been said in order to this morning Exercise As you have heard so you have seen Application to the morning exercise this Moneth now elapsed hath brought to your view an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Model of sound words you have had as it were the Summe and Substance of the Gospel preached over in your hearing I know it falls far short both in respect of Matter and Method of a perfect body of Divinity an exact and full delineation of all the chief Heads and Principles of Religion But considering the smallness of the Circle of this monethly course in which this Model was drawn I dare take the boldness to say there hath as much of the Marrow and Spirits of Divinity been drawn forth in these few Morning Lectures as can be rationally expected from men of such various Studies and assidnous labours in the Ministerial work Former ages have rarely heard so much Divinity preacht over in many years as hath been read in your ears in twenty six dayes These few Sermons have digested more of the Doctrine of faith than some large volumes not of a mean consideration now extant in the Church of God Truely every single Sermon hath been a little 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 within itself Each Subject in this morning Exercise hath been handled in so ample a manner and with so much judgement acuteness and perspicuity that it may well passe for a little Treatise of Divinity wherein many profound Mysteries have been discust and stated not with more judgment in the Doctrine than with life and vigor in the Vse and Application The Preachers have sought to find out acceptable words Eccles 12. and that which was spoken was upright even words of truth Insomuch that a man that had never heard of a Gospel before this moneths conduct had been sufficient not only to have left him without excuse but with the wise mens STAR to have led him to Christ The more I dread to think what a tremendous account you have to make who after twenty twirty fourty years Revelation of the Gospel have the addition of this moneth of Sabbaths also to reckon for in that day when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven in flaming fire c. if while in this Mirror 2 Thes 1.8 beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord you are not changed into the same image from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord. I shall not undertake as * Morning Exercise May 1654. formerly to extract the Summe and Substance of what you have heard I have some hope to be saved that labour upon a better account I shall recount to you the Heads only and Points of Christian Doctrine which have been handled in this Monethly Exercise that now in the close of all you may behold as in a Map or Table the Method and Connexion which they hold amongst themselves 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Or a Summary repetition of the Heads of Divinity preacht upon in this Course The first Divine after the preparatory Sermon that preached to you began with that which is the first and chief object of Knowledge and Faith that α and ω in Divinity Subject 1 THERE IS A GOD Heb. 11.6 He that cometh to God must believe that GOD is c. Hereupon because if there be a God then he is to be worshipped and if to be worshipped then there must be a Rule of that worship and if a Rule it must be of Gods own appointment therefore Subject 2 The Second dayes work was against all other Books and Writings in the world to Evince this Truth the SCRIPTVRES CONTAINED IN THE BOOKS OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT are THE WORD OF GOD 2 Tim. 3.16 All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God By these Scriptures that great Mysterious Doctrine of the Trinity which the light of nature can no more discover than deny was asserted and opened as far as so profound a Mystery can well admit and so The third mornings work was to shew Subject 3 THAT IN THE GODHEAD THERE IS A TRINITY OF PERSONS IN VNâ—TY OF ESSENCE GOD THE FATHER GOD THE SON AND GOD THE HOLY GHOST God blessed for ever 1 Joh. 5.7 There are three that bear Record in Heaven the FAHER the WORD and the HOLY GHOST and these three are ONE Subject 4 The Creation of Man in a perfect but mutable Estate by the joynt Power and Wisdom of these three glorious Persons was the Fourth Subject opened from that Text Eccles 7.29 God made man upright but they have sought out many inventions Man thus Created God entred into a Covenant with him and so the COVENANT OF WORKS which God made with Adam and all his posterity succeeded in order to be the Subject matter of the Subject 5 Fifth morning Lecture the Text was Gen. 12.17 In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die This Covenant no sooner made almost then broken the work of him that preacht the Subject 6 Sixth Sermon was THE FALL OF ADAM and therein more specially of PECCATVM ORIGINALE ORIGINANS or ORIGINAL SIN IN THE FIRST SPRING and fountain of it the Scripture Rom. 5.12 By one man sin entred into the world c. The Fruit and sad effect whereof being the losse of Gods image and the total depravation and corruption of mans nature Subject 7 The seventh thing that fell naturally to be handled was Peccatum originale originatum or Original corruption in the STREAM and DERIVATION OF IT TO POSTERITY from Psal 1.5 Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in Sin did my Mother conceive me This is the Source of all that evil that hath invaded all Mankind that therefore which naturally succeeded in the Subject 8 Eighth course of this morning Exercise was MANS LIABLENESS TO THE CURSE or the MISERY OF MANS ESTATE BY NATVRE Deut. 27.1 Cursed is every one that continueth not in all the things of the Law to do them or Ephes 2.3 By nature the children of wrath Subject 9 Ninthly Mans impotency to help himself out of this miserable estate was the next sad Prospect presented to your view by that Reverend Brother that preached the ninth course and he took his rise from Rom. 5.6 When we were without strength Christ died for the ungodly That the doctrine of mans impotency when it had laid him in the dust might not leave him there the Subject 10 Tenth Preacher discoursed to you of the COVENANT OF REDEMPTION consisting of the transaction between God and Christ from all Eternity from that Text Isa 53.10 He shall see the travel of his soule and be satisfied In the eleventh place THE COVENANT OF GRACE REVEALED IN THE GOSPEL came next to be unfolded as being if I may so say the Counterpart of the Covenant of Redemption which the Preacher to whom the Subject 11 Eleventh course fell opened to you out of Heb. 8.6 Jesus Christ hath obtained a more excellent Ministry by how much also he is the Mediatour
can doubt but an Atheist that thinks there is no God That there has been a Revelation from God is acknowledged by the Gentiles for they looked upon their Oracles as answers of their gods and it is acknowledged also by the Jewes who tell us that Moses had their Laws from God upon the Mount and all the Prophets were moved and excited by God to deliver their errands to them since there is a God God may make a Revelation of his minde 2. Prop. That there should be a Revelation of Gods minde and will every man cannot but grant it to be highly reasonable for alas poor man is a sinner a pitiful dark blind thing now he cannot but confesse though he hath no Bible yet surely he is not what he was when he came out of Gods hand but he is now ignorant and does not know all his duty and he is backward to do that which he does know and if he was not backward he could tell whether God would accept of it or not therefore man cannot but say it is a thing h ghly reasonable that there should be a Revelation of the will of God that he might know his duty and if he did do it God would take it kindly at his hand 3. Prop. We ought to have good satisfaction for that which we entertain as a Divine Revelation for there are more persons come in Gods name than have Gods commission a great many more say Thus sayes the Lord then ever were bid to speak Gods Word As we cannot believe we know not what so we cannot believe we know not why whoever believes any thing he hath some reason why he does believe it 2 Tim. 3.14 Continue in the things whereof thou hast been assured 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hesych Quorum firma seu plena fides tibi facta est Fulleri Miscel lib. 1. cap. 19. not those things which are concredited and trusted to thee but those things of which thou hast been assured Now saith our Saviour John 4.22 Ye worship ye know not what intimating persons ought to understand what and why they worship we are not born with this notion that this Bible is a beam of the Sunne of righteousness we must therefore see why we entertain it That rule is excellent though I must not nor cannot give a reason of every thing believed for many things far transcend all that my short understanding is able to reach yet I must and I am bound to give a reason of all that I believe because God hath said it When the Gospel was preached the Bereans were commended for examining whether those things were so or not I am satisfied this Book is Gods Word I have reason enough to believe whatever is reveal'd for God is too good to deceive and too wise to be deceived and therefore shew me but that God hath said it and that it is really Gods minde I have all the reason in the world to believe it but now I must have some reason for which I believe that this book is the revelation of Gods minde and will 4. Prop. Where we ought to be satisfied there 't is certain God hath given minds desirous of satisfaction to see some ground for it I mean since 't is so great a matter we ought not to be fondly credulous No question but God hath given sufficient evidence of that he would have us maintain as the manifestation of his own pleasure for thus I argue If we neither have nor can have any thing to discern what is from God and what is not from God then we must either resolve to believe nothing at all as never knowing but that we may be cheated or else believe what comes first to hand be it what it will therefore I say where God would have us entertain any thing of his minde 't is certain he gives us sufficient evidence 't is so I say God intended to give satisfaction to a minde that 's desirous of it not to a man that is peremptory wilful and resolute of his own way let God say what he will God will not satisfie every angry Jew that will hold fast his own prejudices nor every sensual Gentile that lives in nothing but profanesse but an ingenuous spirit that willingly gives up himself to the truth of God and lays down every prejudice and is willing to be taught by him this is the person to whom God intends real satisfaction 5. Prop. All the evidence which we have of any thing is either from reason or sensation As it is impossible a man should give credit to that which can no way be made credible so whatsoever is made credible to us is made so from some faculty now all our faculties are either ratiocination or sensation either the workings of our understanding or else things we feel believe such a thing why I feel it see it hear it 6. Prop. We have rational evidence this book we call the Bible is Gods Word and of Divine Authori y. 7. Prop. Good men have inward sensations that this book is from God Now I am come to the grand businesse I have told you there may be a Revelation from God since there is a God it 's highly reasonable there should be such a Revelation we ought to have satisfaction in what we entertain as a Revelation of God where we ought to be satisfied God hath given it to a minde willing to entertain it all the evidences we can have of a thing whereby we should be satisfied must either be from our reason or sense And now we have rational evidence this book we call the Bible is of Divine Authority I will dwell but upon this one Argument and before I speak to it give me leave to ask you this one question What would you desire to give you assurance that any particular book or Revelation is from God this is a considerable question for whatsoever a sober man could desire to give him assurance this book is from God he hath it and if God say thou hadst all I could give thee it would non-plus all at that day if they be found unbelievers I can possibly desire nothing but these three things First Methinks whatsoever should come from God should presse holinesse and godlinesse should presse such a Religion that if men love it they should be happy by it and should give such Arguments to engage men to this Religion as should be proper to perswade Secondly I should think that the Publisher of this Doctrine should himself be an exemplary person for I could not easily imagine God would send such a person to bring in such a Religion as should destroy it by his own life and bring to ruine by his works what he had spoken with his mouth Thirdly I should expect such a person should work miracles to give us assurance he had a Divine Commission Now let us make an enquiry whether we have not all these things this great Argument Comprehends many things in
to us Godlinesse in the Scripture hath the promise of the things of this life 1 Tim. 4.8 and of things to come whatever is good here we are sure of it in the practice of piety and in the world to come as sure of that happinesse but no more can tell what it is then we can tell what the thoughts of all men have been since the first Creation What Arguments can you imagine possibly God himself could propose greater or stronger than these what should hinder me from returning to God That 's the first part of the demonstration Secondly we would expect the Publisher of this Doctrine should himself be exemplary and so was Christ Austin said the whole life of Christ was doctrinal to lead us to piety and good practice he went up and down doing good Did any reproach him he reproached them not again was he reviled he reviled not again when he came to suffer Father not my will but thine be done there 's not such a word as that in all the pieces of Philosophy not such an expression of humility and surrender Father not my will c. An innocent person so saith the Text he is always denying himself he will not be rich and great in the world why he prest you to lay up treasures in heaven he hath not a hole where to lay his head why because he bids you to live upon Gods providence he lived a single life bacause he would have you be as though you had not such and such relations his very enemies could object nothing against him have nothing to do with that just person said Pilates wife I finde no fault in him saith he that condemned him not the Jews themselves were ever able to instance in any evil practice they only charged him and so do still that he wrought miracles by the Divel which was the greatest miracle but they never could charge him with any evil practice leaving us an example 1 Pet. 2.21 Learn of me I am meek and lowly Now what servant would not be willing to do that which his Master does before him Thirdly we would expect he should work miracles to testifie that he had his commission from God for he that shall come to set up a new Law a new Oeconomy a new frame nd constitution of Religion had need assure us that he is Gods messenger if he work miracles we cannot tell what to have more for we certainly conclude that God will not suffer a long series of things extraordinary and quite beyond the course of nature to be done to attest a lye Miracles were bagun by our Saviour and continued many hundred years after just as props that are set under weak Vines so these under the weak faith of the world when it first began 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Basil One said excellently that those whom the speaking tongue did not convince the seeing eyes might certainly convince that these were proper to convince that Christ came from God appears Matth. 11.3.4 where when John sent to know Art thou he that should come that is Art thou the Messiah Go and tell John what you hear and see The blinde receive their sight the lame walk c. John 3.2 Nicodemus saith No man can do these miracles that thou dost except God be with him and John 9.13 the blinde man saith he hath opened mine eyes and how come you to ask how he did it great signs shall follow them that believe Mark 16.17 and these continued in Justin Martyrs Tertullians Cyprians time Gregory Nyssens time Vid. Montacut Apparat. in Praefat. and some part of Chrysostoms time Concerning these miracles give me leave to lay down three Propositions then you will see the strength of the whole Argument 1. They were famous and illustrious for they were done before multitudes Matth. 9.8 Matth. 12.22 23. not done in a corner John 9. when Lazarus was raised they said they could not deny it at his death the Earth quaked the Temple rent there was darknesse for three houres which was observed by Heathens as well as Christians 2. As they were done before a multitude so there were a multitude of miracles insomuch that John saith they were so many that if all should be written the world could not contain the books that should be written John 21.25 That is an Hyperbolical expression for a very great number A learned man hath observed Elisha did but twelve miracles Elijah not so many Moses wrought about seventy six and they which were done by them and all the rest of the Prophets from the beginning of the world to the destruction of the first Temple amounted but to one hundred and fifty miracles in three thousand three hundred twenty eight years there were not as we finde in Scripture so many wrought but now Christ went about healing all manner of sicknesse and curing all manner of diseases Mat. 4.23 Acts 10.38 Questionlesse a very vast number 3. They were of all sorts and of all kinds a woman that had an issue of blood twelve years Matth. 9.20 and a woman that had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years Luke 13.11 and one that had an infirmity thirty eight years John 5.8 the dead were raised the Divels were cast out the Sea commanded the winds obey they are of all sorts and kinds Observe also this that you do not read or finde by any thing that there was the least of them done out of any ostentation there was no such thing done by Christ or his Apostles to call men out and say Come I l'e shew you what I can do that should shew any kind of arrogant affectation to themselves but the greatest humility and modesty runs through all the exercise of this mighty power and this practice was ordinary among the common Professors then yea the Galatians they received that spirit by which miracles were wrought among themselves Secondly such famous miracles were a sufficient ground to make men believe this holy doctrine who saw the miracles wrought by them that preached it for if they did not it must be either because they questioned whether the things were done or whether done by God or not they could not question whether the things were done for they saw some raised out of their graves c. Nor could they question whether this was from God or not for observe Where I see miracles wrought there I am bound to believe that they give testimony to what is preached by him that works them except that which is preached is that of which I am infallibly assur'd already it cannot be true except God does by some greater miracle contradict the testimony of those miracles as now the Egyptians they wrought miracles but God contradicted all their testimony by Moses Now observe the end of all Christian Religion is to preach truth to glorifie God to honour God to save a mans soul Never was there any exerting of Gods power to contradict it so that if a man
how chearful in our spirits how should we welcome death how should we long til these Tabernacles of dust were crumbled to nothing when affliction comes how should I rejoyce in that I believe that all shall work for good because I love God with what a quiet spirit should I passe through the great Wildernesse of this World The devil knows if he can but beat you from this sort he will quickly beat you out of all other sorts Let the Word of God come to you with much assurance 1 Thes 1.4 5. With the full assurance of understanding Colossians 2.3 you must not understand there he speaks in reference to their persons to assure them they were the children of God but that their faith had a good foundation in it self that this was from God the truth of a good assurance in judgement Take this further advice If you would keep up your faith be true to your faith be sure you live well you will alwayes finde men make shipwrack of a good conscience and of faith together 1 Tim. 6.10 21. 2 Tim. 3.8 1 Tim. 1.19 Remember the Apostles advice Rom. 12.2 Be not conformed to this world but be renewed in your minds that you may prove what is the good and acceptable Will of God Never fear it while thy mind is but willing to be rul'd by God while thy soul is teachable and tractable this will give thee evidence this book is from God except melancholy overcome thee which leads men to be Scepticks except in that case which is the proper effect of a mans body and must be cured by physick but let a man have a mind to live well and to be rul'd by the Word the Bible is the best thing in the World to such a one I might have spoken to a case of conscience concerning the assent of Christians to the Word of God that it is not equal in all nor equally in the same person alwayes and that a man may really believe that in the general of his life which at some particular times he may doubt of and a man may not be fully satisfied in the truth of the Scriptures yet that man may really live under the power of it To conclude all with this since we have this reason to believe the Scripture is Gods Word then never wonder that you find Ministers Parents Masters to presse real piety upon you and see what great reason you have to entertain it Alas it may be you wonder we Preach and presse Religion we are verily perswaded if you do nor love this Religion you will be intolerably miserable and we have so much compassion for you that since we know this to be Gods Word better to be burned in the hottest fire than to lie in those torments We know since God hath said it there is no comfort too great to them that comply with it no judgement too terrible to those that will oppose it therefore you cannot wonder if we do from day to day presse it upon you Consider if it be Gods Word then the threatenings are true and the Promises are true and you shall either have the promises or the threatenings within a while God knows which of us shall be next for 't is but a little while before death and judgement come then either Come ye blessed or Go ye cursed As a man hath wrought so he shall have for he will render to every one according to what he hath done in the flesh therefore knowing the terrour of the Lord we perswade you we know this is of Divine stamp and Authority I conclude all with the 20. of the Acts 32. c. And now Brethren I commend you to God and to the Word of his grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified MANS CREATION IN AN HOLY BUT MVTABLE STATE Eccles 7.29 Lo this only have I found that God hath made man upright but they have sought out many inventions IN these words you have the result of a serious inquiry into the state of mankind In the verse immediately foregoing the Preacher speaks his own experience touching each sexe distributively how rare it was to meet with a wise and good man how much rarer with a prudent and vertuous woman so he must be understood though these qualities are not exprest then in the Text gives this verdict touching both collectively tending to acquit their Maker of their universal depravation and convict them Lo this only have I found c. The words contain two Propositions The first touching mans perfection by his creation God made c. The second touching his defection by sinne but they have sought c. Together with a solemn Preface introducing both and recommending them as well-weighed truths Lo this only have I found c. q. d. I do not now speak at randome and by guesse no but I solemnly pronounce it as that which I have found out by serious study and diligent exploration That God made man upright c. The Termes are not obscure and are fitly rendered I find no considerable variety of readings and cannot needlessely spend time about words Only in short By man you must understand man collectively so as to comprehend the whole species Making him upright you must understand so as to refer making not to the adjunct only supposing the subject pre-existent but to both subject and adjunct together and so 't is mans concreate and original righteousnesse that is here meant By inventions understand as the antithesis doth direct such as are alien from this rectitude Nor is it altogether improbable that in this expression some reference may be had to that curious desire of knowing much that tempted Adam and Eve into the first transgression Many inventions seems to be spoken in opposition to that simplicity and singlenesse of heart which this original rectitude did include truth is but one falshood manifold God made man upright 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. simple plain-hearted free from all tortuous windings and involutions so the word rendred upright in the Text doth signifie and Jeshurun derived therefrom which God thought a fit name for his people Israel the seed of plain-hearted Jacob to be known by answerably whereto Nathanael is said to be a true Israelite in whom was no guile John 1.47 Such man was at first now in the room of this simplicity you find a multiplicity he was of one constant uniform frame and tenour of Spirit held one straight direct and even course now he 's become full of inventions grown vafrous multiform as to the frame of his spirit uncertain intricate perplexed in all his wayes Sought out this notes the voluntarinesse and perfect spontaneity of his defecti n 't was his own doing God made him upright he hath sought out means to deform and undo himself The words thus opened afford us two great Gospel-truths Doctrine 1 1. That God endued the nature of man
shall * be joyned to the Lord and become one Spirit his mind and will perfectly taking place in us * Isa 48.18 our peace will be as a River when our righteousness shall be as the waves of the Sea No reflections upon sins or sorrows pass'd with bitterness of spirit as now we have in our greatest Triumphs and festivities as the Jews in their Feasts of Tabernacles Lev. 23.40 had their willow boughs among their Palmes while they remembred the dangers they passed in the Wilderness on their Festival Revolutions but every review if actual felicity can possibly give way to it will only widen and dilate the soul for a more ample fruition of the present state even * Si quaeris de visione Dei qualis est actio aut quies potius ut rerum di cam vescio Deciv 22.29 that peace of God which passeth all understanding So that as Augustine sayes if you ask what this enjoyment is of God what kind of action or rather rest to speak truth I know not and no wonder when that which is enjoyed here * Phil. 4.7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 containes more than any understanding can comprehend 3. To make up the Kingdom there must be a Crown and so there is but this Crown is the King himself here the King of glory enters in at our everlasting gates but there we shall enter in to the King of glory * Gen. 15.1 I am thy exceeding great Reward But there are three wreaths in this Crown 1. God as considered the object of Vision the Chrystal Ocean of all Truth and there we shall be able to read every truth in the Original and see it in him as our faces in a glass not only those truths that are so mainly conducing to our happiness but those more speculative to * Etiam curiositas satietur Anselm the satisfaction of curiosity it self Luther discoursing at Supper the night before he died said That as Adam after his sleep knew his Wife to be bone of his bone and call'd all the Creatures by their names so after * Psal 17.15 we shall awake we shall not only be satisfied with Gods image but shall know one another yea all things to be known Philosophy will then be not a dead contemplation but a meditation of life and every idiot now shall then have the collection and pure extract of all the notions in the world while the book of life lies open and legible before his face the idea's and Representations of all beings in God the Father the mirrors of all grace and truth in Jesus Christ the beauty of all delights and sweetnesses imaginable in the holy Spirit and all these in all and all in one with infinite variety in unity transcendent to all imaginable reflections of glory But who of us * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Aris dark creatures can bear this inaccessible light and therefore he * 1 King 8.10 11. appeared in the Temple in Divine darkness all the purest light in the world being but a shadow of God If an idolatrous Temple of Diana's was so bright that the door-keepers cryed always to them that entred in Take heed to your eyes 't is difficult to imagine how even an immortal * Exod. 33.20 eye should see him and live Therefore * Rev. 2.28 to him that overcomes he will give the morning starre a * Lumen confort ans uti Scholastici loquuntur light to strengthen the eye to behold this glory as all the Starres can look upon the Sun we shall then not only have all the Riddles of providence unfolded seeing how one Politician was used to crack anothers Crown and one Serpent broke the head of another but the glorious Majesty of God shall be reflected to us in the all-glorious body of Jesus Christ as the rain-bow about the Throne Rev. 4.3 nay some think the very Angels shall assume aery bodies to feed the eyes of the Saints with all and to be in a nearer capacity of conversing with them Yea Saint Augustine sayes De civit Dei lib. 22. c. 29. we shall see God in his Saints and their glorious actings as well and as manifestly as we now see mens bodies in the vital actions of the bodies 2. The next wreath in this Crown is the perception of Divine goodness to the satisfaction of our love as all other desires this is the great Sabbath of loves and the soul like a Phaenix shall lie down in a bed of Spices and live like a Salamander in those * Cant. 8.6 Coals of Juniper desiring exstatically to be in its best self and archetypon God himself Isa 33.14 But who of us can dwell with devouring flames who of us can lie down with everlasting burnings even the love wherewith God loveth himself and loveth his Saints but then we shall find his love strengthening of us to love him with his own love and these dull earthly hearts of ours by beholding of that Sun shall be converted into fixed Stars reflecting back his own glory we shall then feel the sweetness of Gods Electing love from all eternity the love of our blessed Jesus which was * Cant. 8.6 stronger than death yea we shall then enjoy the Spirit of love who is 1 John 4.8 love it self and whose * Psal 63.3 Sicut ferrum immissum in ignem totum fit lignis sic Paulus accensus charitate totus fit charitas loving-kindness is better than life And as one sayes of Paul that as Iron put into the fire becomes all fire so Paul enflamed with charity and love becomes altogether love If The Philosophers say the reason of the Irons cleaving to the Loadstone so constantly is because the pores of both bodies are alike and so there are effluxes and emanations that slide through them and unite them together now this will be the magnetism of heaven that our wills shall perfectly fall in with the Divine Will and nothing seem good to us but what is good in Gods esteem so that we shall then need no threatnings to drive us nor promises to lead us but Divine goodness will so perfectly attract us that we shall be naturalized to God and goodness and be no more able to turn off from that ineffable sweetness than the Loadstone is to convert it self to the West 3. The last wreath is the result of both the former from vision and fruition of infinite truth and goodness reflected in the Center of the soul springs up delight to all eternity Heaven is nothing but * Gaudium de veritate Aug. Alicubi the joy of truth After a tedious Racking of our braines on a knotty probleme if we discover any satisfaction with what an exultancy do we break out into the Mathematicians phrase * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Archimed I have found I have found what I a long time studied for What joy will it be then