God before whom wee must stand to render our account at the Day of Iudgement this made holy Dauid faithfully to apply his heart vnto Wisedome after hee knew how few dayes he had to liue this knowledge and vnderstanding is the true difference betweene Man and Beast and therefore wee reade of Pauls complaint that he had fought with Beasts at Ephesus after the manner of men that is beastly men carnally minding earthly things but not sauouring the things of God and surely he that is ignorant of these things may be said to haue no soule as we reade of Ephraim Who was said to bec like a Doue deceiued without a heart Hose 7.11 that is without a soule worldly wisemen are euen like Moles and beasts In terra sapienter se habent supra nihil vident They behaue themselues orderly vpon Earth but see nothing concerning the mysteries of Heauen but it is the soule doth teach vs to vnderstand wisedome secretly O giue mee vnderstanding and I shall liue Secondly Iudicando praesentia hoc iudicium nihil aliud est quam reddere cuique quod suum est This iudgement is nothing else but for vs to giue euery man his owne Therefore let euery man arise and sitting in Iudgement vpon the Throne of his soule let his thoughts accuse or excuse let his conscience witnesse and let his memorie giue right Iudgement in all things concerning himselfe and God and man For himselfe let him forsake sinne For God let him punish sinne For men let him doe good Righteousnesse is nothing else but not to sinne Iustus quod contra Iustitiam fecit per lachrimas punit A iust man punisheth that sinne with teares which hee hath committed by frailtie If wee would iudge our selues we should not bee iudged therefore Whatsoeuer yee would that men should doe vnto you euen so doe yee vnto them for thus is the Law and the Prophets God hath ordained vs to bee Iudges in the Court of our consciences that we might arraigne our sinnes and put them to death This is the wisedome of the soule neuer to consent to any though neuer so good if hee doe the things that are euill and neuer to contradict any man though neuer so euill if hee doe the thing that is good This Iudgement can no waies bee so truely performed as by the helpe of the memorie in our soules one of the powers of the soule that keepes the whole course of our life in the comlinesse of good order Thirdly expectando futura bona expecting good things to come which proceed from the grace of God through a good conscience and this is in the choyce of the will Many things seeme hard to the vnwilling but nothing is vneasie to a good will for if a small reward in this life makes vs esteeme great labour little toyle how much rather should our eternall reward of that blessednesse to come make vs cheerfully to meet all confronting troubles and comfortably to expect all succeeding graces and offered blessings which God hath assured to them that obediently serue him who would not expect the reward promised yea though he be a sinner seeing God is mercifull The Psalmist thus reasoneth with his fainted soule Why art thou so heauie O my soule and why art thou so disquieted within me O put thy trust in God for I will yet giue him thanks which is the helpe of my countenance and my God Three things doe moue the soule in willingnesse to waite for the blessings of Gods reward First the Charitie of our adoption who being slaues to Sinne and Satan by Iesus Christ are now called the sonnes of God Secondly the truth of his promise who is neuer forgetfull of his Couenant made to a thousand generations Thirdly the possibilitie of his performance to whom all power belongeth and who is mercifull to reward euery man according to his works The Husbandman patiently expecteth the fruits of the earth and a good pawne is counted a sufficient securitie We haue Gods Word and Sacraments and Christ himselfe hath laid downe his life for vs cum opus proficit praemij fiducia crescit when the worke is finished the expectation of the reward encreaseth Thus behold wisedome is infused into man by the powers of the soule and this is the first qualitie to be obserued in the soule sapientiam docet it teacheth vs wisedome Secondly munditiam seruat it preserueth vs in innocencie and sanctitie the Psalmist propounds a question and answereth himselfe Who shall assend into the Hill of the Lord or who shall rise vp in his holy place euen hee that hath cleane hands and a pure heart and hath not lift vp his minde vnto vanitic nor sworne to deceiue his Neighbour hee shall receiue the blessing of the Lord and righteousnesse from the God of his saluation And what part of man can performe this but the soule the soule and spirit only keeps the heart from euill thoughts the mouth from corrupt communication the hands from hatefull works so that hereby wee are taught the soule preserueth vs innocent in heart in word and in deede No man putteth a precious oyntment which hee is desirous to preserue and keepe 1. Cordis into a vessell that hath beene vsed to filthie and corrupt sauours therefore wash your hands O sinners and cleanse your hearts you double minded keepe your hearts cleane that would receiue the graces of God for God will not send downe his grace to enter into that heart that is accustomed to sinne It is easier to make him rich that hath a great substance left of Parents and is carefull to preserue the same then for the prodigall that hath already consumed the inheritance of his fathers So hee that yet hath preserued the vertues of nature may more easily be inriched with the graces of the Spirit then hee that hath lost the innocencie of his soule The life and spirit yea euen the vnderstanding of the heart is of the soule and comprehended in this one word soule this is the great Wheele that sets all the rest agoing vnto good or euill as it is so are they euen all the parts and members of the bodie The innocencie of the soule consisteth in the forsaking of sinne and following of grace when we cease to doe euill and learne to doe well if the heart be free from euill thoughts all the bodie shall be free from sinne therefore when God willed Ierusalem to wash her heart from wickednesse that she might be saued he concluded how long shall euill thoughts remaine within you there sinne beginnes Ier. 4.14 there the rootes are fastned pluck vp the rootes then and it shall bee impossible for sinne to prosper It was Dauids petition Make me a cleane heart O God and renew a right spirit within mee Thus you see the soule and spirit keepe the heart in innocencie and so all the bodie shall be cleane from sinne also the soule and spirit of man while hee liues must keepe the
not endure the least winde of temptation without falling into finall desperation as Achittophel and Iudas Iscariot What is the cause beloued that so many endure great labour and take sore paines to doe euill and to wearie themselues in the wayes of wickednesse and we will not patiently endure the least paines in the profitable paths of godlinesse and that some labour more for death then we for life as Theeues and the wicked Iudges is it not the corruption of an vnfaithfull soule O then let vs not bee as naked men in the middest of our armed enemies A raw Tyle cast into the water is easily dissolued but being burnt in the Furnace doth wax hard and durable so man liuing in the waters of sinne is full of carnall pollution but being burnt in the fire of holy loue or in the furnace of tribulation his soule is constant in holy deuotion therefore as Beares are made fat by stripes and the Asse is fedde with a whip and the Salamander delighteth in the fire so let our soules take food and fatnes in temptation and be delighted in the patience of true constancie foreuermore Amen Thirdly fideliter diligendo when wee consider the sweetnesse of Gods mercie sparing when wee deserue punishment c. How can wee but open our soules in loue and sing to God It is good for me that I haue bene troubled c. Thy Rod and thy Staffe do comfort me O how great is the multitude of thy Mercie O Lord The Lord is gracious vnto euery man and his Mercie is ouer all his Workes and it is an especiall dutie of Religion for loue of God wisely to auoyd the snares of the World the Flesh and the Deuill for the soule that is enlighted by God doth driue away the wicked motions of temptation as the Sunne draweth vp the mists from the Earth and this loue of the soule being firmely fixed vpon God doth easily ouercome all feare euen the feare of Pouertie the feare of Death and the feare of Iudgement for perfect loue casteth out feare and loue is strong as death Much water cannot quench loue Cant. 8.7 neither can the flouds drowne it The loue of God is in vs and vnto vs the life of our soules O then let our soules liue to prayse him God euen for his loue will not shrinke from vs so let our soules in faithfull loue to him bee constant in all seruice appertayning to him humbly to take vp our crosse daily and follow him patiently to endure his chastnings of loue and faithfully to loue him for his gracious mercies towards vs for his prouident preseruation of our liues and estates and for his mightie deliuerances out of all our temptations And God almightie giue vs all grace to performe this truth for euermore Amen In the third and last place wee are to consider the vtilitie and comfort of the soule which is contained in these words shall liue carnally we say they that liue in mourning and miserie seeking for helpe of God and seeing it yet farre from them they are counted among the dead which be out of minde and liue in the graue and they that are voti compotes satisfied according to their hearts desire and frollick it in mirth and ioy are said to liue And so spiritually wee say the soule that truely seeketh after God onely delighting in the Lord may be truely said to liue in God these three wayes first per abstractionem desiderij by the restraint of his desire secondly per dispositionem voluntatis by the disposition of his will thirdly per praesentiam adiutoris by the presence of his friend and helper First per abstractionem desiderij your soule shall liue that is it being now dead by sinne and dead by sorrow yet God shall speake peace vnto your soules and you shall liue being refreshed with the blessing of peace Dauid complaineth of the deadly ebbe of his estate how his enemies liue and are mightie they come in no misfortune like other folke neither are they plagued like other men but I am cleane forgotten as a dead man out of minde and am become like a broken vessell and when he desires to liue he describes the manner hee would liue Ps 144.12 that our sonnes may grow vp as the young plants and that our daughters may bee as the pollished corners of the Temple that our Garners may bee full and plentious withall manner of store that our Sheepe may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets that our Oxen may be strong to labour that there bee no decay no leading into captiuitie and no complayning in our streets O this is a life indeed happy are the people that be in such a case but the iust liue euen as well in that they doe abstrahere desiderium restraine their desires from carnall and temporall delights The soule here is put for the life present because all our life is in our soule therefore the soules of the Saints doe euen now seeke heauen as Paul who desireth to be dessolued and to bee with Christ And Dauid hath rather to bee a dore-keeper in the House of God then to dwell in the Tents of vngodlinesse Zacheus so farre restrained his greedie appetite that he gaue halfe of that he had to the poore and restored his wrongs done to any foure-fold and the Prodigall considering his Fathers bountie will bee no more a sonne but a hired seruant and surely beloued if we did but once taste in our soules the gracious mercy of God towards vs we should haue lesse respect to the world and more care to receiue heauen giue to your soules the fulnesse of all pleasure which Salomon inioyed and with him you will crie out All is but vanitie and vexation of spirit or let soules choose any peculiar delight that this world can afford to comfort her yet will shee not be satisfied seeing God alone is the Alpha and Omega of all her happinesse Therefore I exhort and beseech you all beloued in the Lord put a bridle vpon your affections to restraine those boundlesse and vngodly lusts whereto our flesh is too too prone and seeke after God in your spirits with truth that your soules may liue in peace and ioy Secondly the soule is said to liue per dispositionem voluntatis by the godly disposition of her will A faithfull soule is the House of God because God is sed to dwell in her in this life present by the sweet taste of his gracious loue administred vnto her and in the life to come by the blessed fruition of his glory now it is most meete that euery Master or Lord should haue command of his house and so should God of our soules therefore it is our dutie euen as Christ hath taught vs to submit our will to his will not my will but thine be fulfilled thy will be done in earth as in heauen O Father from this time forth for euermore Amen Secondly the soule may be said to
happy is that miserie that vrgeth vs to be better Those whom Christ hereafter if they continue in sinne will punish with confusion if they repent hee receiueth them here with mercie to the end hereafter to crowne them for euer with glorie as he did Mary Magdalene repenting The prodigall confessing the Disciple denying and the Thiefe of the Crosse conuerting Lord teach vs so to number our dayes that wee may apply our hearts vnto wisdome and turne to thee in time while the day of our life shall last and while thou art present in thy fauour towards vs. And whiles thou art a mercifull God vnto vs and thus seeking so let vs find thee for euermore Amen Now you haue bin instructed in the manner how to seeke God and the time when It followeth necessarily you should learne the place where to seeke God which is the third circumstance of our first obseruation seeke him in debito loco in the right place God is not in the strong wind of pleasure and delight 1. Rin. 19.11 that makes so many swell in vanitie God is not in the Earth-quake of couetousnesse which puts the soule in danger of a dismall downfall God is not in the fire of sloth that consumes the soules estate in grace by lustfull cogitations but in the soft stil voyce of Humilitie Contemplation and Prayer therefore to seeke him in the right place Search the Scriptures Iohn 5.39 and they shall tell you of me Inquire there and thou shalt finde him In praecepio humilitatis pauperibus In the Manger of Humilitie presenting himselfe to the poore In deserto contemplationis vigilantibus In the Wildernesse of Contemplation declaring glad tydings to the watchfull In Templo exorationis disputantibus In his holy House the Temple of Prayer speaking peace to his people that call vpon his Name there and no where else canst thou find him who desires to seeke else-where must goe out of the World First if you will seeke him in the right place Luke 2.12 you shal find him In praecepio humilitatis pauperibus You shall finde the Babe swadled and layd in a Manger This was to giue vs an example of perfect Humility and Patience and how to embrace Pouerty all which he hath euen chosen as his one part that wee might neuer despayre being his partners Psal 113.5 For who is like the Lord our God who hath his dwelling so high yet humbleth himselfe to behold the things that are in Heauen and Earth And thus saith the holy One Esay 57.5 I dwelt in the high and holy place with him also that is of an humble and contrite spirit to receiue the spirit of the humble and to giue life to the contrite heart bee not displeased with thy pouertie for nothing can bee found so profitable for thee Heauen is the purchase of the poore and it is the summe of Religion to imitate his example whom thou doest worship and Behold Luke 9.58 the Sonne of man hath not where to lay his head All the Saints of God wandred vp and downe In Sheepes skinnes and Goat skinnes Heb. 11.37 destitute afflicted and tormented 1. im 6.8 whom the World was not worthy of Therefore hauing food and rayment let vs therewith be content to follow after Righteousnesse and Godlinesse and to finish our course in patience Luke 12.24 Consider the Rauens they neither sow nor reape neither haue Store-house nor Barn yet our heauenly Father feedeth them How much are yee better then the Fowles Consider the Lillies they neither labour nor spinne yet Salomon in all his Royaltie was not clothed like one of these If God so clothe the Grasse of the Field how much more will hee clothe them that truly obey him Therefore aske not what yee shall eat or drinke or wherewith you shall be clothed for all such things the people of the World seeke for but seeke you after God and the Kingdome of God and the Righteousnesse thereof and all these things shall bee cast vpon you so farre as they shall be necessarie and profitable for you Thy Sauiour Christ despise the World our fore-fathers in Christ and all the holy Saints of God did vse the World as if they vsed it not and who would not gladly lose the World to winne Heauen The ioyes of this World are but the Deuils Poysons heere are no true ioyes but there are the true ioyes placed Luke 24.5 where the true life is gone before And why seeke you the liuing amongst the dead He is risen hee is not here The comfort of light is best knowne in darknesse of health in sicknesse of honour in basenesse all these mayst thou finde in God not in the World thus hee hath made our life tedious and full of troubles lest being delighted in the way wee should forget the Country whereto we are trauelling for we haue here no continuing Citie but seeke on to come euen a house not made with hands but eternall in the Heauens oh seeke him thus debito loco in the right place Psal 113.6 That he may lift thy poore soule out of the myre of afflictions and set thee with the Princes and Saints in Heauen for euermore Secondly seeke him debito loco in the right place seeke him in in deserto contemplationis in the Desert of Contemplation all you that wayte in patience while the Lord shall come in power to deliuer you out of all your feare behold I will allure her Hose 2.14 and bring her into the Wildernesse and speake friendly to her in solitudine gratia conseruatur in desart places and solitarie a man is made more apt for Prayer therefore Isaack went forth to pray in the field toward the Euening Gen. 24.63 and Iesus sent away his Disciples and went into the Desart alone to pray Mat 4.1 The Angels found Iesus in the Wildernesse tempted much likelier it is we shall be tempted in the Cities of Societie seeing all companies aut pares querunt aut faciunt doe seeke their like or doe make them so that keepe companie with them And it is certaine qui iunguntur in peccato ne seperantur in poena they that ioyne together in the same sinne shall not be separated from the same punishment Thy soule being easilier lost in companie then alone should therefore liue alone that she may please him alone whom she hath chosen alone Thy beloued oh soule is shamefast and is vnwilling to shew thee familiaritie in the common presence Leaue therefore publike companie yea leaue thy priuate family and receiue the blessing of his loue alone Cant. 7.11 heare what hee saith Come my well beloued let vs goe forth into the field let vs get vp early to see if the Vine flourish if shee hath budded the small Grape or whether the Pomegranets flourish there will I giue thee my Loue. Againe in solitudine cum Angelis conuersatur In solitarie places Angels haue oft beene seene to conuerse
mouth from corrupt communication 2. Oris As in the tongue of a Swine wee doe iudge of the soundnesse of the bodie so by the words of the mouth the cleanenesse of the soule is conceiued for when a good man openeth his mouth behold as it were in a temple the glorious similitude of a holy Soule A good man out of the good treasure of his soule bringeth forth good things therefore let no corrupt communication proceede out of your mouthes but that which is good to the vse of edifying that yee may minister grace vnto the Hearers and grieue not the holy Spirit of God Ià m 3.6 By his euill words wee know that an euill mans tongue is set on fire of Hell And by a good mans words Act. 2.4 we conceiue his tongue to be set on fire by the holy Ghost therefore the holy Prophet exhorteth O sing yee praise with vnderstanding no member without the bodie no part or facultie within the bodie is capeable of vnderstanding but by the soule and only by the powers thereof is vnderstanding infused into other parts as you haue beene taught already if therefore yee will grace your selues and edifie your Brethren and glorifie your God O let your soules speake first vnto your tongues and be a watch vnto your mouthes and set the seale of wisedome vpon your lips that ye may speake with vnderstanding it is the phrase of the wise Iew therefore I pray beare with me The hearts of Fooles is in their mouth but the mouth of the wise is in their heart If therefore you desire to bee counted wise and would not speake like fooles often let your soules take heede vnto your mouthes that you offend not in your tongue according to your words will all men iudge of your liues if your words be prophane your conuersation cannot be holy if your words bee good men will iudge your liues to bee honest by good words the soule is delighted by euill words the soule is grieued But take heede if one of vs will scarce abide where wee haue rude and base entertainment how much rather shall the holy Ghost the soules ghest being daily disquieted with blasphemies and disgrac't with filthy talking seeke to change her habitation and leaue vs destitute of all grace Againe the soule must bee our guide and leade vs in our actions that we may doe all things to the glorie of God Grace is the life of the soule by which only man is taught the knowledge of his sinnes the loue of God 3. Operis and how to cleaue fast vnto him now it is impossible for vs to iudge whether grace be in the soule of man or no but by his outward actions for the habite of the soule is knowne by the workes of the bodie the worke shewes what the soule is euery mans life is as his soule therefore saith our Sauiour let your light so shine before men that they may see your good workes and glorifie your Father which is in Heauen and we say a wicked man hath an vnfaithfull soule a good man is knowne by his workes as a Tree by his fruits do well then and men shall speak well of thee The soule moouing the members of the bodie to doe good makes the whole man delightfull to be in the assembly of the faithfull as the Prophet saith I was glad when they said vnto me we will goe into the House of the Lord and all my delight shall bee in the Saints that dwell vpon Earth and vpon such as excell in Vertue Also she teacheth them innocencie in their priuate life knowing that they are alwayes in the sight of God and therefore they abstayne from all iniquitie and shee teacheth them to deale iustly and charitably with all men Magistrates to deal cōscionably in their Offices Subiects to yeeld reuerent obedience to the Magistrates briefly so to liue one with another that the fruits of our faith may be made manifest vnto all and shee teacheth them of what calling or condition soeuer they be so to exercise themselues in their seuerall vocations that they may bee profitable and helpfull to themselues and priuate Families to the Church and members of God and to the whole Common Wealth wherein they liue Thus you see the qualitie of the soule to keepe vs innocent in our heart our mouthes and our workes which God grant vnto vs for euermore Thirdly Constantiam nutrit it nourisheth Constancie which is these three wayes humiliter accipiendo humbly taking vp our Crosse patienter tolerando patiently bearing our afflictions fideliter diligendo faithfully louing our Fathers correction First humiliter accipiendo while troubles doe assault vs our soules are humbled within vs there is giuen vs a pricke in the flesh to buffet vs lest we should be exalted aboue measure the weake flesh is readie to shunne all incumbrances like the Sluggard that saith There is a Lion in the way and a Beare in the streets or the Spies that spake of the great Gyants of Anacke but the valiant Spirit and soule makes vs willing to meete with any crosse and to embrace euery temptation cheerfully As Iob when hee had lost all his estate and had no friends left him rebuked his Wife for that she would not willingly receiue euil at the hands of God aswell as good likewise holy Dauid said of Shimei hee curseth because God hath bid him curse Dauid and as Paul flyeth not being perswaded not to goe vp to Ierusalem but answered I am readie not to be bound only but also to dye at Hierusalem for the Name of the Lord Iesus He hath done halfe his worke that beginnes well the willingnesse of the soule doth minister strength to the Labourer that he may not faint in the Worke of the Lord nor be wearie of well-doing It makes things that be most hard and difficult to seeme easie to be done therefore begin willingly for by continuall labour strength is attayned this willingnesse is only in the soule Secondly patienter tolerando the state of mans bodie is vtterly vncapeable of griefe but the soule must beare the burthen of affliction Lo Iob 13.15 though hee kill me yet yet will I trust in him Patience is the closet of the soule wherein it is preserued from all iniuries of temptation therefore when Christ our blessed Sauiour told his Disciples of the ruines of the World and terrours of the last times hee wisheth them to possesse their soules with patience This makes the Prouerbe true Vincit qui patitur He that suffereth ouercommeth not with fighting but with patient bearing as Eleasar being readie to giue vp the ghost 2. Mac. 11.30 said The Lord knoweth manifestly that whereas I might haue beene deliuered from death I am scourged and suffer these sore paines of my bodie but in my minde I suffer them gladly for his Religion The stalke of a rotten Apple will not endure the least winde without falling so the patience of an vnfaithfull soule will
enough to weep for Melt then your hearts in sorrow for your sinne as holy Dauid did whose heart in the middest of his bodie was euen like melting Waxe that God may quit your soules with peace and seeke him lachrimabiliter mournfully Secondly in seeking after God we must vse faithfulnesse without slothfull negligence and seeke him diligenter diligently as the woman in the Gospell seeking her Groat that was lost Luke 15.8 did light a Candle and sweepe the house and sought diligently vntill shee found it Eccles 9.10 And as Salomon the wise Preacher hath taught thee All that thine hand shall find to doe doe it with all thy power And as Dauid seeking the Lord did seeke him with his whole heart For you shall seeke mee with all your heart Ier. 29.14 and I will be found of you saith the Lord. And if thou seeke the LORD with all thy heart Deut. 4.29 and with all thy soule Pro. 10.26 thou shalt finde him For as Vineger to the teeth so is a slothfull body to them that send him Therefore the sleeper shall be clothed with ragges Pro. 23.21 and he is denounced accursed that doth the worke of the Lord negligently Ier. 48.10 The Lord loueth a cheerefull giuer as Zacheus and will be found of them that seeke him diligently that is faithfully But such is the madnesse of this rude age wherein we liue and the blindnesse of worldly minded men that they esteeme no labour too much in seeking after worldly gaine which cannot profit them and in seeking after the pleasures of this life which may much annoy them but will not step one foot towards Heauen with an holy desire to seeke after God In whom is the fulnesse of all true felicitie The Apostle complained not without a cause Phil. 2.21 That all seeke their owne and not the things of Iesus Christ but if thou desirest to finde Heauen seeke after God by Iesus Christ who is gone thither before to prepare a place for you and seeke him diligenter with all your hearts diligently Thirdly wouldst thou finde the Lord thy only Comforter seeke after him perseueranter constantly with perseuerance and bee not weary of well-doing for in due season yee shall reape if yee faint not therefore seeke the Lord and his face euermore Cant. 3.4 As the Spouse neuer ceased to seeke him whom her soule loued till she found him and tooke hold of him and left him not A Ship that hath made many a faire venture on the Sea and after perisheth in the Hauen brings losse and sorrow to the Owner that hoped for gaine And a Souldier that fainteth before the battaile bee ended must expect shame and death in stead of Victorie So he that seeketh after God and faileth in his intended course before hee finde him must needes bring losse and sorrow to his soule and expect confusion for saluation For the Crowue is giuen only to the Conquerour Apoc. 2.10 Be thou faithfull vnto the death and I will giue thee the Crowne of life the fire of Gods Altar must neuer goe out so the zeale of a constant Professor must not be extinguished by worldly care No man that putteth his hand to the Plough and looketh backe Luk. 9.62 is apt to the Kingdome of God Remember Lots wife Gen 19. who for looking backe was turned into a Pillar of Salt And hauing once begun to seeke after God Col. 3.1 and to seeke those things which are aboue where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God Col. 2.20 why as though yee liued in the World are yee burthened with traditions The Prophet testifieth that the life of a righteous man shall neuer fade Psal 1.4 and that the heart of a righteous man shall neuer faint Psal 112.8 if his faith were enioyned to seeke after God through all the fierie tryalls of this World and all the fierie flames and torments of Hell it would not sticke at the condition being before with confidence perswaded Philip. 1.6 That he that hath begunne this good worke in him will performe it vntill the Day of Iesus Christ Thus must you seeke after God Psal 51.17 with a sorrowfull heart which he shall not despise you must seeke him diligently that you may bee counted worthy to escape all those things that shall come to passe And that you may stand before the Sonne of man Luke 21.36 and you must seeke him with perseuerance and neuer giue ouer for any temptation lest you fall away for God is faithfull and will not suffer you to be tempted aboue that you bee able 1. Cor. 10.13 but will euen giue the issue with the temptation thus Thus to seeke the Lord alwayes longing after the God of our saluation wee cannot chose but finde the comforts of his graces in our soules and bee assured to bee deliuered from the power of darknesse Col. 1.13 and to bee translated into the Kingdome of his deare Sonne whether hee bring vs all that hath so dearely bought vs with his precious bloud euen Iesus Christ our Lord and only Sauiour Amen Thus you haue heard the manner how to seeke God It followeth whereby we may learne the time when to seeke God which is our second obseruation in my Text as in the time of sinne Iam. 1.14 the lusts of our owne concupiscence led vs astray from God so now in the time of grace through the preaching of the Gospell being led by the Spirit in the light of faith wee make haste to returne and seeke after God in whom alone we may find true rest vnto our soules debito tempore in a conuenient time And as at al times and in all places it is meete to seeke vnto God Rom. 11.36 Of whome and through whome and for whome wee liue and mooue and haue our being So wee are taught in holy Scriptures of three times most conuenient to seeke after God First Dum dies est Secondly dum praesens est Thirdly dum misericors est First while it is day Nicodemus Iohn 3.2 though hee was a Ruler of the Iewes and a Teacher in Israel hath this Record left in Scripture against him that hee came to Iesus by night And the Spouse in the Canticles confesseth Cant. 3.1 why she could not finde her Loue that is because shee sought him by night and our Sauiour himselfe teacheth Iohn 9.4 The night commeth when no man can worke In the night of Ignorance wee are more prone to seeke after Error then the Truth In the night of sinne we seeke for the things that please men and not the things that please God and in the night of death we shall not bee able to seeke at all For who shall giue thee thankes in the pit therefore holy Dauid longing for the God of his saluation deferres no time But flyeth to the Lord before the morning watch Psal 130.6 Psal 63.1 2. Chron. 33 3.
and promiseth early to seeke after God King Iosia when hee was but yet a childe began to seeke after the God of his Father Dauid Verily the children of this World are wise in their generation obseruing dayes and moneths and yeeres and times and shall the sonnes of men harden their hearts God speaketh by his holy Prophet To day Psal 95.8 if you will heare my voyce c. and shall wee harden our hearts to day and let sinne grow till to morrow Shall wee giue the crop to Satan and set God to gleaning who knoweth if he shall liue repent or escape Suddenly may his wrath bee kindled and in the time of vengeance he will destroy Our Life is the Way Heauen is the Countrey here make thy peace with God that he may receiue thee there vnto euerglorie for euermore Thus seeke to God while it is day Secondly to seeke after God debito tempore in time of oportunitie is while be is present as the Prophet saith Esay 55.6 Seek the Lord while he may be found and call vpon him while he is nigh It is anexcellent example to vs in obseruing the fittest time to seeke God if wee consider the complaint of the Spouse in the Cantic saying It is the voyce of my Beloued that knocketh Cant. 5.2 saying open to me my Sister my Loue my Doue my Vndefiled for my head is full of dew and my lockes with the drops of the night all blessings and happinesse are now to bee receiued at the hands of God whilest hee is present But whilest she rose to put on her Coate Verse 6. her Beloued was gone I sought him said shee but I could not finde him I called him but hee answered not Mat. 25.10 So the foolish Virgins had the doore shut while they fetch Oyle This World is the seed place Heauen is the reaping place here they that sowe in teares shall reape their ioy in Heauen as this day leaues vs so shall that day finde vs now God is present vnto all then only vnto his I goe my way and ye shall seeke me Iohn 8.21 and yee shall die in your sinnes for whither I goe yee cannot come Now therefore seeke to follow after God most sweet most mightie most wise therfore he will receiue vs gently Eum qui venit ad me non reijcio foras Hee that commeth to me I cast not out of doores most mightie all power belongeth vnto God he will defend vs stoutly If the Lord be on my side Psal 118.6 I will not feare what man can doe vnto me most wise so he will lead vs vnto happinesse because you haue followed me in the Regeneration You shall sit vpon twelue Thrones Mat. 19.28 and iudge the twelue Tribes of Israel as a stone cast vp rests not but in the center so let all them that are cast forth into the world not rest but in the Lord. Domine fecisti nos ad te c. O Lord thou hast made vs for thy selfe and we can find no rest vnto our soules but in thy selfe Art thou sicke of sinne The whole need not the Phisician but the sicke I came not to call the Righteous but Sinners to repentance Art thou opprest with pouertie cast all your care on him for he careth for you The Earth is the Lords which if he giues thee not he hath reserued Heauen for thee a happie exchang Art thou grieued with disgraces the rebukes of the foolish the scorne of the wealthy and the disdaine of the proud hee brings thee glorie for thy shame Therefore open the gates O ye righteous and the King of glorie shall come in while he is present what wouldst thou haue that thou maist not what wouldst thou be that thou canst not if now thou seekest after God who is able to giue all things and will deny thee nothing whilest he is present Nunc vacatur Deus negotijs nostris Now God hath taken time to heare our complaints to plead with man and to furnish the lower World and all things contained therein with the rich blessings of his loue whilst therfore he is present to heare thee whilst he is present to helpe thee absent not thy selfe by sin but seeke after God whilest he is present with thee Thirdly if you will seeke after God debito tempore faile not to do it dum misericors est while he is mercifull He that hath a suite to his King will obserue a time when he may find him best pleased now is the time of mercie now euery one that seekes God faithfully shall find him ioyfully but when he hath begun to iudge in Righteousnesse that shall bee the time of Iudgement not of Mercie When the good man of that house is risen vp and hath shut too the doore and yee beginne to stand without and to knocke at the doore saying Lord open vnto vs Luke 13.25 hee shall tell you I know you not whence yee are Depart yee workers of iniquitie there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth yet therefore let him that hath continued in sinne ten twentie thirtie yeeres and more turne vnto God that he may haue mercie vpon him Esay 3.18 for yet will the Lord waite that hee may haue mercie vpon you and be exalted for his compassion and surely great is the mercie of God in exspecting our conuersion for he would not beare with the Angels but cast them downe from Heauen suddenly like Lightning for but once sinning against him he also banisht the first man out of Paradise for breaking one Commandement but hee hath borne with vs a long time and we haue broken all his Lawes still exspecting our conuersion till our last age Nolo mortem peccatoris I will not the death of a Sinner therefore cause one another to returne and liue but he that will not bee conuerted Eccles 8.11 and because sentence is not speedily executed against euery euill worke doth fully set his heart in them to doe euill shall surely suffer the greater Iudgement Nam quos hic diu longanimiter portat Illos Deus grauius damnat The longer God forbeareth a sinner the more grieuous shall his punishment be at last as in the examples of Pharaoh Sodome the olde World and the Iewes Now cryes Iohn the Baptist Make straight the way of the Lord this is the time of mercie Now cryes Iesus Christ I am the doore by mee if any man enter in he shall be saued Now doth the Spirit and the Bride say Come let him that is a thirst come and let whosoeuer will Reu. 22.17 take of the water of Life freely For behold I come shortly and my reward is with mee to giue euery man according as his worke shall be who will not be drawne by loue shall bee driuen by feare now God punisheth man of his mercie that so hee might conuert him to himselfe the euils which wee suffer in this life compeld vs to go vnto God
And know that all wee that haue our errand from Heauen and are called of God as Aaron was haue knowledge ioyned with authoritie sufficient without feare of them that haue authoritie to kill the bodie but are not able to kill the soule boldly to preach the Gospell of Christ Iesus euen before Kings and to make you tremble at our Doctrine Acts 24.25 as Foelix did to heare Paul preach of Iudgement And can so easily confute such busie Ignorants that they shall willingly confesse vnto their shame we teach as men hauing authoritie not as the Scribes Thirdly Iesus sate daily in the Temple to teach the people he that will take the fleece must feed the flocke For whosoeuer shall perish in thy Fold for want of instruction his soule will I require at thy hands saith the Lord and my sheepe heare my voyce marke that if it be our dutie to teach it s your duty to heare Therefore I admonish you all examine your selues how you haue profited in the Schoole of Christ long hath the holy Gospell beene taught vnto vs if we be not bettered by these holy Councels it s a sure token that we haue not yet sought after God debito modo as we ought with our whole heart mournfully by Repentance diligently seeking nothing but God constantly not fainting till wee find his Spirit answering our spirits in loue It s also an infallible token of our irregular life carelesse of our small time of abode in that we will not seeke him debito tempore while it is day watchfully while he is present cheerefully while he is mercifull acceptably It s also a manifest testimonie of our contempt against God refusing to come where God is for the Lord is in his holy Temple Psal 11.4 therefore wee must seeke him debito loco In his Temple to powre out our hearts in Prayer before him In his Temple to learne instruction and to incline our hearts to vnderstanding In his Temple reuerently to obey our spirituall Teachers and not to resist the authoritie of their Doctrine nor to make difference of the holy Word of God and of the Gospell of Iesus Christ by hauing in respect of persons any man but only for the words sake Thus to seeke after God debito modo debito tempore debito loco we shall be sure to find him with ioy vnto our soules which blessing God grant vnto vs all through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen THE GAINES OF SEEKING GOD. PSAL. 69.32 Seeke after God and your soule shall liue THis Text I partly handled before leauing the rest till now then I deuided it into two parts first a Precept in these words Seeke after God secondly a Promise in these words and your soule shall liue The first part which is the Precept I handled then at large of the second part which is the Promise I purpose now to treate and doe humbly beseech Almightie God his assistance and your gentle patience Here indeed is the true gaines of seeking after God for so saith my Text your soule shall liue In the handling whereof these are the chiefe points wherein to insist first the dignitie conceiued in the Word soule secondly the qualitie in the Word your thirdly the vtilitie and comfort of the soule in these words shall liue First the dignitie of the soule fitly mentioned in the verie Word it selfe soule shall more plainly bee conceiued in the consideration of these three circumstances first the condition of the soule while wee consider the matter and essence whereof the soule consisteth For behold In the soules Creation God only made it according to his owne Image a spirituall and incorporeall substance And Augustine reasoning about the soule saith thus Anima est incorporea substantia regens corpus sicut enim in Deo vna est essentia tres distinctae personae sic in anima vna est essentia tres distinctae potentiae Memoria Intelligentia Voluntas which is thus in English The soule is a spirituall substance gouerning the bodie for as in God there is but one essence and three distinct persons so in the soule there is but one essence and three distinct powers that is the Memorie the Vnderstanding and the Will but howsoeuer the immortalitie of the soule may be proued in this in that it neuer ceaseth to liue euen in miserie Thus you see the dignitie and excellent nature of the soule for according to the Image of God the soule is made reasonable and may bee imployed about euery thing but cannot bee satisfied with any thing for it being made capeable of God whatsoeuer is lesse then God is vnable to fill it O noble Creature thou soule which art only ordayned for the fruition and vision of God O my soule that art formed in the Image of God betrothed by faith and indued with the Spirit loue him O loue him of whom thou art so much beloued O knit thy heart vnto him that hath knit himselfe to thy soule and seeke after him that seeketh for thee O seeke after God c. But alas for the stiffe-necked hard-hearted Sinner what shall become of thee why doe you so neglect the saluation of your soules which are immortall If thou diddest truely know the dignitie of thy selfe O soule whosoeuer thou beest thy sins would be abominable vnto thee a noble spirited man scorns rude and base companions and all men naturally doe shunne the plague and their dearest friends possest therewith There is nothing so base as sinne the verie plague and infection of the soule Oh then forsake and loath thy dearest affections so long as they are in loue with sinne and let the consideration of thy soules dignitie keepe thee in innocencie for euermore The second circumstance to be considered whereby we may know the dignitie of the soule is by comparison wherein it shall appeare how infinitely the soule exceeds the bodie with all the members thereof and all things whatsoeuer haue beene created besides Euery soule is better then euery body for that that giueth life is better then that which receiueth it and the soule giueth life to the bodie yea so much as the Firmament of Heauen is more beautifull then the Earth so farre doth the soule exceede in glorie the beautifullest bodie that euer was framed O how admirable is the diuers coloured beautie of all the Esements and of all the celestiall Firmament how pleasant and profitable vnto vs and how necessarie the seruice of them is for vs and yet all these were made but for the soule thou O God that hast made all things hast placed subiected all these things vnder mans feet that only Man remaining Lord ouer all thy Workes should himselfe remayne only thine and which is more all outward things are created ordayned for the bodie but the bodie it selfe is subiect to the soule and the soule it selfe is subiect vnto thee that it might only serue thee only loue thee and only possesse thee alone The price
of the whole Word is not to be valued to the worth of the soule for what shall it profit a man to winne the whole World and lose his owne soule Wee reade that the holy Saints haue crucified their owne bodies and chastized themselues with hard penance and all that they might saue their soules Gal. 5.4 For they that are Christs haue crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts of it O you holy Saints and dearest friends of God tell vs O tell vs why with so many Watchings so many Prayers and so much Discipline you haue so cruelly mortified your flesh O most glorious Martyrs why haue you exposed your selues to such cruell torments that you haue not refused to die yea euen a violent death with cheerfulnesse embracing such a sentence O blessed Iesus why diddest thou suffer three and thirtie yeeres together hunger thirst labour sweat deepe wounds and finally death it selfe they answere all aloude it was for the soule therefore it is manifest the soule is more precious then all the other things of the world Seeing then all things are but vile in comparison of the soule why doe wee so vainly care for the preseruation of euery thing but the soule our bodies our riches our cattell our garments are curiously deckt and prouided for but alas few men haue any respect at all vnto their soules O vnhappie wretched men why are you so carefull about many things nay euery thing sauing this one thing for which all your care should be bestowed Remember Christs counsell to Maries complayning Sister Martha Martha thou carest and art troubled for many things but one thing only is necessarie O then beloued in the Lord let vs louingly care for this one thing our soule in the faithfull preseruation whereof consisteth all things else that pertaine to mans eternall happinesse which God giue vs grace truly to performe for euer more Amen The third circumstance to be considered whereby to know the dignitie of the soule is by the habitation being capeable of such a glorious Tenant as the Holy Ghost for God hath created the soule to no other end but for himselfe which is to be his habitation so that the soule is called the Temple of God As the Apostle saith 1. Cor. 3.16 Know yee not that yee are the Temple of the Holy Ghost and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you if you bee the holy seate of God thither our Sauiour comming to keepe perpetuall Holidayes hath ordayned all things necessarie for the honour of his entertaynment So long as God dwels in the soule of a iust man Psal 91.1 Hee hath commanded an Host of Angels to guard him Hee shall giue his Angels charge ouer thee to keepe thee in all thy wayes Psal 34.7 And the Angell of the Lord tarryeth round about them that feare him to deliuer them Behold the dignitie of the soule how God hath appointed the Angels that are so noble Creatures to bee their keepers Man made lower then the Angels yet lo attended by them Surely its great dignitie to the soule that euery man at his birth hath an Angell chosen to bee his keeper And this Angell is so employed about our businesse as a Messenger alwaies running betwixt the Beloued and her Loue offering our Desires and Prayers as an acceptable Sacrifice vnto God and bringing downe the Royall Present of Gods holy Gifts into the soule still stirring vp the soule to all good workes and labouring to appease Gods wrath that it should neuer bee kindled against vs this Royal prerogatiue of the soule to entertayne God as a Ghest truely describes the dignitie of the same which all this while is attended with an Armie of heauenly Souldiers 2. Kin. 6.17 Againe whilest God inhabiteth the righteous soule he makes it a continuall feast in the large open Chamber of a quiet conscience and giues them the Bread of Life to feed vpon euen by breaking his owne precious Bodie vnto them the effect of bread is to preserue life and to strenghten mans heart So Christ that is the true Bread come downe from Heauen giueth them spirituall Bread his Bodie thereby to preserue the life of the soule Labour not then for the meate that perisheth but for the meate that endureth to euerlasting life which the Sonne of man shall giue vnto you for him hath the Father sealed Againe yet whilest God in habiteth the righteous soule hee bringeth her a greater blessing then Caleb could bestow vpon his Danghter although hee gaue her the Springs aboue the Springs beneath a rich Dowrie Iosh 15.19 For whereas Man by nature and sinne is made barren of all Grace yet being bathed and washed in the euer-streaming Fountaine of Christs Bloud by Repentance and renewed by the Grace that is brought vnto her through our Lord Iesus Christ She is made fruitfull in euery good worke and to walke acceptably before God The Apostle shewing the Corinthians That the vnrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdome of GOD saith such were some of you but ye are washed but yee are sanctified behold the dignitie of the soule in the estimation of her price For saith the Apostle yee are bought with a price 1. Cor. 6.20 Great is the price of the soule whome nothing could redeeme but the bloud of Iesus Christ God make vs carefull of this dignitie for euermore through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen In the second place we are to consider the qualitie of the soule which may bee vnderstood in the three powers of the soule which I told you of before and is mentioned in this word your First Sapientiam docet It teacheth vs Wisedome Secondly Munditiam seruat It preserueth vs in Innocencie Thirdly Constantiam nutrit it nourisheth our Constancie who were else vtterly vnable to fight that great and tedious battaile betweene vs our spirituall enemies It teacheth vs wisedome three wayes intelligende praeterita by vnderstanding the things long since past Iudicanda praesentia in being able to discerne and iudge of those things that bee now present Expectando futura in expecting good things to bee receiued hereafter at the hands of God First Intelligendo praeterita bona Animae Sapientiae Wisedome is the treasure of the soule a good man knoweth all things which God hath made to be knowne aswell those things of the World which are past as the things that are to come euen the inuisible things of God that is his eternall Power and Godhead are seene by the Creation of the World being considered in the Creatures his Workes This made Dauid sing The Heauens declare the glorie of God and the Fi mament sheweth his handy-worke the soule is only capeable of Reason and therefore considering the worthinesse of her selfe the vilenesse of the bodie and the shortnesse of this life therefore she chuseth rather to prouide for the Life to come which is immortall then to regard at all this life which is so transitorie this makes vs to worship