him by Grace cannot be sever'd from him and themselvs through Evil. Here is the best Exchange for profit here is the Indiaes of holy Riches here is Canaan flowing with Milk and Honey here is the light which admits no darkness and the day that never sees night here is the Price and the Pearle the work and the wages God to whom by faith we must run and Mercy which by faith from him we may receive here is the door by which we must enter into the joy of our Master and here is the Master who will not shut the door against us because we come not before bid nor can we stay there longer then welcome By thee O Sun of the Morning and first born of Heaven for thou wast in the beginning is our Acquaintance wrought with God and our evil from sin prevented 2. This comes to be the holy souls priviledg from the Purchase of Christ Pâ—t 1.21 He he redeemed us not only from our vain conversation but from the wrath to come from the bondage of sin and Satan into the glorious liberty of the sons of God Gal. 3.13 Rom. 8.21 Ephes 2.14 'T is he that is our Peace and 't is he that keeps us from that Evil one The Redemption wrought by him on the Cross was not only from wrath but to himself He hath redeemed us to himself out of every Nation c. Rev. 5.9 10. Not only to free us from the rage of sin and Satan but to make us Kings and Prists to preserve us to his Heavenly Kingdome and herein he is a Saviour to the utmost to the utmost of men Hebr. 7.25 he is the Saviour of his whole body Jewes Gentiles far neer bond free rich poor high low his Providence is over his whole family his rain rains upon bad as well as good To the utmost of things all co-operate hy his interposition and ordination to the good of his the Graces of Godly men make them admire him the sins of others to watch over themselves more nay their own failings carry them to God by Petition for pardon and grace sufficient for them the crosses they carry have Christ in them the reproaches they suffer have Christ with them the glory they aim at Christ will bring them to Life which to many is a pleasure Christ imbitters and yet rescues them from any provocation to impatience they use it as the time wherein to work but they desire to be dissolved in Christs time For to be with him is best of all To the uttermost of time his merit is a light unextinguishable was is and ever shall be the Patriarks before the Prophets in the holy men after the Law got to Heaven upon this wing in this Chariot were they thither transported in the garment of this elder brother were they wrapped for that only is the Wedding garment This is the one and only way narrow not open to all but to those that believe but yet a sure way bounded by the sure mercies of David and herein he is a Saviour beyond all a Superlative Redeemer for he is eternal whereas others are but Temporary he is complete whereas others are but partial Where are Moses and Joshuah David and Jeptha who saved the Jewes Where Caesar Scipio Metellus the Deliverers of the Romanes Where Codrus Themistocles Photion by whom the Greeks were delivered These are dead and their Territories by others possessed nay their ashes are become the prey of Tyrants who glut themselves with revenges on their relicts but Christ is the Saviour of his body the Church for ever he is and ever will be the light in the midst of it and a wall of fire round about it For Christ hath purchased its peace and paid with reverence be it conceived for that interest in God which will keep off evil from coming to his 3. This priviledg from evil is the natural child of Acquaintance with God God never gives himself without all that is his and if all then his peace then his protection from evil the Prophet tels us of Gods speaking peace to his people Psal 85.8 Isai 26.20.41.14 Psal 145.20 of his counsels to them to enter into rest till the indignation be over of his cordial Fear not thou worm Jacob I will be with thee of his corrasive to wicked men whom he will destroy And whence O holy soul comes all this but from that proximity twixt God and the soul This is the pay of our patience the result of our fidelity to God he that followes the Lamb Rev. 2.17 shal not miss his white stone and new name God never difmisses his without a blessing like that from the womb of the Morning he gives them peace to poyse them here amidst their many storms in this life and he keeps evil far from them yea that which is the greatest evil after their deaths eternal evil And now me thinks I am of S. Peters mind on the Mount It is good to be here here are three words in this Scripture like the three Tabernacles in that Acquaintance with God Peace and Protection from evil and these are as Christs face was transsigured in a sort seraphickly expressed and proposed after a celestial method here is Acquaintance usually res doloris a vanity of vanity in the multitude of which there is sorrow and distraction strangely meliorated by its adjunct highly imbeautied by its entail to God of a Ceremony and a necessity made a virtue Acquaint thy self with God Next here is the Lady Peace not like that of the world with Rachel mourning with Thamar thrust out of doors after it hath served a turn but like the Queens daughter glorious within as beloved of God and beauteous without as decked with the Needle work of external accommodations Lastly here is evil profligated and dismantled of its force the Lion exungued and the sting taken out of the Serpents tail as an effect of divine bounty and this by the Chimistry of God who is able to bring good from evil What then remains to this Meditation but to summon the last Quere to give in its verdict And that is the season when this Acquaintance w th God is to be had and these consequences obtained in the Particle now Acquaint now thy sef with God c. Now Season seasons every thing the Wise man said it Prov. 25.12 A word in season is like apples if Gold in Pictures of Silver a fair shew but Mettal upon Metal makes no Heraldry but in a Picture 't will pass and so will time pass of which this now is a part and the best part because present Acquaint now Now when in life in the day of time in the season of Mercy in Youth before time be not thou go down into the grave and be seen no more yea before thou be gathered to dust and worms feed upon thy flesh Now not anon Now lest sickness age death prevent anon and thou have no time to groan for Peace or cry for Mercy our pardon is ever in danger where our repentance is in debate Now this is to be wise for thy self O soul for it only is in thy possession what a day wil bring forth thou knowest not therefore hearken to Wisdoms voice While it is called to day delayes ought to be as past time out of thy power since to work out now thy salvation with fear and trembling is thy prudence Time hath no longer a race than a Creature hath it is alwayes on a swift Ebb ere long it will be low water and then where the tree falls it must lye and since time and tide stay for no man O my soul do thou watch them and take time to do thy task eternity gives good wages Remember who said 2 Tim. 4.7 I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith from henceforth is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness Now not at the sixth or last hour of the day for it is not certain whether thou shalt live upon this hazard to receive the penny of Eternity which followes the orderly expence of time but now this instant moment set to thy Tackling the storm is great and thy vessel queasie and therefore put in to the next Habour What thou dost do quickly Eccles 9. â—â— For there is neither wisdom nor strength in the grave whither thou goest nor ever will be in thy power to untie thy chain of torments or regain a lost happiness Therefore O my soul receive thou this counsel with joy and perfect it by holy industry while thou hast time talents and what may further help thee in this blessed Husbandry and Sacred Thrift Look not upon the Lions in the way the narrow passage to life eternal the obloquies of men who will judge thee mopish because thou labourest for that Jewel that thou hast lost and wouldst find again These discouragements may work on lazy and thriftless souls who starve when there is bread enough in their fathers house follow thou the Saints of all ages who by Faith and Patience inherit the Promises and by their holy example be thou stimulated to take the Cross for thy Title to the Crown of Life yea contest thou for their Crown not to rob them but to right thy self who art born to equal hopes with them and comfort thy self in that promise of the holy Apostle who is now at peace with God and is taken from the evil of this world unto the glory above In due time ye shall reap if you faint not Gal. 6.9 FINIS
and to draw me into fellowship with him O my God give me grace to welcome the crosses I have or further may have as my Saviour did his revilings not reviling againe not returning but remitting injuries Rejoyce O holy soul in those Monitors which rouse thee from thy sinfull slumber Remember the Coâ—k crew and minded Peter of a glorious Master denyed by a presumptuous servant And fear not but thy frailty may have an aspect of mercy as had his the more thou art at loss the greater ought thy care be to seek God with more ardency and serve him with less indevotion Trust not too much in any arm of flesh which sayes life and lustre is in mee Falix necessitas quae in meliora compellit S. Aug. ep 45. all things here passe and repasse by uneven vicissitudes and leave their confidents in trouble and complaints In the Lord Jehovah put thy confidence He only is the same yesterday to day and for ever O holy soul thy time here is but short thy task great thine opposites many be diligent improve opportunities warily practise that sacred chimistry which from fetid simples outward crosses extracts the precious Elixar of divine cordials Be not weary of wel doing study rather how to quit sin then wave the cross there is no lesson it learns but is savory and thou art not to refuse the point of Doctrine it commends to thy meditation Think upon good things had as trials how thou wouldest use them and lost how thou canst beare them bemoane not so much what thou hopest for but hast not as what thou hast and usest not aright perhaps God hurls thy pride from the pinnacle whence it took rise Great thoughts are often confronted by him who will have no Dagon of folly cheek by joll with his Ark of Vertue O consider hadst thou not Babels in thy brains wa st thou not of their minde who thought of nothing but sitting at the right and left hand of glory If so art thou not befriended that payest fine and ransome for thy Rebellion in the stubble and straw of an external Content Is God contented with a turtle Dove and art thou discontented because hee hath that which thou sayst was the Lamb that rested in thy bosome Is any thing too good for God too great for him who is thine all O holy soul study thy self better God hath been mercifull to thee thou art a gainer by every losse which if it had not betided thee had endangered heaven Lift up thine eyes the Canaan Mercy promiseth thee is in view that is thy Country that thine Inheritance that the Haven to which thou art bound and in which onely thou shalt be safe Chear up O holy soul thy drooping spirits Remember thy treasure is in heaven there ought also thy heart to be Call upon thy Saviour in glory and ask in his way that thou mayest receive for his sake Is any thing too hard for God Do not all things serve Providence and laquey to Power Why doth thy Faith misdoubt accesse to God and success in those things thou with Conscience and Wisdome managests The holy confidence of a Beleever scales Heaven and by an humble pertness obtains it so great a prize is worth waiting for though it be attended with Serpents of craft and Dragons of felness He that said Though thou slay me Job 13.15 yet will I trust in thee counsels thee to venture all thy welfare upon mercy There is no fear of miscarriage where good things in a good manner are prayed for and pursued after Then onely we miss our wages when we work amiss Then our Prayers are returned without answer when we turn our Prayers into Subsidies to lusts when we pray for accommodations to our vices and forget that of our Saviour Matth. 16.26 What will it profit a man to gain the whole world and to lose his soul Much then hath been written of the benefit of Afflictions But the great Argument which puts all Question of the advantage of them out of question is behind that is the Sufferings of Christ potent enough to force a thaw on Marbles and to liquifie Adamants Quis talia fando Temperet à lachrymis Whoso those troubles doth conceive Can't chuse but from the heart to grieve He it was that went before his Apostles and Martyrs in treading the Wine-press of wrath Like that Commander Monstrat tolerare labores Non jubet To others he doth not command What he himself don 't take in hand God appointed the Man of his right hand his fellow Alas we cannot drink of the cup of wrath nor be baptised with that baptism he was baptised with for our sakes to be our forerunner in sorrowes Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world declared a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief Isa 53. A man of sorrows t is an Hebraism denoting fulness of sorrows a sea of sorrowes in Christs soul Tristis corde propter multitudinem afflictionum suarum Rab. David in lib. Radicum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sin imputed and mercy inherent were at a holy contest as it were for Mastery and the pangs of such twins must needs be grievous The word sorrowes comes from a root which signifies to be weakned and denotes a sorrow internal even to expiration and the learned distinguish it from those words which they express outward sorrowes by Verus boâ—â—o vere doluit Gloss Lyrae Christs sorrowes were such as brought grief upon him even to the decision of the silver thred of his life Yet further he is said to be acquainted with grief the word rendred acquainted comes from a root that signifies to apprehend 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And the Learned say Verbum mentis et intellectus Pagn in verbo t is a word of the Mind and Understanding importing that Christ was so qualified and obfirmated that no sorrowes with reverence be it written could come amiss to him he had a sinless Manhood to undergoe and a divine power to overcome sorrowes God had made him the Churches rock against which the waves of sorrow could not prevaile He must himself have armour of proofe upon which no humane Machination can hurtfully prevaile who is the captaine of a Christians salvation and who has gloriously triumphed over all the enemies of it Acquainted with grief I cannot but renew the thoughts of these Sorrows of my Saviour O beatum mortem unde vita nostra nata est O falicem stultitiam quae nostram pâ—perit sapientiam because his sorrows are my rejoycings not as they were exprobratory from the Jews but as they are expiatory for me There was not onely dolour but externall disdain as the Jews managed the death of Christ they crucified him and that between two theeves 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from a word neere of kin to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prophanari or violari John 19.34 Might not this dishonour of Christ be
how fearfully and how wonderfully am I made for who can confess less then this The Heavens declare the glory of God and the Firmament shewes his handy work But O man wander not too wildly in this wilderness wherein are beasts of Prey uncouth paths dismal upshots thine errand and end is to admire the works of God that thou maist do it is thy duty and Gods exact of thee so to do and thou thy selfe art a fair Text to such pious Meditations God created thee something of nothing a Man not a Toad a Christian not a Heathen of clear intellect not brutish of right shape not deformed and consider this calls for Gratitude God hath beautified thee with a bright Sun refreshed thee by a sweet gale of wind in thy sayls thou art at the wished Port supported by a miraculous hand of Providence he hath discovered to thee thy dangers conducted thee in thy way ministred to thy wants when others not less his nor less themselves then thou go mourning all the day long are on their duty John 5.4 waiting with the Cripple when the good Angel will come to their comfort but all in vain No Butter sticks on their bread their cake is dough as the Proverb is All is fruitless Remember the more thou receivest the more thou must return Cui plus datur ab illo plus exigitur in fine rather labour to improve wel that thou hast then to covet more to misuse it and abuse thy soul for God expects from all men as he sowes so to reap and thou art an Unthrift on his Bounty if thou returnest him not obedience and love who hath crowned thee with Honour and Plenty above thy fellowes But O man above all things Deut. 32.15 be not like Jesurun spurn not with the heel when thou art fat forget not the hand that feeds thee and the paps of Providence that suckle thee nor let thine hornes be exalted to worry and plague thy fellow servants of a lower Form then thou art This is not to be like God good gentle and nigh unto all those that call upon him but liker the servant in the Gospel Matth. 32.32 who took his fellow servant by the throat when he himself was forgiven by his Lord the greater Debt yea this is not to admire God but to reproach him as misgiving Power and Greatness and trusting it in the hands of those who by it prey upon not protect the Sheep This is not to admire the Works of God but to admire thy self and to sacrifice to thine own Ambition and inordinacy and so to dishonour God who commands Phil. 4.5 Our Moderation should be known to all men yea this is to be unworthy of Acquaintance with God who is Shepherd of his Sheep and delights in Lillyes things harmless and benigne and those that are not such shall do well to consider that of the Prophet Jer. 30.16 I will spoil the Spoiler and steer another course for the future even to emendation of life which brings up the rear of what God requires from those that wil be acquainted with him and calls for my next Meditation 5. Lastly Renovation of Life is a chief adjunct to Acquaintance with God Light and darkness Christ and Belial Dagon and the Ark do not agree new cloth and old garments sute not nor will generous Wine endure crazy bottles nor a Kingly mind brook the thatched cottage There is nothing more averse to the pure Nature of God then the impure life of a sinner his eye loathes his hand corrects his heart relucts his Word reproves his Spirit labours against it he cannot but call with a loud voice Jer. 44.4 Rom. 1.18 O do not that abominable thing which I hate and correct by revealing his wrath from Heaven against the ungodliness of men Till thou O man return to him by Repentance there is no peace with God to be hoped for no amity to be attained The means to gain God is to own thy self and to return to thy fathers love Luke 15.18 to weep over thy wandrings and to drown thy sins in penitent tears as did Mary Magdalen and Peter Then then only are we worthy to be friends of God when we are not profane as Esau but holy as Abraham not rude as Nimrod but meek as Moses not rebellious as Absolom but devout as David not treacherous as Judas but penitent as Peter not vexatious as Saul but couragious as Paul not embracing the world as did Demas but contemning it and our selves as ought the Disciple of Christ who must deny himselfe and take up the Cross This this is to be born again Mark 8.34 John 3.3 Ephes 4.23 Isai 1.16 Rom. 13.14 Ephes 5.11 Nichodemus his lesson this is to be renewed in the spirit of our minds this is to cease to do evil and learn to do well this is to put on the Lord Jesus and to take no thought for the flesh this is to have no fellowship with unfruitful works of darkness but rather to reprove them this is to put off the old man and to put on the new man Ephes 4.22 24 which after God is created in Righteousnesse and true Holinesse this is to lay the burthen of our sins upon Christ and to take the beauty of Holiness from him this is to gain heavens amnesty to remove our sins far from us as the East is from the West and to cause them to come no more in remembrance before God yea this is to be throughly acquainted with God and to have him the souls Sun and Shield who will give Grace and Glory Psal 34.11 and withhold no good thing from it These are the bona notabilia which God keeps as the reward of Piety as his secrets so his comforts are with those that fear him Clusters of Canaan grow not upon Crabstocks of Sodom Divine familiarity is not with mortal foedity They which will have God their Lord must have his Rule for their Guide Penitence must supply the want of Innocence or else God will deny acceptance It is not for me to say I will return after and be received first God will have his Doles of Mercy distributed to Pennancers and the Oyle of Gladness returned to those faces whose heads were covered with ashes A weeping eye is no small Favourite with a merciful God who not only greets with an Euge Luke 15 7. returning sins but commands an Exultate in Heaven amongst the Angels for it and those that sow their wild oats in tears shall reap their wages in due time namely Mercy and Joy in Come ye Blessed of my Father receive the Mansion prepared for you by Acquaintance with God namely Peace which is the third hinge of my Meditation and followes in the Scripture Acquaint now thy self with God and be at peace The third Quere is Quest 3 What Peace it is those have who are acquainted with God And here silet lingua stispet animus deficit
procure this 't is a gift from above descending from the Father of Lights Jam. 1.17 and referring the soul to him as the Author and Finisher of its Felicity Here is somewhat stupendious but this how far soever transcending the utmost outward advantage is but porch and prologue to those Magnalia Dei those Arcana Patriae which neither eye hath seen nor ear have heard nor entred into the heart of man to think of namely the good things God hath laid up in heaven for those that fear him not to be attained or enjoyed here alas our Vessels are too narrow to receive that Ocean where there is incapability of reception there is no probability of retention if we cannot be in possession while in the flesh let us covet to depose this garment of incapability and thirst after that glory which Heaven exalts us to specified to us in that Jewel Peace Eternal Acquaint now thy self with God and be at Peace that is be every way blest within in a serenity of mind without in a fortunate condition exempt from evils or sanctified to thee in spight of evils Prov. 17.7 for when a mans wayes please the Lord he will make his enemies be at peace with him or without fail above in the beatitude of thy soul to all eternity This is the rest that remains to the people of God Heb. 4.9 John 14.3 this is the Mansion prepared by Christ of which he took possession by his Ascension and in which he now is in Session at the right hand of God This is that Jerusalem above Gal. 4.26 which is free the mother of us all where Hallelujahs are Musick Angels Choristers the Divine Nature prospect Saints Companions and the Lamb Light in the midst thereof This is Heaven not in Enthusiastick rapsodies not in fanatick Novelties not in raving Blasphemies but in deed and truth This is Heaven not that of pleasure in Amnons Lust in Achans Wedg in Solomons Wisdom in Methuselahs long life in Achitophels Craft or in Judas his gain by Treachery but Heaven in the bosom of Christ who is Exalted above Principalities and Powers This is heaven not in Types and Figures not in dark and remote viewes not in variating forms and unfixed Stations but in real consistence and unalterable duration This is Heaven not blemished by sin not tedious through sorrow not ruled by sinful will not vanquished by lawless power not tainted by profaneness not deserted by time not impairable in value and real worth but ever what can be wished for and never less then it at any time was or is Lastly This is Heaven not infected with pride not dejected with poverty not shrivelled with age not scorched with heat not determining with time Heaven a Kingdom for its glory and capacity purchased by the price of blood and the pre-appointment of Mercy for not all but for many yet those a little flock those who are acquainted with God in grace and by him rewarded with this Peace Now I am in Meditation at the Ladders top but have we spoke well of this Canaan Is not this Peace of eternity the least of our treatment though in it Christ be Micah 5.2 as was Bethlehem Ephrata little amongst the Tribes of Judah out of which Christ came Is not Isaak mistaken and sent away with a smal pittance in stead of the son of Hagar What means my line upon line on other Subjects less worthy and my brevity on this head that exceedeth them all Truly more Devotion then words more Admitation then Oratory befits this Subject Scholastick Dispute and eloquent Panegyricks are the Fucusses that adorn this Elementary world and please its Aery Inhabitants these are the Diana's of vain men and those Treasures which they pride in and relye on as inexhaustible and with these they delude souls and dishonour him who beautified us with that bravery that we might honour him as our Creator follow him as our Pattern yea fall down before him as our Judge When I am in Meditation of Heaven I rather pray for a warm heart and keen affections for abilities to believe in and adhere to God then for curious Speculations and pathetick words and therefore since faith must supply what sense cannot attain to and those things that are secret and ineffable are rather to be adored then searched into or written upon I can here conclude this part of my Meditation in the Wisemans words The knowledg of this is too wonderful for me it is high I cannot attain unto it And declining further thought of this Peace which here I cannot understand enquire into the evil we are assured to escape both here and hereafter which is the fourth Enquiry How this Peace may be said to repel evil from us in that clause So shall no evil come unto thee Peace and Evil are here opposed not more in the words then sense Evil like the Canker eats out either our Peace or at least eclipseth the comfort of it evil of sin deserves no peace evil of punishment believes and finds no peace to the one peace is not to the other it seems not to be and so is not at all as to the present discovery That therefore the Holy Ghost might set every Trophie upon its proper basis I conceive him using this order in this Scripture to teach us that as Acquaintance with God is the way to peace so is the peace of God crowned with exemption from evil and that none can expect to have Gods custodye but those which are in League and Amity with him Bee at Peace so shall no evil come unto thee No Evil Not Satan the Tempter to it and the Traducer for it Christs Prayer is our Antimure Deliver us from evil that is from that evil one From his Power 1 Pet. 5.8 Ephes 6.11 as the Lion that goes about seeking whom he may devour From his Policy for we know his Methods his pious Fraudes his Scriptum ests his Lamblike Angellick manifestations 2 Cor. 11.14 Matth. 24.24 his transformations into shews of Light and external sanctity and all to deceive if possible the very Elect. From his Agents who Ape-like act his part to much perfection 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 make Merchandise of Faith and a good Conscience care not what they do to make Proselytes and pervert souls This crafty Policrates Satan 2 Pet. 2.3 moves every stone to his advantage and hath flags of all colours to hang out for our surprize he hath Instruments that with the Zeal of old Arsenius seem to forsake their Countries and Fortunes to devote themselves to God his Luciferiâ—ns that come in the vests of innocency Matth. 7.15 but inwardly are ravening wolves having the poison of Asps under their tongues and the rancour of Divels in their hearts whom Christ commands us to beware of Mat. 10.17 He hath his Artemona's that have such convicting deportments that they lead men which way they lift by their
in Christ Jesus shal suffex persecution What of Saint Peters prediction of fiery Tryals and Encouragements to prepare for them Nay what of our Saviours Benediction on those that suffer for Righteousness sake Are these Tales and Figments Are these Legends and Foysts Are these Lillies of his field not to be compared to the Solomons of their fancy in all his Royalty I trow there is no man so fond but sees self more set up then Christ in this Pageant for take away sufferings and where is Faith where Charity where Martyrdome nay where is or to what purpose that animative reference of the Holy Ghost displaying Christ glorious in witnessing a good confession before Pontius Pilate his Judg who could wash his hand and protest Christs innocency and yet durst not deliver him from the rage of the multitude No wonder they cry down Scripture and Fathers and Church Stories who cry up such wild excentrick worldly subtilties for Religion and own Christ with their mouthes as the Jewes did him on the Cross only the more to reproach him Well let these stray from the fold as wildly as they will it is thy part O holy soul to keep close to thy colours Voti tunc Christianis erat pro Christi nomine gladio percuti S. Hieron in vita Pauli Eremitae de Temp. Decii Christ looketh thou shouldst not only he ready to own but of need be to dye for him thou must expect sorrows perhaps not such as with Spira will make thee despair turn thy back on Gon as Ephraim did in the day of Battel but such as may exercise thy Grace correct thine out-goings mind thee of thine end admonish thee of thy duty rouze thee to get thine Evidence ready to make thy Calling and Election sure and by a holy end prepare thee for a blessed Exchange The Promise is to be secure not exempt not that yee shall not to be assaulted but not be overcome not that ye shall not be chastned but that ye shall not be condemned not that evils shall not come neer you but that they shall not domineer over you not that ye shall not be buffetted by Satan but that Divine Grace shal be sufficient for you The Peace of God gained by Acquaintance with him is no plea of prescription against trouble and evil but this it doth it modifies evil so that it comes not noxiously neer a godly man as it is evil so it s kept at distance as it is a Mark of Divine love as it is a voice to reclaim as it is commanded to be Gods Monitor to us so we must welcome it as did David It is good for me that I was afflicted and pray for it as preventive Physick that keeps us from Plethorick Distempers Many men may thank God for their crosses without which they had never come to Heaven there is a most notable Story in the Legend of a blind woman who besought Saint Bridget to give her sight the Saint so called at her intreaty Quo presentor sum mundo eo absentior sum Christo did and when she had seen four dages she desired Saint Bridget that she would take away her sight again adding this for reason The more I see of the world the less am I conversant with Christ 4. Lastly The peace in Acquaintance with God will keep thee from thr Evil of Evils Death eternal God suffers not his to fall into that pit out of which there is no redemption His as they have no part in the sin of the Damned so shall they not partake in the torment of the Damned 'T is not Go ye Blessed but Go ye Cursed into everlasting sire prepared for the Divel and his Angels And indeed this is the Mercy of Mercies this is one part of the Recompence of Vertue and Godly life that it shall not only have comfort in seeing God gloriously waving the Banner of love over it but becoming its Guard to Heaven and nullifying Satans attempts on it this is that in which the mercy of God shines as at noon tide and comfortably exalts its self above Justice as that which crowns God and renders him Beloved and admired of all that know him But perhaps O man thou art curious to know what this Death Eternal is This is a vanity and if thou beware not may be the vexation of thy spirit but if thou wouldest ken the scantling of it our blessed Lord hath defined it to be utter darkness 〈◊〉 8.12 where is weeping and watling and gnashing of teeth it is exile from God and judgment to the society of damned spirits for ever Death Eternal what is it not that is absolute tristicity it is a living death and a dying life it is the wages of sin the sentence of Justice the utmost period of Plagues a most exquisite misery a most Merciless Torment an Eternal Passion Eternal Death it is misery to the eye for it shall not see God it is a worm gnawing on the heart for it shall consider the evil it hath done for which is inflicted that evil it suffereth it is a vexation to the senses which to augment the tortures of their condition shal be renewed and made more sensible it is an excess which shall never have end but be eternally what it is and impossible to be what it is not Death Eternal it is the region of Blasphemy the Caldron of Nimrods Nero's Judasses those chambers of ruine into which they descend who desert God by sin and are deserted by God in just Judgment Death Eternal it is a gulfe without bottom a doom beyond ransome a fire that burnes and is never extinguished and a restless craver never satisfied What shall I say other then that of the Psalmist Remember this yee that frrget God Psal 50.22 lest he tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver These are the Evils from which peace in Acquaintance with God priviledgeth the soul But how cries the holy soul cometh this to be my priviledge How O soul Surely not by thy merit but 1. By the Mercy of God which hath bestowed that good as an Enticement to be his God invites sinners to his Mercy Isai 30.18 He waites to be gracious he would have them come to the waters of Life and drink freely Matth. 11.28 he calls to you to come Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden he rewards them when they come Those that come unto me I will in no sort cast away he complains of them when they do not come John 5.40 They will not come unto me that they might have life God in goodness begins with man and gives him co-operating Grace and it is his own obduration that makes Mercy retreat while we are willing he assists us but when we draw back he will have no pleasure in us Mercy makes the Marriage betwixt God and the Soul and Peace is the Dowry that God gives his Beloved those that are one with