the Apostles time Act. 2.29 having bene preserved in the time of the Babylonian captivity even then when both city temple were destroyed with many the like These monuments are in Scripture called Memorialles Mnemeia Matth. 23.29 Iohn 11.38 and 19.41 and 20 1. by which whatsoever others intended the godly are taught to remember their latter end The garnished tombes and the sumptuous sepulchers are but so many scaffolds stages theaters of humane frailety and so many pulpits out of which our mortality is preached and all the common graves of the people are the coffers of death the sight whereof should teach us to lay up our treasure in heaven And thus though the touch of a grave defiled the body with a ceremoniall pollution in the time of the Law Numb 19.16 yet the sight of a grave may serve to cleanse the soule by a spirituall consideration of our end even as the sight of the Leviathan raised up did bring men to purify themselves fearing lest the whale might be their grave Iob. 41.25 with Iob 3.8 m The grave being prepared for the dead corps then men proceed with their may obtaine n Having bene at the grave performed the last duety to the person of the dead we then returne come from the dead to the living to the friends of the dead to mourne with them to comfort them and as the kinred speciall friends of old used to eat drink with them give them the cup of consolation Rom. 12.15 Ier. 16.7.8 Gen. 37.35 1. Chro. 7.22 Ioh. 11.19 and in this action we have an other call to remember our end While we minister consolation to others we are to take an exhortation to our selves The house of mourning is the schoole of mortification and therefore better to enter into it then into the house of feasting for there is the end of all men which the living will lay unto his heart so be made better in his heart by the consideration of the dead by the sadnes of the countenances waiting on that consideration Eccles 7.2.3.4 o When the comforters of them that mourne are departed from the mourning house gone every one to his owne yet still the friends of the dead even while they live on earth so often as they misse their friends departed want the help benefit which they were wont to enjoy from them so often are they called to remember death that makes such separatiōs La. 4 18-20 The widowes orphanes desolate parents oppressed subjects scattered sheep that are deprived of their loving husbands parents children rulers pastours or any friend neighbour that misseth the company of an other are by this want called to remember both that death past which took away their friends that death to come which shall againe restore them bring them together 1. Thess 4.13.14 2. Sam. 12.23 And in this remembrance they are withal warned to make themselves ready for death not to be glewed unto this world from whence their comforts are taken away When the shepheard takes up the young lamb the ewe followes him of her selfe and needs no more calling or driving when the great shepheard of the sheep takes away the soules of young old of dearest friends from one another it is to make them runne after the Lord to long after his presence in whom they shall finde all more then all that ever they lost in this world So often as we thinke of a mother a father or other intire serve to make a deeper impressiō into the soule and to keep the memory of it self in the minde more then a thousand other memorials beside A strange thing it were if a man that were to be judged the next day of life death and to receive sentence eitheir of a most cruell shamefull death or of a rich honourable estate during his life if this man could not keep in minde the judgment approching untill the next morrow without tying stringes about his fingers for remembrance or writing some caveats upon the posts of the prison or procuring some watchmen to come every houre whispering in his eare to tell him of the danger imminent of life or death And as strange or more is it that these great maine matters of Eternall Salvation or Eternall Condemnation should not by their owne greatnes presse the heart of man with the weight thereof unto a continuall remembrance of them without other warnings when as we know not whether we shall have one dayes respite before they come a The last end of the godly is eternall life This life consists especially in fellowship with God the Saints By fellowship with God men come to see God Matt. 5.8 even to see him as he is 1. Ioh. 3.2 to see his face which living man was never able to see on earth Exo. 33.20 to see him before whom the glorious Seraphims doe cover their faces with their wings Esa 6.2 to see the holy Trinity the blessed Father Sonne H. Ghost clothed with the sacred robes of their severall beauty and majesty shining distinctly as the pure Iasper the carnation Sardine the greene Emerald Rev. 4.3 Then the Sonne will shew himselfe unto his elect Ioh. 14.21 and they shall see his glory Ioh. 17.24 and the Father shall be seene in him Ioh. 14.9.10 and with them both the seven Spirits which are before the throne even that one and the same Spirit enlightning with his sevenfold graces and gifts that bright sevenfold lamp of his Church Rev. 1.4 with 4.5 1. Cor. 12.11 With this vision shall the soule be satisfyed whē they awake Psal 17.15 The pleasure of this surmounts the joy of all pleasant things seene by any eye If all the pleasure that all the most ardent lovers receyved at any or at all times from all the most beauteous amiable countenances of their dearest spouses fairest loves in the like promises Therefore is that end ever to be remēbred longed after Thē especially shal it appeare how the elect remaine as lambs in the bosome of the Lord their shepheard Esa 40.11 Thē will it be further revealed how God dwelleth in thē they in him 1. Ioh. 4.15.16 therefore need not feare being kept far off as mē on earth that were kept from the bodily presence of Christ being in the house because of the thrōg at the doore Mar. 2.2.4 The incomprehensible Lord filling heaven earth Ier. 23.24 is himself a house where they shall dwel and they a mansiō wherein he will make his abode Ioh. 14.23 By this heavenly conjunction cohabitation with God shall the elect be one even as the Father the Sonne are one Christ in them and the Father in him that they may be perfect in one Ioh. 17.22.23 This thrise blessed most glorious union is that greene bed of Christ his Spouse Sol. song 1.16 an eternall paradise of comfort and garden of pure delights Oh
eyes sometimes set upon our heads as witnesses and pledges of the glorious kingdome to be enjoyed hereafter In Baptisme is represented both the washing away of our sinnes Act. 2.38 our fellowship with the holy Trinity whose names are put upon us Matt. 28.19 The names of the Father Sonne H. Ghost are set like three pearles shining in our crowne of glory set upon our heads Esa 28.5 In the Supper of the Lord being called unto his Table to the participation of the body blood of Christ we are thereby set together in heavenly places with him Eph. 2 6. like olive plants round about his Table as a crowne of glory in the hand of the Lord Esa 62.3 even a crowne about our head Christ in the middes of his Church As the children of Israel in the wildernes to guide support them in the way were led by a pillar of cloud fed with manna water out of the rock so by a like favour for the same spirituall use hath Christ our King given us the Sacraments of the new Testament 1. Cor. 10.1.2.3.4 therefore looke what joy comfort the most faithfull in Jsrael had when they saw the cloud of the Tabernacle going before them such joy comfort ought we to be filled withall at the administration of Baptisme and looke with what joy and thankfulnes they went forth to gather Manna with as great ought we to be affected in going to the Table of the Lord giving thankes unto Christ for such a staffe of comfort to quicken strengthen us in our journey way unto the Kingdome of Heaven f But for a further view of this unspeakable grace comfort exhibited in these three offices of Christ we are to looke upon the dignity of his person whereupon depends the vertue power 33.15.16 When for sinne the Lord threatned a departure of this presence yet offered to send an Angel with them to destroy their enimies Exod. 33.2.3 that would not content him no presence of prophets or angels would serve the turne without this divine presence united to the Tabernacle for their guidance And even so according to this type when the word was made flesh he dwelt among us as in a Tabernacle as the word signifyes Ioh. 1.14 escenose His body was the true Tabernacle which the Lord pight and not man Heb. 8.2 In him dwelt all the fulnes of the Godhead bodily Coll. 2.9 Out of this Tabernacle he spake Heb. 1.1 and wrought miracles Matt. 4.23 Act. 10.38 and remooved up and downe and conversing among men led his sheep in the way of life Ioh. 10.27.28 No man nor angel had bene sufficient for this worke but he being very God as well as man bearing up all things by his mighty word Heb. 1.3 caries along his sheep unresistably and safely unto the glory exspected He is Lord of all and at his right hand we may see all his blessed angels attending to whom he hath given charge to watch over his sheep in this way and to carry them in their hands that they dash not their feet against a stone Psal 91.11.12 At his left hand he hath the Devill his angels in a chaine and bindes them at his pleasure Rev. 20.1.2 2. Pet. 2.4 so that they cannot hurt a swine or any uncleane beast without his permission Matth. 8.31 and much lesse can they hurt them that are washed in his blood and he having given commandement to prepare the way of his people to cast up an high way to gather out the stones and to remoove the stumbling blockes Esa 62.10 57.14 they shall goe in the way of life as Israel marched out of Egypt with an high hand Exod. 14.8 a dog shall not moove his tongue against them Exod. 11.7 further then is for their good Rom. 8.28 and in due season they shall come to the Lord the wel-spring of all glory life comfort in heaven g The comfort which ariseth from this consideration of Christ is marvellous great for all the faithfull and in speciall for afflicted consciēces that desire to be established and confirmed in faith for t out of his fullnesse Thus the soules that come dayly to Christ as their Prophet may dayly be refreshed by him h If any through weaknes of faith cannot lay hold on the promises of God touching the pardon of sinne and the free gift of salvation set before us let them bring these promises to the ground of them even to Christ applying them first to Christ then to themselves for in him all the promises of God are Yea and in him they are Amen 2. Cor. 1.20 not onely in their owne nature truth but also in respect of our apprehension He that cannot assent unto the promise looking on the promise onely may better assent sooner beleeve when he lookes on Christ the ground of the promise for example God promiseth unto the repentant that their crimson skarlet sinnes shall be taken away and they made white as snow wooll Esa 1.18 now the troubled soule that cannot say Yea to this promise by particular application let the same looke upon the sacrifice of Christ bearing their sins satisfying the justice of God behold his blood powred out to wash them so they shall sooner conceive apprehend their sins to be done away and their soules to be cleansed and made white as snow There is a promise that where sinne abounds there grace aboundeth much more Rom. 5.20 The perplexed consciences that faine would but cannot say Amen unto this promise by applying it unto themselves let the same looke upon Christ and behold the dignity of his person his deity divine majesty being the brightnes of glory the character or engraven forme of his Fathers person his equall and his fellow Heb. 1.3 Phil. 2.6 Zach. 13.7 when they see his eternall Godhead and almighty power to whom nothing is hard or impossible withal consider how he stoops downe to help and puts his hand to this work to give worth price unto the sacrifice for sinne to make the blood of redemptiō more precious meritorious to redeeme the vilest sinners then shall they more easily receive the promise of abundant grace with more faith say Amen unto it There is a promise that God will be mercifull to the sinnes of his people Heb. 8.12 receive them with everlasting kindenes Esa 54.8 pity thē as a father merit of life to justify us v. 54. the spirit of life for our sanctification Rom. 8.10 the crowne of life for our glorification Rev. 2.10 He is all in all Coll. 3.11 and therefore we are to be nothing in ourselves but all in him and wholly renouncing ourselves our owne righteousnes we are to cast ourselves altogether upon him for the hope of eternall life To him be praise for ever Amen CHAP. III. Of Mortification or the death of sinne The nature necessity thereof in generall a
of Christian life we are taught every day continually to remēber this our latter end All dueties both of doing good through faith hope and love or of suffering evill for doing good through patience are so many memorials thereof The end of faith is the salvation of our soules which it beleeveth 1. Pet. 1.9 the object of hope is life eternall which it embraceth Tit. 1.2 3.7 2.13 the comfort of love is translation from death unto life whereof it assureth us 1. Ioh. 3.14.18.19 the reward of patience is rest in the kingdome of heaven and an eternall weight of glory which it looketh for Matth. 5 10-12 2. Cor. 4.17 And thus the comfort of this blessed end is ever carried in the eye of faith in the armes of hope in the bosome of love borne as it were upon the shoulders of patience And as all that is done by mē being well considered should bring this latter end to their remembrāce so all the works of speciall grace that are wrought by God for his children before this world in this world or after this world if we looke upō them with a right eye they doe every one carry in them a remembrance of this glorious end provoke us to thinke thereof We cannot be assured of our election but we see it as a booke of life wherein we reade our happy end Phil. 4.3 and behold the kingdome prepared for us before the foundation of the world Mat. 25.34 We cannot rightly thinke of our calling unles we behold that marvellous light glory where unto we are called 1. Pet. 2.9 5.10 2. Pet. 1.3 We doe not conceive sufficiently the cōfort of our justificatiō by faith ūles eye on this end and for the joy that was set before him endured the crosse and finished his course the work committed unto him Heb. 12.2 Oh let us not breake the band that drew on Christ himselfe Oh forgive us Lord that we have bene so profane carnall to forget this end so often from henceforth keep it in our mindes fix it in our memories that it never slip away CHAP. VI. The latter end of the faithfull compared vvith the primitive estate of the old vvorld Of the communion which man had with God being created after his likenesse a The image of God in the soule though perfectly beautifull excellent b yet inferiour to the image of Christ in the faithfull the perfection perpetuity thereof in the world to come c The body at first though naked yet without shame pain erect upright in all the senses fitted for communion with God d but hereafter endued with more noble heavenly qualities spirituall transparent light agile ever vigilant in feeing communicating with God e The dominion over the creatures given at first illustrated by the remnants thereof yet apparent f not to be compared with that which shall be in regard of heaven earth all that is therein Of their mutuall fellowship with one another g Marriage the first band of society ground of all other to that end instituted honoured of God for their mutual comfort h yet nothing like the glorious bands of communion with Saints Angels in heaven i What blessed communion Adam Evah might have had with their posterity living to this day if neither had sinned k In a right line descendent viewing the long race of their progeny with great joy to themselves l and no lesse happines to their childrē who though living at greatest distance might then with ease abundance of comfort have visited them and communicated with them m In the collaterall line extended on each side to brethren sisters all rejoycing in one another in their loving easy pleasant visitations n Yet all this comes short of the heavenly communion in the world to come the love of Christ the manifold rivolets of sweet fellowship the free glorious motions in the kingdome of heaven THat we may the better comprehend that happy communion wherewith the latter end of the faythfull shall be glorifyed let us somewhile leave our speech of the world to come as also of this present world and let us looke back into the world that is gone past let us behold the glory that is lost that by the greatnes thereof first considered in it selfe then compared with this to come the glory hereof may more evidently appeare That we may the better observe the difference we are to set ourselves as it were in a middle gate betwixt two worlds the old and the new where we may have an open and free prospect into them both and from thence we are to cast a look first into the old world then into the new with one eye to behold the first paradise in Eden and with another the second paradise in the third heavens with one look to view the first Adam his gifts his children and with an other look to behold the second Adam Christ Iesus his gifts his children and so to compare the glory of their estates together In such a middle gate or tower of prospect into these two worlds the Prophets Apostles did often set themselves when they compared them together as appeareth in those texts Old things are past away behold all things are become new 2. Cor. 5.17 Behold I create new heavens a new earth and the former shall not be remembred nor come into my minde Esa 65.17 The first man Adam vvas made a living soule the last Adam vvas made a quickening spirit 1. Cor. 15.45 so v. 49. c. a The glory of the old world in the primitive estate thereof consisted also in a blessed fellowship with God and fellowship with men This blessed fellowship of God with man appeared first in that he communicated his image and similitude with man the beauty of which image shined especially in that wisedome holines righteousnes which God imprinted in the soule Gen. 1.26.27 with Eph. 4.24 Coll. 3.10 Eccl. 7.29 By that wisedome he knew God saw his glory by that holines he did cleave unto him embrace him with love reverence confidence and so in both communicated with God At the bestowing of this image each Person in the holy Trinity did work together each gave precious excellent gifts unto man for the beautifying of his soule with variety of graces such as might make him a lovely creature in whom the Lord himselfe might take delight Rev. 4.10.11 with Ioh. 1.3 Coll. 1.16 Iob 33.4 and therefore is the Trinity described consulting about this work Let us make man in our image after our likenes all are noted with the title of creatours or makers Eccl. 12.1 boreêcha Iob. 35.10 ghnosai As upon the losse of this image when Adam begate a sonne in his owne likenes Gen. 5.3 all hatefull ugly deformity of sin succeeded every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was onely evill continually Gen. 6.5 so
mines of coales in the veines of vitrioll of salt-peter of lime and divers other things whereby from under the earth is turned up as it were fire Iob. 28.5 and to shew a most wofull burning it is sayd The people shall be as the burnings of lime Esa 33.12 Above upon the face of the earth the Lord hath planted divers growing fires in sundry hote herbes some burning blistering the skinne outwardly by the very touch thereof as the nettle with some other kinde of thistles venomous thornes whose innumerable prickes shew the infinite power of God to curse the wicked some other herbs being taken inwardly as Hellebore Coloquintida or the wild gourd that brought death into the pot 2. Kin. 4.39.40 Euphorbium the like doe cast the body into miserable paine distresse burning exulcerating gnawing grating tearing the intrals tossing and tormenting the body with vomits purges with swooning fainting with violent convulsions fearfull symptomes In the sensitive creatures God hath kindled many kindes of living going fire walking to fro in the earth in the divers poysons of sundry serpēts some creeping under our feet some flying over our heads as in the hornet the snake adder aspe cockatrice those fiery flying serpents that sting burne men to the death Num. 21.6 Esa 14.29 To come neerer ourselves in the body of man God kindleth many strange fires in the sundry diseases thereof both by painefull inflammations of particular parts both outward inward especially by that universall fire of the burning fevers flaming out of the heart into the whole body Deut. 28.22 this in great variety some inflaming the spirits onely some the blood also some consuming the very substance of the solid parts also some burning with a simple excesse of heat others consisting in rotten corrupt humours doe burne the body more cruelly of these againe some burning continually night day without intermission as the fire in glasse houses the furnaces where yron is melted others by fitts comming at appoynted seasons after certain periods of time either every day or each second or third day like fire raked under ashes kindled againe upon occasion some others againe consisting of a malignant poysonous fire as in the pestilentiall fevers that burne more cruelly deadly then the rest these are like going or running fires through their contagion spreading abroad walking in darknesse destroying at noone flying as poysoned arrowes by their infection breaking out in boyles carbuncles like so many fiery furnaces or ovens comming up in the flesh Psa 91.3.6 Esa 38 21. And by these with their compounds the Lord kindleth a burning lake within the body maketh the veines which containe the inflamed blood humours to be like so many rivers of pitch brimstone and so causeth an unquenchable thirst an intollerable paine that followes it In the aire clouds above our heads God kindleth terrible fires by thūder lightnings divideth the flames shooteth abroad his fiery darts to consume his enimies Psa 18.12.13.14 Above the clouds in the firmament God kindleth another fire by the Sunne some other starres and smites the earth her inhabitants with the beames thereof so that they are scorched with heate faint in themselves Psal 121.6 with Rev. 7.16 16.8.9 Ion. 4.8 To goe higher into the third heavens God hath there also kindled many fires he maketh his Angels to be flames of fire Heb 1.7 to be horses charets of fire 2. Kin. 6.17 2.11 to be burning Seraphims Esa 6.2 expressed by the same name that is before given to the fiery serpents Numb 21.6 he maketh his Cherubims like coales of fire as the appearance of lampes as the flashes of lightning from them are scattered coales of fire over countries cities for their punishment Ezek. 1.13.14 with cha 10.2.7 e But above all these the Lord himselfe is a consuming fire Deut. 4.24 9.3 Heb. 12.29 an everlasting burning Esa 33.14 when he riseth up to judge the world to plead with secure sinners how can they stand before his angry face His throne is a fiery flame his wheeles as burning fire a fiery streame issueth commeth forth from before him consumeth round about Dan. 7.9.10 Psa 97.3 his face is burning Esa 30.27 his eyes flaming Rev. 1.14 his nostrils smoaking Psa 18.8 his tongue a devouring fire his breath an overflowing streame as a river of brimstone to kindle Tophet Esa 30.27.28.33 from his loynes upward from his loynes downeward all as the appearance of fire Ezek. 1.27 when he shall be revealed from heaven he is to come in flaming fire with his mighty angels round about him all of them like so many shining beames of his glory pointed with indignation sparkling with wrath against the sinners that are frozen in their dreggs 2. Thes 1.7.8 Iude. 14. And yet further to shew the greatnes of this wrath we are to remember that each person in the H. Trinity burneth with a distinct flame of wrath against the wicked The Lord from the Lord raines fire and brimstone Gen. 19.24 The Son comes in the glory of his Father Matt. 16.27 The holy Spirit is a spirit of judgment a spirit of burning Esa 4 4. as the Spirit mooved upon the waters in the beginning of the world Gen. 1.2 so shall it moove upon the fire of Gods judgments in the end of the world for the consuming of sinners All other fires in the creature are but sparkles lesse then nothing in respect of this infinite wrath of God This is the latter end of wicked men never to be forgotten When the Lord warned the Iewes of their destruction of their end that was comming it is wonderfull to consider how earnestly he cryes unto them how many repetitions he useth worthy to be numbred counted exactly of every one whiles he calles upō them An end an end is come the end is come An evill an onely evill behold it is come An end is come the end is come it vvatcheth for thee behold it is come The morning is come unto thee the time is come the day of trouble is neere not the eccho of the mountaines c. Behold the day behold it is come the morning is gone forth the rod hath blossomed pride hath budded c. The time is come the day dravveth neere c. Ezek. 7.2.3.5.6.7.10.12 Thus doth the Lord spread out his hands unto sinners to warne them of their end they are worthy to feele the smart of that eternall fire that neither by the terrour of his wrath propounded nor by the carefull love of God in admonishing thereof will be drawne to looke in this burning glasse to thinke upon this last end Were we wise we should run oftner to warme our soules with this fire by the meditation of it then we bring our bodies to any other fire to heate
that was not onely an idolater but in the grossest manner worshipping all the hoast of heaven setting their altars his graven image in the house of the Lord that was not onely a witch but defiled with many kindes of witchcraft leaving the Lord flying to the devill leaving the Prophets running to wizards that was not onely a murderer but abounding in murders filling Ierusalem with innocent blood which he shed from one end thereof unto another all this after the education under his godly father Hezekias with contempt of many admonitions godly examples yet whē he was humbled in his affliction sought the Lord he was not barred frō the well of life but he found mercy with God who was intreated of him forgave his sins 2. Chro. 33 12-16 And so also those that committed yet a more horrible murder in killing crucifying the Lord of life embruing their wicked hands in his precious blood Act. 2. 23. and 3.15 when they were pricked in their hearts sought grace they found that which they sought obtained remission of sinnes the gift of the holy Ghost being united unto the Church of God were filled with unspeakable joy glory Act. 2 37-47 And as the Lord dealt with these when they turned unto him so hath he promised to deale with the wickedest alive whosoever doe seeke him Thus saith the Lord of hostes Turne ye unto me saith the Lord of hostes and I will turne unto you saith the Lord of hostes Zacch 1. 3. In this divine comfortable promise the Lord doth three times interpose pawne the authority of his name to confirme his word that it might 1.1 2. and 2.20 c and 2. Sam. 7.15 Our Saviour telles Peter that he is to forgive his brother not seven times but seventy times seven Matt. 18. 21.22 And immediately after in the parable next following he shewes how farre the mercy of God exceeds the mercy of men how many times the Lord forgiveth us more then we forgive men And this he doth by comparing our sinnes or debts unto God to ten thousand Talents vers 24. the offences of others against us to an hundred pence v. 28. Now that we may the better conceive the love of God in the pardon of many sins for the comfort of sinners taught in this parable these two summes the difference that is betwixt them is duely to be considered of us And to this end it is to be observed that our Saviour speakes of the Romane coyne such as was then in use among the Iewes at that time subject to the Romanes as appeareth in that peny which Christ required the Herodians to shew unto him having upon it the image superscription of Caesar the Romane Emperour Matt. 22.19.20.21 And though our Saviour spoke in the Iewes language the Evangelists wrote in the Greeke tongue then most common in the world yet the word that is here used for a peny denarion Matt. 18.28 22.19 is the Romane or Latine word to shew that he spoke of Romane coyne The Romane Talent as our writers witnesse contained seven hundred fifty ounces of silver the Romane peny was but the eight part of one ounce Hereupon it followes by just computatiō 750. being multiplyed by 8. that one Talent contained precisely six thousand pence consequently tē thousand Talents contained six thousand times ten thousand pence which is the great summe representing the many sinnes that God forgiveth unto men And though our Saviour by a definite number intends an indefinite yet is the proportion to be observed while he hath chosen so exceeding great a number he would thereby have us to conceive the infinite grace of God in pardoning innumerable sinnes millions of transgressions which the elect faythfull do dayly commit even after their conversion The Lord is still ready to forgive the repentant will abundantly pardon or as the words in the text are will multiply to pardon Esa 55.7 His mercies faile not but are renewed sired they might be consumed with fire from heaven Luk. 10.54.55.56 The spirit that is in man lusteth after envy even Ioshua repined at the mercy grace of God the gifts of his Spirit upon Eldad Medad Num. 11 27.28.2◠Ionas in speciall was strangely vexed and fretted with an exceeding displeasure being angry even to the death and was therefore so hasty swift to anger because God was so slow to anger so mercifull in sparing the Ninevites Ion. 4.1.2.3 And though this seeme strange to those that read it yet is the same passion common among men What godly man is there at this day which doth not in some measure overrunne the Lord to judgment in wishing the destruction of Antichrist as though the Lord were too slow to anger If they might have had their will the Lord should not have waited with so great patience in calling them to repentance But further God is more mercifull to men then men would have him to be even towards themselves For all those that are saved God is more willing to save them then they themselves are to be saved His willingnes to give doth exceed ours in receyving by many degrees First he had a will to save us when we had no will nor being at all he loved us first ordained us unto eternall life before the foundation of the world 1. Ioh. 4.19 Act. 13.48 Eph. 1.4.5 Againe when we came into this world being borne in sinne had a will indeed but no will unto that which is good a will onely unto evill Gen. 6.5 the Lord prevented us called us of unwilling made us willing gave us a minde will to know him seeke him as he did unto Paul in the middes of his wickednes Actes 9.1 3. c. And we should never have had a will to come unto the well of life except we had bene drawne by him Ioh. 6.44 And againe being called made willing it is he that of willing doth make us more willing and constantly willing dayly gives unto his elect both the will the deed of his good pleasure Phil. 2.13 Our will wish is bent unto evill we desire we know not what Matt. 20.22 Our will is often eagerly set upon that which would wound our soules be an hinderance to our salvation comfort Iam. 4.3 but the Lord by his gracious will keepes away the evill we faine would have gives the good that we had no will unto He beareth up supporteth our will in good which els presently declines unto evill He holdeth our soules in life suffereth not our feet to be mooved Psa 66.9 And therefore his will is better to us then our owne Unto this living God that is so good so farre exceeds our desires with his good will let us ever runne flye unto him we shall surely finde the well of life with