for the flesh and blood the Scripture gives us many Epithetes of it as Houses of Clay Earthly Tabernacles Dust and Ashes earthen vessels c. And these Bodies are 1. Vile bodies Phil. 3. 21. because made of vile and base materials subject to vile diseases to vile abuses to vile abominations and to a vile dissolution at last sowen indishonour shall end in Corruption great hinderances to the Soul many waies 2. The outward Man is the mortal Man that of Necessity must dye and return to dust from whence it came this cannot possibly live alway There is an irreversible Sentence of Death past upon it Hebr. 9. 27. and for these reasons the Body is the worst part of Man the worst by far and should be least esteemed and such as is the Body even such are all bodily Comforts and Accommodations Health Strength Beauty Liberty Friends Honours Estate c. all mortal mutable decaying fading dying things daily experience confirmeth this I need say no more 2. But for the inner Man the Soul that is 1. Precious so precious that it is more worth than all the World Math. 16. 26. Psal 49. 8. having the blessed Image of the glorious God stamped on it at first being capable of knowing and injoying the true and living God and when sin had spoil'd and captivated it it could not be redeemed but by the precious Blood of the Son of God So are all the Concernments of the Soul precious also 2. It is immortal also it never dies it lives for ever None can nothing can kill the Soul that is cause it not to be and for these reasons it is the noblest chiefest and best part of Man and hence also the Concernments of the Soul are more excellent more noble and precious than those of the outward Man the Graces and Comforts the Strength and Beauty of the Soul the Priviledges and Peace and Wellfare of the Soul are more excellent and precious as will more appear in the next particular 2. The second thing to be considered is That the outward Man is subject to decline and perish The Body it self all its Beauty Strength Health c. is subject to decay The Bodies even of the best Saints that shall one day be made like unto Christ's glorious Body are subject to vile Infirmities and Diseases What is become of Sampson's Strength and Saul's Beauty Job and David will tell us of their decays in all these their Friends Estates Relations their Health and all their outward Comforts failed them and how can we possibly hope that we shall keep them All outward things are dying Vanities we are all of us travelling to the Land of forgetfulness They that live longest go the farthest way about and they that dye soonest gâ— the shortest way home Our greatest Care should be to be sure that we are in the right way to Eternal Life But now the inner Man is capable of growing increasing and renewing our inner Man is reneweâ— day by day saith the Text Grace and Peace Spiritual Life inward Strength and Comfort are capable of increasing For 1. This God commandeth That Christian should grow and increase 2. Pet. 1. 5. and 3. 1â— and that they should abound and go forward and be strengthned 2. This is God's Promise to his People that they shall grow and flourish Psal 92. 14. Isa 14. 40. 29 30 31. They that wait on the Lorâ— shall renew their strength 3. This is the Character of a gracious Soul Prov. 4. 18. and 24. 5. Coll. 1. 10. and 2. 1â— Eph. 4. 16. And this the Apostle prays for 1 Thess 3. 12. and 4. 16. 3 Epist Johnâ— This the Soul is capable of being deformed iâ— sin and God's Image defaced on it it is capable of being renewed and of having God's blesse Image repaired on it which is begun in Regeneration and is still carried on and promoted â—â— God 's Ordinances and his Providences his Spiâ— working in them and with them upon his People All afflictions being intended for and sanctifie unto this end to make Souls more and more 〈◊〉 unto Jesus Christ Those weaknings and pershings of the outward Man being by the love at wisdome of God designed to strengthen repair and better the inner Man that the Soul may bâ— made and must be made more holy more humble more heavenly more like God it must group in all things like unto Christ Ephes 4. 12 13. The Soul the inner Man may and must get more strength against Corruption and Temptation it must get more Victory over the World and over it self it must grow in self-denyal in faith in patience in hope in Communion with God it must increase in knowledge and experience it must get nearer God and more weaned from the World and better prepared to put off this earthly Tabernacle of the Body Wherefore is the Christian train'd up in Christ's Schools his School of Ordinances and of Providences but that the Soul the inner Man may be made better That Grace may grow for it is the Growth of Grace that evidenceth the Truth of it And why doth our heavenly Father chastise us in our outward Comforts but to better us in our inward Man But before I proceed let me pause a little and commune with my own heart O my Soul Thou hast been under the blastings and witherings of thy outward Man these many years thou hast been in the School of Correction Thy God hath made many breaches upon thy earthly Comforts stript thee of thy dearest Relations of thy Liberty of thy Estate of opportunities of serving thy God in thy place deprived thee of thy Health and Strength c. yet hath he dealt with thee infinitely better than thy Sins have deserved It is his mercy thou art not consumed not in Hell not in thy Grave but O my Soul what art thou the better for all those stroaks upon thy outward Man What hast thou gained by all thy losses It is true Afflictions are dry Rods and my heart a dead heart there can be no blossoms nor fruit without God's Blessing and the Word and Spirit 's working in and by Affliction but what blessing upon all thy troubles canst thou discern What good to the inner Man have these afflictions done thee Art thou more sensible of the evil of Sin more weary of it and more grieved with it Is thy Heart more tender thy Spirit more humble thy will more subdued to Gods will Art thou more Crucified to the Creature thy inordinate Affections mortified thy unruly Passions subdued Art thou more meek and patient Are thy Affections raised and more inlarged after God and Christ and Heaven Is Jesus Christ more precious to thee And dost thou pant and thirst more after the manifestations of his Love to thy Soul Art thou more watchful over thy thoughts words and actions More careful to please God more fearful to displease him More tender of his Honour More sensible of the Afflictions of Joseph More diligent in holy
a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the spirit of the Lord. These believing loving sights of heavenly things will change us into the image of them 9. By this we shall be made more and more willing and desirous to leave this World and to go to a better Compare this Text with the beginning of the next Chapter 2 Cor. 5. 1 2 3. the Apostle having said We look not on visible temporal things but on those things which are not seen which are eternal presently adds for we know that when the earthly house of this tabernacle is dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens for in this House we groan earnestly to be clothed upon with our House which is from Heaven And this made Paul desire to be dissolved that he might be with Christ which was far better or best of all Phil. 3. Certainly such as really apprehend and truly believe those invisible eternal things and their title to them and portion in them will be really willing to dye that they may enjoy them knowing that they lye on the other side of Death and cannot be enjoyed but by dying and after Death Death being the In-let to all that purchased promised Glory Now the more we do seriously think and meditate on those glorious things the more willing we shall be to leave all those fading vain and vexing Comforts to enjoy those eternal Delights And it is a great Mercy and sweet Priviledge to be willing to dye and I know nothing will more effect this willingness in us Now let all those Motives effectually perswade us to draw off our hearts from those visible temporal things and to set our Affections upon things above How long shall vain Thoughts lodge within us how long shall this present evil World gnaw and feed upon our Spirits consuming and wasting them and eating out our time and strength how long shall the God of this World blind our Minds and the Dust of it fill our Eyes how long shall we misplace our Affections and mistake our Rest Our Rest is not here our Heaven and Happiness is not here Earth is going from us and we from it and shall we hug what we cannot hold Shall we kiss and embrace that which is withering in our hands and dying in our arms Are there not infinitely-better things to be minded Duke de Alva wickedly said when one told him of an Eclipse that was then present I have so much to do on Earth I have no leisure to mind Heaven O that it may not be so said of any of us Let us call to mind what those invisible eternal things are aforementioned as God Christ the Holy Ghost the Promises the Purchased Inheritance the Glory of Heaven c. withal let us mind Christ's second Coming to Judgment the manner and end of it 2 Thess 1. 6 7 8 9 10. which the Apostle often spoke and wrote of and minded Tit. 2. 13 14. the glorious Appearing of the great God and our Saviour the Resurrection of the Body and the manner of it 1 Cor. 15. the full Redemption and glorious Manifestation of the Sons of God the happy uniting of the Souls and Bodies of the Saints after so long a Separation and the uniting and solemn Marriage of both to Christ the King of Glory the passing of the Saints into Heaven with Christ in Triumph their living for ever with God seeing his Face and knowing him as we are known Oh that we could mind these things and set our Faith and Love our Hopes Dâ—stres and Delights on work upon these things what sweet Contentment what Soul-refreshing Joy and Comfort would such thoughts yield to our Souls even in the midst of all our Troubles No wonder we are such Strangers to the Joy of the Lord because we are such Strangers to God himself and to the great things of his Kingdom I shall conclude this Use with that of the Apostle 2 Pet. 3. 14. Wherefore beloved seeing that ye look for such things be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace without spot and blameless Be diligent to prepare for the enjoyment of all those great and glorious things and to secure our title to them which Preparation consists in two things mainly as exprest in that Scripture 1. In a state of Reconciliation with God 2. In a spotless blameless Conversation 1. In a state of Reconciliation with God Be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace There will be a most strict and accurate search made at the last day all those that look for those invisible eternal good things at last must be exceeding careful about this to make this the Mark Design and Aim all their Life and at Death that they may be found in a reconciled state in a state of Peace with God This is the critical point the main hinge whereupon hangs all the safety and happiness of a Man or Woman for Eternity Not whether rich or poor high or low honourable or contemptible in this World the Differences and Distinctions will signifie nothing then nor whether Presbyterian or Independent c. but whether reconciled to God or no. This strict search will be made by the Lord who cannot be blinded nor deceived And the consideration of the issue of this search should quicken us to diligence in our Preparation which shall be 1st on them that shall then be found not reconciled the danger will be to their whole man Soul and Body Depart ye cursed c. most dreadful and most intolerable 2dly On them that are found reconciled their Comfort will be unspeakable the Lord Jesus will own them all as the Purchase of his Blood and will embrace them all Come ye blessed of my Father c. and will commend them Well done c. and will crown them with a Diadem of Eternal Glory Oh then let us presently engage all the Powers of our Souls in striving to be found of God in Peace And if we will be found of God in Peace at that day we must 1. Fall out with all Sin and make an open breach with all Ungodliness and all Worldly lusts Tit. 2. 11 12. No Peace with God so long as we have Peace with any Sin We must search for our Sins of Heart and Life heartily repent of them declare open War against them all not regarding any Iniquity in our Hearts but hating and mortifying all Go to God to give you sound Repentance Acts 5. 31. 3. 19. 2. Fall in and close unfeignedly with Jesus Christ the only Peace-maker accepting him on his Terms taking him for Only Lord and Saviour resigning up our whole selves unto him in all things giving him the Preheminence in us and over us and heartily submitting to his government by his Word and Spirit Thus by true Repentance and Faith we are to make our Peace with God And this
Duties More frequent in Self examination in heavenly Meditation in heavenly discourse Art thou O my Soul ashamed of and grieved for thy former Miscarriages thy mis-spending time Breath Liberty Strength c. More diligent in preparing for thy Dissolution and more contented with thy present Condition Dost thou endeavour now to go to the Fountain for all Supplies And dost thou labour with all thy might in the strength of God to make up all thy losses and breaches in God and in his Covenant through Christ Dost thou prize the promises and labourest to live upon them by Faith Is God and Christ more in thy thoughts and affections than heretofore And dost thou labour to get out the blessing of thy Afflictions and art most earnest with God for the blessing Dost thou labour to cast all thy care upon God and to trust him with all If any of these things appears let God have all the Glory and blessed be God for any weak desires after these sweet Fruits Deny not what God hath done for thee but be ashamed and grieved that thou art no better Cry to God mightily wrestle with him for his blessing upon thy afflictions 3. The third Particular is That the Decaying and Perishing of the outward Man to God's people tends to the strengthning the prospering and renewing of the inner Man The Adversity of the Body proves the Prosperity of the Soul to all gracious Persons and to them only The Soul and Body of a Saint is like the House of David and Saul as the one grows weaker and weaker the other grows stronger and stronger and where it is so there is good ground of Comfort under all outward troubles and where it is not so there is little ground of Comfort for the present although there may be a growing in the Soul when it is not discerned as there is of the Babe in the Womb and of the Corn in the Earth under the Clods both grow even when they are not discerned but in due time will appear But more of this afterward Quest But how comes this to pass What Efficacy and Influence have the perishings of the outward Man to help forward the increasings of the inward Man How the Sicknesses Pains Troubles Losses Crosses upon the outward Man should greatly contribute to the Strengthning and Renewing of the inward Man is the Question which great Truth resolved clearly apprehended firmly believed and experienced will tend very much to a poor Christians Consolation Ans 1. By the Decays and Witherings of the outward Man those Hinderances are removed which did very much obstruct the Growth Strength and Comfort of the inward Man When Davidâ— outward Man flourished When he had his Honour Health Ease Liberty and the confluence of earthly Comforts about him he was weak in his Soul that lay languishing in sinful Security he was so weak in his Soul that he could not resist the least Temptation but was shamefully conquered by the glance of his Eye Ordinarily our Souls are in the worst case when our Bodies are in the besâ— case It is pitty we say that fair weather should do hurt yet so it is The welfare of the outward Man tends to the ill-fare of the inward Man without a more than ordinary measure of Grace For first Ordinarily the Prosperity of the outward Man interposeth betwixt God and the Soul and keeps God at a distance from the Soul and the Soul at a distance from God Jesus Christ loves not to lye in their arms who embrace other Lovers God will be uppermost or not at all neare the heart or not at all there He deserves Best and will have the Best or will accept of nothing While the outward Man is fixt on the Creature the inner is not far off from it and then it is so in divided from God 2 Cor. 5. 6. While thâ— Soul is at home in the Body it is absent from power Lord and the reason is Because of that power the Body hath upon the Soul to draw it down tâ— it self and even sink it into it self and to participate with it It is hard for a poor Bird to flye uâ— that hath weights tyed to his feet and harder â—â— a poor Soul to Mount up or indeed to move wiâ—â— any speed heaven-ward that hath such a weighâ— of Clay hanging on it And this made godly Agâ— afraid of fulness Prov. 30. 8 9. Usually Prosperity begets Pride and Pride sets us at a distance from God God resisteth the proud he sees the proud afar off Christians are never so far from God as when they are nearest to their outward Comforts and Enjoyments God is then but in few of their thoughts Now it is the Presence or Absence of God that makes Summer and Winter in the Soul as it is the presence and absence of the Sun that makes Summer and Winter on the Earth Now if Prosperity does withdraw our hearts from God as too often it doth it causeth God to withdraw from us though we may not find him wanting while earthly Comforts continue with us it must needs do us a great deal of hurt for if God withdraw or withold the influences of his Grace from us our Souls must needs be in a sickly and languishing condition How weak and feeble must we be when God doth not continue his Grace to us Prosperity lies betwixt God and our Souls which we all know by woful Experience and our God our gracious Father knows it and therefore in tender love to our Souls many times breaks our outward Prosperity that our Souls may not be drown'd in it and perish by it 2. Secondly The welfare of the outward Man hinders the inner Man from that serious diligent hearty intent and Spiritual Service that it should perform to God in which the Soul might have had many sweet meetings with God and many Communications of Love and Grace from him which through the defects of his duties are suspended from him Isai 64. 5. and this must needs tend to the weakning of the Soul What Strength Life Comfort have God's People found in holy Duties How have their Souls been refresht their Hearts raised and quickned and enlarged after God many times but then they have been serious earnest fervent in Spirit in these Duties Now in Prosperity what careless heartless service do we perform How soon weary secretly glad when the work is over How ready upon the least occasion to neglect a Duty or an Ordinance Not so fearful to dispense with some Service that God calls for nor so fearful to draw nigh a Temptation O how cold dead and heartless are we in Duty All this is too true O my Soul see it lament and bewail and bless the Lord for time to do it and bless him more for an heart to do it What bad service did Manasses do to God Or rather what great service did he do the Devil when he was in his prosperity never minding his God or his Soul till his outward