Ten parting Counsels.

Ten parting Counsels.

First, Counsel. Observe the degrees of Gods departing, and mourning after a departing God. The Lord, seems to me, to take his leave of us by degrees. And because it is by such insensible degrees, I am afraid we are apt to take the less notice of it. God hath not thought good to take his farewell of us all at once. We thought, God had intended to take all from us at first. You know ministers were excluded from their public labours, and then God lengthened out their liberty in private. And since an Act hath passed against our private meetings, so that we have had our liberties with the more difficulty. ⟨p. 74⟩And now an Act hath passed whereby your Ministers are to be removed farther from you. However the Ministers of Christ are sinful poor men of themselves as others: but yet considering the capacity of their office, they are the great representatives of Jesus Christ. And when the Ministry is removed, this is a degree, and a great degree of Gods removal. You see God hath removed Ministers by degrees, farther and farther; and what will be the next remove! Me thinks the glory seems to be departing by degrees from the nation, as it was in the time of the prophet Ezekiel in the 10, 11, 12 chap. If we are left without the powerful preaching of the gospel, and the likely means of conversion, what will it signify though God should give this nation never so much outward plenty? If God should make this nation to wash their steps in butter, and fill our bellies with his hid Treasures, what will all this be, if our generations should go down to the pit of destruction by the thousands? If there be preaching, yet if there be not a powerful preaching, that will save souls, what will it be? And this great mercy God hath deprived us of by degrees. Oh mourn after a departing God! Take heed that you be affected with this providence of God. How will God take it of you, if you do not stir up your selves to take hold of God, now he is departing? Woe to them when I shall depart from them: Woe to this nation, and this place when God departs.

First, COunsel. Observe the degrees of Gods departing, and mourning after a departing God. The Lord, seems to me, to take his leave of us by degrees. And because it is by such insensible degrees, I am afraid we are apt to take the less notice of it. God hath not thought good to take his farewel of us all at once. We thought, God had intended to take all from us at first. You know ministers were excluded from their publick labours, and then God lengthned out their liberty in private. And since an Act hath passed against our private meetings, so that we have had our liberties with the more difficulty.