the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God This would shew them Christ Jesus on the Cross this would bespeak them in the language of the Prophet Who is this that comes from Edom with died garments from Bozrah Wherefore is he red in his apparel and his garments like him that treads in the Wine-fat Isa. 63.1 2. This would shew them that the blood which trickled down from that sacred head trickled down upon the account of their follies and transgressions that their oaths and curses and blasphemies were the thorns that prickt his head that their lasciviousness and fornications and adulteries were the spears that open'd his side that their boldness in sinning their resolutions to be damn'd made the tears gush from his eyes that their hatred their malice their envy their revengeful desires were the hands that did buffet him that their covetousness and worldly-mindedness and neglect of their duty towards God and man were the Rods that smote him that their evil thoughts and idle words and extravagant actions were the furies that spit into his face that their perfidiousness their treacheries their hypocrisies were the nails that were struck through his hands and feet that their labouring after Hell their endeavors to be miserable their contempt of the goodness of God made him sweat drops of blood in the garden of Gethsemane that their delight in abusing God and in trampling on his Laws was that which made him shreek out to the amazement of Heaven and Earth My God my God why hast thou forsaken me that the heat of their lusts was the cause of his drought and proved the gall and vinegar that was given him to drink that their sinful lives kill'd him and their deadness in duty murther'd him that their impatience and unbelief haled him to the Cross and their impenitence was the cause of that purple flood which the Angels for the rarity and strangeness of it descended from Heaven to behold Consideration would lay before them all the curses of the Law the terror the consumption the sorrow of heart that anguish that attends sin in the end the troubles of Conscience it will raise ere long the frights the disquiet it will produce This would represent to them the flames that Dives felt and made the Wretch cry out for a drop of water to cool his burning tongue This would shew them what blackness sin doth cast on their understandings and that their being baptized into the Christian Faith doth signifie little except they leave their sins and that they do name the Name of Christ in vain without they depart form iniquity This would shew them their error in flattering themselves with the hopes of Gods mercy and demonstrate to them how ridiculous it is to believe that God will pardon them because they pardon themselves or that he will forgive them because they are loth to suffer This would shew them that God sees and hears them and will judge them and set their transgressions in order before them for all the seeming delay of his vengeance Consideration would discover to them the pardon and reconciliation they must go without if they do not speedily return the blessings they deprive themselves of the comforts they bid defiance to the light the favor of God and the mercy of Christ Jesus they must for ever want and be destitute of if they flie not into his arms with the greatest expedition and alacrity This would aggravate their sins make them appear in their proper colours and shew that they are no better than Cockatrices Eggs and Spiders Webs Have not you seen the crafty Spider weave a Net and then lie close in an ambush till the silly Fly dazled perhaps with the curiosity of the Net hastens to those unhappy Labyrinths but while she is sporting her self in those chambers of death out comes the Murtherer and leads the Captive wretch in triumph home Consideration would shew them that thus it is with sin that with much fair speech as that Harlot Prov. 7.21 22 23. it causes the sinner to yield with the flattering of her lips she forces him He goes after her straightway as an Oxe goes to the slaughter or a fool to the correction of the stocks till a dart strike through his liver as a Bird hastes to the snare not knowing that it is for life This kindness Consideration would do them Thus and thus it would tell them and this is it men are afraid of and therefore care not for entertaining it Their sins afford them present satisfaction and the pleasure they promise is brisk and lusty on their fancies their body feels it their eyes see it their ears hear it their tongue tastes it it tickles all their senses it makes them merry and jovial and makes their blood frisk and dance in their veins It makes them forget their sorrows and puts the evil day far from them Frequent converse and long acquaintance hath made their friendship with sin inviolable And though it is really the greatest evil and the cause of all evils in the World though it murthers while it laughs and poysons while it smiles and cringes though it is so merciless that not contented to kill the body it attempts the soul too yet having like the Prophets Ewe Lamb 2 Sam. 12.3 been nourish'd and kept by its owners for many years and being grown up together with them and having eaten of their meat and drank of their Cup and lay'n in their bosoms and been to them as a Child the fondness is grown so great that nothing can make them willing to part with it Hence it is That Consideration is look'd upon as a sawcy ill-bred unmannerly Messenger that would part the dearest friends divide sin from their souls and cause a civil War in their bowels destroy the reigning power of Vice attempt its strong holds and storm its fortifications They lie encircled in its arms and though they hang all this while over Hell-fire by a twin'd Thread though God all this while shakes his Rod over them and while they hug the sin is preparing the instruments of death and whetting his Sword and bending his Bowe and making it ready yet it seems such is the present hearts-ease sin affords so sweet is the sleep it yields that men care not for being awak'd by Consideration We should wonder to see a man that 's ready to starve for want of food refuse the bread or meat which we offer him and wonder to see a person that 's ready to perish with cold reject the fire and cloathing we have prepared for him and wonder to see one who is blind scorn the help of him that would certainly restore him to his sight and wonder to see one who is fallen among Thieves and Robbers make light of the assistance of a Prince who offers to rescue him out of their hands And dost not thou wonder O my soul at the insufferable stupidity of sinful men that entic'd with the
marvel if they fright men away from our Assemblies and bring darkness upon all the Land of Goshen The just indignation I have taken at the injuries our Church suffers from these scandalous men hath been partly the occasion of this Treatise For I see mens Cures lie within their own breasts and that so many are sick unto death and ready to perish the reason is because they will not reflect what unreasonable men they are nor represent to themselves the wrong they do to their own Souls by a lively Consideration as will evidently appear in the ensuing Discourse I confess divers accomplishments which render a Book acceptable to curious Palates such as are Rhetorick Elegancy of Stile Fancy Wit and quotations of Authors c. will be found wanting here but as I profess no skill that way so my design was not so much to fill mens heads with Notions as their hearts with Fire It was to engage the ignorant and careless to a substantial improvement of their reason and if what I have said can prevail with those that have lived like Beasts to recover themselves into men again I both undervalue the little Censures of supercilious men and content my self with that success We cannot all shine as stars of the first magnitude in the wide Firmament of the Church those that cannot must give such light as they are able to dispense I envy not our Eagles in Divinity that they see far more than I but thank God I see so much and while the greater Sages offer Gold and Myrrhe and Frankincense I am happy enough if I may be allow'd to bring Goats hair and Badgers skins towards the accomplishment of the Tabernacle A critical eye may spy faults in this Free-will offering and I do not wonder at it for my duller sight now I have done discovers more than I wish there were in 't But my discourse is fitted to my end Doing good is my intent if I succeed not it 's no more but what greater men have failed of Farewell The Contents of the Chapters contained in this Treatise CHAP. I. THE Nature of our Souls The Eternal State they are design'd for The Means God hath made use of to fit Men for Everlasting Bliss All these Means ineffectual without Consideration CHAP. II. Consideration no transitory view of spiritual things imports laying the Heart and Mind close unto spiritual Concerns resembles magnifying Glasses which discover things imperceptible by the naked eye The great Ingredients of it Self-Examinatian Expostulation and strong Resolution CHAP. III. The absolute necessity of Consideration in order to a serious life Gods frequent commands to that purpose Our Reason and the power of Consideration we are furnish'd or endu'd with prov'd to be given us for this end Without it Men have cause to suspect that their Reformation is counterfeit CHAP. IV. Of the various impediments and remora's of Consideration Men fancy greater difficulty in 't than there is indeed Are continually employ'd about sensual objects Loth to part with their sins Ignorant of the pleasure of Consideration Reflect upon the danger of lasing their unlawful gain Fear they shall fall into melancholy or go distracted with so much seriousness Are of opinion that Conversion in that sense the Scripture speaks of it is needless Mistake the nature of Consideration Are discouraged by evil company Neglect consulting with Ministers about this necessary work Delude themselves with the Notion of Christ's dying for the sins of the world CHAP. V. Of the various Mischiefs arising from Neglect of Consideration The want of it prov'd to be the Cause of most Sins Some Instances are given in Atheism Vnbelief Swearing Pride Carelesness in Gods-Service Lukewarmness Covetousness c. CHAP. VI. Of the various advantages of serious Consideation it 's that which makes a man master of all Christian Duties it helps a man to improve Sublunary Objects into Heavenly Contemplations It 's the greatest support under afflictions disposes a man to be a worthy Receiver of the Lords Supper Prepares him for an Angelical Life on Earth makes him prudent and discreet in Secular Affairs and Businesses CHAP. VII A pathetical Exhortation to men Who are yet strangers to a serious religious Life to consider their wayes the wilfulness of their neglect how dangerous it is how inexcusable they are how inhumane to God and their own Souls how reasonablel God's requests are and how justly God may turn that power of Consideration he hath given them into blindness and hardness of heart since they make so ill a use of it c. CHAP. VIII Of Retirement and Prayer the two great helps to Consideration Retirement proved to be necessary to make Consideration of our spiritual state more quick and lively Prayer call in the assistance of Gods Spirit and renders the work effectual A Form of Prayer to be used upon this occasion ERRATA PAge 39 l. 6. for harden r. charm p. 59. unseasonableness r. unreasonableness p. 108. l. 28. not r. no. p. 117. l. 15. immediately r. mediately p. 118. l. 14. tears r. teazes p. 127. l. 26. prepares r. prepare p. 148. l. 16. sleeping r. pleasing p. 195. l. 26. blown-balls r. blow-balls p. 198. l. 16. pass r. compass p. 200. l. 8. nearer r. meaner p. 207. l. 3. Love God r. How God p. 219. l 24. wherein r. who is p. 238. have perswaded r. have as well perswaded p. 293. l. 26. in r. is p. 310. l. 10. when r. where ibid. then r. there p. 337. l. r. saciety r. society p. 340. l. 26 Friends r. Fiends p. 372. l. 4. reasons r. reason p. 385. l. 25. Zachans r. Zachaeus p. 400. l. 12. delivered r. deliveredst Other literal faults and mlstoppings the Reader is desired to Correct as he reads CONSIDERATION THE Nature Usefulness and Necessity of it in order to a Serious Life CHAP. I. The Nature of our Souls The Eternal State they are design'd for The Means God hath made use of to fit Men for Everlasting Bliss All these Means ineffectual without Consideration THat we are design'd for Nobler Employments than Eating and Drinking and Sleeping and Playing and following our Trades and Businesses in this World a happiness which Beasts arrive to as well as we the great Souls which we carry in our Breasts do evidently demonstrate These being capable of knowing God of delighting in him and conversing with him for ever we may rationally suppose That those who suffer the Profits and Pleasures of this present World to engross their Affections go astray and Err from the great End of their Creation While the Atheist laughs at the immortality of his Soul and the Prophane selis his better part to the Devil the Religious who will prove the onely wise Man in the end and who hath none of those clouds and mists the other are troubled with before his eyes sees clearly what a Treasure the bountiful hand of Heaven hath bestow'd on him in shedding so excellent so angelical a Being into his
for them riches flow insensibly upon them and every thing they undertake doth prosper insomuch that themselves cannot but wonder at their increase This would convince them that many men who during their ungodly Conversation could not thrive have signally prospered in the world as soon as they have applied themselves to a serious life and that a serious man is best qualified for getting profit and encreasing an Estate and that the generality of men had rather deal with a conscientious man than with a person who is careless of all things but his own interest as knowing that being conscientious he dares not cheat or deceive them but will think himself obliged to deal justly and honestly with them and do by them as he would have others do by him and that this is the great misfortune of ungodliness and the glory of a serious life in that one wicked man dares not trust another but both good and bad dare trust him who stands in awe of God and makes it his great care and study how to please him This would shew them that the serious man in being charitable takes the readiest way to prosper in his secular Concerns and that as great a Paradox as it may seem to sensual men there is not a greater truth in the world than that which Solomon speaks of Prov. 11.24 There is he that scattereth and yet encreases This would lay before them the Examples of men who by consecrating a great part of their Estate and Incomes to pious and charitable uses have enlarged their fortunes and by casting their bread upon the water have found it again with interest after many dayes who have denied themselves in their superfluities and yet are grown rich given away and gotten more than they had in times past This would lead them into the pleasant field of Gods Providence and shew them how that wise and gracious God wheels and turns things about for the good of those that dare trust him for a recompence and makes that money which was laid out for the use of the Needy return with advantage and usury Consideration would let them see how various Gods temporal blessings are which very often light on the head of a serious religious man and though he hath no Trade which stands in need of augmentation but a standing revenue how yet God may watch over him so that he shall lose little and all he undertakes shall prosper that his houses shall be preserv'd from fire and his Cattle from decay that his fields shall bring forth plentifully and his lands be as the garden of the Lord that he shall see his posterity advance in wealth and honour and his childrens children grow as the lillies and spread their branches as the Cedars in Lebanon Consideration would let them see how a whole Kingdom thrives where seriousness and the fear of God is encourag'd with vigor and sincerity What a darling a serious Prince is to his Subjects how well they love him how highly they esteem him and how plentifully and contentedly they live under his shadow This would refresh their memories how upon a publick humiliation God hath been entreated and the judgments under which a Nation groan'd have been averted and the Heavens which before were turn'd into brass have visited the Earth again with showers and the former scarcity hath been transform'd into plenty and abundance and how God hath seen their works that they turn'd from their evil ways and hath repented himself of the evil he had said he would do unto them and hath not done it Consideration would let them see that though a serious man should decay in the world and his conscientiousness be the cause of his ruine yet he would have more to support him under his losses than another man and it could not but be a very great satisfaction to him that it was not any vice of licentiousness that broke him but a good Conscience which is its own reward and the best preservative against murmuring repining and despair and very often a presage That God will set him up again and as it was in Job's case make the latter part of his life more prosperous than the former By such representations as these Consideration would scatter this suggestion of the Devil That a sinful life is the onely gainful and advantageous life But what argument can prevail against Experience and where men have found already that their sins have prov'd profitable and that their carelesness of Religion hath procur'd them no small advantages Their great care and study now must be that they do not put themselves into a way of losing them and therefore exhort them to consider what the end of these things will be and whether this be a likely course to get a title to the inheritance incorruptible reserv'd in Heaven for Believers they 'll be ready to reply What part with my livelihood Quit that which must support my Family Would you have me starve and perish Will your Religiousness give me bread Would you have me precipitate my self into ruine Will nothing less serve the turn than leaving all and following Christ Why should I despair when God blesses me and think ill of my way of living when God by prospering my endeavors declares his approbation of my deportment My gain is his mercy and if he did not allow of what I did he would with-hold his benediction His giving success to what I do shews his love and I have reason to believe he is not angry with me for taking this course because he never cross'd it by his thunders God would have me live in the World and since I have no other way to thrive but this I must suppose it 's that which God hath call'd me to My industry is in obedience to his command and why should I fright my self with his indignation when my prosperous fortunes speak his smiles and sun-shine Consideration would let them see that God doth not bless them for their sins but doth it to invite them to amendment Nay this would suggest to them that it may not be God that blesses them but the Devil and that he that is permitted to shew them all the Kingdoms of the world and the glories of them in a moment hath power also to reward iniquity and that prosperity which is acquir'd by sin cannot be of Gods making but is an effect of the Devils bounty who never gives but with an intent to murther and makes Presents for no other end but to make the Soul a prey to his fury who gives like the Grecians onely to overcome and seems kind onely to get an interest in the sinner and to take advantage against him when there shall be occasion who blesses with a design to curse and rewards to harden men in their contempt of the Almighty who lets men reap profit that they may venture confidently on sin and is contented they should have something for their pains that they may dedicate themselves more entirely to
our sins Hab. 2.15 and all because these will help Consideration throughly to weigh a sinners spiritual condition and to lay it in the balances together as Job expresses himself Job 6.2 Nay of that Necessity doth the Holy Ghost make this Consideration that it seems God such a Lover he is of the happiness of Mankind is not at ease without it He is forc'd as it were to take humane passions upon him to express his displeasure against the neglect of this sovereign medicine He seems disconsolate if men slight this balm this water of life this eye-falve He calls to Heaven and Earth to mourn with him because his people will not consider what they are a doing and whither they are going and what will become of them Es. 1.3 He seems griev'd and dejected because they consider not the operations of his hands and what noble Beings he hath given them how he hath made them but a little lower than the Angels crown'd them with glory and honour and infus'd Souls into them capable of living for ever under the beatifical vision and presence of Almighty God Es. 5.12 He seems to droop and he that is eternally happy in himself takes on as if his happiness his joy his satisfaction were interrupted because men consider not that he remembers all their impieties that he sits on the Battlements of Heaven and beholds all that there is not any creature that is not manifest in his sight and that all things are naked and open unto the eyes of him with whom they have to do Hos. 7.2 Indeed God is resolved to deal with us as with rational Creatures not as with Brutes and Engines as with free Agents not as with Machines and works of mens hands and that 's the reason why he is so earnest for this Duty Without all peradventure God could force men into seriousness and he that commanded light out of darkness might take the sinner up in his arms and carry him even against his will into that banquetting house the banner whereof is Love and might set mens Souls as the Workman doth his Clock that they should not fail of running the Race which is set before them But then what would our reason signifie why should he make us capable of being wrought upon by arguments and moral persuasions why hath he given us faculties to discourse pro and con of things and to argue and debate the case with our selves why hath he given us a rule to try our actions by and power to judge what is good and what is evil what can be said for the one and what can be pleaded for the other which Arguments are stronger and which are weaker which are ponderous and which are of no value If God doth do nothing in vain what can we imagine that this power of Consideration is given for He that makes a curious Vessel of gold doth not intend it for a Trough or Washing Tub. He that enamels a Ring doth not intend to throw it upon a Dunghil He that builds a house doth not intend it for a habitation of Owls and Ravens and Birds of prey He that plants a rich and kindly Fruit Tree doth not intend it for Timber in a Hogs-stie He that makes a rich Carpet doth not intend it for Dish-clouts And shall I think God more imprudent than man Shall I imagine that God hath less foresight with him than dust and ashes Shall he plant in me an ability and power of Consideration and intend it for no higher use than to teach and instruct me how to rake a little dung together how to feed a poor corruptible body for the grave and how to wallow with the Swine in the mire He that can have such low thoughts of God deserves to be banish'd from all humane society and to dwell with Beasts of the Wilderness God could not bestow this power on me in vain and if not in vain it ought most certainly to be employ'd on things of the greatest concernment And what things are there of greater concernment than turning from the power of Satan unto God and laying up treasures there where the Moth cannot corrupt and where Thieves cannot break through and steal Nay why should God assure the sinner that his impenitence shall be punish'd with everlasting destruction but that he would have him make use of his reason and consider the truth and importance of this threatning the uncertainty of his own life and how sin will certainly harden him if he doth not turn with all speed and how soon ruine and destruction may seize on him and how dear his pleasures may cost him and how fearful it will be to fall into the hands of an angry God whose patience hath been abused whose words have been scorn'd whose thunderbolts have been laught at and whose compassion hath been lookt upon only as a shift or trick to ensnare men into rigorous severity Lord God! I am not bereft of my reason when I hear the Supreme Governor of Heaven and Earth threaten me when I hear him who sits on the circle of the Earth denounce wrath and indignation against me I have a tongue in my head and can enquire of men wiser than my self whether this be really the threatning of God or no and whether the great Creator when he threatens thus be in good earnest or no I have eyes to read whether there be a mistake in such Comminations or no I have reason to argue and comprehend what Arguments are solid and weighty and what are frivolous and impertinent whether the reasons for my turning from my evil wayes be stronger than those which would dissuade me from it I have reason to ponder how many thousands have with shifts and excuses and delayes been the cause of their own ruine and I have power to reflect how that if I am guilty of the same folly I shall shortly be wrapt up in the same calamity with them and what poor what inconsiderable comfort it will be to find those men companions in eternal misery and calamity that have been formerly companions to me in sin and offending God I have reason and power seriously to debate whether there be a future judgment or no and with very little trouble may satisfie my self that things are so as the Gospel represents them and that there is no jesting with edg'd tools I have power to reflect that if there were no more but a possibility of eternal torments if we could strain the Notion no higher than to a may be it would become a wise man to prepare for the worst and to endeavor to be on the sure side of the hedge And having reason to consider all this power to weigh and ponder all this and so to ponder it that my understanding thus possess'd may prevail with my will and affections to resolve for contempt of sin and of the world I must necessarily conclude that God expects I should proceed and come to that spiritual life this way And let no
find they do proceed when exhorted to a serious Consideration of their ways they take every sad thought of their spiritual Concerns for Consideration and a rambling imagination of their danger passes for contemplation of their spiritual wretchedness Because now and then when some loss or afflictions befall them a melancholy conceit steals into their minds and when some great Man hath cast them off or their Friends are displeas'd with them they do slightly reflect on the never fading compassion of God and cast a careless look on their sins that may have deserved the trouble they are under they give out they consider the things that belong unto their peace and if those flashes do not produce these effects in them the Holy Ghost expects they are apt to charge Consideration with insufficiency and cry out against it as a means improper to produce that seriousness of life which God requires of them in order to everlasting happiness wherein they appear to me like young and hasty Chymists that are impatient and will not let the Menstruum stand long enough but would have the Experiment perfect before the matter be ripe for operation and thus they come to miscarry To think how Men play the fool with Religion how aukwardly they go about it and how silly the Apologies are they make for this neglect cannot but make a sober Man admire how it 's possible for them to sink into such simplicity or fondness rather to delude their own Souls They know it is not a stroke or two that will Fell a Tree nor knocking twice or thrice that will pull down a House nor blowing slightly that will make green Wood burn and yet that they should be so sottish so impertinent so abominably careless in the greatest concern of their lives and fancy that a few careless thoughts now and then will produce that circumspect life God commands and urges betrays so great a shallowness of reason and is an act so weak that I know not how to give it a name disparaging and low enough Alas Consideration as hath been hinted before is a frequent reiterated lively representation of the danger of a sinful life and SINNER didst not thou go about it like a Man that is in jest thou wouldst see what wonders it doth cause Didst thou set upon this thoughtful task in sober sadness and if the first and second and third Consideration would not weaken the fortifications or strong holds of iniquity assault them with fresh supplies of thoughts and aggravate the sins thou wouldst be rid of and 〈◊〉 how often slighted convictions border upon the sin against the Holy Ghost and move God to swear in his wrath that such men shall never enter into his rest thou wouldst not find that relish in sin which now thou dost thou wouldst find it hath more of the Gall and Wormwood in it than of the Honey Thy sensual appetite would lose much of its heat and fury and thy passions would be brought into a cooler temper One great Error Men lie under is this That they consider the pleasures of sin more than the benefits of a serious Religious life and whatever hath most of my Consideration must necessarily prevail most with me Let but the Concerns of your Souls have more of your Contemplations than the satisfactions of the flesh and you 'll see other effects But where Men suffer the sensual satisfaction they have either felt or heard of to play upon their fancy and to sport itself with their imagination where they dandle the soft conceit and call the smiling pleasure to mind oftner than the real and solid pleasures of Holiness there the former cannot but get the better and play the Sovereign and rule the Soul as will appear to mention no more from these two instances Such a man is troubled with lascivious thoughts and lustful desires when the sinful thought shoots first into the mind if he do presently call in Considerations of Gods prohibition and anger and of everlasting burnings and set before his eyes the fate of Sodom and Gomorra the brevity and transitoriness of these fleshly satisfactions the tears the anguish the grief it must cost him if ever God should accept of him the uncertainty of his life the hazard he runs of being cut off before he may have a heart to repent the multitude and variety of sins his Lusts will engage him in the diseases and infirmities he may procure the unquietness of Conscience he shall pull down upon himself c. and resolve to enlarge upon these discouragements and do it as often as he finds his flesh grow unruly and troublesome he 'll certainly get the victory and captivate his Lusts to the obedience of Christ Jesus But when these Considerations are call'd in onely for formalities sake and that which gratifies his sickly passions suffer'd to be the chief Guest of his understanding when instead of Arguments against these Lusts he layes out for Topicks and Considerations which may diminish and take off from the greatness of the sin as that God will not be angry for one sin and that sure God remembers how frail and weak his nature is and that he doth not intend to allow himself long in it and that he would fain avoid it but cannot and that the strength of his passion will excuse the heinousness of his crime and that most men have had their frolicks in their younger dayes c. where he suffers the circumstances of his last nights Revelling to roul in his mind how soft such embraces were how kind the person was that lov'd him how sweet her addresses were how melting her smiles and favors how pleasing what she said and did how merry the meeting was how easie he was under those sensual raptures how glad other persons would be to have such an opportunity as he had how he was heighten'd by such a Cup how elevated with that curious Drink how that Liquor with the strange name dispos'd him for Caresses how such an one applauded him for his wit how taking that jest was how delighted the company was with his Railery c. Where I say the mind dwells upon such light and frothy conceptions and what ever would dash them is but shewn as it were to the mind is not suffered to enter in to take possession beats only against the fancy is not permitted to mingle with it or if it enter is quickly thrust out again if it be allow'd a seat there is soon dismiss'd and turn'd away again there certainly the man must continue a slave to his corruptions and passionate desires and the Considerations which were to produce seriousness and obedience in him cannot but be ineffectual because they do not lie on long enough as salted meat will not lose much of its saltish taste if but dipt in water nor cloth imbibe a tincture that is but sprinkled upon 't Another receives a signal injury the affront he suffers is great and notorious on a sudden his
and be healed But what is worse than all this the death of the Son of God which thus instead of mortifying makes sin reign in your mortal bodies will be the greatest witness against you in the last day The stone shall cry out of the wall and the beam out of the timber shall answer against the oppressor saith the Prophet Hab. 2.11 And then sure blood hath a louder voice the blood of a crucified Saviour Hebr. 12.24 will be one day the greatest evidence against you This like oyl will increase your flames and prove the brimstone that shall make the fire blaze the more That Jesus whose Cross thou despisest now will be thy Accuser then and woe to that man that hath the Judge himself for his enemy That dreadful spectacle the Crucifixion of the Lord of Life which cannot engage thy Soul to consider and look upon him whom thou hast pierc'd will be the great Argument then that shall cover thy face with everlasting confusion When thou shalt see in that day the spirits of men made perfect the men in white who have wash'd their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb when thou shalt reflect on their happiness a happiness which thou mightst have had as well as they if that blood could have persuaded thee to cleanse thy self from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit how will thine eyes flow with tears to think what strong delusions thou hast lay'n under in thinking that this blood was only spilt that thou mightest wallow more freely in the mire The Lamb which was slain from the foundation of the world and came to take away thy sins as well as thy Neighbors only thou wouldst not be clean That Lamb I say as harmless as its looks are now will then change his aspect and thou that now thinkst a Lamb can be nothing but kind wilt then find by woful experience that there is such a thing as the indignation and wrath of the Lamb. CHAP. V Of the various Mischief's arising from Neglect of Consideration The want of it prov'd to be the Cause of most Sins Some Instances are giuen in Atheism Vnbelief Swearing Pride Carelesness in Gods Service Lukewarmness Couetousness c. FRom what hath been said we may safely draw this Conclusion That want of Consideration is the unhappy spring from which most of the miseries and calamities of Mankind flow Indeed God Isa. 5.12 13. makes this the great reason Why his people were gone into Captiuity why their honourable men were famish'd and their multitude dryed up with thirst why Hell had enlarged herself and open'd her mouth without measure and their glory and their multitude and their pomp descended into it It 's the want of it which in all Ages hath procur'd Gods judgments which by Consideration might have been stopt and prevented Had Adam improv'd his solitariness in the Garden of Eden into serious Consideration of the Nature of the Precept his Master gave him and reflected on the wisdom of the Supreme Law-giver that made it on the immense bounty his great Benefactor had crown'd him withall on the abominable ingratitude he would make himself guilty of by breaking so reasonable an Injunction Had he but recollected himself when tempted to eat of the dangerous fruit under a pretence that it would open his eyes and make him wise as God and thought that the Creator of Heaven and Earth knew best what degree of wisdom and knowledge became a creature of his quality and condition and that he that was all love and beauty and kindness would not have interdicted him that fruit if the food might have any way advanc'd his happiness and that therefore there must be some cheat in the Temptation That the Angels which were lately thrown down from their glory could not but envy the felicity he enjoyed and for that reason would appear in all manner of shapes and try a thousand wayes to weaken the favor of God towards him and that it was without all peradventure the safest way to prefer an express command before an uncertain suggestion Had his mind taken a view of such Arguments as these of the uninterrupted prosperity and immortality he was promis'd upon his obedience it 's not the Charms or Rhetorick or soft language of a Wife nor the subtilty of a Serpent nor the pretended Omniscience the Devil flatter'd him withall would have made him leave that happy state which the infinite goodness of Heaven had plac'd him in But while he suffers the pleasure of a Garden to transport his Soul and to blind it fears no ill no mischief no danger among the Roses and Flowers of Paradice embraces the deceitful suggestion without examining the cause the manner or the end of it swallows the fatal bait without chewing believes a Wife and a Beast without considering the consequence of the fact and inquires not how God may resent his curiosity he falls into death and misery and drags all his Posterity after him Had the Inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah reflected like rational Men on the Reproofs and Admonitions of righteous Lot consider'd the kindness of the Almighty in sending them such a Preacher and thought with themselves That sure it could not be the Preachers interest to set himself against their Vices That except Conscience and a Divine Commission had prompted him to attempt their Reformation it was not probable he would enrage a debauched City against himself and make himself obnoxious to the fury of the People That the righteous Man spake nothing but reason and sought nothing but their good That Gods patience would certainly be tired ere long and his long-suffering turn into vengeance That the fire of their Lust would shortly pull down other fire and the heat of their unclean desires break into more consuming flames That God would not alwayes put up affronts nor suffer his methods to reclaim them to be baffled everlastingly That they could not hope to escape Gods indignation no more than the men of the first world and when their sins were equal Gods judgments would overtake them as well as they did their Brethren That God could intend them no harm by calling them to Repentance and being the great Preserver of Men could not but design their interest and happiness Had they suffered their thoughts to dwell on such truths as these made such Considerations familiar to their Souls they would have melted and humbled themselves and kept back that fire and brimstone which afterwards consumed them Want of Consideration made them secure in sin and that security prepared for their devastation Indeed there is no sin almost but is committed for want of Consideration Men consider not what sin is nor how loathsom it is to that God who carries them on his wings as the Eagle doth her young nor what injury they do to their own Souls nor what the dreadful effects and consequences of it are and that makes them supine and negligent of their duty To
to these sublunary Riches break into longings after a nobler Inheritance but neglecting this he Serpent-like feeds on Dust and prepares for anxiety discontent and vexation of Spirit and for a miserable death like a Hog lies rooting in the Earth and buries his Soul in a Chest of Money despises all admonitions to Charity and like the Smiths Dog can hear the hammering and beating of his Master and endure the sparks flying about his ears without being stirr'd or concern'd at it Hypocrisie is a sin which the painted Christian does not easily part withal yet would he reflect like a person that hates to sow pillows under his own Elbows can I read Christ's discourses against the Pharisees and not ask my own heart whether the Pharisees temper be an emblem of my complexion Have I no self-end in any Religious Duty What is it puts me many times upon doing good applause from Men or the love of God Do not I pretend God's Glory sometimes when I aim at nothing but mine own Do not I draw nigh to God with my Lips when in my heart and conversation I deny him Do not I by pretending to please God neglect my Duty to my neighbor Am not I more severe in pressing the lesser concerns of Religion than I am in urging the greater Doe not I commend that in a rich or great man which I can reprehend in my inferiors or meaner persons Do not I require those Duties of other men which my self am loath to practise Do not I applaud my self for my own sanctity while I despise others whom I fancy not so Holy as I am Am not I more curious to know other mens conditions than mine own Am not I more zealous in publick than I am in private Am not I Religious for filthy lucre's sake Do not I make a gain of Godliness and use Religion as a cloak to cover my secret sins Do not I make Devotion a scaffold to erect my own credit and profit by What is hypocrisie if this be not Though I can hide it from the sight of Men can I conceal it from him who knows my down-sitting and my up-rising and understands my thoughts afar off Can I remember the fate of Judas and not think of a serious repentance Can I hear the Son of God call so often Woe Woe to ye Hypocrites and hug the sin in my bosom Shall I harbor a Snake there which will sting me into endless gnawings of Conscience How shortly will all these delusions be discover'd Before I am a few days older God may summon me and lay open all my deceits and juglings in Religion Do I think to blind the Eyes of him in whose Book all my Members are set down Is the portion of Hypocrites no discouragement What promise in the Gospel can I lay hold of during this condition They all run to the upright in heart and must I go without these Cordials Must I see others run away with these Treasures while my self can expect nothing but Gods curse and anger Must I see others go to possess the Promis'd Land while I must stay behind in a Wilderness Must I see others gather Manna and feed upon the rich clusters of Canaan while my own Soul must perish for want of that Bread of Life Lord who shall abide in thy Tabernacle who shall dwell in thy Holy Hill He that walks uprightly and works righteousness and speaks the Truth in his Heart And must I have no seat in yonder Mansion No House in that Jerusalem which is above No habitation in that City which hath foundations whose Maker and Builder is God O my Soul stay not here in Mesheck dwell no longer in the Tents of Kedar Away and hate this Garment spotted by the Flesh. Such serious thoughts would check Hypocrisie but the vain man hardens his Heart against them locks them out will give them no entertainment and that makes him serve God to please the Devil and turn Religion into a meer shew and formality burn in Words and freeze in Deeds and like that Son in the Gospel say I goe Sir but he goes not From the Premisses we may easily guess what to think of other sins viz. that the great cause of them is want of consideration and therefore the Holy Ghost likens men that live in any sin or indulge themselves in any transgression to a Horse that rushes into the Battel and considers not what he doth ventures among Swords and Arrows and the greatest dangers without recollecting what will be the issue of it Jer. 8.6 Consideration is the Bridle that must govern our sense and appetite take that away and the Beast runs away with the Rider and hastens him into a thousand inconveniences CHAP. VI. Of the various advantages of serious consideration it 's that which makes a man master of all Christian Duties it helps a man to improve sublunary Objects into Heavenly Contemplations It 's the greatest support under afflictions disposes a man to be a worthy receiver of the Lords Supper Prepares him for an Angelical Life on Earth makes him prudent and discreet in Secular affairs and businesses THough in the preceding Chapters we have already in a great measure discover'd what Men may hope for from Consideration and of what use it is to a truly serious and Christian life yet we must not leave so rich a subject thus without giving an account of some other positive advantages which do render it very desirable to a rational man And 1. It hath most certainly a very great influence upon all Christian Duties whatever qualification Christ or his Apostles require or recommend it 's by consideration of the excellency and dignity of that Duty that Men must expect to arrive to it The first and great Commandment is Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and will all thy Soul and with all thy mind But he shall never be master of this Duty that doth not frequently and seriously consider the immense and stupendous love of God to him and indeed then I may hope to be acquainted with a sincere and cordial love to God when I give leave to such considerations as these to impregnate my understanding O my God can I think of so great so holy so infinite so merciful so munificent a Being and forbear to be enamour'd with thee whence are all my Mercies but from thee thou art the Spring the Fountain of them all Whatever Blessings are convey'd to me by the hands of Second Causes they come originally from thee and thou mov'st and order'st those Second Causes to come in to my assistance By thee have I been upheld ever since I was born when I lay in the shades of nothing thou didst awake me into a Being gavest me a rational Soul a Soul capable of admiring adoring and worshiping thee and ever since thy mercies have follow'd me and thou hast been a pillar of a Cloud unto me by day and a pillar of Fire by night what Parts
displeasure thou art in pain but what is this to Hell-fire thou art in torments but what is this to the Agonies the unhappy Spirits in the burning Lake endure how great a mercy is it that it is not worse with thee The Waters of Marah which are but to the Ancles now how soon might God increase them to the Knees and make them a River that could not be pass'd over and he that doth but frown now how easily might he thunder Consider O my Soul thou art not call'd to Persecution to Gibbets to Fire to the Sword to Grid-irons to wild Beasts as the Martyrs of old were if thou complainest now what wouldst thou do if thou wert call'd to Martyrdom Look upon Jesus the Author and Captain of thy Salvation who was made perfect through sufferings art thou better than the Son of God look upon the Apostles look upon the Primitive Saints that were torn assunder stoned slain with the Sword wandred about in Sheep-skins and Goat-skins were destitute tormented afflicted and art thou a greater Saint than they why shouldst thou expect better dealing at Gods hands than they thou art not alone in misery thou hast whole Armies of Holy Men to bear thee company canst thou look upon yonder Heaven and repine canst thou behold that Glory which God hath prepared for thee and think much of these fiery Trials the hopes of a Kingdom makes a Captive Prince merry though he is in prison and shall not the hopes of yonder joys keep thy heart from sinking when a Socrates can chearfully submit to the unjust Sentence of the Athenians upon no other account but this because it was God's will shalt thou who art a Christian lye fretting at thy trouble as if thou meanst to resist and controul God's will wilt not thou give God leave to use that priviledge in his great House the World which every Peasant uses in his Cottage and lay what burthens he pleases on his Servants Shall he say Suffer thou this affliction and wilt thou answer with that ill-natur'd Son in the Gospel I will not Look O my Soul look upon the benefit thou wilt receive by this providence thou wast proud before stay awhile and this calamity makes thee humble thou didst despise thy God before have a little patience and this trouble will drive thee hence to thy Fathers house thou didst play with the bread thy Father gave thee this cross will teach thee how to prize it thou didst trust too much to thine own strength this calamity will make thee relye altogether upon him who hath promis'd not to leave us nor forsake us God knows what thou wantest and how thy wants must be supplyed He prosperity would undo thee he therefore takes it away and like a tender Father cries Do thy self no harm He sees such a blessing would make thee surfeit he therefore wisely prevents thy disease by depriving thee of that mercy He sees such a comfort would be but a Knife or Sword in thy hand and kill thee he therefore snatches it away because he would preserve thee from Eternal ruine he sees thou art too much in love with this world he therefore embitters thy sweet morsels to make thee weary of this barren wilderness and in love with that Kingdom which fades not away Dost thou blame a Physitian because he gives his Patient a bitter potion and wilt thou blame thy God for not pleasuring thy pallate with dainties which would encrease thy distemper wouldst thou followthy Saviour in Sun-shine only and not go with him into the Garden of Gethsemane wouldst thou inherit his Crown of Glory without wearing his Crown of Thorns here wouldst thou be with him on Mount Tabor only and not accompany him to Golgotha wouldst thou be about him only when he rides in triumph into Jerusalem and forsake him in the Desart wouldst thou follow him only while the loaves doe last and abandon him when he wants bread for the multitude wouldst thou own him only when men cry Hosanna and run away from him when they cry out Crucify him wilt thou eat of the same Bread he doth and not drink of his Cup too God would save thee by that burthen which lies upon thee and dost thou prefer a little froth before an Eternal weight of blessedness hadst thou rather enjoy thy good things here than lye with Lazarus in Abrahams bosom God sees thou canst not be happy without this affliction and wilt thou prefer living deliciously for a few days before the rich Banquet God hath prepar'd for his favourites in Paradise O my Soul it s but a little while yet and thy Prison will be changed into a Palace thy Poverty into Eternal Riches thy Bondage into perfect Liberty thy Persecution into endless Joys thy mourning Songs into Halelujahs thy Sorrow into Rivers of Delight Alas what is a Prison God's Presence can make it a Heaven Walls cannot keep out the Smiles and Glory of the Highest What is poverty it may consist with being a Favourite of God and he that hath nothing in this world to boast of may have an incorruptible Crown to lay hold of and be really richer than the weakliest of Mankind What are slanders and reproaches they cannot hurt the Soul whatever injury they only do the Body they come sometimes from Men whose tongue is no slander and this may consist with honour from God and reputation in the Court of the Almighty What is persecution a Cloud which soon passes away and he that chearfully endures it great is his reward in Heaven Despair not O my Soul thou hast to deal with a God who will lay no more upon thee than thou art able to bear but with the temptation will make a way to escape that thou mayst be able to bear it one that doth not afflict the children of men willingly one that will certainly if thou obstruct not his operation by thy unbelief cause all these troubles to work together for thy Eternal good May be thy troubles are altogether Spiritual and thou dost not complain so much because thou art destitute of outward conveniences as because thy God is departed from thee a deep sense of thy sins afflicts thee thou seest the wrath of God hovering over thee and God hides his face from thee thou art afraid thou dost not belong to him thou seest not thy former tokens nor feel'st those Gracious influences which formerly water'd and enriched all thy faculties but hast thou such low conceits of the everlasting kindness of thy God O my Soul why shouldst thou believe he hath forsaken thee when he doth give thee daily testimonies of his Love what greater assurance canst thou have of Gods love to thee and of Christs kind thoughts towards thee than thy weariness of sin Hast not thou heard thy Saviour call Come to me all ye that are weary and heavy loaden and I will give ye rest Art not thou weary of iniquity hadst not thou rather be rid of that burthen than keep
pull'd out betimes How shall I be crown'd if I strive not How shall I strive if I have no temptation I cannot strive without an enemy and without striving there can be no victory the Workman doth not pull the Gold out of the fire till sufficiently refined and shall I murmur that God lets the Fiery Trials continue upon me when it is certain that my Gold is not yet fit to be receiv'd into the Sanctuary I am full of dangers but my greatest danger is security Men fear and quake and tremble if they are in the midst of an hundred enemies I have all the Devils in Hell against me and a whole Army of Lusts bent to ruine me and am not afraid And when there is nothing can rouze me from my security but affliction ought not I to kiss the rod In the greatest troubles I may be assured that God loves me and that it is not his Anger but his Love that follows me with chastisements and why should I fret under the yoak especially when fretting and strugling to shake it off before Gods time doth but make my neck more sore and the yoak far more uneasy I brought the cause of suffering with me into the world which is sin and how can I expect I shall be freed from suffering till I am freed from sin God might have placed me in Heaven immediately upon my coming into the world without any of these outward troubles he could as easily produce Bread out of the Earth as he doth the Ears of Corn but that man may sweat and labour and relish his bread the better he causes only the Ears of Corn to spring and of them Bread must be made so by labour and suffering God leads me unto Glory that I may the better relish his bounty and liberality and my rest may be the sweeter after my toil and tempests here Affliction I know cannot hurt me for my Saviour hath been my taster there can be no bitterness in these herbs when my God hath season'd them Why should I love God less than dogs do their Masters These poor brutes are beaten and struck and chid and pelted with stones and yet the more they are beaten the more they love their owners and cringe and bow and humble themselves before them shall I be worse than a beast and shall I carry a rational Soul in my Breast and kick against those pricks which God hath set to guard me from Eternal Flames All my sorrows and bitterness will shortly be poured out into an ocean of sweetness and how little of it shall I perceive then it will then be all lost in a Sea of Glory and I shall forget that I was poor and wretched and naked and miserable when I shall be Eternally enriched with God bounty enamoured with his perfection decked with his Majestick Robes comforted with his Consolation delighted with his love enriched by his wisdom and satisfied with his beauty in whose Presence there is fulness of joy and pleasure at his right hand for evermore These are some descants upon that Picture of Retirement with such consolations can he that retires refresh himself while the man that wearies himself with the vanities of this world finds no solid peace and when he comes to dye must look back upon his former life with horror and anxiety But II. Another great help to Consideration is Prayer this is the Ambassador that must goe to Heaven and fetch the assistance of Gods Spirit from thence Consideration shews me my danger and my happiness but it 's the Spirit of God must blow upon my affections that they may actually shun the one and reach after the other and this Spirit must be had by Prayer not by Lip-labour not by Prayer unto which the heart is a stranger and knows not what the tongue means in making such a noise but by Prayer which expresses the real desires of the heart by Prayer that flows from a deep sense of the absolute necessity of the grace of God and hath Fire and Flames enough to bear it up into Heaven For if you which are evil can give good gifts unto your children how much more shall your Heavenly Father give his Holy Spirit to them that ask him saith Christ Luc. 11.13 and what kind of asking this is appears from the parable immediately preceding for which of you saith Christ v. 5. shall have a friend and shall goe to him at midnight and say unto him Friend lend me three loaves for a friend of mine in his journey is come unto me and I have nothing to set before him and he from within shall answer and say Trouble me not for the door is now shut and my children are with me in bed I cannot rise and give thee I say unto you though he will not rise and give him because he is his friend yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needs And then it follows immediately Ask and it shall be given you i. e. Ask for Gods Holy Spirit with the same importunity with the same fervency and earnestness that this man did the Loaves follow God with incessant cryes resolve not to be denied and it shall most certainly be given you The truth is importunate and fervent Prayer shews a man is in good earnest and that he doth not come to God out of formality or meerly to satisfy the motions of a fearful Conscience but that a great sense of the goodness and mercy of God and of his Spiritual wants and necessities puts him upon Prayer and such Prayers God cannot despise because he hath promised to hear them and of this the Evangelist gives us a very illustrious example in the woman of Canaan crying unto Christ Lord help me the answer is rough It is not meet to take the Childrens bread and give it unto dogs yet this doth not terrify her she doubles her cryes and seems to catch our Saviour in his own words Truth Lord yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their Masters Table and now God can hold no longer but from his mouth drops the joyful word O Woman great is thy Faith be it unto thee even as thou wilt Matth. 15.25 26 27. Prayer sanctifies Consideration and where the Soul begs hard of God that God would set home the reflexions she hath had and work her into a willingness to close with his Will that he would increase that light which Consideration hath given her give that light fire too to warm as well as cleer her and drive and force those Convictions Consideration hath afforded her into a serious conversion terrify her so with that sight of sin which Consideration hath darted into her that she may remain no longer in the suburbs of Hell but come out of Sodom and so allure her with that beauty of Holiness which Consideration hath let her have a view of that she may not be able to resist the splendor but submit to the power