A sermon preached before the King at White-hall, October the 12th 1662 by Richard Allestrey ... Allestree, Richard, 1619-1681. 1663 Approx. 51 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 22 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2004-08 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A23769 Wing A1165 ESTC R15228 12854675 ocm 12854675 94586 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A23769) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 94586) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 705:11) A sermon preached before the King at White-hall, October the 12th 1662 by Richard Allestrey ... Allestree, Richard, 1619-1681. [3], 41 p. Printed by Tho. Roycroft for John Martin, and James Allestrey ..., London : 1663. Errata: p. 41. Reproduction of original in Huntington Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Church of England -- Sermons. Bible. -- N.T. -- John XV, 14 -- Sermons. Sermons, English -- 17th century. 2004-04 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2004-05 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2004-06 Mona Logarbo Sampled and proofread 2004-06 Mona Logarbo Text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-07 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion Imprimatur . Geo. Stradling Rever . in Christo Pat. Gill. Epis. Lond. a Sac. Domest . Ex Aed . Sab. 7. November . 1662. A SERMON PREACHED before the KING AT VVHITE-HALL , October the 12th 1662. BY RICHARD ALLESTREY , D. D. Chaplain then in Attendance . Published by his MAJESTIES Command . LONDON , Printed by Tho. Roycroft , for John Martin , and James Allestrey , at the Bell in S. Paul's Church-yard . M DC LXIII . JOHN XV. 14. Ye are my friends , if ye do whatsoever I command you . THE words are a conditional assertion of Christ's concerning his Apostles , and in them all Christians : and they do easily divide themselves into two parts . The First is a positive part , wherein there is a state of great and Blessed advantage , which they are declared to be in present possession of : in these words , Ye are my friends . In which there are two things that make up that advantage , 1. a relation , 2. the person related to . Friends , and My friends . The Second is a Conditional part , wherein there are the terms , upon which that possession is made over , and which preserve the Right and Title to them : in these words , If ye do whatsoever I command you : in which there are two things required as Conditions . I. Obedience , If ye do what I command you . II. That Obedience Universal ; If ye do whatsoever I command you . The first thing that offers it self to our consideration , is the Relation , Friends It is a known common-place truth , that a Friend is the most useful thing that is in whatsoever state we are : it is the Soul of life , and of content . If I be in prosperity : We know abundance not injoy'd , is but like Jewells in the Cabinet , useless while they are there : it is indeed nothing but the opinion of prosperity . But t is not possible to enjoy abundance otherwise then by Communicating it : a man possesseth plenty onely in his friends , and hath fruition of it meerly by bestowing it . If I be in adversity ; to have a person whom I may intrust a trouble to , whose bosom is as open , and as faithful to me , as t is to his own thoughts , to which I may commit a swelling secret ; this is in a good measure to unlade , and to poure out my sorrow from me ; thus I divide my greivances , which would be insupportable , if I did not disburthen my self of some part of them : now there is no bosom so safe as that where friendship lodges : take Gods opinion in the case , Deut. xiii . 6. If thy brother the son of thy mother , or thy son , or thy daughter , or the wife of thy bosome , or thy friend that is as thine own soul. This is the highest step in the Gradation . And there is all the reason in the world : for though Parent , and Childe , are as neer one to other as any thing can be to part of it self ; Husband and Wife are but two different names of the same one , yet these may become bitter and unkind : a Parent may grow cross , or a Childe refractory , a Mother may be like the Ostrich in the Wilderness , throw off her bowels with her burthen ; and an ungracious Son is constant pangs and travail to his Mother , his whole life gives her after-throws which are most deadly : Dislikes also may rest within the Marriage bed , and lay their heads upon two wedded Pillow 's ; but none of these unkindnesses can untie the relation ; that ends not where the bitterness begins , he is a Parent still though froward , and a Childe though stubborn ; but a true friend can be nothing but kind : it does include a deerness in its essence , which is so inseparable from it , that they begin and end together : a man may be an Husband without loving , but cannot be a lover , that is a friend , without loving . And sure to have no one friend in this life , no one that is concerned in any of my interests or me my self , none that hath any cares or so much as good wishes for me , is a state of a most uncomfortable prospect . The Plague that keeps friends at a distance from me while I live , out of the sphere of my infection , and after gives me death , hath yet less of Malignity then this ; that leaves me the compassions , the Prayers , all the solitary comforts , all indeed but the outward entertainments of my friends : that , though it shut the Door against all company , yet , puts a Lord have Mercy on the Doore : But this I now described hath none of that , hath no good wishes , nothing else but hate , is worse then a perpetual Pistelence . Yet neither is this State so comfortless , in respect of this life , as not to have a friend in the concernments of the Life to come : none that hath so much kindness for my Soul as every man hath for his Enemies beast , which if he see faln in a Ditch he will at least give notice that it may be helpt out thence : No one , that when a Sin , like to that Falling Sickness in the Gospel ( and it is such indeed without a Parable ) is casting me into the Water , quenching my parts , my reason , and the Immortal sparke within me , or throwing me into the Fire , raising Lascivious heats within , which after will break out into Hell Fires ; none yet that will stretch out his hand to catch me , or to pull me out : None that does care to see me Perish to eternity , or that values my Soul , which yet did cost the blood of GOD , at a words speaking : This is to be like Dives in the Flames , to whom they would not lend the help of the (a) tip of a finger , or give the kindness of a drop of Water : I am as it were on the other side the Gulfe already . Here is the use of friendship , the onely noble one , that 's worthy of that blessed quality : when I have one that will be an assistant Conscience to me , who , when that within me sleeps , or is benummed , will watch over my actions ; will testifie them to my Face , will be as faithful to me as the Conscience should be , hold a Glass to my Soul , shew me the staines , and the proud tumours , the foule Ulcers that are there , and then will fret , and rub , or prick , lance , and corrode , to cure those tumours , and do oft those spots , such an one is a familiar Angel-Guardian , is truely of that blessed heavenly ranke , and onely lesse then the friend in the Text , the person related to , and my next part . My Friends . There are three things from which men use to take the measures of a friend . First , From the good things he bestows on them : He that thinks to keep friendship alive onely with air , that gives good words , but parts with nothing , that entertains onely with garbs , and civilities , is but the pageant of a friend : They that own having but one soul , and seem to clasp as if they would have but one body too , cannot keep such distinct and separate proprieties in other little things , as not to have communication one from the other . And , Secondly , The friendship of these benefits is rated by the measures of our need of them . When Midas was ready to dy for hunger , his God was kinder to him in a little bread , then in making all that he toucht turn into gold : great things engage but little where there is but little use of them : and all these , Thirdly , Are endeered by the Affection they are given with . Good turns done with design , what need soever I have of them , are hire , and not friendship ; it is the kindness onely that obligeth , the gift without the love does but upbraid and scorn my want . Now to measure the friend here in the Text , by these , were an impossible undertaking , taking , whose friendship did exceed all bounds and measures . I shall do no more towards it , but read the words before my text , which were the occasion of it , Greater love bath no man then this , that a man lay down his life for his friends , and then it follows , yee are my friends . The token therefore of his friendship , the guift he gave them was his life , rather that was the least he gave : He gave his glory first , that so he might be qualified to give his life : for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phil. ii . 7. He lessened himself from the condition of being Lord of all , into that of a servant , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Heb. ii . 9. being diminished made lower , meaner then his creatures for the suffering of death . Now with the price of such divine essential glory to buy onely a life , rather onely a possibility of death , that after he might give that life for us , and with his death purchase us an immortal life , is such a gift as no Romance of friendship ever fancied or did aim at : we may have heard of two companions that would dy for one another , that never quarell'd in their lives , but for this , who should suffer first to save the other , and strave onely for Execution : But for a person of the Trinity to leave his heaven to come down to us ; to dwell with agonies that he might be at one with us ; and be tyed to the cross , that he might be united to us ; this is a friendship fitt for Ecstasies of apprehension . Of all the things that court thy kindness here below , that spread snares , and lay baits for thy friendship , if any bid so fair , so temptingly , if any will give such a price , in God's name let it have thy love , I shall not blame him that engageth his affection there : But sure Heaven cannot give a greater gift then this ; for what can God give greater then himself ? Yea I may say God could not give so much , for he must be man too , to give his life , and this , saith he , he gave for his friends , even in our stead , who must have perish'd else eternally , which intimates the second thing , the need we had of this . A need great as the gift , necessity invincible , that could break into heaven , rifle the Trinity , to serve its self , throw death into those regions of immortality , and which would not be satisfied but with the bloud of God. And now is not the kindness , and the condescension of friendship in his expressions too , when he saith , greater love then this hath no man ? which was the third endearement . There never were such wounds of loves as those that tore this heart : never such meltings of affection as dissolved this lover into sweates of bloud . There was no motive to all this , but his meere love : for all this he designed to us before we were , and therefore sure before we were deserving , and O our God! thou that from all eternity didst lay contrivances to give thy life for us , so to redeem , and then to glorifie us , what were we then that thou shouldst do his for us ? what were we then when we were not ? and yet that thou from the abyss of everlastingness , shouldst think thoughts of such kindness to us , and such blessedness for us , who then were not , and deserved nothing ; and who since we were , have deserved nothing but damnation . And as there was no other motive to all this design but love , so neither was there any thing but love in the fulfilling . Look on your Saviour in the garden , and upon Mount Calvary , and you shall find him there in as great agonies of affection as torment , and hanging down his head upon the Cross with languishments of kindness , more then weakness . His arms stretched out and Rack't , as if on purpose to the posture of receiving you to his embraces ; and his side opened not onely to shed Blood for you , but to make you a passage to his very Heart . Look on him offering up his Tears , his Prayers , and his Soul for Sin , and in the midst of all , projecting happyness to you , as it were praying , O my Father , here I charge my self with all the guilt of those my friends , I thy onely Son God , one with thee , am content to suffer Torments that they all may be acquitted , Here I lay down my Life that they may have eternal Life , let me be Crucified , so they be Glorified . Which was the purchase and the gift of this his Passion to all his friends , even to those that do what he commands ; which is the first condition that entitles to his friendship , and my next part . Ye are my friends if ye do what I command you . I shall not urge , that Great men upon earth will not take any to their Friendship but upon these termes ; nor will I plead the reasonableness of this in Christ , there being no cause why he should be a friend to any that will daily disoblige him and dishonour him : nor will I press the whole Oeconomy of Scripture , which says , all the advantages Christ ever gave or meant us , and all the Acts of friendship that he ever did for us were with this design . He gave his grace that brings salvation to save us into an estate of sober virtue . Tit. ii . v. 11.12 . he gave himself also to Ransom us from our own evil doings , and to redeem us into his obedience . Tit. ii . v. 14. without which no dependance on him will availe . Mat. vii . 21. He will own no acquaintance with , nor services from them who have friendship with sin : though they have cast out Devils in his name , if they retain their vices ; though they do miracles , if they do wickedly , he wil bid them depart , profess he never knew them , v. 22.23 . He will not let such have a bare relation to his Name , nor have the friendship of a title . 2 Tim. ii . 19. All his rewards also that he will give are promised to none other , but them that do what he commands , Apocal. xxii . 14. that is , do Evangelically , heartily and faithfully endeavour it , and do this with all diligence exprest by words , that import all strife imaginable , as running , wrestling , fighting , warring . And persevere also by patient continuance in well doing , Rom. ii . 7. and he hath nothing else but vengeance for all others . 2 Thes. 1.8 . and we have neither Christ , nor Gospel , nor Religion , but with these terms . But I shall wave all this , and bound my self within the present words . Greater love hath no man then this , that a man lay down his life for his friend . Ye are my friends if ye do what I command you . When Christ is boasting of his love , making comparisons , and vying friendships with mankind , nay more , contriving heights and depths of mercy , such as man hath no comprehension , nor Fathom for ; when he was preparing to do an act of compassion on almost equal to his Divinity , when he had resolutions of so much kindness as to give his life that he might shew kindness . Yet could he not then find in his heart to offer or declare one jot of kindness to the men that will not do what he commands , but in the midst of such agonies of compassion , he thought of nothing but infinite indignation and eternal vengeance to the disobedient . I have but now given my body and my blood even to the Traitour a Judas to one who is a b Devil : I am going to give my life even for my c enemies , for the d world : but I will give no love to any , have no friendship with any , but the virtuous : no , though they be my own Disciples , ye are my friends , ye my companions and Apostles are my friends , onely on this condition , if ye do what I command you . And then is it not matter of Astonishment , to see men fancy they have a right in all Christ's actions and sufferings , presume upon his favour and their own happy condition , though they do nothing , or but very little towards this , and the maine of their life be disobedience , as if all Christs commands , appointed them to do no commands , and Christianity were but a liberty from virtue . To pass by those that do nothing but evil , that which the Devil does suggest , or their flesh dictate , and to consider the demurer sort of Christians , that pretend a respect to Christ , and to Religion , and see what they will doe . Why sometimes you may find them troubled at their Vices , and themselves ; and those troubles breath out in Sighs , and in warme-wishes that they could do that which Christ prescribes : to will is sometimes strongly present with them , but to performe they know not how . Alas Christ does not tell you that you are his friends if you wish well to him , and his commands , but he requires that you shall do them . These are but vapours of a troubled soul , which howsoever they may chance rise warm , cath a strong suddain heat , breath up in flashing thoughts . They are but meteors , little shooting flames that onely do catch fire and fall and dy ; shew fair , but they warme nothing : and so these thoughts do never heat the heart into devotions and holy resolutions , the fire is not strong , nor does it live enough , to melt and worke away the filthynesses of the soul : No , though they grow to aversations : for you may find such men , when wearied with the pursuite of their sins hating their customes , and the engagements to the practice of them : complayning thus , I know 't is ill , and 't is against my heart , that I obey the motions of my passions or lusts : The incitations of my appetite , the usance of the world , the obligations of civility or mistaken honour do indeed prevaile upon me , but 't is with great reluctancy of minde that I yeild to them , but I cannot avoid it . There are not few that satisfie themselves with this condition . Now sure Christ does not say , Ye cannot be my friends except you sin against me and against your Knowledge , and your Conscience too . 'T is strange that men should think the Heathen instance of a Witch that cryed — Video meliora , proboque , Deteriora sequor — I know , and do approve of better things , but cannot choose but follow these that are the worser : strange , that this fury that had the Devil for familiar , should make Christ a friend ; that this should be the state of Gospel Saints , and of God's favourites . 'T is possible some therefore go yet further to good purposes towards Obedience , and have holy intentions , but this is not sufficient neither , if to do his commands be necessary : for to purpose and intend to do them , is not certainly to do them . Yet where are any , that do aim at doing any more ; and there is none of these but does presume upon his interest in Christ , and satisfies himself and is secure . Yet is it hard to find a ground of this their confidence , unless it rise from the unhappy use they make of God's preserving mercies , and his kindness to them in the concernments of this life . They see without their cares , and upon very weak entreaties indeed against all provocations both of God and danger ; yet his protections secure them all , though they neither minde the asking them , nor minde the walking worthy of them . The man whose sins , not p●ayers , prepare him for his bed , he sleeps well ; perhaps , more soundly then he who at his bed-side throws himself on his face into God's arms , and there bequeaths himselfe to the securities of the Almighty : And he , whose Sleeps onely refresh him for returns to sin , does often live as long , as safely , and as merrily , as he that dayly , most religiously does begg protections from above . And others that affoord the Lord some little homages , themselves some prayers when their pleasures or occasions permit , God hath a care of them , and their desires flow into them , all does succeed well with them . Now they take confidence hence to conclude , these are the tokens of Gods friendship , and all his mercies will come in at the like easie rates ; that such a short petition as committed them to the refreshments of the night , and after which they wak't into renewed strengths and pleasures , such another shall lay them down in safety , to the sleeps of that long night , that afterwards will break in happy resurrection : for why ! God will not sure fail his own mercies , but be as friendly to their souls as he is to their bodies . And thus God's preservations here , in meer defiance of our provocations , which are the arts of his long suffering his strivings of Compassion , meerly to give us opportunities of being reconciled to him , and to invite us to be so , while we make them occasions of carelesness and security , they are so far from being pledges of his friendship , that they have all the aggravations of affronted goodness , become temptations and degrees of ruin . 'T were fine indeed if Christ's eternal preparations for his friends , would come in to us , without care or doing any thing , as an accession to our pleasures ; if when we had lived many years in a Garden , our days all Flower'd with delight ; we might expire into Paradise , and in soft aires of Musick breath into Hallelujah's . But alas ! the smooth easy way leads down the Hill , and he must strive and pant that will get up into the Mansions and the Bosom of his Saviour , and whosoever will be his friend , must do what he commands . But is there nothing less indeed will qualify ? The Scripture saith , that Abraham believed God , and it was imputed to him for righteousness , and he was called the friend of God , James ii . 23. and then , is Christ more inaccessible , and harder to be made a friend ? Why , truly God and Christ both are so much friends to all true believers , that the life of Christ was given for them ; for , God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Son , that whosoever believeth in him , should not perish , but have everlasting life . John iii. 16. nor are there any qualities more signally peculiar to friendship , more engaging then confidence and trust , dependance and relying , embosoming my self in him : now these are but the exercise of Faith ; and t is most certain if we heartily endeavour to do what he commands , there is employment then for all this work of Faith , place for its applications and assurances . My Text does make this good . But when his friendship is made over on conditions , as t is not onely in these words , but every where in Scriptures ; ( there being not one promise absolute that does concern Gods favour , justification , and eternal life : he does not once offer remission of sins , but to those that amend their lives ; nay , does express as if he could not give it otherwise , peradventure they will repent that I may forgive them , Jeremy xxxvi . 3 ) The promises therefore being conditional , Faith must be answerable to the promises that it does rest on and apply ; and at the most , can be but an assurance , that you shall be partaker of what 's promised , that is to say , partaker of the favour and the life of Christ , if ye do his commands . But then if I perform not this condition , to trust upon his friendship which I am not qualified for ; to think by faith to receive a pardon , which in that case I am , was never offered me ; to apply to my self promises which were never made me , for none were ever made to them that do not do ; and to assure my self , Christ will transgress his everlasting Covenant for my Vices sake , meerly to give me leave to enjoy my sins ; will do that which God may not do , forgive one that will not repent : If I believe thus against promise , and against decree , am confident whether Christ will or no , and will rely upon him in despite of him , if such a faith will make us friends , affronts do reconcile . This is indeed to lay violent hands on his favour , and to invade his friendship , and without metaphor , take Heaven by force . But sure I am , that this is not the faith made Abraham be called the friend of God in that place of Saint James , but a faith that was perfected by doing , v. 22. of that Chapter , a faith that made him offer up his onely Son upon the Altar , v. 21. 'T is true , he did in hope believe against all hope , Rom iv . 18. So that his faith was stronger then a contradiction , but yet his resolutions of obedience seem stronger then his faith ; for he did that even to the cutting off the grounds of all his Faith , and hope . He trusted God would make his promise good to him , make all the Nations of the Earth be blessed in the seed of Isaac ; though Isaac had no seed , nor could have , if he should be slain : And he resolved at Gods command himself to slay that Isaac , so to make him have no seed . His Faith indeed did no dispute the great impossibility ; but his obedience caused it . He did not question , how can God perform with me when I have offered up my son ? I cannot look that a large Progeny should rise out of the Ashes on the Altar ; nor will those Flames that devour all my seed at once , may my seed numerous , lasting , and glorious as the Stars in Heaven , which he a promised me : but much less did he question , why should I obey in this ? He that does his commands , can but expect what he hath promis'd : but if I should do this command and slay my Son , I make his promise void , and detroy my own expectations : and if I disobey I can but suffer what he bids me do ; my own obedience will execute all that his indignation would threaten to my Disobedience . Though Abraham had b three daies time and journy to the Altar , that Nature might have leisure the mean while to reason with the precept thus , and his affection might struggle with his duty ; yet he goes on , resolves to tear out his own bowels , and cut of his hopes , will Sacrifice his onely Son , and Sacrifice God's promise to his commands . And then , He that will trust to Abraham's example of believing , yet will not follow him at all in doing , will obey no commands ; that is so far from offering up an onely Son , he will not slay an onely evil custome , nor part with one out of the herd of all his vicious habits ; will not give up the satisfaction to any of his carnal , worldly , or ambitious appetites ; not Sacrifice a passion , or a lust to all the Obligations , that God and Christ can urge him with , he hath , nor faith , nor friendship , no , nor fore-head . 'T is true indeed , he that hath Abraham's faith , may well assure himself he is Christ's friend ; but t is onely on this account , because he that believes as Abraham believed , he will not stick to do whatever Christ commands ; which is that universality of obedience , that is the next condition that entitles to Christ's friendship , and my last part . Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you . There is no quality so necessary to a friend , or so appropriate to friendship , as sincerity . They that have but one soul , they can have no reserves from one another : But disobedience to one precept , is inconsistent with sincerity , that hath respect unto all the commandments ; and he that will not do whatever Christ prescribes , hath reserves of affection for some darling sin , and is false to his Saviour . He is an enemy indeed , so that there is no friendship on either side . Saint Paul says so of any of one kind ; the minding of the flesh , saith he , whether it be providing for the belly , or any other of the organs of carnality , is desperate , incurable rebellion a : Now such a rebel , is , we know , the worst of enemies . Saint James does say as much of any of those vicious affections that are set on the world : Whosoever will be a friend of the world , is an enemy of God. James iv . 4. and he calls them adultereses and adulterers , who think to joyn great strict Religion to some little by-love of an honour , or a profit of this world ? Such men are like a wife , that not contented with the partner of her takes in another now and then , she must not count her self her husbands friend , though she give him the greatest share in her affections , no , she is but a bosom enemy : and so any one vice allow'd is a paramour , sin is whoredome against Christ , and our pretended friendship to him in all other obediences , is but the kindness and the caresses of an adulteress , the meer hypocrisie and treachery of love . If it be necessary to the gaining of Christs friendship that thou do his commands , 't is necessary that thou do them all , that thou divorce thy self from thy beloved sin , as well as any other : because , his friendship does no more require other obedience then it does that , but is as inconsistent with thy own peculiar vice as with the rest . Indeed it is impossible that it should bear with any , they being all his murderers . If thou canst find one sin that had no hand in putting Christ to death , one vice that did not come into the garden , nor upon mount Calvary , that did not helpe to assassin thy Saviour , even take thy fill of that : but if each had a stab at him , if no one of thy vices could have been forgiven , had not thy Jesus died for it , canst thou expect he should have kindness for his agony , or friendship , for the man that entertaines his Crucifiers in his heart : if worldly cares which he calls a thorns , fill thy head with contrivances of Wealth and Greatness , of filling Coffers , and of platting Coronets for thee , as the Thorns did make him a b Crown too , would'st thou have him receive thee and these in his bosom , to gore his Heart as they did pierce his Head ? If thou delight in that intemperance , which filled his deadly Cup , which Vomited Gall into it , can he delight in thee ? That c Cup which made him fall upon his Face to deprecate , will he partake in as the pledg of mutual Love ? He that sunk under , could not bear this load of thine , when it was in his Cross upon his shoulders , will he bear it and thee on his armes , when thou fall'st under it ? When thou wilt cast a shameful spewing on his glory too , if he own such a friend ? Thou that art so familiar with his name , as thou wer't more his friend then any in the world , whose Oaths and imprecations , Moses sayes d strike through that name , which they so often call upon , thou mayst as well think his heart did attract the Spear that pierc'd it , and the wound close upon its head with unions of Love , as that he hath kindness for thee . If Christ may make friendship with him , that does allow himself a Sin , he may have fellowship with Belial : for him to dwell in any heart that cherisheth a vice , were to descend to Hell again . But as far as those Regions of darkness are from his habitation of Glory , and the black spirits of that place from being any of his guard of holy myriads ; so far is He from dwelling with , or being friend to him , that is a friend to any wickedness , to him that will not do whatever he commands . And now if these conditions seem hard , if any do not care to be his friend upon these terms , they may betake themselves to others . Let such make themselves friends of the Mammon of unrighteousness : A friend indeed that hath not so much of the insincerities as many great ones have : for this will furnish them with all that heart or lust can wish for , all that necessities or wantonness proposeth to it self to dress out pomp or vice : But yet when with enjoyment the affections grow , and become so unquiet , work them so , as not to let their thoughts or actions rest , make them , quicken themselves , and like the motions of all things that go downwards tending to the Earth , increase by the continuance , grow stronger , and more violent towards the end , then when they are most passionate , it failes them : and having fill'd their life with most unsatisfied tormenting cares , it leaves them nothing but the guilt of all : when their great wealth shall shrink into a single sheet , no more of it be left , but a thin shroud , and all their vast inheritances , but six foot of earth , be gone , yet the iniquity of all will stick close to them : and this false friend , that does it self forsake them , will neither go a along , nor will let its pomp follow them , raises a cry on them as high as God's tribunal : the cry of all the bloud , all the oppressed rights that bribery till then had stifled , the groans of all those poor that greatness , covetousness , or extortion had grown'd and crush't : the yellings of those souls that were starved for want of the bread of life , which yet they payed for , and the price of it made those heaps which will that day appear against their friends and masters , and prove their adversaries to eternal death . Let others joy in friends that wine does get them : such as have no qualification to endear them , but this , that they will not refuse to sin and to be sick with their companions : men that do onely drink in their affections , as full of friendship as of liquor , and probably they do unload themselves of both at once , part with their dearness and their drink together , and alike . I know not whether it be heats of mutual kindness that inflame these draughts , and the desires of them , so as if they did drink thirst ; but sure I am , that these hot draughts begin the lake of fire . Let others please themselves in an affection that carnality cements . These are warme friendships I confess , but Solomon will tell us whence they have their heat . Her house , saith he , does open into a Hell , and Brimstone kindles those libidinous flames . There are straite bands , fetters in those affections indeed ; for the same wise man sayes , The closets of that sinner are the chambers of death : that b none that go unto her return again , or take hold of the paths of life ; it seems she is a friend that takes most irreversible dead hold , she is not onely as insatiate , but as inexorable as the grave , and the eternal chains of fate are in those her embraces . But God keep us from making such strict Covenants with death ; from being at friendship with Hell ; or in a word , that I say all at once , with any that are good companions onely in sinning . Such men having no virtue in themselves , must needs hate it in others , as being a reproach to them , and therefore they are still besieging it , using all arts and Stratagems to undermine it : and having nothing else to recommend them into mens affections , but their managery of vice , no way to merit but by serving iniquity , they not onely comply with our own evill inclinations , that so they may be grateful , and insinuate into us , but they provoke too and inflame those tendencies that they may be more useful to us , having no other means to work their ends . And then such friends by the same reason , must be false and trecherous , and all that we declaime at , and abhorre in enemies , when that shall be the way to serve their ends ; because they have no virtue to engage them to be otherwise : and to be such , is to be constant to their own designs , their dispositions and usances . These are the pests of all Societies , they speak and live infection , and friendship with them is to couple with the Plague . These do compleat and perfect what the Devil but began in Eden : Nurse up Original sin , chafe inclination into appetite and habit , suggest and raise desires , and then feed them into constitution and nature : in a word , are a brood of those serpents , one of which was enough to destroy paradise , and innocence . T is true , a man would think these were our friends indeed , that venture to Gehenna for us : Alas they are but more familiar devils , work under Sathan to bring us to torments , and differ nothing from him , but that they draw us into them , and he inflicts them . And when sinful contents come home in ruine , and pleasures dy into damnation ; then men will understand these treacherous loves , and find such friends are but projectours for the Devil ; then they will hate them as they do their own damnation , discerning these are but the kindnesses of Hell. Nay , it is possible , I may slander that place in speaking so ill of it . Dives will let us see there are affections of a kinder and more blessed strain in Hell Luke xvi . from the twenty-seventh verse ; you find he did make truce with torments , that he might contrive and begg onely a message of repentance for his brethren ; he did not mind at all his own dire Agonies , he minded so the reformation of his friends . Good God! when I reflect upon these pieties of the damn'd together with the practices of those who have given their names in to Religion , when I see fiends in Hell do study how to make men virtuous , and Christians upon earth with all their art debauch them into vice and ruine , I cannot choose but pray , Grant me such friends as are in Hell. Rather grant us all the friendship in the Text. But then , we must have none with any vice . Friendship with that engageth into enmity with God and Christ I shew'd you . And to passe over all those after-retributions of vengeance Christ hath studied for his enemies , when he , that now courts us to be our friend , and we will make our adversary , must be our Judge : For were there none of this , and should we look no further then this life ; yet sure , we of this Nation know , what it is to have God our enemy ; who for so many years , lay under such inflictions , as had much of the character of his last executions ; they had the blasphemies and the confusion , the dire guilts , and the black calamities , and almost the despair and irrecoverableness of those in Hell. And though He be at peace with us at present , at least there is a truce ; yet I beseech you in the presence and the fear of God , to think in earnest , whether the present provocations of this Nation do not equall those that twenty years agoe engaged him into Arms against us , and made him dash us so in pieces : whether those Actions of the Clergy be reformed , that made the people to abhorre their function and their service , the Offerings and Ministers of the Lord , and made God himself spew them out . 'T were endless to go on to the prophaneness , to the loose impieties and the bold Atheismes of the Laity , especially of the better-sort ; in short what one degree , or state or Sex is better ? Sure I am , if we are not better , we are worse beyond expression or recovery : who have resisted every method , and conquerd all God's arts of doing good upon us , been too hard for his judgments and his mercies both . 'T is true , when we lay gasping under his severe revenges , we then pretended to be humbled , begg'd to be reconciled and be at peace with him , and vow'd to his conditions , promising obedience , and aliened our selves from our old sins , his foes . But then , when Christ came to confirme this amity , came drest with all his courtships , brought all the invitations of Love along , Our Prince and our Religion , our Church and State , Righteousness and Peace , and the Beauty of Holyness , every thing that might make us be an happy and a pious nation , thus he did tempt , and labour to engage that friendship which we offered him and vowed to him : And we no sooner seiz'd all this , but we break resolutions as well as duty , to get loose from him ; and laden with the spoyls of our defeated Saviour's goodness , we joyne hands with his enemies , resume our old acquaintance-sins , enrich and serve them with his bounties , make appear that we onely drew him in , to work such miracles , but to assist our Worldlyness , Ambitions and Lusts , to be our opportunities of vice , and provocation of him . And being thus affronted and refused , his enemy preferr'd , not this God but Barabbas , any the vilest thing for friend , rather then Christ , must he not needs be more our enemy then heretofore ? And if he be , that question will concerns us , a Are we stronger then God ? It should behove us not to fall out with him till we are . See how he does prepare himself for the encounter . Wisedome v. Taking his jealousy for armour , putting on Justice , severe and vindicative Justice , as a breast plate ; and , his wrath sharpening as a sword ; and , arming all the creatures for auxiliaries . Alass ! when omnipotence does express it self as scarcely , strong enough for execution , but Almightyness will be armed also for vengeance , will assume Weapons , call in aides for fury , who shall stand it ? Will our friends think you keep it off us , and secure us ? did we consider how uneasy God accounts himself , till he begin the storme , while he keeps off his plagues from overrunning such a land , we would expect them every moment , and they must come . a Ah , says he , I will ease me of mine adversaries , and avenge me of mine enemies ; and then , in what condition are we if God can have no ease but in our ruine , if he does hunger and thirst after it , go to his vengeance , as to a feast . And if you reade the xxv . Chapter of Isaiah , you will find there a rich bill of fare , which his revenge upon his enemies does make , view the sixth verse . He that enjoys his morsels , that lays out his contrivances , and studies on his dishes so as if he meant to cramm his Soul , let him know what delight soe're he findes , when he hath spoil'd the elements of their inhabitants , to furnish his own belly , and not content with natures delicacies neither , hath given them forc'd fatnesses , changing the very flesh into a marrow , suppling the bones almost into that oyle that they were made to keep ; all this delight the Lord by his expressions does seem to take in his dread executions on his enemies , a sinful people . And if the vicious friendships of the world have so much more attractive then Christ's love and favour , and the happy consequences of it , as to counterpoise all the danger of such enmity , you may joyn hands with them : but if his be the safer and more advantageous , then hearken to his propositions and beseechings ; for He does begg it of you : as he treated this reconciliation in his blood , so he does in Petitious too . For saith Saint a Paul , We are Ambassadours for Christ , as if God did beseech you by us , we pray you in Christ's stead , Be you reconciled , and then be Generous towards your GOD and Saviour ; and having brought him as it were upon his knees , reduc'd him to entreaties , be friends , and condescend to him and your own happiness . If He be for you , take no care then , who can be against you . His friendship will secure you not onely from your enemies but from Hostility it self ; for , when a man's ways please the Lord he will make even his enemies to be at peace with him . Prov. xvi . 7. He will reconcile all but Vices . And afterwards see what a blessed throng of friends , we shall be all initiated into . Heb. xii . 23. To an innumerable company of Angels , to the general assembly , and Church of the first-born that are written in Heaven , to God the Judge of all , and to the spirits of Just men made perfect , and to Jesus the Mediatour of the new Covenant . &c. And of this blest Corona , we our selves shall be a noble and a glorious part , inflamed all with that mutual Love , that kindles Seraphims , and that streams out into an heavenly glory , filling that Region of immortal love and blessedness ; and being friends , that is , made one with Father , Son , and Holy Ghost , that Trinity of Love , we shall enjoy , what we do now desire to ascribe to them , All Honour , Glory , Power , Majesty , and Dominion , for evermore . Amen . FINIS . ERRATA . Page 5. l. 5. r. pestilence . p. 10. l. 8. r. love . p. 13. l. 19. r. friends . p. 17. l. ult . r. them , although . p. 19. l. 20. r. as in a garden . p. 26. l. 6. r. paramour-sin , p. 27. l. 21. r. in his armes . p. 29. l. 2. r. necessity . p. 30. l. 2. r. groun'd . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A23769-e200 (a) Luke xvi . 24 25. a Luc. xxii 19.20.21 . b John vi . 70. c Rom. v. 10 d John iii. 16 , 17. & vi . 51. & 2 Cor. v. 19. a Gen. xv . 5. b Gen. xxii . 4. a Rom. viii . 7. a Mat. xiii . 22. b Matt. xxvii . 29. c Matt. xxvi . 38 , 39. d Levit. xxiiii . 16. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Psal. xlix . 17. a Prov. vii . 27. b Prov. ii . 19. a 1 Cor. x. 22. Verse 17 19.20 . a Isay i. 29 a 2 Cor. v. 20.