Souls God is their witness they see that your condition requires it that a man in your state is not to be jested with The Lord knows that they take little pleasure in grieving of people they do it that you may rejoyce for ever they watch for your Souls and therefore you must account them worthy of double Honour But of all the Messengers that God sends have the greatest care of dealing unkindly with and grieving his spirit when you have any motions upon your Soul by the Spirit labour to cherish them with all the care and tenderness that you can Turn not Convictions away with I am not at leisure or I will hear you of these things when I have a more convenient season but as soon as you find your heart begin to relent cry out unto the Lord and say O Lord I beseech thee carry on thy work effectually upon my Soul O that I may have through work O let not these convictions wear off from my Soul till they end in a real Conversion O let me not prove but a Half-Christian Any thing in the world Lord so that I may but be made a Christian in good earnest O let me not return with the Dog to his Vomit and with the Sow that is washed to her Wallowing in the Mire Deliver me O God from sinning away these things and getting into a cold World and from shaking off all least I prove worse than eyer and my latter end be more miserable than my beginning Labour to be very curious in the taking notice of Gods absence or presence and when you find your Soul raised in any duty and your Heart somewhat drawn out after God then be sure to own Gods goodness and bless the Lord for it Record his kindness forget not his mercy pass not over such great things in silence Little do men think what a hazard they run when they quench the Motions of God's Spirit You may read in the 5. Cant. how dearly the Spouse had like to have paid for such an unkindness What shall God send his spirit to visit you Shall the infinite Majesty so far condesend as to knock at your Door and will not you open why then you may thank your selves if he never knock more But if you will now open to him he will come into you and sup with you and you shall sup with him VIII DIRECTION Seek his Acquaintance most earnestly if you would have it O why do men and women jest with matters of the greatest weight and importance in the world What do people mean to play with their Souls the wrath of God and damnation O sinners have you nothing else to play with No lower matters to sport with Believe it Sirs Heaven and Glory are not got with sitting still with our Hands in our pockets We think it worth the while to rise early and to sit up late to get an earthly Estate we count it no foolish thing for a man to be very diligent about his Worldly Affairs The poor Country-man Plows and Sows Harrows Weeds Reaps Inns Thresheth and a great deal more before he can eat his bread and shall we look for a rich crop and do nothing at all but eat and drink and sleep Is this the way to be rich is this the way to be happy for ever If you intend to do any thing in Religion to any purpose you must buckle to your business at anothergess rate than most of the Professors of the World do We must take as much pains about our Souls as men do about their Bodies or Estates Is there any comparison between the Soul and the Body between a Worldly Estate and an Heavenly Inheritance Hath a man more reason to look after tricking up his body that must Die or look after the adorning adorning of his soul that must live somewhere for ever Which are matters of the greatest consequence eating and drinking and pampering the flesh and taking our pleasure or looking after Life Salvation and Eternal Joy Do you think that the Scripture faith in vain That we must strive to enter in at the strait Gate Is it a bare seeking that will serve the turn Will a Lord have mercy upon me and bowing the knee do as well as the greatest seriousness and diligence in the World Do you think that God will be put off with the skin and garbage instead of sacrifice with the shell instead of the kernel with chaff instead of the corn Doth not Christ say That many shall seek to enter in and shall not be able O why do not lazy Professors read the Scriptures with trembling Let all those that are angry with us for putting them upon making religion their business and using all diligence to make their calling and election sure Read that one Scripture over again Luk. 13.24 Strive to enter in at the strait Gate for many I say unto you will seek to enter in and shall not be able c. It was Christ who spoke that word If we tell you of the danger of a formal Religion you will soon fall upon us as Enemies to your peace and those which impose too much strictness upon you We therefore do here produce our Commission for what we say or rather we desire you but to read your selves what Christ spoke as touching this matter O it might justly make a Christians heart to ake to think how many thousands of Professors will be disowned by Christ in that day who will make many fair pleas for themselves and pretend a great deal of acquaintance with him Consider I beseech you here is no fear of Excess never any man in the World that was too solicitous about his Salvation never any man took too much pains for Heaven Awake O sleeper what meanest thou arise and call upon thy God If you make any thing of the loss of a Soul look about you if you think the wrath to come considerable be serious if you would not be burnt by the fire of his Indignation you must take hold of his strength and make peace with him and God will be at peace with you Isa 27.5 It is not without cause that the Prophet doth complain Isa 64.7 There is none that calls upon thy Name that stirs up himself to take hold on thee There is none that calls upon Gods Name One would think that that were strange What none call upon his Name when so many of them made many Prayers as you have it in the first of Isaiah What did they nothing but look upon one another when they had their Solemn Assemblies Did they say nothing to God when they came before him Did they do nothing at all in that 58. of Isaiah when they are said to seek him daily when they seemed to delight in his way Yet in Gods esteem all this goes for nothing at all this prayer is no prayer this is only wording of it with God But prayer it is another kind of thing it is the
This is laid as a heavy accusation Job 39.21 For this hast thou chosen rather than affliction To choose iniquity rather than affliction is the greatest folly imaginable It is one great part of the misery of Hell that they never cease from sinning and this is the greatest misery on earth our being so much under the power of sin I appeal to any gracious soul that hath the feeling of the burden of sin what is it's great trouble and sorrow is it not because of sin What are his secret moans to God is it not the sence of corruption Oh wrethed man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death saith Paul Rom. 7. He had been complaining of the mass of corruption that did still press hard upon him and in the strong workings of his spirit against it he calls it The body of death It was as grievous to him as if he had been bound to a stinking rotten carcase How wretched then is the state of every soul unacquainted with God Who can do nothing but sin because they want the right rule of action a right pattern of imitation a right principle for action a right object for action a right end for action the only assistance of action It concerns us then as we make any difference between good and evil if we have any respect unto holiness and purity before sin and iniquity to see to get acquaintance with God because without acquaintance with God we are in a woful necessity of sinning 2. Without acquaintance with God we are in a necessity of misery Indeed sin is a great misery and to be in a necessity of sinning is part of the necessity of misery But besides that there is a necessity of misery of another kind What is the great imployment of men unacquainted with God Men labour in the very fire and weany themselves for very vanity Habak 2.13 This was the misery of men because they know not God But in verse 14. there is a promise of better days When the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea Then and not till then will there be a deliverance from labouring in the fire when there is the knowledg of God The reason of it is because true satisfaction and peace cannot be till our desires and enjoyments are alike and this cannot be till the soul is acquainted with God For nothing can fill up the desires of the soul but God The soul of man is mighty spacious so that it cannot be filled with the world and while it feels an emptiness it still cryes out for more and cannot be filled till it be filled with the fulness of God Ephes 3.19 The prodigal son had nothing but husks to feed upon when he was gone from his fathers house he would faine have filled his belly with the husks but could not they were not food for the soul When we are departed from God we have nothing to feed on but the world and we would fill our souls with the world but cannot for it is not food for the soul Acquaintance with God is the food of the soul Job 23.12 I have esteemed the words of his mouth more then my necessary food So that a soul that is not acquainted with God is famished for want of food Psal 42.2 My soul thirsteth for God for the living God When shall I come appeare before God David was acquainted with God but for want of an actual enjoyment how doth he here breath out the trouble of his spirit As the Hart panteth after the water-brooks so panteth my soul after thee O God The soul is still panting Some pant after the dust of the earth Amos 2.7 These were of the Serpents seed whose curse from God was Dust shalt thou eat but the seed of Christ they pant for God they that pant after God shall be filled with the fulness of God but he that panteth after any thing besides God will never find any fulness he will feed as upon the dust of the earth And what can follow but dissatisfaction and misery Acquaintance with God is the only way to be freed from a necessity of sin and misery Fifthly Acquaintance with God is the duty of man because God himself doth acquaint himself with man Shall the King seek after acquaintance with the meanest of his Subjects and he refuse acquaintance with his Soveraign shall God acquaint himself with man and shall not man acquaint himself with God! It is expected among men that the inferiour should seek for acquaintance with the Superiour and not the Superiour to the inferiour but yet God out of his wonderful love hath sought first to man for acquaintance Thus Prov. 8.31 it is said concerning the son of God who is meant by the Eternal Wisdom of the Father that he rejoyced in the habitable parts of the earth his delight was with the sons of men If God thus delights in converse and acquaintance with the sons of men how much more ought men to rejoyce in converse and acquaintance with God Isa 65.1 God saith I am found of them that sought me not All men were departed from God and not a man that did seek after God there is none that understands or seeks after God yet God is found of them The good shepherd seeks his lost sheep before the sheep sought him Cant. 5.2 When the soul is asleep it hears the voice of its Beloved that knocks saying Open to me my sister my love my dove my underfiled Revel 3.20 There Christ saith to the revolting Church that he was ready to spew them out of his mouth Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man will hear me and open the door I will come in and sup with him and he with me Psal 68 18. Thou hast ascended on high thou hast led captivity captive thou hast received gifts for men yea for the rebellious also that the Lord God might dwell among them Is it not becoming then that man should open when God knocks He seeks to dwell among the rebellious is it not fit that man should enter into acquaintance with God when God doth thus acquaint himself with man Thus I have opened to you the Nature of Acquaintance with God and evidenced it to be the Duty of Man to acquaint himself with God let us now make some improvement of this Truth USE 1. First Is there to be an acquaintance between the soul and God Let us then stand and wonder at the great condescention of God! This may surprise our souls with an extasie of admiration that God should dwell with man that the mighty Jehovah should have such respect to the work of his hands Psal 113.5 6. Who is like unto the Lord who dwelleth on high who humbled himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in earth The Psalmist admireth God that he humbled himself to behold things that are in heaven and how much
more then is he to be admired that he humbled himself to acquaint himself with man Let us than be filled with admiration that God should take us so nigh unto himself As Psal 8.4 What is man that thou art mindful of him or the son of man that thou shouldest visit him And Joh. 7.17 18. What is man that thou shouldest magnifie him and that thou shouldest set thy heart upon him and that thou shouldest visit him every morning Man in the pride of his heart seeth no such great matter in it but an humble soul is filled with astonishment Isa 57.15 Thus saith the high and lofty One which inhahiteth eternity whose name is Holy I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones Oh saith the humble soul will the Lord have respect unto such a vile worm as I am will the Lord acquaint himself with such a sinful wretch as I am Will the Lord open his arms his bosome his heart to me shall such a loathsome creature as I find savour in his eyes In Ezek. 16.15 We have a relation of the wonderful condescention of God to man who is there resembled to a wretched infant cast out in the day of its birth in its bloud and filthiness no eye pitying it such loathsome creatures are we before God and yet when he passed by and saw us polluted in our bloud he said unto us live It is doubled because of the strength of its nature it was the time of Love vers 8. This was love indeed that God should take a filthy wretched thing and spread his skirts over it and cover its nakedness and swear unto it and enter into a covenant with it and make it his that is that he should espouse this loathsome thing to himself that he would be an husband to it this is love unfathomable love unconceivable self-principled love this is the love of God to man for God is love Oh the depth of the riches of the bounty and goodness of God! How is his love wonderful and his grace past finding our How do you find and feel your hearts affected upon the report of these things do you not see matter of admiration and cause of wonder Are you not as it were lanched forth into an Ocean of goodness where you can see no shoar nor feel no bottom Ye may make a Judgement of your selves by the motions and affections that ye feel in your selves at the mention of this For thus Christ judged of the Faith of the Centurion that said unto him Lord I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof Mat. 8.8 When Jesus heard this he marvailed and said to them that followed him I say unto you I have not found so great faith no not in Israel If then you feel not your souls mightily affected with this condescention of God Say thus unto your souls What aileth thee O my soul that thou art no more affected with the goodness of God Art thou dead that thou canst not feel Or art thou blind that thou canst not see thy self compassed about with astonishing goodness Behold the King of glory descending from the habitation of his Majesty and coming to visit thee hearest not thou his voice saying Open to me my sister behold I stand at the door and knock Lift up your selves O ye gates and be ye lifted up ye everlasting doors that the king of glory may come in Behold O my soul how he waits still while thou hast refused to open to him O the wonder of his goodness O the condescention of his Love to visit me to sue unto me to wait upon me to be acquainted with me Thus work up your souls into an astonishment at the condescention of God USE 2. Secondly Is there to be acquaintance between the soul and God then let us learn to make a right judgement of our own Excellency let us judge of our selves as too high and noble to converse with this base and beggarly world I am of a nobler original then to debase my self to such mean things I am the off-spring of God and shall I acquaint my self with earth I am of the family of God shall I converse with Sathan Is there bread enough in my Fathers house and shall I perish for hunger Lift up thy self O my soul shake off the intanglements of the flesh break out of that bondage of the Devil trample upon the glory of the world and scorn to let out thy precious desires upon dung and dross get the Moon under thy feet cloath thy self with the Sun put on the son of righteousness come into the palace of God and acquaint thy self with him for this is thy glory this is thy excellency Ye precious ones who can call God Father and the son Brother who have fellowship with the Father and the Son who may have communion with the Holy Ghost What do you lying among the Potts What do you raking in Dunghills What do you conversing with the World Have a holy scorn of these things as below the dignity of your souls know your worth esteem of your selves as of more value then all these lower Treasures This is your glory and your excellency that ye are of Gods acquaintance that ye are Sons of God Heirs of God joynt-Heirs with Christ that ye understand and know God There are two things wherein most men are mistaken First In the Nature of Pride Some look upon that only as Pride which manifesteth it self in costly Apparel and bodily Ornaments beyond the degree and rank of the person Some look no further then the carriage of one man towards another Now favourably consider with me that the greatest Pride in the world is mans undue esteem of himself toward God and this is in the heart of every one by nature Every one by nature doth lift up himself against God goes about to dethrone God and to crown himself Every one takes counsel in his heart against the Lord saying Let us break his hands asunder and cast his cords from us This is the voice of every one that dares wilfully to sin We will not have God to rule over us Yet this is the working of the Pride of a man against God to thurst God out of the Throne of his Majesty and to set himself in For what is Gods glory and respect among his creatures Is it not this that he being the beginning and Author of all should be likewise the end of all And this is the very purpose of God in making of man that having received himself from God he should have what he might freely give up to God so that all man is and all that he hath is to be offered to God as the end and center of all Now a sinning creature brings God under to serve him to provide for him Now though this Pride of man against
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
imployed in the great acts of Religion The more any one is acquainted with God the more delight he takes in the Ordinances of God as one of Gods Children he desires the sincere milk of the word before he was acquainted with God he found it far otherwise then nothing almost would down with him the pure word could not be relished except it was adulterated with flourishes of humane wit He had very little appetite to good wholsome Food his stomack was ready to turn at it except it were so cook't and sawc't and set out that an understanding man could scarce tell what to make of it What do you say to this you that are so faint and cold in what you do in the service of God Come a little nearer get better acquainted with God and you shall find such entertainment from him that you will scarce be able to keep long from his house get oft into his company and you shall feel your Soul strengthned with new spirits animated with a strange life Heat and Warmth You will not complain that the Sabbath is the longest day in the week you will not say what a weariness is it When will the new Moons and Sabbaths be at an end But you would think long till the Sabbath day come and when it is come the pleasure that you take in the work of that day would make you to think it the shortest day and gon too soon and when you have spent it in the most diligent attendance upon God you would wish it were to begin again or that you were to begin such a Sabbath that would never have an end This is the condition of one that is very intimately acquainted with God his nearness to his Master makes him to follow his work and he knows he shall lose nothing by it something will be coming in ere and anon which will more then quit his cost So that when God calls he is at hand and readily answers Speak Lord for thy Servant heareth When God hath any message any hot service to do he accounts it his great honour to be imployed in it and saith here I am send me I believe he that spoke it Ar. Ep. l. c. 9. might be a little confident when he said Lay what thou wilt upon me O God I have power to bear it it shall not be my Burden but my Ornament Yet I am perswaded one that is acquainted with God can say it and say it again in good earnest Lord what wilt thou have me to do wilt thou have me to preach for thee to run through Fire and Water for thee to dye for thee to go or come O Lord do but bare me company and give me strength and it shall be don I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me This is one of Gods Champions he watches he keeps upon his guard he fights stoutly he stands his ground in every thing he demeans himself gallantly he quits himself like a Souldier of Christ and that which makes him thus valiant is because he is so near his Captain Ask Epictetus what made Socrates do as he did and he will tell you l. 3. c. 22 It was because he was a Friend of God his Servant and partaker of his Kingdom This is strang Language of a Heathen but had he known what it was to live under the most lively sence of Gods love to have had such intimate converse with him as some Christians have had what would he have said As for the Saint that keeps close to God he keeps close to duty his work is to serve love and praise God this is his business both by himself and with others 7. Another excellent effect of this acquaintance with God is it will make a man Patient under all the dispensations of Gods providence in all conditions to be content in quietnesse to possess his Spirit Acquaintance with God will make him be at peace not to open his mouth against God whatsoever he lays upon him What was it that kept such a calm in Pauls heart when there was such a constant storm without him was it not his sence of his interest in Gods love though all the world were his enemies yet as long as Christ was his Friend he doth not care though men and devils be against him yet if God be for him he passeth not much upon it though men be never so unjust yet God will never be so that 's his comfort It 's a small matter for him to be judged with mans judgment as long as he is sure that God will acquit him he knows that justice it self will do him no wrong infinite goodness could not be unkind and that wisdom it self could work glorious effects out of these things which the world call evil if he do receive evil at the hands of God he is confident he deserves more if it be good and but a little he is thankful because he deserved none at all Let the worst come to the worst if all the Devils in Hell and all his instruments upon Earth should combine against him as long as he is sure of the love of God and that none of them all can pluck him out of the Arms of the Almighty he is not very much concerned Heaven will make amends for all whatsoever he suffers it is nothing to the displeasure of a God it is nothing to everlasting burnings He believes that if his persecutors did know what he knows they would as soon eat fire as do as they do therefore he rather pitties them then is angry with them as seeing that their day is coming How seldom have you eitheir Paul or Silas complaining of their sufferings How rarely bemoaning their condition And what is it that makes them so patient what have they to sweeten such bitter draughts Why God loves them and so long they do not much care though others hate them Mans frown can't sink a Soul to Hell nor his favour make one happy for ever It is but a little while and all tears shall be wiped away from their eyes The kindness and faithfulness of God is enough to make a man cheerfully to hold up his head when all the world is against him When the most Spiritual Christians do complain it is more of themselves then of their persecutors O my unbelieving heart O that I should love God no more O that my heart should be no more taken up with the great things of Eternity This is the condition which those that are most Spiritual are in Poverty Imprisonment Banishment and all these things which most call dreadful when they come to a man that is much in Communion with God they find him Patient Meek and Calm these are not the things which put him upon the rack God is his Friend and that answers all 8. Another glorious effect of Acquaintance with God is That it will make all our enjoyments doubly sweet He hath what he hath in love he need not be afraid of
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
to look out for a Friend in a time of need have I all this while been bearing the air and laboured in vain shall I leave you all as I sound you God forbid Methinks I hear some poor souls crying out by this time O that I had but such a Friend that would bring me acquainted with God! O that I had but a saving knowledg of Jesus Christ O that I did but understand what it means to have Communion with the Father and the Son through the Spirit I see my self undone and lost for ever except I have an Interest in this Friend O who will bring me to him How shall I get acquainted with him O that is a sweet language That 's a very good question What shall I do to be saved but do you speak in sober sadness do you speak in jest or in earnest If any one would give you advice and direction would you follow it in spite of all the opposition of Hell What do you say will you labour to keep exactly to those Directions that shall be given if you will I do not question but that you and God will be acquainted before you die But O let not me take a great deal of pains and all to little purpose as to you do not now serve me as the Jews did Jeremiah come and ask Counsel of God and take the Devils But in hopes that some poor souls may in good earnest desire Directions with an intent to follow them I shall give them as follows I. DIRECTION If you would be acquainted with God labour to get a through sense of your great estrangment from him and of the danger of such an estrangement This is that which makes people so well contented with their condition because they see no great evil nor danger in it Men are ready to think very well of their condition although they be enemies to God and no Friends to Christ Exnemies to God! they scorn your words though all this while they express the greatest contempt of him conceivable though they regard neither his Commands Threatnings nor Promises though they value the company of a drunkard a whore before the company of God though they do all that they can against God Love nothing that he loves though they side with Gods greatest enemies yet they abhor to be thought to be any others then well wishers to Christ and the Friends and Servants of God though they never come near God yet they take it very ill if they be not reckoned amongst his acquaintance and speciall Friends Where is the professor almost living that doth not count it a high piece of uncharitableness if one do not Canonize them among the Saints though they live more like bruites How hainously do they take it if any one do but question their state They ignorant of God! They enemies to the Cross of Christ they blind they unconverted Who is that man which dare question their condition They hope to fare as well as any precise Puritan of them all they will hope to be saved say what you will then you shall never beat then out of their trust in God And though in Faithfulness to their Souls we beg of them to make a more diligent inquiry into the state of their Souls because we know that the heart is so deceitful and we have very great cause to suspect that they know not God yet they will go on very cheerfully with this confidence untill Christ himself shew them their mistake and tell them plainly that he knows them not and that he never accounted them any of his Friends But now did men but throughly understand their natural estrangement from God were they but indeed sensible of the vileness of their hearts did they but take notice of the Rebellions and Treasons that are within the case would be far otherwise with them then it is O this this is the reason why so many millions of professors miscarry everlastingly and never come to desire the friendship of God because they never believed that they were any otherwise then friends they do not suspect themselves at all but think that they are rich and encreased in goods and have need of nothing whereas the Lord knows and Christians know too that they are poor and blind and naked But now when men begin to be thorowly sensible of his enmity that is in their natures against God when they see what mutinies and rebellions there are in them against their most gracious Lord and King and when they are made to understand the consequences of this War then how sensibly do they cry out what shall they do was there ever any poor wretched creatures in worse condition then themselves was ever any ones heart worse then theirs are there any out of hell that are such Monsters of sin as they are O what shall they do they see the Fire kindled and themselves hanging over everlasting burnings now all the world for a Christ they believe now that God and Man are not equals that there is no contending with the Almighty who can stand before his indignation and when they see Gods Sword drawn and the poynt of it set against their heart when they behold the terrours of the Lord setting themselves in array against them and themselves like to lose all then how welcome would the news of a Parly be How glad would they be then to hear of a Pardon Then down go their weapons they will sooner come before God with a Halter about their Necks than a Sword by their sides they will fight now with no other weapons but Tears and Prayers As for their Armour they break it in pieces and lay it at the feet of their offended Prince and O if they might but have any hopes of pardon it would revive their hearts if they might have but a look of kindness from God it would be a greater comfort to them than all the whole World besides could afford them To whom can a skilful Physitian be more welcome than to the sick Christ came to seek the lost and such as these we are sent to encourage But till the soul comes to this pass a Christ is not valued at all by it If sinners be not made thus to understand themselves why though we should plead with never so much earnestness with them we do but beat the air all that we can say signifies very little The man thinks his great work is done though his hands have been all this while in his bosome he is far onwards in his Journey to Heaven though he never set one step out of his own doors he hath an interest in God and is very well acquainted with him and hath an assured confidence of his condition that he shall be happy though he have not one drachm of grace He is a good Church-man he hath sat at the Lords Table and the like But O how many are there which shall see and know that it is more than possible to come oft
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
not sleep to thine eyes or slumber to thine eye-lids but deliver thy self from the hand of the hunter and as a bird from the hand of the fowler Go to the Ant thou sluggard Consider her ways and be wise which having no guide over-seer or ruler provideth her meat in the Summer and gathereth her meat in the Harvest How long wilt thou sleep O sluggard When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep Yet a little sleep a little slumber a little folding of the hands to sleep so shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth and thy want as an armed man and will you now labour to get acquaintance with God as you would to get food for your body will you endeavour as much to make sure of his love as you would do to make sure of a pardon in case of the forfeiture of your life If so we have some hopes the work may have some considerable issue IX DIRECTION If you would be acquainted with God be much in expostulating the case with God and in urging those arguments which the Scripture doth afford you in such a case Take with you words and come unto the Lord and spread your requests before him and say O Lord thou hast sent thy servant the Ministers and hast invited me to come unto thee and thou offeredst peace and reconciliation and to be acquainted with me O God I desire from my soul to come upon thy call and would fain be acquainted with thee I see myself in an undone state while I am a stranger to thee but O Lord I have a cursed base heart that keeps me back from thee and I can't tell what in the world to do O Lord I beseech thee help thy poor Creature to come unto thee lead me by the hand let thy goodness and love constrain me conquer me by thy kindness come Lord into my soul and let me see thy face look upon thee till I am in love with thee O why art thou as a stranger to me wilt thou forsake me for ever shall I be one of those thine enemies which shall be slain before thy face shall I be one of those that shall dwell with everlasting burnings O Lord pity pity pity for Christ his sake a poor creature that would fain love thee be acquainted with thee I am convinced that I must be damned without thee come to thee of my self I cannot O draw me O carry me O compel me constrain me make me willing in the day of thy power I cannot get loose my heart is too hard for me my lasts are too strong for me my temptations are too many for me to conquer of my self O Lord help me Turn me and I shall be turned Pluck my feet out of the snare or I shall be utterly destroyed for ever Forgive mine iniquity make me a clean heart make me thy servant Tell God that thou hast heard of his goodness and mercy and that the King of Israel is a merciful King and that it is his nature to pitty Say to him O I am a poor undone creature and wilt thou send me away without mercy will the God of Grace send me away without Grace hast thou not called me O God thy servants tell me so O Lord speak and give me ears to hear O Lord I am come in upon thy merciful Proclamation and I desire to lay my self at thy feet mercy Lord mercy upon what terms thou pleasest Didst thou not say in thy Word Ho every one that thirsteth come and buy Wine and Milk without Money and without price Have not thy servants pleaded with me to come and hast thou not sent for me O! a blessing a blessing for me even for me O my father Hast thou not a blessing for me shall I be sent away as I came O Lord I come at thy word Do not say unto me Be gone out of my sight I cannot go I will not go whither shall I go from thee For thou hast the words of Eternal Life Though I cannot say Be just to me a Saint yet I will say Be merciful to me a sinner You may read more in R. A. his first part of his Vindiciae Pietatis pag. 232. the whole Treatise is excellent Plead the blood of Christ you may safely say that if there be not enough in Christ to save you you do not desire Salvation for in him there is all fulness You may plead your own absolute necessity Tell God that if ever poor creature in the world had need of mercy you have tell him that you are resolved not to be content without his love You may plead his promise in which he hath said That he will take away the heart of stone and give a heart of flesh that he will put his fear in our hearts write his laws in our inward parts You may plead also the power of God whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself and many such like arguments you may find in many places in the Scripture But because I have touched upon this before I shall pass this by X. DIRECTION If you would be acquainted with God look after it speedily defer not a moment your enemy is marching on apace you may be surprized your soul is hasting upon it's Eternal state your glass is almost run there are but a few sands behind therefore seek the Lord while he may be found and call upon him while he is near Ere long it will be too late wherefore what thou dost do quickly What is the voyce both of Scripture and Providence Doth not the Word of God say Now and commend the present time above all Acquaint now thy self with him Remember now thy Creatour Turn now unto the Lord. Let a poor Heathen Epict. En. c. 75. shame you into greater speed in this necessary work I shall translate his words into English How long saith he will you defer the looking after the best things How long will you abuse your reason Have you not heard such Precepts which you ought to agree to and you seemed very well to like of What kind of Teacher is it that you stay for For whose coming do you defer before you will mend and turn You are come now to years of discretion if I should say you were not you would be angry if you will neglect and delay and add one delay to another if you will add one put off to another and make one resolution and purpose after another and set one day after another in which you will think of these things consider that all this will do you no good for all your resolutions and promises for all that I see you are like to die a common man therefore now live as a perfect growing man and follow that which is most excellent unalterably If any thing of difficulty intervene remember that now is the time for you to shew what respect you have for your God and your soul Remember the goal is not
excellently handled already by so many of our brave Worthies See Mr. Baxters Saints Rest and R. A. his Vindicia Pietatis XII DIRECTION If you would be acquainted with God resolvedly and freely given up your self to him and enter into a most solemn Covenant with him And here I shall make bold with that Reverend Author which R. A. doth mention in his Vindicia Pietatis and present you again with that excellent Form with the preparatories to it which I have lately met with in the forementioned Author After your most serious addresses to God and after a deliberate consideration of the terms of this Covenant and after a thorow search of your own heart whether you either have already or can now freely make such a closure with God in Christ as you have been exhorted to And when you have composed your spirits into the most serious frame possible suitable to a transaction of so high a nature Lay hold upon the Covenant and reply upon his promise of giving grace and strength whereby you may be enabled to perform your promise Resolve in the next place to be faithful having engaged your hearts and opened your mouths and subscribed with your hands to the Lord resolve in his strength never to go back And being thus prepared and some convenient time being set apart for the purpose set upon the work in the most solemn manner possible as if the Lord were visibly present before your eyes fall down on your knees and spreading forth your hands towards Heaven open your hearts to the Lord in these or the like words O most dreadful God for the Passion of thy Son I beseech thee accept of thy poor Prodigal now prostrating himself at thy door I have fallen from thee by mine Iniquity and am by Nature a Son of Death and a thousand fold more the Child of Hell by my Wicked Practise but of thine infinite Grace thou hast promised Mercy to me in Christ if I will but turn to thee with all my Heart Therefore upon the Call of the Gospel I am now come in and throwing down my Weapons submit my self to thy mercy And because thou requirest as the Condition of my Peace with thee that I should put away mine Idols and be at defiance with all thine Enemies which I acknowledge I have wickedly sided with against thee I here from the bottome of mine Heart renounce them all freely covenanting with thee not to allow my self in any known Sin but conscientiously to use all the means that I know thou hast prescribed for the Death and utter Destruction of all my Corruptions And whereas I have formerly inordinately and Idolatriously let out my Affections upon the World I do here resign my heart to thee that madest it Humbly protesting before thy glorious Majesty that it is the firm Resolution of my Heart and that I do unfeignedly desire grace from thee that when thou shalt call me hereunto I may practice this my Resolution through thy Assistance to forsake all that is dear unto me in this World rather than to turn from thee to the ways of sin And that I will watch against all its Temptations whether of Prosperity or Adversity lest they should withdraw my Heart from thee beseeching thee also to help me against the Temptations of Satan to whose suggestions I resolve by thy Grace never to yield my self a Servant And because mine own Righteousness is but menstruous Rags I renounce all Confidence therein and acknowledge that I am of my self a hopeless helpless undone Creature without righteousness or strength And for as much as thou hast of thy bottomless Mercy offered most graciously to me wretched sinner to be again my God through Christ if I would accept of thee I call Heaven and Earth to record this day that I do here solemnly avouch thee for the Lord my God and with all possible Veneration bowing the Neck of my Soul under the Feet of thy most Sacred Majesty I do here take thee the Lord Jehovah Father Son and Holy Ghost for my Portion and chief good and do give up my self Body and Soul for thy Servant promising and vowing to serve thee in holiness and righteousness all the dayes of my life And since thou hast appointed the Lord Jesus Christ the only means of coming unto thee I do here upon the bended Knees of my Soul accept of him as the only new and living way by which sinners may have access to thee and do here solemnly joyn my self in a Marriage Covenant to him O blessed Jesus I come to thee hungry and hardly bestead poor and wretched and miserable and blind and naked a most loathsome polluted wretch a guilty condemned Malefactor unworthy for ever to wash the feet of the Servants of my Lord much more to be solemnly Married to the King of Glory But since such is thine unparall'd Love I do here with all my power accept thee for my Head and Husband for better for worse for richer for poor for all times and conditions to Love and Honour and Obey thee before all others and this to the Death I embrace thee in all thy Offices I renounce mine own worthiness and do here avow thee to be the Lord my righteousness I renounce mine own wisdom and do here take thee for mine only Guide I renounce mine own will and take the will for my Law And since thou hast told me that I must suffer if I will reign I do here covenant with thee to take my Lot as it falls with thee and by thy Grace assisting to run all hazards with thee verily supposing that neither life nor death shall part between thee and me And because thou hast been pleased to give me thy Holy Law as the rule of my life and the way in which I should walk to thy Kingdom I do here willingly put my Neck under thy Yoke and set my shoulders to thy Burden and subscribing to all thy Laws as Holy Just and Good I solemnly take them as the rule of my Words Thoughts and Actions Promising that though my flesh contradict and rebel yet I will endeavour to order and govern my whole life according to thy direction and will not allow my self in the neglect of any thing that I know to be my duty Only because through the frailty of my flesh I am subject to many failings I am bold humbly to protest that unhallowed miscarriages contrary to the setled bent and resolution of my heart shall not make void this Covenant for so thou hast said Now Almighty God searcher of hearts thou knowest that I make this Covenant with thee this day without any known guile or reservation beseeching thee that if thou espiest any flaw or falshood herein thou wouldest discover it to me and help me to do it a right And now glory be to thee O God the Father whom I shall be bold from this day forward to look upon thee as my God and Father That ever thou shouldest