food to Israel's faith in the wilderness And such are delightful remembrances of former sins When a person takes pleasure to think and talk of his former evils this doth feed present desires and hopes of sin When Paul would help on the Romans freedom from the service of sin he labours to get their present thoughts of former sins imbitter'd Rom. 6. 21. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed for the end of these things is death Secondly Pleasing Imaginations and fancying of present or future sins do wonderfully strengthen the habit of sin The Lord charges Israel's sinful actions as the product of their wicked thoughts Isa 65. 2. Which walketh in a way that was not good after their own thoughts Sin first begins in the head and ends in the feet first working thoughts of sin and then actual works of sin The Devil doth usually strike the first fire on the tinder of mens thoughts which afterwards burns in their hearts and lives Jam. 1. 15. When lust hath conceived it bringeth forth sin and sin when it is finished bringeth forth death They that would avoid the birth of sin in their lives must take heed of the conception of sin in their pleasing thoughts They that would help on Babylon's ruine must prevent its propagation and put a timely check to their growth dashing their little ones against the stone Psal 137. 9. Leave a Sit nihil in te Babylonicum not any thing that belongs to Babylon in thy soul saith Hugo Thirdly Unbelief strengthens lust Jer. 2. 25. But thou saidst there is no hope no for I have loved strangers and after them I will go 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Desperatum est scil cor My heart despairs of help I fear it will never be better therefore I will go on in my way Unbelief strengthens lust and makes the soul a prey to it 'T was by unbelief Israel fell in the wilderness both into sin and ruine And the Apostle cautions Christians that they fall not by the same example of unbelief Heb. 4. 11. 'T was unbelieving desponding fears had almost turned up David's heels had not grace succoured him by the Word Psal 73. 2. But as for me my feet were almost gone my steps had well-nigh slipt And whence came this weakness of grace and strength of corruption why it was from the apprehended prosperity of sin and sinners and the succesless issues of his profession and obedience Verse 15. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain and washed my hands in innocency If this be the fruit of my holiness then all my labour is in vain 't is to no purpose I have followed God all this while if wickedness shall carry it at last O take heed of unbelief if ever you would get down your lusts Fourthly Presumption secretly conveys in relief to sin and succours it against all the sieges of Word and Spirit 2 Pet. 2. 10. Presumptuous are they self-will'd A presumptuous soul is a self-pleasing soul one that pertinaciously and wilfully seeks his own carnal contentments 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the word imports he will boldly adventure on the most dangerous issues of sin so he may but gratifie his lusts and obtain his sinful desires he fears no dangers sticks at no hardships though God and his Word be against him it makes the sinner go against all warnings threatnings counsels with hopes of success Numb 14. 44. But they presumed to go up to the hill top verse 42. The Lord forbad them to go threatning his remove from them and their ruine if they durst go up against his will Nay it was said The Ark of the Covenant of the Lord and Moses went not out of the Camp would not stir one foot with them in that wicked enterprize yet they would go O take heed of Presumption that does exceedingly keep up sin and pull down the sinner Fifthly Carnal security is a great friend to sin and contributes much to its advantage when Christians let down their watch and lie down to slumber then corruptions rise up and prevails over them When the Amalekites were spread abroad upon all the Earth eating and drinking and dancing because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the Land of the Philistines 1 Sam. 30. 16 17. David fell upon them and smote them from the twilight even to the evening of the next day and there escaped not a man of them save four hundred young men which rode upon Camels and fled So 't is with gracious souls after some great mercy either some special priviledge enjoy'd some spoils upon their lusts obtained or token of God's favour received they become secure proud and careless letting down their watch exposing themselves to temptations and soon become a prey to sin and Satan Jer. 48 11. Moab hath been at ease from his youth and he hath settled on his lees and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel neither hath he gone into Captivity therefore his taste remaineth in him and his scent is not changed If you would have a change on your carnal hearts take heed of carnal security in your hearts Sixthly Self-indulgence helps to nourish sin when persons are lovers of their own selves seek to please indulge and gratifie the desires of carnal natural-self then lusts thrive in that soul He that feasts his body saith Ephrem Syrus and starves his soul is like him that feasts his slave and starves his wife 2 Tim. 3. 2. Self-love leads the Van to all the iniquities and hypocrisies of the last times O the troops of sin that march under the banner of self-love and are secured by its conduct hence self-denial is the first step to Christianity Mat. 16. 24. You can never prosper in your salvation-attempts or decay in your soul-ruining lusts till you learn to deny your selves in every part of it Take heed of a selfish spirit if you would be sincere souls and see the death of your lusts Seventhly Opportunity favours sin exceedingly and helps to keep its hopes alive and gives it occasion for its enlargement Opportunity is the Midwife of lust and helps to deliver it of its inward conceptions and pregnant desires 'T was opportunity that blew the coal of David's lust into a flame 2 Sam. 11. 2. and midwiv'd out Hezekiah's pride Isa 39. 2. Had it not been for opportunity Lot might have escaped the sin of incest as well as the sufferings of Sodom Gen. 19. 30 to 37. and Judah's uncleanness with his Daughter-in-law Tamar 'T was opportunity that exposed Dinah to a rape and Peter to the temptation of denying his Lord and Master Take heed of adventuring into the way of temptation and going to the borders of soul-danger shun the occasions of evil turn aside out of the way of snares Prov. 1. 15. chap. 4. 14 15. Temptation feeds corruption ensnares and entangles the feet and as fewel keeps in the fire of lust You may as safely suffer the
might sail faster and safer to its designed port and is not this advantage Sixthly Sweeter relishes of heavenly things are to Believers the blessed issues of the world's bitterness Harsh Providences on earthly comforts make heavenly things the more pleasant Men sometimes engraff sweet fruit on crab-treestocks and God gives honey to his children at the top of the rod Psal 94. 19. The thorn is one of the most cursed and angry and crabbed weeds and yet out of it springs the Rose Rutherford The sweet-meats of this world do too often put Christians pallats out of taste to cure which doth the Lord dish out his daintiest meat with sowre sauce Heavenly things never relish better than when there is less sweetness in the creature What a value did David put upon spiritual things when stript of all Psal 63. 1. Gospel-comforts will not down with such as are choak'd with the world's delicacies but when once the Saints are emptied of the world by cross providences then is Christ precius is not this a help to Heavenly Traders O then the more crosses you meet with in the world the more haste do you make to your Crown Doth the world fly from you pursue Heaven the faster Doth gain fall then advance godliness And if your gettings from Earth be small let your layings out for Heaven be great And thus much for the third Branch of Exhortation 4th Advice to such as are fallen back in Religion Fourthly A word to such as have begun this Heavenly Trade and are fallen back This is the case of some and may be of more in this hour of Temptation and Apostasie There are some have begun in the Spirit and are now ending in the flesh who have made a fair shew seem'd to be somewhat and like blazing comets drew the eyes of admirers on them for a time and then fell down to the Earth Some that have left the very form others that have lost the power and life of godliness Many have laid down their Lamp but more have spent their Oil and are almost come to a snuff Some have shut up shop are quite gone and have taken their leave of Religion resolving to return no more unless safety credit and interest return with them Others yet stay keep open shop but have little goods decay daily and are upon the breaking hand a waste is on their interests they have lost their first love decay'd in spirituals faith hope love zeal delight in God and liveliness for him are quite lost as hath been demonstrated in the use of Lamentation The design of this head is only to offer some advice towards the recovery of decayed broken Traders In which as hitherto for better illustration I shall keep to the metaphor in the Text. Advice 1. My first Advice to such in order to their recovery is to be deeply affected with their evil case First Consider 't is no small change for a person that hath lived well been in reputation with God and men fared deliciously been used to the dainties of God's house and delicacies of his love have tasted the heavenly gift and the powers of the world to come now to be brought to penury and scarce meet with a sweet morsel from day to day to be put off with husks and dry bones and the crumbs that fall from their Lord's Table to stand at his door or to wait without for some scraps when the friends of Christ and Wisdom's thriving Merchants have their marrow and fat things this is a great change For such as were wont to have a place amongst them that stand by to converse with the Father of Spirits to be let into the Presence chamber and have the visits of the Comforter and spiritual fellowship of Saints Now to be laid aside and scarcely look'd upon with a divine glance from day to day no entercourse with God or fellowship with the Spirit from one Lord's day to another but to be only company for formalists and hypocrites and such as are without this is a great change O get thy heart deeply affected with it Secondly Think also how unlovely offensive and displeasing an object in the eyes of God a withered decayed Professor is his soul takes no pleasure in him Heb. 10. 38. He doth not care for the company of such they are a burden to him he loves no more to see them than men do dead corps in their houses and rotten trees in their garden he bethinks the place they stand in as cumbring the ground Luke 13. 7. he counts them unworthy of the Kingdom of God having put their hand to the Plough and then look back Luke 6. 62. Nothing more troubles his soul than a lukewarm temper that was once burning in love but now is neither hot nor cold such ride on the stomach of Christ and make him down-right sick till he hath vomited them out into the dunghill from whence they came and is not this matter of trouble to a sensible heart Rev. 3. 16. Thirdly Such have little desirableness in the eyes of men also Who cares to deal with broken Merchants or keep company with spend-thrifts that have wasted their estates and are come to nothing no more do gracious souls care for converse with backsliders Decayed Professors are like broken vessels in whom there is no pleasure and as a withered hand or broken bone in the body which hath lost both its usefulness and beauty A broken Trader in Religion is valued by none the men of the world cannot endure him because he hath been seemingly godly and Saints cannot love him because he is not really gracious Such like Absolom when hung by the hair lye between Heaven and Earth as unworthy of either and as a person held in a strait passage cannot go forward nor backward he cannot go far enough to keep pace with the prophane nor go back to fill up his place with the pious the Saints reject him the wicked will not receive him In such a pitiful case is a withered decayed soul he hath no comeliness in him for which he should be desired Fourthly They are the greatest losers of any who break in Religion for they not onely lose their own goods but others also their talents graces priviledges and experiences are their Lord's goods which they have wasted in riotous living they lose what they once had what they seemed to have or were fair for and they lose what they hope to have Luke 16. 1. Mat. 25. 29. 2 Epist Joh. v. 8. Gal. 3. 4. All their enjoyments tastes comforts frames experiences are lost All their profession faith love conscience are shipwrackt All their duties labours sufferings come to nothing if they are not recovered again to repentance Here men estimate their losses to be great from the quality variety or abundance of the things they lose all which are yet but temporal but the Treasures that Professors are in chase of and which they shall surely have if they be sincere and faithful to
that is dear to them Men promise one thing and do another affirm a thing that is not and this undoes many the unfaithfulness of those they deal with but it is not so with Christ you may trust on his fidelity Heaven and Earth shall sooner fail than one tittle of all that he hath spoken And therefore excellent is that Trade which is carried on with so excellent a Jesus Reas 3. Thirdly Weigh the terms on which this Trade is offered unto souls and it will appear to be incomparably the best Trade For to such as will set upon this Trade 1 Goods to trade upon shall be freely given 2 Wisdome to manage them shall be fully imparted 3 A blessing on the due improvement of them shall be ensured 4 To him shall the glory of all be rendred First Wisdome's wares are freely tendered to all that will receive them without money and without price Come buy wine and milk without money and without price Isa 55. 1. To him that is a thirst will I give to drink of the waters of life freely Rev. 21. 6. Here Merchants cannot get or put off goods at that rate there 's no going to the world's markets without money or credit they that will have mens goods must pay for them and many times have deat bargains but the Lord Jesus imparts his treasures freely he paid dear for them they cost his heart blood but he spares them freely no silver or gold will pass in those bargains Simon Magus had his offered gold for the Holy Ghost thrown back with detestation and destruction to boot Acts 8. 18 19 20. The terms on which this trade is driven are free it cannot stand with the design of redemption grace which is to advance the praise of the glory of grace and to cut off all boasting that every mouth may be stopped to admit of any thing from fallen man that might look like a compensation of salvation mercies neither is there any thing beneath Christ's merits that can equalize the worth of heavenly things and alas what have they to part with who have lost themselves and to give to God who have nothing but what they receive from him It must needs therefore be altogether freely given whatever is received in order to salvation O blessed news to poor traders that their poverty is no bar to this employment the poorest may receive of Wisdome's wares as well as the rich seeing it is a free trade and whatever makes a difference on the creatures part is laid aside in the dispensation of spiritual mercies Here are no Monopolies or hard impositions upon this trade no restraint from setting up or selling out of Wisdome's goods in any parts of the world Cities have their enclosures Corporations their bars to keep out strangers from their priviledges but in this trade all persons be they who they will that will come over to Wisdome's Merchandise have right to carry on this work of godliness in all places whereever they are The heavenly trade is a free trade goods freely given and liberty to set up in all places and to all persons Secondly As goods to trade upon are freely given so wisdome to manage them shall be fully imparted This is a priviledge which sellers on earth will not afford you may have their goods at their price but not instructions how to dispose them to your advantage but this great Merchant in Heaven with his wares gives skill to use them I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit which leadeth thee by the way thou shouldest go Isa 48. 17. If thou seekest her as silver and searchest for her as for hid treasure then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God For the Lord giveth wisdome out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding He layeth up sound wisdome for the righteous Then shalt thou understand righteousness and judgement and equity yea every good path Prov. 2. 4 5 6 9. The soul that seeketh for Wisdome's wares shall with it find instruction how to use them I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shouldest go I will guide thee with my eyes Psal 32. 8. He will be eyes to the blind and feet to the lame Job 29. 15. The Lord Jesus will find all in this heavenly trade goods and tools and skill and strength and all Surely shall one say in the Lord have I righteousness and strength Thirdly A blessing on the due improvement of these shall be ensured to all his traders The wayfaring man shall not erre Isa 35. 8. His workmen shall not labour in vain 1 Cor. 15. 58. For his blessing is upon his people Psal 3. 8. Thou shalt decree a thing and it shall be established unto thee and the light shall shine upon thy waies Job 22. 28. The book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth but thou shalt meditate therein day and night that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein this is the heavenly trade to fulfill after God and such shall prosper for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous and then thou shalt have good success Josh 1. 8. No Merchant will undertake to make their dealers prosperous they must trade at great uncertainties and run the adventure as to the issue of all Blessings come not out of earthly shops but from a divine hand let come what will in the way Blessings will surely come at the end to those that cast out at Christ's biding and trade by his instruction in Wisdome's Merchandise let men curse let devils vex let North-winds blow and blow down too their earthly comforts yet God will bless them that fear him every one Psal 115. 13. He will bless them in life and bless them in death and is not this good trading to be sure of blessings in the way and blessedness at the end 1 Pet. 1. 9. Fourthly Another Condition in this Trade is That God shall have all the glory but they that trade with and for him shall have all the good that comes by it This is the head Rent which the great Lord reserves to himself and will not part with to another My glory will I not give to another Isa 48. 11. This is his great design in all works of his hands and gifts of grace that he may be glorified The people shall be all righteous the branch of my planting the work of my hand that I may be glorified This is God's great end in bestowing redemption mercies to have all the glory to himself who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will that we should be to the praise of his glory Ephes 1. 12. Christians the Rent must be the Lords the fruit shall be yours Whose keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof Prov. 27. 18. All the sweetness of the Vine is for those that possess it and the herbs of the earth for them by whom it is
and grief Oh the distractions and distressing thoughts that straits commonly beget and no straits like to soul-straits Christians you your selves be my Judges Thirdly Neglect of Trading for Heaven will blast all other Trading and breed a moth to consume even your temporal substance When Israel began to let down their Heavenly Trade and to mind their own concerns and houses above God's presently God blasts their temporal interests he makes holes in their money-bags and blows upon their encrease All their tuggings in the world with neglect of God and his Worship came to nothing they sowed much and it brought in little looked for much and it came to little wrought hard earned great wages laid up money but it fell out again through some secret hole in their bags which divine jealousie opened consuming their substance to let them know that men may make more haste than good speed and they that reckon without God must reckon twice And may not this be one thing that cuts this Nation short in their outward interest this day because they have forsaken God neglected his service lost the power of godliness certainly though outward prosperity be no token of God's favour nor any Gospel-promise to his people yet when the Lord does fight against a people by successive rebukes and send in a secret mildew wasting and consumption on their interests and this becomes general and national it shews displeasure in God and should be laid to heart the want of which is set forth as an additional aggravation to such a peoples sin Who gave Jacob for a spoil and Israel to the robbers did not he against whom we have sinned for they would not walk in his waies neither were they obedient unto his Laws Therefore he poured upon him the fury of his anger and the strength of battel and hath set him on fire round about yet he knew not and it burned him yet he laid it not to heart Isa 42. 24 25. It was the not walking in the way of God neglect of obedience and practical holiness a letting down the Heavenly Trade that brought those ruining judgments on Israel losses on their interests vers 21. They were robbed and spoiled firing their houses vers 25. It hath set him on fire round it burned him Now in this miserable case there was yet a greater judgement on them a strange stupefaction and insensibleness of spirit they did not see God's anger in it yet Yet he knew it not viz. Whence it came and who did all this they looked to Chaldeans and enemies but 't was God did it and yet they laid it not to heart they were not rightly affected with all these desolations and their near approach to ruine And is not this our case God hath warned us by his Word this many years threatened us by prodigious signs in Heaven and Earth begun to execute them already by Plague Sword and Fire dreadful wastes in the great City and many other places to the undoing of many families made a breach upon the Trade of the Nation to the impoverishing of the whole Land and yet we are as insensible as Pharaoh and the Egyptians were as if the Lord had sent the spirit of slumber upon us impoverished yet fell it not This should be for a lamentation Fourthly The decay of this Heavenly Trade if not cured is the ready and certain way to ruine The destruction of the poor is poverty Prov. 10. 15. Mens poverty fills them with consternation and dejecting fears and does also expose them to many evils and take down their external defence from injuries being made a prey to their oppressours The rich man's wealth is his strong City Prov. 18. 11. Rich men protect themselves from injuries their riches are Advocates for them to men but poor men lye open to all invasions when men grow poor every man treads upon them So is it when the Heavenly Trade decaies and soul-poverty springs out of its ruine then destruction makes haste to such places and persons For this the Lord Jesus threatens to take the Kingdom from a people because they bring not forth the fruit of it Matth. 21. 43. they did not render to God the fruit of all his dressings and waitings on them Barrenness and decaies in Religion uncured are a certain forerunner of Desolation Luke 13. 7 9. Before the Lord brought in that cruel Nation the Vandals on Africa the Christians in Spain were much degenerated from their former purity as Salvian complains and the power of godliness was much decayed he tells us they had nothing left but the name of Christianity to which their conversation was most unlike a Quid est in quo nobis de Christiano nomine blandiamur Cum utique hoc ipso magis per nomen sacratiffimum rei simus qui a sancto nomine discrepamus Salvi de Gubern lib. 3. pag. 95. What is it saith he to please our selves with the name of Christian when the very name does greaten our guilt in that we are so unlike to it Before the Massacre at Paris saith Mr. Clark in his Martyrol such a general stupidity seized upon the Protestants that their minds were very wavering and few there were that shewed themselves zealously bent to Religion but all both great and small were intent upon worldly matters building to themselves goodly Castles in the air It was observed by some that before the change of Religion and Martyrdom in Queen Mary's daies there was great unprofitableness under the Means of Grace What the issues of these great decaies in Religion may be amongst us we know not but such symptomes have usually foregone great changes and severe stroaks on such persons and places And is not this matter of lamentation Physitians use to cure a Lethargy by a Fever the one hath been our disease O that the other if no means else will do may be our cure Fifthly At the best decaies in this Heavenly Trade will render the Traders account heavy in the day of Christ Into what straits did the sense of an abused trust put the Prodigal Steward Luke 16. 13 He had been unfaithful in his place wasted his Masters goods and now was in danger of being turned out a reckoning was call'd for and he unable to render it and in perplexing thoughts how to give in his accounts and to secure his future welfare And this will be the case of such as are negligent and unfaithful in their Heavenly Trade it will expose them to soul-trouble one day how to answer it before God First or last God will call for an account how his goods have been improved He hath given you a stock to trade upon for him Light Grace Parts Capacities Gospel-priviledges and Opportunities Liberty Peace Experiences with many mercies and afflictions which are all your Lord's goods and must be accounted for upon the passing of which depends your eternal state or much of your soul's peace The Lord Jesus hath a double audit or accounting with
seven years service consumed with drought in the day and frost in the night and his sleep departed from his eyes Thus have I been twenty years in thy house I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters and six years for thy cattel and thou hast changed my wages ten times Gen. 31. 40 41. And yet all this he could bear to enjoy the object of his love So 't is with earthly minded men all their capacities are engaged about earthly things their chiefest strength is laid out about their Trades callings and businesses in the world seldom minding soul-concerns little employed in religious duties now and then hear read pray as may stand with interest cold sleighty formal sleepy in duty but all life when about the world ready to complain prayer is too long preaching tedious too much time spent in duty what need this waste Matth. 26. 8. All seems lost to flesh and blood which is spent on Christ and his service Mr. Trap But all too little for the world weary themselves for very vanity stick at nothing that will help them to their desired interests undergo any hardships turn the back on any duties adventure health reputation the displeasure of God with all their spiritual mercies yea and the eternal welfare of their souls also rather than lose an advantage in the world This is the spirit of too many this day Men that seem to be somewhat bid fair for salvation with the young man in the Gospel like the terms well come up to every thing but this cannot part with the world for Christ come up to every thing onely with Naaman must be pardoned in this that they have a Rimmon to bow to 2 Kings 5. 18. In every thing else they will consent to follow Christ but in this they must be spared when their farms their merchandise and profit calls for them then the concerns of Christ and their souls must stand by and affections like a flood run over all that lies in their way take no notice what Scripture or Conscience say deaf to all arguments that thwart interest This is the case of a worldly heart his chiefest strength is laid out about earthly things these must be followed and sought after whatever becomes of the soul and spiritual things What is that so great hope saith Seneca what so great necessity that stoops man who was made upright to contemplate Heaven and buries and drowns him in the deeps of the Earth to get out that gold which is not got with less danger than 't is kept Sen A little strength for duty will serve the turn but a great deal of time care and labour must the world have Surely the world rules that heart that comes and goes at its bidding and can leave all to follow it c Quae tanta spes fuit quae tanta necessitas hominem ad sidera erectum incurvavit defodit in fundum telluris intime mersit ut erueret aurum non minore periculo quaerendum quam possidendum Sen. at the command of interest You will judge him another man's servant who whatever he is doing will leave it all when his Master calls him and follow him Let men think what they will God hath no part for the present in that soul that can do more to enjoy the world than God and counts any thing more necessary than to converse with obey and serve him Fourthly The delight and pleasure men take in earthly things declare that their hearts are let out upon them Where the heart is there will the delights be d Cordis vita est amor Love is is the very life of the soul Alsted Theol. natur p. 613. When Jonathan's heart was knit with the heart of David 1 Sam. 18. 1. as an evidence of it Chap. 19. 2 Jonathan Saul's Son delighted much in David e Delectatio sit quies quaedam appetitus considerata presentia boni delectantis quod appetitui satisfacit Aqui. 12. 9. 31. 1. 2. M. Delight is the rest of desire in the fruition of that good the heart is set upon which satisfies the desire Reynolds of the Passions Cap. 19. Pag. 197. One calls it the Sabbath of our thoughts and that sweet tranquillity of mind which we receive from the presence and fruition of that good whereunto our desires have carried us If then mens delights in the world exceed their pleasure in God 't is a sign the world is their chiefest good Wicked men delight in their abominations and that proves their ways to be of choice Isa 63. 3 They have chosen their own ways and their soul delighteth in their abominations Try thy heart by thy pleasure what is sweetest to thy taste God or the World What is most delightful to thee to wait on God though with the loss of the world or to pursue the world with the want of God Men cheat their own Souls when they say the enjoyment of God is better than the world and yet for every trifle and smallest advantage can upon choice baulk the enjoyment of God in his appointments and cannot adventure the least loss and prejudice to their interest though it were for the nearest fellowship with God certainly that which is the Souls greatest pleasure that will it make after when left to its liberty Canst thou leave the snow of Lebanon for the waters of Assyria Pass by a walk in Christ's gallery to sit down and solace thy self on the dunghil-comforts of this life then are not thy chiefest delights in God Psal 27. 4 One thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in his temple If the beholding of God in Ordinances be thy delight it will be the one thing in thy desires and endeavours also all other things are nothing to that If thy chiefest pleasure be in God then nothing but a conviction of duty can make thee upon choice decline an opportunity of waiting on God and even then also when obedience to God sets thy hand to the world delight in God will engage thy longings after him and make thy greatest comforts thou art then pursuing a weight and a burden to thy soul because they stand between thy heart and communion with God Thy affections will be like the Kine that drew the Ark to Bethshemesh that lowed after their Calves as they went 1 Sam. 16. 12. When thou art constrained to draw in the Cart of thy duty-employments even then will thy desires belowing after the comfort of thy relation-interest in God How is it soul speak Is not a good Fair and Bargain sweeter to thee and doth more affect thy heart than a sermon and a duty Dost thou not use to follow the world with thy back on fellowship with God and Saints and not the least regret in thy spirit or cloud on thy comforts if so thy heart is
eyes and thy heart are not but for thy covetousness Jer. 22. 17. He maketh haste to be rich Prov. 28. 20. drives furiously after the world his heart is reconciled to all the means and waies that lead to it be they never so clashing with soul-advantages that man be he who he will is a friend to the world and an enemy to God let him make the highest profession possible So did Judas get into the Church of God so did Demas pray preach and so may hypocrites for a time yea make many prayers Isa 1. 15. Doth he profess love to God so did the Jews and yet their hearts went after their covetousness Ezek. 33. 31. Is he of a lovely spirit and unblameable conversation so was the young man in the Gospel his great desire was to inherit eternal life Mark 10. 17. that was his business to Christ he desired to know how he might be saved he seemed to be all for Heaven his life also was unblameable All these have I observed from my youth up verse 20. He was of a sweet lovely spirit 'T is said Jesus beholding him loved him verse 21. and yet could not part with the world for Christ had his heart knit to earthly things all the while and went away sorrowful he could not consent to sell all and give to the poor ver 22. no marks will serve that Soul's turn whose heart is glued to the World and cannot give up all to Christ's dispose God and the World cannot dwell in that Soul godliness and gain cannot keep house together where the grace of God comes in truth it teacheth men to deny worldly lusts Tit. 2. 11 12. He that hath no power to deny the cravings of a worldly heart never yet received the grace of God in truth Grace saith one may stand with some transient acts of naughtiness but never with covetousness Adams on the 2 Epist of Pet. p. 9. 16. Noah was once drunk with Wine but never with the World Lot twice Incestuous never Covetous Peter denied his Master thrice it was not the love of the World but the fear of the World brought him to it for he had denied the World before he denied his Master Once David was overcome with the Flesh never with the World Why did not these purge themselves from Adultery Anger Contention and the like because into these sins the infirmity of a Saint may fall but if once into Covetousness there is nothing of a Saint left not the very name Luther acknowledges there was scarce a sin to which he had not been tempted save to the sin of Covetousness The Lord Jesus tells us that his Disciples are not of this World some derive the word Holy from Earth and a privative 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 particle in that redemption from the earth is the great work of holiness All they that partake of the Cross of Christ are crucified to the World and the World to them Gal. 6. 14. Not a jot of the benefits of Christ are treasur'd up in that Soul where the God of this World dwells and if without Christ without hope thy case is desperate if thy heart be earthly under the ruling power of this World thou art yet in a graceless state and no grace no glory if thou mindest earthly things destruction is thy end Phil. 3. 19. If thou art one of this World whose heart is after thy covetousness thy portion is in this World Psal 17. 14. All thy Heaven is on this side the Grave For this ye know that no Whoremonger nor unclean person nor covetous man who is an Idolater hath any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God Eph. 5. 5. 'T is joyned with the most abominable sins Thievery Drunkenness Adultery Idolatry Extortion for which things sake the wrath of God cometh upon the children of disobedience Col. 3. 5. 6. The Scripture calls covetous men cursed children 2 Pet. 2. 14. An heart they have a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 exercised as Wrestlers are who contend for victory with all their Might being train'd up to it by long exercise 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 exercised with covetous practices cursed children really cursed with a detestation such whom God abhorreth Psal 10. 3. And the wicked blesseth the covetous whom God abhorreth A woe is pronounced against them Hab. 2. 9. Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house that he may set his nest on high that he may be delivered from the power of evil One would think this a duty or at least very commendable to provide for our Family and get what we can for our children and to endeavour to secure our houses from any suffering and calamity but if this be mens end to set their nest on high to get great things for themselves and so to manage their affairs as to avoid all b Malum hic notatis quod homines vulgo pro malo habent quod fugit horret caro nimirum crucem humilitatem ac persequutionem sufferings for God there 's a dreadful woe hangs over their heads and disappointment of all their design in the issue for instead of honour they are brought to shame in the end Thou hast consulted shame to thy own house and sinned against thy own soul vers 10. They are unworthy of any society with men I have written unto you not to keep company if any man that is called a Brother be a Fornicator or Covetous or an Idolater or a Railer or a Drunkard or an Extortioner with such a one no not to eat 1 Cor. 5. 11. and shall be cut off from communion with God to all eternity Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God be not deceived neither Fornicator nor Idolater nor Thieves nor Covetous nor Drunkards nor Revilers nor Extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6. 9. 10. Secondly as thy state is dangerous if thou art one who lovest this present World so thy folly is great to set thy heart upon the World After thou hast been convinced of the evil of such a spirit and practice and hast felt the smart of it in thy own soul After thou hast been arraigned at the bar of thy Conscience and condemned in thy own heart for this Sin as every truly convinced Soul is if ever the spirit of bondage hath been at work in thy heart as thou hast confessed then hast thou found this sin more bitter than death to thee and now to return again to such courses as will break thy bones again and put thy soul to greater torture than ever as all relapses do this is folly indeed After thou hast chosen God for thy portion Christ for thy treasure Godliness for thy gain the inheritance with the Saints for thy Land a mansion in Heaven for thy house Christ's tried Gold for thy Money a conversation in Heaven for thy Trade the Father Son and Spirit for thy All here and for ever
and powerfully administred Be much in reading the Scriptures and such help 〈◊〉 the Lord gives you for your instruction and quickening 1 Tim. 4. 13. Give attendance to reading to exhortation to doctrine meditate upon these things give thy self wholly to them that thy profiting may appear to all V. 15. a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hisce te exerceto jugiter constanter vehementer Buc. Be thou in them as the words are that is exercise thy self with these continually constantly and with all thy might let not a day pass without reading meditation and secret prayer that the inner-man may have all the recruits that are needful and b Whilest thou dost not follow the directing light of the Spirit thou shalt never have the quickening cherishing beams of it Culver appointed for its strengthening Your bodies can better want their appointed food than your souls their daily bread The want of constant feeding and sound digestion of spiritual provisions is one cause of that soul-leanness and spiritual languishing that abounds every where this day Thirdly If you will keep up a Heavenly Spirit be much in communion with the Father of Spirits Fellowship with God puts a stamp of Heaven upon the soul and leaves an impress of the Divine Nature on it 2 Cor. 3. 18. But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord. Views of God though but through the glass of Ordinances have an assimulating virtue and do transform the mind into his own likeness When Moses was taken up into a nearness to God he gets some abiding beams of his glory upon him and comes off with divine shines on his countenance Exod. 34. 35. When the Lord Jesus was got on to a high Mountain apart and had more near fellowship with Heaven 't is said He was transfigured and his face did shine Nearness to God does wonderfully warm and quicken the heart as approaches of the Sun do the body With thee is the fountain of life in thy light shall we see light Psal 36. 9. As the being of spiritual Life lies in union with-God in Christ by faith so is its well being maintained by communion with him in the Spirit who supplies the soul with quickenings as the fountain doth the vessel that 's put under it with waters God is in himself the Essential Life and to his people the fountain of Life c Tu Domine es vita per essentiam sons vitae per communionem a te omnis vita effluit ac incessanter proflait Jo. Paul Palant Thou Lord saith one art life by thy Essence and the fountain of Life by communion from thee all Life flows out and runs down uncessantly In fellowship the Lord Jesus lets out Himself Love and Spirit and this attracts the heart after God and strengthens the soul's motions after him Every act of fellowship with Christ here saith Mr. Reyner is a step Heaven-ward By it the heart is raised after God sweetly refreshed and strengthened with spiritual strength To live in fellowship with God saies the same Authour is to live at the highest rate under Heaven next to Heaven yea as in a corner of Heaven to live in the highest Region of Christianity 't is the Life of Paradise an Evangelical yea Angelical and Coelestial Life in comparison whereof the most men and women are dead Communion with God does wonderfully nourish the Heavenly Spirit and fatten the spiritual part of Believers Such saith Reyner suck a honey-comb eat fat things full of marrow and drink wine on the lees well refined spiced wine O Christians press after nearness to God in Ordinances and Duties rest not in highest priviledges without spiritual converse with God in them and communications of his Love and Life through them Fourthly Cherish heavenly motions in your hearts and be tender of all the breathings of the Spirit upon you It may be the Lord comes in upon the heart with some Spiritual Light or Life in a Sermon or in a Duty or when alone stirring up thy desires and warming thy affections making some offers of grace and help to thy dull and languishing soul take heed now how thou slightest or stiflest these this is one step to the quenching of the Spirit and impeding its gracious assistance and vital operations on thy soul 1 Thes 5. vers 19. Quench not the Spirit He that will kindle a fire gathers up every little coal and makes the most of the least spark The shavings of gold are gold and the smallest breathings of the Spirit are to be highly prized He that checks the first motions of the Spirit may never meet with the second and he that slights the least gifts of grace may forever miss of its larger doles O to what a height might grace come in thy soul if every stirring of it were improved God despises not the day of thy small things how unreasonable is it thou should'st overlook his The Lord Jesus Christians doth nourish and cherish the least good that is in you Ephes 5. 29. O be tender of whatever communications come from him to you This will abundantly help on the enlivenings and enlargements of this Heavenly Spirit Fifthly Dwell much in the meditation of Heaven this will heavenlize your spirit 'T was this made the Apostles persons of such heavenly spirits they did often look to things above 1 Cor. 4 18. While we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen No affliction could discourage them from owning and professing Christ nor earthly comforts allure their desires and delights from Christ and that which so strongly guarded their hearts from either of these dangers was a firm perswasion of an interest in future glory and a diligent observing eye upon this glory a levelling look at this mark does wonderfully raise the heart towards it and put in a new spirit and life into the soul strongly engaging all its attempts towards the enjoyment of it Frequent contemplations of Heaven do much wean the heart from this Earth If thou remembrest thou art not of this world earthly things shall onely be admitted into the Court of the Temple not into the heart which is the Holy of Holies Burg. on 17. Joh. How contemptibly did those Worthies of old look on this world when once they got sights of Heaven Heb. 11. They counted themselves strangers and pilgrims on the Earth were not mindful of their own Country went out from it would no more return to it sought an heavenly Countrey were perswaded of those great and glorious things above and embraced them laid hold of them by faith and made after them and that which did so powerfully work over their spirits to these things above was their believing sights of them V. 13. These all died in the faith not having received the promises but having seen them afar off that is the things
to the Lord Jesus A flock of Sheep whereof every one beareth twins and not one is barren Cant. 4. 12 13 14 16. Ch. 4. 2. 'T is compared to the Palm-tree the Cedar the Vine the Fig-tree a green Olive plants famous for flourishing growth clusters of fruit constant fruitfulness 't is said of the Fig-tree it bears fruit all the year long and in many places they shall always find green figs on it Such is the Spouse of Christ compared with the world and hypocrites fruitful and flourishing A good tree bringeth forth good fruit Mat. 7. 17. The root of the righteous yieldeth fruit Prov. 12. 12. Where-ever the grace of God is received in truth there it brings forth fruit Col. 1. 6. As sin brings forth fruit unto death so doth grace unto life Rom. 6. 22. No sooner doth the Lord Jesus espouse a Soul but he heals it of its barrenness He maketh the barren Woman to keep house Psal 113. 9. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away Joh. 15. 2. A barren Christian is a monster in Religion no living member of Christ's body indeed there are Winter-seasons when fruit may not appear but even then 't is in the seed and sap and there is a preparative for fruit which appears in the season but to be always without the fruits of the Spirit love joy peace long-suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance Gal. 5. 22 23. is a sign of one that never had marriage-union and intimate communion with Jesus Christ but is the certain mark of a fruitless Fig-tree in danger of cutting down and the character of that ground which is cursed and nigh to burning Luke 13. 7. 9. Heb. 6. 8. Souls try your state 't is for your lives your All depends upon your marriage-union with Christ Had you never any special acquaintance with Christ Have you no conjugal love to Christ Cannot you consent to leave all for Christ Do you usually live and stay on other things for life and salvation and not on Christ Have you been ever barren souls that never brought forth the fruits of the Spirit unto God then were you never married to Christ nor have any true title to heavenly treasures Mark 2. Secondly your interest in heavenly things is known by the naturalness and supremacy of your love to them Where the treasure is there will the heart be Mat. 6. 21. If heavenly things be yours your heart is there worldly men have the World set in their hearts Eccl. 3. 11. Their heart is but the World copied out so heavenly souls have Heaven set in their hearts which are but the counterpane of Heaven every thing hath a natural love to his own the World will love his own Joh. 15. 19. No man ever hated his own flesh Eph. 5. 29. What affections have brute beasts for their young and will venture their lives to defend and maintain them 'T is storied of the Storks when the Town of Delph in the low Countreys was on fire and the Storks perceived the fire to come near their nests they endeavoured to carry away their young but when they could not remove them they flutter'd over them with their wings covering them from the flames till they all perished together Belg. Com. wealth So strong is natural affection to its interest and the natural issues of it self much stronger should gracious affections be to their interests O how I love thy Law saith David 't is my meditation all the day long Psal 119. 97. Whence came this affection it was from his interest in those great and lovely truths Psal 119. 111. Thy testimonies have I chosen as an heritage for ever for they are the rejoycing of my heart Souls risen with Christ and born to the inheritance above will set their affections on things above Col. 3. 1 2. Where is thy heart Christian in Heaven or Earth what things are dearest to thee and sweetest to thy taste canst thou prize the light of God's countenance better than life had'st thou rather be a door-keeper in God's House than dwell in the Pavilions of this World Is a little of Heaven better than a great deal of Earth and can thy heart consent to be at any loss in the World to enjoy God in his Ordinances and to be enriched with spiritual blessings in heavenly places Then heavenly things are thine Mark 3. Thirdly if heavenly things be yours it will appear by your heart-cares for them and vigorous pursuits of them how careful are men of their interests to secure and enlarge them Phil. 2. 21. All men seek their own If the things of Heaven be yours your greatest care will be to get and keep them when Kish thought his Son Saul was lost he left caring for the Asses sorrowing for him saying What shall I do for my Son 1 Sam. 10. 2 Christians if heavenly things be yours they will lie nearer your hearts than all the World besides the sense or fear of losing them will more trouble you than all losses besides the world relations creature-comforts will be forgotten when you apprehend a death on your heavenly interests you will do more and part with more to get Heaven than the World and dearest comforts of it Many will pretend desires for Heaven as the young man in the Gospel but Christ will say to them as to his Hearers Mat. 5. 47. What do you more than others Souls you would have Christ here and Heaven hereafter but what do you for it what do you more than hypocrites and common professors whose portion is in this life can you leave the world for God can you deny your self for the pleasing of Christ and part with your right eye and right hand throw away your Idols of gold and silver the world and fleshly lusts and honour God with your time strength and substance Can you let your Plough stand still to follow God's and stick at no pains and hardships to enjoy the least spiritual good Then are heavenly things yours Mark 4. Fourthly Then are you interested in Heavenly Treasures when your hearts and spirits are suited to them when the Lord hath let in a heavenly tincture on your hearts and inlaid your spirits with heavenliness and a mind that answers to heavenly things as face answers face in the water When God intends men for Heaven he doth in time fit them for it and where he gives a title to mercy he gives a capacity also where he makes over the riches of glory he makes that soul a vessel fit for glory Men do not purchase Pearls for Swine and build Schools for brute beasts God did not make the Heavens for fishes and the Sea for beasts but suited every creature to its element They that are his Adoption are his new Creation also Ephes 2. 10. and when they are designed to a blessed end they are principled for it and have a disposition put into them to move towards it They that are set apart for Heaven hereafter do
pruinas grandines tempestates ferre necessarium est antequam maturescat fructum ferat ita hominem fidelem intus extrinsecus multa pati mala oportet Stell The seed must lye long it may may be under ground and when 't is come up be nipt up with frosts and covered with snow and hail and bear many a storm before it ripens and brings forth fruit and this calls for Patience yea many times long-suffering The husbandman waiteth for the precious fruits of the earth and hath long Patience for it untill he receive the early and latter rain James 5. 7. Patience is needful to suffer as well as do the Will of God Rev. 13. 10. Here is the Patience and Faith of the Saints To endure captivity and cruell Death for the sake of Christ Patience to wait for the promise Rom. 8. 25. and Patience to receive it Heb. 10. 36. Patience saith Seneca is a salve for every sore that onely which alleviates our burdens without it we cannot be men or Christians saith another ' t is the grace that makes a compleat and well accomplish'd Christian Manton James 1. 4. When reason is at a stand and hope almost at an end and all refuge fails Patience steps in bears the burden and calms the soul Hope is a necessary grace to this great undertaking reckoned among the three Cardinal virtues that wonderfully adorn a Christian's spirit and conversation 1 Cor. 13. 13. Now abideth Faith and Hope and Charity Hope is the off-spring and refreshment of Faith 't is begotten by Faith and saies one As a good child relieves its father Faith in time of need Hope is an expectation Faith a perswasion Faith eyes the promise hope the thing promised as sure though future which comforts the soul under the present want of desired mercy and this is needful to cheer the soul under its exigencies and disappointments in the way of its Christian conversation Hope keeps in the fire and keeps up the house Heb. 3. 6. Whose house are we if we hold fast the confidence and rejoycing of our hope firm to the end Were it not for Hope the house would fall asunder Hope keeps it together till the Lord new build it in Heaven Hope anchors the soul in a storm and makes it steady under shaking tempests Heb. 6. 19. Hope maintains a Christian in a hard winter while the seed is under clods and till the corn come to the barn 1 Cor. 9. 10. He that ploweth ploweth in Hope that is of a good harvest that will compensate all his labours Hope secures the soul from shame and disappointment under temporary forbearance Psal 34. 22. It helps it to rejoyce in tribulation Rom. 5. 2. and compasseth him about with mercy Psal 32. 10. Humility Self-denial Goodness Temperance Gentleness Love Zeal Holy Fear are all good goods that will off well and turn to the Trader's profit if well improved Get your souls well stor'd with these graces of the Spirit also if you ever think to drive a good Trade of godliness Get your minds filled with knowledge as well as your hearts with grace that 's part of the Christian's Treasure 2 Cor. 4. 6. We have this Treasure that is of the knowledge of God in the face of Christ in earthen vessels In whom are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom Col. 2. 3. Saving knowledge is a Treasure laid up in Christ for Believers and to be fetched out for their use and comfort The riches of the full assurance of understanding and acknowledgement of the mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ Col. 2. 2. The Gospel is a mystery a secret hid from the natural eye and cannot be known but by the revelation of the Spirit To have an inward clear sensible experimental and certain apprehension of the glorious truths of the Gospel opened and confirmed to the eye of Faith is a high attainment beyond what any reach to but those that have the anointings of the Spirit and to whom 't is given by the Spirit as the fruit of prayer and faithful attendance on his teachings in the Gospel and Ordinances of Christ This is called a rooting and establishment in the Faith Col. 2. 7. and growing in knowledge 2 Pet. 3. 18. alluding to trees that being well planted do take deeper root in the earth and in time come to greater settlement and strength against shakings And as children that gradually grow and encrease to higher statures so this spiritual knowledge is gradually encreased 't is not the priviledge of new-born babes of persons at their first conversion to have this deep fathoming of Gospel-mysteries But of stronger Christians who by constant attendances on the Means of Grace and in progress of time by Faith Humility Prayer and Attention to the Spirit do at length come to higher measures of this illumination and full assurance of truth As Gerson reports of a godly man he knew who at first was exercised with many doubts and fears and shakings of Faith but at last through humiliation of soul and a captivating of his understanding to Divine Truth together with the illumination of the Spirit came to a wonderful clearness in the matters of Faith and of his soul-estate with such a settlement of spirit and certainty about his salvation as to have no more doubts remaining in him Christians content not your selves with some notions of truth and shallow cold apprehensions of the great mysteries of salvation but labour to get in greater measures of spiritual understanding both objective as to the Truths to be known and subjective as to the discerning of them Alas we know as yet nothing as we ought there are deeps in the knowledge of Christ for Elephants as well as shallows for Lambs and there are greater beamings on the souls eye to be obtained and more certain understanding and familiar acquaintance to be had with the same Truths we know Your business Christians in the Heavenly Trade is to get more Divine Wisdom to be led farther into all Truth and to enter into the Mysteries of the Gospel wading farther and farther into Sanctuary-deeps to know more of God of the way to him and the things freely given of him and to know better what you know Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes There 's a secret in Gospel-truths which the wisest men in the world can never by their greatest Wisdom come to see without the special revelation of the Spirit As none can come to see the spirits salts and occult virtues in herbs and minerals till by Chymistry they are exstracted Others may discern and receive the things themselves in the gross and bulk of them and yet never see or taste those choice spirits hid in them So 't is with such as are strangers to a spiritual knowledge they apprehend Truths in the bulk and letter of them A A carnal man saith Hooker may hear the sound of the Word understand the
of debt we cannot merit Fourthly We have nothing to merit withal for we are not our own 1 Cor. 6. 19. Man hath nothing to give to God who is not his own but God's as all redeemed ones especially are Believers are his servants Rom. 14. 4. Who art thou that judgest another man's servant And a servant is not his own his time strength capacity work are his Masters so are the Saints duties the Lord's not by way of legal compact and requital of wages but by way of redemption right and purchase being bought out of the service of sin and Satan to his own use and the service of such is a due already upon a former score a debt of thankfulness and cannot merit a reward Beside what can they give to God who have nothing but what they receive from God 1 Cor. 4. 7. Who hath first given to him and it shall be recompensed to him again for of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory for ever Fifthly Were rewards due to any upon the account of his work then man had something to glory of in himself and might say of Heaven as Nebuchadnezzar did of Babylon Dan. 4. 30. Is not this great Babylon which I have built for the house of the Kingdom by the might of my power and for the honour of my Majesty So might such say when they come to Heaven Is not this the mansion I prepared and deserved by my duties and graces for my glory and blessedness For self-justiciaries though they are forced to say that their grace is given of God yet they boast of the improvements of this grace as theirs and glory is due to the improvement of grace they say and not to the bare grace or talent and though they are driven to confess Christ's merit yet they shuffle and say Christ merited for them that they might merit But that is contrary to the Gospel which tells us That 't is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercy Rom. 9. v. 16. And 't is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure Phil. 2. 13. And that no flesh should glory in his presence 1 Cor. 1. 29. And therefore God hath chosen the foolish weak and base things of this world and things that are not of purpose to prevent this self-glorying before him verse 17 18. And the Apostle makes this reason why Abraham was not justified by Works but by Faith cause then he would have something to glory in but this could not be Rom. 4. 2. If Abraham were justified by works he had something to glory in but not before God So that the Saints though they have a reward of their work yet it is not for their work 't is a reward not of debt but of grace yea of glorious grace according to your work Christians God will not give you a jot less than the utmost of what your love and faithfulness comes to Your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord 1 Cor. 15. 58. He will not fail of any of his Promises or disappoint you of your expected end but will be better than your hopes You will say in that day of compensation Who hath begotten me all these Isa 49. 21. Whence is this to me Luk. 1. v. 43. When saw we thee an hungred Mat. 26. v. 37. Glory is a mighty thing infinitely above all your labours Christians Heaven will make amends for all your duties and losses and abundantly compensate and exceed all your expences for God in the world And have you not reason to set about the work of grace and drive on the employments of this Heavenly Trade Quest But what is this heavenly work which Wisdom's Merchants must be driving on every day Sol. I answer First in the general Heavenly work is that work which hath a heavenly Author and Principle a heavenly rule and a heavenly end work wrought of God by his Spirit Joh. 3. 21. Work done according to the will of God and by Scripture-rule Col. 4. 12. Work wrought for God and designed purely and ultimately to his glory 1 Cor. 10. 31. But more particularly heavenly works may be considered under these two heads First Such as are heavenly in the matter of them as well as manner and end Secondly Such works as though earthly in the matter of them yet are done in a heavenly manner and to an heavenly end First That 's heavenly work which is of a heavenly nature matter and manner and end as all those religious duties are which respect God our selves and others First Drive on that work every day which hath God himself for its first and more immediate object as all acts of religious worship both natural and instituted moral and positive Mat. 4. 10. Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve This is due to God from all his rational and intelligent creatures both Men and Angels to worship him only with that reverential fear faith love hope and delight which is due to him as the Supreme Majesty of Heaven and Earth the great Creator and Conservator of all his creatures and to serve him with that subjection and obedience as their relation to God their Sovereign calls for This is the duty of all persons especially those that profess their owning of God and choice of him to be their God in Christ and peculiar treasure Deut. 13. 6. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God and serve him and swear by his name Christians to let out your hearts upon the world relations self and creatures is to rob God of his service and to commit Idolatry with the creature Think this when my heart runs out to things below God and my affections hope trust and delight get over their banks and break their due bounds and subordinacy to God when I fondly dote upon and take pleasure abstractively from God in any creatures then do I deal treacherously with my God I rob him and give his glory to another Isa 48. 11. O set habitually your hearts on God and let out your faith love hope fear desires and delighting pleasures on God every day yea all the day long as your chiefest good supreme Sovereign and last end Prov. 27. 17. Be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long Again external acts of divine worship are part of thy every days work which thou owest to God and to be duly and daily performed to him as to pray hear and read his sacred word These are that honour homage and service that is due to God every day especially morning and evening Prov. 8. 34. Deut. 6. 7. Exod. 30. 7. 1 Chron. 23. 30. Ezek. 46. 13 14 15. Amos 4. 4. 1 Chron. 16. 40. Psal 55. 17. This is the daily burnt-offering to be prepared for the Lord Exod. 29. 38 39. Morning and evening the vows that are to be daily performed Psal 61. 8. God's
cleanse his heart Jer. 4. 14. The heart is the nest where these Wasps fly out and trouble the soul the root that feeds these luxuriant branches briars and thorns that wound the conscience and the strong fort of Sion where these Jebusites hide themselves and issue out to prey upon the gracious soul Till these nests be spoiled the Ax laid to the root of the tree and this strong Tower attach'd and these blind and lame removed souls will never be freed from irruptions of sin in their thoughts and conversations This Christian is busie and hard work and part of thy daily employment in this Heavenly Trade to sweep wash drain and cleanse thy filthy heart by sound repentance and faith in the promises death and blood of Christ Heart-quickening work The heart is the primum mobile the great wheel in the watch that sets all a going if that stop all faculties are still A lively heart makes a diligent hand to rid away soul-work and a nimble foot to run in the waies of God's commands when the heart is quickened then every duty inward outward publick private goes on such a soul needs no spur to quicken it nor pully to draw it to its duties O what a burden are some to their Christian friends to keep them up and draw them on in the way of God and all because their hearts are dead and that liveliness which once seem'd to be in them is departed The spring that at first made them so active is weakened or broken the waters that set their Mills a going fail and that temporary love and common grace like standing pools having no fountain to maintain them are dried up by consuming lusts and scorching temptations so that now they wither in all their branches and become weak cold and indisposed to every work of God and their souls Some of these dangerous symptoms of decayed grace are found also in sincere souls for not looking after their hearts betimes and keeping them close to a quickening Jesus by a lively faith in the promises Christian mind this also every day to maintain thy spiritual life by fresh quickenings and reviving influences from the fountain of life on thy weak and dying heart making use of all instituted helps for soul-strengthening as hearing reading meditation holy conference and the like Heart-teaching and enlightening work A light head and a dark heart may dwell together and it seems to be the condition of too many under the Gospel this day A spiritual eye to look into the mystery of truth and believing affectionate discerning of excellent things is not easily found even while Christ is read a veil is on mens minds and their foolish heart is darkened And this is one reason souls walk not as children of light 't is because they are not light in the Lord Psal 40. 8. The Law of God is not within their hearts they have no inclination or power upon their hearts to do the will of God they know for want of this heart-knowledge Be earnest with God to beam over your hearts to make that the Hemisphere where the Sun of Righteousness may daily arise with healing in his wings Cry with David Psal 119. 36. Incline my heart to thy Law Let my heart lean and stay upon thy Law as a man doth upon a staff tobear him up Get a greater nearness in your hearts to truth that the Word may be wrought in and incorporated into your hearts that it may be a Goshen a Land of Vision and full of the understanding of the Lord. Heart-keeping and Heart-watching work The heart is bent to backsliding if it be not kept and held fast to the Lord and his waies 't is still turning aside and winding off from its proper duty The Lord complains of Israel Psal 78. 8. They did not set their heart aright and their spirit was not stedfast with God They did not prepare adapt dispose their heart to God neither was it constant and stedfast with him but on every occasion did start aside So false a thing is man's heart if not under a watchful eye and strong hand holding it fast to God Prov. 4. 23. Keep thy heart with all diligence Keep it as under lock and key bolted against sin and bound by cords of love to every duty And what a hard province is this O the work that a child of God hath to keep his heart in order one moment to keep down sin to keep it from the power of corruption and prevalency of temptation to keep up grace in the heart to maintain its desires after God and things that are excellent to preserve its affections to things above to hold the thoughts on God and things eternal that they start not away to continue its integrity to perform its purposes to secure its frames experiences and enjoyments And he that will thus keep his heart must watch it constantly never have his eye off from it or suffer his jealousie concerning it to cease He must be alwaies making it over to the Lord Jesus for security and be still imploring help from Heaven faithfully following all the instructions he gives towards its securing This is heart-work and the first part of this heavenly work that concerns your selves Secondly You must carry on mortification-work every day Col. 3. 5. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth fornication uncleanness inordinate affection evil concupiscence and covetousness which is Idolatry The Apostle having assur'd the believing Colossians of their future happiness doth thence infer their duty and necessity to press after utmost holiness here as the way to this blessedness The first part of which holiness lies in this great work of mortification there is no greater motive for Believers putting off sin than well-grounded hopes of interest in Christ and glory if Heaven be yours hereafter holiness must be yours now There is no place for sin in Heaven nor unclean thing can enter there Then hasten away sin now that 's his Argument Mortify your members Get your selves rid of sin put to death weaken and destroy the whole body of sin with all the parts and issues of it the head and ruling power of sin had its mortal wound before vers 3. Ye are dead habitually dead to sin the world and self they have got their deaths-wound the stab is at the heart and can never be healed more but they are not actually dead more blood must run and spirits be spent and this monster be weakned every day Practical mortification is wanting and must be promoted daily This spiritual death to sin a Mors naturalis est pura privatio nec admittit in subjecto aliquid contrarii sed mortificatio spiritualis non est pura privatio nam dum corpus hoc mortale gestamus relinquitur aliquid de contrario fomite quod oppugnandum magis magisque mortificandum est Daven saith Davenant is not as the natural death for that 's a pure privation and admits of nothing
terrae non capit Lips Wilt thou contain that man whom the whole World cannot contain Alas what will the whole World be to thee when thou comest to die let it seem no more to thee now who art dying every day do every thing as strangers and pilgrims here Heb. 11. 9. 13. and as if you heard a voice every day saying Awake and come to judgment Jerome thought whatever he did he still heard that voice Surgite mortui venite ad judicium Arise ye dead and come to judgment When you are travelling to this Market and the other Fair think Sure I am journeying to the grave and I know not what dust I shall shortly be shovell'd into when you are about your work think I am hastening to eternity and shortly these hands must rot in the grave When you promise your selves great things as the fruit of your labours and hope for this gain and the other comfort say Death may come between me and my enjoyments and crop off the hopes of all my labours What can be great to him that accounts the World nothing or long to him that counts his life but a span Mr. Dod When thou findest thy heart running out too greedily after this World ready to lye cheat oppress undermine others to greaten thy interest think on this For all these things God will bring thee to judgment and render to thee according to all thy works Secondly Then do you your earthly work in an heavenly manner when you do it with an heavenly heart As is the heart so is the action in God's account the Lord was much pleased that it was in David's heart to build him an House though he never did it 1 Kin. 8. 18. and displeased with all that Israel did in his service because their heart was not right with him Psal 78. 37. Israel did many good works they sought him they returned and enquired early after God they remembred that God was their Rock and the high God their Redeemer ver 34 35. but all this was nothing in God's esteem because their heart was not upright in it they had an earthly carnal selfish backsliding heart in all they did If thy heart be heavenly though thy work be earthly yet it puts an excellency on it but if thy work be heavenly and thy heart earthly God doth reject and despise it the heart is the root of every action and if the root be good the fruit will be good also Mat. 12. 33. Rom. 11. 16. If the fountain be sweet the streams will be sweet also and if thy heart be heavenly thy work is heavenly A heavenly heart like the Bee turns all it doth to heavenly uses when the Lord Jesus had put his hand upon the Spouses heart and left some myrrh upon her bowels presently her hands dropped myrrh and her fingers sweet smelling myrrh Cant. 5. 4 5. A heavenly heart perfumes thy earthly work and makes it wonderfully taking with the heart of Christ Quest How might I know when my heart is heavenly in my earthly work Sol. First A heavenly heart is a heart enlightned to see heavenly things a heart beam'd over with heavenly light to discern things invisible An earthly heart is a dark heart it sees nothing in God his Word and Works so as to draw up his heart to Heaven an earthly heart sees nothing but earth in heavenly things and an heavenly heart sees Heaven in earthly things The Patriarchs saw the heavenly City in their earthly Countrey Heb. 11. 13 14 16. They saw the promises that is the things promised afar off and confessed that they were strangers on earth they sought a Countrey desired a better Countrey that is an heavenly and all that as the product of their heavenly sight they saw heavenly things in earthly Abraham had an heavenly eye to see Christ's day Joh. 8. 5 6. and Moses a heavenly eye to see him who is invisible Heb. 11. 27. A heavenly heart doth not only see heavenly things but sees an infinite worth and excellency in them it sees them to be the best things it sees a greater glory and desirableness in things above in one glance of his eye in one day within his Courts in one hours communion with him than in all the World besides Mary saw more advantage in sitting at Christ's feet than in the many things Martha's heart was taken up about Luke 10. 41 42. Cursed be that man saith the noble Marquess Galeacius that accounts not one hours communion with Christ above all the World Secondly A heavenly heart is a heart that savours heavenly things Rom. 8. 5. Nothing goes down so sweet with a heavenly heart as heavenly things every thing rejoyces in its like An earthly heart delights in earthly things the Merchant in his Trade the Husband-man in his Field Houses Husbandry and fruits of the earth the voluptuous man in his pleasures as he that sold his City for a draught of water crying out when he had done O that for so short a pleasure of a King I should be made a Slave The proud man in his greatness Is not this great Babylon that I have built for the house of the Kingdom Dan. 4. 30. So doth the heavenly heart relish greatest sweetness in heavenly things How sweet are thy words to my taste yea sweeter than honey to my mouth Psal 119. 103. His fruit was sweet to my taste his mouth is most sweet Cant. 2. 3. and 5. 16. My meditation of him shall be sweet Psal 104. 34. We took sweet counsel together Psal 55. 14. We talked of the mysteries of godliness saith Ainsworth of the exercises of Religion saith another which I suppose the Prophet meaneth by going into the House of God as companions consulting as it were how they might prepare themselves to his service Thirdly A heavenly heart is a heart that longs and desires after heavenly things Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none that I can desire on Earth in comparison of thee Psal 73. 25. When shall I come and appear before God My soul thirsteth for thee my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land where no water is to see thy power and glory as I have seen thee in the Sanctuary Psal 43. 2. Psal 63. 1 2. My soul longeth yea even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord my heart and my flesh cryeth out for the living God Psal 84. 2. Desires are the natural motions of the heart and the best character and truest lineaments saith one y Reynold's Treatise of Passion that can be drawn of the minds of men Practices may be overrul'd by ends but desires are alwaies genuine and natural Hence good men have had most confidence in approving themselves to God by their affections and the inward longings of their souls after him as being the purest and most unfeigned issues of love and such as have least proximity and danger from forein and secular ends It is an unquestionable
for Heaven the greater regard you have from God the more of his presence is with you his delight in you and blessing upon you the Spouses growth and fruitfulness was much taking upon the heart of Christ How fair and how pleasant art thou O Love for delights Cant. 7. 6 7. This thy stature is like to a Palm-tree and thy breasts to clusters of grapes The Palm-tree is an emblem of growth and fruitfulness the more it is opprest the more it grows and no tree more fruitful 't is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 alway having leaves Naturalists say 't is never without leaves and fruit when some fruit is ripe as Pliny tells us other fruit is growing It hath leaves in the highest branches wherever the sweet sap comes saith Alsted 'T is a tree that 's exceeding profitable some reckon three hundred and sixty advantages that this Palm-tree yields o In fructuum jam maturorum locum alii fructus eodem in loco eadem parte statim succedunt Plin. and hence the Egyptians make it a symbole of the solar year which consists of three hundred sixty five daies and its fruit is wonderfully restorative and nourishing repairing the decayed strength and radical moisture of man's body Alsted Theol. Nat. and therefore a fit metaphor to express the Church's fruitfulness in which the Lord Jesus takes such great delight he gets up early to the Vineyard to see if the Vine flourish whether the tender grape appear and the Pomegranate bud forth Cant. 7. 12. So delightful is the view of a flourishing people unto Christ The more you thrive in grace the more will you have of Christ's company and that 's honourable Eighthly The greater Trade you drive for Heaven the more useful you are while on Earth the larger capacities you have to do good to others and to serve your generation which is a blessed thing 'T is more blessed to give than to receive Acts 20. 35. 1 Tim. 6. 17 18. Charge them that are rich in this world that they do good that they be rich in good works that they be ready to distribute willing to communicate The richer you are in grace the more able you are to do good and not only able but the more willing also The reason Christians have no more heart to do good and to communicate is their soul-poverty they are not rich in grace they have but little spiritual Treasure little grace to communicate their hands are shut because their hearts are empty but the more divine treasure you have the more ready will you be to do good and to lay out both your outward and inward riches O how useful may rich men be in the places where they live if God give them hearts to do it and how helpful may such be in this day of soul-wants who are encreased with spiritual goods there are many impoverished souls this day who are ready to perish for want of light peace and comfort perplexed with doubts darkness and distressing fears and have none to help them O how refreshing in such a day of soul-exigences would it be to have some rich neighbours among them some prosperous Jobs Who with-hold not the poor from their desire nor cause the eyes of the Widow to fail Job 31. 16 17 19. Who would draw forth their soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul Isa 58. 10. Who could not eat their morsel alone or see the poor to perish for want of clothing To be eyes to the blind and feet to the lame Job 29. 15. To speak a word in season to him that is weary and to comfort others with the same comforts they have received of God Christians make haste to be rich in grace that ye may be rich in good works that ye may cast in much into the Lord's treasury Mark 12. 41. and out of your abundance cast into the offerings of God Luke 21. 4. Then should the blessing of the poor that was ready to perish come upon you Job 29. 13. and the fruit of well-doing be your savoury meat on which the Lord would daily feed you Ninthly The greater Trade you drive for Heaven now the greater will your estate in Heaven be hereafter 2 Tim. 4. 8. Henceforth is laid up for me a Crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous Judge will give me at that day and not to me only but to all that love his appearing To me who have run my race finish'd my course and kept the faith To me who have wrought hard in the Vineyard and traded diligently for Heaven in the World For me yea for all such as enlarge their heavenly Trade is laid up 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Parents do Portions for their children saith Zanchy a Crown of righteousness glory sutable to their improvements of grace called a Crown to note its excellency and of righteousness to note its equity It shall bear a proportion to all that grace labours and faithfulness that is in Saints and infinitely beyond it A far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory 2 Cor. 4. 17. God will not leave out the least item of the Saints right in the great day of righteousness A cup of cold water a little meal to the Prophet Elisha a mite in the treasury a desire to build God's house all shall be remembred in that day Mercy gives the Crown but Justice fits it for the overcomer's head God crowns saith Beda p Dona sua coronat non merita tua Donavit haec tempore misericordiae coronabit illa tempore judicii Beda in loc his own gifts not thy merits He first gives grace in the time of mercy and then crowns it in the day of Judgment And is not this argument enough yea constraint on an ingenious heart to labour after the greatest latitude of holiness Is not Heaven enough to requite all thy duties and hardships on earth What 's enough saith one if Rome be counted little q Quid fatis est si Roma parum So what can be counted great if Heaven be small and not price enough for all thy holy strivings and utmost progress in the way of life O attend your proficiency in this heavenly Trade your hearts and hands can never be too deep in the concerns of this upper World in this you can never be too covetous 1 Cor. 12. 31. Covet earnestly the best gifts r 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 modis omnibus studio precibus consequi annitimini Take heed of putting stands and limits to your holiness the course of all unsanctified souls In this only is it lawful to remove the ancient bounds and enlarge your spiritual inheritance as far as possible Reaching forth to the things that are before and pressing forward to the mark for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus Phil. 3. 13 14. Nothing undoes Professors like to stinting their measures of holiness and contenting themselves with present attainments if they can get to
God the more shall you receive from him 2 Cor. 9. 6. who will certainly repay it The greater your sufferings are for God the greater will your rejoycings be with him They that sow in tears shall reap in joy Ps 126. 5. Look what disproportion there is between the Seed-time and Harvest far greater is there between the Saints sufferings sorrows and triumphing joy Their sorrow lies within the compass of a short night their joy begins with that morning which hath no evening to follow it Psal 30. 5. Their tears will scarcely fill a bottel but their pleasures are so vast an Ocean as that they cannot be received but must be entred into Mat. 25. 21. Our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory 2 Cor. 4. 17. Yea the present consolations of the Saints oft-times abound in their sufferings The ringing of my chains hath been sweet musick in my ears said Guy de Bres all my former discourses were but as a blind man's of colours in respect of my present feeling O what a precious comforter is a good conscience How unspeakable then are those rejoycings when all tears shall be wiped off when sorrow and mourning shall fly away Mat. 5. 10 11 12. The more your losses are for Christ on earth the greater will be your gain in Heaven Heb. 10. 34. And took joyfully the spoiling of your goods knowing in your selves that you have in Heaven a better and an enduring substance Men can never bring their goods to a better Market than to have them spoil'd for the sake of Christ your goods you lose for Christ are capable of being spoil'd your goods you shall receive in Heaven are above all injury the very bags wax not old much less the treasure time will mar your best interests here Alas what is a little old goods moth-eaten garments rusty silver subject to change compared with that substance whose duration is as long as eternity and whose extension is as large as immensity and such is God in Christ the Saints eternal treasure Mat. 19. 29. And in the World to come life eternal Carnal reason judges them the greatest fools that dare to be undone for their profession whereas divine truth reckons such the mad men who to escape them that can but kill the body durst encounter him who can damn both soul and body in Hell Mat. 10. 28. And to lay a foundation of a few days safety upon the ruines of themselves and others How dangerous said Mr. Cooper is their estate who cannot rise but with the fall of many Et quantulum sit illud propter quod nos reliquisti How poor are those things saith he for which you have left us whereas the Saints losses for Christ are their greatest gain while the things they part with are but temporal but those they gain are eternal 2 Cor. 4. 18. Lastly The more souls you help to Heaven the more treasure you prepare for Heaven Dan. 12. 3. They that be wise the margin hath it they that be teachers shall shine as the brightness of the firmament and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever As nothing doth sink a person deeper into Hell than to have the blood of souls upon its head and to become the occasion of others perishing Jer. 2. 34. So it wonderfully greatens a persons own blessedness in Heaven to be the means of getting others to be blessed also 1 Thes 2. 19. For what is our hope or joy or crown of rejoycing are not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming for ye are our glory and joy Lastly Lay up preparations for glory Glory is a great thing O what a change doth Heaven make upon a Believer's state We shall all be changed 1 Cor. 15. 51. from corruption to incorruption from sin to spotless purity from imperfection to pefection from darkness to knowledg from faith to fight from espousals to a marriage-day and what preparations do such a change call for What if death should surprise you and take you in your old clothes 't is not your daily garments no not your best rayments are good enough for your marriage-day your attire must be all new when you solemnize your eternal nuptials to the King of Glory O what manner of persons should you be who look for new Heavens and a new Earth If a Paul be not sufficient to carry a love-token to Christ's Spouse here on earth 2 Cor. 2. 16. Who is sufficient for these things Who then are fit to lie in the Bridegroom's arms to all eternity Few think what a change must be before the Saints can get to Heaven 1 Cor. 15. 50. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of Heaven neither doth corruption inherit incorruption If so much preparation-work must be dispatch'd before an Esther could be fit for the embraces of an earthly King Esth 2. 12. six months for purifying with oyl of Myrrh and six months with sweet Odors and with other things How much sanctification-work is needful to meeten a soul for the immediate enjoyment of God in glory and how unready are the most of souls for such a change O Believers hasten about your preparations for Heaven seeing you have no fixation on earth and know not what hour your Lord will come In order to which take these six directions First Get your hearts more loose from this present world men that change places knock up and take abroad things they must carry with them Your hearts Christians are the principal things you must take with you to Heaven it may be you have gone to God in duties many a time and left your hearts behind you but you cannot go to God in glory except your hearts be with you And O what a difficult work is it to go the heart upon choice loose from every thing below God! and till this be done there 's no getting to Heaven Things fastened to the free-hold they say cannot be removed how then can that heart get to glory that is nailed down to the world and things below Be daily loosening your hearts from the world estates houses lands trades friends relations and every thing below for you may not have time to get them off without loss when death comes you must leave them all shortly and you know not how soon to go to better friends and interests these have been snares and spears to your souls and have given you many a wound and still hinder your speeding to glory and why should you be loth to part with them O Christians if you are willing to be with Christ you will give your hearts warning to be gone from these tabernacles and to take their leave of this world daily Secondly Press after more maturity in your graces the more ripe the more fit for gathering Joel 3. 13. Tamar must tarry a Widow till Selah be grown Gen. 38. 11. and your
dressed Judg. 9. 13. Heb. 6. 7. The righteous shall eat the fruit of his doings Isa 3. 10. The present comforts of holiness are not mean Great peace have they that love thy Law and nothing shall offend them Psal 119. 165. Her waies are waies of pleasantness and all her paths are peace Religion is the most pleasant trade no delights like those that are in God and fetch'd from him God gives the world the bones and keeps the marrow for his labourers the godly feed on the wheat the wicked have but the bran look whatever good comfort credit and happiness Religion can afford here and to all eternity is their part that trade upon it Who planteth a Vineyard and eateth not the fruit thereof 1 Cor. 7. 9. Reas 4. Lastly The Heavenly Trade must needs be the best trade because it is the most profitable trade The advantage that comes by godliness makes it the best employment in the world We use to say three things make traders rich all which are found in the way of godliness 1 Great Returns 2 Sure Returns 3 Quick Returns Now nothing turns to more account than a thorough pursuit of piety whatever men think Religion is the most thriving way in regard of the Excellent Fruit of it Abundant Fruit of it Durable Fruit of it First Great returns will soon make traders rich when the time and labour they expend is abundantly compensated and the things they part with bring in far better so is it with this heavenly trade there is no proportion in their adventures to their returns their duties are poor imperfect things when they have done all they are unprofitable servants but their reward is great and glorious their afflictions light and momentary but the issue a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory 1 Cor. 4. 18. It 's great profit indeed when some weak works of faith and labours of love a little patience obedience and duty for a time shall be rewarded with eternal rest pleasure and glory there is no equality between the race and price this striving and crowning What 's a cup of cold water to a river of pleasures a Crown of thorns to a Crown of Glory the worlds srowns to divine smiles conscience-troubles to the consolations of God a few tears fears watchings faintings duties afflictions to the joys of the Lord into which they shall for ever enter It 's a great bargain to part with base things for excellent beastly lusts for the beauties of holiness an unclean for a clean heart vile affections for vertuous dispositions filthy rags for fair garments a body of death for a spirit of life To let go the world for God fellowship with devils for communion with Christ to lose guilt and to gain righteousness to escape Hell to obtain Heaven this is great gain To swap away old things for new rotten things for sound hypocrisie for sincerity lyes for truth is a good bargain To exchange empty things for satisfying things that are not for things that are goods that perish with the using for things that wax not old fading trifles for eternal treasures is a thriving trade indeed and such are the incomes of this Heavenly Trade they are incomparably great and excellent there 's nothing mean no low price goods that Wisdome's Merchants deal about all their riches are pleasant and precious By knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches precious faith precious promises the precious blood of Christ precious thoughts of God are some of this precious substance heavenly Traders meet with in the way of holiness Besides this pursuit of godliness enters souls into an acquaintance and converse with God and helps them to keep an entercourse with Heaven and to maintain a life above and beyond the reach of all others and is not this advantage Religion also helps men to blessed experiences of the love power greatness and faithfulness of God and this constant employment about heavenly things makes the way pleasant and delightful and fills the soul with much contentment with its lot in the world whatever the tryals losses and sufferings may be that they are exposed to Also the driving this Heavenly Trade secures the good and comfort of all their other interests and sweetens their portion whether more or less that Soverign pleasure allots them in the world bringing all their concerns under divine care and promise for their good comfort and sufficient supply in their passage home And are not all these great returns enough to make the Heavenly Trade the greatest interest and advantage beyond all others in the world Secondly Sure returns make Traders rich Merchants that drive gainful trades count if one Adventure to two or three come safely home they get well but all regular Adventures in this Heavenly Trade are secured Their labour shall not be in vain in the Lord 1 Cor. 15. 58. not one of their sincere attempts in the way of God shall miscarry never a pious duty lost all their sowings to the spirit shall surely spring up into a blessed harvest Gal. 6. 6. Though they sow in tears yet they shall reap in joy Psal 126. 5 6. Though they go forth weeping yet if they bear precious seed they shall doubtless come again with rejoycing bringing their sheaves with them God is not unrighteous to forget their work and labour of love shewn towards his Name Heb. 6. 10. God is engaged in justice to see the Adventures of Believers safely returned into their harbour he hath promised it and cannot be unfaithful neither doth it consist with his honour to put Believers on an unprofitable service He never said to the house of Jacob Seek ye me in vain Isa 45. 19. Ingenuous men love to see their servants thrive Will Christ think you let his labourers be losers their works shall surely follow them into their rest Rev. 14. 13. how ever they may be out of sight in their passage towards it seeing God's Word lies at stake for it The blood of Christ stands engaged also for the safe returns of the Saints Adventures that are according to the will of God their religious labours are part of the travel of his soul which he must see secured and they are the pleasure of the Lord which must prosper in his hand Isa 53. 10 11. He is become a Surety for them unto God and a Surety for the Father unto them By so much was Jesus made a Surety of a better testament Heb. 7. 22. The Covenant is called here a Testament as relating to the Saints priviledges and interests which by that Covenant becomes due to them and shall be surely made good to them upon the account of Christ's Suretiship for it He is the Surety of this Testament or Covenant and every promise of it one of which is That what they sow to the Spirit they shall reap in glory their labour shall not be in vain and to make all the promises good both the condition and