the Iewes seeing thou doest all these things Ezek. 16.30 the worke of an imperious whorish Woman So may I say of many Christians how weake are your hearts seeing you doe all these things play the worldlings as doe others play the time-servers as doe others you can turne and winde your lives and consciences as you list ah Lord what strength of God is in such soules You have lost assisting power by your loosenesse and basenesse you had beene better have lost your lives yea ten thousand lives you had beene better have died any death and never have seen that day nor houre in which you began to decline to sinne to greive and lose that power and strength of God which wrought in you Unwarranted courses strip the heart of Divine strength Light will have no fellowship with darkenesse God doth not strengthen to sinne Man stript of God is deadly weake he runnes to any course When God leaves a man man becomes a beast Why you are so easily drawne to sinne you may see by this point the power of God is gon from your soules your Delilah hath cut off your strength your exorbitancy to this and that hath checkt grieved and killed the working of a lively power This heavy stroke is not a first but a last stroke for thine unrulinesse Sampson had many brunts about his Delilah before that deadly brunt that gave him up Thou hast had other punishments for thy Delilah without ere it came to this heavy stroke within hadst thou made a right use of them this last and deadliest stroke might have beene saved Ah! forsaken soules 't is a thousand pities that things had not beene timely lookt to ere they came to such an inward extremity to such a soule-blow to such a spirit-woūd Things thus far run a man recovers not in hast it may be not all a mans life to be as he was and to enjoy divine power working so lively and sweetly as it did Repenting and doing a mans first workes is a likely way to doe well but whether it shall rise to be as well with the soule as 't was that rests wholly upon divine pleasure what divine engagement the soule can plead for this would be worth his best search We finde David praying hard for wonted favour but whether granted that 's doubtfull Strengthening power lost the soule hath lost its soule the spirit of man hath lost the spirit of God God doth not breath in the heart the man cannot live not live a jot better then hee does though reproved by his dearest friends every houre That which did this great mischiefe that which made this soule-soule-death was no small sin it must be sought out and cryed out of above all evills bloud guilt that one sin that killed two Vriahs body and Davids soule O how he cryes out of this sin at the throne of grace This bloudy sin that hath killed thy soule separated betweene God and thy soule this must thou with all fervency cry out upon and with all care renew faith in an ever-bleeding Saviour all will be little enough to keepe thee from bleeding to death by despaire One thing is all if thou canst receive it O forsaken soule thou art made Thou must obey divine injunction believe and expect good even in thy bad state Let Israel hope in the Lord for with the Lord there is mercy and with him is plenteous redemption and he shall redeeme Israel from all his iniquities A more deserted state then Israels was and is cannot be yet faith and hope are both by Divine command to be exercised in this forlorne condition with promise of full mercy and he shall redeeme Israel from all his iniquity Psal 130.7.8 Whatsoever thy sin hath been whatsoever the punishment of thy sin is hope in the Lord as the expression here is that is trust in Christ and expect good in this way and he shall redeeme thee from all thine iniquity even from that iniquity which hath killed the working of Gods strengthening and relieving power in thy soule I judge the expressions of the Psalmist to have such wide scope given them of purpose that any deserted Christians whatsoever might suck relief and support from them Power relieving and strengthening is sometimes lost not really but seemingly Cautio est that is according to a tempted soules apprehension this must bee lookt to that so none judge worse of their condition then 't is and lay load needlessly upon themselves Power relieving is consistent with power invading and tempting and yet when this is violent a poore soule overlookes him that stands by him and mournes and prayes as if nothing were his that is Gods God was faine in a temptation to tell the Apostle Paul what hee enjoyed which was all the answer he could have And he said unto me my grace is sufficient for thee and my strength is made perfect in weakenesse 2 Cor. 12.9 Soule-anguish with strength of temptation and strength of desire to have it removed made him over-looke that mighty aid of God by which he was enabled to stand under all which is many a tempted soul's case he cannot see the reliefe and strength he hath because he hath not totall freedome from the evill he groans under This temptation must be observed God will otherwise bee a loser and man too God will lose the glory of his grace and man the comfort Is it not reliefe and strength that thou art upheld to encounter in any measure with strong temptation That thou art taken from them into the armies of Christ though they not from thee from the evill of temptation though not simply from temptation it selfe This was that power which Christ did principally pray for not to take out of a wretched World and wretched condition but to uphold in it I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the World but that thou shouldst keep them from the evill c. Object If I were so relieved and strengthened in my temptations as kept and borne out against sin I should acknowledge a strengthening power of God working in me but alas when I am tempted I am overcome Sol. 1 It is one thing to sin it is another thing to be overcome by sin Christians which thus complaine should well observe how Christ keepes their will and affections a man is lost when these are won and not before The Apostle Paul did eye this in the like conflict what he was in will when nothing in deed He found God in affection though sin in action the heart may be sound when more externall and inferiour parts are not What J doe I allow not what I would that doe I not but what I hate that doe I and upon this ground comforts himselfe in a sad condition and disclaimes sin as none of his though acted by him Tempted soules must remember this The heart kept all is kept what is done against this by meere strength of corrupt nature 't is sins 't
things note for the right understanding of this point Divine power where it workes lowest in any Christian workes above the ruining power of sinne Greater is he that is in you then he that is in the World saith Christ greater when least and where least then that power which opposes him in a Christian heart Christ according to ordinary and daily residence carries the soule above the ruining power of sinne greater is hee that is in you c. They might suppose their condition the lowest of any as it is common and comely for Christians to doe and Christ condescends in speaking and takes it so and speakes of it under such a consideration and yet sayes he feare not the power that is in you is greater then the power that is against you The lowest degree of power that workes in a Christian will hold the soule that it shall not eternally miscarry what strength soever be raised to this end so that the devill shal lose his grand designe to wit the destruction of the soule The lowest degree of Divine strength is supreme strength to all power resisting as the lowest good Angel * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fortes robore Angels of his which are mighty i transcending in strength T is an Hebraisme notes a superlative Ps 103.20 Excelleth in strength all bad 2. A second note is this The state of Christians in generall under the Gospel is a very capable state of the highest revelations of power Verily verily I say unto you he that believeth on me the workes that I doe shall hee doe also and greater workes then these shall hee doe because J goe unto my Father Ioh. 14.12 Accession is now very free intercession very potent blessings are answerably necessary The expression of Christ forementioned notes that there is a peculiar intercession suited to this bright Gospell-age where in wee live our grace-capacity now is answerably necessary What intercession workes in Heaven such power and love workes forth upon Earth We live under the richest climate under the richest Heavenly influence all might and all excellence may with all ease bee obtained now in comparison of former times Vse 1 A double use I would make of this point to try you and then to stir you to acknowledge mercy as you finde it That Divine power workes gradually should make much inward observation to see how God workes in our hearts whether little or much Should be the sickenesse of your soules to finde little of God stirring in them t' will be the death of your soules not to finde power of God â—nough stirring in them to salvation Our great worke is to eye how Divine power workes without in the World but our greatest worke is to eye and observe how it workes within in our hearts I wonder at some mens temper which least of all minde this The soule of man is the noblest thing in the World t is above the world and doest thou think that hee which made it so above all for himselfe to work in is least to be heeded what he works here All paines spring from one that we have so little of God all paines and cares therefore should be turned into one what have I of God how might I have more more of his love more of his power working in my soule God gives all might to many and yet remains all might for any Man has his Heaven as hee will Hee that will have it in the full and all enjoyment of the Creature hee has it in this God filles men's bellies with this treasure Those that will have their heart in nothing but in the full and all enjoyment of God have it so hee satisfyes mens thirst let it bee what it will or how great it will Hee satisfyes the hungry belly and the hungry soule Affection is a graduall working thing and a various working thing as the power of God is Cautio est men had neede looke how it rises in thirst after any thing but God they may have their longing else in wrath and have enough of every thing in their hands to fill their bellies but not enough of the power of God in their hearts to save their soules and this will be sad indeed The power of God workes gradually say I in the hearts of men in some much so much that one may say they have all might in others little so little that one may truly say there is not power of God enough unto salvation I am not ashamed of the Gospell saith the Apostle for 't is the Power of God unto salvation Is there power of God enough working in you to rise to so much as this to salvation to soule-salvation eternall salvation Power enough to make you the sons of God T is a great unhappinesse to fall short of any power of God communicable that any blessing power of God which workes in any man should not worke in me but to fall short of so much as will make the soule fall short of its eternall rest ah Lord what misery shall I call this ScrutinuÌ„ What faith what love what joy what passion doth that power make which workes in you by this you may know whether t will prove a power Divine enough and strong enough to save your soules Yee believe in Christ wee must believe this well yet this is but one thing that power which workes this workes more and further if it worke effectually unto life Yee believe in Christ t is well doe yee love Christ too his word his people his wayes How strong is this love as strong as death to the death of sinne and selfe I meane the deniall of both Remember this one thing for all power where it works unto salvation strong enough to save a sinner it makes strong passion lasting passion and all towards Christ and truth Christ is faire fairest the fairest of ten thousand that is the fairest of all so to day so to morrow so every day to the last day to the end as that love which set power at work in the heart is Divine power when and where it workes unto life takes the heart first there it begins A man loves assoone as he lives Christ truth whatsoever is holy There is a desire of milke yea sincere milke in new borne babes in babes assoone as berne there is love love to truth love to pure and sincere truth to the pure and Holy word and wayes of God there is even in babes desire Divine affection panting after that light which came downe from Heaven O what is truth what is Christ would I know him would I could enjoy him First faith is most indiscernable first love which workes from it is most discernable t is so strong and pure and therefore I most mention this passion in this case to discover the power that workes in you Divine power makes a divine nature where it workes to salvation a man is another Creature in desire then what he was
the eare but now mine eye seeth thee I abhorre my selfe in dust and ashes and repent Job 42.5 6. Whil'st Iob had not such an apprehension of Divine power as it was the lesse sinfull that his soule did not stir in reference to it as he ought but assoone as hee rightly understood it all other powers stirr'd thoroughly and Iob answerably repented and went about his businesse to stoop to that power which he saw above him Every faculty must have the honour of its place Divine Ordination must have the honour of its end or the man dies for it When you see these things say that winter is neare c. Saith the Scripture That is make use of what you apprehend and answerably stir and prepare or you wil perish with the world So you shall have expressions frequent when you heare this or that then doe thus and thus That is when one faculty does its Office let all the rest doe so too or else you are lost men If any sentinell shoot off and be not regarded the whole army dies for it Any soule-power misworking overthrowes all so any soule-power disobeyed in working by other powers overthrowes all If apprehension bee blinde and sleepy the soule is undon If apprehen sin see and speake in and by conscience and yet the heart lie still all will miscarry by surprise Apprehension is a power placed to prevent surprise Sad things concerning man by Divine Ordination worke at a distance for a time that man has his eyes in his head that sees this saith Solomon that is apprehension discharges its office if this Office and power bee sleighted by other powers in the heart all is taken by surprise I thinke apprehension now does its Office in most of you how is it obeyed in heart in other maine powers of the soule Surely now no man but must needs apprehend that hee may want much of God speedily as much as the Apostle apprehended these might doe much might all might now what stirring of heart under all that you apprehend yee are convinced are yee converted Doe yee stir now for your selves as the Apostle did for these Doe yee wrestle hard with God for all that yee apprehend yee may need Can yee apprehend the necessity of much and be stirr'd little Can yee see bloud and death in the Land and lay nothing to heart Can'st thou see better bloud then thine own shed and yet make no preparation for the losse of thine Though many be slaine yet shall not I ah Lord that soule is slaine already 't will be wofull when that body comes to be slain too Dost thou see a Sword in the land separating between soule body and doest thou not yet set to separate between sin and thy soule Art thou resolved to die in thy sinne wilt thou bleed to death in thy sinne this will make every drop of bloud that comes from thee as gastly as Hell What a deadly bleeding is that when soule and body bleed to death together when the soule bleeds as fast with wounds from conscience as the body with wounds from man When soule and body bleed mortally together ah Lord let mee not be neere that man how will hee sigh how will hee looke speak gaspe and groan and yet many such sad sights may be for ought I can discerne in many mens preparations to this houre Sinners God deales with you now as with Balaam he stands before you with a drawen sword hee threatens your bloud your death if yee make a step further yee cannot but apprehend this now as well as I Balaam and his Asse too must needs see it now What now will yee doe will yee make no use of such palpable apprehension How exceeding sinfull wil that sin become which rids it out now against bloud and death and will live when the man must no longer live I beseech you all consider the dealings of God and consider your eternall state Christians what doe yee see what doe yee doe yee see bloud good bloud a great deale of good bloud fall does good bloud stir in you You see death most deadly comming towards you upon the point of a mercilesse sword as mercilesse I dare say you Londoners shall finde it if it prevaile as ever was drawn doe yee fit and prepare for it to be hewed to pieces drag'd to death trod to death under Horse-feet yee cannot but apprehend that things may goe very bad and that yee may need very much speedily does apprehension make due impression Doe yee worke out Heaven-ward as the Apostle doth here answerable to what yee apprehend you and yours may want Sinne is in great power where the soule will not give up when he sees God comming against him Thy love to sin will be an everlasting love that dies not to sinne now thou and it will goe to Hell together Affection to evill becomes Almighty unconquerable and there is no way but one with the man Man must die or his sinne that justice is at worke which will kill one or tother I bleed and mourne to see how some men sinne in the face of Justice at swords point sweare curse and drinke drunk and yet going about deadly workes I see plainly now that a man may see misery and yet not seeke out to be blessed hee may see himselfe and others very open to and very neere upon deadly danger and yet neither seeke out for himselfe nor others why else doe we see so many continue still yet as they were Pauls spirit surely is few mens happinesse to stir effectually towards God as they apprehend just cause Apprehension workes divinely upon affection as it keepes it selfe pure from unbeliefe and no otherwise Unbeliefe is full of shift and evasion the life of apprehension dies in this Apprehension made from the Word of God or works of God workes no longer nor no stronger then as faith workes with it Why doe such mighty apprehensions as wee raise sometimes by the word die and come to nothing but because faith dies men believe but whilst they see us and heare us speake Keepe faith alive you will else see Hell often and feele it too and yet doe nothing to shun it Yee will see misery and yet not prepare for it yea yee will see judgement at the doore and yet scoffe at it so did they of the old World and another old World is this Apprehension workes divinely upon the heart as the will is subdued A stubborne man fights against all apprehension he does not like he shootes at God a great way off and kills him before he can come neere the heart to doe any good there I will not heare him say's Ahab hee never prophesis good to mee A stubborn heart does prejudge kill things before they can come neere him Apprehensions worke as wee manage them the strongest are quickly kill'd if wee fight against them the truest quickely made delusive if an unsound heart be in us Apprehensions are best and worke best
to make him know him that speakes to be God and him that is spoken to but man God speakes so as to make man admire tremble stoop Man is a creature conceited and yet of no reach his conceptions and expressions lessen the dimensions of God his wisdome his power and the like and in this way man growes upon God by sinfull boldnesse and therefore God is faine to put titles and epithites upon his things himselfe to name things according to their nature himselfe which fallen man could have done once but now cannot to call love Love passing knowledge and wisdome infinite his wisdome is infinite saith the Psalmist and power glorious * To call an Angel an Angell and gold gold he is faine to cloath every attribute himselfe with royall apparell with titles suitable that so man may know and keepe his distance heare and feare heare and admire heare and stoop to him that is so glorious and so far above him in every Limb that hath such a glorious Arme glorious power Finally God shapes expression so to man as to hint him of and move him to his highest state He fetches expression from Heaven and from glory to minde man what should take him up and whither hee should drive in all hee sayes and does he goes before man in glory to draw man after him he speakes gloriously to man that man may eccho to him and call divine power as hee does and be taken with divine power as he is that man may looke about and turne away his eye from things that are vaine-glorious to that which is indeed glorious and will indeed make man so being strengthened with it Strengthened with all might according to his glorious power Vse God speakes as one in Heaven how doe you heare He makes his sword two-edged one terrible t'other glorious how does it cut He uses his rod and his scepter sharpe words and glorious words what doe they worke His scepter hee in layes and gilds and makes a glorious Scepter and so holds it forth to your senses to your eyes to your eares what impression doth it make upon your hearts Can yee heare God speake gloriously and yet not be stird'd Can yee heare God speake from Mount Sina and yet not shake Can yee heare him speake from Mount Zion as one in Heaven and yet not admire him adore him and be taken with him To unstir'd soules I must first speake from this point certainly you are dead This is the first principle that springs from this point Unstir'd soules are dead soules he that speakes speakes so gloriously so movingly that all men unlesse they be dead must needs be stirr'd Were your soules alive the words of Christ are so sweete so full of glory and divine force that they must needs stir and take you were you but asleepe the words of Christ are so glorious and so shining in your eyes that they would awake you T is a remarkeable place to this purpose Cant. 7.9 and the roofe of thy mouth like the best Wine that goes down sweetely causing those that are asleepe to speake Christs glorious words are very taking they goe down sweetely if there be any principle of life in the soule t will stir it If the heart be asleepe in the lap of any lower sweete in the lap of any low delights if onely asleepe and not dead in the nest this higher sweete and glory will awaken it and make it speake to the praise of him that so exceeds all in sweetnesse and love Solomon was asleepe for a while in the lap of low delights but when once Christ began to speake in a glorious stile to his sleepy soule hee awoke presently and made songes of that glory that transcendent glory which he saw Surely therefore I conclude that they are dead men whom words of glory words full of Heaven cannot stir How glorious the expression of Christ is here yee heare how gloriously Christ hath spoken upon it out of the mouth of a babe out of the mouth of a Worme and no man yee have likewise heard of what force and power all hath been upon your hearts yee know how much more in love with Heaven and with the Word of Christ and how much lesse in love with the World and with your lusts then you were you know yee that yet are as yee were not a jot better surely yee are dead yee that are yet dead ah Lord when when will yee bee alive Let every heart attend I will ring the Funerall of the dead Hearts dead and unstir'd when Christ speakes lively and gloriously have certainly stopt their eares against the charmer this soule is a prisoner to perverse will there is no damnable prison but this hee is resolved that nothing shall sway that is holy that his heart shall rule truth and not truth his heart which will damne a man if he had a thousand soules This man hath the plague in his heart and hath shut up himselfe that none may come at him no not the King of glory not words of glory write Lord have mercy upon this mans doore upon his forehead for he will die in his sinne all the World cannot save him Whom truth cannot stir nothing can whom glorious words of truth cannot stir nothing shall the man is stretcht out for dead I am now ringing his knell does any dead soule heare me A Scepter of gold a glorious power held out gloriously the God of glory speaking in glory and yet the heart of man not taken nor stir'd ah Lord this heart is taken already this heart is certainly catcht with some fading glory Were there any soule at home when the King of glory and the King in glory knocks certainly 't would open What answer can be made who can open when no body is at home Dinah is gon abroad and ravish't by the Shechemites the heart is gadded abroad taken and lost in a lie in a fading vexing glory that will be the death of it An unstird soule is a dead soule a dead soule is a lost soule a lost soule in sinne will be found in judgement seldome any where else I have not yet done ringing the Funerall of the dead one peale more and I have done Yee dead soules Christ is making your grave doe yee not see it he is comming to take the length of your corps with a sword he will bleed you first and then burie you afterward Yee have bled your soules dead and Christ will bleed your bodies dead and then will yee be twice dead and pluckt up by the rootes When yee are gasping for life will yee be taken and stird with that mortall power which wounds you when yee are descended to your long home will yee be taken and affected with that power that sends you to Hell Surely glorious power gloriously expressed will take your soules or destroy them In what stile God speakes according to it will he make operation in every man upward or downward GODS Words shall
God further then man any man can doe made to pierce the sides and to pierce the heart the Arrowes of the Allmighty are within mee saith Job their poyson drinkes up my spirit the terrors of God doe set themselves in array against mee Job 6. A body so shot a soule so shot to come off so bravely as Iob doth there Let him not spare for I have not concealed the words of the holy one Let man wound God wound God and man doe what they will to soule and body and not spare yet God that wounds will I obey to the death this is all patience that is patience that holds its own in all conditions All Parience 't is patience breathing her selfe forth in the Teeth of a dog and setters on Shimei may barke Standers by hisse to make barking againe and yet all patience divinely turnes off all beholding GOD in a dead Dog a righteous God in an unrighteous man All patience 't is a heart able to suppresse all insurrection from the naked consideration of God and sinne a heart that can quiet it selfe from the very rod gather patience from the very twigs that whip and smart All patience 't is a heart which from the shaper and shaping of affliction can shape it selfe shoulders to beare it well 't is a heart so principled as able to fetch out of every eater meate out of a tearing Lyon Honey out of every bitter sweete something in or about every evill to keepe it selfe good and make it selfe better All patience 't is a spirit growne to an angelicall height able to carry himselfe sweetly to a dog to a Divell to the worst creature offending with no worse passion then this The Lord rebuke thee All Patience notes a totality in reference to time totum temporis All Patience is patience in graine such as will hold its colour yea it 's very glosse as long as the cloth last it notes such a patience as dies not till the man die such a patience as keeps the soule in all stormes and till all stormes be over that keeps the soule quiet till the very weather be quiet or till the soule hath quietly expired it selfe into the bosom of eternall rest above all disquiet All patience 't is holding fast till Christ come 't is a wayting all our dayes for better dayes in another World till our change come for liveing againe where barely to live is Heaven where being and wel-being are not distinguished All patience 't is a house upon a Rock a house so built a spirit so principled so sinewed so nerved and joynted that nothing can pull down but death it notes a soule so much out of it selfe and so much in Christ in his armes and under his dominion that it lies under a kind of impossibilitie to be stirred as mount Zion that not onely is not but cannot be moved the house may moulder and that may downe otherwise all patience is such an inmate such an inward soule-lasting thing that it will never out all patience was never knowne to leave any house till it fell down all patience and the last breath goe away together Father into thy hands J commit my spirit these are the last words of all patience Luke 23.46 The result of all is this All Patience 't is all advantages taken away al provocations incompassing and yet the soule abiding holy in behaviour and cariage in thought word and deede unto death 't is God against man the devill against man wife friends fire winds all creatures below man armed and set against man and yet man patient 't is man buffeted scratch't with thornes nayled spear'd spit on hell inflicted on Earth and yet holy and without sin and so continuing till hell be turned into Heaven the soule out of the body both into eternall rest All patience the Apostle expresseth in few words 't is patience having made her full fortifications her perfect worke as he calls it 't is every faculty in combination to beare what is or can be 't is the Militia setled in the soule by act by consent of the three states understanding will and affection 't is all soule-powers united to beare and endure all that can befall man All patience 't is a strong spirit as the expression is used of John Baptist and of Christ and of none else a spirit fortified with cleerenesse of light strength of faith fulnesse of resolution and made Musket proofe Cannon proofe impregnable against which the gates of hell cannot prevaile All Patience t is patience all in armour 't is a stubborne heart subdued and risen againe to divine resolution and now as divine hardy as before foole hardy 't is a spirit that will know no evill after the flesh no evil as 't is fleshly miserable but as 't is soule sinfull All patience 't is enduring hardship as a Souldier as a good Souldier as a good Souldier of Christ as the Apostle saith not opely suffering for truth but sleighting suffering as you know Souldiers doe they make nothing of hunger nor cold of blowes of wounds no nothing of death 't is a notable expression this of all patience to wit enduring of hardship as a good Souldier All patience 't is a spirit that can indure all hardship with ease perils at Sea perils at Land perils amongst false brethren perils amongst professed enemies any misery any death burning tearing cutting sawing a sunder and scorne base deliverance this is al patience patience al over patience patience throughout patience so liveing so dying Vse I have authority by this point to command you al to weigh your patience and to tell me to a graine how much you have Christians how much patience have you have you little or have you much have you al I speake to you al. The Heavens you see are growing al black over you the Earth al bloudy under you al miseries are marching towards you Famine Plague Sword white Horse black Horse pale Horse neither true white nor black al sorts of Men amongst us on Horse-back and going about deadly worke have you al patience to entertaine them al who ever come and what misery soever they bring Doe yee not expect a very miserable time yes And I expect a very sinnefull time there is so little patience A little suffering I see wil make you sinne much ah Lord what wil great suffering then doe seven yeeres bleeding ten yeeres bleeding twenty yeeres bleeding as Germany hath had you murmure now a little is gone surely you wil blaspheme when al is gon curse King Parliament and GOD too Lord what shal we doe wee shal have a Kingdome advanced to Heaven thrown downe to Hell a Kingdome full of devils full of evil spirits quickly if these Evil Times continue Men can beare nothing and God now calles to bearing much men cannot tell how to abate a little of wanted contents and God is going to strip of al men cannot exercise patience a little and God is calling for
to keepe up a bad heart though the suffering be good there be so many by-things besides the cause breake in guilt doth so speake stare and teare in such a soule when any bodily misery growes great and long Long suffering turnes a guilty soule into hell a hell in the flesh may be borne with joy but not a hel in the spirit Plundered persons complaine they art quite undone sinne hath done this fall out with that not with Cavaleers they could not have stript you of all not of your joy by taking away your goods no not by taking away your limbes no not by taking away your life had not you wounded your soules with sinne neither men nor divels could have strip't you of your joy the wounds which you have made in your spirits not those which they have made in your flesh have quite undone you these are the wounds that have bled to death your joy Thou hast beene the cruellest Cavaleer to thy selfe O sinner Can'st thou make no joy out of thy sufferings for truth I can guesse the cause thy sufferings worke no grace in thee Wee glory in tribulation knowing that it workes this and that grace saith the Apostle that is takes off the soule from the Creature sets it upon God and eternall things Thy sufferings are meere sufferings they worke no grace if they did thou must needs joy in this to see how a fiery Charet carries thy soule to Heaven No affliction is joyous or can be but as it brings home the soule to God the Prodigall home to his Father When afflictions doe barely afflict and onely afflict this must needes leave the soule in a very ill frame to joy There is no joy in eating of huskes Barren cloudes doe not make the Earth smell and smile barren afflictions afflictions which make no grace can make no glory joy is an afflicted soules Glory As the vessell comes into forme by beating so comes in delight as gold appeares by fire as Christ is seene in the furnace so is joy there Suffering long and the heart hold it's owne in sinne Ah Lord her 's a soule in hell indeed is it possible for such a soule to make joy in such suffering suffering long and the heart hold it's owne in sinne this sets the soule at a greater distance from joy then ever as one that is wicked and will be so there is no peace nor joy to the wicked when will there when can there to him that is wicked and ever will be so that short suffering long suffering no furnace can melt nor purifie This soules suffering is and will be of the same nature with theirs below there is long suffering and no Joy without possibility of Joy so will it be with every wicked man Sinners tell mee what doe yee see what doe yee feele sorrow but no joy why that 's right write Lord have mercy upon mee my hell is begun my body is desolate my soule is desolate so 't 'as been long so 't will be for ever because my misery has not better'd me What no enquiry no panting for Christ yet will yee rub along through one hell till you come to another O God! when shall Christ be in request bodies bleed soules bleed and yet is not a bleeding Saviour sought after that a bleeding condition may bee made blessed and Joyous Sinners you are insnared in an evill time Did you dreame of long suffering what dayes are come upon you what rack't soules are within you when will this end So 't is so it must be till one deepe swallow up another till the lowest Hell swallow up this nether-most Hell Reade my Text once more God is to be admir'd so is this point and I thinke this Text to be concluded How tender is God of the felicity of man hee does much to destroy his sinne but nothing to destroy his joy when hee makes him suffer long he would have sinne die all sinne but no joy no not a dram but rise to an exceeding height Rejoyce and bee exceeding glad saith Christ All that God does the worst that God does to a Christian is to make him a Heaven and to encrease it it should make ones heart leape to thinke of it If he cast downe 't is to raise up if he humble 't is to exalt if he empty 't is to fill if he kill 't is to make alive if he make misery long without 't is to make joy strong within still he ha's a tender care of mans joy This is the Benjamin about which Gods bowells beate let my child suffer any thing but nothing in his joy O deare father who can conceive thy bowells to thy children Lord what is man that thou art so mindfull of him and so tender of his joy He that is in Heaven can speake nothing but Heaven he that is never without joy would never have us without joy although we be never without sin no not then when wee doe and suffer most and longest for him when hee speakes of long suffering he ends it with joy nay he meanes it all a long with joy Christians admire love God does nothing to make you miserable all that is done this way you doe it your selves Hee has beene a Father of children of many children this many thousand yeares yet never was knowen to doe any thing to take away the joy of any God is very tender of your joy be you so he does nothing to kill your joy doe not you make any thing he does doe it When hee makes you suffer much and suffer long doe not you make it kill your joy this is to turne long suffering into long sinning yet flesh and bloud is apt to this I 'le therefore speak a word to this point Our sufferings looke as if they would be long they have a long visage in my eye as I told you last day how long soever they stretch out themselves yet I would have you manage them as the holy Ghost here speakes with a spirit of joy I will give you three or foure things to helpe raise your hearts to suffer and to suffer long and all along with joy You shall be the death of insolent wickednesse Should be the joy of a child of God to suffer long to kill the least sinne 't is so killing to his father how much more to kill a Goliah that is up in defiance against him You shall kill wickednesse in Armour wickednesse with a brazen face wickednesse with a head-peece back-peece belly-peece wickednesse wrapt up in Iron in armour from head to foote wickednesse growen so wicked that thinks she hath made her selfe musket-proofe Cannon-poofe against the Almighty Should it not joy a man to suffer long to kill such wickednesse to kill wickednesse that thinks to out-live all goodnesse wickednesse that dares GOD teares God sweares curses blaspheames at every word wickednesse set all on fire of Hell should it not joy a man to quench such fire with his bloud should it
you looke to your joy in this sensuall season and make it divine Let your laughter be turned into weeping as the Apostle speakes if ever that were seasonable 't is now Some can smile and weepe 't is a comly countenance now if you can so joy now doe Remember God when your hearts are cheer'd remember the afflictions of Joseph in your bowles what a wonder is it that this cup of beere is not a cup of bloud thus lay your hand on your breast In your chiefe joy forget not your selves forget not your brethren Forget not God lest God write up your wickednesse on the walles in your consciences as hee did belluine Beltshazzars and make your soules ring of your unseasonable joy to the day of your death Germani'es wicked feasting 't is deadly cured their great drinking is turned into great bleeding their great feasting into famine Be instructed England be instructed so else wil be the deadly cure of thy excesse You observe dayes and good times as you call them I am affraid of you observe your soules observe your joy how holy it keepes these holy dayes These holy dayes are betraying dayes they are the divels snare to thousands how many thousands have more wrong'd their soules in these few dayes then in al the dayes of the yeare besides and yet this soule-undoing time must be call'd a blessed time Our wickednesse upon this blessed time hath brought many a curse our evil joy much griefe if we shal yet continue it when shall our griefe end The devil hath many snares for the poore soule of man but they are worst which are wrapt up in joy least discerned but catch most and kil deadliest Slips in mirth and in joy are pleaded for the divel hath enough now the man does the divels worke the divel may keepe Christmas holy-day too now if he wil his work is done for him I am led to brand a bad joy I am commanded by this point in hand to stigmatize al joy that is not divine that makes not an ascending frame of heart I will doe this in three or foure things briefly Bad joy hath this grand evil in it It strips God of all No evil carries the heart so totally from God as evil joy it carries away the heart and every heart string The soule and all that is within as that ful expression of Davids is the soule and all within the body and al without every sinew and nerve are set intensely awry when joy is awry A man is very heartily wicked very totally wicked every faculty every sinew stretch themselves to sinne when sinfull in joy There be many sacrificers to the divel but none sacrifices so bountifully to the divel as joy doth when corrupt she sacrifices totum universale totum particulare al in generall al in particular al the man al the joints nerves and sinews of the man to the utmost All the bloud all the spirits in the bloud al the spirits generaly throughout the whole state doth bad joy set a dancing after the devill so that God hath nothing left him in this man A merry divel jostles Christ out of all Bad joy hath this ground evill in it 't is stiffnecked hardest of any to returne to be reclaimed A mans joy commands all and is all and wil be all to the heart A man is most hardely brought to part with his joy What is so deare to a man as his joy let it be what it wil 't is his Heaven the soule and Heaven are inseparable they are so identified so one in another above al other things Joy and the soule are more identified more one in another then the soule and any other passion or thing whatsoever 'T is almost impossible to separate things which are so neere onely the power of a God which can doe any thing can doe it Hence 't is that t' is so hard to bring a man to leave sinne when his soule hath found out joy in it when the sinner can make musicke to himselfe in his sinnes when the sinner by art hath made an instrument of his sinne a Lute to play upon and delight his senses withall Joy 't is a fragrancy made from many flowers with much picking choosing and composing of flowers t is honey gather'd with much art from much variety the soule is not easily brought to put that by which it hath so spent it selfe for and so laid out its utmost art and skil after Bad joy 't is the soule in the armes of the divell hee holds fast 't is the soule in the bosom of the devil two evil spirits deare each to other making their felicity in and of each other evil spirits endear'd are harder to part then evil bodies Bad joy 't 'as this grand evil in it 'T is the completion of evill 't is wickednesse ful sinne growne old out liv'd al vertue yea out liv'd all conscience for till conscience was quite dead bad joy could not live Bad joy is an evil that hath conquer'd vertue truth conscience God and triumphs in this victory all the tone now is hang sorrow and yet hell now gapes for the man and never so wide as now Sinne may be growne old when the man is young 't is many a young mans case the Lord knowes nothing mature in them but sinne as you may see by their joy and triumph in it fit for hel ere they come to age to be fit for their patrimony Bad joy hath this grand evil in it It sets the Soule very neere wrath at the gates of hel knocking to goe in Evil joy 't is a Malefactor upon the gallowes there is but a step betweene him and turning off The triumphing of the wicked is short Job 20.5 when once a sinner beginnes to triumph he has but a little time to live Seest thou a sinner laughing stay a little the next change of countenance will be weeping and wailing and gnashing of Teeth You say of some notorious persons that the gallowes groanes for them when you see a man notoriously wicked joying and triumphing in sinne Ah Lord hel groanes for this man hel opens for this man in a moment he will goe down to the pit We leave him there and conclude FINIS USEFULL INSTRVCTIONS FOR THESE Evill Times COLOSS. 1.12 Giving thanks to the Father c. Defin. THanksgiving according to the sense of this and other Texts is a divine returne of divine love 'T is a Sea going forth into al the veines of the Earth and returned againe to its selfe by Rivers and Streames God is infinitly out here below and yet all upon finite man man is to make a returne of al and in Gods own coyne love for love to make Gods owne doings and dealings acknowledge him and own him al love to the Creature respecting body and soule in prosperity and adversity to cal him Father giving thankes to the Father Man is the mouth of the Creation to make all the workes of God speake and