs 
 him to all poi&bie ferioufnefs ; and to re- 
 
of the Mini fieri al fun ft ion. 283 
 fign himfelf to God for the event ; or 
 to lay before him in general, the terms 
 and conditions of the gofpel-covenant : 
 the application will be hard and uncer- 
 tain. 
 
 Thefe, and many more, are the diffi- 
 culties of the Minifterial function, it 
 was not without a great deal of reafon 
 that one of the fathers did call it, 0- 
 nus angelicis humeris formidandum : u a 
 " weight under which angels moulders 
 u might {brink." hence it was that the 
 holy men of old have been fo mightily 
 afraid to undertake it. Jeremiah, who 
 was fanctified from the womb, and or- 
 dained a Prophet to the nations, when 
 he received his commiffion, he cried out, 
 1 Ah,Lord God, behold, I cannot fpeak, 
 ' for I am a child *. ' and Ezekiel, 
 though ftrengthened and confirmed by 
 God, yet v/ent unwillingly ; yea, ' in the 
 * bitternefs and indignation of his fpirit* 
 f. and, in the ancient church, the more 
 eminent and great perfons were in piety 
 and worth, the more fenfible they were 
 of the greatnefs of this charge, and the 
 more loth to engage in it. fome of them 
 
 * Jer. i. 6. f Ezek. iii. 14, 
 
2 8 4 Of the importance and difficulty 
 have fled into the mountains and de- 
 farts, or hid themfelves in the dens and 
 caverns of the earth ; and were more a- 
 fraid to be laid hands on by the Biihop, 
 than by the mod bloody perfecutors. 
 three times did Ambrofe flee from Mi- 
 lan ; and it is reported, that after he 
 had travelled hard all night, he found 
 himfelf next morning at the outer- gate 
 of that city he endeavoured to avoid. 
 Gregory Nazianzen, being taken in his 
 fiight, and ordained by force, did com- 
 pofe that excellent oration which is at 
 the beginning of his works ; wherein he 
 doth fo well exprefs the greatnefs and 
 the danger of the miniftry, that the 
 reading of it (and I wifh it were fre- 
 quently and attentively read) might, I 
 think, do much to quell the confidence 
 of the mofl: confident intruders. Au- 
 guftine entered by chance into the 
 church of Hippo, jufl: as the Bifhop Va- 
 lerius was fpeaking to the people con- 
 cerning the choice of a minifler, of 
 whom they flood in great need, he was 
 prefently pitched upon, and almofl: or- 
 dained by force, after he had, with 
 
of the Mini fie rial function. 285 
 tears, deprecated the charge; and, in 
 thefe (trange terms, §>uid! vultis nt pe- 
 ream? intimating the hazard he mould 
 thereby run. and Chryfoftom profefTeth 
 of himfelf, that, when he was cholen to 
 a bifhoprick, his foul and body were 
 almoft parted afunder, fo great was the 
 grief and fear that feized upon his fpi- 
 rits ; and that he did many times won- 
 der how it had ever entered into the 
 minds of thofe that chofe him, or what 
 great offence that church could have 
 been guilty of, which had provoked 
 God to fuffer it to be committed to 
 fuch an unworthy perfon. fo fenfible 
 were thefe excellent men ofthe difficul- 
 ties of this holy function, even in thofe 
 firft and golden ages of the church : and 
 certainly they are much augmented to 
 us, who live in thefe dregs of time, 
 wherein religion is almolt banifhed out 
 ofthe world, the principles of it called 
 in queftion by many pretenders to 
 judgment and wit, and the practice 
 not only neglected but derided ; info- 
 much that men are frighted from god- 
 linefsbythe contempt that lyeth upon 
 
286 Gfthe importance and difficulty 
 it : i Mali eife coguntur, ne ridiculi 
 1 fiant.' we have a world of wickednefs 
 to fight againft j and who isfufficlent for " 
 thefe things ? 
 
 Thus, having profecuted the impor- 
 tance of the text, it is time to make 
 fome application of it. and, firft, I 
 mall addrefs myfelf to thofe of the laity 
 who vouchfafe us their prefence, that 
 they may not think their time mif-fpent 
 in fome hours attendance. 
 
 You fee, dear people, what a weighty 
 and difficult charge they have to whom 
 your fouls are committed, whence is it 
 then that fome of you account the Mini- 
 fterial funclion the moft ufelefs employ- 
 ment in the commonwealth, and that 
 which might be moft eafily fpared ? and 
 that Minifters have eafy lives, gaining 
 their living by the breath of their mouths, 
 as fome of you are pleafed to word it ? 
 whence is it that this holy calling comes 
 to be fo much defpifed, and that the 
 names of Minifter, Parfon, or Prieft, 
 are become words of ignominy and 
 contempt ? and whatever advantages 
 of birth and education a Minifter may 
 
of the Minijlerial funfiion. 287 
 have, yet his employment is thought 
 enough to degrade him, and put him 
 below every one that can pretend to the 
 name of a Gentleman ? 
 
 Again, how comes it that thofe 
 fmall gleanings of the church's patri- 
 mony which facrilege and oppreffion 
 have left us, mould yet be envied, and 
 looked upon with an evil eye? and 
 that a clergy- man, who has fpent his 
 time and much of his fortune in the 
 fchools of the Prophets, to fit himfelf for 
 that employment wherein he may be 
 mod beneficial to mankind, mould yet 
 be maligned for a fmall annuity during 
 his life, which perhaps amounts not to 
 the gains of the meanefl: tradefman ? 
 and yet, if thofe perfons had chofen a- 
 nother employment, had taken Galen 
 or Juftinian for their matters, perhaps 
 they would have had parts and abilities 
 fufficient to have advanced themfelves 
 to wealth and honours, as well as others, 
 and would not have been envied for it. 
 my beloved, I account him not worthy 
 of the name of a Minifter of Chrift who 
 cannot patiently fuffer injury, contempt, 
 
2 8 S Of the importance and difficulty 
 and envy, but certainly it is no good 
 part in the people, to put thefe upon 
 them : it is a fhrewd token that they 
 have a fmall regard to piety and religion , 
 and that their own fouls are the things 
 about them for which they have the 
 lead concern . learn, I befeech you, dear 
 Chriftians, learn to take more rational 
 meafures of things, think how much 
 you are indebted to the Divine good- 
 nefs, which hath taken fo great care of 
 your everlafting happinefs, as to fet 
 apart an order of men, whofe bufinefs 
 it mall be to promote and advance it. 
 do all that ye can to encourage and afTifl 
 them in their work; give them the en- 
 couragement of your confiant atten- 
 dance, and aiTift them; by helping to in- 
 ftrucl thofe children and fervants who 
 are under your feveral charges, apply 
 yourfelves frequently to them for advice 
 and direction, and be often putting 
 up that important queftion, c what 
 ' mall we do to be faved V yield them 
 that fnbmilTion and obedience which is 
 due unto them in the Lord, go not to 
 church to fit as judges, and cenfure the 
 
of the M'mtflertal funttkn. 289 
 lermon when you return, if you be not 
 pleafed with it, your ignorance or in- 
 difpofition may be the caufe, and mo- 
 defty mould oblige you to filence. if 
 you be taken with what you have heard, 
 fpend not your time in talk about it ; 
 practice is the beft way to commend it. 
 beware of that fpirifual pride and con- 
 ceitednefs, which makes ' the people 
 i to ftrive with their priefts * ;' which 
 the Prophet Hofea notes as an heinous 
 fin. finally, to fum up your duty in the 
 Apoftle's words, * obey them that have 
 ' the rule over you, and fubmit your* 
 1 felves : for they watch for your fouls, 
 c as they that muft give account : that 
 1 they may do it with joy, and not with 
 ' grief: for that is unprofitable for you f.' 
 
 I might, in the next place, take an 
 occafion from what hath been faid, 
 to prefs the great obligation that lieth 
 on patrons of churches, to feek out, 
 and to make choice of thofe whom they 
 judge to be beft qualified for fo high 
 and weighty a charge ; and might fhew, 
 that it is no fmall guilt that he draws 
 
 * Hof. iv. 4. f Heb. xiii. 17. 
 
 Bb 
 
290 Of the importance and difficulty 
 upon himfelf, who prefents a prrfon 
 to the care of fouls, of whofe prudence 
 and fidelity it may be he hath fo little 
 confidence, that he durft not intruft 
 him with the management of his for- 
 tune, or thetutory of his child ; while 
 perhaps others are overlooked, that 
 might be capable to do much more fer- 
 vice in the church, merely becaufe they 
 have not the good luck to be related 
 or recommended to the patron, or be- 
 caufe they have lefs money,or more con- 
 fcience than to bargain for the living, 
 but I forbear this ; and fhall crave li- 
 berty of this venerable auditory, to take 
 this occafion of doing fomething that re- 
 lates to my peculiar function % y in fpeak- 
 ing a little to thofe fins of the Prophets, 
 thofe candidates of holy orders, whofe 
 diligence and ftudy aim at the m'miftry, 
 and who are to be employed in the vine- 
 yard of God, when the prefent labou- 
 rers fhall be called off to receive their 
 reward, you fee, Sirs, what a dreadful 
 and important charge it is to which 
 . \ Divmity-ProfcfTor in King's college in 
 Aberdeen. 
 
cf the Mimfterial funflhn. 291 
 you afpire. confider, I hefeech you, 
 what great pains are neceffary to fit and 
 qualify you for it. ordinary callings 
 are not learned without a long appren- 
 ticefhip, and will the art of governing 
 fouls be learned on a fudden? it is not the 
 knowledge of con trover fy, or the gift 
 of eloquence, much lefs a ftrong voice 
 and bold confidence, that will qualify 
 you for it. the errors that abound among 
 us, make it neceffary indeed that you 
 mould know how to deal with the ad- 
 verfaries ; for the Clergy are many 
 times put to the pafs the Jews were at 
 the building the fecond temple ; ' with 
 i one hand they muft build the houfe of 
 i God, and with the other they mufl 
 * hold a weapon * :' yet certainly your 
 greateft work lies within, in purifying 
 your minds, and learning 'that wifdom 
 which is neceifary for fouls, begin then, 
 I pray you, and preach to your paflions, 
 and try what good you can do to your 
 friends and neighbours, ftudy that 
 gravity and ferioufnefs, that humility 
 and felf- denial, that purity and mor- 
 * Nch. iv. 1 7. 
 
 B.b * 
 
2p 2 Of the importance and difficulty 
 tification,thatbecometh thofe who may 
 one day ftand in fo near a relation to 
 God, and bear fo eminent a charge 
 in his church, be not too hafiy and 
 forward in rufhing into publick; it is 
 better you be drawn than run. Nazi- 
 anzen complains of fome in his time, 
 who with profane hearts and unwa/hed 
 hands did rum. into the holy function, 
 and, before they were fit to receive the 
 facrament, would take upon them to 
 celebrate it ; and though they be not 
 come unto the age of men, if they have 
 learned fome pious words, think them- 
 felves fit to be overfeers of others: * O 
 
 * pracfe&uram ! O datum animum! fa- 
 - ceretiam a cunabulis Samuel ! fapien* 
 
 * tes et magiitri fumus V this, I fay, was 
 the humour of fame in his days; and 
 lam afraid the cafe is not much better 
 in ours, but if you be truly fenfibleof 
 what you are to undertake, you would 
 think no time too much to be fpent in 
 preparation for it. 
 
 It remains yet that I addrefs myfelf 
 briefly to you, my Reverend brethren, 
 and Right Reverend fathers* We have 
 
of the Mimfterialfuntthn. 293 
 been endeavouring to lay before you 
 the importance and difficulty of your 
 employment ; and ye know them much 
 better than we can tell you. but thefe 
 tilings ought not to difcourage you, or 
 make you faint under the weight, but 
 rather to animate and excite your 
 care, as Alexander laid once of an e- 
 minent hazard he had encountered, 
 i that now he had met with a danger 
 c worthy his courage ;' fo may I fay of 
 your work, that it is a bnfinefs worthy 
 your zeal, and the love and affection 
 which you owe unto your blefled Maf- 
 ter. and indeed ye can give no greater 
 teftimony of it, than by a faithful and 
 confeientiousdifcharge of the duties of 
 your calling, if your work is great, 
 your reward is infinitely greater ; and 
 you have Omnipotence engaged in your 
 mTiitance. up and be doing, and the 
 Lord (hall be with you. only, let us be 
 careful to maintain fuch a deep and 
 conflant fenfe of the engagements we 
 lie under, as may awaken us unto the 
 greateit diligence and watch fulnefs both 
 over ourfelves and others. 
 Bb3 
 
294 Of the importance and difficulty 
 
 As for the particulars of your duty, 
 I dare not take upon me to be an in- 
 ftruclor, who have much more need to 
 learn my own ; yet, fince I am not 
 placed here to be altogether lilent, I mall 
 offer to you the Apofrle's exhortation 
 toTitus, chap, ii. 15. and take liber- 
 ty to infill a little upon the particulars 
 of it : i thefe things fpeak and exhort, 
 'and rebuke with all authority, let no 
 < man defpife thee, thefe things fpeak :' 
 here he pointeth at that which ought to 
 be the matter of our doctrine and in- 
 flruclion. we are not to entertain our 
 people with fubtile {peculations, me- 
 taphyfical niceties, perplexed notions, 
 € and foolifh queftions, which ingender 
 1 ftrife *; but let us fpeak the things 
 4 which become found doctrine.* let us 
 frequently inculcate the great and un- 
 controverted truths of our religion, and 
 trouble our people no further with con- 
 troverfy than neceflity doth require, 
 let us lludy to acquaint them with the 
 tenor of the gofpel-covenant, and what 
 they mud do to be faved ; to inform 
 
 ■ 2 Tim, ii. 23 . 
 
oft he Mi ni ft en a! fun iuo n. 29$ 
 them of the particular duties they owe 
 both to Cod and man : for the Apcftle 
 had before been fpeaking of the duties 
 to be recommended to every one ac- 
 cording to their feveral capacities and 
 lelations. and indeed it were not amifs, 
 that, in catechizing, Minilters would 
 bring home the articles of faith by prac- 
 tical improvements, both teaching men 
 their particular duties, and prefEng 
 them to the performance, but it is not 
 enough to fpeak thefe things, to tell 
 men what is incumbent upon them ; we 
 muft befides endeavour to excite and 
 flir them up by the molt powerful and 
 effectual pcrfuaftons : the judgment be- 
 ing informed, we muft do all to influ- 
 ence the affections, and this is the pro- 
 per ufc of our preaching : which, 
 though it be overvalued by thofe who 
 place all religion in hearing, yet cer- 
 tainly it is of excellent ufe, and ought 
 to be managed with a great deal of care, 
 let the matter be weighty and grave, the 
 method plain and clear, the expreffi on 
 neither foaring on the one hand, nor 
 too familiar on the other, fome good 
 
196 Of the imp ortance and difficulty 
 men are not aware what contempt they 
 draw on religion by their coarfe and 
 homely allufions, and the filly and tri- 
 vial proverbs they make ufe of. nor 
 fhonld our expreflions be too foft and 
 effeminate, nor our pronunciation af- 
 fected or childilh. religion is a rational 
 and manly thing, and we mould drive 
 to recommend it with the greateft: ad- 
 vantage, but, above all, let us ftudy 
 fuch a zeal and fervour, as, flowing 
 from the deep fenfe of the thing we 
 fpeak, and being regulated with pru- 
 dence and decency, may be fitteft to 
 reach the hearts of the hearers, the 
 vuigar that fit under the pulpit, ( as the 
 excellent Herbert fpeaks), are com- 
 monly as hard and dead as the feats 
 they fit on, and need a mountain of fire 
 to kin die them . the bed way is, to preach 
 the things firft to ourfelves,and then fre- 
 quently to recollecl in whole prefence 
 we are, and whofe bufinels we are do- 
 ing, and I think it is no fmall advan- 
 tage to this purpofe, that fome ofa neigh - 
 bouring nation have, who make force 
 considerable paufe when they have done 
 
cftbe Mimjlerialfun&hn* 207 
 with a point, that they may raife their 
 fouls towards God, and that the people 
 may renew their attention. 
 
 But, when we have done all that wc 
 can by publick and general exhortation, 
 we fhall effectuate very little without a 
 more particular application to the per- 
 sons under our charge, interefl: and 
 felf-love will blind the eyes, and flop 
 the ears of men, and make them fhift 
 off from themfelves thofe admonitions 
 from thepulpit that are difpleafing : and 
 therefore we are commanded not only 
 to teach a?id exhort, but alfo to rebuke 
 with all authority, now, thofe whom 
 we are to rebuke, are either perfons of 
 a different perfuafion, who diflent from 
 our religion, or withdraw from our or- 
 dinances ; and thefc mufl be dealt with 
 very patiently, and with much long- 
 fuffering. 'tis not to be expected, that 
 an hafty conference, or an abrupt dif- 
 putation, mould prevail with thofe who 
 have been long habituated to falfe per- 
 fua(ions,and perhaps have drunk them in 
 with the firll: of their ferious thoughts 
 and rcl-igious inclinations, we mult firft 
 
29 8 Of the importance an J dijftcu Ity 
 fbdy to combat the perverfenefs of their 
 will, the prejudices of the world, the 
 defire of vidory and applaufe, their 
 pre-engagemcnt in a party, and their 
 fhame and unwiliingnefs to yield; and 
 itxive to render them meek and pliable, 
 andfincerely defirous to know the truth, 
 when we have obtained this, they will 
 be both more eafily convinced, and 
 more inexcufable, if through weaknefs 
 they ftill continue in- their errors, but 
 let us never reft in having drawn over a 
 perfon to our party, till we have en- 
 gaged him to ferioufnefs in the practice 
 of religion : for, if he continue a Gran- 
 ger to that, it is little matter whether 
 he be P rot eft ant or Papift y Pagan or 
 Mako?netan y or any thing elfe in the 
 world; nay, the better his religion is, 
 the more dreadful will his condemnati- 
 on be. it was an excellent faying of an 
 eminent and holy perfon yet alive in 
 our church, That he would rather be 
 inftrumental in perfuading one man to 
 be ferious in religion, than the whole na- 
 tion to be Conformifts. the other fort 
 of perfons we have to rebuke, are thofe 
 
of the Mimjkrial furxvloiu 299 
 of our own religion, for the vices and 
 failings of their lives, and this mud be 
 done with a great deal of courage and 
 zeal, of prudence and difcretion, of 
 meeknefs and love, more knowing and 
 ingenious perfons may be dealt with 
 fometimes fey fecret infinnations, and 
 oblique reflexions on the vices they are 
 guilty of; and we may fometimes feek 
 a way to reprove their failings, by re- 
 gretting and condemning our own. but 
 that artifice is not neceffary for the 
 vulgar : having protefted our love and 
 good intentions, it will be beft to fall 
 roundly to the matter, now, this does 
 fuppofe a great deal of care, to ac- 
 quaint ourfelves with the humours and 
 converfation of our people; and the 
 name of watchmen that is given us, im- 
 plieth no lefs. and though the lament- 
 able vaftnefs of feme of our charges 
 make it impoflible to do all we could 
 wifh, yet muft we not fail to do what we 
 can. it is an excellent practice of fome 
 I have the happinefs to be acquainted 
 with, who feldom mifsany day wherein 
 they do not apply themfelves to fome 
 
300 Of the Importance and difficulty 
 cr other of their people, and treat a- 
 bout the affairs of their fouls. 
 
 Another thing which may be implied 
 in i rebuking with all authority,' is, the 
 confeientious exercife of that authority 
 which Chriit hath given us in the pub- 
 lick cenfu res and rebukes of the church, 
 but of this I fhall fay no more, fave 
 only that it were an intolerable pre- 
 emption, and horrid facrilege, to make 
 ufe of thefe to ferve the ends of our 
 paflions and private revenge. 
 
 The laft claufeof the paiTage we cited 
 founds fomewhat flrange, ' let no man 
 ' defpife thee.' fureno body defires to 
 be defpifed ; and it is not always in 
 the power of man to hinder it. but the 
 •meaning of the words is, that there 
 Ihould be nothing in our carnage and 
 deportment which may deferve con- 
 tempt, we ought frill to have that apo- 
 logy of the orator in readinefs, ' quid 
 c putem ? contemptumne me ? equidem 
 ' non video quid fit in vita moribufque 
 ' noflris quod defpicere poflit.' there is 
 nothing that doth expofe a Minifter to 
 tfo much contempt, as a vitious and 
 
of the Minifterial funftioii. 301 
 irreligious deportment, even thofewho 
 are profane themfelves, and love vice in 
 their other companions, do yet abhor it 
 in a clergyman, as thinking it too grofs 
 and difingenuous, to praclife all the 
 week what he hath been condemning 
 on Sunday. I fhall not infill: upon the 
 grofTer fort of vices. ' nolo tarn male 
 ' ominari de ecclefia :' I would not bode 
 fo much evil to the church, as to imagine 
 the clergy capable of them. I fhall point 
 but to a few things, which, though lefs 
 heinous in their nature, tend much to 
 the contempt and difrefpecl of the 
 clergy. 
 
 And, firft, the leaft imputation of 
 covetoufnefs doth a great deal of mif- 
 chief this way. and ye know it will be 
 reckoned covetoufnefs in you, which 
 is not fo in others, you will be more 
 blamed for taking your own, than 
 they for incroaching on their neigh- 
 bours, and therefore, to prevent this 
 imputation, fo far as the meannefs of a 
 Minifter'sproviuon, andneceffity of his 
 family, will permit, he mould (hew him- 
 Gc 
 
302 Of the importance and difficulty 
 felf frank and liberal in his dealings, 
 efpecially with the poorer fort. 
 
 Another occafion of contempt is, 
 the too much frequenting the company 
 of the kicks, and a vain and trifling 
 converfation among them, it was a 
 wife faying, whoever he was that fpoke 
 it, * Quotidiana clericorum cum laicis 
 i converfatio contemptibiles ipfos red- 
 4 dit,' and that of Hierom to Nepotian 
 is very obfervable, ' facile contemnitur 
 € clericus fi ad prandium invitatus faepi- 
 € us veniat.' a Minifler in his converfa- 
 tion ought carefully to avoid all foolifh 
 and exceflive jefting, and immoderate 
 mirth. I could never think it a good cha- 
 racter of a clergyman, to call him a mer- 
 ry fellow, or a notable droll; and yet I do 
 not condemn all chearfulnefs and free- 
 dom, nor the innocent exercifes of wit. 
 but it is one thing, to make ufe of thefe 
 now and then when they come in our 
 way, and another, to fearch and hunt 
 after them ; and thofe who have the 
 knack of it, are ready enough to fall 
 into excefs. 
 
 A third thing which will bring a 
 
of the Mlnifterial 'funtticn. 303 
 clergyman into contempt, is, an unal- 
 lowable patience in hearing his mafter 
 difhonoured by the oaths and profane 
 talk of thofe of whom he ftandeth in 
 awe. my brethren, if we had no more 
 but the common principles of ingenuity 
 and honour, they might make us re- 
 fen tthefe as greater affronts than if men 
 mould fpit in our faces ; and yet this 
 is but one of the meaneft engagements 
 that lie upon us, to check thefe exor- 
 bitances with the greateft feverity. 
 
 I fhall name but another; and it is this; 
 when men, ondefign to avoid this con- 
 tempt, would feem to difclaim their em- 
 ployment, by imitating the habit and 
 deportment of fecular perfons ; when 
 they ftudy the Gentleman fo much, that 
 they forget the clergyman, if we be a- 
 fhamed of our own employment, no 
 wonder if others defpife it. far diffe- 
 rent were the thoughts of that worthy 
 gentleman, and excellent minifter,whom 
 I named before, that fweet finger of 
 Ifrael, Mr. Herbert, who, the fame night 
 that he was admitted into the office of 
 the Miniftry, faid to his friend, " I now 
 
 CC2 
 
3 04 Of t he importance and difficulty 
 " look back on my afpiring thoughts, 
 " and I think myfelf more happy, than 
 "if I had attained what I foambitioufly 
 " thirfted for. and I can now behold 
 " the court with an impartial eye, and 
 u fee plainly, that it is made up of fraud, 
 u and titles, and flattery, and many fuch 
 iC other imaginary painted pleafures. 
 " m y greateft ambition from henceforth 
 " fhall be, that I bring glory to my 
 4i Jefus, whom I have this day taken 
 "to be my mafter and governor; and 
 u am fo proud of his fervice, that I will 
 * < always obferve and obey, and dohis 
 "will, and always call him Jefus my 
 "mafter. I will always contemn my 
 u birth, and any title or dignity that 
 44 can be conferred upon me, when I 
 " fhall compare them with the title of 
 44 being a Pried, and ferving at the altar 
 " of Jefus my mafter." 
 
 I am afraid I have incroached too 
 far on your patience. I fhall clofe all 
 ■with the feriousobteftation of our great 
 A pottle to Timothy; which you may be- 
 lieve I durft not utter in my own name, 
 but in the name of the grest Mafter of 
 
cfthe Mint ft trial 'function. JOj? 
 us all : i I charge thee before God, and 
 1 the Lord Jefus Chrift, who (hall judge 
 c the quick and the dead at his appear- 
 1 ing, and his kingdom : preach the 
 1 word, be inftant in feafon, and out of 
 c feafon; reprove, rebuke, exhort with 
 4 all long-fufFering and doctrine # .' and 
 the Lord, of his mercy, fo affift and 
 profper us all in his own work, that we 
 may be the happy inftruments of advan- 
 cing his kingdom, and the welfare of 
 fouls, through Jefus Chrift our Lord, 
 to whom, &c. 
 * 2 Tim. iv. 1 . 2. 
 
 Cc 3 
 
A Sermon 7 preached at the 
 
 FUNERAL OF THE REVEREND 
 
 HENRY SCOUGJL, A.M. 
 
 By 
 
 GEORGE GA1RDEN, D. D. 
 
 Phil. i. 21. 
 
 For to me to live is Chrifl % and to die is 
 gain. 
 
 IT hath been the ufual practice of aH 
 nations in the world, of whatfo- 
 ever religion, feet, or perfuafion, to leave 
 upon record to after ages, the lives and 
 memoraUe actions of thofe who have 
 been eminent among them for great or 
 good things, and however this practice 
 may have been abufed, fometimes to 
 ferve the intereft of a feci or party, or 
 other undue ends ; yet that the memo- 
 ry of good men ought thus to be tranf- 
 mitted to pofterity, may be deduced 
 both from fcripture and common rea- 
 fon ; it being fit thus to manifeft the 
 grace and goodnefs of God in men, 
 
3 o 8 Afermon at the fu neral 
 and thereby to advance his glory and 
 kingdom ; and to make their light fo 
 fliine before others, that they may be 
 ufeful inftrucYions to the world, and in- 
 centives to follow their examples, to 
 this we owe the remembrance of all 
 thofe good and great men recorded in 
 the Old Teftament : nay, on this is 
 grounded the eftablifhment and parity 
 of our mod holy religion, we have left 
 us the memorials of the life and doclrine 
 of our blefTed Lord and mailer in the 
 holygofpels,andtheaclsofhis Apoftles, 
 whom he fcnt to convert the world, and 
 the pious Chriftians of fucceeding ages, 
 according to this pattern, were careful, 
 both by publick difcourfes and writings, 
 to awaken their own and after times, 
 with the remembrance of the zeal and 
 piety of holy and devout perfons. 
 
 And now, if, by the general practice 
 and confent of all men, records of ex- 
 emplary piety and goodnefs be thus ufe- 
 ful to pofterity, even though they be 
 Grangers to the perfons of thofe whofe 
 lives and aclions are tranfmitted to them; 
 I arnfure we have much more reafon to 
 
of Mr. HENRY SCOUGJL. 309 
 think, that fome feafonable and ufeful 
 meditations, atfncha time and in fuch 
 a place as this is, may have Tome influ- 
 ence on ourminds, when we have here 
 before us the remains of our departed 
 friend, who hath fo lately left this 
 world; whofe prefence and converfa- 
 tion was fo comfortable to us ; whofe 
 innocence andgoodnefs were fo exem- 
 plary ; whofe good- will, affection, and 
 beneficence were fo fincere and uni- 
 verfal ; whofe remembrance is fo dear 
 to us ; who was fo much the flay and 
 honour of our church, and fo univerfally 
 beloved and efleemed by all. fure the 
 fenfe of all thefe, and the fight of all 
 this funeral-attendance, cannot but ca(t 
 our fouls into fome deep thoughts, and 
 to this I doubt not but your hearts bear 
 witnefs. would I could fay fomething 
 ufeful for your meditations, and fuitable 
 to your prefent temper and this fubject 1 
 God afTift and direct our thoughts. 
 
 When I reflect upon the life and fpirit 
 of our friend, ( of the which I have had 
 the honour and happinefs to have been- 
 fo frequent an obferver), and when I 
 
3 1 A fermon at the funeral 
 ccnfider the conftant temper and difpo- 
 fition of his foul, as to this and theo- 
 ther world, the great refignation of his 
 mind, his willingnefs to flay here, that 
 he might do iome fervice to his ever 
 blefled Maker and Redeemer ; and yet 
 his chearful thoughts and apprehend- 
 ons of that happinefs that is above, 
 and his ardent breathings after it; me- 
 thinks I hear always from him the 
 words of St. Paul, ' to me to live is 
 4 Chrift, and to die is gain/ 
 
 I fhall not trouble you with any 
 large explanation, nor with the various 
 readings of thefe words ; we fhall only 
 confider them in their mod obvious 
 fenfeand meaning, the blefTed Apoftle, 
 being in bonds at Rome, writes this let- 
 ter to thePhilippians, to exhort them to 
 a perfeverancein the faith of Chrift, and 
 to have their converfation fuitable to it. 
 and, that they might not be difcouraged 
 by his bonds, he tells them the happy 
 fruits of them, how much they had con- 
 duced for the furtherance of the gofpel ; 
 that the knowledge of his fufFering with 
 fuch conftancy for that religion which 
 
of Mr. HENRY SCOUGAL. 3 u 
 he had formerly fo zealoufly oppofed, 
 was fpread throughout that city, and 
 manifeft in the Palace itfelf : fo that 
 thereby many were converted to the 
 faith of Ch rift, and others ftrengthened 
 in it, and made more bold to preach the 
 gofpel ; fo that Chrift was preached 
 every where, by fome out of envy at the 
 glory and fame he acquired in planting 
 the gofpel there, and by others in fince- 
 rity, and out of love and good- will. fo 
 that he hoped, whether by life or death, 
 Chrift mould be magnified in him ; if he 
 lived, by his conftant preaching his 
 gofpel, and living his life ; if he died, 
 by figning the truth of it with his blood : 
 For to me to live is Chrifl. u the whole 
 " of my life in this world, theendofmy 
 u living here, the great aim of all my 
 <e thoughts, and defigns, and actions, is 
 " Chrift ; to he endued with his Spirit, 
 u and lead his life; to fpread his gofpel, 
 u and enlarge his kingdom, lhave no 
 " other defign than this. God knows, 
 " and the world fees, whether I mind 
 " riches, or pleafures, or glory among 
 u men. nor I have confecrated my 
 
3 1 2 A fermon at the funeral 
 
 " life and fpirit to my blefled Lord and 
 " Mailer ; and they (hall be employed 
 " in his fervice. Chriit is my life: fo 
 H that I live ; yet not fo much I, as 
 "Chrift thatlivethinme." 
 
 Few words, but full of fenfe and 
 truth, they are not like thofe airy ex- 
 prefTions, which, when feaiched into, 
 have nothing but fancy and imagination 
 at the bottom of them ; but they con- 
 tain the very marrow of Chriftianity, 
 and the whole of a Chriftian fpirit, the 
 compleat character of his life, and a 
 perfect inftruction for ours, and this 
 will appear if we confidera little more 
 diftinclly their importance for one 
 to live to another may be faid in two 
 refpecls, i . when he is endued with the 
 fame fpirit, and has the fame temper of 
 mind, and leads the fame kind of life ; 
 and, 2. when his heart and lift is whol- 
 ly devoted to his love and fervice ; 
 when he loves him above all, and 
 minds nothing more than his intereft, 
 and employs his life in ferving hisde- 
 figns, and doing his will, and, in both 
 thefe refpecls, (which indeed cannot be 
 
of Mr. HENRY SCOUGAL. 315 
 feparated), we may confider the A- 
 poftle's words, 71? me to Ike is Chrijt, 
 or, Chriftis my life. 
 
 I. Firftj As he was endued with the 
 Spirit, and led the life of his bleffed 
 mafter : ' be ye followers of me/ faith 
 he, ( even as I alfo am of Chrift.' and 
 indeed this is the great deflgn ofChrifti- 
 anity, and the trueft character of a Chri- 
 ftian. all our duty and all our happinefs 
 confifts in the being like unto God, and 
 the living in that dependence upon, and 
 fubjeclion to him, that reafonable crea- 
 tures owe their Almighty Creator, now, 
 feeing i God dweileth in that light which 
 f no man can approach unto, whom no 
 1 man hath feen nor can fee j' therefore 
 the only begotten Son, which is in the 
 bofom of the Father, he hath declared 
 him. he hath clothed himfelf with our 
 flem,and become man, and converfeda- 
 mongft us like one of ourfelves, and 
 (hewn what the Father is, and how we 
 muftbelike him. would we know how 
 God would live amongft us, were he 
 clothed with our nature and infirmities, 
 if he dwelt in our flefh, and were vifible 
 Dd 
 
g 14 A fermon at the funeral 
 to our eyes ? behold the Son of God, 
 confider his life and Spirit, and this is 
 the life of God ; for ' he is the bright- 
 ' nefs of his Father's glory, and the ex- 
 c prefs image of his perfon.' would we 
 learn how far our nature is capable of 
 being like unto God, how we muft be 
 partakers of the Divine nature, and be 
 renewed in the fpitit of our minds, put- 
 ting on the new man, which ' after God 
 i is created in righteoufnefs and true 
 c holinefs V confider Jefus Chrift, fub- 
 jecl: to the infirmities of our nature, 
 and living the life of God. behold, he 
 hath given us an example, that we 
 fhould follow his fteps. he is the light 
 of the world ; ' and they that follow 
 i him, (hall not walk in darknefs, in him 
 6 was life, and his life was the light of 
 f men, though darknefs comprehended 
 6 it not.' confider the profound humility 
 of his foul ; the great meeknefs of his 
 fpirit ; the entire refignation of his will 
 to his heavenly Father; the unfpotted 
 purity ofhisdefires and affections, whol- 
 ly mortified as to this lower world ; the 
 ardency of his love to God, and his 
 
ofMr.HENRYSCOUGJL. 315 
 zeal and delight to do his will ; his 
 wonderful patience under the greateft 
 fufferings; his uninterefled, fincere,and 
 boundlefs charity towards men, doing 
 good even to thofe who hated and per- 
 fected him, and dying for thofe who 
 crucified him. in thefe, and in all other 
 graces, he hath gone before us, and 
 called upon us to learn of him, and 
 follow him. for this end did he live 
 and die, to endue us with his Spirit, 
 and change our nature into his. he 
 humbled himfelf to our nature, that he 
 might make us partakers of his: he 
 hath revealed unto us the nature of God, 
 and his undeferved grace and goodnefs 
 to us, and our unfpeakable mifery, and 
 corruption, and eftrangement from our 
 heavenly Father ; and hath put us again 
 into a capacity of being his children, 
 he himfelf becoming our elder brother, 
 he hath raifed us unto the hopes of the 
 enjoyment of God for evermore in 
 boundlefs felicity, that we might thus 
 purify ourfelves as God is pure, he 
 hath breathed his Holy Spirit into the 
 world, to infpire us with his life, and 
 Dd2 
 
3 1 6 A fermon at the funeral 
 change us into his image; and he hath 
 told us, that without this we fhall ne- 
 ver fee the face of God. we have there- 
 fore all the obligations in the world 
 to make Chrifl our life, and to fol- 
 low Jefus. this is the only mark and 
 character whereby God will own and 
 acknowledge us for his. it is, befides, 
 ourgreateft glory and honour, to imitate 
 fo bleffed an example, and a wonderful 
 expreffion of goodnefs and condefcen- 
 fion, for the Son of God to come down 
 from heaven to give us this pattern, he 
 is the moil perfect example of purity 
 and holinefs, in whom there was no fpot 
 nor blemifh, who had no fin, neither was 
 guile found in his mouth ; but his life 
 was uniform, and always pure, and con- 
 ftant to himfelf. and yet he hath given 
 us the mofl plain and familiar copy, and 
 the mod exactly fitted to the date and 
 condition of men in this world, he did 
 not retire into cells and cloifters, as if 
 none could walk as he walked but 
 monks and reclufes ; but he converfed 
 freely in the world, and lived in cities 
 and villages, in company and converfe 
 
of Mr. HENRY SCOUGAL. 3 1 7 
 with others, his piety did not break 
 forth into fevere falling, and an excefs 
 of other bodily aufterities, in ecflatick 
 raptures, and enthufiaftick fits, fuch as 
 the lives of the famed faints of the 
 Romifh church are fluffed with ; but 
 it was a plain life, ofjuftice and charity, 
 meeknefs and humility, patience and 
 contentednefs, and a readinefs to do 
 good to all men ; a life that is imitable 
 by all, from the greateft prince to the 
 pooreft peafant. the very importance 
 of our name and profeflion, the calling 
 ourfelves Chriitians, obliges us to fol- 
 low the example, and lead the life of 
 Chrift. and, if we mean not this by it, 
 we mean nothing to the purpofe : ' for 
 i he that faith he abideth in him, ought 
 1 himfelf alfo fo to walk, even as he 
 1 walked.' nay, it is this only, the being 
 endued with his Spirit, that can intitle 
 us to an intereft in him, and that hap- 
 pineis he hath purchafed for us : ' for 
 i if any man hath not the Spirit of 
 6 Chrift, he is none of his ;' (o great and 
 many are the obligations that we have 
 to follow Jefus. his commands arc 
 Dd3 
 
3 1 3 A fernim at the funeral 
 
 nothing but the tranfcript of his own 
 life and fpirit : we ought always to 
 have him in our eye, and in every dif- 
 pofition of our foul, in every under- 
 taking and defign ; to confider how 
 our bleffed mafter would have done in 
 thefe circumftances, and afpire always 
 to have the fame mind that was in him ; 
 and never reil till Chrift be formed in 
 us. 
 
 But, alas ! how unlike are we to the 
 holy Jefus ! Chriftians in name and 
 profeflion, but not in deed and in truth, 
 how unworthy a character would it make 
 of him, to meafure him by the lives 
 and fpirits of thofe who call themfelves- 
 his followers ! alas ! in what palfage 
 or period of our life can we fay fincere- 
 ly, To me to live is Ckrijl ? do we pro- 
 pofe toourfelves the fame defigns ? are 
 we endued with any fpark of his bound- 
 lefs charity ? do our fouls burn with 
 love to God, or have we fuch a fincere 
 good-will to our neighbours ? are our 
 deiires and affections crucified to this 
 world, and enlivened towards heaven ? 
 yea ; what conformity is there in our 
 
ofMr.HENRYSCOUGAL. 319 
 outward lives unto his mod holy life ? 
 where is that forwardnefs to do good 
 to all men, that meek differing of in- 
 juries, and ready forgiving of enemies, 
 and doing them good ? is fcraping and 
 fcrambling after wealth, and this world's 
 trifles; is noting, and wallowing in 
 fenfual pleafures, andliving like brutes ; 
 is contending for places and glory a- 
 mong men ; is llrife and envy, conten- 
 tion and evil-fpeaking, and other fuch 
 like works of the flefh; are thefe, I fay, 
 becoming the followers of Jefus Chrilt ? 
 is this to live like him, or are they the 
 fruits of his fpirit ? nay, fure, in this 
 our hearts cannot but condemn us; 
 and, alas ! our lives do tedify againd us. 
 
 But indeed well might the Apoftle 
 fay fo, To me to live is Chrijl, who was 
 fo much endued with his Spirit, and 
 conformed to his life ; whom nothing 
 could feparate from the love of God ; 
 who rejoiced as much in differing his 
 will, as in doing it; who was fo often 
 in labour, anddripes, and prifons, in 
 perils of all forts, in watching, and hun- 
 ger and third, in fadings, and cold, and 
 
jZO Afennon at the funeral 
 nakednefs; fo far was he from enjoy- 
 ing the pleafures of the world : who 
 knew fo well both how to abound and 
 be in want, and in whatfoever ftate, 
 therewith to be content ; who was {o 
 much crucified to the world, and the 
 world unto him j whofe love and cha- 
 rity was fo exuberant and boundlefs 
 towards his brethren, being ready to 
 fpend and to be fpentfor them, though 
 the more he loved, the lefs he was lov- 
 ed again ; who travelled through the 
 world to make men better, and fpared 
 no pains or labour to make them happy, 
 fpending his life in this employment, 
 and enduring all kind of hardships init. 
 fo that, in a word, he lived ; yet not fo 
 much he, as Chrift that lived in him. 
 
 II. ButyfeconJty, thefe words do im- 
 port, that his heart and life were wholly 
 devoted to the fervice of Chrift; that 
 he loved him above all things, and mind- 
 ed nothing more than his interelt, and 
 employed his life in ferving his defigns, 
 and doing his will, and lived by his 
 faith, the life of man in this world, is to 
 be conlidered both as to the inward and 
 
of Mr. HENRY SCOUGAL. 3 2 1 
 outward man. the former, which is 
 that of the foul, confifts in the under- 
 ftanding, the will, and the affections ; 
 the other, being the outward life and 
 converfation, is regulated according to 
 the inward difpofitions of the foul, and 
 as a man's fcntiments and difpofitions 
 are,fuch is his life. now,as the life of the 
 body is ftrangely difordered, when the 
 blood and fpirits do not run in their 
 ordinary courfe, but make convulfive 
 and involuntary motions, which are 
 nothing ufeful to the body, nor guided 
 by the will ; fo the life of our fouls is 
 fo corrupted, as that we may be faid 
 to be dead while we live, when our 
 judgment is blind and falle, our will 
 perverfe and crooked, our affections 
 earthly and carnal, and we do not 
 follow the will of God. and this is 
 the Mate of our life by nature, what 
 a (trange blindnefs is there in the fpirit 
 of man ? we underftand aJmoft nothing 
 of the greateft things, and judge pcr- 
 verfely of other things, how little do 
 we know of God, of our fouls, of their 
 mifery, or wherein their true happinefs 
 
322 A fermon at the funeral 
 confifts, or of the ftate after this life ? 
 and how perverfely do we judge of the 
 trifles of this life, as if our happinefs 
 and our All were fummed up in them ! 
 corrupt are the affections and dif- 
 pofitions of our hearts ? we love what 
 we ought to hate ; we truft what will 
 certainly fail us, and diftruft that which 
 mould be our only confidence ; we fear 
 that which can do us no harm, and are 
 regardlefs of our greateft danger; we 
 bufy ourfelves about trifles, or things 
 that will certainly ruin us, and do not 
 mind our greateft interefts. now, Jefus 
 Chrift is come into the world full of 
 grace and truth, to renew the fpirit of 
 our minds, and to change the difpofition 
 of our hearts, and the courfe of our 
 lives ; and the life that we ought to lead, 
 is by the faith of the Son of God y who 
 loved us, and gave himfelf for us. we 
 muft not live by fenfe, and our own 
 foolifh pafTions, and fentiments of 
 things ; but according to thofe fenti- 
 ments and that faith that he by his 
 word and Spirit infpires us with, to ferve 
 Jefus Chrifl, is to live by his faith ; and 
 
of Mr. HENRY SCOUGAL. 3 2 3 
 < to live by the faith oftheSon of God/ 
 is to judge and efteem of things as he 
 has revealed them, and as he would have 
 us, and accordingly to guide and di- 
 rect our hearts and lives ; to love what 
 he bids us love, and hate what he would 
 have us to hate ; to hope and truft in 
 his promifes ; to do what he commands, 
 and forbear and avoid what he forbids ; 
 and to employ our life in doing his will, 
 and ferving his defigns. he hath taught 
 us to make a right judgment and efti- 
 mate of things ; to have a deep fenfe 
 of the unfpeakable mifery and flnfulnefs 
 of our corrupted nature, of the infinite 
 greatnefs, goodnefs, and mercy of God, 
 and the wonderful contrivance and va- 
 lue of our redemption, he has (hewn us 
 the worth and the degeneracy of our 
 fouls, and what great things they are 
 capable of by the pure grace and favour 
 of God. he hath hid open the deceitful 
 appearances of this prefent world, and 
 the great moment of that eternity of joy 
 or mifery that awaits us hereafter, he 
 hath made known to us what great 
 things he hath done and fuffered for us ? 
 
324 A fermon at the funeral 
 
 and whatboundlefs companion and love 
 he has for fuch undeferving creatures, 
 now, the fpring of that life we fliould 
 live by the faith of Jefus Chrifr, is, to 
 have our underftandings renewed and 
 enlightened, and to judge fincerely and 
 aright of thefe things, according as he 
 who is Truth itfelf hath revealed them 
 unto us : and that not to gratify our 
 curiofity in knowing them, or making 
 them matter ofvanity, and talk to others; 
 for then we know nothing as we ought : 
 but to have fuch a deep fenfe and feeling 
 of them, as to enliven our hearts, and 
 guide our practices, for then do we truly 
 live by the faith of Chrifl, when the 
 fenfe of our own finfulnefs and mife- 
 ry finks us into the deepeft humility, 
 and fincere abhorrence of ourfelves ; 
 and the thoughts of the unfpeakable 
 goodnefs, love, and mercy of God, and 
 what our ever blefTed Redeemer hath 
 done, furTered, and purchafed for us, 
 infpire our hearts with ardent love to 
 them ; and this becomes the fpring of 
 all our actions ; makes us delight to 
 do his will, and be well pleafed to fuffer 
 
ofMr.HENRTSCOUGAL. 325* 
 it; and ftudy always to promote his 
 intereft in the world, to make him be 
 known and loved by all we can ; and 
 feek his glory and honour in all we do, 
 and not our own. 
 
 Thus to us to live is Chrift. thus 
 ought we to guide our underftandings 
 by his light, to inflame our hearts with 
 his love, to fpend our lives in his fer- 
 vice, and direct our actions to his glory. 
 but, alas ! how generally are thofewho 
 call themfelves Chriftians void of this 
 life and fpirit ? who is there that fin- 
 cerely makes an eftimate and judg- 
 ment of things according to the light of 
 Jefus Chrift ? that thinks himfelf truly 
 worthy to be hated by all ? that really 
 counts the honours and promotions, 
 the wealth and pleafures of this world, 
 as fo many fnares to his foul ? that 
 heartily values the favour and appro- 
 bation of God, beyond the efteem and 
 praife of men ? and however fome men 
 may have fome fruitlefs fpeculations 
 in their underftandings about fuch like 
 truths ; yet, alas ! how few furTer 
 them to fink into their hearts, and 
 Ee 
 
3 2 6 Afernvm at the funeral 
 direct their lives ? where is the love 
 of Jefus ? the lively hopes and ardent 
 defires after the glory that is to be re- 
 vealed ? the true fear of God, ortruft 
 in him, or a finccre defire and delight 
 to do his will ? and whatever pre fern* - 
 ons may be made ofall thefe, yet where 
 do the fruits of them appear in men's 
 lives and converfations ? for the tree is 
 known by its fruit, how few actions 
 are there that feem to proceed from the 
 hearty love ofChrift? wherein do we 
 fincerely aim at the good of men, and 
 the happinefs of their fouls ? when do we 
 lingly propofe to ourfelves the glory of 
 God, and the doing him fcrvice ? what 
 inftances are there in our converfation 
 that feem to flow from an unfeigned 
 humility, and truly mean thoughts of 
 ourfelves? alas J it would puzzle us, 
 I fear, to inftance the action or period 
 of our life that flowed purely from fuch 
 principles, we are creatures of fenfe, 
 and guided by other meafures; the love 
 of reputation among men ; a concern 
 ibr the conveniencies and pleafures of 
 ifttts life, and an averfion to the treu- 
 
of Mr. HENRY SCOUGAL. 327 
 bles ofit ; a defire of tranfcending o- 
 thers in power, wealth, or knowledge; 
 a natural floth offpirit, and inconil- 
 deration of mind ; and, which is the 
 root of all, pride, and a blind and in- 
 ordinate felf love, thefe are the fprings 
 that put all in motion ; by thefe prin- 
 ciples we are guided in our defigns, 
 they mingle themfelves with our belt 
 performances : and an impartial con- 
 federation may make us fenfible, that 
 there are few actions wherein fome one 
 or other of thefe have not always a 
 great ftroke and interehV, 
 
 But it is farotherways with St. Paul ; 
 who however before his converfion he 
 was acled by a blind zeal, yet no foon- 
 er had that glorious light which dazzled 
 the eyes of his body, enlightened thofe 
 of his mind, but he made appear by his 
 life and fpirit, that he lived by the faith 
 of the Son of God, and that to him ta 
 live was Chrijt. how did that light and 
 life fhine before men ; and how mani- 
 feftwere they in him, who i counted ail 
 1 things but dung and lofs, for theex** 
 1 cellency of the knowledge of Chriit 
 Ee 2 
 
328 A } firmon at the funeral 
 ! Jefus V who gloried in nothing fo 
 much as his ' crofs, by which the world 
 ' was crucified to him, and he unto the 
 i world ? who reckoned the fufFerings 
 ' of this prefent time not worthy to be 
 * compared with the glory that is to be 
 i revealed V whom neither worldly ad- 
 vantage, nor the greateft crones and 
 afflictions, neither the power or malice 
 of devils and men, could fepar ate from 
 t l e lope ofChri/l? who gloried in no- 
 thing more than in fuffering for him ? 
 whole zeal was fo great, and his in- 
 duftry and diligence fo vigorous, and 
 his care and management fo prudent 
 and wife in propagating his life and 
 fpirit, and fpreading his doctrine ? who 
 made fo fudden a change throughout 
 the world, and fo many nations his 
 difciples ? whofe divine letters have 
 fo much tended to the eftablifhment 
 and propagation of the gofpel in that 
 and all fucceeding generations ? a (ingle 
 pafTage of one of which occafioned 
 the converhon of one of the greateft 
 fathers of the church : in which holy 
 epiftles the Chriftian doclrine is fowell 
 
of Mr. HENRY SCOUGAL. 329 
 represented ; wherein perfons of all 
 ranks and conditions have their duties 
 fo clearly defcribed ; where Bifhops, 
 and paftors, and people, rich and poor, 
 husband and wife, parents and children, 
 matters and fervants, the profperous and 
 the afflicted, may learn their Chriftian 
 duty and deportment in their fever&l 
 circumflances. 
 
 But I forbear to fpeak of that great 
 Apoltle of the Gentiles, the prefect 
 occafion leads us hither ; nor mall I 
 prefume to make a parallel. I know 
 ' there is one glory of the fun, another 
 i of the moon, and another of the flars^ 
 1 and one liar differeth from another 
 * ftar in glory.' as the happinefs of the 
 other world, fo the piety and goodnefs 
 of this have their degrees and meafures, 
 I (hall only confider for our inftruclion, 
 how in its own meafure the life and fpirit 
 of our friend do breathe forth the fame 
 ftntiments, Tome to live is Chrifl ; how 
 his life and example, his convcrfation 
 and inflruclions, his thoughts and de- 
 iigns, the inward endowments and dif- 
 pofitlons of his foul,and the outward de- 
 Ec 3 
 
330 Afermon at the funeral 
 portment and anions of his life, were, as 
 to the main, the fruits and effects of a 
 Chriftian fpirit,ofa holyand divine tem- 
 per of mind ; and how they all tended 
 and were employed to increafe the fame 
 in himfelf, and ftir it up in others, and 
 to revive fomething of the ancient Chri- 
 ftian piety and goodnefs in the world. 
 
 To me to live is Chrift. indeed well 
 may it be faid of his life, whofe early 
 beginnings and firft blofToms were fea- 
 fonedwith pious inclinations, as well as 
 the maturer periods of it. the right ma- 
 naging of infancy and childhood, is 
 ordinarily the lead of a parent's care ; 
 and any pious exercifes are ufually the 
 lead of childrens thoughts, every trifle 
 tickles their fancies, and takes up their 
 fpirits : little paffions and envies, and 
 other ifTues of our natural corruption, 
 begin to fprout forth even in that tender 
 age. but in our deceafed friend, as it 
 was his father's pious defign to devote 
 him to the fervice of God and his church 
 in this holy function, who did therefore 
 take afuitable care even of his infancy 
 and childhood ; fo his pious inclina- 
 
ofMr.HENRYSCOUGAL. 33 i 
 tions,and the fuitable difpofition of his 
 fpirit,did happily confpirewith it; and 
 he gave early indications of them even 
 in thofe tender years . he was not taken 
 up with the plays and little diverfions 
 of thofe of his age, ( which children fa 
 much dote upon) ; but upon fuch oc- 
 cafions did ufualiy retire from them ; 
 and that not outoffullennefs of humour, 
 or dulnefs of fpirit,( the fweetnefs and 
 ferenity ofwhofe temper did even then 
 appear), but out ofa&ayednefsofmind, 
 going to fome privacy, and employing 
 his time in reading, prayer, and fuch 
 ferious thoughts as that age was ca- 
 pable of. fometimeshe would be taken 
 up with the thoughts of thelaw of Mo- 
 fes, wondering how altars and facrifi- 
 ces, and its other ceremonies, were not 
 now among the exercifes of our wormip ; 
 at other times employing himfelf in 
 little imitations of the exercifes of the 
 holy function, as preaching, and the like, 
 and among other inftances of the happy 
 fruits of fuch retirements, this deferves 
 to be remembered, that, being once in 
 a ferious reflexion what courfe of life 
 
3 3 - Afermtn at the fu neral 
 
 he mould take that might be conducive 
 to the falvation of his foul, and being 
 in^a deep mufe of thoughts, he takes up 
 the Bible to read a portion of it ; and 
 though he was always averfe to the ma- 
 king a lottery of the holy fcriptures, 
 yet he could not but take notice of the 
 firft words which occafionallyhe caft his 
 eyes upon, and which made no fmali 
 impreffion on his fpirit : i by what 
 * means (hall a young man learn to pu- 
 ' rify his way ? by taking heed thereto 
 € according to thy word.' the diverfions 
 he was then moft taken with, did (peak 
 out the great nefs of his mind and fpirit ; 
 and he feemed to act all the grandeur of 
 this world while a child : for when, in 
 learning the Latin tongue, he began to 
 underftand the Roman (lory, he retired 
 ufually with the moft ingenious of his 
 fellows, com poled little orations, and 
 acled the parts of the Roman Senators. 
 I cannot here omit that vuftnefs of me- 
 mory, and forwardnefs of judgment, 
 which did even then appear ; in that, 
 when he began to take notice of the 
 daily reading of the holy fcriptures at 
 
of Mr. HENRY SCOUGJL 333 
 home, he could not only repeat feveral 
 verfes at that time, whether thehiftori- 
 cal or other parts ; but afterwards, u<- 
 pon the turning to any fuch particu- 
 lar chapter, could call them to remem* 
 brance: and whereas thofe of that age 
 can for the mod part remember only 
 fome little incoherent paiTages of pub- 
 lick fermons,hedid ufually take up their 
 whole fcope, and give a brief account of 
 them, and though children generally 
 love only the fociety of their fellows, 
 or fuch as can entertain them with filly 
 and foolifh ftories ; yet fuch was the 
 ferioufnefs of his ipirit, and the love he 
 even then had for knowledge and good 
 men, that when he had the opportunity 
 of hearing ferious and reverend perfons, 
 whoufed to refort to his father's houfe, 
 he was careful to attend to them, and 
 liften to their wife and pious difcourfes. 
 his improvements in human literature 
 were beyond the ordinary attainments 
 of his age; having not only acquired 
 a lingular and unaffected elegancy in the 
 Latin tongue, but alfo a confiderable 
 proficiency in the Greek, and m the 
 
334 Afermvi at the funeral 
 Hebrew, and fome other of the Oriental 
 languages ; being verfed alio in hiftory , 
 and in geometry, and other parts of the 
 mathematicks. and fuch was the clear- 
 nefs of his apprehenfion, and the for- 
 wardnefs of his judgment, that, upon 
 the overhearing an occafional difcourfe 
 of fome who were palling their firft years 
 in theuniverfity, he did quickly take up 
 the nature of a fyllogifm, the ufe of the 
 fymbols in contriving it, and could rea- 
 dily form one upon any fubject. 
 
 Such were his attainments, and fuch 
 was the temper of his fpirit in that early 
 period of his life, which others for the 
 mod part fpend in vanity and folly, and 
 begin to repent of when they come to 
 think themfelves men. and we moy fee 
 how much a prudent father's wife and 
 pious care, when it meets with a fit tem- 
 per and difpofition in a child, may con- 
 tribute to plant the feeds of thofe virtu- 
 ous endowments and good inclinations 
 in that tender age, which will bring 
 forth much fruit in their riper years ; 
 and with how much reafon the wife man 
 bids us, c train up a child in the way he 
 
of Mr. HENRY SCOUGAL. ft 5 
 
 € fhould go, and when he is old he will 
 ' not depart from it.' 
 
 But the paths of the juft are as the 
 mining light, which fhineth more and 
 more unto the perfect day. thefe were 
 the early dawnings of piety and good- 
 nefs which appeared in him in thofe firft 
 years of his age, before he came to this 
 corner of our land ; and there became 
 ftill more manifeft and confpicuous. his 
 improvements had now fitted him for 
 the univerfity ; and here he gave further 
 proofs of a pious difpofition and a ca- 
 pacious understanding, he was far re- 
 moved from thofe levities and foolifh 
 cuftoms, thofe little animofities and 
 ftrifes which the inconfiderate youth 
 arefometimes guilty of ; but was even 
 then grave and flayed in his deport- 
 ment, as was obferved by all, yet free 
 and unaffected, the learning that was 
 then in fafhion, though he faw quite 
 through it, yet it did not fatisfy his un- 
 derftanding, nor could he perceive its 
 ufe, fave to wrangle pro and con about 
 any thing, he was defirous to dive into 
 the nature of things., and not to be in- 
 
 
3 3 6 A fermzn at the funeral 
 volved into a ftrife of hard words, and 
 amaze of nicediflindtions : and there- 
 fore, by his own proper induflry, and 
 private fiudy, he became even then maf- 
 ter of that philofophy which has now 
 got fuch footing in the world ; befides 
 a Gngular proficiency he made in the 
 feveral parts of maihematicks, inhifto- 
 ry, % and other human learning, but he 
 was always careful to beware of any 
 philofophy or falfe knowledge that was 
 apt to have a bad influence on the mind, 
 and debauch the fpirit, as to arightfenfe 
 of God and religion ; and never fuffered 
 himfelf to be tainted in the leaft with 
 fuch. and there was nothing that more 
 endeared any philofophical truths to 
 him, than when they gave right appre- 
 henfions of God, and juft thoughts of 
 morality and virtue, his mind. being al- 
 ways compofed to a religious temper, 
 he even then made it his bufinefs, by 
 the frequent reading of the moft pious 
 and ufeful books, and a happy conver- 
 fation, fancYified by a conltant devo- 
 tion, and an unprejudiced mind, to 
 frame to himfelf, amidftthe various o- 
 
of Mr. HENRY SCOUGAL. 3 3 7 
 pinions and diftracYions of Chriftendom , 
 right apprehenfions of religion, and ac- 
 cordingly to fuit his practice : fo that, 
 even then, religion was the matter of 
 his ferious and impartial choice, and 
 not merely the prejudice of cuftom and 
 education, he ufcd fometimes to write 
 efTays of morality, and occafional me- 
 ditations ; which as they were Angu- 
 larly eloquent and ingenious, fo they 
 breathed forth the devotion of his mind, 
 and the ferioufnefs of his fpirit; and 
 would very well become a riper age. it 
 being the cuftom of the youth to have 
 private meetings about the ordering the 
 concerns of their commencements, 
 where he was made conftant prefident a- 
 mong his fellows, his difcourfes to them 
 were fo grave and becoming, (as fome of 
 them have profefTed), that they looked 
 upon them as the fayings of a grey head, 
 and thought they favoured of the wif- 
 dom of a Senator. 
 
 Such was his deportment and im- 
 provement for the few years he refided 
 in the univerfity : fo that, in the efteem 
 of all, he did not a little honour that 
 Ff 
 
33S Afermonat the funeral 
 degree which is then given, of which 
 fbmeare faidtobefo much the reproach, 
 and therefore, he no foonercame out of 
 the univerhty, but he was thought wor- 
 thy to be a matter, where he had fo late- 
 ly been a fchoiar ; and, after having 
 given fufficient proofs of his fitnefs, by 
 teaching for the next term the clafs of 
 one who was occafionally abfent, he 
 was accordingly promoted, and even in 
 this ftation, to bim to I he was Cbrift, 
 he was careful fo to behave himfelf in 
 his own converfation, and in theexer- 
 cifes of that office, as to preferve his 
 own confeience pure, and void of of- 
 fence, and to ferve the interefls of 
 Chrittianity; training up the youth in 
 fuch principles of learning and good- 
 nefs, as might make them meft fervice- 
 able both to church and ttate. he was 
 careful not to drive on little defigns, or 
 to maintain factions and heats in the 
 fociety, but ttudied always to compofe 
 them ; and, when it would not do, they 
 were his regret ; but he was fure not to 
 make one of them, he always preferved 
 his authority entire amongft the unruly 
 
of Mr. HENRY SCOUGAL. 339 
 youth, and would quickly compofe 
 their diforders and tumults, and yet 
 gain their love and efttem ; and knew 
 well how to entertain thern with free- 
 dom and kindnefs, and yet oblige them 
 to that refpect that becomes a fcholar 
 towards his m after, fo far was he from 
 defignmg his own private gain, that 
 when a tumult had arifen among the 
 unruly youth, in which there were fo me 
 under his care who could eafily have 
 purchafed their pardon by the payment 
 of an inconfiderable mulct, and the af- 
 furance of their good behaviour after- 
 wards; and when fuch was their perverfe- 
 nefs that they would not do it, though 
 his paying it in their name would have 
 done the bufinefs ; yet, rather than do 
 fuch a feemingly unworthy act, which 
 might proftitute authority, and encou- 
 rage them to the like tumultuous" prac- 
 tices, he fufFered them to be expelled, 
 to his own confiderable detriment, as 
 to his worldly interefts, having but a 
 few left behind, he was careful to in- 
 ftruft the youth in the mod intelligible 
 and ufeful principles of human know- 
 
 Ff2 
 
340 A fermon at the funeral 
 ledge, and it deferves to be remember- 
 ed, that he was the firfl: in this corner 
 of the land (perhaps in the whole na- 
 tion) who taught the youth that phi- 
 lofophy which has now theuniverfal 
 preference by all the knowing world, 
 he looked upon it as the moft proper for 
 framing their judgments, and difpofing 
 them to conceive things aright ; for 
 taking them off from a difputing hu- 
 mour, and a vanity in hard words and 
 di(linclions,and in thinking they knew 
 fomething when they knew nothing. 
 he thought itferved to enlarge and raife 
 their apprehenfions of Almighty God, 
 by confidering the vaftnefs of his works, 
 and the admirable. wifdom and goodnefs 
 that appeared in the order of the world, 
 and the wonderful contrivance even of 
 the mod minute creature ; that it dif- 
 pofed them toconfider the nature and 
 worth of their immortal fouls, and of 
 what fmall moment all the fenfual plea- 
 fures of this lower world were; and 
 that it inclined them to a more univer- 
 fallove and good -will towards all, and 
 to meaner thoughts of themfelves and 
 
of Mr. HENRY SCOUGAL. 34 1 
 their knowledge, he was very careful to 
 train them np in the beft and mod ufe- 
 ful principles of morality, and to guard 
 them againft the debauched fentiments 
 of Leviathan, and as he thus made hu- 
 man learning ferviceable to the ends of 
 piety and religion, fo he made it his 
 great endeavour to have their minds 
 infpired with this, on the Lord's days 
 in the evening, he ufually had fome pi- 
 ous difcourfes to them, laying open the 
 folly and heinoufnefs of vice and impi- 
 ety, and the excellency and advantage 
 of religion and goodnefs; and fuch 
 other considerations as might both in- 
 ftrudt their minds, and gain upon their 
 tempers, and he failed not to deal with 
 each of them apart in private, thofe who 
 were of bad inclinations, heftudied to 
 reform and amend; and in whom he faw 
 any appearance of goodnefs, he was 
 careful to encourage and cherirti them, 
 thus he hath made appear by his practice, 
 that philofophy and religion are not e- 
 nemies to one another, but that the fo- 
 ber and difcreet ufe of our reafon makes 
 Ffj 
 
34 2 Afermon at the funeral 
 us more capable of the truths and gra- 
 ces of our religion. 
 
 But God had defigned him for the 
 more immediate fervice of his church, 
 nnto which he had been devoted from 
 the womb, and therefore, by the conn (el 
 offome fcrious and reverend perfons in 
 the church, whofe advices were of great 
 weight with him, he was called forth to 
 preach the gofpel, and a little after en- 
 tered into holy orJers, and was employ- 
 ed, as you know, in the office of the 
 minitlry in thecountry ; where, though 
 his (lay was fo fnort, yet the proofs that 
 he gave both of his fltnefs for, and zeal 
 in that holy function, were lingular, he 
 found he had now more obligations lying 
 on him to piety, and innocence of life ; 
 and as the ambafTador of his blefTed maf- 
 ter, he muftbe very tender of his honour, 
 and of perfuading thofe he was fent un- 
 to, to be reconciled to God : and there- 
 fore he was careful to fhun even all ap- 
 pearances of evil, he flu died, during 
 his fhort flay, by catechizing, to in- 
 ilrucr. his people, with the greateft plain - 
 nefs and affedion, in the right fenfe and 
 
of Mr. HENRY SCOUGAL. 343 
 knowledge of religion and their duty ; 
 and to (hew them the folly and unrea- 
 fonablenefs of thofe fhifts and pretences 
 whereby they encouraged themfelves in 
 a bad life, he endeavoured to under- 
 fland their tempers, and accordingly to 
 apply himfelf to them, he was deeply 
 fenfihle of the little fenfe of religion that 
 generally appeared ; and when he faw 
 any fpark of goodnefs, how ftrangely 
 was he cheered with it ! he more valued 
 the humble innocence, and chearful 
 contentment and refignation of one 
 poor woman in that place, than all the 
 more goodly appearances of others ; 
 having oft in his mouth, Indoffi caelum 
 rapiunt. he endeavoured to bring them 
 to a devout and conftant attendance 
 on the publick worfhip ; where he al- 
 ways went, and joined with them at the 
 beginning of it ; thinking it very unfit, 
 that the invocation of Almighty God, 
 the reading fome portions of the holy 
 fcriptures, making a confeffion of our 
 Chriftian faith, and rehear fing the ten 
 commandments, mould be looked upon 
 only as zpraeludium for ufliering in the 
 
344 A fermon at the funeral 
 people to the church, and the Minifter 
 to the pulpit, his fermons were always 
 devout and ferious, and feafonable ; 
 and he endeavoured to fit them to the 
 capacities of the people : and he re- 
 vived the ufe of leclures*, looking on 
 it as the mod edifying way, to have 
 (as a great light of this nation ufed to 
 fay) long texts and fhort fermons. 
 
 But I muft not fo (lightly pafs over 
 his preaching, in which we are all [o 
 much concerned, a wife man hath late- 
 ly writ an effay, how to make a good 
 ufe of bad fermons : and it were to be 
 wiilied we were inftructed in making 
 good ones ; fuch, I mean, as might 
 have an influence on mens hearts and 
 lives, and fure I think all who heard 
 him will acknowledge his practice to be 
 no contemptible pattern, he thought 
 it mould be a Minister's care, to chufe 
 feafonable and ufeful fubjecls, fuch as 
 might inftrucl the people's minds, and 
 better their lives ; not to entertain 
 them with debates, and (trifes of words ; 
 
 * i. c 
 Urge pi 
 
of Mr. HENRY SCOUGJL. 345 
 that he mould exprefs himfelf in the 
 moft plain and affectionate manner; 
 not in airy and fanciful words, nor in 
 words too big with fenfe, and having 
 a great many thoughts crowded toge- 
 ther, which the people's underftandings 
 cannot reach ; nor in philofophical 
 terms and expreffions, which are not 
 familiar to vulgar underftandings ; nor 
 in making ufe of an unufual word, where 
 there could be found one more plain and 
 ordinary to exprefs the thought as fully, 
 he looked upon it as amoft ufeful help 
 for compofing fermons, to make the 
 Sunday's fermon the fubjecl of our me- 
 ditation and mental prayer for the fore- 
 going week, that it may thereby fink 
 deep into our fpirits, and affecft our 
 own hearts, which would make us more 
 capable of teaching others, he thought 
 it a fit expedient for compofing us to 
 a ferious and affectionate preaching, 
 to propofe to ourfelves, in the medi- 
 tation of it, purely the glory of God, 
 and the good of mens fouls, and to 
 have this always in our eye ; and, in 
 our preaching, to make frequent recol- 
 
g 4 6 A fermon at the funeral 
 lections of the Divine prefence, and 
 fhort ejaculations towards heaven, 
 thereby to preferve us in that humble 
 temper, that ferioufnefs and gravity that 
 becomes us in the prefence of God, and 
 as the AmbafTadors ofChrift. and how 
 conformable was his practice to thefe 
 rides ! the matter ofhis difcourfes was 
 always fo ufeful and feafonable, his 
 words and expreflions fo plain, and 
 proper, and well chofen, his deport- 
 ment fo grave and unaffected, becom- 
 ing the fenfeofwhofe ambaffador he 
 was, his manner of utterance fo affecti- 
 onate, and expreffive of the paflionate 
 love and concern he had for mens 
 fouls, accompanied with fuch an act of 
 fweetnefs and mildnefs, as charmed 
 mens fpirits. and all was fo full of 
 light and heat, that I think I may fay, 
 in the words of the difciples concern- 
 ing our bleffed- Saviour, ' did not our 
 ' hearts burn within us,while he opened 
 ( unto us the fcriptures V how did the 
 holy Spirit by him enlighten our minds, 
 and affect our hearts ? there are fome 
 kinds of words and expreffions, fome 
 
of Mr. HENRY 'SCOUGAL. 347 
 tones and ways of utterance, which will 
 raife the pallions and affections of pre- 
 difpofed tempers, without at all enlight- 
 ening their minds, even as mufick does, 
 and there are others capable of laying 
 open the nature and thereafon of things, 
 but in fo dry a manner, that they float 
 merely upon our understanding as mat- 
 ter of fpeculation and talk, and do not 
 fink into our hearts, and tho' there be 
 much noife now-a-days about the me- 
 thods of preaching, and the preferences 
 ofone to another ; yet it is in this, lam 
 afraid, that we lofe ourfelves on both 
 fides, but in this, fure, I may appeal 
 to all that heard him, whether his dif- 
 courfes, and his manner of uttering 
 them, did not ferve at once both to en- 
 lighten their minds, and warm their 
 hearts ? and fo tender was he of the ho- 
 nour and reputation due to the preach- 
 ing of the gofpel,that as he was careful, 
 on the one hand, to exprefs himfelf in 
 the mod plain, intelligible, and affectio- 
 nate words ; fo alfo, on the other, to a- 
 void all childifh metaphors, apifh gef- 
 tures, jefts, and big words, and other 
 
348 Afermon at the funeral 
 fuch indecencies as did not become the 
 gravity of the function, and were apt to 
 occafion the frailes and laughter of the 
 profane, rather than the piety of the fe- 
 -rious. and I dare fay, the moft profane 
 fcofTers of the nation were never tempt- 
 ed to turn his expreflions or geftures 
 into ridicule, nay, many of avowedly 
 profligate lives have been extremely af- 
 fected with his fermons, which pricked 
 them at their hearts, he laid them fo o- 
 pen to themfelves, and made them fo 
 fenfible of their brutifhnefs and danger, 
 as they themfelves have acknowledged. 
 I cannot here omit the deep fenfe he 
 had of true eloquence, and his high va- 
 lue for it; profeflinghe would exchange 
 for it all the other human learning he 
 was matter of. he was fenfible of the lit- 
 tle knowledge we had in the ars volunta- 
 tis ; how little we underftood of the na- 
 ture of mens paffions and inclinations, 
 and what things were moft capable of 
 bending their wills, and prevailing up- 
 on their minds, according to their diffe- 
 rent tempers, and accordingly he judg- 
 ed there were two eflential defects in 
 
of Mr. HENRY SCOUGAL. 349 
 our beft kind of eloquence, the one was, 
 That, in the meditating our difcourfes, 
 we rather merely considered the ifTues of 
 our reafon, and the nature of the thing 
 we were thinking of, and did not Co 
 much reflect upon the temper of the per- 
 fons we were to fpeak to, and what 
 kind of reafonings, words, and expref- 
 fions, would make the beft impreffion 
 upon their minds; and therefore it was 
 nothing ftrange, that words let fly at 
 random touched them fb little, the o- 
 ther, That our hearts were not tho- 
 roughly endued with thofe difpofitions 
 we would work on others by our words; 
 and therefore it was no wonder all we 
 faid made fo little impreflion on them. 
 
 But I come now to the laft ftage and 
 period of his life, wherein it mod emi- 
 nently appeared, that to htm to live was 
 Ckrij}. God had defigned him for a more 
 univerfal ufe and fervice in his church; 
 and therefore, by the wife providence of 
 the Almighty, he is removed from a pri- 
 vate charge in the country, to a more 
 general one, of training up the youth 
 for the holy miniftry, and the care of 
 
3 $o Afermon at the funeral 
 mens fouls, promotions of this nature, 
 efpecially when they are made by the 
 votes of many, are ufually attended 
 with little factions, combinations, and 
 heats : but as the purchafe was none 
 of his defign, fo the general fenfeof his 
 worth and goodnefs gave him the un- 
 animous voice of the clergy of this dio- 
 cefe, who promote to that ftation, and 
 the univerfal approbation of all that 
 knew him : and the apprehenfion he 
 had of the wefght and importance of that 
 office, and his mean thoughts of him- 
 felf, made him deliberate about it till 
 their next meeting, indeed, both his 
 natural, acquired, and moral endow- 
 ments, made him be judged by all wor- 
 thy of this charge, his memory was fin- 
 guhr; and though he loved more to 
 fludy things than words, yet, for in- 
 ftance, in a -few clays time he learned to 
 underftand erne of our Weftern langua- 
 ges, and could read it in Englifh with 
 more readinefs than thofe who have 
 lived many years where it is fpoken. as 
 to things of importance, he could foon 
 ( :ve them a lading impreflion on his 
 
of Mr. HENRY SCOUGAL. 3?* 
 mind; though at length he gave over 
 the committing publick difcourfes to 
 his memory, profe fling, when he went 
 about it, he was afhamed to fee him- 
 felfat fuch a childiih exercife. his un- 
 derftanding was ready , clear, andpier-^ 
 cing ; and he would quickly fee through 
 things in civil affairs, as well as in mat- 
 ters of learning, he did not fo much 
 read books, as think them ; and, by a 
 tranfient view, would quickly com- 
 prehend the defign and marrow of them, 
 he had not fpent his whole time in read- 
 ing, being fen fible that it often ferved 
 to dull, confufe, and prejudicate mens 
 underftandings, and make them of im- 
 perious and dictating tempers : and 
 therefore he made a prudent mixture, 
 cf a moderate reading a choice of ufeful 
 books, and confulting the living as 
 well as the dead, having a lingular art 
 of benefiting both himfelf and others 
 by converfation and difcourfe ; and he 
 digefted and improved all by retired 
 meditations, and fervent devotion: fo 
 that his learning feemed rather the if- 
 fues ofhis own mind, and the infpirati- 
 
 Gg2 
 
3 5" 2 AfermoH at I he funeral 
 on of the Almighty, which teacheth 
 knowledge, he employed two furnmers 
 in going to a neighbouring nation, in 
 which hemadeitbisbufinefstoconverfe 
 with thofe who were of greateit reputa- 
 tion for learning and goodnefs ; where, 
 as he gained their lingular efteem and 
 good thoughts, fo, by ufeful conven- 
 tion, and a ferious obfervation of tern* 
 pers and things, he improved his mind 
 and knowledge, butindeedwe may look 
 upon his excellent endowments as the 
 reward of the pious difpofitions of his 
 foul, and of the good defigns hepropo- 
 fed to himfelf in all his ftudies and en- 
 deavours, and God knows, in the un- 
 dertaking this office, there was nothing 
 he had more before his eyes, than the 
 fervice of Jefris Chrift, and the good of 
 his church, he was deeply fenlible of 
 the great weight and importance of the 
 holy mini (try, and did much bewail the 
 general failings in the exercife of it ; 
 how every man minded i his own things, 
 • and not the things of Jefus Chrift.' 
 and therefore he made this the one great 
 defign of all his endeavours in that 
 
ofMr.HENRTSCOUGAL. 353 
 charge, the fitting and training up the 
 youth for that holy function ; and this 
 was the great aim both of his publick 
 and private care of them. 
 * He considered that they ought chiefly 
 to mind and fit themfelves now for that 
 which would be their great bufinefs 
 when they were entered into the holy 
 function ; and that this would not be 
 fo much the managing of controverfies 
 and debates of religion, as the guiding 
 mens fouls to eternity; the refcuing 
 the vicious from their fins and vices, 
 and prevailing upon them by all prudent 
 methods ; and directing the ferious to 
 the true practice and exercife of reli- 
 gion, and the molt proper means for the 
 practice of goodnefs, and the avoiding 
 and refifting of temptations, and how 
 they ought to behave themfelves in all 
 cirenmftances of life, he thought it fuf- 
 ficient that they underftood the (late 
 and importance of thofe controverfies 
 and differences which were the grounds 
 of the divifions of Chriftendom, for 
 their own inftruction, and thofe who 
 ilood in need of it under their cure ; 
 G g3 
 
354 Jfermon ai the funeral 
 but the other he looked upon as their 
 main bufinefs, and therefore, accord- 
 ingly, after he had guarded them again ft 
 the common artifices of the Roman mif- 
 fioriaries in their makingprofelytes, and 
 cleared the moft important difficulties 
 in the gofpels ; he propofed two de- 
 signs as the fubjeel of all his puhlick cx- 
 ercifes. the one, dc 6ufapaflorali y pro- 
 pofing to confidcr the inftitution and 
 dignity, the weight and difficulty, the 
 necefTity and ufcfulnefs of the holy 
 function of theminiftry ; the nature of 
 that call we ought to have to it, the ne- 
 celTary difpofitions that are required to 
 fit us for it, the manner of our own pri- 
 vate life and converfation in it, and 
 how we ought to difcharge the feveral 
 exercifes of it both publickand private, 
 the other, the inftrucfr. i ng them in ca- 
 fniflkal divinity ; the confidering how a 
 man of a ftrait confeience ought to be- 
 have himfelf in whatever ftate or con- 
 dition oflifehebe, and whatever cafes 
 and circumftances he fall into ; and 
 the branching out this into particulars, 
 and vindicating it from the corruption 
 
of Mr. HENRY SCOUCJL. $ff 
 of the Jefuits, and others, fo great and 
 good were the deli gn$ he propofed unto 
 himfelf. as to matters of controverfy, 
 he ftudied rather to leflen than multi- 
 ply ; and faw that men were apter to be 
 reafoned out of their erroneous per- 
 fuafions by a good life, than many ar- 
 guments, he thought it enough to 
 make the youth underlland the true (late 
 of matters in debate, and to confider 
 the mod weighty differences ; but he 
 was careful to take them off as much ns 
 poffible from the difputing. humour, 
 arid an itch of wrangling ^r$ and con 
 about any thin g ; and many times by 
 fiience anfwered their impertinent quib- 
 bles, there were no debates he was 
 more cautious to meddle with, than 
 thofe about the decrees of God ; being 
 fenfible how much Chriftianity had 
 fuffered, by mens diving into things be- 
 yond their reach ; i fecret things be- 
 1 longing to the Lord, and things re* 
 * vealed to us and our children.' but 
 he had always a deep fenfe of the 
 powerful efficacy of God's grace upon 
 our fouls ; and that all our good was 
 
3 5" 6 A fermon at the funeral 
 entirely to be afcribed to God, and all 
 our evil unto ourfelves. be ufed once 
 a-year, ( when tbe youtb were molt fre- 
 quent), by a very ferious and affecti- 
 onate difcourfe inEngli(h,to lay before 
 tbem the weight and importance of the 
 miniltry ; how they mould demean 
 them ftlves now while they were candi- 
 dates for that holy function ; how 
 carefully they ought to avoid all fuch 
 evil converfaticn as might give their 
 minds a bad tincture; what courfe of 
 fludy they ought to take ; inviting thein 
 to a frequent refort unto him, and ex- 
 prelTing a moCt affectionate concern for 
 them. 
 
 It was alfo his great care, to make 
 his private conversation with them as 
 ufeful ashis pobHck. and by this indeed 
 he hoped to do mod good, they had al- 
 ways free accefs to him ; and his coun- 
 fels and advices were (till fuited to the 
 difpofitions he perceived in them, he 
 could fo modedly and prudently tell 
 them their failings, as to make them 
 perceive and amend them without being 
 offended, he was careful to lend and 
 
of Mr .HENRY 'SCQUGAL. i$i 
 direct them to the ufe of good books ; 
 and, indeed, one of the great ends of his 
 buying fo many, was to ferve them, 
 thofe who were of the mod eminent en- 
 dowments and bed inclinations, he ftir- 
 red up to ferious thoughts of the holy 
 miniftry. he gave them the moil un- 
 doubted proofs of his love and care of 
 them, opened his heart freely to them, 
 and learned their inclinations and flu- 
 dies, he directed them ^to the bed 
 means of bettering their heart, as well 
 as informing their judgments ; prayer, 
 meditation, and frequent retirements: 
 and made them fenfible, that feif-will 
 was the root of all our fin; and an entire 
 refignation to the will of God, the very 
 fpring of all our duty ; and directed 
 them to frequent and condant acts of 
 felf-denial and resignation, and as he 
 was thus careful ofhis charge, fo alfo of 
 maintaining that entire correfpondence 
 with, and due deference and refpecl that 
 he owed towards his Reverend Col- 
 league : and that entire and conftant 
 love and harmony between them, and 
 that mutual deferved edeem thev had 
 
35 8 Afermzn at the funeral 
 
 for one another, was very lingular ^nd 
 
 very exemplary. 
 
 Thus to him to live was Chrijh. thus 
 faithfully and prudently did our dear 
 friend manage his charge, in ferving the 
 intered of his bleifed Mafter. and we 
 might have hoped confidently, erelong, 
 that, by their joint endeavours, through 
 the bleifing of the Almighty, we mould 
 have feen another face on our church. 
 but,amidtt all his pious defigns and cares, 
 he is called by his great Mafter, in an 
 hour that we thought not of, from his 
 ftewardfhiphere, to an higher employ- 
 ment in the other world. i who is that 
 
 * faithful and wife fteward, whom his 
 ' Lord makes ruler over his houfhold, 
 ' to give them their portion of meat in 
 
 * due feafon ? blefled is that fervant 
 ' whom his Lord, when he cometh, (hall 
 
 * find fo doing ; of a truth lie will make 
 'him ruler over all that he hath.' 
 
 Indeed the end of his life was no lefs 
 Ch rift's than the beginning and whole 
 courfe of it. the time of his ficknefs was 
 as chearfully fpent in furTering the will 
 of God, as the former was in doing it- 
 
ofMr.HENKrSCOUGAL. 35-9 
 he manifefted t! e greateft meeknefs and 
 chearfulnefs of fpirit throughout the 
 whole courfe of it. heufed not the lead 
 harm expreffion, either to anyofthofe 
 that waited on him, or concerning the 
 prefent providence, he cxpreffed a per- 
 fect indifferency as to life ;:nd death, 
 and an entire refignation to the will of 
 God, to difpofe of him as he thought 
 meet, he found himfelf never more 
 fenfible of the vanity of this world, 
 nor ever felt more ardent acts of love 
 to God, than at that time, he was rapt 
 in admiration of God's goodnefs to 
 him, and the little returns he (aid he had 
 made to it ; and acknowledged his ow r n 
 great unworthinefs, and his humble con- 
 fidence in the mercy and goodnefs of 
 God, through the merits of his blcfTed 
 Saviour, and thus meekly did he pafs 
 his ficknefs,and refign his fpirit, with- 
 out any trouble from the world, or 
 great pain of body, or any anguifh of 
 mind : for ' mark the perfect man, 
 ' and behold the upright ; for the end 
 ' of that man is peace.' 
 
 And now, after all, I cannot here o- 
 
360 A fermon at the funeral 
 Dot what fervicehe hath done the world, 
 by permitting it to enjoy thofe excel- 
 lent thoughts of his about the life of God 
 in the foul of man. men may write big 
 volumes, and, as one fays, talk much, 
 and fay nothing; but it is a great mat- 
 ter to talk little, and yet fay much, and 
 fure, whoever confiders the importance 
 of the matter of that book, the clear re- 
 prefentation of the life and fpirit of true 
 religion, and its graces, with the great 
 excellency and advantages ofit,the pro- 
 pofal of the mod effectual means for at- 
 taining to it by the grace of God, the 
 piety and feafonablenefs of the devoti- 
 ons, together with the natural and af- 
 fectionate eloquence of the ftyle, cannot 
 but be fenfible of its great ufefulnefs, to 
 infpire us with the fpirit of true religion, 
 to enlighten our minds with a right fenfe 
 and knowledge of it, to warm our hearts 
 with fuitable affections and breathings 
 after it, and to direct our lives to the 
 practice of it. and indeed, it feems to 
 have been in a great meafure the tranf- 
 cript of his own life and fpirit. thofe 
 divine graces and virtues which he fo 
 
of Mr. HENRY SCOUGAL. 3*1 
 clearly defcribes, mined forth in his own 
 life andconverfation ; and he not only 
 underftood, but felt them, that faith, 
 and love, and charity, that purity and 
 humility, which he fo paffionately re- 
 commends and fpeaks of, did eminently 
 appear throughout the whole courfe of 
 his life. 
 
 What a deep fenfe had he of the 
 truths of our religion ! he fufFered them 
 not to float on his underftanding, to be 
 matter of talk and difpute with others; 
 but he let them fink deep into his fpirit, 
 to renew his foul, and direct his life ; 
 and was careful to make ufe of all 
 means that might give him a deeper 
 fenfe of them, what a deep fenfe had 
 he of the goodnefs ofGod, the wonder- 
 ful mercy of our redemption by Jefus 
 Chrift, the corruption, and degeneracy, 
 and finfulnefs of our nature, the excel- 
 lency of goodnefs, and the happinefs 
 of heaven ? and his deep fenfe of all this, 
 was the fpring and root of all his other 
 graces. 
 
 In how manifold inftances did appear 
 the ardency of his love to God ? he was 
 Hh 
 
362 A fermon at the funeral 
 (till breathing with more ardent defires 
 after him, and was forryhe could love 
 him no more, he was frequently admir- 
 ing his wifdom and goodnefs in the 
 government of the world, and the wife 
 difpofal of things, it was not the mean 
 principles of cuftom, reputation, or 
 vain-glory, or a fervile fear, that made 
 him carefully avoid all evil in his prac- 
 tices; but the ardency of his love to 
 his heavenly Father: and therefore his 
 life was fo uniform, and conftant to 
 itfelf, and carefully employed in doing 
 all the good he could, and any thing 
 whereby God might be glorified; and 
 he was ftill fenfible how little he could 
 do worthy of his love, his own inclina- 
 tions werecorrefpondent to the refolu- 
 tions of his pious father from his child- 
 hood ; and he had devoted himfelf for 
 thefervice of Jefus Chriftin the miniftry. 
 thofe in whom heobferved virtuous en- 
 dowments, and the mod pious inclina- 
 tions, he encouraged by all means to the 
 ferving of God in the holy function, 
 he endeavoured always after an abfolute 
 refignation of his will to him, looking 
 
cf Mr. HENRY SCOUCAL. 363 
 upon this as the very life of all graces, he 
 was very obferving of the various paf- 
 fages of his providence towards him, 
 and very fenfible of his goodnefs in 
 eroding fome defigns, which he after- 
 wards faw would have been inconve- 
 nient for him. he was careful to ob- 
 ferve all the fteps of Providence ; and, 
 when they feemed not to approve of 
 his intentions, how eager foever his de- 
 fires had been, he was fure notto go one 
 ftep farther, he was ardent and conftan t in 
 his devotions towards God. his piety 
 and zeal were very eminent in the pub- 
 lick worfhip, when he was the mouth of 
 the people ; his devotion was fo raifed, 
 and the humble fervour and ferioufnefs 
 of his fpirit fo vifible, as did highly in- 
 flame the devotion of the ferious : and, 
 when he made one of them, the humility 
 and adoration of his foul did appear in 
 his outward behaviour ; and he thought 
 it one fuitable expreffion of it, to bow 
 the knee before that Majefty, before 
 whom the angels tremble, in the cele- 
 bration and receiving of the holy com- 
 munion, his foul feemed to be wholly 
 HI12 
 
364 j4 fermon at the funeral 
 fwallowed up in the contemplation of 
 Jefus Chrift ; 3nd his devotionwas the 
 admiration of all that faw him. he had 
 been conftant in his private prayers to 
 God from his childhood ; and that 
 great fecret of devotion which he re- 
 commends in his book, was his frequent 
 practice : and he fent up fometimes 
 fuch afpirations of love, with fuch ar- 
 dent fighs, and groaning, and heavings 
 of his fpirit, as perhaps unclogged his 
 fpirit, and made his foul take its flight 
 fofoon from this earthly tabernacle. 
 
 And, fure, a foul fo much inflamed 
 with the love of God, could not be want- 
 ing in afuitable charity towards men. 
 and indeed to this his very natural tern- 
 per feemed to incline him. there v/as 
 nothing of harfhnefs in the difpofition 
 of his fpirit, but it w r asfull offweetnefs 
 and Jove ; which appeared in his very 
 air and countenance, and was apt to 
 attract mens hearts at the firft fight : 
 and this happy difpofition was hallowed 
 and raifed by the love of God into a ho- 
 ly charity, his foul was as wide as the 
 world, and his love and good-will were 
 
of Mr. HENRY SCOUGAL. 3 65* 
 imiverfal, and every man the object of 
 them, his prayers and good wifhes were 
 extended to all men ; and all the harm 
 he could do his enemies, ( if there were 
 any fuch univerfal haters of mankind as 
 to do him bad offices), was, to pray for 
 them the more earneflly to God. he did 
 not confine his charity within a feci or 
 party, but loved goodnefs wherever he 
 found it ; and entertained no harm. 
 thoughts of men, merely upon their 
 differing from him in this or that opi- 
 nion, he was grieved at the diftracYions 
 and divifions of the church ; and that 
 religion, tbebond of love, mould be made 
 fo much the bone of contentions. 
 
 "What prudent methods would his 
 fincerelove and charity to others prompt 
 him to, to undeceive them in their er- 
 rors ? how meekly would he difcourfe 
 with them about their differences ? calm- 
 ly mewing the fmall importance of fome 
 things, not worth the contending for, 
 and making appear the bad influence that 
 otherthingshadastoholinefsand agood 
 life ; and yielding in others, again, that 
 were not contrary to the defigns of reli- 
 HI13 
 
%66 A ferm:n at the funeral 
 gion ; making them fenfibleofthefinceri- 
 ty of his foul, and his hearty pood-will to 
 them, he was far from maintaining a 
 difference upon the account of ftoutnefs 
 of humour, or keeping up the reputati- 
 on of a feci or party, being deCrous we 
 we mould be all united in the general 
 religion of Jefus Chrift,and fludying to 
 make friends, and unite the hearts of 
 thofe who had been divided by names 
 and parties, and thus, if at firft he did 
 not prevail over mens prejudices, yet he 
 failed not to gain their hearts ; and fo, 
 by degrees, made way for his feafonable 
 difcourfes, and O what holy charms 
 and pious arts had he to catch mens 
 fouls, and to make them purfue their 
 own happinefs ? a charity which he 
 thought far fuperiorto any that could 
 be done for the body, ( though he was 
 eminent in that kind alfo), and of which 
 he w r ould fpeak with the greateft con- 
 cern and emotion of fpirit. how many 
 arts had he to better them, and make 
 them good and happy ? his love made 
 him always as intent upon this, as the 
 love of money will make the covetous 
 
of Mr. HENRY SCOUGAL. 3 6 7 
 man bend all his thoughts and defigns 
 to add to his treafure. how would he 
 take advantage from every thing, to 
 make all things work together for their 
 good ? hefeemed to be the vifible fpring 
 that put all good defigns in motion for 
 bettering the ftate of our church, he 
 was the genius that put life 2nd fpirit in- 
 to the ferious ftudies and pious endea- 
 vours of thofehe con verfed with, how 
 careful was he to propagate everywhere 
 right apprehenfions of religion ? and 
 what a vifible influence had he among 
 us in this matter ? what wife methods 
 had he to make his friends fenfible of 
 their infirmities and failings, by fpeak- 
 ing to them of his own ? and to ftir 
 them up to zeal and diligence in piety 
 and good works, and to the ufe of the 
 mod effectual means for purifying their 
 fouls , by telling them inftances of the 
 piety and life of others of his acquain- 
 tance ? he was careful even to make 
 his ordinary converfation ufeful for 
 this end, both in giving the example of 
 an unaffected modefty and meeknefs, and 
 dropping in always fomething that might 
 
3 68 Afermon at the funeral 
 make them more in love with religion 
 and goodnefs. the effects of his love 
 and care of mens fouls extended even 
 to thofe who knew him not; and he 
 obliged always his friends and acquain- 
 tances, as there was occafion, to em- 
 ploy the intereft of their friendfhip and 
 familiarity with others, in perfuading 
 them to piety and a good life; and al- 
 luring them to the reading ofgood books, 
 and fuch other means, as might ferve 
 both to enlighten and purify them, and 
 when he heard of the good fruits of fuch 
 defigns, how much would he be cheer- 
 ed with it ? his love and veneration for 
 good men was lingular and extraordi- 
 nary ; nothing he more delighted in 
 than their pious converfation : and he 
 could fo well reprefent their piety and 
 good life to others, as to make them 
 enamoured with it too. 
 
 His love and charity were eminent aU 
 fo in the bounty of his alms, and the 
 relief of the outward necefhties of others. 
 the fird money he gained being at the 
 imiverfity, he was careful to lay by a 
 portion of it^ for the poor, before he 
 
af Mr. HENRY SCOUGAL. 369 
 
 made any ufe of it for himfelf; devoting, 
 as it were, the firft fruits unto God. 
 and this courfe he obferved throughout 
 the reft of his life, laying afide always 
 a portion of his income for the relief 
 of the neceflitous. this has been the 
 practice of many charitable perfons, 
 as the beft method to fecure a flock for 
 their charity; to make them give it 
 with a liberal and willing mind ; and to 
 feek out fit objects for it. were this 
 practice more frequently obferved, it 
 would undoubtedly make Chriftians 
 more bountiful, and their charity and 
 alms more profitable to themfelves 
 and others, and a tenth thus chearfully 
 beftowed, accompanied with the other 
 exercifesofa pious life, would undoubt- 
 edly bring in its hundred-fold ofbleffings 
 in this world, and in the world to come 
 lifeeverlafting. and, as he was careful 
 thus to provide for charity and alms> 
 fo alfo to difpofe of it aright, he i did 
 ' not his alms to be feenofmen ;' many 
 were revived by his bounty, who knew 
 nothing of it. he chofe out fomefit per- 
 fons, both in the city and the country. 
 
370 Aft } in on at the funeral 
 who wereacquainted with the neceflities 
 and ftraits of poor, modeft, honed 
 houfe-keepers, to whom he frequently 
 gave money to relieve their wants, and 
 thefe were fometimes honeft perfons of 
 different perfuafions, who were relieved 
 in their ftraits they knew not by whom, 
 a noble example of Chriftian charity ! 
 blefTedbe God there are yet fome fparks 
 of it in the world. God grant fuch pi- 
 ous examples may encourage and ftir up 
 more to a Chriftian imitation of them, 
 nor was his charity fo exemplary only 
 in the liberal difpenfing of portions of 
 his yearly incomes, but alfo in fuch a 
 prudent difpofition of what the wifdom 
 of Providence, and his pious father's 
 care had provided for him in his laft will 
 and teftament, as might moft tend to the 
 publick good and advantage ; as will in 
 due time appear. 
 
 But, among the other expreflions of 
 his love, his friendfhip fure deferves a 
 grateful remembrance, friendfnip, the 
 flower of fociety, the eafe of our griefs, 
 the heightener and refiner of our joys, 
 our guide and counfellor, and the life 
 
of Mr. HENRY SCOUGAL. 37 1 
 of angels ! many have made fine pictures 
 of it; but the want of true friendfhip 
 has been generally the obfervation and 
 complaint of all men. butO ! how emi- 
 nent an example was he of fincere and 
 hearty friendfhip ? this was the darling 
 of his foul, and the delight of his fpirit. 
 he did not act it to ferve little defigns, 
 and private interefts ; but he was full 
 of cordial love and affection, even like 
 the love of Jonathan, how freely would 
 he open his heart, and unbofom his 
 thoughts, and give faithful counfel to 
 his friend ! how dear were his interefts 
 to him, and how wifely would he ma- 
 nage them ! if there was any worldly 
 thing that was apt to create grief and 
 trouble to him, it was the difafters or 
 bad fuccefs that befel them : and their 
 happy events would forefrefh and cheer 
 his fpirits, that, as has been taken no- 
 tice of, it had even influence on his 
 fickly body, and would give it fome 
 greater meafure of health, how readily 
 would he forego his own interefts to ob- 
 lige his friend, and deny himfelf, as is 
 well known to fome, even in thofe de- 
 
372 Afermon at the funeral 
 figns and inclinations for which ufually 
 we have a great concern when we are 
 once engaged in them ? fofar was he from 
 defiring to ingrofs the love and kindnefs 
 of his friends, that he made it his great 
 bufinefs and delight to propagate true 
 friendfhip, and make them friends to one 
 another, and in this he (In died to ren- 
 der it themoftufeful thing in the world, 
 and to make it ferve the great ends of 
 piety and religion, thofe in whom he 
 obferved the fpirit of true piety and 
 goodnefs, or any appearance and like- 
 lihood of the one's having influenceon, 
 and bettering the other's life and prac- 
 tice, he endeavoured to bring them in- 
 to acquaintance and familiarity ; to en- 
 dear them to each other, and to make 
 their friendfhip ufeful for promoting 
 true piety and goodnefs, both in them- 
 selves and others, and this perhaps is 
 themoft effectual means for recovering 
 fomething of the ancient Chriftian fpirit 
 in the world, many methods have been 
 fet on foot, under pretence of effectu- 
 ating this defign. in the Greek and 
 Roman churches, men have formed new 
 
of Mr. HENRY SCOUGAL. 3 73 
 focieties, inftituted new orders, engaged 
 them to peculiar vows, and given them 
 particular religions, as they call them, 
 fubordinate to the general religion of 
 Jefus Chrift. and among thofe whom 
 the grofs corruptions and tyranny of 
 the Roman church, both in faith and 
 wo r (hip, have thru ft from their com- 
 munion, many have groundlefly feparat- 
 ed from one another, and formed diftinct 
 feels and parties, but how little either 
 of thefe have contributed to the pro- 
 moting of true piety andgoodnefs, ex- 
 perience may make the world fenfible. 
 the defigns of the former have ended in 
 raifing the fplendor and revenues each 
 of their peculiar order, in magnifying 
 its rules in oppofition to others, in ob- 
 ferving their particular inftitutions, 
 which become matter of mere formality 
 and cuftom; " having a mew of humi- 
 " lity and will-wormip,but do not tend 
 u to the purifying of the confeience: ' 
 and the reft of the people are apt to 
 think they have not fuch obligations to 
 piety and a good life, as if the care of 
 that were only incumbent on thofe who 
 I i 
 
374 A jermon at the funeral 
 had peculiarly afTumed to themfelves 
 the title of Religious, and the zeal and 
 endeavours of the latter are ufually fpent 
 in keeping up the reputation of their 
 feci and party, in thofe things efpecially 
 wherein they differ from others ; and 
 this ordinarily makes the ftudies and 
 defigns on all fides to run into this chan- 
 nel, but perhaps, if, inftead of fuch 
 groundlefs divifionsand fchifms,and pe- 
 culiar inftitutions and vows, undertak- 
 en upon pretence of bettering the ftate 
 of religion, more care were had to en- 
 tertain and propagate an holy and fin- 
 cere friendfhip, we might fee more 
 bleffed fruits of it ; whilft, by the friend- 
 ly communications of the ferious, their 
 fentiments about religion would be 
 mutually cleared, their minds united, 
 and they inftrucled in the beft means of 
 purifying their hearts, inflamed with 
 one another's zeal, and ftirred up to 
 fpread the fame temper among others, 
 as far as their influences could reach, 
 fuch an holy combination (not to ob- 
 ferve the vows of any particular order, 
 or to divide from the reft of the world, 
 
ofMr.HENRTSCOUGAL. 375- 
 but) to follow Jefus ; to live according 
 to his holy religion, and to pcrfuadeo- 
 thers who profefs it to a fin cere confor- 
 mity thereunto ; O how defirable were 
 it ! it was thus, methinks, that the 
 Son of God did at firft fpread his reli- 
 gion in the world ; it was thus that the 
 zeal and piety of his firft followers did 
 continue it; and it is thus that we muft 
 expect to fee the life and fpirit of it to 
 breathe once again amongft us. 
 
 And now I need not fpeak much of 
 the purity and cleannefs of his heart, 
 and his great unconcernednefs for this 
 prefent world, it having been the ge- 
 neral obfervation of all that knew him, 
 he looked indeed always as a ftranger 
 and pilgrim in it; and was dead to it 
 in heart and fpirit long before his body 
 had taken leave of it. good God ! what 
 a deep fenfe had he of the meannefs and 
 vanity of this world's hurry and de- 
 figns, which he ufed to fay looked to 
 him like the projects and fcuffle of child- 
 ren and fools? in his very youth his 
 heart was clear of any inclination to it ; 
 and he would even then fay to his in- 
 Ii 2 
 
i,y6 A fermon at the funeral 
 timates, that, abftracling from the will 
 of God, mere curiofity would make him 
 long for another world, it being a te- 
 dious thing to fee ft ill the fame dull play 
 acted over again here, what little regard 
 had he to the getting or keeping of what 
 the world calls wealth and riches ? never 
 was he feen to have any project that 
 tended that way. he could fcarce expend 
 any thoughts about his yearly incomes, 
 but remitted (till the care of that too- 
 thers, without calling them to an ac- 
 count, how excellently had he learned 
 his matter's leflon, c to take no thought 
 * what he mould eat, what he fhould 
 i drink, or wherewithal he fhould be 
 ' clothed !' never anything he was more 
 unconcerned in than this, whatever was 
 fet before him for the fuftentation ofhis 
 body, he did eat of it, asking no quefti- 
 ons for appetite's fake, his thoughts and 
 his fpirit were never taken up with thofe 
 actions of the animal life, even when he 
 was about them; and, while he fupport- 
 ed nature, he fcarce fuffered his tafte to 
 have any complacency in them, he 
 thought ftrange to fee thofe who pre- 
 
of Mr. HENRY SCOUGAL. $71 
 tended to a Chriftian temperance, exer- 
 cife fuch voluptuous pleafure in their 
 meats, making them the fubject of their 
 table-talk, and, as if they owned their 
 bellies for their gods, profefling they 
 loved fuch and fuch dimes with all their 
 fouls, alas ! that the weaknefs and infir- 
 mity of human nature, by which we are 
 levelled with the beads, mould become 
 the matter of our vanity and voluptu- 
 oufnefs, inftead of that humble and a- 
 bafing fenfe we ought to have of our- 
 1 elves. 
 
 The innocence and purity of his life. 
 was obfervablefrom his very childhood, 
 he was never tinctured with the lead 
 appearances of thofe impurities which 
 are the reproach of the Chriflian world* 
 how great an example was he of Chrif- 
 tian continence and celibacy to ail that 
 knew him ? his very air and converfa- 
 tion (hewed how much he was mortified 
 to the world in this refpect. he had no 
 fmall abhorrence of all difcourfes and 
 actions that favoured any thing of impu- 
 rity 5 and could not endure the obfcene 
 1*3 
 
378 A fermon at the funeral 
 wit of thofe who were apt to wreft the 
 talk of mens ordinary difcourfe that way. 
 As the pleafurcs and pomp of the 
 world could never bewitch, fo the hard- 
 fhips and troubles of it did never opprefs 
 and overcome his fpirit; but, in all con- 
 ditions, his mind feemed always equal, 
 and conftant to itfelf. when he lived in 
 the country, the hardfhlps and incon- 
 veniencies he then endured, were the 
 common talk of all that knew him : his 
 coarfe fare, and hard lodging, and un- 
 wonted folitude, the extreme coldnefs 
 of the feafon, and the comfortlefs fliel- 
 ters he had again (1 it, did excite the 
 compafTion of others, but never lelTened 
 the quiet and contentednefs of his fpi- 
 rit; and he fuffered them with as much 
 patience, as if he had been bred up from 
 his infancy in the Turkifh gallies. any 
 traverfes that befel him in the circum- 
 itances of his life and defigns, did never 
 becloud the natural ferenity and chear- 
 fulnefs of his mind : and he ufed to fay 
 in relation to fuch difcontents, that as 
 he blefled God he was not naturally 
 melancholy, fo he thought an acquired 
 
of Mr. HENRY SCOUGAL . 379 
 melancholy was fcandalousin a clergy- 
 man. 
 
 And O what a profound humility of 
 foul did mine forth in his life and acti- 
 ons ! the admiration of the perfections 
 of the Almighty, in the contemplation 
 of which he was often taken up, had 
 funk him into truly mean thoughts of 
 hJmfelf. all who had occafion to con- 
 verfe with him, were fenfible ot the low- 
 linefs of his mind ; and yet he fcarce ever 
 obferved thofe little officious ceremo- 
 nies or compliments, which we mult oft- 
 times make ufe of to cover or counteract 
 the pride of our fpirits, or which it 
 prompts us to traffick with, to purchafe 
 the regard and efteem of others, hedif- 
 dained not to converfe with the mean- 
 eft, and looked upon every man as his 
 fellow and companion, and the exem- 
 plary regard he had to young children, 
 was equally the expreflion of his humi- 
 lity and his love, how ready was he on 
 all occafions to converfe with them, 
 taking a Angular delight in their harm- 
 lefs innocence, and ufually, after the 
 example of the great mafter of love> 
 
3 80 Afermon at the funeral 
 affectionately embracing and bleffing 
 them ? and fuch was the pious meeknefs 
 of his foul towards others, that if at 
 any time his natural temper raifed any 
 little commotion in his fpirit, (which 
 was fcarce ever taken notice of after his 
 entering into the holy function), yet he 
 quickly appeafed it, and never fnfTered 
 the fun to go down upon his wrath, he 
 was never feen to boaft of any of his 
 performances, nor yet to ufe the finer 
 and more fubtije fetch of vain-glory, in 
 an elaborate undervaluing of them, that 
 others might commend them, but the 
 exprefHon s of hi s mean thoughts ofhim- 
 felf were always fo natural, and fo full of 
 fimplicity,that one might eafily obferve 
 them to arife from the bottom of his 
 foul; and all his actions and his conver- 
 fation made appear the truth and fincc- 
 rity of them, though his piety and 
 innocence were eminent in the eyes of 
 all that knew him, yet he had no fmall 
 fenfe of his ownunworrhinefs, when he 
 fet himfelf in the light of Cod's count e- 
 nance, beheld his purity, and thought on 
 his infinite goodnefs and mercy to him in 
 
of Mr. HENRT SCOUOJL. 381 
 Jefus Chrift,( about which his thoughts 
 were frequently taken up). Ohow deep- 
 ly was he humbled under the fenfe of 
 his finfulnefs and ingratitude, and the 
 little returns he had made to fuch unde- 
 ferved goodnefs ! when we are in a total 
 darknefs, we cannot difcern one thing 
 from another; and an ordinary light 
 willdifcover to us the groffer lineaments 
 and more remarkable differences of 
 things: but fome beams darted in from 
 the fun will fhew us much impurity and 
 foulnefs, where we thought all to have 
 been pure and clean, and O with what 
 ferioufnefs and fimplicity did this en- 
 lightened foul exprefs the fenfe he had 
 of the finfulnefs of his nature, and the 
 worthlefsnefs of his perfon ! almoft the 
 very I a ft words he fpoke were to this 
 purpofe, uttered with an extraordinary 
 devotion of fpirit. after having witnef- 
 fed his refignation to the will of God, 
 and his humble hopes- in his mercy and 
 goodnefs: But, fays he, when you have 
 the charity to remember me in your 
 prayers, do not think me abetter man 
 than 1 am ; but look upon me as indeed 
 
g 8 2 Afermon at the funeral 
 I am, a mod miferable finner. a moft 
 miferable finner! ' O if the righteous 
 * fcarcely be faved, where fhall the un- 
 i & oc % and the wicked appear !' 
 
 But I forbear to mention any farther 
 the graces and virtues which mined forth 
 in the life and fpiritof our friend, the 
 experience which many of you have had 
 of them in his converfation, will furnifh 
 you with a better fenfe of them than all 
 I can fay. as to the particular inftances 
 I have given, there are more than one 
 or two here prefent who can bear witnefs 
 to the truth of them, and I hope there 
 are none here will think me guilty of Co 
 much impudence, as to utter falfhoods 
 of him in a place where he was fo well 
 known, and where there are fo many fo 
 well acquainted with moft of the im- 
 portant and private p a fTages of his life, 
 no. I know you are fenfible how far 
 fhort all I have faid comes of his true 
 worth, he had need be endued with the 
 fame fpirit, that would fpeak aright of 
 him ; and true goodnefs cannot be ex- 
 preiTed, but felt. 
 
 Give me leave only to join in with 
 
of Mr. HENRY SCOUGJL. 383 
 your meditations, and to think with you 
 on the leflbns we may learn from the 
 prefent difpenfation, according to our 
 different relations and circumftances. 
 
 And now, good people, let us confi- 
 der his example, and our early lofs of 
 him. O that we would once learn to be 
 wife, and to live like Chriftians ! you 
 are all fenfible what an eminent exam- 
 ple he hath given us : and, alas ! what 
 hinders that we mould not be followers 
 of him, even as healfo was of Chrift! 
 how may we fee in him all our little pre- 
 tences and prejudices againft piety and 
 goodnefs darned and confounded ? where 
 is the man that will fay, he taftes as 
 much folid pleafure in his jollity and 
 cups, that his lufts and vices create in 
 him as great a ferenity of mind, afford 
 him as much comfort, difpofe him to as 
 much patience and contentednefs in any 
 condition, as were always feen to be the 
 reward and bleffingofthe innocence and 
 goodnefs of his life? when did ever 
 fuch an univerfal efteem and love wait 
 upon a bad man to his grave, as we fee 
 hath accompanied the piety and virtue 
 
3$ 4 Afermon at the funeral 
 of one who was ambitious of nothing 
 iefs than the glory of men ; while yet 
 all mouths are opened in his praife, eve- 
 ry man fpeaks good of him, and perfons 
 of all feels and perfuafions amongft us 
 lament his lofs, and bedew his hear'fe 
 with tears ? O how peaceful and re- 
 figned do we fee the death of the righ- 
 teous ! and how unlike mufl: ours be to 
 xXy if we will not live their life ! what an 
 uniformity is there in the virtue and 
 innocence of that life that fprings from 
 true goodnefs, and the love of God ? 
 and O how void mull: we be of it, how 
 palpable our hypocrify, if our actions 
 contradict one the other ; if we blefs 
 God, and yet curfe and do evil to our 
 neighbour ; if we confefs and beg par- 
 don for our fins, and yet breathe and 
 meditate revenge againft others, and if 
 we have not a refpedt to all his com- 
 mandments ! if we muft needs looku- 
 pon the faints and holy men of God in 
 old time, as if they had been creatures 
 of another nature, and confider their 
 example asdifproportionedto our con- 
 dition t vet here we have feen one con- 
 
of Mr. HENRY SCQUGAL. 385 
 verfing amongft us like to ourfelves, 
 fubjecl to the fame paflions, temptations, 
 and infirmities, and yet conquering all 
 thefe through Chrifl that ftrengthened 
 him, and why mould we turn offallfe- 
 rious thoughts to old age, as if we were 
 then only fit for God, when we were fit 
 for nothing elfe ! may not the piety 
 and innocence of his youth, fliame us 
 into abetter mind, and more Chriftiaa 
 lives ! i for honourable age is not that 
 1 which ftandeth in length of time, nor 
 1 that is meafured by number of years. 
 i but wifdom is the gray hair unto men, 
 ' and an unfpotted life is old age. thus 
 € the righteous that is dead, mail con- 
 'demn the ungodly which are living; 
 ' and youth that is foon perfected, the 
 c many years and old age of the un- 
 1 righteous.' 
 
 And O what (hall we fay of that Di- 
 vine providence, which hath taken this 
 light from among us ! the ways of the 
 Lord are wonderful, and his judgments 
 are a great deep, one who was fo great 
 an example of piety, an ornament to 
 his country and the church, is quickly 
 Kk 
 
3B6 Afermon at the funeral 
 removed from us in his youth : and ma- 
 ny who are the reproach of religion, 
 the fcandal of the world, and.the fhame 
 ■•of human nature, are left todd age ; 
 whether to fill up the meafure of their 
 fins, or to lead them to repentance, God 
 knows, he whom God hadblefTed with 
 fo much light to initrucl us, and virtue 
 and zeal to direct us ; who was fo help- 
 ful to enlighten us by his fermons and 
 difcourfes, and to edify us by his ex- 
 ample, is fuddenly fnatched away from 
 us. O that we may c hear the rod, and 
 4 him who hath appointed it ! ' when we 
 make no ufe of God's talents, (fuch 
 are the inftrucYions, and counfel, and 
 example of good men),he takes them 
 from us. alas ! what an ill account can 
 we render of this ? could we almoft 
 imagine fermons more ferlous, affecti- 
 onate, and heavenly ; and yet wherein 
 have we been prevailed with to better 
 our lives, to forego one vice we were 
 otherways inclined to, or to do that 
 good we were averfe to? all the ufe 
 we make of his example is, to feem to 
 approve and commend it; but wherein 
 
of Mr. HENRY SCOUGAL. 387 
 do we imitate it ? do we think that o- 
 ther helps would do better, that other 
 means and circumftances would have 
 more influence on our lives ? alas ! my 
 brethren, they that' will not hear Mofes 
 ' and the prophets, neither will they be 
 1 perfuaded though one fnould rife from 
 ' the dead.' but we arc ufually moil fen- 
 fibie of the worth of worldly bleflings,. 
 and mod thankful for them, when God 
 takes them from us. and O that our ap- 
 petite may be thus at lead quickened for 
 fpiritual bleflings 1 O that our prefent 
 lofs may have this influence upon us, 
 that we may be truly fenfible of God's 
 goodnefs in beftowing this blefllng fo 
 long upon us, that we may adore his 
 providence in depriving us of it, and 
 that the impreflions he hath left on our 
 minds of his life and fpirit, and the feed 
 of the gofpelhe hath fown in our hearts, 
 may by God's grace yet bring forth fruit 
 itius. finally, my brethren, ' whatfoever 
 1 things are true, v/hatfoever things are 
 i honeft, whatfoever things arejuft, &c, 
 * thofe things which ye have both learn- 
 6 ed and received, and heard and feen in 
 Kk2 
 
3 S 5 A fermon at the funeral 
 
 1 him, do; and the God of peace (halite 
 
 * with you.' 
 
 And you, my friends, who were his 
 more peculiar care,his children, of whom 
 he travailed in birth till Chrift mould be 
 formed in you, whom he was fo feli- 
 citous to have fitted for the fervice of 
 jefus, and the care of fouls ; alas ! who 
 can blame your tears, or with-hold 
 your grief? * My father, my father, 
 1 the chariot of Ifrael, and the horfemen 
 
 * thereof. ' it is not poffible for me to 
 *xprefsthe bleffing you had in him: I 
 know your own hearts are fenfible of 
 it beyond all I can fay. O what an 
 ufeful guide and director was he ! how 
 dear were you unto him ! how unaffec- 
 tedly humble and ingenuous in his con- 
 verfation ! how wife and pious were 
 his inftruclions and advices ! how much 
 were his thoughts taken up about you, 
 making them all ferve for his great de- 
 sign of fitting you for the holy function ! 
 and how great and unfpeakable is your 
 lofs ! O let us adore, and fubrnit to the 
 Divine providence, fearch and try your 
 hearts, and confider your ways, and 
 
ofMr.HENRYSCOUGAl. 380 
 reckon what fruit you have brought 
 forth worthy of fuch a bleffing ; and 
 whether you have not deferved the re- 
 moval of that light, while you have been 
 fo little careful to be enlightened by his 
 inltruclions, or warmed by his piety 
 and zeal. God withdraws from us fuch 
 ufefulblefTings, to ftir us up to (hake off 
 our (loth, and to a more ardent care 
 and endeavour for the enlightening of 
 our minds, and the purifying of our 
 hearts, for which his life and fpirit would 
 have been fo ufeful to us. if you would 
 let the world fee what efteem you had 
 for him, ifyou would not be guilty of 
 the abufe ind mifimprovement of cne 
 of the greateft bleflings you ever had, 
 remember his inductions, follow his 
 advices, and (ludy to be what of all the 
 world he was mod defirous you mould 
 be; make it appear that his labour is 
 not in vain. i you have known his 
 'doctrine, manner of life, purpofe, faith, 
 ' long-fuffering, charity, and patience.' 
 you may remember how he behaved 
 himfelf among you; what, and how he 
 mftrucled you. you know how defirous 
 Kk3 
 
joo Afirmon at the funeral 
 fce was, both to have you good men, 
 and well fitted for the holy miniftry. 
 confider how, above all things, he di- 
 rected you to the purifying of your 
 hearts, and theexercifes of true repen- 
 tance, think what gravity he required 
 in your behaviour, what modefly and 
 humility in your words and conventi- 
 on, anfwerable to your defigning fuch 
 an employment ; what abftraclion from 
 unfuitahle bufinefs or company, call to 
 mind the care he had of directing your 
 ftudies aright ; how he diverted you 
 from fuch learning as was not apt to give 
 youafenfeof piety and religion; took 
 you off from an itching curiofity about 
 queflions and flrifcs of words, which 
 minifter to vanity and contention ; 
 perfuaded you to cleannefs of heart, 
 truly pious defigns, and frequent devo- 
 tion, as the bed difpofitions and helps 
 for knowledge ; and directed you to 
 fuch books and ftudies as might ferve 
 to give you a right and deep fenfe of 
 Chriflianity, and of the importance and 
 duties of the holy function, remember 
 how much he bewailed the unfeemly 
 
of Mr. HENRY SCOUGAL. 391 
 hade, and unfit methods and arts which 
 fome ufed, to thruftthemfelves into the 
 holy miniftry ; and admired the different 
 conduct of the holy men in old times; who 
 fenfible of its great weight, and appre- 
 henfive of their own infufficiency, were 
 ahnoft always forced to it by the people, 
 and the governors of the church, con- 
 fider,I befeech you, of what importance 
 he thought it both for your own fouls, 
 and thofe which might be your charge, 
 that you (honld ufe all prudent means 
 fincerely to examine yourfelves before- 
 hand, of your fitnefs both in heart and 
 fpirit for that employment, and the pu- 
 rity of your intentions, defigning truly 
 the fervice ofjefus Chrift, and the good 
 of mens fouls, and not the fordid ends 
 of vanity,worldIy-mindcdnefs, or ambi- 
 tion, and O that thefe things may fink 
 into your hearts ! and that you may 
 continue in the things you have learned 
 of him, and have been aflTured of, know- 
 ing of whom you have learned them ! 
 
 And you whom providence hath in- 
 truded with the care and education of 
 the youth, pardon me alfo to call to 
 
39- Afennonat the funeral 
 
 mind the example of our dear friend, 
 whilehe made one of your fociety. you 
 know you have the charge of the hopes 
 of the next generation ; and that the 
 welfare both of the church and (late, 
 and their own good and happinefs, doth 
 very much depend upon the right for- 
 ming of their minds and tempers in 
 their younger years ; and that, as the 
 making this your great defign in that 
 employment, doth molt, tend to promote 
 it; fo you can never more ferve your 
 own intereits in it. all callings have 
 their feveral temptations ; and diviGons, 
 or flotb, or intereft, or ignorance, may 
 be the bane of this, the ill management 
 of it has a more univerfally bad influ- 
 ence on the world, than that of mo-t 
 other employments, as the happy fruits 
 of the faithful difcharge ofitdoth as far 
 tranfcend many others, we are all made 
 for eternity; snd we cannot go about any 
 thing aright, if our eye be not fixed upon 
 its end, and if all fubordinate ends have 
 not a refpecl to the great end of our be- 
 ing, the holy calling has this for its im- 
 mediate end and delign ; and ; next to 
 
of Mr. HENRY SCOUGAL. 393. 
 it, yours has the neareft relation to it. 
 we are fet apart to declare the light 
 which Jefus Chrift has revealed from 
 heaven, by which ' he brought life and 
 i immortality to light through the gof- 
 * pel ;' and you, to clear up the remains 
 of the light of nature that is within us; 
 and he that dwells in light inacceffible, 
 is the fountain and author of both, we 
 ought to be careful, that men be not 
 mifled by falfe lights, nor miftake dark- 
 nefs for light, and to perfuade them to 
 live by the light of Jefus Chrift: and 
 you are to beware, that we do not take 
 the prejudices of childhood, cuftom, 
 and education, our own or other mens 
 foolifh fancies, for clear notions and 
 lights of ourunderftanding. as the bad 
 ufeofour reafon, and the confufion of 
 the light of nature, has made men per- 
 vert or disbelieve the light of Jefus 
 Chrift ; fo the fincere and right ufe of it 
 doth ftrangely difpofe us to receive that 
 light, to admire and love it, and to lead 
 our lives accordingly, true philofophy 
 leadrus to acknowledge ond adore the 
 author of our being; to admire his 
 
394 A fcrmon at the funeral 
 infinite perfections, from the vaftnefs, 
 order, and ufefulnefs of his works ; to 
 be fenfible of his abfolute difpofalofall 
 things, and our entire dependence upon 
 him for life, thought, and motion, it 
 (hews us the fpiritual nature of our im- 
 mortal fouls, and the meannefs and va- 
 nity of fenfual pleafures. it difcovers to 
 us the fhortnefs ofourreafon,and the lit- 
 tle ground we have for vanity, either for 
 our knowledge, who know fo few and fo 
 little of his works, or for what we are or 
 can do, who owe all to him, and bear Co 
 mean a proportion to the univerfe of 
 bodies and fpirits. it lets us fee, that 
 our only happinefs were to have our 
 wills united to his ; and mews us, that 
 we mould love him above all, and have 
 an univerfal love for all men ; and that 
 all our felicity confiits in ftudying thus 
 heartily the common good of the world, 
 it gives occafion to make us fenfible of 
 the ftrange corruption of our hearts, 
 and how far we are from being what we 
 mould be, and how unable we are to give 
 ourfelves thole difpofitions of love, and 
 fear,and reverence, that we owe our Mar 
 
cfMr. HENRT SCOUGAL. 39; 
 ker.and thus it leads us to the Redeemer 
 of mankind, and makes appear how much 
 need we have of his grace and truth, 
 I doubt not but thefe, and fuch like 
 considerations, do engage you to make 
 this your great view and defign, to dif- 
 pofe the youth, both by your inftrucli- 
 ons and example, to aright fenfe ofre* 
 ligion, and fuitable apprehenfions of the 
 Maker of the world, and the Redeemer 
 of mankind ; without which view phi- 
 lofophy is altogether vain and imperti- 
 nent, and you yourfeives know how 
 exemplary your friend was in making it 
 ufeful for this end. his pious and 
 Chriftian Ethicks, his peaceable and 
 devout life, his private inflxucYion and 
 training up of the youth, in order to this 
 defign, will be lafting remembrances of 
 it to many ages. 
 
 And now, my brethren, what mail 
 we fay, or whither (hall we turn our 
 thoughts ! alas ! our lofs is great and 
 unfpeakable. how much do we (land in 
 need of fuch lights and examples ! alas ! 
 how weighty is our employment ! what 
 prudence and piety does it call for! 
 
39 6 Afermon at the funeral 
 how dangerous is the neglect, or ill ma- 
 nagement of it ! what need have we of 
 flich a monitor to make off our floth, 
 and awe, and inftrudt. us by his ex- 
 ample ! i Parifhes are holy fhips,' as 
 one fays *, ' whofe Curates are the pi- 
 1 lots, and eternity the port they muft 
 
 * guide them to. if it need fo much art 
 4 and fo long experience to fail upon 
 < the feas, what knowledge and pru- 
 1 dence does it call for, to pafs over 
 
 * happily the fea of this world, where 
 ' tempefts never ceafe ? alas ! who can 
 4 think, without fenfible grief and bitter 
 4 tears, that the helm of thefe veflels, 
 4 which contain fuch precious wares, as 
 4 coft no lefs than the blood of God, 
 ( mould be committed ordinarily to men 
 4 of fo little experience; that they are 
 4 not only ignorant of the tempefts, 
 4 fhelves, and banks of this terrible fea, 
 4 but even have not the ftrength and in- 
 4 duftry to guide their own little veflel 
 4 back to the road ? and thofe inefti- 
 1 mable riches are frequently intruded 
 4 to thofe whom they will not truft with 
 4 a purfe of fifteen or twenty pieces. 
 
 * Entrctlcns it VAbbe Jean, &c. p. 370. 
 
of Mr. HENRT SCOUGAL, ?9 7 
 but, even when the pilots are able, 
 who would not at hft lofe their cou- 
 rage to fee themfelves failing a mid ft 
 fo many hazards, and with fo little 
 fuccefs ? how many ftupid ones fall 
 out of the veiTel ? how many impru- 
 dent ones get out to fail apart in (hal- 
 lops ? how many defperate ones throw 
 themfelves over, and abandon them- 
 felves to the fury of the waves ? what 
 difquiets, what griefs, and what trou- 
 ble for the poor pilot ? he mud run 
 on all fides to reach out his hand to 
 thofe that fall, he muft exhauft his 
 lungs, in trying to call thofc that flee 
 away, be muft even frequently throw 
 himfelf into the fca, to recover thofc 
 whom the waves fwallow up. if he 
 watch not, the fall of the firft will be 
 imputed to him. if he be filent, he will 
 anfwer for the flight of the fecond. 
 if he fear labour and travail, he will 
 be accufed of the other's defpair. if, 
 in a word, he want vigilance, ftrength, 
 and courage, he will be guilty of as 
 many bloodfheds as he lets fouls pe- 
 rifh.' this is a faint image of our con- 
 LI 
 
398 Afirmon at the funeral 
 dition. how may thefe thoughts fill us 
 with aflonifhment and fear ? what a 
 risk do we run while we are engaged 
 in fucha dangerousemployment ? what 
 piety, and prudence, and vigilance, and 
 courage, does it call for? how flrange- 
 ly does our floth and negligence infect 
 one another, and lull us into careleiTnefs, 
 till the waves fwallow us up ? what 
 need have we of fome to call upon us, 
 to mind us of cur danger, to make us 
 afhamed of our floth, and to ftir us up 
 by their example ? and what a blefling 
 was our friend to us in this refpe<fr ? 
 how did he infpire life and fpirit in all 
 good defigns amongft us, and ftir us up 
 to our duty by his publick and private 
 care, as far as his influences could reach, 
 and by his example? how well did he 
 anfwer the character of a good man, and 
 a good clergyman ? his innocency was 
 eminent and obfervable from his child- 
 hood ; fo that he had a good report 
 from them that were without, he had 
 been trained up from a child in the ho- 
 ly fcriptures ; and fuch inilruclions as 
 might infpire hira with the ri^ht know- 
 
Mr. HENRY SCOUGAL. 399 
 
 ledge of them, and a deep fenfe of reli- 
 gion \ and which might make him wife 
 unto falvation. as he had been devoted 
 for the holy calling from his infancy, 
 fo he was called to it by the authority 
 and hearty approbation of thofe who 
 are impowered by God, having the in- 
 ward teftimony of a good confcience, 
 and of the purity of his intentions ; far 
 from any defign of vain glory or in- 
 tereft. his mind was ftored with all fort 
 of knowledge without vanity or con- 
 tention, his piety was eminent and fin- 
 gular, always accompanied with an un- 
 affected humility, his fpirit and difpo- 
 fition was ever peaceable, his love to 
 God, and mens fouls, made him Rudy 
 the divine art of becoming all things 
 to all men that he might favefome. none 
 was ever more mortified to covetoufnefs 
 or filthy lucre, his charity and almfgi- 
 vings were exemplary, in all things 
 fhewing himfelf a pattern ofgood works, 
 in his doctrine he (hewed uncorrupted- 
 nefs, gravity, and fincerity, found words 
 that could not be condemned, his dif- 
 courfe was always modeft, and his con- 
 LI 2 
 
400 A fermon at the funeral 
 verfation ufeful. he watched all occafi* 
 ons of doing good to mens fouls, and 
 would not let them flip, never man was 
 more apt to teach, being gentle to all 
 men. thofe that oppofed themfelves to 
 the truth, or were overtaken in a fault, 
 he endeavoured to inftruct, and reftore 
 in the fpirit of meeknefs, avoiding fool- 
 ifh queftions, and ftrifes of words, and, 
 by walking in all good confclence be- 
 fore God and man, he hath, among other 
 things, given a lingular inftance of gain- 
 ing the love and efteem of all, and of 
 preferving his perfon and his office from 
 that contempt which they fay is fo 
 generally thrown upon our order, fo 
 that even fcarce any man defpifed his 
 youth, how may we behold in his life, 
 as in a glafs, the virtues and qualities 
 of a trueMinifterof Jefus Chrift ? what 
 a living inurucYion was it to us, whereby 
 we might obferve our own defects, and 
 be ftirred up to our duty < who can 
 fathom the myfteries of Providence, or 
 tell what judgments may threaten the 
 church by the removal of fuch a burn- 
 ing and mining light ? i the righteous 
 
ofMr.HENRYSCOUGAL. 401 
 1 man periflieth, and no man layeth it to 
 i heart ; merciful men are taken away, 
 'none confidering that it is from the 
 1 evil to come.' O that his life and ex- 
 ample may be yet active among us ; 
 that we may be acted by the fame fpirit, 
 not to mind our own things, but the 
 things of Jefus Chrift ; that we may 
 have pity on ourfelves and this mife- 
 rable church ; that the fenfe of our la- 
 mentable diftra^lions, and the univerfal 
 corruption of mens lives, may fink deep 
 into our hearts ! O that the love of 
 Jefus, and the care of fouls, may infpire 
 our hearts, and direct our ftudies, and 
 enliven our fermons, and increafe our 
 vigilance, and guide our lives ! i Save 
 € us, Lord,orelfe weperifti.' 
 
 And now, my friends, what words 
 or grief can exprefs ourlofs ? you whom 
 nature or choice had more peculiarly 
 endeared to him ; you who were ho- 
 noured with his friendlhip, and blelTed 
 with his converfation ; who were guid- 
 ed by his counfd,and comforted by his 
 prefence ; who was the relifh of your 
 joys, and the eafe of your griefs : * Iain 
 
 Li 3 
 
402 Afermon at the funeral 
 4 diftreffed for thee, my brother ; very 
 ' pleafant haft thou been unto me. thy 
 1 love unto me was wonderful, patting 
 1 the love of women.' but, alas ! what 
 do we mourn our private loffes, when 
 the lofs is fo publickand univerfal,and 
 every man concerned in it ; while it is 
 not the removal of our candle only, but 
 of a light of the world, and a publick 
 good ? every man who knew him, or 
 heard ofhim, claims a (hare in our grief, 
 and bewail their particular lofs in him. 
 the affectionate father remembers a moft 
 dutiful and comfortable fon ; relations 
 cry out of the lofs of their deareft and 
 moil ufeful kinfman; friends bewail 
 their being torn from a friend indeed ; 
 the learned bemoan the want of a great 
 ©wner and promoter of true knowledge ; 
 the youth lament their being deprived 
 of a moft pious, wife, affectionate and 
 ufeful guide ; the poor groan for the 
 lofs of their father ; the devout find 
 the want of a pious direcl or and pattern ; 
 the church feels herfelf deprived of one 
 of her pureft lights ; the clergy are 
 fonfible he was to them an enfample 
 
ofMr.HENRYSCOUGAL. 403 
 and an honour ; the people acknow- 
 ledge they hadableffing of him in his 
 life and doctrine ; the whole nation 
 may feel the want of a great promoter 
 of true loyalty, and all Chriftian virtues 
 and graces, by his example and inftruc- 
 tions,and are fenfible what an honour 
 he was to them : yea, the feveral feels 
 among us lament his lofs, and feem to 
 confefs, that a few like him would foon 
 heal ourfchifms; and that his pious life, 
 and meek inftruclions, if any thing, 
 would foon have recovered them from 
 their errors. O how is our lofs fwallow- 
 ed Dp in the publick! l my father, my 
 ' father, the chariots of Ifrael, and the 
 4 horfemen thereof!' 
 
 But whither would our paffions drive 
 us? (hall we forget the governor of the 
 world, and who is * the Lord of life and 
 6 death?' we mud not look on his re- 
 moval from us as a fatal neceflity, or a 
 blind ftroke of chance and fortune ; as 
 the fport of the humours and parts that 
 compofed his body, no, no. the author 
 of the univerfe employs ftill that fame 
 power, and wifdom ; and goodnefs, in 
 
404 Afermon at the funeral 
 ruling the world, that he did in making 
 it. 6 in him we live, and move, and have 
 € our being.' his hand is in every thing 
 that befals us ; all that ftrikes our fenfes, 
 which we fee, or hear, or know, or feel 
 within ourfelves,and impute toother in- 
 ftruments, are really the effects of his 
 power, and are ordered by him for great 
 and wife ends. i a hair of our head does 
 
 * not fall to the ground without his 
 
 * leave.' this that has now befallen us, 
 is an holy indifpenfable effect of a decree 
 of the providence of God, to be executed 
 in its due time, he had not fent him in- 
 to this world for a lafting temporal com- 
 fort unto us, but for the great and wife 
 ends of his own glory, and of the world 
 that is to come, let us not look upon 
 this accident in itfelf, but in God, and 
 in his will, let us, in humble filence, a- 
 dore the unfearchable depth of his fe- 
 crets; acknowledge the holinefs of his 
 decrees; blefs the conduct of his provi- 
 dence; and, (according to that lingu- 
 lar example which we have feen on this 
 occafion, in one of the greateft fatherly 
 affections, heightened by all kinds of 
 
of Mr. HENRY SCDUGAL. 405- 
 pious endearments), uniting our wills 
 to the will of God, and facrilicing our 
 natural paflions unto it, let us walk with 
 him, in him, and for him, and what he 
 hath willed in us, and for us, to all eter- 
 nity. 
 
 And, truly, if we look upon our dear 
 friend, and confider what he hath been, 
 and what he now is, and (hall be to all 
 eternity, it will make us yet the more 
 fenfible how much we ought to refign 
 ourfelvesto, and glorify the will of our 
 heavenly Father in his wife difpofal of 
 him. the life of a Christian is a conti- 
 nual facrifice to God ; crucifying our 
 earthly affections, mortifying our fin- 
 ful paffions, and fubduing our wills to 
 his ; and this facrifice is finifhcd and 
 perfected by death : and the lives of 
 men, and the accidents that befal them, 
 ought to affect our fpirits, according 
 as they break off or advance in facrifl- 
 cing their hearts and lives to God. how 
 comfortable has his life been to us and 
 to all good men in this refpecl ? from 
 the time he was devoted and given unto 
 Jefus Chrift in his baptifm, how has he 
 
40 6 A fermon at the ftmcrat 
 
 been fitted by the grace of the Holy 
 Spirit, to offer up his life a continual 
 facriiice to God ; reftrainingconftantly 
 the corruption of his nature from break- 
 ing out i nto any great impurity or crime, 
 fubduing every day his paflions, puri- 
 fying his affections, ftudying to do eve- 
 rything in and for God, and endeavour- 
 ing a continual refignation of his will 
 to him ? and in this we muft not regret 
 his few years, and the fhortnefs of his 
 days ; for with God i one day is as a 
 c thoufand years, and a thoufand years 
 1 as one day/ length'of life is not to be 
 meafured by many revolutions of the 
 heavens, but by the progrefs we have 
 made in the great defign for which we 
 are fent into the world : and in this 
 refped ( he, being fanclified in a little 
 i time, hath fulfilled a long time;' fo 
 that he hath truly lived much in a few 
 years, and died an old man in eight and 
 twenty, he hath nowfinifhed the work 
 that God had given him to do : he 
 hath accomplifhed the thing for which 
 he was fent into the world : by death 
 he hath now perfected the facriiice of 
 
of Mr. HENRY SCOUGAL. 407 
 hirnfelf, and the will of God is fulfilled 
 in him. whatever horror there may be 
 in death to the natural man, however 
 terrible it is to the wicked and impeni- 
 tent ; yet to the godly, to all that con- 
 (ider it in Jefus Chrifl:, it is full of joy 
 and comfort. * O death, where is thy 
 i fling ? O grave, where is thy victory ? 
 1 the (ling of death is fin, and the ftrength 
 ' of fin is the law. but thanks be to 
 1 God, who hath given us the victory 
 1 through Jefus Chrift our Lord.' he 
 hath made the king of terrors to become 
 the object: of the moll ardent defircs 
 and wifhes of his own ; for, if to us to 
 live be Chrift, fure 
 
 To die is gain, I will not now launch 
 out into this bonndlefs ocean, to fpeak 
 of the unfpeakable happinefs of the 0- 
 ther world, and of the great advantages 
 of the death of thofe whofelife is Chrift's. 
 but O how may this, after the example 
 of the ancient chriftians, fill us with joy 
 and comfort, in the pious and well- 
 grounded hopes of the happinefs of our 
 dear friend ! well may we think we hear 
 him fay, Why do you mourn for me i 
 
40 8 Afermon at the funeral 
 weep not for me, but weep for your- 
 felves; for to me to die is gain, we live 
 frill in a world of fin and mifery, of dark- 
 nefs and folly : we fee nothing here but 
 matter of tears and grief; we are among 
 a crowd of people who are marching on 
 to eternal mifery, who know not but 
 the next flep may bring them to their 
 journey's end; and yet never think of 
 any thing, but filling their bellies, fatis- 
 fying their lulls, or worrying one ano- 
 ther by the way. we have great difficulty 
 to find the ftrait path to eternal life; and, 
 when we know it, and are entered into 
 it, the feeming pleafure of the by-paths, 
 the temptations and example of the 
 throng about us, a rooted corruption 
 within us, and a fubtle enemy that watch- 
 es us, are ready at every itep to betray 
 us, and to turn us afide into the paths 
 that lead to deftruclion : and what a 
 bleffing is it to be freed of all thefe? 
 
 How happy is our friend, who enjoys 
 nosv an abfokite freedom from all the 
 pains, and griefs, and troubles of this 
 miferable world ; who is out of the 
 reach of all thofe temptations and fnares ; 
 
of Mr. HENRY SCOUGAL. 409 
 whofcfoul isunclogged from an earthly 
 body, freed from its guilt, and cleanfed 
 from its corruptions by the blood of 
 Jefus, and put beyond the poffibility of 
 ever finning or offending againft its Ma- 
 ker, which now only begins to live, 
 ( the being born into this world being 
 rather a death, and dying the beginning 
 to live for ever) ; being now all light, 
 and life, and love, and motion, feeing 
 and enjoying God ; having its will 
 wholly fwallowed up in his, being as it 
 were loft in him, and in the rapturous 
 blefs of his love ; joining in pure and 
 holy friend (hip with angels and arch- 
 angels ,and the fpirits of jufl men made 
 perfect, in adoring and admiring our 
 Maker and Redeemer, being enlarged 
 in holy charity and ardent prayers for 
 us poor mortals here below, and re- 
 joicing over one (inner that repenteth ; 
 waiting for the redemption of the body, 
 when this mortal fhall put on immor- 
 tality, and what is here fown in corrup- 
 tion and a natural body, fhall be raifed 
 in incorruption and fpiritual ; and: 
 death fhall be fwallowed up in viclory^ 
 M m 
 
4 to Afermon at the funeral cfM. H. S. 
 when they (hall happily be reunited, 
 and live in joy and blifs to all eternity ? 
 ' blefTed are the dead that die in the Lord ; 
 they reft from their labours, and their 
 works do follow them, they that be 
 wife, mail mine as the brightnefs of 
 the firmament : and they that turn 
 many to righteoufnefs, as the (tars for 
 ever and ever.* who can fpeak aright 
 of that happinefs which eye hath not 
 feen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man 
 conceived ? O let us not bewail theab- 
 fence of our friend with fruitlefs iighs 
 and tears ; nor forrow as they that hazs 
 7io hope : but let us always endeavour, 
 after his example, fo to live to Chrift in 
 this world, that our death may be the 
 fame gain and advantage to us ; thai 
 with him, and all the blefTed fpirits, we 
 may live in eternal friendfhip and love 
 with the Father, the Son, and the Holy 
 Ghoft, God over all bleffed for ever- 
 more. Amen. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 . 
 

a Jfc 
 
 •m&fi 
 
4v* mmr; * > * i » » ■» ) ' ■ • * * * 
 
 ii