Mat. 17. 4. he useth the World as if he used it not If God giveth him Riches a plentiful Estate a convenient Habitation kind Relations he blesseth God and saith This is a good Inn But this is not my Home this is not my Heaven I desire to be thankful that I find so good Entertainment in my Way but I look for better at my Journeys End I have cause to bless God that I meet with so fair Quarter here where I am a Stranger but I expect far better when I come to my Home and to my Fathers House and therefore I long to be there When a Traveller comes to his Inn though he like his Chamber very well yet he doth not send for rich Tapestry and Hangings and other Ornaments to furnish and adorn it for he considers that he is to lodge there but one Night and then must resign it to another So a Saint of God who is a Citizen of Heaven though he may enjoy comfortable Accommodations here on Earth yet he looks upon them all as â—uch as he must shortly part with and leave to others and therefore endeavours that his Heart may sit loose from them If he hath a goodly House on Earth he knows he must shortly be turned out of it and therefore he looks out for a House not made with Hands Eternal in the Heavens and for a Mansion which Christ is gone to prepare for him and though he hath 2 Cor. 5. John 14. 12. a very fair earthly Inheritance yet he knows he is but a Tenant at will and therefore he looks for a Heavenly For 1 Pet. 1. 4. an Inheritance incorruptible undefiled that fadeth not away reserved in Heaven for him If he be as Rich as Solomon was yet he knows that these are uncertain Riches and will soon take Wings and be gone and therefore he looks after durable Riches and Treasures in Heaven which no Rust can corrupt no Thieves 1 Tim. 6. 17. rob them of Though he hath Dear Friends and Relations on Earth yet he Mat. 6. 20. knows he hath better Friends and Relations in Heaven and upon these Considerations he useth the World but as a thorough-Fare and seeks for a better Country even a Heavenly But how is it with Heb. 11. 16. the greater Part of Men Do they use the World as if they used it not Do they use it as a Traveller doth his Inn Surely no but they use it as a sottish Drunkard doth the Ale-house where you may find them Day and Night where they spend all their Time and all their Substance too Alas most Men make the World their Home their Portion their Heaven their God This World hath all their Hearts all their Thoughts all their Care all their Time all their Affections In the mean Time God Heaven and their immortal Souls are wholly neglected God is not in all their Thoughts the Children of God make them Friends of the unrighteous Mammon but the Children of this World make Mammon their God When the Rich Fools Wealth and Corn came flowing in upon him he takes up his Rest in them Soul saith he Take thine Ease thou hast Goods laid up for Luke 12. many Years But when God had established good Jehosaphat in the Kingdom 2 Chron. 18. 1. 2 Chron. 17. 6. and blessed him with Riches and Honour in abundance his Heart was not lifted up with these things but his Heart was lifted up in the Ways of the Lord. A real Christian should use all the Comforts and Enjoyments of this World as they may be helps and not hinderances to him in his Way to a better World He saith with Luther Nolo sic satiari I will not be so satisfied I will not be put off with these things and with Austin Domine nolo omnia quae dedisti nisi das teipsum qui dedisti omnia Lord I will not be content with all that thou hast given me unless thou givest me thy self who hast given me all His Soul is unsatisfied with all his earthly Enjoyments and he is restless till he comes to Heaven which he counts his Home to the immediate and Everlasting Enjoyment of God in Glory CHAP. XIX Many a Traveller hath been ready to faint in his Way and to fear that he should never reach his Journeys end who yet hath attained it with Safety THis Chapter is very applicable to a Christian in his Journey to Heaven in both the Parts of it First Is not he subject to fainting fits while he is in his Earthly Pilgrimage Is he not full of Doubts and Fears that he shall never hold out to the End Doth he not sometimes fear least his evil Heart of unbelief will cause him to depart from Heb. 3. 12. the Living God least a Promise being made of entring into Rest he should Heb. 4. 5. come short of it Sometimes his Lusts and Corruptions are so impetuous and violent that he cries out These Sons of Zerviah will be too hard for me sometimes the Devil pursues him with such hideous Temptations and Hellish Injections that he saith in his Heart I shall â—one Day perish by the Hand of Satan Sometime he is under Spiritual Desertion he sits in Darkness and sees no Light He hath no Sense nor feeling of the Love and Favour of God and then his Heart fails him and then he saith with Jonah I am cast out of thy sight Jonah 2. 4. and in this Condition he is so far from being Confident that he shall attain the end of his Journey that he fears he was never yet in his right Way he calls all in Question and thinks that his Repentance and turning from Sin proceeded only from legal Terrours and from the Conviction of a natural Conscience and not from the Work of saving Grace He bears false Witness against himself and makes desperate Conclusions that he is a Hypocrite a Cast-a-way one of the Foolish Virgins that shall be shut out of Heaven for ever And this I think doth plainly prove the first Point that a Christian is apt to be surprized with fainting in his Way towards Heaven and to fear that he shall never attain his Journeys End These things may seem Riddles and Paradoxes to the Mad World and may be to them matter oâ— Scorn and Derision but those who arâ— acquainted with the Ways of God and with the Method of his carrying on the Work of Grace upon the Hearts of hiâ— People do know that these are experimental Truths But Secondly Though a Child of God be in this Condition though he seem to despair that ever he shall hold out till he comes to Heaven Yet he shall assuredly attain it with Safety and Comfort David said in his Heart and we may say in haste too I shall one Day perish by the Hands of Saul but we know he did not nay indeed he could not for the faithful God had promised that he should succeed Saul in the Kingdom So
THE Young Man's GUIDE IN HIS JOURNEY TO HEAVEN OR Travelling Spiritualized LONDON Printed for Thomas Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers Chapel 1700. THE PREFACE TO Young Men. MAns Life 's a Journey from his Mothers Womb he sets out this World 's the Country through which he is Travelling He begins with Crying as if he foresaw how difficult and dangerous his Way would be The Stages from Infancy to Childhood from Childhood to Youth from Youth to Manhood which soon declines and old Age succeeds in which he will say I have no Pleasure in them Youth need a Guide here is one offered â—hem at a Cheap Rate 't is not necessary his Name be known so that he be skilful and faithful no more than the Authors of those two Excellent Books The Whole Duty of Man and Divine Breathings Young Men. Read Consider and Practice the Directions and you will not repent your Purchase 't is not unlikely but Parents and Friends of Young Persons may make Presents of them to those who are beginning their Travel through this lower World That it may Answer its End in Conducting many to the upper and better World of Rest and Blessedness is the desire of S. T. April 8th 1700. The CONTENTS 1. A Wise Traveller designs to go to some certain Place and proposeth some certain End for his going thither Page 1. 2. A Wise Traveller casts up the costs of his Journey before he undertakes it p. 3. 3. A Wise Traveller makes diligent Enquiry which is the right Way and is very careful to follow Directions p. 6. 4. A Wise Traveller sets out Early in the Morning that he may not be benighted before he comes to his Journeys end p. 10. 5. A Traveller who hath Loitered or deferred setting out in the Forenoon must double his Pace in the Afternoon p. 15. 6. A Traveller is many Times put out of his Way by false Directions p. 19. 7. A careful Traveller is much grieved when he finds himself to be out of his Way and hasts to get into it again and is never quiet till he hath recovered it p. 30. 8. A Traveller having been once out of his Way will be more wary and careful ever after to keep in it p. 36. 9. Every Traveller is desirous to have as much Company with him in his Jonrney as he can especially of his Relations and Friends p. 40. 10. A Traveller will keep Company with such and such only as are going the same way that he is and to the same Place p. 48. 11. He that Travels in a strange Countrey must look to meet with many Affronts and Injuries with many Afflictions and Hardships p. 59. 12. He that Travels about Business which highly concerns him resolves to go through all Difficulties and Discouragements p. 64. 13. He that makes haste in his Journey by Galloping or Running will cause all the Dogs in the Countrey to follow him by Barking p. 70. 14. He that undertakes a long Journey through difficult Passages had need be a strong Man and well provided for his Journey p. 74. 15. It is very mischievous when Travellers fall out and quarrel by the Way it makes their Journey very uncomfortable p. 79. 16. A Traveller who carries Treasure with him and suspects that he may meet with Thieves will go well armed p. 94. 17. He that Travels with a strong Guard need not fear to be robb'd or hindred in his Way p. 100. 18. Though the Traveller find good Entertainment in his Inn yet he takes not up his abode there but is restless till he come to his own Home p. 107. 19. Many a Traveller is ready to faint in his Way and to fear that he shall never reach his Journeys end which yet doth attain it with Safety p. 111. 20. When a Traveller after a long and dangerous Journey is return'd in Safety to his Fathers House How will his Father embrace him How will all his Relations welcome him What mutual Joy and Rejoycing will there be p. 115. Books lately Printed for Tho. Parkhurst c. MR. Clarkson's Practical Discourses in Folio Watson's Body of Divinity Quick's Synodicon Baxter's Catholick Theology Books written by the Reverend J. Flavel THE Fountain of Life opened or a Display of Christ in his Essential and Mediatorial Glory Containing Forty two Sermons on various Texts The Method of Grace in bringing home the Eternal Redemption contriv'd by the Father and accomplish'd by the Son through the Effectual Application of the Spirit unto God's Elect. Being the Second Part of the Fountain of Life A Treatise of the Soul of Man wherein the Divine Original Excellent and Immortal Nature of the Soul are opened c. The Divine Conduct or Mystery of Providence c. Navigation Spiritualiz'd Or A new Compass for Sea-Men c. A Saint indeed The great Work of a Christian A Touchstone of Sincerity Or Signs of Grace and Symptoms of Hypocrisie Being the Second Part of the Saint indeed A Token for Mourners Or Boundaries for Sorrow for the Death of Friends Husbandry Spiritualiz'd Or the Heavenly Use of Earthly Things Mr. Philip Henry's Life Mr. Reynold's Minister of Notingham his Life Mr. Mead's Almost Christian Early Obedience Ezekiel's Wheels Spiritâ—â—â— Wisdom improv'd against Temptations A Sermon of Union Mr. Joseph Barrett's Funeral Sermon to which is annexed his Life c. Mason's Spiritual Songs Barton's Hymns in Six Centuries Allen's Alarum Allen's 〈◊〉 Guide Mr. Adam's Funeral Sermon A Discourse concerning the Redeemers Dominion over the Invisible Worlds some Part whereof was Preach'd on the Occasion of the Death of John Houghton Esquire Dr. Bate's Funeral Sermon Mr. Mead's Funeral Sermon All Four by the Reverend Mr. John Howe Of the Shortness of Time By F. Fuller Mr. Bradford's Eight Sermons Pleach'd at St. Paula at the Lecture founded by the Honourable Robert Boyle Esquire THE YOUNG Man's Guide c. CHAPTER I. A Wise Traveller designs to go to some certain Place and proposeth some certain End for his going thither THERE are but two Places to which all Men in the World are going Heaven and Hell Now the greatest Part of Men never seriously consider to which of these the course of their Life leads them it is said of Abraham He went out not knowing whither he went but it may be said Heb. 11. 8. of most that for want of Faith they go on not knowing whither they are going Fools and Mad Men are always Rambling but can give no account whither and therefore many Times run upon Death and Danger such Mad Men and worse are all prophane Men who never consider whither they are going till they drop into Hell but now the serious Godly Christian in the whole course of his Life designs for Heaven sets his Face Sion-ward is bound for the Jer. 5. 5. New Jerusalem seeks for a better Countrey is journeying through the Wilderness Heb. 11. 16. of this World to the Heavenly Canaan every Journey he
Devil that old and Arâ— Seducer who since he was thrown oâ—â— of Heaven himself makes it his work 〈◊〉 keep others from thence and to leaâ—â— poor Souls from the Kingdom of Goâ— to his own Kingdom of Darkness Thâ— old Serpent deceived our first Parentâ— and led them out of the way and ouâ— of Paradise too He is said to deceivâ— Gen. 3. Rev. 12. 9. the whole World He hath mille fallenâ— artes a thousand arts to deceive pooâ— Souls he hath his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Devices hâ—â— 2 Cor. 2. 11. Eph. 6. 11. Rev. 2. 24. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wiles or Methods his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Depths his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Snares All theâ—â— to deceive poor Souls and to lead theâ—â— out of their way Sometimes he tranâ—â—forms 1 Tim. 3. 7. himself into an Angel of Lightâ— sometimes appears as a roaring Lyonâ— 2 Cor. 11. 14. 1 Pet. 1. 5 8. now he tempts to Presumption anâ— anon to Despair In Youth he telâ— thee it is too soon to be Religious anâ— in old Age he tells thee it is too laâ—â— But his chief Artifice is to misrepreseâ— both the way of Holiness and the wâ—â— of Sin the former he represents asâ— difficult unpleasant and a melancholâ— way the latter as guilded and sugared over with all the Sweets of Pleasure and Delight He will tell thee That the one is a broad and easie way the other 〈◊〉 strait and narrow way but he will â—ot tell thee that the broad way leads Matth. 7. 13 14. â—o Destruction and the narrow way â—eads to Life He will tell thee that â—f thou will walk in his way thou shalt â—ave Riches enough but if thou walkest â—n the way of God thou must look to â—eet with Poverty Hunger Thirst Tears Hatred Separation and Reproach â—ut he will not tell thee that Christ deâ—ounceth a Woe to the first and proâ—ounceth Luk. 6. 20. the last to be Blessed He will tell thee that the way of Sin is â—rowed with Roses but he will not â—ell thee that Hell is at the end of that way He will tell thee that the way of Holiness is strowed with Thorns but â—e will not tell thee that Heaven is at â—he end of that way Well then Felâ—ow-Travellers as one adviseth well in â—nother case take heed of keeping the Devils Counsel so I caution thee in â—his case take heed of taking the Deâ—ils Counsel for he never ceaseth to â—ervert the right ways of the Lord. Acts 13. 10 Secondly Another grand Seducer and a dangerous is the Lusts of thine own Heart If thou consult with these thou wilt never get to Heaven they will advise thee to take the way of Ease of Self-pleasing of Self-preservation and to shun the ways wherein there are so many strict Duties to be performed so many severe Precepts to be observed so many Hardships to be suffered They will persuade thee not to part with present things for future invisible things and such things as thy Senses tell thee are full of sweetness and delight for such things as thou didst never see but only hast heard of not to let go Pleasures and Comforts which thou hast in hand and possession for such as thou hast only in hope and expectation And by such false Suggestions will they endeavour like an Ignis fatuus to lead thee out of thy way then if thou meet with Sufferings and Persecutions as thou wilt be sure to do if thou art in the right way thou wilt be ready to make a stand as the Traveller doth when he comes to a cross Way and to enquire which is thy way Then if thou consult with Flesh and Blood that will be sure to shew thee a false way That will cry out Save thy self save thy Estate save thy Liberty save thy Life but no save thy Soul That will say Pity thy Wife pity thy Children pity thy Family but no pity thy Soul Therefore Christian stop thine Ears against these Syrens unless thou hast a mind to leave the way of Life and to be led into the way of Death and Destruction Thirdly Another grand Seducer is the World in which one indeed are a World of Seducers I shall mention Three whom I would caution a Christian who seriously desires to keep in Heavens way to take heed of First The Covetous Worldling who makes Mammon his God and can think of no greater happiness than great Possessions and large Revenues than full Barns and full Bags If thou take his Advice he will persuade thee to take the way of Profit to heap up Riches to add House to House and Land to Land thou shalt have the Reputation of a wise Man whilest thou livest and leave a great Substance to thy Babes when thou diest Christian Look to thy Map-Book and thou shalt see that this is as far from thy way as the East is from the West or as Heaven is from Hell there thou shalt find that thou canst not love God and Mammon That Mat. 6. 24. 1 John 2. 15. Mat. 19. 24. if any Man love the World the love of the Father is not in him That it is easier for a Camel to go through the Eye of a Needle than for a Rich Man to enter into the Kingdom of God That tells thee That Mark 8. 36. Col. 3. 5. Jam. 4. 4. if it were possible for thee to gain the whole World to thy self with the loss of thy Soul thou wouldst make but a bad bargain That tells thee That Covetousness is Idolatry and that it is Spiritual Adultery too For as the Love of an Harlot with-draws the Heart from a Lawful Wife so the Love of the World with-draws the Heart from God Secondly Another Seducer or Setter that the World employs to turn Christians out of their way is the Voluptuous Epicure who can fancy no other Heaven but to satisfie his Lusts and to wallow in Pleasures and indeed it is all the Heaven he is like to have If thou hearken to him he will counsel thee to indulge thy Lusts to pamper thy Flesh to take thy fill of Pleasure while thou may'st while thou hast Youth and Time Ede bibe lude post mortem nulla voluptas Eat drink and play after Death no pleasure and indeed there is none for such as he He will tell thee how sweet and delightful his way is and that Stage-Plays Dancing Dicing Drinking Drabbing are other manner of Delights than thine namely to be poring in a Book all Day to be running after Sermons to be Solitary and alone in thy Closet to punish thy Body with Fasting Well Christian look to thy Rule again which is a sure Rule and cannot deceive thee which tells thee Men are in an unregenerate State while they are serving divers Lusts and Pleasures that are reckoned Tit. 3. 3. amongst the vilest Sinners and those that are furthest out of the way are those that are lovers of pleasures more
1 Tim. 6. 34. than lovers of God That will tell thee that the Prodigal was out of his way and out of his Wits too when he took his Journey in a far Country and there wasted his Substance in riotous Living Luke 15. 11. and with Harlots And when he came to himself then he left these Courses and returned to his Father There thou shalt find that Moses chose Heb. 11. rather to suffer Affliction with the People of God then to enjoy the Pleasures of Sin for a Season But there is one Place which if there were no more were enough to fright thee from hearkening to these Epicures and from following their Courses Rejoyce O Young Man in thy Youth and let thine Heart chear thee in the Days of thy Youth and walk in the ways of thy Heart and in the sight of thine Eyes but know that for all these things God will bring thee into Judgment So that thou feest these Sons of Pleasure are not in the way of Life but in the way of Death and are like those Fishes which the Historian reports of that they sport themselves so long in the Shallows of the River Jordan till the swiftness of the Stream carries them into the Dead Sea where they all perish They who are for a short Life and a Merry will meet with a long Death and a Sad one Earthly Pleasures will be followed with Hells Torments The Rich Man who had lived so high was brought to a short Dyet Those that cannot live without Pleasures here must live without Pleasure for ever And here by way of Digression I heartily wish some Eloquent Appollos some powerful Orator would speak this Caution so loud that all the young Gallants in England might hear it who for the Generality of them live as if they had been brought up in the School of Epicurus and not in the School of Christ as if they had drank of Circes Cup and were turned into Swine they so drown and soak themselves in Pleasure that they unfit and incapacitate themselves not only for the Service of God but also for their King and Countrey It is a sad Consideration to think what Privy Councellours what Parliaments what Magistrates we are like to have in another Age. A Third Seducer thou wilt meet with in the World is the Ambitious Person who like the Camelion lives upon Air upon the breath of the Prince and the applause of the People who knows no other Heaven but the Princes Smile no other Hell but his Frowns If thou apply thy self to him for Direction in thy Way what Course will he advise thee to but that crooked Path that himself walketh in He will advise thee to take the way that leads to Honour and Preferment in the World He will tell thee the only Happiness is to be the Princes Favourite and the Peoples Darling to have the uppermost Rooms at Feasts and the chief Seats in all Conventions and greetings in the Market and to be called of Men Rabbi to have the Cap and Mat. 23. 〈◊〉 the Knee where ever thou comest to have all Men bow to thee Digito monstrari dicier hic est But Christian look to thy Rule and thou wilt never be deluded with this Pageantry Thou wilt never be led into this Fools Paradice that will shew thee the way to true Honour Them that Honour me I will Honour Abraham 1 Sam. 2. 30. Moses Paul these were honourable indeed Abraham the Friend of God Moses the Servant of the Lord Paul a Servant of Jesus Christ These are other manner of Titles of Honour than the greatest Grandees on Earth ever attained Artaxerxes who stiled himself King of Kings Ahasuerus that Reigned Ezra 7. 12. Esth 1. 1. from India to Aethiopia over an hundred twenty seven Provinces The Great Turk The Great Mogul The Emperour of the West The Emperour of the World are poor empty airy Titles in Comparison of this The Servant of the Lord. All his Servants are Favourites and every one of them is a King and when all Earthly Crowns shall fade and wither they shall have a never fading Crown of Glory This Honour have all his Saints Psal 149. 9 Then Christian thy Rule will tell thee what end the way of Ambition usually leads to in this Life What became of Herod who was the Peoples Darling What became of Haman who was the Princes highest Favourite the one when the People had cryed him up for a God Acts 1◠22 23. Esth 5. 11. died like a Beast and was devoured of Worms The other when he had boasted one Day how highly the King had advanced him above all his Princes and Servants was the next Day advanced to a Gallows fifty Cubits high where he ended his Life and Honour in a shameful and most Ignominious Death Certainly he hath read but little History nay he hath lived but a little while in the World who cannot by his own Experience add many Presidents of this Kind which should be as so many Pillars of Salt to scare thee from this way Whosoever exalts himself shall be abased Luke 14. 11. Job 24. 24. They are exalted for a little while but are gone and brought low they are taken out of the Way as all others It was a saying worthy of that Christian Emperour Theodosius He rejoyced more that he was a Member of the Church of God then Gaudere se magis quod esse membrum Ecclesiae Dei quam quod esset Caput Imperii that he was an Emperour of the whole World CHAP. VII A Careful Traveller is much grieved when he finds himself to be out of his Way and hastens to get into it again and is never quiet till he hath recovered it SO is it with every Christian that is Travelling towards Heaven 1. He is exceedingly grieved when he finds himself out of his Way 2. He hasts and is restless till he get into it again First When by the Violence of Satans Temptation or by the Prevalency of Corruption or by the Allurements of the World he hath been drawn aside out of the Way of Holiness into the By-Paths of Sin How is this Soul filled with Godly Sorrow and Humiliation What Sighs and Groans What Cryes and Tears What Complaints and Lamentations What Self-abhorrency and Self-condemnation might you hear were you at his Closet Door when he is pouring out his melting Soul before God Nay sometimes he is like to be swallowed up with overmuch Sorrow He cries out he is lost and undone that he shall never recover his Journeys end that he shall never get to Heaven Was it not thus with David when he had so foully lost his way My Sin is ever before me I am weary of my Groaning all Psal 6. 6. the Night make I my Bed to swim I Water my Couch with my Tears My Heart Psal 102. 4. is smitten and withered like Grass so that I forget to eat my Bread His
they were for Marching into Canaan and they Numb 13. only entred Canaan when all the rest were shut out for their Unbelief When Paul was told by a Prophet that he should be bound at Jerusalem and was Acts 21. earnestly disswaded from going thither this could not put him out of his Way but he answers with a brave Christian Resolution I am ready not only to bâ— bound but to die at Jerusalem for thâ— Name of the Lord Jesus O that theâ— were still such a Spirit among Christians But alas there are too many oâ— the Mind of that King of France whâ— would venture no further into the Seâ— in the Cause of Religion then he mighâ— recover the Shore if a Storm should arise Truly the Children of this Worlâ— Luke 16. 8. are wiser in their Generation then thâ— Children of Light I have sometimeâ— not without wonder taken notice oâ— the great Labour and Industry of somâ— of my Neighbours who do constantlâ— once a Week many of them and somâ— twice all the Year round Summeâ— and Winter rise in the midst of thâ— Night and ride to a Market near twenty Miles distant from them and neither Darkness nor Wind nor Weather Storms Rain Frost or Snow can hindeâ— or deter them from their Journey and all this Pains they take for a poor Livelihood in the World O Christian How may this shame thee and me that we should take less Pains for Heaven than these do for Earth that we should not be more industrious for an Eternal Life than they are for a Temporal Truly those that profess themselves Christians do the Work of the Lord too negligently and mind the things of this World too carefully and sollicitously â—NRâ— That Elegant saying is too true By Matters as our Work we Ply Our Work as Matters by the by If there be a Place of Preferment void â—t Court what Riding and Posting will â—here be for it let the Ways and Weather be what they will and when there â—re Heavenly Mansions when there is 〈◊〉 never fading Crown of Glory when â—here is a Kingdom that cannot be shaâ—en to be had in Heaven shall we sit still â—r walk on heavily or be deterred with â—e difficulty or unpleasantness of the Way especially when it is our own â—istake only that makes the way of â—od seem unpleasant and uneasie for he hath told us That his ways are ways of Pleâ—santness and all his Paths Peace and our Saviour tells us That his Yoke is easie and his Burthen light If we were Christians indeed and did live by Faith and not by Sense that one Word Eternity would have a greater Influence upon us to make us mend ouâ— Pace to Heaven A Painter being asked why he was accurate and exact and took so much pains and spent so much time in drawing his Picture answered Pingo Aeternitati I Paint for Eternity Truly Christian thou maist with much more Truth say Vivo Aeternitati I Live for Eternity and therefore thou shouldst take all possible Care to walk accurately and exactly and shouldâ— stick at no Pains or Sufferings so thoâ— maist finish thy Course with Joy diâ— we seriously consider that our Everlasting Condition depends upon the coursâ— we take here in this World that if wâ— walk in the Way of Holiness and Righâ—teousness we shall be Everlastingly Happy but if we walk after the fashion oâ— this World and after the Lusts of oâ— own Flesh we shall be Everlastingâ— Miserable Methinks this should make 〈◊〉 to overcome all Opposition and Difficuâ—ty that so we might sit down with Christ on his Throne even as Christ also overcame and is set down with his Father on his Throne Had we a real and lively belief of the Invisible Things of the other World of the Glory of Heaven and of the Torments of Hell it would cause us to slight all the Opposition and Discouragements we meet with in the World And to run with Patience the Race that is set before us Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith who for the Joy that was set before him endured the Cross despising the shame and is set down at the Right Hand of the Throne of God I do not wonder that Paul who was wrapt up into the Third Heavens did labour more abundantly then all the rest of the Apostles For a sight of Heaven would make any Man think no Labour or Pains too great to obtain it For certainly what Pains soever we take whatsoever Sufferings we undergo Heaven will pay for all CHAP. XIII He that makes haste in his Journey by Galloping or Running will cause all the Dogs in the Countrey to follow him with Barking AND is it not so with those thaâ— are Journying towards Heaven If any be more zealous in their Profession more conscientious in their Practice than others If they will not only abstain from Evil themselves but also perswade and exhort others so to do iâ— they will be talking of Holiness where-ever they come and reproving of Siâ— in whomsoever they find it How will the Prophane Rabble open their black Mouths against such How will they bark at them Tanquam Canis ad Lunam like the Dog at the Moon and why do Dogs bark at the Moon It iâ— not because they see her Spots but heâ— bright shining So do the Prophanâ— ones of the World Reproach and Revile the Servants of God not because they see their Spots and Blemisheâ— which themselves see and bewail but the true Cause is because their bright shining Conversation upbraids and reproves their Deeds of Darkness If a Man be a cold or a lukewarm Professor and can be content to let others Sin in quiet though he will not joyn with them and will as they say keep his Religion to himself he may perhaps find fair Quarter in the World and have the good Word of all his Neighbours But if a Man will reprove their â—ngodly Deeds and cannot hold his Peace when he hears his God dishonoured and Blasphemed if when he sees Men take the ready way to damn their own Souls he cannot but give them warning of it and will not suffer him â—o go quietly to Hell such a Man shall â—aise the cry of the whole Country against him he shall become the Drunkâ—rds Song and the Table Talk of all prophane Feasts and Meetings He and â—uch as he is shall be accounted Mad-men Fools Singular Censorious Erâ—oneous Enemies to Governours and what not Nay because wicked Men â—an find nothing in their Holy Converâ—ation whereof justly to accuse them â—herefore they will most impudently and impiously invade the Prerogative of thâ— great God and will undertake to judgâ— their Hearts and to say they are all Hyâ— pocrites But if any one who hatâ— been eminent for Profession do fall into any scandalous Sin How will thâ— whole Kennel open their Mouths in a fuâ— Cry not only against their Person buâ— also against the whole Party This 〈◊〉 one of your
Holy Brethren this is oâ— of your great Professors that would reâ—prove another if he did but Swear aâ— Oath or if he did but Drink a merâ— Cup or two with his Friends and noâ— he hath done a great deal worse himselfâ— you may see what they all are for theâ— are all alike though some can carry 〈◊〉 more closely and smoothly then otherâ— What Reason Ingenuity or Honestâ— is there in such arguing Judas was 〈◊〉 Devil what therefore must all Chrisâ— Disciples be Devils Surely none bâ— the Devils Schollars would make suâ— an Argument besides by what falâ— Rule do they judge the Person offenâ—ing For they judge him by one singâ— Act of his Life which if he belong 〈◊〉 God he will be deeply humbled foâ— and obtain the Pardon of when in tâ— mean time they condemn those as ceâ— sorious and uncharitable who judge their present State by a right Rule namely by the constant course and tenour of their whole Conversation While there be so many mocking Ishmaels so many Railing Shimei's and Ranting Rabshekahs in the World the Children of God must look for Railing and Reviling But Christian despise them all and imitate the Traveller who regards not the Barking of every Cur but keeps on his Way till he comes to his Journeys end or rather imitate the generous Horse which when the Dogs follow him with Balling is so far from slackning his Pace that he mends it and Gallops on the faster so let the Calumnies and Slanders of evil Men cause thee to be more careful and wary that thou go not out of thy Way and the more resolutely to hold on thy Way till thou come to Heaven where thou shalt have Admission but Dogs shall be shut out Rev. 22. 15. CHAP. XIV He that Vndertakes a long Journey and through difficult Passages had need to be a strong Man and well provided for his Journey IN the Application of this I shall endeavour to shew 1. That the Christians Journey to Heaven is a long Journey 2. That he will meet with many Difficulties in his Passage 3. That therefore he had need to strengthen and prepare himself for it First A Christians Journey is a long Journey It is not a Days Journey or a Week or a Months or a Years Journey but it is a Life's Journey His Journey and his Life should begin and end together We should seek the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness in the first Place nay we should seek this First and Last and all our Life all our Days on Earth should be spent in fitting us for Heaven and making us meet to be Partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light We read that the Angel said to the Prophet Elijah Arise and eat for thy Joâ—rney 1 Kings 19. 7. is great and the Angel said to him the second Time Arise and eat for thy Journey is too great for thee And he arose and did eat and drink and went in the Strength of that Meat forty Days and forty Nights unto Horeb the Mount of God So I say unto thee Christian arise and strengthen thy self with Spiritual Food for thy Spiritual Journey is great yea I say unto thee again arise and eat not of the Bread which Perisheth but of that which endureth unto Everlasting Life for thy Journey is too great for thee unless thou be assisted with Strength from above Therefore arise and feed by Faith on the Lord Jesus who is the Bread of Life strengthen thy self in the Word of God and the sweet Promises of the Gospel and in the strength of this Meal thou shalt be able to go all the Days and Nights of thy Life till thou come to Heaven so thou seest thy Journey is great â—condly Thou wilt meet with many Difficulties and rough Passages in thy Way why else doth the Word of God require striving wrestling labouring working circumspect walking giving all diligence c. Sure the Way to Heaven is not a smooth Way though it be a clean Way Thou dost not know with what hideous and hellish Temptations Satan may assault thee Thou knowest not how impetuous and unruly thy Corruptions may grow Thou knowest not with what outrage and cruelty the World may pursue thee And therefore thou hadst need to strengthen thy self with Zeal and Courage least thy Heart fail thee in thy Journey as the Israelites did at the Report which the Spies brought them What if thy Faith should be tried as Abraham's was What if thy Patience should be tried as Jobs was What if thy Love to Christ should be tried by this viz Whether thou wilt leave House Brethren Sisters Father Mother Mat. 19. 29. Luke 14. 33. Wife Children Lands and all thou hast for his sake and the Gospels What if the fiery Tryal should come upon thee Or thou must resist unto Blood striving against Heb. 12. 4. Sin Would not these things try what mettle thou art made of And would they not require Strength and Resolution to undergo them And these Christian thou maist meet with in thy way to Heaven if thou come there And therefore Thirdly Since we have a great Journey to go and since we may nay we must expect to meet with so many and so great Difficulties in our Way had we not need to be Men of Courage and Strength to be strong in the Lord and in Heb. 6. 10. Gal. 6. 9. the Power of his might that so we may not be weary of well doing but may persevere in the Way of Holiness and hold out to the end that we may be saved Had we not need lay aside every weight Heb. 12. 2 3. and every Sin which do so easily beset us and run with Patience the Race that is set before us Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith who for the Joy that was set before him endured the Cross and despised the shame and now is set down at the Right Hand of the Throne of God Therefore Christian the work we have to do if we will keep on in Heavens way and to finish our course with Joy is to follow the Apostles Exhortation To grow in Grace and that is to be done 2 Pet. 3. 18. two ways Addendo Augendo First By adding one Grace to another Giving Diligence to add to your Faith Vertue 2 Pet. 1. 5. and to Vertue Knowledge and to Knowledge Temperance and to Temperance Patience and to Patience Godliness and to Godliness Brotherly-kindness and to Brotherly-kindness Charity Secondly By encreasing every Grace we have we beseech 1 Thes 4. 10. you Brethren that you encrease more and more Let us get all the Grace we can we may have need to use it all before we die The Times may be such that weak Grace will not serve the turn weak Grace will not be able to encounter strong Temptations It is ill trusting to a weak and tattered Ship when the Seas are raging and the Storms boysterous Weak Grace
Children with a Rod Fifthly Consider That Love to the Brethren is one of the clearest Marks and Characters of a Regenerate Person in the whole Bible and on the contrary want of Love to the Brethren is made an evident Sign of want of Love to God By this shall all Men know that you are my Disciples if you Love one Joh. 13. 35. another We know that we have passed from Death to Life because we love the 1 John 3. 14. Brethren And for the other see He that hates his Brother is in darkness If a 1 Joh. 2. 9. 1 John 4. 20. Man saith I Love God and hate his Brother he is a Liar for he that loveth not his Brother whom he hath seen how can he love God whom he hath not seen Methinks this should be enough to fright the Children of God from Variance and Disagreement for what is there that a Gracious Heart is more sollicitous and careful about than this to know whether he be in a state of Grace or no Sixthly Consider We have Enemies enough and therefore we need not be Enemies among our selves All the World hate us and therefore we should not hate one another If a Company of Christians should live among the Turks or among Cannibals would it not be their Wisdom and their Safety to unite and combine together would they not dread private Dissensions and Differences among themselves least it should betray them to the common Enemy Why so it is with all real Christians They live in the midst of Enemies nay of Cannibals who would eat them up like Bread and therefore it concerns them not to quarrel and fall out among themselves least it fare with them as with the Mouse and the Frog in the Fable Methinks Christians should learn Wisdom from their Enemies Fas est ab boste doceri How well do the wicked agree in their evil Practices and in persecuting the Righteous Herod and â—ilate were soon made Friends Sevis inter se convenit Vrsis The Bears as Savage as they be Yet do among themselves agree Now shall the Bears and Savage Beasts agree with those of their own Kind and shall those that are walking on in the Broad-way to Destruction agree together and shall those that are going in the way that leads to Heaven and Happiness disagree and fall out by the Way Tell it not in Gath publish it 2 Sam. 1. 20. not in the Streets of Askalon least the Daughters of the Philistines rejoyce least the Daughters of the uncircumcised Triumph Seventhly and Lastly Consider What an irrational and absurd thing it is that lesser Differences in Opinion which are between the Children of God when they agree in necessary and fundamental Truths should breed an Alienation and Estrangement in Affection Were it not Madness for me to quarrel with every one whose Shooe will not fit my Foot We may as well expect that all mens Faces should be distinguished from another as that their Conceptions and Opinions should be the same Methinks when we know that we cannot be of one Mind while we are in our Way but that that Happy State is reserved for us till we come to our Journeys end to Heaven Methinks I say this should cause us to bear with those that differ from us in lesser Matters and to forbear censuring of them much more to abstain from quarrelling and contending with them Alas we differ from our selves from what we were heretofore and therefore shall we quarrel with our selves O now that these and such like Considerations might make the Children of God to hearken to that sweet Counsel of the Apostle Put on therefore as Col. 3. 12 13 14. the Elect of God Bowels of Mercies Kindness Humbleness of Mind Meekness Long-suffering Forbearing one another and forgiving one another If any Man have a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you so also do ye O let us who profess our selves to be Children of God and to be travelling to one Heaven think that we heard our Heavenly Father saying to us as Joseph said to his Brethren See that you fall not out by the Gen. 45. 24. Way or as Moses to the two striving Israelites Sirs You are Brethren Why do ye wrong one another And let us say Acts 7. 26. one to another As Abraham said to Lot Gen. 13. 8. Let there be no strife I pray thee between me and thee for we are Brethren Let us labour Eph. 4. 3. to keep the Vnity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace And let all the Strife and Contention between us be who shall be the most Holy Humble Heavenly-minded Self-denying and Charitable Christian who shall serve God best and love one another most and then shall we walk on â—hearfully and comfortably till we come to Heaven where all our Differences shall be at an end For there Luther and Calvin are agreed there the Blessed God and all his Saints and Angels are of one Mind Read the 133d Psalm and hearken to those Pathetical Exhortations of the Apostle Paul Now I beseech you 1 Cor. 1. 10. Brethren by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no Divisions among you but that ye be perfectly joyned together in the same Mind and in the same Judgment If there be therefore any Consolation in Christ if any Comfort of Love if any Fellowship Phil. 2. 1 2 3. of the Spirit if any Bowels and Mercies Let nothing be done through Strife or Vain Glory but in lowliness of Mind let each esteem other better than themselves CHAP. XVI A Traveller who carrieth Treasure with him and suspects that he may meet with Thieves will go well Armed THE Application of this Observation will consist of three Parts 1. To shew that the Heavenly Traveller carries precious Treasure with him 2. That he will be set upon in his Way by those that will endeavour to Rob him of it 3. That therefore he should be well Arm'd First A Christian in his Way to Heaven carries the Richest Treasure with him in all the World 1. He carries his God with him who is the Summum Bonum the chief Good in Comparison of whom all the World is not so much as the drop of the Bucket to the Ocean or the small Dust of the Ballance to the Universe So thought the Blessed Apostle Paul Who counted all things but loss Phil. 3. 8. and dung in Comparison of Christ So thought the Noble Marquess of Vico as appears by that Holy and Heavenly saying of his Cursed be he that thinks not one Hours Communion with God is not better then all the Money in the World No! every Saint of God may say what one of them once did Whether ever I go I Quocunque me confero Deum circumfero carry my God with me and is not this an Infinite and invaluable Treasure 〈◊〉 He hath another precious Treasure â—ar
more precious then Gold that perisheth 1 Pet. 1. 7. and that is Grace to be rich in Grace is another manner of thing then to be rich in Gold The Riches of this World are 1 Tim. 6. 17. called uncertain Riches and we find them to be so but Grace is called durable Riches and it is so for he that hath Prov. 8. 18. this Treasure on Earth shall be sure to have Treasure in Heaven for ever more 3. A Christian hath another precious Jewel to secure in his Journey and that is his Immortal Soul and this alone even one Soul is better then all the World so our blessed Saviour tells us who knew the worth of Souls and paid a dear rate for them What is a Man profited if he shall gain the whole World Mat. 16. 26. and lose his own Soul and what shall a Man give in exchange for his Soul So thou seest Christian that thou carriest a rich Treasure Secondly There be some that lie in wait for thee in thy way and will endeavour to rob thee of all this rich Treasure of thy God of thy Grace of thy Soul I gave thee warning before under the sixth Chapter to take heed of three Arch-Seducers and they were Satan thine own Lusts and the World Now these are the Thieves that will way-lay thee and there endeavour to lead thee out of thy Way as in order to the robbing thee of thy Rich Treasure as High-way-men lead Travellers aside out of the Road into some bye Lane or Wood where they may Rifle them of their Goods Satan is an Old and Arch Thief the other are Setters that will betray thee into his Hands as the Hostler and Chamberlain many Times betray the Traveller whom they find to carry good store of Money into the Hands of Thieves Now thou canst not be too careful of the World and thy Lusts least they betray thee nor too careful of Satan least he rob and spoil thee he is the most dangerous Thief in the World he laies wait for thee from the very first step thou takest in thy Way to the end of thy Journey and he is a bloody Thief he never Robs but he murders yea and it is the worst Murder too for he Murders the Soul So now Christian thou seest that thoâ— art like the Traveller who is richly laden and thou wilt surely be set upon in thy Way and therefore In the Third Place Thou must imitate the Travellers Wisdom and go well Armed I think there is none who hath understanding of Spiritual Things but is convinced that he who is Travelling for Heaven hath more need to be well armed then he that is Travelling on Earth in as much as he hath far better Riches to secure and is like to meet with more dangerous Enemies and Assailants The Earthly Traveller is seldom or never robb'd upon the High-way of all he hath because he cannot carry his Lands and Livings his House and Goods with him and there though he may lose some or all his Money yet he hath something left him But Christian thou maist say with Bias Omnia mea mecum porto If Satan rob thee of thy Soul thou art undone Thy all is gone and thou maist lye in the dark Dungeon of Hell without a drop of Cold Water for ever Tell me then hadst thou not need to look to thy self and go well armed against this Danger I shall therefore inform thee where thou maist have Armour of Proof where there is a Magazine that will furnish thee compleatly Cap-a-pe a Capite aâ— calicem and is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The whole Armour of God stand therefore having your Loins girt about with Truth and Eph. 6. 14. having on the Breast-Plate of Righteousness Taking the Shield of Faith whereby you shall be able to quench all the fiery Darts of the Wickâ—d and take the Helmet of Salvation and the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God and to all these thou must add Prayer Praying always with all Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit Here ver 18. is compleat Armour which hath put Satan to flight many a Time But it is observed here is no one piece for the Back to shew that a Christian must be armed with Courage as well as with Weapons and must never turn his Back If thou dost not turn thy Back upon Satan Satan will turn his Back upon thee Resist the Devil and he will fly from thee Now if thou wouldst know how to Jam. 4. 7. Weild this Spiritual Armour and how to use every Piece of it successfully Read Mr. William Gurnal his Christian in Compleat Armour or Doctor Arrowsmith his Tactica Sacra CHAP. XVII He that Travelleth with a strong Guard needs not fear being robbed or hindered in his Journey EVery Child of God is so strongly Guarded that he needs not fear all the Powers of Earth or Hell neither Hosts of Men nor Armies of Devils And they whose Eyes are opened by Faith to see this as the Prophets Servants was to see The Mountain full of 2 Kings 6. 17. Horses of Fire and Chariots of Fire â—ound about his Master will say That they that be with us are more then they that be with them David could see this for what else â—ould make him say I will not be Psal 3. 6. afraid of ten thousand of People that have set themselves against me round about 〈◊〉 will not fear what Man can do unto me Psal 118. 8. Psal 23. 4. Though I walk through the Valley of thâ— shadow of Death yet I will fear no Evil But I will shew thee what Guard every Child of God hath to keep him safe tilâ— he come to Heaven First They have a Guard of Angels He hath given his Angels charge over thee Psal 91. 11. to keep thee in all thy Ways If thou keep thy Way the Angels shall keep thee but if thou goest out of thy Way thou canst not lay claim to this Promise See again Are they not all ministring Spirits sent forth to Minister for them who Heb. 1. 14. shall be Heirs of Salvation The Angel of Psal 34. 7. the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him and delivereth them Behold I Exod. 23. 20. send an Angel before thee to keep thee in the Way and to bring thee to the Place that I have prepared Now what a strong Guard is this If we consider First Their Power Secondly Their Number First Consider their Power they are said to excel in Power They are Psal 103. 2 Thes 1. 7. called mighty Angels and well they may for we read that one Angel went out and slew eighty five thousand in the Camp of the Assyrians in one Night 2 Kings 19. 35. And I doubt not but one single Angel if the Lord should give him Commission could easily smite all the World and make them all Dead Men So that you see if we had but