readie to moue If it be well followed in a combate with a Beare â—â—en a terrible and vgly temptation it will after leade vs on to the conquest of a Lyon euen of some raigning wickednesse and at last will bring vs to triumph ouer a Gyant euen the prince of wickednesse And as it will leade vs to the increase of the ruine of vice so it will also leade vs to the increase of vertue finally to increase the reward of vertue in eternall felicitie For as it is the naturall and kindly desire of the Spirit to beare fruit so is it likewise his desire to beare more fruit and by obtayning this desire it goes on to a farther desire and so to a farther obtayning if our following bee proportionable to his leading When the Spirit moueth vs to a good worke by fulfilling it wee haue a double profit One is the reward of that worke in glorie the other is the increase of the Spirit by working who being increased will increase more workes vnto more glorie On the other side by neglecting disobaying the Spirit when it moueth wee haue a double losse the first a losse of the good worke and the reward pertayning to it a second is an impouerishing discouragement and weakning of the Spirit against another like occasion for it must needes moue weaker the next time to that work to which before it hath moued in vaine Now farre be it from vs to stop and shorten our owne perfection euen the perfection of holinesse and happinesse which two are inseparable one the measure of the other Let it be farre from vs to abate our felicitie by lesning our obedience yea farre be it from vs to grieue stop that Spirit which demandeth of vs but an excellent and necessarie dutie which is holinesse and that with a condition annexed of the most excellent thing which is happinesse Surely wee discomfort our Comforter we goe into a spirituall consumption we dead our life wee grudge our selues the increase of felicitie when wee resist or neglect the sacred instincts blessed influences of this soueraigne Spirit Whereas on the other side by a readie obedience we inflame the Spirit wee adde fuell to this heauenly fire wee giue that thing food nourishment which giueth food nourishment to our life Eternall For the motion of the Spirit tends to this that we would doe good to our selues by doing good to it and that by sowing vnto it in a speedie and large obedience wee may reape a more full and large haruest of glorie Wherefore let vs be carefull to accept euery proffer of the Spirit as that wherein is an vnited gift of grace and glorie If the Spirit would exercise it selfe in the practice of some vertue let our members as readie seruants runne to the execution thereof If the Spirit stirre vs vp to a strong resolution to make a straighter couenant with our God to draw neerer vnto him by an increased seruice let vs make roome in our heart for the settlement of this pillar and let vs giue way vntill this naile bee driuen vp to the head If the Spirit lust for a vacation from the world and complaine that it is oppressed with an heap of earthly imployments let vs ease it of waight take from it that which surchargeth yea let vs giue it full and steady times of respiration and breathing that it may conuerse with his Fountayne and sucke new streames of refreshing from that abundant and euerslowing Spring If the Spirit desire to warre with the flesh and particularly with some especiall infirmitie let vs come willingly to the fight and helpe the Lord in his battailes euen this Spirit of God against the enemies of God and our felicitie and if wee serue him in the fight we shall triumph with him for the victorie Finally if the Spirit long to cherish it self with the food of the Word or the precious and last Banquet of our dying Redeemer let vs bee carefull to feed the hunger thereof with the food of God in due season So shall wee increase the life of our life and by the growth of the Spirit wee shall grow more gracious here in the sight of our Creator and wee shall grow more glorious hereafter by the increased sight of the same Creator CHAP. V. Another furtherance of the Spirit is watchfulnesse AS Obedience doth cheere and as it were make ioyfull the Spirit within vs so Obedience it selfe is supported by Watchfulnes Therfore though in a second remoued degree is Watchfulnesse a helpe to the Spirit so an Increaser of our felicitie For a Christian coÌ„sisting of a double nature one spirituall and another carnall and two-fold motions proceeding from this two-fold nature and each aduerse yea hurtfull to the other herein must Watchfulnesse helpe vs that the motions of the nature of corruption and miserie bee quickly apprehended and suppressed and that the motions of the Nature of blessednes and grace bee soone espied and furthered Else on the one side the egge of Concupiscence being grown to a Cockatrice before it be seene may kill and on the otherside the excellent desires and pregnancies of the Spirit which would haue brought forth the fruit of glorie may come to abortion by a barren miserable and inglorious neglect Beyond these also hath Watchfulnesse a profitable imployment for it ought to stand as vpon the top of a Towre to espie a farre off as well as neere at hand euen to descry the remote occasions of such motions and to sound the Bel to the soule that shee shut out the Messengers of the enemies of her peace and louingly admit the friends of her happinesse We are safest from euill when euill is kept a good distance from vs and euill is kept at a good distance when wee espie the occasions of euill a farre off and auoid them Many times the occasion is admitted with a hope of not admitting the euill but coÌ„monly the euill throngs in close after the occasion and approching neere vnto vs it ouer-comes vs at handie blowes whom it could not at the Pikes point It is farre easier to kill sinne in the occasion then in it self and to grant the occasion and to denie the sinne is almost as bad Logike in practice as to grant the former Propositions and to denie the Conclusion is in reasoning Therefore let vs keepe the eye of our soule broad-waking that we lye not like waste ground vn-hedged and vn-kept and so become the prey and food of euery wandring Beast euen of euery beastly affection Let vs also stand watching in the dore of our Tent with the Father of the faithfull that when Angels descend vnto vs euen the graces of God through Iesus Christ our Mediator we may bee readie to entertayne them feeding them with the slain concupiscences of our brutish flesh and the kisses of our hearts which are more comfortable then wine To adde intention and earnestnesse to our watchfulnesse against sinne three
confessed-incurable and desperate miserie And to this end may we reasonably beleeue that the fulnesse of time appointed for the cōming of our Sauiour in the flesh was so long in fulfilling and that during the space between the Promise and exhibiting of a Sauior there was so spare and rare and secret notices giuen of him euen that there might be a manifest and confessed neede of him before hee should be generally manifestly offered and shewed The whole World left to the state of nature must bee odiously and vnsufferably corrupted the Nation of the lewes taken out as the top of mankind and a chief part to conuince the whole lifted vp propped and supported by a cleere reueiled Law by Statutes Ordinances and Ceremonies and these againe inforced by Prophets Miracles and Signes I say this Nation must bee laden with iniquitie and wholly defiled from the crowne of the head to the sole of the foot and so both among Iewes and Gentiles there must be none that worketh righteousnesse no not one and then is the fulnesse and fitnesse of time for the comming and publishing of a Sauiour Being thus humbled in our selues and made both needy and thirstie of saluation then will God open our eyes as he did the eyes of despairing AGAR that wee shall see a spring of waters of eternall Life Christ Iesus with the beames of his sauing health will shine in vpon our vnderstādings and shew them his beautie and vpon our wils through our vnderstandings to comfort rauish and draw them and this will bee doe iust at that time when we feelingly complaine and find that we are in the state of darkenesse and in the shaddow of death And now Christ Iesus entring into our souls with free mercy and grace to heale and refresh them our soules in faith and feruency claspe the will and affections about him and lay fast hold on the Lord of glorie and blessednes And then the soule kisseth him with the kisses of her mouth and as she needeth him most before she found him so she loueth him best after shee hath found him This is the path of Faith walke therein and liue for euer CHAP. III. That wee should striue to increase our happinesse and by what meanes BEing knit vnto hap pinesse by the knot of a most high and blessed Vnion wrought by that Faith in Christ which surrenders vs vp to the sanctification of the Spirit what remaynes but that we striue to preserue and increase our selues therein It is no lesse wisdome to keep then to get yea it is more folly negligently to lose a thing gotten the labour by which it was gotten then hauing taken no paines for it nor hauing tasted the sweetnesse of it to haue beene altogether without it And though the renewing Spirit bee strong in apprehension and where it once takes roote it will not wholly quit the ground yea we must know that the retchlesnesse hard heartednesse of Man by shutting vp the heart against the dew of heauen and by cherishing the weedes of naturall corruption may so much grieue afflict him that the seede of grace and glorie sowne in vs may be much withered and pined For the Spirit which is within vs as it holdeth vs so it lookes to bee held by vs as it quickens vs so it lookes to be quickned and inflamed by vs And on the other side it grieues it pines it drieth it dyeth to our feeling though not in it selfe when it wanteth comforting incouraging cherishing And the Spirit being thus quenched within vs the spirituall trading for happinesse decayeth so our losse of heauenly ioyes doth daily increase yea the comforts of God in our way to happinesse doe still abate and we are often left in a temporal hell euen in horror of mind vexation of conscience which is the night of the soule Wisd. 17.14 Farre be it therefore from vs to kill that which giueth vs life to quench that which is the Light of our darknesse to pull backe our hand from this hand of God which offers to leade vs to eternall Life But let it be the most earnest indeuor of our hearts and soules to comfort and cherish this heauenly Seede wherein lyes wrapt our euerlasting glorie and happinesse Let vs be merciful to our selues by being kinde to it for thou canst not sow to this Spirit but thou must sow also to thy owne glorie for the Spirit is a most sure Rewarder of all the seruice done vnto it And to whom it hath beene an Author of sowing in labour to them it will also bee a Giuer of a most blessed haruest in glorie yea according to the measure of sowing shall be the measure of reaping Wherefore let vs not bee content onely to get this glorifying Spirit nor hauing gotten it only to keep it but let vs in an vnsatiable couetousnesse euer bee increasing it euer be getting vpon it How can a Man be full inough of happines How canst thou stint thy seeking since there is no stine of an infinite felicitie and such is that which thou seekest Surely if thou euer didst taste thy Soueraigne Good thou canst not but ouer hunger and thirst after him thou canst not but cry out Euermore giue me this water of life Let thy worldly couetousnesse reach thee the manner of a spirituall couetousnesse That tells thee that goods are good and thou canst not haue too much of that which is good Now the Spirit tells thee that God is goodnesse it selfe and the summe of all things that are good Wherefore thou shouldest be still hungrie still thirstie after the liuing God neuer hauing inough of that happinesse whereof there is still some degree beyond that which thou hast Wherefore fastning one foote that thou slide not backe in the path of happinesse aduance the other so march on stedfastly to the Congregation of the first-borne to the spirits of iust and perfect Men to the Mediator of the new Alliance and Couenant and to the happy presence of the liuing God Thy path is in the Spirit walke in the Spirit and thou walkest toward God walke feruently in the Spirit let it in flame thee and bee inflamed by thee thou walkest swistly towards God and the more this fire of Grace is kindled in thee the more shall thy shining be when thou art a Starre in glorie For the same Spirit which is the seede of Sanctification is also the seede of Glorification the first it brings forth in this life the other in the next As certainly as it shewes the first so certainly will it bestow the latter and the latter in the degree of the former For according to the power of the quickning Spirit within vs shall be the power excellence of the Spirit raising vs and according to the power of the Spirits sanctifying is the power of the Spirits quickning Sanctifying and quickning being knit together and so prospering together in the prosperitie of one and the same Spirit Therefore to
For how can a Creator continue his bountie when hee sees his Creature doth onely make vse of him that he sorues his owne turne vpon him and makes himself the end of God and not God the end of himselfe Therefore euenholy HEZEKIAH while he is more carefull to shew the glorie of his Treasures to the Heathen Ambassadors then to giue glorie to God for his health by which he inioyed them the treasures must bee carried away to the same Babylon whose Ambassadors he had intertayned with the sight of them The heart of man being filled with blessings must not bee lifted vp within it selfe but it must bee lifted vp with praise and thankfulnesse to the Authour of those blessings Therefore hauing receiued some Talents of grace let vs returne vnto God some other Talents of glorie and then to vs by whom hee receiues aduantage shall more bee giuen but if otherwise that which wee haue shall be taken away God hath put al things in order to himselfe and vpon this order the God of order rayneth his blessings If then wee will bee vnder his blessings we must be vnder this order wee must looke towards him glorifying praising if wee will haue him looke towards vs blessing sanctifying Therefore in summe Let vs pray continually and feruently and in al things giue thanks which is the will of God in Christ Iesus towards vs. If wee conclude our Psalme 33. with Prayer Let thy mercy and grace bee multiplied vpon vs as we trust in thee let vs begin it with thankfulnesse Reioyce in the Lord O ye righteous for it becommeth vpright men to bee thankefull For if thus Psal. 66. we call to him with our mouth and also exalt him with our tongue God will heare vs and will consider our prayer wee shall againe praise God who doth not put backe our prayer nor his mercy from vs. CHAP. VII Of Meditation ANother speciall preseruatiue and restauratiue of the Spirit is Meditation Hereby the beames of the heauenly Spirit are contracted into a point vpon the soule as the beames of the Sunne by a Cristall whereby the light and heate of grace are increased and multiplied into a spirituall Fire The soule goeth in from the flesh into the Spirit and bathing and anoynting her selfe in that Oile of gladnes shee sharpneth her sight and quickneth her might becomes much abler to see into heauen to see into her selfe to see and iudge the things on earth Hereby she groweth in the knowledge acquaintance of her soueraign Good hereby she takes out Lessons of a comfortable departing out of this world of vanitie vnto her Citie of blessednes and hereby shee iudgeth best of her own fitnesse for that happy voyage And hauing iudged her selfe in Meditation by the same she studies to increase that which is right in her through the remembrance of profitable motiues and documents heard read or conceiued and shee indeuoureth to cast away all that presseth downe and whatsoeuer sinne hinders by cleauing on too fast If we would speak of the subiect of Meditation wee might name all that is for al things haue in them some profitable doctrine and are Teachers of the glorie of their Creator But if we aske for the chiefest Matter and that which is most aduantageable to the Citizens of the New Ierusalem which is our present businesse Then let the soule flye vp from this place of miserie and take vp her rest in her only Rest. Let her thoughts bee on her happinesse and the way vnto it and let that be her chief meditation which is her chiefe concernment And that shee may draw neerer vnto happinesse by the wings of an inflamed affection Let her consider the beautie of the highest Essence let her thinke vpon a glorie creating and vncreated let her thinke on the Light of that Light which darkneth and shaddoweth the Sunne when shee hath thus thought let her know the glorie happinesse which shee shall inioy is more beyond her highest imagination then imagination can be beyond any thing which is seene Let vs also consider what God hath beene and is to vs as well as what hee is in himselfe and to this end let vs cast our inward eye on the great loue of him who is both our Fountaine and Felicitie our Beginning and End Let vs consider how great things this infinite loue hath done for vs from how great a miserie hee hath translated vs to make vs partakers and intoyers of himselfe and by the greatnesse of the effects let vs ghesse at the infinitenesse of the Cause There is nothing greater then Himselfe and this greatest Himselfe hath he giuen to Man by a wonderfull and mysterious Incarnation Hee hath also giuen the Bloud and Life of this incarnate Deitie to ransome vs the slaues bondmen of guilt and punishment from eternal death He hath giuen vs also his most pure sacred Spirit to purge the most lothsom corruption of our lustfull generation He hath giuen vs infinite blessings of this life and all these that we might serue him in holinesse without the feare of our enemies and hereafter may inioy him in that Kingdome wherein wee shall triumph ouer these enemies But hauing waighed though the weake ballances of our vnderstandings bee far vnable to beare and containe the exceeding weight of this infinite loue of God then let vs consider how wee ought to answer this loue with loue his mercies by thankfulnes and obedience And when we haue found out our dutie then let vs examine our performance euen whether the goodnesse of God hath had a perfect working vpon vs and hath brought forth fruits answerable to it and whether we haue sufficiently yeelded vp our selues vnto God in his blessed work of making vs blessed And herein let vs rippe vp our soules euen the very bowels of our consciences and let vs tent the bottome of our hearts to feele what is sound and what vnsound in them that the sound parts may be cherished and the vnsound healed If wee see any sparke of the Spirit let vs kindle it into a fire let the infinitenesse of that loue which is our patterne draw vs on by imitation to a continual inlargement of our loue and of the fruit of loue obedience If by Meditation we taste the sweetnesse of God in the Spirit dwelling in vs Let vs thirst afresh for the liuing GOD who the more he is thirsted after the more hee giues of the waters of Life So shall thirst increase that which satisfies thirst and the satisfying of the thirst shall increase our thirst that so the satisfaction may still increase The Riuer of Regeneration points vs to the Ocean of Regeneration euen the Spirit within vs vnto the great Spirit aboue vs. From him it confesseth that it commeth to him it desires to returne that so it may come larger from him then it returned to him But if by the inquest of our meditation wee finde that some rebellious
Religion let thy companie to such a one be a conuersation of reproofe and the doctrine of SIMON PETER to SIMON MAGVS or let it bee no companie at all These are they for whom chiefly the Name of God is ill spoken of among our Heathen Christians These be they that set Religion to the basest lowest seruice euen to the attendance and supportation of sinne which of all things else it most hateth and detesteth These be they that make Religion to bee most dangerous and hurtfull to those who haue most Religion if withall they haue not the wisedome to discern Spirits These be they that vse the Word of God to aduance prosper their owne wickednes and consequently their owne damnation and certainly their damnation sleepeth not but euery Sermon which they heare increaseth their heape of wrath against the Day of wrath Now as wee should generally apply our selues vnto the societie of the Saints so should we striue to bring Saints into the places of neerest vse and societie For goodnes being so neere vs will continually bee doing good vnto vs. Whereas on the contrarie gracelesnesse by the continuance of conuersation will be still infecting quenching and killing of grace Ancient examples of wretched Memory haue confirmed this at large the greatest and the broadest miseries hauing beene brought on mankind by the mischiefe of such infectious societie There was but one man at the first and in him was all mankinde and in him all mankind fell into destruction by his beleeuing a seduced wife and their both associating and beleeuing a seducing Serpent Yea there is before vs but one great World and by the conuersation of the daughters of men with the sonnes of God this world was both corrupted and drowned After that deluge there was but one Nation chosen by God as a pattern and Master-piece of the World in which God by miracles precepts mounted and improued mankind to his vtmost height to see what Man could doe towards his owne happinesse and saluation this chiefe Nation yea the chiefest one of that Nation became abominably sinfull by conuersing with sinners And can a part thinke to stand where the whole hath falne Or can our weaknes thinke to ouer-come that enemie before whom such strength and wisdome lies vanquished and subdued It cannot be expected Our vaine and groundlesse presumptions may puffe vs vp with an opinion of conquering but that very presumption is the mayne thing that by such perswasions leades vs to bee conquered and by telling vs of Victorie it leades vs on valiantly to be beaten And let vs assuredly beleeue this that if there bee the like prophane marrying and the like taking in marriage as there was in the dayes of NOE the like eating and drinking euen such wicked heathenish good fellowship the world that now is will bee as ripe for Fire as it was then for Water it will haue as much need of burning as it had then of drowning But let the wise of heart hasten this day rather by their prayers then their sinnes and to preuent sin let them walke as sonnes of Light with the children of Light and haue no fellowship with the works or workers of darknesse I know right well that the fewnesse of those who enter into the straight gate doth impose vpon vs a difficultie of fitting our selues round with the societie of Saints I know also that the necessities of this life doe forcibly carry vs into the companies of prophane godlesse men Yet let vs remember to striue stil for the best to account the euill as thornes in our sides and let vs finde willingly a trouble vexation in their companie but neuer satisfaction rest and contentment Let our hearts bee to the Saints still euen to the seede of the Womans seed and let there euer be a horror in vs and reluctation against the seede of the Serpent Let vs doe our indeuor cōtinually to vnwinde our selues from the wicked and from the need of their societie And let vs take heed that we doe not too easily despaire of accommodating our vses and occasions by some of those sanctified few especially in that place of neerest Vnion which requires but one and that one in the Lord GOD hath promised the seekers to find and that hee will withhold no grace nor blessing from them which seeke blessings for his Glorie To conclude conuerse also with the dead heare and reade their Actions and Sayings thou shalt finde that the dead will quicken the dead as the dead Prophet did the dead Souldier The spirit of the dead will enter into thy dead heart when thou considerest their excellent Actions and heauenly Meditations The zealous heate of their spirits remaineth yet in their words and actions and by these will enter into thee to raise thee vpto the same degree of feruence in the Spirit The first Loue was the best Loue and the first louers were the best louers The Apostles that were neerest to Christ were neerest to him in Loue those that succeeded the Apostles in time succeeded them best in Loue for then did the Kingdome of Heauen suffer greatest violence I know that God is stil mightie in his Saints but I know also that in these first times the fire of Loue was more generally vehement for then they did euen dote vpon Martyrdome and by their forwardnesse of suffering daunted many times the fury of their Persecutors But on the other side it hath beene fore-told that in these last Times Loue shall waxe cold and men shall loue pleasures more then God whereupon the World shall bee consummate Therefore let our cold Loue warme it selfe by the communion of their hote Loue and let no man so much condemne the Fathers for Errours as admire and imitate them for Zeale Let vs be followers of them that followed so vehemently after Christ yea of all such which since their daies and euen at this day haue beene followers of those followers of Christ. Thus compassed with a cloud of witnesses the testimonies of their loue will powerfully perswade vs to cast away all that presseth down and the sinne which hangeth so fast on and to runne more actiuely and swiftly in the race of Pietie Glorie which is set before vs. CHAP. IX Of Humilitie TO increase in the Spirit and so to grow in happinesse wee must carrie about vs a perpetuall Humilitie For Humilitie is the Fore-runner of Grace and it neuer goes before but Grace followes after This excellent Vertue casts out the old ADAM and makes roome for the New it puts away the fulnesse by which wee are full of our selues and so makes place for Christ that we may bee full of his Spirit Man as before hath gotten a God-head into him hee is filled and puffed vp with his knowledge of good euil euen with a selfe-happines which keeps out the true Happinesse God will not haue any gods but himselfe neither will he allow Man to haue two Felicities but he
doore of Death to admit the Prince of Death but by Patience admit the King of Glorie and giue him the possession of thy soule for his stripes are healers his chastizements are restoratiues and his strokes are the strokes of a Father So shalt thou prosper in grace by afflictiōs through the good husbandry of Patience and on the other side thou shalt preuent all Satans mischieuous purposes euen all the euils that vsually doe issue from a tottered disioynted and abandoned spirit Now that thou mayst prouide for thy selfe such a strong Patience which may bee a Coate of proofe to the soule thy Patience must be tempred and steeled with Resolution This Resolution is the Armour of thy Armour euen the keeper of thy Patience which is the keeper of thy soule and the Graces bestowed vpon it For hereby wee are constantly prepared to indure all the crosses and troubles of this transitorie race of miserie And this Resolution to be good must also issue from faith that sees GOD our felicitie who otherwise is inuisible and from hope by which future blessednesse though absent yet assured yeelds vs comfort aboue all vanishing miseries Thus the Souldier of God warfaring against the Enemies of his heauenly Countrie stands inuincible against the gates of Hell and himselfe being wounded or slaine yet his Patience and consequently his soule is safe and aliue But if thou hast not this Resolution stil ready at hand thou art impatient as soone as thou feelest a blow thou must needs run away for thou didst neuer resolue to fight Thou hast not made thy cōputation what the Kingdome of Heauen will cost thee or at least when thou sawest the reckoning thou diddest not resolue to bee at the charge Therefore thou art not for the Army of Christ for all his Souldiers haue resolued to sell all to take vp his Crosse and to follow him in the way of suffering vnto the Crowne of Glorie To conclude that wee may yet bee more secured that neither our Patience nor Resolution faile vs in the day of tryall Let vs know by whose strength wee may stand and in that strength let vs especially seeke strength We may doe well to open the Eye of Faith to behold the ioyes of Heauen which are eternall for Christ on the crosse beheld this Glory therefore endured the Crosse no doubt the same ioyes seene with the same sight may worke the same Resolution We may doe well to apply the Oyle of hope to the sores and wounds made by troubles temptations we may doe well to behold the loue of GOD which wee cannot thinke intends to punish or torment but to amend and exalt and we may doe well to looke vpon the print of Gods seale in our hearts by which that loue is assured to vs. Yet when wee haue done all this it is the power of God that makes all this profitable to vs. If GOD draw in his breath we shall be troubled in the midst of our Contemplations and Resolutions we shall after many protestations deny him with PETER all these helps will helpe vs no more then the Law did the Iewes without the strong Helper For euen Christ himselfe by the power of God endured the wrath of God and by being GOD despised the shame imposed for the sins of men The Glory proposed comforted him but by the Comforter the Spirit which hee had not by measure did aboue measure quicken him with the sight of those ioyes Wherefore let vs especially by earnest Prayer resort to our chiefe and only strength without whom no man shal bee strong in his owne strength Let vs seeke of God that power by which PAVL being strengthened was able to doe all things Let vs put our trust in God alone and with DAVID call him our Rocke our Fortresse our Shield and our strength We are but Dwarfes to Satan and hee that is in the World is farre greater then we But if God be in vs hee is farre greater then he that is in the World and he can make our weaknesse to exceed Satans strength Therfore disclayming the keeping of our selues let vs commit our selues to GOD trusting that he will keep to the end what wee haue committed vnto him Let vs draw neere vnto GOD and to the power of his right hand let vs take vp our rest vnder the shaddow of his wings In his Name and not in our owne may wee boast all the day long for it is his right hand that will get himselfe the victory in vs. If thus wee seeke the Lord hee will be found of vs if we ascribe power to the Lord the power of God will descend to those that glorifie his power if we trust in the God of Battailes of weake we shall be made strong as the faithfull haue beene in the dayes of old And if we can once say The Lord girdeth mee with strength to the battell wee may also say Those that rise against vs shalt thou subdue vnder vs. Let Principalities Powers muster vp things present and things to come height and depth life and death yet in all these shall wee be more then Conquerours through him that loueth and sustaineth vs. Our Patience and our Resolution are grounded vpon the Rocke of Omnipotence though the windes blow the flouds beat they shall stand for they are grounded on a Rocke and while Patience standeth the Soule flourisheth where God seeth Patience he seeth also that the workes are more at last then at the first for that and that alone is a good and fruitfull ground which bringeth forth fruit with Patience CHAP. XI Of the finall possession and fruition of Happinesse THis World though of it selfe it be vnto Man but Misery or Vanity yet by the Mercy of the Creator it is made vnto Man a Nursery vnto Happinesse For the Creatour hauing lost his Creation recouered it by Redemption And by this Redemption the World which otherwise is but troublesome transitorie yet it serues to fit vs for Ioy and Eternity yea the troubles and transitories thēselues are imployed to doe much of it For the troubles of this life beate vs on to ward future blisse and the transitorinesse deliuers vs vp to euerlastingnesse In this life is the Bride trimmed and dressed here is she decked for the Day of her Gladnesse and here being made glorious within shee goes hence to be made perfectly glorious both within and without hauing glorified God by an inward Puritie shee goes to bee glorified by God in a shining Eternitie But what tongue of Man can expresse the Glory of this felicity which the Heart of Man cannot conceiue The Tongue must receiue it from the Heart and the Heart it selfe doth not receiue it The Tongue is more narrow then the Heart and the Heart is infinitely too narrow for the receit of these Ioyes so how narrow must bee Mans relation of this Happinesse which must issue from that which is narrower then that which is infinitely narrower then