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
a Christian all these sweet expressions aptly point out this in my Text to wit that strengthning and relieving power which carries along and finishes the first worke strengthened with all might c. Divine power as it workes towards a Christian works effectually The word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe 1 Thess 2.13 An effectuall power subjected to worke for man works and works again and never leaves working till it hath effected its worke which is preservation unto salvation grace unto life This power works creando corroborando creating and strengthening it maks the soule passe from strength to strength till it be above all opposing strength and expired safe and compleat into that breast from whence it was first breathed This expression effectuall power is an expression of dreadfull importance it notes that divine power works sometimes by halves not effectually Something towards birth and towards a man-child some pangs and throwes but makes but an abortive at last some things towards reliefe but sinkes and dies and le ts that which seemed to be come to nothing but when it works effectually it makes grace and carries on that grace to glory it makes a Christian and then it strengthens him to abide so to death against deadly opposition Strengthened with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulnesse Finally Divine power as it works about a Christian works perpetually 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the utmost as you have it expressed which is very lively Heb. 7.25 it layes out it selfe to the furthest all vires Divinoe potentiae are stretcht and made to beare and carry to eternity to carry unto death thorough death beyond death above death as that mighty expression is Ps 48.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Supra mortem To resolve it selfe into everlasting Armes that is a power subjected to use a Divine power subjected to humane use everlastingly so as to leave no place no possibility of miscarrying to a Christian let what will be or can be on this side death in death or beyond death so long as the soule is Divine power is so subjected to worke about a Christian as not to lose its worke no whit of its worke what ever losse he made otherwise upon the man as a man troubles may make losse upon a man as a farmer as a Gentleman as a Noble-man but not upon man as a Christian power is subjected so to worke as to carry up carry on carry out all its own works about the soule in perpetuum To all eternity Argumen ∣ tum Power subjected to worke about a Christian works from speciall love power which workes from such a love can never leave working till it has its end because love workes to the end and it works by power and all other attributes for the good of the beloved Upon this ground the Apostle Paul was confident of the Phillippians perseverance in the truth being confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good worke in you will performe or finish it unto the day of Iesus Christ Phil. 1.6 Divine power as it workes strentheningly and relievingly Media explicandi is peculiar to Christians it s the same power which began a good worke continued working to finish it Where Divine power works not creatingly it works not relievingly hence 't is that one which is not a Christian indeed holds not out alwayes to be a Christian in shew hence 't is likewise that Christ saith I have lost none but a lost Creature one that was never found a child of perdition lost from the beginning a child of wrath unto wrath had he ever had grace in truth I would have strengthened it and kept it those which thou gavest me I have kept c. Ioh. 17.12 Keeping power waites about those that the Father hath given to the Son and none else all others are lost and to goe for lost Strengthening power works towards all Christians successively that is from Generation to Generation by act of solemne intercession Christ made it a solemne businesse to make free way in Heaven for a relieving and securing power to worke here on Earth as long as any Saints should be in it And now am I no more in the World but those are in the World and I come to thee Holy Father keepe through thine owne Name those whom thou hast given unto me that they may be one as we are c. Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their word Ioh 11. 20. The state of a Christian is botom'd in bloud founded in Christs death made out by life by Prayer and intercession all is merited by Christs bloud particulars are drawne out and conferred upon solemne intercession Christs intercession ceased not when he was on Earth the requests above mentioned I conceive to be a continuation of solemne intercession which must last till all the Saints be above all wants Heb. 7.25 He ever lives to make intercession for them he that lived on Earth was an intercessor he that dyed lives againe and goes on with that worke which he began from the wombe of the morning from the beginning of love breathing upon fallen Adam he that lives prayes he has done so from the first Saints and will doe so to the last on Earth hee makes all Prayers of Christians Gods rest and mans relief pleasing to God and strengthening to man Strenegthned with all might c. Finally all powers which worke in man worke to an eternall end powers of darkenesse all powers judiciarie which worke in sinners are to finish sin and bring sinners to their place To a condition miserable as neere the Devill as may be So all the powers which work in Christians subduing power strengthening power leading keeping carrying bosoming power are to perfect grace and bring them to glory Holy Father keepe through thine own Name those whom thou hast given me that they may be one as we are the end of keeping power Ioh. 17.11 you see is a compleate state that they may be one as we are Divine powers worke shapingly to the highest and happiest similitude as their end and never leave working and shaping this way till they have made the felicity of the elect together the nearest and the liveliest emblem of the felicity of the Trinity which each person hath in and with each other Vse 1 Christians walke humbly this is the first thing that I would commend to you from this point your state needs reliefe your best state your graces need supporting and strengthening You had your being by grace so you have your standing by grace as strengthening and relieving mercy and compassion work towards you so will yee doe well as this declines so will yee faint and doe ill 2 Cor. 4.1 As we have received mercy we faint not saith our Apostle Our strength and supply
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-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
the King of Birds for sight and strength hee can looke to the end of what God sayes and does and stand it out expecting that end he can looke to a Canaan under a frown behold life in death An Almighty Christian can venture all upon an invisible God bind up all in one visible word hee can give an Isaac to the dead expect an Isaac from the dead believe that truth shall never die who ever die or live An Almighty Christian can live and die with an Almighty Saviour Christ alone is enough Christ alone is all Christ in poverty is riches Christ in death is life hee is in spirit still according to him that he loves and not according to what befalls him that he loves Hee is in affection according to the person of Christ the imployment of Christ and not according to accidentalia that attend him My beloved is thus and thus and therefore beloved What Christ is in himselfe takes what may fall out nothing This Christian is Christs liveli'st Emblem Looke on mee saith Gideon and doe likewise So doth hee looke on Christ and what Christ sayes hee sayes what Christ does hee does let all the World say and doe what they will He can be baptized with the baptisme wherewith Christ was baptized though a bloudy baptisme And Almighty soule on Earth what will this soule bee in Heaven One strengthened with All might is one prepared for all glory Who can number the dust of Jacob or tell the fourth part of Israel Who can number the Jewells of this Christians Crowne Or tell the fourth part of them Thine is the Kingdome Power and Glory c. Power and Glory goe in a chaine with mutuall respect as the one is so the other Looke how much of Christ here so much of glory with him hereafter As CHRIST is in any soule so hee will bee glorious in that soule So farre as hee reveales himselfe in any soule so farre hee abides and will for ever abide and challenge honour fit for such a vast being when hee comes home Hee now lives obscurely but hee will live in state according to his revenue and Seate Here is All power here must bee all Glory here are wide spacious roomes they must have hangings suitable I am all in this all I must have state answerable CHRIST glorifyes himselfe in us as hee reveales himselfe in us 'T is often hinted when much is enjoyed what it will end in at the appearing of Christ 't will best speake it selfe then I can speake no more of it now FINIS USEFULL INSTRVCTIONS FOR THESE Evill Times COLOSS. 1.11 Strengthened with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulnesse Doct. ALL Might Divine power workes gradually in a Christian Some have little some much some All might There was it may bee but little strength in these Christians it may be much but Surely not All might What ever there was the Apostle saw roome enough within for more occasion enough without in the World for more for much more for all that might be had and therefore so prayed Strengthened with All might c. There be heavenly places in Christ some lower some higher some highest of all and yet all heavenly and holy And hath raised us together and hath made us sit together in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus Ephes 2.6 The expression notes a graduall working of Divine power according to which wee are raised and wrought to a similitude with Christ in holinesse lesse or more The highest extension of power from Christ makes the highest Heavenly place in him that is the greatest similitude to him in purity and felicitie Our Heaven here is a growing Heaven our Kingdome a growing Kingdome we goe from glory to glory from strength to strength from a little graine to a great Tree from babes to strong men from smoking to flaming and so ascend up in that flame to a fixed glory an abiding mansion to a glory that shall admit of no ebbing nor flowing of no intension or remission of no graduality respecting the same subject Divine power workes according to order Christ comes in state into the little World line upon line precept upon precept power upon power untill all be over-power'd and the little World wholly his The Sun comes in state into the great World it is not up at the Meridian assoone as it appeares in our Horrizon it rises and rises higher and higher and so filles the great World with glory by degrees So does the Sunne of righteousnesse the little World to wit man hee is not at a Meridian height in any mans heart presently but gradually by greater and greater Revelations of power and strength hee rises to the Revelation of all power that the soule is capable of He dwells and then walkes I will dwell in you and walke in you saith the Lord. Hee takes up a dwelling and then makes long and stately walkes He makes knowne power and then great power and raises it revelando till it rises to exceeding great power that yee might know what is the exceeding greatnesse of his power to us ward who beleeve Ephes 1.19 Divine power workes in grace as it works in nature 't is Christs own comparison Divine power works in nature gradually by steps and degrees to perfect naturall things The Earth brings forth fruits of her selfe saith Christ first the blade then the eare after that the full Corne in the eare and then immediatly the Sickle is put in because the Harvest is ripe Mar. 4.28 So does Divine power worke in grace for this is the scope of the similitude by degrees not all at once and answerably a Christian rises to bud to blade to eare and to full Corne. When all might is reveal'd the Corne is full the state of a Christian is come to his maturity he will not be long now ere he be gather'd and hous'd in Heaven Divine power workes in man according to what God intends by man As men are design'd to Gods Service so God designes his power to their service to worke in and about them Divine power is Gods immediate agent man a mediate power is in the hand of God man in the hand of power and held up by it lower or higher as his worke is Whereunto I also labour saith the Apostle speaking of his ministeriall worke striving according to his working which worketh in me mightily Coloss 1.29 God had a mighty deale of worke to doe for the Apostle and his power wrought in him mightily He wrought without as God wrought within hee stir'd as stir'd striving according to his working c. Power is necesitated to worke gradually office and condition doth so change and vary in this World With an eye to this the Apostle prayed hee apprehended these Christians set out for great hardship and service and so hee sets upon God to raise power and force answerably for their aid Strengthened with all might c. One or two
a glorious power This is spoken in the generall I would have every one of you in particular to take notice what power works in and by you and call it as it works Are yee selfe-condemned call that a convincing power Are your hearts prickt and wounded call that a terrible power Are your hearts inflam'd with love to Christ call that a glorious power Divine power condemning executing to wit torturing must be look't to betimes 'T is time to shake off sin when hell is come home come into a mans soule ere the soule be gon out of the body A power working meerly convictive is a sad and black not a glorious power Such a man should know that life and death are neere him he may live or he may die as he stoopes to that power which hath seis'd upon his soule Where power works meerely convictive that man is endited for his life if he can believe he will doe well if not his wounds will bleed to death No power workes so black and sad in the soule but faith alters it and makes it a glorious power The goings of God in the soule are suited to faith still Believe O selfe condemned soule and thou shall see the glory of God a glorious power working in thee Out of faith springs love out of love Heaven Heaven felt and then and not till then a Christian calles the power that workes in him a glorious power all is glorious in Heaven The soule quickly calles power as it feeles it worke and very hardly otherwise Wee call the Sun glorious when we see it and feele it smiling warming â—omforting of us Other celestiall powers which blow blast nip and pinch we call not glorious powers Power is glorious and confessed glorious as it does it's most glorious works in the heart Christians yee are too far from Heaven to call the Sun glorious too few glorious works in you to call power glorious Were ye strengthened with all might ye could not but as the Apostle here doth call power glorious FINIS USEFULL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THESE Evill Times COLOSS. 1.11 According to his glorious power or according to the force of his glory Doct. DIvine things are so mentioned as to make best impression upon the solue of man The Holy Ghost speaks as one in Heaven to make his auditors so he speakes gloriously to take to raise to ravish dead dull man to worke and force way for Christ into every heart according to the power or force of his glory T is an expression of energy and divine force moulded and shaped with such glittering letters and words with such varnish and beauty from Heaven as to take and carry every heart thither Words of glory and workes of glory all things of glory are of great power and force with fallen man in a glorious stile therefore doth the Holy Ghost here speake according to the power of his glory The Holy Ghost doth speake as like himselfe and to man as like himselfe Hee speakes as one in Heaven as one wrapt up in God and in glory to whom the language of the holy Land is naturall and he speakes to man as on earth in earth wrapt up soule and body in earth cold dull heavy and hard to be lifted up to Heaven unlesse Heaven and glory be brought to his doore to his eye and eare if anything be of power and force upon a dead creature this will according to the force or power of his glory God speakes to man as man yet moves according to the ruines and remainders of his first state Mans first state was glory and he is a creature leaning and strugling that way still to get and make a state of glory he gropes after it in every thing and as any thing carries glory and lustre to any sense eye or eare so hee lookes after it and hearkens to it Things of naturall glory of glory to the sense they are very swaying with a broken glorious creature This the Divell knowes right well and therefore hee bespangles his expression with Heaven and glory and the state of a God when he has to doe with man So he did to the first Adam so he did to the second Adam hee shewed him all the Kingdomes of the World and the glory of them saith the Text he knowes words and works inlaied with glory are very working and winning upon humane nature who ever weare it Therefore doth he at this day gild all his deadly pils and makes them golden and glorious things to looke upon and daily workes in his best apparrell as an Angel of light he puts faire white sleeves upon his arms when he is going to butcher the soule he makes every toole and instrument of death looke as glittering and as glorious as may be hee hath had long experience that golden glorious things are of great force upon a broken glorious Creature As Satan doth speake and worke towards man as man moves according to the remainders of his first state so doth God Hee knowes that fallen man is much leaning and gropeing after glory and therefore shall yee finde the Holy Ghost so leaning to this way of speaking in the word and working in the World namely to cloath expression with words of glory and actions with workes of varnish and glory As when Christ was to come in the flesh and sent his Herauld's to the Shepards The glory of the Lord shined round about them saith the Text. Man is taken with a surrounding glory once he had such a glory in Christ he was to have it againe therefore came the message so visibly and so strongly instructing this way Glory to any sense workes mightily and be but glory to the eare glorious words but glory round to eare to eye to many senses at once this makes Heaven and carries all before it swallowes up the soule So when Christ shall appeare againe you have the Holy Ghost telling man that he shall appeare in glory The Holy Ghost knowes that man is a creature much taken with glory therefore doth he cloath his actions and words with glory according to his glorious power God speakes to man as to a creature of state Persons of state and majesty mind glory as their neerest kins-man and take in things onely as they come in glory and cannot stoop to owne and embrace any else as Kings and persons of state can embrace nothing but what comes in state and presented with glory suitable to their majesty Man is a creature of state of a big spirit of a very big spirit in a very bad sense words must be big when the spirit is big or else they will not beare down all before them One spirit speakes high and loftily to another man will not open the everlasting-doores unlesse the King speake and speake as a King in state in glory and therefore doth he so speake according to his glorious power The Holy Ghost speakes so to man as to make man know his distance he so as
not have my soule if I may not have this or that which my soule desires This is vanity growen up to maturity and turned into vexation of spirit which patience cures Patience is a soule still enjoying it selfe when nothing else in your patience possesse your soules Patience helps a man to his soule againe that is to the enjoyment of his soule and of himselfe when all is gon 'T is a christian semper idem one that is the same in sanctity in the greatest poverty as in the greatest prosperity the same in all holy and sweet frame of spirit in the greatest affliction as in the greatest advancement 't is one blessing God giving and doing the like when taking away 'T is one that has all having God when Esau is comming to take away all J have all saith Jacob in a very sad condition Est aequanimitas sacra Patience 't is an even Sea in all winds a serene soule in all weathers A threed even spun with every wheele of providence t is a soule above extremes neither in excesse nor in defect neither over sensible nor under sensible of any affliction neither without teares nor without hope neither murmuring nor presuming neither despising chastisment nor fainting when corrected Affected with all cast down with nothing Quiet when toss'd very quiet while extremely toss'd expecting his salvation salvation from God when none can be had from man Patience is not stupidity an insensibility of soule under Gods hand that 's a block a stone a Nabal not a patient man Patience is not a mute drooping a sullen silent soule-sinking and consuming under adversity this is despaire this is soule vitality spent the marrow of the bones dried up Patience is virtus in medio a vertue betweene these two extremes a soule sensible of one hand upon him and of another under him a soule sensible of a rod and a staffe and so very quiet and very comfortable in a very low condition as having nothing and yet possessing all things this is patience Patience t is a divine power Est vis sacra subjugans a holy subjugating power working in the soule rendering all afflictions still-borne God may say what he will doe what he will and a patient soule charges God with nothing If a reasonable creature be called dog used like a dog yet patience will not let this dog barke nor flee out but call him Lord which calles her dog and shee said truth Lord the dogs eate of the crumb's c. Mat. 15.27 Patience gives sweet language for sowre to God and man being reviled reviles not againe being defamed intreates God has the day in a patient soule hee may use his tongue or his hand how hee will a patient heart is dumbe and answers not againe Passion saith I doe well to to be angry but patience saith I doe well to lay my hand on my mouth I have spoken once but I will speake no more t is thy doing Patience takes all well at Gods hands shee loves him so dearely Patience can give no ill language how ill soever it goes with her friend in whose house shee dwells Patience is a silent laying downe all at Gods feete 't is a christian proclaiming freedome to Christ to doe his owne will with him and his in love Patience was never knowne to put any other limitation upon the almighty Make mee childlesse make me husbandlesse wivelesse penilesse any thing so thou doe it in love to my soule saith patience T is the Lord let him doe what hee will said that patient man God has freedome proclaimed him to doe what he will with a patient man nothing shall be retorted upon him Patience can be in honour in disgrace high or low at Gods dispose and be contented A patient man can live can die and see advantage in either to live Christ to die more Christ the greatest gaine of all hee can see gaine in all that God does gaine in sickenesse gaine in disgrace gaine in losse the greatest gaine in the great'st losse soule-gaine in bodily losse and therefore can patience speake of evills as good of bitters as very sweet Patience can kisse a rod kisse one that looks frowningly which every one cannot doe Patience t is a soule at rest T is sacra requies A soule daily at rest in God Wives gon substance gon house plunder'd Ziklag burnt all mourning many murmuring ready to stoning and killing of David and yet hee makes up all in God and is at rest this is patience Patience 't is Iacob sleeping heartily upon a stone a heart at rest in hardships t is a poore Widow cheerfully giving and obeying a Prophet though but a little meale in the barrell nor but a little Oile in the Cruse t is one cheerefully going to eat her last provision and die t is one quietly going up to take a view of Canaan and die at the doore making death life Christ Canaan T is one going to sacrifice an onely son with a God will provide Patience can speake no worse divinity in the greatest straite 'T is one breathing out a soule at rest in the face of the cruel'st misery not my will but thy will be done If this Cup may not passe let my bloud passe if this cause cannot live without I die let me die let money goe let limbes goe let heart-bloud goe that Christ may stay the Will of Christ may be done Let the will of the Lord be done this is a patient mans Amen All runs into this That patience is a holy behaviour in affliction In short patience hath three things in it Râ—sumptio 1 Passion subdued 2. The soule quieted 3. Expectation and waiting for good A heart plain'd and made even with its condition neither higher nor lower a heart still and taking all well a heart expecting of and waiting for what is needed and Christ hath promised this is a patient soule Patience presupposes a state of grace a rich state of grace for t is the cream of many vertues the result of many graces combining 't is virtutum virtus a good child of good parents 'T is virtus a virtutibus derivata * Therefore call'd virtus imperfecta by the Moralist a pleasant branch from many rootes under ground Patience presupposes an understanding full of the best light the soule is argued not beaten quiet as you beate a dog Thou speakest like a foolish woman saith he shall I receive this and not that at Gods hand he argues his soule quiet Folly wrangles thou speak'st like a foolish woman A foole was never a patient person hee cannot argue with his heart nor hold forth convincing satisfying principles Cleere divine light swayes and keepes down all insurrection in a depraved state Patience presupposes a divine understanding and a Divine will that is a will subdued where there is a stubborn will there is not nor cannot be a patient heart every high thought is brought into subjection ere the heart
you need him most so that you shall get more of a suddain by Prayer then you could in all your life before A suffering Christian has his peculiar advantge let him but open his mouth heaven-ward and 't is fild presently let his heart be at his mouth and the holy Ghost wil be at his heart all upon wing and wrapt up in the third Heaven when the body in Hell Long suffering and joy are very neere as neere as night and morning if misery makes the night joy makes the morning and if the night cannot aske for the morning yet the morning will come of it selfe joy comes in the morning If a long sufferer be â—o worne so depressed with his burden that he be not able to pray not able to aske for joy and for comfort yet his joy will be ful 't will come of it selfe as things that are joyn'd together will call in one another long suffering with joyfulnesse Duties are immergent one springs and bubbles out of the belly of another all patience brings forth long suffering long suffering bringes forth joyfulnesse this is Divine Genealogy they are plac'd here by the holy Ghost according to their line as persons so vertues are noted according to their Genealogy Every grace beares patience brings forth long suffering long suffering joy joy brings forth Heaven now the Sun is up in the soule and begets Cardinall vertues glorious graces it makes the very emblem of Heaven in the heart The holy line must not be broken as things have their order in their owne nature so they must have their course in the soule long suffering for truth must bring forth joy and not griefe a Jacob must hold an Esau by the heele joy must embrace rough usage out of the sowerest stock ar't should make sweet fruit come out of long-suffering for Christ joy Duties are innocent graces are so ordained to move as best to speake out mans simplicity and Gods glory long suffering is not to leaven and sowre the soule to make it regurgitate bitterly in the afternone when things have lai'n long in the stomack but it is to give advantage to a Christian fully to speake forth his owne integrity and Gods glory Long suffering with joy is a full expression of mans simplicity and Gods Glory Long suffering in any cause hath its integrity as the heart is free from repining under it which it is when 't is meate and drinke to suffer for Christ joy to beare and to beare long Grace should move in grace that 's long suffering with joy grace should move to a Christians grace and to GODS glory that 's long suffering with joyfulnesse Vse Christians you see your lesson t is set very high can you play it What artists are you in your calling Can you make good Musick upon a bad instrument Can you make an instrument goe well that hath hung long by Can you play wel when the strings be broke When the back when the belly of the instrument is broke Can you sing the songs of Zion in a strange Land Can yee make melody in your spirits when never a whole piece in your flesh some of you it may be have never a peny in your purse scarce any rag to weare no house to put your head in but live upon the meere mercy of friends for giving testimony to Christs cause can yee joy now Christ hath mingled your drinke with weeping can yee drinke off this Cup with joy Suffering is suffering indeed when it goes quite through the man body and spirit body without all joy and soule too A man is plundred indeed when he is plundred in his estate within and without plundred of mony and goods and plunderd of peace and joy too no comfort without nor none within neither Ah Lord here 's a man quite undone indeed her 's a man all over miserable soule and body bleeding can there be any gathering to relieve this man I have heard many complaine that they are quite undone the expression hath cut me to the heart to heare it their faces all over blacknesse not one line drawne similingly You have lost all joyes without why but there are joyes within which the World cannot give nor take have you lost these too did the Cavaleers take away all together mony and plate and Christ too Ah! poore man thou art quite undone indeed certainly the divel was in those Cavaleers I would speake to such from this point which are quite undone which have lost all money and joy too which have many sufferings upon them for Christ but can make no joy out of them Surely I can guesse your paine you are blind you know not who hath strip't you nor when he will returne it againe 'T is impossible for a man to joy under long suffering unlesse a man can looke to the end of it This makes heavy afflictions light long afflictions short to look where they end Our light afflictions which endure but for a moment worke about a farre more exceeding and an eternall weight of glory Long suffering is but a moment when compared with eternity of glory The great Heaven at a distance makes a little Heaven at present a Heaven in hell to that soule which hath it in its eye as these lower Heavens give a great lustre and vigour at a distance to beholders and raise much so doth the Heaven of Heavens 'T is a Heaven to behold Heaven a farre off where ever the body be 't was Canaan to Moses Ab extremis miseriae quies to see Canaan a far off The sight of the end shortens the way suffering is deadly long when a man can see no end when a man is in darknesse and can see no light 't is hard to bring the soule to joy in such darkenesse A man must looke upon affliction from one end to to'ther that would fetch in joy to his soule from suffering At one end of long suffering for truth is a father at the other end a reward which if seen well will make the longest suffering very short and very sweet Can you make no joy out of your long sufferings for truth I can guesse your paine there is something heavier then your temporall losse that lies upon you Surely you have lost your state and found sinne death has a sting death of a mans body yea and death of a mans estate has a sting A little guilt is heavier then a great deale of misery then all the afflictions of this World When bare misery goes over a mans head though never so much hee may well stand under this but when misery clothes it selfe with guilt and goes over a mans head as Iniquity this makes the burthen too heavy to be borne when the apprehension of sinne startes out of misery and stares upon the soule this killes all joy dead and the man is not able to beare up if hee had all the World to comfort him The cause may be good and the man bad 't is hard
not be a joy to a man to put forth an Arme to cast out Devils though he never pluck it in againe should not a Christian make it his honour his joy to make devils subject to him to make insolent wickednesse asham'd and returne or swell and breake and hang it selfe should it not joy a man to suffer any thing to kill a devill legions of devills principalities and powers Scarlet wickednesse wickednesse grown so high as scarce ever was in England 't was the joy of Sampson to suffer any thing that hee might make wicked Nobles suffer scarlet wickednesse a never dying Monument of shame mee thinkes it should make the most fleshly fearefull spirit in the World Joy to suffer any thing to help forward such noble acts as these To die in the prosecution of a just cause to the life such a death is it not life such heart bloud dropping forth does not every drop give back a cordiall to the heart from whence it comes Such misery does it not create it 's owne joy Can you not joy in such sufferings as bring cordialls with them Such sufferings as are rather joyes then sufferings they have so much honor and glory in them You shall be the death of the Kingdome of the devill throughout England throughout the Christian world Some thinke the Throne of the Beast is in England I believe the life of the Beast the life of al beastly wickednesse through out the Christian world depends much upon these wicked wretches which live in England is it not time then they were dead should it not joy any one to suffer any thing to send such to their place to damne up Springs of wickednesse to cut off the devils right hand to pull downe strong holdes of hell should it not joy a man to die dead the divelish world to die like Sampson and pull downe all the Philistims strength at once A blessing is pronounced twice in one Psalme to them that take Babylons little ones and dash them against the stones what blessednesse then to them which take Babylons great ones and dash them against the stones should it not joy one to goe about a bloudy worke to be so blessed so particularly so doubly blessed You shall be the life of Christs Kingdome the life of his children Ordinances spirit glory throughout the Christian world should it not be the joy of a man to die that God may live 't was the joy of God to die that man might live God shed his bloud saith the Scripture to save the bloud of man and he did this bloudy service with joy with delight saith the Psalmist which notes an intention of joy should not a man gloryingly breath forth his glory and die that Gods panting glory in England may recover breath and live who would not be ambitious to be his Saviours Saviour to beare up the pillars of the Christian World as the Psalmist speakes The integrity of your suffering depends much upon your ioy in suffering murmuring suffering is sinning you will suffer for this againe As God calles for the heart in doing so in suffering I cannot stand on this let mee conclude all thus GOD ownes the cause that you owne should it not joy a man to march after God you are willing to lose your bloud and God is willing to spare it The more backward you are to suffer the more you will suffer the more forward the lesse Joy to suffer long for Christ will shorten longsuffering FINIS USEFULL INSTRVCTIONS FOR THESE Evill Times COLOSS. 1.11 Strengthened with all might according to His glorious power unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulnesse EVery word in this Verse hath it not been a sweet flower to smell to the whole is a bundle of myrrhe 'T is a Verse filled with the pantings of a precious spirit which are to be filled with God to have all of that which is indeed all all soule strength all soule wealth all might all patience all joy all Christ in fellowship and fruition to doe him all cheerfull service as long as life lasts There is holy ambition in Christianity i to be greatest in the Kingdome of God * In the Kingdome of grace to sit on Christs right hand as he sits on his Fathers right hand to have all power given unto us to doe all workes well which are assigned to us as he did the whole soule to lie in the bosom of Christ and so to be all in all and answerably all unto all all in point of power patience joy ability and cheerfulnesse unto all duty O how good a good heart would be all good all good in the worst condition grace would be absolute grace would have all grace that all the world may see nothing in her but like her selfe in the lowest condition a man in Christ would be all in Christ all unto Christ outside inside whole man whole man Christs with joy Things have their instinct stones fall downward and they fall as low as ever they can to get to the very center if it possibly may be so sparkes fly upward and they ascend as high as ever they can to get into their own Heaven if it may be Eagles fly high and come as neare the Sun as they can Grace hath its instinct it ascends and ascends as high as ever it can would come as neare the Sun as 't is possible 't would be like him 't would shine in a darke World in a darke night in a desolate condition gloriously as he did A Christian would be all of that nature of which hee is so little hee would bee in all conditions himselfe above himselfe a Christian in state when a man in no estate Things have their sense Senses are greedy they are never satisfied they stil cry give give the eye is not satisfied with seeing nor the eare with hearing nor the mouth with tasting so grace 't 'as i'ts instinct yea 'tas more 't 'as sense grace can see grace grace can tast grace grace is sweet to grace the new man can savour the things of God A Christ can desire as hee tastes pantes and Prayes as he feeles hee pants for flagons he feeles drops so sweet for water brookes he sees little streames so pleasant Gods children are very craving the more receiving the more craving receptions are so sweet sense is still eged on divine sense divinely exorbitant never satisfied it cries give give all all strength all patience all joy The crying of a babe is after all that the breast will yield yea after all that both breasts will yield after all that a Saviour hath purchased and made giveable Things have their reason man moves ex judicio he discourseth worth and so makes out pearles are no lumber silver and gold no lumber but treasure pure treasure I would I had my house-full of these saith he Reason hath found out and pitcht upon worth and this makes desire mighty vast the man would have all 't is so good
as any piece of the foundation can be found A ruinous state is not affected with it selfe but with utter ruine if it can keepe off there 't is well A ruin'd soule can beare ruins al that is dreaded is desolation Hell surely there is much or Hell in this heart already he doth so onely feare Hell and as long as hee keepes on thus 't wil increase Scratching is nothing wounding nothing bleeding nothing if it can be stay'd ere all be out All bad to day worse to morrow all the reliefe that keepes up is I hope not starke naught I hope so too but surely this is onward a pace to it All will be better though little or nothing done to better what 's amisse this is a second principle demonstrative of a state ruinous A ruinous soule is idle his industry lies in shifts to evade not in care to amend Times will turne and be better though the heart keepe on as it was and the man in his old pace Something is in the view of sense and this strongly cleaved to what tender hearts feare is but feare he believes stil what is neare hand and shapd by the lasie fancy a ruin'd soule is sensuall as long as he can see or feele he is never without hope though lust every houre baffle his light and make a knowing man an evil doer a man of light a walker in darkenesse What a state is this can any condition come worse then this which this man is in He can thinke of no bleeding and yet his soule has scarce a drop of good bloud left of no misery and yet scarce any can be more miserable then hee is already good still in his own eye and yet stil bad and does nothing to amend The punishment of neglect is upon this man when troubles were far of hee did nothing to prepare for them now they are neare he is left to apprehend none Justice is in this that the man may eate the fruit of his way A ruinous soule growes stil more ruinous Justice hides opportunites or denies stirrings to take them for abuse of so many that she may take folly naked with a stinging rod. Things are better with me yet then with such a one A ruinous soule compares himselfe with more ruinous bad with worse which is the way to be starke naught One would thinke it sad reliefe to a Leper to heare him say I am not so al over Leprous yet as such a one when t is natural to the disease to rise to this upon every one One would think it sad reliefe for a man to say to himselfe such a one is going to Hell a little faster then I. A ruinous soule is base he maks base and not noble spirits his patterne that he may keep on his way to serve his lust He goes as neare a down right worlding a downe right time server as hee can there is so much income to accomodate an engaged heart this way over there is in nobility of spirit A ruinous soule is a dunghil kept from stinking in every ones nostrils and that 's all When hee begins to smel strong the shift is smel to such a one he does this and that A ruinous soule lives within the confines of Hell to gaine Earth 't is a piece much below his allowance hee wil be judged with the World in this life hee wil have a Hell here scarce bee saved seeme to come short of eternal rest hee wil be saved by fire A fiery salvatioÌ„ an hellish heaven wil be to this man he wil be dragged by the heeles out of his basenesse Having given these principles of discovery attend to your charge I charge you ruined and ruinous soules with al the ruines of England Ye desolate soules yee have desolated a glorious Land the cry of bloud and desolation is against you what do you do to discharge your selves yee ruined do you stiâ—l lie weltering in your bloud to procure more bloud yee ruinous do yee meane to continue cold luke-warme and base still till God spues us out all the bloud of all be upon you I wash my hands from the bloud of every base soule Know that you have a seasonable word your misery sleeps not which have made so many miserable by your basenesse If you plead you would be better if you could why God can make you better Your wil is your worst piece and you thinke 't is the best You have no minde to be better because to be better wil not so wel serve your turne Had you had a wil to be better could you have rub'd along so base til now that judgement states you in the Face Creating and making power hath but three hinderances 1. Vnbeliefe 2. Frowardnesse 3. Besottednesse it never failes else to make any man meete to be partaker of the inheritance of the Saints in light Creating power workes in order to believing as a man credits Christ so hee puts forth power to cast out Devils Christ wil have the honour of judgement ere he wil make towards a man Judge highly and honorably of Christ and he wil visit you and shew you what an arme hee hath and how possible your state is to him If you judge that he can make you cleane he wil honour your judgement and fulfill your Faith Christ wil be to you in action what you make him in apprehension not a dram of your faith shall faile you If you believe that he can remove mountaines he wil do it that he can create a new heart hee wil do it Your faith puts you into a capacity of a Creation Creation puts you into a capacity of any thing what can be wanting to him that stands under the blessing of a creating power Creating power workes in order to submission Stubbornnesse gets nothing at Christs hands but blowes A man must lay his soule at Christs Feete and let him doe with it what he wil that would be made happy by him Pride is resisted a pitifull condition must be pitifully layd open and then bowels beate Son of David have mercy upon me and then saith Christ what wilt thou Any thing now Finally creating power workes in order to sense A besotted soule abides so he is what he is in conceit hee dies so good opinion keepes him bad leaves him so to death The rich need nothing they have nothing to make them better They have all what needs a Creation making power is put forth upon extreamity sharpe sense men and brethren what shall I do Now Christ bestirres himselfe and does something indeed to make a miserable Creature happy partaker of an inheritance The riches of the Saints is in this point I will touch this and conclude Your mercies do not generate Generation kils it caries away so much of the strength of the reines they are created created power is omnipotent everlasting so it makes Christians mercies Generatio est limitatio fertur ad quoddam tale ad individuum tale Generation speakes
whether Christ will put in and beg the mans life here lies the case and depends wholly upon Christs Will What fellowship your soules have with God I know not whether God say any thing or nothing whether instruction with strong hand be come to instruction with weake hand by reason of your strong lusts whether your instruction with weake hand be not come to instruction with no hand but bare blows for your basenesse whether all whisperings be not layd aside and whispering turn'd into whipping this would be lookt well into for it speaks very ominously for eternity Love or hatred cannot be guessed at by things without but by Gods dealings within they may shrewedly be guessed at Profanatio 3. Profanenesse is a third property of a man fitted to wrath Profanenesse is the badge of an Esau wickednesse speaks out a cursed soule To what Country a man belongs you may understand by his language whether to Spaine France or the like Hell hath its openings as Heaven hath when Hell opens in a mans mouth what needs any further enquity what Country man Sir To what place do you belong A man moulded and shaped for wrath may be read in his face Death though it cease within yet it shew it selfe in the very superficies without You have such a common speech One may see Death in that mans face A mans life is in reference to his eternall estate as his face is in reference to his temporall 't is Index â—nimi index futuri index aeterni A mans life foretells his end What course any man leads broadly speakes what such a man is what he will be for felicity or misery An a man be in the broad-way he may prophesie where 't will end and to what inheritance he shall come whether to light or darknesse I know not what lives you lead Christ do's and you should Let them be led how they will you may spell Heaven or Hell out of them Life is but an expression of the frame of the spirit 't is but motion according to such wheeles and such a spring within If you will know of what frame or what make your soules are and to what fitted view your lives Your soules breath out themselves in your lives and they breath out themselves in the bosome of God or the devill into whose bosome you breath your soules in life into that bosome you will certainly breath them in death As you find your state now move To fit for Heaven is no trifle your eternall estate depends upon 't To fit for Heaven is not arbitrary you cannot come there without it To fit for Heaven is not easy the making power of God must go to it Sinners why do you put of this worke as a trifle And why do you put it of till death That man would never be holy if he could shift it that will not be holy till he dy He would never have to do with Christ if he could shun him that will not seek aquaintance with him till he must leave leave this Word When death is fitting the soule for Hell then the soule sets about to fit it selfe for Heaven Ah Lord that ever this man had a soule that damnes it himselfe Wrath doth usually crosse and curse this folly men are surprised in body or surpris'd in soule no strength or no heart and so dy in their sinne Fitting grace for Heaven hath its means hath its season hath its course and then hath its blessed end I will touch these a little ' T'ath its meanes Will you be fitted for Heaven yee wicked soules and use no means 'T is common to the worst man to cast their soules upon a miracle for salvation and not upon means God fits by his word they 'l heare none God fits by Prayer they 'l use none God fits by his People and they care for none holy Ordinances sleighted and yet the holy-Land promised Ah Lord Are not these soules mad to conclude the end and exclude the means These men will dy in presumption or else I dare dy for them 'T 'as its season Earthen Vessels have their season for molding and shapeing to such a forme and to such an use All times of the yeare are not seasonable for such a purpose Salvation hath its day the Sun stands not still 't is comming towards a man for so many houres and then goes away from him as fast Fitting seasons for Heaven are transient sleighted and eternally hid from a mans eyes O that thou hadst knowne in this thy day c. But now they are hid Love passions are strong but no fire cooles so fast as this when abused nor so hard to be kindled again when out God knocks and if no opening away to others that will He comes to a mans house and proclaimes peace if peace be not regarded he departs with a witnesse leaves the dust of his feet behinde him to testify what a base Earthy heart 't was that rejected him Fitting grace for Heaven hath its course Physick has its course to fit the body for health malignities are not carried away presently Bad spirits abounding râ—quire sweating and sweating again The great Physitian hath his course prescription upon prescription line upon line All is not done of an houre to make the soule fit for blessednesse for ever Grace conflicts with corruption long ere it can get â—he victory and render the soule fit for Heaven Some sinners will never be fit for Heaven because they cannot beare a fitting course Sorrow for sin spending the paine of conscience killing bleeding til binding up from Christ comes utterly consuming not to be thought of if these men can fit themselves for Heaven 't is wel they will never be made fit by Christ they are so idle headed and wilfull harted Finally after grace hath had its fitting course then it has the fruition of its end a fit soule expires into Heaven the soule fit for Heaven stayes not long thence The spirit say's come when fit the Bride say's come when fit a fitted soule for Heaven is a panting soule for Heaven and Christ a panting husband for this Spouse Grace hath its distinct property at every height when at full height and fit to be dissolved it desires dissolution and dissolution is granted as a medium to its ultimate forme which makes the perfection of a thing A Chrâ—stian is perfect when fit for Heaven his Grace is perfect when in Heaven Christians I have something to say to you from this Point and then I give it up and get gon 'T is many a good soules panting often O that J were fit For Heaven Why Christ makes so He workes at such a height as at which thy heart bends The bending of thy heart to such a height in Grace is a prevenient disposition to it 't is the worke thou wouldest begun and well on-ward to finishing Such a panting soule will be fit for Heaven and caught up into Heaven ere hee 's aware When the Soule is