Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	prayer_n	zeal_n	zealous_a	24	3	9.0891	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A14923	The soules progresse to the celestiall Canaan, or heavenly Jerusalem By way of godly meditation, and holy contemplation: accompanied with divers learned exhortations, and pithy perswasions, tending to Christianity and humanity. Divided into two parts. The first part treateth of the divine essence, quality and nature of God, and his holy attributs: and of the creation, fall, state, death, and misery of an unregenerated man, both in this life and in the world to come: put for the whole scope of the Old Testament. The second part is put for the summe and compendium of the Gospell, and treateth of the Incarnation, Nativity, words, works, and sufferings of Christ, and of the happinesse and blessednesse of a godly man in his state of renovation, being reconciled to God in Christ. Collected out of the Scriptures, and out of the writings of the ancient fathers of the primitive Church, and other orthodoxall divines: by John Welles, of Beccles in the County of Suffolk.	Welles, John, of Beccles.	1639 (1639)	STC 25231; ESTC S119607	276,075	406

counterfeiting and dissembling one may easily deceive and abuse another having one thing secretly hid in his heart when outwardly he saith and doth the contrary upon that is grounded the saying of the Prophet Jeremy Ierem. 17.9 The heart of man is overthwart and who shall know it but there cannot be such a perversity and dissimulation ascribed unto God but when he worketh hee declareth the quality of his nature in his working so that his workes may be most assured testimonies by which the hearts of the faithfull may bee perswaded of his goodnesse and will Esay 28. and although he seeme sometimes to worke contrary to his custome yet that is done to the intent that it shall come to that end which hee hath appointed This is to worke truly and verily according to the quality of his nature and to declare openly to the world the testimony of his good will or anger by word and deed Now there are five kinds of working One is Five kinds of working when things bee wrought according to the strength of their nature without any governance of understanding or will as in the working of fire water medicinall hearbes precious stones and such other things whose working if it bee guided by any reason or will it is not their owne but by some outward either by Gods or mans directions The second kind is of those things which followeth the drift of nature in their working but not without their owne will though the mastery of reason be lacking in them yet such is their working that sometimes it is forced against their will and so worke the bruit beasts The third kind is of men which doe also worke according to the quality of their nature and joyne theirs unto the governance of reason or will but wrong and corrupt and also subject and under a greater power either of man either of God and under this is also comprised the working of evill spirits The fourth is of good Spirits which wee call Angels they worke also according to their nature and that with understanding and will but without any depravation thereof wherein they differ from men and from evill spirits but they are also subject to a superiour power by whom their doings be directed The fift and last kind of working is also according to the nature of the worker Eccles 42.15 c. 43. with understanding and will and that pure and uncorrupt and is not subject unto the wisdome or will of any superiour but is most free wise mighty good and infinite upon whom all other things dependeth This is the working of one very God the beginning increase keeping repairing the rule and end of all things most good most free willing infinite everlasting perfect needing no other helpe No man is able sufficiently to praise God for he farre exceeds all praise necessary and profitable not to the worker but to the workes whose incomprehensible waies infinite multitude and unsearchable consideration no man may seeke to know whose infinite Goodnesse Wisedome Power Majesty and Glory all Angels and men must have in admiration and worship Though the Multitude Variety Majesty and Excellencie of the Workes of God be infinite and incomprehensible that neither the reason nor number of them can bee comprehended by any mans imagination or industry Eccle. 8.17 even as Ecclesiasticus said Yet among all the Workes of God Among Gods workes the worke of Creation is first wee ought first to understand the workes of the Creation and herein wee must leave the consideration of those workes that are of the Father towards the Sonne and of the Sonne towards the Father and of both of them toward the holy Spirit and of the holy Spirit toward both of them which are unsearchable and not necessary to know nor belonging to Creation But it is even enough if the creature doe acknowledge honour and glorifie the workes of his Creator in that that he is the Creator Encreaser Conserver Repairer Governour and Perfecter of all when we say the Father created all things the Word must not bee excluded neither the holy Spirit because that by the Word and with the Spirit all things were made and created When we say the sunne nourisheth and giveth light unto the earth wee exclude not his heate nor his brightnesse without which he doth not accomplish his worke Againe when we say all things are created of God we must not include those things that be evill in respect they be evill for they be not of God Iohn 8.44 but of satan the father of all evill this is the plaine description of our true and onely God from all false gods and idols To possesse our hearts with greater awe of his Majesty whilest we admire him for his simplenesse and infinitnesse adore him for his unmeasurablenesse unchangeablenesse and eternity seeke wisdome from his understanding and knowledge submit our selves to his blessed will and pleasure love him for his love mercy goodnesse and patience trust to his word because of his truth feare him for his power justice and anger reverence him for his holinesse and praise him for his blessednesse and to depend all our life on his faithfull promises who is the onely Authour of our life being and all the good things we have Eph. 5. Let us therefore stirre up our selves to imitate the divine Spirit in his holy Attributes and to beare in some measure the Image of his wisdome love goodnesse justice mercy truth patience zeale and anger against sinne and strive that wee may bee wise loving just mercifull true patient and zealous as our God is and that wee may in our prayers and meditations conceive aright of his divine Majesty and not according to those grosse and blasphemous imaginations which naturally arise in mens braines Psal 90.2 Rom. 1 23 c. as when they conceive God to be like an old man sitting in a chaire and the blessed Trinity to be like that tripartite idoll which Papists set up in their Church windowes When therefore thou art to pray unto God let thy heart speake unto him Psal 90.2 1 King 8.27 1 Iohn 5.7 as unto that Eternall Infinite Almighty Holy Wise Just Mercifull Spirit and most perfect and individuall Essence of three severall substances Father Sonne and holy Ghost who being present in all places ruleth Heaven and Earth understandeth all mens hearts knoweth all mens miseries and is onely able to bestow on us all graces which we want and to deliver all penitent sinners that with faithfull hearts seeke for Christs sake his helpe out of all their afflictions and troubles whatsoever If therefore thou dost believe that God is Almighty why dost thou feare devils or enemies Confidently trust in God and crave his helpe in all troubles and dangers if thou believest that God is infinite how darest thou provoke him to anger If thou believest that God is simple with what heart canst thou dissemble and play the hypocrite

eternall life and wee are sure and believe that thou art Christ the Sonne of the living God and Christ said unto them which believed in him John 8. if you abide in my word you be verily my Disciples and you shall know the truth thereof commeth that assurednesse of faith Note whereof mention is made before In Gods case and Religion all things are blind and doubtfull to mans naturall reason but unto faith they be certaine and cleare and thereby we know that wee be the children of God faith doth take hold of the gifts of God which we doe request of him in prayer the attainment of the which cannot be hoped for nor trusted upon without wee aske in fayth James 1.6 wherefore Saint Iames saith Let him aske in faith doubting nothing for hee that is doubting and wavering is like a wave of the Sea tost to and f●owith the wind and carried with violence And Christ sayth Verily I say unto you Mark 11.23 24 whatsoever you request in your prayers believe that you shall obtaine it and it shall befall unto you Againe fayth doth worke in him that is justified a peaceable quiet good and contented conscience towards God through Christ so the Apostle testifieth saying Therefore being justified by faith Rom. 5. we have peace with God through our Lord Iesus Christ without this fayth it is impossible that wee should have a quiet conscience towards God for as is sayd before that by fayth wee doe apprehend the grace of reconcilement and justification purchased for us in the blood of Christ fayth must needs therefore worke in us the invocation adoration Rom. 10. and worship of him whom wee doe believe in How shall they call upon him sayth the Apostle in whom they have not believed and the blind man which our Saviour made to see when he had sayd Lord I doe believe John 9.38 The confessi●n of truth hee worshipped him immediately in whom he beleeved For by fayth wee doe confesse the truth that is once beleeved and knowne of us So the Apostle doth joyne fayth and confession together for to beleeve with the heart justifieth and to acknowledge with the mouth maketh a man safe having the selfe-same spirit of faith At the poynt of death wee doe by fayth commend our soules and spirit unto the Lord. So did the thiefe upon the Crosse Math. 27. Acts 7.59 and Saint Stephen also when he was stone this is the last worke of faith towards God for after the yeelding up of the Spirit once there is no longer place nor use of faith These bee therefore the workes of fayth towards God first the love of God a good conscience towards our neighbour hope of things to come a boldnesse to repaire by prayer to the Throne of grace invocation adoration and worship confession of the truth obedience perseverance and the yeelding up of the Spirit to goe immediately unto God the faithfull are comforted in the Lord by the benefit of fayth whereupon Christ also when hee admonished his Disciples from whence they should seeke their comfort in adversity he said John 14.1 c. Let not your hearts be troubled believe in God believe also in me for there is in none greater goodnesse in none greater mercy in none greater knowledge of those things wherewith all our hearts be tormented in none more knowledge and power to helpe and ayde then is in God himselfe 2 Cor. 1.3 so that he is justly called the father of mercies and God of all comfort For he that is faythfull doth apply himselfe to the goodnesse of God and by it wee doe perceive the efficacy and sence thereof and it bringeth comfort unto the troubled heart By fayth wee doe believe the promises of grace and doe by it embrace those things which be spoken of God in his word fayth doth also mortifie the concupiscence of the flesh and maketh a mans mind humble and lowly and worketh many other notable matters in the hearts of the beleevers This excellent and rare jewell is faith the excellence whereof is surpassing precious wherewith we must of necessity be endued to become perfect men Heb. 11. Saint Paul sayth that Faith is the ground of things hoped for and the evidence of things which are not seene This is a speciall jewell and happy is the man that hath it but in quantity comparable to a graine of Mustard seed it is the ground of things hoped for as if it were sayd whatsoever crosse or calamity vexeth us if wee hope for reliefe and ease wee must ground it upon fayth otherwise our hope is no hope It is the evidence of things not seene Note it is the patefaction or laying open as it were of the very thing though farre from our sight which is expected and longed for in hope the thing hoped for through it is as it were Eph. 1. evidently seene and layd before our eyes wee may upon this ground build so certaine a foundation of hope of the joyes to come as if we were setled in Heaven it selfe with Christ It is indeed the assurance of all our comforts in the promises of God and whensoever wee lay this evidence before the celestiall Judge by prayers for therein it appeareth to be fayth or not to be he cannot but allow it so current lawfull and effectuall as that whatsoever wee aske though wee see nothing to answere our hope yet wee may assure our selves that wee shall obtaine our desires at such time and in such sort as shall bee most fittest for our necessities in so much as wee may be bold to say wee are already partakers of that we looke for before it come Psa 34.8 9 10. because comming it will come and our fayth which is the ground and the evidence of things hoped for shall not be in vaine and therefore in what danger so ever we are we must open this evidence even our fayth unto the Almighty in humble suit and hearty prayer that as his promises are manifold for the releefe of his children and his meanes infinite so will he accept of our faith Psal 91. wherein wee stand assured that hee is God al-sufficient full of mercy and truth able and willing to grant what we aske and first we must consider that there is no dissembling with God neyther can wee bragge of this rare jewell and yet bring forth the fruits of infidelity which then appeareth when wee shew our selves impatient at the chastisements and corrections of the Lord and when we grudge to stay the Lords leasure for helpe and when leaving the meanes commanded by God wee runne to worldly and forbidden meanes these things can we not shroud nor cloake under any colour or pretence for hee that searcheth the heart findeth every dissimulation Acts 5. he found out Ananias and Saphyra in their hypocrisie and gave them the reward of death because they would seeme to have faith and dissembled Learne of the

the Apostle saith of Abraham that he believed in hope against hope Rom. 8. because hee knew that God is so mighty that he is able to performe whatsoever he promiseth faith commeth not of hope neither doth knowledge come of hope but hope is bred of the faith of the promises and knowledge of the might of God the Prophet saith They shall hope upon thee O Lord Psal 9. which have knowne thy name for that thou dost not forsake them which doe seeke thee and doe hope upon thy mercies in Christ But for as much as it is not possible that the heart of a sinner which is troubled for his sinnes and afflicted for Christ should be faithfull without hope whilest hee is in the very temptations and sufferings of his troubles the beginning of hope cannot come of proofe wherefore that which the Apostle saith Rom. 5.3 4. that proofe breedeth hope is to be understood not of the beginning but rather of the encrease of hope and maketh up and perfecteth it for the Apostle meaneth not that troubles laid upon men for Christs sake should decay the hope of the glory of the children of God God is our hope and strength a very present helpe in trouble but enforceth it the more making it therby more supreme and fast so then the beginning of hope comes of faith and the knowledge of God For as much as hope is of things invisible and to come and not of things visible and present it falleth out oftentimes that the hearts of them which live in hope be sore assaulted and their hope so impaired in their troubles miseries and afflictions that they need aid succour and strength whereby it may be cherished and encouraged lest it doe utterly decay and perish yea the very tarrying in the deferring of those things which we doe hope for is so troublesome irkesome and loathsome that though there be no temptation at all joyned with it yet it is alone sufficient to drive a mans hope unto desperation unlesse it be upholden by the divine assistance of Gods grace Prov. 13.12 this Salomon meant when he said the hope which is deferred and prolonged doth afflict and torment the soule who doth not see what great need wee have of the helps and ratifying of Gods grace especially if wee doe consider the weaknesse of our flesh ready to mistrust despaire and the understanding of our owne sins and unworthinesse according unto the which wee doe esteeme our selves as the refuse and cast-awaies of the people the very shame and filth of all men to stand steddy in assured hope but by the vertue and might of God therefore let us see whereby the hope of a Christian man is nourished and strengthened The Christian hope is nourished and confirmed from God Job 39. for it is a cleare case that both hope and faith are the speciall gifts of God so that the strength and nourishment thereof doth come specially from God in as much as he which giveth us the hope doth also nourish and confirme the same in our hearts God doth not forsake his gifts as wee doe reade of the Estrige in Job which departeth and leaveth her egges in the ground and careth not for them whether that they be saved or doe perish but hee doth nourish encrease and preserve all those gifts which hee hath once given unto any man Note and this hee doth by the operation of the holy Spirit whereby he doth cherish feed defend and strengthen both the fayth and hope in the hearts of the Elect. For this is the sure anker of our salvation which the divell may endeavour but never breake the cable hold thereof for God doth fasten and make it tough by his grace and vertue so that he doth preserve the same by his strength and ayd which could not bee wrought by all the power and might of man The party which is in hope when hee feeleth the strength of temptation Prov. 15 8. he flyeth immediately unto his Lord God by prayer earnestly requesting that he may be preserved and not to be overcome by temptations so the Lord warned his Disciples in the garden when the ppwer of darknesse was at hand saying Math. 26.41 Watch and pray that yee enter not into temptation indeed the spirit is willing but the flesh is weake and hee himselfe hath taught us in the Lords prayer to say Luke 11. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evill In the Psalmes of David the Prophet had made such formes of prayers whereby he sought comfort and strength to his hope by praying and singing to bee delivered out of all his troubles Therefore the fayth of Gods promises and the knowledge of the truth and might of God to performe Rom. 4 13 15. doth minister much helpe and strength to the travelling hope for the hope of things to come is nourished by the milke of the same fayth which breeds it and the strength of fayth is made the strength of hope Augustin cha 14. Augustine in his booke of meditations writing in the confirmation of his hope saith There bee three things which doe strengthen and confirme my heart that no lacke of deserts no consideration of my owne basenesse no regard of heavenly blessednesse can thrust mee downe from the high expectation of my hope for my soule is fast rooted therein Now to know the matter why wee must consider and weigh three things in which our whole hope doth consist the love of adoption the truth of Gods promise and his power to performe what he hath promised and if thus to beleeve we may be assured that God in his exceeding great love hath adopted us his children Patience of afflictions Rom. 5.1 c. Againe the very sufferance also of afflictions wherewith the Christian man is tran●aled and tryed doth make hope lusty and strong as appeareth by the Apostle and on the contrary impatience doth decay that hope that is The example of godly persons and makes it unprofitable unto us the examples also of godly men which have holden on their hope firme and sure in all kind of their temptations and troubles even till the very end have received the crowne of immortall life as the reward of their hope Heb. 11. may profit much to the cherishing and establishing of our hope as is shewed in the Epistles to the Hebrews and straight addeth in the beginning of the twelfth Chapter Heb. 12.1 2. Therefore seeing that wee have so great a number of godly fathers our witnesses let us shake off that burthen of sinne which sticketh so fast unto us and would presse us downe and with joy and sufferance Vers 3. let us runne the race appoynted us ever looking unto Jesus the Captaine and finisher of our fayth and for the joy that is set before us let us with hope endure the crosse hope keepeth and stayeth the workeman in his worke and desperation is full

nothing else but the soules travelling unto God It is the sword of our defence Eccles 35.17 18. for the soule of him that continueth in prayer is secure and safe from all the assaults of the divell for God doth alwaies heare the prayers of the faithfull if not according to their desire yet to their salvation and profit and we may assuredly hope that either he will give us that which we aske or else that which he in his wisdome knoweth to be more profitable for us for God gave us his onely begotten Sonne that infinite and most excellent gift wee being not worthy of it nor hee being not intreated thereunto what will he then deny us if hee be intreated by earnest and faithfull prayer We cannot doubt of the Fathers hearing or the Sons interceding upon all occasions wee may with Moses by prayer enter into the Tabernacle Numb 7.89 and consult with the Lord our God and we shall speedily heare his divine answere Luke 9.29 Our Saviour Christ was transfigured when hee prayed so are there many changes wrought in the soules of the faithfull in the time of prayer for prayer is the light of the soule and oftentimes leaves him in joy whom shee found in despaire With what face canst thou behold his Majesty unlesse thou dost first worship him Eccle. 53.1 2. who sends that glorious light for thee to looke upon how canst thou at thy table fall to thy meate unlesse thou doest first worship and give praise unto him who in his bounty bestowes those good creatures upon thee with what hope darest thou commit thy selfe to the darknesse of the night and bee safe from the dangers of the day unlesse thou dost first fore-arme thy selfe by faithfull prayer what fruit canst thou expect of thy labours and successe in thy travels unlesse thou dost first worship him and commit thy selfe to his gracious care and providence by prayer Math. 7.7 without whose blessing all labour is unprofitable and vaine If therefore thou wantest temporall blessings aske in faith and it shall bee given you if thou desirest Christ seeke him by prayer and thou shalt finde him if thou desirest that the gate of divine grace and eternall salvation should be opened unto thee knocke and it shall be opened and if in the desert of this world the thirst of tentations the penury and want of temporall things afflict thee come with devotion unto the spirituall rocke 1 Cor. 10.4 which is Christ and strike it with the rod of prayer and thou shalt feele the streames of divine grace to coole the thirst of thy penury Gen. 8.21 offer the sweet smelling and acceptable sacrifice of prayer unto God and his wrath shall cease from thee converse with him every day by faithfull prayer which is the spirituall conference betweene God and the devout soule prayer pleaseth God therefore invite the Lord to the house of thy heart by earnest prayer and he will be thy guest and not forsake thee Psal 29.2 Whosoever desireth to be heard let him pray with wisdome with fervency with humility with faith with perseverance and with confidence let him pray with wisdome for such things as tend to the glory of God the good of his neighbour and the salvation of himselfe God is omnipotent therfore do not thou in thy prayers tie him to means God is most wise doe not thou in thy prayers ascribe him an order let not thy prayers breake forth rashly but let the conduct of faith guide thee which hath respect unto the Word therefore such things as God hath absolutely promised in his Word pray for absolutely and such things as he hath promised with condition as temporall things To the reprobate and ungodly person pray for with condition and such things as hee hath not promised in his Word in no wise pray for God doth often give in his wrath that which in his mercy hee doth deny therefore follow the example of Christ who resigned his will wholly unto God pray with fervency for how canst thou desire that God should heare thee when thou hearest not thy selfe but the tongue out-runneth the minde Wouldst thou have God mindfull of thee when thou art not mindfull of thy selfe God will not heare thy prayers without the affection of the heart John 4.23 Luke 6.12 John 17.1 the minde must be so inflamed with the heat of cogitation that it may farre surpasse what the tongue expresseth and this is to worship in spirit and truth for such worship the Lord requireth Christ prayed in the mount and lifted up his eyes toward heaven So must wee turne away our minde from the creatures and turne them unto God for otherwise thou dost injury unto God to pray unto him to attend unto thee when thou art not attentive unto thy selfe And seeing God dwelleth in the hearts of the faithfull and godly there needeth not alwaies words because hee is present even with the thoughts Luther oftentimes one sigh moved by the holy Ghost and offered in the spirit is more acceptable to God then long repetitions of prayers where the tongue prayeth and the heart is plainly dumbe let him pray with humility and place no confidence in his owne merits but onely in the grace and mercy of God Christ being the Temple of the divinity at his passion he cast himselfe to the ground Marke 14 35. and prayed behold how that most holy soule humbled it selfe before the divine Majesty let us pray with faith the sooner one prayeth the more profitable the oftener the better the more fervently 2 Cor. 6. the more acceptable with God let us pray with perseverance for if God delay his benefits and doth not presently give them he commends them unto us and doth not deny them the longer things are desired Matth. 21.22 The efficacy of faithfull prayer the sweeter and the more acceptable they are being obtained let us pray with confidence of heart that is aske in faith without doubting and thou shalt have what thou desirest either ease reliefe redresse or comfort the examples are many they are infinite set forth in Scripture of our godly Fathers Prophets and Apostles amongst which is declared the wonderfull effect of prayer Josh 10.12 13. that at the instant request of Joshua made unto God the Sunne stood still in the middest of the sky the space of one whole day untill the people of God had revenged themselves upon their enemies and Elias prayed unto the Lord that it might not raine upon the earth 1 King 17 1. 18.1 Jam 5.17 18. 1 King 17.22 and it rained not for the space of three yeeres and sixe moneths and againe he prayed and the sky gave raine and the earth yeelded her fruit Againe Elias by prayer unto God 1 King 18.37 38. raised up the dead child of the widow of Sarepta and at his prayer fire falleth from heaven and consumed the burnt offering the wood

infinite of himselfe yet all creatures being his owne it doth please him to force the obedience of every creature to give some proofe and testimony of his justice or mercy whereby God may receive glory in their acknowledgements God then is glorified in all his workes but in a double manner hee is principally glorified in the workes of his mercy he is also glorified in his judgements but the riches of Gods glory Rom. 9. ●5 Osee 1.10 Deut. 26.18 19 consisteth principally in the vessels of his mercy because thier glory is his glory and hee doth dignifie himselfe in their advancement Therefore did God choose the Israelites for his peculiar people that by his most powerfull delivering them and by their demonstrations of duty and service God might bee honoured in the memory of his greatnesse over all the world and receive glory in the report of his admirable protection God is also glorified in his judgements for though the reprobate and damned in their lives they rather care to dishonour God their Creatour yet will God be honoured in the punishment of their lives and force them to give demonstration of his justice and holinesse for God can turne their ends and purposes to his owne end and glory and make that set forth his glory which was intended to his dishonour and those that will not give him glory for his mercy his justice will in despight of ungodlinesse compell them to give him glory for judgement though God esteeme it the greater honour to be glorified in the witnesses of his mercy because in Gods nature mercy is preheminent and doth triumph yet it is much to the glory of God that the witnesses of his judgements shall be prompted by their lamentable experience to acknowledge that God is infinite both in power and justice therefore we ought both to glorifie God Iob 36.24 and to glory in God for if we glory in any thing but in God godlinesse we are condemned if we glorifie in any thing but God we are likewise condemned of him for he is our strength and light of our countenance he hath ordayned us for an holy end to his glory and if we glorifie him here on earth he will glorifie us with himselfe in Heaven but if we neglect to glorifie him that is our glory hee will glorifie himselfe in our destruction and make us in the feeling torments of our damnation glorifie him with this acknowledgement that he is God of most excellent soveraigne Majesty and that hee is most gracious in his mercy Vers 22 23 Psal 18. but most terrible in his judgements and with this acknowledgement will God bee honoured of the divels and damned creatures whose intollerable and unsufferable torments in their condemnation shall bee arguments of proofe to conclude Gods glory Seeing God hath created all things for his owne glory and seeing that hee will be glorified in the severall executions of his justice and mercy in the salvation or damnation of his creatures Job 37. 38. for in all sensible things there is a speciall nature in which they are obedient whereby they glorifie God in finishing the end of their creation for which they were ordayned God hath commanded the motion of the Heavens The purpose of Gods providence proceedeth without stay to the determinate end and effect which he had before ordained should come to passe the influence of the Starres the nature of the Elements and the severall nature of every severall thing to keepe their course all these continuing their course and nature give most notable demonstrations of Gods glory by whom they were created and thus disposed in nature if these things which are subject to time and must perish doe notwithstanding discharge the duties of their nature and so by consequence approve themselves to be the instruments of Gods glory shall men then whom God hath created for the like end of his glory and to whom hee hath given a soule divine and of most excellent understanding and for whom hee hath created the world the most admirable worke of his owne hands shall these bee carelesse in this high duty and shall the elements and unreasonable creatures be carefull shall men be exceeded of beasts in the execution of their reasonable service God hath not threatned their neglects with hell and the torments thereof nor promised to reward their diligence with Heaven and the joyes thereof but God doth both promise and threaten men yet are men lesse carefull then beasts This may worthily remember those men or rather those beasts who make a God of themselves and their unlawfull pleasures and then dedicate themselves their labours and the glory of their actions to a godlesse prophane and licencious trade of life those that will not glorifie God of choice must not doe it by force for the time will come when God will whip them for their prophane ungodly and licentious living with the roddes of his judgements and make them in despight of ungodlinesse to glorifie God in suffering of the torments of hell and their owne conscience and with horrour without profit or pitty to acknowledge God and the terrible justice of so great a Majesty This should remember all the children of God that in all the cares of this Christian life they have their maine respect to Gods glory and that God have the first place in their hearts even before the desire of their owne salvation and that their salvation be desired rather that God may be glorified thereby then to desire to glorifie God for their owne salvation that so God may bee first in all our cares that wee love him more then owne soules and preferre his honour before our owne salvation Therefore let all men love and honour God for his owne sake love him for his goodnesse love him for his truth love him for his mercy love him for his justice and let this love be so respectlesse of all by considerations as that neither heaven hell nor our owne soules perswade us so much as the reverence and zealous affection we have to the love of God for he that thus loveth God doth glorifie him and shall bee sure to be glorified of him eternally in the Heavens Let us therefore discharge the summe of all our actions into this Ocean of Gods glory let us propose and pursue that end onely let us not respect the vaine shews and purposes of men let us esteeme them light and value them lesse let us remember that they are transitory deceiving and destroying vanities and will leave vs flatter us and will deceive us let us reduce to memory the mighty Monarches of the world the most admirable in naturall enduments and the most fortunate in earthly prosperities Jerem. 2.3 when wee examine their worth wee shall find nothing but a bare remembrance of their names Eccles 9.5 6. and those neglected by the power of time themselves and their regards are vanished their acts are perished and all these