of this thy soul that it may be in good plight when he shall call for it He doth tell thee what is its most natural food and what is not wholsome He tells thee what thou shalt do to have that soul within thee everlastingly happy And is all this of so little consequence as to go in at one ear and out at the other Are these things to be indifferent in If mans soul were like the soul of a beast the case were altered if when his breath went out of his body there were an end of him the matter were the less considerable if he had ever a friend in another world that could do as much for him as God can do I should have little to say in this business But since this is impossible how can I bare to see thee neglect the making sure of such a friend How can a Christian with any patience think that those that he lives with and dearly loves should miss of such a friend without whom their souls must be everlastingly miserable If it were only for your bodies or estates I should scarce use so many words neither I believe need I but when it is for your souls and eternity who can be silent Once more consider what a friend thou mayst have it is a friend for thy soul Alas man it is thy soul thy precious soul that lies at stake that Spirit within thee which is more worth then a world it is that which is in hazard and here is a friend that offers thee to make that soul of thine happy for ever Thy soul hath abundance of enemies Some would debase it others would rob thee of it others would clap up a hasty match between that Noble Creature and a Servant the World I mean and there are very few that have any true kindness for it and thou knowest not the worth of that Jewel thy Soul but here here 's a friend if thou wilt but leave it with him he will take care of it it shall not be marted away for nothing Here 's one will do that for its security honour and happiness that all the world besides can't do If therefore thou hast any love for thy poor soul if thou settest any price upon that precious thing within thee in a word if thou wouldest have thy soul do well in another world O strike in here close with these tenders listen to the counsel of him who offers you the best advice in the world He he it is that now offers thee that thou canst never value enough he it is that will feed cloath and portion that Soul of thine and after that marry thee to his onely Son by which match you will be made for ever O did men and women but know what a Soul is did they imagine what a dreadful miscarriage of a Soul is did they but in any measure understand the things of their peace could they but conceive what God could and would do for their Souls I need to spend but little time in perswading them to commit their Souls to him to be acquainted with him who will be sure to take special care of their Souls that they may do well whatever is neglected O could you but see did you but know what a sad taking they are in that go into the other world with a poor naked Soul and know no body in the world there and have never a friend that doth take any notice of them you would then think I spoke what I do with reason enough and that my words were too short and my expostulations too faint in a matter of such concernment O sinners I tell you nay God tells you soul-matters are the greatest matters in the world I am sure Christ thought so or else he would not have been at so much cost about them those that are in their wits and understand themselves they know as much too and so will you ere a few years it may be hours be past Those that now make but a pish of all this when they have been but one quarter of an hour in another world will say as I do that a Soul-friend is the only Friend and that Soul-concerns are the great concerns things of weight and moment indeed and that it would have quitted the cost to have taken some pains to have look'd out for such a one that could have stood the Soul in some stead in that other world and that above all it would have been no folly nor madness to have accepted of the kindness of one that desired earnestly to be acquainted with them and to do their Soul a good turn O that they had but been so considerate as to have embraced such a motion when it was offered And this brings me to the next Qualification of this Friend 16. He is a necessary Friend There is an absolute necessity of being acquainted with him It 's possible for a man that hath very few friends upon earth to live as happily as he that hath many Multitude of acquaintance such as they are may contribute much to a mans care and sorrow And as for most friends such as are commonly so called it is better to have their room than their company A man may live without the acquaintance of Nobles he may be as free chearful and rich without the knowledge of such as them One may live holily and die joyfully and may be happy for ever though he never saw the face of a Prince though he was never at Court though he lived and died a stranger to all worldly friends One may be disowned by his Father hatred by his Mother slighted by all his Relation and have never a friend under the Snn that will own him and yet for all that be in a state of truer felicity then those that are daily attended with troops of visitors whose gates are seldom shut whose houses are never empty but amongst all that comes God never comes to them as for his company they are strangers to it this man I may write miserable for all his great and many friends And him that hath the company of God in acquaintance with his Redeemer I 'le call happy though he have never a friend in the world besides Multitude of friends seldom add much to our comforts but always to our cares A man may go to Hell for all his great acquaintance with men but it 's impossible if we are greatly acquainted with God to miss of Heaven When men are unkind if God be kind it 's well ballanced but if God frown whose smiles can comfort I may be happy though I am very little in mans favour but it 's impossible to be happy without Gods favour To be a stranger to God is to be a stranger to peace joy Heaven O it 's sad being without God! If I should declare the Judgement of most in the world at least if their practice may speak for them they see very little need of acquaintance with God They do not write Must
but those that are acquainted with God know these things and upon the mention of them their hearts leap within them As face answereth to face in a glass so experience answereth these things When this string is struck their hearts do harmonize as when a Lute-string is struck the other strings of nighest concord with it move also But these things are a mystery to the world and they say as those of Christs word We know not what he saith And it is no wonder for they are the actings of a Divine life to which all are naturally dead till they are raised to newness of life by the quickning of the spirit of God But I proceed to shew what is meant by this acquaintance with God Fourthly To this Acquaintance with God there is required a mutual Communication Where there is acquaintance between man and man there hath been a mutual Interchange of conference and discourse Thus when the soul is acquainted with God there is an Interchange of conference between God and the soul The soul openeth its wants breaths out its complaints spreadeth its necessities before God God openeth the treasures of his love in his Son the rich Mynes of his precious Promises and the secrets of his good Will to the soul Thus Psal 25.15 The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him and he will shew them his Covenant Gen. 18.17 The Lord saith shall I hide from Abraham the thing that I do Those that are friends and acquaintance they will let out their thoughts and purposes one to another they gave out themselves mutually into communion one with another Thus Christs knocks at the door of the soul Rev. 3.20 Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man hear my voice and open the door I will come in and sup with him and he with me Here is Christ offering himself to the soul the soul is to entertain him at another time the soul goes to God and God entertains it God hath promised that he will open Mat. 7.28 Knock and it shall be opened unto you and to him that knocks it shall be opened There are frequent actions among those that are acquainted And by these are expressed to us the acquaintance of the soul with God Now the Communications that are between the soul and God are exceeding transcending all communications that are between mens acquaintance Men may communicate their thoughts their estates their assistance to one another but they cannot communicate their life nor their nature nor their likeness but such communications there are between God and the soul that is acquainted with him All being is a communication from God the first being nay the several degrees of being have several communications from God some greater and some lesser spiritual beings have a higher communication then natural but Gods highest communications have been to man in that mystical Union of the Divine Nature to the Humane Nature in Christ and next in the mystical Union of the Sons of God to Christ and in him to the Father Thus Christ is said to live in us Colos 2.20 I live saith Paul yet not I but Christ liveth in me Thus Christ prays the Father for his Children that they may be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they be one in us Joh. 4.17 21. Joh. 1.15 16. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God God dwelleth in him and he in God He that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God 2 Pet. 1.4 We are said to be partakers of the Divine Nature This expression implyes high communication of God to man Again there are high acts of communication from man to God for though God receives not from man yet man is to act as giving out himself to God such as to give up the will to Gods will As that of Eli It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good And that of David 2 Sam. 15.16 If he thus say I have no delight in thee behold here am I let him do with me as seemeth good unto him Another act of high Communication of a mans self to God is parting with present enjoyments for future hopes in confidence of Gods promise Thus the Spirit of God works in the children of God a readiness to forsake Father or Mother and Brethren and Sister and life it self for the cause of God Thus John Baptist was willing to become Nothing that Christ might become All to be cast down that Christ might be lifted up Joh. 3.13 He must increase but I must decrease Thus Abraham gives his Isaack to dye when God calls for him Thus Moses esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt Heb. 11.26 Paul counted not his life dear for Christ Acts 20.24 These have been the actings of the souls of those that have been acquainted with God and such workings as these are the feeling of a child of God I have shewed you four things which are requisite to acquaintance with God First Knowledg of God Secondly access to him Thirdly Converse with him Fourthly Communication to him and from him Fifthly There is likewise required to acquaintance a loving compliance Amongst men Acquaintance implyes Affection And so it is between God and Man Never any soul was acquainted with God that did not love God and such a soul is an enemy to God therefore very few are acquainted with God but all that are not acquainted with God are enemies to God If we should come to a person that is not acquainted with God and say Thou art an enemy to God this would seem a heavy imputation but I speak it freely thou whosoever thou art that art not acquainted with God thou art an enemy to God for thou art still as thou we'rt born but we are all enemies to God according to our corrupt nature and abide enemies till we come to be acquainted with God Love to God and acquaintance with God go together are heightned by one another First God lets into the soul by his Spirit a partial discovery of himself and by this with the working of his Spirit he incline the heart in love to him Then on the first working of the soul towards God he lets in a clear light whereby he draweth the soul to a further degree of love A clear place for this Ephes 3.17 18. And that being rooted and grounded in love ye may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the length and breadth and depth and heighth and to know the love of God which passeth all understanding that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God The love of God fits the soul to comprehend the glorious discoveries of God and the discoveries of God doth heighten our love to God Acquaintance with God makes us like unto God as in Joh. 3.2 We shall see him as he is And our likeness to God as it makes us the delight of God so it makes us delight in God
our selves whether we are acquainted with him or no. Let us every one turn into our own bosoms and ask our selves this question Thou hast heard O my soul that which is thy great Duty that which is the very end of thy Creation and thy Redemption and that the highest perfection of thy noblest faculty consists in knowing God and being acquainted with him which contains a nigh union to him and intimate converse with him and mutual communion to God and from God and radicated unmoveable love to God these are excellent things O my soul what is thy case Art thou one of those precious ones which conversest oft with God and talk oft of God whom he will make up with his Jewels Or art thou one of those wretched Creatures who are alienated from the life of God by reason of the ignorance that is in thee Or art thou one of those who having been sometimes afar off art now made nigh to God by the bloud of Christ and so art lead into fellowship and communion with the Father and the Son by the Spirit Or art thou one of those who looks upon God afar off and upon whom God looks afar off I beseech you every one of you deal seriously and accurately with your selves in this inquiry for it is most certain that most men in the world yea in the visible Church are not acquainted with God Thus it hath been in all generations from the beginning of the world and thus it is at this day the people of God have been like a little flock of sheep while the rest are like locusts covering the whole face of the earth The people of God have still complained that they are but as the gleaning of the vintage and as two or three Olive-berries in the top of the utmost branches when the rest have been gathered The visible Church of God in respect of the rest of the world â—â—w small a part is it In the visible Church how few live up to their Religion by any considerable profession How little difference is there between most among us and Heathens And of those that profess and lay claim to something beyond others among whom they live how many betray their Profession by their wicked practice and worldly conversation So that when we have made enquiry there will remain very few of those that are really acquainted with God it concerns us then to be very diligent in enquiry what is our case how we stand toward God Secondly I shall be the more earnest in pressing you upon a diligent search into what acquaintance you have gotten with God because I know that those that have least acquaintance with God are most apt to neglect this enquiry It may be a tender soul that hath been much with God will be ready upon the first hint to enter into the secrets of its own heart to look over his evidences to call to mind when have I drawn nigh to God When have I conversed with God When have I communion with God Hath my life been a walking with God Have I dwelt with God and made my abode with him Thus the soul that makes high account of its acquaintance with God will be trying and examining it self and it may be upon its more a wakened signs of its sometimes departing from God or feeling some present strangeness it will be apt to conclude of it self surely I am none of those precious ones whose life is a converse with God But the common generation of the world Oh how hardly will they be brought to ask themselves this question whether they are of the acquaintance of God or no! How often have they been urged with a great and vehement affection upon trial how their souls stand towards God and hitherto they have neglected it Many are so inconsiderate as to think what is spoken is nothing to them they come and sit in the Congregation but their hearts are out of reach out of the shot of the Word so they go away and the word to them is as if it had not been Many are so light and vain and frothy in their spirits as that the streams will almost as soon return to their fountain as they will be perswaded to turn in and enquire into their own souls In all naturally there is an averseness to come to the light that their works and hearts may be manifested If I should come to you one by one and beseech you with the greatest earnestness wherewith I were able when you go from the congregation to take opportunity to go in secret and enter upon tryal with your hearts and ask your selves throughly this question and let them not alone till you have a clear determinate answer whether you are in a state of acquaintance with God I fear you would go one to his pleasures another to this vanity and another to his covetousness and almost all of you neglect this work of so great concernment Let me therefore urge you with all earnestness that you will not account it a small matter whether you be acquainted with God or not and so neglect this trial of your selves But bring your hearts up roundly to the examination yield not to their unreasonable withdrawings force them to answer If you make any account of the charge of God if you make any account of the excellency of man if you would not lose the highest priviledge of the Creature if you have any esteem of the life of heaven know your selves in this whether you are in a state of acquaintance with God and be serious and diligent in this enquiery Thirdly Because men are so exceeding apt to be mistaken and to misapprehend concerning themselves that they are in a state of acquaintance with God while they are meer strangers unto him such as those whom our Saviour speaks of Matth. 7.22 23. Many will say to me in that day Lord Lord have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out Devils and in thy name done many wonderful works and then he will profess unto them I never knew you depart from me ye workers of iniquity They take it for granted that because of such priviledges gifts common graces which they had therefore they were well acquainted with Christ but our Saviour answereth I never knew you that is I never had any acquaintance with you Such are those who are resembled to us by five foolish Virgins Matth. 25.11 The five foolish Virgins come when the door is shut and say Lord Lord open unto us but he answereth Verily I say unto you I know you not that is never had acquaintance with you you never knew me in the time of your life and I will not know you now you were ashamed to own me before men and I will be ashamed to own you before my Father Men are so apt to be mistaken in Judgment of themselves that they think themselves rich and encreasing with goods and to have need of nothing when they
the matter for accepting or looking after I believe I need not spend ten years in earnest begging and intreating you to look after such a thing Should I offer to bring you to the place and person of whom you might buy it should I not soon have your company should not your necessaries be quickly made ready for such a journey would you not be up betimes in the morning nay would you not travel all night and think it no folly nor madness both to lose some rest and to take some pains so you might but come to possess what I speak of Nay were there but a possibility of obtaining of it at least a probability I perswade my self you would not fail to look after it the very first thing you did I am ready to think you would neither spare for pains or costs so that after all you might but make sure of enjoying it Why what then is the matter that I can do no more in the business that I am about I am sure I bring you tidings of a better bargain a braver purchase and surer inheritance and what need I then spend so much time in arguing with you Good Lord what mean people Are they out of their wits and quite beside themselves What is a Feather better then a Crown Brass then Gold Is a Glass to be preferred before a Diamond finite Enjoyments before everlasting Riches Darkness before Light the World before God O how is man sunk below himself What hath sin made men and women If this be not folly and madness what is Such may go for wise men in the worlds account that makes such choices and it 's possible a man in Bedlam may say his neighbour that tore all his hair off from his head is well in his wits O that this were not the condition of the far greater part of the world And what meanest thou O my soul that thou art no more affected to see such vast multitudes of brain-sick frantick sinners that make light of the tender of the Gospel that take them for their enemies who would do their utmost to make them happy for ever I must profess I am even ashamed of my own heart that I do not mingle my words with tears that I should speak for God and souls with so indifferent a spirit Well now you have heard of a great match by which you may be made for ever are you for all this of the same mind you were Well then complain not if you be a beggar Remember how you were offered remember you might have been worth more then a world O that inconsiderate souls did but know and indeed know what an offer this is O that they would not carelesly undervalue such a proposal O what shall I do How shall I perswade you What Arguments will prevail O thou great and mighty God give men and women but a spiritual understanding of these things make them deeply apprehensive of their excellency and reality and then I should soon have them with thankfulness complying with these tenders which thou commandest me to make unto them O when shall it once be How long shall the Devil and an unbelieving heart undo so many millions How long shall Satan triumph over souls and cheat them thus miserably of their All O pity pity dear Lord the besotted foolish world and give me more compassion to souls that I may with incomparably greater earnestness and tenderness plead thy cause with them and resolve to give them no rest till I have perswaded some of them in good earnest to look after the great and weighty affairs of Eternity and the making sure of this Friend Eighthly He is a sympathizing Friend It goes to his heart with Reverence be it spoken when any injuries are done to any of his when his friends are wronged it touches him to the quick He is as tender of them as of the apple of his eye Again He that despiseth you despiseth me Never was tender hearted Mother more pitiful over her only Child then God is to them which love him never was any friend so much concerned for another as God for his What else mean those high expressions of pity in Isa 63.9 In all their afflictions he was afflicted and the Angel of his presence saved them in his love and in his pity he redeemed them and he bare them and carried them all the days of old It was not once or twice that God did so by them but in all their afflictions he was afflicted which was not expressed in some cold formal words such as these Alas poor creatures they are quite undone their enemies are very barbarous but he shew'd it in that most real demonstration by saving of them by the Angel of his presence A verbal kindness costs little and helps little But suppose his friends are carried Captive are they not quite out of the reach of his help No his love pity and power will find them out in any place under Heaven and if they be slaves he will redeem them though he gives Kingdoms and Nations for their Ransom In his love and in his pity he redeemed them and when by hard usage they are grown so weak and feeble that they can scarce go nor creep why he will carry them in his arms and bare them And thus he did of old and his affections are rather greater then lesser now then they were then The mother can be weary of carrying a dirty screaming child she thinks it less trouble to whip him or to let him lie till he hath cried himself weary she is loath to lug such a troublesome thing up and down all the day long But yet such is the tenderness of this Father that he carries his all the day long though they be so heavy so unquiet so dirty But of that presently How oft do you read of strange pity in the book of the Judges when they had by their own folly more then once brought themselves into calamity how do his bowels yern over them and when any of his are groaning under any trials or temptation what sending and running is there how many Cordials are prepared for them what calling to this servant and that servant to attend them with all the care that may be and to comfort them in this state and in case of abuse how doth he shew his love to them If you should ask Pharaoh he would tell you that Gods Friends are edge tools why else doth the Lord lay about him with so much indignation when they are oppressed Nay for their sakes he rebukes Kings saying Touch not mine Anointed and do my Prophets no harm if they do be it on their peril How did he bare the afflictions of his people Israel in Egypt did he stand still as if he were unconcerned did he shut his eyes not see or did he stop his ears to their cries No no he sees he sees the sufferings of his in Egypt and that both enemies and friends too
none upon earth that I can desire in comparison of him I can't desire a better employment then a delightful constant attending upon my God Can I have better Company then such a Father Cana greater happiness be conceived then Eternal Glory a pleasanter place then Heaven That which I can speak you can't hear and could you though in this perfect glory I can't express what you will find and feel when you come hither O had I but known so much as I do now when I was in your condition upon earth I should with incomparable greater earnestness have sought after acquaintance with God then I did In his presence is fulness of joy at his right hand are pleasures for evermore Now I feel now I know it I thought one smile sweet upon earth but now I see and feel infinitely more what you enjoy now is a shadow in comparison of what you will enjoy hereafter O what do you mean that you prize his favour no more that you get no more intimate acquaintance with him What do you mean that you are so unwilling to come to this place of joy O were you but possest of what I speak of you would say what I say you would never be weary of praising and serving him you would never wish your self out of his presence and think it not possible to be in more suitable society Is it so O my soul what then doest thou here Make hast O my soul stay no longer here below but know thy priviledge understand where thy comforts are Twelfthly He is a wise Friend All the men and women in the world have great mighty affairs to mannage and they want Skil Wisdom and Discretion for the right mannagement of these things they are wofully to seek as to their great business they are wise to do evil but in Spirituals they become stupid sottish fools and as to the carrying on of their great work they do it with the greatest imprudence in the world and they will most certainly for ever undo themselves except one that is wiser then themselves undertake to help them All things go backward with them and they labour in the very Fire whilst they act without God and it is impossible it should be otherwise as long as there is such a disproportion between mans business and his Spirit Man is carnal and his work is Spiritual Would an ignorant poor Creature that is but one remove above a beast be fit to mannage the great matters of Government How ridiculously would he behave himself in a Chair of State how strangely would an unlearned man bungle should he go about to open one of the profound Demonstrations of Mathematicks But a natural man is far more unskilful then any of these as to the carrying on of that great Imployment that he hath to look after while he is on this side Eternity his business is to serve his Maker but what pittiful work doth he make of it man is made for an everlasting State he is sent into this world to provide for another a Good a happiness there is which he is to look after he once had a fair estate but he hath spent and lost it all and he is to see to the recovering of it again He hath been in arms against his lawful Soveraign and been guilty of the highest Treason and thereby hath forfeited his Life his Soul now he hath his pardon to sue out and how doth he go to work in this one thing to mention no more Why he goes to beg a pardon arm'd Cap-a-pe and with his Sword drawn he comes to ask pardon for one Treason and he is found acting of another Lord have mercy upon me and give me leave to break thy laws is the sum of all his prayer He talks of Heaven and yet makes all the hast he can to Hell he is told he is out of the way but he laughs at him that tells him so and that 's his best Sometimes he rages and desires with all speed to remove him that would set him in the road to Zion he calls for a Hatchet to cut down the bough upon which himself stands And this is your man of Wisdom The man is under sail in the midst of Rocks and Sands and if he would but look he might see many doleful Spectacles the tops of Masts ship-wacked souls I mean and though the Pilots tell him of the danger yet he says he will never believe but that 's the best and the safest road to the harbour and so on he goes as if he were sure he could not miscarry and all this while he will not be perswaded but that he acts every wisely he judgeth it one of his greatest comforts that he runs to misery without any hinderance and how can it otherwise be except men were spiritually wise and who can teach man this wisdom who shall instruct him who shall help him now his affairs are upon the matter almost desperate why if thou wilt but hear here is one that will yet undertake their foul cause if you will be advised by him for this he will set all at right And O how doth he call after you how willing to give you his advice how desirous to assist you Prov. 1.20 c. Wisdom cryeth without she uttereth her voyce in the streets She cryeth in the chief places of concourse in the openings of the Gates she uttereth her words saying How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity And ye scorners delight in scorning and fools hate Knowledge Turn ye at my reproof Behold I will pour out my Spirit upon you I will make known my words unto you And will you set at naught all his Counsels and have none of his reproofs Will you rather be ruined then beholding to him for advice Let me put in one word if this wise Counsellor be not for you he will be against you and if you find any that can order your sad affairs more to your advantage I pray make use of him but if you will be ruled by him you can't miscarry as ill a condition as you are in though thou beest quite broke yet he will give you such a stock as that you may set up again and such directions as that you can't but thrive if you will but follow them It is he that teacheth his Spiritual Frugality not to part with that for a trifle which will be a rich commodity ere long it is he who perswades us to make the best use of every thing it is he that teacheth Fools more true wisdom then the great Politicians of the World though the world judge them weak yet they have wit enough to make a good bargain to value Heaven before Hell to flye from everlasting burnings They are wise enough to know what is for their real advantage and what not This is he that would bring thee acquainted with him It is he who give his so much understanding as to know the true worth of things and
still is carrying on is the honour of God He will undertake nothing of importance before he consult with and hath the advice and direction of his Friend Whatsoever he hath that is worth any thing he sends it to this Friend he presents him with his first fruits he sacrificeth his male the best of his flock desires that his Friend may be always at his house and that he may have the best entertainment that he can possibly give and he is ashamed at the best that he can make him no more welcome whom he so highly honours he is grieved that his entertainment is no better he would fain give God his first and last thoughts his warmest affections he would gladly have the strength and vigour of body and soul spent in his service he studies how to improve all mercies and enjoyments for God to take hold of all opportunities that he can possibly and to make the best of them for the promoting that grand Design which he hath on foot his Honour He thinks not wife and children houses and lands body soul and all that he can make in the world too good for him Whatever temptations he conquers whatsoever sin he slayes whatsover piece of gallantry or prowess he hath done in his inrods upon Satans Kingdom he gives the honour of all to the valour conduct and assistance of this his noble Ally and Friend He sets the Crown of the King of Ammon like Joab upon the head of this King David He hath such a high esteem for God that he thinks nothing well done but when it is done exactly as he would have it he thinks every thing then best when it is done according to Gods will and he counts it no small weakness to be unwilling that infinite Wisdom rather then folly should have the managing of all the affairs of the world He desires to maintain a quick and lively sense of the Divine Majesty upon his Soul and that he may here and hereafter give him as he hath infinite cause all honour glory and praise 6. Another effect of this Acquaintance with God is this It would put abundance of life and vigour into the soul it would as it were oyl the wheels and set them a running There are none in the world that act at so high a rate as those do which are most acquainted with God O how undefatigable are they in their pains with what earnestness and faith do they pray as if they saw the glorious God before them and were talking with him with what reverence seriousness and delight do they read meditate and hear the Word and do all that they do They know in some measure what it is to present their bodies and souls as a living sacrifice to God through Christ they understand what it means to be fervent in spirit serving the Lord they will not serve God with that which cost them nothing kneeling down and saying a few formal words before God in the evening repeating the Lords Prayer and the Creed and the Ten Commandments between sleeping and waking doing no body any wrong and the like is not enough to serve his turn his conscience will not be thus put off but he labours with all his might to stir up his soul to lay hold upon God he is not content to go off from his knees without his Fathers blessing This is the Friend and Acquaintance of God this is the brave Israelite that spiritual Prince that will not let God go till he hath prevailed with him He doth not go to his work as if he caved not whether he work'd or no he is not sick of the service of God but he rejoyceth and works righteousness his work is his pleasure and he goes on merrily with his business Those that are intimately acquainted with God are not so cold faint and dull in the service of God as others be Such a one as knows God very well and hath been oft made welcome by him why he comes with a great deal of confidence and knocks at Gods door and for his part he will not go away though the door be not presently opened but he continues knocking because he is sure that his Friend is within he knows that he is never from home and that he can never come unseasonably to him He comes to Prayer as if he were going to storm Heaven he gets spiritual things by violence he comes to Duty as to fight for a Crown he is ashamed to offer the lame and the blind to God but he chooseth for the best in his flock he desires to improve his interest in God to the height this favourite of Heaven comes frequently to the King to beg some great thing or other and he is sure that his Friend will deny him nothing that it is not a greater kindness to deny then give he knows that his King hath a large purse and as large a heart and he is not willing to lose such excellent things that are to be had for the asking for he is not ignorant that Spiritual things are worth the seeking for and therefore he will seek and seek earnestly he hath tried more then once and he remembers to his joy that wonderful things are to be had if we will but take pains for them and prefer our Petitions or rather get them preferr'd by that great Master of Request the Lord Jesus Christ and follow our business close that it can't possibly miscarry let it be what it will the comfort in enjoying will abundantly pay all the charges we can be at in seeking therefore he layes about him as one that is in good earnest the confidence that he hath in the good will of God it puts life into all his petitions A poor Creature that very rarely injoys any communion with God that is very little or not at all acquainted with him is ready to take up with a few formal complemental performances he is weary of his work before he hath well begun it he is quickly out of breath but now one that is very well acquainted with God is not so soon weary of his company it may be he may be somewhat cold when he sets out but by that time he hath gon a few turns with his Friend his blood grows warm he is sometimes so taken up with God in duty that he can scare tell when to have don O he thinks it 's good being there O it was a sweet season These are the actings and experiences some Noble Soule I have heard some Christians say that had not God made it their duty to follow their callings they could be glad with all their hearts to do nothing else day nor night but hear the mysteries of Gods love in Christ opened Read Pray Meditate and be immediately engaged in the service of God Sure something is the matter with these persons more then ordinary that their Palate should be so Spiritualised as that it is their Food their Wine their Dainties to be actually
projects signifie Is this friendship Can you mean any good by all this What do you say of your condition Do you ever complain and that feelingly of your enemy against God Did you ever observe what a desperate wicked spirit you have against your Maker and were you ever made sensible of the danger of such a state and ashamed and grieved to the very soul that you should ever engage against so good a God why then I am confident you can't but cry out with all the strength and earnestness of your soul for a peace you can't but desire to meet with your adversary quickly while he is in the way But if you see nothing at all of the Treachery and Baseness that is in your heart search and search again it 's your Ignorance and Blindness and not the goodness of your state that makes you to know nothing by your self What are you better than David he was so jealous of his own heart that he dared not to trust to his own Examination of it but he desires the great Heart-searcher to help him in this work Are you more excellent than Paul after his Conversion Had he more reason to complain of himself than you have O be at leisure to look within and get Davids Candle and Lanthorn to go into those dark corners of your soul with it and it may be you may see that within which may make your heart to ake and your joynts to quiver and your spirits to faint within you Paul was sometime as confident as you he took no notice of the Enmity that was within against God though he was as full of it as an Asp is of Poyson yet before he came acquainted with God the case was altered with him he was of another mind when that light shined about him he cried out Lord what wilt thou have me to do he now thinks it is hard kicking against the Pricks dangerous opposing of God and persecuting of Christ in any of his Members and he desires nothing in the world so much as to be reconciled to God and to have him for his friend whom before he fought against as an Enemy II. DIRECTION My next Direction to those which would be acquainted with God shall be this Get an humble heart which is the consequent of the former God will exalt none to this high honour of being his Friends but such as have low Thoughts of themselves The humble are the persons that he will raise these are they that he will converse most with these are the great Favourites of Heaven which God doth delight to honour Psal 34.18 The Lord is nigh to them which are of a broken heart and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit God is nigh to them with Reverence be it spoken God takes so much complacency in the company of such that he can't endure to have them far from him he must have them always nigh to him always under his eyes as for these broken ones he will to be sure not leave them long not go far from them but will be ready at hand to set their bones to bind up their wounds to keep them from sestering It may be he may put them to much pain before he brings the Cure to perfection but it is to prevent future Aches He is a foolish cruel Chirurgeon who for fear of putting his Patient to some pain never searcheth the wound but skins it over presently and a wise man will not think him unmerciful that puts him to exquisite pain so he make a through Cure of it Thus God doth by his Patients sometimes when the nature of their Distemper calls for it But however he will be sure not to be out of the way when they want him most It 's possible they may look upon themselves as forgotten by God they may not know their Physician when he is by them and they may take their Friend for an Enemy they may think God far oft when he is near but when their eyes are opened and their distemper is pretty well worn off they will with shame and thankfulness acknowledge their Error nay they do from their souls confess that they do not deserve the least look of Kindness from God but to be counted strangers and enemies but God will let them know that he loves to act like himself that is like a God of Love Mercy and Goodness and that they are the persons that he hath set his heart upon he will have them in his Bosome never leave them nor forsake them and though these contrite ones many times look upon themselves as lost yet God will save them and they shall sing a Song of thankfulness amongst his delivered ones Again the Sacrifices of God are a broken heart A broken and a contrite Spirit O God thou wilt not despise Psal 51.17 The proud sinner he may bring his stalled Oxen multitudes of Rams and Sheep und his Rivers of Oyl and yet all this while not be accepted There is another kind of Sacrifice that would be ten thousand times more acceptable to God We read that Sacrifices have been despised Prayers long Prayers have been rejected Sabbaths New-Moons and Solemn Assemblies the Lord hath sometimes abhorred but we never read that he despised the Sacrifice of an humble heart the Prayers of such always have an answer one way or other their poor performances their chatterings and mournings are sweet melody and powerful Rhetorick in Gods ear Who are the men that have most of Gods company who are they which he doth most frequently visit Are they not such as look upon themselves as the chiefest of sinners These are they which are wrapped up into the third Heaven None have so much of Heaven upon Earth as those that wonder that the Earth doth not swallow them up and that they are not in Hell But O saith the humble Soul God is the high and mighty God and infinite in his Holiness and Justice how then can such a Creature as I ever expect that he should so much as cast his eye upon me Yes sweet soul such is the infinite condescension and goodness of God that he will sooner look upon thee than another And if you can't credit my words here what he speaks himself Isa 7.15 Thus saith the high and lofty one that inhabiteth Eternity whose name is Holy I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of my contrite ones The thoughts of Gods Majesty Eternity and Holiness may and with good reason too awe that Soul that hath low thought of it self Every sinner hath cause enough to cry out with astonishment Will God look upon such a vile sinful wretch as I am Will he that is infinite in holiness take any notice of me except to shew his displeasure against me What shall I do sure such a creature as I can't without a miracle have a
Keeper inquire further and you shall be informed if their experience be not too big for to be clothed in words How oft have some of Christ favourites after they have Dined with their Lord been led forth into the Garden to walk and oh the delightful shades that they have sat under At another time Christ not Satan hath carried them as it were in his Arms and Bosome and set them upon the Pinacle of the Temple not to make them giddy and hazard their fall but to let them understand how much he hath preferred them before others and as long as they are upon that great Corner-Stone no Storms can shake in Christs Arms no fear of falling At another time the Soul hath been carried into the Mount of God and there it hath seen Christ Transfigured and beheld so much Brightness Glory and Majesty in him that hath reflected a Glory upon it self and even Transfigured the Soul that its scarce like it self and there it could say its good being here and then Christ hath bid the Soul lift up its Eyes and look up to the Heavens look round from one side to the other and look beyond the visible Heavens by Faith to the Seat of the Blessed well all this is thine to thee will I give it I purchased it I have paid for it and 't is thine and live like one that is worth more than a world live up to your Estate expect that shortly I should set you in the Possession of all And as for the World look down upon that if it be worth thy accepting so much of it as is good for thee thou shalt have also O did weak Christians but know what strength joy and comfort this Ordinance doth afford I believe they would not be so hardly perswaded to come when they are invited Did they but understand how sweet how wholsome how dainty the Dishes are which Wisdom prepares could they but conceive what satisfaction and fulness there is for the empty what joy and sollace for the Mourning and Disconsolate what strength and quickning for the Weak I am ready to think that they would scarce be so long absent from the Lords Table but think not that every one that sits down is made so welcome nor that Christ gives his dainties to strangers or enemies many may come and receive and yet only feed upon a piece of Bread and Drink two or three spoonfuls of Wine and and really if this were all the Provision that a Saint were to have it were scarce worth so solemn an Invitation It 's possible to come thither to eat and drink your own Damnation and instead of an affectionate Treatment to be dismissed with a Friend how comest thou hither not having on the Wedding Garment Yet the sensible Hungry burthened Souls notwithstanding all their fears may come nay they must and its little less than giving ascent to Sathans callumnies which he raiseth against Christ and his wayes to forbear it s too ungrateful a Contempt of one of the excellent Cordials which the great Physician hath provided for the recovering and strengthning of his poor swooning Patients and in a word it s too like a foolish being fond of our Sin and Sorrow when we refuse the comfor-fortable Appointment which the Goodness and and Wisdom of a Father the Love and Tenderness of a Husband and the Sweetness of the Holy Spirit doth so freely offer perswade command the Spirit saith come and the Bridegroom saith come and why should not he that is a thirst come thankfully humbly speedily Well now poor weary Soul what hast thou to say against the excellency of rest Poor sick Soul what Fault canst thou find with Ease Health and Strength Poor guilty Soul that looks upon thy self as next to condemned What harm would a Pardon and the publique sealing of it do thee Who would think that man hungry that had rather eat Ashes than Bread who would judge that person thirsty that had rather drink Gall Tears and Wormwood than the clear refreshing Streams that come from that Rock the Lord Christ Will you never believe that Christ invites you look into the Note that he hath sent out his servants wish whose Name do I read there Who are the persons that are invited of what Rank and Quality Are they the Great ones of the World Are they the Learned Are they the Proud and Self-conceited Pharises Why I find none of these in the Writing Who are they then that may come with Confidence to draw water out of these Wells of Consolation The Poor in Spirit the Hungry the Sick the Wounded the Lost these are Pools of Bethesdah where the Angel of the Covenant doth oft descend and move the Waters and where is it fitter for the Impotent to lye than there where they can not miss of a Doctor a visit or Cure What do you think of this poor Heart are they but flourishes do I speak or doth Christ and if he say it who can dissanul it will he can he be worse than his word I know he is usually better but never short of his Promise will you Credit the Experiences of Christians have they not seen have they not known have they not felt yea have not all your Spiritual sences been exercised and refreshed at that time when the King hath been at his Table One is ready to say if ever I could have left the World at a minnutes warning and have stept immediately into Eternity it was then when mine eyes beheld the King in his beauty when he held out his Golden Scepter unto me and took me into his Imbraces Yea when the Ministers of Christ presented me with the Jewels and Bracelets and ask't me whither I would go with them to Christ my Soul made a speedy and thankful reply my Heart and Love is his and his will I be for ever O that I were once safe in his Armes O that I might live with him and never part O when shall it be Come Lord Jesus come quickly I remember I have heard it reported of that Reverend and Holy man of God Master Allen who lived at as high a rate as most on this side Perfection and Glory that he was before he died in a very rare seraphique raptures of Joy and Love so that he could not chuse but burst out into unusual Expressions of Praise such as these Ten thousand praises to the King of Saints for the freeness and riches of his Grace to any poor Soul let every corner of Heaven ring with Hallelujahs let all the Angels help me to praise thy incomparable lovely and glorious Jesus O the Joys that he feasts my Soul with I who would not be Christs Servant never did I feel such transcendent pure Divine Joys except at the Lords Table and then indeed I have been oft so raised in Spirit that my Nature except sustained by a Miracle could scarce bear a greater weight of Comfort O the unspeakable vast satisfying Pleasures that Christ