Sermons Preached from Luke 11 21-22

DOCTRINE, I. That the Soul of Man is a noble Palace, which GOD has built for Himself.

This is the Palace which the Text speaks of; even Mans Soul, and though' it is not here spoken of as the Palace of God, but much the contrary; yet from the beginning and Originally it was His only. Every house has some Builder, but He that built all things in God: and for whom did He or could He make anything, and everything, but for Himself: for his pleasure they are and were Created. But above other things God made his Rational and Intelligent Creatures for his own possession, use and propriety. This is common to Angels and Men; Heaven is His Throne, and the Earth His Footstool; but Angels the Inhabitants of Heaven, and Men the People of His Pasture Earth, were His own designed Habitation and Residence. He made both one and other in His own Image, in His likeness. The Realms above He prepared for Angels; this Earth a Paradise for Man, whom He placed an Imbodied Angel upon it, a Celestial Mind clothed in flesh, crowned with glory and honor; and he walked with God, God visited him daily and conversed with him, yea dwelt in him. This was Mans First State; He was the Residence and Mansion of the Creator here upon Earth.

For what is a Palace? but some Dwelling of a Prince or King, which he builds for himself, for the Honor of his Majesty, and to show the Riches of his Kingdom. He builds it spacious and large to keep his Court there, and spares no Art and Cost to render it Magnificent and Sumptuous. Such now is the Creature Man, taking Body and Soul together. He is a Stately and curious, ample and rich Building of God. The King of Glory pitched this Tabernacle upon Earth. The Body he formed & raised out of the dust, and breathed into his Nostrils the breath of Life and made him this living Soul. The Body is a wonderful Structure, and was a much more Elegant piece of Workmanship at the first: but the Spirit therein though' Invisible is a Creature of far more admirable and beautiful Powers. O the divine Art and Power, the Wisdom and Glory of God, Conspicuous and Astonishing in producing the one and the other!

In short;

If a King builds — What less than a Palace? And where a King dwells — What is it but a Palace? If then God made Man to reside in him, We are the Palace of the Great King.

And what find you in the Palaces of Kings here on Earth, which is not to be found in the Soul of Man.

1. Here God meant to Reign and Keep His 〈◊〉 . Here he Erected his Throne and Sea • of Judgment, in the Heart and Conscience, Here he appointed his Servants to stand in his Presence and Minister to him, even the 〈◊〉 Powers & every Affection of the Soul. Here he gives Audience, and receives the humble Addresses of a loyal and dutiful Mind, and stoops to Converse with his Servants. The Kingdom of God is within you.

2. Mans Soul is a Palace for Space and Amplitude. It is larger than the Circuit of the Heavens, whereon the ETERNAL rides. It scorns to be confined within the body or to be bounded by the Earth, or by the visible Heavens. It can compass the Universe in a Moment, and one of its single Thoughts is 〈◊〉 than that: for I think of Him that is 〈◊〉 MENSE, whom all worlds cannot o • tain. In this Idea, this adoring Thoit 〈◊〉 dwells. Here is a Palate for him 〈◊〉 than the Heavens of Heavens. This 〈…〉 a living Image of his Immensity, and 〈◊〉 Space is at last a dead and dull one. 〈…〉 among the Orbs of light is the 〈…〉 brightest Body, and nothing is 〈…〉 for beauty and velocity and ben 〈…〉 the Globes which it shines upon; but I 〈◊〉 unto you this Eye and Light of the World 〈…〉 a small and dark and single Attome, 〈◊〉 to the vaster Powers of a Batimal 〈◊〉 of Thoughts can in 〈…〉 and a brighter • ay 〈…〉 Throne of God, and there • lie Adoring, 〈◊〉 delighting in and enjoying the Father of these Lights, and the Former of Spirits.

3. Again, In Kings Palaces do you look for rich Furniture? how rich are the Endowments of the Human Mind? What are the carved Works and Gildings of the Rooms of State? What are the costly Pictures of the Galleries of Kings? What are the Tapestry and Imbroider'd Hangings, their Tables of Silver and vessels of Gold, the peculiar Treasures of the Provinces subject to them; compared to the Adorning and Magnificent furniture of a Human Mind; the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge and Largeness of heart which their Great Ministers and Counselors are adorned with, and without which Kings themselves do not shine in their Palaces and on their Thrones. For Instance, Nebuchadnezzar's Reason and Princely Endowments for Empire was a far greater Glory than Great Babylon which he had built for the House of his Kingdom: Witness the day when the God of Heaven struck him for his Pride and took away his Princely Powers, and they drove him from among men; unfit any longer for his own Palace, he dwelt among the Beasts of his Park: But at the end of his days his Understanding returned to him, and he lift up his Eyes to Heaven, and blessed the Most High GOD his Maker and his Judge, and praised and honor'd Him that Liveth forever & ever. Now his Brightness returned to him, his Counsellers and his Lord's again sought to him and excellent Majesty was added to him, Dan. 4. ult. Verily, here was a sight much more. Magnificent than proud Babylon with all its Towers and Palaces could afford: Here was Majesty in its Excellency; A Wise & Mighty Emperor Contemplating, Adoring, Magnifying and Extolling the Immense and Eternal Majesty of Heaven; before whom the Inhabitants of the Earth are reputed as nothing. This Princely Human Mind now looked vastly greater in an Act of Reason and Worship. than ever He had done before in Governing the Empire, or receiving the Homages of Princes and Provinces. Draw this to the life, and let it forever hang in the Palaces of Princes. Shall I go on and say,

4. In Kings Palaces do we look for Cleanness and Purity, that there be no dust or soil to be seen there; for they that be in Kings Palaces go in soft Raiment, and every Apartment there will be swept and garnished: Such was the Soul and Body of Man as He came out of his Makers hands; He was in the Likeness of GOD very Holy and Good, without the least spot or stain, the Glory of the Lord filled the House, which he had just finished and Consecrated: Man was full of Grace and Truth: the Glory of the Only-Begotten was to be seen in the measure proper to such a Creature; Whose Delights were with the Sons of Men before Man was Created, or ever the Earth was.

And indeed without this Original Holiness Man could not have been designed the Dwelding of GOD: for what Communion has Light with darkness, or the Temple of God with Belial? But now, Man being made a Holy as well as a Living Soul, He was therefore necessarily under a religious Consecration to God from the first Moment of his Existence: and his Posterity in Mans Primitive State of Innocence & Sanctity could have been nothing else but so many Lively Stones in one Spiritual house; a Holy Building and a Holy Priesthood, as Believers now are again, to offer up Spiritual Sacrifices.

Thus the Palace becomes a Temple, properly speaking: A Dwelling Sacred to God: not barely the Mansion of a great King, but a House Dedicated to the Worship of the ETERNAL GOD-HEAD the Holy One. Such Man was made; His Heart an Altar for the Holy God; Spiritual Exercises and Holy Acts of Devotion and Obedience, the Sacrifices on that Altar holy Affections the Fire from Heave • ••• ng on the Sacrifice, in the Smoke whereof the Soul would (Angellike) have been forever Ascending; and in all this the Understanding and the Will, the trading and commanding Faculties of the Soul, were to do the part of the Lord's Priests, and to be the Offerers.

Man being holy, God was Conversable with him, and indeed made him for Communion with Himself: He was made to know God, to love him and delight in him; to obey and serve Him, and finally forever to Enjoy Him: Here and hereafter to live blessed in the favor, care and love of God towards him. He made Man with a Capacity for and an Inclination after Communion with Himself; and doubtless therefore was he ready to apply Himself to Man, and to communicate unto him in a way suitable to the Nature which he had given him: and could not fail "of doing so unless Man laid some Obstruction "in the way. It remains therefore only to say,

5. That the Creature Man was in his Original and first Design a Dwelling worthy of the Eternal & Invisible King. Surely he would not make an Intelligent and Immortal Mind that should not be so! And I may say, surely Eternal Wisdom & Goodness could not make 'em unworthy of his own Habitation. For however one Rational Being may be of an Order a little lower than another, yet the lowest must be not unworthy of Himself. For if not unworthy of his own Making then certainly not of his own gracious Converse and Abode. The Wisdom of God could not Design Man better than he was made, nor the Power of God make him better. As for God his Work is perfect: and so he said of it when he had made Man upon the Earth. Wherefore,

1. "The Father of Spirits plac • d a Spirit in Man so agreeable to his own Spiritual Nature, on purpose that he might converse with him. The Inspiration of the Almighty gave him understanding for this very end. God his Maker taught him more than the beasts of the Earth, and made him wiser than the fowls of heaven that he might inquire and ask after Him. Where should the Eternal Mind and Spirit dwell without Himself, but in some Immortal Spirit, Mind and Reason of his own Creating? The Most High dweldeth not in Temples made with hands: What House can we build Him for the Place of his Rest? truly none: but he has built Himself a proper Dwelling in the Spirit of Man, the Human Mind.

2. The present Ruines of the Soul of Man show what a Structure it once was. Travelers be • veil the Desolation of many famous Cities and Palaces, the Heads of Mighty Empires and Royal Seats of Mighty Princes. Yet in their Ruines they often find stupendous Marks of their Antient Greatness. So whoso is wise and will observe his own Soul, though' he cannot but find a vast Desolation upon it, yet in its present Weakness and Corruption he must needs perceive what a glorious Workmanship, what a Superior Creature it once was. When these Powers were perfect; when this Mind was full of light and knowledge, when this Will was subject to that light, and these Affections all regular, and obedient to it, and Conscience full of Peace and Joy in its own Integrity; what a Lovely and Venerable Form was this! how did it shine in Paradise, the favourite Creature, Vice-gerent & meet Representative of GOD here below; the Delight of God, the love of Angels its next Kindred, and commanding the Reverence and Homage of the Inferior Creatures by an External Raye of Majesty and Beauty. All this is yet as plainly to be perceived within ourselves that it once was, as when we have passed by demolished Houses, that were sometimes Magnificent Structures; we look on the pieces of ragged Walls yet standing, the strong Foundation, its breadth and wide Circumference, the broken pieces of curious carved work, and say, — What a Sumptuous Building was this once! and how meet for some Princes Residence!

But then again,

3. The Rebuilding and Restoring of this Dwelling and Temple at such a vast Expence as the Blood of CHRIST, shows what it was in its first design, and yet is when rebuilt in the sight of God. When David drew the Plan of the Temple he had designed, in doing which the Infinite Mind and Divine Artichec guided him; he at the same time gathered an Immense Sum of Riches, the spoils of many Countries in proportion to the vast Fabric. He that had seen the Treasure amass'd and devoted, and counted the Sum, would have wondered how it should ever be expended; and it may be they that saw it finished might wonder as much whence the Riches could be gathered that should raise and adorn that costly Pile. Yet this is but a small Image of the Infinite Price which the GOD of Heaven has expended on the Repair and Rebuilding of his Palace in our Souls. For at what price shall we be able to value the least drop of the Blood of his own Son! For as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish, who verily was fore-ordained before the foundation of the World, 1 Pet. 1.18. If we believe the Eternal Godhead, and the infinite Dignity and Glory of our Savior, what a price are we bought with. Acts 20.28. The Church of God which he has purchased with his own blood. Heb. 9.14 The blood of Christ who thro' the Eternal Spirit offered up himself without spot to God. i. e. His own Eternal Godhead gave the infinite price to the Offering and Sacrifice. A price which Angels cannot Estimate, nor are those Hosts of glorious Spirits to be weighed against it, nor the World, which it might well purchase, for He Himself made them all.

But there yet remains one more Particular to be considered in the Argument before us, and I shall add no more, for the Thoughts of Men or Angels can rise no higher,

And that is,

4. Let us view this Palace of the Blessed God, the Human Nature, in the Person of Christ, God-Man, Emmanuel, God with us. God manifest in our flesh, tabernacling in a Body of God's preparing for him, the Second Adam, the Lord from Heaven, in whom we are made Alive; the singular work of God, conceived by the HOLY GHOST, the promised Seed of the Woman, born of a Virgin, the power of the Highest Overshadowing, whereby the First begotten was brought into the World. The Commandment came forth at his Birth to the Spirits above, Let all the Angels of God worship Him; and down came the Multitudes of the Heavenly Host; they saw and adored and Sang — Glory to God in the Highest! They brought us the glad Tidings of Great Joy, — To you is born the Savior, and they yet desire to pry into the Ineffable thing.

In him dwelt the Fulness of the God-head Bodily, in him all the Treasures of Wisdom of Knowledge, of Holiness & Righteousness; for He received not the Spirit by Measure: He was Fairer than the Children of Men, Grace was Pour'd into his Lips, yea the bright Angels of God were dark, and the Heavens not clean in comparison of him; He was the LORD that was looked for by them that were waiting for Redemption in Israel, and he came into his Temple, and by his divine Presence made the Glory of the Second Temple greater than the Glory of the Former: for in the first Temple he only gave a sign and token of his presence between the Cherubims in a Shekhinah, or Body of light; but into this Second Temple he came Personally and Bodily, a GOD Incarnate; and being found in fashion as a Man, but Eternally in the Form of GOD and without robbery Equal with God; He Worshipt, he Obeyed, he fulfilled all Righteousness in our place and on our account; yielding such an Obedience to the honor of God, and to repair the dishonors which the Sin of Man had done to the Great God, as Adam and his Posterity if they had all stood in their first Purity and Perfection could never have been able to render to the Majesty of Heaven. For as the Altar Sanctifies the Gift, so the Divine Nature in the Person of the Redeemer did his Obedience to the Law; and as thousands of Millions of things finite put together can never make anything like an Infinite, so all the Obedience of all Creatures forever paid to God could never equal one Act of Obedience and Worship from Him who was Himself GOD: But moreover, the Son of God in our Nature humbled himself yet further and became Obedient unto Death, even the death of the Cross, tasting death for every Man, and bearing the Curse of the Law: For it became Him for whom are all things and by whom are all things in bringing many sons unto glory to make the Captain of our salvation perfect thro' suffering; for both he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are all of one; for which cause He is not Ashamed to call them Brethren: — For as the Children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself took part of the same, that thro' Death he might destroy him that had the power of Death, that is the Devil: — For verily He took not on him the Nature of Angels, but the seed of Abraham.

And now in this very Nature, being Risen from the dead, and being by the Right hand of God Exalted, this same glorious JESUS is set down on the right hand of the Majesty on High, in the Glory which he had with the Father before the World began; far above all Principalities and Powers and Might, and Dominion, and every Name that is named, not only in Heaven but on Earth.

Now let us but consider this Great Thing! this Palace and Temple of the Eternal God. head in the Man Christ Jesus! What was Adam in his Paradise to this glorious Person! What was the Glory of God in the burning Bush, or between the Cherubims to this glorified Jesus? What was the shining of Moses face, or the flames of Elijah's Zeal before this greater Glory! To which of the Angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee! Has the great God ever taken the Nature of Angels so near to Himself? No verily. Here then let us see the Glory of Human Nature in the Person of the Redeemer. God has seen meet to exalt and dignifye it; to do all this for it and in it! To make it His dwelling. His Temple, and the Light and Glory of Heaven itself: for the Lamb is the Light thereof. Well therefore did our Savior turn off their Admiting Eyes who observed to Him the wonderful Stones of the Material Temple, and he pointed them to his own blessed Body, saying, Destroy this Temple of God and I will raise it up in three days! Twas done, and in it God reigns and his Glory resides there forever and ever. And thus it appears that the Creature Man was in his Original and first design, and is in his Restoration and Recovery, a dwelling worthy of the Eternal and Invisible King.

I might add some other Reasons, why God has made his Rational and Intelligent Creatures for his own Dwelling; Namely, from his Delight and Pleasure in his own Glorious Workmanship, and in his Image on them: for the making his Creature happy and blessed by Communion with Himself: And for the display of his own Glory, Perfection and Happiness in the Creature: Let us make Man in our Image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

USE.

But I pass to the Use and Improvement of the Doctrine; as the time may allow me.

1. See the Dignity and Honor of Man! God made him a little lower than the Angels, and crowned him with glory and honor. But in this he was ever as the Angels, that he was made the Living Temple of the Deity as well as they. And to this his Original honor he is restored by a Redeemer: Rev. 21. 3, 5. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men, and be will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And he that sat upon the Throne said, Behold I make all things new.

2. Let us see and admire the Condesc • nti •• of God to Dust and Ashes. Will God in v ••• deed dwell with Man upon Earth? behold Heaven and the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain thee? Lord, what is Man that thou art mindful of him! What a low and mean and narrow, nay and dirty place are we become, to be ever again honored with the Indwelling of the Divine Glory! Behold the Heavens are not clean in his eyes, and he chargeth this Angels with folly; how much less on them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, Job 4.19. This Grace of G •• to us may well be in our Eyes His brighte •• Glory. And thus God speaks of it Himself: Isai. 53.15. For thus saith the High and Lofty One that Inhabits Eternity, I dwell in the High and Holy Place, with him also that is of a humble spirit.

3. What a cursed thing must Sin be, which defiles the Temple, and lays the Palace of God in ruin • , and unfits as to be his Dwelling. God the rightful Lord and Owner is turned out of His own House; for Evil cannot dwell with Him. Not only is the Magnificence destroyed, and Man come short of the glory of God; but his Temple is turned into a Stew, and Stye, and a Cage of every unclean thing. They are altogether become filthy, the habitation of Devils and the hold of every foul spirit.

And here I cannot but Entertain you with a most affecting strain of Meditation, on this desolation of the Temple of God in Man, from the Pen of the late Excellent and Venerable Mr. How.

"Here God once dwelt, but He is now retired and gone! The Lamps are extinct! the Altar overturned! the Light and Love are now vanished, which did the one shine with so heavenly brightness, the other burn with so pious fervor. The Golden Candlestick is displaced, to make room for the Throne of the Prince of darkness! the Sacred Incense, which sent rolling up in Clouds its rich Perfumes, are exchange'd for a poisnous hellish Vapour, and instead of a sweat savor there is a stench! The comely Order of the House is turned into Confusion, and the Beauties of holiness into noisome Impurities, the House of Prayer into a den of Thieves! and that of the worst and most horrid kind, Sacrilege! What have not the Enemies done wickedly in the Sanctuary!

Thus He.

4. Is the Soul of Man a noble Palace which God built for himself, See the Reason then why God has done so much for our Redemption. For what King would not recover his Palace out of the hands of Traitors and Rebels, that had Perfidiously seized upon it? And what Expence could be thought too much, or what Force to employ unto this End? In the Man Christ Jesus God prepared to Himself a most perfect Temple, and the glory of the latter House (the Second Adam ) was Greater than the Glory of the first; For the first Man Adam was made a living Soul, the last Adam was made a quickening Spirit: In him we are again the Building of God, a Spiritual House, and an Habitation of God thro' the Spirit. But when we contemplate the Only-begotten of the Father coming down from Heaven and Tabernacling in our flesh, for a time, and upon his return to Heaven, when we consider of the Descent of the Eternal Spirit of Grace to make His Abode here forever; we must needs Enquire for what Great End and Purpose the Amazing Undertaking is? And here we find it —: 'tis to Repair and Rebuild the Palace of the Great God on Earth! To restore this fair part of the Creation of God! To Renew the face of the Earth, by restoring his lost Image in us! To this End it pleased the Father that in Christ should all fullness dwell, by him to reconcile all things to himself: And to this End is He Ascended that He might receive Gifts for Men, even for the Rebellious, That the Lord God might dwell among them, Psal. 68.18.

5. If the Soul of Man was originally designed, and is recovered by Grace, to be the Palace and Dwelling of God; then no doubt Good Men shall dwell with God, and God in them in the Life to come. There are Habitations for them in Heaven, Many Mansions in the Fathers House which Christ is gone to prepare for them, and will take them to; but there they shall be (together with the Angels ) themselves the Mansions and Habitation of God. We know that if our Earthly House of this Tabernacle be dissolved, we have a Building of God, an House not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens. There we know that the Redeemed are before the Throne of God, and serve Him Day and Night in his Temple, and He that sitteth on the Throne dwells among them.

6. And lastly; If the Soul of Man be a noble Palace which the Great God has built for Himself, Learn then the Duty thou owest to the blessed God. Restore Him the possession of thy Soul; which is his own, for he made it and gave it Being and all its Endowments. Yea He has also bought it and dearly paid for it. Wherefore I beseech you Brethren by the Mercies of God that ye present your Bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Let not Satan keep possession of you, neither yield ye your Members as Instruments of unrighteousness unto sin, but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead; and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. Let us say with the Redeemed Israelites, He is my God and I will prepare him an Habitation, my fathers God and I will exalt him. Yea let us swear unto the Lord and vow unto the mighty GOD, surely I will not come up into the tabernacle of my House, nor go up into my Bed; I will not give sleep unto mine Eyes, nor slumber to mine eye-lids, until I find out a place for the Lord, an Habitation for the mighty God of Jacob. We have solemnly Consecrated our whole selves, Soul and Body, to the Lord; and we should with Great solemnity be often renewing the Act of Self-dedication.

Wherefore, Live as one holy and devoted. Let nothing common or unclean come into the holy Place. Remember what thou art, Know thyself, and how dreadful is the consideration! This is no other than the House of God, and Gate of Heaven. Kings are served in their Palaces, with great Respect and Alacrity; and God is to be Worship'd in his Temple with Reverence and Godly fear. So employ all thy Powers to the Glory of God with the utmost devotion. Turn aside, with Moses, to see this Great Sight, God in the Bush, and that not consumed; and let an awful Reverence sieze thy Soul, for Thou and the Place where thou standest is holy Ground.

DOCTRINE, II. That the Soul of Man is now become as a Garrison and Strong Hold which Satan keeps against GOD.

He the strong Man armed keepeth the Palace, and calls it his. He has the present Possession and Rule; he keeps it by force of Arms, as a Castle in Time of War.

Let us

• 1. Consider the Fact, Satan's possession.
• 2. Whence that is?
• 3. That he keeps it by Arms, and as a Garrison against GOD.

I. It is a sorrowful Matter of Fact, of easy Proof, and the sad Experience of the Children of Men, that Satan has and keeps possession of their Souls in their Natural and Unregenerate State. I speak of a Spiritual possession of the Souls of Sinners, which is a Case really much more deplorable than a Bodily possession by evil Spirits; but this last being less common, and falling under the Bodily senses and being horrible to behold, is terrifying and affrighting to us; while the other being only a Spiritual misery, is not apprehended or regarded by stupid Men, though' it be of more fatal and lasting Consequence.

In whomsoever Sin reigns, in and over them Satan rules, and has possession of them. He that committeth sin is of the Devil, for the Devil sinneth from the beginning. In this the Children of God are manifest and the Children of the Devil; whosoever doeth not Righteousness is not of God: And whosoever is not of God is a slave to Satan, 1 Joh. 3.8, 10.

He that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not: These we know are of God, while the whole World lieth in Wickedness, 1 Joh. 5.18, 19. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , in the Wicked one; under his power and under his possession.

We are born in Sin, and Satan has the first possession in this State of Corruption and Apostasy; which remains thro' the whole Unregenerate Life. In the New Birth Satan is Ejected. If it be Enquir'd concerning any Person in that blessed hour, as it was concerning the poor Lad brought to Christ, foaming and gnashing with an unclean and cruel Spirit; Mark 9.21. How long is it ago since this came unto him? It must be answered — Even of Child; yea even from his Birth, and before.

The Habit of Sinful Actions, and the ungodly Courses of wicked People, shows the possession and Rule of Satan. They are acted by him. Joh. 8.44. Ye are of your Father the Devil, and the lusts of your Father ye do; Ye do the deeds of your Father. It is the Style of Satan, that he is the God of this wicked world, the Prince of the power of the Air, the spirit that now ruleth in the Children of Disobedience, Eph. 2.2. And it is the wretched account of the State of the Ungodly, that they are in the snare of the Devil and taken Captive by him at his will, 2 Tim 2. ult.

To conclude, Some wicked Persons are possessed and acted by Satan more Visibly and Openly than others. The unclean Spirit shows itself to the World in the abandoned Wretches, & in their scandalous Courses which •• e earthly, sensual, devilish. They are blinded and led blindfold by him: 2 Cor. 4.4. In whom the God of this world has blinded their eyes. As the Philistines of old put out Samsons Eyes and set him to grind; or as the Demoniacks of old were wont to run staring over Rocks and Precipices, into the fire and into the water, whithersoever the furious spirit drove them.

Moreover, Satan hardens them in Sin, and his possession of them is to be seen in their Security & Fearlesness: for if the Devil were not in them, they would fear and tremble and be struck with horror at their own Actions and Dangers. They lie among the Tombs and know not that the dead are there. They cut and gnash themselves with Stones and feel it not, though' they are so Cruel & Barbarous to their own Souls.

I might be more particular and say,

He is a Deaf Spirit in them and they wont hear, a Dumb Spirit and they cant Pray, a Profane Spirit & they Blaspheme God. Yea like the possessed in their Fits they are Insensible, and you would think 'em quite dead. The thunders from Sinai are not heard by 'em, nor the flashes of lightning seen, nor the shaking Earth felt. Were they not in some strange Preternatural State they would exceedingly fear and quake: Their Senses and their Reason are locked up as in a Swoon, and it is very hazardous whether they will ever come to themselves again and to a right Mind; or if they do it is to be feared that it will be by dreadful Convulsions, which may be terrible, if not equally dangerous as their present Stupidity.

II. Whence is it that Satan has possessed himself of the Souls of Men? The Palace was God's, built for Himself and actually his Dwelling and Residence: How then came Satan into it?

Not to be sure by any Legal Right, but by Tyranical Usurpation: Not by any power against God, or any freedom from his Power and Justice, but by the righteous permission of a holy God, in Judgment and Punishment for our Sin. The sorry Traitor, the foul and false Usurper boasts of a Right and Title, All these, and all this Power and Glory is mine; for to me they are delivered, and whatsoever I will I do with them. He claims as by Victory and Conquest over God, when as he only prevailed over weak Man by Subtlety and Fraud, and by the Judgment of a holy God is permitted to Possess and Tyrannize.

Wherefore,

The Palace was betrayed into Satan's hands by Mans Sin. Man delivered up himself to the Devil by a base and voluntary disloyal yielding to his Temptation. Sin was the cursed thing that made God forsake his Palace, for he cannot dwell with it; and this gave Satan his possession. The first Order and Command of God was, that Sin should not be permitted to enter into and defile his Palace, on pain of his Departure in Wrath. God made Man Holy, Inclin'd him well, disposed him only to that which is good, and to all that is so! He gave him an express Warning and Commandment, with a severe and dreadful Threatning in case of Transgression. The penalty was present Desertion and utter Destruction. Nevertheless the Devil by craft and subtlety beguiled and seduced Man into Sin. Man weakly, ungratefully, willfully complied with Satan's Motion. He treacherously gave him the Keys of the Palace, and received him into his own heart. The Holy God then forsook his Earthly Tabernacle and Residence. He loathed and abhorred the defiled Place. He left miserable Man in those cruel and filthy hands which he had put himself into. The Traitor surrendered himself into a Tyrants hand, and renounced God his righful Proprietor, and Gracious LORD. He revolted to the Devil at his first Motion, from God that made him. It was a voluntary Resignation to the declared Enemy of God, who had appeared to him bare faced, giving God the lie, and accused him of Envying the Felicity of his Creature. He transgressed in a defying manner to God, and insolently dared his Vengeance. God was far from willing or allowing Mans fall and ruin; He did all that was proper and reasonable to have restrained and prevented him: He forbid it under the pain of Death, his highest Displeasure and an Everlasting Excision from himself. This is the Rice and Support of Satan's Kingdom here on Earth and his Dominion over Men. He tempted and Man yielded. God forsook and Satan usurped. Man renounced God, revolted to Satan, and God left him to the wretchedness and Curse he chose.

III. Satan now holds and keeps the wretched Soul as a Garrison in a time and state of War against the blessed God. The strong man Armed keepeth the Palace. We read of the Powers of Darkness, the Powers of the Air, Principalities and Powers and spiritual Wickednesses. The Devils Empire is large and his Kingdom strong. The Hosts of Evil Spirits are many, and every single fallen Spirit is of Great Might. Their Name is Legion, for they are many; and any one of them can do dreadful things if God permit them. Satan and his Angels are the Great Enemy of God and in Arms against Him. They never laid down their Arms of Rebellion unto this day. From the day they left Heaven, from the day that God cast them down from it, they declared and still wage an Everlasting War with it, for they have an Irreconcilable Enmity, and a Rage which they cannot suppress. Rev. 12.7. And there was War in Heaven; Michael and his Angels fought against the Dragon; and the Dragon fought and his Angels.

Tyrants have their Palaces as well as rightful Princes; but they rule by force of Arms; by standing Armies. Usurpers and Rebel • have no other Security of their unjust possession.

God Arms for the Recovery of the Soul out of Satan's hands. As the Captain of the Hosts of the Lord CHRIST has appeared in his Church. The Eternal and Almighty Spirit of Grace has proceeded from Him, with his Sword drawn, His Blessed Word in the Ministry thereof. His Ministers have received their Commissions from Him to Inlist others in his Cause; with whom they are to War a good Warfare, as good Soldiers of Jesus Christ: Whom that they may serve faithfully they are called off from Entangling themselves with the Affairs of this World. The Weapons put into our hands are not Carnal but Mighty thro' God, to the pulling down of strong holds: 2 Cor. 10.4. The whole Armor of God is provided for us, wherein to go forth against the Goliath of Hell; and it fits every gracious Soul, for he has proved and tried it and been exercised therein; being skillful in the word of Righteousness, and experienced in Spiritual Graces & Duties. The Spirit of God Himself puts them on, and is in them that go forth in his Name to Animate, Strengthen and Prosper 'em. His Presence in his Word appears in Showers of Arrows, and darts thrown with a strong hand, that Peirce the hearts of his Enemies; and subdue them to be his willing People, while their Enmity is slain in the day of his Power. The Stars of Heaven also in their Courses fight against Sis •• a, and Invisible Hosts of Angels Engage in the Cause of Christ, and for the Destruction of Satan's Kingdom.

Thus more are with us than there are against us. Nevertheless the Rebels are Obstinate and Desperate; for they are never to be pardoned nor to find any Mercy. They hold on the fight, and renew the War, amidst all their Defeats, with impotent Spite and Malignity. They fall and are wounded and broken, and bite the ground, and gnash with their teeth, while they see a happy Number recovered to God, after whom nevertheless they cast their fiery darts, & give them many a painful wound. The Convictions of others they quench, and keep possession of them by prevailing with them to Confederate with them against God. Sinners side with the Devil, consent to his Motions, submit to his Rule, resist the Holy Ghost, and are found to fight against God. They have a Diabolical Nature of their own, which is Enmity to him, and naturally sides with the powers of Darkness. They are Seconds in the War, and count themselves Principal in it. It is the cause of their Lusts, whom they love and like, and can even fight and die for, rather than part with them. They are haters of God, and despiteful as well as He under whose Banner they appear. Alienation from the life of God & Aversion to it in the Corrupt Nature of Man, is the foundation of his Agreement and League with Hell. 'It is the Seed of the Serpent: A Serpentine Nature, which loves its like, but hates God as its Opposite. The Law is Spiritual, but this corrupt Nature is carnal, Sold under Sin, Sold to do evil.

Hence is it that the Soul becomes such a Strong hold against God. The corrupted Soul is itself Enmity to God. There is a strong hold of Sin.

• 1. In the corrupt Mind and carnal Reasonings.
• 2. In the Will and Affections.
• 3. In the defiled and corrupted Conscience.
• 4. Sin has deeply Intrenched about & strongly fortified itself with many Outworks. And to finish all,
• 5. Sometimes the foul Moat of Judicial Blindness and Obduracy encloses all.

1. There is a strong Hold of Sin in the corrupt Mind and carnal Reasonings of Men. Ignorance of God, affected blindness, stupidity, Pride, Conceit, Vanity, Unbelief and Infidelity are natural to Sinful Man. In these Consist the Kingdom of Darkness and the Power of darkness. Satan is the Ruler of the Darkness of this World, and as the God of this World, ( i. e. the Tyrant over it.) he blindeth the Mind of them that believe not, lest the light of the Glorious Gospel should shine into them. The natural State of Man is Darkness: Eph. 5.8. Ye were sometimes darkness. The Understanding is both disabled and depraved by the Fall, the Mind is defiled: if that be Evil the whole Soul must be full of darkness; if the light that is in us be darkness, how great is that Darkness? We read of the Chains of Darkness; and indeed chains are not more to the Liberty of the Body, than Darkness is to the noble Powers of the Mind: as the one are in the Imprisonment and Captivity of the Body, so is the other the Thraldom and Slavery of the Soul. What a dark Dungeon is to the Body, that is Spiritual Darkness to the Mind.

Well therefore when the Apostle speaks of the Weapons of our Warfare mighty thro' God to the pulling down strong Holds, the first of these Holds that he mentions is our Thoughts and Imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the Know • edge of God. 2 Cor. 10.4, 5. The Corruption of the Angelic and Human Mind is much alike: Angels and Men both fell by Pride, and Pride fastens the Chains of darkness on them. Vain Man will yet be wise, and wiser than God, though' he be born like the wild Asses Colt. Are we blind also? Said the disdainful Pharisees; and therefore they were left in willful Ignorance and Unbelief. The Mind of Man likes not to retain God in its knowledge. And its own natural Notions, Fancies, Prejudices, it sets up in Opposition to the Revelation of God. Neither is there any stronger hold of Satan in Us than this Evil Heart of Unbelief in departing from the living God. Or when Men from the perverss reasonings of their own Mind, corrupt Opinions, Philosophy & vain deceit fortify themselves against the Convictions of the Word. Hence has arose the Infidelity, Atheism, Profaneness and Licentiousness of the present Ages. The desires of the Mind are Opposite to God as well as those of the F • sh. Eph. 2.3. Carnal Wisdom is devilish. Jam. 3.15. And therefore the Soul by Sanctifying Grace is Renewed in the Spirit of the Mind. Rev. 12.2. The other Faculties of the Soul fight, like common Soldiers, for the Prey, (says one) but the Mind as the Leader of the Army fights for Vict • ry, and Superiority; freedom from the power of God, or for the Conquest of him. We are alienated and Enemies in our Minds, Col. 1.21. We are averss to the Knowledge of God, and say to him, Depart from us for we desire not the Knowledge of thy ways. Conversion therefore begins in Illumination and the Opening Men's eyes, and they are transformed by the Renewing of their Mind. It was the Pride of Jews and Greeks that hindered them from submitting to the Gospel of Christ; 1 Cor. 1.23. We Preach Christ Crucified, to the Jews a stumbling Block and to the Greeks Foolishness. A Crucified Savior was a Stone of stumbling and a Rock of Offence to them; they fell on it and were broken to pieces. And so do many in our own days, in whose wise Eyes the Gospel is yet fool ••• ness, and they cannot stoop to the Simplicity, Humility and Self-dental of its pure Laws, nor to the Righteousness which is of faith. Hence as it was from the beginning it yet is, Not many wise Men after the flesh are called. They test in Natural Religion after their study of Nature. But this Pride and Arrogance and high look God hates. This Pride of reason is Odious to God, as well as Averss to him, Not only does it turn from God, but God resists that. So that it brings a kind of Impossibility to be ever convinced; How can ye believe that receive honor one of another? and seest thou a Man wise in his own eyes there is more hopes of a fool than of him. God resisteth the proud and giveth Grace to the lowly. The want of a Spiritual Discerning, and the power of carnal Apprehension, is an effectual hindrance of Men's Salvation; and a strong Wile and Snare of the Devil. So he began with Man, and so he holds on, and the Effect is the same now that it was at first; i. e. his Possession and Dominion is Establisht by it: Ye shall be as GOD's to know Good and Evil.

2. Satan finds a strong hold in the Corrupt Will and Affections of Men. They are his by Consent, and they are obstinate in their choice of sinful ways, they delight in some or other lust under the power and rule whereof they live, and all expresses and issues in more and more Aversion to God, and their hatred of his ways increases continually. The love and liking of Sin is the Establishment of Satan's Throne. The slave loves his cruel Master and will not go free, but will fight for the Tyrant. Such is the baseness of the once noble and free Soul.

There needs no more to give Satan a full and entire possession of our Souls than our own Consent to him. And indeed nothing but that can give him possession. The Soul is yet so free that he rules in none but by their own Will. In the day when their heart and will is changed, Satan's throne is cast down and he is spoiled of all his Armor. He entered by our consent, and he reigns by our tame submission and consent. And so long as thou art willing it is impossible but he should keep the Palace. Thy will is the Palace which he prides in, and gives him all his power. He would if he could keep his possession of the convinced Sinner against his will, but all the Devils in Hell cannot do that. Every Sin (says one) is an Election of the Devil to be our Lord; so far as it has a voice it gives it suffrage or vote for him. Joh. 8.44. His Lusts ye will do. While the w ••• • ubbornly persists in its Disobedience 〈◊〉 • od and to rebel against Him; the possession of Satan is secure. The Souls affections are his Guard while he sleeps within in peace and quiet. He has no trouble to keep the Palace, we keep it for him. Our love of Sin is all the Hold that Satan desires of us. Let that abide and he is sure of us. On this his Kingdom stands, for Satan can never cast out Satan. The two are agreed and can dwell together well. While God is hated as a Sovereign and as a Lawgiver; Satan's dominion is Establish'd as much as it is in our power to do it. We are loyal to him and zealous Assertors of his right.

Here then is Satan power against God and over thee; thy own Will, choice, love and liking. This is Invincibly set for Sin. God would not force thee to be his against thy will, nor accept of thee without thy Will, nor rule thee but by thy own Consent; Tho' he will judge and punish thee at last without it. And this is thy Guilt, and the Condemnation: you will not be ruled and saved by Christ, and you love darkness rather than light. You have not the love of the Truth that you may be saved

3. Conscience is corrupted and perverted, and becomes another strong hold of Satan, whereby he keeps possession of us. Tit. 1.15 The Mind and Conscience is defited. This Substitute and Vicegarent which God set up within us to govern and to judge 〈◊〉 is himself debauched into Satan's Interes •• . No wonder then that the Fortress he was to have defended is betrayed and delivered up and that Satan has so quiet a possession. It is the Office, and only in the power of Conscience to disturb and disquiet him in his Tyranny. This should protest against the Usurpation, this should exclaim under the Oppression, this should draw up the Charge of Treason and Rebellion, this should judge and pass Sentence, this should Awaken Reason to its just Exercise, and summon the Will to submit again to God. But if this be Silent, if this be Brib'd by the Tyrant in possession, or if it be Aw'd and cow'd; If Conscience side with the Inclination to Sin, and judge in its favor from Partiality and Affection, if the Judge takes bribes and cries Peace to the Inslaved Soul; or if it be tame and cowardly, sneaking and fordid, as a corrupt Judge is easily found in vicions Reigns, servile to the Tyrants Lust and Will; no wonder that Satan keeps possession then and his dominion stands. The Foundations are out of course, and there's all the Confusion and Iniquity proper to the Reign of the Devil.

Indeed Natural Conscience has not power now to govern a blind Mind and an obstinate Will. The will often carries it against the judgment of Reason and the Convictions of Conscience. Conscience is not hearkened to, but hector'd and Insulted, opposed and resisted when he does condemn. But how often is Conscience asleep, or dumb and conniving at the •• penitence Men live in; and so the hands of Sin and Satan are strengthened. Sometimes it Establishes Iniquity by a Law and gives that for law that is not; calls evil good & good evil, and puts darkness for light and light for darkness, sometimes it covers, excuses, palliates, and appears an Advocate for wickedness and Villany. Sometimes it holds its peace & bears no Testimony at all. By all this the power of Sin • nd its Rule is upheld in the Soul.

Indeed Conscience must needs suffer together with and by the corruption of the Understanding and the Will: it wants the clea • light of the One to judge by, and violence is done it by the Other. But alas one Faculty is corrupted as well as the other. Conscience 〈◊〉 both weak and false. It holds the Truth in Unrighteousness, the fall has made Shipwreck of it, and sensual Men drown it with their Souls in the Sea of Lust. The Chancellor falls in with the wicked Ministry, and involves himself in their Crimes.

4. I might add, if you will not think that I stretch the Allusion too far, That there are many Outworks, by which Satan has deeply Intrench'd and • ortified about the Palace which he keeps: and everyone of these lines he disputes and defends, that he may keep the Fort. Such are Evil Customs, worldly Principles and Maxims, evil Examples and wicked Tempters about us; the Errors and Prejudices of Education, evil Habits, and sometimes even Lawful Liberties; but above all the baits of Sensual Pleasures, worldly Riches, and Earthly Honors; the Lust of the Eye, the Lust of the Flesh and the Pride of Life; all which are that friendship of the World which is Enmity to God, and whereby Satan's Seat and Empire is Enlarged and Established. The God of this World has with much hellish wisdom for himself, and malice against God, thus formed as he could a corrupt World for his own possession. He has filled it with Snares for Souls, and Inticements to Sin, foolish and hurtful Lusts, that we may be taken captive by him at his will, and may never recover out of his hands. How many are his Stratagems and devices, and how subtle and very hidden his Arts! He is still the Serpent and an old one, and folds and twines, and shows himself in a thousand postures and forms; and we the poor Children of Eve are taken with his shining Skin, and glaring lies and promises; and take and eat and die. This present evil World is a strong Confederate with Satan, and joins all its forces against God and our Souls.

5. And lastly, Sometimes there is the foul Moat of Judic ••• Blindness and Obduracy inclosing all. A line of God's drawing in his Wrath and fierce Anger, and a deep ditch of the Sinners digging about himself. A great Gulf fixed of an Everlasting Separation between God and the Soul. A righteous Sentence of Reprobation passed, which can never be revok'd. The tree Cursed before it is cut down, and from that Moment drying up at the root. An utter and final Rejection from God, and a delivery of the wretched Soul over to Satan as his forever. So Satan entered with the Sop into Judas, and his heart Petrify'd within him, and turned into a Stone, and at last dissolved in despair, in the fire of God's wrath. God says concerning the lost Soul, Let him be filthy still. God gives him up to vile affections, and unto strong delusions, that he may be damned, because he believed not the Truth, but had pleasure in Unrighteousness. The Sinner becomes past feeling, and gives himself over to work all Uncleanness with Greediness, as if his Conscience were seared with a hot Iron. From henceforth Satan has a sure possession of the miserable Soul, as sure as if he were already in Hell, and the bars of the pit about him forever. No place can be found for Repentance, should he seek it carefully with Judas his Tears & Remorse; but he hastens to his own Place.

And thus I have endeavored to represent the possession that Satan keeps of Impenitent Sinners; as a Garrison and strong Hold in a state of War against God.

USE.

Give me leave to make a Reflection or two on this deplorable Account of the matter.

1. See the lamentable Change that is come upon us by Sin. In the change of the Inhabitant, and in the change of State consequent there-upon. Once the Dwelling of God, now the Habitation of Devils & of every unclean thing. From a Princely Palace turned into a Garrison: From a Paradise of Pleasure, Peace and Liberty, driven into Captivity, Bondage and Misery: from the gentle Rule of a Rightful Gracious Prince, now the Usurpation of a Cruel Enemy. Into what Evil Hands, and into what a forlorn Condition has our Apostasy from God brought us?

2. See what Satan's Motion to thee is in every Temptation unto Sin. It is this — Renounce God and Give thyself to me both Soul and Body, to be mine forever. With this horrid Motion the Sinner complies, though' he only thinks of Gratifying and Indulging himself. So Souls are kidnapt by the Devil; Entic'd over into the Gardens of sin & sense, as into some promised Paradise; but truly in the Event find themselves Sold into the vilest Slavery. If the Devil should appear to the Sinner and make the barefac'd Motion to him; "Soul, sell thyself unto me; come, Seal a Contract to be mine forever; Let me Enter into thee and possess and act thee; — would the Soul Consent? No, but with Infinite horror would scream out and die away at the Motion. O believe it, Every Temptation to Sin, and unto Impenitence therein, is nothing better than this Cursed Motion: and this is thy State, and this thy Misery, while you • lie under the Power and Rule of any known Lust.

3. See the Cursed Nature of Satan and of Sin: His Enmity against us, and the Mischiefs he has brought upon us: How he is to be hated and detested by us, and his Motions to be loathed, abhorred and trembled at: what madness as well as how Impious it is to side with him, comply with him, and fight against God: But alas! What Homage, Obedience and Service has he? He sends his Imperious Message like some Haughty Benhadad to some Servile Ahab, "Thou and thy Riches and all that thou hast is Mine: and the Sinner tamely returns answer,— "True Satan, I am thine and all that I have; and all shall be employed for thee, and according to thy Will.

4. See then what a Mighty Savior Sinners need, to deliver them from the Power and Possession of Satan. And a Mighty One God has raised up for us, (as if God will we may hear hereafter) even an Almighty One, His own Son in our Nature. He is manifested to destroy the works of the Devil, to break the Serpents head; to deliver us from the power of Satan unto the glorious Liberty of the Kingdom of God. He is able to save unto the uttermost, able to bruise Satan under our feet: The Devils tremble before him, confess him, and beseech him not to torment them; and they fly at his Presence and his Word. By Him all Devils shall be judged at the last day, and receive their Doom from his Lips to an Eternal Torment. He was tempted and is able to succor us; He has Ascended on High and has led Captivity Captive. He commandeth the unclean spirits and they obey him, and the very Devils are subject to us thro' His Name. What manner of MAN is this!

5. Let Sinners earnestly be Exhorted to seek and get Deliverance from the Possession & Power of Satan. Recover yourselves out of the snare of the Devil, and be not led Captive by him at his Will. Now you must seek Deliverance,

1. By Faith in Christ. Believe His Power and His Readiness to Save thee from all thy Spiritual Enemies and from the Hand of them that hate thee. Legions of Devils are nothing in His Hands. Beelzebub and all his Hosts are but as a swarm of flies which a Mans hand will drive away.

2. By Repentance. This Spues out the Unclean Spirit, when you loath yourself for Sin before the Holy God. He cannot bear the Moans and Agonies of a repenting Soul. The broken Spirit which is God's Sacrifice, is Satan's Abomination. Thy deepest Humiliation is his surest Ejection.

3. By Prayer. This also he abhors from. If he keeps thee from Prayer he will keep his Hold of thee, but by Prayer you bind him and carry him to Christ, and his Strength is gone. He may tempt and hurry you, but he does not possess you, if you are sincere and earnest in daily Prayer. Formality in it he bears well eno', and Indulges those in it whom he possesses; but Pray thou in Spirit and in Truth, with Constancy, holy Importunity and Fervency, and he can never endure it. Prayer has power with God; and is has power over Satan. It obtains help against him and power to resist him. God gives his Holy Spirit to them that ask Him, and He drives away the Evil Spirit. This is a singular part of our Spiritual Armor, and a weapon of our Warfare mighty thro' God to the pulling down strong holds, even — Praying always with all Prayer, Eph. 6.18.

Pray for a Pure and Enlightned Mind; Pray for a Soft and Tender Heart. Pray for a Free and Faithful Conscience. Pray for a Conquer'd and Obedient Will. Pray for Spiritual and Holy Affections. Pray to be Saved from this E • il World. And Pray that God would never cast you from his Presence, nor take away his Holy Spirit from you.

Say unto God, O Lord I beseech thee deliver •• y Soul. Yea carry your poor Soul 〈◊〉 Christ, as she did her poor Daughter of old grievously vexed with a Devil, Matt. 15.22. Have Mercy on me O Lord, thou Son of David.

4. Another means of Satan's Ejection is the reverent and diligent Study and Entertainment of God's Word. The Devils Throne and Kingdom Shakes before the Preached Gospel, and Millions of poor Souls have been delivered from his possession under the Ministry of the Word. This is the Sword of the Spirit, whereby he pushes and peirces the Enemies of our Salvation; and also slays Sin in the Soul by wounding it. It is given us to wear about us, for our own Defense, and for the Offence of them that assault us in our way to Hea • en. It is Written, said our Savior, and so put by the fiery darts of the Tempter, and he 〈◊〉 from Him. If we did better Improve God's Sabbaths and his Holy Ordinances, it would strangely weaken and break the power of Satan, and give us new strength and Supplies of Grace against Him. These are the Means of thy Deliverance.

The Last USE should have been a Word of Comfort to the Godly, and to the Tempted. But this will properly belong to the Af • e • - Proposition, when I come to consider, how the Victorious Savior rescues whom He pleases, and will rescue all his Chosen, from Satant Power and Tyranny. If he has already done this for you, Rejoice because your Name is written in Heaven. O thy Happiness, — while you look with so much Commiseration o •• the Miseries of others. Such was your 〈◊〉 once, but the Holy and Mighty One has 〈◊〉 Great things for you. You once had the Legion in you, but they remain now only in the Swine and in the Abyss • Now you Sit at Jesus feet, clothed and in a right Mind. Entreat Him to keep thee with him. Go home and tell how Great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had Compassion on thee.

III. That there is a wretched Peace and cursed Quiet which the carnal Heart often lies in under Satan's Tyranny.

His Goods are in Peace. He calls them his Palace and his Goods, and seems to have a peaceable Possession. The Miserable Soul seems to Enjoy a profound Peace in its woeful Bondage. Satan has a quiet possession allowed him. He conquered by Consent and so he rules. The Sinners Mind and Heart and Will are his; tamely yielded to him, wickedly used for him. "Satan rules without Controul; His Lusts are done and his interests served; and all the Powers of the Soul are Imployed by him in his Service. The Sinner is content they should be so; Easy and unconcerned about the matter; is Secure and Merry, Servile and Obedient; likes his Master and loves his Service; has no sense of Misery, nor fear of Danger. Thus the strong Man Armed keepeth his Palace and his Goods are in Peace.

It is strange that it should be so, because the Soul is not in its native State of Rectitude and Order. The foundations are out of course, and all things are in disorder and confusion. Whence then should come any quietness or rest in this Preternatural State? What Peace can there be under Guilt and Wrath? But however strange it be, it is in fact true and a thing undeniable, that there is a Carnal Security and Easiness which some of the most wretched and guilty among the Miserable Children of Men do stupidly lie in.

Concerning this, I shall

• 1. Observe that the thing is True in Fact.
• 2. That it is a very wretched and cursed thing in itself.
• 3. Whence it comes. And so Apply the Doctrine.

I. In Fact we see it to be true, most palpable and very Evident to all the World, that there are many wicked and ungodly • ersons who are secure and in Peace in their Sins, as it there were no danger near them and they had nothing to trouble them. They seem either, 1. To have a good Opinion. of themselves, and to Entertain no doubt or scruple about the Goodness of their State: Or, 2. A Fearlessness and Unconcern though' they know that it cannot be well with them. They have neither any sense of their own Sinfulness, nor any Dread of the Judgment to come.

The Scripture speaks of this wretched Peace of a carnal Mind: Psal. 36.2. He flattereth himself in his own Eyes until his Iniquity be found to be hateful.

Present ease and quiet is all that most Men propose to themselves, without any regard to futurity; and a present fleshly Indulgence all they crave without caring for the Consequence thereof. Sensual Objects inclose them without, and draw away their Eyes from future and distant, unseen & Eternal things; and an evil Heart of Unbelief within yields to the power and persuasion of se • se, and departs gladly from the living 〈◊〉 . The Sinner is resolutely and obstinately bent to keep all easy within; shuts his 〈◊〉 upon the flames, and stops his 〈…〉 the thunders of God's Law; an • 〈…〉 Peace in himself let the Law declare 〈…〉 it pleases. He hears the Words of this •• rse, 〈◊〉 yet blesses himself in his heart, saying, 〈◊〉 all •• ve peace, though' I walk in the Imagination, 〈◊〉 my heart, to add drunkenness to thirst, Deut. 29.19. He faces the Curse, or turns away from it, and promises himself Impunity and safety, though' he persist in his Impiety. There are Multitudes of such Men in the Professing World, who are under the Curse of God, and cannot but know it if they would but allow themselves to think of it, and yet bless themselves; and the more ripe for ruin, the more resolute they are in promising Peace to themselves.

There are Degrees of this Peace in Sin. Some seem to have it more and some less; yet 'tis so much a Cheat that they who s • em to have it most may indeed have least of it; though' they hector Conscience and suppress it, or bear up against it as well as they can.

1. In some it is only a stupid Unconcern, Carelessness and Thoughtlessness: and then it is usually the dull quiet of the Ignorant and Untaught, who know and have heard or minded little of God or His Word: for a vain and loose Education must needs lay a foundation for unconcern about our Spiritual State.

2. In other it is a Presumptnous Hope. The vain Sinner will hope groundlessly, and if he can but co •• • p the Word and corrupt Conscience to permit him this, he lays a sure foundation for a false Peace.

3. In others this false Peace rises into a false Joy. And this is natural 'eno, for as a presumptuous hope cries Peace, Peace to the Sinner it must needs cheer him in his evil way. This fond delusion of self-love is sometimes so strong, that it may buoy the light and vain heart over the Billows of Adversity thro' this Life, and those of Death at the End of it. As bladders of Wind may make a shift to keep the head above Water. They are not in trouble and they have no Bands in their death. They die with some Expectation that it will be well with them hereafter.

Indeed many that live stupidly and quietly in Sin die so too, and they that ignorantly and loosely take up fond hopes of their good Estate die with less fear and distress very often than many of the Godly themselves. To this length may security sometimes go.

But after all, It is not • eet to be called Peace of Soul, which is a Great and blessed thing whereof this is but the fiction. True Peace is a gracious Tranquillity and S ••• nity of Mind built on the solid principles of Religion, the unchangeable Promises and Covenant-faithfulness of God; the Experience of his Good Work in us, and the certain Exercise and Actings of Grace toward God. The Wicked are far from this, in their careless quiet or presumptuous hopes.

I go on therefore to the Second thing propounded under the Doctrine; Namely, to observe,

II. That it must needs be a very wretched Peace and cursed Quiet which the carnal heart lies in under Satan's Tyranny. Do you speak of Peace, O Sinner? What Peace can there 〈◊〉 so long as thy reigning Sins, are so Many? and the power and Witchcraft of Satan over thee is so Strong? There is no Peace faith • y God unto the Wicked, Isai 57.21. God is not at Peace, not reconciled; and Conscience should not be easy, nor suffer the guilty So ••• to enjoy any quiet.

Peace is a Happy thing in itself, Greatly to be wisht for, Earnestly to be sought aft •• and much to be prized and cherished by him that has it: But in some cases it is unnatural, unlawful, impossible, and the pretence of it the greatest Curse and Mischief. Peace in Six, Peace without Holiness, Peace without Reconciliation to God, Peace without Pardon, — It is a most Irrational as well as Irreligious and prosane thing

Peace under Guilt and Condemnation, and quietness under the Wrath and Curse of God, what madness and distraction must it suppose? To be at Peace under Satan's po ••• ru •• •• nd • y ••• nny! Under Spiritual-P •••• 〈◊〉 〈8 letters〉 ss and on the brink of hell! To be quiet & at ease while God is our Enemy, and ready to damn and destroy both Body and Soul in Hell forever. Job 12.6. And they that provoke God are secure.

A Peace not of God's giving nor allowing! A Peace of Sutans soothing and deceiving into! A Stupor upon the Soul and Lethargy, which under the shows of fast and sweet Sleep, is the sure and fatal Symptom of approaching death.

The quiet which Impenitent Sinners have in their evil ways is cursed in its Original, which is of Hell; and cursed in its End and final Issue, which is there from whence it took its rise. It is a woeful Peace, cursed in its Causes and cursed in its Effects.

It comes of Infidelity and Unbelief, Profaness and Contempt of God, presumption and fearlessness, fleshliness and sensuality. It is earthly, sensual and devilish. And it hardens Men's hearts, blinds their eyes, deprives them of understanding; stupefies, fears and makes Men Insensible of Good and Evil. It is a Root that beareth Gall and Wormwood, as Moses saith: One of the strongest holds of Satan whereby he keeps Men in Impenitence and fixeth them in an Everlasting Estrangement from God: It reserves the Soul in chains under darkness, as sure as those under which Devils are held, unto the Judgment of the Great Day.

This cursed quiet and security frustures all Awakning Means, receives all the terrors of God with mildness and unconcern; as an Arrow sinks silently into a Wall of Mud; or it roughly puts them away, as an Arrow blunts and breaks against a Wall of Stone. Finally, It provokes the Lord to Jealousy, and treasures up wrath against the day of wrath, and will make the Revelation of that wrath the more Surprising and Insupportable.

The Holy Ghost has therefore given us the Character and the Judgment of this Secure Sinner, his Way and his End, in diverss passages which are very dreadful to read, but most necessary and profitable for us to weigh. The Character of the Impiety we have, Psal. 36.1,—4. The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no Fear of God before his Eyes. For he flattereth himself in his own Eyes until his Iniquity be found to be hateful. The words of his Mouth are iniquity and deceit; he hath left off to be wise and to do good. He deviseth mischief upon his Bed, he setteth himself in a way that is not good, he abhorreth not evil. What a miserable account is here of the Person? Flattering himself on in wicked ways without any regret or remorse? But what is the End of it? Can it last always? No: but as the soft Oil yields the most Vehement flame when it is set on fire, so this carnal Peace prepares and lays open a wretched Soul to the devouring fire of God's wrath to fix and prey upon, when he comes forth to Judgment. So Moses tells us, Deut. 29.20, 21. The Lord will not spare him, but the Anger of the Lord and his Jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the Curses that are written in this Book shall lie upon him, and the Lord shall blot out his Name from under Heaven: and the Lord shall separate him unto Evil, according to all the Curses of the Covenant.

This is the sure and certain End of present Security and Peace in Sin; and it comes always with •• prize and as a Snare that covers the unwary Bird while it feeds, or sings securely and merrily. As in the days that were before the Flood, they were Eating and Drinking — and knew not until the flood came and took them all away, Mat. 24.38. The height of the Sinners security is the time of his Instant Danger, that his folly may be the more manifest, and the warning to others the louder, and that the severity of the Punishment may awfully appear in the surprise it brings with it. 1 Thes. 5.3. For when they shall say peace and safety, then sudden Destruction cometh upon them, • s Travail upon a Woman with Child, and they shall not escape.

So in the Parable of the rich fool we have the Picture of Carnal security drawn in its true Features, and in most lively Colours, together with the miserable End of it: Luke 12.19, 20. And I will say to my soul, Soul thou hast much goods lard up for many years, take thy ease, eat, drink and be merry: But God said unto him, thou Fool, this night shall thy Soul be required of thee. O the surprise in the midst of his Song, of many a secure day to come, wherein he proposed to dwell at ease! In a day when he looked not for it, and in the hour when least aware, is he cut asunder. Tho' while he lived he blessed his Soul, and his Nei'bours might praise him as projecting well for himself, in a Moment he goes down to the dead, and lifts up his Eyes in Torments. It is a very wretched Peace and cursed Quiet which deceives Souls into this Miserable End.

III. Whence comes it? And how comes it to be so common a thing among ungodly Men? It is a Strange Infatuation, and Unaccountable Madness in the hearts of the Children of Men: What possesses them? I answer,

1. Satan does. The God of this World hath blinded their heart, that the light of the Gospel may not shine into them. He keepeth the Palace with a stronghand and with much skill. He keeps it in peace. His Agency in the matter must be Acknowledged. It is the sign and proof of Satan's power over the Soul, his strong hold in it. If he can lull and rock us Asleep in Sin his possession is s •• ure. If we doze away our Life he has the • ress trouble to watch us, the less danger of losing us. It is a sure and easy way of keeping his hold, if he can persuade us to be quiet, that there's no danger near us, that we are safe and have nothing to fear. He takes away the good seed sown in the heart, quenches Convictions, puts off serious Thoughts, and endeavors to keep the Soul from any concern or trouble about its Spiritual State and Interests. If he can keep thee quiet thou art his own forever, for we must bestir ourselves, and resist him, and fight for our Liberty and Lives if we would be delivered. Satan knows where thy strength lies, and where his own hold of thee, and will find thee a Delilahs lap to sleep and be shorn in. There is not a more manifest Temptation of the Devil than this of security, which he beguiles unwary Souls into. So he began, and so he holds on; (a Liar and a Murderer from the beginning) Gen. 3.4. And the Serpent said unto the Woman, Ye shall not surely die.

2. Men are willing to be deceived. It is the Disease of the Carnal heart to love ease, to indulge stoth, and to avoid the pain and uneasiness of considering its own miseries and dangers Men naturally love quiet and hate to be disturbed in their Evil Ways. The carnal Mind agrees with the Unclean Spirit in his Outcry at the Sight of Christ, What have I to do with thee, thou Holy One? I beseech thee torment me not.

Seeing he cannot find a heart to mourn for and part with his Sins he would fain be quiet in them. He flies from Convictions, as from a Spectre that haunts and I terrifies him; Hast thou found me O my Enemy; and art thou come to torment me before my time! Now there is but this one way to be easy in a sinful way, and that is Not to trouble ones self about it, but to live on securely without thinking, Considering and laying things to heart; or if troublesome though'ts will arise to give them no Entertainment, but get rid of them again as soon as they can, being painful and unwelcome things.

3. The Security and Peace of carnal Men comes very much from Example, and the Evil Conversation of the Wicked. They see others easy and cheerful in sinful ways, and why should not they as well. They learn of their Betters too usually, their Superiors, their Parents it may be, and those that have more Knowledge, more Age, & make more Profession than they do. They see their Careless and Loose walk, and Unconcern about it, and are glad of the License (as they take it) to themselves. More especially loose and evil Companions are ready to tempt and solicit others into their own Jollity and Carelessness. They think it strange if others are not as free and easy in Satan's Bondage and Drudgery as themselves. They will laugh 'em out of a Serious look, or a thos'tful air; and speak evil of them if they will not run into the same Excess that they do. Isai. 56.12. Come ye (say they) I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink, and tomorrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.

4. Sometimes there is a Judicial Infatuation and Senslessness inflicted by GOD, whereby he gives such up to a Spirit of Slumber; Eyes that they should not see, and Ears that they should not hear unto this Day, Rom. 11.8. This Calm of a Sensual Heart is like that of the dead Sea, the Lake of Sodom, from the Curse of God upon it: The less it is Agitated the more it Stagnates and gathers filth. God gives Men over to a Reprobate Mind, to work all uncleanness with greediness & with fearlessness. He gives them up to their own hearts lusts and they walk in their own counsels. Si vult decipi decipiatur. The Plague of Darkness falls upon the Soul, and there is not a worse Curse that God has to inflict: Let their Eyes be darkened that they may not see, and bow down their back always. Yea thou shalt be as one that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a Mast. i. e. as a Miserable Mad Man insensible of danger.

5. And lastly, One Reason of the wretched Peace of S • nners is, Satan's Confidence and Security of his Interest in them & Power over them, and their object servility of Spirit and tame subjection to lust. This makes the devil easy about them (if I may so speak) and keeps his house in Peace, for he sees no great danger of losing the secure Sinner. He trusts in his Armor, his past Conquests, and his long and quiet possession by the Sinners consent. The Sinner (he sees) has no Spirit or Resentment left, so much as to struggle for his freedom. Lust has taken away his heart, and he has no thought of Liberty. It is not for Satan's Interest to disturb the Sinner in his quiet, free, and easy subjection. By long Experience and many a Million sad Instances he has long since learned that it ordinarily holds. Were there any danger of losing the Soul the Devil would disrest him soon. So long as all is his own, and he sees his Slave easy, all is well and let him be easy. But yet, in this his Confidence Satan is sometimes taken; and the Strong Redeemer comes upon him unexpected, and takes from him all his Armor wherein he trusted and divideth his spoils.

To Conclude, There is a kind of Concord in Hell, and so between Satan and Sinners here, so long as they agree in Sin. Satan will not cast out Satan. As long as you will be quiet in Sin the Devil will willingly let you.

USE.

The Application and Improvement of the Doctrine may be in divers USES.

I. Of Conviction to Secure and Quiet Sinners: See the exceeding Sinfulness and the dreadful Danger of your wretched State. The Devil keeps you in this cursed Peace. Let this Convince you,

• 1. Of the Wickedness, and
• 2. Of the Folly of your Security.

1. It is exceeding wicked and sinful in you, and a prodigious Guilt, and should so appear to you.

1. You donit believe God's Word, and the Doctrines or Threatenings thereof relating to a State of Sin. There is surely a secret Disbelief and Infidelity which makes you say in your heart, There is no God, or I hope he is not that Holy, Just and Dreadful God which the Scripture represents him. Under all your profession of the Christian Belief you are certainly guilty of secret Atheism, or you would not act so like an Infidel. So the Judge will at last surprise a secure World, as he did the stupid Jews in their last Destruction, and not find Faith in the Earth, Luk. 18.8. Now is the Time and here is the Place for Faith, even while we are here on Earth; and Sinners if they did believe would fear those Threatenings of God's Wrath, which else in a little time they shall be made to feel.

2. You highly Contemn God if you do partly believe the Truths and Threatenings of his Word. Psal. 10.13. Wherefore do the Wicked contemn God — Sinners cast great Contempt upon the Holy God by their sinful Courses. They contemn his Dominion, his Holiness, his Truth, his Power and Vengeance. " What an Impious and Absurd thing is this? Jer. 5.22. Will ye not fear me, saith the Lord? will Je not tremble at my Word? No, they wont: and in Effect they dare to tell God so. If you are but almost persuaded of the Being of God, and of the Revelations which he has made of his Wrath against all Unrighteousness and Ungodliness of Men, who hold the Truth in Unrighteousness, it were a horrible thing that you should be able to be secure and quiet in sinful ways. Wherefore do you so Contemn that glorious and fearful Name, THE LORD THY GOD?

3. Consider the Aggravation of this thy Contempt of the Great GOD, under our Light, and the Means of Conviction & Awakning which we Enjoy. We are not of the Night nor of Darkness to excuse us: Not in the Night of Ignorance; nor under the Darkness of mere Nature and of Heathenism: These Times and Places God might wink at, but now he calls all Men everywhere to repent. This sound has gone out to all the World, and reached these Ends of the Earth What Presumption and Insolence must it be in us then to be secure and fearless in a State of Sin and Wrath? Who know the Judgment of God that they that do such things are worthy of Death? It is a heinous thing, however light we may now make of it, to do violence to Reason, and Conscience rising against us within, and despire unto the Spirit of God testifying against our Sins in his Word, and by that in our Consciences. Heb. 10.26, 27. For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the Truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins: But a certain looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, that shall devour the adversaries. Eph. 4.17, 18, 19. This I say therefore and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind; having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God thro' the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their Heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all Uncleaness with Greediness. But ye have not so learned CHRIST.

2. Be Convinced of the exceeding Folly and desperate Madness of your Security and Peace under the Power and Guilt of Sin. Here we must apply our hearts, to know the wickedness of folly, even of Foolishness and Madness: Madness is in their hearts while they live and after that they go to the Dead. Men shift off their fears as well as they can; compassing themselves with Sparks of their own kindling; they walk in this poor Gleam of light for the Moment that it lasts, and then lie down in Sorrow.

It is but a false show of Peace; a Shadow, a Dream, an Imagination of it. It is interrupted with many a sting of guilt and fear. It does not at all put off, nor screen thee from the Evil Day: No more than it secures a Person from the Lightning to shut his Eyes, or stop his Ears against the Thunder. Thou art every Moment liable to the Blow of God, though' thou wilt not consider it. It is a fond and absurd kind of self love that makes thee promise thyself any safety. Satan is highly gratified in his Successful Beguiling thee into it. And nothing more shows his possession of thee, or strengthens it more than thy Security, While Sin reigns in quiet, the Kingdom is strengthened in its hand. Lust has its undisturbed sway, and however Imperious It is in its will, it is Obsequiously obeyed. The Devil should not be allowed this easy Dominion. His Cunning lies (as Monsieur Ludolf says)

So then you are bewitched and enchanted by sensual Lusts, or you would not be so quiet in your Sins. You have a Devil and art mad. And whenever Conscience awakes, this Guilt wilt rend and tear thee. God may give thee up to thy Security and to Satan forever. If he do not the pains of Repentance will be horrible unto thee. At last it will bite like a Serpent and sting like an Adder. Prov. 1.27. When your Fear cometh as Desolation and your Destruction as a Whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. False Peace vanishes usually at Death, Everlasting Torments begin. The foolish Virgins sleep on, and at Midnight there is a Cry made, Mat. 25.6. Midnight is the time of Security, when deep sleep falleth upon one. To be wak'd with an Outcry then is frightful indeed, and sets all the joints a trembling. O the Consternation when Death Surprizes Sinners in their Security! The sting of death is si •• . Sin throws away its • lask and Vizour when Death advances. It •• ares him in the face whom it sooth'd before. The hope of the Hypoorite is given up with the Ghost. The Spiders Web is swept away with the Besome of Destruction.

This is the first Use, To convince Sinners of the Evil and Danger of their Security.

II. The next USE may be of Comfort to them that are under Spiritual Trouble, and Distressed on the Account of their Souls: who are Mourning, fearing and trembling on the account of their Sins. Peace be to you from Christ the Savior: Let not your Hearts be troubled, neither be afraid. This Sorrow which hath filled your hearts is a thousand times better than to be at quiet in sinful ways. The Fear and Distress which thy Convictions • ive thee are Necessary unto and ••• xcretratory for that Divine Peace which ••• es all Understanding & which abides forever. When the Comforter comes he does thus Convince of Sin. Godly sorrow worketh Repentance unto Salvation never to be repented of. Now • d rejoice, not that you are made sorry, but that you sorrow to Repentance.

The Devil hates to see thee under this Concern. And now he will difrest & trouble thee as much as he can. But be of good cheer, this is the way of thy Deliverance and his Ejection. No wonder if he tear & rend thee when he is forced out after a long and too quiet a possession. But Christ is then near thee to take thee up and heal thee.

While you lay in: your Stupidity and Security in Sin, Hell triumphed over thee with Insult and cruel pleasure: but now in thy Repentance there is Joy in Heaven among the Angels of God. Hell rages at what God is doing for thy poor Soul. Satan will now desire to terrify thee. But the High & Lofty One Looks to him that is of a poor and contrite Spirit and that trembleth at his Word. The God of Peace shall bruise Satan under your feet and do it shortly. Christ has Purchased Peace for, and Spoken it unto the Penitent. Let his Peace Keep thy Soul. Joh. 14.27. Peace I leave with you my Peace I give unto you; not as the 〈…〉 give I unto you: Let not your 〈…〉 ••• ed, neither be afraid. If He giveth 〈…〉 , who can give trouble? A holy Serenity and Security of Mind becomes Believers in Christ. Isai. 32.17. The work of Righteousness shall be Peace, and the Effect of Righteousness quietness and assurance forever. Psal. 4.8. I will both lay me down in peace and sleep, for thou Lord only makest me to dwell in safety.

III. Let the Last USE therefore be, To direct our feet in the way of Peace. See the Peace which you should be seeking after. It lies in a Deliverance from Satan's Thraldom, in Penitential Mourning for Sin, in God's Speaking Pardon to us thro' Christ, in the Fruits and Evidences of our Regeneration, the Spirit of Christ in us, and his Witnessing with our Spirits that we are the Children of God.

Christ in our Peace. We must direct Sinners unto Him. You must have your Hearts sprinkled from an Evil Conscience. The Blood of Christ is this blood of Sprinkling. The Soul is purified, and the Conscience pacified, by Faith therein.

Wherefore Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee Life. Ly no longer still in thy Sins, but lie at Jesus feet washing them with thy tears and wiping them with the hair of thy head. Weep and Love much, for much is to be forgiven thee.

We may not dare to heal the hurt of your Souls slightly, saying peace, peace, when there is no Peace. You must Repent and Believe in Christ, or you will die in your Sins. You must see your perishing and lost Estate and need of a Savior. You must go to him for deliverance from the Dominion of Sin, as well as from the Curse due to it. You must be Sanctified by the Spirit of Christ, and Justified by his Righteousness. You must be taught, and ruled and saved by him.

Then all the Malice and Powers of Hell shall not be able to over thr • w thy Peace. It is built upon a Rock. Thy Faith in thy Savior shall quench all the fiery darts which the Enemy of thy Soul can throw at thee.

But let not the Believer in Christ be secure neither. Thou standest by faith, be not high minded but fear. The Wise Virgins are too apt to Slumber, but their Fnemy is wakeful. Tho' Christ has prayed for them that their faith may not fail, yet if they do not watch and pray they may sadly fall and wound themselves and make work for bitter Repentance. If you have Peace take care to keep it. Do not sleep as do others, but watch and be sober.

We have need to be thus Exhorting one another daily while it is called today, lest any be hardened thro' the deceitfulness of sin. See that your hopes be well grounded, and that you are able to give a Reason of them with meekness and fear: That they be such as purify thy heart and quicken thee in Godly living. There is but one way of Peace to a Sinner, and that is to yield unto Christ the Savior, upon the Terms of the Gospel.

Now, wilt thou yield and submit to Him? To the Conditions of Peace which he offers? He will then be at Peace with thee: thy Peace may be made with God immediately thro' Him, upon the Surrender of thyself to him. Do this then: Lay down the Arms of thy Rebellion, throw thyself at his feet, take Him for thy LORD, submit to his Rule and Government. This is the only Basis of true and solid Everlasting Peace: Isai. 27.5. Let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me, and he shall make peace with me.

I will Conclude with some very Pathetical Words of the Excellent Mr. Baxter in his Saints Everlasting Rest: "I should wonder, but that I know the desperate hardness of the heart of Man, how a Man that is not sure of his Peace with God, can eat, or drink, or sleep, or live in any Quiet. Well, if thou wert the nearest Friend that I have in the World, I could wish thee no Greater Good, than that God would break in upon thy careless heart, and shake thee out of thy false Peace, and cast thee into trouble, — and make thee ever read thy Sentence as if it were still written before thy Eyes; and which way so ever thou goest still meet thee full in the face with the sense of his Wrath, as the Angel did Balaam with a drawn sword; till he make thee cast away thy groundless Peace, and lie down at his foot, saying, Lord what wilt thou have me to do!

IV. That the Victorious SAVIOUR rescues whom He pleases, and will rescue all his Chosen from Satan's Power & Tyranny.

But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, He taketh from him all his Armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his Spoils.

According to the Phrases in the Text, I will speak to it in these Three Propositions. 1. That there is a stronger than the strong Man armed. 2. That he will come upon him and Overcome him. 3. That CHRIST 's Victory over Satan, in rescuing poor Souls from him, is the Most Perfect and Glorious, Compleat and Entire that can be He taketh from him all his Armor wherein he trusted and divideth his spoils.

I. There is a stronger than Satan, the strong Man Armed. This is a small Observation to make to them that believe in GOD THE FATHER Almighty, in the SON and in the HOLY GHOST. For who in the Heavens can be compared to the LORD? Who among the Sons of the Mighty can be likened unto our GOD! If we speak of strength, lo HE is strong. Our Father in Heaven is Greater than all, and none can sna • ch us out of his Hand. Satan in his first and best state was but an Angel, Created by the power of God, and infinitely beneath that Power that made him and now judges him. Like the Angels of God he first excel'd in strength, but fallen he is became weak as we. A crawling Worm and Serpent, which 'tis beneath the power of God to trample on! Wherefore He treads him under our feet. Hell is God's Dominion: He reigns over it, as the Prison belongs to the King. There the Devil is in Chains under darkness. limited and restrained and reserved to the Day of Judgment. He cannot stir without leave, no not to enter into a Swine.

The Lord JESUS is stronger than Satan; and to say so is scarce to speak with reverence eno' of the Son of God. Else he were no Savior to us. Sampson was the Type of Him in his Great strength. He slew the Lion with his naked hand, and out of the Eater came forth Meat, and out of the Strong sweetness. He slew the Enemies of God and his Israel heaps upon heaps, with his single arm, and without a Weapon. He tore up the City Gates and bore away the Posts and Bars, when they thought they had him sure. Yea he pulled down the Hol Temple, bowed the strong Pillars of the Mighty Stucture, and buried Dagon and his Worshippers in the vast Ruines together.

David was yet a more August Type of the Power of Christ, who without Samson's miraculous strength, yea with the weak arm of a Stripling slew the Lion and the Bear, and the fiercer Philistine, and delivered the Israel of God. The Son of David is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Salvation and Strength came together.

Our LORD appeared stronger than all the Hosts of Hell in Arms and Battle Array in the day of his Temptation, when they assaulted him, were repuls'd and fled. He did moreover often cast out Satan; with Authority he commanded the Unclean Spirits and they obeyed him. They lay trembling before him, confessing, beseeching him, deprecating and as well as they could Adoring him. He again suffered them not to speak, and they rag'd and tore and shreik'd out. In his last Agonies, that hour of the power of darkness, they renewed their Assaults only to their own Confusion.

The HOLY GHOST, the Infinite and Eternal Spirit of God is Greater and Stronger than Satan and all his Legions. It were a Blasphemy against Him never to be forgiven to say the contrary. If I by the Finger of God, i.e. His Spirit, cast out Devils —, said our Savior. He the Holy GHOST endued the Apostles with power from on High, to tread on Scorpions and all the Power of the Enemy; the Dragon and the Lion to trample underfoot. Satan had his lying Wonders, like the Magicians of Egypt, but how inf • riour to the Finger of God ! How devoured by the Rod of Moses! The inspired Word is the Eternal Spirits Sword to pierce and push back the fallen Legions into their Pit, and he destroys them with the Breath of his Mouth.

But to descend lower yet, and take an infinite step for the Greater Debasement of Hell: The Holy Angels of God are now stronger than Satan. They excel in strength, hearkening to the Voice of God. In this their Great strength lieth, even in their Integrity and Obedience to God, having preserved their Original Purity and Holiness; while Satan is shorn and his strength departed from him. Wherefore in the last day Michael and his Angels will easily bind and bring the fallen Hosts to the Bar, and hale 'em from thence to the bottomless Pit and cast them in, to come forth no more: See an Image of the Superior strength of a standing Angel over those that are fallen: Rev. 20.1, 2, 3. And I saw an Angel come down from Heaven, having the Key of the Bottomless Pit, and a great Chain in his hand, and he laid hold on the Dragon, that old Serpent which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him, — and cast him in, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him.

But this Vision may as well, or rather, be interpreted of CHRIST, by his Ministers on Earth, as by the Ministring Spirits of Heaven. Wherefore to come down from Heaven to Earth, — Thro' the Spirit and Grace of Christ even WE are stronger than Satan. Even we Worms of the dust. The very Devils are Subject to the Grace of Christ in us, the Spirit of God in the Regenerate. He bruises Satan under our feet. He makes us more than Conquerors. 1 Joh. 2.14. I have written unto you Young Men because you are strong, and the Word of God abideth in you, and you have overcome the Wicked One. In ourselves we are wretchedly Weak, and crushed before the Moth. Yet we wrestle against Principalities and Powers and Spiritual Wickednesses, and they fall before us. We are strong in the Lord and in the power of his Might. He puts on us the whole Armor of God. Our Faith quenches the fiery darts of the wicked one. In Prayer we cry to God and our Enemies turn back. The kind goes out at the glorious Name which we Invoke and plead. And his Word in our Mouth is a Power and Spirit which be cannot resist, or stand before. Thus there is a stronger than the strong Man Armed: which was the first Proposition.

II. He will come upon him and overcome him. Which speaks,

• 1. The Certainty of the REDEEMERS Encountring the Enemy of Souls. He will come upon him.
• 2. The Suddenness and Sarprize where with he usually comes upon the Enemy in his Security and Peace.
• 3. The certain Issue of the Combat, he shall overcome.

1. The Certainty of the Redeemers Encountring the Enemy of Souls is here supposed. He shall come upon him. And this is very sure as to the whole Election of Grace, and as to all that is necessary to be done for the delivering them all and everyone of them from the power of Sin and Satan, and the translating them into the Kingdom of his Grace in this Life, and of Glory hereafter. This in his time & way, sooner or later, He shall show who is the Blessed and Only Potentate, King of Kings, and Lord of Lord's.

It is true that the most by far of the miserable Children of Adam are left at last under the possession, and in Captivity unto Satan, who is the Prince of this World; but the Election shall obtain Deliverance, even all Those whom the Father hath given unto Christ out of the World: For GOD has given him power over all flesh, to give Eternal life unto as many as he hath given him. These chosen Vessels of Mercy are fore-known & predestinated in the Eternal Counsels and Purposes of Grace, and so are the Ways and Means of their Effectual Vocation and Perseverance; and not one of them is lost.

It was promised from the beginning that there should be a Glorious Seed of the Woman, that should break the Serpents head, and that He should see his Seed. Long was he looked for by them that were waiting for Redemption in Israel, and known in the Church by that Name and Style, O' 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , He that should come. In the Fulness of time He came, being manifested to destroy the works of the Devil. And as to all the future times and seasons which he has spoken of, the Great Periods for the Advancing his Kingdom on the Ruin of Satan's, He that shall come will come and will not tarry.

2. He comes with suddenness and surprise upon the Enemy, in their security and peace. So it is commonly in the Conversion of Souls, and so as to the Great Events foretold respecting the Downfal of the Kingdom of Satan, and the Triumphs of the Church therein. The Sovereign and Irresistible Grace of God rescues Souls in the Day of his power, when very often there is the least Appearance and Probability of the thing, either to the Persons themselves, or to Others. When Satan least fears he is Ejected, and when the Soul sometimes least expects it is delivered. The Power of GOD arrests some, like the Light from Heaven which struck down Saul in his evil way; and the free Grace of GOD unexpectedly meets others. as it did the Eunuch on the Road. So Unexpected was the Blow to the Kingdom of Darkness, when the Thousands were pricked to the Heart in an Instant: A surprise as astonishing to the Infernal Powers as it was unto the Men themselves.

But it may be 'tis much more so in all the Great Events of Providence, wherein the Greatest Blows are given to the Interests of Hell, in the Changes and Revolu • ions that happen among the Kingdoms of Men. It is not for us to know the Times and Seasons which the Father reserves in his own Power: Nor may we too Curiously ask, Lord wilt thou at this Time restore the Kingdom to Israel? The Kingdom of GOD cometh not with Observation. Wherefore least of all do the Great Expectanda come to pass at the Time and in the Way which Men are most Confident about; and when they are saying— Lo here, and lo there.

When the World by Wisdom knew not God it pleased God by the Foolishness of Preaching to Convert the World: As much it may be to the Confusion of Hell, as to the frustration of the wise Expectations of the Jewish Doctors: for the One no more seemed Aware of the humble Means of that Great Event than the other: But Satan like lightning fell from Heaven, struck with the flash before he was aware, and down to the Abyss in a Moment. How strange and Inexplicable to them was it, to hear our Savior say, Joh. 12.31. Now is the Judgment of this World, now shall the Prince of this World be cast out. Indeed the Great Events of the Kingdom of Christ in their Accomplishments are high and dreadful, bright and surprizing, as the Lightning that passes from one part of the Heaven to the other; Conspicuous to all, sudden and Irresistible.

3. When Christ comes upon the Enemy he Overcomes him. Victory over Satan is the certain Issue. He has come and he Overcame. He is yet daily Conquering. And He will yet further overcome, and make his Victories complete in an Everlasting Triumph.

1. In the days of his flesh our Lord came and overcame the Enemy. In his Temptation he conquered; and so in his whole Obedience and consummate Righteousness, in all his Sorrows and Sufferings, and in his Death, wherein he made his Soul an Offering. He finished Transgression, and made an End of Sin, and brought in an Everlasting Righteousness, and made Reconciliation for Iniquity. He condemned Sin in the flesh, he destroyed him that had the power of Death, i. e. the Devil. He forgave Sins, he cast out Devils, he called whom he would and they came unto him. He poured out his Soul unto Death, and divided the Spoil with the strong. On his Cross'd he triumphed, and having spoiled Principalities and Powers, he made a show of them openly in his Resurrection & Ascension. His rising again was the death of Death, and the utter breaking of Satan's Head. He then Abolish'd death, which was the Curse. Then was brought to pass the saying, O Death I will be thy Plague, O Grave I will be thy Destruction. When he ascended on high he led Captivity captive. He passed triumphantly thro' Satan's Territories, the Prince of the powers of the Air, whose Hosts were in effect led in chains before his Chariot Wheels. Thus our Savior conquered when he came.

2. Ever since his Ascension he has been carrying on his Victories, and spreading his Conquest far and near. And this

• 1. In the setting up his Visible Kingdom, which shall finally prevail.
• 2. His Internal and Invisible Kingdom in the Souls of Men.

1. The Victorious Savior has set up his Visible Kingdom in the World on the Ruines of Satan, and the Gates of Hell shall never prevail against his Church. This began gloriously in the Day when the Holy Ghost descended on the Apostles, endowed them with Power from an High, confirming the Word with Signs and Miracles, and accompanying it with his mighty Workings on the Souls of Men; whereby the Conversion of so great a part of the World to Christianity was most wonderfully Effected. The Idolatries of the World, and the Wickedness and Ignorance wherein it lay, were Satan's possession of it and Empire in it. In this respect he appeared the God of this World, and might have some pretence to say of all the Kingdoms of the Earth, and the Glory of them, — all these are Mine. For the things which the Gentiles Sacrificed, they ignorantly Sacrificed to devils and not to GOD. And Agreably the Services which he imposed on them were like his own cursed Nature, barbarous and cruel, unclean and filthy. But Idolatry was soon exposed to Contempt at the Preaching of the Gospel of Christ, which came everywhere in power and in the Holy Ghost; and Men turned to GOD from Idols, to serve the Living and True GOD and to wait for his Son from Heaven whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus which delivereth us from the Wrath to come, 1 Thes. 1.9, 10.

From about the Time of our Savior's Birth and onwards the Devils Oracles were shuck dumb, his Responses ceased, his power of Deceiving the Nations was restrained; "as the "rising Sun chases away the Birds of Night. In the Place of these was the Spiritual and Pure Worship of the true GOD restored and set up, the Holy Doctrines and Laws of the Gospel published thro' many Nations, Converts Multiplied, and in a while the Empire became Christian.

The Kingdom of our Lord first flourish'd in Asia and in Greece, and suffered less there by many Oppositions and Persecutions, than it soon did in Europe afterward by the Romish Apostasy. By that it was a long time horribly Obscured, and the Name of Jesus was rather blasphemed than worshipped for many Centuries of Darkness and Idolatry together; all which time the Devil seemed as it were to have got back the Kingdom of Christ into his own Hands. At last came the Day of the Revival and Restoration of the Visible Kingdom of Christ, in the Happy and Glorious Reformation, which began in the days of Lather, and prevailed wondrously in Spite of the rage of Rome and of the Imperial Power: since which day altho' a Sea of the Blood of the Martyrs hath been shed, yet the Reformed Religion lives, and we believe shall finally triumph in the Downfal of Antichrist.

For we koow that GOD has promised and foretold, and we according to his promise look for, a more glorious State of the Church, than hath been yet seen; in respect both of Extent and Enlargment, and of Knowledge, Holiness and Love. We believe that such a Dominion and Glory is to be given to Christ, that all People, Nations and Languages shall serve him. We believe that the Kingdom of Christ is that Stone cut out of the Mountains without hands, which shall itself become a Great Mountain and fill the whole Earth, and break in pieces and consume all other Kingdoms. We look for the Coming in of the Fulness of the Gentiles, the Conversion of the Jews, & the Destruction of the Man of Sin; whose Coming has been after the Working of Satan, with all Power, Signs and Lying Wonders; that Wicked One whom the Lord shall consume by the breath of his Mouth, and destroy with the brightness of his Coming. The Earth will be lightened with the Glory of that day, when the mighty Voice shall be heard, Babylon is fallen, is fallen.

In a word, we look for a New Heaven and a New Earth, and a Reign of Holiness, such as has never yet been; some most happy and flourishing State of the Church,

Then shall the Church have a long and singular Freedom from the power of Satan and his Instruments. This is the first Resurrection: i. e. The Churches Revival from its present State of Weakness, Sinfulness and Sorrow, unto a State of Power, Purity and Joy: And blessed and holy is He that hath part therein; whose lot it is to live in this happy time; when the Means of Holiness and the Measures of Holiness shall be more abundant. Satan shall be bound for that happy season, and after it he must be loosed for a little time.

To conclude, In every Period of the Advancement of the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus, from the first Days of Christianity to the Consummation of it, is carried on Michaels War & Victories over the Dragon & his Angels; and the Casting down that old Serpent called the Devil & Satan, which deceiveth the whole World; and at every Period and great Event we may hear that loud Voice in Heaven, saying, Now is come Salvation and Strength, and the Kingdom of our God and the Power of his Christ! — and they over came him by the Blood of the Lamb, and by the Word of their Testimony. Thus our Lord has come upon the Enemy and overcame him. and shall yet further do so, in setting up his Visible Kingdom upon the Ruin of Satan.

2. He more especially comes upon the Enemy and overcomes him in his Internal and Invisible Kingdom in the Souls of Men. This Eminently is his Kingdom and Reign among Men, for the sake of which the Administration of Providence is put into his hands, and he has a Church in the World.

When therefore the Pharisees demanded of him, When the Kingdom of God should come, Luke. 17.20. He answered them and said, The Kingdom of God cometh not with Observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here, or lo there; for THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU. That is to say, The Kingdom of God is in its true Glory and Efficacy an Inward & Spiritual thing, in the Heart, the Soul, the Conscience of Man; There look for the Messiabs Kingdom, even within your Selves. There is his Throne, in the Hearts of a free and willing and holy People, who are by his Divine Power brought to believe in and obey him. The Seat of his Government and the Glories of it are to be sought within us. His Empire is over Souls, and like them Invisible, by the Secret Operations of his Spirit on the Mind and Conscience.

Thus there is a Spiritual Kingdom of Christ, set up in the hearts, his Government in the Souls of Believers; in the Soul that is Sanctified, that believes and obeys the Gospel. This Kingdom of Christ consists in the Conversion of Souls from Sin unto God, and the carrying on the Work of his Grace in them unto Salvation. It is the whole work of Sanctification, wroit and carried on in the Souls of the Elect, by the Preaching of the Gospel. Hence we read of the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness; and of the Word of the Kingdom, the Gospel of the Kingdom, the Good Seed and the Children of the Kingdom.

Two Things might be very pertinent to observe here,

1. That there is no Empire or Rule in Nature like that which is over the Soul and Spirit. God governs the World, we say; and very truly. All his Works are ordered, directed and managed by Him. The Sun, Moon and Stars obey Him (we say) in all their Motions. His Will is their Rule & Law which guides and limits them. But all this is not properly Government, nor strictly Obedience in them. The Creature knows not the Will of its Maker, nor is sensible of its own Being and Motion, Use and Service. Government is of the Superior, Reasonable and Intelligent Creatures, Angels and Men These are capable of Law and of a free Subjection, and a willing Service. These have a Law written in their Nature. Over them therefore God reigns. These are His Subjects and the People of his Kingdom, being his Noblest Creation and Workmanship. He maketh his Angels Spirits, the Ministers of His Kingdom both of Providence & Grace; they excel in Strength, Knowledge and Holiness. He made Man like them a Living Soul; in His own Image, who is a Spirit and the Father of Spirits; and all Souls are His, and we are His OFFSPRING.

Now here is the Perfection of Rule, of Knowledge and Power; to know the Thoughts of the heart, and search it, and turn and change it as it pleases GOD. Others can reach the Body, order and inspect our outward Behaviour, and punish the Overt Transgression; but the Mind is free and not to be brought under the Power of any. Human Laws can prescribe only to the outward Life and Actions, and take Cognizance only of Men's Manners: But it is the Glory of God, his Laws, and his Government that he looks to the Heart within, requires the Love and Service of that, and will accept nothing less; but the Thoit of Wickedness is Sin before him and he judges therefor. Jer. 17.10. I the Lord search the Heart, I try the Reins.—.

Conscience within us is His Vicegerent. He has created it, endowed and impower'd it, and to Him it is Accountable. He has given it Knowledge, and he Commissions it, and to Him it renders in its Register and Testimony. For the Spirit of Man is the Candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the Belly, Prov. 20.27. This is GOD'S Government, whereby he rules over the Highest and the least. The Hearts of Kings are in his Hand and he turns them, & cuts off the Spirits of Princes. In this He appears to be the Blessed and Only Potentate; the King Immortal, Invisible and only Wise; from whose Spirit and Presence there is no hiding, no flying. Such Knowledge is too wonderful for Man; it is High and he cannot attain unto it.

In a word, This Empire over Souls and Spirits takes in the Dominion of the vast Hades, the unseen World; the Key whereof is put into the Redeemers Hand: In Comparison whereof the Millions of Souls on our little Globe are but a small Number, and as a single Family. How many Millions of Immortal spritis pass out of this World of ours, in every Age of it, into this Hades? Besides the Myriads of Angels and Legions of Devils there before! What a Kingdom of God is here without limits, or any Number of its Hosts! this Empire over Souls or Spirits!

To these GOD has subjected the rest of his Glorious Creation, made them for Dominion, & put all things under their feet; reserving them to be his Own Dominion and Servants, because the Superior Orders of Being.

This is the first Note which I commended to your serious Attention, That there is no Empire or Rule in Nature like that which is over the Soul and Spirit. The next Observation I would make is,

II. That there is no Rule or Empire over Souls here on Earth like that which God displays in the Work of Sanctification, or his saving work of Grace wroit and carried on in our Souls by His Holy Spirit. There are other wonderful Proofs and Instances of GOD'S Governing the Spirits of Men in the common Rule of His Providence: there being indeed no such thing at all as a Providence over Human Affairs, without a particular Knowledge of and Power over Men's Spirits; directing and over-ruling them as the Alwise Governor of Heaven and Earth sees meet and necessary; Inclining or restraining them, and changing their Purposes and Counsels, according to his own Will & unto his own Glory. There is a powerful insensible Operation of Providence on the Spirits of Men, which puts no force on their Freedom, Liberty and Choice, but yet governs their Will to its own Purpose and Council. But now the Work of Grace, Conversion & Regeneration, and the progress of our Sanctification is a more manifest and Eminent Empire of GOD over our Spirits than all this.

1. It is God's Glorious Efficiency. The Excellency of the Power is of GOD and not of Man. The Word is the Power of GOD unto Salvation. The Day of a Souls Conversion is the Day of GOD'S Power For who but GOD can change the Soul? give a new heart? renew the Mind and Spirit? form and make a New Creature? For there is a new Mind given, a new Will, new Affections, new Purposes and Resolutions, new Strength and Power, and so a newness of Life produced. This is Dominion, Rule and Government over our Spirits with a witness: An Absolute Power exerted upon them, whereby they are reformed and restored, according to the Will, and into the Image of God, who worketh all in all. This is the Exceeding Greatness of His Power to Us-ward who believe, according to the Working of his Mighty Power.

2. It is all Efyected & Carried on in a way of Rule & Government: by a Divine Regency which is most Free and Gracious. An Act of true Dominion, bringing the Reasonable Creature in a Way agreeable to its rational Nature, Liberty & Faculties, into a chosen Subjection to God. To set this in a true light we need only consider the Means which the Holy Ghost uses, and the Method which he takes with us in this glorious Work: And this is such as is most proper to the Government of a Soul. That is to say, He works on the Soul by that Inspired Word and revealed Law which He hath given for our Government, to regulate us & to be Obeyed by us. His Word is the Rule of Holiness and of our Duty. It prescribes both to the Outward Life, and to the Inward Thoughts, Affections & Desires. It is a Law to our Consciences, and it is quick & powerful as a Sword to pierce into the Inmost Soul; a Discerner of the Thoughts and intents of the Hearts, and a judge of them. This Divine Word is the Ordinary Means which the Spirit of GOD uses in Convincing & Converting Sinners; and to that End the Ministry and Preaching of it is Ordained, and by the Blessing of GOD with it is made Instrumental & Efficacious. Now this is Agreable to our Nature and the proper Government of Reasonable Creatures. For God made Man to be ruled by a Law and Precept. He wrote his Law in Mans heart at first, and some Remains of it abide in his Apostasy. He gov • rn'd Man in his Integrity by a Law and Commandment, requiring a perfect Obedience of him; by a Promise and a Threatning, by Hopes & Fears. And so he doth yet by the Written Law, Precepts and Prohibitions, Promises and Threats. He uses the proper Means, Human and Rational, to Inform Enlighten and Convince the Judgment, to persuade and overcome the Will, to move the Affections, Desire and Loathing, Love and Hatred, Hope & Fear, Grief and Joy; and by all to Alarm the Conscience, Encourage and Deter us, as His Glory and our Happiness do direct. In this way Sovereign Grace gets the Dominion again in the Soul of Man, and in this way it maintains it: Which is the Way of a Rational Dominion, the Governing by Law free & Intelligent Beings. The Divine Government in our Souls is upheld by the Law of the Kingdom. Faith comes by Hearing, and Hearing by the Word of God. Of His own Will be begets us by the Word of Truth. The Commandment comes and the Sinner dies So he is brought to the foot of Christ, to kneel to the Scepter of his Grace.

Thus the Holy Ghost accompanies this Word of the Kingdom with an Invisible and Irresistible Blessing, whereby he subdues the Enmity of the Heart against the Divine Law, and brings it to submit freely thereunto.

3. Herein is the Kingdom of Satan in the Soul overthrown, and the Opposite glorious Reign of Holiness set up in its stead. Satan is dispossessed and Souls recovered from Sin unto God. The Dominion of Sin is broken, and the Scepter of Christ bowed to, the Laws of Holiness obeyed. So that here is a proper Conquest and Reduction of the Soul from the Tyranny of Satan, and from Slavery to him into the Glorious Liberty of the Children of God. He that was sometimes alienated and an Enemy in his mind by wicked Works, now is Reconciled, Col. 1.21. Many Enemies are conquered in the Souls Conversion, and all of them are fought with daily and resisted in the progress of our Sanctification, and in the Saints Perseverance. Flesh, World and Devil are the Mortal Enemies of this blessed Work; for they well know that it tends to their Mortification and Destruction, and consists therein These are stubborn, fierce and irreconcilable Foes, subtle and strong, fighting for their life and for the Dominion which they have usurped over us. All the Powers of Hell are in Arms against every Souls Salvation, and every Soul has a treacherous corrupt Nature siding with the Powers of Darkness. It is now the Glory of GOD'S Grace to conquer these Powers, break their cruel and unjust Dominion, set up a Contrary Law and Rule in the heart, and bring the Soul to a willing Obedience unto the Holy Law which it once hated and violated, and unto a mortal hatred of that Tyranny and Cursed Way of Sin, from which the Grace of GOD hath delivered it. Thus the World is overcome, and this is the Victory even our Faith: The Flesh is Crucified with its Affections and Lusts, and Satan is resisted steadfastly and bruised under our feet. The Soul is turned from Darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God: It is delivered from the Power of Darkness, and translated into the Kingdom of his dear Son Col. 1.13.

4. And lastly, This delivery of Souls begun in this Life in the Work of Sanctification, from the Power of Satan, ends in their final Salvation and eternal Glorification in Heaven. At Death these Redeemed Souls are carried by Angels, in safety & in triumph, thro' Satan's Territories into the Paradise of God. The Devils see them pass along thus guarded, to the Presence of Christ, to see his Glory, and to be glorified by him. They dare not come nigh 'em, to offend 'em, in this their Glorious Passage. They at a distance see it with Envy & Rage, and gnash and melt away. And whither they go Satan can never come: They go to those Realms and Seats of Glory which he ( Accursed Spirit ) left and fell from, and can return to no more. The Crowns of Glory which fell from the Heads of these Apostate Spirits, the Redeemed Saints of Christ ascend to wear; and they reign in those Thrones, from which these were cast down to Hell. When Christ ascended on high He led Captivity Captive, and when Believers ascend after him they see the Captive Spirits in Chains all the Way they pass, Unable to offend them, Afraid to behold them. They fade away and are afraid out of their close places.

But then in the Resurrection of the Dead the Dominion of Sin and Satan will be more sensibly and fully broken. Then Death, the last Enemy will be destroyed, abolished, and Mortality itself swallowed up of Life, swallowed up in Victory.

And yet in more formal manner will the Redeemers Conquest of Satan appear in the Judgment Day; both in the Condemnation of Satan Himself, and of all those that have s •• v'd and obeyed him; and in the public Justification of Believers in Christ.

For then Satan himself, the Devil and his Angels shall be brought forth in Chains before the Judgment Seat of Christ, and shall be condemned by him to Eternal Torments: To that Everlasting Fire prepared for them. They believe this Day and tremble, they once shreik'd out before the Son of God on Earth and said, — Art thou come to torment us before our time? But in the last and great Day the Time of their Torment will be fully come, and the Man Christ Jesus (in the Glory of the Father, with all his Holy Angels) will be their Judge; Yea His Saints shall sit by him and judge Angels: 1 Cor. 6.3. And they shall be cast into the Bottomless pit, into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone, to be tormented Day and Night, for Ever and Ever, Rev. 20 10.

That is to say too, All those that have here Impenitently hearkened unto Satan's Temptations and Delusions, and done his Lusts, shall be Adjudged and Condemned with him to one and the same Place of Torments: Mat. 25.41.

But at the same time these Damned Spirits shall behold with Envy and Horror Millions of the Children of Adam, Redeemed from the the Earth, washed white in the Blood of Christ, openly Justified in their sight, and declared Heirs of Eternal Glories in Heaven. Satan shall behold this blessed Election of free Grace T ••• phing in that glorious Day; He the Object of their Contempt, Disdain and Abhorrence, They of his Envy and Rage: He shall consider them as Sav'd from Sin & Hell, from his Malice and Hatred, by the Power and Grace of Christ, to the Everlasting Enjoyment Adoration and Service of God, to Infinite and Unspeakable Blessedness in His Love and ••• our forever and ever: He'll see it with Amazement and Anguish, Confusion and Shame, and down he will Sink Blaspheming, with all the Sinful Ghosts a-round him, in Everlasting Despair.

And thus I have Meditated the Redeemers Conquest of Satan in the Rescue of Souls from him by the Power of his Grace. And this would have led me to a more particular Consideration of the latter Phrases in the Text, and the last Proposition thence resulting; He taketh from him all his Armor wherein he trusted and divideth his Spoils: It is a Victory the most Compleat and Entire, Perfect and Glorious that can be.

But I must proceed no further at this time.

USE.

And now I have again prevented myself in the Application, which I hoped to have made of this Doctrine: The USE should have been,

I. To teach us to give Glory to Christ our Savior. He is the true Messiah; the promised Seed of the Woman to break the Serpent's Head; the Horn of Salvation raised up for us in the House of David, as was spoken by the mouth of all the Holy Prophets, which have been since the World began, that we should be saved from our Enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us. We should now go forth with Branches of Palm-Trees in our hands, to grace the Triumph of our Savior, and shout, — Hozanna to the Son of David; Blessed be he that cometh in the Name of the Lord, Hozanna in the highest.

So in that great Day wherein the Philistine of Gath fell, and all the Enemies of Israel fled at his Fall, the lovely Conqueror and illustrious Type of the Conquering Savior, came back with the Monster's Head in his hand, and he put his Armor in his Tent: While the Dau'ters of Israel prepared their Instruments of Music, and met him with their Songs, — David his ten thousands!

What a mighty Lord and Conqueror is our REDEEMER, and on what a gracious Design has he armed to bring forth the Priso • ers, and proclaim Liberty to the Captives, after he has slain the Tyrant and the Oppressor! With what Admiration and Delight should we Contemplate this Appearance of the Son of God in our Nature, and all the Enemies of our Souls under his Feet? Isai. 63.1. Who is he that cometh from Edom, (like David after the Conquest of the Edomites at the valley of salt, whereby he got him a Name, 2 Sam. 8.13.) with died Garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his Apparel, travelling in the Greatness of his strength? — I that speak in Righteousness, Mighty to save. Let the Divine Answer the Prophet in the Vision he had of the Glorified Jesus, in the form of a Mighty Conqueror, Rev. 19.11, 12, &c. And I saw Heaven opened, and behold a White Horse, and he that sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in Righteousness he doth judge and make war, His Eyes were as a flame of Fire, and on his Head were many Crowns, and he had a Name written that no Man knew but He Himself And he was clothed with a Vesture dipt in Blood; and his Name is called, The Word of God. And the Armies which were in Heaven followed him, — and out of his mouth goeth a sharp •• ord, that with it he should smite the Nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of Iron; and he treadeth the wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his Vesture and on his Thigh a Name written, King of Kings and Lord of Lord's.

Such a Vision of the Glories of the Victorious Savior does the Text present us. As in the Day when David took Rabbah, the Royal City of the Children of Ammon; He came Himself and took it, lest it should be called after another's Name: And he took their Kings Crown from off his head, (the weight whereof was a Talent of Gold, with the precious Stones) and it was set on David's head; and he brought forth the spoil of the City in great abundance. So we see JESUS Crowned, and Hell Spoiled, and all the Enemies of our Salvation put under saws and harrows and axes of Iron, 2 Sam. 12. ult.

II. The Second Use is of singular Comfort to the Believer in Christ.

1. In all Temptations and spiritual Annoyances form the Wicked One. Christ has overcome the Tempter: For in that He himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted: for we have not an HighPriest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our Infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin, See Heb. 2.14, 18.4.15, 16.

2. Under the Burden of Indwelling Sin, and the tormenting Fears which the sorrowful Sense of it doth often create in the Children of God; Whether Satan be indeed cast out of them; whether Sin have not yet the Dominion over them; whether they shall not yet fall by the hand of their roaring Enemy without, and a treachercus Heart within-But be not discouraged; Christ says to you as he did to Peter, Satan has desired to sist you, but I have prayed for you. Read the Promise and the Prayer, Rom. 16.20 The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly: The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with You. Amen.

3. Let Believers be comforted under, and supported against all the Troubles and Persecutions they may be annoyed with from Earth and Hell. It is a wicked World, and Satan is the God of it. They therefore that will live Godly in Christ Jesus must suffer Persecution from it. Marvel not if the World hate you, for it hated Christ first. And he hath said to you, Be of good cheer, I have overcome the World. Read what the Spirit saith unto the Church in Smyrna, Fear none of these things: the Devil shall cast some of you into Prison that ye may be tried, and ye shall have Tribulation ten days: Be thou faithful to the Death, and I will give you the Crown of Life.

4. In the low Estate of God's Church, and in all it's Sufferings, this is the support of God's People, that the Church is founded on a Rock, and the Gates of Hell shall not be able to prevail against it. Our Lord has said to us, I beheld Satan as Lightning fall from Heaven. Read the Vision of the Church in its travailing and weak Estate, persecuted by Satan and the Powers of this World, but protected by her Savior to the destruction of the Dragon and his Instruments: Rev. 12. The Church appears there as a Woman clothed with the Sun, shining in Purity of Doctrine and Holiness of Conversation; the Moon under her feet, trampling on all sublunary and earthly things; and on her head a Crown of twelve Stars, the Doctrine of the twelve Apostles worn as her Crown. She is represented as travailing in Birth, to propagate true Religion and Godliness. But to devour this her Holy Birth, appears a Great red Dragon. God caught up her blessed Offspring to Himself and to his Throne. Michael and his Angels fought against the Dragon, and cast him down. Yet he continues to persecute the Woman and her Child, and Providence continues its Guard and Succor. The Dragon cast out floods, but even the Earth itself was made to help the Woman, and to swallow that Flood which might else have drowned the Truth. Thus the Church is and shall be saved in spite of the Malice of Satan and his power. Her Redeemer is Mighty, and his little Flock need not fear. Let us believe, and look and pray for the Downfal of Satan's Kingdom more and more; and rejoice over it thou Heaven, and ye holy Apostles and Prophets.

III Let the last Use be of Exhortation to us all, to submit to Christ and choose Him for our Lord; to behave towards Him as rightful King, and be his Servants. Let us all how our knees to his Scepter, let us kiss the Son, let us consent to his Covenant, and accept of his offered Grace. Let us renounce Sin and Satan, abjure the Devil and all his Works, and yield ourselves up to the Government of Christ, his Word and Spirit.

It is most willful in us, if we remain yet under Satan's Power. We prefer him to the Son of GOD by a practical and vile choice of him, renouncing our Savior's Claim of us and Offers to us. And let Sinners consider, that they list into the conquered side, and must fall into their condemnation.

But if Christ be our Lord now, He will be our Savior for Ever. If he now rule in us and over us, we shall one day reign with Him. If we now give up ourselves to him, He will hereafter take us to Himself in Heaven. If we are now subject to Him as Prince and Savior, we may know ourselves to be chosen in Him before all Worlds, unto Eternal Glory.

Wherefore Return, O revolted Soul, from Satan unto Christ: And like Magdalene, out of whom be cast seven Devils, thou shalt be yet precious in his Eyes. Lay down the Weapons of thy Rebellion, and fight no more against GOD. Come in upon the Proclamation of a General Pardon which is issned out in the Gospel of Peace. See out the Pardon therein offered and secured to thee. Swear a future Allegiance and Fidelity, and perform unto the Lord thy Savior thy Christian Oath and Vow; thy Sacramental Engagement to Him.

Lift in the War denounced against Sin and Satan for Ever. For the Lord hath sworn that he will have War with this Amalek for evermore. Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his Might. Put on the whole Armor of God: for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against Principalities and Powers, against the Rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual Wickednesses in High places. Whosoever is born of God overcometh them all, and this is the Victory, even our Faith.

Now thanks be to God who causeth us to triumph thro' Christ. He that conquers in this spiritual Warfare has an Eternal Triumph. Our Lord has said, I appoint you a Kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me. And again, To him that overcometh will I give to sit down with me on my Throne, even as I also Overcame and am set down with my Father upon his Throne.

DOCTRINE. That we should be very glad of every Opportunity and Call we have to go up to the House of the Lord. The Liberty and Season of enjoying God's Public Worship, should be always very welcome and pleasant to us.

The Reasons of the Doctrine may be taken,

• I. From the Glorious Object of Worship: GOD.
• II. The Acts of Worship.

To which I might have added, the Frame, Ends and Fruits of this holy Exercise.

1. If we consider the Glorious Object of Worship, the Blessed GOD; it will easily appear that we should be very glad of every call we have to go up to his House. God is the most Delectable Object which the Soul of Man can converse with, being infinitely possessed of all possible Perfections, Excellencies and Glories. Therefore to approach unto him should be the highest Pleasure of our Souls; and if we were in our Original State of Rectitude it certainly would be so. We have directly to do with God in our solemn Acts of Worship, Him we speak and address unto immediately, •• d He speaks to us; to him we make our •••• rings, and of him we supplicate for Grace and Mercy. Now God is the supreme Object of the delight of all Intelligent Beings, and the whole of Religion lies very much in that Precept, Psal. 33.4. Delight thyself in the Lord. If we were called to go to the Presence of our Earthly Ring, to ask and receive any Favors from him, being assured that it would be very acceptable to him to see and hear us with our Petition, with what Joy and Pleasure should we go to present ourselves before him? In like manner when we go to worship, we should go unto God as our exceeding Joy, Psal. 43.4.

And accordingly this has been the Frame of worshipping Saints. As they have had Joy in worshipping, so their Rejoicing has been especially in the Glorious Object they Adored. Psal. 9.2. I will be glad and rejoice in thee, I will sing praise to thy Name, O wast High. Psal. 32.11. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice ye Righteous.

Indeed if God were not infinitely to be delighted in on the account of his Essential Glories and Perfections, he would not be the Object of worship, neither would there be any Pleasure in worship. Make the Object of worship any other but God, and there is no Satisfaction in any Act of Adoration. For Instance, What a dull and stupid thing must is be to worship a graven Image; a dumb and de • t and blind, a senseless and lifeless Deity? If people would but use their Senses and Reason this would appear to be the most sordid & sotrish Act of their lives. The Psalmist most justly represents the Satisfaction of worshipping the living God, but the extreme Lumpishness and Absurdity of Idol Pagan Worship. Psal. 115.3, 4, 5. Our God is in the Heavens, and hath done whatsoever he pleased: Their Idols are Silver and Gold, the work of men's hands; they have mouths but they speak not, eyes have they, &c. they have ears, &c. they have hands, &c.— they that make them are like unto them, so, &c. One would think (that is) that the Worshiper had no more Understanding than the Stock which he adores, and that one was as insensible a piece of Wood as the other. The Prophet Isaiah amplifies with a great deal of holy Scorn and Sarcasm on this head: Isai. 44 9, 10, &c. Who hath formed a God that is profitable for nothing! they and their delectable things are vanity: the Carpenter stretches out his rule, marks it out with a line, fitteth it with planes, makes the figure of a Man, according to the beauty of a Man, warms himself with the chips, and then falls down and worships it, and saith to it, Deliver me, for thou art my God. Now to be sure there can be no more pleasure in the Adoring, than there was in the hewing and hacking the Log. Which is the most a Stock at last, the Image or its Adorer is lest doubtful. And as the Idol is insensible of any pleasure in being worshipped, so must the fottish Man be in worshipping, v. 18. They have not known nor understood, for he hath shut their Eyes that they cannot see, and their hearts that they cannot understand.

So that all the Reason of Pleasure in worship must be from the glorious Object, GOD. Because he is infinitely Wise & Holy, and Good and Righteous, and Powerful; and because he is the Eternal, Immense, Supreme, Independent, unchangeably glorious and blessed Fountain of Being, Perfection and Happiness; therefore is it an infinitely pleasant, good and blessed thing to worship him: Isai. 61.10. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God.

II. If we consider the Acts and holy Exercises of public Worship, it will easily appear to be our duty to be very glad of every Call and Opportunity we have to go up into the House of God. Every Part of religious instituted Worship is in itself highly pleasurable unto a Heart suitably disposed and prepared.

The Parts of Worship I would name are These, Prayer, Singing, Hearing, the Sacraments, and receiving the Benediction.

1. Prayer is such a Duty as we should be glad to wait upon God in his House in. His House is called the house of Prayer. The Tabernacle, and Temple were such of old. There was the holy Oracle, and the Altar of Incense before the most Holy Place; which Incense was a Figure of the Prayers of the Saints, in the Clouds whereof (from the inflamed Affections of the Soul) God would be Approacked. The Jews worshipped & prayed toward the Temple, when they were distant from it. And the Prayers there made the Courts of the Lord longed after by holy Souls, when they could not be there.

Now Prayer is a large and comprehensive Word in the common use of it, and takes in Adoration and Praise, Thanksgiving and Blessing, penitential Confessions, Supplications for Grace and Mercy, holy Pleadings and Arguings at the Throne of Grace, Professions and Self-Consecration, and Intercession for others: All which are in themselves full of Delight to gracious Persons, and sweet to their Souls; and we should sit down under the shadow of the wings of the Cherubims with delight, because that these are the Place of Prayer.

1. We should be glad to go up to the House of God to Adore and Praise Him. Adoration is not a more awful than it is a delightful part of Worship. To contemplate, admire, and mention the transcendent Perfections of God, and give him the Glory of his Titles and Attributes. In it the devout Soul is caught up with blessed Paul into the third Heavens, where it hears things neither lawful nor possible to be spoken. The Soul looks into the dazzling Glory of God's Eternity, Immensity, Immutability, Alsufficiency, Sovereignty and Incomprehensibility. It surveys all his glorious Works, and sees his Eternal Power and Godhead displayed in them: Hears Angels worship, and sees them cover their Faces. It worships with fear and trembling at the foot of the Mount, before the thick Darkness, and breaks not thro' the bounds to gaze into what cannot be seen, nor born. It is pleasant to the adoring Soul to contemplate the Majesty and the Greatness of God, together with his Relations of Grace to us as our GOD and Father, to whom we may go with the freedom and boldness of Children. It lies before the Throne in Extasies of Wonder and Amazement, as Moses under the hand of God while he passed by and proclaimed his Name to him, or as Elijah in the Mouth of the Cave with his Mantle wrapped about him.

2. We should be glad to go up to the House of God to give Thanks unto the Name of the Lord for his Goodness and Mercy expressed toward us, in his innumerable Favors & Benefits. It is a pleasure to an Ingenuous Mind to express his Gratitude to his Benefactor, & his sense of the Obligations he is under for undeserved Favors. Thanksgiving supposes a Soul delighted in the Goodness of God and in Love to him for it: Love is a pleasing Passion, and Goodness is a pleasant Object; and Benefits done us are always acceptable to remember; and so much the more pleasant the more freely they are bestowed by some excellent and superior Person. Psal. 92.1, 2. It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy Name, O most High: To show forth thy loving kindness in the morning: and thy faithfulness every night. So begins the Psalm or Song for the Sabbath day: for as Thanksgiving and Praise are a special part of our Sabbath Worship; so Joy is a special part 〈◊〉 our Sabbath frame. Heaven is just such a Rest forever.

3. We should be glad to go up to the House of God, if it were only to pour out our penitential Confessions, together with our servant Supplications for Grace and Mercy. These are a great and special part of our solemn Worship, and to be forever join'd. Indeed if we were to confess and bewail Sin only, without the hope and assurance of finding Mercy upon our Repentance, it would be the blackness of darkness without the least Gleam of light. But now we draw nigh in the Name of a Great High Pri •• , Jesus the Son of God, and come with boldness to a Throne of Grace, in the full Assurance of Faith. Here then is pleasure and joy: scil. All that a State of Sin can admit of: 'tis not the joy of Innocents indeed that never Sinn'd, nor yet of the Spirits of Just Men made perfect; but 'tis the joy of Hope and Faith, which is unspeakable & full of Glory, even now, though' it be not like that of theirs who are past Sin and all Tears are wiped away. We sow in Tears with comfortable hopes and prospect. We go to God's House to pour out a sorrowful Spirit, and leave it there; we come away Glad with a word of Peace spoken to us in the Name of God by his Minister. See if Penitents have no joy: Psal. 32.5. I said I will confess my transgression unto the Lord, and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Psal. 51.8, 14. Make me to hear joy & gladness: that the bones which thou hast broken, may rejoice. Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. Psal. 66.17. I will declare what God has done for my soul, I cried to him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue. So soon is Prayer turned into Praises, and the voice of Mourning into Rejoicing.

4. We should be glad to go up to the House of God, to improve the liberty we have of pleading and arguing with him in Prayer. We may go even unto his Seat & fill our Mouths with Arguments, which he has prepared for us in his Word and put into our Mouths, and bid us to use; and has taken them from his own blessed Nature, and formed them so directly to his own Glory and our Comfort, that they bring a mighty pleasure along with them to the Soul that uses them. Now to lie & plead & prevail at the feet of Sovereign Grace is a most delightful thing to a gracious heart. So the Morning broke brightly upon Jacob when he had held the Argument, held the Angel all Night, and had been blessed by him before he let him go. What though' Jacob halted all his Life time after this happy Wrestling? It was only a Memorial of Joy, to bring to Remembrance his power with God and interest in him. He wanted this Infirmity in his flesh to keep him humble ever after.

5. Profession and Self-Consecration are other Acts in Prayer, which should make us glad of every Season of solemn Approach to Him. We should in our Prayers give ourselves up to the Lord, lay hold on his Covenant, and renew our own Engagements to be his; pay him our Vows, present ourselves a Living Sacrifice, and bind ourselves afresh to him. Our Baptism should be ever remembered by us, and we should rejoice with fear; commending ourselves to his Grace, and committing our Souls to his Keeping. Psal. 119.94. I am thine, save me. Psal. 116.13, 16. I will take the cup of salvation: and call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows unto the Lord: now in the presence of all his people. O Lord, truly I am thy servant, I am thy servant, and the son of thy handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds. So the pleased Servant among the Israelites went gladly to the door of his Masters house to bore his Ear there. It should be pleasant to us to Avouch the Lord in the most Public and Explicit manner to be our God, and that we are his People; and to put in our Claims to the Blessings of his Covenant while we put our Names to the bonds of it. Isai, 3 2. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord, to the House of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths.

6. Intercession for Others is another part of Prayer, which should make it pleasant to us to go up unto the House of Prayer. Prayer is a Generous & Noble duty, breathing the most diffusive Love & extensive Charity. 1 Tim. 2. Init. I exhort therefore that supplications, prayers, intercessions & giving of thanks be made for all men;—for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the Truth. How pleasant should it be to bear the World of Mankind thus in an Enlarged heart before God, for his Mercies & Blessings to be showered down upon them! How pleasant by expressions of faith and love to testify our Communion with all that in Every place call upon the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours. How pleasant to keep and manifest the Unity of the Spirit, the Oneness of Saints all the World over! And to realize ourselves interested in their Supplications at the Throne of Grace, while we embrace them in the cheerful Arms of our love; as the Excellent Ones in the Earth, in whom is all our delight, and to whom our Goodness extends, at least in a hearty Benevolence and Good-will, though' not in any actual Beneficence. Such kind and tender concern, such affection and esteem the Children of God have for one another, whose faces they are never to see in the flesh, but whom they hope one day to see in Heaven, that their hearts might be comforted being knit together in love, and unto all Riches of the full assurance of Understanding, to the Acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father and of Christ, Col. 2. Init. And how good & pleasant is it for Brethren thus to dwell together in love, their Prayers being promoted hereby; bearing one another like holy Relatives on their hearts to the God of all Grace, in a gracious Sympathy and Care for each others Concerns both Temporal & Eternal. Phil. 1.2, 3, 4. Grace be unto you and Peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God upon every Remembrance of you; always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy; for their fellowship in the Gospel from the first day until Now. Truly if there be any Consolation in Christ, if any Comfort of love, if any Fellowship of the Spirit, if any Bowels and Mercies, it is to be found in the Mutual Intercessions of Saints: Herein they fulfill their own and others Joy, if they be like minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Phil. 2.1, 2.

Thus there is nothing but what is very pleasant in every part of Prayer. Only we must give ourselves to the Duty, and get the Spirit of Prayer if we would experience this. For to be sure, a carnal and wicked heart, a careless and formal Spirit, a worldly & fleshly Mind, can never favor or experience these Truths.

But so much for the first and chief Act or Exercise of Divine Worship. I shall not Enlarge so much on those that remain.

II. We should be glad to go unto God's House of Worship to Sing Psalms of Praise unto his Name. That this is a part, and a very excellent and pleasant part of Instituted Worship, and has always been accounted so, is very Evident thro' the whole of Sacred Scripture. Psal. 105.2. Sing unto him, sing Psalms unto him. Psal. 69.30. I will praise the Name of God with a Song, I will magnify him with Thanksgiving. It is a cheerful duty, and calls for holy gladness of heart; Psal. 30.12. Thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with Gladness, to the end that my glory may sing praise to thee and not be silent. 2 Chron. 29.30. They sang praises with gladness, and bowed their heads and worshipped. The 47 Psalm tells us what should be our Worship in Gospel days, at and after the Ascension of Christ: God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of the Trumphet. Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. The Precept is to all Nations, when they are called into the Church, Psal. 68.32. Sing unto God ye Kingdoms of the Earth: O sing praises to the Lord. Selah. In the New Testament we find this Duty Established and Recommended by our Savior, and by Express Precept. In the first Institution of the Lord's Supper he Sang an Hymn with his Disciples. The Great Apostle in two of his Epistles Enjoyns the heavenly duty: Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs; singing with grace, and making melody in your hearts to the Lord Eph. 5.19. Col. 3.16. And holy Joy is prescribed in it; Jam. 5.13. Is any merry, let him sing Psalms.

It is a famous account that was given by a Heathen of the first Christians; that they met together and Sang a Hymn to Christ as God. And the History of the Reformation tells us how much it was promoted by this religious Exercise. Conceive if you can the Raptures of Joy with which Moses Sang at the red Sea, Deborah on the Avenging of Israel, David at the bringing the Ark to Zion, the Virgin Mary her Magnificat, or Zecharias at the loos'ning his Tongue, or Simeon his Dimittis, or Paul and Silas in the Stocks. When we lift up our Voices to make one sound in the Public Assemblies, it should be even with like Joy. Psal. 98 4 Make a joyful Noise unto the Lord all the Earth; make a loud Noise and rejoice and sing praise.

As our Tongues are made for Singing as well as speaking, so the faculty of Singing is given us to please and to express pleasure. It is so in a common use of the power, and surely should be rather so in a Religious One. Gracious Souls taste much of Heaven in this part of Worship. It sweetly dilates & opens the Soul to God, and he comes into it. Music has its charm where a person has 〈◊〉 and so have Psalms their charm to 〈…〉 heart. Before this World was there 〈◊〉 joy and Singing, and the one expressed in the other, the one inspired by the other: I mean when at the foundation of the Earth the Morning Stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy. And when this World ends Singing will continue with Everlasting Joyes; The song of Moses and of the Lamb. We hold communion now with Heaven, we are now preparing for Heaven, we already get some foretastes of Heaven, in the holy Exercise of Singing.

III. We should be glad to go up unto the House of the Lord if it were only to hear his Word Read and Preached to us. To hear the Joyful Sound, the Glad Tydings of Great Joy to all People, even the way of our Salvation, the things of our Everlasting Peace. It should be pleasant to us to hear from God, as well as to speak to him: for him to speak to us, not in the August Terrors of Sinai, but in the soft Voice of the Gospel. The Law of our God should be our delight; it is perfect and pure and right, and enlightening the Eyes and rejoicing the heart; and more to be desired than Gold, yea, than much fine gold, sweeter also than honey, and the honey-comb. It contains the most sublime, necessary, saving Truth. There is a true and solid pleasure in the Knowledge of God, and in the Meditation, Study & Practice of his Law. A truly devout Soul has a more exquisite Taste and Relish of this, than any sensual Heart can have of any Earthly Satisfactions. The 119. Psalm does most sweetly and abundantly express this. I have rejoiced in the way of thy Testimonies more than in all riches. I will delight myself in thy Statutes, and will not forget thy Word. Thy Testimonies are my delight and my counsellors. O how I love thy law, it is my meditation all the day. I rejoice at thy Word as one that findeth great spoil. Thy Statutes are my songs in the house of my pilgrimage. I have longed for thy salvation, O Lord, and thy law is my delight.

If we could but bring such an Ear & such a Frame of heart to the Word as David did, we should find his pleasure in it.

This is the way to profit by the Word, and the sign & fruit of profiting thereby. When the Word has its Saving Effects it will be gladly Entertained. Acts 2.41. They that gladly received the Word, were baptized; and they continued daily with one accord in the Temple, and did eat their bread with gladness and singleness of heart. When the Word Convinces of Sin, and humbles and breaks the heart in Contrition, it is most welcome to the Soul; for it brings its Comforts along with it, and while it wounds it heals. 1 Thes. 1.5, 6. For our Gospel came not unto you in word only, but in power and in the holy Ghost: And ye became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the Word in much Affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.

The Doctrines of the Gospel are full of sublime mystery and dazzling light: they shine forth as the Morning, fair as the Moon, and clear as the Sun. The Precepts and Laws 〈◊〉 the Gospel are full of Sancity, most holy just and good, and infinitely commend themselves to the Consciences of all that consider them: for so it appears that the Holy God must needs govern us and seek our happiness, and so it is that Men must be governed and be happy. They are our Wisdom and our Life. The Promises of the Gospel are so full of Grace and Good to them that love God, they are so rich and precious in the Spiritual and Everlasting blessings they contain, that they afford the Strongest Consolations unto the Souls of Saints. On all accounts therefore it should be pleasant to us to sit at Jesus feet and hear his Words. To be taught, directed, excited from the lively Oracles, should make the Sabbath of the Lord very welcome to us.

IV. We should be glad to go up unto the House of the Lord to wait upon him and obey him in the Instituted Sacraments of Religion. These Injunctions of a Positive Nature are very awful and solemn, but very sweet, gracious and comfortable too in their sense and meaning. As David in the Text was glad when they called upon him to go up unto the Solemn Feasts; so should we be glad to honor Christ in the Observation of his holy Appointments and Institutions. They are few and full of Spiritual sense, and Benefit to our Souls. They are not diverse Washings and carnal Ordinances; like the Ceremonial Yoke of old to Isael; They are but the Single washing in Baptism, and the One Festival upon the Memorial of a Sacrificed Savior And what should be more pleasant to us than in them to make the Consecration of ourselves unto God, to Seal our Covenant Engagements to him, and to receive the Pledges of his Grace. It was a pleasure to the Saints of God of old to bring their Peace-offerings, and feast before the Lord upon them; to Covenant with him by Sacrifice: So should it be to us to avouch our Relation to God and clain an Interest in his Grace and Favor, according to the Summary of his Covenant, I will be unto you a God and to your Seed, and ye shall be my People.

For do but consider,

1. The Nature of the Christian Baptism, and say if it should not be pleasant to you to present yourselves and your Children to God? Is it to be owned and acknowledged by God, and received into the Number and Communion of his People? Or is it to own Him and submit to him as our Lord & our God? Is it to bind ourselves unto holiness, in the way of finding the Spirit of Grace and Holiness? Is it that by the Mercies of God you are besoit to present your Selves & your Children to the Lord a living Sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service? And will you not gladly comply with the offers of this Grace? It is not neither by a bloody Rite, as of Circumcision of old; only he saith unto thee Wash and be clean. So Naaman came back Adoring, his Soul being restored with his corrupted flesh. He repented that he had Undervalued the healing Waters, and now was ready to worship the very Earth of Israel.

Nature assists Grace in the holy Joy of presenting our Children to God in Baptism. The Bowels of a gracious Parent are refreshed to behold his loved Offspring solemnly owned and accepted and blessed by God. It is, as I have sometimes said to you, as when Joseph saw his two Sons at the knees of Jacob: (but O how far is the Comparison below the thing) and as Jacob said to him, Thy two Sons are mine: So the Great and High God says to us in the Baptism of our Children; Thy Children O Christian are Mine. It was most pleasant to Joseph to hear his Agel Father blessing his Children; God before whom my Father walked, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my Fathers Abraham and Isaac: and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the Earth. Such is the pleasure that we may have and should have, while we behold the Blessing of Abraham coming on ours after us. And what more divine pleasure can a Parent have in the body? When Nathan brought to David that gracious Message from God, — I •• ll •• t up thy seed after thee; and I will be his 〈◊〉 and he shall be my Son; the overjoyed King • ent immediately before the Ark of God and worshipped, saying — Who am I O Lord God, and what is my Fathers house that • ho •• hast brought me hitherto? Methinks that 〈◊〉 we should feel and so should we say, when we go up unto the House of the Lord to offer up our Children to God, that his blessing may come upon them. So the Inspired Zecharias Sang with holy gladness at the birth of his Son; and so the Blessed Virgin saw Simeon take up her Holy Child into his venerable Arms, and heard him Sing his Nune Dimittis. What shall I say, — had we Faith and Devotion in their lively Exercise, as there is no Love more pleasing than a Parents to his Child, so there would be no Joy more ravishing than that of his dedicating his Children to God.

2. And if the Sacrament of Baptism mean so much delight to a holy Soul, surely the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper means as much unto a heart suitably prepared. It is pleasant to remember our Common Friends in their absence from us, and all the love they have sometimes shewn us; but how much more should we be glad of the Opportunities for the solemn Remembrance of the Love of Christ and all that he has done for our Salvation, even his dying to ••• hase it f •••• If the Eye affect the heart with grief in the Remembrance of Sin and the Curse, yet the en • and fruit of that Death is all comfort and peace; and though' we cannot but with Te •• s receive the Atonement for Sin, yet ne •• her can we receive it without •• tures of Jo ••• If it be pleasant to give up ourselves to ••• st in Baptism, and to 〈◊〉 for ours; surely it must be as pleasant •• ene •• the Dedication of our Selves to Christ at his Table! As a Feast is made for laughter, so is the Table of Christ for Spiritual delight and joy in him. We are the Circumcision that worship God in the Spirit & rejoice in Christ Jesus If ever we rejoice in him, surely it will be when we do this in Remembrance of Him Here is the " Banquet of Wine, and the Sce •• ter of Grace held forth, and though' we come trembling for fear, yet the King says to us— What is thy Petition and it shall be granted thee. As some happy People keep with Joy the day of their Espousals, so is or should be the frequent Communion of Saints to them. 〈◊〉 the Table of Christ; wherein they remember the day of their Espousals, the day of the gl •• ness of their hearts. Let this be thy • edding Garment, the Joy of thy Soul in Christ and in the Remembrance of his love. The Israelites were glad when the time came on for the keeping the Passover, though' they were to eat it with bitter herbs and heavy bread the Salvation was Great which they rememb •• d, and that made all pleasant; but we have a Greater Salvation than that of the Church from Egypt to keep our Eye upon, and to draw forth our hearts in Enlarged Praises unto God. The Banner of Christ's love is over you at his Table, and holy Souls should be there solacing themselves in his love. It is a Love-feast, and a frame of love to God is the most joyful one that can be. No Sabbaths in the Year are more welcome to prepared Souls than those wherein they have the Opportunity of waiting on Christ in this Ordinance. Then will I go unto the Altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy. The Mysteries and Marvels of Redeeming love are pleasant to Contemplate. The Pron • ises in Christ most pleasant to apply: And so the Means of Increase and growth in Grace to be in the use of. We are glad sometimes when our friends ask us to eat with them at their Tables, or when they come to eat with us • t ours; much more should we be • lad to 〈◊〉 to Christ's Table upon his Invitation, and to receive him into our Souls.

Thus the Sacraments of Christianity are such us we should be glad to go up to the House of the Lord, by Christ to offer the Sacrifices of Praise.

V. And lastly, We should be glad to go • p to the House of the Lord, to receive the Blessing there pronounced in the Name of the Lord. •• s is a Short but a Sweet and Great Act or Solemnity in Public Worship; even the Blessing the Congregation. It was appointed to Israel of old that Aaron and his Sons should bless the People, and the Benediction was formed for them to use. See Numb. 6. 22,—27. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the Children of Israel, saying unto them, The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And they shall put my Name upon the Children of Israel, and I will bless them. This Honor God put upon his Ministers from the beginning, this Grace he shown to his Peopple. Those whom he separated to his own Service, by them he would bless his Church. Aaron was thus honored and Israel was comforted. Thus he honors his House and Worship, by commanding there the Blessing. And his Blessing will be Es • caciou •• If an Sons of Peace are present it will c ••• e upon them. This was the Blessing of Levi that I was to bless his Brethren. Deut. 10.8. At that time the LORD se ••• rated the Tribe of •• e •• to bear the Ark of the Covenant 〈◊〉 star before he LORD and Minister, and to bless in • is Name It is one most worthy End of th • Sepa • a •• on of the Ministerial Order, and one most worthy part of Sacred Institution. The People of old were wont to rejoice 〈◊〉 see th •• Ministers of Religion, because they came 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 them out of God's House: Psal. 118.26. Blessed be he that cometh in the Name of the LORD; We have blessed you out of the House of the LORD.

Now this is certainly a pleasant Act in Public Worship. A pleasant Conclusion of the Worship which should make us go home with a glad heart. It is grown so much into a Form that I fear we lose the Spiritual Import and Benefit intended, many of us: but he that with a devout heart and a pure mind waits for a Blessing from God, would not willingly go without that which is pronounced. Pleasant it is to a gracious Minister to bless, and pleasant to a gracious Soul to be blessed. Not that the blessing from a poor Worm is anything worth; No it is not Man that Blesses; and if you value the Blessing from the Lips of the Minister it is only as he speaks from God, and God by him. It is— The LORD bless thee and keep thee, the LORD make his face to shine upon thee: So we put God's Name upon his People, and He will bless them.

The Blessing prescribed unto us in the New Testament is most sweet and pleasant for us to Contemplate. Christ came from Heaven 〈◊〉 bless us; and as he was blessing his Disciples he was taken from them. He blessed • is own from the Holy Mount; he blesses us •• t from his High Throne in Heaven. And •• om he blesses are blessed indeed. His Apostles understood it to belong to their Commission to bless in his Name; and guided by his Infallible Spirit they did it ex Officio; even as Aaron and his Sons had done before. Only the Form of Blessing altered with the new Form of Worship and State of the Church. And this is the blessed Form now to be used: Rom. 16.24. The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. 2 Cor. 13. ult. The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the Communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. That is to say,

Gal. 6.18. Brethren, the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your Spirit. Amen. This is again more Enlarg'd and amplified: Eph. 6. ult. Peace be to the Brethren, and love with faith from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ; Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. And yet again, shortest of all, Col. 4. ult. Grace be with you. Amen. That is, Christ be with you: and so it is Interpreted; 2 Tim. 4. ult. The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy Spirit; Grace be with you. Amen. Peters Blessing differs in a word from Paul's, but signifies just the same: 1 Pet. 5. ult. Peace be with 〈◊〉 all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen. To have done, the Holy Bible concludes with this Benediction: The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

On this wise we are Authoriz'd yet to bless in the Name of Christ, and every Sabbath you are dismissed from the House of God with this Blessing. It is worth coming for, and waiting for, and happy are they that bear it away with them. How comprehensive are these sew words? Who can unfold all that is contained in them! What time would it require to do it in an Imperfect manner! Methinks there's no need to add a word to them. The words we add sink below them. May the full sense and Emphasis of them remain, and the Blessing wished rest upon our Souls. How Amiable would this make God's Tabernacles 〈◊〉 , and how Reverend his Ministry, and how Pleasant his Sabbaths! How gladly should we go to and from his House at all times. What come we for, but for the Blessing? If we can carry that away we have all! Grace Mercy and Peace, from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ.

As we are Baptized into the Name of the Ever blessed Trinity, so are we blessed in that Glorious and Fearful Name. In which blessing all that God is or can be unto his Creatures, all that he can do to make them blessed is wished unto us. This Blessing we wish you this Day, The LORD that made Heaven and Earth, bless you out of Zion I am sure then that you will b ••• ad to r •• rn to God's House again.

As the Word, so the Blessing is directed unto Every particular Person; and everyone should stay gladly and reverently to hear it and receive it. So what God of old promised he is yet fulfilling; Where-ever he records his Name, he meets his People and blesses them.

And thus I have considered the Acts of Divine Public Worship; and that we should on the Account of one and another of them be glad when we are called upon to go up unto the House of the Lord. And indeed such a Savour of the Holy Ordinances should be the Blessing which we should seek after. Psal. 27.4. One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his Temple.