yet beleeue thou the Word of the Lord which hee hath spoken to thee by his Spirit for his record is true and he must be beleeued vnder hope against hope The Spirit which establisheth vs hath warranted our stabilitie and this Spirit is the Spirit of Truth and what is once Truth is still Truth must stifly be retained against all contrary probabilities apparances Therefore are wee and may wee bee alwayes bold amidst tribulations and afflictions amidst terrors without and terrors within for the seale of God remaineth vpon vs inuiolable and the Lord who knowes who are his hath told vs that we are his Now that wee may haue the comfort of this Testimony let vs often examine our selues and search our hearts to see whether they resemble God or not let vs lay vp in our memories yea in memorialls records the witnessings of the Spirit to our Spirits against the day of Exercise and Tryall Thus wee see that euen in this Life wee are not left comfortlesse but wee haue both Comforts and a Comforter Yet wee still say that our chiefe Comfort is in the next Life yea the next Life is the chiefe Comfort of this Life to those whose eyes see things inuisible and make future things present Wherefore amidst the comforts of this life let our eyes and hearts be especially fixed on that because comforts in this life are but baytings and incouragements in our way vnto Happinesse but are not themselues our wayes end THE ARTE OF HAPPINES The third Part. Wherein is shewed how Man hyeth hold on happinesse retayneth and increaseth it and finally is put into the full fruition of it CHAP. I. How Man fastneth himselfe vnto happinesse WE haue seene what is our Soueraigne Good and we haue seen how this soueraigne Good imparts it selfe vnto Man now it concernes vs to search by what meanes Man may apply this soueraigne Good to himselfe or rather himselfe to it In vaine to vs it is that there is an happinesse In vaine it is that there is an hand stretched out to deliuer this happinesse to vs if we haue not also a hand to receiue it For if there be an happinesse and an offered happinesse if we receiue it not if wee haue no propertie in it wee continue in miserie euen in the sight of happinesse Wee are not happy except happinesse bee ours and not the being but the communication of happinesse makes vs happy And euen for this communication application is there an instrument giuen vs by him who is our happinesse he that hath giuen a mouth to the body to receiue the food of the body hath giuen a mouth to the soule to receiue the food of the soule Yea he hath taught vs how to open this mouth wide that it may admit and receiue a great fulnesse of happinesse But if in stead of telling thee how this is done I should aske thee what thou wouldest do for that which is better then all things How canst thou returne any other answer but this That thou wouldest giue all things for that which is better then all things For euen at that rate thou shalt be a gayner And if thy minde bee like this answere thou art in a good preparation for the receit of blessednes thou drawest neere vnto it and that thou maist not faile receiue these directions following The soule of Man hath two especiall parts or powers the Vnderstanding and the Will The vnderstanding is appointed to be the guide of the will and vpon the will moued by the vnderstanding should the affections and all the members attend yea all things that are ours Now if thou wilt receiue and apply happinesse offered in that God and Man our most blessed Restorer first thy vnderstanding must bee opened by knowledge for it must know acknowledge God in Christ to bee that which he is euen the blisse of mankinde and the meanes to that blisse As he is God so hee is Blessednes as hee is Man vnited to God so is he a Mediator betweene Blessednes and Man This thou must know and thou must know that this thy knowledge of him is true right For CHRIST being thus known the eye of the soule is turned from all other shewes and meanes of happinesse and the same is fixed onely on the onely Lord and Sauiour Being thus settled in the full assurance of vnderstanding thou hast performed a good part of thy promise for thou hast giuen thy vnderstanding euen a chiefe part of thy soule wholly to CHRIST And if further thou desirest a signe to know whether thou hast done this truely and really this may serue for a signe vnto thee If the knowledge of any thing for happinesse or the meanes to happinesse besides God in Christ bee vnto thâ—â— as drosse and filth and â—â—â—lishnesse But 〈…〉 vnderstanding must proceede to worke vpon thy will it must moue the will to open it selfe wide vnto happinesse and being open to sucke cleaue and fasten it selfe by an ardent loue rest and settlement vnto happinesse certainly discouered in Christ by the vnderstanding And indeed in Spirits either vncorrupted or rectified this is a natural course For in such the vnderstanding hauing assuredly descryed the soueraigne Good the will presently moueth it selfe to it being deseryed and drawes with it all the parts and powers subiect vnto it And as for all other offers of fained happinesse it giues them this answere Whither shall I goe for this is he that hath the words of eternall Life Blessednes Wherefore that the whole promise be performed and that all may bee giuen for happinesse let the will follow the vnderstanding and wholly and vnmoueably will and loue this Treasure of felicitie discouered in Christ Iesus for saking selling and abandoning all things for it I say let the will sticke to Christ alone by a feruent loue desire as vnto the alone happines and let the same will sticke to Christ alone by a strong trust and confidence as the alone Mediator of happi nesse And finally with an earnest hunger and thirst let it surrender vp it selfe and all things subiect to it vnto his sauing or imparting of blessednes which he doth by the Spirit For thus farre must the wil proceede in working and then only comes the crowne of the worke For it is not inough barely to know that God is happines nor to put thy trust in no other but the Sonne for the imparting of this happinesse but thou must also surrender vp thy selfe wholly to the Holy Ghost by whom the Father powreth and sealeth blessednesse into vs through Christ his Sonne When therefore wee haue proposed and settled the Deitie for our happinesse haue yeelded our selues vp to the three Persons of the same Deitie vnited to the Humanitie for the conferring of happinesse I meane to God the Father redeeming vs by the Sonne and regenerating vs by the holy Ghost then hath the vnderstanding and will wrought home euen to the entertaynement of blessednesse and thus knowing God in Christ euen to the welcomming of the Spirit resting on him resigning our selues to him wee sucke happines from him who is both the Fountaine the Conduit of happinesse Hauing done this I know not how to inioyne thee more though happines be infinitly more worth for how can Man giue more then all And how can hee receiue more
but God but willeth and desireth him as the onely felicitie when the will toward the attaynment of this felicitie dependeth trusteth and leaneth on no other meanes but Christ Iesus but on Christ it resteth fully as the onely Mediator of happinesse when the will toward the attaynment of Christ and the vertues of his mediation yeeldeth it selfe vp to no other humane inuention but fully and wholly surrenders it selfe to the holy Ghost regenerating newbegetting then is Christ sealed in thy heart hee is come into thee and his feet tread on the very bottome of thy soule Thou hast taken vp thy rest in him and hee hath taken vp his rest in thee and this is the inward Sabbath of this life and an earnest beginning of the eternall Sabbath Accordingly hee calls out vnto Man My sonne giue mee thy heart for in the hearts of men is the Throne of his Kingdome and except hee raigne in our hearts wee cannot raigne in his glorie Thy knowledge of God in Christ must not bee dead but effectuall and working and the worke thereof must be the kindling of a seruent loue dependance and affiance in thy will and affections Thy will againe must worke by this dependance and loue and the worke thereof must be a dedication and resignation of all vnto God in Christ taking possession of thee by the Spirit Till thou commest to this point thou art short of happinesse For this is the Centre of descending to the Spirit of Christ and in the very ground of the hart doth the Spirit onely fasten his rootes Wherefore giue the inmost of thy heart to the Spirit of blessednes and know that in giuing thou dost rather receiue then giue For thy gift is but the gift of a sinfull heart that which belongeth to it and serueth it But thy receit is the receit of the Spirit of Life Ioy eternal Wherefore it concernes thee not to be niggardly to thy own soule for as much of thy soule as thou keepest so much of it thou losest and as much as thou giuest so much dost thou crowne with happines Thou maist perchance thinke it inough to beleeue he is thine but if thou haue no better warrant then such a thought hee may not bee thine For thou beleeuest that hee is thine too soone if thou beleeuest it before this worke of faith hath in some measure wrought home vpon thee It is not a rash presumption nor a bare thought that can snatch at Christ make him thine it must cost thee thy selfe before thou haue him The getting of Christ is by the way of traffike thou must not thinke wholly to gaine vpon him but as much as wee would haue him to bee ours so much must wee striue to yeeld our selues to bee his CHRISTS Kingdome is a Kingdome of power and hee will enter into thee as a King of power and it is not a bare imagination that makes way for this Kingdome but an affiance of the heart which actually and effectually surrenders vs vp to his Scepter and Rule Therefore the best way is hereby to get him first into thee and after to beleeue he is thine Many haue lost Christ because not hauing him they thought they had him For they sought not him whom they thought they had and so lost him who is found by seeking But on the other side if thou hast felt the depth of this faith though in a narrow breadth know that Christ is thine for whom thou hast ceased to be thine owne As much as thou hast gone out of thy selfe to possesse him so much hath he entred into thee to posesse thee so much as thou leauest to Christ yeeldest thy selfe to the renew ing of his Spirit so much dost thou knit Christ vnto thee and so much thou drawest yea suckest his Spirit into the innermost part of thy soule Hee who is Goodnesse it selfe and dyed for vs when we were sinners cannot restraine his Spirit from vs when with a full trust wee haue cast our selues wholly vpon him and with a whole resignation haue giuen vp our selues fully vnto him Hee who is Loue cannot resist loue but hee is ouercome and taken by the feruour of our hungrie and thirstie soules giues vs to drinke freely of the waters of Life Christ is the Phisician of our soules and to be cured by him we must deale with him as with a Phisician Now to be cured by a Phisician it is not inough only to beleeue that the Phisician can cure vs nor that hee will cure vs but this confidence in the Phisician must worke in vs a willingnesse and resolution to take and admit his receits by which he may cure vs. Euen so it is betweene Christ and our sicke soules it is not inough barely to think that Christ can cure vs or that hee will cure vs but our beliefe must open the mouth of our soules to receiue his medicines giuen vs in the Cup of saluation This Cup of saluation is the Spirit by which he communicates to vs his Redemption his Holinesse his Eternitie Therefore must we so belieue that we receiue Christ for such onely as receiue him haue the prerogatiue to bee the sonnes of God so must we beleeue that we bee baptized with the holy Ghost for those onely who are so baptized shall bee saued And if we thus beleeue hee who neuer sent away any vncured of their corporall infirmities that sought him here on earth surely hee will not denie his sauing health to any beleeuing soule that thus heartily thirsts after him sitting in heauen For the spirituall phisicke was Christs truest most proper profession and the cure of bodies was especially to draw our faith thereby to behold beleeue receiue his cure of soules Therefore especially yee sicke soules bee of good comfort for you the Master calleth especially But when yee come to him remember that yee desire to bee cured of the whole spirituall maladie euen of sin and of sinfulnesse of the corruption of sinne as well as of the guilt and miserie that follow it For Christ will enter into none to cure the death of sin but withall hee will giue death vnto sinne neither will he by his Spirit giue any one the Life of glorie to whom by the same Spirit hee doth not first giue the life of Pietie CHAP. II. How a Man may get this facultie which vniteth Man to God BVt Man is brutish and sensuall both in vnderstanding will and so it is impossible for him while he is such to discerne a spirituall happinesse and the meanes of attayning it and much more hard it is to esteeme and loue the one or other Hee beleeues that which hee sees he loues that which he tastes and feeles but his grosse palate doth not rellish this celestiall and vnpalpable happines Therefore Man must bee lifted vp aboue this low estate of sensuall and carnall knowledge and to effect this there needes a second hand of the first
thy double miserie There is one that washeth away thy guilt And another that washeth away thy corruption one that washeth away the fruite of the flesh and another that washeth away the flesh it selfe One of these is the bloud of Christ the other is the Spirit of Christ one is Iustification the other is Sanctification And these two CHRIST hath inseparably conioyned because he will haue them inseparable for he importeth his iustifying bloud by a sanctifying Spirit Whome Christ clenseth he will throghly clense not taking away the guilt and leauing the corruption nor taking away the corruption leauing the guilt but at once clearing both corruption and guilt by sanctification and iustification Wherefore when wee come to bee washed by Christ and haue recourse to his waters of Purification whose clensing was applyed mainly and generally to the whole body of sin in Baptisme if accompanied with Regeneration but the vertue thereof is also particularly to be applyed through our whole life to the particular sinnefull fruits of that body of sinne wee must beware of three faults The one that wee begge not the water of Iustification and leaue vnasked the water of Sanctification that we seeke not forgiuenesse onely but also amendment For if we will haue but one we shall haue neither this gift of Christ being alwayes double or not at al but thou must vpon better reason say as that Disciple of Christ said Not my feet only but my head also so say thou Not the defiled feete of the guilt of my sinnes but the polluted head roote of those sinnes so shalt thou bee wholly cleane The healing and closing flesh must bee new ript from the soule by the sword of the Spirit euen by holy Conuersion Repentance and Amendment the face of the soule must bee washed with the Oile of the Spirit to take away the spots blemishes receiued by the pitchy touch of sinne and then the bloud of CHRIST will take from vs the guilt of sinnes being formerly abandoned forsaken and thrust out of doores by the Spirit A second fault is a vehement desire and indeuour and performance of this part and dutie of sanctification without the cōfortable hope confidence of instification This infirmitie is most vsually found in broken afflicted souls who most vehemently desire renewing and reformation yet dare not to lay hold on iustifying and absoluing These are contrarie to the former offenders for they presently lay hold on Christ for mercy but neglect the holinesse without which no man shall see GOD and these striuing mainly for holinesse by doubt goe about to put from them that right in Christs bloud which belongeth chiefly to such as they are euen to the humble and meek to them that hunger and thirst for Righteousnesse A third fault is the misordering and misapplying of these Waters such is the washing away of guilt by the water of Sanctification of corruption by the water of Iustification For though they bee both ioyned together and doe not at all diuide themselues yet being ioyned they are not confounded neither doth the one properly performe the worke of the other Christs Bloud iustifies Christs Spirit sanctifies the Iustification is not without Sanctification neither is the Sanctification without Iustification yet Iustification is not Sanctification neither is Sanctification Iustification the Iustice of God is satisfied with bloud and his holinesse is pleased with purenesse in the inward parts in these two thus distinguished lyeth the Tenor of the new Couenant For thus we finde it described He will take away our sins and hee will giue vs new hearts But after wee haue sinned the renewing of our hearts is not a purgation of our guilt but of our corruption the purgation of our guilt being wrought by the bloud of Christ though imparted and sealed to our spirits by the same Spirit by which we are renewed yea euen the same time now because in this change and renewing of our minds the Spirit entreth into vs with fresh grace by which entrie the vertue of Christs satisfaction entreth also offereth it selfe to comfort and heale vp our consciences with assurance of forgiuenesse all Christs benefits being reached to vs by one onely Spirit therefore many times is Repentance said to be the cause of forgiuenesse not as some otherwise Venerable haue anciently misse-conceiued that the grace of Repentance is a sacrifice for sinne or that Contrition Conuersion by themselues can satisfie for the guilt of sin but because in the grace of Repentance the Spirit entreth bringing also with him the grace of CHRISTS Iustification In summe by the admitting of CHRISTS Spirit renewing we receiue Christ acquitting and renewing vs as the point of the Needle of the Spirit by which the Spirit pierceth it selfe into our hearts bringing the pardon of sinnes repented into our soules and the same sent from God for his Christs sake but imparted sealed and ratified by the Spirit This washing thus fully and duely performed and the Spirit restored to his former dominion he commonly fortifies himselfe by the remembrance of his late losse and hee striues to take deeper roote because his weaker rootes were before so much mooued and shaken He keepes a more carefull watch against the enemie and with a kind of malice especially against that sinne that before had foyled him He sucks harder from hence-foorth by more feruent desires at the great Spirit whose Ocean supplyeth him and filleth the Creekes of all emptie drie and thirstie soules and thus is sinne turned into a medicine against sinne and grace prospereth by her losses To this large and waightie kinde of Meditation which asketh both length and strength of Intention and requires the soule to be at leisure for it wee may adde a lesser and a shorter sort as it were in a portable and manuall forme to carry stil about vs for our continuall vse to which wee may haue continuall recourse amidst the continual distractions of this troublesome and toylesome life This is to be stil in the hand of a Christian as a Leuell in the hand of a Builder that he may square out his actions conuersations rightly thereby The most profitable fashion of this portable Meditation is when in few words it comprehends the summe of our businesse and dutie whereof there are patternes to bee found in the holy Scriptures or if wee list wee may fit the words our selues so wee fetch the matter frō thence A good one shall we find in the Epistle to TITVS The Grace of God hath appeared which teacheth vs to denie vngodly lusts and to liue godly righteously and soberly in this present world And in the second to the Corinthians Whether yee eate or drinke or whatsoeuer yee doe doe all to the glorie of God and that of the Royall Preacher Feare God and keepe his Commandements for this is the whole of Man If this be practised by vs wee shall finde this double benefite thereby First if we be in the beginning
onely acceptable Without fire it is no Sacrifice for euery sacrifice must bee salted with fire with strange fire as of superstition or the flesh it is worse then no Sacrifice and therfore it must euen be the heauenly fire of Grace which makes the Sacrifices acceptable and this is most fitly kindled by Meditation And thus if wee kindle the fire of Grace by the Bellowes of Meditation this fire that now guideth moueth and comforteth our soules in the Pilgrimage of this life shall in the next life breake out into a flame of Glory wherein we shall bee inthroned like the Sun shining before the lesser Starres in brightnesse as we haue here excelled them in Holinesse CHAP. VIII Of Association AS euery strong thing is made stronger by the combination of a like thing vnto it and as the heat is the more increased by the meeting of diuers things that haue heate So is also the Spirit increased in vs by the fellowship of them that haue the Spirit When spirituall Men ioyn their spiritual strength together they will like DAVIDS valiant men breake more strongly thorow the Hosts of the Philistians temptations obiections and afflictions and fetch away more safely and soundly the Waters of Grace from the Fountaine of Life This Association of Saints is that Bed of SALOMON wherein two lying together haue heate but he lyeth in the Bed of woe that lyes alone When two strings of diuers Instruments are set to one Tune if one of them bee mooued the other leapeth and danceth And how can it bee but that when two men tuned by one Spirit do meet the Spirit of the one must needs reioyce and be liuely when it heareth the voice of the Spirit in the other IOHN BAPTIST being sanctified with Grace in his Mothers wombe euen in that wombe springeth for ioy at the voyce of that Virgin who was intitled Full of Grace Yea ELIZABETH her selfe falleth into an heauenly Trance and rising aboue her selfe she is filled with the Holy Ghost and prophesieth the blessednesse of the Virgins Son Surely there is not a more pleasant and comfortable thing then Harmonie for it is indeed the ground of all pleasure Now the chiefest Harmony is of the chiefest things and these are Spirits The highest of this kind is in the highest Spirit euen of himselfe with himselfe The second betweene the highest and the lower And the third betweene the lower themselues From this last Harmonie doth arise both ioy and incouragement our Spirit first is cheered then incouraged and so aduan ced in the way of Holines The Saints of God either by their gracious words or holy Examples stirre vp the gifts of God in vs they eyther adde something to our Zeale or something to our knowledge yea if they be inferior to vs in both yet by instructing and prouoking them we many times instruct and prouoke our selues Surely there issueth oft-times from the meanest something which may better the best either immediately or by the consequence of some Meditations awaked by conference Euen in the communication of the Spirit the Spirit increaseth and our Talent by lending multiplyeth in the most profitable and commendable Vsurie For the Spirit is so excellently good that it desires to haue his goodnesse communicated yea it will reward thee that giuest it abroad by increasing thy abilitie of giuing So art thou made a great gainer for it is doubly multiplyed to thee as it is the Bread of Life for thy eating and as it is the Seed of Life for thy sowing the more thou sowest the more mayest thou eate and the more mayest thou sow Wherefore let vs not as some doe forsake the fellowship communion of Saints Let vs not make the Spirit in vs both dumbe deafe by separation and diuision for such it is when it cannot heare nor speake the language of heauen Let vs not depriue our selues of the great benefits of spirituall traffike commerce thereby knitting vp and stopping the prosperitie growth and enlargement of the Spirit Let vs not bind our selues to our own infirmities falls and wants for lacke of opening and cōmunicating our estates for many haue falne and neuer risen againe because they haue gone alone neglecting the companie of such who could haue giuen them the hand to raise them from their falls Wee are all Brethren and Countrimen and withal Pilgrims in a strange Countrie How glad should Brethren and Countrimen be to meet in a strange Land especially in the Land of enemies such as this World is For this World shunneth vs it hateth vs our persons and our courses are odious because contrarie to them How should their strangenesse malice increase our mutuall loue and conuersation How much more need haue we to counsell conferre each with other since wee liue as it were in a siege of temptations and persecutions And if the wisedome of Religion cannot perswade vs let the patterns of Nature which are the books of the Ignorant teach vs let the herds of Beasts and the swarmes of Bees the flights of Doues instruct thee to beleeue that things of one kind preserue and cherish one another by mutuall societie But if for all this wee will needes bee strangers one to another differing and dissenting among our selues Let vs be sure that we then rip that loue from our selues which is the badge of the Family of God wee lose the comfort of loue which is one of the greatest in our way to happinesse we separate those whom God hath knit together we lose good instructions and good examples and finally wee weaken our selues by diuision and make the scattered Armie of God a prey vnto their pursuing enemies Let vs much rather with the Prince Prophet reioyce in them which excel in vertue Let our delight bee in the Saints on earth and let the sons of God loue their Brethren begotten by the same Father Let vs confirme and prouoke one another to good works Let vs associate our selues to them who by word or deed can supply our spiritual defects from whose speech wee may learne what wee know not and by whose exhortation wee may bee mooued to performe that which wee know and doe not and by whose examples wee may haue vertues patterned vnto vs shewed to bee possible yea easie to the resolute man of God But neuerthelesse in this Christian good fellowship doe not pull out thy owne eyes that thou mayest loue all alike that carry the title of Christians Thinke not all them to be Israel that put on the name of Israel Where thou seest no contrarie cause there let charitie carry away thy affection but in a degree according to the degree of vertue Yea though thou seest fals and slips if acknowledged and recouered restore such a one with the Spirit of meeknesse lest thou haue need also to be restored by him But if thou seest one couering a continuall Couetousnesse Pride Malice Oppression and such other sinnes with a long thicke cloke of
then all saluation and a whole Sauiour But if thou dost not this thou art short of that which thou art able to doe And Mercy that accepts the vtmost of thy little power will not accept a voluntary defect scantnesse Now this great dependance fixing and surrender of the whole soule to the whole Sauior is that blessed affiance trust and beliefe Famous in holy wisdome for knitting soules vnto the same Sauiour Which as it hath beene approued because it is the highest fullest and mightiest indeuour of the soule so also it is iustified by the fitnesse it hath of receiuing and by the fitnesse and proportionablenes it hath with Christs manner of entring It is fit to receiue for the eye of the soule being fixed in Christ stands as an open window readie to receiue him who enters by a lightsome and illuminating Spirit The eye of the Spouse thus in lightned reflects the light to him which sent it and with spirituall glances shootes the arrowes of loue into the heart of her beloued so that hee confesseth Thou hast wounded my heart with one of thine eyes And no otherwise the wil wholly willing desiring and gasping after Christ is a doore wide opened to receiue the same Christ entring into vs by a quickning and sanctifying Spirit Yea the Will hath in it a power to hold and knit what it hath receiued euen by a knot of vnitie So the heart of IONATHAN was knit vnto DAVID and the Spouse of Christ is knit vnto Christ and runnes after him as one tyed vnto him and drawne by the cords of this vnitie And surely the soule thus knitting it selfe vnto Christ Christ also knitteth himself vnto the soule and this is the knot of happines Then begins that Song of ioy I am my Wel-beloueds and my Wel-beloued is mine To confirme this we haue also diuers promises which haue told vs that hee who giues happinesse will enter with the gift of happinesse into this posture and station of the soule GOD himselfe hath promised the Seekers to find and the Hungrie to be filled and the Sellers of all for the Treasure of happinesse to be the Buyers of that Treasure for which they sold all Hee telleth the Vnderstanding that to know God and his Sonne Christ is Life eternall and that in the knowledge of God is Mans chiefest glorying and therefore by the knowledge of God is mans chiefest happinesse Hee telleth the Will and Affections I will be found of them that seeke me euen of them that seeke mee with their whole heart Hee that cleaueth to God by a strong vehement loue shall dwell in his holy Mountayne He that cōmeth to Christ that is vpon the feete of the soule which can bee no other then these two the Vnderstanding and Will shall neuer thirst Let vs therefore goe out of our selues as out of tabernacles of miserie and leaue a large and open roome for him to enter who is the fulnesse of infinite felicitie Next if wee consider Christs manner of entring Christ enters into vs killing and giuing life killing our old nature and begetting in vs a new These workes are chiefly and fundamentally wrought in the vnderstanding will But if the vnderstanding know not Christ to be happinesse it will not stand still to haue the filme of naturall blindnesse taken from it neither to haue an vnknowne light and wisedome contrary to the old nature infused into it If the will bee not wholly deuoted to Christ as to the soueraigne Good and doe not trust in him alone as the only giuer of this soueraigne Good it wil neuer suffer the fleshly nature which hath so much delighted it to be cut off slaine by the sword of the Spirit nor a new inclination to be inspired into it by which it shall be subiect to Lawes and Commandements and things future and vnseene shal be wholly preferred before things present visible But if Christ bee knowne willed and trusted as our chiefest good and the way vnto it then let him enter circumcising cutting and slaying Our heart is only on our happinesse Hee may doe what he will so we may obtaine that blessed obiect of our vnderstandings and wills Againe our vnion with Christ is by a spirituall marriage Now let vs consider how such a marriage may most fitly be made Surely wee must first know him to be the fairest of men to be anoynted with the beatificall oyle of gladnesse and happinesse aboue all his fellowes and then forgetting our fathers house euen all the pleasures of the old ADAM we must wholly fasten our hearts on him and wholly cleaue vnto him resoluing to be his alone and to put our selues wholly vnder his shaddow protection and then the King will haue pleasure in our beautie Yea he will loue vs and come and dwell with vs If Christ bee the light of our eyes and the ioy of our hearts If his loue be pleasanter then Wine euen all earthly Comforts If it bee hee alone whome our soule loueth If we take delight and sit downe vnder his shaddow Cant. 2. 3. Then will hee set vs as Signets vpon his hand and as seales vpon his heart he will bring vs into the marriage Chamber and call vs his Loue his Doue and his Spouse Loue shall bee his Banner ouer vs this fruit shall bee sweet to our mouth and wee shall be no longer two but one flesh and one Spirit Now if this great affiance which worketh dedication resignation and so an application of the Soule yea of the whole Man vnto Christ bee the Key of our harts which openeth those euerlasting Doores that the King of glorie may enter in let vs take heed that this Key bee put home into the locke that our hearts be fully opened vnto him otherwise as much of our hearts as is shut vnto him so much of happinesse is shut out of vs. Let vs bee carefull that this Key of Faith bee not stayed and stopt within our vnderstandings but let it proceede to our wills and affections and make way to the bottome of our hearts that Christ may enter iust as far euen to the bottom For as far as this Faith enters so farre Christ followes And as far as Christ enters happinesse followes Therefore let not thy faith leaue entring vntill it hath made made roome inough for Christ to take vp his full rest in thee It seemes that the vnderstanding is but the Porch but the Will attended vvith the Affections is the chiefe roome of Christs rest and residence When the will is so seasoned by Faith that it hateth all felicities
increase our glorie we must striue to increase our holinesse and by holinesse and other helps aduancing and supporting holinesse to in crease comfort and cherish the Spirit by which both holinesse and glory may be increased Now to know what these helps are we must seeke in the Oracles of God whose office and mayne purpose is to shine as a Light to mankind that standeth in the darke place of a clouded and corrupted soule and to guide their feete into the way of Peace and Rest. This sure Word of GOD was giuen by GOD vnto Man to direct Man vnto God And to effect this it hath a power to make the children of men the sonnes of God Yea it hath a power to nourish this spirituall and heauenly sonship so bestoweth a gift of growth as well as a gift of life for it causeth the sonnes and heires of God to grow vnto their perfect stature of Grace Glory The great Spirit of God which powreth that portion of the Spirit into vs wherein lyes our sanctification and sealing powred also in the Prophets Seers and Apostles the Word and Counsell of God So the Spirit within vs and the Word without vs are neere of kin they haue one Father euen the Spirit which is God and being brethren they must needes cherish loue and strengthen each other Yea the Spirit of GOD which best knowes how the Spirit issuing from him may bee cherished hath by that Word of purpose shewed vs sundry meanes by which that which hee hath giuen vs may be increased And God expects that wee which were dead and are now raised to life by him though in our deadnesse wee could not moue towards him yet being quickned wee should by imployments and exercise stirre vp the life bestowed on vs kindling it by those helps which his Word ministreth vnto vs. So behold O Man a double mercy one that the indeuours of the Saints may increase their glorie another that meanes helps and directions are giuen for the aduancement and execution of such indeuours Wee must not be still like Embrious and children in their first conception to haue the nourishment of life sent in o vs without our knowledge and will but being now at least babes in Christ wee must desire and sucke the sincere Milke of the Word that wee may grow thereby or being strong men we must desire and digest the solid meate by which wee may grow from strength to strength wee must by manly exercises seeke to fortifie the power of Christ in vs and we must worke towards the increase of our spirituall estate by heauenly traffike and marchandize that the talents of grace being increased may increase the talents of glorie But now perchance it wil bee demanded what these helps are by which the Man of GOD may enlarge his stature and grow vp to his head Christ Iesus For satisfaction to which demand I would point him to the Word of God which is the Treasure of the perfect knowledge of this Arte of felicitie but yet to giue some stay to hungrie soules that presently desire the prosperitie of the Spirit will not bee delayed I may name some of the chiefest though likewise I may leaue others vnnamed to stirre them vp somewhat to seeke for their owne prouision And here as the first means of increasing the Spirit I will name the increasing of those meanes by which the Spirit was first receiued we must striue to increase that faith and affiance by which wee cleauing vnto Christ Christ claue vnto vs. For the more wee cleaue vnto Christ the more Christ cleaueth vnto vs the more we comprehend him the more he doth comprehend vs by a larger and fuller possession of vs. Faith increased increaseth our capacitie of Christ Iesus and as wee are inlarged in our owne bowels by faith so doth Christ inlarge himselfe within vs by his Spirit To this end let vs remember what hath beene formerly set forth as the meanes of breeding faith and in those meanes let vs bee the more conuersant as wee would bee the more plentifull in faith and more ingraffed in the obiect of faith Christ Iesus Briefly let vs feruently and continually pray with the Disciples vnto the Author and Finisher of our faith Lord increase our faith Let vs be frequently conuersant with Christ Iesus and often behold him liuely described in the Word in the Sacraments by hearing by seeing by receiuing by meditation The more Christ is looked on the more trust and the more loue and so the more Vnion Wee cannot looke on the fairest of Men but we shall bee rauished with his loue for hee kindleth our affections as coles of fire and as a vehement flame And surely if wee looke into his Word and into the seales of his Word wee cannot choose if wee bee spirituall but wee must plainly looke on Christ himselfe For the Word of Christ is the Image of Christ hee hath stamped on it his owne likenesse and therein wee may see him borne liuing teaching dying rising againe Therein may wee behold his graces and gifts his excellencie and dignitie his loue vnto Men and his labours for Men. The Sacraments also Christ hath imprinted with his owne resemblance and they are the characters and representations of Christ. So in them may wee see Christ redeeming by passion and washing by regeneration feeding and quickning by viuification yea performing his part of the whole Couenant of Life And CHRIST being thus discerned what dull heart will not rise vp toward him in a stronger affiance in a more firie loue Wherefore walking along with the staffe of Prayer in our hands let vs still bee tasting of these restoratiues of Faith that so faith being cherished may cherish the Spirit and the Spirit being cherished may cherish our life eternall CHAP. IIII. Other helps of retayning and increasing happinesse The first is quicke obedience AN especiall furtherance and nourisher of the Spirit is a readie and prompt obedience to the motions of the same Spirit The businesse of our life is indeede no other but an attendance on the Spirit in whom lyes our dutie and happinesse and al other businesses that are not subordinate to this businesse are inordinate Wherfore to the holy lusts of this liuing and mouing Spirit must our continuall care bee attentiue that when it moueth vs we may be moued by it and that the commands thereof bee answered by a speedie obedience For the Spirit is the issue of the God of power and is it selfe a power proceeding from that great power now power reioyceth in action yea these second powers grow more powerfull by action In naturall things wee see that motion makes a thing more apt to moue and by how much more the strength of Man is exercised the more able and mightie it groweth No otherwise doth the Spirit in vs. It grows mightie by a free and prosperous exercise of his might It growes more vigorous and actiue by doing and by mouing it is more
imposeth a necessitie on him to loue the one and hate the other to lose the one and to gaine the other Therefore as much as wee retayne of this corrupt felicitie so much doe we abate of true Happinesse and the roome that is giuen to the one is denyed to the other And surely too true it is that euen after our Regeneration there abides a great remnant of our proud corruption It is of kin to the Serpent which perswaded it when the head of it is broken in pieces the tayle will still bee moouing And in what degree this corruption remaineth in that degree is grace abated but in what degree this swelling euill is abated in the same degree is Grace increased Therefore if we be much proud wee are much gracelesse if we be much humble we be much gracious Wherefore let vs take vp Humilitie which as a Corrosiue will fret away the proud flesh make way for the prosperitie of the liuely and quickning Spirit Towards this let vs consider that the Naturall Man being stuft vp with himselfe and not regarding any thing beyond the Lust and Law of his owne heart sits downe in himselfe and takes vp his rest Sabbath and felicitie in his owne imagination But while God is vnregarded and vnsought he also as little regardeth these vnregarders yea hee beholdeth the proud a-far-off He knowes the weight and end of their swelling that it is Nothing that ere long it shall come to Nothing and that at last these swellers must come before him as a Iudge who refused him here for a Sauiour and happinesse On the other side the spirituall Man plainly seeth that this imaginarie happinesse of pride is true miserie since Man the more hee stands vpon himselfe without God the more weakly wretchedly he stands and the fuller Man is of himselfe the fuller is he of Corruption Vanitie and Miserie Therefore desireth hee to goe out of himselfe into God to vnlade himselfe of himselfe that hee may be filled with God hee purgeth his heart of the tree of false knowledge that he may satiate it with the Tree of Life And Humilitie hauing thus fulfilled her Worke then enters Grace into the Soule so swept and trimmed for the same God who resisteth the Proud giueth Grace to the humble God will be a welcome and not a fulsome Guest he loues not to come when there is no neede of him he desires not to thrust vnnecessarie Happines vpon Men sufficiently happie But the hungrie soules hee filleth with good things he guideth the meeke humble in his wayes and the poore in Spirit are allowed only to receiue the Gospell These haue set open their doores to the King of Glorie they haue forgotten their Fathers house euen their naturall condition and therefore the LORD hath pleasure in their beautie His Light takes pleasure yea gets Glory in comming into confessed Darknesse his Grace is delighted and magnified by pardoning and sanctifying an acknowledged corruption and his blessednesse reioyceth in blessing apparant and desperate miserie Wherefore let vs striue for a practicall skill of this profitable humilitie that by not louing our selues wee may loue our soules best by the greatest emptinesse we may purchase the most true happy fulnesse To this end let vs euer be pricking the tumours of our nature that we die not of a spirituall Timpany Let vs striue to make our selues nothing that hee which made all things of nothing may make some-thing of vs. Let vs willingly walke downe into the Vale of humilitie from whence God calls for all whom hee exalteth vp to his holy Mountaine And for the furtherance of this holy vertue let watchfulnes vndertake as a speciall part of this taske to marke the first swellings of the heart that they may bee abated as soone as lifted vp Let no degree bee allowed to that which so much as it is so much euill so much losse it is so much haue wee offended God and so much haue wee abated his Grace But still let vs be paring and fretting off the proud flesh with meditations of our owne naturall miserie and miserable condition with the asperitie of the exercises of Humiliation with feruent and violent Prayer sent vp to the Giuer of perfect gifts Let vs intreate him that hee will discouer vnto vs our selues himselfe our owne vilenesse his Glory that so wee may rightly glory in Gods true Glorie not like Fooles in our owne shame In our Meditations let vs fasten our eies on the wickednesse of Man the wretchednes deseruedly annexed to it In our wicked corruption let vs first see our owne blindnes and bring our darknesse into the light There shall we see that we see little or nothing yea in the mayne matters of our life such as are our beginning and end whence we come and whither wee goe wee are naturally blind Therefore our life is but a thing at randome without knowing what it doth and wherefore it is And if we haue gotten a little knowledge then let vs behold our filthinesse How doe wee defile our selues in the things which wee know how weake are our resolutions of Pietie Vertue they are like a Mist or the Morning dew blown away and dryed vp with euery blast of Temptation So that they seeme to be set vp only for shewes and to stand no longer then nothing toucheth them But the motions of our concupiscence are strong and continuall The flesh of Man is powerfull vpon the Soule and in Man that opinion is verified that the Earth runs round and the Heauen stands still For there breatheth vp from the defiled bodie euen the Earth of Man a continuall and mightie Venom which by perpetuall motion changeth the aspect and influence of the heauenly Soule as it selfe lifteth But the whiles it fastneth and nayleth the Soule that shee cannot stir about her owne businesse of Immortalitie but shee must wholly fixe and employ her selfe in a carefull studie how to execute fitly the lusts of this beastly dust And if at any time the Soule lothing the filth and mire wherewith shee hath sullied her selfe euen to vglinesse lay downe a plot for repentance euen for the clean washing of her face how soone doth the old dirt of sinne spowt into her visage again so that her businesse in this life if it be a life of penitence seemes to be nothing but a washing of that which is fouled and a fouling of that which was washed and if wee turne our eyes from this filthines vnto the bordering wretchednesse we shall find our selues subiect to a thousand infirmities Miserie Vanitie haue both liuerie and seisin in vs and we are their Tenants for terme of life One trouble calleth to another as the waues of the Sea and miseries like Beacons giue notice one to the other vntill the whole life of man bee set on fire The sound of the old is but newly gon out of our eares but there is a new which presently
soundeth as ill as the old It is the very kind of man to bee miserable while hee breatheth as it is the kinde of sparks to flie vpward And if a man striue to cure his present miserie with present mirth commonly the miserie of such is not taken away but changed and of temporall made eternall The rich Man that was euery day gorgeously arrayed and euery day fared deliciously ended his luxurie in miserie and his iudgement is Thou hast taken thy pleasure therefore art thou now tormented The cure of our miserie must be by vulneraric potions not by outward playsters by the bloud and Spirit of Christ inwardly receiued not by the naturall Balme of Gilead euen the pleasures of this world The things of this world are to serue and cherish vs in our way to happines not to be taken as our happines or the absolute cure of our miserie For if so vsed they cure our miserie but with a greater miserie and by making vs happy they make vs lose a greater happinesse Thus must man bee content to see himselfe of himselfe wretched and miserable He must needes crie out What is Man that he is so regarded And Man is of a short continuance and his life is full of trouble surely Man is altogether vanitie Hee must also complaine of his filthinesse our righteousnesse is as a filthy cloth and if wee should wash our selues our clothes would defile vs. In iniquitic haue we beene begotten conceiued in sinne And vvho can bring a cleane thing out of filthinesse Thus lothing and condemning our selues and being weary of our selues Christ IESVS stands with open armes ready to receiue such weary laden soules and to refresh them Hee will refresh vs with the Riuer of the Citie of God euen with fresh streames of grace and the holy Oile shall drop downe from the head of our high Priest vnto vs who are the skirts euen the humblest parts of his garment And then shall wee be filled with the sweet sauour of Holinesse and life Eternall CHAP. X. Of Patience LAstly for the preseruation aduancement of the estate of Happinesse wee haue great need and vse of Patience Our need of patience is absolute because the Saints of God are here with the rest in a world of miserie and beyond the rest in a vvorld of enmitie Euery houre there is a likelihood of some trouble and temptation and euery trouble without patience which is the Ward of the soule breaketh in vpon the soule and carries her away into tumultuous enormous and vnreasonable perturbations But on the other side Patience raileth in the soule amidst the prease of temporall euils and keepeth her in a continuall quietnesse and repose consequently in an abilitie of iudgement discretion and direction and this is a first and chiefe vse and benefit of Patience For doth not that greatly aduantage vs and the graces bestowed on vs which makes vs Owners and Masters of our selues them By Patience wee can with the Centurion call for this seruant and hee commeth and send that Souldier and he goeth We can make vse of our vnderstandings and by our vnderstandings of those very euils which are the subiects of our patience We can make vse of our wills and affections to will and loue God to will and loue that which GOD wills and loues yea to will and loue the very troubles and incumbrances which vrge and presse vs. Hence come those excellent voyces Though God kill me yet will I trust in him and Before I was chastized I went astray but now doe I keepe thy Lawes Blessed is the man that beareth the yoke in his youth Hee sitteth solitary and is quiet because God hath laid it on him By Patience wee can make vse of our memories to call to mind the mercies of God in old time how our Fathers trusted in him were deliuered yea how often God hath beene our helper and therefore wee need not to feare what man can doe against vs. Hereby wee may also call to mind those wise and holy Precepts and counsailes which euery wise and holy man doth prepare and lay vp for times of trouble and temptation For it is fit that in calmes wee should prouide for stormes we should in the quiet times of life sit downe and according to our Sauiours most prudent aduice cast vp our reckonings what the forces of our enemies be what kind of fighting they vse how their wounds may bee preuented and how cured if suffered for want of preuention Hee that hath performed this act of consideration he fitteth himselfe with spirituall armour proper to each kind of conflict As soone as he sees the trouble he chooseth out a fit shaft to pierce and encounter it when he sees the blow comming he knowes the Ward that must defend it And all this is put in execution by the benefit of patience For the impatient lyes open to al blowes his wits are confounded when he should hold vp his shield hee striketh with his sword and when he should take an arrow from the quiuer of the Spirit he catcheth at a club proffered to him by the flesh To such a one all things are confused hee is besides himselfe and therefore knowes not the choise of actions Againe by patience wee haue the vse of Charitie a principall and Mother-grace For hereby euen in the midst of persecutions we can pray for our Persecutors and say Father forgiue them for they know not what they doe and Lord lay not this sin to their charge This qualitie of ouer-comming euill with good and likewise the helpe of patience toward the performance of it must wee beleeue to bee a chiefe preferment to a Christian in this race vnto glorie For certainly it is so neere a resemblance of the perfection of God that God exceedingly delighteth in the doers thereof and takes speciall notice of such as those who are lifted vp aboue the dregs of humane corruption into a high participation of a diuine and godly Nature They are good out of an inward goodnes and not because they looke on good and pleasant obiects For whatsoeuer their obiect is they are still good account the excellency of goodnesse and the fauour it hath with God to be sufficient causes of goodnesse though in the world they see nothing but euill which of it selfe deserueth onely euill And that this must needes procure a great loue blessing from God doth appeare by the effects it worketh in creatures infinitely inferiour to God yea impure and depraued For euen SAVL himselfe whom the Deuil draue to the hunting of DAVID as a Partrich in the Mountaynes this SAVLS euill and wicked rage melteth away with the beames of DAVIDS shining and glorious goodnesse and being preserued by him whom hee sought to slay he is so ouercome and changed by that goodnesse of DAVID that he is inforced to blesse him as a sonne whom hee had taken such paines to slay as an enemie And if a
cursed man can doe this how shall hee blesse that is the Father of blessings Surely let our soules firmely dwell in this Truth that those actions which are most perfectly referred to God and haue no end but God are most fully rewarded of God and as much as any outward thing doth share in the end so much doe we lose of our reward and so much of our reward must wee looke of that End which did set vs on worke Now where euill is offered goodnes cannot well propose any end but God in bestowing it selfe for euill By patience also wee make roome for Faith and like a good child it cherisheth the parent that begate it for while patience keepes the house of Man in quietnesse the vnruly and tumultuous affections being suppressed and stilled the soule is at leisure to look abroade vvith the eye of Faith euen to looke within the vaile and there to see comfort her selfe in eternall ioyes presently possessed by Hope which as an Anker both sure and stedfast is there alreadie vnmoouably fastned By Patience also haue we time and place for the excellent instrument of Prayer to fulfill her worke of piercing the heauens presenting our necessities griefes to the Throne of Grace And commonly the prayer of the patient returnes with this comfortable answere In a time accepted and in the day of saluation haue I heard thee for the patient abiding of the meeke shall not perish for euer And that we may yet bee a little more in loue with this beautifying and beautifull patience let vs looke her somewhat stedfastly on the face and particularly desery her excellent proportion If thus we doe we shall find that patience is placed by God in the heart of man against troubles as the cliffes against the waues of the Sea for by patience God saith to the flouds of persecutions vexations Hitherto shall yee come no farther and here shall yee stay your proud waues It is the hedge of GODS Vineyard euen of the blessed Spirits of the Saints which hath fenced them in the bloudiest times against the wildest Bores euen the fiercest Tyrants The body might bee broken by torments but this brazen wall of the soule could neuer be battered it is a kind of metall that is fitted of purpose to indure the fire euen a firy triall and to bee made brighter thereby This she doth and how can she doe otherwise for she is borne of heauenly Ancestors and fetcheth her originall from the Highest The power of the most Mightie doth sustaine her how can it be but she must then be mightie and powerfull For Patience fetcheth her strength and life from Hope Hope from Faith Faith from Christ Christ from God If it were not for Hope the heart would breake with impatience if it were not for Faith Hope would dye and starue as being without a roote if it were not for Christ Faith would perish for want of an obiect And vvithout the Godhead the Manhood of Christ were not a sufficient foundation of Faith But now the Godhead supporteth and inableth the Man-hood of Christ by a mightie Vnion Faith groundeth an vnmouable foundation vpon Christ being God Man Hope violently layes hold on the ioyes truly discouered by Faith and Patience takes iust courage and comfort from Hope because Hope tells her shee must waite but a little and the promises shall certainly bee receiued And as Patience by this meanes powerfully supporteth and sustayneth the Soule and the graces infused into her so is shee also an excellent meanes for the increase of the same graces Patience is the calme of the Soule and as it is best sowing of visible Graine in a time of calme so in the calme of the Soule is it best sowing of the Inuisible seed of the Word and Spirit Then can wee most truely say My heart is ready and Speake Lord for thy Seruant is at leisure to heare thee and then with Marie are we most fit for that thing which is necessarie when by Patience we haue excluded the many things that are troublesome The Spirit delighteth in a meek and quiet Spirit it commeth in the still wind and not in the storme and tempest Accordingly experience teacheth vs that the Patient haue euer receiued spirituall consolations and euen this experience is a consolation to Patience For this experience that the loue of God is shed abroad into the hearts of the patient so affects the patient that they be not ashamed And if wee would rather beleeue Examples then Positions Let vs examine the Stories of IOB and DAVID and let vs remember what end God made with them The latter end of the patient hath recompensed his beginning his patient sowing in teares hath brought forth the carrying of sheues with ioy God will be suffered loued and trusted euen when he afflicteth and chastizeth he will haue the Soule to repose her Happinesse in him while the body feeleth temporall miserie And if hee bee still trusted and loued if the heart still cleaueth vnto him then hee commeth at length with a large measure of comfort he performeth indeed what he hath spoken in his Word Whoso trusteth in the Lord Mercie shall compasse him It is no great glorie to GOD nor excellencie in Man to trust in GOD when with THOMAS we feele and handle the fauours of God The bodie may haue a share in this kinde of trust But the sight of things inuisible is the highest pitch of the Soule this commends Man vnto God yea it glorifies God vnto Man for it brings downe certaine newes that there is Grace and Mercie with God when the bodie vtterly denies it because it feeles the strokes of seeming Wrath and Punishment And in this testimonie deliuered and receiued GOD exceedingly delighteth euen to bee trusted vnder hope against hope hee abundantly recompenseth it as in ABRAHAM so in the sonnes of ABRAHAM Another aduantage of Grace by the mediation of Patience is this that the patient afflicted and hee only vseth afflictions as incentiues to spiritual feruencie and being by troubles driuen out the flesh and the comforts thereof hee goes more mightily and wholly into the Spirit He quitteth the battered and polluted tabernacle of his lothsome flesh and hee entreth into the secret of the Highest where by his Spirit GOD himselfe resideth There doth he warme himselfe by the heauenly flames hee blowes and kindles them seeking by all meanes that as sufferings abound so consolations may also abound and that temporall sorrow bee at least counterpoyzed by spirituall ioyes So through Patience troubles driue vs neerer to Christ and sharpen our stomakes to sucke more earnestly and eagerly the nourishment of Life Eternall But on the other side besides the losse of aduantages a multitude of euils rusheth in vpon the Soule vnfenced by Patience Surely shee is a continuall prey to euery trouble shee is neuer owner of her selfe but like a light and vnballasted vessell shee is at the command of euery waue