perseverance in the performance of our duty to God and man Have we been more serviceable to God and more profitable useful and beneficial to men then formerly hath our hope of heaven enlivened our devotions to God and enlarged our good affections our hearts and our hands in charity to men Or rather have not we been like those desperate people Jer. 2.25 c. and 13.10 c. and 18.11 12 c. see the places who when the Prophet had reproved them for their sins c. 1. They answered him crosly and negatively yea desperately for they said Noash desperatum est a desperate word q.d. the case is desperate and we are at a point there is no remedy we are past cure past care and therefore we will do as we have done c. We have loved strangers and strange courses and so we will do still a prophane resolution Quest But what was their course and crime I answer with the Prophet Answ They committed two great Evils Jer. 2.13 And persisted in evil till their own wickedness corrected them vers 19. They were 1. like a degenerate plant of a strange vine vers 21. Or 2. A wild Asse in the wilderness that snuffs up the wind c. vers 24. and yet they plead innocence and said I am not polluted vers 23. 2. So Jer. 13.10 c. They would walk after their own hearts c. till they became like a rotten girdle good for nothing though God chose them to be for a People a Name a Praise and a Glory yet they would not hear nor obey till God would neither pity nor spare nor have mercy but dash them one against another and destroy them vers 14. because they were so unchangeable in evil like the Ethiopian or Leopard that can change neither skin nor spots vers 23 24 25. 3. So also Jer. 18.11 12. They took up the like desparate resolution and word Noash to walk after their own devices to which they added to devise Mischief against the Prophet who gave them good counsel c. vers 11.18 So Jer. 42. and 43. and 44.15 16 to 20. Ap. The places put or compared together give us the very exact picture and character of our late Vsurpers And how can such men wear hope as an helmet of salvation Thus much for Examination and Exhortation I end with a word of consolation Use 4. The fourth Use of Consolation is to them that may hope upon Experience as Psalm 78.9 7 8. 1. They may be of good courage Psalm 31.24 And have gladness Prov. 10.28 And praise God for the light of his countenance Psalm 42.5.11 2. May hope in trouble Jer. 14.8 Lam. 3.26 In death Prov. 14.32 When heaven and earth shakes Joel 3.26 Luke 21.28 1 Thes 4.16 3. They shall flourish Jer. 17.7 8. And rise gloriously Tit. 2.13 Of the seven pieces of this Panoply or whole Armour of God so necessary for us in our spiritual and Christian Warfare You have heard five of them spoken of already viz. 1. A Belt 2. A Breast-late 3. Shooes 4. A Shield And 5. An Helmet All which I have opened and applyed unto you All which are especially Defensive 6. I do now descend to the last two pieces viz. 6. A Sword And 7. Supplication and Prayers which are as well offensive as Defensive of which in their order 6. This sixth piece is the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The words are plain and easie to be understood only note that I. A Sword is either Material or Spiritual 1. Material which is a sharp Weapon used in War for offence or defence so called Defin. And the Original word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is translated Gladius a Sword Etymol Now Gladius derivatur a clade quod ad Cladem sit Inventus vel ad hostium cladem fit Gladius proprie autem appellatus Gladius quia Gulam dividit i.e. cervicem desecat nam caetera membra securibus caeduntur collum gladio tantum Mat. Mart. p. 1030. Ap. Now a Sword is called in latine by a name derived from a word that signifies Slaughter Destruction and Misery c. especially of an enemy ☞ This hath been our Master a great while and Ergo we know it by woful experience too well without any further Explication But this is not the sword in the Text. 2. Spiritual and this is the sword in the Text and is here said to be The Word of God and to this only we speak for we have not to do with natural words which men utter with their mouths by speech to express their minds one to another in this place from this Text. This Spiritual Sword the word of God is either 1. Essential or 2. Theological 1. Essential viz. Christ the Son of God the second person in the Trinity by whom the Will of God is declared to the Church as our minds are expressed to other men by our words So John 1.14 The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us this is the Essential and uncreated word and in Scripture two special Attributes are ascrib'd as peculiar to the son of God the second person in the Trinity 1. The wisdom of the Father Prov. 8.14 to 36. 2. The Word of the Father John 1.1 These two Epithites Christ claims to himself Mat. 11.27 John 1.18 When he saith No man knows the Father nor hath seen God save the Son In this he assumeth to be his Fathers Wisdom We are not wise enough to ascend to such an height And to be his Word in that he revealeth and doth declare him unto men In which respect he is called a Prophet And that Prophet Deut. 18.15 2. Theological or divine word from God to men viz. The holy Scripture of the old and New Testament Luke 11.28 And what is taught in them and learned from them Acts 11.19 2 Tim. 4.2 Preach the Word be instant c. Reprove c. Ap. This is a created and inspired word to make us wise unto salvation 2 Tim. 3. 15 16 17. 2 Pet. 1. 19 20 21. We have a sure word of Prophecy c. And this Word of God made known to us by Christ c. is 1. Good so said Hezekiah 2 Kings 20.19 though the Message was sad And the Lord himself said I will perform my good word to you after seventy years Jer. 29.10 and Heb. 6.5 6. Ye hear the danger of them that have tasted the good word of God if they fall away their case is woful And this Word of God that is so good is also 2. Pure Psalm 119.140 Very pure Ergo Thy servant loveth it yea Every word of God is pure saith wise Agur Prov. 30.5 3. True so said David 2 Sam. 7.28 In his devout prayer to God And Christ himself in his most affectionate prayer to his Father John 17.17 4. Gracious All wondered at the gracious words of Christs mouth Luke 4.22 5. Precious yea that most of all when we
want it as 1 Sam. 3.1 When there was no open vision Bonacarendo c. 6. Sound a form of wholesome and healthful words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such as conduce to the health of our souls 2 Tim. 1.13 rather wholesome then toothsome healthful than delicates not tainted with Errour or Heresie with any false or corrupt Doctrine 7. It is quick and powerful and sharper then any two-edged sword c. Heb 4.12 13. I. Which most properly may be applied to Christ For he is 1. Quick i.e. living beholding the thoughts and actions of men to reward them accordingly To distinguist Christ from Idols which can see nor do nothing Psalm 115.4.5 6 7. 2. Powerful i. e. omniscient and able to execute wrath upon the disobedient 3. And sharper then a two-edged sword which easily enters and makes way for it felf Ap. So Christ who is omniscient doth easily enter see and search the secret thoughts and inventions of the heart for all things are naked and open unto the eys of him with whom we have to do 2. This is also appliable to the word of God made known to us in the Scriptures and that in all the fore-named respects for it also is quick and powerful and sharper than any sword and is therefore styled The rod and spirit of his mouth Isa 11.4 wherewith the Lord shall consume and slay the wicked as with a sword sharp and of two edges as it is in Revel 1.16 where he speaks of Christ and his Word to his Church and to the Nations of the world And as it is thus applyed to the Word of God and of Christ made known to the world so is it also 3. To the Word of God in the mouths of his Prophets Apostles ond Ministers See Isa 49.2 He i.e. God hath made my mouth like a sharp sword as well as a Rod as it is called before where you must consider that Mouth is put for the Word of the Prophet as it is frequently in Scripture Gen. 45.21 He did Numb 3.16 according to the mouth i.e. Commandment of Pharoah Moses numbred them according to the mouth i.e. The Word of the Lord as he was commanded Consider also 1. Who it was that made the Prophets mouth thus like a sharp sword it was God the Father from whom all power is derived and communicated to Christ Mat. 28.18 It is he only that hath made his word in the mouths of his Messengers to be a sword of All-sufficient power and of admirable efficacy 2. To what end and purpose their Mouths are made so sharp I answer To subdue mens souls to the obedience of it even as men do subdue Nations by the power of a material sword so by this spiritual sword the Lord doth subdue us to the obedience of Christ And it is so with the mouths of Gods Messengers if you distinguish of it objective and have respect to the Objects and Parties whom it doth most concern to this further end viz. either for 1. Evil and Destruction to the wicked by denunciation and menaces of wrath against such 2. It is for the good and salvation of the godly by promises of Mercy and Goodness to them 3. And both these shall be thus effected and brought to pass by publishing that Word of God which is by him put into their mouths to these ends and all this shall as assuredly be fulfilled and effected as if they had done it themselves or had seen it with their eyes ☞ This is the work of Prophets and Apostles the Messengers and Ministers of Christ to do and perform in obedience and subserviency to him and then they have done their duty This you may see eminently in the Prophet Jeremy Jer. 1.9 10. Behold saith the Lord I have put my words in thy mouth To be as his mouth Jer. 15.19 To separate the precious from the vile Note that God sends no dumb Messengers And he appointed the Prophet and did set him over the Nations 1. For these ends as above named to root out or pluck up to pull down and to destroy as also to build and to plant Jer. 12. 16 17. 2. And by the same means before mentioned See God himself explaining this to the Prophet Jer. 18.7 8 9 10. If he threaten a Nation and they repent then God will repent And if he make promises to a Nation and bless them if they abuse all then not that God repenteth as man doth through over-sight or want of fore-cast or out of sickleness and mutability of mind for such grounds of Repentance are imperfections in man and cannot befal God Numb 23.19 But God is said to repent when he doth as men use to do when they repent 1 Sam. 25. 33 34. When he revoketh a doom that he had past and stayeth the execution of a sentence formerly denounced Gen. 6.6 7. God repented that he had made man c. 1 Sam. 15.11 That he had set up Saul to be King which doom and sentence as it was denounced because of mans sin so it is reversed when man ceaseth so to do the end being accomplished for which it was denounced viz. that it might not be inflicted as ver 7. So that as the School-men say Repentance in man is a change of the mind or Will But with God It is the willing of a change his mind and purpose abiding still the same as Jer. 20.16 Reg. Take the Rule 1. Gods Menaces are denounced with a condition if not expressed yet secretly implyed and intended viz. of Repentance 2. And his Promises likewise are propounded to people though in absolute terms oft-times conceived yet with the like reservation viz. not to take place but upon their perseverance in well doing unto whom the same are made Deut. 28.1 15. The blessings and curses to the same people 1 Sam. 2.30 of Elies house of King Sauls kingdom ' Thus you have seen this abundantly in the Prophet Jeremy And for the Apostles and others see 2 Cor. 2.15.16 17. We are a sweet savour of Christ c. and 4.7 We have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us And 10. 4 5 6. The we apons of our Warfare are mighty through God ☞ See further the praises of this word This sword of the Spirit accummulated Psalm 19.7.8 9. That it is 1. Perfect converting the souls 2. Sure making wise the simple 3. Right rejoycing the heart 4. Pure enlightning the eyes 5. Clean enduring for ever 6. True and righteous altogether more desired then gold sweeter than honey By these we are warned and in keeping them is great reward ver 10 11. ejusdem 2. And the Word of God is usually compared to Seed Luke 8.5 And James 8.18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth And it is styled 1. Pet. 1.23 Incorruptible seed by which we are born again even the word of God which liveth and abideth for every Thus much shall suffice
lawful imployment the safer he is Diligence in Duty is our safety and Satan hath the less advantage against us The Bird upon the wing in flight is safe from Gun-shot till she stoop to the lure the Bait laid for her then she is in danger ☞ David in his Wars and Solomon whilest in pious Works of building the Temple were very right in their way But when at ease and out of good imployments each of them met with a fiery dart of the devil The first by anothers mans wife 2 Sam. 11. And the second by a multitude of Wives 1 King 11.1 which made a wound and left a scar almost indelible which before they were free from 3. It is by the instruction of this sword the word of God that Kings reign and Princes decree justice c. Prov. 8. That Kingdoms are established and prospered yea the very foundations of the earth were laid and the heavens established and all things governed by this Word Thit is the best sword of defence for any Countrey Nation or Kingdom yea and for the whole world Where this is wanting there is no safety but all goes to wrack The Nations are naked and exposed to all kind of Trouble Danger and Destruction 2 Chron. 15.3 to 7. ☞ In this lies the hope of Englands happiness and the misery and confusion of Infidels and Indians through the want of this 4. It hath a great influence upon life it self For by it our dayes are prolonged Deut 32.46 47. And the years of our life increased Prov. 9. By this our ways are made safe and our sleep secured Prov. 3.23 24. And our life it self is given and defended hereby Eccles 7.12 Wisdom is a defence and money is a defence but the excellency of knowledge is That wisdom giveth life to them that have it 5. By this Sword we do defend our selves in our best parts and abilities For by this our Souls are converted Understandings enlightned Thoughts purged Affections sanctified Wills confirmed to the Will of God Memories stored Consciences cleared Hearts changed cheared and comforted which before were as flint or Adamant 6. With this Sword we defend all our Graces Faith Hope Charity Patience Perseverance 7. With this Sword we do defend our selves from and against Idolatry Infidelity Heresie Strange Religions Mens Traditions Carnal security Presumption in iniquity Desperation of Mercy Idleness Evil Company Pride and vain Glory all manner of ungodliness and wickedness of Conversation usually practised by men in several kinds as you may see more at large in Mr. Tho. Becons Book intituled The Governance of Vertue printed above an hundred years ago 2. These things lead me to a second Use of Exhortation For since this sword of the Spirit is so exceedingly useful both for offence and defence 1. Let us be perswaded to let the Word of God dwell in us richly or plentifully as Col. 3.16 2. And let us labour to be like Apollo mighty in the Scriptures Acts 18.24 28. 3. And to use this sword so well in our several Stations Vocations and Occasions as that according to our ability and opportunity we may become instrumental that ignorant men may be instructed disordered men reformed dull Memories quickned cold zeal inflamed the afflicted comforted and the distressed relieved that errour may be convinced vice corrected death may be avoided and life eternal through Christ obtained In a word to conclude by this Word the righteousness of God is revealed the Church is sanctified and at last everlastingly saved and glorified in heaven so that we may well conclude with the wise man Prov. 8.34 35. He is a blessed man that heareth attendeth upon and gaineth wisdom by this word And with the Kingly Prophet his father Psal 19.11 That in the keeping and making a right use of this word there is true true safety as well as a great reward 7. This verse leads me to and gives us in the last piece viz. the 7th of our spiritual Armour wherewith to resist these mighty enemies before cited And this seventh piece of Armour is propounded last yet not as the least and most useless piece of the rest but of great concernment in reference to all the rest For we are commanded before Vers 10 11 13. To be strong in the Lord to take unto us and to put on the whole armour of God and how shall this be done without prayer to God to help us herein Besides how shall we get any good either in the way of offence or defence by all the former pieces viz. Truth Righteousness Gospel Faith Hope and the sword before named if God do not furnish us with them and give us wisdom and strength to make use of them aright until we have gained the victory Thefore to all these to bring up the rear and also to arm you compleatly add this seventh and last piece of our spiritual armour viz. Prayer and Supplication betwixt which I think you need not make use of that nice distinction betwixt them viz. That Prayer is put for Deprecation of some evil or temptation that it might not overtake us And Supplication is an earnest request to God for his help and grace against the evil of Temptations that may befal us 1 Cor. 10.13 There hath no temptation taken you c. So Paul did 2 Cor. 12.8 9. both the words being promiscuously used and usually taken for the same thing Now this last piece of our armour is both offensive and defensive it subdues our enemy and supports our selves and this Prayer and Supplication 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oratio Obsecratio Arias Mont. Thus conjoyned together do intimate to us the very nature of Adoration when any one doth humble himself before God and doth ask any thing of him and doth imply 1. An acknowledgement of the Omnipotency c. of God and Christ and Ergo doth adore and obsecrate him as the only God and Saviour 2. And of his own Indigence which sets him upon supplication for help and this is the first condition of true prayer The conditions of Prayer are divers you have had the first And 2. The next is when you must pray 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Always i. e. in every opportunity as ost as necessity requires When Evils and Enemies invade and assail vs we had need fly to God and have recourse to Christ for help Psalm 50.15 Call upon me in the day of trouble I will deliver Luke 18.1 7 8. That men ought alwayes to pray Note That he speaks of free voluntary prayers and occasional Not of the ordinary prayers of the Church or several Families nor in favour of them that are ever babling as the Euchitae praying Hereticks who rejected all Ordinances Vocations Alsted Dr. Sclat p. 508. III. Prayer must be in the Spirit the holy Spirit is the procreant cause of our prayers and our own spirits must be set to work also it must not be only with our lips or in Hypocrisie as they did Esay 29.13
Fear not In peace Mal. 2.6 and Equity and turn many from iniquity and Truth 3 John 4. i. e. Sincerely in Religion prescrib'd in the Gospel and shall walk with Christ in white Revel 3.4 for they are worthy Dignatione divinâ as those good ones in dead Sardis To conclude this answer to the grand Inquiry before Those that thus walk to please God are such as have the Image of God instamped upon them and do answer the Relations betwixt God and them viz. Of a King Husband Father Master and of a Friend 1. Only a few words of the first of these touching the Image of God The Image of God is said to be in Christ Angels and Men. 1. In Christ above all Angels Men or any other and that as God Infinitely or Incomprehensibly Identically or Essentially as Man and that unutterably by the prefence of the divine Nature bodily Mightily by Works Wonders and Miracles Eminently by Qualifications of Knowledge purity c. and most admirably viz. As God the invisible As man the visible Image of God 2. In Angels above men in respect of their Excellency in Nature Freedom from humane necessities and present fruition of beatifical vision in the presence of God 3. In men the Image of God is said to be 1 Cor. 11.7 Col. 3.10 accidentally respecting qualities spiritual and heavenly Gen. 1.26 27. Not in any bodily shape as some Hereticks and others too easily believe and which Popish pictures of God do marvelously nourish which yet is against that Deut. 4.15 16. to 20. for you saw no similitude but 1. In Creation in the nature of the soul as it is a spiritual and immortal substance endued with three faculties viz. Understanding Will and Memory as the Deity hath three persons by which man is in a capacity to know God which others have not 2. In Regeneration in the supernatural endowments of divine knowledge righteousness and true holiness For as Eccles 7.29 Ephes 4.24 God made man upright and the new man c. 3. In the Authority and Dominion over the Creatures which God did confer upon man Gen. 1.28 Over fish and fowl c. Ap. The first and last of these are much impaired by the fall of man in Paradise viz. Our natural parts and dominion over the Creatures But the second of these viz. Gods image upon us in our regeneration is ever upon the improvement and by this we do daily become like unto the Lord Jesus more and more And where this Image of God is instamped there the body of sin dies daily Rom. 8.10 This Image and that body are inconsistent and incompatible It makes us fruitful in good This stock cannot be barren c. It s universal in its cure not partial to some particulars but it overpowers the whole man which is acted by this Image Christ becomes our life then we live the life of Christ c. And thus beautified we are accepted of God and as Jacob and Stephen We may see Angels ready to serve us Psalm 34.7 Heb. 1.14 And Christ himself ready to receive and save us Acts 7.55 56. Thus those that walk and please God are accepted of him Of the second particular viz. In answering our Relations as to a King c. I may not here speak at large only consider That whatsoever subjection is due to any is much more due to God Thus those that walk to please God do walk with and before God in the Laws Name and Spirit of God in the old and good way and in the way of good men In faith Love circumspectly in the Truth by Rule c. worthy of their vocation the Lord in Wisdom and inregry And for manner they walk as you have heard These bear the Image of Christ ut supra in Creation Regeneration and Dominion Or by 1. Idea 2. Descent Acts 17.28 Non corpor is mole sed animae respectu Beza 3. Qualities of Soul Sanctity of actions 5. Soveraignty over the Creatures And 6. Conformity in glory And these do endeavour to answer the Relations betwixt God and them as He is their King Husband Father Master and as he is their Friend But for these you may see my Notes upon those several Relations Use I. Let it be our Glory to bear the Image of Christ the visible God since he bears the Image of the invisible God God is to us like the Sun which is but one none can behold it in its brightness All Sublunaries are refreshed by it and nothing hid from the light thereof So is God Be we then as the fruits to the Sun that grow upward and ripen by it that so we may grow like to Christ in qualities though we cannot in Might and Miracles Get this Image present your selves to his Mint and Printing-House to receive his stamp and Character upon you and when you have it do not deface but improve this Image of Christ in you daily ☞ Motives to walk at supra are from God His love and delight is in them Psalm 51.6 And his promises abundantly to them Ps 84.11 Could we but see and rightly apprehend this it were enough besides the Liberty Security Safety Peace and final felicity with Christ Rev. 3.4 all such are great Motives And yet the great things God hath done for such as to Enoch Noah Abraham David Elijah Elisha Jehoshaphat Hezekiah Their comfort at death Isa 38.3 conquest over hell and the Devil They stand in the Judgement and enter into glory Thus much shall suffice for Answer to the great Inquiry how we may know when we walk so as to please God This being known we may easily discern who they be that do not please God in their walk or course of life 1. Such as set God aside such there were in Davids time Psalm 54.3 and 86.14 They have not set God before them they may well be called Strangers proud and violent persons For they were of a strange condition and have we not many such That set not God before them These say to God Depart from us c. Job 21.14 15. What is the Almighty that we should serve him and what profit c. if we pray to him Ap. Now is it any marvel that such as these who seclude God from their company do run into all manner of enormities and walk contrary to God as Lev. 26.21 c. The apprehension of Gods presence would produce better fruits as you have heard but this they cannot endure to think of The thought of Gods presence is as the shadow of death to them 2. Such as walk after the flesh Rom. 8.1 2 Pet. 2.10 i.e. according to that carnal state of sin in which we were born and do order our lives as our corrupt reason and evil affections do lead us after our own lusts Note That the words Fleshly Carnal and Sensual are opposed in Scripture to Spiritual because they are so led they look not after the things that are not seen as Faith doth and faithful
superfluous Branch to be cut off when our hearts are too much set upon this World The World you know is three-fold 1 The old World which perished by Water 2 Pet. 3.6 2. The present World in which we do now live which is evil 2 Tim. 4.10 And passeth away 1 John 2.17 3. The World to come Luke 18.30 c. where is Life everlasting It were well if we did mind this last World more then we do It is then the present World and the things thereof which I speak of And by worldliness or earthly mindedness I mean setting our hearts on these things below Principally and in the first place as Esau and the Prodigal Unconscionably as Ahab and the unjust Steward did Inordinately and impatiently as Rachel and the Horsleech Insatiably as the grave barren womb the Earth and the Fire Prov. 30.15 16. Securely and voluptuously relying upon the World as they did Luke 12.16 c. This minding of the world and affecting it too much is a Bait which shewes the best but hides the worst from us A beam in our eyes that we cannot see what is best for us A Thorn in our Feet that we cannot walk for strength A Canker in our mouthes that we cannot eat the best Food A Snare to our Souls that prevents all our chief good Ap. This hinders our growth extreamly when we so set our hearts upon these sublunary things which we are apt to do Mark the Caution Psalm 62.10 Trust not in oppression c. If riches encrease set not your hearts upon them This made some err from the faith 1 Tim. 6.9 10. The Love of money c. And Demas to forsake the Apostle 2 Tim. 4.10 ☞ These are weeds Brambles indeed which must be cut off and rooted up Which the better to effect and do The best Instrument that I can supply you now with is Heavenly mindedness Take the Apostles Counsel Col. 3.1 2. Seek the things above and set your affections on them The Apostle useth two words of great weight and emphatical signification 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Seek Ad totius hominis vires refertur c. Zanchius A man must put forth his whole strength after these things as the Apostle did labour and strive 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Decertans striving as a man would do for his life Col 1.29 For these as ambitious studious poor impertinent men do for what they like Honour Learning c. Not so for earthly things 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Set your affections Ad totum mentem refertur The whole soul with all the powers thereof must act this way and the word importeth To mind and regard to love and care for those things most which are above and heavenly And those things are The blessed Trinity God the Father his only Son Jesus Christ and the holy Spirit of God blessed for ever and ever and also all the fruits graces and blessings which proceed from the Father from Christ and his holy Spirit and are poured out upon and performed to us both here and hereafter in this and in the life to come Such are the means of salvation the Graces and the priviledges of Saints all tending to the final perfection and glory of a Christian in heaven all are from above In a word Holiness and Happiness are above in the presence of Christ If we were acquainted with and our hearts set upon these things above we should soon set a right price upon all earthtly things and look upon all sublunary comforts as base and brittle in their own nature and in comparison of other things and unable and insufficient to stead us at our need because they cannot fill the heart and satisfie the desire Eccles 1.8 Isa 55.2 Why do ye c. Nor lengthen life Psalm 49.6 No ransome to live ever Prevent Gods Judgement Zeph. 1.17 18. Ezek. 7.17 18 19. Nor comfort a distressed conscience Dan. 5.6 Nor purchase good to the soul Micah 6.6 7 8. Heb. 10.4 Not Bulls and Goats 1 Pet. 1.18 19. Not gold or silver c. Nor can they extend themselves nor continue with us to eternity but all bid fare-well at the death-bed Psal 49.17 Vanish like a dream Isa 29.8 And pass away 1 Cor. 7.31 Were these and the like things rightly considered and practised it would soon cure us of our earthly-mindedness and stock up by the roots these weeds and brambles which do so hinder the growth of better fruit 4. The custome and allowance of smaller sins in the worlds account at least such are lying petty oaths fleshly lust This is like the ill diet of some young people which eat Oat-meal and other odd things till they overthrow their health Or like the small flyes that blast the flourishing Boughs of the fairest trees and will destroy the trees at length though not so soon as a Thunder-bolt or an Ax. Ap. These must be smothered and kil'd or they will spoil all They war and fight against the soul 1 Pet. 2.11 to destroy it even as those do against the health and life of people and trees And a small leak in a Ship may sink it a Needle or Bodkin may kill a man as well as a great Cannon-Bullet or any other Weapon of War and Violence I have read how the greatest Beasts Fishes and Serpents are annoyed with things the Elephant Whales c. For the cure of this Annoyance to the choicest plants I can prescribe you no better means or remedy then the Conscience of all even the smallest duties which God hath commanded Judgement and Mercy c. must be done yet Mint Annise and Cummin must be tithed Mat. 23.23 The Conscience of Duty will expell the custome of sin Acquaintance and intercourse with God by duty will exclude the allowance of any iniquity 5. Evil Company and bad society is a great hinderance These are like Ash-trees in an Orchard or Cole-worths among the Vines or Weeds and Brambles in the Garden or Corn-field This is certain that neither Orchard nor Vineyard nor Field or Garden can ever prosper if they be so attended These are such under-brances such Suckers at the Tree-root that they quite spoil the growth and stature the flourishing and fruitfulness of the Trees amongst which they are permitted and suffered to grow Such Society as this doth always leave an evil blast behind them among the Trees of the Garden of God i. e. Good men for that it will be conjectured and much suspected whether they be not of the same quality with these unworthy weeds or at least in danger to be wrought upon to be for their guide and practise c. This is no small hurt The only remedy which I can prescribe for this malady is Good fociety This doth as it were Transform a man into another shape it doth possess him with those Notions which do prevalently perswade him into another practise In which being habituted by continuance he is well armed and fortified against all Opposites