Do but search diligently turn over the Bible consult the experiences of wiser men and see whether things be not as I tell you And how doth the matter stand now poor heart what must the Devil be believed before God what is God a hard master still of all the Creatures in the world some of you have little reason to say so Hast thou not been fed cloathed and delivered a thousand times by him Who is it that provided so richly for you Who filled your barns Who restored your health at such such a time when the Doctor gave you over Was that one of his unkindnesses Are these the things for which you slight him God himself makes a challenge in Jer. 25 What iniquity have your fathers found in me that they are gone far from me have walked after vanity and become vain neither said they where is the God that brought us out of the land of Egypt and let us through the wilderness through a land of desert and pits through a land of drought and of the shadow of death where no man dwelt and I brought you into a plentiful country to eat the fruit thereof the goodness thereof and yet you know not me saith the Lord. Was there ever such ingratitude heard of Pass ye over the Isles of chittim and send unto Kedar and consider diligently and see if there be such a thing hath a nation changed their gods but my people hath changed their glory for that which doth not profit And what sayst thou O ungrateful Israel have the Heathens more reason to cleave to their idols Are the Pagans more beholding to their stocks and stones then thon art to the living God And now what hast thou got by all this hast thou increased thy riches Are thy barns more full of Corn Are there ever the more Cattel in thy Pastures Are thy Presses more full of Grapes Art thou not now grown poor Is not the Heaven become as Brass and the Earth as Iron Do not thy Catten groan for want of food Are not thy Vines and Fields grown barren Why you may thank your selves for all this you did not know when you were well Return therefore O backsliding Israel and thou shalt know the difference between my service and the service of Devils Jer. 2.30 31. Let me therefore again plead with thee O God-despising sinner If for all this thou wilt not be perswaded let me expostulate the case with thee as God did with Israel Did not God bring thee into a world every way furnished for thy use Hath he not subjected the Creatures of the world to thee Who waters thy Fields out of his treasuries Who opens the clods of the Earth and sends thee out of his store-house provisions year by year What would quickly become of thee if thou hadst not a fresh suppy from him every year nay every moment O is this his unkindness for which thou hatest him And it is for this that thou hast such sower thoughts of him And if all this were too little he would do greater things then these hath he not sent his Son out of his bosom Doth he not offer thee Heaven and Glory What canst thou in reason ask that is good for thee that he would deny thee if thou wouldst but be acquainted with him And if this be an unkind friend I do not know who is kind if this be not love I know not what is What could he have done more to express his love to the world then he hath done Isa 44. Ask David what he thinks of God he was well acquainted with him he dwelt in his house and by his good will would he never out of his more immediate presence and company enquire I pray what he found amiss in him That you may know his mind the better he hath left it upon Record in more then one or two places what a friend he hath had of God Psal 16.6 The lines are fallen to me in pleasant places yea I have a goodly heritage Why what is that you boast of so much O David have not others had Kingdoms as well as you No that 's not the thing a Crown is one of the least Jewels in my Cabinet The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup. So in Psal 23. quite through Nay doth he not sometimes come out and beckon to the poor beggarly starved world to come and eat their fill of the same dish O taste and see that the Lord is good Psal 34.8 If you will give any credit to his word he will tell you No friend like to God Psal 73.25 26 27 28. Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none in earth that I can desire besides thee My flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever For lo they that are far from him shall perish Thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee but it is good for me to draw near to God Let others think or do as they please as for him he values the light of Gods countenance above corn and wine and oyl Psal 4.6 7.1 Joh. 3.1 Cant. 1.4 And what sayst thou now poor creature Art thou still of the same mind Wilt thou have God for thy God and Friend or no Is he good and kind or not Is his favour worth the desiring and seeking after Psal 94.8 Vnder stand O ye brutish among the people and ye fools when will you be wise If God himself may not be believed if David his servant may not be credited hear what one of your brethren a Heathen I mean saith in this case I shall translate his words into English they are as follows The goodness and providence of God to man is so great that if he were well in his wits he would do nothing publickly or privately but praise God and speak well of his name Ar. Epic. l. 1. c. 16. Doth it not become man while he his plowing and digging and eating c. to be singing Great is that God that hath given us land to till instruments to work with great is that God who hath given us hands and feet and other members above all that he hath given us an understanding soul And seeing most men are blind in these things is it not fit that some that are more wise and able should publickly praise God for all these things and now I am a lame old man but partaker of Reason God is to be praised by me this is my work and this I will do and I will not leave this station as long as I live and I wish that all the world would joyn with me in singing a song of thankfulness to this good God Hear what a testimony he gives of the goodness of God Hark how he invites you to joyn in that sweet consort of singing praises to your Maker hark at what a rate he talks that never read a Bible or heard of
such a friend may all say with as good reason as he that can keep me from all fears O for such a friend This is instead of all pleasures to me to think that God is my Father and to know that I have loved and obeyed him to the utmost of my power not only in words but in deeds this this is the pleasure here 's a friend indeed Now what do you say to all this is God to be desired Is his acquaintance to be sought after Can such a friend be too much valued The truth of it is I would not give a rush for any of your comforts which come not from a sense of our interest in Christ and which have not a solid foundation Scripture-cousolations It is not he that smiles but he that can look up to God as his and look into his soul and see things there in a good composure and kept in a chearful subjection to his maker and Redeemer this this is the state here dwells joys and comforts that deserve such a name This lower Region sometimes is stormy but above there is a constant calm Sen. And is God still to be slighted are his favours is his acquaintance little worth I know you can't be an enemy to comfort and joys why let me tell you here 's the Well of Consolation here 's the Fountain and all other joys which are drawn out of the Cisterns will ere long be dry Come away therefore poor soul and do not refuse such joys as all the carnal world can't parallel for their hearts And this is the next Motive taken from the consideration of the Nature of this Friend which I would perswade you to get acquainted with First He is a loving and kind Friend Secondly He is the most chearing comforting Friend Thirdly He is the most able and powerful Friend He hath all power in his hand and as long as he is but thy Friend who ere is thy Foe thou shalt never be overpowred never be crushed Thou mayst challenge all the Devils in Hell and all his instruments upon earth to do their worst God is on thy side thou needst not fear Thou art in thy self a poor weak Creature easily conquered and broken by a thousand enemies but if thou hast a God to fly to thou also mayest sing as well as those did Isa 26.1 Thou hast a strong City salvation will God appoint for Walls and Bulwarks No wonder then if every wise man think it abundantly worth his while to secure this great Priviledg to himself that God may be his friend This is his best hold his One thing necessary verse 4. One thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after that I may dwell in the house of God all the dayes of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his Temple Sin the World and the Devil may tempt a sinner but they can never guard him from the power of this Great and Almighty God And now you that are contented to live as without God in the world let me request you to consider Canst thou spread out the Heavens as a curtain or cover the Sun with darkness Canst thou call to the Lightnings and will they answer thee and say here we are Shouldst thou speak to that hasty Champion and command him to stand still one quarter of an hour would he obey thee If these things be too much why dost thou boast that art but a worm Alas poor sinner when this great God appears in judgment thou art not able to deal with a Fly or a Frogg O then Is it not good prudence for all the sons of men to come and agree quickly with this Adversary while he is in the way for whoever goes on in an Enmity and Rebellion against this Lord of Heaven and Earth shall not prosper but be sure his sin shall find him out And this is another qualification of this Friend which I would commend to your acquaintance he is an able Friend First he is the most kind and loving Friend Secondly he is the most comfortable Friend Thirdly he is the most able and powerful Friend Fourthly he is the most active Friend He commands his to be diligent and industrious alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord surely he will not be slow If the inanimate creature such as the sinner resolveth as a strong man to run his race how active then must the maker of that sinner be if he command him not to deal with a slack hand surely he himself will not deal with a slack hand should you behold this friend of yours riding upon the wings of the Wind and making the clouds his Chariot would you not say O how swift O how active is this glorious friend of mine the feet of this beloved One are as Hinds feet for the good of his friends Yea his very eyes run too and fro through the whole world for their good he keeps constant watch and ward about them and he that can injure any of his our of his sight shall go unpunished Esa 27.3 The Lord speaks this under the Metaphor of a Vine-Yard and doth this great Husbandman neglect his Vineyard doth he not Digg Manure and stone it and keep out the wilde Boar and Foxes Doth he not prune it and tender it charily I the Lord do keep it night and day none shall come into it to gather the Fruit of it without lay leave I will water it every moment So that you see what pains God takes for his Do you believe this friend sits in Heaven and looks down upon the Earth for nothing Be not deceived O sinner that wilt not be perswaded to get reconsiliation with this Great and Holy Majesty The Lord is not slack concerning his comming as some account slackness Let his stay be never so long when he comes to judg the world it will be before the sinner looks for him Indeed there is nothing that a wicked man more pleaseth himself with than the thoughts that it will be a long time before God and he meet but he little considers that a Thousand years are but as One day compared to the dayes of Eternity Now by faith these things are made real to the considerate Christian and as for the supplying of his wants he knows if he comes at midnight to borrow bread of him he will not put you off with this excuse that he is a Bed and cannot rise from his Children but will presently help makeing their necessity his own opportunity to give them what shall be convenient for them as knowing that let the wind sit in what corner it will it shall fit their Sails and bring them nearer the Harbour The worlds friends are infinitely below this Friend One hath chosen Silver and Gold and a great Estate and such a one in the worlds Kalender may be writ down for one of the wisest in his Choyce Well le ts us see now what this friend can do for you
your body is on the Rack your hands are weak your leggs tremble your stomach fails your sleep departs from you Where is now your friend call for him speedily come let us now see if he be a friend indeed let us see it can he give you one hours sleep can be help you to one moments rest can he give you no refreshment no help Take him lay him by you on your O its so heavy I cannot endure it lay it in your bosome O I cannot breath for it take it away take it away it will not do why Sir do you know what you say It is your old friend which you valued above God himself it is a bag of gold I know it I know it it presses me down it is so heavy I cannot bear it away with it away with it And is this the friend you prized so very highly Is this all the kindness that he hath for you now Is this all the help he can give you at such a time when a friend should stand one in some stead Were you not told as much long ago how you should be served at last Fifthly He is the most Humble and Condescending Friend he doth not scorn to be acquainted with the meanest the Beggar may be as welcome to him as the Prince The Poor and Rich are all one to Him he takes as much notice of Job on the Dunghill as David on the Throne He knows any of his Friends in Raggs as well as in Silks in Sheep-skins and Goat-skins as well as in Scarlet and fine Linnen Look up poor Creature and see what a Priviledg thou hast God himself the King of Glory is willing to be acquainted with thee what sayest thou to this Doth not thy Heart leap within thee for joy when you consider the Infinite Goodness of God that Reveals these things to Babes which are hid from the Wise and Prudent Even so Father for it hath seem'd good in thy Eyes That 's a strong Expression yet he spoke it that cannot Lie Therefore O you Humble Ones that value the Favour of this Friend Hear and Read it and make the Best of it It 's Yours feed upon it It 's a sweet hit indeed Is 66.1 2. Thus saith the Lord Heaven is my Throne and Earth is my foot stool where is the house that ye will build me and where is the place of my rest for all these things hath mine hand made and all those things have been saith the Lord but to this man will I look even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at my word I shall have occasion hereafter a little to open these words under another Head wherefore I shall now but name it O what encouragement is here for the most despicable Creature in the world that may be as happy in the acquaintance with God as the mightiest Lord in the World Here 's one that will not be ashamed to own thee when others will take little notice of thee Thou thinkest these things strange it may be and so they be indeed but yet not more strange then true In doth not a little engage the affections of the meaner rank if a person of quality do but give them a kind look especially if they may have freedom of access to him O what a priviledg they count it but such a one to undertake the whole managing of a poor mans affairs for him to come to his house and to look into his cupboard and to take care of supplying all his wants and coming frequently to him and supping with him and he with him and to make a great provision for him as if he were a Prince where is such a thing as this heard of but if such a thing were it were a light matter in comparison of what I am speaking Where do we ever read of a great Kings sending Embassador after Embassador to a poor beggar What history doth record such a story at this that a great Monarch should make earnest suit for many years together to a worthless slave that he can hang when he will that hath not a rag to her back to make her his Queen this is rare indeed this is beyond president among men but yet it is that which the great God doth not disdain to do Nay let me tell thee whosoever thou art remaining in a state of Nature that readest these lines that at this very time God is doing no less then all this comes to for thee and I in the name of my great Master do come to expostulate the case with thee that God that gave thee thy breath and can take it away as soon as he pleaseth that God that made heaven and earth to whom all the Nations of the earth are but as the drop of a bucket to the vast Ocean who holdeth the Sea in the hollow of his hands that weigheth the mountains in scales and the hils in a ballance that God that hath no less then a heaven to reward with and a hell and everlasting flames to punish with he it is that doth by me beseech thee to be reconciled unto him he it is that would be your Friend your Acquaintance O unheard of mercy O infinite and unparallel'd condescention I have oft thought there are two great astonishing wonders in the world The one is Gods infinite mercy and condescention to rebellious apostatized man and the other is mans insensibility and ingratitude that there needs such a stir and so many words to perswade him to close with this wonder of kindness and that so very few should be prevailed with See this set forth to the life in Ezek. 16. Isa 1.2 3. Psal 11.3 4 5 6 7 8. The Lord is high above all nations and his glory above the heavens Who is like unto the Lord our God who dwelleth on high who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and the things that are in the earth he raiseth up the poor out of the dust and lifted the needy out of the dunghill that he may sit with Princes c. The Psalmist therefore had no small reason to cry out with admiration Psal 8.4 What is man that thou art mindful of him and the son of man that thou visitest him What is man that thou takest knowledge of him or the son of man that thou makest account of him Psal 144.3 Job 17.17 18. What is man that thou shouldest magnifie him and that thou shouldest set thy heart upon him and that thou shouldest visit him every morning and try him every moment Behold his Majesty and yet how he stoops Nahum 1.4 Psal 18. Job 37 38. an 39 Chapters Isa 40. Psal 138.6 Though the Lord be high yet hath be respect unto the lowly but the proud he knows afar off That which Seneca Epist 17. the Moralist speaks of Wisdom may be said of God Epist 61. It is lawful to come to him without rich attire and great attendance come naked and you
God is such a friend who cannot who will not be kept out from his by Walls of Brass or bars of Iron he will find out his friends in the darkest hole and bare them company there in spite of all the powers of Hell O how reviving are his visits What Cordials doth he bring along with him This is that which makes the people of God so very chearful when their enemies make account their condition is such as that it hath no mixture of joy or comfort in it Was that a Prison or Heaven where those Martyrs were singing Hallelujahs Was that a time to be so merry when all the world disowned them when they were loaded with reproaches and irons and chains counted the troublers of the nation mad-men hereticks The case is clear the sight of this friend made them forget their Scorns and think their chains Gold and their prison Liberty It was God that spake it and he hath been found to be as good as his word Isa 43.1 2. Thus saith the Lord that created thee O Jacob and that formed thee O Israel Fear not for I have redeemed thee I have called thee by thy name thou art mine When thou passost thorow the waters I will be with thee and thorow the Rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest thorow the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee Who was that which bore the three children company in the fiery furnace who was that which went into the Lions Den to visit Daniel who brought Paul alive to this shore when the ship in which he went was wrak't Was it not this Friend that I am now speaking of I might be large in reciting the miraculous preservations which God hath vouchsased to his which is a manifest token of his presence when none can come near besides he will not be far off In the greatest extremities which none durst own them then God reckons it time for him to shew himself It was not for nothing that the Psalmist could speak so chearfully when others were quaking Psal 64.12 c. What was it that bore up his spirits when there were such dreadful Commotions What refuge hath he to shelter himself under in time of such Calamity In what doth his strength lie that he is so confident Whence doth he expect a supply that he holds it out so bravely when his enemies are so numerous and his Friends so scarce Why David hath his invisible Friends as well as visible enemies Ask him and he will tell you That God is his refuge and strength and he is his confidence and he will come in when he hath the greatest need he will be a very present help in trouble And that is the reason that David will not fear though the storm were far greater then ever yet he was in though the earth were removed and the mountains were cast into the midst of the Sea though the foundations of the earth were shaken though the Sea should roar and threaten the earth with another deluge he can sleep as securely as a person little concerned and this he can speak not only for himself but for the whole city of God God is in the midst of her she shall not be moved The Saint hath a Friend that will bare him company in all places in all dangers and in his company he need not be afraid Let the least child that God hath give but one cry and he will soon awake It can't but be so from the spirituality of his nature the immensity of his being and the infiniteness of his love It was Orthodox Divinity and Doctrine that Ar. Epictetus l. 2. c. 14. preached though but a Heathen when he said That the first lesson that became a wise man to learn was that there was a God and then that nothing in the world could be concealed from him and that he knew not only our outward actions but our most secret workings our closest curtain businesses and not only so but even our thoughts projects and principles which speaks him every where and consequently ready at hand to help his Friends at a dead lift Wherefore saith the same Author Idem l. 3. c. 22. think not that thou art alone when thou art in thy Chamber in thy bed when thy Curtains are drawn when thou art lock'd up in a prison never so dark under ground if thou art good thou shalt have two companions in spight of the malice of all thy enemies a good Conscience and thy God This made that brave Moralist to dare his enemies to do their worst to exclude his Friends from him Can saith he any man be banished out of the world wheresoever you send me there will be the Sun Moon and Stars but if not God is there I am sure with whom I may talk to whom I may pray he will bare me company though all the rest of my Friends be kept from me And as long as you can't banish me from God nor keep him from me I shall reckon my self at liberty and should I be sent out of this world into another even there I should find my Friend and he will scarce complain that is removed from a place where almost all are his enemies to a place where quite all are his Friends One would have thought these poor Heathens had been reading Psal 139. Do you hear O Christians what language those forementioned persons speak and shall these that never had the thousandth part of that advantage for the knowing of God speak and act thus shall Christians have such low thoughts of God because we do not see God shall we therefore not believe that he is present every where he that denies Gods own presence had upon the matter as good deny his being for were it not so how could he Judge the world with Justice How could all things be sustained by his power God takes this as a very high indignity that any should in the least question this glorious attribute Jer. 23.23 24. Am I a God at hand and not a God a far off Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him saith the Lord Do not I fill Heaven and Earth saith the Lord. And is not this a Friend worth the having who will be sure not to be absent when you have need of him the wicked indeed say how doth God know and can he see through the thick Clouds and therefore they sin with confidence and oppress the Friends of God without any fear they hope God doth not behold they think omniscience knows not I wish there were not something too like this sometimes in the thoughts of Gods people too but let me only leave that one Scripture with the first sort Psal 94.9 c. He that planted the ear shall he not hear He that formed the eye shall he not see He that teacheth men knowledge shall not he know The Lord knoweth c. As for the desponding Christian that begins
smile from God God may indeed look upon me in his Wrath and vix me in his sore Displeasure God may justly look me into Hell but that he should look upon me in kindness or take any special notice of me in love that would be a Wonder indeed What God dwell with me Yes with thee if thou hast but high thoughts of him and low thoughts of thy self the meaner thou thinkest of thy self the greater worth he sees in thee God will not only look upon thee nor will he only knock at thy door and call at your house or give you a transitory visit but he will come and dwell with thee Now dwelling speaks a continued abode with one and thus God will continue with the Humble never remove from them for any considerable time till eternity hath an end till himself and the soul cease to be which will be never God will not be a stranger to humble Souls but he will come to them and bring that along with him that shall make him and them welcom too God never comes to his Friends but he brings good chear along with him When the Soul gives God the best entertainment it is all at his cost his bread his fatlings his wine his oyl his cordials his rich dainties Where God comes he will keep a noble house there shall be mirth and rich cheer good store Isa 66 1 2. Thus saith the Lord Heaven is my throne Earth is my foot-stool Where is that house ye will build me And where is the place of my rest For all these things hath my had made and all these things hath been saith the Lord but to this man will I look even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at my word God seems to have low thoughts of Heaven it self in comparison of an humble soul This is the Pallace where this great King will keep his Court this is the place of his rest God is not so much delighted and pleased in any of his brave Seats as in this of an Humble Heart here he dwelleth most commonly this was the great purchase of his own Son this was the Master-piece of his Power and Goodness this was the project of infinite wisdom and counsel What shall I do to be saved Is a Language that makes Hell in a rage and Heaven to rejoyce God is never so well pleased as when he beholds the beauty of his own Grace shining in a poor lost self-debasing Creature The spouse is adorned with Humility when Christ gives her that visit Cant. 1.4 God hath far more kindness for one that lies under a sense of his own Vileness that thinks himself unworthy to tread upon Gods Earth or to breath in his Air then for the most confident righteous Pharisee in the World Such an humble Soul will be much in admiring of God and will set a high price upon his kindness a look a smile a visit O how welcom are they to those poor trembling Ones Wherefore God doth with frequency and love visit them he knows that he can never be unwelcome to such they will count it the highest honour that the most high should come into them in their low Condition Wherefore if you desire to have any intimate acquaintance with God labour to be more and more sensible of your own unworthiness study your heart and nature well and be more curious in the observance of the baseness and treachery of your own Soul endeavour to have as mean thoughts of your self as Paul had who did not stick to call himself the chiefest of sinners Humble your selves before the Lord and he will exalt you he that is little in his own eye is greater in Gods When was it that Jacob met with God but when he had been humbling of himself As you may read at your leisure Gen. 23. There is many a professor that holds out many a year in a course of external performances and yet never knows what it is to have any intimate acquaintance or converse with God whereas I am perswaded if the business were throughly examined it would be found that they were never made deeply sensible of their undone state out of Christ never understood the desperate depravedness of their hearts and nature that they never lay under any lively sense of their separation from and enmity against God and they were never bronght off from their own righteousness and saw themselves poor beggarly starved Creatures and in this condition came to buy Wine and Milk without money and without price But this humility it is an excellent Grace it makes the soul fit for the richest enjoyments of God and to do God the greatest service Were it possible that God should converse much with a proud man he would make strange use of it he would steal God's Crown and put it upon his own head but God would not endure proud Angels near him and can it be expected that he should take proud men in their places The more any one grows in Grace and acquaintance with God the more he sees of his own unworthiness the more he admires Free Grace Why me Lord why me will be the Language of those which converse with God And while they are thus admiring God and laying themselves low he comes again with his soul-ravishing kindnesses and thus by humility they are more acquainted with God and being more acquainted with God they are made more humble and the one increaseth the other Thus the humble soul is raised higher and higher till be come to an eternal possession of God in the highest Heavens When an humble Saint lives as it were in Heaven upon Earth he scarce thinks himself worthy to live upon the Earth When any one speaks well of him and admireth the grace of God in him he looks upon himself as an unprofitable Servant and he durst not assume the least glory to himself not unto me not unto me but unto the Lord be the praise given Who am I poor wretch O did you but know what a heart I have did you but see the workings of my thoughts could you but tell how things are indeed you would rather admire at Gods patience than mans excellency This he speaks not that he is worse than others but because he hath a more spiritual sence of his state than others have Neither doth he speak thus in proud Policy thinking to make others to have a better esteem of him for his humility but he doth really feel the pressure of that filthiness of sin which makes him thus to groan out these complaints The reason why God doth converse most with the humble is because they will be most thankful and most fruitful and make the wisest improvement of his favours Wherefore if you value the comfort of a spiritual life if you desire communion with God if you would have a Heaven upon Earth endeavour to get and humble heart To walk humbly and to walk with God go together III.
his Son a Kingdom a Crown behold the Father meets he makes hast to meet his returning prodigal behold the King hath sent to invite thee to the feast nay he will give thee his only Son in marriage the wedding garment is made ready the Bridegroom is coming the wheels of his Chariot run-apace the friends of the Bridegroom are come to bid you make ready up deck your self put on your glorious Apparel make hast make hast ye Virgins your companions are ready all stay for you the Bridegroom is at the door Behold he is at the door and will you still let him knock What! Father Husband a Kingdom What words are these Wilt thou O mighty Jehovah be my Father Wilt thou O blessed Jesus be my Husband shall I have a Kingdom What me a Child a Spouse for the King of glory an Heir of glory Grace Grace Amen Hallelujah Be it to thy servants according to thy word but who are we and what is our fathers house that thou hast brought us hitherto and now O Lord God what shall thy servants say unto thee for we are silenced with wonder and must sit down with astonishment for we cannot utter the least tittle of thy praises What meaneth the highth of this strange love O that the God of heaven and earth should condescend to enter into Covenant with his dust and to take into his bosom the viperous brood that have often spit their venome in his face We are not worthy to be as the hand-maids to wash the feet of the servants of our Lord How much less to be thy Sons and Heirs and to be made partakers of all those blessed Liberties and Priviledges which thou hast setled upon us but for thy goodness sake and according to thy own heart hast thou done all these great things Even so Father because so it seemed good in thy fight Wherefore thou art great O God for there is none like thee neither is there any God besides thee what nation on earth is like thy people whom God went to redeem for a people to himself to make him a name to do for them great things and terrible for thou hast confirmed them to thy self to be a people unto thee for ever and thou Lord art become their God Wonder O Heavens and be moved O Earth at this great thing For behold the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them and be their God Be astonished and ravished with wonder for the infinite breach is made up the offender is received and God and man are reconciled and a Covenant of peace entred and Heaven and Earth are agreed upon the tearms and have struck their hands and sealed the Indentures O happy conclusion O blessed conjunction Shall the Stars dwell with the dust Or the wide distant Poles be brought to mutual embraces and cohabitation But here the distance of the tearms is infinitely greater Rejoyce O Angels shout O Seraphims O all the friends of the Bridegroom and Bride prepare an Epithalamium be ready with the marriage Song Lo here is the wonder of wonders for Jehovah hath betrothed himself for ever to his hopeless Captives and owns the marriage before all the world and is become one with us we with him he hath bequeathed to us the precious things of the earth beneath with the fulness thereof and hath kept back nothing from us And now O Lord thou art that God and thy words be true and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servants and hast left us nothing to ask at thy hands but what thou hast already freely granted Only the word which thou hast spoken concerning thy servants establish it for ever and do as thou hast said and let thy Name be magnified for ever saying The Lord of Host he is the God of Israel Amen Hallelujah And how do you like this musick O ye the lost Sons and Daughters of Adam how do you relish these Dainties what do you think of this march Some you see have been so wise as with the greatest gratitude they can for their souls to close with those happy offers of grace You hear how bravely such and such have bestowed themselves and now they are made for ever And what do you say to the same proposals have they so much reason to bless the day that ever such a motion was made have they cause to rejoyce for ever for those blessed overtures or are they all to be slighted by you will Christ be worse to you then them is Heaven and happiness less necessary for you then them will the loss of a Soul be more inconsiderable to you then it would have been to them Will not Heaven Christ an Glory be as well worth your acceptance as theirs What are you willing to be shut out when the Bridegroom comes to fetch his Spouse home Can you bare it to see such as you thought your inferiours advanced and your self despised What shall I say what words shall I use what shall I do to prevail O that I could pity you a thousand times more than I do O that my eyes might weep in secret for thy folly O that you also might do as some have done before you though indeed they be but few that be so wise O that you would also bestow your heart upon Christ give him your heart-love or he will have your heart-bloody Do not make your self miserable to please any living do not slight Christ because must do so go not with them to Hell for company But that if it be possible I might perswade you I shall add some more motives to prevail with you to get acquainted with God which I am certain will either work that blessed effect or rise up against you to the aggravation of your confusion in that great and terrible day II. HEAD OF MOTIVES The next Head of Motives which I shall insist upon for the inforcing of this Duty of acquainting your selves with God I shall take from the glorious effect of this acquaintance with God 1. The first effect of this acquaintance with God is it makes the soul humble and consequently fits the soul for greater communications from God still and to do God the greater service but of that particular afterwards Acquaintance with God it makes the Soul humble When God comes into the Soul he brings such a glorious light along with him that he makes the Soul to see not only his beauty but it s own deformity Psal 119.130 The entrance of thy word giveth light it giveth understanding to the simple Before the Soul was acquainted with the word of God and by that had some discoveries of God made to it out of the Word why it was in the dark and saw nothing at all of its own vileness it took no notice of that Sink that Hell that was within it consider not its own Treason against the Lord of Heaven
imployed in the great acts of Religion The more any one is acquainted with God the more delight he takes in the Ordinances of God as one of Gods Children he desires the sincere milk of the word before he was acquainted with God he found it far otherwise then nothing almost would down with him the pure word could not be relished except it was adulterated with flourishes of humane wit He had very little appetite to good wholsome Food his stomack was ready to turn at it except it were so cook't and sawc't and set out that an understanding man could scarce tell what to make of it What do you say to this you that are so faint and cold in what you do in the service of God Come a little nearer get better acquainted with God and you shall find such entertainment from him that you will scarce be able to keep long from his house get oft into his company and you shall feel your Soul strengthned with new spirits animated with a strange life Heat and Warmth You will not complain that the Sabbath is the longest day in the week you will not say what a weariness is it When will the new Moons and Sabbaths be at an end But you would think long till the Sabbath day come and when it is come the pleasure that you take in the work of that day would make you to think it the shortest day and gon too soon and when you have spent it in the most diligent attendance upon God you would wish it were to begin again or that you were to begin such a Sabbath that would never have an end This is the condition of one that is very intimately acquainted with God his nearness to his Master makes him to follow his work and he knows he shall lose nothing by it something will be coming in ere and anon which will more then quit his cost So that when God calls he is at hand and readily answers Speak Lord for thy Servant heareth When God hath any message any hot service to do he accounts it his great honour to be imployed in it and saith here I am send me I believe he that spoke it Ar. Ep. l. c. 9. might be a little confident when he said Lay what thou wilt upon me O God I have power to bear it it shall not be my Burden but my Ornament Yet I am perswaded one that is acquainted with God can say it and say it again in good earnest Lord what wilt thou have me to do wilt thou have me to preach for thee to run through Fire and Water for thee to dye for thee to go or come O Lord do but bare me company and give me strength and it shall be don I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me This is one of Gods Champions he watches he keeps upon his guard he fights stoutly he stands his ground in every thing he demeans himself gallantly he quits himself like a Souldier of Christ and that which makes him thus valiant is because he is so near his Captain Ask Epictetus what made Socrates do as he did and he will tell you l. 3. c. 22 It was because he was a Friend of God his Servant and partaker of his Kingdom This is strang Language of a Heathen but had he known what it was to live under the most lively sence of Gods love to have had such intimate converse with him as some Christians have had what would he have said As for the Saint that keeps close to God he keeps close to duty his work is to serve love and praise God this is his business both by himself and with others 7. Another excellent effect of this acquaintance with God is it will make a man Patient under all the dispensations of Gods providence in all conditions to be content in quietnesse to possess his Spirit Acquaintance with God will make him be at peace not to open his mouth against God whatsoever he lays upon him What was it that kept such a calm in Pauls heart when there was such a constant storm without him was it not his sence of his interest in Gods love though all the world were his enemies yet as long as Christ was his Friend he doth not care though men and devils be against him yet if God be for him he passeth not much upon it though men be never so unjust yet God will never be so that 's his comfort It 's a small matter for him to be judged with mans judgment as long as he is sure that God will acquit him he knows that justice it self will do him no wrong infinite goodness could not be unkind and that wisdom it self could work glorious effects out of these things which the world call evil if he do receive evil at the hands of God he is confident he deserves more if it be good and but a little he is thankful because he deserved none at all Let the worst come to the worst if all the Devils in Hell and all his instruments upon Earth should combine against him as long as he is sure of the love of God and that none of them all can pluck him out of the Arms of the Almighty he is not very much concerned Heaven will make amends for all whatsoever he suffers it is nothing to the displeasure of a God it is nothing to everlasting burnings He believes that if his persecutors did know what he knows they would as soon eat fire as do as they do therefore he rather pitties them then is angry with them as seeing that their day is coming How seldom have you eitheir Paul or Silas complaining of their sufferings How rarely bemoaning their condition And what is it that makes them so patient what have they to sweeten such bitter draughts Why God loves them and so long they do not much care though others hate them Mans frown can't sink a Soul to Hell nor his favour make one happy for ever It is but a little while and all tears shall be wiped away from their eyes The kindness and faithfulness of God is enough to make a man cheerfully to hold up his head when all the world is against him When the most Spiritual Christians do complain it is more of themselves then of their persecutors O my unbelieving heart O that I should love God no more O that my heart should be no more taken up with the great things of Eternity This is the condition which those that are most Spiritual are in Poverty Imprisonment Banishment and all these things which most call dreadful when they come to a man that is much in Communion with God they find him Patient Meek and Calm these are not the things which put him upon the rack God is his Friend and that answers all 8. Another glorious effect of Acquaintance with God is That it will make all our enjoyments doubly sweet He hath what he hath in love he need not be afraid of
be men of a deeper reach and a larger understanding then others because they made it their business to get acquainted with God and thus to make their interest as large as Heaven and their peace and prosperity as sure as the oath of a God could make it Do you think that all these men were mistaken did their wisdom lie only in a prudent management of their worldly affairs to their best advantage what then did they mean some of them to leave all that they had so chearfully upon the command of God dare you say that they prized the favour of God at too high a rate as for their parts they thought they could never value such a friend as God too much What else was the meaning of their longing panting and breathing after him Why else are they so glad of his company his presence How loath were they to do any thing that might be in the least displeasing to him What bitter moans did they make if he did but withdraw a while if he did but a little absent himself from them how wonderful desirous were they of enjoying communion with him how earnest to live in his house for ever Dare you say that there were all fools and mad men for refusing the embraces of this present world for slghting its smiles and undervaluing its greatest kindnesses and choosing that favour of God though with the scorns and reproaches of the world rather then to hazard his anger whose wrath burns to the bottom of Hell Behold what a glorious company of these stand upon mount Zion with Harps in their hands with those hundred and forty and four thousand and the Lamb with an innumerable multitude of all Nations People and Languages Why all these were of the Friends and Acquaintance of God or else they had never had those Crowns Robes and Palms in their hands Now why should not our souls be as dear to us as theirs were to them Will not Heaven be as good for us as them is it not as needful for us to get a friend of God as them Will not God do as much for us as them if we will but do as they did walk with him The truth of it is the number of them which are saved is but few in comparison of the multitudes of them which know not God and go the broad way yet for all that take them absolutely they are abundance so many that the Scripture saith they are innumerable Do but read over the History of some of their Lives turn over the holy Records look sometimes into those Sacred Chronicles and behold how chearfully they served God how actively they followed the Lamb wheresoever he goes through thick and thin Hear what their language is now they are got home fafe now Christ hath brought them to glory and they are at their Friends house What do they talk of what is their discourse about do they complain what a sad journey they had of it through a howling wilderness after they had passed the Red Sea through a thousand sorrows and trials do they say that now they are at their journeys end they are weary and wish they had never taken so long and tedious a journey do they not rather speak the quite contrary and that if it were to go again they would do it with far more speed and chearfulness then they did Lissen hark methinks I hear them from the walls of the New Jerusalem crying out Come away come away fall on bravely follow your business gallantly but a little while longer and the City is your own fetch your scaling ladders run up apace mount the rampiers fear nothing though the Devil play his Artillery upon them yet it is but powder he shall never give you a mortal would resist him and he will flee and the field is yours the Spoil the Crown the Honour will pay for your pains bloud and danger Fall on brave souls fall on the valianter you be the more safe you are Methinks I hear those noble Saints encouraging of you to get acquaintance with God and saying to you that are yet afar off come near Come away poor souls come away what do you mean thus to delay O little do you think what a friend we now find of God it was but a little a very little that was told us of the excellency of Christ and the glories of this place to what we experience It was no false report that we heard when we was upon earth of the happiness of Heaven O here 's a prize worth the running for a Kingdom a Crown worth the fighting for an Estate worth the looking after We have not now our stint we are not dieted with those Spiritual Dainties we have not now and then a sip a draught a bit in a corner but we are at the fountain we are daily feasted with infinite pleasures our hearts are full brim full they run over we swim in an ocean of spiritual enjoyments these things are beyond your capacity now to understand Were we to live upon earth again and did we know what we do now know we should ever pine with our earnest longing for God the living God to be in his immediate presence and to be at that angelical work of praising serving and loving him for ever Wherefore brethren let us encourage one another Come let us go up to the house of the Lord his dwelling is in Salem his palace is upon mount Zion Why should not we go on as merrily in the paths of Wisdom as the wicked in the road of Hell How do the Devils Champions encourage and hearten one another up How do they laugh sing and roar as if their life were the only life for shame let 's tell them they lye in their teeth Who hath the best company they or we the Patriarchs and Prophets the Apostles and thousands of Martyrs are gone finging before some of our dear Relations Fathers Brethren and Sisters are newly welcomed by Christ to his Fathers house and they are blessing that rich mercy that hath conducted them to such a place to such a friend we have many thousands of Saints Militant that are going along with us as fast as they can and God himself will bear us company and why do we yet linger O that we were upon the wing O that our souls were like the Chariots of Aminadab O that the Lord would strengthen poor short-winded Creatures O that we could run and not be weary and walk and not faint O that we might have now and then a hearty meal and that in the strength of them we could travel to the mount of God! O that that acquaintance might now be happily begun which may never have an end O that God would visit us oft and get into our hearts O that he that gave those Worthies in former times so much grace would pour out of the same grace in abundance upon our souls O that he would shed abroad his love in our hearts O
who were very good Friends once to be bitter enemies this hath made the breach infinite the feud everlasting the wound incurable And this made the first Quarrel between God and man When man thinks himself too good to be but a man he must be a God he quickly is too had to be a man he is but one remove from the Devil To be a favourite of his Prince is not enough except he may step into the Throne it 's therefore high time for his Prince to remove such from his presence to a Prison from the Court to a Dungeon It was Pride that cast Adam out of Paradise and do you think that that sin is less hateful to God and less dangerous to man than it was five thousand years ago Did it then spend all it's poyson And can it now do no harm Do you believe that God will take that into his bosome now that formerly he abhorred to look upon Now sin hath increased it's strength and deformity and heightened it's enmity against the infinite Majesty of the holy Jehovah shall his hatred against it decrease will he be more willing to accompany proud aspiring Rebells now than then no such matter God is still as holy as ever and hates all sin especially pride as much as ever Do you think that it is for nothing that the word of God speaks so much against this sin Can it be that the Holy-ghost would say Prov. 11. That every one that is proud is an abomination to the Lord except God did indeed hate them Why should God threaten such so much if he took any pleasure in their Society though hand joyn in hand yet the proud shall not go unpunished Now we call the proud happy but shall we call him so when the day of the Lord shall burn as fire and all the proud shall be as stubble And the day that cometh shall burn them up saith the Lord and it shall leave them neither root nor branch When the Lord shall tread down the wicked and they shall be like Ashes under his feet Mal. 3.15 4.1 3. There is not one proud man in Heaven I am sure Nor a proud man upon the Earth that shall have much of Gods acquaintance And let me say he that sets himself above God for that 's the Pride I mean whilest he stands in that state must never expect that God should look upon him with any kindness Heaven and Hell will as soon be agreed as God and such a one shall be united The proud now overlook others that are their betters and scorn their Maker but shortly they shall be paid in their own coyn they shall be scorned too If all the proud Nimrods Pharaohs and Belshazzars in the world should enter into a League and combine against the Almighty and say they will cast away his Cords from them and that they will never debase their noble Spirits so low as to stoop to his commands yet none of them all shall go unpunished They shall be like stubble before the devouring flames and like Chasse before a mighty whirlwind God is not afraid of their big looks Prov. 21.4 Prov. 6.17 Prov. 15.25 Isa 2.12 Luke 1.51 Jam. 4.6 God will cloath himself with vengeance and the mighty Jehovah will gird his weapon upon his thigh and march out in fury and Indignation and draw his glittering Sword and resist the proud and teach them what it is to bid defiance to the Lord of Host We shall soon see who shall be uppermost God or they And when the proud sinner lies conquered at his feet how doth he with infinite scorn look upon him and say behold the man is become like one of us This 't is for man to attempt the dethroning of the Almighty But it may be most may think themselves little concerned in that which I now speak wherefore I must add this one word Be it known unto thee O man whosoever thou art that think'st thou hast no pride I am sure thou art one of those that are in that black Roll which have proclaimed War against Heaven thou art the man that shall never be acquainted with God whilst thou art in that mind It may be thou maist speak Peace to thy self for all this and flatter thy self as if God and you were Friends but let me tell thee I come with heavy tydings in my mouth to thee If thou turn not he will whet his Sword he hath bent his Bow and made it ready he hath prepared for thee the Instruments of death the day of thy Calamity is near The dreadful Jehovah is upon his march and if you ask me whether there be not Peace for thee I answer as Jehu did to Jchoram what peace O haughty sinner so long as the pride of thy heart is so great and thy Rebellions against thy Maker so many There is no peace saith my God to the wicked Wherefore as you value your Soul as you tender your everlasting Salvation and desire to be owned by the Lord in the day of your distress take heed of pride Go quickly and humble your self and make sure your Friend labour to pull down every high Thought and every proud Imagination and let your Arrogant Spirit how before the mighty God there is no way will do but this as ye have already heard You must set the Crown upon the Lords head you must lay your selves at his feet and lick the very dust Your betters have done so before you and have thought it their honor to lye at the feet of Christ this they look'd upon as with good reason too as the first step to preferment If therefore you would be acquainted with God take heed of pride Secondly Take heed of a worldly mind What concord is there between Earth and Heaven What agreement between God and the World What delight can his Holiness take in him who had rather be wallowing in the Mud and treading of Clay then bathing himself in Divine contemplation that thinks it higher preferment to sit by his bags of Gold then to stand in the presence of his God a greater happiness to be rich than to be holy that had much rather be in a Fair Marker or Exchange getting money than with his God getting Pardon Grace and Heaven How pregnant is the Scripture of proofs for the evidencing of this truth to name one or two of a hundred Rom. 8.7 To be carnally minded is enmity against God For it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can it be What do you say to this Scripture Those which walk with God live in the world and yet they live above the world they all look for a City that hath foundations whose builder and maker is God It was not for nothing that the Apostle John layes so strict a charge upon those which he wrote to That they should not love the world nor the things of the world For if any love the world the love fo the Father is not