things But now a spiritual man is spiritual in earthly things one of a spiritual mind is more heavenly and spiritual when he is about his calling though the meanest as hedging and ditching or when he is pulling his ropes and lines or using his Ax or hammer he is more spiritual I say then than an earthly man is when he is praying or hearing or receiving Sacraments certainly it is so and it will be found to be so at the great day of Judgment when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed that 's the sixt thing when a man seeks earthly things for himself And that that we may add as a seventh is That he is earthly in spiritual things I grant that the best of the Saints may have some earthlinesse in spirtual things but I speak of the predominancie it 's that that doth rule in the heart so that in the performance of spiritual things his very ends are but earthly and the frame of his heart is but earthly in spiritual performances The eight thing wherein we may find an earthly minded man is this That he passes through many and great difficulties in matters of the earth and they are very little to him and though he hath a great deal of toyl for the matters of the earth yet he is never weary with it because he is in his proper element and therefore let there be what difficulties there will be which to another man would be very great he makes of them as nothing and though there be much toyl and labour yet he is not weary why because he is in his own element The fish is not weary with swimming but a man is quickly weary I but the fish is in it's element and a man is not so I beseech you observe this when a mans spirit is in this kind of temper let him but be busied about earthly things wherein earthly advantage comes in no difficulties will hinder him no wind or weather he will rise in cold mornings and go abroad do any thing in the world Oh! what difficulties will men endure In storms at Sea and hazards there and troubles at land many waies for things of the earth and sit up late and rise early and toyl themselves and complain of no wearinesse nor no difficulties But now let them come but to spiritual things to soul-businesses that concern God and their spiritual estates every little difficulty puts them aside and discourages them every mole-hill is a mountain in their way I would do so and so indeed but 't is so hard and 't is tedious to rise in a morning especially in cold winters morning it is very hard and difficult to reade and pray and so he is complaining of the difficulty of these things And to watch over the heart it 's a mighty difficulty to an earthly man any spiritual thing is difficult and the difficulties doth discourage him and in spiritual things Oh how weary are they as they in the 1. of Micha 13. they cryed out What a weariness is it But in the businesse of the world they can follow it from morning to night they are never tired they can work as we say sometimes of men like a horse and yet never out of breath Oh I would but desire you try your hearts once but to endeavour to spend one Sabbath exctly and see what a wearinesse that would be to you resolve but one Sabbath to rise early in the morning to have your thoughts spiritual heavenly as much as you can and then get up pray alone in your closet then reade and hear and meditate and mark what you hear and when you go home think of it and confer about it and when you come again attend upon the word and so spend the whole day in hearing reading meditating and conference about good things Calling your family to account and praying again and see how tiresom this will be unto your hearts if they be carnal But now a spiritual heart will call the Sabbath a delight unto it And the Sabbath unto such an one is no other than that type and fore runner of that eternal day of rest it shall enjoy in the kingdom of heaven one that is spiritual accounts the Sabbath to be a day of rest but an earthly man is quickly tired in spiritual things he will give over his work and not go through it we reade in the 4. of Nehe. 6. verse Nehemiah having spoken of the great difficulties that they met withal in their work and yet saith he the work went on for they bad a mind to it So look how a mans mind is so he will be able to go through his work If a man be an earthly-minded man such a man will go through stich with his work If he take up businesse for the world he will go through with it for he hath a mind to it he is a man of an earthly mind But let him take in hand a spiritual work and he will lay it aside before it be half done he will seldom bring to perfection any spiritual work why because he hath no mind to it whereas were the heart spiritual and there were any spiritual work undertaken such a one would go through with it till all was finished Another note about the discription of an earthly-minded man is this An earthly-minded man is one that doth conceive of the most heavenly Truths that are revealed in the Word in an earthly way according to his mind his genious and disposition of his own heart And I verily think this is in a special manner meant in this place for the Apostle is speaking of those that did oppose him in his Ministery and that were enemies to the Crosse of Christ Now saith he These mind earthly things their mindes are of an earthly temper and therefore no marvell as if he should say though they do not savour those Heavenly and Spiritual Truths that we bring to them for their minds being earthly they only apprehend those things after an earthly manner As now what was the great Truth that the Apostle did bring to the Philippians It was the way of reconciling the world to God of making our peace with God and of our Justification through Jesus Christ Now there is no point of Religion more Spiritual Heavenly and Divine than the Doctrin of Reconciliation and of Justification by Jesus Christ So that one that is of an earthly disposition though he may be convinc'd of a necessity of pardon of sin and peace with God yet he apprehends the making of his peace with God and obtaining pardon of his sin but in an earthly manner he hath carnal thoughts and apprehensions about his peace with God and about obtaining pardon of sin he thinks it is the same way that one man obtains peace with another when he is fallen out and of getting pardon from another man that he hath offended he conceives it in an earthly way he looks upon his making
tells them so Those that walk with God wil be as spiritual in the one as in the other it may be when they are with others because they are to be the mouth of others they wil sure themselves according to those they pray with yet when they are alone and in their families their hearts are as spiritual and as holy in their duties as when they are with others why because they have to deal with God in all and that 's another Evidence of one that walks with God that he is the same in private as he is in publick The third Evidence A man that walks with God hath a serious spirit walking with God will compose the spirits of men and women will take off that loosness and vanity of spirit Therefore walking in the vanity of the mind that 's quite crosse to walking with God as in the 4. of the Ephe. 17. there it 's spoken of wicked men it 's said that they walk in the vanity of their minds All wicked men they walk in the vanity of their minds then all those that walk with God walk in the seriousness of their minds It must needs be that they must have a seriousness of spirit in all their waies for it 's with God that they have to deal withal they take not that liberty to run this way or that way as others do If servants be walking one with another they can take liberty to go out of their way and talk with this or the other body as they please But if a servant walk with his Master or Mistris he must not take that liberty but must go as they go So many that walk only with the creature they take liberty to run up and down as they please but those that walk with God they must have composed spirits and walk seriously and though they may walk seriously yet cheerfully I beseech you consider of this For that Christian knows not the way of Christian-rejoycing that doth not know how to mix it with seriousness yea Senecha that was a Heathen could say Joy it is a serious thing there is a kind of seriousness in true joy for the joy of a Christian is not frothy it is a composed joy As thus now It 's serious First A Christian in his joy he is able to command himself he can let out his joy so far and yet at a beck he can command himself to the most spiritual duty in the world from his joy he doth not profusely let out his heart so as he cannot call it in again Certainly thou dost not joy as a Christian if thou canst not take off thy heart from creature joyes God gives thee liberty to be merry but so as to have it under thy command as thou shalt be able to call thy heart off from it to the most serious duty in the world Secondly He cannot only command himself to holy duties in the midst of his joy but he finds himself the fitter for holy duties by it now this is a serious joy if it be no other than I can command my self off from it and that that fits me for that which is holy Christians had need take heed of frothinesse slightnesse and vanity for certainly the walking with God cannot but make them serious and those that are slight and vain surely they do not converse with God for God is such a serious object that it 's impossible but it must work a seriousnesse in the spirits of men The Fourth Evidence Those that walk with God they walk in newness of life For this is not our walk naturally our walking with God is that that comes upon a mighty converting that God gives to our spirits our walk naturally it is with our lusts and with the Devil and in the way to Hell but one that walks with God walks in newnesse of life as the Scripture speaks in the 6. Rom. 4. He walk according to the Rule of the new Creature In the 6. Gal. 16. And as many as walk according to this Rule peace be on them and mercy You will say What Rule doth the Apostle mean here I confesse ordinarily you have it applied to this The walk according to the Scriptures I grant it that 's a truth That the Word of God should be the Rule of our walk and of our lives and those that walk according to that Rule shall have peace But I do not think that to be the meaning of this text but the scope is to be taken from the words of the former verse for saith he in the 15. verse In Christ Jesus neither Circumcision availeth any thing nor Vncircumcision but a new Creature And as many as walk according to this rule that is According to the rule of the new Creature not standing so much upon external things either Circumcision or Uncircumcision not standing so much upon outward duties though in their kind they must be stood upon But the main thing that is to be stood upon it is The walk of the new Creature and those that walk according to the rule of the new Creature those that act the new Creature in their walk peace be unto them And that 's the fourth thing in the Evidences of a Walker with God He walks in newness of life and so according to the rule of the new Creature The Fifth Evidence When he hath to deal with the Creature be doth quickly passe through the Creature unto God Any one I say that is acquainted with this mystery of godliness in walking with God though while he is in this world he hath to deal as other men have with the creatures yet he will not stick in the creatures but soon passes from the creatures to God As thus he receives sweetness from the creatures as well as others but when he hath received or is in receiving the sweetness of the creatures his heart is upon God Oh the sweetness there is in God! Is the creature so sweet how sweet is God then When he is in company with friends is it so sweet to have society with men how sweet is it to have society with God then And when he hath comforts in a wife Oh what comfort is there in the comforts of my Husband Jesus Christ And when he hath comfort in a sweet habitation Oh what comfort is there in God our habitation he is not musling in the world in the creature but he relies upon God in al that he doth injoy Now those that when they have any thing in the Creature there they stick these are not acquainted with this way of walking with God The sixth Evidence A man that walks with God he loves to be much retir'd from the world It 's true he must follow his occasions in the world he doth that in obedience unto God but except he may have his retired times he knows not how to live it 's true when he is in his calling he walks with God there he carries his heart Heavenly There 's
points of saving knowledge they speak like children so that one would wonder where their understandings were now turn such men to the matters of the world Oh! how wise are they in their generation Oh! how subtile and crafty are they they can see an objecton there and know how to answer it they can discern any thing that will let them in their profit many miles off and can prevent whereas others cannot but now in those things that hinder their souls they cannot foresee things there they are wise in their generation and they have memories for the matters of the world they can understand things and remember things and they can meditate there but put them to meditate on a point of Religion they are presently at a stand Let me appeal to you do not your consciences tell you that in the matter of the world when you are walking from hence to London you can run in your thoughts upon one business all the way that you walk you can plot this and contrive the other way and foresee this and the other objection and answer it thus in your own thoughts but I do but put this to you when you walk over the fields settle but upon one meditation concerning Christ and see whether you are able to draw out that meditation the while you walk over one field whereas you can spin out an earthly meditation if it were divers miles when you awake in the night season presently your thoughts are upon the things of the world and you can draw them out and work there understandingly but now in the things of God Oh! how barren and simple and weak are you there there 's scarce any one can over-reach you in the things of the world but in the matters of Religion you are over-reach't presently every slight temptation overcomes you there 6. Conv. And besides you may know it by the discourse and words of men 1. John 4. 5. They are of the world therefore speak they of the world and the world heareth them Their breath is earthly Oh! it 's an ill sign that you use to say of your friends sometimes when you come to their bed side Oh! I am afraid they will die their breath smels so earthly it 's a simptom of the death of the bodie So your hearts do smel so earthly and it were somewhat tolerable if it were on other daies when your callings requires it to discourse of businesse but even that time that God hath set apart for himself you are sometimes discoursing in your own thoughts concerning the businesses of the world when you are praying and hearing whereas the communication and discourses of men should relish of what they have heard out of the world not presently to go and talk about some earthly exchange occurrances and so loose all Oh! it 's this that hath lost many precious truths it may be when you have been hearing God hath darted in some beam of Gospel-light into your souls and you have lost is before you have got home and so have come to loose the impression of the truth that you have heard Oh! what a seemly thing were it in those that come to hear the word when they depart that there should be no discourse but tending that way Oh! how often are you in company and never leave any thing to refresh one anothers spirits or to further one another in the way to eternal life though God gives you allowance to speak about your business yet still if you be spiritual and heavenly he would have you to have something about heaven or eternal life before you do depart 7. Conv A. further Convincement is this When Spiritual things must give way to Earthlyness upon every little business Prayer must pay for it if I have any businesse I will take it out of the time of Paayer or converse in the Word the less or hear the lesse when as I say that earthly things are so high as spiritual things must give way Heaven must stand by as ir were til Earth be served this is an evil sign of an earthly spirit whereas were the spirit Heavenly the very first thing that thou would do when thou awakest in the morning or arisest should be to season thy heart with somthing that were spiritual in Psal 139. 17. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me O God! how great is the sum of them If I count them they are more in number than the sand when I awake I am still with thee Oh! that were an argument of a spiritual mind that upon the awaking presently to be with God When I awake I am still with thee But now I appeal to you Who are you withal when you awake Can you say Lord when I awake I am still with thee I find an inclination in my spirit to be upon the matters of Heaven and when I am up I had rather my worldly business should give way than spiritual duties 8. Conv. When a man or woman cares not much how it is with the Church with the Kingdom of Jesus Christ so it be well with them in the matters of the world when as there are things stirring abroad in the world for we live in stirring times wherein God is shaking the Heavens and the Earth now he doth not much enquire how things are in respect of the Priviledges of the Saints the Ark of the Church so his Cabbin be safe Truly there need no oeher thing but the examning of your hearts how they have been these last years of Jacobs trubles We find Eli in the time of war he sat trembling because of the Ark of God he did not sit trembling because that if the Philistims did prevaile he should be put out of his place and his estate taken away no but because of the Ark of God that was an argument of the spiritualnesse of Eli's mind And so it may be an argument of very great comfort to you in these dangerous times If our consciences tell us this that God that knowes all things knowes that the great thing my heart was solicitous about in these evill dayes it was What shall become of thy great Name Lord what shall become of Religion what shall become of thy Gospel Lord these were the things that took up my heart not so much what should become of my estate and outward accommodations and relations in this world Oh! examine your hearts in this Whether the care of your spirts be more for the furtherance of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ or for the furtherance of your Estates but for that man or woman that is most solicitous about businesse that concerns their outward estates and do not much care how Religion goes how the way of the Kingdom of Christ is maintai'd God at this time doth speak to that soul Thou art an Earthly-minded man or woman and therefore take heed lest what hath been spoken concerning the great evil that there is in earthly-mindednesse lest it befals thee and especially
and Heaven in our examination come with prepared hearts to let in the Truths God shall reveal unto us the rather because we see such holy godly men have imbraced those truths before us when precious Gospel-Truths are delivered to us by the hands of the servants of Jesus Christ then those very Truths in our eye are like apples of gold in pictures of silver as beautiful as golden fruit in silver dishes Sixtly The example of godly men should prevail thus far as after we have examined and found their way to be according to the Truth indeed then their example should confirm us in the Truth should help to settle us more in the Truth should comfort and encourage us in such and such holy courses because we find not only that we are convinc'd of it and we see it to be the way of God and have experience of it but others see it and they are convinc'd of it others that are so godly they find much communion with God in it now this should mightily strengthen and further us in that we go on in the same way that the Saints of God go on in And indeed it should be a very great grief to any godly man that he should differ from other godly men though it cannot be but that we should differ sometimes because we are imperfect here yea and sometimes a weak Christian knows that which a strong Christian may be ignorant of I say it fals out so sometimes that God in some things reveals himself to those that are weak and hides himself from those that are strong so that here in this world it cannot otherwise be expected for the present till the time that the New Jerusalem shall be let down from God out of Heaven and then the Saints will be all of one mind and walk all in one way but till then there cannot be expected but that there should be different waies of the Saints but yet I say it should be a very great heart-trouble to godly men to see that they are necessitated to go in different waies from other godly men and on the other side a great encouragment and strengthening when the Saints go on in one way together with their faces towards heaven CHAP. II. What 's to be done when Examples of Godly men are contrary IF you say What should we do when we have contrary examples and both sides godly men ye very godly men whose Conversation is in Heaven some go one way and others as godly as they go another way what shall people do then when they see that either way holy men go in Ans To that I answer only these two things First God by this means puts you to more strict examination of things and doth teach you by this that every Christian though never so weak yet should have a bottom and ground for their faith and practice out of the Word themselves and never did God teach this lesson more strongly than now he doth that we should all of us not satisfie our selves in any point of Religion nor in any practice of Religion but what we can our selves find and feel footing for out of the Word In former times Christians were very much led by examples and a few examplary godly professors would carry all the well affected in those places with them all that did pretend towards godliness would be very loth to go in a different way to some eminent godly men but though perhaps their affections were good and God may accept of their good affections yet certainly they were not so grounded and established in the truth as God would have them but now the Lord seems to go another way with his people and puts every one the weakest the meanest servant to search and to find out the truth themselves and to have the knowledge of it themselves and we hope the time is at hand for the fulfilling of that promise That all the people shall be taught of God shall be taught to understand themselves what are the reasons and grounds of the practice of Religion and those tenents and opinions which they hold and when people come to understand the grounds themselves they have a great deal more strength and they will come to be established more than formerly they have been this good will come of it Secondly When you see examples on both sides go contrary one unto the other and both godly yet examine but this Which way hath most earthly inducements for that way that hath most earthly inducements to draw or bias the heart that way lies under the most suspision for men that are godly yet they are but godly in part and though they may be as godly as other men in some other things yet there may be a temptation the temptation for Earthly contentment if it lies more one way than the other you are to be more wary of one than the other But that we may passe this point because it is but from the coherance by way of use but in a word or two CHAP. I Rebuke of those that follow the example of the wicked and reject the example of the godly IF the example of men whose Conversation is in Heaven is to be followed hence then are to be rebuked those that rather follow the example of wicked and ungodly ones if they be great or learned or the example of the multitude will rather follow the example of any than the example of those whose Conversation is in Heaven thou doest thus and thus and yet say Do not others do so but who are they that do so can you say in your consciences that you think that they that do so have their Conversations in Heaven you will do as they do If there be any example that you will follow they should be such that you can take it upon your consciences that these are the men who have their Conversations above you will do as others do in drinking swearing Sabbath-breaking and in all manner of prophaness have these their Conversations in Heaven Certainly you that do so you follow the example of those who have their Conversations in hell But it may be you have some neighbors live by you whose Conversations are blameless yea they are Heavenly and when you are in your good moods your consciences witness to them and you could wish that you might die the death of the righteous are there not some that live in the same families streets or towns where you live that though sometimes your hearts are against them you oppose them and scorn them and speak against them yet when you are in any good temper or afraid of death then you could wish that you were as they are and might die their death now will you not follow their example but rather the example of others whose examples are in such things as are sutable to your vile sinful and base lusts We know that these examples of holie men shall rise up in judgment against you another day
Not only to do the same thing to make the will of God to be the rule of it But to have the same ends that God hath What 's the end that God hath in all his waies Surely it is that his blessed Name may be magnified that his glory may be set forth I 'le drive on the same design that shall be the great design of my life it 's that that my soul shall aim at as the highest end of all things and all things shall be subordinate to this end even The glory and honor of God it 's that that God aims at and therefore that which I 'le aim at thus the soul goes along with God as now A man may be said to go along with another man when they do both drive on the same designs Oh! this is a blessed thing indeed We shall speak to that hereafter but the very opening what it is shews much of the excellency of it and I beseech you as you go along examine your own hearts see whether by the very mentioning of these things you be not strangers to God examine by the workings of God in bringing your souls to walk with him or otherwise by the way of the soul in eying God in behaving its self as in the presence of God in making the Will of God to be its rule and in driving on the design that God doth Walking with God is the observing the administrations of God and suting the soul to them Fifthly It is the observing of the several administrations of God and the suting of the soule to the several administrations of God in the world I open that thus God sometimes seems to work in one way sometimes in another way now the soul that walks with God observes which are the several waies and administrations of God in the world and let me saith the soul labor to sute my heart with them that 's thus sometimes the Lord is in a way of judgments in the world heavie and dreadful afflictions yea sometimes against his own Saints and People then let me sute my heart according to this Oh Lord we will wait upon thee in the waies of thy judgments saith the Church in Isa Are we under Gods way of judgments in a way of afflictions Lord we will sute our selves to honor thee there according to that way we will labor to exercise those graces that are sutable to these administrations of thine And Lord art thou in a way of mercy we will sute our selves accordingly and labor to draw forth and exercise our graces that are sutable to those waies of thine And art thou in a way of affliction in my family or in a way of mercy Lord I will labor to exercise those graces that are sutable to those waies of thine This is to walk with God As when we walk with a man if he turn this way then I set my self to go with him and if he turns another way then I sute my self to go with him that way so though the waies of God be never so variōus yet the soul that walks with God is sutable to those waies of God Oh this is a great Art a great Mystery to sute a mans self to these several administrations of God in the world You shall have some that if God go in a way of mercy Oh there they can bless praise God and they think that this is to walk with God but if God turns his back upon thee and takes away thy choisestearthly comfort it may be thy deerest yoke-fellow so comes in a way of affictions how canst thou sute with Gods waies then When God was in a way of mercy then my exercise was in joy and thanksgiving and speaking good of his Name but now the Lord is in a way of afflictions now I exercise faith on God now I exercise patience now I exercise Christian wisdom to know what good I can get out of this hand of God that what courses soever God takes yet still a Christian hath several graces to exercise in several conditions and that not only while God is in a smooth path the soul can exercise Joy and Thanksgiving speaking good of his Name But let God go into a rugged path of very great afflictions yet the soul doth sute it's self unto God according to his several administrations this is to walk with God Walking with God is To have a Holy Dependance upon God Opened in Four Particulars Sixthly Walking with God it is To have a holy dependance upon God in all his waies For one to live in a holy dependance upon God for these Four things First In a holy dependance upon God for Direction Oh lead me in the way of thy truth When a Christian looks up to God and depends upon him in the constant course of his life depends upon him for direction Oh Lord teach me thy way Lord lead me in the way of everlasting life Lord send forth thy light and thy truth to guide me Thou shalt be my guide even unto death when the soul dare not go one step further then it sees God going before it and therefore it saith Lord lead me guide me I beseech you examine as you go along can you say that in the course of your lives this you find That you walk in a holy dependance upon God for guidance and direction in every step whatsoever you meddle with yet your walk is thus in a holy dependance upon God for direction in your bufiness and according as the business is of lesse or greater conscequence the heart works more after God for guidance and direction for that business But now the men of the world they are afraid that God should lead them into hard paths into ttoublesom waies and therefore they are shy of Gods Guidance this is the way of wicked hearts I say they are shy of the guidance and direction of God but a gracious heart saith let God lead me and let the way be what it will The wicked are guided by their own thoughts by their own counsels by the examples of other men what 's most sutable to their own ends but the way of the Saints is this Lord guide me Secondly Their holy dependance upon God it is for protection to protect them in what they do Lord I am in the way that thou hast guided me into I may meet with much trouble and affliction but Lord do thou protect me do thou defend me in this way of thine As the child walking with the father if he hears any noise that doth scare him he looks up to the father and depends upon his father to be protected So when a child of God shall in all his waies walk in a holy dependance upon God for protection this is to walk with God Thirdly The soul depends upon God for assistance in any thing that it undertakes Lord this is the work that thou callest me to Oh let me have strength from thy self in
a great deal of difference for one to walk with a friend in company with others and when they are alone though it 's true that while the Saints of God live in the world they must converse with the men of the world and they have somewhat of God there but though they have somewhat of God there yet that 's not so much as when God and their souls are alone this is that that is exceeding sweet and comfortable to them therefore they have their retired times of meditation and retired times of prayer as we reade of Isaac he went out into the field to meditate or to pray for so meditation and prayer is taken sometimes in Scripture for all one I 'le powr forth my meditations to thee sath David that was his prayer So because they should be both joyned together Isaac went out into the field to meditate Those that walk with God if they live in a house and have no retir'd rooms they go abroad and have some time or other to be retir'd by themselves where-as you have other men they know not how to spend any retired times when they are alone their minds wander this way or that way and they gaze after every feather that flies and it 's a prison for them to be alone and they wonder that men and women will shut up themselves alone surely it 's but their melanchollinesse Oh poor wretch thou knowest not what walks they have they are not alone all this time they would be loth to give their retired times for all the times of thy Jollity and Bravery Thou thinkest if thou beest abroad in company and there art feasting and having good cheer and musick and talking and laughing that this is a brave life they would be loth to change their retired times for the times of thy greatest Jolity with thy companions One that walks with God he loves some retir'd times as well as to be busie in the businesse of the world The seventh Evidence One that walks with God he is careful to make even his accompts with God he doth keep his accompts with God even This is a special thing in walking with God when they lie down to consider Are my accompts even with God is there nothing amisse between God and my soul what hath been this day between God and my soul For how can two walk together except they be agreed as the Prophet saith Therefore they are very careful to keep their agreement with God Indeed Jesus Christ the great Reconciler hath first reconciled their souls to God and so they come to walk with him but then afterwards in the course of their lives they must keep up their agreement with God and not to run in areriges with and so to be insnared in the world and insnared in the corruptions of their own hearts as that men and women will be if they be not careful to keep their accompts with God even daily They will insnare their souls in the world and in the lusts of their own hearts till God and their souls come to be strangers yea til they be afraid almost to think of God Here 's the reason that many people are loth to come to prayer loth to come to duties of communion with God why because they have not kept their accompts even with God but have run in areriges with God and their hearts are intangled in the world and in their lusts and now the presence of God comes to be terrible to them Oh poor wretch that thou art what thou that art a Christian and yet in such a case that the presence of God should be grievous to thee Oh thy condition is sad indeed whereas thou shouldst be glad when thou thinkest of God I was glad when they said Come let us go up to the house of the Lord But one that keeps not his accompts with God even his retired times are grievous to him Indeed he dares not but have retired times I but it 's grievous to him why because he hath not kept his accompts even with God But the soul that keeps even with God Oh that soul rejoyceth in those times when it is to go to God or doth but think of God That 's a special thing in a man or womans walking with God they keep their accompts even And I beseech you observe it As it 's an Evidence so it may be given as a Rule to help you to walk with God Oh be careful of keeping your accompts daily Though this point that I am treating upon is perhaps little understood by many yet if so be that God would by his Spirit work your hearts to this to keep your accompts even with God you would know more of the meaning of this point The eighth Evidence That the more spiritual any Truth is or any Ordinance is or any Company is the more doth the soul delight in it One that is used to God and converses with God when such a one meets with a Truth that hath much of God in it Oh how it closes with that Truth when it meets with an Ordinance that hath much of God in it when it meets with Company that hath much of God in it how doth this soul delight in it This is sutable to the heart that converses much with God saith the soul I have had sweet walks with God now me thinks I come into such a Company I see the very Image of God in these and Oh how sweet and delightsom are these to me and so for Truths and Ordinances the more spiritual they are the more such a one doth delight in them whereas a carnal heart that walks according to the flesh in the way of the world if there be some Truths that have some kind of humanity in them as now some sollid discourse that shews strength of reason or strength of judgment in a Sermon he will take delight in that if there be any Wit Rhetorick Eloquence he takes delight in that but for spiritual truths there 's no such delight in them except they be cloathed with some humane excellency But now those that are spiritual the more spiritual any thing is the more delight they take in it As for Ordinances they are but dry meat to those that are carnal except there be something external bring the Ordinances in the plain simplicity of the Gospel to them where there is only communion of Saints sitting about a Table and eating a piece of bread and drinking a little wine they see no excellency there But a gracious heart the lesse of man he sees in an Ordinance and the more of God the more he closes with them and takes delight in them here 's one now that walks with God The Ninth Evidence A man that walks with God is one that walks in all the Commandements of God Endeavours to walk in them before him and blameless before men in the 1. of Luke the 6. it 's said of Zacharias and Elizabeth They were both righteous
before God walking in all the Commandements and Ordinances of the Lord blameless here 's a walking with God not only to walk in some one thing but in all Commandements and Ordinances of God and not only so but blameless before men too though it 's true the chief work that he hath it is in converse with God yet he is careful so as to be blameless before men because it concerns much the honor of God that he should be blameless before men Zacharias and Elizabeth they were walkers with God and their lives are described so that they were conscionable in all the Commands of God and walked blameless before men Now as we go along apply it Can you say Lord Thou that knowest al things knowest that there 's no command of thine nor no Ordinance of thine but my soul closes with and I desire to spend my life in them and to walk blamelesly before men There 's a great many that speak much of walking before God and of the Ordinances of God and yet come to them before men and they are careless and negligent do but hearken to what the Lord speaks this day to thee Certainly thou never knewest what it was to walk with God except thou doest walk blamelesly before men too The Tenth Evidence Opened in five Particulars See but how the Scripture describes the walk of the Saints with God there are some four or five particulars that I shal infist upon wherein I shal open some Scriptures describing the Saints walk with God As first Their walk it is a walk of Humility a way very humble The heart that walks with God must needs be very humble in the presence of God you know the place in the 6. of Micah He hath shewn thee O man what he would have thee to do To walk humbly with thy God that 's more than the offering of thousands of Lambs or ten thousand Rivers of Oyl To walk humbly with thy God A proud man or woman never knows what it is to walk with God But the walking with God causes much humility there 's no such thing in the world to humble the heart of a man as to have converse with God do you see a man proud and haughty and high in his carriage surely you may conclude this man hath little converse with God saith Job I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear but now have mine eyes seen thee what then I abhor my self in dust and ashes Secondly Another thing that the Scripture speaks of the walk of a Christian with God it is Vprightness Walk before me and he upright I might give you twenty Scriptures for that how uprightness is the walk of a Christian with God I 'le give you only one about this and that is in the 3 Epist of John 3. verse there it is exprest in the new Testament by walking in the truth and so sometimes in the Old the walking in Vprightness and walking in the Truth is somewhat the same I rejoyced greatly saith the Apostle when the Brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee even as thou walkest in the truth So that this surely hath reference unto walking according to the truth of the Gospel in the truth and sincerity of our hearts They testified of the truth that is in thee That is The Word of the Gospel that did prevail in thy heart and prevailing in thy heart thou didst walk-in the strength and power of that Truth and according to the truth here 's a walking with God And no marvel though the soul of this man was in so good a condition as indeed it was for you find in the 2. verse of this Epistle a very strange expression of John concerning this Gaius what doth he say of him I wish saith he above al things that then mayest prosper and be in health even as thy soul prospereth It seems this Gaius had but a poor weak sickly body but a very good soul he was and saith John I wish that thou mayest prosper even as thy soul prospereth Oh! that thou hadst but as good a body as a soul It 's a very strange speech It were a curse to many of you I am afraid But John could say concerning Gaius Oh that this man Gaius had as good a body as he hath a soul And how came he to have his soul to prosper He walked in the truth and according to the truth and al that he did was in the truth and sincerity of his heart hence his soul came to prosper and those that have but very weak parts yet if they walk in the truth their souls will prosper The Third thing is Walking in the fear of God And indeed these two are very neer a kin one to another so you have it in the 5. of Nehe. 9. verse Also I said it is not good that ye do Ought ye not to WALK in the fear of our God and he gives an argument there Because of the reproach of the Heathen So may I say to all Christians that would professe themselves Christians and godly ought not ye to walk in the fear of our God whatsoever other men do they do thus and thus and seek to follow their own ends and waies but ought not YE to walk in the fear of our God that 's the walk of a Christian the fear of God it is continually upon him And observe we reade in the 9. of the Acts of the walk of the Christians in the Primitive times upon which they came so to grow up in the waies of godliness as they did at the 31. verse the text saith Then had the Churches rest throughout all Judea and Gallilee and Samaira and were edified and what then They walked in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the holy Ghost and so came to be multiplied It 's an excellent Scripture would you be built up in godliness let the fear of God be upon you and if you walk in the fear of God you will walk in the joy of the holy Ghost Obj. You will say Fear that may hinder our Joy Ans No But the way to have true joy in the holy Ghost it is To walk in the fear of God and though you have a company of vain and wanton spirits that are nothing but for Jolity and Mirth they cannot admit of any kind of seriousness that we spake to before But certainly their Jolity it 's but frothy and carnal but those have the best Joy in their hearts that walk most in the fear of God When I see a Christian have the fear of God upon him and that in the whol course of his life then he will have much of the comfort of the holy Ghost Fourthly The comfort of the holy Ghost it 's joyned with the fear of God and if you see any that talk never so much of the joy that they have it 's but a frothy carnal joy except the fear of God be upon them Oh
the last of all Whose end is destruction who art drown'd in perdition lest hereafter this be the thing that thou shalt lie crying out of and cursing thy self for Oh! I had a base and earthly heart and sought the things of the earth and made my portion there and in the mean time the blessed God hath been forsaken and I have lost my Portion in the Holy Land for I had my portion in Egypt among the Egyptians accoding as I did choose to my self 9. Conv. That the more spiritual any truth is that is reveal'd the less doth it take with his heart Some truths of Religion perhaps he is moved with but these are as by-by-words to him he minds them not at at all The more spiritual an Ordinance is that is delivered the lesse is his spirit moved with it if indeed he comes to the Word and there be mingled some earthly natural excellencie for so I may call it as natural parts wisdom wit and eloquence and learning that he is mov'd withal it may be some fine story is more pleasing to him than the goodly pearls of truth that are revealed in the word as now such truths as these The enjoyment of communion with God the longing after Jesus Christs coming the living by faith upon a bare promise the excellencie that there is in suffering for Jesus Christ These truths now are spiritual The mortifying of the inward lusts Self-denial These things are little savored by an earthly-minded man tell him of the priviledges of the Saints the mysteries of the Gospel any thing that is spiritual it is but as a notion to him As 't is with men that are upon the earth they look up to Heaven and see the things of Heaven but little why is it that the Stars seem so smal to us here but because we are upon the earth the earth seems a vast bodie to us but the Stars seem but little to us though they are far bigger than the earth were we in Heaven then the heavenly bodies would seem vast to us and the earthly bodies would scarce be discerned by us were mens hearts heavenly all the things of the earth would seem little to them but because they are earthly therefore the things of heaven and spiritual mysteries are very small in their eyes CHAP. IV. Seven Reasons of mens Earthly-mindedness I Shall now proceed unto the Reasons of the Point Why is it that mens hearts are so much set upon the earth to mind earthly things I give you briefly these Reasons for it First The things of the earth appear real to them but spiritual and heavenly things be but a notion Now that that hath reality in it takes with the heart most though men are deceived in this for the Scripture speaks of spiritual things as the only real things and earthly things as that that hath no being at all in Prov. 23. 15. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not speaking of the riches of the world it hath no reality at all in it But in the 8. Prov. 20. 21. I lead in the way of righteousness in the midst of the paths of Judgment That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance to inherit that which is that which hath a being othert hings they are not the honors of the earth are but a fantasie and vain shew you have read of Bernice and Agrippa They came with much Pomp with great Fansie so the original is but to an earthly man these earthly things are real things and therefore he minds them and wisdom is a lye unto a fool Secondly These things they look upon as the present necessary things though the Scripture tels us but of one thing that is necessiary but yet they think that these are present now they may have need of heavenly things hereafter They may have need of reconciliation with God pardon of sin peace of conscience and such things they may have need of them that is when they depart out of this life Oh! the infinite folly of most hearts to think that there is no present necessity of spiritual and heavenly things whereas indeed our life consists in them for the present This is eternal life we may come here in this world to enjoy eternal life but the generality of people they look upon all spiritual things only as our good for the future when we go from hence and are seen no more Thirdly These things are most sutable to mens hearts It 's no wonder that they mind earthly things They are of the earth and from the earth they have nothing but the first Adam in them now the first man was from the earth earthly The truth is the happiness of mans estate even in innocency in the morning of the day of his creation in comparison of the things that are now reveal'd by the Gospel was but earthly take man when he was in Paradice that Paradice was but earthly but then take man in his fallen and corrupt estate then he must needs be earthly and every thing closes with that that is sutable to it comfort it doth not come so much from the goodness of a thing but from the sutablness of the object with the facultie Now the things of the earth they are sutable to men that are of the earth and therefore they mind them the heart will abundantly run out upon that which is sutable to it Fourthly These things of the earth have a very fair shew in the flesh they have a kind of goodly appearance in the eye of sence yea and in the eye of that reason that is now corrupted by sin we have a most elegant expression of these earthly things and earthly minded men having their hearts set upon these things it is in the 6. to the Gal. 12. verse As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh saith the Scripture the words are to signifie when a man looks smug and neat as you shall have some men dresse themselves curiously and having handsom bodys they look so trim fine handsom and very brave to the eye of all that do behold them So saith he these men that are the false teachers they desire to make a fair shew in the flesh that is they look upon the things of the flesh as those things that are very brave to the eye and they love to have all things so compleat about them that they may look smug and carry themselves with such beauty before the world Oh! this is their happiness this they take content in they seem to have fine estates and to have brave cloathing and all curious things about them this looks so brave in the eyes of the world and therefore it is that their hearts are upon them they are here enemies to the Crosse of Christ they think suffering for Christ poverty disgrace looks but untowardly But now those that desire to make a fair shew in the flesh that would have their countenances well wash'd
the Lord will condemn you from their example and say Did not such and such live in the familie and place where you liv'd and did not you behold their holie and gracious Conversation and shall the example of such and such vile wretches be followed rather than the example of my Saints I say this will stop your mouthes and aggravate your condemnation in the great Audit-day Some there are that are so far from following the example of those whose Conversations are in Heaven as they rage and fret against them and do what they can to darken the glorie of their holie lives and if they can but have any misreport of them they will follow it what possibly they can to the end that they might eclipse the holiness of their lives that so they may stop their own consciences whereas were there not something to darken the luster and beautie of the lives of the Saints certainlie mens hearts would condemn them for walking in contrarie waies unto them and therefore for relief of their consciences that they may not condemn them for walking in waies contrary to them they do what they can to spew upon their glory and are glad if they can hear any ill report of them and will follow them to their uttermost and all because their corrupt hearts are against the holiness of their lives and Conversations And then lastly Let those that profess Religion labor to walk so as their examples may be convincing others Is there such a power in holy examples to prevail with men you that profess Religion make this an argument to work upon your hearts that your Conversation may be more in Heaven that so your example may do the more good in the place where you live you that profess Religion and yet have earthly spirits and live scandalouslie and vilie Oh know you live to do as much mischief almost as a man can do in this world no greater mischief than for one to profess Religion and yet for his Conversation to be wicked and ungodly and so to give the Lye to his profession But for that we spake to heretofore when we treated upon that Scripture Only let your Conversation be as becomes the Gospel CHAP. IV. Two Doctrines observed from the Text. THus we proceed to the principal Doctrinal Truths For our Conversation is in Heaven Our Citie Conversation our Citizen-like behavior or Citie Burges estate for so the word signifies our carriage like free denizens it is in Heaven now from thence you have First That the Saints are the Citizens of Heaven Secondly That their behavior and Conversation even while they are in this world it is in Heaven For the first but briefly to make way to the second The Saints of God they are the Citizens of Heaven they are all free Denizens Burgesses of Heaven In the 2. Ephes 19. there you may see how God hath gathered all the Saints together to be fellow-Citizens of Heaven Now therefore ye are no more strangers and forreigners but fellow Citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God They have an Heavenly Citie here in the Church the Church it is a Heaven to the Saints and as a type of that Heaven that they shal come into to live for ever both with the Saints and Angels hereafter And in the 11. Heb. 10. it 's spoken of Abraham He sojourned in the Land of Promise as in a strange Country dwelling in Tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob the heirs with him of the same Promise for he looked for a City which hath foundations whose builder and maker is God It seems then that all the Cities in the world in comparison of this Citie have no foundations Abraham looked for a Citie that hath foundations and whose builder and maker is God The builders and makers of these Cities are men the founders of the most famous Cities in this world have been men and manie times wicked and ungodlie men are the builders of them The first Citie that we reade of was built by Cain The builders and makers I say of these Cities are men laboring men But Abraham look'd for a Citie that had foundations whose builder and maker is God And in the 12. Heb. 22. But ye are come unto mount Sion and unto the City of the living God the Heavenly Jerusalem mark and to an innumerable company of Angels so that you are to have them your fellow Citizens The Heavenly Jerusalem that is here in the Church which is in comparison of Jerusalem that was in Canaan called the Heavenly Jerusalem so that they are Citizens of Heaven even as they are Members of the Church the Saints of God here in the Church are said to dwell in Heaven but in that their Citie there are an innumerable company of Angels also that plainly notes that it hath reference unto the glorious Heaven of the Saints that they are the Citizens of the Saints are the Citizens of Heaven there they dwell in the 13. of the Revelation 6 and 8. verses this would serve for proof of this thing and so for the other point that remains That their Conversation it is in Heaven And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God to blaspheme his Name and his Tabernacle and them that dwell in Heaven And it was given unto him to make war with the Saints and to overcome them Now these were not in Heaven that is in their bodies they were not in Heaven for the present But they are said to dwell in Heaven because they are of the Church here and they are free Denizens of Heaven too of the Heaven of the Saints that they shall live in hereafter in a more glorious way They are Now Citizens of it and they may be said to dwell in Heaven as we shall see afterward in the opening of their Conversations being in Heaven CHAP. V. How the Saints are Citizens of Heaven opened in Nine Particulars NOW the Saints are Citizens of Heaven For First Their names are all inrold in Heaven They are written in Heaven in the 10. Luke 20. Rejoyce in this That your names are written in Heaven In Heaven is the Books of life where all the Names of the Saints are written Philip. 4. 3. Whose names saith he are written in the Books of life Secondly The Saints are the Citizens of Heaven for they have Christ their Head gone before to take possession of Heaven in their names therefore they have a right to Heaven As a man may be a Citizen although he should travel in another Country yet his name being inrol'd there and he having possession there he may be said to be a Citizen though he be in a strange land for the present in his body So the Saints have their names inrold in Heaven they have Jesus Christ their head that is gone before in their names to take possession for them and to provide Mantions for them as in the 14. John Thirdly When ever they do actually beleeve they do take up their
by hear-say they hear Ministers speak of Heaven and reade it in the Word of God but they know it in themselves they know it by what God hath revealed in their own hearts yea though tâ—â—â—â— were no books that ever they should see more though they be not book-learn'd and though they cannot reade a letter in the book though they should hear no more Sermons yet by what is revealed in themselves They know in themselves that they have a more better and enduring substance That 's a truth But the words may be more proper to the original read thus Kowing that you have Heaven in your selves a Better and Enduring substance Eternal life is begun alreadie in the hearts of the Saints there is Heaven alreadie in the Saints and therefore no marvel though their Conversations be in Heaven The Fourth Reason God hath so ordered things in this world on purpose that he might wean the hearts of the Saints from the world The Lord loves to have the hearts of his Saints to be in Heaven where he hath treasured up such glorious things for them and because that the Saints while they are here in the world have so much of the world in them they would feign be living here in the world therefore God doth so order things that they shall meet with little content in this world that they may be weary of it and be wearied from it and indeed here 's the reason why Gods people have met with such crosses in the world why the Lord hath kept his Saints so low and mean in the world It may be you are ready to draw ill conclusions from thence and to think I am afraid God doth not love me that he keeps me so low and mean and I meet with such crosses and others do not Oh! gather not such ill conclusions as these are It is because he would gather your hearts to Heaven and wean you from the world that you might long to be with him in Heaven for you are absent from him here in this world and the Lord would have the full stream of your affections to run after those things that you shal have with him in Heaven This use you are to make of those afflictions you meet withal and those crosses that befall you in this world And thus we have gone through the Doctrinal point of the Saints having their Conversations in Heaven CHAP. X. WEE have treated long upon that point of An Heavenly Conversation and have opened to you what that Heavenly Conversation is wherein it consists in many particulars But now we shal proceed to the Application of al. Though as I have gone along I have endeavoured not only to speak to your heads but your hearts and to quicken what I have said so as might quicken your hearts yet from the consideration of all there are divers Uses that may be profitable unto you The First Vse The first is this If the Saints live such a Heavenly Conversation as hath been opened to you Oh how far are they from being Saints from being godly Who are so far from having their Conversations in Heaven as they have their Conversations in Hell There are a generation of men that profess themselves to be Christians say that they hope to go to Heaven and yet if you behold their Conversation it is no other than the Conversation of hell Certainly 't is not what men say but how they live that will cast them another day he that is of Heaven or for Heaven his Conversation is in Heaven and he that is for hell his Conversation is hellish now that 's a Conversation in hell that is like to what is done in hell what is there in hell but blaspheming and cursing What is there in hell but hatred and malice what is there in hell but raging and filthiness These things are the Conversations of many men who are even devils incarnate In many families there 's the Name of God blasphemed there 's cursing and railing and malice and wrath and pride so that though they be here in this world yet they manifest to what place they do belong So that as the Saints have their Conversations in Heaven when they die they go to their own place that is to heaven where their Conversations were so on the contrary the wicked having their Conversations in hell when they die they go to their own place as it was said of Judas He went to his own place So a wicked man dying having his Conversation in hell while he liv'd I say when he dies he goes to his own place that 's his own proper place he took content and delight in those things that were done there and so when he dies there he shall go As the tree falls so it lies As thy Conversation is and the bent of thy heart is there so it must lie to all eternity CHAP. XI The Second Vse THis Point likewise rebukes Hypocrites as wicked prophane ones that have their Conversations in hell so there 's another kind of men that are unsound professors Hypocrites and they have their Conversations between Heaven and Earth It 's not in Heaven nor in Hell nor altogether upon the Earth but between Earth and Heaven and Hell Sometimes they seem to be a loft above sometimes very forward and zealous in the profession of Religion sometimes much inlarged in Duties at other times again they are as base earthly spirits as any yea somtimes there 's much of Hell in their hearts and in their waies they professe themselves the seed of Abraham but they are not as the stars of heaven but as Meteors that are between Heaven and Earth we call them blazing stars but they are not so bright as the stars nor are they of such a heavenly nature as the stars they are but made of a few unclean vapours that come out of the earth which being got up neer the heavens do make a shew as if they were some star in heaven but you find a great deal of difference between the stars and them in this for within a little while they fall and vanish and come to nothing and so it is with many hypocrites they by the Word are raised up a little for the present and seem to be above the stars and they have a glittering shew as if they had somthing heavenly in them even like the stars of heaven they seem to be got above others your blazing star a child would think it a great deal bigger than one of the stars that is an hundred times bigger than that is so 't is with many hypocrites they have a greater shew of Religion than many that have truth of Godliness and that are truly gracious they look upon them as wondering at the excellent parts that they have excellent abilities it may be they will discourse sometimes in an excellent manner about heavenly things you shall find some that have no soundness at all yet will have very excellent discourse they