those that loue him 2.5 he giues not the Crowne only but the Kingdome too How should not we render the Lord his due in performing our dutie for the dignitie of it which he so highly esteemeth so readily approueth and so manifoldly recompenceth with temporall spirituall and eternall blessings but seeing loue is the ground of all which is conferred from God on vs and the substance of all that is owing from vs to God let vs first see the meanes whereby it may be obtained or continued and the markes wherby it is discerned In respect of the meanes whereby it is obtained or continued we must be either passiue or actiue Passiue in the hearts purity for vpon that condition will this grace enter and without cleansing no expecting it as a Companion therefore Hee that was faithfull in all Gods house Heb. 3.2 promising from the Lord that he will circumcise his peoples hearts adds withall the end of that circumcising that thou maist loue the Lord thy God Deut. 30.6 as if there could be no louing of the Lord where there was no circumcising of the heart and indeed onely then will this loue bee entertained when our hearts are purified For the loue of God is a fire and abhors vnfitting fewell which may either cause smoke to offend the eies or stench to distaste the smell of God and at last extinguisheth it selfe and therefore as Noahs Doue would not set one foot vpon the muddy earth nor any Doue will delight in a foule cottage as no Lion will frequent any putrified haunt nor the Turtle pearke vpon a barren tree so neither will this grace partaking of the spirits qualities from whence it comes as the water tasteth of the fountaine from whence it floweth take footing or can delight in a corrupted conscience nor seeing it is neere allied to the Lion of the Tribe of Iuda deigne to harbour in a polluted heart nor being the Lords truest Turtle sit vpon or seat it selfe in that man whose minde is destitute of holy meditations Meditate then for you must be actiue on the vngodlies deficiency this graces excellencies and the Lords mercies Meditate vpon that wofull yet assured prediction of our Sauiour Mat. 24.12 that the loue of many shall wax colde and it will bee a cocke to awake thy sleeping conscience a goade to pricke thee forward to feruent prayers lest thou shouldst bee one of them that must be tainted with so great a sinne Meditate of the graces excellency in the quality efficacie and extension and that will be as a fire to enflame and as a fewell to continue thy desire vnto it For in the Quality what grace more honourable in the efficacie what grace more powerfull 1 John 4.8 in the extension what grace more large more lasting remember then how of all graces this is graced with the greatest name as most participating of the diuinest nature Remember how of all graces this is most preuailing Rom. 8.28 seeing all things though in neuer such an Antipathy and contention among themselues yet as vnited forces must worke together for the good of those that loue him Remember that howeuer the eye may see much the eare heare more and the heart conceiue more than either the eie can see or the eare can heare yet The things which eie hath not seene 1 Cor. 2.9 eare hath not heard neither came into mans heart hath God prepared for those that loue him Remember how of all graces this is most large most lasting 13.13 Faith shall cease vpon fruition hope end vpon possession loue only continue all the time of our eternall happinesse Faith is onely for the present Hope for the future Loue both for the past present and the time to come Faith is locked within a mans owne brest hope helpeth not anothers heart onely by Loue as by the Sunne both the Sphere where it is placed is enlightned and another place vnto which it diffuseth the rayes is warmed Lastly meditate on Gods great mercies in his promises prouidence performances and they cannot but beget a liking which ere long will be seconded with a zealous louing of his Maiestie Thinke how there is no crowne so rich as that which he promiseth no ioyes so rare as those which he prepareth no kingdome so large as that which he intendeth no society so louely as that which hee purposeth to them which loue him thinke how readily he hath enclined his eares and heard thy cries how cheerefully hee hath opened his mouth and comforted thine heart how louingly hee hath stretched out his arme and remoued thy dangers how freely he hath filled his hand and enriched thy soule Thus the purifying of thy heart meditating on the vngodlies deficiency this graces excellency and the Lords mercy will by the assistance of his gracious spirit wrought with faithfull and vnfained praiers lodge his loue in thy heart where if it be lodged by two markes it may be discerned For loue begetteth first a desire of Communion secondly a similitude of affection Our Communion with the blessed Trinity is twofold either Corporall or Spirituall this is to be had heere that to be enioyed hereafter both to be desired euer for they that truly and sincerely loue Christ Iesus they will long for his comming and thirst for his last appearing Loue is such a linke as it cannot lacke the Vnion nay communion with the partie loued Loue is such a fire in the heart of Saint Paul that it flames out at his mouth and manifests the desires of his soule Phil. 1.23 euen to be dissolued and to be with Christ and as a violent fire which keepeth within no bounds but being driuen with the winde of Gods spirit sparkles out the wishes of the whole Church as if it were the words but of one bride calling for the company of her spouse Come Lord Iesus come quickly Reu. 22.20 Feruency admits no deferring and earnest desires endure no delaies especially where perfection compassion and mercy shall vpon their meeting giue a full end to all imperfection wants and miseries A Christian soule well considering this absolute and happy communion hauing one only sparke of affection and one onely dragme of loue must needs desire it Nothing surely nothing can hold it from flying by the wings of feruent prayer and entring heauens palace nothing can quench the flame of it the fire being as strong as death or hinder its burning aboue the clouds till the affections of the Churches Spouse which seeme to bee frozen in that he comes not at her call be so warmed within him as he may be moued to descend that they meeting him in the clouds may behold his corporall countenance which because they cannot yet enioy doe manifest the truth and sincerity of their loue to him so long as it is his pleasure to detaine the former the affectioned soule delighteth here in nothing more than in a spirituall societie with him which often to earthly
strange affectioned wife or friend who can bee well content the one to maintaine her husbands credit the other his friends estimation and both embrace his profitable counsels and performe his pleasure because either their owne dignity and good is continued or distaste and disquiet preuented but can least endure that childe in whom appeares most the fathers image or that friend who is most respected and therefore that soule whose loue is wholly fixed vpon the Lord will loue his Church which is his vineyard planted by his owne right hand garded by his Angels guided by his wisdome the flourishing whereof he greatly affecteth and they who loue him are delighted in it whether ioyntly or seuerally considered In euery particular member of it loue wee the graces that appeare in them loue we them for the graces which are signes and testimonies of Gods fauour towards them We can haue no better testimony no better token of our loue to God no surer marke of our saluation for if we loue him who by his eternall spirit did beget them to be heires of glory 1 John 3.14 we cannot but loue them who are begotten and are children of grace a signe not to bee neglected for hereby wee know that we are translated from death to life because we loue the brethren 5.13 Is thy affection rather lessened then encreased to a Christian because he is a Christian Matth. 10. Doth his loue to the word his delight in good workes his distaste of wickednesse imbitter thy minde against him Can he loue the father who loathes the dutifulnesse of the sonne or honour the Soueraigne who harbours dislike of the subiects loyaltie Christ will proclaime against them howsoeuer they soothe now themselues at that great day in that they loued not his little ones Mat. 10.42 they had no delight in him For the Church ioyntly is it ioy to thy soule to heare improue the prosperity of it to perceiue and procure the propagation of the Gospell in it And dost thou with Paul in the midst of thy bonds and imprisonments for ioy forget the sorrowes of thy afflictions at the report of Christ and his Gospels proceeding then art thou with the Lord alike affectioned Contrarily art thou with Nehemiah for thy outward state without all cause of sorrowing liuing in soft rayment and faring deliciously in Artaxerxes Court yet art in countenance sad art thou not sicke yet weepes and mournes when thou hearest of the distresse of Ierusalem or with Vriah wilt thou lodge with the kings seruants and not goe downe to thine owne house because the Arke of the Lord is in hazard Art thou strooke as the wife of Phinees with sorrow with a deadly sorrow hearing the glory to bee departed from Israel Dost thou in a word Preferre Ierusalem to thy chiefest ioy The Lord will not forget thy loue when he will neglect those who are so glued to the profits and pleasures of this life that so they may haue the flesh-pots of Aegypt and the plenty of Sodome care not which way Religion goeth harken lesse to the well-fare of the Church then to those things which are done in a strange Land They solemnise the feasts of Bacchus as the greatest godhead present their offrings and enrich the Altar of Aesculapius as a Diety They honour Pluto as a diuine power and so they may liue in any aire can turne to any Religion neither meditating on Gods mercy which would moue a desire in them to delight in and be affected with what he loueth nor pondering his Iustice which would beget a feare of his Maiesty as it did the Prophet Dauid as of himselfe he testifieth My flesh trembleth for feare of thee Psal 119.120 and I am afraid of thy iudgements Doth Dauid deepely interested in the Lords euerlalasting loue by Couenant neuer to bee cancelled tremble and are we loded with sinne lulled in the Cradle of stupidity Is he a man after Gods owne heart afraid of his iudgements and are not we branded with impiety abashed at the contemplation and sight of his Iustice Oh feare the Lord all yee his Saints for your soules obseruing Iustice become the banquetting house of the blessed Trinity Get the feare of the Lord it is a faithfull Porter Your soules are either already sicke or subiect to diseases seeke for the feare of the Lord it is a skilfull Physician Your soules are as Ships in danger to be tossed in tempestuous seas be fastned to the feare of the Lord it is an assured Anchor Haue you entertained disloyall thoughts or attempted any rebellious enterprise and are afraid to approach the Throne of grace to pleade your pardon Call for the feare of God it is a powerfull Aduocate Are you trauelling in the Wildernesse of this world replenished with many by-paths doubtfull which way to take Take for your companion the feare of the Lord it is a faithfull Counsellour Are you enuironed in the midst of many enemies guard you with the feare of the Lord it is a carefull Centinell Haue you entred the danger of the battell fight vnder the banner of the feare of the Lord it is a couragious Captaine It is a faithfull Porter not admitting any rebellious suggestion nor though entertaining vnawares suffring to abide any heauen-distasting motion in the soule the Lords Palace for if Ioseph be tempted this either diuerts the attempt repels the assault and makes him cry out How can I do this and offend my God Gen. 33.9 or else subuerts the plot and expels the act rather leauing the loosenesse of the thoughts then loading the conscience with the weight of sinne rather enduring the losse of a ragged motion then to defile the mansion of a heauenly mind yet sets open wide open the doore of the heart to euery guest wherein the Lord delighteth kindly entertaining euery grace which hee affecteth cheerefully welcomming euery good thing the presence whereof he desireth Is mercy and compassion more pleasing then sacrifice Hos 6.6 Neb. 5.1.5 Iob. 6.14 The feare of the Lord first inuites it 2. Chron. 19.9 Is singlenesse of heart the delight of God the desire of man The feare of God admits it Psal 187.11 Is waiting vpon the Lords mercy and depending on his pleasure expected by him respected of him The feare of the Lord brings it in his hand to the banquet By him who feareth the Lord Col. 3.22 Obedience is as readily saluted as the sun-shine day after showers in the time of Haruest Repentance as louingly embraced as the prodigall Sonne by the commiserating father Pro. 1.7 Psal 112.1 Instructions as ioyfully receiued as Christ by Zacheus Thus is it a faithfull Porter It is no lesse a skilfull Physician Eeclus 1.26 either purging corrupt humors and restoring health or preuenting sicknesse and preseruing life It purgeth corruption not suffring sinne to nestle it selfe in the soule or iniquity to lodge as a guest in the heart but speaking to it as the Lord
Two Cherubims prying into that Arke 2. Time when and person to whom moue admiration 3. Two Tables by which and to which all duties to God and man are directed both ayming at Gods glory 3. His. In himselfe abiding yet to man extended and in both respects reflexing vpon his owne praise 4. Manner not ordinary but beyond expectation and common euent Maruellous 4. Aarons rod by which miracles were wrought 5. Place where this Kindnesse was reserued in a strong Citie 5. Pot of Manna 6. The Heart from which thanksgiuing a sacrifice so acceptable to God issued Blessed be the Lord. 6. Censor from which the smell of incense so sweetly ascended Logically the 1. Agent He 2 Act shewed 3. Obiect Kindnesse its Opportunity in the Time when Hath Trāscendency in the person to whom Mee Propriety in the person by whom His. Rarity in the Manner how Maruellous Particularity in the Place where In a strong citie Errata PAg. 4. in marg read 2 Sam. ch 17 18 19. 1 Sam. 30. 1 Sam. 23. pag. 19. in marg adde Amos 6.6 p. 35. l. 12. for but r. to be p. 44. l. 10. after loue r. looking on the Compasse of his mercy p. 46. l. 11. before For r. Freely p. 54. in M. for Vers r. Cha. p. 55. l. 2. r. as God p. ib. l. 3. r. as our God p. 68. l. 20. r. former in that p. 69. l. 6. r. speciall l. 10. for word r. house p. 79. l. 9. r. teares p. 84. l. 15. r. publishing p. 85. l. penult r. did in PSALME 31.21 Blessed be the Lord for he hath shewed mee his maruellous kindnesse in a strong Citie EVery thing hath its turne and time Eccles 3.1 yea time giues to euery thing its 〈◊〉 insomuch as man himselfe neuer continueth in one stay Iob. 14.2 the truth whereof no glasse can better shew than the Psalmes for in them wee may liuely behold the variable and mutable condition of man though neuer so neere in affection or deare in estimation vnto God in them Dauid that anointed of the Lord Psal 107.26 and in him all Gods chosen may be seene in this life as the Ship in the Sea in estate and respect euen now lifted vp to the clouds sayling with a pleasant gale in the calme of prosperity and by and by let downe to the bottome with the impetuous violence of the blast of one or other calamitie in soule and spirit sometimes soaring with the wings of hope aboue the heauens and againe plunged as low as hell with the weight of distrust through some disaster either inflicted or feared Whence proceed such and so sundry varieties of expressing in diuers of them his owne hopes and feares comforts and corasiues solace and sorrowes restraints and deliuerances But in this Psalme he stands as it were in the view of all vpon the worlds Theater and sounds in the eares of all a Diapason whiles warbling vpon his harpe hee toucheth the string of euery passion For he powreth out his praier with instancy in the first and second verses gathereth assured hope in the third and yet as one not fully freed from feare nor dispossest of hope returnes againe to praier and giues the reason of his assurance in the third fourth and fift pleadeth in expresse termes his holy affection and confidence which hee had in the time past in the sixt publisheth his resolute purpose of gladnesse and reioycing in the time to come by reason of the Lords fauour already shewed as one forgetfull and not fearing any present misery in the seuen and eighth Yet on the sudden calling as it seemes to minde the trouble and danger he was then in reneweth his suit which is pressed and amplified with relating by way of complaint sundry miseries and indignities which he doth endure and formerly had vndergone to the fourteenth in which miseries and indignities he reports what was and is his trust and patience in the fourteenth and fifteenth and that againe is seconded with another supplication in the fifteenth and sixteenth as also with an imprecation in the seuenteenth and eighteenth after both which without interruption as the Riuer in a cleare channell into the Ocean he falleth into an admiring exclamation for the greatnesse of Gods goodnesse towards them that feare and trust in him in the nineteenth together with a reason of that his admiration in the twentieth from thence hee comes to giue thanks for a kindnesse whereof the Lord had made him partaker in his owne particular in some extraordinary manner and that in a strong Citie Either Ierusalem which Absolom had surprised 2 Sam. 18.19 and where Achitophels counsell by Hushaies to his preseruation was deluded Iansen Lorinus 2 Sam. 30. as some or Ziglag where the people were in minde to stone him and the spoiles whereof he recouered Arias 1 Sam. 19. as other or Keilah which Saul purposed to haue besieged and to whom the citizens thereof as the Lords Oracle reuealed had deliuered him if there he had staied as the most imagine Howsoeuer or in what citie soeuer Dauid is mindfull of that mercy and thankfull for that benefit in such termes as iustly giues me occasion to thinke vpon Salomon his sonne Salomon the mirror of men 2 Sam. 12.25 the beloued of the Lord not liked as a seruant John 8.35 but beloued as a Sonne that abides in the house for euer built a glorious Temple to the God of Israel and diuided it into three parts The first or outmost was Atrium Populi the court of the people called otherwise the Porch of Salomon the next was Atrium Sacerdotum the place for the Priests the third and inmost was Sanctum Sanctorum the Holy of Holies When I see these words of Dauid I suruey that worke of Salomon and hearing this warbling tune of the Father I behold that worthy Temple of the Sonne For if we looke for that part which concernes all it is here in the Author He who maketh his Sunne to rise on the euill and the good Matt. 5.45 and sendeth raine on the iust and vniust Would we see what concernes those that are sequestrated to his seruice and linked to him by a neerer bond as are all faithfull who being a royall Priest-hood Pet. 2.9 enioy a rarer priuiledge than others here we find it All haue not the Lords mercy manifested to them as had Dauid or if it be made apparant to them yet are not they made partakers of it as was this anointed of the Lord. He shewed me that is made me partaker of Long you to see that which Titus Vespasian desired Ioseph de bel Iud. l. 6. c. 10. nay commanded to be especially preserued from the fury of the fire the Sanctum Sanctorum into which the High Priest must enter Heb. 9.7 yet not oftner than once in the space of a whole yeere such was the glory of it and that it signified Here is the like maruellous kindnesse in a
non vult saies Saint Augustine To doe what he will paints out Omnipotency to suffer what hee will not points at impotency Take away his iustice and he must suffer the blaspheming of his name the violating of his lawes the contempt of his commands without all remedy An earthly Commander shall reuenge the least offered indignity and Heauens Creator shall not be able to redresse but must endure the highest the most hainous blasphemy Take away his mercy a worldly Monarch shall aduance his Fauorite a meane Lord exalt a well deseruing seruant a poore father gratifie a truly obedient sonne but he by whom Princes reigne shall not conferre dignity on those in whom his soule delighteth nor the Lord of Lords reward his seruants diligence nor the Father of all that is called Father in heauen or earth countenance his Childs obedience Take away iustice hee who fetters the Nobles in linkes of iron and breaks in peeces the Princes of the earth as a Potters vessell shall himselfe be linked in the chaines of impiety because he cannot punish iniquity Take away mercy he who moueth mans heart to pitty openeth mens eares to attend strengtheneth mans hands to aid them who are in misery shall haue his owne heart so benummed that he cannot commiserate his owne eares so shut that he cannot heare and his owne arme so shortned that he cannot reach them who are in calamitie But there is no Lord which liues not vnder his law either obeying what he enioyneth or enduring what he inflicteth There is no honour or dishonour but is receiued from his hand either as a gratious signe of his loue or as the deserued successe of disloyalty which he disposeth as powerfully without resistance as freely without respect Is he then destitute of either Iustice or Mercy far be that conceit from our cogitations for it is the falsifying of his verity both in his promises and in his threatnings His gratious promises are as Sugar sweetning euery suffering as hony delighting euery Sinne-distempered taste as Triacle driuing corruption from the soule as Goats bloud softning an Adamantine heart his gratious promises giue a Supersedeas against the band of Law proclaime a writ of priuiledge from the Arrest of death and sue out a Writ of Error to reuerse the doome of condemnation passed against sin in the court of conscience Yet let this be granted that God is only iust and not mercifull the minde cannot but conceiue the vnderstanding must needs assume and reason will necessarily conclude that all his faire promises are but bare pretences Sinne and Despaire sitting at the helme Contrarily threatnings are the terror of the Soule the trouble of the thoughts the awakening of the drowsie threatnings turne Sendall into Sackloth cast crownes of gold downe among the dust and aduance dust as a more golden ornament for the head Threatnings as bitter potions purge the superfluous humors of impietie and as fire the wax prepareth the heart to receiue the impression of Gods spirit yet if God bee wholly mercifull and not iust will not the soule surmise them to bee clouds without raine Scorpions without stings and lesse to be feared than a thunderclap in another horizon security and presumption hoising the sayles But now though heauen and earth shall passe though the glorious Fabricke of the worlds Globe shall be wrapped together as a Scrole yet not one tittle of his word shall faile what hee promised in mercy shall be performed in clemency and what hee threatned in iustice shall bee executed in seueritie the freenesse of his will the greatnesse of his power the certainty of his truth his libertie omnipotency verity all and euery of them iointly and seuerally doe conuince that the Lord as well holds out the blacke Ensigne of war as the White colours of peace Or else to come to his office how should he bee Iudge of all the world There are three properties in a Iudge which should be as inseparable to him as heat is to the fire moisture to the aire drinesse to the earth coldnesse to the water that he Heare indifferently Examine diligently determine vnpartially which proper duties cannot be performed if either seuerity be swallowed vp of clemency or clemency choaked with seuerity Now howsoeuer God seeing the hearts and reines discerning the secretest thoughts and intentions to whom all things are naked needes not to listen listening to labour by due sifting to winnow out the truth yet in passing sentence he is to deale vnpartially Shall the Iudge of the world not doe right and yet when the Sheepe and Goats Wolues and Lambes the Children of light and imps of darknesse those who beare on their soules his owne stampe and those on whose hearts Satan may see the writing of his owne hand shall stand before him to heare their seuerall doomes being all mercy hee must absolue the wicked and beâ—ng all Iustice he cannot saue the godly and so he must necessarily passe a partiall and vnrighteous iudgement who is holy in all his waies and righteous in all his workes Iust when hee speaketh and pure when he iudgeth whom neither malice can iustly maligne nor Error shall euer bee able to blemish with absurdity neither in regard of his office or his attributes wherewith Satan would inueigle vs by blinding our minde with this misconceit that the Lord is either onely mercifull to cause presumption or only Iust to enforce despaire But if he were only iust and not mercifull the first Adam had either not sinned or hauing sinned had continued in vanity if only mercifull and not iust the second Adam had either not died or died in vaine If hee were not a God of anger feare were vnnecessarie If not a God of fauour faith a fancy our tribulations should be endlesse if he only frowning our sufferings fruitlesse if not fauourable What wipes our teares from our eies puts them in his bottle registers them in his booke not his mercy What heares the sighes of the soule the groaning of the spirit and the crying of the heart not his mercy What preserues our hands from acting our eies from beholding our feet from following vanitie not his mercy Mercy is the marke whereat our mourning aimeth Mercy is the limit where our sorrow boundeth Mercy is that Ocean where our misery endeth To no purpose should we grieue if the Lord were not good to no end should we sorrow if he were not gracious On the contrarie what is that in him which heareth our impieties the eares of his iustice What is that in him which espieth our vanities the eyes of his iustice What is that in him which punisheth our iniquities the hand of his iustice To no effect should we feare spirituall death if he be not righteous in vaine should wee flye from eternall danger if he be not rigorous If he were not both iust and mercifull mercifull and iust caution to preuent sinne were a needlesse care care to perfect sanctity an vnnecessary corasiue either of