you need him most so that you shall get more of a suddain by Prayer then you could in all your life before A suffering Christian has his peculiar advantge let him but open his mouth heaven-ward and 't is fild presently let his heart be at his mouth and the holy Ghost wil be at his heart all upon wing and wrapt up in the third Heaven when the body in Hell Long suffering and joy are very neere as neere as night and morning if misery makes the night joy makes the morning and if the night cannot aske for the morning yet the morning will come of it selfe joy comes in the morning If a long sufferer be â—o worne so depressed with his burden that he be not able to pray not able to aske for joy and for comfort yet his joy will be ful 't will come of it selfe as things that are joyn'd together will call in one another long suffering with joyfulnesse Duties are immergent one springs and bubbles out of the belly of another all patience brings forth long suffering long suffering bringes forth joyfulnesse this is Divine Genealogy they are plac'd here by the holy Ghost according to their line as persons so vertues are noted according to their Genealogy Every grace beares patience brings forth long suffering long suffering joy joy brings forth Heaven now the Sun is up in the soule and begets Cardinall vertues glorious graces it makes the very emblem of Heaven in the heart The holy line must not be broken as things have their order in their owne nature so they must have their course in the soule long suffering for truth must bring forth joy and not griefe a Jacob must hold an Esau by the heele joy must embrace rough usage out of the sowerest stock ar't should make sweet fruit come out of long-suffering for Christ joy Duties are innocent graces are so ordained to move as best to speake out mans simplicity and Gods glory long suffering is not to leaven and sowre the soule to make it regurgitate bitterly in the afternone when things have lai'n long in the stomack but it is to give advantage to a Christian fully to speake forth his owne integrity and Gods glory Long suffering with joy is a full expression of mans simplicity and Gods Glory Long suffering in any cause hath its integrity as the heart is free from repining under it which it is when 't is meate and drinke to suffer for Christ joy to beare and to beare long Grace should move in grace that 's long suffering with joy grace should move to a Christians grace and to GODS glory that 's long suffering with joyfulnesse Vse Christians you see your lesson t is set very high can you play it What artists are you in your calling Can you make good Musick upon a bad instrument Can you make an instrument goe well that hath hung long by Can you play wel when the strings be broke When the back when the belly of the instrument is broke Can you sing the songs of Zion in a strange Land Can yee make melody in your spirits when never a whole piece in your flesh some of you it may be have never a peny in your purse scarce any rag to weare no house to put your head in but live upon the meere mercy of friends for giving testimony to Christs cause can yee joy now Christ hath mingled your drinke with weeping can yee drinke off this Cup with joy Suffering is suffering indeed when it goes quite through the man body and spirit body without all joy and soule too A man is plundred indeed when he is plundred in his estate within and without plundred of mony and goods and plunderd of peace and joy too no comfort without nor none within neither Ah Lord here 's a man quite undone indeed her 's a man all over miserable soule and body bleeding can there be any gathering to relieve this man I have heard many complaine that they are quite undone the expression hath cut me to the heart to heare it their faces all over blacknesse not one line drawne similingly You have lost all joyes without why but there are joyes within which the World cannot give nor take have you lost these too did the Cavaleers take away all together mony and plate and Christ too Ah! poore man thou art quite undone indeed certainly the divel was in those Cavaleers I would speake to such from this point which are quite undone which have lost all money and joy too which have many sufferings upon them for Christ but can make no joy out of them Surely I can guesse your paine you are blind you know not who hath strip't you nor when he will returne it againe 'T is impossible for a man to joy under long suffering unlesse a man can looke to the end of it This makes heavy afflictions light long afflictions short to look where they end Our light afflictions which endure but for a moment worke about a farre more exceeding and an eternall weight of glory Long suffering is but a moment when compared with eternity of glory The great Heaven at a distance makes a little Heaven at present a Heaven in hell to that soule which hath it in its eye as these lower Heavens give a great lustre and vigour at a distance to beholders and raise much so doth the Heaven of Heavens 'T is a Heaven to behold Heaven a farre off where ever the body be 't was Canaan to Moses Ab extremis miseriae quies to see Canaan a far off The sight of the end shortens the way suffering is deadly long when a man can see no end when a man is in darknesse and can see no light 't is hard to bring the soule to joy in such darkenesse A man must looke upon affliction from one end to to'ther that would fetch in joy to his soule from suffering At one end of long suffering for truth is a father at the other end a reward which if seen well will make the longest suffering very short and very sweet Can you make no joy out of your long sufferings for truth I can guesse your paine there is something heavier then your temporall losse that lies upon you Surely you have lost your state and found sinne death has a sting death of a mans body yea and death of a mans estate has a sting A little guilt is heavier then a great deale of misery then all the afflictions of this World When bare misery goes over a mans head though never so much hee may well stand under this but when misery clothes it selfe with guilt and goes over a mans head as Iniquity this makes the burthen too heavy to be borne when the apprehension of sinne startes out of misery and stares upon the soule this killes all joy dead and the man is not able to beare up if hee had all the World to comfort him The cause may be good and the man bad 't is hard
things note for the right understanding of this point Divine power where it workes lowest in any Christian workes above the ruining power of sinne Greater is he that is in you then he that is in the World saith Christ greater when least and where least then that power which opposes him in a Christian heart Christ according to ordinary and daily residence carries the soule above the ruining power of sinne greater is hee that is in you c. They might suppose their condition the lowest of any as it is common and comely for Christians to doe and Christ condescends in speaking and takes it so and speakes of it under such a consideration and yet sayes he feare not the power that is in you is greater then the power that is against you The lowest degree of power that workes in a Christian will hold the soule that it shall not eternally miscarry what strength soever be raised to this end so that the devill shal lose his grand designe to wit the destruction of the soule The lowest degree of Divine strength is supreme strength to all power resisting as the lowest good Angel * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fortes robore Angels of his which are mighty i transcending in strength T is an Hebraisme notes a superlative Ps 103.20 Excelleth in strength all bad 2. A second note is this The state of Christians in generall under the Gospel is a very capable state of the highest revelations of power Verily verily I say unto you he that believeth on me the workes that I doe shall hee doe also and greater workes then these shall hee doe because J goe unto my Father Ioh. 14.12 Accession is now very free intercession very potent blessings are answerably necessary The expression of Christ forementioned notes that there is a peculiar intercession suited to this bright Gospell-age where in wee live our grace-capacity now is answerably necessary What intercession workes in Heaven such power and love workes forth upon Earth We live under the richest climate under the richest Heavenly influence all might and all excellence may with all ease bee obtained now in comparison of former times Vse 1 A double use I would make of this point to try you and then to stir you to acknowledge mercy as you finde it That Divine power workes gradually should make much inward observation to see how God workes in our hearts whether little or much Should be the sickenesse of your soules to finde little of God stirring in them t' will be the death of your soules not to finde power of God â—nough stirring in them to salvation Our great worke is to eye how Divine power workes without in the World but our greatest worke is to eye and observe how it workes within in our hearts I wonder at some mens temper which least of all minde this The soule of man is the noblest thing in the World t is above the world and doest thou think that hee which made it so above all for himselfe to work in is least to be heeded what he works here All paines spring from one that we have so little of God all paines and cares therefore should be turned into one what have I of God how might I have more more of his love more of his power working in my soule God gives all might to many and yet remains all might for any Man has his Heaven as hee will Hee that will have it in the full and all enjoyment of the Creature hee has it in this God filles men's bellies with this treasure Those that will have their heart in nothing but in the full and all enjoyment of God have it so hee satisfyes mens thirst let it bee what it will or how great it will Hee satisfyes the hungry belly and the hungry soule Affection is a graduall working thing and a various working thing as the power of God is Cautio est men had neede looke how it rises in thirst after any thing but God they may have their longing else in wrath and have enough of every thing in their hands to fill their bellies but not enough of the power of God in their hearts to save their soules and this will be sad indeed The power of God workes gradually say I in the hearts of men in some much so much that one may say they have all might in others little so little that one may truly say there is not power of God enough unto salvation I am not ashamed of the Gospell saith the Apostle for 't is the Power of God unto salvation Is there power of God enough working in you to rise to so much as this to salvation to soule-salvation eternall salvation Power enough to make you the sons of God T is a great unhappinesse to fall short of any power of God communicable that any blessing power of God which workes in any man should not worke in me but to fall short of so much as will make the soule fall short of its eternall rest ah Lord what misery shall I call this ScrutinuÌ„ What faith what love what joy what passion doth that power make which workes in you by this you may know whether t will prove a power Divine enough and strong enough to save your soules Yee believe in Christ wee must believe this well yet this is but one thing that power which workes this workes more and further if it worke effectually unto life Yee believe in Christ t is well doe yee love Christ too his word his people his wayes How strong is this love as strong as death to the death of sinne and selfe I meane the deniall of both Remember this one thing for all power where it works unto salvation strong enough to save a sinner it makes strong passion lasting passion and all towards Christ and truth Christ is faire fairest the fairest of ten thousand that is the fairest of all so to day so to morrow so every day to the last day to the end as that love which set power at work in the heart is Divine power when and where it workes unto life takes the heart first there it begins A man loves assoone as he lives Christ truth whatsoever is holy There is a desire of milke yea sincere milke in new borne babes in babes assoone as berne there is love love to truth love to pure and sincere truth to the pure and Holy word and wayes of God there is even in babes desire Divine affection panting after that light which came downe from Heaven O what is truth what is Christ would I know him would I could enjoy him First faith is most indiscernable first love which workes from it is most discernable t is so strong and pure and therefore I most mention this passion in this case to discover the power that workes in you Divine power makes a divine nature where it workes to salvation a man is another Creature in desire then what he was
t is a spirit of the right breed for the devil t will fight and fight till death t will worke to the utmost vires as long as nerves and sinewes bind bones together 't is everlasting burning which nothing will quench but its owne bloud Saints have had the triall on 't long long suffering A Christians condition is qualifyed Tristitia laetis he hath sweet things and bitter in every dish downe along to the lower end of his Table al-long his life he shall know that he is not at home He hath enough sometimes to say 't is good being here but never enough to say 't is best being here His rapture hath a rupture a sad breaking off his glory a shadow his statue a curtain drawen before it his heavenly vision is let down and drawen up his sunshines and clap's in suitable to this clowdy and impure region thus it doth through out the day Few and evill many and evill all evil doth good Iacob call his dayes so were all his sweets imbitter'd and qualifyed by God If one mercy be come another must be gon if corne be come Benajmin must be gon some thing for life is come and he that had the fathers soule must be gone If some children come home well some evil is befallen the rest Joseph is without doubte rent in pieces Gen. 37.33 So 't was with the blessed seed afterward which inherited the promise Milke and Hony and prickes in the sides whilst eating on 't and so it must be all a long as long as in Canaan the best people long sufferers in the best place that earth will afford A Christians condition is improved Christians are Gods Vineyard into this Vineyard God sends labourers to worke hard and to worke so long to the sixth ninth and last houre to make much fruit Afflictons are Gods day-labourers they work and worke thoroughout mans day to plow and breake up his fallow heart to grub up rootes bitter rootes and to prepare the way of the Lord for good fruit As God hath day-labourers to belabour the eare the heart the inward man and these kept at worke till the ninth and last houre of mans life so hee hath day-labourers to be labour the back the belly the outward man and these kept at worke as long as the other as long as man lives the one to prepare the way for the other one to plow and breake up and the other to sow The heart of man hath an unexpressible hardnesse the hardnesse of an Adamant many blowes will not break this stone it must be soakt in teares and in bloud long Afflictions are bitters to weane To moderate in lawfull things from sweets that are not necessary There is but one necessary the soule makes many t is whipt and whipt long ere 't will leave this Some children are not easiy to weane bitters must be laid upon the breast and lie long there ere the dug be cast off 't was long ere David could say Lord my heart is not haughty surely I have behaved and quieted my selfe as a child that is wean'd of his mother To take away unlawfull things Afflictions are to take away sinne By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged and this is all the fruit to take away his sinne c. Isa 27.9 Afflictions and sufferings were onely to torture sin this might quickly be done but they are to take away sinne this is long work The furnace is to purify it must be heate and heate long to melt and segregate to discover disperse and take away drosse Afflictions are to worke truth in the inward parts t is long ere man be good at heart they are to heighten integrity t is longer ere the heart become so upright as to be a heart after Gods owne heart t is long ere a foule stomake will be made vomit up all t is long ere man will be brought to observe all Gods will this makes great plagues and of long continuance If thou will not observe to doe all the words of this Law that are written in this booke that thou maist feare this glorious and fearefull name THE LORD THY GOD. Then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderfull and the plagues of thy seed even great plagues and of long continuance and sore sickenesses and of long continuance Deutrenomy 28.58 59. God puts weight To serve in truth great weight upon truth to make it enter and make thorough impression truth is managed with great art to put back every spring and to make the bolt goe forth as far as it should and as fast and facile as it should Let these sayings sinke downe into your eares for the Sun of man shall be delivered into the hands of men Luke 9.44 Christ made a weight of himselfe and ties this to his words to make them sinke down into mens hearts he makes a weight now of us speakes and then strikes strikes and strikes often and long and then sayes secretly to the soule let these and these words now sinke down into their eares Christ is faine to bore way for truth to bore a long hole from the eare to the heart and this many times is a long while a doing six yeeres ten yeers twenty yeers A Christians condition is conform'd 't is made to speake Christ within and without in spirit in flesh the booke is written within and without in our soules in our bodies we are made to beare the markes of the Lord Jesus markes broad and long just like his in every circumstance The plowers made long furrowes on his back as long as his life he was acquainted with griefe griefe and hee were long acquaintance his whole voiage about this lower world was in stormes A man of sorrowes his life made up of sighs groans teares words bloud thus breath'd thus expir'd a mourning life a bleeding death The servant is as his Lord sufferers both as long as livers in this World the Apostle apprehended these Christians would finde it so therefore so prayd Strengthened with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulnesse Vse I have given you a survey of the way to Heaven expect dirty lanes and very long The way is narrow t is so all along scratching and tearing thornes and briers on both sides touching one another that 't is hard to make one step skin-whole Can yee beare these sayings Can yee beare such doings Can yee beare till your backes ake Can yee beare till your backes breake Can yee beare till you sinke and die under your burden Can yee suffer long as long as yee live Can yee leave all and follow Christ all your state all your limbes all your comforts al your dayes Can yee spend and end your dayes in misery to be blessed in another world you may think yee can doe so and be deceived Peter did so I will speake to this point a little There be three sorts of hearts which
not be a joy to a man to put forth an Arme to cast out Devils though he never pluck it in againe should not a Christian make it his honour his joy to make devils subject to him to make insolent wickednesse asham'd and returne or swell and breake and hang it selfe should it not joy a man to suffer any thing to kill a devill legions of devills principalities and powers Scarlet wickednesse wickednesse grown so high as scarce ever was in England 't was the joy of Sampson to suffer any thing that hee might make wicked Nobles suffer scarlet wickednesse a never dying Monument of shame mee thinkes it should make the most fleshly fearefull spirit in the World Joy to suffer any thing to help forward such noble acts as these To die in the prosecution of a just cause to the life such a death is it not life such heart bloud dropping forth does not every drop give back a cordiall to the heart from whence it comes Such misery does it not create it 's owne joy Can you not joy in such sufferings as bring cordialls with them Such sufferings as are rather joyes then sufferings they have so much honor and glory in them You shall be the death of the Kingdome of the devill throughout England throughout the Christian world Some thinke the Throne of the Beast is in England I believe the life of the Beast the life of al beastly wickednesse through out the Christian world depends much upon these wicked wretches which live in England is it not time then they were dead should it not joy any one to suffer any thing to send such to their place to damne up Springs of wickednesse to cut off the devils right hand to pull downe strong holdes of hell should it not joy a man to die dead the divelish world to die like Sampson and pull downe all the Philistims strength at once A blessing is pronounced twice in one Psalme to them that take Babylons little ones and dash them against the stones what blessednesse then to them which take Babylons great ones and dash them against the stones should it not joy one to goe about a bloudy worke to be so blessed so particularly so doubly blessed You shall be the life of Christs Kingdome the life of his children Ordinances spirit glory throughout the Christian world should it not be the joy of a man to die that God may live 't was the joy of God to die that man might live God shed his bloud saith the Scripture to save the bloud of man and he did this bloudy service with joy with delight saith the Psalmist which notes an intention of joy should not a man gloryingly breath forth his glory and die that Gods panting glory in England may recover breath and live who would not be ambitious to be his Saviours Saviour to beare up the pillars of the Christian World as the Psalmist speakes The integrity of your suffering depends much upon your ioy in suffering murmuring suffering is sinning you will suffer for this againe As God calles for the heart in doing so in suffering I cannot stand on this let mee conclude all thus GOD ownes the cause that you owne should it not joy a man to march after God you are willing to lose your bloud and God is willing to spare it The more backward you are to suffer the more you will suffer the more forward the lesse Joy to suffer long for Christ will shorten longsuffering FINIS USEFULL INSTRVCTIONS FOR THESE Evill Times COLOSS. 1.11 Strengthened with all might according to His glorious power unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulnesse EVery word in this Verse hath it not been a sweet flower to smell to the whole is a bundle of myrrhe 'T is a Verse filled with the pantings of a precious spirit which are to be filled with God to have all of that which is indeed all all soule strength all soule wealth all might all patience all joy all Christ in fellowship and fruition to doe him all cheerfull service as long as life lasts There is holy ambition in Christianity i to be greatest in the Kingdome of God * In the Kingdome of grace to sit on Christs right hand as he sits on his Fathers right hand to have all power given unto us to doe all workes well which are assigned to us as he did the whole soule to lie in the bosom of Christ and so to be all in all and answerably all unto all all in point of power patience joy ability and cheerfulnesse unto all duty O how good a good heart would be all good all good in the worst condition grace would be absolute grace would have all grace that all the world may see nothing in her but like her selfe in the lowest condition a man in Christ would be all in Christ all unto Christ outside inside whole man whole man Christs with joy Things have their instinct stones fall downward and they fall as low as ever they can to get to the very center if it possibly may be so sparkes fly upward and they ascend as high as ever they can to get into their own Heaven if it may be Eagles fly high and come as neare the Sun as they can Grace hath its instinct it ascends and ascends as high as ever it can would come as neare the Sun as 't is possible 't would be like him 't would shine in a darke World in a darke night in a desolate condition gloriously as he did A Christian would be all of that nature of which hee is so little hee would bee in all conditions himselfe above himselfe a Christian in state when a man in no estate Things have their sense Senses are greedy they are never satisfied they stil cry give give the eye is not satisfied with seeing nor the eare with hearing nor the mouth with tasting so grace 't 'as i'ts instinct yea 'tas more 't 'as sense grace can see grace grace can tast grace grace is sweet to grace the new man can savour the things of God A Christ can desire as hee tastes pantes and Prayes as he feeles hee pants for flagons he feeles drops so sweet for water brookes he sees little streames so pleasant Gods children are very craving the more receiving the more craving receptions are so sweet sense is still eged on divine sense divinely exorbitant never satisfied it cries give give all all strength all patience all joy The crying of a babe is after all that the breast will yield yea after all that both breasts will yield after all that a Saviour hath purchased and made giveable Things have their reason man moves ex judicio he discourseth worth and so makes out pearles are no lumber silver and gold no lumber but treasure pure treasure I would I had my house-full of these saith he Reason hath found out and pitcht upon worth and this makes desire mighty vast the man would have all 't is so good
't is so precious such meere treasure The new man is of the clearest reason of all men he discourses worth at a greater height then any man besides and so makes out He lookes with a very piercing eye upon every thing through Pearles and through gold though the hardest things to be pierced and finds out exactly what they are and calls them exactly as they are corruptible things grace only goes for Jewells with the new man in these onely no losse no lumber in these onely no vanity no vexation in these God so much of these so much of God 〈◊〉 â—hese Jâ—wels in my bosome and aâ—◠〈…〉 â—ll Heaven there Thus the new 〈◊〉 â—â—scourseth worth at a mighty height and makes a very exact judgement goe before and then a very vast desire and endeavour answerably to follow after give all of that which is above all of that which will make me above all in the lowest state give me all might all patience all joy Things have their rule and so must be prosecuted Things earthly have their bounds things heavenly none neither poverty nor riches when one prayes for earthly things no poverty but riches not some but all when one prayes for Christ this is the rule The measure is no measure the stint is all all might all patience c. All paines all prayers must al run out at this height for all grace or they will runne all too low below their rule here in my Text. Vse The World is damnably beside this rule examine your reach what do you graspe after after what do you open your hands and your mouths wide which way lies your ambition your covetousnesse to have all the World or all Christ to have much honour much wealth or much grace to be an all within your selues or to be an all in and unto Christ Fallen man is a greedy creature as Banckrupts usually are hee has lost all and he is grasping for an all againe Know your state 't is wrong 't is wretched observe the greedinesse of your hearts and which way it lies or your soules will be lost in an evill covetousnesse Two things make up an evill covetousnesse when a man desires illicita simpliciter or licita illicitè Things forbidden in themselves or things forbidden so to make nothing all vanity chiefe * Earth Heaven Earth all You seeke great things to your selves do you seeke great things for your soules every man is grasping after much after a little all tell me what is that all 'T is a lost man that observes not which way the strength of his soule works and spends it selfe 'T is horrible wickednesse to let a mans strength passe unnaturally from him to let his precious soule spend its reines in a bed of vanities A mans soule wastes it selfe unnaturally when it workes greedily towards any thing but Christ and grace There is more done to this man then hee will believe 't is a man let loose to the Creature for not taking pleasure in GOD. When a man cannot finde enough in God to make him his all God gives up that man to some lust to make nothing all affection flies out strongly fearefully now behold a man sick of love to a lie a man that will kill himself with love to an Harlot 'T is one that beares his judgement already conscience wounds kils this man dayly for burying love in a dunghil for prostituting his glory to base Earth God vexes this heart as the expression is Ezechiel the 32.9 I will vex the heart of many people c. God is a vexing God to the heart of an earthly man he wakes sleeps eates talks laughs with a sad restlesse soule he sleeps but his conscience wakes hee rises but his heart is downe 't would bee loaded with thick Clay and 't is loaded with a witnesse Ah Lord has not he Earth enough that cannot beare up his earthy heart 't is so heavy This soule is in a deepe Consumption farre gone from GOD if any thing will fetch him back 't will be to consider his folly and how favour stil waites to bee gracious to him All earthen Cisternes are crackt what folly is it to seeke for all in that which will drop out all Things cannot hold much things shall not hold much which you too much bend after All is lost when the World is made all Death is in the Pot when you are taken with the Broth the Birth-right is as good as actually gone when affection is so strong to Pottage Ah Wretch thou hast lost thy soule to gaine the World If this wil not fetch back the Prodigall this added will or nothing Favour yet waites A Soule that hath beene a great Traveller in the World that hath gone through the vanity of the Creature through strength of desire and curiosity may returne to Christ and be welcome 't was the Prodigalls case hee had spent all wasted prime love prime strength and then returned and God accepted 'T was likewise Salomons case Love turned at a low ebb it met with Love Inclinations of heart are deare to Christ Smoaking flax is not troublesome to his eyes hee will stoop and blow it to make it flame Christ is taken with a sinner whensoever hee beginnes to pant after him Bestow love upon Christ when you will hee will meete you or what Love you wil hee wil out-Love you Promise to your selves what you will in Christ you shal finde it and more make a God of Christ you shal finde him so make him al and you shal finde him al more then al the World beside But take this Item along with you A Soule in extremities cannot last long Passion strong to the Creature will provoke much and consume speedily what is done therefore in point of remedy must be done speedily or the Soule is lost a Soule a Fire to the Creature must bee snacht as a Brand out of the Fire 't will suddenly bee consumed else A Soule posting to Hell wil quickly be there Greedinesse surfets surfets make quick dispatch Death is at the doore when the Soule is exorbitant the Creature is now made a God GOD will not now endure nor forbeare longer Let exorbitant Soules thinke of this and thinke what they have to doe and doe it The End of the first Verse USEFULL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THESE Evill Times COLOSS. 1.11 12. Long suffering with joyfulnesse Giving thankes to the Father c. Doct. STand at the end of one Verse and looke to the beginning of another and you wil see what is the property of divine joy It sets out the soule for Heaven It makes a very ascending frame of heart it tunes and winds up every string to praise God with joyfulnesse Giving thankes to the Father c. As the Soule has its Divine advantages so it mounts as the body hath its advantages so you know with facility it vaults and leapes Joy is a soule lifted up by God 't is the soule upon Eagles winges the soule
past by should account so and spell his death out of it Abels offering accepted and Cains nor this was to hint to Cain how things went in Gods breast and it did so but wrought desperately Christ in the same breath in the same expression can speake consolation and condemnation life and death life plainly death noddingly so hee doth here in this forme of expressing himselfe Who hath made us meete c. Vse This point dischargeth a broad side against an errour of the World Every one thinkes himselfe in the favour of God That wherein God is most curious the World thinkes he is most carelesse his love workes very choisely and they thinke it workes very commonly What man alive but promises himselfe the love of God when hee dies What mans state so bad but he thinkes â—will end in Heaven Ignorant soules make Heaven and the Bosome of God â—he center of soules that to which all soules necessarily goe and can goe no whither else I am pain'd at the heart to heare prophane mens opinions and their principles respecting the love of Christ and their eternall estate I will give you two or three of their principles and speak to them They thrive in the World therefore â—ove hath given them her favour and chosen out them to be the onely happy men who ever be miserable Did not the sunne shine upon Sodom was not Dives a wealthy man and yet where is he Where is hee was not â—ophet prepared for the King The things of this life are consistent with death with wrath A man may lie in the bosome of the Creature and in the bosome of the divel too nothing more common A full Table speakes snares and death as well as love That man will certainly choke his soule that will not rise from his Table to fetch an argument of Gods favour towards him I am beloved of all men in this some blesse themselves as beloved of God Truth seldome gets so much favour 't is a strange carriage that will carry it with all All men may speake well and God speake ill of a man All men love thee Doe Gods people love thee there is a love of pity David loved Saul a 〈◊〉 yet Saul was not beloved of God There is a love of relation David loved Absolom yet Absolom not beloved of God Gods people may fasten love where God will not Gods people are weake 't is usuall with them to fasten love where God cannot And as for the Worlâ— they love their owne they hug one another to death what then can'st thou argue from hence touching Gods favour to thee I am not more jealous of any man then of him that aleadges a generall approbation for his goodnesse The World gives no certificate to Saints nor Saints give no certificate to the World he that gets a certificate from both Lord what is he a Saint or a worldling good or bad or made up between both Common vote for goodnesse speakes common goodnesse commonly seldom is this height a height to argue speciall love from Some men can goe in and fetch thee out an evidence of their eternall state My conscience is as cleare and as good as any Mans my heart is at rest J thanke GOD. The soule is corrupt 't will lie downe with a lie There is settling upon lees this speakes not love but deadly hatred When the strong man keepes the house all is at peace Some are quiet because there is no grace to oppose corruption The old man is quiet enough if he may have what he will The divell is as quiet as another Creature if hee be let alone to rule all as hee list's There is peace peace and yet no peace have you never heard of that They shall cry peace peace and yet no peace no favour with God but wrath burning and judgement at the doore Peace may be in a sinners mouth and wrath in Gods peace may be in a sinners heart and wrath in Gods heart yea when wrath is in Gods Hand and ready to cut him off There is a peace of mans speaking and a peace of Gods speaking When they shall cry peace peace meerely they and not God this peace peace this double peace speakes double wrath Delusions are many sinners looke to your soules This is certain love elects she goes forth with choyce not promiscuously she makes some not all blessed Who hath made us c. Are ye amongst this number Can yee say thus who hath made mee meete and mee meete for Heaven Every one thinkes speciall love embraceth him I 'le therefore give you the proprieties of an electing love 'T is in living Sun rayes generate Vita sun rayes regenerate Love is warming heate makes life The Love of God revealed begets love in man Wee love him because hee loved us first God gives all great favours so as to returne to him naturally Divine love shed abroad in the heart carries the heart to God The spirit returnes to God that gave it the naturall spirit doth so at death the holy spirit doth so before death all along even unto death Gods Countenance where 't is similing 't is winning where 't is winning 't is drawing where divine love is drawing the soule is running to Heaven A favourite is much at Court ever at the Kings elbow Gods favourites are much with him still bending Heaven-ward Love is alwayes in her journey towards her beloved No bosome so sweete as that from whence shee came forth Divine love makes divine it comes from Heaven it carries to Heaven Chosen are called electing love hath a still sweet calling voyce This is the way saith love and there is no way to this saith the beloved Grace echo's to God the giver Wisdoms wayes have the name for pleasantnesse with a chosen soule Love inflames the Kingdome of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force Vâ—atal's Infinite love makes a kinde of infinite it generates simile Love is as strong as death 't is spoken of the love of the Spouse The Husbands love is unexpressible strong so is the Wives Love sets the soule for Heaven with full saile All the heart and all the might Electing love carries al captive to Christ 't is not to be exprest how strong love is when made divine That love that is set upon God is the strongest of all 't 'as such a transcendent object and such secret transcendent influence No sinner loves sinne as a Christian loves Christ Love is made from the object no object so lovely so soule-drawing out as Christ is No such rapture did Salomons soule ever make in the Creature as in Christ nothing is so drawing out of love as Christ the very vastnesse of the soule is suited in him how vastely doth the soule love when fully suited When every power of the soule hath enough to take full hold on Thou hast put joy in my heart more then they when corne and wine and oyle increased Gods Countenance drawes more
spirit for Heaven Perversenesse is in your pathes and yet you plead for your will Sinners observe that speech of Christ If any man will be my Disciple let him denie himselfe and follow me Christ makes deed to demonstrate will if a man be willing to be Christs companion and scholler he will follow Christ yea hee will take up his Crosse i goe through any difficulty to enjoy his fellowship What will is indeed to the end it is to the meanes 'T is idle talke fancy and dreames not will to a thing that will use no meanes Yee tell me yee are willing to be made partakers of the inheritance above what doe you doe to be made partakers Doe you walke in the way which leads to Heaven Are you not in life according to your lusts In your course according to your company Unto divine duty according to your humour Does not will rule truth and not truth your will Let persons convinced be instructed Ye cannot be partakers of the Cup of the Lord and of Devills saith the Apostle so say I ye cannot be made partakers of Heaven and keepe on in the way to hell you must first be made partakers of the Heavenly calling as the Apostle calls it ere yee can be made partakers of Heaven it selfe Wherefore holy brethren partakers of the Heavenly calling c. Heb. 3.1 That is a calling to Heavenlinesse Heaven must begin here Christ must rule all and be made all here as he is above A Heavenly calling speakes three things A heavenly rule a heavenly subject and then a heavenly end I am the way That 's a heavenly rule Not I live But Christ lives in me That 's a Heavenly Subject I have fought a good fight henceforth is laid up for mee a Crowne of Righteousnesse that 's a heavenly end The two former are subordinate to this latter Christ must be without a man and within a man or that man will never come to Heaven He must be all without and all within he onely must be the way I am the way And he only must live in the heart to guide this way yet not I but Christ lives in me The Word of God and the Spirit of God must meete in the life of man or that life will end in death in hell not in Heaven A heavenly rule and a heavenly heart lead to Heaven Few Christians lives are cleerely Christian Christ is our sanctification as he is our justification he is our life here aswell as our life hereafter hee must be made so by every soule and then all will goe well at last Heaven is a Crowne of Righteousnesse not of our Righteousnesse but of Christs His spirit must rule all his merit must be leaned upon for all this soule will certainly be made partaker of all Christians should be comforted from this point All the wealth of Christ is communicable Heaven communicable communicable to you to Saints The complaints of Gods people are many this point answers all My losses are great sayes one so sayes an other Will not Heaven make them up Thou hast neither money nor goods Thieves and Plunderers have stole all Hast thou not treasure laid up in Heaven where no spoile can be made In cases of persecution Christ teaches us to comfort our selves with Heaven how all is doubly made up there When men persecute and revile you rejoyce and be exceeding glad c. Upon what ground Why Upon this great is your reward in Heaven Losse hath its quantity 'T is great that makes it so heavy reward hath its quantity too Great is your reward in Heaven If a man had lost a Kingdome on earth Is not the Kingdome of Heaven responsible If a man had lost all this World Is not the World to come as good as this Is not Heaven as big as Earth As good as Earth Asmuch good As lastingly good Will not your Heaven above be as sweet as your hell here is bitter â—uppose there be nothing above but Christ to make up al thy losse here below is not he enough Canst thou not comfort thy selfe in Christ alone What a soule hast thou 'T was high time thou diddest lose thy treasure here 't was thy God Thou wouldest otherwise have lost thy soule Obj. And 't were but for my selfe I could be contented whatsoever I underwent But I have wife and children and no Bread to put in their hâ—nds nor no clothes to put on their backs this makes my heart sinkes within and I doe not know how to keep it up Sol. Are thy children fit to be partakers of Heaven If so let that comfort thee that they are in a capable condition though temporally miserable to be eternally happy Say to thy sinking soule there is a house above big enough to hold me and all mine and the owner is kind to strangers There is bread enough clothing enough for me and all mine Thou art but stript before quite dead death would have stript thee of all if Cavaliers had not Naked thou camest into this World and naked thou shalt returne Thou maist goe to Heaven stark naked without money without clothes All things are naked and bare before Christ that 's the manner of all going hence thou art put in a posture to goe to Heaven they goe stript of all here below to that felicity above Thou hast nothing now thou art fit for all nothing of earth now Heaven would be welcome Thou hast no home here now thy long-home above O! How sweete would it be Why It may be it will not be long ere thou be there Be still 't is God things wil end wel if Heaven wil make it so Ob. Yea but mine are not such yet as concerning whom I can thus relieve my selfe that they will be partakers of eternall felicity when this miserable life ends Sol. Doe thy duty to bring them to be such thou hast now time and leisure now all is gone What else shouldest thou doe now but give all diligence to make up a felicity for thee and thine where it may be seeing all is gone here Time was thou diddest pretend multitude of businesses and great imployment in thy calling that thou couldest not discharge this and that duty in thy family for the eternall good of servants and children as thou wouldest why Now thou hast nothing to doe God hath removed that let let 's see now how heavenly thou wilt be in the discharge of the divine duty 'T will lie heavy upon thee indeed to see thy children lie in bodily misery and yet still goe on to doe nothing to deliver them out of soule-misery If God stir up thy heart by this to doe thy duty throughly for the soule-good of thine thy misery may prove blessed misery to thee and thine This will be thy comfort at giving up that thou hast discharged thy duty to make a miserable condition blessed But if successe suite thy industry thy miserable children are made indeed This may cheer thee under sad
sitting in darkenesse looke to that as you love your soules 't is excluding from the Inheritance in light sit in darkenesse love your lusts and you will never part with them for Heaven The condition of your Inheritance in light is that you must cast away the unfruitfull workes of darkenesse The Soule lives and dies in that it loves you will rather cast away your soules then doe this if your affection bee impure If your love to sinne live you will have your pleasure in it though you die for it If love to sinne live there is but one way with your soules they will die in that sinne Love of sinne and Heaven opened to the soule 't is rejection of Christ with his greatest blessing in his Hand Christ casts off every Soule that thus desperately casts off him A Man must set his Knife to the Throate of an Isaack Judge his Soule in that which is dearest if sinnefull GOD will not else looke towards a Man with great things Hee looketh upon Men if any say I have sinned and perverted that which was right and it profited mee not hee will deliver his Soule from goeing downe into the Pitte and his Life shall see the light Consolation must conclude this poynt Christians I am to give you a glad word in this sad Time Your Inheritance here is spoyled you have one that lies above spoyle in light Can Men or Devils pull the Sunne out of Heaven Then may your highest fortune bee spoyled You have one Sunne turned into blood but you have another which cannot Your felicitie here is broken and growes every Day more broken and bloudy you have a felicitie compleate full absolute as full of Blessednesse as the Sunne of light a felicitie as full of Beames as the Eyes of the Soule can receive Draw up your soules to Heaven quicklie Earth is posting away Let good bloud stirre every drop will bee lost else You will be killed in all on Earth to make you more Heavenly ere GOD hath done with you Thinke how absolute you shall bee above and feedeâ—â— that Let not tyranny trample downe your soules though it doth your bodies a perfect felicitie waites for you Let Englands bloudy misery make you cry Come Lord Iesus come quickly set mee as high and as happy as mine Inheritance Jn Light Inference THat which by way of Inference may be taken from this Metaphor I shall but name and conclude all Time and Text. GOD doth lively shadow out to Man here his condition hereafter what hee shall be and where he shall be for eternity There is death and the shadow of it before it come So there is life and the shadow of it light is here made the shadow and semblance of Heaven of a glorious estate to come As there be Tasts of the World to come so there be sights Light gives glimpses below of the glory that is above There is a beholding the Land that is far off the Face of Christ in a Glasse the glory above by the glory here one Heaven in another Heaven in Light Man hath many Sermons preached to him to make him Heavenly as many Heavenly Sermons as there be rayes in the Sunne by every glimpse of Light you should set before you Heaven As long as the Sunne shines you should not want a Sermon to send your soules to Heaven God deales with flesh as flesh Man is a Creature taken with shadowes Things drawne out to the life take The Soule now fetches in all from sense God stoops to helpe in things this way at such doores as they will goe in at GOD wraps up the higher Heaven in the lower glory in Light and so brings it downe to carnall sense and enobles it there to enoble it within catches the senses to catch the Heart and save the Soule If Light be so glorious what is Heaven This is the secret Soule-taking argument that is wrapt up in this Metaphor Though your bodies have yet no Heaven your soules if you walke as you should neede never be without one As long as your Eyes bee open to see the Sunne you may sweetely send your Soules to Heaven Some sweare by the Light this is to send their soules to Hell not to Heaven by the Light God moves in meanes powerfully Pictures are powerfull upon flesh and bloud Make things glitter and Man will gaze make Earth glitter although so base and fallen Man will be taken with it worke it up from its basenesses but so little as to looke golden and glorious and man will dote upon it How taking is golden Earth to al the World Heaven is wrapt up in Sun-beams and made to glitter to catch a foole Christ is expressed by the Sunne Heaven by Light that if sense have any power upon the soule no soule may goe to Hell whilest the Sunne gives Light There were transient Visions now there are standing Truth and the Creature are Gods standing Vision Things below are all made at Divine pleasure to speake out things above The Word of God uses the Workes of GOD to shadow out what cannot bee plainely seene here invisible things are brought to understanding by visible Heaven by light Hell by darkenesse Hell beneath by Hell here The gnawing Worme is used to shadow out gnawing conscience gnawing conscience to shadow out Hell Man hath his vision what shall bee in things round about him The Word of God the Workes of God Light darkenesse Serpents Dragons Worms Lambes Doves all Creatures are used to give apt vision to man of things to come All runs into this CHRIST makes lively apparition of things to come Looke about you sinners your Sun is turned into bloud this is speaking to you pro futuro Strange Lights and sights have beene in Heaven looke about you all this is God using the Creature to shadow out to dull sensuall man something to come a Heaven or a Hell 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 blessed is every English heart that can discerne the signes of the Times FINIS