moved upon the Chaos It workes not in reference to any preceding worke or signe of enducement much lesse ingagement All are under sinne dead a Chaos and he quickens whom he will all inducement is onely from GOD and will An out roome here below hee would have and he sayd let there be this and let there be that and it was so and this was the manner of raising it so now a roome he will have here below more inward from the noise of the World and hee sayd Ephata let this window be opened and let there be light and 't is so Vessels hee will have for this low roome and he makes them al himselfe according to absolute will hee makes one to honour c. Terminus creandi est 't is a terme of Creation Synonimicall with this in my Text who hath made us meete i by his word and of his one free wil. Media gratiae ordinem creationis subeunt The meanes of grace have the order of Creation stamp'd upon them Christ the great wheele that turnes all other wheeles of our salvation is made unto us what he is and made of God Who of God is made unto us wisdome righteousnesse c. 1 Cor. 1.30 Christ is a full Sea indeed but not a drop to us but as made of God So we are made able Ministers of the new Testament not of the letter but of the spirit Could such a poore man as I by speaking a while to the eare turne the heart from sinne to Christ did not a creating blessing sit on my lips Divine institutions have the formality of a Creation in them because they have what they have and doe what they doe from supreame power onely above all cause and reason Other meanes have their reason in them as a cause Therefore are institutions and meanes of grace here not so much as mentioned onely the Father meanes are so beside likelyhood and reason to so noble an end as to make and fit soules for Heaven Giving thankes to the Father who hath made c. None else worthy to be so much as mention'd in this noble worke Grace is a Creation Creatio talis creatio ' and 't is such a Creation there is Creatio transiens continuans Grace is a continued Creation The Father workes hitherto and I worke hee speakes of Gods working grace under the motion of Creation and in that very phrase that wee should call the working of grace a Creation The Creation of the World ceased in so many dayes Transiens and God rested from that labour and doth still but the the Creation of grace lasts hithertoo 't is the worke of the Trinity to this day without resting and how long yet further 't will be whether to the end of the externall Creation I cannot say The Word of God is a lively word it hath a spirit in it this is the worke of the Trinity still to put spirit into the Word to make living words and so living soules So the workes of God are lively workes what God does ' has a voice the staffe a voice all that God sayes and does all his words and works they are made lively that is breathing and forming eternall life in man by a transcendent concurrence of Father Son and holy Ghost the first is here mention'd to wit the Father the rest are to be understood to wit the Sun the holy ghost the workes of the Trinity ad extra are not to be divided Giving thankes to the Father i to Father Sonne and Holy Ghost Who hath made us meete c. Under this terme made the Word of God and workes of God are meant as meanes for he speakes in the foregoing Verse of sufferings which attend truth which are al conducing to this noble end to fit man for God Grace 't is a new Creation Nova a Creation that makes old things passe away things as old as the old Creation and then things to become new 'Tas destruction in it and then erection and edification it takes away and then sets up it destroyes sinnes which are old things as old as the Devill and then sets up grace takes away the stone and then builds with flesh this is the fashion and manner of building within kils the old man and then makes a new new light new love this makes a new heart a new Creature a new man Who hath made us c. i who hath made us againe who hath made us anew Grace is a hid Creation Abscondita 't is formatio secreta our life is hid Know'st thou the way of the spirit in man 't is as the way of a Bird in the Aire 't is as the way of the wind in the Earth very unknowne Invisibles stellae A new name which none knowes but he that hath it 't is meate to eat which the World knows not of no which Christians know not of One Christian doth not know what meate another Christian hath at his Table nor how sweete not what guests nor how merry together J have meate to eate which yee know not of A Christian is bound in the spirit and cannot see the girdle raised high and cannot see the hand taught wisdome secretly and like Samuel cannot tell the voice warmed and cannot describe the fire the soule as in Heaven and yet in the body and then whether in the body or out of the body cannot tell As there is killing without hand so there is making alive without hand without any seene or to be discerned Trees have their sap and seed in them their sap and life is hid it creepes up under the barke and puts out gloriously but very secretly and unexspressibly beyond all demonstration so is the way of grace and the working of the spirit of God in man Interna Grace is an internall Creation it makes a new heart and a new spirit 't is glory within t is bones broken not flesh and set againe and made glad 't is a heart prickt wounded and heal'd not a head Grace 't is the foreskin of the heart taken away a Jew inwardly 't is great hammering yet no noyse heard 't is so inwardly a cry but none heard in the streetes t is in such inroomes 't is not onely the hand without put forward but the watch-wheeles within set right to the sun Grace 't is Anima indivisibilis the soule broken all to pieces by supreame power and curiously by the same power set together againe Grace is glory within a roome of royall repose private 't is Christ in the heart of the Earth the Kingdome of God is within us The words which Christ speakes they are spirit and life so are all his workes which now he workes they are spirit and life i of life upon the spirit hee hath done all his workes without doore all his worke now is within spirit upon spirit not a worke more should be wrought now were it not to make
thing able to it and above it though never so great Almightinesse in God cannot be fully expressed by man Almightinesse in a Christian hath so much of the Almighttinesse of God in it that this neither cannot be fully expressed 'T is the same power which made Christ Almighty exceeding richly made knowne in a Christian no otherwise did the Apostle know how to expresse it that yee may know what is the exceeding greatnesse of his power to us ward who believe according to the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead Ephes 1.19 20. and set him at his owne right Hand in heavenly places Almightinesse in a Christian 't is the exceeding great power of Christ made knowne exceedingly whereby a great similitude to Christ is made in obeying him as hee did obey his Father Thus onely the Apostle expresses this power because he knew not how more fully to reach it therefore you may not expect a deeper fathoming of it from me and what is the exceeding greatnesse of his power to us ward c. 'T is an indefinite expression of an unmeasurable thing we must word it as well as we can when things are too big for words 3. Quedammodò omnipotens ad extraordinarie Almightinesse in a Christian 't is one in strength above ordinary worke t is one all able to extraordnary duties as able to hard as to light worke 't is one able not onely to impart the Gospell but his owne soule too for the Gospell So being affectionatly desireous we were willing to have imparted unto you not the Gospell of God onely but also our owne soules 1 Thess 2.8 'T is one able to give his heart to God and his life too his affection to Christ and his bloud too with much willingnesse So being affectionately desirous we were willing c. Covetously or lustfully desirous as the originall words signify which notes the most taking and swaying heart-passion Almightinesse in a Christian 't is divine power extended and received to the utmost as you have such a Scripture phrase to the utmost of what God is communicable and man capable to the utmost of what an infinite God can give and a finite nature can receive 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the utmost of what is promised and a Christians calling can call for T is a Steven one full of the Holy Ghost and of power able to stand it out in a storme of stones to see Heaven in Hell 'T is a Shadrach a triumpher in the Almighty in the face of fiery cruelty a triumpher in an Almighty God before the frowning face of an Almighty man 't is a man able to obey God Agendo patiendo in perpetuum to the utmost to the last breath Modus communicandi Almightinesse in a Christian 't is the same in nature with that which was in Christ whereby hee did all those Almighty things for our saluation Modus communicandi The Apostle wishing this power to the Ephesians sayes 't is that which wrought in Christ when hee raised him from the dead According to the working of his mighty power which wrought in Christ when he raised him c. Ephes 1.19 Christ had his power by which hee did great things for us by unction so have we hee by unction from his Father we by unction from him God anointed Iesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power Acts 10.38 Christ hath his unction immediatly from the Father we immediatly from the Son 't is he that most immeditatly gives the Holy Ghost to us Hee shall glorify me saith Christ of the spirit for he shall receive of mine and shall shew it unto you The power the Holy Ghost gives 't is the power of Christ the truth hee reveales 't is the truth of Christ Whatsoever excellency he inspires 't is the excellency of Christ and to make similitude to him 1. Impertiendi discrimen Christ had his unction according to his capacity of infinite capacity and therefore his power the power of a God All power of God in man comes to but finite power the Subject is capable of no more Almightinesse in a christian is but finite power infinite power working finitly according to the capacity of the Subject Christ had a more full unction then we being a vaster continent and he had a more free unction that is power more absolutely conferred and made over very personall to him He had his power as the first Adam wholly at his owne dispose so hee spake of it and so hee wrought by it I have power to lay downe my life and J have power to take it up He could doe this as of and from himselfe The most Almighty Christian cannot say thus without blasphemy Infinite power workes in us but not infinitely nor personally as a thing wholly and altogether at our dispose Vse Christians are yee Almighty men and women 'T is a seasonable question an Almighty strength is comming against us God is armed deadly worke is in the Land can yee suffer unto death Our glory will be great quickly or our shame obedience to bloud and death is comming into use againe Is my strength the strength of stones Saith Iob. The strength of stones and rockes a kinde of Almightinesse is like to be needed all the strength of God to carry us out well what power of God works in you Divine Justice is throughly awake but ah Lord we are not Full executions working full preparations asleep all will be ours with a wet finger no Christians 't will not 't will be with a wet heart too wet with bloud and 't is well if not with the bloud of some of you 'T is a remarkable expression that of the Prophet Ezek. When he had foretold sad things hee concludes thus Then said I ah Lord God Ezek. 20. v. ult they say of mee doth he not speake parables We are to many as those that preach our owne melancholly fancies when we please not their fancies I have often sadly said it and with as much humility as I could that England's mercie would be bloudy mercies but I doubt what use was made of it The Sword you now all see is drawen when 't will be put up again what bleeding yet is behind the Lord onely knowes 't will be our wisdome to get strength for the worst All might all the power of God working in us to beare up under all that can come To have serv'd Christ with our hearts would have serv'd-turne very well these fourescore or these hundred yeeres past but now t will not it must be with our heart-bloud what strength and power have yee in your hearts to this can you bleed out your soules in your Fields in your Streets at your Dooâ—es in your Houses for Christ Tell me all of you I beseech you what strength have you to this I have but little I have none this is the generall vote
hee sensibly differs from himselfe in affection Things momentanie are fallen two yea ten in the hundred with him they have lost their price The heart hath sold all for nothing that was all once unto it Gold Dung learning dung all losse and dung stinking earth that way taking The heart thirsts for nothing but him that is all all power all love all holinesse all happinesse Divine power where it workes strong enough to save makes passion divine all passions love joy feare hatred I doubt much what power workes in some mens hearts I see their affections so strong and so hearty to the World and the vanities of it I see passion so impure and so strongly working downward Christ and truth but as a straw when it lies in the way of the mans lust hee leapes over it with ease to satisfy his desire I like not the state of that mans heart Power is leading where t is saving it leades by truth by the heart I am thine save mee Saith the Psalmist Thine that is thine according to truth thine in heart thine in life thine in trust thine in bloud in Christs bloud I leane on none else to save me I leane to none else to guid me Power is killing that is saving sin-killing that is soule-saving The body of death dead the body of death no body no body with a soule with life Selfe-will slaine the will that lives Christs Not I live Christ lives in mee i not my will but Christs will carries and swayes the soule These things have beene said to try you what power and grace of God is in you I shall say a little more in the next place to stir you to acknowledge grace as you finde it and so leave this point and you for this time Divine power workes gradually why as you finde God working in you so acknowledge him Let God have his own to a graine Thine is the Kingdome and power c. Wee are taught this to acknowledge grace in its latitude to the God of all grace The Apostle gives God his owne by weight to a graine which workes in me mightily say's hee If God works in you mightily let him heare of it mightily As yee feele God praise God Make expression from operation and expresse it fully if you can Thus doth Daniel Then Daniel blessed the God of Heaven and said Blessed bee the Name of God for ever and ever for wisdome and might are his I thanke thee and praise thee O God of my Fathers who hast given mee wisdome and might Dan. 2. An excellent spirit and power wrought in Daniel and he acknowledges all to the giver wisdome and might are his How Gods Power and Glory went in the Sanctuary is turned into a Psalme of praise made to eccho to the author The very degree thereof is noted so as I have seene them That I may see thy Power and thy Glory So as I have seene them in the Sanctuary What he did enjoy was thankefully acknowledged what hee would enjoy againe was heartily panted after How you see and feele power and glory go in the ordinances how in your hearts I beseech you acknowledge to Christ let him have the glory of every powerfull working here Wee are men as your selves that our Weapons are mighty t is through God hee does all admire him adore him Heart-smitings heart-embracings kisses secretly or kickings secretly they are the kisses of his lips and the spurnings of his power give him the glory of all How prevailingly Christ hath revealed power in thee what a lust hee hath discovered subdued what an eternall state â—uined hath he repair'd What wounds hee hath healed What inward issues hee hath stayed What bones what broken bones and how many hee hath set and made to rejoyce let him have the glory of all As Christ kisses us we should kisse him Wee should meete our Father with joy Every Revelation of power in the heart 't is your Fathers comming towards you to take you nearer home to himselfe We call power little some Revelations thereof in comparison of others because the Scripture doth so speake of it for our weaknesse sake but this know t is no little power that will stir your hearts t is an arme of the Lord which is no small limbe to whom is the arme of the Lord revealed 't is more then a finger shall God reveale an arme in you and lose it in you Hee made the Sun Moone and Stars praise him saith the Psalmist But that power which hath made Sun and Starrs in your hearts which hath bespangl'd your spirits with various glories should not this much more make matter of praise As power heightens it selfe operando so should wee heighten it verbis elevando As any Revelation hath lesse or more of God in it so it should busie and take up the heart to returne it in thy hand is power and might and in thy hand is to make great c. 1 Chron. 29.1 As Gods hand did worke for David so did Davids heart and tongue worke for God hee turned power into praise and so sent it home againe in state to Heaven But more of his expressions in that place are very observable to this purpose and point I am pressing But who am I saith hee and what is my people that wee should be able to offer so willingly 1 Chron. 29.14 That we should be able and able so willingly here is the very degree of enabling power praisingly noted As high as power sets a lesson of love so high to a crochet it should be sung Doe but consider some poore soules that sit by you which have no power of God stirring in them but lie dead damnably dead and then bee you dead if you can to give thanks for that power which hath quickned and raised you from the dead God will turne grace into our glory hereafter we should turne grace into his glory here FINIS USEFULL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THESE Evill Times COLOSS. 1.11 Strengthened with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and long suffering wiih joyfulnesse T Is as it ought to be when apprehension makes full and due impression upon affection When the soule workes out for God in desire and Prayer according as it apprehends the neede of him the necessity of his power love or the like for himselfe or others Suitable to what the Apostle apprehended he prayed suitable to what hee judged these would neede of GOD of his Power and might so hee heartily wished to them Apprehension is placed sentinell in the soule by God the actions of it should stirre all It 's a power in man to see at a distance and to give warning to all other powers that the heart may more looke out and worke out according to what is or will be needed God is come within sight of man when apprehensioÌ„ reacheth him According to what of God is in sight so should the soule stir I have heard of thee by the hearing of
God further then man any man can doe made to pierce the sides and to pierce the heart the Arrowes of the Allmighty are within mee saith Job their poyson drinkes up my spirit the terrors of God doe set themselves in array against mee Job 6. A body so shot a soule so shot to come off so bravely as Iob doth there Let him not spare for I have not concealed the words of the holy one Let man wound God wound God and man doe what they will to soule and body and not spare yet God that wounds will I obey to the death this is all patience that is patience that holds its own in all conditions All Parience 't is patience breathing her selfe forth in the Teeth of a dog and setters on Shimei may barke Standers by hisse to make barking againe and yet all patience divinely turnes off all beholding GOD in a dead Dog a righteous God in an unrighteous man All patience 't is a heart able to suppresse all insurrection from the naked consideration of God and sinne a heart that can quiet it selfe from the very rod gather patience from the very twigs that whip and smart All patience 't is a heart which from the shaper and shaping of affliction can shape it selfe shoulders to beare it well 't is a heart so principled as able to fetch out of every eater meate out of a tearing Lyon Honey out of every bitter sweete something in or about every evill to keepe it selfe good and make it selfe better All patience 't is a spirit growne to an angelicall height able to carry himselfe sweetly to a dog to a Divell to the worst creature offending with no worse passion then this The Lord rebuke thee All Patience notes a totality in reference to time totum temporis All Patience is patience in graine such as will hold its colour yea it 's very glosse as long as the cloth last it notes such a patience as dies not till the man die such a patience as keeps the soule in all stormes and till all stormes be over that keeps the soule quiet till the very weather be quiet or till the soule hath quietly expired it selfe into the bosom of eternall rest above all disquiet All patience 't is holding fast till Christ come 't is a wayting all our dayes for better dayes in another World till our change come for liveing againe where barely to live is Heaven where being and wel-being are not distinguished All patience 't is a house upon a Rock a house so built a spirit so principled so sinewed so nerved and joynted that nothing can pull down but death it notes a soule so much out of it selfe and so much in Christ in his armes and under his dominion that it lies under a kind of impossibilitie to be stirred as mount Zion that not onely is not but cannot be moved the house may moulder and that may downe otherwise all patience is such an inmate such an inward soule-lasting thing that it will never out all patience was never knowne to leave any house till it fell down all patience and the last breath goe away together Father into thy hands J commit my spirit these are the last words of all patience Luke 23.46 The result of all is this All Patience 't is all advantages taken away al provocations incompassing and yet the soule abiding holy in behaviour and cariage in thought word and deede unto death 't is God against man the devill against man wife friends fire winds all creatures below man armed and set against man and yet man patient 't is man buffeted scratch't with thornes nayled spear'd spit on hell inflicted on Earth and yet holy and without sin and so continuing till hell be turned into Heaven the soule out of the body both into eternall rest All patience the Apostle expresseth in few words 't is patience having made her full fortifications her perfect worke as he calls it 't is every faculty in combination to beare what is or can be 't is the Militia setled in the soule by act by consent of the three states understanding will and affection 't is all soule-powers united to beare and endure all that can befall man All patience 't is a strong spirit as the expression is used of John Baptist and of Christ and of none else a spirit fortified with cleerenesse of light strength of faith fulnesse of resolution and made Musket proofe Cannon proofe impregnable against which the gates of hell cannot prevaile All Patience t is patience all in armour 't is a stubborne heart subdued and risen againe to divine resolution and now as divine hardy as before foole hardy 't is a spirit that will know no evill after the flesh no evil as 't is fleshly miserable but as 't is soule sinfull All patience 't is enduring hardship as a Souldier as a good Souldier as a good Souldier of Christ as the Apostle saith not opely suffering for truth but sleighting suffering as you know Souldiers doe they make nothing of hunger nor cold of blowes of wounds no nothing of death 't is a notable expression this of all patience to wit enduring of hardship as a good Souldier All patience 't is a spirit that can indure all hardship with ease perils at Sea perils at Land perils amongst false brethren perils amongst professed enemies any misery any death burning tearing cutting sawing a sunder and scorne base deliverance this is al patience patience al over patience patience throughout patience so liveing so dying Vse I have authority by this point to command you al to weigh your patience and to tell me to a graine how much you have Christians how much patience have you have you little or have you much have you al I speake to you al. The Heavens you see are growing al black over you the Earth al bloudy under you al miseries are marching towards you Famine Plague Sword white Horse black Horse pale Horse neither true white nor black al sorts of Men amongst us on Horse-back and going about deadly worke have you al patience to entertaine them al who ever come and what misery soever they bring Doe yee not expect a very miserable time yes And I expect a very sinnefull time there is so little patience A little suffering I see wil make you sinne much ah Lord what wil great suffering then doe seven yeeres bleeding ten yeeres bleeding twenty yeeres bleeding as Germany hath had you murmure now a little is gone surely you wil blaspheme when al is gon curse King Parliament and GOD too Lord what shal we doe wee shal have a Kingdome advanced to Heaven thrown downe to Hell a Kingdome full of devils full of evil spirits quickly if these Evil Times continue Men can beare nothing and God now calles to bearing much men cannot tell how to abate a little of wanted contents and God is going to strip of al men cannot exercise patience a little and God is calling for
to keepe up a bad heart though the suffering be good there be so many by-things besides the cause breake in guilt doth so speake stare and teare in such a soule when any bodily misery growes great and long Long suffering turnes a guilty soule into hell a hell in the flesh may be borne with joy but not a hel in the spirit Plundered persons complaine they art quite undone sinne hath done this fall out with that not with Cavaleers they could not have stript you of all not of your joy by taking away your goods no not by taking away your limbes no not by taking away your life had not you wounded your soules with sinne neither men nor divels could have strip't you of your joy the wounds which you have made in your spirits not those which they have made in your flesh have quite undone you these are the wounds that have bled to death your joy Thou hast beene the cruellest Cavaleer to thy selfe O sinner Can'st thou make no joy out of thy sufferings for truth I can guesse the cause thy sufferings worke no grace in thee Wee glory in tribulation knowing that it workes this and that grace saith the Apostle that is takes off the soule from the Creature sets it upon God and eternall things Thy sufferings are meere sufferings they worke no grace if they did thou must needs joy in this to see how a fiery Charet carries thy soule to Heaven No affliction is joyous or can be but as it brings home the soule to God the Prodigall home to his Father When afflictions doe barely afflict and onely afflict this must needes leave the soule in a very ill frame to joy There is no joy in eating of huskes Barren cloudes doe not make the Earth smell and smile barren afflictions afflictions which make no grace can make no glory joy is an afflicted soules Glory As the vessell comes into forme by beating so comes in delight as gold appeares by fire as Christ is seene in the furnace so is joy there Suffering long and the heart hold it's owne in sinne Ah Lord her 's a soule in hell indeed is it possible for such a soule to make joy in such suffering suffering long and the heart hold it's owne in sinne this sets the soule at a greater distance from joy then ever as one that is wicked and will be so there is no peace nor joy to the wicked when will there when can there to him that is wicked and ever will be so that short suffering long suffering no furnace can melt nor purifie This soules suffering is and will be of the same nature with theirs below there is long suffering and no Joy without possibility of Joy so will it be with every wicked man Sinners tell mee what doe yee see what doe yee feele sorrow but no joy why that 's right write Lord have mercy upon mee my hell is begun my body is desolate my soule is desolate so 't 'as been long so 't will be for ever because my misery has not better'd me What no enquiry no panting for Christ yet will yee rub along through one hell till you come to another O God! when shall Christ be in request bodies bleed soules bleed and yet is not a bleeding Saviour sought after that a bleeding condition may bee made blessed and Joyous Sinners you are insnared in an evill time Did you dreame of long suffering what dayes are come upon you what rack't soules are within you when will this end So 't is so it must be till one deepe swallow up another till the lowest Hell swallow up this nether-most Hell Reade my Text once more God is to be admir'd so is this point and I thinke this Text to be concluded How tender is God of the felicity of man hee does much to destroy his sinne but nothing to destroy his joy when hee makes him suffer long he would have sinne die all sinne but no joy no not a dram but rise to an exceeding height Rejoyce and bee exceeding glad saith Christ All that God does the worst that God does to a Christian is to make him a Heaven and to encrease it it should make ones heart leape to thinke of it If he cast downe 't is to raise up if he humble 't is to exalt if he empty 't is to fill if he kill 't is to make alive if he make misery long without 't is to make joy strong within still he ha's a tender care of mans joy This is the Benjamin about which Gods bowells beate let my child suffer any thing but nothing in his joy O deare father who can conceive thy bowells to thy children Lord what is man that thou art so mindfull of him and so tender of his joy He that is in Heaven can speake nothing but Heaven he that is never without joy would never have us without joy although we be never without sin no not then when wee doe and suffer most and longest for him when hee speakes of long suffering he ends it with joy nay he meanes it all a long with joy Christians admire love God does nothing to make you miserable all that is done this way you doe it your selves Hee has beene a Father of children of many children this many thousand yeares yet never was knowen to doe any thing to take away the joy of any God is very tender of your joy be you so he does nothing to kill your joy doe not you make any thing he does doe it When hee makes you suffer much and suffer long doe not you make it kill your joy this is to turne long suffering into long sinning yet flesh and bloud is apt to this I 'le therefore speak a word to this point Our sufferings looke as if they would be long they have a long visage in my eye as I told you last day how long soever they stretch out themselves yet I would have you manage them as the holy Ghost here speakes with a spirit of joy I will give you three or foure things to helpe raise your hearts to suffer and to suffer long and all along with joy You shall be the death of insolent wickednesse Should be the joy of a child of God to suffer long to kill the least sinne 't is so killing to his father how much more to kill a Goliah that is up in defiance against him You shall kill wickednesse in Armour wickednesse with a brazen face wickednesse with a head-peece back-peece belly-peece wickednesse wrapt up in Iron in armour from head to foote wickednesse growen so wicked that thinks she hath made her selfe musket-proofe Cannon-poofe against the Almighty Should it not joy a man to suffer long to kill such wickednesse to kill wickednesse that thinks to out-live all goodnesse wickednesse that dares GOD teares God sweares curses blaspheames at every word wickednesse set all on fire of Hell should it not joy a man to quench such fire with his bloud should it
acknowledge their proper Author all the power al the wisdome al the love that is in them to God as their Father Every Creature hath a rude speech to this purpose of its owne that is as Gods owne glory gloriously revealed in them sensibly speakes forth himselfe But man is formed intentionally and very transcendently to this worke to speake not rudely but divinely accurately to make power speake and to speake to the life wisdome speake and speake to the life every mute Creature and action and al the love that lies mute and silent in them to speake out and prostrate it selfe to God as it's Father Giving thanks to the Eather who hath made us c. All things in the World in the Heavens in the Earth in the Sea have Gods marke upon them as his goods as great Merchants set their marke upon all the goods which are theirs God hath not left himselfe without witnesse throughout the Creation Now thankfulnesse 't is a going from Creature to Creature from worke to worke to finde out God his marke his image and superscription to whom doth this belong To whom that if the Echo be to God why give unto God the things that are Gods if this creature or action be so fat so mute that it cannot speake nor call God Father I will for it saith a thankfull soule let God have all his owne let him weare his one glory himselfe and none else Father al love to al things here below temporall love eternal love upon him Give thankes to the Father who hath made us meete c. Thankefulnesse is a making every thing that is good to cry Abba Father to God every thing that is good and al the good that is in every thing what is simply and totally good what is subordinately and finally good good in its end as troubles which prepare and fit for Heaven what good is in the staffe what good is in GOD what good is in good and what good is in evil thankfulnesse goes a fishing and gathering for love every where and to every ones doore to hel doore to Heaven doore to present it to its owne Father giving thankes to the Father who hath made us meete to be partakers of the inheritance of Saints in light Thankfulnesse it is Gods faithfull register 'T is Recorder to the great City above ' t' hath an admirable memory nothing dies that love does t is a grace which layes up doings sayings yea whisperings of love in the heart many yeares and ponders them every day every houre and keepes them alive and as fresh and fragrant in the soule as if but now done Shee writes love as he writes beloved upon the Palme of her hand she is never forgotten nor never forgets she remembers dayes of Old dayes of love though never so old are new Thankefulnesse makes mercies live as God lives for ever His name is had in everlasting remembrance c. By whom by a thankefull soule by none else There is no grace makes Chronology so exact for yeares for dayes for houres for all circumstances as thankfulnesse doth How long God hath beene a Father in what condition a Father in what manner and measure a Father to what end a Father to bestow an inheritance what inheritance for kinde for situation whether in darkenesse or in light she exactly records all Giving Thanks to the Father who hath made us meete to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light Thankefulnesse 't is Gods bountifull paymaster 't is a returne of Gods own with advantage his favours and mans heart in over and above for Gods favours A thankfull man cannot nakedly returne fatherly love hee binds up his heart in his acknowledgements hee bundles up blessings and bundles up his soule in them and so carries them al together to Heaven All his benefits and all my soule and all that is within it let them al goe together to Heaven to make an offring of thanksgiving Let the Arke goe home againe but by no meanes let it goe home empty send costly Pictures of Gods dealings home with it golden Emrods golden Mice let Christ and love revealed in my soule be returned by my soule home againe but let them not be returned empty sayes a thankfull man let me picture out and engrave Gods kinde dealings in my heart and so send Divine favours and heart together home to Heaven yea if I had ten thousand soules ten thousand Jewells more precious then that inmost Jewell of all in my breast let that love which hath made it selfe my father and made me out an inheritance as a child and me fit for that inheritance have all Giving thankes to the Father c. Understand this to be a heart speech a soule breathing an intense totall soule breathing heaven-ward Thanksgiving 't is a presenting God with his own with all his own with thine own have wee offered unto thee saith David in his thansgiving wisdom might are thine all that is good comes of thee A thankfull man hath no good thing of his own 't is all Gods that he has his wisdome Gods his strength Gods every good thought of God to doe to will good of God whatsoever hee has whatsoever hee is is grace by his grace I am that I am this is the naturall language of a thankfull soule All good in me al good that comes from me is of him and through him and therefore all shall be for him inheritance fitnesse for this inheritance all felicity all that belongs to felicity have no naturall but a divine father Giving thanks to the Father c. 'T is an expression 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 't is a breathing out of all for all to him that is al. Gods fathering of man hath al favours in it all favours have two parts an inheritance and fitting for it and both in this Text and both taken up with one hand to wit with thanksgiving and lifted up as high as Heaven Thanksgiving 't is a spirit still upon the wing rising and ascending to Heaven from every thing never at home but at Heaven 't is a very low thing that he cannot rise from as high as Heaven hee eates and lookes up drinkes and lookes up lookes downe and lookes up whatsoever he lookes upon he cannot looke off God whatsoever he sees heares tasts smells he takes wing from and goes bound in spirit for Heaven whether yee eate or drinke or whatsoever hee doth he doth all to the glory of God Thankfulnesse is an Eagle-grace whose game lies all in soaring mounting towards the Sun 't is a soule still travelling from Earth to Heaven from the creature to the Creator t is he that brings tidings to Heaven still of the lost groat of the lost sheepe of the lost Son of what of Gods was lost and is found here and there in this person and that in this thing and that which makes that transcendent joy above 't is a man whose minde runs upon God as you
at such a place for echo Some things are done so and so to suite and joynt to others The holy Land was divided by Lot immediate providence caryed it there Friendship made no revenue in Canaan Gods own hand cast every man his fortune so big and so good in such a place in the Mountaines or in the vallies with springs or without Divine dispensations are harmonious Heaven comes in no new way to us God gives as he did give Hee did give Canaan with his owne hand so hee gives Heaven Power wrought very immediate to plant our fathers in the holy Land Ioshuah did cast lots and so divided the Land power did worke very immediate to plant persons there so it doth to plant Persons above I goe before to provide a place Iosh 18.10 c. Our Ioshuah assignes our mansion situation building conveyance all done with Christs own hand I goe c. Though power worke without hand yet not without rule not a word spoke nor a worke done by Christ but with scope and look to some rule though sometimes that rule be a great way off as far as Heaven Truth fulfils Types dispensations under each covenant one eccho to another Canaan went by Lot so does Heaven the lot of Saints Dispensations of grace and glory suite Gory is suited to grace in dispensation as grace is suited to glory in fruition as really the same Heaven and Christ come both one way to a Christian by immedate providence grace and glory are wrought both with Gods own hand 'T is the finger of God that turnes the heart towards Heaven and that turnes the heart into Heaven Grace is an inspiration glory is so too there is no remoter agent of either then Gods own spirit A soule and such a soule so happy and so glorious was breathed altogether into Adams nostrils The breath of Gods own mouth makes alive stil and the breath of his owne mouth cast varnish and glory upon that being to maturation 'T is Christ al in al here 't is no otherwise above Christ al in al no lesse makes grace and no more is glory Grace is such an immediation according to such a location glory is such an immediatioÌ„ according to such a translocation Christ is next to and onely with the soule in both Vse If this point were rightly applied to the heart hope would not fall respecting great favours depending providence hath more wayes then one to bring great things to us it can worke with hands and without hands divine power can bring a Heaven to you on its owne shoulders cast a Heaven upon you as a Lot into your lap in a very immediate way beyond all provision or expectation God does most and best for man alone when hee has no toole or no toole considerable in his hand Wee have a Heaven depending but yet a hell betweene us and it and no man can see but one way to it if that way do not hit which we propose we are all undone this is almost every ones vote This point should relieve us in this desperate case respecting our great feares our great hops which are so opposed There are great mountaines before Zerubbabell great hindrances in the way of our great mercies so that we see no likelyhood in an ordinary way how or when our great Heaven desired should arriue with us Let the point in hand support the greatest favours come in the most immediate way of providence heavenly favors come to us as if they did drop out of Heaven The more heavenly and divine the mercies are which wee expect in the more divine and immediate way they 'l descend The stone shall be cut out without hands that shall smite the image of various mixtures and breake it to pieces new Ierusalem comes downe out of Heaven Power will worke in a very immediate way to bring in that new Heaven into the Christian World which now the Christian World is labouring for Yet once more I shake not the earth only Heb. 12.26 but also Heaven God himselfe will after a speciall manner set his own shoulders to shake that rotten heaven of mens inventions and those which set their shoulders to keepe it up and make battery with such Cannon as we are not aware of Not by might nor by power but by my spirit saith the Lord respecting the building of that house which typifyed this Not by might nor power i not by humane strength so much as by his owne power shall the old Heaven be destroyed and the new erected We expect our Heaven too low from men but 't will come from God when it comes As 't is a great favour so ' â—will come in state in the way of sublime favors very sublimely Magicians great heads and divellish wits shall be non-plust by God owne finger and art not by mens wisdome and art Egiptians shall be drownned on a sudden by a stratageme made in Heaven and managed from heaven Iericho shall fall by Faith by making no more or the power of men of Swords and Guns then of Rammes-hornes but magnifying the power of Christ and trusting in that Surely wee are yet too many and too strong to be delivered Christians I would yee were skilled in the way of GOD. GOD keeps his Old way in bestowing great things and yet yee wonder and murmur your folly is your owne affliction and many's more Things of great worth Christ will trust no Messenger with them but bring them himselfe Christ will trust none to bring your Heaven to you neither your Heaven here nor hereafter Men are false they would marre your heaven and bring you an old one in stead of a new one or an old one new patcht up Blessed be he that will bring a new heaven to us all new divine favours in their maturity though every man be trampled under foote and none seene in the worke but God though he trample all men in the dirt and he onely be left alive with the cause in his hand If men would allow God his way they would never be at a losse of Faith so fearefully as they are Yee open one doore and there comes in nothing but your shame yee set open another doore of your owne for Christ to come in at and there also comes in nothing but your folly and shame Ah Lord When will yee looke up and expect Christ from Heaven Do not great things come in a very immediate way to man Hath God tyed himselfe to do every great worke with such and such great meanes as your eye is fixed upon to cast out a Legion of bad spirits with a Legion of good Is not one enough to do it Christ brings an eternall weight of glory upon his owne Shoulders to your doores can he not bring a temporall weight of of glory which is far easier alone Thou art great and dost great things thou art God alone sayth the Psalmist We thinke God is not God nor able to do like a