moved upon the Chaos It workes not in reference to any preceding worke or signe of enducement much lesse ingagement All are under sinne dead a Chaos and he quickens whom he will all inducement is onely from GOD and will An out roome here below hee would have and he sayd let there be this and let there be that and it was so and this was the manner of raising it so now a roome he will have here below more inward from the noise of the World and hee sayd Ephata let this window be opened and let there be light and 't is so Vessels hee will have for this low roome and he makes them al himselfe according to absolute will hee makes one to honour c. Terminus creandi est 't is a terme of Creation Synonimicall with this in my Text who hath made us meete i by his word and of his one free wil. Media gratiae ordinem creationis subeunt The meanes of grace have the order of Creation stamp'd upon them Christ the great wheele that turnes all other wheeles of our salvation is made unto us what he is and made of God Who of God is made unto us wisdome righteousnesse c. 1 Cor. 1.30 Christ is a full Sea indeed but not a drop to us but as made of God So we are made able Ministers of the new Testament not of the letter but of the spirit Could such a poore man as I by speaking a while to the eare turne the heart from sinne to Christ did not a creating blessing sit on my lips Divine institutions have the formality of a Creation in them because they have what they have and doe what they doe from supreame power onely above all cause and reason Other meanes have their reason in them as a cause Therefore are institutions and meanes of grace here not so much as mentioned onely the Father meanes are so beside likelyhood and reason to so noble an end as to make and fit soules for Heaven Giving thankes to the Father who hath made c. None else worthy to be so much as mention'd in this noble worke Grace is a Creation Creatio talis creatio ' and 't is such a Creation there is Creatio transiens continuans Grace is a continued Creation The Father workes hitherto and I worke hee speakes of Gods working grace under the motion of Creation and in that very phrase that wee should call the working of grace a Creation The Creation of the World ceased in so many dayes Transiens and God rested from that labour and doth still but the the Creation of grace lasts hithertoo 't is the worke of the Trinity to this day without resting and how long yet further 't will be whether to the end of the externall Creation I cannot say The Word of God is a lively word it hath a spirit in it this is the worke of the Trinity still to put spirit into the Word to make living words and so living soules So the workes of God are lively workes what God does ' has a voice the staffe a voice all that God sayes and does all his words and works they are made lively that is breathing and forming eternall life in man by a transcendent concurrence of Father Son and holy Ghost the first is here mention'd to wit the Father the rest are to be understood to wit the Sun the holy ghost the workes of the Trinity ad extra are not to be divided Giving thankes to the Father i to Father Sonne and Holy Ghost Who hath made us meete c. Under this terme made the Word of God and workes of God are meant as meanes for he speakes in the foregoing Verse of sufferings which attend truth which are al conducing to this noble end to fit man for God Grace 't is a new Creation Nova a Creation that makes old things passe away things as old as the old Creation and then things to become new 'Tas destruction in it and then erection and edification it takes away and then sets up it destroyes sinnes which are old things as old as the Devill and then sets up grace takes away the stone and then builds with flesh this is the fashion and manner of building within kils the old man and then makes a new new light new love this makes a new heart a new Creature a new man Who hath made us c. i who hath made us againe who hath made us anew Grace is a hid Creation Abscondita 't is formatio secreta our life is hid Know'st thou the way of the spirit in man 't is as the way of a Bird in the Aire 't is as the way of the wind in the Earth very unknowne Invisibles stellae A new name which none knowes but he that hath it 't is meate to eat which the World knows not of no which Christians know not of One Christian doth not know what meate another Christian hath at his Table nor how sweete not what guests nor how merry together J have meate to eate which yee know not of A Christian is bound in the spirit and cannot see the girdle raised high and cannot see the hand taught wisdome secretly and like Samuel cannot tell the voice warmed and cannot describe the fire the soule as in Heaven and yet in the body and then whether in the body or out of the body cannot tell As there is killing without hand so there is making alive without hand without any seene or to be discerned Trees have their sap and seed in them their sap and life is hid it creepes up under the barke and puts out gloriously but very secretly and unexspressibly beyond all demonstration so is the way of grace and the working of the spirit of God in man Interna Grace is an internall Creation it makes a new heart and a new spirit 't is glory within t is bones broken not flesh and set againe and made glad 't is a heart prickt wounded and heal'd not a head Grace 't is the foreskin of the heart taken away a Jew inwardly 't is great hammering yet no noyse heard 't is so inwardly a cry but none heard in the streetes t is in such inroomes 't is not onely the hand without put forward but the watch-wheeles within set right to the sun Grace 't is Anima indivisibilis the soule broken all to pieces by supreame power and curiously by the same power set together againe Grace is glory within a roome of royall repose private 't is Christ in the heart of the Earth the Kingdome of God is within us The words which Christ speakes they are spirit and life so are all his workes which now he workes they are spirit and life i of life upon the spirit hee hath done all his workes without doore all his worke now is within spirit upon spirit not a worke more should be wrought now were it not to make
thing able to it and above it though never so great Almightinesse in God cannot be fully expressed by man Almightinesse in a Christian hath so much of the Almighttinesse of God in it that this neither cannot be fully expressed 'T is the same power which made Christ Almighty exceeding richly made knowne in a Christian no otherwise did the Apostle know how to expresse it that yee may know what is the exceeding greatnesse of his power to us ward who believe according to the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead Ephes 1.19 20. and set him at his owne right Hand in heavenly places Almightinesse in a Christian 't is the exceeding great power of Christ made knowne exceedingly whereby a great similitude to Christ is made in obeying him as hee did obey his Father Thus onely the Apostle expresses this power because he knew not how more fully to reach it therefore you may not expect a deeper fathoming of it from me and what is the exceeding greatnesse of his power to us ward c. 'T is an indefinite expression of an unmeasurable thing we must word it as well as we can when things are too big for words 3. Quedammodò omnipotens ad extraordinarie Almightinesse in a Christian 't is one in strength above ordinary worke t is one all able to extraordnary duties as able to hard as to light worke 't is one able not onely to impart the Gospell but his owne soule too for the Gospell So being affectionatly desireous we were willing to have imparted unto you not the Gospell of God onely but also our owne soules 1 Thess 2.8 'T is one able to give his heart to God and his life too his affection to Christ and his bloud too with much willingnesse So being affectionately desirous we were willing c. Covetously or lustfully desirous as the originall words signify which notes the most taking and swaying heart-passion Almightinesse in a Christian 't is divine power extended and received to the utmost as you have such a Scripture phrase to the utmost of what God is communicable and man capable to the utmost of what an infinite God can give and a finite nature can receive 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the utmost of what is promised and a Christians calling can call for T is a Steven one full of the Holy Ghost and of power able to stand it out in a storme of stones to see Heaven in Hell 'T is a Shadrach a triumpher in the Almighty in the face of fiery cruelty a triumpher in an Almighty God before the frowning face of an Almighty man 't is a man able to obey God Agendo patiendo in perpetuum to the utmost to the last breath Modus communicandi Almightinesse in a Christian 't is the same in nature with that which was in Christ whereby hee did all those Almighty things for our saluation Modus communicandi The Apostle wishing this power to the Ephesians sayes 't is that which wrought in Christ when hee raised him from the dead According to the working of his mighty power which wrought in Christ when he raised him c. Ephes 1.19 Christ had his power by which hee did great things for us by unction so have we hee by unction from his Father we by unction from him God anointed Iesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power Acts 10.38 Christ hath his unction immediatly from the Father we immediatly from the Son 't is he that most immeditatly gives the Holy Ghost to us Hee shall glorify me saith Christ of the spirit for he shall receive of mine and shall shew it unto you The power the Holy Ghost gives 't is the power of Christ the truth hee reveales 't is the truth of Christ Whatsoever excellency he inspires 't is the excellency of Christ and to make similitude to him 1. Impertiendi discrimen Christ had his unction according to his capacity of infinite capacity and therefore his power the power of a God All power of God in man comes to but finite power the Subject is capable of no more Almightinesse in a christian is but finite power infinite power working finitly according to the capacity of the Subject Christ had a more full unction then we being a vaster continent and he had a more free unction that is power more absolutely conferred and made over very personall to him He had his power as the first Adam wholly at his owne dispose so hee spake of it and so hee wrought by it I have power to lay downe my life and J have power to take it up He could doe this as of and from himselfe The most Almighty Christian cannot say thus without blasphemy Infinite power workes in us but not infinitely nor personally as a thing wholly and altogether at our dispose Vse Christians are yee Almighty men and women 'T is a seasonable question an Almighty strength is comming against us God is armed deadly worke is in the Land can yee suffer unto death Our glory will be great quickly or our shame obedience to bloud and death is comming into use againe Is my strength the strength of stones Saith Iob. The strength of stones and rockes a kinde of Almightinesse is like to be needed all the strength of God to carry us out well what power of God works in you Divine Justice is throughly awake but ah Lord we are not Full executions working full preparations asleep all will be ours with a wet finger no Christians 't will not 't will be with a wet heart too wet with bloud and 't is well if not with the bloud of some of you 'T is a remarkable expression that of the Prophet Ezek. When he had foretold sad things hee concludes thus Then said I ah Lord God Ezek. 20. v. ult they say of mee doth he not speake parables We are to many as those that preach our owne melancholly fancies when we please not their fancies I have often sadly said it and with as much humility as I could that England's mercie would be bloudy mercies but I doubt what use was made of it The Sword you now all see is drawen when 't will be put up again what bleeding yet is behind the Lord onely knowes 't will be our wisdome to get strength for the worst All might all the power of God working in us to beare up under all that can come To have serv'd Christ with our hearts would have serv'd-turne very well these fourescore or these hundred yeeres past but now t will not it must be with our heart-bloud what strength and power have yee in your hearts to this can you bleed out your soules in your Fields in your Streets at your Dooâ—es in your Houses for Christ Tell me all of you I beseech you what strength have you to this I have but little I have none this is the generall vote
him but 't is not so with GOD he would have no man call him what he is not or any thing he does what it is not but as he is and as hee does Tell Pharaoh I am that I am as he sees me doe and worke so let him call me and no otherwise as men see me and feele me my power my glory and the like so let them call it and me Srengthened with al-might according to his glorious power c. Vse Love leades to this justice binds to this and yet I feare I shall not finde so much favour for Christ from every one as to obey this doctrine A glorious power wrought in and by Christ and yet the Scribes and Pharises would not acknowledge it but blaspemed all They would not call Christ Christ GOD GOD though convinced he was so but called GOD a divell and the power which wrought in him by him and for him a Diabolicall power and thus continued blaspheming glorious power the most glorious power that ever wrought So did Jannes and Jambres the power which wrought by Moses This generation is alive againe alive and lusty in this Land at this day Divine power workes gloriously in the hearts and hands of Christians yet will not manie wretches acknowledge it but deride it blaspheme it make head against it as a power of the devill Never did divine power worke more gloriously in the hearts and hands of English Christians then at this day and yet never lesse acknowledged nor more opposed what speaking what plotting now by cursed spirits against glorious power wisdome and love that stirs in the people of GOD Men care not what they say of our GOD nor what they doe against those in and by whom hee workes Men will not see Christ in Christians nor Christ for Christians but Christ wil make them see and feele both When the heart is naught t is full of shifts such men will attribute all that is done to any thing rather then to that they should then to divine power and call that glorious The Syrians attribute that to Hills which they should have attributed to GOD for which Divine power wrought bloudily againe more bloudily then before that they might acknowledge God and call his power as it was glorious Thus saith the Lord because the Syrians have said The Lord is God of the Hilles but not of the Vallies therefore will J deliver all this great multitude into thine hand and yee shall know that I am the Lord. 1 Kings 20.28 wretched men will call Hilles strong houses strong any thing strong and mighty but God The working of Divine power in the hearts and hands of Christians so lately and so gloriously at Kenton I much doubt whether the wicked will acknowledge to be the power of GOD against them and call it as it wrought a glorious power Divine power therefore shall worke againe and againe more bloudily then at Kenton til they be made to call it a glorious power which workes in the hearts and hands of GODS people Their blindnesse and madnesse is our affliction and their damnation let 's put one against t'other to easen our burdens as we may O when will English Papists and Athests call the power of GOD which works in the hearts and hands of English Christians a glorious power his glorious power When will they confesse that they are strengthened with all might according to is glorious power men of almighty hearts and hands by the power of an almighty GOD When will Balaam alight and turne his horse and confesse a glittering glorious Power of GOD against him When will he ingeniously say I cannot curse but blesse altogether English Christians such a glorious power of GOD workes in their hearts and bands Naughty hearts have their shifts and they have their sinnes pride cannot call that power glorious which is against it A proud person cannot acknowledge that povver glorious which shames him A proud heart is a deadly plague such a man will rather die then lay downe his Weapons to GOD than acknowledge himselfe too vveake for glorious povver O what a nothing is man What a worse then nothing is a wicked man And yet what a something What a all What a some thing above all doth he think himselfe No Land surely hath more guilty wretches of disobedience to this doctrin I have in hand then England What land hath such desperate unacknowledgers of divine power of such glorious divine power as we have Had the glorious and mighty power which workes in the hearts and hands of Christians in England wrought so in the sight of Turkes and Americans how would they have adored it and glorifyed it what hardened Wretches are sinners against the glorious povver vvhich vvorkes in the light of the Gospell above all others Let all men know this and feare that as power is abused so 't will right it selfe within and without Glorious power abused will right it selfe gloriously That glorious povver vvhich vvorkes in the hearts and hands of Christians in England abused blasphemed as many doe vvill harden and cut off vvith a vvitnesse ' t vvill turne men into Divells and Divells into Hell apace Divine povver stumbled against vvill throvv men but Christ and his povver scofft at and blasphemed vvill fall upon men and grind them to dust and yet this is the practice of our Enemies Let us be patient they fight against themselves vvith their tongues more then vve can doe vvith our hands by blaspheming that vvhich they shall bee for'ct to stoop unto That vvhich the vvicked vvill not doe lies the more upon us a necessary vvork vvill else fall quite to the ground You have seene how divine power hath wrought in the hearts and hands of our brethren abroad in Gods Cause call it as 't is a glorious power The almighty hath strengthened them within and without according to his glorious power call it so He raised and strengthened the spirit of Scotland to resist to bloud against bloudy wretches that would have destroyed both them us his power is a glorious power He hath raised and strengthened the spirit of England to resist to bloud against their bloudy enemeis and ours too against all the base bloudy body of many Kingdomes combin'd his power is a glorious power He hath strengthened the hearts and hands of Christians at Hull at Portsmouth at Coventry at Warwick in the City in the Field and made them victorious His power is a glorious power Bloud much good bloud is fallen and yet much risen up againe men have hearts to set their feete in the place of the dead to die againe that Christ may never die His power a is glorious power He hath made the spirits of Nobles Noble the spirits of Gentlemen noble the spirits of Trades-men yea the spirit of Plow-men noble City and Country noble all England for so I account the Parliament resolved to live and die with truth his power which worketh in them and us is
have their force and make issue according to their majesty and glory in the hearts of you all words of majesty and glory resplendent words which are so shaped above as to make strong reflections of the Sunne upon soules here below will make very saving or very killing influence God speakes gloriously to take affect and save the most obdurate heart let him have his designe this is the last thing that I would presse upon you and this concernes us all God makes his words glorious his workes glorious that the heart may be melted and moulded to a glorious forme by them doe not frustrate divine art Words which goe forth with much of God from Heaven let them leave much of God in your hearts When vision is glorious the soule should be in a transe when the speaker is in Heaven the hearer should be there too The Lord spake in glory in shining light to Saul he cast the beauty which he uses above upon his words and these wrought indeed and made Saul cry out Lord what wilt thou have me to doe Methinks this expression in the Text is as if there were such another Heaven opening and such another shining word to some Saul here to some bloudy malicious sinner Sinner sinner why doest thou shut thine eyes and thine eares against glorious words of Christ Some glorious Meteors they render the Heavens to us as if they did gloriously open Heaven me-thinks opens in this expression glorious power how can any heart keepe out of Heaven when Heaven opens to it How can any heart but be taken with that which is full of nothing but taking lustre what man can passe over such an expression without laying his hand on his heart with such a quaere what is that power which the Holy Ghost admires Surely there is glory indeed in that which he calles glorious O that my soule could see this glory Where Christ sets a hand in the margent pointing to the observation of any thing of his that surely is very remarkeable there the soule should stand still sit down and dwell The very accents and aspirations of truth must have their place in the heart of man the heart is to hold all not a tittle of truth must fall to the ground our hearts must catch it and keepe it from falling and dying Power and Love and Wisdome they are accented and aspirated glorious power infinite wisdome love passing knowledge c. These titles and aspirations this dust of gold must not be throwen away but adde to the impression of truth for 't is God setting all his strength to thrust things into the heart 't is God using his best soule-saving art to get into Sanctum sanctorum As the heart behaves it selfe so Divine truth lives or dies in it as Divine words die or live in the heart so God dies or lives in the World Much of God dies when glorious expressions make not glorious impressions much God-dying makes much man dying that God is so much dead in England makes so many men dead Man is lesse then a tittle of truth yea the World is lesse then a tittle of truth Spretis punctâ—s expiraâ— Anglia tittles of truth kill'd by the Christian World kille the Christian World so generally at this day As truth hath apparel'd it selfe so let it goe in the World and live in our hearts let us not take the least spangle from Her attyre Truth and Wisdome and Love will otherwise lose their dimensions and God will lose the glory of his heights and depths of divine dispensations The goodnesse of the heart is as the words of God make totall impression upon it T is the best heart in which God can best read all that hee hath said to a tittle and finde glorious impressions suitable to the glorious words in which he deliver'd himselfe How you judge of your hearts I know not God judges of them as your breath turnes into his as your spirits admire adore rise and ascend into Heaven with his That heart which can reade and heare glorious words of Christ and not be answerably affected will never be a glorious Christian Christ makes the place of his feet glorious as he treades in the heart so hee makes it glorious as his Word makes impression so is sanctification and no otherwise they that heare and let goe divine words of the the movingst forme and force will certainly die loose Soules Men goe to reading and hearing the word with a carelesse spirit 't is most mens sinne all that such get is judgement they eate and drinke judgement saith the Apostle respecting another Ordinance So these heare and reade judgement to their soules that is heart hardning and not heart raising The handling of such a glorious expression as this though by a weake servant of Christ must needs have set your hearts something more Heaven-ward had yee heard with such preparation as becomes you A man finds God in his Word as hee seekes him in Prayer and no otherwise Wax receives impression as 't is prepar'd Esther must fast and pray and come with her life in her hand to the King to have a glorious Scepter stretched out unto her So must we come into the presence of the King of Kings with much seeking of God and selfe-judging with our lives temporall and eternall in our hands to finde glorious words worke gloriously to have a glorious Scepter stretched out from Heaven to us a glorious power working in us in the hearring of glorious things Hee that minds little about what he is going finds little but the fruit of his sinne he goes away from divine ordinances worse then hee came to them he goes away with a sop with a heart more poysoned in malice more hard dead and cold condemned and executed to wit tortur'd I conclude this point with a note of admiration That God will put glosse upon necessary commodities such as we cannot be without and doe well to make them off is wonderfull Yee doe not use to put varnish upon Bread that 's such a generall necessary dish that its double and maine use to the state of man sets it off well enough without any by-things about the dish Such is the Word of God 't is as bread to our soules of supreme use this one would think should be enough to set it off with us and yet because this is not God paints bread guilds Loves and sets them upon the Table to us * Puts glosse upon the words of eternall life That GOD will put himselfe into a passion to put us put Heaven into his words to put Heaven into our hearts le ts wonder That Christ will let fall his mantle when hee ascends that we may ascend too make his raised spirit breake forth into glorious raised words to raise our spirits too let his love and humility be ever before you 'T is our great worke Christians 't is our great worke to admire God in his words and workes in his
the glory of God saith Christ By faith Enoch was translated Soule translations soule liftings up soule raptures are in faith in the strong exercise of faith As wee kisse we are kissed As we embrace wee are embraced I am my wel-beloveds and my well-beloved is mine An act of faith and then an act of recompence an act of joy An act of trust and then an act of returne I am my welbeloveds and my welbeloved is mine This is power working and then glorifying its owne worke in the heart T is the soules going out to Christ like Zacheus and then bringing Christ home with him and after this follow feasting and joy and giving away any thing whilst hee is enjoy'd that is all Things worke as they are in sight 't is so in the body 't is so in the soule Faith sets glorifyed Christ in sight glorify'd Christ in sight makes glorious worke in the heart In whom though now yee see him not yet believing yee rejoyce with joy unspeakeable and full of glory In whom though now yee see him not that is bodily but believing that is seeing him soulely As our soule vision is so in our soule state for joy or griefe shame or glory If the soule can see light in the countenance of Christ t'ath joy glory heaven as full as it can hold if nothing but darkenesse t'ath nothing but griefe As yee believe so is your Heaven or hell With a note of admiration I will conclude this point Christians admire love that makes two heavens for such as are worthy of none Is it not enough that power workes gloriously above but must it worke so here too I am not worthy that thou should'st come under my roofe said he and yet Christ was not then in state that Christ in state in glory shoud come under such a roofe such a rotten roofe as ours here is That light should arise in darkenesse tooke the Psalmist much that glorious light should arise in a poore darke soule glorious power in a poore over-borne sinfull soule should wonderfully affect us and set us into holy admiration If a man die shall he live againe said Iob. Thus much tooke him How much more then should this If a man live shall he live againe If a man have a heaven here shall he have another hereafter If a man have glory here shall he have glory againe shall he have glory upon glory be cloathed upon Out of Heaven into Heaven shall he passe from glory to glory by the spirit and power of God Christians what a King of glory doe wee waite upon Beb-chamber dining-roome glorious yea hall and out-roomes which border upon hell glorious power works gloriously in a house not made with hands yea and in a house made with hands with earthen hands and earthen feete Power works gloriously in Earth formes an earthen Vessell unto glory formes glory unto it in it puts glory in the earthen Vessell and then puts the earthen Vessell into glory The Queenes Daughter is all glorious indeed glorious within without glorious hereafter yea glorious here It lies upon you Christians admiringly to speake and talke of these things They shall speake of the glory of thy Kingdome and talke of thy power c. Psal 145.11 Yea not onely admire it but draw comfort from it according to all your feares and distresses What can yee want which glorious power cannot helpe you to What is it that Heaven cannot make up Suck this Honey-combe your selves I onely can put it into your hand Time calles mee away FINIS USEFULL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THESE Evill Times COLOSS. 1.11 Vnto all patience YOu have a hint here what is the state of a Christian in this World a state that needs a bearing a very bearing frame of heart patience all patience if there be any thing more then this and beyond this in long-suffering it needs this too Strengthened with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulnesse I take these two latter expressions to be Synonimicall or very neere it the one explaining the other All patience is long-suffering with joy long-suffering with joy is all patience What difference they have I thinke is Secundum intra extra and so I shall prosecute them All patience notes the habite long-suffering with joy notes the exercise The one notes the grace of patience in its formality the other in its use in its highest use as the other notes it in its full'st esse and strong'st habit for long suffering with joy is patience in its highest furthest use Varying and redoubling of expression is to reach things thoroughly and to hold them out most effectually 't will be our best way therefore I judge to goe after the Holy Ghost step by step word for word in this way wee shall tread surest and be likely to finde most touching the nature of this needfull grace of patience First therefore of patience then of all patience some thing shall be said as God shall give assistance Definitio Patience is a holy behaviour in affliction T is virtus versata circa adversa A grace that keepes man gracious in all conditions good in a bad condition holy against all disadvantages of holinesses within or without Man is a creature since his fall full of wants and as full of disquiet and this turnes all wants into sinnes and miseries he is a creature beside the rule and his punishment for this keeps him beside the rule through disquiet and so renders man totally miserable miserable without any felicity or hope of felicity this is the gall of bitternesse which patience takes away Patience takes away the sinne of misery the misery of misery the afflicting strength of misery the sting and teeth of every affliction the malignity of every cup of trembling the unhappinesse of every sad condition and makes a felicity in misery 'T is rectitudo animi sub statu infelici A rectitude of mind under a crosse and crooked condition A heart moving by the word of God when whipt by the hand of God 'T is Jonah praying in the Whales belly 't is heaven made by divine art in the belly of hell this is patience Patience is a soule enjoying it selfe in every condition when nothing else Anima in omni semetipsa fruens There is more truth in the understanding then power of truth in the heart therefore is man though very knowing yet very unruly when all suits not to his will hence 't is that the soule can hardly enjoy it selfe when it cannot enjoy all it would Dispossession of the creature makes dispossession of the soule man in want distracted not compos facultatis because not compos facultatum not master of wit because not master of wealth the man is no man because not such a man the man hath nothing because not such a thing because no children no life as one dead would be dead let me have this or that or let me die let me
becomes patient A proud heart resists and is resisted this is duro durum flint to flint fire to fire man hot and God hot no patience nor quiet in this soule nor can be High things made low rough plaine a proud heart humble then followes patience Patience has a humble meeke mother as any holy child in the soule therefore is meeknes in a promiscuous way of speaking put for patience whereas it is indeed the mother of patience according to that expression patient abiding of the meeke c. A meek heart makes patient abiding the will of God The will subdued the heart humble and the man will stay Gods leisure for any thing Patience presupposes faith knowing that the triall of your faith worketh patience saith the Apostle Patience 't is a Dove fleeing to and againe in a deluge and then resting the sole of her foote in the Arke t is a spirit toss'd and tumbled within it selfe and then rests in Christ by faith waiting what he will say and doe therefore t is said that tribulation workes patience because tribulation when strong worketh the soule off from all things here and puts a man upon the exercise of faith in Christ for relief and so sets the soule to expect and waite for good from God when it can finde none any where else Before tribulation comes a man usually does not exercise faith because he hath where withall within his owne reach to beare up himselfe and so thinkes he is patient when indeed he is not but one calme in a calme whereas patience properly is one calme in a storme a heart quiet waiting and expecting good when it can feele nothing but evill nor see nothing but a naked Word of God Patience presupposes faith and hope too therefore is patience called patience of hope 't is the result in the heart of the exercise of both these t is the blessing of faith and hope 't is the rest quiet expectation which the acting of these graces raise whereby the soule is as if it had all it wants As the soule in extremity stayes it selfe upon truth so 't is believing as it expects accomplishment of truth so it rises to hope as it waits for what it expects so it rises higher and this act of the soule is properly called patience The soule at this height is miserable as if not miserable as he useth the phrase about marriage married as if not married possessing as if not possessing This soule doth not possesse and yet is as if he did possesse he hath little and yet is as if he had all Patience presupposeth love charity suffereth long saith the Apostle it indures all things love represents every thing to view lovely all that God doth and all that man doth things thus represented the heart cannot swell nor sowre it selfe with its own thoughts love renders every person and every thing fragrant the veriest dunghill fragrant when every thing smells sweete to the soule the soule keepes it selfe sweete love thinketh no evill thinking evill â—akes evill passion as the soule is possessed of things so it workes within it selfe as the heart workes within it selfe so it makes passion still good or bad Vse I have shewed you what patience is and of what honorable house it comes I will now make some use of all I have as you see opened unto you a grace of graces and in a time of times a time wherein it was never more needed since we knew time Christ is takeing away our deere Earthly enjoyments servant from Master child from parents husband from wife soule from body he is setting every relation a bleeding one in the bosom of another this calles loud for patience God seems to be dealing with England as with Job yea with every good man in England as with Iob he seemes to be as one resolved to try us all to the quick in Country and City to bring us to a morsell of Bread to strip us of all which God knowes England hath abused and to set us upon a dunghill licking our wounds to take away all and then to set us in the want of all to complaine for pity to them that will shew none but powre Vineger into our wounds when we cry for mercy Ah Christians will not such a condition call for patience All in action now calles for nothing but patience all in view now calles for nothing but patience what a double miserable man is that which lives in England now without patience and yet Lord how much doe I see it wanting every where I see an evill springing up in these Evill Times which will spoile us all if GOD prevent it not and that is impatience activity degenerates into impatience forward men can beare no check from providence the most forward men are become the most froward men we set our mercies a day which is more then we can answer and because God doth not observe our limitation we flee out in heart and tongue fearefully 1. I am weary of this City to heare the murmuring and impatience that is in it The Country looks upon the City the City looks upon the Parliament the Parliament looks one upon another Commons upon Lords Lords upon Commons all upon the King and all looke short of the King of Kings this God saw right well the fruit of it is upon us we have lost much mercy this way and now are at murmuring hard that we may lose all relieving presence in the wildernesse and Canaan too Will murmuring and impatience ever bring us into that Canaan we hope for Christians you feare the King you feare the Cavaliers you feare Commanders you feare the Parliament I tell you my heart I am more afraid of you of your unbeliefe of your impatience that this will prove a City spoyling a Kingdome spoyling evill above all I will give you some principles of patience respecting our state and condition as things now stand and goe with us which is the best service I think I can doe you The first principle is this God takes time to administer to publique bodies England hath beene a long time polluting her selfe and this not with a Low but with a very high hand God is going gently to repeate over all and will you not give him time 't is but Justice to allow much time to one that is to repeate much What hath been the course of the publique for this twenty yeares together you have forgotten what hath been your course for twenty forty fifty yeares for these hundred yeares since we and our fathers have enjoy'd the Gospell you have forgotten how cold how formalizing how carelesse in your Families how Excessive and abusive of the creature how bowel-lesse and mercy-lesse who can reckon up how you have ordered your time and talents God can but he must have time will you thrust much work upon God and not give him time to goe through with it God takes time to administer Justice he was fourty years telling Israel
in the eyes of many great and small as ever was Moses in the eye of Corah and his company for discharging his conscience This spirit became very spreading then and so strong that God was faine to make Israels misery long till he had cut off all that were unworthy of that which Moses and Aaron laboured to bring them to so may this spirit make our sufferings long so long till God hath cut off al these proud jostling spirits which are altogether unworthy of those great mercies which our honest-hearted Parliament painefully labours to bring us to A third thing that makes our troubles have a long visage in my eye is this That the one thing necessary to publique welfare is not preferred and prosecuted as such a thing that is according to its dignity and our duty The maine thing I conceive to our publique wel-fare is to perfect our reformation of Religion to raise up and finish that building the foundation whereof our Fathers bravely laid in their owne bloud Israel suffer'd much and suffer'd long a consumption followed them till it had brought them almost to nothing because they grew slack about the maine and preferr'd their owne houses the seiling and finishing of them before Gods House At first when they came togegether to Jerusalem they were hot upon Gods House but being diverted by troubles they grew cold and involved their spirits in their owne affaires which cost them deare and brought them into a deepe consumption I am affraid this is our case Our Parliament at first comming together seem'd very hot about Church affaires though not so hot then as I could have wish't God had his Committee amongst many other of our owne I meane a Committee about scandalous Ministers and matters wherein God is most immediately concerned this Committee was of life and heat a time and the dread and Majesty of that great Court hereby great many troubles came in and this Committee laid downe and other things relateing to this stay'd off by meanes of which the Majesty of that honourable House is much weakened because God much neglected I am affraide this will bring us into a deepe consumption and make Englands sufferings long because wee make God suffer so long all the Kingdome over by blinde worship and blind Ministers who are now the activest Engines against us A fourth thing which makes our troubles looke with a long visage in my eye is this God hath suffered our troubles to grow beyond our Tiller as the Archers terme is our bow is made too strong for us to bend this makes long worke to bee ready If an unruly child creep up under the lenity of Parents to become an unruly boy one in bodily strength suiteable to his spirit before taken downe this speakes long suffering to such parents this is Englands case Our wicked children are growne up under the wing and lenity of the Parliament to virility to mans estate to externall strength suiteable to their internall temper this I am affraid speakes long suffering to thee O poore England Justice doth not looke as if shee would lay down her rod presently when shee is gathering more and more twigs A few malignants are become many many without Armes many in Armes our locusts goe forth by troopes Justice doth not use to make a rod of so many and so great twigs for a little worke strong twigs and rods are gather'd to last for long work A fift thing that makes Englands troubles looke with a long visage in my eye is this A heavy spirit seemes to be fallen upon us Make their eares heavy saith God their Eares that is their hearts I am affraid that plague is heavily fallen upon us Heavy jades are shap'd to much beating a little will not make them goe Men come up to their light like a beare to the stake how heavy hath our motion beene to blast the Common Prayer Booke by publique vote how heavily brought on to judge it an agreement how heavily brought on to clip the power of Bishops how heavily brought on to vote them quite downe although such as had voted and almost acted downe God and all good in the Land how much farther hath many Parliament men gone in matters of Gods worship then droven I keepe honour in my breast towards them who have done throughout truely honorably For the execution of thorough Justice are they not now by the sword droven and will they goe now My heart bleeds to consider this what a heavy spirit is upon us in the prosecution of that worke which God hath thrust us upon Our eyes are halfe open as heavy-headed mens eyes are to see our advantages and our handes in our bosom like heavy sluggards when wee should take and prosecute advantages which God wonderfully gives us A heavy spirit speakes heavy misery suffering much and suffering long a heavy spirit makes heavy misery necessary such a temper otherwise will never go so far in good as it should The last thing which makes our sufferings looke with a long visage in my eye is this suffering doth not soften our fire doth not melt but harden and make brawny the heart of the most The weekly newes of our bleeding is become as the weekly bill of the plague read over and throwne a side Many bodies kill'd how many soules more alive then were What heart goes in secret and bleeds in his brethrens wounds Many kill'd many more worse then kil'd maim'd spoil'd turn'd out of all and likely to starue to death goe weeping wailing and wringing their hands up and down the Country yea up and downe here and doe fully looke some of you in the face and yet I see no signe of all this in your faces Their tone is dolefull doe wee eccho to them The spoiled mourne to the saved doe we weepe with them that weep doe we beare their burden as our own Let every mans conscience speake and acquit him if it can Doth not this saddly speak more suffering because no man will suffer till Justice bring suffering to his own doore No man will be afflicted till it come to his owne turne no man will afflict himselfe all is put upon God he must doe it man by man many will not be afflicted in few this will be long worke I can sadly tell you of hearts more brawny then these hearts that would not have spoiling cease because it inricheth them no not killing cease because 't is their gainfull trade that see bloud and desolation dayly and yet have no bowells but feare this wil end too soon that cut out their worke to last this is not the spirit of a Souldier but the spirit of a Butcher that lives by killing as his Trades and pockets up the prize of bloud and misery with joy This a Souldier a Judas a Wolfe that growes fat upon the carkasses of the slaine Men that strive after places to kill bodies for gaine Ah Lord who hath kill'd such soules This is the spirit of a Souldier
separated from life zeale from integrity an honest heart but something cold and heavy does not run well I confesse in Christian propriety of speaking but we will suppose this case and speake on let there be what integrity and honesty in the heart there will be if there be not fervent love and life warmth and heat thankesgiving will bee poore Thankfulnesse comes the deadliest off of any duty in a dead heart Some birds have longer wings then others they usually flee highest which have longest he had neede have a large strong wing'd soule that is good at thanksgiving the duty is so meerly and so highly heavenly A cold heart can doe but little at prayer but just nothing at thanksgiving you were as good goe to string a stone and play upon it as to make divine melody upon a stony cold heart Defect in natural heat maks benūmednes to action if you be benumm'd to duty certainly there is a defect in spirituall heat you are not warme enough at heart a man is in thankfulnesse as he is in strength of love strong love will fall a limming out of Christ from head to foote acutely his eyes are like his haire like that c. Thirdly as the soule is in Prayer so t is in thanksgiving as a man is in conscience to the meanes so he is in assistance to the end as a man is at one duty so he is in likelyhood and capacity to be at another Dutys they are introductive one leades into another we goe from strength to strength from the strength of one duty wee are made strong to another the blessing of one duty leaves supply behind it to bring on another higher God steps in on a sudden and lifts up the soule when the man is upon his knees A man does beyond expectation when hee humbly casts himselfe upon the means when a Christian cannot doe a divine duty let him come as neere it as he can and God steps in and makes it out When a Christian cannot give thankes let him pray and God will turne a spirit of Prayer into a spirit of praise Some are discourag'd from Prayer they can give thankes no better I come still as a Raven meerely craving why doe so still t is not impossible to God to teach a Raven to sing Finally a man is at thanksgiving according to an inward secret assistance and concurrence which no man can expresse as the spirit helps in Prayer with sighes and groans which cannot be expressed so in thanksgivings with heart-liftings and heart-raysing and ravishing which cannot be expressed Saylers to Heaven finde some times a current as Saylers here below doe in some voyages when the soule lights of this it sayles a pace whether it will or no with no paine there are secret whispers from above bunches of the holy Land tastes of the powers of the World to come these are above all to raise the soule and to set all a praysing God as the soule is brought nearer Heaven this duty becomes naturall I see some very thankefull and yet very poore scarce any thing without to make Musick on surely they have a mighty advantage within there is one winds up blowes and breakes within the instrument could never goe without any thing else so as it seemes to doe FINIS USEFULL INSTRVCTIONS FOR THESE Evill Times COLOSS. 1.12 Giving thanks to the Father who hath made us meete to be partakers of that inheritance of the Saints in light OUr way is mountainous every word is wonderfull high we need wonderfull aide to doe well I againe beg your Prayers I prize them above all parts to facilitate and felicitate my way make me and your selves happy in them make wings for me to ascend to Heaven my Text and worke lies all there Giving thankes to the Father who hath made us meete to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light Who hath made us meete 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who hath made us fit or sufficient Idoneum facere Who hath made c. Vox creationis terminus creandi * Creating and making idem sonant see Gen. 5.1 Doct. est 'T is a terme of Creation Grace is another Creation t is much out of nothing much made from nothing by nothing but by him that is all Giving thankes to the Father who hath made us meete c. The Image of God in Adam was a piece of the Creation a peculiar prime piece t is noted so In the Image of God made hee him c. Gen 5.1 The image of God was the result the ultimate the glosse the glory of the whole piece the furthest reach the designe proposed the top of creating art lay in this * Creating and making idem sonant see Gen. 5.1 Doct. in the likenesse of God made hee man c. This prime piece was lost deeply lost generation will not reach it regeneration onely can the result of generation is but mans image nakedly and no more Gods image is a piece that beares still upon Creation Who hath made us meete One miserable Creature brings forth another no Creature makes another good Men of gifts have not this gift men of grace cannot make gracious The skilfullest man cannot set another in Christ he must be created in We are created in Christ Jesus unto good workes c. Saith the Apostle Men whose art and trading lies onely this way to make gracious yet these cannot we are but instruments by whom men believe but pipes thorough which grace is conveyed the fountaine open is Christ He is the fountaine of life life and the fountaine thereof spirits bubble and spring out of his bosome and blood Fountaine 't is a terme that notes no reception because none knowen is used by the holy Ghost as Melchisedeck to set forth a transcendent thing a worke immediatly and onely from God as Creation was so would the Apostle have this word sound in our eare which is used in my Text who hath made us meet who alone i hath done this as he did things at first Cunctis patientibus every thing laying meerely passiue as the Chaos before him The naturall spirit is still created you give Semen sanguinis semen carnis but not Semen spiritus the seed of flesh and bloud but not the seed of your soules you bring nothing to this glorious worke not a stone not a dust to our inmost roome God breathes the soule still if the naturall spirit much more the divine the holy spirit Gives the holy spirit to them that aske it Grace is another inbreathing another in spiration upon expiration solemne request as dead an immediate Act from Gods owne Mouth as the first breathing of the soule was not leaning to or admitting of any subordination or co-ordination No Father hath grace but God Giving thankes to the Father who hath made mee c. The way of grace is via creationis the way of Creation The spirit moves freely absolutely first as it did when it
past by should account so and spell his death out of it Abels offering accepted and Cains nor this was to hint to Cain how things went in Gods breast and it did so but wrought desperately Christ in the same breath in the same expression can speake consolation and condemnation life and death life plainly death noddingly so hee doth here in this forme of expressing himselfe Who hath made us meete c. Vse This point dischargeth a broad side against an errour of the World Every one thinkes himselfe in the favour of God That wherein God is most curious the World thinkes he is most carelesse his love workes very choisely and they thinke it workes very commonly What man alive but promises himselfe the love of God when hee dies What mans state so bad but he thinkes â—will end in Heaven Ignorant soules make Heaven and the Bosome of God â—he center of soules that to which all soules necessarily goe and can goe no whither else I am pain'd at the heart to heare prophane mens opinions and their principles respecting the love of Christ and their eternall estate I will give you two or three of their principles and speak to them They thrive in the World therefore â—ove hath given them her favour and chosen out them to be the onely happy men who ever be miserable Did not the sunne shine upon Sodom was not Dives a wealthy man and yet where is he Where is hee was not â—ophet prepared for the King The things of this life are consistent with death with wrath A man may lie in the bosome of the Creature and in the bosome of the divel too nothing more common A full Table speakes snares and death as well as love That man will certainly choke his soule that will not rise from his Table to fetch an argument of Gods favour towards him I am beloved of all men in this some blesse themselves as beloved of God Truth seldome gets so much favour 't is a strange carriage that will carry it with all All men may speake well and God speake ill of a man All men love thee Doe Gods people love thee there is a love of pity David loved Saul a 〈◊〉 yet Saul was not beloved of God There is a love of relation David loved Absolom yet Absolom not beloved of God Gods people may fasten love where God will not Gods people are weake 't is usuall with them to fasten love where God cannot And as for the Worlâ— they love their owne they hug one another to death what then can'st thou argue from hence touching Gods favour to thee I am not more jealous of any man then of him that aleadges a generall approbation for his goodnesse The World gives no certificate to Saints nor Saints give no certificate to the World he that gets a certificate from both Lord what is he a Saint or a worldling good or bad or made up between both Common vote for goodnesse speakes common goodnesse commonly seldom is this height a height to argue speciall love from Some men can goe in and fetch thee out an evidence of their eternall state My conscience is as cleare and as good as any Mans my heart is at rest J thanke GOD. The soule is corrupt 't will lie downe with a lie There is settling upon lees this speakes not love but deadly hatred When the strong man keepes the house all is at peace Some are quiet because there is no grace to oppose corruption The old man is quiet enough if he may have what he will The divell is as quiet as another Creature if hee be let alone to rule all as hee list's There is peace peace and yet no peace have you never heard of that They shall cry peace peace and yet no peace no favour with God but wrath burning and judgement at the doore Peace may be in a sinners mouth and wrath in Gods peace may be in a sinners heart and wrath in Gods heart yea when wrath is in Gods Hand and ready to cut him off There is a peace of mans speaking and a peace of Gods speaking When they shall cry peace peace meerely they and not God this peace peace this double peace speakes double wrath Delusions are many sinners looke to your soules This is certain love elects she goes forth with choyce not promiscuously she makes some not all blessed Who hath made us c. Are ye amongst this number Can yee say thus who hath made mee meete and mee meete for Heaven Every one thinkes speciall love embraceth him I 'le therefore give you the proprieties of an electing love 'T is in living Sun rayes generate Vita sun rayes regenerate Love is warming heate makes life The Love of God revealed begets love in man Wee love him because hee loved us first God gives all great favours so as to returne to him naturally Divine love shed abroad in the heart carries the heart to God The spirit returnes to God that gave it the naturall spirit doth so at death the holy spirit doth so before death all along even unto death Gods Countenance where 't is similing 't is winning where 't is winning 't is drawing where divine love is drawing the soule is running to Heaven A favourite is much at Court ever at the Kings elbow Gods favourites are much with him still bending Heaven-ward Love is alwayes in her journey towards her beloved No bosome so sweete as that from whence shee came forth Divine love makes divine it comes from Heaven it carries to Heaven Chosen are called electing love hath a still sweet calling voyce This is the way saith love and there is no way to this saith the beloved Grace echo's to God the giver Wisdoms wayes have the name for pleasantnesse with a chosen soule Love inflames the Kingdome of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force Vâ—atal's Infinite love makes a kinde of infinite it generates simile Love is as strong as death 't is spoken of the love of the Spouse The Husbands love is unexpressible strong so is the Wives Love sets the soule for Heaven with full saile All the heart and all the might Electing love carries al captive to Christ 't is not to be exprest how strong love is when made divine That love that is set upon God is the strongest of all 't 'as such a transcendent object and such secret transcendent influence No sinner loves sinne as a Christian loves Christ Love is made from the object no object so lovely so soule-drawing out as Christ is No such rapture did Salomons soule ever make in the Creature as in Christ nothing is so drawing out of love as Christ the very vastnesse of the soule is suited in him how vastely doth the soule love when fully suited When every power of the soule hath enough to take full hold on Thou hast put joy in my heart more then they when corne and wine and oyle increased Gods Countenance drawes more
spirit for Heaven Perversenesse is in your pathes and yet you plead for your will Sinners observe that speech of Christ If any man will be my Disciple let him denie himselfe and follow me Christ makes deed to demonstrate will if a man be willing to be Christs companion and scholler he will follow Christ yea hee will take up his Crosse i goe through any difficulty to enjoy his fellowship What will is indeed to the end it is to the meanes 'T is idle talke fancy and dreames not will to a thing that will use no meanes Yee tell me yee are willing to be made partakers of the inheritance above what doe you doe to be made partakers Doe you walke in the way which leads to Heaven Are you not in life according to your lusts In your course according to your company Unto divine duty according to your humour Does not will rule truth and not truth your will Let persons convinced be instructed Ye cannot be partakers of the Cup of the Lord and of Devills saith the Apostle so say I ye cannot be made partakers of Heaven and keepe on in the way to hell you must first be made partakers of the Heavenly calling as the Apostle calls it ere yee can be made partakers of Heaven it selfe Wherefore holy brethren partakers of the Heavenly calling c. Heb. 3.1 That is a calling to Heavenlinesse Heaven must begin here Christ must rule all and be made all here as he is above A Heavenly calling speakes three things A heavenly rule a heavenly subject and then a heavenly end I am the way That 's a heavenly rule Not I live But Christ lives in me That 's a Heavenly Subject I have fought a good fight henceforth is laid up for mee a Crowne of Righteousnesse that 's a heavenly end The two former are subordinate to this latter Christ must be without a man and within a man or that man will never come to Heaven He must be all without and all within he onely must be the way I am the way And he only must live in the heart to guide this way yet not I but Christ lives in me The Word of God and the Spirit of God must meete in the life of man or that life will end in death in hell not in Heaven A heavenly rule and a heavenly heart lead to Heaven Few Christians lives are cleerely Christian Christ is our sanctification as he is our justification he is our life here aswell as our life hereafter hee must be made so by every soule and then all will goe well at last Heaven is a Crowne of Righteousnesse not of our Righteousnesse but of Christs His spirit must rule all his merit must be leaned upon for all this soule will certainly be made partaker of all Christians should be comforted from this point All the wealth of Christ is communicable Heaven communicable communicable to you to Saints The complaints of Gods people are many this point answers all My losses are great sayes one so sayes an other Will not Heaven make them up Thou hast neither money nor goods Thieves and Plunderers have stole all Hast thou not treasure laid up in Heaven where no spoile can be made In cases of persecution Christ teaches us to comfort our selves with Heaven how all is doubly made up there When men persecute and revile you rejoyce and be exceeding glad c. Upon what ground Why Upon this great is your reward in Heaven Losse hath its quantity 'T is great that makes it so heavy reward hath its quantity too Great is your reward in Heaven If a man had lost a Kingdome on earth Is not the Kingdome of Heaven responsible If a man had lost all this World Is not the World to come as good as this Is not Heaven as big as Earth As good as Earth Asmuch good As lastingly good Will not your Heaven above be as sweet as your hell here is bitter â—uppose there be nothing above but Christ to make up al thy losse here below is not he enough Canst thou not comfort thy selfe in Christ alone What a soule hast thou 'T was high time thou diddest lose thy treasure here 't was thy God Thou wouldest otherwise have lost thy soule Obj. And 't were but for my selfe I could be contented whatsoever I underwent But I have wife and children and no Bread to put in their hâ—nds nor no clothes to put on their backs this makes my heart sinkes within and I doe not know how to keep it up Sol. Are thy children fit to be partakers of Heaven If so let that comfort thee that they are in a capable condition though temporally miserable to be eternally happy Say to thy sinking soule there is a house above big enough to hold me and all mine and the owner is kind to strangers There is bread enough clothing enough for me and all mine Thou art but stript before quite dead death would have stript thee of all if Cavaliers had not Naked thou camest into this World and naked thou shalt returne Thou maist goe to Heaven stark naked without money without clothes All things are naked and bare before Christ that 's the manner of all going hence thou art put in a posture to goe to Heaven they goe stript of all here below to that felicity above Thou hast nothing now thou art fit for all nothing of earth now Heaven would be welcome Thou hast no home here now thy long-home above O! How sweete would it be Why It may be it will not be long ere thou be there Be still 't is God things wil end wel if Heaven wil make it so Ob. Yea but mine are not such yet as concerning whom I can thus relieve my selfe that they will be partakers of eternall felicity when this miserable life ends Sol. Doe thy duty to bring them to be such thou hast now time and leisure now all is gone What else shouldest thou doe now but give all diligence to make up a felicity for thee and thine where it may be seeing all is gone here Time was thou diddest pretend multitude of businesses and great imployment in thy calling that thou couldest not discharge this and that duty in thy family for the eternall good of servants and children as thou wouldest why Now thou hast nothing to doe God hath removed that let let 's see now how heavenly thou wilt be in the discharge of the divine duty 'T will lie heavy upon thee indeed to see thy children lie in bodily misery and yet still goe on to doe nothing to deliver them out of soule-misery If God stir up thy heart by this to doe thy duty throughly for the soule-good of thine thy misery may prove blessed misery to thee and thine This will be thy comfort at giving up that thou hast discharged thy duty to make a miserable condition blessed But if successe suite thy industry thy miserable children are made indeed This may cheer thee under sad
God Psal 86.10 unlesse such and such men stand by him What Is not God God alone Cannot he nay doth not he use to do great things alone Nemine adjuvante multis obstantibus Is not Heaven brought to us against all the strength of Hell by Christ alone I will make a more strict soule-application of this point Great things come in a very immediate way my inference is our eyes in matters of the soule which are the greatest things should be much fixed upon God Sinners undoe their soules in that little which they doe to save them 'T is enough to some that they put themselves upon Ordinances as if that were all to bring the soule to Heaven Grace and salvation come in a more immediate way 'T is not what men say to the eare but what God himselfe speaks to the heart which makes Heaven there and a capacity of Heaven for ever 'T is the voice behind you that turnes you and saves you Grace drops from Christs on we lips I create the fruit of the lips peace These waters are nothing to him that makes them enough 'T is the Angels stirring does the worke for Heaven Sinners when you come to Ordinances use them as Ordinances * Media ut media secùs slagella and not as Gods charge your soules to hearken what God will say and what God will doe I am going to divine Ordinances it may be a man may say many good wordes to me and God never a one man may lift and lift and be very lively and God give never a lift and then is my soule lost Ah Lord How ominous is that when God will not speake a word to the soule I am fallen upon a point of life death sinners attend or you will utterly lose your soules You have mediate favours cast upon you but what immediate You have men-preaching but what God-preaching do you find you keepe on in a rode-way what foot-way hath Christ within from heaven to your hearts The Law was written with Gods own hand and so dispensed in a very immediate way which was Israells greatest favor Is the Law written on your hearts by the finger of God What friends have you from Heaven visiting you which no eye sees What immediate dispensations from Christ to your soules What workings of the spirit of God upon your spirits doe you finde in Ordinances many a man hath no bigger favours from God then a Horse or a Cow naked corporall things for the support of such a corporall being bread and flesh as a bruite hath hay and grasse This was Caines curse banished from Heaven to earth cursed from the presence of the Lord to bruites mercies onely to what felicity the earth could afford no fellowship betweene God and his soule The World is full of banished soules from the presence of the Lord. Justice for this makes no difference O England betweene thy men and horse no more of one then of t'other because so like in qualification one looking no higher then t'other The noblest blessings the greatest favours Heaven and Heavenly things which God gives with his owne hands to the soule these thy wantons and worldlings O sensuall England have not esteemed A base sunke spirit hath sunk thee England If thou couldest have but the mercies of a bruite fat pasture and peace to grase in it 't would much as thy heart wishes As for those greatest favours which God in state dispences with his owne hand to the heart thou hast many children which will dispence with these and many which will scoffe at them Multitudes amongst you care not for the smile of a God so you may have but the smiling countenance of some great man so you may but sleepe in a whole skinne and enjoy fleshly delights whether God or your soule ever change a good word you heed not Yee base spirited wretches which care not for Heaven so that yee may have but earth know that yee are the plague of poore England The bloud of the Land will be laid at your doore Had not you growne so earthly and base in a fat Land as to sleight Heaven and sleight the greatest favours we had not bled at this day T is the badge of an Esau to prize earth and sleight Heaven to serve sence and to care for no nobler nor nearer fellowship with God then providence bring to the belly God may bring a Heaven to your bodies if this will serve turne and a hell to your soules Let every man know the plague of his heart and repent carnality will kill you all Spirituality onely covets the noblest things A spirituall man cannot feed so low nor so course as others doe hee must have a Dish from GODS owne Table or all dainties at his owne table rellish not The Creature is sweete but there is a Heaven beyond this saith hee Hee cannot sit downe without God nor rise up without him All is wanting when God cannot be found no body at Table when Christ is not there what dropping from Heaven upon my soule from every thing that 's still the Quaere with a spirituall man Immediate favours noblest God alone all to this man Whom have I in Heaven but thee whom have I in Earth in comparison of thee Words of men weighed words of Gods within laid up more choyce then Jewells The opportunity is still lost when Christ and the soule hath had no talke Vanites ensnare I am too fleshly for Christ to take mee by the hand sayes a spirituall man One spirit is still panting after another two spirits would be one in the bosome of another no lesse then the jewels which hang about Christs owne neck will content a noble spirit The Quaere is not how much the body hath of the Creature but how much the soule doth enjoy of God What immediate mercies doe I enjoy What hath God laid in for spending in these hard times with his owne hands What faith What experiments What divine resolutions Spirituality carries the soule sublime every thing is in price as it comes from Heaven and brings Heaven along with it That 's preaching that brings Heaven and the heart together that 's a christian whose breath smels like a garden which the Lord hath blest In whose mouth Heaven opens As things are wrapped up in Christ so they have their price still to a spiritualll man Carnality makes you mind no high things earth is heavy earthy soules cannot flee high no higher then the top of a golden dunghill Let these things hint a bad state and better it The noblest things make the noblest condition both here and here after Live low now and live low for ever as low as hell FINIS USEFULL INSTRVCTIONS FOR THESE Evill Times COLOSS. 1.12 Giving thanks to the Father who hath made us meete to be partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in light T Is considerable how Christ makes his will how hee disposes of all where hee gives most where he casts