more upon their own Head. We see how far the Corruption in us would go if not hindred even to all manner of Evil and iniquity like a mighty Torrent would bear down all before it If Men were left to themselves and might do what was right in their own eyes as they were once in such a Condition when there was no King in Israel as is declared before the most horrible Judg. 19. Relation ever done under the Sun there would be nothing but Tribulation and Anguish Weeping and Lamentation through the Earth continual Fears would arise from the strivings of the People But Blessed be our God who stilleth the noise of the Waves when they arise and ruleth the raging of the Sea and the madness of the People If that had no bounds it would quickly over-spread the Face of the Earth and the other if not kept in would bring an universal Dâ—lâ—ge not only upon the Vngoaly but the Servants of God and the Compass of this lower World would be one entire Aceldama a Field of Blood. He hath sent Kings and Governours for the Punishment of evil doers and for thâ— praise of them that do well 1 Pet. 2. 13 14. The Word which God sent unto the Children of Israel preaching Peace by Jesus Christ he is Lord of all Acts 10. 36. Amongst other Dâ—ties doth Command submission to Kings and Magistrates and forbids the contrary No Rebellion whatsoever is lawful A real good end will not sanctifie it much less those false and specious Ones wherewith it is often accompanied It is a slanderous Report of the Gospel That some affirm thereof as if it did allow to do evil that good may come Rom. 3. 8. God revealed himself otherwise of Old. He is the Rock his Work is perfect for all his ways are judgment a God of truth and without iniquity just and right is he Deut. 32. 4. Thou art of purer eyes then to behold evil and canst not look on iniquity Hab. 1. 13. For I the Lord love judgment I hate Robbery for Burnt-offering Isa 61. 8. Will ye speak wâ—â—kedly for Gâ—d and talk deceitfully for â—im Job 13. 7. The Lord is righteous in all his ways and holy in all his works Psal 145. 17. More Texts might be alledged to manifest that his Glory is not to be advanced by sinful means Indeed this cannot be for it would be contrary to his infinite purity and uprightness with whom dwells no shadow of Evil. But Experience hath discovered that when some have designed Rebellion for their own Ambition Interest and Revenge they must have a Fig-leave to hide it from simple People whom they 2 Sam. 15. 8. 11. draw on their side And what can be better then Absoloms Vow Religion and the Glory oâ— God as hath been the method of former Ages this hath been made use of as a Pretence to further their own damned Enterprizes Good God! That thy Name should be so abused by vile Miscreants that thou who dost abhor and hast revealed thy Wrath against all unrighteousness of Men shouldst Rom. 1. 18. be made use of to Patronize it as if thou werâ— such an one thy self I am astonished to think of this horrible perverting of thy Ways and Nature Men would not dare do thus but thou holdest thy Tongue Hab. 1. 13. Otherwise there could be no Tryal whither they would do thus or not But notwithstanding all the Practices of wicked Hypocrites through which Strangers and the Ignorant may mis-apprehend the God whom we serve thou wilt be justified when thou speakest and clear when thou judgest at the last and great day And even now thou art in this and all other Matters as thou speakest in thâ— Word The Author of the New Testament observed by his own Example what he taught and commanded to others when he was betraâ—ed into the hands of wicked Men though he could have had more then twelve Legions of Angels yet made â—ot the least opposition He was the Son of God King of Kings and Lord of Lords and consequently exempt from paying of Tribute to Mat. 17. them yet rather then he would give offence he wrought a Miracle for the Payment thereof And hath left this standing Commandment to all his Followers Render unto Cesar the things which are Cesars Mat. 22. 21. which is more particularly explained Rom. 13. Render therefore to all their Dues Tribute to whom Tribute is due Custom to whom Custom Fear to whom Fear Honour to whom Honour Ye must needs be subject not only for Wrath but for Câ—â—science sake These things are as much due to the Supreme Magistrate as it is from a Child to a Parent he hath Right to them from his Subjects as they have to their own Goods or Estate The Doctrine of Loyalty and Obedience to Governors is laid down in as plain Terms as any other Duty in the Gospel and are sufficient to convince him who Acts in Sincerity and Truth But those which are Presumptuous Self-willed 2 Pet. 2. 10. of turbulent and factious Spirits have found out some little and trifling Evasions against these express Texts There is a way in the World of putting Interpretations when there is no more need of them then of the most plain obvious Expression But this is a Trick either to wrest or make the Commandments of God of none effect The wicked thus vindicate or palâ—iate their Transgression and others in alike manner justifie Rebellion Let all Men in general remember and take heed that the great â—aw-giver when every one comes to give Account before him will not be trifled with Such ways and devices will not now pass in Humane Courts and Judicatories They have so much the more to Answer for by prevaricating the way of the Most High making his Word as it were a Nose of Wax some have Blasphemously called it so to stamp any Impression and mould it to any shape as serves their base Sinister turns In the end such Men will find that the All-wise God will not be outwitted by them The Criminals are not to make their own Construction of the Laws against which they have offended but must receive according to his righteous Judgment when what is written Rom. 1. 18. Rom. 2. 8. Shall be executed and found true Thus some who seem to be Religious Confess Men ought to pay Obedience unto Governours but then they say these Commands extend only to those Kings who love Christ and themselves live obedient to his Law. And whether they do or not private Persons are made Judges and if they think such an one doth not Subjects may lawfully disobey and rebel against him If this should be granted No King howsoever good or righteous would be safe in his Person for so apt are Men in judging the worst especially of those above them that they would censure him to be a prophane Prince or Hypocrite If he was another David a man after Gods own heart why he was hated and spoken
principal and whole place in Man nothing to be preferred before him and all things to be done in subserviency to his Obedience That which was given to Minister must not set up for Rule What he only allowed for Necessaries and Conveniences that he might be served in Holiness and Righteousness all the days of our Life is not to come in for the main end nor be made an occasion to provoke him by iniquity and disobedience How unreasonable is it that a little yellow or white Dust should be preferred before God who made Heaven and all things therein They are accursed who worship the Sun Moon and Stars which declare his Glory but are not to deprive him of the least degree of his own much less may the small things here below God made us preserveth us gives whatsoever we enjoy and hath provided an eternal Happiness hereafter if we do not by such gross Demerits as esteeming every little thing before him which sets forth the infinite Aggravation of Sin forfeit our Right we have to his free and gracious Promises If we might â—ender to all their due that just Esteem they deserve and no more Now of God are all things and therefore to him belong all Love Fear Honour Praise Obedience and whatsoever we can do to express our utmost Acknowledgment and Worship of his Divine Majesty Let us do as much as we can to acknowledge His Dominion and Property and our own Subjection and Dependance Let us have an exceeding high Opinion of whatever appertains to him and then we should have but a very little Opinion of all that is here in Comparison of the Great things of God. Even in this wicked partial and idolatrous World Dung is never preferred before Crowns and Scepters And if the Eyes of our understanding were enlightened and we did lift them up to the everlasting Hills we might apprehend such unutterable things there that we should no more esteem of the most magnified things of this World then now we do the Stones and Earth we walk upon But all Men have not Faith who look upon this as meer Dreams and fine Fancies Indeed few speak out so but many think thus in their minds and therefore are for being sure of something letting alone these glorious Imaginations for such who believe them It is said there is one Nerve more in the Eye of Man then in Brutes by which he is enabled to lift it up If this be not lost for want of use look upwards in a clear Night ye earthly minded Observe the Firmament bespangled with Stars and do ye not really guess there may be above them some greater Excellency then Gold and Silver which Canker and Rust Seek him that maketh the seven Stars and Orion Amos 5. 8. whose is the World and the fulness thereof Psal 50. 12. and you must conclude he hath greater things in his disposal then what we now see or handle Be not so rash and foolish to perswade your selves there are no such things because you do not believe them for in your Opinion it would be an odd kind of reasoning that there was no such things as Riches because Beasts know them not And it is alike absurdity to deny those true Riches our Saviour speaks of Luke 16. 11. only for that covetous Worldings will not know nor believe them If they will not they shall lose their part in them and that will occasion greater trouble then now it is to miss a good Bargain or Purchase 'T is perverse Humour and Opposition to the Truth that any are unbelieving for would they but impartially examine those Evidences of Faith we have they must fully assent But this wicked and stubborn World is afraid the Gospel should be true and therefore will not look upon its Pillars and Grounds of Truth least they should be found too strong and then such must not continue in Transgression They are willing to grasp and hold fast what they have and they take effectual Care not to attend to any thing how true soever which may perswade to the contrary O profound Policy and Wisdom To refuse to be Happy here and hereafter because by coveting after Riches they will pierce themselves through with many Sorrows and wilfully subject themselves unto temporal and eternal Misery only to hug themselves a little with ill gotten abundance What unheard of Folly is this There being set before the Sons of Men good and evil they will lose the one and incur the other by considering of neither before-hand Good God! That Men should set at naught the most inestimable thing in the World and yet blindly run upon accursed Misery Reason it self would tell them that there is no harm to seek after the greatest Good and if it be grievous to think of the Evil so they cannot endure that how much more to suffer it And they had better think thereof and so escape then as now they do shut it out of their Minds and thus unavoidably run into it This may be applied to all manner of unbelief Ignorance and Sin but Covetousness hath a mixture of all for otherwise a Man would not renounce his part in the Portion of Israel for thousands of Gold and Silver Were he perswaded he hath a Soul and of its due worth he would not lose it to gain the whole World when now he doth to get a less part thereof then the point of a Pin is to an Acre of Ground Covetousness doth strangely fasten the affections to the Earth and takes them quite off from Heaven The mind is daubed over with thick Clay that it conceives not Spiritually and so intent upon things Temporal that he regards not the things Eternal And thus comes in him an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God Nevertheless let him still know he is bound to obey the Commandments If one hath never taken the Oath of Allegiance yet he is obliged to keep the Kings Laws if he doth not he shall be punished accordingly So likewise if one was never Baptized nor enters into Covenant with God yet still he lives under his Laws Every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward Heb. 2. 2. He is Lord over all the Great King of all the Earth and requires subjection from every Creature those his Enemies which would not have him reign over them he will send forth his Armies and destroy them Who will not mind Scripture his revealed Law are at this present transgressours against the same and shall at the last day be condemned by it For the iniquity of his Covetousness was I wroth and smote him I hid me and was wroth and he went frowardly in the way of his heart Isa 57. 17. The iniquity of Covetousâ—ess consists in getting by evil and sinful Col. 3. 5 6. means as Falshood or Wrong so it is a complicated sin of inordinate Affection and Disobedience Another kind of Covetousness is gathered from 2 Cor. 9. 5. Which hinders from
and taking care for the Body all one as the Soul for they will fare alike and be in the same condition The Garments of Salvation and Robe of Righteousness the fine Linnen clean and white to be all glorious within and adorning the hidden Man of the Heart these will be found altogether as necessary and convenient as now it is thought to deck with Ornaments and adorn with Jewels for 't is evident they must and are deprived of these They must strip and makâ— bare Isa 32. 11. as they do every night till they put on a Shroud or Winding-Sheet and then nothing will stand them in any stead but what is afore-mentioned Then Dust shall be the only Powder and Paint Instead of sweet smell there shall be stink and instead of well set Hair Baldness Isa 3. 24. The holy Spirit speaking of this Excess makes particular application to Women for they are most subject to this Sin and Vanity they are the weaker Vessel and presently taken with a slender appearance of Good. A â—ine outside and gaudy shew though it is not much more then the colour of a Flie do exceedingly transport them whose thoughts are not fixed on the true and substantial Good. Who pursue no certain end may be observed to catch at every phantastick Image that hath the least sign of Happiness though it be a meer shadow varnish and next to nothing Again who have a right sence and belief of spiritual things they do not in the least esteem of Toyes and Triâ—â—es As Women professing Godliness differ from those of this World in manner of Life and Conversation hoping to be unlike them in their Death so they should appear outwardly not to run to the same Extravagancy of Apparel They may be of the same Fashion with others but more modest and less expensive Not setting themselves out in the same manner as the vain Women do of like Rank and Quality What is saved this way and given to the Poor will avail more then Conforming to this World and the empty applause of their Acquaintance Though people are so admired or envied for fine Clothes yet the principal delight arises to the owners from this ignorant miserable nature of lookers on Good God! that the Soul which was designed for great things should ever be brought so narrow and low as to take pleasure in bodily Vestments That she who is brighter then the Sun if she knew her self should at alL mind the glittering of Gold or Embroidery That she whom the whole World cannot satisfie in her due stretching forth should seem the least contented with what is meer outside and colour She must be extreamly fallen from her noble and exalted Nature She must lose much of her original Honour before she can set any estimation on them which are only useful and convenient for the Body but not worthy of her Care and Affection Temperance extends yet further to Recreations The necessity of them appears in that we are Flesh and not Spirit that Of Recreations will tire and grow weary It is as needful to Refresh as to Eat when Hungry We do not read that Christ used Recreations his Meat and Drink was to do the Will of God But we are not as he was without Sin and Corruption We cannot be always conversant about holy things an Intermission and Freedom is allowed as appears by bodily labour God hath Ordained and when tired by that he affords Divertisment Provided that we do not shut out the sence of him from Worldly business or deny our Subjection unto him in those Portions of Good he hath given Be thou in the Fear of the Lord all the day long and then do what thy hands find to do If we acknowledge and preserve our Obedience unto him and then delight our selves as much as we will. Looking unto the end and design of a thing which in Recreation is to fit us the more for his Service and works of our Calling And therefore are not to be made an occasion to turn our Hearts from him or neglect the other It is lent to refresh and not to fill to delight but not to satisfie to use but not to rest in them We are not to be happy before our time Even this may be learnt out of the nature of Recreations for they are hungry and empty and when immoderately pursued they are wearisome and cease to Recreate They please and divert when sparingly used but still are not found an adequate Happiness to Man. That irksomness and not satisfying that constant seeking after variety though little to be had not being contented even when one is tired with them make known all this Can Men feed on still and be nourished with Sauce only These do not gratifie the Soul otherwise then by rendring the Body more fit for her operations which cannot be always working Now what diverts makes them to stand still but when she is somewhat eased and relieved she hath an inclination to return to her proper Employment and hath regret to be hindred Happiness is the end that she drives at which is kept in another World we being only to prepare for it here in that method and way God hath Ordained In our course we are assaulted by many Temptations and proposals of Good which would deceive and turn aside God saw every thing be made and behold it was good Gen. 1. 31. Every thing that is not expresly forbidden may be lawfully used but an intermixture of evil came in afterwards so it may be turned and abused If Recreations are had according to the prescribed limits of Moderation they help to our Comfort there and Happiness hereafter but if excessively dwelt on they tend to Distraction and Misery The great danger of them is that then they hinder the Love of God make to forget him render us earthly-minded and quite estranged from spiritual things they consume precious time which should be spent in working out our Salvation and doing good to others The faculties of Soul are not exercised on those great and sutable Objects to which they were designed but are taken up with little and vain things Had we been only made for them to skip like Lambs or with the Leviathan to take his Pastime in the deep the same and ordinary endowments which they have would have served us also There would have been need of no more then power just to sport and play Reason might have been spared and the other Accomplishments of a Man. We may observe in the lower rank of Creatures after the briskness and festivities of Youth are over they do not leap up and down but serve only to the right end of their Being Because Recreations are commonly used to spend Time the tediousness Of Time and the passing away thereof whereof is so afflicting to some it can be no improper digression at least from the general Argument to say some what thereof If Man did reflect within himself and on the nature of things he
thanks at all for their Master will sufficiently reward them No Flesh must Glory in his Presence or take the least share of that Honour which is due unto God only And what some of forward but not throughly considering minds Acts 12. 23. may give they are to return immediately into the Exchequer of Praises of the Great King. We have Examples of this in Christ and his Apostles See how he is described Zech. 9. 9. And Psal 111. 3. Isa 42. 21. who are commissioned under him though their * Employment is more worthy then that of Kings and the wisest States-Men yet they are to possess and discharge it with lowliness of mind Let nothing be done out of moroseness or frowardness to derogate from that Civility and Respect due unto Men. Yet in this we do exceed as every thing proves a Temptation by Flattery Job 32. 21. 22. and Pride but also as we are fellow Creatures we do too much Idolize one another in giving that Honour that we cannot give greater of the same sort even to our Lord and Master Submitting your selves one to another in the fear of God Ephes 5. 21. Love as Brethren be pittiful be Courteous 1 Pet. 3. 8. Which may as well be preserved without that strain of Complement or those Expressions which are not proper for such low and â—rail Creatures as we are This may be put off as a needless Scruple and Fear but if it were complyed withal it would bring greater good at the last then all the conveniencies of Dissimulation Flattery or Ignorance amount unto at present Those workings of the Soul which aspire upwards may be turned into good and help to order the Conversation aright towards God and towards Man. As the Lord is greater and above all so let Men shew themselves in Subjection unto him in all things and then they may be as great Spiâ—ited as ever they will Mind not high things Rom. 12. 16. Such that are so only in Opinion but they are low in Reality and Truth for it is all but the highest part of the Dust of the World Prov. 8. 26. The most glittering things here are â—carce discernable if you go up yonder Mountain What are they then to the high and lofty place the In-habitation of Eternity Let us lift up our Heart with our Hands to God in the Heavens Lam. 3. 41. Set your Affections on things above Col. 3. 2. There exceed if you can That Christ may dwell in your Hearts by Faith that ye being rooted and grounded in Love. May be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the Breadth and Length and Depth and Height and to know the Love of Christ which passeth Knowledge that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God Ephes 3. 17 18 19. Here the Soul may stretch every way till it burst forth into Immensity and Glory CHAP. XVIII OF AFFLICTIONS In General A Digression concerning Words of Sorrow Melancholy Sickness â—ain Poverty and other Adversities HAving in the foregoing Chapters spoken of the Evil and Good which are set before Mankind how the one is to be chosen and â—he other avoided it remains to insist somewhat on those Evils which are not so much in their power absolutely to escape but if any help can be found out either to Comfort under or that even these may turn into Good. It is the manner of Gods wonderful and gracious dealing towards the Children of Men to lead them from Vanity to a Substantial then a glorious Being to bring them from Imperfection to Perfection from Misery â—â—â— making that tend Rom. 8. 28. unto and at last be changed into a greater Happiness This is the favour he hath unto his own People but for those who are Strangers and Unconverted he uses such means to reduce them When the nature of Man is so impatient of Affliction that he is presently for Ease and Deliverance of whom should he seek but of the Lord most Mighty who for oâ—r Sin is justly displeased And what is more Reasonable then to forsake that which is the cause of so much Vexation Read and consider well Deut. 4. 29 30 31. Never any one that turned from every evil way and manifested this to be sincere by Obedience for the future but found good hereby Indeed Punishment doth sometimes begin on hardened impenitent Sinners which will be sollowed with what is worse hereafter but even they had some Chastisements before which were designed for their Amendment and Repentance What befals the Sons of Men is ordered by wise Providence that they may come to Grace here and Glory hereafter Is Prosperity delightful yet reflect throughly it is unsatisfactory and tiresome however we can go on with it But then is it not desirable to continue thus which puts the Man upon labouring for that compleat Happiness against the time he shall be taken from this Is Adversity grievous Compare it to Hell and what is suffered here is little all present Afflictions will have an end and yet they â—it heavy How insupportable then must those be which are Eternal this sufficiently warns to â—lee from the Wrath to come Consider Men in their different Ranks and Circumstances in the World It is ordered by God that his Promises and Threatnings should have effect upon them If they Obey and Serve him they shall spend their days in Prosperity and their years in Pleasure Job 36. 11. He generally gives that first the flourishing and light someness of Youth when they are capable of knowing him So when they grow up further if they continue in his Obedience he turns the Mirth of that into a more solid Joy and Peace He manifests his goodness because he makes this the first Experiment and doth not Afflict willingly unless Mercy and Justice do require it But he giveth more Grace wherefore he saith God resisteth the Proud but giveth Grace to the Humble James 4. 6. If they are Humble still he will yet increase that for he would give exceeding gifts unto Men if they would not be lifted up but when they are he hinders or takes a way the qualifications wherein they boast or some way defeats them So here as long as their Heart is right and stedfast in his Covenant he continues their Tranquillity but if they turn aside some Adversity is laid on them These two are the same unto the Body and Estate as Love and Fear to the Soul and inward Man the first is more Generous and Noble the other proves commonly more attractive Fear is the beginning of Wisdom but Love is the Accomplishment and Excellency thereof So it may be applyed to Adversity and Prosperity He is not a right Christian who doth every thing out of fear nor yet to whom Affliction is the principal Impulsive for there are in both an unwillingness and no full sincere Intention to please God. And what seems strange Those who are all for their own Safety and Deliverance having that alone in their