are deliuered but not from the latter We haue not receiued the spirit of bondage to feare againe Rom. 8.5 but the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abbah Father So that true loue is so farre off from casting out this holy feare of adoption whereby wee are drawne to hate sinne in loue towards God and not for punishments sake that it doth bring it in and establish it within vs yet this is to bee noted by the way that seruile feare is a good meanes at the first to bring vs vnto God for it prepareth a place for the holy Ghost to bring him into our soules as the bristles bringeth in the thred But when it is once entred into vs and hath taken vp the possession of our soules within vs then this feare is gone as the bristle is when the thred is entred into the hole Besides this we must marke that as the children of God are not by and by perfect so a peece of this feare may still remaine in them but the feare that is here required of vs and which is to last for euer is that feare of reuerence whereby we beholding our owne weakenesse and the excellency of God and his incomprehensible Maieiestie dare not lift vp our selues against him but do stand in awe of him with all reuerence being loath to offend him in any thing and most carefull to please him in all things it is such a feare as is in louing children toward their parents in dutifull wiues towards their husbands and in faithfull subiects towards their Princes the fountaine whereof is loue and a due consideration of his excellency euery away about vs. A plain difference betweene the true filiall and sonne-like feare the seruile slauish feare Here we may see a plaine difference betweene the true filial feare of God and the seruile and slauish feare the filiall feare keepeth vs from finall falling away but the seruile doth not the filiall is onely in the godly the seruile in the wicked the filiall is a peculiar gift of the spirit so is not the seruile and the filial feare is ioyned with loue but there is no seruile feare in loue And as the true feare of God proceeds from loue so it must bee continued in loue end in loue therefore if the Lord loue thee then thou doest loue him againe this Saint Iohn doth confirme We loue him because he loued vs first Ioh. 4.19 examine then what loue thou bearest towards God try whether it be sound for certainely if thou louest him thou art beloued of him It is thought to be a commō thing and easie to loue the Lord This feare of God must be louely for where God is not truly loued hee cannot be truly feared and he is a wretch and vnworthy to liue that doth not loue his maker but let euery one beware lest it be found in himselfe for it is not so common a thing to loue the Lord as the world takes it to bee Bee thou therefore of a good ground try thy loue by the fruits and effects therefore if thou louest God truely Mat. 10.37 Psal 63.3 Phil. 3.4 thou doest esteeme him his fauour aboue all things in the world besides counting his louing kindnesse better vnto thee then life and the signes of his fauour thy greatest ioy all things shall be counted but as drosse and dung in comparison of it Thirdly if thou louest God thou wilt then delight in his presence for the nature of true loue is such that it earnestly desireth the presence of the party which is beloued Psal 26.8 thou wilt loue his house and the place where his honour dwelleth thou wilt haue frequent recourse to those means by which the Lord is pleased to conuerse with his children whether publike as to the hearing of the word or priuate as reading singing c. Take all occasions to speake vnto him by prayer and meditation Phil. 1.25 yea thou wilt haue an ardent desire to be dissolued that thou mayest bee with Christ and to be absent from the body 2 Cor. 5.8 that thou mightest bee present with the Lord. Readinesse to obey signes of true loue Fourthly our loue to God may be tryed by our readines in obeying of his commands Loue can hardly deny any worke which the party beloued doth enioyne Loth we are to deny to doe any thing for those whom we entirely loue Hee that hath my commandements and keepeth them Ioh. 14.21 he it is that loueth me saith our Sauiour this is the loue of God that wee keepe his commandements his commandements are not greeuous So then 1. Ioh. 5.3 where there is loue there is obedience yea willing carefull obedience This may serue for the great comfort of all such as haue Gods loue manifested vnto them for as the terrors are great which that man hath in his conscience who is in doubt of the loue of the Almighty towards him so is the comfort as great which that man hath who is hereof perswaded for come tribulation or distresse or persecution Rom. 8 25 11. Heb. 11. or famine or nakednesse or perill or sword or life or death yet the certainty of Gods loue will support him this assurance doth make bitter things sweet and gall to relish as hony Comfort then thy heart thou beloued of the Lord let nothing dismay thee though the wicked mocke though the world scorne thee though thy acquaintance hate thee yet remember God loues and fauours thee 1. Sam. 1.8 and hath manifested the same vnto thee Is not my loue better vnto thee then ten children said Elkanah to Hannah so is not the loue of God vnto vs better then tenne worlds let then the meditation of this harden thy face like brasse against all dangers and sad times of temptations and persecution for God shall giue his beloued rest they shall be deliuered for he will helpe them with his right hand Therfore to this feare we must stir vp our soules euery day and so farre as we would either worship God aright or haue his blessings powred downe vpon vs whether for this life or the life to come we must striue and contend with our soules and our hearts to bring them hereunto that so wee may alwayes reuerence and dread the great name of the Lord of hosts doubtlesse we shall neuer serue the Lord aright or become happy and blessed vntill this bee brought to passe well wee may performe some duties in outward appearance wee shall neuer looke to all with a good heart and conscience within And howsoeuer we prosper and flourish for a while yet woe and destruction will ouertake vs at the last but let his feare bee once planted within vs then shall wee inwardly and from the heart haue a respect vnto all his commandements and bee most carefull to please him in all things and then againe shall wee prosper and flourish for euer not onely in this world but
holy ministry of Gods word longing and thirsting after it Psal 42.1.2 with Dauid As the Hart panteth after the water brookes so panteth my soule after thee O God Thus euery good Christian must whet the appetite of his soule to delight in Gods law by conference meditation hearing reading praying preaching and dayly frequenting of holy assemblyes Psal 122.1 I was glad when they sayd vnto mee let vs goe into the house of the Lord. So was it prophesied of the christian church that many people should go and say Mich. 4.1 Esa 2.3 Esa 60.7 Come let vs goe vp to the mountaine of the Lord to the house of the God of Iacob and he will teach vs his wayes and we shal walke in his paths who are these that flie like a cloude and as Doues to their windoes Noting not onely the greatnesse of the number but diligence and zeale of such as should come to Christ and receiue his doctrine and Christ sayd Mat. 11.12 that from the time of Iohn Baptist hitherto the kingdome of heauen suffereth violence and the violent take it by force Thus the zeale of Gods house should eate vs vp The least danger or weaknesse doth put of such as are backward in Gods seruice Secondly this serueth to confute and reproue all such as are backeward and carelesse in this necessary duty being idle and vaine in their excuses or reasons to hinder their zeale and loue to the word any feare the least danger Prou. 22.13 Psa 119.51 62.7.11.12 Luk. 14.18.19.20.23.23 and worldly businesse doth put them off There is a Lion in the way Some haue their oxen to prooue their Farme to see their wife to marry all these yet are inuited to come to the Feast though vnworthy of the same therefore God will fill his house with any others then with such euen those that sit in the high way and vnder hedges the most basest and vilest of men shall enter before them and bee saued Mat. 21.31.32 euen whores and harlots shall sooner be receiued then those that seeme children of the kingdome God will raise vp to Abraham sonnes of stones rather then these viperous serpents shall haue the name of his seed Mat. 3.9 Others there are that thinke if we should make conscience of religion begin to read the word to frequent sermons to haue prayer in our families and the like this would make vs to bee scoffed and mocked at but let such heare what the word saith that pronounces them blessed that delight in the law of the Lord Psalme 1. and meditate therein day and night and that seeke him with their whole hearts yea albeit they should meet with some disgrace and opposition in the world Psal 119. Math. 5. Blessed are yee saith Christ when men reuile you and persecute you and speake all manner of euill against you falsly for my names sakt Reioyce and be glad for great is your reward in heauen is it not better to endure a little mocking from men for a time and that for well doing then to vndergoe the wrath of God for euer for ill doing Let vs consider in particular what benefit we may reape by the ministry of the Gospel Isai 5.3 Heare saith the Prophet Isaiah Iam. 1.21 thy soule shal liue receiue the word with meekenes saith Iames which is able to saue your soules Reu. 1.3 blessed is he that reades heares the words of this Prophesie saith the spirit in the Reuelation And on the other side Prou. 28.9 he that turneth away his eare from hearing the law his prayer shall bee abomination saith Salomon and againe the wisedome of God speaks thus because I haue called and ye refused Prou 1.24.25.26 I haue stretched out my hand none would regard but yee haue despised all my counsell and would none of my correction I will also laugh at your destruction and mocke when your feare commeth These and the like places if wee could throughly consider of they would worke more powerfully with vs to cause vs to desire the word and to retaine and keepe our hearts still in loue and liking of it then all the reproches and persecutions in the world could to withdraw our affections from it God is to be heard before any Therefore they that come to receiue benefit by the ministery must not harken what reasons flesh and bloud can yeeld them against it but what reasons God can giue them for it for the diuell will haue much to say against goodnesse and our owne fleshly wisdome will haue haue as much the world will be as great a pulbacke vnto vs if we will giue it the hearing but if we can bend an attentiue eare vnto the Lord wee shall finde that hee will bring better arguments to perswade vs to goodnesse then all those our enemies can to disswade vs from it therefore it is that men are so often and so grossely deceiued because they heare what the one side can say to discourage and hinder them in actions of piety and godlinesse but not what the other can say to harten and draw them onward in good wayes for if they did bring a spirituall eare to receiue the proofes that are brought from the word they would be more forceable to bring them to God then al other means could be to allure them to forsake God Eph. 4.30 If wee cherrish in vs the gifts of Gods holy spirit it assures vs of deliuerance from the wrath to come and to embrace or hearken to the allurements of this present world therefore Paul writing to the Ephesians he saith thus grieue not the holy spirit of God nor that holy delight in the commandements he brings a forcible reason wherby you are sealed vnto the day of redemption This is the onely euidence wee haue of freedome from condemnation this is Gods marke and character set on vs and seizing vs for his owne this is like the blood that was stricken vpon the doore posts Exo. 12.22 which shall make the Lord to passe ouer vs and not suffer the destroyer to come neare vs when he goeth to smite the Egyptians By this wee are assured that the day of iudgement shall bee to vs no day of wrath but a day of redemption so then thus wee may take the Apostles meaning as you desire to retaine assurance of your deliuerance from the wrath to come and that the Lord should take notise of you for his in the day of that dreadfull separation so see that by all meaanes you cherish in you the gifts and operation of Gods holy spirit grieue it not by strangling and choaking of those holy motions and operations but let them be cherished and preserued without any the least abatement Thirdly Let vs beware of quēching the motions of the spirit for the sin is fearefull this serueth to condemne such as nip the bud so soon as euer it
peepeth foorth and quench euery sparke that at any time appeareth yea wilfully set themselues to repell all good motions hasting to their cursed company to chase away those sweet inspirements of Gods holy spirit Oh the cursed vnthankefulnesse of these men what vnkind ingrateful discourteous dealing is here with the spirit of grace thus shutting him out so soone as euer he begins to enter Reuel 3.20 wouldest thou deale so vnkindly with thy friend who commeth to thy doore why dealest thou then so vncourteously with Christ Iesus and his holy spirit Reuel 3.20 who standeth at the doore and dayly knockes but can get no entertainement Act. 7.15 beware of this resisting the holy Ghost the sinne is fearfull and discomfortable for hereby thy heart may grow more obdurat and thy life more brutish and abhominable Fourthly let euery one of vs beware how wee suffer that blessed heate to slacke This delight must shew it selfe by encreasing in spirituall graces which by Gods grace beginneth to bee inkindled in our hearts Suffer not that coale that holy motion which the Lord hath cast into thy bosome to die within thee but blow it vp lay on more fuell adde dayly more and more matter to it and tremble to lose the least measure of Gods gracious gift be frequent in spirituall exercises as in hearing reading meditation Christian conference prayer and the like Let no meanes be neglected that God hath ordained for the working of establishment And as thou layest on fuell so see thou giuest this holy Fire vent exercise and put these holy motions into practise much Wood piled on a Cole if vent be wanting doth soone smother it put it out see thē thou exercise the graces which God hath giuen thee Therefore when the Lord shall put any good motion into our hearts Good motions are-not to bee qvenched but cherished we are to nourish and cherrsh the same to one good motion wee must adde a second and to that a third and so fall to blowing and giue not ouer vntill at length they breake forth into a comfortable flame of godly practises 1. Thes 5.19 Quench not the Spirit saith Paul nor the gifts and motions of the holy Ghost hee vsed a Metaphor borrowed from fire whose heate and light when it is put out is said to bee quenched Thus also hee exhorts Timothy to stir vp the graces of God which bee in him 2. Tim. 1.6 Thus it is with them that liue the life of Grace there is a dayly seeking after foode for the preseruing of it Psal 1.2 a dayly vsing of the meanes as Prayer Reading Meditation and thus it is said of the blessed man In Gods Law hee doth exercise himselfe both day and night Many examples might bee brought for proofe of this Iob rose vp early to offer sacrifice this did Iob continually Iob. 1.5 and it was Daniels practise to pray three times a day and Dauids Euening Dan. 6.10 Psal 55.17 Psa 119.164 Gen. 24.63 Morning and Noone-tide will I pray vnto thee Yea we may heare him speaking of seuen times a day praysing of the Lord And Isaac went into the Field to pray and meditate in the Euening Let vs examine our selues in this duty how we perform it in our practises Therefore let euery Christian man and woman try and examine themselues in this duty For it is certainely true and cannot deceiue vs that our prayers are proportionable to our faith For hee that prayeth seldome hath but a weake faith he that prayes often hath a strong Faith and he that prayes not at all hath no faith For Rom. 10.10 with the heart man beleeueth vnto righteousnesse and with the mouth confession is made vnto saluation Let this be well considered of such as heare and reade and pray by fits and starts now and then as it were vpon rainy dayes Alas thousands there are in the World who reade not pray not from Sabbath to Sabbath nay nor then neither haue these any life of grace in them Sure I am naturall life must be dayly fed and shal be too and is there not as much neede for the spirituall be it therfore knowne vnto thee and certified to thy soule We should let no day passe without examination nor suffer our eyes to slumber nor our head to take any rest tell we haue made peace with our God that thou deceiuest thy selfe in thinking thou liuest the life of a Christian when there is no care had to a dayly performance of the excercise belonging to a Christian therefore let no day passe ouer without examination let vs call to mind what euils hath beene committed what good duties omitted which God hath required suffer not thy eyes to slumber nor the temples of thy head to take any rest till this taske bee performed Would Christians keepe this course and well consider of their carriages the day past they would soone find the excellent commodities of it to the vnspeakeable comfort of their soules for euermore Lastly Phil. 3.13 let this admonish euery one to grow in grace let vs forget that which is behinde and endeuour to that which is before let vs presse hard towards the marke for the prise of the high calling of God let vs not bee euermore as smoaking flaxe or bruised reeds or as new set Plants but let vs abound more and more Thes 4.1 At a stay we cannot stand iudge what wee will not to goe forward is to go backward not to encrease is to decrease like as the Sunne we are euermore in motion and as the Sea Gen. 19 26. Psal 114.3 Eccle. 1. ebbing or flowing and as the Angell on Iacobs Ladder ascending or descending therefore we must not looke backeward with Lots Wife but forward with Lot himselfe nor start backe as Iordan did but runne forward as other Riuers doe and trauell towards Canaan with Caleb and Iosua so that still we must profit in the way of godlinesse there must bee no growing downeward but growing vpward Luke 2.52 the Child Iesus grew not downeward but vpward in grace wisedome and stature they which will haue their growth in Christ and towards his Kingdome must grow vpward Psal 84.7 Let vs therefore proceede in sanctfication and goe from strength to strength Rom. 15.14 and labour euery day to abound more and more in all wisedome and in goodnesse If wee prayed once a day in priuate and that somewhat coldly at the first we must afterward pray twice or thrice or oftner in a day as occasion is offered and that more feruently and feelingly then wee did in the beginning if we did heare and meditate more seldome and with greater weakenesse and distraction at our first entrance into profession in our proceeding we must vse those exercises more frequently We must grow in grace and neuer rest vntill we come to perfection and performe them more seriously cheerefully So that if you bee in
little hee will esteeme of vs as if wee performed a great deale more The perfection of a Christian here in this life Indeed when we haue put off the image of the first Adam and haue put on the image of the second Adam and haue changed the earth for heauen then we shall not only obey truely but perfectly but here it is in truth and so it must bee esteemed one degree of perfection is to see our owne imperfections and that was in Nehemiah and in those of his time O Lord I beseech thee Nehe. 1.11 let thine eare now hearken to the prayer of thy seruant and to the prayer of thy seruants who desire to feare thy name hee could not say that they did so feare his name as they should but this they could say that they desired to doe it better which desire was a fruite of the grace it selfe This should encourage vs still to be doing in the seruices workes of God But here some may say we finde many imperfections and many wants and weakenesses in our selues be it so yet if we ayme at perfection and haue respect to euery commandement of God come as neere to the marke as we can the Lord wil accept vs according to that wee haue and not reiect vs for that we haue not if wee could obey perfectly to what end were Christ his obedience and if God should looke after none but those that can fully please him in all things he should bee a Lord a maister without subiectes and seruants If thou O Lord Psal 130.3 saith Dauid should marke what is done amisse who should stand Therefore though wee cannot pray with that feeling Our infirmities should not hinder vs if we haue respect to euery commandement heare and reade with that profit sing Psalms with that ioyfulnesse and cheerefulnes of heart as we should thogh wee cannot forgiue our enemies long for Christ his cōming haue such a tender feeling of the afflicctions of the Saints nor attaine to such heauenly meditations night or day as we doe desire and as God doth command yet let vs not be discouraged if wee striue to bring our wicked flesh to the performance of those duties and though wee haue much adoe with it yet if wee draw it as a Beare to the stake vnto Gods worship and to the performance of good dueties in publicke and and priuate Rom. 7.12 and when wee feele most backwardnesse and vntowardnesse in our nature yet wee consent in our very soules that the law of God is holy iust and good and that our willes and affections are indeed very corrupt and rebellious but we would rather then all the world that things were otherwise wise with vs that sinne might be subdued and grace planted in stead thereof and it is our continuall griefe that God should be so gracious and kind liberall to vs and wee can bee no more obedient and loyall and seruiceable vnto him if I say we find such a heart within vs we need not to be dismayed but may cheerfully go on with full perswasion and vndoubted resolution that the Lord will be mercifull vnto vs take our obedience in good worth if wee endeuour still to be better and to do better euery day then other neuer standing vpon that wee haue done The signe of a true heart but pressing hard to the marke This is an infallible note that wee are true hearted he that feeleth but a little faith a little loue a little repentance c. And would with all his heart haue them increased these very desires to obay are euident signes that wee haue part in the Commandements But here some may obiect and say God requireth absolute perfection in the Law I answer but not so in the Gospel but qualifieth the rigour of the Law by the satisfaction of a Mediator and in our stead accepteth the true indeauour for the deede and the good will for the worke it selfe the law commandeth workes and perfect obedience doe this and thou shalt liue the Gospell commandeth faith This is the commandement that wee beleeue in the name of Iesus Christ Iohn 3.23 and loue one another as he gaue commandement Thirdly that wee may therefore arme our selues with the complete harnesse of God to vanquish Satan Let euery one therefore arme himselfe against Satans temptations and quench all his fierie darts true it is in part wee were the children of wrath by nature but by grace we are not so wee are not now vnder the corruption of nature but vnder the state of grace and therefore no reprobates but members of Christ It is the spirit of God that can assure vs that we are hls children and heires of saluation Satan cannot tell who be reprobates he is onely an accuser but no iudge in this case he is a lying spirit but the spirit of God which cannot lye assures vs that wee are the children of God God hath giuen vs a Law to keepe which wee cannot keepe yet his law is performed of vs euen to the full though not of our persons yet in the person of Christ Iesus and though wee cannot fulfill the law of workes yet we can by Gods inspiring and assisting grace performe the law of faith which suffiseth to saluation Christ is not onely a iudge to condemne but also a Sauiour to pardon as hee hath iudgement so he hath mercy but his mercy is aboue his iudgement for it is aboue all his workes our sinnes are infinite but Christ his mercy is more infinite to them that are in him but wee are in him and there is no condemnation to them which are in Iesus Christ We cānot sinne so much as hee can pardon It is no presumption to hope for mercy but the assurāce of faith neither doe we sinne with an high hand but vpon infirmities we are onely captiues but not seruants to sinnes that is we serue the law of sinne whether wee will or no but wee doe not willingly submit our selues vnto it neither is it presumption in vs to hope for mercy but it is faith for God stands not so much vpon the quantity as vpon the quality of our faith so as wee haue any at all not the perfection but the truth of it though it bee mixed with infidelity or vnbeliefe we say with the father of the child which had a dumbe spirit I beleeue Lord but helpe my vnbeliefe Mat. 9.24 That this faith of ours is no phantasie or illusiō or flattery of our selues but a certaine assurance of Gods spirit wee perswade our selues by these reasons we hate our selues because of our sinne we purpose to sin so no more wee call to GOD to strenghen vs in this godly resolution we delight in the Law of God we loue all that feare him we desire the furtherance of the Gospel Rom. 7.22 and building vp the Kingdome of grace We desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ
and dost thou not rest in Negatiues abstaining only from what is forbidden but hast thou also regard to affirmatiues doing what God hath enioyned to bee done esteeming this latter as necessary as the former Surely if it bee thus thou mayst haue comfort that thy obedience to the Commandements is sound and good but yet a little further thou abstainest from grosse euils and art seuere and sore against others that fall into them such such sinnes thou dost not commit but what is the ground of thy abstaining Is it the law of the Magistrate feare of Gods wrath or shame of the World or is it because thou wantest ability or opportunity if this be the ground let me tell thee this is a false ground will deceiue thee in the end But dost thou leaue these H s 3.5 Psal 130.4 because they are euill and displeasing to the Lord Dost thou feare the Lord and his goodnesse and tremble to offend him because of his mercy Why then it is an euident signe of a sanctified soule Oh that we would deale truely with our selues that we would now at the last learne to be wise and not gull our soules as most doe and therefore consider with thy selfe and be thou better aduised cast of all profainenes follow holines and piety for without it no man shal euer see God to his comfort Seeing therfore examination is so necessary for euery one Examination so necessary that without it no state of life can bee rightly ordered let vs goe one step further in this tryall of our selues Hast thou felt by thine owne experience this great worke of regeneration and change wrought vpon thy soule Hath the powerfull Word by the inward and effectuall working of his Spirit broken and bruised thy hard stony heart Hath it pierced and purged the very closest and vnsearchable corners thereof hath it humbled it with the sight of thy sinnes hath it filled it with fearefull terrours remorse and true sorrow for thy life past hath it after quieted and refreshed it with a sure faith in Christ Iesus and a delight in heauenly things hath it mortified thy inward corruptions broke the heart of thy sweet sin hath it planted a holy moderation in all thy affections that whereas heretofore they haue beene enraged with lust with immoderate anger with ambition with insatiable desire for the inlargement of thy possessions greatnesse and with hatred of Gods dearest seruants and their holinesse are they now inflamed with zeale for Gods honor truth seruice with a feruent loue vnto the Lord and his Saints with Christian courage to oppose against the sinnes of the time to defend goodnesse good causes to contemne the lying slanders and profane scoffes of worthlesse men hath it begot in thy will an hunger and thirst after the spirituall foode of thy soule the Word and Sacraments so that thou hadst rather part with any worldly good then not enioy the incomparable benefit of a conscionable and constant ministery are thy thoughts which hertofore did wander vp downe at randome wickedly idly wantonly are they now bounded within a sacred compasse and spent vpon holy things and the necessary affaires of thy honest lawfull calling Is thy vnderstanding informed acquainted with the mistery of saluation which the world the wise men thereof account nothing but madnes and folly is thy memory which hath heretofore bin stuffed with trash and toyes vanities and follies now capable and greedy of diuine knowledge are thy words which heretofore haue bin full of profanenes worldlines now directed to glorifie God to giue grace to the hearers Nay yet further besides this reuocation of the faculties of thy soule hath the power of grace sanctified all thy outward actions Dost thou order in euery particular all the businesses of thy vocation religiously conscionably by direction out of the Word of God Dost thou now heare the Word of God not only of course and custome but of zeale conscience to reforme thy selfe by it to liue after it Do not the weekdaies duties and worldly cares drown thy mind on the sabbath dost thou exercise daily with fruit feeling prayer that precious cōfort of the faithfull Christian Thou being conuerted dost thou labor the cōuersion of others especially of those which are committed any way to thy charge and for whom thou must giue a more strickt account as if thou be a master of a family dost thou pray with them instruct them in the doctrine of saluation wayes of godlinesse dost thou now not only sticke at and forbeare great and grosse sinnes but dost thou euen hate the garment spotted of the flesh and all appearance of euill Thes 15.22 doth the tendernes of thy conscience check thee for the least sin make thee feareful to offend thogh it be but in a wandring cogitation after euery fal into infirmities art thou carefull to renew thy repentance learn wisedom watchfulnes to auoid thē afterwards dost thou feele thy selfe profit grow increase in these fruits effects of grace hast thou such a gracious taste of the glory of God of eternal life that thou art euen willing desirous to meete thy Sauior in the clouds not so much to bee rid out of the miseries of this life as to be freed from the heauy burden of Heb. 12.1 sin which hangs on so fast to enioy his presence in the heauens for euer in a word as thy soule giues life spirit motion to thy whole body euery part thereof doth the Spirit of God euen so inspire thy soule and body and all thy actions with the life of grace why then thou art possest of the state of true blessednes Here is great comfort for all such as can find this vprightnesse in themselues they neede not feare thogh the earth should bee mooued yet they shall abide and be safe in the Day of the Lord. thou art then happy that euer thou wast borne thy life is certainely the way of life and I can assure thee and I dare boldly speake it that thou art already out of the reach of all the powers of Hell Satan is chained vp for euer doing thee any deadly hurt all the creatures are reconciled vnto thee at league with thee thou hast filled the angels with ioy at thy conuersion they will for euer gard thee thou shalt neuer more be afraid for any ill tidings though the earth bee moued Psal 46.2 and though the mountains fal into the middest of the sea thy heart shall abide strong vnshaken and comfortable when thou fallest downe vpon thy bed of sickenesse thou shalt finde no mortall pryson in thy flesh no sting in death no darkenesse in the graue no amazement at that great and fearful day for all the merits and sufferings of Christ are thine all the comforts of Gods children are thine all the blessings in the booke of God