then leaue a wallet to thy child to go from doore to doore then a cursed hoard of ill gotten goods 12. But aboue all to curbe thine heart from couetousnesse meditate much vpon such places as these Mat. 6. 25. to the end Phil. 4. 6. 1. Tim. 6. 9 10. Iam. 5. 1 2 3. Prou. 23. 5. 1. Pet. 5. 7. VI. Lastly concerning a right and comfortable managing of our spirituall estate a point of deepest consideration and highest consequence take notice of two extremes two dangerous Rockes vpon which the soule may run and split it selfe spiritually 1. The one is a proud ouerprizing of our owne graces with a conceited ouerweening selfe-admiration 2. The other a deiected distrustfull vnderualuing of Gods mercies the promises of life and those graces which we possesse in truth and holy desire though not in that degree wee desire I. Before I can seasonably and preparedly fall vpon the first to instruct punctually and arme the Christian against it with whom I principally deale in this whole discourse giue mee leaue to discouer a mysterie of spirituall Selfe-deceit by which Satan sits presumptuously in the darkned minds and deluded imaginations of those whom with his cunning and malice he hood winkes and hardens to their endlesse confusion Many thousands euen vnder the meanes and in this glorious mid-day of the Gospell are groundlesly conceited that they are right when as in truth and triall they are rotten at the heart roote that they are sure of Heauen when they are as yet most certainely of the family of Hell Neither is this any strange thing so deluded were the foolish Virgins Mat. 25. 11 12. and so are all such outside Christians Those Luk. 13. 26 27. and so are all who stand onely on the worke wrought bare taske of religious duties without the power of inward holinesse The yong man in the Gospell Mat. 19. 20. with that generation Prou. 30. 12. And so are all such ciuill Iustitiares the proud Pharise Luk. 18. 11 12. who was so confident that he gaue God thankes for his blessed condition when he was but yet a cursed vniustified wretch and so are all of his formall straine Those Ioh. 8. 39 who held themselues to bee Abrahams children whereas Christ tels them the Deuill was their father Vers. 44. And so are all those who build onely vpon the outward priuiledges of Christianitie without personall puritie Paul in the state of Pharisaisme and so are all those who wandring out of the path which is called holy swell with a proud opinionatiuenesse and furious zeale aboue the bankes of Gods blessed Booke and bounds of all holy discretion will needs so are aloft on waxen wings of selfe-conceitednesse and superficialnesse to strange and vncouth heights of excellent fancies without hauing euer laid sound foundation in true humiliation for sin and in selfe-deniall the Church of Laodicea Reuel 3. 17. and all such lukewarme Professors Hence wee haue a taste what a world of pâ—…ople are wofully blindfolded by the Prince of this World and through the insinuating imposture and vnexamined delusion of spirituall selfe-deceit are put into a fooles paradise of being already safe and secure for Heauen whereas as yet they are meere strangers to the Mysterie of Christ and the New creation and shall be certainely damned if they so continue for that which is highly esteemed amongst men is abomination in the sight of God saith Christ to the selfe-iustifying Pharises Luk. 16. 15. And yet some sorts of vnregenerate men are here to bee excepted from this generall deluge of selfe-delusion who lye not so grossely inwrapped in the iuggling mists of the deuils Angelicall glory Not that they are better then those deluded Ones or haue any good assurance vpon sound vndeceiuing grounds of their spirituall well-being for such an humble true perswasion is confined only to true Conuerts but it happens by accident that by reason either of the extreme villany of their liues or desperate positions of their Antichristian doctrine they see cleare reasons stand like an armed man in their conuinced consciences that if they continue in their forlorne courses they cannot possibly be saued or faine reasons coine distinctions vpon purpose to exclude all froÌ„ any infallible certainty of saluation They are such as these 1. Grosse hypocrites who deceiue others but not their owne hearts as Iudas 2. Those notorious Ones who in their cold blood 〈◊〉 sticke to confesse that they are yet quite wrong and vtterly wide from the way that is called Holy and will sometimes set a time when they purpose to cast off for euer and casheire their sensuall courses and swaggering company and begin at length to looke towards Heauen and learne the Art of sauing their soules and in the meane time they make a couenant with death and are at an agreement with Hell Isai. 28. 15. 3. Other sonnes of Belial whose hearts by their obstinate wallowing in the worke of darkenesse hardening their foreheads by their impudent vallanies against the face of Heauen and with their owne soule-murthering hands and horrible crueltie pressing an hot iron vpon their consciences are growne at length into such a prodigious Rocke that though they know themselues to be posting towards the pit of Hell yet they are senselesse and fearelesse of that fiery dungeon 4. Those who being conuinced of the truth and goodnesse of the Gospell and approouing in their iudgement and conscience the power and practise of it as the onely way to euerlasting blisse but then reflecting their carnall eyes vpon the furious entisings of their darling sinnes and by the touchstone of sense comparing the pleasures of these which they presently graspe with the spirituall strictnesse and promised ioyes of the other stand infinitely vnresolued and desperately obstinate by no meanes vpon no termes to leaue the present sensuall ioyes of their earthly paradise but rather choose euen in their cold blood to turne their backes vpon God blessed for euer his holy truth seruice seruants and all the glory in the World to come And then by good consequence hauing thus subscribed and sealed by an irreuocable resolution and sworne vassalage to bee Satans for euer and for euer to stand on his side receiue into their hearts an inward certificate that they are vtterly forsaken of God and shall be certainely damned Whereupon they turne euen young deuils they shall haue their perfection in hell boyle inwardly with much malicious blasphemous rage against God whom they haue renounced persecute with implacable spite the blessed Gospel and glorious wayes of Christ which they haue so desperately reiected and gnash the teeth like so many already hellish Fiends against all those happy Ones whom they see walke with constancie and comfort in that holy way to innumetable ioyes which they with certaine knowledge of their heart and against the cleere light of their conscience haue wretchedly abandoned for euer And so sinne against the holy Ghost 5. The Papists also
euer since 2. Resist and crush euery exorbitant thought which drawes to sinne at the very first rising Encounter it with this dreadfull Dilemma Say vnto thy selfe If I commit this sinne it will cost mee vnvaluably more heart-breake and spirituall smart before I can purchase assurance of pardon and peace of conscience then the sensuall pleasure is worth If I neuer repent it will bee the death and damnation of my soule See what a world of misery man brings vpon himselfe by giuing way to the first wicked thought Disc. of true Happinesse pag. 150. 3. Entertaine euer with all holy greedinesse and make exceedingly much of all good motions put into thy heart by the blessed Spirit howsoeuer occasioned whether by the Ministery of the Word mindfulnesse of death Christian admonition reading some good Booke some speciall crosse extraordinary mercy any way at any time Feede enlarge and improoue them to the vtmost with Meditation Prayer and Practise So thou shalt preserue thine heart in a soft holy comfortable temper and heauenward which is a singular happinesse 3. Eleuation and often lifting vp of the heart towards heauen What Christian heart can indure to discontinue its sweet familiaritie and humble entercourse with God for one day Let thy broken heart therefore euery day besides solemne and ordinarie eiaculations Euening and Morning and vpon other speciall occasions bee sure 1. To bathe it selfe deliciously in the blisfull depths of Gods boundlesse mercies in Christ that it may bee happily kept spiritually merry thankefull and in heart to all holy duties 2. To kisse sweetly the glorified Body of our crucified Lord with the lips of infinitely dearest and vnexpressably affectionate loue though the distance bee great yet the hand of Faith will bring them easily together that it may be preserued in peace puritie and reuengefull opposition vnto sinne for as the application of his meritorious Blood is a soueraigne Plaister to heale the wounded conscience to turne Crimsin and Scarlet into snow and wooll so me-thinkes a serious and compassionate commemoration of the deare effusion thereof should bee both a precious corrosiue to eate out the heart of corruption and a speciall preseruatiue to keepe from sinne sith sinne was the principall in slaughtering the Lord of life 3. To cast the eye of hope vpon the glory euerlastingnesse and vnutterable excellencies of that immortall shining Crowne aboue which after this life and this life is but a bubble a smoake a shadow a thought shall be set vpon thy head by the hand of God a very glimpse of the goodly splendour and rauishing beauty whereof is able both to sweeten the bitterest villanies and basest wrongs from the world and wicked men and to dispell those mists of fading vanities and hurtfull fumes of honours riches and earthly pleasures which this great dunghil of the world heated by the fire of inordinate lusts is wont to euaporate and interpose betwixt the sight of mens soules and the blisse of Heauen VI. Be very watchfull ouer thy most predominant and troublesome passion whether it be feare sorrow loue anger c. All of them are vnruly and raging enough but yet commonly one ouer-rules all the rest and playes Rex as they say in the vnregenerate man nay too often offers to rise in rebellion euen against the most sanctified soule Whatsoeuer it be 1. In thy priuate morning sacrifice be sure to lay on loade of deepest groanes and strongest cries for mortifying grace against it and comfortable conquest ouer it Let that period and passage of thy prayers bee enforced and enlarged with an extraordinarie pang of feruencie and feelingly sealed as it were with the most Seraphicall Selah 2. Cut off all occasions whatsoeuer it cost thee which may any wayes stirre awaken and kindle it Withdraw the fewel that ministers food vnto that passionate flame though it should bee as painefull vnto thee as the plucking out of thy right eye or the cutting off of thy right hand Assuredly the pleasures of inward quiet and sweet spirituall calmnesse of thy so vnderstanding Soule will infinitely recompence any paines in oppositions and resistances in that nature 3. Consider seriously before-hand what a deale of disturbance and vnsettlednesse the visible exorbitancy and breaking of it out will breede and bring vpon thy inward man It will be like a dead Flie in a boxe of precious oyntment disgrace all thy graces and full foully darken the glory of thy profession It will be like fire in the Thatch and for the while cast into combustion as it were the whole frame of thy spiritual building and turne the heauenly peace of thy appeased conscience into a bitter tempest Tell mee whether after a lawlesse transgression of those bonds of moderation to which thy Christian resolution hath confinde it and that it hath preuailed against thee with any notorious excesse I say whether at night thou finde not thy spirit quite downe and much deaded to the exercise of prayer or any other euening duty And if vpon thy waking in the night there should be any terrible winde dreadfull thunder or other affrighting accident whether thy heart would not smite thee vpon that occasion with much more feare and apprehensions of horrour I will suppose thy raigning or rather rebelling passion for I speake to the Christian to be choler and anger and then first listen to the counsell which the very morall Sages minister against this spirituall maladie and to the rules and remedies which the light of reason leades vs vnto 1. Cut off say they the causes and the effect wil vanish Quench the firebrands which enrage this fury and thou shalt be at quiet They are such as these 1. Weakenesse of spirit vnmanlinesse of minde Hence it is that old men infantâ—… and sicke folkes are commonly more cholericke then others Impotency and excesse of passion euer argues the disgrace and inferiority of the vnderstanding part the noblest power of the soule And therefore if we would be armed against the sallies and assaults of this domineering raging distemper we must suffer the hiest and heauenliest part of our soule to know and exercise its place and strength Wee must not make our vnderstandings vnder-lings but giue reason his right and regiment 2. Selfe-loue a foolish doting vpon and adoring our selues which springs from the cursed root of Selfe-ignorance and quite puts out that light of Natures law in our consciences Doe as thou wouldest be done by If before thou lose the reines to that short phrensie thou wouldst suppose and set thy selfe in the place of the party with whom thou art angry and then say and doe no more then if thine owne person were the patient it would bee a notable meanes to curbe thy choler and keepe the credit of dipassionatenesse and moderation and make thee patiently suffer that which perhaps thou hast often confidently offered to others 3. An ouertendernesse and delicate nicenesse in bearing wrongs an impetuous impatiencie for being abused Whereas insensibilitie and
and sauing for it is not 1. A meere morall change from notoriousnesse to ciuility and no further 2. Nor a formall change only which addes to morall honesty outward profession and outside conformity to the ordinances holy exercises most duties of Religion no more 3. Nor meerely mentall I meane it thus for I know true repentance is called change of minde in another sence When the vnderstanding onely is illightened with diuine knowledge guilded ouer as it were with the dazeling splendor of generall graces not without some speculatiue flashes of fleeting ioy swimming in the brayne indeede but not rooted in the heart 4. Not temporary only such as that Matth. 12. 43. 2. Pet. 2. 20 22. when a man discontinues and surceases from the outward practise perhaps of all grosse sinnes for a time out of terrour suddaine fright from some Sonne of thunder or vpon triall whether by his owne strength hee be able to endure and digest a diuorce from his darling pleasure and the holy wayes of those who walk towards heauen without too much discontentment for without too sore a crush to his carnall heart hee could be content to looke after a crowne of life and I wite him not Or for some other by-end But because his heart was not honest and good neither did the Word take an humble roote in it nor himselfe resolue vpon a sincere generall and constant selfe-deniall at first hee falls againe vpon his former vomit and againe wallowes in the myre of his sensuall pleasures with more rage and resolution then before 5. Nor partiall where there may bee an outward reformation in the most things but yet there is still retained a secret resolued reseruation of an impenitent intire enioyment of all the delights and full sweetnesse of the bosome sinne which is vtterly incompatible and cannot possibly consist with a truly religious and regenerate state I say my change I onely and infinitely magnifie admire and adore the free grace and loue of my most holy and euer blessed God for it was not onely morall formall mentall temporary or partiall in the sence I haue said but vniuersall both in respect of the subiect and obiect as they say without all reseruations exceptions sensuall distinctions Pharisaicall imposture partialities hypocrisies selfe-delusion For my teachers haue told me by the touchstone of his pure and holy truth That euery true change is of the whole man from the whole seruice of Satan to the liuing God in sincere obedience to his whole Law in the whole course of our liues That it is discernable and differenced from all partiall insufficient hollow halfe-conuersions By 1. Integrity of change I meane in all parts and powers of spirit soule and body in the vnderstanding iudgement memory conscience in the will affections desires thoughts in the eyes eares tongue hands feet for euen as they were members of the body before imployed wholly for Satan and sensualitie so now are they also become instruments of righteousnesse vnto God God begets no monsters as they say a child new-borne hath all the parts of a man though not the perfection of his growth So a new-borne babe in Christ is throughly and vniuersally changed though not yet a perfect man in Christ. 2. Sinceritie of change as well in heart and inwards parts as in life and outward carriage O Ierusalem saith the Prophet wash thine heart from wickednesse that thou mayest be saued how long shall thy vaine thoughts lodge within thee No externall priuiledges of Religion though neuer so glorious no exactnesse of the worke wrought no Pharisaicall formes of deuotion no outward behauiour be it neuer so blamelesse no cost or contributions in the seruice of God will serue the turne without sincerity of heart Though a man should come before the Lord with thousands of Rammes or tenne thousands of riuers of oyle should be giue his first-borne for his transgression the fruit of his body for the sinne of his soule should he bestow all his goods to feede the poore and giue his body to be burned were he able to comprehend within his braine the whole Booke of God and with the largenesse of his vnderstanding deuoure all that holy sence should hee eate and drinke vp at the Lords Table all the sanctified Bread and Wine were hee plunged ouer head and eares in the Water of Baptisme nay if it were possible washed outwardly from top to toe in the precious blood of Christ yet all this were more then all in vaine and vtterly vnauaileable without vprightnesse of the heart and puritie in the inward parts 3. Spirituall growth Vnregenerate men at the best grow but in the generalities flourishes deuout representations and temporary forwardnesse of formal Christianity Which is like the growth of corne on the house top or the seed springing out of the stony ground but the honest and good heart bringeth forth fruit with patience Spirituall stuntings there may bee and standings at a stay for a time But as good corne in a good soyle being refreshed after a binding drought with a groūd-showre springs vp faster and more freshly so it is with the sound-hearted Christian after a dampe in grace to which he may sometimes be subiect For being rowzed and awaked out of such a state by the quickening voice of a piercing ministery the cutting sting of an heauy crosse or some other speciall hand of God he layes hold vpon the Kingdome of Christ with more holy violence then before and labours afterward by the helpe of God to repaire his former spirituall decay with double diligence in watchfulnesse zeale and heauenly-mindednesse Progresse in Christianitie is resembled to the thriuing of a Child which may fall into sicknesse but it many times prooues a growing ague To a man in a race who may stumble and fall but after his rising takes surer footing and runnes faster To the ascending of the Sunne towards midday which may be ouercast with a cloud but after hee hath recouered a cleare sky shines more brightly and sweetely 4. Selfe-deniall Of which see something before page 52. Hee that would soundly comfort his conscience with the true testimony of a true Conuert must at the first giuing his name vnto Christ and vpon his proclaiming Warre and entering the lists against Satan sound with a sincere heart the depth of that fundamentall principle of Christianitie and Christs own holy rule If any man shall come after me let him deny himselfe c. Assoone as hee resignes vp himselfe to this Royall seruice vnder the colours of the Lord Iesus he must presently in our Sauiours sence make ouer all his interest in liberty life liuelihood all earthly pleasures and treasures without any reseruation or he will certainely faint and fall off in the day of battaile The necessitie of this rule and resolution is intimated vnto vs in two Parables Luk. 14. 28 31. A man that will build must count the cost beforehand and make sure of meanes to
it habitually and resolutely against an illightned impenitent conscience and yet looke for Heauen thou art deceiued thou hast made a lye thy refuge and hid thy selfe vnder falsehood And why because Gods Word saith that the Fearefull and Vnbeleeuing and the Abominable and Murtherers and Whoremongers and Sâ—…rcerers and Idolaters and all Lyers shall haue their part in the Lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death Reuel 21. 8. Conceiue proportionably of lying in any other sinne damned in Gods Booke in the sence I haue said If thou abidest in the state of meere ciuill honestie and yet thinkest with thy selfe that thou art thereby furnished sufficiently for future happinesse it is but a false flash And why Because the Word saith Without holinesse no man shall see the Lord Heb. 12. 14. Which necessarily implyes That no meere ciuill man can possibly bee saued If thou bee a luke-warme Laodicean and yet conceiuest thou art rich enough spiritually and lookest to bee saued thou art deceiued And why Because the Word saith That Christ will spew such a one out of his mouth Reuelation 3. 16. Euen as a filthy bitter vomit is to the stomacke mouth and man that spewes it out such are all luke-warme formall professors to the Lord Iesus Christ as himselfe there professes A terrible and flaming sentence vttered from the Iudge his owne mouth in the meane time which mee thinks should horribly affright thousands in our daies who stand for a frozen formality heartlesse indifferency reserued neutrality and politicke moderation in profession and practise of religion Thus a true restimony and sound perswasion of a good estate to Godward euer holds correspondence to the Word and is infallibly grounded thereupon Obiect Say you so In spirituall cases and poynts of faith how is it possible that a man should bee infallibly certaine of that by the Word which is not contained in the Word either immediatly or by good consequence But Bellarmine affirmes that this particular proposition Such or such a man is truely iustified is not contained in the Word of God either immediately or by good consequence c. Answer To let passe at this time that which some worthy Diuines presse in this poynt that such places as these Psalm 103. 3. Esa. 43. 32. Rom. 10. 9. Gal. 2. 20. c. intimate and imply such a particular proposition immediately I answer that it is deduced by euident consequence out of the Word For from such generall promises and propositions as these He that beleeueth on the Sonne hath euerlasting life Ioh. 3. 36. Whosoeuer beleeueth in him shall receiue remission of sinnes Act. 10. 43. And by him all that beleeue are iustified from all things c. Act. 13. 39 c. follow by good consequence these particulars Paul Peter Luther Caluin Beza Bradford or any other particular man beleeuing in him receiues remission of sinnes is iustified hath eternall life Euen as it followeth directly and infallibly euery man is a reasonable creature therefore Iohn Thomas c. is endewed with reason Though no word saith expressely and immediately Thou Thomas beleeuing shalt be saued yet the same word which saith Euery one beleeuing hath eternall life saith also Thou Thomas beleeuing hast eternall life or shalt be saued As on the contrary this vniuersall He that beleeueth not the Sonne shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him includeth vertually consequently infallibly as though they were writ in it these particulars Iudas Bellarmine or Bonner c. not beleeuing shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him Otherwise if the generall did not thus sufficiently include and comprehend euery particular and an vniuersall proposition all subordinate singular propositions vnder it the Law Thou shalt not kill thou shalt not commit adultery Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbour would not belong to Faux blowing vp the Parliament to this or that Priest polluting himselfe in hearing confession to Bellarmine lying voluminously because it s no where expressely writ Thou Bellarmine shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbour Thou shaueling beware of selfe pollution Thou Faux shalt not teare in pieces the Royall limbs of the Lords Anointed If Iohn or Thomas beleeuing be not bound to be assured of his saluation out of the generall promise except it were said somewhere in Scripture That Thomas or Iohn by name should be saued it would follow that these particular men were not bound to be honest men or to feare God because it is no where said in the Word that Thomas or Iohn ought to be honest men or are commanded to feare God but onely in the generall In a word let the Iesuite tell mee whether out of the Word he be infallibly certaine that his body shall rise againe at the last Day He dare not for his heart deny it And I pray you Bellarmine tell me where it is particularly and expressely said in Scripture That the body of Robert Bellarmine shall rise againe at the last Day All particular infallible assurance in this kinde springs out of the generall proposition and promise that All shall rise 1. Cor. 15 c. 2. That heart which doth sweetly enioy the Paradise of a true testimony and well grounded perswasion that it presently liues the life of grace and immortality is sincerely affected and inflamed with a reuerent loue and insatiable longing after the Word preached and read prayer singing of Psalmes meditation conference vowes daies of humiliation vse of good bookes godly company all Gods ordinances and good meanes appointed and sanctified for our spirituall good Because thorow them as so many golden conduits those gracious sauing operations of the holy Ghost are conueyed and continued vnto it which minister sound matter and true grounds of such comfortable assurance and in the conscionable vse and exercise of them also are woont sometimes to be secretly and sensibly breathed into it such heauenly reall refreshings themselues which the ioy of the whole worlds enioyment cannot possibly equall But now the affection this way of those who are Pharisaically puft vp with a groundlesse conceit and vaine confidence is faint and formall partiall and reserued not accompanied with that vniuersality and vniformity of reuerence and respect to all the blessed ordinances and meanes of grace It is euer the woont and wilynesse of such to qualifie their countenance and correspondence to these with that moderation and temper which may bee compatible and plausibly consist with the safety of their temporall happinesse and security of their bosome sinne And no maruell though their affection in this kinde be not so hearty and hold out for they draw no speciall vertue and sweetnesse from Christ through them And their conceit of being right is not fedde from the brests of the Bible and with the heauenly Manna of a conscionable Ministery but built vpon those insufficient grounds and rotten proppes I discouered and disabled before 3.
heauenly gifts emplanted in his Childrens hearts and then thereby so enuenomes and blasts them that they lose not onely their owne natiue splendour and gracefulnesse but also their fruitfull communication to others and comfortable acceptation with God I say when he sees a man extraordinarily enriched with spirituall graces hee seekes might and maine to make him swell with priuy pride and to puffe him vp with an ouerweening conceit of his owne worth that so the Christian himselfe may want the comfort of them his brethren the fruit of them and God the glory of them When the strong man can no longer keepe goodnesse out of the soule but the holy Ghost with a mercifull violence breakes in vpon him and dwels there his next endeauour is to abuse euen Grace it selfe as an vnhappy instrument to weaken and wound it selfe nay so subtill is he and endlesse in his attempts that if he cannot make a man proud of any thing else hee will labour to make him proud that he is not proud and to glory vainely because hee is not vaineglorious The originall and breeding of this canker in the sanctified soule I haue discouered in my Discourse of true happinesse page 25. and there made tender of some corrosiues and counterpoysons against it To which at this time I adde these When thou beginnest with an ouerweening conceit to admire thy selfe immoderately aboue that which is meet cast thine eye 1. Vpon the purity and piercing of Gods all-seeing Eye ten thousand times brighter then the Sunne and purer then purity it selfe which sees sinne to be infinitely more sinfull and loathsome then thou canst possibly whereby His holy Iustice is incensed with infinite indignation and vnquenchable seueritie against it Witnesse the turning into Deuils irrecouerable destruction and euerlasting downefall of so many glorious creatures the top and masterpiece as it were of all Gods handyworke shining once so fairely in the highest heauen and neerest vnto his Emperiall Throne The curse which fell vpon Adam and all his posterity for eating the forbidden fruit The confusions which came vpon the first world by the flood The burning of Sodom with fire and brimstone from heauen The fearefull reiection of his owne ancient people The horrours of a guilty enraged conscience which is a hell vpon earth and damnation aboue ground The euerlasting fire which is prepared for reprobate men and angels c. Neither doth this brightest Eye onely see all thy sinnes in their natiue foulenesse but also in their truest number Thou perhaps for want of more spirituall eye-salue beholdest them but as starres in a gloomie euening but assure thy selfe He sees them as moates in the Sunne and as Starres in the clearest winters midnight Methinkes this mortifying meditation should rather make thee grow into further detestation of sinne then admiration of thy selfe 2. Vpon the incomprehensible perfections and absolute purenesse of Gods most holy nature the splendour whereof doth dazle the clearest eyes of the brightest Seraphims doth drowne as it were all Angelicall glory as the Sunnes presence the light of lesser starres much more doth it vtterly darken the materiall beauty of all the lights in heauen Were the Sunne which is made all of brightnesse and the euer-springing fountaine of fresh shining beames presented before that vnapproachable Light which besets Gods sacred Throne it would vanish away as a darkesome moate and lumpe of vanity Where then would a fraile sinfull man in a house of flesh appeare Behold saith Iob hee put no trust in his seruants and his Angels hee charged with folly how much lesse on them that dwell in houses of clay whose foundation is in the dust which are crushed before the Moth chap. 4. 18 19. Behold he putteth no trust in his Saints yea the heauens are not cleare in his sight how much more abominable and filthy is man which drinketh iniquitie like water chap. 15. 15 16. Behold euen to the Moone and it shineth not yea the starres are not pure in his sight how much lesse man that is a Worme and the sonne of man which is a Worme chap. 25. 5 6. A glimpse as it were of that highest glory shining euerlastingly in that purest increated Essence God blessed for euer did make righteous Iob to abhorre himselfe and repent in dust and ashes Holy Isaiah to cry Woe is mee for I am vndone And so if thou also turne thine eye from the vanity of selfe-admiration toward the infinite Sunne of absolute and incomprehensible purity and then reflect vpon thy selfe as he that hath gazed too much vpon our visible Sunne looking downe againe seeth nothing thou shalt behold the nothingnesse of thine ouerweened worth and nothing but darknesse and deformitie and so shalt finde infinite more matter of humiliation and abhorring thy selfe in dust and ashes then of selfe-estimation and conceitednesse 3. Vpon the cleere Cristall of Gods pure Law which can discouer vnto thee the least spot that euer stained so much as any one of thy thoughts shines with that perfect light that it would guide aright euery step which thou makest in the way which is called Holy and is of that latitude for prohibition of sinne and leading to purity and exact pleasing of God that though wee may see an end of all perfection yet it is exceeding broad And therefore though such as hate to be reformed especially if their consciences be waking and working are drawne to a particular and punctuall suruey of themselues and all their wayes in this pure Cristall euen as a Beare to the stake a Bankerout to his counting booke an Elephant to the vnmudded water a foule face to the Looking-glasse They are well enough content to heare the Commandements read restraining their vnderstandings onely to the grosse acts Thou shalt not kill c. and perhaps iustifying themselues Pharisaically thereabouts but come to the holy strictnesse of Christs exposition Whosoeuer looketh on a Woman to lust after her hath committed adulterie with her already in his heart c. and it strikes full cold to their impure hearts and causeth them to cry out against the men of God Why doe you torment vs before our times I say though it bee thus with the vnregenerate by reason of their guilty and gauled consciences yet let it bee thy delight who art blessed with an euerlasting impregnable protection by the blood and merit of Iesus Christ from the curse and rigour of the Law to peruse thy selfe punctually by this heauenly Looking-glasse for the discouerie of thy defects and aberrations and to diue with searching and serious meditation into this adored depth of perfection and puritie to see how farre thou comest short and then thou shalt finde infinite more cause to presse hard towards the marke then to looke vpon that which is behind or proudly to prize any thing that is past Onely I aduise when thou setst thy selfe thus solemnely to rip vp thy conscience and ransacke thy heart to the roote to
day-labour will helpe him to heauen and serue his turne for saluation And if any of these sottish cauillers be questioned challenged for the vnsoundnesse of his spirituall state he will be ready with absurd rudenesse and irkesome clamour to breake out into such brags as these What tell you mee of these high points or trouble mee with this new learning I was neuer asked thus much before in all my life and yet the time is to come that euer our Parson threatned to keepe me from the Communion I doe no man wrong I pay euery man his owne I am neither thiefe nor drunkard nor whoremaster I liue peaceably amongst my neighbours c. I know as much as the Preacher can tell me though he preach out his heart That I must loue God aboue all and my neighbour as my selfe and that I hope I doe c. whereas poore blinded soule hee is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pride ignorance prophanenesse and impenitencie as the skin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and is â—…moothly carried hoodwinckt by the diuell to hell without all noyse or any contradiction 7. The worke of Gods restraining Spirit Which sometimes by its power and terrour keepes in and confines a mans inward corruption that it breakes not out into such open outrages and outward villanies as in some other wicked Ones And that for the good and quiet of his owne people or some other secret ends seene and seeming good to his heauenly Highnesse Now this restraint by the delusion of the deuill and deceit of a mans owne heart may bee apprehended as a great conquest ouer corruption and so a conuersion thence vainely concluded 8. Education in a religious family thus Some in such a place being onely outwardly warmed with the heate of holy exercises about them and by custome and for company growne conformable to religious duties with some contentment depart thence with a â—…aineglorious conceit and vnsound perswasion that they are also of the right stampe because they were so long amongst spirituall tooles and at the fire which might indeed haue truly melted their yet too frozen and flinty hearts Put a Sow into a greene medow and shee will keepe her selfe as faire as the Sheepe but let her breake out and she will wallow againe in the mire as filthily as before so it is with too many such 9. Much knowledge and noble defence of that blessed Orthodoxe Truth which wee professe without a kindly sauing impression of goodnesse and grace in the heart Many great men and great Schollers more is the pitie are empoysoned with this conceit they are selfe conceited that if they be zealous Patrones and protectours of true Religion they are safe enough for saluation though alas they be meere strangers nay too many times opposites to the power and practise thereof 10. The benefit of a better nature and a constitution not so precipitant and prone to some corruptions For instance A man hereby may see others lâ—…e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 most abominable beastly sinne of drunkennesse when his heart riseth against such swinish filth others transported with furious and fiery passions when as his milder temper knowes no such rage others hunting after high roomes with the hazzard of their soules and certaine ship wracke of a good conscience when as his solitary disposition affects retirednesse and home Thus when it is many times the infirmity impotencie or deformity of nature or at best but the naturall moderation of a better complexion that dis-inclines and disables him from the acting of some grosser euils hee fondly conceiues that it is the power and soueraignetie of grace which makes the difference betwixt himselfe and other sons of Belial who by natures impetuousnesse are more prone and prouoked thereunto 11. The heartlesse effects of slauish feare which sometimes will curbe some kinde of men from committing some notorious sinnes and spurre them forward to the outward performance of some holy duties yet they not marking the motiues manner or end nor taking to heart at all the grosse exorbitancy of any of them but onely eying the worke wrought may causlesly bee too well conceited of themselues and so coozen their owne soules But let no true-hearted Nathaneel heere mistake I know some of Gods dearest Children who make conscience of all sinne and to please God in all things yet in darkenesse of their melancholy or heate of temptation may feare all is naught with them because they feare they doe all for slauish feare But their feares iealousies hearty complaints and holy desires to the contrary may minister comfort enough if they will be counselled vntill they come out of temptation 12. Euen the blessed Word of God misunderstood and wretchedly abused to the deuils aduantage and damnation of mens soules For instance Some sucke poyson out of that heauenly flower Rom. 10. 13. Whosoeuer shall call vpon the name of the Lord shall be saued collecting and concluding thence that if they can say Lord Lord though they bee meere strangers to the life of Grace yet they shall liue for euer But such should know that euery one who in that sauing sence calleth vpon the Name of the Lord must depart from iniquity 2. Tim. 2. 19. and must sauingly beleeue Rom. 10. 14. Now such a fruitfull faith euer purifies the heart Acts 15. 9. and is inseparably attended with a glorious traine of heauenly graces vertue knowledge temperance patience godlinesse brotherly kindnesse charity 2. Pet. 1. 5 6 7. I haue heard with mine owne eares that place Rom. 12. 1. sottishly peruerted to the maintenance of lukewarmenesse coldnesse in Religion and goodfellowship When purity in heart holinesse of life vniuersall obedience and other requisites to saluation haue beene pressed it hath beene replyed in good earnest I pray you why are you so hote what needs all this what needs so much adoe when a reasonable thing will serue the turne Is it not said which is your reasonable seruice Now I often wonder what such men as these meane who are Proctors and pleaders for this Leodicean reserued mediocritie and politike moderation in matters of heauen what worship and seruice they would proportion out for the All-powerfull God Doth any man of braine conceiue that the mighty dreadfull Lord and Iudge of all the world who offers vnto vs by the Ministerie in the meane time his owne deare Sonne with all the rich purchases of his hearts blood and would giue vs the full fruition of himselfe heereafter with all the glory and endlesse felicities aboue will be bobd off if I may so speake with an heartlesse formall outwardnesse with a cold rotten carkasse of religion It cannot be He is a Spirit and must be worshipped in Spirit and truth If men will needs harden themselues in bitternesse and blasphemies against the purity and power of godlinesse if they will still browbeate and beare downe their brethren for their zeale and feruencie in the affaires of God let them teare those sacred leaues out of Gods blessed Booke that sparkle out vnto vs
the holy fire of forwardnesse and heate and presse vpon vs punctually power spirit and quickning in heauenly businesses and the seruices of our most bountifull and euer-blessed God See Luke 13. 24. Rom. 12. 11. Eph. 5. 15. Matth. 5. 29 30. 11. 12. 1. Cor. 9. 24. 1. Thes. 5. 22. Phil. 1. 10. 13. A bare speculatiue opposition and verball contradiction to the corruptions of the times and controuerted ceremonies For I doubt there are some who seeing some of Gods dearest Children both godly Ministers and other Christians onely out of tendernesse of conscience stand vnresolued about these latter are too well perswaded of themselues spiritually for a meere boystrous masterlike partaking with them in that particular when as they haue no part at all in their holy graces and humble sanctification 14. An ouerheady furious zeale in will-worship superstitious formes and selfe-conceited seruices As in Paul yet vnconuerted and many ignorant Papists not so exactly acquainted with Antichristian Schoole-points in the pursuite of some religious distempers and spirituall exorbitancies bred onely in some phantasticall braine giuen ouer for horrible pride to strong delusion yet tendered with many holy pretences and representations of highest perfection nay sometimes seconded with strange reuelations and raptures the meere iugglings of the deuils Angelicall glory in melancholike or otherwise deluded imaginations and so Satan can put a Familist or Anabaptist euen into a trance of imaginary ioy 15. Serious meditation vpon that quickning passage of Christs holy Sermon of the fewnesse of those which shall be saued should properly and naturally keene our desires and endeauours to a singular constant contention after an holy strictnesse forwardnesse and fruitfulnesse in euery good worke and all the waies of God that wee might bee sure to bee in the number of those few yet by accident it may confirme some kind of men not so notorious vnder the meanes yet vnconuerted in a false perswasion of their good estate to Godward and that thus Some there may be of larger capacity and more vnderstanding who out of a contemplation of that great vniuersall deluge of Turcisme Paganisme Iudaisme and Infidelity which at this day doth fearefully ouerflow the face of the Earth scarce the fifth part whereof now professeth Christ and also out of a neerer consideration of the state of Christendome wherein Popery that foule sinke and Hydra of all heresies besides too many other exorbitant giddy deuiations from the sobrietie and analogie of true Religion and the path which is truly called Holy mightily preuaile and damnably empoyson innumerable soules and which is yet more feeing so many amongst those who professe Christ truly I meane in respect of doctrine notoriously lewd and prophanely naught so many Atheists Drunkards Scorners Swearers Worldlings c. And then after this prospect and suruey abroad reflecting a partiall eye vpon themselues and their owne wayes and finding themselues in the bosome of the Church and ciuill men thinke verily out of their extreme blindnesse and spirituall folly that Heauen would be vnfurnished and vnfilled if they should be excluded and that it were a disparagement to the mercies of God to ranke and arraigne them amongst Turks and Pagans at that last great Day But if to their ciuill honesty they adde a formall profession why then they thinke they haue a great deale of wrong if saluation be denied them then already in conceit they knock bounce as it were at the Gates of heauen for entrance with great boldnesse and confidence like the foolish Virgins Matth. 25. 11. and those Matth. 7. 22. and with the Pharise giue God thanks for their good estate to Himward Alas poore soules Let no man deceiue you with vaine words neither delude your owne soules with idle fancies To whomsoeuer the glorious Gospell of Christ shines sauingly and breathes spirituall life they must deny vngodlinesse and worldly lusts liue soberly righteously and godlily in this present world Meere ciuill honesty neuer brought any vnto Heauen And euery lukewarme Professor shall certainely bee spued out of the mouth of Christ. 16. But amongst all the vnsound grounds insufficient matter and false mediums vpon which Satan and the deceitfull heart labour to erect their rotten buildings of vaine hopes in the credulous conceits of those who are carried hoodwinkt towards Hell all which in the time of triall and vnder the tempest of Gods visiting wrath will prooue but a Spiders web They shall leane vpon their house but it shall not stand they shall hold it fast but it shall not endure I say amongst them all there is not any that doth set on the counterfeit seale of this false perswasion with more peremptorinesse and confidence then a concurrence of those excellencies perfections endowments incident to Temporaries and attaineable in the state of vnregeneration which I haue touched in my Discourse of true happinesse and may bee collected from such places as these Matth. 27. 3 4. Mark 6. 20. Luk. 13. 26. and 18. 11 12. Matth. 12. 53. 25. 1 c. Heb. 6. 4 5. 2. Pet. 2. 20 22. Now these and the like are the vnsound seeming and vnsufficient grounds whereupon the Deuill workes and doth easily by the aide of naturall presumption and his owne Angelicall flashes insinuate and inferre his soule-coozening conclusions and cunningly infuse the poyson of spirituall selfe-deceit thus or in the like manner I will giue instance onely in the last he is woont also proportionably from the rest to conclude such groundlesse confidence and false perswasions of a good estate towards God Whosoeuer doth with some penitent remorse tremble vnder the reuenging wrath of God for sin and out of that horror confesseth and maketh restitution and yet so did Iudas Mat. 27. Whosoeuer reuerenceth a godly Minister heares him gladly and doth many things after his doctrine and yet so did Herod Mark 6. 20. Whosoeuer doth hold conformitie in profession with the best c. and yet so did the foolish Virgins Mat. 25. Whosoeuer is an hearer of the Word and that with quicknesse and receiues it with ioy and yet so doth the stony ground Matth. 13. 20. Whosoeuer is able to disclaime grosse sinnes giues euery man his due fasteth praieth and giueth almes and yet so did the Pharise Luk. 18. 11. 12. Matth. 6. 1. Whosoeuer is illightned tastes of the heauenly gift c. and yet such may afterward fall away irrecouerably Heb. 6. c. is sure enough to be saued at last But I may the deluded Pharise and formall Professor say finde and feele all or most or many of these in my selfe For what any vnregenerate man hath heretofore attained it is not impossible but that any now or hereafter may attaine the same Therefore doth hee conclude falsely out of Satans Sophistry I am safe enough for saluation And in all this Satan lest hee should be wanting to his labours by a lying resemblance to imitate the worke of the holy Ghost in the hearts