62.4 so farre as he may make vse of them and receiue some benefit by them the spirituall man doth loue and that entirely and vnfainedly euen his greatest enemies Psal 35.13.14 Mat. 5.44 Acts. 7.60 2. Sam. 16.11 2. Cor. 11.30 Phil. 4.12 2 Cor. 12.10 Acts. 5.41 those that seeke his hurt and are most malitiously bent against him The naturall man is greatly afraid of contempt disgrace and ignominie he cannot with patience indure to be reuiled or abased by any meanes the spirituall man willingly vnder-goeth this yea he reioyceth when he is thus humbled he accounteth it a matter of great ioy that he hath this honour vouchsafed vnto him to suffer rebuke for Christ and for righteousnesse sake he esteemeth more of it then of all the treasures of the world Heb. 11.26 hath more ioy whiles he suffereth then others whiles they wrong him or if he be any waies grieued it is not for his owne sake so much as for theirs who are his enemies vniustly and speake euill of him falsely to the dishonour of God and the great hurt of their owne soules The naturall man is neuer throughly content when his estate is best Num. 11.6 Psal 78.18 but seekes causes of discontentment where there are none the spirituall man is alwaies content euen when his estate is at the worst or at least he desireth 2 Cor. 4.8 Phil. 4.11 and endeauoureth to be so The naturall man seeketh for praise and estimation amongst men to be in account and reputation aboue that which he deserueth and to be honoured and applauded of the world 1 Sam. 15.30 Ester 5.9 the spirituall man aymeth in all things at this especially that whatsouer becomes of him or howsoeuer it fareth with him God may be glorified by him that he may receiue that praise and honour which is due vnto his name 1. Thes 2.6 Phil. 1.20 2 Cor. 6.8 though himselfe suffers the greatest disgrace and be exposed to the greatest ignominie and dishonour that may be The naturall man esteemeth death his greatest enemy the very remembrance of it is exceeding bitter vnto him he thinks as it is indeed that he loseth all when that comes the spiritual man iudgeth it to be no losse no hurt but great gaine and aduantage to him Phil. 1.21 and therefore feares it not as an enemy though in it selfe an enemy and somewhat fearefull to him till he looketh wishly on it and with other eyes then those of flesh and nature but addresseth himselfe willingly to entertaine it as a welcome guest Luk. 2.29 a meanes of much good vnto him He desires to be dislodged and to be with Christ his Sauiour and saith often with Dauid Psal 42.2 when shall I come and appeare before the presence of my God when shall I behold his face in glory and be satisfied with the plenty of his house and commonly the nearer he is vnto death the greater tast and feeling hath he of the life to come The naturall man liues by sense Iude. 10. and beleeues nothing but that he can see reason for or bring vvithin the compasse of his braine the spirituall man liues by faith beleeuing things that are farre aboue the reach of sense and naturall reason Gala. 2.20 which the worldling wonders that he can beleeue and trust to So great is the difference betweene a naturall and spirituall man euen whiles they liue together in this world yea more then hath beene yet set forth vnto vs. O heauenly father weaken I humbly pray thee and diminish the power of corrupt nature daily more and more in me and vouchsafe vnto me such a plentifull increase of thy grace that I may in euery thing see a manifest difference in my estate and in the whole conuersation of my life from that which is in those that are altogether carnall and vnregenerate yea that I may finde such an inward change and alteration in me such holy motions and desires and such sanctified affections as are in none but in those that are renewed by thy grace and become truely spirituall hauing the liuely impression of thine owne image which sinne had before exceedingly defaced that thus I may not onely haue more full assurance of the certaintie of my election and saluation hauing that seale of thy spirit apparantly set vpon me which is proper to thy elect chosen but also may be euery day better inabled to passe the rest of my time vvhich I am to liue in this sinnefull world more to thy glory then I haue done heretofore euen as it becommeth him whom in thy infinit mercy thou hast translated from the state of nature into the state of grace from the power of darkenesse into the kingdome of thy deare Sonne to whom with thee O Father and thy blessed Spirit be all prayse and thankesgiuing both now and euermore Amen Exhortations and Reproofes THey that doe not as occasion serueth and according to their places and calling mutually exhort rebuke and admonish one another they haue forgotten what charge the Lord hath layd vpon them Mat. 18.15 Heb. 3.13 they neglect those necessarie duties which the lawes of friendship and charitie require of them Leuit. 19.17 Pro. 27.5.6 They are regardlesse of the good estate of their neighbors for what more wholesome what more profitable then a seasonable exhortation admonition or reprehension It is as pretious balme of a very soueraigne nature for the curing of internall and spirituall maladies of great vse and necessitie for being blinde in our imperfections how needfull is it for vs to borrow our friends eyes and to lend them ours that so wee may aduise admonish and correct each the other to the mutuall good one of another Nay that I say no more they that are sparing or altogether carelesse of this dutie they are or at least seeme to be either enuious or else quite voyd of all compassion towards their poore brethren and those amongst whom they liue and conuerse vnwilling to doe so much for them as one that hath any good nature in him would doe for the bruite beasts Exod. 23.4.5 For vvho would not as the law of God also enioyneth take vp the beast euen of his enemie vvhen it went astray and vvere ready to perish Pro 12.10 and yet they cruell friends and mercilesse men will not seeke to reforme and to saue the soule of their friends yea Iam. 5.19.20 of their brethren vvhen it wanders out of the way of life and saluation and is in perill for want of their helping hand of imminent destruction and vtter confusion Farre be this from me O Lord forgiue me my former desert and want of the due performance of this so necessary and so profitable a dutie which thou commaundest and euen Nature it selfe calleth for at my hands and make mee more carefull for the time to come of the discharge thereof in a wholesome and seasonable maner O let not that
braued it out most for a while in mirth and iollitie with-holding themselues from nothing which their eyes desired nor with-drawing their hearts from any worldly ioy and carnall or sensuall delight haue not long after when they could by no meanes driue away that euill Spirit which so much vexed disquieted and tormented them burst out into fearefull vvords of extreame despayre yea and some of them being vveary of their liues and feeling the Flames of Hell in their soules Achitophell o 2 Sam. 17 23 Mat. 27.5 or Iudas-like laid violent hands vpon themselues and in a most vnnaturall manner became as it vvere their owne executioners O LORD GOD keepe my soule I beseech thee from taking any delight in the sinnefull pleasures of the wicked p Iob 21.16 let them not be sweet vnto my mouth nor pleasant vnto my taste lest I feele the bitternesse thereof in the end yea rather let mee lothe them and delight in those things which are pleasing vnto thee my GOD that so in my greatest sorrowes I may haue much inward ioy and finde comfort when as outwardly I taste of nothing but misery and affliction The carnall and wicked man wakened out of his sleepe ALthough many vvho now lye steeping in the brine of this world and euen soaking in their sinnes liue for the present at least in outward appearance a E 1 cles 8.11 11.9 Luk. 12.19 as merry and iocund as any thinking all is well vvith them and so be at rest and quiet vvithin themselues whiles they are setled vpon their dregs yet when GOD shall once let loose the cord of their consciences and giue them a sight of their sinnes and the multitude and haynousnesse thereof and setting them all in order b Psa 50.21 before them write sharpe and bitter things against them for the same then they shall quickly finde a strange alteration within them c Rom. 7.9 10. They shall startle as men sodainely awaked out of a dreame hauing most fearefull apprehensions dreadfull obiects presented vnto their mindes which will make them to shiuer and tremble with great perplexitie and amazement Their day shall be turned into night their light into darkenesse their mirth into mourning their ioy into heauinesse their greatest solace into extreame woe and misery All their sweetest pleasures wherein they were wont to bathe and refresh themselues shall become painefull and bitter vnto them their chiefest delights yrkesome and most vnpleasant so that their soule shall refuse all comfort yea they shall be troubled dismayed amazed terrified and affrighted exceedingly vvith the view of the huge masse of their vile and abhominable sinnes vvhich though now they be hid from their eyes yet then in most ougly manner shall lie before their faces in open sight euen the sinnes of their youth the sinnes of their age the sinnes which they haue committed alone in secret which the eye of none vvas witnesse of and vvhich they haue committed eyther with others or openly in the presence of others euen all their most grieuous and haynous impieties which euer heeretofore haue escaped them and vvhereby from time to time they haue prouoked the Maiestie of the most high shamefully defiled and dishonoured themselues and many waies grieued and displeased others Then hell and destruction shall shew themselues vnto their soules and a dreadfull and horrible feare take hold of them yea the sound of feare d Iob. 15.21 shall be continually in their eares and great astonishment in their hearts so that they shall be readie to quake at the shaking of euery leafe and to tremble at the hearing of euery sodaine noyse as that prophane and heathen Emperour who was so terrified vvith euery thunder-clap that he sought for corners to hide himselfe when he heard it comming and to flie vvhen none pursueth them e Pro. 28.1 but onely that euill and guilty conscience of theirs which being raised vp like a fierce and raging Lion which hath beene a long time a sleepe and is now sodainly awakened by the dreadfull hand of Gods iustice will neuer leaue following and pursuing them till it hath brought them to their most deserued punishment euen to finall desperation in this vvorld and to eternall perdition in that vhich is to come where they shal drinke of the cup Iob. 5.27 euen of the bitter cup of the fiercenesse of the vvrath of the Lord for euermore O mercifull God let mee neuer lye carelesly and securely in my sinnes let me not at any time delight in any of them let me not blesse or sooth my selfe in the least of them but let me be alwaies carefull to keepe my selfe pure and vnspotted of them that so I may not onely auoid those terrours and that wofull misery vvhich shall surely come vpon all the wicked and vngodly eyther in the time of their life or in the houre of their death or else in the day of iudgement and after for euermore but also that I may haue that peace of a good and quiet conscience vvhich may alwaies rest and abide with me and be a comfort and refreshing vnto me both in life and in death and in the day of thy comming euen that blessed appearance of thy Sonne vvhich all thy Saints daily expect and long for Worldlinesse a fearefull signe of one destitute of the true loue of God SEest thou any that is very eagerly set vpon any vvorldly thing pleasure profit honour or whatsoeuer else it be thou maiest assure thy selfe that whiles he is so much addicted vnto these earthly things the loue of God is very small or not at all a 1 Ioh. 2.15 in him He that loues God vnfainedly sincerely and entirely as he ought cannot as long as that loue of his abideth in him be greatly affected vnto any other thing nor haue an excessiue desire and longing after the fading vanities of this world for God will wholly possesse his soule and satisfie him abundantly so that he shall find contentment in him b Psal 73.25 Psal 119.57 Lamen 3.24 howsoeuer it fare otherwaies vvith him Blessed Lord kindle in me daily more and more I humbly beseech thee a sincere and vnfained loue of thy Maiestie who hast alwaies shewed thy selfe so exceedingly gracious vnto me doe thou euen inflame this cold and frozen heart of mine that so louing thee with that truth and earnestnesse of affection which ought to be in me and hauing my desires alwayes towards thee the loue and desire of these vaine and earthly things may be daily abated and diminished vvithin me yea I may banish farre from me all loue vvhich is not in thee and for thee vnto whom onely I am to giue my heart with all the affections thereof and that absolutely vvholly and entirely The folly of the Worldling ALL would condemne him for a foolish and vnwise man that would not exchange siluer for gold Psal 107.43 lead and baser mettall for pearles and precious stones And yet loe
him to be that which he hath declared and reuealed himselfe to be and bound himselfe by promise Exod. 34.6.7 Mal. 3.17 to shew himselfe to be vnto his whom he hath chosen vnto himselfe and vpon vvhom his delight is set yea it were to derogate from his glory seeing he will be glorified as well in the acknowledgement of his goodnesse and mercy towards his children that feare him Pro. 8.31 as of his iustice and seueritie towards the vvicked and vngodly that know him not Blessed Lord and gracious Father thou knowest the desire of my heart Psa 119.40 thou seest vvith how many weaknesses and infirmities I am compassed about continually how many lets and hinderances are cast before me in the way of godlinesse which leadeth vnto life and saluation thou discernest perfectly vvhat I am made of Psa 103.14 how fraile and feeble my nature is euen as the dust or as the withering hay into what forme and mould I am cast yea that I am nothing without thee and thy quickening and strenthening grace ready to sinne against thee euery houre euery moment O be thou mercifull vnto me spare me as thou hast promised as a Father doth his little ones in vvhom hee delighteth Pardon my sinnes heale my infirmities accept my weake and imperfect endeuours giue me a continuall supply of thy heauenly grace and a greater measure of strength and abilitie to walke before thee vvith a perfect heart and to serue thee with chearefulnesse and alacritie and in truth and sinceritie all my dayes vntill I come at length vnto that perfection both of grace and glory whereof I shall be made partaker in thy Kingdome for euer Amen Good Motions EVery good motion arising at any time in the heart of any one is the voyce of God himselfe Isay 30.21 speaking inwardly vnto the soule and conscience of man and therefore neuer to be lightly accounted of much lesse to be smothered or wilfully resisted and gainsaid for that is a most fearefull thing Ierem. 6.16 18.12 euen rebellion against God and the voyce of his spirit vvhich speaketh in them and vnto them but alwaies diligently to be harkened vnto and by all meanes to be imbraced and cherished that so it may become effectuall and not die and vanish away without fruit or profit to the hardening of the heart and the making of it the more vncapable of grace and goodnesse the ordinary and most fearefull iudgement which the Lord vsually bringeth vpon men for so great a wickednesse Rom. 1.28 Psal 106.15 81.12.13 1 Thes 5.19 Good Lord suffer mee not at any time to quench thy spirit to resist that heauenly voyce of thine speaking vnto me according vnto thy word least thou giue me ouer to hardnesse of heart Cant. 5.2 but whensoeuer thou doest knocke at the doore of my heart and soule Reue. 3.20 let me be ready presently to open vnto thee and to giue thee the best entertainment that I can by yeelding my selfe euery-waies pliable and flexible vnto thee vvhensoeuer thou doest inspire me with any good motion or holy desire grant that I may vse all meanes whereby the same may be quickened and increased that so thine owne worke may daily be more and more perfected in me Yeelding to the wicked motions and desires of the heart THe vaine and wicked desires of the heart can neuer be satisfied yea Isa 57.20 the more that any doth feed them the more insatiable shall he find them He can neuer be filled neuer haue enough of them Who seeth not this most clearly in the couetous the voluptuous the ambitious yea in all such as giue the reines vnto their owne sinfull and inordinate affections It is as it were a fire in their bones which will neuer be quenched till the fewell which ministreth continually new matter vnto it be quite taken away It is as it were the flame of hell kindled by Sathan himselfe to the scorching of the conscience which is drowned in these earthly these sinful these sensuall delights It is like a greedy worme which continually lies gnawing vpon the soule and in time will eate out the very heart intrals if the euil be not timely preuented O blessed Lord withdraw my heart I beseech thee daily more and more from these lying and deceitfull vanities which can neuer yeeld me any true contentment but rather be a cause of torment and vexation vnto me robbing me not onely of thy grace but of my peace also seeing my minde can neuer bee satisfied with them And grant that the desires of my heart may be set wholly vpon thee who art the fountaine of all goodnesse of all true blisse and happinesse that so I may be satisfied and replenished with the plentifulnesse and abundant riches of thy grace and heauenly blessings Rom. 2.10 Gal. 6.6 and haue thy peace and mercy resting vpon me and abiding vvith me all my daies Amen How fearefull a thing it is for a man to be left vnto himselfe and to his owne desires THere can no greater euill befall any man in this world then to be left vnto himselfe Psal 81.12 Isai 1.5 63.17 vnto his owne will and waies and to the corrupt desires and affections which are most pleasing to his wicked heart and vnsanctified nature Of all iudgements which the Lord doth suffer to come vpon men in this life it is the greatest and most dangerous though thorow the marueilous blindnesse and sottishnesse that is in men least eyther discerned or feared of the most Better were it for them by any meanes to be restrained from those things which their corrupt nature is prone vnto yea better were it for them to bee held downe continually with some painefull sicknesse and grieuous disease or to be laid fast vp in close prison all their liues long and to endure the greatest outward misery that can be vnto their dying houre O blessed Lord giue me not ouer vnto the waies of mine owne heart an insensible but of all iudgements the most fearefull leaue me not vnto my selfe suffer me not at any time to wander and goe astray from thee by following those things which are good in mine owne eyes and pleasing vnto carnall and corrupt reason O let me neuer fall into so great an euill but be thou mercifull vnto me to order and dispose all my affections to guide and gouerne me with thy spirit and to direct my steppes according vnto the rule of thy holy and blessed word that so being kept and preserued by thee from those sinnes vvhereunto of my selfe I am prone and inclinable and established in euery good vvay and vvorke I may glorifie theein my life and find ioy and comfort in my death and after death liue and raigne with thee eternally in fulnesse of all glory and happinesse through the merits of Christ my Sauiour The many differences betweene a naturall and a spirituall man one that is truely sanctified VVHat difference
can be named Is it not the Diuell I know thou vvilt and needs must say so For his very name doth affright men and vvhen vvee haue named him vvee thinke that we haue reckoned the worst and the most loathsome hatefull thing that can be yet I tell thee that euen Sathan himselfe that hellish Fiend is not so filthy so loathsome and deformed as sinne is Maruell not at this as though it could not so be but consider throughly of the matter and thou wilt easily perceiue and willingly acknowledge it to be so For vvhat is it that makes the Diuell so much abhorred both of God men and Angels Is it not sinne and sinne onely yes doubtlesse it cannot be denyed For who knowes not that knowes any thing that those damned Spirits euen all the Diuels in hell Iude v. 6. were at the first more glorious excellent louely and amiable Creatures then any mortall man whatsoeuer yea that they were like Starres Angels of light shining and glistering with puritie holinesse and righteousnesse before they vvere stained and defiled vvith the loathsome contagion and infection of sinne and transgression Sinne onely it was that blemished that goodly beautie Sinne onely it was that darkened that vvonderfull brightnesse and that resplendent glory vvherein they vvere at the first created and wherein they should for euer haue continued had they not sinned against the Maiestie of GOD their Creator Sinne onely it vvas that dimmed all their light and damped all their glory the beames vvhereof vvould haue dazeled any mortall eye Sinne onely it vvas that of Citizens of that Royall palace that heauenly Paradise that celestiall Ierusalem 2 Pet. 2.4 the Presence-chamber of the Lord of glory made them wretched bond-slaues and most miserable captiues in that deepe dungeon and darke prison of hell vvhere they are kept in euerlasting chaines of darknesse vnto that great damnation Sin onely it vvas that transformed them into damned Spirits cast them downe from the brightnes of heauenly glory into the darknesse of hellish misery and of bright-shining Starres as it were made them most ougly and loathsome Diuels In briefe Sin and Sinne onely it vvas that made them as loathsome as euer they vvere louely as ougly as euer they vvere amiable as greatly abhorred of God and of all his holy and elect Angels as euer they were loued of them before And were they freed from sinne they vvould become Angels of light glorious creatures Now then if sinne doth make others yea such glorious creatures as the Diuels once were so vile and loathsome yea odious vnto all other creatures oh then how vile and loathsome a thing is sin it selfe Surely so hydeous a monster is this monstrous Monster I know not how to tearme it of Sinne that those vvhose eyes GOD hath once opened that they are able rightly to discerne of the same vvill vnder-goe any torment 1 Ioh. 3.8 any sorrow any punishment whatsoeuer rather then once vvillingly commit the same as wee may see in the examples of many holy Martyrs Heb. 11.35 36.37.38 and godly Professors who haue endured the losse of their goods lands liuings yea and life it selfe and willingly suffered all kinde of tortures and torments that their cruell Aduersaries and bloudy Persecutors could deuise or imagine rather then they vvould be brought to that one sinne of denying the knowne truth or dissembling their profession Notable to this purpose is the saying of that auncient and religious Father that he would wish rather to be torne in pieces with wilde beasts then willingly and vvittingly to commit any sinne And from a more heroicall and diuine spirit Anselme was that speech of him that professed that if hee should haue the choyse eyther to burne in hell fire continually or to sinne any sinne willingly hee vvould rather choose those endlesse vnspeakeable torments then yeeld consent to the other so vile and monstrous did sinne seeme vnto him What should I say more Men would bee much afrayde if the Deuill should appeare vnto them in some shape yea the very naming of him strikes a deepe impression of feare into many But could these once behold sin it selfe which makes the deuill so odious if they could view it as it is indeed they would be wonderfully flaited and affrighted at the very appearance of it it vvould make their hearts to tremble within them and their haire to stand vpright on their heads they would flie from it more then from the most poisonous Serpent or venimous creature in the vvorld yea as much as from the Deuill himselfe They would neuer shake hands with it as they haue done heretofore they would neuer keepe company with it they would neuer be quiet till they were freed from the dominion and slauery of it It would bee euen death vnto them to haue any fellowshippe therewith as no doubt it is to the godly man who because hee seeth he cannot be fully rid of it in this life therefore is constrained often to crie out as one that were stabbed at the heart Woe is me that I remaine in Mesheth Psal 120. and dwell in the tents of Kedar or as one that had the pangs of death vpon him Rom. 7.24 O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from this body of death So it is with the religious soule vvhen it is ouerswaied with the corruption of it owne sinfull nature or carried away violently in a sort with the forcible blasts of Sathans temptations Oh so far it is from doing it willingly or from taking ful delight in it that it rather complaines and mournes bitterly though secretly oftentimes for it It gals that man at the very heart for it it is as it were a pricke in his eyes or a thorne in his side yea euery sinne vvhich hee commits when hee once knowes it is as an Awle at his heart it stingeth and woundeth his conscience and maketh him to mourne like a Doue and chatter like a Swallow In a word the very consideration of this that he should commit so filthy a fact and so foule an offence causeth his heart and soule euen to bleed within him Neither hinders it any thing at all which some might bring with some colour for the gaine-saying of this What is sinne so vile and loathsome a thing as you make it How comes it to passe then that it seemes so sweet so amiable and pleasant as it doth vnto the most How commeth it that it allureth enticeth and draweth men vnto it causing them to follow it to loue embrace ioy and delight in it yea to serue obey it with all greedinesse and to spend all their time their strength vvit and vvealth in the seruice of it Can sinne be so vile and deformed a monster and yet bee sought after vvith such great care and diligence and pursued vvith so great delight and cheerefulnesse as if it vvere some excellent pretious thing vvhich might vvell cause all to be enamoured
pleasures profits riches and reuenues of the whole world Behold the base estate and condition which he tooke vpon him for thy sake Behold the shame and reproach which he sustained for thee and for thy sinnes Behold his face whom the Angels Heb. 1.6 those celestiall creatures doe reuerence and adore spitted vpon for thy cause Behold him who is the Authour of blessednesse become accursed for thee that he might free thee from that curse which was due vnto thee Behold him Isa 66.1 whose Throne is in the highest Heauens the Lord of Glory and Maiestie descended downe into the earth and abased to the lowest degree of humiliation becomming as one of no reputation Phil. 2.6.7 Psal 22.6 a worme not a man that so he might exalt thee and raise thee from shame to glory from Hell to Heauen from the depth of miserie and wretchednes to the height of endlesse and euerlasting blessednesse What should I say Behold the Lord of life dying vpon the Crosse that hee might bring thee from death to life and make thee of a childe of wrath and perdition an Heire of glory and Saluation See his Head crowned with thornes his body sweating drops of blood for the anguish that he was in for thy sinnes See the bloud streaming forth out of his side to vvash and cleanse thee from thy wickednesse See the fountaine of his loue his grace and mercie set vvide open vnto thee Zach. 13.1 All these cry loud vnto thee and are as a shrill voyce in thine eares to call thee from thy sinnes and to cause thee vtterly to abandon all thy former vvickednesse euen that vaine conuersation vvherein heeretofore thou delightedst And wilt thou yet continue therin God forbid O heart more harder then the Adamant or flintie Rocke if these things doe not moue thee and cause thee to relent if nothing else will neither remembrance of the vilenesse and loathsomnes of sinne the fearefull and wofull miserie and bondage vvhereunto it bringeth thee the stingings of conscience wherewith it vvoundeth the soule and maketh it to smart grieuously oftentimes vvhen none perceiueth it nor the many iudgements which it exposeth thee vnto both here in this life and much more in the life to come in hel fire for euer If none of these will yet let this this I say euen the due and serious consideration of the great and vvonderfull things that Christ hath done for thee to redeeme thee from thy sinnes and to loose the bonds of thine iniquities 1 Ioh. 3.8 O let this draw thee from the same in a forcible maner yea let his infinite and boundlesse loue and mercie towards thee herein euen breake thy stonie and steely heart and cause it to melt into teares for thy sinnes past to grieue to sorrow to mourne and lament for the same and to purpose and resolue vvith thy selfe neuer willingly to offend him hereafter though thou mightst gaine thereby a thousand worlds Let thy heart be sooner plucked out of thy body then thou drawne from this godly purpose and Christian resolution vvhich vvell becommeth all that are Christs redeemed 2 Tim. 2.19 1 Ioh. 3.9 and vvill bee in thee if thou beest a true Christian indeed and not in vvord and shew onely O blessed Lord and Sauiour when I looke vp vnto thee and consider thy marueilous Loue and Bountie in that great and gracious vvorke of thine in redeeming mee from that miserable estate into vvhich I vvas plunged as vvell as others vnto that glorious condition of thy redeemed ones how thou abasedst thy selfe to become man for my sake to be accursed that thou mightest free me from the curse which I had brought vpon my selfe to dye that so shamefull a death and to be buryed in the earth that thou mightest raise me out of the graue of my sinnes and bring me from sinne death hell and damnation vnto grace life and euerlasting saluation in that blessed and glorious kingdome of thine vvhich thou reseruest for mee in the heauens when I looke vp vnto thee and call to minde how wonderfully thou hast dealt with me in these things and on the other side cast mine eyes vpon the vvhole course of my life past how vile how sinfull it hath beene and view my estate present how many and grieuous the sinnes are vvhereby I haue prouoked thee daily euen since thou calledst mee to the knowledge of that sauing grace of thine my heart faileth vvithin mee I am ashamed and confounded in my selfe that I should haue beene found so vnkinde vnto thee who hast beene so exceeding kinde and gracious vnto me O doe thou cause mee daily more and more to see and bevvaile the greatnesse of my sinne herein and heale my soule in whatsoeuer I haue offended thee O let thy loue thy goodnesse thy grace and bountie in redeeming mee so wretched so vnworthy a Creature by thine owne bloud from so fearefull and vvofull a condition into so blessed and glorious an estate O let it constraine mee to loue thee vnfainedly let it dissolue me into the teares of true and vnfained repentance for all my sinnes and transgressions vvhereby I haue displeased thee my God and Sauiour and let it vvorke in mee a perfect hatred and loathing of all kinde of vngodlines and a continuall desire and endeuour to please thee and to shew forth my thankfulnes vnto thee by walking carefully before thee in all the duties which thou commandest me that so I may be euery day more assured that I am one of that small flocke which thou hast redeemed with thy precious bloud for whom thou hast prouided that glorious Kingdome in the heauens Drawing others vnto any wickednesse a bloudy and fearefull sinne MVrther is abhorred of all men and that most iustly for it is a fearefull and a crying sinne committed Gen. 4.10 nor approued of any but such as haue lost in a manner the very nature of man and become as it were bruite and sauage creatures yea monsters such as are to be driuen out from the company and societie of men and to be depriued of this light which they doe enioy and are no wayes worthy of Deu. 19.13 But yet behold a strange thing and much to be vvondered at to murther the soules of men by drawing them to wickednesse by ill counsell Pro. 18.21 or by corrupt example of life or otherwise is slightly accounted of not had in that detestation among men that the other although as it is more common so it may well be sorted and rancked with it Is not the soule more pretious then the body Mat. 16.26 the life of the soule more vvorthy and farre more to be regarded then the life of the body Why then is not the murthering of this accounted as wicked as haynous as the other why is it not as much abhorred of all men vvhy are not such esteemed rather monsters then men and how is it that their owne consciences doe not accuse
louing thee inwardly in heart soule and manifesting my loue towards thee by the fruits effects of it in my life and conuersation I may euerie day haue more full assurance of thy especiall loue towards me and comfortable experience of the riches of thy grace and mercy sealed vnto my soule conscience yea I may see by the fruits and pledges of thy loue that thou louest me and delightest in me and wilt cause thy gracious countenance to shine vpon me all my daies yea that thou wilt refresh my soule in the midst of my troubles and cause my fainting spirits to reuiue within me when death shal be ready to seize vpon me and assoone as death shall put an end to this fraile and sinfull life wilt stretch forth thy hand to imbrace me with thy armes and to translate me immediatly by the ministery of thy Angels h Luk. 16.22 into that blessed and glorious kingdome of thine where I shall enioy thy presence see thee face to face and haue the bright beams of thy louing countenance shining alwaies most clearely and comfortably vpon me to thy endlesse praise and glorie and my vnspeakable felicitie and happinesse for euermore and all this through the merits and mediation of thy blessed Sonne my onely Sauiour and Redeemer in whom it hath pleased thee graciously to respect me and to whom with thee O Father and the spirit of grace and loue three persons and one most glorious God be all praise dominion and thanksgiuing from this time forth and for euer Amen Loue of the children of God IT is impossible to loue God and to hate his image to loue Christ who is the head and to hate Christians who are his members Nay the more that any one loues the one the more must he of necessitie loue the other and the more his affection increaseth toward God the more also it will increase towards those that are the children of God resembling him in their measure in the inward graces and vertues of their mindes puritie righteousnesse holinesse and the rest of those diuine a Mat. 5.43 perfections wherein he hath set himselfe as a patterne and president to be imitated and followed of them He loues them intirely and vnfainedly because hee seeth that he is nearely tied vnto them by many and strait bonds as being members b 1 Cor. 12.27 of one bodie children of one father c Math. 5.45 Ephe. 4.6 brethren d Mat. 12 50 Heb. 2.12 of one Saâ—â—our fed e 1 Cor. 10 17. at one table where they haue mutuall communion and fellowship in one f 1 Cor. 12.13 Ephes 4.4 and the same spirit nourished with the same meat in the word and Sacrament liuing together in one and the same familie which is the visible Church g Heb. 11.31 1 Pet. 2.11 stangers togither in this world and trauelling as pilgrimes towards the same countrey that heauenly Canaan h 2 Tim. 4 7. souldiours fighting together vnder the same banner the profession of the same faith i Ephe. 4.5 and against the same common enemie the deadly enemie of all mankinde Sathan and his complices and confederates partakers of the same grace of Gods holy and sanctifying spirit and ioynt-heires with Christ of the same glory reserued for them and all the Saints in the highest heauens Being so nearely allied and so straitly vnited mutually each to other by so many bands so many Obligations how can it be but that they should loue one another with an entire and Christian affection in truth and sincerity without vanity and flatterie Shamelesse k Iohn 4.20 lyars therefore they are who glory in word that they are of God and yet shew forth by their deeds that they haue no loue to his children but hate and despise them or at least make little reckoning of them If there were nothing else this were enough to conuince them that they are not yet admitted into this fellowship called to this brotherhood but remaine still as they were bred and borne Ioh. 8.44 1 Ioh. 3.27 the bastardly brood of Sathan vnto whom and to his impes they are ioyned in the same league of friendship and familiaritie m Pro. 29.27 1 Pet. 4.4 hating and iniurying them who vvill not be n Gen. 49.5 brethren with them in iniquitie and vanitie O Lord knit my heart daily more vnto thee in an vnfained loue of thee my God who hast loued me so dearely and in an entire and Christian loue and affection vnto thy children to whom thou hast linked and fastened me with so many bonds let me loue them not in tongue or in vvord onely o Iohn 3.18 but in deed and in truth as it becommeth me and manifest my loue towards them in seeking by all meanes to the vttermost of my strength and power to procure their good euery way yea the more that they doe appeare to be thine the more thy graces doe shine in them the more let my loue and affection increase towards them the more let me seeke to doe them good Hereby shall I haue a certaine proofe and a sure euidence that I loue thee vnfainedly seeing I loue thine for thy sake yea hereby my heart shall assure me before thee that I p 1 Ioh. 3.19 am in the truth I shall haue a comfortable assurance that I am one of thine one of that small number of thy adopted chosen children indued with thy grace and heire together with all thy Saintes of the riches of that glory which thou reseruest for them in that heauenly kingdom which thou hast purchased so vs by the death of thy onely Sonne and our alone Sauiour in whom thou hast graciously accepted vs and to whom with thee and thy blessed spirit of grace and comfort be all praise and glory both now and euer Amen How the hatred of the world is to be esteemed of the godly IF the world hate vs what marueile is it seeing that it a Ioh. 15.88 hated and persecuted him to the death by whom the world was made b Heb. 1.2 and who is the Lord of the world and all things therein euen Christ Iesus our blessed Sauiour Shall he that is the king of glory be content for our sakes to indure the crosse and to be c Psal 24.7 crowned with shame and dishonour d Mat. 27.29 and shall we sinfull wretches wormes of the earth shall we be vnwilling to haue shame and reproch fastened vpon vs for his sake yea rather how ought wee to account it our e Mat. 5.10 11. 1 Pet. 3.14 blessednesse when men reuile vs disgrace vs and say all manner of euill against vs for his sake falsly how ought we to reioyce and be glad vvhen vvee suffer such things at the hands of the world vvhich alwayes hath and euer will be in irreconciliable enmitie and in flat opposition vnto Christ our blessed Lord and Sauiour vvho vvilleth vs to follow
3.13.14 and treasures farre aboue Siluer Gold Pearle or whatsoeuer else the world can afford vnto them and the continuall hope and expectation of that future and promised glory h Ephes 1.18 which maketh their soules to i 1 Pet. 1.3 blesse thee vncessantly who art so rich in grace k Eph. 2.7 and mercy towards them besides those many other priuiledges vvhich thou hast vouchsafed them concerning their temporall life and outward estate viz. Protection of Angels those glorious Ministers which thou sendest forth to be Attendants l Psal 91.11 Heb. 11.14 on them Promise of thy especiall Prouidence m 2 Chron. 2.5.8 4.10 Heb. 11.13.5 ouer them and a n Mat. 6.26 32.3 7.11 continuall and fatherly care for them from whence necessarily followeth a remouall o Rom. 8.28 of all euill from them and a supply of all good p Psal 23.1 84.11 euen of all outward and earthly blessings vnto them which thou in thy wisedome seest to be conuenient or necessary for them for their comfortable and safer passage through the Wildernesse of this world till they come to that promised rest that heauenly Canaan that thus hauing mine eyes enlightened to behold those things which thy word so clearely teacheth and my heart rightly seasoned with the serious consideration of them I may daily be drawne nearer vnto thee with that sweetnesse which I finde in thee in comparison of which all other things are bitter and distastfull to such as haue true vnderstanding and their senses rightly exercised q Heb. 5.14 to discerne betweene good and euill The frequent meditation of Death how necessary HE that hath Death alwayes before his eyes will neuer haue his thoughts set vpon any thing vvhich is base sordide and seruile or desire any thing in this vvorld excessiuely and inordinately This will make him to haue a very meane esteeme of all these earthly vanities this will cause him with an equall minde to vse prosperitie and aduersitie a Psal 90.12 and to be rightly disposed in either being neither too much lifted vp vvith the one nor too much cast downe vvith the other considering how short and momentarie eyther the benefit and pleasure which is inioyed by this b 1 Cor. 7.29 Heb. 11.25 or the paine which is feared by that will be This will be a bridle to curbe and restrayne him from all things that are vnlawfull and to make him vse those things which are lawfull if rightly vsed with more moderation and with lesse excesse wherein many doe much offend which I am perswaded they would not doe if they once acquainted themselues with this wholesome and necessary Meditation whereunto many are meere strangers yea enemies c Isa 28.19 Amos 6.3 they cannot abide to heare of it or to call it to remembrance nay they shew themselues to be afraid to thinke on it deliberately euen then when it puts it selfe vpon them as being that whereby they suppose they are brought to meete their greatest enemy in the face whom they most dread and flye from and the sight of whom though a farre off they imagine would be very hurtfull and dangerous vnto them damping them in their resolued courses d Lu. 12.19 and scaring them from those sinnefull and pleasing vanities wherein they now delight themselues in excessiue manner O blessed LORD as Death is alwayes euery where present and imminent ready continually to seize vpon me so grant that I may haue mine eyes open to see it standing neare vnto mee and that I may continually present the serious meditation thereof vnto my minde and all my thoughts that thereby I may be brought to suffer the greatest miseries vvhich shall befall mee in this world patiently quietly and contentedly knowing that they will come quickly to an end e Heb. 10.37 and to make the right vse of prosperitie if it shall please thee to send it not being too much addicted to the profits pleasures and delights of this beguilefull and deceiueable world Especially let me with the due meditation hereof be wholly with drawne from the loue and liking the affecting and desiring of all those things which are vile and sinfull seeing the remembrance of these in death will be bitter the sting painefull the smart grieuous and intollerable The resurrection of the good and bad in the last day how different it shall be OH how glorious will the day of the Resurrection be how comfortable to the godly how terrible to the wicked The godly they shall rise by the mighty power of Christ their Sauiour a 1 Cor. 6.14 Hee who is the Head b Eph. 5 23 being raised all they being his c 1 Cor. 6.15 Members and vnited vnto him in a mysticall manner d 1 Cor. 15 13.20.23 c. 1 Thes 4.14 shall be raised with him in their appointed time by reason of that vnion which is betweene him and them But the wicked they shall rise by the terrible and dreadfull e Iohn 5.28.29 1 Cor. 15.52 voyce of Christ their Iudge summoning them to make their appearance before him that sentence may be pronounced against them like as when a Malefactor is brought out of the Iayle to the Barre that hee may receiue his deserued doome and be hastened to his execution Againe the godly they shall come out of their graues wherein they haue beene a long time held as prisoners and captiues vnder death f 1 Cor. 15 54.55 they shall come forth with great ioy and triumph looking vp vnto their blessed Sauiour whom they haue so long expected and desired g Rom. 8.23 Luke 21.28 Reu. 22.20 Oh what a comfort and refreshing h Act. 3.19 shall this be vnto them who can expresse it But the wicked on the contrary they shall start vp like men scared and sodainely affrighted waking out of some fearefull dreame but it shal be no dreame As soone as they beginne to looke out of their graues they shall behold the heauens on a flaming i 2 Thes 1.8 2 Pet. 3.12 fire round about them and Christ as a mighty GOD and a most seuere and dreadfull Iudge with a fiery eye and a frowning countenance looking downe vpon them from aboue euen out of that great Throne k Mat. 25.31 which shall haue streames of fire issuing out from it on euery side l Dan. 7.9.10 so that they shall be amazed and euen at their wits end m Mat. 24.30 at the very appearance of him and wish with all their harts that the very hils and Mountaines would fall vpon them and n Reu. 6.16 couer them from his presence and from the fiercenesse of his wrath which shall seize vpon them in most o Luke 19.27 fearfull manner Furthermore that it may yet appeare how great a difference there shall be betweene them in that day the godly shall rise in a glorious manner being made incorruptible p 1 Cor. 15
deepe prison h Deut. 32 22 Pro. 7.27 and darke dungeon of Gods wrath appointed for the execution of his dreadfull vengeance vpon all the children of disobedience vvho vvould not know him nor what should be their happinesse that darke and dismall place that burning lake that fiery furnace i Mat. 13.15 and bottomlesse gulfe of deepe despaire the pit of hell that Tophet prepared of old for them large and deepe according to that k Isai 30.50 propheticall description thereof in briefe a place of vnspeakeable horrour and terrour worse then the most stinking prison or the most loathsome dungeon in the world there is no comparison the sight yea the very thought of it were enough to flait a man The darknesse of Egypt was fearefull and full of amazement and astonishment yet nothing to this The paines and torments there to be indured are shadowed out vnto vs in Scripture by l Psal 11.6 Mat. 13.42 25.41 fire and brimstone storme and tempest the worme that neuer dieth m Esai 66.24 Mark 9.46 chaines of darkenesse n 2 Pet. 2 4 Iudde 1 Mat. 8.12 22.13 and blacknesse of darkenesse All fearefull and dismall names and yet but semblances it may be and shadowes of those more grieuous tortures and that dreadful and hellish miserie vvhich then shall be powred out both vpon their bodies and vpon their soules and all the seuerall parts and members thereof in vnspeakeable and most wofull manner Tribulation o Rom. 2.9 anguish and great astonishment shal seize vpon euery one of them and wholly possesse them yea swallow them vp as it vvere with open mouth They shall haue a hell without them and a hell also within them euen their owne guiltie and disquieted consciences vvhich like a worme p Mark 9.44 shall continually lye gnawing vpon their soules vvith the remembrance of their fearefull sinnes past the great blessednes glory which through their folly they haue depriued themselues of and the extreame woe and miserie into which they are plunged yea their consciences shall vvound them in most fearefull manner the nips and pangs thereof shall be vvorse then the bitings of the venemous Cockatrice or the stingings of the poisonous Scorpion yea vvorse then death it selfe VVee see how that euen in this life when the Lord sometimes doth but suffer that worme to beginne to nible q Pro. 18.14 Esa 57.20.21 at the soules and consciences of vvicked men and cause them but as it vvere a farre off to behold the flashings of hell fire vvith which afterwards they shall be tormented for euer that euen this vvhich is but the beginning and forerunner of their sorrowes doth make them to rore out nay driue some of them to make away themselues eyther by hanging their owne selues as that great politician r 2 Sam. 17 23. Achitophel and that couetous and treacherous s Matt. 27.5 Iudas did or by drowning themselues or cutting their owne throats as others haue done as vvee haue knowne by wofull experience Oh then how vvofull and how grieuous shall it bee vnto them vvhen that worme of conscience shall continually lye fretting vpon them and biting in sunder as it vvere their very heart-strings nay gnawing in most fearefull manner vpon the most inward tenderest parts of their soules vvhiles they shal lye frying in the fiery flames being scorched on euery side with the fury of Gods wrathfull indignation which then shall be kindled against them and burne to the bottome of hell Then doubtles they shall desire to die but death shall flie far from them They shall curse and banne themselues and those that were companions with them in wickednesse by whose meanes a greater measure of wrath is powred out vpon them they shall cry out against their former sottishnesse and securitie that they had no more care to keepe themselues from comming into that place of torment t Luk. 16.28.29 though they were so oft admonished and forewarned of it by others who had more pittie of them then themselues O the remembrance hereof it will cut their hearts it will pierce their soules it will cause them to curse themselues and the day and houre wherein they were borne the time wherin they forsooke GOD and gaue themselues ouer to the seruice of sinne and Satan yea it will cause and constraine them to crie shame vpon themselues and their folly and madnesse in suffering themselues to be so deluded so deceiued through the deceitfulnesse of their crafty and deadly enemies who now when it is too late they see in all those pleasing courses wherewith they delighted them sought nothing but their vtter ruine and ouerthrow Neuer did v Iob 3. Iob in that weakenesse and extremitie of his curse the day of his birth as they then vvill the day of their birth and entrance into the world nay as they shall the time wherein they liued in the world and wherein they gaue themselues to the seruice and slauery of sinne and Sathan who hath now rewarded them x Rom. 6.23 to the full as they were oft before told that he should except they looked to themselues in time and shaking off all societie and fellowship with him returned vvillingly speedily and vnfainedly vnto the Lord. O the depth of miserie vvhich then shall come vpon them Their countenances shall waxe pale and wanne their hearts faile them and their soules euen rend in pieces vvith horror and amazement whiles they shall lie howling crying and shriking and in vaine powring out their mournefull complaints Woe woe is vs y Esa 33.14 Who is able to dwell with this deuouring fire Who is able to indure these fearefull burnings But to leade thee on yet further to the viewing of their companions with whom they shall abide in that place in those torments Their company what shall it bee None but hellish ghosts and damned creatures like themselues who as it were so many furies and barking hell-hounds appearing each to other in dreadfull apparition shall send forth such fearefull and hideous noises such horrible outcries such yellings and rorings as shall make that hollow vault that infernall prison to shake and their hearts to tremble within them yea euen to breake in sunder vvith the most dreadfull apprehension of their hellish miserie If the very appearance but of one of those damned spirits as we haue heard of some is sufficient to affright a man and to scare him out of his wits Oh then how fearefull how wofull will their estate be when they shall be thrust into the company of Sathan and constrained to dwell remaine and to lodge as it were with him and the rest of that hellish crue and viperous brood euen all the Deuils reprobate and forlorne wretches the number of whom cannot be numbred z Mar. 5.9 To this adde the time how long they shall indure such wofull miserie in that place of torment euen for euer a fearefull word for euer
God conuerted themselues from the crooked and dangerous wayes of sinne and wickednesse wherein before they walked a Tit. 3.3 together with others seeke not to bring others into the right vvay with them that so they may both escape that danger which was ready to fall vpon them Good LORD as it hath pleased thee in the riches of thy mercies to recall me out of the by-pathes of sinne and iniquitie wherein I haue a long time wandered and gone astray and the end and issues whereof are death and perdition so giue me thy Spirit I humbly pray thee whereby I may be stirred vp daily as to renue my conuersation and repentance so also in a b Iude 22.23 Psal 51.13 compassion of others to seeke by all meanes to winne them and to bring them out of the wayes of destruction into the wayes of life and saluation by labouring their speedy and vnfained conuersion vnto thee that so we may ioyntly with one heart and c Luke 15.31 1 Tim. 1.17 voyce praise and glorifie thee both now and euermore Amen The miserable estate of a wicked and vnconuerted person O How fearefull and miserable is the estate of euery wicked and vngodly man both in life in death after death and for euer As soone as he commeth into the world hee is as a loathsome a Leuit. 13.45 Iob 14.4 Psal 51.5 Ezek 16.4 5.6.8 Leper in the sight of God stript b Rom. 3.23 of all righteousnesse and holinesse and altogether stayned and defiled with the filth and contagion of originall sinne and corruption There is no c Esa 1.6 whole part sound in him He is borne a d Ezek. 16.3 Iob. 11.12 limme of the old Adam yea the childe of e Eph. 2.3 wrath and of the curse subiect vnto hell death and damnation f Rom. 5.12.16 And the longer hee liues the more he increaseth this miserie and wretchednesse of his wherein hee was borne Euery houre addeth moment thereto so that he becommeth at length the childe of the Diuell g Ioh. 8.44 1 Iohn 3 8. seauen-fold more then hee was before The curse of the Law and the wrath of God seazeth more and more vpon him h Ioh. 3.36 Galat. 3.10 His person is not i Rom. 8.8 Psal 5.5 accepted of God yea he hates k Pro. 15.8 21.27 him nay his best seruices vvhereby hee vainely thinketh that he meriteth much at his hands as his Prayers Almes and outward morall vertues are an abhomination vnto him hee loaths and abhorres them they are as stincking l Esa 1.13.14 carrion in his nostrils burthensome vnto him He hath no right nor interest vnâ—o the things of this m Hosea 2.9 world which hee enioyeth but is an vsurper and intruder into other mens n 1 Cor. 3.21.22 possessions and standeth indited in the Court of Heauen for theft and robbery howsoeuer hee be free in the Courts of men yea and shall one day in the presence of the whole world hold vp his hand at the Bar of Gods Iudgement-seate and answere o Luk. 16.2 for the vniust vse and possession of the things that were not his owne but others from whom hee detayned them Hee is a drudge vnto the world and a slaue and vassall p Ioh. 8.34 Rom. 6.20 2 Pet. 2.19 to sinne and Sathan Hee euen that cursed Fiend q Ephe. 2.2 who ruleth in the hearts of the children of disobedience hath set vp his Scepter in his heart and ruleth and swayeth him altogether as it pleaseth him yea in most wofull manner tyrannizeth ouer him and layeth many and heauy bonds and fetters vpon him vpon euery part of his soule and body and so hauing dominion and power ouer him leadeth r 2 Tim. 2.26 him as it were in triumph after him as a most miserable thrall and bondslaue captiuated to euery vile lust wherewith it shall please him to insnare him Pride Couetousnes Vncleannesse Maliciousnesse Enuie c. Nay there is no thraldome no bondage like vnto that vnder which hee is held by Sathan and by the s Eph. 6.12 Powers of darknesse The bondage of the Israelites of old vnder that cruell and hard-hearted Tyrant t Exod. 1.11 c. 2.2.23 3.7.9 Pharaoh or of the poore captiuated Christians now vnder the barbarous Turke is but a shadow thereof yea but a dreame of a shadow in comparison of it For here not the body onely but the soule also and the whole man is bound yea laden and pressed downe with many heauie chaines and irons and that which maketh his miserie so much the greater whiles hee seeth v Isay 6.9.10 Rom. 11.8 Reu. 3.17 not nor feeleth that misery and wofull estate whereinto hee is plunged but reioyceth and x Prou. 12.15 14.12 glorieth in it thinking himselfe to be as y 1 Cor. 4.8 Iohn 8.33 free as any yea he thrusteth himselfe daily more more into the very depth of bondage and miserie and such is his extreame sottishnesse wherewith Sathan hath euen infatuated him thinking them to be his greatest z 1 Kin. 21 20 enemies who are his best friends seeking to pull him out of the clawes of Sathan and to free him from the power of death and darkenesse euen from that wretched bondage and slauery into which the prince of this world that deadly enemie of mankinde hath brought him Hee is a dead man whiles he liueth dead in trespasses a Eph. 2.1 Col. 2.13 and sinnes and lieth rotting and putrefying in the graue of his corruptions neither hearing the liuely sound of the voyce of the Sonne of God nor hauing any b 1 Cor. 2.14 taste or feeling of things spirituall and heauenly Hee hath no true sound constant ioy c Iob 20.5 or comfort in his life time no d Isay 57.20.21 perfect peace but onely flâ—shings of carnall and worldly ioy which is as the crackling e Eccles 7.8 of thornes vnder the pot and the f Prou. 14.13 end whereof is heauinesse and much anguish of minde and spirit yea terrour of soule and conscience g Iob. 15.21 27.20 which is his hell in this life and the fore-runner of those infernall torments and hellish pangs which he shall endure for euer in that place of woe and torment prouided for him euen in the h Prou. 21.16 congregation of the dead and damned where hee shall take vp his restlesse resting place for euermore He lyeth open continually al to the plagues and iudgâ—ments i Prou. 24.20 Psal 27.9.30 of GOD and may well feare that the Lord will strike him dead euery houre euery moment as hee did k Acts 5. Ananias and Saphira and make him a fearefull spectacle of his wrath and iust vengeance vnto others causing eyther the waters to ouerflow and drowne him as they did the old l Gen. 7. world or the Earth to open the mouth presently and to
him desirous to be vnloosed and to finde ease comfort and refreshing in him but their hearts are euen dead vvithin them and they are strangers from this life of grace and y Gal. 2.20 faith which is in Christ Iesus And no maruell then that there appeares in them so little or no loue of him so small desire to please him and to testifie their loue and thankefulnes vnto him by their new obedience and carefull and conscionable walking in his commandements seeing they neuer tasted fully of the sweetnesse and the exceeding ioy and comfort arising from that wonderfull benefit and vnspeakable mercie which is sealed vp to the soules and consciences of true penitent sinners and such as haue receiued Christ by a sauing faith to be their wisedome z 1 Cor. 1 30. their righteousnesse their sanctification and redemption O mercifull LORD how great is thy goodnesse and mercy towards mee that whereas thou sufferest many yea the greatest part of the world still to wander in the wayes of wickednesse and to sit in the shadow of death and darknesse eyther not seeing their misery and wofull and most wretched estate and condition or else seeing it to be so secure so carelesse and so hard-harted as not to regard it and to labour to come out of it being beguiled through the deceitfulnesse of their owne harts and the craft and delusion of Sathan yet in the vnsearchable riches of thy abundant grace and a 1 Tim. 1 14.17 mercy towards mee in Christ Iesus hast opened mine eyes vvhich before were shut vp as well as others and turned me from darkenesse to light and from the power of Sathan vnto thee my blessed Lord and Sauiour raising mee out of the graue vvherein I was dead and buryed deliuering me from the Kingdome of darkenesse and translating mee into the Kingdome of thy deare Sonne giuing me assurance of the forgiuenesse of my sinnes and a comfortable hope and expectation of that ioyfull inheritance prouided for thy Saints and chosen ones in the highest heauens What shall I returne vnto thee answerable vnto so great loue vnto such fatherly compassions and vnspeakeable mercies of thine towards me Thou mightest haue suffered mee to continue in my blindnesse and ignorance as well as others to haue beene as carelesse as secure and as hard-harted as any others and so to haue perished with them dreaming that all had beene well with me whiles I lay rotting in my naturall and corrupt estate For what am I or what haue I beene that thou shouldest respect me more then others Thou mightst for my sinnes so many and so grieuous iustly haue forsaken mee as thou hast done them But thou hast not so dealt with mee Blessed be thy name both now and euermore O touch my heart with the due meditation of this thy gracious goodnesse towards mee And teach mee daily to labour to feele this worke of thine more and more effectuall in me by renuing my repentance for my sinnes whereby I haue and doe daily and hourely displease thee in the breach of thy righteous lawes and commaundements Let me see my sinnes and transgressions and the misery vvhereunto they make me subiect and seeing them let me bewaile them yea lament and mourne for them and be truely humbled with the consideration of them Let me freely and vnfainedly confesse them vnto thee and that vvith shame and sorrow of heart And let them cause me wholly to renounce my selfe to iudge and condemne my selfe yea to abhorre my selfe and to flie vnto thee in the name of thy Sonne my blessed Sauiour in whom there is mercy and plentifull redemption b Psal 130.7 Let me hunger and thirst after his righteousnesse more then after any thing else vvhatsoeuer yea let me highly esteeme of it and make more precious account of it then of all the riches and treasures of this world desirous though with the losse of all other things to winne Christ and to be found in him clothed and couered with those precious robes of his And let me by the hand of a true sauing faith apply vnto my selfe the merits of his death and passion his righteousnesse his obedience and his full and perfect satisfaction being certainly assured that all the promises of the Gospell belong vnto me And let the knowledge and full perswasion hereof cause me to reioyce yea to glorie in thee and in this vvonderfull and vnspeakeable mercy of thine towards me euen with that ioy of thy spirit which is most glorious c 1 Pet. 1.8 and fill my heart and soule with that peace which passeth all vnderstanding And with all let it stirre me vp continually to walke before thee in all holy obedience desiring and endeauouring in all things to please thee and to approue my selfe and all my actions vnto thee dying daily more and more vnto sinne and liuing vnto righteousnesse and labouring by all meanes to bee cleansed from all filthinesse both of flesh and spirit and to grow vp to full holinesse d 2 Cor. 7 1 in thy feare that thus I may haue good euidence that I am thine that thou hast wrought thy gracious vvorke in me and wilt perfect it daily more and more till thou bringest me vnto that glory which thou hast prepared for me in thy heauenly kingdome through the merits of thy Sonne my blessed Lord and Sauiour to whom with thee and thy Spirit be all praise power and dominion both now and euermore Amen The godly man is alwaies blessed neuer miserable THe godly cannot but be alwaies blessed * Iob. 5.17 yea then when he seemes to be most miserable in the eye of the vvorld and to sense and carnall reason For when he is at the worst hee hath those things vvhich hee would haue being contented with any a Phil. 4.11 estate which the wise and gracious disposer of all things seeth fittest for him yea he cannot haue better things in regard of his present estate in this life then those things vvhich he hath and enioyeth euen then when he is laden and oppressed vvith many miseries Is he humbled through afflictions this is that which he vvould haue b Ier. 10.24 Iames 1.2 10 he had rather be continually vnder the Crosse then destitute of those excellent graces of c Rom. 5.3 patience humility d Mat. 11.29 Ioh. 12.26 without which he cannot be the disciple of Christ nor approued of God e Psal 4.6 119.13.5 of vvhom aboue all things he desires to be accepted and fauoured Is he poore he is vvell contented therewith seeing he is largely recompensed with the greater supply of those better riches * Phil. 4.19 those heauenly treasures both of grace and glory Hee would not change his portion with the greatest and richest Monarch in the world that aboundeth in worldly wealth f Psal 4.6.7 and wanteth those spirituall and heauenly treasures which he enioyeth and which shall neuer be taken from him vvhereas the
is there betweene a carnall and naturall man and him that is spirituall and truely regenerate How opposite and contrary are they in their thoughts desires inclinations proiects purposes and practises in briefe in the vvhole course and carryage of their liues It is wonderfull to obserue and see how exceedingly they differ what a marueilous contrarietie there is betweene them the naturall man doth alwayes eye those things which are visible and temporall the spirituall 2 Cor. 4.18 Heb. 11.1.27 those things especially which are inuisible and eternall The naturall man doth delight altogether in the creatures and in fulfilling the wicked lusts and vaine desires of his owne heart Mat. 24.38 1 Pet. 4.4 Gen. 19.9 and therefore neuer grieueth more then vvhen hee is most crossed in those courses vvhich hee so much affecteth Psal 33.21 Psal 37.4 and 95.1 1 Sam. 30.6 but the spirituall mans chiefe delight is in the Creator the fountaine of all true pleasure and delight and in feeding his soule vvith good thoughts 1 Pet. 1.3.6 blessed hopes holy desires and diuine and heauenly meditations Psa 119.97 vvith which hee can neuer bee satiated vvhereas for all earthly vanities hee hath a great distaste Gal. 6.14 and a base esteeme of them or at least hee looketh ouer them vvith a kinde of holy disdaine he doth not so much affect them but that hee doth earnestly desire and endeuour to restraine his minde from the sinfull and inordinate loue of them and neuer thinkes himselfe better at ease then when hee can most weane his affections from them Eccle. 2.17 and crucifie that corrupt nature of his with the wicked motions and concupiscence thereof Gal. 5.24 then which he findeth nothing more grieuous and burthensome vnto him or from which hee hath a greater desire to be altogether freed Rom. 7.24 The naturall man is led vvith the spirit of Sathan Ephes 2.2 and of this vvorld vvhich ruleth and raigneth yea rageth in him the spirituall man is led by the Spirit of Christ and of God Rom. 8.9.14 that holy and sanctifying Spirit of grace vvhich dwels in him rules gouernes and directeth him and leadeth him forth into the vvayes of righteousnesse and holinesse The naturall man doth vvholy vved himselfe to the vvorld Hosea 2.5 Iames 4.4 and therefore sauours nothing but the things of this earth Ioh. 3.31 Rom. 8.5 dotes fondly vpon them and lyes groueling vpon this slime and baser molde like a Mucke-vvorme vainely supposing that there can be no greater happinesse then to enioy abundantly the pleasures honours preferments profits and commodities thereof and therefore being foolishly enamoured Phil. 3.19 2 Pet. 2.19 or rather strangely besotted with the vvhorish loue of it doth in a base and sordid manner euen deuore himselfe to the seruice of it But the spirituall man doth not so loue the world but that when hee hath his eyes in his head hee flyes from it as farre as vvith conuenience hee may knowing the vanitie and the exceeding both danger and deceitfulnesse of it 1 Tim. 6.9 10.17 Eccles 1.2.14 1 Cor. 7.31 Psa 119.19 Heb. 11.9 Phil. 3.20 Gal. 6.14 he vseth it as if hee vsed it not maketh himselfe a stranger to it and had rather vtterly renounce and giue it ouer and be diuorced and quite separated from it then bee so much yoaked vnto it as hee seeth others are or tyed vvith so straite bonds of loue and amitie as that seeketh to chaine and fasten him vnto it and so to draw him to a more neare and entire vnion vvith it then he desires yea so contrary is it to his minde to be matched or ioyned in any league vvith it that he accounteth himselfe most happy vvhen he hath least to do vvith it and most freed from the encumbrances of it that so he may soare aloft and haue more fellowship and communion with God and greater liberty wholy to deuote himselfe to his worship and seruice assuredly perswading himselfe that herein and in nothing else consisteth true felicity and happinesse and therefore vvisely maketh it his chiefe treasure that vvhich he esteemeth farre aboue all other things The naturall man seeketh for comfort and contentment onely in sensible and externall things the spirituall Eccl. 11.9 Luk. 12.9.29 16.19 Psal 4.6.7 37.4 in the inward graces of Gods Spirit and in the assurance of his loue and fauour vvhich is a greater ioy and refreshing vnto him then all other things whatsoeuer Yea the sweetnesse of the world is bitternesse to him in comparison of this Phil. 2.21 The naturall man seeketh his owne priuate good that which may be most for thee aduancement of his outward state in the world his owne credit honour profit and commodity vvithout any respect vnto others the care of whom he thinks litle or nothing appertaineth vnto him if they be not such as nature hath linked and chained vnto him by such bonds as the verie Heathen themselues would not breake But the spirituall and regenerate man seeketh the good of others 1 Cor. 24.33 1 Cor. 13.5 as well as his owne yea he doth rather desire if he may conueniently do it to benefit many others then himselfe alone since he knoweth well that he was not borne for himself but for others also and that he is no lesse bound to others then to himselfe Iames. 2.8 and therefore not onely to wish but as farre as he can to procure their good with the same affection that he doth his owne The naturall man cares not how much or how oft he offends or prouokes others so that hee may please himselfe and satisfie his owne lustes yea it 's a pastime to him many times to grieue disquiet and molest others and those especially that are most innocent and harmelesse Psal 56.5 97.4 Psal 59.3 64.4 neyther thinking nor speaking much lesse working any euill against him but rather praying for him and seeking and desiring his good The spirituall man on the contrary is very loth to giue offence vnto any yea to the meanest and simplest ones 2 Cor. 6.3 1 Cor. 10.33 1 Ioh. 2.20 Rom. 15.2 1 Cor. 8.13 2 Cor. 6.3 2 Cor. 13.5 he seekes to please his neighbour as wel as himselfe and had rather doe or suffer that which would be some waies inconuenient to him then that his weake brother should be displeased or offended at him he is very wise and wary this waies so farre is he from delighting to grieue or prouoke others that he is much grieued when he seeth that others take occasion where there is none giuen to be grieued and displeased with him or by meanes of him and seekes presently in a louing affection towards them to heale that wound and to salue that sore which they haue rather brought vpon themselues then taken from him The naturall man doth scarce loue his best friends except it be carnally in worldly respects Psal 41.6.9