the Promise which is both infinite and incomprehensible 14. PARAGRAPH THus I have in some measure made it evident how advantageous the day of dissolution is to the Children of God and therefore cannot but wonder how any upon solid grounds can desire a continuance in this valley of tears especially if they consider also the many miseries and inconveniencies that aâ— incident both to soul and body iâ— this life and the irreconcileable enmity that is betwixt them in theâ— Conjunction As the Apostle Paul of serves in his Epistle to the Galation * Gal. 5.17 The flesh lusts against the spirit and 〈◊〉 spirit against the flesh and these 〈◊〉 contrary one to the other so that 〈◊〉 cannot do the things we would such and so many continued jarrâ—â— are betwixt them that they are evâ—â— prone to exhibit Articles of impeachment against each other The soul it complaines of that Original guilt and corruption which was translated upon humane nature through Adams transgression wherewith it was not tainted nor defiled as it came only from the Immaculate hands of its pure Creator And then again the soul saies had it been single without this earthly Partner it had never had that propension to sin nor that inclination to rebellious actings against the Majesty of Heaven nor that aversnes and indisposition to good Nor had its understanding as to those spiritual things which pertain to God been so eclipsed and benighted at the noon-day of such Glorious Dispensations Nor had it been lyable to such distracting cares and such discomposing passions which bring forth stormes and terrible Tempests that dayly threaten its ruine and destruction These such like complaints hath the soul against the body the spirit against the flesh There is amongst many more another particular which we have just cause to resent with much reluctancy This burden of flesh this house of clay retards our glory and for a time secludes us from our Celestiall Mansion * 2 Co. 5.1 6. For we know saies that Great Apostle that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of GOD an house not made with hands eternall in the Heavens And a little after that saies While we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord from that Lord which inhabites that Celestiall house before mentioned to all eternity O! Of what excellent use it would be if we seriously considered that word ETERNITY It is of that extent that no men nor Angels are able to expresse being so farre beyond the reach of all conception For if all men in the world were exact Arithmeticeans and were imploied all their lives to adde number to number and multiply years the product of all their labours and the total summe of all their Accounts in respect of time would not carry the least proportion to ETERNITY Or if the mighty masse of whole earth were contracted into one heap all that translated into such sand as lies by the sea-shore one single small Bird would remove it all grain by grain before ETERNITY lookes towards an end Having already taken notice of those disadvantages that unavoidably attend us during the time that our souls and bodies are conjoined that is our pilgrimage in this world We have so little cause to keep our desires at a distance from our dissolution especially if we have any comfortable assurance of an interest in heaven that on the contrary we may justly rejoice when that day approaches and the houre drawes nigh wherein we shall be happily freed not onely from the guilt but also which to a good soul is fingular comfort the temptations and occasions of sinne Then shall that interposing veile be either made transparent or drawn quite from our eyes that we may with clearnesse and perspicuity discern the glorious sunshine of God's favour and passe under the tender appellation of dear Children and * Rom. 8.17 if children then heires heires of God and joint-heirs with Christ being freed from the spirit of bondage again to fear and filled with the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba Father 15. PARAGRAPH ANd that we may be capable of such a Celestiall Estate It concernes us first to be truly humble to harbour a mean esteem of our selves and to set a rich value upon every mercy we receive and let the leat mercy which is more then we deserve be an engagement upon our soules to walke in a more constant course of Holynesse to the Glory oâ— HIM that is the Author of all ouâ— good That spirit is far from Christian that stands upon termes with his maker that dare look upon the least blessing with a disdainful aspect or upon the greatest crosse with indignation It is an humble soul and a meek spirit that are highly acceptable to God and where these dwell Grace ever attends them and that in a full measure He that hath a sense of his own unworthynesse and considers sinne as it offends the mercifull God of Heaven lookes upon every exemption from evil as a mighty mercy and every chastisement for sinne as a blessing And if precept will not engage us to be humble we have the most powerful and prevailing example that ever was exposed to imitation and that 's our Saviour Christ with what abundance of humility HE endured all HIS suffering Holy Writ makes plentiful mention Who then would not be willing to tread in his Saviours steps as knowing that it is the surest way to glory He that humbles himself shall undoubtedly be exalted as in the General Epistle of St. James * Jam. 4.10 Humble your selves in the sight of the Lord and HE shall lift you up And again God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble And that which will further conduce to our happinesse is a state of self-resignation He that in the midst of all adverse conditions can cast himselfe into the hands of his God shall not faile to find support and comfort HE best knowes how to dispose of us Natural men in their exigences are prone to make application and have recourse to those which have greater Authority and power then themselves though they have no assurance of relief from them but certainly they have no sense of their own happinesse that will not trust themselves with the Lord who does not only allow but sollicit their relyance on him Witnesse that Text in the Epistle to the Philippians * Phi. 4.6 Be careful saies the spirit of God for nothing but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God There is no affliction can possibly seize on us whereof our heavenly Father takes not strict notice and weighs every dramme thereof in the scale of his Divine Providence which I have before more particularly insisted on which consideration alone is sufficient to preserve our spirits from sinking He that can steadfastly believe needs not fear for he shall have deliverance
Almighâ—â— are they should have a sanctify influence upon our hearts An hâ—â—ble and serious observation of eveâ— step of Gods providence will muâ—â— improve our spiritual stock and eâ—able us to bear any condition wiâ—â— comfort Although our sufferiâ—â— be of an high nature and neverâ—â— much aggravated by circumstanceâ—â— though our neerest Relations shouâ—â— hold us in contempt our familâ—â— Friends should despise us and insteâ—â— of lending us relief as much as in them lies adde to the measure of our afflictions and though all outward meanes which we use for our own recovery deny us help and utterly faile our expectation yet the consideration that God hath an hand in all this and that by his wise Providence he can reduce it to our good and make us happy in the midst of our unhappinesse will abundantly quiet our souls and engage us to look above all second causes Thus we see what a soveraigne remedy this is against all disasters that may encounter us in this distracted world 9. PARAGRAPH THere is no estate whatsoever from whence we may not extract some advantage Poverty is the least desirable of any and yet from this if it be not in the utmost extremity much benefit may be reaped The poor man that enjoies but little of the world is first freed from those terrible heart-breaking and soule-distracting fears that frequently attend those of the richer sort whâ— many times suffer a deprivation oâ— their wits out of an apprehension they have of parting with their substance and so cast themselves into a deep degree of misery when thâ— poor man rests quietly and sleepâ— securely and seldome or never meeâ— with any such terrours by day 〈◊〉 affrightments by night And theâ— again he 's free from those solicitoâ— and turmoiling cares that inseparablâ— wait on full estates He that hath riches upon the be termes that this life can allow 〈◊〉 subject to many troubles and careâ—â—â— sollicitations about the due ordeâ—ing and right managing of that stoâ—â— which the Almighties bounty haâ—â— furnished him withall He consideâ— that a great weight lies upon hiâ—â— and that an exact account of his 〈◊〉 haviour will one day be called foâ—â— But the troubles which follow wicked worldly men are insufferably more grievous those are of a more perplexing and destroying nature racking their joints and harazing every part when the poor mans care is only to purchase so much with his paines and industry as may keep him honest and in some small measure maintain himself and his charge and if at any time a better morsel be afforded to sweeten his courser fare he sits down exceedingly rejoiced and sends up as many or more hearty thanks to God the great Giver of all as he that hath fed deliciously and feasted on the choisest dishes all his daies There is not the meanest mercy that an honest poor man meetes with but he highly values and raises it to a rich esteem when on the other hand great mercies are very little or none at all regarded by those that are worldly-minded and fatted up with the fulnesse of the earth so strangely do the hearts and mindes of men become corrupted But to trace poverty a little farther I have sometimes taken occasion to converse with people of very poor and narrow fortunes as to thâ— world such as indeed have lookeâ— very neer an extremity And I cannot but admire to think how abundantly well satisfyed they have been with their condition and have expresseâ— more of spiritual worth then thousands that have moved in a far higher Orbe in respect of temporals Certainly this can be esteemed 〈◊〉 lesse then a very great benefit wheâ— men so low in the eyes of the worlâ— live so high in the eies of their Maker and it must be imputed to 〈◊〉 extraordinary goodnesse of God 〈◊〉 that he furnisheth them with suâ—â— proportionable support to keâ—â— their spirits from fainting and theâ—â— soules from sinking in such outwaâ—â— adverse conditions When greâ—â— men hoist their top-sail and launâ—â— forth into the main having the spâ—cious clew which they spread eâ—posed to the violence of wind aâ—â— weather the poor man sailes nâ—â— the shore and when an angry stoâ—â— threatens puts into the next creek and in a calme security wears out the extreamity of the Tempest whilest he observes prouder vessels miserably tossed and many times fatally wracked Nor is it a small benefit that the poor man is freed from the peril of hateful contrivances and spiteful machinations the Nimrods of the world think him too inconsiderable to take notice of no man will sharpen his axe to cut down such a shrub It is the lofty Cedars and large Timber of the world that have most cause to fear hewing He fears not the danger of a fall that lies flat to the ground Besides it cannot but have a very close reflection upon any spirit though but morally ingenious to trample upon those whom the Almighty hath already laid so lowe Sure it is an high degree of aggravation for any one to harbour a thought of adding misery to those that are in any measure miserable and whoever becomes guilty of this will one day be sadly sensible of it Christian Prudence and compassion teaches this Lesson that whâ—â—ever we see a Child of God under aâ—fliction we should be earnest by 〈◊〉 possible meanes to administer relieâ—â— and hold forth succour by this 〈◊〉 do not onely help the distresseâ— which is great satisfaction and 〈◊〉 imitate our Saviour but also gainâ—â— further interest in the Father of mercies Another singular benefit that ariseâ— to those of a low and mean condition is this they have lesse interruption and more freedome in theiâ— recourse to heaven then those whicâ— are clogg'd with the incumbring clâ—â— and mammon of the world The poâ—â— man his affections being not glueâ— to the things below in his secreâ— addresses soares heaven-ward anâ— there findes such inestimable richeâ— as worldly men are not worthy of and though for the present he enjoy but in part yet he is satisfyed of a fuller fruition hereafter when all creaed powers are dissolved and earthly advantages fled away And then again those persons that are accounted so despicable here cannot but receive a great support from those gracious promises which are recorded in Holy Writ and do more imediately respect them then others The poor and needy are pronounced blessed and have assurance given that the Lord will deliver them in time of trouble And though they should be denyed the very crummes that fall from the rich mans table yet hereafter to be happyed with such a receptacle as Abraham's Bosome must needs be accounted a full compensation for all their sufferings 10. PARAGRAPH IN the next place the better to beget a satisfaction I would have all men seriously consider what a small pittance will suffice nature and certainly whatsoever exceeds that is meerly matter of opinion The Apostle Paul gives out this charge that * 1 Tim. 6.9 having food
Grievances and perplexities that are apt to distract us in our lives and also taken notice how fraile and fading all sublunary things are And likewise having endeavoured to raise some matter for satisfaction in our deepest exigences from the consideration of those nobler things that are of a more durable and heavenly concernment I shall next survey that condition which of all other seemes most terrible and is therefore termed the KING of Fear and that is Death it self whose very name is attended with trembling in respect of which all the afflictive incidences of mans life carry little or no proportion And so it is indeed more formidable then I can expresse to those that have not some assurance of a better life that are not furnished with spiritual Armour for this last encounter But I shall make it appear it 's much otherwise to those that have an interest in CHRIST who consider the unavoidable necessity of it grounded upon that unalterable Eternal Decree of Heaven And that * Heb. 9.27 all men are appointed once to dy They are so farre from desiring an exemption from that condition that they are said in Scripture to wait and long for it There are two especial daies for which the Children of GOD are said to wait The first is the day of death wherein they go to the LORD The second is the day of appearing wherein the LORD shall come to them They sojourne in the body more weary of it then David was of his dwelling in the Tents of KEDAR they waite with patient * Job 14.14 Job till the day of their change come and desire with the Apostle to be * Phil. 1.23 dissolved and be with CHRIST yea they pray for it so often as they mention that petition * Mat. 6.10 Lu. 11.3 Let thy Kingdome come They labour after death so far as it may be a meanes to abolish sin that CHRIST their KING may alone reign in and over them It is neverthelesse true that wicked and irreligious persons put the remembrance of death far from them yet for all that it comes upon them suddenly as * 2 Kings 23.24 Jehu furiously came upon Jehoram though they run to their Chariots that is their Refuges of vanity Death's dart surely overtakes them But the good Israelites of GOD desire to be ever prepared with their * Exod. 12.11 loines girded and their staves in their hands ready to take their journey from EGYPT to CANAAN whensoever the Majesty of the Most High GOD shall command them As fowles desirous to fly stretch forth their wings so do these extend their affections towards HEAVEN * Gen. 18.1 Abraham sate in the dore of his Tabernacle when the Angell appeared to him * 1 Kings 19.9 Elias came out to the mouth of his Cave when the LORD appeared to him so should we rejoice and be glad to come oâ—â— of the Cave and Tabernacle of thâ—â— wretched body that we may meâ—â— with the LORD of Glory This Messenger DEATH cures all our Maladies and rescues us from all our fears and dangers This is that Cherub that stands Centinell at the Gate of Paradise There 's no entrance but under his hand Thereâ— no passage to those glories above but through the Gates of Death here below But that which renders death yet more desirous to the Godly is the second day which they are said to wait for And that 's CHRISTS second coming The Apostle gives this as a Token of the rich Grace of GOD bestowed on the Gorinthians * 1 Cor. 1.7 that they waited for the appearance of CHRIST yea he gives it out as a mark of all those that shall be glorifyed when he saies * 2 Tim. 4.8 There is laid up for me a Crowne of Righteousnesse and not for me only but all those that love Christs second appearing And again * Heb. 9.28 CHRIST was offered to take away the sins of Many and unto them that look for HIM shall HE appear without sin unto salvation Amongst the Jewes as the day of * Lev. 25.10 Jubilee drew nigh so the joy of those that were in prison encreased for that it brought them an assurance of relief Much more cause have we to rejoice the neerer the day of our Eternall Jubilee approaches when all teares shall be wiped from our eyes and sorrow and mourning shall fly away for ever But to encounter a little further with this great Combatant first I say that Death which the righteous suffer is not total for it can never strike the whole man but onely the weakest part his body the more excellent part the soul is partaker of Eternal Life Nor secondly is it perpetual for our soules shall not abide under the Bonds of Death the spirit of Christ that dwells in us shall raise us up and cloath us with Immortality There is begun in the Children 〈◊〉 Light a life which no death is eveâ— able to exstinguish though it maâ— invade the vital natural powers 〈◊〉 the body and suppress them one after another and at last break in upon this lodging of clay and demolish it to the ground yet that man 〈◊〉 GOD which dwells in the Body shall escape with his life Though the Tabernacle is cast down which is the worst our enemy can do yeâ— he that dwelt in it is removed to better As the Bird escapes out oâ— the snare of the Fowler so the soul iâ— death flies away with joy to her Maker The dissolving of the body to the Children of GOD is but the unfolding of the net and breaking open the Prison wherein they have been detained that so they may be delivered from that Captivity Here 's comfort in abundance for all those whose consciences can give evidence of their well-led lives And for those also whose peace is made with GOD through CHRIST by meanes of those two powerful Mediatours steadfast faith and unfained repentance The Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Romanes gives us this assurance * Ro. 5.1 That being Justified by Faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ The efficacy of whose death effectually applyed to our souls will sufficiently season and sanctify death unto us For how can we possibly fear that enemy whom our Redeemer hath already conquered As in the battel betwixt our * Gen. 3. Saviour and Satan Satan's head was bruised and he did no more then tread on the heele of our Saviour so shall it be in the conflict of all his members By the power of the Lord Jesus we shall be more then Conquerours The * Ro. 16.20 God of our peace shall tread downe Satan under our feet There is a seed of immortal life in our soules which no power of the Enemy is ever able to overcome So soon as we lanch forth of this life we arrive at the blessed Haven of everlasting happynesse where there is a Glory for all those that are heires of
arrive at the approved Antidote and Soveraign Remedy for all our Evils and that 's devouâ—â— praier Nothing under Heaven will state us in a peacable quiet condition if this fail us without which all our possible endeavours and actings for relief are perfunctory vaiâ—â— and fruitlesse It must be the fervent and faithful supplications of ouâ— soules presented to the Majesty oâ— the Most High God through the precious merits of Jesus Christ together with the inoperation of that Hâ—ly Spirit * Ja. 1.17 from whom every good gift and every perfect giving proceedeth thaâ— can alone both settle our inwarâ— and outward peace and free us froâ— those disturbing perplexities and distractions wherewith the world is apt to encounter us Are we environed with temptations Praier repels their violent assaults Are we faint and feeble and compassed about with infirmities The * Ro. 8.26 spirit of God in prayer helpes our infirmities and makes request for us with sighs that cannot be expressed It is that spirit of Adoption that instructs us how to pray Prayer is like that * 2 Ki. 2. Fiery Chariot wherein Elijah was carryed from earth to heaven For by it we poor Mortals are transported to have conversation with God and to speak with him in a familiar manner and being in the body we are carryed out of the body This praying spirit presents our sighs enflames our affections and whispers words that we are not able to repeat Whoever speakes against us it becomes our Advocate and makes request for us is a meanes to infatuate the Counsels of all our adversaries and to remove every prejudice that is cast upon us All the imaginable malice off men and devils cannot cut off the Intelligence of a Christian with the Lord though he be separated from all humane society here below and lock'd up in some unaccessible cave yet can no man hinder his accesse to God and his addresser to Heaven If his tongue should be cut forth of his head yet his very sighs and groanes which trouble may encrease but cannot destroy will eccho forth his humble requests to the Almighty This is singular comfort to the Children of God that when they are cast into that extreamity that neither eye nor hand nor tongue can assist them in prayer they may consider Good King Ezekiah who was so much weak'ned with bodily diseases and infirmities that he could not expresse his mind nor pray distinctly to his heavenly Father yet his * Isa 38.14 mourning like a Dove and chaffering like a Swallow entred into the Lord's ear and brought him back a comfortable answer The least word of God in return of prayer hath power enough to make the blind see the lame walk the dumb to speak the deaf to hear and she that is sick of a Feaver to arise up and minister We cannot want consolation if we can get grace to pray For as our supplications ascend the multiplyed mercies of God descend light comes to resolve our doubts resolution to expel our fears comfort to mitigate our troubles joy to seclude our sorrowes meanes to supply our wants and strength to sustain our weaknesse If we converse with Scripture and Ecclesiastique story we shall find what wonderful things have been accomplished by this incomparable Engine [a] Gen. 20.17.18 Abraham's praier opened the barren wombs of Abimilech's house-hold and [b] Gen. 18. from 22. to 32. closed up the hands of the Angels who went with a purpose to destroy Sodome but could not bring down fire upon it till righteous Lot was removed thence The prayer of [c] Ex. 14.22 23. Mosos parted the Red Sea and was more forceable to overthrow the Army of [d] Ex. 17.11 Amaleck then all the weapons of Israel The prayer of [e] Josh 10.12 Joshua made the sun stand still in the Firmament [f] 1 Sa. 7.9 10 11. Samuell's prayer brought loud thunder and heavy haile-stones upon the Philistines [g] Ja. 5.15 16 17. Eliah's prayer closed the heavens for the space of three years and six moneths opened them again and this Example St. James applies to every Gooly man That we should not think they did these things by the priviledge of their persons rather then the efficacy of their prayers he shews that Eliah was a man subject to the same infirmities whereunto we are subject and that the prayer of any Godly man availes much yea if it be fervent no lesse then his And though we work not by prayer such external miracles as he did yet therby we drawe downe inward grace bringing light to the blind life to the dead and workes an admirable change by repentance It is storyed of Aurelius Antonius that in his expedition against the Germans he had in his Army a Legion of Christians who by their earnest prayer unto God obtained rain for the refreshment of his Army when it was like to perish by thirst and likewise brought down fearful thunderings upon their enemies Insomuch that ever after he called that Legion the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fulminatrix Thundering Band. Thus in all ages prayer hath bin so powerful and efficacious that it hath somtimes altered the very course of nature without and at all times wrought a change of corrupt nature within Nor can it be otherwise if we consider the most effectual intercession of our great * He. 9.11 12. High-Priest Jesus Christ who presents our prayers our praises duties services and all our spiritual performances unto God the Father and procures acceptance of him At the very instant of our praying he perfumes the Mercy-Seat having before sprinkled it with His bloud and mingles our duties with His Intercessions and together carries them upon the Golden Censer into the Holy of Holiest and there presents them to his heavenly Father unto whose sacred presence He takes our persons though not perceived by us as knowing that if they be not accepted our prayers will not for though by the Covenant of workes God did first accept the work and then the person yet in the Covenant of Grace he first accepts our persons in His Son and then our performances And that which is infinite comfort to every Christian because that in our best estate in our most refined Condition here below we are subject to many failings and imperfections in our holyest duties Therefore does our Eternal High-Priest diligently observe what evils or infirmities attend our prayers that may any waies interrupt their accesse to heaven and those he draws out and takes quite away before He present our petitions to His Father Here is mercy in such eminent manner as cannot be sufficiently expressed And this is clearly held forth by that in * Ex. 28 Mal. 3. Exodus where the High-Priest after Moses law who was a Type of Jesus Christ took away the iniquities of the Holy things of God's people To proceed yet further there is not any thing that can be expressed that is so highly
to blesse God in this Condition And though the malice of our enemies pursue us with terrible persecutionsâ— (i) Phi. i. 29. To you it is given saith Paul not 〈◊〉 to believe but to suffer whatsoever 〈◊〉 given of God deserves our thankâ—â—â— It is a great priviledge to be kept purâ— and the people of God are never 〈◊〉 pure then under persecution That truth to which we bear testimony anâ— for which we suffer encreaseth anâ— spreads it self the more through ouâ— sufferings Therefore let 's be advised by the Apostle Peter (k) 1 Pet. 4.16 That if 〈◊〉 man suffer as a Christian let him not 〈◊〉 ashamed but let him glorify God in thâ—â— behalf And although the sun-shiâ—â— of Gods beautiful aspect seem so eclipsed that our spiritual condition is oveâ— clouded yet it may be day when thâ— beames of the Sun do not appear anâ— though it be dark without there mâ—â— be light within And this for oâ—â— future comfort is certain that thougâ—â— God may for a moment withdraâ— His comforting presence from 〈◊〉 children yet never his supporting presence They still find that they haâ—â— that interest in him and that depeâ—â—ance on him that they would noâ— relinquish for all the world and though they seem lowe even lost and forsaken for all this a gracious heart will not renounce the waies of his Saviour so that here 's plentiful matter for our praise and thanksgiving And then further it is an infinite mercy and well worth our thanks that in all our temptations though never so terrible and impetuous we have a secure refuge to fly to where we shall undoubtedly be relieved (l) He. 2.18 He was in all things tempted saith the Author to the Hebrewes that he might succour those that are tempted (m) Joh 16.33 Christ bids be of comfort for he hath overcome the world he hath subdued Satan and bound him up in chains that he cannot stir a foot without permission from above as is evident by that expression in St. Luke's Gospel (n) Lu. 23. Simon Simon saith our Saviour Satan hath desired thee that he may winnowe thee as wheat but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not If he had had power of his own he would never have asked leave Jesus Christ praies for us at the very instant of our temptation and is that brasen serpent that cures us when we are stung And though he suffer us sometimes to be tempted it is that we may not be (o) 2 Co. 12.7 exalted above measure to keep us humble and preserve us from being split upon spiritual Pride a rock that would soon dash us in pieces Temptation as one well observed is the souls rape it may offer violence and deflour our souls but if we do not yield to it it can never deprive us of our innocency And how eminent a mercy it is to be kept chaste unto Christ let every Christian judge If then there be such just cause to praise God in these extremities Certainly we shall meet with much more in the daily blessings and favours that are dispensed to us by the hands of our bountiful Father But above all that can be thought on was that eternal mer-of God in giving his dearly beloved Son to suffer death for our transgressions and that in the shamefullest and severest manner that ever story made mention of for no other end but that we which were dead in trespasses and sins might be made alive that we which were bondslaves to Satan might be released from that hellish thraldome that we which were vagabonds and aliens might be made heirs of that incorruptible and Celestial inheritance that never was nor ever will be capable of diminution or decay All our daies are too few to spend in praise for such a glorious endearment as this is and yet we have many more of a very transcendent nature to draw forth our hearts in thankfulnesse As that precious Gospel and written word of God that together with the Holy Spirit conveys the glad tidings of salvation to our souls that serves as a light to our feet and a lanthorn to our pathes that searches the dark corners of our hearts and makes discovery of our grosse corruptions and so slaies them that they may not rise up in rebellion against us to terrify us at that great and generall day of Judgment whereto there will be an universal Summons nor any ways be able to contribute to our condemnation It is likewise a great mercy and worth our thanks that our eyes behold our Teachers that the dores of Gods Tabernacle are not shut 〈◊〉 That we have faithful Pastors whole endeavours are daily imployed to gather us into that sheepfold wherof Jesus Christ is shepherd and to break that breâ—â— of life wrapt up in the word ordinanceâ— and dispence it to our souls for our spiritual nourishment whereby we are further enabled to grow in Grace and holynesse from one degree to another till by that Celestial repast we attain in an higher improvement and perfection In may also call for our thankful acknowledgements that we are preserved from peril and bodily danger to which we are lyable every moment Should we be deaâ—â— with according to our deserts in respeâ—â— of our sins every morsel we eat might be mixt with poison every shower that fallâ— from heaven instead of rain might he sulphur and every flash of lightning fire to reduce us to ashes The very earth wheron 〈◊〉 tread might open her bowels and swalloâ— us quick for our rebellions as it did (p) Numb 1631. Core Dathan and Abiram If we cast our eyes into Holy Writ and observe what fearful judgements God hath inflicted on sinners and made them sudden exampleâ— of his justice as (q) Gen. 19.26 Lots wife for her looking back was turned into a pillar of salt (r) Gen. 19.24 Sodome for her pride was destroyed with fire and brimstone (s) 1 Kings 13.4 Jeroboam for his burning incense had his hand withered (t) 1 Sam. 4.18 Ely for suffering his children to abuse the Priests office had his neck broke The (u) 2 Kin. 2.23 24. children for mocking Elisha were devoured with bears (w) 2 Ki. 9. Jesabel for oppressing Naboth was eaten with dogs (x) Lev. 10.1 2. Nadab and Abibu for using prophane fire upon the Altar were consum'd with fire (y) 1 Sam. 15.28 Saul for disobeying Samuel lost his Kingdome (z) Lu. 1.20 Zachary for his unbelief was strucken with dumbnesse (a) Act. 13.11 Elymas for hindering the course of the Gospel with blindnesse (b) 2 Ki. 5.27 Gehazi for taking bribes with leprosy (c) Dan. 5.30 Balshazzar for prophaning the holy vessels and (d) Act. 5.10 Ananias and Saphira for telling a ly were struk with death Yea and (e) Deu. 32.48 49 50 51. Moses for trespassing at the waters of Meriba was shut out of the Land of Canaan And that we which are