dressed Judg. 9. 13. Heb. 6. 7. The righteous shall eat the fruit of his doings Isa 3. 10. The present comforts of holiness are not mean Great peace have they that love thy Law and nothing shall offend them Psal 119. 165. Her waies are waies of pleasantness and all her paths are peace Religion is the most pleasant trade no delights like those that are in God and fetch'd from him God gives the world the bones and keeps the marrow for his labourers the godly feed on the wheat the wicked have but the bran look whatever good comfort credit and happiness Religion can afford here and to all eternity is their part that trade upon it Who planteth a Vineyard and eateth not the fruit thereof 1 Cor. 7. 9. Reas 4. Lastly The Heavenly Trade must needs be the best trade because it is the most profitable trade The advantage that comes by godliness makes it the best employment in the world We use to say three things make traders rich all which are found in the way of godliness 1 Great Returns 2 Sure Returns 3 Quick Returns Now nothing turns to more account than a thorough pursuit of piety whatever men think Religion is the most thriving way in regard of the Excellent Fruit of it Abundant Fruit of it Durable Fruit of it First Great returns will soon make traders rich when the time and labour they expend is abundantly compensated and the things they part with bring in far better so is it with this heavenly trade there is no proportion in their adventures to their returns their duties are poor imperfect things when they have done all they are unprofitable servants but their reward is great and glorious their afflictions light and momentary but the issue a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory 1 Cor. 4. 18. It 's great profit indeed when some weak works of faith and labours of love a little patience obedience and duty for a time shall be rewarded with eternal rest pleasure and glory there is no equality between the race and price this striving and crowning What 's a cup of cold water to a river of pleasures a Crown of thorns to a Crown of Glory the worlds srowns to divine smiles conscience-troubles to the consolations of God a few tears fears watchings faintings duties afflictions to the joys of the Lord into which they shall for ever enter It 's a great bargain to part with base things for excellent beastly lusts for the beauties of holiness an unclean for a clean heart vile affections for vertuous dispositions filthy rags for fair garments a body of death for a spirit of life To let go the world for God fellowship with devils for communion with Christ to lose guilt and to gain righteousness to escape Hell to obtain Heaven this is great gain To swap away old things for new rotten things for sound hypocrisie for sincerity lyes for truth is a good bargain To exchange empty things for satisfying things that are not for things that are goods that perish with the using for things that wax not old fading trifles for eternal treasures is a thriving trade indeed and such are the incomes of this Heavenly Trade they are incomparably great and excellent there 's nothing mean no low price goods that Wisdome's Merchants deal about all their riches are pleasant and precious By knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches precious faith precious promises the precious blood of Christ precious thoughts of God are some of this precious substance heavenly Traders meet with in the way of holiness Besides this pursuit of godliness enters souls into an acquaintance and converse with God and helps them to keep an entercourse with Heaven and to maintain a life above and beyond the reach of all others and is not this advantage Religion also helps men to blessed experiences of the love power greatness and faithfulness of God and this constant employment about heavenly things makes the way pleasant and delightful and fills the soul with much contentment with its lot in the world whatever the tryals losses and sufferings may be that they are exposed to Also the driving this Heavenly Trade secures the good and comfort of all their other interests and sweetens their portion whether more or less that Soverign pleasure allots them in the world bringing all their concerns under divine care and promise for their good comfort and sufficient supply in their passage home And are not all these great returns enough to make the Heavenly Trade the greatest interest and advantage beyond all others in the world Secondly Sure returns make Traders rich Merchants that drive gainful trades count if one Adventure to two or three come safely home they get well but all regular Adventures in this Heavenly Trade are secured Their labour shall not be in vain in the Lord 1 Cor. 15. 58. not one of their sincere attempts in the way of God shall miscarry never a pious duty lost all their sowings to the spirit shall surely spring up into a blessed harvest Gal. 6. 6. Though they sow in tears yet they shall reap in joy Psal 126. 5 6. Though they go forth weeping yet if they bear precious seed they shall doubtless come again with rejoycing bringing their sheaves with them God is not unrighteous to forget their work and labour of love shewn towards his Name Heb. 6. 10. God is engaged in justice to see the Adventures of Believers safely returned into their harbour he hath promised it and cannot be unfaithful neither doth it consist with his honour to put Believers on an unprofitable service He never said to the house of Jacob Seek ye me in vain Isa 45. 19. Ingenuous men love to see their servants thrive Will Christ think you let his labourers be losers their works shall surely follow them into their rest Rev. 14. 13. how ever they may be out of sight in their passage towards it seeing God's Word lies at stake for it The blood of Christ stands engaged also for the safe returns of the Saints Adventures that are according to the will of God their religious labours are part of the travel of his soul which he must see secured and they are the pleasure of the Lord which must prosper in his hand Isa 53. 10 11. He is become a Surety for them unto God and a Surety for the Father unto them By so much was Jesus made a Surety of a better testament Heb. 7. 22. The Covenant is called here a Testament as relating to the Saints priviledges and interests which by that Covenant becomes due to them and shall be surely made good to them upon the account of Christ's Suretiship for it He is the Surety of this Testament or Covenant and every promise of it one of which is That what they sow to the Spirit they shall reap in glory their labour shall not be in vain and to make all the promises good both the condition and
sight having a warrant for every action you perform both civil and religious this will be your comfort now and your peace in the day of your accounts Thirdly Drive on his interest not your own Rom. 14. 7. For none of us liveth to himself God can more justly say what Laban did to Jacob concerning his children and goods These daughters are my daughters and these children are my children and these cattel are my cattel and all that thou seest is mine Gen. 31. 43. The cattel on a thousand hills are his Psal 50. 10. with the corn wine wooll and flax Hos 2. 9. Both the improvement as well as principal are his Mat. 25. 27. He hath right to the exercise and fruit of your graces and duties with all that you enjoy and do Put Christ's mark on all your goods whatever you gain by his talents put on his account and let your disbursments be expended to his use Seek not your own things your credit peace comfort interest but in subordination to him If the Lord by his Word calls for any of your enjoyments you must let them go If by his Providence he takes off any comfort murmure not say 't is the Lord Let him do what he will with his own Mat. 20. verse 15. Advice 5. Fifthly Follow your Trade better than you have done remember how former carelesness formality sloth hypocrisie have undone you and amend The slothful soul is as the door on his hinges Prov. 26. 14. that never makes any progress in Religion or comes to any excellency in grace No Christian saith Mr. Sedgwick is so able in the habits of grace as he who is conscienciously frequent in the practice or exercise of grace Christ's Counsel to his languishing Church Would you recover your state and come to any eminency in godliness then make Religion your business That sleightiness of spirit in the way of God which lost you at first will never restore you The recovery of a faint soul saith the same Author will never be effected by faint workings You did fall into your decayed state by remissive actings and think you that which was not able to keep up your graces from sinking can now quicken and raise them being sunk Christ's Counsel to his languishing Church p. 148. If negligence did cast you back diligence must help to recover you Take more pains with your hearts follow your work of godliness every day and in every place Be early and late in your shops of duty and in the warehouse of your hearts Beware of spiritual sloth and soul-losses take heed of unfaithfulness with God conscience or others keep touch with your Creditour be tender of your vows to God and men keep from prodigality live not above your condition waste not precious time parts and grace in vain walk strictly in the whole course of your life keeping your selves from iniquity and in the Love of God Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ Jude v. 21. Tit. 2. 13. 5th Branch of Exhortation to good Traders in Religion Lastly You whoever you are that drive on this Heavenly Merchandise and have any good Trading in Religion be you exhorted Advice 1. First To bless God for good trading Is it well with your souls Doth the South-wind blow upon your Garden and the Spices flow out Cant. 4. 16. Doth the Fig-tree put forth her green Figs and the Vine with the tender Grape give a good smell Cant. 2. 13. What reason have you then to be always giving thanks you whose trading turns to any spiritual advantage thou canst say 'T is good to draw nigh to God in keeping his commands is great reward The Lord is not a barren wilderness to thy soul but peace is within thy Walls and prosperity within thy Palaces Psal 122. 7. Thy glory is fresh in thee and thy bow renewed in thy hand thy root spreadeth out by the waters and the dew lying all night between thy branches Job 29. 19 His ways are pleasantness and his steps drop fatness to thy soul and he commands his blessing upon thee and thy faith and love do grow Is it thus in any measure with thee O then bless the Lord with thy soul let all that is within thee bless his holy Name Make the Lord thy glory and triumphing praise Thou hast abundant reason to be admiring grace and exalting divine glory Because First Soul-thriving is a great mercy at all times a little spiritual goods is beyond all the World's treasure one piece of Christ's tried Gold weighs down all the Pearls and Diamonds on earth and whatever can be found below grace cannot be compar'd with it Job 28. 11 12 16. or named the same day with it The light of God's countenance pardon of sin participation of the spirit fulfilling of Promises fellowship with the Father Son and Spirit heart-breathings after love to and delight in God are things of inestimable worth if you weigh them in themselves or with other things or if you consider the grace from whence they come or price which they cost Spiritual thrivings are an evidence of sincere love to God Judg. 5. 31. Let them that love thy Name be as the Sun that goeth forth in his might and of special love in God to that soul Tit. 3. 4 6. Eph. 1. 3 5 7. God may prosper in the World those he hates Esau had his fat things here but grace and peace are new-covenant-blessings which spring from eternal love in the heart of God to that soul Heb. 8. 10. Zech. 8. 11 12 15. Secondly 'T is a singular mercy at this time a mercy that few enjoy in the day we live in What a rare thing is it in this long winter to see a green Olive a tender Grape appear or Pomgranate bud Cant. 7. 6. or one Berry in the uppermost branch Isa 24. 13. It was a peculiar glory put upon the head of Thyatira that she was thriving when other Churches were decaying She had works and works and the last were more than the first Rev. 2. 19. Ephesus had lost her first love Sardis had decayed and wasted her first strength and was ready to die Laodicea was luke-warm ready to be spued out by the Lord Jesus Rev. 3. 1 8 16. only Thyatira flourished exceedingly and grew in the winter and this honour she had to have it recorded by the Spirit for a monument in after-ages 'T is not the lot of every one to thrive in evil times few Thessalonians whose faith and love did grow 2 Thes 1. 3. A single Timothy who had flourishing affections to the things of Christ I have no man like minded Phil. 2. 20. One Gaius whose soul out-prospered his body 3 Ep. Joh. v. 2. A flourishing Christian this day is like a flower in winter an Apple-tree amongst the trees of the wood Surely if there be a Soul who this day flourishes to any heighth of Christianity who lives in intimacy with
Christians this day while the vitals of Christianity visibly languish b Christianos non dici sed ess◠oportet Ignat. where is that ancient Faith Love Zeal Faithfulness Courage Patience Self-denial Mortifiedness to the world Justice Charity Heavenly-mindedness holy Converses with that universal Piety and Unity which made the Saints so famous in former generations and had so great an influence on the enlargement of Christ's Kingdom notwithstanding Pagan and Antichristian force against it In the room of which now pride contention formality selfishness hypocrisie with the general gangrene of an earthly spirit eats out the life and power of true holiness The affecting sense of this dangerous evil gives occasion to this ensuing discourse whose errand into the world is not to plead for notion or faction but to advocate for despised godliness to help to awaken this sleepy age and contribute a weak hand with abler shoulders to give a lift if possible to fallen piety Amongst the many Advocates for piety Solomon the Pen-man of this book hath done worthily and laid out much strength of reason to attach the minds of men and regain them to the knowledge and fear of God This chapter is a systemè of those motives which he more largely prosecutes throughout this book to perswade men unto a thorough pursuit of holiness Divers are the considerations he proposes to this end taken First From the happiness of those that obtain and improve this pearl of grace vers 13. Happy is the man that c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Labore sibi paravit involvit praeviam inquifitionem findeth wisdom and the man that d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Profert in lucem effundit getteth understanding though with greatest labour and cost and having gotten it doth put it to its due use and improvement for the good of others they whoever they be are blessed men and women in regard of that profit pleasure peace honour safety and life with the durable and eternal possession thereof ensured to those that thus make Religion their business from vers 13 to 27. Secondly From the evil estate and end of those that pursue the waies of sin which is in its nature vile and abominable to God and as to its products its shameful cursed and destructive in the end vers 23 32 33 34 35. The Penman knew that few would deal in those commodities and trade about divine things all men seeking their own and few the things of Christ and therefore sets forth those wares with greatest commendation to buyers that they might off the better He begins with the gain that comes by godliness a popular argument and that which in other things puts men on great adventures and restless labours towards their enjoyment The hope of advantage saith Chrysostome a Lucri spes omnia difficilia facit juncunda Chrys de Sacerd. 3. lib. makes all difficult things easie What will not the Merchant do or suffer to get a little profit a fit metaphor to set forth the diligence of a Christian in his race and to insinuate the worth of those eternal things he is in chase of The merchandise of which is better than the merchandise of silver and the gain there-thereof than fine gold In the words for methods sake you may observe First The subject wisdoms merchandise and the gain thereof Secondly The Predicate Better than silver than fine gold Wisdome Divine Wisdome which in this book not to mention all its acceptations First Is put sometimes for the Lord Jesus Christ the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word and increated Wisdome of God or the wisdome who is God who is made to us of God Wisdome as well as Righteousness the light of the world the bright morning Star the Sun of Righteousness from whom are derived all those beams which irradiate the dark minds of men and that Wisdome which makes wise to salvation in whom are hid all the treasures of Wisdome This is that shining Diamond that Pearl of price which outvies all the beauties of the world the costly gemms and whole treasures of nature in whom are unsearchable riches the enjoyment and use of whom is soul enriching Secondly For the Word of God which is sure making wise the simple pure enlightening the eye and more to be desired than gold yea than much fine gold called the Light of the Lord Isa 2. 5. Come ye and let us walk in the Light of the Lord the discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart Heb. 4. 12. which are able through the Spirit 's illumination to make one wise to salvation and in this sense the Jews usually take Wisdome for the Word and Law of God In keeping of which there is great reward Psal 19. 11. Thirdly By it is held forth a true and saving knowledge of God part of that Original beauty which man lost by his first fall and is regained by a second edition and impress of the Spirit when renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created it this knowledge is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not an idle speculative but a lively operative knowledge which consists of an illumination of the mind and an infusion of faith and spiritual knowledge Parisiensis calls it a Portam vitae per quam Deus primo ingreditur ad mentem humanam Parisiensis The gate of life through which God first enters into the mind of man In this Wisdome and Knowledge of God as the souls last end with the way that leads thereto and felicity that results from it enlightened minds see greater lustre than in fine gold and all the bravery of this lower world Now this Wisdome is not onely speculative taking in the notion of truth and pleasing the mind with refreshing views of things excellent but practical which disposes the soul to a fruition of God so revealed to the eye of Wisdome and to the obedience of all those counsels opened in order to it Hence Davenant counts it an errour in the Schoolmen to restrain Wisdome and Understanding to a contemplative life b Cum utraque ex aequo etiam spectat activam when both have their equal reference to an active practical life and conversation In regard of it's essence it 's an intellectual vertue but in respect to the matter and use it 's practical and moral and therefore he defines Wisdome to be c Est igitur sapientia infusa cognitio illorum quae ad fidem bonam vitam pertinent cum affectu pio inclinante ad applicationem praxin eorundem Daven an infused knowledge of those things which lead to faith and a holy life with a pious affection inclining the soul to the application practice of the things it knows This the Scriptures hold out to be that true Wisdome which God requires of men And to man he said Behold the fear of the Lord that is Wisdome and to depart from evil that is understanding Job 28. 28. Job having
despised Christianity he thought upon most mature consideration to be worthy of his choice and pursuit What treasures more rich or precious said Agerius when a prisoner for Christ at Venice than everlasting life where be greater riches or dignities more honourable than in Heaven here droppeth the delectable dew here floweth the pleasant Nector here runneth the sweet milk here is plenty of all good things I have found a nest of honey in the entrals of a Lion in the deep dark Dungeon I have found a Paradise of pleasure where others do weep I do rejoyce when others do shake and tremble I do find plenty of strength and boldness in strait Bonds and cold Irons I have rest Fox Vol. 2. pag. 181. Come to sinners also when they lie under Conscience terrors and the armed troops of death and hell invade their guilty hearts and enquire their opinion concerning the goodness of their choice the advantage of that bargain they have made in parting with God for the World in rejecting Christ for the Flesh in turning their backs on holiness for the service of sin and their dejected countenances their gastly looks their unquiet jestures their cries and groans will soon tell you the sad resentment of their folly and bad Trade they have driven in the ways of sin and death Thirdly Nay Reason it self rightly exercised must needs grant that heavenly wares are the best wares upon a fourfold consideration 1 Of their Rarity 2 Their Price 3 Their worth 4 Their Duration First Heavenly things are rare and therefore excellent scarcity enhaunceth the price of things Diamonds and precious stones are dear because scarce and more rarely had plenty usually beats down the price of things when rarity makes them costly and such are Heavenly wares they are the greatest rarity in the world they are less known more hardly come by and seldomer enjoyed than any thing this earth affords there are few parts of the world where Wisdom's goods ever come How many Countries are there where the Gospel is not known or any sights of God or things eternal ever had but such as are discernable by the dini light of nature and of those coasts which this days spring hath visited to how few have the brightness of this light appeared few places have the mysteries of the Gospel opened or the deep things of God purely fully and powerfully preached It hath been the priviledge of this Nation above many to have a peculiar share of Gospel discoveries and truths more spiritually and practically disclosed and yet how few here or in other parts have any acquaintance with these glorious secrets or arrive to this excellency of the knowledge of Christ and Divine Mysteries what a veil is there on the minds of most under the purest administrations of the Gospel that seeing they see not understanding and yet not affected with the things they know the spiritual beauty and inward worth of them being hid from their eyes Most hearers like Balaam see heavenly goods with eyes half opened and hence it is they no more value and pursue them Could these poor beggarly dirty things of the world be so preferred in mens affections and embraces and so much time consumed upon them with neglect of God and things above if the worth of Wisdome's Treasures were truly known and believed no certainly we may without breach of charity complain Who hath believed our report and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed Isa 53. 1. They are rare in that they seldome appear in their own worth and excellency to the view of men few know and believe the worth of heavenly things They are also goods that few trade on It 's a rare thing to see men much vers'd about heavenly things and to drive a trade of godliness There are divers possibly that barter for some of Wisdome's goods for knowledge peace comfort parts external duties c. but few that carry on a full trade of godliness An Enoch a Noah a Caleb a Joshua a Job a David a Paul a Barnabas here and there one in their several ages that are thorough with God and universal in the duties of godliness heart purity godly simplicity universal holiness converse with God meditation on things above tenderness of conscience self-denyal mortifiedness to the world heavenly-mindedness spiritual converses are commodities that few deal about this day A thorough-paced Christian is the Phoenix of the place he lives in and more seldom seen than a sparkling Diamond in the dark night we live in few seek these goods in earnest as they do the world and their own things and fewer obtain them Phil. 2. 21. Few I fear do live in the daily exercise of their graces the warm breathings of their souls after God and spiritual things few that find the white stone that live in the view of their pardons and sensible enjoyment of divine grace and therefore these heavenly goods are rare things seldome discovered seldome known seldome pursued seldome enjoyed and being rare are excellent and desirable Secondly Heavenly things are the best because the most costly this argument will not hold in all things men may buy their desired comforts too dear and give more for the world pleasures and their particular goods than they are worth but none can be deceived in Wisdomes wares the glory of God the salvation of souls the enjoyment of grace and spiritual blessings cannot be too dearly obtained their price bespeaks the greatness of their worth they being realities and things excellent in their nature and use and if they are valuable according to their price they must needs be transcendent for the purchase of them cost God dear he hath been at the expence of eternal counsels of manifold wisdom of unknown love of the gift and blood of his own Son to procure these great things for Believers and it hath cost him mighty power and patience to fit Believers for them and maintaine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with an honourable price 1 Pet. 1. 18. 19. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aequale redemptionis pretium Gomar their enjoyment of them Ye are bought with a price not with corruptible things as silver and gold but with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot He gave himself a ransome an equal price sufficient to purchase Believers to himself with grace and glory for them He so loved the world as to give his onely begotten Son to give him to death to the death of the Cross to unspeakable torments and all to procure these glorious and blessed treasures for Believers Joh. 3. 16. O costly wares O dear bought goods for which the pearl of price was sold and the treasures of Heaven emptied out And as these stand the purchaser dear so they are costly to the receiver also The preparation for an interest in these treasures is many times dear to Believers O the wounds and launcings the bleeding and heart-prickings the pangs throws
duty and providence calls them too and with the Chymist are to extract some good from every thing they deal with and like the Bee gather Honey from weeds yet this good they get from persons and things is not in them but conveyed through them from the great Purchaser with whom they deal good from every thing to these heavenly Traders and Heirs of Salvation is made over in the propromise All things shall work together for good to them that love God and are called according to his purpose Rom. 8. 28. and shall in due time through these Conduits be emptied out to Believers by the hand of Jesus So that it is properly and strictly but with one great Merchant those Traders have to do with for the goods they lay out or take in all other things and persons are but ways and instruments of his appointment through which it shall be delivered and this makes Wisdom's Trade so good that the advantage of it is not depending on those secondary Agents they have to do with but upon one that is more excellent both great and good able and faithful to answer both his promises and the expectations of those that deal with him As to his Quality and personal Grandeur he is above all and over all King of Kings and Lord of Lords He hath a vesture on his thigh whereon is written King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 19. 16. He is the Majesty on high the Glory of Heaven and Earth he hath Angels to worship him Thrones and Principalities under him all creatures in Heaven and in Earth to serve him O! how honourable is it to deal with him to whom Kings and Potentates pay their tribute and to whom Men and Angels yield their homage It 's taking with Men to converse with those that are above them and to manage concerns with Persons of Honour and Greatness but here 's one Souls that offers to trade with you from whom all creatures receive their glory Yea his Goodness answers his Greatness and sweetly tempers his personal converse for the encouragement of the meanest Soul that hath occasions with him Greatness without Goodness rather checks than relieves the hopes of those that are beneath it but such is the sweetness of Christ's nature as that his Glory doth but render his Goodness the more amiable and his Goodness represents his Glory the more desirable he values no man by his own worth nor despises any for their low estate the meanest Soul hath as easy access to him and as gracious a reception as persons of highest reputation with men I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones Isa 57. 15. He is of a sweet and gracious temper of a free and generous spirit good to all especially to those that seek him this renders persons desirable who would choose to deal with men of ugly natures and churlish dispositions affability and sweetness do strongly invite men to converse with such and none like to Jesus for excellent goodness and loving kindness for pitty and bounty goodness is his nature mercy his delight he takes pleasure in doing good none that trade with him but he will see them to be the better for it He is also able as well as good Some men have excellent natures but straitned capacities they are willing to do good beyond their power but it is not so with the Saints friend He hath all power in Heaven and Earth Mat. 28. 18. and can do what-ever pleaseth him he hath all creatures at his command all the treasures of Heaven at his dispose he is infinitely rich and hath all that good that Souls can need or desire he hath goods of all kinds of supply his Customers with it is not so with men no Merchant can furnish his Traders with every thing they need but one sells this ware another that here men sail to one Countrey for one Commodity and to another Countrey for other Wares they ransack Nature's treasures by Sea and Land borrow something from every Nation that hath a peculiar excellency to make up their supplies and furnish all their occasions and pleasures but the Lord Jesus hath all that in him and at his dispose which you need he can supply all your wants having all fulness dwelling in him Phil. 4. 19. He hath that in him which your Souls want and the command of that you need for your Bodies also He can give you the desires of your heart Psal 37. 4. He is able to make all grace abound towards you that you always having all-sufficiency in all things may abound in every good work 2 Cor. 9. 8. Here 's no less than five All 's that flow from the ability of Christ to Believers All grace abounding in them All sufficiency enjoy'd by them All ways in All things for All good works Did Souls but believe the all-sufficiency of Christ they would not so perplex their spirits when in wants with what shall I eat and with what shall I be clothed and how shall I get this and the other mercy I want when all is offered to Wisdom's Merchants freely for godliness hath the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come and these promises are in the hand of Jesus for all that come to God by him All things are delivered to me of the Father Matt. 11. 27. The Lord Jesus is not only able to give you all that you ask according to his will having all things delivered to him for that end but he can keep it for you and secure it to your use I am perswaded that he is able to keep that good thing I have committed to him against that day 2 Tim. 1. 12. This all-sufficiency of Christ is argument enough to new-Covenant-federates for a calm and quiet dependance on him and holy walking before him Gen. 17. 1. And that which is exceeding pleasing to Traders also he is faithful as well as able he is one of his word that makes good all his promises to a tittle to those that by Faith deal with him The holy one of Israel cannot lie or alter the word that is gone out of his mouth hath he said and shall he not do it hath he spoken and shall he not make it good Numb 23. 19. and Rev. 1. 5. He is the faithful witness faithful is his name And he that sate upon the Throne was called faithful and true Rev. 19. 11. And faithfulness is his nature in comparison of whom every man is a liar Let God be true and every man a liar Rom. 3. 4. If the Lord Jesus were not faithfull to his word and undertaking the Father would not have trusted him with all the concerns of his glory and people in the world neither had he been a fit person for the Elect to have committed unto him their souls and all
eyes and thy heart are not but for thy covetousness Jer. 22. 17. He maketh haste to be rich Prov. 28. 20. drives furiously after the world his heart is reconciled to all the means and waies that lead to it be they never so clashing with soul-advantages that man be he who he will is a friend to the world and an enemy to God let him make the highest profession possible So did Judas get into the Church of God so did Demas pray preach and so may hypocrites for a time yea make many prayers Isa 1. 15. Doth he profess love to God so did the Jews and yet their hearts went after their covetousness Ezek. 33. 31. Is he of a lovely spirit and unblameable conversation so was the young man in the Gospel his great desire was to inherit eternal life Mark 10. 17. that was his business to Christ he desired to know how he might be saved he seemed to be all for Heaven his life also was unblameable All these have I observed from my youth up verse 20. He was of a sweet lovely spirit 'T is said Jesus beholding him loved him verse 21. and yet could not part with the world for Christ had his heart knit to earthly things all the while and went away sorrowful he could not consent to sell all and give to the poor ver 22. no marks will serve that Soul's turn whose heart is glued to the World and cannot give up all to Christ's dispose God and the World cannot dwell in that Soul godliness and gain cannot keep house together where the grace of God comes in truth it teacheth men to deny worldly lusts Tit. 2. 11 12. He that hath no power to deny the cravings of a worldly heart never yet received the grace of God in truth Grace saith one may stand with some transient acts of naughtiness but never with covetousness Adams on the 2 Epist of Pet. p. 9. 16. Noah was once drunk with Wine but never with the World Lot twice Incestuous never Covetous Peter denied his Master thrice it was not the love of the World but the fear of the World brought him to it for he had denied the World before he denied his Master Once David was overcome with the Flesh never with the World Why did not these purge themselves from Adultery Anger Contention and the like because into these sins the infirmity of a Saint may fall but if once into Covetousness there is nothing of a Saint left not the very name Luther acknowledges there was scarce a sin to which he had not been tempted save to the sin of Covetousness The Lord Jesus tells us that his Disciples are not of this World some derive the word Holy from Earth and a privative 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 particle in that redemption from the earth is the great work of holiness All they that partake of the Cross of Christ are crucified to the World and the World to them Gal. 6. 14. Not a jot of the benefits of Christ are treasur'd up in that Soul where the God of this World dwells and if without Christ without hope thy case is desperate if thy heart be earthly under the ruling power of this World thou art yet in a graceless state and no grace no glory if thou mindest earthly things destruction is thy end Phil. 3. 19. If thou art one of this World whose heart is after thy covetousness thy portion is in this World Psal 17. 14. All thy Heaven is on this side the Grave For this ye know that no Whoremonger nor unclean person nor covetous man who is an Idolater hath any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God Eph. 5. 5. 'T is joyned with the most abominable sins Thievery Drunkenness Adultery Idolatry Extortion for which things sake the wrath of God cometh upon the children of disobedience Col. 3. 5. 6. The Scripture calls covetous men cursed children 2 Pet. 2. 14. An heart they have a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 exercised as Wrestlers are who contend for victory with all their Might being train'd up to it by long exercise 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 exercised with covetous practices cursed children really cursed with a detestation such whom God abhorreth Psal 10. 3. And the wicked blesseth the covetous whom God abhorreth A woe is pronounced against them Hab. 2. 9. Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house that he may set his nest on high that he may be delivered from the power of evil One would think this a duty or at least very commendable to provide for our Family and get what we can for our children and to endeavour to secure our houses from any suffering and calamity but if this be mens end to set their nest on high to get great things for themselves and so to manage their affairs as to avoid all b Malum hic notatis quod homines vulgo pro malo habent quod fugit horret caro nimirum crucem humilitatem ac persequutionem sufferings for God there 's a dreadful woe hangs over their heads and disappointment of all their design in the issue for instead of honour they are brought to shame in the end Thou hast consulted shame to thy own house and sinned against thy own soul vers 10. They are unworthy of any society with men I have written unto you not to keep company if any man that is called a Brother be a Fornicator or Covetous or an Idolater or a Railer or a Drunkard or an Extortioner with such a one no not to eat 1 Cor. 5. 11. and shall be cut off from communion with God to all eternity Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God be not deceived neither Fornicator nor Idolater nor Thieves nor Covetous nor Drunkards nor Revilers nor Extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6. 9. 10. Secondly as thy state is dangerous if thou art one who lovest this present World so thy folly is great to set thy heart upon the World After thou hast been convinced of the evil of such a spirit and practice and hast felt the smart of it in thy own soul After thou hast been arraigned at the bar of thy Conscience and condemned in thy own heart for this Sin as every truly convinced Soul is if ever the spirit of bondage hath been at work in thy heart as thou hast confessed then hast thou found this sin more bitter than death to thee and now to return again to such courses as will break thy bones again and put thy soul to greater torture than ever as all relapses do this is folly indeed After thou hast chosen God for thy portion Christ for thy treasure Godliness for thy gain the inheritance with the Saints for thy Land a mansion in Heaven for thy house Christ's tried Gold for thy Money a conversation in Heaven for thy Trade the Father Son and Spirit for thy All here and for ever
press you down and the sin that doth so easily beset you Heb. 12. 1. If you will set your affections on things above you must first take them off from things beneath Col. 3. 2. He that sets his face towards Heaven must turn his back upon the world Phil. 3. 13. Forgetting those things that are behind and reaching forth unto those things that are before The world is one of those things Christians must leave behind them if ever they think to reach Heaven b Debebamus magno animo contemnere vitam mundum pleno pectore anhelare ad futuram gloriam aeternae vitae Luther in Gen. We should saith Luther with a certain greatness of mind contemn this life and world and with a large heart breathe after the future glory of an Eternal Life Till you are brought to a contempt of this world and can count it as dross and dung you can never value Heaven or pursue things above with an even and uninterrupted heart That soul which designs to make Religion its work must be ready to attend it at all times and to have the heart composed and fitted to all the instructions that lead to it which an earthly heart cannot do A light and mutable spirit now for God and then for the world is unfit for this great employment He that puts his hand to the plough and looks back is unmeet for the Kingdom of God Luke 9. 62. And such is a heart under the command of earthly things 't is never stedfast with God the things of this world fill the soul with wind and make it light and trifling about the things of God The heart of man is like that Jewel I have read of that one gave to Alexander that while it was kept bright weighed down the choicest gold and most precious stones but if once it fell into the dust and took rust it was lighter than a feather And so is the heart if it falls into the dusty things of this world The Church cloathed with the Sun hath the Moon under her feet Rev. 12. 1. The more a soul is filled with the pure knowledge of God and shining in its conversation the more it is lifted up above the world The nearer Heaven the farther from Earth The more separate from the world saies Mr. Greenhill on Ezek. 3. 23. the more fit for communion with God Ezekiel must leave his house and go into the plain and there the Lord will talk with him The King's daughter must forget her own people and her Father's house ere the King would greatly desire her beauty Psal 45. 10 11. And Abraham must leave his Countrey and pleasant habitation before he could get into a way of frequent communion with God and so must a soul in heart and affections sit loose from the ensnaring things of this world if ever he thinks to drive this Heavenly Trade c Tanto magis adhaeret Deo quilibet quanto minus diligit proprium By so much the more saith Augustine doth any one cleave to God as he ceases from loving his own interests Direct 6. You must resolve on this also To submit to all the instructions the Lord Jesus gives you to go thorough all the labours and bear all the burdens that this Heavenly Trade calls you to every Art and Calling have their principles and rules by the knowledge and obedience of which they are attain'd to and so hath Religion And as Piety is the highest and noblest profession so are its principles more pure and mysterious and with greatest difficulty attainable Acquired knowledge furnishes men with light sufficient for all earthly undertakings but to this Heavenly Trade both infused and acquired understanding is needful both rules and an eye to discern them must be given if ever this Art be obtained For this end the Lord Jesus is given for a light of the Gentiles to open the blind eyes that they may see Isa 42. 6 7. and for a Prophet to teach and instruct them the way they should go and to hear and obey him as such is the absolute duty of all that have given themselves up to his conduct and government Acts 3. 22. A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren like unto me him shall you hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you He hath undertaken to inwise them that obey him and to shew them what they must do Acts 9. 6. And if they go on to know they shall know the Lord if they sit at his feet and hear his Word Deut. 33. 3. he will shine out to them and send out a fiery Law for them In order to which instruction your duty is to hear him to watch daily at his gates and to wait at the posts of his house Prov. 8. 34. when he calls say with Samuel Speak Lord for thy servant heareth 1 Sam. 3. 10. And whatsoever he saith said the Mother of our Lord unto you do it John 2. 5. Slight no directions stick at no difficulties in comporting with his pleasure 't is for the life of your souls obedience is so necessary in the Disciples of Christ as that without it no true knowledge can be attained here John 7. 17. if any man doth his will he shall know the Doctrine nor salvation hereafter Heb. 5. 9. he became the Author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him His yoke is easie and his burden is light Prov. 8. 5 6. Prov. 3. 17. He enjoyns you nothing but what is needful profitable excellent and pleasant Hear and your souls shall live Isa 53. 3. Shall the servants of men come go do this or that when they are bidden Matt. 8. 8. Yea shall the Devil's slaves do the greatest drudgeries run most desperate adventures throw themselves from pinacles yea damn their souls at his bidding and the servants of Christ so disobedient when 't is for their own concerns their mercies and advantages are wrapt up in it and that to so rational and easie injunctions The consideration of this prevailed with a Heathen to obedience when against his inclination 2 King 5. 13. His servants came near and said My Father if the Prophet had bid thee do some great thing would'st thou not have done it seeing it is for thy life and health how much rather then when he saith to thee wash and be clean If his commands seem grievous let love sweeten them If his yoke seem heavy let his rest at the end of it render it easie when duties seem burdensom to flesh and blood his burdens heavy losses for the Gospel's sake great think thus better smart once than ever to undergo troubles in the way than at the end to have my bad things here rather than be tormented hereafter Luke 16. 25. and what pains and hardships will men undergo for gold that perisheth 1 Pet. 1. 7. yea for counters that cheat them and shall not I for an inheritance that fadeth not reserved in
better than other Beloveds There 's never a soul that 's married to Christ but hath his time when he makes out some special discoveries of his love and self to it and it can tell some stories of what Christ did once say and do unto her what slights she hath had of him and gifts from him such a soul can tell how when he was dead Christ quickened him when he was lost Christ found him when he was in prison Christ set him free he washed him when in his blood and poured in Oyl into his wounds healed his backslidings and loved him freely He can say with Rebekah to her Brother Laban Thus the man spake to me and shewed the ear-rings and the bracelets Gen. 24. 30. And with Judah brings forth the signet bracelets and staff Gen. 38. 25. and tells with the blind man how Christ opened his eyes and what he said to him Joh. cap. 9. ver 15 35 37. And though by his sin and unbelief he may lose the sight of him for a time and be under a suspense of his discover'd kindness yet if the Believer would be true to his experience he can discover such an acquaintance with Christ as no Hypocrite ever had Answ 2. Secondly Another thing that will prove your marriage to Christ is your conjugal-conjugal-love to him Jer. 2. 2. I remember thee the kindness of thy youth the love of thy espousals when thou wentest after me in the wilderness in a Land not sown The Lord convinceth Israel of the great decay and change of their Love to what it once was there was a time when their affections were high towards God when he call'd them out of Aegypt took them from the Iron-furnace and married them to himself then nothing was too hard for them they could follow God in a wilderness where there was nothing but God alone to satisfie them creatures were wanting to allure them and yet they could stick at nothing no difficulties should part God and them Whence came this warmth of their affection why it was their neerness to God that created them The Lord had taken them into a marriage covenant and carried them in his bosome and this inflamed their hearts after him When the Lord brings a soul into an espousal-state he gives them espousal-espousal-love and that is the greatest love O sweet saith Rutherford were that sickness to be soul-sick for him and a living death it were to die in the fire of the love of that Soul-lover Jesus The Apostle makes this an essential duty of a married state to have conjugal affections The Husband to love his Wife as his own flesh and the Wife to love her own Husband as her self Eph. 5. 28. Tit. 2. 4. And the Prophet reckons this love to God as the certain fruit of their Covenant-relation to him Isa 56. 6. That joyn themselves to the Lord to serve him and to love the Name of the Lord. As soon as Paul had espoused the Lord Jesus it appeared in his supreme love to him he valued none like Christ He counted all things dross and dung for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ his Lord Phil. 3. 8. To be found in him not having his own righteousness v. 9. To know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable to his death v. 10. Conjugal love is a personal love pure love to Christ is set on Christ himself for himself not for his gifts that come from him but for those excellencies that reside in him 't is love to his person not to his patrimony onely 't is love springing from his love 1 Joh. 4. 19. We love him because he first loved us True affections to the Lord Jesus are the births of his own love to us a coal kindled from his fire Conjugal love is also peculiar as well as personal love so far as 't is conjugal 't is to him and none but him or if to others 't is for his sake Espousal love to Christ affects none like him If there be any person or thing thou lovest more than Christ or equal with him thy affections to him are whorish not conjugal He that loveth Father or Mother more than me is not worthy of me He that loveth Son or Daughter more than me is not worthy of me Mat. 10. 37. Yea he that doth not hate Father or Mother or any thing so far as it is inconsistent with love to Christ cannot be his Disciple Luke 14. 26. True love to Christ will let none in all the world share in that love which Christ hath 't will take none into his bed but himself 't is chaste love Again Conjugal-love is not onely to Christ but 't is such a love as longs to be found in Christ not in himself it would have all his glory and excellency in Christ it reckons Christ for all that 's truly honourable as to him it would get as near to Christ as possible yea it never rests till in him To be found in him 'T is also such a love as conforms to Christ Love is of an assimilating spirit it would be like to its peculiar object The affectionate wife conforms as much as may be to her Husband so 't is with the Spouse of Christ she would in every thing that is imitable resemble him and 't is her great trouble she is not more like him what would such a soul give if his heart was like Christ's heart if he had such a spirit and life as the Lord Jesus had on Earth it would be holy as Christ is holy and cannot set up a stand short of that 'T is true the soul hath not such a spirit as Christ had 't is too proud vain carnal passionate earthly selfish and that troubles him but it can never be quiet till he comes nearer to the pattern in Heaven and to a full resemblance of his well-beloved Jesus Answ 3. Thirdly A soul espoused to Christ will leave all for Christ that 's the condition of marriage between Christ and his Bride Psal 45. v. 10 11. Hearken O Daughter and consider and incline thine ear forget also thine own people and thy Father's house so shall the King greatly desire thy beauty for he is thy Lord and worship thou him As if he should say weigh and consider the terms on which this match is to be concluded between Christ and you If you will be his you must leave all for him you must forsake all your other lovers friends interests comforts for Christ so far as these hinder your love to Christ your communion with and serviceableness unto him When the woman comes to be married she leaves her friends Father's house Countrey and all to come and live with him that shall be her Husband Rebekah left her Father Brother Friends and Country to go to Isaac Gen. 24. 58. And they called Rebekah and said unto her wilt thou go with this man and she said I will go That soul that
signification his judgment may see the evidence of the argument and force of reason in them and yet the Commentary on Christ's last Prayer reality and spiritualness of that Divine good never apprehended The world by wisdom knew not God 1 Cor. 1. 21. There 's no proportion between a spiritual object and a caanal eye The carnal mind cannot discern the things of the Spirit of God neither can they know them for they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2. 14. Labour to see the beauty and amiableness of Truth to see your propriety in Truth to taste an inward sweetness and ravishing pleasure in Truth to feel the sense of special love to your souls in discovery of light and to find a mightiness going out in every Truth on your souls changing you into the very Spirit and Image of Truth To grow in knowledge extensively into all Truth and intensively in deeper and more sensible spiritual powerful apprehensions of truth the want of which right knowledge makes so many cold dead hypocrites and barren professours in this day of light and parts Get also your Consciences stor'd with the Peace of God which passeth understanding This is the salt that seasons every thing condition and duty Mark 9. 50. This will shoe your feet to travel through the rough and tiresome waies of affliction temptation and persecution you must meet with in the pursuit of your Heavenly Trade Ephes 6. 15. This will calm your hearts in storms and maintain a Summer within when 't is Winter without and nothing but tempests and troubles in the world John 16. 33. This will preserve you when all is going and keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus Phil. 4. 7. This will guard your hearts from those slavish fears darksom doubts and dreadful troubles that many are filled with this day and make you triumph over sin trample upon the world and smile in the midst of all the frowns of men and Devils O get and keep this rare Jewel of inward Peace which will help you to draw near to God with boldness and chearful serenity in every duty Heb. 10. 22. Get your consciences bath'd in the blood of Christ and the evidences of your sincerity cleared up every day this will help to maintain a feast of inward peace under the temptations of Satan and the view of your daily failings and stumblings Get your hearts warm'd and affections quicken'd with the sense of divine love to your Souls this is a choice part of heavenly treasures and will abundantly conduce to the lively carrying on of this divine Trade affections raised by the application of redemption-grace will be to your Souls as spread sails to the Ship to carry you strongly along against wind and storm and fill you with pleasant gales within and give you a speedy and comfortable passage through the waves of this World 2 Cor. 5. 12. 'T is the Soul's wing that mounts it up towards God and carries it aloft above the entanglements of sin the world and flesh in the warm pursuit of God's commandments 2 Cor. 5. 14. His commands will not be thought grievous or his yoke heavy where this love of God hath left a savour on the heart Psal 119. 32. Rom. 13. 10. It will exceedingly sweeten the bitter waters of Marah to you and make the paths of God's Providences as well as his Precepts pleasantness and peace Take in also the consolations of the Spirit and the joys of the Holy Ghost these will be useful to chear your hearts under tribulation and strengthen and cordial you under heart-faintings and qualms you may meet with from those ill vapours of this lower World and want of creature-comforts 2 Cor. 7. 4. Rom. 15. 4. This spiriturl comfort will also help to drown your carnal joys and to prevent a surfeit with the pleasures of this World another danger that Wisdom's Merchants are sometimes liable to Acts 2. 28. Make me full of joy with the light of thy countenance Spiritual joy where it is fills the heart and leaves no room for carnal delights as the heat of the Sun puts out the fire so will spiritual consolation extinguish carnal joy 'T was the comfort which Moses by Faith fetch'd in from the views of an invisible God that made him choose reproaches with the people of God before the pleasures of sin that were but for a season Heb. 11. 21. 25. This spiritual comfort is a notable way to stability in every good work 2 Thes 2. 16 17. to help on your Souls edification and growth in grace and holiness Acts 9. 31. O! what work have Christians to do besides the World and minding their own things were Religion followed to the purpose persons would have no leisure for sin and vanity O! what need have gracious Souls of a diligent hand to make them rich and to be taking in spiritual goods every day Quest But how should I do to get my Soul furnish'd with these heavenly goods If my heart deceive me not I would fain be enriched with every grace capacity and accomplishment for the discharge of my duty the pleasing honouring and enjoying of God and for the welfare of my immortal Soul But how to attain this longed for mercy I know not Sol. 1. If you would be enriched with heavenly treasures and get in those goods Then 1. First maintain a constant sense of your own wants and emptiness That which is wanting cannot be numbred Eccles 1. 15. Look over your souls every day and see your poverty look into your understandings and see how little light is there into your minds and consider how little spirituality lies there how little warmth and heavenly heat in your affections little truth and sincerity in your spirits little tenderness in your consciences little flexibleness in your wills to divine things little faith love humility meekness fear zeal life strength faithfulness stedfastness in your souls were this really seen and felt and the excellency of these spiritual perfections discern'd and the soul 's great concern and interest that lies wrapt up in them with the absolute necessity of having every grace in order to duty peace comfort prosperity and salvation persons that had any life at all could not lie still or be content till utmost means were us'd to obtain supplies 't was a false conceit of a self-fulness that kept back Laodicea from seeking after Christ's treasures Rev. 3. 17 18. And that blind opinion the Pharisees had of their good estate that so prejudic'd them against the convictions and counsels of Christ towards their cure Joh. 8. 33. 39. 41. 48. Had not the Corinthian Saints been so full and rich in their apprehensions they would not have had such sleighty thoughts of instituted means towards their Souls good 1 Cor. 1. 12. And have been contentious with one another when they should have been contending for higher measures of grace and godliness vers 11. 'T is the poor are the labourers in God's Vineyard Zech. 11. 11.
of debt we cannot merit Fourthly We have nothing to merit withal for we are not our own 1 Cor. 6. 19. Man hath nothing to give to God who is not his own but God's as all redeemed ones especially are Believers are his servants Rom. 14. 4. Who art thou that judgest another man's servant And a servant is not his own his time strength capacity work are his Masters so are the Saints duties the Lord's not by way of legal compact and requital of wages but by way of redemption right and purchase being bought out of the service of sin and Satan to his own use and the service of such is a due already upon a former score a debt of thankfulness and cannot merit a reward Beside what can they give to God who have nothing but what they receive from God 1 Cor. 4. 7. Who hath first given to him and it shall be recompensed to him again for of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory for ever Fifthly Were rewards due to any upon the account of his work then man had something to glory of in himself and might say of Heaven as Nebuchadnezzar did of Babylon Dan. 4. 30. Is not this great Babylon which I have built for the house of the Kingdom by the might of my power and for the honour of my Majesty So might such say when they come to Heaven Is not this the mansion I prepared and deserved by my duties and graces for my glory and blessedness For self-justiciaries though they are forced to say that their grace is given of God yet they boast of the improvements of this grace as theirs and glory is due to the improvement of grace they say and not to the bare grace or talent and though they are driven to confess Christ's merit yet they shuffle and say Christ merited for them that they might merit But that is contrary to the Gospel which tells us That 't is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercy Rom. 9. v. 16. And 't is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure Phil. 2. 13. And that no flesh should glory in his presence 1 Cor. 1. 29. And therefore God hath chosen the foolish weak and base things of this world and things that are not of purpose to prevent this self-glorying before him verse 17 18. And the Apostle makes this reason why Abraham was not justified by Works but by Faith cause then he would have something to glory in but this could not be Rom. 4. 2. If Abraham were justified by works he had something to glory in but not before God So that the Saints though they have a reward of their work yet it is not for their work 't is a reward not of debt but of grace yea of glorious grace according to your work Christians God will not give you a jot less than the utmost of what your love and faithfulness comes to Your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord 1 Cor. 15. 58. He will not fail of any of his Promises or disappoint you of your expected end but will be better than your hopes You will say in that day of compensation Who hath begotten me all these Isa 49. 21. Whence is this to me Luk. 1. v. 43. When saw we thee an hungred Mat. 26. v. 37. Glory is a mighty thing infinitely above all your labours Christians Heaven will make amends for all your duties and losses and abundantly compensate and exceed all your expences for God in the world And have you not reason to set about the work of grace and drive on the employments of this Heavenly Trade Quest But what is this heavenly work which Wisdom's Merchants must be driving on every day Sol. I answer First in the general Heavenly work is that work which hath a heavenly Author and Principle a heavenly rule and a heavenly end work wrought of God by his Spirit Joh. 3. 21. Work done according to the will of God and by Scripture-rule Col. 4. 12. Work wrought for God and designed purely and ultimately to his glory 1 Cor. 10. 31. But more particularly heavenly works may be considered under these two heads First Such as are heavenly in the matter of them as well as manner and end Secondly Such works as though earthly in the matter of them yet are done in a heavenly manner and to an heavenly end First That 's heavenly work which is of a heavenly nature matter and manner and end as all those religious duties are which respect God our selves and others First Drive on that work every day which hath God himself for its first and more immediate object as all acts of religious worship both natural and instituted moral and positive Mat. 4. 10. Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve This is due to God from all his rational and intelligent creatures both Men and Angels to worship him only with that reverential fear faith love hope and delight which is due to him as the Supreme Majesty of Heaven and Earth the great Creator and Conservator of all his creatures and to serve him with that subjection and obedience as their relation to God their Sovereign calls for This is the duty of all persons especially those that profess their owning of God and choice of him to be their God in Christ and peculiar treasure Deut. 13. 6. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God and serve him and swear by his name Christians to let out your hearts upon the world relations self and creatures is to rob God of his service and to commit Idolatry with the creature Think this when my heart runs out to things below God and my affections hope trust and delight get over their banks and break their due bounds and subordinacy to God when I fondly dote upon and take pleasure abstractively from God in any creatures then do I deal treacherously with my God I rob him and give his glory to another Isa 48. 11. O set habitually your hearts on God and let out your faith love hope fear desires and delighting pleasures on God every day yea all the day long as your chiefest good supreme Sovereign and last end Prov. 27. 17. Be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long Again external acts of divine worship are part of thy every days work which thou owest to God and to be duly and daily performed to him as to pray hear and read his sacred word These are that honour homage and service that is due to God every day especially morning and evening Prov. 8. 34. Deut. 6. 7. Exod. 30. 7. 1 Chron. 23. 30. Ezek. 46. 13 14 15. Amos 4. 4. 1 Chron. 16. 40. Psal 55. 17. This is the daily burnt-offering to be prepared for the Lord Exod. 29. 38 39. Morning and evening the vows that are to be daily performed Psal 61. 8. God's
Christian get if he did but follow his victory over his corruptions and not suffer them to recruit and gather strength again Give no rest to thy lusts nor space for reviving no not for a moment but keep up thy warfare every day Sixthly If you would further the death of sin keep up the life of grace As the life of sin weakens grace so the life of grace keeps down and weakens sin Gal. 5. 16. Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh Keep up grace and sin will down As when the house of David waxed stronger the house of Saul waxed weaker 2 Sam. 3. 1. 'T is written of Ephrem Syrus that though he was a man much given to passion in his youth yet after he entered into a strict course of life he was never seen to be angry with any man As you cannot get power over sin but by the Spirit of Grace so you cannot keep the head over sin but by the Life of Grace Get your graces strengthened and you will find your corruptions weakened Thirdly You must carry on Renovation in grace and the inward work of Sanctification every day Ephes 3. 23 24. And be renewed in the spirit of your minds And that ye put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Schol. After the work of Mortification the Apostle presses Christians to this work of Renovation or Internal Holiness be renewed in the spirit of your minds i. e. in your minds by the Holy Spirit the mind being put for the whole man and internal faculties of the soul both understanding will affections and conscience all must be renewed by the Spirit called the New Creature 2 Cor. 5. 17. or Workmanship of Christ transformed after his own Image in righteousness and true holiness and renewed in knowledge Eph. 4. 24. Col. 3. 10. When the soul is truly regenerated there is the stamp or eexmplar of Christ's holiness placed in the whole soul in truth but in weak measures at first which must be renewed or enlarged in the soul till it comes to the fulness of the measure of the stature of Christ Christians at the first change are compar'd to new born babes 2 Pet. 2. 2. weak in grace but under a natural disposition and obligations to growth and encreases in this grace of God both intensively and extensively This is a Christian's duty by divine command and comports with the appointment of God in order to it 2 Pet. 3. v. 18. 1 Pet. 2. 2. Ephes 4. 11 12 13. 'T is the way by which grace becomes glory and is greatly necessary to perfect a soul's holiness that so he might come to his full stature and conformity to Christ Ephes 4. 16. Rom. 8. 29. And by the encreases of grace may be enabled to dispatch all his duties bear his burdens and bear up under his temptations that he might be capable to enjoy all his mercies to glorifie the God of grace and to be made meet for the enjoyment of God in glory On all which accounts it becomes the Christian 's great concern to press after larger measures of grace every day to grow up into him in faith and love who is the head in all things Ephes 4. 15. To grow downward in humility and self-denial to grow extensively in every part of holiness and greater enlargements in every grace to wax stronger and stronger in the grace that is in Christ Jesus Perfecting holiness in the sight of God and pressing more and more after the price of the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus The want of which encreases of the Spirit doth much obscure the glory of Christ in Believers cloud their evidences and render them too weak for their corruptions their growing tryals and duties Christians content not your selves with the truth of grace without daily growth in grace Improve your interest in the Resurrection of Christ by believing for the dailing quickening of your hearts and raising of your affections to things above and attracting your desires and whole souls after God grace and glory Be much in internal soul-work of heart searching soul watching divine contemplation secret ejaculations and soul breathings after God and higher manifestations of his light life and love Be constant in every appointment of God publick and private of prayer reading hearing holy conference that you may get nourishment thereby administred to your souls Get under all the dews and showres of grace for your fruitfulness Be spiritual as well as frequent in exercising grace under the means of Grace without this you cannot serve God acceptably Heb. 12. 28. or receive from him who is the head nourishment to your souls but by these bands and joynts of faith and love Col. 2. 19. Formality eats out that sap which should make you green and flourishing A dead cold heart under the Word can no more digest it to nutriment than a dead body can concoct natural food Maintain hungring desires after the word of grace and appointed means to your spiritual growth 1 Pet. 2. 3. Hungring after food argues a good digestion and a sound concoction furthers nourishment Keep up warm affection to every way of God living on Christ for all the good and blessing of them Psal 84. 5. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee in whose heart are the ways of them who passing through the Valley of Baca make it a Well the rain also filleth the Pools they go from strength to strength every one in Sion appearing before God When Jehoshaphat's heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord 't is said he waxed great exceedingly 2 Chron. 17. 6. 12. Heart-enlargement in the ways of God is a notable help to soul-thrivings Take this one thing more be poor in spirit if you would be rich in grace Such are under the promise of being satisfied of being guided in judgment of encreasing their joy to such he will give grace and revivings Humble souls a Reyner Excellency of Grace saith one are empty vessels which God will fill are low plants which God will make to grow To be nothing in our own eyes is the way to receive all good things even grace in abundance from God Psal 22. 26. and 25. 9. Isa 29. 19. Prov. 3. 34. Isa 57. 15. Fourthly To keep your evidences for Heaven fair and legible is another part of your Salvation-work this will abundantly comfort you under all your tribulations quicken you to a lively dispatch of your duties give you a humble boldness in your approaches to God arm you against the fears of death and administer to you an abundant entrance into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Beware of quenching and grieving the Spirit of grace by which its sealing-work is hindered Take heed of laying blots upon your evidences by any allowed iniquity in your hearts or unpurged defilement in your hands which will weaken
in this heavenly Trade Religion is much advanc'd by a spiritual improvement of mens talk and converses this way did the searers of God keep alive Religion in evil times when other helps were wanting Mal. 3. 16. Prov. 10. 21. By this souls come to be fed and nourished in their holy Faith 1 Tim. 4. 6. A great deal of good or hurt comes by mens discourses O the mischief Christians do to each other by their vain carnal and earthly communications when they come together Evil communications corrupt good manners 1 Cor. 15. 33. Whose word doth eat as doth a canker 2 Tim. 2. 17. This way does Satan put off much of his wares even by Wisdom's Merchants making them to weaken cool deaden and corrupt one anothers spirits stir up feed and strengthen each others corruptions become temptations and provocations to one another to sin by their sinful corruptions 'T is sad to think how the work of God ceases and the work of Satan prospers this way Persons come warm sometimes from a Sermon and are soon cool'd by impertinent and vain discourses come from secret duty when their hearts are quickned and raised and presently deadned again by spirit-quenching discourses O how many labours of the Saints and Servants of Christ and how many strivings of the Spirit are overturned and come to nothing by vain and rotten discourses no wonder the Apostle tells us The tongue is a fire a world of iniquity it defileth the whole body and setteth on fire the course of nature and is set on fire of hell Jam. 3. 6. Through the organ of an unsanctified tongue doth Satan shoot his fire-balls of temptation into the hearts of hearers are you afraid of that fire which burns down your houses beware of that fire that burns down souls to hell 'T is no small part of a Christian's wisdom to speak a word in season and to order as his conversation so his converses to edification When the Apostle presses the Ephesians to wisdom Eph. 5. 17. the next thing he advises to is holy conference ver 19. by mens language are they known of what Countrey they are so are persons discover'd whether Citizens of Heaven or the World by their ordinary and desir'd language 'T is said of Augustine he went not so willingly to a feast as to a conference to reduce any that erred He that is of the Earth is earthly and speaketh of the earth he that cometh from Heaven is above all and what he hath seen and heard that he testifieth Joh. 3. 31. He will be speaking of heavenly things which he learnt of God A good man out of the abundance of his heart bringeth out good things for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh The tongue is but the index and bucket of the heart that tells men what things are within and draws out of those deeps to others men use to find out what metals are hid in the earth by the colour of the sand which the waters wash away from the mountains if the streams be low the spring is weak an empty heart yields empty discourses By your words you shall be justified or condemned The tongue of the just is as choice silver Prov. 10. 20. in that it is enriching to those that are near it The tongue of the wise is health Prov. 12. 18. It sendeth out sound and wholsome words to the strengthning of hearers 't is said of the Spouse that her lips did drop as the honey-comb honey and milk are under her tongue Cant. 4. 11. And the roof of her mouth like the best Wine that goeth down sweetly causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak Cant. 7. 9. This doubtless is one reason of the little thrivings of Christians in communion this day 't is from their barren and carnal communications this starves Religion both in thy own soul and in those thou conversest with 't is not maintained by gracious converses and soul-edifying discourses Christians lay this to heart how can you bear the charge of all that decay in godliness this day upon your non-improvement of this part of your heavenly Trade Lastly Then do you carry on the heavenly Trade when you improve every thing to heavenly advantages getting good from every thing you meet with do or enjoy 'T is so in earthly Trades all men seek their gain from their quarters Isa 56. 11. endeavour to turn every thing to some profit And so should heavenly Traders be getting some spiritual good from every thing that comes under their hand and in their way if ever they intend to thrive this comports with the great design of God in all his administrations to his people which is to do them good Who fed thee in the Wilderness with Manna which thy Fathers knew not that he might humble thee and that he might prove thee to do thee good at the latter end Deut. 8. 16. To this end are his providences directed The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him Ezra 8. 22. And this leads to the accomplishment of the promises towards Believers I will set mine eyes upon them for good Jer. 24. 6. I will not turn away from them to do them good Jer. 32. 40. All their occurrences are brought under a promise of working for good All things the best and worst things of providence shall work for good to them that love God Rom. 8. 28. And why is this but that gracious souls should be expecting good from every thing every affliction as well as mercy that doth befall them and be comporting in all their capacities with this design of God by an improvement of all to this great end of soul-advantage What more good O Lord was the usual saying of a godly man when the Lord brought any new affliction upon him with which he was much exercised and from which he ever got some spiritual advantage For this end are gracious souls made capable to use their mercies to bear and improve their afflictions to some spiritual good they have a principle of grace planted in their hearts and of divine light into their minds and have received rules and instructions of purpose that they might be able to reach this end They are made men of wisdom for this end that they might hear God in affliction Mic. 6. 9. and see God in mercies and are skill'd in divine Chymistry that they might extract the spirit of providences and good of every condition duty and mercy 'T was said of pious Mr. Dod that he used to turn Earth into Heaven by a wise and spiritual improvement of all earthly affairs A blessed metamorphosis and an argument of excellent skill and high attainment in this heavenly Trade to turn Copper and Brass into Gold and to convert every thing the worst things to some good This Christians is your priviledg duty and interest so to manage every affair condition occurrence and experience as to help on your soul-enrichings There
that strive with him shall perish there is no contending with God bow we must or break return or be ruined Wash ye make ye clean put away the evil of your doings Isa 1. 16. Get washt away your blood by sound Repentance get into Christ's blood by saving Faith set upon a thorough reformation personal family publick each one in his place help to carry out the uncleanness of thy heart hand house and land to the Brook Kidron 2 Chron. 29. 16. Get tradingsins removed if you would have trading mercies enjoy'd Take every man his Censer and stand in the gap pour out strong cries for returning-mercy that the Lord would cease from his fierce wrath and turn again and heal our Land and bless our substance accept the work of our hand and dwell in our Land Counsel 5. Fifthly Get advantage from decaies in your Earthly Trade to further your Heavenly Trade gather materials from your earthly ruines for your heavenly building Christians there 's a great deal of good you may get from these evil things in the world to quicken your pursuit after the things of Heaven First By your earthly losses you may be convinced of the vanity and uncertainty of all things below God Men are apt to take up too much pleasure in their booths till God sends a devouring worm and consumes them and to sit down under their shadows with great delight and therefore doth God make them like shadows to fly away what expectations do men raise from their swelling-comforts thinking their mountains are made so strong they shall not be moved till the Lord by some levelling providence soon corrects their fond opinion and what dependencies do we usually take up on those uncertainties leaning so hard on our reeds till they break under us and send splinters into the arm which staies upon them O the contentment pleasure profit men fancy to be in creatures friends relations honours estates before by some killing stroak they see themselves to be deceived What mercy is it then to meet with disappointments in these groundless hopes that we may come to see before it be too late what poor empty perishing things all the wares of this lower world are This way David came to have his errour seasonably corrected And Solomon by a serious review of past enjoyments comes to see that all was vanity and vexation of spirit Eccles 2. 1. Surely every man walketh in a vain shew they are disquieted in vain he heapeth up riches and knoweth not who shall gather them Psal 39. 6. Secondly Divine rebukes on mens earthly interests help them to a discovery of those sins that procure them Deut. 31. 17. Afflictions are Christ's clay and spittle to open his peoples eyes and to bring them to see those evils that have brought those deaths upon their comforts and breed those worms that have destroyed their substance Times of correction are times of instruction Job 36. 8 9. When Jacob's Sons were cut short of their provisions reduced to great distress and plunged in sore dangers then they thought upon their sin and wrong done to their brother Joseph Gen. 42. 21. Then they said one to another verily we are guilty concerning our brother in that we saw the anguish of his soul when he besought us and would not hear therefore is this distress come upon us Whence one hath this note Affliction is a dark condition yet it brings much light into the soul Men come to read their miscarriages best by the fire-light of affliction then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God 2 Chron. 33. 13. Now the soul comes to see his abuse of these mercies he hath lost his inordinate love to them and wandrings from God and this helps to after-wisdom and greater freedom from these entanglements for the time to come which is no small advantage to future godliness Thirdly By this loss of earthly things the soul comes to see a necessity of looking after and ensuring better treasures Heb. 13. 14. Here have we no continuing City but we seek one that is to come Uncertainties on Earth should put souls the more to look after Heaven The Prodigal never thought of returning till all was gone Luke 15. 14. to verse 18. The Steward never considered how to secure his future state till goods were wasted and Stewardship in danger of removal Luke 16. 1 2 3 4. Think of swiming ashore said Mr. Rutherford after a shipwrack 'T is a mercy in this stormy Sea to get a second wind for none of the Saints get a first This is advantage indeed when having nothing you seek to enjoy all things and when the world flies from you to pursue Heaven the faster Could a Heathen say I never gain'd mere than when I lost all because his shipwrack became the occasion of obtaining knowledge and will not you Christians by your earthly losses be provoked to make after heavenly interests Fourthly Losses in the world have an advantage through grace to loosen the heart from the world Afflictions on mens estates are like wormwood on the breast that tends to wean the hearts of God's children from them Love of the world hath been the sin of this Age and the shipwrack of worldly things is the likeliest way to cure it this disease is best conquered by fasting Absence of Lovers is sometimes the way to starve affections and poverty with distress is God's usual method to chastise mens wanton affections to this world Afflictions when sanctified are Sanctuary-fire to purge away the dross of our affections Mal. 3. 3. 5ly Soul-enlargement is another fruit of sanctified straits and so a help to the heavenly trade Christians are never fit to make any speed in the way to Heaven until their hearts be enlarged Psal 119. 32. Enlargements in the world are oft-times bonds to the soul He that hath most of the Earth hath usually least liberty for Heaven When the Lord cuts short the interest of his people he doth but knock off golden fetters from their feet that he may bring their soul out of prison Afflicting Providences are God's dieting his racers that they may be more long-breath'd and swift in their run towards glory O how imprison'd are redeemed souls in the many things of this world they cannot have time to pray read hear confer for the entangling-affairs of this life till God by some deaths upon their employments sets them at liberty Removes of worldly treasures are but the taking off of a heavy cloak-bag from the shoulders of Sion's Travellers that they may the more comfortably travel to their journeys end Good souls whiles crouded with earthly businesses are like persons in the midst of a thicket and thorny grove when they would be going forward one briar hangs in their skirts and another thorn stops their way so that when God takes off their interests he doth but cut out a way for his children to pass the more comfortably and swiftly through the brakes of this world and lighten the vessel that it
might sail faster and safer to its designed port and is not this advantage Sixthly Sweeter relishes of heavenly things are to Believers the blessed issues of the world's bitterness Harsh Providences on earthly comforts make heavenly things the more pleasant Men sometimes engraff sweet fruit on crab-treestocks and God gives honey to his children at the top of the rod Psal 94. 19. The thorn is one of the most cursed and angry and crabbed weeds and yet out of it springs the Rose Rutherford The sweet-meats of this world do too often put Christians pallats out of taste to cure which doth the Lord dish out his daintiest meat with sowre sauce Heavenly things never relish better than when there is less sweetness in the creature What a value did David put upon spiritual things when stript of all Psal 63. 1. Gospel-comforts will not down with such as are choak'd with the world's delicacies but when once the Saints are emptied of the world by cross providences then is Christ precius is not this a help to Heavenly Traders O then the more crosses you meet with in the world the more haste do you make to your Crown Doth the world fly from you pursue Heaven the faster Doth gain fall then advance godliness And if your gettings from Earth be small let your layings out for Heaven be great And thus much for the third Branch of Exhortation 4th Advice to such as are fallen back in Religion Fourthly A word to such as have begun this Heavenly Trade and are fallen back This is the case of some and may be of more in this hour of Temptation and Apostasie There are some have begun in the Spirit and are now ending in the flesh who have made a fair shew seem'd to be somewhat and like blazing comets drew the eyes of admirers on them for a time and then fell down to the Earth Some that have left the very form others that have lost the power and life of godliness Many have laid down their Lamp but more have spent their Oil and are almost come to a snuff Some have shut up shop are quite gone and have taken their leave of Religion resolving to return no more unless safety credit and interest return with them Others yet stay keep open shop but have little goods decay daily and are upon the breaking hand a waste is on their interests they have lost their first love decay'd in spirituals faith hope love zeal delight in God and liveliness for him are quite lost as hath been demonstrated in the use of Lamentation The design of this head is only to offer some advice towards the recovery of decayed broken Traders In which as hitherto for better illustration I shall keep to the metaphor in the Text. Advice 1. My first Advice to such in order to their recovery is to be deeply affected with their evil case First Consider 't is no small change for a person that hath lived well been in reputation with God and men fared deliciously been used to the dainties of God's house and delicacies of his love have tasted the heavenly gift and the powers of the world to come now to be brought to penury and scarce meet with a sweet morsel from day to day to be put off with husks and dry bones and the crumbs that fall from their Lord's Table to stand at his door or to wait without for some scraps when the friends of Christ and Wisdom's thriving Merchants have their marrow and fat things this is a great change For such as were wont to have a place amongst them that stand by to converse with the Father of Spirits to be let into the Presence chamber and have the visits of the Comforter and spiritual fellowship of Saints Now to be laid aside and scarcely look'd upon with a divine glance from day to day no entercourse with God or fellowship with the Spirit from one Lord's day to another but to be only company for formalists and hypocrites and such as are without this is a great change O get thy heart deeply affected with it Secondly Think also how unlovely offensive and displeasing an object in the eyes of God a withered decayed Professor is his soul takes no pleasure in him Heb. 10. 38. He doth not care for the company of such they are a burden to him he loves no more to see them than men do dead corps in their houses and rotten trees in their garden he bethinks the place they stand in as cumbring the ground Luke 13. 7. he counts them unworthy of the Kingdom of God having put their hand to the Plough and then look back Luke 6. 62. Nothing more troubles his soul than a lukewarm temper that was once burning in love but now is neither hot nor cold such ride on the stomach of Christ and make him down-right sick till he hath vomited them out into the dunghill from whence they came and is not this matter of trouble to a sensible heart Rev. 3. 16. Thirdly Such have little desirableness in the eyes of men also Who cares to deal with broken Merchants or keep company with spend-thrifts that have wasted their estates and are come to nothing no more do gracious souls care for converse with backsliders Decayed Professors are like broken vessels in whom there is no pleasure and as a withered hand or broken bone in the body which hath lost both its usefulness and beauty A broken Trader in Religion is valued by none the men of the world cannot endure him because he hath been seemingly godly and Saints cannot love him because he is not really gracious Such like Absolom when hung by the hair lye between Heaven and Earth as unworthy of either and as a person held in a strait passage cannot go forward nor backward he cannot go far enough to keep pace with the prophane nor go back to fill up his place with the pious the Saints reject him the wicked will not receive him In such a pitiful case is a withered decayed soul he hath no comeliness in him for which he should be desired Fourthly They are the greatest losers of any who break in Religion for they not onely lose their own goods but others also their talents graces priviledges and experiences are their Lord's goods which they have wasted in riotous living they lose what they once had what they seemed to have or were fair for and they lose what they hope to have Luke 16. 1. Mat. 25. 29. 2 Epist Joh. v. 8. Gal. 3. 4. All their enjoyments tastes comforts frames experiences are lost All their profession faith love conscience are shipwrackt All their duties labours sufferings come to nothing if they are not recovered again to repentance Here men estimate their losses to be great from the quality variety or abundance of the things they lose all which are yet but temporal but the Treasures that Professors are in chase of and which they shall surely have if they be sincere and faithful to
number in the Greek In skilfulnesses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 noting the great measure of wisdom which men need who would prosper in their proper work and order their administrations prudently as might most further their spiritual welfare The want of which wisdom and prudence in Christians to order every thing they do in their general and particular Callings converses conditions and occurrences in the World to the best advantage of their souls is one reason they thrive so little in their heavenly Trade Wisdom would teach men to prevent many snares and occasions of evil and instruct them how to get good from every thing they do which would much advance their soul-profiting for want of which they go back in spirituals and decay apace Thirdly This also casts back Traders when they are not diligent in the management of their Trade A slothful soul suffers hunger Prov. 19. 15. and by much sloth the building decays and through idleness of hand the house droppeth thorough Eccles 8. 10. They that will thrive in the World must be diligent take all opportunities to carry on their work The diligent hand maketh rich but by slothfulness men are brought to a morsel of bread So 't is in Religion when men let down their work and do not follow it to purpose they soon decay and become spiritually poor this is the bane of many this day Religion is not their business men do but little on the Lord's day and scarce a stroke of work is done all the week after hear they will and when that is done their work is done too never think of what they hear or put it to practice from one Lord's day to another All the week their heads hearts hands feet time strength discourses contrivances are wholly taken up about the World and how can they choose but go down the hill and waste away in their soul-interests Religion is one continued work which allows of no intermission but hath its work every day and in every thing break but one link of this golden chain of godliness and it weakens the whole O the slothfulness of Christians at this day in their soul-businesses every day is fill'd up with neglects neglect of prayer neglect of reading meditation conference heart-watching grace-cherishing-work forget this duty pass by another cold sleighty formal in all this spoils the prosperity of souls The Galatians began well but did not hold out they were soon weary Gal. 5. 7. Most mens journey to Heaven is full of stops and that which makes it most miserable their lets are of themselves Who hath hindred you Mens stays are within in their own hearts they have no heart to do good Hos 7. 11. Love to Religion is almost gone and this makes men weary in these pleasant ways while affections hold souls are never weary but when the heart is gone then every thing is a burden such will do no more than needs they must to quiet conscience and preserve peace and credit and this starves godliness Fourthly Great and frequent losses in mens Trades tend to breaking and so it is in Religion Christians through their sloth formality and unwatchfulness sustain many and great losses of spiritual mercies and this brings them low A Christian the other day it may be had his graces flourishing his heart warm his affections quick and lively his conscience pure and tender his will flexible and fix'd on God and things spiritual 2 Ep. Joh. 8. and a good frame throughout his whole soul but now through his carelesness all is lost again Gal. 3. 4. One time he loses the favour and comfortable presence of God Psal 51. 12. another time he loses a sweet serenity of spirit and peace with God then light and convictions are gone another time enjoyments and experiences are gone now his desires after God are lost then his strength is devoured now temptations prey upon the soul and then corruptions make a waste upon it come to Ordinances Sermons Sacraments and after a great deal of prayer care and striving a little grace and comfort is obtain'd but through want of watchfulness all lost again it may be before it stirs out of the place or recovers home to his habitation the next company discourse occasion takes away all Another time God brings the soul into the fire of some great affliction sickness suffering losses and there melts it into some holy frames humility faith love obedience takes off some dross puts on some beauty imparts some soul-advantage but immediately upon a change of the person's condition when new mercy health and comfort returns all the good is lost again Now through these many and great losses in spirituals which gracious souls sustain they are brought very low and come to be soon poor and beggerly Fifthly Great wastes and large expences help to make Traders poor apace when they turn spendthrifts and prodigals living above their estates when their layings out are more than their comings in this must needs bring them low It undid the Steward He wasted his Masters goods Luke 16. 1. So 't is with Wisdom's Merchants also when they turn prodigals of their graces mercies parts strength time and other goods committed to them spending them on their lusts and carnal contentments then they soon find an alteration O at what a rate do men live in point of time and at what vast expences of their short day upon things of no value talking eating drinking sleeping trifling sinning away their precious time as if they had no employment for it or no better work to do Little do souls think what a small pittance of day-light they have allow'd for their vast concerns and multitude of great employments and what madness 't is to be so prodigal of this little inch of precious time O the hours and days and years that professing Christians spend to no purpose in vain thoughts foolish talking impertinent converses unprofitable duties and labours which when they shall be all reckon'd up by the great Creditor and a bill of wastes put into the hands of conscience and the total summ of these expences read what amazing sense what dreadful impress and fretful sting will this beget when persons come to die As the Queen said If her heart were ript open Cales would be found written in it So if their hearts could then be as legible as their expressions men might read this there in black and capital letters Lost time Lost time How great also are mens wastes of graces and peace wisdom and capacities and all for the obtaining of some poor empty insignificant comforts which perish with the using There are no locusts Christians like your cursed lusts which have devoured your precious things your affections time strength and graces what convictions resolutions hopeful frames conscience-tenderness talents capacities priviledges ordinances providences have the service of thy base lusts and contentment of thy carnal mind consumed and this hath brought thy soul to such straits and distressing exigencies When souls
when you meet with company what goods do you put off to them Do you labour in every society to vend something of heavenly wares to put off some holy counsel and instruction some gracious experience and observation to leave something behind you in every place and company you come that may fasten a savour of God on them then is it good Trading and you are in a soul-thriving way Thirdly Men count it good Trading when they are richer in stock when they have more goods more variety greater quantity of wares than first they had and that clear too and paid for their shops and warehouses are fuller than they were and the goods their own also this men reckon good Trading And can you say 't is thus with your souls also Are you increased with spiritual goods your graces are more as well as gifts your faith love hope fear are more grown and stronger than they were 2 Thes 1. 3. Can you trust God more than you could and hang upon a naked promise more strongly than you could when sight fails 2 Cor. 5. 7. Can you think well of God when he frowns upon you Can you love him when he corrects you Isa 39. 8 Can you stay on him when he strips you of your visible comforts and cleave to him when he seems to reject you Job 13. v. 15. Then are you richer in stock Is your Faith more cleansing and quickening your Love more warming your Zeal more fervent your Hope more adventurous your Patience more bearing your Joy more delighting your Humility more self-abasing then are you encreased with goods Have you more of every grace it may be at first you had much affection but little sincerity great desires but little faith much comfort but little patience and self-denial you could pray talk rejoyce do some duties but could not bear trials want comforts live by faith when sight failed you were much it may be in some duties but negligent in others but now you have more variety of graces enlargement in duties and more universal respect to all God's commands Psal 119. 6. And if you are less in the bulk of duty you are more in the spirit of it when 't is thus there 's a thriving Trade in Christianity Fourthly Are you less in debt than you were that 's another sign of good Trading Do you make conscience of rendring to God again for all his benefits Psal 116. 12 13. Is it your trouble when you are behind-hand with grace and fall in arreer to the mercy of God by your unthankfulness Dan. 9. 10. Indeed in compensation of the grace of God you are defective to make requitals of mercies you cannot you see possibly an infinite shortness in your performances of the meanest favour that the Lord bestows upon you but such as you have you give to the Lord you render all possible praises though not all praises due Exod. 15. 2. This you are careful of and charge upon your hearts every day to walk as becometh the grace that brings salvation and the mercies bestowed on you 't is the desire of your heart and labour to walk worthy of God to all well-pleasing and to answer the end of mercy in which you are willing beyond your ability and grieve at your falling short herein Now this doth the Lord count for the deed and accept at his peoples hands as full pay through the satisfaction of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 8. 12. And where 't is thus that persons live in the daily sense of Divine Grace and grateful acknowledgment of every mercy there is a thriving Trade in spirituals Fifthly Have you much owed you and is it secure This also bespeaks a thriving Trade Men count sure debts as good as ready money though they have little in bags yet if they have the more in book and good debt too they rate themselves accordingly and reckon themselves worth so much as is due as well as to what is in hand And is it so with you Christians are you rich in promises is much coming to you upon a new-covenant score It may be you have little in hand little comfort peace and sweetness you meet with from day to day You sow much but reap little you ask but have not and yet seek with your whole heart Goods are received but no money returned if so you have good grounds of hope for a plentiful harvest because you sow store of good seed are much in holy duties and sincere in them many a prayer upon the file many a tear droped into God's bottle much grace laid out in duty and time spent in it a daily care to please God and upon Scripture-grounds can lay claim to many a promise on the account of Christ What you sow you shall reap Gal. 6. 8. Your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord 2 Cor. 15. v. 58. Say unto the righteous it shall be well with them for they shall eat the fruit of their doings Isa 3. 10. And the less is received the more is behind Improvements of grace do book down many a mercy for Believers which possibly they may not receive all their life and yet be sure and turns to account in the Inheritance prepared for them and this is good Trading which brings in bonds and bills that are sure and shall be paid to Heavenly Traders in their own Countrey Sixthly That 's good Trading where the present incomes maintain the Trader and so much is got by it as they may live by when a person can live comfortably upon his gettings without impairing the stock If it be so with the Believer in thy Heavenly Trade then hast thou good Trading Try Christians your thriving by your livelihood can you live comfortably upon the fruits of Religion Cant. 2. 3. Isa 40. 31. doth your Religion maintain your Souls and Graces well Joh. 4. 30. at what rate do you live Men that thrive in the world usually live well have good fare and good cloathing Diet Apparel Expences do soon shew mens gettings Indeed Prodigals may spend high live well for a time but then they cannot hold it they soon break but when men can bear liberal expences and their Estates not impaired it argues such do thrive apace and get well in their Trades so 't is with thriving Christians they ordinarily live at a higher rate of peace and comfort than others Ps 119. 165. Ps 80. 19. their fare is better unless the health of their Souls do sometimes call to fasting and affliction strong Christians overcoming Souls have better Provisions promis'd them than others such feed on hidden Manna Rev. 2. 17. and marrowy bits milk is for babes but strong meat for strong men Prov. 21. 15. 'T is joy to the just to do judgment Joy and Pleasure saith Mercer is the fruit of wel-doing to such h Laetitia obvenit ci ex juste factis suis Such can expend more than others who have larger proportion of Blessings on their Souls A person