THough a Short Text, and as Short a Warning be no good Prefaces to a long Sermon, they may be no bad or unwelcome Earnests of a short one, as I design this shall be, [Page 2]not to comply with the humour of those un-devout Souls, to whom e­very thing is tedious which is seri­ous, and to whom holy David him­self, though the sweet Singer of Israel, prolixe canit, is too long: as St. Gregory Nazianzen observes in his sixteenth Oration, and the sa­cred Melody of whose Psalms can­not expiate, or atone for the length of them.

But to comport decently with the present occasion, that the Pul­pit may not intrench upon the Tri­bunal, nor the first Table over-lay the second; or crowd it up into too narrow a room.

The words are a very small, yet a most considerable part, of the lar­gest and best managed Parable in all the old Testament; contrived by subtle Joab, and carried on, and acted by the wise Woman of Te­koah, whom the Jewish Rabbins will needs have to be the Grandmo­ther [Page 3]of the Prophet Amos, a Na­tive and Inhabitant of the same place, which, .S. Jerom tells us, was a small Town nine Miles distant from Jerusalem.

The use of Parables, though it was not unknown to other Nations, witness that famous one of Menius Agrippa among the Romans, by which he successfully appeased a dangerous, popular Sedition; and those many witty ones of honest Esop, amongst the Grecians; yet was it more signally frequent amongst the Hebrews and Syrians, as the Learned Grotius observes; and as by that remarkable one of Jotham, Judg. 9. and many other in the Old Testament; and by our Saviours frequent use of them, evidently ap­pears.

And though the first Design of them seems to have been to instruct the rude and ignorant multitude, whose minds are less susceptive of [Page 4]the impressions of solid Reason, they being a kind of mental Pictures, (and you know who call Pictures Lay-mens Books) by which the matter is represented more lively to the Fancy and Imagination.

Yet the second end of them is to insinuate conviction and reproof in­sensibly into their minds, who would be less patient of it, in express words, or plainer Reprehensions. And thus Nathan had proceeded with David in the case of Uriah and Bath­sheba, chap. 12. and succeeded hap­pily to ensnare him into Repentance, by the Parable of the poor Man's Ewe-Lamb.

And thus Joab by the Woman of Tekoah attacks him here, by a fiction of her two Sons striving to­gether in the Field, and the one slaying the other, and the rest of the Family rising up to put him to death.

The scope of the whole was to [Page 5]prevail with David to recall Absolom from Geshur, whither he had fled, and where he had remained in Ba­nishment three years after the slay­ing of his Brother Amnon.

Although there is a great deal of excellent matter in the Parable; and some would find even much of the Gospel in it; to instance but in one Verse, viz. 14. which runs thus: For we must needs die, and are as water spilt upon the ground, which cannot be gathered up again: neither doth God respect any person, yet doth he devise means that his banished be not expelled from him. As if it im­ported these three Particulars.

1. The forlorn Estate of man by the first Apostacy, and his desperate ease that can no more recover him­self, than water spilt upon the Ground, and drunk up by it, can be gathered up again.

2. That no wan, in David's Phrase, can redeem his Brother, or give to [Page 6]God a ransome for him. For God re­spects nothing that any Man can do.

3. Yet he himself helps, when no creature could, by his unsearch­able wisdom devising means (Job 33.24. Deliver him from the pit, for I have found a ransome) by Christ, to satisfie Justice, and magnifie Mer­cy; to punish the Sin, and spare the Sinner, that his banished from Pa­radise may not be expelled from Heaven.

But I must dismiss and wave whatever is contain'd in the Body of the Parable, and single out this seasonable Passage, Say on.

Which words are so plain, they need no Explication; and so few, they admit no Division: the only Method that remains to handle them, seems to be this, to consi­der, A quo, cui, quo fine dicta sunt.

[Page 7]1. By whom they were spoken By David, a King, and a Judge.

2. To whom they were spoken: To the Widow woman of Tekoah, a Petitioner, a Plaintiff, who stood before him for Help and Judg­ment.

3. To what end and intent they were spoken: To give her leave and encouragement to make her Plea as fully as she could, and to grant her a fair Hearing before he pronounced entence in her case.

Of these in order.

First, Of the person who spake [...]hem, David, the King, the Judge [...] whom this Woman addressed her [...]lf, vers. 4. Help, O King. So v. [...]. My Lord, O King. So in this [...]welfth Verse. Let thy handmaid, I [...]y thee, speak one word unto my Lord [...]e King: and he said, Say on.

This Book is stiled by a Learned Expositor, the Throne of David, whom the Holy Ghost represents as the Exemplar and Icon of an excel­lent Magistrate, who himself had learn'd and practised that Lesson he taught his Son; He that rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of the Lord. And this is not the least instance and proof of it, (that ac­cording to the old Verse, ‘—Patiens sit Judicis auris)’ he was willing to hear out the Plea of her who stood before him for help, and by the forgetting which Rule, and deflecting from which Method, he contracted one of the foulest blots we read him to have stained his Justice with, in all his Government: I mean in the case of Mephibosheth, 2 Sam. 19.29. He said, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters, I have said thou and Ziba [Page 9]divide the land. Which precipitate Sentence had been prevented, and an innocent Master delivered from the slanders of a treacherous servant, if instead of why speakest thou any more! he had said as he doth here, Say on.

So that the words are a commend­able instance (which may have the force of a standing rule) of a good Magistrate, giving leave, and en­couragement to those who stand be­fore them for Judgment, to say all they can to make good their Plea, and to grant them a full Hearing.

And to shew the excellency of this Rule, we shall look upon the Words under several Aspects.

1. As they are vox humanae natu­rae, the voice of humane nature, break­ing forth from that first principle of it; Do as thou wouldst be done by. No Judge or Magistrate, if instead of sitting on the Bench (excuse the supposition, which I will not make, [Page 10]but with a modest Apology) he should stand at the Bar as a reputed Criminal, or as a Plaintiff or Defendant, would be willing to have Judgment pass, till his Plea were made, and he had ob­tained a full and fair Hearing. Therefore as we use to phrase it, Turn the Tables. Let the Reverend Judge suppose himself in his Cir­cumstances who comes before him in Judgment, and then do as Na­ture it self dictates, as he would be done by. Hear him out, say as he would desire it should be said to him­self. Say on.

That's the first, they are the voice of humane nature.

2. They are verba sapientiae, words of wisdom. Wisdom is highly requisite in a Judge. Therefore Solomon (wise already) made it his Prayer, which God so highly approved, 1 Kings 3.9. Give thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people. Or as it is, 1 Chron. [Page 11]1.10. Give me wisdom and under­standing, for who can judge this thy people that is so great. And Hiram blessed God for giving to his Friend David a wise Son to judge his people Israel. Now wisdom consists in the adapting sutable means for the at­tainment of desirable ends. The end of judicial proceedings, is to give to every Man what is right, and due to him. Now what means can be so sit, and conduce so evidently to this, as to sift out truth by a full and fair hearing of all the Allega­tions, Pleas, and Defences of the Parties concerned. 'Twas this that gave Solomon that Renown in judging betwixt the two Harlots, 1 King. 3. ult. That all who heard it said, The wisdom of God was in him to do judgment. For 'twas from their own mouths he discovered which was the true Mother of the Child, which he had never done had he not let them Say on.

[Page 12]3. Verba justitiae & aequitatis, They are words of Equity and Righte­ousness. 'Tis most just to hear Men out what they have to say, before they be condemned, or acquitted: therefore 'tis a customary question after Indictment read, and Evidence produced, What canst thou say for thy self? and no Proclamation more common in Courts than Let them come forth, and they shall be heard.

'Tis a Rule in every Man's Mouth.

He that determines any thing with­out hearing both sides, although he chances to determine what is just, yet is not just himself in so determining.

Therefore 'twas praise-worthy Justice in Agrippa, Act. 26, that he [Page 13]said to the Prisoner, Paul, thou art permitted to speak for thy self. And it was a standing Rule amongst the Romans (a People so renowned for their Justice, that S. Augustine a­scribes all their Successes to God's rewarding of their Justice) not to deliver any Man to die, till the Accu­sed had his Accusers face to face, and liberty to answer for himself, Act. 25.16.

4. They are verba misericordiae, words of mercy, and commendable compassion and condescension.

The awful Solemnities which at­tend Courts of Judicature, do often strike a consternation into those who appear before them; and few Men, of low and common Education, have that presence of spirit and audacity, whether Principals or Witness, to recollect themselves suddenly.

'Tis therefore very commendable compassion to relieve them against their fears and amazements, and [Page 14]not to discourage or put them out of countenance, nor suffer others to do it, but rather to raise them to a just confidence, by bearing with, and helping them against their weak­nesses, with these, or words of the same import, Say on, be not dis­mayed, or afraid, but speak freely, let us hear all you have to say.

5. Lastly, They are verba pati­entiae, words of patience; than which, nothing is a greater ornament to the Tribunals of Justice, no word worse becoming their mouths who sit on them, than non vacat, which made the poor Woman reply so smartly to Philip of Macedon, who when she demanded Audience and Justice of him, said, He could not tend it, or was not at leisure: Why then will you be King? I pray, Sir, let some body else be that can and will.

No deliberation, no delay should be esteemed long, in which so precious a thing as the life of a Man is con­cerned.

And because you Gentlemen of the Long Robe have a just veneration for the sage and grave Sayings of your Predecessors, I'll cite a memo­rable and very commendable Passage I heard near forty years ago at Cam­bridge Castle, from the Lord Chief Justice Banks, when an inferiour Officer of the Court prayed him to make haste, for they should be too late. He openly replyed, I had ra­ther travel all night, or put my self to any inconvenience, than the King's Justice should be denyed to any of his Liege People, or huddle over business for want of time to hear it fairly.

And this for the Speaker, as they are the words of a King or Judge, ecchoing the sentiments of humane nature, speaking as a wise, a just, a merciful, a patient Judge, Say on. [Page 16]All Virtues so ornamental to Tribu­nals, that nothing can be more.

I proceed to the second Conside­ration: that is, of the Person to whom they were spoken: that is, to a Pe­titioner, a Plantiff, who came to plead her cause before him as her Judge.

And First, they were dicta mulie­ri, spoken to a woman; whose Sex exposed her to some pre­judice, as not needing over much en­couragement to speak: yet he saith not, She'll talk enough without bid­ding; and if I encourage her, she'll never have done. No idle or frivo­lous pretences should debar those whose Lives, Estates, or other near Con­cernments lye at stake, from a full and fair Hearing. He saith to the Wo­man, Say on.

[Page 17]2. Dicta Viduae, they were spoken to a Widow. Widow-hood is a for­lorn estate, and Widow is a desolate name. Had the Plaintiff been a great man, no wonder that such an one should obtain a Full Hearing. But to give leave and encouragement to a poor, to a desolate Widow, to Say on, this was much to be wonder­ed at, but more to be commended. 'Twas such a piece of Justice in righteous Job that rendred him so eminent: the words are so remark­able, I cannot omit the rehearsal of them at large: Job 29.11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me. Be­cause I delivered the poor that cryed, and the fatherless and him that had none to help him. The Blessing of him that was ready to perish, came upon me, and I caused the widows heart to sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it cloathed me, my judgment was [Page 18]a Robe and Diadem. I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. I was a father to the poor, and the cause which I knew not I searched out: and I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth. Than which words there can be no better Commentary upon David's saying to a desolate and poor widow, Say on.

3. Dicta Reo, spoken to a guilty person. For if it be true, that in the eye of the Law, Actor & Reus eandem sustinent personam: What is said to him or her that pleads the cause of the guilty, is said as to the guilty. To suspend prejudice, and to hear out a presumed guilty party, argues much candor and mo­deration. The Law supposes every man honest and innocent: and every man's cause just and good, till it is found, and appears otherwise; and [Page 19]that cannot be without discussing it; therefore no presumptive prejudices should stop their mouths, or debar them their Plea. Let even such therefore Say on.

4. Dicta reo parricidii, they were spoken to one guilty of Murder, the worst of Crimes, and Fratricide the worst of Murders. The foulest of­fences cut not off the offender from liberty to plead his cause, to defend, and if he can, to clear himself: which minds me of God's own pro­ceeding with Cain in the very same Circumstances, when he had slain his Brother Abel; Gen. 4. Where is thy Brother? What hast thou done? Which Questions imply a liberty to answer, left him.

5. Dicta consitenti, to one who had confessed the Fact, and in effect ac­cused him whom she came to defend [Page 20]and plead for; Circumstances oft al­ter the case very much, and great alleviations may be urged, which may extenuate the fault, though they neither do, or can deny the Fact; therefore even confitenti reo, say, Say on.

6. But lastly, dicta humili & sup­plicanti, they were spoke to one who was humble and modest, and made request for audience: ver. 4. She fell on her face and made obeysance. She said, Let thy handmaid I pray thee, speak a word to my Lord the King. She made supplication to her Judge: she be­haved not her self unseemly, she did not extort an Hearing with noise and clamour: nor like the o­ther Widow, Luke 18. weary him out with importunity, and so teez the Judge, that he did her Justice to be quiet, and reliev'd her in his own defence: no, she sought it humbly, [Page 21]and obtain'd it candidly.

'Tis infinitely indecent, and a great desecrating and prophaning so sacred a place as a Court of Judi­cature, and so holy a thing as Justice it self is, to bawl, and jeer, and make a noise, and is so far from being manly, that this Woman may shame them to use their Tongues better. And such procedure gives just suspi­cion, that the merits of that cause are not very good, which needs the raising so much dust, to cloud them from the eyes of sober Reason.

When S. Paul pleaded before King Agrippa and Festus, his Plea was words of truth and soberness: Act. 26.25.

The King's presumed present in his Courts, and a greater than He, the King of Kings, He judgeth a­mongst [Page 22]the Gods, the judgment is the Lord's.

Therefore all things should be car­ried as becomes such a presence, gravely, modestly, soberly, seriously, for though every good Judge will say to such, with David here, Say on. I suppose no wise Judge will say in earnest what Job once said in Irony, Job 21.3. Mock on.

3. Quo fine, for what end, intent, or purpose did he give her this leave and encouragement to Say on. Certainly for many wise, and great and good ones, to suggest some of which, may be useful and exem­plary.

First, To find out the truth and right. The Tongue is the Hearts Interpreter, and other mens Infor­mer; and truth is often bolted out, by the moving of the Lips.

A plain Story innocently told, that comes freely without pains, dis­guise, or artifice, that is coherent and self consistent, is a good argu­ment of honest simplicity. When on the other side, fair liberty of Speech being granted, if they shuf­fle, hesitate, and stick, contradict themselves, and have little or no­thing to say, 'tis a shrewd presum­ption all is not right; and so (though it be uncomely in this place, to name the Proverb, 'tis like occurs to all your thoughts) offenders are oft ensnared by their own lips: and their tongues fall upon themselves, and they are judged out of their own mouths.

For nothing is easier than to tell a true Story plainly, as the matter is, truth being always consistent with it self, and to defend a just and ho­nest cause, which carries with it it's [Page 24]own evidence. So nothing is harder than to make a false matter appear true, and a foul cause to appear just and clear to a discerning mind. Let them therefore Say on, 'tis the way to clear the innocent, to convict the guilty, and bring truth to light.

2. To preserve the honour of Ju­dicial Proceedings, which is of great Concernment.

While the Judge judges the Cri­minals, or between the parties liti­gant, all the Assembly will be sure to judge him: and therefore 'tis not e­nough to decree what is just; but to make it manifest that he proceeds justly; even God himself, whose nature secures him from all unrigh­teousness, and makes it impossi­ble for him to do injustice, yet takes care to make it apparent, that he proceeds justly, that he may be justified when he speaketh, and [Page 25] clear when he judgeth. As we have it, Psal. 51.4. or as the Apostle turns the words, Rom. 3.4. That thou mightest be justified in thy say­ings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. God himself cannot e­scape the censure of the world; and therefore for the honour of his Righteousness he will manifest his proceedings to be just, that no place may be left for cavil or re­proach.

3. To put an end to strife and con­tention. What is the reason of bringing the same cause so often o­ver, but pretence of not having had a fair Hearing at the first. Wh [...]'s well done, is twice done. And try­ing Causes well once, would prevent the trying of them, it may be, twice or thrice: 'tis not only for your honour therefore, but for your case, to let them, Say on.

[Page 26]4. To prevent clamour. We have a Proverb, Losers will have leave to talk, and they often talk so much when they have lost, because they had not leave to talk, to prevent their losing. Let them therefore Say on before the Sentence, and they will have nothing to say after. Yea, the condemned Criminals will yield their lives more silently, and calmly, and submisly to the Law, when Con­demnation was not awarded, till they had liberty to make their best defence.

5. To restrain the violence of proud oppressing Men. Nothing so much emboldens great Men to oppress, and wrong, and grind the poor, as a confidence that their complaints will not be heard or regarded.

Now if the Magistrate will con­sider [Page 27]the cause of the needy and af­flicted, the Fatherless, and Widow, the poor and helpless when they cry to him, this will be a mighty re­straint, that the man of the earth shall no more oppress.

The one would not dare to lay on so unmercifully, as oft they do, if they knew the other should obtain so merciful a Say on, when they make complaint.

6. Lastly, that true sentence may pass, according to the merits of the Cause, and as shall appear just up­on a Full Hearing. This is the Life and Crown of all; for of the two it were better, and more tolerable to huddle up a business, and precipi­tate a Sentence, though this be a ve­ry great fault, than to pass Sentence against, and give Judgment con­trary to the merits of a Cause, and what hath been made appear upon a [Page 28]Full Hearing to be just and righte­ous.

Therefore that a sacred Court may not be branded with the prophane name of a fortuitous Lottery, let the Pleader Say on; and let his so doing be crown'd with the Reverend Judg­es, saying in his Sentence what is Just and Right, according to the ap­parent merits of the Cause. And thus far briefly of the Words, as they have an aspect on the As­size.

But I may well suppose you are not all concern'd in the peculiar bu­siness of the day, and the special oc­casion of this Solemn Appearance: and so my Discourse hath hitherto not reached many of you: and I would be loath that any man should wholly lose his labour of At­tendance here, especially by my fault.

I shall therefore borrow a short liberty for a double improvement of these Words, Say on, in a more spiritual manner; and so, as may be of an universal influence and use.

First, Give God a fair Hearing, interrupt him not, let him Say on, when he pleads his own cause to provoke you to your Duty, or to convince you of your neglect of it.

Secondly, Bethink your selves what you have to say, make your Plea ready, against God's calling you to account. When he shall say to you, why do you, or why did you so, or so, and what canst thou say for thy self, why thou shouldst not be con­demned? Say on, thou shalt have a fair Hearing, say what thou canst for [Page 30]thy self: take heed your ways be not so unaccountable, that you must then stand mute, and have nothing to say for your selves, when God bids you Say on.

First, As to what God hath to say to you, grant him a fair Hearing, cut him not short, interrupt him not, but say unto him, Say on.

And that this may appear less forc'd, yea, proper and pertinent: I may argue thus, If it be incumbent on the Judge to bid the Prisoner, the Pleader, the Plaintiff or Defendant, Say on, 'tis much more necessary, equal, and becoming, that they should hear the Judge; and most of all, that we should hear him that is the Judge of all men, the Judge of all the earth.

But nearer yet, if the Judge must [Page 31]hear the Pleader, Man must hear God: for he vouchsafes, (oh asto­nishing condescension!) to make man judge, and to plead his own Cause before the Tribunal of Man's Reason. Isa. 1.18. Come let us rea­son together. And 5.3. O men of Judah, judge ye I pray you betwixt me and my vineyard.

Where God's Plea is managed with such strength of Reason, such convictive evidence, such unanswer­able clearness, that Interest it self cannot bribe man to forbear giving sentence on God's side.

So the Prophet Samuel on God's behalf, 1 Sam. 12.7. appeals to themselves while he pleads God's cause, Stand still that I may reason with you before the Lord of all the righteous acts of the Lord, which he did to you and your Fathers. So Jer. [Page 32]2.9. I will yet plead with you, saith the Lord, and with your childrens children will I plead. See also Ezek. 20.35, 36. See also that full place to this purpose, Mich. 6.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Hear ye now what the Lord saith— for the Lord hath a controversie with his people, and he will plead with Is­rael— O my people, what have I done unto thee,— testifie against me. — That you may know the righteousness of the Lord. Now is it not all the reason in the world, that when God appeals to Man, and makes him Judge, and pleads before him, that he should allow him a fair Hearing; and let him Say on.

But to make all sure, that we pro­ceed pertinently, we have an in­stance in terminis, S. Luke 7.40. where Simon the Pharisee useth this very word to our Lord [Page 33]Christ himself, Master, Say on.

Now I most earnestly exhort and adjure you to do likewise. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. Turn not away from him who speaks from Heaven, Heb. 12.25. To day if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Say with Samuel, Speak Lord, thy servant heareth. Resolve with David, I will hearken what God the Lord will speak, Psal. 85.8. and with Simon, Lord, Ma­ster, Say on.

Now God speaks once, yea, twice, Job 33.14. yea, thrice.

1. God speaks to thee by the voice of thy Conscience.

2. God speaks to thee by the voice of his Word.

[Page 34]3. God speaks to thee by the se­cret voice of his Spirit.

1. He speaks to Man by the voice of his Conscience. The spirit of a man is the candle of the Lord, Prov. 20.27. So 'tis also the Tongue and Voice of the Lord. Conscience is God's Deputy, what that speaks, he speaks, that accuses or excuses according to the Law his own Fin­ger hath written on thy heart. Therefore stop not its mouth, stifle not its checks, put it not to silence, but hear it out; and say unto it, Say on.

2. He speaks to thee by his Word. This is beyond controversie with all, but downright Atheists, that what the Scriptures speak, God speaketh. This teacheth thee to deny all ungodli­ness and worldly lusts, and to live righ­teously, soberly, godly in this present [Page 35]world. There's not a sin against the Law of Nature or Grace, which this forbids not under pain of eternal death; nor a duty of either, to which it encourages not, with the promise of eternal life. This shews the e­quity, the reasonableness, the excel­lency, the necessity of every Duty, Virtue, Grace: and the iniquity, unreasonableness, baseness, danger of every Corruption, Vice and Sin. Hear, consider, weigh well what it saith.

And dare not to go on where God's Word bids thee stop; nor dare to stand still where God's Word bids thee go forward.

Time will not give me leave, nor will the Text well bear it, to plead God's Cause. I may only admonish you to hearken how he pleads it in [Page 36]his Word himself; where you shall meet with all the cogent Arguments Right Reason can be moved by, in the behalf of Virtue, Temperance, Justice, Charity and universal Holi­ness: and against Vice, Prophane­ness, Debauchery, Dishonesty and Ir­religion, drawn from his authority over thee, and Benefits to thee, from all the Attributes of his Nature, from all the Methods and Instru­ments of his governing the Rational World. His Promises and Threat­nings, his Rewards and Punishments, &c. So from Christ, the exam­ple of his Holy Life, the love and de­sign of his Bloody Death, &c.

Now when thou art moved to any Duty, or tempted to any Sin, before thou refuse the one, or yield to the other, hear fully what God in his Word saith for it, or against it. Let God make his full Plea before thou [Page 37]yieldest, and givest sentence for the World, the Flesh, the Devil; do not precipitate, and because one reason prevails not, resolve to hear no more, but hear him out, Master, Say on.

If his bare authority prevail not, try what the obliging sense of his Benefits may do. If Thus saith the Lord, be not enough, hear him, saying, O foolish people, will ye thus requite the Lord? If his love con­strain thee not, try whether his fear, and the terrors of the Lord may not restrain thee, if the promises and hopes of going to Heaven be too light, put in the wrath revealed from Heaven, and the consideration of eternal Burnings.

If Gods Glory move thee not, hear what he saith of thine own in­terest: if the declaration of the pro­mises [Page 38]and threatenings suffice not, hear what he saith of the fullfilling and exemplifying of them upon o­thers, to give thee warning.

I suggest these few Instances tran­siently, which may teach you to make many more; and I beseech you do it, hear all God saith for Duty, and against Sin, before you reject the one, or yield to the other; and remember that the sinfulness of the world, and their final condemnation is chiefly ascribed to their not hear­ing what God saith to them in the Word. Peruse with greatest seri­ousness that awakening place, Prov. 1.24. to the end: which if you mind, as you should do, I hope you'll give God a Fuller Hearing for the future; and when he speaks to you in his Word, will let him plead his Cause at large, and Say on.

[Page 39]3. He speaks to you by his Spi­rit, whispering secretly and silently to your Hearts. There is an inti­mate converse betwixt God's Spirit and Man's, of which the standers by can take no notice.

Thou shalt hear a voice behind thee, saying, this is the way, walk in it, Isa. 30.21.

Hear him therefore as a spirit of conviction, pleading with thee to convince thee of, and bring thee to repentance for thy past Sins.

As a spirit of excitation stirring and quickening thee to present Duty, as a spirit of restraint to withdraw thee from thy sinful practices or purposes. Oh do not this abominable thing which I hate.

As a spirit of Application, setting home general truths to a man's particular case: this concerns thee, Thou art the Man: Generalia non pun­gunt: therefore the spirit in the reading or hearing the Word, uses to infer from Ge­nerals, and apply in this or the like manner; If the wrath of God be revealed from Heaven against all unrighte­ousness, then against mine. If every one be accursed that continues not in all things that are written in the Law, then so am I. If every one that repents not must perish, then must I, if I repent not, the [Page 41]spirit and the bride say come, and whoever will, let him take of the water of life freely; then I may take it, 'tis as free to me as to any other, God hath not excluded me, if I exclude not my self, & sic in caeteris, in the general threats, promi­ses, precepts. Oh therefore when the spirit stands at the door and knocks, open to him; when he calls, answer him. Resist him not, provoke him not, quench him not, grieve him not, put him not to si­lence, treat him not rudely, turn not a deaf ear, but say unto him, What wilt thou have me do? Speak, Lord, [Page 42]thy servant heareth: Blessed Lord, Say on.

The last improvement I shall make of the words, is to mind you to get ready a good Plea against the time God shall call for it, and give you the liberty to use t.

There is a day approaching, nay, in some degree now is, in which we must appear at God's Tribunal, and though we must expect a strict, yet we may assure our selves of a Fair Trial. God will hear us out: he will give us leave to Say on all that we can say with reason, for our just defence: Isay 41.21. Produce your cause, [Page 43]will the Lord say, bring forth your strong reasons, saith the king of Jacob.

Resolve therefore with the Prophet, Habbak. 2.1. To watch to see what he will say to you, and what you shall an­swer, when you are reproved or argued with.

Now God hath two Tribu­nals: one in this world, the other in the world to come. The first erected in every man's Breast, his Conscience enlightened by the word, which is magni judicii prae ju­dicium: as a private Sessions preparatory to the general and grand Assise, which is the [Page 44] second, the judgment seat of Christ, at which we must all appear to give an account of all we have done in the flesh, whether good or evil.

I beseech you therefore be­think your selves before hand, provide your Plea, for God will certainly call for it.

First, What hast thou to say when God shall summon thee to appear before his De­puty, thy own Conscience? and shall demand a reason of thy ways? O man, why dost thou do so or so? I am ready to hear thee; Say on.

A wise man should do no­thing, for which he cannot [Page 45]give a good reason. And I know no reason good, but this, or what is reduceable to this. God commands me, or at least allows me so to do. I ap­peal therefore to the Consci­ences of all that hear me this day, whether you can give this reason for all the actions of your lives, God commands me, or allows me to do what I do. If you can, 'tis well: happy Congregation, blessed Assembly are you!

But this is a thing rather to be wished it were, than ho­ped it is. If therefore there be any who comes to bear false witness against his Neigh­bour, [Page 46]who comes, though he gilds over his malice and vio­lence with pretext of Law, to vex, to wrong, or to oppress his Brother: or to defend what he knows to be an un­righteous Cause, to the ruine of the poor and innocent, can he say so? Can he that swears falsly by the God of Truth, or customarily by the name of him who is a God of Holi­ness, say, so? Can the Drunk­ard, the Lyar, the Adulterer, the Thief, the Despiser of Ho­liness, say God commands him, or allows him to be such?

I beseech you deal upright­ly, and venture not to do any [Page 47]thing, of which you cannot give a good account and rea­son to God and your own Consciences; for if your heart condemn you, God is greater than your heart, and will con­demn you much more.

Lastly, I pray consider well what Plea thou wilt make at the day of Judgment; 'tis an awful and awakening thing to name it, or to think on't. But it will be a most dreadful thing then to stand mute, not as some do at the Bar, through sullen­ness or stomach; but as the man who thrust in to the Wedding Feast without a Wedding Garment to be [Page 48] speechless, and have nothing to say, when God bids them, Say on.

And I most earnestly en­treat you, and adjure you not to satisfie your selves in any Pleas which will not be al­lowed, or hold good at that day.

'Twill not serve your turn then to say, I neither believed, nor thought of such a day; if I had, I would have prepa­red better for it: nor to say I knew indeed, and sometimes thought of that day, and re­solved to be prepared before I died, but that I was prevent­ed by dying sooner than I made account I should.

No, nor to say, I was bapti­zed, and kept my Church, and sometimes said my Prayers, and only did what I saw others do before me, who were my Betters, and wiser men than I, and though I often did what I fear I should not, I was resolved to say I am very sorry, and cry God mercy when I came to die. He that hath no better stuff than this, no wiser Plea to make, will have little list to Say on, when God shall bid him do so.

But you will ask me what Plea will then hold? I an­swer, I find none in terminis in all the Bible, and 'tis not [Page 50]wisdom to be wise above and beyond what's written. I find one indeed made for them by the Judge, Matth. 25. I was hungry, and ye fed me, &c. But none made formally by any man as for himself, I will not therefore assume the boldness to prescribe a form to any man, to plead his cause then, nor in express words can for­mally conclude what I would my self then say: yet for the matter and substance I would be glad to be able with confi­dence to say, when God shall bid me plead my Cause, and answer for my self.

O Lord, who knowest all [Page 51]things, thou knowest I lov'd thee sincerely, though not per­fectly. And that I earnestly desired to know thy whole will, and seriously endeavoured to fulfil it, and unfeignedly repented of my transgressions of it. Thou knowest, Lord, I thankfully accepted the Grace offered in the Gospel Cove­nant; and then did, and still do most earnestly desire to be found in Christ, not having my own righteousness, but that righteousness which is of God through faith in Jesus Christ, whom God hath sent forth to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood.

Such a Plea made up of the conditions of the New Cove­nant, Faith and Repentance, love and universal new obedi­ence in some measure perform­ed by the assistance of Divine Grace, would I be glad to be provided of against that day.

And I doubt not but who­ever can make such a Plea in truth, will have great bold­ness to Say on, when God shall bid him, and shall hear God say to him, Well done, good and faithful servant, in­herit the kingdom prepared for thee before the foundation of the World.

For which Blessed Sentence, he of his infinite Mercy pre­pare us, who hath by his Blood purchased that Kingdom for all that love him, and wait for his Appearance. Amen.