out more love more joy then Corne and Wine then any thing can doe 't is so fully soule answering Electing love is a transcendent love stronger then that which is borne to all the Creation besides so it makes a transcendent love a love stronger to Christ then to any thing My love is white and ruddy faire yea fairest of ten thousand A man whom Christ loves cannot see such another as Christ is as the Apple-Tree among the Trees of the Wood so is my beloved among the Sonnes Electing love is separating I have chosen you out of the World The body in the World but the soule out of it off of it i in esteeme all earthly things dung stinking Earth that which is taking to a carnall man is stinking to a Christian Earth is base to a heavenly soule thick clay a loade yea the very flesh upon the back a load to a divine spirit life this life but a death The best house here but a groaning house in this house wee groane panting after another better built A house from Heaven Christ finds men lost in the Creature but leaves them lost in himselfe I esteeme all losse but Christ A choyce person hath a choyce affection he can put no prize upon any thing but Christ A Christian is the worst bidder for the World in the World A Judas bidds basely for Christ A Paul bids basely for all besides Christ he bids nothing hee esteemes all dung he prizes it at no rate onely worthy of strong contempt The glory of this World takes not a glorious soule I am crucified to the World and the World to me Paul had nothing of the World nor cared for nothing there was as little of the World in his heart as in his hand as little in his spirit as in his purse Divine love is very estranging from worldly things knowes nothing no no person after the flesh A brother is nothing a sister a mother nothing divine things All 't was so with Christ 't is so with a Christian All Christs children take after him Whether chosen of God whether singl'd out by love now speake Whom love hath not singled out wrath now will Justice hath no other Butt to shoot at but a rejected soule Mercy sets her children under her wing Justice killes her children with death yee rejected soules what will yee doe The great Shepheard is separating between sheepe and swine tares shall no longer stand amongst the Wheat plucking up by the rootes is come Bleed under your condition sinners the quarrell at this day in the Land is betweene Christ and rejected persons there should not a stroke be struck more in the Land were it not to cut off that which is cast off Every Souldier is Gods bloud-hound you will see wrath single out the stoutest Goat in the heard and pull him by the throate Justice drinke the bloud of every Judas and make Filii perditionis filii perditi the greatest men in misery as deepe as their merit persons cast off by GOD cut off by Man Justice is going once againe to give every Cain his marke Not a rejected person through the Land but shall feele the power of Gods Wrath. Yee forlorne Soules what will yee doe Shall your sinne finde you out Will you goe on in your sinne till God make your rejection visible and write your doome in your bloud for posterity to reade and tremble Is it a small thing that you have lost your name and honour with men Will you desperately lose your honour eternally with God Yee Malignants yee seede of the Serpent you say you have but a life to lose I say you have Soules to lose You say you will honour the King so doe but honor God too or else the King of Kings will crush you all I conclude this point Duty with a word to Gods chosen ones your Duty your safety lies in this point Love singles out her beloved Who hath made us meete c. You are of this little Number admire love this is the use made in the Text. Give thankes to the Father who hath made us meete c. What knotty pieces hath God hewed and made fit for himselfe That Gods Love should center any where but in himselfe aâ—l the Creation should admire that God will foule his hands to mould and make up Earth for Heaven for ever admire mans love is all from motive Gods love from none God layes out cost on a dunghill and makes it a stately Throne Things which so move that wee can see no spring their very forme set's us into admiration Divine Love moves thus altogether singles out kisses embraces and no spring nor principle but it selfe loves because it loves can you reach this reason No why then admire and adore that love that has your Soules in her Armes to carry them to Heaven Safety Your safety is in this point Whom Love hath singled out wrath shall never wrong The favour of God is a sufficient defence against the frownes of the greatest man Love is as tender to keepe as choyce to take into protection shee commandes men shee commands Angels shee commands the whole Creation to serve her Beloved A man ha's the Munition of Rockes that is in the Armes of Christ A Christian cannot object his sinne to turne of this consolation from him Divine love beganne freely it goes on so it chose out the man freely it chooses out mercies for the man freely A man is Universally made that is chosen out by God to bee happy hereafter happy here happy in every condition here happy Christ leaves none to the hazard of sinnes or times hee secures his choyce as his owne eternall felicity Hee bindes them up as His Jewels sets the Righteous apart As for Himselfe All. Your safety your All is in this point 'T is your Spring of supplies 't is a Fountaine open Free-Love is a Canaan of blessings Milke and Honey Flowing Free-Love 't is infinite mercy set to make you her Heire to bestow all shee hath upon you and yours Would yee have your selves blessed the Kingdome blessed Free-Love hath in it to doe all Free-Love hath a long Arme and a full Hand mercie for thousands and from Generation to Generation FINIS USEFULL INSTRVCTIONS FOR THESE Evill Times COLOSS. 1.12 Giving thanks to the Father who hath made us meete to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light Doct. LOve workes freely Christ chuses what persons he pleases to advance Who hath made us c. Love works fully What persons Christ chuses to worke upon hee makes thorough worke in he renders them meete fit sufficient the Originall word will beare all these to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light Sinne hath it's fitting and finishing and then it brings forth its end Sinne finished brings forth death c. The Divell is a thorough worke-man where hee layes a foundation he raises up the building till all be fit for himselfe and
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
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
is not the soules act the holy Ghost makes this distinction a weake soule must not call it too nice to comfort him It is one thing to be taken by an enemy and another thing to yield and lay downe weapons to an enemy this was the Apostles case which though sad yet he made it to yield its own reliefe so must we in like cases I am saith he a forc't man a prisoner a captive I doe what I did never intend what I can never allow this may make me a wretched man but it cannot make me a damnable man it may put me into a straite but my poore soule may finde a way out through Christ I thanke God through Iesus Christ c. Againe remember this to wit how the point in hand is proposed and so take it God exerciseth a relieving power in a Christian I doe not say a power presently conquering by degrees it rises to this Reliefe is renewed and more and more time after time brought in still till the soule be made victorious over all enemies That place is very observable to this purpose Mat. 12.20 A bruised reed shall he not breake and smoaking flax shall he not quench till he bring forth judgement into victory That Christ Keeps alive thy will and affection towards him in the midst of so much corruption and so many foiles is it not mighty power and love yet this hee doth and this he will doe till he hath made thee in action what thou art in affection indeed what thou art in will he will not leave what he hath begun till he hath made thee victorious Finally remember this that strengthening power according to sense and observation comes in by Prayer fervent Prayer The Apostle Paul found it so Upon seeking of God again and again God made knowne what he was and what he would be to him and he answered me my grace c. That is to his prayer God thus answered So the Spouse shee fervently prayes for reliefe and then in the next Verse breakes forth as one feeling it Stay me with flaggons comfort me with Aples for I am sick of love Then in the next Verse you have her sensibly expressing her enjoyment Cant. 2.5.6 His left hand is under my head and his right hand doth embrace me God in manifestation of the first power is found unsought but in manifestation of the second power he is found as sought he speakes to our heart as we speake to his he reveales his compassion as we reveale our state You may want strengthening power if you seeke it not You may live without the lively sense of it long if you pray not fervently You must not disclaime a good state wholly because 't is badly manag'd Christians ill managing a good state makes them often conclude 't is starke naught this is ill and lies heavy upon the heart and yet does no good but much hurt it discourages to prayer and other duties in and by which comes in the experience of Gods strengtheing power which they want I have now but one or two things more to speake to the wicked from this point and so I shall conclude it You will never beate the godly out of heart they have a relieving and strengthening power comes in still fresh force from Heaven they will never be conquered They are upon a Rock winds may blow and stormes beate they will never fall the Rock is foundation and side-props too Christians are still kept in that hand that made them Christians and none can pluck them out of that Hand The wicked have a great deale of worke more then they will consider they must quench two everlasting burnings ere they will be conquerours will they doe either There is an everlasting fire burning in the hearts of Saints can all the Waters you power upon it quench it There is an everlasting fire burning in Hell both these fires kindled and maintained by the breath of God can you stop the breath of the Almighty then may you be conquerors not before I would wicked men would be wise and acknowledge the principles and priviledges of Saints and strike saile to them What they are they will be what they are they shall be to execute the righteous judgement of the Lord upon you this honour hath all the Saints What honour why to be borne along resolutely and victoriously by everlasting armes to bind Kings with chaines and Nobles with fetters of Iron Psal 149.8.9 to execute the judgement written To be resolute to death is naturall and necessary to them because of that relieving and strengthening power which workes in them to be resolute to their own temporall death to accomplish your eternall death to be resolute to all hardship to helpe you to your place The spirit of a Lion is in Christians I would Dogs did know this 't is still 't will be still maintained so will wicked spirits ever believe this Ah wicked wretches the Saints will be Divells to you here they will rend you and teare you and never let goe their hold God strengthens them to it you might avoid this Hell if you were wise though you cannot that to come Who would contend with everlasting burning with such fiery spirits as can never be quencht with such men as are more then men who have the strength of God the spirit of the Almighy working within them The unhappinesse of wicked men is double treble I know not how manifold They are liable to the wrath of God and of his people and have no strengthening power to succour them When tortured without they are more tortured within 't is a fattening hardning condemning torturing power that workes in wicked soules every drop * From providence scalds not one cooles their soules The powers which worke mightily in them are powers of darkenesse and lead to utter darkenesse there I leave these and goe on with my Text. The end of the first Sermon USEFULL INSTRVCTIONS FOR THESE Evill Times COLOSS. 1.11 With All might c. Or in all power THis is the next word to speake of All might is him that is Almighty given into man as full as man can hold 't is so much divine strength extended as to beare up to all duty Almighty is all that man can need all that man can use bestowed on him 't is ten Talents 't is strength to hold forth all Gods Will in all conditions against all disadvantages 't is humane capacity made vast and filled with as much of God as any designe on earth can require for the well managing of it Almightinesse here is not spoken in way of comparison with God but in way of full obedience to God 't is an expression spoken in referrence to Gods Will not in reference to Gods Person and notes an ability to all that God commands and not any equallity to any thing that God is it notes such a power in some similitude to be to what is enjoyned as God is to any
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
past by should account so and spell his death out of it Abels offering accepted and Cains nor this was to hint to Cain how things went in Gods breast and it did so but wrought desperately Christ in the same breath in the same expression can speake consolation and condemnation life and death life plainly death noddingly so hee doth here in this forme of expressing himselfe Who hath made us meete c. Vse This point dischargeth a broad side against an errour of the World Every one thinkes himselfe in the favour of God That wherein God is most curious the World thinkes he is most carelesse his love workes very choisely and they thinke it workes very commonly What man alive but promises himselfe the love of God when hee dies What mans state so bad but he thinkes â—will end in Heaven Ignorant soules make Heaven and the Bosome of God â—he center of soules that to which all soules necessarily goe and can goe no whither else I am pain'd at the heart to heare prophane mens opinions and their principles respecting the love of Christ and their eternall estate I will give you two or three of their principles and speak to them They thrive in the World therefore â—ove hath given them her favour and chosen out them to be the onely happy men who ever be miserable Did not the sunne shine upon Sodom was not Dives a wealthy man and yet where is he Where is hee was not â—ophet prepared for the King The things of this life are consistent with death with wrath A man may lie in the bosome of the Creature and in the bosome of the divel too nothing more common A full Table speakes snares and death as well as love That man will certainly choke his soule that will not rise from his Table to fetch an argument of Gods favour towards him I am beloved of all men in this some blesse themselves as beloved of God Truth seldome gets so much favour 't is a strange carriage that will carry it with all All men may speake well and God speake ill of a man All men love thee Doe Gods people love thee there is a love of pity David loved Saul a 〈◊〉 yet Saul was not beloved of God There is a love of relation David loved Absolom yet Absolom not beloved of God Gods people may fasten love where God will not Gods people are weake 't is usuall with them to fasten love where God cannot And as for the Worlâ— they love their owne they hug one another to death what then can'st thou argue from hence touching Gods favour to thee I am not more jealous of any man then of him that aleadges a generall approbation for his goodnesse The World gives no certificate to Saints nor Saints give no certificate to the World he that gets a certificate from both Lord what is he a Saint or a worldling good or bad or made up between both Common vote for goodnesse speakes common goodnesse commonly seldom is this height a height to argue speciall love from Some men can goe in and fetch thee out an evidence of their eternall state My conscience is as cleare and as good as any Mans my heart is at rest J thanke GOD. The soule is corrupt 't will lie downe with a lie There is settling upon lees this speakes not love but deadly hatred When the strong man keepes the house all is at peace Some are quiet because there is no grace to oppose corruption The old man is quiet enough if he may have what he will The divell is as quiet as another Creature if hee be let alone to rule all as hee list's There is peace peace and yet no peace have you never heard of that They shall cry peace peace and yet no peace no favour with God but wrath burning and judgement at the doore Peace may be in a sinners mouth and wrath in Gods peace may be in a sinners heart and wrath in Gods heart yea when wrath is in Gods Hand and ready to cut him off There is a peace of mans speaking and a peace of Gods speaking When they shall cry peace peace meerely they and not God this peace peace this double peace speakes double wrath Delusions are many sinners looke to your soules This is certain love elects she goes forth with choyce not promiscuously she makes some not all blessed Who hath made us c. Are ye amongst this number Can yee say thus who hath made mee meete and mee meete for Heaven Every one thinkes speciall love embraceth him I 'le therefore give you the proprieties of an electing love 'T is in living Sun rayes generate Vita sun rayes regenerate Love is warming heate makes life The Love of God revealed begets love in man Wee love him because hee loved us first God gives all great favours so as to returne to him naturally Divine love shed abroad in the heart carries the heart to God The spirit returnes to God that gave it the naturall spirit doth so at death the holy spirit doth so before death all along even unto death Gods Countenance where 't is similing 't is winning where 't is winning 't is drawing where divine love is drawing the soule is running to Heaven A favourite is much at Court ever at the Kings elbow Gods favourites are much with him still bending Heaven-ward Love is alwayes in her journey towards her beloved No bosome so sweete as that from whence shee came forth Divine love makes divine it comes from Heaven it carries to Heaven Chosen are called electing love hath a still sweet calling voyce This is the way saith love and there is no way to this saith the beloved Grace echo's to God the giver Wisdoms wayes have the name for pleasantnesse with a chosen soule Love inflames the Kingdome of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force Vâ—atal's Infinite love makes a kinde of infinite it generates simile Love is as strong as death 't is spoken of the love of the Spouse The Husbands love is unexpressible strong so is the Wives Love sets the soule for Heaven with full saile All the heart and all the might Electing love carries al captive to Christ 't is not to be exprest how strong love is when made divine That love that is set upon God is the strongest of all 't 'as such a transcendent object and such secret transcendent influence No sinner loves sinne as a Christian loves Christ Love is made from the object no object so lovely so soule-drawing out as Christ is No such rapture did Salomons soule ever make in the Creature as in Christ nothing is so drawing out of love as Christ the very vastnesse of the soule is suited in him how vastely doth the soule love when fully suited When every power of the soule hath enough to take full hold on Thou hast put joy in my heart more then they when corne and wine and oyle increased Gods Countenance drawes more