years I have had in my Thought even ever since I saw Mr. Flavel's Navigation and Husbandry Spiritualized But many of you know that from my Youth upward my Hand hath been full of Employments and my latter years more full than my former More than forty years of my Life were spent without much care what to Eat or Drink since that time those Cares have also been upon me and made my work something more than to consider what Subject next to Preach upon and how to handle it These few Sheets by reason of this were taken in hand again and again and as often laid aside at last a very few days have finished the greater part of them and for some of that leisure you may thank some Informers too It is a noble design to instruct People how to Spiritualize every Object and a nobler Practice for any to do it Our Blessed LORD made it his business to take all Advantages to commend to his Disciples and Hearers spiritual Meditations on earthly Objects The sight of Bread John 6. brings forth that excellent Sermon about the Bread of Life His asking of Water of the Woman of Samaria gave him an occasion to discourse of the living water which whoso drinks shall thirst no more And it is more than probable that his sight of a Shepherd with his flock of Sheep and of a Vine gave occasion to those excellent Sermons John 10. John 15. It is the great Disadvantage of most Worldly Employments that they have a natural tendency to divert the Soul from GOD upon which account I remember it was that holy Mr. Palmer preferred the Work of the Ministry to all the Employments of the World as leading the Soul directly to the Meditations of GOD and whose Work ly in a Communion with him whereas all other Employments bent the Soul another way I know no better way to remedy this Disadvantage from the nature of your Work than by shewing you how you may make it an Advantage to you This is the very business of these few Sheets Brethren give me leave to tell you all That my Hearts desire and Prayer to GOD for you is that you may be saved Though I have a just regret and compassion for any Soul that I see like to perish Eternally yet methinks I have a juster and sadder regret for any industrious Souls I would not have one of them perish eternally whom I see so industrious to take pains that they and their Families might live a few years comfortably in this Life There is a Generation of Men that are too lazy to go to Heaven or to live here but upon the Alms and Spoils of others It had been good for them they had never been Born and it had been also good for the World they never had been Born for their Lives in it are of no further use than to defile and to devour and to distrub it If such Men perish let them perish we having given them a due Warning But methinks it pities my Soul to think that a Weaver should eternally perish A Weaver whom I see before four of the Clock in the Morning and after 8 9 10 at night hard at Work that one so patient of Labour for the Bread that perisheth so patient of Self-denial in the Sports and Pleasures which others spend their Life in and all for a few Shillings at the end of the Week I say that such a one after the long Toyl of his Laborius Life should at last lie down in Hell this goes very near me And I cannot but say sometimes Surely we who are the Lords Ministers do not instruct these Men enough we do not press the thoughts of Eternity upon them as we ought to do These are a People that are not too lazy to be saved they are Men that can work night and day in their earthly Masters work for a Livelihood for their Bodies Surely if we could perswade them they had Souls and those immortal Souls that they are Beings ordained to an Eternity That Eternal Happiness is not to be got by a Loom but by Believing Reading Hearing Prayer Self-denial taking up Christs Cross Mortification of beloved Lusts they might be perswaded to spend some time every day in Reading Praying some time in Hearing to spend some time in searching and trying their wayes that they may turn unto the LORD I know that when we have done and said what we can Old Adam as he said will be found too hard for Young or Old Melancthon The way of Man is not in himself neither is it in Man to direct his steps But shew me that person who hath done what in him lies towards his own Salvation to whom GOD hath denied his free but effectual Grace My good Friends You know I cannot from the Pulpit as formerly speak unto you if I could neither were this a fit Theme to discourse there neither would the sound of my words in your Ears abide with you so as a printed Book may I have on purpose contracted my Discourse into a few sheets that it may be a burthen not too heavy for an ordinary Purse I propose to my self nothing of gain in it If I may but gain one Soul it is enough if not I have but my Labour for my Pains as we say in our English Proverb I would willingly help on your Salvation and shew my Love and Kindness to an industrious People I have nothing else but my poor Prayers by which I can shew my self Your faithful Friend and Servant in the work of the Gospel J. C. The Art of Weaving Spiritualized CHAP. I. Exod. xxxv 35. Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart to work all manner of Work of the Ingraver and of the Weaver c. The Meditations Sect. 1 THE Work here in Hand was the making a Tabernacle a moving House for the Lord God of Israel The VVorkmen are nominated by God himself v. 30. The Lord hath called by Name Bezaleel the Son of Uri the Son of Hur and verse 34. Aholiab the Son of Ahisamach It is reasonable the Master of the House should appoint his own Workmen These he filled with his Spirit in Wisdom Vnderstanding Knowledge and in all manner of Workmanship God never sends any to his VVork but he first furnisheth them with Tools fit to do it Those who are busied at works for which they are not spirited and inabled whoever sends them are not sent by God As he fitted these workmen with wisdom of Heart to work all work so particularly it is said And of the Weaver Sect. 2. The Art of VVeaving then hath a Divine Original Naamah the Sister of Tubal-cain mentioned Gen. 4.22 might be the first Spinstress or Weaveress as Genebrard thinks the Scripture tells us her Brother was the first workman in Brass and Iron if She first learned others yet 't is certain God first taught her If Closterus first made Spindles his God first taught him that Discretion and if Naamah first
of Truths Head White or Black Truth will be Truth and Error a Lie when Men have said what they can nor is any particular Church more Infallible than a Pope My following a Multitude in an Error will no more excuse me than the following of a Multitude to do Evil. I have no Judge under Heaven as to my Practice above my Conscience It is indeed my Duty to Hear the Church Reverently to Examine what it saith Diligently and to believe it as my Conscience tells me it doth or doth not agree with the Holy Scriptures Our Spiritual Weaver then may be assured that there are several Threeds Defective in his Warp And therefore stands highly concerned to be ever and anon casting an Eye upon it Examining the Various Propositions which he hath embraced for Truth and upon which he Buildeth and Directs his Practice But it is very possible that he may not be able to put in better Threeds when he hath done He is a Bruit no Man that can Believe what he Listeth or whatsoever his Neighbour would have him to Believe All a Christians Duty in this Case is 1. To Examine and Prove Propositions to hear on both sides to compare Things Spiritual with Spiritual c. 2. To have the Perswasions to himself in which he hath Faith different from the Church in which he Lives 3. To Beg of GOD to Lead him into all Truth and to Reveal what as yet is not Revealed to him and to Pardon his Mistakes and not to Conceal any Truth Revealed to him in Unrighteousness Which doing he may be assured we have an High-Priest can have Compassion our Infirmities Vpon those that are Ignorant as well as those otherwise out of the way Yet I fear some Errors of Faith are Damnable such as Infer an Impossibility of the Soul that is Possessed of them to do those things which the Scripture makes Necessary to Salvation Faith and Repentance Whether any other or no is more than I know 2. The Weaver finds many a Threed Break in the Striking yet is his Web not spoiled by it But when it Happens he stops looks back and lays up and Re-unites his Threeds and goeth on in his work Thus doing though there be many a Real Breach yet the piece comes off is approved Merchantable and passeth we have before considered all the Thoughts Words and Actions of a Christians Life as our Spiritual Weavers Striking Infinite are the Threeds that break in it The Righteous sinneth seven times in a day who can tell how oft he offendeth He who thinks he can keep the whole Law of GOD in Thought Word and Deed is not more to be blamed for his Error than for his Ignorance If he knew what Holiness that Holy Rule requireth he would never say so It was because the Pharisees did not know that GODS Law which saith Thou shalt not kill forbade as well Rash Anger and ill Words as Bloody Actions That they thought they could fulfill it And if the Popish Doctors did not give a Jejune Interpretation of a Divine Law no way Concordant to Holy Writ they would never tell us of a possibility of works of Supererogation or that any hath Oyl enough in his Lamp for himself and others which was what the wise Virgins in the Parable denied Our Threeds the LORD Pardon them will break and do break every day What help in this Case but to cast our Eyes back upon our Actions to take care ut ultima respondeant primis to bring the Ends together again by Repentance to make up the Breach by an Exercise of Faith on the LORD JESUS to resolve in GODS strength to take more heed for the Future This doing though what is done cannot be undone yet for the Satisfaction of CHRIST it shall be reckoned as undone and our VVeb of Righteousness accounted as perfect and accepted of GOD. The Soul is not made one who never sinned That is impossible and importeth a Contradiction but it is made as one that had never sinned that is its Sins shall never hurt it 3. The Weaver when he hath wrought a Plate so they call so much of the Web made as can at once lie before his Eye he looks it over picks it Brusheth off the loose Knots so I think they call the little parts of Wooll or Yarn picked off how fitly doth this prompt the Spiritual Weaver to his every day work of Self Examination Every days thoughts words Actions make him a plate of Work Some Unevenness there will be in it his Conscience Spiritually Enlightened is the Instrument he must use to Pick his VVork by Something will be found too much in his Affections Passions Words Pretences c. even in his best Actions to be pickt out by a Penitent Heart Disclaimed Abhorred cast from him as a filthy Râ—g Something to be Brusht off as no part of his Spiritual Web yea as a Noisome fly which will make his whole Box of Precious Ointment to stink He never proves a good work-man who is not as good and as Diligent at picking as at throwing of his Shuttle He never makes a good Christian who is not as good at Examining his ways as walking in a seeming Course of Piety and Righteousness Often Reckoning we say makes long Friends Often Reckoning with GOD and our own Conscience will keep GOD and us long Friends and our own Consciences long Friends unto us Oh that every good Christian would Remember at the End of every day My days work is now done but still I have it to pick and then retire into his Closet and use his Conscience to reflect upon his Actions and see if it be so far as his light will guide him according to the Divine Rule How much would this Contribute to the Evenness of a Christians VVeb and help him in the close of his life to say after Hezekiah LORD Remember how I have walked before thee in Truth and with a Perfect Heart 4. This whole work must be done till our piece comes quite off the Loom Self-Examination Repentance Watchfulness are not the works of a day or a Month or a Year but of our whole Life No work for Lent or ember-Ember-weeks or fasting-Fasting-days only but the work of every day every week The good Christian can never find a time for a Carnival Travellers tell us that in the Popish Countreys particularly at Venice the VVeek before their Mortifying time of Lent is called by that Name a VVeek given up to all Manner of Lust Luxury Gaming Lewdness and Prophaneness as a preface to their Mock-fast that is to follow which make their Lenton-weeks an undue Proportion of time for the Disgorging their Polluted Souls of the Preceeding Crapula These are ill Spiritual VVeavers that spoil more of their work in one week than they can again make good in many The work-man in the LORDS work who needs not be ashamed is quite another thing He is alwayes at work either Weaving or Picking either working or looking
woven threeds by the continual motion of his Slea In the mean time his Feet are moving the Treddles which raising the heavels do part the Warp and are continually making a new room for the Shuttle In the mean time a pair of Temples spread upon the Web keep it fixed and extended advantaging the Weaver in his Work Some Webs are of that Breadth that a single Person cannot work them in such Cases two Weavers are employed each at the Extremities of the Loom catching and returning the Shuttle which his Partner throws The Meditations 1. OUR Spiritual Weaver is the good Christian his fâ—stening his Warp to his Beam is the rooting of his Soul in Faith To him every diversified Providence supplies the place of a Filling-boy offering him matter to work with and upon in making his VVeb of Holiness We have seen him set in his Loom fixed to his Work resolved to have respect to all GODS Commandments Now how quick doth he throw his Shuttle from one hand to another This is that which the Scripture calls a Running after GOD. Draw me saith the Spouse and we will run after thee Canticles 1. 4. I wiâ—l run the wayes of thy Commandments saith the Man according to GODS own Heart Psalms 119.32 The VVeaver works Early and Late from Four in the Morning till Eight at Night The good Christian also preventeth the Morning-Watches Psâ—l 119 1â—8 and mediâ—ates of GOD in the Niâ—ht-Watches Psalms 63.6 he awaketh Early in the Morning and Early seeketh GOD. Psalms 57.8 and 63.1 and 108 2. Isaiah 26.9 he is throwing his Shuttle working the work of GOD all the Day long Evening and Morning and at Noon be Prays and Crys aloud Psalms 55.17 2. The Shuttle mâ—veth swiftly and thus also ruâ— the Dayes of the Weavers Life my Dayes saith Job are swifter than a VVeavers Shuttle As swift as the Shuttle will run The VVeaver thinks himself concerned to be at his Loom betimes that his Task may be done by Night Because the Christians Dayes are swifâ—er than a VVeavers Shuttle he is highly concerned to be up betimes Remembring his Creâ—â—or in the Dayes of his Youth Ecclesiasticus 12.1 and as he hath need in the Morning to be throwing his Shuttle so in the Evening his hand must not be slack not only because he will else not finish his Course but because the spiritual work is of that Nature that as a Piece of Cloth or Stuff not Finished is fit for no Use but will all Ravel out so if a Righteous Man forsake his Righteousness and commit iniquity his Righteousness shall never be remembred but he shall Die in the Iniquity which he hath committed A Christians work is like rolling a stone up an Hill from which if the hand ceaseth till it be lodged on the Top it certainly falls back to the Bottom and he that hath laboured about it hath done just nothing but onely tired himself to no purpose nor shall reap any thing but his Labour for his Pains 3. The whole of our VVeaver is employed in his work His Head contrives it his Eyes observe the Motions of the Shuttle and the several parts of the Loom that they be Regular and serving his intendment One hand throws the Shuttle the other catcheth it in the mean-time his Feet are not idle they are at work upon the Treddels moving them Without these Varicus Operations of the several Members of his Body our VVeaver could never dispatch his work in any desireable or acceptable Manner nor hath the Law of the LORD left our spiritual VVeaver one Limb or Member of his Body idle as to his spiritual VVork His Head is employed in meditation and contrivances for GOD his Eyes are lifted up unto the LORD from whom come all his Mercies his Hands must work the VVork of Righteousness with his Feet he walks with GOD. Every Bodily Member hath its Office to a spiritual VVork as well as that which is Natural GOD made every Member and not a Member but for himself Every Member in Man's Body hath a Natural Operation for which it is necessary In our Civil Employments we both can and do use them successively there 's none there useless amongst them And shâ—ll we think that there is any of them of no use to our spiritual work Shall I with both my Hands work on my Trade and have never an hand at work for GOD how busie am I at my work with Hands and Feet and Head and all my Body was I ever so wholly imployed in the VVork of GOD though the wages be highly more The Fruit of this VVork will be but a few Shillings at the End of the VVeek bâ—th the VVork of Righteousness will be Peace and Quietness and Assurance for ever To what purpose are my Knees and Hands and Eyes and Tongue at VVork in Prayer if presently my Hands be working iniquity In the Web of Righteousness every Member hath its Office It is the Fruit of the Souls Sanctification in Body and Mind and Spirit GOD must be served with all and every Part and Faculty with all our Heart and Soul and Strength 4. The Shuttle every time it passeth from Hand to Hand leaveth a Threed behind iâ— Good or Bad thus doth every Action of a Christian's Life All his Actions make but one Web according to the Goodness or Badness of which he must have his Reward every particular Action is a Threed in this VVeb and so hath an influence upon the VVeavers Praise or Dispraise and upon his Wages at last So that as the VVeaver may say upon every Cast of his Shuttle now my VVork is nearer an End than it was before I threw my Shuttle so a Christian upon every Action may say By this Action I am nearer Heaven or Hell I have either added a Jewel more to my Crown or a Coal more to the Fire I must endure The Shuttle passeth not up and down for nothing All our Thoughts Words and Actions are of an abiding Nature Thousands of them slip our Memory but none of them escapes the Book of the Divine Omniscience In thy Book saith David Psalms 139.16 all my Members are written and again Thou tellest my Wandrings put my Tears in thy Bottle are they not in thy Book It is as true concerning all our Actions Are they not in GODS Books VVe do them and GOD keeps silence some time Psalms 50.21 but he will let us know that he seeth them and will set them in order before our Eyes Every Action makes a part of our web we must receive our Eternal Reward according to what we have done in the Flesh Man hath an imperfect Eye A Master may over-look many an ill Threed in a Piece of Stuff But the Eye of GOD is Acute and Perfect nothing slippeth that He will set all in order before our Eyes The VVeavers Knowledge that his Shuttle leaves every time he throws it something towards his web makes him diligent to see it be rightly ordered
Pontius Pilate who was to cloth all the Elect with that garment of Righteousness in which they are to appear before their Father in Heaven Surely we may say yea rather Blessed are they who are imployed not in making Coverings for the Temple that was Destroyed and in three dayes raised up again but for the living Temples of the Most High GOD if indeed as they prepare clothing so they also clothe the Naked I was naked and ye clothed Me Mat. 25.36 Sect. 7. But what is this God filled them with Wisdom of Heart to do all manner of Work of the Weaver How doth the Eternal GOD humble himself to behold not only the Things done in the Heavens but upon the Earth Who is like unto the Lord who dwelleth on High saith the Psalmist upon this very Argument He clotheth the grass of the Field which to Day is and to Morrow is cast into the Oven and all Flesh is grass saith the Prophet this grass he clotheth also How low doth the lofty Eye descend The wheel is turned upon the Cummin and the Fitches are not threshed out with a threshing Instrument but beaten out with a Staff The bread Corn is bruised because he will not be ever threshing it nor break it with the wheel of his Cart nor bruise it with Horsemen This also cometh from the Lord of Hosts Isa 28.28 29. This What This Discretion Verse 26. His GOD doth instruct him to Discretion and teach him The VVeaver would not have known which way to have fastened his VVarp or ordered his VVoof or directed his Shuttle or mixed his Yarns but for a Discretion taught him by the LORD of Hosts Blessed GOD How great art thou in all things And never greater than in the least of things How little do we know thee or consider thee who yet art ever at our fingers ends What a Meditation this is for a VVeaver at his Loom Is it the LORD of Hosts that influenceth my hand even in this Moment to throw this Shuttle and influenceth my Mind with Discretion to order these Threads to move these several Utensils of my Trade so as they serve the end which I design what a GOD do I serve who is present with me while I sit here at my poor contemptible Imployment who humbleth himself to help me to work and influenceth me to work better than my Neighbour have I more Discretion than my Fellow-Labourer in the same Chamber This also cometh from the LORD who is mighty in Counsel and wonderful in Working Sect. 8. I am therefore certainly obliged to be Humble If I can invent a New Stuff which another cannot with all his Industry hit upon if I can better order my Yarns my Colours if I can better order my VVork or throw my Shuttle more Nimbly and bring a Piece quicker off the Loom I have no reason to despise him that cannot be so quick or sagacious as my self for what have I which I have not received from him who is mighty in Counsel To despise the diligent Person or my dull Companion that is not Sottish and willfully Negligent in his work is but to reproach my Maker and he was mine as well as his I derived no more of my Soul than he did from his Mother and they are the nimbler exercises of that not of my terrene Earthlie part which discovers this ingenuitie But I have infinite Reason to be thankfull to that GOD who hath thus given me that Power to get Riches which he that denied to him that works in the same Chamber with me Certainly I stand obliged to do more than others for that God who hath done more for me than for others of my own Trade This common Gift obligeth me to special Duty because it is not common to me with all though it be common to Me with others who never tasted special and distinguishing Grace Sect. 9. Now what should the Weavers do more doubtless Love Honour serve that GOD more but these are Generals Of Old the first-fruits were to be offered unto the LORD To do good and to distribute saith the Apostle forget not for with such Sacrifices GOD is well pleased Distributions fall under the two Notions of feeding the Hungry and clothing the Naked The Latter of these directly referreth to the Weaver's Trade I have heard that a late Learned Lawyer in this Nation during his whole Life would lay aside every tenth Fee for pious and charitable Uses Our Law obligeth the Lawyer to give his pains to Him or Her that will plead in forma pauperis If you can think of nothing else whereby to shew your Gratitude to GOD yet this you cannot over-look because ever in your Eye This is to Honour GOD with your Substance and with your Increase your Increase lyeth in making Clothing for the Naked Let your Friends when you are gone be able as the Friends of Dorcas to bring forth the Clothes which when alive She had made for the Poor Let me tell you that GOD is the best Merchant you can part with a Piece of Stuff to he indeed sometimes takes day to see if his Weavers can trust him but as he payes certainly so he payes to the best Profit He that casts his Bread upon many VVaters shall after many dayes find it And so shall he that throws a Piece of Cloth or Stuff there He shall find it in that day when GOD shall say to them on his right Hand I was Naked and you Clothed me Sect. 10. But if I must be filled with the VVisdom of GOD to work all manner of VVork of the VVeaver if this cometh from the LORD then much more to work any Spiritual VVork If there must be a special influx of Providence beyond what ordinary Souls of VVorkmen have possessed of an understanding and will of the same species with mine upon me to make me a better VVorkman to invent a New Piece of Stuff to judge of its acceptableness to People the next Year better than another of the same Trade with me that hath the same understanding and will that I have VVhat an influence of GOD must it require to perform a spiritual Service that shall be acceptable unto GOD Cannot I mix my Colours as I would and may I Repent or Believe if I will It is not in my Power to make a Piece of Stuff of which I have the Patern which lyes before me and for which I have the Materials and is it in my Power to do an Action truly and spiritually good though I have Paterns before me though I have the same rational Soul that he hath that doth it He that denieth distinguishing spiritual Habits referring to truly Spiritual Acts will be forced to acknowledge a distinguishing Common Gift given to one VVeaver and not to another The one can invent the other cannot the one can judge better whether a Piece of Stuff will next Year take the one can do his work more neatly and acceptably to every Eye Man
hath not his will so far free that though he hath learned his Trade and would fain invent and judge and mix his Colours and work up and off his ware as well as another yea though he hath the same Yarns he cannot do it Let then the Arminian go and Dispute with the VVeaver and first make him believe that he may invent as happily as his Neighbour and make as good work as he if he will let him tell him that the reason why he doth it not is not natural but moral impotency because he cannot prevail with himself to be willing to do it will not the Experience of every poor industrious VVeaver confute him surely the Experience of a Christian as to Actions truly Spiritually and formally good will confute him much more Sect. 11. What an Argument also is this for contentation with the lot which GOD hath given us and the Station in the VVorld which he hath willed us to take up The VVorld is but a great Army set in Rank and File by the LORD the LORD of Hosts What if one be a Lieutenant-General others Collonels and Captains and Commission-Officers in it and others be but Milites gregarii ordinary Common Souldiers it is the Great General that hath ordered the one and the other to their Stations and hath fitted the one and the other for their VVorks What if GOD will have the Princes the Nobles the Judges to sit all day on the Throne of Judgment and to imploy themselves in cutting out right to every Man whiles he willeth me to sit in my Loom and imploy my self all the day in throwing the Shuttle VVe both are influenced by the same Spirit On them Rests the Spirit of Wisdom and Judgement on me also in my model the Spirit of Wisdom from whence I work the Work of the Weaver As I am influenced by GOD to my work as well as those that take up higher Stations and assisted by GOD in it So I have also an opportunity in it to shew my self serviceable to GOD serviceable to my Generation The Magistrates work is to defend the Rich Mans work is to Feed Mine is to Cloth the Naked I can Pray for a Blessing upon my Loom because it works for the necessary Uses of Mankind Do I work in a lower Orb than some others do yet I serve no lower Master I work for no lower End than they do Let not the Weaver say then My Family is poor in Israel my Trade is lightly esteemed of Fools rate things by appearance and sacrifice their Judgements to Vulgar applause Wise Men judge according to Reality Can that Trade be contemptible which the wise GOD learneth us in which the Spirit of GOD assisteth us and which serveth one of the greatest Uses of the Sons of Men If therefore thou beest bred no higher than to be a Weaver yet be therewith content Paul had learnt to be so in every State Let thy Mind abide in that Calling to which the LORD hath called you say not O if I had been a Merchant if I had been a Draper c. They both derive from thee and the Spirit of Wisdom to work all manner of Work even that of the VVeaver doth far more Visiblie work in thee than in the one or the other of them There is far less Wisdom exercised by them in proportioning Piece in contriving advantagious Transportations than in thy invention of thy Stuff mixing and contriving thy Yarns c. The Spider certainlie shews us more of GOD than the Butterfly The Silkworm is a far greater Miracle of Divine Wisdom than any other Insect The Poem Then Rest my Soul thou hast enough Thou servest GOD in VVeaving Stuff Shou servest and may'st serve him more Clothing the good but naked poor Thou servest men and serv'st them in Employment where thou serv'st not sin Thou servest not their Luxury But only their Necessity 'T is not my work to improve a mine Making Diana's Silver-shrine Nor to make Ribbands no nor Lace Nor Patches for a Wanton's Face Nor any idle Instrument Of Pride which Men may better want If Stuffs may be abused too That Taylors and not Weavers do The Weaver is no low-born Trade Spiders by GOD at first were made 'T is GOD that giveth a wise Heart To me to work in the Weavers Art Blest LORD let me a Weaver be So I may Weave a Piece for thee CHAP. II. The Weavers Materials Wooll Silk Hair Hemp Flax Cotton c. The Meditations Sect. 1. THe Weaver's Trade is of great Antiquity yet not coveous to the Fall of Adam That first indeed discovered Nakedness which makes the Usefulness of this Art but the Art was not discovered as soon as Shame made a necessity of Clothes Our first Parents first Sewed Fig-leaves together and made themselves Aprons Genesis 3.7 or something to gird about them here GOD himself was the Weaver and Adam and Eve were their own Taylors VVe know not the Dimensions of the Trees or Leaves or Fruits of those fruitfull Places but be it what it will the Protection a Fig-leaf could give must necessarily be very ordinary and the Covering very scant The Hebrew therefore saith no more than that they made Garments covering those Parts which Nature teacheth Us to Hide The Extremities of Cold and Heat which Sin had now made more Afflictive and the fast coming-up of the Thorns and Thistles to which the Earth for Mans sake was quickly Condemned soon discovered need of better Clothes than Fig-trees could afford When Weaving certainly began is hard to say but if what some would have one of the Daughters of Lamech began it it must be by that time the world had beed 1651 Years in Being Be that as it will we know within a thousand Years after Bezaleel and Aholiab were skilled in it We know that in the Tabernacle were Curtains of fine twined Linnen Blue Purple and Scarlet which certainly refer to woollen We know also there were Curtains of Goats Hair Exodus 26.7 Of Silk indeed we read nothing that I remember till Proverbs 31. It should seem by some of the Roman Historians that it was a rare Commodity 284 Years after our Saviour Aurelian therefore the Emperour would wear no Clothes whose VVarp and VVoof were both Silk for saith my Author a Pound of Silk was then of the same Value with a Pound of Gold It was 555 Years after Christ before any great plenty of Silk was discovered in Europe Procopius tells us we were then beholden to two Monks for it who brought some Silk-worms Eggs from the Indies to Justinian the Emperour The Use of the other Materials was much more Ancient Hemp Flax and Cotton-wool are vegetables VVooll Silk and Hair are the Product of sensitive Creatures The whole Creation is made up of Things that have a meer Being such are the Elements Stars c. or such things as have Life and no more added to Being such are all Vegetables Plants c. or such as to Being
who work so ill and foully that their Yarn is good for Nothing So there â—re Thousands and ten Thousands in the World whose Actions are wholly Naught but none so good that they are perfâ—ctly Good Bonum ex causis integris Hence our SAVIOVR directs us when we have done all we can to say we are unprofitable servants The Weaver often scowreth the Yarn he Buys but is he as carefull to scowr the Yarn which he himself maketh 'T is not indeed what must cloâ—th him in the day of Judgement That I may be found in him saith the Apostle not having my own Righteousness But of this must Garments be mâ—de without which in that day he will walk naked and Men will see his shame Ah how usefull might some thoughts of this Nature be to our Weaver at his scowring work I am here scowring the Yarn I Buy but have I scowred the Yarn I have made have I been humbled for that Corruption which hath clave to all my Actions this work or this day Sect. 8. While I see the Weaver carry his Yarnes to the Dyer methinks I cannot but again reflect upon the finest Threeds of Humane Actions which must be Dyed too in the Blood of CHRIST before GOD will look upon them Some of our Weavers Pieces will be acceptable in the Native Colour of the Wooll but it is not so with the best of our Duties and Actions GOD hath said to us Bring your Brother Benjamin or see my Face no more we can onely offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable in the Beloved 1 Peter 2.5 though our sacrifices be spiritual yet they are not acceptable in the Beloved We have not onely need of an Advocat with the Father if we sin but also if we pray the reason is because we cannot pray without sinning There 's but one Dye for all our Rags all our web must be dipt in the Blood of the Lamb Revelation 7.14 They have washed their Robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb and if you observe it they were those that had come out of great Tribulation One would have thought that if any Actions that we had done could Merit or might appear as they come from us before the Just GOD what we do in Testimony for the Truths and Name of CHRIST might but if you observe these were they whom Saint John saw having washed their Robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb. Nothing passeth for a Garment in Heaven but who hath Christ's seal nothing for coin but what hath his stamp Sect. 9. But I observe the Weaver carrying his Silk and his Yarnes to the Twisters they bring several threeds into one Methinks I cannot but reflect what twisting there must be too in the Christians Trade 1. There must be a Twisting in every good and spiritual Action 1. A true Principal 2. A right Manner of Performance 3. A true End must be all twisted together or the Action is but splendidum peccatum as Augustine was wont to call the Moral Actions of Heathens The End must be the Glory of GOD The Principle must be Love to GOD For the Manner it must be done in Faith Where these three are twisted together the Action is truly good and spiritual Secondly There must be a twisting of good Actions too It is not enough to begin well but we must go on well and end well Connectere ultima primis make our first and last things agree twist an Holy Old Age with an Holy Youth If a Man forsaketh his Righteousness and committeth Iniquity his Righteousness shall never be remembred If any soul draweth back GOD will have no pleasure in him he draweth back at his own Peril and to his own Destruction He that hath twisted GODS Glory Love to GOD and Faith in GOD as to every Action and thus twisted the Actions of his Life from the time he begins to set out for GOD will make himself a strong Cord like Solomons triple Cord of Hope which will not be easily broken Lastly what is twisting but an uniting of several Threeds into one and is done for strength We being many saith the Apostle are one Bread and one Body One Body there 's a twisting of souls and all Yarns will twist or may twist at least There are indeed some heterogeneous things of another kind will never twist with them We are all but as the LORDS Yarn made of his Fleece who was led as a sheep to the slaughter died in his Blood He intends us all for a One Body Why should not we also twist together both in Truth and Love thinking the same things speaking the same things however being kindly affectioned one to another in Love Alas that we must have a Mill to force us together that the Violence of a Persecution must do that which the Love of CHRIST in us cannot do We are silly Sheep that will not run together till the Shepherds Dog be after us Surely there is more in a joint Union with CHRIST to Unite us would our silly Passions let us see it than there can be in twenty little particular sentiments to divide us Sect. 10. The Weaver must also sort his Yarns and if his Stuff be to be of divers Colours he must sort his Colours before he be fit to work All Yarn will not make the same kind of Stuff all will not make the Warp nor the Woof of the same Stuff Every Threed of the Yarn is Yarn but yet not of the same sort nor degree of Fineness Every Christian Action hath or should have a tendency towards Righteousness It should be levelled at GODS Glory and have the other ingredients to every Action which shal please GOD but yet there is a great deal of difference in a Christians Actions His Actions are either Naturâ—l such as Eating and Drinking c. Or Moral such as are his Buying his Selling his working in his Trâ—de or Religious such are his Reading the Word Hearing Praying c. By the two first GOD is Glorified when we regulate them according to his Will and it is our duty to propose GODS Glory as well as the serving of our own Natures in the doing of them which should be a Law upon us to regulate our Measures by the Divine Standard But our Religious Actions are our Fine Threeds From the other GOD hath a secondâ—ry Glory from these he hath a primary Glory they first terminate in GOD as they are an Homage to him These must be sorted by every judicious Christian T is true there must be an Eye of Religion as we call it in all our Actions short Praying Ejaculations become a Christian in all his Moral and Civil Actions but our Solemn Religious Duties must not be woven with our Natural and Moral Actions He makes mad Prayers that never thinks of them but in Drinking Healths and he serves GOD wofully slightly that never reads a Chapter or hears one read but when his hand is imployed in some
and makes him carefull and wary how he throws it The spiritual Weaver understanding that every Action of his Life will contribute to his VVeb ought to keep a VVatch upon his Heart his Tongue his Hands his whole Man to look before he throws his Shuttle ay and look back upon it too when he hath thrown it For a Christian works more for Eternity than Apelles painted for it 5. A Threed through the weakness of it will break sometimes do the VVeaver what he can The VVeaver lays the Ends together or knits a Knot to Vnite the Threeds again then it passeth provided it be not done too often Iniquities saith David prevail against me Let the spiritual VVeaver do what he can his Threed will sometimes break his Course of Righteousness through Corruption will be interrupted The good which I would I do not Romans 7.19.23 I see another Law in my Members warring against the Law of my Mind and bringing me into Capâ—ivity to the Law of Sin The spiritual VVeaver hath nothing in this Case to do but by Repentance agâ—in to lay his Ends together to make his former Righteous Actions agree with the latter to knit the Knot of a renewed Covenant with GOD and a new Resolution to keep the LORDS Statutes This being done though the Failures are seen by the Eye of him who seeth all Things yet the VVeb passeth upon the Covenant of Grace for which we may give GOD thanks for our LORD JESVS CHRIST For we have not an High-Priest which cannot forgive Infirmities the Apostle tells us He can have Compassion upon the Ignorant and upon them that are out of the way Hebrews 5.2 6. The VVeaver must have his Temples which lying upon the VVeb keep it fixed and extended he would otherwise never work to any Purpose What the pair of Temples is to the VVeaver those noble Graces Fear and Faith and Love are to the Christian These spiriâ—ual Habits dwelling in eâ—â—â—y Gracious Heart influence all his Actions and keep his VVeb fixed and steady he walks in the Fear of the LORD all the day long he lives in the prospect of a Promise yea of many Promises made to them who hold out to the End he acteth not out of Constraint but VViâ—lingly from a Principle of Love The Hypocrite wanting these Habits of Grace works with no fixedness but at great Uncertainties these Habits keep the VVeb of Righteousness extended and the spiritual Soul fixed his Heart is fixed trusting in the LORD saith the Psalmist Do this and Live for I fear GOD saith Joseph and again in the Case of his Mistriss How shall I do this great Evil and Sin against GOD The Sameness and Immutability of GOD in His Nature and VVill who is the Object of the Souls Faith and Fear makes him the same in all times it keeps his Soul fixed and to the same extent and dimensions of spiritual Duty his Eye is alwayes upon him that is Invisible Oh what lamentable work doth the Hypocrite make in his spiritual Loom for want of these spiritual Temples at what incertainties doth he throw his Shuttle he is fixed and steady in nothing one thing to day another thing to morrow his Sails are set according to the wind of his interest which according to the Varieties of this VVorld one while blows from the North another while in the quite opposite Quarter VVhereas the sincere good spiritual Workman keeping his Temples before him works Evenly Steadily Fixedly he sets GOD before his Eyes alwayes as his Fear thence it is that his Feet do not slide he is alwayes Eyeing the Promise so is ever labouring to fulfill the Condition and dayly fearing and taking heed lest having a Promise of â—ntering into rest he should fail through Unbelief These Temples move every day with him and in him he carries them along with his work till his Web of Righteousness be wholly done 7. Lastly I observe there are some Pieces of Stuff and Cloth which a single Person cannot work alone two sit at the Loom the one receiveth the Shuttle which the other throws and returns it to the Hand from which it came The Spiritual Weaver hath Some such Webs too he hath Relative as well as Personal Duties The Husband throws his Shuttle to his VVife walking before Her as a Man of VVisdom and Knowledge Loving Her and Honouring Her as the VVeaker Vessel She returneth it back to him again Obeying Her own Husband submitting Herself to him he must Love his Wife as CHRIST Loves his Church and she takes care to Reverence Hâ—r Husband Both are at work together as meet helps one to another in the things of GOD and in the things of the VVorld and this is acceptable in the sight of GDD What Rare Hangings for an House do such a Pair of Weavers make How much more Excellent than those of Guilded Leather and Tapestry The Father throws the Spiritual Shuttle to the Child bringing him up in the Nurture and Admonition of the LORD teaching him the way in his or her Youth which he shall not forget when he is Old The Children return it to the Father or Mother Obeying them as it is Right in the LORD Honouring them not Meerly from a Natural Right but because it is the first Commandment of GOD with a Promise annexed to it The Master throws his Shuttle to his Servant Commanding him and all within his gates to Remember to keep Holy the Sabbath-day whetting the Law of the LORD upon them when they Lie down and when they Rise up when they go out and when they come in giving unto his Servants that which is just and equal The Servant again returns it to his Master being Obedient to him that is his Master according to the flesh with fear and trembling in singleness of Heart as unto CHRIST not with Eye-service as a Man-pleaser but as a Servant of CHRIST doing the will of GOD from the Heart with good will doing service as to the LORD and not unto Men knowing that whatsoever good thing any Man doth the same he shall receive from the LORD whether he be Bond or Free Ephesians 6.5 6 7. not answering again not purloining but shewing all good Fidelity that they may adorn the Doctrine of GOD our SAVIOVR in all things Titus 2.9.10 So in Political and Ecclesiastical Relations the pious Magistrate throws the Shuttle to his Subjects ruling them in the fear of the LORD commanding the Ministers of the Gospel in his Dominioâ—s to fulfill their office commanding all his Subjects to keep the Law of the LORD forbidding all deceitfull Weights and Ballances not regarding faces in Judgement not oppressing the Poor and Fatherless but regarding the Cryes of them and of the Widows The Subject again returns the Shuttle to the Magistrate being subject to the higher Powers knowing there is no Power but is ordained of GOD being subject not only for Wrath but for Conscience Sake for this cause paying Tribute also because they are GODS Ministers
rendring to all their Dues Tribute to whom Tribute is due Custome to whom Custome Fear to whom Fear Honour to whom Honour The Minister of the Gospel throws his Shuttle to his People Preaching the Word of GOD in season and out of season with all Faithfulness Diligence Boldness In Meekness instructing those who oppose themselves Fleeing also Youthfull Lusts being Vigilant Sober of good Behaviour given to Hospitality apt to Teach not given to Wine no Striker not greedy of filthy Lucre Patient no Brawler not Covetous c. On the other side Their People return the Shuttle being Obedient in the LORD to those who have the spiritual over-sight of them Laying apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness and with meekness receiving the engraffed Word which is able to save their Souls being doers of the word and not hearers only Oh what rare and beautiful webs of righteousness are made at these double Looms when they thus work according to the divine rule happy is the people that is in such case Men shal certainly say this People have the LORD for their GOD. The Poem How swiftly doth my Shuttle fly To th' other hand and by and by Returns to th' other hand it first did throw Stops not at all nor yet moves slow But as it moves a threed doth stay To be united by the slay Vnto the Web. All our days here Swifter than Weaver's Shuttles are Saith holy Job souls cannot rest Idle at all but work what 's best Or worst They cannot move but some New actions stays upon the Loom Adding still to their Web and must At last be judged just or unjust According to them all when done So will the Judge's Sentence run For life or death The whole must be Judged by the All-seeing Eye What care had I of thoughts need take Of Words of Actions all these make My Web as it is true or not So will the wages I have got Be unto me at last Then Watch My drowsy soul Let no sleep catch Thine Eyes Let nothing thee betray To what in the great judgment-Judgment-day Will not abide My head my hand Mine Eyes my feet move at Command Of my quick soul Each act their part While I am in my Weavers Art The head contrives the hand doth cast The Shuttle feet do move as fast All is at work the nimble Eye Observeth how the Shuttles fly Should I not this work Righteousness With my whole man is that work less In labour or in price Then shake Thy self my soul Let each power take It's part Command the Members too That each of them their part may do Think not GOD will be served by A pious Tongue or devout Eye Nor by a false pretending heart He must have all and every part Doth a threed break doth thy soul sin Do what it can Oh look back â—hen And by Repentance make that good Which nothing but thy Saviours Blood Can expiate Repentance may Pardon obtain buâ— no scores pay My soul see that thy Tempels be Always before thy face Oh see Thou workst from Faith love holy Fear These will thee keep thou shal not Erre Thy work will streight and even be Nor shalt thou move incertainly My soul learn how to work alone And how with a companion Who doth not work of every kind Himself will not approved find CHAP. VI. The Art The Weaver in Weaving sometimes finds a Threed defective in the Warp mostly through the negligence or other infirmity of him that wound the Warp on â—e not discerning the breach of the Threed Sometimes also a Threed breaketh in the Striking if it happeneth in the former the Weaver Supplieth it by another Threed in its Room If it breaketh in the Striking he brings the two Ends together and goeth on in his work When he hath wrought a Plate then he looks it over with an Instrument picks it out and brusheth off the loose knots So goes on till he hath finished his Web Then he Cuts it off the Loom The Meditations 1. THE Spiritual Weâ—vers Warp is his Credenda the several Propositions of Faith and Truth which are wound upon his Soul partly by the Exercise of his Reason upon Natural Principles partly upon the Revealed will of GOD in his Word For the Candle of the LORD in our Souls is dighted both these ways Reason working upon Natural Principles will conclude That there is a GOD who made Heaven and Earth that he must be Eternal infinite just and Holy c. That to him must be given account of our thoughts words and Actions That Man hath an Immortal Soul c. But there are many more Propositions of Truth which Reason working from Meer Natural Principles will never Discover yet are Concluded from Reason upon this Hypothesis That those Sacred Books which we call the Scriptures contain the Revealed Will of GOD and are the words of Him who cannot Lie Now as Naâ—ural Light is not the same in all but varieth according to the Capacity of a Man to Exercise his Reason and the Helps he hath for it so also there is a vast difference in Mens Conclusions from Scripture-Principles Every Man is not alike able to search the Scriptures nor hath the like Advantage from Forrein Help nor is so able as another to compare spiritual Things wiâ—h spiritual There is not a greater Difference in Faces than there is in the Sentiments and Opinions of Pious Souls who all have set up to themselves the same End viz. the Glory of GOD who dayly Beg of GOD to Lead them into all Truth and would not willingly believe a Lie and necessarily there must be so unless it would please GOD that all Men should be Born with the same Wit Reason Parts and Arrive to the same Degrees of Learning and have the same Helps of Instruction Now it is impossible that the two Contradictory Parts of the same Proposition should be True Hence of Necessity every Spiritual Weaver will at last be found to have some Threeds in his Warp defective Some indeed more some less but all some Nemo sine Crimine vivit Optimus ille qui minimis urgetur saith Horace There is none liveth who hath a right Apprehension of every Divine Truth And this Reflection were but Men possest with Common Humanity would oblige them to bear each with his Brother There will not be found a guiltless Person to throw the first Stone at his Neighbour Neither is any Mâ—n Infallible Nor is there upon Earth any Infallible Judge why do I then Judge and condemn my Brother may not he by the same Right Condemn me Is there not the same Distance from him to me Stand where he will as from me to him who shall judge betwixt Us shall the Church or any Authority of Men Determine betwixt Us The Church indeed yea the Civil Magistrate may Determine that nothing be Published within their Territories contrary to what they apprehend the will of GOD But certainly no Man can make an Hair
over searching or proving what he hath done whether it be good or well done yea or no till his piece comes off the Loom His Hands and Eyes never cease and to him that doth thus GOD will say Well done Good and Faithfull Servant enter into thy Masters joy The VVeaver cuts his own piece from the Loom and ceaseth to work when he hath made his Piece to the Length and Breadth which he or his Mâ—ster hath proposed The good Christian might do so to if his Lengths and Breadths proposed by his great LORD were not such as he can never reach and fulfill But his Mark to which he is to press forward the perfect Man the measure of the stature of the Fulness of CHRIST mentioned Ephesians â— 13 is such a Length and Breadth as the best Christian can never hope to Reach and must therefore die in his work still forgetting what is behind still Pressing Forward to what is before He cannot take off his work when he pleaseth because he will never have done it he cannot finish his Course till GOD hath finished his Life The work which GOD hath given him to do is not to depart from his Statutes all the Dayes of his Life The Peom Do some Threeds fail in every Warp Why do I at my Neighbour Carp Because he is not of my Faith Nor can I think true what he saith Who made my soul Judge in his case What but my own impudent Face Do'nt I from him differ as much As he from me Is the case such The Church must judge But yet I shall To my own Master stand or fall The Church shal judge what shal be taught Within her Territories naught I must not publish then what she Doth contradict and not agree But shall not still my thoughts be free From any humane Tyranny Shall she determine me to do What Conscience saith will bring me woe Must we subscribe what our hearts tell Vs will but lead us into Hell Or can we believe what we list And must we or our Neighbours fist Into it buffet us Where 's gone The Protestant Discretion Rome hath the best of 't if that we Must have Infallibility Whoso believes because the Church Believes is in the Romish Lurch He for 's Religion ne're will burn And waits forth ' next wind to turn May I mistake What shall secure Me coming to the Churches Lure GOD will forgive me if I slide Vnder the Conduct of that guide Which he hath in me set and in Foundation-doctrines do not Sin Though in my warp some threeds amiss Or in my VVoof Infirmities If do what I can upon My Conscience Information For what I have or have not done I trust CHRIST's Satisfaction Onely I must both Brush and Pick Each plate of work for 't will be sick Of Imperfection and this I Must every day do till I die VVhen GOD my work cuts off the Loom Then will my private Judgement come And I shall have my Wages given VVhich must be either Hell or Heaven CHAP. VII The Art VVhen the VVeavers Piece or Cloth is off the Loom he brings it to his Master who Payeth him according to what he hath Earned to some more to some less His Master maketh it up fitteth it for the Merchant by several Acts according to the Nature of the Web Fulling Entering Raising Pressing them Some are only Plainly made up and Pressed Some are Glozed some must be Carried to the Sealing-Hall and Sealed Thus they are fitted up for a Merchant then Sold. The Meditations 1. WHat a work is here before the Poor Laborious VVeaver can get a few Pence or Shillings what a Variety of Labours and Pains I have heard as I said before that a great Peer of this Realm sometimes Condemned to Die thus exprest himself If I had Served my GOD with the same Faithfulness as I have Served my Prince I had not come to this unâ—imely End Many a Poor VVeaver that sits at his Loom from four in the Morning till 8 9 10. at Night but to get 7 8 or 10 s. a week for a Livelihood I fear may sadly reflect upon his Soul and say If I wrought half so hard for GOD as I here Toyl for my Master how much better VVages should I have what a lamentable Fool I am to work 9 10. Hours in a Day for 7 or 8 or 10 s. and to grudge one or two Hours to work for a Crown of Glory to Read Hear Pray that GOD would not Condemn my Soul to an Eternal Misery How doth many a Poor Industrious VVeaver spend his Labour for that which is not Bread and his Strength for that which either will not Profit or not comparably with the work of Righteousness Blessed GOD what comparison is there betwixt Thine and the VVorlds VVages to him that most faithfully serves it his Crowns of Gold and this Crown of Eternal Glory and Happiness VVe hear Men often say we will rather Play for Nothing than VVork for Nothing Yet how do the most of Men rather Chuse to VVork for Nothing yea to VVork for Hell rather than to VVork out their own Salvation and for the Glory of GOD The greatest some things of this World and of that which is to come The Service of GOD is a perfect Freedom a Freedom in Comparison of all the VVoâ—k in the VVorld Doth GOD require of a Poor Weaver that he might be Saved to spend 8 or 10 Hours every Day in Reading Praying Hearing Selâ—-Examination c. what lively active Christian is constant to much more than a third part of that time spent in Devotion to GOD yet it is for an Eternity of Glory and Happiness It is true he must set GOD alwayes before his Eyes that will not slide by his Feet He must walk in the Fear of the LORD all the Day-long that will Enter into his Masters Joy he must continually direct his Intention right whether he Eateth or Drinketh or whatever he doth he must do all to the Glory of GOD But is Holiness such a Toyl such a Weariness to the Flesh such a Bodily Labour as VVeaving is yet what a Difference is there in the VVages Ah what a Slave is Man that can â—y himself yea must ty himself to a Loom all the Day for a Poor Livelihood and yet cannot ty himself to a Course of Religion and Holiness to obtain the Promises both for this Life and for that which is to come Shall not the Beams of the VVeavers Looms shall not his Shuttles and Treddles be VVitnesses against him another Day which by him are kept in continual Motion and worn out for a little Portion of Bread VVhile in the mean time not a Cushion is worn out by him in Prayer not a Bible with Reading in it what should concern his Everlasting Peace VVhat but an Evil Heart of Vnbelief could give Conduct to the Life of most while forsaking the Fountain of Living VVaters they thus spend their Time their Precious Time
upon which their Eternity depends in Digging up to themselves Cisterns broken Cisterns that will hold no VVater Did they Believe there were a GOD there were an Heaven such a Reward as the Scripture speaks for the Righteous it were impossible they should move so little for it while they work so hard for what is infinitely beneath it 2. The Weaver's Master pays him according to his Work The Materials he hath before received from his Master of Various sorts and prices according to the piece he is to work Some spoil all and have in stead of VVages Nothing but a smart Reproof and Chiding or an Action brought against them Others bring it Home slovenly done Others bring it done well and work man like They are paid according to their work The great Master the LORD of Heaven and Earth furnisheth every Man with Materials and Instruments for him to do the work which he hath given him to do None is without a Reasonable Soul endued with several Faculties the Principles and Instruments of all Humane Operations All indeed have not alike wit Capacity Judgment Reason But all have some Materials some Power 's given to them GOD as the Prudent Weaver doth not at first give out to all the best Materials The Prudent Weaver first tries his Servant with Coarser Yarn than with Finer First with Woollen then with Silk If he works not the Coarser first well his Master trusts him not with the Finer If he works not his VVoollen Yarn well his Master will not adventure Silk into his Hands If he doth work the Coarser well his Master is not bound otherwise than he may be by a Promise or Covenant to trust him with his most Choise and Costly Materials I must Confess I do much encline to think that in the day of Judgment no Soul shall be Condemned for not doing that which it had not wherewithal to do As a Man may Sin without the Law so he may perish without the Law being judged without the Law I can easily acquit the holy GOD of any Unrighteousness if in Man 's Lapsed Estate he should Eternally Condemn a Soul for not doing what in his present State he cannot do 'T is certain that we all had in Adam a Power to do whatsoever in Innocency GOD required of Man in order to Salvation If our Forefather spent what we should have lived upon it were very absurd to say GOD hath lost his Right to Exact his Debt because we have lost our Power to pay it But I say I see no need to insist on this GOD will find enough to Condemn â—inners for at last because they have done it when he forbade them and it was in their Power to have forborn it Or not done what he Commanded and was in their power to have done The meritorious cause of their Damnation to whom GOD pleaseth not to give Efficacious Grace will be found their abuse or not use of their Common Grace It is true did Men use their Common Grace never so well they could not by such use of it earn Special Grace that is a sacred VVind which bloweth where it listeth The price of it is above all the Pearl and Coral and Rubies and Diamonds of a Natural Mans work But I do not think that in the day of Judgement we shall see the face of one Soul who did what in him lay Onely GOD was wanting to him in the Dispensations of Effectual Grace The Sinner let him think what he will to the Contrary shall never lay his Damnation at GOD'S door This great Master will give every one according to his work Some shall arise to Shame and Contempt some to Life Eternal All shall receive according to what they have done in the flesh whether it be Good or Evil. The latter shall go into Everlasting Punishment the Righteous into Life Eternal Matthew 25.46 VVhen CHRIST comes and it will be quickly his Reward will be with him to give every Man according as his work shall be Revelation 22.12 When the Son of Man shall come in the Glory of his Father with his Angels then shall he reward every Man according to his works Matthew 16.27 He whose work hath bin to rise 〈◊〉 Early to drink Strong Drink and to sit at the Wine till it Enflameth him shall have according to his Work his Portion where he shall want a Cup of cold Water to Cool his Tongue Other sensual Sinners shall also have according to their work i. e. the Judgment Threatned in the word of GOD to such kind of works And the Child of GOD also shall have according to his work Isaiah 32.17 The work of Righteousness shall be peace and the effect of it Quieâ—ness and Assurance for ever The good-man shall receive according to his work The King shall say to them on his right Hand come you Blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom c. For I was an Hungry and you gave me Meat c. 3. As every Christians work is not alike so neither will his Wages be 1 Corinthians 3.15 If any Mans Work be Burnt he shall suffer Loss but he himself shall be saved yet so as through Fire He that Buildeth upon the True Foundation shall be Saved but yet he may so work that much of his work may be Burnt and if it be so he shall suffer Loss he shall be saved but as through Fire It hath been a Question amongst Divines whether there shall be Degrees of Glory in Heaven yea or no 'T is very probable there shall much Scripture looketh that way certain it is that in many things all the Glorified Saints shall be Equal They shall all be Exempted from Eternal Punishment they shall all see GOD they all shall be for ever with the LORD but that they shall all sit on Equal Thrones and have the same Degrees of Glory and Happiness we cannot say nor yet will describe wherein the Difference shall lie what further Degrees of Honour or Pleasure one shall have more than another This we know that every Spiritual Weaver shall â—in the Great Day be Paid according to the Kind of his VVork and according to the Degree of his Work in its Kind be it Good or Evil. It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon for Sodom and Gomorrah than for Chorazin Bethsaida and Capernaum Those that abide with CHRIST in his Temptations shall sit upon twelve Thrones Judging the Twelve Tribes of Israel 4. Onely there will be these Differences betwixt the Earthly and the Spiritual Weavers payment 1. The Earthly Weaver hath something Due to him from the Nature of his work as well as from his Masters Promises and Contract So hatâ— not the Spiritual VVeaver The wages of Siâ— iâ— Death But the gift of GOD is Eternal life A Man may earn Hell but he must have Heaveâ— freely given him of GOD All the pretence of Debt we have is from a free Promise 2. Again the Earthly Weaver may do something beyond his
Task which if he doth he shall be paid for it So cannot the Spiritual VVeaver nay when he hath done all he can he must say he is an unprofitable Servant a Servant so as what he hath done is but his Duty an unprofitable Servant so as what he hath done comes short of his Duty So that indeed our Spiritual VVeaver strictly hath not according to his VVork not according to the Failures and Imperfections of it but according to the Kind of it and Degrees of Goodness in it The Spiritual VVeavers Reward is by no means a Quid pro quo a proportionable Reward unto hiâ— work but it is a Reward of Grace according to the Nature and Degree of his Sincerity in hâ— VVork 5. When the Weavers piece cometh off the Loom according to the Nature of the piece it iâ— either by the Master onely made up and pressed and sealed or else as some pieces require it is Dyed Fulled Tentered Raised Pressed Glozed and so Exposed to the Merchant Much of this is onely to Deceive or please the Buyers Eye Nothing of this is to be done to the Spiritual VVeb that goes to an Eye which as it cannot be Deceived so it will not be Pleased with any Glozings Onely Dyed it must be made up and â—ffered unto GOD it must be Sealed it must be The only Dye that can give an acceptable tincture to the work of Righteousness is in the Fountain set open to the House of David and to the Inhabitants of Hierusalem for sin and for Vncleanness Revelation 7.14 Those that came out of great Tribulation washed their Robes and made them White in the Blood of the LAMB If we sin saith the Apostle and who lives who works and sinneth not We have an Advocate with the Father even JESVS CHRIST the Righteous â—r John 2.1 It is CHRIST that with his Blood and Perfect Satisfaction must dye all our works It is he who must make them up Perfect through this Righteousness 'T is he that must set his Seal of acceptation upon them who must offer them â—p unto his Father This is what Saint John saw Revelation 8.3 when he saw another Angel standing before the Altar having a Golder Censer And there was given unto him much Incense that he should offer it with the Prayers of all Saints upon the Golden Altar verse 4. which was before the Throne And the Smoak of the Incense which came with the Prayers of the Saints ascended up before GOD out of the Angels Hand Thus now hath our Spiritual Weaver finished his work run the Race which GOD set him to run finished his Course and Enters the Paradise of GOD. 6. But I observe that every Poor VVeaveâ— cannot stay for his Wages until the End of the Year but hath it from week to week Possibly they cannot stay so long but must have it from day to day The good Master Indulgeth him considering his Necessities and the Nâ—eds of his Family he giveth him not all but some he giveth him So doth our great LORD and Master Godliness hath Promise both of this Life and also of that which is to come Our LORD knoweth that we are Necessitous Creatures and cannot do him Service while we are in the Body without Food and Rayment Godliness hath therefore many Promises annexed to it which are fulfilled in this Life if not to all in the extent of some Promises yet to all so far as shall be Food Convenient and so enough for them to Support Uphold and Maintain them while in this world they are at their LORDS work Yet not this in Equal Portions But as many Masters that have Various work-men not indued all with alike Discretion sometimes trust one who is the discreetest of them with the portions belonging to three or four 't is all in trust that they should distribute to Six and also to Seven So doth our great LORD and Master in his distributions of the good things of this Life which are capable to be ill as well as well used GOD gives to some Abundance to others enough to others too little He that hath abundance hath with it a charge to be Rich in good works to do good to distribute GOD hath provided for all some have it in their own Hands others have it in their Friends Hands GOD puts for the Poor into the Hand of the Rich and with a charge to them to do good and to distribute it according to his order and under and by the Rules he hath set down in his Word Their great VVages is to be Paid at the End of their Days indeed at the End of the World But they shall in the mean time have Something to support and Uphold them while they are in the Flesh doing and Suffering the will of GOD concerning them The Poem LORD how we labour for a piece of Bread Which when we have It perisheth No sooner are we Fed Our Stomacks crave We work and by and by our gettings Spend What we before Were that we are Our Labour 's without End And we still poor Still but our Body 's fed Our better Self Will starved be It cannot be maintained with worldly Pelf T' Eternity Is there no better Trade might not I work For better pay If I serv'd GOD My Soul let it not irk Thee for to pray To Read to Hear to spend time every day To make that sure Which when all these poor things shall melt away Shall still endure Work how I will while I am in the Flesh My pay will be Or Good or Bad of Either more or less Eternally Why doest thou say no Mortal Man can Live Meerly on Prayer Did ever GOD unto his Servant give Nothing but Air Cans't trust him for a Crown and canst nâ—t trust Him for thy Bread Hath he not said unto thy part of dust It shall be Fed Did ever any him for nothing serve For nothing here If thou doest not abound thou shalt not starve Thou needst not fear But do not think that thou doest from thy Maker Earn the least Good All 's free Gift or because thou art Partaker Of â—hy LORDS Blood His Hand must Seal his Blood must Dye the Piece If he but write ACCEPTED it shall pass for Righteousness That makes it right Out of that Angel's hand my GOD let all My Prayers come To thee and whatsoever good I shall Work in my Loom The Art of Weaving Spiritualized Part. II. CHAP. I. Of the Excellency of the Trade Observations HItherto I have only helped our Weaver with some hints for Spiritual Meditations and Discourse from the several parts of his Work Let me now give him some few Observations I hâ—ve made upon eight and twenty Years Converse with many of this Occupation My Observations will some of them be more General relating to other Trades as well as that Some more Special relating to that Employment I shall not be curious in distinguishing them each from other but take them as my thoughts suggest