[A fruteful] and learned sermon preached in London; by a most worthy and faithful minister of Chrsit. For the great support and comfort of the people of God in evil times. Most learnedly opened, and prest from Psal. 97.11. Light is sown for the righteous. And farther shews, that if there be either justice in heaven, or fire in hell, persecutors shall never go unpunished

A SERMON Preached One Faſt Day, LONDON. In the Year, One thouſand ſix hundred and Seventy. Pſalm 97. v. 11.

Light is ſown for the Righteous.

THis Pſalm is very conſolotary, full of comfort for the Church of God: It is written in an Elegant and Majeſtick ſtile. The Pſalm begins thus; The Lord Reigns let the Earth rejoyce. God hath a Superintendency over all humane affairs, he doth what he will: It is God that ſits Lord paramount, he hath a Negative Voice in the Counſel of men, The Lord Reigns, therefore, let the Earth rejoyce: Clouds and darkneſs are round about him: Righteouſneſs and Judgements are the habitation of his Throne. s if the Pſalmiſt had ſaid, The Providences of the great God, they are very dark and myſterious, we cannot ſee what he is doing, Clouds and Darkneſs are round about him; but his wayes though they are dark, they are alwayes holy and wife, they are alwayes Righteous, Righteouſneſs and Judgement are the habitation of his Throne. And ſo I proceed unto the words I have read, having given this ſhort preface, Light is ſown for the Righteous. Let things go how they will, let Providence be never ſo dark and bloudy, here is the Saint comfort: God reigns, and he will have a care of his People, and will comfort them in the moſt diſmal times; Light is ſown for the Righteous; which Tex is like Iſraels Pillar of Fire in the Wilderneſs which did give them light. It is like the Mariners lanthorn, which gives light in a dark night: whether it be a dark night now, I leave it to you to judg: Here is the Marriners Lanthorn to give light to you in a dark night. Light is ſown for the Righteous. Light, it is here a Metaphor, that is put here for comfort, becauſe Light, when it breaks out it gives abundance of comfort and chearing to the Spirit, as in Scripture Darkneſs is put for afflictions, Joel 2. 2. A Day of Darkneſs and Gloomineſs; that is, a day of afflictions; why ſo, Light is put for comfort and for joy: Ester 8. 16. The Jews, they had light, and gladneſs and joy; ſo that here ſee by light in the Text, is meant comfort. Comfort is ſown for the Righteous; it is ſown, you know that ſowing prepares the earth for harveſt. Light is ſown: that is, joy, and peace, and comfort: it is preparing; the ſeed is in the ground: Light is ſown, and who is this ſeed of comfort ſown for? why in theſe words, ſor the Righteous; the wicked, they have nothing to do with comfort. Thoſe that do ſow in ſin, ſhall be ſure to reap in ſorrow. Job 4. 8. Even as I have ſeen thoſe that plough iniquity, and ſow wickedneſs, reap the ſame. Oh, they will have a ſad harveſt at laſt! but ſaith the Text, Light is ſown for the Righteous, for the Godly, for thoſe in whoſe Spirit there is no guile. By righteous, I underſtand ſuch that are really holy upright Chriſtians: God eſteems them righteous, who have Chriſts merits imputed to them, and Chriſts Spirit imparted to them: the Righteous in the Text, they are ſuch as are upright, ſincerely holy, ſo it is in the next words, Light is ſown for the Righteous, and gladneſs for the upright in heart. Thoſe are upright ones in whoſe Spirit there is no guile.

In this Text then there are two things obſervable. First, Here is ſomething imployed, Light is ſown; it implyes this, that the comforts of Gods people may be for a time, like the ſeed hid under ground; that is implyed clearly.

Secondly, Here is ſomething expreſt, Light is ſown: There is this expreſſion, though the comforts of Gods people are for a time hid, yet a ſeed of comfort ſtill remains, Light is ſown for them. I ſhall begin with the firſt of theſe; that which is implyed in the Text: That the comforts of Gods people are often times hid, as the ſeed under ground. They have not that viſible appearance of their comforts; ſometimes they are hid, as the ſeed under ground. Now this I ſhall clear to you in a double ſence.

First, Their outward comforts may be hid.

Secondly, Their Soul comforts, they may be hid for a time, as ſeed under ground: under the clodds.

Firſt, The Saints outward comforts may be hid under ſickneſs, their liberty may be hid under reſtraint, their names maybe hid under reproach; thus their outward comforts may be hid.

Secondly, The ſpiritual comforts of the Godly, they may be hid for a time, as the ſeed under the clodds: the Lord may conceal the evidence of his love; the Lord though he hath the heart of a Father, may have the look of an Enemy, Job 6. 4. The Arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poyſon whereof arinks up my ſpirit: he ſpeaks there of diſſertion; the Arrows of the Almighty are within me. God hath wounded me. It eludes to the Perſians, who in their War, did dip the point of their Arrows in Poyſon, to make them wound more mortally. So ſaith Job, The Lord hath ſhot his poyſonſome Arrows, and hath wounded me with it, the arrow of diſſertion: thus you ſee the ſpiritual comforts of the Saints, they may be ſometimes hid from them.

But why does the Lord do thus? truly no wonder that the ſpiritual comforts of believers may be hid, as the ſeed under ground. No, comfort and they may be in diſſertion; for,

First, The Saints comforts are no better than Chriſts comforts were; but Chriſts comforts were hid for a time, when he was in diſſertion, and cryed out, My God, my God; he was without comfort; and ſhall we wonder if God eclipſe our comfort, and we walk in the dark? did not Chriſt do ſo? our comforts are no better than Chriſts comforts were.

Secondly, The Saints comforts are no better than their graces are, but the graces of the Saints may ſometimes be hid, why then may not their comforts? their graces we ſee are often hid under much corruption, as Gold is hid under droſs; their faith is hid under much unbelief; their humility is hid under much pride; their love to Chriſt is hid under much love of the world: How did David here ſuffer an eclipſe? why now the Saints comforts are no better than their graces are; if their graces be hid, why may not their comforts be hid too?

Thirdly, The Saints Crown that is hid, their comforts are no better than their Crown is; but their Crown is hid, why may not their Comforts. A Crown is laid up; hid out of ſight, 2 Tim. 4. 8. A Crown laid up for me: a Believers Crown, it is hid from the eyes of the world: the world ſees the Saints ſufferings, but doth not ſee their crown: and the Saints Crown is hid from their own eyes too for a while, 1 Job. 3. 2. It does not yet appear what we ſhall be, our happineſs that we hope for, it is hid out of ſight: why, if our crown be hid, why may not our comforts be hid? they are not better than our crown is? But you will ſay unto me, but why does the Lord thus hide the comforts of his people? does he intend to bury them? I anſwer, no: the Lord is all this while carrying on a deſigh of mercy and love to the Saints. Pray obſerve.

1ſt. God hath a deſign in hiding their temporal comforts from them, & withdrawing them.

Secondly, God hath a deſign in the hiding the Saints ſpiritual comforts, and withdrawing them.

1. The Lord hath a deſign in hideing the temporal comforts of his people; God does it for this great end, that he may leſſen and unglew their hearts from the world. We oſt let the world have too great a ſhare in our love. It is a very hard thing to enjoy any temporal mercy, and not make an Idol of it; and therefore the Lord in wiſdome and love, hides and withdraws thoſe comforts of the world from us. As, ſuppoſe that a husband were beyond the Sea, and he ſhould ſend his Wife a Jewel, and ſhe ſhould be ſo taken with the Jewel, as quite to forget her husband: was it not time for him to ſend home for the Jewel again, that ſhe might love him more: So it is here: the Lord inricheth you with temporal mercies, health, and eſtate, ſends you theſe Jewels; you are apt to fall in love with theſe Jewels, and forget God that ſent them. It is time for God to call home for thoſe Jewels, that he might have more of your love.

Secondly, God hath a deſign in hideing, and withdrawing the ſpiritual comforts of his People; their ſpiritual comforts, as,

Firſt, Perhaps God ſees that they cannot bear comfort: comfort is not for all, it is like ſtrong Waters that break the Glaſs: Joys are ſtrong things, all cannot bear it, no more than a weak eye can bear the Sun. When Peter was upon the Mount of Transfiguration, the glory of Heaven began a little to ſhine in his eyes, he was tranſported, and ſaid, he knew not what thoſe ſugared joyes of Heaven were: they are ſo ſweet and raviſhing, that ſome have taſted of them and have died, they have not been able to bear them; therefore God hides and withdraws them: all cannot bear comfort.

Secondly, God may hide thoſe ſpiritual comforts from Believers, for a time, that they may value them the more when they have them. Oh, brethren! Did we come by our comforts eaſily, as Water at the ſtrſt pumping, we ſhould begin to diſeſteem, and vilifie our comforts; that is our nature. Though Manna was Angels food, when it grew common, it was ſlighted, it was diſ-eſteemed: VVhat is this Manna, and who is this Moſes? they began to ſlight the Manna. When Pearls grew common at Rome, they ſlighted them, and wore them upon their ſhoes; ſo would we do with our ſpiritual comforts: therefore God, to inhaunce, and raiſe the price of our ſpiritual comforts; he does for a time ſuſpend them; hides them, as the ſeed under ground.

Thirdly, God may hide the ſpiritual comforts of his Children, for trial; he will try their ingenuity, he will ſee what metal they are made of, whether they will ſerve him for himſelf, and not for comfort only. It is a harlots love, to love the Husbands money and tokens more than his perſon. Such as ſerve God onely for Comforts, they ſerve God more for his gifts than for himſelf. We do diſlike ſuch as will do nothing for us without a Fee; God likes not thoſe Chriſtians, who will ſerve him only when he fees, and bribes them with Comfort.

Fourthly, God hides his peoples ſpiritual comfort, that he may quicken the exerciſe of their Grace. Many times Grace is ſtrong, when Comforts are weak; Grace is at full-tide, when Comforts are but at a low ebb, Jonah 2. 4. I ſaid I was caſt out of thy ſight. There he had no comfort. Yet will I look again to thy holy Temple. There was a ſtrong Faith. Faith and Love, like two ſtarrs, ſhine brighteſt in the darkeſt night. In the night of diſſertion, we are taken with Comfort, but God is more taken with the acting of our Grace. The truth of it is, when God ſometimes gives his people ſpiritual comfort, why then they are apt to be more remiſs in their walking, and they are not ſo quick and lively in duty as they were; juſt like Muſicians, as ſoon as you throw them down mony out of the window, they will leave off playing, you will hear no more Muſick. The Lord with-holds comforts from his people ſometimes, becauſe he loves to hear the muſick of their Graces.

Fifthly, God hides the Spiritual comfort of the Saints for a time, that they may be more humble: there is nothing the Saints are more apt to be proud of, than ſpiritual comforts, and enlargement; becauſe they look upon thoſe things as moſt excellent, & therefore their hearts are apt to be lifted up. Now when God takes away thoſe comforts, and hides them, their hearts begin to be more humble. St. Pauls, danger was, in being lifted up; when he had ſo many Viſions and Revelations. Therefore he had a Thorn in his fleſh to humble him. It was an humbling Thorne. 2 Cor. 10. 12. Leſt that I ſhould be exalted above meaſure, thou hast given me a Thorn in the Eleſh. When Chriſtians have much joy in their Spirits, they need a thorn in the fleſh, to humble them. It is a very hard thing, to be high in joy, and to be low in humility. Oh, what corruption is there in mans heart? God cannot humble a Soul but it grows dejected; and God cannot comfort him, but he is ready to grow proud: and therefore he is forced ſometimes, to withdraw ſpiritual comforts, & hide them, as ſeed under ground. God had rather you ſhould want comfort, than that you ſhould be proud with your comforts.

Sixthly, The Lord ſometimes hides the ſpiritual comforts of his people, and they walk in the dark, and ſee no light, that they may long the more to be in Heaven: then their comforts ſhall be in perfection, and ſhall never ceaſe; then the Saints they ſhall be upon the Mount of Viſion, ſeeing Gods glory ever, and ſhall never complain more. My beloved hath with drawn himſelf. In Heaven, they ſhall have nothing but comfort then, becauſe they have nothing but grace. The Saints they ſhall be for ever ſunning themſelves in the light of Gods countenance. Oh, bleſſed time! Believers, they ſhall never have an angry word from God more; they ſhall never ſee a frown in his face more: the Sun-light of Gods favour will be without clouds, and will never ſet; and therefore God lets our comforts be hid, as ſeed under ground; that we may long for a Spring-time of glory; when the flowers of ſpiritual Joy ſhall be fully ripe, and blown, we ſhall have comſort, and nothing but comfort. There ſhall be no more weeping then in Heaven, there ſhall be joy in Hell. Now to make ſome Application of this.

Ʋſe 1. Then, if we ſee not Spiritual joy riſing ſuddenly in our hearts, let us not wonder; you ſee God hath a deſign of love and mercy to his People, who hides Spiritual comforts! If God pleaſed, he could preſently let out the Sun-light of his face; he could preſently give us joy; but he ſees it better ſometimes to be without it, than have it: the Sun dulls the fuel, and puts it out. The Sun-ſhine of comfort, makes the fervour of grace abate. Note therefore, God hides the ſpiritual comforts of his Saints, like ſeed under ground: He is all this while carrying on a deſign of mercy, and love to them. To come to the next: this thing is implyed in the Text: Comfort may be hid as ſeed, as ſeed under clodds.

Secondly, I come to that which is expreſs'd here in the Text: Though the comforts of Believers are for a time hid out of ſight, as ſeed under ground: why, yet ſtill a ſeed of comfort remains for the godly: that is expreſs'd in the Text. Light, that is, Comfort is ſown for the righteous; though comfort is hid for a time, yet there is a ſeed of comfort ſtill remaining for all the righteous: this is, methinks, like a breſt of conſolation: do but lay your faith to this breſt, and you may ſuck out comfort. This is the obſervation.

The Doctrine is this;

That in the midſt of all tryals and diſcomforts of the godly, ſtill there is a ſeed of comfort left for them, Light is ſown for the Righteous. Pſal. 18. 28. For thow wilt light my Candle: as if David had ſaid, though at preſent all my comforts they ſeem to be blown out: why, yet the Lord will light my Candle: Light is ſown for the Righteous. Why, now you will ſay, Why will the Lord, in great trials of his people, preſerve a ſeed of comfort for them: Light is ſown for them. I anſwer, God does it for this end, that he may ſweeten Religion to them: if nothing were to be ſeen but ſorrow and trouble; nothing but the dark ſide of the cloud, and there were no intervals, it would imbitter Religion: It would caſt a prejudice upon the ways of God; and therefore the Lord, that he may ſhew you the beauty and pleaſantneſs in Religion, he does chequer his work, and preſerve ſome ſeeds of comfort in the worſt of times: this ſweetens Religion, Light is ſown for the Righteous. Now, to illuſtrate this propoſition, to clear it to you, in caſe the Lord does preſerve alive ſeeds of comfort for his people.

Firſt, In their outward comfort.

Secondly, In their ſpiritual agony and diſſertion, God preſerves a ſeed of comfort for his people.

1. In their outward trouble, in perſecutions, in ſufferings: why, now God preſerves ſeeds of comfort; there are two ſeeds of comfort ſown for the righteous, in time of Perſecution.

1. The Promiſes are ſeeds of comfort in Perſecutions. There is no promiſe made to proſperity, but abundance of promiſes made to perſecution, & theſe promiſes are ſeeds of comfort ſown for the Righteous. I will only inſtance in theſe four promiſes.

Firſt, God hath promiſed, that he will moderate the ſury of his Enemies; he will, in the day of the Rough wind, ſtay the Eaſt wind: God will blunt the edge of their Razor, when their Spirits are ſharpened againſt the Righteous: God will blunt the edge, he will moderate the ſtroke. Pſal. 76. 10. The remainder of wrath thou ſhalt reſtrain. That promiſe is a ſeed of Comfort.

Secondly, The Lord hath promiſed, that he will ſanctifie our Afflictions, and Perſecutions to us, they ſhall do us good. Jer. 24. 5. They ſhall be carried captive, but it is for their good, to make them holy, brightning their graces, fitting them for glory: fiery trials make good Chriſtians.

Thirdly, Promiſe in Perſecution is this, that God will proportion his ſtrength to our tryals: and this promiſe is a ſeed of comfort. Pſal. 7. 39. He is their ſtrength in the time of trouble: either God will lighten our burthens, or will ſtrengthen our faith.

Fourthly, Another promiſe is this, in Perſecution, that God will in his time open the door of deliverance for his People: when the Rod of the Perſecutor hath done its work, when it hath humbled, and purified the Saints, God he can ſoon throw away the Rod. 1 Cor. 10. 13. He will with the temptation, make a way to eſcape. Never was Gold-ſmith more curious to obſerve when the Gold is thorough-refined, to take it out of the furnace, than God is to watch the firſt ſeaſon, when his People are fit for deliverance, then he will take his gold out of the furnace. Why, theſe promiſes are great ſeeds of comfort in an hour of Perſecution.

Secondly, As the promiſes are ſeeds of comforts, ſo Perſecution it ſelf does carry in it ſeeds of comfort for the godly, theſe two wayes. Perſecution it ſelf hath ſeeds of comfort in it, two wayes.

Firſt, Perſecution ripens the ſin of the Enemy, and as their ſin doth ripen, ſo the godlys deliverance does haſten.

Secondly, Perſecutions have ſeeds of comfort in them: as they are a means to diſtil comfort into the Soul: The Saints have joy out of ſorrow, as Sampſon had honey out of the Lion. John 16. 20. You ſhall be ſorrowful, but your ſorrow ſhall be turned into joy: by the very Perſecution, God will let in more joy into the Soul: your ſorrow, ſaith Chriſt, ſhall be turned into joy: here is water turned into wine. The Soul hath never ſo much of God, as in an hour of affliction: this made Paul to glory in tribulations, and as a Bird, to ſing in Winter. 2 Cor. 7. 4. Thus, you ſee, the Saints very perſecutions do carry in them ſeeds of comfort for them. Light is ſown for the Righteous.

Secondly, The inward Agony of the Soul, and diſſertion: ſtill God preſerves a ſeed of comfort in the Soul: Light is ſown for the Righteous. When God hides his face from his people, looks like an enemy, draws a curtain between him and his people; why, yet all this while, in this agony, there is ſome ſeed of comfort left in the Soul. But you will ſay, what ſeeds are here? Theſe two.

1. This is a ſeed of comfort in diſſertion, that God is ſtill a God in Covenant, there is a ſeed of comfort. Though the Lord may forſake us in regard of Viſion, he will never forſake us in regard of Union. The Covenant relation, the Marriage relation ſtill holds, that is a ſeed of comfort. A Husband, he may be gone a long Voyage, he may be a thouſand Leagues off from his Wife; Oh, but ſtill the Marriage relation holds between them; God may be gone, diſſert the Soul, but ſtill the Marriage knot is bound, God is a God in Covenant. Iſa. 55. 53. I will make an everlaſting Covenant with you, even the ſure mercies of David. Beloved, Gods truth is the richeſt Jewel of his Crown, and he hath laid this Jewel to pawn, in the Covenant; he hath promiſed, he hath ſworn it, he will be our God eternally. Though it is true, we forſeit the mercy of the Covenant, yet God will not break the truth of the Covenant. Pſal. 89. 28. My Covenant ſhall ſtand faſt. The earth does not alwayes ſtand faſt, that is ſhaken and removed, as in ſome Earth-quakes: Oh, but faith God, My Covenant ſhall ſtand faſt. Mat. 2. 16. The God of Iſrael faith, that he hates putting away. God that would not have other men put away their Wives, do you think he will divorce his own Spouſe? the Lord hates putting away. Here is ſeeds of comfort in diſſertion.

Secondly, In diſſertion, in a Spiritual Agony: why, now grace is a ſeed of comfort, the tree may be without bloſſom, and without fruit, but ſtill it is alive, there is ſap in the root of the tree; there may be vital ſap, and grace in the heart, though fruit of joy and aſſurance be not ſeen.

But a diſſerted ſoul will ask me this queſtion, when grace appears now in an hour of diſſertion, to be a ſeed of Joy, and a ſeed of comfort? I anſwer.

Firſt, The Soul mourns for Gods abſence, that ſhews grace. It is a ſign love is in thy heart, elſe thou wouldeſt not Mourn for Gods abſence. When the Sun is gone, the dew falls; when God withdraws from the Soul, why then the dew of tears that drops from the eye, (David felt this mourning, lamenting Gods abſence) that is a ſign of grace in the heart.

Secondly, When the Lord hath left thee in diſſertion, a Chriſtian hath quite loft his taſte to all worldly comforts, like one in a Fever, every thing taſtes bitter, he takes content in nothing, ſo long as he cannot enjoy God. As Job ſpeaks, I may elude to it, I went mourning without the Sun: ſo a poor diſſerted Chriſtian, I go mourning up and down without the Sun; God gives me ſome Star-light, ſome worldly comfort: what is all this? ſtill in a night of diſſertion. I went mourning without the Sun, I cannot ſee Chriſts face, the Son of Righteouſneſs doth not ſbine. Is not this a ſeed of grace? the Soul hath loſt its taſte to all worldly comfort; he cannot taſte the ſweetneſs in Friends, and eſtate, as he could do. 2 Sam. 14. 32. Saith Abſolon, Let me ſee the Kings face. Oh, nothing will ſatisfie a poor diſſerted Soul, but to ſee the King of Heavens face, to ſee Gods ſmiling countenance: why, this ſhewes, that the Soul is deeply in love with God, and ready to faint away for him; this grace is a ſeed of comfort, in an hour of diſſertion; thus you ſee light is ſown for the Righteous. Both outward troubles, perſecutions, inward agonies, diſſertions; thus you ſee, light is ſown for the Righteous: ſeeds of comfort is ſtill left in that Soul. Let me now come to make ſome Application; and the Lord give a bleſſing to it. Three ſeveral inferences I ſhall draw from this Doctrine.

1. See then from hence, my Brethren, the ſuper-abundant goodneſs of the Lord to his people, in the midſt of all their ſorrow and ſufferings; ſtill he preſerves a ſeed of comfort for them: light is ſown for the Righteous. God does chequer his work with troubles; he does intermix comfort like a Limner, who mingles bright colours with dark ſhadows; I may elude to that Scripture, Zac. 14. 7. I do but elude to it. It ſhall not be day nor night. Neither day, nor night; the people of God, they have ſome afflictions, ſo that it is not day, yet they have ſome ſeed of comfort in their Souls, ſo that it is not night: light is ſown for them. The condition of believers in this world is never ſo bad, but they may ſpie mercy in it, they may ſee ſome light, they may behold a Rainbow in the black cloud. Pſal. 148. 7. Though I walk in the borders of trouble, thou wilt revive me. Joſeph was in priſon, there, he was in affliction, but the Lord was with Joſeph, there was a ſeed of comfort. Paul had a thorn in the fleſh, there was his trouble, but God ſaid to him, My grace ſhall be ſufficient for thee; there was a ſeed of comfort. In the Ark, there was laid up the Rod, and Manna together; truly in this life, Gods people, Gods ſuffering people, with the Rod, taſte ſome Manna. Oh, the goodneſs of God, that never brings his people ſo low, but ſtill reſerves ſeeds of comfort for them, that they may not murm ure, but rather praiſe him in their worſt condition; that is the firſt inference.

Secondly, If it be Gods work, and his great deſign, to ſow ſeeds of comforts for the Righteous; than what will we think of thoſe, who are ſowing ſeeds of ſorrow for the Righeous? Surely theſe act directly againſt God, there is a woe belongs to them, that make the heart of the Righteous ſad, whom God will not have made ſad. Ezek. 13. 22. God is ſowing light for his people, and theſe men are laying ſnares for them: God is powering in Wine and Oyl into his peoples wounds, and they powre in Vinegar: theſe act directly contrary to God, who ſtill would preſerve ſeeds of comfort for the Saints. We read in Scripture of Gods Bottle, & of his Bag; of Gods Bottle, Pſal. 56. 8. and of his Bag, Job 14. 17. The Lord will put the tears of his Saints in his bottle, and he will ſeal up the ſins of the wicked in his bag: ſuch as afflict the righteous, they ſtrike at Chriſt through his Members ſides: let them take heed, God is making his Bow and Arrows ready to ſhoot. Pſal. 7. 13. The Lord ordains his Arrows againſt the Perſecutors. Never did any perſecutor thrive on that trade, but were broken at laſt. Domanter, and others ran mad and poyſoned themſeves. If there be either Juſtice in Heaven, or Fire in Hell, Perſecutors ſhall never go unpuniſhed. That is the ſecond.

Thirdly, See here the difference between the wicked and the godly. Oh, here is a great difference, the godly in all their ſorrows have ſeeds of comfort ſown for them. The wicked in all their comfort have ſeeds of ſorrow ſown for them: What are thoſe ſeeds of forrow, that are ſown for the wicked? they are the threatnings of God. Here be ſeeds of ſorrow, ſo long as the wicked and thoſe ſeeds will come up, Pſal. 68. 21. God ſhall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy ſcalp of ſuch an one that goeth on in treſpaſſes. Why, this threatning is a ſeed of ſorrow, ſown for the wicked. Oh, it is a dreadful thing to be in the number of the wicked; to be of the Devils black-guard: the ſinner he lives every day in fear of arreſting; there remains for him, ſaith the Apoftle, a fearful looking for a Judgment, and fiery indignation, Heb. 10. 27. A wicked man, when he dies, he drops into the grave, & into Hell both at once. God is brewing for the finner a deadly cup; Oh, it will make him heart ſick. Pſal. 57. 8. In the hand of the Lord, there is a cup, the wine is red, it is full of mixture; the dregs there of, the wicked of the earth ſhall drink them out: this Wine is the wrath of God. It is burnt wine, and this cup of wine is full of mixture: what is that mixture in the cup? the worm of Conſcience, and the fire of Hell, here is a mixed cup, and the wicked ſhall be ever drinking of it: yea, the very dregs: God will never ſay to the damned in hell, Let this cup paſs away from you: Methinks this might damp a ſinners mirth: there are ſeeds of ſorrows. All the threatnings of God ſown for the wicked. It was ſad news the Devil brought to Saul, oh, it muſt needs be bad news, where the Devil is the meſſenger. I Sam. 28. 19. Saith the Devil to Saul, Tomorrow thou ſhalt be with me. There are ſome ſinners in England, that ſhall be with the Devil before to morrow. Here is a cooling Card for wicked men. There is ſeeds of ſorrow, threatnings of God ſown for the wicked; they will ſpring up in time.

Fourthly, If there be ſeeds of light and comfort ſown for the Righteous; then when a child of God does not ſee the flower of comfort, let him rejoyce in the ſeed of grace; when he does not ſee the flower of comfort, yet let him rejoyce in the ſeed of grace; this ſeed will bring comfort in time.

Now a child of God will make this objection. Alas! I could take comfort, if I culd find the ſeed of grace in my Soul: but I have ſuch a deal of corruption, that I fear, there are no ſeeds of grace left now. To this I anſwer. There may be ſeeds of corruption in the heart, where there are ſeeds of grace. The change that grace makes in the Soul, is a real change, but it is not perfect: Doth not Paul complain of a body of death, Rom. 7. 23. He who hath moſt faith, had need pray, Lord, help my unbelief. Alas, our grace in this life, will be mixed with coruption: our wheat is mingled with chaff: our ſtars with clouds. The beſt Saint alive, is like Jacob, who, though he prevailed with God, yet he went haulting away: what pride was there in Chriſts own Diſciples, when they were ſtriving which of them could be greateſt. Luke 22. 24. Chriſtians look not for perfection here; God ſees it is good that ſin ſhould be left in us a while, to keep our Souls humble. Gravel and dung may help to ballaſt the ſhip, that it overturns not. Oh! this dung of ſin ballaſteth a Soul, keeps it very low and humble: Say not therefore, thou haſt no ſeed of grace, becauſe thou haſt ſeed of corruption. Let me ask thee this queſtion; Doſt not thou mourn for thy ſin? Is not a proud, and a dead heart thy burthen? Are not thy eyes a ſpiritual Limbick, dropping holy tears for ſin? and doſt not thou prize Chriſt? couldſt not thou be willing to part with all, for the Pearl of price? and doſt not thou maintain a combat with thy corruption? why, that is a ſign there is life of grace, elſe no combat. Dead men do not fight: Grace is ſeen as well in reſiſting ſin, as in overcoming it. Why then, Chriſtian, thou haſt the ſeed of grace in thy Soul, be thankful for this grace, though thou haſt not the ſeed flower of joy flouriſhing in thee. Why, look upon the Husbandman; when the Husbandman hath ſown the ſeed in the Field, he takes comfort in that ſeed ſown, he knows there will be a crop e're long: So, Chriſtian, if thou findeſt theſe ſeeds of grace ſown in thy heart, take comfort, there will be a Crop of joy ere long in thy Soul. That is the fourth inference.

5th. Inference. If light and comfort be ſown for the Righteous; why then here is comfort this day for the Church of God in England; the ſeed is in the ground, and deliverance in Gods due ſeaſon, ſhall ſpring up to the Church. Light is ſown; what if I ſhould ſay, Light is ſown for England: I would revive your ſpirits in time of ſadneſs and drooping. Let our faith get above our fear. Mica 7. 9. Rejoyce not against me, O mine enemie: though I ſit in darkneſs, the Lord ſhall be a light unto me. It is the voice of the Church, Light is ſown for the peaple of God, and the Church of God. I conſeſs, things here amongſt us, as they have a ſad aſpect at this day, I would be ſenſible of our condition. If we are not ſenſible of Gods hand, we cannot be humble under it. I would be ſenſible, gray hairs are here and there; ſad ſymptoms of Gods diſpleaſure are upon us: our ſins grow higher, our trading grows lower; our diviſions grow wider, and therefore our ſeats grow ſtronger. Oh! how many Judgments of God hath England felt of late years, for its ſins; and yet. we go on, as it were, in deſpight of Heaven: We do at this day hang out a flag of Defiance againſt the God of Heaven: & may we not yet fear, ſome other Judgments may yet enſue. Poor England, it is like the Ship in the Goſpel, almoſt covered with waves. England lies a bleeding, with the wounds that her ſins hath given her; God grant it be not a ſickneſs unto death: yet, I ſay, in this day of Mourning, I would not have you mourn, as they without hope. Theſe things may humble us, and ſet our eyes abroach with tears: yet mourn not, as them without hope. I would come as the Dove, with an Olive leaf of peace in my mouth, to you this day. My Text tells you, Light is ſown for the Righteous. There is a little light, God knows, it is but very little light, we can ſcarce ſee it at the Key-hole; but there is ſome Light ſown for the Righteous. There is three ſeeds of comfort, for this poor, dying, ſelf-deſtroying Nation.

Firſt, God hath a people in this Land that fears him, and are very dear to him: that is one ſeed of comfort; they are to him, as the apple of his eye; they are the glory of Chriſt, 2 Cor. 8. 23. As they are called, they are Gods Jewels, and all the reſt of the world are but Lumber. God hath a people dear to him in England. The Lord would have ſpared Sodom, if there had been but ten Righteous Perſons in it: it is to be hoped, there are many tens in England. Were the godly removed, as it is the deſire of ſome, to give them their paſs to be gone; why, God would ſoon make quick work with the Nation: he would ſoon break up houſe in England. Were it not for the Elect, he would ſoon ſink Ship and State, but for ſome of the Elect Jewels in the Ship: but for their ſakes, the Lord may reprieve the Nation, and may adjourn its Funerals a while longer.

Secondly, Another ſeed of Comfort for the Land, is this, The mercies of God in Chriſt; that is a ſeed of comfort. The mercy of God in Chriſt. What cannot mercy do for a poor Nation? Mercy can throw forth a plank to us, when we are drowning. The Sun is not ſo full of light, as God is full of love. Mercy, it is that which pleaſeth God. Mica 7. 18. Mercy pleaſeth thee. Why may we not hope that the Lord will do that which is ſo pleaſing to him, that, which is his recreation, to ſhew mercy. Malice pleaſeth the Wicked, but Mercy pleaſeth God. Juſtice is called, Gods ſtrange work, Iſa. 28. 21. A strange work. As if the Lord were not uſed to it. We ſhall obſerve in the Scripture, when the Lord is going to ſhave off the pride of a people; he is ſaid to hire the very Razor. Iſa. 7. 20. As if he had none of his own, he was fain to hire one. When God executeth juſtice upon a people, he is ſaid to come forth from his place to puniſh. Iſa. 26. 21. The Bee doth naturally give honey; it ſtings only when it is provoked. God doth naturally ſhew mercy: Mercy, my brethren, it is Gods darling attribute, that he delights moſt of all to magnifie. Why, methinks this is a ſeed of comfort for England. Why may not mercy give the caſting voice, to ſave this Nation? Iſa. 63. 9. In his love, and in his pity he redeemed them. In his love and pity. Mercy does more overflow in God, than ſin can in us, or we could never be pardoned.

Oh, but you will ſay, we are not a people that are fit for mercy: what ſhould we do with mercy, that have ſo abuſed, and ſo provoked it? why, to this, I ſay, mercy hath healing in its wings. It can as well give a Nation repentance, as deliverance. It can as well prepare us for mercy, as beſtow mercy. Mercy hath healing in its wings: why, that is a ſeed of comfort.

The third ſeed of comfort for the Land is this, That Spirit of Prayer, that is yet kept up among Gods people: Prayer uſhers in deliverance. It is the Midwife that helps to deliver the Church, when ſhe is in pangs. Joel 2. 32. whoſoever ſhill call upon the name of the Lord, ſhall be ſaved. The ſparkling walls, were their ſpear walls: and the Bulwark of a Land is Prayer: Prayer it is a ſeed that is ſown in the ears of God. Nay, in the heart of God. Prayer commands God. Iſa. 45. 11. Concerning the work of my hands command ye me. That is, by Prayer. Jacob's Prayer held God, it held him faſt. Gen. 32. 26. I will not let thee go, except thou bleſs me. I but pray obſerve obſerve, Moſes Prayer ſeems to have more force and power in it, than Jacobs Prayer had, Exod. 32. 10. Saith God to Moſes, Let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot againſt them. And Moſes ſought the Lord, and the Lord repented of the evil. Pray obſerve, Jacobs Prayer prevailed with God, when God had a mind to ſhew mercy: But Moſes Prayer prevailed with God, when God was angry; ſo that, to ſpeak with reverence, whether God be angry, or whether God be pleaſed; Prayer, why that prevails with him: this is a ſeed of comfort for this poor Nation. There are many, that every day beſiege Heaven with Prayer; ſends up whole volleys of ſighs and groans to Heaven. Pſal. 106. 23. Therefore he ſaid, he would deſtroy them. Had not Moſes, his ſervant, ſtood in the breach, to turn away his wrath from them. Prayer hath influence upon the Almighty. Prayer finds God free, but leaves him bound: eſpecially Chriſt praying our prayers over again; and ſprinkling them with his bloud, makes them go up, as ſweet incenſe to Heaven: ſo that theſe are ſeeds of comforts for this poor dying Nation. Light is ſown for England.

Bat here I muſt inſert a caution: and I beſeech you to obſerve. Though there be ſome light ſown for them, yet take this caution; Expect an hour of darkneſs. It is uſually dark before morning. Things are like to be worſe with us, before they are better: you know, the ſeed dies in the ground, before it ſprings up. Things ſeem to be in a dying condition; the ſeed is dying in the ground: e're light comes, expect ſome darkneſs.

It is Gods uſual method, he uſhers in deliverance, by great afflictions: he prepares for deliverance by afflictions: he brings his people into the Wilderneſs, and then he ſpeaks comfortably unto them, Hoſ. 2. 14. Shall I give you ſome Scripture inſtances? There will be ſome darkneſs before light do ſpring up: ſome Scripture inſtances to clear it up. God gave David a promiſe of a Kingdom; David ſhall wear the Crown; I, but before that, David must fly for his life, he muſt be hunted as a Partridge upon the Mountains: and afterwards, then he ſhall wear his Crown. Abraham, he had the promiſe of a numerous Progeny, as the Stars of Heaven, but before that, his Wives womb muſt be barren. Moſes, he was to work deliverance for Iſrael, he was to be their temporal Saviour; before his hand wrought any Miracles, his hand muſt be Leprous. Chriſt he was to come into the World; there was the great Light of the World: I, but before that Light came, it was an hour of darkneſs to the Church of God. Iſa. 9. 2. Thoſe that dwell in the ſhadow of death, to them hath the Light ſhined. Before Goſpel-deliverance, you muſt expect ſome ſore pangs, and the reaſon of it is this; here is the reaſon; Becauſe God hath a great deal of work yet to do; there is much rubbiſh to be removed, before Gods ſpiritual Temple will be built; ſins muſt be brought lower; Superſtition muſt be purg'd away; the Devil muſt be caſt out and will not this think you, cauſe great commotion in the Church? and Convulſion fits, before light ſprings up: Therefore, look for an hour of darkneſs.

But you will ſay to me, if it be ſo, then what ſhall we do in this hour of darkneſs? how ſhall we behave our ſelves, till this Light doth ſpring up to the Church? Let us do theſe three or four things, when it is an hour of darkneſs.

1. Let us get into our Chambers, there our great work it lies, between God and our own ſouls: go into your Chambers: Iſa. 26. 20. Come, my people, enter thou into thy Chamber, hide thy ſelf. What Chamber, you will ſay, muſt we go into?

First, Let us go into the Chamber of our own hearts, by meditation, and by Self-examination. Let us ſee how the caſe ſtands between God and our own Souls: let us prove our ſelves, whether we are in the Faith: let us be clearing our evidences every day: let us bring our graces to the touch-ſtone: let us never leave, till we have found out, we have a Covenantintereſt with God. When things are dark without, it is good that all ſhould be clear within: that is one Chamber: we ſhould go to our own hearts.

Secondly, Let us go into the Chamber of Divine promiſes, and, as it were, lock up our ſelves with God in theſe Chambers. Oh, the ſweet promiſes that we ſhould now go unto, and fly unto as a refuge; God hath promiſed, He will never leave us, nor forſake us. If you do not leave God, he will not leave you. God hath promiſed, He will be our Sun and our ſhield, Pſal. 84. 11. In troubleſome times he will be our ſhield, to defend us: he will be our Sun, to enlighten us, and comfort us. Let us hide ourſelves, by Faith, in theſe Chambers: by the Promiſes. That is the firſt work.

If an hour of Darkneſs be, go unto your Chambers.

Thirdly, Having done this, Let us commit our ſelves to God, and truſt our ſelves upon his Providence Pſalm 45. 5. Commit thy way unto the Lord. Commit thy way to the Lord. In the Hebrew it is, Root thy way upon the Lord. Chriſtians, let us not be too ſollicitous about iſſues and events of things: caſt your burthen upon the Lord. So far as care is a duty, take it upon your ſelves: but ſo far as care is a burthen, caſt it upon God.

Again, having done this, got into our Chambers, and rooted our wayes upon the Lord; truſting the iſſues of things with him: why then, in this hour of darkneſs, oh, wait with patience, till Light ſprings up to the Church; that is the great work, that now God calls to his people for: wait with patience, do not murmur, but wait: do not wait through unbelief; do not fret through impatience, but wait till Light ſprings up. It ſhall ſpring up in Gods due ſeaſon: All the enemies of the Church ſhall not hinder Light ſpringing up.

Deliverance is coming, when Gods time is come. We read, that when Chriſt was to riſe out of the Grave; though there were a ſtone upon the door of the Sepulchre, the Angel rowled away that ſtone, and Chriſt did ariſe gloriouſly. This ſeems, methinks, to be the time of the Churches Burial, and there ſeems to be a ſtone rowling over the Grave: but when the time of her Reſurrection is come, God himſelf will rowl away the ſtone from the Sepulchre. Cant. 2. 8. It is ſpoken of Chriſt, Behold, he comes leaping upon the Mountains, skipping upon the Hills. My brethren, either Jeſus Chriſt will remove the Mountains, or he will come leaping over them: he will deliver his people; and till then, let us wait. And that we may get into a waiting poſture, conſider theſe two or three things, and ſo I have done.

First, Our betters have waited; the Patriarchs of old, they waited, till mercy and light did ſpring up. Why, you know Moſes he waited, and Abraham, he waited, and Jacob, he waited, Gen. 49. 18. Saith Jacob, I have waited for thy Salvation, O Lord. The people of Iſrael, they waited four hundred years for deliverance: and if they waited four hundred years, cannot we wait a few hours?

Secondly, Wait till Light ſprings up for the Church: conſider, we have a full God to wait upon: a Beggar is content to wait at a rich mans door, there is ſomething ſtill coming.

God hath treaſures of mercy lying by: he hath more bleſſings to give, than one; we have a full God to wait upon, and ſhall not we wait? he Lord is not a ſealed ſountain, but he is a flowing fountain.

Thirdly, The mercies we are in expectation of, they are worthy waiting for; the mercies we have prayed for, and are in expectation of, they are worthy waiting for, to ſee the golden Fleet of Prayer coming home, with rich return; is not that worth waiting for?

To ſee; the Lilly and the Roſe united; I mean, Truth and Peace. To ſee wickedneſs diſcountenanced, and all its forces disbanded. To ſee the beauty of Holineſs ſhining in our Chriſtal. To ſee Jeſus Chriſt riding in Triumph in the Chariots of his Goſpel Adminiſtration. To ſee Righteouſueſs exalted, and, like the Wings of a Dove, covered with Silver.

Fourthly, Wait till Light ſprings up to the Church; conſider this, the glorious Promiſes that are made to waiters, Iſa. 30. 18. Bleſſed are all they that wait for him (A waiting condition is a bleſſed condition.) Iſa. 49. 23. They ſhall not be aſhamed that wait for him. We account a mans Bond a very good Security: Thoſe promiſes they are Gods bonds, and they have a double Seal ſet to them; the oath of God, and the bloud of God: therefore let us wait patiently; let us wait chearfully, till Light doth ſpring up, and flouriſh unto a Harveſt Deliverance.

FINIS.