stark naked to himself does seem Yet cloath'd with Righteousness in Gods esteem One of his worth and merit never brags But strips himself of his unrighteo us rags He makes himself as naked as was Job For Christ to cloath him with his righteous robe And thus you see the Christian man is one That would be righteous either all or none Although to this he has a willing heart He 's never righteous here but in part He on the one hand will himself deny Thereby his God the more to glorifie And on the other hand he will confess That Christ is all in all his righteousness One thinks him rich enough whilst he can plead His Saviours merits and that Christ was dead 1 The Christian his behaviour towards God The Christian man foresees it him be fit When God commands he should to God submiti Let God rebuke him then will he not faint Nor yet of his correction make complaint When vile temptations seek to do him wrong He sheilds himself with faith and so is strong He ever dreads he shall himself disgrace Thus to the Devil never will give place He Souldier like keep-Guard does watch pray In these is exercis'd both night and day Through Christ his merits still he recommends To God his Soul and God his Soul defends He alwayes trembles at the Almighties Rod Which makes him more religious towards God All his deportment does derive from grace Whose love and meekness mercy will embrace His duty towards God discern I can But what 's this Christians duty towards man 1 His deportment towards man His carriage towards man is just and true For he will render to all men their due He hates contention and the cause of strife Loves Peace and Friendship as he loves his life Of quietness he does so much approve He would have all things to be done in love He bears in mind no bitterness nor gall To none but pure affection towards all He is not willing Gods commands to break Therefore will use forbearance with the weak He honours others does himself debase Gives them the better keeps the worser place Of others sins by no means will partake But warily these and their guilt forsake And thus his carriage towards men you see In all respects is from offences free Yet some would know since that it may be known What 's his decorum to himself alone 1 His descency towards himself Truth to declare he does in very deed At all times to himself take care and heed Is alwayes sober and does duly watch That no temptations unawares him catch Since Christianiz'd he holds it fit that he His sins of Youth and Youthful lusts should flee Christ is his Captain Devils him despite With whom Faiths battel he 's ingag'd to fight Though Devils aim his strength and force to blast He questions not to overcome at last He 's found in Armour fears no stab nor scar During the manage of his holy War He knows this is well doing is not tir'd In hopes his warfare will be soon expir'd His youthfull Time he now seeks to redeem Which he found lost in his and Gods esteem With wickedness resolves he to contend Till God shall bring his life unto an end Which times he knows shall gain so great renown God will himself reward him with a Crown 2 His carriage towards the World His carriage to himself we saw would see What yet might to the world his carriage be Within the world he Circumspectly walks With whom herein converse's wisely talks He views the world which is by him forgot And seems to use it as if us'd it not Himself he fashions not nor will he frame Like to the world because he shun's the same Nor with the cares thereof will he like some That are unwise be likewise overcome Nor lay up treasure on the Earth where rust And moth corrupt mens riches unto dust Content he 's with the tallent God him gave For to maintain his life this side the grave He meddles with no business but his own For he would not a meddling Fool be known During his life in this world all his care Is how for life Eternal to prepare To God to Man himself the world thus I In brief have writ the Christians History Which may all ever practice till they die SUBJECT XI A Discovery of the Faithful and devout Christians Quality and Conversation A Christian by belief those things obtains Promis'd in Time and after Time remains DEad was this man that 's now alive His death from Adam did derive In Adams sin he lay as dead Till Christ awak'd his drowsy head No sooner did this man awake But presently he does forsake His bed of sin wherein he lay And to the Temple goes to pray 1 The Christian resembles the Publican The gesture of the Christian man Is like that of the Publican Who thinks himself to be so base Not worthy there of the worst place He villisies himself that he The chief of sinners thinks to be And seriously will it confess Christ is alone his Righteousness He 's meek in Spirit and is Poor Therefore will pray hard by the door T' approach the Altar fears affront Till he does pennance at the Font. There falling down upon his knee O Lord be merciful to me A sinner prayes 't is not deny'd And by this prayer is Justifi'd Now since his Maker made him just In his Redeemer put 's his trust To whom he bears an upright heart Till death his Soul and body part He 's now alive and dead to sin When the dull world lies dead therein But he while living lives to God And fears his wrath to shun his rod. 1 He will not bring forth Fruit to himself He 'l not be found that fruitless Elf Like many one lives to himself By him shall Christ be glorifi'd To him will live for whom he dy'd 2 He hath content in every state In every state to be content He learn'd all dangers to prevent The Christian can for truth relate He has content in every state 3 He has nothing yet possesses all things He nothing has yet does possess All things because Christs Righteousness And should he not possess the same He all things else would nothing name He seems to sorrow and to joy Enjoys both comfort and annoy He 's like a Ship by waves that 's tost Somtimes all his Intents are crost He 's oft cast down like one forgot And yet we find him Perish not Sometimes to fall God gives him scope To rise again by Faith and Hope Likewise he seems for to decay Yet is renew'd that very day So that no man on Earth can know The Christian's state by outward show He 's poor but rich can many make That of his Councel will partake Whose Treasure 's there where is his bliss In Heaven's Kingdom not in this One that 's in darkness to our sight But in this darkness find's
all these things shall be added unto you Gods Kingdoms and his righteousness these ought The very first things in mans life be sought First in each day of mans mortallity First in each business of each day and why 'T is Gods command that these should be the prime Of all mans enterprises during time On the word Amen and its signification Amen this word may mortall men admire Amen's a witness and Amen's desire Amen's a Truth that never will decay Amen concludes Petitions when we pray Amen procures Gods blessing or his Ban Amen shall Seal the wo or weal of man Happiness will be his Portion that truely fears and serves God O happy he that serves his God in truth Thrice happy he so serves him from youth Unhappy he that happens happiless For hapning short of this sure happiness On Servitude and Freedom Thrice happy he from Servitude that 's free'd Yet what is Freedom if not free indeed The freest Freedom's to be free with them By a new Birth of new Jerusalem The dayes of the mightiest Monarch on Earth are but the dayes of a mortall man hence I inferred an observation from the Temporality of the Popes Holiness The Pope his Period has the mightiest man Dame natures date Points him his mortall span And when his span's expir'd what is the Pope More than the meanest beyond natures scope The mightiest and the meanest thus you see Though not in Earth yet in Earths womb agree On the Righteousness of man in Christ I am Unrighteous but my Righteousness In Estimation is of worth no less Than best deserving Honour and Reward If Righteously I Righteousness regard When as not right in raged Righteousness Then am I Righteous in a righter dress Of Death either in Sin to Sin or for Sin I have been dead but am a live again Yet needs must die or else in death remain For would I live and not desire to die My doom were death to all Eternity Both death and life I highly do esteem Though this to some a Paradox may seem Of mans Birth Death and Buriall as naturally and Spiritually considered Twice born twice dead twice buried would I be The living dying death of death to flee One birth one death one buriall common are In two of each I hope to have my share Twice born to live is man once born to die The life or death that dures Eternally On Genesis the 31. ver 5 And Jacob sware by the fear of his Father Isack viz The God of his Father Isaac I am a fraid because I dread to bear What 's Pertinent unto my cause of fear I fear my fear yet not as though not true But least I fear my fear less than fears due My fear requires my fear at fears command Who fears a right these fears shall understand On the words of David in Psalm the 47. vers 8 Awake up my glory namely his tongue Awake my glory hast to glorifie Thy glorious glory in sincerity That glories and is glorying in my fear If fruits of glory plentiously I bear And glorifying cannot be deny'd Because Gods glory mortals glorify'd Upon the expression of the Prophet Jeremiah Jer. 15.16 Thy words were sound and I did eat them and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoycing of my heart By me thy words were found who did them eat Internally the same oft to repeat And 't is my hope with these not to depart The Joy and the rejoycing of my heart To me they are since I the same retain Within my Bosom as my greatest gain THE CONCLUSION Thus far arriv'd my pious muse and I Delighting Scripture verse to versify 'T is pity then that I should not peruse And practice what 's the precepts of my muse For she design'd that all she writ might tend Unto Gods glory e're she made AN END A Brief Alphabeticall Expositour explaining the most difficult words made use of in this Book This Table 's Trivial in the Seholar's eye Yet serves the mean and that want's Memory A ABoade A dwelling place Abound To Increase Absolute Perfect Absurd Foolish Abstain To forbear Abiss A bottomless pit Actual What is done or committed Activate To make active or lively Admit To allow of Affect To love Affirm To prove a thing true Affabillity Kindness or curteousie Allay To over power a thing Allure To entice by love Alphabeticall Belonging to the 24 letters of the Alphabet Ambitious Desirous of a thing Amity Love or Friendship Ample Full or large Amplitude Largeness Angellick The likeness of or belonging to an Angel Annoy What offendeth one Anthems Divine verses Anticipate To take place before another thing Animate To enliven or encourage Applause To clap hands in ones praise Apology What man speaketh in his own behalf Apprehend To understand Appellation To give things their proper names Approach To draw near Approvable What may be liked of Arrogance Pride Argue To reason the case or hold an argument Ascribe To impute or apply a thing to him that deserves it Astrologick Belonging to Astrology or the study of Stars Assume When one thing takes to its self the nature of another Assaulted One that 's follow'd with hatr'd Attribute To ascribe or impute Attraction To draw unto Attest To witness a thing Attempt To aim at or adventure on some notable thing Author The first that invents or maketh any thing Augment To make greater Authentique What is well esteemed of Avarice Coveteousness Awe Fear or dread B Baccus A title given the God of wine Ban A curse Basis A foundation Bereave To deprive or leave one destitute of somthing Benediction A blessing Bibbe To drink often Bliss Blessedness Bounty Goodness Boundless Without bounds or closure Bottomless Without a bottom Brief Little or short Breviate A lesser thing made of a greater Brittish Belonging to Wales or Britain Brittanick The same as British Bruits Beasts or Cattel C Candour Courtesie Canonized One declar'd to be a Saint Capable Able Capacity Abillity Captious Fantastical or quareling at others words Cardiganian Belonging to the County of Cardigan Caution A watch-word to take heed of a thing Caelestial Belonging to Heaven Censorieus A person that finds faults when he cannot mend them Characters Names or descriptions Charm To delude or allure Chaos Confusion Chastised One corrected or afflicted Christianis'd One made a Christian Circumference A Circle or Compass Circumstance A space of time or an argument Clemency Mercy or gentleness Cleave To Close unto Cogitation A thought or thinking Comprehend To conceive in mind Comprehensive What may be received in the mind Complacent Delightful Compil'd What 's fram'd or set together Commiserate To take pity Communication A partaking in talking Competent Convenient Comprize To contain or comprehend Composing Framing of a thing Commentary'd Notes made on Scriptures to explain their meaning Condescention To be humble or meek Confer To reason together Confine To limit or put in bounds Confute To disprove one Converse To discourse Controul To bear rule or
of fire Somtimes for horrid deeds we recompence Our selves by doing wilful violence Somtimes Gods Judgments for mans sins are found Like Pharohs Hoast it 'h Oacen men to drownd Some wicked men the Lord comits in Ire With Nadab and Abihü to the fire Others there are whom Death doth thus deprive Like Sechems men are Swallow'd up alive Others again like Sisera were brought To death by Starrs which in their courses fought And some we read another way are Dead By Houses overwhelming on their head Which Sampson and Job's children did devour With those Eighteen interr'd by Shiloams Tower Some with wild Beasts there are in pieces torn As were those scoffing boyes in Bethel born And some are found like Achan ston'd to Death That 's presently bereft of mortal Breath Again we find that Justice often times Hangs men like Haman for malignant crimes And there are men by their acquaintance slain As Abner or as Abel was by Cain For Abel as he walked in the Field Through Cain's assault his life to death did yeild To shew the uncertainty of Death the more It slew old Eli sitting at his door To Eglons Summer Parlor death retird And Eglons life by strange surprise requir'd Betwixt the Temple and the Altar Death Met Zachary there him depriv'd of Breath Senacharib of life likewise was Rob'd By Death in Nisrah's house though 't was his God Again 't is said whils't sleeping Isboseth In his Bed-Chamber was surpriz'd by Death Death the Philistines smote in their resort To the Theatre there themselves to sport And stately Herod he within a Trice After Deaths Summons was destroy'd by Lice An Archer from his Bow did let to flie An Arrow which Josiah's caus'd to die A Prophet of the Lord we find again Was by a Lyons Teeth both torn and slain The falling of a Stone did break the head Of stout Abimeleck and made him dead And cruel Jezabel as strangely dy'd Entomb'd by Dogs for her accursed pride Zimri and Cozby for their wicked Fact Were slain by Phineas in the very Act Two Captains with their fifties bore Gods Ire And were consum'd by his Caelestiall Fire Curst Ananias and Saphira dy'd Because against the Holy Ghost they Ly'd Thus Judas who betray'd his Lord that Elf Withdrew from Christ went forth hang'd himself To Period these examples who from hence * It is hard for a man to foresee what-manner of death is ordain'd for him Is' t can derive the proper inference Of his own death fith these mutations are So incident to men in them to share Thus may the question be resolved then Those that fear God shall die like Godly men That is a timely death in mans full Age Or when some sickness does mans death presage There is a certain Time for man that 's born Like Harvest season for the Shock of Corn And ther 's a death untimely that doth lop Mans life like to the Ears of Corn men crop And there 's a Lingering death which seems to be A Prison to the Soul till it gets free So there 's a sudden death which gives a blow Without its warning and this death is wo There is a tranquil death to die in peace As not perceiving of the souls Release And there 's a death attended with distress As raving raging and unquietness What man is he that can the knowledge have Which of these deaths shall bring him to his grave Thousands of deaths there are that men befall And yet no man can tell which of them all Belongs to him these Issues do depend On God alone the lives of Men to end Thus all transactions acted from the prime Of mans Creation periods death and time As touching man both time death might wel In some opinions thus run Paralell Yet Death and Time from Paralells have ran In a Parenthesis to limit man Time past behind him Time to come before Where death arrests him to pay natures score But not to leave till render'd Time its due Great benefits to men herein ensue If that but seriously we recollect What God for mans salvation did effect The accomplishment of every thing was done By Gods Incarnate word or Christ his Son The best production of the space of Time Was mans Redemption from each mortal crime By our Emanuel which cherisheth A christians heart and gives him life in death So that he 's willing to dismiss Times Span Since life Eternall purchas'd is for Man As much as in us lyes let 's all apply Our hearts in time to gain Eternity I mean this present space although that some Will say if time is past there 's Time to come But when the time to come likewise is past Through carelesness great proves the loss at last If we regard our Time but Righteously Our sure reward will be Eternity Neglect we Time Eternity we gain In everlasting torments to remain Improve we Time and doubtless we shall find Joyes to Eternity remain behind Thus of a Truth Eternity rewards Him that esteems it or it disregards Sith thus it is I am resolv'd therefore Betimes in Time the grace of God t'implore That after Time I may my soul supply With life and joy in blest Eternity Of which through mercy may all men partake When Time 's no Time for Mans Messiah sake SUBJECT IV. A prospect of the Great Creation And the Creator understood by the Creatures All living Creatures most apparently A God that is Omnipotent descry O What contrivance I behold When seriously I gaze On Gods Creation wrought of old Such as my mind amaze II. Methinks Gods wisdom did fore-run His might when as I see Above and eke beneath the Sun Such wondrous works to be III. The Lord did by his prudence frame And by his word has wrought All things to Glorifie his name And fram'd the same of nought IV. All things that are once nothing were Which nothing every thing At Gods command was made to bear What he to pass should bring V. Then how might mortal men admire The wisdom of the Lord Who at his pleasure and desire Made all things by his word VI. The Earth which is through wisdom was Made uniform in frame Of that Rude Lump confus'd when as It from the Chaos came VII So was the world although so wide Of nothing made to be So great a Bulk 't is not deny'd By God and none but he VIII * The Wisdom of God Created man an Epitom of the great World and made man the great Ruler of it Which Macrocosm was since comprizd Or modeliz'd to man This Microcosm Epitomiz'd It s Metropolitan IX Lo here 's prudence most profound Discretion to behold And understanding to a bound By wisdom manifold X. These are Gods works and they do seem Most wond'rous in the sight Of Prudent man and his esteem That ponder's them aright XI * God may be understood by every Creature God may be seen in every thing All Creatures comprehend Some sign of
that fell with Lucifer Ibid Lucifer Tempted Adam and Eve in Paradice p. 73. Since the Devil must remain in Hell he would have all in his condition p. 74. The difference betwixt Lucifer and Adams ambition p. 76. Every Soul alive may be capable of Salvation p. 78. * Christ dy'd for every Soul alive Ibid The damn'd might be saved could they but repent p. 81. * This side the Grave the vilest wretch may be freed from sin Ibid * Mans election considered Ibid. Predestination and Gods rigorous decree qualified p. 82. The Arguments drawn from the strictness of election and reprobation Ibid * An objection arising from the position of Gods decree and the Solution thereof Ibid All mankind fell in Adam p. 83. * The elect must be sinners by nature as well as others For all sinn'd without exception Ibid * An opinion of the Heathen World as how judged and how saved p. 85. 1 God stampt a law in mans heart which is the law of nature Ibid 2 God made a Law of works and delivered it to Moses writ in Tables of stone p. 86. 1 Faith the Tenor of the Gospel Ibid 2 Gods Covenant with Abraham p. 87. 2 Whom the Law convicts the Gospel will reprieve Ibid 2 Some derive ill consequences from the doctrine of predestination p. 88 Cain no Reprobate by positive decree p. 89. 1 Esau no Reprobate by predestination p. 91. Election and Reprobation depending on Mans penitence or his presumption p. 93. 1 God intended the Salvation of all by the mission of Christ p. 94. 1 The Christian his behaviour towards God p. 96. 1 His deportment towards Man p. 97. His decency towards himself p. 98. 1 His carriage towards the World Ibid 2 The Christian resembles the Publican p. 100. He will not bring forth Fruit to himself p. 102. 1 He hath content in every State Ibid 2 He hath nothing yet possesseth all things Ibid 3 His life is hid with Christ in God p. 103. 1 No weapon formed against him shall prosper p. 104. Monarchy Metamorphosed to Democracy p. 108. Obedience deniable to the Vsurpers of Authority p. 109. Ministers ought to be paid their Tribute p. 112. Man ought to be really holy and not so thought of p. 122. A Brief Table of additional observations pertinent to this Book DIvine Ejaculations or pious breathings p. 154. A spiritual Hymn to the praise of God p. 147. The various significations of the word World in Scriptures p. 156. On the words Exploration Deploration Imploration Ibid On the words Easeless Endless and Remediless Ibid On Faith Hope and Charity p. 157. On God the King and the Church Ibid Of God viz. the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost Ibid Of Gods afflicting man for evil p. 158. Of Gods not regarding sometimes the prayers of his own Servants Ibid On Mat. 6.33 But seek ye first the Kingdom of God p. 159. On the the word Amen and its significations Ibid On the happiness of him that truly fears and serves God Ibid On Servitude and Freedom p. 160. An Inference touching Mortality drawn from the temporality of the Popes Holiness Ibid PARADOXES On the righteousness of man in Christ p. 161. Of death either in sin to sin or for sin On mans Birth Death and Buriall as naturally and spitually considered Ibid On Gen. 31.5 And Jacob sware by the fear of his Father Isaac On the words of David in Psalm the 47. v. 8. Awake up my glory Ibid Vpon this expression of the Prophet Jeremiah Jer. 51.16 Thy words were found and I did eat them Ibid The conclusion p. 163. The Authors Apology for himself to God GLorious and Grations thou great God of might Assist me by thy Spirit to Indite Some extract from thy Book and this Rehearse Though thy Divinest Prose in Divine Verse Perchance hereby it may take some effect In Verse on those that all the Prose neglect Yet I expect not to attain this end Vnless thy Blessings do the means attend Permit me Lord if it thy pleasure be To ponder what may render praise to thee Vouchsafe me thy assistance so each Line Shall have dependance on what is Divine For 't is my Aime I speak it without shame I this request to magnifie thy Name But as I should I dare not say I can Without thy Aid because I am a man Consider my defects be pleas'd to guide My Head Heart Hand lest my Penslip aside Grant whilst I study in thy Word thy Will I may my self the same seek to fulfill And through thy Grace prevent my doing ill Oft have I crav'd thy pardon for my Crimes Again the same committed divers times Offend and pardon crave crave and offend Will be I fear my course to my lives end But not without a willingness to be From all offences Innocent and free And whilst my will and my acknowledgment To my transgressions render no assent Thus I conclude though seeds of sin remain Within me over me sin shall not Reign E're death begins my fleshly Veil to Rent By true Repentance make me Innocent Good God my maker I thee humbly pray That Hallelujahs I may sing for aye To thee with those thy Mercies did translate From Earth to Heaven there to contemplate Thy Glory and thy Greatness where among Ten thousand times ten thousand Saints is Sung The Song of Moses and that of the Lamb Which th' Prophets bore a part and Miriam So full of Triumph so Harmoniously That Angels Eccho'd forth its Mellody Oh! could I but obtain my sweet desire To Sing my part with this Caelestial Quire Then I thy greatness greatly should admire And were I but prepared for Heavens mirth My Gladness should transport me there from Earth Where Choristers of Saints and Cherubims Angels Archangels Sacred Seraphims Each in their order warble forth and Sing Caelestial Hymns and Anthems to their King And Christ their Saviour for his Suffering That I might sing in Heaven evermore I fain would try to Sing on Earth before Thus I ambitious am to find my Tongue By thee refin'd to sing a sacred Song Vnto thy Holiness whilst here below Thou dost my Being Lord to me bestow A Song of Recantation from each sin To Sanctitie Salvation for to Win And that I may thy Servant ever be Thy Blessing and thy Grace confer on me The Weakness and the Errors Lord are mine But all that 's Good to thee I re-assigne And let the Praise and Glory all be thine The Authors Apology for himself to Men. THe Reason why on Divine things I write Is that my Subjects will my pains requite I dare affirm who best perceives the cause 'T is not conceited nor to gain applause They are allow'd the contrary will judge While these pass Censure I 'le forbear to grudge I can discern it does exceed the Pen Of the most skilful for to please all men One likes not this another likes not that The Writer's mean or 's writing dull
admire thy Nature and thy Name Thy Nature for its Sanctity so bright Thy Name as the Immortal God of Might So Wonderful thou art who can display What is the Lord should he require a day Well may'st thou be most wondrous unto me That didst him puzzle who required Three * Symonides desired three days to consider what God was but could not find out his perfection Symonides his Tongue was ty'd by thee This I foresee and this thou hast foreshown Hereafter Man shall know thee as Man 's known I know thee but in part the which therefore Makes me ambitious for to know thee more The more I know thee more I do admire Yet in admiring more I still desire Till Heaven makes my Knowledge more entire I lose my self in searching after thee Since Comprehensive thou art not to me O manifest thy self unto me more Hereafter then thou hast done heretofore That I may know thee as thou may'st be known Of those that do themselves thy Servants own I would Importune more but fear I should Who am a Worm be with my God too bold In being too familiar some thereby Create Contempt through familiarity Lo then my Muse let 's for a while be mute Admiting God in every Attribute As in his Wisdom Goodness Justice Might Love Mercy Meekness let us take delight And all he makes apparent to our sight In all Transactions still on him depend That neither had Beginning nor has end Whose Knowledge as he is Mans Thoughts transcend It is too high a Theme this God to know Essentially by Mortals here below Whom Angels do admire may men adore That ever liv'd and lives for evermore Know God essentially no Creature can Within this world that is a living man For God he is a Spirit and therefore In truth and Spirit men should him adore To know him as he is man is deny'd The sight 's too glorious till mans gloryfi'd Abraham's Isack's Jacob's God is he One undivided and in Persons Three The Father Son and Holy Ghost each one Of these Three Persons make but God alone The Essence is but one none can divide The Godhead where Three Persons do abide Though this mans Reason cannot comprehend To this belief man must his Faith extend Till death unvails this hidden mistery By mans translation to Eternity Mean while may men beware lest they should make An Idol God and the true God forsake Some things there are ador'd as Gods the same Bear no relation to God save the name Therefore to worship such is sin and shame Though there be Idol Gods the God of might From Heathen Gods I thus declare the right God is my God and God my God shall be No God but God the God of Gods is he Three Persons in one Godhead that agree Of the Consubstantiality of the Trinity of Persons in the Vnity of the Divine Essence These Trinity of Persons be For Nature Co-essential Co-equal each for Dignity For Time they 're Co-eternal The Father's God the Son is God The Holy Ghost likewise Is not a person that is odd But both these equalise To Father Son and Holy Ghost The Godhead appertains Who 's Lord of the Caelestiall Host Eternal that remains SUBJECT II. Of the Incomprehensible Eternity There is no Subject save our God so high To treat upon as is ETERNITY Observation I. WHat head what heart what tongue of mortal man Imagine apprehend or utter can The meainng of this word Eternity In it 's extensive latitude that prie What it imply's not one aright can tell Unless he were in Heaven or in Hell Observation II. Some things there are whereby it is descry'd As though by these it should be signifi'd But few comparisons that can descry It 's boundless bottomless profoundity When these cannot be Fathom'd I declare It is superlative and not t'compare Observation III. Some in their shadows of Eternity Present a wheel the same to signify This signature is endless and therefore Do's represent Eternity the more It 's being endless like a wheel or Ring Pourtrays Eternity some wheeling thing Observation IIII. By wheels and Rings the Antients did of Old Eternity as endless then behold All things Orbicular in their esteem Like to Eternity it self did seem They thought of it when they themselves turn'd round And by their making Circles on the ground Observation V. These Metaphors are helps to signifie The things that be obscure to mortal eye But not the things as in themselves they are What 's signifi'd by signs are not t'compare For Instance when mans Pictures drawn by Art Though 't is mans Picture cannot act mans part Observation VI. No Sphere nor Globe nor round Circumference Can represent the magnitude Immense Of boundless bottomless Eternity For aye continuing in its constancy Without all doubt there is no emblem fit Whereby resemblance may be made to it Observation VII Of all the temporal things mine eyes have view'd I Have not seen its true similitude Some to describe it did proceed thus far That it resembles what 's Orbicular If to their thoughts herein we condescend The Reason is because it has no end Observation VIII Circles and Rings Sphears Globes the Sun and Moon Eternity foreshews like night the noon The night so gloomy that it vails our sight The noon so glorious by Meridian light Thus what 's Eternity not one can tell On this side Heaven nor on this side Hell Observation IX Number the Sands that on the shoar do lie The Grass o' th Fields or Stars i' th Azure skie All creeping flying and all swimming things All Gravel Stones and all the watry springs As these mans apprehension do excell So what 's Eternity no man can tell Observation X. Yet some resemblance thus to it is made As if we meant the Sunshine by the shade Or like a thing hid by some noted mark That 's seen by day but groap'd for in the dark By glimering light somtimes we chance t' espy The duskish shadows of Eternity Observation XI * Eternity considered in Hell is a night of Sorrow And such a night as never knows a morrow This side the grave what mortals Estimation Admits of it's nocturnal Termination Let him conjecture it in Hell remaining For evermore remain without refraining Observation XII * Eternity confidered in Heaven Eternity is such a day of Pleasure As everlasting and immense for measure Such endless joy and such surpassing glory As farr transcends the reach of humane story Of which these Characters may well be given If but considered as it is in Heaven Observation XIII * Eternity considered both in Heaven and in Hell Eternity is sorrow dread and sadness Eternity again is joy and gladness In Hell 't is grief 't is horror and damnation In Heaven glory Honour and Salvation And thus you see by this my breviate story 'T is Hells dishonour and 't is Heaven's glory Observation XIII No mortal man can in his heart or brain The meaning of
condemns the Gospel will reprieve He whom the Law condemns let him but grieve No doubt the Gospel will find a reprieve For such if but the Gospel he 'l believe Although Gods justice does mans deeds require Gods mercy will accept of his desire Therefore Gods mercy should all men admire Since mercy thus Gods justice do exceed Let none suppose God evermore decreed Mans reprobation that repents his deed Nor yet that mans Election stands secure Because he some temptations may endure Sin 's mans infection penitence his cure I am afraid too many men defin'd Election stricter than God e're design'd By his decree concerning humane kind God by predestination left a space Wherein Christs merits might for man take place Since evermore he saw mans wretched case Election thus consider'd does repaire Mens hopes prompts them unto frevent prayer And proves their Antidote against despair But when deliver'd in a stricter sense It has Created fear and diffidence By its possessing men with negligence 1 Some derive ill corsequences from the Dectrine of predestination How many Persons now a days declare Who be Elected such sure saved are Let them sin on Election will them spare Again one man will to another say Some hear Sermons every Sabbath day I hear none am sav'd as well as they For ought I know the Preacher may be one Design'd of God for reprobation What need of Preachers Sermons will save none Thus will the vulgar and Illiterate men Dispute the case and argue now and then Enquiring who are sav'd who not or when Which thus Creates destruction in the brain Some bless'd as Abel are some curst as Cain To those damn'd by decree Devotion 's vain 1 Cain no Reprobate by positive decree Who can affirm or for a truth dare tell Cain by decree was reprobate of Hell When God would him accept had he done well Mercy was offer'd unto Cain when he Had Abel slain sayes God shalt thou not be Accepted if thou dost but well by me To say that God did Cain commiserate And prove that Cain was then a reprobate Seems from Gods justice much to derogate Cain in his wrath did first his Brother kill And cause his blood upon the Earth to spill Then vengeance overtakes him for the Ill. From which I might attract this inference Just Abel dy'd was sav'd through Innocence And Cain condemn'd for his Impenitence Had Cain repented of his crime and sin This homicide and fratricide had bin An object doubtless should Gods favour win Therefore his Condemnation I believe Was not so strict but mercy might reprieve His Life from death did he repent and grieve My reason is because I no where find His doom precede his deed but come behind His Brothers murther whereto he inclin'd If Cain was reprobated ever more Should mercy say that sin lay at his door Since so decreed he could have not forbore 'T would seem Injustice in our God should he First damn this Cain then him Create to be A man of mischief from sin never free This circumstance proves God the Origin And fountain of corruption whence mans sin Since Adams days derivative has bin 1 Esau no reprobate by predestination Let 's take a view of cursed Easau's state and see if God this Creature would Create To be an everlasting reprobate This inconsistent doubtless needs must be With him that 's mercy in the high'st degree Then for damnation none Created he God by his life hath sworn that his delight Is not in sinners death but that they might Return and live religious in his sight He would have all men to be sav'd and they To understand the truth and it obey Thereby salvation to secure for aye Jacob I lov'd and Esau did I hate These words some wrest and wrongfully translate To mean this Esau born a reprobate Of Easau's reprobation by decree I never read nor of his doom till he To Jacob sold his Birth-right for a Fee No more then of Cains doom before he slew His Brother Abel which doom did ensue The murther as the stipend that was due The Potter he hath power o're the clay This is a truth that no man need gain-say But who made Pots design'd to cast away 'T is like the Potter may somtimes mistake In temp'ring mould and so a vessel make Fit for no use or in its forming break But God admits of no mistakes for he Was all-sufficient when he did decree What matter and formation man should be Now for to honour God and reprehend Their Judgement who to know Gods will pretend Yet bound his boundless mercies without end Mercy and Meekness Justice Truth and Grace Could not admit not in the least embrace Damnation for his un-born Creatures case This is foreseen if prudetnly men pause God will not execute without a cause All his commands are true and just his Laws But yet this truth is not by me deny'd By mans damnation God is glorifi'd By mans salvation more and more beside The one God from his presence does expell For his transgressions to the pit of Hell The other suffers with himself to dwell And both these persons represent his might That goes to Hell where 's everlasting night To Heaven this where is eternall light And thus I have endeavour'd to express Gods Acts of mercy and his righteousness The harmless state and their state that transgress Predestination's danger to allay Pass lightly o're this bogg thou canst not stray Faith and Repentance miss not Heavens way I know I shall be either damn'd or sav'd And shall be Judg'd as I my self behav'd Yet hope for mercy which I ever crav'd I 'le Judge my self and will my self condemn My frailties urge me to it now and then Not damn my self least God should me contemn 1 Election reprobation depends on mans penitence or his prisumption Mans Reprobation and Election dreams Appear to some to others strictest theams To me a medium 'twixt these two extremes My reason prompts me that all persons may Obtain salvation that repent and pray In faith to God through Christ their crimes t' allay 1 God intended the Salvation of all by the mission of Christ Salvation to all mankind was Gods aim In sending Christ the Appostles do proclaim Christ has a balm for each believers maim Then blessed Jesus who for man didst die Grant me thy grace for ever to relie Upon thy death until I live thereby So shall I render praise for evermore To thee whom I in spirit do adore With heart and voice according to my Lore SUBJECT X. The Right description of a true Christian and those qualifications pertinent to this believer in his state of Grace and Christianity A Christian is a man that is sincere And honour's God with reverentiall fear One who believes in Christ as crucifi'd For his transgressions all his sin 's to hide One that declares he nothing does possess As rightly his save what 's unrighteousness One that