by 't undone But those who can believe and do What-ever GOD them calleth to Shall happy be And when the Solifidians fail And Papists too he shall Entail Felicity Vnto his Soul which neither Faith Nor works alone so Scripture saith Can save from Hell Faith justifies alone but yet Is not alone Works follow it Faith bears the bell Because it lyeth hold on him Who justifies the Soul from Sin Whose only name Is that by which we saved be Without whom to felicity None ever came Happy is he who doth compound What in the holy writ is found By GOD combin'd But wo to him who dares to part To gratify sophistick art What he hath join'd O Let my Soul believe as much As if my Faith alone were such As could it save But let it work as much also As if 't should for what it can do It 's Heaven have CHAP. V. Vsually those have their Eyes a broad most about them anâ— when alone are most happy iâ— their Judgements and Inventions and thrive most Observations 5. 1. I Observe a twofold Spirit amongst Tradesmen and as amongst otherâ— so particularly amongst Weavers Some are Men of a Poor private obscure Spirit Their Eyes look right before them that 's all they have been bred to this or that Trade to be used in this or that method and they Jog on and on as we say buy make sell the same Commodities their Mâ—sters did neither will turn to the right Hand nor to the left Such now as these I have seen in the World with much adoe quitting their teeth and their Taylor by all their labour Others I have observed of brisker Spirits their Eyes are behind them and before them and round about them they look upon their Apprentiship not as a seven Years service to their particular Master but to the World advantaging them to a general knowledge This Spirit in a VVeaver makes him understand that he was not bound Seven Years to learn to make either Rashes or Tametts or Cheynies or any other particular kind of Stuff But the mistery of Weaving to know how to make any Stuff This Man considereth the VVorld Rightly the whole scheme of it passing away the surface of it now wearing off new Eyes new fancies daily Rising in it to be pleased and accordingly accommodates himself to it and hath his Eyes about him and his Reason within him his Eyes observing what Stuffs are most worn most acceptable to the Eye of the present Generation and to them he Sets himself This Man usually thrives better than his Neighbour 2. I Observe again that in Trades and more especially in the Weavers Trade those who have the best Inventions and can best compare things with things and who have the best Judgements thrive best Indeed Judgement is that which makes a Man excel let his way and Course of Life be what it will It is that which makes the Scholar that which makes the Tradesman and the Merchant indeed every one let his Course and way of Life be of what kind it will The VVeaver must judge of the best Yarns the best VVorkman the most acceptable Colours or compositions of Yarns and Mixtures of Colours the best Markets and of many other things Invention also hath a great influence though not in all yet in many ways and Coursâ—s of Livelihoods It hath a great influence upon the Excellency of a Scholar and so of a VVeaver For there is much to be found out in VVeaving indeed in most Tradâ—s and ways of Livelihood more than is already discovered Every day teacheth another and brings forth new notions in Philosophy in Physick in Mathematicks and so likewise in Methods of Trading and dealing in the world he that will only Run a Round and go in a Track will find that he doth but tire himself to little purpose hunting the World which in the mean time â—â—ieth from him 3. I obsâ—rve thirdly that GOD rarely giveth to any one all those gifts which make one to excel in any Course of Life One Man hath an excellent fancy and invention but possibly no Judgement another hath an excellent Judgement upon anothers fancy and invention but a dull and heavy Invention of his own a third hath neither but a nimble Hand at his work a fourth hath a neat Hand and doth what he doth Curiously and Exactly he hath no dexterity but is wonderfully slow at it Some one Man of many hath all united he hath a good fancy and Judgement he is both neat and quick c. 4. I cannot but observe that in the Spiritual Trade there is something which beareth a Proportion unto this I know Truth is of great antiquity and the Oldest Proposition is the best the Old way is the good way But the Corruption of ages hath been like Snow upon a path it requires some search Reason and Judgement and Pains too to find out where that same old way lay New Lights are derided and New Truth counted but a Contradiction in adâ—eâ—to For really no Truth is new but coâ—vous to that GOD who hath stilâ—d himself the Truâ—h There have been two and but two Remarkeable Innovations in Religion warrantable Warrantable because made by GOD himself The one upon the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai The other upon the publishing the Gospel for though there was a worship of GOD and that by Sacrifices before Aaron's time when thâ— world was 2000 Years Old and upward yet he undertakes a great Task that will undertakâ— to prove the whole order of the Judaical Worship in Practice before that time CHRIST altereâ— nothing at his Coming in the Moral Law buâ— it is most certain that he abrogated the Law contained in Ordinances the whole ritual Law and instituted a Gospel-VVorship which shall never more be altered It is certain also that the Canon of Scripture was not sealed till after CHRISTS Ascension into Heaven though we sâ—y he added no new Moral Precepts Thus fâ—r all the Christian VVorld iâ— agreed that the whole Systeme of Divine Trutâ— is revealed in the Scriptures of the Old or New Testament and the whole method of VVorshiâ— must be found there though of it something iâ— to be learned from Precept something from Example some things are plainly set down others must be gathered by consequences in the use of our Reason Hence the variety of men judgements and different apprehensions in the things of GOD. Now there are some Christians who either have not or will not use their power in searching out Truth comparing Spiritual things with Spiritual but take it to be enough foâ— them To believe as the Church believeth and to do what the Church bid them do having no regard to the Apostle commanding them 1. To prove all things and hold fast that which it Good and again to try the Spirits whether they be of GOD or no c. I Observe these Christians little improving in Knowledge Faith 〈◊〉 Holiness The woman of Samaria John 4. was of
Worldly Business which probably hath more of his Heart attending that than his Ear hath which heareth the Word of GOD. There is a time for all things saith Solomon but he who can find it no otherwise than thus indeed finds a time for nothing Sect. 11. The Weaver mixeth his Colours too when he hath a Piece to make of several Colours to the best Advantage for Beauty Party-coloured Garments were an Old Fashion 2 Samuel 13.18 Genesis 37.3 now where such a web is to be made the Colours must be rightly Ordered Mixed and Disposed one in Relation to another The Christians active Righteousness is also a Garment of Divers Colours his Duty made up of Various Duties and he never makes his web True or Beautifull if he doth not rightly dispose his Duties of several Colours Giving to GOD the things that are GODS and to Caesar the things that are Caesars rightly ordering himself in his or her Duty to Husband Wife Servants Master Parents Children Political Rulers Or to GOD if he doth not mix his Prayers with Praises his Reading with Hearing the Word Preached and all with Receiving the Lords Supper That 's the true Christian that rightly disposeth his Duties of the several Colours so as there is a due Proportion of all and a comely mixture of them all Sect. 12. The Weaver hath his Warp and his Woof his warp is the Foundation the woof is Superinduced by the Shuttle Now to make his Piece well 't is necessary the Warp be first laid and be sound and good and the woof must bear a proportion to it too Men skilled in the affairs of the world will tell us that the more * of the same kind homogeneal they both be the stronger the web is They say Webs of Silk and Yarn mixed are not so strong as those wholly of either Be that as it will a Christian must have his Warp and his Woof too His VVarp must be a Knowledge of the Truths of GOD His Woof Action upon that Knowledge That the Soul be without Knowledge is not good saith Solomon Proverbs 19.2 How can they believe in him of whom they have not heard Romans 10. Assoon can a Weaver make a Piece of Stuff without a warp as a Christian live an Holy Life without a skill in the Principles of Faith Yea and it must be a sound Knowledge too he must be skilled in the form of sound words else he buildeth without a Foundation or upon one that is False I know GOD in the Methods of his converting Providence begins two wayes working sometimes from the Heart to the Head first affecting the soul which being inflamed with a Love to GOD by and by looks to know the wayes of GOD more perfectly sometimes GOD works from the Head to the Heart reflecting Pieces of our Knowledge upon our Consciences but both wayes whaâ— I say is true A course and series of good and spiritual Actions must be directed by a knowing Head and an Head replenished with a sound Knowledge in spiritual Propositions I know that hay and stubble may be heaped upon a good Foundation and where it is so the Apostle hath told us the work will suffer Loss and the workman if he be saved will be sayed as through fire but it will be hard to make a good Building where the Foundation is but Hay and Stubble Nor will our spiritual web be strong if there be not a proportion betwixt the warp of Knowledge and Woof of Action where Knowledge is not sanctified and experimental the Action will bear a proportion to it and not be truly spiritual But where the Soul is filled with Knowledg and that of a spiritual sanctified Nature being turned into Faith and the Action is truly Spiritual in its Principal End as to the Manner of the Performance there is the True Piece of Righteousness there the wrap and woof are both of the same Kind that work and that alone will be accepted and receive the Crown-Seal of Well done Good and Faithfull Servant The Poem Best Trade which gives least time to sin Which souls can least be idle in Mettals with which we nothing doe Soon rust so souls when idle too The VVeaver hath his Market where He Buyes and often Payes too dear For a good peniworth he payes His soul in needless Yeaes and Nayes VVith which his heart doth not agree He thinks he puts a fallacy Vpon his Chapman and doth cheat Himself whiles for a little meat VVhich perisheth Integrity Is changed for Hypocrisie Vain man hath parted with his hope His souls sheet anchor for a rope And that of sand for hope doth break VVhen truth in heart man doth not speak Unto his neighbour or doth ill Psal 15. VVho doth such things and hopeth still To the holy Hill to come builds on No promises foundation VVhat need so many words when few VVe confess best because most true VVhat if my Chapman will do so Must I serve his corruption too Who grudgâ—â—â— scolds the final word Religious souls cannot afford Giving another Quid pro quo When doing it will souls undoe But do I think the market dear Grace-market is not so for there I without price buy better ware Yet like ill husbands will not spare My time and strength for that to buy At a cheap rate Eternity Let me dear markets Lord improve To raise the price of thy great Love Within my Heart to hast apace To the better market of thy Grace Which clotheth naked Souls for nought But what to nakedness them brought Help me my Works Yarns to Scowr with brine Of Poenitential tears Not mine But of thy gift too Let thy Blood Then Dye them Blessed Jesus These Foul tears will not cleanse them of Grease Let true End Principles be twin'd With a right manner holy mind Let my first and last Actions be Twisted in like sincerity Thus let me live and still walk on Twined in Saints Communion Sorting my Actions so that all May in their proper order fall Ordering their Colours so as I A Christian Life may beautify Lord give me a right warp Teach me What thy Truths what thy Statutes be Lord let me never build upon What is not thy Foundation And help me too as to my woof Or I shall never make good stuff Thus when my piece comes off my Loom I praising thee shall bring it Home My GOD shall have it all and He For ever shall my Master be CHAP. IV. The Art The Yarn being thus prepared the Weaver fastneth the Warp unto his Beam and divideth it his filling Boys prepare the Yarn for the Woof winding it on quils or pieces of reed which he afterwards puts into his Shuttle in order to his Work The Meditations Sect. 1. A Christians Web is his Holy Life made up of the many threeds of righteous Actions the Warp of which we have before found to be the Doctrine of Truth This too must be fastned about the Beam of the Loom 'T is
not enough to have Truth in our Bible and Books and a Notion of it in our Heads it must be fastned to our Souls which is alwayes done by Faith we must be Rooted and Grounded in Faith as well as in Love Propositions of Truth are many times but Probationers to the Soul and never admitted into its Fellowship A Man may know that Proposition of Truth from which yet he withholds his Assent is Men may detain the Truth in Vnrighteousness not living up to their Principles so they may retain the Truth in Vnbelief not fixedly and steadily agreeing to those Notions of Truth they have heard and learned Knowing is one thing agreeing to the Truth of what we know is another yea agreement is one thing and a steady fixed agreeing to it is another So that a Christian will strive earnestly and contend for it as another thing The Faith of many Christians is described by an Heathen Tully I mean Tusc quest lib. 1. Nescio quomoda dum lego assentior cum posui librum et mecum ipse de immortalitate animorum coepi cogitare assensio omnis illa elabitur When they read the holy Scriptures when they hear the Messengers of GOD interpreting them comparing Scripture with Scripture and from strength of Reason confirming Propositions in them they cannot but agree the things to be truth but as soon as the Books is out of their hand and the sound of the Preachers word is out of their Ears they begin to doubt whether any thing be Truth which they have read or heard and indeed no better is the Assent of any who by the mighty working of the Spirit of GOD have not Faith wrought in them hence it is that their Faith is neither Fruitfull by Love and Good Works nor steady in it self There is no need at all that to secure Holiness of Life Men should bring it into the description of Faith and so make an innovation in Divinity which alwayes according to the Scripture distinguished Faith and Love for Holiness which is Love in the Fruit is a necessary consequent of true Faith either respecting the Proposition of the Word or the Person of the Mediator Can he be thought indeed to believe that Arsenick is Poyson who yet freely takes it into his Belly Or can any be judged to trust in a Friend for a kindness who hath promised it but upon the condition of some performance which he refuseth to do It is I say from this that the Propositions of truth are not fastned in the Soul that Men walk not according to the light of them Ephesians 4.14 and that they are tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of Doctrine by the sleight of Men and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive Every breath of wind would disturb the Weaver and every idle hand would trouble him if his warp were not fastned to his Loom Every wind of Doctrine and every Ignorant idle Seducer disturbeth that Souls Profession of Truth who hath not the Proposition thereof by Faith fastned unto his Soul 2. The Weaver divideth his warp that it may serve several intendments The deliberate Christian divideth the Propositions of Truth of which his Soul is possessed Some refer to speculation Some more immediately to Practice Some inform him what GOD is what CHRIST is what He hath done and suffered what the holy SPIRIT is what Heaven and Hell are c. others more immediately refer to Practice informing the Soul what it ought to be both towards GOD and towards Men. These Precepts concern him as a Magistrate This concerneth him as a Minister These things concern him as a Father these as a Child These Propositions contain the Will of GOD concerning Him as an Husband These concern the Woman as a VVife These concern him as a Master The other as a Subject or as a Servant And this is necessary that he may be Holy in all manner of Conversation For Holiness is a lovely spotless Fruit that grows up from the revealed will of GOD concerning us as the Root and as this Root sends forth many Branches so the Fruit of Holiness must be seen in every Bough in every Relation and Circumstance of his Life 3. The filling-boys prepare the Yarn for the Weaver by winding it upon several Reeds and Quills which being filled he teacheth to the VVeaver sitting in his Loom and ready to go to work VVe suppose our spiritual Weaver fixed in his Loom ready to say with David My Heart is fixed O GOD my Heart is fixed resolved to walk with GOD in all the Duties of Holiness having sâ—id with David Psalms 119.57 Thou art my Porâ—ion O LORD I have said that I will keep thy words We suppose him also to have wound his warp â—bout his Loom to be not only possessed of a due Notion of Divine Truths but to have his Heart rooted and grounded in them giving a fixed and steady Assent unto them and now every Relation every Neighbour every New Providence every Action of his Life becomes as a filling-boy to him affording him matter to work upon reaching him a Quill or Reed to work with The Subject gives the Magistrate an opportunity to work the work of GOD by Executing Justice and Judgement without respect of Persons knowing that he judgeth not for himself but for the LORD c. The Magistrate doth the same for the Subject giving him an opportunity to fulfill the will of GOD by Honouring the King and being subject to the higher Powers because ordained of GOD. The VVife gives the Husband advantage for his spiritual web of Righteousness by loving Her as CHRIST loved his Church 1 Peter 3.7 by walking before Her as a Man of VVisdom and Knowledge Ephesians 5.25 Colosians 3.19 1 Peter 3.1 And the Husband requires his VVife by giving her the like advantage to shew her self obedient to the Commands of her Father which is in Heaven by reverencing her Husband endeavouring to win him by her Conversation by loving him and being subject unto him as her own Husband Titus 2.4 5. 1 Peter 3.1 Ephesians 5.22 23. c. Is he that sitteth in this spiritual Loom a Father how easily may he see every Child he hath about him with one of these Pipes or Quills in his hand offering him for his work of Righteousness an opportunity to be obedient unto GOD in bringing him or her up in the Nurture and Admonition of the LORD and not provoking it to wrath Ephesians 6.4 in minding it of its Covenant in Baptism made with GOD in teaching it or them the Statutes of the LORD diligently when he sitteth in the House when he walketh by the Way when he lyeth Down and when he riseth Vp according to the Law of the LORD Deutronomy 6.7 Is he a Child he may see his Parents mutually serving him in his spiritual work giving him advantage to please GOD by Obeying his Parents in the LORD for this is right Ephesians 6.1 Is
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
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-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
some by an Unwary and Ill-circumstanced working Go through a whole City of Professors and ask them how they hope hereafter to be saved they will tell you they hope they rest they trust in the LORD JESUS CHRIST whenas too many who say so CHRIST will be no better than a broken Staff and a bruised Reed which if a Man leans upon it will only run into and wound his Hand Not that Our Blessed LORD may not be Trusted for He is able to save to the utmost those who by Faith come unto Him not that He is not Faithfull For he is Faithfull who hath Promised saith the Apostle but because they had no ground to trust in him Living and being resolved to Live and do as they do No Man can lay a Natural Claim to Heaven no Man can challenge the Salvation of his Soul as a Debt to him we are told that Eternal Life is the Gift of GOD and being so none hath any pretence of ground to trust in GOD and CHRIST for it but upon some promise For upon this Hypothesis that All men shall not be saved who can pretend to any lively Hope to any justly-sounded Confidence unless he hath our LORDS Word to show wherein he hath Promised that though Topheth be prepared of Old for some yet it is not for him he is one for whom the Kingdom is prepared Now none can pretend a Right to a limited and conditionâ—l Promise until he findeth fulfilled 〈◊〉 him or that he hath fulfilled the Conditioâ—â— to the performance of which the Good thing promised is annexed VVere it not Ridiculous supposing one of us had promised a great Reward to any that would do such a Piece of VVork for to talk of trusting in us for the Reward without any doing of the Work especially doing the quite contrary Even those things to the doing of which we have threatned the greatest severities we can Use GOD hath indeed made many great and Precious Promises of Eternal Life and Salvation to those who believe in JESVS CHRIST who work Righteousness who do the things which please him c. he hath as planly said The fearful the Vnbelieving the Abominable the Murtherers Whoremongers Sorcerers Idolaters and all Lyars shall have their part in the lake which burns with Fire and Brimstone Revelation 21.8 He hath bidden us not be deceived 1 Corinthians 6.9 neither Fornicators nor Idolaters nor Adulterers nor Effeminate persons nor abusers of themselves with mankind nor Thieves nor Covetous persons nor Revilers nor Extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of GOD. If notwithstanding any such person will pretend to trust in CHRIST for Salvation he abuseth his own Soul and by his presumptuous trusting runs himself upon Damnation A presumptuous confidence destroys its ten thousands 4. And are there not others who work themselves into Hell what shall we say to Israel of whom the Apostle testifieth That though they followed after the Law of Righteousness yet they attained not to the Law of Righteousness wherefore because they sought it not by Faith but as it were by the works of the Law There was indeed a way to Heaven revealed by meer working but now saith the Apostle the Righteousness of GOD is revealed from Faith to Faith Many will not Understand this and look still for nothing but a Legal Righteousness Have you not sometimes seen it thus with a Poor Bee it comes home where the Hive was the Hive is removed to another place the Bee knows it not nor will stir to look for it but there lies grovelling upon the old place till it dies Do not you see it in the VVeavers Trade there were some kinds of Stuffs heretofore possibly in the time when this or that Man served his Apprentiship that were in Fashion and there was a great Market for them and many grew Rich by them but they have been out a long time the dull Tradesman considers it not but goes on still making them and is very busy but when he hath done there is no Market for them GOD of old said to Adam do this and live Salvation was exhited upon the Term of working only GOD hath altered the case Now the Promise is to him that believeth as well as worketh and without Faith saith the Apostle it is impossible to please GOD many heedless souls consider not this they work and work themselves into Hell GOD will hereafter say unto them VVho hath required this at your Hands though it may be GOD did require and doth require still the doing of the things which they do for so he did require those Duties considered materially of which yet he saith who hath required them but he hath required them to be done in Faith out of a principle of Evangelical Love in a sincerity of Obedience having a single Respect and Eye to his Glory not being done under these circumstances they are things he hath not required and no better than cutting off a Dogs Neck and the Offering up of Swines Blood as GOD himself speaketh of the Jewish services irregularly performed There 's no Market in Heaven now for meer Works more than for an idle inoperative Faith The Papist the Formalist all Ruine themselves by working who ever looks for a Salvation by a meer legal Righteousness or by a Superficial outside performance will find himself a Begger at last when CHRIST shall say to those that shall plead They have prayed in his name and have prophesied in his name and in his name cast out Devils Depart from me I know you not you workers of Iniquity 5. What then shall a Man be saved without Works by no means nor by meer works we are saved by Faith saith the Apostle and Faith saith the same Apostle worketh by Love Works dipt in the Blood of CHRIST must bring a Soul to Heaven when we have talked what we can he that Believeth will and must work but every one that worketh doth not Believe and He that Believeth not is Damned already saith our SAVIOUR Happy is he that can compound both these as well in Practice as in Judgement but he is miserable who divides what GOD hath put together I always thought it a good Rule for all Christians to believe as much as if Works had no influence upon his Salvation and to work as much as if Heaven were to be earned by meer VVorking GOD forbid that we should say VVorks are Needless because we say Faith in CHRIST iâ— needful The Poem May Men by working be undone How many Hazards do they run Who trade for bread What needs Sollicitude Then thus Let 's trust him more who saith to us We shall be fed But trusting may undoe us too Say then what shal poor Tradesmen do Trust warily And work hard too for work and trust Together make the Tradesman must When others fly Say not that in the Spiritual trade Any by trust are happy made By trust alone Trust without ground to trust upon Is but a bold presumption Men
this size in Religion Our Fathers VVorshipped in this Mountain saith she Sic a parribus accepimus said he in the Council and met with a smart answer Immo Errantes ab Errantibus Erring Children from Erring Parents But now there are others who understand their Souls were given them for other purposes If Paul preached they will with those well-born Bereans search the Scripture to see if it be Truth which he saith they are iniquisitive after Truth and will Examine all their Principles and practices by the touch-stone of Holy Write bringing them to the Law and the Testimony These are the thriving Christians and these alone have the promise If thou cryest after knowledge and liftest up thy voice for Vnderstanding if thou seekest Her as Silver and searcheth for Her as for hidden treasure Then shalt thou Vnderstand the fear of the LORD and find the Knowledge of thy GOD Proverbs 2.3 4 5. The Promise of Improvement in the Knowledge and Fear of the LORD is not made to dull Souls that believe all that is told them and Imposed by confident Persons upon them but to him that Examines Seeks Proves c. He is next dooâ— to an Infidel that only believes Divine Propositions in the belief denial or misbelief of which his Salvation depends meerly because his Father believed so or so practised or because anâ— number of Men call them by what name you please so long as you allow them fallible Men so Impose upon him Let Men mock so long as they please though there be no New truth yet there are New Revelations and discoveries of Truth made to various Persons in various ages and there is New light breaks in which is but a beam from that GOD who is light only before that time eclipsed by the Interpositions of Ignorance and Superstition and the other variety of Mens lusts and passions and the thriving Christian will spend his time in winnowing the Chaff from the Wheat 5. We have Reason to adore the wisdom of GOD in the partial Distribution of his Gifts The Apostle admireth it as to the Spiritual Gifts 1 Corinthians 12.8 To one is given by the Spirit the Word of Wisdom to another the Word of Knowledge by the same Spirit to another Faith by the same Spirit to another the Gifts of Healing by the same Spirit To another the working of Miracles to another Prophesy to another Discerning of Spirits to another divers kinds of Tongues to another the Interpetation of Tongues The Apostle goes on shewing that this various Distribution of Spiritual Gifts was it which did or might convince them of their usefulness one to another That as in the natural Body those members which are more feeble may appear necessary the same Divine VVisdom we may see in GODS Distribution of these Gifts which are of a lower order One Weaver hath an excellent Fancy to invent another hath a more excellent Judgement one works more neatly another more nimbly if every Weaver were Good at all the parts of his work they would not Understand their usefulness one to another nor the need they have one of another but in the variety of dispensation of these Gifts each Man is commended and his usefulness discovered to his neighbour so as the head cannot say to the foot nor the foot to the Hand I have no need of thee If Men would but consider this we should not have so many brutes as we have who controul the VVisdom of GOD in biting and devouring in seeking advantages to rifle and plunder one another as if this were the way to promove the prosperity of a place which indeed is the direct way to turn it into a nettle-bush GOD so ordereth his Gifts as that one Man hath his subordinacy to another And indeed this is seen by Men used in Trades generally The troublers of GODS heritage are generally such as live in Alehouses or whose imployment is much the same as of Caterpillars to eat up every green herb while they are too lazy to plant any a Generation from whom as GOD hath no honour so their Country hath no further profit than what ariseth from an impost upon the Salt and Spirit of Vrine or the Beer or Wine from whence it proceeds The Poem Old Truth like Wine is always best A notion can't be true And also new 'T is gray-hair'd time which must attest What-ere is Sacred truth Error hath Youth Yet 't is not th' old but th' oldest age Alone can justify Th' Antiquity Of Notions From the first each page Hath foully blurred been By Lust and Sin When CHRIST and his Apostles were In our Meridian Truth Shin'd alone But since that they did leave our Sphere A darkness fell upon Each Nation Though by degrees yet thou began To rise the foggy mist Of Antichrist 'T was in the Apostles time The Man Whom they call'd Th' man of sin Did's work begin His work was to deform Truth 's face The good old pathe's to cover None might pass over To blind the ways of Truth and Grace That none might see or know Where CHRIST did go Hence later ages laboured have Resisting unto Blood Those that withstood To dig the truth out of its grave Desirous but to see Old Veritie Hence Truth which in it self 's not new Yet unto us appears Not full of years The Notions so appearing grew In the Old paradise Where grew no lies Only the Winter suffered not There blossoms nor did suits Their Bearing fruit Their lasting root yet did not But watched a better hour To Bud and Flower Whoso despiseth Truth because It new to him doth show Shall never grow Nor Vnderstand the Sacred Laws Which each new day expounds On better grounds CHAP. VI. Of the Various Causes of the Decay of Trade Observations 6. THE Causes of the decay or abatement oâ— Trade is a noble Enquiry and especially for us who Live upon a Spot of Earth that is Incompassed with the Sea VVhat-ever they may do that Live on a Continent it is Certain that those who Live in Islands if they have not a Sufficiency within themselves cannot Live without Trade nor can any people without it Live happily The people are very thin in any place if they be not too many to be Employed in meer Tilling the Ground and making necessaries for one another who are Natives of the Place so as either a great number must be Idle which is the Bane of any Place or they must be employed in providing for other Places which have not what we have This maketh Trâ—de Necessâ—ry to say nothing of the Genius of most not contenting themselves with bare Food and Rayment A late Author in his Compassionate Enquiry tells us and very truly That Trade opens a Passage to the Discovery of other Countreys and of the VVorks of GOD and Man pag. 47. of Nature and Art That it is the great Incentive and Instrument of Humane Society it makes all Mankind of one Body and by mutual Entercourse