upon it unless when thou hast read it or heard it thou call to mind what thou hast read or heard Thus Davids Godly-man had his delight in the Law of the Lord and therein would meditate day and night Psal 1. 2. What Law this is Davids Godly-man delights so much to meditate in is worth our observing it is not the Canon Law nor the Civil Law nor the Law of the Twelve Tables it is not the Law of the Medes and Persians nor the Law of Nations but it is the Law of the Lord a Law that gives rule to all other Lawes and is it self ruled by no other Law a Law leading to perfect happiness and a Law whereby they must live and be ruled that will be happy David pronounceth his Godly-man to be a blessed man that doth this and the man that doth it after a godly manner does iâ— that he may be blessed he is in some measure a blessed man already but he meditates in the Law of God as one that would be perfectly blessed hereafter 4. Another means he makes use of are both the Sacraments of the Gospel those Seales of the Covenant of Grace and all things therein contained Viz. Baptisme and the Lords Supper I have sometimes wondred at the too usual practise of some that though they will not let their children want the Sacrament of Baptisme yet can themselves be content to be without the Sacrament of the Lords Supper as if that were some unnecessary Ordinance whereas Christ and all spiritual good things are Sacramentally held out as well in the one as in the other as well in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper as in the Sacrament of Baptisme But then a Christian labours for Eternal good things when he improves both these Sacraments 1. When he dares not neglect to improve the Sacrament of Baptisme that initiatory Sacrament of the Gospel and first visible act of God's grace whereby he is received into his favour and family and the first visible means whereby God doth apply to him by word sign and Seal the blood of Jesus Christ for the remission of his sins He hath learned in his Catechisme that Baptisme in its general notion is an outward and visible sign or means holding out and giveing some inward and invisible grace and favour conveyed and made over thereby unto him and that thereby he is received into the injoyment of some priviledges and benefits that otherwise are not ordinarily to be had and enjoyed Viz. That by that door God hath let him into the Church opened a gate for him to enter into Christ's fold and assured him that Christ in his life and death is his and that he shall be saved by Christ through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost that he is thereby put into a new state for being before only a child of Adam he is now taken to be a child oâ— God and so stands upon better terms then meer Nature did instate him in That he shall enjoy pardon grace and Salvation and be priviledged from wrath to come he forsaking the Divel the world with all the Lusts oâ— the flesh having no fellowship with the unfruitfulâ— works of darkness and being in every other respect faithful in God's Covenant sealed by Baptisme and following the conduct of the Holy Ghost which in Baptisme seals his Vocation his Justification Adoption Sanctification and all other spiritual priviledges one as well as the other he shall at last be made a possessor of that immortality unto which in Baptisme he had a title given him Now when the hopes of such things and the remembrance of that treble Vow and Covenant which was by others made for him in his Baptisme and by himself at Confirmation or laying on of hands resumed and ratified in every part causes him to cleanse himself from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit and to perfect holiness in the fear of God to cleave to God faithfully against all the persuasions of the Divel the world and the flesh not to live as if he had been Baptized into the Divels name but as Baptized into the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost as one that hath put on Christ and entred into Christ's death being buried with Christ in Baptisme and therefore reckons himself to be dead indeed unto sin but alive unto God through Jesus Christ Rom. 6. from 3. v. to 8. v. When the thoughts of God's putting his Seal in the way of an Ordinance to ratifie and confirm the Covenant of Grace and all things therein contained do encourage him to wait upon every other ordinance for the gaining all inward prerogatives of Saints by them that at last he may be brought to Mount Zion Heb. 12. 25. to the Souls of just men and to the assemblies of glorified Saints with them to be made a partaker of that life and glory which will be Eternal 2. When he frequently is a guest at the Lord's Table to partake of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper where are opened floods of Honey and Butter for each believer where is food in abundance for the Saints nourishment and growth in Grace Manna that will continue for ever and make believers continue for ever All other food the sweetness of it is gone in a quarter of an hour and the strength of it gone in a few hours But here the believing Soul is fed to everlasting life the sweetness the strength and the comfort of this food endures for ever when the fullest cups shall be emptied and the largest and plentifullest Tables shall be bared then the food to be had at the Lord's Table shall last for ever and be Eternally advantagious to the worthy receiver Then therefore is a Christian at this kind of labour when he comes hungring and thirsting after Christ and all the benefits of his death and passion even as a hungry man comes to his meat or a thirsty man to drink i. e. with an earnest desire desiring this Sacrament and the good things there held as David desired and panted after God Psal 42. 1. 2. As the hart panâ—eth after the water brooks so panâ—eth my soul after thee O God My soul thirsteth for God for the living God As Jesus Christ did after the Passover Luke 22. 15. With desire have I desired to eat this Passover with you also he speaks to his Disciples single desires would not serve his turn his desires are desiring desires beleeving ouâ— Saviour's words of himself John 6. 48 49 50 51. v. I am that bread of Life your fathers did eat Manna in the Wilderness and are dead This is the bread that came down from Heaven that a man may eat thereof and not dy I am the living bread that came down from Heaven If any man eate of this bread he shall live for ever and putting his seal to the words of holy Bernard In hoc sacramento speaking of the Supper non solum quaelibet gratia sed ille in quo
portion of his fulness Let burning hanging all the torments of Hell befall me Tantummodo ut Jesum nauciscar so that I may get my Jesus said Ignatius Christ to him was more dear then his temporal life Jesus Christ was the Paradise wherein he delighted and the foundation in whom his Soul found all satisfaction Lambert at the Stake cryed out None but Christ none but Christ lifting up at the same time such hands as he had and his fingers ends flaming It was the saying of Holy Bernard Lord Jesus I love thee Plus quam mea meos me that is more then all my goods then all my friends wife or Children yea then my own self To him all riches were but poverty in comparison of that treasure he found in Jesus Christ all his friends and relations but dumb idols in comparison of Christ Himself to be nothing in comparison of Christ nothing was so sweet and dear unto him as Christ It is storied of Hormisda a Noble man in the King of Persia his Court because he would not deny Christ he was put into ragged cloaths deprived of his honors and set to keep Camels after a long time the King seeing him in that base condition he was and remembring his former fortunes he pitied him and caused him to be brought into the Pallace and to be cloathed again like a Noble man and then the King persuades him to deny Christ he presently rends his Silken cloaths and says If for these things you think to have me to deny my Faith take them again and so with scorn was cast out This hath made those who have wanted Christ to long as sore for Christ as Daâ—id did for the waters of the Well of Bethlehem Oh for a blessed armful of the Babe of Bethlehem such a one as Simeon once had It hath made them cry out Give me Christ or else I dye All things to them have been of no value in comparison of Christ they must haâ—e 〈…〉 t wâ—ateveâ— it cost â—â—em Certainly did Christians iâ— these days thus esteem of Christ Christ would haâ—e â—â—â—e â—oom in their hearts T is said when 〈◊〉 was Emperour that Germaniâ—us raigned in â—â—e Râ—â—an hâ—â—râ—s Tiberius only in their Provinces â—o â—ill it be â—iâ—h all that prize Christ Though God have given them leaâ—e â—o â—ave the world in their hands yet Christ only shall reign in their hearts they will take him to be the top of all their felicity and happyness Christ shall be to them in respect of all things else as the Aple Tree among the trees of the Wood as the Sun among the gloe-worms as the Jewel among dross Well may we reckon Jesus Christ amongst the chiefest of Eternal good things called therefore the Everlasting Father Isay 9. 6. v. He is One Eternal God with the Father and with the Holy Ghost read these following places John 10. 30. v. I and the Father are one John 1. 1 2 3. v. In the beginning was the Word and the word was with God and the word was God The same was in the begining with God All things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made As God he did preexist in the form of God not only before his Incarnation but before the whole Creation before Abraham was born he was Joh. 8. 58. v. Before any creatures were he had an existence Jesus Christ was so before all Creatures that all creatures were made by him Col. 1. 16. v. For by him were all things created that are in Heaven and that are in earth visible and invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him Pro. 8. 23. v. I was set up from everlasting from the beginning or ever the earth was And as he was before the world began so will he be after the world shall have an end As â—e was before all Temporal things so is he not to be out-lived by any Eternal things whatsoever As he was begotten of his Father before all worlds so will he be the same when there shall be no world when there shall be no Earth nor Heavens Psal 102. 26 27. v. Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth and the heavens are the work of thy hands They shall perish but thou shalt endure yea all of them shall wax old like a garment as a vesture shalt thou change them and they shall be changed But thou art the same and thy years shall have no end St. Paul assures us that he it is who is over all God blessed for ever Rom. 9. 5. v. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and to day and for ever Christ is the same aforetime in time and after time he is unchangeable in his Essence always the same Revel 1. 8. v. I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the ending saith the Lord which is and which was and which is to come The phrase is known to be taken from the Greek letters whereof Alpha is the first and Omega the last letter of the Greek Alphabet The first and last letters are a description of Jesus Christ who was before all and will be after all and altogether unchangeable in himself When friends dye when estates are gone yet Jesus Christ will remain and be a never failing spring and fountain of all blessings and goodness And Jesus Christ doth make all them good who do injoy him All men by nature are empty of all spiritual good but Christ is as a fountain filling them therewith that possess him All men by nature are dead in sins and trespasses it is true of all men what the Apostle faith of the wanton Widdow 1 Tim. 5. 6. v. She that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth As Pamphilus in Terence saith the like of a light Huswife Sane hercle homo voluptati obsequens fuit dum vixit St. Paul's Greek as one noteth cannot well be rendred but by Terences Latin and Terences Latin cannot well be put into other Greek Here is the true condition of men before they are interested in Christ they are all as so many dead men they are but walking Sepulchers their bodies living Coffings carrying about in them dead souls they are all of them spiritually dead they are living ghosts those men who be already in their graves are not more devoid of natural life then these are of spiritual life they are like Ezekiel's dead bones until Jesus Christ breath life into them until Jesus Christ speak to them as once he did to Lazarus Come out of the Grave and live they are stark dead Look what a branch is without a root or a body without a Soul such is every man without Jesus Christ he is but a withered branch or dead carcass Dead twice dead and pluckt up by the roots spiritually dead whilst corporally alive altogether alienated from the life of God whilst they injoy the life of Men. There is the life of
consuming fire to burn up souls like stuble that had not God for their God yet those who have this intrerest in God they may look upon him not as an enemy that will set himself against them but as a friend that is reconciled unto them not as an angry Judg that will condemn them but as a merciful Father that willingly hath pardoned them they may behold him not as clothed with dread and terror but with mercy and compassion though then God will frown upon them who never labored to get an interest in him yet will he turn away his anger from them who have chosen him for their God and will behold them with a smiling countenance Most men highly value an Interest in great persons and too many value this more then to have an interest in a great God But experience shews how mutable the friendship of men is they are like weathercocks upon Steeples that turn with every wind somtimes in their friendship they are like the Sun in its full strength but anon some cloud of a small or imagined offence darkens all their love and nothing is more common then to find friends dying oftentimes one to another even whilst they live and their somtimes injoyed friendship then does them no good nor stands them in stead whatever be their straits they come into But when once a Christian hath gotten an interest in God God will be a God to him as long as he is God God is a God for ever and he will be his God for ever What God is he was from Eternity and what God is to any he will be to Eternity there shall never come the time when God will withdraw his love or his good will cease towards them He will always do them good and always stand them in stead both in life and death and the day of Judgment God that hath done them good and stood them in their greatest straits of this life will do as much for them at this day An Interest in God did stand David in stead when he was in that great strait at Ziglag the City was burnt by the Philistins in his absence his wives carryed captive the people ready to stone him but David he incouraged himself in the Lord his God So Psal 31. 14. v. there also this man who was a man after God's own heart is in a great calamity and trouble but an interest in God did him good and stood him in stead then For says he I trusted in thee O Lord I said thou art my God God will have them to know that they have not any cause to fear nor be dismayed wheresoever they are or whatsoever condition they lye under so long as they have him to be their God Isay 41. 10. v. Fear thou â—at for I am with thee be not dismayed And he gives the reason which is satisfactory enough to all that know what God is and what it is to have God for their God the reason is in these words For I am thy God O the happy condition of that man who hath God for his God God being his then whatsoever is in God whatsoever God can do and whatsoever God hath is his because God himself is his The propriety that he hath in God extends throughout to all that is in God to all that God is or can do for his good Whatsoever there is in God shall be as truly that man 's for his good as it is God's for his own glory God will do that man good not only whilst he lives but when he dyes for God is not his God only while he lived but when dead he is his God to do him good at death and to do him good at Judgment Whilst he lived God was his God to pardon his sins they both go together I will be their God and I will forgive their Iniquities and remember them no more Jer. 31. 33. v. When he dyes God is his God even when he passeth through the valley and shadow of death he is with him and when his soul leaves his body he sends a guard of Angels to carry that into Abraham's bosom And when the body hath lyen a while in the Grave as he is his God he will raise it up out of the grave to glory in the day of Judgment he shall be made up with God's Jewels at that day Then also an Interest in Jesus Christ will do good let the terror of that Judgment be never so great to the greatest part of the children of men it will not be so to those that have gotten Jesus Christ to be their Saviour and that then shall have Jesus Christ to be their Judg. It will be a dreadful day to all those that have been ashamed to make a profession of Jesus Christ that have been ashamed of the ordinances of Jesus Christ Luk. 9. 26. v. Whosoever is ashamed of me and of my words of him shall the Son of Man be ashamed when he shall come in his own glory and in his Father's and of the holy Angels And that have shewed no mercy to the poor afflicted and distressed members of Jesus Christ that have shut their bowels against those that have been related to Jesus Christ Matth. 25. 41 42. v. Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Divel and his Angels But why so sad a doom For I was an hungred and ye gave me no meat I was thirsty and ye gave me no drink I was a stranger and ye took me not in naked and ye clothed me not sick and in prison and ye visited me not And that have had no sincere love to Christ 1 Cor. 16. 22. v. If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathama Maranatha Let him be Anathama that is let him be accursed When Maranatha when Christ comes to Judgment And that have not yielded obedience to the Gospel of Jesus Christ 2 Thes 1. 7 8. v. The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. But Jesus Christ will stand them in stead who shall then be found having an interest in Christ Will it not stand one in stead at the barr of Man's tribunal that the Judg upon the bench is his friend that the Judg is one that loves him dearly that he is one who designs the good and welfare of the prisoner that the prisoner knows assuredly Well my Lord the Judg whatever accusations are brought in against me will be my friend I am sure he will save my life I am sure he will acquit me Indeed if the Judg were a man's enemy such a one hath cause to fear So if then the Divel or wicked men were to be our Judges we should have cause to tremble but Jesus Christ he is to be our Judg he that was once judged condemned and executed in our stead is to
for thee Uniâ— me to Christ 111 who is the Fountain of life that I may live who by nature am dead in sins and trespasses Let thine Eternal spirit by its powerful influence and breathings heal 114 my Soul sanctifie my heart subdue the rebellion 115 of my will and purifie all uncleanness out of my affections that acting from inward principles of holiness I may imitating blessed St. Paul exercise 121 my self to have alwayes a conscience void of offence towards man and 122 in simplicity and godly sincerity not in fleshly wisdome but by the grace of God I may have my conversation in the world in all things willing â—12 to live honestly and walking before thee in truth and with a perfect heart doing that which is good that so when thou shalt bring to my mind the History 126 of my life which having been very sinful might here be followed with dreadful apprehensions of thy wrath and some glimpses and pre-occupations of Hell and hereafter with Eternal torments I may have that which will afford unto me inward consolation and refreshment and in the day when I must pass 127 through the valley and shadow of death that neither the terrors of death nor the fiercest oppositions of Hell and the Divel may dismay me let me be found interested in what will do me 145 good then and being lasting good things will last beyond Death go with me out of this 131 world stand me in stead at the day of 23â— 152 Judgement and keep me out 137 of Hell If whilst I live thou shalt make my condition an afflicted condition that 141 I must go through the valley of Baca towards Zionâ— yet bestow upon me what thou knowest 142 will make me bear afflictions patiently be as an Ark to uphold my spirits and keep them from sinking in the greatest deluge of calamities Though here I should meet with shame and disgrace O Christ yet with thee let me 174 enjoy Eternal Glory though here I should live but a short life yet in Heaven let me live 175 an Eternal life though here I should not have one joyful hour yet hereafter let me enter into my Masters 177 joy into that joy which Eternity begins 178 but Eternity shall never end though here I should never enjoy any earthly inheritance yet let me not miss of that Inheritance incorruptible 179 which fadeth not away in the 180 everlasting Kingdome of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and there also receive that Crown 182 of glory that fadeth not away though here I should not have a house to shelter my self from storms and tempests yet let me be admitted into that house not 184 made with hands Eternal in the Heavens and scituated in the new Jerusalem which is the everlasting habitation of 189 Angels and glorified Saints Take my heart off these lower things wherein so many do fancy 221 doth consist the only comfort of their lives which are only for the body 198 and but vanity and vexation 191 of spirit and set it upon those alwayes 188 desirable good things in Heaven which only can satisfie 193 the longings of it and make my soul 198 that most precious and immortal 203 being happy By faith help me to look above 22â— the gaiety and eye-dazling 224 objects here in the world and to see the excellency and worth of those things that are 215 invisible but are made 235 known in the Gospel Oh that my head were water 245 and mine Eye a fountain of tears that I might weep day and night for them who make all the motions 250 of their Souls to wait upon earthly designs and for the gaining 252 the Mammon of unrighteousness in this world such â—s prefeâ— momentany pleasures before 244 Eterâ—al joyes and spend their whole time in making proâ—sion for the flesh without the least thought upon Eâ—ernity that follows and never think of their present â—nfulness or their future Eternal misery Pardon â—e O my God that I have at any time postponed 256 the things of Heaven to the things of this world â—referring dross before Gold the fatness of the Earth â—efore the dew of Heaven earthly Mammon before Heavenly Mansions and the good things of this life â—efore the good things of another and better life yea â—ood and â—aiment for my body before Grace and Glory â—or my soul and now O Lord â—help me to consider â—hat it is â—igh time for me to mind the concerns of my â—oul and to be labouring for Eternal good things and â—261 seeking those things that are above and to â—ve above those things which 269 I cannot live withâ—ut yea wholly to spend my time whilst 269 I am â—n the body about those things whereof I shall have â—ost need when I am out of the body and principally â—o Labour for on earth those things that will be of use â— Heaven Make me spiritually 273 wise to lay up â—uch a stock and store that will do me good throughâ—ut all Eternity and before my body be laid in the Grave to take care that my never dying soul may be â—arryed into Abrahams bosome by a turning to thee O God by accepting of Jesus Christ by getting my â—ins pardoned and my evidence for Heaven cleared â—hough I do yet remain upon Earth let I pray thee â—hy spirit help me to converse in Heaven 274 and â—o have mine Eyes fixed upon those invisible things â—or ever blessed be thy most holy name O Lord that I am not placed among the common Beggars of this world that I have not been sent to beg my bread from door to door it might 278 have been my portion to have crowched to another for a morsel of bread to have been a vagabond and have saught my bread out of desolate places and to have lived as another Lazarus 279 in a starving and famishing condition O Lord I beseech thee never lay me under the heavy judgement of poverty in this world least I be poor and steal and take the name of thee my God in vain neither let me be a beggar in another world in Hell to howl for a drop of water to cools my tongue Yet if poverty must be the condition thou O God wilt have me to end my dayes in and I must be made worldly 287 poor yet O God vouchsafe to make me spiritually rich rich in Faith even enriched with the unsearchable riches of Jesus Christ let me be found to be an heir of Salvation even an heir 288 of God and a joynt heir with Christ an heir of that Kingdome 289 which thou hast promised to them that love thee Help me O Lord to overlook the splendid braveries of this world the greatest and best things of this life 299 as those things which are 293 not but are as so many Empty 294 clouds and Wells without Water ciphers without figures and but as shadows to real substances being altogether void of 291 what will make me happy to Eternity and to Labour that I may have
the body and this life they have but there is the life of the Soul and that life they have not We hear of many children born dead its true in this sence all men are born dead men there is not a man born a member of the new Adam but every man is born a member of the old Adam and therefore in a spiritual sence they must needs be born dead men though otherwise endued with a natural life For if the root be dead as the old Adam is all the branches that rise from that root must needs be dead also In Adam all dyed saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. 22. v. Adam was the common root of Mankind all Mankind was in him Tamquam in radice as so many Branches in the root and so consequently Adam dying all Mankind dye in him and with him and in this dead condition they all do remain until they do injoy an interest in and union with Jesus Christ the last Adam who was made a quickning spirit 1 Cor. 15. 45. v. he being the fountain and author both of a spiritual and eternal life to all Believers And therefore saith St. John John 5. 12. v. He that hath the Son hath life and he that hath not the Son hath not life And the Apostle St. Paul calleth him Our life because none live the life of Grace but those who partake of Jesus Christ it is he in whom and by whom they do live Col. 3. 4. v. When Christ who is our life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in glory Hence saith Wisdom that is Christ Pro. 8. 35. v. Who so findeth me findeth life Not a Soul wanting Jesus Christ but he wanteth life and also in him there dweleth no good thing Rom. 7. 18. v. Neither faith nor any other saving grace dwelleth in such a one but he is as full of all kind of evil as Baal's house of Idolatry as the Sluggard's field of thorns and bryars or as Pharisees sepulchers of dead mens bones such a man's Soul is a very sink of uncleanness and naughtiness â—ut as when a man is made a partaker of Christ he is a new creature old things are past away behold all things are become new 2 Cor. 5. 17. v. So he is also a Good Man bad things are passed away and all things are become good he is become a good man and hath his heart filled with the good treasure of saving Grace Such another as Joseph of Arimathea who was a good man and a just Luke 23. 50. v. Such another as Banabas was a Good man and full of the Holy Ghost Act. 11. 24. v. When Christ came into the Temple John 2. 5. v. he purged his Father's house he overturned the money â—ables he drove out the buyers and sellers So when Christ cometh into any man and taketh up his holy habitation in the heart he throws down every sin he drives out every â—orruption and carnal lust he purges out every evil thing and maketh the heart good The heart of man by nature is a very den of Thieves a pallace of Pride a slaughter-house of Malice a brothel-house of uncleanness a raging sea of Sin a little hell of black and blaspâ—emous Imaginations and â—warming with all manner of noysom lusts but the Lord Jesus Christ rids the heart hereof and makes it holy Himself is called that holy thing Luk. 1. 35. v. Therefore that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That holy thing it is put in the Neuter gender Emphatically shewing that he hath not the least spot of sin in him but is every way holy typified therein by the high Priest under the Law who had this written upon him Holyness to the Lord but Jesus Christ is not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 holy but he is also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He that sanctifieth and maketh us holy by his blood cleansing us from all filthy abominations 4. The fourth Instance is that of the Spirit who is called the Spirit of Grace and is of the same essence and consubstantial with the Father and the Son and in all respects co-equal and co-eternal called therefore the Eternal Spirit Heb. 9. 14. How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the Eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your Conscience from dead works to serve the living God The holy Ghost in Scripture is expresly called God Act. 5. 3 4 v. Peter reproving Ananias for lying to the holy Ghost saith Thou hast not lyed unto Man but unto God And St. Paul proves that our bodies are the Temple of the living God 2 Cor. 6. 16. v. Because of the holy Ghost which dwelleth in us 1 Cor. 6. 19. v. Know ye not that your body is the Temple of the holy Ghost which is in you He that in one place is called the holy Ghost in the other place is called the living God And whosoever will be saved is taught in St. Athanasius his Creed to believe thus That the Godhead of the Father of the Son and of the holy Ghost is all one the â—lory equal the Majesty co-eternal Anâ— again Such as the Father is such is the Son and such is the holy Ghost And again The Father Eternal the Son Eternal and the holy Ghost Eternal And yet they are not three Eternals but one Eternal And Eternally blessed is that man who hath gotten this Eternal spirit of the living God into his heart for wheresoever the spirit of God comes it is not idle We read Matth. 8. 7. v. how Christ saith to the Centurion When I come I will heal thy servant I will not meerly come to see him and visit him but when I come I will heal him So when the holy Ghost doth come into a man he will not be idle and do nothing but he will heal the Soul sanctify the heart and purge corrupted nature in some measure Holyness is the natural product of the spirit by its powerful influence and breathings it raises poor dead Souls out of the grave of sin frames them unto a spiritual and divine conformity unto Christ subdues the rebellion of evil hearts and makes the sinner to become another man by a spiritual Metamorphosis This is that work which is ascribed to the holy Ghost 1 Pet. 1 2 v. Elect according to the foreknowledg of God the Father through sanctification of the spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Here is held forth the concurrence of the whole Trinity in the salvation of man The Father electing us the holy Ghost sanctiâ—ying us Jesus Christ shedding his blood for us Hence it is that our Saviour calleth it the holy Spirit Luk. 11. 13. v. If ye being evil know how to give good gifts to your children how much more shall your heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him Sanctus dicitur quia sanctificat He calleth him the holy
were Lords or Ladies Dukes or Dutchesses Kings or Queens on the earth No comfort will it be to them there though they had injoyed in their life-time Mints of Gold and Silver Those that are already gone down to the Dead and are amongst the damned are not at all comforted with the remembrance of what once they had or were Those prisoners of Hell have all their sins there about them their sins which were the cause of their being cast into Hell are with them but they have none of their delights pleasures worldly honors and sensual contentments about them they have nothing of Gold Silver Pearl or their sweet Perfumes about them What is it Christians to be lifted up in this world and in another world to be cast down Here to injoy abundance of all Temporal good things and there to want all things for a short time to shine here in glory and hereafter to consume in misery here to have plenty of all things that can do us good and there to be deprived of all things which would do us good What though a man were now possessor of as much gold as Pope John the two and twentieth was possessor of who is said to have at the time of his death two hundred and fifty Tunâ—s of Gold What though a man had hoarded up as much wealth as Pope Boniface the Eight of whom it is storied that when he was taken by Phillip the Fair King of France and his Palace rifled there was more Treasure found than all the Kings of the earth could shew again And yet after all these great Stores to have no place in Heaven but to be cast down into Hell and there to have nothing to do us good There are thousands that once knew not where to bestow their goods on earth who now know not which way to turn themselves in Hell upon earth they took to themselves the Timbrel and Harp they spent their days in wealth as you have it in Job 21. 12 13. v. Then they lay upon beds of Ivory and stretched themselves upon their Couches and eat the Lambs out of the flock and the Calves out of the midst of the stâ—ll that chaunted to the sound of the Viol and invented to themselves instruments of Musick like David that drank Wine in bowls and anointed themselves with the cheif Oyntments As Amos gives the character of some Amos 6. 4 5 6. Their whole life was but a diversion from one pleasure to another but now know not which way to turn them for a little ease in Hell that prison of the Damned They who here had their Harps and Timbrels to make themselves musick have there no musick but roaring and crying and howling of the Damned they who here lay upon beds of Ivory and stretched themselves upon their couches have there no other beds but what are made of fieâ—y Brimstone pitchy Sulphur scorching Darkness and Fire unquenchable they who here eat the Lambs out of the flock and the calves ouâ— of the midst of the stall have there their most dainty and delicious tasts empoysoned with far worâ—e food then the bread and water of Affliction even food of Divels aâ—d Damned ones they who here chaunted to the sound of the Viol have there no Hymnes but cursings no tunes but wailings no dittyes but blasphemies no songs but lamentations no streins but scriechings they who here drank wine in bowles have there not a drop to cool their tongues no other wine there but the wine of the wrath of God Rev. 14. 10. v. Do but consult History and read the stories of formerages and you will easily find that God hath given the good things of this life ye the best of such things as this world affordeth unto the worst and as Daniel speaketh the basest of men Who but the Nimrods the Nebuchadnezzars the Alexanders and the Caesars have ordinarily been the Lords of the world Even such when they lived fleeted of the cream of earthly enjoyments when the portion of the Saints hath been thin and lean and poor but alas they had their good thngs only in this life as Abraham tells the rich man but now in Hell in another life they enjoy not any thing that will do them good or stand them in any stead Hitherto of the first particular viz. That Temporal good things will not do the wicked man any good in such conditions as God will cast him into I come to the second and that is 2. That Eternal good things will stand a Christian instead and do him good in what ever condition a good man can be cast into As 1. They will do a Christian good and stand him in stead when God shall lay him under affliction 2. They will do a Christian good and stand him in stead when he lies upon a sick bed or a dying bed 3. They will do a Christian good and stand him in stead when he shall be brought to stand at Christ's tribunal in the day of judgement Having named these three things I cannot but conclude him an happy man that hath that which will do him good under those afflictions he may meet with in this life and that will do him good when he shall have an end put to this life and at the day of judgement that follows after this life is ended Christians let me say unto you as Paul once did to Agrippa Do you beleive the Scriptures I know you do And in them these truths are plainly and plentifully proved That Eternal good things will do those good who enjoy them under afflictions at death and at judgement I begin with the first of these three 1. Eternal good things will stand a Christian in stead and do him good when God shall lay him under affliction Nothing more common indeed then to find the worst of men in the best outward condition enjoying abundance of Temporal good things and liveing in prosperity and free from all kind of afflictions so David saies of them That they are not in trouble as other men their eyes stand out with fatness they have more then their hearts can wish but for himself all the day long he was plagued and chastened every morning Psal 73. 4. 5. 7. 12 14. v. And saies Jeremy when he would plead this very case with God Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper why are all they in wealth who rebelliously transgress thou hast planted them yea they have taken root they grow yea they bring forth fruit Jer. 12. 1 2. v. Mal. 3. 15. They that work wickedness they are set up yea they that tempt God are even delivered Proud and presumptuous sinners prospered and flourished they carryed the Flagg in the Main-top as if they had been God's special favorites whilst in the mean time it weâ—t fally with those that feared God And Job he askes the like question as Jeremie did before as if he would reason out the matter with God Job 21. 7. v. Wherefore do the wicked live
Censure of a Chariot made by Myrmeeidas and Chalecrates p. 98 Alphonsus his Saying p. 8 Alphonsus refuseth to give any thing to a Knight that had spent his Estate p. 206 Ancients used means to keep Death in their thoughts p. 145 Andronicus his fall p. 169 Angola Inhabitants prefer a Dog before a Slave p. 223 Antimachus high esteem of his Schollar Plato p. 35 Antigenides a famous Musician his custom before he play'd a Lesson p. 311 Apelles how he came to fall in love with a Woman p. 224 Archimedes the Mathematician slain and why p. 16 Aristotle preferred conjecturall knowledge about Heavenly things before certain knowledge about Earthly things p. 270 Aristotle studied Philosophy in the morning but Eloquence in the afternoon Ibid. Artabazus Cup not so good Gold as Chrysantus Kiss p. 100 Athenians gave the Grashopper for their Badge p. 218 Athens what a kind of City p. 269 Attention required at hearing of the Word p. 21 Aetna ' s sad and ruining eruptions 1669 wasting the Habitations of 27000 Persons with 13 Towns p. 168 B. BAjazet carried in an Iron-cage p. 169 Babtism what it is p. 23 Baptism enters us into the Church p. 23 Baleassar his submission to the Word of God 24 Basil his answer to the threatnings of Modestus p. 23 Bassianus the Emperour strangely degenerated into effeminatness would be called Bassiana p. 223 Beatitudes the first of them belong to the Poor p. 92 Beauford Bishop of Winchester and Chancellor in the Reign of Henry VI. p. 128 â—ee what Men are like to it p. 273 â—eggars are all they who though they possess the greatest of Temporal good things are without Eternal good things p. 277 â—eggars lye under a great judgment p. 278 â—eggars are all they who have nothing laid up in Heaven p. 285 â—eleivers have the promise of two Worlds p. 290 â—elisarius his poor condition p. 169 â—engala where was an old Man of a great age p. 299 â—ernard ' s Esteem of Christ p. 108 â—ernard ' s words of the end of Christ ' s Comming at the last Day p. 155 â—ible presented to Queen Elizabeth p. 19 â—ody but a mean habitation for the Soul p. 149 â—ody made lovely by the Soul p. 202 â—ody of an excellent Structure p. 198 199 â—ooks cared for by Caesar p. 200 â—runo his change of Life and the cause thereof p. 135 â—udaeus high esteem of Plutarchâ— Works p. 18 â—urleigh his high esteem of Tully ' s Offices p. 20 C. Caesars Battle in Affrica with the followers of Pompey p. 53 Caesars Battle with the Swiffes that fought to obtain Gallia out of his hands p. 54 Caesar murthered p. 1â—1 Caesars Care of his Books p. 200 Caesar Borgia upon his Death-bed lamented because he had not taken care for Death before-hand p. 205 Caius Marius how he was wont to choose Souldiers p. 31 Camois relates what devout Personages used to writâ— upon their Chymney-pieces p. 308 Cardinal his choyce p. 257 Cato at evening meditated upon what he read in the day p. 21 Cats why Men compared unto them p. 232 Change is made by Grace p. 98 9â— Charles the Fifth Emperour his Challenge to Franciâ— the First King of France p. 10â— Christ the full of Mans Happiness p. 10â— Christ reckon'd amongst the chief of Eternal good thingâ— p. 10â— Christ makes them good who do enjoy him p. 11â— Christless Men are dead Men p. 111 11â— Christ loved by Saints above all things p. 107 10â— Christ will be a Righteous Judge in the day of Judgement p. 135 Christ hath a two fold Coming p. 15â— Christ will do those who have an Interest in him good anâ— stand them in stead at the day of Judgement p. 15â— Christianity compared to a Race p. 50 Christianity compared to Wrestling Ibid Christianity compared to a Fight p. 5â— Christianity compared to an Agony p. 5â— Christians have many Enemies p. 51 52 Christians find their condition in this Life very mutable p. 177 16â— Christians should be chearful in labouring for Eternal good things p. 337 338 Chrysostomes Censure of Antioch p. 68 Church why called the Congregation of the Poor p. 209 Cicero his Saying wherein we are taught not to be idle p. 246 Cleanthes great labour p. 47 Count Anhalt his Saying concerning the Scriptures p. 18 Colen Ground Where Saint Ursula ' s Virgins are buried retains no other dead Bodies in it p. 45 Commands of God dangerous to be neglected p. 82 Conscience that is good of a great benefit p. 117 Conscience an everlasting Companion p. 118 Conscience doth mind Men of sin in this Life that long after it hath been committed p. 119 â—onscience will bring to mind sins in another Life p. 120 â—onscience that is bad like a Mill Ibid. â—onscience that is good is in a good Man p. 121 â—onscience that is good a consequence of Grace p. 122 â—onscience that is good is a bridle against sin p. 122 â—onscience that is good is a spur unto duty p. 123 â—onscience that is good a comfort under affliction Ibid. â—onscience that is good lives in peace and dyes in pease p. 124 â—onscience when terrified for sin not comforted by Temporal good things p. 826 â—onstantinople had 7000 Houses in it burnt in the year 1633 p. 166 â—ourtier his Saying upon his Death-bed p. 130 â—reatures all of them do desire their center p. 107 â—ickets of the Night who p. 44 â—own worn in Heaven is Eternal p. 181 Crown in Heaven promised to five sorts p. 182 D. DAvid his great desire after God p. 31 Daughters of Danaeus are in Hell condemned to fill a bottomless tub p. 208 Day time is for labour p. 35 Days how Christ in Scripture is said to have many of them p. 326 327 Dazled are the minds and Distracted are the judgments of Men by Temporal things p. 224 Dead Men are all Men without Christ p. 111 112 Death cannot he kept off by Temporal good things p. 128 Death should always be in a Christians thoughts p. 145 Death terrible especially to those who have made no provision for Eternity p. 146 Death by Mundanus an Heathen looked upon to be but a change to a more happy Estate p. 147 Death not feared by Seneca p. 148 Death what it will be to a good Man and what it will be to a wicked Man p. 151 Death what thoughts Saint Basil had of it p. 152 Death makes all Men equal p. 284 Death-bed how terrible to Philip the Third King of Spain p. 129 Death-bed how terrible it was to a Courtier p. 130 Death-bed what thoughts Pelican a German Divine had thereupon p. 133 Death-bed made comfortable to those who have gotten Eternal good things p. 144 Death-bed how Valentinian the Emperour was comfortable thereon p. 152 Death-bed what will comfort any Christian thereon Ibid. Delightful is the labour for Heaven p. 335 Demades his Counsel to the Athenians p. 264 Diligence commanded p. 332 333 Diocletian leaves the Empire because