bloody heart of his â—alicious Brother Gen. 33.4 In brief when â—â—ey were a few a very few in number and â—rangers when they went from one Nation to â—â—other People he suffered no man to do them â—rong yea he reproâ—ed Kings for their sakes â—sal 105.12 13 14. David was sometime 〈◊〉 the paws of Bears sometime in the jaws â—f Lions encounters Goliah but is still safe â—nder Gods hand 1 Sam. 17. Saul pursues â—im hunts him 1 Sam. 26.18 20. watches â—im at his house 1 Sam. 19.11 comâ—asseth him about 1 Sam. 23.26 surâ—rises him in a Cave 1 Sam. 24.3 but â—ill he is safe under Gods wings The whole â—ountrey opposes one poor Prophet Kings â—â—inces Priests People all fight against him â—ut all cannot prevail and what the reason â—am with thee saith the Lord to deliver thee â—er 1.18 19. They smite him put him in the stocks Jer. 20. they question him foâ— his lise Ier. 26. imprison him Ier. 32. search for him to kill him Ier. 36. fliâ—â— him down into a miery sinking and stinking Dungeon Ier. 38. but the Lord is witâ— him in the stocks in prison in the dungeon his enemies are destroyed and he delivered Saints may be stoned shipwrackt often iâ— stripes above measure in prisons frequent 〈◊〉 death oft every where in perils and yet safâ— joyful happy 2 Cor. 11.23 c. They maâ— be as safe in a Lions Den as in a Palacâ— Dan. 6. as cheerful in a burning Furnacâ— as in a Bed Dan. 3. The truth is we maâ— have many changes but he changes not anâ— therefore we are not consumed Mal. 3.6 And because where so many and so crafâ—â— Adversaries walk about to devour 1 Peâ—â— 5.8 and prying into all advantages waâ—â— upon all occasions to destroy us we havâ— need of a good watch to secure us thâ— Lord himself sets the watch Psal. 141 3â— nay vouchsafeth in his own person whâ— never slumbers nor sleeps to watch anâ— ward about us Psal. 121.3 4. and 〈◊〉 countermining all their underminings blowâ— up all their projects impregnably fences ouâ— hearts and keeps them in his peace whicâ— passeth understanding Phil. 4.6 7. Object But is this true with our eyeâ— we see them in this World subject not only to much evil but often to death it self Answ. 1. Know assuredly the promise is infallible and general No evil shall befall thee Psal. 91.10 All shall work together for good Rom. 8.28 2. Many things are called and counted evil by carnal men nay by Saints in their mistaking weakness which are good Christs departure in the flesh seemed a great misery to the Apostles but they were deceived Iohn 16.6 7. Even all Saints after their blubberd eyes are cleared can see good in affliction and Gods faithfulness in his chastisements where they feared his wrath and felt his displeasure Psal. 119.71 75. 3. Death is no evil where God hath given Christ to be our Life Death is ours 1 Cor. 3.22 the gate to eternal rest a sleep in the bosome of Christ 1 Thes. 4.14 desired by Saints in a godly manner 2 Cor. 5.2 4. Phil. 1.23 and envied us by wicked enemies Numb 23.10 Object 2. Nay they are not so fenced by their Shield but that often they receive grievous wounds of spirit so that they roar for very disquietness of heart and are led captive by enemies Psal. 38.5 8. Rom. 7.23 Answ. 1. There are two sorts of wounds some of friends some of enemies some killing some healing A Surgeon will wound and lanch â— sore nay a Mother These wounds are as that of Iason Pherâ—eus whose enemy intended to kill but cured him 2. The Lord our heavenly Physician even by these wounds draineth our surrounding corruptions and purgeth our deadly and hellish filthinesâ— Peter's fall broke the heart oâ— his self-conceit and the stiff neck of his pride but he lost not one Limb of the new man Therefore Christ called it Winnowing or sifting of Wheat Luk. 22.31 The Corn falls on the Floar but is cleansed from the chaff and dross and so made fit for use And it is much to be observed that none have been more cleansed than they who have most sinned 4. This Captivity is but aâ— Iabins oppression of Israel It forces to cry who shall deliver me Compare Iudg. 4.3 with Rom. 7.24 this cry affects the soul of our Saviour grieved for the misery of his Israel Judg. 10.16 so God arises scatters our enemies and we are more than Conquerours in him that loved us Rom. 8.37 2. Secondly As he is a full defence so is he an exceeding great reward exceeding indeed not only the possibility of our deserving but the uttermost reach of any created understanding For as his love is incomprehensible Eph. 3.19 so his greatness unsearchable Psal. 145.3 He is only good Matth. 9.17 abundant in goodness Exod. 34.6 For as he is the only Fountain distilling all good into all Creatures so is he an overflowing Ocean pouring out to men not in drops but streams his Rivers of living pleasures and goodness See Psal. 36.8 9. They are abundantly satisfied with the fatness of his house he makes them drink of the Rivers of his pleasures for with him is the Fountain of life and in his light we shall see light Hence it is that his Servants wrapt and even swallowed up in this torrent with admiration and exclamation testifie Oh how great beyond expression or comprehension is thy goodness to them that fear thee which thou hast wrought for them that trust in â—hee before the Sons of men Psal. 31.19 Where can we turn our selves but we shall hear â—very Creature ready to joyn in consort with â—he Saints and to sing Thou crownest the year â—ith goodness and thy steps drop fatness they â—rop upon the pastures of the Wilderness and â—he little hills rejoice on every side The â—astures are cloathed with flocks the Vallies â—re covered with Corn they shout for joy â—hey also sing Psal. 65.11 12 13. How â—â—numerable are the Creatures in the â—eaven Ayer Earth Water and every one â—f them proclaim his goodness being in their Creation Very Good Gen. 1.28 and daily by his good Providence feasted and filled with good Psal. 104.28 It is not in vain that Gods Spirit by the Psalmist compares our defence in God to a Shield our reward to the Sun Psal. 84.11 A Shield saves us by its own gashes we cannot be wounded till our shield be pierced He is afflicted in our affliction Isa. 63.9 when men tear the faithful as Psal. 35.15 they scratch his eyes Zech. 2.8 He is persecuted in his Members Act. 9.4 All the wrongs all the stripes scoffs derisions abuses fastened upon his people lite upon him For he is the shield that bears off all The Sun is the fountain of light and not the Ayer only and every sublunary creature but even those Luminaries of Heaven have no other Tapers but what they kindle at his fire How freely and plentifully doth that great Light
his grace brings us to immortality and glory Whithersoever you turn you one oâ— these will be at your elbow In every corner you shall meet with the Lovers of thesâ— Harlots doating on their plaistered beauties and drawing others to the same doteageâ— Those Paramours of Rome will deeply swear that their Mistress is the Queen of the World that the Sun even the Scriptures borrows all his beams from her eyes that there is no Paradice but in her arms no Heaven but in her embraces no hope but in her anchour no faith but in her breast no truth but in her mouth that if she commands Vices and prohibits Vertues you were bound to believe that Vices were good and Virtues evil So Bellarm. De Roman Pontif. l. 4. c. 5. The other not so lofty in their boastings but as dangerous in their baits and lurings They will promise you liberty and what is more suitable and sweet to nature but make you as themselves servants to corruption Now if you should trust your own eyes and lean to your own understanding you might easily be charmed with their enchantments But if ever you mean to keep your heart intire for the Lord Iesus you must not afford one glance to these his Rivals but through the glass of his word That but else nothing will broadly display the putrid loathsomeness of these haggs and rotten puppets Be ever asking Where it is written this was the buckler of the Ancients I adore the fulness of Scripture Let the shop of Hermogenes teach us where it is written if it be not written let him fear the woe pronounced against Adders and detracters Tertul. This was the sword of the Spirit whereby our Saviour himself warded his breast from all those fiery darts of Satan and beat down all his strong assaults Matth. 4.4 7 10. But so cunning are some of these Imposters that they will challenge you at your own Weapon They have learnt this fence of their old Master the Devil who seeing our Lord standing upon this guard had presently in shew the same weapon and charged it against him It is written saith he Matth. 4.6 whereby you see how needful it is for you to have your senses exercised in the word to discern good and evil Heb. 5.14 and what necessity lies upon you to meditate in the word of God day and night Psal. 1.2 that you may breath your soul in those breathings of that Holy Spirit The enemy is crafty the issue of the combate life or death eternal Another sort of Whores that old Baud and Pandar the World and the Devil dresâ— up in another fashion to lay battery to your heart the will and affection and they arâ— as if not more dangerous than the former The first is the Lady Mammon boasting her self the only true Riches but indeed a meer slip and counterfeit brass and copper covered with tinfoyl Yet how many unstable souls hath she beguiled She hath all the tricks of a Whore first in quality secondly in action For 1. She is false and lying what content and happiness doth she promise to her Paramours yet did she never satisfie any Lover Eccles. 5.10 How should that give man content which hath no more worth than mans fancy gives it She drowns us in perdition and destruction and pierceth with many sorrows 1 Tim. 6.9 10. 2. She is inconstant and light winged and flies away Prov. 23.5 2. Her actions also whorish she hunts for the precious life of a man Prov. 6.26 No less hire will purchase her company than the price of our souls Matth. 16.26 when she hath shut us within her embraces she shuts us out of the Kingdom of Heaven As soon shall a Camel pass through the eye of a needle as a man loving riches through the strait gate of life Mar. 10.24 25. 2. A Whore sells nothing but repentance and mourning at our latter end Prov. 5.11 And what do men reap from the love of riches but weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth Jam. 5.1 The way to keep off our hearts from this false Strumpet is to fasten our eyes upon the heavenly Riches which are first true the metal not base but precious promises 2 Pet. 1.4 precious faith much more precious than gold 1 Pet. 1.7 The stamp upon them is the Image of the King of Heaven which makes them currant in all his Dominions 2. They are durable riches Prov. 8.18 they will never fail you In life and death they will follow you Rev. 14.13 He that looks upon God as his Portion and sees in what pleasant places the lines are fallen to him Psal. 16.5 6. He that looks upon Christ his Treasure Col. 2.3 and those glorious riches stored up in him will look upon all other riches as loss and dung Phil. 3.8 and think the meanest room of his heart too precious to be taken up with trash and trumpery The second Harlot is Honour Reputation and Credit with men A proud Strumpet that carryes her head aloft but the veriest dirt of all the rest yet how strong are her allurements How did she draw away those in part-believing Iews specially Rulers Ioh. 12.42 how easily did she carry them down in a stream of popularity from the fountain of life She hath a strong faction in all mens hearts to work for her but principally in those who are great in the worldâ— If ever you attain any eminence there she will prove a dangerous tentation Take heed of casting one glance toward her lest you be overcome Remember that warning of our Saviour you cannot entertain faith and her in one heart Joh. 5.44 Take heed also of being dismayed with her frowns Assuredly know she will affront you with reproach contempt disgrace If ye cleave to Christ were you Kings were you the King of Kings she would not be afraid to revile you and spit in your face David was torn with her mocks Psal. 35.15 16. because he followed that which was good Psal. 38.20 The Son of David derided by proud Pharisees Luk. 16.14 Think not being servants to be above your Master It is enough for the Disciple to be as his Master and the servant as the Lord. If they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub how much more shall they call them of his houshold Matth. 10.25 whosoever will live godly be sure of â—t shall suffer at least this persecution 2 Tim. â— 12 But take off your eye from this shadow â—nd lye of honour and set it upon that true â—lory Could you with Moses behold but â—ne spark of that heavenly advancement â—ou would with Moses account the reproach 〈◊〉 Christ greater honour than all the treasures of Egypt Heb. 11.26 If you will take up the â—â—count aright thus you will value it for indeed God himself is your praise Deut. 10.21 Christ himself the glory of his Israel Luk. 2.32 And what weight then in the ballance of any impartial judgement can the rotten breath of a mortal creature and the
glittering As our houses some â—â—e dawbed with plain lome others plaistered â—ith lime and washed over Now as in our houses we look first to the materials secondly to the form the one giving strength the other beauty to our buildings so in the Body strength and beauty are the special endowments of it Beauty is but the flower of grass 1 Pet. 1.24 not all out so fair full out as fading blasted with the wind seared with the Sun smitten with every worm and if it had no outward enemy rotting in the ripening and ever slubbered in the using Sickness turnâ— it into dust death into dung the one makeâ— it untoothsome the other loathsome Favour therefore is deceitful and beauty vaiâ— Prov. 31.30 nay often dangerous Aâ— it hath cords to draw a lusting affection sâ— hath it snares to intangle us in these cords It is a fire that may scorch others and consume our selves How then should Beautâ— make happy when many thousands aâ— Absolom and his Sister Tamar might havâ— been much more happy if they had beeâ— much less beautiful 2. Secondly What is there in bodilâ— strength were it equal to Sampsons in thâ— latitude and in the longitude to Calebs Josâ—â— 14.10 11. what can the fullest dimensioâ— of strength bring with them to make 〈◊〉 happy By strength shall no man prevaiâ— 1 Sam. 2.9 The battel is not to the stronâ— Eccles. 9.11 It is not worth a smile Ier. 9.23 An Ague unbends and Age bends the strongest back It fills us with vain confidence drives us to rash attempts fails us in the execution and betrayes us to destruction Nay if we travel further into this lesser world of man and search into the bowels of it we shall find nothing in the Head or Heart City which will help to build up our happiness True indeed it is Wisdom excelleth folly as far as light darkness yet though the wise mans eyes be in his head he cannot keep off the event of fools what happens to the fool happens to the wise Eccles. 2.13 14 15. If it dwell with poverty it is followed with scorn Eccles. 9.16 It is ever married to pain and sorrow the issue of the match and grows up with it Eccles. 1.18 Some foolishness is wiser than it and utterly out-wits it 1 Cor. 1.25 And as our natural wisdom most oâ—ten perverts us Isa. 47.10 bladders and swells us oft to bursting Isa. 10.13 1 Cor. 8.1 so when it grows up in a carnal mind it turns foolishness 1 Cor. 3.19 enmity to God Rom. 8.7 and devilish Iam. 3.15 We see it ordinarily that those subtile heads which are â—utored in that Florentines universiâ—y soon commence Batcheler Machiavils and Master Devils And truly I think no wise man can discern how that can merit the name of wisdome which must necessarily first proceed fool before it can have the grace to go out wise 1 Cor. 3.18 But to help it a little joyn with this natural wisdome moral honesty and stretch them both to the uttermost extent yet will they still fall short and never reach to happiness They are like that Scribe who answered discreetly he was not far from the Kingdom of God Mark 12.34 but stopping there was never in it Morality in those ethick Sages is like the rings and jewels of running cheaters brass but fairly gilded fair stones but counterfeit They oft deceive never enrich the Owner precious to the view but bring them to the Touch of no value And as some Phidian statue exquisitely formed may seem to live breath c. yet is but a stone so lifeless is all their morality for he that hath the Son hath life and he that hath not the Son hath not life 1 Joh. 5.12 If some old Image gnawn with Rats be trickt up again with a new dress and garnished with choice colours yet are colours indeed dead as the rotten stock Such were those old heathen Philosophers Images of Virtue or rather as the Apostle speaks of Sacrifices shadows of good things Heb. 10.1 They were as all other in nature dead in sins and trespasses Eph. 2.5 And how shall the hand be living when the heart is dead the fruit good when the Tree is evil The best of them professing themselves wise became fools Rom. 1.22 Neither the wisdom of Socrates the justice of Aristides could in this life secure them from earthly calamities death banishment c. How should it help them in that other with that Judge where the Saints and their righteousness not washed in the blood of the Lamb Rev. 7.14 are all as an unclean thing and as filtâ—y raggs Isa. 64.6 As one speaks all their fair shews were splendida peccata glistering â—ins And truly sin glistering is no less filthy but more dangerous brass as all other but better polished All the former discourse let me shut up with another Poem of that Platonick Philosopâ—er Boâ—tius Libr. 3. Metr 8. When Ignorance leads fools both blind they stray How should they hitt or miss their â—nd or way We seek not grapes on thornsâ— on thistles figgs Who gathers pearls â—rom Vines or gold from twiggsâ— He that would feast his guests with Lenten dishes Draggs not dry Mountains nor thin Ayeâ— fishes He that with Ven'son would his palate please Swims not his Hounds in Brooks or hunts the Seaâ— Tethis black Closets hid with dark deep floods Men search know rifle ransack all her goods Where brightest Pearls she hoords in Oyster cells Where Coral grafts where stores her purple shells They know her Markets Fairs where when to buy Each kind of Fish where Crabs where Lobsters lye But where that good which makes man blessed lyes They have no ears to hear to see no eyes On earth â—ools hunt which far transcends the poles They tear dig delve oh are they men or moles What curse deserve such Bedlams blindâ—old wretches Tir'd let them still pursue their honours riches And prest with fâ—lse goods give them eyes to view The dross of false the glory oâ— the true If then in none of these CAP. VII Where lies the Portion of Man THE Portion or Inheritance of man which makes him blessed lies not so low as the highest creature His Treasure is not buried in earth but bagg'd up in Heaven Luk. 12.33 Heaven indeed is his Store-house but not his Portion He that is infinitely higher than the Heavens Heb. 7.26 he whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain 2 Chron. 6.18 he and he alone is mans Inheritance Man is the great Favourite of Heaven and of the King of Heaven and though he were made a little lower than the Angels yet his Lord most highly advanced him set the Crown upon his head crowned him with glory and honour Psal. 8.5 6. and gave him dominion over the works of his hands The gift was very great but not proportionable to the love or person of the Giver Therefore our gracious Lord after he had bestowed all his creatures upon us to be our servants gave us himself to
But wherein consists this seeking of God In all seeking 1. The heart seeks in the desires and longings of it 2. That sets it self and the whole man on work constantly and diligently to use all means whereby we may attain what we may desire and seek The root is in the heart that blades in the desire mark 2 Chron. 15.12 15. ears and grows fruitful in the actions and earnest endeavours David seeks God How 1. His soul thirsted his flesh longed for God 2. He follows hard after him Psal. 63.1 8. so those Saints Isa. 26.8 9. in the night desire him with their soul seek him early in the morning waiting for him in the way of his judgements Again that which we seek must be the end of our seeking whatsoever we seek not for it self but for some other we seek not it indeed but that other for which we desire and seek it God must be sought for himself we must not in seeking him look to any thing beyond him when we seek our Lord as the Iews sought Christ not bâ—â—ause of the miracle but because they had eaten and were filled we seek not our God but our bellies But what are the meanâ— wherein we seek and find The Lord hath given us blessed means 1. Holy Ordinances the way of hiâ— judgements prayer the Word Sacraments See Isa. 26.8 2. A powerful Mediatour and prevalent Intercessour with God for man God and Man the Lord Iesus Christ he the only Door Joh. 10.9 the only Way by which we come to God Ioh. 14.6 His blood hath scored out our path to the Holiest a new and living way through the Veil of â—is flesh Heb. 10.19 20. 3. Faith which effectually applies both unto us The Ordinances not mingled with faith profit not Heb. 4.2 Prayer without faith God accounts howling Hos. 7.14 the word men who have no faith count babbling Act. 17.18 Christ is ours and dwells in our hearts by faith Ephes. 3.17 but without faith we are still under the curse Iob. 3.36 He then that thirsteth for God looks to Christ in every Ordinance not to serve himself of God but to serve him in all faithfulness this man seeks God Many there are which deceive themselveâ— and suppose they are not now to begin that work they have long â—ince they hope both sought and found him But have they prepâ—red their heart have thâ—y put awâ—y iniquity far from them do they not suffer wickedness to dwell in their Tabernacles Job 11.13 14. How should men seek and find God in the wayes of ungodliness the righteous Lord in all unrighteousness Can God be found in Atheism In such wayes they find God as Balaam his Angel with a drawn sword in his hand not as a Father but a Iudge and Avenger Indeed if we rejoice to work righteousness remember him in his wayes he will surely meet us in his mercy Isa. 64.5 But if we seek him after our own devices and though we walk after the imagination of our own wicked hearts yet dream we shall have peace Deut. 29.19 he will meet us not as a man Isa. 47.3 but as a Lion to tear us in pieces where none can deliver Psal. 50.22 And yet further that we deceive not our selves in a matter of such consequence we must know that this seeking of God may be considered in divers periods of it 1. When being without God in the World we seek to be initiated into his service see Act. 17.27 2. After some breach when by our misbehaviour we have caused him to withdraw his favour and to hide himself from us as Cant. 5.6 3. Even when we are in peace and amity we must still seek him labouring to get more union and communion with him in a continual waiting upon him and looking unto him Psal. 105. 4. Some perhaps will think All this is needless what necessity of seeking him when he first seeks us Luk. 15.4 8. nay finds us before we seek him Isa. 65.1 God indeed loveth us first 1 Ioh. 4.19 and in his love draws us Jer. 31.3 In infinite love he gives us his Son Joh. 3.16 Thus he seeks us lost Creatures as that Woman her lost Groat Luk. 15.8 He lights up the Gospel and sends in with it that great light offers him and in him offers us grace and happiness so he seeks and finds us as Keepers their strayed Deâ—r he sends in Hunters and they hunt us from every Mountain and every hill and from holes of Rocks he sends those Apostolical Fishers and they shall spread their Nets Ezek. 47.10 and fish them Ier. 16.16 Till which time we do but as thosâ— blind Heathens feel after him Act. 17.27 we sit in darkness he sends in his Word and calls us â—orth unto his marvelous Light 1 Pet. 2.9 we are enemies he beseeches us to be reconciled and offers us peace in Christ but further gives his chosen an heart to know him Jer. 24.7 an heart to fear him Jer. 32.39 an heart to walk in his wayes Ezek. 36.27 He circumciseth their hearts to love him Deut. 30.6 opens the heart for Christ Act. 16.14 and brings in the Lord Jesus to dwell there Ephâ—s 3.17 so he first seeks us in calling us seek ye my fâ—ce and then we when he hath given us that new heart seek him when we answer Lord thy face will I seek Psal. 27.8 He first waits to be gracious to us then we wait on him and arâ— blessed Isa. 30.18 Let me shut up this Chapter with that Princely Preacher and Prophetical Poet in this Paraphrase in Verse upon his Ecclesiast 2. I. Oh I am tir'd I faint I swoon I dye I travel all the world to find a station Where weary soulâ— may saâ—e and happy lye I search for rest feel but vexation I grope for substance grasp but vanity I seek for life and health find death damnation I meet approaching death death to eschew Toyl'd with vain sweat I wax old to renew My weary life so spend and hate what I pursue II. To Pleasures house I fail'd and safe arriv'd I lookt for Joy but â—ound a Bedlam there Into rich Mammons baggs and Chestâ— I div'd But saw them fill'd with grief with care and â—ear The Crown was but a Skep where swarms are hiv'd Of stinging thoughts it wears me wâ—ich I wear Has man no good is 't lost or aâ—â— blind Who who will point the way or cleer my mind To find what I should seek to seek that I may find III. Look as th' industrious Bee from flowr to flowâ— Jumps lightly viâ—its all but dwells in none Or as a sickly taste tries sweet and sowre Runs through a World of dishes finds not oâ—â— To please his curious Palâ—teâ— has no power To relish what it likes this bit that bone Long'd â—or and loath'dâ— thus my unquiet breaâ—â— In Earth Sâ—â—â— Ayer Heav'â— vainly 〈◊〉 But serving them is curst and serv'd by them not blest IV. Can rivers seek find reâ—â— in resâ—less Seas Can Ayer in
seen they hate Ioh. 15.24 and all that he loves or love him all his members Mar. 13.13 though they be their own flesh and that even to death Lukâ— 21.16 17. Excellently is this condition expressed in that metaphor wherein carnal men are called spots and blemishes 2 Pet. 2.13 A wicked Father or Childe a wicked Husband or wife a wicked Master or Servant is a spot in a familie a wicked Governour or Subject a spot in the Common wealth a wicked Minister or Professour a spot and blemish in the Church And as a spot or blemish is nothing but filthiness or a filthy nothing so is every man in his corrupted nature 2. Man in the first Adam is a child of the Divel Ioh. 8.44 and a very Divel in flesh Ioh. 6.70 Satan a filthy spirit but he filthy in flesh and spirit 2 Cor. 7.1 he a captive of the Divel 2 Tim. 2.26 a servant to sin which is the very dung of Satan Rom. 6.17 fetter'd in the very bond of it Act. 8.23 servant to corruption 2 Pet. 2.19 and to divers lusts Tit. 3.3 the hand serves one the eye another the ear a third the heart a thousand He is even cut out and mangled into a base and cursed slaverie Now the servant is more base than the Master Take good notice therefore of this estate of man Lust is the servant of Satan man the servant of lust the Divels servants servant Sin the corruption and dung of Satan man the servant of sin and corruption In a word a carnal man is the prey of Satan devoured by that roaring Lion who hath digested him into filthiness of flesh and spirit and hell the draught into which he is purged Thus then think in your hearts I. Ayeâ— oâ— her selâ— is dark and hath no light But what Heaven lends her and when angry skies Call in their debt she sinks in dungeon night Nay while she borrowes light oâ—t foggâ— arise Or storms and filch by stealth or rob by might Her lone her day in youth or childhood dies But while the present Suns with conquering ray Dispel the shades and their strong beams display She sparkles all with light and broider'd gold-array II. Such now is Man inform void empty dark A Chaos dungeon grave a starless night Rake all his ashes up ther 's not a spark To tine quencht life or kindle buried light And what he steals from others empty shark Hell with his mists depraves so robbs him quite But when his Life and Light shines in his eyes In him he lives as he and never dies Glittring in light divine he heaven stars Sun out-vies III. For as in earthly sight the bodies eye To the object bent is like the object â—orm'd So when the soul turn'd to the Deitiâ— Receives hiâ— likâ—ness it is soon tranâ—form'd To what it sees death hell and darkness â—â—y And all the spirit to Light and Liâ—â— conform'd Soul of my soul draw my souls eyes to thee Set them upon thy face make me to be By seeing Life and Light the Light and Liâ—e I see You have seen what you are in the first Adam look now on the other side of this picture and see what you may be in the second CAP. XXI Man in Christ is above other men and all creatures next the Creatour IN our selves we are 1. Dead a meer privative a nothing 2. Dead in sin meer corruption corruption of Hell what we are or may be in Christ now consider We are quickned together with Christ. Christ is that overflowing Fountain by whose fulness of grace our empty chanels are not only 1. Scoured from that choking mire which stops all passages but 2. Stored with the water of life with the fulness of God see Hab. 2.14 Eph. 3.19 But how are we quicken'd with Christ raised and sit together in heavenly places with him Eph. 2.6 Not only virtually as the fruit lies in the seed or root but in some kind actually As in the first fruits the whole field and in the Cake of the first dough the whole lump was sanctified and an actual blessing conveyed in it so Christ being raâ—sed is the first frâ—its of them that sleep 1 Cor. 15.20 the first Cake of the new lump 1 Cor. 5.7 and in him even actually in a kind are they quickened who are yet unborn As a wife or child takes possession of that land in the husband or Father which he hath purchased in their name Hence we evidently see first that the only life of man by which he is a Câ—ristian a blessed creature nay indeed by which he is a right man is not that natural and fading but this spiritual and eternal life which we have in Christ hence called the life of God Eph. 4.18 begotten by God Jam. 1.18 the life of Christ 2 Cor. 4.10 he our life Col. 3.4 and liveth in us Gal. 2.20 and the life of the Spirit he gives it 2 Cor. 3.6 And as the vegetative life of plants the sensitive life of beasts the rational life of man is nothing elss but the Act of such a soul giving the creature such a being and enabling it unto such actions so the divine and spiritual life is nothing else but that Aâ—â— of Gods Spirit dwelling in man and giving him a spiritual being a divine nature and enabling to spiritual and Godly actions or to use the Scripture phrase to live and walk in the Spirit Gal. 5.25 whereby we live in God and to God see Rom. 8.9 10. Gal. 2.20 1 Joh. 5.11 12. For without question the true life of man differs from all other life in inferiour or contrary creatures but in this natural life the faculties and actions of it man differs not from plants in growth from beasts in sense from wicked spirits in reason That form then which gave man his difference doubtless was that Image of God in which he was created perfect by the loss of which he lost the perâ—ection and truth of humane nature He therefore that hath no other but this natural life is but an half-man hath little or nothing of a man but is partly a beast in respect of sense partly a Divel in regard of his perverted and distorâ—ed reason 2. Secondly here we may easily observe that howsoever a carnal man glisters in carnal eyes honoured admired yet is he a very Abject and the skumm of the creatures so a spiritual man contrary though he seem a base thing in the eye of the world and more base in his own a reproch of men and scorn of the people Psal. 22.6 yet is he indeed the most noble and excellent creature in the world and next the great Creatour Hence the Saints in terms are called the Excellent Psal. 16.3 preferred in their excellencie before others whatsoever are their earthly advancements The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour Prov. 12.26 28.6 This is Heavens this is Gods Heraldry Now are they Sons of God and Heirs apparent 1 Joh. 3.1 But because their
shed his beams not only through the skies and ayer but down to the earth and every earthly Creature It gilds every weed and dung-hill and though it lends so bountifully to all yet it is self still as full as ever Such a reward is our Lord unto us Seeing theâ— he is first infinitely great and all Nations nothing before him and to him less than nothing Isa. 40.17 and secondly infinitely and incomprehensibly good abundantly surrounding the most vast desires in his goodness commanding us to open our mouths wide that is to enlarge our hearts in thirsting our mouths in asking and promises to fill them Psal. 81.10 certainly they can want nothing â—o whom he is all things And this is it which draws out the hearts of his servants to all thankfull acknowledgement The Lord is my Shepheard I shall not want Surely mercy and goodness shall follow me all dayes of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever Psal. 23. It is altogether impossible for any Creature to think that God can be any such thing which can possibly be better'd or excell'd by any thing as being a good without limits which the more we know and enjoy the more we esteem and affect It cannot therefore be denyed that the highest and only happiness of man consists in the getting and enjoying him Hearken then to that sweet invitation of that so often before mentioned Philosopher and Poet. Boetius Libr. 3. Metr 10. Come hither come poor Captives you whose minds â—ith dust cast in your eyes Lust cheating blinds â—nd to base earth with willing â—etters binds Come weary souls here reâ—t here quiet bide Come anchor here 's your Port here safely ride Your guilt in this close Sanctuary hide Nor Golden Tagus nor bright Hemus streams Nor India's sâ—lf whose womb Sols hotter beams Fill with rich seed red white green glittering gems No sparkling Pearls your quenched snuff can tine The more ye cleave to their deceitâ—ul shine The more y' are buried in their Dungeon mine Their glistering rayes which kindle fond desire Are earthly and beget but â—atuous fire Shine but in night they rise and set in mire But this Eternal Sun whose splendour bright Rules quickens all gives you both life and light The eye that wistly views with fixed sight Will swear the Starrs the Moon the Sun it self is night But you will say How shall we possibly meet God is in Heaven we on earth Eccles. 5.2 he of purer eyes than to behold evil thaâ— cannot look upon iniquity Hab. 1.13 We all an unclean thing and our righteousness a filthy rag Isa. 64.6 He higher than the Heavens Heb. 7.26 we as low as Hell Observe therefore CAP. VIII How we attain this Portion SUch is the high favour which we poor dust have found in the eyes of our glorious Creatour that he hath not only set us out our Portion in himself but tyed himself to us and us to himself in the sure bond of an everlasting Covenant in which he hath passed himself to us and purchast us to himself he ours as before and we his Portion Deut. 32.9 Zech. 2.12 He our King Hos. 13.10 we his Kingdom Exod. 19.5 6. He to us a Father 2 Cor. 6.18 in love and providence Hos. 14.4 Matth. 6.26 we to him Children in love and obedience Deut. 10.12 Ier. 7.28 This his Covenant he hath frequently enâ—grossed for us that we might have it ever in our eyes not only in his word Gen. 17.7 Ier. 31.31 c. but in our hearts also Ier. 31.33 As Ionathan because he delighted in David 1 Sam. 19.2 and loved him as his own Soul regarded not the disparity of their condition but divested himself of his Princely robes to adorn his servant and having given and tyed his heart to him before now gives his hand and binds himself to him in a sure knot of a friendly Covenant 1 Sam. 18.1 2 3. so our most gracious Lord having his delights with the Sons of men Prov. 8.31 loving us beyond knowledge Ephes. 3.19 so far descended in the depth of his love from the height of his Majesty that he even bound himself to the clay of his hands Perhaps the learned Heathen might have some dimm sight of this great Mystâ—rie and veiled it under the Fable of Pâ—gmalion who having framed a curious statue in the form of a Woman fell into love with it and when he had gotten it enlivened married it Love even desires unionâ— and communion with the beloved This incomprehensible goodness of God and great Mysterie of Godliness will be best opened unto us by way of Question and Answer Quest. 1. Hath God never made more Covenants with man than one Answ. God hath made divers Covenants as Gen. 9.9 c. but specially two the Old and New Jer. 31.31 or the first and second Covenant Heb. 8.7 Quest. 2. With whom did God make these Covenants Answ. With the two Adams the first with the first Adam and his seed the second with the second Adam and his seed the first made with a servant and therefore a Covenant of works in this tenure Do this and live Gal. 3.12 The second made with the Son and therefore a Covenant of Grace wherein God giveth what he asketh and worketh what he commandeth bids us Live and so gives us life Ezek. 16.6 commands his Covenant Psal. 111.9 and so writes it in our hearts Jer. 31.33 Thus our new Covenant is made first and immediately with Christ our Redeemer and mediately with us through him our Mediatour See Isa. 59.20 21. Gal. 3.16 Quest. 3. Was then that first Covenant broken Answ. By the first Adam it was utterly broken Gen. 3. and so by all mankind Ier. 31.32 And hence with the root dyed all the branches Rom. 5.12 And certainly never can we sufficiently admire or bless that miracle of Gods mercy in which after that by our treacherous revolture and rebellion we had broken Covenant and were utterly fallen into eternal death and misery he hath taken advantage by our breach of Covenant to make a better Covenant with us and by our sin and rebellion to glorifie his grace in doing us more good than ever that seeing we so waveringly fell in the first we mighâ— invincibly stand in the second Adam and having lost our selves and all our blessedness in the one we might regain and eternally reâ—ain iâ— in the other And hence the first is called the figure of the second Adam Rom. 5.14 because as the first was the Head and Root of our first Covenant in whom we were all blessed if he stood and cursed if he fell so the second is the Head of our second Covenant with whom because he cannot dye our liâ—e is hid up in God Col. 3.3 in whose eternal blessedness we are everlastingly blessed Quest. 4. What is our new Covenant and the matter of it Answ. In a word as Christ Iesus is the Head so is he also the matter of our Covenant For
we so empty when he so full and overflowing how are we full of nothing but wants when he so abundantly replenished with an unexhausted plenty Answ. 1. There are some nourishing some starving wants want of meat without sense of want pines the body wants breeding hunger drive to food and food yields strength and growth were our wants without feeling we could not hunger for the Lord Iesus and his righteousness 〈◊〉 we are sensible of them and therefore hunger and thirst for Christ we are blessed and shall certainly be satisfied Matth. 5 6â— when therefore we find thirst and hungerâ— why should we fear to repair with all assurance to this full Fountain What Well denies us water how freely doth light lend and give light He that is the Sun of Righteousness and Fountain of living Waters invites thee to come and when thou comest gives freely Rev. 22.17 He draws thee to himself Ioh. 12.32 poureth out his Spirit unto thee Prov. 1.23 satiates the weary soul Ier. 31.25 and will surely make it to flow with Rivers of living water Joh. 7.38 This passage also may we conclude with that excellent Poet. Boetius Libr. 3. Metr 12. Thrice happy soul that turns his Sphere of sight To that greaâ— Sun and Fount of goodness bright Thence fills his waining Orb with true eternal light Happy who loosing his clogg'd feet and hands From pressing earths and hells oppressing bands Mounts soaring up to Heaven and at that haven lands Once Orpheus plaining at his Spouses bier Gave Rocks a weeping eye and listning ear Brooks staid their hasty stream woods left their roots to hear But when no Muse his wounded heart could plaister Songs fann'd his fires and flames brake out the faster His verses pleasing all but easing not their Master Weary of life to hell he desperate flings There fits his sweetest voice to sweeter strings And into pitty Lords of Shades and darkness sings There what his Mothers spring there what his eyes Griefs double fountain what which both out-vies Lost-longing love affords he to stern Ghosts applyes Hells bauling Dog pricks up his thrice two ears To houl to bark to snarl to whine he fears Haggs still their hissing snakes and Furies melt in tears Then first Ixion and his wheel take rest Tantale neglects his tast his ear to feast The Vulture full of verse scorns Titius loathed brest Diâ— yields and with this law restores his Love Till hell be left his sight back must not move Who gives Love laws alasâ— Loves only law is love Now past black Stix near to the verge of Skies Forc'd by desire turning his longing eyes Euridice at once he saw he loâ—â— he dies This Fable looks to thee who tir'd with night Desir'st to draw thy soul to life and light On that Eternal Sun set â—asten fix thy sight If you turn back on hellish Shades to pore Thou ever losest what thou wan'st before Thy soul more barr'd from Heav'n in hell implunged more Seeing then this Covenant is all our salvation and desire 2 Sam. â—3 5 in the next place Observe CAP. IX What is required of us to be entered into this Covenant ALL that our gracious God demands of us is only to Seek himâ— Seek the Lord and his strength seek his face continually 1 Chron. 16.11 Seek the Lord while he may by found Isa. 55.6 Naturally in this â—abour we are notorious sluggards ready to project vain and imaginary dangers There is a Lyon in the way and when Gods gracious hand is stretched forth reaching out his Covenant to us we hide our hand in our bosome and will not draw it out to receive his ofâ—er when he puts and even thrusâ—s thiâ— Bread of Heaven into our hand it grievâ—â—s â—o bring it again unto our mouth Prov. 26. â—3 15. Therefore our Lord who desires â—ot our death Ezek. 18.32 presseth hard â—his duty upon us Seek the Lord and ye â—hall livâ— Seâ—k me and ye shall live Seek â—im that makes the seven starrs and Orion â—hat turneth the shadow of death into the mornâ—ng and maketh the day dark with night â—mos 5.4 6 8. And because this Wisdom is the principal thing Prov. 4.7 therefore he commands us that it should be the first of our thoughts and wayes Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness Matth. 6.33 This is his way and we must walk in it So do his Saints With wy whole heart have I sought thee Oh let me not wander from thy Commandments Psal. 119.10 Conscious of their starting nature they enter into Covenant and bind themselves with an Oath and penalty of death to seek the Lord with their whole desire 2 Chron. 15â—12 13 14 15. Even half servants and such who have nothing to shew of his Service but a Coat and Livery and that so worn torn and thread-bare that men may see their nakedness through it even these confess sometime the necessity of it and in their manner set themselves to this duty and when they do oh mercy they lose not all their labour Those hypocrites whose hearts were not upright with him but flattered him with their tongue yet in their extremity sought him and enquired early after God so he forbore them and destroyed them not Psal. 78â—34 36 37 38. Iehoash in the life of Jehojadah 2 King 12.2 and Uzziah in thâ— time of Zechariah meer temporisers 2 Chron. 26.5 sought the Lord and prospered And truly there is an absolute necessity which will enforâ—e and drive us to this search with all diligence For there are two things which compell the most slothful heart to labour with all industry 1. The great need of a thing when he cannot subsist without it 2. The extream want when he hath nothing of it Both here meet and that in the highest degree First We are in our nature wholly without him Without Christ without God in the world strangers to the Covenant of Promise and therefore without hope Ephes. 2.12 we have utterly lost him As the Gileadites dealt with Iepthah Judg. 11.2 we have driven him from us thrust him out of our doors shut our gates upon him and even defied him as they Job 21.14 Depart from us or those in the Gospâ—l We will not have this man reign over us Luk. 19.14 we have compelled him by our sins to forsake us and to separate from us Isa. 59.2 We have broken him with our whorish hearts in departing from him Ezek. 6.9 and so forced him to leave us Isa. 2.6 2. Our need of him is palpable We can have nothing do nothing be nothing without him for In him we live move and have our being Act. 17.28 Our wants are innumerable and he the only Fountain that supplies them Our enemies also numberless strong subtile malicious and he our only Sheild that defends us Our weakness notorious Of no strength Rom. 5.6 All our strength hope comfort lies only in him Get him therefore we must or perish and seek him we must or never get him
which was against us Col. 2.14 we were Captives 2 Tim. 2.26 he the Price of our Redemption Matth. 20.28 we were fools Tit. 3.3 he our wisdom 1 Cor. 1.30 we poor Rev. 3.17 he our Riches Col. 1.27 Rev. 3.18 we Vile Job 40.4 he our Praise and Glory Deut. 10.21 Luk. 2.32 we joyless our very joy madness Eccles. 2.2 he our exceeding joy Psal. 43.4 To conclude We dead Ephes. 2.1 he our Life Joh. 14.6 we Vanity at our best Psal. 39.5 and very nothing 2 Cor. 12.11 he All in all Col. 3.11 we empty he our fulness Ephes. 1.23 Oh that the Lord would embrighten our eyes to behold some sparks of this glorious excellency and our happiness in beholding it that the eyes of our understanding being opened we might know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints Ephes. 1.18 If our God should create for us as many worlds as we could number what were all these Creatures in comparison of the Creaâ—our a drop of a bucket or the dust of the ballance Isaâ— 40.15 He is the glorious Spouse of ouâ— souls but all the Creatures his servants and in him ours Let him therefore be the Covering of our eyes unto all that are with us and with all others Gen. 20.16 upon him let us fasten our sight with all admiration and burning affection but on them in comparison of him let us look as upon loss and dung Phil. 3.8 A chaste Spouse will respect her servants and behold them in their affliction with pitty in their wants with mercy in their diligence and service with a kind acceptation but in competition with her husband if they would presume to be Rivals in his love and sharers of her heart and his bed with disdain scorn and hatred Let us therefore stir up and quicken our dull hearts with some such meditation I. How is 't my soul that thou giv'st eyes their sight To view their objects yet hast none To see thine own Earths ayers Heav'ns beauties they discern their light Fair flowers admires their several dresses Their golden tresses The Lilly Rose the various Tulip scorning The pride of Princes in their choice adorning II. They joy to view the ayers painted Nations The Peacocks train which th' head out vies With fairer eyes And emulats the heav'nly constellations The Ostâ—ich whose â—air plume embraves Kings Captains Slaves The Halcions whose Triton-bills appease Curl'd waves and with their Eggs lay stormy seas III. Pilots fixt eyes observe the Artick Bear With all her unwasht Starry trains In Heav'nly plains Night-Travellers behold the Moon to steer Her Ship sailing while Eol raves Through cloudy waves Our less Worlds sunns with pleasure view the light Which gives all beauties beauty them their sight IV. Thou that giv'st â—ight to clay to blackness light How â—rt so dull so dimm in duty To view his beauty Who quickens every life lights every light His height those Eagles eyes surpasses Thou wants thy glasses Take up that Perspective and view those streams Oâ— light and fill thy waning Orb with beams V. Then see the flowers clad in his Liveries And from his cheek and lovely face Steal all their grace See Fouls from him borrow their braveries And all their feather-painted dresses From his fair tresses See Starrs and Moon the Sun and all perâ—ection Beg light and liâ—e from his bright eyes reâ—â—ection VI. Look on his lipps heav'ns gate there open lies Thence that grace-breathing Spirit blows Thence honey flowes Look on his hands the Worlds full treasuries Fix all thy looks his heart upon Loves highest Throne And when thy sight that radiant beauty bleâ—rs And dazels thy weak eyes see with thine ears CAP. XII When our hearts are set upon our voyage we shall meet with opposition many rocks and Sirens in our passage BUT in this way to our happiness we shall meet with much opposition we cannot steal such a Nuptial if we will needs be walking in this way of life he that hath the power of death will beat us with many storms assault us with many encounters before we can land in the arms of Christ and be bedded in his bosome That great enemy of man Satan swells with spite and envy to see us presented with such an offer and ready to embrace it and therefore in his inveterate malice will not cease to cross us as he can in this blessed match and high advancement It bursts his gall to see us contracted unto the Lord Iesus us poor worms his captivesâ— pluckt out of his chains and instantly drawâ— into a covenant of marriage with the Goâ— of Heaven to be admitted to such an union and fellowship instated in such a Jointure of divine glory and eternal happiness which he hath utterly lost Oh how can it but grate his heart and be another hell unto him who is so stuffed with malicious envy and envious malice against the Lord Iesus and his Spouse But as it is with those Locusts his venemous armie so is it with their Captain Rev. 9.19 His power is in his mouth and in his tail He is a Serpent more subtil than strong or strong only by subtilty His lying tongue and â—inful stinging tail is his mighty and almost only weapon Therefore in your passage to your Heavenly Spouse he sets many crafty Bauds and painted Harlots to lay wait for you at every corner Prov. 7.12 we have great need then to stand upon our watch and to set a strong and faithful guard at our gates our eyes ears c. lest as he beguiled Eve with his subtilty so he should corrupt our minds and inveigle us by those Strumpets whose hearts are nets and snares and whose hands bands Eccles. 7.26 That old Baud the world and her Pandar Satan have painted and drest up divers Harlots which attired in all deceitfulness of cunning allurements they present to our sight and so draw away the wandring heart and eye after lying vanities The Turks Saraglio is not so furnished with Concubines as this old Baud with filthy Stumpets some enticing the mind some the heart Of the former rank are numberless but beside those Triobolax and obsolete fit now to work only in gross darkness upon blind or mop-eyed creatures she hath newly trimmed up two notable Harlots The first is that State of Rome but so varied in unwonted tires so curiously painted by her last dresses the cunning Iesuits and turchest in new fashions that we have need of purged eyes and much intention to know her and to see her leprous hide plastered with fair colours The second is that daughter of old Pelagius which by abasing the grace of God in Gods election binding his choice to the works of men and advancing the power of man in mans election flattering him with false abilities of an unrenewed will perverts the right wayes of the Lord who hedging and walling us out of our wayesâ— and conducting us only in the way of
great dutie Consider why you love any creature why more one than another why you should love the world riches pleasures as God a drop as the fountain It is even here too true Love descends Get your hearts baptized with fire and the holy Ghost buried with Christ into his death and raised in his resurrection that your affections may be set and settled on things not on earth but on things above even on him who is infinitly above all things who is blessed for ever and your eternal blessedness 2. Secondly the outward worship consists either in his speaking to us or our speaking to him He speaks to us either to our ears in his word or to our eyes in his Sacraments we to him either in prayers or vows Hearing is a chief part of Gods service Eccl. 5.1 The special gate whereby the Wisdom of God all knowledg and life enters Prov. 2.2 3. 1.5 Isa. 55.3 An hearing ear is Gods special gift to us Prov. 20.12 and our acceptable gift and sacrifice to him Psal. 40.6 1 Sam. 15.22 An obedient ear is a graceful and precious ornament Prov. 1.8 9. The ear the most happy factour of the soul whereby it seeks and gets Prov. 18.15 that rich merchandise which is better than silver and fine gold Prov. 3.14 But he who hath a disobedient ear or careless refusing to hear is good for nothing Jer. 13.10 and an itching ear hath certainly a rotten heart Isa. 30.9 10 11. The word of God preached is the seed in the hand of the Sower Mar. 4.14 taken out of the Granarie of the scriptures and cast into the furrows of the heart by Gods Spirit an incorruptible seed of a life incorruptible 1 Pet. 1.23 by which we are begotten unto God Jam. 1.18 And as it is the seed whereby we are born so is it the food also whereby we are nourished in that life of God as well mâ—â—k for babes as strong meat for the strong 1 Pet. 2.2 Heb. 5.12 c. It is an heavenly treasure in earthen vessels 2 Cor. 4.7 a rich Mart of all spiritual commodities where our Lord sells and we buy without mony all heavenly riches Be swift therefore to hear Jam. 1.19 value it above thousands of gold and silver Psal. 119.72 Sell all you have to purchase it Matth. 13.44 Buy the truth at any price sell it at none Pro. 23.23 Neither hear only but read it we cannot use too many ways in trading with this rich commoditie Had we as many distractions as Princes they can yield us no exemption from this dutie Deut. 17.18 Iosh. 1.8 Our frequent conversing with it and meditating in it will not take so much from our time as it will add to our opportunities Morning and evening day and night exercise your selves in it so shall ye be like â— fruitful tree planted by the rivers of water so shall ye make your may prosperous so shall ye have good success Psal. 1.1 2 3. Josh. 1.8 Nulla dies sine linea Think the day lost wherein you have mist this market 2. The Sacraments are visibile verbum Christs sermons to our eyes passion-sermons â—ou know that verse More dully stirs the mind what through th' ear passes Than what is view'd to life in the eyes true glasses They are not only teaching signs printing in our eyes and hearts the death of the Lord Iesus but assuring seals presenting and conveying unto us the grace which they represent There are many large and learned volumes printed concerning them and in every Catechise you may meet with pious instructions in this subject I will only therefore advise you concerning the Lords Supper 1. That you neglect no opportunitie so far as may be of comming to the Lords Table For is it not our communion with Christ 1 Cor. 10.16 Look as wholesome meats are the means whereby spirits are renewed strength increased union between body and soul maintained so the Supper of the Lord is his Ordinance whereby our everlasting life is confirmed our dull spirits revived and our union with the Lord Iesus Christ much strengthned Certainly the frequent use of it was the special means whereby the Primitive Churches so far excelled us in Christian fortitude resolution and every spiritual gift Above all other take heed of that carnal or rather divelish plea of hellish persons namely that they are not in charitie whereby they plainly discover how much they prefer their revenge beâ—ore their salvation and that hellish Murtherer before the heavenly Saviour Surely he that will rather nourish his malice by abstinence from the Lords Table than his fainting soul by that Bread of Heaven deserves and surely dos in his hellish fast to eat and drink his own damnation 2. Come prepared in some good measure and for that end set apart some day in that week for humiliation to afflict your souls by fasting to seek a right way Ezra 8.21 And because one especial end of this ordinance is the remembrance of our Saviour and shewing forth his death Luk. 22.19 1 Cor. 11. vers 25 26. spend much of that time in meditating upon it and principally the causes of it 1. The abhorred filthiness and dreadful naâ—ure of sin which could not be expiated or purged but by the blood of God 2. The fierce wrath of God and terrible severitie of his justice which exacted even of his most beloved Son undertaking for us the uttermost farthing even to make him Sin who knew no sin and a curse who was God blessed for ever 3. The infinite mercy of our gracious Father who gave his beloved Son to reconcile such hateful enemies and 4. The incomprehensible love of the Lord Iesus who vouchsafed to purchase our redemption at such a rate And leave not your soul till you find it abhorring it self in dust and ashes bleeding with Christ on his Cross sick of your sin and of his love and swelling with the fruit of the lips the sacrifice of praise 3. Prayer is the mouth of faith whereby it utters holy desires to God Many think they pray when they do but houl Hos. 7.14 or babble Matth. 6.7 we neither know what nor how to pray till we be instructed neither can any doctour inform us but that Spirit of adoption who teacheth us to cry Abbae Father Rom. 8.14 Gal. 4.6 He will instruct you to go unto God 1. As to a Father and therefore with all reverence and â—ubmission and 2. With all assurance and confidence 2. He is the Spirit of the Son and therefore will carry you to the Father by the Son to God by Christ. He will not suffer you to make your addresses by your selves or any creature but by that only Mediatour and Advocate Sacrifice must be brought to the Temple to the dore of the Tabernacle offered only upon Gods chosen Altar and by none but the Priest Christ is that Temple Ioh. 2.21 He the dore Ioh. 10.9 he the Altar Heb. 13.10 which sanctifies all our gifts and the â—igh Priest
you vow Be not rash with thy mouth and let not thy spirit be hasty to utter any thing before God Eccl. 5.2 Be very sparing and slow in making but sure and timely in paying vows Psal. 67.11 Eccl. 5.4 Let your vowes promise some warrantable service as Iacob Gen. 28.21 22. General vowes made in Baptism pay daily Psal. 61.8 particular seasonably Deut. 23.21 Let your vowes be ever conditional if God will help and assist you then looking to his gracious promises beg strength and stirr up your selves to a diligent and cheerful performance Pay them not grudgingly or of necessity for God loveth a cheerful giver 2 Cor. 9.7 Frequently thus meditate Great Fount of light whose overflowing streams Lend stars their dimmer â—parks Suns brighter beams Thy mouth spoke light thy hands at first did shed it Along the skie and through the ayer did spred it So shadedst earth with curtains of the night And drewst those curtains to give days their light Then gathering all that scattered light compactedâ—t In one vast burning Lamp and strait enactedst That all less lights should beg their borrowed beams And from that â—ountain fill their narrow streams So that more spiritual and sacred ray Which riâ—ing from thy mouth gave spirits day In those first ages had no certain sphere But breath'd by thee shin'd forth from mouth to ear Aâ— length collected by thy gracious Spirit Fills all the world with light with life and spirit There I behold thy self thy Lamb and Dove Shining in grace burning in heavenly love There I my death and thine thy power my duty See and by seeing change into thy beautie Lord let thy light draw off my wandring eyes From empâ—y forms and lying vanities Oh fix them on thy self and make me see My Light in all things nothing all in thee Thou boughtâ—t me all oh make me all thine own Be all in me I all in thee alone CAP. XX. Man as man is not man but Vanitie THere is but one end to which all men aym all their thoughts desires and actions even Blessedness and but one way leading to this end knowledg but this way hath two periods 1. The knowledg of our selves 2. Of our God a truth so palpable that even heathens in their midnight without eyes could feel something of it and not only find it themselves but commend and prove it to others The whole scripture was penn'd by the Holy Ghost to this very end to be our light and guide in this way yet as far as I conceive no where so briefly and cleerly doth this Guide point out this way unto us as in that short but full sentence Eph. 2.5 Even when we were dead in sins he hath quicken'd us together with Christ. Look as it is with some double-faced pictures if ye view them on the one â—ide you shall see a beautiful pourtrait of some lovely virgin or such like if ye change your place and look on the other side ye see an Owl Ape or some deformed creature so hath Gods blessed Spirit as in Tableture drawn the picture of man If you behold him in himself in his own and old nature he is but a body oâ— death if you look on him in his new nature and in the second Adam full of glorious life One side no better than a Divel if not worse the other no worse than an Angel if not better In the first he is dead dead in sin the death of hell In the second he is alive quickned with Christ in the life of God Let this piece therefore be the last Legacie which in the conclusion of this Testament I bequeath to every one of you that you may hang it up in the best room of your heart where you may have it ever in your eye and there behold your selves 1. In your tombs dead in sins and buried in the graves of lust 2. In your resurrection quickned in and with the Lord Iesus Christ. Death consists 1. In the privation of life when life is not or is now nothing 2. In the consequents of this privation corruption putrefaction stench loathsomness Consider then the picture of your old man 1. In the rude draught the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. In the full pourtrait when all the colours and complements are added In the former Man in the first Adam howsoever magnified by himself or others considered not physically or civilly but spiritually is a base abject creature hardly to be called a creature a very privative and therefore nothing He is as we say a may be possibly he may be some thing but as yet in this estate a sheer vanitie and a meer nothing He is but Somnium hominis a dream and so are all his actions Though he mount up in exâ—ellencie unto the Heavens and his head reach unto the clouds he shall fly away as a dream and not be found chased away as a vision in the night Joh. 20.6 8. As when an hungry man dreams and behold he eats but he awakes and his soul is empty and a thirsty man dreams and behold he drinks but he awakes and behold he is faint and his soul hath appeâ—ite Isa. 29.7 8. voluptuous men in their feasts and riots do but dream that they eat drink and are merry worldlings do but dream that they find treasures and very joyful they are in gathering pocketing and chesting it but they awake and in their hand is nothing Eccl. 5.14 As a dream when one awaketh so oh Lord when thou awakest thou shalt despise their glory Psal. 73.20 Mâ—n is like to vanitie Psal. 144.4 A very small but very like and lively picture so like that as it is spoken of the blind man Ioh. 9. we may say this is he others he is very like him but himself when he hath his eyes will fully confess I am he I am a meer dream and a sheer vanitie Attentively observe that fuller picture Psal. 39.5 Mine age is as nothing before thee and verily every man in his best estate is altogether vanitie Where this emptiness of man is excellently set out in divers propositions 1. Man is vanitie You may say perhaps some men the poor are despised nay 2. Every man Indeed take him at his worst in sickness trouble c. nay 3. In his best estate In some respects it may be as subject to losses crosses death c. nay 4. In all respects Altogether vanitie But is not this an hyperbole more spoken than intended No it is an infallible truth which the Spirit of truth hath bound with an asseveration Verily Verily every man in his best estate is altogether vanitie Nay the Lord proceeds yet further and to convince our self-conceit and fond pride assures us that as men of low degree are vanitie so men of high degree are worse a lie so that high and low weighed in a true ballance are lighter than vanitie it self Psal. 62.9 A lie what great men glittering in their pomp admired by some feared by others are