he doth it to prove and try them Deu. 8.2 2 Chr. 32.31 He repents him for afflicting them Deu. 32.36 Ps 135.14 He feeds fans and purifies them by afflictions Mich. 6.14 Esa 1 25 27 9. Heb. 12.10 he then remembers them and the Covenant he made with them most of all Psa 136.23 Ne 9.17 he is not ashamed then to own them for his people He. 11.16 he shewes them mercy purposely that their enemies may shew them mercy Jer. 42.12 1 Ki. 8.5 he will throughly plead their cause against their enemies Je. 50.34 51.3 and he stretches his hand against the wrath of their enemies and restrains it Ps 138.7 86.11 rescues them out of their hands when they think they hold them fastest Je. 50.33 34. And he saith he will cut off their enemies before their faces and they shall no more oppress them but they shall fee their fall Ps 58.8 9 10 11. Es 17.19 Je. 46.18 Pr. 29.16 and they themselves shall be in due time perfectly delivered Ps 37.4 Pr. 12 13 Je. 24.7 1 Coe 10.13 And God will yet set his Son upon his holy hill and Kingdom in despite of his enemies Ps 2.6 Es 9.6 and if any wil detain Gods Ark the Church they will have cause to say as the Philistines did woe to us 1 Sam. 4.7 Let all therefore that fear God love Christ and wish well to Zion say with Jeremiah so be it O Lord Jer. 11.5 Some Scriptural Observations Spiritual Experiences pithy Sentences and plain Comparisons tending to Edification IN the first Creation The Old and New Creation compared God created the matter and substance of the Creation first and afterwards divided and formed the same So in the second or New Creation or in the work of Regeneration Gen. 1.2 so called 2 Cor. 5.17 Gal. 6.15 Ephes 2.10 first God createth Principles or infuseth the habits of Grace so called into men when there is none Phil. 2.12 Act. 9.4 5. and then distinguisheth and divideth the same 2. In the distinction between the parts and Works of the first Creation Ver. 4. some are higher and some lower as the Firmament higher than the Earth So some part of the work of Grace is in the supernal or uppermost room of the Soul that most stately building of God the Understanding in which is placed true Light and Knowledge and in the Will the Wine-Celler of God is seated Obedience 1 John 5.20 2 Cor. 10.5 3. Between these two are placed the Affections some whereof as Joy Love Desire and Hope are like the VVaters above the Firmament V. 7. and the other as Sorrow Grief and Hatred like the Waters below the Firmament 4. In the first Creation God's Spirit moved upon the Waters V. 2. So in the second Creation the Spirit convinceth quicknetâ— sanctifieth c. Jo. 16.8 6.63 1 Pet. 1. â— 5. In the first Creation V. 3 6 9.20 26. God by his Command and Word made all things so by his Word God works Regeneration and Grace in the Soul John 4.41 and 6.63 1 Pet. 1.23 Jam. 1.18 Psal 19.7 6. In the order of the first Creation or rather Formation V. 3. Division or Distinction God created and formed Light so in the order of Regeneration God first creates Light and Knowledge 2 Cor. 4.6 Acts 26.15 18. 2 Cor. 3.16 Heb. 8.10 7. In the first Creation the Lights as the Sun Moon and Stars were appointed to divide V. 14 16. and distinguish the day from the night So in the second Creation or Regeneration Jesus Christ his Spirit and Graces do distinguish Believers from Unbelievers and between themselves in the state of believing and regeneracy and the state of unbelief and unregeneracy in which they were in before Rom. 8.10 11. Eph. 2.12 13. and 5.8 1 Thess 5.5 1 Pet. 2.10 1 Joh. 3.4 8. In order the Evening Ver. 5 13 19 c. or time of darkness and disconsolation is before the morning or day of comsort and consolation set down in the first Creation So is the darkness sorrow fear trouble bondage doubts and disconsolations of a Christian first in his Conversion or his whole time in this Life is the evening of that Eternal Day they are to live with Christ in Heaven See Prov. 4.18 Psal 88.6 Isa 50.10 1 Cor. 13.9 1 John 3.2 9. In the first Creation the Trees V. 12. and so doubtless the Herbs had their Seed in them which brought forth fruit So the Trees and Herbs of Grace true Believers and Regenerate Persons have the seed of the Spirit the Word of God and his Grace in them which is the cause of their bearing spiritual fruit 1 Joh. 3.9 Mat. 13.23 2 Pet. 1.4 10. VVhen God in the first Creation had made the Creatures V. 21 25 c. he saw them all good So when God hath wrought the second Creation or work of Sanctification in the hearts of men he sees them good and not before Psal 37.23 Rom. 5.7 11. In the first Creation God made Man after his own Image that is in soveraignty over the Creatures or like the Father Son and Spirit that is consisting of spirit soul and body 1 Thess 5.23 So in the second Creation or Regeneration God doth create Men after his own Image in Knowledge Righteousness true Holiness and Love Col. 3.10 Eph. 4.24 1 Joh. 4.17 18. 12. In the first Creation God made some Creatures one day V. 5 13 19 c. and some another till He had finished the whole So God he makes some new creatures one day and some another and some in one Age and some in another till He hath converted his whole Elect and Redeemed number 13. In the first Creation V. 27. God created the Woman in the Man and then out of the Man and for the Man So in the Restitution of Man and Ch. 2.18 21 c. the Church of God is chosen in Christ and made holy by his Holiness and for his Glory Ephes 1.4 and 3.9 Ezek. 16.14 Hos 3.3 1 Pet. 2.9 14. VVhen God made the Creatures at first he commanded them to multiply and accordingly they did So when God works Grace in the hearts of his People he commands that they grow in grace and they do so 2 Pet. 3.18 Psal 84.7 and 92.12 13 14. Lastly VVhen the Lord had ended the work of Creation he rested Ch. 22.3 and the Sabbath begun So when the Lord hath finished the work of converting all his People then the Eternal Rest and Raign of the Saints will begin Matth. 13.48 49. Mark 13.20 27. Saints should fear every Sin but no Sufferings Psal 4.4 Revel 2.10 There is a guilt that Saints may communicate to others and contract from others both to be removed by new acts of Faith and Repentance It is a great ease to and unburthening of the Soul to confess Sin sensibly humbly brokenly and with hatred to it It is the property of a true Christian
Enemy to Rejoyce o're thee and he set up the horn of this thy foe 18 Their heart cried unto the Lord O wall of the Daughter Of Zion day and night let tears run down like a river Give thy self O Jerusalem no rest nor quietness Let not the apple of thine eyes cease whilst thy foes oppresse 19 Arise and cry out in the night in the first watch with grace Pour out thy heart like water now before Jehovah's face O lift up thy hands towards him for the life of thy sweet Young children that for hunger faint in top of every street 20 Behold O Lord and consider to whom thou this hast done Shall the woman eat their own fruit and babes of a span-long Shail the Priest and Prophet be slain in the Lords Sanctuary 21 The young and old lie on the ground in the streets openly My Virgins and my young Men are fallen by th' sword sadly Thou slew'st them in thy angry day thou kill'st without pitty 22 Thou cal'st as in a solemn day my terrours round about So that in the day of the Lord's anger none scaped out Nor remained those that I have swadled and brought up so Mine Enemy hath consumed my sin hath caused this woe CHAP. III. the man that affliction saw by the rod of his wrath Into darkness but not to light he led and brought me hath Surely against me he is turnd he turns his hand all day My flesh and skin hath he made old he brake my bones alway He built against me and compass'd with gall and travel me He set me in dark places as they that of old dead be He hedgd me round I cannot scape he made my chain heavy He also shuts out my prayer when I do shout and cry With hew'n stones he inclos'd my ways my paths he made un-straight Like Bear or Lion secretly for me he lies in wait And he hath turn'd aside my ways and in pieces pull'd me Yea he hath made me desolate great is my misery He bent his Bow and set me as a mark for the Arrow The Arrows of his Quiver he made through my reigns to go I was a Scoffe and derision to all my own People Also their song all the day long this to my sore trouble He fil'd me with bitterness he made me drunk with wormwood He brake my teeth with gravel-stones with ashes he me clad And thou hast also removed my soul far off from peace And I forgat prosperity by this my bitterness And I said my strength and my hope from the Lord is quite gone Minding the wormwood and the gall in this my affliction My soul doth still remember them and is humbled in me This I recall to mind therefore have I hope Lord in thee It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consum'd quite Because his compassions fail not we live still in his sight They are renew'd ev'ry morning great is thy †Faithfulness The heb word signifies also Truth truth in them The Lord 's my portion saith my soul therefore ' I le hope in him The Lord is good unto them that wait for him patiently And good unto the soul that doth seek him effectually It is good that a man should both hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the Lord which unto his is * Psal 85.9 nigh It is good for a man that he the yoak in his youth bear He sits alone and silence keeps for on him he bar't there He putteth his mouth in the dust if perhaps hope may be He gives his cheeks to him that smites frl'd with reproach is he Nevertheless the Lord will not cast off for ever such But though he cause grief yet will he express compassion much According to the multitude of his mercies often For he afflicts not willingly nor grieves the sons of men To crush under his feet all the poor prisoners of the world To turn aside mans right before the face of the high Lord. To subvert a man in his cause the Lord doth not approve Who saith and it comes to pass when God wills it not above Out of the mouth of the most High proceeds not good and evil Why doth the living man complain man's plagu'd for being sinful Let 's search and try our ways and turn back to the Lord quickly Let 's lift our hearts with hands to God that 's in the heavens high We have transgressed and rebel'd thou hast not pardoned Thou hast cover'd us with anger and us persecuted Yea Jehovah thou hast us slain and hast not pittied Thou coveredst thy self with a cloud and our condition now Is such that our prayers could not unto thee Lord pass throw Thou mad'st us as the off-scouring and refuse among men All our enemies against us their mouths daily open Fear and a snare is come on us distresse and destruction Therefore with rivers of water mine eye still runneth down For the daughter of my People most sore destruction Mine eye drops down and ceaseth not without intermission Till the Lord look down and behold my case from heaven high For th'daughters all of my city my heart 's mov'd by mine eye Mine enemies chased me sore like a bird causlesly In th' dungeon they cut of my life and cast a stone on me Waters flowed over mine head then I said I am gone I call'd upon thy Name O Lord out of the low dungeon Thou heardst my voice hide not thine ear at my breathing my cry Thou drewest near bid'st me not fear that day I call'd on thee My soul's causes O Lord thou plead'st thou didst my life redeem Judge thou my cause O Lord again for thou my wrong hast seen Yea all their vengeance at all times thou perfectly didst see And their imaginations all wrongfully against me Thou hast heard their reproach O Lord all their †So in the Hebrew thoughts ' gainst me still The lips of those my foes that rose against me to my ill Also their ungodly device against me all the day At their down-sitting and rising I am their †So in the Hebrew See in Job 30.9 the same word song alway Render to them a recompence O Lord according to Their handy works give them thy curse yea them hearty sorrow Persecute and destroy them in anger from under * The thy Glorious heavens who onely art the Lord God Almighty CHAP. IV. HOw is the gold now become dim How 's the most fine gold chang'd In †So heb th' head of ev'rystreet the stones Of th' * Heb. sanctity Sanctuary out are pour'd 2 The precious sons of Zion like to fine gold how are they Esteem'd as works of Pottets hands the prtchers made with clay 3 Yea the †Heb. See Mal 1.3 Dragons draw out the breast they give suck to their young My Peoples daughters like fierce * Marg. owles of desarts is become 4 The sucking child's tongue cleaves to the roof of his mouth for drought The
stirred up an Adversary unto Solomon Hadad the Edomite c. And the Lord stirred up another Adversary Rezen c. w 1 Kin. 11.14 23. The like is said of Gods stirring up the King of Assyria to carry some of the Children of Israel Captives into Babylon x 1 Ch. 5.26 So God said he would strenghen the King of Babylon and put his Sword into his hand y Ez. 30.24 These with many more instances prove that Gods will and hand are in all the matters that are done upon Earth Object But these are Old-testament proofs and God dealt at that time in another way than he doth now in the Gospel daits Answ You will find as clear proofs in the New-Testament Christ himself allowes and in effect affirmeth That the power that Pilare had to condemn and Judge him was given him from above z Jo. 19.11 And the Apostles jointly acknowledge That Herod Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and the people of Israel were gathered together to do what soever Gods hand and his Counsel determined before to be done a Act. 4.28 So it is said That the Key of the bottomlesse-pit was given to the Angel that fell from Heaven b Rev. 9.1 2. Rev. 9.1 2 And this must be Christ who is said to have the Keys of Hell and of death c Ch. 1.18 But what to do Even to open make way for the smoke of Errors and Wickedness to ascend as there it follows Likewise the Gentiles have Commission to trample upon the Church for so much the words will bear And the Holy City shall be trodden under foot for forty and two Moneths d Ch. 11.2 Nay it is said further That God hath put it into the hearts of the ten Kings to fulfil his will to agree and to give their kingdom unto the Beast until the Word of God shall befulfilled e Ch. 17.17 But some may object and say by his will is meant hating the Whore making war with her and making her desolate Though that be part of his will yet the other may aswel be his will and so taken here and agreeable to other Scriptures As God said unto Satan before the destruction of Ahab Thou shalt be a lying spirit and goe forth and do so thou shalt prevaile with him f 1 Ki. 22.22 So it ' s said That the dwellers of Jerusalem and their Rulers fulfilled the Scriptures that is Gods will in condemning Christ. g Act. 13.27 Consider then you that fear God if you are under any affliction or suffering whatsoever that it is God that is the efficient and first cause of it As the Church in the Lamentations said Though he meaning God causeth grief c. h La. 3.32 And it is he that formeth Light and createth darkenesse i Esa 45.7 and there is no evil in the City i. e. of affliction but he doth it k Am. 3.6 If your enemies hate you look upon it as Gods turning their hearts to hate you l as the Egyptians did the Israleites l Ps 105.25 If they curse you look upon it as David did on Shimei's cursing For the Lord saith David hath bidden him m Sam. 16.10 11. If robbed spoiled and reproached by them remember That it is the Lord that gave Jacob for a spoil and Israel to the Robbers n Es 42.24 and Jacob to the curse and Israel to reproach o 43.28 And if you be delivered up into the hands of your Enemies yet say as Job did God hath delivered me up to the ungodly and turned me over into the hands of the wicked p Jo. 16.11 And if they slay you yet know they are but Gods Instruments and hand therein q Ps 17.13 14. And therefore conclude and say to them as Joseph did to his Brethren As for you ye thought evil against me but God meant it unto good r Gen. 50.20 Object But doth not this as you say plead for the enemies of God and tend to strengthen their hand and give them incourgement to persecute the people of God so much the more Answ No more than the Prophet Elisha's saying unto Israel I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Ifrael ſ 2 Ki. 8.12 c. Give him ground to kill and slay as he did afterward or the words of Christ said of Judas One of you shall betray me tend to move him to betray Christ And though God may give up wicked men to their own hearts lusts t Ps 81.12 and suffer them to walk in their own waies and commit such wickednesse v Act. 14.16 and leave them to discover what is in them and give the Devil leave to delude and harden them as he did Ahabs Prophets and permit them as he did Pharoah to pursue the Israelites who threatned and resolved six things I will pursue I will overtake I will divide the spoyl my lust shall be satisfied upon them I will draw my sword my hand shall destroy them w Exo. 15.9 yet he could performe but one of them and God will turn the rage of man to his own praise and the remainder of wrath he will restrain x Ps 86.11 Consid 2 Secondly as we should consider that whatsoever is done is done by the will appointment of the Lord and therefore we should with the Prophets learn to be silent because he doth it †Psal 39.9 So we should also consider wherefore the Lord doth all this doubtlesse it is not without cause as God told Israel of old And they shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done to it y Eze. 14.23 If like self-justifying Judah you ask Wherefore the Lord our God hath done all these things unto us z Jer. 5.19 I may and oh that I could with tears mention it and that my blood were fit to write it answer with the same Prophet For the greatnesse of our iniquities a Cha. 13.22 But alas whose tongue can utter or whose pen can expresse the nature or number the greatnesse grievousnesse of the sins of the Professors nay of the choisest Christians of this age to whom it may be truly said as formerly to Jerusalem That they have multiplied their transgressions more then they b Ez. 16.51 i. e. then the Samaritans with whom the Jewes had no dealings c Joh. 4.9 And may not the Lord say to his people now as formerly Thou hast also taught the wicked ones thy wayes d Jer. 2.33 Nay may not the Saints of God generally cry out Woe to us we have sinned e Lam. 5.16 and transgressed like men Yea wo to us we have sinned such sins as unrighteous men could not sin against light and love assurance and experience after sealing and consolations Hath any generation since the Apostles daies had such powerful Preachers and plenty of Preachings as this
how unfree even many choice Saints may be to dye when they are brought to it and yet some like Paul may desire it Phil. 1.21 and it 's like to be most easy and lest terrible to them that fear it most and consider of it and wait for it most seriously and constantly Consid 13 Lastly As an Encouragement to goe through all Tribulations Persecutions and Death it self Consider Christ h He. 3.1 and the cloud of witnesses i 12.7 and Martyrs that are gone before who are passed over and through all those floods and are safely arrived to shore and got off this troublesome turbulent Sea of the World to the Calm and quiet Haven of Salvation For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds k Ch. 12.3 or as it is in the verse before look on him consider him in his suffering state and behold him in his glorified state By his sufferings he taught us the way by his now living in Heaven he shews us the wages Jacob went gladly down into Egypt because Joseph was there It should be no more to a believer to follow Christ through suffering and Death than for a woman that lives from her husband in a Cottage and strange Country to pass over a River or a narrow Sea in a safe vessel too to go to her husband to live in a Kingly-pallace and in her own Country with him for ever Having finished the Considerations In the next place be pleased for to hearken to a few Counsels which are judged necessary and seasonable Counsel 1 Be perswaded that whatsoever affliction any of you Christians are under already or shall be brought under it is in love from God to your Souls For whom the Lord loveth he chastiseth a Heb. 12.6 and as many as I love saith Christ I rebuke b Rev. 3.19 Amo. 3.2 As God said to Israel of old therefore you only have I known of all the families of the earth wheras on the other side the not punishing of the wicked is a sign of Gods hatred to them c Hos 4.14 And therefore have no hard thoughts of God how long and sore soever he whippeth and Chastiseth d Esa 63.8 For when he sees blood on the Rod his pitty will fly up into his face towards you and fury towards the Rod e Exek 38.18 which are the wicked in his f Es 10.15 hand Couns 2 Be also certain and confident that all his Corrections will be for your good and profit As David by experience could say It is good for me that I have been afflicted g Psa 119.71 And the Apostle saith He i. e. God corrects us for our profit h He. 12.10 As a disobedient Child after his father hath corrected him is received into his Fathers favour again so saith the sixth verse of that Chapter Affliction drawes the Anger with it out of God his Father and the cause of anger which is Sin out of the Child See Esa 1.25 27.8 Jer. 30.15 17 Dan. 11.35 12.10 Zach. 13.9 Heb. 12.11 1 Pet. 4.14 5.10 and more in the experiences following Couns 3 Labour to commit your selves and all your concernments to the Lord even as Christ and the servants of God formerly did He i. e. Christ Commited himself or as it is in the margent his Cause to him that judgeth righteously i 1 Pe. 2.23 So it is said That the poor man committed himself to God †Ps 10.14 or as it is in the Hebrew he leaveth himself to him that is when he suffers unjustly he gives up himself and cause to the Lord judging that there is safety in no other and by doing this patiently God takes it so acceptably that he should trust him with all and that before and above all others too that he counts it as the Apostle saith a wonderful expression thank worthy or worthy of thanks k 1 Pet. 2.19.20 from him As a Nobleman or Land-Lord when one of his poor Neighbours or Tenants refers his life and all he hath to him to determine thereof will say I thank thee Neighbour or Tennant for thy good opinion of me There must be a good perswasion in that Soul as Paul had l 2 Ti. 1.12 of Gods power and faithfulnesse that will commit the keeping of such a Jewel as the Soul is to him and yet why not for he is said to keep it m Pr. 24.12 And Peter who had experience of self-keeping or rather loosing his own Soul had learned that Lesson and therefore taught it unto others Wherefore saith he let them that suffer according to the will of God mark that not if they suffer otherwise for then he will not keep them commit the keeping of their Souls to him in well-doing as unto a faithful Creator n 1 Pe. 4.19 Do but secure your Souls in that safe hand and then you need not fear suffering Further Couns 4 Be advised not to fear any creatures whatsoever This exhortation is very often given in Scripture Fear not Moses gives this exhortation both to Israel o Deut. 13.6 and Joshua distinctly fear not nor be afraid of them fear not neither be dismaid p pag. v. 7. and three times doth God in one Chapter exhort his People Israel not to fear q Esa 41.10.13 14. though their enemies were strong and did strive against them and they but like a Worme yet they were not to fear them Our Saviour Christ likewise gives the same exhortation three times in the tenth Ch. of Mathew r Mat. 10.26 28 31. And it 's worth consideration what little cause men have to fear poor Mortals who are but grass worms and thimbles full of dust as likewise that it is Idolatry in a high degree to fear Creatures and the fear of man bringeth a snare that is draweth men into a snare But whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe ſ Pr. 29.25 Also the fearful are the first sort that are threatned to have their part in the Lake which burneth with fire and brimstone t Rev. 2 8. And God commanded Jeremiah not to fear his enemies and yet of all the Prophets he seemed to have most cause upon pain of being consumed or broke in peices before them u Jer. 1.17 Rev. 2.10 Fear God self and sin you need fear no more And as Christ saith Fear none of those things that you shal suffer Object But are not men commanded by Solomon to fear the Lord and the King Pro. 24.21 Answ Paul resolves that case clearly Rom. 13.3 4. Ro. 13.3 4. where he saith Rulers are not a terror to good works or workers Eph. 5.11 but to the evil Wilt thou then not be afraid of the Power or nearer the Greek But wilt thou not fear the power do that which is good and thou shalt have praise
Sin is Soul-Restorative-Phyfick Consider that when you are not assaulted with Temptations Satan is damming and pounding and he will suddenly draw up his sluce and let loose upon you Satan doth not like God warn before he strike Christs Work is Wages and his Service perfect Freedom The Love of the Master the Sweetness of the Service and the Greatnesse of the Reward are sufficient Encouragements to serve Christ Afflictions sink the flesh and raise the Spirit To receive Evil viz. Affliction for doing Good is sweet A Christians security and safety is in doing his duty and he should study his duty more then his safety He that loves not Christ more than his lust or his life is like to lose Christ and his life but he that loves Christ more then his life will be sure to save and keep both Strive greatly to have and to exercise a good Conscience towards God and men to commit thy soul life and cause to the Lord and to expect the worst of men and the best of Christ Some Saints do ill in seeking to do well espeially in provoking and pressing other Christans in dark and doubtfull things beyond their own Apprehensions Consciences the bent of their spirits and abilities This is Com. As a man that is Exceedingly well-hors'd travelling with others that are but meanly hors'd drives too hard for his Companions who yet intend to go to the same Place and endeavour to travel as fast as they can Com. Christ is unto the soul as the Load-Stone to the Iron dawing it to it Self or the Chrystal to other stones putting beauty and lustre on them Sence over-rules Imagination Reason Sence and Faith all three in a true Christian A Christian beholds Christ in the deepest affliction as well as in the most spiritual Ordinance Com. As one beholds the Sun in looking upon a deep Pond as well as in looking up to heaven A true Christian when he goes hence changes neither his Work nor Company but his Place and Condition only God leads many of his best friends by the hand without Candle light or assurance to their rests Com. To dye should be no more to a Christian then to breath Com. or to pass over a great River on a Sure Bridge Com. or in a Safe Boat or to return from a Field where a man hath been working to his own house to take his rest To be able to refist strong Temptations there must be either store of in-laid Grace or faith must fly quickly to that Grace laid up in Christ for it Com. Christ is like a tender Parent that is carefull to bring up his Children but many Professors like Undutiful and Unnatural Children forget them in their straits Contented to be maintained by Truth in Prosperity but not to maintain Truth in Adversity Com. Corruptions are like Wormes in the maw or stomach which will eat through the soul unless scattered killed and purged out Com. The only way sometimes for a Christian to avoyd the force of temptation is Soulderlike to fall down on his face when he sees the Cannon or Musket fir'd against him Com. A Christians eye should be like the Adamant turning only toward one Point even Christ Com. Much grace especially zeal and exercised brings persecution As the sweeter and better the Fruit is the more flinging there is at the Tree Make hast to doe thy work Christian and God will make haft to give thee thy wages On Christian why should not that please thee who art but finite that pleases God who is infinite even Christ Pray that thy last dayes and last works may be thy best ☜ And that when thou com'st to dye thou mayst have nothing else to do but dye Thou must dye once whether thou Suffer or no and thou canst dye but once if thou suffer The sins of Saints are new Sufferings to Christ and the Sufferings of Saints are the wounds of Christ A Saint should desire to die that he may be fully freed from sin have a full fruition of Christ that he may be above all fears and doubts and able to serve the Lord uncessantly and unweariedly Reading the Scriptures helps Metitation Meditation Prayer and Prayer every good Work When you come to die it will trouble you not only that you liv'd sinfully or in doing evil but sloathfully in not doing good nay not only that you were sloathfull in good but that you spent so much time in things lesse profitable which should have been spent about and in the things which were most advantagious Man may come too late to God when the door is shut but God never comes to late to men Christ may come in to afflicted Souls through some back-door or Affliction which they do not expect him to come through or in at Com. Let the Child be contented to take the breast the Mother will give it and then it shall have both so be contented with what Christ gives you and you shall want nothing To see the want of Grace is much the worth of Grace more 'T is hard to get Grace hard to get assurance of Grace hard to use it and not abuse it 'T is very hard to behold our own gift without pride and the gifts of others if they excel ours without envy Com. As a little Candle-stick becomes a small Candle so a litle Church a Pastor or Teacher that hath but little grace and weak gifts It is better and surer for thy self to be a Toe than an Eye a Member then a Teacher in a Congregation And this I often wish'd might have been my condition Take heed of covering any mans good with his Evil but let the one plead for him as well as the other against him Do not commend thy friend nor discommend thy foe too much lest thou be judg'd to be partial Lose not thy reward by seeking thy self in thy work Com. I have oft observed that some old welstor'd Christians are like Merchants who have full ware-houses but will sell but in Whole-sales And other young Professors like pidling-pedlers crying about the streets every trifle Com. I have observed that men of great learning and parts or of great wealth and power have for the most part disturbed and devided Churches Also that those Churches never stood long that made Opinion and not Godl-fess and Christianity the foundation of their nellowship The best way for a Teacher and his Congregation to live quietly and comfortably together is for either of them to give to the other what God requires and not to demand expect or exact one from another and so Husband and Wife and all other Natural Relations He commands most and best that commands in love humility and self-denyingly He is most a Master that is most a Servant Be not ye Christians call'd Masters yet the People give them honor according to their place grace years and labours He hath not learned to rule that hath not learned to obey An even through-pac'd self-fearing heart-melting Christian is
nearer he comes to the mark and end of the race Christians are apt to feel and fear Punishment more then sin which is the cause of it Gods people must expect in the world the Entertainment of Strangers When Gods people are humble enough and the wicked high enough and the Lords appointed time come then expect deliverance to the Godly and not before Take heed of being humbled and yet unhumble that is of being brought outwardly low and yet the heart continue still high Com. Sins in Saints are like weeds weeded out of a garden or field which lye in the Alleys or Reanes but never grow there againe Com. Or as weeds cast out in the high-way which an Enemy casts into the garden again but yet cannot make them grow there any more Soe Satan cannot make the Sins of Saints grow in them againe when they are once separated from them Com. A Hypocrite is like a white-stone in the water among other Stones and of the same nature with other stones there hard heavy cold and inflexible and differs onely in colour Com. A true Christian is like a flint-stone which though it fall into water yet it keeps and retains fire in it still so doth he retain his grace notwithstanding his corruption Labour to act those graces chiefly that are most contrary to your master-sins and chief corruptions Com. Sins doe dye and fall off from Christians as the leaves fall from trees in Autumn by degrees ☞ Christians are now as Abram was was driven out of Egypt and come where they were before or into their first state therefore they should offer to the Lord as he did Gen. 13.3 God is now spoyling us of what would otherwise have spoyl'd us He that serves the Lord without assurance serves him without so much as an earnest and doubtless that Servant must needs love his Master much that serves him and yet knows not his Masters love to him The Lord hath Saints enough odivide into three Bodies some o suffer for him some to destroy Babylon and some to be for Seed-corn torrow again in the earth Com. If a man were to have his choice of two Sisters to be his wife the one will not marry him unless he will make her a Jointure presently the o her is free to refer that wholly to him which of there two will he be likelyest to take for his wife So it is between Christ and one that will take him upon self-conditions and another that is willing to take Christ upon Christs conditions or to refer himself wholly to him Learn by lighter crosses to look and prepare for heavier Com. When the affliction grows greater and heavier Gods people will cry out more earnestly to the Lord as when some part or Member is sorely tweak'd or as the Grapes when they have most weight and pressure give forth their Juice most freely In two cases 't is hard to act faith 1 when there is no hing sencible or visible to second and support it or 2 when there is very much to till the outward senses It is a very common and ordinary thing for most or all Professors to be in one of two extreams either to overvalue or undervalue Instruments Creatures and Ordinances Churches gathered in Prosperity will hardly stand or continue together in Adversity The more Saints do beleeve and suffer the more they may expect of the Spirit Joh. 7.38 1 Pet. 4.14 Com. A Child of God may know the weight of sin by Christs sufferings for if that strong Barr of steel did bend under the weight of our sins what shall poor weak man do who is but a reed or rush Be more thoughtful and careful how to use what you have to Gods glory then to gain more As our good works and performances should have an operation upon our souls and hearts to strengthen faith so should our weakenesses and sins to work repentance The Lord freely gives and justly takes away The excercising of graces do naturally destroy sin and the more you abound in Acts of grace the more you encrease the habit Heb. 6.22 The Law causeth sickness of Soul but the Gospel healeth the same When Saints perceive their sins growing weak they should then prosecute them most A Saint is to put forth his Faith in Prayer afterwards follow his Prayer with Faith In the midst of earthly businesses the soul should redeeme some special time for secret and private duties It is the will of Christ that Saints should rejoyce more in what Christ hath done for them then in what they have done or can do for him It s a great condescention in God to afflict or lay his hand upon man and in that sense the Apostle exhorts Beleevers not to despise or think little of the chastning of the Lord Heb 12.5 Learn to observe what God gives without asking and what he gives in answer to Prayer for the one begets thankfulness the other more Prayer Com. Christ kept the Law legally Beleevers heep it Evangelically he perfectly they purposingly and endeavouringly A Beleevers assurance and chiefest joy doth not arise from his Sanctification because that is imperfect here in degrees but from his Justification Rom. 5.2.1 Pet. 1.8 A Beleever is to shut the eye of Reason if he will clearly see with the eye of Faith Com. The Promise is a Christians perspective and his Faith his eye with which he looks through it upon Christ and God the Father in him Look upon Christ first without you then search for him within you Ask thy Soul whether it be willing to receive Christ upon his own terms and for his own sake and to accept of Pardon and Life through him freely without looking at all upon thy owne Righteousness and art thou contented that Christ should be honoured in and by thee and thou despised and dishonoured for his sake God carries on the work of grace in beleevers usually 1. According to their natural constitutions and parts 2. According to the means they are under whether Legal or Evangelical 3. According to the things he hath to do by them or he intends to call them to suffer 4. According to the shortness or length of time they are to live in the world 5. According as they have been before their Conversion greater or lesse sinners In Duties Christians should 1. Look for to meet with God and enjoy communion with him 2. Expect to hear and receive from God 3. To return somewhat to God but yet know thou canstreturn but of his own to him 1 Chron. 29.14 1. God did take off and from his people their sins before he laid them on Christ And 2. God cannot in justice and to speak with Reverence take them off Christ and lay them on them again God makes us feel him or his hand that he may hear us strokes makes cryes and whippings mournfull complaints to him God troubles us that we may turn to him and leaves us a while for to see whether we will follow
* So Isa 3.4 babes ask bread and no man doth break it to them though sought 5 They that delicately did feed in the streets are des'late They that in scarlet were brought up dung-hils embrace of late 6 For the punishment of the sin and of th' iniquity Of the daughter of my People is greater in degree Then the punishment of the sin of Sodom that 's orethrown As in a moment and no hand staid on her falling down 7 Her Naz'rits were purer than snow than milk they were whiter Their bodies ruddier than rubies their †Polishing decking of Saphir 8 Their visage blacker is than cole not known in th' streets of some Their withered skin cleaves to their bones like a stick it 's become 9 The slain with the sword are better than those by hunger kill'd For these flow out struck through †So Hebr. with want of the fruits of the field 10 The pittiful womens own hands sod their own children dear They were their meat in the slaughter of my Peoples daughter 11 The Lord accomplish'd his fury his fierce wrath out he pour'd He kindled fire in Zion and her foundations devour'd 12 The kings of the earth and all the inhabitants below Would not have believed that the adversary or foe And that the crule enemy should prevail over them Have forcibly entred into the gates of Jerus'lem 13 For the sins of her Prophets and her Priests iniquities That have shed the blood of the just in midd'st her is this 14 They †Heb. the same mov'd as blind men in the streets they have polluted much Themselves with blood so that men could not once their garments touch 15 They cry'd unto them depart ye for it is polluted Depart ye depart ye touch not when away they had fled And wandred they said among the heathen every where They shall no longer inhabit nor sojourn with us here 16 The Lord's anger divided them hee 'l them no more esteem The Priests persons they did not †favour prize nor th' Elders highly deem 17 As for us our eyes as yet fail'd for our vain help we have Watch'd in watching for a Nation which yet could us not save 18 They hunt our steps that we cannot go in our streets safely Our end is near our days fulfil'd for our end 's come quickly 19 Our persecutors swifter are than th' Eagles of Heaven They pursu'd and laid wait for us on hills in desart then 20 The breath of our nostrils is gone which refresh'd our spirits The annointed of †Heb. Jehovah was taken in their pits Of whom we said and surely hop'd that under his shadow Among the heathen we shall live which hope is vanish'd now 21 Rejoyce and be exceeding glad O daughter of Edom That dwellest in the land of Vz the cup also shall come And likewise pass through unto thee and thou drunken shalt be And make thy self naked because of thine iniquity 22 The punishment accomplish'd is of thine iniquity O thou sad daughter of Zion he will no more carry Thee away to captivity thy sins he will visit O daughter of Edom he will thy sins discover yet CHAP. V. O Lord †Heb. signifies to remember or mind mind what is come on us think on and see our shame Our portion is turn'd to strangers our houses aliants claim We are orphans and fatherless our mothers as widdows We drank our water for money our wood is sold to us Our necks are under grievous and sore Persecution Whe labour and we have no rest our state Lord think upon We have through want given the hand to the Egyptians And to be satisfi'd with bread to the Assyrians Our father 's sin'd and they are not and their †Iniquities sins born have we Servants rul'd or'e us ther 's none that from their hand doth us free We gat our bread with the peril of our lives and no less Because of the devouring sword of the dry wilderness Our skin was black like an oven through sore famine likewise They ravish'd th' women in Zion and maids in Judah's Cities Princes once powerful are now by their hand up hanged The faces of our grave Elders were no whit honoured They took the beautiful young men to grind to make them food And the children through their weakness did fall under the wood The Elders have ceas'd from the gates the youths from their †â—sick playing The joy of our heart is now ceas'd our dance turn'd to mourning The Crown is fallen from our heads wo to us we did sin For this our heart is faint for these things our eyes now are dim Because the mountain of Zion which is now desolate The cunning foxes upon it do boldly walk of late Thou O Lord for ever remain'st like to thee there is none Thy throne from generation to generation Wherefore dost thou forget us Lord and that for evermore And us forsake †So Heb. in the Margin for length of days this makes our suffering sore Turn thou us unto thee O Lord and we shall be turned Renew our days as thou of old did'st and hast promised But thou O Lord hast utterly we fear rejected us Against us thou art very wroth yet justly thou deal'st thus A true CHRISTIANS PILGRIMAGE Or AFFLICTED-STATE Setting forth Pathetically and Mystically a Saints Night and Day or Sorrow and Joy Most of it being A Vision seen in Affliction and profitable for Edification and Consolation The flying Sun the fading Shaddow The dismal Night the welcom Morrow O Glorious Sun that run'st with joy thy race And daily shewst the world thy goodly face Shine forth upon my Dyal tho but clay That I may rightly know the time of Day I thought it was scarce Noon but now I see The shadows of the Evening covering me Alas where have I been what have I done Had I my back all this while on the Sun Or did I sleep or dream that all my year A Summer without Winter would appear Alas my †Those six Words signifie the Conscience Watch Alarm and my Clock My mourning Dove my Sentinel and Cock. Slept all at once until that audibly One said the King and all his Train past by Then startling out of slumber I look'd out And saw his whirling Chariots fly about Ah thought I then I must lurk in the shade Until the Worlds great light doth Retrograde Where am I now on what ground do I stand I cannot see my right from my left hand Is this a Hill or Plain is' t Land or Water Oh! whither shall I step or flee for shelter I am soon doted and quite at a loss Already turn'd into my first Chaos Is there no hope of Light Oh I see none Where are the [a] Angels Pleiades and Orion Are all God's sparkling [b] Scriptures Diamonds divine So clad with clouds that none of them do shine I see not one about this Canopy Sad soul how fast comes on thy misery But where art thou fair [c] Church Moon wilt thou appear O [d] True Christian hearb of Grace lo here but ne'r the near Where is thy light O help if ever now Ah I cannot for the * Which is the cause of the Moons Eclipse earths thick shadow Hath interposed so between me and thee I am eclips'd look for no light from me