vvhiles I walke in this narrow way seeing that it tends to life and saluation but let me goe forward vvithout faynting at any time yea with much cheerefulnesse and delight knowing that all these light and momentary afflictions are no waies worthy of that glory Rom. 8.18 vnto which through the straitnesse of this gate I shall shortly haue passage All that are of the Church visible or militant shall not be of the Church Inuisible and Triumphant MAny haue accesse into the Princes outmost chamber who are not admitted into the chamber of Presence but excluded and shut out from hauing entrance thereinto In like manner Many are brought to the fellowship of the visible Church which is as it were the outmost chamber of the house of God the palace of that great King and a fauour it is that is vouchsafed them herein for all doe not attaine vnto it Psal 147.19.20 but few are so blessed as to be led by the spirit further into that secret and priuie chamber where God shewes his familiar presence Cant. 2.4 and vnto vvhich none are admitted but they vvho are of the communion of Saints Hebr. 12.22.23 of the court of heauen heires of the glory of that coelestiall kingdome where they shall alwaies attend vpon the Maiestie of the highest the great God of the vvhole world O Lord it is thy mercy that thou hast called mee to haue a place in the visible Church here on earth and to liue among thy Israel thy Saints and chosen to enioy thy word and Sacraments and to looke as it vvere Cant. 2.9 through a câ—euis into the holy of Holies for the greatest part of the world haue not obtained thus much How many thousands of Iewes Turkes heathen doe we see at this day excluded and cast out from the lists and outmost bounds of thy Church Reuel 11.1.2 But it is thy vvonderfull and vnspeakeable goodnesse towards me that thou hast admitted me into the chamber of Presence calling me to the blessed fellowship and communion with thy Saints yea vvith thine owne selfe making me one of thy Israel Iohn 14.21.22.23 Gal 2.20 Phil. 3.10 Reue. 3.20 one of thy Saints and chosen a true member of the Church militant heere on earth and heire of the glorious and triumphant Church in the highest heauens where I shall liue with thee for euer Iohn 14.2 17.24 O blessed be thy name for the riches of thy loue infinite grace vouchsafed vnto me herein through Christ Iesus my Lord. Thou mightest iustly haue excluded me as well as others yea euen from the outmost courts of thy Sion but it hath pleased thee O Father to magnifie thy great mercy towards me thy poore and vnworthy creature that so my heart might be drawne vp the more vnto thee and inflamed vvith an vnfained loue of thee O therefore that thou vvouldest knit my heart and soule vnto thee and cause me to set all the affections of my loue ioy and delight in thee to vvhom onely they are due and to whom alone I desire they may be giuen And teach me withall to seeke daily more and more to presse forward and to striue to get nearer accesse vnto thee indeauouring by a holy life and godly conuersation to obtaine full and comfortable assurance that thou hast called me into the communion of thy chosen ones admitted mee into the chamber of thy gracious presence Iohn 8.35 and that I shall abide in thy house for euer euen in those glorious mansions and heauenly habitations vvhere thine honour dwelleth and where all thy Saints shall reigne and triumph vvith thee for euermore The blessed estate of a true Christian in regard of that spirituall and heauenly vnion that is betweene Christ and him OH how blessed a Vnion is there betweene Christ and euery true Christian Who is able to expresse it who doth not admire and vvonder at it It is a great matter for them to be accounted his friends Ioh. 15.13 15. Mark 3.34 Leuit. 25.25 Heb. 2.11.12.13 his kinsmen his brethren his children as all these names and titles he giues vnto them in the Scriptures But this is not all it is not one halfe for they are not onely tyed vnto him by these strait and sacred bonds of friendship kindred and brotherhood but they are made one with him one flesh Ephe. 5.31 Ephe. 5.30 1 Cor. 12.12 Hebr. 2.11 one bodie yea in a sort himselfe hauing his owne name giuen vnto them as afterwards To shadow out this vnion vnto thee by those types as it were and semblances by which the Scriptures haue declared it vnto vs in that maner that our fraile nature is able to conceiue of it for the vveakenesse and shallownesse of our capacity is such as it is not able fully to comprehend it in the excellencie of it Seest thou not what vnion there is betweene the head and the members of the bodie So it is betweene Christ and true Christians They are knit vnto him as it were by the sinewes of the spirit and by the bond of faith as the members of the bodie are vnto the head and from him as from the head Ephe. 1.22 5.23 Gal. 2.20 life floweth into the whole bodie the life of grace and spirituall motion and action is conueyed and communicated vnto the Church and all the faithfull members thereof vvhich are the bodie of Christ 1 Cor. 12.27 Eph. 4.12 Againe this vnion betweene Christ and them is compared to that which is betweene the Vine and the branches So Iohn 15 1.2 that as the stocke and the branches grow together so the faithfull being rooted in Christ and set as it were into him a Rom. 6.5 as branches of that heauenly Vine receiue life and sappe from him growth of all spirituall and heauenly graces It is compared to a fountaine and the waters issuing and steaming therefrom b Ioh. 4.14 Likewise to the corner-stone in a building and the stones that are built vpon the same c Ephe. 2.20.22 For so Christ is often in Scripture compared to the corner-stone vpon which as their manner of building in old time in those parts was the whole building was fastened combined and so reared vp and the faithfull compared to liuing d 1 Pet. 2.5 stones built vpon that sure foundation and thence also called the temple of the holy Ghost e 1 Cor. 3.16 6.19 Ioh. 14.23 Reue. 3. wherein God himselfe dwelleth f â—0 and will dwell for euer It is compared also to the bodie and the apparrell vvhich clothes and couers it and shelters it from cold and raine and from the iniury of the weather whence the faithfull are said to put on Christ g Rom. 13 14 Gal. 3.27 And lastly to the Husband and his Spouse whence Christ is often called the Husband of his Church h Ephes 5.23 Mat. 25.6 the Bridegroome which is preparing for his marriage solemnities and
the Church his Bride i Reuel 21 2. 22.17 his loue k Cant. 1.8 5.1.2 his doue his vndefiled Spouse a pure Virgin l Psal 45. 2 Cor. 11 2. prepared for him and in whom he greatly pleaseth and delighteth m Psal 11.13.15 himselfe We know how neare and strait the vnion is between the husband and his deere and louing Spouse they are according to Gods owne ordinance but one flesh n Gen. 2.14 Ephe. 5.30 31. Such is the vnion in this spirituall mariage betweene Christ and his Church and euery faithful member of the same Thus then thou seest what a neare and strait vnion and coniunction there is betweene Christ and the true Christian euen all that are iustified by his grace and sanctified by his spirit They are in him and he is in them Hee is their head they are his o 1 Cor. 6.15 12.27 members flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone they are ingraffed into him and become one with him p Iohn 17.10.21.22.23 as he is one with the Father He dwelleth in them and they in him q Ephe. 3.17 1 Cor. 6.17 Iohn 6.56 But lest thou shouldst conceiue of this amisse consider seriously what manner of Vnion this is how it is wrought A heauenly meditation and vvorth thy best attention First then know that this vnion is not carnall but spirituall not naturall but supernaturall and mysticall It is not a carnal or a corporall vnion as if Christs body vvere turned into our bodies as the Papists faine in that new-deuised Transubstantiation and strange metamorphosis of theirs nor ioyned vnto them in a locall or bodily manner Thou must not imagine any such matter for that were with the Capernaits r Ioh. 6.41.52 to conceiue grossely of Christ our Sauiour and vvith Nicodemus s Ioh. 3.4 to shew thy selfe altogether carnall inconceiuing these heauenly mysteries It is against the nature of Christs body which is t Eph. 1.20 4.10 ascended into Heauen and there sitteth at the right hand of God in glory therefore cannot be vnited vnto vs in that maner being on earth so many thousand miles distant from him But it is a spirituall and heauenly vnion It is not a reall transfusion of the substance of Christ vnto vs as some Heretikes haue dreamed but an essentiall communication of himselfe and his graces vnto vs in a spirituall manner More distinctly First the faithfull are vnited vnto his flesh and to his humane nature then by meanes hereof vnto his diuine u Ioh. 6.53.56.57 Hebr. 10.10.20 nature His flesh is as it vvere the vaile by which they haue entrance into the holy of Holies and became in a sort partakers of his diuine x 2 Pet 1.4 nature Their whole person is vnited vnto Christ whence they are sayd to be his flesh and his bones not as they are men but as they are Christians and ingraffed into him and so with him make one body vvhereof hee is the head they the members Whole Christ is vnited vnto them both his humane his diuine nature and they are wholy vnited vnto him both their soules and y 1 Cor. 6.15 bodies their whole person For to giue some proofe of this which some otherwise happily may doubt of they are coupled to Christ the second Adam as Heâ—ah was ioyned to the first Adam for that vnion betweene them was a type of this spirituall vnion betweene him and his Church his Spouse Now the whole person of Euah was ioyned and vnited to the person of Adam whence they are said to be no more two but z Ge. 2.24 Ephe. 5.31 one flesh Againe not the soule onely or the body onely of euery beleeuer is redeemed and saued by Christ but both and therefore not one but both must needs be ioyned and vnited vnto Christ for out of him there is no saluation a Acts â— 12 neither for one nor other Moreouer the whole person of the Sonne of God assumed and vnited vnto himselfe the vvhole nature of man not his flesh only or his soule onely but both and therefore by vertue of that vnion the whole nature of man must be vnited vnto him Lastly Christ whole Christ in his diuine nature and in his humane nature in his soule and body euen consisting of these together ioyntly and not seperatly is the b Eph. 5.23 head and and Sauiour of all his faithfull members and therefore their whole person must of necessitie be vnited to him otherwise how shall he be the head of both and the Sauiour of both euen of the whole man Thus then there is a true a reall an essentiall and entire vnion betweene the faithfull and Christ if wee respect the things vnited viz. Christ and his members but if wee regard the manner of this vnion it is wholy spirituall mysticall and supernaturall farre aboue the reach of the natural c 1 Cor. 2.14 man yea of any man fully to conceiue and comprehend it nay it is a great and a vvonderfull mysterie firmely to be beleeued as an article of our Faith and not curiously in a carnall and sensible manner to be searched into And therefore the Apostle shadowing it out vnto vs by the vnion which is betweene Man and Wife coupled together in mariage-bond breakes forth into this d Eph. 5.32 speech This is a great Secret or a * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 great Mysterie viz. this vnion beweene Christ and his Church It is a great mystery not to be comprehended by sense and carnall reason but to be beleeued and apprehended by faith onely which is that supernaturall light by which we see things that are e Heb. 1.11 invisible cannot be otherwise seene or discerned Happy are they that haue felt by comfortable experience what it is that we say Hauing seene what this vnion betweene Christ and the faithfull is it is next to bee considered how it is wrought in them This vnion therefore and spirituall coniunction is wrought by the spirit on Christs part and by faith on our part These are the two bands of it First the spirit through the effectuall operation and working thereof knitteth them vnto Christ As the nerues or sinewes being diffused from the braine into all the parts and members of the body doe ioyne and vnite them al vnto the head from whence they receiue life and action So the Spirit of of Christ proceeding from him who is the head of the Church is diffused as it were and communicated vnto his whole body which is the Church a 1 Cor. 12 27. and vnto euery member of the same euery particuler beleeuer and so knitteth and vniteth them vnto Christ their head so that they haue communion with him and receiue from him all spirituall grace b Ioh. 1.16 life and motion according vnto their measure c Rom. 12.3 1 Cor. 12.11 Ephes 4.7 yea it knitteth them
vnto him in a more strait and neare vnion then the members of the naturall body are knit and vnited vnto the head For they may be seperated from it and so perish but there is no seperation no diuision no dis-vnion possibly to be made betweene d Rom. 8.39 Christ and any one of his members much lesse the whole Church Againe for I had rather bee too plentifull then too sparing in the illustration of this so excellent and so heauenly a truth as all the members of the body are vnited vnto the head and quickened by one and the same soule vvhich animates them and conuayeth naturall life vnto euery one of them So all the faithfull vvhether they be in Heauen aboue or in Earth below of the Church militant or triumphant are ioyned and vnited vnto CHRIST by one and the selfe-same Spirit vvhich comming from the Head CHRIST IESVS giueth spirituall life quickening and motion vnto them so that the vvhole body being coupled and knit together e Ephes 4.16 by euery ioynt receiueth increase of grace by degrees and groweth vp daily more and more till the body of CHRIST vvhich is his CHVRCH bee fully perfected and consumated receiuing the f Ephes 4.13 accomplishment of all Grace and Glory in the highest heauens This is the first meanes whereby this vnion is made betweene CHRIST and the faithfull euen this sacred bond of the Spirit And from this efficacie and operation of the spirit vniting vs vnto CHRIST it is said by the Apostle that wee euen all beleeuers haue drunke into the same g 1 Cor. 12 13 Ephes 4.4 Spirit And againe that wee are baptized into one body that is wee are made one Body vvhereof Christ is the Head Now that other bond by vvhich they are tied and vnited vnto Christ and that on their part is Faith For the Spirit of God hauing begotten a true and liuely faith in vs by the preaching of the Word by meanes of this excellent grace we are vnited vnto Christ For thereby we lay hold on Christ with all his merits and h 1 Cor. 1.30 2 Cor. 3.18 Phil. 3.21 1 Ioh. 3.2 Gal. 2.20 benefits and apply them in particular to our selues and so become one vvith him all vvhich he hath done for mankinde being made as proper vnto vs as if it were our owne And hence it is that Christ is said to dwell in our hearts by i Ephes 3.17 Faith Faith is the hand as it were whereby vvee receiue Christ being offred vnto vs in the Word by meanes of it Christ is made ours and we his by an inseparable vnion And thus wee haue at large described that spirituall and mystical vnion vvhich is betweene Christ and the faithfull his members So neare and so strait a vnion that the holy Ghost in Scripture giueth sometimes as was sayd the name of Christ himselfe vnto the Church and calleth it by his owne name euen as the name of the husband by reason of that vnion betweene them is giuen vnto the Wife and she called by his name As k 1 Cor. 12 12. the body is one saith the Apostle hath many members euen so is Christ that is the Church of Christ Such is the nearenesse and efficacie of that spirituall coniunction of Christ and the faithfull that he cals them not onely Christians as sometimes they are l Acts 11.26 named or his Spouse his Sister his m Cant. 5.2 Loue his Doue his Vndefiled c. but euen Christ his owne name Whence also it is that that vvhich is done to the Church or any member thereof he accounteth it as done to himselfe whether it be good or euill The workes of Loue and Charity done to his poore members in the day vvhen hee shall sit vpon his Throne to iudge the World he will pronounce them to haue beene done vnto himselfe I was a hungry n Mat. 25.35.36.40 and ye gaue ME meate I thirsted and yee gaue ME drinke naked and yee clothed ME sicke and ye visited ME c. In as much as ye haue done it vnto one of the least of these MY Brethren yee haue done it vnto ME. And when Saul persecuted the poore Saints of God and breathed out threatnings slaughter against them Christ looking downe from heauen and beholding him cries out vnto him with a loud voice o Acts 9.4 Heb. 4.15 Zach. 2.8 1 Cor. 12.26 Saul Saul why persecutest thou Me The Foote is wounded on earth and the Head feels it and complaines of it from Heauen The persecution or wrong done to his Church or any member thereof he esteemeth it as done to himselfe O my soule raise vp thy selfe vnto the oft and serious consideration of this spirituall and mysticall vnion of the faithfull with Christ their head and Sauiour Oh how full is it of sweetnesse much comfort and inward solace Thinke of it and beleeue it without all wauering and doubting Say not as carnall men are wont and as Nicodemus did in a point of like nature How can this be p Iohn 3.9 6.42 How can Christ being in heauen so farre distant from vs in regard of bodily presence be vnited vnto vs Reason not so as flesh and blood will suggest vnto thee but beleeue this stedfastly and assuredly as if thou beest spirituall and not carnall thou wilt and canst not doe otherwise The trueth of God hath sealed it the Scriptures in many places ratifie and confirme it and it is a great measure of infidelitie to denie it or to doubt of it Thou seest it not vvith the eyes of thy body What then vvilt thou beleeue nothing but that which thou seest with thy bodily eyes then thou wilt not beleeue that there is a Vnion betweene thy soule and thy body for thou seest it not with thine eyes and yet if it were not thou wert a dead man and a liuelesse carkasse Thou wilt not denie but that there is a Vnion betweene man and wife though they be distant in place yea though the one of them be in this country and the other in that for it is a receiued Maxime or rule granted of all that distance of place dissolueth not the marriage-bond both Gods law and mans law so determineth it and wilt thou be so faithlesse as not to beleeue that there is a Vnion betweene that heauenly bridegroome Christ Iesus though he be in heauen and his faithfull members many of them on earth Shall not faith be of more efficacie then nature Thou wilt not denie that which experience teacheth thee except thou beest blinde that the sight of the eye of thy bodie in a moment of time as it vvere and in an instant doth reach vnto the Starres in the firmament and is in a sort vnited vnto them though so many thousand miles distant from thee and wilt not thou graunt much more that faith which is the eye of the soule and of a farre more powerfull and piercing nature may
ascend presently into heauen vvhere Christ sitteth in glory and lay hold vpon Christ and so ioyne and vnite the beleeuer vvith Christ not onely vvith his Deitie which is euery where but also with his humanity which is in heauen onely yea vvith vvhole Christ God and man Be not so carnall so incredulous Haue faith and thou vvilt beleeue it yea if thou hast faith and the spirit of Christ dwelling in thee thou canst not but most assuredly beleeue it as a mayne Article of thy Christian Faith and a principall pillar and ground-worke of thy saluation Neyther doe thou thinke it sufficient to beleeue it onely but labour to feele it by a comfortable experience of it and withall seeke to raise vp thy selfe by the due meditation thereof to the beholding of the infinite and vnspeakeable loue and bounty of Christ thy Sauiour towards thee and towards all true beleeuers Assure thy selfe of his loue who hath come downe from heauen and by a spirituall marriage allied yea linked himselfe vnto thee q Esay 9.6 Hebr. 2.16 giuing himselfe vnto thee clothing himselfe with thy flesh and ioyning thee vnto himselfe and in him vnto God his Father r Iohn 17.21 Isa 53. and so in him and through him made thee partaker of all those rich treasuries of his grace and glory euen whatsoeuer he hath wrought for mankinde and s Rom. 8.32 1 Cor. 3.21.22 Reue. 2.17 27.28 3.5.12.21 made promise of in the Gospell vvherein that contract which is made betweene him and thee is published to the vvhole world and the consummation thereof by that marriage-feast and ioyful solemnities reserued for another world in that glorious kingdome of his where thou shalt liue and remaine with him for euer inioying his loue and the comfortable fruits and effâ—cts of it in vnspeakeable and glorious manner to thy endlesse and euerlasting blisse and happinesse Assure thy selfe of this and let thy heart spring for ioy in thee yea with heart and voyce sing forth cheerefully with the Spouse that heauenly Ditty and marriage-song I am t Can. 2.16 5.4.16 6.2 8.6.7 my welbeloueds and my welbeloued is mine His mouth is as sweet things and he is wholy delectable My heart is altogether affectioned towards thee Set me as a seale on thine heart as a signet vpon thine arme for loue is strong the coales thereof are fiery and the flame vehemeÌ„t much water cannot quench it neyther can the flouds of persecution drown it If any would giue all the substance of his house yea all the riches of the world I would u Phil. 3.8 contemne despise it rather then be x Ruth 1.17 parted from thee O my blessed Sauiour Redeemer who hast loued me so dearely and giuen thy selfe y Gal. 2.20 1 Cor. 3 21. Reuel 21.7 for me yea vnto me that thou mighist make me one with thee and one with thy Father and so heire of all things both in heauen and in earth Assure thy selfe hereof and raise vp thy selfe thereby in a ioyfull manner to sing praises vnto him continually who hath done so great things for thee without any deserts of thine and z Rom. 8.23 long earnestly for the time wherein thou shalt in a more heauenly manner enioy the benefit of that blessed vnion desire to be a Phil. 1.23 dissolued from this earthly bodie and to be with thy Sauiour in the heauens which is euery way best for thee Sigh after him and let him heare thee crying after him with the voyce of his Spouse O my welbeloued flee away b Can. 8.18 and be like vnto the swift Roe or to the young Hart vpon the mountaines Come riding vpon the heauens in those fiery chariots to iudge the world and to take me vnto thy selfe and to carry me with the voyce of triumph c Psal 45.14 and melodie into that glorious palace which thou hast prepared for mee there to dwell with thee for euer and with the Spirit the Bride Come d Reue. 22 17.20 Psal 22. Come Lord Iesus come quickly My soule thirsteth after thee my God Sauiour when shall I come and appeare before thee when shall I see thy face enioy thy blessed and glorious presence in those heauenly mansions which thou art gone before to prouide for me e Ioh. 14.2 and for thine with me Thus doe thou vnfainedly desire and long for continually that glorious f Tit. 213 appearance of our Sauiour when as hee shall be made g 2 Thes 1.10 maruellous in his Saints and cause thee to see how great thy blessednesse is in regard of that heauenly vnion and coniunction with him And in the meane while rest with patience and comfort thy selfe in all estates for can it be but that it should be wel with the who art so nearely allied vnto Christ his vvelbeloued Spouse vvhom he hath married h Hose 2.19 vnto himself for euer in righteousnesse in mercy and in compassion yea for vvhom hee hath shed his owne precious bloud that so he might cleanse i Ephes 5.26 and sanctifie thee vnto himselfe yea vvhom he hath made flesh of his flesh Can it bc that he should not haue a speciall care ouer thee k Rom. 8.32.33 Psal 23.1 34.10 84.11 and prouide euery thing for thee vvhich he seeth to be best for thee Can he suffer any euill to happen vnto thee yea rather will he not seeke by all meanes to cherish thee No man euer yet hated his owne flesh but nourisheth and cherisheth it l Ephes 5 29 Euen so doth the Lord his Church which is his owne body whereof he is m Ephes 5.23 the head and Sauiour Euen nature will teach euery one to make much of his bodie to preserue it from all euill from all hurts and dangers vvhich might befall it or any part or member of it and to do it all the good hee can by any meanes how much more shall Christ vvho is the God of nature and the fountaine of all grace and farre more tender ouer his bodie the Church and all the members of it then any man is or possibly can be of his owne naturall and corruptible bodie how much more shall he saue defend preserue and prouide all things necessary and conuenient for his It cannot be otherwise n Eccles 8 12 Isay 3.10 Assuredly it shall be well vvith thee and with all that are his He is Almightie and able to doe it for thee and most louing carefull and tender ouer thee and therefore will doe it according to his promise plighted vnto thee in this behalf o Hebr. 13 10 Comfort thy self with this and feare not howsoeuer Sathan and his wicked instruments p Psal 3.6 118.6 shal oppose themselues against thee be not danted or dismayed thereat yea let them as they haue cause be stricken with feare damped in their malicious courses inteÌ„ded against thee Litle think
to turne my feete g Pro. 4.14 from their pathes and to walke before thee in truth and sinceritie and in singlenesse of heart that so whereas they shall euer be wretched and miserable I may haue assurance that I am and shall be blessed both now and euer Amen The godly life the onely happie life ALL things in this life are vaine a Eccle. 1.8.14 and come to nothing riches health beautie strength glorie or whatsoeuer the heart of man can desire or which might seeme to promise vnto men the greatest felicitie happines VVho is so blinde that seeth not how fading and transitorie they are euen those that are of the greatest perfection and excellencie aboue others They haue an end and passe away as if they had neuer beene b Eccle. 1.11 Psal 119.96 But the feare of the Lord indureth for euer c Psal 19.9 Psal 112. True Religion and Godlinesse they abide with vs in life and in death and for euer This is as the tree of life in the Paradise of God vvhich giueth life d Pro. 12.28 22.4 19.23 happinesse to them that delight not onely to tast but also to feede and fill themselues with it This is as it were a cleare fountaine of liuing waters e Ioh. 4.14 vvhich spring vp to euerlasting life and glory in the kingdome of God It crownes a man vvith many graces f Prou. 10 27 Deut 28.3 c. Psal 1.19 and blessings heere and hereafter vvill giue him enterance into the fulnesse and perfection of all blessednesse when all other things shal appeare to be as they are vaine shadowes dreames and fancies that shall satisfie the soule with the abundance and accomplishment of all glorie and happinesse Oh then how great is the folly of those that seeke more after these fading g 1 Cor. 7.31 1. Ioh. 2.27 and perishing things then after that which is farre to be preferred before them that labour more to be h Psal 4.6 rich healthfull strong honourable c. then to be truly religious men fearing God and such as delight to walke conscionably before him in his wayes that striue more to abound in the pleasures profits and preferments of this world which are but as smoke and soone vanish away i Psal 49.17.18.19.20 leauing the owner of them neuer a vvhit the better then in grace and godlinesse which hath the promises of blessednesse both in this life * 1 Tim. 4.8 and in the life to come O LORD indue mee daily more and more with that wisedome which is from aboue discouer vnto me yet more and more the vanitie of all things here below Let me consider how * Psa 82.7 146.3.4 Iob 21.33 Princes the greatest men die and how their fauour and honour fadeth with them let me consider how one generation goeth and k Eccl. 1.4 another commeth and how euen those things which are of greatest perfection * Psal 119.96 and in greatest account amongst men perish come to an end quickly though insensibly to them especially that haue not eyes to discerne the course of them And on the other side cleere my dimmed sight by the cleere shine of thy grace and blessed Spirit that I may behold how great the reward of true Religion and godlinesse is what perfect and constant yea euerlasting blessednesse there is in walking vprightly before thee in the vvayes which thou hast prescribed vnto me that so making a choise of the better part * Luke 10.42 I may be truly blessed of thee both in life and death and for euermore The godly life is the onely comfortable and contented life MAny are afrayd to be religious for feare they should loose the comfort content which before they enioyed in their sinful vanities l Eccl. 11.9 lead a more heauy a dumpish discomfortable life wanting those sweet morsels with vvhich they were wont to glut themselues till they surfetted on them O vain man that so fondly imaginest that thou shalt finde comfort and happinesse vvhere it is not to be found m Eccle. 1.14 and that thou shouldest depriue thy selfe of it by taking that course wherby thou only mightst attaine vnto it n Eccl. 12.13 Why dost thou suffer thine owne heart thus to deceiue thee yea Sathan with his sleights o 2 Cor. 2.11 thus to beguile and delude thee causing thee to follow after shadowes and to let goe the substance euen that onely vvhich can make thee happy thy life comfortable and full of desired sweetnesse whereas now for want of it thou languishest in vaine hopes restles pursuite of that which is elsewhere to be found then thou dreamest yea euen by those very meanes by vvhich thou fearest thou shouldest depriue thy selfe of it Know at length thine errour and learne to get true vnderstanding and a right discerning of those things which concerne thy * Luk. 19.42 peace happinesse The godly life onely it is vvhich is the truly comfortable and contented life If thou wilt not beleeue the Saints of God p Psal 4.4 Rom 5.1 1 Pet. 1. Phil. 11.12 who speake out of their owne experience q Ioh. 3.11 euen those things which they haue felt and tasted of through the Spirit of grace vvhich dwels in them hauing had proofe also of both estates euen that wherein thou who art yet a carnall and vnregenerate man now art as also of that wherin through the mercy of God they now stand being sanctified and regenerate by the Spirit of God and such as vvould not returne to their former estate wherin thou liuest nor exchange theâ—r present comforts for their former â—aâ—ities though they might haue I say not with Balaam r Num. 12.28 a house full of Gold and Siluer but the whole world yea tenne thousand worlds if it might be If thou wilt not I say beleeue these vvho notwithstanding ought to be credited being well acquainted with those things vvhich they testifie yet beleeue God himselfe vvho hath sayd and sealed it in those diuine Oracles for a certaine and vndoubted truth vvhich none except hee vvill proclaime himselfe to bee a profest Atheist one vvhich denies God and his Word which is of infallible truth dare euer denie or once call into question in any sort viz. that the life of the wicked is nothing but vanitie and s Eccles 1. miserie they being like a restlesse and raging Sea t Isa 57.20 vvhich casts out mire and dirt continually their fearâ—s and sorrowes v Iob 15.21 being many and the euils x Psal 32.10 vvhich attend vpon them infinite the godly on the other side ful of comfort heauenly solace peace y Prou. 24 20. Rom. 5.1.14.17 Psal 97.11 Pro. 15.15 Phil. 4.4 ioy and much sweetnesse such as none know nor can conceiue of but they that haue tasted of it z 1 Pet. 2.3 and which after they haue once tasted
preparation yea scarce once thinking or considering with themselues vvhat they are before whom it is that they are to stand and what businesse they haue in hand which if they did sure it would make them to stirre vp their lumpish and drowsie affections and to settle themselues vnto it in another manner then they doe yea with farre more reuerence and preparation then if they were to appeare before the greatest Monarch on earth and that when he were in his greatest State and Royaltie attended with all his Nobles and Peeres in the most maiesticall manner that could be O most mightie and most glorious God let me be alwayes affected vvith the consideration of thy glorious and diuine presence as I ought to be especially when I approach nearer vnto thee eyther to offer vp my humble suites and supplications by prayer vnto thee for the obtayning of grace and mercy at thy hands or to attend vpon thee in that holy ordinance of thine to heare thee out of thy word teaching me what thy will and pleasure is towards mee or to be couersant in reading meditation or any other holy and religious exercise whereby I may be furthered in the wayes of grace and saluation Farre be it from me to thrust my selfe into thy holy and sacred presence as the manner of the prophane and vngodly ones is without a carefull and conscionable endeuour to haue my heart rightly prepared and my affections truely sanctified O Lord this is not in my power more then in any other it is thy grace onely let it please thee therefore to giue it vnto me Purge my heart I beseech thee from all things which cause mee to offend free my minde from euery thing which might be a cause of any distraction vnto me lift vp my soule farre aboue all earthly cogitations and desires and possesse mee with such an entire loue and such a holy reuerence of thy Maiestie that thou maiest alwayes be truely glorified of mee Leuit. 10.3 whensoeuer I draw neare vnto thee and enter into thy presence to performe any duetie which thou requirest of mee Heare mee O Lord and that onely for the merits and mediation of thy Sonne and my blessed Sauiour and Redeemer Christ Iesus in whose Name alone I poure out all my suites and supplications vnto thee and looke to obtaine grace and mercy from thee Humilitie the way to true knowledge and spirituall vnderstanding MAny there be that haue taken great paines and beene very industrious in searching after many things the knowledge and vnderstanding whereof although excellent in it selfe and worthy the labouring for yet they could neuer attaine vnto because they sought not for it with a meeke and humble heart and with a purpose to vse it to the right end and for the greatest benefit both of themselues and others but for sinister and by-respects They that are most humble shall be best learned and receiue the greatest blessing in the vse of the meanes which God hath appointed The Lord reuealeth his secrets vnto them Psal 25.9 which are hid from the proud Mat. 11.25 1 Cor. 2.11 12. and such as are wise in their owne eyes They shall vnderstand the wonderfull things of God the great things of his Law those deepe Mysteries contayned in his word euen those things which the vvisest of this world and the learnedst Scribes amongst men cannot reach vnto shall they comprehend and vnderstand because the Lord hath promised to giue them the teaching of his Spirit that holy annoynting 1 Ioh. 2.27 and will send downe that light from aboue vvhich will so illuminate and inlighten their mindes Ephe. 1.17 18 Ioh. 7.17 that they shall see clearely into those things which are darke and obscure vnto others Good Lord I humbly bowe the knee of my heart and soule before thy glorious Maiestie suing vnto thee earnestly and instantly in the mediation of thy Son for a further increase a greater measure of that heauenly grace for this I will pray yea cry vnto thee daily and vncessantly Doe thou therefore vouchsafe to grant it vnto mee and more and more to increase it in me Giue mee a meeke spirit a lowly minde and an humble heart a heart which may be set not for the seeking of my selfe for that were wickednesse but for the aduancement of thy glory referring all my studyes and endeuours to the end which thou hast appoynted that vvee should ayme at continually and then I know that thou wilt reueale thy will vnto mee and giue mee vnderstanding of thy word as farre as is requisite and necessary for mee yea that thou wilt cause me to conceiue and comprehend those things which are wonderfull and which none can search into or finde out but those alone that haue thy Spirit to be their teacher which thou hast promised vnto them onely that are of a meeke spirit and of an humble minde which is a thing exceeding pleasing vnto thee Iames 4.6 and wherein thou much delightest but abhorrest all those that are of a proud heart and deniest thy grace vnto them Humilitie the fruit of true sauing knowledge HE that knoweth things aright as hee ought to know them especially if he hath attained vnto the knowledge of himselfe and of his maker the better he knoweth and vnderstandeth these things the more lowly the more base and vile will hee bee in his owne eyes and the more will hee magnifie and extoll his God the Creator and the Lord of all things They are but smatterers 1 Cor. 8.2 1 Tim. 6.20 and nouices of true knowledge and vnderstanding whatsoeuer they may seeme to themselues or others who haue not as yet learned to esteeme meanly of themselues Gen. 18.27 Isai 40.17 and verie highly of the God of glorie the aduancement of whom is the chiefe end vnto which all knowledge should tend and aime most directly Grant O Lord that I may vse all meanes whereby I may come vnto that knowledge which is necessarie and conuenient for me especially that I may know my selfe aright euen what I am in my self and of my selfe a worme of the earth a wretched and sinfull man dust ashes and thee the mightie Creator and glorious God of heauen and earth the possessour of all things infinite in power and maiestie the brightnesse of whose glorie the Angels themselues cannot fully comprehend that hereby I may learne alwaies to humble and abase my selfe and to glorifie and extoll thy name for euer and euer The right vse and end of all knowledge IT is an ordinary thing amongst men to studie rather to know much then to liue well from whence it commeth as euerie one that is of any discerning may easily see and obserue that many whiles they haue their heads stuffed with multiplicitie and varietie of learning yet haue their liues barren and altogether fruitlesse and vnprofitable How doe such deceiue themselues whiles they professe themselues to be wise Rom. 1.22 yet herein they
now shine so clearely so comfortably vpon vs in the face of Christ Iesus our Lord seeing that we being holden vnder sinne and Sathan and sitting in the shadow of death vvere neuer able in any wise by any meanes whatsoeuer procured by our selues or others Angels or any creature else to haue recouered our selues but should haue lyen rotting in that vvoful and damnable estate and so haue perished eternally if God of his meere loue had not vouchsafed speciall grace and fauour vnto vs and that vvhen vve were his enemies Rom. 5.10 Isay 49.9 Luke 1.79 and freed and redeemed vs from that miserable bondage and thraldome yea from the power of darknesse euen death and destruction it selfe and translated vs into that glorious libertie of his Saints in light and this by no smal or ordinarie meanes 1 Pet. 1.18 but by the shedding of the precious blood of Christ his deare son our blessed Sauiour who loued vs and according to the determinate counsell and decree of God gaue himselfe to be crucified slaine for vs euen for vs that had dealt most treacherously and rebelliously against him made our selues altogether vnworthy of the least mercy and fauour of his O mercifull God heauenly father giue me to see vvhat and how great this benefit is which I haue receiued from thee in and through thy Christ Let me euer be mindfull of it and vnfainedly thankefull vnto thee for it yea as this bountifull and inestimable goodnesse of thine towards me so sinfull a wretch and so vnworthie a creature as I am and haue beene deserueth all praise so let mee indeuour by al meanes to set forth and to publish the same vnto the glory of thy grace whereby in the riches of thy loue through thy beloued thou hast done so great and wonderfull things for me for which I can neuer be sufficiently thankefull nor returne that praise which is most due vnto thee Oh that thou wouldest draw me yet neerer vnto thee cause me euen to melt in loue towards thee my God and Sauiour and with heart voyce and life to magnifie and extoll thy name yea to giue vp my selfe both body and soule and all that is within me vnto thy seruice and to the aduancement of thy glory both now and euer Amen Thankefulnesse to God for all his fauours towards vs especially that wonderfull loue of his in our redemption IF GOD had giuen vs nothing but our being wee ought to be stirred vp with the remembrance of that alone to be thankeful vnto him and to acknowledge his mercie and goodnesse towards vs herein But now seeing that hee maketh vs Lords of all these senselesse and vnreasonable creatures Psal 8.6 whereas hee might haue made vs bruitish and voyd of sense and reason like vnto them 21. for wee were all made of the same common matter vvith them and were in his hands as the clay in the hand of the potter to bee wrought to what forme and fashion it pleased him the Creatour of all things 42. seeing he hath preferred vs before all these visible creatures making them to serue vs whereas he might haue subiected vs vnto them and in euery creature both in heauen and earth doth sparkle towards vs his loue with innumerable benefits yea which is the summe of all in Christ vpon the Crosse casts forth the flame of perfect charitie and of his infinite vnspeakeable mercie and kindnesse towards vs sure our hearts are frozen and euen dead within vs if vvee be not moued to loue him with an entire and vnfained loue How should vvee bee affected vvith these things O blessed LORD touch my heart with a true and liuely sense and feeling of the riches of that endlesse incomprehensible loue of thine towards me inlarge this narrow heart of mine that I may be able in some measure with all thy Saints to comprehend the bredth Eph. 3.18.19 length depth and height of that wonderfull and vnspeakeale kindnes of thine towards me in thy Christ which passeth all knowledge Inflame my affections with the meditation thereof and let mee be constrained thereby to loue thee with all my heart with all my soule with all my strength euer to acknowledge thy free grace and marueilous goodnes towards me and for the same to sing prayses vnto thee continually who onely art worthy to be praised and magnified now and for euer Amen Who are the redeemed of Christ THey that are Christs are led by the spirit of Christ that dwels in them rules them Rom. 8.9.14 gouernes sanctifies them thorowout It freeth them from the law of sinne and death and causeth them to liue the life of grace and holinesse Rom. 8.2 they are crucified with Christ in regard of their corrupt and fleshly nature and the sinnefull lusts and affections thereof Gal. 2.19 5.24 1 Cor. 3.16.17 2 Cor. 6.16 so that they liue not now as they did before but Christ liueth in them maketh them a mansion and a holy temple fitted and prepared for the blessed and glorious God to rest and to abide in for euermore This is a truth that the Scriptures of God haue sealed and therefore cannot be denied or once doubted of except we will giue the lie vnto the spirit of truth it selfe who hath spoken it Whose then are they that are led altogether by the spirit of the vvorld euen that vvicked spirit that worketh in the hearts of the children of disobedience by the spirit of enuie Ephes 2.2 maliciousnesse vncleannesse prophanenesse c. walking after their owne lusts following the sway of their owne corrupt and sinnefull nature and delighting in fulfilling the will of the flesh and of the minde resisting the spirit of grace and rebelling against Christ Luk. 19.14 and that light which hee hath reuealed vnto them in his word so that they will not haue him to rule ouer them Surely Luk. 19.14 1 Ioh. 3.8.10 they are exceeding blinde and marueilous full of selfe-loue and vaine presumption if they can thinke that they are Christs redeemed by his bloud and iustified by his grace nay if they can once imagine themselues to be otherwise then of Satan the god of this world such as if they continue in that estate wherein they are he will cause to be slaine before his face Luk. 19.27 Rom. 8.13 when hee shall appeare in the brightnesse of his glorie yea Psal 2.9 2 Thes 1.8 Matt. 25.46 bruise and crush them in pieces as it vvere with a rod of yron and cast them into hell where they shall be kept for euer in chaines of darkenesse with the rest of those damned spirits because they haue taken part with Sathan against Christ and shewed themselues to be enemies to him in refusing to beleeue obey his blessed Gospell Let not therefore their owne hearts which are very deceitful nor Sathan who hath beene a lyar a murtherer from the beginning deceiue delude
is there betweene a carnall and naturall man and him that is spirituall and truely regenerate How opposite and contrary are they in their thoughts desires inclinations proiects purposes and practises in briefe in the vvhole course and carryage of their liues It is wonderfull to obserue and see how exceedingly they differ what a marueilous contrarietie there is betweene them the naturall man doth alwayes eye those things which are visible and temporall the spirituall 2 Cor. 4.18 Heb. 11.1.27 those things especially which are inuisible and eternall The naturall man doth delight altogether in the creatures and in fulfilling the wicked lusts and vaine desires of his owne heart Mat. 24.38 1 Pet. 4.4 Gen. 19.9 and therefore neuer grieueth more then vvhen hee is most crossed in those courses vvhich hee so much affecteth Psal 33.21 Psal 37.4 and 95.1 1 Sam. 30.6 but the spirituall mans chiefe delight is in the Creator the fountaine of all true pleasure and delight and in feeding his soule vvith good thoughts 1 Pet. 1.3.6 blessed hopes holy desires and diuine and heauenly meditations Psa 119.97 vvith which hee can neuer bee satiated vvhereas for all earthly vanities hee hath a great distaste Gal. 6.14 and a base esteeme of them or at least hee looketh ouer them vvith a kinde of holy disdaine he doth not so much affect them but that hee doth earnestly desire and endeuour to restraine his minde from the sinfull and inordinate loue of them and neuer thinkes himselfe better at ease then when hee can most weane his affections from them Eccle. 2.17 and crucifie that corrupt nature of his with the wicked motions and concupiscence thereof Gal. 5.24 then which he findeth nothing more grieuous and burthensome vnto him or from which hee hath a greater desire to be altogether freed Rom. 7.24 The naturall man is led vvith the spirit of Sathan Ephes 2.2 and of this vvorld vvhich ruleth and raigneth yea rageth in him the spirituall man is led by the Spirit of Christ and of God Rom. 8.9.14 that holy and sanctifying Spirit of grace vvhich dwels in him rules gouernes and directeth him and leadeth him forth into the vvayes of righteousnesse and holinesse The naturall man doth vvholy vved himselfe to the vvorld Hosea 2.5 Iames 4.4 and therefore sauours nothing but the things of this earth Ioh. 3.31 Rom. 8.5 dotes fondly vpon them and lyes groueling vpon this slime and baser molde like a Mucke-vvorme vainely supposing that there can be no greater happinesse then to enioy abundantly the pleasures honours preferments profits and commodities thereof and therefore being foolishly enamoured Phil. 3.19 2 Pet. 2.19 or rather strangely besotted with the vvhorish loue of it doth in a base and sordid manner euen deuore himselfe to the seruice of it But the spirituall man doth not so loue the world but that when hee hath his eyes in his head hee flyes from it as farre as vvith conuenience hee may knowing the vanitie and the exceeding both danger and deceitfulnesse of it 1 Tim. 6.9 10.17 Eccles 1.2.14 1 Cor. 7.31 Psa 119.19 Heb. 11.9 Phil. 3.20 Gal. 6.14 he vseth it as if hee vsed it not maketh himselfe a stranger to it and had rather vtterly renounce and giue it ouer and be diuorced and quite separated from it then bee so much yoaked vnto it as hee seeth others are or tyed vvith so straite bonds of loue and amitie as that seeketh to chaine and fasten him vnto it and so to draw him to a more neare and entire vnion vvith it then he desires yea so contrary is it to his minde to be matched or ioyned in any league vvith it that he accounteth himselfe most happy vvhen he hath least to do vvith it and most freed from the encumbrances of it that so he may soare aloft and haue more fellowship and communion with God and greater liberty wholy to deuote himselfe to his worship and seruice assuredly perswading himselfe that herein and in nothing else consisteth true felicity and happinesse and therefore vvisely maketh it his chiefe treasure that vvhich he esteemeth farre aboue all other things The naturall man seeketh for comfort and contentment onely in sensible and externall things the spirituall Eccl. 11.9 Luk. 12.9.29 16.19 Psal 4.6.7 37.4 in the inward graces of Gods Spirit and in the assurance of his loue and fauour vvhich is a greater ioy and refreshing vnto him then all other things whatsoeuer Yea the sweetnesse of the world is bitternesse to him in comparison of this Phil. 2.21 The naturall man seeketh his owne priuate good that which may be most for thee aduancement of his outward state in the world his owne credit honour profit and commodity vvithout any respect vnto others the care of whom he thinks litle or nothing appertaineth vnto him if they be not such as nature hath linked and chained vnto him by such bonds as the verie Heathen themselues would not breake But the spirituall and regenerate man seeketh the good of others 1 Cor. 24.33 1 Cor. 13.5 as well as his owne yea he doth rather desire if he may conueniently do it to benefit many others then himselfe alone since he knoweth well that he was not borne for himself but for others also and that he is no lesse bound to others then to himselfe Iames. 2.8 and therefore not onely to wish but as farre as he can to procure their good with the same affection that he doth his owne The naturall man cares not how much or how oft he offends or prouokes others so that hee may please himselfe and satisfie his owne lustes yea it 's a pastime to him many times to grieue disquiet and molest others and those especially that are most innocent and harmelesse Psal 56.5 97.4 Psal 59.3 64.4 neyther thinking nor speaking much lesse working any euill against him but rather praying for him and seeking and desiring his good The spirituall man on the contrary is very loth to giue offence vnto any yea to the meanest and simplest ones 2 Cor. 6.3 1 Cor. 10.33 1 Ioh. 2.20 Rom. 15.2 1 Cor. 8.13 2 Cor. 6.3 2 Cor. 13.5 he seekes to please his neighbour as wel as himselfe and had rather doe or suffer that which would be some waies inconuenient to him then that his weake brother should be displeased or offended at him he is very wise and wary this waies so farre is he from delighting to grieue or prouoke others that he is much grieued when he seeth that others take occasion where there is none giuen to be grieued and displeased with him or by meanes of him and seekes presently in a louing affection towards them to heale that wound and to salue that sore which they haue rather brought vpon themselues then taken from him The naturall man doth scarce loue his best friends except it be carnally in worldly respects Psal 41.6.9
effectuall motiue to the leauing of all sinne from the consideration of Christs death and Passion COnsider O man who hath redeemed thee by what he hath redeemed thee from what and vnto what hee hath redeemed thee Christ Iesus the Sonne of the euerliuing God equall vnto his Father in Maiestie and glorie the Heire of the world Hebr. 1. and the Lord of all things both in Heauen in Earth and vnder the Earth hee it is that hath redeemed thee according vnto the good-will and gracious decree of God his Father He hath redeemed thee by becomming man for thy sake by liuing a base and ignominious life subiect vnto all the infirmities vvhereunto thou art subiect thy sinnes only excepted and dying a shamefull and cursed death 1 Pet. 1.19 pouring out his pretious bloud for thy sake He vvas borne in a stable layd in a manger an abasement vnto which the basest amongst men are not vsually subiect reiected of his owne Ioh. 1.11 Isa 53. despised of the most accounted as a drie and withered branch one in whom there was no forme nothing to be desired laden vvith reproaches broken vvith sorrowes buffeted spit vpon made to drinke gall and vinigar reuiled scourged made a scorne to the beholders Mat. 27.30 c. a spectacle to men and Angels and a wonderment to the world tossed as it were from post to pillar from one iudgement seat to another condemned as a vile and notorious malefactor worse then a theefe murtherer and crucified vpon the Crosse without the gates of the Citie in that loathed Golgotha Heb. 13 1â— where his head vvas crowned with thornes his hands and feet pierced with nayles and his side with a speare so that water bloud gushed forth abundantly and at last when malice enuie had wrought all the wickednesse they could against him layd in the graue dead and buried as one cut off from among the liuing and all this for thy sake Rom. 5.10 euen for thee who wert his enemie a traitour and rebell against him Ephe. 2.3 and a childe of wrath and of the curse heire of perdition and confusion He was made sinne 2 Cor. 5.21 Gal. 3.13 a curse and subiect vnto death for thee that hee might bring thee from sinne from the curse of the law from the wrath of God from death hell and damnation vnto righteousnesse blessednesse grace glory heauen and euerlasting happines in that celestiall kingdome vvhich hee hath purchased and prepared for all his redeemed ones All thiâ— he hath done for thee O wretched and sinnefull man not for any merits or deserts of thine for what was there in thee for which hee should any wayes respect thee Tit. 3.4 but of his owne free grace and of the infinite and vnspeakeable riches of his abundant mercies wherewith hee imbraced thee vvhen he might haue iustly cast thee off for euer as one moâ—â— vnworthy to be beloued of him especially with so great a loue Ephe. 3.19 All this hee hath done for thee and for thy sake onely O therefore vvilt thou be vnmindfull of his wonderfull loue his vnsearchable goodnesse and bountie towards thee and the great and maruailous things which he hath wrought for thee 1 Sam. 12.24 Wilt thou bee so vnthankefull to him Nay wilt thou be so vnkinde so vngratious as to continue still in thy sinnes and so to grieue his spirit and to crucifie him againe Heb. 6.6 For beleeue me so many sinnes as thou willingly committest so many thornes dost thou pleat on his head so many nailes dost thou thrust into his hands so many speares dost thou pierce his side withall and a fearefull thing to consider so oft dost thou imbrue thy wicked hands with his pretious bloud tread it in a prophane maner vnder thy Heb. 10.29 feet so that it may be sayd vnto thee as Peter said vnto the Iewes Thou hast crucified the Lord of life Act. 2.36 3.14.15 thou hast murdered the king of glory the Sonne of the euer liuing God Christ Iesus that iust and holy One and preferred not Barrabas but which is as bad thine owne wicked and sinfull lusts yea Sathan himselfe before thy blessed Sauiour and Redeemer O monstrous ingratitude and treacherie The Angels do blush at it the heauens stand amazed and astonied at it and worthy it is to be lothed and abhorred of all creatures Dost thou so reward the Lord O vaine and foolish man Deut. 32.6 Is this thy kindenesse to thy friend thy thankefulnesse to thy Sauiour Dost thou returne him euill for good and hatred for his good-will Because he hath abounded in loue and kindnesse towards thee wilt thou abound in sinne and wickednesse against him O be not so hard-hearted O deale not so impiously so vngraciously so treacherously with thy best friend thy beloued Sauiour who hath magnified the riches of his grace so wonderfully towards thee as that if thou hadst a thousand tongues thou couldst not fully expresse the same nor yeeld him sufficient praise and thankefulnesse for it Or if thou hadst many thousands of yeeres to liue vpon the earth and shouldst employ them all in his seruice with the greatest diligence and most carefull endeauour that could be yet all were too little for him Returne therfore returne O thou who hast beene deceiued heretofore by thine own wicked hart deluded by Satan thy most malitious and deadly enemie who is euer seeking thy destruction and vtter ouerthrow Returne at length behold thy louing Sauiour yet stretching out his hands ready to receiue thee and to imbrace thee with the armes of his mercie and tender compassion Pro. 1.24 Hee calleth thee Isa 55.1 Ioh. 7.37 and cryeth aloud vnto thee why dost thou flye from him vvhy doest thou not cast away thy sins and come vnto him whiles the acceptable time of grace saluation lasteth 2 Cor. 6.2 Behold hee stands knocking at the doore of thy heart by the motions of his Spirit and by the voice of his word calling vnto thee Cant. 5.2 Reue. 3.20 that thou wouldest open vnto him that so he might enter in to thee and dwel with thee and make thee partaker of all the riches and treasures of his heauenly graces and of eternall life and saluation Behold him yet offering himselfe vnto thee yea Pro. 9.5 sending forth his messengers daily perswading thee effectually to leaue those husks and draffe which the Swine of this world delight to fill themselues withall Luk. 15.16 and inuiting thee most gratiously to come and sit with him at his table and to eate of the finest fare in his Fathers house that heauenly Manna vvhich none know but they that haue tasted of it and which when they haue once throughly tasted of and felt the sweetnesse of it they will not part with it againe for all the sweetest delicates with which the wicked glut themselues till they surfet dangerously no not for all the
grace here and glory hereafter Thus the loue of God entering into their spirits doth purge and purifie them throughout it doth presently void out that filth and corruption both of originall pollution actuall transgression vvhich was before in them and smothereth vp their carnall earthly and sensuall loue by a greater force at least it striueth so to doe for the old man will not be quite dead as long as they liue in this vvorld It vvorketh mightily and very forcibly in them and is of marueilous efficacie for the clensing of them from all sinne and fitting and preparing them both in body soule to be temples and mansion-places for the holy Ghost the glorious spirit of God to rest and to dwell in What should I say They hauing tasted of the bounty and superabundant loue of God in Christ their Sauiour towards them and hauing in them the holy Ghost testifying r Rom. 8.16 vnto them assuring them that they are the sonnes of God yea sealing this vnto their soules and consciences haue such a sincere entire and pure loue kindled in their breasts that they doe desire vnfainedly to abstaine from all sinne which they know is so displeasing vnto him and to please him in all things and vvhen they are sollicited either by Sathan or their owne corrupt nature to the commission of any thing which is euill they say with righteous Ioseph s Gen. 39.9 How can I doe this great wickednesse and so sinne against God who hath beene so good and gracious vnto mee Hath the Lord loued mee with so great a loue and shall I not loue him againe and manifest my loue towards him by a care to keepe his Commandements This is such a flame that it cannot but breake forth out of the heart into the life This is such a fountaine as cannot but send foorth the streames of pure water into the actions of the life This in a word causeth them to leaue and to abhorre that which is euill and to cleaue vnto that which is good to desire and endeauour in trueth and sinceritie to keepe all the righteous Commandements of God The loue of God shed abroad into their harts kindleth inflameth their hearts towards him and so maketh them to hate euill because hee hateth it and to loue righteousnesse because hee loueth it yea their hearts are so heated and so inwardly affected with the sense of the loue of God which the spirit of grace stirreth vp in them that they euen melt in loue and entire affection vnto God and desire vnfainedly to please him in all things and to shew themselues zealous for his glory because hee hath so commaunded them euen for the loue which they beare vnto him who hast shewed himselfe to be so louing and gracious a God so kinde and tender a Father towards them in CHRIST IESVS Nay they desire that others also should haue experience of that which they haue felt euen of the vnspeakeable loue of GOD in CHRIST towards those whom hee imbraceth in him They desire vvith the t Ioh. 4.28 29 vvoman of Samaria that euery one should taste of that which they haue had so comfortable experience of in their soules and spirits and that others also as well as they might abstaine from all kinde of sinne and wickednesse they mourne and groane within themselues their hearts are grieued and their eyes v Psa 119.136.139 drop down teares in abundance when they see it is otherwise As they haue no x Ioh. 3.4 greater ioy then to see God honoured by the diligent keeping of his Commandements so there can be no greater griefe vnto them then to see him dishonoured by the neglect and contempt thereof Oh this is a vexation and euen a torment vnto their soules as it was vnto righteous Lot y 2 Pet. 2.7 when hee beheld the abhominations of the cursed Sodomites It is as it were a hell to them to be in the company of such as blaspheme the name of the Lord and set themselues to worke wickednesse to the prouoking of his glorious Maiestie And hereby it doth appeare that they loue God in truth and not in word and tongue onely as the most doe If it be thus with vs we haue cause to blesse God and to reioyce in the assurance of this that our hearts are sincere and vpright before him and that wee loue him and are z Pro. 8.17 and shall euer a Ioh. 13.1 be loued of him But if this be not in vs at least in some measure our loue which wee professe towards him is but a counterfait and hypocriticall loue vvhich he hateth yea if we be not thus affected if vve say that wee loue him wee are lyars and thee is no truth in vs our words fight with our actions like vnto them that strucke CHRIST saying b Ioh. 19.3 Haile Master wee are so farre from louing him that vvee doe not so much as c 1 Ioh. 2.4 know him by an effectuall and sauing knowledge neither are knowne or in any sort approued of him yea he loaths vs and so much the more as we dissemble vvith the vvorld and make shew of that loue towards him vvhich is not in vs. O blessed LORD how vnspeakeable is thy loue how vnsearchable are the riches of thy grace and mercy toward mee in CHRIST IESVS in whom thou hast imbraced mee with an infinite and an euerlasting loue before all worlds yea thou still louest me and wilt loue me vnto the end for thy loue is as thy selfe vnchangeable d Rom. 11 29. Euery day thou * Lam. 3.23 renewest thy compassions vpon me Thou vouchsafest to giue mee many pledges and sure euidences therof yea thou sealest the same to my soule and spirit by the testimony e Rom. 8.16 2 Cor. 8.16 of thy blessed Spirit and by that inward ioy whereby thou causest mee to reioyce euen in the midst of mourning f Psa 94.19 2 Cor. 1.4 Oh that thou wouldst draw g Cant. 1.3 my heart vnto thee and cause mee to loue thee againe entirely and vnfainedly O that thou wouldst inflame these frozen affections of mine and cause mee euen to melt and to burne in loue towards thee O that it would please thee to change all that carnal that earthly and that sensuall loue and affection of this vvorld and the things thereof vvhich is yet remaining in mee into a holy and spirituall loue of thee my GOD and Sauiour my kinde and tender Father in CHRIST IESVS that so I may loue nothing but thee or in thee and for thee And let this loue of thee cause me to hate all sinne which thou hatest with so great and so infinite a hatred to hate it to abhorre it and vtterly to forsake it though neuer so pleasing to my corrupt nature neuer so profitable or gainfull to me in any respect and to loue all righteousnesse vvhich thou louest and wherein thou delightest that thus
louing thee inwardly in heart soule and manifesting my loue towards thee by the fruits effects of it in my life and conuersation I may euerie day haue more full assurance of thy especiall loue towards me and comfortable experience of the riches of thy grace and mercy sealed vnto my soule conscience yea I may see by the fruits and pledges of thy loue that thou louest me and delightest in me and wilt cause thy gracious countenance to shine vpon me all my daies yea that thou wilt refresh my soule in the midst of my troubles and cause my fainting spirits to reuiue within me when death shal be ready to seize vpon me and assoone as death shall put an end to this fraile and sinfull life wilt stretch forth thy hand to imbrace me with thy armes and to translate me immediatly by the ministery of thy Angels h Luk. 16.22 into that blessed and glorious kingdome of thine where I shall enioy thy presence see thee face to face and haue the bright beams of thy louing countenance shining alwaies most clearely and comfortably vpon me to thy endlesse praise and glorie and my vnspeakable felicitie and happinesse for euermore and all this through the merits and mediation of thy blessed Sonne my onely Sauiour and Redeemer in whom it hath pleased thee graciously to respect me and to whom with thee O Father and the spirit of grace and loue three persons and one most glorious God be all praise dominion and thanksgiuing from this time forth and for euer Amen Loue of the children of God IT is impossible to loue God and to hate his image to loue Christ who is the head and to hate Christians who are his members Nay the more that any one loues the one the more must he of necessitie loue the other and the more his affection increaseth toward God the more also it will increase towards those that are the children of God resembling him in their measure in the inward graces and vertues of their mindes puritie righteousnesse holinesse and the rest of those diuine a Mat. 5.43 perfections wherein he hath set himselfe as a patterne and president to be imitated and followed of them He loues them intirely and vnfainedly because hee seeth that he is nearely tied vnto them by many and strait bonds as being members b 1 Cor. 12.27 of one bodie children of one father c Math. 5.45 Ephe. 4.6 brethren d Mat. 12 50 Heb. 2.12 of one Saâ—â—our fed e 1 Cor. 10 17. at one table where they haue mutuall communion and fellowship in one f 1 Cor. 12.13 Ephes 4.4 and the same spirit nourished with the same meat in the word and Sacrament liuing together in one and the same familie which is the visible Church g Heb. 11.31 1 Pet. 2.11 stangers togither in this world and trauelling as pilgrimes towards the same countrey that heauenly Canaan h 2 Tim. 4 7. souldiours fighting together vnder the same banner the profession of the same faith i Ephe. 4.5 and against the same common enemie the deadly enemie of all mankinde Sathan and his complices and confederates partakers of the same grace of Gods holy and sanctifying spirit and ioynt-heires with Christ of the same glory reserued for them and all the Saints in the highest heauens Being so nearely allied and so straitly vnited mutually each to other by so many bands so many Obligations how can it be but that they should loue one another with an entire and Christian affection in truth and sincerity without vanity and flatterie Shamelesse k Iohn 4.20 lyars therefore they are who glory in word that they are of God and yet shew forth by their deeds that they haue no loue to his children but hate and despise them or at least make little reckoning of them If there were nothing else this were enough to conuince them that they are not yet admitted into this fellowship called to this brotherhood but remaine still as they were bred and borne Ioh. 8.44 1 Ioh. 3.27 the bastardly brood of Sathan vnto whom and to his impes they are ioyned in the same league of friendship and familiaritie m Pro. 29.27 1 Pet. 4.4 hating and iniurying them who vvill not be n Gen. 49.5 brethren with them in iniquitie and vanitie O Lord knit my heart daily more vnto thee in an vnfained loue of thee my God who hast loued me so dearely and in an entire and Christian loue and affection vnto thy children to whom thou hast linked and fastened me with so many bonds let me loue them not in tongue or in vvord onely o Iohn 3.18 but in deed and in truth as it becommeth me and manifest my loue towards them in seeking by all meanes to the vttermost of my strength and power to procure their good euery way yea the more that they doe appeare to be thine the more thy graces doe shine in them the more let my loue and affection increase towards them the more let me seeke to doe them good Hereby shall I haue a certaine proofe and a sure euidence that I loue thee vnfainedly seeing I loue thine for thy sake yea hereby my heart shall assure me before thee that I p 1 Ioh. 3.19 am in the truth I shall haue a comfortable assurance that I am one of thine one of that small number of thy adopted chosen children indued with thy grace and heire together with all thy Saintes of the riches of that glory which thou reseruest for them in that heauenly kingdom which thou hast purchased so vs by the death of thy onely Sonne and our alone Sauiour in whom thou hast graciously accepted vs and to whom with thee and thy blessed spirit of grace and comfort be all praise and glory both now and euer Amen How the hatred of the world is to be esteemed of the godly IF the world hate vs what marueile is it seeing that it a Ioh. 15.88 hated and persecuted him to the death by whom the world was made b Heb. 1.2 and who is the Lord of the world and all things therein euen Christ Iesus our blessed Sauiour Shall he that is the king of glory be content for our sakes to indure the crosse and to be c Psal 24.7 crowned with shame and dishonour d Mat. 27.29 and shall we sinfull wretches wormes of the earth shall we be vnwilling to haue shame and reproch fastened vpon vs for his sake yea rather how ought wee to account it our e Mat. 5.10 11. 1 Pet. 3.14 blessednesse when men reuile vs disgrace vs and say all manner of euill against vs for his sake falsly how ought we to reioyce and be glad vvhen vvee suffer such things at the hands of the world vvhich alwayes hath and euer will be in irreconciliable enmitie and in flat opposition vnto Christ our blessed Lord and Sauiour vvho vvilleth vs to follow
the ioyfull light of that glorious Kingdome nor enioy so fully the desired presence of his Creator and his blessed Sauiour f Iohn 12.26 and Redeemer after whom his soule longeth g Can. 1.14 Phil. 3.23 Lord when it pleaseth thee ease mee of these bonds deliuer mee out of this Prison and set mee at libertie among thy Saints in glory that I may behold the brightnesse of thy face and enioy that promised saluation the very hope and expectation vvhereof is the stay and comfort of my life in this bondage of sinne and misery vnto vvhich I am daily subiect Come Lord h Reuel 22 17 Iesus come quickly Amen Christians in this world are vnknowne men THe life of the Children of God whiles they liue in this world is hid a Col. 3.3 with Christ in God They are not knowne b 1 Iohn 3. to the world being masked and shrowded vnder the vayle of c Rom. 8.3 weake sinful flesh Their naturall life and outward estate is not different from others All things come alike to all d Eccles 9. Their Persons are exposed to contempt disgrace e Iob 30.8.9.10 reproach and many iniuries which the proud and disdainfull world who are not worthy of them f 1 Cor. 4.9.10.11 Heb. 11.38 doe continually most vniustly offer vnto them delighting euen to sport themselues of them Their bodies are subiect to much miserie g 2 Cor. 4.7.8.9 10. and 11.6 to ignominie and basenesse and for the most part to more sicknesses weakenesses and infirmities then others and in the end to death h Gen. 3.19 Heb. 9.27 as vvell as others They dye like other men and are couered with the same mould taking vp their lodgings vvith the rest of the sonnes of Adam in the dust and in the chambers of darkenesse i Iob 10.21.22 17.13.14 hauing Corruption for their Father and the Worme for their Mother and Sister The spirituall life also of their Soules wherein all their glory k Psal 45.13 in this life consisteth the redemption of their bodies l Rom. 8.23 Phil. 3.21 being wholly reserued for the estate after this life euen the day of the generall and glorious resurrection as it is not discerned of the world so many times of themselues neyther but very dimmely and when it is in best estate it is but weake m 2 Cor. 12 9. Psal 119.4 and needes the quickning grace of Gods Spirit for the increasing and confirming of it Blessed Lord hasten that glorious appearance of thine that so this vayle being remoued I may be fully restored vnto that promised light and liberty which my soule longeth after and liue in thy sight for euer receiuing from thee continually that accomplishment of grace and glory which thou hast reserued for me in thy Kingdome Sabbath day the religious obseruation of it how necessary IT is not the Law of Man but the vnchangeable decree and ordinance of GOD himselfe the chiefe Law-giuer that the Sabbath-day which in the Apostles dayes * Acts 20.4.5.6.7 1 Cor. 16.1.2 and of the Apostles themselues a Olim certè priscis illis hominibus in summo precio Sabbathum fuit quam quidem solennitatem Dominus in Diem Dominicum transtulit Athan. Hom. de Semente Sabbathum est signum vt sciatur dies Creationis Idem in Mat. 11. Aug. Epist ad Ianuar. 119. cap. 13. Idem lib. 22. de Ciuitate Dei cap. 30. Chrisost in Genes 2. Homil. 18. Hieron contra Pelag. lib. 3. Beza in Apocalyps 1.10 Spiritu sancto procul dubio illud Apostolis dictante pro prioris seculi Sabbatho siue die septimo assumptus suit dies huius mundi primus in quo c. Vide Fulke Rhem. Test in eund loc Sect. 6. Iun. praelect in Gen. 2.3 P. Mart. in Gen. 2. Bulling in Rom. 4.5 Zanch. de operibus Dei lib. 1. cap. 1. no doubt by authoritie from CHRIST and by the direction of his Spirit b Iohn 14.26 Acts 1.3 1 Cor. 11.23 guiding them therein as in all other truth was changed and called the Lords-day should be religiously obserued of all euen to the comming of Christ Hee giues vs a speciall watch-word of remembrance to stirre vp all to the greater care and diligence hereof c Exod. 8.20 Remember the Sabbath-day to keepe it holy as if in no vvise hee would haue this forgotten at any time or slightly regarded as it is of the most This alone hath a Preface prefixed and both the affirmatiue and negatiue part expressed the like to be found in no other Commandement as if fore-seeing what libertie men vvould take vnto themselues herein he would of purpose set bounds on euery side to fence and to keepe vs continually within compasse of this Law Hee doth not onely command vs but also perswade and yeelds a reason yea many and forcible reasons and motiues whereby as with so many cords wee might bee drawne vnto this dutie from his owne example and practise from his hallowing of it to a holy vse from the equitie of the obseruation of it since that hee hath giuen vs the other sixe dayes to our selues and taken this one onely to himselfe as his owne due which by no meanes hee vvould haue vvith-held from him They therefore that make little or no conscience of the due and diligent obseruation of this day by absenting themselues from the publique assemblies or by neglecting priuate duties prayer reading conference meditation examination of things heard in the publique Ministerie d Acts 17.11 much more they that openly prophane it by spending it eyther idly or wickedly in excessiue drinking gaming or other vnlawfull courses whatsoeuer outwardly they professe in word yet assuredly they are such as haue forgotten the Lord they refuse to follow him they transgresse his law and violate his holy ordinance which he hath appointed for their owne welfare if they could see it They remoue the ancient bounds within which he hath inclosed them vvhich who so doth shall be accursed e Deut. 27.17 yea though they were but the bounds and limits which men had established They cast away his yoke a note of the sonnes of Belial f Deut. 13.13 They sinne grieuously very dangerously They are enemies to their owne good friends to Sathan yea they are falne into the very snare of the Deuill who both in the infancie and prime-age of the Church and euer since when he could not roote out the whole Christian faith which spread it selfe into so many nations laboured mightily the subuersion and ouerthrow of this maine prop and pillar thereof by raising vp men of hereticall mindes who some through the pretended colour of Christian libertie others by the aspersion and false imputation of Iewish superstition and bondage and I know not what haue by this meanes gone about to open a wide dore to Atheisme licentiousnesse prophanenesse and so by little and little in an insensible manner
that finde a fleshy and a melting heart and soule vvithin their breasts whose consciences are bruised with the sight and remorse of their sinnes vvhereby they haue displeased him vvho hath beene so kinde and so gracious a God and Father vnto them that haue a sonne-like * Heb. 12.28 and a reuerent feare of his displeasure and of his correcting hand that grieue sorrow and complaine oft and much for that they can be no more touched for their sinnes nor finde that cheerefulnesse d Psa 119 4â— Heb. 13 1â— and delight in the duties of his seruice which he requireth that are very fearefull and scrupulous of doing any thing whereby he might be offended or his lawes violated yea is it not euen a strange and vnknowne language as it vvere vnto the most â—o talke vnto them of a broken and contrite heart They thanke God they feele all vvell vvithin them they haue not such sicke and queasie stomackes as they see some haue nor would willingly be troubled with their maladies They feele it indeed complaine much if sickenesse pouerty shame or any such like outward euils seize vpon them but their hearts neuer bleed vvithin them their consciences neuer strike them vvith the sight or feare either of sinne or of the punishment of it e Gal. 3.10 Rom. 8.13 Ephe. 5.5.6 threatned vnto them from an angry and wrathfull God before whose face they neuer learned yet to tremble Yea through custome and continuance in sinne they haue quite lost the sence of sinne f Ephes 4.18.19 and are become so hardened that they neuer see nor sorrow nor mourne for it nor for the iudgements hanging ouer them for the same There is a brawne and thicke skinne as it were drawne ouer their hearts they are altogether seared and obdurate Nothing can moue them or at least make any deepe impression into them piercing into their hearts and wounding their soules They know not what it is to be g Act. 2.37 pricked for sinne or to bee pressed and harrowed with the rake of Gods iust iudgements h Psal 6. 32.38 but go on carelesly securely and presumptuously in the wicked wayes and vngodly courses which they haue taken vnto themselues and sing peace vnto their soules i Luke 12.19 1 Thes 5.3 A fearefull estate if men could see it and yet the most farre gone in it Not one amongst many that complaineth of it Not one scarce amongst a thousand that to his owne saluation findeth himselfe healed cured of it hauing his stony and flinty heart turned into a fleshy heart into mourning and lamenting spirits grieuing for sinne aboue all things and longing for the assurance of the pardon of it and the comfortable presence of God and the riches of his sanctifying grace desiring still to be more satisfied and replenished with those pure waters * Ezek. 47. of life and grace vvhich flow from his sanctuary O LORD giue me not ouer at any time I humbly pray thee vnto that fearefull euill k Psa 81.12 which thou sufferest in wrath to fall vpon the wicked those who are reprobates and vtterly forsaken of thee O doe thou more and more soften and mollifie my heart Take this stony heart of mine quite from me and giue mee a tender and a melting heart vvhich may bleed at the least blow with vvhich thou strikest mee with the least pricke of thy law when it threatneth me and cause mee to mourne for my sinnes especially because they haue beene so displeasing vnto thee my God who hast beene so kinde and so gracious vnto mee Let my minde be bruised rather with the taste and feeling of thy mercies then with the terrour of thy iudgements but let mee by both be brought alwayes to walke humbly and reuerently before thee desirous in all things to please thee and afraid in any thing willingly to offend thee and thirsting vnfainedly after a greater measure of thy heauenly graces that so thou maist looke graciously vpon mee both now and alwayes and delight in doing mee good according vnto thy promise vvherein is my comfort Wee ought to be more affected with spirituall miseries then with bodily IF men be in some bodily distresse sickenesse pouertie or any other outward calamitie vvhich lyeth heauie vpon them they sigh and euen groane in themselues and seeke by all meanes to be released from the same But though their Soules be in great misery and wretchednes a Reu. 3.17 poore blinde naked yea sicke vnto the death and exposed vnto many and those most fearefull Iudgements both in this life and much more in the life to come they complaine not they are no wayes troubled they sigh not they sorrow not they seeke not to be recouered out of that wofull estate condition wherein they are Oh how hath Sathan blinded their eyes how hath hee wholly possessed them with a Spirit of slumber b Rom. 11.8 that they should be so miserable and yet see not their misery nor haue any sense and feeling of their greatest euils For did they but see the misery they are in if they did but know how heauy a burthen lyeth vpon them which if it be not remoued in time will presse them downe to hell they would then fill euery place they came in with their plaints and mournings they would sigh sob and groane in spirit and neuer be at quiet c Acts 16.29.30 neuer at rest in themselues till they saw themselues freed from the same O mercifull LORD as thou hast shewed thy selfe exceeding gracious vnto mee in shewing me my miserie and bringing me out of it so I humbly beseech thee to d A s 26.18 open their eyes which are yet closed vp and couered with that fearefull darknes which Sinne and Sathan hath brought vpon them that they may see their estate and touch their hearts euen of as many of them as thou hast ordayned to life that seeing it and bewayling it they may labour to come out of it And keepe thy Seruant both now and alwayes from that blindnesse of minde and deadnesse of heart which of all euils are the most fearefull and such as thou sufferest to fall vpon the reprobate and those that shall perish for euer Let mee grieue more for the decay of thy graces the want of the comfortable sense and feeling of thy loue and fauour and the miseries vnto which my soule is subiect through sinne then for sickenesse of body losse of goods pouertie or any other outward calamitie whatsoeuer which may at any time befall me The conuersion of others is to be sought for HE is of a malignant nature that hauing wandered out of the way with the rest of his company and beene thereby together with them in great perill and danger and afterwards finding the right way walketh therein alone and letteth the rest goe on to their destruction So it is with those that being through the grace and goodnesse of
of it they account the sweetnesse and delight which they tooke in their former sinnefull pleasures to bee as they are indeed but bitternesse and are ready to say vvith vvise Solomon when hee had learned it vpon sufficient experience I sayd of laughter thou art mad and of ioy what is it that thou dost * Eccl. 2.2 Pro. 14.13 Yea doubtlesse there is that peace which passeth all vnderstanding that ioy vvhich as the Apostle calleth it a glorious name indeed is * 1 Pet. 1.8 vnspeakeable and glorious both in regard of their present glorious feelings and apprehensions vvhich the Spirit of the Lord by an immediate hand as it were and by a secret inspiration a Luk. 1.41 doth vvorke in them and also in respect of those singular priuiledges and of those sweet and blessed hopes b 1 Pet. 1.3 with vvhich they are continually refreshed euen in the middest of mourning c Psal 94.19 112 4. They taste daily except it be sometimes vvhen it pleaseth the Lord to restraine that benefit eyther for some grieuous sinne d Psal 51.12.14 committed against him or for the triall and exercise of his graces in them Faith Hope Patience c. or for the stirring of them vp to Prayer Inuocation other such holy and religious duties vvhereby he conueieth and continueth that desired good vnto them vvhich is the pledge and earnest penny as it vvere of the accomplishment of all those excellent and gracious promises vvhich shalll no doubt in due time bee performed vnto them and in them They taste daily of that hidden and Heauenly Manna * Reu. 2.17 vvhich giueth life to to their soules yea vvhen they seeme and are indeed in regard of these sinnefull courses wherein others place all their felicitie dead men to the world f Gal. 2.19 20. 6.14 and vvorldly things Oh these are such matters as the naturall man is not g Prou. 14 10 acquainted with hee wondereth at this when hee heareth of it being ready to say with Nicodemus when Christ spake vnto him of Regeneration or the new birth h Ioh. 3.4.9 Psal 31. How can these things be how can they be so filled with ioy who seeme to be as full of miseries as any others yea to goe mourning i Ezek. 9.4 Psal 119.136 and drooping oft-times all the day long hated also many times reuiled and persecuted in the world k 1 Cor. 4.12.13 yea made as the filth of the world the off-scouring of all things as euen those worthies the blessed Apostles themselues were nay a gazing-stocke vnto the world vnto Angels l 1 Cor. 4.9 and vnto men m 1 Cor. 4 10. fooles and weake and simple ones How can such as these are who seeme rather to be the obiect of pittie then otherwise dry and withered branches n Isay 53.2 wormes o Psal 22.6 Iob 25.6 and not men how can they leade such a comfortable and glorious life in comparison of which the pleasures and delights which wee inioy are but smoake and vanitie of no esteeme in regard of them Thus reasons the naturall man who hath no other then carnall eyes and therefore iudgeth of euery thing by the outward view and externall obiect not being able to discerne the things of the Spirit of God p 1 Cor. 2.14 neyther the gifts and graces themselues nor the blessed fruits and effects thereof euen those sweet and quiet fruits q Heb. 12.12 of righteousnes which spring forth in the hearts of those that are truely religious but is like one that is purblinde r 2 Pet. 1.9 which cannot behold that which is too farre remoued from his sight as these things which are spirituall and heauenly are Thus therefore he reasoneth and cauilleth against this manifest and experienced truth which to others is as cleare as the beames of the Sun when it shineth in his brightnesse It is a strange matter to him which will not enter into his head because hee is vnacquainted vvith it and thinkes there can be no better delicates then that s Luke 15.16 2 Pet. 2.22 draffe which with the Swine of the world he feedeth vpon so greedily Let not any deceiue himselfe any longer with such dreames and fancies let not Sathan who was a lyar from the t Ioh. 8.44 beginning and enuies that vnto others which hee cannot attaine vnto himselfe be a meanes through his false suggestions to driue thee from that which should be thy happinesse If euer thou wouldest as vvho would not liue a truely contented and comfortable life labour to be truely and sincerely religious And the more this care and indeuour shall increase in thee the more shall that wished-for peace and comfort abound and be increased in thee Beleeue this once v Phil. 1.25 and take tryall of it and if thou finde it not so yea aboue that which I am able to expresse x 1 Pet. 1.8 or to declare it vnto thee returne then vnto thy former vomit again which vpon this consideration thou hadst formerly disgorged and fill thy selfe with the huskes and draffe wherewith before for want of better thou didst feede and stuffe thy selfe and that many times till thou wert euen weary of them and soughtst for change for the satisfying if it might be of thy restlesse and vnsatiable minde Good LORD fill mee daily more and more with the comforts of thy Spirit Refresh my Soule with the sweetnesse of that hidden and heauenly Manna which the world is not acquainted with Cause me with cleare eyes to behold the vanitie and vexation of spirit which is in the life of the vngodly their diuers and manifold distractions with which they are oft-times euen rent and torne in pieces and that horrour of conscience which first or last seizeth vpon them as the fore-runner of their future torments and the felicitie on the other side of thy Saints euen that heauenly solace and contentment which the godly life affordeth and which ariseth from so many sweet springs and pleasant fountaines viz. certainty of their Election whereby they know their names are vvritten in thy Booke of life y Luke 10.20 before all worlds sense and feeling of the forgiuenesse z Mat 9.2 Rom. 4.7 of their sinnes which thy Spirit sealeth vnto their soules knowledge of their Adoption into the number of thy Children which the same Spirit of a Rom. 8.16 2 Cor. 1.22 thine testifieth vnto them assurance of thy loue b Rom. 5.5 8.38.39 which thou sheddest into their hearts fellowship and communion with thee c Reu. 3.20 who art the fountaine of all happinesse vnion with thy Sonne my blessed Lord and Sauiour and in him with thine owne Maiestie d Iohn 17.21.23 and participation of those diuine e 2 Pet. 1.4 and excellent graces wherewith their soules are decked f 1 Pet. 3.4 and adorned and which are the onely desireable riches g Prou.
so excellent and so much to be desired that men euen such as looke to haue a share therein as vvell as others are so little affected with it so loth and vnwilling to leaue this poore and wretched life of theirs to attaine vnto it Blush and be ashamed of this you that haue any assurance indeed of that glorious and euerlasting life that you should once be so much ouertaken as to be vnwilling to depart out of this world to go vnto the other which is so much r Eccles 7.3 Phil. 1.23 better to make exchange of Brasse for fine Siluer of Copper and baser Mettals for the purest and most refined gold in a word of a miserable and sinnefull and vncertaine life for that most blessed incorruptible and immortall life reserued for the Saints in the highest heauens O the marueilous infidelitie of ours if it be thus with vs What should I say A wonderfull thing vndoubtedly it is that any one that hath any vnderstanding to know these things any measure of Faith to beleeue them should be so carnall so earthly so sensuall s 1 Cor. 15 19 as to regard this wretched life here vpon earth more then that blessed life in those heauenly and glorious mansions Whom should not the consideration of it alienate estrange from this vvorld withdraw their affections from it and weane altogether from the sinnefull and inordinate loue of it and cause them as it were with Eagles wings to soare aloft in the oft and serious contemplation of that blessed and glorious estate and in the earnest and ardent desire to be made pertaker of it being taken from Earth to Heauen from vanitie and miserie to that endlesse and vnspeakeable felicitie and happinesse O blessed LORD forgiue mee my dulnesse in this regard strengthen my faith and hope and affect my heart I humbly pray thee more and more daily with an vnfained desire and longing after that celestiall and heauenly life Let me not be glewed to this world nor to any thing in this world which is but vanitie dreames and fancies but hauing mine eyes opened to see what the riches of the glorious inheritance of thy Saints is let me sigh breath after the same vncessantly as thy seruants haue done t Rom. 8.23 2 Cor. 5.24.8 Phil. 1.23 and long continually for the time when with these eyes of mine I shall see the felicitie of thy chosen and reioyce vvith the ioy of thy people in that blessed and glorious kingdome vvhich thou hast promised vnto mee and wilt in due time giue vnto mee for thy mercies sake in thy welbeloued in whom it hath pleased thee to imbrace me before all worlds Let mee reioyce alwayes in all my afflictions wherewith thou shalt exercise me vnder the hope of that glory v Rom. 5.2 8.18 Iam. 1.2 Heb. 10.37 with which shortly thou wilt crowne me for euer and esteeme the best things of this earth as dung in comparison of it and all the glory of this world but as withering grasse Let me be willing alwayes x Isa 40.6.7 1 Pet. 1.24 at thy cal to depart hence hauing before layd a sure foundation and indeuoured to keepe faith and a good conscience in all things yea reioyce vnfainedly when thou shalt send thy messengers those heauenly Ministers to take me into their armes * 2 Tim. 4 7.8 and to conuey mee into those celestiall mansions there to liue and raigne with thee and all thine elect and chosen ones in that glory which shall haue no end and that onely through the merits and mediation of thy Sonne my blessed Lord and Sauiour to whom with thee and the Spirit of life and grace be all praise and glory both now and euermore Amen FINIS DEVT. 30.19 I haue set before you life and death blessing and cursing therefore chuse life Soli Deo gloria Faults escaped Page 11. line 13. of read in p. 16. l. 22. goodly r. godly p. 17. l. 9. holy r. holily p. 32. l. 15. what r. most p. 85. l. 9. desert r. defect p. 122. l. 22. sinnes r. sinners p. 150. l. 7. after neither adde the. p. 176. l. him r. them The rest are of lesser moment