Conception lyes in the way of thy Improvement and many a one had been Gracious had they not esteem'd themselves But now thou art Meaner in thine Opinion than in thine Estate who can more justly claim our Saviours Blessing Blessed are the poor in Spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 5.3 10. THOU art weak in heart It is thine own Fault if thou acquir'st not more Strength Wherefore is that Heavenly Food of the Word and Sacraments but to nourish thy Soul to Eternal Life Do but Eat and Digest and thou wilt grow stronger God will not be wanting to thee in an Increase of Grace if thou art not wanting to thy self He offers his Holy Spirit with the Means and it is thy neglect if thou separate ' em Thou knowest in whose hands is the Staff of Bread pray That he who gives thee Food and Mouth would also give thee Appetite Digestion and Nourishment 11. THY Spirit is weak It concerns thee highly to be cautious in avoiding occasions of Temptation He that carries brittle Glasses is careful lest they should break whereas strong Metal fears no danger So he that has a small Rush-Light walks gently and keeps off every Air. Thou art weak thy God is strong Do'st thou not see the Infant that cannot go alone how fast he clings to the hand of his Mother more trusting to her help than his own Strength Do thou so to thy God and say with the Blessed Psalmist Hold up my goings in thy Paths that my Foot-steps slip not Psal. 17.5 Hold thou me up and I shall be safe Psal. 119.117 Uphold me according to thy Word that I may live and let me not be ashamed of my Hope Psal. 119.116 12. St. Peter was presumptuous in attempting to tread on the Waters But he that ventured to walk there upon the Strength of his Faith when he felt the stiff Wind and saw the great Billow began to sink in his Weakness But no sooner had Jesus stretch'd forth his hand and caught him but he takes Courage and goes now with the same assurance upon the Sea as he on the Land And with a Check receives more Supportation from Christ than his own Limbs could afford him Mat. 14.29 30 31. Fear no Miscarriage through thine own weakness whilst thou art supported by that Strong Helper A Prayer for Grace O LORD who art the Author of all Goodness and from whom cometh every good and perfect Gift make me to discern aright what Grace thou hast vouchsafed unto me and learn me to be truly thankful for the same and to Glorifie thee the only giver of it so likewise to use my utmost diligence in the performance of those Duties which thou requirest of me That when thou shalt Summon me to a Reckoning for the use of that Talent committed to me I may give in my Accounts and be plentifully Rewarded by entering into that Joy which thou hast prepared for all thy Servants 2. GRANT that I may ever use that measure of Grace thou hast allotted to me and restrain me from turning of it into Wantonness Let me be content with that Portion which thou in thy Wisdom and Goodness hast endowed me withal and not plead Ignorance and contemn its Insufficiency neither let me Envy those that haeve received more lest I repine against thee nor despise those which have attained less lest I incur thy Displeasure and cause thee in Justice to withdraw that Grace from me which in Mercy thou hast freely given me and bestow it upon those who would make better use of it But Lord Sanctifie unto me all thy Gifts and Graces to my Lifes end Amen SECT VI. Loss of Reputation 1. NEXT to our Body and Soul is the Care of our Reputation which lost we are dead to the World Thou sufferest under a Publick Infamy I do not ask how justly He was wise that said It was fit for every Good Man to fear a false Reproach A good Name is no less wounded for the time with that than with a just Crimination This is a sore Evil against which there is no Preservative nor hardly can be prescrib'd any Remedy Innocence it self is no Antidote against Malicious Tongues Neither Grandeur nor Sanctity can secure any from unjust Calumny 2. MIGHT that be any Ease to thee I could tell thee of Kings and Saints that have complain'd of this Misfortune and yet were not able to resist it Thou hast the Company of the best if that mitigates thy Misery But what do I speak of Mortals whose greatest Purity might be blurr'd with some Imperfections Look upon the Lord of Life the Eternal Son of the ever living God God cloathed in Flesh and see whether any other were his Lot in this Region of Mortality Dost thou not hear for his Gracious Sociableness branded as Gluttonous a Wine-bibber a Friend of Publicans and Sinners Mat. 11.19 For his Powerful and Merciful Cure of Demoniacks blazon'd for a Fellow that Casts out Devils through Beelzebub the Prince of Devils Mat. 12.24 Was not he slandred to death for Treason against Caesar and Blasphemy against God John 19.12 Mat. 26.65 Did not the Multitude say He is mad and hath a Devil John 10.20 Was he not after his Death counted an Impostor Mat. 27.63 And can there be worse Names than Glutton Drunkard Conjurer and Traytor Blasphemer Mad-man Demoniack and Impostor Who then can think much to be slandered with meaner Crimes when he hears the Son of God in whom The Prince of this World could find nothing laden with so hainous Calumniations John 14.30 3. THOU art smitten with a sordid Tongue which penetrates into thy Soul That Person gave a high praise to his Sword that affirm'd It was sharper than Slander And if a Razor proves sharper yet short of the Edomites Tongue Psal. 52.2 And if these Weapons reach not far enough he found both Spears and Arrows in the Mouths of his Traducers Psal. 57.4 Thou art in the same Circumstance with David What should'st thou do but for his Complaint use his Remedy I will cry unto God most high unto God that performeth all things for me He shall send from Heav'n and save me from the Reproach of him that would swallow me up God shall send forth his Mercy and his Truth Psal. 57.2 3. Do by thy Reproaches as Hezekiah did by the Railing Lines of Rabshakeh spread them before the Lord and leave thy Cause in the just hands of the Almighty who will in his good time revenge thy Wrong and clear thine Innocency and requite thee Good for their Malice and Envy 4. IN the mean time thou complain'st of being blemish'd with an odious Aspersion and thy Name repeated by many censorious Mouths Thou hearest what others say but do'st thou make a particular Search in thine own Bosom If thy Conscience acquit thee obdure thy Face against all Spight of Malice What is ill Fame but an unsavory Breath Do but turn thine Ear from the Reception and what art thou
the Seasons or Measures of his Bounty That most free and beneficent Agent will not be tyed to our Terms but will give us what he sees necessary Therefore humbly wait upon his Goodness and be confident that he who hath begun his good Work in thee will perform it until the Day of Jesus Christ Phil. 1.6 14. IT is true thou say'st if God had began the Operation He would at last for his own Glory finish it But for me I am a Man dead in Trespasses and Sins and never had any true Contrition in me Some shew indeed I have made of a Christian Profession but I have only deceived the World with a fallacious Pretence and have not found in my self the Verity and Solidity of those Heavenly Vertues whereof I have made an Ostentation It were pity thou shouldst be so bad as thou representest thy self I have no tender Compassion in store for Hypocrisie nor no Disposition is more odious to the Almighty insomuch as when he expresses Vengeance against Sinners he uses those terms of Terror I will appoint him his portion with the Hypocrites Mat. 24.51 Were it thus with thee it were high time to work thy Repentance in Dust and Ashes and resign thy self into the hands of his Almighty Protection to be created anew by his Powerful Spirit and never to give thy self Peace till thou findest thy self Renewed in the Spirit of thy Mind Eph. 4.23 But in the mean while take heed of being guilty of mis-judging thine own Soul and misprising the Operation of God's Spirit God hath been better to thee than thou wilt acknowledge Thou hast a true Sense of Grace and perceiv'st it not There is no Cognisance to be taken of the Sentence thou passest upon thy self in the hour of Temptation When thy heart was free thou wert in another Mind and shalt upon better advice reasume thy former Thoughts 15. IT is with thee as with Eutychus that fell down from the third Story and was taken up for Dead when his Life remained in him We have known those in Trances without any perception of Life yea some as that subtil Johannes Duns Scotus laid in their Graves before their Souls had taken leave of their Bodies though unable to exert those Faculties which might Evince her hidden Presence Such perhaps art thou at the worst and wert thou in Charity with thy self thou wouldest be found in a better Condition There is the same reason of the Natural Life and the Spiritual Where it is discern'd by Breathings Sense and Motions where there is a breathing Motion there must be a Life that sends it forth If then the Soul breaths Holy Desires doubtless there is a Life whence they proceed Now deny if thou can'st that thou hast not these Spiritual Breathings of Holy Desires Internally Dost thou not many times sigh for thine own Insanity Is not thine heart perplexed with the Thoughts of thy Spiritual wants Dost thou not truly desire that God would Renew a right Spirit within thee Be cheerful This is the Operation of God's Spirit As well may a Man breath without Life as thou couldst be thus affected without Repentance Sense is a quick Discrier of Life Wound a dead Man he is not sensible but the Living perceiveth the easiest Touch. When thou hast heard the Judgments of God denounced against Sinners and laid to thy Conscience has thy heart been pierced with them Hast thou not secretly thought how shall I decline this dreadful Damnation When thou hast heard the Mercies of God to Penitent Sinners hath not thy heart said Oh that I had my share in ' em When thou hast heard God blasphem'd hast thou not felt a horror in thy Bosom All these are Symptoms of a Spiritual Life 16. MOTION is the perfectest Discoverer of Life He that stirs his Limbs is not dead The Feet of the Soul are the Affections Hast thou not found an hate and detestation of that Sin wherein thou hast been allured And discover'd Grief of heart for thy Indisposition to all good things Hast thou not found a Love to and Complacency in those who are truely Religious and Conscionable Without a Life of Repentance Penitence had vanisht Are not thine Eyes and Hands often lift up to implore mercy Canst thou deny thou hast a real though weak Appetite to the means and degrees of it This is that Hunger and Thirst after Righteousness to which Christ hath pronounc'd Blessedness Matth. 5.6 Discomfort not thy self with the disappearance of God's Spirit In the hour of Temptation it is with thee as with a Tree in Winter whose Sap is run to the Root where there is no Appearance of Vegetation by any Buds or Blossoms but appears motionless Yet when the Sun returns his comfortable Beams it sprouts forth afresh and bewrays that Vital Juice which lay in the Earth So thou must with Patience wait till the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with Healing in his Wings and Summon thy Humidity into thy Branches that that Grace may spring in thee which is able to save thy Soul Then thou wilt say of thine heart as Jacob of his hard Lodging Surely the Lord is in this place and I knew it not Gen. 28.16 Only use the means and wait patiently God's Leisure stay upon the Bank of this Bethesda till the Angel descend and move the Water 16. I could gladly thou repliest attend with Patience upon God in this happy Work of the Excitation of Grace were I but sure I had it or could be perswaded of the Verity of my Conversion But it is my unhappiness that here I am at an uncomfortable loss for I am inform'd that every Convert can design the Time Place means and manner of his Conversion and demonstrate how near he was to the Gates of Death nay to the Verge of Hell when God by a mighty Arm has snatcht him away from the Pit of Perdition and rescu'd him from everlasting Damnation placing him in a State of Eternal Salvation Which I cannot attain to not finding any such vehement Concussion hearty Contrition or such forcible and irresistable Operation of God's Spirit in me nor can I practice the Sermon design'd for my Conversion or those Approaches my Soul made towards an hardly-recovered Desperation To which I answer It is not safe for any Man to set Limits to the Almighty or to prescribe Rules to that Infinite Wisdom That most free and All-wise Agent will not be tyed to walk always in one Path but varies his Courses according to his Divine Will One he calls suddenly as St. Paul another by sweet Solicitations as Philip Nathanael Andrew Peter Matthew and other Apostles One he draws to Heaven with gracious Invitations another with a strong hand We have known those who having mispent their Juvenile Years in notorious debauch'd Courses living as without God and have been heart-stricken with some Denunciation of Judgment which hath so wrought upon 'em that it hath brought them within sight of Hell But after deep
forth to the Field and shews the an Enemy where is thy Christian Fortitude if thou recoilest and chusest rather to fly than resist And is this a proper Character for thee who professest to sight under his Banner who is the Conqueror of Death and Hell Is this the way to that happy Victory and to acquire a Crown of Glory If thou faint in the day of Adversity thy Strength is but small Be strong in the Lord and in the Power of his Might Ephes. 6.10 Encounter with that fierce Enemy wherewith God would have thee assaulted look up to him who hath said and cannot fail to perform it Be faithful to the Death and I will give thee a Crown of Life Rev. 2.10 14. THOU art surpriz'd with Sickness accuse thy self for it Who forbid thee expecting so sure a Guest Thy Frame of Body should have prompted thee to other Thoughts Dost thou perceive this living Fabrick made up as a Clock consisting of many Wheels and imagine that some of 'em shoud not be ever out of order Couldst thou think that a Cottage not strongly built and standing so bleak in the very Mouth of the Winds could for ever hold firm and strong Or art thou not amazed it hath out-stood so many blust'ring Blasts utterly unruined It was scarce a patient Question which Job asked Is my Strength the Strength of Stones or is my Flesh as Brass Job 6.12 Alas thy best Metal is but Clay and fading Flesh is but Grass the Clay mouldereth and the Grass withereth Why do we reckon of any thing but Misery and Fickleness in this woful Region of Change If we wiâ—l needs over-reckon our Condition we do but assist to aggravate our own Wretchedness 15. THOU art retir'd to thy sick Bed be of good Comfort God was never so near thee never so indulgent to thee as now The Whole saith our Saviour needs not a Physician but they that are Sick Mat. 9.12 The Physician cometh not but where there is necessity and where that is will not fail to come Our Wants is motive enough to Him who took our Infirmities and bare our Sicknesses Mat. 8.17 Our Health alienates him from us but whilst thou art this Patient he cannot be from thee The Lord saith the Psalmist will strengthen thee upon the Bed of Languishing thou wilt make all his Bed in his Sickness Psal. 41.3 The Comforter doth not only visit but attend thee If thou find thy Bed uneasie he will soften it for thy Repose Canst thou not read God's Indulgence in thine own Disposition Thou art a Parent Perhaps thou affectest one Child more than another though all dear enough But if any of them be cast down thou art more careful about that than the rest How thou pitiest and pliest it with Offers and Receipts With what silent Anxiety dost thou watch by it listning for every Breathing jealous of every whispering that might break its Slumber responding its Groans with Sighs and in fine taking such Care that thy greatest Darling seems the while neglected in comparison of this under Affliction How much more shall the Father of Mercies be compassionately Intent upon the Sufferings of his dear Children according to the Proportion of their Afflictions 16. THOU art wholly entertain'd with the Extremity of thy pains Alas poor Soul Thy dimness perceives nothing but what is near thee It is thy sense which thou followest but where is thy Faith Couldst thou inspect the end of thy Sufferings thou wouldst rejoyce in Tribulation Let Patience have her perfect Work and thou shalt once say It is good for me that I was afflicted Thou mightest be jocund long enough ere thy Jollity could make thee happy Yea Woe to them that laugh here Luke 6.25 But on the contrary Our light Affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory 2 Cor. 4.17 O blessed improvement of a few Groans Oh glorious Issue of a short Storm of Sorrow Why do we imitate Christians if nothing but Flesh and Blood And if better we have more cause of Joy than Complaint for whilst our Outward Man perisheth our Inward Man is renewed dayly 2 Cor. 4.16 Our External Man is Flesh our Internal is Spirit infinitely more noble than this living Clay that we carry about us Whil'st our Spirit gains more than our Flesh is capable to lose what reason have we not to boast of the Bargain Let not then these close Curtains confine thy sight but lift up thine Eyes to Heaven whence thy Soul came and view there that Crown of Glory which thy God holds forth to all thaâ— overcome And then Run with Patience the Race that is set before thee looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith who is set down at the Right Hand of the Throne of God Heb. 12.1 2. Then chear thy self with the Expectation of that Blessedness which if thy Toâ—ments were no less than those of Hell would make more than ample Amends for all thy Suffeâ—ings 17. THOU art sick to Death And hast received the Sentence of Mortality in thy self thy Physician hath given the up to act the last Scene Neither art thou like to rise till the General Resurrection How many are lately expired that would have thought it a great happiness to die thus quietly in their Beds Whom Storms of War hath hurried away furiously into another World not suffering them to taâ—e leave of that Life which they were forced to abandon Whereas thou hast leisure to prepare thy self for the Entertainment of thy last Guest to set both thine House in order and thy Soul It is no disadvantage to thee thus to behold Death at a distance and to observe every one of his Paces towards thee that thou mayst put thy self into a fit Posture to meet this grim Messenger who Ushers thee to Immortality that dying thus by Degrees thou hast leisure with the Patriarch Jacob to Summon thy Children to bequeath them thy last Benediction and being encompassed with thy sad Friends now in thy long Journey to a far Country thou mayst take a Solemn Farewell as going somewhat before them to the appointed happy Meeting-place of Blessedness And lastly That one of thine own may close those Eyes which shall in their opening see the Face of thy most Glorious Saviour and see this Flesh now ready to lye down in Corruption made like to his unspeakable Glory A Prayer for a Sick Person O Most Gracious and Merciful Lord God the only Author of our Health and Being thou castest us down upon our Beds of Sickness and sometimes draws the Curtain between the World and us O Lord my time is in thy hand and I know not how soon my change which thou hast appointed shall be whether this Week this Day this Hour yea or this very Moment O Lord sanctifie unto me this thy present Visitation which my Sins have long since deserved heal my Soul which in great bitterness hath sinned against thee
disquiets thee Doubtless thou art Soul-sick thy Spirit is wounded within thee and what can thus affect thy Soul but sin Or what can this Affection of thy Soul be for Sin but true Penitence 7. THOU repliedst I am indeed sorrowful for Sin but not upon the right Grounds I grieve for the misery that Sin hath brought upon me not for the evil of Sin but for the Punishment not the Offence for my Peril not for the displeasure of my God Beware lest an undue Humility cause thee falsely to accuse the Graces of God's Spirit Thou art no competent Judge whilst thou art under Temptations Had not thy Sorrow a relation to God why wouldst thou Sigh to Heaven Why would thy Heart challenge thee for unkindness in Offending And to cry out of the Sordidness not of the Peril of thy Sin What renders the act of thy Sin to be sinful but the offence against the Divine Majesty How canst thou be sorry that thou hast Sinned and not be sorry that thou hast Offended Tell me What is it thy Conscience primarily suggests to thee in this impression of thy Sorrow Is it thou shalt be Punish'd or that thou hast Sinned And were it put to thy Choice Whether thou hadst rather enjoy the Favour of God with extremity of Pain or continue in his Displeasure with Ease Or if Liberty were tendred to thee that thou mightst freely sin without danger of Punishment Whether doth not thy Heart rise at the Condition as ready to flie in the Face of the Offerer Besides Fear and Horror dost thou not find an internal Indignation at thy Miscarriage and such a detestation of thy Sin that were it to be reiterated if it were possible to be concealed from God and Men and if there were no Hell to avenge it woulst thou not abhor to commit it All these are strong Convictions of the right grounds of thy Repentance and of the injury which thou dost thy Soul in the unjust Scruples which thou raisest against it 8. IF the grounds thou say'st of my Repentance be regular yet the measure is Insufficient I am sorrowful for Sin but not enough An effectual grief for sin should be serious deep hearty intensive mine is slight and superficial I Sigh but my Sighs proceed not from an humble Heart I can sometimes Weep but cannot pour out my self in Tears I mourn but don't continue my Sorrow To this I Answer Thou hast to do with a God which in all the dispositions of thy Soul regards Validity and not Quantity If he find thy Remorse he exacts not the solid Measure He doth not meet up our Repentance by Inches or Hours but where he finds sincerity of Penitence is Indulgent Look upon David and acknowledge his Sin formidably detestable no less than Adultery Inebriation and Murder Yet no sooner did he in a true Compunction of Heart cry out I have sinned against the Lord then he hears from that Mouth which accused him The Lord also hath put away thy Sin thou shalt not die 2 Sam. 12 13. Here is a penitent Confession which was efficacious in the Expiation of those grievous Crimes Thou art deceived if thou imaginest God delights in the Affliction of his Creatures So far only is the grief of his Servants pleasing to him that it may conduce to the health of their Souls in the sensibleness of their Sin and meet capacity of Mercy 9. I do not with some Casuists flatter thee with an Opinion of the sufficiency of any slight Attrition and empty wishes that thou hast not Sinned doubtâ—ess a true Contrition of Spirit and Compunction of Heart are necessarily required to a saving Repentance And these wert thou but an indifferent Censurer of thine own ways thou would'd find within thy self Why is thy Countenance so dejected thy Cheeks pale and watered so oft with Tears thy want of Rest and loss of Appetite Wherefore dost thou pour out those doleful Complaints and vehement Deprecations But after all this art thou such as thou accusest thy self defective in thy Repentance Dost thou rest contented in this condition and not complain of it as the greatest Misery Art thou not heartily sorry that thou canst be no more grieved for thy Sin Comfort thy self even this is an acceptable Repentance and God accepts it What is Repentance but a change from Evil to Good And how sensible is this Change that thou who formerly delightedst in thy Sin now detests it and thy self for it and art yet ambitious of more Grief for being transported into it Let not thy Souls Enemy who desires nothing more than to make thee perfectly Miserable so allure thee as to render thee unsatisfied with the Measure of that Penitency which is accepted of God Rather turn thine Eyes from thy Sins and look to Heaven and fix 'em upon thine All-sufficient Mediator and behold his Face smiling upon thy humbled Soul and perfectly reconciling thee to his Eternal Father as being fully assured That being justified by Faith we have Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom also we have access by Faith into this Grace wherein we stand and rejoice in the hope of the Glory of God Rom. 5.1 2. 10. THERE thou say'st is the very root of my Complaint I want that Faith that should give me an interest in my Saviour and afford true Comfort to my Soul and Boldness and Access with Confidence to the Throne of Grace Ephes. 3.12 I can be sorry but cannot believe my Grief is not so great as my Infidelity I see others full of Joy and Peace in believing Rom. 15.13 But my stubborn Heart cannot soar up to a conformable apprehension of my Saviour So as indeed I dwell in obdurate Darkness and a sad ponderosity of Incredulity wanting that Assurance which others profess to find in themselves Take heed lest whilst thou art too querulous thou prove unthankful and whilst thy Humbleness disparages thee thou make God a Loser A Man may have a rich Mine in his Ground which he knows not of and there are Shells furnish'd with Pearls whose Worth many are not sensible of This is thy State Thou hast that Grace thou complainest to want and there is no measuring of thy self by Sense especially in the time of Temptation Thou coulst not so sensibly lament the want of Faith if thou hadst it not Thou canst not deny an Assent to the verity of all God's Promises Thou acknowledgst he could not be what he is if he were not even Verity it self Thou canst not doubt but he hath made those promises of Grace and Mercy to all Penitent Sinners which tend to their Salvation and thou canst not but grant thou art sinful enough to need Mercy and sorrowful enough to desire and Embrace it 11. CANST thou but love thy self so well that when thou seest a Pardon held forth to stretch forth thy Hand and take it This Hand is thy Faith which takes hold of thy Redeemer As for that Assurance thou mentions they
are happy that can feel and maintain it and it must be our holy Ambition to be diligent in the Aspiraration But such a height of Perfection every Traveller in this wretched Pilgrimage cannot whilst he is in this perplexed and heavy Road hope to attain to It is an unsafe and dangerous Path which those Men have walked in who have used to define all Faith by Assurance Should I conduct thee that way it might be prejudicial So sure a Certainty of our constant and reflected apprehension of Eternal Life is both hard to acquire and not easie to hold unmovably considering the many strong Temptations that we are subject to in this Vale of Misery and Death Should Faith be reduced to this Trial it would be more rare than our Saviour hath foretold it For as many boasts of such an Assurance who is yet failing of a true Faith embracing a vain Presumption instead of it So many also hath true Faith in the Lord Jesus who yet complains to want that Assurance Canst thou in a sense of thine own Misery close with thy Saviour Canst thou throw thy self into the Arms of his Mercy Canst thou trust him with thy Soul and relie upon him for Forgiveness and Salvation Canst thou prostrate thy self before him as a miserable Object of his Grace and Mercy And when it is offered thee canst lay some tho weak hold upon it Labour for further degrees of Strength daily Set not up thy Rest in this pitch of Grace but cheer up thy self and thus much Faith shall save thy Soul Thou believest and he hath said it that is Verity it self He that believeth on the Son hath Everlasting Life Joh. 3.36 12. I know thou averrest that Jesus Christ came into the World to save Sinners and that Whoever believeth on him shall not Perish but have eternal Life Joh. 3.15 Neither can I deny but in a sense of my sinful Condition I cast my self in some measure upon my Saviour and lay hold upon his All-sufficient Redemption But Alas My apprehensions of him are so weak that they can afford no Comfort to my Soul Were it not that thou expectest to be Justified and saved by the power and act of thy Faith thou hast reason to be disheartened with the imbecility of it But now that the Vertue and Efficacy of this happy Operation is in the Object apprehended by thee which is the infinite Merits and Mercy of thy Saviour that cannot be abated by thine Infirmities thou hast reason cheerfully to expect thy Salvation Understand thy case aright Here 's a double Hand that helps thee towards Heaven thy hand of Faith lays hold on thy Saviour Thy Saviour's hand of Mercy and plentious Redemption lays on thee thy hold of him is feeble and easily loosed his hold of thee is strong and irresistable Comfort thy self therefore with the blessed Apostle when thou art Weak then thou art Strong when weak in thy self then strong in thy Redeemer Shouldst thou boast and say Tush I shall never be moved I should suspect the Verity and Safety of thy Condition Now thou deplorest thy Weakness I cannot but Congratulate the happy Estate of thy Soul If a greater Work were expedient strength of Hand were necessary But now only receiving of a precious Gift is required why may not a weak Hand perform that as well as a strong tho not so forcibly Be not dejected with Impotency but comfort thy self in the Mercies of thy Redeemer 13. THOU expressest Sometimes I find my heart at ease in a comfortable Reliance on my Saviour and being well resolv'd of the safety of my State promise good days to my self and after the banishment of my former Fears dare bid defiance to Temptations But Alas how soon is this serenity over How suddenly is this clear Skie clouded spread over with obscurity and I return to my former Despondency Did'st thou conceive that Grace would put thee into a constant and perpetual invariable Condition of Soul whil'st thou art on this side Heav'n Didst thou ever hear or read of any of God's Saints upon Earth that were unchangeable in their holy Dispositions whil'st they continued in this Region of Mutability Behold the Man after God's own heart thou shalt find him sometimes so couragious as if the Spirits of all his Worthies were met in his own Bosom how resolutely doth he blow off all dangers trample on his Enemies and triumph over all cross Events Another while thou shalt find him so dejected and transform'd from what he was When chearful The Lord is my Shepherd I shall lack nothing Psal 23.1 In Affliction Why art thou so sad my Soul and why art thou so disquieted within me Psal. 42.14 In Fortitude I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people that have set themselves against me round about Psal. 3.6 In Trouble Hide me under the shadow of thy Wings from the Wicked that oppress me from my deadly Enemies who compass me about Psal. 17.84 In his Integrity Thy Loving Kindness is before mine Eyes and I have walked in thy Truth Psal. 26.3 In contrary Events Lord where are thy loving Kindnesses Psal. 89.49 And dost thou not hear him in one Breath professing his Confidence and lamenting his Dissertion Lord by thy Favour thou hast made my Mountain to stand strong Thou didst hide thy Face and I was troubled Psal. 30.7 Look upon St. Paul Sometimes thou shalt see him erecting Trophies of Victoâ—y to his God In all these things we are more than Conquerors through him that loved us Rom. 8.37 On the contrary thou shalt find him lamenting his own sinful Condition Oh wretched Man that I am who shall deliver me from the Body of this Death Rom. 7.24 In a holy Rapture thou shalt find him caught up into the Third Heaven and by Permission of the Almighty buffetted by the Messengers of Satan and uttering Complaints to God of the Violence of that Assault Here the Spouse of Christ bemoaning her self I opened to my Beloved but my Beloved had withdrawn himself and was gone My Soul failed when he spoke I sought him but I could not find him I called him but he made me no answer Cant. 5.6 Thus is it with thee whil'st thou art in this Carnality The Temper of thy Soul will be subject to Vicissitudes Should'st thou continue always in the same State I should suspect thee This difference betwixt Nature and Gâ—ace the One is still uniform the Other varies â—â—cording to the pleasure of the Giver The Spirit â—eaths when and where it listeth Joh. 3.8 When therefore thou find'st the gracious Inspirations of the Holy Ghost within thee be thankful to the Infinite Munificence of that Blessed Spirit And still pray Arise O North and come thou South Wind that the Spices thereof may flow out Cant. 4.16 But when thou finds thy Soul becalm'd and not a Leaf stirring in its Garden be not too much dejected with an ungrounded Opinion of being destituted of thy God neither repine at
Humiliation have been raised through God's mercy to a Comfortable Sense of the Divine Favour and have proceeded to a high degree of Regeneration and liv'd and dy'd good Christians 18. BUT this is not every ones Case those who have from their Infancy been brought up in The Nurture and Fear of the Lord Eph. 6.4 and from their Youth been Train'd up under a Godly and Conscionable Ministry where they have been plyed with the effectual means of Grace Precept upon Precept Line upon Line here a little and there a little Isa. 28.10 and by an insensible Conveyance received the Gracious Inoperations of the Spirit of God though not without many inward Debates Temptations and deep Humiliation for their particular Failings these cannot expect to find so sensible Alterations in themselves As well a Child knows when he was born as these know the instant of their Spiritual Regeneration and as well may they see the Grass grow as perceive their insensible Increase of Grace It is sufficient that a Child attaining to Reason knows he was born as when we see the Grass higher than we left it know that it is grown Let it then suffice thee that the thing is finish't though thou canst not define the time and manner of doing it Be not over curious in matters of particular Preceptions whil'st thou art assured of what is wrought in thee The skilful Chyrurgion makes a Fontinel in the Body of his Patient either by a sudden Incision or by a leisurely Corrosive both equally tend towards Health Trust God with thy self and with his own Work without making inquiry which way he designs thy Salvation 19. ALL were safe thou say'st if I could be ascertain'd of my Election to Life Eternal I could be Patient so I might be sure But wretched that I am here I am plung'd I see others walk comfortably as if in Heav'n whereas I droop under a continual Diffidence raising my self new Arguments of Distrust Could my heart be settled in this Assurance nothing could make me unhappy It is true as all other mercies flow from our Election so the securing of this one involves all other Favours that concern the welfare of our Souls It is no less true our Election may be assured else the Holy Ghost had not laid so deep a Charge upon us to use our utmost Endeavour to ascertain it And we are much wanting to our selves if hearing so excellent a Blessing may be attained by diligence if we pull not our hand out of our Bosom to reach that Crown so offer'd to us But withal 't is true if there were not a difficulty in this work the Apostle had not so earnestly call'd for the utmost of our Endeavour to effect it 2. Pet. 1.10 20. THE Truth is in Christianity there is no Path wherein there is more need of treading warily than in this On each side is Danger and Death Security on one hand and Presumption on the other And the Miscarriage either way is deadly Behold the miserable Examples on both kinds Some walk carelesly as if there were no Heav'n or if such a Place yet of no Concernment Their hearts are fond of the Pleasure of this Life and they neither care nor wish to be happier than this World can make 'em The God of this World hath blinded their Eyes that they believe not 2 Cor. 4.4 Others walk proudly being vainly puff't up with their own ungrounded Imaginations as if they were invested with Immortal Glory fancying themselves rapt up with St. Paul into the Third Heav'n and have seen their Names recorded in the Book of Life Whereas this is nothing but an Illusion of that Lying Spirit who knows the the way to keep 'em out of Heaven is to make 'em believe they are in a State of happiness 21. IT must be thy main Care to walk in a just Equidistance from both these Extreams that thou may'st be resolute without Presumption and careful without Diffidence And First I advise thee to abandon those false Teachers who improve their Wits for the Ruine of Souls in broaching the sad Doctrines of Uncertainty and Distrust Be sure our Saviour had not bid his Disciples rejoyce that their Names are written in Heaven Luke 10.20 Had there not been a particular Enrollment nor the Disciples could never have attained to the notice of such Inscription Neither is this a Mercy peculiar to his Domestick Followers but universal to all that believe what they testifie and by believing we may be assur'd our Names are Registred in those Eternal Records 22. NOT that we should take an Acesius his Ladder and climb up to Heaven and turn over the Book of God's Councils and read our selves design'd to Glory But as we by Experience imagine we can by Reflections read those Letters which directly we cannot So we may do here in spiritual Objects The same Apostle that gives us our Charge gives us withal our Directions Wherefore the rather Brethren give all diligence to make your Callings and Election sure for if ye do those things ye shall never fall for so an Entrance shall be ministred unto you abundantly into the Everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 1.10 11. Here is first our Calling then our Election Not that we should begin with Heaven and thence descend to Earth but that we should from Earth ascend to Heaven from our Calling to our Election As knowing that God shews what he hath done for us above by that which he hath wrought in us here below 23. OUR Calling not outward and formal but inward and effectual The Spirit of God hath a Voice and our Soul an Ear that Voice of the Spirit speaks inwardly and effectually to the Ear of the Soul calling us out of the State of Corrupt Nature into the State of Grace out of Darkness into his marvellous Light By thy Calling thou mayst judge of thine Election God never works in vain neither doth he cast away his saving Graces But whom he did Predestinate them also he Called and whom he Called them he Justified and whom he Justified them also he Glorified Rom. 8.30 This doubtless thou sayst is sure in it self but how assured to me I answer That which the Apostle adds By good Works if we comprehend the Acts of Believing and Repenting is a special Evidence of our Election But not to urge that Clause of Good Works which tho read in the Vulgar is found wanting in our Editions The clear words of the Text evince no less For if ye do these things ye shall nevâ—r fall Here is our Negative Certainty And for our Positive So an Entrance shall be Ministred unto you abundantly into the Everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. If we shall never fall but shall undoubtedly enter the Kingdom of Christ what possible scruple can be of the accomplishment of our Election What then are these things that must be perform'd by us Fix your Eyes upon that Collection of Graces
following If you add to your Faith Vertue and to Vertue Knowledge and to Knowledge Temperance and to Temperance Patience and to Patience Godliness and to Godliness Brotherly Kindness Charity 2 Pet. 1.5 6. 23. IF Thou wouldst be inform'd what God hath written concerning thee in Heaven look into thy own Bosom and see what Graces he hath wrought in thee Truth of Grace saith the Divine Apostle will make good the certainty of your Election Not to instance the rest of that Heavenly Combination do but single the first and the last Faith and Charity For Faith how clear is that of our Saviour He that believeth in him that sent me hath Everlasting Life and shall not come into Condemnation but hath passed from Death to Life Joh. 5.24 What danger can befall us in our acquiring Heaven All the Peril is in the way Now the Believer is already passed into Life This is the Grace by which Christ dwells in our Hearts Ephes. 3.17 and whereby we have Communion with him and an assured Testimony of and from him For he that believeth in the Son of God hath the Witness in himself And what Witness is that This is the Record that God hath given us Eternal Life And this Life is in his Son he that hath the Son hath Life 1 Joh. 5.10 11 12. Oh happy Connexion Eternal Life first This Life Eternal is in and by Christ Jesus he is ours by Faith and this Faith testifieth to our Souls assurance of Life Eternal Charity is the last which comprehends our love to God and Man For from the reflection of God's Love to us ariseth a Love from us to him again The beloved Disciple can say We love him because he loved us first 1 Joh. 4.19 And from these resulteth our Love to our Brethren And such an Evidence we have that the Apostle tells us expresly That we know we are passed from Death to Life because we love the Brethren 1 Joh. 3.14 For the love of the Father is inseperable from the love of the Son He that loveth him that Begets loves him that is Begotten of him 1 Joh. 5.1 25. NOW deal impartially with thine own Heart and enquire seriously as in the Presence of the Searcher of all Hearts Whether thou dost not find in thy self these Evidences of thine Election Art thou not effectually tho not perfectly called out of the World and corrupt Nature Dost thou not inwardly abhor sinful ways and think of what thou wert with Detestation Dost thou not endeavour to be in all things approved to God and confirmed to thy Saviour Dost thou not cast thy self upon the Lord Jesus and depend upon his free All sufficiency for Pardon and Salvation Dost thou not love that infinite Goodness who hath been so rich in Mercies to thee and bless those Beams of Goodness which he hath cast upon his Saints on Earth Lastly Dost thou not love a good Man because he is so Comfort thy self in the Lord and let no Fear and Distrust possess thy Soul Faithful is he that hath Called thee 1 Thes. 5.24 who will also Preserve thy whole Spirit and Soul and Body blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Thes. 5.23 A Prayer for an Afflicted Conscience O GOD the Father of all Mercies and Heavenly Consolation suffer me not at any time to fall from thee or to be swallowed up in the depth of Affliction but when ever it shall please thee to try me in that Furnace let my sure Hope and Confidence be fixed on thee that when multitude of Sorrows shall encompass my Soul my only trust may be in thy Mercies Give me the Oil of Joy for Mourning and the Garment of Gladness for the Spirit of Heaviness that thy great Name may be Glorified by me in a thankful acknowledgement of thy Goodness towards me 2. LORD thou beholdest afar off the manifold Perils and Dangers I am exposed to in this World which is a sea of Miseries and numerous Calamities The Winds blow the deep Waters lift up their proud swelling Waves and the stormy Tempests threaten me with Ship-wrack to the Ruine and Destruction both of Soul and Body But O thou who art the God of Unity speak Peace unto this inward Voice and say unto it I am thy Salvation so shall I be refreshed with thy loving Kindness and Praise thee ever more Amen SECT IV. Remedies against Temptations 1. THOU art assaulted with Temptations And what the Enemy cannot do by Force or Fraud he seeks by Importunity Can this seem averse to thee when the Son of God was in the Wilderness forty Days and forty Nights under the Tempter He that durst set upon the Captain of our Salvation Heb. 2.10 How shall he spare frail Flesh and Blood Why should Christ suffer himself to be Tempted but to support thee in all thy Temptations The Keys of the Bottomless Pit are at his disposal He could have confin'd that Presumptuous Spirit to Chains of Darkness and admitted him no nearer to him than Hell but he would let him loose and permit him to act his worst purposely that we might not dislike to be Tempted and that he might foyl our greatest Enemy 2. CANST thou think that he who sits at the right Hand of Majesty commanding the Powers of Heaven Earth and Hell could not keep off that malignant Spirit from assailing thee Canst thou think him less Merciful than mighty Would he die to save thee And will he turn that Miscreant of Hell loose to worry thee Dost thou not Pray daily to thy Father in Heaven to Lead thee nâ—t into Temptation Thou hast to do with a God that heareth Prayers Oh thou of little Faith why fearest thou He that was led by his Divine Spirit into the Wilderness to be Tempted of that Evil Spirit bids thee pray to the Father that he would not Lead thee into Temptation implying that thou couldst not go into Temptation unless he lead thee and whilst he that is thy Father leads thee how canst thou miscarry Let no Man when he is Tempted say I am tempted of God for God cannot be tempted with Evil neither tempteth he any Man Jam. 1.13 God Tempteth thee not yet being his thou couldst not be Tempted without him both permitting and ordering that Temptation to his own Glory and thy eternal Welfare 3. THAT Grace which God hath given thee he will have thus manifested How had we known the admirable Continency of Joseph if he had not been strongly sollicited by a Wanton Mistress Or David's Valour if the Philistines had not had a Giantly Challenger to encounter him How had we known the invincible Piety of the Three Children had there been no Furnace to try ' em Or of Daniel if no Lyons to accompany him Be assured thy Glory shall be Proportionable to thy Tryal Neither couldst thou ever be so happy hadst thoâ— not been beholding to Temptations How often sayst thou have I beaten off these base Suggestions yet still they retort upon
me as if Denials invited 'em as tho' they meant to tire me with their Solicitations as if I must yield and be overpow'rd though not with their Force yet with their Frequence 4. KNOW thou hast to do with Spiritual Wickedness Ephes. 6.12 whose Nature is as unweariable as their Malice unsatisfiable Thou hast a Spirit of thine own and God hath inspir'd thee with his So as he expects thou should'st through the Pow'r of his Gracious Assistance match the Importunity of that Evil Spirit with an indesatigable Resistance Be strong therefore in the Lord and in the Power of his Might and put on the whole Armour of God that thou may'st be able to stand in the Evil Day and having done all to stand Ephes 6.10 11 13. Look upon a stronger Champion than thy self the blessed Apostle thou shalt find him in thy own Condition See the Messenger of Satan sent to buffet him 2. Cor. 12.7 and he did it to purpose With what extream Rigour was he buffeted on both sides and how often Thrice he besought the Lord that it might depart from him Verse 8. but the Temptation holds only a Comfort countervails it My Grace is sufficient for thee for my Grace is made perfect in VVeakness Verse 9. 5. IT is not to be consider'd how hard thou art aim'd at as how strongly thou art upheld How many with the Blessed Martyr Theodorus have upon Racks and Gibbets found their Courage stronger than their Pains Whilâ—st therefore the Goodness of God supplies thee with abundance of Spiritual Vigour and Refreshment answerable to the worst of Assaults what dost thou complain of suffering The Advice is Sublime which St. James gives his Compatiots My Brethren count it all Joy when ye fall into divers Temptations Let Temptations be rather Trials by Afflictions than Suggestions of Sin yet even those overcome yield no small cause of Triumph For by them is our Faith tried and the trying of our Faith worketh Patience and the perfect work of Patience is a blessed Entireness The number of Enemies adds to the Praise of Victory To overcome a single Temptation is commendable but to subdue Multitudes is glorious 6. ALAS thou repliest I am opprest not with Multiplicity but with Pow'r In Duelling respect is had to the Equality both of the Combatants and Weapons But alas how am I overmatch'd I am a weak Wretch and We wrestle not against Flesh and Blood but against Principalities and Powers against the Rulers of the Darkness of this World against Spiritual Wickedness in Heavenly Places Ephes. 6.12 Behold the Amorite whose height is like the height of Cedars and their Strength as the Strength of Oaks Amos 2.9 We are but poor Pismirs in the Valley to these Men of Measures Who can stand before these Sons of Anak I did not advise thee to be strong in thy self we are all Compounds of weakness One of those Pow'rs of Darkness were able to subdue all Mortality But to be Strong in the Lord whose inferiour Angel is able to vanquish a Hell of Devils And in the Pow'r of his Might commandeth the most furious of those Infernal Spirits to their Chains What a Condition should we be in if left to our selves there were no way for us but Circumvention and Death But Our Help is in the Name of the Lord who hath made Heaven and Earth Psal. 124.8 The Lord is our Strength and our Shield Psal. 28.7 He is our Rock and our Salvation He is our Defence so as we shall not be moved Psal. 62.2 6. It is he that hath girded us with Strength unto Battle and that subdueth those that rise up against us Psal. 18.39 7. ASSUME Courage therefore to thy self there can't be so much difference betwixt thee and those Hellish Pow'rs as there is betwixt them and the Almighty There Force is finite and limited by Omnipotence How glad do'st thou think Jannes and Jambres the great Magicians of Egypt would have made but an Insect in affront to Moses but could not How earnest was that Legion of Devils fain to beg leave to prevail over a few Gaderene-Swine How strong soever they seem to thee yet to him they are so weak that they cannot move without him Who fears a Bear or a Lion when chain'd to a Stake Children then can be Spectators when they are so Restrained Look not on thy self therefore nor them but look up to the Almighty who ordinates all Motions to his own holy Purposes and even out of their Malice raises Glory to himself and Advantage to his Servants 8. IT is a sad Advantage thou say'st I have made of Temptations For Alas I have been soil'd by 'em what by their Subtilty and Violence have been seduced into a grievous Sin against God and lie down in a just Confusion of Face to have been so miserably vanquished Had'st thou wanted Tears for thine Offences I should willingly have lent thee some But it is indeed a deplorable Case that thou hast given thy deadly Enemy this occasion to Triumph over thee and hast thus provoked God Nevertheless be thou throughly humbled under the Guilt of thy Sin and be not too hasty in snatching a Pardon out of the hand thou hast offended Be humbled and after a serious Repentance be not dis-heartned with thy Failings Neither do I dread to tell thee of an Advantage to be made not of thy Temptations only but of thy Sin 9. ART not thou a Gainer if after this thy Assault thou dost in a Holy Indignation rise up and fight the more valiantly A Wound received whets the Edge of Fortitude Many a one had not been Victorious if he had not bled first Look where thou wilt upon all the Saints of God observe if thou canst see any of them without his Scars Many fearful Gashes we have beheld of the Noblest of God's Champions whose Courage had not been raised to so high a Pitch had it not been out of the sense of some former Discomfortures As some well-spirited Wrestler be not troubled with thy Fall as zealous to repay it with a successful Encounter We know saith the blessed Apostle that all things worketh together for good to them that love God Rom. 8.28 Yea even their very Sins The Corinthians offended in their silent Connivance at the Incestuous Person The Apostles Reproof produced their Sorrow What was the Issue For behold this self-same thing that ye sorrowed after a Godly sort what Carefulness is wrought in you Yea what clearing of your selves yea what Indignation yea what Fear yea what vehement Desire yea what Zeal yea what Revenge 2 Cor. 7.11 What a marvellous Advantage is here made of one Offence And what hath Satan gain'd by this Encounter One poor Corinthian is misled to an incestuous Copulation The Evil Spirit rejoiceth at such a Prey but how long shall he enjoy it Soon after the offending Soul upon the Apostles Censure is reclaim'd he is deliver'd to Satan that he should never possess him 10. THE Corinthians
Mercies are everlasting and Remedies certain Be we but Penitent we cannot be Miserable 19. WE soon forgot this Visitation loss of Friends and God's Judgments and thought with foolish Agag that Surely the Bitterness of Death is past 1 Sam. 15.32 and provok'd him still to Wrath against us we must have after our Contagion a Purgation by Fire which the best Naturalists say is a proper Remedy against Infection the Almighty seeing it necessary to use this Prescription prepar'd it into a Medicine That great Conflagration which consum'd most part of our City to Ashes It was dreadful to behold and made most tremble yet what signs of Remorse do we shew What Vanity I fear I may ask what Vice have we substracted upon the Sense of God's Anger What nicety in Cloaths or Diet have we cut off in sympathy with the Nakedness and Hunger of our afflicted Brethren Nay do not the unreasonable Jollities among us look as if we triumpht in their Miseries found Musick in the Discordant Sound of their Groans and our own Laughter and emulated that infamous Barbarity of Nero who play'd while Rome burn'd 'T is mention'd by the Prophet as a most prepost'rous thing a kind of impious Solecism to revel under the Menace of Judgments Amos 4.11 I have over-thrown some of you as God over-threw Sodom and Gomorrah and ye were as a Fire-brand pluckt out of the Burning yet have ye not return'd to me saith the Lord. 20. FIRE is the Eagle in Nature nothing in the Elementary World mounts so high to its Place and stoops so low to its Prey The two Properties God himself ascribes to that Bird Job 39.27 30. And if we still refuse obstinately to be gather'd like Chickins under our Lord's Wings he can again let loose this Bird of Prey this Eagle of Heaven upon us and from the East where it began before flie it home like Lightning even to the utmost West to seize and to devour where-ever there is the least Quarry remaining 21. NEXT Gebal and Ammon and Amalek and the rest that Hell and Rome and their Partizans our Enemies on all hands both Foreign and Domestick have been so long Confederate against us saying Come and let us root them out that they be no more a People that the Name of that Reformed Church of England may be no more in remembrance They have often attempted to bring about their malicious Designs and yet have not been able to seize us To what can we justly ascribe all this but to the gracious Protection of the Almighty to whom we must fly for Defence and Aid 22. AND now when restless and unquiet Men the true Spawn of him whose Tail drew the third part of the Stars of Heaven and cast them to the Earth would fain by their Hellish Plots and Contrivances bring us down again from thence even down to the Ground and lay our Honor in the Dust When by their secret Machinations they are at work on all sides to hurry us back into the old Confusions in hope that out of that disorder'd Mass they may at length rear up a new World of their own but what a World A World made up of a new Heaven of Superstitions and Idolatries A new Earth too of Anarchy first and pretended Liberty but of Tyranny insufferable at the next Remove 23. IN such a dangerous State of Affairs as this whether should we nay whether else can we seek for Help and Deliverance but under his Protections the stretching out of whose Arms of Providence fills the Breadth of thy Land O England He can make these Cockatrice Eggs on which this Generation of Vipers that eat out the the Bowels of their Mother have sat so long abrood windy and addle So that out of the Serpents Root shall never proceed an Adder to bite us or a fiery flying Serpent to Devour us He can confound these Babel Builders with their City Tower and Temple their Foreign Policy and strange Worship their Novel Modes and Models of Governmnet in Church and State and scatter them abroad from hence upon the Face of the Earth like as a Dream when one awaketh So shall he despise their Images and their Imaginations too and make their whole Contrivance consume away like a Snail and Become like the untimely Fruit of a Woman which shall never see the Sun 24. AND And now let us cry mightily unto God and say Remember not Lord our Offences nor the Offences of our Fore-Fathers neither take thou Vengeance of our Sins Spare us good Lord spare thy People whom thou hast Redeemed with thy most Precious Blood and be not angry with us for ever And good Lord deliver us from Lightning and Tempest from Plague Pestilence Fâ—mine and Fire from Battle and Murder and from sudden Death From all Sedition and Faction Privy Conspiracy and Rebellion from all false Doctrin Heresie and Schism from hardness of Heart and Contempt of the World and Commandment Libera nos Domine A Prayer in time of Publick Calamity O THOU God of Justice I humbly beseech thee in this thy Wrath to remember Mercy We confess O Lord our Guilt flasheth in our Faces and Woe unto us for we have Sinned We have not kept the way of the Lord but perfidiously departed from thee our God the Wise hath trusted in his Wisdom the Strong in his Strength and the Rich in his Riches Thus have we brought our selves under the Curse by trusting in the Arm of Flesh and the Ballances of Deceit are in our Hands and throughout the whole course of our Lives we have wrought a deceitful Work 2. BUT O God bow down thy Ear unto our Prayers attend unto the voice of our Supplications create in us new Hearts O God and renew right Spirits within us We have all been Examples of Sin O make us all Examples of Reformation that old things may pass away and all things may become new Deliver us O Lord from these Publick Calamities which we so Righteously have deserved and let not thy Displeasure arise any more against us and grant that we may serve thee for the future in Holiness and Righteousness all the days of our Lives Amen SECT VIII Loss of Friends 1. THOU hast lost thy Friend Thy Sorrow is just the Earth hath nothing more precious than what thou hast parted with For what is a Friend but a Man's self A Soul divided in two Bodies and animated by the same Spirit It is somewhat worse with thee than a Palsied Man whose half is stricken with Numbness he hath lost but the use of one side of his Body thou the half of thy Soul Or may I not with assurance say that a true Friend hath two Souls in one Body his Own and his Friend 's It was so with Jonathan and David The Soul of Jonathan was knit with the Soul of David and Jonathan lov'd him as his own Soul 1 Sam. 18.1 2. STILL the more Goodness the stronger Union Nature can never so fast
do thy self Matt. 5.29 If thy Right Eye offend thee pluck it out and cast it from thee For it is better for thee that one of thy Members should Perish and not that thy whole Body should be cast into Hell 8. THOU hast lost thine Eyes and with 'em Earthly Contentment But thou art hereby freed of many Temptations for those were the Inlets of Sin and the very Panders of Lust for Debauching of the Soul How many thousands on their Death-beds upon the sad recalling of their guilty Thoughts have wish'd they had been Born Blind So as thy Joy is less thy Sin is less neither shall any vain Objects take away thy Thoughts from the serious Meditation of Spiritual things 9. BEFORE it was no otherwise with thee than the Prophet Jeremiah reports of the Jews That Death is come up by the Windows Jer. 9.21 And our great Grand-mother Eve She saw the Tree was pleasant to the Eyes and took of the Fruit Gen. 3.6 And it hath been so ever since with the Fruit of her Womb both in the old and latter World The Sons of God saw the Daughters of Men that they were Fair and they took them Wives of all which they chose Gen. 6.2 Insomuch as not filthy Lusts but Adulteries take up their Lodgings The blessed Apostle mentions it 2 Pet. 2 14. Having Eyes saith he full of Adultry and cannot cease from Sin Whilst thine Heart walked after thine Eyes as Job speaks Job 31.7 It could do no less but Carry thee down to the Chambers of Death Prov. 2.27 Thou art now deliver'd from that danger of so deadly a Misguidance 10. HATH not the loss of thine Eyes freed thee of a World of Sorrows Hadst thou but seen what others are forc'd to behold those fearful Conflagrations savage Violences and Sacrilegious Outrages thine Heart would bleed within thee Now thou art affected at a distance receiving 'em by the imperfect Intelligence of thine Ear from the unfeeling Relation of others 11. THINE Eyes are lost What need thy Heart to go with ' em Old Isaac was Dark-sighted when he gave the Blessing contrary to his own Intentions to his Son Jacob yet he liv'd forty Years after and could be pleased to have good Provision made him with Wine and Venison Gen. 27.25 Our Life doth not lye in our Eyes The Spirit of a Man is that which upholds his Infirmities Prov. 18.14 Labour to raise thy self to a cheerful Disposition and in thy Bodily Darkness There shall be Light and Joy to thy Soul Est. 8.16 12. HATH God taken away thy Sight But hath he not given thee a supply in other Faculties Are not thy internal Senses more quick thy Memory stronger thy Fancy more active and thy Understanding more apprehensive The Wonders we have heard of Blind Men's Memories were if to be credited not obvious to conceive that the removal of Distractions gives them opportunity of a careful reposition of desired Objects and a sure Fixedness of 'em where they are laid Hence hath it come to pass that some Blind Men have attain'd to those Perfections which their Eyes could never have endu'd 'em with 13. OUR Ecclesiastical Story reports of Didymus of Alexandria being Blind from his Infancy through his Prayers and diligent Endeavours reach'd unto such knowledge in Logick Arithmetick and Astronomy as was admir'd by the Leard Masters of those Arts and for his rare insight in Divinity was by St. Athanasius approv'd to be Doctor of the Chair in that Church What need we doubt the Verity of it when our late Times have so clearly seconded it having yielded divers worthy Divines which have been depriv'd of Sight 14. THERE was one very Eminent in the University of Cambridge of great skill in Tongues and Arts and of singular acuteness of Judgment Suidas reports of Neoclides that being Blind he could steal more cunningly than any that had use of Eyes I may as boldly say of Mr. Fisher That he was more dextrous in picking the Locks of difficult Authors and extracting their Treasures of hidden Secrets than those that had the sharpest Eyes about 'em insomuch as it was noted those were singular Proficients which employ'd themselves in reading to him If they read Books to him he dictates Lectures the while to them and taught 'em more than he learn'd himself 15. AS for the other external Senses they are vulgarly more exquisite in the Blind We read of some who have been of so accurate a Touch that by their feeling they could distinguish betwixt Black and White And for the Ear as our Philosophers observe Sounds are sweeter to the Blind than to the Sighted being more curiously judg'd by 'em But the most perfect recompence of these Natural Eyes is in the Exaltation of our Spiritual Ones We are more Illuminated towards the Beautifical Vision of God as they apprehend more Obscurity in all Terrestial Objects Thou wilt not miss the loss of thy Sight if thou findst thy Soul thus happily Illuminated 16. THINE Eyes are lost It is a Blessing that once thou hadst 'em Hadst thou been Born Blind what a Stranger wouldst thou have been to God and the World Hadst thou never seen the Face of the Elements what Expressions could have made thee apprehensive of the wonderful Works of thy Creator Not any Discourse could have made thee understand what Light is The Sun the Fountain of it the Heavens the Glorious Region of it and the Moon and Stars Illuminated by it How could'st thou have had thy Thoughts raised so high as to give Glory to that Great God whose infinite Power hath wrought all these marvellous things 17. NO doubt God hath his ways of Mercy for those that are Born Blind not requiring what he hath not given supplying by his Spirit in the internal Vessels what is wanting in the External So as even those that never see the Face of the World shall behold the Face of God that made it But in an ordinary Course of proceeding those which have been Blind from their Birth must needs want those helps of knowing and glorifying God in his mighty Works which lye open to Sight These once satisfied thine Eyes and remain with thee in their absence 18. THEREFORE walk on in the strength of those fixed thoughts alwayes adoring the Majesty of that God whom thy Sight hath represented to thee so Glorious and in an humble Submission to his Pleasure strive against all the discomforts of thy Sufferings It is reported of a valiant Soldier Polyzelus who after his Eyes were shot out in Battle covering his Face with his Target fought and laid about him vehemently as if he had receiv'd no hurt Strive to imitate this Courage and let not the loss of thine Eyes hinder thee from a cheerful Resistance of those Spiritural Enemies which labour to draw thee into an impatient Murmuring against God But wait humbly upon him who hath better Eyes for thee than thou hast lost 19. THOU hast lost thy Hearing It is
Night without warning or noise Let thy careful vigilance expect it and thy Soul shall not be surprized nor confounded Thine Audit is sure and uncertain Sure that it will be but uncertain the time If thou wilt approve thy self a good Steward have thine Account ready and set thy reckoning even betwixâ— God and thy Soul Blessed is that Servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing Mat. 24.46 15. LOOK upon the Heavens and Earth as Dissolving and think with St. Jerome that thou hearest the last Trump and voice of the Arch-angel shrilling in thine Ears Arise ye dead and come to judgment Let it be thy main care to live Soberly Righteously and Godly in this present World looking for that Blessed Hope and the Glorious Appearing of the Great God and our Saviour Jesus Chirst who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity VVho shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like to his Glorious body according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself Phil. 3.21 A preparatory Prayer of the Judgment to come O Omnipotent Lord God who hast appointed a day wherein thou wilt bring all the world to judgment with every secret thing whether it be good or whether it be evil O make me try my Soul daily and hourly at the Bar of my own Conscience that accusing and judging my self for my sins and transgressions thou mayst not condemn me at thy dreadful Tribunal Lord let that remarkable day be often in my thoughts that the fear of it and thee may be ever before my eyes And my Conscience may be kept more pure by the power of that dread and fear give me an earnest desire and a careful endeavour to direct all my ways and to order the whole Course of my Life according to the Rule and Precepts of thy Holy VVord let it be my utmost care and diligence to have a good Conscience in all things and to live so that my Life being approved of thee my Death may be happy and my appearance before thee in the day of thy coming surrounded with joy and comfort 2. GRANT that the Merit of thy Death and Vertue of thy Resurrection may both Mortifie all my Sinful and Corrupt Affections and raise me to the Life of Righteousness that dying to Sin and governed here by thy â—ower and hereafter Acquitted by thy final Sentence I may at last arrive to a perfect Union with thee with a full view and eternal enjoyment of thee and thy Blessed Presence Grant this through thy Mercies O Heavenly Father thy Merits O Gracious Jesu and thy Assistance O Holy Spirit Three Persons One only VVise Omnipotent and Immortal God to whom belongeth all Honour Praise Might Majesty and Dominion in Heaven and Earth from this time forth and to all eternity Amen SECT XVIII Spiritual Conflicts 1. THOU art affrighted at the thought of Spiâ—itual Enemies Earth nor Hell hath any thâ—ng so formidable Power Malice and Subtilty are mâ—t in them Neither is it easie to say in which of these they are most eminent Certainly were we to match with him on even hands their was just cause not of Fear but Despair 2. I could tremble thou sayst to think what Satan hath done and what he can do With what Contestation he enabled the Egyptian Sorcerers to stand with Moses how they turn'd their Rods into Serpents and seemed to have the advantage of many Serpents crawling and hissing in Pharaoh's Pavement Exod. 7.12 How they turn'd waters into blood vers 22. and brought Frogs upon the Land of Egypt Exod. 8.7 as if thus far the power of Hell would presume to hold Competition with Heaven What furious Tempests he raises in the Air as that from the Wilderness beat upon the four corners of the House of Job's eldest Son and overthrew it Job 1.19 Now Job was the greatest Man in the East Job 1.3 His Heir dwelt not in a Cottage but a strong Fabrick which could not stand against this Hurricane of Satan 3. WHAT fearful Apparitions he makes in upper Regions What great wonders causing Fire to come down from Heaven on the Earth in the sight of Men Rev. 13.13 Lastly what grievous Tyranny he exerciseth upon the Children of Disobedience Eph. 5.6 Couldst thou expect any less from those the Spirit of God himself styles Principalities and Powers and Rulers of the Darkness of this World and spiritual wickednesses in high Places Eph. 6.12 and the Prince of the Power of the Air Eph. 2.2 4. SURELY it were no Victory to be a Christian if we had not powerful Opposites but dost thou not consider that this Power is by Concession and the Exercise but with Permission and Limitation What Power is their in any Creature which is not derived from the Almighty This Measure the Infinite Creator was pleased to communicate to them as Angels which they retain and Exercise as Devils their damnation hath stript them of Glory but we know not how much their strength is abated 5. AND we may perceive how their Power is bounded Those that turn'd their Rods into Serpents could not keep 'em from being devour'd of that one Serpent of Moses Those that brought Frogs upon Egypt cannot bring Lice those that were suffer'd to bring Frogs lose that power to take 'em away Restrained Powers must know their Limits and we knowing them must set limits to our Fears a Lion chain'd can do less harm than a Cur loose Why art thou concern'd at the powerfulness of Spirits whilst they by an over-ruling Power are tied to their Stake that they cannot hurt thee 6. THY Fears are increas'd with their number which are as many as Powerful one Demoniack was possessed with a Legion how many Legions then tempt those Millions of Men upon the face of the Earth whereof none is free from their Solicitations to evil That holy Man whom our counterfeit Hermits pretend to imitate in the Vision of his retiredness saw the Air full of them and their snares for Mankind and were our Eyes as clear as His we might perhaps meet with the same Prospect But be not dismaid Couldst thou borrow the eyes of the Servant of an Holier Master thou shouldst see that there are more with us than against us â— Kin. 6.16 Thou shouldst see the blessed Angels of God pitching their Tents about thee as the Powerful Vigilant and Constant Guardians of thy Soul These are those Valiant ones about thy Bed They all hold Swords being expert in VVar every one his Sword upon his Thigh because of fear in the night Cant. 3.7 8. 7. FEAR not therefore but make the Lord Even the Most High thy Habitation then there shall no evil befall thee neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling For he shall give his Angels charge over thee in all thy ways they shall bear thee up in their hands lest thou dash thy foot against a stone and besides this indemnity Thou shalt tread upon
Mar. 12.7 Luke 20.14 How sure work did they think they had mâ—de when they saw him through their subtil procurement nailed to the cross and dying upon that tree of shame and curse when they saw him laid under a Sealed and Guarded Gravestone And now begins their Confusion and his Triumph Now doth the Lord of Life trample upon Death and Hell and to perfect his own Glory and Man's Redemption by his most Glorious Resurrection 20. AND as it was with the Head so with the Members When Satan had done his worst they are zealouser upon their sins and happier upon their miscarriages God finds out a way to improve their evils to advantage and teaches them of Vipers to make Soveraign Treacles and safe and powerful Trochises The Temptations of Satan sent from his Power Malice and Subtilty are but fiery darts for their Suddenness Impetuosity and Penetration If we can hold the Shield of Faith before us Eph. 6.16 They shall not be quenched but retorted in the Face of him that sends them and we shall with the holy Apostle find and profess that In all things we are more then Conquerors through him that loved us Rom. 8.37 And in a bold defiance of all the Powers of Darkness say ver 38 39 I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. A Prayer in Spiritual Conflicts O Blessed Jesu the Lord of Life Prince of Glory and Captain of our Salvation the perplexing trouble of my destracting thoughts do by their sly insinuations and secret importunities disturb the quiet of my mind and make my holy duties become a weariness to my Soul They cool the heat they damp the Vigor and dead the Comfort of all my Devotions Yea even when I beseech God to forgive my sins I then sin whilst I am praying for forgiveness whether it be in the Church or the Closet so Frequently and so Violently do these vain thoughts withdraw my heart from thy service that I cannot have confidence thou hearest my Suit because I know by Experience my own deafness and therefore sure needs must thou O God be far off from my Prayers whilst my heart is so far out of thy presence and hurried away with a Crowd of vain Imaginations 2. But Lord keep my Faith fixt upon thy Mediation let me behold thy Incense when I offer my Sacrifice and though distractions have withdrawn me from my self yet let not distrust drive me from my Jesus O give me an encrease of Saving Knowledge which will prove a sure means of Sanctifying my thoughts Mortifie in me all vile Affections and Inordinate Passions and suppress all evil thoughts and vain Imaginations and by thy Special Grace Excite and Cherish in me Holy and Speritual Affections Thou who hast vanquisht Satan and all the powers of Darkness O give Victory to me and all languishing Souls in our Spiritual Conflicts guide us with thy Counsels sustain us with thy Grace refresh us with thy Comforts preserve us in thy Love and crown us with thy Glory Amen Amen Hallelujah SECT XIX The Character of Patience 1. PATIENCE is a peaceable disposition of the whole Man not troubled nor troublesome but abstaining from whatsoever may disturb himself or others In its Definition we may observe these five heads first the nature of Patiencâ— it is peaceable and quiet not subject to sudden Passion light Motions or short Affections towards it but an habitual Disposition and due Composure of a Mans self which may bear the impression of David's Motto Psal. 120.7 I am for Peace 2. SECONDLY the subject of Patience The whole Man not the external but the internal the heart and head the mind and manners must be dispos'd and compos'd towards it Principally indeed the Heart For out of it are the issues of Life Prov. 4.23 and unless there be a Meek and Quiet Spirit 1 Pet. 3.4 It is impossible to acquire it but withall there must be a quiet Hand Psal. 24.4 A quiet Eye Job 31.1 A quiet Ear Prov. 2.2 And a quiet Tongue Psal. 39.1 And all parts and faculties of the Soul disposed to Patience 3. THIRDLY the parts of Patience is not in being troubled or being troublesom neither actively impatient in displeasing others nor passively impatient in being disquieted by others Fourthly the practice of Patience is an abstinence from whatsoever may disturb for so the word Patience commonly Translated doth import And St. James doth thus describe it Jam. 1.21 A laying aside of all filthiness and superfluity of maliciousness 4. FIFTHLY The Object of Patience or Impatience either in our selves or others Men disquiet themselves either by Causeless conceit of offence offered when it is not By being too suspicious and Inventers of evil things Rom. 1.30 or by too much taking to heart an offence when it is offered by being too Furious 2 Tim. 3.3 Men disturb others either in offering occasion of offence by being Injurious and Disorderly 2 Thess. 3.11 or by bitter seeking Revenge being full of Maliciousness Rom. 1.29 So Men likewise disturb themselves and others when they continue in their sins and never think of Repentance As Elijah told Ahab 1 King 18.18 It is thou and thy Fathers house that trouble and disquiet Israel 5. BY this short view we have taken of Patience we may behold the true Character of a Patient Man He is one of a Mild Nature and true Christian Temper swift to hear slow to speak and slow to wrath 1 Pet. 3.4 Phil. 2.5 Jam. 1.19 His head is not over-laden with Cares of this Life nor his heart with Fears his eyes are not itching after Vanities nor his Ears after Novelties Luk. 21.34 Prov. 29.25 Jer. 22.17 Act. 17.21 6. His Hands are not intermeddling with impertinent business nor his Feet swift to run into Evil His Mouth is far from Cursing and Bitterness kept in as a Bridle that it should not Offend 1 Thes. 4.11 Prov. 4.26 Rom. 3.14 Psal. 39.1 Psal. 17.3 His whole body is fit for a Load of Injuries which he bears not out of baseness and cowardise because he dares not Revenge but out of Christian Fortitude because he will not Rom. 12.13 7. HIS Arms are strengthned by the Mighty God of Jacob his hands are washt in Innocency and his breast is the breast plate of Righteousness Gen. 49.24 Psal. 26.6 Eph. 6.4 The hid-man of his heart consisteth of A meâ—k and a quiet Spirit and his Bowels are Bowels of Mercy Meekness and Compassion 1 Pet. 3.4 Col. 3.12 His Loins are girt about with Truth his Knees are pliable to Bow his Legs to bear and his Foot standeth in an even place Eph. 6.14 Psal. 26.12 8. HE is one can moderate himself in Prosperity and content himself in Adversity His hopes are so strong they can insult over the greatest discouragements and his apprehensions so deep that
Cement Souls as Grace For here the Union is wrought by a better Spiâ—it than our own even that blessed Spirit who stiâ—es himself Love 1 Joh. 4.18 The greater thine Affection the heavier thy Loss But let me tâ—â—l the I fear thou art accessary to thine own Afflâ—ction Didst thou expect this Loss Did thy Heart say What if we should part Didst thou not ovâ—â— enjoy this Blessing If so these are no small Disadvantages 3. AS every Evil so this especially is aggravated by our Unexpectation Neither hadst thou been so oppressed with Sorrow if thou hadst foreseen it It is our weak inconsideration if we welcome these Earthly Comforts not as Guests but Inmates some are importunately Hospitable to entertain their Friends that they have no power to let 'em Depart Whereas we ought according to the Advice of Seneca to possess 'em as those that make account to fore-go 'em and fore-go 'em as if we possest ' em And the Apostle St. Paul gives us this Advice to Use this World as if we us'd it not for the fashion of this world passeth away 1 Cor. 7.30 31. 4. THOU art griev'd for the loss of a Dear Friend Take heed lest thy Love had too much of Humanity and too little of the Deity All Blessings as they flow from the Father of Mercies should be enjoy'd in him But if we enjoy 'em as in themselvs our Love degenerates into Carnal It is a sure Rule that Love depends upon the thing affected but when that ceaseth Love is Extinguish'd As he that loves a Face for Beauty when Deformity appears it cools his Affection He that respects a Man for Bounty disregards him when he is Impoverish'd 5. DID'ST thou value thy Friend for Wit Complaisance and kind Offices All these are lost and thy Love with them But if thou didst affect him for Eminency in Goodness for the sake of God that dwelt in him thy Love cannot be lost because thou enjoy'st God in whom thou loved'st him Comfort thy self therefore in God in whom he was thine and yielded him cheerfully into those Hands from whom thou receiv'st him 6. THOU hast lost a true Friend That Jewel was to be priz'd for the rarity of it The World affords Friends enough such as they are Friends of the Purple as Tertullian calls them Friends of the Basket as the Poet nominates them such as love thy Loaves and Fishes and thee for them Wealth makes many Friends saith the Wise Man Prov. 14.20 and Chap. 19.4 But where is the Man that loves thee for thy self for being Vertuous divested of all By-respects Whil'st there is Honey in thy Pot the Wasps and Flies will be buzzing about it but the Honey being gone the Vessel remains quiet 7. WAS he so much thine as not to leave thee in Adversity Did he honour thee when the World despised thee Did he follow with Applause whilst thou wert hooted at by the Multitude Would he have own'd thee if he had found thee stripped and wounded in the Wilderness Such a Friend is worthy of thy Tears But take heed thy Love prove not envious If God hath thought him fitter for Society of Saints and Angels dost thou repine at his happiness Thou hast lost his Presence he is advanc'd to the Beatifical Presence of the King of Glory Now Whether is thy Loss or his Gain the greater 8. THOU hast lost thy Friend Say rather Thou hast parted with him That is properly lost which is past Recovery and past hopes to see any more It is not so with this Friend thou mourn'st for He is but gone Home before thee and thou art following him You will both meet in your Father's House and enjoy each other more happily than you could have done here below How just is that Charge of the Blessed Apostle That we should not mourn as Men without Hope for those that do but sleep in Jesus 1 Thess. 4.13 14. Did we think their Souls vanish't into Air as that Heathen Poet prophanely expresseth it and their Bodies resolv'd into Dust without all Possibility of Reparation we might weep out our Eyes for the utter Extinction of those we lov'd But if They do but sleep they shall do well John 11.12 Why are we Impatient for their Reposal in the Bed of Earth when assured of their waking to Glory 9. THOU hast lost a Dear Wife the Wife of thy Youth the desire of thine Eyes Prov. 5.18 Isa. 54.6 Ezek. 24.16 Did you not take each other upon Terms of Re-delivery when call'd for Were you not in Uniting put in mind of Dissolution Till Death us do part Was she Vertuous Knowest thou not there was a Pre-Contract betwixt Christ and her Soul ere thou could'st Claim her Body And canst thou grudge his Challenge of his own Wilt thou not allow him to call for a Consummation of that happy Match Did'st thou so affect her that thou would'st not have her Soul Glorious If thou loved'st her not as a Man but a Christian envy her not that better Husband who for her Dowry gives Immortality 10. THY Son is dead What marvel is it that a Mortal Father hath begot a Mortal Son Marvel rather that thou hast liv'd to enjoy and lose a Son We lie open to so many Casualties that our Subsistence is almost Miraculous Thou hast lost a piece of thy self For what are Children buâ— Colonies deduced from our Flesh yea rather our selves in other Models This loss cannot but go near thee But what was the Disposiâ—ion of the Son thou mournest for If graceless and debauch'd as thy Shame so thy sorrow should die with him Place the hopes thou might'st have had if his Reclaiming against the Fears of his increasing in Wickedness and thou could'st have made no other Account but of Dishonour and Discomfort 11. IF it be sad that he is taken away in his Wildness it had been more heavy had he added to the heap of Sin to augment his Torments If he were Gracious he hath a better Father than thy self whose Interest was more in him than thine And if that Heavenly Father have thought good to prefer him to a Crown of Immortal Glory why should'st thou be afflicted with his Advancement Why should'st thou not rather rejoyce that thy Loyns have assisted to furnish Heav'n with a Saint Were it put to thy Choice that thy Son might be call'd from his Blessed Rest and return to his Earthly Relations Could'st thou be so injurious as to wish the Misery of so disadvantagious a Change to to that Soul which as it was never of thy Production so it were pity it should be at thy disposing Rather labour to have thine own Soul so disposed that it may be ready to follow him into those Blessed Mansions and that it may love and long for Heaven so much more to dwell among the Spirits of the Just made perfect A Prayer against Immoderate Grief for the Loss of Friends O GOD the God of the Spirits of all Flesh thou killest and makest
alive thou bringest to the Grave and bringest back again And forasmuch as it hath pleased thee to take from us out of this Sinful World the Soul of this thy Servant grant that our grief for this affliction may not be immoderate whereby we may displease thee or so overwhelm us that we make our selves unfit for thy service but sanctifie we beseech thee unto us this thy Fatherly Correction that we may endeavour to live every day as if it were to be our last that when we are Summoned and Arrested by the hand of Death We may not be afrighted by that King of Terrors 2. LORD we are here in a state of banishment and absent from thee O take us where we shall for ever behold thy Face and follow the Lamb whether soever he goeth and that at the last hour we may pronounce with a good Conscsence we have fought a good fight we have finished our Ceurse we have kept the Faith henceforth there is laid up for us a Crown of Righteousness which God the Righteous Judge will freely give to those that Love and Fear him and trust in his Mercy Amen SECT IX Of Poverty 1. THOU art driv'n to Indigency and which is worse out of abundance Those Evils we have been inur'd to from our Cradle are grown so familiar that we are little moved with their Presence But those into which we fall suddenly out of an external Felicity of Estate overwhelm us Let thy Care be not to want those Riches which shall make thy Soul happy and thou shalt not be troubled with the loss of these mean and perishing Trifles Had these been true Riches they could not have been lost For that Good that is least capable of Loss and unsatisfying in an imperfect Fruition so in the losing it turns Evil 2. DID'ST thou not know That Riches have Wings to fly away Prov. 23.5 And of what use is Wings if not to flie If any Man's Violence shall clip those Wings they take their flight Set thy heart upon that Supream Wealth which cannot be taken from thee which shall never leave thee nor forsake thee then thou mayst easily slight these poor Losses As these were not Goods so they were not thine Here thou foundest them and here leav'st them For the Apostle Timothy informs us 1 Tim. 6 7. We brought nothing into this World and it is certain we can carry nothing out What had'st thou but their use Neither can they be otherwise thine Heirs whom thou leavest behind thee I am asham'd to hear the Philosopher say All I possess I carry about me when many Christians hug those things which are so Transitory 3. IT was an unanswerable Question God moved to the Rich Man in the Parable upon parting with his Soul Then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided Luke 12.20 Perhaps a Strangers or as â—n the Case of undisposed Lands the Occupants false Executors or an Enemies Call that thine own thou art sure to carry with thee that may accompany thy Soul or follow it Such as thy Holy Graces Charitable Works Vertuous Actions and Heavenly Dispositions These are Treasures which thou shalt Lay up for thy self in Heaven where neither Moth nor Rust doth Corrupt and where Thieves do not break through nor steal Mat. 6.20 4. THOU hast lost thy Goods May I not rather say Thou hast restor'd ' em He parted with more that said The Lord hath given and the Lord hath taken Job 1.21 Whether by Patrimony or Pâ—ovidence or Industry the Lord gave it and whether by the Chaldeans or Sabeans the Lord hath taken it and he did but give and takes his own What Reason hast thou then to complain It was not giv'n but lent thee for a while till it were call'd for And do'st thou grudge to restore what thou borrowest Nay that thou mayst have less Claim to this Talent was it not left in thy hand by the Owner to employ it for his Use till he should redemand it with the Increase Thou wert only entrusted to improve and account for it If others have taken off thy Charge by thy impoverishment they have eased thee 5. THY Wealth is gone But if thou hast Necessaries left Be thankful for what thou hast and forget what thou didst possess Hadst thou had plenty thou couldst have used no more than Nature calls for the rest could have but lain by thee for readiness of Imployment Do but forbear the Thought of Superfluities and what art thou the worse Perhaps thy Fare is courser Dishes fewer Utensils meaner Apparel homelier and thy Train shorter But how is thy Mind affected Contentment consists not in Quantities nor Qualities but in the inward Disposition of the Heart that multiplies Numbers and raises Prizes turns course Freezes into rich Velvets Pulse into Delicates and makes one Attendant many Officers 6. WISE Seneca tells thee the true Mould of Wealth is our Body as the Last is of the Shoe if the Shoe be too big for the Foot it is troublesome and useless It is Fitness that is regarded here not Magnitude And this is the Charge of the Blessed Apostle Having Food and Rayment let us there with be content 1 Tim. 6.8 And if we have no more we shall be but as we were and as we shall be For we brought nothing into the World neither shall we carry any thing out 1 Tim. 6.7 7. THOU hast parted with thy Wealth perhaps for thine Advantage How many have been swell'd with Plenty resembling the Ostrich or Bustard with the Bulk of Body unweldly to raise their Thoughts to Spiritual Things who when their Weight have been taken off have mounted nimbly towards Heaven How many had lost their Lives if with the Philosopher they had not parted with their God and how many through Covetousness may loss their Souls The Vessel had sunk in this boist'rous Sea if the Earthly Freight had not been cast over-board and why art thou troubled to lose that which might have undone thee in keeping 8. THOU had'st Wealth Hast thou not parted with that for which many hath been worse both in Body and Soul and for which never any Soul was better Have not Corn-fields been spoil'd with Rankness and a Branch spilt with too much Fruit Whereas had they been thinner sown or seasonably eaten down had yielded a fair Crop and those Boughs moderately laden had out-liv'd many Autumns Do'st thou not hear thy Saviour say How hardly shall they that have Riches enter into the Kingdom of God Mat. 10.23 Art thou troubled that a Stumbling block is remov'd out of thy way to Happiness That the Bunch of the Camel is taken off if yet thou wilt pass through the Eye of the Needle 9. THOU hadst Riches But hadst thou not Cares attended ' em Else thou hast fared better than thy Neighbours None but thy self could handle these Roses without pricking their Fingers He was famous amongst the Jewish Doctors whose Maxim was He that multiplies Riches multiplies Cares