is not the grossest Protestant or Papist but pretends to the Spirit of God yea that horrid Monster Mahomet blusht not to avouch that in the Forme of a Dove the holy Spirit of God did whisper in his eare from Heaven Now blessed is that Spirit publike or private who is truly willing and joyfull to lye downe in the Ballances of the Lords weighings Hitherto tend these Experiments of personal Communion with God in the Spirit of Holinesse Rom. 1. 3. 'T is true all publike and private Christian Spirits pretend the Spirit of Holinesse yea how great a part of the World pretend to be Christendome the Christian world that is anointed with the Spirit of Christ Jesus But was it Death in Moses Rites to counterfeit that ceremoniall and figurative Ointment Exod. 30. what shall it be to counterfeit the Spirit of Life and Holiness it self What I beleeve therefore as David and Paul once spake I freely speak Yea who can but speak saith Peter and John the Things they have seene and heard I confesse I spake these first but in a private Letter in America and thought not that the light in Europe should have seen them But a two-fold desire hath prevailed with me to expose these Tryalls to the Trying of all men 1. The earnest desire of some Godly Friends 2. Mine owne desire of sowing a little handfull of spirituall seed while the short Minute of my seed-time the opportunity of life lasteth My scope is to fill each truly Christian soule with triumphing and rejoycing I speak peace and joy to the Weakest Lamb and Child in Christianity that is so low so weake so litle so poor in its owne eyes that it sometimes saith it hath no Christ no Spirit no Faith no Love no nor true Desire in it selfe To this poore weake one I speak peace and joy and say this spirituall poverty is blessed and is the first step or round of that spirituall Ladder Mat. 5. Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdome of Heaven Secondly I sound joyfull Alarums of Encouragement to the strong to grow as Peter exhorteth in the Grace and Knowledge of the Lord Jesus T is true the communion of Saints is sweet and joyfull strong and powerfull eternally gainfull and profitable and holy and blessed is that Spirit that makes the Saints who are the Excellent of the Earth its Delight and after that blessed hour of the Saints uniting in one Heart one Spirit one Worship let all that love Christ Jesus mourne and lament and breath and pant And yet the weakest and the faintest Lamb that comes but stealing in the Crowd to touch the hemb of the Lord Jesus his garment that is content to be esteemed a Dog and to wait for crums of mercy under the Table of the Son of God let them I say rejoyce also for he that hath begun that blessed work by his owne free and eternall Spirit will by the same his owne holy Arme gloriously finish it I end Deare Christian with the proposall of two Christian knots or Riddles not unsuitable to these present Times and Spirits First Why is the Heart of a David himself Psa. 30. more apt to decline from God upon the Mountaine of Joy Deliverance Victory Prosperity then in the dark Vale of the shadow of Death Persecution Sicknesse Adversity c. Secondly Why is it since God worketh freely in us to doe and to will of his owne good pleasure that yet he is pleased to command us to work out our owne Salvation with Feare and Trembling Let us all humbly beg the Finger the Spirit of the Lord to untie these Knots for us I. desire to be thine unseighned in Christ Jesus R. W. The Contents of this Discourse The Heads are three UNder the first are contained the Arguments of Spirituall Life wherein the Weakest and the Sickest Child of God may finde its Spirituall Life apparent though over-cast and eclipsed with spirituall Weaknesse and Distempers Under the second Head Arguments of the strength and vigour of the Spirit of Life and Holinesse In which the strongest and the eldest in Christ may find Experiments of Spirituall Health and Christian Activity and chearfullnesse These Experiments respect 1. The Souls private correspondenâ—…y with the Lord himselfe 2. Converse and correspondency with Men 3. Private Retirednesses with it selfe Under the third Head are proposed some Means wherein the Spirit of God usually breatheth for the preserving and maintaining of a truly Spirituall and Christian Health and Chearfullnesse The Letter which the Author sent with this Discourse to his Wife M. W. upon her recovery from a dangerous sicknesse My Dearest Love and Companion in this Vale of Tears THy late sudden and dangerous Sicknesse and the Lords most gracious and speedy raising thee up from the gates and jawes of Death as they were wonderfull in thine own and others eyes so I hope and earnestly desire they may be ever in our thoughts as a warning from Heaven to make ready for a sudden call to be gone from hence to live the rest of our short uncertaine span more as strangers longing and breathing after another Home and Country To cast off our great cares and fears and desires and joyes about this Candle of this vaine life that is so soon blowne out and to trust in the living God of whose wonderfull power and mercy thou hast had so much and so late experience which must make thee sing with David Psal. 103. Blesse the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me blesse his holy Name Blesse the Lord O my Soul and forget not all his benefits who forgiveth all thy sins and healeth thine infirmities who redeemeth thy life from destruction and crowneth thee with mercy and loving kindnesse My dear Love since it pleaseth the Lord so to dispose of me and of my affairs at present that I cannot often see thee I desire often to send to thee I now send thee that which I know will be sweeter to thee then the Honey and the Honey-combe and stronger refreshment then the strongest wines or waters and of more value then if every line and letter wâ—…e thousands of gold and silver Hezekiah upon his recovery from his sicknesse made a writing Isai. 38. as an everlasting monument of his praise unto God and as a Goad or spur to himselfe and others in the wayes of godlinesse for the future Thy holy and humble desires are strong but I know thy writing is slow and that thou wilt gladly accept of this my poore helpe which with humble thankefulnesse and praise to the Lord I humbly tender to his holy service and thine in him I send thee though in Winter an handfull of flowers made up in a little Posey for thy dear selfe and our dear children to look and smell on when I as the grasse of the field shall be gone and withered Wee know how it pleaseth the spirit of God to distinguish between
a Father False calling upon God as upon a Father 2 Argum Gods children long for more and more knowledge of God 2. Arg. 3. Gods children hunger and thirst after Gods Word Gods word in Gods way Cant 1. True hunger aâ—…ter Gods word True desire in all Gods people Difference between the true and false desire God must be chosen for himself Gods children cannot live in known sin without strugling mourning No hypocrite can fight against sin as sin A true childe of God tender of Gods name Instances of Samson and Jehosaphat A true childe of God is patient under the rod of his heavenly Father 1. The enemies of God and slatterers cannot submit to God as to a Father Gods children less grieve for theâ—…r own afsliction then for Gods displeasure Gods children joyn with Gods rod against themselves Gods people long after Gods true worship in Christ Jesus Gods people both awake â—…sleep as to Christ Jesus Gods people cannot bur be full of struglings of spirit as to the visible worship of God in Christ Jesus True marriage affection in all Gods people to Christ Jesus yet with much difference Gods children have no peace in sin unrepented of Only Gods people can truly desire peace with God Two sorts of Gods people enquiring and longing after Christ Jesus The liking of Gods grâ—…cious Spirit in others a true Argument of the same Spirit in our selves Disseâ—…blers in a respect may desire righteousness but only Gods children can long for it in trutâ—… and for it self Gods children cannot but desire spirituall health as wel as life and Christian being Incomprehensible nature of God Gods children ought to walk in constant amazedness of spirit as to God his nature works c. The glorifying of God the great work of Gods children Delightfull privacie with God argues strong affection Hypocrites pretend far in glorifying of God A frequent constant spirit of prayer an argument of much of Gods Spirit True prayer is the souls breathing unto God and hath more or lesse some soul-pleasure in it Gods children are most in private with God The prayers of Gods people most respect spiritual and soul mercies Godâ—… people wait for and rest in Gods answer Gods people are only truly sensible of unworthines 6thly Hypocrites affection to God God himself the portion of his 7thly Ready obedience to God The sins of Gods people 8thly The patience of Gods children under Gods hand The counterfeit patience of Hypocrites 9thly The mournful confession of Gods peoplâ—… 1. 2. False confessions The sins of Gods people distinguished 10thly Gods people long after visible enjoyments of God True Christians affection to Christ Jesus in his visible worship 11thly 12thly Brokennes of spirit 2dly Spirituall battels 3dly Godly loathing for sin Hypocrites may in a respect loath themselves for sin Fourthly True selfe denyall No Hypocrite can truly deny himselfe Fifthly Sixtly Spirituall contentation in Gods will All changes and losses are made up to Gods people only by himselfe Seventhly Joy in Sorrow Hypocrites pretend to suffer for Christ Eightly Christian weanedness from this worlds comforts The heavenlâ—… use of earthly comforts Ninthly The glorifying of God proper to Gods children only Tenthly The true watch of Gods people over their Tongue Only Gods children can truly hate sin Christ and Châ—…istians worke to glorify God in doing good Holy women great helps in the Gospel of Christ Iesus Secondly Gods children cannot buâ—… naturally love one another Worldly men may in a kind love Gods people But Gods children can only love each other with a spiritual love Gods children may possibly be unkind and cruel each to other Gods people in case may be sharp each to other so was David shâ—…rply reprov'd by Nathan One of the blackest transgressions in the world for Thirdly A compassionate heart even towards enemies is a Christan heart 2 Tim. 2. 26. Gods people mourn for others 4thly Impartiall reproving a character of Gods people Bold reprovers for sin Godliness makes civilitie more beautifull 5thly Joseph and David admirable for resisting of temptations The fals of Gods children and to what end A Christian bearing of reproof a good argument of much of Christ Jesus Gods people may possibly be angry at reproofs Naturall wisdome goes far but not so far as spirituall Reproâ—…ches send Gods people unto God Different manifestations of Christ Jesus in his people Some means which Gods Spirit useth as preservatives Soul-examination a soul means of spirituall preservation Affliction the season of Examination 2dly Christ Jesus his appointments undoubted means of Christian health chearfulness Prayer with fasting a most Christian and mighty ordinance The excellent use of prayer and fasting 3dly Spirituall taking of cold 4thly Gods people must watch against the surâ—…iting upon wo ldly comforts 5. The power of meditating the joyes that are to come 5thly Bitter and uâ—…toothsome things may yet be of a blessed and wholsome use to Gods people Two sorts of bitter affâ—…ictions The Scripture the true store house of soul physick 1. The remembrance of our sins bitter yet an wholsome pill Gods children bound to beg for pardon of sin Godly sorrow not inconsistent but subservient to spirituall joy Gods councels absolue not us from meanes endeavours The due consideration of Gods justice is an heavenly though bitter pill The dreadfull rejection of the Angels The dreadfull sentence upon all mankind The destruction of Egypt and Sodom the whole world Fearfull stroaks of Gods justice upon Israel Upon the Jews and Jerusalem Upon the Son of his love the Lord Jesus The heavy dolefull stroaks of Gods righteteous hand upon his own people in this world Gods holy end in his sore afflictions upon his people Gods justice visibly seen in the present sorrows of all sorts The horrible desolations of late years The wonderfull spirituall judgements upon the Nations The direfull judgement upon the Jewes The direfull judgement of Mahumatanism and Antichristianisme The lâ—…mentable captivity of Gods own people to Antichristian worships The dreadfull and eternall judgement yet to come The Parables of holy Scripture are ful of heavenly kernels of Tâ—…uth The worme that never dyes and â—…the fire that never goes out The meditation of Death 3 Terrible uncertainties Meditations of death powerfull as to many heavenly purposes
the outward and the inner man 2 Cor. 4. Though our outward man perish yet our inner is renewed day by day It hath pleased the most high to cast downe thy outward man and againe graciously to lift him up and thereby to teach us both to examine and try the health and strength and welfare of the inner I will not now enter upon the Disputes about that question what is the Inner-man whether Christ himselfe as some say or an Image or likenesse of Christ Jesus as others say That is a Candle or Torch to me which is written Ephes. 3. That Christ may dwell in your Hearts by faith unto which agrees that of the first of John As many as received him that is received Christ Jesus into the house of their hearts to dwell there by beleiving and obeying of him they are borne of the Spirit and are the Sons of God This Inner man this new-man which after God is created in holinesse and righteousuesse I say this Inner-man hath his tempers and distempers his health and sicknesse as well as this outward-man this body of Clay Hence we hear so often mentioned the renewing of the inward-man the growing and increasing of Faith and Love and other breathings of Gods Spirit the losse that is in a measure of the Ephesians first love Hence the many falls of the Lords best Servants recorded in Scripture and the sleep of the Spouse of Christ Jesus although her heart wake in the truth of marriagelove which can never wholly dye in her and be extinguished The holy Scripture mentioneth a three-fold persoâ—… in all that are borne againe First the body of Flesh and clay this outward naturall being which must be dissolved and dye then rise againe to Glory The second is the body of corruption or old man which being deadly wounded by the Son of God alreadie in all that are his shall shortly give up the ghost and rot and never rise again The third is this holy heavenly inner man of whose health and daily renewing I now discourse who is born of an immortall seed and therefore can no more die then Christ himself Rom. 6. Now as this outward man desires not onely life and being but also health and cheerfulness in all the living motions and actions thereof So and much more ten thousand fold requires the inward and spirituall man an healthfull and cheerfull temper For as the Lord loveth a cheâ—…rfull giver So loves he also a cheerfull Preacher a chearfull hearer a chearfull prayer and a chearfull sufferer for his Name sake He loves that the fhoes of preparation be on our feet ready to run all wayes and weathers the paths of his Command â—…ents That like a vessel our leaks be stopt and our whole soul be ready in an holy trim and tightness for all his holy employments of us in the greatest tempests â—…hat like heavenly souldiers our Arms be fixt or like an Instrument the strings of our affâ—…ctions and parts be all in tune to make heavenly musick in the holy ears of our heavenly Lord and King T is true as it is between a loving couple and as it was in the Church at Ephesus it is not easiâ—… to keep in the first flame of Love fresh and equall although the fire of the truth and sinceritie of marriage love never die or be extingnished It is true that Paul cries out how much more may we O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death T is true that sometimes corruption and Satan surprize and carry away the stâ—…ongest champions of Christ Jesus as slaves and captives for a time untill Christ Jesus rescue redeem and ransome by giving repentance unto his Israel as he did to David Peter c. as Abraham rescued Lot and as David recovered all his precious captives led slaves away from Ziklag I am far therefore from passing the sentence of death upon the least of the little ones of Jesus notwithstanding their spirituall weaknes and sicknesses in whom the leaâ—…spâ—…rk or breathing of the spirit of Life can be discerned And I desire to see and lament the spirituall sicknesses and diseases of mine own and others Spirits which yet are not unto death as Christ Jesus spake of Lazarus but for the glory of God in the fall and rising of his servants Yea as Paul distinguisheth of Gods afl cting hand on his Saints at Corinth so must I distinguish between these three death sicknes and weakness Every sicknes of Gods Children is not a death for the inner man cannot die no more then Christ himself Rom 6. Again every weaknes is not a sicknes for some are weak little ones in the knowledg and love of Christ while others are grown to be strong and aged in Christ Jesus Yea the strongest and oldest Souldiers of Christ Jesus who have not thought their dearest Heart blood to dear for such a Lord and Master have yet been troubled with some weaknes and fits of spirituall distempers Weaknes in their Eyes is not discerning aright the mind of Christ Jesus weaknes in their hands and Feet hindring their spirituall chearfulnes and activity in Christs wayes which weaknesses yet have not brought them to a down right halting in Christianity I propose therefore with the assiâ—…tance of Gods holy spirit to examine these three particulars First what a ethe Arguments of that measure of spirituall life in Chrâ—…st which yet may stand with great spirituall weaknesses and diseases 2ly What is that 〈◊〉 of the grace of Christ Jesus which may be called the health and chearfull temper and disposition of the inner man 3dly What are those spirituall preservatives which may keâ—…p the Soul in an healthfull temper free from spirituall sicknesses and dâ—…stempers In these Examinations I professe two thinâ—… First not to oppresse thy thoughts and memory with any long discourse intending only to send thee after thy sicknes a little posey fit and easie for thy meditation and refâ—…shing 2ly All my Flowers shall be some choice example or speech of some son or daughter of God pickt out from the Garden of the holy Scriptures for our spirituall refreshing and consolation I begin therefore with such trialls and arguments as declare the true life of the inner man notwithstanding spirituall weaknes sicknes and distempers First then when the Spirit of the Lord in 1 Job 2. describeth the severall Ages and grouths of this inward man to wit a child a strong man and an old man it pleasath him to describe the young or little one by this difference that He knows the Father to wit that he knows the Lord so as to look upon him in his measure as to a Father that he fears him loves him obeys him and calls upon him as on a Father according to that of Gal 4. Because you are sons he hath sent forth the spirit of his Son crying in your Hearts Abâ—…a Father Father pardon me Father help
continually say with David Psalme 143. Thy Spirit is good lead me c. and Psal. 139. Search me O God and try my heart and see if thou findest any way of wiekednes in me and lead me in the way evâ—…rlasting These and many more are the trials 〈◊〉 spirituâ—…ll strength health and cheerfulnes in matters concerning God We now come to the second Head of trialls of spirituall health and strength in matters concerning our selves First then it is an Argument of spirituall health and strength when especially after known sins committed our hearts are in a broken frame and temper when our spirits are as it were contrite and pounded like spice in a Morter then yeelding the most delightfull smell and savour unto God Hence Isa. 66 a contrite and broken heart is an House wherein God dwels an House well ordered swept and garnished Hence a Spirit of trembling Isa. 66. is an Argument and character of the most dutifull children of God but of this formeâ—…ly 2ndly It is an Argument of spirituall strength when we make it our work to observe watch and kill our corruptions and rebellions and labour to keep under and beat down our body to an holy fitnes and readines for Gods service in fasting and prayer against temptations Obj. But may not Hypocrites humble themselves and labour to mortifie their lusts and corruptions I answer no question but in horrour of conscience and fear of Gods judgments an Hypocrite may humble himself in fasting as Ahab c. but to kill sin as sin and to desire to be ready for Gods will in denying and subduing his own is only the character and property of a child of God 3ly It is an Argument of spirituall health and strength when we so look upon our sins and our sinfull dispositions that we not only loath our sins but also loath our selves for them So saith the Lord Ezek. 6. My people shall loath themselves for their abominations and for their whoorish heartâ—…gainst me Thus Job when he recovers himself from his murmurings against God he cries out Behold I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes And David Psal 73 looks upon himself for his murmuâ—…ing against Gods providence as an ignorant person as a fool and a beast in Gods presence Object But may not an Hypocrite loath and abhor himselfe for sin I answer It is possible for an Hypocrite to be sorry for some sins and to be angry with himselfe and to loath himselfe but not properly for his sins which he loveth but as theeves whores drunkards c. for the danger damage and disgrace which his sin may bring upon him It is onely the property of Gods children to look at sin as sin with a loathing eye and to behold themselves vile and loathsome even for the most pleasing and profitable and delightfull and most secret sins Fourthly It is an Argument of the strength of Spirituall life when we lay downe our selves at the feet of God when as a Servants will our wils are subdued to the Lords will when the Lord is become our selfe when his ends are our ends which give us content and pleasure although our selves our ends are lost and destroyed that wee may finde new ends and delights in God Hence Epaphroditus to further the worke of the Lord Phil. 2 he regarded not his health and consequently not his life as a true Souldier in the Service of his heavenly King and Captaine Object But may not an Hypocrite deny himselfs his owne ends his pleasures his profits his credit his liberty his life I answer It is impossible for all that he doth is still for himselfe like Israel Hosea 7. He is an empty vine he bringeth forth fruit to himself All that he aims at in using the name of God his glory his Christ is still to exalt himselfe to save himselfe But Gods children eye ever a greater end then selfe to wit the glorifying of their God although it be in their own destructions Fifthly Our hearts are then in an healthfull frame and disposition when we are cordially willing to goe from hence that we may be with Christ Phil. 3. yet for the service of Christ and his Saints we are cordially willing to stay in hard and difficult Service Object But may not an Hypocrite desire to dye and to be with Christ I answer An Hypocrite may defire to dye and to be with Christ in a glorious condition but no Hypocrite can endure to dye to be with Christ in an holy and spirituall condition free from sin and therefore can he not endure uprightly c. to worke for Christ on Earth Sixthly Then are we in an healthfull frame of Grace when God hath brought down our hearts to be content with the changes of his right-hand upon us when we have learnt the lesson of Paul to be content with food and raiment with a travellers and strangers portion of so much as may serve us in our Journey When we can tell how to abound without Pride or security or â—…rust in earthly things and when we can tell how to want all outward mercies with quietnesse and contentation Obj. But may not Hypocrites be contented with smal matters and suppresse their desires of great things and say with Esau unto Jacob Keep that thau hast my brother I have enough I answer The desires of all men are not alike greedy but yet the desires of men are truely satisfied with out God Now when changes and the losse of all things fall upon the Hypoâ—…rite he cannot finde those changes and those losses made up in God No Habakkuk tels us That it is the Character of Gods children when the corne is gone and the flocks and the heards and the vine and the figtree faile to rejoyce in God alone for a portion and to glory in the God of their Salvation Seventhly Then are our hearts in an healthfull frame when we are not onely willing to suffer for the name of Christ Jesus but whâ—…n we also conceive a kinde of pleasure in it so saith Paul I take pleasure in necessities in distresses and for Christs sake Hence the Saints Heb. 13. 10. not onely suffered the spoyling of their goods but they took the spoyling of their goods with joy Object May not Hipocrites suffer joyfully for Christ I answer An Hypocrite may doe and suffer with a seeming joy for Christ But he can never doe this out of love to Christ 1 Cor. 13. but alwayes out of selfe-love for his owne glory and honour out of strong conviction of conscience least he be damned in denying his light c. Onely Gods children can out of love to Christ Jesus rejoyce as some true friend or wife to be afflicted and to sorrow and loose for their Souls beloved Object Why then are many of Gods Children so heavy in their sufferings and losses for Christ Jesus I answer This hapneth sometimes out of distemper of
But some may say Can these sayings be any other then a Parable or similitude for is the Devill capable of any materiall fire such as now is grievous and painfull to flesh and blood I answer Grant these sayings Parabolicall or similitudes as also that of Dives and Lazarus yet what are Parables and similitudes but Glasses to represent unto us in more plain and easie wayes the holy truâ—…h and mind of God The Kernell of truth is not the lesse sweet though wrapt up in the sâ—…els and husks Beyond all question therefore Christ Jesus foretels most sure and inconceiveable plagues to all that know not God and obey not his glorious Gospel And by this Worme that never dyes and this fire that never goes out declares a torment to be inflicted upon both men and devils which shall be extream like fire which shall be universall upon the whole sinfull creature no part exempted which shall be also eternall never dying never ending yet we may adore Gods righteous judgâ—…ments and working out Salvation with fear and trembling make sure of a Jesus a Saviour to deliver us from the wrath that is to come In the next place my deare Love let us downe together by the steps of holy meditation into the valley of the shadow of Death It is of excellent use to walke often into Golgotha and to view the rotten skuls of so many innumerable thousands of millions of millions of men and women like our selves gone gone for ever from this life and being as if they never had life nor being as the swift Ships as the Weavers shuttle as an arrow as the lightning through the aire c. It is not unprofitable to remember the faces of such whom we knew with whom we had sweet acquaintance sweet society with whom we have familiarly eaten and lodged but now growne loath some ugly terrible even to their dearest since they fell into the jawes of death the King of terrors And yet they are but gone before us in the path all flesh must tread How then should we make sure and infiniâ—…ely much of a Saviour who delivers us from the power and bitternesse of Death and Grave and Hell who is a resurrection and life unto us and will raise up and make our bodies glorious like his glorious Body when he shall shortly appear in glory It is further of great and sweet use against the bitternesse of Death and against the bitter-sweet delusions of this world daily to thinke each day our last the day of our last farewell the day of the splitting of this vessell the breaking of this buble the quenching of this Candle and of our passage into the land of Darknesse never more to behold a spake of light untill the Heavens be no more Those three uncertaintiâ—…s of that most certain blow to wit of the Time when the Place where the Manner how it shall come upon us and dash our Earthen Pitcher all to pieces I say the consideration of these three should be a threefold cord to bind us fast to an holy watchfulness for our departures and a spur to quicken us to aboundant faithfulnesse in doing and suffering for the Lord and his Christ it should draw up our minds unto heavenly objects and loosen us from the vexing vanities of this vaine puffe of this present sinfull life Oh how weaned how sober how temperate how mortified should our spirits our affections our desires be when we remember that we are but strangers converse with strange companies dwel instrange houses lodge in strange beds and know not whether this day this night shall be our finall change of this strange place for one far stranger darke and dolefull except enlightned by the Death and Life of the Son of God How contented should we be with any Pittance any Allowance of Bread of Cloaths of Friendship of Respect c How thankfull unto God unto man should we poor strangers be for the least crum or drop or rag vouchsaf'd unto us when we remember we are but strangers in an In but passengers in a Ship and though we dreame of long Summer dayes yet our very life and being is but a swift short passage from the bank of time to the other side or Banck of a dolefull or joyfull eternity How patient should our minds and bodies be under the crossing disappointing hand of our all-powerfull Maker of our most gracious Father when we remember that this is the short span of our purging and fitting for an eternall Glory and that when we are judged we are chastned of the Lord that we should not be condemned with the world How quietly without the swellings of revenge and wrath should we bear the daily injuries reproaches persecutings c. from the hands of men who passe away and wither it may be before night like grasse or as the smoake on the chimnies top and their love and hatred shall quickly perish Yea how busie how diligent how solicitous should we be like strangers upon a strange Coast waiting for a winde or passage to get dispatched what we have to doe before wee hear that finall call Away Away let us be gone from hence c. How should we ply to get aboard that which will passe and turne to blessed account in our own countrey How should we over-look and despise this worlds trash which as the holy woman going to be burnt for Christ said of money will not passe in Heaven How zealous for the true God the true Christ his praise his truth his worship how faithfull in an humble witnesse against the lyes and cozening delusions of the Father of lyes though guilded o're with truth and that by the hands of the highest or holyest upon the Earth How frequent how constant like Christ Jesus our Founder and Example in doing good especially to the Souls of all men especially to the Houshold of Faith yea even to our enenemies when we remember that this is our seed-time of which every minute is precious and that as our sowing is must be our eternall Harvest for so sayth the Spirit by Paul to the Galathians He that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption or rottennesse and he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting FINIS Cor. 3. * Cromwel and Lambert Thy Maker is thy Husband Isa. 5. Isa. 40. Prov. 21. Great pretences to the holy Spirit of God To counterfeit the holy Spirit dreadfull The least of the little ones of Christ Jesâ—…s oâ—…ght to rejoyce Communion of Saints most sweet and to be lamented after Two Christian Riddles suiting these times and spirits The true use of sicknesse The outward and inner mâ—…n What the inner man is Subject to many distempers A threefold person in Gods children A spirituall cheerful temper Spirituall distempers Distinction between spirituall death spirituall sickness and spiritual weakness The Heads of this Discourse The weakess of Gods children cry unto God as to