and powerfully administred Be much in reading the Scriptures and such help 〈◊〉 the Lord gives you for your instruction and quickening 1 Tim. 4. 13. Give attendance to reading to exhortation to doctrine meditate upon these things give thy self wholly to them that thy profiting may appear to all V. 15. a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hisce te exerceto jugiter constanter vehementer Buc. Be thou in them as the words are that is exercise thy self with these continually constantly and with all thy might let not a day pass without reading meditation and secret prayer that the inner-man may have all the recruits that are needful and b Whilest thou dost not follow the directing light of the Spirit thou shalt never have the quickening cherishing beams of it Culver appointed for its strengthening Your bodies can better want their appointed food than your souls their daily bread The want of constant feeding and sound digestion of spiritual provisions is one cause of that soul-leanness and spiritual languishing that abounds every where this day Thirdly If you will keep up a Heavenly Spirit be much in communion with the Father of Spirits Fellowship with God puts a stamp of Heaven upon the soul and leaves an impress of the Divine Nature on it 2 Cor. 3. 18. But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord. Views of God though but through the glass of Ordinances have an assimulating virtue and do transform the mind into his own likeness When Moses was taken up into a nearness to God he gets some abiding beams of his glory upon him and comes off with divine shines on his countenance Exod. 34. 35. When the Lord Jesus was got on to a high Mountain apart and had more near fellowship with Heaven 't is said He was transfigured and his face did shine Nearness to God does wonderfully warm and quicken the heart as approaches of the Sun do the body With thee is the fountain of life in thy light shall we see light Psal 36. 9. As the being of spiritual Life lies in union with-God in Christ by faith so is its well being maintained by communion with him in the Spirit who supplies the soul with quickenings as the fountain doth the vessel that 's put under it with waters God is in himself the Essential Life and to his people the fountain of Life c Tu Domine es vita per essentiam sons vitae per communionem a te omnis vita effluit ac incessanter proflait Jo. Paul Palant Thou Lord saith one art life by thy Essence and the fountain of Life by communion from thee all Life flows out and runs down uncessantly In fellowship the Lord Jesus lets out Himself Love and Spirit and this attracts the heart after God and strengthens the soul's motions after him Every act of fellowship with Christ here saith Mr. Reyner is a step Heaven-ward By it the heart is raised after God sweetly refreshed and strengthened with spiritual strength To live in fellowship with God saies the same Authour is to live at the highest rate under Heaven next to Heaven yea as in a corner of Heaven to live in the highest Region of Christianity 't is the Life of Paradise an Evangelical yea Angelical and Coelestial Life in comparison whereof the most men and women are dead Communion with God does wonderfully nourish the Heavenly Spirit and fatten the spiritual part of Believers Such saith Reyner suck a honey-comb eat fat things full of marrow and drink wine on the lees well refined spiced wine O Christians press after nearness to God in Ordinances and Duties rest not in highest priviledges without spiritual converse with God in them and communications of his Love and Life through them Fourthly Cherish heavenly motions in your hearts and be tender of all the breathings of the Spirit upon you It may be the Lord comes in upon the heart with some Spiritual Light or Life in a Sermon or in a Duty or when alone stirring up thy desires and warming thy affections making some offers of grace and help to thy dull and languishing soul take heed now how thou slightest or stiflest these this is one step to the quenching of the Spirit and impeding its gracious assistance and vital operations on thy soul 1 Thes 5. vers 19. Quench not the Spirit He that will kindle a fire gathers up every little coal and makes the most of the least spark The shavings of gold are gold and the smallest breathings of the Spirit are to be highly prized He that checks the first motions of the Spirit may never meet with the second and he that slights the least gifts of grace may forever miss of its larger doles O to what a height might grace come in thy soul if every stirring of it were improved God despises not the day of thy small things how unreasonable is it thou should'st overlook his The Lord Jesus Christians doth nourish and cherish the least good that is in you Ephes 5. 29. O be tender of whatever communications come from him to you This will abundantly help on the enlivenings and enlargements of this Heavenly Spirit Fifthly Dwell much in the meditation of Heaven this will heavenlize your spirit 'T was this made the Apostles persons of such heavenly spirits they did often look to things above 1 Cor. 4 18. While we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen No affliction could discourage them from owning and professing Christ nor earthly comforts allure their desires and delights from Christ and that which so strongly guarded their hearts from either of these dangers was a firm perswasion of an interest in future glory and a diligent observing eye upon this glory a levelling look at this mark does wonderfully raise the heart towards it and put in a new spirit and life into the soul strongly engaging all its attempts towards the enjoyment of it Frequent contemplations of Heaven do much wean the heart from this Earth If thou remembrest thou art not of this world earthly things shall onely be admitted into the Court of the Temple not into the heart which is the Holy of Holies Burg. on 17. Joh. How contemptibly did those Worthies of old look on this world when once they got sights of Heaven Heb. 11. They counted themselves strangers and pilgrims on the Earth were not mindful of their own Country went out from it would no more return to it sought an heavenly Countrey were perswaded of those great and glorious things above and embraced them laid hold of them by faith and made after them and that which did so powerfully work over their spirits to these things above was their believing sights of them V. 13. These all died in the faith not having received the promises but having seen them afar off that is the things
me from evil that it may not grieve me and God granted him that he requested Prayer brings down the Spirit sometimes insensible and almost intolerable measures thereof When that precious Servant of the Lord Mr. Bruce in Scotland of whom King James said he was worthy of the half of his Kingdom had sadly represented the Churches case then under eminent danger there was such a sensible down-pouring of the Spirit that they could hardly contain themselves yea an unusual motion on those who were in other parts of the house not knowing the cause of it at that time O what great things did Abraham Jacob Moses Jehoshaphat Samuel Elijah and other Servants of God get out of the hand of God! Luther was a mighty man in Prayer 't is said of him he could get of God what he would n Ille vir potuit quod voluit nothing is too hard for Faith and Prayer because it seeks nothing but what God is willing to spare and hath promised to give Labour to get a mighty Spirit of Prayer the gift of Prayer will not do it must be the Spirit of Prayer which is a pure and heart-cleansing Spirit and cannot dwell with the least regarded Sin Gifts of Prayer with natural affections may be mighty on the Spirits of men but are no way prevailing with God for the Blessing 'T is said of Naaman He was a mighty man in valour but he was a leper 2 Kings 5. 1. So there are some that seem mighty men in Prayer and can wonderfully raife the affections of others pray like Angels but all the while are Lepers under the ruling power of some secret lust pride passion covetousnness uncleanness and the like which they hide vnder their tongue but such are far from this mighty power of prayer which brings down the Spirit on their own hearts or others Ah Christians if you would prosper in grace get and improve the Spirit of Grace and Supplication Thirdly Another thriving way is to engage God with you in all your undertakings 'T was this made Joseph so prosperous in all he did God was with him Gen. 39. 23. Because the Lord was with him and that which he did he made it to prosper 2 Sam. 5. 10. And David went on and grew great and the Lord God of Hosts was with him 'T was not his wisdom valour nor any means he used but the gracious presence of God with him that made him to grow so great This made Solomon to prosper 2 Chron. 22. 11. Now my Son the Lord be with thee and prosper thee When persons lose the gracious presence of God they soon find an alteration and begin to wither and decay in their soul-comforts and prosperity Thou did'st hide thy face and I was troubled Psal 30. 6. Troubled like a withered flower that loseth sap and vigour Mr. Leigh Jonah soon found a change in his soul it ceased to be with him as before when once he fled from the presence of God He never had a good day after he lost the presence of God but storms tempests shipwrack of peace safety and prosperity and a casting into the deeps of distress and ruining dangers Jonah 1. 3 10. Ah Christians as you love your souls and your spiritual welfare take heed of losing God's gracious presence whose company soever you lose keep the Lord's presence with you abide with him and he will abide with you 2 Chron. 15. 2. The Lord is with you while you be with him and if you seek him he will be found of you Put away the unclean thing and he will dwell in you and walk in you 2 Cor. 6. 16. Love him and keep his commandments and he will take up his abode with you Joh. 14. 23. Content not your selves with any priviledg except you have God with you If thy presence go not with us carry us not up hence Exod. 33. 15. I protest saith Mr. Bruce when wrestling for the presence of God with him in his going to preach I will not go except thou go with me Fourthly Follow the counsel of God if you would thrive in the work and way of God Josh 1. 8. This Book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth but thou shalt meditate therein day and night that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous and then thou shalt have good success Jer. 38. 20. Obey I beseech thee the voice of the Lord which I speak unto thee so it shall be well unto thee and thy soul shall live One cause why men prosper no more in Religion is that little conscience they make of doing the will of God men hear but forget the word others know their Lord's will but prepare not themselves to do it We live in an age of notions not of motion after God like men that see Countries in a Map but care not to travel into them bare knowledg pleaseth most Mens zeal after truth is like Absalom's love to his Father David only to see him not to serve him 2 Sam. 14. 32. Let me see the King's face which he no sooner did but conspired against him So most care for no more than to behold truth not to dwell with it and hence 't is that prosperity is such a stranger to them 'T was not directions could heal Naaman of his leprosy but obedience he was never the better till he followed the Prophet's counsel and washed in Jordan that which made the ground rain'd upon to be nigh to cursing was not bringing forth fruit meet for them by whom 't was dressed Heb. 6. 8. Do not only seek after but walk after the truth if you think to prosper in Religion Jam. 1. 25. The doers of the word shall be blessed in their deed Object 'T is the desire of my soul to live in the exercise of every grace and discharge of every duty and some weak endeavours I have had though too too short with many cries for this soul-prosperity but cannot yet attain unto it Methinks I am like a wither'd arm a dry tree and barren womb nothing doth me good no food seed or showers make me thriving and fruitful I fear I shall be at last cut down and bundled for the fire Sol. First Thou mayest thrive in Religion and not know it for a season thy profiting may be though not appear The Tradesman may bring home gain in his purse though untold men know not their gettings till they cast up their accounts thy prosperity may be as a casked Jewel and friend under disguise If you would estimate your advantage survey your selves compare your present with your former state what were you what are you speak out soul was there not a time when thou wert blind thou could'st see no evil in sin nor excellency in grace but now thy eye is opened and things appear otherwise to thy soul than they did Now there is nothing so vile as thy wicked
who can know it none but he who searcheth the deep things of God can reach this bottom and bring to light the hidden things thereof The work of grace is a secret full of mysteries that none can open and fully know but the eternal Spirit that formed it in the womb of a Believer's heart Seeming grace hath so near a resemblance to saving grace that it puzzles the most curious and searching eye if not enlighten'd with a beam from Heaven to discern the difference besides the slender measures of the Spirit that most have attained to in this life with the subtil insinuations the false representations and treacherous prevarications of that bloody and irreconcilable enemy of mankind all which conspire to put a cheat upon the professing Christian and render his Salvation exceeding doubtful And suppose thy state should be safe yet how perplexing and full of anxiety is it to have the least suspition of thy unsoundness To have the life of thy precious soul hang in suspence and to be unresolv'd in that great case whether thou must live or die to all eternity O! how tormenting and heart-sinking is this An awakened Soul that cannot rest in sin nor yet hope in grace or upon any Scripture-warrant come to a determination about his real interest in God and things eternal is like a troubled Sea that cannot rest Instruments of Musick cannot allay its disquietude no Creature-comforts can charm its heart to a peaceful composure who does in reallity but suspect his eternal welfare and but think he reads this hand-writing on the wall Mene mene tekel upharsin Thou art weighed in the balance and art found wanting Dan. 5. 25. 27. Nothing in all the World can be a Plaister broad enough for such a wound no Cordial can cheer that heart till Grace decides the controversy and assures the Soul of an unquestionable title to the Heir of all things and to the inheritance with the Saints in light And have you not reason then to be restless till your propriety in these glorious treasures be attested which though difficult yet is possible and feasible to all that follow Wisdom's counsel in order to it The eternal truth hath opened a way to the decision of this question whether I have eternal life or no and laid down certain marks of a Soul entitled to things above 1 Joh. 5. 13. These things have I written to you that believe on the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life Vers 12. 19. Chap. 3. 14. The Lord hath charged this to be the duty of all that profess their hopes of glory to make their Calling and Election sure 2 Pet. 1. 10. To examine themselves whether they be in the Faith 2 Cor. 13. 5. To prove their own work that they may have rejoycing in themselves Gal. 6. 4. which he would never have done were it impossible He hath also promised the Spirit to help them in this work and to lead them into all truth bearing witness with their spirits that they are the Lords Joh. 16. 13. Rom. 8. 16. And upon this very account exhorts them to holiness that they might not impede this sealing work of the Spirit Eph. 4. 30. And upon the arrival to this certainty hath ensured great consolation and advantage 2 Pet. 1. 8. 10 11. All which words signify nothing and reflect unrighteousness on the spirit of truth were not an evidence of right to these heavenly things obtainable Quest But how may I come to the knowledg of this desirable truth that Heavenly Treasures are surely mine and that I may make a warrantable claim to God to Christ and these things of the other World Sol. 1. First By your conjugal union with the Heir of Heaven All things in Heaven and Earth are Christ's he is the Heir of all things Heb. 1. 2. Hath in these last days spoken to us by his Son whom he hath appointed Heir of all things All things in Heaven and Earth are his by donation purchase and inheritance juridically conferred over to him in the new covenant and actually put into his hand upon the finishing of his meritorious work and victory over death Matt. 28. 18. All power 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is given to me in Heaven and Earth Lawful power right priviledg and authority as the word imports and with this is the Lord Jesus invested and hath all things put into his hands and all creatures under his feet Heb. 2. 7 8. And all right to true riches is derived from him through union with him 1 Cor. 3. 21. 23. All things are yours and you are Christ's and Christ is God's If you are Christ's then all things are yours not else your title is founded on your marriage-relation to him Gal. 3. 29. And if you are Christ's then are you Abraham ' s seed and Heirs according to the promise A title to these glorious treasures is made over in the new covenant which covenant is confirm'd in Christ and made in him and through him to all that are his He is the way there 's no coming to these treasures but by him he is the door no entring into them but through him He is the treasury it self in whom all the riches of grace all the fulness of pleasures and satisfaction lies you must have the treasury before you can have the treasures the well it self before the waters are yours He that hath the Son hath life hath him by way of possession as an owner and proprietor If you have Christ you have all that is his his person and purchase go together Rebekah must consent to go and marry Isaac before she could be invested with that substance and wealth which was his This new covenant which interests a soul in the Lord Jesus and his unsearchable riches is a marriage-covenant Hos 2. 19 20. And I will betroth thee unto me for ever yea I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness and in judgment and in loving-kindness and in mercies I will even betroth thee to me in faithfulness and thou shalt know the Lord. Ezek. 16. 8. I entred into covenant with thee saith the Lord and thou becamest mine this was a marriage-covenant Jer. 3. 14. Turn O back sliding children saith the Lord for I am married to you If you would see your title to heavenly treasures try your conjugal union to the Lord Jesus the Heir of Heaven Every relation to Christ is not a conjugal relation There is a general relation as dead branches to the tree Joh. 15. 2. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away A person may be in Christ as the luxuriant branch or sucker is in the tree that sucks the sap of priviledges and gets some nourishment of frames and comforts but brings not forth fruit it sprouts out of the stock as proud-flesh grows on the wound but hath no right union with the root or nourishment from the head Such are obtruders and hang-bies which take
pruinas grandines tempestates ferre necessarium est antequam maturescat fructum ferat ita hominem fidelem intus extrinsecus multa pati mala oportet Stell The seed must lye long it may may be under ground and when 't is come up be nipt up with frosts and covered with snow and hail and bear many a storm before it ripens and brings forth fruit and this calls for Patience yea many times long-suffering The husbandman waiteth for the precious fruits of the earth and hath long Patience for it untill he receive the early and latter rain James 5. 7. Patience is needful to suffer as well as do the Will of God Rev. 13. 10. Here is the Patience and Faith of the Saints To endure captivity and cruell Death for the sake of Christ Patience to wait for the promise Rom. 8. 25. and Patience to receive it Heb. 10. 36. Patience saith Seneca is a salve for every sore that onely which alleviates our burdens without it we cannot be men or Christians saith another ' t is the grace that makes a compleat and well accomplish'd Christian Manton James 1. 4. When reason is at a stand and hope almost at an end and all refuge fails Patience steps in bears the burden and calms the soul Hope is a necessary grace to this great undertaking reckoned among the three Cardinal virtues that wonderfully adorn a Christian's spirit and conversation 1 Cor. 13. 13. Now abideth Faith and Hope and Charity Hope is the off-spring and refreshment of Faith 't is begotten by Faith and saies one As a good child relieves its father Faith in time of need Hope is an expectation Faith a perswasion Faith eyes the promise hope the thing promised as sure though future which comforts the soul under the present want of desired mercy and this is needful to cheer the soul under its exigencies and disappointments in the way of its Christian conversation Hope keeps in the fire and keeps up the house Heb. 3. 6. Whose house are we if we hold fast the confidence and rejoycing of our hope firm to the end Were it not for Hope the house would fall asunder Hope keeps it together till the Lord new build it in Heaven Hope anchors the soul in a storm and makes it steady under shaking tempests Heb. 6. 19. Hope maintains a Christian in a hard winter while the seed is under clods and till the corn come to the barn 1 Cor. 9. 10. He that ploweth ploweth in Hope that is of a good harvest that will compensate all his labours Hope secures the soul from shame and disappointment under temporary forbearance Psal 34. 22. It helps it to rejoyce in tribulation Rom. 5. 2. and compasseth him about with mercy Psal 32. 10. Humility Self-denial Goodness Temperance Gentleness Love Zeal Holy Fear are all good goods that will off well and turn to the Trader's profit if well improved Get your souls well stor'd with these graces of the Spirit also if you ever think to drive a good Trade of godliness Get your minds filled with knowledge as well as your hearts with grace that 's part of the Christian's Treasure 2 Cor. 4. 6. We have this Treasure that is of the knowledge of God in the face of Christ in earthen vessels In whom are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom Col. 2. 3. Saving knowledge is a Treasure laid up in Christ for Believers and to be fetched out for their use and comfort The riches of the full assurance of understanding and acknowledgement of the mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ Col. 2. 2. The Gospel is a mystery a secret hid from the natural eye and cannot be known but by the revelation of the Spirit To have an inward clear sensible experimental and certain apprehension of the glorious truths of the Gospel opened and confirmed to the eye of Faith is a high attainment beyond what any reach to but those that have the anointings of the Spirit and to whom 't is given by the Spirit as the fruit of prayer and faithful attendance on his teachings in the Gospel and Ordinances of Christ This is called a rooting and establishment in the Faith Col. 2. 7. and growing in knowledge 2 Pet. 3. 18. alluding to trees that being well planted do take deeper root in the earth and in time come to greater settlement and strength against shakings And as children that gradually grow and encrease to higher statures so this spiritual knowledge is gradually encreased 't is not the priviledge of new-born babes of persons at their first conversion to have this deep fathoming of Gospel-mysteries But of stronger Christians who by constant attendances on the Means of Grace and in progress of time by Faith Humility Prayer and Attention to the Spirit do at length come to higher measures of this illumination and full assurance of truth As Gerson reports of a godly man he knew who at first was exercised with many doubts and fears and shakings of Faith but at last through humiliation of soul and a captivating of his understanding to Divine Truth together with the illumination of the Spirit came to a wonderful clearness in the matters of Faith and of his soul-estate with such a settlement of spirit and certainty about his salvation as to have no more doubts remaining in him Christians content not your selves with some notions of truth and shallow cold apprehensions of the great mysteries of salvation but labour to get in greater measures of spiritual understanding both objective as to the Truths to be known and subjective as to the discerning of them Alas we know as yet nothing as we ought there are deeps in the knowledge of Christ for Elephants as well as shallows for Lambs and there are greater beamings on the souls eye to be obtained and more certain understanding and familiar acquaintance to be had with the same Truths we know Your business Christians in the Heavenly Trade is to get more Divine Wisdom to be led farther into all Truth and to enter into the Mysteries of the Gospel wading farther and farther into Sanctuary-deeps to know more of God of the way to him and the things freely given of him and to know better what you know Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes There 's a secret in Gospel-truths which the wisest men in the world can never by their greatest Wisdom come to see without the special revelation of the Spirit As none can come to see the spirits salts and occult virtues in herbs and minerals till by Chymistry they are exstracted Others may discern and receive the things themselves in the gross and bulk of them and yet never see or taste those choice spirits hid in them So 't is with such as are strangers to a spiritual knowledge they apprehend Truths in the bulk and letter of them A A carnal man saith Hooker may hear the sound of the Word understand the
in the subject that 's contrary to it But spiritual mortification is not purely privative but while we live there 's something left that is of a contrary nature to holiness which must be daily opposed and destroyed Sin in Believers is driven from the royal fort of the heart upon Christ's entrance into it but possesses the suburbs and out-works of the soul from whence it must be gradually expell'd also by the mortifying influence of the spirit like the Canaanites which were remov'd from the Mountains but could not be wholly driven out of the Valleys that Israel might by them be prov'd and taught to war Judg. 1. 19. ch 3. 1 2. So the Lord Jesus Christ doth not presently destroy corruptions from the people that by them their sincerity may be proved their graces exercised and the mighty power of his spirit manifested This makes a Christian's work busy and constant having to do with potent enemies within and without Eph. 6. 4. which must be fought every day and a continual war maintained with them during life without fighting no conquering without striving no crowning 2 Tim. 2. 5. 'T is with a child of God as with Israel when fighting with Amalek if the hands of Faith and Prayer be not held up no conquest when these are down spiritual Amalek prevails O the losses that Christians sustain for want of mortification by reason of which their foil'd corruptions rally up and take their graces captive Let men neglect the constant practice of mortification b Si neglexerint perpetuam praxim mortificationis vitia conculcata subacta resumunt vires corruptio abstensa repullulat suffocata gratia spiritus sancti redit homo ad ingenium suum Dav. saith Davenant and their vices that were trod down and subdued will soon resume their strength their corruption that was lopt off will bud out again and the graces of the Spirit in them being almost strangled man returns to his former temper Hence come those dreadful fears of good souls that the grace of God was never in truth in them but that they are still in a carnal state and shall perish at last and all this for want of carrying on the work of mortification in them As a lively Faith overcomes sin so prevailing lust weakens Faith 1 Joh. 5. 4. Eph. 4. 2. 30. withstands the sealing-work of the Spirit and overthrows the work of the Soul's hopes filling it with fears about the unsoundness of his estate and the miserable issue of all his profession experience and labour By this ladder of unmortified sin the Devil scales the royal fort of Faith throws down its Towers and mans it against the Soul's peace comfort and holiness O the mischief that Christians do to themselves by indulging sin and for want of a vigorous pursuit of this great duty of mortification which makes them like to Israel who being once upon the borders of Canaan were by their unbelief and unsubdued lusts brought back near the confines of Egypt again and after a wearying unconstant life were consum'd in the wilderness at last So 't is with gracious Souls by their unmortified lusts after some accesses to grace tastes of divine love hopes of glory and fairness for Heaven they are brought back to the borders of Hell again and made to spend their life in an uncomfortable and souldistressing wilderness Christians 't is not security enough for your peace and spiritual welfare that sin hath lost its dominion unless its strength and life be impaired also dethroned sin may bid you many a battel and give you sore foils and though it may not recover the Scepter yet it may keep the Sword and when it cannot mount the Throne may get into some strong hold and put the soul to much trouble e're it be beaten out again Neither is it safe to acquiesce in some temporary truce with thy corruptions bloody overthrows have been oft-times the events of a cessation of war for a season Joab blew the Trumpet and all the people stood still and pursued after Israel no more neither fought they any more i. e. for that time 2 Sam. 2. 28. And yet 't is said ch 3. 1. Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David but the house of David waxed stronger and stronger and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker Sin may seem to yield and trouble thy soul no more for a time but carry it quietly with thee as Joab did to Abner and on a sudden smite thee to the ground though not to death 2 Sam. 3. 27. Nor is it enough that sin be in chains and under restraint through the present strength of overcoming grace unless it be hang'd up in chains as a dead malefactor Secured lust may break prison and escape from under thy hand as Benhadab did from Ahab to thy greater hurt 1 King 20. 42. What mischief have chained Bears and Lions done when broken loose Believer thy condition is not safe till thy sin be dead what Saul said to Jonathan 1 Sam. 20. 31. may be applied to thy case As long as the Son of Jesse liveth upon the ground thou shalt not be established nor thy Kingdom wherefore now send and fetch him to me for he shall surely dye So can thy Soul obtain no stability in grace but be always full of ups and downs and have wars and changes against thee till thy corruptions be subdued Quest But how shall I do to get sin mortified I am convinced 't is my duty but find it not my capacity After all my strivings prayers and hopes I am still foiled and fear I shall one day perish by the hand of these Sauls O when shall the Kingdom be restored to Israel When shall the deliverer come to my soul What shall I do to get these mountains a plain before Zerubbabel and these Thieves crucified with my Lord Christ Sol. If ever thou meanest to get the death of thy sins take these directions Direct 1. First Do nothing that might tend to strengthen sin Rom. 13. 14. Make 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 no provision for the flesh to fulfil the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lusts thereof the word signifies a provident care of the flesh as men do to maintain themselves and families Don't take up your thoughts about it how to feed and please your lusts Never think to kill your corruptions while you secretly feed and maintain them Many complain of their corruptions and yet all the while feed and strengthen them There are several things that do contribute maintenance to mens lusts First Delightful Remembrance of former sins do wonderfully please a carnal heart and stir up desires to future sins As the remembrance of former mercies is food to present faith Psal 74. 14. Thou brakest the head of the Leviathan in pieces and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness Israel's deliverance out of Egypt and the breaking of Pharaoh's power seriously thought on was
are nine things especially which Christians should be careful to manage to some soul-advantage to be getting good from them to the furtherance of their instruction meditation mortification to sin the world and self to the strengthening of their graces raising their affections quickning to duty preparation for death and every trial in the way to it and for furthering their meetness for glory First Priviledges are one thing which Believers should be getting good from to these great and noble ends of spiritual good Every heavenly Trader hath some priviledges which may afford soul-profit There are Natural Priviledges There are Providential Priviledges There are Spiritual Priviledges All which may contribute some profit to the improvers of them Parts Youth Health Strength are part of Nature's treasure and to be husbanded to the use and service of the soul These are some of those talents the great Housholder gives to his Family though in different measures for improvement and singular mercies they are if well used to the Donor's ends and directions A humble use of Parts to the good of others and setting of wit memory reason with the choicest intellectuals and richest endowments of the rational mind on the service of the soul 3 Epist Joh. 2. making them hewers of wood and drawers of water for the sanctuary of the Lord A shaving and paring off of the excrements and froth of wit that they may become Israelites and devoted to the God of Israel and spiritual uses Deut. 21. 12. keeping them under the government of the spirit is a good improvement of them in this heavenly Trade You that have Parts and habilliments of Mind do not prostitute them to the pleasure of the flesh and the service of sin but resign them to the use of the spirit towards your enrichings with true wisdom and encreases in the knowledg of God which brings salvation When sprightly Parts and sparkling Wit are inlaid with grace then are they as Apples of Gold in pictures of Silver Prov. 25. 11. O how amiable are these endowments of nature when seasoned with grade when perfum'd with Myrrh and Frankincense and besprinkled with the Powders of the Merchant Cant. 3. 6. Youthful time is another priviledg for soul-advantage 't is the morning of the soul's day the best and most useful part of time when appropriated to God and divine uses what advantage have such for warmth of affection and dispatches of duty whereas decrepit age like an emerited Souldier hath worn out its serviceable capacities and as the setting-Sun is attended with evening cold and shadows and the close of working useful time O how unserviceable is old age for transacting the work of the new-birth when Conscience is sunk down into the deeps of guilt when the affections are clogg'd with the dirty things of this world and preengaged to other Lovers and when the marrow of natures strength has been eaten out by the wasting service of sin So great and amazing a work is the salvation of a sinner that it deserves a subject of the choicest capacities to be compleated in and transacted by And then is youth profitably spent when devoted to God and taken up in the great matters of salvation You that are yet in your youth and morning-time let God have the spring of your time the first-born of your strength and first ripe fruits of your capacities let not youthful pleasures have the flower of your time and abilities leaving the bran for God and your souls You that have strength of body and a healthful temper put it to the best use for your heavenly interest Are you strong to labour work out your salvation labour for the bread that endureth you that have legs use them while you have them to carry you up and down after God If you must eat bread in the sweat of your brows let it be the bread of your Father's house If you must rise up early sit up late break your rest exhaust your strength let it not be all for the world let Christ have some of your strength before all be gone yea if you have any let Christ have all As there are natural priviledges so are there providential priviledges also which are the capacities that providence dispenseth to some of doing and receiving good beyond others as liberty peace plenty with other outward mercies all which are to be husbanded to the best advantage of your souls Have you Peace with men improve it towards the obtaining and securing your Peace with God Your firmest leagues with men will hold but a little while if your covenant with God be broken what can favour with men profit you if you have frowns from God If men sheath up their swords and God's be drawn thy case is dangerous and full of trouble Make this use also of thy present Peace to prepare for future trouble and to be the better arm'd when trials come spend not all thy store upon thy present Peace and Comfort but save some fragments for times of need God gives thee a breathing-time that thou mayest hold out the better in thy race and spares thee a little rest that thou mayest be the fitter for approaching trouble Have you Liberty take heed of yokes of bondage Gal. 5. 1. and soul-straitnings If God set you at large do not imprison your selves to the world and carnal lusts Is thy body out of prison labour to get out thy soul also Psal 142. 7. Are thy feet enlarged get thy heart enlarged also and run the waies of his commandments Psal 119. 132. Make the most of your Lilberty in doing service to God in attending on his appointments and in taking all opportunities of doing salvation-work and enjoying salvationhelps Be like your Lord going up and down doing good while you have opportunity Joh. 12. v. 35. If you have spare time or can redeem it by double diligence from your earthly business lay it out for God and his people in religious duties Christian visits holy conferences The time may come you may wish for such a priviledge and long to see one of these daies of the Son of man Have you yet a liberal portion of the good things of this life is your garner full your table spread your cup overflowing lay in the sense of these mercies now as winter-provision to warm your hearts then when you may not have them to warm and refresh your bodies and lay them out to refresh those that want them that they may bless God for you glorifie God in you and procure mercy for you in the day of need Make not thy self a slave to thy abundance but make thy plenteous comforts serviceable unto thee There are Spiritual Priviledges too the lot of some and calls for great improvements There are Personal Priviledges the State and Spirit of Adoption justification of persons purchased right to pardon and peace with God freedom from condemnation assurance of preservation in grace unto glory with many gifts of grace and spiritual favours which
renders Christ precious to Believers is that in their union with him is laid the foundation of their right to and evidence of their hope of glory Quatenus est in illis eatenus habent spem gloriae Dav. and assurance of their future and eternal enjoyment of himself and all his treasure laid up in glory There 's no other way to have a right to glory but by union with Christ who hath purchased glory onely for those that are his and have this spiritual union with him Hence 't is that the Lord Jesus Christ is called a better hope John 17. 21 to 27. Heb. 7. 19. For the Law made nothing perfect but the bringing in of a better hope did by which we draw near to God That is the Lord Jesus in his Priestly Office of which the Ceremonial Law was a forerunner did bring in a ground of better hope in opening the way to God in grace and glory All right to glory is through him who is the Lord of glory 1 Cor. 2. 8. and hath the disposal of it to whom he pleases John 17. 2. even to all the Father hath given him to be his and to these he gives eternal life John 10. 28. They that have union with Christ cannot perish being members of his body flesh and bones should a soul that hath received Christ here miss of glory hereafter then would a member of Christ perish and his body in Heaven be maimed and imperfect which cannot be his Church being the fulness of him who filleth all in all Eph. 1. v. 21. And Christ hath past his word for it they shall not perish John 10. 28. Not one of them is lost who are truly in Christ John 17. 10. They are his servants and shall be where he is John 12. 26. His Spouse which shall be ever with him Try then your union with Christ Have you received him into your hearts by faith Are you one Spirit with him having the same mind in you that was in Christ Jesus you would be holy as he is holy nothing short of compleat oneness with Christ can content you Indeed you have carnal desires within the borders of your souls that crave for satisfaction and sometimes will have it whether you will or no but there is another Law in your mind warring against this Law in your members that cannot rest till you arrive more to his likeness who is your life righteousness and glory Are you implanted into Christ's death and resurrection brought into some conformity to him And do you live upon him as the branch upon the root for all your grace and supply and stay upon him as the stone upon the foundation for your support in grace unto glory as your onely Lord and Righteousness Then are your hopes for glory sure speeding hopes Secondly Truth of grace secures your hopes of glory it being the earnest seal and first fruits of glory 2 Cor. 1. 22. Who hath also sealed us and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts Grace is God's seal for glory and what greater security can there be 'T is his earnest-penny which is never taken away as a pledge may be but secures the whole summe yea 't is part of pay Grace is that seed of God which remaineth in him 1 John 3. 9. and secures the soul's state against final Apostacy through its union with the Spirit dwelling in him Rom. 8. 11. Prove your truth of grace though never so weak and you will prove your title to glory Doth your grace owe its being to the fulness of Christ John 1 16. owning its derivation thence and dependance there Doth your grace spread it self into every part and faculty of your soul wholly sanctified throughout 1 Thes 5. 23. Cannot your grace mingle with sin or own the least appearance of evil Rev. 2. 2. but hath according to its measure an irreconcilable enmity against every known sin Gal. 5. 17. Cannot your grace rest in any measures short of perfection but hath desires and endeavours after more and more grace 1 Pet. 2. 3. Hath your grace pure and ultimate designs for Divine Glory aiming in every thing Phil. 1. 20 21. that Christ may be magnified John 3. 30. and self annihilated then is your grace true grace and will in time turn to glory Thirdly Your mortifiedness to the world will be a good proof of your title to Heaven The heirs of Glory are chosen out of the world are not of the world John 15. 19. Redeemed from the earth Rev. 14. 3. They have not received the spirit of this world but the Spirit that is of God 1 Cor. 2. 12. and are crucified to it Gal. 6. 14. dead to the desires pleasures and interests of this world Col. 3. 1 2. Dead men have no favour or delight in things no more have they who are dead to this world any acquiescing pleasure in earthly things which can no more satisfie a heavenly soul than dung can feed a living man Christians try how your hearts stand affected to earthly things are these great in your eye amiable to your affections attractive on your desires prevalent on your wills beyond the things of Heaven then are your hopes of Heaven unwarrantable by any Divine evidence and will at last leave your names written on the earth Fourthly Your hopes for Heaven if right will be active lively hopes 1 Pet. 1. 3. Who hath begotten us again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Christ from the dead Hopes that put life in your affections i 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est vivificam scilicet quae vivificat Metonymia Effecti Piscat and spirits and makes you vigorous after holiness and the way to glory Ephes 2. 10. Right hopes for Heaven will make you run in the way to Heaven and put you on all manner of holy conversation Paul's hopes for Heaven put him on labours and strivings after perfect holiness 2 Cor. 5. 8 9. Phil. 3. 12 13 14. Try your hopes do they quicken you to duty or leave you dead You have no heart to the waies of God or delight in approaching to him his commands are grievous to you this bespeaks unsound and frail hopes for Heaven which will at last deceive you But sure hopes for Heaven are back'd with suitable labours for Heaven Fifthly If your hopes be right for Heaven then will your conversation be in Heaven Phil. 3. 20. But our conversation is in Heaven whence also we look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ who shall change our vile bodies that it may be fashioned like to his glorious body You will be taken up about heavenly things and driving on heavenly concerns You will be maintaining entercourse in Heaven and keeping up your converses with God you will be often taking journeys to Heaven in your contemplations and desires your business will be much in Heaven and your occasions thither frequent though you live on Earth yet you will converse in Heaven As Dr.
that lead the van to this banner of love which redemption-grace spreads over saved souls these are the stormy tempests the bloody skirmishes that go before the Believers reception of purchased peace Besides the terms on which this good bargain is offered though infinitely beneath its worth yet as to the souls capacity are high it 's no less than a throwing of all its former treasures over-board a parting with its nearest interests and dearest comforts that lye in the way of its enjoyments a plucking out a right eye and cutting off a right hand a denying O hard saying of a man 's own beloved self a not onely bearing when laid on but a taking up not the Cross of Christ alone but his own Cross too whatever his own sins or the hand of men and Devils may make for him and in this plight not to sit down or stand still but to go on and follow Christ up the hill through thick and thin through scorns and thorns day and night through every change in every state home to the grave No easier terms are given to the enjoyment of these riches than a hearty consent to these proposals which may expose the soul to an actual loss of his earthly all and undergoing unknown tryals troubles and duties in the way This bargain though blessed in it self yet is thought so dear by some as that they break upon these very terms and think God grace and glory too chargeable for their acceptance This then sets off the worth of heavenly things that they cost so much upon choice and upon the highest reason and deliberation Thirdly As their price is high so is their worth great they are good in themselves and good to those that have them Hearken diligently unto me and eat that which is good and let your souls delight it self in fatness earthly things are not so if good in themselves yet they may not be good to those that have them Riches are snares and swords to the owners thereof and oftentimes do pierce them thorough with many sorrows They are not onely good but absolutely good other things are not so earthly things are but conditionally good when God sees them good and makes them good so long as he doth bless them and let out something of himself through them manna food rayment nether springs are so far good as God is pleased to convey out some spiritual good thorough them or make them some way subservient thereto these things cannot make men hapyy or prove them so Nebuchadnezzar's greatness could not secure him from grazing amongst the beasts and bedding with them in open fields and under wetting dews Dan. 4. 33. Belshazzar's pleasures could not guard him from the hand-writing against the wall Dan. 5. 5. Dives was in the midst of plenty and honour one day and the next in hell These lower things are but as cisterns and pipes that signifie nothing except some waters be conveyed through them no more do these unless God let out his love and promise through them These heavenly things are not onely absolutely good but every way good good for every man in every state good for poor and rich for young and old for all persons all things Godliness is profitable for every thing 1 Tim. 4. 8. There is no person or condition but grace and spiritual blessings are good for and can convey good thorough There may be such a case in which nothing of this lower world can help Riches make them wings and profit not in the day of wrath In times of trouble and divine wrath instruments of musick carry no sweetness in them but spiritual mercies they help to comfort in the day of trouble In the multitude of sad thoughts within me thy comforts refresh my soul Psal 94. 19. Fourthly Their duration proves them excellent they are lasting wares time works no change upon these the Heavens will wax old and as a vesture they shall be changed but heavenly things never perish with the using indeed our measures and sense of these may change we may not always have the same degrees of grace or comfort but this alteration is not in these things but in us as God so grace and spiritual things are in themselves the same yesterday to day and for ever good in prosperity and good in adversity good in life and good in death mutability mars all earthly comforts they are things of no continuance we may have them but cannot hold them like the fleeting Islands about the Tenariff which persons see at a distance but when they come near them they vanish away The things that are seen are temporal 2 Cor. 4. 18. We may a Ostenduntur istae res non possidentur dum placeant transeunt have them faith Seneca but cannot possess them and they no sooner please us but pass from us but unseen things are eternal His love is everlasting the graces of his Spirit abiding 1 Joh. 3. 9. Whosoever is born of God sinneth not for his seed remaineth in him The joys of the Holy-Ghost are lasting That my joy might remain in you Jer. 31. 3. Joh. 15. 11. Isa 59. 21. Heb. 10. 34. 1 Pet. 1. 4. Indeed acts of grace may fail for a time but the habit of grace is never lost frames and streams of comfort may ebb but the Fountain of Joy is never drain'd dry Justification is immutable Pardon of Sin is irreversible the Saints treasures in Heaven are enduring and can never fade away Men may out-live their Treasures here and see all their Portions go before them but heavenly Interests and immortal Souls are of like continuance and this greatens their value Men estimate a little Land beyond a great Estate of uncertain continuance and such are Wisdom's wares there 's no rotten goods among them Reas 2. Secondly The heavenly Trade is the best Trade in regard of the Trader these Merchants deal with Much of the comfort safety and advantage of mens Trades lieth in in the persons they trade with if these be able honest affectionate it conduces much to the thriving of those they deal with What mischief comes to Traders when Sellers are cheating cruel and extortioning and when Buyers are false and deceitful and fail of their word But none of these hazards can heavenly Traders be exposed to from those they deal with Indeed Wisdom's Merchants have to do with many in the pursuit of their heavenly Trade both by way of taking in and letting out but yet there is one great Merchant with whom they principally deal as to the management and issue of their whole Trade in this Merchandise they converse with God Saints and Angels but all is done through a Mediator the Goods they receive is upon his interest they deal with God through him all their wisdom to trade and rules to act by come from him the good and advantage of all their Trading is secur'd by him and though they may be concern'd with many persons and things with all that
his mouth much sweeter than the honey and honey-comb Men could let their own ploughs stand still to set their hands to God's plough with Mary they could neglect any business to sit at Christ's feet Luke 10. 39. leave their appointed food and most pleasant delicacies for one draught of Sanctuary-waters yea but for one sip of divine sweetness they could break their rest leave all for Christ's company bear frowns threatenings losses sufferings with wonderful ease for some fellowship with God and his people they would not lose a praying or hearing hour whatever it cost them they would stick at no hardships price should never break between Christ and them subscribe any terms and count it a cheap bargain too if at any rate they might obtain grace and some spiritual good to their souls But alas now the case is altered few will bid much for the precious things of Sion even they that could have plucked out their eyes and have given them to the Messengers of Christ now think it too dear to pluck their hands out of their bosomes to open the door to Christ himself Now soulpriviledges are worth little or nothing Sermons society of Saints are scarce counted worth the parting with a little time ease business or friend to enjoy them A shop a market is better than the solemn Meeting with most few can step over a straw and forbear to gather a little stubble though it be to get the unsearchable treasure of Christ This is the sad temper of most Professours this day they have lost their estimation of Christ and spiritual things they do not value let men talk what they will God above the world Christ above rest one day in his Courts above a thousand elsewhere his precious Word above their appointed food most think it more adviseable to take seasons for the world than for Heaven rather to baulk many Sermons than lose a little profit and opportunity though but of very small advantage in the world Men are full and rich and have goods enough they think they know enough already have heard enough prayed enough they feel no want of nor see worth in spiritual things and therefore offer so little for soul-advantages and this bespeaks manifestly the decay of this Heavenly Trade Secondly Fewness of buyers argues bad trading Among men when Chapmen are scarce few take off any goods wares lie on mens hands and will not off then men say Trade is fal'n Thus it is in this Heavenly Trade there are few buyers of Wisdom's Wares choice goods lie on sellers hands and will not off may not the Lord Jesus complain as formerly Wisdom did Prov. 1. 24. I have called and ye refused I have stretched out my hands and no man regarded you have set at nought all my counsels and would have none of my reproof And as the Servants of God in the parable Mat. 11. 17. We have piped unto you and ye have not danced we have mourned and ye have not lamented Markets are full in many places the Lord Jesus hath much goods exposed to sale and there are many Chapmen but few buyers persons come to Religious Assemblies and Sermons as many do to Fairs to see and be seen to gaze on goods but not to buy few will take Christ's wares on his own terms and come up to the selling-price God grace and glory are too dear for many mens money they like some goods but the price is too high some could be content to have Christ but to deny themselves take up their Cross leave all and follow Christ that they think is too dear and break for price Mat. 16. 24. Heaven is desirable at last but the world at present they could be content to take Heaven in reversion when the lease of their worldly interests is expired and to receive their portion there when all is gone here but to trade above now and transport their earthly treasures to Heaven while they enjoy them on earth that 's too hard for them such goods such overtures will not off persons will not receive the Word of God as the Word of God they will not take threatnings to fear them warnings to regard them promises to believe them precepts to obey them May not most Ministers complain Who hath believed our report and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed Isa 53. 1. Most like and commend sermons but few receive and obey them it 's lamentable to consider how little of a Sermon is carried away remembred and practised This is the sin of Professours and some that pass for more than ordinary and yet are guilty of this careless forgetful and unprofitable hearing persons entertain truths as they do their acquaintance when they meet them on the way shake hands and embrace them be exceeding glad to see them and then bid them farewel that 's the reason the Lord Jesus carries back so much goods from Markets his wares will not off men buy not And hence it is also that Christ turns back their duties he will not receive the goods of such neither and this makes bad trading for Heaven Thirdly Want of employment is a sign of bad trading When Trade is good every man's hand is full of work but when men are out of employment and have nothing to set their hand to but stand idle in the Market-place this shews a decay of Trade And is it not so with Wisdom's Labourers now Persons professing God were once active in Religion but are now grown slothful in spiritual business Where are the works of faith the labours of love the fruits of the spirit among Christians this day who is fervent in spirit Ephes 6. 18. who strives in prayer watching thereunto with all perseverance Joh. 6. 27. where are they that labour even unto weariness for the bread that endures Heb. 12. 1. running even unto fainting in the race that is set before them Rev. 7. 15. Serving God day and night in his Temple and being diligent that they may be found of him in peace 2 Pet. 3. 14. What Pharaoh charged on the Hebrews when attempting liberty to serve God may be with much more justice reflected on those that profess to serve God and though they may yet do not Ye are Idle ye are Idle and hence it is mens hearts go a whoring after the world and the flesh with the lusts thereof it is because they are slothful in spirit a death is upon their hearts and this causeth the work of God to cease Neh. 4. 11. It is but little work most do for God this day how cold dead formal slighty are many in duty doing the work of God deceitfully their own consciences being Judges Jer. 48. 10. few labour with their hearts before they come to hear in hearing and after hearing to get some soul-good by it Men are usually pleased with a Lamp though there be no oyl in it cannot be contented without some duty but well pleased with bare duty To be nothing in Religion
professing Christians which draw down their lofty meditations when they are in chase of things above as the Fowler allures down the towring Lark when hovering aloft in the gentle air The Devil deals with earthly men as Naturalists say men do with Bees when they swarm and are flying away they throw up dust and they scatter again So doth Satan when their thoughts are up upon heavenly things he casts in the dusty thoughts of this world and they scatter them again Demas hath forsaken us having loved this present world 2 Tim. 4. 10. Earthly things draw away the heart from God his work and interest How often do those interrupt if not countermand the most serious thoughts of gracious souls and where they cannot as a Master command they will as neighbours be often coming in and hinder the soul in its most weighty business if the door be not lockt against their unseasonable visits Worldly lusts must be denied as well as ungodliness by those that intend to live righteously soberly and godly in this present world Tit. cap. 2. v. 11 12. Earthly things are good servants but bad Masters useful in their place as fire in the hearth is profitable but in the thatch dangerous and as unruly Servants and untamed Colts are serviceable when reduced to their place and kept under government Worldly thoughts are as some roots that must be often trod down or they will spill up and seed in our hearts Christians have a special strong guard against the encroachments of your earthly affairs if ever you will secure the thrivings of a heavenly spirit Take heed also of grieving the Spirit of Grace which maintains and relieves this heavenly spirit As the spring is to the streams so is the holy Spirit to this heavenly spirit in Believers that feeds and supplies it from his own nature Now to grieve this Spirit is to provoke him to withhold his gracious communications to the soul Ephes 4. 30. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God whereby you are sealed to the day of redemption Which implies that this Spirit of Grace being grieved suspends its comforting sealing influences towards the souls of Believers This Scripture is taken from Isa 63. 10. But 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they rebelled and vexed his holy Spirit therefore he was turned to be their enemy and he fought against them They grieved his Spirit as the word signifies and this broke that amicable accord between the Spirit and them that he became their enemy and cut off all succours from them yea comes forth against them And that which grieved the Spirit of God was the the abuse of its kindness V. 9. In all their afflictions he was afflicted and the Angel of his presence saved them in his love and in his pity he redeemed them and he bare them and carried them all the daies of old Nothing does more grieve the Spirit of God than the abuse of his kindness and tender mercy to his people when the Lord hath been opening the bowels of his pity to souls in saving and redeeming-mercy and hath been shedding abroad his love upon them bearing with and carrying of them for a long time and all this is slighted and contemned and the soul takes no notice of all this grace but still perseveres in its evil course this grieves the Spirit and causeth him to withhold his tender mercy and quickening influence from the soul and it becomes weak as water and withers in all the leaves of her spring Ezek. 17. 9. Psa 104. 29. As the member languishes when it can no longer receive influences from the head and the branch withers when the root communicates no sap to it so is it with the soul when the spirit ceases from all its gracious communications as it does when grieved by those he loves and labours with not as if the Divine Spirit could be capable of passions and perturbations as creatures are But then may the holy Spirit be said to be grieved when gracious souls do that which is enough to grieve one that tenderly affects us and by all means seeks our eternal good Now two things usually grieve such a one First Injuries from a friend Secondly The sufferings of a friend Unkindness from those we love does usually sit nearer our hearts than any injuries from strangers or enemies we usually expect more regard from such and therefore are more troubled at disappointments And such is the tenderness of the Spirit to Believers that want of love or injurie from such is more abusive and carries in it all that which in its nature is grieving Again we usually grieve at the evils of those we love and such are the sins of Believers they are injurious to themselves and enemies to their own souls This the Spirit of God sees that gracious souls by their carnal affections and sensual passions by their corrupt communications and fleshly lusts do not onely resist him and frustrate his work in them but these also injure and endanger their own souls by these they lose many a mercy and draw upon them many afflictions and fatherly displeasure from God against them and this grieves the Spirit to see and this removes his presence and hinders his comforting quickening operations by reason of which their spirits fail and become cold and weak to every heavenly action Your work Christians is to be tender of the Spirit to take heed you be not unkind to his person that you do not undervalue his gracious communications or resist his internal operations Take heed of unthankfulness for his kindnesses of slighting his counsels of unsuitable walking to his rules and mercies if you would not grieve him and so deprive your selves of his quickening influences on your spirits That 's the first Beware of those things that weaken this heavenly Spirit Secondly If you would maintain a Heavenly Spirit get all the nourishment you can for it As the body is nourished by food and the animal spirits by contributions of joy and contentment so is this Heavenly Spirit by all the means and helps God hath appointed to this end 1 Tim. 4. 6. nourished up in the word of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 faith and of good doctrine whereunto thou hast attained The Word and Ordinances are to the inner-man as nourishing food to the outward which strengthens the spiritual part and maintains its vigour and activity Timothy had imbibed the Doctrine of the Gospel together with his milk saith Calvin and had made continual progresses in the same to that day which did so greatly strengthen and nourish him in his faith and graces The Word of God is suited sent and commissioned to the service and advantage of your graces 't is the way by which the Lord Jesus maintains and encreases spiritual life and growth in the new-born soul 1 Pet. 2. 2. As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby Attend upon all the Ordinances of God where they are purely
promised viz. heavenly things of which Canaan was a type So a Tria participia refero ad promissionis rem significatam Patriam Coelestem quam unice desiderabant Paraeus refers the participles here to the things signified of the promise that heavenly Country which they onely desired Things nearest Heaven saith one take least care of the Earth The Fowls of the Air neither plow nor sow The glory of the world seems little to one that dwells much on the believing views of Heaven 'T is said of Fulgentius That when he beheld the splendour and joy of Rome the glory of the Roman Nobility the triumphant pomp of King Theodorick he was so far from being taken with it that it raised up his desires after heavenly joys the more saying How beautiful may the Coelestial Jerusalem be when terrestrial Rome so glittereth If such honour be given to lovers of vanity what glory shall be imparted to the Saints who are lovers and followers of truth Serious thoughts of Heaven will inflame the desires after it Our Conversation is in Heaven saith Paul whence also we look for the Saviour who shall change our vile bodies into the likeness of his glorious body Phil. 3. 20. We wait hope for and expect Heaven to be where this blessed Countrey is the breadth and length of which we now look into by faith If your thoughts be much on Heaven your longings will be much for Heaven I have read of one being in his journey towards Jerusalem thought he saw famous Cities in his way and met with many friendly entertainments yet would often say I must not stay here this is not Jerusalem So will thy heart say if thou conversest much in Heaven now when thou meetest with the most desirable comforts of this life yet this is not Heaven my affections must not stay here Allow time every day to take some turns in the upper world and to get thy heart held in the galleries above where are the sweetest delicacies and most delighting views to take thy heart and sublimate thy affections to these pure and eternal things Sixthly If you would keep up a Heavenly Spirit be much exercised in heavenly actions As is mens employments they are mostly versed about so usually is their spirit Actions strengthen habits Men that are much taken up about earthly things are earthly-minded their spirits being tinctured with the things they have much to do with Such are heavenly actions to gracious souls they draw forth and exercise their graces use makes men ready and adapts their spirits to their work The Apostle makes this an evidence of strength in grace that such are much in the exercise of it Heb. 5. 14. Strong meat belongeth to them who are of full age even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil The more you are conversant about holy things the stronger will be the bent of your spirit to them the more facile and pleasant will Religion be and the indisposition of your spirit to it more abated Prov. 10. 29. The way of the Lord is strength to the upright The more you walk in it the less weary will you be the more pleasure will you find in it and the more propense will your spirit be to it This is the first work in Wisdom's Merchandise to get and keep up a Heavenly Spirit Secondly Another piece of your Heavenly Trade is to secure your interest in heavenly things This is part of mens business in the world to secure their interest in the things they have they mark their goods and brand their cattel and set their names on the things they have that their interest in them might be known And this is the great concern of Wisdom's Merchants also to make good their claim to and prove their propriety in the things of Heaven and Glory These are worth the securing being things of infinite moment and eternal duration other things are not O what folly is it to strive for shadows and lose the substance to get and secure Houses Lands and Reputation for your Children and to lose your souls As he that complained when he was to dye That he must burn in Hell for ever for geting an estate for his Son and neglecting his own soul What will it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul Matth. 16. 24. To make all things else sure and leave God Grace and Glory to an uncertainty As Caesar Borgia bewail'd when too late saying when he was near death I have endeavoured to secure me against every danger but death and having never thought of death must now dye Things eternal will then appear the greatest when men come to dye then an interest in God pardon and salvation will be valued beyond ten thousand worlds And is it not worth the looking after now And what can compensate the loss of that soul who miscarries in his All and hath nothing left but the tormenting sense of what he hath lost and the intolerable burden of what he hath found as the fruit of his often cautioned folly 'T is a dreadful thing to be disappointed of salvation-hopes What if thou should'st miss of glory at last and thy end should be to be cut off and to have thy portion with Hypocrites in that Lake which burns with fire and brimstone where the worm never dieth and the fire is never quenched Mark 9. 44. How could'st thou bear if when thou thinkest to enter into the joy of the Lord then in a moment to be thrust into the place of torment and when thou dreamest of carrying up into Abraham's bosome where is eternal pleasures to fall into the hands of God who is a consuming fire this is fearful And yet this may be thy case Think how possible nay how easy 't is for men to be deceiv'd in lesser matters and that they who have had the highest confidences of a future blessedness have been mistaken at last and all their hopes have expir'd as a falling Meteor and come to nothing Job 27. 8. For what is the hope of the hypocrite though he hath gained much when God taketh away his soul Men may think themselves to be something and yet be nothing Gal. 6. 2. Come with confidence to the Bridegroom's doors and demand an entrance as the foolish Virgins did and yet rejected Mat. 25. 11 12. Afterward came also the other Virgins that is when the door was shut saying Lord Lord open to us but he answered and said verily I say unto you I know you not They may seem to have some reason for their claim and produce evidences of their hope and yet be turned away as workers of iniquity Mat. 7. 22 23. Lord have we not prophesied in thy name have cast out Devils and in thy name have done many wonderful works And then will I profess to them I never knew you depart from me ye workers of iniquity The heart is deep and deceitful
the place of children but are strangers who climb up as the thief to steal but comes not in by the door to dwell with God they are retainers to Christ's House that now and then do some service for him and have some scraps and favours but are no abiding members of his house like the Apricot that leans on the wall but is rooted in the earth There is a temporary Relation also as of a Servant to a Master where there is a propriety for a time The servant comes into the house enjoys priviledges and protection and doth some service is very useful for the family and it may be beloved too as a servant And such is the relation of some to Christ but this differs vastly from that union which entitles to the person and purchase of the Lord Jesus he is mercenary in all he doth and hath by-ends in his entrance and continuance he does not any thing from pure love to Christ but for self-respects and advantage his welfare is not wrapt up in the welfare of the family to stand or fall with it to embark his All in the prosperity of that house he lives in the family and upon his Lord but to himself and is as the Planets which are carried about with the primum mobile but yet have a distinct motion and course of their own he is in the family but not of the family and as his relation is but titular so his station is but temporary he abides not in the house for ever Joh. 8. 35. And when he goes away he carries off nothing but his own not a jot of the inheritance is his he hath fared well and had a great deal of credit and comfort for a time but goes as he came and is the same person as he was There is also a Concubine-Relation to Christ which gives the soul some use of his kindness but no right to his person b Concubina a concubo Beza de repud divort p. 249. A Concubine is one that is contented with ones bed but hath no conjugal love to his person neither doth she pass into the husband's family or are her children counted legitimate She is one that either by constraint or consent comes over into an external communion with another for his use and bed but is never married to his person or hath chosen him for her husband to become one flesh with him to take up her delight in him and to do all from a principle of love to him And as she hath not the properties so she hath not the priviledges of a wife for intimacy and entertainment in respect of power and maintenance Such is the relation that many have to Christ they consent to have some enjoyment of Christ but have no marriage-union with him he is not theirs by choice but either for necessity or advantage to enjoy their own pleasures by him and receive some profit from him they never saw an excellency in him or were ever unhearted by him as he is by his Spouse Cant. 4. 9. Thou hast ravished my heart my Sister my Spouse thou hast ravished c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Incordiastime my heart with one of thine eyes with one chain of thy neck Thou hast unhearted me or snatcht away my heart These never consented to all his proposals in order to union with him they never heartily gave up themselves to him nor entred into covenant with him and became his And as they are strangers to an espousal-state so are they to a Spouse-like disposition they have not the temper and carriage of a wife nor the priviledges that such use to have they are not acquainted with his secrets nor the openings of his heart and those amorous embracements peculiar to such a relation they are not invested with any Authority or Rule they have no power over their corruptions nor command of their spirits and affections that should be in subjection to them Grace bears no sway in them sin and self does all in their souls neither were they ever enrolled in his family or owned by the Lord Jesus as his Hephzibah's nor have the allowance and special provisions of the King's Bride and Lamb's Wife and as to their conceptions and those births they seem to have by Jesus Christ they are spurious and illegitimate and never owned by the Lord Jesus as the genuine products of his own Spirit This is the case of those that have not marriage-union with Christ they have no right to him or his Treasures Try then your Espousal-relation to Christ Quest How may I know whether I am married to Christ or no Answ 1. First If you are married to Christ you are such as have special acquaintance with Christ you know him as none else do The wife hath the most peculiar and distinct knowledge of her husband of any Others may know something yea much of him but none knows him so much as the wife she hath acquaintance with all his excellencies and all his infirmities she has the largest tasts of his love and experience of his sweetness and intimate converses with him of any in the world So 't is with the Spouse of Christ she dwells in his presence and lodges in his arms she sees him within the veil uncloath'd of those coverings that stand between him and the eyes of strangers and conceals his amiableness from common beholders He puts aside his glorious Robe and shews her his naked breast and layes her hand upon his tender heart she is much alone with him in his chambers where he expresses intimacy with her as Isaac did with Rebekah and discloses the secrets of his heart and the greatest unveilings of his love He tells her what thoughts he had upon her from all eternity when he was in his Father's Kingdom his heart was working after her and he thought the time long till he came down to see her and no sooner did he cast his eye upon her though then she lay polluted in her blood and cast out into the field to the loathing of her person but his heart did burn within him towards her and it was the time of love He tells her all the time of his hard labour in the world for her seem'd but a few daies and the unsupportable burden of her sins and the Father's wrath upon him for her sake seem'd but as nothing for the love he bore unto her In these converses he assures her of his Love Person and Kingdom and however he may seem in his carriages yet his heart is fixt upon and faithful to her and swears he will never never leave her but after a little absence come and receive her to himself and she shall be for ever with him Thus he manifests himself to her as he doth not to the world by reason of which she becomes so well acquainted with him and knows his voice and by faith sees his sheep she can tell by experience who and what her Beloved is and how far
cannot consent really and considerately to part with all for Christ never yet came up to marriage-terms The treaty between Christ and that soul never went far enough for a conclusion and if it go no farther if thy soul cannot seal to this to part with all thy interests thy dearest comforts yea thy self for Christ the match must after all be broken and Christ and thee part at last yea part for ever O soul try thy heart in this here lies the knot the vertical point this is the most difficult of all Christ's proposals and that the soul is longest consenting to even the letting go all for Christ His person may please well enough his estate is desirable for a reversion but now to take leave of and to go with Christ this is the hard saying Persons would have Christ and the world too Christ and friends too Christ and reputation peace liberty pleasure and self too and if this will not be granted break the bargain but if ever Christ and you have closed and you are his and he yours you cannot count any thing too dear to part with for him or to let go at his bidding If Christ calls for Estate Husband Wife Children an Isaac a Benjamin a right Eye a right Hand all must go and you must part with them freely and chearfully as Abraham did with Isaac Gen. 22. 3. Abraham rose up early in the morning and sadled his Asses and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his Son and clave the wood for the burnt offering and went unto the place of which God had told him Not as Jacob did part with Benjamin by constraint and grudgingly Gen. 43. 11. If it must be so now do this c. He was almost starv'd before he would consent to part with Benjamin and when he did het lets him go last of all he parts with the best fruits of the Land Balm Honey Spices Myrrh Nuts Almonds double money any thing first at last Benjamin was screwed out too Many must have their comforts wrench'd out of their hands before they will let them go but this is not love to Christ A soul married to Christ will say with Mephibosheth concerning his Land Let Zibah take all for as much as my Lord the King is come again in peace to his own house 2 Sam. 19. 30. So let God take all my estate strength liberty comforts seeing the Lord Jesus is come home to my soul in peace Houses Lands Friends Credit Peace Life may be dear but Christ will be dearer if he and you are one flesh All Bavaria said George Carpenter is not so dear to me as my Wife and Children yet for Christ's sake I will forsake them chearfully Do you think me such a fool said Ogvier to one that tempted him with life and preferment that I should change eternal things for temporal Loss of goods is great saith Hooper but loss of God's grace and favour is greater Love is never throughly seen till it comes to parting O the tuggings holdings shifts and reasonings that men will have before they will part with that they dearly love Now it will appear saith Philpot what we love best for to that we love we will stick If Christ have most of your hearts you will let fall every thing out of your hands to hold fast Christ I have said Mr. Bale exil'd my self for ever from mine own native Countrey Kindred Friends Acquaintance which are the great delights of this life and am well contented for the sake of Christ .. Answ 4. Fourthly A Soul married to Christ stays and lives on Christ The Wife casts her self upon her Husband's love and care for her supplies and lives on his allowance for all her provisions 't is suspitious for a married Woman to be maintain'd by strangers and to live on other men for what she needs 't is the Husband's duty to provide for his own and to nourish and cherish his Wife as the Lord the Church Eph. 5. 29. and 't is the Wives duty to go to and rely on his faithfulness for it So 't is with the Soul that hath espoused Christ it is to live on Christ for all it needs they that take Christ aright take him for their All not for better or worse for richer or poorer as Women take their earthly Husbands for Christ is always best of all always exceeding rich and full of unsearchable treasures but to take him for their only and sufficient portion at all times and in all estates Lam. 3. 24. The Lord is my portion saith my Soul therefore will I trust in him Lord said Paulinus when his City Gold and Silver was taken away let not the loss of these things trouble me for thou art all and more than all these to me Shaw's Tombstone p. 33. Christ is the Believer's All in the way and God his All in All at the end It hath pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell and under him all things should be put 2 Col. 1. 19. Heb. 2. 8. And this is for the supply comfort and blessedness of those that are his Eph. 1. 23. Which is the body the fulness of him who filleth all in all Whatever Christ hath as Mediator is the Churches for her use and profit If men have plenty of liquors they fill their vessels with them if they have much riches they place them in their treasury so doth Christ dispose of his fulness for his Churches good hence 't is the Spouse of Christ comes leaning on her Beloved from the Wilderness Cant. 8. 5. and dares adventure her All on the love and sufficiency of her loving and lovely Lord she is full of failings but she lives on him for righteousness many are her weaknesses but she goes to Christ for strength Isa 45. 24. Surely shall one say in the Lord have I righteousness and strength She is sensible of many wants but casts her self on the promise My God shall supply all your wants Phil. 4. 19. Her backslidings temptations dangers troubles and fears are many but she stays on the Lord Jesus whom she hath chosen for her only friend in Heaven and Earth and there she lays her self down in his bosome when wearied with difficulties and doubts and embarques her self in his faithfulness for all she stands in need of for life and godliness for grace and glory Answ 5. Fifthly Fruitfulness to Christ proves Marriage to Christ Hence the Spouse is set forth by metaphors that express fruitfulness a Garden not a wilderness a well watered Garden which is usually most fruitful where the Spices flow out where the Graces of the Spirit are more operative and abundant and Souls become more fruitful in manifested holiness An Orchard planted with choice and pleasant fruits Camphire Spikenard Saffron Calamus Cinamon with all trees of Frankincense Myrh and Aloes with all the chiefest Spices which signify the preciousness variety and abundance of grace and holiness in those who are savingly united
bear the image of their heavenly Father here 1 Cor. 15. 49. There is a stamp of glory upon the Heirs of glory though it may be so covered with dirt and worn out with the rust of corruption as not to be easily seen at all times Whose is this image and superscription Matt. 22. 20. Caesar's coin hath Caesar's stamp and the Children of Heaven have their Father's mark upon their foreheads Rev. 14. 1. If Christ's Treasures be yours you are his Treasury though earthen vessels yet treasures vessels and bags that wax not old Do you hope for spiritual blessings what manner of spirits are you of Do you savour heavenly things What things do best suit and please your spirits the things of Heaven or the things of the world grace or goods righteousness or riches spiritual things or carnal What goes down easiest or when down sits easiest on your stomacks The Heirs of Heaven are Non-conformists to this world but transformed into the Spirit of Heaven and the renewing of their minds to their new estate blessedness and glory Rom. 12. 1. That 's a second thing wherein this Heavenly Trade lies in securing and clearing up your interest in heavenly things Thirdly Another thing wherein this Heavenly Trade lies is this in getting in of heavenly goods This is a great part of Traders business to be furnishing themselves with wares fit for their employmeat and advantage the Artificer in making the Merchant in buying in goods that are vendible and will turn to profit So must Wisdom's Merchants get themselves stor'd with Wisdom's wares that they may be able to drive on her Trade Onely in this lies the difference earthly goods are either the products of mens labours and effects of their industry or else the purchase of their money and treasures But heavenly goods come not in this way as the proportionable reward of their labours or return of their money Indeed heavenly bread must be laboured for but when all is done the Son of man gives it to them Joh. 6. 27. Salvation must be wrought out as if it lay at their fingers end and yet this very will and power to work wrought in them Phil. 2. 12 13. Work out your salvation with fear and trembling for it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure No sufficiency is found in the creature before saving grace helps to embrace its overtures no more than a dead body to receive life Ephes 2. 1. You have not chosen me but I have chosen you and ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit Joh. 15. 16. The soul's choice of Christ is the effect of Christ's first chusing him and its love to God the product of God's first loving him 1 Jo. 4. 19. and the soul's fruitfulness is the effect of Christ's purposing and appointing it thereunto No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him Joh. 6. 44. Not onely morally by perswading the will with potent arguments but physically by working to will by a powerful inclining and disposing the will to come to and chuse Christ through the irresistible operation of the Spirit So then 't is not of him that wileth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercy Rom. 9. 16. salvation-Salvation-grace both of righteousness and holiness is freely given to the thirsty soul through and with Christ Rev. 20. 6. and the inclination and power to receive as freely bestowed also Phil. 1. 29. To you it is given in the behalf of Christ not onely to believe on him but also to suffer for his sake Faith it self is the gift of God both the power and will to believe not given to every man alike For all men have not faith 2 Thes 3. 2. because the Father was not pleased effectually to bestow it Deut. 29. 4. The Lord hath not given you a heart to perceive and eyes to see and ears to hear to this day Who hath made thee to differ or what hast thou which thou didst not receive 1 Cor. 3. 7. If the differencing of one man from another as to his improvement of grace lay in his own inclinations and natural freedom of his own will then there was something in the creature that made this difference contrary to this Scripture and a foundation laid in a man to glory which wholly overthrows the design of Redemption-grace which is to take off all boasting 1 Cor. 1. 29. Rom. 3. 27. and to lay all the praise and glory of man's salvation on special grace Eph. 1. 5 6. neither is the first grace onely freely given but more grace also alsufficiency after conferred for every good word and work yea for every thought that is good comes from the same grace that first called you which must also perfect every good work to the day of Salvation 2 Cor. 3. 5. our sufficiency who have grace to think or do the least spiritual good is deriv'd from the same fountain-fulness that is in Christ Jam. 1. 16. Eternal life with whatever leads thereto is the gift of God Rom. 6. v. 23. As Christ so all things with him are freely given Rom. 8. 32. not onely the seed of grace but the growth of grace not onely the habit but the act of grace all comes from Christ in the way of Redemption-grace Get your hearts well established with this grace that nothing in you or done by you can merit or procure any thing of the Father but upon the account of Christ and his grace and promise in him to all that by the Son do come unto him Goods you need for a daily Trade but no money and price will pass for them Isa 55. 1. they are freely given and yet you may boldly come for them Go you must with empty sacks your friend in Heaven will fill them and return your money in your sacks mouth Christians a considerable part of your work and that which laies the foundation to all your Trade lies in getting your souls furnish'd with heavenly wares You will drive but a poor Trade for Heaven if you do not often receive goods from Heaven Alas what can you do in Christianity without continual supplies from Christ Laodicea could not do any good in Religion for want of goods from Christ She had none of his tryed gold and therefore grew soon poor and miserable If goods fail trade falls and livelihood with it What advantages doth the Tradesman miss and what losses doth he sustain by wanting goods to furnish his Customers So do Christians when they want grace to serve their occasions necessities temptations and duties what advantage might souls get had they but grace when they come under Ordinances and Duties and what losses do they meet with for want of grace under afflictions trials and employments how pitifully do they carry it under troubles and providential exercises and are oft-times sadly foil'd for want of grace and wisdom to manage such trials You have daily
have their life above above the world and things below and such should their work be also How pleasant should heavenly work be to heavenly souls which Believers are and should be Secondly Christians set upon heavenly work for as is your work so will your maintenance be They who do that work which the world cannot have that meat and drink which the world knoweth not Joh. 4. 32 34. The Lord hath dainties and peculiar refreshments for those who are single and faithful in his work they have joyes which strangers intermeddle not with Prov. 14. 10. Whoever go without his labourers shall not lack He keeps a good table for his work-men In keeping of his Commands there 's great reward Psal 19. 11. They eat the fat and drink the sweet Neh. 8. 10. The marrow the spiced wine the hidden Manna is their meat and drink so far as they have need of it O the sweet bits and pleasant sips they miss of who are idle in God's Vineyard They that will not work shall not eat 2 Thes 3. 10. Would you live high in your spiritual comforts then work hard in your spiritual work Thirdly As is your work so will your company be They that do earthly work have earthly companions to labour with them As is mens Trade such is their company The children of the night have their fellowship with unfruitfull works of darkness Ephes 5. 11. and gracious souls are companions with them that fear God Psal 119. 63. Wicked workers have wicked men and devils casting in their lot with them Prov. 1. 14. And so have heavenly Traders heavenly company they have the presence of God with them 2 Chron. 15. 2. The Lord is with you while you are with him They have the Comforter with them Joh. 14. 16. He shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever Rom. 8. 11. By his Spirit that dwelleth in you No company like the Comforter friends may leave you but if you keep with God and do his will the Spirit of God will abide with you for ever though he may not alwaies be seen of you yet he will alwaies reside with you At the best friends can but stay with you but the Spirit of Christ will dwell in you and give you the nearest and most intimate acquaintance with himself if you obey his voice and follow him God's labourers have the company of Angels also they are ministring spirits to the heirs of salvation Heb. 1. 14. They pitch their tents about them that fear God Psal 34. 7. and have it given in charge to take care of the Children of God and to carry them in their arms that they dash not their feet against a stone Psal 91. 11. Those are lovely company indeed such as will never hurt you but do you good you shall be the better for them Prov. 13. 20. Fourthly As is your work so will your wages be to all eternity though not for your work yet according to it Rom. 2. 6. Who shall render to every man according to his deeds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to not for their works The Preposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 noting here saith Paraeus c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 non meritum significat sed mensuram ceu 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quae praemia distribuentur indebita poenae irrogaountur promeritae Paraeus Non propter quid sed quibus sit danda docetur Idem not the merit but the measure analogy or rule by which undeserved rewards shall be distributed and just punishments shall be inflicted as the word is used Mat. 9. 29. ch 23. 3. And so as it refers to glory saith he it rather describes the person to whom this glory shall be given then shews the cause why it is given as Mat. 25. 34 35. Also the word rendered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is used for a free reward that hath no respect to desert Mat. 20. 8. The same reward being given to him that wrought one hour as to those that bore the heat and burden of the day So that the word according notes the kind of work not the cause of reward reward as it refers to salvation Suitable to that of Christ Rev. 22. 12. Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me to give every man according as his work shall be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Indeed evil works have their causality and desert of punishment but not good works of reward Gryner gives three reasons of the difference First Because good works proceed from God and are the fruits of his Spirit in us but evil works proceed from man and are the effects of his own spirit and will Secondly good works are imperfectly good as to degrees and therefore cannot merit but evil works are perfectly evil and therefore deserve death Thirdly Good works are commanded and so are but our duty and cannot merit payment of debts are not purchase but sins are forbidden and so are a breach of the Law of God and deserve death Luke 17. 10. The gift of God is eternal life but the wages of sin is death Rom. 6. 23. Death is wages due but life is a gift altogether free By grace ye are saved Ephes 2. 5. There can be no desert of glory in the most spiritual duties of man Because First They are not man's work but God's in him John 15. 5. Without me ye can do nothing Gal. 2. 20. I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me Holiness is called the fruit of the Spirit Ephes 5. 9. Now the reward is due by way of debt to him that worketh but to him that worketh not 't is of grace Rom. 4. 4 5. and therefore reward is not due to Saints who work not but by strict way of justice rather to the Spirit that worketh in them Secondly They are no way proportionable to the reward and so not meritorious Their work is imperfect they know but in part and do but in part 1 Cor. 3. 9. Phil. 3. 12. The best duties as they come from the Saints here are spotty and as sweet waters that come from an evil vessel they savour of the cask through which they come but glory is perfect omnibus modis and hath no defect in it Our works also are finite being created and creature-actions but the reward is infinite the love and glory of an infinite God Thirdly Though our Holiness were perfect yet it could not merit because it is due to God from that relation we bear to him as his creatures and redeemed ones and from our promise and covenant with him to love obey and serve him Ephes 2. 10. 2 Cor. 8. 5. Duties are but debts not acts of favour to God We owe God our selves and our all and are indebted to Christ for his Redemption-grace more than we can ever pay we cannot though we do all we possible can requite the blood of Christ and love of Christ and till we are out
sin the transcendent glory of Christ is his grace and the glory of the Saints is to be like him Joh. 1. 14. which is obtained through the immediate views of him 1 Joh. 3. 2. When he appears we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is The hope of which sight and glory is soul-purifying now ver 3. And every man that hath this hope purifieth himself as he is pure No sooner had the Apostles a sight of Christ's glorious grace but the next thing was a receiving from his fulness grace for grace Joh. 1. 14. 16. Fourthly A sensible sight of the exceeding sinfulness and evil of sin will help to loosen this conjunction between the heart and sin when once Paul came to see the exceeding sinfulness of sin and felt the killing fruits of it in his soul his heart presently came to be loosened from the ruling power of it Rom. 7. 11. 13. That which I do I allow not what I would that do I not but what I hate that do I. The sense of the shameful fruits of sin was influential on the believing Romans towards their freedom from sin Rom. 6. 21. 22. Christians get your eye more intently fix'd on the cursed nature of sin how contrary to God how like to Devils how filthy loathsome and abominable look upon the certain dreadful effects of sin here and to all eternity if not removed it hath brought death on the Son of God and destruction on the Sons of Men bondage on the creatures a curse on every thing men do and enjoy enmity against God alienation from God robbing him of his glory crossing his will spoiling his works grieving his spirit hindering the soul in duty depriving it of mercy exposing it to judgment necessitating it to evil weakning his hopes breaking his peace opposing his grace and endangering either the loss or lessening of his glory with other innumerable mischiefs injuries cruelty and miseries that follow the heels of it with the great difficulty in its removal I say be more in the heart-affecting consideration of these things and you cannot choose but with Paul be weary of sin loath it and long for a separation from it Rom. 7. 24. How can ye love that knife that hath stabb'd your dearest Friend Father Husband yea your own soul How can you like that cloud and veil which stands between you and the Son of righteousness and keeps these quickning warming beams from you which would have cleared and strengthned your heart How can you hug the fetters kiss the walls and doors that imprison your souls in bondage and keep you from your beloved and from the glorious liberty of the Sons of God what pleasure can you take in that Thief which stole your richest Jewels and hath brought you to a morsel of bread 5ly Apprehension of that high dignity and honorable state to which grace hath advanc'd you those peculiar glorious priviledges which you are now invested with hath a mighty influence on a gracious heart towards the abhorring of sin 1 Joh. 3. 1 2 3. Oh how unsutable are works of darkness to the children of light how unbecoming is vile rayment to them that dwell in Kings Houses A Swine's snout to a Saint's eye thick clay and defiling dirt on the hands face and heart of the heirs of glory and children of the Kingdom what an unlovely sight is it to see Kings wallow in the mire as Swine and such who enjoy the priviledges of Angels to do the work of Devils Remember that thou art Son to a King said one to Antigonus and that will keep thee from base courses O Christians work in these thoughts upon the heart and see whether there can be any room left for the works of the flesh or affections thereof Sixthly Expectations of future glory will help you to despise that abominable thing sin Can you rationally look for a Throne with your Beloved hereafter and lodge in the bosome of your Idols and adulterous Lovers now How can you think that head shall wear a Crown of glory with Christ who is always plotting to put Crowns of Thorns on Christ's head now To reap life everlasting then who sow to the flesh now Do you hope for that time when you shall be uncloath'd of sin and can you make it your present work to put on sin hold fast sin how inconsistent are desires of sin with hopes of freedom Christians don't deceive your souls you cannot have sure grounds of fellowship with God hereafter and allow the least communion between your hearts and sin now Seventhly Maintained union and communion with Christ will break heart-union and fellowship with sin As heart-union with sin will not admit of union and communion with God Hos 4. 17. Ephraim is joyned to Idols let him alone I will have no more to do with him I 'll leave and remove from him So union and communion with God in Christ will not bear union with sin Hos 2. 2. The Lord would not say Israel was his Wife until her Whoredoms were put out of her sight and her Adulteries from between her breasts and no sooner did she return to a believing sight of and affectionate union with him but she presently cries out What have I to do with Idols any more Hos 14. 8 Contraries oppose and weaken each other Psal 97. 10. Ye that love the Lord hate evil Matth. 6. 24. No man can serve two Masters either he will hate the one and love the other or else he will hold to the one and despise the other ye cannot serve God and Mammon Union with God is of an incorporating nature 1 Cor. 6. 17. He that is joyned to the Lord is one spirit and cannot subsist without heart-separation from sin 2 Cor 6. 16 17. I will dwell in them and walk in them wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord. Cleaving to Christ by Faith is the best way to the relinquishment of sin The soul that hath constant fellowship with Christ will not care for other Lovers Phil. 3. 8. That 's the third Direction Get the union between thy heart and sin broken Direct 4. Fourthly If you would mortifie sin strike at the root of it and get the body of this death destroyed The life of the tree lies in the root lop off all the branches yet if the root be sound the tree lives and the branches will sprout out again Job 14. 7 8 9. But if once the root be cut off the whole tree dies and ceases from bringing forth fruit So 't is with sin if you set against this or that particular corruption and let the body of death alone not using means to weaken that you will make but little of all your endeavours when you have quieted one lust another rises 'T is but to little purpose to lade away waters out of a ship unless you stop the leak that feeds them while there is water in the Sea it will be
still running in They that will cure a disease must get the cause removed Original sin is the source and fountain of all actual sins as that is weakened so will the irruption of actual sins be abated The way to prevent the inroads and stranglings of a garrison is to begirt the Fort and not onely keep them in but scale and attach the strong hold that secures them This is the wisdom of a Christian saith Mr. Burroughs that when he comes to labour against any corruption he doth not spend his time so much against this or that particular corruption but strike at the body of corruption And hence is the reason that Christians in a little time grow so much and get so much power against their corruptions whereas others are a long time before they get any power at all 'T is with a Believers heart as with a garden overgrown with weeds though the tops be often plucked off while the mores and strings abide under-ground all they do to cleanse it is labour in vain they still spring up afresh So is it with mens corruptions till the root be more withered and weakened Now to further this work First Be deeply sensible of your sinful natures as well as sinful actions This the faithful complain mostly of even their sinful natures Isa 64. 6. We are all as an unclean thing and our righteousnesses as filthy rags Psal 51. 5. Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my Mother conceive me Rom. 7. 24. O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death Secondly Apply the Death of Christ by faith to the whole body of sin in you Faith fetches virtue from a crucified Christ to dry up the bloody issue of sin Luke 8. 44. chap. 6. 19. This being the appointed way of God to bring down sin The foundation of a soul's redemption from sin is laid in the Death of Christ 1 Pet. 2. 24. Who bare our sins for us in his own body on the tree that we being dead to sin might live to righteousness This death to sin is the effect of Christ's dying for sin this being the end of his Death to redeem his people from all iniquity Titus 2. v. 14. Christ's Death for sin was not onely a pattern to Believers but a medicine and appointed means to destroy their sin Rom. 6. 6. Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin 'T was by the Cross of Christ that Paul was crucified to the world and the world to him Gal. 6. 14. Carry over thy old man to the Cross of Christ and bury thy strong lusts by faith in the grave of Christ deriving virtue thence to kill thy sin Faith brings the soul into a fellowship with the Death of Christ to receive the benefits and energy thereof one of which benefits is a killing power on sin Thirdly Improve Faith in the Promises The death of sin in Believers is part of the New Covenant and as sure as pardon Micah 7. 19. He will turn again he will have compassion he will subdue our iniquities and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depth of the Sea Mat. 1. 21. He shall save his people from their sins Rom. 6. v. 14. Deut. 30. 6. which promises are sure to all the seed The Lord Jesus came on purpose to perform the promises to and in his people Rom. 15. 8. To redeem them from all iniquity Titus 2. 14. And to destroy the works of the Devil 1 Joh. 3. 8. And saith in these Promises is soul-cleansing and sin-subduing Carry over thy unruly corruptions to Christ in the Promises and sue for justice upon them Fourthly Implore the constant help of the Spirit of Grace both to discover oppose and destroy thy corruptions This work is too hard for flesh and blood nothing short of the Eternal Spirit can get a full conquest over sin and the power and wiles of Satan in thy soul 'T is through the Spirit Believers come to mortifie the deeds of the body Rom. 8. 13. And by the spirit of judgment and burning the Lord purges away the blood of Jerusalem Isa 4. 4. And by the Law of the Spirit of Life we are made free from the Law of sin and death Rom. 8. 2. Take heed of grieving and impeding the Spirit of Holiness by which his gracious sanctifying influences are suspended and thou be left to the weaknesses of thy own spirit Be much in prayer and fervent cries for the Spirit 's daily assistance in this great work Fifthly Give no place to the least motions of sin but maintain a constant war against the whole powers and body of sin The want of preventing care timely opposition and constant warfare against all the corruptions of flesh and spirit is one thing that lays gracious souls under the entanglements and prevalency of their lusts James 4. 17. 1 Thes 5. 2. Rom. 12. 9. We embrace saith one the desires of our temptations upon implicit faith not examining and withstanding the first entrance of temptation nor crushing the first motions of sin 'T is easie to crush the Serpent's Egge but dangerous conflicting with it when it becomes a Cockatrice A rebellion may be with less strength dissipated at its first appearance than suppressed when it hath gathered head Isa 14. 29. The Devil 's first assault saith Chrysostome is violent resist that and his second will be weaker and that being resisted also he proves a coward A Christian's wisdom and interest lies much in these two things First To take the start of sin to strike the first blow to be in the field before it yea to baracado up its way and to fall in upon its quarters to lay in provision against its very rising to fortifie the heart against the least consent to sin by applying threatnings and promises betimes and furnishing the heart with soveraign and scriptural antidotes against it The neglect of this preventing care deprives the soul of needful helps against its surprisal and so renders it weak against its first assaults Arius at first saith Hierom was but a spark but being not supprest betimes he prov'd the incendiary of the whole Church Secondly To prosecute the soul's victory over sin Sometimes the Lord gives his people power over a lust by a sanctified affliction or blessed ordinance which victory if pursued might tend to the total subduing of it but usually we grow secure after such successes and do not follow the victory but give over too soon as Joash in his-smiting on the ground 2 Kings 13. 18 19. The Prophet bid him shoot the arrows of the Lord's deliverance and smite upon the ground and 't is said He smote thrice and stayed and the man of God was wroth with him and said Thou should'st have smitten five or six times then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it O what advantage might a
Christian get if he did but follow his victory over his corruptions and not suffer them to recruit and gather strength again Give no rest to thy lusts nor space for reviving no not for a moment but keep up thy warfare every day Sixthly If you would further the death of sin keep up the life of grace As the life of sin weakens grace so the life of grace keeps down and weakens sin Gal. 5. 16. Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh Keep up grace and sin will down As when the house of David waxed stronger the house of Saul waxed weaker 2 Sam. 3. 1. 'T is written of Ephrem Syrus that though he was a man much given to passion in his youth yet after he entered into a strict course of life he was never seen to be angry with any man As you cannot get power over sin but by the Spirit of Grace so you cannot keep the head over sin but by the Life of Grace Get your graces strengthened and you will find your corruptions weakened Thirdly You must carry on Renovation in grace and the inward work of Sanctification every day Ephes 3. 23 24. And be renewed in the spirit of your minds And that ye put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Schol. After the work of Mortification the Apostle presses Christians to this work of Renovation or Internal Holiness be renewed in the spirit of your minds i. e. in your minds by the Holy Spirit the mind being put for the whole man and internal faculties of the soul both understanding will affections and conscience all must be renewed by the Spirit called the New Creature 2 Cor. 5. 17. or Workmanship of Christ transformed after his own Image in righteousness and true holiness and renewed in knowledge Eph. 4. 24. Col. 3. 10. When the soul is truly regenerated there is the stamp or eexmplar of Christ's holiness placed in the whole soul in truth but in weak measures at first which must be renewed or enlarged in the soul till it comes to the fulness of the measure of the stature of Christ Christians at the first change are compar'd to new born babes 2 Pet. 2. 2. weak in grace but under a natural disposition and obligations to growth and encreases in this grace of God both intensively and extensively This is a Christian's duty by divine command and comports with the appointment of God in order to it 2 Pet. 3. v. 18. 1 Pet. 2. 2. Ephes 4. 11 12 13. 'T is the way by which grace becomes glory and is greatly necessary to perfect a soul's holiness that so he might come to his full stature and conformity to Christ Ephes 4. 16. Rom. 8. 29. And by the encreases of grace may be enabled to dispatch all his duties bear his burdens and bear up under his temptations that he might be capable to enjoy all his mercies to glorifie the God of grace and to be made meet for the enjoyment of God in glory On all which accounts it becomes the Christian 's great concern to press after larger measures of grace every day to grow up into him in faith and love who is the head in all things Ephes 4. 15. To grow downward in humility and self-denial to grow extensively in every part of holiness and greater enlargements in every grace to wax stronger and stronger in the grace that is in Christ Jesus Perfecting holiness in the sight of God and pressing more and more after the price of the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus The want of which encreases of the Spirit doth much obscure the glory of Christ in Believers cloud their evidences and render them too weak for their corruptions their growing tryals and duties Christians content not your selves with the truth of grace without daily growth in grace Improve your interest in the Resurrection of Christ by believing for the dailing quickening of your hearts and raising of your affections to things above and attracting your desires and whole souls after God grace and glory Be much in internal soul-work of heart searching soul watching divine contemplation secret ejaculations and soul breathings after God and higher manifestations of his light life and love Be constant in every appointment of God publick and private of prayer reading hearing holy conference that you may get nourishment thereby administred to your souls Get under all the dews and showres of grace for your fruitfulness Be spiritual as well as frequent in exercising grace under the means of Grace without this you cannot serve God acceptably Heb. 12. 28. or receive from him who is the head nourishment to your souls but by these bands and joynts of faith and love Col. 2. 19. Formality eats out that sap which should make you green and flourishing A dead cold heart under the Word can no more digest it to nutriment than a dead body can concoct natural food Maintain hungring desires after the word of grace and appointed means to your spiritual growth 1 Pet. 2. 3. Hungring after food argues a good digestion and a sound concoction furthers nourishment Keep up warm affection to every way of God living on Christ for all the good and blessing of them Psal 84. 5. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee in whose heart are the ways of them who passing through the Valley of Baca make it a Well the rain also filleth the Pools they go from strength to strength every one in Sion appearing before God When Jehoshaphat's heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord 't is said he waxed great exceedingly 2 Chron. 17. 6. 12. Heart-enlargement in the ways of God is a notable help to soul-thrivings Take this one thing more be poor in spirit if you would be rich in grace Such are under the promise of being satisfied of being guided in judgment of encreasing their joy to such he will give grace and revivings Humble souls a Reyner Excellency of Grace saith one are empty vessels which God will fill are low plants which God will make to grow To be nothing in our own eyes is the way to receive all good things even grace in abundance from God Psal 22. 26. and 25. 9. Isa 29. 19. Prov. 3. 34. Isa 57. 15. Fourthly To keep your evidences for Heaven fair and legible is another part of your Salvation-work this will abundantly comfort you under all your tribulations quicken you to a lively dispatch of your duties give you a humble boldness in your approaches to God arm you against the fears of death and administer to you an abundant entrance into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Beware of quenching and grieving the Spirit of grace by which its sealing-work is hindered Take heed of laying blots upon your evidences by any allowed iniquity in your hearts or unpurged defilement in your hands which will weaken
your confidence in the Lord fill you with dejection and despondency of spirit and give your spiritual adversary great advantage over your souls 2 Pet. 1. 10. 1 Joh. 5. 13. 2 Cor. 1. 12. 1 Cor. 15. 58. Heb. 10. 22. Job 19. 25 26 27. 2 Pet. 1. 11. Keep up your sincerity and truth in the inner-man be often looking to the principle of your actions that it be gracious and to your ends in every thing you do that they be pure singly and ultimately aiming at God his will and glory in every duty action and undertaking If you would evidence the truth of grace you must be every day in the exercise of grace and conscionable endeavours to live up to known duties exercising a conscience void of offence towards God and man not resting in any measures of grace but going on towards perfection and aiming at greater enlargements in your souls and graces continually Thirdly Carry on all these natural moral and religious duties that concern others This is the will of God and part of your sanctification Matth. 5. 16. Let your light shine before men and by your good works glorifie your Father which is in Heaven 1 Cor. 10. 32. Walk unblamable towards all men giving no offence to any lest the Gospel be blamed Phil. 1. 10. That you may be sincere and without offence to the day of Christ 1 Pet. 2. 12. Having your conversation honest among those you have to do with dealing justly with all men rendring to every man his due doing good to all as opportunity serveth Gal. 6. 10. Psal 35. 13. and be kind to the just and unjust seeking the salvation of sinners mourning over them praying for them instructing of them seeking by a humble holy and affectionate carriage to win them over to the Lord Jesus who are not won by the word Luke 19. 41. Psal 51. 13. 2 Pet. 3. 1. Loving praying for doing good unto your greatest enemies Vertues separated saith Chrysostom are annihilated equity without goodness is severity and justice without piety cruelty 'T is better to do good than to receive good 'T was said of Mr. Hooker That he was born for the good of many but few born for the good of him That you love delight in and do good to all Saints as Saints that carry the image of God on them That you make conscience of your relative duties both in your own houses and in the house of God Psal 101. 2. Walking within your own houses with a perfect heart to be Christians at home as well as abroad shewing the same spirit zeal and affection to your Families as to others doing your utmost to keep up the service of God in your houses both together and asunder morning and evening in prayer and reading the word of God Acts 10. 2. 9. Josh 24. 18. Psal 25. 10. Matth. 6. 6. That you faithfully discharge those mutual duties you owe to each other as Husband Wife Parents Children Masters Servants Eph. 5. 22. to the end of chap. 6. To be meek loving peaceable in your words and carriages towards one another giving that due respect as the place and relation calls for from each other To be holy and profitable in your discourses seeking the spiritual welfare edification and salvation of each others souls as of your own Deut. 11. 19. Prov. 22. 6. ch 23. 13. Col. 3. 12 to 16. Heb. 12. 14. Gen. 18 19. The want of which due and Christian carriages in your houses brings up an evil report on the ways of God rendreth the truth of your grace questionable hinders the gracious presence of God with you and removes his blessing from you Eph. 4. 29. Rom. 11. 14. You whom grace hath priviledged with a place and name within the walls of God's house do stand obliged to fellowship-duties of love care and faithfulness to each other considering one another to provoke to love and good works Joh. 15. 12. Heb. 10. 24. and esteem each other better than your selves To seek one anothers good as your own serving each other in love Phil. 2. 3. 1 Cor. 10. 24. 33. Gal. 5. 13. To sympathize with each other in affliction Col. 3. 12. and to be helpful to them in bearing their burdens supplying their wants comforting counselling and supporting them in all their tribulations Heb. 13. 3. visiting the sick and imprisoned feeding the hungry cloathing the naked warning the unruly admonishing the offenders bearing one anothers infirmities covering their weaknesses avoiding whatever might offend and injure each others souls or lessen their affections or break the unity of spirit and bond of peace between them but by a sweet humble-self denying and faithful carriage to engage the heart to each other praying for the whole body and every member To be gracious and spiritual in all your communion and converses seeking the prosperity of Sion rejoycing in each others graces and good as in your own doing all you may towards their comfort and salvation Mat. 25. 42. Acts 20. 35. 1 Joh. 3. 17. Rom. 15. 1. and 16. 17. Lev. 19. 10. 2 Cor. 12. 20. Col. 4. 6. Phil. 2. 17 18. Tit. 2. 12. 2 Cor. 13. 7. Psal 15. 2. Col. 3. 9. In your Callings commerce and dealings with men to be just honest and faithful doing as you would be done unto not defrauding one another but speaking the truth in all your bargainings and performing your promises though to your hurt This is a considerable part of your heavenly Trade and that wherein the credit of Religion doth eminently lye the pleasing and glorifying of God the good of others the propagation of the Gospel the peace and salvation of your own fouls even in the faithful discharge of these natural moral and religious duties you owe unto others This is the first part of heavenly work work of a heavenly nature as well as manner both with respect to God our own souls and others Secondly Another part of heavenly work is to do earthly things in an heavenly manner Though the things of the World are of a different nature from things above yet when rightly managed they are subservient to them and come within the compass of this Heavenly Trade To which three things are needful 1 To do earthly things by heavenly rules 2 With heavenly hearts 3 To heavenly ends First Then is earthly work part of your Heavenly Trade when you transact it by heavenly rules every Science hath its Maxims distinct Governments have their distinct Laws So hath every Trade its rules principles and instructions by which it is carried on Earthly Traders have their rules and methods by which they manage their businesses as may most comport with the end they propose and the advance of their own earthly interests and so 't is with heavenly Traders though they have to do with earthly things yet they must act about them by heavenly rules Now there are ten rules which heavenly Merchants must observe in the management of their earthly affairs Rule 1.
thousands enjoy not And there are Publick Priviledges of access to God communion of Saints a place within the walls of God's House with variety of soul-provisions an interest in the promises of God the prayers and graces of his people things of infinite worth and purchased at no lower rate than the blood of Christ You that are interested in those come under great obligations to behold them with wonder to hold them with trembling and to use them with diligence and faithfulness You that are planted in the Courts of the Lord Psal 92. 13 14. be fat and flourishing content not your selves with bare priviledges with dogs to feed on dry bones but get the marrow juice and fattening vertue of all your advantages Do not with Lazarus lye at the door of your rich Lord the Dogs licking your sores when you may go in and be healed Secondly Ordinances are another thing which Believers should be getting spiritual good from These are the golden pipes through which the Lord pours in the Oyl of grace into his golden Candlesticks and Gospel-Churches Zach. 4. 12. Showres of Manna to feed his people in the wilderness and on this side their own Countrey Deut. 8. 16. These are the Churches breasts to fill and nourish her children unto life eternal Isa 66. 11. Gen. 2. 6. 10. Ordinances are the Mist the River of Eden by which God waters his Garden Scriptures are the Mines Ordinances are the opening of them to such as dig for Wisdom A considerable part of this Heavenly Trade is driven about these commodities ply them well that you may get large incomes of spiritual blessings through them Take heed of sleeping at these breasts or playing with them lest the Lord put them up or put you off lie at the pool side wait at the wells of salvation and not onely come but draw out waters of life thence for your needy souls For which four things are needful Preparation Attention Retention Obedience First Prepare before you hear get the room emptied swept and garnished For those provisions of Christ you are called to bring your pitchers empty and clean that God may fill them Come not to clean food with a soul stomach but get your hearts purged by sound repentance and wash'd from an evil conscience and renewed by the Spirit for the new wine of the Gospel 1 Pet. 2. 1 2 3. They must be new born babes that receive the sincere milk of the Word so as to grow thereby Mat. 9. 17. If a dead Christ must be laid in a new tomb Mat. 27. 60. surely a living Jesus will not come into an old heart and rotten sepulchre Spend some time before you go to hear in searching your hearts and reviewing your waies in geting a deep sense of their vileness and the exceeding sinfulness of your sins that the fallow field of your hearts may be plowed up and you sow not among thorns Take heed you bring not a hard heart to hearing When Thrasamund the Arrian read Fulgentius's defence of the truth he praised his wisdom wondered at his eloquence commended his humility yet had his heart so hardened that he could not submit to the truth To help you herein set prayer on work to beg down the Spirit 's of assistance bring your hearts to Christ by prayer that he would make them clean If he say I will be thou clean thy Leprosie shall be cleansed Prayer also helps you to suitable provision and a blessing on it Hearers prayers help Ministers to preach and themselves to hear 2 Thes 3. 1. Souls never thrive better than when Ministers and Hearers be much in prayer for the Word of the Spirit and Spirit with the Word To pray well is to study well a Bene orasse est bene studiisse Prayer saies one is a messenger to fetch that holy seed out of the garner above Prayer is the former and latter rain to make it grow beneath pray continually if thou would'st grow continually After Christ had fed the multitude he went up into a Mountain apart to pray Matth. 14. v. 23. Secret prayer saith Mr. Trap fats the soul as secret morsels feed the body therefore it is said to be the banquet of grace where the soul may solace her self with God as Esther did with Ahashuerus at the banquet of wine and have whatsoever heart can wish or need require Secondly Take heed how you hear hear as for your lives with holy attention with fear and trembling Ministers saith Mr. Latimer should preach as if Hell were at their backs and hearers should hear as if life or death were in every word Hear with holy affection many were given up to believe a lye because they loved not the truth nor received the word in the love thereof 2 Thes 2. 10. Hear believingly the Word preached did not profit being not mixed with faith in them that heard it Heb. 4. 2. 'T is by faith the Gospel becomes the power of God to salvation Rom. 1. 17. The Arm of God was not revealed on Israel because his report was not believed by them Isa 53. 1. The Spirit is given out through the hearing of faith Never expect to profit by hearing till you joyn faith with hearing Thirdly Keep the Word you do hear take heed of letting slip the things you have received Heb. 2. 1. Hold fast the truth that no man take your Crown Rev. 3. 11. Be not forgetful hearers but doers of the Word Jam. 1. 25. Forgetful hearers will never be doers Israel's disobedience was the fruit of their forgetfulness Psal 78. 10 11. The reason of the Disciples trouble at the sepulchre of Christ was said to be their forgetfulness they had forgotten what he had said to them when he was in Galilee Luke 24. 6. Bad memories have many times barren lives Be much in after-prayer for the Comforter's help to keep the Word for you and bring it to your remembrance Prayer opens the heart to take in the Word and prayer shuts the heart to keep in the Word keep up meditation of the Word Psal 111. 91. This chews the cud and gets out the sweetness and nutritive virtue of it unto the heart and life This way the godly come to be as trees planted by the waters side that bring forth much fruit in their season Psal 1. 3. Fourthly Obedience of the Word helps to profiting The worth of Divine Truths is never fully known until they are liv'd upon nor its virtue felt till we cleave to it in our conversation Prov. 4. 6. Forsake her not and she shall preserve problem love her and she shall keep thee Vers 12. When thou goest thy steps shall not be straitned and when thou runnest thou shalt not stumble O the sweetness the pleasure the strength the blessedness that they lose who onely look on truth but do not live it Strangers to a holy life meddle not with the joy that is wrapt up in the Word and Waies of God Prov. 3. 17. Her waies
are waies of pleasantness and all her paths are peace The Word of God yields out but half its sweetness until it becomes the way and walks of men Psal 10. 11. In keeping them there is great reward My witness is in Heaven saith Mr. William Cooper upon his death-bed That the love of Jesus and his peoples souls made preaching my pleasure and I had no such joy as in doing God's work They are blessed that do his Commandment not onely in that they have right to the tree of life but in that they eat the pleasant fruits of it and feed upon that hidden Manna unto which bare hearers are strangers Thirdly Get all the good you can from Providences from favourable Providences and from frowning Providences These are the North and the South winds which the Beloved causes to blow upon his garden Cant. 4. 16. that the spices might flow forth Providences whether prosperous or afflictive are to saved souls but the fulfilling of Divine Purposes and the accomplishment of precious promise which are designed for the good of Believers Observe the Providences of God if you would get good from thence Observable things saith worthy Mr. Blair do follow them that are given to observation Doth God bring thee under smiling Providences get some good from them In these the Lord writes legible characters of his Covenant-love to his people O read the tenderness love bounty and faithfulness of God in them and be affected Get thy heart to write back letters of love and thankfulness to God again entertain giving Providences with thanksgiving hearts and the sacrifice of praise 2 Chron. 29. 31. Let the Lord communicate with you concerning receiving as well as giving Phil. 4. 15. If left-hand mercies flow in upon you take heed lest those floods break their bounds and carry away the banks of your affections and circumspection Christians 't is a safe rule to fear your mercies as well as afflictions There is usually less fear and therefore more danger of professing friends than professed enemies 'T was the prayer of Queen Elizabeth To be delivered from her friends as for her enemies she would take care of them Further if you have now a spring-tide of outward mercies prepare for low-waters The comforts of this world are not standing pools but running streams and rolling Seas that ebb and flow expect not too much from them entertain your comming mercies as strangers who have their time to go as well as come The Lord gives and the Lord takes Job 1. 21. Get good also from taking as well as giving Providences be blessing God for them There is more self-denial and pure love to God expressed in such acknowledgments than in praises for bestowing mercy Job 1. 2. Besides divine grace runs as well through the empty chanels as broad streams of outward comforts 'T is the same hand of the Father that uncloaths which dresses his children the Fork as well as the Rake belongs to the Covenant of Grace and Peace neither is love or hatred known by these things Eccles 9. 1. Some have never found more than when they have lost all The Lord oft-times makes mens losses their gains and their gain of earthly things their losses Saul lost his Asses and found a Kingdom Shimei found his servants and lost his life Place not then your happiness no nor your comforts in these things How many prick their fingers to get a few fading Roses which as soon wither as they are pluck'd Think well of God under scattering Providences and believe he loves you as much when he removes your mercies as when he gives them Look to God in Providences see whence those winds come that blow down your houses and scatter your comforts enquire wherefore God contends with you Job 10. 2. Doth not that worm which devours your gourd breed in your security pride unthankfulness and abuse of them while you had them search out the cause of God's displeasure justifie God in it and bear his indignation humbly come down at his feet kiss his rod and hear the voice of it This is to get good from the worst of Providences Fourthly Get good from the world and things thereof by seeing its wiles and deceitfulness its vanity and emptiness Mark 4. 19. The world is a fading thing the fashion of it passeth away and it is gone Trades-men care not for over-much of those goods that are soon out of fashion Eccles 1. 2. O care not for the world the fashion whereof soon passeth away 1 Cor. 7. 31. The world is a dirty thing 't is hard to touch it and not be defiled Christians be not like Swine who love to run into the dirt and if you would keep your selves unspotted take heed of the world The world is a heavy ponderous thing by faith make it portable and more easie to be born 2 Cor. 4. 17. that it may not clog your feet and stop your race towards glory Faith will soon lessen your burden and mend your pace it will turn brass yea clay into gold and make it light in carriage The world is a strange Countrey to the Citizens of Heaven get good from it by living as strangers in the world by making you long the more for your own home by converting it to the service of your souls and interest in glory The Scorpions in Caria when they sting kill home-bred people not strangers Apollon Be a stranger to the world and it will not hurt thee The world is a subtle Strumpet shun her embraces lye not in her bosom stop your ears against her charms and shut your eyes from her allurements The world is an enemy beware of it when it promises believe it not when it kisses you take heed of the sword in its hand 2 Sam. 20. 9 10. when it cries peace peace then fear swift destruction set thy feet on its fair neck to keep it down get it nailed to the Cross of Christ and pierced to death with the sword and spear of the Spirit Get good from every state and condition God puts you into whether high or low rich or poor If you are above others in place be above them in grace if you enjoy more than others labour to do more than others Matth. 5. 47. The higher you are in the world be so much the lower in your own eyes The tallest Cedars bow most Ships of the greatest burden draw most water and go deepest Exalted Angels rejoyce to be ministring spirits Yea the Son of God delighted in being the servant of men Israel was a Prince and prevailed with God and yet counted himself beneath the least of all God's mercies Gen. 32. 10. By how much the greater I am saith Maximinus so much the more I labour and the more I labour the greater I am Paul the chiefest Apostle and yet in his own eyes less than the least of all Saints Ephes 3. 8. Humble your selves when God exalts you and when you humble your selves God will exalt you Have you
worship and God corrupted their seed Mal. 2. 3. I will destroy your fruits before they are ripe which Cocceius thinks was fulfilled in that great famine in Claudius his days mentioned Acts 11. 28. They had made the service of God contemptible Mal. 1. 7 and God made them contemptible Chap. 2. 9. Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according as you have not kept my ways but have been partial in my law you have cast dung on my Ordinances for such are corruptions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in God's worship and I will spread dung on your faces Mal. 2. 2. Even the dung of your solemn Feasts excrements f Tanta copia stercorabo vos sementis loco ut fimo inquinati plane obruamini Jun. I will instead of seed throw so much dung upon you even the excrements of your corrupt service as the defilement thereof shall even overcome and ruine you For these corruptions in the worship of God did God stretch out his hand over Israel and diminish their ordinary food delivering them to the will of them that hated them Ezek. 16. 26 27. I have cut thee short of thy allowance g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 demensum tuum I have diminish'd thy portion Greenhill thy lawful things h Statutum cibum tibi Lav. Sept. God's worship is his name by which he is known and distinguish'd from all Idols Exod. 20. 4. his glory Rom. 1. 23. To corrupt his worship is to defile the place of his Throne Ezek. 43. 7. and to defalcate and cut off his tribute and revenues from the earth And no wonder if God blast their Trade who adulterate his Treasure Thirdly A covetous with-holding from God turns away the blessing of God on mens labours and tends to poverty Prov. 11. 24. There is that scattereth and yet encreaseth and there is that with-holdeth more than is meet but it tendeth to poverty Many think that lost which is laid out for God and be-think nothing but what goes to pious uses O how sparingly do most sow as if they thought their seed cast away and thence 't is they reap so sparingly 2 Cor. 9. 6. Mens former charity rather like showers than streams are dried up and therefore are God's showers with-held also expences for God having been many seems now burdensome through mens self-love and unbelief While Alexander had hope for more he never wanted a heart or hand to part with the Frankincense and Gold he had certainly mens Faith fails when their Charity fades Few in their scarcity dare with the Widow of Zarephtah give the first cake to the use and service of God 1 King 17. 13 14. No wonder the barrel of Meal and cruise of Oil fails 't is Christians weariness in well-doing and defectiveness in scattering for God hinders their reaping and gathering Gal. 6. 9. This was one of those sins that brought a curse and devourer on Israel's encrease Mal. 3. 9 10 11. and is still as pregnant of blastings and mildews as ever it was Fourthly Greedy desires after the World are oftentimes followed with disappointments Ye looked for much Hag. 1. 9. and it came to little 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sept. To look with desire and affection 'T is mercy in God when mens hearts run too fast after the World to lay some blocks in their way to hedg it up with thorns that they might not overtake their Lovers i Spes in oculis luctus in manibus Jerom. Hos 2. 6. Thorns in mens way is safer than spears in their bowels and that would have been the issue of such Lovers when they meet Covetousness is the Hydropick distemper of old aged profession to cure which the great Physitian hath providentially prescribed abstinence and in his holy jealousy hath made men to read their sin in their punishment The Lord sees it dangerous for his people to have much of this World because it becomes a snare to their souls They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare 1 Tim. 6. 9. Earthly things are the very bane of Religion they entangle mens feet and keep them from attendance on God in his appointments The invited guests had no leisure to enjoy refreshments for their souls because of their interrupting interests of this World Matth. 22. 5. The things of Heaven seem light to such compar'd with their other things They made light of Christ's invitation and put men on pleading excuses for neglect of God and on justifying their omissions of holy duties They began with one consent to make excuse Christ and his people would have more of mens company if the World had less of their hearts These earthly things do not only hinder mens duties but their thrivings also under priviledges 'T is the cares of this World and deceitfulness of Riches that choak the Word and make men unfruitful Matth. 13. 22. They make careless sleighty forgetful hearers they hinder convictions quench the motions of the spirit take away the tastes of divine sweetness and make all the attempts of Grace fruitless They take away the heart from God and spiritual things and so nourish formality and hypocrisie in profession and duties causing men to draw near with their mouths to God when their hearts are far from him Ezek. 33. 31. Isa 29. 13. This made Judas Ananias Demas Simon Magus such hypocrites in Religion because they loved this present World 2 Tim. 3. 2 5. 2 Tim. 4. 10. This weakens faith blinds the mind starves the affections rules the will and so mans all the royal forts of the soul against Christ by which the salvation of that soul becomes exceeding difficult And they make provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof feeding the carnal mind and yielding such nourishment to sin as that it always resists the Holy Ghost wins the day renders damnation sure to all that are not by a mighty hand redeemed from these spiritual enemies so that it becomes in such a case needful to starve earthly desires by a remove of those things that feed and maintain them and men may look upon those afflictive providences on their interests as the procurements of their earthly affections Hastening to be rich hath poverty at the heels Prov. 28. 22. Fifthly Unfaithfulness in mens Callings puts them out of the way of blessing and ushers in wastes on their interests Mic. 6. 10 11 12 13 14. The Lord had a controversy with his people v. 2. and till this was taken up all their religious services were to no purpose sacrifices and duties could not prevail or stop his displeasure till their sins were removed v. 6 7. 'T was not to wait on God in publick duties was all that he called for but to do justice shew mercy and to walk humbly with him wherein they had been defective and therefore had he brought a rod upon them v. 9. he had made them sick in smiting them and would
laying the foundation of Salvation-hopes upon creature-performances and improvements when they go from the Rule of Faith and Word of Truth to natural light and seducing spirits which have not their evidence and approbation from the Scriptures When persons at once disclaim dependency on the true foundation and disposal by the Rule of Righteousness 't is much to be feared whether such shall be restored Gal. 1. 6. ch 5. 4. Heb. 10. 26 39. 2 Pet. 2. 15. Heb. 6. 4. 6. Thirdly When men make Merchandise of the Truth and sell their profession for worldly interest having loved the reward of iniquity and made a swap of their Religion for advantage-sake This is a mighty provocation to the Spirit when men can sell themselves to work wickedness and value the great things of God's Law of his Truth and Salvation at so low a rate to part with them for a mess of pottage and the dirty Cabals of this world 'T is seldom that such find repentance though they seek it with tears See Judas Simon Magus Balaam Demas Spira What remarks of furious indignation God makes such Apostates to be who can part with their Religion for worldly interests 2 Tim. 4. 10. 1 King 21. 20. 2 Pet. 2. 3 15. Acts 1. 18. Fourthly Backsliders in heart shall surely perish and be filled with their own ways Prov. 14. 14. when falling back is upon choice and with delight like a deceitful Bow that is then at rest when its string is broken Psal 78. 57. When a man casts off Religion as one doth his burden and a beast his yoke Jer. 5. 5. and is glad he is rid of his troublesome work as one that is got out of prison Rom. 1. 32. This argues a spirit of Belial and a dangerous state Many have taken up a Lamp upon constraint for fashion or interest or for companies-sake as the foolish Virgins did Prov. 14. 14. Psal 78. 57. Jer. 5. 5. Mat. 25. 1. But when opportunity hath offered it self for a fair riddance they have soon appear'd what they were by their chearful returns to Egypt and the broad way of error and looseness falling in with other interests and finding pleasure in it Now the world reputation and pleasure take away the heart and they are well-pleased with other Lovers this is a bad sign of a desperate state of marish-ground that shall never be healed Ezek. 47. 11. Lastly When persons are prejudic'd against the means of recovery hate them that rebuke them in the gate Amos 5. 10. shun the light and cannot endure those that would reclaim them from the error of their way Joh. 3. 19. their hearts rise against any attempts to reduce them Amos 7. 10. cannot bear them that are good slight and hate the people of God they formerly loved avoiding their company jeer and reproach those Ministers people and ways they once took pleasure in this shews a dangerous state such a persons condition seems desperate and not far from the Chambers of death O you that are fallen back in Religion get your hearts affected with it do you begin to decay you know not where it will end are you gone back 't is questionable whether ever you may return and then what will your latter end be your last state will be worse than your first and if twice dead you will be pluck'd up by the roots if after showers and dressings you decay your end will be to be burned Advice 2. Secondly If you would recover out of your wasting decays in this heavenly Trade search out the causes and get them removed There must needs be something more than ordinary when men who have a good Trade which may be driven in the worst of times and will ensure advantage if followed do notwithstanding fall back and decay Such is Religion it will maintain and enrich its followers if they be not wanting to themselves there must needs be some great causes and miscarriages then that doth cast back the professors of Christianity and bring a consumption on their soul-prosperity some of which may be these First When they enter upon this heavenly Trade and have not a stock to set it up Religion is a great thing and cannot be carried on without a stock of saving-grace to maintain it Common grace is not a sutable stock for this spiritual Trade it may help men to transact the external part and common works of Religion but cannot do the inward secret and choicest services of godliness A stranger intermeddles not with its joy Prov. 14. 10. no nor its work They that are in the flesh cannot please God Rom. 8. 8. The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink Rom. 14. 17. it lies not in outward duties but righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Ghost which no hypocrite can reach to This spoils many they take up a form of godliness without the power of it and being strangers to the work within they cannot carry on the works of grace without which this state calls for and so fall back and come to nothing When persons get some knowledg parts frames and temporary graces they presently take up a Lamp of profession and get into the company of the wise climb up to the enjoyment of priviledges and then sit down contented and fall asleep and when they come to temptations and spiritual duties to the work of faith love patience self-denial mortification and the like having not grace to support them and a principle that suits such work they fall short of duty and into sin and so Trade and fall away Common grace is as a standing-pool which having not a spring to feed it dries up when supplies cease and scorchings come whereas true grace is as a well of water that springs up to life eternal Secondly Another thing that casts back Traders is this when they set upon an employment and have not skill to manage it Every Art hath its principles rules and mysteries by which it is carried on to deviate from these is to mar the excellency and miss the advantage of it Irregular actions seldom thrive so 't is with the heavenly Trade when persons set upon it and have not skill to order it to best advantage no wonder if they prosper not but fall back in godliness Solomon directing to this heavenly Trade advises to get wisdom as the principal thing in order to it Prov. 4. 7. And when the Apostle would further the Saints in holy walking as the necessary way to it he begs wisdom for them Col. 1. 9 10. That ye may be filled with the knowledg of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding that ye may walk worthy of the Lord to all well-pleasing being fruitful in every good work Two things made David thrive so much in his proper publick work Integrity of heart and Understanding Psal 78. 72. He fed them according to the integrity of his heart and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands Some books read it in the plural
live above their capacities and proportion that 's casting back when persons have little and yet live high have but a little light and yet spend that too in works of darkness have but a short day and yet so many hours of that one day consumed in vanity this is to live above thy estate and will be soon impoverishing When men have but a little grace and strength and yet adventure upon great temptations and run into soul-ruining dangers rush into vain company set upon entangling affairs and take much business on their hands and yet have but a little portion of Wisdom and Grace to manage them this is to live above thy estate in Christianity To be low of stature and yet high in conceit of little spiritual worth and yet think highly and speak highly of thy self and to expect estimation from others also is to live above thy estate To have nothing to maintain thee but what comes in by thy soul labours no longer work no longer eat thy daily bread depends upon thy daily work so poor and yet in this condition to expect an easie life to lie down to slumber to dwell carelesly and set thy hand but by fits and starts to thy work This is to live above thy spiritual estate and will soon bring thee to breaking in this Heavenly Trade Sixthly Great debts are breaking and will cast men back in Wisdom's Merchandise when men owe more than they are worth and know not how to pay it run further on book every day till their credit will pass no longer they have often promised payment but still fail'd and now their word will not pass they can get no more goods Creditours will not trust them but begin to suspect them and threaten to take them up then men shut up shop and break This also is pernicious to Heavenly Traders when they become unfaithful to God and men run on score for mercy but never pay or render to God again are deep in debt to God for divine goodness receive one mercy after another one talent after another and make no returns of any God sees not principal or interest but they remain fruitless and unthankful under all make promises of better improvements but still break them Come to Sacraments and renew their Covenant with God and go away and break it again make promises to God under affliction that if he will deliver them this once they will never grieve and provoke him more as they have done make large engagements if God will hear this prayer and give that mercy but when their turn is serv'd forget God and break all their vows again be ready to pass their word on every occasion and then look after it no more this begets a jealousie in the Lord of Hosts that he will trust them no more Deut. 32. 21. but hold his hand and part with no more goods but threatens to take them up and to cast their souls into prison begins to sue them in the Court of Conscience and to out-law them at the bar of Justice to seize on what they have then away goes peace joy hope and then comes breaking These are some of those reasons why Christians go back in Religion and decay in their Heavenly Trade O Christians bring the plummet to the line and thy heart and life to the ballance and try from which of these comes thy soul-decaies and then get it to bear upon thy heart till thou art fully convinc'd of thy evil and willing on any terms to obtain remedy Advice 3. Thirdly Compound with your Creditour get your peace made with God through Christ make haste to prevent a seizure on your person and goods by a timely composition Agree with your adversary while you are in the way with him lest at any time he deliver thee to the Judge and the Judge deliver thee to the Officer and thou be cast into prison Mat. 5. 25. 'T is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of an ever-living God who is a consuming fire Heb. 10. 31. ch 12. 29. O tremble in the sense of his righteous Judgment and force not the Lord by thy delaies to commence a suit against thee and to make an entry upon all that thou hast but go humble thy self and make sure thy friend Prov. 6. 3. Fall down before thy Creditour and sue for terms of reconciliation cast thy self at the feet of mercy confessing thy sin Pay the debt thou canst not go beg remission and offer a Surety to discharge the score even such a one as the Father himself is well pleased with Thy Creditour must be satisfied or thou art undone but this you can never do Away to a Mediatour to obtain terms and to procure your peace make Christ your friend who is able to satisfie all the Father's demand to cross the book and send your discharge by the Spirit of Grace who can witness the pardon of all your sins to your consciences Come to him in the sense of your folly bearing your shame Forsake your wasting waies and with the prodigal return from your harlots to your Father's house rating your selves beneath the least of his mercies and consenting to the meanest condition so he would but take you in again Luke 15. 17 18 20 21. Subscribe all his terms and make a new surrender of your self and your All to Christ to be no more your own but more entirely his than ever Jer. 50. 5. Enter into a new Covenant with God in Christ taking him for your Surety and fetching all your abilities to fulfil it from him and get thy soul more firmly bound to the Lord in it by the bond of the Spirit Advice 4. Fourthly Set up no more for your selves but enter your selves Factors for Christ It may be you traded formerly for your selves and that broke you if you would prevent that danger for the future you must be no more for your selves but for him trading as his Factours not your own Now three things are required in a Factor which must be observed also by wisdom's Merchants if ever they will drive a thriving Trade in Godliness 1. To trade upon anothers Stock 2. To be regulated by anothers Advice 3. To drive on anothers Interest First If you will be Christ's Factours you must trade upon his stock you must not onely take all your goods from him but as his not onely fetch in your graces abilities skill success from him but use and improve them as his not as your own Joh. 1. 16. Of his fulness have all we received grace for grace 'T was not onely part of his fulness before it was received but 't is his grace after reception Col. 1. 19. It pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell not onely the fulness of the Divine Nature but the fulness of habitual grace both which are in Christ the latter is chiefly intended here which dwells in Christ as in a head not for himself onely but for his body as beams in
sight having a warrant for every action you perform both civil and religious this will be your comfort now and your peace in the day of your accounts Thirdly Drive on his interest not your own Rom. 14. 7. For none of us liveth to himself God can more justly say what Laban did to Jacob concerning his children and goods These daughters are my daughters and these children are my children and these cattel are my cattel and all that thou seest is mine Gen. 31. 43. The cattel on a thousand hills are his Psal 50. 10. with the corn wine wooll and flax Hos 2. 9. Both the improvement as well as principal are his Mat. 25. 27. He hath right to the exercise and fruit of your graces and duties with all that you enjoy and do Put Christ's mark on all your goods whatever you gain by his talents put on his account and let your disbursments be expended to his use Seek not your own things your credit peace comfort interest but in subordination to him If the Lord by his Word calls for any of your enjoyments you must let them go If by his Providence he takes off any comfort murmure not say 't is the Lord Let him do what he will with his own Mat. 20. verse 15. Advice 5. Fifthly Follow your Trade better than you have done remember how former carelesness formality sloth hypocrisie have undone you and amend The slothful soul is as the door on his hinges Prov. 26. 14. that never makes any progress in Religion or comes to any excellency in grace No Christian saith Mr. Sedgwick is so able in the habits of grace as he who is conscienciously frequent in the practice or exercise of grace Christ's Counsel to his languishing Church Would you recover your state and come to any eminency in godliness then make Religion your business That sleightiness of spirit in the way of God which lost you at first will never restore you The recovery of a faint soul saith the same Author will never be effected by faint workings You did fall into your decayed state by remissive actings and think you that which was not able to keep up your graces from sinking can now quicken and raise them being sunk Christ's Counsel to his languishing Church p. 148. If negligence did cast you back diligence must help to recover you Take more pains with your hearts follow your work of godliness every day and in every place Be early and late in your shops of duty and in the warehouse of your hearts Beware of spiritual sloth and soul-losses take heed of unfaithfulness with God conscience or others keep touch with your Creditour be tender of your vows to God and men keep from prodigality live not above your condition waste not precious time parts and grace in vain walk strictly in the whole course of your life keeping your selves from iniquity and in the Love of God Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ Jude v. 21. Tit. 2. 13. 5th Branch of Exhortation to good Traders in Religion Lastly You whoever you are that drive on this Heavenly Merchandise and have any good Trading in Religion be you exhorted Advice 1. First To bless God for good trading Is it well with your souls Doth the South-wind blow upon your Garden and the Spices flow out Cant. 4. 16. Doth the Fig-tree put forth her green Figs and the Vine with the tender Grape give a good smell Cant. 2. 13. What reason have you then to be always giving thanks you whose trading turns to any spiritual advantage thou canst say 'T is good to draw nigh to God in keeping his commands is great reward The Lord is not a barren wilderness to thy soul but peace is within thy Walls and prosperity within thy Palaces Psal 122. 7. Thy glory is fresh in thee and thy bow renewed in thy hand thy root spreadeth out by the waters and the dew lying all night between thy branches Job 29. 19 His ways are pleasantness and his steps drop fatness to thy soul and he commands his blessing upon thee and thy faith and love do grow Is it thus in any measure with thee O then bless the Lord with thy soul let all that is within thee bless his holy Name Make the Lord thy glory and triumphing praise Thou hast abundant reason to be admiring grace and exalting divine glory Because First Soul-thriving is a great mercy at all times a little spiritual goods is beyond all the World's treasure one piece of Christ's tried Gold weighs down all the Pearls and Diamonds on earth and whatever can be found below grace cannot be compar'd with it Job 28. 11 12 16. or named the same day with it The light of God's countenance pardon of sin participation of the spirit fulfilling of Promises fellowship with the Father Son and Spirit heart-breathings after love to and delight in God are things of inestimable worth if you weigh them in themselves or with other things or if you consider the grace from whence they come or price which they cost Spiritual thrivings are an evidence of sincere love to God Judg. 5. 31. Let them that love thy Name be as the Sun that goeth forth in his might and of special love in God to that soul Tit. 3. 4 6. Eph. 1. 3 5 7. God may prosper in the World those he hates Esau had his fat things here but grace and peace are new-covenant-blessings which spring from eternal love in the heart of God to that soul Heb. 8. 10. Zech. 8. 11 12 15. Secondly 'T is a singular mercy at this time a mercy that few enjoy in the day we live in What a rare thing is it in this long winter to see a green Olive a tender Grape appear or Pomgranate bud Cant. 7. 6. or one Berry in the uppermost branch Isa 24. 13. It was a peculiar glory put upon the head of Thyatira that she was thriving when other Churches were decaying She had works and works and the last were more than the first Rev. 2. 19. Ephesus had lost her first love Sardis had decayed and wasted her first strength and was ready to die Laodicea was luke-warm ready to be spued out by the Lord Jesus Rev. 3. 1 8 16. only Thyatira flourished exceedingly and grew in the winter and this honour she had to have it recorded by the Spirit for a monument in after-ages 'T is not the lot of every one to thrive in evil times few Thessalonians whose faith and love did grow 2 Thes 1. 3. A single Timothy who had flourishing affections to the things of Christ I have no man like minded Phil. 2. 20. One Gaius whose soul out-prospered his body 3 Ep. Joh. v. 2. A flourishing Christian this day is like a flower in winter an Apple-tree amongst the trees of the wood Surely if there be a Soul who this day flourishes to any heighth of Christianity who lives in intimacy with
in love Love constrains the Soul after God makes his commands pleasant and quickens the heart to make hast in the way to Glory the more you love God the more will you prosper in Godliness Thirdly Humility is a Soul-prospering Grace and under a promised Blessing Prov. 29. 23 Honour shall uphold the humble in spirit k Sustentat Munst 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shall bear him up from falling and bring him unto honour saith Montanus Prov. 15. 33 By humility are riches and honour The humble Soul must needs be a thriving Soul for God giveth Grace to it Jam. 4. 6. yea dwelleth with the humble to revive the Spirit of the humble Isa 57. 15. There 's a great deal of Pride in most Christians and that hinders Soul-thriving proud of Parts and Grace proud under seeming humility proud of humility Low Valleys are fruitful when lofty Mountains are barren The rich sit in a low place Eccl. 10. 6 Such as are rich in wisdom l Divites quibus adsit sapientia saith Mercer they sit in a low place they come down and lie low in themselves m In ipsa abjectione Jun. Trem. folly is set in great dignity Poor foolish empty Creatures they are high in conceit as well as place many times but the most rich and thriving Souls these are poorest in Spirit and lowest in their own eyes the richer the Metal the heavier Gold weighs down Silver and Tin the fuller of fruits branches are the more they bow He sendeth the springs into the valleys Psal 104. 10. Psal 65. 13. They are covered over with Corn Vineyards thrive best in low places One branch of Grapes from the Valley of Eshcol was said to be a burden for two men Numb 13. 23. would you flourish in Grace take heed of Pride Pride in the Soul saith one is like the spleen in the body when that swelleth all the other parts languish 't is poison at the root of the tree which corrupts the sap 'T is so dangerous a poison that of another poison there was confected a counterpoison to preserve Paul from it would you prosper in Godliness be persons of low humble spirits Mr. Adams on 2 Pet. 2 Cor. 12. 7. Exalt him that is low and abase him that is high Ezek. 21. 26. Fourthly Another choice fruit of the Spirit which will further Soul-thriving is sincerity Prov. 14. 11 The tabernacle of the upright shall flourish They shall have good things in possession Prov. 28. 10. they shall not only be preserv'd from evil and escape the pit into which the wicked fall but shall be sure to meet with good Blessings good things shall be given to them as their inheritance as Aquila and Theodosius interpret it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thou shewest mercy to thy Servants that walk before thee with all their heart 2 Chron. 6. 14. He that hath clean hands and a pure heart who hath not lift up his Soul to vanity nor sworn deceitfully he shall receive the blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his Salvation Psal 24. 4 5. Upright Souls must needs prosper they dwell in the presence of God Psal 140. 13. He will withhold no good thing from them Psal 84. 11. His countenance beholds them Psal 11. 7. God engages his alsufficiency for their good Gen. 17. 1. They shall hold on their way and wax stronger and stronger Job 17. 9. and shall surely prosper 2 Chron. 31. 21 In every work that he began in the service of the house of God and in the Law and in the Commandments to seek his God he did it with all his heart and prospered 't is not thy many Duties before God but the Oneness of thy heart with God nor the bulk of thy Services but the sincerity of thy Soul which will make thee profperous in thy heavenly interests Again Take thriving courses prosperous ways as well as prospering Graces these are under a promised Blessing also Not to multiply particulars There are four thriving ways in which Christians may attain to a prosperous Trade in Christianity The way of 1. Self-Examination 2. Prayer 3. Enjoyment of God 4. Obedience First Be often examining and calling your selves to an account how matters stand with your Souls Traders that would be thriving will be often viewing their Books and trying their Accompts and have some set days when they survey their Goods cast up their Books and try whether they gain or lose and so must Christians that would profit in Religion they must be often judging themselves that they be not judged 1 Cor. 11. 31. they must cast up their accompts and try their state whether they go forward or backward Hag. 1. 5. Consider your ways try how the case stands with you whether you get or lose and what 's the cause of all those blastings that are upon you Psal 4. 4 Commune with your hearts upon your beds and be still 2 Cor. 13. 5 Examine your selves whether you be in the faith prove your own selves know ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except you be reprobates The neglect of this examination is one cause of that great mistake of persons about their Soul-state some thinking themselves better Rev. 3. 17. others judging themselves worse than they are which begets security in some discouragement in others error and floth in all A right estimate of thy spiritual capacity either poverty or riches gain or loss is absolutely needful to regulate thy duty unto a right affecting of thy heart and advance of thy spiritual interests Look over the Day-book of thy heart and life every night posting all thy accompts on the large book of thy Conscience and take some special time for a more full survey of thy Soul and state for Eternity this will be of good use to further Soul-thriving Secondly If you would prosper in your Souls be much and mighty with God in Prayer 'T is said of Vzziah that he sought God in the days of Zechariah who had understanding in the visions of God and as long as he sought the Lord God made him to prosper 2 Chron. 26. 5. Right Prayer is a wonderful way to Soulenrichings He saith one can never be poor that can pray well One reason why this King prospered as long as he sought the Lord was by this means he came to the visions of God and that help'd him to take a right way to prospetity By Prayer you advise with God what course to take towards mercy 't is your Ephod by which you ask counsel of God where to go to shun danger and what to do to carry on Duty and obtain Mercy 2 Sam. 23. 6. 9. Chap. 30. 7. and by Prayer you procure and get out the Graces and Supplies you need 1 Chron 4. 10 And Jabesh called on the God of Israel saying O that thou wouldst bless me indeed and enlarge my coasts and that thine hand might be with me and that thou wouldst keep
heart and waies and nothing so desirable as Christ and holiness Thou wert once dead in sin thou did'st not feel or fear any hurt in it or danger by it but now 't is otherwise thou can'st not sin but thy conscience smites thee nor God threaten but it affrights thee thy quick-ey'd conscience soon espies the least failing in thy duty falseness in thy heart or error in thy life and as a Serjeant arrests thee and hales thee to the Judg. Thou could'st formerly live without God and be as still as the dead body in the grave and the burning brand in the fire but now as a bone out of joynt thou art restless till in communion with him I remembred God and was troubled Psal 77. 3. Thou wert gone out of the way yea an enemie to the way of life turn'd aside to the flock of his companions and did'st turn again and rend those that were of them But now thou art folded with the flocks of Christ and feedest besides the Shepherds Tents Cant. 1. 8. Thy foot hath held his steps and thou esteemest the word of his mouth more than thy necessary food Job 23. 11 12. Object But may not an hypocrite go so far and all this be no more than a change from darkness to conscience-light and from sin to common grace Sol. Common light cannot see a desirableness in Christ for himself nor bring the soul to count all things dross and dung to win him and obtain the excellency of the knowledg of Christ as thy Lord but saving light sees one Christ worth ten thousand Worlds and quits all to take him Phil. 3. 8. Common light sees no evil in sin but guilt and torment loss of comfort and sense of punishment Gen. 4. 13. but true grace when in exercise loaths sin when it pretends love and flies from sin when it makes largest proffers and fears sin when it sees no danger when there is no breach on present comfort feeled or danger of future misery feared Tit. 2. 11 12. The gracious soul like Joseph when tempted with flattery secur'd with secresie pursued with restless importunity to wickedness yet cannot close with it and sin against God Gen. 39. 9. Common light can dwell with works of darkness and consist with an unsanctified heart and life 2 Pet. 2. 1 2. Common light and lust never fall out but when it awakens conscience or weakens interests but saving grace cannot bear that which is evil Rev. 2. 2. or ever be brought to a treaty with sin in order to an agreement Gal. 5. 17. but with Sarah can never be at rest till the bond-woman and her son be turn'd out of door Gen. 21. 10. Common grace may be offended at sin but never hates sin there is no contrariety founded in their nature or difference but what may upon terms be made up Luke 23. 12. And if it seems to have an indignation against sin yet 't is not against every sin and at all times nor irreconcilable at any time but saving grace hates the very being of sin 2 Cor. 7. 11. And as the Tyger flies at the very picture of a man so doth Grace abhor the appearance of evil 'T is universal against the whole species and every kind of sin an enmity founded in the nature of grace and therefore irreconcilable Psal 139. 22. and derived from the riches of grace Ps 97. 10. and greatness of redemption-love It cannot be reconciled to sin because sin cannot be reconciled to grace or admit of any love to or enjoyment of God but still interrupts the soul's tranquillity holiness and pleasure in God his chiefest and only good Again Common light can live without special acquaintance with God Eph. 2. 13. afar of if it can have peace because its Countrey is nourished by the King's Countrey Act. 12. 20. and its welfare depends upon divine pleasure 't is all it looks for but saving grace gets within the veil Heb. 6. 19. approaches the mercy-seat where it converses with God To be called by his name will not content grace no nor to eat his bread and wear his rayment except it enjoys his bed also it longs for intimate communion with God Psal 101. 2. O when wilt thou come unto me It loves the Bride-chamber closet and secret corners with him never thinking it self near enough to or long enough with him Obj. But change from nature to grace is not growth in grace though I may have received the former rain and reaped the first fruits of the Spirit yet I fear I have not the latter rain and after-fruits of grace waterings and dressings do not make me fruitful or feedings make me grow and that 's the case you insist on Sol. 1. There may be fruit though not appearing and growth though unseen Christ hath under-ground-fruit which may not spring up to thy own view or others Ps 88. 5. Free among the dead as berries hid among the leaves which cannot be seen till winter-storms or shaking times come thou mayest thrive more inwardly than outwardly and be like the windows of the Temple wide within and narrow without you may grow more in the truth and parts of grace though less in the fruits of grace for a season thy sincerity may be more though thy shews be less you may grow more downward in humility self-abasement sorrow for sin though not upward in joys and blossoms of comfort thou mayest grow more out of thy self and into Christ as the root of all thy grace and foundation of thy foul-rest though not into sensible frames and workings of grace Art thou more sensible of thy own nothingness thy heart-deceitfulness self-insufficiency inward disorders soul-wants sinfulness hypocrisie barrenness then thou profitest Rom. 7. 18. Art thou more jealous of thy heart every day 2 Cor. 9. 27 more weary of thy self and longing after Christ having a higher valuation of his excellency and greater breathings after his quickning spirit and delighting presence Phil. 3. 8 this is profiting Secondly It may be thy conclusion springs from thy impatiency thou mayest be for hasty fruit not allowing time for its growth and maturity The Husbandman waits for the precious fruits of the earth Jam. 5. 7. before he can enjoy them or estimate their worth Thy hopes labours and profit may be buried under the clods for a while We cannot sow and reap saith one in a day The more excellent and durable the fruit is the longer is it before it comes to maturity rare ripe fruits are soon rotten hypocrites blossom a pace and cast their leaves as fast Mat. 13. 21. Though 't is matter of shame that those trees which have less earth and least nourishment should grow fastest yet the reason is they take up no time in getting root and growing downward and hence all their growth is outward Thirdly It may be 't is a winter-time with thy soul the Sun of Righteousness is withdrawn from thee and thy lightsom daies are gone Cant. 2. 11 12. The Comforter
to see their own vileness were it not for temptation they could not see the greatness of their corruption David Solomon Hezekiah Peter did not think their hearts were so abominable till left to temptation which stirs the mud and brings up the bottom to the top and this helps to abase them and make them more vile in their own eyes By this also they see their own weakness and their need of Christ and are more effectually brought out of themselves to the Lord Jesus for succour and victory And by temptations from Satan they come to be acquainted with his devices 2 Cor. 2. 11. and more skill'd in his wiles and stratagems no small advantage to one that is in a state of warfare with him This way also doth the Lord winnow his Saints and by these high winds fan and cleanse them Luke 22. 31. Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat and brings them to more conformity to their head and to greater establishment in grace which are glorious advantages to Believers promised in the New Covenant and this way accomplish'd which makes temptations necessary to Wisdom's Merchants and renders it their great concern to lay in provision against them Secondly As temptations are certain and will come so they are shaking when they come they are part of that rain flood and wind which did beat vehemently on the sandy building that it fell Mat. 7. 27. Luke 6. 49. Temptations are part of the Devil's Artillery his fiery darts and cruel buffettings which none can bear without the whole Armour of God upon him and then too all they can do is but to stand Ephes 6. v. 13 16. They are so potent and prevailing as that none but such as are in Christ can stand their ground under them And in time of temptation fall away Luke 8. 13. Receive the Word with joy seem to love God and delight in his waies for a season till temptations come to the purpose and then fall away There are some temptations are more easie to be born but when Satan sets on a soul with all his might there 's no standing without divine succour and the Lord 's opening a way to escape Temptation is reckoned amongst the sorest afflictions that the Saints do undergo 1 Cor. 10. 13. Heb. 2. 18. Heb 11. 37. They were stoned they were sawn asunder they were tempted they were slain with the sword No suffering like temptations for they draw the soul to sin which is more cruel than death to a soul that loves Christ O Christians what need have you then to be laying in for an hour of temptation seeing it will surely come and seeing it will be so terrible when it comes Get your selves well furnish'd with wisdom that you may know Satan's devices that you may be able to distinguish between temptation and corruption and able to answer the Objections and subtle reasonings of Satan you must have experience also to encourage your hope and strengthen your patience that instances of former relief in the like cases may lift up your head and strengthen your expectations in new Tryals also You must lay in store of faith to guard your hearts and shield your heads from the fiery darts of Satan you must get your integrity cleared and the uprightness of your heart and way evidenced that 's of great use also to bear up your Spirit under all his charges against you Make much of every breathing of his Spirit in you and take care you quench not any of his motions God saith one doth often leave us to own Satan's suggestions for our own because we do not own God in his holy motions and breathings And have good evidences of your interest in Christ and assurance of his love to you and assured help in the time of need taking special care to have corruptions weakened and a growing mortification in your souls that so when Satan comes he may find nothing in you to fasten his temptations on This calls for your provident care to store your souls against times of Tryal Secondly Times of desertion are spending-times which will need a full stock when the Lord doth hide his face and withdraw the sense of his love and influence of his quickening presence This the Lord may do and hath done he hath left the dearly beloved of his soul gone from his habitation compass himself about with a cloud left his children in darkness as those that have been long dead 'T is just with God saith Mr. Cooper to deny us the comfort of our graces when we deny him the glory of them Isa 45. 15. Verily thou art a God that hidest thy self O God of Israel the Saviour Job 23. 8 9. Behold I go forward but he is not there and backward but cannot perceive him on the left hand where he doth work but I cannot behold him he hideth himself on the right hand that I cannot see him Isa 49. 14. But Zion said The Lord hath forsaken me my God hath forgotten me This was one of the greatest sufferings on Christ his apprehensions of his Father's forsaking him O God my God why hast thou forsaken me Mat. 27. 46. Here was a total and final desertion that our Lord Jesus came under as to his sense and the effects of it he saw nothing of the comforts of the Divine presence to the last breath of life but died in this darkness Verse 50. Jesus when he had cryed again with a loud voice that is as he had done verse 46. he gave up the Ghost and had no comfort to the last minute of life And if God hath done so to the green tree how much more may he to the dry if he forsake his natural and onely beloved Son he may surely hide himself from his Adopted Sons even to their dying hour And this is a condition full of consternation and terrour The poena damni the loss of God and all good is thought to be a far greater punishment to the damned than all the punishment of sense and torment O the dreadful apprehensions that good souls have had about God's forsaking them 'T is a Hell on Earth and the beginning of the second death to be under a real sense of God's removal from the soul O the amazing dread and consuming rerrour that Job Asaph Heman and others were fill'd with by such apprehensions of God's withdrawment from them and his wrath lying hard upon them Soul though now it be a time of light with thee the Candle of the Lord shines upon thee thou walkest in the light of his countenance lyest in his bosom and art dandled on his knee yet may the days of darkness be many and thy soul lie in the shadow of death and under real apprehensions of the Lord's departure from thee and displeasure against thee and then thou wilt find need of all the cordials light and hope imaginable O lay in sure and unquestionable satisfaction about this great case that God is
marriage-day must be delayed till you come to a full age The Saints must be as a shock of corn that cometh in in its season Job 5. 25. Ripen a pace in your graces if you would get to glory Get your faith hope patience and every grace encreased daily especially your love to God that 's the grace shall abide in glory 1 Cor. 13. 8. Faith and Hope are the soul's helps and companions in the way but Love will be an eternal inhabitant with you Get purer deeper rooted stronger more enlarged love to Jesus Christ every day till you be downright sick for him this will make your life a death without his presence here and your death to be life in being with him for ever 'T was love to Christ made Ignatius so dead to all things below a Vita sine Christo mors est Ignat. and so longing to be with Christ 'T is storied of him that when he was dead and his heart taken out they saw the name of Jesus written in it in letters of Gold The more love to God the more fit for God for God is love b Non est in me incendium quidpiam amans D. Ludov. Rub. Thirdly Get and keep the testimony of a good conscience that may witness for you in the day of Christ when you die you are to have a trial for your life your inheritance your All and you had need have your witness firm and ready Now there are two great witnesses you will need in that day to clear your title the witness of Conscience and the Spirit have the one on your side and you will not want the other Get your consciences sprinkled with the blood of Christ and purged from dead works by the Spirit of Christ that it may be able to appear for you in that day The blood of Christ will put words into the mouth of conscience for you to plead the general issue and the benefit of pardoning grace wherein you have been transgressors enlightned conscience will accuse you that you have sinned and besprinkled conscience will plead for you that you are pardoned and purged conscience will testify for you that you are changed and that you hate the evil you have done and love the holiness you have neglected O of what wonderful use will the testimony of a good conscience be when you stand at the Bar of God! Get it true to you now and sure for you then Fourthly Maintain more constant walks with God daily this will fit you for your eternal fellowship with him Converse with God is begun acquaintance here and in Heaven is perfect friendship and perpetual fellowship It will much fit you for Heaven hereafter to begin the work of Heaven here which lies in maintain'd intercourse with him Through these gallery-walks with God do the Saints pass into the Presence-Chamber and sit down with him for ever Communion with God now is Heaven begun such are fittest for his presence in glory who are train'd up in his company here Fifthly If you would prepare for Heaven dispatch your work on Earth Heaven is a state of rest and rest follows the finishing of labour Heb. 4. 9. Rev. 4. 13. Paul must end his fight finish his course and keep the faith before he can reach the Crown 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. In the grave there 's no wisdom device or work this is your only time for labour while you are in the Vineyard O how much work is behind with most which will make a departure terrible to an awakened conscience Haste about your neglected work you have it may be much work to do with others in your families with your relations possibly there are some souls in their graves and you have not done what you might to bring them forth dead Husband Wife Children Servants for whom you must do more or cannot comfortably appear before God O hasten about this work that you may give up your account with joy There 's soul-work to be done to get corruptions subdued graces strengthned your accounts stated evidences cleared and lamps trimmed which must be attended with utmost vigour If you would get home finish your work Lastly Be alwaies ready waiting for the coming of the Lord Luke 12. 35 36. Let your loins be girt about and your lights burning and ye your selves like unto men that wait for their Lord when he will return from the Wedding that when he cometh and knocketh they may open to him immediately 2 Pet. 3. 12. Looking for and hastening to the coming of the day of God Not only be waiting for your change but longing after it as persons that are ready for a desired journey think the time long ere they go Why are the wheels of his Chariot so long a coming Judg. 5. 28. The Spirit and the Bride say come Rev. 22. 17. With the Virgins go out to meet him Mat. 25. 1. If you knew the welcome that abideth for you when you come home ye would hasten your pace Rutherf The more ready you are for the coming of Christ the more will you long for his appearance and the more grateful will his approach be The uncertainty of that time when the Lord Jesus shall appear and the unseasonableness of that surprisal for preparation-work should put Christians on continual readiness lest coming in an hour they know not of they be found unfit to enter in and the door be shut Mat. 25. 10. O how dreadful will a miscarriage be at last All the hopes labours and comfort of your life depend upon your final safety and happy conclusion of your day 'T is a great thing to live a sanctified and die a saved soul O how few imagine the difficulty of being a Christian indeed and the infinite concern of securing an immortal soul and a sure title to the unsearchable riches of the other world O the folly and madness of rational creatures to make every thing sure but salvation and to spend their time and strength about the many things of a perishing life and lose the better part Whoever thou art that castest thine eye upon this discourse thou wilt one day find Religion to be thy chiefest interest when thou comest to take thy farewel of a vain deceitful world and seest all thy Lovers for whom thou hast sleighted thy precious soul thy Soverign Lord and dying Redeemer to prove miserable comforters not able to afford one drop of balm to heal or cordial to chear thy fainting heart and affrighted conscience When thou seest pale death deliver thee a summons to appear before the holy God and to give an account of thy Stewardship when thou seest the Books opened and such a fearful charge against thy guilty conscience which thou canst not deny or answer then wilt thou find godliness in the power of it to be the greatest gain and would'st give ten thousand worlds for such an evidence as Hezekiah and Paul had when within view of death and eternity And is not Religion as
much thy concern and should be as grateful now and all those great and important duties of piety which this Book laies before thee thought to be as advisable now when time and capacity may render them feasible as in a dying hour when desires and purposes may be too late O do not content thy treacherous heart to cast a transient glance upon these lines to approve or commend them and after all to shake hands with these vast and concerning Truths in them and live and die a stranger to this great and heavenly work but resolve to set about it presently to pursue it throughly that when your Trading-day is done your enriching Eternity may begin and you receive that vast Inheritance that fadeth not away eternal in the Heavens FINIS THE TABLE THe occasion of the Discourse and Introduction to the Word Page 1 2 The terms opened and scope of the Scripture cleared 4 The Doctrine rais'd That the Heavenly Trade is the best Trade no Merchandise like Wisdoms Merchandise and traffiquing about spiritual and eternal things 9 Reasons to prove the Point take 1 From the nature of those things about which Wisdoms Merchants deal 2 The Person they deal with 3 The terms they trade upon 4 The gains that come by it 9 Three things prove Heavenly Ware to be the best in their own nature 1 Scripture 11 2 Experience 12 3 Reason 15 4 Things prove even to enlightned Reason that Heavenly Wares are the best Wares cause of 1 Their rarity 16 2 Their price 18 1 They cost Christ dear ibid. 2 They are oft-times costly to Receivers 19 3 As their price is high so their worth is great good in themselves good to those that have them 20 4 Their duration proves them excellent 21 Reas 2. The Heavenly Trade is the best Trade in regard of the Person traded with the Lord Jesus who is most excellent as to his 1 Greatness 24 2 Goodness 25 3 Ability ibid. 4 Faithfulness 24 Reas 3. The terms on which this Trade is driven proves it the best Trade 1 Goods to trade upon shall be freely given 28 2 Wisdom to manage them shall be freely imparted 30 3 A blessing on the improvement of them shall be insured ibid. 4 The glory of all shall be returned to God 31 Reas 4. 'T is the most profitable Trade cause it brings 1 Great returns Three things prove it 1 Religion has excellent fruit 2 Abundant fruit 33 3 Durable fruit 2 Sure returns four things prove it 35 1 The Justice of God insures it 2 The Blood of Christ ingages for it 3 These returns are the work of his own Spirit 4 The Lord Jesus is an Adventurer with Believers in this Heavenly Trade 36 37 3 Quick returns 38 Ob. Why then do the people of God complain of his delays to hear and help them 39 Answ 1. God will answer and help in due time 2 If he stay long he will pay well for it ibid. 3 The Saints themselves are oft-times the cause of their not receiving quicker returns 40 Uâ—e 1. Of information if the Heavenly Trade be the best Trade 't is strange that so few do set upon this Trade the evil of which is aggravated ibid. Use 2. Of lamentation over the great decays of this Heavenly Trade where are 1 Six Symptoms of this decay 2 Abatement of price when heavenly goods are not valued 45 2 Fewness of Buyers 47 3 Little imployment and slothfulness of spirit in heavenly things 49 4 The poverty of heavenly traders largely opened and proved 50 5 Small adventures for God proves bad trading in Religion 56 6 Breaking shews bad trading 57 2 Sad effects and dangerous issues of decays in this heavenly trade 1 It begets a growing strangeness between God and that soul 59 2 Soul poverty and wastings in mens spiritual interests 61 3 It brings a blast on mens earthly trades and interests 63 4 'T is a ready way to ruine 65 5 It renders the Traders account heavy 67 Use 3. Of reprehension of mens too inordinate pursuit of their earthly trades and interests 69 Quest How may we know when persons do inordinately pursue their earthly trades and interests Answ 1. When those ingross too much of their time 70 2 When they take up too much of their hearts 71 Six signs when the World takes up mens hearts 1 When the desires do greedily go out after them 72 2 When their thoughts are earthly 73 3 Their restless labours after the world 76 4 The delight and pleasure they take in it 78 5 Loathness to part with their earthly comforts and interests shews an earthly heart 81 6 When their trust and dependance is on earthly things 83 2 Aggrevation of the evil of an earthly mind 1 The state of such is dangerous 84 2 Their fall is great 88 Use 4. Of Exhortation 1 To such as are strangers to this heavenly trade where are four Arguments to perswade them to this blessed Calling 1 Their wants and necessities while without this trade 95 2 The danger that attends their present state 101 3 Their duty to set upon this trade and the obligations upon them to do it 102 4 The advantage that comes by it in five things 104 1 Religion will maintain you in the hardest time ibid. 2 Godliness will secure you in the most dangerous times and places 106 3 Holiness will inrich you in impoverishing times ibid. 4 Piety will chear you under greatest disconsolations 107 5 Wisdoms trade will make you truly honourable ibid. Seven Directions how to get this trade 1 Get a capacity and heavenly nature for this heavenly trade 109 2 Cease from your own works 111 3 Make over your selves to the Lord in an everlasting Covenant 113 4 Come over into the Family of Christ 115 5 Be mortified to this present world 119 6 Submit to all the instructions the Lord gives you in order to it 121 7 What you do do quickly make hast about it 124 2 Bran. of Exhort To such as profess this Calling exhorting them to follow it 126 Quer. Wherein lies this heavenly trade and what is it you would have us follow Answ There are seven things in which this heavenly trade lies 127 1 To have and keep up a heavenly spirit 128 2 Properties of a heavenly spirit 1 It sees heavenly things 130 2 It savours heavenly things 133 Directions to keep up a heavenly spirit 1 Beware of those things that weaken it 134 3 Things do greatly weaken a heavenly spirit and what they are ibid. to 140 2 Dir. Get all the nourishment you can to strengthen it 3 Be much in communion with the Father of Spirits 141 4 Cherish heavenly motions in your heart 143 5 Dwell much in the meditation of heaven 144 Be much exercised in heavenly graces 146 2 Another part of this heavenly trade is to secure your interest in heavenly treasures 147 Quest How may I know that heavenly treasures are mine Answ 1. By your communion with
discover those sins that procure these wastes 328 3 By this you come to see a necessity of pursuing and securing better treasure 329 4 It helps through grace to loosen the heart from things below 330 5 It tends to the furtherance of Soul-inlargements ibid. 6 It makes heavenly things relish the sweeter 331 4 Branch of Exhort To such as have begun this heavenly trade but are fallen back this advises them Advice 1. To be deeply affected with their evil case 333 Considerations to further it 1 Think on the change thy decays have brought upon thee 333 2 What an unlovely and displeasing object thou art hereby become in the eyes of God 334 3 It makes thee little desirable in the eyes of men ib. 4 Thou art the greatest loser of any thy case is dangerous and thy recovery difficult such are hardly recovered 335 336 Que. I fear this is my cause I am fallen back in grace and fear I shall never recover How may I know whether my back-slidings shall be healed Answ There are six signs of back-slidings that shall be healed 1 When thy back slidings are not upon choice but against thy judgment and consent 336 2 When they become thy Soul-trouble and hearts burden 337 3 When they are after thy effectual calling and sincere choice of God 337 4 When thou art restless until the Lord doth heal thee 338 5 When thy vitals are still sound ibid. 6 When under all thy back-slidings thou findest a humble and contrite heart 339 5 Dangerous symptoms of falling back that shall hardly be restored 1 If thy falling back be before thy falling in with Christ 339 2 A falling off from the foundations 340 3 A making Merchandise of the truth selling themselves to work wickedness ibid. 4 Back-slidings in heart shall not be cured 341 5 When persons are prejudiced against the means of recovery ibid. Adv. 2. Search out the causes of thy Souls decay and get them removed 342 Caus 1. Entrance upon this heavenly trade without a stock to set up ibid. 2 Setting upon this trade and having no skill to mannage it 344 3 Want of diligence in following it 345 4 Great and frequent losses in thy spiritual interests 346 5 Great wastes and needless expences 347 6 Great debts are breaking 350 Adv. 3. Compound with your Creditor Adv. 4. Set up no more for your selves but enter your selves Factors for Christ 352 Three things required in a Factor which must be followed by those that will thrive in this heavenly trade 1 To trade upon anothers stock 353 2 To be regulated by anothers advice 356 3 To drive on anothers interest 358 Adv. 5. Follow your trade better than you have done ibid. 5 Branch of Exhort To such as have good trading in Religion be you exhorted 1 To bless God for good trading 360 1 This is a great mercy at all times ibid. 2 A singular mercy at this time 361 3 An earnest of eternal mercy ibid. Qu. How may I know whether I have good trading in spirituals Sol. There are seven signs of good trading in evil times 364 1 When men go not back ibid. 2 If Wares go off well 365 3 When men are richer in stock 366 4 Are you less in debt 368 5 Have you more owed you and is it sure 367 6 That is good trading when the present incomes maintain the trader 369 7 Laying up as well as laying out bespeaks good trading 371 Complaint This is my case I see I am this languishing soul what shall I do to get my condition mended and my languishing soul revived and attain unto true thrivings in this holy Calling Sol. There are six things that help to thrive in their trading 1 A provident care 373 2 A diligent hand 375 3 Driving a secret trade 376 4 The blessing of God on mens labours ibid. 5 There are also prospering graces to be kept up 1 Faith is a Soul-prospering grace 377 2 Love to God his name and ways 379 3 Humiltty is a Soul-thriving grace ibid. 4 Sincerity is a Soul-thriving fruit of the Spirit 381 6 Take prospering courses 382 There are four Soul-thriving courses 1 Keep up Self-examination ibid. 2 Be much with God in prayer 383 3 Ingage God with you in all your undertakings 385 4 Follow Divine Counsel in all you do 386 Ob. My fear still remains that I am a barren soul and shall perish at last 388 Sol. 1. Thou mayst thrive in Religion and not know it ibid. Try thy change ibid. Ob. But may not a hypocrite go so far and all this but change from darkness to conscience light and from sin to common grace 389 Sol. This is answered in four particulars ib. to p. 391 Ob. But change from nature to grace is not growth in grace I may have the first fruits though not the after-fruits of the Spirit 391 Sol. This is answered in three particulars 391 to 393 Advice 2. Inlarge your trade Nine Motives to ingage Christians to Soul inlargements 393 to 399 Advice 3. Lay in for bad times 402 There are four seasons when Christians will need all their store 1 Times of temptation 403 Mat. 2. 1. Cause they are certain they will come 403 2 They are shaking when they are come 407 2 Times of desertion 408 3 Times of great affliction 410 4 The time of death 413 Advice 4. Lay out for God this is 1 Reasonable work 417 2 Pleasing work 419 3 Honourable work 420 4 Profitable work ibid. 5 'T is a proof of your love to God 422 Dir. 1. Lay out your time for God Mot. 1. Your time is not yours but Gods Mot. 2. Much of your time is lost already 424 Mot. 3. Your time is short and uncertain ibid. Mot. 4. You can't put it to better profit 425 5 You must give an account of your time 426 6 How can you bethink a little time for God who hath not thought an eternity of mercy too much for you 427 2 Lay out your strength for God ibid. 3 Lay out your gifts and graces for God 428 4 Lay out your earthly interests for God 430 1 Else all your Religion is vain 432 2 Acts of charity are parts of Religious worship 433 3 God is much glorified by duties of charity 434 4 Sincere charity will evidence your right to glory 435 5 'T is the sure way to blessings here 437 Coun. 5. Lay up for glory 440 1 Lay up sound hopes for glory 441 With Motives thereto ibid. Que. What are these sure hopes of glory Sol. 1. They issue from saving Vnion with Christ 445 2 They are the fruits of true grace 447 3 There will be a mortifiedness to this world 448 4 Right hopes are active hopes 449 5 Then will your conversation be in heaven 454 2 Lay up desires for glory 455 3 Lay up all the treasures you can to greater glory 457 Several things tend to greater glory 458 Lay up preparations for glory for which 461 1 Get your hearts more loose from the world 462 2 Press after more maturity in your graces 463 3 Get and keep the testimony of a good Conscience ibid. 4 Maintain walks with God daily 464 5 Dispatch your work on earth 465 Lastly Be always ready for the coming of the Lord ibid. FINIS