his friends (f) Psa 45.8 All thy garments smell of myrrh aloes and Cassia but they are fearfully (g) Jude 23. spotted by the flesh if look'd into Gifts which are (h) Job 1 14 15 thy oxen thou keepest ever plowing lusts which are thy asses thou keepest feeding till the righteous God send his Executioners of Justice to take both and slay them with the sword of vengeance (i) â— Ti 6.6 Thy godliness is no gain nor is it profitable to any thing (l) 2 Ti 3.5 with its form but to gnaw out the heart of the power (l) Heb. 5.7 The strongest cries of thy prayers are but idle clamorousnesses and stark sin it 's (m) Psal 109.7 strength is just as its length but for a (n) Mat. 23.14 pretence (o) Mat. 21.13 Thy House of prayers is but a Den of thieves lying in wait for the curse of being well spoken of by all men (p) Jam 2.18 Thou shewest thy faith by thy works I 'le say it is a faith of miracles which (q) Mat. 17.20 if one have of it no more than a grain of mustard seed one shall throw away mountains of the convictions of God on ones soul (r) Heb. 11.33 'T is a faith that subdues Kingdomes indeed For I call God to witness it subdues the Kingdom of Christ (s) Ro. 14.23 in the Gospel (t) Luk. 7.50 'T is a faith that whatever is of it is sin T is a saving faith with the vengeance for I confess it saves it self though it (u) 1 Ti 1.19 make Shipwrack of a good Conscience (x) 1 Jo 4.28 Thy love 〈◊〉 Pride is so perfect that it casts out all fear of the Lord (y) Exo. 20. and shewes kindness to thousands of those both men and things which love thee and keep thy Commands But 't is true for Gods Statutes which are thy (z) Mat 5.44 enemies thou canst not love them and for Gods Attributes which despitefully use thee thou canst not pray for them Thou dost indeed oh Pride (a) Col. 3.2 set thy Affections on those things which are above and to use thy own hearts dialect (b) Psal 113.6 thou dost humble thy self to behold the things that are done in heaven But having said in thy heart That (c) Isa 45.22 Thou art God and there is non beside thee 't is the plainest thing of ten thousand (d) Psal 53.3 that every of thy affections is gone back to thy self they are altogether become filthy there is none that doeth good no not one (e) Psa 57.4 Their poison is like the poison of a serpent and they are deaf adders Let God (f) Job 2.11 but touch their bone or their flesh they will curse him to his face (g) Ex. 1.12 And the more they shall be afflicted the more they will grow Let Religion ask them for water they will (h) Jud 5.25 26 27. give her milk and butter promises in gay professions but they will put their hands to the mail and their right hands to the devils hammer with the hammer they will smite piety and smite off its head when they have pierced through its Temples (i) Job 10.14 12 13. They break down godliness with breach upon breach and rush upon it as a Gyant they take it by the neck and shake it to pieces and set it up for their mark Oh pride I do not wonder that God hates even the very (k) Pro 6.17 look of thee For I am sure thou and all thy fathers house do hate God with a (l) Psal 139. perfect hatred count him your enemy Thy natural language is (m) Eze 21.26 27. Remove God's diadem take off his Crown overturn overturn overturn him I have sworn by my self that unto me every knee shall bow Oh pride pride (n) Jer. 13.27 I have seen thine Idolatries thy Adulteries and thy Neighings the lewdness of thy spiritual whoredom and all thy abominations (o) Hab. 2.16 The cup of the Lords right hand be turn'd upon thee and a shameful spewing be on all thy glory in my heart and life (p) â—â— 3. 17 18 24. The Lord smite the crown of thy head with a scab and discover thy seeret parts The Lord take away the braverie of thy tinkling ornaments In stead of thy sweet smells let there be in my soul the stink of my own corruption In stead of thy girdles a being rent and broken in spirit In stead of thy well set hair baldness In stead of thy stomachers a girding of sackcloth and burning by the (q) Heb 11.34 fire of his spirit In stead of thy beauty How joyfully could I take the spoiling of rhy Goods Have thy (r) Mat. 5.29 40. right eyes bor'd out and thy right hands cut off and not onely have thy cloak but thy coat also took away God fire out thy (s) Lu. 9.58 Foxes out of their holes and thy unclean birds out of their nests that the Son of Man and Saviour of men may have where to lay his head within my (t) Eph. 3.17 heart May thy Sun thy Moon and thy stars be darkned (u) Eccl 12.2 3 6 1. May the keepers of thy House Tremble and thy strong men bow themselves may thy silver cords be loosed and thy golden bowls be broken may evil dayes come on thee and such wherein my Soul may say I have no pleasure in thee (x) Job 4.9 By the blast of God mayst thou perish by the breath of his nosthrils maist thou be consum'd (y) Rev 2.13 I know thy works and where thou dwellest even where Satans seat is in the hearts and manners of men I know thou (z) 2 Pe 2.1 bringest in damnable Heresies even denying the Lord that bought me Thou (a) Heb. 13.9 carriest men away with divers and strange doctrines thou makest the morality of the earth (b) Jam 3.15 earthly sensual divelish Cursed be the (c) Luk 11.27 womb that bare thee and the paps that gave thee suck (d) Psal 137.9 Happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones (e) Job 20.9 May the eye of God which hath seen thee in my heart ways never see thee more nor those places know thee any more Maiest thou oh pride (f) Psal 132.18 be clothed with shame and upon all the graces of God that are thy enemies may the Crown flourish so even so (g) Psal 130.6 My soul shall wait for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning I say more than they that watch for the morning Amen Amen Amen 13. A Soliloquy with the soul about Hypocrisie MY soul my soul It is said (h) Eccl 6.7 All the labour of man is for his mouth But who had thought this could have been true of his religious labour For really though (i) Josh 1.8 the
created all things by Christ Jesus since the very Faith of all things being created is by him also it being impossible that man should rightly know himself (s) Gal. 6.15 to be any creature 'till he is a new one They are not many thousands of years past since there was no being but thy own nor indeed is there any now whose name is Jam or is not rather a Nothing than a Being besides thy own but as if when thou created'st ours thou hadst annihilated thy own and thou hadst ceased to be scon after we began to be how art thou as sar out of mind as out of sight with me for the most part How rarely and faintly do I say (t) Job 19.25 I know that my Redeemer or my Creator either liveth So difficult it is to weak Faith to believe thee the Maker of heaven and earth that I am put hard to it many times to think thee the Maker of that little spot and clod of earth that I carry about me I am so bad at remembring thee the worlds Creator that I have much ado to remember thee my very own But did (u) Eccles 12.1 I not live move and have (x) Act. 17.28 my Being in thee the fault would be less heinous and monstrous Thou art nigher to me than I am to my self and I have as perpetually and necessarily thy upholding as my own subsisting so that did I not forget my self I could not possibly forget thee Nay and did I not forget all things 't were impossible but I must remember their Maker being all bear thy superscription yea and aloud say of thee It is he that hath made us Psal 37 17. and not we our selves (z) 1 Ti. 4.4 Every creature of God is good to teach me were I but good to learn it s being a creature and God being its Creator But oh my God! I neither learn of creatures to honour their Creator nor of the Creator to scorn creatures I can very seldome see either thee as thou art in thy self or them as they are in themselves I converse much with both and yet but little because I converse with thee without thy Attributes and with them without theirs not viewing them as insufficient or thee as alsufficient (a) Isa 54.5 If thou my Maker as the prophet speaks art my husband and jealousie be the rage of a man himself sure it concerns me to look better to my wayes than to go a whoring after the idols of my foolish imagination I find to my wo I converse mostly with nothings not with thee the Creator or thy creatures but with the idols and creatures of my own corrupt fancy For as there is no such God as I but too oft conceive thee so there are no such-creatures as I oft conceive them to be There is no God less than omnipotent there are no creatures more than nullipotent I am making an idol not worshipping thee when I contemplate of thee otherwise than of an Albeing God! and I am setting my (b) Pro. 23.5 eyes on that which is not when I am meditating of them as any other than as very Nothings as to subsistence without thy providence as they were to existence without thy creation There were variableness with thee indeed and more than shadow of turning if thou wert not as Albeing a God now as before thou madest all beings and sure if I and all thy other creatures were more than Nothings and if thou wert not-the very Being of our beings thou couldst not so be Teach me then oh my God! teach me to have all creatures manifest in my sight and thee the Creator also Shew me manifestly That thou Art as really and to Faith as apparently the Albeing God and Good as thou wast before the world began and that all thy creatures Beings consist in being Nothing without thee now as before they ever were manifest to me Oh my God! how thou hast made Nothings but very Nothings not one Being that has any Beings more without that which it derives from thy prouidence than it had without that which it drew from thy creation Not being without thee is as essential to a creature as being by thee For could it be any thing without thee its name would be I am (c) Isa 40.6 and it must be a God And wo is me if I deny the Unity of the Godhead as oft as I think of created Beings without the thought of their not Being it being not possible that thou shouldst be I Am if there be any beside thee or if there be any thing beside thee which is not a Nothing without thee Every creature declares by its experience that God is its (d) 1 Co. 15.28 All in All and God works all its works in it and for it Lord make my soul the worst of thy creatures to make thee it s All in All the Being of its being and of all other beings neither conceiving of thee as less than All things or of the world more than a Nothing I may lose it and lose nothing but were it so that I could save my soul and lose thee I should lose my All. I may gain a world and gain just nothing but could I gain thee with the very loss of my soul I should gain all things For sure I am gain is of Good onely c. (e) Mat. 19.7 There is none Good but God thy Self oh my God who dost truly say to thy creatures all without me ye can do nothing 3. A Soliloquy with the Soul of the same Argument I Will now go to my soul I will consider her wayes and be wise Come now and let us reason together oh my soul If I should ask that which was once God's Question From whence connest thou I doubt you must return that which was once the devil's Answer (f) Job 2.2 From going to and fro in the earth The earth which he hath (g) Job 38.6 hang'd on nothing and charg'd you to lay no stress upon while you keep in this my (h) Co. 4.7 earthen Vessel your life indeed must be on earth but (i) Phil. 3.20 your conversation in heaven I would that you so use the world as not abusing it or your self You are both poor enough and you know who bids you wrong not the poor because the Lord is their Maker If you tell me That God pronounc'd all that he made (k) Ge. 1.31 very good I must tell you So it was and so it is for Gods ends with it But whether it be not as very ill for your ends with it is a doubt He intended all for his own glory for which 't is good and fit if you intend it for yours you will find it much otherwise because though (l) i Co. 1.27 God has chose even the foolish things of the world to manifest his wisedom with you must chuse the wise ones of a better world to manifest yours
vineger and gall but I have also that in me which sayes to thy Law Thy (n) Can 4.11 lips oh my spouse drop as the honey-comb honey and milk are under thy tongue and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon I have that which sayes to thy Law (o) 1 Sa. 17.43 Am I a dog that thou comest to me with staves And I have that which rejoyns yes 't is a dog for the love of Christ beat it out I have that indeliberateness which upon the devils (p) Mat 3.9 all these things I will give thee will give the Law a repulse and I have that deliberacy which if it might have (q) Nu. 22.18 a house full of gold and silver will not go beyond the word of thy Law to do more or less I have that which resents (r) Mic. 4. the best of thy Laws as a briar and the most upright as a thorn hedge And I have that which in the (s) Mal. 3.7 day or night when it makes up its jewels maketh (t) Job 28.18 no mention of coral or pearls Ophirs gold or the precious Sardonyx but calls thy Law its (u) Isa 58.15 delight the ornament of Grace (x) Pro. 3.22 life to my soul and grace to my neck and this I can truly aver (y) Psa 139.21 23. I hate the men and things that hate thy Law I am griev'd with those that rise up against it I hate them with perfect hatred and I count them my enemies When thy righteous Law (z) Psal 341.5 smites me it is a kindness when it reproves me 't is an excellent oyl It breaks not my head with thoughts how to break its own but my heart with cares how to get a plaister from Christ For though I can't (a) Pro. 18.14 bear an unbroken spirit neither can I bear a wounded one Some imagine that the voice of thy Law is nothing but Cursed be every one But me thinks I hear all thy Laws saying with one mouth (b) Ge. 1.26 Come let us make man in our own image and their design seems to me to be (c) Tit. 2 14. the redeeming us from all iniquity purifying us as a peculiar people zealous of good works Oh my God! none ever perish'd by the Law falling on them but by their own (d) Mat 4.44 falling first on the Law 't is we break it and our selves in it If none are its (e) Joh. 15.14 friends but such as do whatsoever it commands I must stand out But if (f) Ro. 13.10 love unto be the fulfilling of the Law fure I am one such a one as ' t is Though (g) Luk 2.1 Augustus like it tax the whole world and meet not with any that payes it so slender tribute of obedience as my rebellious heart Yet this oh my God (h) Psa 38.18 I declare I will declare my iniquity and I will be sorry for my sin For I must needs say of thy Law as (i) Joh. 19.4 6. Pilate of thy Son I see no sault in him I will pray That all its (k) Heb. 10.13 enemies within me may be made its foot-stool and that it may (l) Jude 14.15 come into me with ten thousand of its arguments to execute judgment upon all and convince all ungodly lusts of their hard speeches against it and that now he may (m) Re. 2.27 rule them with a rod of iron For really (n) Ro. 3 19. the way of peace they have not known except by fighting against it Oh my God! let thy Law take away (o) Joh. 15.2 every branch that beareth fruit let it purge it that it may bring forth more fruit It hath of (p) Mat 4.24 old heal'd sick people taken with divers diseases and torments those that were possess'd with devils those which were lunatick and had the palsie And sure its (q) Nu. 11.23 hand is not shortned that it cannot save It has of old led souls into the (r) Can. 2.4 5. Banquetting house of the Gospel staying them with its flagons and comforting them with its apples when they have been sick of love to God and hatred to their sins Other (s) Isa 3.12 Icaders cause poor souls to err But oh my God let this (t) Luk 1.79 Guide lead my feet into the way of peace 7. A Soliloquy with God about his Promises LOrd when I turn to thy promises I am ready to ask my soul (u) Pro 23.5 Wilt thou set thine eyes on that which is not as if thy mouth spake vanity and thy right hand were a right hand of lies (x) Psa 104.8 Promises from God think I (y) Joh. 3 9. how can these things be (z) Psa 113.9 He humbles himself indeed to behold the things that are done in heaven But he won't humble them so low as to bring them to us on earth to will he (a) Mat. 16.19 Whomsoever thou bindest to thy service on earth to them art thou bound for rewarding each one in heaven Lord (b) Isa 53.1 who can believe this report and to whom is this Arm of the Lord revealed (c) Pro. 19 4. Every one is a friend to him that giveth gifts (d) Jam 1.17 and if so good perfect gifts come down from thee oh my God! Why is not every power of my soul thy friend (e) Pro. 18.16 A mans gift maketh room for him won't God's do so too 'T is good advice (f) Mar. 13.5 Take heed least any man deceive you But what am I affraid God will deceive me too (g) Psa 119.86 I hy commandments are faithful and are not (h) Ro. 4.16 thy promises sure Are they call'd exceeding great because they exceed belief and credibility (i) 2 re 1.4 and precious because too good to be true Are their Yea and (k) 2 Co 1 20. Amen changeable into Nay nay and must my faith (l) Jam. 2. 19. as the devils believe and tremble while it does so Shall I oh my God! shall I think it not (m) He. 6 18.17.16 impossible for thee to lie because my own incredulousness has made thee swear Do mens oaths put an end to strife (n) Luk 1.37 and shall not thine Must I be jealous that thy Word is the more infirm because firm'd by an oath Oh foolish brute (o) Gal. 3.1 who hath bewitched me Oh my God my God! (p) Acts 2.39 thy promises to me and my children are to them that are afar off from believing them We make (q) Mat 22.5 light of them and go every one our wayes one to his Book another to his play A fit of sickness a storm at Sea c. will make me cry (r) Mat 14 18. Bring them hither to me but alas even then (s) Mat 22.14 though many are called few are chosen they cannot answer me satisfactorily (t)
Job 9 30. one of a thousand Nav sometimes (u) Psa 14.3 there 's none that does me good no not one Though they have all (x) Joh 10.30 one Father and in truth they and their Father are one For my very life I can't (y) Psal 61.31 trust in them at all times an least not securely For some times in my thirst they have given me (z) Joh 19.29 vineger to drink the conditions frightning me more than the grace comforting But oh my God thou knowest I wish I were (a) Mat 25.43 44 sick so they might visit me and in prison so they might but minister to me for they have instructed many (b) Job 4.3 4. and have strengthened weak hands They have upholdem him that was falling and strengthened feeble knees Dying souls have set down under their shadow (c) Can 2.3 and their fruit has been sweet to their taste From thy promises oh my God I have known those who have (d) Can 5.1 gathered myrrh and spice honey and honey-comb wine and milk when they had been (c) Lam 3.15 17. filled with bitterness and made drunk with wormwood when their souls had been removed from peace and they had forgot prosperitie (f) Psal 30.6 In my prosperitie I would say indeed I should never be moved and confidently bid (g) Luk 12.19 my soul take more ease than now it dares as having Goods laid up for many years yea for eternity I would remove (h) Ec. 11.10 sorrow from my heart could I but undoubtingly say of thy promises That (i) Joh 17.4 6 10. I have finished the world they gave me to do Could I but boldly tell thee oh my God That thine they were and thou gavest them me and all mine are thine and thine are mine and I am glorified in them But alas as oft as these are not my (k) Psal 33.1 2. shield my glory and the lifter up of my head Lord how are they increased that trouble me many are they that rise up against me many there be which say of my soul There is no help for him in God By night on (l) Can. 3.1 my bed when I seek the particular promises which I have chose for my joy when I seek them and find them not When (m) Can 5.6 I open my heart to them and they withdraw themselves and be gone when (n) Pro. 1.28 I seek them early too and can't find them though my coneeits before had been high (o) Oba 1.3 4. though I had exalted my self as the Eagle and set my nest among the Stars how am I brought down in a momenr How are my (p) 〈◊〉 2.7 lofty looks humbled and my haughtiness brought low My own former comforts (q) Job 30.10 15. abhor me They flee from me and spare not to spit in my face Terrors are turned upon me they pursue my soul as the wind and my welfare passeth away as a cloud For why 't is very true in all thy Laws and Threatnings (r) Psal 34.8 I see the Lord is good but 't is in the promises that I taste and see he is good I can safely say all thy words are sweet but 't is of thy (s) Psa 119.103 promises that I dare cry out Oh how sweet are thy words to my taste All their sweetness is lasting not onely giving my soul a feast but a continual one and that a physical not a diseasegendring one It doth good and that like a medicine it 's honey purges as well as pleases Were it sweet (t) Job 20.12 as sin only in the mouth I could not give it a good word Oh my God the (u) Pro. 9.17 stoln waters of it which my heart in musing takes secretly away the bread of it that I eat in secret places I can't say How sweet they are (x) 1 Co 15.41 there is one glory of the Sun another of the Moon that gives light and heat too and life this onely light There is one glory of thy commanding word that Moon rules in the night we are in throughout our life in this dark world There is another glory of thy promising word that Sun gives light and life to poor souls and makes (y) 2 Co 5.6 us present with the Lord even while we are absent And really (z) Mat 9.15 the children of the Bride-chamber can t mourn while in thy promises they have the Bridegroom with them When they sit at any time in the dark and see no light lo thy promises do make both (a) Josh 10.12 the Sun aforesaid to stand still upon their Gibeon and the Moon in their valley of Ajalon till the faces of their enemies are cloathed with (b) Psa 83.16 shame and the crown of their faith flourisheth on their own heads (c) Mat. 2.20 The Herods which seek the lives of my poor Infant-Graces and Comforts oh my God they are never stone dead I can never say They which sought my childrens lives are dead No they make and I am sure they keep war (d) Rev 17.14 with my Lambs Thy very promises (e) Psal 46.9 can't make their wars to cease but they can (f) Psal 68.30 and do scatter them that delight in war and that which they help me do makes me say experimentally (g) Ex. 15.39 The Lord is a Man of War But oh my God my God How to put on this armour 't is rare that I can tell Though thy promises be (h) Ro. 13.12 armour of Light yet sure 't is such dazling light that I can't tell how to wind and turn it From whence it comes to pass that I am daily (i) Lev. 26.25 delivered over into the hands of sin and sorrow doubt and fear and all enemies and didst thou not as an every dayes Emanuel rid me out and lead my (k) Re. 7.23 captive the sorrows of hell would not onely compass me but swallow me up and I should be not as my (l) 1 Isa 15.29 Saviour was rejected of men and a man of sorrows but rejected of God (m) Isa 53 3. and a man of sorrows How oft oh my God do I hear that voice (n) Luk 12.20 This night thy soul shall be required of thee How oft am I afraid to (o) Pro. 6.4 give sleep to my eies evenwhen I have much ado to keep it from them How few nights in a week can I sleep as do (p) 1 Th. 5.6 athers for they rest from their labours which I can't (q) Psa 40.12 innumerable evils compass me about my iniquities take hold of me so that I am not able to look up or lye down my conscience it self reviles me saying (r) Psa 42.3 Where is now thy God I am (s) Psa 29.9 dumb to my friends because they can't remove my stroak Nay I live (u) 2 Co 6.10 though as sorrowful yet as alwayes rejoycing
in my worst fits being sure of this (x) La. 3. I am a living man And 't is meet for the (y) Isa 38.10 living to praise thee not complain of thee But oh my God my God I pray thee for time to come let that word of Truth by which 〈…〉 (z) Jam 1.18 begat'st me and of a stone dead imp madest me a child to Abraham Feed my (a) 1 Pe 2.2 Babie graces and comforts with its sincere milks and be within me a word of Life Amen Amen 8. A Soliloquy with God about his Threatnings OH my God I have thought That 't is not for indisturbed Professors (b) Pro. 31.4 5 6 7. to drink too much of the wine of the promises and that least they drink and forget the Law its direction and ob igation I have judg'd the strong drink of thy promises to belong to him that is ready to perish and their wines to them that are of feeble hearts that they may drink and not forget but redress their poverty by Christ's wealth and consider That in him they shall feel their misery no more Now thou knowest I am one of that wretched number of men who are setled on their lees and that too often say (c) Zep. 1.12 The Lord will not do good (d) Deu 24.19 neither will he do evil Oh my God thou knowest I have blest my self in my heart saying I shall have peace though I walk in the imagination of my heart I have not been (e) Jer. 48.11 emptied from vessel to vessel neither have I gone into the swift captivity of the Gospel My taste has remain'd in me and my scent has not been chang'd so setled have I been on my lees Oh my God I need that word of thine which is quick and powerful (f) Heb. 4.12 sharper than any two edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit I need some of its faithful (g) Pro. 27.6 wounds which will do me infinitely more good than all the (h) Pro. 28.23 deceitful kisses which my presumption will never be able to fasten on thy sweetest promises Oh correct me with them withhold them not from my soul for if thou beatest me with them I sha not die Whatever the minds of others are Lord thou shalt beat me with thy (i) Pro. 23.13 14. rod of threatnings and deliver my soul from the hell of self-liking and self-applauding I dare not say to thy richest promises (k) Job 6.22 23. bring unto me or give me reward of your rich substance or deliver me from the enemies hand redeem me from the hand of the Almighty without first saying to thy threatnings O ye just statutes upon my hardness of heart and all my wicked lusts (l) Psal 11.6 rain ye fire brimstone and horrible tempest Bring upon them that shut out my peace (m) 2 Pe 1. a swift destruction for I am sure before such their destruction the heart of man will be haughty O Lord without this passing through the fire of thy threatnings I find when I do my best my hope is cut off and my trust is but (n) Job 〈…〉 a spiders web Thy justice conspicuous in thy treats being as needfull to keep me from presumption as the mercy in thy promises to keep me from despair Oh my God I love thy book the better for thy threats because I find they are the harbingers of the promises and Laws to the world The world cries out (o) Joh. 6.6 They are hard sayings who can bear them I esteem them soft and gentle in every thing saving their objects to whom they are denounced and they are (p) Ro. 2.5 heart-hearted indeed Thou oh my God their authour art a God (q) Ex. 34.6 of grace thy end in giving them is (r) 2 Ti. 1.9 gracious their effects on honest hearts are gracious but to the hard-hearted all things are hard It 's true they bruise but (s) Gen 3.15 a sinners heel even while they bruise sins head if they do give us stripes those stripes are gifts for with them we are (t) Isa 53.5 heal'd they never cutting open any more than an orifice for the oyl of thy promises to come in at I know for the grace of the promises lips and the (u) Can 1.2 savour of their good ointment the virgins foolish as well as wise love them and follow them But oh my God thou (x) Mat. 25.12 knowest thy holy promises will not give that which is holy unto dogs or dogged snarlers at thy righteous treats they won't cast their pearls unto swine (y) Mat 7.6 7. They may ask and conceit it is given them they may seek and fancy they find divine puri ie and peace but a lie is in their right hand (z) Eccl 4.12 and their three fold cords of ignorance errour and pride are easily broken sometimes with mans but ever with Gods judgement which hath made me chuse (a) Heb 11.25 rather to suffer the humiliations and breakings of thy threats than to enjoy such kind of pleasures of heaven it self as are but for a season Oh my God I find within me that which is sweetly drawn to thee with the (b) Hos 11.4 cords of a man and the bands of love But I also find within me that which were not (c) Jer. 23.19 thy word A hammer it could never beat any good into me If thou onely (d) Can 1.5 drawest thy spiritual part with thy promises it will run after thee but my carnal part is not made willing to stoop but in the (e) Psal 110. power of thy forcive Threats (f) Mar 16.16 He that believes shall be saved will animate the Law of my mind but 't is he that believes not shall be damn'd that will break in pieces (g) Ro. 7.23 the Law of my Members I thank thee oh my God for such (h) Zec 2.5 a wall of Fire round about my graces and duties The Law is a defence and the promises are (i) Eccl 7.12 a defence against the weakness of Grace But these Threats are the defence against the streng th of corruption Ten Laws and ten promises won't (k) Deu 32.30 chase a thousand lusts but Two of these will put ten thousand to flight Oh my God Thy promises do lead many but thy Threatnings (l) 2 Co 10.5 drive every thought to the obedience of thy Son (m) Lu 19.27 even those that would not that he should reign over them These rods of iron rule those my Rebels whose (n) 1 Sa 15.23 rebellion is as the sin of witchcrast they are the rod which with the staffe ef thy Laws and Promises do exceedingly (o) Psa 23.4 comfort me If I say That I the chief of sinners have no sin I deceive my self and if I say whilst I have sin (p) 1 Jo 1.8 I am so whole
as not to need the Lancet of thy Threatnings sure the Truth is not in me (q) 2 Ti 3 16. All thy Scripture is profitable I will never except the threatning part (r) Psal 19.9 10 11. Thy judgements David sates are to be desired above gold and are sweeter than honey By them not onely thy enemies but thy Friends are warn'd and in keeping them as the apple of ones eies there is great reward Lord I find this true of thy Threatnings which as (s) Ro. 7.12 thy Law are holy just and good and as (t) 2 Pe 1.4 thy promises are exceeding great and precious and so let them ever be to my soul Amen Amen and Amen To my own SOUL THE Horse (u) Job 39.19 20 21 22 23 24 25. whose neck is cloath'd with very thunder Whose nosthrils sparkle fire Hates valleys would run higher Counting it a wonder That armed men and fears themselves affright His Rider sword and spear and shield To him with fury steel'd Are very play-games he treads on so light He cannot feel the ground He paws upon and then the sound The Trumpets sound exeites him more To scorn them shan he did before The thunder does but whistle in his ears He noses the Heaven it self appears Affected with the scent and sight of war Vntill he feels what its sad issues are Thus thou my Soul bearing Thy neck of brass Thy heart of Adamant And the rocks none understand Look'st Heaven in the face While fire and brimstone's raining down upon thee Nor shakest thou at all As if pride being thy wall It could not make its threatned hell light on thee Nay what 's prodigious the more God's thundring Cannons roar To thee deaf adder thou the more by far Slightest his war God give thee ears to hear his Trumpet sounds They 'l make thee haste to Christ his Blood and Wounds Amen So be it 10. A Soliloquy with God of worldly Friends OH my God the greater includes the less (t) See Rom. 8 31. he that has the best Friend has all friends Methinks when he bids me (u) Pro 22.24 make no friendship with an angry man doth almost bid me Make none with any man For indeed though (x) Eccl 7.11 anger rests not save in the bosome of Fools yet it finds too easie an impress into the bosome of (y) Pro. 15.1 the Wisest Though thou my God beest (z) Joel 2.13 slow to anger they are few of thy servants who are so insomuch That Solomon must be understood of Dutie what should be not of Certaintie what is when he saies That (a) Pro. 17.17 a friend loves at all times Brethren (b) Zec. 13.6 there are that one would think were born for adversity indeed the giving it to us not the taking us from it Nay and such is the heighth of pride few give their heartie friendship on other ther tearms than what the common Saviour gives his upon every familiar saying implicitly to us (c) Joh 15.14 Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you and if we won't make them our Gods they 'l make themselves our Devils if we shall (d) Esth 3.5 6. be Mordecai's they 'l be Haman's (e) Pro. 19.4 Wealth 't is true makes many friends and when goods encrease they are encreased but 't is to eat them and when they are (f) Ecc 5.11 eat up many friends will not make wealth (g) Mat 11.5 the poor shall have the Gospel preach'd to them and be turn'd off with a (h) 2 Ti 4.8 God will provide but for any glad tidings out of the worldly friends charitie they must not expect it but sit down and content them with (i) 1 Ti. 6.6 the gain of their own Gospel Godliness which is indeed so (k) 1 Ti 4.8 18. profitable to all things that their friends unkindness is matter of pure notice no resent Oh my God I have seen precious friends take much more joyfully (l) Heb. 10.34 the spoiling of their friends than the spending of a pittance of their goods I have seen them in a corrupt sense (m) 1 Th 5.21 hold fast that which is good and making what goodness they have laid out as fleeting (n) Hos 6.4 as Judah's a very morning cloud and early dew Sure if there be any faith in mortals it is less than a very grain of mustard seed which is the (p) Mat 13.33 least of all seeds though when it 's grown up into high professions c. it is the greatest among herbs and becomes a tree so that silly deluded men hastning to snares as very birds come build most strange nests and lodge in the confidence of its branches It seems from mens practices to be of the same certaintie (q) Ro. 3.4 God is true and that every man is a liar and experience manifests it That to trust to man is but to make (r) Isa 28.15 lies our refuge and (s) Jer. 13.25 trust in falshood For out of the (t) Jam. 3.10 12 same mouth proceedeth both blessing and cursing and out of the same heart sweet and bitter Oh my God when in distress one shall call aloud to his friend as (u) 1 Ki 18.27 29. the Baaelites to Baall either he is taking a journey or peradventure he sleepeth and must not be awaked There 's neither voice nor any to answer or regard if otherwise yet the friend can't shut up the sea of sorrows (x) Job 38.8 11 31. with doors or say to ones calamitie Hitherto shalt thou come and no further he cannot bind the sweet influences of the Pleiades or loose the bonds of Orion My friend is (y) Psal 23.1 my shepherd my friend in Court therefore I shall not want is a Logick in its argument unsound in its experiment unsafe No mortal (a) Can 4.4 neck is like the tower of David builded for an Armorie hnng with (z) Psal 35 2. Bucklers and Shields against all assaults Nay there 's none but what may need our help while we seek its (b) Mat 25.8 If our lamps be gone out it 's vain to say to friends Give us of your oyl (c) Joh. 3.27 Christ saies A man can receive nothing except it be given him from Heaven much less can he give any thing except he receive it from heaven Whence it came to pass not unfrequently (d) Ro. 7.19 17. That as the evil our friends would not do us that they do So the good they would do us that they do not or if they do do it it is no more they that do it but God by them Help me then oh my God and teach me for Jesus sake (e) Mat 2.25 to render to friends the things that are of friends and unto thee oh my God the things that are thine Make me know that the flesh of my friends is (f) Isa 40.6 grass as well
Law ought not to depart out of a man's mouth so neither ought it to enter in save (k) Mat. 12.34 out of the hearts abundance Eliphaz advises (l) Job 22.22 Job to lay up God's word in his heart not his mouth (m) Pro 3.1 Prov. 4.23 and Solomon thought no cabinet so proper to keep divine Commands in as it Nay God himself chuses the Tables of the heart (n) Jer. 31.33 for to write his Laws in which makes me conclude A man may keep his mouth and tongue richly and yet never keep (o) Pro. 21.23 his soul from troubles and this because I know whatever entreth in at the mouth if it find no place in the heart it goes into (p) Mat 15.18 the belly of hidden lusts and is cast out into their draught The things of God which proceed out of the mouth when they proceed not forth out of the heart they defile the man So little a praise is it to be a man of pure lips if no more and especially if that of the (q) Isa 29. wise man be true to wit that though (r) Pro. 14.23 in all labour there be profit yet lip labour has a direct tendency to povertie Oh my soul (s) Pro. 11.9 Solomon tells thee That the Hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour I tell thee more even that he destroys himself for though he has (t) Pro. 7.14 9 15 16 17 18 19 20. Peace offerings with him and every day payes his vows yet he goes forth in the black and dark angels of his soul to meet the Devil diligently to find him though he decks his bed with covering of religious Tapestry with carved works and fine linen of profession though he perfumes his bed with myrrh aloes and cinamon yet he takes his fill of spiritual whoredom and solaces himself with atheistical loves while the good conscience is not at home but is turn'd out of doors with a bag of money not to come home till the day appointed even that of Death and Judgement If of any soul alive this oh my soul is true of the hypocritical one He feedeth on ashes a deceiv'd heart hath turn'd him aside that he cannot deliver his soul nor say (u) Isa 44.20 Is there not a lye in my right hand (x) Pro 12.15 For the way of such a fool is right in his own eyes And Christ himself does not deny but he has his reward (y) Mat. 6.2 Mat. 6.4 Mat. 6.7 Mat. 6.6 Mar. 6.31 32 He does his alms to the devil in secret and that father of his who seeth him in secret himself rewards him openly Though when he prayes to God he uses as vain repetitions as the Heathens do yet when he prayes to the devil and wishes for devilish things he keeps in the closet of privacy and shuts all the doors at which men may see in He takes no thought saving What shall I do to eat Christ's flesh or drink his blood or cloath me with the garment of his Righteousness For after all these things do true Israelites seek but he seeks first the titular Kingdom of God and the professional Righteousness thereof and thinks all these things shall be added He takes no care for to morrow but lets that care for it self Sufficient he thinks unto the Day of Judgement if to any day is the evil thereof His love I can't say is without dissimulation but sure (z) Mat 5.44 love he does his enemies God's Lawes bless he does them though they curse him and pray for God's promises though they despightfully use him and give him no one drop of comfort He 's even almostas perfect as his father which is inHell is perfect This indeed oh my soul (a) Mat 7.11 9 10 9 10. I observe that being evil the hypocrite knows how to give good gifts and though when his friend asks of him for bread what he gives him in respect of himself be no more than a stone and he takes no more in it yet to his friend 't is good bread Though the Truths he delivers be to himself serpents that sometimes sting his soul yet as he delivers them they are fish What is (b) 2 Co 4.2 handling the Word of God deceitfully if this be not to wit Taking it (c) Deu 30.14 very nigh one even into ones mouth and yet not so much as know it any otherwise than God knows the proud to wit (d) Psal 138.6 afar off to be not a hearer onely but a talker too and yet not a (e) Jam 1.22 doer of the Word to do with it many wonderful works by it to (f) Mat 7.22 cast out devils and nevertheless as the Pharisees and Scribes (g) Mar 7.13 making that of none effect to ones self Oh my soul for the love of God let not the Word of God (h) Psa 119.103 be sweet to thy mouth and not to thy tast (i) 1 Th 5 26. Kiss it with no Judas-like but with a holy kiss (k) Mat 13.57 As 't is said of a prophet he is not without honour save in his own countrey so may it be said of the Word it is not without honour save in its own proper Region that of the heart (l) Deu 4.9 Oh keep thy heart and it more dear than thy hearts blood with all diligence (m) Psa 45.1 Let thy heart endite good matters of it (n) Pro 15.13 Pro. 15.15 A merry heart makes a chearful countenance Let thy hearts mirth in it be that which sets thy chearful countenance on it 'T is a heart a heart a heart I tell thee a merry heart with it which hath a continual Feast for the Lord and from the Lord. In the Word God opens his heart to the Word open thy heart even the hidden man of thy heart Oh my soul (o) 1 pe 3.4 I charge thee before God who has quickned thee and before Jesus Christ who never made or will endure rotten professions that thou take not the oyl (q) Psa 104.15 of the Word to make thy face to shine without the wine of the Word to make thy very heart glad in the Lord. (r) Jam 3.5 The tongue is a little member don't think that God intended it for the Seat and Dwelling house of his great Law (s) Pro. 16.1 The answer of the tongue is indeed from the Lord but when When the preparations of the heart in man be so to (t) pro. 15.7 the tongue is the dispenser and should be the disperser of holy knowledge But the heart my soul the heart 't is that has the good (u) Mat 6.21 treasure and as 't is true where the treasure is there the heart will be so really where the heart is there the (x) Mat 12.35 treasure will be good or bad O my soul better is a little in the heart (y) Pro. 15.16 with the fear
dwelling-place in evil companies There breaks he the arrows of the Almightie the shield of Faith the sword of the Spirit and the whole armour of God Oh my soul (f) Psa 1.1 't is bad walking in the counsel of the ungodly 't is worse standing in the way of sinners and to sit in the feat of the scornful is worst of all unlikely to dwell in God's holy Hill is that man in whose eyes a vile person is not contemned Of evil companie (g) Job 42.5 6. I had long heard by the hearing of the ear but when my eye saw it and by sad experience I felt it I abhor'd it and my self for no more abhorring it in dust and ashes (h) Psal 149.8 For it binds the motions of the holy Spirit in chains and the Dictates of conscience in fetters of iron and it works with (i) 2 Th 2.10 such deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish by it that few who (k) Pro. 2.19 go in unto it return again nor take hold such of the paths of life Thy good companie be to me but as a very lovely (l) Eze. 33.32 song of one that hath a pleasant voice and can play well upon an instrument Though I hear their words and either do them not or not as I ought Yet alas in evil companie all things are said and done too unto edification They build one up in vanity and sinful-mindedness and the (m) 2 Co 10.4 5. weapons of their warfare I will say it are though carnal yet mightie through the Devil without and devilish Justs within to the pulling down of the strongest holds of Grace and casting down holy apprehensions and every divine thing that exalts it self against the works of Satan True it is evil companie cannot enjoyn or enforce yet (n) Phil 9 10. as Paul did Philemon for loves sake it will beseech us to entertain again those very sins which we have renounced Satan cannot force but shrewdly can he tempt and I much mistake if evil companie be not the very brightness and (o) Heb 1.3 13. Pro. 2.27 express image of his person Nay and methinks I hear the Devil saying to all companie Sit you at my right hand and I will make some of your enemies my foot stool Deep oh my soul deep is the ditch and narrow is the pit of evil company and it is almost (p) Heb 8 4. impossible for those who are once so darkned as to tast their hellish gifts and be made partakers of the damned Ghost who is never more an Abaddon and Apolluon than in evil company ever again to return savingly to the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls (q) Rev 2.13 I know the works of such as dwell in evil companie even where Satan's seat is they hold fast Satan's name and deny not his service No wonder that Elihu cries out (r) Job 34.7 8. What man is like Job if once he goes so much as in companie with workers of iniquitie and walks with wicked men David said once to Abigail (s) 1 Sa. 25.32 33. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel which sent thee this day to meet me Blessed be thy advice and blessed be thou But alas How oft have I said Cursed be my own sin in unnecessary visits and resorts cursed be their advices and cursed their wayes It was a true report which I had heard in my minoritie and childhood of the Acts and madness of evil companie howbeit (t) 2 Ch 9.5 6 7 I believed not their words who told me thereof till my eyes had seen it And behold oh my soul my soul and all that is within me Behold the one half was not told me the sin of evil companie and its infectiousness exceed the fame thereof Cursed are their men and cursed their servants which stand continually about them and hear their folly Psal 24 7.9 Open the gates of the house and of the heart to evil companie and without the least doubt the Prince of darkness shall come in and when he comes shall find or make the heart emptie swept and garnish'd for his use Egypt was no house of Bondage comparable (u) Exo 20.1 to that of Egyptian Companie nor is ever the Lord's flock so carried away captive as when they are carried by their own heedlesness or worse into the Synagogue of Satan for these captivities (x) Jer. 13.17 weep thou oh my soul in secret places my eye shall weep sore and run down with tears 'T is evil companie oh my soul that deceives its neighbor (y) Pro 26.19 18 25 26. throws fire-brands arrows and death and saith Am not I in sport Oh when it speaks fair believe it not there are seven abominations in its heart Their hate is covered with deceit may their wickedness be shewn before the whole Congregation of God In a worse sense than Paul's We are made of the filth of the world when we have fellowship with those who are so (z) Mat 11.19 2 Cor. 6.14 Christ was a friend indeed to Publicans and sinners and so may we Though he held companie he held no communion with them nor may we His companie with them was to reform them Wo to us if our company-keeping with men evil be not to make them good and with a care they make not us evil Had the Prince of this world any thing in him to catch him by nothing at all Wo then to us who have so much for him to catch us by if we make so bold as he in some cases (a) Psal 119.63 David was companion to all them who feared God and kept his precepts in order to which he took a very good and it may be the onely course when he resolved that he would not know (b) Psal 101.4 a wicked person If I will imitate my God (c) Psal 7.11 who is angry with all wicked every day I must be angry every day with my wicked self and beware of my own companie and why not as well of all wicked companie (d) Pro. 15.9 A wicked man is loathsome to God why should he be lovely to me or how can he if I am like God in my affections Had the Lord Christ thought it impossible for me to converse with worldly men without holding communion with them I am perswaded he would have (e) Joh. 17.15 prayed the Father to have taken me out of the world which sith he has not I resolve to sojourn if providence will require me in (f) Psal 120.5 Mesech and have my habitation in Kedar But to put away (g) Psal 119.119 all the wicked like dross to beware of devils very much but of men more and put a wide difference between men and brethren And now Acts 15 13. oh my soul to confirm thy faith and animate thy zeal herein I charge thee before the Trinitie and the elect Angels to con well Two Texts
caused thee (b) Deu 34.14 to see it with thine eyes but thou shalt not go over thither But nor yet do I hear thee say so plainly as I would Fear not it is my good pleasure to give thee (c) Luk 12.33 the Kingdom Many seek to enter in and are not able Thousands not onely say and read but cry Lord Lord Open and yet are shut out Some get so far that they be not far from (d) Mat 7.22 thy Kingdom and yet never reach it Nay the children of the Kingdom themselves Christ tells me (e) Mat 8.12 are cast into outer darkness the most part of them and if so Lord what cause have I to say to my soul as (f) Rut 3.1 Naomi to Ruth Shall I not seek rest for thee that it may be well with thee Of that soul oh my God so forgetful am I that oft it checks me as (g) Jud 16.13 15. Dalilah her Sampson Hitherto hast thou mocked me and told me lyes How canst thou say I love thee and thy heart is not with me When it reflects on the madnesses of my heart and life it fears thou wilt one day say of me as Achish (h) 1 Sa. 29.15 of David Have I need of mad men Shall this fellow come into my house (i) Heb. 4.1 It doth not infrequently alarum me in the being left us of entring into God's rest we should come short of it For (k) 1 Pe 4.12 if the righteous scarcely be saved Where shall we appear Solomon sayes Blessed is the man that fears alwayes Oh my God Let me not serve thee therefore without fear of my self (l) Psal 118.6 David said He would not fear what man could do unto him but sure he meant of other men he fear'd his own heart when he cry'd Keep yea (m) Psa 119.13 Pro. 29 25. keep back thy servant from presumptuous fins Indeed the fear of other men bringeth a snare as Solomon sayes but the fearlesness of ones self brings a million The counsel is divine not to fear other men who (n) Mat 10.28 can kill our body and no more But 't is also as divine that a man should fear himself who is not onely able but prone by sin and by disobedience to destroy both soul and body in hell Oh my God Help me to attend Moses's advice (o) Deu 4.9 Joh. 13.13 to take heed to my self and keep my soul diligently I find That in every Prayer and Conference wherein I do not so do I must cry out to my Lord and Master as Josiah to his servants when shot by the Archers (p) 2 Ch 35.23 Have me away for I am sore wounded and that in my grace and peace too As Martha of Lazarus to Christ I oft say of my faith and hope to my care of my evidences for Heaven Oh divine eares hadst (q) Joh 11.21 thou been here my faith and hope had not dyed and indeed when that is absent whatever my labour is in Duties in the end I must say as Simon to Jesus Master (r) Luk 5.5 We have toiled all night and have taken nothing Wherefore oh my Blessed God and Bounteous Grant thou that when thy holy Spirit (s) Mat 5.41 compells me to go one mile with him in securing my title to glory I may go with him twain Oh let my conscience be ever telling me like to what Michol told David If thou save not (t) 1 Sa 19.11 thy life to night by ensuring thy evidences to morrow thou wilt be slain With sins sorrows and temptations If at any time I call the proud Mal. 3.15 happy as Malachi sayes and say in a but seeming prosperity of grace that I shall never be moved Oh my God let thy good Spirit take me off as the King (u) 2 Ki. 18.19 20. of Assyria did Hezekiah What confidence is this wherein thou trustest Thou sayest but they are but vain words I have counsel and I have strength O my God say to me of the host of my corruptions my pride follie c. as once thou didst to Gideon Arise (x) Jud 7.5 Get thee down to the host for I have delivered it into thy hand Help me oh Lord incorruptly to say to Jesus of his Redemption-work (y) Rut 2.12 as Boaz to Ruth The Lord recompense thy work and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel under whose wings thou hast caused me trust and to vow unto him as Ittai to David As the Lord liveth and as my Lord Jesus liveth as the living Father liveth and Jesus liveth by the Father surely in what place my Lord the King of Saints shall be (z) 2 Sa. 15.21 Whether in death or life even there will thy servant be Help me oh my God to set my Jesus (a) Can. 8.6 as a seal on my heart and arm with a love strong as death with jealousie of all rivals cruel as the grave Give me to write on this World and the glory of it (b) Dan 5.27 TEKEL Thou are weigh'd in the balances and are found wanting of any good for my soul (c) Col. 3.1 Job 23.2 Let my affections be on things above my comforts in heaven and my hopes on high Let me know oh my God where I may find thee in all distresses and let me come even to thy seat When my heart is overwhelm'd lead me to the Rock that is higher than I (d) Psa 61.2 Ps 119.139 Job 32.12 Order my steps in thy Word let not any iniquitie have Dominion over me in health or distrust in sickness in both let me esteem thy Word above my necessary food or physick And so oh my God of my evidences for heaven (e) Mat 10.20 it shall not be I my self that speak but thy Spirit in me Amen my God Amen and Amen Whiles this Piece lay at the Press it pleased GOD to visit the Authour with the Small Pox and gave him a Recovery full of Extraordinary Providences of which upon his Friends request he hath annexed his Meditations 24. A Soliloquy with God after Recovery from a Sore Disease OH my God I am sure I can say (a) Mat 25.36 I was sick and thou visitest me Oh that in the Day of Judgement thou maist say likewise to me I was sick and thou visitedst me I read of thy own people that once (b) Isa 42.25 they had a fire about them yet they knew it not nay and it burn'd them yet they laid it not to heart Sure I am I had my Disease about me and I knew it not nay and it brake out on me and never entred into my heart what it was till by thy providence 't was made known to me So unable was I to do thy work (c) Psal 103.3 to heal all my diseases my self that in St. Paul's sense and another too I might and still must say (d) 1