become old yea are mighty in power 9. v. Their houses are safe from fear neither is the rod of God upon them 10. v. Their Bull gendereth and faileth not their Cow calveth and casteth not her calf 12. v. They take the Timbrel and Harp and rejoice at the sound of the Organ 13. v They spend their days in wealth And as nothing is more common then to find the worst of men in the best outward condition yet as common it is on the other hand to find the best of men in the worst outward condition to find them suffering Afflictions and to meet them travelling through the Valley of Bata as they go towards Zion Psal 84. 6. v. Usually God most afflicteth those whom he best affecteth Many are the troubles of the righteous Psal 34. 19. v. The Israelites passage through the Red Sea and the dismall Wilderness into Canaan what was it but a type of the afflicted condition of God's people afterwards In outward things God's enemies fair better in this world then his friends and for any to expect to be wholly freed from affliction is in vain that is the priviledg of none but Saints already in Heaven even they whilst on this side Heaven were fed with the bread and water of affliction and t is not for any to expect that God should strow Roses or spread Carpets for their feet only to tread upon in the way to Heaven that Man is but a Thistle and no good corn that cometh not under the Flayl a bastard and no son whom God correcteth not I might abound in Scripture instances time would fail me to tell you how greaâ—l Job was afflicted in his children in his substance in his body from the crown of the head to the soul of the foot whose afflictions came upon him like waves one in the neck of another Or to shew you that holy David had cause to say what he did in Psal 38. 2. v. Thy arrows stick fast in me and thy hand presseth me sore What an arrow was that at David's heart to hear from Nathan That the Sword should never depart from his house that his house should be cut off by the sword What another arrow was it that Tamar his Daughter should be deflowred by his own Son Ammon And that Ammon should be afterwards murthered by Absolom That Absolom should be a Rebel and force David from Jerusalem Besides other arrows that could not but stick deep in the heart of David But I will not so much as name any more for whoso lists to look over the whole Book of God and will consider the history of the lives of God's people in all ages both in Scripture and other records will find them usually in an afflicted condition And now the great fault of Christians at such a time is this they are too ready to look upon their afflictions as if they viewed them through such multiplying glasses as they say are made at Venice which being put to the eye make twenty men in Arms shew like a terrible Army So they are ready to fancy their troubles and afflictions so great and so many that they shall never be able to bear them never be able to overcome them and extricate themselves out of them But Eternal good things at such a time as this will stand a Christian in stead they will make him bear afflictions more patiently they will be as Cordials to strengthen him when he faints as an Ark to bear up his spirits and keep them from sinking in a deluge of Calamities as so many baits for his Soul until he comes home to those heaveâ—ly Mansions We noted before what David says of the prosperity of wicked men in Psalm 73. and how he himself was afflicted all the day long he was plagued and chastened every morning but now see what it was that helped David in the midst of a sore temptation that did arise from his affliction read v. 24. Thou shalt guide me with thy Counsel and afterwards receive me to glory as if he should say Howsoever it be with the men of the world who injoy their prosperity according to their desires and howsoever it be with me that I am afflicted and must indure hard things here yet this is that which upholds me through all this is that which does me good under my afflictions Thou shalt afterwards receive me to glory That which made Moses not only patient but joyful in what he suffered was this Heb. 11. 26. v. He had respect unto the recompence of the reward he had his heart set upon that state of Eternal glory in Heaven T was this upheld the spirit of St. Paul and made him account of any evil here to be indured but light and short and not to be compared and reckoned with that exceeding and Eternal weight of glory that is to come Rom. 8. 18. v. whereunto let me add that in 2 Cor. 4. 17 18. While we look not at things which are seen but at the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are temporal but the things which are not seen are Eternal Israel never minded the difficulties they went through nor the Anakims they fought with when the Land of Canaan was to be possessed by them Pericula non respicit Martyr Coronas respicit It was not the danger that troubled the Martyrs it was the Crown that helped them to go through those dangers the fulness of those joys and sweetness of those pleasures at God's right hand bore up their hearts and raised up their souls under their sufferings and made them contemn fire and fagot yea and slight what everthe malice of men could do unto them It was nothing with them to drink down large draughts of Vinegar and Gall when God called them to it why because such Cups were sweetened with the new Wine drunk in his Kingdom They would not pull in their heads for fear of any blows whatsoever for that they had put on for an helmet the hope of Salvation and glory They refused not to enter into the most fiery Chariots for that they knew they would carry them up into Heaven It is reported of Egypt that there is no Countrey in which there are more venemous creatures then in Egypt and also that there is no Countrey hath more Antidotes to help against poyson Even so no people under the Sun I think meet with more troubles and afflictions outward and inward then the people of God do but then none have more excellent Cordials to make use of at such a time then they have Alcheumes Bezoar dust of Pearl or aurum potabile are not so comfortable as those spiritual Cordials of all sorts that the Saints have to do them good in times of affliction And believe it those who injoy any share in these Eternal good things find such comfort therein and they stand them so much in stead under afflictions that they go on cheerfully in their way towards Heaven What else
Though God may think fit to delay them somtimes before they injoy what they labor for yet at last they shall be satisfied therefore are they quickned in the Text with a promise Labor not for the meat which perisheth but for the meat which indureth unto everlasting life which the Son of Man shall give unto you And with another in the foregoing place Your labor is not in vain in the Lord. The promises are the Christian 's Magna Charta for Heaven They are Pabulum fidej anima fidej the food of faith and the soul of faith enough to supporâ— and bear up a Christians faith in what condition soeverâ— he is and in whatsoever he goes about God who is a true God will not falsify his word with any The author of such Scripture promises is God God whâ— cannot lye hath promised As God is light and in hiâ— is no darkness 1 John 1. 5. v. So he is truth and iâ— him can be no lye The strength of Israel will not lye 1 Sam. 15. 29. v. herein is made a difference betwiâ— God and Man God is not as man that he should lye neither the Son of Man that he should repent Numb 23. 29. v. God's promises are all sure not only sure Certitudine veritatis in a way of truth but also sure Certitudine haereditatis in a way of performance Knoâ— says Moses Deut. 7. 9. v. That the Lord thy Goâ— he is God the faithful God who keepeth Covenant and Mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments It was the saying of Saint Ambrose upon his death bed We are happy in this we serve a good Master that will not suffer us to be losers servants in the world may lose by their Masters when they have labored and taken pains in hopes of being rewarded after their labor but God will not let any of his be losers by him That which was the Apostle's fear Gal. 4. 11. v. may here be taken notice of I am afraid of you saith the Apostle least I have bestowed upon you labor in vain Though this was Saint Paul's fear in reference to the Galatians yet it needs not be a Beâ—ievers fear in reference to heaven and the things of heaven in heaven he shall eat the labor of his hands Psal 128. 1. 2. v. Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord that walketh in his ways For thou shalt eat the labor of thine hands Many a man labors and toils in a business where he â—s not sure to get profit or be satisfied for his labor he â—akes How many poor beggars go to rich Mens doors where they are not sure before hand to receive â—n alms they know not but that after long waiting â—nd much begging they may be sent away empty â—nd all their begging and waiting be but in vain How many laboring men will set about a piece of work where they are not sure before hand to be paid for â—heir pains they will yet hazard some pains-taking â—ut believers need not fear it will be so with them â—hey do not hazard their pains their pains and labor â—bout Eternal good things will be answered Gal. 6. â— v saith St. Paul there Let us not be weary in wellâ—oing for in due season we shall reap if we faint â—ot Seed time and harvest are not at one instant the laborers in the Gospel at night had their penny but though they labored all day it was night before their penny was given them Although a Christian may seem to lose his labor at present yet the time cometh when he shall find it with advantage Say it should be long before you do find this But ye brethren faint not 2 Thes 2. 13. v. For in heaven you will not repent your labor You never heard nor ever will hear of that glorified Saint who said in a complaining way That he got to Heaven at too dear a rate or that the possession of Eternal good things cost him more labor then they were worth We may say of all our labors as St. Paul of his sufferings Rom. 8. 18. v For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us Let what will befall us what afflictions what troubles what miseries or crosses Heaven will make amends for all let us put all our troubles and afflictions all our labor and pains in one ballance and Eternal glory in the other ballance and this glory will over-weigh all afflictions and sufferings they are not all of them worthy to be compared to this glory In the beginning of those Civil Wars which the Senate of Rome carried on against Cajus and Fulvius Gracchâ—â— the Consul Opimius by publick Edict promised that whosoever should bring the head of Cajus Gracchus should receive for reward its weight in Gold All esteemed tâ—is a recompence highly to be valued that one should receive equal weight in Gold that precious meral to the weight of dead flesh But Gods promises far exceed this for a short labor here he rewards with an Eternal weight of glory And all the Greatnesses of this world being but as crumâ—s nut-shells and trash if compared with the least particle of Eternal glory All the labors the watchings the fastings the prayings c. for Eternal good things are but as the taking up of a straw for the gain of an earthly Empire they are but as the gathering up a basket of chipps to gain an hundred weight of glory they are but as the filling a little vessel with sand or water to gain multitudes of precious stones they are but as the reaching forth of an hand to receive a rich and massy Crown of Gold Such are the Eternal good things we labor for and take pains for if compared to our labor and pains that I may well apply here what was once mis-applyed in the tryal of that holy Man Job We do not serve God for nothing Though we should not serve him meerly for reward as hirelings nor for fear as servants but as children for love 8. Our labor and pains ought cheifly to be imployed not about perishing but Eternal good things Because even to Eternity it self it will never repent us to have bestowed the greatest labor for Eternal good things It never repented Jacob when he came to inherit his Father's blessing that he had indured a long exile a tedious bondage and hard labor with Labon It never repented Joseph when he was once made Ruler in Egypt that he had been sold thither for a slave that he had somtime labored for the Ishmaelites to whom his Brethren had sold him or for Potiphar who bought him afterwards of the Ishmaelites It never repented him then that he had been a prisoner for he had never been a Courtier if he had not been a prisoner It never repented the Israelites when they came to inherit the Land of Promise that they travelled forty years in a forlorn
like flowers that have only their months but end with the Spring or Summer like Grass which in the morning flourisheth and groweth up but in the evening is cut down and withered like Nosegays now iâ— the bosom by and by in the besom like so many bubles in the waâ—er which burst of themselves as so many Spiâ—eâ—s-webs that are easily torn in pieces like wandring Sirds which look upon us from a bough of some tree making us a little chirping musick and then fly away How many examples are there in the world of withered and blasted estates How many persons do we read and hear of that have supposed their mountain so strong that they should never be moved yet they have been stript of all before they dyed and have become as poor as Job as we say How many that for a long time together never saw one day of Sorrow but had the patient providence of God resting with all favor and success upon their Tabernacle and were invested with great Lordships and possessions but have brought all to a morsel and have dyed wanting How many who were once well fed and warm clad have soon changed their pastures and their cups which did once run over with Wine have been filled with the waters of Marah and they put into the poor man's dress Let men possess never so much of these Temporal good things yet they have no Charter for what they injoy They who are now full and abound with all things to make their lives comfortable may â—â— many ways brought to poverty Ruth 1. 21. v. says she there I went out full and the Lord hath brought me again empty As one says Dies hora momentum evertendis Dominationibus sufficit quae adamantinis credebantur radicibusâ—esse fundatae A day an hour a moment is enough to overturn the things that seemed to have been founded and rooted in Adamant and to make them perish O that those men who are so greedily set to gain the world and nothing else but the world and the things of the world are in their thoughts and have their hearts and affections for these they toyl labor and take pains day and night never minding what will be fall their souls and yet they see what the things are they so much labor for poor trifles the very best are if compared to the Soul the soul that must abide for ever and yet these things that are but perishing things and they have no assurance to injoy them one hour to an end take up all their time and labor and pains Such men put me in mind of what is reported of a Woman who had her house on fire that she was very busy and spent her time and took great pains about saving and gathering up many â—â—ifling things and in the mean time had a child in the Cradle and forgot that now when the poor Woman came to take a view of what she had gathered up she saw but a few trifling things but when her child came into her mind imagining that her child had been burnt though it was saved she ran mad to consider that she should be so foolish as to mind things of no concernment and to forget her child So will it grate upon the Consciences of thousands to all Eternity when they shall remember they labored all their life for such things as perish with their using but neglected what should have done their souls good to Eternity But those things we should cheifly labor for are Eternal and everlasting good things As indeed all the things of Heaven are Eternal and everlasting and as far from dimiâ—ution and decay as the soul from death and can be no more corrupted or shaken then the seat and omnipotency of God surprized How many Scriptures bring this Olive branch in their mouth and assure believers that all the things of Heaven are Eternal which truth is the flower of all our joy Take this brief account of Heavens Eternal good things 1. That Glory in Heaven is Eternal Glory 2. That life which is to be had in Heaven is Eternal life 3. That Joy which is to be had in Heaven is Eternal joy 4. That Inheritance which is to be had in Heaven is an Eternal Inheritance 5. The kingdom of Heaven is an Eternal kinddom 6. The Crown worn in Heaven is an Eternal Crown 7. The house or habitation prepared in Heaven is an Eternal habitation 1. The Glory in Heaven is Eternal glory Our blessed Saviour is ascended up into Heaven and there is made partaker of this glory but he will have all those who are his to fare as he himself fares they shall all of them be dwellers in glory with him See John 17. 22 23 24. v. The Glory which thou gavest me I have given them viz. those whom God had given him v. 6. that they may be one even as we are one I â—â— them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one and that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them as thou hast loved me Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me When David was sent by God to Hebron to be crowned he will not up alone but takes with him all his men with all their housholds they shall have a part with him So Jesus Christ will not be happy alone will not live in glory alone as a loving Husband he cannot injoy any thing if his wife and children have not a part with him so Jesus Christ will have all his in glory with him to see his glory and as I have already shewed to be glorifyed with him and this glory wherewith they shall be gloryfied is an everlasting glory t is no glory that is transient or that will ever end but t is Eternal glory It is Excellentis gloriae pondus aeternum 2 Cor. 7. 4. 17. v. where the Apostle speaks of an Eternal weight of glory And St. Peter speaks De aeterna gloria in Christâ— Jesu Of Eternal glory by Christ Jesus 2. That life which is to be had in Heaven is Eternal life It is not a life of threescore years and ten or fourscore years as our lives in the world are which are soon cut off and flie away Psal 90. 10. v. A longer life then that which is promised in the last verse of the very next Psalm Psal 91. 16. v. With long life will I satisfy him the word Long is too short to set out to us this life Old Parr's life was a long life and the life of Johannes de temporibus was a long life for he lived in sundry Centuries and filled up Three hundred threescore and one years Adam his life was a longe life and Methusalah ' life was a longer life but this is an everlasting life Alas our life here on earth is but a short life every day the thread of mens lives are
for thee Uniâ— me to Christ 111 who is the Fountain of life that I may live who by nature am dead in sins and trespasses Let thine Eternal spirit by its powerful influence and breathings heal 114 my Soul sanctifie my heart subdue the rebellion 115 of my will and purifie all uncleanness out of my affections that acting from inward principles of holiness I may imitating blessed St. Paul exercise 121 my self to have alwayes a conscience void of offence towards man and 122 in simplicity and godly sincerity not in fleshly wisdome but by the grace of God I may have my conversation in the world in all things willing â—12 to live honestly and walking before thee in truth and with a perfect heart doing that which is good that so when thou shalt bring to my mind the History 126 of my life which having been very sinful might here be followed with dreadful apprehensions of thy wrath and some glimpses and pre-occupations of Hell and hereafter with Eternal torments I may have that which will afford unto me inward consolation and refreshment and in the day when I must pass 127 through the valley and shadow of death that neither the terrors of death nor the fiercest oppositions of Hell and the Divel may dismay me let me be found interested in what will do me 145 good then and being lasting good things will last beyond Death go with me out of this 131 world stand me in stead at the day of 23â— 152 Judgement and keep me out 137 of Hell If whilst I live thou shalt make my condition an afflicted condition that 141 I must go through the valley of Baca towards Zionâ— yet bestow upon me what thou knowest 142 will make me bear afflictions patiently be as an Ark to uphold my spirits and keep them from sinking in the greatest deluge of calamities Though here I should meet with shame and disgrace O Christ yet with thee let me 174 enjoy Eternal Glory though here I should live but a short life yet in Heaven let me live 175 an Eternal life though here I should not have one joyful hour yet hereafter let me enter into my Masters 177 joy into that joy which Eternity begins 178 but Eternity shall never end though here I should never enjoy any earthly inheritance yet let me not miss of that Inheritance incorruptible 179 which fadeth not away in the 180 everlasting Kingdome of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and there also receive that Crown 182 of glory that fadeth not away though here I should not have a house to shelter my self from storms and tempests yet let me be admitted into that house not 184 made with hands Eternal in the Heavens and scituated in the new Jerusalem which is the everlasting habitation of 189 Angels and glorified Saints Take my heart off these lower things wherein so many do fancy 221 doth consist the only comfort of their lives which are only for the body 198 and but vanity and vexation 191 of spirit and set it upon those alwayes 188 desirable good things in Heaven which only can satisfie 193 the longings of it and make my soul 198 that most precious and immortal 203 being happy By faith help me to look above 22â— the gaiety and eye-dazling 224 objects here in the world and to see the excellency and worth of those things that are 215 invisible but are made 235 known in the Gospel Oh that my head were water 245 and mine Eye a fountain of tears that I might weep day and night for them who make all the motions 250 of their Souls to wait upon earthly designs and for the gaining 252 the Mammon of unrighteousness in this world such â—s prefeâ— momentany pleasures before 244 Eterâ—al joyes and spend their whole time in making proâ—sion for the flesh without the least thought upon Eâ—ernity that follows and never think of their present â—nfulness or their future Eternal misery Pardon â—e O my God that I have at any time postponed 256 the things of Heaven to the things of this world â—referring dross before Gold the fatness of the Earth â—efore the dew of Heaven earthly Mammon before Heavenly Mansions and the good things of this life â—efore the good things of another and better life yea â—ood and â—aiment for my body before Grace and Glory â—or my soul and now O Lord â—help me to consider â—hat it is â—igh time for me to mind the concerns of my â—oul and to be labouring for Eternal good things and â—261 seeking those things that are above and to â—ve above those things which 269 I cannot live withâ—ut yea wholly to spend my time whilst 269 I am â—n the body about those things whereof I shall have â—ost need when I am out of the body and principally â—o Labour for on earth those things that will be of use â— Heaven Make me spiritually 273 wise to lay up â—uch a stock and store that will do me good throughâ—ut all Eternity and before my body be laid in the Grave to take care that my never dying soul may be â—arryed into Abrahams bosome by a turning to thee O God by accepting of Jesus Christ by getting my â—ins pardoned and my evidence for Heaven cleared â—hough I do yet remain upon Earth let I pray thee â—hy spirit help me to converse in Heaven 274 and â—o have mine Eyes fixed upon those invisible things â—or ever blessed be thy most holy name O Lord that I am not placed among the common Beggars of this world that I have not been sent to beg my bread from door to door it might 278 have been my portion to have crowched to another for a morsel of bread to have been a vagabond and have saught my bread out of desolate places and to have lived as another Lazarus 279 in a starving and famishing condition O Lord I beseech thee never lay me under the heavy judgement of poverty in this world least I be poor and steal and take the name of thee my God in vain neither let me be a beggar in another world in Hell to howl for a drop of water to cools my tongue Yet if poverty must be the condition thou O God wilt have me to end my dayes in and I must be made worldly 287 poor yet O God vouchsafe to make me spiritually rich rich in Faith even enriched with the unsearchable riches of Jesus Christ let me be found to be an heir of Salvation even an heir 288 of God and a joynt heir with Christ an heir of that Kingdome 289 which thou hast promised to them that love thee Help me O Lord to overlook the splendid braveries of this world the greatest and best things of this life 299 as those things which are 293 not but are as so many Empty 294 clouds and Wells without Water ciphers without figures and but as shadows to real substances being altogether void of 291 what will make me happy to Eternity and to Labour that I may have