2. If your ſouls have not been preſſing after Chriſt, and longing for a better frame towards him, longing for an higher eſteem of him; it is doubtful the eſteem of him is not raiſed in your ſouls: ſuch an eſteem of Chriſt is not a frame that uſeth to ſteal upon the heart, it knows not how; It is for the moſt part the iſſue of much care and pains, and great diligence; and if thy ſoul hath been wanting herein, it is to be feared that the intereſt of Chriſt is not to any great degree promoted in thee: Some ſouls find ſin very apt to creep in do they what they can, and that it is a work, a hard work to keep it down; nor is it leſs difficult to encreaſe in our eſteem of Chriſt, Phil. 3. Paul would know more of Chriſt, and the power of his Reſurrection, what courſe did he take in order to it? ſaith he, I go forward, and I preſs on to the mark, for the price of the high Calling of God in Chriſt Jeſus: He ſet himſelf unto the work with great diligence. How have you been exerciſing your ſelves? have you been crying unto the Lord in ſecret, wreſtling and pleading with him that he would carry on the Love of his Son in you? What was it you asked of the Lord, was it meerly to be kept from the evil of the day? or that the work of Chriſt might be promoted in you by your eſcape? If your hearts have not been exerciſed this way, I fear the Branch of the Lord is not become glorious unto you, though you are eſcaped.

3. If in your Eſcape your great care is how to repair and piece up thoſe outward dammages that you have ſuſtained by this Viſitation, the Intereſt of Chriſt I fear hath not much gained in you; poſſibly many of you may be ſenſible you have ſuſtained outward dammages by this day, if your hearts are only contriving how you may make up thoſe breaches made upon your outward concerns, you are not where you ſhould be: I fear many this day will be like to the Seamen and Mariners, who after a ſtorm, when a calm comes, they are buſie in patching up their tackling, and repairing the dammages the Veſſel hath ſuſtained by the ſtorm, but not ſo carefull to conſider who hath preſerved them in the ſtorm, and brought them to a calm: but this is a bad frame; if thou beeſt gained upon by Chriſt, thou wilt ſay, What ſhall I render unto the Lord for all his kindneſs? To which add,

4. If thy heart in this time of thy Eſcape be not affected wth that unkind uſage which Chriſt meets with from many eſcaping-ones, I ſhall fear that thou thy ſelf alſo doſt not uſe him kindly, nor prize him much the more though thou haſt an Eſcape from his goodneſs; doubtleſs Chriſt meets with much unkindneſs from ſome that have eſcaped. How many in an Atheiſtical ſpirit this day, live as if there were no after-ſtate, nor eternal judgment? as they, 1 Cor. 15. cry, Let us eat and drink, for to morrow we ſhall dye; they have learned to know that Death hangs over their heads, therefore what will they do? why ſerve their luſts as much as they can, make uſe of their time, as they call it, though it be to abuſe time, and turn the grace of God into wantonneſs. Now when thou haſt heard things, how is it with thee? If Chriſt hath gotten ground within thee, theſe things will pierce thine heart. The evil of wicked men is a great grief unto the Saints; therefore it is ſaid, 2 Pet. 2. Righteous Lot was vexed with the filthy converſation of the wicked; his righteous ſoul was vexed in hearing and ſeeing the diſhonour that was done unto the Lord, it was a burthen to him. And ſo David ſaith, Wo is me that I ſojourn in Meſech, and dwell in the tents of Kedar; that is, among a people where God is diſhonoured. When thou lookeſt abroad in the World, and ſeeſt how little ſin is born down, and how little the Intereſt of Chriſt is advanced among any that are eſcaped; if thy Eſcape hath furthered Chriſt's Intereſt in thee, this will grieve thy heart; be careful and watchfull in the making a right uſe of this matter.

But to come to a ſecond Uſe.

If it be a bleſſed effect of Slaughtering-Judgements upon them that have eſcaped, to have Chriſt become more glorious; what ſhall we think of thoſe, who though they out-live a day of ſad Calamity, yet Chriſt is become more contemptible in their eyes? who inſtead of being brought near unto Chriſt, are at a greater diſtance from Chriſt: It is verily a ſad conſideration, that ſuch ſhould be the concluſion of ſuch a Providence upon the hearts and ſpirits of any; but yet I fear thus it is with more then a few. Paul (2 Tim. 3.13.) tells us, that evil men and Seducers ſhall wax worſe and worſe: It is the doom that paſſeth oft times upon evil men, that let the dealings of God with them be what they will, they are the worſe under them; wanting the help of the Spirit of Grace to manage and improve them for good, they grow into a worſe and more evil frame by them. All the goodneſs, the gracious dealings of God, they are peculiarly directed to win upon the heart, to bring Chriſt and Souls nearer together; this is hinted in Rom. 2.4. Or deſpiſeſt thou the riches of his goodneſs and forbearance, and long-ſuffering; not knowing that the goodneſs of God leadeth thee to repentance: We are to interpret the end of Gods kindneſs to be for the bringing the heart to bow, and ſtoop, and fall at the Foot of Jeſus Chriſt; in caſe it have not this iſſue, what iſſue elſe it produces will certainly be very ſad, namely the ſetting Souls at a greater diſtance from Chriſt, and plunging them into a condition worſe then they were in before; and ſo it is added, verſ. 5. Thou treaſureſt up unto thy ſelf wrath againſt the day of wrath: thou by this means raiſeſt up greater diſpleaſure between him and thy Soul. If you ſay Are there any that really have lower thoughts of Chriſt after they have eſcaped a day of Diſtreſs, then before? I anſwer, it is to be feared too many; and where you find one or more of theſe marks I ſhall lay down, you may conclude that ſuch perſons, though Chriſt hath dealt very tenderly with them, and not ſwept them away in a day of deſtruction, as he might have done, yet Chriſt is become more contemptible in their accounts then he was before.

1. Where you find a ſpirit more ſenceleſs and ſtupid, more ſottiſh and ſecure then before; ſuch a one is really ſet at a greater diſtance from Chriſt then before. Some there are, it is much to be feared, that having ſurvived this day of diſtreſs, begin now to look upon themſelves as out of reach, as if no future danger could poſſibly attend them, growing hard hearted, and exceeding ſecure after thoſe dealings of the Lord under which they have fallen; ſuch Souls and Chriſt are farther apart then they were wont to be: Iſa. 57.15. the Spirit of God tells you, Chriſt dwells in the humble heart, and with a broken Spirit: Now according as you find a heart melted, and broken, and ſaid low, put into a tender frame; ſo far Chriſt makes his approaches towards the Soul, and comes to be eſteemed by it; but according as you find the ſpirits of men grow into a hardneſs, inſenſibility, and ſecurity, by ſo much you may conclude Chriſt is ſet at a diſtance from, and diſ-eſteemed by ſuch Souls: and O that there were not many ſenſible proofs of a very inſenſible Spirit in many poor Creatures, who yet are allowed a being upon the Earth. If that be allowed to be a ſign of ſecurity which Chriſt himſelf tells us was a ſign of it, Mat. 24.38. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the Ark, and knew not till the flood came and took them all away; ſo ſhall alſo the coming of the Son of man be: obſerve it, Noah was in his days a Preacher of Righteouſneſs, he warned the People of Judgement to come; the People were exceeding ſtupid, not in the leaſt prevailed upon; and what was a proof of it? They were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, then at a more then ordinary rate; therefore it was an argument, what ever was ſaid unto them, or whatever God intended, they were not much awakened: If that were a ſign of ſtupidity then, ſo it is now ſurely, and gives a great deal of reaſon to conclude that Chriſt hath not gotten, but rather loſt upon many of the hearts of thoſe that have eſcaped.

2. Where perſons are more deſperately and eagerly ſet upon their luſts, there you may conclude Chriſt is become more contemptible then he was. There is ſuch a direct contrariety between ſin and Chriſt, that by how much the more a man grows in love with ſin, by ſo much the more he muſt grow out of love with Chriſt: Rom. 8.7. The carnal mind is enmity againſt God, for it is not ſubject unto the Law of God, neither indeed can be: Now by how much the more men grow more carnal, by ſo much their enmity againſt Chriſt is increaſed and improved. Sinne doth not onely harden mens hearts, but it alſo blinds and ſhuts mens eyes; and by how much the more a man plungeth himſelf in ſin and gives up himſelf to the ſervice of it, by ſo much you may conclude his mind is blinded, and his eyes ſhut from ſeeing that glory and beauty that is eminently found in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt: The more a man ſets himſelf in the way of ſin, the more he is under the power of Satan; and where Satan rules as a Prince, what doth he? 2 Cor. 4.4. the Apoſtle ſaith, The God of this World he blinds the minds of men. And from this you may gather, if you can obſerve that men that are preſerved this day, their hearts are not in the leaſt taken out of thoſe ways of ſin in which they did walk, but are rather ſet with greater eagerneſs to fulfil the deſires of the fleſh and of the mind; you may, without breach of Charity, conclude thoſe perſons are more blinded, and leſs able to ſee any beauty and excellency in this Branch of the Lord then before. Onely we will hope, if this ſpirit be found upon any, that it is but, as the Apoſtle ſaith ſometimes concerning the Jews, Rom. 11.7. What then? Iſrael hath not obtained that which he ſeeketh for; but the Election hath obtained it, and the reſt were blinded; We will hope that if there be any that are the more hardened and blinded by this gracious Diſpenſation of Preſervation, it is not the Elect that are blinded, but thoſe that are given up, which the Lord intends not to look after in any gracious way: We will hope for any that have any intereſt in the Lord Jeſus, that he hath not, nor will leave them to ſuch a ſpirit.

3. If you find any more at enmity with the People of Chriſt, then before, you may conclude Chriſt is more contemptible in their eyes then he was before: Mind not what men talk; do not heed mens graſping after the name of Chriſtians, and talking of Chriſt as a Saviour; but know that men may ſpeak of Chriſt, as the whole Nation doth, and other Nations do, and yet have no more real love to him, then thoſe that never heard of Chriſt: It is a very notable Scripture, Jer. 12.2. Thou haſt planted them, yea, they have taken root; they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins. It may be well with a People, they may be in an outward proſperous condition, they may be flouriſhing, and ſpeak much of Chriſt, and boaſt of him; and yet Chriſt may not have one inch of their Hearts. But you ſhall judge whether really men be for Chriſt or no, by their dealings with his People: if you find their enmity againſt the Saints grow, let their boaſt be as it will, inſtead of diſcovering glory in Chriſt, they are become more at enmity with Chriſt then they were. Let me allude, at leaſt, to that word, 1 John 5.1. Every one that loves him that begat, loveth him that is begotten of him: It is ſpoken concerning the Father and Chriſt; men will ſay they love God, why ſays John, You cannot, unleſs you love Chriſt; for he that loveth him that begetteth, loveth him alſo that is begotten: So ſay I of Saints; Do you love Chriſt? if ſo, you love them that are begotten of him. To which I might adde a fourth, and that is this:

4. Doubtleſs there is cauſe, at leaſt, to fear that the Branch of the Lord is not become glorious to thoſe eſcaping ones who have endeavoured to hinder the efficacy and force of this diſpenſation, upon the hearts of poor Creatures: I will tell who I think are ſome way culpable herein; they that have covered the dealings of Chriſt; if there be, as is ſhrewdly ſuſpected, any that have hid this preſent Work of God upon us, and not let us know it in its full extent & latitudeIt was feared ſome 1000's were kept out of the weekly Bills; it will certainly lie upon their ſcore that have ſtood in the way of Chriſts Work, and hindered that efficacy it might have had upon the hearts of poor Creatures. But to all or any of thoſe that are rather at a greater diſtance from Chriſt, than brought nearer to Chriſt, I ſhall onely ſay in brief, that it is worth the minding. God conſiders what influence and effect his dealings have upon the hearts of men; when a Judgement is on their Backs, the Lord conſiders whether it work any good effect upon them, or no; as in 2 Chron. 28.22. it is ſaid of Ahaz, That in the time of his diſtreſs, he did treſpaſs againſt the Lord yet more; this is that King Ahaz: God notes eſpecially that under his hand a perſon became worſe and worſe; and there is ſuch a mark put upon him, as is ſcarce put upon any in Scripture, This is that King Ahaz, that Ahaz that became worſe in a day of diſtreſs. God alſo ſtrictly obſerves how his kindneſs works, in that fore-cited place, Rom. 2.4. Or deſpiſeſt thou the riches of his goodneſs, and forbearance, and long-ſuffering; not knowing that the goodneſs of God leadeth thee to repentance? Obſerve the long-ſuffering of God, and his forbearance, that is, in not cutting down his poor creatures when he hath them at ſome kinde of advantage, as in a day of common Calamity; if God ſpares them then, he manifeſts his riches of Grace and Goodneſs towards them; and if it be not anſwered with ſome ſuitable walking, how doth the Lord interpret ſuch a neglect? He ſays they deſpiſe it. And to end this Uſe, let me take up ſome paſſages in that firſt of the Proverbs; it is ſaid, verſ. 24. I have called, and you have refuſed; I have ſtretched out my hand, and no man regarded: The Lord calls by his Word, and he calls by his Rod: He calls by his gentle dealings; his kinde uſage, his preſerving in a day of Calamity, is as much a Call, as the Calamity it ſelf; and he ſaith unto them that anſwer not this Call, and do not improve it aright, verſ. 26. I will laugh at your calamity, and mock when your fear cometh. They that are for a time unaffected, may have a time to be in diſtreſs, when they may ſtand in need of kindneſs to be ſhewed unto them, though they are preſerved and kept alive. Verſ. 32. The turning away of the ſimple ſhall ſlay them, and the prosperity of fools ſhall deſtroy them: If men turn away from the Calls of God, not anſwering his expectation, either under Preſervations, or his more ſevere dealings, their turning away ſhall ſlay them, and their proſperity ſhall deſtroy them. Some think, it may be, becauſe they are yet in proſperity, there is no farther hazard: but God ſaith their proſperity ſhall prove their deſtruction, and bring forth Conſequences, more ſad it may be, then any of which they were afraid in the day when diſtreſs hung over their heads. That is what I would ſay to the third Uſe from this point. A fourth Uſe is this:

If the Lord ſhould be beautiful and glorious unto thoſe that eſcape, I would here apply my ſelf unto a Soul that may be tender and jealous over it ſelf, and fear leſt after its eſcape Chriſt ſhould not be rendered glorious unto it as he ought. Some there are that take no pains to conſider how things are, and whether they go well or ill, that is not the thing that much engages their hearts: others are jealous over their Spirits, knowing ſomething the treachery of their hearts, they are always apt to doubt and fear. A Soul that knoweth how precious Chriſt ought to be, and beautiful in its eye, fears leſt after ſuch kindneſs received from Chriſt, it ſhould not ſee that beauty in him, nor be taken with him as it ought: May this be the caſe of any one of us at preſent? I would ſpeak four or five things that may be ſeaſonable and helpful to the Soul in this caſe.

1. Such is the Glory and Beauty of Chriſt, that no Soul under Heaven is able to ſee him in all his Glory, nor to admire him according to all thoſe bleſſed Perfections wherewithal Chriſt is cloathed. That expreſſion may be heeded by you, Epheſ. 3.8. where the Apoſtle, ſpeaking of Chriſts glory, calls it, The unſearchable Riches of Chriſt; it is an Ocean without a bottom, that cannot be fathom'd by him that ſearches into it moſt accurately and exactly; it is like the Mines, the bottom of whom is not found out, though men have digged in, and fetched Treaſure from them, for a long time together: Let not a poor Heart think it is at preſent in a capacity of valuing of Chriſt according to all his Worth and Excellency, for that the Soul cannot fully know. What is ſpoken of God, I may allude to, and apply to Chriſt, Job 11.7. Canſt thou by ſearching finde out God? canſt thou find out the Almighty to perfection? it is as high as Heaven, what canſt thou do? deeper then Hell, what canſt thou know? the meaſure thereof is longer then the Earth, and broader then the Sea: Such are the glorious Perfections of this Branch of the Lord, ſhould we meaſure and gueſs at him according to the excellency found in any created being, alas it would be infinitely ſhort; there is in Chriſt that Excellency that doth exceed and much out-do whatever glory is found upon any thing our eyes behold. Shall I ſay, As Solomon in his glory did out-ſhine the glory of all the Princes that were on earth in his time, ſo, and infinitely more, doth the glory of Chriſt out-do whatever our eyes behold, or whatever our hearts can conceive of? and in our ſearching into his perfections, we may come to do as the Queen of Sheba did, when ſhe beheld the glory of Solomon, ſhe gave this teſtimony, What ſhe had heard was true: So may we give this teſtimony of Chriſt, That what we have heard of his Perfections, there is all in him, nay, the one half was not told us: and if the Queen of Sheba was amazed, at ſtanding before Solomons glory, how much more may we at Chriſts, although we cannot ſee him in all his Perfections. Thou canſt not know him at preſent in this life, according to all that Glory with which he is cloathed.

2. If thou that art eſcaped art jealous that Chriſt is not become beautiful enough unto thee; Remember that the higheſt pitch unto which the Soul can come in this life, is, to deſire to ſee more of that beauty that is in him: The higheſt pitch in any thing that is good in this life, is to deſire to be better: The Deſires of the Soul do out-go in this life any Acts that it is able to put forth. David, in the caſe of Holineſs, the higheſt pitch of his Holineſs is expreſſed in his deſire, Pſalm 119.5. O that my Ways were directed to keep thy Statutes! he did keep them in ſome meaſure, but the higheſt pitch unto which he got, was to deſire to keep them better: ſo alſo Pſal. 68.11. Teach me thy ways, O Lord, I will walk in thy truth; unite my heart to fear thy Name: he was ſenſible that his heart did in ſome things wander from God, he did not fear him as he ſhould, but the higheſt of his attainment lay in his deſires. Paul was a man very excellent in his day, and doubtleſs did know and enjoy much of Chriſt, yet the higheſt pitch he attained, was largeneſs of heart, and workings of deſire, expreſt in Phil. 3.13. This one thing I do, forgetting the things that are behind, and reaching forth unto thoſe things that are before, I preſs towards the mark, for the price of the high calling of God in Chriſt Jeſus: the deſires of his heart were large. And ſo the Spouſe hath an high eſteem of Chriſt, ſhe expreſſes the value ſhe hath of him at a great rate, Cant. 2.3, 4. As the Apple-Tree among the Trees of the Wood, ſo is my Beloved among the Sons; I ſat down under his ſhaddow with great delight, and his fruit was ſweet unto my taſte; ſtay me with Flaggons, comfort me with Apples, for I am ſick of love: her heart was much taken with Chriſt, ſeeing a great deal of Beauty in him; but you ſhall ſee her deſires did out-do any act ſhe could put forth; and therefore (Cant. 4.16.) ſhe ſays, Awake, O North Wind, and come thou South, blow upon my Garden, that the Spices thereof may flow out: ſhe would have her heart enlarged, her Graces acted more ſtrongly. Now Soul, take in this for thy comfort, it is a good frame that thou deſireſt to prize Chriſt more, and have this Branch of the Lord more glorious in thy account, though thou canſt not put forth ſuch acts as thou wouldeſt: Remember thou art in that frame that the beſt of Saints have been in.

3. Conſider this, thou that art eſcaped, and feareſt that the Branch of the Lord is not become ſo glorious as it ſhould be; Remember that jealouſie over thy heart, is a good ſign, and gives ſome hope that Chriſt hath gotten ſome ground upon thee: The wiſe man, Prov. 14.15. ſaith, The ſimple believeth every word, but the prudent man looks well to his going: Some are ſo ſimple to believe every good word their hearts ſpeak; if they find any thing that looks like good, they are apt to conclude that all is right: therefore the wiſe man (Prov. 28.14.) ſaith, Happy is the man that feareth always: I apply it unto this; It is a good thing ſometimes to bear a jealouſie, a conſtant jealouſie over the heart, leſt it ſhould not be wrought up to that pitch it ought. The Author to the Hebrews gives us a warrant for holy jealouſies and fears, leſt we ſhould fall ſhort: They that have been moſt confident of the goodneſs of the frame of their ſpirits, have ſometimes been in none of the beſt: Jehu cries, Come ſee my Zeal for the Lord of Hoſts, when he had not one grain of true Zeal for the Lord of Hoſts in him.

4. Thou that wouldeſt have this Branch of the Lord glorious, if thy heart work really this way; Know this, thou art accepted in this thy deſire: It will paſs for a good improvement of this mercy of thy Eſcape. I confeſs ſome things there are, which I find the Lord is angry at; He loves not to ſee ſouls ſit down ſatisfied and pleaſed in ways of ſin, therefore he doth reflect upon them, Pſal. 1.1. that ſit in the ſeat of the ſcornful; he is much angry with them that can contentedly take up in ways of ſin, and therefore you find him falling foul upon them that harden their hearts in ways of ſin, and alſo with thoſe that content themſelves with little meaſures of Grace, when they have means to riſe up unto greater: He rebukes the Diſciples, Mat. 8.26. for the littleneſs of their Faith, O ye of little Faith; he upbraids them with the littleneſs of their Faith, becauſe he had long been with them himſelf, as he doth hint unto them afterwards; Have I been ſo long with thee, and yet thou haſt not known me? But this obſerve alſo, That where there is but a leſſer meaſure of Grace, if the heart be really working after more, it is accepted, and Chriſt receives it with good will: The beſt inſtance I know in the whole Bible, is that in Mark 9.23, 24. where the Father of a Child poſſeſſed with a dumb Spirit comes unto Chriſt for cure; Chriſt tells him, All things are poſſible unto him that believeth, and ſtraightway he cried out, and ſaid with tears, Lord, I believe, help my unbelief: he had a little Faith, and deſired more; therefore you find Chriſt doth not reject his little, but hears him, and calls unto the dumb Devil to come forth of his Child: So if thou complaineſt that Chriſt is not exalted in thy heart to any great degree, but thou longeſt he ſhould be more; believe it, it ſhall be accepted: as it is ſaid in another caſe, 2 Cor. 8.12. If there be firſt a willing mind, it is accepted, according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not: Thus if really thou wouldeſt have Chriſt become more glorious unto thee, thou mayſt be accepted in this which thou haſt, and it ſhall not be charged upon thee that thou art wanting in that which thou yet hadſt not. Under the Law, when a Thank-Offering was to be returned, and the Soul to admire the Lord in ſome kindneſs received, he that could bring but two Turtle Doves, and two young Pigeons, if that were the moſt they had, and the beſt they could bring, it was accepted as well as thoſe that brought the greateſt Offerings; their hearts were enlarged, it is like, to bring more: So though thou haſt but little, if thou deſireſt more, thy little will be accepted, though but two Turtle Doves, or two young Pigeons.

5. Thou that wouldeſt prize Chriſt more, know this, That the Lord will increaſe that Grace in thee; and thou ſhalt be able to prize him at a greater rate: The Lord direct your hearts into the Love of God, 2 Theſ. 3.5. it is the Lord that muſt direct thee into the Love of Chriſt, and he will do it, if thy heart be really working that way; if thou doſt prize him as much as thou canſt, he will help thee to prize him more. Prov. 3.9, 10. Honour the Lord with thy ſubſtance, and with the firſt fruits of all thine increaſe; ſo ſhall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy preſſes ſhall burſt with new Wine: If thou doſt with the firſt and beſt of thy ſtrength, endeavour to honour the Lord, he will encreaſe thy ſtrength, and communicate unto thee abundantly. And that is what I ſhall ſay to the fourth Uſe.

But then in the eighth place, If every eſcaping-One ſhould ſee that Chriſt is become glorious unto him; How ſhould it be with thoſe whoſe Houſes were compaſſed poſſibly round about, and Death very near them, but yet the hand of God entered not into their Walls? My Brethren, it is promiſed as a peculiar favour, Pſal. 91.10. No Plague ſhall come nigh thy dwelling: It is ſomething not to have it come unto thy perſon, and not to have it come into thy dwelling, that neither thy ſelf, nor any within thy Wall, have a hair of their heads touched; nay, poſſibly thou haſt been within the hearing of the cryings and groans of dying ones, doubtleſs many have; and when They have cried for a little longer time, to be intruſted with a little more liberty in this World, for Eternity, and everlaſting Concernments, it hath been denied Them, but granted unto Thee and Me; and when the hand of God hath been round about, it hath not come within thy Door; Oh who hath been the Keeper of thy door and mine! When many have been in the bitterneſs of their Souls bemoaning the loſs of this and that Relation; Parents, of Children; Children, of Parents; ſome Husbands and Wives wailing and lamenting for one another: What mercy is it that a Soul can ſay, It is well with me and mine, that no evil hath come nigh them! I tell thee Soul, theſe are things that ſhould exceedingly engage thy heart to Chriſt, and ſhould prevail much to the ſetting him up in thy Soul. This ſhould be the reſolution of every one partaking in this mercy, To uſe it for the exalting of Chriſt.

1. Conſidering it doth not leſſen but heighten the mercy, that thou art not onely preſerved from falling, but from partaking in that bitterneſs and trouble of ſpirit that hath certainly born down many who have lived in the heat of this Diſtreſs. Days of Slaughter and Calamity, are days of heart-trouble to them that are preſerved in the midſt of them; Jer. 30.5, 6. For thus ſaith the Lord, We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace; ask ye now, and ſee whether a man doth travel with Child; wherefore now do I ſee every man with his hands on his loyns, as a woman in travel, and all faces are turned into paleneſs? It is ſpoken with reſpect to ſome that lived in times and places when and where ſlaughtering-Judgements were abroad; and they that were alive, what was the horror & perplexity of their ſpirits! Do not think, Soul, but thou art the more engaged to Chriſt, that he hath graciouſly carried thee out of the ſight and noiſe of thoſe direful out-cries: Many can ſay, We could hardly paſs the Streets but meet with Coffins, and hear the cries and complaints of Friends bereft of their Relations; bleſs the Lord, that he kept thee from the hearing of this: Not but that Chriſt can make the hearing and ſeeing ſuch things, turn greatly to advantage; but yet it is a piece of tenderneſs, if Chriſt will do the Soul good at ſome cheaper rate.

2. Conſider thou couldſt not have found ſhelter any where, had not Chriſt led thee thither: as it is not good to go without Chriſts leading us, nor could we have gone any where, if the Lord had not made our way for us: Prov. 6.9. A mans heart deviſeth his way, but the Lord directeth his ſteps: Many were conſidering whither to go, and what to do, and laid their deſigns, but if the Lord did not order their ſteps, they could do nothing. You have a notable word, Job 3.23. Why is light given to a man whoſe way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in? Job was incompaſſed with ſad diſtreſſes, and he would fain have gotten out of them, but ſaith he, My way is hid, (he knew not whither to fly) I am hedged in, I muſt ſtay by it. This hath been the caſe of many, their ways have been hedged in; and he could have hedged in thee and me, if ſo it had pleaſed him: and therefore if you and I have been carried unto places where we have been preſerved, let us admire the goodneſs of the Lord: Jonah roſe up to flee to Tarſhiſh from the preſence of the Lord; but he could not, the Lord hindred him. To which adde alſo,

3. Chriſt could have found thee with the Sword, whereſoever thou hadſt gone: therefore let not thy preſervation at a diſtance rob Chriſt of his honour, but ſee his hand in it, and know that it hath been his work; and ſee that he be thereby rendered more beautiful and comely in thine Eyes.

2ly. Canſt thou interpret thy Preſervation to be out of good will to thee: Rom. 8.28. All things ſhall work together for good unto them that love God; but thou doſt not love the Lord, nor art thou the Called of the Lord, thou art ſtill in thy ſin, and for the preſent canſt not interpret this diſpenſation to be in kindneſs: what may be in the heart of God, what ſecret purpoſe he may have, how he may deſign hereafter to bring thee near unto himſelf, thou canſt not tell, it is hidden for the preſent; and yet thou canſt not ſee there is any good intended thee in thy preſervation: and this is ſad, it exceedingly robs the Soul of the ſweetneſs of ſuch a diſpenſation, when it cannot be took to be in kindneſs. And

3ly. If thou art a Sinner, thou wilt uſe thy preſervation to a wrong end: Sinners, if they ask mercy, it is uſually to wrong ends; and if they receive mercies, they improve them ſinfully; Pſal. 78.18. They tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their luſt; they asked a mercy, but it was for their luſt, and they did as ſadly improve it, verſ. 28, 29, 30. And he let it fall in the midſt of their Camp, ſo they did eat, and were well filled, for he gave them their own deſire; they were not eſtranged from their luſt, but while their meat was yet in their mouths, the wrath of God came upon them, &c. Thus it will be with thee, Soul, if thou art yet in thy Sin; it is true, thou art preſerved, but it will be to a farther miſery; thou haſt asked it to ſinful ends, and wilt uſe it ſinfully, and ſo bring a curſe upon thy ſelf. This is the miſery of a poor Soul in ſin, he ſpoils his Mercies, and brings down the wrath of God upon himſelf. To which add,

4ly. If thou remaineſt in ſin, the time is coming when thou wilt certainly give a ſad accompt of this mercy thou haſt received, and wilt really fall under a diſpenſarion much more ſad then that from which thou art now delivered: Chriſt will come in flaming fire, and render vengeance unto them that know not God, nor obey the Goſpel of Chriſt, the great intent of which, is the exalting of Chriſt. Now when by all means thou haſt not been provoked to anſwer this end; what will the reſult and iſſue of all be, but the rendring vengeance unto thee, and the wrapping thee up in eternal miſery? I would therefore ſay unto a Soul in ſin, What wilt thou do? thou art a dying creature; though thou haſt eſcaped this ſtorm, and art in ſafety to day, Eternity will ſoon come upon thee: Ah what wilt thou do? Soul, thy great work lyeth in two things, I will but even name them: Firſt, Go unto the Lord, that he would open thy eyes to ſee thy own miſery, and Chriſt in his glory, that he would anoint thine Eyes with his Eye-ſalve, that may cauſe the ſcales of ignorance to fall from them, ſo as that thou mayſt ſee thy ſelf and Chriſt, aright: Secondly, Beg that thou mayſt have a heart to give up thy ſelf to Chriſt, that the glory thou ſeeſt in him, may make thee reſtleſs until thou haſt taken hold of him, without which thou canſt not walk comfortably, though thou art preſerved, nor canſt thou cheerfully look another time of trouble in the face, and much leſs that time when thou ſhalt be going to thy long home.

To quicken you a little, and to poſſeſs your Souls that there is need, and great need, for poor hearts to have a jealouſie over themſelves in this matter; I would take leave to commend and open to you two Scriptures that I find in the Book of Truth: one is in Rom. 9.6, 7. Not as though the Word of God hath taken no effect; for they are not all Iſrael which are of Iſrael, neither becauſe they are the ſeed of Abraham are they all Children: Look to the fourth verſ. and you will finde that there are great Priviledges reckoned up that did appertain to Iſrael; Who are Iſrael, to whom pertaineth the Adoption, and the Glory, and the Covenant, and the giving of the Law, and the Service of God, and the Promiſes. How, might ſome of the Jews ſay, do theſe things belong unto Iſrael? why ſurely Iſrael are cut ſhort of them; for there is not one of many of them that have received Chriſt, and ſo are cut ſhort of theſe Priviledges of the Goſpel. To that the Apoſtle anſwereth, verſ. 6, 7. Not as though the Word of God hath taken no effect; for they are not all Iſrael which are of Iſrael, &c. as if he ſhould ſay, You muſt not judge that theſe great things are entailed upon the Jewiſh People becauſe they are Jews, or the ſeed of Abraham, but it is through Faith they come to an Intereſt in theſe great things. And in theſe words the Apoſtle doth remove a double bad Foundation upon which many poor Creatures are apt to build a hope.

1. They are not Iſrael becauſe of Iſrael: that is, a Soul is not an Iſraelite indeed becauſe he crowds himſelf in among that number, becauſe he takes up the ſame Profeſſion with them, and pretends to be in the ſame Spirit with them. Let it be minded, what is the Foundation of your Hope, think you? you are not therefore Iſrael, becauſe of Iſrael, becauſe of them that do profeſs for God, that will not be a foundation that is fit for you to build upon. And then,

2. Neither are they Iſrael becauſe they are the Seed of Abraham: This was a mighty thing which the Jewiſh People boaſted of; ſay they, We are Abraham's natural Seed, his Seed according to the fleſh: And poſſibly ſome alſo may reckon upon ſome ſuch thing at this day; we are the Children of them that do believe, and our education hath been ſomewhat ſuitable thereto; but not therefore Iſrael, becauſe of Abraham's Seed, that is a miſtake you ſhould be watchful againſt. From the conſideration of this word, it is evident People may reckon themſelves Iſrael upon unſafe grounds, and therefore we ought to be ſerious in our enquiry into this matter.

The other Scripture is in Iſa. 48. where you have the preceding things, and ſomewhat more expreſſed, verſ. 1, 2. Hear ye this, O Houſe of Jacob, which are called by the Name of Iſrael, and are come forth out of the Waters of Judah, which ſwear by the Name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Iſrael, but not in truth, nor in righteouſneſs; for they call themſelves of the Holy City, and ſtay themſelves upon the God of Iſrael, the Lord of Hoſts is his name. It is a Scripture worth your conſidering; and it doth in the general teach us thus much; That a People may be many things, and may do many things that do ſeemingly beſpeak them to be of the Iſrael of God, but when the matter is more thorowly enquired into, it will be found it is no ſuch thing. Take a few particulars out of the Text, and obſerve what perſons may be and do, and yet really not be the Iſrael of God.

1. They may be called by the name of Iſrael, they may be reputed Saints, paſs for ſomewhat in the eſteem and account of others; ſuitable to which is that Scripture which you have, Rev. 3.1. where the Spirit of God teſtifies concerning the Church of Sardis, that they had a name to live, but yet were dead: In the opinion of thoſe that did converſe with them, and that held communion with them, they were indeed alive; but when the Spirit of God came to paſs a ſentence on them, and to determine really what their ſtate was, ſays the holy Ghoſt, Thou art dead.

2. Obſerve alſo that they were the Poſterity of Jacob; Hear ye, O Houſe of Jacob, that are come forth out of the Waters of Judah: that is, you are ſome of the multitude of Judah's Off-ſpring; they were the ſeed of them that were in Covenant, but yet notwithſtanding many of them were Strangers to the Lord, and not of Iſrael unto this day. I beſeech you mind it, that Grace is not certainly and infallibly intailed upon every one of the Seed of Believers; although it is very frequently ſeen that ſome or other of their Seed the Lord is pleaſed to chuſe to himſelf, and does ſet them apart to be the Inſtruments of his praiſe, according to Iſa. 61.9. And their Seed ſhall be known among the Gentiles, and their Off-ſpring among the People; all that ſee them ſhall acknowledge them, that they are the Seed which the Lord hath bleſſed: not onely the Seed of them which the Lord hath bleſſed, but a Seed which are themſelves bleſſed in their own perſons: It is the uſual method of the Lord, though he may paſs by ſome, yet he does take ſome other of the Seed, to bring them near to himſelf. But this I muſt let you know, you muſt no further make reckoning of the intereſt of Parents in the Covenant, but as a ground of Hope to you, and an argument to plead with God; you muſt not thence conclude, that you your ſelves are in the Bond of the Covenant, till ſome work be upon your hearts.

3. They made a profeſſion for God, and therefore are ſaid to ſwear by the Name of the Lord. Swearing by the Name of the Lord is an act of Worſhip, a profeſſed owning of God, which ſhall be done by Saints, when they are found in the beſt Spirit, witneſs that word, Iſa. 65.16. He that bleſſeth himſelf in the Earth ſhall bleſs himſelf in the God of truth; and he that ſweareth in the Earth ſhall ſwear by the God of Truth; becauſe the former troubles are forgotten, and are hid from thine eyes. It is ſpoken about times in which a great deal of mercy and good will be brought forth, and then there ſhall be ſwearing by the Name of the Lord; it is a profeſſed owning of God: and thus did this People do, and yet there was nothing of God in them, nothing of Truth, nothing but hypocriſie and deceit bound up in their Spirits.

4. Obſerve alſo they did reckon themſelves of Iſrael, they were right in their own opinion and eſteem; they called themſelve the Holy City: It is a marvelous eaſie thing for a Soul to get a good opinion of himſelf, to ſtand right in his own apprehenſions; but I would not have you build too much upon this. It is an excellent caution which the Apoſtle gives, Rom. 12.3. For I ſay, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himſelf more highly then he ought to think but to think ſoberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the meaſure of Faith: I ſay unto every man among YOU, (he ſpeaks unto Profeſſors) be not too haſty and forward to conclude well concerning your ſelves, but let every man judge himſelf to be no more, then according to the meaſure of Grace he hath received. My Friends, be your Profeſſion what it will, and your approbation among others what it can, you are really no more, nor will you ſtand for more in the day of Chriſt, then according as there ſhall be ſomewhat of God found upon your Souls.

5. Obſerve alſo they had much confidence that God would own them, and therefore it is ſaid, They ſtay'd themſelves upon the God of Iſrael; they profeſs that they do act Faith on God, and are full of confidence that they ſhall be owned of God, and not rejected by him. But after all this, ſee what a character the Spirit of God gives of this People, v. 4. Becauſe I knew that thou art obſtinate, and thy Neck is an Iron ſinew, and thy Brow Braſs: a People very wretched and wicked, very rebellious againſt God, not in the leaſt ſubjecting themſelves to God, and to his mind, after all the profeſſion they have made, and their pretence to be Iſrael. Seriouſly conſider theſe things, and tell me if there be not cauſe that each Soul of us ſhould fear, leſt we be found ſhort of that number.

But you will ſay, How may I gather ſome comfortable grounded concluſions that I am one of the Iſrael of God? I am an Eſcaped One this day, and would not be willing that I ſhould be ſtript of the bleſſing of this Bleſſing, I would have the Mercy in mercy; and therefore how may I come to ſome comfortable hope, that I really am a Jew inwardly, and partake of the circumciſion that is of the Heart, whoſe praiſe is not of man, but of God?

I anſwer in a few things, the Lord make them really effectual upon your Souls.

1. If thou art one of Iſrael, thou art one of another Spirit then the men of this world; the Iſrael of God they are a diſtinct People, ſeparate from the reſt of the Earth, and ſeparated in their Spirits eminently, in another Spirit then the men of this world be. What is ſaid concerning Caleb, Numb. 14.24. is truly applicable to every one of Iſrael in ſome meaſure; But my Servant Caleb, becauſe he had ANOTHER SPIRIT with him, and hath followed me fully, &c. There were abundance of Iſraelites in the Camp at that day, but few of them were in the frames they ſhould be in; Caleb was of another Spirit, and ſuch is every Saint: The Searcher of all hearts knows that there is a difference between him and the world: Not a Saint in the world, but hath ſome ground to make an appeal to God, as ſometimes the Pſalmiſt doth, Search me and try me, and know my thoughts; and to appeal to the Lord, as ſometimes Jeremiah did, Thou knoweſt my heart towards thee, O Lord. Iſaac had been begging Seed for his Rebecca, becauſe ſhe had been long barren; at length it is ſaid, There was ſtrugling in her Womb; ſhe wondered what it ſhould mean; but ſee what anſwer the Spirit of God makes her, Gen. 25.22, 23. And the Lord ſaid, Two Nations are in thy Womb, and two manner of People ſhall be ſeparated from thy Bowels; and the one People ſhall be ſtronger then the other People, and the Elder ſhall ſerve the Younger: The two manner of People, were Jacob and Eſau; and I bring this, to tell you, that Jacob, who was after named Iſrael, and ſo all in the ſame Spirit with him, they are another manner of People, as it were another Nation, another thing then the men of this world are; there is an eminent difference and diſtinction between Eſau and Iſrael, they are of different Spirits, and of a different language, as ſeveral Nations differing one from another. 1 Cor. 2.12. The Apoſtle tells us, We have not received the Spirit of the World, but the Spirit which is of God: This he ſpeaks concerning the Saints of God, they have received not the Spirit of the World, but another Spirit diſtinct and different from them. Brethren, I would put it to your Conſciences, and would ask you what the anſwer of your Souls is? What ground have you to conclude that there is another Spirit in you then that which is in the World? It may be your practices are ſomewhat other then the practices of the World are; but grant it be ſo, yet if you are not in another Spirit alſo, if the inward frame and conſtitution of your Souls do not differ, you will not be found among the Iſrael of God in the concluſion. Ah my Friends! poſſibly ſome of your Practices may not vary from the men of the World, poſſibly you can be vain with them that are vain, and prophane with them that are prophane; if it be thus with you, you muſt reckon your ſelves to be of the brood of Eſau to this day. Obſerve the words of the Apoſtle, Rom. 12.2. And be not conformed to this World, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your minds. What ſay you? Are you conformed to this World? Do you drive the trade, and take the courſe that the men of this World do? Are you vain, and frothy, and fooliſh, giving up your ſelves to ſerve divers luſts? Youth is ſubject to be ſo, and if it be thus with you, you are not of Iſrael to this day: But if you ſay, We are not of this World, we do not act as they do, we do not live as they do; then let me ask you, Are you transformed? It is well not to be conformed to this World, but that is not enough, you muſt be transformed, and your Spirits renewed; you muſt be of another Spirit then the men of this World. I would beſeech you to look well to your hearts, and commune with your Souls, and do it not ſlightly: I know many (and would wail over them) that notwithſtanding their profeſſion for God, and their talking much of him, and being high in an external owning of God, yet in their walking (and therefore ſure much more in their ſpirits) they vary little from the men of this World: If it be thus with you, though you are eſcaped this day, yet you cannot comfortably conclude you are of the Iſrael of God, or that you ſhall bear a part in that mercy and good they ſhall enjoy, when the Branch of the Lord ſhall be glorious.

2. Are you Iſrael indeed? then there is ſomewhat of Heart-cleanneſs in you; there is ſomewhat of cleanneſs of Heart, and purity of Soul in you. Thus the Pſalmiſt deſcribes the Iſrael of God, Pſal. 73.1. Truly God is good to Iſrael, even to them that are of a clean Heart: God is good to Iſrael, he loves them, they are exceeding dear to him, and becauſe they are dear to him, therefore it is he is good to them: But who are the Iſrael? They are a certain ſort of People that do not onely put on an external garb of Holineſs, a pretence for God, and his work, and ſervice, and glory; but a People that have ſome inward conformity and likeneſs to God; who have ſome cleanneſs of heart, as well as of hands and face. Man by nature is a very impure creature, polluted grievouſly, defiled all over, all the Soul, all the Powers and Faculties of it are ſtained and grievouſly polluted, and therefore Sinners are in Scripture called the Impure; and Saints, by way of diſtinction from them, are called Pure. A ſad account it is that the Apoſtle gives of Sinners, Tit. 1.15. To the pure all things are pure, but to the undefiled and unbelieving is nothing pure, and their very conſciences are defiled. Jeſus Chriſt deſcribing the perſons that ſhall ſee God to their comfort and joy, he calls them the pure in heart, Mat. 5.8. Bleſſed are the pure in heart, for they ſhall ſee God. Many there are that would pretend to this purity, but it is peculiar and proper to the Iſrael of God onely, it is the iſſue and fruit of a new work upon the heart; it is the bleſſed effect of the Grace of God in and through the Covenant of Grace, the making good of the Promiſe which he hath paſſed, Ezek. 36.25, 26. Then will I ſprinkle clean water upon you, and you ſhall be clean; from all your filthineſs, and from all your Idols will I cleanſe you; a new Heart alſo will I give you, and a new Spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the ſtony heart out of your fleſh, and I will give you a Heart of fleſh.

There are them who are really impure, and grievouſly polluted, and yet think all is well with them, witneſs that known word, Prov. 14.12, 13. There is a Generation that is pure in their own eyes, and yet is not waſhed from their filthineſs: There is a Generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eye-lids are lifted up. There are ſome Souls greatly confident of their own purity, and yet defiled wofully: While they boaſt of their freedom, and brag of their purity, and are crying to others it may be, Stand by thy ſelf, for I am holier then thou; they become after this Servants to Corruption.

Others there are in whom a cleanſing-work is really begun, but becauſe there are ſome remains of corruption in their Souls, it fills their hearts ſo much with grief, and blinds their eyes ſo much, that they cannot ſee the cleanſing that is begun. To clear this therefore I muſt tell you, That where there is really heart-purity, there is much of the love of purity: If thou haſt not attained what of it thou wouldeſt, yet thy heart is really in love with it: Prov. 22.11. He that loveth pureneſs of Heart, for the grace of his Lips the King ſhall be his Friend. There are a People it may be have not attained to that pureneſs of heart they would do, but yet pureneſs of heart they love, and Grace is poured into their Lips; to ſuch the King will be a Friend, they ſhall find a Friend of Chriſt, and he will not be aſhamed to own them in the day of his greateſt Glory, when the Crown ſhall be ſet upon his Head. Not a Soul in whom purity is, but he is preſſing after it in greater meaſure; though he has not attained it, yet he does not ſit down and cry, There is no hope for me; but he is going forward, and preſſing after more of the Image of God to be implanted in his Soul. Now what is the anſwer of your Hearts? Can you from hence conclude comfortably, you are ſome of Gods Iſrael? Are the luſts that boil up in your hearts, fomented and cheriſhed, favoured and allowed, ſerved and pleaſed? If ſo, it is ſad with you: If you lie in the boſom of any Luſt, as in the lap of a Delilah: if thou ſayeſt of any ſin in thy Soul, as ſometimes Lot ſaid concerning his Zoar, I cannot eſcape to the Mountains, but there is a City near, is it not a little one? let me flee thither, and I ſhall live: All the Cities of the Plain were doomed to deſtruction at that day, but Lot was earneſt to prevail for the ſaving of one little City, that he might delight himſelf in it. There is not a luſt in thy Soul but it is doomed to deſtruction, and God requires it ſhould be put to death; but poſſibly thou ſayeſt of it, O ſpare it, it is a little one. Let me be faithful to thee, and tell thee, that that ſin will be enough to race out thy name out of the Catalogue of the Iſrael of God; and when others will ſtand with comfort, that have eſcaped this day, thou wilt be aſhamed and confounded.

3. Art thou of the Iſrael of God? Then thou art one that haſt learned in ſome meaſure to live upon God. As it is the certain property of, ſo it is a great excellency in the Iſrael of God, that they live upon him; and this was as eminently found in Jacob, as ever in any one of the Servants of the Lord: When he was going to Padan Aram, not knowing what ſhould befall him; obſerve how he ſpeaks, Gen. 28.20. Jacob vowed a Vow, ſaying, If God will be with me and keep me in this way that I go, and will give Bread to eat, and Rayment to put on, &c. The great thing about which he was ſolicitous, was, that he might have the preſence of God. He had a little before in this Chapter a moſt glorious Viſion of God; (and I muſt confeſs Viſions of God are exceeding effectual to teach and work up the heart to a living upon God) and what does Jacob now ſay? If he might have but God to live upon, a very little of other matters ſhould content him; Bread to eat, ſomewhat that might ſupport his nature, and Rayment to put on, enough to cover him, and keep him warm; he doth not ſay, If I may have Varieties and Dainties to eat, and may be decked in coſtly Apparel; no, but onely Bread to eat, and Rayment to put on: If I can have but God, a little of the World will ſerve my turn. This is the Spirit of Iſrael, and that with which I doubt very few are acquainted. I muſt crave leave to put this to all your Souls, and ask you what is the anſwer of your hearts? Can you ſay upon good grounds, as the Church of God ſometimes ſaid, The Lord is my Portion, ſaith my Soul? Lam. 3.24. Suppoſe, ſhould Satan take you, as once he did Chriſt, and ſet you upon a high Mountain, and ſhew you the Kingdoms of the World, and the Glory of them, and tell you, All theſe things you ſhall have, if you will forgo and part with God? What would the anſwer of your hearts be in that caſe? Suppoſe Chriſt ſhould come and ſay to you, If you will have a part in me, you muſt expect trouble; you ſhall be hated of all men for my Names ſake; yea, the Parents from whoſe Bowels ye ſprang, ſhall turn againſt you: Can you ſay, Amen, ſo be it; Let me have the Lord for my Portion, and I can forgo all other things whatſoever? This is Iſrael's Spirit, and ſo far as it • s thus with you, it is right. What excellency have you ſeen in the Lord at any time? How have your hearts been taken with him? What are the workings of your Souls toward him? What are you labouring after? Is it that you may know God and enjoy him? What is it doth relieve you in the time of your ſtraights? Is it this, that the Lord is yours? It was David's comfort when all went againſt him, when Ziklag was burnt, his Wives and all were taken, and the People ſpake of ſtoning him, he then encouraged himſelf in the Lord his God. What is it that ſweetens all your enjoyments to you? Is it this, That you have a part in that which is better then all theſe, that you have a part in the Lord, and he is become your God and Father in Chriſt? Happy, yea, thrice happy are you that can ſay as once David did, The Lord hath made with me an everlaſting Covenant, ordered in all things, and ſure; and this is my Salvation, and this is all my Joy. But O unhappy they, who are not able to ſubſiſt without their Thouſands, and look upon themſelves as undone for ever, if worldly Intereſt runs but a little againſt them: And unhappy you, if in your Youth and Strength you have few thoughts, or few ſerious thoughts of God; if he be little in your thoughts and hearts, I tell you it is to be feared you are not of the Iſrael of God unto this day: Though you eſcape and are preſerved, yet it is to be feared your preſervation will not be attended with mercy to you, nor ſhall you bear a part in that Glory that ſhall be upon the heads of Iſrael, when the Branch of the Lord ſhall be glorious.

4. If you are the Iſrael of God, then are you Holineſs to the Lord; you not onely live upon him, but to him, in ſome meaſure. Jer. 2.9. the Prophet ſaith, Iſrael was Holineſs to the Lord; that is, when Iſrael was in his right ſpirit, then he was Holineſs to the Lord. For the expreſſion, you have it in Scripture elſewhere, Zech. 14.20, 21. In that day there ſhall be upon the Bells of the Horſes, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD, and the Pots in the Lords Houſe ſhall be like the Bowls before the Altar; yea, every Pot in Jeruſalem and in Judah ſhall be Holineſs unto the Lord of Hoſts: that is, every Perſon and every Thing ſhall be for God, for his Work and Service, to be to his Praiſe and Glory. Certain it is, Saints are not their own, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, 1 Cor. 6.19. Ye are not your own, ye are bought with a price; and ſo Tit. 2.13, 14. where ſpeaking concerning the purchaſe of Chriſt, Looking for the bleſſed hope and glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, who gave himſelf for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and might purifie to himſelf a peculiar People zealous of good Works. The Veſſels of the Temple, before they were made uſe of in the Temple, they had a legal conſecrating, and being cleanſed, they were given up to the work of the Temple, to be for that uſe for ever: And ſo the Saints of the Lord, who were typified by the Veſſels of the Temple, they are firſt purified, cleanſed, and ſanctified by Chriſt, by the work of the Spirit on their Souls, and then given up to the Lord and his ſervice. It may be ſaid of them as Hannah ſaid of her Son Samuel, 1 Sam. 1.28. Therefore I have lent him unto the Lord, to be his ſo long as he lives. Every Iſraelite indeed is one lent to the Lord, given up to be for the work and ſervice of the Lord in his whole courſe, and in every thing to exalt his praiſe, to mind his glory. Certainly thus it ought to be, and this was one end of the Death of Chriſt, that he might have his People be for him, 2 Cor. 5.15. He died and roſe, that they which live ſhould not henceforth live to themſelves, but to him that died for them and roſe again; and unto this Spirit Saints are wrought up in ſome good meaſure, as is expreſſed, Rom. 14.7. And none of us, ſaith the Apoſtle, live to our ſelves. Souls, what ſay your Hearts to this matter? You profeſs for the Lord, but are you for him as conſecrated things in the Houſe of God? Which way do your Hearts work day by day? This know, where there hath not been a ſolemn reſignation and giving up a mans ſelf unto the Lord, where there is not a diligent obſerving of a mans whole courſe, to ſee to what ends they are directed, and whether the glory of Chriſt be therein ſought, it is doubtful that Soul is not of the Iſrael of God to this day. The truth is, the ſins of many witneſs to their Faces, and I make no doubt but that inſcription may be written over the doors of many Profeſſors, upon too great ground, All men ſeek their own, and not the things of Jeſus Chriſt: If this be the ſpirit of any to whom theſe things may come, you may fear (though you are ſpared, and are not cut down this day) you ſtand but to cumber the ground, ſuch as God takes little delight in, and ſuch as from whom he hath little fruit, ſuch as he doth not reckon among the number of his Iſrael, and ſuch as ſhall not be bleſſed with Iſraels mercies, when the Branch of the Lord ſhall be exalted.

5. Are you Iſrael? then are you a praying People; Iſrael had thence his Name, from his wreſtling and prevailing with God; God asked him what was his Name, Gen. 32.27, 28. he ſaid, Jacob; and God ſaid, Thy Name ſhall no more be called Jacob, but Iſrael; for as a Prince haſt thou power with God and with men, and haſt prevailed. In his praying there is obſervable his importunity, and that is expreſſed partly when it is ſaid he wreſtled; and alſo in that expreſſion wherein much freedom and familiarity with God is ſet forth; God ſaid, Let me go; ſays Jacob, I will not let thee go, except thou bleſs me, v. 26. which importunity of his is again noted by the Spirit of God, Hoſ. 12.4. He had power over the Angel, he wept and he made ſupplication. There is alſo obſervable, that this Prayer it was in ſecret, Gen. 32.24. And Jacob was left ALONE; it was between the Lord and himſelf in ſecret: which I would beſeech you to conſider heartily, That as ſoon, yea, at the very firſt moment when a Soul is enrolled among the number of Iſrael, at that inſtant he becomes a praying Perſon, as in the caſe of Saul, who was afterward called Paul. And let me ask you that attend on the Lord in publick Duties, what are you in ſecret? Does God uſually there hear from you? Cannot you live without ſeeing the face of God in ſecret? Let me tell you, publick Duties have many temptations; a man may deſire to be engaged in them from many baſe and bad ends; yea, it is poſſible natural Conſcience and your Education may carry you into corners ſometimes: but therefore in ſecret how do you carry it? Doth it ſatisfie you that you have been in your Cloſets, and have ſpent it may be a quarter of an hour there, and it may be with a ſlight and formal Spirit? This is not the Spirit of Iſrael: But if thou art an Iſraelite indeed, when thou art in ſecret thou wilt be fervent and earneſt with God. In publick Duties, a man may ſeem to be zealous, that he may get a Name, or keep up a Name that he hath gotten, or to ſome ſuch-like end; but when in ſecret the Soul cries mightily to the Lord, it is a good ſign that there is a ſenſe of want, and that it does ariſe from a Spirit of Grace in the Soul, when thou canſt in ſecret ſign and mourn before the Lord.

Now theſe things I have gone over with this deſign, to ſee if I could let you into a little Hope and good Ground, that as you have eſcaped, ſo you are eſcaping Iſraelites, who ſhall partake of Glory when Chriſt, the Branch of the Lord, ſhall be made glorious: And the Lord help you to be faithful to your Souls, and make you Iſraelites indeed, in whom is no guile.

A few things, and but a few things, to ſhew you what the miſery of thoſe is like to be, who are not the Iſrael of God indeed, though eſcaped for the preſent.

1. Chriſt in the day of his Glory will cut them down, tread them down without number: The expreſſions of Scripture in this caſe muſt not be judged of according unto ſome of the Laws in our Land, which they ſay are made (in terrorem) onely to affright men, and it is not intended that the ſeverity of them ſhall be inflicted on them; but whatſoever God hath ſaid concerning Sinners, ſhall be certainly executed: Iſa. 63.3. I will tread down the People in my anger, and trample them in my fury; and the ſame you have again, verſ. 6. This is like to be the portion of thoſe that are eſcaped, and are not the Iſrael of God. The Book of Joel is a Prophecy relating to that time when Chriſt ſhall be glorious, verſ. 14. Multitudes in the Valley of Deciſion, for the Day of the Lord is near in the Valley of Deciſion: The day of the Lords Glory, it will be a ſlaughtering-day, and multitudes ſhall fall; and they are ſaid to fall in the Valley of Deciſion, becauſe at that time the Controverſie ſhall be decided that hath depended ſo long, Who are the Lords People, and who are for him, and who are owned of him indeed and in truth. You read of Chriſt, Rev. 14.14. And I looked, and behold a white Cloud, and upon the Cloud one ſat like unto the Son of Man, having on his head a golden Crown, and in his hand a ſharp Sickle: Chriſt when he ſhall come to wear his golden Crown, he comes with a Sickle in his hand: Chriſt is reaping by every Judgement and Slaughter he makes, and poſſibly you may out-live ſome Slaughters; but look on further, verſ. 17, 18, &c. And another Angel came out of the Temple which is in Heaven, he alſo having a ſharp Sickle; and another Angel came out from the Altar, which had power over fire, and cried with a loud cry to him that had a ſharp Sickle, ſaying, Thruſt in thy ſharp Sickle, and gather the Cluſters of the Vine of the Earth, for her Grapes are fully ripe; and the Angel thruſt in his Sickle into the Earth, and gathered the Vine of the Earth, and caſt it into the great Wine-preſs of the Wrath of God; and the Wine-preſs was trodden without the City, and Blood came out of the Wine-preſs, even unto the Horſes Bridles, by the ſpace of one thouſand and ſix hundred furlongs. The intendment of this Scripture is to tell you what the dread of Earthly People ſhall be, they ſhall be cut down, and trodden down, and Blood ſhall come forth, even to the Horſes Bridles.

2. In the day of Chriſts Glory, they that are not Iſrael, though they now eſcape, ſhall be cut down without reſpect of Sex or Age, without reſpect of greatneſs or contempt in the World; it is evident from the Word: In Iſa. 13.17, 18. you have a Prophecy concerning Babylon of old, which is applicable to Babylon ſtill; Behold, I will ſtir up the Medes againſt them, which ſhall not regard Silver, and as for Gold they ſhall not delight in it; their Bows alſo ſhall daſh the young men to pieces, and they ſhall have no pity on the fruit of the Womb, their eye ſhall not ſpare Children: It does intimate to us at what rate Chriſt will act, when he comes out againſt them that are none of his; he will neither ſpare nor pity, have no reſpect to young or old, nor ſhall mans being high or low be ought of defence or ſecurity to him, The day of the Lord ſhall be upon the Cedars of Lebanon, and upon the Oaks of Baſhan, and upon all the high Mountains: the Great Ones of the World ſhall feel the dread of that ſtroke.

3. Diſtreſs ſhall attend them within and without, Job 15.20, 21. The Wicked travelleth with pain all his days, and a dreadful ſound is in his Ears; the dreadful ſound is the pangs of their own Conſciences, being filled with terror. And this ſhall be the portion of the World, they ſhall be filled with dreadful ſounds, terrors within; and alſo miſeries ſhall compaſs them about in every thing, and in every way: Iſa. 19. it is ſaid concerning Egypt, They ſhall erre in every work, and ſtagger as a drunken man.

4. Miſeries ſhall be recompenced upon them ſuitable to the violence done to the Saints, the diſhonour brought to God, and the abuſing of all the patience and forbearance of Chriſt towards them; three ſad ſcores that ſhall be reckoned for in the day of Chriſt. Thoſe that are not Iſrael, though they eſcape for a time, they ſhall be dealt withall according to the violence done to the Saints of God: The violence done to me and to my Fleſh, be upon Babylon, ſhall the Inhabitants of Zion ſay. Iſa. 51.22, 23. I have taken the cup of trembling out of thy hand (that is, out of Zions hand) even the dregs of the cup of my fury, thou ſhalt no more drink it again; but I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee, which have ſaid to thy Soul, Bow down, that we may go over; and thou haſt laid thy Body as the ground, and as the ſtreet to them that went over. They ſhall ſuffer too according to the contempt of the Goſpel, and the diſhonour done to Chriſt that way; for he ſhall come to deal with all them that do not know him, and obey not the Goſpel; and alſo according to the ſin of deſpiſing the forbearance of Chriſt. Indeed this day you are eſcaped, and the patience of Chriſt is exerciſed towards you, but let me tell you, if you ſtand and abide in your ſinful ſtate, you ſhall find that the abuſing of the patience of Chriſt, is but treaſuring up wrath againſt the day of wrath.

5. Thoſe that have eſcaped, and not Iſrael, they ſhall be compaſſed about with eternal Sorrows, and ſhall never riſe out of them. Says the Church, Though I fall, I ſhall ariſe again; and though I ſit in darkneſs, yet the Lord ſhall be a light to me: Then ſhall ſhe be confounded (that is, the Enemies of the Church) ſhame ſhall cover her. That will be the portion of every ſinner; though he may eſcape for a ſeaſon, ſhame ſhall cover him, miſery and diſtreſs ſhall abide him for ever.

SOme methinks there are, that are of trembling hearts, and they cry, It is true, I am eſcaped, but I fear I am none of the Iſrael of God. My Uſe therefore would be to ſuch as are of trembling ſpirits: When they conſider how good God has been to them, they may poſſibly tremble, leſt at laſt they ſhould loſe the Mercy of this Mercy, becauſe they are not found among the Iſrael of God. Many a Soul there is poſſibly cries out, Iſraels Priviledges are too great for me to hope to have a part in them, and Iſraels Spirit is a Spirit more excellent then ever I have been found in; and therefore though I am eſcaped this day, yet I want that which is the beſt piece of the Mercy of an Eſcape.

I would anſwer, Know this, O Soul, that among the Iſrael of God there are many that are of fearful Spirits: although they are really among the number of the Lords precious Ones, they have not an Eye to ſee it, nor Faith to believe it, and ſo may poſſibly go mourning many days. But what are thy Objections? What makes thee fear? Do not fear thou know'ſt not what, nor why: As we are to give a reaſon of our Hope, ſo I would not have you fear without a reaſon.

2. Sure your eſcaping ſhould make 〈◊〉 to be Holineſs unto the Lord: Hath the Lord written you unto Life, as the expreſſion is in this 4th of Iſaiah? Are you by his appointment and counſel in the Land of the living? O then ſee that you be a People walking with him. He ſays in this 4th of Iſaiah, to them that do eſcape, that they ſhall be a holy People, verſ. 3. It ſhall come to paſs that he that is left in Sion, and he that remaineth in Jeruſalem, ſhall be called Holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jeruſalem. O that every one written among the living this day, might alſo be called Holy, that is, might be ſo, for God calls things as they are. There be great engagements lie upon our Souls that we live up to this expectation of God.

3. Surely your work is to help forward the glory of Chriſt and your own good, by all ways you can: Faith and Prayer are the great means by which you may be ſerviceable to this great end. We are apt to be faithleſs and unbelieving, when things ſucceed not according to our deſire and expectation; but the work of the Soul is, to wait for the ſalvation of God, and to believe for the accompliſhment of all that the Lord hath ſpoken; to beg earneſtly that God would remember his Promiſe, that he would do according to the Faith of his People: Whatſoever God has engaged himſelf to his People, that he will do for them, he expects that they ſhould enquire of him for it.

4. How much ought it to be your care to be found in a ſpirit fit to meet Chriſt in his glory? There is great talk in the World of what expectations are upon the hearts of the Saints; O that we could ſee ſuitable preparations in every Soul, putting off the works of darkneſs, and preſſing after a Spirit of Humility and Holineſs, that we might be crucified to the World, and raiſed up to a ſpiritual frame: the day of Chriſts glory will be exceedingly filled up with ſpiritual things, and a carnal earthly ſpirit will be loathed and abominable. O then ſhake off the filth of ſin, and the filth of this World, and put on your beautiful Garments, that ſo you may be prepared to meet the Lord in his glory.

5. Do you much pity Sinners: When Chriſt ſhall come in his glory, with what ſhame and confuſion will poor ſinners ſtand? every heart will tremble, and the proudeſt ſpirit will then ſtoop. O pity them now, for then you will have no pity for them: the Righteous ſhall rejoyce when he ſees the vengeance, they will then onely triumph in the righteous Diſpenſations of God. O pity them now, and mourn over them, and pray for them, and pray them into Chriſt, if poſſible; and walk ſo before them that thou maiſt make them in love with the ways of God: This is your work, the Salvation of Sinners ſhould be much upon your hearts, if you know the worth of your own Souls: And the more there are brought into Chriſt, the greater will the ſolemnity be, and the glory of this glorious appearance.

To cloſe all therefore:

It is a ſad day for the preſent, even with the Saints of God; and though we are preſerved, yet we and all our mercies lie open to we know not how much miſery; we and our beſt Priviledges, how they may be dealt with we cannot tell: however, of this be confident, That all this time the Lord is at work graciouſly for his People: As he ſays in this fourth of Iſaiah, when he had ſaid in the Text, The Branch of the Lord ſhould be glorious for them that are eſcaped; he addes, verſ. 4. When the Lord ſhall have waſhed away the filth of the Daughter of Zion. In the • ean time before this glory, the Lord is wa •• ing away the filth of his People, and purging out their droſs that yet is among them, that when his glorious appearing ſhall be, you and all your Mercies will at once be delivered: and as he ſays in the fifth verſe, The Lord will create upon every dwelling place in Mount Zion, and upon her Aſſemblies, a Cloud and Smoak by day, and the ſhining of a flaming fire by night; for upon all the Glory ſhall be a defence. Now we have our Opportunities with hazard, and little Communion with God in them; but at that day there ſhall be upon the Aſſemblies of Mount Zion a Cloud. The Cloud in the Temple was the token of Gods preſence, God will be among his People: And upon their Glory ſhall be a defence: They ſhall be ſafe from the fear of evil, and God will bleſs his People with peace; He will bleſs them out of Zion.