graue Gods strict Tribunall the last Iudgement and endlesse miseries of the other world the sting poyson and terrors of which he shall neuer be able either to auoide or abide I say Shall such a fellow fleere in the face And shall not a true hearted Nathanael to whom Iesus Christ hath bequeathed a legacy of peace whom the Spirit of God bids reioyce euermore and who which way soeuer he lookes if he open his eye of faith shall see nothing but matter of sweetest contemplation infinite cause of truest ioy and spirituall rauishment If he looke backward vpon the time whilest he yet lay vnder the â—…yranny of the Diuell and dominion of the first death hee shall see the Catalogue of all his former sinnes should it be as blacke as hell as soule as Sodom as red as scarlet fairely and for euer washed away in that fountaine opened for sinne and for vncleannesse euen the precious blood of that immaculate Lambe Iesus Christ the Holy and the righteous If hee looke vpon his present state he shall finde himselfe preserued as a Iewell most safe in the precious Cabinet of Gods dearest prouidence enuironed with a glorious guard of mighty Angels kept by the power of God through faith vnto saluation ready to be reuealed in the last time If hee looke forward hee shall see death indeed but the stâ—…g taken out of it by the death of Christ the graue perfumed to his hand by his Sauiours blessed Buriall wherein hee may lye downe as in a bed of Downe fenced with the omnipotent arme of God for the glory of the Resurrection the Throne of grace in Heauen standing vpon pillars of mercy and loue where Iesus Christ sits as Iudge who shed his hearts bloud for him and is his Aduocate while he yet abides in this vale of teares the bosome of Abraham the armes of God Almighty wide open and stretched out to receiue him at the end of his Pilgrimage into his Masters ioy I say shall such a happy soule not haue an Heauen in his heart but be heauy-hearted Shall a vassall of the Diuell laugh and an hâ—…ire of Heauen looke heauy Monstrous absurditie 2. Euery Christian after his new creation hath euer incomparably more matter of mirth theÌ„ mourning infinitely greater cause to bee rauished with spirituall ioy then to bee deiected by griefe Though this may seeme a paradox to the clearest eye and best apprehension of worldly wisedome yet in truth it is a true principle in the mysterie of Christ. I doe thus manifest it and make it good to the saddest mourner in Sion if hee doe not giue more care to the lying malicious dictates of the Diuell and distrusts of his owne heart then to the well-grounded counsell of the Prophets and impregnable truth of Gods blessed Word In the right estimate and valuation all the afflictions and sufferings of this life whether of soule bodie outward state or any way are but dust in the ballance in respect of that exceeding excessiue eternall weight of glory purchased and prepared for him by the bloud of his dearest Lord. In the originall it is as a worthy Diuine sayes well a superlatiue transcendent phrase of speech which farre passeth the height of all humane Oratory and all the Râ—…toricke of the most eloquent Heathens because they neuer treated vpon such a Theame they were not inspired with such a spirit Whereupon saith the Apostle in another place Ireckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall bee reuealed in vs. Whence it followeth that a very fore-imagination of that most vnconceiueable happinesse to bee had hereafter to wit the shining splendour and sun-like glory of our bodies the vnspeakeable perfections and excellencies of our soules the admirable beauty of the place the glorious comfort of our heauenly company the beatificall fruition of the most blessed Trinity c. and that which crownes our blisse with impossibility of further addition endlesnesse of all these I say a serious preconceit hereof illightened and strengthened by saith is able to hold vp the Christians heart with infinite strength and to refresh it with a secret vnutterable gladnesse euen amidst varietie and extremiâ—…ie of all worldly troubles and doth minister as farre more matter of reioycing then these of mourning as that forementioned exceeding excessiue euerlasting weight of glory is to bee preferred before a little momentany light affliction Hence it is that the holy Martyrs of Iesus were so merry and sweetly contented in the middest of all their outward miseries pressures persecutions and Martyrdome it selfe I was in prison saith one of them till I goe into prison I feele no more paine saith another in the fire then if I were in a bed of Downe it is as sweet to me as a bed of Roses I beleeue saith a third there is not a 〈◊〉 heart in the world at this instant then mine it To One obiecting to a fourth Christs agâ—…ny and sadnesse to his cheâ—…refulnesse Yea saith he Christ was sad that I might be merry He had my sinnes and I haue his merit and righteousnesse But specially let vs looke vpon Paul a blessed and precious patterne for vs to imitate in this point He was troubled on euery side Without were fightings within were feares He was in stripes aboue measure in prisons more frequent in deaths â—…t Of the Iewes fiue times receiued he forty stripes saue one Thrice was hee beaten with rods Once was hee stoned Thrice hee suffered Shipwracke A night and a day was hee in the deepe In iourneying often in perils of water in pâ—…ils of robbers in perill by his owne countrymâ—…n in perils by the heathen in perils in the Citie in perils in the Wildernessâ—… in perils in the Sea in perils amongst false brethren In wearinesse and painefulnesse in watchings often in hunger and thirst in fastings often in cold and nakednesse He was called a pestilent fellow He was accounted as thâ—… filth of thâ—… world and off scouring of all things And yet for all this he professeth of himselfe that hee tooke pleasure iâ—… infirmities in reproches in necessities in persecutions in distresses for Christs sake Nay which is more and more punctuall for my purpose hee saith in another place That he was filled with comfort and exceeding ioyfull in all his tribulation Now euery sincere-hearted Professor is bound to ouer-abound exceedingly in this ioy as well as Paul Not so saith the weake Christian for Paul had a stronger faith then I and more grace It is true but yet thy faith is as true as his And it is not so much the muchnesse as the truth of faith which giues right and interest to a Crowne of life comfort in all afflictions and euerlasting lightsomenesse Therefore well said a worthy witnesse to the truth Paul and Peter were more honorable members of Christ then I but I am a
pretence and purpose to sollicit them for saluation and preuaile with them about the best things and yet before thou be aware bee plunged and insnared in the woonted vnwarrantable delights of good fellowship pleasant passages of wit idle and impertinent follies and familiarities which thou wast accustomed to exchange and enioy with them in thy vnregenerate time So that in stead of the discharge of a Christian duty thou mayest both hurt thy selfe and harden them 3. As Physicians of the body arme and animate themselues with strong repercussiues preseruatiues and counterpoysons when they visit contagious and pestilentiall patients so in such cases be thou sure to furnish and fortifie thy selfe before-hand with prayer meditation the sword of the Spirit store of perswasiue matter strength of reasons and vnshaken resolution to repell and beate backe all noysome insinuations of spirituall infection 3. Into Christian company which thou shouldest prize thine only Paradise and Heauen vpon Earth the very flowre and festiuall of all thy refreshing time in this vale of teares euer bring 1. A cheerefull and lightsome heart Me-thinks though thou shouldest come amongst the Saints with a sad heart and something ouer-cast with mists and clouds of heauinesse and discomfort yet the presence and faces of those whom hereafter thou shalt meet in Heauen and there with incomparable ioy behold for euer clothed and shining with eminencie and eternitie of glory should disperse and dispell them all and infuse comfortable beames of heauenly lightsomnesse and spirituall mirth I know them who being cast sometimes full sore against their wils amongst profane company are quite out of their element all the while strucke dead in the place as they say as solitary as in the silentest Desart But let them come amongst Christians and they are quite other men as full of lightsomnes and life as full of heart and Heauen as if they had the one foot in the Porch of Paradise already-Sadnesse is not seasonable where such precepts as these haue place Be glad in the Lord. and reioyce yee righteous and shout for ioy all yee that are vpright in heart 2. A fruitfull heart full as the Moone with gracious matter to vphold edifying conference and sanctified talke Being forward and free without any hurtfull bashfulnesse or vaine-glorious aime both to communicate to others the hidden treasures of heauenly knowledge which thou hast happily digged out of the precious quarry as it were of the great mystery of Grace also by moouing of questions and ministring occasion mutually to draw from them with an holy greedinesse the waters of life for a reciprocall refreshing and quickning of the deadnesse and vnheauenlinesse of thine owne heart And here it will bee a profitable wisedome to take notice of and obserue each others singularitie of gifts and seuerall endowments and thereafter with wise insinuations to prouoke and presse them to powre out themselues in those things wherein they haue best experience and most excellency Some are more dexterous and skilfull in discussing controuersed points others in resoluing cases of conscience some in discouering the Deuils depths and treading the Maze of his manifold temptations others in comforting afflicted spirits and speaking to the heart of mourners in Zion c. I am perswaded many times many worthy discourses lie buried in the brests of vnderstanding men by reason of the finfull silence I think I may say so and barrennesse of those about them And therefore Christians ought to be more forth-putting actiue and fruitfull this way 3. An humble heart ready and reioycing to exchange and enioy common comforts soule-secrets heauenly consultations with the poorest and most neglected Christian. If thou bee haunted with the white Deuill of spirituall pride it is likely thou wilt bee either too prodigall and profuse and so ingrosse all the talke which is sometimes incident to new conuerts or counterfeits or else too reserued and curious and so say no more then may serue to breed an applause and admiration of thy worth which is a very filthy and fearefull fault There is no depth of knowledge no height of zeale no measure of Grace but may be further inlarged more inflamed blessedly encreased by conference with the poorest faithfull Christian See Rom. 1. 12. and 15. 24. how Paul that great learned and diuinely inspired Doctor of the Gentiles stood affected in this point V. But aboue all bee most busie with thy heart for it is the roote that either empoysons or ensweetens all the rest that is the fountaine which causes all the streames of thy desires purposes affections speeches and the whole current of thy conuersation to runne either muddy or cleere Ply therefore amongst others these three points of speciall and precious consequence for the present purpose with all seriousnesse and zeale 1. Captiuation and conformitie of the thoughts and imaginations of thy heart to the soueraignty and rules of grace If thy change in words actions and all outward carriage were Angelicall yet if thy thoughts were the same and vnsanctified still thou wert still a limbe of Satan Purity in the inward parts is the most sound and vndeceiuing euidence of our portion and interest in the power and purity of Christs sauing Passion and sanctifying Blood-shed See Ier. 4. 14. Isa. 55. 7. Now that thou mayest the better conquer and keepe the thoughts of thy heart in subiection and obedience vnto Christ be perswaded and acknowledge 1. The pestilencie of that wicked Prouerbe Thoughts are free It is true the immediate inuisible productions and proiects of the heart lie not within the walke of humane Iustice neither are liable to the censure of earthly Courts and Consistories But there is an All-seeing and Omniscient Eye in Heauen to which the blackest Mid-night is as the brightest Noone-tide Psal. 139. 12. which sees our secretest thoughts afarre off ver 2. and sets them in the light of his countenance Psal. 90. 8. Hence it is that many humble soules sensible of their secret prouoking the glory of Gods pure Eye are more grieued setting aside the ill of example and scandall ordinary attendants vpon open and visible miscarriages for the rebelliousnesse of their thoughts then the exorbitancie of their actions For the sting of these is something eased and lessened as they thinke by the absence of Hypocrisie and because the world sees the worst But concerning the other it cuts them to the very heart that they are not as well able to preserue their inward parts in puritie toward the All-searching Eye of that God who stretched foorth the heauens and laid the foundations of the earth as their words and actions in plausiblenesse towards man who shall die and the sonne of man which shall be made as grasse Whereas then the naturall man is woont to let his heart runne riot and at randome into a world of idle imaginations without remorse or restraint doe thou make thy sanctification sure vnto thy selfe by this infallible signe That thou sufferst the consideration of Gods
encompassed and crowned with much vndeserued and extraordinarie precedency and pompe yet this one little thing to wit because Mordecai would not bow the knee and doe reuerence vnto him at the Kings gate did vtterly marre and dissweeten all the other excellencies and extraordinarinesse of the Kings fauour See Hester Chap. 5. Vers. 10 11 12 13. And Haman told his friends and wife of the glory of his riches c. But all this saith hee doth nothing auaile me as long as I see Mordecai the Iew sitting at the Kings gate 3. The third is an eternall sting which to a waking and working conscience ariseth out of a serious consideration and sence of Gods causefull iust and holy indignation reuealed in his Booke against impenitents in such kindes Whereupon it is no maruaile though many times their hearts hating to bee reformed and hearing their seuerall doomes denounced against them from Gods owne mouth in that Word by which they shall be iudged at the last Day be full sorely smitten with inward bitter gripings and secret guilty stings the very hellish flashings and foretasts of that neuer-dying worme which hereafter without timely repentance will gnaw vpon their consciences with full rage and vnquenchable horrour world without end The worldling therefore may iustly tremble and roare when he reades that cutting Commination Iam. 5. 1 2. Goe to now ye rich men weepe and howle for your miseries that shall come vpon you Your riches are corrupted and your garments moth eaten your gold and siluer is cankered and the rust of them shall bee a witnesse against you and shall eate your flesh as it were fire ye haue heaped treasure together for the last dayes The wanton when he well weighs that flaming place Heb. 13. 4. so full of vengeance against him But whoremongers and adulterers God will iudge The drunkard when hee finds himselfe in the cursed Catalogue of that damned crue 1. Cor. 6. 9. Be not deceiued neither fornicators nor Idolaters nor drunkards c. shall inherit the Kingdome of God The Ambitionist when he casts his eye from the top of his vsurped honours vpon that dreadful downefall Obadiah 4. Though thou exalt thy selfe as an Eagle and though thou set thy nest among the starres thence I will bring thee downe saith the Lord. But now on the other side spirituall Ioy which springs out of the wells of saluation and is a ray and representation as it were of the Sunne of Righteousnesse and that eternall Fountaine of soundest and lasting comfort is all sweete pure shining calme hearty vnspeakeable vtterly free from those fore-grumblings and reluctations of conscience enuenomed mixtures and slauish apprehensions after-repentings stings and melancholike dumps though it may be assaulted and something dimmed with some doubts distrusts and weakenesse of degree by reason of our vnglorified state of mortalitie yet in respect of its creation substance truth and blissefull issue it is a very glimpse of heauenly glory a pure taste of the riuers of Life and first fruits of euerlasting ioyes Thus the blessing of the Lord maketh the heart spiritually merry with incomparable sweetnesse and he addeth no sorrow with it 3. Of dignitie and diuine temper Carnall ioyes haue for their foundation the fading arme of flesh and the fashion of this world fraile and fleeting as themselues earthly power and policie for their prop and support For their Obiect the Garbage of the earth Gold and Siluer foode for swinish worldlings noble captiuities guilded fetters I meane vndeserued dignities honours offices greatnesse and high roomes the onely ayme of ambitious Shebnaes the filth and froth of brutish pleasures fewell for Sodomiticall flames and such like trash pelfe and vanity For their companions feares iealousies guilty gripings The sences for their seate Time for their limit for their end endlesse griefe and horrour of heart For all earthly pleasure determines in heauinesse as the Sunne sets in darknesse But now on the other side spirituall Ioy is the blessed Spirits sweet and louely Babe grounded vpon the sure Couenant of euerlasting Loue Mercie and Peace in Iesus Christ The matter of it is the light of Gods countenance the Garments of saluation the precious Robe of Christs righteousnesse interest in his dearest Blood and all the rich purchases of his Passion looking vpon our names in heauen through the glasse of sanctification Gods holy Image renued vpon our soules and the illustrious beames of heauenly graces shed from the Throne of Grace shining there euery sweet promise in his blessed Booke In a word Iehoua Isa. 61. 10. Habakkuk 3. 18. Phil. 4 4. And that glorious Name proclaimed Exod. 34. 6 7. a well-spring of vnspeakable refreshing to euery truely broken and bleeding heart being well opened by a feeling and a fruitfull meditation For measure it is immeasurable without bound or stint and passeth all vnderstanding no stranger doth intermeddle with it neither can any man possibly conceiue it but he that enioyes it It is as it were the amiable splendour and sparkle of that white Stone in the Reuelation Chap. 2. 17. which only shines vpon heauenly hearts with delight vnspeakable glorious For seate and certainty It is engrauen by the Finger of God with an heauenly Sun-beame as it were shining from the face of Christ in the very center of the heart which not all the powers of darknesse or hellish mists can finally dimme or dispell the world neither giue nor take from vs neither man nor deuill nor shadow of death euer raze or roote out It is honoured with that supernaturall singularitie and sacred temper that vtterly against nature all naturall possibilitie it extracts sweetnesse and life out of ordinary causes of deiection and sinking Troubles persecutions and reproaches doe fortifie it and serue as fewell to enlarge its lightsomnesse See Act. 5. 41. 16. 25. Acts and Monum pag. 2003. where the glorious Martyr Woodman speakes thus When I haue been in prison wearing otherwhile bolts otherwhiles shackles otherwhile lying on the bare ground somtime sitting in the stocks sometimes bound with cords that all my body hath been swolne much like to be ouercome for the paine that hath been in my flesh sometime faine to lye without in the woods and fields wandring to and fro few I say that durst to keepe my company forâ—…feare of the Rulers sometime brought before the Iustices Sheriffes Lords Doctors and Bishops sometime called Dogge sometime Deuill Heretike Whoremonger Traytor Thiefe Deceiuer with diuers other such like yea and euen they that did eate of my bread that should haue been most my friends by nature haue betrayed meâ—… Yet for all this I praise my Lord God that hath separated mee from my mothers wombe all this that hath happened to me hath beene easie light and most delectable and ioyfull of any treasure that euer I possessed For duration It is a very glimpse of heauenly glory which springing vp in a sanctified heart out of the wells of saluation and
royall heart by imbruing his hands in his brothers blood and with vnnaturall trayterous violence and villany snatching at the Imperiall Crowne vpon Dauids head Another famous instance to this purpose we find in the story of the Greeke Emperours The old Emperour Andronicus doted with such extreme impotency of partiall affection vpon his Nephew young Andronicus that in comparison of him he did not onely disregard the rest of his Nephewes but also his owne children and as the Storie tels vs was not willing to spare him out of sight either day or night But what were the consequents of this cockering When he was stept further into yeeres besides a world of miseries and molestations created to his Grandfather in the meane time at length pressing without resistance vpon his Palace with purpose to surprize his person though the old Emperour intreated him with much affectionate Royall eloquence which might haue pierced an heart of steele or Adamant That he would reuerence those hands which had oftentimes most louingly embraced him yet crying in his swathing clothes that he would reuerence those lips which had oftentimes most louingly kissed him and called him his other Soule that he would spare to spill that blood from which himselfe had taken the fountaine of life c. For all this after some kind words and courteous embracement at first indeed premised and in hot blood in conclusion being polled and shauen was made a Monke and the Anuile of much dunghill scorne and vilest indignities vntill the workemanship of death had finished the sorrowfull businesse of a wretched life A third and very remarkeable to fright all Parents from foolish doting heare out of Austin By reason of a terrible dreadfull accident he called his people together as it seemes to a Sermon the third time the same day thinking no doubt out of his watchful spiritual wisdom to work more succesfully and to leaue more strong and lasting impressions in their hearts while the bloody vnnaturall villany was yet fresh in their eyes and eares And when they were met together he relates the dolefull storie Our noble Citizen saith he here of Hippo Cyrillus a man mightie amongst vs both in worke and word and much beloued had as you know one onely sonne and because he had but onely one he loued him immeasurably and aboue God And so being drunke with immoderate doting hee neglected to correct him and gaue him liberty to doe whatsoeuer he list Now this very day this same fellow thus long suffered in his dissolute and riotous courses hath in his drunken humour wickedly offered violence to his mother great with child would haue violated his sister hath killed his father and wounded two of his sisters to death O mightie domination of the Deuill c. But I need not prosecute this point by further illustration out of strange Stories Daily experience presents vnto our eyes and eares the many wofull discomforts vnkind requitales and vnnaturall vsages which Parents receiue at the hands of those children which in their younger yeeres they made wanton with their loue and vndiscreetly doted vpon 2. Or in some other kind for example If thine heart be set vpon riches God may iustly and mercifully too exercise and afflict thee with his heauy hand vpon thy body with sicknesse vpon thy conscience with terror vpon thy reputation with disgrace or the like thereby to vnglue thy noble spirit from the dust and rent it from grouelingnesse vpon the earth If thou be ambitiously enamoured vpon honours and high roomes after wasting thy wealth wounding thy conscience wearying thy selfe with bribery basenesse and irkesome waiting thou mayest bee taken away vntimely in the very pursuite or presently after the attainement of them c. Thus it is not strange or extraordinary with God to preuent or take off our hearts from taking selfe-conceited pleasure or pride in any thing we enioy by crossing and correcting vs in other kindes Euen Paul that blessed Saint and seruant of the Lord lest his heart should be too much pleased and puft vp with abundance of reuelations he was vext and crost with his owne concupiscence there was giuen to him a thorne in the flesh the messenger of Satan to buffet him 2. Cor. 12. 7. that is as I conceiue hee felt his originall corruption sharpened and eneagered against him and let loose in some sort vpon him which is a terrible cut to a tender conscience 3. For the third howsoeuer it fare with thee otherwise if thou settle thine heart vpon any earthly thing with inordinate desire and delight thou shalt be sure to be haunted with a double curse 1. The rage of vnsatiablenesse vnsatisfiablenesse 2. That greatest plague hardnesse of heart 1. The Father of Spirits hath inspired into our immortall soules a large capacity and such an infinite appetite that no finite excellency created comfort or earthly thing can possibly fill Gold siluer riches honours crownes kingdomes are no fit matter or adequate obiect for such an immateriall and heauenly borne spirit to repose and feed vpon with finall rest and full contentment Nay not this whole materiall world were it beautified and set out with all the amiablenesse splendour and allurements which the deuill by his iugling Alchymy put vpon it when he presented it to the eye of Christ Iesus Math. 4. 8. with addition of the starry and Empyrean heauen shining with all their admirable beauty and glorious inhabitants could by any meanes confine satisfie and content the irke some wandrings vnlimited desire and vast comprehensiuenesse of the soule but it would still bee transported with the passionate disquietnesse of selfe vexation and tortured vpon the racke of restlesse discontent vntill it fasten and fixe vpon an obiect infinite both in excellency and endlesnesse wherin is contained the whole latitude of Entity and goodnesse the euer-blessed and onlyadored Trinity Where and when alone it softly and sweetly with the hight and fulnesse of all desireable contentment rests in the armes of God and bosome of eternall blisse which all blessed soules attaine thus and by these meanes When it pleased God by the mercifull violence of his Almighty hand to turne the sensuall bent and powerfull current of the seduced soule from the creature to the Creator from the painted brauery of this vaine world to the heauenly beautie of his blessed Word from carking encumbrance about many things to pursue and ply that One needfull thing by a sound and vniuersall change of the whole man and translation of him from the darkenesse of naturall ignorance death in sinne and power of the deuill to the light of sauing knowledge the life of sanctifying grace and the liuing God I say then the restlesse wandrings of the vnsatisfied soule begins first to settle with some sweet contentment vpon the flowers of Paradise glimpses of heauenly glory infallible earnests of euerlasting blisse sauing graces and its infinite appetite is well stayed in the meane time with that
as vpon the vnblessed grounds of their Antichristian doctrine cannot possibly build any true perswasion of being in Gods fauour so they are bound out by the tenour of their hereticall Tenent from thinking it lawfull to entertaine any vnwauering certainety that way 6. Nay further some out of a Pharisaicall pretence of humility and modesty but in truth from the secret suggestion of a guilty conscience which ministers vnto them more then matter enough of true and iust doubting are notable wranglers for Papisticall doubting Thus you see some there are also who doe not assure themselues of future happinesse either vpon true or false grounds Yet I am perswaded the greatest part of those who liue within the sound of the Gospell are ordinarily confident without cause and secure of their saluation when as in truth triall They haue no surer interest or better claime to the kingdome of heauen then the foolish Virgins and the rest of that deluded ranke which I mentioned a little before Let a Minister of some great Congregation wherein there are very few Professors which is no hard thing to find and where there is no profession especially the Gospell being peaceably preached there can ordinarily be no power of Christianity shewes there may be indeed without substance but not the power of godlinesse without visible appearance as appeares in the Preparatiues I say let him interrogate and aske the rest of his people one after another bee they hundreths or thousands what conceits they hold of themselues for the world to come what they thinke will become of them after this life what their present iudgement is of their spirituall estate And I thinke he shall scarce meet with any who will not in some kinde or other discouer some groundlesse confidence of his wellbeing that way Their answer ordinarily would be to this purpose We thanke God we haue a good faith to Godwards We haue beleeued in Christ euer since we may remember We hope God will be mercifull though we be not Scripture-men nor so forward as others or such followers of Sermons c. yet we looke to be saued aswell as the best of them all c. Vpon the matter and in summe Wee doubt not but wee shall goe to heauen And if their Minister should reply But I pray you tell mee you that are so confident Doe you beleeue and repent and make conscience of all our wayes c Yea would they say with all our hearts else it were pittie we should liue When as God knowes it is neither so nor so their poore frozen flinty hearts neuer yet melted before the Ministery of the Word were neuer truely touched with remorse for their innumerable sinnes neuer warmed with any sauing worke of the holy Ghost but euer thus farre meere strangers to the mysterie of Christ. Those that are true of heart are not woont to contest for the integrity but euer to complaine of the naughtinesse and vntowardnesse of their hearts And therefore if they become not new men in the meane time the vaile of their selfedelusion and vaine confidence will most certainely at last be frighted and fired from their blinded mindes with that terrible and dreadfull doome Depart from me I know you not Chrysostome in one of his homilies to his people of Antioch teaching them not to trust in multitude speakes thus vnto them How many doe you thinke are there in our citie which be in the state of saluation It will vexe which I am about to speake yet I will speake it There cannot amongst so many thousands an hundred bee found which are in that state Nay and I doubt whether all those Now had this good Father at the same time demanded of those many thousands besides what they conceiued of themselues for saluation doe you not thinke he would haue found them all well conceited of themselues Would not they with much bitternesse and heate haue exagitated his censure as too peremptory and vnmercifull and beene ready to retort Howsoeuer you dote vpon the Disciples you draw after you and onely approoue and applaud the Ioanites for so they were called because his name was Iohn yet we hope to doe as well as they and come to heauen as soone as the precisest of those you haue in so high esteeme Heere then let me a little illighten and open in a word as I promised the Mystery of this spirituall Selfe-deceit For which purpose know that Satan first discouers in our corrupt nature and crooked dispositions a very pregnant ground whereupon to practise this notable imposture I meane the originall poyson of naturall presumption whereby we are all apt to bee fearelesse and sencelesse of our present spirituall misery and hand ouer-head to catch at any vaine shadow of counterfeit confidence for our future welfare Secondly hee obserues in the partie he intends to delude the most plausible matter and selfe-pleasing apprehensions which may make the fittest medium to mis-inferre a false conclusion for his spirituall safety Lastly by some flashes of his personated Angelicall light he sets vpon it the glimmering flourish of a presumptuous impression and so seales vp the deceiued soule with the spirit of slumber and groundlesse security Now the insufficient matter rotten grounds false mediums as we call them in the Schooles which Satan by his Sophistry doth cunningly and cruelly abuse to cast many thousands into a pleasing golden dreame of imaginary spirituall safetie and Selfe-deceit and into a fooles Paradise of a soule-coozening conclusion are such as these 1. Measuring a mans selfe by himselfe himselfe perhaps formerly grosly ignorant and notoriously lewd by himselfe now growne ciuill somewhat illuminated with diuine knowledge but yet neither holy nor euer truely humbled 2. Comparing himselfe with others who are Satans outragious reuellers in respect of his morall moderation and something more ciuill carriage 3. Arguing Gods speciall loue and sauing fauour from his outward prosperous state and blessings in temporall things So the fatting Oxe might thinke with himselfe I shall surely liue because I feed in this greene rich Pasture 4. Concluding from crosses that hee is a sonne and not a bastard that he hath his punishment heere as they say c. whereas they are but the iust effects of Gods secret curse blowing vpon his counsels dealings and vndertakings for his couetousnesse vnconscionablenesse hatred to bee reformed and except hee truly turne in the meane time will prooue the very foretastes and pieces as it were of hellish torments 5. Sometimes nothing but selfeloue serues the deuils turne to locke vp a carnall heart in this security and causelesse confidence especially in some extremely ignorant people who easily beleeue that which they desire and haue no other ground of their going to heauen but because they would haue it so 6. Common conceits and corrupt Notions compounded of grosse ignorance and Popish folly that a mans good meanings and good doings as they ignorantly speake nay and as some haue said his