what is the reason of all this but because nature must have its rest and delight from that only which is sutable to its own appetite and desire Hence it is that though God be so perfect a good yet he is not the happiness of evil Men or evil Angels for he is not sutable to their vitiated depraved natures The carnal mind which beareth sway in unregenerate men is enmity against God and Devils are as contrary to Gods nature as fire is to water Hence it is that spiritual men place and enjoy happiness in the Father of Spirits because he is the savoury meat which their souls love Though the sinner can live upon dregs as the swine on dung yet the Saint must have refined Spirits and nothing lesse then Angels food and delights It is an unquestionable truth that nothing can give true comfort to man but that which hath a relation and beareth a proportion to his highest and noblest part his immortal soul for his sensitive faculties were created in him to be subordinate and serviceable to their Master Reason therefore he is excelled in them by his inferiours as the Eagle in seeing and the Hound in scenting nature aiming at some more sublime and excellent design the perfection of the rational part in those lower particulars was lesse exact therefore the blessed God alone being a sutable Good to the heavenly spiritual soul of man can only satisfie it Philosophers tell us the reason of the irons cleaving to and resting in the load-stone is because the pores of both bodies are alike so there are effluxes and emanations that slide through them and unite them together One cause of the Saints love to and delight in God is his likeness to God Creatures are earthly the soul is heavenly they are corporeal the soul is spiritual therefore as when friends are contrary in disposition the soul cannot take up its rest and happiness in their fruition but God is sutable and therefore satisfying I am God All sufficient Gen. 17.1 Some derive the word Shaddai from Almighty Alsufficient from shad a dug for as the breast is sutable to the Babe nothing else will quiet it so is God to his Children A man that is hungry finds his stomack still craving something he wants without which he cannot be well Give him musick company pictures houses honours yet there follows no satisfaction these are not sutable to his appetite still his stomack craves but set before this man some wholesome food and let him eat his craving is over They did eat and were filled O miserabilis hâ—mâ—a cordâ—â— sine Châ—isto Oâ—nâ—um omne â—uod viviâ— â—lâ—â—e om Epit. Nep. Tim 1. p. â—5 Neh. 9.25 So it is with mans soul as with his body the soul is full of cravings and longings spending it self in sallies out after its proper food give it the credit and profits and pleasures of the world and they cannot abate its desire it craves still for these do not answer the souls nature and therefore cannot answer its necessity but once set God before it and it feeding on him it is satisfied it s very inordinate dogged appetite after the world is now cured He tasting this Manna tramples on the Onions of Egypt He that drinketh of this water shall thirst again but he that drinketh of the water which I shall give him shall never thirst John 4. CHAP. XII God the Saints happiness because of his Eternity and the Saints propriety in him GOD is a permanent good That which makes a man happy must be immortal like himself as man is rational so he is a provident creature desirous to lay up for hereafter and this forecast reacheth beyond the fools in the Gospel for many years even for millions of ages for ever by laying hold on eternal life He naturally desires an immortality of being whence that inclination in creatures say Philosophers of propagating their kind and therefore an eternity of blessedness The soul can enjoy no perfection of happiness if it be not commensurate to its own duration For the greater our joy is in the fruition of any good the greater our grief in its amission Eternity is one of the fairest flowers in the glorified Saints garland of honour It s an eternal weight of glory 2. Cor. 4.17 Were the triumphant spirits ever to put off their Crown of life the very thought thereof would be death and like leaven would sower the whole lump of their comforts The perpetuity of their state adds infinitely to their pleasure We shall ever be with the Lord. 2. Thes 4.16 Here they have many a sweet bait but there God will be their standing-dish never off the Heavenly Table The creature cannot make man happy Laâ—itia saeculi cum ma na expect â—oâ—e speratâ—r ut veniniâ—t â—oâ—â—â—test tenâ—râ— câ—nvenit Aug. tract 7 in Job because as it is not able to fill him so it is not fast to him like the Moon in the increase it may shine a little the former part of the night but is down before morning Man is not sure to hold them whilst he liveth How often is the candle of outward comforts blown out by a suddain blast of providence Many as Naomi go out full but come home empty some disaster or other as a Theif meets them by the way and robs them of their deified treasure The Vessel in which all of some mens wealth is embarqued while it spreadeth fair with its proud Sails and danceth along upon the surging waters when the Factor in it is pleasing himself with the kind salutes he shall receive from his Merchant for making so profitable a Voyage is in an instant swallowed up of unseen quick-sands and delivereth its Fraught at another Port and to an unknown Master Those whose morning hath been sunshiny and clear have met with such showres before night as have washed away their wealth However if these comforts continue all day at the night of death as false lovers serve men in extremity they leave us the knife of death which stobs the sinner to the heart Le ts out the blood and spirits of all his joyes and happiness But God is the true happiness of the soul because he is an eternal good As this Sun hath no mists so it nevey sets so that the rest of the Soul in God is an eternal Sabbath like the new Jerusalem it knoweth no night Outward mercies in which most place their felicity are like land floods which swell high and make a great noise but are quickly in again when the blessed God like the Spring-head runeth over and runneth ever Fourthly Because of the Saints propriety in this God though God be never so perfect suitable sure a good Yet it s litle Comfort to them that have no interest in him Another mans health will not make me happy when sick What Happinesse hath a begger in the shady walkes pleasant garden stately buildings curious roomes costly furniture and precious jewels of
2 Sam. 23.5 Mark how the pious King draws all the Wine which made his heart glad in one of his last hours from this Pipe Death is one of the sowrest things in the World and such things require much sugar to make them sweet David found so much honey in the Covenant that therewith he made Death it self a pleasant a desireable Dish If you observe the beginning of the Chapter you will find that his end was near Now these be the last words of David But this this was the quiet and ease of his heart that Gods Covenant with him was everlasting and without end As Death is famous for its terror being King thereof so also for his power it brings down the mighty Princes and Potentates of the Earth Cant. 8.6 Samson was but a Child in Deaths hands hence we read when Scripture would draw strength in its full proportion and length As strong as Death but as strong as Death is David knew it could not break in sunder the Covenant between God and him nor dissolve the union betwixt his Saviour and his soul The firmness of this Covenant being sure footing for faith to stand on is that which puts life into a dying Christian As Death though it parted the soul and body of Christ parted neither of them from the divine nature they were as a Sword drawn by a man the Sword is in one hand separated from the Sheath in the other hand but neither of them separated from the man so though Death break the natural union between the beleivers soul and body it cannot break the mystical union between Jesus Christ and the soul therefore Saints are said to sleep in Jesus 1 Thes 4.14 And truely by the vertue of this Cordial this Covenant they are so far from flying back at the sight of their Foe Death that they can look him in the face with courage and confidence See how they triumph over him as if he were already under their feet O Death where is thy sting O Grave where is thy Victory 1 Cor. 15.57 58. The sting of Death is sin and the strength of sin is the Law but thanks be to God which hath given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ Hark they speak as Challengers daring their disarmed enemy to meet them in the field and they speak as Conquerors being assured through the Captain of their salvation of the victory before they fight Epiphanius faith Epiph. lib. 1. cap 33. that Adam was buried in Calvary where Christ was crucified Sure it is that Christ at Calvary did somewhat which made the Christians bed soft and easie that whereas it would have been a bed of Thorns he turned it into a bed of down and thereby the beleiver comes to lye on it so contentedly and to sleep so sweetly and comfortably By this time Reader I hope thou understandest the necessity and benefit of this relative change With this Covenant thou art armed Cap a pe with armour of proof with the righteousness of Christ which is law proof death proof and judgement proof and leavest Death wholly disarmed and naked Without this thou hast no Weapons and findest Death a man of War In the forequoted place thou seest that sin is the sting of Death and the strength of sin is the Law The Law binds the soul over for disobedience to its precept to its malediction and punishment passeth a sentence of condemnation already upon the creature and beginneth its execution in that bondage and fear as flashes of the unquenchable fire which seize on men in this life Rom. 7.6 John 3.18 Heb. 2.14 And as sin hath its strength from the law the law making it so powerful to curse and condemn so Death hath its strength and sting its venome and vertue to kill and damn to destroy soul and body for ever from sin Sin makes Death so deadly that its the poyson in the cup which makes it so mortal and loathsom a draught Thy work and wisdom therefore is as the Philistinos when they heard that the great strength of Samson the destroyer of their Country lay in his hair were restless till they had cut it off and became weak so now thou hearest wherein the strength of Death the great destroyer and damner of souls consisteth to be unquiet night and day to follow God up and down with sighs and sobs strong cries and deep groans for pardon of sin and to give thy self no rest till thou attainest an interest in this Covenant through Jesus Christ Pious Job though not in thy case was for this cause exceeding importunate for a sense of this pardon And why dost thou not pardon mine iniquity and take away my trasgressions for now shall I sleep in the dust and thou shalt seek me in the morning and I shall not be Job 7. ult He cryeth out as one fallen into a deep dirty ditch or one whose house is fired Water Water for the Lords sake to clease this defiled soul and to quench this scorched conscience Lord Why doth the messenger who useth to come post to me a poor condemned Prisoner with a pardon lingring so long Alas I wish he may not come too late But what is the reason of this importunity for expedition Why Job in his own thoughts was going to appear before his Judge and he durst not venture without a pardon in his hand for now shall I sleep in the dust The child did not dare to go to bed at night till he had asked his Father Blessing and begd and obtained forgiveness of his disobedience in the day Nothing in the whole creation can pacifie the conscience awakened with the guilt of sin and frighted with the fear of death but a pardon in the blood of this Covenant for want of this it was that the Heathen were either desperate or doubtfull in their deaths and their Orator ingeniously confesseth that notwithstanding all the Medicines they could gather out of their own Gardens the Disease was still too strong for the Remedy But a plaister spread with the blood of Christ and applied by faith to the sore is a soveraign and certain cure Faith in Christ is such a Shield that under its protection a Christian may stand in the evil day of Death keep his ground and secure himself from all the shot which the Law Satan or conscience can make against him I am the resurrection and the life He that liveth and beleiveth in me shall live though he dye Joh. 11. Willet Hexapl. in Levit. c. 11. The Death of the King of Saints is the onely comfort and help against Death the King of Terrors It s a strange property which some report of the Charadrion that if any man have the jaundise and look on the bird and the bird on him the bird catcheth the disease and dieth of it but the man recovereth Christ took mans disease and dyed that all who look on him with an eye of Faith might recover and live
Rite ordering the Bee is excellentlly described with discourses historical and phycical concerving them with a second part of meditations and observations theological and moral in three centuries upon the same subject By Samuel Purchase M. A. An Exhortation of the Churches of Bohemiah to the Churches of England wherein is set forth the good of unity order discipline and obedience in Churches rightly constituted with an exhortation premised of the order and discipline used in the Churches of the Brethren of Bohemia dedicated to his most excellent Majesty Charles the second in Holland at his departure for England If possibly it may be for an accommodation among the Church of Christ By J. Amos Comenius the onely surviving Bishop of the remains of these Churches The whole Tryal of the Marquess of Argyle wherein you have had his indictment and his Answer together with his last speech and words upon the Scaffold The great mystery of godliness opened by way of Antidote against the great mystery of iniquity now a work in the Romish Church wherein 1. The incarnation of the Son of God is fully displayed 2. Ceremonies in point of Worship Proved to be by Christ abrogated 3. Christian liberty with its eight steps and five boundaries by Thomas Douglass M. A. Truth brought to light and discovered by time or an Historical Naration of the first fourteen years of King James The sacred Ordinance of Ordination by imposition of the hands of Presbytery as it was lately held forth in a Sermon Preached at a solemn Ordination of Ministers in the City of Norwich by John Brinsley Large Octavo's THe Pastor and Clerk or a debate real concerning Infant Baptism by John Ellis A breastplate for the keeping of the heart with a rich Treasury for the promises being Several Sermons by Jeremy Turner Mr. Robinson Christian Armour Divine principles or a Scripture Catechism Five Sermons in five several ways of preaching the 1. in B A. the 2. in B H. way the 3. in Dr. M. and M. C. way the 4. in the Presbyterian way and the 5. in the Independent way of preaching by A. VV. Minister of the Gospel A Wedding-Ring fit for the finger or the salve of Divinion the sore of humanity I aid open in a Sermon at a Wedding in Edmonton by VVilliam Seeker preacher of the Gospel To which is adjoyned the non such professor in his Meredian Splendor or The singular actions of sanctified Christians being the substance of seven Sermons on Mat. 5.47 by the same Author Four profitable Treatises very useful for Christian practice viz. The killing power of the Law The Spiritual watch The New birth of the Sabbath by the reverend VVilliam Fenner late Minister of Rotchford in Essex Inchyridion Jndicnm or Jehoshaphats change to his Judges together with the Catastrophe Magnatum or King Davids lamentation at Prince Abners Incineration by James Livesey Minister of the Gospel at Atherton The greatest loss on Mat. 16.26 by the same Author Meditations Divine and moral by Henry Tabb M. A. The Psalms of King David translated by King James Wilful impenitency the grossest Self murther by that able faithful and laborious Minister of Jesus Christ Mr. VVilli m Fenner 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the almost Christian discovered or the False Professor try'd and cast by Matthew Mead. Spiritual wisdom improved against Temptation by the same Author Beams of former light discovering how evil it is to impose doubtful and disputabe formes or practices upon Ministers Habbakkuck's prayer applied to the Churches present occasians on Hab. 3.2 and Christs counsel to the Church of Philadelyhia on Rev. 3.11 by that late reverend and faithful Minister of Jesus Christ Mr. Samuel Balmford Pastor of Albons VVood-street London The Rudiments of Grammar The Rules composed of English Verse for the greater benefit and delight of young beginners by James Shirley The Ladies Dispensatory containing the Natures Vertues and qualities of Herbs and Simples useful in physick reduced into a methodical Order for their more ready use in any sickness or other accidents of the body Small Octavo's TEntation their nature danger cure by Richard Capel to which is added his remains Balme for bleeding England and Ireland or seasonable instructions for persecuted Christians delivered in several Sermons by Nicholas Lockyer M. A. The good old way or Perkins Emproved in a plain Exposition and sound application of these doubts of Divinity briefly comprised in his six principle by Charles Broxolme Gospel glory without prejudice to the Law shining forth in father son and holy ghost for the salvation of sinners by Richard Byfield A glimpse of Gospel glory being the sum of several Sermons on 2 Cor. 13.18 Preached by VV. Sherwin Catechizing Gods Ordinance in sundry Sermons by Mr. Zachary Crofton Minister at Butolphs Aldgate London The Godly mans Ark in the day of his distress discovered in divers Sermons the first of which was preached at the Funeral of Ms. Elizabeth Moor. Whereunto is annexed Ms. Elizabeth Moors Evidences for Heaven by E. Calamy B.D. Pastor of the Church at Aldermanbury The Gale of opportunity and beloved Discipline by Thomas Froysal Sion in the house of mourning because of sin and suffering being an exposition on the fifth Chapter of the Lamentations by D. S. Pastor of Vpingham in Rutland A word of Comfort for the Church of God by Mr. Tho. Watson Minister of Stephens Walbrook A Plea for Arms delivered in a Sermon at the Spittle on Tuesday in Easter week April 13. 1658. by the same Author Moses unvailed or those figures which served unto the pattern and shadow of Heavenly things pointing out the Messiah Christ Jesus briefly explained whereunto is added the harmony of the Prophets breathing with one mouth the Mysteries of his coming and of that Redemption which by his death he was to accomplish by William Guild Minister of Gods Word at King-Edward in Scotland Good company being a collection of various serious pious meditations by J. Melvin Minister of the Gospel at Vdimer in Sussex A Religious Treatise upon Simeons Song or instruction how to live holily and dye happily by T. VVoodâ—iff B. D. pastor at Kingstand in Herefordshire The reformation in which is reconciled with God and his people or a Catechism unvailing the Apostles Creed with Annotations in which Faith Ordinances and Government are professed as in the primitive times in opposition to all Errors and Heresies by W. K. Minister of the Gospel Prospering prophaness provoking holy conference and Gods attention several Sermons from Mal. 3 15 16 17. by Zachary Crofton The Catechism of Hugo grotius done into English Benedictio Valedictio or the remembrance of thy friend and thy end being a farewel Sermon preached at the house of the late Right honourable Leticia Lady Paget Dowar deceased by her Chaplain Anthony Sadler Twelves IOhnsons Essay expressed in sundry exquisite fantacies The dangerous Rule or a Sermon Preached at Clonmel in the Province of Munster in Ireland upon August 3. 1657. before the reverend
calamity cursed the day wherein he was born and the Messenger that brought tidings of his birth and desired to dye rather then to endure it whom wilt thou curse or rather whom wilt thou not curse when under the sense of eternal misery surely thou wilt seek for death but not find it dig for it but t will flee from thee Though Judas could make himself away out of the Hell he had on earth yet he cannot out of the Hell he hath in Hell When thou diest thou art stated by God himself and there is no appeal from this Judge nor reversing of his judgement It is the observation of the School-men that what befel the Angels when they sinned that befals every wicked man at Death the Angels upon the first act of sin were presently by God himself stated in an irrecoverable condition of misery so wicked men upon the last act of their lives are fixt as to their eternal woful estates It is appointed for all men once to dye and after Death the judgement Sixthly The felicity of the prepared Sixthly Dost thou know the felicity which upon thy death thou shouldst enter into if thou wert prepared for it As the Good House-wife looketh for Winter but feareth it not being prepared for it with double cloathing so thou mightest expect Death but not fear it being prepared for it with Armour of proof Syrens some write screech horribly when they dye but Swans sing then most sweetly Though sinners roar bitterly when they behold that Sea of scalding Lead in which they must Swim naked for ever yet thou shouldst like the Apostle desire to depart wish for that hour wherein thou should lose Anchor and sail to Christ Phil. 1.23 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Solvere Anchorum A Metaphor from a Ship at Anchor importing a sailing from this present life to another Port So the Syriack Chrysostom Beza Erasmus and others take it as the word signifieth Thy dying day would be thy Wedding day as the Martyrs called theirs wherein the fairest of ten thousand and thy soul now contracted should be solemnly espoused together As frightful a Lyon as Death is to others that their souls are fain to be torn from their bodies thou mightest like a weary Child call to be lay'd to bed knowing that t wil send thee to thine everlasting happy rest Bene mori est libenter mori Seuec. Epist 61. If it be an happy Death to dye willingly as the Moralist affirmeth thou shouldst give up the Ghost and be a Voluntier in that War Nature teacheth that Death is the end of misery but grace would teach thee that Death would be the beginning of thy felicity it could not hurt thee Death among Saints drives but a poor Trade it may destroy the body and when that is done it hath done all its feats like a fierce Mastiff whose Teeth are broken out it may bark and tear thy tottered coat but cannot bite to the bone This Bee fastened her sting in Christs blessed body and is ever since a drone to his Members Though the wicked are gathered at Death as the Rabbins sense that place Gather not my soul with sinners let me not dye their deaths Psa 26.9 as sticks that lye on the ground for the fire or as Grapes for the winepress of Gods fury yet thou shouldst be gathered according to the Hebrew Isa 57.2 as Women do cordial flowers to candy and preserve them Nay Death would exceedingly help thee Plutarch saith that strong bodies can eat and concoct Serpents Thou mayst like Samson fetch meat out of this Eater and out of this strong Lyon sweetness Death ever since it walked to Mount Calvary is turned to beleivers into the gate of life Nihi non à diis im nortalibus vita erepta est sed mors donata est Cicer. lib. 3. de Orat. An Heathen could say Life is not taken away from me by the immortal Gods but Death is given to me meaning as an act of grace and favour Much more may a Christian esteem Death which puts an end to his trials and sins and troubles a priviledge rather then a punishment Blessed are they that dye in the Lord they rest from their labours Rev. 14.13 When sickness first gives thee notice that death is at hand thou mightest make the servant welcome for bringing thee the good news of his approaching Master Thy heart may leap to think that though thou art like Peter now bound in the fetters of sin and Imprisoned amongst sinners yet the Angel is coming who will with one blow on thy side cause thy shackles to fall off open the Prison Doors and set thy soul into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God When this Samuel is come to thy gate thou needest not as the Elders of Bethlehem tremble at his comming for if thou askest the Question Comest thou Peaceably He will Answer Yea Peaceably I am come to offer thee up a sacrifice of a sweet smelling savour acceptable to God in Jesus Christ the pale face of death would please thee better then the greatest beauty on Earth When thou lyest on thy dying bed and Physitians had given over thy body Christ would visit and give thy soul such a Cordial that thou mightest walk in the valley of the shadow of Death and fear none ill How willingly mayst thou part with the militant Members of Christ for the Triumphant Saints How chearfully mayst thou leave thy nearest Relations for thy dearest Father and Elder Brother how comfortably mayst thou take thy leave of all the riches honours and pleasures of this life knowing that though Death cometh to others with a Voider to take away all their fleshly comforts and carnal contentments nay all their hopes and Happiness and Heaven and hereby when they break at death they are quite bankrupts for ever yet it is to thee onely a servant to remove the first course of more gross fare of which thou hast had thy fill and to make way for the second which consisteth of all sorts of dainties and delicates When thy soul was ready to bid thy body good night till the morning of the resurrection thou mightst joyfully commit thy body to the grave as a bed of spices and shouldst see glorious Angels waiting on thy soul and carrying it as Eliah in a Triumphant Chariot into Heavens blessed Court. There thou shouldst be saluted by the noble Host and celestial quire of Saints and Angels welcomed by the Holy Jesus and gracious God in the fruition of whom thou shouldst be perfectly happy for ever and ever If there were so much joy in Heaven at thy repentance when thou wert but set into the way what joy will there be when through so many hazards and hard-ships thou art come to thy journeys end Thus friend wert thou but prepared Death would be to thee a change from a prison to a Pallace from sorrows to solace from pain to pleasure from heaviness to happiness Thy Winding-sheet would
not the worth of them None look off the world but they that can look beyond it The Turtle saith the Philosopher brings forth her young blind The most quick-sighted Christian brings forth blind children now they not being able to see afar off into the other world prefer these poor things which they may have in present possession before these unsearchable riches which are offered them in reversion Hence it is also that the Devil as the Raven when he seizeth the carcass as soon as he layeth hold on any person Prov. 33.17 2 Cor. 4.4 the first thing he doth is to peck out his eyes knowing that as soon as they come to see the blessed God and the happiness which is to be enjoyed in him they will quickly turn their backs on these shadows and face about towards this eternal substance O how dull would the worlds common glasse be in his eye who had once beheld the true Christal The loadstone of earth will not draw mans affections whilst this Diamond of heaven is in presence When Moses had once seen him that was invisible how low did the price of the honours and treasures and pleasures of Egypt fall in his judgement Knowledge is by one well expressed to be Appetites taster for as he that hath eaten sweet-meats cannot rellish the strongest beer so he that hath fed on the heavenly banquet cannot savour any thing else A man that is born in a dark dungeon and there continueth a long time when he comes after twelve or fourteen years to see a candle he wonders at the excellency of that Creature what delight will he take in beholding it and enquiring into the nature of it But bring this man afterwards into the open air and let him behold the glorious Sun his admiration of the candle will cease and all his wonder will be at the beauty and glory of this great Luminary of the World Every man is naturally in darkness hence it is that when he comes to behold the candles of creature comforts he is so ravisht and taken with them but let him once come to see the Sun of righteousness the Alsufficient and Eternal God he despiseth those glimmering rushes and all his wondering is at the excellency and perfections of this Glorious being That which was glorious before hath now no glory in comparison of this glory that excelleth All things are small and little in his eye who hath once had a sight of the great God The great Cities of Campania are but small cottages to them who stand on the top of the Alpes Philosophers observe that lumen est vehiculum influentiae Light is the convoy of heat Certain it is Reader that this light of knowledge would quickly cause heat in thy affections Couldst thou but see God with an eye of faith thine eye would so affect thine heart that as some who have beheld Mahomets Tomb have put out their eyes least they should be defiled with common objects after they have been blessed with so rare a sight thou wouldst shut thine eyes at those gilded poysons and wink ever after on those specious nothings Couldst thou see this God as he is visible in the glasse of the Creatures Couldst thou compass the earth which he hath made the several Islands and Continents which are in it Couldst thou like the Sun so surround it as to see all the Nations in it their several languages carriages customes their number order natures and the creatures in every Kingdome and Country the various plants birds minerals beasts and savage inhabitants in wildernesses their multiplicity variety dispositions subordination and serviceableness each to other and all that concerneth them what thoughts wouldst thou then have of this God for a portion Couldst thou behold at one view the vast Ocean discern the motion of the huge waters in the cause of its ebbing and flowing all the stormes and tempests which are there raised and all the persons and goods which have been there ruined Couldst thou see how those proud waves are laid with a word how when they swell and rage it is but Peace be still Matth. 8 as a mother will hush her crying Infant and all is quiet how they are kept in vvith bars and doors and for all their anger and povver cannot go beyond their decreed place Couldst thou dive into it and see the many vvonders that are in that great deep the vast riches vvhich are buried there out of the sight of covetons mortals the Leviathan whose teeth are terrible round about him whose scalâ—s are his pride shut up together as with a close seal by whose neesings a light doth shine and whose eyes are the eye-lids of the morning whose breath kindleth coals and a flame goeth out of his mouth who esteemeth iron as straw and brasse as rotten wood who maketh the deep to boyl like a pot and the sea like a pot of ointment Couldst thou behold the innumerable fish both small and great that are there Good Lord what wouldst thou think of having the Author and Commander of the Earth and Ocean for thy portion Couldst thou ascend up to the skie and fully perceive the beauty glory nature and order of that heavenly hoast how they march in rank and file come forth when called in their several courses know the time of their rising and setting couldst thou know the Sun perfectly in his noon-day dresse and what influences those higher Orbes have on inferiour bodies what wouldst thou then give to enjoy him who gave them their beings who appointeth them their motions who knoweth the number of the stars and who calleth them all by their names for thy portion But Oh! were it possible for thee to hold aside the vail and look into the holy of holies to mount up to the highest heavens and see the royal pallace of this Great King the stately Court which he there keeps the noble entertainment which he there gives to his Friends and Children Couldst thou know the satisfying joy the ravishing delight and the unconceivable pleasure which the spirits of just men made perfect have in his favour and fruition Couldst thou see him as he is there visible like a pure sweet light sparkling through a christal-lanthorn in the glorified Redeemer and know him as thou art known of him then then Reader what wouldst thou think of this God for a portion what poor apprehensions wouldst thou have of that beggarly portion which thou now admirest what dung what dogs-meat would the world be to thee in comparison of this God As Alexander when he heard of the Indies and the riches there divided the Kingdome of Macedonia amongst his Captains so thou wouldst leave the swine of the earth to wallow in the mire of brutish comforts the foolish children of disobedience to paddle in the gutter of sensual waters and wouldst desire that thy portion might be amongst Gods Children and thy heritage amongst his chosen ones Then then Friend all thy love would be too little and