Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	bless_a	jesus_n	lord_n	6,161	5	3.6174	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A56309	The weavers shuttle displayed and the swiftness thereof unfolded, or, The words of a dying man to a dying people, in the midst of a dying nation wherein is held forth I. That the time is short, the way is narrow, the prize is great, the runners are many, the obtainers few, II. That repentance and turning to God is not in one call or command, wherefore wait upon the means appointed by God to work it, and that diligently and constantly this work deferred will be still greater, the time to do it wil[l] be shorter, the strength to do it by wil[l] be less, III. If we endeavour to the uttermost to improve the present opportunity and ability that the Almighty gives us, we shall, for ought I know, live with more comfort here and die in full assurance hereafter, for the greatest evil threatned or feared, may through wisdom be timely prevented / by Robert Purnel.	Purnell, Robert, d. 1666.	1652 (1652)	Wing P4244; ESTC R32258	54,417	168

died and rose again even so them also which sleep in Iesus will God bring with him The Holy Ghost in this place forbiddeth not Christian sorrow for the dead but Heathenish sorrow not moderate but excessive and immoderate either in respect of time or measure of our grief we may water our plants for our deceased Friends but not drown them 7. Let us consider the priviledges of Believers after death for death is unto them but a Porter opening a door into a dark entry or a servant of thy Fathers sent to put thy dear friend to bed for a little while till corruption shall have put on incorruption and mortality shall have put on immortality Death is but a sleep and the grave a bed and all things that be on the other side death are taken away by Iesus Christ Death openeth the great gate that leadeth to thy Fathers house that so thou mayest go home for we are but Sojourners Pilgrims and Strangers here in this World it is true unbelievers are at home whiles they live here they be called the inhabitants of the earth and dwellers upon the earth when they die they do not go home as thou doest it is true they go to their own place and to their own Father so that death to them is the King of Terrours but to thee and thy believing deceased Friend death should be looked upon as the Messenger of glad tidings which is come only to crack the clay walls which is our Prison that you may flie home and be at rest and when thou comest home to enjoy the presence of thy Father and Saviour Christ and to be filled with the Spirit and to be with all the holy Saints of Heaven thou wilt then rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory 8. Let us consider that although I and thee be like to loose our own lives or else have lost some of our nearest and dearest friends yet let this comfort us this also shall work together for our good Rom. 8. 28. Wherefore let us not so fear death but hearken what death doth whisper in thy ears saying fear not me I came from the Father and have no Commission to hurt you although my countenance be grim my message is sweet and pleasing Christ your beloved husband hath taken my sting from me before he would let me come to you I am come without a sting to tell you that God and Christ loves you and hath sent me on purpose to invite you into their presence where is fulness of joy and pleasures at his right hand for evermore only you must put off your filthy garments that the earth may return to its earth the fire to its fire the water to its water the aire to its aire for these were the Elements thy body was made of and so thou must endure a little pain in putting off these cloaths they be somewhat little and strait but thou must with Paul put off this earthly Tabernacle for that must be dissolved before thou canst be with Christ in whose presence there is fulness of joy where all relations will be made up in God there is no complaining in the Streets of this new Ierusalem no want of Relations God will be a Father Christ will be a Husband Saints gloryfied our Brethren Sisters and associates so we shall want no Relation neither shall any Relation want Perfection There is but a breath between thee and this condition 9. Let us consider that the Scripture doth pronounce them blessed that die in the Lord Rev. 14. 13 For from henceforth they rest from their labours See Eccles 4. 2. Job 3. 17. The greatest evil death can bring unto us is but a more speedy way to happiness Lastly let us consider that our dear beloved brother David although he mourned fasted and prayed whilst his Child was sick yet as soon as it was dead he arose and began to comfort himself saying I shall go to it ere long for my dayes are swifter then the Weavers shuttle saith Job Then shall the dust return to its earth saith Solomon Eccles 12. 7. The dust that is the body to shew the original of it Gen. 2. 7. and the weakness of it Dust is the weakest part of the earth Psal 103. 14. the basest and vilest of it Job 4. 19. Phil. 3. 21. Job 30. 19. Our original from the dust our return unto the dust This should humble us in our own eyes and should warn us to improve all our ability and every opportunity to make our calling and election sure that there might be nothing wanting in us to secure a better life before this be ended and not to put off the endeavours towards it as most do unto old age which haply we may never attain unto and if we do it will bring it self work enough for us to do Death comes swift and uncertain Sin the longer lived in doth the more harden Repentance is not in our call or command when we please it is a work of the whole man and of the whole life this work deferred will be greater the time to do it in will be shorter the strength to do it by will be less bodily infirmities will disinable spiritual actions God will have less honour and service from us and we our selves shall have more sorrow and less comfort For my own part I can speak something by woful experience of the sad effect of not imbracing the present opportunity and ability that God hath given me I am assured that I have lost much of my comfort here for hearkening to the motions of my own spirit and slighting the motions and strivings of the Lords Spirit by which means I have deprived my self of manifestations and apprehensions of heavenly and spiritual things that the Lord begun to pour out upon me And now if I would give all the world I cannot recall one day that is past nor one of those blessed opportunities that I have lost Only I desire if the Lord will to redeem this little inch of time yet remaining like an idle servant that hath loitered all the forenoon begins to work twice as hard in the afternoon I have two Requests within me to make unto thee whosoever thou art that readest these lines If there be in thee any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if any fellowship of the Spirit if any bowels and mercy then my first Request is I do beseech thee beg thee in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ if thou mindest his glory or thy own good that thou wouldst seek the Kingdom of Heaven in obedience to his command in the first place for in so doing the Lord will be glorified thy light shining before men that they seeing thy obedience to him may glorifie thy Father which is in heaven that so while the whole World with Martha are troubled about many things thou mayst with Mary choose the better part That so while some are giving all diligence to get

earthly treasure thou mayst give all diligence to get heavenly And while some are spending their time in vanity one endeavouring to exceed another in folly thou mayst redeem precious time for spiritual ends endeavouring to excel others in piety That so while others that have great possessions are with the Young man in the Gospel going from Christ sorrowfull thou mayst with Zacheus receive Christ joyfully and be willing to part with some of thy goods cheerfully My second Request is That in thy addresses to the Father and approaches to the Throne of Grace in the name of the Son by a lively faith in him in whom are all our springs from whom are all our supplies that among all thy requests to the Lord of Hosts both for a supply of spiritual things and natural things for thy self and friends that thou daily standest in need of thou would'st have one request one ejaculation one sigh one breathing or one petition for me also That the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of glory would give unto me a more full cleer powerful knowledge of his will in all wisdom spiritual understanding that I might walk worthy of the Lord being fruitful in every good work that he would pour out upon me that Spirit of Faith spoken of in the Gospel which was once given to the Saints which we are commanded to contend for and that Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him the Spirit of councel and might the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord that I might act for God from a pure principle of love to God that so not onely sinful self might be denied in me but that also natural self and religious self might be laid at the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ as dung and dross in point of justification and salvation which is all of free grace That so when I come to cut off my life like a Weaver for my dayes flie away swifter then his shuttle I may say with Simeon Luk. 2. 29 30. Lord let thy servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seen thy salvation Or at least I might say with Hezekiah Isa 38. 3. Remember now O Lord I beseech thee how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart or else that I might say in the sincerity of my soul with Paul 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. I have fought the good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith there is laid up for me a crown of glory O that our Parliament would consider with Job that although they have sate long yet now their days are swifter then the Weavers Shuttle and they shall shortly cut off like a Weaver Isa 38. 12. that so they might minde what David saith Psal 15. 4. He shall abide in Gods tabernacle and dwell in his holy hill that keepeth his word and Promises Oh that it might be your study so to do and that you would yet further improve the present opportunity in discharging the Trust reposed to you by God and his People for his Glory and their Liberty and this will bring you more comfort in the end then all your honour and estates which hath been now is and ever shall be my request to God for you O that our Armies whom God hath made so victorious would now pay their Vows that they made to the Lord of Hosts in the day of their distress and that speedily because their days are swifter then the Weavers Shuttle O that Magistracy and Ministry would consider how swift this Shuttle flies and yet their days flie swifter that so the one might not judge for Reward and the other teach for hire that so the first wheel that moves them to act might be out of conscience unto God and faithfulness to his People whose servants they are O that all men of all Opinions by what nick-name soever they be known viz. Episcopacy Presbyterie Independency Lutherans Socinians Arminians Anabaptists Antinomians would consider that their days are swifter then the Weavers Shuttle and give off that excessive contending about the garment of Religion and the Form in which they are to Worship which is but as paying Tithe of Commin and Annis and the while the Power of Religion is much abated and the weighty matters of the Law neglected Faith and Repentance Self-denial and an holy Conversation these by many are shut out of doors and so whiles we lie contending for the Form the Power of Religion is much abated and so the gravy marrow and sap of our souls is almost eaten out so that we had need and that speedily to take the Councell of Christ Rev. 3. 2. Be watchfull and strengthen the things that be ready to die for I have not found thy works perfect before God thou hast a name that thou livest but thou art almost dead for thou hast but a little strength ver 8. Now my Brethren let me tell you that I fear most of you instead of considering the great work that you have yet to do and the little time allotted you to do it and how swift that little time passeth away I say instead of considering this you all fall a weaving of the Spiders Web Isa 59 5. that is you are contriving Plots as may intangle others as the Spiders do the Flies to their dammage and detriment or to their utter undoing and destruction but let me tell you as in Isa 59. 6. Your Web shall not become garments which is your devices plots and practises though they may hurt and mischieve others yet they shall not help or avail your selves all the good or gain you gather by them shall stand you in no stead they will not be able to shelter you against Gods wrath no more then a coat of Cobweb is able to shelter you from a fierce storm or a thick volley of shot they shall all prove in conclusion as Cobwebs to your selves for any succour or benefit that you shall receive from them or reap by them See Isa 28. 15. 18. 20. Vse 5. Forasmuch as the soul is a more excellent piece then the body it is but reason that we should spend more time and pains in seeking the well being of the one before the other and if men did so indeed they would make Religion their business In seeking first the kingdom of heaven and the righteousness thereof knowing that all things that concern the well being of the body shall be added unto them But alas we serve the world which was made to serve us and so we become our servants servant Religion is not our business but the world and the things thereof is our business and Religion is a thing but by the by when we have nothing to do about our particular calling we will a little look after our general calling if we be called upon to hear such a Sermon to confer with such Christians about the business of our souls and our thriving in Spiritual things

wisdom of man rather then the wisdom of God we will take the words as they lie without any division or subdivision c. My dayes are swifter then a Weavers shuttle From which words we may naturally draw this Conclusion or Doctrine That such is the swiftness of mans dayes and shortness of mans life and frailty of his nature that the swiftest shortest and frailest things for the most part that we read of in Scripture are not swift short and frail enough to compare mans life unto This Observation might be proved by Scripture and Reason abundantly but I shall endeavour to contract what I understand in it in few words Iob tels us Iob 16. 22. When a few years are come then I shall go the way whence I shall not return But as if a few years were too long a time the Prophet Isaiah saith Isa 64. 6. We all do fade as a leaf But as if that were too long a resemblance the Prophet tels us 2 Sam. 14. 14. We are as water spilt upon the ground that cannot be taken up again Now as if this were too long a Comparison for water may lie in the Pool a pretty distance of time before the ground drinks it up Job tels us that Man that is born of woman is of few dayes and full of trouble Now as if a few dayes were too long a time to set forth the short life David brings it within the compass of one day Psal 90. 6. Our life is as grass which flourisheth in the morning and in the evening is cut down and withered But as if this were too long a resemblance David tels us Psal 102. 11. Our dayes are like a shadow that declineth and I am withered like grass But none of these are swift short and frail enough to compare mans life unto wherefore James saith Jam. 4. 14. For what is your life it is even a vapour that appears for a little time und then vanisheth away But as if this were too long we find it written for our further learning Ps 102. 3. My dayes are consumed like smoak Now smoak will appear as a cloud in the air but speedily consume away But this is yet too durable a thing to compare mans frailty unto therefore another Scripture tels thee it is but a span long But as if a span was too much the Holy Ghost tels us it is but a hand-breadth Ps 39. 5. But a hand-breadth is too large a thing to compare mans little time unto and therefore Job tels us Job 7. 7. that our life is but as a puff of wind which flies away as swift as lightning But this is yet too permanent a thing to hold forth our life by therefore David sayes Mine age is nothing before thee Let us a little lay these things together and we shall soon conclude with Job My days are swifter then a Weavers Shuttle Lo here is the Anatomy of our life it is a shrub a leaf a reed a rush a grass a smoak a Post a cloud a wind a water a bubble a vapour a shadow a nothing it is swift yea more swift then a Weavers Shuttle We no sooner have our Being but we are going to our End and our strength is but as the grass and our beauty is but as the flower the grass fadeth and the flower withereth and so our glory is gone and life is uncertain but death is certain for we are more sure to die then live for what is more certain then death and what is so uncertain as life All Creatures observe their time but man and yet man is the most noble of Creatures having time and all things attending him to minde his Creator but alas poor Creatures we do countenance our greatest Enemy for we are a friend to our Flesh and it is an enemy to God How much time do we take in cloathing it what cost do we bestow on it to cloath it and to make it fine we rob or at least borrow of every Creature to adorn our selves viz. we go to the Sheep and take his wool and from another Creature his skin from another his furr then we go down to the ground for gold and silver and turn up the Sands for pretious stones and having borrowed all this of other Creatures we jet up and down and look so big and so lofty as if all this were our own when the stone shineth upon our finger we will seem forsooth thereby to shine when the silver and silk doth glister upon our backs we look big as if all that beauty came from us and as we walk in the Streets and meet with men that be not so richly arrayed as our selves we expect Cap and Knee as Haman did of Mordecai or else we will seek their ruine as he did Esther 3. 5. How oft do we change our habit and how bravely do we indeavour to adorn our selves How carefull are we of our dyet how softly do we lay us down In a word we seek to save that which doth seek to destroy us and so we are a friend to our flesh and it is an utter enemy to God and so we come to be carnally minded which is death Rom. 8. 6. The word Fashion not your selves according to this world is forgotten and also that of Christ is slipt out of our memory Matth. 6. 31 32. Take no thought saying what shall we eat or what shall we drink or wherewithall shall we be cloathed for after all these things do the Gentiles seek It is a wonder to consider the different proceedings of God and the World herein the Almighty was the first that ever made apparel in the World Gen. 3. He made it for the most noble of all our Ancestors in Paradise and yet he made it but of Beasts skins And Saint Paul testifies of the noblest Saints of old Heb. 11. how that they were cloathed with Goats skins and Camels hair what vanity is it then for us to be so curious in apparel and to take such Pride therein as most do at this day never considering those words Isa 40. 6 7. The voice said Cry And he said what shall I cry All flesh is grass and all the goodliness thereof as the flower of the field The grass withereth the flower fadeth because the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it surely the people is grass Psal 90. 9. We spend our days as a tale that is told but a tale is sometimes longer in telling then a man is dying Let them that have wives be as if they had none saith Paul there is the Doctrine My days are swifter then a Weavers Shuttle saith Job there is the Reason Oh teach me so to number my days saith David Psal 90. 12. that I may apply my heart to wisdom there is the Use Oh earth earth earth hear the voice of the Lord Jer. 22. 29. Why doth the Prophet mention the earth three times is it not for this cause viz. 1. Because we came from the

in bringing them up in his fear teach your Children their duty both towards God and man If there be ever a word of God within you endeavour to fasten it upon them Prov. 22. 6. Train up a Child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it And what thou intendest to teach them do it speedily make no delay for they are but as a flower of the grass alive and green in the morning and many times cut down and withered before night your Childrens days are short and swifter then the Weavers shuttle And so likewise for Husbands and Wives Masters and Servants superiors and inferiors old and young if there be any Grace in your Heart and power in your hands improve both to the best advantage Be pittifull as your heavenly Father is pittifull make it your business as Christ made it his business to take all opportunities to do good both to Saints and Sinners Matth 5. 45 48. Oh let all your good intentions end in actions and all your Resolutions in speedy performances for the glass is almost run the day of our life is even done and thou must cut off like a Weaver as in Isa 38. 12. Verily every man at his best estate is altogether vanity Oh all ye Parents then look upon your selves and children as upon a Flower that quickly withereth endeavour to acquaint your selves of one Lord Jesus Christ who is the portion of his people Psal 16. 5. compared with Psal 17. 14. Walk with God your selves and so apply those promises that he hath made to his Seed they will live more comfortably with one grain of Grace in the want of the abundance of these outward things then they could with the Kings Ransom if the other be wanting cleave closer unto Christ hang looser to your children that so nothing may be able to separate the one though death will separate the other And let not your lives O ye Parents be bound up in the lives of your children but let your wills be resigned up unto Gods Will that if your children cut off like a Weaver ye may say as once Job in the same case said Ioh 1. 21. The Lord giveth and the Lord takes away bleßed be the name of the Lord and endeavour by your further care and diligence in training them up in the way of Christ instructing them in the way which they ought to walk Shall I appeal to your consciences now O ye Parents hath your care been to provide in a sutable way for the souls of your children for their Spiritual estate as you have for the earthly you are loth to die before you can bring your estate so clear that you may leave it to your children but rather you should be loth to die before such time as you see some work of Grace wrought in their hearts verily these would your thoughts be if you were spiritual It is reported of Augustines Mother that the great thing she desired to live for was to see her son converted and the Lord granted her desire and then she found her self willing to die One Mr. Staughton a Minister in his Epistle to the Reader prefixed to the Treatise called Davids love to Gods word affirms upon his own knowledge that there was a young Gentlewoman in Kent but ten years old could say all the New-Testament by heart yea at that Age she was so perfect therein that being asked where any word were she would presently name Book Chapter and Verse Master Staughton writeth this upon his own knowledge and examination of her in above fourty places at one time wherein she never missed Book Chapter and Verse Truly if we would have the word of Christ dwell richly in us we must ever and anon call home our wandring thoughts and unprofitable desires and disordered affections and gather them up and establish them upon something that Moth and Rust cannot corrupt nor Thieves break through and steal for most of us are like unto Peter we toil all night and catch nothing because we do not cast down our nets at Christs Command which that we may do let us stand upon our guard and guard our Thoughts our Hearts our Wills our Affections our Judgements our Memory our Lips that we speak considerately advisedly and not so vainly Vse 3. By way of Use If our days be so swift and short let us indeavour to be in a continual readiness that we may have nothing to do but to resign up our souls into the hands of our Creator in the name of our dear Saviour by the help of the blessed Spirit and although death doth look gastly upon us when he comes to Summon us to appear before the Tribunal Seat of Justice there to give an account of all our Actions yet let us smile upon Death for he will but destroy our last Enemy Christ hath tasted death for us It is true Death is a dark entry that we must pass through but all trouble on the other side death is taken away the worst thing it can do for one prepared to die is but this namely to shut up the door of earthly comforts and open the door of Heavenly to deprive us of Temporalls that we may be invested with Spirituals to deprive us of the society of a few imperfect Friends that we might enjoy the society of all the Saints and Angels in a state of perfection and that which is ten thousands time more then all the rest we shall enjoy the presence of the Almighty God whose glory and excellency is such that the tongues of men and Angels are not able to express It is life to know him it is melody to hear him it is heaven to behold him it is endless happiness to enjoy him Oh then improve the present opportunity and ability that the Lord hath lent to the uttermost that when thou comest to die and to cut off like a Weaver thy dayes being swifter then a shuttle thou mayst be in some good measure so prepared That 1. If thou canst not say with thy Lord Christ Joh. 17. 4. I have glorified thee on earth I have finished the work that thou gavest me to do 2. If thou canst not say with thy brother Paul 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. I have fought the good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith there is laid up a Crown of glory not for me only but for all those that wait for his appearing 3. Yet thou canst say with Simeon Luk. 2. 29. Lord now lettest thou thy servants depart in peace for mine eyes have seen thy salvation 4. Or else if thou canst not say in the sincerity of thy soul with Hezekiah Isa 38. 3. Remember O Lord I beseech thee how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart 5. Yet thou canst say with David Psal 39. 13. Oh spare me a little that I may recover my strength before I go hence and be no more seen 6. There are

thy after-services are but like Cain's Sacrifices procuring a curse rather then a blessing In a word we were not made to serve the world the world was made to serve us and we were made to serve God Let every creature especially Man continue in his place for man is the most excellent creature of all on earth Let him then transcend all in his holy obedience to his Maker We are not our own we ought not to live to our selves we have forfeited our lives many a time the wages of the least sin is death and cursedness and yet our lives have been restored to us again For what end why saith the Scripture that we might not live to our selves but unto God Oh how often times doth he call how earnestly doth he knock at the door of our hearts how powerfully doth he strive how long doth he wait upon us to get us to yield unto him namely to have our hearts dis-ingaged from all things beneath himself and yet such wretches as we are we will not yield What is become of that frame of Spirit that was upon the Saints in former days Nathan used but one parable to David and he was converted Jonah preached but few days to Nineveh and they repented Christ looked back once upon Peter and he wept bitterly but there is such a spirit of slumber fallen upon most of the people in these days that nothing will prevail unless it be that place Rev. 21. 11. He that is unjust let him be so still and he which is filthy let him be filthy still And so they make good this place as it is spoken by way of precept and not by way of caution never considering what will become of them in the end thereof O ye sons and daughters of men did not our tender loving Lord God make us Lords of the Creation and are not we become Servants unto it Did not he make man the wisest of all Creatures and is there any Creature under the whole Heaven so unwise as man Did he not put a fear and a dread upon every creature Gen. 9. 2. And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every fowl of the ayr and upon all that moveth on the earth and upon all the fishes of the sea into your hands are they delivered But how is poor silly man afraid of and become a Servant to the meanest of all these Creatures in a Spiritual sense These were made our servants and have been faithfull in their service to us we were Created in the Image of God and appointed by him to be serviceable unto him and yet the whole Creation are more serviceable unto him and do not dishonour him as man doth Jer. 8. 6 7. I hearkened saith the Lord and heard but the most excellent piece of my workmanship man spake not aright no man repented him of his wickedness saying what have I done So I was fain to repent my self that ever I made man for every one runneth into sin as the horse rusheth into the battel Yea the Stork in the heavens knows her appointed times and the Turtle and the Crane and the Swallow observe the time of their coming but my People know not the judgments of the Lord. Man that was made the wisest of all is become the variest fool of all And oh that we saw it 1 Cor. 3. 18. Let no man deceive himself If any man among you seemeth to be wise let him become a fool that he may be wise We like fools take a great deal of pains to make our selves miserable We forsake the Fountain of living endurable waters and ride and run through thick and thin labour and toyl dig and hew unto our selves Cisterns yea broken Cisterns that will hold no water Jer. 2. 12 13. If John were to write an Epistle to the Professors of our dayes as once he did to Gaius 3 Ep. Joh. v. 1 2. Beloved I wish above all things that thou mayst prosper be in health even as thy soul prospereth I say if he were to write to us he would undoubtedly change his voice and say O ye Professors now extant in the English Nation I wish above all things that ye may prosper in your souls even as your bodies prosper O thou hast a flourishing body but a starved soul thy eyes stare out with fatness thou hast more then heart can wish thou art like the green Bay tree or the Willows by the water side thou hast given thee thy hearts desire but thou hast a lean famished starved soul and I could wish above all things that thy soul prospered as thy body prospereth Oh is it not better to go to Heaven with poor Lazarus then to Hell with rich Dives Is it not better O sons and daughters of men to be often saying with our head Christ The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head then to be saying in effect as most do at this day with that rich man Luk. 12 17. 18 19 20. Soul thou hast much goods laid up for many years take thine ease eat drink and be merry but God said unto him Thou fool this night shall thy soul be required of thee c. We have forgotten those words 1 Joh. 2. 15. Love not the world neither the things of the world if any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him O how few such can we find in a whole Parish in a whole City in a whole Shire nay how many think you are there in a whole Nation that love the world and so have not the love of the Father abiding in them In this Epistle of John the Spirit of the Lord in the mouth of his servant cals to all the sons of men and craves their diligent attention I have written to you Fathers I have written to you Children I have written to you Young men Why what is the Spirit of the Lord about to make out unto us Only here is the sum ver 15. Love not the world nor the things of the world for if any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him Object But some will be apt to say We do love God we do not love the World Answ How shall that appear If I should try thy practice by the Scriptures I shall find that thou dost love the world and not God 1 Ioh. 3. 17. Whoso hath this worlds good and seeth his brother in need and shutteth up his bowels of compassion how dwelleth the love of God in him That thou hast faith shew it to me by thy works and if thou hast love shew it by its fruits Indeed there is abundance of Faith and Love in the Nation but I can find but little in my self and others in the powerful operation The Power of Godliness is but here and there in a corner and when it doth

but a little peep out or put forth its head the Dogs of Egypt begin to bark for a long space without any intermission and these Dogs are as cunning as Achitophel and as eloquent as Herod and so make the poor ignorant people believe that they do bark at Thieves that would break open their Church-doors and steal away their Religion when indeed they bark at the Sheep that would hear Christs voice and follow him But no more of this at present Again consider that the love of the world is brought in by the Apostle to be the root of all evil 1 Tim. 6. 10. For the love of money is the root of all evil c. Now by money we commonly understand gold and silver which is the purest metal of all and one would think in reason if any thing of the world were to be beloved then the most choise things should be the object of our love but gold and silver although the purest and choisest thing of all that will buy any thing in the world nay Solomon said of it Eccles 10 19. Money answereth all things Yet to love this saith the Spirit of the Lord in his word is the root of all evil 1 Tim. 6. 10. In a word consider A man takes a great deal of pains in getting goods and a great deal of care in the keeping of them and a great deal of sorrow in losing them and but a very little comfort in the enjoyment of them We may look back upon them all as Solomon did Eccles 2. 11. Then I looked upon all the works that my hand had wrought and on the labour that I had laboured and behold all was not only vanity but also vexation of spirit and there was no profit under the Sun Here wise Solomon writ Vanity upon the Crown of all worldly treasures and pleasures and why is this written but for our learning upon whom the end of the world is come But there are but few of us of Solomons mind and that will appear in our taking so much paines in gathering wealth and then we set our affections and minds abrood upon them until as a hen her chickens we have hatched them and then a little while after they get themselves wings and flie from us Oh why do we set our eyes upon that which is not See Prov. 23. 5. In a word the Scriptures which are written for our learning and are profitable for doctrine for reproof and for correction and for instruction that the man of God might be throughly furnished unto every good work These Scriptures so excellent if you read them you shall find there is contained in them at least ten precepts or commands to look to the being and well-being of our souls for one command to look to our bodies and at least ten promises for a blessing upon that for one promise of a blessing upon us in point of a large enjoyment of outward things and yet such fools are most of us we take ten times the pains and care for the latter more then we do for the former Gods order is Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven and then in the second place those things shall be given unto you but our practise is to seek the things of this life first and the Kingdom of heaven at last when we have nothing else to do The Lord saith Lay up treasures in heaven first but we will lay up treasures on earth first Oh how contrary is our practise to the Commands of our Creator It would be endless for a man to instance in what is written in Scripture to this thing therefore I shall instance in one Scripture for all and that is in Mat. 6. in which Chapter from the ninth verse to the 34. our blessed Saviour draws at least ten Arguments against Covetousness 1. Saith he Lay not up treasures on earth for the moth and rust will corrupt it and thieves will steal Matth. 6. 19 20. 2. Saith he If your treasure be in the world your hearts will be in the world ver 21. 3. Christ tells us we cannot obey him and the world too No man can serve two masters God and Mammon ver 24. 4. He bids us Take no care what ye shall eat and drink or for rayment what ye shall put on ver 25. And that for these Reasons The fowls of the ayr do not sowe nor reap nor gather into barns Are you not better then they saith our Saviour ver 26. 5. He demands of us why we do take such thought for rayment Consider saith he the Lillies of the field how they grow they toyl not neither do they spin and yet Solomon in all his royaltie was not arayed like one of these verses 28 29. 6. He demands this question of us Which of you by taking thought can adde one cubit to his stature ver 27. 7. Wherefore if God so cloath the grass of the field shall he not much more cloath you O ye of little faith ver 30. 8. Therefore saith the Lord Christ if this be true as most true it is Take no thought at all what ye shall eat or drink or wherewithall ye shall be cloathed for after all these things do the Gentiles seek ver 31 32. 9. If for all this ye will be seeking these things Be sure you seek first the kingdom of heaven and the righteousness thereof and then ye need not seek so earnestly for these they shall be added unto you ver 33. 10. Take therefore no thought for the morrow nor pray for no more then daily bread for the next day shall take thought for it self sufficient to the day is the evil thereof ver 34. Then let our conversation be without covetousness for he hath said He will never fail us nor forsake us Heb. 13 5. Some of our humane Scholars say that in the original of this Text the words I will never leave thee is mentioned five times but I have searched the Scripture and I finde it written in the Scriptures above five times five I will never leave thee nor forsake thee The candle that gave me light to read it was lighted in Heaven and the key that opened the book for it was sealed was the Spirit of God the eyes by which I saw it was the eyes of my understanding being enlightened according to the that Eph. 1. 18. Also minde those words of 〈…〉 Luk. 12. 15. And he said unto them 〈…〉 heed and beware of covetousness 〈…〉 mans life consisteth not in the abund 〈…〉 things which he possesseth nor in 〈…〉 for then Pharaoh had been ble 〈…〉 in wit for then Achitophel h 〈…〉 blessed nor in wealth for th 〈…〉 had been blessed but true blesse 〈…〉 from above The blessing of the Lord 〈◊〉 ●●keth rich and bringeth no sorrow with ●● Prov. 10. 22. Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom neither let the mighty man glory in his might let not the rich man glory in his riches but let him that

him all the men and women in the world could not quench thy love to him thy love would be as strong as death many waters could not quench it and when once thou comest to love him purely for himself because he loved thee first then thou wilt cease loving the world knowing that if any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him and so while Martha is troubled about many things thou wilt with Mary choose the better part and as once he was satisfied and contented with the world without God so now he endeavors to be contented with God without the world The world was once thy portion now the Lord is thy portion Psal 16. 5. and Psal 119. 57. Lam. 3. 24. The loss of the things of this world did once trouble thee now thou canst suffer the spoiling of thy goods joyfully Heb. 10. 34. The glory and excellency of all things under the Sun are not so precious as the light of his countenance if all the world smile upon me and my Father seem to frown or hide his face I shall be troubled but if all things frown on me and He but a little smile I shall rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory Let friends forsake me let enemies deride me let all worldly comforts leave me if thou hide not thy face O Father it is enough I shall say with Paul I have learned in whatsoever state I am in to be content therewith Phil. 4. 11. I was once earthly in spiritual things I am now Spiritual in earthly things saith the sanctified Soul I did once hate the Saints I do now love them And I know that I have passed from death to life because I love the brethren 1 Epist Joh. 3. 14. I did lately delight in the company of sinners now all my delight is in the Saints that excell in vertue and the more spiritual any Christian is the more entirely do I love him saith the enlightened soul I did lately envy that man that did outstrip me in getting goods I could heartily wish how that all the Saints would double and trebble their diligence in getting this heavenly treasure I did esteem my self better then others I endeavour now to esteem others better then my self according to that 2 Phil. 3. And so much for answer to the first Objection or Quaere Object 2. How far is it lawfull for a Christian to use the world because to be diligent in ones Calling is Gods Command and idleness is forbidden as sinfull Ans Under correction and with submission to better judgements I humbly conceive that we having made it our great business to improve our Talent or Talents in working out the manifesta●ion of our salvation and having given all diligence to make our Calling and Election sure in waiting for the appearances of the love of God the Father through his son Iesus Christ by the Holy Spirit in the use of all the Ordinances and appointments of Christ having I say in the first place made this the main of our business not so much that we might be saved by him but rather that hereby we might appear more capable to answer that great end for which he gave us a being namely that his name might be glorified by Jesus Christ in us In the next place we are look to our bodies and in order thereto to betake our selves to labour that so we might in a sense get our livings by the sweat of our brows this made Paul labour working with his hands night and day that he might eat his own bread and not be chargeable to others and so make his glorying void And the same Almighty that bids us hear read meditate and pray bids us also to be diligent in our Callings and provide for our selves and Families or else we come short of Infidels And again Let him that hath stolne steal no more but work with his hands that he may have for himself and something over for him that needeth This is so known a thing that no man unless those that have renounced their reason and made nonsence the mother of their Devotion will deny it wherefore it will be needless to write any more for the probation of it only a word or two how far it is lawful for a Christian to be diligent in it For I suppose that a Christian may honour or dishonour the Almighty in the lawfull use or sinfull abuse thereof as well in his particular Calling as in his general Calling First then follow thy particular Calling and be diligent therein purely in obedience to the Command of God that so if thou wert to have no profit by it yet thou wouldst follow it because he commands it 2. Be diligent therein that so thy self and Family may eat your own bread pray and work for daily bread 3. Be diligent in your particular Calling that so you may be helpfull to others 4. Be sure that in following this earthly Calling thou do it with an Heavenly minde in every part of it I had thoughts to have been large in every one these because there be few that have learned this Lesson but I have a perswasion even now darted in upon my spirit to write but a little more of each 1. Then let us follow our particular Calling and be diligent therein purely in obedience to the Almighty that so if we were but to have our labour for our pains yet we would labour because the Lord Commands us Exod. 20. 9. Six days shalt thou labour c. See again Deut. 5. 13. and 2 Thes 3. 11. 1 Thes 4. 11. And to work with our own hands as we commanded you 2. Be diligent in your Callings that so your selves and families may eat your own bread Though not in the first yet in the second place thou mayst have respect to the recompence of reward 2 Thes 3. 11 12. For we hear that there be some that walk among you disorderly working not at all ver 12. Now them that be such we command that with quietness they work and eat their own bread and if they will not work let them not eat 2 Thes 3. 10. c. I have often considered what should be the cause that many men and women in some sense are in a worse condition then the beasts of the earth or the fowls of the ayr for most times they have plenty of food and to spare and man which is Lord of these things is often in want so that many steal for want and I have at last found that their poverty doth arise from these or the like things 1. Either from Covetousness There is that withholdeth more then is meet and it tendeth to poverty Prov. 11. 24. 2. Or else from wastefulness or excess in eating or drinking Prov. 23. 21. 3. Or from the oppression of the rich Jam. 5. 4. 4. Or else from idleness and slothfulness in their Callings Prov. 20. 4. The sluggard will not sowe because of the cold therefore he

one of the greatest engagements to engage a Christian to walk in all well-pleasing to God to consider he is always in the presence of God 1. That he is present in all places at all times beholding all actions will appear by these Scriptures Prov. 15. 3. The eye of the Lord is in every place beholding the evil and the good Jer. 23 23 Am I a God at hand saith the Lord and not afar off Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him saith the Lord do not I fill heaven and earth 2 Chr. 16. 9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth c. Psal 139. 7. Whither shall I go from thy Spirit or whither shall I flee from thy presence If I ascend up unto Heaven thou art there if I make my bed in Hell behold thou art there v. 8. If I take the wings of the morning and flie to the uttermost parts of the earth even there shall thy hand lead me and thy right hand hold me If I say surely the darkness shall cover me even the night shall be light about me v. 11. Yea the darkness hideth not from thee but the light shineth as the day the darkness and the light are both alike to thee c Thus we see the Lords presence is every where and yet where is there a man or woman that doth believe it or see him The men and women yet in the state of darkness which is the greatest part these neither see it nor believe it And then for the Saints which are but few a little flock I dare say not one of ten of them have so set to their seals to this truth that the Lord God Almighty is present in all places at all times beholding all actions whatsoever Gen. 28. 16. And Jacob said Surely the Lord is in this place and I knew it not Job 9. 11. Lo he goeth by me and I see him not He passeth on also and I perceive him not And as he is by us and we do not see him so he speaketh often unto us and we do not hear him Sometimes he speaketh to us by a voice Isa 30. 21. sometimes he speaketh to us by the motions of the Spirit within us sometimes he speaketh to us by men in our own likeness Luk. 10. 16. Sometimes he speaks to us when we be asleep on our beds Iob 33. 14 15 16. God speaketh once yea twice yet man perceiveth it not In a dream in a vision of the night when deep sleep falleth upon man then he openeth their ears and sealeth their instructions Oh let us then see his face and hear his voice for sweet is his voice and his countenance is glorious c. 2. Let us consider that it is one of the greatest engagements to engage a Christian to walk in all well pleasing to God to consider he is always in the presence of God I have kept thy precepts saith David How so David why saith he All my wayes are before thee Psal 119. 168. Psal 16. 8. I have set the Lord alwayes before me and because he is at my right hand I shall not fall Psal 26. 3. Thy loving kindness is before mine eyes so I have walked in thy truth Now these men that do not behold the presence of the Lord still before them are ready upon all occasions to rebell against him Psal 86. 14. The proud men the malitious violent men are risen against me for they do not set the Lord before them As of God in the sight of God speak we in Christ 2 Cor. 2. 17. As if he had said When we come to do any thing we do it so as knowing the all-seeing eye of God is taking notice not only of the action that we do but also of the principle from which we act he endeavours in all his actions to have the same ends in all he doth as God hath commanded him to have When a soul apprehends it self to be in the presence of his Maker it labours to compose it self as beseeming the presence before whom it is So it endeavours to make the will of God his rule and the glory of God his greatest design and his word and Spirit his guide It comes to God for direction saying O Lord lead me in thy way It expects from God protection And do thou protect me in this way of thine And so it depends upon God for assistance in what it doth and for a blessing upon all it doth Exod. 33. 14 15. The Lord said unto Moses My presence shall go with thee and I will give thee rest Moses was so taken with that word that he breaks forth v. 5. If thy presence go not with us carry us not from hence In a word the Lord even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is always present and the holy Ghost is always present I fill heaven and earth with my presence saith the Father Jer. 23. 24. So I am with you to the end of the world saith the Son But the manifestation of this is by the Spirit and there are but very few that have this Spirit and so no wonder that men are so ignorant of Gods presence the Spirit would have discovered it but men what lieth in them do either quench it or resist it My friends we live in an Age wherein men are talking much of perfection behold here is the way to attain it to put thy self always in the presence of God and let all thy walks be before him Gen. 17. 1. I am God Alsufficient or the Almighty God walk before me and be thou perfect If we walk not in the presence of God then we walk in darkness and do the works of darkness Now God is light and in him there is no darkness at all those then that set the Lord always before them are in the light and so do walk in the light as children of the light 2. The second thing to be considered that so we might be taken off the world and make Religion our business is That we have but a few days to live in this world and they flie away faster and swifter then the weavers Shuttle Job 7. 6. Wherefore if we do think or judge that there be any thing for us to do either for God or our selves do it presently work whiles it is day for the night cometh in which no man can work Joh 9. 4. If thou wilt hear his voice let it be as in Heb. 3. 13. 15 To day c. Thou knowest not whether thou shalt have another day for none of us do know what a day may bring forth but because I have written so long of this subject in the first part of this Book called The Weavers Shuttle displayed or the swiftness thereof unfolded I shall in this place only cite a few Scriptures that speak of our frailty and so pass this point over Job 7. 6. Isa 38. 12. and Isa 64. 6. Isa