strange affectioned wife or friend who can bee well content the one to maintaine her husbands credit the other his friends estimation and both embrace his profitable counsels and performe his pleasure because either their owne dignity and good is continued or distaste and disquiet preuented but can least endure that childe in whom appeares most the fathers image or that friend who is most respected and therefore that soule whose loue is wholly fixed vpon the Lord will loue his Church which is his vineyard planted by his owne right hand garded by his Angels guided by his wisdome the flourishing whereof he greatly affecteth and they who loue him are delighted in it whether ioyntly or seuerally considered In euery particular member of it loue wee the graces that appeare in them loue we them for the graces which are signes and testimonies of Gods fauour towards them We can haue no better testimony no better token of our loue to God no surer marke of our saluation for if we loue him who by his eternall spirit did beget them to be heires of glory 1 John 3.14 we cannot but loue them who are begotten and are children of grace a signe not to bee neglected for hereby wee know that we are translated from death to life because we loue the brethren 5.13 Is thy affection rather lessened then encreased to a Christian because he is a Christian Matth. 10. Doth his loue to the word his delight in good workes his distaste of wickednesse imbitter thy minde against him Can he loue the father who loathes the dutifulnesse of the sonne or honour the Soueraigne who harbours dislike of the subiects loyaltie Christ will proclaime against them howsoeuer they soothe now themselues at that great day in that they loued not his little ones Mat. 10.42 they had no delight in him For the Church ioyntly is it ioy to thy soule to heare improue the prosperity of it to perceiue and procure the propagation of the Gospell in it And dost thou with Paul in the midst of thy bonds and imprisonments for ioy forget the sorrowes of thy afflictions at the report of Christ and his Gospels proceeding then art thou with the Lord alike affectioned Contrarily art thou with Nehemiah for thy outward state without all cause of sorrowing liuing in soft rayment and faring deliciously in Artaxerxes Court yet art in countenance sad art thou not sicke yet weepes and mournes when thou hearest of the distresse of Ierusalem or with Vriah wilt thou lodge with the kings seruants and not goe downe to thine owne house because the Arke of the Lord is in hazard Art thou strooke as the wife of Phinees with sorrow with a deadly sorrow hearing the glory to bee departed from Israel Dost thou in a word Preferre Ierusalem to thy chiefest ioy The Lord will not forget thy loue when he will neglect those who are so glued to the profits and pleasures of this life that so they may haue the flesh-pots of Aegypt and the plenty of Sodome care not which way Religion goeth harken lesse to the well-fare of the Church then to those things which are done in a strange Land They solemnise the feasts of Bacchus as the greatest godhead present their offrings and enrich the Altar of Aesculapius as a Diety They honour Pluto as a diuine power and so they may liue in any aire can turne to any Religion neither meditating on Gods mercy which would moue a desire in them to delight in and be affected with what he loueth nor pondering his Iustice which would beget a feare of his Maiesty as it did the Prophet Dauid as of himselfe he testifieth My flesh trembleth for feare of thee Psal 119.120 and I am afraid of thy iudgements Doth Dauid deepely interested in the Lords euerlalasting loue by Couenant neuer to bee cancelled tremble and are we loded with sinne lulled in the Cradle of stupidity Is he a man after Gods owne heart afraid of his iudgements and are not we branded with impiety abashed at the contemplation and sight of his Iustice Oh feare the Lord all yee his Saints for your soules obseruing Iustice become the banquetting house of the blessed Trinity Get the feare of the Lord it is a faithfull Porter Your soules are either already sicke or subiect to diseases seeke for the feare of the Lord it is a skilfull Physician Your soules are as Ships in danger to be tossed in tempestuous seas be fastned to the feare of the Lord it is an assured Anchor Haue you entertained disloyall thoughts or attempted any rebellious enterprise and are afraid to approach the Throne of grace to pleade your pardon Call for the feare of God it is a powerfull Aduocate Are you trauelling in the Wildernesse of this world replenished with many by-paths doubtfull which way to take Take for your companion the feare of the Lord it is a faithfull Counsellour Are you enuironed in the midst of many enemies guard you with the feare of the Lord it is a carefull Centinell Haue you entred the danger of the battell fight vnder the banner of the feare of the Lord it is a couragious Captaine It is a faithfull Porter not admitting any rebellious suggestion nor though entertaining vnawares suffring to abide any heauen-distasting motion in the soule the Lords Palace for if Ioseph be tempted this either diuerts the attempt repels the assault and makes him cry out How can I do this and offend my God Gen. 33.9 or else subuerts the plot and expels the act rather leauing the loosenesse of the thoughts then loading the conscience with the weight of sinne rather enduring the losse of a ragged motion then to defile the mansion of a heauenly mind yet sets open wide open the doore of the heart to euery guest wherein the Lord delighteth kindly entertaining euery grace which hee affecteth cheerefully welcomming euery good thing the presence whereof he desireth Is mercy and compassion more pleasing then sacrifice Hos 6.6 Neb. 5.1.5 Iob. 6.14 The feare of the Lord first inuites it 2. Chron. 19.9 Is singlenesse of heart the delight of God the desire of man The feare of God admits it Psal 187.11 Is waiting vpon the Lords mercy and depending on his pleasure expected by him respected of him The feare of the Lord brings it in his hand to the banquet By him who feareth the Lord Col. 3.22 Obedience is as readily saluted as the sun-shine day after showers in the time of Haruest Repentance as louingly embraced as the prodigall Sonne by the commiserating father Pro. 1.7 Psal 112.1 Instructions as ioyfully receiued as Christ by Zacheus Thus is it a faithfull Porter It is no lesse a skilfull Physician Eeclus 1.26 either purging corrupt humors and restoring health or preuenting sicknesse and preseruing life It purgeth corruption not suffring sinne to nestle it selfe in the soule or iniquity to lodge as a guest in the heart but speaking to it as the Lord
them who are as yet rebellious deluing and digging about Luc. 13.8 dunging pruining of those trees which as yet are fruitlesse presenting himselfe to them in loue who absent themselues from him in disloyalty intreating and wooing them whom as a father his sonnes he might command as a Soueraigne his subiects he might inioine or a Lord his vassals he might compell they cannot towards them not behold him mercifull before their conuersion Note now the Echo of my accent in resounding his mercy and iustice in the very moment of his childrens change then he lets them see themselues plunged in the deuouring sea of their sinnes fettered in the Giues of their transgressions seruants to the rigour of the Law subiect to eternall death and slaues to the vnsatiable tyranny of Satan which being seene with feare is felt with sorrow for hereby their consciences do awake awakening accuse accusing arraigne conuict condemne them of vnkindnesse to so good of rebellion to so great a God then their hearts boile with throbs the sire of remorse is kindled in their soules and the flames breake out at their mouthes or at least is signified to be there by their sighs for either the tongue or the heart in the tongues silence cryeth out with the leprous I am vncleane Len. 13.45 I am vncleane and with the Apostle Paul Rom. 7.20 Wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from the body of this death Thus hee appeares vnto them in the shape of a terrible Lion but lest they bee circumuented or too much endangered hee presently binds vp these wounds stops and staies these dangerous issues tendreth them a plaister compacted of his owne mercies and his Sonnes merits a salue compounded of his bounty and their Sauiours bloud and withall so inlightneth their vnderstanding that they looking vpon his good pleasure apprehend a possibility of their pardon he appeares in the meeknesse of a lambe In that therefore hee brings them by the mouth of Hell to the gates of Heauen causing them to condemne themselues lest they should bee condemned with the world 1 Cor. 11.31 then offring them the meanes of their amendment the occasion of their better change when hee might iustly leaue them in their misery and passe by them weltring in their polluted bloud then reuealing to them his grace Ezech. 16.6 when hee might righteously conceale from them his goodnesse then presenting them with a pardon when hee might duly inflict vpon them punishment yet so as first the horrour of their sinnes must seise vpon their soules and the hainousnesse of their iniquities set vpon their consciences that deepe impression of their deserts which afterward can bee defaced by no power but his owne spirit hee is iust and mercifull mercifull and iust to the good in the very instant of their change neither is hee otherwise after their change and in the continuance of their conuersion For sinners hating their apparant holinesse and Satan enuying their prepared happinesse assault the Fortresse of their faith batter the Castle of their confidence vndermine the Bulwarkes of their obedience and deface the Towers of their conuersation all which being built and semented with the rubbish of old corruption admit many breaches the Lust of the flesh 1 Iohn 2.16 the lust of the eyes and the pride of life carnall pleasures coueted profits enchanting vanities are as deceiuing baites whereon their flesh as the little fish too often greedily feedeth and their corruption as Tinder with these sparkes of Hell are set on fire and thus becomming sinners they suffer being to corruption affected with crosses they are afflicted and tainted with pollution are touched with punishment There is the Lords iustice Yet in that they are infested lest they should be more infected in that their miseries are mixt with ioyes and moderated according to what they are able to beare in that their suffrings are seasoned with heauens salt and salued with an happy successe they either taken from their trials or their tribulation remoued from them in that grace in the midst of misery is preserued in them and glory notwithstanding all calamity is reserued for them is manifest his mercy Doe then the good after their conuersion feele outward sorrow when they perceiue inward solace and are they perplexed with outward crosses as well as replenished with inward comforts though they be euer seized of many graces doe they yet suffer many grieuances and is not the Lord euen to them iust and mercifull iust he is not freeing corruption from calamity mercifull he is not leauing tribulation in perplexity Thus it is demonstrated by his works of mercy and iustice whether we looke on the place where or the persons on whom they are executed that the Lord as well beares a knife to cut as brings a salue to cure and hath as well a heart to raise vp as a hand to cast downe Let vs now attempt to confirme the same by reason taken from those absurdities which must be granted if this bee denied whether wee consider him our selues or others In him his attributes or his office are disparaged The Attributes which should adde oyle to this Lampe and make the light of this truth shine more cleerely are his liberty his omnipotency his verity but his liberty is abridged his omnipotency obscured his verity falsified if either the mercy or the iustice of the Lord bee excluded his liberty is abridged For if wee say he is all mercy how is not his word controlled his will violently carried against it selfe with the inundations of the sinnes of men which not only in this world he must necessarily be content to winke at but also in the world to come willingly entertaine If he be all mercy those who are knowne to him to be branded in conscience to the Deuils to be marked in conuersation with the curse of hel must by him be acknowledged to haue right to and be made partakers of the blisse of Heauen On the contrary side if he be all Iustice how is not the same will of his enforced to leaue those hopelesse for whom hee had purposed to whom he hath promised happinesse If he had beene all Iustice he had left in the pawes of Satan that roaring deuouring Lion those who are redeemed by the precious bloud of his Sonne that immaculate Lambe Ioh. 3.8 The winde bloweth where it listeth and the winds Creator worketh as him liketh doing as saies the Prophet Dauid what pleaseth him in heauen and earth and in the depths which hee could not doe if he were not free Now confessing him to be free wee must acknowledge him to bee both iust and mercifull or else his liberty is abridged and besides a Cloud is cast ouer his power his Omnipotency is obscured seeing he must either suffer what he would not or not doe what he should Lib. 5. de ciu Dei cap. 10. Now Dicitur omnipotens faciendo quod vult non patiendo quod
non vult saies Saint Augustine To doe what he will paints out Omnipotency to suffer what hee will not points at impotency Take away his iustice and he must suffer the blaspheming of his name the violating of his lawes the contempt of his commands without all remedy An earthly Commander shall reuenge the least offered indignity and Heauens Creator shall not be able to redresse but must endure the highest the most hainous blasphemy Take away his mercy a worldly Monarch shall aduance his Fauorite a meane Lord exalt a well deseruing seruant a poore father gratifie a truly obedient sonne but he by whom Princes reigne shall not conferre dignity on those in whom his soule delighteth nor the Lord of Lords reward his seruants diligence nor the Father of all that is called Father in heauen or earth countenance his Childs obedience Take away iustice hee who fetters the Nobles in linkes of iron and breaks in peeces the Princes of the earth as a Potters vessell shall himselfe be linked in the chaines of impiety because he cannot punish iniquity Take away mercy he who moueth mans heart to pitty openeth mens eares to attend strengtheneth mans hands to aid them who are in misery shall haue his owne heart so benummed that he cannot commiserate his owne eares so shut that he cannot heare and his owne arme so shortned that he cannot reach them who are in calamitie But there is no Lord which liues not vnder his law either obeying what he enioyneth or enduring what he inflicteth There is no honour or dishonour but is receiued from his hand either as a gratious signe of his loue or as the deserued successe of disloyalty which he disposeth as powerfully without resistance as freely without respect Is he then destitute of either Iustice or Mercy far be that conceit from our cogitations for it is the falsifying of his verity both in his promises and in his threatnings His gratious promises are as Sugar sweetning euery suffering as hony delighting euery Sinne-distempered taste as Triacle driuing corruption from the soule as Goats bloud softning an Adamantine heart his gratious promises giue a Supersedeas against the band of Law proclaime a writ of priuiledge from the Arrest of death and sue out a Writ of Error to reuerse the doome of condemnation passed against sin in the court of conscience Yet let this be granted that God is only iust and not mercifull the minde cannot but conceiue the vnderstanding must needs assume and reason will necessarily conclude that all his faire promises are but bare pretences Sinne and Despaire sitting at the helme Contrarily threatnings are the terror of the Soule the trouble of the thoughts the awakening of the drowsie threatnings turne Sendall into Sackloth cast crownes of gold downe among the dust and aduance dust as a more golden ornament for the head Threatnings as bitter potions purge the superfluous humors of impietie and as fire the wax prepareth the heart to receiue the impression of Gods spirit yet if God bee wholly mercifull and not iust will not the soule surmise them to bee clouds without raine Scorpions without stings and lesse to be feared than a thunderclap in another horizon security and presumption hoising the sayles But now though heauen and earth shall passe though the glorious Fabricke of the worlds Globe shall be wrapped together as a Scrole yet not one tittle of his word shall faile what hee promised in mercy shall be performed in clemency and what hee threatned in iustice shall bee executed in seueritie the freenesse of his will the greatnesse of his power the certainty of his truth his libertie omnipotency verity all and euery of them iointly and seuerally doe conuince that the Lord as well holds out the blacke Ensigne of war as the White colours of peace Or else to come to his office how should he bee Iudge of all the world There are three properties in a Iudge which should be as inseparable to him as heat is to the fire moisture to the aire drinesse to the earth coldnesse to the water that he Heare indifferently Examine diligently determine vnpartially which proper duties cannot be performed if either seuerity be swallowed vp of clemency or clemency choaked with seuerity Now howsoeuer God seeing the hearts and reines discerning the secretest thoughts and intentions to whom all things are naked needes not to listen listening to labour by due sifting to winnow out the truth yet in passing sentence he is to deale vnpartially Shall the Iudge of the world not doe right and yet when the Sheepe and Goats Wolues and Lambes the Children of light and imps of darknesse those who beare on their soules his owne stampe and those on whose hearts Satan may see the writing of his owne hand shall stand before him to heare their seuerall doomes being all mercy hee must absolue the wicked and beâ—ng all Iustice he cannot saue the godly and so he must necessarily passe a partiall and vnrighteous iudgement who is holy in all his waies and righteous in all his workes Iust when hee speaketh and pure when he iudgeth whom neither malice can iustly maligne nor Error shall euer bee able to blemish with absurdity neither in regard of his office or his attributes wherewith Satan would inueigle vs by blinding our minde with this misconceit that the Lord is either onely mercifull to cause presumption or only Iust to enforce despaire But if he were only iust and not mercifull the first Adam had either not sinned or hauing sinned had continued in vanity if only mercifull and not iust the second Adam had either not died or died in vaine If hee were not a God of anger feare were vnnecessarie If not a God of fauour faith a fancy our tribulations should be endlesse if he only frowning our sufferings fruitlesse if not fauourable What wipes our teares from our eies puts them in his bottle registers them in his booke not his mercy What heares the sighes of the soule the groaning of the spirit and the crying of the heart not his mercy What preserues our hands from acting our eies from beholding our feet from following vanitie not his mercy Mercy is the marke whereat our mourning aimeth Mercy is the limit where our sorrow boundeth Mercy is that Ocean where our misery endeth To no purpose should we grieue if the Lord were not good to no end should we sorrow if he were not gracious On the contrarie what is that in him which heareth our impieties the eares of his iustice What is that in him which espieth our vanities the eyes of his iustice What is that in him which punisheth our iniquities the hand of his iustice To no effect should we feare spirituall death if he be not righteous in vaine should wee flye from eternall danger if he be not rigorous If he were not both iust and mercifull mercifull and iust caution to preuent sinne were a needlesse care care to perfect sanctity an vnnecessary corasiue either of
wee be deafe hee is hearing though wee be lame he is walking though we be weak he is strong to foresee to attend to prouide and to prosecute whatsoeuer may perfect our good or preuent our euill insomuch as euery one of vs may truly say with the Prophet Dauid Psal 73.26 Thou art my lot and inheritance the strength of my heart and saluation of my soule Let the Fish challenge the waters for their due the beasts claime the earth for their possession the Fowles the aire for their interest and the glorious Angels the Heauens for their habitation 1 Cor. 3.22 23. yet being Christs and Christ Gods in him all are ours he being to vs all in all Psa 73.24 Counsell to aduise vs wisdome to direct vs righteousnesse to acquit vs sanctification to cleanse vs 2 Cor. 1.30 redemption to free vs and a King to receiue vs into glory so as euery one of vs may well say with the sweet singer of Israel Psal 73.25 Whom haue I in Heauen but thee and here is nothing in earth that I desire besides thee And therefore to be admired admiring to bee loued of vs in duty who did first giue vs birth and being protecting vs against all dangers preseruing vs in all perils prouiding for vs in all wants resoluing vs in all doubts comforting vs in all discontents in a word causing all things euen all things though in nature of contrariety Rom. 8.28 to worke together and shake hands in amity for our good if as we ought we loue him who is our God which duty how should we deny vnto him if wee consider the dignity of it which appeareth in the Lords approbation acceptation and remuneration of it esteeming it highly else would he not inioyne so strictly and inculcate it so frequently strictly he enioynes it Deut. 6.5 for there is no part of any heart but must harbour it no parcell of any soule but must solace in it nor no portion of any ones mind must be missing to it nor the least mite of any ones might must be deteined from it vnto this Ocean as well the little streames as the greatest Riuers must pay their tribute vnto this Sea as well the smallest torrents as the largest chanels must send their presents so strictly it is commanded and the more strictly in that it is so often called for called for by the Law called for by the Gospell That which a father perceiuing through his age that death approcheth doth most counsell his children either by way of admonition or exhortation to shunne or follow the experience of his yeeres and his haires grauity doe seale the necessity of it to them and signifie especially if he often repeat it how worthily it is conceited of by him Moses in diuers messages from the Lord either by way of precept or explanation either exhorting or disswading either commanding or commenting vpon his former lawes or louing fauours often plainly presseth this duty as the Lords due and the peoples debt Often doth our Sauiour Christ and his Apostles propound it as a grace most excellent decipher it as a vertue most orient paint it out as a duty most pleasant in it selfe pleasing vnto nay the very pleasing of God and that in so high a degree as he graciously accepts it for in the Word that infallible Truth they imply that the affecting of his Maiestie in his account is the acting of his command and the fixing vpon him our loue is the fulfilling of the whole Law Mat. 22. Gal. 2. As he esteemes it highly accepts it heartily so doth he recompence it manifoldly with temporall spirituall and eternall blessings As for temporall without raine the earth is as brasse the ground as iron but to those that loue him hee that is faithfull cannot either deceiue or be deceiued he who is truth and cannot faile he who is wisdome and cannot erre hath promised that he will giue them raine Deut. 11.13 14. there 's a blessing in due time there 's the greatnesse of the blessing euen the first and the latter raine that is in the seed time and towards Haruest to this end that vnlesse they wilfully contemne his offred blessings of plenty and obstinately draw vpon their owne heads a curse of scarcity they may gather in their wheat their wine and their oile Corne without raine could not grow ripe and through raine vnseasonably falling we could not reape to haue it then is a blessing to want it a curse and to haue it out of season is rather a curse than a blessing In his giuing it then to them that loue him in due season lies the sweetnesse and marrow of the blessing but though the grapes be pressed and the wine sugred in the cup yet may a man bee depriued of it at the lip as was Ancaeus from whence arose that Adage Eras Adag chil 1. ceat 5. Multa cadunt inter calicem supremaque labra though a man bee in full expectation to reape 2 Sam. 14.30 yet a reuengefull Absolom may send to burne vp the fields of Ioab when his Corne is ripe and Samson by his Foxes frustrate the hope of the Philistins Jud. 15.5 hindring their fruitfull haruest Psal 128.2 but those that loue the Lord shall enioy the fruit of their labours and eat the labours of their hands No politike Achitophel no malicious Absolom no enuious Samson shal disappoint them their enemies must be cast out before them and their borders much inlarged and because all these may be enioyed and yet we not ioyned with him to this temporall hee addes spirituall blessings and such whereby we may perceiue him to be ours and vnited to vs in the bonds of loue And lest strangenesse in association should beget a strangenesse in his our mutuall affections lest discontinuance of communion should breed a dislike or disunion in opinion or lest want of societie should worke the violation of amity Christ promiseth that both his Father and He will descend from their glorious Thrones and Seats of Maiestie Iohn 1â— 29. and come vnto him that loueth him and make not as guests whose stay is momentary but as dwellers and Masters of the Mansion their abode with him to whom it is impossible that any spirituall blessing should be absent where the Author of all spirituall grace is present Can that field be vnrefreshed where a springing fountaine remaineth or can waters be wanting where is a liuing Well Heauenly graces necessarily there abound where the giuer of them abideth not for once but for euer for to those that loue him his blessings are eternall Many Conquerors doe enioy a crowne which is maintained attended with great care subiect to the greatest crosses nay the head which it adorneth many times is diuided from the body but he giues to them that loue him a Crowne of life Iam. 1.12 Many enioy the crowne but want power to possesse his Kingdome but
those that loue him 2.5 he giues not the Crowne only but the Kingdome too How should not we render the Lord his due in performing our dutie for the dignitie of it which he so highly esteemeth so readily approueth and so manifoldly recompenceth with temporall spirituall and eternall blessings but seeing loue is the ground of all which is conferred from God on vs and the substance of all that is owing from vs to God let vs first see the meanes whereby it may be obtained or continued and the markes wherby it is discerned In respect of the meanes whereby it is obtained or continued we must be either passiue or actiue Passiue in the hearts purity for vpon that condition will this grace enter and without cleansing no expecting it as a Companion therefore Hee that was faithfull in all Gods house Heb. 3.2 promising from the Lord that he will circumcise his peoples hearts adds withall the end of that circumcising that thou maist loue the Lord thy God Deut. 30.6 as if there could be no louing of the Lord where there was no circumcising of the heart and indeed onely then will this loue bee entertained when our hearts are purified For the loue of God is a fire and abhors vnfitting fewell which may either cause smoke to offend the eies or stench to distaste the smell of God and at last extinguisheth it selfe and therefore as Noahs Doue would not set one foot vpon the muddy earth nor any Doue will delight in a foule cottage as no Lion will frequent any putrified haunt nor the Turtle pearke vpon a barren tree so neither will this grace partaking of the spirits qualities from whence it comes as the water tasteth of the fountaine from whence it floweth take footing or can delight in a corrupted conscience nor seeing it is neere allied to the Lion of the Tribe of Iuda deigne to harbour in a polluted heart nor being the Lords truest Turtle sit vpon or seat it selfe in that man whose minde is destitute of holy meditations Meditate then for you must be actiue on the vngodlies deficiency this graces excellencies and the Lords mercies Meditate vpon that wofull yet assured prediction of our Sauiour Mat. 24.12 that the loue of many shall wax colde and it will bee a cocke to awake thy sleeping conscience a goade to pricke thee forward to feruent prayers lest thou shouldst bee one of them that must be tainted with so great a sinne Meditate of the graces excellency in the quality efficacie and extension and that will be as a fire to enflame and as a fewell to continue thy desire vnto it For in the Quality what grace more honourable in the efficacie what grace more powerfull 1 John 4.8 in the extension what grace more large more lasting remember then how of all graces this is graced with the greatest name as most participating of the diuinest nature Remember how of all graces this is most preuailing Rom. 8.28 seeing all things though in neuer such an Antipathy and contention among themselues yet as vnited forces must worke together for the good of those that loue him Remember that howeuer the eye may see much the eare heare more and the heart conceiue more than either the eie can see or the eare can heare yet The things which eie hath not seene 1 Cor. 2.9 eare hath not heard neither came into mans heart hath God prepared for those that loue him Remember how of all graces this is most large most lasting 13.13 Faith shall cease vpon fruition hope end vpon possession loue only continue all the time of our eternall happinesse Faith is onely for the present Hope for the future Loue both for the past present and the time to come Faith is locked within a mans owne brest hope helpeth not anothers heart onely by Loue as by the Sunne both the Sphere where it is placed is enlightned and another place vnto which it diffuseth the rayes is warmed Lastly meditate on Gods great mercies in his promises prouidence performances and they cannot but beget a liking which ere long will be seconded with a zealous louing of his Maiestie Thinke how there is no crowne so rich as that which he promiseth no ioyes so rare as those which he prepareth no kingdome so large as that which he intendeth no society so louely as that which hee purposeth to them which loue him thinke how readily he hath enclined his eares and heard thy cries how cheerefully hee hath opened his mouth and comforted thine heart how louingly hee hath stretched out his arme and remoued thy dangers how freely he hath filled his hand and enriched thy soule Thus the purifying of thy heart meditating on the vngodlies deficiency this graces excellency and the Lords mercy will by the assistance of his gracious spirit wrought with faithfull and vnfained praiers lodge his loue in thy heart where if it be lodged by two markes it may be discerned For loue begetteth first a desire of Communion secondly a similitude of affection Our Communion with the blessed Trinity is twofold either Corporall or Spirituall this is to be had heere that to be enioyed hereafter both to be desired euer for they that truly and sincerely loue Christ Iesus they will long for his comming and thirst for his last appearing Loue is such a linke as it cannot lacke the Vnion nay communion with the partie loued Loue is such a fire in the heart of Saint Paul that it flames out at his mouth and manifests the desires of his soule Phil. 1.23 euen to be dissolued and to be with Christ and as a violent fire which keepeth within no bounds but being driuen with the winde of Gods spirit sparkles out the wishes of the whole Church as if it were the words but of one bride calling for the company of her spouse Come Lord Iesus come quickly Reu. 22.20 Feruency admits no deferring and earnest desires endure no delaies especially where perfection compassion and mercy shall vpon their meeting giue a full end to all imperfection wants and miseries A Christian soule well considering this absolute and happy communion hauing one only sparke of affection and one onely dragme of loue must needs desire it Nothing surely nothing can hold it from flying by the wings of feruent prayer and entring heauens palace nothing can quench the flame of it the fire being as strong as death or hinder its burning aboue the clouds till the affections of the Churches Spouse which seeme to bee frozen in that he comes not at her call be so warmed within him as he may be moued to descend that they meeting him in the clouds may behold his corporall countenance which because they cannot yet enioy doe manifest the truth and sincerity of their loue to him so long as it is his pleasure to detaine the former the affectioned soule delighteth here in nothing more than in a spirituall societie with him which often to earthly
you haue heard his end the Serpents head was broken Impatiencies swelling bulke was burst and outward afflictions as the Clouds with the Sunnes presence dispersed and he became the master of the field which feared God Though then the conflict be cruell they that feare the Lord may be constant though the battell be continued they may be comforted for they are not forsaken but are deliuered Psal 33.18 and the victory is certaine to be theirs for it conquers victoriously and richly crownes both them and theirs opening a Treasure wherein nothing which may content the eye please the taste delight the smell enrich the soule blesse the estate is wanting Ecclus. 40.27 It is a Garden replenished with variety of Gods mercies to delight the spirituall smell of our apprehension it accompanies vs to the Temple Psal 5.7 which is filled with Gods glorious presence to content the eies of our vnderstanding It pleaseth the pallat of our affections Psal 34.7 8. with the sweet Nectar of his graciousnesse It is a Sunne to warme our benummed will in the practise of goodnesse and a fire to enflame our zeales in contemplation of holinesse It brings with it a comfortable vse of worldly blessings Pro. 12.27 for many hunt after worldly profit but haue it not haue it but it helps not they take great paines and attaine their expectation but put their gaines in broken bags Hab. 2. Eccles 6.2 The couetous man keeps them so safely as he dares not touch them the Prodigall spends them so lauishly Luke 15. that hee comes to want them many possesse them comfortably to their worldly content as the rich man in Saint Luke but doe not blessedly either possesse or vse them only hee that feareth God obtaines them possesseth them spends them spares them vseth them blessedly for nothing is wanting to him Psal 34.9 10. nothing that is good whatsoeuer may hurt his hope or hinder his confidence coole his zeale or freeze his forwardnesse may be wanting but nothing that may further his faith or inflame his obedience shall be missing Psal 128.2 He shall labour and eat the labour of his hands he shall be blessed and it shall be well with him Hee openeth his hand and giueth to him that needeth Psal 112.5 and yet expendeth with iudgement Howsoeuer it goes with the wicked in life or death yet I know saies Salomon Eccle. 8.12 that it shall bee well with them that feare the Lord and doe reuerence before him Psal 33.18 19. For his eyes are on them to deliuer their soule from death and preserue them in the time of dearth And that wee may take notice of the abundance of their wealth the greatnesse of their worth the feare of God is compared to a Well-spring an euer-flowing Fountaine Pro 14.27 so as though the channels decay and be dried vp this euer yeeldeth sufficient supply of knowledge to confirme the mind of direction to conforme the manners of wisdome to informe our contemplations of caution to reforme our actions The waies of God are vnsearchable the mysteries of godlinesse incomprehensible yet to him that feareth God will hee teach the way Psal 25.12 not that which the world followeth the flesh sauoreth Satan affecteth but what himselfe chuseth Naturall reason cannot comprehend carnall knowledge cannot search earthly affections cannot desire these secrets which the Lord reueales vnto them that are possessed of his feare vers 14. Prou. 22.4 Riches attend on it Honour will not be without it Life is the guerdon of it Yet here is not the bounds of this Ocean it brancheth it selfe into euery Channell euery Medow euery Tree the root is not only partaker of this moistnesse the bole onely receiues not benefit by this Riuer but euery branch communicateth of this treasure Esay 33.6 Psal 103.17 for the louing kindnesse of the Lord endureth for euer and euer vpon them that feare him and his righteousnesse vpon childrens children Psal 25.13 The soule of the man himselfe shall dwell at ease and his seed shall inherit the earth Neither is this benefit temporall but spirituall which from this Fountaine is deriued for they shall see the wealth not of an earthly Monarchy so much desired of a worldly Empire so much thirsted after but of Ierusalem 128.5 6. that is the true Church of the euer-liuing all-disposing God not for a little moment or a few moneths but all the daies of their liues yea not themselues alone shall be partakers of it but they may certainly expect to behold their posterity inuested in it euen the constant and continuall peace vpon Israel Pro. 14.26 For in the feare of the Lord is strong confidence Howsoeuer Persecutors may rage and persecution may threaten to ruine all before it yet the children of them that feare God shall haue a place of refuge So as with the Prophet Dauid Psal 31.19 we in admiration may cry out How great is thy goodnesse O Lord which thou hast laid vp for them that feare thee and done to them that trust in thee euen before the sonnes of men ver 20. Doth pride seeke to insult ouer them He hides them priuily in his owne presence Doth malice seeke to preuaile against them he keepes them secretly in his Tabernacle from the strife of tongues Chrysost in serm de Iohan. Bapt. This is that onely whereby our minds are corrected sinnes are shunned innocency preserued and ability to all goodnesse is conferred No euill can visit them euill may surprise but shall neuer seize vpon euill may oppresse but neuer suppresse them that feare the Lord. It is like Cammomile the more it is trod on the more it spreadeth like Spice the more it is pounded the better it smelleth the Chesnut tree the more it is beaten the better fruit it beares Let then the feare of God finde footing in your hearts and for this purpose obserue his workes of Maiesty and might The consideration of Christs Maiesty was the meanes of Pauls conuersion for when hee beheld the glory of the Lord though with a full resolution and resolued purpose he was breathing out persecution against the Saints seeking to terrifie nay to torture the sonnes and daughters of God hee himselfe was strucke with terror Act. 9. Mat. 17.6 Luke 2.9 Doth a bright Cloud ouer-shadow Iesus Moses and Elias and are Peter Iames and Iohn at the sight of the same amazed Doth the glory of the Lord shine round about the Shepheards and are they astonished and shall not feare possesse our hearts in the contemplation of his Maiesty His workes of might in the worlds creation wickeds confusion and godlies preseruation In the worlds creation Dei Dicere was Rerum Esse Gods Word was of such worth and his breathing so binding that his onely saying gaue essence vnto euery Creature Psal 33.7 8 9. for he spake and it was done he commanded and it was created
we feele or continueth to shake his Rod which we feare will fall vpon vs yet by our patience may we know we feare him Psal 115.11 depending vpon his power bearing of the punishment ready to embrace his pleasure either in accepting of our desires or afflicting our deserts for the feare of God which neuer exalteth Prou. 3.7 euer submitteth it selfe being opposite to presumption Deut. 17.13 banisheth carnal security Zeph. 3.7 the feare of God receiueth instruction and becommeth patient to behold the Lords end in deferring the manifestation of his mercy in the continuing his childrens misery and in his threatning their future calamity conceiting not daring to misconceit any thing of the Lord that it is either for the prouing of their faith and constancy the purging of their filth and impurity the preuenting of their sinne and iniquity and the prouiding for the continuance of their piety vnto which the feare of God is alwaies glued As when Iosuah had called to the remembrance of the Israelites the Lords both iustice and mercy Jos 4.14 iustice vpon their enemies mercy towards them hee exhorts them to feare the Lord but withall aduiseth that it want not the true companion vpright seruing of him and the Prophet Dauid when he had affirmed that man blessed who feareth the Lord Psal 112.1 hee instantly addeth and delighteth onely in his Commandements as if there could be no true reuerencing of the Lord without due regarding of his lawes no standing in awe of his wrath without obseruing of his will no fearing of his name if failing in his worship Thence is it that the Lord himselfe giues it as a charge and laies it downe as a statute neuer to be repealed or appealed from Thou shalt feare the Lord thy God and serue him Deut. 6.13 Gen. 22.12 And testifieth with and to Abraham that he truly feared him because he withheld not his sonne his only sonne And Salomon when hee would describe true feare his description though plaine is pithy though short yet sententious paints it out to this purpose and makes the hating of euill to bee the badge of it Pro. 8.13 Iob. 1.1 Act. 10.2 which Iob did weare and Cornelius was not without And lastly whosoeuer receiueth from the Lords hand good or euill sorrow or solace gladnesse or griefe how euer his prayers may seeme to bee reiected his patience neglected his piety not regarded yet he giues praise or else hee feareth not Feare opens the eyes and lets him see the Lords mercy Psal 118.4 which deales with him so mildly his wisdome disposing all things so warily his prouidence attending all things so watchfully himselfe so vnworthy the Lord so wise himselfe vndutifull the Lord for all that so many waies bountifull himselfe so disobedient the Lord so prouident for him himselfe carelesse of the Lords honour the Lord still following him with his fauour that he cannot but both in minde and mouth praise his name by whose power hee is thus preserued knowing that in this he doth put on no other Liuery than hee is enioyned nor take any other companion to true feare than is required by the Prophet Dauid Psal 22.23 Praise yee the Lord that feare him And for our selues then may we be sure that the feare of God swaies in our soules when our minds are enlightned with prudence our prudence seconded with prouidence our prouidence attended with hope our hope assisted with power our power made apparant by preuailing and preuailing continued in stability either concerning what may tend to Gods glory and our good or threaten his dishonour and our eternall hatred For to whom soeuer the feare of the Lord is as it is in it selfe a treasure he drawes thence Es 33.6 Geneu transl as from an Armory Knowledge Wisdome Saluation Strength and Stability as is not obscurely declared by that Euangelicall Prophet who speaking to the heart of Zion comforting her in the destruction of them that spoiled her assureth her of double felicity the one is liberty through deliuerance and the other stability in her freedome which stability is branched out in the meanes whereby it is preserued the roote from whence it is deriued the meanes whereby it is preserued are strength for preuailing safety in resisting wisdome in prouiding knowledge in discerning The Roote out of which euery one of these branches buddeth and the foundation whereupon hee builds this bulwarke of their consolation is the feare of the Lord. Now seeing by what meanes any thing is preserued by the same meanes often it is obtained we may take the Prophets gradation in the Retrograde and then we finde the feare of God to be the fountaine out of which the rest as little riuers doe issue though in their different neerenesse or remotenesse Howsoeuer as by the colours the souldiers discerne their Captaine as by following the streame we come to the spring as by tracing the Conduit pipes we finde the head of the riuer so we may see where this grace resteth if wee can espy her hand-maids waiting The first and neerest whereof is Prudence with which the feare of God enlightneth the soule as a candle the darkest house and driueth away the mists of ignorance and error as the Sunne rising disperseth any clouds or vapours For it informeth the reason perswadeth the will tutereth the affections and directeth the actions presenteth to the minde both heauens mysteries and hellish mischiefes openeth to the vnderstanding the records of celestiall secrets and infernall subtleties layeth before the will the Lords Maiestie and his Childrens felicitie Satans malice and the damneds misery offereth to the affections virtues dignitie and vices deformity and tendereth to euery action as the proper end glory or ignominy Psal 111.10 paine or pleasure Whence Dauid the worthiest father and Solomon the wisest sonne affirme Prou. 1.7 that it is the beginning of Wisdome and the Lord assureth him in whom his feare remaineth that hee will bee his teacher Psal 25.12 euen hee who is wisdome knowledge and truth So as Prudence to discerne is one of the notes whereby the feare of God is knowne But because where the enemy knoweth wisdome wanteth hee the rather attempteth in that the heart is surprised with a greater feare in the approach of danger and the soule tortured with a more grieuous torment in the apprehension of safety perceiuing both yet not conceiuing which way either to preuent the one or be partaker of the other the feare of God leauing not his harbourer either deceiued or vnfurnished nor the enemy vnaffrighted or vnpreuented hangeth forth another flag and that is prouidence Greg. in moral Timere Deum est nulla quae facienda sunt praeterire bona wisely preparing euery thing which Prudence suggested as pertinent or expedient and neglecting nothing which wisdome hath reuealed as requisite for preuention What was it which moued Noah that preacher of righteousnesse to prepare the Arke