such a friend may all say with as good reason as he that can keep me from all fears O for such a friend This is instead of all pleasures to me to think that God is my Father and to know that I have loved and obeyed him to the utmost of my power not only in words but in deeds this this is the pleasure here 's a friend indeed Now what do you say to all this is God to be desired Is his acquaintance to be sought after Can such a friend be too much valued The truth of it is I would not give a rush for any of your comforts which come not from a sense of our interest in Christ and which have not a solid foundation Scripture-cousolations It is not he that smiles but he that can look up to God as his and look into his soul and see things there in a good composure and kept in a chearful subjection to his maker and Redeemer this this is the state here dwells joys and comforts that deserve such a name This lower Region sometimes is stormy but above there is a constant calm Sen. And is God still to be slighted are his favours is his acquaintance little worth I know you can't be an enemy to comfort and joys why let me tell you here 's the Well of Consolation here 's the Fountain and all other joys which are drawn out of the Cisterns will ere long be dry Come away therefore poor soul and do not refuse such joys as all the carnal world can't parallel for their hearts And this is the next Motive taken from the consideration of the Nature of this Friend which I would perswade you to get acquainted with First He is a loving and kind Friend Secondly He is the most chearing comforting Friend Thirdly He is the most able and powerful Friend He hath all power in his hand and as long as he is but thy Friend who ere is thy Foe thou shalt never be overpowred never be crushed Thou mayst challenge all the Devils in Hell and all his instruments upon earth to do their worst God is on thy side thou needst not fear Thou art in thy self a poor weak Creature easily conquered and broken by a thousand enemies but if thou hast a God to fly to thou also mayest sing as well as those did Isa 26.1 Thou hast a strong City salvation will God appoint for Walls and Bulwarks No wonder then if every wise man think it abundantly worth his while to secure this great Priviledg to himself that God may be his friend This is his best hold his One thing necessary verse 4. One thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after that I may dwell in the house of God all the dayes of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his Temple Sin the World and the Devil may tempt a sinner but they can never guard him from the power of this Great and Almighty God And now you that are contented to live as without God in the world let me request you to consider Canst thou spread out the Heavens as a curtain or cover the Sun with darkness Canst thou call to the Lightnings and will they answer thee and say here we are Shouldst thou speak to that hasty Champion and command him to stand still one quarter of an hour would he obey thee If these things be too much why dost thou boast that art but a worm Alas poor sinner when this great God appears in judgment thou art not able to deal with a Fly or a Frogg O then Is it not good prudence for all the sons of men to come and agree quickly with this Adversary while he is in the way for whoever goes on in an Enmity and Rebellion against this Lord of Heaven and Earth shall not prosper but be sure his sin shall find him out And this is another qualification of this Friend which I would commend to your acquaintance he is an able Friend First he is the most kind and loving Friend Secondly he is the most comfortable Friend Thirdly he is the most able and powerful Friend Fourthly he is the most active Friend He commands his to be diligent and industrious alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord surely he will not be slow If the inanimate creature such as the sinner resolveth as a strong man to run his race how active then must the maker of that sinner be if he command him not to deal with a slack hand surely he himself will not deal with a slack hand should you behold this friend of yours riding upon the wings of the Wind and making the clouds his Chariot would you not say O how swift O how active is this glorious friend of mine the feet of this beloved One are as Hinds feet for the good of his friends Yea his very eyes run too and fro through the whole world for their good he keeps constant watch and ward about them and he that can injure any of his our of his sight shall go unpunished Esa 27.3 The Lord speaks this under the Metaphor of a Vine-Yard and doth this great Husbandman neglect his Vineyard doth he not Digg Manure and stone it and keep out the wilde Boar and Foxes Doth he not prune it and tender it charily I the Lord do keep it night and day none shall come into it to gather the Fruit of it without lay leave I will water it every moment So that you see what pains God takes for his Do you believe this friend sits in Heaven and looks down upon the Earth for nothing Be not deceived O sinner that wilt not be perswaded to get reconsiliation with this Great and Holy Majesty The Lord is not slack concerning his comming as some account slackness Let his stay be never so long when he comes to judg the world it will be before the sinner looks for him Indeed there is nothing that a wicked man more pleaseth himself with than the thoughts that it will be a long time before God and he meet but he little considers that a Thousand years are but as One day compared to the dayes of Eternity Now by faith these things are made real to the considerate Christian and as for the supplying of his wants he knows if he comes at midnight to borrow bread of him he will not put you off with this excuse that he is a Bed and cannot rise from his Children but will presently help makeing their necessity his own opportunity to give them what shall be convenient for them as knowing that let the wind sit in what corner it will it shall fit their Sails and bring them nearer the Harbour The worlds friends are infinitely below this Friend One hath chosen Silver and Gold and a great Estate and such a one in the worlds Kalender may be writ down for one of the wisest in his Choyce Well le ts us see now what this friend can do for you
in honour Deut. 26.18 19. And upon this account might a wise man have his choice whether he will wear a Crown and he a stranger to God or rags and be one of his nearest servants he will not stand long before he determine the case he will soon answer with him That he had rather be a door-keeper in the house of God then dwell in tabernacles of wickedness If mens actions may speak their Judgements most of the Gallants of the world are of a far different opinion But O let me dwell for ever in his house and stand always in his presence happy are they that see his face happy are they that behold his beauty This this mans Crown this is his highest honour and dignity for God to be mindful of man and for his Maker to visit him this sets him but little below the Angels this Crowns him with Glory and Honour Psal 8.45 This is that which puts a true personal worth upon any one and therefore the Psalmist thinks those the excellent persons in whom is his delight Upon this account the Scripture saith The righteous man who is in covenant with God is more excellent then his neighbour The pur-blind World they judge altogether by the outward garb they see the face the rich apparel they see the estate but they see not that inward excellency and beauty that may be under but mean habit they are ready to despise the Noble Worthies of the World such as can look upon Kingdoms as small things in comparison of what they have an interest in who can call God Father and Christ Brother Have you never heard of a King in mean apparel of a Prince without his Robes upon his back or his Crown upon his head and will you say that therefore he was but a common person But those heavenly Creatures that have a more spiritual resined sense that understands something of things and Persons are quite of another mind they can look upon great ones in the midst of their gallantry without a friend in Heaven as mean persons that have no interest to speak of and many of them for all their greatness to be in a far worse condition then Dogs and Toads They can also look upon a poor despised Saint a contemned Christian though as to a carnal eye he should look as if he could scarce speak sense to be a favourite of Heaven a person of quality such a one as this he values as the Son of a King a Citizen of Zion one of the Royal Race one of that glorious Retinue that stand always in the presence of God to serve him the least of which are Kings and Priests to their great Lord Rev. 1.6 By faith he sees their Crown and looks upon that Royal Diadem which shall ere long be put upon their princely heads This was the great preferment they sought this was the honour they most desired as for the world and all its glory they can well spare it for those that shall never be advanced to any higher dignity to any better preferment As for the Saint as contemptible as he looks he hath higher designs nobler things greater honours in his eye and if that which the world so admires were the highest glory that a rational creature were capable of the top of mans preferment why then he could look upon brutes themselves as his equals except in this that their pleasures are more certain and their miseries less understood It is storied of Constantine and Valentinian two Roman Emperours that they subscribed themselves Vassellos Christi the vassels of Christ and that Numa Pompilius esteemed it a higher honour to be a Friend of God then a Lord of Men. Consider poor sinner consider what honours you slight what preserments you refuse what dignity you undervalue when you make light of acquaintance with God Had that brave Stoick Epictetus I mean known God in Christ he would much more have wondered at the inconsiderateness of them which make nothing of being related to God as a Father he would much more have pitty'd them which cleave to their lower meaner kindred beast who had rather be like Swine then God and rather be companions to their servants then their Maker Seems it to you but a light matter to be a Kings Son is it but a small matter think you to call God Father is it nothing to be born to a Crown Immortal that sadeth not away This is honour this is preferment worth the having worth the looking after worth the venturing ones life for This is true Nobility to stand thus nearly related to him before whom the Angels do vail their glorious Faces and at whose feet the four and twenty Elders lay their Crowns The Queen of Sheba thought Solomons Servants happy who stood always in his presence and heard this wisdom but what would she have said had she but known the Honour and Glory of his Prince O blessed are those that stand always in thy presence O God blessed are thy servants blessed are those which see thy Glory and hear thy wisdom blessed are they that may have free access to thee O let me have this preferment though I live like Job at his lowest and dye like Lazarus Let others sue for the favour of Princes let them make the best of what the world can give let them desire that which hath been dangerous to more then Haman I hope I should never envy them might I but have more frequent and intimate converse with God may I be but acquainted with him O may I have but a heart more to admire love and delight in him and serve him with the strength and inrensenss of my Soul while I am here and stand for ever in his presence and behold his glorious Face with joy hereafter O my Soul what meanest thou that thou still speakest so faintly and coldly of such infinitely glorious things Why doth not a new life animate thee at the very mention of these things Hast thou not far more cause to raise up thy desponding Spirits with chearfulness then old Lacob when his Son Joseph who was Lord of that Land sent for him into Egypt Thy Father O my Soul thy Brother is Lord not of Egypt nor of Goshen but of Eden of Zion he is the King of that glorious City the new Jerusalem Heaven is his Throne and Earth is his Foot-stool and yet behold the waggons that he hath sent for thee behold the provision that he hath sent to maintain thee comfortably in thy journey from Egypt to Canaan is not this enough O my Soul awake up and see him before thou dyest behold he is coming the Bridegroome is coming Joseph is coming to meet thee with a gallant Train in a glorious Equipage It is but yet a little while and thy husband will come and fetch thee in Royal State attended with a numberless retinue of Saints and Angels O hadst thou but an eye to behold their Chariots and Horsmen coming upon the mountains
everlasting burnings do you not think it a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God and if you do not let me tell you you are worse than mad if you do believe all this why then let me ask you again whether you conceive it unnecessary to use the utmost care and diligence to get acquainted with him who can deliver you from the wrath to come O friends I call you so and I believe most of you love me dearly O that you would do me one kindness I should count it the greatest kindness that you can do me why what is that you say why it is but to pity your own Souls and to mind that one thing necessary and to pitty them that are mourning for your dry eyes and hard hearts What say you to all this if you have any thing to say against the necessity of these things I am ready to plead the case with you c. Well if it be not necessary to know God and Christ and lay in provision for eternity what then is necessary If it be not necessary to serve love and delight in him who can deliver from everlasting death and reward with everlasting life what then is Once more for your Souls sakes consider what you do when you vigorously pursue worldly things and look upon the favour and displeasure of God as small things O write not these things down amongst the superfluous things which are to be minded by the by Remember this that it is very possible for a man to be exceeding holy and yet to be altogether unknown to the world but it is altogether impossible to be truly happy and yet unacquainted with God 17. He is a tryed Friend Thousands and Millions can from their own experience say all this which I have said of him and much more but I shall pass this over at present having hinted it already and because it may be I may touch upon something of the same Nature hereafter 18. He is an everlasting Friend I shall be but brief in speaking to this head because what might have been spoken of this fell under that of his immorality Yet because it is possible to conceive God immortal in himself and yet by reason of mans default his kindness to him to be finite so it was in respect of the Angels that fell from him But now Blessed be free Grace man stands upon surer ground then ever he did the children of God have a firmer bottom by far then Adam had when he was in Paradice his state is more secure being once united to God in Christ then that of the Angels of Heaven in their first Creation For that their State was mutable is de facto proved but now blessed be rich goodness if we can but make sure of reconciliation with God again it is impossible for us to miscarry God hath sworn and he will perform it that the heirs of glory might have the more strong consolation Isa 54 9 10. For this is as the waters of Noah for I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth so have I sworn that I would not be wrath with thee nor rebuke thee For the mountains shall depart and the Hills be removed but my kindness shall not depart from thee neither shall the Covenant of my peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee Gods children need not fear dis-inheriting his gifts and callings are without repentence If God loved us while we were enemies how much more being reconciled will he continue his love to us once a Child of God and a Child of God for ever once in favour and never out of it again Rom. 8.35 39. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword Nor heighth nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Who can pluck us our of the Arms of the Almighty Who or what is that which can alienate our Fathers affections from us If the promise of God which saith I will never never never never never leave nor forsake you be valid if his oath bind him if the blood of Christ continue always to be satisfactory if his mediation can prevail if the nature of God be unchangeable we are well enough we are safe if this be but clear that we are really reconciled to God if we be acquainted with him We are kept by the mighty power of God through Faith unto Salvation If they had been of us saith the Apostle no doubt they would have continued with us It is possible indeed yea common for men to pretend love to God and to seem to have a true friendship for him and yet not to be truly so To have a name to live and to live are two things It is not unsual to bare God company as I may say abroad and yet at home to have some body that they have a greater kindness for It is common to go along with God if I may so call it in the external actions of Religion and yet to desert him at last Isa 58.1 2 3. Mat. 7.21 There are many that seem to bid fair for Heaven and if cap and knee will do God shall have that they will give him the husk and shell that they may keep the kernel for one that they love better Thousands there are of such persons in the world and these profess abundance of kindness for God they come oft to his house and sit down there and make as if they were his friends and his acquaintance and some of Gods servants by a mistake may bid them welcome but yet for all this they may be strangers only they have heard of God and can talk of him and it may be have given him many transient visits but yet they want the real properties of friends they never knew what it was to be brought nigh to the Father by the Son to have a fence of their lost state and estrangement from God and under a fence of this to make earnest inquiry after him they never knew what it was to converse with God to have an intimate acquaintance with him to be sending out the breathings of their Souls after him and to be unsatisfied without him they took up a trade of lifeless duties and that was all As for the life and power of Religion they never understood it communion with God they heard oft of but never understood what it meant they never savoured and rellished the things of God nor with any suitableness or complacency ingaged in his service And as for those more secret actings of Religion to take up the interest of God to design his glory to be deeply concerned for his honour observing their affections and the workings of their hearts in duty to take notice of answers of prayers or to look after their petitions when they
his hand their hearts fail them paleness and trembling hath seized upon the stoutest of them all The bow of the Lord is strong from the blood of the slain from the fat of the mighty the bow of the Lord turneth not back the sword of the Almighty returns not empty How do the mighty Ones fall in the midst of this battell A hot battell indeed in which none scape Who is he that cometh from Edom with dyed garments from Bosrah This that is glorious in his apparel and travelling in the greatness of his strength the Lord of Hosts is his Name Wherefore art thou red in thy apparel and thy garments like him that treadeth the wine-fat I have troden the wine-press alone and of the people there was none with me For I will tread them in mine anger and trample them in my fury and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments and I will stain all my raiment for the day of Vengeance is in my Heart and the year of my Redeemed is come And I will tread down the people in mine anger and make them drunk in my fury and I will bring down their strength to the Earth the band of the Lord shall be known the power of the mighty Jehovah shall be felt and his indignation towards his Enemies For behold he will come with fire and with chariots like a whirlwind to render his anger with fury and his rebuke with flames of fire For by fire and by his sword will he plead with all flesh and the slain of the Lord shall be many and the Saints shall go forth and look upon the Carcasses of the men that have transgressed against me for their worm shall not dye neither shall their fire be quenched and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh Upon the wicked he shall rain snares fire and brimstone and horrible tempest This shall be the portion of their Cup This 't is to fight against God! This 't is to defie the Lord of Host This 't is to refuse a peace that would have been so unspeakably advantagious To speak a little plainer this is all that sinners are like to get by their standing it out against the tenders of Grace and Mercy And are you still desirous to engage in this dreadful war Will you still bid defiance to the Almighty and make nothing of such things as you have heard of Is the loss of your blood the loss of your Soul your utter undoing for ever no great matter with you Well then go on bold sinner Arm thy self Cap-a-pee gird thy sword upon thy thigh get thy shield and buckler ready prepare to meet thy God Go up O thou valiant Warrior and let 's see thy valour behold thy enemy hath taken the field go up and look thy God in the face if thou darest come shew thy self a mark for God and turn not thy back like a coward venture upon the mouth of the Cannon rush upon the thick bosses of Gods buckler if you long to perish everlastingly You have heard what the war will cost you and as you like it now do And what do you laugh at all this well then go on but be it upon your peril your blood be upon your own Soul As for me I could not have said much more then I have to disswade you from this desperate enterprise I foresee what a case you will be in when you are in the heat of the battell and I desire to weep in secret for thee as one that will most certainly be undon if thou dost not speedily alter thy mind wherefore my loyns are filled with pain pangs have taken hold upon me as the pangs of a woman that travelleth I am bowed down at the thoughts of thy misery I am dismayed at the seeing of thy destruction The sinner ventures for all this He is marched into the field Set a watch-man let him declare what he seeth Who meets that furious wretch A Lyon a lyon roareth he is torn in pieces and none can save him he is gon he is gon he is gon for ever and who may the mad man thank for all this Who could help it He would venture though he was told as much Well then see what 's like to befall the enemies of God You hear what is like to be the condition of all them that will not be aquainted with God First or Last you likewise may behold what a case you your self shall be in ere it be long except you do speedily repent of your folly and meet your adversary in the way and humble your self before the mighty Jehovah speak quickly What will you do Turn or Burn Repent or Dye Yet you do but hear you do not feel but thousands and millions feel what the displeasure of God is what the breach of his Covenant is and what effects of a war with the Lord of Hosts is O be wise by their falls let their destruction be your instruction take heed what you do lest you be the next that God shall deal with as an enemy As yet God offers to be Friends with you but whether God will do as much to morrow as he doth to day I do not know I tell you but so it 's hard putting it to the venture Remember you had large proffers of Grace and pardon made to you God hath sent us to let you know his will and pleasure and we demand of you from him to give us your answer speedily And what can't you yet resolve Is it so difficult a business to determine what to fix upon O foolish people and unwise O unspeakable madness How just must their condemnation needs be who are offered salvation so often and refuse it who are so oft told of damnation and yet run into it in a word who might have God for their Friend and had rather have him for their enemy 4. The next head of Motives by which I might inforce this duty of acquaintance with God may be taken from the examples of them which made all the Friends they can to get acquainted with God Behold a cloud of witnesses which do all with one consent speak high in the commendation of this Friend that I am perswading you all that I can to be acquainted with Are you wiser then all your neighbours is the ignorant objection of some that would take it very heinously if we should call them fools when we put them upon a serious diligence in pursuit of the best things Why let me retort this objection upon themselves are you wiser then Enoch and Noah have you more understanding then Abraham Isaac and Jacoh Have you more wit then David Are you wiser then Heman Daniel and many others of those brave worthies which were the wonders of the world the Non-suches of their age and a pattern to future Generations This was the greatest piece of their wisdom to walk with God this was the best of their policy to get so potent an Allie this spake them to
be men of a deeper reach and a larger understanding then others because they made it their business to get acquainted with God and thus to make their interest as large as Heaven and their peace and prosperity as sure as the oath of a God could make it Do you think that all these men were mistaken did their wisdom lie only in a prudent management of their worldly affairs to their best advantage what then did they mean some of them to leave all that they had so chearfully upon the command of God dare you say that they prized the favour of God at too high a rate as for their parts they thought they could never value such a friend as God too much What else was the meaning of their longing panting and breathing after him Why else are they so glad of his company his presence How loath were they to do any thing that might be in the least displeasing to him What bitter moans did they make if he did but withdraw a while if he did but a little absent himself from them how wonderful desirous were they of enjoying communion with him how earnest to live in his house for ever Dare you say that there were all fools and mad men for refusing the embraces of this present world for slghting its smiles and undervaluing its greatest kindnesses and choosing that favour of God though with the scorns and reproaches of the world rather then to hazard his anger whose wrath burns to the bottom of Hell Behold what a glorious company of these stand upon mount Zion with Harps in their hands with those hundred and forty and four thousand and the Lamb with an innumerable multitude of all Nations People and Languages Why all these were of the Friends and Acquaintance of God or else they had never had those Crowns Robes and Palms in their hands Now why should not our souls be as dear to us as theirs were to them Will not Heaven be as good for us as them is it not as needful for us to get a friend of God as them Will not God do as much for us as them if we will but do as they did walk with him The truth of it is the number of them which are saved is but few in comparison of the multitudes of them which know not God and go the broad way yet for all that take them absolutely they are abundance so many that the Scripture saith they are innumerable Do but read over the History of some of their Lives turn over the holy Records look sometimes into those Sacred Chronicles and behold how chearfully they served God how actively they followed the Lamb wheresoever he goes through thick and thin Hear what their language is now they are got home fafe now Christ hath brought them to glory and they are at their Friends house What do they talk of what is their discourse about do they complain what a sad journey they had of it through a howling wilderness after they had passed the Red Sea through a thousand sorrows and trials do they say that now they are at their journeys end they are weary and wish they had never taken so long and tedious a journey do they not rather speak the quite contrary and that if it were to go again they would do it with far more speed and chearfulness then they did Lissen hark methinks I hear them from the walls of the New Jerusalem crying out Come away come away fall on bravely follow your business gallantly but a little while longer and the City is your own fetch your scaling ladders run up apace mount the rampiers fear nothing though the Devil play his Artillery upon them yet it is but powder he shall never give you a mortal would resist him and he will flee and the field is yours the Spoil the Crown the Honour will pay for your pains bloud and danger Fall on brave souls fall on the valianter you be the more safe you are Methinks I hear those noble Saints encouraging of you to get acquaintance with God and saying to you that are yet afar off come near Come away poor souls come away what do you mean thus to delay O little do you think what a friend we now find of God it was but a little a very little that was told us of the excellency of Christ and the glories of this place to what we experience It was no false report that we heard when we was upon earth of the happiness of Heaven O here 's a prize worth the running for a Kingdom a Crown worth the fighting for an Estate worth the looking after We have not now our stint we are not dieted with those Spiritual Dainties we have not now and then a sip a draught a bit in a corner but we are at the fountain we are daily feasted with infinite pleasures our hearts are full brim full they run over we swim in an ocean of spiritual enjoyments these things are beyond your capacity now to understand Were we to live upon earth again and did we know what we do now know we should ever pine with our earnest longing for God the living God to be in his immediate presence and to be at that angelical work of praising serving and loving him for ever Wherefore brethren let us encourage one another Come let us go up to the house of the Lord his dwelling is in Salem his palace is upon mount Zion Why should not we go on as merrily in the paths of Wisdom as the wicked in the road of Hell How do the Devils Champions encourage and hearten one another up How do they laugh sing and roar as if their life were the only life for shame let 's tell them they lye in their teeth Who hath the best company they or we the Patriarchs and Prophets the Apostles and thousands of Martyrs are gone finging before some of our dear Relations Fathers Brethren and Sisters are newly welcomed by Christ to his Fathers house and they are blessing that rich mercy that hath conducted them to such a place to such a friend we have many thousands of Saints Militant that are going along with us as fast as they can and God himself will bear us company and why do we yet linger O that we were upon the wing O that our souls were like the Chariots of Aminadab O that the Lord would strengthen poor short-winded Creatures O that we could run and not be weary and walk and not faint O that we might have now and then a hearty meal and that in the strength of them we could travel to the mount of God! O that that acquaintance might now be happily begun which may never have an end O that God would visit us oft and get into our hearts O that he that gave those Worthies in former times so much grace would pour out of the same grace in abundance upon our souls O that he would shed abroad his love in our hearts O
He honours the Truth of God by being earnest for what God hath promised though it be unseen he honours the Omnisciency of God by contenting himself with his eye and his car alone he sanctifies his Omnipresence by believing that his God can hear him and be with him in what corner soever he creeps into I might be large in speaking of the excellencies of this duty but I refer it rathes to another place But I would not be mistaken in what I have delivered as if I would by this exclude Family-prayer no far be it from me for God in these doth many times exceedingly refresh his But because a man can't possibly judge so well of himself by publick prayer as he can by secret And hypocrisie and pride do not usually so much attend secret duty as more publick It s possible in more publick duty that a man may be much raised and be very warm and high in his expressions and almost ravish the hearts of his Hearers whereas he may be all that while acted only by a proud heart and for all that I know the Devil himself may help a man thus to pray sometimes This I am confident of he is not afraid of such prayers as these which tend so much to the hardening of a sinner and makes him believe that his hear is warmed with communion with God when as it is possible it is nothing but a secret self-pleasing that those that joyned with him might think very highly of him as one that was passing Spiritual in his performances O the heart of man is deep and desperately full of deceit But now there is none of this Temptation in secret Closet-prayer and there a Soul may be more particular in its complaints and petitions more earnest in pleading with God and may use such expostulations postures and gestures such Intermissions and groanings such pauses as would be very unfit for more publick duty Wherefore I lay somewhat the more stress upon this duty of Secret Prayer But this I say again where one of them is practiced conscientiously the other will not be neglected I might add the practice experience of Gods children to inforce this duty David would never have been at it so oft at midnight if he had got nothing at all by it Peter would scarce have forgot to eat when he was an hungry except he had met with a bit in a Corner to stay his stomach 3. Fasting especially private Fasting is another duty wherein God meets the Soul and the Soul visits God This is as it were execution day the day when the Soul brings out all the Enemies of God to be crucified this is the day wherein the Idols are searched for brought out and buryed or ground to powder and these are things which God will come to see with much delight By this the Soul is as it were adorned her deformities done away and she is trimmed up to meet her Beloved When a Saint fasts from sin and abstains from sensual pleasures then it is many times feasted by God and refreshed with Spiritual enjoyments 4. Another season wherein God meets the soul and the Soul is visited by God is when Christians are met together to communicate experiences or to discourse together about the great things of God What though most of the world are ashamed to own Religion when it is out of fashion What though but sew dare meet together to speak of Gods goodness and to praise him and call upon his Name Why Christ says Though there be but two or three of them he will make the number one the more he will be in the midst of them And though they dare but whisper it may be and their meetings to serve God and do good to one another may be prohibited by the publick Magistrate and consequently what they do in this kind must be done in a great deal of hazard yet the people of God stand not long disputing they know what to do in this case yet they would be wise in it too Not to dare the Magistrate and to do what they do to confront Authority but in the uprightness of their souls they desire to meet together to worship God according to his own will Yet for all this though they manage their business with never so much secresie God will take notice of them he hearkens and hears and a Book of remembrance is written for them that call oft upon his Name and God will make them up among his Jewels But I shall have occasion to speak of something to this purpose afterwards and therefore I pass it over the more briefly 5. Another time wherein the Lord is pleased to discover much intimacy and indeared affection to his people is in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper This is the great passeover and it can't be unwelcome News to the poor Israelite to hear of a Redemption from Wars then Egyptian bondage instead of being burdened with barbarous Task-masters to be made free rich and honourable and to see the strength of the enemy laid in the dust It is not for nothing that this Passeover it to be had in everlasting remembrance If I should appeal to the people of God that have kept this solemn Feast and ask them how their hearts were affected do they not all bow their Heads and Hearts and adore that Goodness that should Save Feed and Feast them and Punish Kill and Damn others Are there not thousands that can tell you that Christs Flesh is Bread indeed and his Blood Drink indeed no Provision so great no Banquet so sweet so noble no Intertainment comparable to that which the Princely Jesus giveth to his Spouse in that Ordinance The King brings her into the Banqueting-House and his Banner over her is Love she is then made to understand that the Kisses of his Lips do breath Life and that his Visits at such a time usually leave behind them more special testimonies of the largeness of his Heart the loveliness of his Nature and of his matchless Excellency Speak Christian what dost thou say to this Canst thou not subscribe to this Art thou not able to say that then thou hast tasted and seen couldst thou not then go out and invite all the poor starved hungry souls in the world to come and see and taste Art thou not able to say come and I will tell you what Christ hath done for my soul Let me ask that Saint that hath been feasted many a time and oft what he thought of his Entertainment Were you not made welcome Was not the joy of the Lord your strength Was not the Provision that the world entertains her friends with but mean course unsavory compared with it Which was best the Husks or the Bread and fatted Calf the Garlick and Onions or the Manna the Milk and Hony 'T is not without cause that the Faces of some do shine their looks speak their Fare none of the meanest and their Activity is not a disparagement to their
say it again set your self as in the very immediate presence of God and when you hear a word that you are very nearly concerned in put up such a short Ejaculation as this Now Lord strike this hard heart of mine now Lord come in I beseech thee O that this word might be the key which might open my heart for the King of Glory to come in O command thy loving kindness this day to break into my soul O that this might be the day in which Salvation might come unto my house O that this might be the man that might be my Spiritual Father that this might be the Messenger one among a thousand that may bring me good tidings O that this might be the sentence that this might be the hour of Love O that this might be the day that I may have in everlasting remembrance O that I might presently without any more delay set out for Canaan Cry out with as much earnestness as that poor man did who brought his possessed child before Christ O Lord I have brought my unbeliving heart before thee to cure it exposes me a thousand times to unspeakable hazards but Lord if thou wilt but speak the word it shall be dispossessed I would believe Lord help my unbelief I have brought my hard heart before thee Lord soften it and let me not go from time to time with these dreadful diseases hanging about me to infect and undoe my self and others O melt me O Lord melt me and let me have such a look from thee as Peter once had which made him to go out and weep bitterly But I shall speak a little more of this nature under another Direction VI. DIRECTION If you would be acquainted with God you must get acquainted with some of his Friends and they will do all they can and be glad of it too to help you to be acquainted with him they will not spare to give you their utmost assistance in this great business And when they shall hear you asking what you shall do to know God they are glad at their Heart and will not be at quiet till they have got thee home with them to their Fathers House they watch for your Soul and no greater Joy than to help forward such a work as this then to be imployed any way in the service of your Souls They are glad when they hear any saying let us go to the house of the Lord and asking the way to Zion with their faces thither-ward O! Christians society good company is of exceeding use one good servant in a house the whole Family may fare the better for him Laban and Potiphar though ignorant enough in Spirituals could not but observe this that the Lord blessed their Families for the sake of one godly Servant I do not speak this only with respect to Temporals because of that Diligence and Faithfulness in their places that Religion will put them upon but with respect to Spirituals they will be dropping something that may tend to the awakening and convincing of their sleepy unbelieving ignorant companions they have an inward principle which puts them upon communicating what Grace they have received they know the more they impart to others the more they shall have themselves they have a Compassion for Souls and would fain have as many as they can along with them to Heaven they will be teaching little Children to Pray and Instilling something that the very Babes may set forth Gods Praises and they will be pleading with God for them But this only by the by Now if those that are gracious endeavour what they can to bring in those that are open enemies how much more will they be ready to give all the help they can to you that earnestly desire it Now when any one comes to this pass that he sees a difference between the godly and the wicked and to say that the righteous is more excellent than his Neighbour and to have an earnest desire to associate themselves with them it is a very great sign that God hath an intention to do such a Soul good Wherefore if you would be brought to the knowledge of God go speedily to them that know him well and they will tell you great things of him and how they came first acquainted with him and how this acquaintance hath been kept they will tell you where they first met him they will give you to understand that at such and such a time when they little thought of God they were strangely brought acquainted with him When they came out of Fashion or curiosity or to laugh at him that taught them or it may be to pick some Quarrel with him to hear such a man they were made to see what they never took any great notice of before that they were in an undone condition by Nature and that except Christ would pitty them there was no remedy but to Hell they must go whereas before they thought themselves as safe as could be But then they saw that it was no light matter to be out of Christ and Aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel After this they were made to understand something of Christs undertaking for poor lost sinners and they heard of his exceeding willingness to receive the chiefest of sinners and that then they began to see an excellency in his love and goodness and to be somewhat more taken with the kindness of Christ than ever they were before and they felt some longings after the precious Jesus O that they had but a Christ for their Souls and that after this they were by the Spirit of God in some measure enabled to cast themselves at the feet of Christ for mercy and that upon his own terms knowing that if mercy came not that way to them they must sink for ever and that upon this act of recumbency after they had for some time waited upon God in the way of his ordinances they began to taste and relish the things of God and at last they met him whom their Souls loved Inquire of them I say and they will talk thus to you and tell you also that there was a time wherein they were foolish disobedient and unto every good Work Reprobate and miserably neglectful of their Souls that they did not at all mind their Eternal welfare but made light of Christ made a mock of sin and made nothing of Eternal Damnation And they will direct and encourage you also Let me tell you they have an interest in God and their prayers for you may be more advantagious than you are aware of Yet I would not that you should make Christs of the Saints nor forget what is the work of the Mediator alone Saints are to be valued but Christ is to be valued infinitely more Get acquainted with some warm rare experienced Christian and make him your bosom Friend and observe him and you shall see much of the beauty of Religion shining in him and you shall see how chearfully and comfortably
make light of all the Tenders of the Gospel Is Peace Pardon Reconciliation and Acquaintance with God still nothing with you Will you for all this take up with a lifeless Religion and never mind a more Spiritual intimate converse with God As the Lord liveth thou speakest that word against the life of thy Soul But if thou wilt go on and despise God who can help it I have told you and told you again what the end of these things will be Well once more I ask thee in the Name of God wilt thou have God for thy Friend or no That is wilt thou love him above all the World Wilt thou accept him for thy Lord and Husband Wilt thou be ruled absolutely by him Wilt thou lay down thy weapons and turn on Gods side and fight under his Banner Wilt thou have Holiness here and Happiness hereafter One would think this is a question that one need not be long a resolving Come come away for the Lords sake for your precious Souls sake as you would be owned at the day of judgment as you would rejoyce when most of the world shall be filled with unspeakable horror and perplexity as you would not hear that heart-rending word from the mouth of the Judge Depart I know you not come away I beseech you Come away O ye my dear Friends the Cloud hangs over the world and ere long it will fall with a vengeance O come out of Sodom linger not for the Lords sake lest the dint of that storm fall upon you Fire fire fire Awake awake awake The fire is kindled What meanest thou O sinner if thou sleepest a little longer in that Bed of security thou art a dead man thou wilt be awakened with horror when thou shalt know thy danger but not know how to avoid it And do you still say Make hast O make hast your Glass is almost out your time almost spent and death is hastning apace upon you I speak it again make haste come away I can't I can't hold my peace How can I endure to see the ruine of thy Soul and say nothing O follow those Directions which I have given thee out of the Scripture Seek the Lord while he may be found and with all possible speed seriousness and gratitude accept of his kindness while you may Methinks some of your hearts seem to be affected methinks your countenances speaks you to have some thoughts of returning some of you look like persons almost resolved to set upon this great work O that it may not be almost but altogether Speak in such Language as this to your own Souls What meanest thou O my Soul thus to stand Disputing Is this a time for thee to stand still as if thou hadst nothing to do Hark how the King of Glory calls Hear how his Messengers invite you Consider how long they have stood waiting for thee And shall they go away without thee O foolish Heart and unwise wilt thou answer all these Gracious Offers with a flat denial Or that which is little better wilt thou put off all Gods Messengers with some sorry excuses Awake O my Soul and look about thee How can'st thou refuse when Mercy calls How canst thou deny when Kindness it self asks intreats beseecheth thee Awake for shame up and put on thy Wedding Garments O that this mind might be in you always O that thou wert up and ready And then happy were the day wherein thou wert born then happy were the day that ever you heard of a Christ of Acquaintance with God and Reconciliation with your Maker O then how glorious shouldest thou be for ever I rejoyce to see the day of thy Marriage a coming when thy Lord and Husband shall bring thee home in the greatest State and in infinite Glory to his own House where thou shalt sit like a Queen for ever and ever Behold his Harbingers are coming Behold how many Messengers the Lord hath sent to prepare his way Awake O Zion and put on thy beautiful Garments Rise up O Royal Bride and put on thy Princely Robes Cloath thee with the Sun and put the Moon under thy feet Go out and meet the King thy Husband Behold O Jacob the Waggons of Joseph are coming Behold O daughter of Zion the Chariots the Chariots of thy King and Husband are a coming They are a coming O why doth not thy Heart leap within thee O why do not thy spirits even faint for gladness Why dost thou not say It is enough I will go out and meet my Lord before I die When will the Sun be up When will the day break When O when will the shadows fly away I will get me up to the Mountains of Myrrhe to the Hills of Frankincense I am travelling for Zion my face is towards Jerusalem who will ascend the Holy Hill with me Who will bear me company to my Husband's House Let us go up to the Lords House come away the Sun is risen the shadows are flying away thousands are gone already Let Barzillai and Chimham old and young too go along with the King of Jerusalem Come from the High-ways and Hedges come with your Wedding Garments come quickly and he will make you welcome The King hath sent to invite us to a Feast a Feast of fat things of Wines on the Lees well refined Come for the Table is spread all things are ready and his Servants stay for us And will God entertain such Creatures as we are And will the Lord open his Doors to such loathsome Beggars Will the Father receive such Prodigals Return then unto thy rest O my Soul for the Lord will deal bountifully with thee Who is that which I see coming in the Field Who is this that comes from the Wilderness That comes to meet us Hark! methinks I hear the Trumpet sounding Hark! what 's the matter How do the Mountains eccho How doth the Air ring again What noise is that which I hear What glorious Train is that which I see Whence do they come and whither do they go It is my Master's Son dear Soul thy Lord and Husband with his Royal Attendants Behold he comes He comes apace Leaping upon the Hills Skipping upon the Mountains He is coming he is coming he is even at the door Ere long thou shalt see the Mountains covered with Chariots and Horses of Fire the Earth will tremble and shake the Heavens and the Earth will be all on a Flaming Fire the King of Glory will come riding upon the Wings of the wind accompanied with Millions of his Saints and Angels He is coming he is at the door Go vail thy face alight and meet thy Husband He will bring thee into his Fathers Palace and thou shalt be his Wife and he will love thee for ever And thou shalt remember thy Widdowhood no more Even so come Lord Jesus come quickly Amen Amen FINIS
against thee thou thinkest therefore it may be it is because God cannot deal with thee and upon this account thy heart is fully set in thee to do wickedly but know thou for all this that God will bring thee to judgement Consider this that as far as it seems to be now the winds may rise the clouds may gather of a sudden the Heavens may be overcast in a moment and what will you do then when Heaven and Earth shall be in a Flame then you will be scraping acquaintance with God then you will be glad to be owned by him then you would willingly Christ should take notice of you and say You blessed of my Father then you will stand at the door and knock and cry and pray and plead and say Lord Lord have I not been oft at thy house have I not eat at thy table and taught in thy name in our streets and yet thou shalt be dimissed with this short and sharp answer Depart I know you not How do you like such an answer as this is how will you take it when you stand begging at the door for one crumb of mercy one drop of Christs bloud to be sent away with a bitter scorn and denial or else to be answered with silence Whereas you were invited to the feast as well as those that went in and you would not hear though God sent messenger after messenger to setch you you thought your oxen better company then your God you took more pleasure in your dogs then in the hunting after those nobler things What do you think of such expostulations as these what replice can you make to these accusations ere long you will find these things realities ere long all your friends will be dead and gone and if they would help you they cannot your estate will be consumed your houses will all be burnt all your attendants except care and fear will shortly forsake you your Gold and Silver will not ere long be worth a rush and what will you do then nay the greatest friends that you had will become your enemies Little do you think as kind as they seem to be what your good fellows the World and the Devil will do against you Little do you think how false your friends will prove when it comes to that that they see that all is going then they also will help forward your ruine Those that you durst have trusted your life with will accuse you and help to cast you Those which incouraged to sin will witness against for sin Your good Fellows your Confederates in wickedness your dear Friends that you loved more then God that you did not spare to venture your life and soul for O it will make your heart ake to see such come in against you which you thought loved you so dearly O to have a Wife a Child a Husband an old Friend to come before the Judge and to make known such things as you hoped had been buried for ever It will make your ears to tingle to hear one crying our Lord if it had not been for him I had turned and repented it 's long of him that I am in this woful condition I was resolved many a time and oft to seek after another world and to provide for my soul but he would not let me alone when I began to be serious he laughed and jeer'd me and would never be at quiet till he had made me as bad as himself he carried me from the Ale-house to the Tavern from thence to a Play-house from a Play-house to a Whore-house from thence to the High-way from thence to the Gaol from the Gaol to the Gallows and from thence I came hither and I may thank him for all this O how will men look when they see the best friends that they had come in thus against them this 't is to trust to faithless friends this 't is to make light of acquaintance with God Your Gold and Silver will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh as with a canker your Children Relations good and bad will speak bitter things against you your own Family will curse you and say Lord we never heard any thing of God except in an Oath from his mouth we never heard any thing of Religion except it were in derision of it in his Family and those of us that were a little serious and began to think of our souls he would snib and brow-beat and never give us a kind look till we did as he did nay the Devil who now doth so much flatter sinners and make them believe that he is so much their friend will then shew himself he will then be as cruel as he now seems kind he that now tempts to sin so impetuously will hereafter accuse for sin violently and torment for sin unmercifully The people of God which weep over sinners and pray for them and wish them well with their souls will then see justice executed upon their nearest Relations without the least sorrow nay they also will come in against them too and say Lord I told them of this woful day O Lord thou knowest I forewarned them of that which is now come to pass I pleaded with them with all the compassion that I could and they scorned my pitty they would not pity themselves but made light of that glory which they are going from and of that Hell that they are going to and now O Lord thou art just and righteous that thou hast thus judged them This will be the language of those that are your best friends the people of God they will be your enemies one day if you will not now mind the making of your peace with God they must and will be on Gods side against all the World they must and will take part with their Friend and clear him when he judges and justifie him when he condemns you O that you that are now strangers to God would but consider of these things O that you would but think what this battel may be where the combatants are so unequal Stand still O Sun in the valley of Ajalom till the Lord have avenged him of his enemies Muster your selves Oye stars and fight in your courses against those miserable sinners that have waged a war against their Maker plant your mighty Cannons shoot down huge Hailstones Arrows of fire and hot Thunderbolts O how do the wounded fall how many are the slains of the Lord multitudes multitudes in the valley of Decision for the day of the Lord is terrible Behold Gods enemies falling by thousands behold the garments rouling in blood hear the prancing of his terrible ones the mountains are covered with Horses and Chariots of fire Gods Souldiers run from one place to another with their flaming Swords in their hands Arm'd with the justice of God jealousie power and indignation O the dreadful slaughter that is made Millions millions fall there are not able to stand not one of them can lift up