God Alsufficient or the Almighty God Walk before me and be thou perfect Gen. 17. 1. knowing that unless his faith were firm his steps could never be even If he had not beleived Gods power he could not be evangelically perfect And hence that father of the faithful became so eminent in obedience from the strength of his faith It s said of him Isa. 41. 2. that he came to the foot of God That Child was dutiful indeed that when his Father did but stamp with his foot left what ever he was about though it were never so delightful or gainful to him and ran to his Father to know and obey his commands Thus truly did Abraham when God called him to turn his back upon his relations and the place of his nativity nay to sacrifice his Isaac the child of the promise as well as of his love he did not question Gods pleasure nor quarrel with his precepts but obeyed them presently and all from his faith His strong faith caused strong obedience Heb. 11. It s observable that all the noble and heroick acts of obedience of the Lords Worthies mentioned in that little book of Martyrs were performed under the conduct and command of faith Faith is one of the best Antidotes against the poison of prophaness and one of the greatest helpes to holiness None are more faithful to God then they who have most faith in God They who beleive will be careful to maintain good works Tit. 3. 8. As the natural heat is the life of the body and as that increaseth with the radical moysture strength and health abound So Faith is the life of the soul as that is strong or weak his godliness is more or less He that is highest in affiance is highest in obedience This is the strength of the soul According to a Mans strength such is his walk either straight or stumbling According to a mans Faith such is his life either even or crooked 1. Faith destroyeth sin 2. It enableth to live to God 1. It killeth sin If the Pulse of a Christianâ— hand or life beat uneven it is because his Faith which is his heart doth faulter This is the shield of the soul which secures it against all assaults and dangers Other peices of the Christians Armour are serviceable to defend particular parts of the new man as the Girdle of truth the loyns rightâ—ousness the brest the Gospel of peace the feet but Faith is a Shield moveable at pleasure and surroundeth and guardeth the whole man With favour wilt thou compass him as with a Shield Psa. 5. ult Faith secureth the head from evilâ—principles What sense denieth and reason understandeth not Faith beleiveth Aristotle reading Moses concerning the Creation is reported to say Egregie dicis domine Moses sed quomodo probas Thou speakest nobly but how dost thou prove it The answer to him is easie By Faith we believe that the world were made of God Heb. 11. 2. Faith clears up the understanding and scattereth the mists of error The pesence of this Sun disperseth those Clouds Faith secureth the heart from evil purposes It s the besome that sweepeth out such dust and keeps the heart clean Having their hearts purified by Faith Act. 15. 9. Faith entertaineth the King of Saints into the heart it sets him on the throne and these traytours flye before him His presence makes these Rebels to hide their heads Who ever could find in his heart to hug sin whilst he was viewing by faith his bleeding Saviour Faith secureth the hand from evil practices The Martyrs chose the flames rather then the denial of their Master and all because of their Faith Those Worthies of the Lord of whom the World was not worthy through Faith stopped the mouths of Lyon-like lusts quenched the violence of hellish fires were tortured not accepting deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection Heb. 11. 33 34 35. By Faith we stand 2 Cor. 1. 24. As a Souldier under the protection of his Shield stands his ground and doth his duty notwithstanding the shot that are made against him So a Christian under the protection of Faith keeps his place and mindeth his work whatsoever opposition he meets with Faith like Ioab stabbeth this Abner under the fifth rib it wounds fin mortally Hope like Saul hath slain its thousands but Faith like David it s ten thousands Whole Armies of Lusts have turned their backs at the sight of this Warriour By Faith the walls of Ierico fall down Whilst unbeleif liveth no sin will dye All iniquity sheltereth it self under the Banner of infidelity If once the banks of Faith be broken down a flood of wickedness will rush and flow in What made Abraham deny his Wife and expose her to such temptations and wickedness but unbeleif What made Isaac tread in his Fathers steps and leave Rebecah to the Heathens luste but unbeleif What made David dishonour his God by his uncomely carriage before Achish and injure his soul by his unholy language that he should one day perish by the hand of Saul but unbeleif What made Peter deny and forswear his Master but unbeleif These tares were sown by the enemy when the husbandman Faith was asleep had they believed the power and faithfulness of God to defend them in their dangers and distresses without their lyes and his grace and bounty to reward them largely for all their sufferings for his sake had they believed that God when he called them to straights would without any sinful means have brought them off safe on earth or safe to Heaven they would never have used such sinful shifts for their own safety Faith would secure the soul against all those temptations and prevent such sinister and sinful doings He that beleiveth maketh not haste He will patiently wait Gods leasure and submit to his pleasure and not venture upon forbidden courses and unlawful ways to deliver himself out of distress Vnbeleif is the dung which makes the soyl of corrupt nature so fruitful in the unfruitful works of darkness Whence cometh such immoderate love of a perishing world but from want of Faith and Beleif of that transcendent glory that is to be revealed Whence cometh such dulness and deadness in holy duties but from unbelief either of the holiness and jealousie of that God with whom we have to do or of his goodness and mercy that his reward will pay the charge of diligence in his work Whence comes such cozening and cheating and over-reaching in dealings with men that from distrust of Gods power and providence as if he could not or would not spread a Table for his Children in the most barren Wilderness Whence comes that impatience and murmuring in adversity but from want of Faith which would encourage the heart in the Lord his God in the saddest estate and when the Fig-tree doth not blossom nor the Vine yeild its fruit enable the soul to rejoyce in the Lord and be glad in the Rock of his salvation Whence
words of our Saviour Mark 8. 38. he acknowledged it openly It is very dangerous to walk in the dark Saints are children of the light and should have their light shining before others Lewis the eleventh of France was better at carnal politicks then real piety who desired his Son might learn no more then this He who cannot counterfeit must not wear a Crown SECT IV. FOurthly Labour to get some good by such as are evil The precious stone Amyanthon being cast into the fire is made the more clear and pure A skilful Naturalist will make some use of the most venemous Hearbs and Serpents A gracious person may improve the vilest sinners company to his own spiritual profit As wicked men are helpful to the temporal good so often to the eternal good of Gods people Like Leaves though they are nothing worth in themselves yet they keep the good fruit from blasting and hereby are instrumental to its further Growth and Ripening Ismenias the Theban Musitian taught his Scholars not onely by shewing them such as struck a clean stroak with Do so but also by shewing them such as bungled at it with Do not so Antigenidas thought men would like better and contend the more for skil if they heard untuneable notes Satan intendeth wicked men as dirt and earth onely to besmear and defile them but God outshoots him in his own bow and makes them as Fullers-earth to purge and purifie them As poisonous as they are in their own nature through the Correctives of the Spirit they become not only not hurtful but helpful to the beleiver Ungodly men are compared to dung and filth which we know being applied to the good Trees makes them more fruitful That slime and mudde which the overflowing of Nilus carrieâ—h along with it in the Summer Solftice causeth Egypt to bring forth abundantly The Graces of Saints have increased even by the abominations and oppositions of sinners Lots hatred of sin was the greater by viewing the unclean conversations of the Sodomites The Serpent Tyrus saith Brittenbacchus is so venemous that there is no remedy against its bitings but by cutting off the member yet even of this there is a Treacle made which serveth for excellent purposes Though the flesh of the Vulture saith Pliny be unwholsom and unmeet for meat yet it is most medicinable an Oyntment made of the fat of it is specially strengthning to the sinews Though ungodly men are ill food and not fit to be our ordinary constant diet yet they may be good Physick and profitable when necessity compelleth us to use them A deboice lewd Master may teach a Scholar many good lessons If God send us to School to the Beasts of the field Job 12. 7. Ask the Beasts and they shall teach thee I know no reason but much good may be learned from these brutes in the shape of men Some tell us that gold was extracted out of Ennius his dung Thou mayst Reader through the help of the Spirit get that which is better then Gold out of these noysom and loathsom persons The smell of Trefoil is often stronger in a moist and cloudy dark season then in fair weather So should the savour of a Saints graces be most fragrant amongst evil Companions 1. Let thy zeal be the more inflamed zeal is the heat or intention of the afâ—ections It is an holy warmth whereby our love and anger are drawn out to the utmost for God and his glory Now our love to God and his ways and our hatred of wickedness should be encreased because of ungodly men cloudy and dark colours in a table make those that are fresh and lively to appear more beautiful others sins should make God and Godliness more amiable in thine eyes Thy heart should take fire by striking on such cold flints David by an holy Antiperistasis did kindle from others coldness Psal. 119. 39. My zeal hath consumed me because mine enemies have forgotten thy word Cold blasts make a fire to flame the higher and burn â—he hotter A true child hearing others speak faintly is the more fervent in the commendation of his Father Because the wicked forsake thy law therefore I love thy commandments above gold yea above much â—ine gold Psa. 119. 127. Do others in thy presence declare their loathing of Gods preâ—cepts do thou love them the more Do they trample them under their feet do thou prize them at the greater rate Truly the more they dishonouâ— God by their swearing and scoffing at Godliness the more reason thou hast to honour him Phineas is Sainted in Gods Calendar for being zealous in Gods Cause as Varnish addeth a lustre to all colours and makes them amiable so zeal addeth a beauty to all our services and makes them the more acceptable The Spirit of God works like fire and if it dwell in thee t will make thee fervent in Spirit How little sign have they of their Saintships who can hear sinners belch out their blasphemies against God and tear the precious body of Christ in peices with Oaths and yet are as sensless as stocks and stones as if they had no relation to God and Christ The redeemed of the Lord are a zealous people Tit. 2. 14. Thou art but false in thy profession of friendship if thou canst behold others abusing thy friend and sit still Ah what true Christian can see hellish lusts embraced publiquely and the glorious Lord disowned openly and not loath the former and love the latter the more for it The Grecians would bring their children to hate drunkenness by shewing them Drunkards wallowing in their vomits what loathsom persons they were in such conditions Good examples are provocations to holiness Mal. 3. 8. Bad examples may work a detestation of vice Deut. 18. 9. Ephes. 4. 17. Wise men have more to learn of fools then fools of wise men said Cato That Trumpet which is filled only with wind may encourage and awaken a living man to the battle That person who is dead in sin may rouse up a sleepy yet living Christian and raise his affections more towards God 2. Let thy heart be the more inlarged in thankfulness Dost thou behold the prophane glorying in their pollutions Dost thou see sinners abusing Gods creatures Dost thou discern ungodly ones making a mock of sin jearing at holiness and riding post to Hell how should thy heart be raised in thankefulness to thy dearest Redeemer that thou dost not run with them to the same excess of riot and in the same road of eternal ruine Every time thou comest into such company and observest their wicked courses thou mayst well pity such deluded souls and praise thy gracious Saviour Mayst thou not think thus with thy self Lo here are those that play with the eternal fire and sport with the Almighties fury that dance merrily over the bottomless pit and take pleasure in the way to endless pains that are wholly regardless of God and Christ and Heaven and their unchangeable estates
Itenerar Sacr. But reprove a wise man and he will love thee Austin notes it as a sign of grace in his friend Alipius that he received his reproof so well Paul rebuked Peter sharply and that before a considerable Company of Peters friends yet he loved not Paul the less for it for in his Epistle which was written some time after that contest and after the Epistle to the Galathians which records it he makes honourable mention of Pauls writings and of that very Epistle among the rest 2 Pet. 3. 15 16. and calleth him his beloved brother As they who love their sins hate the reprover so they that hate their sins love him When Isaiah had declared from God a dreadful threatning against Hezekiah for his pride he doth not flie out into a passion against the Prophet but submits with Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken T is said of Gerson the great Chancellour of France that he rejoyced in nothing more then a friendly reprehension And it is storied of our Richard the first that he would be admonished by a poor Hermit Alphonsus King of Arragon being asked what company he liked best answered Books for they saith he without fear and flattery will tell me my faults faithfully Faithful are the wounds of a friend but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful A loving reproof is a wound in love the wound of a friend and therefore we must bestow our anger upon our faults that deserve the reproof not upon our friends that give the reproof How foolish is he that breaks his own head then rageth at his friend for endeavouring to cure it Ahab quarrels with Elijah as the Incendiary of Israel for reproving their Idolatries when alas like AEtna that flame arose out of their own bowels which threatned to reduce them to ashes Some of the Heathen were so sensible of their proness to erre and to be partial in their own cases when they had erred that they both kindly accepted reproofs and earnestly desired a Reprover It is reported of Alexander that having had a Philosopher a long time with him he should say to him Recede a me prorsus consortium tuum nolo quod cum tanto tempore mecum degeris nunquam me de vitio aliquo increpasti Be gone from me I will have none of thy company for thou hast lived long with me and couldst not but observe some failings in me yet thou hast not reproved me of any And Augustus Cesar for this cause did much lament the death of Varro because thereby he was deprived of one that would deal faithfully with him when he offended Yet as they say some roses are too tender to endure the strength of the smell of Wormwood so some Christians that its hoped are sound cannot without wry mouths and angry faces drink down this bitter liquor Asa was a good man yet time was when he imprisoned a Prophet for bringing him an admonition from God One would have thought that the King would have bid the servant welcome for his Masters sake but truly a prison was all the reward he had for his pains It was the speech of a wise and experienced Christian That he never was acquainted throughly with any one but first he displeased him by admonishing him of his faults But as light stuff and rubbish kindleth sooner then solid and more substantial wood so they are the weaker and less wise Christians that are so soon fired into a pet and passion if but told of their errors T is childishness to be unwilling to take bitter medicines A prudent person will rather permit cupping-glasses and corrosives to be applied to his body then suffer his distemper to reign and kill him The sharpest fruit is most profitable and wholsom The Lemon is more tart yet is more excellent then the Orange which delighteth the taste Reader is it not better to be awakened by a rousing reproof then to sleep the sleep of death and wilt thou be angry with thy friend for doing thee that courtesie Is it not better for thy familiar companion to tell thee meekly of thy miscarriages and call thee to repentance then for God to reprove thee and set thy sins in order before thine eyes When God uttered his voyce the Heavens thundered the mountains smoaked and Moses himself trembled The voice of the Lord is powerful the voyce of the Lord is full of majesty the voyce of the Lord breaketh the Cedars yea the Cedars of Lebanon the voyce of the Lord shaketh the wilderness yea it shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh How wilt thou then endure the thundring of such a Cannon a reproof for thy sins from the Almighty God at whose rebuke the earth quakes the rocks are rent in pieces and the foundations of the world are moved The Israelites said unto Moses Speak thou to us and we will hear but let not God speak lest we dye Exod. 20. 19. Truly so mayst thou say to thy companion Speak thou to me of my offences deal plainly with me about any thing that thou seest amiss in me and I will hear thee but let not God speak to me lest I dye lest his voyce strike me down strike me dead There is an absolute necessity of thy sense of and sorrow for thy sins This ordinarily must be wrought in thee either by admonition from man or by some severe rebuke from God Consider seriously therefore whether it be not easier to take a faithful check from thy fellow creature then to be called to repentance by some dreadful judgement from the jealous God O t is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God for our God is a consuming fire One thing more Reader is considerable It is not enough to take a reproof with patience but also to be awakened by reproof to repentance It s a dreadful aggravation of sin to continue in it after thou art convinced of it Such impudence is followed with fearful vengeance He that being often reproved heardeneth his heart shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy Pro. 29. 1. Fourthly Christians if they would exercise themselves to Godliness in good company must rejoyce in each others grace and good True love will rejoyce in the welfare of another as its own Peter beholding those eminent Graces in Paul did not repine that a brighter star was risen which would eclipse his splendour but glorified God in Paul and gave him the right-hand of fellowship It s a prophane Esau that hates a Iacob for having obtained his Fathers blessing beyond himself Envy is from the evil one Saul who was without God eyed and hated David for slaying more of Gods enemies and obtaining thereby greater renown then himself could Yet alas the spirit which dwelleth in the best lusteth to envy Corrupt nature will shew it self if it be possible at this window There are some Countries as Candie that have Naturalists tell us no poison but there is not any
but God forbears none upon any such grounds His goodness is the onely string that tieth his hand from striking Yea many years didst thou forbear them for thou art a gracious and a merciful God Neh. 9. 30 31. The Final Cause is manifold 1. That he might exalt his great name It s light straw that upon the least spark takes fire The discretion of a man deferreth his anger and it s his glory to pass by infirmities Mean and low spirits are most peevish and passionate Sickly and weak persons are observed to be the most impatient God makes his power known when he endureth with much long suffering the vessels of wrath fitted for destruction He intendeth the advancement of his praise in the lengthening of his patience For my names sake will I defer mine anger for my praise will I refrain for thee that I out thee not off Isa. 48. 2. That sinners might amend He is patient that men might not perish The Lord is not slack as some men count slackness but is long suffering to us-ward not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance He defers their execution that they might sue out their pardons The Lord waiteth not that he might be blessed in himself but that he may be gracious to sinners 3. That impenitent sinners might be left without excuse If sinners that are turned out of the womb into hell will justifie God surely those upâ—on whom he waited twenty or thirty or forty or fifty years for their conversion will condemn themselves if all mouths shall be stopped then they that tasted so largely of forbearing mercy may well be silent O how little will they have to say for themselves upon whom grace waited so many years knocking hard at the door of their hearts for acceptance and they refused to open to it or bid it come in How justly will they suffer long in the other world to whom God was so long-suffering to no purpose in this world Rom. 4. 2. How fully O my soul doth the Scripture mention this patience of thy God! The Lord passed by and proclaimed his name the Lord the Lord God gracious long suffering Though sinners trie his patience by their heaven-daring provocations yet the Lord is gratious slow to anger and of great kindness Oftentimes they do their utmost to kindle the fire of his anger but many a time turned he away his anger and did not stir up all his wrath What monuments of his patience hath he reared up in his word It is also written in broad letters in his works He bore with the Iews after their unparalleld murder of his own Son above forty years The old world had larger experiences of his â—orbearance My Spirit shall not always strive with man yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years The Egyptians though cruel persecutors of his own people that were as dear to him as the apple of his eye yet were suffered four hundered years He beareth with men till he can no longer forbear The woman with child is forced though she hold out long to fall in labour at last I have long time holden my peace I have been still and refrained my self now will I cry like a travailing woman Isa. 42. 14. O thou dear friend of mankind that thou wert imprinted in my thoughts engraven in my heart and always before mine eyes O my soul Consider this long suffering of thy God till thou tastest some rellish of its sweetness This name of thy God is as oyntment poured out which yeildeth a refreshing fragrancy Hath it been all thy days so near thee and done so much for thee and wilt thou not give it some warm entertainment within thee Hast thou not infinite cause to cry out God! As soon as thou wast conceived thou wast corrupted before thou wast born sin wâ—â— brought forth in thee thy God might have turned thee out of thy mothers belly into the belly of hell divels might have been the Midwife to deliver thy mother of such a monster and their dungeon of darkness the first place in which thou didst breath yet he who might have caused eternal death to have trodden upon the heels of thy natural birth spared thee Had he then suffered the roaring lions his executioners to have dragged thee to their own den he had got himself glory and prevented much dishonour which thou hast since brought to his name As thou didst grow up sin grew up in thee and patience grew up with thee Numberless haâ—â— thine iniquities been and his advantages for thy destruction yet he hath forborn thee What hath he got by all his long-suffering towards thee He might have ruined thee to his eternal honour but his forbearance hath seemed to impair the revenues of heaven Wicked men question his power and good men quarrel with his providence and all because of his patience When some sinners are hanged on Gibbets as spectacles of his justice others are kept in the more awe but if judgement be not speedily executed the hearts of the Sons of men are set in them to do mischief The thanks that are usually paid him for his patience are indignities and affronts The sleeping of vengeance occasioneth the awakening of sin Besides their thoughts of him are the more prophane as well as their actions If he be patient towards the sinner he is judged a party in the sin These things thou didst and I kept silence thou thoughtst that I was altogether such a one as thy self Because he is silent they judge him consenting O my soul may not thy God be well called the God of all patience when he aboundeth so much in it though he be so great a loser by it Was not the patience of thy Redeemer on earth wonderful in bearing such mockings smitings on the cheek spittings in his face scourgings on his back But thy Redeemer in Heaven endureth more affronts every moment against his divine nature then he did all his time of abode in this world against his humane nature O why art thou no more warmed with it and wondering at it Even a Saul was so affected with the forbearance of David that he should spare his enemy when he had him in his hands and might as easily have cut his throat as the skirt of his garment that he lift up his voice and wept And art not thou affected with the patience of thy God in whose hand is thy life and breath and all thy comforts who can with a glance of his eye turn thee into the fiery furnace against whom thou art an open traytour and profest rebel that he should spare thee so many years and instead of heaping up judgements on thee lade thee with his benefits Consider 1. He is not patient towards all men as he hath been towards thee Some have found justice arresting them immediatly upon their contracting of new debts and haling them presently to hell upon the
creatures that nature produceth are some way serviceable to their fellow creatures O that I might never by filling up my life with laziness be a Wen in the face of nature serving no way to profit onely to disfigure it Yet I desire that my diligence in my particular may be regulated by my duty towards my General calling Oyl moderately poured in feeds the Lamp excessively drowns it Alexanders Souldier run so lightly upon the sand that he made no impression with his feet My duty is to give earthly things my hands but my heart onely to the things of heaven Lord It s as well thy pleasure that I should work here as thy promise that I shall rest hereafter Let tâ—y grace be so operative in me that I may never give Satan advantage against me by being negligent or over-diligent in my particular calling Suffer not the interposition of the earth ever to cause an eclipse of holiness in my soul But let thy word so limit me and thy spirit guide me that as one diligent in his business I may come at last to stand before the King of Kings to my eternal comfort I Wish that I may no part of the day be so overcharged with the cares of this life by my particular calling as to expose my self to wickedness by neglecting my spiritual watch If my heart be full of earthly vapours they will fume up into my head and make me drowsie A drunken man is no sooner set in his chair but he is fast asleep Sober and Vigilant are sisters in Scripture 1 Thes. 5. Let us watch and be sober 1 Pet. 5. 8. Be sober and vigilant The immoderate love of the world will incline me as effectually to spiritual slumbers as immoderate drinking of Wine to bodily If Satan can get me to take this Opium he doubts not but to lock me fast to my bed and to have me at what advantage be pleaseth O how easie is it to destroy a sleeping body to defile a sleepy soul Noah Lot David Solomon walked in their sleep and dreams in strange and sensual paths When the eye of the souls watchfulness is â—hut the soul is open to all dangers and assaults Whilst the Husbandmen sleep the enemy soweth Tares Sisera's head was nailed to the earth whilst he lâ—y snoring on the ground Epaminondas was not more severe then exemplary when he ran the Souldier through with his sword whom he found sleeping upon the Guard as if he intended to bring the two Brothers Sleep and Death to a meeting The Hare therefore say someâ— being liable to many enemies sleepeth with her eyes open to see danger before it surprise her I walk continually in the midst of powerful and politick adversaries The Canaanite is yet in the Land though not Master of the Field yet skulking in Holes and Ambushments watching an opportunity to set upon and destroy me There is not onely an Army of Temptations besieging me without but also many Traytours conspiring within to open the gate of my heart to them that they may enter and undo me My own heart is like Jacob a Supplanter and conspireth to rob me both of the birth-right and the blessing Let me go where I will I tread upon Lime-twigs which the Arch-fowler layeth to intangle and insnare me Saul sent messengers to Davids house to watch him and to slay him Satan sendeth messengers after me in all places where I â—ome to watch me and to sâ—ay me The whole world is as the valâ— of Siddimâ— full of slime-pits and without watchfulness the anointed of the Lord are taken in those pits Gen. 14. 10. Lam. 4. 10. Sin is a slie theif that steals upon the soul to rob it when t is asleep O what need have I of the greatest watchfulness and circumspection imaginable As the eye-lids guard the tender eyes from harm so doth watchfulness preserve the soul from wickedness O my soul canst thou not watch with thy Redeemer one hour when he ever liveth to make intercession for thee T is but the short night of this life that thou art commanded to stand â—entinel ere long thou shalt be called off the guard and freed from that trouble Lord thou art ever watchful over me for good thou never slumberest nor sleepest but thy seven eyes are ever upon me Thou mayst say to me as to thy Vineyard I the Lord do keep it I water it every moment lest any hurt it I keep it night and day O since thou watchest to preserve me let me watch to serve thee Set a watch O Lord before my lips Be thou the Governour of my heart Lighten mine eyes lest I sleep the sleep of death Let mine enemies never find me nodding lest they leave me dying Thou hast told me Behold I come as a Theif Blesâ—ed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments lest he walk naked and they see his shame Give me so to wake and watch now that death may bring me a Writ of ease and call me to my endless rest I Wish that I may all the day long be even covetous of my time as knowing it is allowed me not for the service of the flesh but for the service of my God and to dress my soul for Heaven If I be lavish of my time I am the greatest Prodigal in the World If he be a spendthrift that throweth away an hundred pound every day he is a far greater that wasteth half an hour in one day Time is more worth then the revenues of the whole world He that can command millions of treasure cannot command one moment of time The Father of eternity hath the sole disposition of time The value of this commodity is not known to this beggarly world in a day of life Now men study sports and pleasures and company and plays to waste time It lieth as a drug upon their hands and they think themselves beholden to any that will help them to put it off But when the King of terrors with his gastly countenance approacheth them and summons them to a speedy appearance bâ—fore the King of nations to receive their eternal dooms O then their judgements will be quite altered and time will be precious indeed Then they who play away their time and give all to the world or flesh will tell me that time was good for something else then to eat and drink and sleep and trade that it was good to feed an immortal soul in and provide for an eternal estate Then the Rich and Covetous as well as they loved their wealth though it be now dearer to them then their God and Christ and Souls and Heaven will part with all they have for a little time Then the Swaggerers and Gallants of the world who spend twenty hourâ— in Taverns to one hour in the Temple and if it were not for Play-houses and Ale-houses and Whore-houses and Hawks and Hounds and Cards and Dice could not tell what to do with their time who mark all the
are unable to flie to their Hives by reason of the weakness of their wings then stir from them or forsake them The Swine are so sensible of their fellows sufferings that if one of the Company be lugd all the rest will after their manner condole it If a Beast be slain and its blood spilt others of that sort will â—hew their love and pity by scraping earth on the blood burying their fellow and solemnizing his funeral with a kind of lamentation Grace doth much more enjoyn me to be sick in others sickness poor in others poverty and to remember them that are in bonds as bound with them and them that suffer adversity as being my self also in the body David speaking of his enemies that sought his destruction saith But as for me when they were sick my cloathing was sack-cloth I humbled my soul with fasting and my prayer returned into mine own bosome I behaved my self as though he had been my friend or brother I bowed down heavily as one that mourneth for his Mother Psa. 35. 11 to 15. My God hath said To him that is afflicted pity should be shewn Sickness is one of the greatest outward afflictions it renders all the comforts of this life uncomfortable The largest Houses Revenues Honours the most loving Acquaintants Friends Relations are all unsavoury to them that are under great sickness To visit the prosperous and healthy is courtesie but to visit the distressed and sick is charity The sweetest showres should fall on the lower grounds Lord thou art the Father of mercies and art afflicted in all the afflictions of thy Children thy soul is greived for the miseries of Israel How sutable is it for them who expect mercy another day to shew mercy at this day Make me a follower of thee as a dear child to put on bowels of compassion and to be merciful in heart tongue and hand as thou my Father in Heaven art merciful I Wish that as a wise Merchant I may make the use of this price which is put into my hand for the furtherance of my own and my neighbours peace Sickness is a special opportunity wherein I may advantage others souls The most poisonous Viper is at such a season benummed with cold and so may be handled without much danger The strength of the body of sin is much abated at least in regard of act and exercise by the weakness of the natural body They who counted holiness a fancy and holy ones Phanaticks in their health and power will beg hard for purity and desire the Saints prayers in their sickness The waters of those passions which in a Summer of prosperity did overflow their bounds and threatned to over-whelm and over-throw all that was near are frozen up in a Winter of adversity and kept within their banks There are many nicks in time as we see in a Clock which if they hit the work goeth on well The hardened hearts of sinners are often melted when their persons are confined to their warm Chambers As Tinder when dry easily takes fire by the least spark that falls on it so when the souls of ungodly men are made soft by sickness and their thoughts of the evil of sin in the pain it brings on their bodies makes their affections combustible it will be much the easier to kindle the fire of repentance in them Affliction boareth or openeth the ear and then its seasonable to drop some wholsom counsel into it Though a load on the ground be hard to be stirred yet a load on the wheels is easie to be drawn The illness and aches and distempers of sinners bodies do as it were set the work of conversion and minding the good of their souls upon the wheel and therefore such opportunities ought to be diligently improved Sickness is a good time when charity is in season T is a grace to have an opportunity for the service of my God but a greater to improve it The Eastern people do Plow and sow their grounds when the former Rain hath softned it and why should not I endeavour to Plow up the fallow ground of my Neighbours heart and to sow in it the seeds of savoury instructions when it is made tender by sickness Lord thou layest hold of every opportunity to bless me with mercy answerable to my necessities make me both wise to discern time and judgement and faithful to make use of all such seasons to do thee service I Wish that the opportunity I have thereby of doing good to my own soul may move me to be the more careful and consciencious in visiting the sick It is the wise mans speech It is better to go into the house of mourning then to go to the house of feasting for that is the end of all men and the living will lay it to heart It is better as it is most sutable to my present state T is not proper for Pilgrims to spend their time in Pleasure Sorrow is becoming in a valley of tears An house of mourning agrees well with the mourners in Sion This world is a Sea I am a Mariner and Mariners rejoyce in the Haven not in the Tempestuous Ocean This life is a warfare I am a Souldier T is too soon to be joyful whilst I am fighting it will be time enough when all my Enemies are foyld O how harsh is it for a child to be jocond when he is far from home Weeping is good language for them that sit down by the River of Babylon How can I sing the Lords songs in a strange Land Again It is better to go into the house of mourning as it is most profitable to my precious soul. Grace thrives best in a wet soyl By the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better The inner man is best when clad in mourning Trees planted by the water-side hang with clusters and bring forth fruit in due season The sick bed is a Pulpit and though there be a wicked man in it he may teach me rare instructions If he be wholly silent his condition Preacheth to me that sin is the greatest evil that the world is a cheat and impostour and that grace is the most desireable created good His dark chamber weeping friends watered couch aking head trembling heart pale lips quivering loyns all call aloud to me to consider of and prepare for such an hour Abel being dead yet speaketh My sick my dead Neighbour speaketh Prepared be to follow me Some have been raised to life by beholding the dead O that I were wise to observe and improve the opportunities which free grace affordeth me for my own and others welfare If I lose a good Market for the furtherance of my outward estate I befool and bewail my self Ah why should I not be as much affected with the loss of opportunities for my inner man Sinners observe their seasons for the gratifying their Loves and the satisfying their lusts The Thief waiteth for the full Purse till the Market is
were desirous to reclaim from their vicious course of life One of the men told one of the women that he was desirous to enjoy her company so it might be with secrecy and when she had brought him into a close room that none could pry into he told her All the bars and bolts here cannot keep God out The other desired the other woman to company with him openly in the streets which when she rejected as a mad request he told her It was better to do it in the eyes of a multitude then of God How doth the Adulterer or Drunkard or Theif when they come abroad at midnight for the satisfaction of their lusts sneak and steal away when they spye the watch or any persons who would be witness of their vices and shall not the presence of that God who hates sin who is resolved to punish it with hell-flames make us ashamed or afraid to sin and dare him to his face 2. The thoughts of this Omnipresence of God will quicken thee to holiness The Souldiers of Israel and Iudah were prodigal of their blood in the presence of their two Generals 2 Sam. 2. 14. Servants will generally work hard whilst their Master stands by and looks on It s said of Alexander that his presence caused such courage in his Souldiers Vt illo presente nullius hostium arma vel iner mes timuerunt That when he was with them though they were unarmed they feared not the weapons of any of their enemies Our blessed Redeemer exhorteth to prayer in secret upon this consideration that God seeth and heareth it Mat. 6. and to charity in secret because though the left hand knoweth not what the right hand doth God knoweth what the right hand doth Your Father which seeth in secret will reward you openly There is a story of Bishop Latimer that he having in a Sermon at Court much displeased the King Henry 8. was commanded to Preach again the next Lords day and to recant his former sermon according to appointment he cometh up and prefaceth to his Sermon in this manner Hugh Latimer dost thou know this day to whom thou art to speak even to the High and mighty Monarch the Kings most excellent Majesty who can take away thy life if thou offendest therefore take heed how thou speakest a word which may displease but as if recalling himself he proceeded Hugh Hugh dost thou know from whom thou comest upon whose message thou art sent and who it is that is present with thee and beholdeth all thy ways even that Almighty God who can cast body and soul into Hell for ever therefore look about thee and be sure thou deliverest thy message faithfully and so he went to his Text and confirmed what he had spoken the day before and urged it with the more vehemency then ordinary The eye of God as of the Sun will call the Christian to his work Those Countries that are governed by Viceroys seldom flourish or thrive so well as those Kingdoms where the Prince is present in person Conscience Gods Viceroy may much quicken a Christian to holiness but God the Prince himself much more I have kept thy precepts saith David for all my ways are before thee CHAP. X. Means whereby Christians may exercise themselves to Godliness A constant watâ—hfulness Frequent Meditation of Death Daily performance of â—aored Duties FOurthly If thou wouldst exercise thy self to Godliness Watch over thy self continually This spiritual watchfulness is the Main-guard of the soul which if once called off we lye open to the shot of every enemy This like one of the Nethinim must stand continually Porter at the door of our hearts Gods Temple to keep out whatsoever iâ— uncleanâ— Watchfulness is a diligent observation of our selves in all things and at all times that we may please God always He that watcheth hath his eyes in his head according to the wise mans phrase and seeth as the Chineses say of themselves with both eyes David expresseth it fitly I said I will take heed to my ways Psa. 39.1 i. e. I will ponder my paths and consider where I set my feet lest I should tread awry Without this wariness there is no safe walking Secure Laish is made a prey to their enemies and the secure soul is made a prey to his spiritual adversaries Iudges 19.9,10 Soul-Lethargies are most dangerous most deadly Those that slept in the sweating sickness generally died He who watcheth not is led about like one in his natural sleep by any temptation he knoweth not how nor whether When the Wolves in the Fable once prevailed with the Sheep to part with the Dogs they soon devoured them If Satan can but get men to forgo this means of their safety he will soon make them his prey The old World was drowned in sleep before they were drowned in water Sodom and Gomorah were secure when they were destroyed by fire It s reported of the Dragon that whilst he sleepeth a jewel is taken out of his head Noah lost the jewel of Temperance David the jewel of Chastity whilst they were fallen asleep If this eye of watchfulness be once shut the soul is open to all wickedness When Argus notwithstanding his hundred eyes was by Mercury piped into a sleep he was transformed into a Cow Reader hearken to Gods Watch-word Ye are all children of light and children of the day we are not of the night nor of darkness Therefore let us not sleep as do others but let us watch and be sober 1 Thess. 5. 5,6,7 Sleep is not seasonable in the day of grace nor sutable to a childe of light They that sleep sleep in the night Rom. 13.11 The night is for sleep therefore in it God draweth a curtain of darkness about us as the Nurse when she would lay her babe to sleep throweth a cloth over the head of the cradle But the day is for watching for working He hath little reason to give himself to sleep who is every moment surrounded with mortal enemies which are neither few nor weak Naturalists tell us that the bird Onocratulus and the Pellican take their rest with their Beaks upright expecting the Hawk and that the Whale and Dolphin sleep with their heads erected above water for fear of hurt Though there were but that one text of Scripture 1 Pet. 5.8 relating to this duty t were enough to alarm any wise man and to call him to his arms Be sober be vigilant for your adversary the Devil walketh about as a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour If that voyce among the antient Romans Hannibal ad portas Hannibal is at the gates were sufficient to make them leave whatsoever they were about and run to their weapons and stand upon their guard what watchfulness should this voyce of the holy Ghost The Devil is at the door call thee too Reader Take that verse a little in pieces and see what a foe thou hast to fight with and then tell me whether it doth not
concern thee to watch Consider 1. His Power Your adversary the Devil It is not a weak man but a mighty Devil Thou art not called to wrestle with flesh and blood but Principalities and powers Is man a match for a Devil or a stripling nodding fit to enter the Lists with Goliah What is a Pigmie to a Giant or a a dying creature to the Prince of the powers of the air Had David been asleep when the Lion out of the wood came against him the Lion had sooner tore him by the throat then he had taken the Lion by the beard The cobweb may as soon withstand the broom in the maids hand and the dust oppose the force of a violent wind as a nodding secure Christian the temptations of Satan 2. His Policy Seeking whom he may devour Had our enemy strength without craft there were not so much danger nor cause of vigilancy but when he hath seven heads as well as ten horns and exceeds us in subtilty as much as in power it concerneth us to be watchful He that playeth with a cunning Fencer will heed his wards the more Reader the Devil hath a shrewd guess what Dalilah is most likely to entice thee and deprive thee of thy spiritual strength and if amongst all the uncircumcised there be any that will fit thee thou shalt not want her He hath not walked too and fro in the earth so long for nothing but he knoweth what weeds will take best and thrive most in the soil of thy heart be confident he will help thee both to the seeds and plants of them The subtle serpent that could wind himself into Paradise knoweth surely how to wind himself into thee If he were too crafty for man when he was perfect much more is he for man polluted And can such a strong politick foe be resisted when thou art lazing upon thy bed of security 3. His Industry Your adversary the Devil goeth about He is a diligent servant never from your elbow As Ioseph's Mistris when denied still sollicited and Sampsons Harlot pressed him with continual importunity night and day that his very soul was vexed unto death So the Devil serveth men he will never forsake them but follow them with his darts and assaults till they are safe in heaven from hiâ— or safe in hell with him He is called the Prince of the powers of the air and his Angels spiritual Wickednesses in high places the air is the seat of his Empire and truly as ravenous foul hover up and doâ—n in the air to catch and kill little chickens and though they be frighted away by any one yet they lye near at the catch and the person is no sooner gone but they are descending to destroy them So those infernal spirits are hovering up and down walking too and fro to defile and destroy souls and though they are resisted and foiled yet they impudently continue their former endeavours to undo us Now hath he any time for sleep that is every moment in such danger 4. His Cruelty As a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour The Lions of the Forrest have no pitty Lest he tear my soul like a Lion renting it in peices Psal. 7.2 The Lions brake the bones of Daniels accusers before they came to the bottom of the Den But the Lions of hell have much less pity his tender mercies are cruelties indeed it is not the loss of thy life but of thy soul and thy God and thy Christ and that for ever which he looks after The racking of thy body and renting thy bones is nothing to the flames and whips and torments which he makes men suffer and that not for a day or week or year or age but to all eternity Reader is there not infinite reason for watchfulness Had not the Apostle ground enough for his precept Be sober be vigilant when our adversary is so strong a Devil so sedulous going about so cruel as a roaring Lion and so crafty seeking by all means whom he may devour Yet alas this is not all Go where we will we see abundant cause to look well to our feet Every place we come into is a net to ensnare us we cannot look out of our eyes but we see a baited hook nor open our ears but we hear the Syrens songs we cannot put forth our hands but we touch pitch nor set our feet but in the midst of nets every part of the body is a Iudas a Traytor to the soul. Our crosses and afflictions if we be secure will be to us as the Goal to a prisoner filling us with Vermine Our greatest earthly comforts if we be not watchful prove but like traps set for vermine pleasant and killing When the world sings most sweetly in our ears she doth but like Orpheus with his pipe endeavour to lead us by the ears into unquenchable flames Theives with provender in their hands catch horses to steal them The world allures our hearts by its pleasures and profits and steals them from God Our own hearts are Iacobs Supplanters of us deceitful and desperately wicked As the water-foul in Friezland will decoy other wilde foul in a net and then give a watchword to their Master to seise on them so officious will our own hearts be to the Devil And shall we not watch and pray that we enter not into temptation Sleep is the great Leveller which makes all equal The strongest Sampson is as liable in his sleep to be slain as the smallest infant When a deep sleep from the Lord had seised on Saul and his Souldiers how easily might David if he had pleased have killed them He took away Sauls Spear and Cruse of Water to assure him that he could have taken away his life Ah! how soon may the Devil or World or Flesh defile deceive and destroy a sleeping soul Bees that have many enemies Mice Spiders Drones Hornets Birds and Beasts never dare say Naturalists to give themselves to security but night and day have their Scouts and Centinels and Corp-du-guard to keep watch and ward lest some of their many enemies should on a sudden surprise them The Christian may learn this duty from such creatures Spiders weave their Cobwebs near the Flowers where the Bees use to gather and also just over the passage out of their Hives that so at their going out but especially at their comming in laden and weary they may catch them and make a prey of them David saith In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me So mayst thou Reader say In the way wherein I daily walk doth Satan privily lay Baits to catch me at my Table in my Closet in my Shop in my Bed in the Streets in all places where I go he hath laid snares for my soul. If there be a snare and such danger in all things then let me advise thee if thou woulst avoid them in the words of Paul to Timothy Watch thou in all things 2 Timoth. 4. 5.
hands of the living God for our God is a consuming fire They know his fury is terrible intolerable none can abide it no sinner can avoid it therefore they hate sin the object of it and flie to Christ who delivereth from it O what a work a gracious sanctifying work doth the knowledge of God make in the soul It makes the understanding to esteem him above all the will to chose him before all the affections to desire him to delight in him more then all the whole man to seek him to serve him to honour and praise him beyond all in Heaven and earth What is the reason that God is so much loved admired and worshipped and glorified in his Church when all the World besides despise him but this In Judah is God known his name is great in Israel Psa. 76. 1. O Reader be confident of this the more thou knowest of the excellencies of God the more thou wilt prize his Son submit to his spirit crucifie the flesh contemn the world fear to offend him study to please him the more holy thou wilt be in all manner of conversation Hence the main work of Christs prophetical office was to reveal God to the world And the Devils great work is to keep men from this knowledge of God knowing that it will tend so exceedingly to their sanctification and holiness and to the overthrow of his interest The Miller mufleth and blindeth his Horse that draweth his Mill and thereby keeps him at his round deceiving him in making him to think he goeth forward The first work of the Philistines was to put out Sampsons eyes and then they made him grind at their Mill and make them sport The Eagle saith Pliny Nat. Hist. lib. 10. cap. 20. before he setteth upon the Hart rolleth himself in the Sand and then flyeth at the Staggs head and by fluttering his wings so dustieth his eyes that he can see nothing and then striketh him with his Talons where he listeth Satan darkneth mens understandings and thereby commandeth their wills and affections and destroyeth the whole man If our Gospel be hid it is hid to them that perish whom the God of this world hath blinded their minds lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God should shine unto them 2 Cor. 4. 4 5. When men are spoken in Scripture to be vicious and prophane they are onely said not to know the Lord and there is no knowledge of God in the land Ier 4 22. Hos. 4â— 1. and when God undertakes in his Covenant of Grace to sanctifie and make men holy he is said to put his knowledge in their hearts and his promise is They shall all know me from the least to the greatest Heb. 10. Ier. 31.34 And they that would grow in grace are commanded in order thereunto to grow in knowledge 2 Pet. 3. 18. Ignorance is the mother of all irreligion of all atheism Ephes. 4. 18. They are alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their hearts As Owles sinners may see in the night of this world have some knowledge in worldly affairs but they cannot see in the day are ignorant of spiritual of heavenly things Sin like the pestilence David speaks of walketh in the dark Psa. 91.5 And Satan is the enemy that soweth his tares by night This is one cause why sin is called a work of darkness It is from that darkness which is in mens understandings that they turn their backs upon God and run upon their own eternal ruines It were impossible for the rational creature to be so desperately mad as to play with the wrath of God and slight the love of God to neglect his mercy and despise his justice if they did but know God When Princes go incognitâ—s in a disguise and aâ—e unknown then they are disesteemed Hence they who are obstinately prophane and resolved on wickedness say unto God Depart from us we desire not the knowledge of thy ways Job 21. 14. The hooded Hawk that seeth not the Partridge will never flye after it The Israelites pitched in Mithkah which signifieth sweetness before they removed to Cashmonah which signifieth swiftness They onely who know the sweetness of God will flye to him with swiftness Ignoti nulla cupido He who knoweth the Allsufficiency of God will never turn to the Creature even as the Bee if it did not find honey enough in one flower would never hasten to another Those that are ignorant of God abound in all manner of Atheism and wickedness The Families which know not God will not call on his name There is no truth no mercy but lying and stealing and swearing and killing where there is no knowledge of God Hos. 4. 1 2. 'T is no wonder to see blind men stumble and fall and break their limbs I do not marvail to see ignorant men who know not God to live without him to turn him out of their hearts and houses as if they had no dependance on him or ingagements to him Whence is it that men are regardless of their souls and eternal estates that they dance over the unquenchable lake and are merry and jovial at the very brink of destruction that they despise the God that made them preserveth them bought them and hath them in his hands and at his mercy every moment that they slight his Son his Spirit his Law his Love his wrath his promises of eternal life as if they were things of no value and rather fit to be trampled on then esteemed that they can lye down and sleep and rise up and eat and dâ—ink and follow their sports and pleasures and laugh and sing under the guilt of sin and curse of the Law and infinite wrath of the Lord but their ignorance of God Ah did they but know his holiness his Jealousie his Power his Justice they they would sâ—oner undergo any misery that men could inflict on them then incur his anger or provoke him to jealousie they would never neglect â—is Worship or put him off with a few heartless prayers Ludentes cum Deo ut pueri cum suis puppis as Calvin hath it Playing with him as children with their babies when they come immediately to his presence and pretend to seek his face The holy times under the Gospel wherein the people of God shoâ—ld be of one heaâ—t are spoken of as proceeding from this cause The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as waters cover the sea Isa. 11.9 The perfection of grace and holiness in heaven will be the effect in part of this knowledge of God When we shall see him perfectly we shall be perfectly like him 1 Ioh. 3.2 Reader be perswaded therefore to study this knowledge of God think no labour too much for itâ— pray and read and hear and confer and mourn that thou mayst know God Beleive it it is a jewel that will pay thee well for all