contentes himselfe with the Water of Iohn Luk. 3 16. and doth not seeke to be baptized of Christ with fire and the Holy-ghost is made the only But and scope of his attempts It is not therefore a superficiall ayring that shall satisfy my cold desires I will so heate them in the well-kindeled flames of true Deuotion that like a searing-Iron hee shall no sooner stretch out his hand to touch mee but I will brand him for his bolde presumption and for euer after make him so fearefull of mee that when hee seeth me though at neuer so great a distance he shall come creeping towardes mee like a Spaniell with his belley on the ground he shall cry out to me with an extended voice and say Maâ—ke 5.7 What 〈◊〉 to do with thee thou Seruant of the mosâ—â—igh GOD I charge thee by thy Lorde and mayster that thou torment mee not XLVIII THe Crosse of Christ is that Rod of Moses by which the Deuil that spirituall Pharaoh is strooke with such diuersity of plagues that at the last he is enforced to driue from him those which erâ— while he â—old haue drawâ—e vnâ—â—â—â—m It is a glorious and immortall monument erected as a Trophy by the hand of Victory to the dishonour and confusion of that oppressor and insulting Tyrant Hee standes aloofe and stares vpon it with an enuious eie but is affraid to draw neere vnto it least hee and his temptations might chance to bee deuoured by it as were by that the Serpents of the Enchanters It is that blessed Tree with the boughs whereof the waters of Marah were made sweete It altereth the bitternesse of Tribulations and makes the Cup of the Lord which of it selfe is exceeding sharpe delightful to the tast 2. Cor. 12.10 I take pleasure sayth Saint Paule in all repreaches and persecutions for his sake the Apostles after they had been beaten by the appointment of the Counsell at Hierusalem Acts 5 41. departed thence with cheerefull countenances reioycing that they were reputed worthy to suffer rebuke for his Name It is that princely Scepter of Ahashuerosh which beeing stretched out dooth license our approach vnto the Throne of his Celestial Grace It is that key of the Kingly Prophet which hath opened vnto vs the greatest misteries and the profoundest secrets that were euer heard of It is that ladder of the Patriark by which our passage inro heauen is easier nowe then euer it was before In a word it is that golden Candlesticke in which the life and light of men was set Iohn 1 4. whose brightnesse was so great that the Centurion by meanes thereof euen through the Aegyption darknesse of those times was able to discouer his Diuinitie when opprest with feare hee cryed out and said Truely this was the Sonne of the liuing God Mat. 27.52 I wil not therfore reioice in any thing Gal. 6.14 but in the Crosse of our Lorde Iesus Christ by which the World is crucified vnto me I vnto the world Night day will I make it the subiect of my Meditation and so I may attaine to the knowledge of this 1. Cor. 2.2 I will not esteeme of any other wisedome whatsoeuer What doctrine is it which is not heere comprized His passion is the Epilogue of all There is not any thing either in Heauen or in Earth but as the Apostle saieth is recapitulated to the full in Christ Ephe. 1 10. Mount Caluary shall therefore bee my Schoole and the Booke which I will reade shall bee the lanched side and bloudy bosome of my blessed Sauiour I will thinke vpon his wounds I will consider his skars the prints of the nails shall bee as breathing-stops to helpe my Contemplation XLIX AS Siluer drosse ouerlaid vpoÌ„ a Potshard so are burning lips Pro. 26.23 and an euill heart Hee thaâ— dwelleth in the Heauen doth abhorre it and wilâ— for euer haue it in derision It is not complement that pleaseth him The Kinges Daughter was al glorious within Psal 45 13. or little would the Lorde haue esteemed her sumptuous cloathing of Broidered Gold If the in-side of the Vessel be not cleane let the out-side bee as glorious as it will our GOD will none of it The Figge-Tree was delightfull to the Eye but yet it could not escape the curse He wold haue nothing seem that which it is not Eyther make the Tree good Mat. 12.33 and his fruite good saith he or the Tree euill and his fruite euill worship either God or Belial and halt no longer betweene two opinions For one to haue the Voyce of Iacob and the handes of Esau is a degree of Hypocrisie beyonde his knowledge apprehension and conceite The thought of it dootâ— cleane amaze him Hoâ— can you ô ye viperous broâ— when your selues are iâ—wardly nothing else bâ— filth and putrifaction Luke 6.6 vttâ— thinges that are of a differing constitution For 〈◊〉 of the abundance of thâ— heart the mouth speaketâ— So that in vain it is to 〈◊〉 him Maister Maister vnlesse withall we doe the thinges which hee propoundeth Our righteousnesse must exceede that of the Scribes and Pharises Math. 5 20. or we shall neuer enteâ— into the Kingdome of Heauen I will not therefore be like the blinde and lame that sit begging at the entrance of a Citty and shew the way to them that passe along but set no foote in it themselues I will accompany them my selfe vnto the place and alwaies as neere as I can countenaunce a godly precept with a good precedent The word of the Lord is called a Sword Take the Sword of the Spirite Ephe. 6 16. which is the word oâ— God It cannot bee employed but by the hand And hence it is that iâ— sundry places of thâ— Scriptures we read in the originall that it was iâ— the handes of his Prophets as namely in the hand of Isaiah Esay 20 2. in thâ— hand of Haggai in thâ— hand of Malachi Mal. 1.1 c. tâ— signify vnto vs that the instructions which we giue our brethren shoulâ— not consist so much iâ— wordes as in workes anâ— good examples He thaâ— can doe that which hee saieth hee alone is that Salt of the Earth Math. 5 13. which shall neuer loose his sauour hee alone is that Citty on a Hell which cannot be hid in a word he alone is that Candle in the Candlesticke which giueth light to all that are about it and shineth out so clearely and so brightly that they which see it cannot but glorifye the Lord which is in heauen I will continually therefore so speake and so do Iames 2.12 as one that looketh to be iudged by the Law of Liberty Christ Iesus hath left me an example Ioh 13 15. that I should do euen as hee that hath done and surely I will striue to followe it in all thinges as Moses did that patterne which was shewed him in the Mount Exo. 25 40. L. THe World
of Adam which did not in some measure beare a part of his punnishment All things did degenerate from theyr creation and from that time became obnoxious to corruption The Elements themselues did waxe impure The earth brought nothing foorth but Thornes Thistles It had in it that mightie Behemoth to molest it Gen. 3 18. Iob. 40 10. the Water that monstrous Liviathan to infect it But Christ the holy one of holy ones came downe from Heauen and sanctified the one by walking too and fro vpon it the other by causing himselfe to be Baptized with it He purified the Ayre by suffering in it and the Fire by sending his holy Spirite in the likenesse of it Man who was indeed that sower Leauen which corrupted the whole lump was to be cleansed from his impurity not vvith the fat of Buls and goats nor with the Ashes of an Heyfer Heb. 9 14. but with the precious bloud of that immaculate and spotles Lambe who thorough the eternall Spirite offered himself without blot or blemish to the Lord that he might purge the Conscience from dead workes and make it fit to serue the liuing God As the Childe of obedience therefore I will no longer fashion my selfe to the former lusts of an vnbrideled Affection 1. Pet. 1.13 I will bee sober and relye wholly on the grace which is brought vnto me by the reuelation of my blessed Sauiour The Meditatiō of his wounds shal be the Iordan wherein I wil alwaies wash my loathsome leaprous and exulcerated Soule I will endeauour that as hee which hath called me is holy so may I likewise be holy in all manner of conuersation that both of me and of others hee may bee glorified in the day of the visitation 1. Pet. 2.12 XXV PRofanenesse is the badge of basenes but a religious and vpright heart is the ensigne of true gentry Such as are the Children of Abraham will doe the works of Abraham Iohn 8.39 They will bring foorth nothing to disgrace their birth to preiudice their breeding 1 Ioh. 3 10 Their Actions shal haue alwaies written in theyr fronts the liuely Characters of their Progenitors Others may boast of their descent but they are no better then the spurious Issue of an Heroike Father Gen 16 12. They are a wilde and sauage generation The Bond-Woman is their Mother They haue nothing in them that is truely generous Gen. 21 10 and shall therefore be cast out with Ishmael from beeing partners of the promise with the lawful Heire The father of Canaan for his impiety shall be made a Slaue and the King of Babell for his pride shall become a Beast The Wealth and and glory of the World with those hydropicall and puffed vppe Titles which are the foode and Fodder of Ambition what are they else but imaginary and fantastick graces of slender substaunce of short continuaunce The feare of the Lord is the height of Honour and hee that is vertuous is only Noble I wil labor alwaies therfore to doe righteously teach my hart the way of Gods Commaundements Actes 17.11 The Men of Berea were preferred by the holy Ghost before those of Thessalonica because they searched the Scriptures with more diligence and receiued the word which was taught them with morewillingnesse I will doe as they did and obtain the same stile which they had I will delight in the Statutes of my God with his precepts will I solace my Soule XXVI THE Lord is a good God slow to anger and of great kindnesse Hee desireth not the ouerthrowe of a Sinner Why will ye dye saith he O House of Israell Eze. 33 11 But rather that he should returne from his wicked waies and liue Though in the heate of his wrath and indignation he pronounce the fearefull sentence of Death against him yet notwithstanding if he fal from his former courses and subiect himselfe vnto his ordinaunce hee will reuerse his iudgements hee will annihilate his doombe Hee knoweth of what Moule we be made hee remembreth that we are but Dust Psal 103 14 that our daies are but Grasse and that as the flower of the field so flourish we He excuseth our manifold transgressions vpon our weaknesse that hee may not punish them as proceeding from wilfulnesse I know saith he ye did it of ignoraunce Actes 2 17 There is in his bosome a louing and kinde affection towardes vs. Hee pleadeth our cause himselfe and seeketh to remooue the guilt that hee may spare the guilty He forgetteth the place of a Iudge to performe the part of a father He inuiteth them that are thirsty to the Fountaines of liuing Water and willeth such such as are heauy laden to come vnto him that he may ease them And when thorough vile and obstinate contempt of this his kindnesse they fall into a bottomlesse immeasurable Gulfe of miserie his hart is ouercome with pittie and cōpassion and out of the commiseration which he hath of the wretchednes of their estate he cryeth out by the mouth of his holy Prophet Oh! That thou hadst hearkened to my Commandements Esay 48.18 Iere. 48.31 then had thy prosperitie beene as the Floud and thy righteousnesse as the Waues of the Sea Hee is in all thinges GOD omnipotent yet there are three thinges which lye without the compasse of his power He cannot deny his pardon to him that seeketh with inward sorrow and deiection for it nor with draw his grace from him that is vnwilling to part with it Cadant amici dummodo inimici intercidant Farewell Friendes so Foes may perrish is no principle in his Politiks no precept of his propounding Hee cannot punish the wicked where there is danger of offending the godly hereupon when hee intended the ruine and subuersion of Sodome and Gomorrah Gen. 19 22. Hast thee said he to Lot from hence and saue thy selfe for I can doe nothing til thou be gone And in the Gospell he would not suffer the Seruants of the houshold to pluck vp the Tares for feare they should offende the Wheate Mathew 13 29. Hence-forward therfore I will forsake my wicked wayes Psal 123 2. I will abandon mine own imaginations and with speede returne vnto the Lorde As the eyes of a Seruant looke vnto the handes of his Maister or the eyes of a Maide to the handes of her Mistris euen so shal mine without ceasing or interruption waite vpon my GOD till hee doe crowne me with mercy till he receiue mee to his glory XXVIII THe Maiesty of christ is wondrous great his Empire is exceeding large There is nothing in all this spacious Vniuerse which lyeth not within the compasse of his iurisdiction The heauens are his by birth as he is the onely Sonne of his Father begotten before all Worldes And heere are those selected troopes of Saintes and Martyrs those triumphall Conquerors that haue giuen the ouerthrowe to Sinne and Sathan and doe now waite vppon the Throne
of the Lambe hauing their bodies clothed with white aray and their Temples crowned with wreathes of victory The Earth is his by donation I will giue thee the Heathen for thine inheritaunce Psalm 2 8. and the endes of the World for thâ— possessions and here had he planted those renowned Colonies of Warlike Combattants 1. Thes 5 8 Ephe. 6 14. that haue their loynes continually girded about with Verity and vpon their head the Helmet of Saluation that holde the Shielde of Faith in one hand the Sword of the Spirit in the other and are ready at the least alarum to rescue both their owne honour and their Maisters from the fierce inuasions and assaults of the aduersary The lower partes are his by Conquest Colos 2 15. Hee hath spoyled the principalities and powers hee hath made a shew of them openly and hath triumphed ouer them in the Crosse And heere is as it were the Gaole which himselfe appointed prepared for those faint and crauen Spirits that make a glorious florish in the time of peace but abandon their Captaine and forsake his colours in the day of tryall yeelding theÌ„selues basely before the conflict prisoners of Temptation Legions to Angels are at his command The winds are obedieÌ„t to his voice and the Waues are 〈◊〉 at his rebuke God himselfe hath mightily exalted him and proclaimed by the sound of his trumpet That at the Name oâ— Iesus euery knee shold boâ— Ph l. 2.10 both of thinges in Heauen and thinges in Earth anâ— thinges vnder the Earth and That euery toong shalâ— confesse him to bee the Lorâ— vnto the glory of the Fâ—ther Yet there are some that out of the pâ—ofanenesse of their minds anâ— hardnesse of their heâ—â—â— deny his power and wâ—â— at no hands acknowledâ— him for their Superiour They cry out with the Iewes Ioh. 19.15 We haue no K. but Caesar But these are reserued for the black of darknes and shall for euer be disabled from being fellow-heirs with him in his euerlasting Kingdom I wil alwaies therefore do homage to him as my Lorde I will take heede how I fall from so great a GOD I wil fight as I ought to do that I may be crowned when I haue doone Hee that is the righteous Iudge shall reward mee at the latter day and not mee onely but likewise all those that loue his appearing XXVIII THere is no fellowship between light and darknesse 2. Cor. 6 15 betweene Christ 1. Sam. 5 4 and Belial The Arke Dagon cannot lodge vnder one roofe The Rod of Aaron will deuour those of the Soothsaiers and Inchanters and the Walles of Iericho fall downe Iosh 6 20. before the Tabernacle of the Lord. Hee that will follow GOD and retaine him must haue no dependency at all on wicked Mammon Psal 104 5 The Holy-one of Israell is exceeding great It is he that set the Earth on her Foundations and couered it with the deepe as with a Garment He will not brook a partner in his Dignity nor yet resigne his glory to a third Mans heart is that which he demands and he will haue it all or none He that thinkes to shift him of with parte may peraduenture perish in his owne Hypocrisie Actes 5 5. as Ananias and Sapphiâ—a did I will not therefore put newe Wine into an Math 9.16 old Vessel nor piece out an olde Garment with new Cloath I will cast away all the woorkes of darknesse Rom. 13.12 and put on the compleat armor of light I will worship the Lord my God and him onely will I serue XXIX THe Sunshine of the wicked lasteth but a while Iob. 20.6 It is quickly ouercast and the ioy of Hypocrites doth vanish in a moment though his excellency mount vp to Heauen and his head do reach vnto the Cloudes yet shall he perish foreuer like his Dung and they which haue seene him shall say Where is he The worldly pleasures whereon he feedes with such a rauening and vnsatiable Appetite shall frâ—t asunder his entrails His meate shall turne within his Bowels into the Gall of Aspes and howe sweete soeuer it seeme in his mouth it shall bee most vnsauorie in his Maw Nor shal his State and condition bee so wretched in this World but it shall bee more in the Worlde to come Such feare and horrour shall hedge him in on euery side in that dreadful day that he shal not know which way to runne nor whether to retire Reuel 1 16 Aboue him shall hee see an angry Iudge out of whose mouth coÌ„meth a sharp two-edged Sword Ibid. 6 16. and well may he then entreate the Mountaines to fal downe vpon him and the Hils to couer him from the presence of him that sitteth on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lambe but it shall little auayle him At his right hand hee shall discouer the hideous distorted brood of his transgressions which challenge him for their patron and will by no meanes be induced to forsake him At his left will stand the Deuill his Accuser who then vnfolds his Ephemerides leaues not the least of all his sinfull actions vnatomiz'd Hee quotes them like a cunning Register with euery particular circumstance both of time and place Hee bringeth forth to his reproach disaduantage those filthy and polluted Garments in which he took him and as Iosephs Bretheren to their Father so saith he vnto the lord Behold this haue I found see now whether it bee the Coate of any of thy Sonnes Gen 37 32 or no. If he turne back his eyes into himself he shal meete there with the Worme of Conscience Esay 66.24 that doth neuer dye If he reflect them on the World he shall perceiue it to be nothing round about him but a burning flame If hee cast them downewardes he shall there descry to his perpetual terrour and affrightment that vnquenchable Lake of Fire and Brimstone which is prepared for him The plentiful years are past the yeares of dearth and scarsitie are come and nowe not so much as one drop of water shall euer be granted him Luke 16.24 to quallifie the heat of his inflamed tongue The Moth-eaten Robe shall exclaim against the proud and the cankered Gold against the Couetous The stone shall cry out of the walagainst the Vsurer Iames 5.3 Hab. 2.11 that buildes his nest vppon the ruines of the oppressed and the Beame out of the Timber shall answere it The whole world and whatsoeuer is therein contained shall stand vppe in iudgement and witnesse against the Reprobate Then shal they confesse that it had beene better that they had neuer been borne or that a Milstone beeing tyed about theyr Necke they had been taken from out their Cradle and cast into the sea While I haue time therfore Mat. 18.6 I wil wash my hart from all vncleannesse I will take my leaue of all iniquity and bid farewel for euer to al
the Eies of them that sit in darknesse and in the shadow of Death Then shal I bee able with blessed Stephen Actes 7 55. euen in the heat and fury of the skirmish to behold through al the heauens the glory of the Lorde for which I doe contend and my Redeemer Iesus standing at his right hand ready to succour me if need require and then with an vndaunted courage will I abide the fight and die vpon the place ere I giue ground in any fainting manner to the raging of his might Christ is my second who I know wil witnesse my valour and reuenge my quarrell Why should I feare the powers and principalities of Hel When God is with vs who shal stand against vs XXXV BEhold saith the Prophet the day commeth rhat shall flame like an Ouen Mal. 4.1 and they that sweare by the sinne of Samaria and say Amos 8.14 Thy God O Dan liueth and the manner of Beer-Sheba liueth yea the proud with all such as doe wickedly shall bee Stubble the day that commeth shall cleane consume them it shal leaue them neither root nor branch The Lorde will hast him from Teman Hab. 3.3 and the holy one from Mount Paran His Maiesty shall couer the Heauens and the Earth shall be full of his glorie Consuming fire shall march before him and burning coales shall coÌ„passe him about Hee will summon all the Nations of the Earth to make their appearaunce before his Tribunall seat and giue to euery one according to what he hath don 1. Pet. 4.17 whether it be good or euill To put the wicked out of al comfort he will begin his iudgments in his owne house and call euen the righteous according to that of Iob vnto a strict account of euery idle word Thou writest bitter thinges saith he against me Iob. 13 26. and makest mee possesse the iniquity of my youth Thou puttest my feete into the Stockes and lookest narrowly vnto my pathes The printes thereof are in the heeles of my feet Now if the Caedar of Lebanon be shakeÌ„ thus Luke 23.31 what shal becom of the bramble in the Wildernesse If this bee doone to the greene Spring what is remaining for the dry Stumpe If the iust man be so hardly saued wher is the hope of the vngodly I will high me therefore to the lord my God with al the speede I can I will not deferre my going to him by repentance till the seting of the Sun Ibid. 24.25 O fooles and slow of heart saith he to such and will not stay with them but with great constraint Nor will I put it of vntill the euening Ibid. 24 37. least hauing found him I should bee doubtfull and think I see a Spirit when I looke on him No no I will rise betimes with Mary Magdalen Math. 28.1 and with the Mother of Iames will I seek for Iesus of Nazareth before the dawning of the day Prou. 8 17. Hee loueth those that loue him and they that seeke him early shal sind him XXXVI GOD is no respecter of persons Ephe. 6 9. Iohn 4.47 The Ruler entreated him to come vnto his Sonne he would not Luke 7.2 The Centurion did but sende vnto him for his Seruant and immediatly hee went It is not the beauty of outward obiectes that attractes his Eye nor the quality of ambitious Titles that stirres vp his respect When he past thorough Iericho Ibid. 17 5. there were many that came foorth to see him moâ—â— specious to the viewe of weaker sence of higâ—er place and ranke in the Cittie then Zacheus was yet he alone was grace by him aboue the reâ—â— Ibid. 7.25 The Baptist was not clâ—thed in soft rayment Math. 3.4 noâ— fed with delicates Hâ—â— meat was Locustes with wilde Hony and his gaâ—ment of Camels Hayre yet did hee make him greater then a Prophet Peter was not arrayed it Purple Ibid. 16.18 nor did hee liue deliciously in Courtes of Kinges and yet he made him Prince of his Apostles So the body bee sound hee cares not for the bark If the liuing be good let the outside bee as ragged as it will I wil not therefore greatly eie my present condition Though I bee rich I will not presume vppon my wealth though I be poore I wil not despaire for my want He that called vnto the Fisher-men that were in their Ship Mat. 4.21 mending their Nets not minding him and sayde vnto them Come followe me will out of question giue kind and courteous entertainment vnto him who out of loue and of his owne accord doâ— humbly sue vnto him fâ—â— his Liuery Againe I know that Diues was 〈◊〉 torments Luke 16 23 when Lazâ—râ— was in Abrahams boson XXXVII Esay 21.28 IVstice is a worke when with the Lord is scare acquainted It is a straâ—ger and an alien to him he knowes not how no which way to begin iâ— In Sodom there was noâ— righteous but only â—a or he would neuer haue wasted it with fire none in the whole world saue onely Noah or he would neuer haue destroyed it with the floud Till the Tree bee past hope hee applyeth not his Axe No nor then but with much vnwillingnesse and great commiseration He looketh at Hierusalem Luke 19.41 weepes to thinke on the destruction that shoulde come vpon it He houles for Moab he cries out for it his heart doth mourn for them of Kirhareseth Iere. 40.31 He weepeth for the vine of Sibmah as he wept for Iazer he watereth Hesâ—bon with his teares Esay 16.9 are Elaleh is drunke with thâ— showers of his coÌ„plain because of the destroye which is to fall vppoâ— their Summer fruites vpon their Vintage Hâ—â— wrath and indignatioâ— hath many Motiues tâ— incite it Iob. 64 6. but his mercy none For all our righteousnesse is as a filthy Cloute wee fade like a leafe and our iniquities like the windes doe carry vs away yet notwithstanding he lookes down vpon vs from the throne of his heauenly grace with the eye of Pitty compassion he remembers that wee are the workemanshippe of his handes and in the ende out of the zeale of his affection towardes vs he crieth out Ose 13.9 Thy iniquities O Israell haue destroyed thee but thy help is in me He doth not onely tolerate our imperfections but oftentims he dissembleth the knowledge hee hath of them he turneth away his face and will not see the sinne because he would not punish the Sinner There is no daie wherein to fauour the transgressour hee doth not breake the Tables of the Law Our GOD is a iealous God Exod. 20 5. he visiteth the sinnes of the Father vpon the Children vnto the third and fourth generation of them that hate him but sheweth mercy vnto thousands of them that loue him and keepe his Commaundements The Kingly Prophet therefore speaking of them both saieth of the one Thy mercy ó Lorde
Torch-light to direct their steps there is a pillar of celestiall fire in their bosome which like a Taper giueth light vnto their feete and maketh them treade aright the paths of Gods commaundements But alas With the wicked it is nothing so Their waies are as the darknesse nor do they know into what daungerous places they may fal Iob. 5.14 They meet with blindnesse in the Morne and grope at noone as in the night they feele for the wall Esay 59.10 as men that had no Eyes and in the day their feet doe stumble as in the twilight The greater Luminaries to them are alwaies in Eclipse the lesser so obscured as help them little or not at all I will study therefore continually for holines for purenesse and sobriety The night is past the day is come Rom. 13.12 and nowe will I cast away the workes of darknesse and put on the Armour of light I will cloath my selfe with the Lord Iesus Christ take no thoght at all to satisfie the lustfull desires of the Flesh XLIII THe true Souldiour of Christ is known by nothing better then this valour He that is faint and of a fearefull Spirit is but a false vsurper of that name Deut. 20.8 The Lord of hoasts will none of so soft an edge of such an yeilding temper vnder his pay Cant. 3 8. Those of his band are strong and â—aliant they all handle the Sword and are expert in warre euery one hath his Fauchion on his Thigh for the feare by night They see the heauenly Hierusalem for which they fight before them and had rather die one foot forwards then adde many years to their life by one foote of retraite They had rather faile in good and vertuous ends for the publike then obtaine all that can be wished desired for themselues in their own proper Fortune The mouth of Wisdom hath taught them that A good heart is a continuall Feast Pro. 15.15 and that the Conscience of good intentions in themselues let their successe be what it will is a more continuall ioy to Nature then all the politicke prouision a man can make for still security and peaceable repose Such as haue wedded their affections to theyr owne particular or any way betrothed them to the things of this world and are backwardes eyther for that or other like respectes in the hazzarding of their life and liuing he vtterly cashiereth Gideon before hee doth encounter with the Midianites Iudg. 7 3. discardes the Cowards at Mount Gilead cleareth his camp of al such crackt and broken courages as fall to pieces before the presence of their enemy So likewise Iudas Maccabeus 1. Macca 3.56 before he meete the forces of Antiochus at Emmaus proclaimes a generall discharge to euery pale and milky liuer thoroughout his Army and with all willingnes doth license their departure I will at no time therefore giue place to any timorous conceit but fortifie my heart with such a setled and vnshaken confidence that Afflictioâ— come she neuer so hideously disguised shall not appale me The Lord Iesus is my Generall and the hire of my valour a Crowne of immortall glory Base were the resolution that would not wish to dye vnder the conduct of so braue a Prince for the purchase of so great a price Hee maketh himselfe my precedent and marketh out the way that I must march with the precious bloud that gusheth out of his owne wounds He calleth me after him and I will surely follow No Death nor Hell shaâ— driue me to a stand I wâ— suffer with him in th conflict that I may shaâ— with him in the Coâ—quest XLIIII TO murmure again God argueth a wâ— of Grace and to reâ— Affliction sheweth aâ—fect of heauenly consoâ—tion Eccl. 10 26 He that hath knoâ—ledge and is well instruâ—ted will vndergoe 〈◊〉 crosse with patience aâ— neither stamp nor storm to see himselfe reformed The Lord he knoweth when hee shootes his Darts doth leauell higher then at the downefall of a wretched Sinner and that howsoeuer hee bruise him it is not with a Rod of Iron Psal 2 9. howsoeuer he break him it is not like a Potters vessell but as the Gold-Smith doth his Plate to melt and fashion it anewe The Fast is as delightful to him as the Feast and the Vigile as welcome as the Holy-day it selfe Hee doth esteeme no otherwise of this Worlde then of an outward place 1. King 6.7 in which the hard stony mindes of such as God affecteth must be hammered and polished by the hands of Aduersity and Tribulation before they can bee fit to set in the Temple of that newe Hierusalem which is erected by one of greater power and Maiesty then Salomon But alasse The heart of the foolish cannot conceiue of this 'T is like the Wheele of a Cart the vaue thereof is not moistened with the Oyle of the Spirit Eccles 33 6 and doth nothing therefore but creak vnder the burthen It is a vessell which indeede is void of all good vertues and abilities It runneth only on the lees let God but strike it with his hand and the sounde it giueth will be the signall of his emptinesse In a word it is an Earthen Pipkin which wanting liquor in it Wis 1.11 is ready to cracke in pieces when it feeles the flame I will beware therfore of murmuring which auaileth nothing The eare of iealousie heareth all things and the noise of him that Num. 11 1. muttereth and repineth shall not bee hid The Children of Israell were consumed with the Fiâ—â— of the Lord Ibid. 14 30. for their vniust complaintes He would suffer none of thâ— to enter into the Land of Promise saue onelâ— Caleb the Son of Iephâ—nah and Ioshua the sonnâ— of Nun. Whatsoeueâ— therefore it shall pleaâ— his will to lay vpon me my will shall not refuâ— to beare it I cannot 〈◊〉 conscience but suffâ— somewhat for his saâ—â— that indured so much fâ—mine Let him deal witâ— me therefore as he thinketh good I will hold my toong with the Prophet Dauid and keepe silence because it is his doing XLV VErtue is great in grace and estimatioÌ„ with the king of heauen they that embrace it are his onely fauorites Hee dooth affect them wonderfully and vseth them at all times with great familiarity Fiue hundereth sixty fiue yeares did Henoch walke with him vppon the earth Gen. 5 24. and so delighted him with the softnesse of his carriage and the sweetnesse of his conuersation that hee took him wholly to himselfe and of a Pensioner made him one of his Chamber Hee sent a Charret of Fire from aboue to fetch Elijah to him 2. Kin. 2.11 and appointed a Guard of glorious Angels to attend it hee did so long to enioy his company that Death hee thought would bee to slow a Messenger to giue his desires a speedy satisfaction contentment and did therefore send a Whirlewinde foorth to hasten his
hath nothing from vs which is not ouer-bought Our earthly bodies cost him the shedding of his most pretious blood our cankered soules the laying downe of his immaculate and spotlesse life and what alas is there in vs poore sinfull wretches that we are which may deserue such an inestimable price Mat. 19.29 Hee giueth vs a hundreth folde more then hee taketh and suffereth himselfe to bee beguild euen with vnequall shares For many times wee giue our youth to Sathan and our age to him who notwithstanding hee should haue both doth take it quietly and like a gentle Creditor is content with any thing from a bad Debter But this conniuence kinde forbearance of his shall not embolden me in any carelesse course All that I haue will I giue vnto him yet thinke that al too little for so great and glorious an inheritance Whatsoeuer I pay nothing can equall it in estimation The whole world in comparison hereof Luke 15 8. is not to be valued no not at the lost groate I will consider how dearly my redeemer bought me and endeauor to render vp my selfe in that regard into his hands as pure and perfect both in mind and body as I can I wil consecrate my selfe vnto the Lorde in the strength and vigour of my yeares and in my flourishing and able daies will I deuote my selfe to the seruice and inuocation of his most holy name Hee that diuideth ill though he offer well cannot but offend LVIII THe waies of the Lorde are in the Whirle-wind and the storme the cloudes are the dust of his feete Bashan and Carmel wast at his rebuke and the floure of Lebanon doth wither The Mountaines retire from before him the hils do meâ— His Maiestie is great his power wonderfull yet many wayes there are and many meanes to vanquish subdue him At the sight of our dejection Hos 11 8. His heart is turned within him and his repertings are rouled together He must of force reuerse his iudgements and stay to execute the fiercenesse of his intended wrath But when with a zealous and feruent spirit we doe encounter him in prayer then doe we bind him as it were hand and foote that hee cannot stirre Let mee alone saide hee to Moses and giue my fury leaue to wax hot against this people Exo. 32 10. But the Prophet continued his charitable intercession and would not suffer him to goe till he had changed his minde Esay 38 1. Hee had determined the death of Hezikiah by the mouth of Isaiah willed him to put his house in order for hee should not liue but the King hauing notice of this firme arrest turned his face vnto the wall by the vertue of his prayers and teares preuaild so farre that in the end Mat. 15 22. Vixit vicit he both liued and ouercame By this the woman of Canaan did surmount that setled hardnesse whereof our Sauiour did make shewe vnto her Gen. 32 28 In a worde this is that wrestling of the Patriarch in which hee behaued himselfe so valiantly that he bore away the glorious title and renowned name of Israell in token of his victorious triumphall Conquest But this doth maister but his person onely The Saints and Martyrs by their paines and sufferances doe breake into his territories make their station euen within his Confines Himselfe beholdeth it and cryeth out Mat. 11 12. The Kingdome of heauen suffereth violence and the violent take it away by force I will humble my selfe therefore before the Lord my God and vnto him will I ingenuously confesse how sinne and Sathan haue vtterly spoyled me of all spirituall graces and endowmentes and that my conscience onely hath escapt their fury to bring me tydings of the losse With my misery will I excite his mercy and awake his compassion with the vehemency of my owne passions I will fasten on him by deuout and earnest supplications and not let him goe except hee blesse mee With patience wil I arme my selfe against all hardnesse slight both Death and Danger to make my passage to the top of Sion and through the streetes of his imperiall Citty the New Hierusalem FINIS