the Word or Way oâ— God that hath not made this Observation that the fall or falls of Gods Children being sanctified by him that can bring Good out of Evil and hath promised That all things shall work together for good to them that love God have done them good They have awakened and quickened them to a more circumspect walking they have been the more lively in their Duties more diligent in doing and more zealous in suffering the Will of God they have been the more careful to keep out Sin ever after As it is with a Garrison if the Enemies have entred within their Works and repulsed them they will fortifie that place where the Enemy made a Breach more strongly than before so it is with a Christian if any of his Senses as for Instance his Ear or his Eye which have been inlets to Sin he will for the future set a stricter Watch upon them he will stop his Ears against all corrupt and unclean Conversation he will with Job Make a Covenant with his Eyes and with David Job 31. 1. Psal 119. 37. beg of God To turn away his Eyes from beholding Vanity If his Tongue cause him to offend he will bridle it up and beg of God to set a Watch before the Door of his Lips If his Heart betrayed him he will henceforth set a double Guard upon it that is he will himself keep it with all Diligence and will earnestly beg of God to undertake the keeping of it The falls of Gods Children have the same Effect upon them that Pauls Letter had upon the Corinthians It makes them sorry after a Godly 2 Cor. 7. 11. Manner and this Godly Sorrow Behold what carefulness it works in them yea what clearing of themselves yea what indignation yea what fear yea what vehement desire yea what zeal yea what revenge in all things ye have approved your selves to be clear in this Matter So that it may be truly said of true Christians that they get ground by their stumbling and as to this Case We may Answer this Question of our Saviour Affirmatively and say That Men may gather Grapes of Thorns and Figs of Thistles Mat. 7. 16. that God with whom nothing is impossible by sanctifying the falls of his Children which are in themselves Evil can make them to bring forth Fruit as Godly Sorrow Self-abasement Care and Watchfulness Diligence and Activity in the ways of God In a Word they make them more Holy Humble Heavenly-minded ever after Peter's Pride brought him to his Fall and his Fall broke the Neck of his Pride see how Humble he was grown how his Self-confidence was taken down when our blessed Saviour asked him Simon lovest thou me more then these He would no more of that more then these He could tell Christ before Though all Men forsake thee yet will not I. But now he gives a more humble modest Answer Lord thou knowest that I love thee The Spouse in the Canticles when she had by her drowsiness and neglect of her Beloved caused him to withdraw she was restless till she had found him again but when she had recovered him she resolved never to let him go more I found Cant. 3. 4. him whom my Soul loves I held him fast and would not let him go So it is with every Saint after his recovery from a Fall he labours to lay faster hold on Jesus Christ and to keep more close to his Holy Ways all his Life after This is a Truth and a sweet Truth But I dare not leave it without this Caution let none turn this Rich Grace of God into wantonness this precious Cordial into Poyson Would any but a mad-Man go and break his Bones because he hears that a broken Bone well cured is stronger then before Hearken what the Apostle saith Shall we Sin that Rom. 6. 1. Grace may abound God forbid Sure those that belong to God will make a better use of his Grace CHAP. IX Every Traveller is desirous to have as much good Company with him in his Journey as he can especially of his Relations and Friends NO Child of God desires to go to Heaven alone but is of his Saviours Mind Would have all Men come to 1 Tim. 2. 4. the Knowledge of the Truth and be saved And therefore he will be perswading Relations Friends Acquaintance Neighbours Servants and all with whom he converseth to keep him Company in the way of Salvation Certainly who ever is truly converted himself will labour for the Conversion of others When Andrew had found the Messiah or rather was found of him he finds out his Brother John 1. 41. Simon and brings him to Christ When our Saviour had called Philip he John 1. 45. seeks out Nathanael that he might partake of the same Mercy with him If that Rich Man he was Rich indeed on Luke 16. Earth but Poor enough in Hell if he I say was so sollicitous that his Brethren might not come to that Place of Torment where he was much more and upon a better account will those who are going to Heaven themselves be sollicitous that their Brethren may come to that Place of bliss where they Hope to be A Magistrate who is going to Heaven will labour to have all his Subjects to go with him A Minister all his People a Parent all his Children a Master all his Family and all his Servants And every real Christian all his Neighbours and all his Friends First A Godly Ruler or Magistrate who rules in Righteousness and the fear of the Lord will endeavour to bring all his People to fear the Lord and to have all his Subjects become the Subjects of Christ As it was matter of great Joy to David when he went with the Multitude to the House of God so it is to every Gracious Prince when he can carry a great Train with him to Heaven Moses the Servant of the Lord endeavoured to make all the People over whom God had made him Governour the Servants of the Lord he laboured not only to lead them to an Earthly but to the Heavenly Canaan How faithfully doth he acquaint them with the whole Will of God! How solemnly and strictly doth he charge them to walk in all his Ways and keep his Commandments How zealously doth he reprove Deut. 4. them when they go out of the Way And how importunately doth he beg of God to Pardon all their Transgressions Exod. 32. 31 32. and doth not this shew that he desired to have them to Heaven with him Joshua his Successor walked in his Steps and did not only faithfully serve God himself but laboured to make all under his Conduct and Government to serve him also and he was very successful in it for it is written That Israel Josh 24. 31. served the Lord all the Days of Joshua and so careful was he that they should continue walking in the Ways of God that when he was taking leave of
them and this World and was going to Heaven he Summons all the Tribes to appear before him and gives them most Holy and Heavenly Exhortations to keep and to do all that was Written in the Law of Moses and not to turn therefrom to the Right Hand or to the Left but to cleave to the Lord their God as they had done to that Day and much to that Purpose which you may find in the two last Chapters of Joshua by which you may see how careful he was to have them to walk with him in the Way of God while he Lived and that they should persevere in those Ways when he was Dead he desired to have their Company on Earth and in Heaven David a Man after Gods own Heart he walked so exactly in the Ways of God himself there it is said He turned not aside from any thing he commanded him all 1 Kings 15. 5. the Days of his Life save only in the Matter of Uriah And he desired that not only all Israel but that all the World might keep him Company in this Good and Holy Way And therefore he begs of God That his Ways may be known upon Earth and his saving Health among all Psal 67. 2 5. Nations Let the People Praise thee O God let all the People Praise thee And as his Hearts desire was to see all Men walking in the Way to Heaven with him So was his Righteous Soul grieved when he saw People go out of that Way For he saith Rivers of Tears run Psal 119. 136. down mine Eyes because Men keep not thy Law Good Josiah did not think it enough To make a Covenant before the 2 Chron. 34. Lord to walk after the Lord and keep his Commandments with all his Heart and with all his Soul but he caused all Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it he was not Content to serve the Lord alone but he made all Israel to serve the Lord. So that you see that Godly Magistrates will endeavour to have all their Subjects to Heaven with them Though it be said of Earthly Kings that they will admit of no Partners in the Crown yet it may be truly said of those Kings who look after an Heavenly Kingdom that they would have all to partake with them in the Crown of Glory But then Secondly A Godly Minister will labour to carry all his Flock to Heaven with him that he may say when he comes there behold here am I and the Children Eph. 2. 13. which the Lord hath given me How doth he Preach to them Pray for them and weep over them how doth he beat his Brains break his Sleep and even spend his Strength and Spirits that he may bring them to walk in the Way of Holiness which he goes before them in and to be Followers of him as he is oâ— Christ Paul that blessed Apostle waâ— an eminent Example of this what Painâ— did he take What Dangers did he undergo What a Circuit of Ground did he traverse on Earth that he might bring Souls to Heaven and that all that Rev. 15. 19. heard him might be such as he was How zealous was he to have all his Countrey-men to Heaven with him As appears Brethren my Hearts desire Rom. 10. 1. and Prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved and by that Hyperbolical Rom. 9. 6. Expression I could wish my self accursed from Christ for my Brethren my Kinsmen according to the Flesh and this Zeal of his was not confined only to the Jews but extended to the Gentiles also whose Apostle he was he saith He testifies to the Jews and also to the Greeks Repentance towards God and Acts 20. 21. Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ So that he shewed both the Way to Heaven he saith He went about teaching ver 20. them not only Publickly but from House to House That he ceased not to warn every ver 31. one Day and Night with Tears I might instance in all the rest of the Apostles who did all labour abundantly though Paul did labour more abundantly than they 1 Cor. 15. 10. all Nay There is not one faithful Minister of Christ in the World but makes it his Work to draw Souls to that Heaven whither he is going They can all make their Appeal to the People You know how we exhorted every one of you as 1 Thes 2. 11. a Father doth his Children That you walk worthy of God that hath called you to his Kingdom and Glory And when they can prevail with them so to walk it is their Joy and their Crown of Rejoycing We ver 19. may judge without breach of Charity that Minister not to be going to Heaven himself who cares not whether his People go to Heaven or Hell Thirdly There is the same desire in all Family Relations How will the Converted Husband labour with the Wife of his Bosom to draw together in the same Yoke of Christ with him that they may walk hand in hand to Heaven He did never so importunately wooe her to be married to himself as he will wooe her to be married to Christ Fourthly The Parent who is himself going towards Heaven will labour to carry all his Children with him and therefore will Pray with them and for them and will carefully endeavour to bring them up in the Nurture and Admonition Eph. 6. 2. of the Lord and to Train them in the way wherein they should go Fifthly A Master of a Family who is walking in Heavens Way himself will have all his Servants to walk in the same Way with him He will labour to make them all the Servants of the Lord Jesus to make his House a little House of God that it may be said of him as it was of Philemon The Church which is in thy House Phil. 2. We know what the Lord saith of Abraham I know Abraham that he will command Gen. 18. 19. his Children and his Houshold after him and they shall keep the Way of the Lord. We know also what was Joshua's Resolution I and my House will serve the Josh 24. 15. Lord. And what David's was He that walketh in a perfect Way shall serve me Psal 101. He that worketh Deceit shall not dwell in my House He that telleth lyes shall not tarry in my sight Fourthly Every real Christian will be earnestly persuading all his Neighbours and Acquaintance to accompany him in his Journey toward Heaven What the Poet saith of the natural Birth may be truly said of the Spiritual Birth Nascitur indigne per quam non nascitur alter Vnworthy to be Born is he By whom no others Born be So he is not worthy to be new Born who is not Instrumental to make others new Born He deserves not the Name of a Christian and sure he hath but the Name who doth not heartily endeavour to draw others to Christ I appeal to all who are going Heaven-ward
should meet but they Edify one another by their gracious Communications We may observe that our blessed Lord and Saviour ascended into Heaven from Holy Conference with his Apostles so was Elijah Mark 16. 19. taken up in his Fiery Chariot while he was in Holy Conference with Elisha Now as they went to Heaven while they were in this Holy Duty so certainly 2 Kings 12. 11. it will be a great help to thee in thy Way to Heaven Fourthly If thou keep Company with the Saints they will afford thee no little help by their Faithful Reproofs Hear what the Wise Man saith It is better to hear the Rebukes of the Wise than to hear Eccl. 7. 5. the Song of Fools Faithful are the Words Prov. 27. 5. of a Friend but the Kisses of an Enemy are deceitful And David saith Let the Righteous Smite me and it shall be a kindness Psal 141. 5 let him Reprove me and it shall be an excellent Oil. And he loved such Prophets as Nathan and Gad who would faithfully reprove him when he went out of his Way and deal plainly with him and tell him Thou art the Man It had been well for Ahab if he had done so to if instead of hating good Micaiah for his faithful dealings he had hated his Four hundred Court-Chaplains who soothed and flattered him to his Destruction I shall relate thee a Story which is not impertinent and may not prove unprofitable There was a Man well known to my self for he Lived in the same Parish with me who being at a Fair or Market some Twelve Miles from his Habitation Selling his Wares did Swear an Oath one who heard it did step to him and whispered in his Ear these or the like Words Friend Cannot you Sell your Commodities without dishonouring God If you should gain a Penny by that Oath and lose your own Soul you would make but a bad Bargain Pray think of it The Man having dispatched his Market Rides homeward pondering all the way upon these Words one while he reasoned with himself This Man was a Stranger to me I know neither his Name nor Face sure he could have no other End nor Aim but my Good Another while he was much affected with the Manner of delivering the Reproof in that he did it so mildly and privately as if he were unwilling to put him to open Shame then he considered the Words and was Convinced that they were a real Truth The Issue was that ever after this he left not only his Swearing but also all his other Sins and became a new Man and did heartily own the Ways of God and walked uprightly in them to his dying Day Now as this should encourage and quicken us to a faithful Discharge of this Holy Duty so it may shew what I am speaking of namely what a special Benefit they enjoy that walk in Society with the Godly who will in any wise rebuke their Brother and not suffer Sin upon him As he Lev. 19. 17. who hath a skilful Physician always in his Company hath a great advantage for the preserving of his bodily Health because he will oppose the very beginnings of the Distemper so hath he a mighty Advantage for his Souls Health who hath a faithful Reprover always in Venienti occurrere morbo Principiis obstare his Company who ingruenti malo occurrere stop him when he takes his first step out of his way and bring him into his right way again Fifthly The Godly will be exceeding helpful to thee by their fervâ—nt Trayers It is the saying of one That that Child that hath a stock of faithful Prayers laid up for him hath a Rich Portion and such a Rich Portion hath every Child of God for he hath a share in the Prayers of all the Saints upon Earth And what a Priviledge is this if we consider what Promises are made to their Prayers Ask and it shall be given Matth. 7. 7. you it is but ask and have if we ask not amiss Verily I say unto you whatsoever John 16. 23. you shall ask the Father in my Name he will give it you The effectual fervent Jam. 5. 16. Prayer of a Righteous Man will avail much and what then will the fervent Prayers of all the Righteous do The Eyes of the Lord are upon the Righteous Psal 34. 15. and his Ears are open to their Cry which is repeated 1 Pet. 3. 12. The eminent Apostle Paul was sensible of this and therefore he begs the Prayers of the Saints for himself and the rest of the Apostles Brethren Pray for us And 1 Thess 5. 25. 2 Thess 3. 1. Heb. 13. 18. Rom. 15. 30. how vehemently doth he beg it I beseech you Brethren for the Lord Jesus Christs sake and for the Love of the Spirit that you strive together with me in your Prayers to God for me And you may see he counted their Prayers to be very helpful and beneficial You also helping together 2 Cor. 1. 11. Phil. 1. 1â— in Prayer I know that this shall turn to my Salvation through your Prayers By these thou mayst see clearly of what singular Benefit the Prayers of the Godly may be to thee that have such prevalency with the Great God And now I have shewed thee how the Christian who is going towards Heaven must imitate the wise Traveller in parting from those who are going a contrary Way and keeping Company with those who are going his Way The Heathen Poet could give this Advice Converse thou not with Men whose Lives are ill But let thy Converse be with good Men still And this agrees with the Holy Word of God and with the Example of the Man after Gods own Heart for he saith Depart from me ye evil Doers for I will keep the Commandments of my God Psal 119. 115. I am a Companion of all them that fear thee and of them that keep thy Precepts ver 63. CHAP. XI He that Travels in a strange Countrey must look to meet with many Affronts and Injuries with many Troubles and Afflictions THE Children of God are all Strangers and Pilgrims on the Earth Heb. 11. 13. they are out of their own Countrey far from their own home and from their Fathers House and therefore they must not think it strange to be used like Strangers The World had never any good Will for the People of God our blessed Saviour hath told us what we must look for from them The World hateth you because you are not of the World but John 15. 19. I have chosen you out of the World And the Children of Israel met with many Dangers and Difficulties in their Passage towards the Earthly Canaan so do the Children of God in their Passage through the Wilderness of this World towards the Heavenly Canaan And this may be seen in the Example of all the Saints that have gone to Heaven before us I shall Instance in a few
of a glorious Church upon Earth but Mr. Brightman who is of that Opinion saith Complures interpretantur haec omnia de Ecclesia qualis est futura tandem in Coelis That very many interpret this of the Church as it shall be in Heaven We need not contend contrary Interpreters are in the right For if the Church on Earth shall be so glorious questionless it shall be much more glorious in Heaven and let the Interpretation of that City be what it will certainly the Court and chief Place of Residence of the great King of Heaven and Earth must needs be a Place of unspeakable Glory And though that City be set out under the highest Representations that can be borrowed from natural Things yet it comes as far short of the Glory of Heaven as a Town of Mud-walls and Thatch comes short of such a City How glorious must the inside of that Cabinet be where the outside is Enamelled with so many bright and glittering Stars And how glorious wilt thou be when thou hast all these under thy Feet And when the great Ones of the Earth shall go from their staâ—â—ly Palaces even where they did surfeit with all Earthly Delights and Sensual Pleasures into a dark Hell where they cannot have a drop of Cold Water O what a miserable change will this be And how will it fill them with horrour and despair But when a poor Child of God shall go from this Valley of Tears where he hath been afflicted despised and persecuted into a glorious Heaven where he shall enjoy Everlasting Rest and Blessedness O what a happy Change will this be And how must he needs be transported with Joy unspeakable and full of Glory So now I have shewed thee Christian what Happiness thou and all that walk in the Way of Holiness shall enjoy when you are come to your Journeys End namely all those glorious Priviledges which the Apostle saith the Church shall enjoy under the Gospel You are come to the City of the Living God to the Heb. 12. 22 23 24. Heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable Company of Angels to the general Assembly and Church of the first-born which are Written in Heaven and to God the Judge of all and to the Spirits of Just Men made perfect and to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant Now though this be enough to make thy Estate unspeakably Happy and Joyful yet there be many other things which thou wilt meet with in Heaven which will make it full measure pressed down and running over As First How many Dangers and Difficulties a gracious God hath brought thee through Quod fuit durum puti meminisse dulce est It is pleasant to a Traveller when he hath overcome his Journey to relate what Dangers he hath met with in his Way Secondly That thou hast overcome all thy Doubts and Fears for when thou art in Possession and Enjoyment how canst thou any more Doubt or Fear Thirdly That thou art freed from all Satans Temptations for though he got into the Earthly Paradise yet he shall never come into the Heavenly For there shall in no wise come into it any thing that defileth Rev. 21. 27. Fourthly Thou shalt be set free from all thy Lusts and Corruptions for when thy Spirit shall be made perfect not any Saint on Earth will be made partaker of the hundredth Part of that Inherent Grace which the Soul of the meanest Saint shall be partaker of in Heaven Fifthly Thou shalt be freed from the Persecutions of wicked and unreasonable Men â—or there the weary are at rest Job 3. 17. Sixthly All the Faculties of thy Soul shall be enlarged to the utmost Capacity to know love enjoy delight in and Praise thy Blessed God When that which is perfect is come then that which 1 Cor. 13. 10 12. is in Part shall be done away for now we see through a Glass darkly but then face to face Now I know but in part but then shall I know as I also am known Seventhly That Sweet Holy Heavenly Work of Praising God thou shalt be imployed in to all Eternity and shalt perform it without the Rev. 4. 8. to the end Rev. 5. latter end Rev. 15. 3 4. Chap. 19. least lassitude or weariness nay with the greatest Delight and Complacency Eighthly Thou shalt be cured of all thy Sicknesses and bodily Infirmities there shall neither be aking Head or aking Heart there shall be nothing but Joy and Gladness all Sorrow and Sighing shall fly away Rev. 21. Ninthly Thy Vile Body shall be raised up at the last Day and be made like Christ glorious Body Phil. 3. 21. Tenthly and Lastly To conclude all Thy Body shall be reunited to thy Soul and they shall both together to all Eternity enjoy so much Bliss and Happiness as thou wilt say the one half nay the one hundredth Part was not told thee For Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard neither 1 Cor. 2. 9. hath entred into the Heart of Man the things that God hath prepared for them that love him FINIS
revealed his Wilâ— and his Way in his Word Therefore Fourthly As the Traveller goes to his Map-Book for Direction so doth he to the Book of God there he finds every step of his Way chalked out before him All the credenda agenda and fugienda what he must believe what he must do and what he must leave undoneâ— there he finds Direction how he must walk in every Condition in every Relation in every Age in every Callingâ— in every Holy Duty There he finds that he must be Regenerate and Born again or he cannot see the Kingdom of John 3. 3. Mark 16. 16. 2 Thess 1. 8. Tit. 2. 11 12. God he must Repent and Believe and obey the Gospel or he cannot be saved he must live soberly righteously and godly in this present World if he will live happily in the World to come Many such Directions as these he finds in thaâ— Blessed Book which will be a Lamp 〈◊〉 Psal 119. 105. his Feet and a Light to his Paths Now as a careful Traveller takes notice oâ— every Place he is to pass through and punctually observes them cannot fail to get safe to Heaven But it is as possible for a Man to carry a Ship to the Indies without a Card or Compass as for a Soul to go to Heaven without following the Directions of Gods Word Fifthly As the wary Traveller who would be sure to keep the right Way will take his Guide along with him so will a Child of God desire to have the Spirit of God for his Guide to Heaven that when he is turning to the Right Hand or to the Left he may hear that Voice behind him saying This is the Isa 30. 21. Way walk in it he will pray that the good Spirit of God will lead him into the Psal 143. 10. Land of Vprightness That the Spirit of Truth may lead him into all Truth We read that those who are in Christ John 16. 13. do walk after the Spirit so that the Spirit goes before them and leads them in the way It is said As many as are led by Rom. 8. 1 14. the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God which is convertible And it may as truly be said As many as are the Sons of God they are led by the Spirit of God Now he that hath such an unerring Rule as the Word of God to direct him in his Way and such an infallible Guide as the Spirit of God to lead him in his Way he cannot but get safe to his Journeys end and that is to Heaven CHAP. IV. A Wise Traveller sets out Early in the Morning that he may not be Be-Nighted before he comes to his Journeys End CHristian if thou resolvest for Heaven learn this Point of Heavenly Wisdom Begin thy Journey betimes set out in the Ways of God in the Morning of thy Age least the Night of Death surprize thee before thou hast finished thy Course and so all thy Hopes perish Delaies are dangerous especially in matters of Spiritual and Everlasting Concernment How many Millions are now in Hell that thought to Repent before they Died but Died before they Repented With how many hath their Sun set at Noon With how many in the Morning of their Days With how many hath Sun-rising and Sun-setting come together O what Madness is it then to defer thy Repentance till hereafter Answer me two Questions Quest 1. Hast thou the Command of Time Surely no! the Time present only is thy Day not one Minute of what is future may be called thine thou maist Isa 4. 14. as soon recal all the Years that are past as Promise thy self one Year or one Hour to come Thou Fool this Night Luke 12. 20. thy Soul may be required of thee However thy maist hear a Voice Give an account of thy Stewardship for thou maist be no Luke 16. longer Steward Quest 2. If thou hadst Hereafter in thy own Hand and could Promise thy self longer Life hast thou Repentance in thine own Hand Surely no! For Repentance is the Gift of God and how canst thou presume he will bestow it upon thee who hast so often refused it when it was offered Canst thou think that when thou hast given up thy Youth and Strength to Satan and thy Lusts that the Blessed and Holy God will accept of Satans leavings Thou wouldst judge that Person to be light-Headed or out of his Wits that should talk of beginning a long Journey on Earth when he is going out of the World Surely he is worse then Mad that defers setting out in his Journey to Heaven till Old-age Sickness or a Death-bed thou wilt have enough to do when thou art Old to conflict with the Infirmities of Age when thou art Sick to conflict with thy Pains when thou art Dying to conflict with the King of Terrours and with Satan who will be sure to assault thee with his strongest Temptations and he that tells thee now it is too soon will then tell thee it is too late An old Convert is a great Rarity Can a Jer. 13. 23. Blackamore change his Skin or a Leopard his Spots much less can he that is accustomed to do Evil learn to do Good by which Word of God we learn That a Young Sinner is more like to make an old Devil than a Young Saint The contrary Proverb A Young Saint an Old Devil is a Lesson which the Old Devil teacheth Younger Sinners that he may deceive them and rob them of their Souls But the God of Truth teacheth us another Proverb A Young Saint will be an Old Saint Train up a Child in the Way wherein 〈◊〉 Prov. 22. 6. should go and when he is Old he will noâ— depart from it Timothy had learned the 2. Tim. 3. 15. Scriptures from a Child He walked according to that Rule all his Life John was a Young Saint and an Old Saint It is the Observation of one that he that was the Beloved Disciple and lay in Christ's Bosom was the youngest of all Christ loveth young Disciples away then with all delaies and imitate good Josiah who while he was yet young began to seek after God What art thou afraid of being Happy to soon Surely thou art so if thou art afraid of being Holy too soon for Holiness is the only way to Happiness Art thou unwilling Heb. 12. 14. to part with thy Lusts and sensual Pleasures too soon that is as if thou shouldst say I am nnder the most vile and cruel Slavery and Bondage in the World yet I am unwilling to be set at Liberty too soon I am deadly Sick of the Leprosie or of the Plague yet I would not be cured too soon Certainly Egyptian or Turkish Bondage is Freedom compared with the Bondage of Sin and Satan The Leprosie of the Skin is cleanness and soundneâ—â— if you compare it with the Leprosie of the Soul The Plague of the Body is Health and Ease in Comparison
Grief was such that he could neither Eat nor Sleep Next hear Ephraim bemoaning himself Surely after I was turned I repented Jer. 31. 19. and after that I was instructed I smote upon my Thigh I was ashamed yea even confounded c. Then consider Peter when fear of Suffering and Self-confidence had led him out of the Way and made him deny and forswear his Lord and Master He went out and wept bitterly Mat. 26. last I shall add one more Instance and that is of the Church It were enough to melt an Heart of Stone seriously to consider her doleful Complaints in the Book which is called Lamentations You may there see that the ground of it was because they had departed from God and his Ways the whole Book is a Proof of this but I shall Name a few places to shew you her Grief She weepeth sore in Lam. 1. 2 4 12. the Night and her Tears are on her Cheeks her Priests sigh her Virgins are afflicted and she is in bitterness Behold and see if there be any Sorrow like to my Sorrow Mine Eyes do fail with Tears my Bowels Lam. 2. 11. are troubled my Liver is poured upon the Earth Mine Eyes trickle down and ceaseth not without any Intermission Here you Chap. 3. 49. have something of her Grief but you may have much more if you read that Book then to give you a few Places which shew the ground of all this Sorrow and Complaining For the Multitude of your Transgressions her Children are gone Lam. 1. 5 8 18. into Captivity Jerusalem hath grievously Sinned The Lord is Righteous I have rebelled against his Commandment I am iâ— Distress my Bowels are troubled my Hearâ— ver 20. is turned within me why so For I have Lam. 3. 42 ver 22. ver 13. grievously rebelled We have transgressed and rebelled It is of the Lords Mercieâ— that we are not consumed She confesseth it was the Iniquity of the Daughter oâ— her People for the Sins of her Prophets and the Iniquity of her Priests Thâ— Crown is fallen from our Head wo unto 〈◊〉 Chap. 5. 16. that we have sinned and in the Conclusion of the Book the last Verse but onâ— they Pray Turn thou us unto thee O Lord and we shall be turned By which you see â—ere was the great Cause of her Lamenâ—ation that they were gone out of their Way therefore they Pray to be turned â—nto it again They had departed from God and Pray to be turned to him again so that the first Point is clear That every Child of God he is making â—or Heaven and exceedingly grieved and afflicted when he finds himself out of the Way Secondly As a Traveller hasteth into â—is Way again and is never quiet till â—e hath recovered it So it is with eveâ—y true Christian indeed a Wicked Man when he is in the Ways of Sin and saâ—isfying his Lusts he is where he would â—e he is in his proper Element if he might Sin Eternally he would desire no â—etter Life but it is far otherwise with 〈◊〉 Child of God he finds little ease in â—he Ways of Sin when he is drawn out of the Ways of Holiness he is out of â—is Element he hath no more quiet then 〈◊〉 Fish out of the Water A wicked Man â—olls Sin under his Tongue like a sweet Morsel and delights to feed upon it as Job 20. 12. 〈◊〉 Swine upon Husks but that which is â—he Sinners Meat is the Saints Poyson â—nd if he hath at any Time Tasted or Sipt of it he is never quiet till he hatâ— Vomited it up again by true Repentance A Swine lies wallowing in the Mireâ— with Delight and Content but if 〈◊〉 Sheep step into it he makes all the hastâ— he can to get out of it When the Prodigal came to himself and his Eyes were opened to see that he had been out of hâ—â— Way Then farewel Pots and Harlotâ— he could feed upon such husks no longer but resolves to return to his Fatherâ— House who had Bread enough for aâ—â— his Servants When David had ruâ— out of his Way into those vile Wayâ— of Adultery and Murder we see hoâ— little quiet he had he saith I haâ—â— Psal 22. Psal 38. 8. Psal 22. 14. roared by reason of the disquietness of 〈◊〉 Heart All my Bones are out of Joynt anâ— sure then he could have but little easeâ— but though Bones out of Joynt be veâ—â— painful yet broken Bones are moâ—â— painful nay he Complains of brokeâ— Bones too but if a Man have quiet 〈◊〉 Psal 51. 8. Prov. 18. 14. his Spirit he will sustain his bodily Infiâ—mities but a wounded Spirit who can beaâ—â— But he was deeply wounded in hâ—â— Spirit too My Soul also is sore vexed but thou O Lord How long He complains Psal 6. 3. again and again Why art thou caâ—â— Psal 42. 5. Psal 48. 5. down O my Soul and why art thou disquieted within me My Soul melteth away for Heaviness Strengthen me according to thy Word I could likewise tell you what disquiet the Spouse was in when she had refused to open to her Beloved how she ran up and down searching and enquiring after him and was never quiet till she found and enjoyed him again but this is enough to shew that a gracious Soul that is Travelling towards Heaven is never quiet when he finds himself out of Heavens way that is the way of Holiness He can have no more ease and quiet in his Soul than he who hath all his Bones broken or out of Joynt can have in his Body Therefore Fellow-Traveller let us take heed how we go out of our Way into the crooked Paths of Sin but if we have by Violence of Temptation or Power of Corruption been drawn aside let us speedily and heartily repent and be soundly humbled for our Backsliding and let us give our Souls no rest till we have again turned our Feet into the Way of Peace and then I shall give thee further Direction in the next Observation CHAP. VIII A Traveller having been once out of his Way will be the more wary and careful ever after to keep it AND doth not every Relapse of Gods Children make them more watchful and vigilant for the Future Doth not every fall they take make them look the better to their Footing Doth not ever Sin they commit encrease their hatred of Sin in their Souls We have a Proverb A burnt Child dreads the Fireâ— What is the Reason But because hâ—â— fall into it did breed him so much Paiâ— and Smart surely falling into Sin bringâ— to the Children of God so much Paiâ— and Anguish that they dread it as much as the Fire of Hell and therefore wheâ— they recover out of it they will takâ— heed how they fall into it again As 〈◊〉 Bird that hath broken loose out of thâ— Snare of the Fowler will scarce be taken in it a second Time He is little acquainted with
themselves whether they have not a longing desire to get all the Company they can to Heaven with them and it is no wonder if we consider how sweet the Work is and what a blessed Reward is promised to it And they that Dan. 12. 3. be Wise shall shine as the brightness of the Firmament and they that turn many to Righteousness as the Stars for ever and ever So now it is clear that herein the Earthly and the Heavenly Traveller agree that both labour to have as much Company with them as they can CHAP. X. A Traveller in his Journey will keep Company with such and such only as are going the same way that he is and to the same Place AND this Christian calls for thy special Imitation if thou art resolved for Heaven thou must keep Company with such as are going Heavens way and shun the Company of those who are going in the contrary way to Hell and Destruction I shall begin with the last first First Thou must shake Hands with those who were thy old Companions in the Ways of Sin Can two walk together except they be agreed And what Amos 3. 3. agreement can there be between the Children of Light and the Children of Darkness between the Children of God and the Children of the Devil between those who are resolved for Heaven and those who are at agreement with Hell Will Sheep flock together with Swine or Doves with Vultures Psal 38. 15. Who would make those his Companions on Earth who must be Companions of the Devil and his Angels in Hell for ever Therefore as the Psalmist saith I have not sat with vain Persons so do thou say I will not walk with vain Persons thou wilt be sure to receive no good by them but wilt be in danger to receive much hurt For it is as impossible for one in pure White to embrace 〈◊〉 Chimney-Sweeper and not to be sulâ—ied as for a Man to hold familiar and â—utimate Converse with Prophane Men and not be defiled That Man is got half Way to Heaven that is rid of his wicked Companions The general Experience of Christians will Seal to this Truth that when God hath changed the Heart and a Man hath changed his Courses he will also change his Companions Paul when the Scales were fallen off his Eyes and he was brought in to the right Way he would have no more Familiarity with his great Friends the Chief Priests nor with his old Persecuting Companions and he left their Friendship So they became his bitter Enemies and when he left persecuting the Saints of God they fell to persecuting of him We read indeed of good Jehosaphat that he entred into a strict League and Intimacy with wicked Ahab but we know that he was out of his Way when he did so and it was like to cost him his Life and though God preserved his Life yet he was displeased with his Act as you may see in the Story 2 Chron. 19. 22. Now this is one thing that thou must imitate the Traveller in namely thou must shun the Company of those who are going in a contrary Way But Secondly Thou must consort with those who are going thy Way thou must not only separate from Sinners but converse with Saints Thou must avoid the Society of the wicked least they hinder thee in thy Way and thou must associate with the Godly that they may further thee in thy Way Thou must shun the one that they may not be a Bridle or Curb to hold thee back Thou must embrace the other that they may be a Spur to quicken thee and put thee forward It is a common Saying and it may be called a Traveller's Proverb An Eloquent or Pleasant Companion on the Way is instead of a Chariot And Facundus comes in Via pro Vehiculo est it may be said that Godly Companions in the Way to Heaven are instead of Elias his Chariot they will be helpful to thee many ways First By their Counsel Secondly By their Holy Example Thirdly By their Heavenly Conference Fourthly By their faithful Reproofs Fifthly By their fervent Prayers First They will forward thee in thy way to Heaven by their good Counsel and Instruction The Heathen Poet speaks like a Christian in this From good men thou wilt learn good things And doth not the Word of God speak to the same purpose from that Divine Proverb He that walketh with wise men Prov. 13. 20. shall be wise but a Companion of Fools shall be destroyed We know that Solomons Wise man is the good or the Godly man and certainly there is no such wise Man in the World as he that is wise for his Soul and for Eternity so here is one benefit thou will reap by keeping Company with the Godly thou wilt have good Counsel and Instruction from them and see what a benefit this was to Jehoash He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all his days wherein Jehojada the 2 Kings 12. 2. Priest instructed him Secondly Thou wilt be promoted in thy Way by their Holy Example The Examples of good Men are more taking Exempla plus prosunt quam praecepta than their Instruction Their Practices than their Precepts He is like to write the fairest Hand who writes after the fairest Copy If thou canst say with David I am a Companion of all those that feâ—â— Psal 119. 63. the Lord what a Pattern wilt thou have for thy Imitation when thou dost behold their Holy Convesation when thou dost every Day see how careful theâ— are to walk by Rule how Conscientious to perform their Duty before Goâ— and Man How Holily they behavâ— themselves in the World In their Families In their Closets In their Callings In every Condition In every Relation How Chearfully they do How Patiently they suffer the Will of God How can this but stir up thy Mind to an Holy Emulation And what an help will this be to thee in thy Way to Heaven Thirdly They will be helpful to thee by their Heavenly Conference As evil Communication corrupts good Manners so good Communication must needs promote good Manners It is said The Lips Prov. 10. 20. of the Righteous feed many and this is sweet food indeed Christ saith of the Church Thy Lips drop as the Honey-comb Cant. 4. 11 What Sweet and Holy Discourses will the Saints of God have when they meet together How will they provoke one another to Love and good Works How will they communicate their Christian Experiences How will they like Coals kindle one another and raise up one anothers Affections Heaven-ward How will they encourage one another to hold and persevere in the ways of Holiness by setting forth the Joys and the Glory of that Heavenly Country whether they are all going As Prophane Wretches never meet but they harden one another by their lewd and rotten Speeches so the Children of God never do or at least never
is next to no Grace when Christ came to his Disciples in a great Storm He saith to them Mat. 8. 26. Why are ye fearful O ye of little Faith where the same Story is related Christ Mark 4. 4. saith to his Disciples Why are ye so fearful How is it that you have no Faith Little Faith is next to no Faith Let us labour therefore to be strong Christians Let us labour to attain that measure of Faith which Abraham had that Patience which Job had that Meckness which Moses had that Chastity which Joseph had and that Courage and Zeal which Paul had Let us labour after such Faith as may remove Mountains all the Mountains of Danger and Difficulty which may occur to us in our Way Faith whereby we may quench all the fiery Dart Eph. 6. 16. of the Devil whereby we may overcome the World and our strongest Lusts and Corruptions Let us labour to strengthen Patience too let Patience have its perfect Work The Greek Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jam. 1. 4. will teach us what the perfect work of Patience is namely to abide under any Affliction as long as God will have it to lye upon us if we can strengthen these and all other Graces and become strong Men in Christ then we shall be able to overcome all the Difficulties of our Journey and to get safe to Heaven CHAP. XV. It is very mischievous when Fellow-Travellers fall out and quarrel by the Way it makes their Journey very uncomfortable O That those that are Fellow-Travellers in the Way to Heaven did walk together in that sweet Union and mutual Agreement that I might be to seek for an Application of this Particular But alas it is to be lamented with Tears of Blood if possible that this is too applicable to them though it be strange as well as sad that it should be so It is no wonder to see Lions Tygers and Bears to rent and tear one another because we know they are of a Savage Nature It is no wonder to see ravenous Wolves to worry poor Sheep because that likewise is natural but would it not be strange to see the poor Sheep which are harmless and innocent Creatures to bite and worry one another Even so we need not wonder to see the Seed of the Serpent to have such bitter Enmity against the Seed Gen. 3. 15. of the Woman to see those that are born Gal. 4. 29. after the Flesh to persecute those that are born after the Spirit to see the Children of the Devil to hate the Children of God To see those who are running to Hell quarrel with those that are going to Heaven This is no new this is no strange thing but to see those who are walking in the same way namely of Holiness that are going to the same place namely to Heaven who are Servants of the same Master viz. the Lord Jesus who are Children of the same Father viz. the Blessed God who are of one Family that is the Family oâ— the Faithful who are Members of one Body that is the Body of Christ to see these strive and contend to see these full of Bitterness of Spirit one against another of Envy Emulations Divisions Hatred this is strange this is sad Quis Talia fando Temperet â Lachrimis Can he that speaks or he that hears Such things as these refrain from Tears It is reported by Historians that the Panther hath such a hatred and enmity against Man that if he see but the Picture of a Man he will be inraged and most fiercely and furiously fly at it and tear it in Pieces This is a lively Emblem of wicked Men who have such a perfect Hatred of Holiness which is the â—mage of God that they are Inraged against all that bear that Image and would not suffer one of them to live in the World if they could have their Will But methinks the Children of God who are after God created in Righteousness and true Holiness or Holiness of Truth as in the Original should love this Image of God where-ever they find it and should say as one of the Ancients did I cannot but love that Person in whom I see aliquid Chriâ—ti any thing of Christ but as it is said of carnal Brethren Rara est concordia fratrum 'T is rare to see Brethren agree so it may be said though it be very sad it should of spiritual Brethren We will now briefly examine the ground of this whence it should proceed and propose some Considerations for the Cure and Remedy of itâ— For the Grounds of it First In general Questionless that Corruption which is in our Nature is the cause of this as well as of all other Sins From whence comes Wars and fightings Jam. 4. 1. among you come they not hence eveâ— of your Lusts that War in your Members Though Corruption in the Regenerate be in some Measure subdued yet aliquid haerebit there are remainders of it in the best and we cannot be rid of this Body of Death till the Death of our Body and therefore where there is difference in Opinions there will be Divisions in Affection but more particularly there be these things which are the Ground and Cause of this Evil. First Pride and Self-conceit He thaâ— Prov. 28. 25. Chap. 13. 10. is of a proud Heart stirreth up Strifeâ— Only by Pride cometh Contention If every one of us could hearken to that Counsel of the Apostle which is so elegantâ— ly expressed which is thus rendred in our Translation Not to think of himself Rom. 12. 3. more highly then he ought to think but to think soberly This would be one great means to cure and compose our Differences for if every one had better Thoughts of all and low Thoughts of himself he would not so magisterially impose his Conceptions upon others and quarrel with every one that will not come up to his Model If every one did as the Apostle exhorts Esteem others better than himself nothing would be Phil. 2. 3. done through strife and vain-glory Secondly Another cause is Passion A Prov. 16. 28. froward Man soweth Strife Men of hot and fiery Spirits are apt to breed Contention and Quarrel in the Church as well as in the State whereas he that is of a meek and quiet Spirit will be so far from kindling the Fire of Contention and Divisions that he will labour to quench the Flame that others have kindled I am perswaded if Luther had been of Calvin's Spirit Reformation of Religion had been carried on to a greater heighth and that we had not had so great Rents and Divisions in the Church as now we have Thirdly Another cause of this Evil is that which the Apostle blames in the Corinthians which caused Divisions among them and that is the crying up of one Teacher to the disparagement and contempt of all others I am of Paul I am of Apollos I am of
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
one Angel to Guard us while we are Travelling through the Wilderness of this World to the Heavenly Canaan we should be strongly guarded But 〈…〉 Secondly How strong is this Guard if you consider the number of Angels if there be so much strength in one Angel what is there in an Host of Angels Jacob calls them Gods Host Jacob went on his Way and the Angels of God met Gen. 32. 1 2. him and when Jacob saw them he said This is Gods Host and they make a numerous Host I heard the Voice of many Angels The Chariots of the Lord are Rev. 5. 11. Psal 68. 17. twenty Thousand even Thousands of Angels Our Saviour saith he could have Mat. 26. 23. prayed to his Father and should have given him more then twelve Legions of Angels If this be not enough the Apostle tells us that there be an innumerable Heb. 12. 22. Company of Angels So now we see that every true Christian hath a strong Life-Guard when all the Angels that excel in might and exceed in number are charged by the Great Commander of Heaven and Earth to Minister to them but they have a stronger Guard yet for Secondly Not only the Angels of God but also the God of Angels is their keeper Behold he that keepeth Israel shall Psal 121. 4 to 8. neither slumber nor sleep The Lord is thy keeper the Lord is thy shade upon thy right Hand The Lord shall preserve thee from all Evil. We read that the Lords Portion Deut. 33. 26 27. is his People and that he keeps them as the Apple of his Eye and surely then they must be well kept the Chap. 30. 9. Lord will Guard them before and behind and round about and then who can hurt them he will be their Vant-Guard The Lord your God which goeth Deut. 1. 30. Isa 52. 12. before you he shall fight for you c. For ye shall not go out with haste nor go by flight for the Lord will go before them and the God of Israel will be your Rereward As the Mountains are round about Jerusalem so the Lord is round about his Psal 125. 2 People from henceforth even for ever So it is clear that the Lord will Guard his People In the next Place that he is a strong Guard I cannot think any arrived at the heighth of Atheism and Impudence as to deny it for if he was Impotent nay if he were not Potent he could not be God But I am speaking to Christians who will be satisfied with Scripture In the Lord Jehovah is Isa 26. 4. Job 9. 19. Everlasting Strength If I speak of Stâ—ength he is strong Our Saviour useth this as an Argument why his Sheep shall never perish My Father which gave them me is stronger than all and none is able to Joh. 10. 29. pluck them out of my Fathers Hand I could produce many more Scriptures as Psalm 24. 8. Psalm 89. 8. but I need not multiply Texts to prove so plain a Truth I shall only mention one more Behold all the Nations of the Earth are as Isa 40. 15. the drop of a Bucket and are accounted as the small Dust of the Ballance But this doth not sufficiently set forth the Power of the Omnipotent therefore it is said All the Nations before him are as nothing ver 17. but this doth not reach it neither and therefore it follows they are counted to be less then nothing and Vanity So you see what his Word saith but we may further consider his Infinite Power by his Works He is the great God who made Heaven Gen. 1. and Earth out of nothing who shaketh the Earth out of her Place And the Mountains melt before him Who hath gathered the Wind in his Fist Who hath measured Judg. 5. 5. Prov. 30. 4. Isa 40. 12. the Waters in the hollow of his Hand and â—meted out the Heavens with a Span and comprehended the Dust of the Earth in a Measure and weighed the Mountains in Scales and the Hills in a Ballance The Sea retreats at his Command and the Rock becomes a standing Water and the Psal 114. 8. Flint a Fountain The Pillars of Heaven tremble and are astonished at his Reproof Job 26. 11 and Hell is naked before him Lo these are the Parts of his Ways but how little a Portion is heard of him But the Thunder of his Power who can understand Consider further what Acts of his Power God hath put forth from Time to Time for the Safety and Preservation of his People He hath restrained the Fire from Burning and the Water from Dan. 3. Ezek. 14. 21. Dan. 6. 22. Drowning and the Hungry Lions from Devouring them He hath put a Hook into the Nostrils of the most inraged Enemies hath reproved Kings for their sake yea for their sake He smote great Psal 136. 17 18. Kings and slew famous Kings And lastly He hath reserved their greatest Enemies the Devils in Chains to the Judgment of the Great Day Behold what Jude 6. safety have all the Saints who have this God to be their Lord Protector He can raise all the Posse of Heaven and Earth for the safe Conduct of those who are Travelling to his Kingdom but if he Arm the least and most contemptible Creatures they shall be strong enough to secure them and destroy their Adversaries By this Time I hope thou art satisfied that the Children of God are well Guarded in their Journey towards Heaven and therefore it will follow clearly that they need not fear being hindred in their Way nor robbed of their Treasure What God saith to Abraham he saith to all who are Children of Abraham Fear not I am thy Shield Sure he must needs be safe who is sub Omnipotentis clypeo under the Buckler of the Almighty Well then Christian go on thy Way with Courage and Chearfulness What is it that thou Fearest Is it Satan Why the Lord shall trample him under thy Feet shortly for the Gates of Hell shall not prevail Mat. 16. 18. against any of his Dost thou fear Men the Lord is on thy side what can Flesh do unto thee Thy Protector can look all thy Enemies into Confusion as he did Proud Pharaoh and all his Host or consume Exo. 14. 24. them with the Breath of his Nostrils Do thou keep on in Heavens way and all the Power of Earth and Hell shall never be able to keep thee out of Heaven For the Lord shall preserve thee by his Power through Faith unto Salvation 1 Pet. 1. 5. CHAP. XVIII Though the Traveller find good Entertainment at his Inn yet he takes not up his abode there but is Restless till he come to his own Home A Wise Christian looks upon this World as his Inn and takes it but in transitu in his Way to a better World He doth not say It is good to be here Let us build Tabernacles but
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