If they will come they shall be kindly received but if they make light of all these Messengers going their Wayes one to his Farm another to his Merchandize at their peril be it The reason why they did Mat. 22. was because they had some present business which they thought of more concern then the Wedding Dinner In like manner Men will not entertain the offers of Grace and Salvation made to them out of the Gospel because they have some lusts and covetous desires to gratifie which they think tend more to their Happiness then the others That these have some delight they are sure for they have it in hand but they cannot conceive any in the other it is to be revealed hereafter they know not when so in their Opinion they make the better choice because they are certain of something whereas others expose themselves to self-denial and present losses and live upon imaginary expectancies There is no time like the present a slight vanity now is to be prefered before a substantial Glory hereafter Most excellent reasoning and agreeable to the Wisdom of this World that come to nought 1 Cor. 2. 6. It is worthy of and such as could be expected from Men who have no foresight of things to come in other things it is prudence to have an eye forward but in this which is of greater Moment then all things put together to pass on and be punished is reckoned the wiser way Then it will be discerned otherwise but this is the misery when they shall come to be throughly convinced of their foolishness it will be past remedy This objection against the things of God because they are to come hath been already answered And for the delight of the sins most in esteem and pâ—actice Ch. 3. if God permit shall be fully examined in the ensuing Chapters It may appear very small and inconsiderable for which a Man must lose Temporal Comfort and Eternal Joyes endure the manifold evils and inconveniencies of sin in this present time and afterwards suffer endless Torment To be excluded from Peace here and Glory hereafter to be made subject unto sorrows now and hence forwards Eternal anguish of mind must be prejudicial to Mans Happiness or nothing is All this is to lay stronger engagement on us to observe Gods Laws In keeping of them there is great reward Psal 19. 11. There is happiness to be found but in transgression is exceeding punishment there only misery is felt The way of God is a way of Peace as long as any one walks therein he is safe but if he turns his foot aside he presently falls into trouble and danger Obedience and Happiness are met together Righteousness and Peace have kissed each other As again Sin and Misery are coupled Wickedness and Punishment are joyned hand in hand The Heavens declare the Glory of God and the Firmament sheweth his handy work Day unto Day uttereth Speech Night unto Night Of Scripture sheweth Knowledge There is no Speech nor Language where their voice is not heard Psal 19. 1 2 3. The astonishing Works of creation proclaim aloud to all the World there is a God who made them The excellent contrivance of this glorious Fabrick doth shew forth his great Power and infinite Understanding But they do not make known what the Lord requireth of us they do not reveal in what relation we stand towards him they cannot discover our imperfection or how we may please and become like unto him they do not shew the errour of our crooked and perverse wayes or manifest the true Happiness or how we may run towards it and not at uncertainty Neither doth they prescribe how to remedy our natural folly and blindness But the Law of the Lord is perfect converting the Soul the Testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple The Statutes of the Lord are right rejoicing the Heart The Commandment of the Lord is pure enlightning the Eyes It doth what all the World cannot direct into the way of perfect Peace which leads up to everlasting Glory The Prophecy came not in Old time by the Will of Man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1. 21. God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son Heb. 1. 1 2. Who whilst he dwelt amongst us made known the Will of his heavenly Father chusing unto him Disciples to go and teach likewise He instructed them until the time of his Suffering To whom he shewed himself alive after his Passion by many infallible Proofs being seen of them forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. And being assembled together with them commanded that they should not depart from Jerusalem but wait for the Promise of the Father which saith he ye have heard of me Acts 13. 4. It was the Comforter which is the holy Ghost whom my Father will send in my Name he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you John 14. 26. Many things Christ did and said which are not written by the Evangelists some whereof the Apostles have delivered And other things they have laid down out of his Doctrine by infallible inference and deduction They could not be mistaken for they received the Promise John 16. 13. The Spirit of Truth will guide you into all Truth and for a manifest Testimony thereof they foretold things to come which have been and are to be fulfilled In the old Testament the Law of Moses the Prophets and the Psalms so summed up Luke 24. 44. In the New the Writings of Evangelists and Apostles are given to make us wise unto Salvation By these God will judge us at the last day I saw the Dead small and great stand before God and the Books were opened and another Book was opened which was the Book of Life and the Dead were judged out of those things which were written in the Books according to their Works Rev. 20. 12. The Bible is the Lords Statute Book containing those Laws for the Government of the world and according as People have observed oâ— transgressed them he will proceed to acquital or Condemnation In Christ's Sermon on the Mount before he comes to speak as to the Commandments he doth premise Think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets I am not come to destroy the Law but to fulfill For verily I say unto you till Heaven Earth pass one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the Law till all be fulfilled Mat. 5. 17 18. As for the Types and Ceremonies they were but Prefigurations of him that was to come so they vanish when all was finished on the Cross Other Statutes did relate to the Jews in their politick capacity which Moses did ordain from God who was to them
Lord Jer. 17. 5. He gives even unto them all that they have and can do thy self more good then all the Men of the World. Though this is as it were hidden for Tryal whether they will draw off from him and others would run unto them Indeed the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink Rom. 14. 17. but things as will better satisfie then they do now For you eat and drink and hunger and thirst again But if you would seek after that in the mean time you would be quieted with the hopes and Faith thereof till you come actually to sit down at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. A Supper to which all the Dainties of the World are as stinking Carrion It doth infinitely exceed both in Delight and Continuance all the most pleasant things here What would you not do at present if you could get such an Estate as some of thy rich Neighbours have you would think nothing too hard many a Sleepless Night and laborious Day you would suffer with all your Heart if you might attain it But thou seest no way or possibility if thou wouldst never so much desire to do it Well be contented nevertheless and assure thy self that if thou art not slothful but come unto him who will meet thee in the way of Righteousness and then follow hard after him thou shalt undoubtedly come to Heaven when the Great Ones if wicked and disobedient shall be thrust down with Shame and Confusion Or if they fear God do thou endeavour to exceed them in Graces and Well-doing and so be more had in Honour by him who rewards every Man according to his work not so Luke 16. 10. much for what Rank and Degree he was in the World. If thou dost obey the Lord thou wouldst with Patience and Quietness of Spirit endure whatever low Condition thou art in and be rather the more thankful because thereby quickned and stirred up to a Godly Life Sometimes to hunger Prompts to strive the more earnestly to come to that place where you shall be filled You have the less Temptation to take up a Rest here but should more seek after that which is to come It is an hard Case indeed never to do any thing but to take Pains to be like the Ox or Ass to live to no other end but that of Labour but it is not so with you for God hath provided better things if you would accept them He hath ordained a Rest and a Promise is left us of entring Heb. 2. 8. 3. into it And we are Commanded to fear least any of us should come short of it Some we read of Who could not enter in because of unbelief And this same is an hindrance to Men now adays for what makes them who do nothing but toil and yet are unmindful of this true Rest unless it is because they do not believe any such thing But if Men are unbelievers whilst they live they shall not be so when they die for there will succeed a certain fearful Expectation of Judgment and Condemnation The unbelievers shall have their part in the Lake which burneth with Fire and Brimstone Rev. 21. 8. Saith the same Divine Witness I heard a voice from Heaven Saying unto me Write Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their Labours and their Works do follow them Rev. 14. 13. All do not so but only those who die in the Lord. That Saying so common in the mouth of Country People When such an one is dead he is happy because freed from the Pains and Miseries of Life is false when applyed to all indifferently good and bad for this Blessing belongs only to those who have led a Godly Life By Death we fall into the hands of the living God and then he may deal with us as seemeth good in his sight however being a God of Truth he will do so with all of us as is declared in his Word which is Truth And therefore it will be so with us according as we order our Conversation in this present World by the words written in that Book Seeing the Case is thus it must be the more excellent way to fit our selves accordingly We often provide for those things which never happen and if they should are but of small moment Shall we not much more prepare against that which will certainly come and is of greater Concern to every one of us then any thing now in the World is All our Care now is to keep Life for the present and shall no Care be had to live for ever We can never do too much to preserve Health and keep of sullen Death as long as we can And shall not we do the same to escape the second Death that wretched Condition in which Men shall seek for Death and it shall flee from them With all our Pains we cannot hold of temporal Death and yet we would we may by the Grace of God preserve our selves from eternal Death and there we will not Oh strange madness O unspeakable Folly O ye Sons of Men who hath bewitched you to Act so Preposterously Death in it self is not more grievous then Pain or Sickness now is nay not so much for as in Health we fall asleep when we do not perceive it so then those violent Pangs destroy the Sence and Feeling but that which comes to the wicked after renders it exceeding terrible and that should be most dreaded which would not be in vain because it would make us flee from the wrath to come Would we take as great heed least we die after Death as now we do to save our selves from Death then Death should have no Dominion over us it shall not bring Evil but Good unto us The sting of Death is sin but Command is given to pluck that out Cast away from you all your Transgressions whereby ye have Transgressed and make you a new Heart and a new Spirit for why will ye die O house of Israel for I have no Pleasure in the Death of him that dieth saith the Lord God. Wherefore turn your selves and live ye Ezek. 18. 31 32. Here you are taught and also enjoyned how though you die you may live again Look a little further then this present Life It is of few days and full of trouble Who would place his Confidence in that which is uneasie and must an end Time hasteneth away Death is coming on Every Man must at length close with it He must either lye down in Peace which is the Portion of the righteous or dye as the wicked do in Horrour and Anguish of mind or in a stupid Condition as is the Case of most However some admire this sort of Death for they say he dies liâ—â— a Lamb yet there is no Peace saith my God to the wicked Isa 57. 21. Such a Death is like a drunken Mans falling down a steep Rock his Sottishness hath cast him
that Sacrifices and him that Sacrificeth not Even he doth sometimes try and if he finds no present Good of it he leaves off and is confirmed more in ungodliness The steps of the good Man do also well nigh slip He hath Temptations to desist and some little questioning within whether thâ—se things are so for he sees no difference in outward things between him who goeth into the Sanctuary and who doth not A wise Providence ordereth all things in Heaven and Earth yet they go on in thâ— wonted manner Thou that hearest Prayer seemest as if thou heardest it not A thousand kind of thoughts may arise in our minds Whereas it is our infirmity and ignorance of the ways of God It is our Sin and Provocation that makes him so far from us and from hearing the Voice of our Supplication and moves him to have no more to do with us unless his Goodness Condescention and Truth and also some chosen People did preserve his Protection and Care over the Inhabitants of the Earth So foolish was I and ignorant I was as a Beast before thee Psal 73. 22. I did no more understand of the ways of God towards the Children of Men then those dumb Creatures do apprehend his doings Besides original Blindness Sin casts a Cloud over the understanding deprives of the knowledge of the things of God that seeing they may see and yet not perceive and hearing they may hear and not understand have a general understanding but not attain to the Divine Sense of things For what Man knoweth the things of Man save the Spirit of Man which is in him Even so the things of God knoweth no Man but the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 2. 11. Even this which hath been the occasion of so much unbelief and falling away may be clearly understood out of the Scriptures his revealed Will. Seek ye out of the Book of the Lord and read Isa 34. 16. If Men did according to Duty in their doubts Difficulties and Temptations resort to that this would satisfie but the cunning of Satan keeps them off and they would apprehend the things of God any other way then his Book by which only they are to be known The Foundation of all Religion is Faith The just shall live by his Faith Hab. 2. 4. Whatever he sees and observes abroad he resolves all upon this Principle and sticks firm to that This is the first thing insisted upon and required It is observable though God hath done all things to beget a more full assurance of Faith yet there is nothing so very evident as takes off from all manner of doubt for this would exclude and destroy Faith which is the first Decree and Ordinance of God. And therefore he hides himself Job 23. 8 9. and his doings so far as to exercise that Notwithstanding all the Arguments and Demonstrations that are pretended we must at length resolve it upon that of the Apostle Through Faith we understand that the Worlds were framed by the word of God Heb. 11. 3. We know that God is by natural Reason and perfect Demonstration but for things done heretofore and things to come there we believe him true who hath said and promised which is the Office of Faith. Let no Man lay any other Foundation or seek to undermine this which God hath laid for this standeth sure being much more evident and credible to the Hearts of Men then all those intricate Discourses are to those which understand them but insignificant to the People and Difficulties still arise to the learned Reason is very serviceable in its due place of Subordination but it rather confounds when it sets up equal and would seek to overthrow Faith for this first begins all Discourse and inference as to things Divine for we must believe some to be fixed before we can reason from one thing to another When all is done there must be Faith. To maintain and keep this up all Gods doings may be observed to be wisely ordered His letting of things go on in a natural and orderly way may exercise the belief of a Providence for some may be tempted to ascribe them unto Time and Chance That many more of his things are invisible some may thence incline to doubt of and deny them But Faith receives them as revealed And Reason will come into assistance that it may not be thought incridible for it is evident there are some things which are not seen as a Sound or Smell yet these are perceived by the Ear and Nose And so we have as great a certainty of them as the things we see God is invisible and so are the things of this Kingdom yet they are as evident to our own Souls as Carnal things are to Bodily Senses But still we cannot remove all Difficulty We must at last resort and cleave unto this I believe in God and the Revelation he hath made of himself in Scripture Men would fain climb up to certain Evidence then they would serve God and be such as he would have them But thank you for nothing this is purely Selfish and Mercenary Those who will not do it by the way God hath prescribed of Faith and waiting for him may let it alone he cares not for their Services It is so established that Men may believe and yet room may be left for infidelity that all may use the means to come unto Faith and yet some by too curious and wrong inquiry others by Carelessness and neglect may be still unbelievers And therefore Scripture seems to have Penned Mysterious and perplex in many Places that the Tryal of our Faith might be had even as to that how every Title is true and â—hall be fulfilled though some things may appear next to impossible contrary and false by daily Experience Have Faith in God for verily I say unto you that whosoever shall say to this Mountain Be thou removed and be thou cast into the Sea and shall not doubt in his Heart but shall believe that those things he saith shall come to pass he shall have whatsoever he saith Therefore I say unto you what things soever ye desire when ye pray believe that ye receive them and ye shall have them Mark 11. 22 23 24. yet himself who said this did certainly desire with Earnestness If it be possible let this Cup pass from me But himself practised what before he taught us Thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven Nevertheless not as I will but as thou wilt Mat. 20. 39. So we may at this present time pray for something against or not consistent with the Will of God and therefore it is not granted We know the Will of God by what he hath revealed In these last days under the Dispensation of his Son there is little said of temporal things And therefore we have no Promise of Gift or deliverance as to the outward Good or Evil of this present time Ye ask and receive not because ye ask amiss that
now for this short time If both cannot stand together there the least must give place to the greater for more concern is to be had for a Year then for a Minute only Said one Who received the Spirit which did lead into all Truth Know ye not that the Vnrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God nor Thieves nor Covetous nor Extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6. 9 10. So what are accounted the ways of thriving in the World are an absolute hindrance to their Title unto that Men are to be judged by the Scriptures and according as they have done or transgressed are to be admitted or shut out Now this Book Condemns all the proposed Schemes of advantage What is a Man profited if he shall gain the whole World and lose his own Soul Or what shall he give in exchange for his Soul Mat. 16. 26. The Word of God is different from â—ain and common received Opinion The Tempter first instils those principles of Dishonesty Have they not read how he was a Liar from the Beginning He insinuated to our Parents that the forbidden Fruit should do them no harm he beguiled them with a promise and appearance of Good but we have found the contrary The Commandments of God have a shew of inconvenience and Transgression may seem expedient at first but examine things throughly and see how it will be then The great Objection against this Duty and therein it hath a shew of Folly that hereby we become liable to be imposed on suffer Loss and are deprived of opportunity of more Gain Our Lord's Counsel and Command is Be Wise as Serpents and Innocent as Doves Be cautious that you do not receive any Injury and be sure to do none Every Man may preserve his own and use a lawful redress where it is taken away by Wrong The fault found by the Apostle 1 Cor. 6. 6. is when they go to Law before Unbelievers but in the fore going verse he seems to admit thereof before a Christian Magistrate or rather in the first place they should refer it to an Arbitrator Or if it be for trifles there one may suffer himself to be defrauded and pass it over as not worth a wise Mans regard for that is not extended to little things Christianity and Prudence are not in themselves inconsistent but the Error is that some frame notions of Wisdom according to the Opinion and Practice of the World and by that would state the obligations of Duty whereby they make the Commandments of Christ of none effect or by distinctions would correct them But let nothing be done contrary to the least of them whatâ—ver inconveniences may ensue If we suffer Shame or Loss for the Doctrine of Jesus we may trust him a more enduring substance in Heaven will be a sufficient requital It doth seldom happen that any considerable disadvantage doth fall upon any for keeping stedfastly to his Laws when that only and no other is the Reason or if it should it would be made up another way here or hereafter The Meek shall inherit the Earth Mat. 5. 5. He dwells safely and none cares to molest or disturb him And though the baseness of some little poor Souls may extend so far as to Cheat Defraud and take Advantage over his simple Honesty as they phrase it yet this is done privately and in small instances which either he doth not know or not mind and so lives well and contented for all The Vnjust knoweth no Shame Zeph. 3. 5. He may come at length to be so brazen-faced that he doth not value the judgment of Men but so far only is kept in least humane Law take hold of him yet through restraining Providence he will sooner do Wrong to any one then the universally sincere and good Man. Who did ever want Food and Raiment convenient for him only by keeping Gods Commandments It is somewhat hard to Flesh and Blood but it is safe Blessed is the Man that trusteth in him O Fear the Lord ye his Saints for there is no want to them that fear him The young Lyons do lack and suffer Hunger but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing Psal 34 8 9 10. It is Gods Will that they shall comply with his Ordinance of Labour and not be slothful in Business so they being in some Calling and adding there to Honesty and Diligence do not want what is good or necessary for them The Eyes of the Lord are over the Righteous but then they must not tempt God or expect a Miracle that he should feed them as once he did the Prophet with Ravens but they are to use the means he hath appointed Though we do live by Faith and God is not willing that any thing should be made too evident for that would destroy this noble Principle and take off from the excellency of Obedience yet to establish our Trust and Dependance on him he discovers himself more then in any thing We may as it were see with our Eyes his Watchful and especial Providence over his own Servants Those peculiar ones redeemed from all Iniquity do get a livelyhood Or if they are disabled and hindred from Work or Imployment he provides some other way Still he acts most wisely who lives so in this World that he may live for ever He that walketh Righteously and speaketh uprightly He that despiseth the gain of Oppression that shaketh his hands from holding of Bribes Isa 33. 15. Who useth Lawful and prudent means according to the Trade and Occupation he is in and rejects whatever is of Craft and Evil. It is sometimes seen that he may prosper and increase in the World. His Seed shall be mighty upon Earth the Generation of the Vpright shall be Blessed Wealth and Riches shall be in his House Psa 112. 2 3. This was often fulfilled in old time under the Jewish Dispensation who had great measure of temporal Blessings At this time it may be observed whether for their Worship and Service of God or the favour he retains to the Children of Abraham the Sons of Jacob and Joseph or whatever Reason we may in Humility guess at yet they are generally in good estate and plenty though scattered in the World. But to us Christians are promises of better things of the Life that now is and that which is to come one in order to the other as the divine Wisdom thinks fit Those who are Heirs of Salvation for whom the greater things are reserved do commonly live by his Grace and good Providence here in expectation and pursuit after that More is not desired then sufficient for this They look further then barely to live but do something worthy of Life which is only towards that to come As they get means for the first they press forward to the high and eternal Calling There is much talk of living and living well in the World this is the principal Mark at which most aim to get in
11. 3. He gives preserves and continues our Health But yet what is corruptible and weak will wax old and decay Health consists in such an exact disposition of Humours which is easily disturbed by Violence from without Defect or Excess from within The Goodness and Wisdom above doth ordain Strength out of Weakness and continuance from tottering things otherwise it were to be admired that we are not Sick always instead of being so sometimes A Sparrow doth not fall to the ground without the Will of our heavenly Father Nor any Chastisment light upon the Sons and Daughters of Men without his Permission or Order He suffers such an one to fall under the harm of a second Cause or adverse Accident If we would search and examine to the utmost then confess and give Glory unto God we might many times find our Disease to be the natural effect of some Sin or Provocation We became at first subject unto Sickness by Sin only So if we reflect upon Gen. 2. 17. all our foregoing Actions and Circumstances There is some evil which insensibly alters and breaks the sound Constitution or brings it on Speedily and Violently The next thing is to be humbled for the same to accept the Punishment of our Iniquity Lev. 26. 43. I will bear the Indignation of the Lord for I have Sinned against him Mic. 7. 9. We must sincerely resolve if God should spare us this time to watch more carefully against the same for the future now to be unfeignedly sorry for it and to cry mightily unto God. The King of Israel is a Merciful King he will be Appeased and Reconciled Behold Happy is the Man whom God Correcteth Therefore despise not thou the Cbastening of the Almighty Job 5. 17. Then he fully perceives that false shew of Happiness with which Fools and Blind are deluded all along Which they might know in the mean while if they would consider it throughly as they do ever and anon slightly Outward things cannot give so much aid as they vainly promise They are all passed away as a Dream and cannot help in the greatest time of need My Flesh and my Heart faileth but God is the strength of my Heart and my Portion for ever Psal 73. 26. If the Conscience is accused by sin let the Sick Man cast it forth by Confession and Prayer and the Sea will cease from raging The mind will become more quiet Whether the Body dies or lives he is safe when he hath done all things to obtain the Mercy and acceptance of Almighty God. It is a sad Story of those who in time of Dangerous Sickness have made great shews of Reformation and Amendment and after Recovery have returned again unto Folly. And they have not cryed unto me with their Heart when they howled upon their Beds Hos 7. 14. Which word imports no true in ward Sorrow but an outward noise upon apprehension of Danger which goes off with it However God cannot be imposed upon he knows the Thoughts long before searches the Heart and tries the Reins discovers the bottom and inward reserves according to which he will judge So it is not what they pretend but what they will really be Those who have been for a superficial and slight Repentance which they did hope might avail if they should Die but if they Recover then to return to their former evil ways I say these should have done well to have considered What moved them to any Repentance at all the same should engage them to continue and perfect it For admit you should certainly live it is but a Reprieve only You will be Sick again or what is worse cut off suddenly And then things will appear exactly at the same manner again yea worse for the former Hypocrisie and Dissembling As also for that more Sin and Guilt is increased How many years may be added unto your Life is not known but it will be a sad thing to have lived Ionger to have committed more Iniquity and so Die hardened Impenitent or feigned at last At first recovery is uncertain for many have lulled themselves with hope thereof till Death hath been upon them Many things might be urged to disswade people from doing Foolishly and Presumptuously Their own Eternal Happiness or Misery lies at stake It is not a matter to trifle or deal deceitful with Be prevailed upon as you tender the good of Soul and Body to have your Repentance true and sincere By the Trouble or Pain of them think of the Worm which shall never die and the Fire which shall not be quenched and which are to be escaped from only this way Believe in God and Jesus Christ that all things contained in the old and new Testament are certainly true Faith and Repentance are necessary for all Men both in time of Health and Sickness which whoso hath according to Truth is sure for these intitle unto the Promises of him with whom we have to do Health doth consist in a regular Disposition and due Motion of each part of the Body None can see into himself or tell the exact manner how as to every particular I was made in secret and curiously VVrought in the lowest parts of the Earth Thine Eyes did see my Substance yet being imperfect and in thy Book were all my Members written which in continuance were Fashioned when as yet there was none of them Psal 139 15 16. None of us can look into the Womb or whilst in Life can see how all the Members and Parts within do work and move yet after the Body is dead we may perceive somewhat by Dissections which is guess and uncertain for if a number of Men should come into the Shop of an excellent Artist seeing his Tools and Instruments only One may think this another that and so may be divided but can never find out the exact manner of his Art. He that sees a dead Carkase unless he were put in mind by himself carrying about one of the same likeness would be at a stand to answer the Question Was this lump ever in Life He could never by his own Wit and Invention find out the way how it was He would also admire how each part both within and without did move and actuate So wonderful and fearful are Gods Works which puzzle the Understanding of Man. Whether it were to keep of Boasting or other causes yet God doth hold our Souls in Life by hidden and invisible Bands that whatever others pretend unto they cannot perfectly find out and see them The Lord Killeth and maketh Alive He bringeth down to the Grave and bringeth up 1 Sam. 2. 6. He hath kept this in his own Power All the ways he hath set out for Nature to go according unto are not yet known Indeed many of them have been searched after and some found but not all for then those Diseases would be Cured which were not first Mortal and Irrecoverable The prevention of and recovery out of Sickness doth depend upon
who knows them better then he that made and established them rather then according to the common Vogue of others which is meer Opinion and Fancy of the multitude not to be justified from Truth nor Reason then he would be certainly Happy Let not thy Actions be according to others Sayings but be ruled by the Direction of Gods Word for this in most things is contrary to what is commonly received among us We are distinct and several Beings there is a mutual need to keep up Society yet that was intended for our â—enefit and not Destruction â—t is to geâ— Necessaries and Conveniencies for the Body to Admonish and â—nstruct one another this is only to help but to make nothing to assist and â—hew the waâ— but not to add or implant Power Still one Man is divided from another God and himself only is to work out his own Happiness and 't is not in the power of all the World besides so again if he fall away into Misery they cannot absolutely prevent He alone is sensible of the Good and none but himself shall groan â—or the Evil. In this is the Saying true God for us aâ—â— an◠〈◊〉 one for himself What the Israelites told David Thou 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thousand of us is really so as to the meanest Peâ—â—â—â— â—e is more to himself then Ten Thousand times Ten Thousand which prompts especially to what the Prophet adviâ—es 〈◊〉 ye every Man his Soul from the fierce Anger of the Lord Jer. 51. 45. and in all other things relating to his Happineâ—s Our Savâ—our was made of the Seed of David according to the Flesh Rom. 1. 3. Paul doth also Stile some his Brethren according to the Flesh but there is no relation between Souls otherwise then from the common â—â—ock no more then between rayes of the Sun. They shall be all Taught of God as Children of the same Parent Only to talk together of the things pertaining to him and to put one another in mind how they shall most please him The stronger and elder should help the weak according to his different Grace But still as their Being so their End as their Works so their Reward and also of Siâ— and Punishment Every person sâ—all bear his own Burthen The way to Happiness is to live according to what is written in the Holy Book not what is thought in the foolish and corrupt minds of Men as they are such when in Opposition to that This is not so much besides the present Subject as may be first apprehended for this would help to the prevention of Murmuring and getting of Contentment The greater part of Mankind are in a middle state having neither Poverty nor Riches but Food convenient for them And yet are not satisfied Which proceeds from Covetousness Sensuality Pride of which it hath been discoursed severally By observing the â—nsolâ—nt and Contemptuous Carriage of others above them to avoid that they are discontented with what they have and seek greater things They are guided by the opinion of others which hinders from finding rest for it is in anothers power to disquiet them Contempt doth strangely exasperate and though a sure remedy is to despise Contempt yet through the dominion or remainders of Pride this is more easily said then done which yet Grace and Truth are able to subdue and mortâ—fie This would be of much Advantage â—or it is the greatest Sting of the lower Condition wherefore Men are so ashamed of it and are tempted to get higher by right or wrong For in a mean Estate Our Soul is exceedingly filled with â—he scorning of thâ—se that are at ease and with the Contempt of the Proud Psal 123. 4. Let not thy Heart envy Sinners but be thou in the fear of God all the day long Prov. 23. 17. Do not Sin to advance thy present Condition Look not so much upon others but mind thine own things to compare with those above thee will occâ—sion fretting and greedy dâ—sires Consider thy equals and thou art satisfied Cast thine Eye upon those inferiour and thou art thankful Many have not so much Who Labour long and Eat little Who endure great hardship to live but it is not so with thee And they seem less discontented They give praise to God and have good will to their Benefactors for every small Mercy and Kindness Art thou apt to Murmure and be Unthankful who hast more Those poor Wretches shall rise and Condemn thee for they were contented with less things Art thou better then they Pride will dictate so why if they had the same Advantage for Education they would have been the same also but even now God is more pleased with them because they are better satisfied with little then thou with more He that made them made thee who placed them in the lowest degree might have done so with thee also Will you Sin more because he hath dealt more Graciously Doth the Wild Ass bray when he hath Grass or loweth the Ox over his Fodder Job 6. 5. you have sâ—fficient for your natural needs Labour therewith and be contented It is time to come and visit those who are poor indeed that they may see the way how their Condition is to be remedied It is a sore Evil depressing the mind and making the Body seem yet more Vile and Sordid Yet now our Flesh is as the Flesh of our Brethren our Children as their Children Neh. 5. 5. There is no need of describing their Miseries for they are too much known and felt already Evil is no further to be manifested then is necessarv for Provision against it as a Wound is to be Launced in order to a Cure. It is alledged That Custom Their low Thoughts and Desires make this Condition easily born which we otherwise used think insupportable But a continued Evil which one is forced to submit unto all his days is so much the more Grievous Indeed it is Wisdom to have moderate desires stretched no further then the true worth and value of the thing There are Objects answering to each Faculty in Man he is made of perishingFlesh and an immortal spirit the one for Earthly things the other for Heavenly So he hath different desires according to them One covets after the things here and is contented The other those above which at present he is only seeking and in expectation of for they are to be revealed hereafter Now the error may be two ways if the Man lets out both after present and visible things then he is but half satisfied On the contrary it is when they are both stifled and confined within this World when they are pressed down to the Earth and aim no further We have Instances of both mistakes in the Rich Voluptuary and the Poor and Foolish person the first runs out after Happiness till he is tired and disappointed the other cannot do that through Want but he rubs through as contentedly as he can with what is before him not thinking above but is Ignorant and