power is great and there is no summing up of thy greatnesse and goodnesse beneficence and clemency Though but a man I will confesse thee though I am but one piece of thy Creation and but a man that carries his mortality about him and that beares within him a testimony of his sinnes though such a man such a portion of thy Creation yet will I praise thee If I were without thee I should not be whatsoever I am I should become nothing Thou wast in mee to make me have a being and to be with thee but I departed from thee although I am thus in thee and with thee But how could I depart or be absent from thee how could I fly from thy face if I ascended into Heaven thou wast there for thence didst thou cast downe headlong the spirit of pride and authour of disobedience if I should make my bed in hell thou wouldest be there also for thou hast the keyes thereof and setst open the gates thereof for them that trust not in thee if I should plunge my selfe in the depth of the Sea thou wouldest there find mee for thou didst cast disobedient peevish Jonah into the maw of the whale thou madest him there a prisoner 3 nights and 3 dayes and then didest draw him thence neither torne hurt or wounded if also I should take the wings of the morning and make my habitation beyond the farthest Seas even there would thy hand lead mee and thy right hand take hold upon mee if I should say yet shall the darknesse hide me why even night shall be turned into day unto me darknesse it selfe cannot hide from thee the night to thee shines like the day darknesse is light and light as darknesse not houses nor vailes nor walls nor enclosures no caves that are under ground or dens that are full of darknesse can shut out thy presence thou art more nearely present with us than we are to our selves Thou searchest through our life our actions and all our thoughts Can any lurking place hide any from thy presence Doest not thou fill heaven and earth and art a God at hand and also afarr off Thou art all eye for thou seest all things all eare because thou hearest all things all hand for thou framest all things all foot for thou art every where present thou art neare me thou art with me thou art in mee thou sittest within mee thou art an observer of all my good and evill and art my protector yet my God I went from thee I departed and forsook thee I blush when I speak this yet I speak it willingly because forthwith thy mercy offers it selfe vnto me Souldiers that keep not their stations are punished with death and hee that in the battell first begins to runne loses his life yea for a man but to lose his target is counted a crime and to cast away his weapons is counted a most reproachfull thing Ah! how foulely have I left my station without thy command O heavenly eternall commander there was yet no ordered or marshalled battell with Satan I was but only assailed by a light skirmish and at the very first onset I threw away the buckler of my integrity and faith I suffered my weapons to bee shaken out of my hands and I fled from my allegeance from before thy face With what a slight resistance and by how childish a valour might I have overcome Satan it was my sloath and not his force that made him strong As a man greedy of gaine seeing an orphant have riches entices him often to his house makes him a banquet bestowes something on him and beguiles him with faire words till hee hath gotten his meanes so the devill seeing that I had a pretious treasure heavenly wisdome layd up in an earthen chest presently offered mee wealth pleasures and honours that baited with these hee might spoyle mee of my heavenly riches he hath stripped mee and spoyled mee of all my treasure which I ought to have kept holily and might without difficulty have done it But what gave he me in requitall what riches what pleasures what honours What can he repay whose inheritance and riches is that infernall torment that gulfe that vomits forth pitch and flames whose torments are without end and his confusion everlasting But thou my God for my backsliding hast rendered a reacceptance of me for my falling from thee thou hast requited mee with thy favour For thy grace and mercy is precedent and greater than my whole offence and all my failings I read it spoken by thy Kingly servant that thy mercy is great great hee said it was but how great hee could not tell wee have knowne that it is great but how great we have not knowne nor can perceive We know not the quantity of it's greatnesse which cannot be expressed in words Wee see the fruit of mercy is great for were it not extended beyond measure we had not after our Fall been received of thee Ah what is sinne to the mercy of God A spiders web that a blast of wind makes invisible Consider a spark of fire if it should fall into the Sea could it continue living or visible as a spark to the Sea so is mans malice to Gods Pitty and Clemency yea not so only but farre lesse for the Ocean though it be vast yet is not unmeasurable but of Gods mercies there is no measure CONTEMP c. 4. Of the Councell of the Trinity touching the Creation of Man and of the end why Man was created WHat is man that thou wast mindfull of him what the son of man that thou didst visit him Thou thoughtest of me before I had a being I was in thy minde before I was in the world thou appointedst a consult O my God when thou wast to make me after thou hadst brought forth all things and hadst built this vast stage of the world hadst replenished and adorned it thou didst say Let us make man after our Image Thou God and Father who art the beginning and originall of the Trinity with whom consultedst thou was it with the Angels and those holy Inhabitants of heaven why surely they joyned not with thee in the Creation of man nor was man made according to their similitude Did hee consult with the Earth or with the Sun because the Sun and man are said to generate man who may be suffered to trifle thus Let us make man saidst thou we our selves will be busie about him and not an Angell not the Earth not the Sunne not the Water nor any other thing But who is with thee doest thou speak in the Potentates language Nor was this sutable thou speakest to thy Coeternall and Coessentiall Son and holy Spirit thou speakest God with God one God as the Father workes so works the Son and holy Ghost they work but one Thou createdst man the worke of the whole Trinity to live in this world better than the whole world the most exquisite Creature of all creatures the most
art the light and guide of my mind as thou art the Author so be also the Actor of all the good that is in me for I humbly rely upon thee I beleeve in thee the true God who prâ—ceedest from the Father and the Son from all eternity and art in time sent unto me what ever I am I am it in thee and by thee I am righteous by thee by thee am I chaste by thee am I patient by thee am I strong by thee humble by thee am I courteous by thee am I long-suffering by thee am I wise by thee liberall and by thee am I thrifty O thou Comforter teach me to doe thy will because thou art my God I beleeve therefore that whomsoever thou possessest thou fittest him for a dwelling both of the Father and of the Son happie is he that shall be thought worthy to lodge thee because by thee the Father and the Son shall make his abode with him CONTEMP 28. c. Of the mystery of the Trinity O Three coequall and coeternall Persons one true God the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost who dost onely inhabit eternity and light inaccessible who in thy might didst lay the foundation of the earth and dost governe the whole world by thy wisdome Holy holy holy Lord God of Sabbaths terrible strong just and mercifull wonderfull laudable and lovely One God three Persons one Essence one Power one Wisdome one Goodnesse and one undivided Trinitie Blessed be alwayes the holy Trinitie one Diety and coequall Majesty The Father Sonne and Holy Ghost are three names all of them one substance God the begetter God the begotten the Holy Spirit equall God contained in them both yet they are not three Gods but one true God so the Father is Lord the Son Lord and the Holy Ghost Lord there is propriety in the Persons and unity in the Essence an equall Majesty and Power equal Beauty Honour in all things comprehending the Starres the Seas the Fields nay the whole Creation at whom wicked hell doth tremble and whom the lowest depths doe reverence Let every voice and tongue now confesse him worthy this praise whom Sunne and Moone doe magnifie and the Angelicall dignity doth adore and let us all with strained voyce with musicall songs and sweet melody warble forth his praises O let us now sing together before the Throne of our God that is exalted in the highest O Trinity to be adored O Unity to be reverenced Thou true Eternity by thee are we created thou most perfect charity by thee are we redeemed doe thou protect save deliver set free and cleanse all people we worship thee Almighty we sing unto thee to thee be praise and glory for ever and ever For it is truly a worthy and a just thing a right and a saving thing that we should at all times and in all places give thanks unto thee O Lord holy Father God Almighty who with thy only begotten Son and the Holy Ghost are one God attone Lord not in the singularity of one Person but in the substance of one Trinity for that which wee beleeve from thy revelation concerning thy glory this wee understand without difference of distinction both of the Son and also of the Holy Ghost that the propriety of Persons the unitie of Essence and equality of Majestie may be adored in the confession of a true and an eternall Deitie One man is not so much as three men joyned together and two men are something more than one but in God it is not so for the Father and Son together are not a greater Essence than the Father alone or the Son alone but those three Persons together are equall one to another The consideration of the word One extends farre to the making evident of this single Unity There is an unitie which may bee called collective as when many stones make up one heape of stones there is also an unitie constitutive when many members make up one body or many parts of any thing make up the whole thing it selfe There is also an unity conjugative whence it comes to passe that two by marriage are now no more two but one flesh And there is a native unity whence by the soule and body one man is borne There is a potestative unity whereby a vertuous man is not instable or unlike himselfe but doth alwayes endevour to bee found like to himselfe It is a consentaneous unitie when by charity many men have one heart and one soule There is a votive unitie when the soule adhering to God in all its desires becomes one spirit There is a dignitative unitie whereby our corrupt flesh is by God the Word assumed into one Person But what are all these things to that most high and as I may so say that onely unitie where consubstantiality maketh the unity If thou liken any of the former unities to this unity it will be after a sort alike but if you compare it with it it will bee nothing therefore amongst all things which are rightly said to be one the unity of the Trinity wherein three Persons are one substance doth hold the preheminence each particular Person is in each particular Person all the Persons conjoyned are in each particular Person and each distinct Person in all the Persons conjoyned all are in all and all is but one none of these precedes another in eternitie or exceeds another in greatnesse or excells another in power that which is there said to be great is not otherwise great than as it is truly so indeed because there greatnesse is truth it selfe and truth is Essence therefore that is not greater which is not truer but one Person is not truer than another of them or two of them than any one or all three together than all three separated each from other therefore one hath no more truth than another or two than any one or all together than each asunder So then also the Trinitie it selfe is not any thing greater than every distinct Person in it but is equally great with them These are wonderfull things and set farre above the reach of any creature therefore mans understanding doth very hardly assent to these mysteries which are set so farre from our view and the minde easily begins to wander after speculations if wee have not before us a more sublime doctrine which may recall our phansies into the right bounds and limits set for us by God himselfe That doctrine is divine No man can take another by the hand if he want his owne we cannot see the Sunne without the Sunne nor can any conceive divine things without divine assistance nor can we know God without God Be present therefore thou true Light Almighty God and Father bee present thou Light of lights thou Word and Son of God God Almighty be present holy Spirit thou concord of the Father and the Son God Almighty bee present one omnipotent God Father Son and Holy Ghost we confesse in thee by thee and
absolute Creature or little world the Compendium and Epitome of the great world yet not properly a world but a man framed by thy hands by the Communion of the Son and the holy Ghost an image enlivened by the breath of thy mouth and a representation of thy selfe Heaven thy habitation is resplendant with shining and sparkling lights the earth thy footstoole doth swell with a thousand sort of fruits and yet none of them is said to be made as man was O God I am thy Image I am thy likenesse therefore I will be thy pleasure thy delight thy content thou wilt take care of me and never forsake me for who will neglect an image and a worke made after his owne likenesse To what end O my God hast thou done all this why didst thou forme and fashion me in so excellent a manner Thou madest man first of al that he might be the stock of us all from which so many branches so many leafes and so many fruits should spring Thou wouldest that all should have one originall and a like beginning that no man should preferre himselfe before another as if he were the seed of a more noble father that none should despise another that one should not hurt another but that we should every one mutually assist each other in his labour that we should be all of one mind will the same thing covet and desire the same thing and that there might not be heard any brawles contentions enviousnesse or deceits amongst us For concord is that most fragrant Balsum that breathes thee that excellent odour Thousand thousands in heaven do serve thee and there is found no discord thousand thousands should also serve thee on earth and there should be found no discord Thou didst make us all that we should be the cleere mirrour of thy Majesty of thy Glory of thy Dignity of thy Power and of thy Wisdome The work commends the workman and the effect shewes the cause O unspeakeable Artist O unvaluable causer of all things Let us take heed that we neither break nor spot that we nor fully nor make dusky this glasse let us beware that we cause not Satans vizard to be seene in this glasse but let wisdome piety goodnesse curtesie chastity and whatsoever is most excellent in thee in part reflect in us Thou madest us all that wee should bee the worlds perfection beauty and ornament The world was a Cage cunningly and wonderfully wrought but it wanted a singing bird by whose warbling notes al things might be expressed let us wordlings beware that we be not to the world like a Crow or dunghill bird or a Jay but a Lark that doth night and day in the evening and at morne celebrate and proclaime his Creatours praise let us not be a disgrace an unprofitable and reproachfull burden that the world may labour to expell with groans and be glad not sorry to be rid of it rather than wish for its returne Thou hast made us all that we should admire and set forth thee and thy works Thou hast endued me with an understanding enlightned with heavenly fire that by thy selfe I might distinguish thee from my selfe and the world Thou hast given me a will that knowing thee I might love thee above all things because thou excellest all things and dost comprehend all good things within thee Thou gavest me a tongue that knowing and loving thee I should lively expresse and redouble thy praises Be present my understanding be present my will be present my tongue know him love him praise him praise the Lord O my soule I will praise the Lord all my life long I will sing unto my God while I have any being Praise ye the Lord for it is good to sing unto our God it is a pleasant and comely thing to be thankfull unto him Thou hast made us all that wee should live with thee and that wee should be made partakers of thy glory and gladnesse The better any thing is the more it communicates its goodnesse to others but thou my God art the best of bests therefore thy goodnesse doth most plentifully flow to all so that they will lay hold and embrace it Vouchsafe safe O Lord that whilst I walke in the way I may dwell and remaine with thee in life Thou ordainest me to life O suffer me not to fall by death death is not of thee but from my selfe life is not from me but from thee take that from me which proceeds from me and give me that which comes from thee and I will praise thee in thine own holinesse I will praise thee in the firmament of thine owne power I will praise thee in thy virtues I will praise thee according to the magnitude of thy greatnesse I will praise thee in the sound of the Trumpet I will praise thee upon the Psaltery and Harpe I will praise thee in the Cymball and Quire I will praise thee upon the stringed instruments and Organs I will praise thee in the well sounding Cymballs I will prayse thee on the loud Cymballs every thing that hath breath shall praise thee Hallelujah My spirit shall leap for joy in God my Saviour for evermore O most blessed God give me a blessed age CONTEMP c. V. Of Paradise and of casting forth of Man from thence OMnipotent Creatour thou didest bestow a threefold grace upon man the grace of the soule originall righteousnesse and the grace of the body immortality and the grace of a most pleasant place to inhabit but what is that place my God wherein thou didest place my first parent and mee in him I read the words of thy penman but what meane those words what is Paradise what is Eden teach me O my God for no man although hee think he hath gotten much knowledg can instruct me sufficiently I collect that thou plantedst a garden and that it looked toward the East I heare of foure rivers Ganges Nile Tigris and Euphrates but yet I am not satisfied for the doubts of Disputants and their wrangling makes the matter very intricate unto me But why doe I seeke for that which is not and neglect that which is give me the heavenly Paradise and the earthly Paradise shall never trouble me I understand it was a most fruitfull Garden and stuffed with joy pleasure and delight in which the eyes did want nothing nor the ears or any other part of that body which it did not enjoy Within thou hadst furnished man with wisdome and understanding without thou sufferedst him not to want any thing All the creatures came about that new king enthroned by the King of kings did tender him homage and did reverence him with humble subjection The tall fertile odoriferous pruned comely and pregnant trees how much did they refresh him the Alder tree Almond tree Cherry tree Fig tree Cidonian Punick aurea and what ever else doe beautifie the fields But above the rest notable are those two which thy booke describes unto me which did most of
unto us invisible things by things visible thou art the sun O my God but my weake eyes cannot looke stedfastly upon thy most resplendant light except a cloud be interposed if I will try the strength of my eyes farther I may easily be blind if I will soare higher I may be in danger to bee burnt to ashes Let me alwayes beare in mind that which one of thy Saints was wont seriously to ruminate upon I am a man and understand not Gods secrets I dare not search after them and therefore I am affraid even to make an essay upon them because it is a kinde of sacrilegious rashnesse to desire to know more than is permitted unto me In thy Tabernacle I see the Arke of thy Covenant besides the Arke I see the Mercy-seat I see Manna in the Arke and those rocky leafes and Volume of stone wherein the Law was written published amiddest thunders amiddest lightnings amiddest the horrid sounds of heavenly trumpets amiddest the deadly savour of the ambient ayre amiddest the poles of heaven bellowing with these sacred noises amiddest those fires mists and clouds replenished with the holy Deity O my God how many mysteries do here lie hid that I would I might understand mee thinks I see Christ in all these things for hee is the true Mercy-seat who alone hath done away the sinnes of the whole world by the onely sacrifice of his passion and hath made thee a God propitious unto us Hee was represented by that golden peece of workmanship wherein thou diddest promise that thou wouldest dwell and hearken unto those that should call upon thee for thou lovedst us also in him thy beloved one and in him art mercifull unto us Hee defends his Church as that golden tent did cover the Arke and did hide the Law which was laid up in it from the face of God that dwelt above it that hee should not according to the rigour thereof take notice of our sinnes or enter into judgement with us Thou thy selfe my God hast promised him unto mee that he might be a sacrifice for me in his owne blood Thou hast made him a propitiation both for mine and for the sinnes of the whole world O Christ my reconciler my place of refuge O my hope redeeme mee and reconcile mee that I lose thee not and bee forced to beare the wrath of my everlasting Father for ever He is the true Arke for as the Arke was made of pure gold and the neatest wood so my Redeemer God and Man is consubstantiall of the most high Godhead and the most perfect humanity The Tables were put in the Arke because my Redeemer hath in him the perfect fulfilling of the Law by whose benefits apprehended by faith our disobedience becomes unhurtfull unto us What more sweet than Manna And what more wholesome than Christ the bread of heaven which whosoever by faith shall eat shall never bee bitten with hunger but nourished for ever by an unspeakable happinesse I also find Aarons rod sometimes dry sometimes flourishing the rod of Jesse the tree of life Christ my Redeemer with suffring upon the crosse gives up the ghost forthwith returns to life and flourisheth without end O the riches of the wisdome and understanding which thy Book affords them that love and hearken unto thee O Christ be thou my Propitiatory if the infernall tempter shall accuse mee bee thou my Arke where I may bee hid when sinne doth tyranously grow cruel against me be thou my staffe whereon I may leane when I shall enter the vale of death bee thou my Manna wherewith I may bee continually refreshed after death in thine everlasting Kingdome CONTEMP c. 13. Of the Conception of Christ O What humility O what a desire to save me hadst thou O Christ my Saviour there was no truth in my mouth my throat was an open sepulchre I have dealt deceitfully with my tongue and my spirit is not pure and thou that art the very mouth of truth the throat of sweetnesse the tongue of virtue my most unspotted Saviour and free from all contagion of sinne dost kisse mee with the kisses of thy mouth O blessed kisse and to bee wondred at for its admirable value in which one mouth makes not an impression upon another but God and Man are united together With what else shall I compare thy incarnation but to a kisse a kisse a token of peace and reconciliation and by thy incarnation was peace and reconciliation restored to the world O what a blessed day is that when thwarting thy paths I receive a kisse from thy offended mouth in stead of a deserved reproofe as thy Spouse the Church cries out burning with impatient love shee cryes out Let him kisse mee with the kisses of his mouth with a desire kindled from the promises and benefits of Christ she beseeches the Messiah might be sent unto her that she might heare him speaking and behold him instructing her in his flesh shee requires him to descend and to bee united to the humanity Consider the Church O my soule who having of a long time had a promise of her Lords comming from the mouth of the Prophets and having beene a great while in suspence raiseth her selfe from the body abandoning luxury and carnall pleasures and delights and disroabing her selfe of the care of secular vanities doth wish for the infusion of the divine presence and grace of the saving Word and how is shee tortured and afflicted that hee comes so late wounded as it were with love not able longer to endure his delay turning to the Father shee beseecheth him that he will send God the Word unto her I will not have him speak by Moses nor by the Prophets no let him take my body upon him let him kisse me in the flesh Follow my soule thou which art a part of that most happy assembly follow the example of that groaning Church and think on nothing more love cherish vow unto and expect nothing more than thy Messias See I beseech you and consider the familiar and friendly communication of those soules sighing in the flesh with the heavenly powers they rejoyce in those kisses they aske for what they desire yet they name not him they love because they doubt not but that hee knowes them with whom they have been accustomed so often to converse withall therefore they say not let this or that particular kisse me but only let him kisse us as Mary Magdalen did not expresse his name whom she sought but only said to him she thought had been the Gardner Sir if thou hast taken him What him she utters it not because she thought that must needs be manifest to all which could not for one moment depart out of her heart neither doth that betrothed Virgin desire one kisse burning continually with chaste love and impatient of delayes but she askes for many kisses that her desires may bee satiate For she that loves is not content with the parcimony of one kisse but requires
many chalenges many and so useth to commend her selfe often unto her beloved Kisse thou also the Lord O my soule lest at any time he be angry and thou perish in the way Who will give thee unto me O Lord O let me find thee and I will kisse not my hands or any thing my hands can touch but even thee O Lord. Let the tumultuous flesh be silent let the phansies of earth and water of ayre and of the vault of heaven hold their peace let dreams and imaginary revelations bee still let every tongue every signe and whatsoever is acted in a trice be quiet say nothing to thy selfe O my soule passe by thy selfe and have no thought upon thy selfe but upon my God For he is truly all my hope and trust For in God and our Lord Jesus Christ most sweet most bountifull and most pitifull is every of our portions our bloud and flesh the lover doth as much as possible desire to be one with the thing beloved and therefore they cling together and glew as it were their bodies in one and they strive to make of both their soules but one by the conjunction of kisses Thou O Jesus my love thou my desire thou my thought thou my hope thou my wish I would I could alwayes cleave unto thee Would to God that where thou my portion doest raigne there I may at least be a subject and where thou my blood doest rule there I may obey and where thou my flesh art glorified I may not bee there confounded I am indeed a sinner but yet I distrust not of the communion of grace and if my sinnes doe forbid it yet my substance requireth it if mine owne offences exclude me the fellowship of my nature drives mee not back for God is not so great an enemie that hee should not love his owne flesh his members and bowels I might indeed despaire by reason of my too too many sinnes and offences my infinite faults and negligences which I have committed and which I daily and without ceasing doe act in heart mouth and worke and by all wayes that humane frailtie can offend except thou haddest kissed me except O Word thou haddest beene made flesh except thou shouldest dwell in me Let reason here be silent and let faith speak the things are true which I say for thy Spirit hath revealed them unto me yet are they so profound that I cannot pierce into them they are so high that my abjectnesse will not suffer me to reach them I will adore them in silence and admire in my adoration And thy miraculous incarnation shall clense my spotted conception Let not reason conceive that which thy overshadowing doth work so that my Salvation may be firme sure and unshaken CONTEMP c. 14. Of Christs Nativitie THat which none ever saw now all the world beholds that which none ever heard now all the world doth heare God the Sonne of God undergoes the shame of our humane nature and takes upon him the reproachfull principles of our earthly originall he lyes in a manger to whom Angels doe yeeld their service he suffers himselfe to be wrapped in swadling cloathes who gives cloathing to the heavens no ambition seene in his house a bare couch in a stable and his Mother lodged in hay such an Inne doth the worlds Creator make choice of these were the dainties of the holy Virgins child-bed ragges in stead of purple for silke and princely trimming nothing but plaine hemmes hee that was before the foundation of the world was laid borne from the heart of his Father who had Alpha and Omega for his surname the beginning and the close of all things which were or are or shall be hereafter now in the end of the determined time put on the shape of a servant and is borne of a poore Virgin Let the vault of heaven sing let every Angell sing let all that belong to vertue sing to the praises of God let no tongue be silent and let every voyce for ever and ever sound forth his praises Old-age and youth quires of Infants troopes of matrons and virgins the simple maydens with tunable voyces let them with chast consorts chaunt forth his praises let every age acknowledge that the reward of our life is come after the bondage of our sharpe enemie Whence is this that not the Mother of our Lord but that the very Lord himselfe comes unto us How great is he that is given to mee hee is the Angell of peace the Lambe of God the Benefactour of all the horne of salvation the Bruiser of the Serpents head the Governour of Israel he is the desire of the Gentiles the guide of our life and the expectation of the Nations He is the Son of the most High the branch of Jesse the humble Caller of mankind he is our Intercessour he is our Righteousnesse he is our Deliverer hee is our Mediatour hee is our Nourisher hee is our Helper He is the Prince of Peace he is the great Prophet the Restorer of our quiet he is our Redeemer Hee is our Reconciler he is King of Sion a Saviour an Expiatory Sacrifice he is the heavenly Bridegroome the Expeller of sadnesse he is the Word made flesh the most ample Present the heavenly Zelote he is all things Let the bright heaven thunder let the glad earth personate let yawning hell mourne but let mankind keepe a Jubily we groaped in darknesse and were blinded and covered in a most thick night he proceedeth out of the darknesse and night that expelleth these mists of ignorance and night of sinnes Our nature is not now strange to God since that in it even in Christ our Mediatour the fulnesse of the Godhead doth now dwell for the Virgins womb was made choice of for the Lord of heaven and earth to spring in nor was that blessed masse the Sonne of God incarnate for her onely but that of his fulnesse all wee might be made pertakers God did not onely make mee but hee made many things for me seeing that the Word is made flesh for me and dwelleth in us he is become one flesh with me that he might make mee one Spirit with him Christ would become that which man is that man might become what God is it is impossible for mee to understand the secret of his Nativity My understanding failes my voice nay not mine only but even the voice of the Angels is stopped it is above Powers above Cherubin and Seraphin and above all sense I therefore lay my hand upon my mouth I may not search after these so high mysteries It may bee knowne that he was borne It is not to bee disputed how hee was borne it is rashnesse to enquire after this This is an unutterable Birth who shall declare it An Angell shewes it the Vertue overshadowes the Spirit assists the Virgin beleeves a Virgin brings forth and yet continues a Virgin who doth not admire the Word is born an Infant 8c length is acknowledged to be
possession of us when the Sunnes last shadow flyes from us and enraged death sharpens his Dart to strike thorow our breast But thou O Lord dost witnesse thy power even in death it selfe not onely by crying out at the last gaspe but also by shaking the earth by cleaving the rocks opening the graves rending the vaile of the Temple The Centurion himselfe being a man conversing with the members of the Church but beleeving out of the Church confessed from hence and said This man was indeed the Sonne of God But the last word thou utteredst in thy mortality is diligently to be noted and seriously to be weighed Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit This was thy last word Ah would to God it might bee also mine and I trust Lord it shall be so and God I hope will heare it for thou hast obtained this for me because thou hast both prayed for me upon the Crosse and hast as my chiefe high Priest suffered all things nor didst thou commend thine own Spirit alone unto thy Father but mine also and of all the faithfull who are members of thy body thou hast bound my soule together with thine owne in the bundle of life and hast delivered it into the hands of the Almighty O how doe the words pierce my soule and spirit which thou utteredst before thou didst passe that deadly way and in which thou didst most devoutly speake unto thy Father I pray for them I pray not for the world but for those whom thou hast given me for they are thine Holy Father keepe them in thy name whom thou hast given me that they may bee one as we are one preserve them from the world sanctifie them in thy truth I pray not only for these but for those also who shall beleeve in me through their word that they may all be one as thou O Father art in mee and I in thee that they also may be one in us that the world may beleeve that thou hast sent mee and I have given them the glory which thou gavest mee that they may be one as wee are one I in them and thou in me that they may be perfect in one and that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them as thou hast loved me Father I will that those whom thou hast given me be where I am that they may see my glory which thou hast given me because thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world What father can more earnestly recommend a son what mother a daughter or what brother his brother to anothers care than thou O Son of the living God hast recommended us to thy Father Thy Father doth heare us his degenerate adopted sonnes how much rather will he heare thee his Sonne obedient even to the death and his issue begotten of his owne substance from all eternity yea he hath already heard him Can saith he even he thy Father a woman forget her owne childe that she should not have compassion upon the sonne of her owne wombe Though she should be so forgetfull yet will not I forget thee behold I have graven thee upon my hands Thou also O Christ my Saviour sayest My sheepe heare my voice and I know them and they follow mee and I give unto them eternall life and they shall not perish for ever and no man shall snatch them out of my hands My Father who gave me them is greater than all and none can take them out of my Fathers hands Resting upon these thine attracting sentences I may be startled at the remembrance of death but I shall not be dismayed because I shall also bee mindfull of thy promises merits and intercessions When at length by thy permission a sharpe sicknesse shall weaken my sinewes and shall gnaw and feed upon my bloodlesse and halfe rotten skinne when my face shall bee bedewed with a cold sweat and I shall be moistned with the drops of death when my wan lips shal be widowed of their rednesse and a sad murmure shall be heard from the horrid noise of the gnashing teeth when my Sunne shall be darkened by my funerall clouds and death shall involve my head in everlasting darknesse yet thou Son of righteousnesse shalt shine cleare unto me thou shalt furnish my soule wrastling and triumphing by the vertue of thy Spirit with thine owne word Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit CONTEMP c. 23. Of the opening of Christs side COme hither come hither O my soule behold him hanging on the Crosse ascend ascend O my soule and pluck out the nailes from his hands and feet wherewith hee is fastened to the Crosse Thou needst no ladder it is devotion it is faith which elevates and lifts thee up thither O miserable spectacle O lamentable carcasse how ill-favourdly in what an ugly manner art thou butchered They could not glut their malice upon him while he lived they insult also upon him being dead and goare him with a speare whence blood and water did flow most holy Symbols of thy two Sacraments Who is he O Lord that hath overcome the world but he that beleeveth that Jesus is the Sonne of God This is that Jesus Christ that came by water and blood not by water alone but by water and blood Thou camest unto us in water in Baptisme thou camest to us in blood in the holy Supper this is that double testimony that we are reconciled to the Father by thee and that wee are washed and purged from our sinnes thou wast very much besotted and soiled yet wast thou lovely to thy Father because thou becamest obedient to death even to the death of the Crosse thou art also most lovely to mee whilst I dive into thy side and into thy wounds not with the eyes of my body with Thomas but with the eyes of faith which are the instruments of life the perspective glasse of the world to come when I see I am freed from death by the death of my Lord and my God When I locke on the immense and love without bounds love without end the love that wee want understanding to conceive and our reason waxeth darke to apprehend For I have sinned and thou hast suffered yea I who have sinned have suffered in thee our flesh was so joyned to the Deitie so as that which was to die everlastingly for sinne became dead in another for us and we neither felt grief nor death yet were we in like manner restored to life for as Christ put upon him our flesh in the wombe so he dyed our death upon the Crosse For whatsoever the God made man did suffer he suffered for man from whom hee can now no more be severed than from his other Nature with which he united this to the end he might save it O great clemencie O unspeakable clemencie O bounty that cannot be expressed with words of mans eloquence God who is for ever blessed is first made man and at length is made a curse
that I may learne to search after and to find thee rather than any thing to be wise unto thee and to love thee and to understand other things as they truly are according to the order of thy wisdome Grant I may wisely shun him that flatters me and patiently suffer him that opposeth me because this is great wisdome not to be moved with every wind of words nor to listen unto mischievous flattering pleasure so shall we with securitie proceed in the way we have begun to walke in CONTEMP c. 33. Of the true Dignitie of a Christian. LEt others call a man a creature to be adored and borne for Societie full of reason and councell let them call him the great Miracle most like unto God the Miracle of miracles let them cal him the Horizon of corporeal and incorporeall things the measure of all things the little World the Epitome of the world and the delight of Nature let them write that man only exceeds all wonder and that nothing is great upon the earth but man yet so great dignitie so great excellencie and so great advancement of man can never be so great as it wil be if with this a man may be called a Christian which denomination tooke its originall from Christ the very Son of God and is imparted unto them that are sprinkled with the saving water of the Sacrament of Baptisme that give their names unto Christ fighting under his purple Banner they defend the honour of their Captaine and Author of their Profession by their undaunted Profession of the evangelicall and heavenly doctrine and they doe confirme defend and propagate that doctrine by their indefatigable study practice of good works O miserable they who are called Pagans either in regard that they reverence their Idols in the publick streets and wayes being aliens from the City of God or because that after the enlargement of Christs Kingdome and the spreading of the Christian Religion they did not possesse any longer the chiefe Cities but were reduced and shut into the strait Villages O miserable they who are called Jewes for although the ancient people of the Jewes had the preheminence above other people in priviledges and prerogatives and was not excluded from the heavenly Kingdome and the Citie of God yet at this day their uncleane multitudes dispersed every where thorow the world are farre exceeded in sundry and manifold eminencies by the Christian people for though the body be already exhibited they dispute upon shadowes and obstinately defend their Mosaicall Ceremonies and despise Christ that is the onely doore to eternall life bewitched with the leven of the Pharisies they reject the truth detract from it and slander it and thence by Gods just judgement Jerusalem being destroyed and lost they have no Temple have no forme of a Common-wealth but are most vilely despised in all parts of the earth O happie Christians and freed from all miserie Christ is God blessed for evermore therefore are Christians truly divine Christ being true God in his Essence is a Spirit therefore are Christians spirituall Christ by nature is the onely Son of God therefore are Christians by grace the heires of heaven Christ is the vertue and power of God therefore are Christians powerfull Christ is Wisdome therefore are Christians wise Christ is Righteousnesse therefore are Christians just Christ is made Sanctification unto us therefore are Christians holy Christ is the Way therefore Christians doe not erre Christ is Life therefore Christians though dead yet doe live Christ is the Truth therefore are Christians led into all truth Christ is the Light that enlightens the world therefore doe Christians shine forth in the midst of darknesse Christ is a Shepherd therefore are Christians fed in wholsome pastures Christ is the healing Physitian therefore doe Christians receive cure in all their infirmities Christ is the Conquerour of Satan and the Lord of the world therefore doe Christians beare rule overcome and triumph in Christ Christ doth reigne in glory nay is glory it selfe and all in all therefore Christians though they be abominable to the world and are had in reproach yet are most glorious in Christ and though they have nothing yet possesse they all things Christ was anointed when his Humanity was taken into the Person of the Word the Divinity did anoint and the Humanity was anointed and this anointing is a diffusing of the whole oyntment upon every one that is anointed therewith he was anointed with the oyle of gladnesse above his fellowes he is anointed with gifts finite and infinite conferred by taking upon him the humane Nature from the holy Virgin which agree wel with the name of an oyntment for the most fragrant scent they breath forth and the comforting force they retaine in them they are compared to the Oyle of gladnesse because they expell sadnesse out of Christian hearts and doe enflame them with true joy and comfort Think now as often as Christs Name comes into thy mind that God did from all eternity ordain consecrate and define him to consummate the worke of the Redemption and did most plentifully bestow upon him those unspeakable gifts which he fore-saw he should stand in need of That he should be a Prophet our Master our Priest to offer up himselfe an expiatory Sacrifice that hee should be Lord of lords King of kings that might have the possession of an incomparable and everlasting Kingdom the first moment of his conception but the full and most glorious enjoyment of it in his ascention even as David was anointed by Samuel king whilst Saul lived but did not exercise any regall jurisdiction but when he was dead he obtained the Dominion did govern the Kingdom And we also are anointed Christians when we are separate from the ungodlinesse of worldly men and are made holy by the mystery of the Spirit We were anointed when as Christ did receive the gifts of the Spirit without measure we received them with measure We are anointed when we are exalted to propheticall priestly and kingly dignity and this is that which the Prophet speaks Ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel and that I am Iehovah your God and that none else is nor shall my people be ashamed for ever And it shall come to passe afterward that I will powre out my Spirit upon all flesh and your sonnes and your daughters shall prophesie your old men shall dreame dreames and your young mensh ll see visions which hee declareth by his most deare disciple Jesus Christ is that faithfull witnesse that first borne from the dead and that Prince of the kings of the earth who hath loved us and hath washed us from our sinnes by his blood who hath made us kings and priests to God his Father You are a chosen stocke a royall priesthood a sanctified people a nation whom God challengeth for his owne O name not above every name yet a divine a heavenly and anhonourable name here is fulfilled that
which the Prophet said A new name shall be given thee which the mouth of the Lord shall bestow on thee We have changed our accursed name because God hath given us a new name Take heed to your selves take heed who ever you be that you despise none of the faithfull that you disesteeme or reproach them not though he seeme most miserable most abject and most afflicted for let his misery or affliction be as great as may be yet is he the Almighty Gods Anointed the Prophet of the most holy the Priest of the most High yea he is himselfe a king of most great Majesty Yee are Prophets O Christians therefore let the Word of God dwell plentifully in you with all wisdome teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymnes and spirituall songs singing unto the Lord with grace in your hearts Ye are Priests ye Christians therefore I beseech you my brethren by the mercies of God that you give up your bodies a living and a holy sacrifice and acceptable to God by your reasonable service of him and be not fashioned like this world but be yee changed through the renewing of your mindes that ye may discerne what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God Ye are Kings O Christians be not therefore servants of sin or be subject to the boyling affections of the flesh but mortifie your sinnes tame your lusts nor prostitute your dignity to a most base and impure servitude Extoll your Christ because all your eminencie all your worth all your grace and all your glory proceedeth from him As the rivers do flow from the sea and flow back againe into the same so let your eminency dignity grace and glory be directed disposed of and referred to the authour and giver thereof Call upon Christ O ye Christians because though you be anointed yet may that ointment be overwhelmed defiled and wiped off by the filth of your sinnes and the durt of your corruptions ye carry heavenly gifts in brittle vessels pray that they be not broken and your graces spilt pray that no wind may extinguish your flame that your oyle faile you not and yee be left in darknesse with the foolish virgins Love your Christ yee Christians because he is anointed that you might be anointed because he is a King that hath all the inhabitants of the earth for his subjects because he is a Priest that hath expiated all the sinnes of the whole world because he is a Prophet that doth instruct all the ignorant doth enforme them and teacheth them the right way to life Love Christ you Christians because the most apparant manifestation of a thankfull mind consisteth not in words but works not in promises but in obedience But to the end you may more fully consider your dignity the birth of a Christian is to be weighed God is his Father in heaven the Church is his mother upon the earth The Word of God to be heard and seene is the seed that is the Word preached this is the administration of the Sacraments Yee are borne againe not of corruptible seed but incorruptible by the Word of God that lives and abideth for evermore The Father of lights hath begotten you by the Word of his truth The Churches are the wombe where the seed of the heavenly Word is scattered and in which the eternall Father and our mother the Church doe meet together The heart of man is the matter of this generation the privation is the mortification of the old Adam the forme is the vivification it selfe whence doth arise the assent of the understanding and confidence of the will that the sonne of wrath may become the sonne of grace the blinde may see the deafe may heare the dumbe may speake the lame walke the leaper be cleansed and life may be restored to the dead The time of this formation is when a Christian doth more and more profit in knowledge of the understanding and holinesse in the heart the carrying in the wombe is when in our whole life by meanes of the vessels of the wombe and navell that is by the ministers of the Word he attracteth to himselfe the milke of saving knowledge from the two breasts of the Church the Law and the Gospell and as an Embrion lives in the wombe so he lives in the Word Hee is a brute creature and more silly than a beast that doth not admire that a childe in the wombe should be preserved alive in so darke a prison in so uncleane streights among so many filths corruptions excrements wrapped in filmes and crowded by the bowels but it is farre more to be wondred at that any Christian should be supported amidst so many griefes paines torments snares and calamities For about the wombe wherein we are carried the World cries I will slay him the Flesh cries I will infect him the Devill cries I will deceive him Wee must there lie hid where there is much malice where is little wisdome where all things are viscous and slimie all things hid in darknesse and beset with snares where the soules are in danger the bodies are afflicted where all things are vanity and vexation of Spirit and yet for all this we live and are preserved we live and are not killed we are nourished and not in want we are carried in the wombe and are not abortive we are sustained and are in want of nothing The Embrion in the mothers wombe lives a hidden life he lives indeed in the world but is not seene with the eyes of any he sends forth his breath but scarce draws any in we also Embrions of regeneration lead a hidden life For though we live in the kingdome of heaven yet our glory and desireable life doth not as yet make any great shew we yet behold not the light of eternall blessednesse we yet draw not the aire of the region of Paradise we yet eat not the Angelicall Manna we yet drinke not of the heavenly liquour but have as it were but a light taste of al these things and we have scarce any sensible breathing of these things But the houre is at hand and the time will come that it shall be made manifest what we shall be wherein we shall beginne and never end this glorious light this life not of hope but of the things hoped for even the life of vision We shal begin this life when we die for then begin we to be borne to the true light when we first put off our mortality For the true birth day of Christians is their day of death In death they do begin to live through death they enter into life as the infant lies sighing at the port of the wombe expecting his passage and though he be even at deaths threshold yet is he conveyed into the haven of life O living death of Christians O Christian sonne of God brother of Christ companion of the Angels Lord of the world partaker of the divine nature O Christian exalted above sin and the law
and placed above death and Satan O Jesu my Lord O Christ my Captaine thy name be glorified because thou hast given me a blessed name denominated from thine owne name Let thy praise be daily borne in my mouth because thou art daily born in my heart that I may be born againe in thee and may live to thee and with thee For no man is rightly called a Christian that is not conformed as much as may be to Christ in his manners and he beares this name in vaine that doth not at all imitate Christ For what doth it profit thee to be called what thou art not and to usurpe another mans name If any take pleasure to be a Christian let him carry about him what belongeth to a Christian and then he may worthily take upon him the name of a Christian but he doth those things which belong to true Christianity who shewes mercy to all that is not moved by any wrong done to him that is as sensible of anothers griefe as of his owne that makes not the poore strangers at his table that is not magnified amongst men that hee may be gloried before God and his Angels who contemnes earthly things that he may obtaine heavenly things that doth not suffer the poore to be here oppressed who helpeth those that are in distresse who is moved to weepe by other mens tears as S. Paul did for who is weake saith he and I am not weake Grant unto me O Christ most mercifully that am the least and most unworthy of all Christians that I may doe these things with all my power and may persevere in the desire thereof and that I may not halt slip or utterly fall off for not the beginning but the ending well is required in a Christian let that therefore be most blessed unto me O my Saviour Amen CONTEMP c. 34. Of necessary rules to lead a godly life concerning the thoughts of man MAns life is a middle life between the life of Angels and the life of sinners if a man live after the flesh he is compared to the beasts if he live after the Spirit he is made a companion for the Angels Now that thou maist walke in the straitest path thou must consider of thy thoughts examine thy words and weigh thy actions As touching thy thoughts give no time or place to sinnes but as soone as they appeare in the blade before they can take root plucke them up Breake in time the Basilisks egges that none of them prove a serpent dash the Babilonish brats against the stones while they be young Fall not often into the same sin but abridge the custome of sinning and sin not without doubt as if thou neither fearest God nor man Propose not to thy selfe those things in thy thoughts which are either unprofitable or impossible Be not wise too high Thinke the world and worldy things to be but vaine that thou doe not over-value them Be alwayes mindfull of death that thou feare it not too much when it comes unto thee call to minde the last judgement that thou maist appeare there with an undaunted courage remember hell to avoid it and blessednes that thou maist enter into it Learn forthwith therforemore more to know thine owne misery which ariseth from unbeleefe and the transgression of Gods holy Commandements Renounce therefore unbeleefe and strive to keepe all his precepts Knock at the gate of the mercies of heaven by the merit of Christ and so humble thy selfe as if thou wert to obtaine those mercies without his merits What is the most abject creature in the world let it not trouble thee to answer thy selfe It is I by reason of my sinnes And againe if it be demanded of thee what is the most pretious treasure upon the earth let it not trouble thee to answer with thy selfe the blood and merits of my Lord Jesus Christ by which I am cleansed from my sinnes and have salvation purchased for me Above all abhorre to sinne willingly and with a deliberate resolution for to have true faith and to sinne voluntarily can no more agree together than fire and water or the lambe and the wolfe Be a true faithfull and sincere servant of Jesus Christ not onely in the publick assemblies where Gods word is preached and the Sacraments administred but in the rest of thy life by flying evill and doing of good But if by reason of the infirmity of thy flesh thou hast committed any sinne loath it betimes and destroy it by speedy and serious repentance Pray onely unto God whilst thy conscience rests in prayer to him sinne withers and nothing is sweet to thee besides vertue and goodnesse Catch not too much at popular applause which is very inconstant and though thou think thy merits have deserved to be taken notice of by those that passe by thee and that thou oughtest to be respected of the good yet use it moderately and discreetly that it doe thee not more hurt than hatred and contempt He is truly wise that neither too greedily hunts after the peoples favour nor too much despises it Seeke especially for a quiet minde and be content with thy present condition It is no harmfull thing that some evil is mixed with the good things of this life that God bestowes upon us God deales gently with thee as with his Son therefore despaire not God doth also chasten thee be not thou impatient lay hold on the golden meane search for things necessary but not for superfluities and alwayes have an eye to Gods will that thine owne will doe not oppresse thee he is happie that can lie hid in this life and is known to none but God and himselfe A certaine man was wont to say As often as I have been amongst men I still returned the lesse man from them It is an easier thing to lye hid at home than to keepe himselfe well abroad he therefore that intends to obtain inward and spirituall gifts he must with Jesus decline the throng no man can safely be seene but he that is willingly concealed the better sort of men in the estimation of others have often been in great hazard by reason of their too much confidence Thence is it that it is more profitable to many not altogether to be void of temptations but to be often assaulted that they be not too secure that they be not puffed up with pride nor that they too licentiously leane to exteriour delights O what a good conscience would hee alwayes possesse that would never seeke after transitory mirth nor busie himselfe with the world O how would hee prune off all vaine care and only meditate of saving and divine things and place all his hope in God and what peace and quiet would he enjoy Let the want of nothing but of Gods grace much trouble thee desire Gods grace and thou shalt obtaine it and let not the scarcity of outward things too much afflict thee If Satan reproach thee with thy wants consider with thy selfe