from the heavens send forth her tender sprouts and pleasant fruits for the use of creatures inhabiting upon it Doe not the Valleys standing thick vvith Corne laugh and sing as the Psalmist speaketh Psal 65. 13. And doe not all living creatures under the materiall heavens when God opens his hand and fills them with his goodnesse sing and rejoyce and all of them materially praise the Lord as shewing forth unto man such ample matter of his praise and glory in all such respects continually due unto his divine Majestie from Men and Angells which either doe or ought to learne that great lesson from them But then above all when that inward secret divine grace and spirituall glory hidden from the eyes of all creatures which none else attaine to know but those to whom such inward spirituall discovery is made and none know their own but they that have it from whence there is gladnesse put into the hearts of such as have this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prerogative to become the children of God Joh 1. 12. To be borne from above Joh 3. 3. yea to be borne of God ver 8. Being effectually changed into the same image as in the Text by the Lord the Spirit not only above that when mens corne and wine and oyle inoreaseth as Psal 4. 7. But as the Apostle speaketh with joy unspeak able and full of glory and indeed when the glory of God hath once filled their souls it is no wonder if they triumph in the God of all glory O how should this true sight of the spirituall heavenly Canaan upon the top of Mount Nebo at some distance make them with Moses to be willing to leave a Wildernesse-worldly condition and gladly to goe unto that God whose glittering beames of glory have not only shined upon their countenance as visibly once on Moses but into their soules so seasoning sanctifying sweetning supporting comforting them answerably to all that his most soveraigne divine all-guiding and ordering providence shall dispence unto them That neither life nor death Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor heighth nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to seperate them from his love which is in Christ Jesus their Lord Rom 8. 38 39. or it from them Yea upon this advantage God Christ spirituall and eternall joy is really and truly here and perpetually and perfectly hereafter shall most infallibly be conveyed into and for ever be continued unto their souls and their whole man to all eternitie O then know thy worth O sanctified soule that thou mayst here in some measure suitably praise thy God which as such thou canst not but desire freely to doe now and shalt most certainly and most happily performe hereafter incessantly unweariedly and most delightfully Let thy name whereby thou mayest remarkably be knowne in the world be Barachiah blesse or praise the Lord let his praise be ever in thy mouth ever in thy heart ever endeavoured after and aimed at in thy life so will thy name be truly glorious so will thy end be truly blessed but thy portion perfect beatitude everlasting felicitie Fifthly and lastly Let none content themselves with an outward profession of Christs Religion unlesse with the regenerate and truly sanctified souls they in some good measure likewise so behold the glory of the Lord as to be therewithall changed into the same image without which men may long enough beare the name of Christ and yet never be owned by Christ they may eate and drinke often in his presence and have him preached often in their streets and yet notwithstanding heare him say unto them Depart from me ye cursed I never knew you I never approved of you nor your seeming service yea some also may preach Christ unto others and that in many respects well too and yet they themselves be meer cast-awayes if they do not aright behold this glory of the Lord. Were such truths well considered owned believed applyed Christians would be lesse in seeming more in substance lesse in formalitie more in realitie lesse in shews and more in truth Satan could delude lesse grace would prevaile more the Devil should have fewer slaves Christ would have more servants sin would have fewer Subjects grace would have more favourites hell would have fewer everlastingly condemned prisoners heaven would have more eternally enfranchized Citizens to possesse or inhabite them Now for the better promoting of this great worke let me offer unto thee these ensuing Considerations amongst many others which might be added First Consider that the obtaining of this Burgesship or being so free-borne unto it is the first thing that ought humbly faithfully and constantly to be sought for by every Wise Virgin and none but the foolish neglect it It is to be sought for first in order by the direction of our best Teacher by the injunction of the best and infinitely greatest King First seeke the Kingdome of heaven and the righteousnesse thereof Math 6. 33. First in intention with the converted Jaylour What must I doe to be saved First in value and worth incomparable What will it profit a man saith our Saviour and he knowes best that it profits nothing for a man to gaine the whole world were it possible as it is not and to loose his own soule Mark 8. 36. First in necessitie For except saith Christ a man be borne againe or borne from above he cannot see the kingdome of God he cannot enter into the kingdome of God Joh 3. 3 5. First In dignity or excellency for it is incomparably more to be borne of God as all his Saints are then to be borne of bloods or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man Jo. 1. 13. First In truly comfortable fruition without which the soule is like the needle in the marriners compasse till it be this way pointed at God for its rest will alwayes be in disturbed motion It was not only more truly honorable for David that he was the truly faithful servant of the Lord and the sweet singer of Israel the man after Gods own heart then that he was the King of Israel the renowned Conqueror of Gods and his own enemies but it was more true comfort sound satisfaction unspeakeable and glorious joy over and above all the rest that he was or did or possessed in the world Secondly Consider that this is only the really true and the only heaven upon earth whereas all others supposed heavens without this are but Phantastical conceits vanishing delusions sweet poysons putative pleasures but intoxicating and killing rejoycings Thirdly Consider what a great advancement it is in the world yea above the world and that in respect both of her frownes and her favours First Saith the Apostle yea are come unto the Mount Sion and unto the City of the living God the heavenly Hierusalem and to an innumerable company of Angels to the general Assembly and Church of the first born which are written in
Christ shews wonders among the dead as himselfe so strongly asserteth Joh 5. 25. Verily verily I say unto you the houre is coming and now is that the dead shall heare the voyce of the Sonne of God and they that heare shall live Hereby Christ gaines a soveraigntie above all that is called God as the Father promised Psal 2. 8. He hath the heathen for his inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession neither can he be deprived of his Subjects the gates of Hell shall not prevaile against them no not of the weakest by the strongest none shall be able to pull any one sheep from his fold for hereby the soul of a converted sinner is inseparably united unto him By this Gospel grace the taste and discerning of divine and spiritual things is made truly cordial and comfortable unto believing souls Hereby God is set up in the highest place in the soul in all he reveals himselfe to be Hereby he is sought unto for all acknowledged in all what ever means or instruments he useth believed in all he saith honoured in all he doth in prosperitie or adversitie in particular or in general to themselves or others praise returned unto him for all mercies how or what way so ever conferred feared above all rejoyced in and delighted in above all that can be conceived of creatures incomparably This makes them measure all Glory by Gods Standard and weigh all comfort in Gods Ballance and try all treasure by Gods Touchstone and none of these will be approved by them but what hath his allowance Hereby God overcomes darknesse with light corruption with sanctification trouble with comfort disquiet with peace sorrow with joy opposition with support weaknesse with strength assaults with victory danger with securitie sufferings with rescue death with life and this not only once but often not sometime only but at all times not in some respects only but in all not against some evills only but against all not for some continuance only but unto the end for though every way many be the troubles of the righteous yet the Lord delivereth them out of them all Psal 34. 19. And all this grace in all the varietie of the glorious manifestations thereof is in the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ Chap 4. ver 4. And in the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ v 6. And now in the third place for the further illustration of this greatest glory of the Lord manifest to his Church in this world let us come to those respective considerations wherein it will be yet more evident that this Gospel glory is the greatest glory of all that in the world God hath or doth or will manifest yea or any living in it can behold Now for manifestation of the many more glorious excellencies of Gospel grace above all the other glorious works of the most blessed God wherein he hath discovered his wonderfull excellencies in and for his true Church upon earth as revealed carried on to be accomplished here and fully perfected in heaven We shall further endeavour by his most gracious assistance to display the transcendent glory of this work above all the other in these ensuing particulars First In respect of the more glorious nature of the work Secondly In respect of the more glorious matter of the work Thirdly In respect of the many wayes considerably more excellent foundation of the work Fourthly In respect of the most glorious structure forme and frame of the work Fifthly In regard of the long continued time for the raising of the work Sixthly In regard of the way of the raising of this work by the constant shining out of the wonderfull glory of the Father Sonne and holy Ghost all the time it is in raising Seventhly In respect of the subordinate means of raising up this work Eighthly In respect of the object for which and in reference to whom it is immediately contrived and raised Ninthly In regard of the ends wherefore it is contrived carried on raised and to be perfected in reference both to God and Man Tenthly In respect of the many excellent uses to be made by all men here of the contriving carrying on and raising of this work and what will be made of it by glorified Saints and Angells hereafter in heaven Eleventhly In respect of the effect of all that concerns the manifestation of all the gloriousnesse of this work to good and bad men and Angells here and hereafter And if the Lord the Spirit shall be graciously pleased to carry us along in any competent manner but to hint or point out unto any Arts of men the manifold transcendent glory of this Gospel glory of the Lord I hope some men by his blessing may have the transforming glory thereof if not altogether wrought yet in some measure increased in them by the same Spirit by whose guidance as we endeavour to doe it so we shall endeavour to pray unto him for it First therefore of the first viz. the respective consideration of the more glorious nature of the work above the nature of the works of Creation Sustentation and Gubernation or Providence which though they be the Works of the All-glorious God in their kinde and degree suitable to the Author yet is this more excellent worke of his in its own nature eminently many wayes much more glorious and particularly in these Considerations following First In that the Creation Sustentation Gubernation of the world are of corruptible principles and materialls in continuall transmutations and changes generations and irruptions increases and decreases all in successions nothing in continuance or stability excepting Angells and the souls of men which though they be in the world yet they are not of the world as Christ said his Kingdome was not of which in great part they are but the great work of Gospel grace is of a spiritual and incorruptible nature suitable to the Author of it and as the nature of a thing is neerer to him the more perfect it is Secondly All the former great works of God respect inferiour creatures and the outward beeing and well-fare of man and directly reach no further but this respects the inward and spiritual well-fare of man and tends directly to the advancing of that now as the use and improvement of a thing is more excellent and glorious much more is that which is the cause of it Thirdly As the first works consisted of corruptible principles so their continuance and use will be but for a time and shall have their periods and cessations but this divine Gospel grace is of an eternall being and will remaine in its use and excellency to all eternitie Secondly And as in respect of the nature of the work so this Gospel grace is more glorious than all the other in respect of the matter of the work Base and mean materialls doe obscure and not illustrate the glory of a work Who can bring a
clean thing out of an unclean saith Job not one God put at first a living soul into a body made of clay but the body did not thereby become of the same excellency with the living soul but this work of Gospel grace hath such a matter as is of a divine wonderfull and incomprehensible excellency which we must not understand Materiam ex qua as in worldly things but circa quam not corporeall but notional and intellectual not matter subjectivè but objectivè as the Schools distinguish that is to say the matter of this work is so conceived rather in respect of our understanding than the realitie of the thing which is beyond measure glorious Thirdly But to come to the third respect wherein it is more glorious than all the other fore-named works and that is in the many wayes considerably more excellent foundation of this work the more wisely advantageously and surely any great undertaking hath its foundation layd the more excellency it addeth to it and if this be not provided duly for the greater the undertaking the more hazzard the more cost and labour the greater disappointment and losse Hence because warre is a great undertaking by men therefore saith One With good advice make warre Now the gloriousnesse of Gods laying the foundation of this work will appeare greater than of all the other in these particulars following First The foundation of this is more profound and more deeply layd than of all the other Secondly That it is more secretly and hiddenly layd than of all the other Thirdly That it was a more difficult foundation to be layd in severall respects than of all the other Fourthly In that it is a foundation more surely layd than of all the other First The commendation of the profoundnesse of a foundation is as it is layd in the due proportion to the greatnesse of the work undertaken whereof it is the foundation now the greatnesse of Gods work in decreeing revealing carrying on and accomplishing his glorious work of grace is infinitely excellent in all dimensions intensive extensive yea beyond all dimensions mentall or reall eternally infinite which cannot be said of any or all his other works as may thus be evidenced First In that this most glorious work was not undertaken for them but contrarily they were all undertaken and are carryed on for this they were and are but the Substrata for this and it is their greatest excellency that their beeing is in reference unto this Secondly In that this most glorious work is not subservient unto them but they all along unto it ever since their first beginning and must be so untill they cease to be God makes use of all his inferiour actings in the world amongst all sorts of creatures in all times as subservient one way or other to this glorious Grace Thirdly In that they or any or all of them are not the end of this most glorious work but contrarily this is the very end every way chiefly considerable wherefore they were or may be done hereafter it is their finis operis operantis it is their finis intentionis durationis that is this is the end they were done for the end why God did them he purposed them for this and no longer to continue but for this viz. till this great mystery of God should be finished as in Rev Secondly The next particular considerable which we named in the excellency of Gods laying the foundation of this most glorious work is the secrecy of it it is an hidden foundation this follows in some sort from the other yet all foundations that are deep are not secret they may be searched out they may be discovered they may be revealed they may be inlightened but this was a secret hidden in Gods own counsell alone when all the other foundations were open to men and Angells yea this was not nor could be known till himselfe made it knowne nor any further then as he was pleased from time to time to cause it to be further known by men or Angells and only rightly known to those good men to whom he himselfe and his holy Spirit are pleased to reveal it and make it known unto and it is not only in generall in that respect of the great mystery of God but in respect of particular persons all men know not in this sense the great mystery of Godlinesse nor the mystery of the kingdome of Heaven though they often heare it and heare of it but they only to whom it is given Mar 4. 11. Yea to all others the mystery of God and the mystery of Godlinesse are mysteries indeed hidden from their eyes And hence things peculiar to the faithfull are said thus to be hidden they have an hidden life with Christ in God the hidden Manna the name in the white stone that none can reade but he that hath it Rev 2. 17. Hidden waters of life drawn by the secret hand of faith out of the Rock Christ they have the hidden man of the heart which is acceptable unto God 1. Pet 3. 4. And yet all these though they be hidden from the world are well known to them and herein God wonderfully glorifies himselfe in his most wise counsells that the secret issues of them cannot be discovered by any enemies though he sees all their secret and foolish counsells to the contrary and laughs them to scorne in all things for he hath determined to disappoint them all in all they mainly drive at and what ever devices are in their hearts his and only his counsell shall stand Pro Thirdly The next particular we shall consider in the laying of this most glorious foundation is that it was a more difficult work to lay it in several respects then any of the other not more hard in respect of God for to his power and wisdome all things are alike easie the greatest as well as the least but in regard first of the nature of the work secondly of the opposition that was and is and will be made against it while the world standeth all which time Michael and his Angels fight with the Dragon and his Angels First The laying the foundation of this work was hard in regard of the wonderful excellencie which was therein to be shewed and infinite wisdome power mercy justice holyness goodness faithfulness and truth and so transcendently that nothing in the whole world in any of these respects is to be found like it nothing to be compared with it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a received position that excellent things are hard here then being the greatest excelency must needs be the greatest difficulty Secondly Hard by reason of the great and strong opposition that would ever be made against any appearance of any thing of this work in the world when God laid the foundation of it he perfectly knew what would be the hatred violence subtilty of the devill to oppose it at every turne in the world he perfectly knew the interest the
with that much more excellent discovery of Gospel glory though a truly regenerate and sanctified soul sees such beauty such loveliness such joy and sollace yea true happiness in those Gospel gracious discoveries that they not only like it and commend it but as some Ancients concerning some amorous persons were wont to phrase it perdite amant alias they love others to the looseing of themselves so it may be said of their loving of Gospel grace but in a good and necessary sence as our Saviour speaks Mat. 10. 5. If any love Father or Mother Wife or Children more then me he is not worthy of me perdite amant gloriam Evangelicam they destructively love Gospel glory that they will rather loose friends and credit ease and possessions liberty life and all then to suffer a divorce between that and their own soules But for all other men or any other man to desire it to pursue it upon a true Gospel account as beleeving or seeing it to be so excellent and glorious or upon such termes to pursue or retain it by purchasing or suffering for it the heathen Sages might much more easily have prevailed with any such beasts in the shapes of men then any sanctified soul or Embassador of Christ can prevaile with any to take right notice of or much less to be so enamoured of that most excellent object of soul sollacing grace untill they come to be transformed into the same image by the spirit of God Fourthly But this will yet further appear in the next demonstration namely In that such Gospel grace in the souls of the Saints differs not in nature from their heavenly glory but only in degrees A man that is in any good measure in heaven in his spiritual part here upon earth shall certainly inherite the kingdome of Heaven hereafter and such within whom as our Saviour speaks Luk. â—7 â—1 the kingdome of heaven is really here seated by Gospel grace they shall infallibly obtain a Crown of glory which will never fade to all eternity and indeed heaven would not be heaven unto them then when they should come to possess it if that kingdom of heaven had not taken possession of their souls before to fit them for it a blind man may as soon be affected with the meer placeing of pleasant sights before him or a deaf man delighted with the sound of any musick which he cannot heare as men or women truly rejoyce in the glorified Saints and Angels happiness hereafter if they have not here their Celestial frame of spirit wrought upon their souls yea the very society of glorified Saints would be a kind of hell to wicked men remaining such if they had no other hell to suffer for as it cannot be expected the wolfe should lye down with the Lambe untill Gospel grace have wrought the change of nature here as the spirit of God hath foretold Is 11. 6 7. 8. so until that nature be changed yea a contrary put into the soule of a man the Saints perpetual songs of prayse to God and the Lambe and the Lord the Spirit would not only be unsutable and unpleasant but a senceless subject to such a soule that never had followed Christ in the regeneration nor seen nor felt nor rightly known before-hand the Divine power of Gospel grace the mistery of the gospel then the matter of the Saints everlasting rejoycing would be such an hidden sealed mistery that such unbeleeving and disobedient souls would not understand it saving only so far as to have convinced and self-condemned consciences thereby little understanding what they may sometime seem to pray or hope for here concerning the kingdom of heaven who in their dispositions and depraved nature doe toto caelo deferre stand at the greatest distance from it but when that nature is once changed that Lions are at peace with the Lambes and the hurtful creatures lye down with the harmeless Is 11. 7. then grace shall appear glorious unto such and as their measure thereof shall be greater the more it will appear so and the more they grow in such grace the more they will delight in it and the greater measure they shall obtain of it the more heavenly glory hereafter will be allotted to them It is true indeed our heaven upon earth will have a mixture of vanity and corruption and weakness together with it till that which is perfect be come then that which is imperfect shall be done away 1 Cor. 13. 10. I shall not stand here to inlarge upon the many considerations which might to this purpose be produced in regard of the souls incapacity of glory till it be changed and of its unsutableness unto such glory besides the sence of the want of any right title or interest in such glorified Saints happiness with their own self condemnation upon it and the apprehension of that intollerable eternal infinite divine displeasure against them as also the utter detestation that perfected Saints with Angels will have of the hateful qualities of all devils and unsanctified souls of men or women and even the very heavens natural repugnancy and antipathy against them to the utter expulsion of all such as poyson out of them since into them no unclean thing shall enter Rev. 21 27. As Christal glasses rather then hold poyson will break asunder even so the most pure Chrystaline heavens would rather break then any devil or unsanotified persons should abide or inhabite in them Here indeed the Hony Bee and the toad or spider have both their places and imployments and their injoyments too together the one to gather up its hony the other to suck up their poyson the one to lurke in the nastie corrupted or noysome corners of the earth the other in their sweet and pleasant hives and hony the one inrich themselves or feed upon their own destructive poyson the other inrich themselves with and feed upon their own pleasant wholsome healing and strengthning hony which they have by diligent labour acquir'd But when that woofull poysonous destructive nature of such men is in any good measure subdued by the prevalent power of Gospel grace O how sweet will the spiritual kingdome of heaven be unto such souls how will the true Citizens of the spiritual Zion be owned and imbraced by them How will their portion their delicates be desired above all others How will grace and glory be then longed for sought for by them above other things yet these passibus aequis as we may say in their due proportions when they are in their right frame not glory more then grace but grace as the right promoter of glory and indeed that which is only truly glorious in its own nature and which will meet with glory as the consequent the result the reward of it by grace we have the first fruits Ro. 8. 33. the earnest penny Eph. 1. 14. of glory and happiness in the injoyment of that we injoy the sanctifying spirits residence the witness of our peace the sealer
of our redemption the comforter of our souls the teacher of all our sound wisdome and knowledge the guider and orderer and preserver of our whole spirits soules and bodies in the way of truth peace and glory unto the appearing of Christ and from thence their preserver in and unto eternal life 1 Thes 3. 13. So that since grace is of such neer consanguinity yea of such Identitie and oneness of the same essence and nature with glory hereafter and glory being not only the perfecting and consummation of grace but the result recompence and reward of it too it is no wonder it is here dignified with the most excellent title of Glory in the text and that as proceeding from the most excellent author and fountain of it the Lord the glory of the Lord the greatest glory he hath manifested in this world or greater then to all other Creatures in the world save his true Church therein at least in that inward spiritual efficacious manner to their transformation into the same Image and even greater then to his true Church under the old Testament though transformed likewise yet in these gospel times it is more clear more excellent as we formerly declared and therefore such as now with those primative Saints spoken of in the Text behold it after the like manner must needs happily behold the glory of the Lord though but as in a glass yet with open face And thus much briefly of this particular likewise The Fifth Demonstration is from the consideration that it will be the everlasting fountain and never failing spring continually affording matter of the perpetual Halelujahs blessings and prayses of the glorified Saints and Angels unto the Lord God Almighty unto the Lambe and unto the Lord the Spirit for ever and ever In that perfect Estate of their happiness all the greatness of this glory in the particulars we formerly set before you besides what ever else may most display it I say the greatness of it above all others will then be most clearly unfolded most largely discerned most perfectly manifest unto them to the infinite praise and glory of the Author worker and dispenser of all grace and glory and their own happiness and glory will be so much the more inlarged as they know and feel and canperform this most glorious work of praise and as there are such multitudes of such exexcellent companions and consorts in this soule-satisfying celestial divine and perfectly happy harmony the profound depth the misterious secrecy the otherwise then by an infinite God insuperable difficulties the most certain sureness and most settled security of the laying of that foundation how will it be known and admired to the honour of him that from eternity had so laid it How will the glorious nature matter and forme thereof be in like manner displayed improved by them How will all that they shall observe or discern of the time durance and manner of raysing such a glorious structure be celebrated by them with their due praise How will then the infinite wisdome mercy grace compassion and riches of goodness with the power truth holyness justice and all the excellencies of God so gloriously shining out in the face of Jesus Christ chap. 4. 6. and by the holy spirit discovered before unto the Saints be continually in an happy measure obvious to the vision How will the knowledge of such poor yet suitable instrumental means that had such treasure in earthen vessels to convey such glorious grace unto such mean and unsutable objects as men in their lost Estate so wonderfully powerfully and graciously throughout all generations in the world spring out unto them with matter of continued renewed melodie in that most blessed and glorious heavenly harmony How will the uses then observed and improved by them to the uttermost be compleated How will the blessed operations and effects of this glory then be fully known noted declared celebrated by them with all due honor to the worker of them to all eternity Here Gods Saints according to their discoveries in such contemplations may adore and admire in some poor measure and by the eye of faith discerne such things as God hath both so wrought revealed and conferred in and by the Gospel of his Son But the most happy inlargements beatifical vision and perfect fruition of these things both for their own most secure and satisfying happiness and the infinite and eternal praise of the Almighty One will be then the everlasting imployment of all such glorified Saints and Angels to all eternity then will the unspeakable excellencies of this glorious grace fully appear unto such O that men would therefore labour above all things to get their part in it here that they may have their portion in that happy society hereafter everlastingly by these means to praise God with them and in so doing to be perfectly blessed with them And thus we have done with the proofe and illustration of this glorious truth Proceed we now to add some further improvements then what we have formerly touched upon and so to draw on to a conclusion of the point Vse First Let men above all turne their eyes I meane the eyes of their souls and minds to the beholding of Gospel glory glorious things are delightful things to every discerning faculty provided there be suitableness in a due proportion thereunto First For the senses it is a pleasant thing for the eyes to behold the Sun saith Solomon Ec. 11. 7. Secondly For Reason The contemplation of Moral Natural and Metaphysical objects and subjects was so pleasing unto the ancient Phylosophers and Sages amongst the Heathen that they were so inwardly ravished with the excellency thereof that they conceived happiness consisted therein but that soul that by the eye of faith and by the efficacious grace of the Spirit of God comes once to behold in any good measure this Gospel glory finds by this a dim shade cast upon all seeming glories in the world besides as the sun shining in his glory at noon day upon the light of many small candles burning in the bright beams thereof Qu. But thou wilt say how shall I do this Blind men cannot see pleasing objects and deaf men cannot here delightful musick the Scripture tells me I am such by nature Ans And doest thou beleeve that is true If many others did so too they would be much neerer the cure and so art thou like to be for thou couldest not rightly have acknowledged that but by the holy Ghost But to help the good work forward and to point out unto others what course they should take give me leave to set down a few directions First Go to Christ the true Physitian of souls for his Collyrium his spiritual eye salve which he makes proclamation of Rev. 3. 18. and buy it of him by prayer by faith by the use of all his means Secondly To cure thy deafness let him put his fingers into thine eares and say Mar. 7. 33 34.
heaven and to God the judge of all and to the Spirits of just men made perfect and to Jesus the Mediator of the new Covenant and to the blood of sprinkling which speaks better things then that of Abel Heb. 12. 22. Hence all things were esteemed in comparrison but dross and dung 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but very loathsome garbidge Fourthly Consider what an unparralleld match thy soul utterly looseth the opportunity of obtaining if it be not thus in this life united unto Christ in this Gospel discovery of the glory of the Lord unto her for she must either be married to Christ in that way here or else the Devill will carry her as his captive slave to his most wicked lust and loathsome vassallage without any hope of future respite ransome or rescue but if once it be so married unto Christ how will she be dignified not only received into a Royal Estate but be partaker of the divine nature 2 Pet. 1. 4. happy in her own good quality happy in her manifold interests in the Covenant in all the promises of this life and a better and thereby in Christ in God in Angels in the Saints in the good of both worlds present and to come happy in the present society union and communion with any or many of these at the present as we shewed even now from Heb. 12. 22. but unspeakeably more for the future and happy above all persons that are void of this in the present satisfaction rest and support they will find in and from this above all earthly vanities which only by this become sweetned comforts as the love care and goodness of this spiritual bridegroome is delightfully tendred to his spouse thereby O what true Saints security in evill times in all times is there in this condition what health what wealth what honor what pleasure what joy what solace what true contentment if such poore creatures would not unfaithfully or foolishly be deficient to themselves O that Christians would suffer their poor souls yea that they would by all good means afford them assistance to make large comments upon every particular branch here offered to them to the manifold advancement of their own good I being now restrained by many circumstances from inlargeing in these and divers other things as it were hinted only in this subject yet what is said may point out many pleasant paths for thy soule to expatiate and walk at large in to her present greate refreshment in this her earthly Pilgrimage and I dare say if she be but once well acquainted with them she will never be willing to forsake them and if upon error at any time she loose her way she will never be at rest for quiet till she find it again I can here only now like the Statues used in cross pathes but point out to thee the right way if thou be once in it let it be thy care to keep it it will be thy safety it will be thy security it will by thy satisfaction thou wilt never repent thee of thy walking long or far therein yea the further thou goest the more thou gainest and advancest thy best designes thereby O that men would consider these things and improve their time their talents their opportunities their abilities to this excellent advantage while time and seasons of Grace continue that God may have the glory of his Gospel grace at their hands their own souls and consciences may thereby receive their sound peace and true consolation here and eternally by the same means obtain their perfect happiness which he grants of his infinite compassion to poor wandring souls through him who hath fully paid the price of their iniquities and purchased for them such a glorious grace and sent his holy spirit to make it effectual to them of his own good pleasure unto which undivided and most holy Trinity of persons in the Unity of the divine essence be all the praise of all such grace by all his people rendred and paid as is most due both now henceforth and for evermore Amen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 AN Exemplification of a short yet learned and pithy Treatise written by Mr E D a faithfull and zealous Servant of Christ touching St Peter's Bishoprick at Rome FOrasmuch as to the issue all our Controversie is come that what right or authoritie soever the Pope challengeth he maketh his whole * Et â—ihi et Petro Carion in vita Alex. claime from Peter and the Papists themselves will defend him no further but so far as he succeedeth Peter I will speak a little of Peter's Bishoprick of Rome so farre as the Scripture shall be my warrant Consider thou of it good Christian Reader and if thou see that all the glorying of Peters being at Rome Roffensis Cocleus Tho Waldensis and others have wasted their wits in this cause is but a facing of an impudent lye then judge what is their other Religion First Here I must forewarne thee that as a lye cannot long agree with it selfe so in all this matter thou shalt hardly finde in all points two Popish Chronicles agree together so that whatsoever Some write that he came to Rome the first some the second some the fourth some the thirteenth of Claudius in this varietie it may be no opinion is true but it cannot be that all are true In Christs time Peter was neither young nor old but of a perfect age Theophylact in Joh 21. 18. I write as touching the exact Computation of yeares there must needs be many against me therefore in that I will not strive I will only write that which is certain and shall have as I said either some warrant of Scripture or shall be agreed on by the consent of all Ages Our Saviour Christ was crucified for our sinnes the 18th yeare of Tiberius as by all Histories it is manifest Peter is said to be put to death in Rome the last yeare of Nero so Peter lived after Christ under Tiberius 5 yeares Caligula 4 yeares Claudius 13 yeares Nero 13 yeares in all 36 years odd moneths according to the Reigne of the said Emperours In these 36 yeares and odde moneths they write of Peter thus He was Bishop 4 yeares in the East parts 7 yeares at Antioch and 25 at Rome where at last he dyed Here this fable doth almost bewray it selfe such hastie installings and so many translatings out of one Bishoprick into another doth not well agree with our Saviours words That they Joh. 16. 2. 33. should have affliction in the world But let us search the Scriptures and try how these Bishoprickes will stand After that our Saviour Acts 1. 12. is ascended they goe into Acts 2. 4. Jerusalem all the Apostles together they chuse Matthias the Apostle after fifty dayes they receive the holy Ghost Peter converteth many After certaine dayes Peter Acts 4. 18. and John goe up into the Temple Acts 5. 12. they heale the lame they are put