all so that it will make vs blessed happy in all our waies so that the feare of the Lord brings with it alwaies a plenty of al good things and comes laden with the blessings of God wheresoeuer it comes for all these causes now rehearsed should we feare the Lord and endeauor to please him The feare of the Lord giueth vnderstanding to the simple Fourthly hee that feareth the Lord hath the promise of spirituall graces as knowledge instruction wisedome and the like Art thou ignorant in Gods matters and wouldest faine know and vnderstand the wayes of God then feare the Lord. For what man is he that feareth the Lord him shall hee teach in the way that hee shall choose Psal 25.12 Verfe 14. yea the secret of the Lord is among them that feare him and he will shew them his Couenant the feare of the Lord is the beginning of wisedome A good vnderstanding haue all they that doe thereafter Psal 111.10 Wouldest thou haue the Lord to shew pitty and compassion vpon thee and to forgiue thee all thy sinnes O then feare the Lord Mal. 3.16.17 For the Lord wil spare them that feare him as a man that spareth his owne sonne that serueth him as a father pittieth his Children so the Lord pittieth them that feare him Yea the mercy of the Lord is from euerlasting to euerlasting vpon them that feare him and his righteousnesse vpon childrens children Againe Psal 103.13 the Lord heareth the Prayers of those that feare him and granteth their request Yea the Lord will giue grace and glory and no good thing will hee withhold frō them that walke vprightly Psal 84.11 Thus wee see no grace needefull to saluation shall be wanting to vs if we feare the Lord Lastly it hath the maine promise of eternall life in the world to come His endlesse mercy is on them that feare him from generation to generation The maine reason to enforce vs to labour for this holy feare is that it hath the promises of eternall life in the world to come Luke 150. Psal 85.9 Mal. 2.5 Psal 25.12 This is a main reason to enforce vs to labour for this holy feare and howsoeuer the wicked beleeue it not but account it altogether in vaine to feare God and serue him yet let no man doubt of it who belongs to God for as Dauid speaketh Surely Gods saluation is nigh all them that feare him And the couenant of life and peace was with Leui because he feared God and the soule of him that feareth God shall dwell at ease Deut 5.20 yea If we feare the Lord alwayes it shall be well with vs and with our children for euer The consideration of all which should moue euery one of vs to breake out with the Prophet saying Who would not feare thee Ier. 10.7 Reuel 15.7 Psa 115.13 O King of Nations and with Gods seruāts Who wil not feare thee O Lord and glorifie thy Name for thou onely art holy Loe These gracious promises should moue vs to feare the Lord. 2. Cor. 7.1 Phil. 2.12 Esay 8.13 thus will the Lord blesse them that feare him both small and great Therefore seeing we haue such promises let vs cleanse our selues from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit perfecting holinesse in the feare of God Worke out your saluation with feare and trembling sanctifie the Lord of Hosts himselfe and let him be your dread Now let the feare of the Lord be vpon you take heede and doe it And whatsoeuer yee doe doe it in the feare of the Lord faithfully and with a perfect heart Let vs with good King Iehosaphat feare the Lord 2. Chr. 19.79 and set our hearts earnestly to seeke him For as the Heauen is high aboue the Earth 2. Chr 20.3 Psal 103.11 so great is Gods mercy towards them that feare him as farre as the East is from the West so farre hath God set our transgressions from vs. Psal 33.8 O let all the earth feare the Lord let all the Inhabitants of the World stand in awe of him Psal 2.11 Serue the Lord with feare and reioyce before him with reuerence The Lord of his mercy giue vs this grace and good Lord vnite our hearts to thee that wee may feare thy Name For thou onely Psal 86.11 Psal 76.7 O Lord euen thou art to be feared and who may stand in thy sight when thou art angry Wherefore let vs performe these things with care and conscience and no doubt but wee shall haue the true feare of the Lord within vs which will bee a comfort vnto vs for euermore Our chiefest ioy and delight should be in the Commandements of God Now follwes the practise of this blessed man and that is in actions of piety and delights greatly in his Commandements that is the whole Doctrine diuinely inspired is the very ioy of his heart and delight of his soule It is sweeter vnto him then the Honny and the Honny-combe It is more precious vnto him then gold yea then much fine gold It is more worth vnto him then the whole World and where the heart is once enkindled with loue there the imagination imbraceth with dearest apprehension the thoughts are impatient of any other obiect all the powers of the Soule are vnited in a strong endeauour for the attainement the whole minde must needes bee possest with Meditation and Prayer If hee delight in the Law of the LORD his GOD hee must needes meditate therein And this feruency of the heart cannot possibly be inclosed within the compasse of the brest it will spred it selfe in speech and actions as is plaine by Dauids speech Psal 37.30 The mouth of the righteous will speake of wisedome and his tongue will talke of iudgement for the Law of God is in his heart Psa 119.167 and Dauid saith My soule hath kept thy testimonies for I loue them exceedingly And this loue delight meditation and exercise in the Commandements of God of this blessed man is not a morning cloud and as the morning dew before the Sunne but like the light of the Sunne that shineth more and more vnto perfect day it is not for a start for feare vpon restraint for rereputation for aduantage or to couer the terrors of conscience for a while but it is out of a free resolution and with vndaunted constancy as hee speakes else where day and night So that Gods Law and Word cannot simply profit vs Gods word cannot bee profitable except first it be comfortable vnto vs. except we take ioy and comfort in the same We must first taste and proue the sweetenesse thereof wee must before hand finde out and feele the vertue thereof When wisedome entreth into thy heart Pro. 2.10.11 Psal 1.2 and knowledge delighteth thy soule then and not before shall counsell preserue thee and vnderstanding shall keepe thee and deliuer thee from the euill way and from the man that speaketh
are thine euen all things are thine and thou art Christs and Christ is Gods onely stand fast in thy faith quit thy selfe like a man and bee strong gird thy sword vpon thy thigh buckle fast to thee the whole armour of God ride on because of the word of truth Psal 45.3 and the Lord thy God bee with thee breake through for a while with vndanted courage the bitternesse of the worlds malice the keene razours of empoysoned tongs the teares and tediousnes of a few wretched daies for thou art neerer the prize of the high calling thē when thou first beleeuedst shine more and more in faith in patience in loue in knowledge in obedience and all other christian graces vntill the perfect day vntill thou reach the height of heauen and the full glory of the Saints of God A true mark of our repētance if we haue left our euill wayes to serue the liuing God First here is matter of great consolation for vs for hereby wee may gather assurance vnto our owne hearts of the soundnesse of our repentance and conuersion to the Lord if we haue indeede turned from our euill wayes to serue the liuing God so that we delight in the commandements therefore they may take this for their comfort who are still proposing of good questiōs what they must do and how they must do it by what meanes they may get out of this or that sinne and attaine to such or such a grace how they may bee profitable helpfull and comfortable to themselues and others this was the practise of the Publicans and Souldiers and all sorts that were inwardly touched in their consciences by the preaching of Iohn Baptist Luk. 3.10 euery one of them came vnto him saying What must we do and of the Iayler who when once hee began to be humbled came trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas saying Act. 18.29.30 What must I doe to be saued For howsoeuer Gods seruants haue learned for the most part what things in general must be done yet still they need to bee enformed in many things therefore if wee truely repent vs of our sinnes the Lord wil neeuer leaue vs till all our iniquities bee quite remoued from vs for they that turne to the Lord by true repentance the Lord will wash them from all their sinnes by the bloud of his Sonne that whatsoeuer offences we repent of wee shal be sure to haue thē pardoned Secondly God accepteth of penitent persons the wil for the deed as for the fulfilling of the law in absolute perfection If we haue a willing mind to performe our duty the Lord will accept the will for the deed that Christ alone hath performed he hath paid our debt and cancelled the bond and taken away the hand-writing that was against vs now this onely remaineth for vs that we haue a good inclination and a willing mind to performe our duty and labor to the vtmost of our strength so to do seeing and bewailing our manifold imperfections errors faylings in euery one of our seruices which if wee can doe God will bee as well pleased with vs through his beloued sonne as if wee had kept the whole law without any declining from it at al eyther to the right hand or to the left That which is spoken in the matter of communicating vnto the necessities of the Saints in the Epistle to the Corinthians to wit if there be first a willing mind it is accepted according to that a man hath Cor 2.8.12 not according to that he hath not holdeth as true in all other seruices that wee are accepted with the Lord according as we are inwardly affected albeit our actions bee not answerable to our desires for hee that hath a ready minde to what hee can and doth the same would bee as ready to doe a great deale more if his ability did serue and therefore the Lord will shew his gracious acceptance of that which is done by him though it be neuer so little as well as if it had beene a matter of a farre greater worth Now that the true purpose and intent of the heart is that which God principally regardeth in his seruants is plainly proued out of holy Scripture for we may reade in Genesis what God saith of Abraham Gen. 22.7 By my selfe haue I sworne saith the Lord because thou hast done this thing and not spared thine only son therefore I will surely blesse thee and yet Isaac was not slaine but Abraham withdrew his hand from him and spared him yet because hee was content to kill him and made all things ready for the sacrificing of him God accounts it as good and rewardeth it as wel as if he had killed him indeed So Dauid had but a purpose to build the temple 1. Chron. 17 1. 1. Kin. 8.16 which worke was afterward layd vpon Salomon and by him performed yet the Lord giueth him a good testimony and large reward for his readinesse that way hee was content to spare him because he had beene at great paines before in shedding the bloud of many enemies of the Church and some remained yet still to be subdued by him yet this he telleth him for his comfort whereas it was in thine heart to build an house vnto my name 1. Chro. 17.10.11.12 thou diddest well that thou wert so minded and besides this he biddeth Nathan to carry him this message that the Lord would build him an house and would raise vp seed after him and employ his sonne in that honourable seruice of building an house vnto the name of the Lord and that hee would establish his throne for euer and therefore if we can beleeue that hee is pleased with our good actions we may as well bee perswaded that hee is delighted with good our motions and holy desires that are stirred vp in our hearts by his owne spirit And the reason why God taketh such small things in good worth is Psal 103.13 because hee is both in name and nature a father Mal. 3.17 yea an heauenly father and therfore hath compassion of those that feare him now hee that is a most mercifull and wise and louing father as those will be most mercifull to others that haue tasted most of Gods mercy to themselues when he seeth that his child doth as well as he can though it be but simply and poorely yet hee will shew his liking of it commend him for it and so will God deale with vs though wee cannot doe things perfitly yet if we doe them obediently hee will shew his loue and approbation of vs and of our workes When a little child doth cheerefully ayme and shoot at the marke which his father proposeth vnto him though by reason of his weaknesse he shoot very wide and short yet it is well accepted of his father as if hee did hit the white and the like fatherly dealing shall we finde in God that if wee bee faithfull in a
by his soueraignty It is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God fourthly by the latitude thou thy son thy daughter thy man seruant thy maid seruant the stranger that is within thy gates must sanctifie it fiftly by his example The Lord rested the seuenth day lastly by his benediction he blessed and sanctified it These sixe markes are like the sixe Water-pots in the second of Iohn Iohn 2.7 Let euery one of vs remember to sanctifie the Lords Sabbath that shall bee a pledge of the eternall Sabbath in the kingdom of Heauen fill them vp to the brim with a holy obseruation then draw out carry to the master of the feast euen to Iesus Christ the Lord of the new Sabbath therefore let vs remember to sanctifie the Lords Sabbath and that shall be vnto vs a pledge of the eternal Sabbath in the kingdome of Heauen which shal be a day without euening shal yeeld vs rest without labor ioy without ending Secondly behold a difference There is great difference betweene the godly and the wicked in their obedience whereby wee may try our selues betweene the wicked and the godly the one desires to draw in Gods yoke and yeeld obedience to the commandements and the other desires nothing more then to cast it of let vs examine then how our heart is affected doest thou finde this inward discontentment in obeying are Gods lawes as bonds and cords in thy esteeme and as a stomackful horse dost thou foame at the bit which is put into thy mouth an euident signe of a rebellious heart but one the other side art thou content to submit thy self to Gods commandements art thou desirous that thy nature would bee more conformable to Gods law art thou content to be restrained and if it were possible to haue the wicked inclination of thy heart abolished surely then thou needest not to want comfort thy state will affoord it goe on therefore constantly vnto the end Here is great comfort for all such as find vprightnes in their harts thogh they haue many imperfections Thirdly here is great consolation for all such as find these notes of vprightnesse in themselues and that they haue part in the commandements though they haue many corruptions and imperfections mixed with their best works yet seeing they haue pure hearts they are happy and blessed and shall find the good effects of their blessednesse true holinesse and true happinesse are neuer separated As for perfections God looks not for it at our hands if sinne hang on vs but wee would faine cast it off if we finde vnbeleefe but would most gladly get faith if wee bee troubled in our hearts with hardnesse but are desirous of softnesse if we be humbled for that we cannot be humbled sufficiently nor get such a large heart as we would to desire and exspect grace from heauen yet let vs not be discomforted for our defects and frailties for the Lord will spare vs and be gratious vnto vs in his beloued sonne according to that worthy prayer of good king Hezekiah 2. Chro. 30.18.19 The good Lord be mercifull toward him that prepared his whole heart to seeke the Lord God of his fathers though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuarie Fourthly this serueth for comfort to the children of God Our good purposes shall be rewarded to let them see how highly God prizeth good purposes and desires accepting and rewarding them when they come to him as if they came accompanyed with the deedes themselues Dauid did but conceiue a purpose to build God a house 2. Sam. 7.16 God rewards it with the building and establishing of Dauids house hee did but conceiue a purpose to confesse his sinnes Gods eare was in his heart before Dauids confession could bee in his tongue Psal 32.5 The poore beggers that haue wanted food for themselues Christ yet shall say at the last day Ye haue fed mee when I was hungry onely in regard of their strong affection if they had had abilitie Luk. 15.20 the prodigall child when hee was but conceiuing a purpose of returning was preuented by his fathers first comming to him Isa 65.24 and as Isay sayth God will answer vs before we call that is in our purposes of prayer O sweete comfort when wee addresse our selues to prayer in our priuate meditations and bethinke our selues of our sundry wants we purpose with our selues to beg such and such things whereof yet happily wee forget some in the vocall prayer shall any good soule now thinke that the memories weakenesse shall any thing preiudice her in this case no thy purpose of asking the thing forgotten was a most effectuall asking of it Therefore when the Lord shall put any good motions into our mind let vs not delay but speedily put them in practise and vnto thee belongeth the comfort of that saying I will heare before they calll Therefore seeing the Lord doth so highly esteeme good purposes let vs not delay but speedily put then in practise Before the Iron coole it is good striking while the waxe is plyable it is good setting on the Seale doest thou then feele at any time that thy heart is warmed with good motions enlarged with good affections lift vp to heauen in spirituall meditations doest thou feele any sparkles of the heauenly fire take take thou the bellowes presently blow till the flame cherish in thee and make much of the smoking flaxe Eccles 5.31 and therefore what Salomon exhorteth in the case of vowes is generally to be practised in all holy purposes and motions bee not slacke to performe them they that know themselues know how fickle and vnconstant their hearts are now as we would deale with a variable and vnconstant man so let vs deale with these hearts of ours we would take such a one at his word and lay hold of the opportunity least within a short space he alter his minde our hearts are more vnconstant then any man is or can be let vs then learne this wisedome presently to lay hold of euery good motion and put it in practise do not stand debating the matter when God putteth any good thought into thy heart or rayseth vp any good purpose or desire within thee but presently proceed to execution make no long tarrying before thou doest put them in action there haue beene many who haue resolued to leaue such a sinne Delaying of time very dangerous or doe such a dutie and put in practise what they haue heard but by reason of their deferring vntill the next day or such a time those motions die and purposes vanish and come to nothing for want of speedy execution The right way to try our selues is to know that wee haue forsaken our sins And therefore let vs trye our selues if these good purposes haue wrought in vs a forsaking of sinne and a reformation of life if it bee thus then it is well for this it is
little hee will esteeme of vs as if wee performed a great deale more The perfection of a Christian here in this life Indeed when we haue put off the image of the first Adam and haue put on the image of the second Adam and haue changed the earth for heauen then we shall not only obey truely but perfectly but here it is in truth and so it must bee esteemed one degree of perfection is to see our owne imperfections and that was in Nehemiah and in those of his time O Lord I beseech thee Nehe. 1.11 let thine eare now hearken to the prayer of thy seruant and to the prayer of thy seruants who desire to feare thy name hee could not say that they did so feare his name as they should but this they could say that they desired to doe it better which desire was a fruite of the grace it selfe This should encourage vs still to be doing in the seruices workes of God But here some may say we finde many imperfections and many wants and weakenesses in our selues be it so yet if we ayme at perfection and haue respect to euery commandement of God come as neere to the marke as we can the Lord wil accept vs according to that wee haue and not reiect vs for that we haue not if wee could obey perfectly to what end were Christ his obedience and if God should looke after none but those that can fully please him in all things he should bee a Lord a maister without subiectes and seruants If thou O Lord Psal 130.3 saith Dauid should marke what is done amisse who should stand Therefore though wee cannot pray with that feeling Our infirmities should not hinder vs if we haue respect to euery commandement heare and reade with that profit sing Psalms with that ioyfulnesse and cheerefulnes of heart as we should thogh wee cannot forgiue our enemies long for Christ his cōming haue such a tender feeling of the afflicctions of the Saints nor attaine to such heauenly meditations night or day as we doe desire and as God doth command yet let vs not be discouraged if wee striue to bring our wicked flesh to the performance of those duties and though wee haue much adoe with it yet if wee draw it as a Beare to the stake vnto Gods worship and to the performance of good dueties in publicke and and priuate Rom. 7.12 and when wee feele most backwardnesse and vntowardnesse in our nature yet wee consent in our very soules that the law of God is holy iust and good and that our willes and affections are indeed very corrupt and rebellious but we would rather then all the world that things were otherwise wise with vs that sinne might be subdued and grace planted in stead thereof and it is our continuall griefe that God should be so gracious and kind liberall to vs and wee can bee no more obedient and loyall and seruiceable vnto him if I say we find such a heart within vs we need not to be dismayed but may cheerfully go on with full perswasion and vndoubted resolution that the Lord will be mercifull vnto vs take our obedience in good worth if wee endeuour still to be better and to do better euery day then other neuer standing vpon that wee haue done The signe of a true heart but pressing hard to the marke This is an infallible note that wee are true hearted he that feeleth but a little faith a little loue a little repentance c. And would with all his heart haue them increased these very desires to obay are euident signes that wee haue part in the Commandements But here some may obiect and say God requireth absolute perfection in the Law I answer but not so in the Gospel but qualifieth the rigour of the Law by the satisfaction of a Mediator and in our stead accepteth the true indeauour for the deede and the good will for the worke it selfe the law commandeth workes and perfect obedience doe this and thou shalt liue the Gospell commandeth faith This is the commandement that wee beleeue in the name of Iesus Christ Iohn 3.23 and loue one another as he gaue commandement Thirdly that wee may therefore arme our selues with the complete harnesse of God to vanquish Satan Let euery one therefore arme himselfe against Satans temptations and quench all his fierie darts true it is in part wee were the children of wrath by nature but by grace we are not so wee are not now vnder the corruption of nature but vnder the state of grace and therefore no reprobates but members of Christ It is the spirit of God that can assure vs that we are hls children and heires of saluation Satan cannot tell who be reprobates he is onely an accuser but no iudge in this case he is a lying spirit but the spirit of God which cannot lye assures vs that wee are the children of God God hath giuen vs a Law to keepe which wee cannot keepe yet his law is performed of vs euen to the full though not of our persons yet in the person of Christ Iesus and though wee cannot fulfill the law of workes yet we can by Gods inspiring and assisting grace performe the law of faith which suffiseth to saluation Christ is not onely a iudge to condemne but also a Sauiour to pardon as hee hath iudgement so he hath mercy but his mercy is aboue his iudgement for it is aboue all his workes our sinnes are infinite but Christ his mercy is more infinite to them that are in him but wee are in him and there is no condemnation to them which are in Iesus Christ We cānot sinne so much as hee can pardon It is no presumption to hope for mercy but the assurāce of faith neither doe we sinne with an high hand but vpon infirmities we are onely captiues but not seruants to sinnes that is we serue the law of sinne whether wee will or no but wee doe not willingly submit our selues vnto it neither is it presumption in vs to hope for mercy but it is faith for God stands not so much vpon the quantity as vpon the quality of our faith so as wee haue any at all not the perfection but the truth of it though it bee mixed with infidelity or vnbeliefe we say with the father of the child which had a dumbe spirit I beleeue Lord but helpe my vnbeliefe Mat. 9.24 That this faith of ours is no phantasie or illusiō or flattery of our selues but a certaine assurance of Gods spirit wee perswade our selues by these reasons we hate our selues because of our sinne we purpose to sin so no more wee call to GOD to strenghen vs in this godly resolution we delight in the Law of God we loue all that feare him we desire the furtherance of the Gospel Rom. 7.22 and building vp the Kingdome of grace We desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ
of any thing in this life that he feareth Sweete is the fountaine to the weary traueller and rest to the tyred seruant comfortable is the coole euening after a hot Sunny day yet much more sweet will it be to the Saints of this heauēly citie to haue peace after warre pleasure after paine ioy after trouble and constant securitie after their so long endured sorrowes then shall we blessed indeed as here the Prophet sayth If one Sunne can lighten and fill the whole world with his brightnesse Dan. 3.12 Mat. 13 43 what shall so many glorified bodies of the blessed appeare that shall bee as so many Sunnes so many Lampes and so many shining Lights in heauen then shall we blessed indeed when we shall be like vnto God 1. Ioh. 3.2 1. Cor. 13. which by nature is blessed and we shall bee like vnto God when we shall see him as he is for this only sight of God is our whole happinesse O what a ioy shall it bee when at one view wee shall behold the most high and hidden mystery of the inseparable Trinity and of the loue of God therein then shall mans minde haue perpetuall rest and peace neither shall it desire any further vnderstanding when he hath all before his eyes that may be vnderstood then shall mans will bee quiet when hee enioyeth that felicitie wherein all other good things as in the fountaine of all happinesse are contained then shall faith haue her perfect worke and hope shall enioy that which shee long desired but charity shall endure for euer then shall bee sung continuall prayses vnto the Lambe Reu. 14.3 and the song although it be alwayes song yet it shall be euer new the ioy mirrh melody pleasure power wealth riches honour beauty fellowship dainties odors glory wisedome knowledge treasure securities peace quietnesse and eternall felicitie is beyond al vnderstanding and comprehension of man which the faithfull shall haue and enioy world without end with God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost with Angels and Arch-Angels Patriarkes and Prophets with the Apostles Euangelists with the Martyrs and Confessors and with the Saints of God in the pallace of the Lord in heauen there shall bee an euerlasting Sabaoth which no euening shal end then shall the geneartion of the righteous bee fully blessed There we shall rest and we shal see No content but in the kingdome of heauen we shall see and we shall loue we shall loue and we shall praise Behold saith Augustine That which is the end is without end For what other end is there ordained for the godly but to attaine to that Kingdome wich hath no end Wee call Paradise our Country and the Patriarkes our Fathers and the Saints our brethren and friends Why runne we not then with all speede to enioy our country and salute our Parents a great number of our friends and kinsfolkes brethren and children doe there attend wishing and expecting our comming what ioy will it bee both to them and vs there to meete one another what pleasures are there amongst the inhabitants of heauen which now feare death no more and are sure to liue for euer Those whose vnderstandings are darkened cannot see their happinesse Wo to the blindnesse of our eyes that see not this woe to the deafnesse of our eares that heare not this in such wise as a we should doe where through we might be so farre from fearing death that rather we should wish it with old Simeon Luke 2.29 Now let thy seruant depart in peace Psal 42.2 and with Dauid when shall I come and appeare before thee that we may be blessed for euermore Thirdly If true faith were placed in our hearts feare would vanish away if true knowledge and faith possest our hearts as they should feare and doubtfulnesse would vanquish quite away for assurance of heauenly things maketh vs willing to part with earthly he cannot contemne this life that knoweth not the other if wee would despise this world we must thinke of the glorious life that followeth it and if wee can endure paine for health much more should wee abide a few pangs for glory how foolish are we to feare a vanquished enemy Christ hath triumphed ouer death it bleedeth as it were and gaspeth vnder vs Death being conquered wee should desire to bee dissolued to be with Christ yet do we tremble it is enough that Christ dyed neither would he haue dyed but that we might dye with safety and pleasure how truely may we say of this our Dauid thou art worth ten thousand of vs yea worth a world of Angels yet he dyed for vs who would therefore liue that knowes his Sauiour dyed Who can be a Christian and would not bee like him that would not dye after him let vs thinke of this and iudge whether all the world can hire vs to die But alas great is our vnbeliefe full faint and weake is our faith or else night and day teares and cries should bee our meate and drinke whilst the wicked say vnto vs Where is now your God Psal 42.3 We should wish rather to be doore-keepers in the house of God Psal 84.10 then to dwell in these vngodly tents For one day in his Courts is better then a thousand it is a token of little loue to God to be so loath to goe vnto him when hee calleth herein wee ought to lament the weakenesse of our faith and seeing our wants to prepare for remedy against the time of neede and to beg of God his aide strength and comfort against the pinch which things vndoubtly if we aske in faith we shall obtaine and find his promise true God reacheth out his hand to conduct vs but wee draw backe our owne and runne away when hee calleth vs if hee bring vs into the way of saluation wee mourne for the World and we looke behinde vs with Lots Wife and hinder our desire of well doing wee must therefore rouze vp ourselues and not remaine still in the mire we must be fortified in this vertue who supporteth and comforteth vs in all distresse Lastly to conclude let vs attempt to despise corruptible things and to desire heauenly and eternall when God calleth at euery occasion let vs hearken vnto him if he be our Guide we must follow him for to arriue in his house let vs receiue his benefit and himselfe too for hee giues himselfe vnto vs in the person of his sonne hee causeth vs to see the meanes how to come vnto him wee must therefore request him to bestow vpon vs will and desire to come thither by Faith Repentance Hope c. And that hee would mainetaine his gifts and graces in vs to the end that heere wee may mourne in this mortall life and attend in the assurance of his mercy for the end of this world and our last day which shal bee the beginning of our true life when wee are to receiue an inheritance not mortall but immortall not earthly but heauenly not like the Goord of Ionas Ionas 4.7 but the Caeders of Libans Deut. 8.4 not like the garments in Egypt Gen. 3.7 but in the Wildernes not like the morning dew but the waters of Paradise Ephes 6.16 not Aprons of Fig-leaues but the Helmet of saluation Gen. 5.14 not like Iacobs Pottage which hee sold but the birth-right which hee bought 2. King 2.11 not a Tabernacle but a Temple not time but eternity not like an abortiue child but like Henoch and Elias which neuer tasted of death beseeching God our heauenly Father for his sonne Christ his sake to keepe vs soules and bodies to his kingdome and glory and to leade vs order vs and dispose of vs as he will in all things in all places and for euer that at the length we may come whether wee would that is into his owne blessed presence and fruition of immortality with Christ and his Saints world without end Amen FINIS