euen Bellarmine himselfe speakes proportionably in another case Vpon a passage in Austin acknowledging the interior efficacy of Gods Spirit giuing testimony to our hearts concerning the truth of that which is contained in the Scriptures saith he This light of faith is a certaine testimonie of God by which it is said to the secret cogitations of our hearts That is true thou needest not to doubt thereof Here is an immediate testimony of the Spirit granted for the confirmation of the truth of the Word why may not the like bee expected for an assurance of the worke of the Word Mighty and remarkeable was the worke of the Spirit this way vpon the heart of that Noble Martyr Robert Glouer vpon the first sight and representation of the Stake so sweetely seasonable is God in all his refreshings For two or three dayes before his death hee was full heauily oppressed with the spirituall miseries of a dead heart and spirituall desertion In which time no doubt hee cried mightily vnto God and often reflected the eye of his renewed conscience vpon a truly beleeuing penitent humble holy and heauenly heart resolued to sacrifice its warmest blood in the mercilesse fire for the testimony of Iesus and yet no comfort would come But in the very nicke and needfull time as you may see in the Story the blessed Spirit did suddenly shine into his darke and desolate soule with the glorious beames of his owne immediate comfort and so sensibly filled it with such ouerflowing Riuers of spirituall ioyes that no doubt they mightily abated and quencht the ragefull fury of those Popish flames wherein hee sweetely fell asleepe It was a speciall and immediate springing of the holy Ghost in his heart which made Master Peacock after many dayes of extremest horrour professe that The ioy which be felt in his conscience was incredible We feele and acknowledge by daily experience that Satan doth immediately iniect and shall not the blessed Spirit after his holy and heauenly manner immediately also suggest sometimes Neither is this to bee reputed an extraordinary reuelation or Enthusiasme without or beside the Word of God I heartily abominate all Anabaptisticall fooleries and phrensies For that which the Spirit so reueiles vnto our consciences we our selues may collect and conclude out of Gods Word vpon the conscience of our faith repentance other sauing endowments and holy graces shining in our soules and vprightly exercised in our whole conuersation When wee by these meanes haue assured our soules that we are the children of God which is the testimony of our owne renewed spirits the Spirit of God as another witnesse secondeth and confirmeth this assurance by diuine inspiration and by sweet motions and feelings of Gods speciall goodnesse and glorious sauing presence and so acording to the Apostles phrase Rom. 8. 16. beareth witnesse with our spirits Wherefore if any man presume vpon or pretend any immediate suggestion or reuelation for his spirituall safetie and euerlasting well-beeing and yet want vtterly the testimony of 〈◊〉 renewed conscience to the same purpose the testimony of vniuersall obedience of not lying willingly and delightfully in any one knowne sin of crucifying the flesh with the affections and lusts c. I can giue him none but this cold comfort hee is cursedly coozened by the Deuils counterfeit glory of an Angell casting into his abused imagination such groundlesse conceits which in time of triall will vanish into nothing and flye away as a dreame By the way let me tell you that though this last manner of assurance bee more immediately from the Spirit yet conceiue that the other also are not effectuall vpon the heart without the excitation illumination and assistance of the same blessed Spirit For the first consider that forecited place 1. Corinth 2. 12. For the second when the conscience through the ministrie of the Law doth testifie to a man his state in sinne and vnder the curse it is through the spirit of bondage that it doth testifie then when it doth testifie to him his state of grace and freedome from the curse it is much rather from the Spirit of Adoption No man can say that Iesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost For the third I doubt not but the blessed Spirit as a comfortable Remembrancer refreshed Hezekias memory when he cryed to the Lord Remember now O Lord c. Isai. 38. 3. But how shall a man discerne and difference a true perswasion and the testimony of the Spirit from a groundlesse presumptuous conceit and the Deuils delusion If Bellarmine aske me I will easily stop his mouth First by demanding him how his Saint Francis and S. Antony knew assuredly that their reuelations of the certaine remission of their sinnes were from the Spirit of God especially sith with him they were reuelations quite besides and without the Word For he holds that this proposition Francis is truly iustified Antony hath his sinnes forgiuen and so of other particular men is not to be found in the Word either immediately or by euident consequence which we vpon good ground contradict if the particular men be true beleeuers Secondly by that saying of Ambrose vrged by Catarinus in the Councell of Trent The holy Ghost doth neuer speake vnto vs but doth make vs know that it is Hee that speaketh But if the doubtfull Christian truly troubled about it would be taught and informed in the point or if it be possible that the Pharise the deluded One should heartily desire to be illightened I aduise that they would consider vpon these following markes of difference 1. A sound perswasion vpon good ground by the Spirit is euer agreeable and answerable exactly to the Word The inward testimony of the Spirit and outward testimony of the Word doe alway sweetely accord and one answeres to the other as face to face in water And therefore if that thy present state wherein thou conceiuest thy selfe to bee sure and safe inough for saluation bee disabled and condemned by Gods Word thy confidence is vaine and Satan deludes thee The Scripture tels vs That whosoeuer is borne of God doth not commit sin 1. Ioh. 1. 3 9. which is not to be vnderstood simply of the act of sinning For who can say My heart is cleane But in this sence He makes not a trade of sinning he sinneth not with purpose pleasure and perseuerance he doth not liue lie and delight in sinne he suffers it not to reigne in him If then thou allowest any lust in thy heart or goe on in the willing practise of any one knowne sinne or sensuall course and yet bee well conceited of thy selfe for comfort in the World to come the Deuill coozens thee God will not heare the prayers but wound the hairie scalpe of euery such a one For instance If thou lyest in lying for it s one thing to be ouertaken that way out of feare or ere thou be aware another thing to continue in
SOME GENERALL DIRECTIONS FOR A COMFORTABLE WALKING with God DELIVERED IN THE LECTVRE AT KETTERING IN NORTHhamptonshire with enlargement By Robert Bolton Preacherof Gods Word at Broughton in the same County The second Edition corrected and amended with a Table thereunto annexed AT LONDON Imprinted by Felix Kyngston for Edmund Weauer and are to be sold at his shop at the great North doore of Pauls Church 1626. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE AND TRVLY NOBLE EDWARD Lord Mountague of Boughton a fruitfull increase of all heauenly graces and all watchfull preparation for the Glory that shall be reuealed Much Honored and Noble Lord ALthough the eminency of your other personall worth great Wisdome and noble parts a sufficient attractiue to euery honest heart by reason of the particular interest it hath in the common state of goodnes or your speciall bounty to my selfe which ought to stir vp an ingenuous minde to apprehend any opportunity of due and deserued acknowledgement or your publike deportment in the face of our Country so worthy and Honorable and managed with such true honesty graue moderation and noblenesse of spirit which cannot but draw from euery heart truely sound to our great Lord in Heauen and His Royall Deputy our highest Soueraigne vpon earth a great deale of reuerence loue I say though any of these seuerally might exact from me a more exact and able demonstration of the thankefull deuotions of my heart yet my Lord and you may beleeue mee there is another thing besides all these which was the strongest and most predominant motiue to quicken mee to this Duty and Dedication euen your sincere and inuincible affection to the Gospell of Iesus Christ His faithfull Ministers and most precious Wayes And this to tell you the truth is farre the fairest and most orient flower in the Garland of all your goodnesse and incomparably aboue all your Greatnesse were you aduanced euen to desert nay to the highest top of all earthly felicities and mortall honour For howsoeuer the world euer beside it selfe in point of faluation and starke blind in the right apprehension of Heauenly things doth ◅ote vpon guilded miseries stinging vanities golden setters and wickedly deemes pursuite of purity the height of folly yet I can assure you in the Word of life and truth the richest and rarest con◅luence of all humane happinesses the most exquisite excellencie and variety of the greatest worldly pompe and splendour that euer the Sunne saw since the first moment of its creation or shall looke vpon while it shines in Heauen is but dust in the ballance to one graine of grace it is but dung to an humble minde sauingly illightened with a forecast but of the least glimpse of that incomprehensible endlesse glory which shall shortly be reuealed It is all in the true valuation but as a vaine smoake which doth not onely vanish as it riseth and vtterly looseth it selfe at the highest but also drawes teares frō a mans eyes nay at last wrings the very heart-strings of euery impenitent soule with that extremest euerlasting horrour which would burst ten thousand hearts seriously and sensibly to thinke vpon before-hand It is not onely vanity but also vexation of spirit Let worldly wisdome say what it will and hold them melancholike and madde who by the helpe of the holy Ghost hold a constant counter-motion to the course of the world and corruptions of the time that they may keep a good conscience the richest treasure and dearest Iewell that euer the heart of man was acquainted with who infinitely desire rather to be religious then rich to bee good then great to enioy the fauour of God then the soueraignty and pleasures of all the kingdomes of the earth yet assuredly when all is said and truely summed vp it is onely the true feare of Gods blessed Name a zealous forwardnesse for his glory goodnesse and good causes at this day vnhappily and to the ruine of infinite soules called by the world pragmaticalnesse and Too much precisenesse which can truely beautifie and adorne both all other personall sufficiencies and indeed sanctifie and blesse all publike imployments and seruices of State For the first A Professor euen something Popish doth yet truely teach that Heroicall nobilitie is an illustrious eminency shining in a man by the heauenly infusions of supernaturall grace whereby he is made by adoption the sonne of God the Spouse of Christ the Temple of the holy Ghost without which all other Nobilities are nothing not worth a button Suppose a faire and goodly horse to the eye as exquisitely featured colourd paced as that fained by Bartas to be managed by Cain yet if he wāted mettle he were worth nothing to a man of spirit Giue me the most magnificent glorious Worldling that euer trod vpō earthly mould richly crowned with all the ornaments and excellencies of nature art policy preferment or what heart can wish besides yet without the life of grace to animate and ennoble them hee were to the eye of heauenly Wisdome but as a rotten carkasse stucke ouer with flowers magnified dung guilded rottennesse golden damnation And that which is more dreadfull when the sunne of his short Summers day is set the hot gleame of transitorie prosperity past and the bitter tempestuous winters night of death approacheth from which all the Gold and Pearle of East West can no more deliuer him then can an handfull of dust I say then shall bee powred vpon his head that terrible showre of snares fire and brimstone and an horrible tempest His soule sinkes immediatly in a moment into the depth of remedilesse misery and is desperately plunged for euer into the bottome of the burning Lake His body descends into the graue as into a dungeon of rottennesse horror arrested as it were by the second death in the deuils name and at length haled and dragged vnto the terror of that great and last Day where no creature can rescue him no mountaine couer him from that vnquenchable wrath neuer-dying Worme which shall euer lastingly day and night feed vpon his soule and flesh Wheras now on the other side that poore neglected One who hath in truth giuen his name vnto Christ and his gainefull seruice perhaps by the World most disdainfully and contemptuously trampled vpon euen into the dust with the feet of cruelty and pride at least most certainly euer made extremely vile and contemptible by the villany of tongues and cruell mockings yet is such an One as the World is not worthy of in the meane time in the meaning of the holy Ghost a Crowne of glory in the hand of Iehouah as beautifull and amiable as the bloud of Christ and his righteous roabe can make him crowned full gloriously with Gods owne comelinesse which hee hath put vpon him designed from all eternitie in due time for so his sanctification now assures him to weare an euerlasting Crowne of blisse And when his pilgrimage is past
right hand Which may for euer with sweetest peace and freedome from slauish trembling assure vs of our rootednesse in Christ constancie in grace and euerlasting abode with him in the other World Hee that will rent vs from Christs mysticall Body being once implanted into Him by a liuely fruitfull Faith and blessedly knit vnto Him by His Spirit as fast as the sinewes of His precious Body are knit vnto His bones His flesh to his sinewes and his skinne to His flesh must pull Him out of heauen and remoue Him from the right hand of His Father What so furious or infernall power can or dare lay a finger on vs in this kinde Hee hath taken the poisoning power out of euery thing that should hurt vs or hale vs backe to hell He hath conquered captiuated carried in triumph and chained vp for euer all the enemies of our soules and enuiers of our saluation They may exercise vs in the meane time for our good but they shall neuer be able to execute their malicious wils or any mortall hurt vpon vs either heere or in the next life 3. The irreuocable obsignation of the blessed Spirit Eph. 1. 13 14. 4. 30. And who or what can or dare reuerse the Deede or breake vp the Seale of the holy Ghost Heere then as you see the blessed Trinity is the vnmooueable ground of our going on in grace 4. The lasting and immortall power of the Word once rooted in a good and honest heart Luke 8. 15. 1. Pet. 1. â—…3 5. The certainety and sweetnesse of promises to this purpose Ier. 32. 39 40. Zech. 10. 12. Ioh. 8. 12. 2. Sam. 7. 14 15. Psal. 89. 31 c. 6. The force and might of Faith 1. Pet. 1. 2 3 4 5. 7. The efficacie of Christs Prayer Luk. 22. 32. Ioh. 17. 15 20. Rom. 8. 34. 8. The durable vigour of sauing graces Ioh. 4. 14. Rom. 11. 29. 9. The inabilitie nay impossibilitie of all causes or creatures to plucke out of Gods hand Ioh. 10. 29. or to draw any of His to a totall or finall falling away 1. It is not the Diuell himselfe can doe it 1. Iohn 5. 18. 2. It is not the world 1. Ioh. 5. 4. Ioh. 16. 33. 3. It is not the concurrent fury and vnited forces of all the powers of darknesse Math. 16. 18. 4. It is not sinne 2. Sam. 7. 14 15. Psal. 89. 31 c. 5. It is not weakenesse of Faith and other graces Mat. 12. 20. Esa. 42. 3. 6. It is not the imposture of false prophets Matth. 24. 24. 7. It is no creature or created power Rom. 8. 38 39. Vses 1. This Point thus confirmed doth confound that forlorne Tenent of the Popish Doctors which tels vs that a iustified and sanctified Man may fall finally and totally from grace In which I haue heretofore vpon other occasion in your-hearing punctually refuted those which I conceiued Bellarmines best Arguments I wil not then trouble you now with his Sophistry againe 2. This sweet and precious Truth may crowne the hearts of all those that are truly Christs with ioy vnspeakeable and glorious Let new Conuerts and Babes in Christ who are woont to bee very fearefull and much troubled lest they should not hold out because vpon their first entrance into the wayes of Christianitie they are cunningly and concurrently encountred with so many oppositions From the Deuill which then rageth extraordinarily From the World which then tendereth moe and more alluring baites From the Flesh which naturally is very impatient of any spirituall snaffle From carnall Friends who cannot endure their forwardnesse From their old Companions who cry out They are turning Puritanes From the Times which lowre and looke fowre vpon their zeale Sometimes from the Father which begat them from the Mother which gaue them suck from the Wife which lies in their bosome from a world of enemies to grace I say in such a case let them graspe in the armes of their Faith the proofes and promises in the present Point and ride on because of the Word of Truth Let them sweetly with full assurance and vnconquerable resolution repose vpon that euerlasting encouragement for the finishing of their spirituall building which Zerubbabel receiued from the mouth of God Himselfe for successe of the materiall a Type of this Not by might and power but by my Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts Who art thou O great mountaine before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plaine and hee shall bring foorth the head stone thereof with shoutings crying Grace grace vnto it And that they may more comfortably and constantly go on let them cast their eyes betime vpon these and the like cautions at their very first giuing their names vnto Christ. 1. Propose such interrogatories as these to thine owne heart Art thou content to abandon thy bosome sinne the sensuall froth of former pleasures hereafter to delight in God as thy chiefest ioy Canst thou take vp thy crosse and follow Christ His Truth and holy tracke amidst the many by-paths that leade to hell and different opinions of multitudes of men Art thou willing to suffer aduersitie disgrace and discountenance with the righteous and contemned godly Ones Canst thou endure to haue things laid vnto thy charge thou neuer didst thoughtst or dreamdst on To become the Drunkards song a By-word to those that are vilâ—…r then the earth musicke at the feasts of those that sit in the gate c In a word for Christs sake to deny thy selfe thy worldly wisdome naturall wit carnall friends old companions pleasures profits preferments ease excellency of learning acceptation with the world outward state liberty life or what else thou canst name dearest vnto flesh and blood If thine heart answere not affirmatiuely I meane out of the resolution of a well-aduised regenerate iudgement for I know the flesh will grumble and reclaime thou wilt certainly fâ—…ll away or end in formality 2. Looke to thy repentance that it be sincere vniuersall constant from the heart-roote for all knowne sinnes to thy dying day 1. If some worldly crosse be the continued principall motiue 2. Or the humour of melancholy 3. If it bee confusedly onely for sinne and in generall 4. Or for some one speciall notorious sinne onely 5. Or for some lesser sinnes with neglect of greater as for tything Mint c. 6. If it be onely legall 7. But for some sinnes of what kinde soeuer leauing but so much as one knowne sinne not taken to heart 8. Or but for a time All will come to naught A foundation of godly sorrow leasurely aduisedly and sincerely laid at first will be for euer after a comfortable encouragement to Faith spirituall ioy well-doing and walking with God 3. Take the touch-stone of fruitfull powerfull and speciall markes to discerne and difference iustifying sauing Faith from all false and insufficient faiths For a temporarie may goe farre 4. Let knowledge and affection like two indiuiduall twins grow vp together in thee and mutually
bring it downe and into the dust for increase of humiliation and lowlinesse in thine owne eyes as thou holdest out in the one hand the cleare Cristall of Gods pure Law to discouer the crookednesse of thy vile naturall disposition the villanies and skarlet abominations of thine vnregenerate time the daily spots staines which light vpon thy soule c. hold out also in the other hand or rather lay hold vpon Christ Iesus by the hand of faith hanging bleeding and dying vpon the Crosse for those very same sins that thereby thou maist vtterly quench all Satans fiery darts preuent drawing towards despaire nay preserue thy spirit in sweetest peace and vnconquerable comfort against if it be possible the least distrustfull intrusion of any slauish terrour 4. Vpon the holiest men that euer breathed the life of grace vpon earth and the most renowned in the Church thorow all generations for all spirituall sufficiencies and excellencies and thou shalt find them euer most humble in their owne conceits vilest in their own eyes nothing in their owne account Me thinks holy Pauls heauy complaint O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from the body of this death Heauenly Dauids continuall cry I am a worme and no man There is no rest in my bones because of my sinne My sinne is euer before me c. Blessed Bradfords abasing himselfe who was one of the worthiest Martyrs and the Heauenliest minded man that euer breathed out his last in the flames and ascended to heauen in a fiery chariot as himselfe spake at the stake I am as dry as a stone saith hee as dumbe as a nayle as farre from praying as he that neuer knew any taste of it He sometime subscribed in this manner to those Letters which were full of spirituall life diuinest streines and demonstration of the Spirit The most miserable hard-hearted vnthankefull sinner Iohn Bradford A very painted Hypocrite I. B. c. I say Me thinkes the humble deportment of these and all truely holy Ones should rather make thee sinke yet lower in thine owne conceit then swell with the poyson of Pharisaicall selfe-conceitednesse 5. Keepe in a readinesse and in fresh remembrance such considerations and cooling cards as it were as these when thy heart begins to swell vaine-gloriously That thou haddest thine hand in that fire-worke which blew vp all mankind I meane in Adams transgression that brought forth such a bloody sea of sinne and sorrow into the World such a world of miseries and mischiefes vpon all the sonnes and daughters of Adam all tortures vpon earth and torments in Hell thorow all eternity That thou camest into this world a sinke a Sodom a very hell of all filth and impuritie of all corruption and crookednesse euen a little Deuill for darkenesse and damnation That thou wofully lost and mis-spentst many yeeres perhaps the best of thy time strength of youth flowre of thy age in Satans seruice and vpon thy owne abominable lusts That now vpon thy conuersion the meere worke of Gods free grace thou being honored with part in Christs Passion with the presence of the blessed Spirit dwelling in thee with the highest aduancement of being Gods Fauourite the dearely beloued of his soule yet the best Sabbath that thou passest ouer the holyest duty that thou performest is distained and distempered with so many imperfections distractions frailties and failings That while thou yet inhabitest a house of flesh thou hast inherent in thy bowels secret seeds and inbred inclinations to all sinne Blesse the sanctifying Spirit for thy priuiledge and preseruation euen to Atheisme selfe-murder Sodomy despairing of Gods mercy familiarity with wicked spirits sinne against the Holy Ghost c. That whereas thousands about thee goe on in their sinnes and perish euerlastingly thy selfe it may bee before thy change worse then most of them yet now beeing sanctified thou mayest bee assured thy name was writ in Heauen from all eternitie and therefore from euerlasting thou layest in the bosome of Gods loue and from the same euerlasting had the Lord Iesus set apart to shead his blood in the fulnesse of time for the saluation of thy soule and haue patience but a little and euerlasting refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord thou shalt shine as the brightnesse of the firmament for euer and euer And in all this who made thee to differ Thou wast framed of the same mould made as it were of the same cloth onely the sheeres going betweene with those that perish It was onely Gods free grace the good pleasure of his will These and the like considerations layde together should infinitely rather mooue thee with all humble reuerence to adore the bottomlesse depth of Gods free loue vnto thee then conceitedly to magnifie thy selfe aboue thy brethren or proudly insult ouer those that are without to praise thy God with a neuer satisfied admiration of his vnconceiueable bounty then to plague thy soule and as it were empoyson thy graces with an humour of pride 6. Thou must shortly bee strictly accountable at the iust Tribunall of God for the vse and imployment of all the good things hee hath giuen vnto thee of thy life and euery moment of it of thy goods and euery farthing of them of euery word thou euer spokest of euery thought that euer sprung out of thy heart of euery Sermon thou euer heardst of euery Sabbath thou hast solemnized of euery line thou hast writ of euery glance of thine eye of euery iourney thou hast made c. of thy wit memory learning of thy strength courage credit of thine honour power and high place In a word of euery benefit or any good thing in any kinde thou euer receiuedst from the bountifull and blessed hand of Almightie God And the moe and more excellent and extraordinary endowments and gracious indulgences haue beene vouchsafed thee from the euer-springing Fountaine of all good the more exactly must thou bee answerable and in proportion accountable for more Wherefore sith the graces of saluation incomparably excell and outshine all other humane abilities all excellencies of nature art policie learning or what else can bee named admirable in the eyes of men God lookes that wee should keepe those heauenly Iewels especially orient bright and shining communicate them most frankely and abundantly to our brethren and with all watchfulnesse and wisdome vpon all opportunities imploy them to our Masters greatest and most glorious aduantage Now there is nothing more hinders the fruitfull improouement of them then Pride Nothing makes them more passable and profitable then Humility A proud man puft vp with an opinion of his good parts doth ordinarily out of an itching ambitious humour single out such seasons for discouerie of himselfe and ostentation of his gifts when hee may winne most applause from men and shew himselfe vaine-gloriously and thereupon is more rare dainty and reserued in exercising his talent But a downeright humble Christian is in this kinde
and scorne from the World for thy profession which naturally much nettles a noble spirit doe crowne thy head and should fill thy heart with abundance of glory blessednesse and ioy If ye be reproched for the Name of Christ happy are yee saith Peter for the Spirit of Glory and of God resteth vpon you 1. Pet. 4. 14. Blessed are yee saith Christ himselfe when men shall reuile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of euill against you falsely for my sake reioyce and be exceeding glad Math. 5. 11. 12. Scurrilities and scoffes all spitefull speeches odious nick-names lying imputations cast vpon thee in this kind by tongues which cut like a sharpe rasor are in their due estimate and true account as so many honorable badges Let no cowardly Christian then decline them with wounding of his conscience of thy Christian magnanimitie and resolute standing on the Lords side and at the Throne of Christ will be certainely reputed as characters of speciall honour and remembrancers of thy worthy seruice whereby thou shalt appeare more acceptable and amiable in the eyes of Almightie God and all that glorious triumphant Church aboue 5. If thou rightly temper and well weigh euen thy sorest sorrow and the very bleeding of thy heart for sinne it should bee so farre from damping the lightsomnesse of thy spirit that it ought to open vnto thee a well-spring of purest ioy For the penitent melting of our affections and kindly mourning ouer Him whom we haue pierced with our sinnes argues infallibly and sweetely assures the presence and sanctifying power of the holy Spirit And what greater comfort or sweeter delight then that which ariseth from a well grounded euidence that the Fountaine of all comfort dwels in our soules Such teares as burst out of a heart opprest with griefe for sinne are like an April showre which though it wet a little yet it begets a great deale of sweetnesse in the herbes flowers and fruits of the earth As euen in laughing the heart of the wicked is sorrowfull so contrarily euen in such mourning the heart of the true penitent is lightsome and comfortable For habituall ioy may not onely consist with actuall sorrow and contrarily but also euen actuall ioy with actuall sorrow This is no strange thing in other cases when wee see a good man persecuted for a good cause stand to it nobly wee grieue for his troubles but reioyce in his resolution and vndauntednes As wee ought then to grieue bitterly for our sinnes so let vs reioyce immeasurably for such ingenuous grieuing Let vs lament heartily ouer him whom we haue wounded with our abominable lusts but let vs also bee infinitely glad at the very heart roote that they are all pardoned by the powring out of his blood Not the most exquisite quintessence and extraction of all manner of Musicke Sets or Consorts vocall or instrumentall can possibly conuey so delicious a touch and rellish to the outward eare of a man as a certificate brought from the Throne of mercy by the blessed Spirit sealed with Christs blood to the bruised heart and grieued soule of an humble sinner in the very depth of his sorrow 6. If thou be troubled with temptations and exercised euen with varietie of them heare the holy Ghost Count it all ioy when yee fall into diuers temptations To let other particulars passe From the very foulest and most griesly suggestions of Satan thou mayst collect this common glorious comfort That thou art none of his For as hee is wont to keepe vnconuerted men in as merry a moode and faire a calme of outward contentment and inward securitie as he can possibly retiring and reseruing his most fiery darts and hideous temptations vntill hee haue them at some dead lift and vnauoidable strait so all that are broke out of his hellish prison by the help of the holy Ghost he ordinarily pursues with deadly rage and all the powers of darknesse Hee hunts them in his fittest seasons like a Partridge in the Mountaines with troubles without and terrours within The lesse peace thou hast therefore from him the more pleasure mayst thou take in thine escape out of his clutches The more restlessely he followes thee with the fury and variety of his temptations the more sweetly and securely if thou wilt giue way to the counsell of the Prophets and the worke of â—…aith mayst thou repose thy wearied soule vpon the comfortable assurance of being certainly Gods 5. Euery one that hath part in Christs death is bound in conscience and bidden by the blessed Spirit to leade a most merry life euen to keepe a Feast a spirituall Holyday as it were from all seruile terrours slauish sadnesse vncomfortable deiections of spirit For euen Christour Passeouer is sacrificed for vs therefore let vs keepe the Feast 1. Cor. 5. 7. The sweetnesse and excellency of this Feast is notably set out and amplified by 1. the beautifull garments wee put on and weare when we are admitted vnto it 2. The matter and magnificent prouision 3. The musicke 4. The franke and bountifull entertainment and plenty 5. The extraordinarie pompe and princelinesse 1. For the first meditate ioyfully vpon that rich attire and those Royall attributes glorifying and crowning Christs blessed Spouse with most admirable and rauishing beauty Cant. 6. 10. Who is she that looketh forth as the morning faire as the Moone pure as the Sunne terrible as an army with Banners And know that all the essentiall glory and fairenesse which is to be found in the whole Church the Woman clothed with the Sunne as that of iustification and sanctification c. belongs to euery member thereof to euery faithfull Christian. As the morning 1. The morning springs out of the greatest darknesse the night is most darke as they say a little before day the illuminated soule arises out of the most darksome and damned graue of ignorance and sinne 2. The beauty of the morning is principally seene in her ruddinesse The soule that is newly deliuered out of the horror of Egyptian darknesse and hands of the hellish Pharaoh is all ruddy with passing thorow the red Sea of Christs blood that is the ground vpon which all its beauty and blessednesse is built 2. The glory of the morning after its first peeping in the East spreads fairer and fairer in all beauty and brightnesse vntill the mid-day and full illustration of the World Grace in the soule after the first plantation growes stronger and stronger shines fairer and fairer vntil it set in the bottomlesse Ocean of endlesse Glory See Prou. 4. 18. Faire as the Moone 1. The Moone receiues all her light and lustre from the Sunne all the graces holinesse inherent righteousnesse shining in a sanctified soule are the image and impressions of the Sunne of righteousnesse 2. The Moone hath some spots in her face but yet is a very beautifull creature by her borrowed light The Christian is somewhat blacke with the remnants of
originall corruption and by reason of his vnauoideable frailties and imperfections but yet comely as the curtaines of Salomon by the glory of his new creation and gracious beames that shine vpon his soule from the face of Christ. 3. The further the Moone is remoued from the Sunne the fairer she is and fuller of light The more an humble soule vpon sight of that holy Maiestie and purest eye ten thousand times brighter then the Sun which cannot look on iniquitie doth retire with lowliest thoughts into himselfe to abhorre himselfe in dust and ashes as most vile and farre worthier to be throwne into the lowest dungeon of the kingdome of darknesse then to bee honoured with the loue and light of his countenance is more beautifull and amiable in the eyes of God Fure as the Sunne The Moone shadowes out inherent fairenesse the Sunne resembles and represents our imputed puritie So that this Royall Robe the Sunne of righteousnesse the vnspotted Iustice of Iesus Christ doth glorifie the soule 1. With an entire vnstained beautie our inherent holinesse hath some spots and staines of imperfection like the Moone but that imputed for our iustification is much more spotlesse and orient then the Sunne 2 Vniuersally Wee are washed as it were from top to toe in the blood of Christ and couered wholly with his perfect righteousnesse 3. Constantly The exercise of spirituall graces and sence of inward comfort may sometimes ebbe and waâ—…e for a time but the Robe of Christs Royall Iustice once put on by the hand of Faith is sure and the same for euer Terrible as an armie with banners Besides this rich and royall attire all this abundance of spirituall fairenesse and beauty wee are to put on also leâ—…t hellish Harpies that I may so speake snatch away our delicious and diuine dainties that glistering Armour thicke seâ—… with heauenly Pearles described Ephes. 6. The glorious splendour whereof is able to dazle the deuils eyes to daunt his courage and driue him out of the field For hee well knowes it to bee tryed and of proofe worne by our Captaine Christ Iesus who foild him by the sword of the Spirit in that great combate in the Wildernesse Mat. 4. And it is that by which the weakest Christians shall shortly by the blessing of the God of Peace bruise Satan vnder their feet The summe is The heauenly attire of a sanctified soule is farre fairer and more amiable then the exquisite concurrence of all earthly beauties and visible glory Were the light of all the starres aboue collected into Sunnes which Astronomers say would make many and added vnto that great bright Body the Prince of all the lampes in heauen nay if besides there were an accession of all the orient splendour of all the Pearles and Iewels of all the Crystall and glistering things in this lower world and all compacted into one beautifull body it would be but as a lumpe of darknesse to the glory and fairenesse of a sanctified soule For the beauty and amiablenesse of an holy soule inflames the heart and affections of the Sonne of God with an extraordinarie pang of spirituall feruent loue Cant. 4. 9. whereas not all the glory of the world though represented to his eye with the fairest lustre and in the most refined forme could moue him euer a whit Matth 4. 8 9 10. Plato was wont to say if morall vertues could be seene with the outward eye they would stirre vp in the heart extraordinary flames of admiration and loue what vnspeakeable rauishments then would Christian graces enkindle were they visible to the carnall eyes They would be able to make Persecutors Professors to turne euen Drunkards into Puritans as they call them the most sensuall Epicure into a mortified Saint For the second Let thy spirituall appetite seed merrily vpon that sweetest place Isa. 25 6. And in this mountaine shall the Lord of Hosts c. Heere is prouided as wee may see a magnificent and glorious feast composed all of marrow and fatnesse of most refined and purified wines which shadow vnto vs spirituall delicacies those golden dainties digd out of the rich myne of the mysterie of Christ by the hand of Faith in the Word Sacraments Prayer Communion of Saints solemne humiliations sweet Soliloquies solitary conferences with our God feeling forethought of infinite ioyes thorow eternity c. Euery circumstance breathes out nothing but sweetnesse In this mountaine It is dressed in Mount Zion The perfection of beautie The ioy of the whole earth The glory of all Lands which represents vnto vs by way of shadow and type the ouerflowing glory of the Christian Church the very Heauen of all humane societies our onely Sunne in this inferiour world which though so much maligned yet were it remooued there would bee a little hell vpon earth and nothing left but a darke Midnight of villany and horror for incarnate Deuils to domineere in A feast of fat things a feast of wines on the lees of fat things full of marrow of wines on the lees well refined Hereby is intimated the matter of the Feast and Royall prouision amplified with extraordinary Emphasis of words elegancy of phrase and iteration of the same sence with variety of expression which also argues its excellency It is not enough to haue said of fat things but there is added of fat things full of marrow and so proportionably of the wines to intimate the most exquisite refined flower of all delicacies and dainties The marrow of the fatnesse as if a man should say the spirit of the quintessence the Diamond of the Ring the sparkle of the Diamond c. And yet all this comes infinitely short of what the holy Ghost would shadow and shew vnto vs by the most sumptuous materials of earthly Feasts But aboue all that which makes the Feast most matchlesse is the Feast-maker Iehouah is the founder and furnisher of it The maker of heauen and earth makes it The Poets describing men of most ambitious appetites after choisest dainties say that they rob all the Elements to please their palates The Master of this Feast the euer-blessed Iehoua tells vs of his store and treasuries this way Psal. 50. 10 11. Euery beast of the 〈◊〉 is mine and the cattell vpon a thousand hills I know all the fowles of the mountaines and the wild beasts of the field are mine But all these being but onely matter of corporall food are yet nothing to the spirituall sweetenesse of this heauenly Banqueâ—… The secret and sacred delight of those diuine dainties intended here by the holy Ghost being vnspeakable and glorious doth infinitely transcend the possibility of all creatures to contribute and the capacity of the largest naturall vnderstanding to conceiue So must be construed as a worthy Diuine sayes truly that Text 1 Cor. 2. Not of the ioyes of heauen which heere the spirituall man himselfe cannot tell what they shall bee but of the Gospels ioy of the Wine and
Fatlings ready prepared and now reuealed to the Beleeuer by the Spirit For the third Heare the voice of sweetenesse and peace Esa. 27. 2. Sing vnto her A Vineyard of red Wine Sing sounds nothing but ioy lightsomnesse and mirth Unto her the sexe of more amiablenesse tendernesse and loue A Vineyard Vineyards Orchards Gardens and such inclosed Plots are as it were the flowers starres and Paradises of the earth Of Wine as though the Vine-trees of this Inclosure brought not foorth the grosser and vncrushed Grapes but more immediately the refined and pure blood of the Grape Red The most generous sparkling delicious wine A Vineyard is as it were the Diamond of the Ring wine the sparkle red the splendour of the sparkle all excellencies sweetenesses transcendencies where God opens expresses his heart and loue to his Church or any of his Chosen For the fourth Let thy faith peruse with enlarged Meditations those precious passages of gracious inuitation and bountifull entertainement Mat. 22. 3 4. Isa. 55. 1 2. Pro. 9. 2 3. Cant. 2. 3 4. Thou shalt sucke and be satisfied euen with the brests of consolations Thy dearest and most glorious Mother which is clothed with the Sunne treads vpon the Moone and weares on her head a Crowne of twelue Starres shall sweetly and tenderly beare thee vpon her sides and handle thee vpon her knees Isa. 66. 11 12. For the fifth It is compared to a wedding Feast and that of a Kings sonne which is woont to be honoured and crowned with height and variety of all magnificence and Maiestie ioy and triumph mirth and musicke When an humbled soule is first made sure to the Sonne of God the ioyfull harmony of all good hearts that heare of it and the triumphant Halleluiahs of the blessed Angels in heauen concurre in consort as it were of congratulation for so happy a match in gladnesse and ioy for so holy a change This Feast begins at thy first betrothing when thou receiuing a Ring as it were beset with fiue precious stones 1. Righteousnesse 2. Iudgement 3. Louing kindnesse 4. Mercies 5. Faithfulnesse It is afterward continued with many gracious passages of loue and sweetest entertainements on both sides euen in this life as appeares in Solomons Spirituall Loue-song It shall at last be crowned with an euerlasting Iubilee and pleasures moe then the Starres of the firmament in number when the Lambe receiues his wife into his neerest and dearest embracements euen into full possession of the most blessed neuer-ending Kingdome of heauen bought for her full dearely with his owne hearts blood Then our Feast of grace ends in the endlesse fruition of Glory How merry then ought wee to be in the meane time who are admitted and enrighted to this gracious and glorious Feast Of expressing which to the life the finest fare and most exquisite delicates of all earthly feasts come as farre short as the dull earth comes short of the glistering heauen a grosse mortall body of the preciousnesse of an euerliuing soule An inch of time of the length of eternity For corporall dainties fat a fraile body for a span of time with earthly food accompanied with a little poore vanishing delight of sence But spirituall food fills an immortall soule with heauenly Maâ—…na out of the mysterie of Christ attended with purest ioy and sincerest pleasures through all eternity 6. As thou doest honour Gods Iustice in trembling at his threats and throwing thy selfe into the dust as extremely vile and fewell for hell vnder his mighty hand and the piercing Maiesty of his pure Word representing clearely vnto thy conscience and pressing terribly vpon it the hainousnesse of all thy lusts iniquities abominable prouocations of the eyes of his glory and diuine indignation flaming against them so when thou findest and feelest thy heart truly wounded by the sword of the Spirit with remorse and sorrow for thy sinnes weary with the heauy weight and burthen of them possessed with sincere hatred and lothing of euery euill way thou oughtest and are bound in conscience and by the commandement of the holy Ghost to glorifie Gods truth in his promises of mercy by throwing thy selfe into the blessed armes and bleeding embracements of the Lord Iesus dying vpon the Crosse in whom they are all yea and Amen with much assurance and peace with vnspeakeable and glorious ioy And the rather because the speciall season and onely opportunity of thy magnifying and honouring the sweet influence of Gods dearest mercies tender-heartednesse and truth vpon humble soules through the precious promises of life is in this life In the world to come they shall all bee accomplished vpon thee to the vtmost and crowned with a cleere vision and full fruition of that euer-blessed and most glorious Maiesty Then faith for euer expires and we see face to face These things being so and most sure let euery true-hearted Nathaneel be heartily intreated nay iustly charged in the name of Iesus Christ by the blessed Spirit the fountaine of all comfort as hee will answer it at the glorious Throne of Mercy erected in heauen vpon purpose to make him euerlastingly merry that hee henceforth most resolutely and for euer cast out of his conscience sprinkled with the Blood of the Lambe and out of the Kingdome of Christ ouerflowing with Peace and Ioy now comfortably established in his soule those intruding vsurpers Tyrants onely naturall Lords ouer naturall men I meane horrours of guiltinesse false feares slauish terrours damps and droopings all vncomfortable pensiuenesse deiections and feare And leauing such Harpies as these and heart-eaters onely to the grumbling and guilty consciences of all those that hate to be reformed and Satans slaues as their proper furies let him with an holy violence against the deuils cruell assaults and contradictions of his owne distrustfull heart and with a cheerefull spirit lay hold vpon his iust inheritance and euerlasting portion purchased for him by the bitter and painefull sufferings of the Sonne of God euen floods and fresh successions of sweetest ioyes shed and showred downe continually from the Throne of Grace vpon his vpright heart in great abundance if hee will but onely vouchsafe to open the doore by the hand of faith that the blessed beames of such lightsomnesse and comfort shining from the face of Christ may come in Let his soule full fairely arayed with its heauenly roabes to which the beauty of the morning brightnesse of the Moone and glory of the Sunne are but a shadow and listning sweetly to that melodious Song composed all of Peace and Ioy Pleasures and Pardon of finne which the mercy of God makes in the eare of its faith fall to and fill it selfe at the Wedding Feast of the Kings Sonne with those euer-springing riuers of spirituall refreshing out of the bottomlesse depth of Gods free loue reuealed in the mysterie of Christ by the ministery of the Word and Sacramentall grace as with marrow and fatnesse Let it sucke aboundantly and be satisfied with the
transfuse spirituall vigour into each other Presume not vpon any knowledge without an humble inflamed affection neither build too much vpon the heate of zeale without the light of knowledge Either of these may be single in some and that in singularitie who after may fall away shamefully 5. Aboue all looke vnto thy heart If thy change were Angelicall in words actions and all outward carriage and yet thy thoughts still the same and reserued thou art but a guilded Tombe and cannot bee saued Let a man take a Wolfe beate him blacke and blue breake his bones knocke out his teeth cut away his clawes put vpon him a Sheepes skinne yet still hee retaines his Woluish nature Let a man become neuer so harmelesse outwardly yet without a new heart all is naught 6. Incorporate thy selfe into the company of Gods people by all engagements and obligations of a profitable intimate and comfortable fellowship in the Gospell There is a secret tie vnto constancie in the communion of Saints Hee is not like to walke long that walketh alone especially if he might enioy good company Shunning society with the godly is too shrowde a signe of a temporarie 7. Consider well for the contrary is a notable discouerie of counterfeits that thy calling to grace must settle thee more surely in thine honest particular calling and make thee therein more faithfull conscionable and painefull Let Christians also of longer standing and more strength in their assaults about perseuerance haue recourse vnto this Tower of Truth and labour to preuent that which they feare 1. By constancie in a carefull vse of all the meanes the Word Prayer Conference Meditation Sacraments c. To which let them preserue appetite and practise that they heare without omission or delay Hee that giues way to a heartlesse neglect or customarie hardnesse of heart in the vse of the Ordinances may iustly suspect his neerenesse to some fearefull sinne or fierce temptation to some heauy iudgement or dangerous Apostacie 2. Assoone as they discouer any spirituall weakenesse or decay assault or temptation let them complaine betime vnto the Throne of Grace and mightily oppose with the feruentest prayers of extraordinarie priuate humiliation 3. Let them keepe perfection still in their eye and aime and towards the attainment thereof acquire and acquaint themselues with Rules of holy life daily directions courses of most mortified men c. 4. Let them watchfully decline all occasions of falling backe Spirituall pride knowne Hypocrisie desire to bee rich vnder-valuing declining the most searching meanes forme and perfunctorinesse in religious duties discontinuance of intimatenesse with the godly neglect of distractions vpon the Lords Day c. 5. Let them consider that all is lost which is past if they fall off 2. Ioh. 8. This former Point of constancie in grace did arise from consideration of blessed Noahs continuance in goodnesse through so many ages Now in that hee did not conforme to the iniquities of the times but did stand vnstained amidst the wickedst generations that euer dwelt vpon earth I collect the necessitie of another constancie and that is in respect of opposition to the corruptions of times Doct. The seruant of God must not serue the times Or thus The true Christian ought to stand at staues end with the corruptions of the time Reason Hee is bound vnto it by his Baptisme Of such as prophaned themselues being Christians with irreligious delight in the Ensignes of Idolatry heathenish spectacles showes and stage-playes Tertullian to strike them the more deepe claimeth the promise which they made in Baptisme Hee is not of the world Ioh. 15. 19. His life is hid with Christ in God Colos. 3. 3. There is a secret heauenly vigour infused into euery gracious Soule by the sanctifying Spirit which deads it to the world and makes it delight in God He ought to shine in the world as a light in the midst of a crooked and peruerse nation Phil. 2. 15. Light and darknesse cannot endure one another neither the power of Grace those workes of darknesse in which the world lyes drowned Hee is by no meanes to bee conformed to this world Rom. 12. 2. nor to runne with the wicked to the same excesse of riot 1. Pet. 4. 4. He is now new-borne and become a Child of Eternity whereby his heart is falâ—…e in loue with new and euerlasting delights and the eye of his soule turned from the dung of this world towards the glory of the second Life As the worldling cannot rellish the sweet ioyes of gracious exercises so neither can the Christian the frothy pleasures of good-fellowship You can as hardly draw the sound Professor to a Conuenticle of swaggering companions as a good-fellow to a day of humiliation Vses 1. Howsoeuer then thou mayst seeme to stand on Gods side by an artificiall acting of some affected formes in Religion by countenancing the Ministerie if thou beest a great Man and outwardly conforming to the Ordinances yet if in thy practise thou beest plunged into the corruptions of the present and thine heart hanker still and hunt in secret after youthfull delights the lusts of men most applauded fashions of the greater part thou art not a Christian in truth but a true counterfeite Assure thy selfe if thou swim downe the current and saile with the tide of the time thou mayest iustly looke euery moment to fall vpon the sudden perhaps in the height of thy temporall happinesse and hottest gleame of thy worldly glory into the irrecouerable and euerlasting Lake of brimstone and fire c. 2. Let euery one who hath giuen his name vnto Christ euer hold it his Crowne and comfort to hold a strong and vnconquerable counter-motion to the courses of the world Let him still discouer the true noblenesse of his Christian spirit and of a mind spiritually generous by gathering vigour and growing inuincible from the very oppositions of the wicked and villanies of the time See Psal. 119. 126 127. 1. King 19. 14. 1. Thes. 2. 2. It was the saying of a morall Heathen That to doe well where was no danger was a common thing but to doe well where was both perill and opposition was the peculiar office of a man of vertue much more say I of a man of God And Noah walked with God Walking with God is the top and flower of all Noahs excellencies and spirituall felicities vpon earth Whence note Doct. That walking with God is the Crowne of the Christians character It is the dutie and propertie of euery true Christian to walke with his God By walking with God I meane a sincere endeauour punctually and percisely to manage conduct and dispose all our affaires thoughts words and deeds all our behauiours courses carriage and whole conuersation in reuerence and feare with humilitie and singlenesse of heart as in the sight of an inuisible God vnder the perpetuall presence of his All-seeing glorious pure eye and by a comfortable consequent to enioy by the
that they finde no such acceptation and applause with worldlings by reason of their worthlesnesse and that naturall men entertaine them not with that estimation and account proportionable to their proud expectation and conceiuing also that by their association and siding with the Saints who in preciousnesse of regard and dearenesse of loue euer infinitely preferre the poorest Christian before the proudest Nimrod for one Larke is worth a thousand Kites they shall be prized aboue vulgar esteeme and ordinary valuation purposely put on a vizour of outward conformity to the courses of Christianity that thereby they may procure and purchase some speciall credit and remarkable respect and with some at least bee accounted some body in the world 2. Others there are who seeing they cannot so easily and excessiuely satisfie and glut their greedy humours by their commerce dealings and mutuall negotiations with naturall men for such are well able with equall cunning to counter-mine against their craftie and coozening vnderminings their consciences will serue them to encouhter retalliate their vnconscionablenesse with like ouer-reaching retributions of circumuention and wrong they can well enough sound and fathome with the crooked line of their owne deceitfull hearts the inuisible depths of their Machiuellian proiects and plots and knaueâ—…y I say others there are who vpon such occasion that they may thriue in the world and grow in wealth more easily and vnobseruedly put on a cloke of outward profession and in policie onely and hypocrisie draw towards the better side mixe and ioyne themselues with Gods children hang vpon and adhere vnto true Christians because they pitch vpon them make speciall choice of and single out such vpon purpose as those from whom by reason of the singlenesse and simplicitie of their hearts vnsuspiciousnesse of their charitie the equitie and conscionablenesse of their dealings in these coozening supplanting and vndermining dayes they may most fairely and easily sucke out the greatest aduantage and prey vpon most plentifully with the deuouring teeth of couetousnesse and craft guilded ouer only with a vaile of seeming and vernish of hypocrisie 3. Some there may be whom onely the very terrours and sting of slauish feare and fore-thought of the wrath and torment to come may driue and restraine from the execution of grosser villanies excite and enchaine to the outward exercises of holy duties and many actual religious conformities For instance some may repaire to the House of God vpon the Lords Day not for any such great loue vnto Gods Truth or conscionable Ministerie but for feare that being then alone or walking idlely abroad their guilty consciences should worke more fearefully and fiercely vpon them and that thoughts of their sinnes death hell damnation and other such terrible considerations would come into their mindes with affrighting griesly formes and apparitions of horrour Some it may be for feare they should bee iustly censured and marked out by men acquainted and experienced in the mysterie of grace and wayes of God with the odious deserued brand of Prayerlesse and Atheisticall wretches or lest they should bee seized vpon with some remarkeable iudgement in their owne persons families or goods by fire robbery tempest ill successe death horrour despaire or other fearefull accident dare not for their liues but continue a course and formall taske of Prayer Euening and Morning in their houses Some also in times of trouble and terrour especially as of extraordinarie thunders impetuous tempests dreadfull apparitions in the ayre c. flie into the company and communion of Christians driuen thither by the fearefulnesse of their spirits and hope to receiue protection of their guiltinesse and preseruation from wrath by the prayers presence and acceptation of such holy Ones Wee see in mens carriages to humane lawes that euen feare of them restraines many from many lawlesse outrages and constraines to many ciuill conformities against which their sensuall hearts and humours doe infinitely rise and reclaime with much distaste and auersion Doe you not thinke that many drunkards would as well liue in murther and vpon the spoile as in their present abominable swinishnesse did they not hold it a more horrible thing to be hanged than to pay fiue shillings or sit in the stocks Would not many at Sermon time rather be in the Ale-house than in the House of God were not the constitutions of men a curbe vnto their corruptions Would not some desperate wretches as well strike thorow at once and quite dispatch those they hate as kill them all the yeere long with their cruell thoughts and bloody malice were not thought free and actuall murther death by the lawes of men Would not many malicious Papists thinke you as well speake traiterously of the King as teare Gods glorious name with their oathes and blasphemous tongues were they not terrified with feare of Tyburne It may be so proportionably in mens behauiours towards diuine Lawes the holy Statutes of Heauen and that highest Tribunall But as in the former we ought to be subiect not onely for wrath but also for conscience sake so in the latter much more not onely for terrour of Gods Iudgements but also for loue of His Truth A worthy Diuine summes vp all I would say in this point thus Sometimes saith he the feare of Gods Iudgements as of the racke of an accusing conscience of the torments of hell fire c. holdeth men in a slauish obedience I feare me there are too many abroad in the world especially great Ones who by forbearance of other grosse sinnes to which their sensuall affections are not so endeared outward performance of some holy duties formall presence at religious exercises countenancing and patronage of godly Ministers and good men hope to make amends as it were and to purchase protection and dispensation for the vengeance due vnto the sinfull pleasures of some bosome and beloued lust wherein they secretly lie And therefore their outside conformitie in other things is caused by feare of being horribly and remarkably plagued for that close darling-delight 4 Others there are who by reason of awefulnesse vnto correspondence with dependance vpon gainfull expectation from some gracious great One Christian friend reuerend Pastour Patrone Land-lord or Gouernour religious rich kinred c or other such by-respects conforme to the outward formes of Religion and liue â—…seruedly vnder the Canopie of a counterfeite profession The false and hollow hearts of men harbour many times many priuate ends in their outward seruices of God and howsoeuer they openly pretend Religion yet they secretly intend and plot the satisfaction of their humour and seruing of their owne turnes by an artificiall enforced temporarie taking part with the better part Such seruile Professours as these ordinarily in the meane time stand at a stay in an externall conformitie to Christian courses for no spirituall life warmes their affections no roote of grace growes in their hearts Formalitie in this kinde is euer voide of all vitall vigour vegetation and actiuitie
contempt of the world resolute hatred of sinne in approouing our hearts in Gods presence a sweete communion with him comfortable longing for the comming of the Lord Iesus c. Yet mistake me not thou must make a shew professe and talke if thou wouldest haue Christ Iesus to owne thee at that last and dreadfull Day Mark 8. 38. It is therefore an idle and brainelesse cauill of some lewd ignorant Lozels to say We can by no meanes endure these shewes Cannot a man bee religious to himselfe except he hang out his flag and let all the world know it For where the power of Religion is there will bee the shew also Painted fire shines not ascends not heates not but true fire is euer inseparably attended with these properties We cannot put a Candle in a Lanthorne but the light will shew it selfe thorow the hornes if true grace bee planted in the heart it will shine forth in our words gestures actions all carriages and our whole conuersation He that will take shewes from the substance of Religion let him take brightnesse from the Sunne glistering from Gold breathing from a liue-body Shew and profession of Christ before men is commanded as well as the substance and soundnesse of heart Rom. 10. 9 10. Thou must bee a patrone and in some good measure a practiser of precise points if euer thou wilt haue true peace and assurance of walking in the narrow path that leades vnto life as of walking precisely Ephes. 5. 15. Being feruent in spirit Rom. 12. 11. Striuing to enter in at the strait gate Luke 13. 24. Selfe-deniall 14. 26. Surpassing the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharises Mat. 5. 20. Laying violent hands and hold vpon the Kingdome of Heauen Mat. 11. 12. In a word of the way which is called holy and yet so spoken against euery where Act. 28. 22. For I meane only that precisenesse which is commended vnto vs and commanded by the blessed Spirit in Gods pure and holy Word I know all passages of sanctification are too precise and paradoxes intolerable and burdensome to flesh and blood and in the interpretation of worldly wisedome which notwithstanding are easie and sweet to mortified men Thou must stand at the staues end against the sinnes of the times and like the Eagle prune vp thy selfe against a storme or else thou art a temporizer Outward exercises of Religion are as it were the bodie without which the soule of Christianitie hath no existence Thou must be content to abridge and confine thy Christian liberty at any time according to opportunities and exigents for the enlargement of Gods glory the building vp of thy brother and snaffling thine owne rebellious nature Thou mayest and must iudge by the fruits It is Christs Rule Matth. 7 16. If therefore thou seest the abominable and vnsauory fruits of lying swearing drunkennesse Sabbath-breaking vsury scoffing at Religion c. hanging out in the fight of the Sunne thou mayest iustly censure the tree to be rotten and for the present fewell for the fire of Hell Thou mayest iudge no man rashly nor of his finall estate If we see a malefactour cast and condemned for some grieuous crime yet reprieued vnto the next Assize no man can say he shall be certainely hanged because a pardon may be procured and come from the King in the meane time it is so in the present case But thou mayest call a spade a spade a drunkard a drunkard an vsurer an vsurer Otherwise if thou dawbe and dissemble how shalt thou euer be able to escape liablenesse to that abomination Prou. 17. 15. He that iustifieth the wicked and he that condemneth the iust euen they both are abomination to the Lord And to the sting of that woe Isai. 5. 20. Woe vnto them that call euill good and good euill that put darkenesse for light and light for darkenesse that put bitter for sweete and sweete for bitter Yet know that speaking the euill thou certainely knowest by another must be seasonable charitable and discreete not out of humour spleene imperiousnesse at thy pleasure but for Gods honour the good of the party thine owne discharge vpon a warrantable calling c. according to those Rules I shall hereafter deliuer for guiding the tongue My meaning then in this point is that those greater matters be dearliest prized and principally plied proportionably to their worth and waight and yet these lesser things not neglected It is too true that those who are more fierce and forward about the ceremonials and circumstantials then truly hot and zealous in the essentials and substantials of Christianity prooue too often vaine-gloriously and proudly mounted vpon that foule hellish fiend Hypocrisie and posting apace towards some fearefull Apostacy or Anabaptisticall phrensie VI. Let thy spirit mindfull of its owne heauenly birth immortall nature and euerlasting home euer generously fortifie it selfe with victorious resolution against worldlinesse the canker and cut-throate of all heauenly-mindednes and hearty conuersation aboue Of all the foule fiends that haunt the hearts of carnall men there is none that holds a stronger opposition and counter-motion to walking with God then couetousnesse Ambition sensualitie and other wayes of death cut off their slaues with an accursed disacquaintance and estrangement farre enough from all comfortable accesse vnto the Throne of Grace but affections nailed and glued to the Earth haue this pestilent precedency that they hold the remotest point of declination from the warmth and influence of any sweete communion with the Sunne of righteousnesse and Gods glorious face All earthly-minded men ordinarily howsoeuer they may be outwardly restrained and reserued are secret deriders of the power of godlinesse holy strictnesse of the Saints and mysteries of Grace And the Pharises also saith Luke chap. 16. 14. who were couetous heard all these things and they derided him euen mockt and made themselues merry with the searching and heart-piercing Sermons of the Sonne of God Their hearts and hopes are wholly anchored vpon the Earth and lockt vp in their chests and therefore they dreame of no other heauen then their golden hoards heapes of wealth and present temporall happinesse Whereas notwithstanding one refreshing glimpse shining and shed into our hearts from Gods pleased face and well-grounded assurance of being His is infinitely more worth then all the Gold that euer the Sunne made or shall make while it stands in Heauen VII Let thy holy affections bee euer thorowly warmed and rauisht extraordinarily with the loue of God To which there are infinite inflaming motiues and Obligations 1 Hee being absolutely considered is immeasurably louely The most attractiue obiects of insatiable loue and al amiable excellencies are eminently and transcendently triumphant in him eternally Beauty Glory Worth Wisedome Greatnesse Goodnesse Holinesse Puritie any thing euery thing that is any wayes admirable and loue-worthy 2. Or consider Him in relation to thy selfe and shouldest thou euery moment thorow an interminable time lay down ten thousand liues for His sake thou couldest
neuer come neere the requitall of the least inch of His infinite loue towards thee which reacheth from euerlasting to euerlasting 1. He bore thee in the bosome of this His free loue from all eternitie and that so dearely that from the same eternity He decreed that His owne deare Sonne should die for thee 2. Hee brought thee out of the abhorred state of being nothing into the ranke of his reasonable and noblest creatures 3. Hee bought thee againe when thou hadst wilfully lost thy selfe with the hearts-blood of His onely Sonne 4. He preserues thee euery day from a thousand dangers a thousand deaths which might seize vpon thee both from within and from without 5 He will shortly crowne thee with euerlasting life fulnesse of ioy and pleasures at his right hand for euermore 3. Thirdly confider the vnquenchable impatiencie of Christs inflamed loue vnto thee now washed with His Blood and beautified with His grace Cant. 4. 9. Thou hast rauished my heart saith He to the Church and by consequent to euery true Christian my sister my spouse thou hast rauished my heart with one of thine eyes with one chaine of thy necke Now loue is of that alluring nature that many times it will draw loue from a man when there is no louely part in the partie louing What a deale of loue then doth the Soueraigne Lord of all goodnesse the well-spring of all beauty excellencie and sweetnesse exact at our hands especially sith wee are his meere creatures in respect both of our naturall being outward state gracious state and state of glory See how His spirituall amiablenesse is shadowed by outward beauties Cant. 5. 10. VIII Prize the fruition of Gods pleased face a neerer communion and acquaintance with His blessed Maiestie the loue and light of His countenance and thereupon a free and frequent accesse with an humble boldnes vnto the throne of Grace at a far higher and more vnualuable rate than heauen and earth as a very reall fruitfull fore-taste of eternall ioyes For to say no more at this time If thou hold an holy familiaritie with thy God and He looke pleasedly vpon thee thou shalt graspe Iesus Christ more sweetly and feelingly in the armes of thy Faith partake more plentifully of the ioyfull freedome presence and communication of His comforting Spirit be garded more strongly and narrowly by His glorious Angels sucke more sweetnesse and heauenly Manna out of the Ministerie and other His blessed Ordinances walke in safetie amongst the creatures like an vnconquerable Lyon Thou shalt bee in a league with the stones of the field and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee when thou goest thy gate shall not be straite and when thou runnest thou shalt not fall when thou sleepest thy sleepe shall be sweet thou shalt dwell safely and none shall make thee afraid Thou shalt neuer more be afraid of any euill tidings or of destruction when it commeth when thou passest thorow the waters thy God shall bee with thee and thorow riuers they shall not ouerflow thee when thou walkest thorow the fire thou shalt not bee burnt neither shall the flame kindle vpon thee c. And if at any time thou bee seized vpon with any crosse or calamitie from any of the creatures any trouble or temptation from man or Deuill any lowring or crueltie from the iniquitie of the times or persecuters of the Truth yet the refreshing beames of Gods pleased face shining vpon thy heart through the darknesse of such discomforts will sweetly mitigate reuiue and infinitely make amends for all The poyson and curse of them shall neuer come neere thy soule The Lord in the meane time like an Eagle flutttering about her nest will most tenderly defend and protect thee Esa. 31. 5. and at length most certainly come like a yong Lyon roaring on his prey for thy rescue and glorious enlargement Isa. 31. 4. IX Labour by a constant watch to keepe thy heart in a spirituall temper still and still sweetly content and fruitfully conuersant in the Mystery of Christ and Secrets of His Kingdome which thou shalt more easily doe If thou first reioyce in God his Word Graces as thy chiefest ioy and greatest aduantage 2. By all earthly things be drawne to the loue of heauenly For though God hath appointed but one Sabbath in seuen dayes for his more solemne publike worship yet to a Christian euery day is sanctified to be a rest from all the deeds of the flesh wherein he is to walke with his God and shew forth the religious keeping of his heart and good conscience in euery action of his whole life so making euery passage of his particular Calling a part of Christian obedience and dutie vnto God 3. Let the noblenesse of thine inlarged Spirit as infinitely disdaine to be any wayes vpon any termes in bondage to the corruptions of the times so finde a farre sweeter rellish and take incomparably more contentment in the seruices of thy Lord and his holy Ordinances then in all his outward benefits and fauours of this life For as the best of these abused will most certainly at the Barre of God turne scourges and Scorpions to the worldling conscience and in the meane time there is no man so assured of his honour of his riches health or life but that hee may be depriued of either or all the very next houre or day to come so the other will prooue vnto the Christian hauing beene conscionably and constantly exercised in them as a rich stocke to bring in comfort patience and inward peace in his most neede and greatest extremity 4. Assoone as thou discouerest any spirituall weakenesse or decay any extraordinarie assault temptation deadnesse c. complaine betime cry mightily vnto God giue him no rest neither giue ouer seeking vntill hee returne vnto thy soule with power and life againe If ordinarie meanes will not preuaile presse vpon him with extraordinary if then he doe not reuiue thee with woonted quickning vigour waite with a patient wakefull longing of all the powers of thy soule and then all this while thy soule is still in its true spirituall temper and a most blessed state See Isa. 30. 18. 5. Decline watchfully all occasions of falling from thy first loue feruencie and heauenly-mindednesse as spirituall pride knowne hypocrisie desire to be rich discontinuance of thine intimatenesse with the godly neglect of thy particular Calling or dayly watch ouer thy heart vngodly company forme in religious duties coldnesse and customarinesse in the vse of the meanes c. 6. Suffer not thine affections to bee chained downe and set too much vpon those things which the common sort and greatest part of men seeke after insatiably and slauishly sinke vnder praise profit credit acceptation with the world fauour of great Ones mirth pleasures ease feare sorrow earthly contentment preferment wealth long life or any worldly thing but debase and dis-esteeme all other delights in respect of doing Gods will
which should euer bee vnto thee meate and drinke thy chiefest and choisest recreation and onely Paradise vpon earth X. Let thy soule full often so are aloft vpon the wings of faith vnto the glory of the Empyrean Heauen where God dwelleth and bathe it selfe before-hand with many a sweet meditation in that euerlasting blisse aboue Oh thinke with thy selfe though it farre passe the reach of any mortall thought what an infinite inexplicable sweetnesse it will be to looke for euer vpon the glorious Bodie of Iesus Christ shining with incomprehensible beautie and to consider that euen euery veine of that blessed Bodie bled to bring thee to heauen and that it being with such excesse of glory hypostatically vnited vnto the second person in the Trinity hath honoured and aduanced thy nature in that respect far aboue the brightest Cherub To say nothing of the beauty and brightnesse of that euer-blessed Place that vnapprochable Light which besets Gods dreadfull Throne the walking arme in arme with the Angels of God that euerlasting ioyfull communion and conuersing with the dearest Christian friends and all the crowned Saints and innumerable felicities moe which infinitely surpasse in excellencie and sweetenesse the comprehension of the largest heart and expression of any Angels tongue contemplate principally the Fountaine of all thy blisse how the mighty IEHOVAH God blessed for euer will powre out of Himselfe by the influence of Beatificall Vision as they call it perpetuall riuers of vnutterable ioyes and pleasures vpon thy glorified Body and Soule thorow all eternity euen as the Sunne powres out his beames and shining euery day afâ—…esh vpon the world without emptinesse or end and with such variety for hee is infinite that they shall bee vnto thee as fresh as new as sweete as rauishing millions of yeeres after thou hast dwelt in those Mansions of rest as they were the very first moment thou enteredst that blisfull Place Such fixed considerations as these of things aboue will serue as notable helpes to draw and keepe thy heart Heauen-ward and may mightily moue thee to delight in God and to hold it the sweetest life vpon earth to walke with him in the wayes of Puritie and Peace Methinkes if a man doe but once a day seriously and solemnly thus cast vp the eye of his Faith vpon that neuer-fading Crowne of Life which after an inch of time shall eternally rest vpon his head the goodly splendour thereof and beames of that incomparable ioy should be able to dispell those mists of fading vanities and hurtfull fumes of honours riches and earthly pleasures which this great dung-hill of the World heated by the fire of inordinate lust doth euaporate and interpose betweene the sight of the soule and celestiall Blisse So that hee might with more affectionate freedome and contempt of earth haue his conuersation aboue and turne the current of all his delights loue and longings with more resolution and constancie towards his heauenly home These Preparatiues thus premised I proceed to some generall directions for a more comfortable walking in the way that is called Holy 1. First and before all other things haue a speciall eye and attendance to a sincere constant and fruitfull performance of holy duties Gods seruices And to say nothing punctually and particularly at this time of priuate reading the Scriptures publike hearing the Word personall Prayer and with thy yoke-fellow if thou liue in that estate singing of Psalmes Meditation Conference dayes of humiliation c. of which thou must proportionably make conscience in their due place obseruing also in them the ensuing Cautions for a knowne grosse customary neglect of any holy dutie religious exercise diuine Ordinance in its season may bring a dampe vpon the rest and a consumption vpon the whole bodie of Christianitie I say to leaue these and the like in their courses and turnes to bee performed also with all good conscience and following Cautions I onely at this time purposely aduise for the better sanctifying thy selfe and all about thee to a more comfortable and successefull managing of all affaires businesses and vnder-takings either spirituall or ciuill that thou beeing Master of a Family for I single out such an one for instance bee euer sure to glorifie God amidst thy people by Morning and Euening sacrifice of Prayers and praises to his heauenly Highnesse In the discharge of which maine dutie of Christianitie vtterly neglected by the most and empoysoned to many by their resting only in the worke wrought take heed of growing into forme customarinesse perfunctorinesse which will most certainely draw the very life-blood and breathing out of those holy businesses being euer the canker and cut-throate of all true godlinesse and gracious acceptation with God Labour therefore by a reuerent recollecting all the powers of thy soule and fresh renewing and strengthening thy watch at euery seuerall time to preserue heart and spirit in those daily deuotions and family-duties Which thou shalt the better doe if thou looke to 1. A right disposition before 2. A spirituall behauiour in the doing 3. An holy carriage afterward 1. For the first 1. Come not before God with any sinne lying vpon thy conscience vnrepented of or delighted in see Psal. 66. 18. 2. Neither with passion wrath or heart-burning against any 3. Stirre vp and quicken the actiuenesse and particular apprehensions of thy Faith about the things desired and deprecated In a word in the Apostles words for that is my meaning Lift vp holy hands without wrath and doubting Bring 1. Resolution against all sinne in respect of God 2. Peace and appeased passions in respect of men 3. Assurance to be heard in respect of thy selfe Or thus Before thou fall vpon thy knees shake off three empoysoning and heauy hindrances which will clog and clip the wings of thy prayers that they will neuer be able to ascend vp vnto Heauen sinne anger distrust And possesse thy heart of three excellent helpes and inflaming furtherances 1. A right apprehension of Gods dreadfulnesse puritie power c. 2. A true sence of thy owne vilenesse abominablenesse nothingnesse c. 3. A heartie suruay of the infinitenesse and vnexpressablenesse of Gods bountie blessings and many compassionate forbearances towards thee 2. For the second 1. Repell with an vndaunted spirit and resolute contempt Satans blasphemous iniections if he be busie that way and he is ordinarily most spitefull against the best businesses and the rather because if they be heartily abominated and abandoned with heart-rising and loathing they are put vpon the Deuils score and are onely thy crosses not thy sinnes 2. Watch ouer the World with all care and timely opposition that if it be possible not an earthly thought may creepe into thy heart all the while 3. Striue to hold thy heart in heate as well in confession as deprecation in deprecation as petition in intercession as for personall blessings as well for puritie of heart as pardon of
and quenched let a Christian but for a while abandon his holy conference and comfortable communion with Gods children and plunge himselfe into the company of those who are but cold and carelesse lazie and luke-warme Professors and he shall in very short time find his zeale to be very much cooled his forwardnesse abated the tendernesse of his conscience too much qualified with worldly wisedome much dulnesse of heart deadnesse of spirit drowzinesse and heartlesnesse in his affections to holy things and an vniuersall decay of his graces insensibly to grow vpon him In this respect many Christians doe themselues much wrong and afflict their soules with many vnnecessary spirituall miseries For they doe sometimes vnaduisedly by reason of kindred for old acquaintance aduantage and carnall contentment because of the worldly wisedome immunity from grosse sinnes and other good parts of the parties hold a too neere intimate and delightfull correspondence with such as are but onely ciuill men or Pharises at the best with whom spending most of their time and they wanting both heart and skill to vphold any holy conferences or to affoord any reciprocall or mutuall helpe in the feeling passages of sanctification are occasions to put Gods Children out of vse and vre with the language of Canaan from the embracement of many ioyfull considerations and exercise of those comfortable Meditations and holy conuersation aboue which Christian company would occasionally and seasonably put into them and keepe fresh and working in their mindes and by consequent bereaue them thereby of much zeale comfort feelings of Gods fauour ioyfull springings of heart boldnesse in their wayes cheerefulnesse in the exercises of Religion and that comfortable fruition of other prerogatiues of Christianity which many other of their brethren doe and they by the benefit of religious companions and delightfull conuersing with the Saints might plentifully enioy Apprehend this passage aright I say a Christian may be much worsened and weakened in his graces by companying too much and conuersing delightfully with the meere ciuill man or Whited Tombes For he may spend with such men whole weekes nay moneths and yeeres and haue not one word of sanctified discourse and holy talke ministred vnto him Scarce a word to bee had from them of the Word of God and way to heauen no conference of the secrets of Sanctification of perplexities of conscience of their euerlasting abode together in the Mansions of heauen Motions that way would bee very irkesome and tedious vnto them such talke would quickly beget silence melancholy sadnesse and a desire to breake off company Now the Christian by this meanes neither hauing his tongue exercised nor his eares much acquainted with edifying Christian discourse growes neglectiue of storing his memory with holy things vnzealous and cold in the apprehensions of heauen dull and heartlesse to godly duties If thus what infection then from notorious and lewd companions But aboue all in this point the fellowship of the Papist is most pernicious for by him a man is in danger both of hauing his vnderstanding and iudgement corrupted with heresie and his life and conuersation infected with impiety There are two steps and passages as it were out of the state of prophanenesse into the Paradise of Christianitie 1. Illumination of the vnderstanding with sauing knowledge 2. Sanctification of the heart with speciall grace Now the Papist labours to peruert and impoyson both For commonly you shall finde the Papist to be stigmatized and branded with a double marke Hee receiues one immediately from the Beast a brand of Idolatry And Satan commonly fastens vpon him another speciall marke some notorious and scandalous sinne in his conuersation as swearing lying vncleannesse the vanities of good-fellowship Sabbath-breaking or such like For we must know that Antichristianisme cannot produce sanctification and therefore you shall commonly finde euery Papist to lye in some raigning sinne howsoeuer formall deuotion is the highest perfection attainable in that Antichristian state By Popish company then a man is in danger of corruption both in his vnderstanding and conuersation By the lewd which yet make profession of Gods Trueth of infection with notoriousnesse in conditions By meere ciuill honest men and formall Professors of defection from zeale and forwardnesse at the least 2. As the Christian incurres by the company of prophane men euident hazard either of infection with their sinnes if they bee notorious or defection from zeale and forwardnesse if they be something more tolerable and formall so he is euery houre which hee is in their company without a warrantable calling and iust dispensation out of the Word and from a good conscience in great danger of being inuolued within the flames of the iust confusions and inwrapt within the compasse of those outward curses and plagues which Gods indignation inkindles and inflicts vpon wicked men All prophane men being vnreconciled to God are euery moment liable to all those miseries and fearefull iudgements which either man or deuill any of Gods creatures or his owne immediate hand can bring vpon them They are onely respited and reserued by Gods mercy and deferred onely vnto those opportunities and seasons which seeme best and fittest to his holy Wisedome Now if when they light vpon them as they may iustly at any time any of Gods Children bee found amongst them vnwarrantably and delightfully it is righteous with God that he receiue his portion amongst them at that time and bee fearefully infolded within the fury of the greatest temporall visitation It is righteous with God that if his owne Child will needs bee vnwarrantably familiar with his enemy that he also bee partaker of any temporall plague especially with his enemy euen to the losse sometimes of his naturall life Take then I beseech you the holy counsell of the blessed Apostle Eph. 5. 7. Bee not therefore companions with them And let his reason fright you out of their company Let no man deceiue you saith he with vaine words for for such things commeth the wrath of God vpon the children of disobedience For such things to wit fornication vncleannesse couetousnesse filthinesse foolish talking iesting and such like Take heed therefore of conuersing with the practisers of these vncomely things 2. Secondly there must very shortly bee an euerlasting separation betweene the Christian and prophane men at the farthest they must part vpon their death-beds and neuer see one another againe vnto the day of Iudgement and then they must shake hands for world without end For there is set betwixt them by Gods immutable and irreuocable Decree a vast and immeasurable gulfe which stands as fast and vnremooueable as God Almightie in his Throne of Maiestie so that they can neuer possibly meete Betweene vs and you saith Abraham to the rich man in hell there is a great gulfe fixed so that they which would passe from hence to you cannot neither can they passe to vs that would come from thence If it be so then that after an inch of
euer since 2. Resist and crush euery exorbitant thought which drawes to sinne at the very first rising Encounter it with this dreadfull Dilemma Say vnto thy selfe If I commit this sinne it will cost mee vnvaluably more heart-breake and spirituall smart before I can purchase assurance of pardon and peace of conscience then the sensuall pleasure is worth If I neuer repent it will bee the death and damnation of my soule See what a world of misery man brings vpon himselfe by giuing way to the first wicked thought Disc. of true Happinesse pag. 150. 3. Entertaine euer with all holy greedinesse and make exceedingly much of all good motions put into thy heart by the blessed Spirit howsoeuer occasioned whether by the Ministery of the Word mindfulnesse of death Christian admonition reading some good Booke some speciall crosse extraordinary mercy any way at any time Feede enlarge and improoue them to the vtmost with Meditation Prayer and Practise So thou shalt preserue thine heart in a soft holy comfortable temper and heauenward which is a singular happinesse 3. Eleuation and often lifting vp of the heart towards heauen What Christian heart can indure to discontinue its sweet familiaritie and humble entercourse with God for one day Let thy broken heart therefore euery day besides solemne and ordinarie eiaculations Euening and Morning and vpon other speciall occasions bee sure 1. To bathe it selfe deliciously in the blisfull depths of Gods boundlesse mercies in Christ that it may bee happily kept spiritually merry thankefull and in heart to all holy duties 2. To kisse sweetly the glorified Body of our crucified Lord with the lips of infinitely dearest and vnexpressably affectionate loue though the distance bee great yet the hand of Faith will bring them easily together that it may be preserued in peace puritie and reuengefull opposition vnto sinne for as the application of his meritorious Blood is a soueraigne Plaister to heale the wounded conscience to turne Crimsin and Scarlet into snow and wooll so me-thinkes a serious and compassionate commemoration of the deare effusion thereof should bee both a precious corrosiue to eate out the heart of corruption and a speciall preseruatiue to keepe from sinne sith sinne was the principall in slaughtering the Lord of life 3. To cast the eye of hope vpon the glory euerlastingnesse and vnutterable excellencies of that immortall shining Crowne aboue which after this life and this life is but a bubble a smoake a shadow a thought shall be set vpon thy head by the hand of God a very glimpse of the goodly splendour and rauishing beauty whereof is able both to sweeten the bitterest villanies and basest wrongs from the world and wicked men and to dispell those mists of fading vanities and hurtfull fumes of honours riches and earthly pleasures which this great dunghil of the world heated by the fire of inordinate lusts is wont to euaporate and interpose betwixt the sight of mens soules and the blisse of Heauen VI. Be very watchfull ouer thy most predominant and troublesome passion whether it be feare sorrow loue anger c. All of them are vnruly and raging enough but yet commonly one ouer-rules all the rest and playes Rex as they say in the vnregenerate man nay too often offers to rise in rebellion euen against the most sanctified soule Whatsoeuer it be 1. In thy priuate morning sacrifice be sure to lay on loade of deepest groanes and strongest cries for mortifying grace against it and comfortable conquest ouer it Let that period and passage of thy prayers bee enforced and enlarged with an extraordinarie pang of feruencie and feelingly sealed as it were with the most Seraphicall Selah 2. Cut off all occasions whatsoeuer it cost thee which may any wayes stirre awaken and kindle it Withdraw the fewel that ministers food vnto that passionate flame though it should bee as painefull vnto thee as the plucking out of thy right eye or the cutting off of thy right hand Assuredly the pleasures of inward quiet and sweet spirituall calmnesse of thy so vnderstanding Soule will infinitely recompence any paines in oppositions and resistances in that nature 3. Consider seriously before-hand what a deale of disturbance and vnsettlednesse the visible exorbitancy and breaking of it out will breede and bring vpon thy inward man It will be like a dead Flie in a boxe of precious oyntment disgrace all thy graces and full foully darken the glory of thy profession It will be like fire in the Thatch and for the while cast into combustion as it were the whole frame of thy spiritual building and turne the heauenly peace of thy appeased conscience into a bitter tempest Tell mee whether after a lawlesse transgression of those bonds of moderation to which thy Christian resolution hath confinde it and that it hath preuailed against thee with any notorious excesse I say whether at night thou finde not thy spirit quite downe and much deaded to the exercise of prayer or any other euening duty And if vpon thy waking in the night there should be any terrible winde dreadfull thunder or other affrighting accident whether thy heart would not smite thee vpon that occasion with much more feare and apprehensions of horrour I will suppose thy raigning or rather rebelling passion for I speake to the Christian to be choler and anger and then first listen to the counsell which the very morall Sages minister against this spirituall maladie and to the rules and remedies which the light of reason leades vs vnto 1. Cut off say they the causes and the effect wil vanish Quench the firebrands which enrage this fury and thou shalt be at quiet They are such as these 1. Weakenesse of spirit vnmanlinesse of minde Hence it is that old men infantâ—… and sicke folkes are commonly more cholericke then others Impotency and excesse of passion euer argues the disgrace and inferiority of the vnderstanding part the noblest power of the soule And therefore if we would be armed against the sallies and assaults of this domineering raging distemper we must suffer the hiest and heauenliest part of our soule to know and exercise its place and strength Wee must not make our vnderstandings vnder-lings but giue reason his right and regiment 2. Selfe-loue a foolish doting vpon and adoring our selues which springs from the cursed root of Selfe-ignorance and quite puts out that light of Natures law in our consciences Doe as thou wouldest be done by If before thou lose the reines to that short phrensie thou wouldst suppose and set thy selfe in the place of the party with whom thou art angry and then say and doe no more then if thine owne person were the patient it would bee a notable meanes to curbe thy choler and keepe the credit of dipassionatenesse and moderation and make thee patiently suffer that which perhaps thou hast often confidently offered to others 3. An ouertendernesse and delicate nicenesse in bearing wrongs an impetuous impatiencie for being abused Whereas insensibilitie and
contempt would better become a great spirit an effeminate facilitie to bee mooued and toucht with euery trifle A spot or wrinkle vpon their garment a dish misplaced vpon their table some errour in their dressing a Bird a Dogge a Glasse c. or some lesser toy will turne some kinde of people quite out of tune and put them out of their humour into a pelting chafe as they say Great mindes and victorious ouer this furious Arch-Rebell are not moued but with great matters It is a speciall point of manly wisedome to passe by many petty prouocations to wrath without notice or acknowledgement without wound or passion and to digest many times the brawlings and indiscretions of hasty men with the same patience that Surgeons do the iniuries and blowes of mad men when they let them blood 4. Credulitie lightnesse in beleeuing whatsoeuer comes first to the eare That is the high way to hold choler still in combustion For so the tongues of slanderers Tale-bearers Whisperers Pick-thanks will prooue as so many Bellowes blowne by the Deuill himselfe to keepe this fire in height and fulnesse of flame 5. Curiositie an itching humour and needlesse inquisitiuenesse to know euery thing that is done or said If a man will needs bee so meddling he shall finde matter inough to fill his gall Some men out of this humour are eager to know what is said against them in such and such company listen to heare what their seruants talke concerning them and if a letter fall into their hands wherein they thinke themselues to bee mentioned they will make no bones against the lawes of humanitie to breake it open Busie-bodies in this kind neuer want wrath and woe Antigonus as it is said of him was wise to abandon this vanitie For when he heard two of his subiects speaking ill of him in the night neere his Tent willed them to goe further off lest the King should heare them 6. Couetousnesse the Cut-throate of Grace and canker of the soule like an eating insatiable Wolfe will either still feede vpon gaine or else gnaw vpon the heart with fretting and therefore the very losse of a penny sometimes the omission of a good bargaine the miscarriage of some domesticall trifle the death of a beast c. will presently put a couetous man into choler for his eyes are so earthly that they looke onely vpon the secondary not vpon the supreme cause 7. A conceit of being contemned by others in word deed countenance Many are so weake this way that if they spy but any secret smiling two whispering together in the company or any talking especially with their eyes now and then cast towards them they presently thinke that themselues certainely are their aime and obiect of their scornefull obseruation and so grow sowre out of tune and vnfit for company all the while after Such as these are extremely troubled and take on to themselues if they haue not the chiefe place and vpper hand at meetings respect and resalutation from those that they salute exact obseruance and obeisance from their inferiours the wall from all commers if they be not begun vnto in matters of complement and seruices of humanitie c. A riddance and restraint of these and the like maladies of the minde will bee a notable meanes to preuent and hinder the assaults and surpriz all of this furious and foule fiend 2. But if at any time thou feele this Viper to receiue heate in thy bosome and that occasions of choler are offered then say they 1. Containe thy bodie in quiet and tongue in silence The stirring and agitation of thy bodie by stamping or flinging about inflames the blood and humours and the walking of thy tongue keepes both the passionate heate in thine owne heart and many times sets on fire those that thou art angry with The barking of one Dogge sets all the curres in a towne a bawling Thy breaking forth into raging termes may raise the spirit of rauing in others And therefore silence is a singular cooler to this cholericke distemper If the swelling and boisterous waues rebound from the soft and euen sands there is no great adoe but if they encounter a Rocke they returne with great turbulencie and turne into foame Silence or a soft answer stops the ouer-flowing of the gall on both sides but if fury be set vpon with rage they grow both almost starke mad for the time 2. Giue reason leaue to interpose and resolue It was good counsell which was giuen to Augustus That when the obiect and occasions of choler were in his eye hee should not bee moued before hee had pronounced ouer the letters of the Alphabet It is as absurd for a passion to vsurpe and domineere ouer iudgement as for an intemperate Scold to iustle a reuerend Iudge out of his place and there to take on in her talkatiue and scurrill manner If thou giue the swinge and reines vnto it at the first rising it will presently quite banish reason and iudgement and bee like a man that puts the Master out of the house and sets it on fire and burnes himselfe aliue within or like a Ship that hath neither Sterne nor Pilot nor Sailes nor Oares exposed to the mercy of the waues windes and tempest in the midst of a furious Sea 3. Diuert to some other businesse company place pleasant imployment thoughts of content c. These are notable coolers and very conuenient to flake this passionate fire when it first begins to burne in thy bosome 3. Habituate thy heart and keepe it exercised and seasoned with considerations 1. Not onely of melancholy a ferall passion and other bodily distempers which it naturally breeds by stirring choler heating the bloud and the vitall spirits but also euen of the brutish deformities and vgly distortions with which this rage disfigures those which are transported with it as the fierinesse of the eyes inflamation of the face furiousnesse of the lookes extraordinary panting of the heart beating of the pulse swelling of the veines stammering of the tongue gnashing of the teeth a very harsh and hatefull intention of the voice many other extremely impotent and vnmanly behauiours Hence it was that angry men were anciently counselled in the heate of their fit to looke themselues in a Glasse The monstrous representations of that deformed Fury were able for euer to fright them out of their cholericke humour 2. Of the sweete louelinesse and amiable acceptation of a milde vnpassionate spirit It is the sinew as it were and cyment of all delightfull society the flower of humanity the very sweetenesse of ciuill conuersation As it is a singular preseruatiue to keepe a mans owne heart in much calmnesse and quiet so it s also an attractiue Load-stone to draw vnto him the hearts and loues of others 3. Of the aime and aspirations of morall wisedome which labours to draw a mans heart to that vnshaken constant and comfortable temper that beautifull and noble disposition which
which is common in carnall worldlings to rage with extreme folly and basenesse against thy wife children seruants cattell or any thing that comes in thy way for euery crosse accident worldly losse domesticall miscarriage nay many times to torture thine owne heart and trouble others in this kinde vpon meete mis-takings groundlesse surmizes and misconstructions but rather take this gracious lesson from the Lord Iesus his owne mouth Math. 11. 29. Learne of mee for I am lowly of heart and an example of patience from his first Martyr Act. 7. 60. Lord lay not this sinne to their charge 3. Let the sweet experience of Gods patient and mercifull dealing with thee soften thine heart with a compassionate sence of other mens weakenesses and a melting forwardnesse to forgiue If hee out of the riches of his mercy hath remitted vnto thee ten thousand Talents what a base wretchednesse were it to fly in the face of thy fellow-seruant and to take him by the throat for an hundred pence If he intreated thee of all loues and with all long-suffering to come into his stretched out armes of mercy when thou layst wallowing abominably in the gore-blood of thy many scarlet and crimsin sinnes foughtest on the Deuils side to the losse of the very life-blood of thy soule and euery time thou camest to the Lords Supper shedst the precious blood of his blessed Sonne what a shame is it vnto thee to fall a raging and swell with anger for the meere ouer-sight many times vnwilling miscarriage and vnpurposed errour of those perhaps which otherwise obserue thee with obsequiousnesse and loue 4. If a man will not bee mooued with more faire and ingenuous motiues to master and mortifie this Bedlam rage I speake in this passage to him that hates to be reformed let him bee amazed and amend for shame sith the holy Ghost hath charged euery man not to meddle or make any league of friendship with him while he nourisheth and giues the reines to this bosome-Rebell Make no friendship with an angry man and with a furious man thou shalt not goe Pro. 22. 24. What a monster is a man of anger that Salomon should set such a brand vpon him whereby euery one is warned to beware of him and fly from him as from a nettling dangerous vnsociable creature A word or two of another passion before I passe out of the point and that is Feare which I had not toucht at this time had it bin only a Rack wheron the hearts of couetous ambitious and carnall men are wofully rent and torne tortured all their life long and not also a cruell engrosser of too much golden time euen from Gods children not without impressions of much fruitlesse sadnesse and vnnecessarie discontent The vanitie and tyrannie of this passion is specially seene and exercised 1. In putting all reall stings into imaginarie euils and drawing true and bitter sorrowes from supposed sufferings 2. In an ouer-greedy apprehension and anticipation of sorrowes to come so that a man by too much forethoughtfulnesse and painefull preconceit doth suffer them many times before they seize vpon him 1. For the first who feeles not the phantasticalnesse of opinion to forge and fasten vpon him many dreadfull obiects which of themselues haue no vigour to vexe because no reall being and existence yet truely torture and afflict by the onely strength of imagination Thus one eates his owne heart with griefe for losse of those riches and that superfluous wealth which if hee had euer still possessed hee would neuer haue vsed Another lies vnder the continuall slauerie of restlesse feare lost fire or robbery some alteration in the State or desolation of warre should disperse his hoard or hazard his temporall happinesse One is haunted with much thoughtfulnesse and carking what shall become of his children after his death what men will say of him when hee is gone lest his wife should marrie after his departure For naturally our minds are so vaine that besides the abundance and burden of present cares they will transport our desires and affections beyond our selues and being Another frettingly feares that hee shall be vndone in a deare yeere or the next Rot of sheepe and tires himselfe with varietie of plots for commings in for many yeeres to come when many times he dies in the meane time Some take vp too much precious time from present and more profitable meditations by troubling their hearts lest if the times turne they should not be able to endure the fierie triall whereas afterward perhaps they end their life in the peacefull noone-tide of the glorious Gospel Others vpon thought or talke of death are ready to entertaine fearefull apprehensions lest they should disgrace their Christian life with an vncomfortable end and by some extraordinarie temptation rauing furious carriage lye open to the worlds interpretation sinister censures misconstructions of their former courses when as after it may be they conclude their dayes calmely in good memory to the last gaspe without any storme or cloud of feared horrour and discomfort except former distrustfull feares iustly bring vpon them that which they feared For sith euery one whose life hath been consecrated to Gods glory with truth of heart doth certainely passe thorow those dreadfull pangs and last paine into pleasures endlesse and vnspeakeable hee ought also to submit with all patience and quiet to glorifie him and to be seruiceable to his secret ends with what kind of death he please whether it be 1. Glorious and vntempted 2. Discomfortable by reason of bodily distemper and by consequent interpretable by vndiscerning spirits 3. Mingled of temptations and triumphs 4. Or ordinarie and without any great shew or remarkeable speeches after extraordinarie singularities of an holy life which promised an end of speciall note and obseruation 2. For the second besides these vtterly vnnecessarie and meerely imaginarie miseries many fearefull spirits especially haunted with the humour of melancholy will not suffer also certaine and ineuitable euils which at length must needs befall them to sleepe and keepe in their stings vntill the time appointed but many times awake them by the cry of Feare like so many sleeping Lyons and cowardlily prouoke them with timorous expectation to rent their hearts and sting terribly before the time Thus our vaine mindes torment vs more with the feare of euils then with the euils which we feare spurre vs on with much vnmanly folly to meete in the mid-way nay to ouertake out-run sorrowes to come and make vs a thousand times miserable with one indiuiduall misery For instance Thou hast a child and perhaps but one which thou louest most dearely for that affection which would be seuerely strong towards ten or how many soeuer is vnited in it alone Thou enioyest a wife whose death would be vnto thee as the losse of halfe thy heart and so proportionably of any worldly comfort Now certaine it is thou must at length part from all these or what else soeuer most deare and
very spectacle of commiseration to euery spirituall eye euen as that body is which adorned with a goodly feature and many other admirable beauties yet wanteth eye-sight the comfort of life whereby it walkes in perpetuall darkenesse and desperate danger Goodnesse though attended with contempt and disgrace is incomparably more amiable in the eye of an honest Cato much more of an holy Christian then all the vaine-glorious boisterous representations of any greatnesse or pompe Memorable and remarkable to this purpose was the magnanimitie and resolution of that holy Prophet 2. Kings 3. 14. As the Lord of hosts liueth before whom I stand Surely were it not that I regard the presence of Iehoshaphat the King of Iudah I would not looke toward thee nor see thee Miserable then is the vanity and vaine-glorious slauery of such as with great eagernesse and impotency hunt so ambitiously after high dependances and hold it a strange happinesse to insinuate into the bosome of the worlds Fauourites though it be by basenesse bribery an vniuersall obsequiousnesse and vile accommodations They many times with vaunting intimation also to others proudly applaud and please themselues for their accesse countenance and entertainement with Great men as though it argued in them some rare extraordinary sufficiencie and worth when as perhaps it is their owne flattering insinuations and intrusion their instrumentall agencie and imployment in some ill offices lewd seruices which brings them into such request and acceptation But let such know it is a thousand times more comfort and true credit to be receiued with Christian loue and armes of grace into the heart and affections of a good man then to be entertained with greatest brauery and worldly applause into grace and fauour with the greatest gracelesse One vpon earth For alas when a man hath done all he can to please the humours of vngodly great Ones by an vnconscionable satisfaction of their carnall desires and to gratifie them hath vnhappily grieued his owne conscience hee can at last when Gods dreadfull visitation and flaming vengeance shall seize vpon him for that sinne looke for no better reward and reply than that cold comfort and cutting answere which Iudas in the extremity of his anguish and horrour receiued from the High Priests and Elders Matth. 27. 4. That cursed man came vnto them ready out of the rage of his vexed conscience to teare his traiterous heart out of his body with his own bloody hands and threw the thirty pieces of siluer amongst them and cryed out I haue sinned in that I haue betrayed the innocent blood But what recompence doe they returne for his imployment in villany to serue their turne Their reply is What is that to vs See thou to that And such a man shall certainely in the day of distresse bee enforced to take vp some rufull complaint proportionable to Wolseyes heauy groane Had I beene as carefull to serue the God of heauen as my great Master on earth He had neuer left me in my gray haires And wee see in the meane time fauour is deceitfull and transitory euen in priuate men much more in great personages The volubility of whose nature is soone glutted and very variable for kinds of satisfaction A thousand experiences in all Stories and times teach vs how irregular and many times retrograde the reuolutions of highest fauours runne They haue their paroxysmes and declinations and euer at length their most certaine expiration and euerlasting period But on the other side consciousnesse of hauing held an vnfained fruitfull correspondence and communion with Gods people the onely excellent Ones by all neerest and dearest engagements and Obligations of a profitable and comfortable fellowship in the Gospell and mutuall entercourse of godly conference heauenly counsell spirituall encouragements consideration one of another confirmation in grace and well-grounded testification of meeting together in heauen will incomparably more refresh the trembling heart of a dying man than if he had been crowned all his life long with the Imperiall glory of all earthly kingdomes And in the meane time there is nothing in this world to be admired but the illustrious splendour of heauenly graces shed and shining from Gods mercifull Throne by his sanctifying Spirit into the soules of the Saints Neither any thing so to bee desired no such prerogatiue and Paradise in this vale of teares as a mutuall communicating of their diuine brightnesse and the sweete ioy issuing thence a very glimpse and earnest of euerlasting glory to the humble hearts one of another 4. When thou visitest others or thy selfe inuitest them take notice euer before-hand with as punctuall and special suruey as thou canst possibly of their humours dispositions carriages opinions and behauiours and thereupon premeditate and prepare conuenient and seasonable matter whereby thou maist more successefully addresse and apply thy selfe with all meekenesse of wisedome and patient discretion to insinuate interpose argue answere reprooue reply and so demeane thy selfe in thy whole discourse that through thy default neither the glory of God the honour of his Truth the reputation of Christianitie or thine owne conscience receiue any indignitie disgrace diminution or wound Would Christians take this counsell hold this course they would at such times not so often depart with spirituall discontent and so smitten with consciousnesse afterward of their silence omissions cowardlinesse and vnprofitablenesse in company For want of care and conscience in this point countrey people meet many times in their Conuenticles of goodfellowship at Ale-houses Bake-houses Gossippings as they call them c. as at a common Mart of Tale-telling back-byting disgracing their neighbours raging against Professors sawcily and vnseasonably medling with and miscensuring other mens matters yea and would you thinke it sometimes euen highest Mysteries of State reuiling the Ministerie especially if managed with manifestation of the Spirit and an holy impatiency to see the deuill domineere and reuell it in the blood of the peoples soules without contradiction When they come together at such times euery one opens his packe of tales for I haue told you heretofore that a Tale-bearer is compared to a Pedlar as the word in the Originall cleerely intimates who hauing furnished himselfe and filled his packe with variety of peddling and petty stuffes trots vp and downe for vent from house to house where he finds best custome and speall entertainement I say at such meetings it is their manner to open euery one his packe of false and slanderous tales which they haue raked and scraped together by their owne malicious surmises listnings whisperings pragmaticall inquisitiuenesse into other mens businesses or some odde idle Intilligencers whom they entertaine for that purpose and there out of an itching humor of talkatiuenesse and tattling they lay abroad such rotten wares to the empoysoning of the eares of those that heare them the defaming of their brethren farre better then themselues and certaine remonstration to their owne consciences that they are as yet the children of the deuill the
the holy fire of forwardnesse and heate and presse vpon vs punctually power spirit and quickning in heauenly businesses and the seruices of our most bountifull and euer-blessed God See Luke 13. 24. Rom. 12. 11. Eph. 5. 15. Matth. 5. 29 30. 11. 12. 1. Cor. 9. 24. 1. Thes. 5. 22. Phil. 1. 10. 13. A bare speculatiue opposition and verball contradiction to the corruptions of the times and controuerted ceremonies For I doubt there are some who seeing some of Gods dearest Children both godly Ministers and other Christians onely out of tendernesse of conscience stand vnresolued about these latter are too well perswaded of themselues spiritually for a meere boystrous masterlike partaking with them in that particular when as they haue no part at all in their holy graces and humble sanctification 14. An ouerheady furious zeale in will-worship superstitious formes and selfe-conceited seruices As in Paul yet vnconuerted and many ignorant Papists not so exactly acquainted with Antichristian Schoole-points in the pursuite of some religious distempers and spirituall exorbitancies bred onely in some phantasticall braine giuen ouer for horrible pride to strong delusion yet tendered with many holy pretences and representations of highest perfection nay sometimes seconded with strange reuelations and raptures the meere iugglings of the deuils Angelicall glory in melancholike or otherwise deluded imaginations and so Satan can put a Familist or Anabaptist euen into a trance of imaginary ioy 15. Serious meditation vpon that quickning passage of Christs holy Sermon of the fewnesse of those which shall be saued should properly and naturally keene our desires and endeauours to a singular constant contention after an holy strictnesse forwardnesse and fruitfulnesse in euery good worke and all the waies of God that wee might bee sure to bee in the number of those few yet by accident it may confirme some kind of men not so notorious vnder the meanes yet vnconuerted in a false perswasion of their good estate to Godward and that thus Some there may be of larger capacity and more vnderstanding who out of a contemplation of that great vniuersall deluge of Turcisme Paganisme Iudaisme and Infidelity which at this day doth fearefully ouerflow the face of the Earth scarce the fifth part whereof now professeth Christ and also out of a neerer consideration of the state of Christendome wherein Popery that foule sinke and Hydra of all heresies besides too many other exorbitant giddy deuiations from the sobrietie and analogie of true Religion and the path which is truly called Holy mightily preuaile and damnably empoyson innumerable soules and which is yet more feeing so many amongst those who professe Christ truly I meane in respect of doctrine notoriously lewd and prophanely naught so many Atheists Drunkards Scorners Swearers Worldlings c. And then after this prospect and suruey abroad reflecting a partiall eye vpon themselues and their owne wayes and finding themselues in the bosome of the Church and ciuill men thinke verily out of their extreme blindnesse and spirituall folly that Heauen would be vnfurnished and vnfilled if they should be excluded and that it were a disparagement to the mercies of God to ranke and arraigne them amongst Turks and Pagans at that last great Day But if to their ciuill honesty they adde a formall profession why then they thinke they haue a great deale of wrong if saluation be denied them then already in conceit they knock bounce as it were at the Gates of heauen for entrance with great boldnesse and confidence like the foolish Virgins Matth. 25. 11. and those Matth. 7. 22. and with the Pharise giue God thanks for their good estate to Himward Alas poore soules Let no man deceiue you with vaine words neither delude your owne soules with idle fancies To whomsoeuer the glorious Gospell of Christ shines sauingly and breathes spirituall life they must deny vngodlinesse and worldly lusts liue soberly righteously and godlily in this present world Meere ciuill honesty neuer brought any vnto Heauen And euery lukewarme Professor shall certainely bee spued out of the mouth of Christ. 16. But amongst all the vnsound grounds insufficient matter and false mediums vpon which Satan and the deceitfull heart labour to erect their rotten buildings of vaine hopes in the credulous conceits of those who are carried hoodwinkt towards Hell all which in the time of triall and vnder the tempest of Gods visiting wrath will prooue but a Spiders web They shall leane vpon their house but it shall not stand they shall hold it fast but it shall not endure I say amongst them all there is not any that doth set on the counterfeit seale of this false perswasion with more peremptorinesse and confidence then a concurrence of those excellencies perfections endowments incident to Temporaries and attaineable in the state of vnregeneration which I haue touched in my Discourse of true happinesse and may bee collected from such places as these Matth. 27. 3 4. Mark 6. 20. Luk. 13. 26. and 18. 11 12. Matth. 12. 53. 25. 1 c. Heb. 6. 4 5. 2. Pet. 2. 20 22. Now these and the like are the vnsound seeming and vnsufficient grounds whereupon the Deuill workes and doth easily by the aide of naturall presumption and his owne Angelicall flashes insinuate and inferre his soule-coozening conclusions and cunningly infuse the poyson of spirituall selfe-deceit thus or in the like manner I will giue instance onely in the last he is woont also proportionably from the rest to conclude such groundlesse confidence and false perswasions of a good estate towards God Whosoeuer doth with some penitent remorse tremble vnder the reuenging wrath of God for sin and out of that horror confesseth and maketh restitution and yet so did Iudas Mat. 27. Whosoeuer reuerenceth a godly Minister heares him gladly and doth many things after his doctrine and yet so did Herod Mark 6. 20. Whosoeuer doth hold conformitie in profession with the best c. and yet so did the foolish Virgins Mat. 25. Whosoeuer is an hearer of the Word and that with quicknesse and receiues it with ioy and yet so doth the stony ground Matth. 13. 20. Whosoeuer is able to disclaime grosse sinnes giues euery man his due fasteth praieth and giueth almes and yet so did the Pharise Luk. 18. 11. 12. Matth. 6. 1. Whosoeuer is illightned tastes of the heauenly gift c. and yet such may afterward fall away irrecouerably Heb. 6. c. is sure enough to be saued at last But I may the deluded Pharise and formall Professor say finde and feele all or most or many of these in my selfe For what any vnregenerate man hath heretofore attained it is not impossible but that any now or hereafter may attaine the same Therefore doth hee conclude falsely out of Satans Sophistry I am safe enough for saluation And in all this Satan lest hee should be wanting to his labours by a lying resemblance to imitate the worke of the holy Ghost in the hearts
of the faithfull For that which the Deuill putting on the glory of an Angell of light puts vpon his followers in this kinde falsely and groundlessely That the blessed Spirit performes to those who are true of heart truely and vpon good ground For it is not the vniuersalitie and excellencie of all naturall ciuill meerely morall politicke and learned endowments and sufficiencies but aboue and besides all these a supernaturall heauenly and speciall worke of the Spirit sanctifying thē all for Gods glorious seruice It is not a bare taske of holy duties religious exercises presence at the ordinances outwardly performed but the soule as it were of sauing grace animating and informing them with spirituall life reuerent heartinesse and fruitful improouement It is not the glistering blaze of a visible forward profession of Religion but the power of godlinesse and sincere practise of workes of iustice mercy and truth It is not a generall participation of the Spirit the Spirit onely of illumination or largest speculatiue cōprehensions of sacred knowledge but an humble fruitfull experimental skill and dexterity in the mystery of Christ and of walking humbly with our God which doth soundly comfort the heart of a man spiritually wise about assurance of his happy estate to Godward And therefore the true Christian when he would refresh his spirits with the sweet contemplation of his spirituall safety and comfortable being in a gracious state causeth his sincere conscience to answer in truth to such like interrogatories as those which I haue proposed for triall in such a case in my Discourse of true happinesse pag. 85. c. Reuiew the place and ponder well vpon them He ordinarily hath recourse vnto and runs ouer in his mind with an humble rauishing commemoration the heauenly footsteps and mighty works of the holy Ghost in his conuersion speciall watchfulnesse ouer his wayes sincere-heartednesse holy strictnesse and sanctified singularities in his conuersation which as they are peculiar to Gods people so are the mysteries and strange things to the best vnregenerate man and that thus or in the like manner Blessed be God saith hee within himselfe that euer it was so yet so it was The holy Ministery of the Word sanctified and guided particularly for that purpose by the finger of God happily seized vpon mee while I did yet abide in the armes of darkenesse and the Deuils snares a most polluted carnall abominable wretch and effectually exercised its sauing power vpon my soule both by the workings of the Law and of the Gospell It was first as an hammer to my heart and broke it in pieces By a terrible cutting piercing power it strooke a shaking and trembling into the very center of my soule by this double effect 1. It first opened the booke of my conscience wherein I read with a most heauy heart ready to fall asunder euen like drops of water for horror of the sight the execrable abominations of my youth the innumerable swarmes of lewd and lawlesse thoughts that all my life long had stained mine inward parts with strange pollutions the continuall wicked walking of my tongue the cursed prophanation of Gods blessed Sabbaths Sacraments and all the meanes of saluation I euer meddled with In a word all the hels sinkes and Sodoms of lusts and sinne of vanities and villanies I had remorselesly wallowed in euer since I was borne I say I looked vpon all these engrauen by Gods angry hand vpon the face of my conscience in bloody and burning lines 2. Whereupon in a second place it opened vpon mee the Armory of Gods flaming wrath and fiery indignations nay and the very mouth of hell ready to empty themselues and execute their vtmost vpon mine amazed and guilty soule In these restlesse and raging perplexities wherewith my poore soule was extremely scorched and parched with penitent paine His wrath who is a consuming fire wringing my very heart-strings with vnspeakeable anguish Iesus Christ blessed for euer was lifted vp vnto me in the Gospell as an Antitype to the erecting of the brazen Serpent in the Wildernesse In whom dying and bleeding vpon the Crosse I beheld an infinite treasurie of mercy and loue a boundlesse and bottomelesse sea of tender-heartednesse and pitie a whole heauen of sweetnesse peace and spirituall pleasures Whereupon there sprung vp and was inkindled in mine heart an extreme thirst ardent desires vehement longings after that soueraigne sauing blood which alone could ease my grieued soule and turne my foulest sinnes into the whitest snow So that in the case I then was had I had in full taste and sole command the pleasures profits ioyes and glory of many worlds willingly would I haue parted with them all and had I had a thousand liues freely would I haue layd them all downe nay with all mine heart would I haue beene content to haue lyen for a season in the very flames of Hell to haue had the present horrour of my confounded spirit comforted from heauen and my spirituall thirst allayed and a little cooled but with one drop of Christs precious blood the darknesse desolations of my wofull heart refresht and reuiued but with the least glimpse of Gods fauourable countenance The edge eagernesse of which inflamed affections made me cast about with infinite care how to compasse so deare a comfort Then came into my minde the holy Spirit being my mercifull Remembrancer those many melting compassionate inuitations more warming and welcome to my heauy heart then many golden worlds more delicious then delight it selfe Matth. 11. 28. Reu. 21. 6. Ioh. 7. 37. Isa. 55. 1. 57. 15 16. Ezek. 18. 30 31 32. 33. 11. So that at last O blessed worke of faith staying my selfe and resting my sinking soule vpon the Rocke of eternity and the impregnable truth of these sweetest promises sealed with the blood of the Lord Iesus and as sure as God himselfe I threw my selfe into the mercifull and meritorious armes of my crucified Lord with this resolution and reply to all terrors and temptations to the contrary that if I must needs be cast away they shall teare and rent me from the tender bowels of Gods dearest compassions vpon which I haue cast my selfe If they will haue me to hell they shall pull and hale me from the bleeding wounds of my blessed Redeemer to which my soule is fled Whereupon I found and felt and I blesse God infinitely and will through all eternity that euer it was so conueied and deriued vpon me from my blessed Iesus the welspring of immortality and life a quickening influence of his mighty Spirit and heauenly vigour of sauing grace wherby I became a new man quite changed new created By this vitall moouing and incubation as it were of the Spirit of Christ vpon the face of my soule all things became new mine heart affections thoughts words actions delights desires sorrowes society c. Old things passed away behold all things become new And I am sure my change is sound
forgerer and murtherer I would little doubt but to get the day It is proportionably so in this present point I meane betweene my regenerate illightned conscience and Satan Nay in this case should all the Deuils in Hell sweare the contrary did carnall reason naturall distrust or any other aduersary power cauill and contradict with neuer such irksome tediousnesse yet by the mercy of God I will not withstand that heauenly light standing in my conscience like an armed man I will neuer take away mine innocency from my selfe vntill I die But how do you know that you truly beleeue We may know perhaps that we haue some kind of faith but not that we haue the true liuely faith which will serue the turne for saluation I answer Saint Paul bids vs try and prooue our selues whether we haue that Faith by which Christ dwelleth in our hearts which is the faith of such as are accepted with God 2. Cor. 13. 5. Now it were strange if the blessed Spirit should bid vs examine and search for that which could not possibly be found out Againe if a man cannot be certaine that he beleeues with all his heart that is truly and sincerely Philips interrogatorie to the Eunuch Act. 8. 37. had beene in vaine and the Eunuchs reply rash and vnaduised Austin was cleerely of this mind that a man may be acquainted with the sincerity of his faith There is saith he a kind of glorying in the conscience when thou knowest thy faith is sincere thy hope certaine thy loue without dissembling But many say they beleeue and are deceiued thinking they haue that which they haue not How then can a man be certaine Answer So thousands amongst vs by the false spectacles of presumption making the bridge of Gods mercy broader then it is and larger then his truth which confines it onely to broken hearts are wofully deluded and ready euery moment to be drowned in the dungeon of fire and brimstone must therefore those few who are sincerely humbled for their sinnes truly beleeue and vpon good ground haue part in it be also deceiued Because mad men and men asleepe know not well that they are asleepe and rage must therefore men truly waking and wise not know certainely they are awake and in their wits The common people generally conceiue of the Sunnes magnitude that it is not past a foote round must therefore the certainetie of knowledge that it is many times bigger then the Earth be denied to the skilfull Astronomer Some men dreame that they are rich tumble themselues amongst their golden heapes and it is not so indeed when they awake doth no man therefore certainely know whether he be rich or no Conceiue proportionably of repentance an inseparable companion and effect of true faith which is then sauing when it is serious sincere and without hypocrisie and that may be manifest and cleerely discerneable to the heart that hath it Doe you thinke the seriousnesse of the Niniuites repentance was not certaine vnto them We haue receiued the Spirit of God saith Paul that we might know the things that are freely giuen vs of God which are not onely life euerlasting c. but iustification sanctification and such like I say sauingnesse of repentance as of faith consists not in the measure and muchnesse but in the sincerity and truth of which the true penitent may bee certaine as well as of his sorrow But now whereas the Popish Doctors being blind guides leade their hoodwinkt followers into such perplexed mazes of vncertainties and indeed impossibilities about contrition in respect of extension intension appretiation equiualence to sin no maruell though they pleade pertinaciously for the point and purgatory of doubting 3. By the effects and fruits growing from the roote of grace in the heart But there may be in the hypocrite an exact outward conformity and obedience I answer true it is that for the outside and carkasse as it were the workes of vnsactified men may be like to those of the godly but they are without the soule life and spirit which is in the worke of a true beleeuer to which he is no lesse priuy in his heart then to the outward worke which passeth thorow his hands And wee hold that workes done in vprightnesse of heart onely are they which truly testifie in this case Let euery true-hearted Nathaneel then comfortably conclude pardon and peace vnto his owne soule from all such fruits so qualified For instance in one Wee know that we haue passed from death to life because wee loue the Brethren 1. Ioh. 3. 14. I loue the Brethren therefore I am translated from death to life But is it possible for a man to know that he loues his Brethren as he ought and as the Apostle requires Saint Iohn makes it a signe of our being so translated therfore it may be knowne For signes manifesting other things must themselues be more manifest And Austin tels vs that a man knowes more the loue with which he loues then his brother whom he loues Thus may the Christian infallibly collect the sanctifying Spirit iustifying Faith sauing Grace to dwell in his heart by all good deeds holy duties inward or outward fruits springing from an vpright heart For as it followes and may be inferred infallibly and demonstratiuely from the effect to the proper cause in other things For example It is day therefore the Sunne is risen because day cannot be caused but by the Sunnes rising so in this point also explained as before If wee pursue and ply with true hearts the whole Trade of Christianity If we be sincerely exercised in the workes of holinesse iustice mercy and truth and walke humbly with our God we may build vpon it that we are truly blessed All such sound fruits of Faith are euident signes and demonstrations of our spirituall safety and standing fast for euer If ye doe these things saith Peter yee shall neuer fall 4. By the testimony of the Spirit which sometimes as in the time of more feruent prayer holy retyrednesse of mind heauenly meditation or in some quickning exercises of extraordinary humiliation or after some speciall important seruice done to God and his Church with humble sincerity and in true zeale or vpon the soule-searching passage of some well grounded Sermon of comfort and seasonable application of mercy or in the beginning of spirituall and end of naturall life as most needfull times or in the time of martyrdome and sincere sufferings for the Name of Christ c. I say at such times the Spirit may suggest and testifie to the sanctified conscience with a secret still hart-rauishing voice thus or in the like manner Thou art the Child of God Thou art in the number of those that shall be saued Thou shalt inherit life euerlasting And that as certainely and comfortably as if that Angell from Heauen should say to thee as he did to Daniel Greatly beloued And why should any Popish cauiller contradict this sith
member They had more store of grace then I but I haue my measure and therefore sure of glory It is strange then that any true-hearted Nathanael hauing such good ground of reioycing sinning in that he doth not reioyce and ioy being so sweet and welcome a guest to the heart of man should weare out a few and wretched dayes in vnnecessarie heauinesse and sinfull sadnesse whereby he highly dishonours Gods free loue hinders others from the wayes of life hurts full sore his owne soule and onely gratifies Satan 3. It is a constant marke of euery regenerate man to make conscience of all Gods Commandements Psal. 119. 6 Now the holy Ghost doth not onely in many seuerall places giue vs charge to reioyce but is very earnest vpon vs in this poynt Nay doth so often double and treble with extraordinary emphasis and elegant gradation his entreatie and importunitie in the same place Let the Saints saith he be ioyfull with glory Psal. 149. 5. Let all those that seeke thee reioyce and be glad in thee Psal. 40. 16. Reioyce in the Lord O ye righteous Psalm 33. 1. Reioyce euermore 1. Thes. 5. 16 Reioyce in the Lord alway and againe I say Reioyce Phil. 4. 4. Let all those that put their trust in thee reioyce let them euer shout for ioy Psalm 5. 11. Let the righteous be glad let them reioyce before God yea let them exceedingly reioyce Psalm 68. 3. Bee glad in the Lord and reioyce yee righteous and shout for ioy all yee that are vpright in heart Psal. 32. 11. It is not an arbitrarie or indifferent thing as some may suppose to reioyce or to be sad But a comfortable commandement is sweetly enforced vpon vs by the fountaine of all comfort to reioyce and we breake a commandement if we reioyce not And therefore we are bound in conscience to shake our selues from the dust to plucke vp our spirits to expostulate and bee angry with our hearts if they grow heauy as Dauid did Why art thou cast downe O my soule and why art thou disquieted within mee For wee must answer as well for not reioycing as for not praying for breaking this commandement Reioyce euermore as that other Thou shalt not kill I know full well there are difference and degrees in sinne But here a weake Professor being pressed to the intertainment and excellency of this ioy may be troubled and tempted vpon the suruey of the definition and nature of it For this spirituall Christian ioy is a delicious motion of the minde stirred vp by the holy Ghost from the presence and possession of Christ Iesus our Soueraigne God dwelling in the soule by faith whereby the heart is extraordinarily rauished and refreshed with a sweet holy vnspeakeable delight Now saith he if it be so I must tell you I find and feele no such sensible grasping of Iesus Christ in the armes of my faith or assured possession of him that I dare admit of this ioy or meddle with it But know that in the time of thy spirituall infancy temptations desertions and other dampes and deiections of soule especially let thy feeling or acknowledgement be what it will thou dost most certainely enioy the Lord Iesus euen by a sincere hunger and thirst after him and his righteousnesse and by thine vpright hearts adhering and cleauing vnto him as thy onely and chiefest ioy and by consequent art vpon good ground and by true right interessed to all that ioy which the blessed Spirit doth so importunately presse vpon thee inso many places Here refresh thy memory with the reuise of my former distinction of assurance of euidence and adherence 4. What canst thou thinke vpon or what can possibly befall thee out of which thou being turned vnto God and true of heart maiest not collect matter of comfort and by the mighty helpe of faith extract some ioyfull meditation 1. If thou suruay thy graces with which the free mercy of God hath glorified thy soule thou shalt see in them a sacred heauenly sun-shine which is able to illighten the darkest midnight of all thine outward miseries to disperse dissolue the blackest and most tempestuous clouds of temporall troubles Thou shalt feele in thē such an inexplicable excessiue sweetnesse which were the world aboue thee a Sea of bitternesse and gall might turne it all into sugar Thou shalt find in them such an impregnable mortall vigour that will most certainly vphold thy spirit vnconquerably at thy dying houre and before that last dreadfull barre when all impenitent wretches shall roare like wilde Bulls in a net full of the terrours of God and cry vpon the Hills and rocks to hide them from his vnquenchable wrath which they shall neuer bee able either to auoide or abide Hence springs that abundant and vnexhausted matter of ioy that the ioy of Haruest of diuiding great spoiles and that which is of such rauishing temper that wee thinke wee are but in a dreame is but a toy and trifle a type and shadow to it and which euer predominates and incomparably transcends all matter of mourning 2. If thou looke out vpon thine outward state vpon thy wife children friends health goods good name Orchards Gardens possessions honours or whatsoeuer thou hast attained or dost enioy with good conscience and sanctifiedly thou art bound to reioyce in them as temporall tokens of Gods eternall loue notable encouragements to doe more nobly in his glorious seruice and comfortable additions to thine hope of heauen but so and in such order that as thy cloathes first receiue heate from thy body before they can comfortably warme it so some inward ioy of reconcilement to the Creator must first warme thine heart before thou canst take any kindly comfort from the creatures 3. Concerning crosses afflictions troubles persecutions which are wont to present themselues to the apprehension of carnall men with much horror euen in the very bitternesse and extremitie of them if thou cast the illightned eye of thy soule vpon such places and promises as these 1. Cor. 10. 13. Heb. 13. 5. Rom. 8. 28. Heb. 12. 6. 2. Cor. 4. 17. Esay 63. 9. and the 43. 2. and then reflect vpon thy afflicted selfe thou mayest by the marueilous worke of faith draw a great deale of ioy from them A patient submission vnto and fruitfull exercise vnder Gods visiting hand is an vnfallible demonstration that thou art a sonne and not a bastard Is there then not more sweetnesse in those afflictions which are euident markes thou art in the right way to Heauen then in worldly pleasures which clearely remonstrate to thy conscience that thou art posting towards Hell Hence it was that the Apostles reioyced being beaten that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the Name of Iesus that Paul and Sylas sung in prison at midnight that Ignatius cryed Let Fire Rackes Pullies yea all the torments of Hell come on mee so I may winne Christ. 4. Nay euen contumelies and contempt reproaches