goe thither so desirous was hee of corporall health That poore woman who was long subject to a bloodie issue Matt. 9.20 is not affraide to throng through the people till she come to IESVS so carefull was shee to bee made whole Can blinde Bartimeus knowing that IESVS was comming by Marke 10. who was able to cure him be stayed from crying O Sonne of David haue mercie on me yea which thou wouldest admire ô my soule no sooner heareth he it sayde to him Bee of good comfort arise Hee calleth thee but assoone albeit he was blinde he threw away his cloathes and hastened unto IESVS Oh LORD GOD when shall the Naamans of this our Age leprous in soule by reason of their monsterous sinnes seeke after that water of the Spirit and of the Word which is onlie able to cleanse them when shall the men the women of this Age monsterouslie defiled from the toppe of the head to the soale of the foote through that continuall running issue of iniquitie which maketh them not only uncomely but loathsomelie stinking in the nosthirls of GOD of Angels and of men sensible of GOD runne with faith towards the Hemme of CHRISTS Garment even His blessed Worde that by it this their running stinking issue may bee happilie dried up when shall the blind men of this world find feete to runne with courage and with confidence towards that bright Sunne of Righteousnesse and light of the Worlde IESVS to the ende they may see that the things which bee seene heere are temporall and not to bee rested upon and that the thinges which are not seene otherwayes but by Fayth are aeternall and onelie to beeloved and longed for O my Soule for thine owne vvarning and vvakening remember CHRISTES loving Invitation Come unto Mee Matth. 11. all yee that labour and are heavie ladened and I will giue you rest to your Soules But with this forget not CHRISTES just Conviction if thou attempt to despise His alluring Charge O Hierusalem Hierusalem which killest ihe Prophets and stonest them that come to thee Luke 13. how often would I haue gathered thy children together as the Henne gathereth her Brood under her winges and yee would not Beholde your house is left unto you desolate If I had not come Iohn 15. and spoken unto them they should not haue had sinne but now haue they no cloake for their sinne OH LORD GOD vvhen shall the loose Christians of this last Age beeing enlightened and quickened in Soule by Thy Majestie in Mercie looking on their dead Soules in the Face of Thy Well-beloved beginne to accompt of that Heavenlie and wholesome Poole of Thy Sacred and saving Worde happilie now running plenteouslie through the force of Thy tender Mercies towardes us through everie Citie everie Village everie Cottage so that all persons of all Rankes blessed bee Thou for this Thy great kindnesse may freelie without feare in season and out of season resorte unto it as those olde Iewes accompted of the perishing Poole of Bethesda Iohn 5. which vvas not to bee found but in the Holie Land neyther in it but in the Tribe of Iuda neyther there but at Hierusalem I must confesse ô my Soule That that Iewish dead Poole of Bethesda in foure thinges resembled our Christian liuelie Poole of the blessed Worde of GOD And yet I dare affirme before GOD Angels and Men That our blessed Poole of the Worde surmounteth that of Bethesda so farre in one thing that if men could take it to heart where one Iew esteemed of that their Poole and resorted unto it hundreths thousandes should esteeme of this soft running Poole of GODS Worde not onelie carefullie resorting unto it but enduring their verie life heere joyfullie delighting to dwell beside it First vvhatsoever disease bodilie a man was subject unto this disease that Iewish Poole was able to cure even so this our Poole of the Worde of GOD is able to cure the Sinner of vvhatsoever Spirituall Sicknesse can over-take thy Soule because of anie sinne thou canst fall into Secondlie as none could bee cured in bodie by that Iewish Poole but such as stepped in into it and were wet there-with so impossible is it that anie sinner can bee freed from his sinnes by the meane of GODS Worde till his soule bee dewed by it and so till hee bee mooved and perswaded to heare to belieue and obey it Thirdlie as that Iewish Poole coulde not possiblie cure so much as one mans bodie till the Angel came downe and troubled the Water of it so this Poole of the Worde can cure the soule of no sinner 1. Cor. 3.6.7 till that blessed uncreated Angel even the Spirit of the Father and of His dearest Sonne come downe as it were to his soule joyning His owne inward Vertue with His owne outwarde Worde and that way stryking the heart by His owne Finger as Hee stryketh the eare by His Trueth Fourthlie as amongst the Iewes no man knewe at what time the Angel woulde come downe and trouble the Water for curing of their diseased bodies vvhich mooved the sicke persons looking and longing for health resorting to that Poole constantlie to lye still at it not departing after manie dayes vveekes monethes yea yeares as is manifest by the practise of that man who lay there thirtie eight yeares So amongst us Christians there is neyther Preacher nor Hearer King nor Subject Man nor Woman olde nor young can possiblie knowe vvhat day vvhat houre vvhat minute that blessed Spirit of GOD will joyne His Force and Vertue vvith that His Worde which is heard making it effectuall to quicken the dead to enlighten the blinde to convert such as haue gone astray to comfort the broken hearted and to confirme those who stand I vvould heerefore advyse thee O my soule if thou bee sensible of thine owne Spirituall wantes and if thou long to haue them supplied to resort thither where thou mayst heare this Word crying unto thy GOD with David One thing haue I desired of the LORD that I will require Even that I may dwell in the House of the LORD Psalm 27.4 all the dayes of mylife to beholde the beautie of the LORD and to visit His Temple Yea it were good ô my Soule in this respect that thou resolve with Anna that religious old widow Never to goe out of GODS Temple Luke 2 36.37 but to serue Him there with Fastinges and Prayer night and day But ô my soule lift up thy selfe on high and hearken even with greedinesse I pray thee to the ende thou mayest heare and consider that one thing yea that incomparablie profitable one thing wherein this Heavenlie Poole of GODS Worde accompanied with His Spirit excelleth yea surmounteth that visible Iewish Poole of Bethesda Could that Iewish Poole ô my soule even beeing troubled by the Angell possiblie cure moe at once or one onlie onlie one at one time beeing troubled could it cure for no moe at one time were cured by it beside
which may grieue GOD and please his Father that hee may obtaine his Fathers favour If an Husband finde that hee is wronged by his Wife let him not doe that which may grieue GOD and please his Wife to the ende he may obtaine his Wiues favour If a Wife finde that shee is wronged by her Husband let her not doe that which may grieue GOD and please her Husband to the ende shee may obtaine her Husbandes favour But let them all sticke constantlie unto GOD doing that alwayes which is good in His Eyes so bee sure that GOD shall eyther mooue King Husband Child Wife and so foorth to doe that which they shoulde doe or else strengthen Subject Childe Husband Wife c. to beare out with contentment the greatest wronges that can bee done unto them Wilt thou not then ô my Soule loue this GOD seeke this GOD serue this GOD with all men and against all men whether hee clappe thee or kuffe thee heale thee or wound thee quicken thee or slay thee TRue Saving Prayer O my soule may justlie be styled That Royall Ambassadour Prudent and Couragious Who lodging alwayes in a cleane Cabinet is directed from that Greatest King towardes that Greatest Monarch and who can no wayes upon anie condition bee mooved to stay from journeying forwardes till he come before Him to whome hee was sent discharging that Commission which hee carrieth in his Bosome and besides Him neyther to Mineon nor Courteour or anie of his Subjectes whatsoever Tell mee ô my Soule can anie in Heaven anie under Heaven teach thee to pray to thy Salvation besides that Great King even the Spirit of the Father and of His Dearest Sonne And therefore that Great Teacher of the Gentiles can resolue thee thus Roman 8.26 The Spirit helpeth our infirmities for wee know not what to pray as wee ought but the Spirit it selfe maketh request for us with sighes which cannot bee expressed This Ambassadour of Prayer comming from the Spirit cannot lodge but in the quickened Soule and renewed heart of GODS Childe Reprobates I confesse may possesse manie Delicates but this Delicate of Saving Prayer they cannot haue And therefore the same Great Teacher of the Gentiles can marrie as it were Prayer and Salvation after an unseparable manner together saying Rom. 10.13 Whosoever calleth upon the Name of the LORD to wit being ledde by the Spirite of Adoption the onelie Anker of Heavenlie Supplication shall bee saved Saving Prayer besides this is so prudent and couragious that beeing sent by this Spirite from the honest heart of GODS renewed Childe towardes that onelie Super-excellent Monarch GOD his Father it will not giue so much as a looke let bee a God-spcede as it were unto anie Angel unto anie Sainct in Heaven unto anie Man on earth beeing so directed by that Spirit by whome it was sent till it come in before that Great Majestie of the GOD of Heaven with whome onelie it hath to doe and there in His Bosome powre foorth the selfe O my soule Art thou not thus charged by GOD thy Father Psal 50.15 Call upon Mee in the day of thy trouble Art thou not thus charged by GOD thy Saviour When yee pray pray thus Our Father which art in Heaven Matth. 6.9 c. Art thou not thus charged by GOD thy Redeemer thy Comforter and Keeper If anie man aske Wisedome let him aske it of GOD. Iames 1.5 Search search ô my soule the whole Olde Testament the whole New Testament and trye if there thou mayest forgather eyther with Praecept directing thee to pray unto anie in Heaven or under Heaven besides thy GOD or with anie Promise That if thou prayest unto anie besides His Majestie thou shalt come speede or lastlie with anie practise shewing thee that ever anie of GODS Children ever sent up their Prayers to anie besides that Blessed GOD in whome they believed Vnderstande understande heerefore O my Soule that the ignorant prophane vaine bablinges of the blinde superstitious Papistes can bee no Saving prayers indyted by the blessed Spirite of GOD but windie foolish effectlesse words comming from their owne deceived Braynes and fonde imaginations For if they come from GOD His Spirit they would bee directed unto God onelie but since they bee drawne up unto creatures they cannot come from the true Spirite of that Creator blessed for evermore but from the lying spirites of base cursed creatures THE blinde blooddie restlesse Seminarie compassing the Earth to and froe with Satan sowing alwayes where hee commeth anie occasion being offered unto him his poysoned and poysoning Popple eyther to impede the receiving or to hinder the grouth of the good Wheate of GODS Worde to the ende that hee may perswade Man and Women of all Rankes even with some Greedinesse readilie to imbrace his lying Doctrine touching the Invocation of Sainctes hath verie highlie here-to-fore and doeth verie farre as yet advaunce that effectlesse Comparison taken from the Courtes of Earthlie Kinges And this Comparison hee hath hatched to the ende he may the more subtillie advaunce the Grandour and augment the Wealth of that Vylde Court of ROME And with this not onelie draw away poore simple people from beeing truelie courteous with that KING OF GLORIE Blessed for ever but also to stirre them up albeit hee abhorreth to confesse this to kythe themselues grosse and avowed Traytors against His Majestie O shamelesse Papist Is not this thy fonde alleadgeance as Subjectes considering the Grandour of their Princes and their owne basenesse are accustomed to goe unto their Kinges by Noble-men and Courteoures So the Children of GOD considering the Excellencie of that Majestie wherewith their GOD is cloathed beeing sensible in the meane time of their owne vildenesse by reason of those sinnes wherewith they are clogged should not attempt to goe to their GOD but by those Saincts which bee in heaven Hadst thou ô effronted Papist hearkened unto that answere now neareby twelue hundreth yeeres agoe given to this purpose by that famous Bishop of worthie memorie Ambrose thou wouldest haue beene affraid from kepping so greedilie without anie shew or reason Ambrose on Rom. 8. this effectlesse comparison from keeping it so pertinaciouslie even to this day without anie kinde of shame For this cause men and women are mooved to goe unto Kinges by Noble-men and Courteoures because Kinges bee but men and know not to whom they should commit the governament of their Countrey but while a man hath to doe with his GOD from whom nothing can be hidde for all men are knowne by Him wee haue neede of no such mediator but of a devoate humble holie heart for whensoever such an heart shall speake GOD shall loving lie answere it But O deceived and deceiving Seminarie to what purpose will this thy comparison serue thee in that countrey where the King with whom thou hast to doe hath by a speciall Edict under His great seale and publicke Proclamation raised thereupon authorized His eldest Sonne to bee
Heavenlie Priviledges unto the full fruition and everlasting possession whereof Hee must necessarilie haue us advanced BLessed blessed O my soule beyonde measure be all those whose Father Almightie GOD in His dearest Sonne IESVS hath become And therefore I cannot wonder that that Disciple whome IESVS loved speaking heereof was mooved with a shrill voyce thus to crye foorth resembling some Messenger sounding from a Market Crosse some speciall Proclamation Beholde what loue the Father hath shewed on us that wee should bee called 1. Iohn 3.2 The Sonnes of GOD. Manie Sonnes indeede hath His Majestie yea our GOD blessed for evermore bee that His only beloved Sonne IESVS who at a great rate hath conquished these Sonnes unto Him hath a verie worlde of Sonnes Alwayes Revel 7.9 the Scripture telleth mee O my Soule That GOD our Father will make all these His Sonnes Kinges Revel 1.6 and everie one of them a King not to reigne for a while honoured with a fading Crowne But to reigne for evermore in that Kingdome 1. Pet. 1 3.4.5 which is immortall and undefiled and which fadeth not away What King earthlie ô my Soule having manie Sonnes is able to make all his Sonnes Kinges And yet foolish man dreameth those to bee happie who bee the Sonnes of Kinges yea of great men howbeit none can bee possibly truelie happie but such who being borne over againe Iohn 3.3 by the Spirit and by the Worde of GOD bee made the Sonnes of The Most High and so Kings at length to reigne in despight of all Tyrantes and tyrannie for ever I shall not offende heerefore ô my Soule albeit my Coate now bee course my Bread bee browne my Drinke small my Crowne sharpe and pricking having terroures within and troubles without Knowest thou not ô my soule howe thy LORD and SAVIOVR comming to this Earth by His death to draw thee to Heaven was cloathed was entertayned was crowned here and yet blessed bee His Name in despight of all hellish and earthlie Powers is Hee not crowned nowe in that highest Heavens with that Crowne of incomparable Majestie and everlasting Glorie Mat. 28.18 having all power in Heaven and on Earth given unto Him Yea possessing a Name aboue all names which are named in this Worlde Philip. 2.9.10 and unto the which everie Knee must bowe O believing Trades man Craftes man Coatter Beggar Canst thou lift up thine Eyes afore-hande to see Canst thou bow thine heart afore-hande to taste the unspeakeable Ioyes which thy Soule shall possesse that incorruptible Glorie which shall compasse thy verie clay Vessell when thou beeing glorified throughlie the Lambe with the Lambe shall goe in and out before the Lambe in that newe Hierusalem which is aboue having on thine head that Crowne of endlesse Glorie cloathed with a long white Robe having Palmes in thine hand and crying joyfullie with a loude voyce Salvation commeth of our GOD that sitteth on the Throne Revelat. 7.9.10 and of the Lambe Let it bee thy Meate then thy Drinke then while thou sojournest heere O my soule absent in bodie from that Lambe of GOD thy Saviour to thinke upon this IESVS to speake of this IESVS to seeke this IESVS to serue this IESVS who hath called thee unto this honour to bee the Childe of GOD and so to be a King for ever to possesse fulnesse of Ioye in GODS praesence and at His Right Hand Pleasures for evermore Psal 16.11 KNewest thou O my Soule how farre that blessed wise GOD thy Father hath advanced the flesh of man belieue me thou couldest not offend if I should curse thee if thou attempted but so much as to lust after those evils wherewith alace a verie world of people are nowe grosselie defiled And I could not but bee ashamed to be offended if thou shouldest curse mee if I should prease to giue these members of my bodie unto the committing of those sinnes which thousandes alace doe commit in this our time even with delectation and greedinesse O my soule hath not GOD honoured the flesh of man verie farre in making it to be a Cabinet to lodge that immortal Soule made by His Majestie even of an Heavenlie substance hath not our GOD more highlie advanced the flesh of man in making it to bee the Temple and dwelling place of His Holie Spirit Yea to be that Spirituall Immortall Incorruptible and Glorious plenishing which must fill and keepe the Heavens for ever Yea hath not His Majestie advanced it more than highlie in His blessed and onlie begotten Sonne IESVS that holie One being contented to assume and unite in one personall union with His Godheade the verie flesh of man not onlie for a while walking on earth in that our nature but transporting that our flesh to the highest Heavens so that Hee who is GOD alwayes aequall with the Father and with the holy Ghost is cloathed with the flesh of man And He who is cloathed with the flesh of man is GOD aequall with the Father and with the Spirit ô Coelestiall Spirites and heavenlie Angles who serve your blessed GOD alwayes readilie faythfullie busilie fullie and joyefulâ—ie can ye compare with that man who by a liuelie faith is ingraffed into that God-Man and Man-God IESVS Would that holy One cloathe Himselfe with your nature so that you may say He who is GOD is also an Angell and he who is Angell is GOD Or rather Heb. 2.16 tooke Hee not the Seede of Abraham so that the believing man may say He who is GOD is man also Hee who is man is GOD also ô Coelestiall Spirites said that blessed GOD your and our Glorious Maker ever of anie Angell or to anie Angell The angell Zach. 13.7 My fellow And yet our blessed GOD can speaking to and of His Sonne in whom we are thus beyond measure honoured speake thus of Him The man My fellow Darest thou then ô my Soule attempt to dishonour this GOD who hath so farre honoured thee Yea darest thou attempt to advise me being kitled with anie deceiueable lust to abuse this my flesh or anie member of it since His Majestie hath so wonderfullie advanced it We all thinke that David oversawe himselfe verie grosselie to Mephibosheth the creeple son of dead Ionathan who proved constantlie rarelie kinde to David when having tried the grosse falsehood and seditious treacherie of that villane Ziba hee saide to the poore creeple abused honest man 2. Sam. 19.29 Haue I not sayde Thou and Ziba divide the landes But when shall men who holde themselues for good Christians thinke and confesse that they oversee themselues abusing most grosselie the LORD their GOD when they crye aloude albeit not with their shrill voyces yet with their vilde workes even to the hearing of that GOD to whom they be more than oblieged in all respects but chiefely for advancing their flesh so highly which is the onlie ground of mans whole foelicitie O LORD GOD haue I not said Thou and the Devill divide betwixt
loupe for Ioy within me For by this vvould not thy blessed powerfull GOD whose wayes passe finding out not onlie overthrow but also mocke the malice and craft of the devill to His Majesties great Glorie to Satan his sensible shame and to thy everlasting comfort ô malicious subtill Serpent thou canst cunninglie convey by Evahs eares that fearefull poyson towardes her foule which was able to slay her her husband and their posteritie but is not my good GOD both mercifull and powerfull able to convey to my Soule even by mine eare that wholesome Salue whereby that thy poyson is not onlie made ineffectuall but whereby I am made to liue for ever Thou seest thou smellest thou touchest thou tastest yea thou readest ô man manie thinges alwayes understand it is not by thy sight by thy smelling by thy touching by thy tasting yea it is not by thy reading if thou attempt to despise hearing and so to contemne the Worde preached that thou canst be saved ô when shall that shining Golden Chaine of Salvation presented to us by Paul first be reverenced and then be embraced and keeped by us Whosoever shall call upon the Name of the LORD shall bee saved but how shall they call on Him in whome they haue not believed and how shall they belieue in Him Rom. 10.13.14.15.17 of whom they haue not beard and how shall they heare without a Preacher and how shall they preach except they be sent then faith is by hearing and hearing by the Worde of GOD. EVerie man naturallie loveth life and loving life desireth to liue but alace scarce one of a thousand doth know and consider wherefore life should bee loved and so wherefore man should desire for to liue The Ambitious man with Haman desireth for to liue to the ende his Honour may bee increased The leacherous man with Ammon desireth to liue to the ende hee may satisfie his beastlie Lust The seditious man with Ahitophell desireth to liue to the ende that accomplishing his crooked plottes hee may throw downe such as hee hateth and advaunce those which followe him The avaritious man with the Foole in the Gospel would liue to the ende hee may inlarge his Boundes and augment his Summes The Bellie-god would liue that with the rich Glutton hee may please his taste and fatte his vylde Bellie with the daintiest Fare But bee not those men O my Soule with their desires more than abominable in the Eyes of that holie GOD who made all men for Himselfe and no man for anie thing beside Himselfe Wherefore O my Soule if thou loving thy lyfe wouldest loue it as it becommeth the Childe of GOD to loue life and so if desiring to liue thou wouldest liue for the right ende I would advertise thee to learne of that wise graue Heavenlie-learning Father David That this lyfe is not to bee loved but for GODS cause onelie and so man should not desire to liue Psal 119.17 Genes 3. Luke 1.74.75 Rom. 8.11.12.13 but to the ende hee may keepe GODS Lawe This was the Ende wherefore man having lost himselfe in Adam was redeemed by IESVS CHRIST Yea this is the ende wherefore dead uncleane man is quickened renewed and sanctified by the Spirit of the Father and of His dearest Sonne A Lace ô my Soule as men desire to liue and in desiring to liue doe sinne grosselie because they desire not to liue for the right ende so men desire also to die but alace they sinne in desiring to die because the groundes of their desire are vylde before GOD and nowayes profitable but hurtfull to themselues Could wee desire to liue submitting humblie and holilie our crooked willes to the straight will of GOD to the ende that with David wee might keepe His Law and with Hezekiah that wee might benefit His Children on Earth heere Could wee desire to die submitting also heerein our will to the good will of GOD to the ende wee might cease to breake the Lawe of our GOD and so to sinne against His Majestie yea to the ende that wee might bee with IESVS who is our onelie advantage both in lyfe and in death holie should this our desire bee and happie should wee prooue having such a desire wrought in our Soules Vnderstand understand O my soule that this naturall life is no benefit unto man can bee no benefit for man at all but onelie in so farre as it goeth before Spirituall and aeternall life and so in so farre as it hath Spirituall and aeternall life following it for as that olde Saying ever remaineth true Nemo renatus qui non prius natus None hath GOD bearing them over againe by His Spirit to bee a Christian but such who were borne first of flesh and bloode to be men and women So that shall ever holde true which our Master spake of Iudas It had beene good for that man who is not borne over againe by the holie Spirit that hee had never bene borne of a Woman For Death seazing on that man cannot possibly but sende him to Hell unlesse before death man cease for to sinne And if through GODS Grace man die to sinne before hee die before the worlde hee shall cease from his laboures and rest with GOD for ever Bernhard meditating long agoe upon this and subscrybing to the trueth of it from a renewed humble honest heart drewe up this Prayer unto his GOD I beseech Thee O LORD my Father to bestowe upon mee Thine hungrie Childe three Bread Even that I may knowe that I may loue and that I may doe Thy will So shall I liue for in these three standeth the whole lyfe of my Soule And againe It is commonlie sayde amongst men Hee who feedeth well liveth well But heere Wickednesse doeth most grosselie ô my GOD bewray it selfe for none can possiblie liue well but such who liue ordinatelie sociallie and humblie ordinatelie studying to procure honest thinges both before GOD and man that neyther hee sinne against his GOD nor by his sinfull lyfe offend his Brethren Sociallie living so that hee studie to bee beloved of others and to loue others Humblie that while hee is made thus through the Grace of his GOD to carrie himselfe he be not puffed up with pryde as alace too manie bee But contrarie-wise that with the holie Sainctes of GOD yea with His most blessed Angels Rev. 4.9.10 hee cast himselfe alwayes downe before that Majestie who hath beene so mercifull and beneficiall unto him O My Soule When shalt thou beginne to loue that GOD truelie who hath loved thee dearelie with that sincere loue which His Majestie will accept of as of that loue which commeth from Him and sendeth thee backe unto Him againe Belieue mee ô my Soule albeit there bee some yet there bee not manie who be beautified and gifted with this sorte of loue for thou must know ô my soule that the heart of man hath beene and is clogged and cloathed with a foure-folde loue which would be considered by our
to mee Want what I can ô my Soule if IESVS loue mee well is mee I want that Honour that Wealth that Health those Pleasures which sometime I enjoyed yea I am depryved by death of a loving Father of kynde Brethren of true Friendes of deare Companions alwayes IESVS loveth mee IESVS is with mee and therefore well is mee And must I not bee well ô my soule having Him who was the sole solace and desire of that holie man David who was a man according to the heart of GOD For can hee not treading all Want under foote and triumphing as one possessing all Wealth crye out thus Whome haue I in the Heavens but Thee And I haue desired none in the Earth with Thee But O my Soule Psal 73.25 how hapned I to bring in David before thee when I was speaking unto thee touching the happinesse of that man who possessed IESVS Was not IESVS was not IESVS not onelie with GOD His Father but the verie daylie delight of His Father Prov. 8.26.27.30 2. Sam. 19. when Hee praepared the Heavens and made the Earth Mephibosheth hath a worthie Speach unto David after hee returned to Hierusalem Let Ziba take all seeing my lorde the King is come home in peace And wilt thou not gladlie bee contented to say ô my Soule O LORD my GOD let all that I haue bee taken from mee seeing my Loue and LORD IESVS is come to mee even Hee in vvhom Thou O LORD my Father art vvell pleased with me even Hee Matt. 3.17 Iohn 8.12 And 14.6 O LORD who is my Life my Light and my Salvation This loue vvherewith IESVS hath loved thee O my Soule is intimate to thine eares is sprinkled as it vvere on thy bodie is put into thine handes is presented to thy mouth Yea is as it were eaten drunken and digested by thee It is intimate to thine eare by the sweet voyce of the Gospell preached unto thee It is sprinkled as it were upon thy bodie by that Sacrament of Baptisme vvhereby thou wast entered into the House of GOD It is put into thine hand presented to thy mouth eaten drunken and digested by thee as it vvere by and in that Sacrament of the LORDS Supper administrate in broken Bread and Wine powred out Telling thee ô my soule that blessed IESVS being that cleane and wholesome Wheate was heartfullie contented to bee ground betwixt the Mil-stones of His Fathers wrath to the ende that He might become sweet and pleasant Bread to feede thee Yea that blessed IESVS being that true vine full of heavenlie sappe and juyce would bee pressed in the Wine-presse of His Fathers indignation to the ende that He might be made a quickening refreshing and comforting Drinke to quicken thee O my Soule beeing deade to refreshe thee ô my Soule beeing wearied and to comfort thee O my Soule being cast downe Thou mayest be perswaded O my soule that IESVS loveth thee if thou lovest Him for hee never loved GOD who was not first loved of GOD. 2. Iohn 4.10 Iohn 8.47 And 14.15 Psalm 15.4 Now thou shalt know that thou lovest IESVS if thou lovest His Worde if thou be carefull to keepe His Commandements and if thou delight in in the societie of such who loue Him and walke in His wayes ALbeit Sinne which is thine onelie Enemie O my Soule be a most alluring sweet Potion yet Sinne is a deceiving and destroying Traytor and no wonder it being the Arrow of that evill one who is not onlie a subtill Foxe but also a bloodie Lyon O! how easilie suffer vilde men themselves to be perswaded that Sinne may be committed yea that Sinne is committed behinde backe albeit there was never anie sinne committed but in sight It may be that sinne be committed behinde the backe of blinde man who seeth nothing and of sand-blinde man who seeth little yet is it ever committed in His sight Psalm 94.8.9.10 who made the eye of man to see and who knoweth his thoughtes a farre off And so in the eyes of that holie One Revel 1.14 whose eyes are like a flame of fire Yea who is all eye as Augustine speaketh Knowest thou not O my soule that Abell was slaine behinde backe and yet in sight behinde the backe of Adam Genesis 4. the father of his flesh yet in the sight of GOD the father of his spirit Vriah was slaine by David being farre from David 2. Sam. 11. behinde the backe of all Iudah yea and of Ammon by whose sworde hee fell David and Ioab onlie beeing excepted yet Vriah was slaine by David in his sight who filleth the Heavens and the Earth and from whom none can hide himselfe in secret place Ier. 23.24 and this I thinke David vvas compelled afterwardes to knowe notwithstanding of all his policie Who in all Israel coulde possiblie thinke That Naboth was cruellie put to death and so 1. King 21.17.18 that Ahab and Iezebel who should haue prooved his Protectors were his fierce Persecuters even unto death seeing hee was convicted by a formall Assize having Witnesses testifying that hee had blasphemed GOD and the King And yet that blessed GOD vvho searcheth the heartes and vvho judgeth not according to the outward appearance but righteous judgement can both accuse Ahab of Oppression and Murder and punish him for the same Oh! ô my soule When shall the blinde men of this dead Age learne to hearken unto and to belieue that blessed Spirit of Trueth vvho cannot lie teaching us clearlie That no sinne can bee committed in secret Came never that Sentence ô my Soule to thine Eares Vnderstand yee unwise amongst the People And yee Fooles when will yee bee wise Hee that planted the Eare shall Hee not heare Or Hee that formed the Eye shall Hee not see Psal 94.8.9.10 Or Hee that chastizeth the Nations shall Hee not correct Or Hee that teacheth man knowledge shall Hee not know Hath that come to thine Eares O my soule Whither shall I flee from Thy Spirite If I ascende unto Heaven Thou art there If I lye downe in Hell Thou art there Let mee take th◠Winges of the Morning Psal 139.7.8.9.10.11.12 and dwell in the uttermost partes of the Sea yet thither shall Thine Hand leade mee and Thy Right Hand holde mee If I say Yet the Darknesse shall hyde mee even the Night shall bee light about mee yea the Darknesse bydeth not from Thee but Night shyneth as the Day the Darknesse and Light are both alyke Came ever that unto thine Eares ô my Soule Woe unto them that seeke deepe to hyde their counsell from the LORD for their workes are in darknesse Esai 29.15 and they say Who seeth us And who knoweth us I haue seene thine Adulteries and thy Lyinges the filthinesse of thy Whoredomes Ier 13.27 upon the Hilles in the Fieldes and thine Abominations O my Soule knowest thou not Him who saw Nathanael before Philip called him when hee was under the Figge Tree Iohn 1.48
4.12 ô my Soule wherefore Theft is Sinne and when Theft is Sinne wherefore Murder is Sinne and when Murder is Sinne and so foorth of all other Sinnes Because GOD hath forbidden them and when GOD forbiddeth them are they not sinnes and not other wayes Hast thou not heard O my Soule that the Israelites spoyled the Aegyptians of all their lewels Exo. 11.2.3 And 12.35.36 Yet I thinke thou wilt neyther accuse nor convict them for their deede and all because that was done of them by the speciall commaundement of His Mouth who can commaund no wrong Yea hast thou not heard ô my Soule that Ebud killed Aeglon Yet thou must thinke Iudges 3.20.21.22 that hee cannot bee reputed a Murderer for that it being done by the secret commission of that Supreame LORD who hath couched all living so under Law that Hee himselfe alone doeth remaine free from all Law yea farre aboue all Law David againe O my Soule beeing a great King amongst men heere hath defiled but the wife of his meane honest Subject yea David hath by the hand of the Ammonite slaine the Husband of this wife defiled by him Alwayes sinneth not David O my soule Yes yes hee sinneth grosselie albeit not against Bathseba whose chastitie was defiled albeit not against Vriah whose life was taken yet hee sinneth against that Mightiest KING who had sayde Thou shalt not commit Adulterie Thou shalt doe no Murder Exodus 20. The sight and sense of this Trueth ô my soule mooved the enlightened mynde the renewed and sanctified heart of the same David to untie his lippes to proclaime aloude before GOD Angels and Men that notable Confession Against Thee against Thee onelie haue I sinned and done evill in Thy sight Psalme 51.4 Hast thou sinned then O my Soule so secretlie that no man knoweth thy sinne Is that partie whome thou by thy knowne and publicke sinne hast offended so base or poore that eyther hee dare not quarrell thee for feare or may not quarrell thee for want of Moyen Yet let neyther of these I pray thee secure thee For Hee is aboue thee whome thou by thy sinne hast provoked to wrath against thee whose Eyes are upon all the wayes of Man and whose Handes bee sufficientlie able to punish Man O my Soule Remember Naboth for thy comfort in these evill dayes Shall not that GOD who required his blood at the hand of his King 1. Kings 11.18.19 make inquisition for everie sinne committed against Him by whatsoever sinner although Hee suffer even wicked men for a long time IF thou loue thy selfe ô my Soule holilie and wiselie to the benefite of mine estate to the comfort of mine heart even while a verie worlde of thornie crosses and temptations shall pricke mee and to my full and finall joye in Heaven I would heartfullie advise thee neyther to commit sinne neyther to communicate with sinne and so neyther directlie to doe that evill which cannot bee called but thine evill neyther anie wayes joyne thy selfe with that evill which thou wouldest account not to be thine but the evill of another Thus I would counsell thee O my Soule not onelie not to bee an Idolater but not to communicate with Idolaters not onelie not to bee an Adulterer but not to take parte with an Adulterer But heere ô my poore weake soule for the better guarding and strengthening of thee on all sides against the poysoned killing Arrowes of Satan thy sworne Enemie I would pray thee grauelie to ponder and weigh three thinges First whereby doeth a man communicate with the Sinnes of others Secondlie wherefore should men bee affrayde anie wayes to communicate with the Sinnes of others Thirdlie what should the honest wise Childe of GOD who shoulde bee ashamed to bee a slaue to Sinne alwayes kything himselfe a strong Souldiour subduing it in this respect resolue to doe Scripture teacheth me ô my Soule that men communicate with the sinnes of others by consultation by direction by approbation by provocation by toleration by confirmation By consultation when they advise another how hee may doe that which is evill albeit themselues doe it not thus vilde Ionadab communicated with the unnaturall incest of Ammon 2. Sam. 13.4.5 2. Sam. 16.20.21 showing him by what way he might easilie lye with his sister Tamar Thus vilde Ahitophell communicated with the monstrous unnaturall incest of Absolom advising him even before the Sunne to lye with his Fathers concubines By direction when men out of respects knowen to themselues will keepe as it were their owne handes from an evill turne and yet command another for to doe it Thus bloodie Saul communicated with the villane Doeg 1. Sam. 22.18 2. Sam. 11.14.15 in slaying the priestes of GOD. Yea alace even David thus communitated with the murther of Vriah for was he not slaine by his direction By approbation when a man knowing that an evill turne is done by another alloweth eyther of the turne or of the doer Thus the rest of Iaakobs sonnes communicated with the bloode of the Sechemites Gen. 34.28.29.30 murthered by Simeon Levi. By provocation when one abusing the place hee is set into or those gifts of mynde or bodie he is beautified with abuseth others so that hee provoaketh them to doe that which is evill Thus Rehoboam communicated with that defection which Israel made from the House of David when hee 1. Kings 12.12.13.14 beeing abused by young Counsellers and abusing that place which GOD had set him into by his austere rigerous speaches provoaked them to just wrath Thus bloodie Iezebell communicated with all the evils done by her husband Ahab For speaketh not the spirit touching him and her thus But there was none like Ahab who did sell himselfe to worke wickednesse in the sight of the LORD 1. Kings 21.25 whom Iezebell his wife provoaked And in this sense Fathers are counselled by the Spirit not to provoake their children to wrath By toleration when a man Ephes 6.4 having authoritie to beare downe sinne by punishing the committers of it overseeth them not drawing that Sword which GOD hath put into His handes against them And thus alace even olde Eli communicated with the abominations of his vilde sonnes who by their uncleane liues 1. Sam. 2 29.30 made the people of GOD to abhorre the LORDS Sacrifice By confirmation when a man haunteth the societie of wicked men so familiarlie so frequentlie that there-by hee strengtheneth the wicked man in his wickednesse Thus the Religious man cōmunicateth with the Atheisme of the Atheist by haunting the societie of the Atheist The true worshipper of GOD cōmunicateth with the superstition of the Papist by haunting kindlie the societie of the Papist even when hee seeth hee cannot bee wonne Yea thus meeke men chaste men temperate men true men peaceable men communicate with Murderers Adulterers Fornicators Drunkardes false men seditious men by haunting of their companie This mooved Paul to charge us who bee Christians Not