God fares deliciously in his soul feeding on marrow and hidden manna that he or she is greatly beloved of God Thy lot O soul is fal'n in a peculiar plot of mercies ground and should not the Lord Jesus be admir'd of such a one seeing he is come to him in the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel O bless God for this unspeakable gift Thirdly 'T is an earnest of eternal mercy They that sow to the spirit shall reap life everlasting Gal. 6. 8. And such as abound in holiness shall have an abundant entrance administred to them into the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour 2 Tet. 1. 11. God will never throw away savoury salt to the dunghil nor burn up fruitful branches Trees full of sap are the Lord's trees which he will transplant into his Paradise above Psal 104. 16. The Lord 's ripe fruit shall be gathered not shaken on the ground and safely hous'd in Heaven Grace is too precious seed to be lost Such as sow it now though in tears shall surely come again and bring their sheaves with them Psal 126. 5. Poor troubled Soul God will not despise the day of thy small things much less thy soulenlargements after him he will be tender of thy smallest blossoms and secure them into fruit much more shall thy encreases arrive to the fulness of the measure of the stature of Christ Eph. 4. 15. God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love which you have shewn towards his name Heb. 6. 10. It may be thou hast forgotten many a duty and hearty testimony of thy love to Christ his name people and ways and canst see nothing in all thou hast done but art ready to say on every turn When saw I thee an hunger'd and fed thee or thirsty and gave thee drink when saw I thee a stranger and took thee in or naked and clothed thee or sick and in prison and came to thee Matth. 25. 35. But God cannot be so unrighteous to forget it or let it pass so but keeps a record of all thy meanest duties and will make the most of them in the day of righteous judgment I know thy works and thy labours and thy patience c. Rev. 2. 2. When thou wast under the Fig-tree I saw thee Joh. 1. 48. He takes notice of a Daniel by the river Hiddekel of a Peter on the house-top of Elijah under the Juniper-tree 1 King 19. 4 5. yea of what was but in David's heart to do and requites it 8 King 8. 18. Will not an Ahasuerus let the good deeds of Mordecai go unrewarded and shall not the Judg of all the Earth do right and crown the works of his own hands Your labours shall not be in vain in the Lord 1 Cor. 15. 58. O then be blessing God for the least good he hath wrought in you and for you for any prosperity in your souls There are no offerings come up with that acceptance on God's Altar as thanksgiving-offerings Psal 69. 30 31. What a delightful remark did the Lord Jesus put upon the Lepers return to praise him for cleansing Luke 17. 18. the more spiritual the more rejoyeing Isa 52. 8. No such thriving souls as God-praising souls Jer. 31. 12. Therefore they shall come and sing in the heighth of Sion and shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord for Wheat and for Wine and for Oil and their soul shall be as a watred Garden and they shall not sorrow any more at all Quest How might I know whether I have good trading in Spirituals or no that I might have ground for rejoycing in God Could I find this soul-welfare you speak of I should bless God with my whole soul but I fear 't is otherwise that I am one of those who fall back and decay in my heavenly Trade Sol. There are seven signs of good Trading especially in evil times which men usually reckon to be discoveries of a thriving Trade First When men go not back in the World but hold their own they lose nothing 'T is much in bad times to keep ones ground to be savers in such a season is a piece of gain Try in this how 't is with you do not you go back in your spiritual estate is it not worse with you than heretofore Is not your faith love humility patience less than heretofore If you go not back in grace you go forward there 's no standing at a stay in Religion men go forward or backward in the way of Vertue they that do not decay do thrive in Spirituals Job proves his good estate by his standing fast in shaking times Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lip I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food My foot hath held his steps his way have I kept and not declined Job 23. 10 11 12. and thence concludes a gainful issue When he hath tried me I shall come forth as Gold And the Apostle reckons it good profit in soul-conflicts to stand ones ground if he cannot gain yet not to lose But having done all to stand is victory Eph. 6. 13. Christians have their winter-seasons when growing is not visible then to keep alive is commendable Do you hold fast your integrity and keep your garments on Do you preserve your conscience pure from the defilements and temptations of the day and place you live in and your hearts unspotted from the World your desires as warm your purposes of cleaving to God as firm and your feet as quick to run the way of God's commandments as heretofore then have you good trading considering the times you live in which is an hour of temptation and an evening of darkness Secondly If wares go off well 't is good trading when goods vend at a good rate men count it thriving Is it so with your souls do your prayers come up to God with acceptance do duties turn to any profit to you what returns have you of your religious services do hearing prayer conference bring you any soul-advantage do not goods lie by you undisposed of but your graces are exercised your talents gifts opportunities improv'd then 't is good Trading If the Lord give you light you lay it out for the good of others if he restore to you the joy of his salvation and uphold you with his free Spirit you teach transgressours his waies and endeavour to convert sinners to him Psal 51. 12 13. When God drops in comfort to you you pour it forth to others that they may be comforted also with the same comforts wherewith you are comforted of God 2 Cor. 1. 4. When you are come to duties publick or private do graces go out in them you shew parts it may be but do you lay out grace as well as gifts spiritual as well as natural affections Do you pray with the Spirit and hear with Faith do hope fear humility holy fervency heavenly breathings sincerity go off in your religions duties
duty and providence calls them too and with the Chymist are to extract some good from every thing they deal with and like the Bee gather Honey from weeds yet this good they get from persons and things is not in them but conveyed through them from the great Purchaser with whom they deal good from every thing to these heavenly Traders and Heirs of Salvation is made over in the propromise All things shall work together for good to them that love God and are called according to his purpose Rom. 8. 28. and shall in due time through these Conduits be emptied out to Believers by the hand of Jesus So that it is properly and strictly but with one great Merchant those Traders have to do with for the goods they lay out or take in all other things and persons are but ways and instruments of his appointment through which it shall be delivered and this makes Wisdom's Trade so good that the advantage of it is not depending on those secondary Agents they have to do with but upon one that is more excellent both great and good able and faithful to answer both his promises and the expectations of those that deal with him As to his Quality and personal Grandeur he is above all and over all King of Kings and Lord of Lords He hath a vesture on his thigh whereon is written King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 19. 16. He is the Majesty on high the Glory of Heaven and Earth he hath Angels to worship him Thrones and Principalities under him all creatures in Heaven and in Earth to serve him O! how honourable is it to deal with him to whom Kings and Potentates pay their tribute and to whom Men and Angels yield their homage It 's taking with Men to converse with those that are above them and to manage concerns with Persons of Honour and Greatness but here 's one Souls that offers to trade with you from whom all creatures receive their glory Yea his Goodness answers his Greatness and sweetly tempers his personal converse for the encouragement of the meanest Soul that hath occasions with him Greatness without Goodness rather checks than relieves the hopes of those that are beneath it but such is the sweetness of Christ's nature as that his Glory doth but render his Goodness the more amiable and his Goodness represents his Glory the more desirable he values no man by his own worth nor despises any for their low estate the meanest Soul hath as easy access to him and as gracious a reception as persons of highest reputation with men I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones Isa 57. 15. He is of a sweet and gracious temper of a free and generous spirit good to all especially to those that seek him this renders persons desirable who would choose to deal with men of ugly natures and churlish dispositions affability and sweetness do strongly invite men to converse with such and none like to Jesus for excellent goodness and loving kindness for pitty and bounty goodness is his nature mercy his delight he takes pleasure in doing good none that trade with him but he will see them to be the better for it He is also able as well as good Some men have excellent natures but straitned capacities they are willing to do good beyond their power but it is not so with the Saints friend He hath all power in Heaven and Earth Mat. 28. 18. and can do what-ever pleaseth him he hath all creatures at his command all the treasures of Heaven at his dispose he is infinitely rich and hath all that good that Souls can need or desire he hath goods of all kinds of supply his Customers with it is not so with men no Merchant can furnish his Traders with every thing they need but one sells this ware another that here men sail to one Countrey for one Commodity and to another Countrey for other Wares they ransack Nature's treasures by Sea and Land borrow something from every Nation that hath a peculiar excellency to make up their supplies and furnish all their occasions and pleasures but the Lord Jesus hath all that in him and at his dispose which you need he can supply all your wants having all fulness dwelling in him Phil. 4. 19. He hath that in him which your Souls want and the command of that you need for your Bodies also He can give you the desires of your heart Psal 37. 4. He is able to make all grace abound towards you that you always having all-sufficiency in all things may abound in every good work 2 Cor. 9. 8. Here 's no less than five All 's that flow from the ability of Christ to Believers All grace abounding in them All sufficiency enjoy'd by them All ways in All things for All good works Did Souls but believe the all-sufficiency of Christ they would not so perplex their spirits when in wants with what shall I eat and with what shall I be clothed and how shall I get this and the other mercy I want when all is offered to Wisdom's Merchants freely for godliness hath the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come and these promises are in the hand of Jesus for all that come to God by him All things are delivered to me of the Father Matt. 11. 27. The Lord Jesus is not only able to give you all that you ask according to his will having all things delivered to him for that end but he can keep it for you and secure it to your use I am perswaded that he is able to keep that good thing I have committed to him against that day 2 Tim. 1. 12. This all-sufficiency of Christ is argument enough to new-Covenant-federates for a calm and quiet dependance on him and holy walking before him Gen. 17. 1. And that which is exceeding pleasing to Traders also he is faithful as well as able he is one of his word that makes good all his promises to a tittle to those that by Faith deal with him The holy one of Israel cannot lie or alter the word that is gone out of his mouth hath he said and shall he not do it hath he spoken and shall he not make it good Numb 23. 19. and Rev. 1. 5. He is the faithful witness faithful is his name And he that sate upon the Throne was called faithful and true Rev. 19. 11. And faithfulness is his nature in comparison of whom every man is a liar Let God be true and every man a liar Rom. 3. 4. If the Lord Jesus were not faithfull to his word and undertaking the Father would not have trusted him with all the concerns of his glory and people in the world neither had he been a fit person for the Elect to have committed unto him their souls and all
his mouth much sweeter than the honey and honey-comb Men could let their own ploughs stand still to set their hands to God's plough with Mary they could neglect any business to sit at Christ's feet Luke 10. 39. leave their appointed food and most pleasant delicacies for one draught of Sanctuary-waters yea but for one sip of divine sweetness they could break their rest leave all for Christ's company bear frowns threatenings losses sufferings with wonderful ease for some fellowship with God and his people they would not lose a praying or hearing hour whatever it cost them they would stick at no hardships price should never break between Christ and them subscribe any terms and count it a cheap bargain too if at any rate they might obtain grace and some spiritual good to their souls But alas now the case is altered few will bid much for the precious things of Sion even they that could have plucked out their eyes and have given them to the Messengers of Christ now think it too dear to pluck their hands out of their bosomes to open the door to Christ himself Now soulpriviledges are worth little or nothing Sermons society of Saints are scarce counted worth the parting with a little time ease business or friend to enjoy them A shop a market is better than the solemn Meeting with most few can step over a straw and forbear to gather a little stubble though it be to get the unsearchable treasure of Christ This is the sad temper of most Professours this day they have lost their estimation of Christ and spiritual things they do not value let men talk what they will God above the world Christ above rest one day in his Courts above a thousand elsewhere his precious Word above their appointed food most think it more adviseable to take seasons for the world than for Heaven rather to baulk many Sermons than lose a little profit and opportunity though but of very small advantage in the world Men are full and rich and have goods enough they think they know enough already have heard enough prayed enough they feel no want of nor see worth in spiritual things and therefore offer so little for soul-advantages and this bespeaks manifestly the decay of this Heavenly Trade Secondly Fewness of buyers argues bad trading Among men when Chapmen are scarce few take off any goods wares lie on mens hands and will not off then men say Trade is fal'n Thus it is in this Heavenly Trade there are few buyers of Wisdom's Wares choice goods lie on sellers hands and will not off may not the Lord Jesus complain as formerly Wisdom did Prov. 1. 24. I have called and ye refused I have stretched out my hands and no man regarded you have set at nought all my counsels and would have none of my reproof And as the Servants of God in the parable Mat. 11. 17. We have piped unto you and ye have not danced we have mourned and ye have not lamented Markets are full in many places the Lord Jesus hath much goods exposed to sale and there are many Chapmen but few buyers persons come to Religious Assemblies and Sermons as many do to Fairs to see and be seen to gaze on goods but not to buy few will take Christ's wares on his own terms and come up to the selling-price God grace and glory are too dear for many mens money they like some goods but the price is too high some could be content to have Christ but to deny themselves take up their Cross leave all and follow Christ that they think is too dear and break for price Mat. 16. 24. Heaven is desirable at last but the world at present they could be content to take Heaven in reversion when the lease of their worldly interests is expired and to receive their portion there when all is gone here but to trade above now and transport their earthly treasures to Heaven while they enjoy them on earth that 's too hard for them such goods such overtures will not off persons will not receive the Word of God as the Word of God they will not take threatnings to fear them warnings to regard them promises to believe them precepts to obey them May not most Ministers complain Who hath believed our report and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed Isa 53. 1. Most like and commend sermons but few receive and obey them it 's lamentable to consider how little of a Sermon is carried away remembred and practised This is the sin of Professours and some that pass for more than ordinary and yet are guilty of this careless forgetful and unprofitable hearing persons entertain truths as they do their acquaintance when they meet them on the way shake hands and embrace them be exceeding glad to see them and then bid them farewel that 's the reason the Lord Jesus carries back so much goods from Markets his wares will not off men buy not And hence it is also that Christ turns back their duties he will not receive the goods of such neither and this makes bad trading for Heaven Thirdly Want of employment is a sign of bad trading When Trade is good every man's hand is full of work but when men are out of employment and have nothing to set their hand to but stand idle in the Market-place this shews a decay of Trade And is it not so with Wisdom's Labourers now Persons professing God were once active in Religion but are now grown slothful in spiritual business Where are the works of faith the labours of love the fruits of the spirit among Christians this day who is fervent in spirit Ephes 6. 18. who strives in prayer watching thereunto with all perseverance Joh. 6. 27. where are they that labour even unto weariness for the bread that endures Heb. 12. 1. running even unto fainting in the race that is set before them Rev. 7. 15. Serving God day and night in his Temple and being diligent that they may be found of him in peace 2 Pet. 3. 14. What Pharaoh charged on the Hebrews when attempting liberty to serve God may be with much more justice reflected on those that profess to serve God and though they may yet do not Ye are Idle ye are Idle and hence it is mens hearts go a whoring after the world and the flesh with the lusts thereof it is because they are slothful in spirit a death is upon their hearts and this causeth the work of God to cease Neh. 4. 11. It is but little work most do for God this day how cold dead formal slighty are many in duty doing the work of God deceitfully their own consciences being Judges Jer. 48. 10. few labour with their hearts before they come to hear in hearing and after hearing to get some soul-good by it Men are usually pleased with a Lamp though there be no oyl in it cannot be contented without some duty but well pleased with bare duty To be nothing in Religion
cannot consent really and considerately to part with all for Christ never yet came up to marriage-terms The treaty between Christ and that soul never went far enough for a conclusion and if it go no farther if thy soul cannot seal to this to part with all thy interests thy dearest comforts yea thy self for Christ the match must after all be broken and Christ and thee part at last yea part for ever O soul try thy heart in this here lies the knot the vertical point this is the most difficult of all Christ's proposals and that the soul is longest consenting to even the letting go all for Christ His person may please well enough his estate is desirable for a reversion but now to take leave of and to go with Christ this is the hard saying Persons would have Christ and the world too Christ and friends too Christ and reputation peace liberty pleasure and self too and if this will not be granted break the bargain but if ever Christ and you have closed and you are his and he yours you cannot count any thing too dear to part with for him or to let go at his bidding If Christ calls for Estate Husband Wife Children an Isaac a Benjamin a right Eye a right Hand all must go and you must part with them freely and chearfully as Abraham did with Isaac Gen. 22. 3. Abraham rose up early in the morning and sadled his Asses and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his Son and clave the wood for the burnt offering and went unto the place of which God had told him Not as Jacob did part with Benjamin by constraint and grudgingly Gen. 43. 11. If it must be so now do this c. He was almost starv'd before he would consent to part with Benjamin and when he did het lets him go last of all he parts with the best fruits of the Land Balm Honey Spices Myrrh Nuts Almonds double money any thing first at last Benjamin was screwed out too Many must have their comforts wrench'd out of their hands before they will let them go but this is not love to Christ A soul married to Christ will say with Mephibosheth concerning his Land Let Zibah take all for as much as my Lord the King is come again in peace to his own house 2 Sam. 19. 30. So let God take all my estate strength liberty comforts seeing the Lord Jesus is come home to my soul in peace Houses Lands Friends Credit Peace Life may be dear but Christ will be dearer if he and you are one flesh All Bavaria said George Carpenter is not so dear to me as my Wife and Children yet for Christ's sake I will forsake them chearfully Do you think me such a fool said Ogvier to one that tempted him with life and preferment that I should change eternal things for temporal Loss of goods is great saith Hooper but loss of God's grace and favour is greater Love is never throughly seen till it comes to parting O the tuggings holdings shifts and reasonings that men will have before they will part with that they dearly love Now it will appear saith Philpot what we love best for to that we love we will stick If Christ have most of your hearts you will let fall every thing out of your hands to hold fast Christ I have said Mr. Bale exil'd my self for ever from mine own native Countrey Kindred Friends Acquaintance which are the great delights of this life and am well contented for the sake of Christ .. Answ 4. Fourthly A Soul married to Christ stays and lives on Christ The Wife casts her self upon her Husband's love and care for her supplies and lives on his allowance for all her provisions 't is suspitious for a married Woman to be maintain'd by strangers and to live on other men for what she needs 't is the Husband's duty to provide for his own and to nourish and cherish his Wife as the Lord the Church Eph. 5. 29. and 't is the Wives duty to go to and rely on his faithfulness for it So 't is with the Soul that hath espoused Christ it is to live on Christ for all it needs they that take Christ aright take him for their All not for better or worse for richer or poorer as Women take their earthly Husbands for Christ is always best of all always exceeding rich and full of unsearchable treasures but to take him for their only and sufficient portion at all times and in all estates Lam. 3. 24. The Lord is my portion saith my Soul therefore will I trust in him Lord said Paulinus when his City Gold and Silver was taken away let not the loss of these things trouble me for thou art all and more than all these to me Shaw's Tombstone p. 33. Christ is the Believer's All in the way and God his All in All at the end It hath pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell and under him all things should be put 2 Col. 1. 19. Heb. 2. 8. And this is for the supply comfort and blessedness of those that are his Eph. 1. 23. Which is the body the fulness of him who filleth all in all Whatever Christ hath as Mediator is the Churches for her use and profit If men have plenty of liquors they fill their vessels with them if they have much riches they place them in their treasury so doth Christ dispose of his fulness for his Churches good hence 't is the Spouse of Christ comes leaning on her Beloved from the Wilderness Cant. 8. 5. and dares adventure her All on the love and sufficiency of her loving and lovely Lord she is full of failings but she lives on him for righteousness many are her weaknesses but she goes to Christ for strength Isa 45. 24. Surely shall one say in the Lord have I righteousness and strength She is sensible of many wants but casts her self on the promise My God shall supply all your wants Phil. 4. 19. Her backslidings temptations dangers troubles and fears are many but she stays on the Lord Jesus whom she hath chosen for her only friend in Heaven and Earth and there she lays her self down in his bosome when wearied with difficulties and doubts and embarques her self in his faithfulness for all she stands in need of for life and godliness for grace and glory Answ 5. Fifthly Fruitfulness to Christ proves Marriage to Christ Hence the Spouse is set forth by metaphors that express fruitfulness a Garden not a wilderness a well watered Garden which is usually most fruitful where the Spices flow out where the Graces of the Spirit are more operative and abundant and Souls become more fruitful in manifested holiness An Orchard planted with choice and pleasant fruits Camphire Spikenard Saffron Calamus Cinamon with all trees of Frankincense Myrh and Aloes with all the chiefest Spices which signify the preciousness variety and abundance of grace and holiness in those who are savingly united
mercies are new every morning and so must your praises be also Lam. 3. 23. He keeps you day and night Isa 27. 3. And 't is but reasonable you should give him his morning and evening sacrifice you depend upon him for the mercies of every day and he expects from you the duties of every day which is reasonable service Rom. 12. 1. You have daily necessities difficulties trials dangers and duties in which you need his help and is it not your concern to be daily at his feet and seeking his favour counsel strength and blessing Herein lies your professed subjection to God also slight religious duties and you reject God from being your God This very reason doth Moses give why Israel should serve the Lord and cleave to him and swear by his name and give him all religious worship Deut. 19. 20 21. He is thy praise and he is thy God who hath done for thee these great and terrible things which thine eyes have seen Dan. 6. 16. Thy God whom thou servest continually he will deliver thee 'T is a contradiction to say that God is your God and yet with-hold his service from him As soon as ever God had a people in the World he had service from them Gen. 4. 26. Then began men to call upon the name of the Lord No sooner had Seth who was the other seed which the Lord appropriated to himself in the room of Abel a Son and Family but they had peculiar worship for God and were distinguished from the Family of Cain by this that they did serve God This is the work of God that every Soul is bound to dispatch every day in Closet and Family in Spirit and Truth with a pure heart fervently This also is the best part of your work in the world to attend on God all other service is but drudgery compared with your serving God and transacting the great matters of your Souls and your everlasting concern This is your interest also to maintain nearness to God who is the life of your souls the length of your days and fountain of all your supplies there 's no such pleasure as in the ways of God nor profit as in keeping his commands O the blessedness of converse with God and maintaining a daily entercourse with the Father of Spirits 't is the priviledg of Angels and of glorified Saints to be always beholding his face 1 Thes 4. 17. Mat. 18. 10. And the peculiar honour of the upright to dwell in his presence Psal 140. 12. There is no such advantage also as to be much with God every day Psal 73. 28. 'T is good for me to draw near to God Often journeys to Heaven bring in much profit 't was this way David did thrive so much in wisdom grace and experience out-shining all the men of that age and serving his generation by the will of God his being much with God Psal 139. 18. When I awake I am still with thee By this nearness to the Son of righteousness did Enoch so soon ripen for Heaven and by his constant walks with God did he so timely get to his journeys end Of all that generation we find none so soon sent for home and translated to his rest as holy Enoch for whereas the rest lived nine hundred eight hundred seven hundred years only he lived three hundred sixty and five years and that which so quickned his fitness for rest was his activity in heavenly work Enoch walked with God and was not for God took him Gen. 5. 23. He kept his constant turns with God in his Garden and Gallery-walks and then went in with him into his Presence-Chamber there to sit down with him for ever This also will make you thrive in your own work if you are faithful and diligent in God's work mind his concerns and he will care for yours Deut. 30. 9. Obey the voice of the Lord and do all his commandments and the Lord thy God will make thee plenteous in every good work of thy hand He shall make thee to abound in the work of thy hand as 't is in the Hebrew * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 faciet superesse te 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 excellentem efficiet te bonis to have more than enough as Montanus renders it He will bless thee in every work of thine hand according to the Septuagint other Copies have it He will have a great deal of care of thee c. He will make thee excellent with good things saith Junius He will make thee to enjoy good in every work of c. saith Symmachus He shall prosper the work of thy hand It shall go well with such Deut. 4. 40. Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes and his commandments which I command thee this day that it may go well with thee and with thy children after thee Gen. 42. 18. 'T was piety made Joseph so prosperous in all he did he feared God Do this and live for I fear God and God was with him and made all he did to prosper in his hand Gen. 39. 3. Whatsoever he doth shall prosper Psal 1. 3. The blessing of the Lord shall be on the head and hands of such let their condition be what it will in the world yet it shall be well with such as fear the Lord if he be afflicted yet his afflictions shall turn to his good and be part of his prosperity 2 Chron. 31. 21. And in every work he began in the service of the House of God and in the Law and in the Commandment to seek his God he did it with all his heart and prospered The way to true prosperity leads by Heaven-gates Christians if ever you will thrive in your own work be sure to carry on God's work begin with God every day the first fruits are his Dispatch religious worship in your Closets and Families before you enter on your earthly business Close up every day with him he is the Alpha and Omega the beginning and end and must have the issue as well as entrances of every day The morning and evening sacrifice are his 1 Chron. 16. 40. 2 Chron. 13. 11. Psal 55. 17. Give God his due before you render to Nature its dues Psal 61. 8. Pay your vows to God every evening before you run on score for new mercies See all things secured in everlasting Arms before you lie down to rest put thy Soul and thy All into the hands of Christ by solemn devotion and resignation every night get the watch set and all things safe before thou exposest thy self to the hazards of the night and enterest upon an incapacity to secure thy self from the least danger O precious souls lye not down as dogs and swine who when they have filled their bellies get to their styes and kennels Secondly carry on all that work daily which hath a more special respect to your own selves and leads to the sanctifying comforting strengthning edifying saving of your precious souls Next to the
before your enemies will down and more strokes at your work before your interests will come in Running striving wrestling in labours more abundant in weariness and painfulness in watchings What pains will men take for the World She riseth also while it is night Her candle goeth not out by night That neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes Ye compass Sea and Land and should they not much more for Heaven The most diligent soul is the most thriving soul Always abounding in the work of the Lord instant in season and out of season taking every opportunity for Heaven And what their hand finds to do to do it with all their might this is the way to soul-thriving 1 Cor. 9. 24 25. Heb. 12. 4. Eph. 6. 12. 1 Cor. 11. 23 27. Prov. 31. 15. 18. Eccles 8. 16. Matth. 23. 15. Eccles 9. 10. Thirdly Driving a secret Trade of holiness is soul-thriving Men that have some peculiar art and unknown mystery in their Trade which is not ordinary and common usually get greatest custom and advantage So is it in this heavenly Trade the more men are taken up in the mysteries of Godliness 1 Tim. 3. 16. the more they thrive in Religion There 's a secret in holiness which no stranger intermeddles with Prov. 14. 10. There 's a way within the veil the hidden part in which souls are made to know wisdom Psal 51. 6. Hidden riches of secret places which thriving Christians meet with Isa 45. 3. If you would prosper in Godliness be sure to maintain the secret duties of piety The religion of most men lies in the Market place and in the view of others their hearts their closets are not privy to any secret transactions between God and their souls and in the praise of men they have their reward but the thriving trade of Christianity is the secret trade Christians be most in those duties which men least observe and chiefly excellent in the invisible part of your visible work Publick duties are most honourable but secret duties the most gainful Matth. 6. 4. And thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly Fourthly The blessing of God maketh rich Prov. 10. 22. Promotion cometh not from the East nor from the West nor prosperity from mens fingers ends but from God's hand Deut. 28. 8 10 11 12. The Lord shall command his blessing upon thee in thy store-houses and in all which thou settest thy hand unto The Lord shall make thee plenteous in goods The Lord shall open to thee his good treasures the Heavens to give thee rain to thy Land in his season and to bless all the work of thy hand and then comes riches And thou shalt lend udto many Nations and thou shalt not borrow Prosperity both spiritual and temporal comes at God's sending Psal 118. 25. O Lord I beseech thee send now prosperity Psal 18. 32 33. He restoreth my Soul he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness Psal 23. 3 5. Thou anointest my head with Oil Thou blessest the springing thereof thy paths drop fatness Psal 65. 10 11. The Lord shall guide thee continually and satisfy thy soul in drought and make fat thy bones and thou shalt be like a watred Garden and like a spring of water whose waters fail not Isa 58. 11. I will be as the dew to Israel he shall grow as the Lilly and cast forth his root as Lebanon Hos 14. 5. Secure an interest in the promises and get your souls brought under the showers of blessing if ever you think to thrive in godliness Improve thriving graces and take prosperous courses these are under a promise of blessing though every grace and duty do in their measure help on soul-prosperity yet there are some graces and duties have a more special influence on spiritual thrivings First Faith is a soul-prospering grace 2 Chr. 20. 20. Believe in the Lord your God so shall ye be established believe his Prophets so shall ye prosper Eph. 6. 16. Above all take the shield of Faith wherewith ye shall quench all the fiery darts of Satan 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 insuper Bez. Every grace is useful in the spiritual warfare but Faith especially other graces may with Saul slay their thousands but Faith with David slays its ten thousands Some darts may be quenched by other graces but Faith quenches fiery darts yea all the fiery darts of Satan which does wonderfully further thriving The just shall live by Faith Heb. 10. 38. Faith will maintain the soul's life in the greatest straits and exigences Faith is a receiving grace it takes in whatever is laid up in the promise and that 's thriving Gal. 3. 22. That the promise by Faith might be given to them that believe A soul-enriching grace rich in Faith Jam. 2. 5. A working grace And the work of Faith with power 2 Thes 2. 4. A powerful grace it gives the soul experience of the mighty power of God Eph. 1. 19. 20. What is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe according to the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead 1 Thes 2. 13. 'T is a strengthning grace Out of weakness were made strong Heb. 11. 34. through it doth the Lord let out his abundant grace And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus 1 Tim. 1. 14. It doth exceedingly nourish the soul in grace and edify it to salvation 1 Tim. 4. 6. Nourished up in the words of Faith 1. Tim. 1 4. Which minister questions rather than edifying which is in Faith One reason why souls prosper no more in piety is their unbelief they are full of doubtings fears and questionings upon every turn still wavering as a wave of the Sea such cannot receive much at the hand of God but are still weak and going back in Religion Be much in believing the promises against hope and above fears if ever you think to prosper in Religion Secondly Love to God his Name ways and interest is a Soul-prospering Grace Let them that love him be as the Sun that goeth forth in his might Judg. 5. 31. They shall prosper that love thee Psal 122. 6. Let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee for thou Lord wilt bless the righteous with favour wilt thou compass him as with a Shield Psal 5. 11 12. Love to God must needs be a prospering Grace because it brings the Soul under the blessing of God and within the compass of his securing Shield Love is a Soul-strengthning and establishing Grace Eph. 3. 17 Being rooted and grounded in Love 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 set in a firm ground not easily shaken from God or their integrity Love makes a growing Soul Eph. 4. 15 Speaking the truth in love may grow up in him who is the head in all things It helps on edification in Grace ver 16. maketh encrease of the body unto the edifying of it self
in love Love constrains the Soul after God makes his commands pleasant and quickens the heart to make hast in the way to Glory the more you love God the more will you prosper in Godliness Thirdly Humility is a Soul-prospering Grace and under a promised Blessing Prov. 29. 23 Honour shall uphold the humble in spirit k Sustentat Munst 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shall bear him up from falling and bring him unto honour saith Montanus Prov. 15. 33 By humility are riches and honour The humble Soul must needs be a thriving Soul for God giveth Grace to it Jam. 4. 6. yea dwelleth with the humble to revive the Spirit of the humble Isa 57. 15. There 's a great deal of Pride in most Christians and that hinders Soul-thriving proud of Parts and Grace proud under seeming humility proud of humility Low Valleys are fruitful when lofty Mountains are barren The rich sit in a low place Eccl. 10. 6 Such as are rich in wisdom l Divites quibus adsit sapientia saith Mercer they sit in a low place they come down and lie low in themselves m In ipsa abjectione Jun. Trem. folly is set in great dignity Poor foolish empty Creatures they are high in conceit as well as place many times but the most rich and thriving Souls these are poorest in Spirit and lowest in their own eyes the richer the Metal the heavier Gold weighs down Silver and Tin the fuller of fruits branches are the more they bow He sendeth the springs into the valleys Psal 104. 10. Psal 65. 13. They are covered over with Corn Vineyards thrive best in low places One branch of Grapes from the Valley of Eshcol was said to be a burden for two men Numb 13. 23. would you flourish in Grace take heed of Pride Pride in the Soul saith one is like the spleen in the body when that swelleth all the other parts languish 't is poison at the root of the tree which corrupts the sap 'T is so dangerous a poison that of another poison there was confected a counterpoison to preserve Paul from it would you prosper in Godliness be persons of low humble spirits Mr. Adams on 2 Pet. 2 Cor. 12. 7. Exalt him that is low and abase him that is high Ezek. 21. 26. Fourthly Another choice fruit of the Spirit which will further Soul-thriving is sincerity Prov. 14. 11 The tabernacle of the upright shall flourish They shall have good things in possession Prov. 28. 10. they shall not only be preserv'd from evil and escape the pit into which the wicked fall but shall be sure to meet with good Blessings good things shall be given to them as their inheritance as Aquila and Theodosius interpret it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thou shewest mercy to thy Servants that walk before thee with all their heart 2 Chron. 6. 14. He that hath clean hands and a pure heart who hath not lift up his Soul to vanity nor sworn deceitfully he shall receive the blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his Salvation Psal 24. 4 5. Upright Souls must needs prosper they dwell in the presence of God Psal 140. 13. He will withhold no good thing from them Psal 84. 11. His countenance beholds them Psal 11. 7. God engages his alsufficiency for their good Gen. 17. 1. They shall hold on their way and wax stronger and stronger Job 17. 9. and shall surely prosper 2 Chron. 31. 21 In every work that he began in the service of the house of God and in the Law and in the Commandments to seek his God he did it with all his heart and prospered 't is not thy many Duties before God but the Oneness of thy heart with God nor the bulk of thy Services but the sincerity of thy Soul which will make thee profperous in thy heavenly interests Again Take thriving courses prosperous ways as well as prospering Graces these are under a promised Blessing also Not to multiply particulars There are four thriving ways in which Christians may attain to a prosperous Trade in Christianity The way of 1. Self-Examination 2. Prayer 3. Enjoyment of God 4. Obedience First Be often examining and calling your selves to an account how matters stand with your Souls Traders that would be thriving will be often viewing their Books and trying their Accompts and have some set days when they survey their Goods cast up their Books and try whether they gain or lose and so must Christians that would profit in Religion they must be often judging themselves that they be not judged 1 Cor. 11. 31. they must cast up their accompts and try their state whether they go forward or backward Hag. 1. 5. Consider your ways try how the case stands with you whether you get or lose and what 's the cause of all those blastings that are upon you Psal 4. 4 Commune with your hearts upon your beds and be still 2 Cor. 13. 5 Examine your selves whether you be in the faith prove your own selves know ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except you be reprobates The neglect of this examination is one cause of that great mistake of persons about their Soul-state some thinking themselves better Rev. 3. 17. others judging themselves worse than they are which begets security in some discouragement in others error and floth in all A right estimate of thy spiritual capacity either poverty or riches gain or loss is absolutely needful to regulate thy duty unto a right affecting of thy heart and advance of thy spiritual interests Look over the Day-book of thy heart and life every night posting all thy accompts on the large book of thy Conscience and take some special time for a more full survey of thy Soul and state for Eternity this will be of good use to further Soul-thriving Secondly If you would prosper in your Souls be much and mighty with God in Prayer 'T is said of Vzziah that he sought God in the days of Zechariah who had understanding in the visions of God and as long as he sought the Lord God made him to prosper 2 Chron. 26. 5. Right Prayer is a wonderful way to Soulenrichings He saith one can never be poor that can pray well One reason why this King prospered as long as he sought the Lord was by this means he came to the visions of God and that help'd him to take a right way to prospetity By Prayer you advise with God what course to take towards mercy 't is your Ephod by which you ask counsel of God where to go to shun danger and what to do to carry on Duty and obtain Mercy 2 Sam. 23. 6. 9. Chap. 30. 7. and by Prayer you procure and get out the Graces and Supplies you need 1 Chron 4. 10 And Jabesh called on the God of Israel saying O that thou wouldst bless me indeed and enlarge my coasts and that thine hand might be with me and that thou wouldst keep
THE Heavenly Trade OR THE Best Merchandizing The only way to live well IN IMPOVERISHING TIMES A Discourse occasioned from the decay of earthly Trades and visible wastes of Practical Piety in the day we live in offering Arguments and Counsels to all towards a speedy revival of dying Godliness and timely prevention of the dangerous issues thereof impending on us By BARTHOLOMEW ASHWOOD Minister of the Gospel Labour not for the meat that perisheth but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life Joh. 6. 27. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added to you Matth. 6. 33. Ne nimium operae consumas in rebus levissimis fugax aetas vitreares valetudo non quibuslibet est impendenda quaedam despicienda sunt animus ad magna est erigendus Eras 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isocrat London Printed for Samuel Lee near Pope's Head Alley over against the Church in Lombard-street 1678. To my honoured Friend Mr. Jeremy Holwey Merchant in BRISTOL SIR BOth Equity and Interest do give you a peculiar claim to this off-spring of my weak Labours it being born in your House and drawing its first breath in your famous City 'T was with you I had the occasion and from your Self the practical encouragement to treat on this Subject while under your roof I enjoyed for divers weeks the advantage of your converse and beheld in your expressions and conversation a fair display of this Heavenly Trade This cherished my hopes that a discourse of this nature might find or help to make more such Traders in your August and Merchandizing City A place among its many Ornaments made happy with Gospel enjoyments and the lovers of Truth and Peace 'T is Religion is the honour and prosperity of a People It lays their foundation with Agates and makes their borders of pleasant stones Isa 54. 'T is like the Crown of Solomon with which his Mother crowned him in the day of his espousals and in the day of the gladness of his heart Cant. 3. 11. This gives them Peace within their walls and Prosperity within their Palaces Psal 122. 7. It brings down a blessing on their Basket and Stores fills their Chambers with all precious and pleasant riches Prov. 24. 4. And decay in this Heavenly Trade is doubtless one reason of those wasts in mens earthly Trades There is no such way for men to thrive in their own interests as to be faithful to God's interest As 't was said of Caesar that by setting up Pompey's Image he established his own whereas a decay of Godliness brings a Moth on mens earthly Trades also Hos 5. 11 12 Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment because he willingly walked after the Commandment therefore will I be unto Ephraim a Moth and to the house of Judah as rottenness Gregory gives this reason why Dives was tormented in his Tongue because he talk'd much of Religion but practised little Verba legis in ore tenuit quae opere servare Contempsit We live in an age of much talking of God but of little walking with God Mens tongues are tipt with Heaven but their hearts and feet sunk into the World and are full of Pride Vanity and Deceit What was said of Diogenes Synopensis That in Opinion he was a Stoick but in Conversation an Epicure may be sadly reflected on many Professors in this Age who espouse strict Principles but lead loose Lives and only Treat for Heaven but Trade for Earth But Sir You have not so learned Christ or received this Spirit which is of the world but that which is of God 1 Cor. 2. 12. Your devotedness to the Lord making your earthly Interests subservient to things above with your Zeal Courage and Constancy in the way of God and natural care for the things of his Glory do bespeak you to be a Trader of another Countrey whose work and wages are above And certainly whatever men think a walking with God in his appointments and a conscientious care in every thing to please him will one day appear to be the greatest interest even in their eyes who now despise it neither is there at present any thing in the ways of God which Souls have cause to be ashamed of however cloathed with Calumny and Scorn by men nor can they who walk in them in Truth be deprived of any real interest by the utmost severity of those that would run them down And were there no other Argument to perswade men to the choice and persuit of Godliness this were sufficient even that relief gracious Souls find from a reflexion on their Vprightness to bear them up under their greatest sufferings yea that serenity peace and sweet acquiescence of Spirit which sincerity affords them under the most dreadful issues which divine pleasure may allot them here It must needs set Religion above all other Interests its Enemies themselves being Judges if they would be rational that the worst things of Holiness even then when Believers are under the saddest Circumstances are chosen and preferred by them above the best things of the world yea they are thought a good bargain when purchased with their greatest Sufferings Surely humour will not engage such who know the usefulness of earthly Comforts and have least reason to be prodigal of them to expose themselves and their dearest concerns in the world unto ruine but for what they are perswaded is far better Hebr. 10. 34. Nor can it be thought obstinacy or hypocrisie in those who know their own hearts and the terrors of the Lord to persist in those ways that would cost them their earthly All and lay them open to divine wrath too should they be false and disobedient Certainly did not prejudice and passion blind mens eyes the calm exercise of their own light would restrain them from such an uncharitable censure of those that desire to fear God though they walk in some ways different from their understanding while they labour to approve their integrity to God and men and are found faithful to that measure of light they have received But possibly this Piece may not fall into such hands or be permitted long under their eye My hopes at least my desires are that it may prosper with those who profess better things And if it shall please the Lord who sometimes uses clay and spittle and Goats hair and counts the things that are not as if they were to make this of any service to your Self and Family and unto those who profess his Name in your City for whom I have so high respect in the Lord it will abundantly compensate the labour and answer the design of him who is and desires to approve himself SIR Your Servant in Christ Jesus Barthol Ashwood TO THE READERS ESPECIALLY Those who are the more peculiar Objects of my Care Love and Labours NOtwithstanding the high Pretensions to Light and Wisdom in the Times we live in beyond some former Ages there is no small
subject of this Heavenly Trade Let those be Judges who know the worth of things call in Wisdome's Lapidaries let God Saints and Angels speak in this matter their verdict will be Wisdome's wares weigh down all as to their innate excellency I shall onely propose three evidences to determine this case and they are of unquestionable verity and a sufficient proof of this truth They are 1 Scripture 2 Experience 3 Reason First The Scriptures will tell you there are no wares like heavenly wares Deut. 32. 32. Their Rock is not as our Rock even our enemies themselves being Judges His loving-kindness is better than life Psal 63. 3. And the light of his countenance than the encreases of corn and wine and oyl Psal 4. 6 6. The Law of thy mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver Psal 119. 72. Tryed faith much better than gold that perisheth 1 Pet. 1. 7. One day in God's Courts better than a thousand elsewhere Psa 84. 10. None in Heaven like to God nor any on earth in comparison of him Psal 73. 25. To make provision for the soul is the one thing needful to enjoy Christ and spiritual things is the better part that shall never be taken away Luk. 10. 42. The Kingdom of God is the chiefest thing to be sought for in the first place Matth. 6. 33. first in affection and first in time Multitude of testimonies might be produced from Scripture to attest this truth the Heavenly Trade is the best Trade no goods like heavenly goods what do you trade for here is it for more than life you plot you work for you gain no more here than meat drink rayment money land credit and the like which onely tend to life but the favour of God is better than life one gracious look one whisper of peace from God weighs down all those riches pleasures honours do not make a happy man or woman the Scripture never reports such blessed as have the abundance of these things but rather miserable and unhappy obnoxious to more snares and dangers but godliness makes a blessed man and pardon of sin a happy man in God's account Psal 1 1 2. and 32. 1. whose testimony is truth it self and to be relied on beyond all the grounds of blinded opinion and false hopes Secondly Experience assures men of this truth that heavenly things are the best things come to a Soul that hath tried both one who hath had all that the World could afford on the one hand and hath also experienced the favour of God and spiritual things and he will tell you of spiritual things as David did of Goliah's Sword There is none like them 1 Sam. 21. 9. And as Solomon of the vertuous Wife These things above excel them all Prov. 31. 29. And wisdom is much better than Gold and to get understanding rather to be chosen than Silver Prov. 16. 16. This was Solomon's experience who had the largest trial of any man he had Houses Vineyards Gardens Servants Silver Gold the peculiar treasures of Kings Greatness Pleasure Musick and whatsoever his eyes desired and upon all gives this verdict That wisdom excelleth folly as far as light excels darkness Eccles 24 13. Piety transcendeth Pravity Heaven the World Purity out-passeth Pleasures as Light doth Darkness When he speaks of things below he tells you These are all vanity and vexation of spirit he that labours for these labours for the wind Eccles 5. 16. and what he seeks finds not but when he speaks of wisdom and spiritual things he is as one that wants words to express their worth Wisdom is better than Rubies and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it Prov. 8. 11. David was a man who had tried various conditions in the World he knew what trouble and comfort was what youth and age was what poverty and riches were he had pleasures honours treasures with the hearts of his people and command of a Kingdom and yet he tells you he had seen an end of all perfection and that the light of God's countenance was better than all and to be a door-keeper a mean place in the house of God was more eligible than to abide in the tents of wickedness Psal 119. 96. Ps 4. 6. and 84. 10. He chooses it as his one thing To dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of his life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in his Temple Psal 27. 4. Moses knew what honour was and the pleasures of sin and yet upon choice preferr'd poverty with godliness on the side of truth before all the treasures of Egypt He refused to be called Pharaoh ' s Son rather choosing to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt Heb. 11. 24 25 26. He knew the Nobles of Egypt and grandeur of Pharaoh's Court and yet could value a poor persecuted people that own'd God and cleav'd to him beyond them all Happy art thou O Israel who is like to thee Deut. 33. 20. He counts God the none-such Who is like to thee O God Ex. 15. 11. and Religion the best interest Set your hearts unto all the words I testify for it is not a vain thing for you for it is your life Deut. 32. 46 47. Ask of Paul and he will tell you what the fruit of sin and driving furiously against Christ and his interest was when the Lord Jesus came to reckon with and to pay him off in the way to Damascus Act. 9. 3 4. whose blow he felt many years after in Conscience twitches now and then 1 Tim 1. 13 15. And upon the sense of that change Grace made on his heart and condition he tells you that whatever he counted gain before he saw now to be loss for Christ Phil. 3. 6 7 8 9 10. There was a time when he thought his letter-knowledg blind zeal birth-priviledges legal duties popular applause Rulers favour and protection by Power to be great things but now he alters his reckoning and values the knowledg of Christ and interest in him and grace derived from the power of his death and resurrection to be an excellency that stain'd all his former glory The Jaylor once thought it his greatest interest to swim with the stream and sail by the compass of the times he lived in to run down the ways and servants of the Lord Jesus to obey his warrant and secure the Saints feet in his stocks Act. 16. ver 24 to 34. but when once Grace takes him in hand and plucks him through the strait-gate of conscience terrors and repentance into a state of regeneration then he corrects his errors and sees it his chiefest concern to espouse Christ and to come over into the way of persecuted godliness then to believe in the Lord Jesus to be kind to his servants and to drive the Trade of
that is dear to them Men promise one thing and do another affirm a thing that is not and this undoes many the unfaithfulness of those they deal with but it is not so with Christ you may trust on his fidelity Heaven and Earth shall sooner fail than one tittle of all that he hath spoken And therefore excellent is that Trade which is carried on with so excellent a Jesus Reas 3. Thirdly Weigh the terms on which this Trade is offered unto souls and it will appear to be incomparably the best Trade For to such as will set upon this Trade 1 Goods to trade upon shall be freely given 2 Wisdome to manage them shall be fully imparted 3 A blessing on the due improvement of them shall be ensured 4 To him shall the glory of all be rendred First Wisdome's wares are freely tendered to all that will receive them without money and without price Come buy wine and milk without money and without price Isa 55. 1. To him that is a thirst will I give to drink of the waters of life freely Rev. 21. 6. Here Merchants cannot get or put off goods at that rate there 's no going to the world's markets without money or credit they that will have mens goods must pay for them and many times have deat bargains but the Lord Jesus imparts his treasures freely he paid dear for them they cost his heart blood but he spares them freely no silver or gold will pass in those bargains Simon Magus had his offered gold for the Holy Ghost thrown back with detestation and destruction to boot Acts 8. 18 19 20. The terms on which this trade is driven are free it cannot stand with the design of redemption grace which is to advance the praise of the glory of grace and to cut off all boasting that every mouth may be stopped to admit of any thing from fallen man that might look like a compensation of salvation mercies neither is there any thing beneath Christ's merits that can equalize the worth of heavenly things and alas what have they to part with who have lost themselves and to give to God who have nothing but what they receive from him It must needs therefore be altogether freely given whatever is received in order to salvation O blessed news to poor traders that their poverty is no bar to this employment the poorest may receive of Wisdome's wares as well as the rich seeing it is a free trade and whatever makes a difference on the creatures part is laid aside in the dispensation of spiritual mercies Here are no Monopolies or hard impositions upon this trade no restraint from setting up or selling out of Wisdome's goods in any parts of the world Cities have their enclosures Corporations their bars to keep out strangers from their priviledges but in this trade all persons be they who they will that will come over to Wisdome's Merchandise have right to carry on this work of godliness in all places whereever they are The heavenly trade is a free trade goods freely given and liberty to set up in all places and to all persons Secondly As goods to trade upon are freely given so wisdome to manage them shall be fully imparted This is a priviledge which sellers on earth will not afford you may have their goods at their price but not instructions how to dispose them to your advantage but this great Merchant in Heaven with his wares gives skill to use them I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit which leadeth thee by the way thou shouldest go Isa 48. 17. If thou seekest her as silver and searchest for her as for hid treasure then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God For the Lord giveth wisdome out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding He layeth up sound wisdome for the righteous Then shalt thou understand righteousness and judgement and equity yea every good path Prov. 2. 4 5 6 9. The soul that seeketh for Wisdome's wares shall with it find instruction how to use them I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shouldest go I will guide thee with my eyes Psal 32. 8. He will be eyes to the blind and feet to the lame Job 29. 15. The Lord Jesus will find all in this heavenly trade goods and tools and skill and strength and all Surely shall one say in the Lord have I righteousness and strength Thirdly A blessing on the due improvement of these shall be ensured to all his traders The wayfaring man shall not erre Isa 35. 8. His workmen shall not labour in vain 1 Cor. 15. 58. For his blessing is upon his people Psal 3. 8. Thou shalt decree a thing and it shall be established unto thee and the light shall shine upon thy waies Job 22. 28. The book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth but thou shalt meditate therein day and night that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein this is the heavenly trade to fulfill after God and such shall prosper for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous and then thou shalt have good success Josh 1. 8. No Merchant will undertake to make their dealers prosperous they must trade at great uncertainties and run the adventure as to the issue of all Blessings come not out of earthly shops but from a divine hand let come what will in the way Blessings will surely come at the end to those that cast out at Christ's biding and trade by his instruction in Wisdome's Merchandise let men curse let devils vex let North-winds blow and blow down too their earthly comforts yet God will bless them that fear him every one Psal 115. 13. He will bless them in life and bless them in death and is not this good trading to be sure of blessings in the way and blessedness at the end 1 Pet. 1. 9. Fourthly Another Condition in this Trade is That God shall have all the glory but they that trade with and for him shall have all the good that comes by it This is the head Rent which the great Lord reserves to himself and will not part with to another My glory will I not give to another Isa 48. 11. This is his great design in all works of his hands and gifts of grace that he may be glorified The people shall be all righteous the branch of my planting the work of my hand that I may be glorified This is God's great end in bestowing redemption mercies to have all the glory to himself who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will that we should be to the praise of his glory Ephes 1. 12. Christians the Rent must be the Lords the fruit shall be yours Whose keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof Prov. 27. 18. All the sweetness of the Vine is for those that possess it and the herbs of the earth for them by whom it is
blessing to the foederates of this new-Covenant hath the Lord Jesus laid down his precious Blood which cannot be lost Heb. 9. 15. but it would be cast away could Believers religious duties be in vain Another thing that secures the Saints advantages by this heavenly Trade is this that their trading is the work and product of his own Spirit their duties are his work Thou hast wrought all our works in us Isa 26. 22. It is God that worketh in you to will and to do according to his good pleasure Phil. 2. 13. Not that we are sufficient of our selves to think any thing of our selves but our sufficiency is of God 2 Col. 3. 5. They are his workmanship created to good works Eph. 2. 10. by whose influence they are acted and let by the Spirit of God Rom. 8. 14. So that further than the spirit of the living creatures move their wheels cannot move nor do any thing graciously further than their works are wrought of God and by God Joh. 3. 21. So that Believers labours in this heavenly Trade are the work of the eternal Spirit and should their work be lost the Spirit of God would labour in vain and his work cast away which cannot be Isa 45. 18. Lastly The Lord Jesus is an adventurer with them his Glory and Kingdom is concern'd in this heavenly Trade when his Will is done his Kingdom is come Mat. 6. 10. and 1 Thes 4. 3. Holiness is his will and a conformity to his Law and he is engag'd to the Father for the Saints holiness and happiness for their grace and glory As thou hast given him power over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him Jo. 17. 2 12. The Father hath put all Believers into the hands of Christ and intrusted him with their graces and glory both which are included in eternal life ver 3. And this is life eternal that they might know thee c. that is this is the way to life eternal and the beginning of life eternal even the grace of Faith and saving knowledg of God and this grace as well as glory is put into the hand of Christ for Believers to be kept for them and they are also put into his hand to be kept by him through it unto glory and in pursuance of this trust the Lord Jesus is engaged to keep his people their graces and the reward of them for them that they be not lost the advantages of this heavenly Trade are secured to Believers by the Lord Jesus his adventure with them his truth faithfulness and glory is concern'd in their safety so that their returns are not only great but sure Thirdly Quick returns if great are greatly enriching Hence comes that Proverb that light gain makes a heavy purse it brings great custom and that occasions quick returns Now no Trade brings quicker returns than the heavenly Trade Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me Rev. 22. 12. The Lord Jesus not only makes good but quick payment as soon as the work is done he promiseth to make good his word Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver thee Psal 50. 15. Nay the Lord Jesus sometimes pays before-hand And it shall come to pass that before they call I will answer and whiles they are speaking I will hear Is 65. 24. Men many times are forc'd to stay for their Mony and sometimes lose it at last but the Believers gain is not only sure but speedy Obj. What 's the reason then the people of God do complain of God's not hearing and deferring an answer to their requests And why are Believers advised to patience and long-saffering after they have done the will of God if the return of their Faith and Duties were so quick This is the experience and complaint of the people of God in all ages that God seems not to regard their Prayers and to delay his coming to help them Sol. 1. First yet are the Saints returns quick because they are in due time God never delays to perform his word when the Believer hath need of it in the needful time of trouble he will surely hear My God shall supply all your wants Phil. 4. 19. When once the Soul comes to stand in real want then God will surely pay him When the poor and needy seek water and there is none and their tongue faileth for thirst I the Lord will hear them Isa 40. 17. When once they come to be needy then God will with-hold no longer but will help this he hath promised they shall not want any good thing Psal 34. 10. Secondly If the Lord do not pay presently he will give use for it they shall lose nothing by forbearance But when he comes he will bring his reward with him Isa 40. 10. Not only a reward of his work done by them but a reward of their patient waiting for his promises also their mercy shall be so much the sweeter for their want of it and waiting for it O! how welcome are long look'd for mercies when they come then is every mercy double God tried Job long by with-holding mercy but see the end of Job God paid double for what he took and with-held from him Job 42. 10. Returns are sure always in the needful and seasonable time and if God delays he will pay well for it To which I might add this also Many times Wisdom's Merchants are the cause of these delays by their unfaithfulness in their trade or their unfitness for their returns The diligent hand makes rich Prov. 10. 4. Souls that are active and faithful in the whole of Religion shall have no cause to complain of God's slack payment So much by way of demonstration of the point That the Heavenly Trade is the best Trade no Merchandise like Wisdom's Merchandise Now to come to some improvement of the Point VSE I. First If the heavenly Trade be the best Trade then it 's strange that so few do set upon this Trade persons that are to enter upon some course of life and would fain live in the World are willing to take the best Trade that is attainable by them if they can but reach it and have wherewithal to carry it on who would spend his time and strength in low sordid and mechanick services which cannot maintain or enrich him if a brave generous and wealthy Calling did offer it self and might be compassed and yet such is the folly of most under the Gospel who are ready to choose any thing but Godliness and to fall in with every proposal for their employment rather than to engage about the work of Salvation Men are wise in their generation and know in other things how to choose the best bargains only in the things of their Souls are foolish and can be content to pursue shadows and let go the substance to lay out all their desires hopes and labours about a life that perisheth neglecting the vast
troubles them but to be something though never so little satisfieth them and if this be Popery to rest in the work done how many Papists have we amongst us this day Certainly Professors are generally asleep or slumbering they do their work so badly and heartlesly their work falls out of their hand as things do from men asleep active for the world as if they could never do enough but soon tyr'd in the work of God dispatch but little of heavenly work from day to day from one Sabbath to another little heart-searching soul-watching work is done little in-door employment is carried on the exercise of faith hope humility patience zeal self-denial seems a stranger to a great many this day not for want of occasions or encouragements to work the Lord is still calling upon his Labourers to make haste but for want of hearts to work And this spiritual sloth proves that the Heavenly Trade is much lost Fourthly The poverty of Traders plainly shews Trading is not good when a Trade doth not maintain the Trader but he still goes back and becomes poorer then surely trading is not good The diligent hand makes rich Prov. 10. 4. When trading is good Traders usually thrive and live well upon it but when they waste and become poor then trading decaies So is it with Heavenly Traders when they drive a good Trade for Heaven they grow rich apace towards God and in their own souls Wisdom's wares are soul-enriching wares My fruit is better than gold yea than fine gold and my revenue than choice silver Prov. 8. 19. Men account those to be rich who have much of gold and silver but Wisdom's fruit is better than gold and therefore must needs be enriching they that have this gold cannot be poor Hence it is Christ counsels Laodicea to buy of him gold tryed in the fire that she might be rich Rev. 3. 1. But alas how poor in spirituals are persons generally this day Therefore I said Sur ly these are poor they are foolish for they know not the way of the Lord nor the judgement of their God Jer. 5. 4. Unacquaintedness with the way of God when men walk wide from Religion and lose their strict and close walking with God they soon become poor and foolish And this is the case of many every where they give a carnal liberty to themselves and indulge a freedom to walk after the fight of their own eyes and not by rule and where this is there is soul-poverty which is too visible in most this day Christians do but observe your own hearts and others and you will find this spiritual poverty abounding every where Little thrivings appear under the best of means choicest Priviledges do little more than keep up a name to live they convey but little quickenings to the soul A shew of Religion and a meer skeleton of profession is the common fruit of Ordinances in most places whereas all the while decaies are on the vitals of Christianity abatements in grace appear every day and a visible alteration in the whole frame and internal vigour of the soul faith love humility patience self-denyal and every grace becomes weaker every day Former daies were better than now Eccles 7. 10. Speak Christian are not matters worse with thy soul than they were and abatements appear in every part There was a time when thy mind was beam'd over with Divine Light the Candle of the Lord did shine in thy tabernacle Thy eye was quick to discern good and evil thou couldest once see an excellency in the knowledge of Christ O how choice were sermons priviledges were to thee the uncasking of Jewels and the opening of hidden glory thou did'st dwell in the Land of Visions and still some new discoveries of light and grace did meet thee in thy affectionate attendance upon God But now it is not so thy Candle burns dimly and thy right eye is darkened now thou seest but little beauty in grace or desireableness in truth things under thy feet th' other day that seem'd nothing compar'd with Christ now through the multiplying-glass of thy deceived mind seem great and lovely Formerly thy affections were warm and lively after God his word and ways O! how precious were his appointed Feasts and his Tabernacles amiable thou couldst delight in approaching to God and talk of a blessedness in his presence O the pleasure sweetness and joy thy heart did find in thy Closet in spiritual Converses and Duties and publick Ordinances thou couldst weep over sin and bedew thy prayers with tears and find thy heart burn within thee while Christ was speaking and melted under the warm beams of divine love But alas now it is not so now thy affections are dead thy heart as cold as a stone all the while thou art speaking to God in Prayer or God speaking to thee in his Word thou findest no more savour in Ordinances Duties and Christian Converses than in the white of an Egg Job 6. 16. Thou findest not that delight in God as formerly and the night of thy pleasure is turned to fear unto thee Isa 21. 4. This is Soul-poverty Again there was a time also when thy Will like the great Wheel in the Clock could move regularly after God thou couldst choose God for thy chiefest interest and Christ for thy only treasure preferring an interest in him above ten thousand Worlds thou couldst have voted for communion with God before thy meat and drink and one hours fellowship with Christ beyond all the delights on Earth thou couldst choose the things that please God and deny thy own pleasure to give content to him thou couldst once stick to thy first choice and find the purpose of thy heart cleaving to God Act. 11. 23. Thou couldst once resolve and keep thy resolutions 't was easier to take thy heart out of thy body than to gain thy consent to part with Christ his presence and ways But now thy will is hardly drawn after pure and constant enjoyments of God in his ways O! how difficult a thing is it to perswade thy will to let go all for Christ to leave every thing to attend on God to part with the world and self to wait on God to throw all over-board to take in Christ How hard is it now to consent that Christ shall have all the command of thy Soul and dispose of thy dearest interests now thou findest it a work above thee to keep thy heart in order one hour or to perform the purposes of thy Soul to God and Godliness thou resolvest and changest every day thou vowest and breakest thy vows continually there is no stedfastness in thy spirit this also bespeaks thy Soul-poverty There was a time also when thy Conscience was tender thy heart could smite thee for the least sin thy Conscience could hold thee to the greatest duty and bind thee to thy good behaviour thou could'st not go against the light and checks of thy regulated Conscience were it to gain the whole
God You are also maintained by God and that obliges you to him 'T was the argument the Apostle urged to the Masters of Reason in that age why they should seek the Lord because 't was from him they had their subsistence Acts 17. 28. For in him we live and move and have our being If God maintains you 't is rational he should have the use of you 'T was the reason Moses used to prove God's right to Israels all Deut. 32. 9 to 15. The Lord's portion is his people Jacob is the lot of his inheritance why He found him in the desert Land in the waste howling wilderness he led him about he instructed him he kept him as the apple of his eye As an Eagle stirreth up her nest fluttereth over her young spreadeth abroad her wings taketh them beareth them on her wings so the Lord alone did lead him and there was no strange God with him And therefore no reason they should leave him for strangers He made him ride upon the high places of the earth that he might eat the increase of the field and he made him to suck honey out of the Rock and oyl out of the flinty Rock Butter of Kine and milk of Sheep with fat of Lambs and Rams of the breed of Bashan and Goats with the fat of kidnies of wheat and thou didst drink the pure blood of the Grape Mercies are cords and bands by which the Lord obligeth men to himself I drew them with cords of a man and with bands of love Hos 11. 4. All thy life sinner hath been full of these constraints of mercy and love to take the Lord to be thy God The Gospel of Grace which you profess to own and receive binds you to seek first the Kingdom of God and the righteousness thereof Matth. 6. 33. to do the work of God to labour for that bread which endures to eternal life to work the works of God Joh. 6. 27 28. to be no more your own but the Lord's 1 Cor. 6. 19 20. Cease to call or think your selves Christians tell the world you do not believe or hope to be saved by a crucified Christ or else come over to him and be disposed by his sacred Will This is your duty Arg. 4. Fourthly Weigh the unspeakable gain that will surely accrew to you if you set up this Trade of Godliness I have already shewn in the demonstration of this point the great profit that this Heavenly Trade will turn unto to all that deal thoroughly in it to which I advise you to cast back your eye and take three or four considerations more to convince your understandings that Religion is eligible on grounds of greatest interest For First Religion will maintain you in the hardest times So will not other Trades there may be seasons when earthly employments will turn to no accounts You have heard that riches profit not in the day of wrath and some of you have seen the time when they that work could yet scarcely eat but God's work is meat and drink when daily bread fails Joh. 4. 30. I have meat to eat that you know not of Godliness hath the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come 1 Tim. 4. 8. God careth for the righteous and when the Lions lack and are hunger-bit they that fear the Lord shall want no good thing Psal 34. 10. They shall be sure to be provided for whoever wants God hath past his word for it All things are theirs by purchase who are Christ's by choice that is saith Piscator o Omnes res terrenae vestris usious vestrae saluti a Deo destinatae sunt All earthly things are designed of God for your use and the furtherance of your salvation Not as if the Saints had a right to other mens interests The Apostle doth not speak here saith Pareus of civil possessions but of that divine order by which all things ought to serve the good and advantage of the Church of God The Earth is the Lord's the fulness thereof all which is given into the hands of Christ for the good of his people And hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be head over all things to the Church Ephes 1. 22. The whole Earth is but God's Kitchin for the maintenance of his house and if he will feed his servants and slaves much more his children He gives to all their meat in due season and satisfies the desires of every living thing Much more will he care for and give food convenient to his living in Jerusalem Indeed Believers are not of the world and therefore have not their portions in the world they are the Heirs of Heaven and have no promise of more on Earth than will comfortably carry them home and suffice for the discharge of those offices assigned to them here They are Servants not Heirs who carry the cloak-bags in their journey Persons of grandeur bear no more about them than for present use Surely were earthly treasures good for heaven-born souls he that gives better things would not deny these But God knows enough is as good as a feast and so much the Saints shall have in their passage home No man sends his servants a journey but he allows them enough to carry them thorough and so will God to his If he maintains idlers and enemies much more will he feed his faithful servants and labourers He hath promised to supply all their wants Phil. 4. 19. and is able to make it good If he thinks it not much to give them a Crown he will not deny them Crumbs If God should let his work-men want his work would cease his own interest as well as his promise obliges him to look after such his Love Truth Glory with all his Attributes are concerned to maintain his people in his work and therefore nothing more sure than daily bread and sufficiency in all things to such as serve and obey him Secondly Godliness will secure you in dangerous times Prov. 3. 23. Thou shalt then walk in thy way safely and thy foot shall not stumble when thou liest down thou shalt not be afraid yea thou shalt lie down and thy sleep shall be sweet v. 24. For the Lord shall be thy confidence and shall keep thy foot from being taken The way of duty is the way of safety whatever men think the greatest security is in the boldest Adventures for God if regular where his Sun does guide you there his shadow will cover you who shall harm you if you are followers of that which is good 1 Pet. 3. 13. Men may threaten you but cannot injure you they may spoil your estates imprison your bodies but cannot do you any real harm while men keep with God God will abide with them his presence shall fence them his favour shall shield them his Angels shall encamp about them all his Attributes shall guard and secure them God's people that cleave to him in
and prepared b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fashioned as a Vessel the meaning is saith Dr. Preston that then a man is good when his heart is fitted to good works to every good work 2 Tim. 2. 21. Labour to get your natures changed and hearts quickened you must be born again or cannot see the Kingdom of God Be looking to Jesus to create in you a new heart a renewed mind will and affections to have a saving principle put into your hearts and a disposition of Soul towards the whole will of God Cry mightily for the Spirit and wait for his movings upon the face of Sanctuary-waters and for a mighty power of God in the Gospel upon your Souls Get under the healing-wings of Christ and rest not looking unto Jesus till virtue go out from him to heal your Souls If this be thy restless desire thou can'st not let Christ alone running after him crying Jesu thou Son of David have mercy upon me he will turn again and have compassion and give the holy Spirit to them that unfeignedly and incessantly ask him Mark 10. 47 48 49. Luke 11. 13. Direct 2. Secondly cease from your own works Isa 55. 7. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy The first step in returning to God is departing from sin and self c Nihil nobis cum Deo esse potest nisi a nobis discedamus Calv. Neither can we saith Calvin hold converse with a holy God till we be estranged from our unholy self When the Apostle advises the Ephesians to put on the new man Eph. 4. 24. He first exhorts them to put off the old with his whole conversation vers 22. That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt Grace builds not on an old foundation neither does it adorn but reform the former conversation of called Saints there is no cloathing upon in regeneration-work the old garments must off before the new will come on Religion is not a covering for but a stripping off a sinful life neither can you be free to set on God's work till you leave your old works Rom. 6. 20. For when you were the servants of sin ye were free from righteousness You had nothing to do with holiness you had no freedom to do God's work while you were Sins servants He speaks of their actual liberty from grace not their legal freedom d Libertas hic de facto non de jure intelligatur saith Paraeus you are not at liberty to do the work of holiness while under the command of sin No man can serve two Masters Mat. 6. 24. that is two contrary Lords How can the same man e Quomodo poterit unus idemque homo pietati se quantum opus est impendere simul circa divitias quaerendas servandasque perpetua solicitudine distrahi Grot. saith Grotius follow godliness as his work and at the same time be distracted with cares about getting and keeping earthly things 'T is a vanity for persons to dream of a compliance between sin and holiness whose work is too inconsistent for one Soul at one time ruling iniquity and grace are two contrary states which cannot meet in one person and time Never think of setting up on the Heavenly Trade till you are freed from hellish servitude and invested with the liberty of the Sons of God a freedom from the love and service of every sin Godliness calls for the whole of a man's heart strength and time and requires a person void of any inconsistent obligations resolve to break from every way of death if ever you think to enter into the way of life Direct 3. Thirdly Make over your selves to the Lord in an Everlasting Covenant they that will be Masters of a Trade must first be bound to the service of it and resign up their persons wills capacities and time to the instruction and government of another in order to their fitness for such a calling And so must souls that will learn Wisdom's Merchandise they must bind themselves to the Trade and make over themselves and their all to God in Christ to be taught and enabled to set up this excellent work Jer. 50. 5. They shall ask the way to Sion with their faces thitherward saying Come and let us joyn our selves to the Lord in a perpetual Covenant that cannot be forgotten Sin had made a separation between their God and them and brought a death upon their mercies and Templeenjoyments but now the Spirit of Prophecy breathing on these dry bones moves them to a vital union with the fountain of life the onely regular way to their new work and mercies they must first be joyned to the Lord before they can be rejoyned to one another and re-enjoy their lost priviledges and this union lies in a hearty acceptance of offered grace a taking hold of God in Christ and a Covenant-surrender of the whole soul and its All to him again O for arms to embrace him saith Mr. Rutherford This is called a giving up of ones self to the Lord 2 Corinth 8. 5. But this they did not as we hoped but first gave themselves to the Lord and unto us by the will of God They exceeded our hope We onely expected some part of what was theirs but they gave themselves first to God and to us to be directed and governed by the will of God to be placed in the fellowship of his Gospel as well as their interests to the service of his people 'T is also a giving away of ones self to the Lord wholly unreservedly and perpetually to be no more his own 1 Cor. 6. 19. And ye are not your own This surrender of your selves to God souls must be in judgment understandingly and ariseth freely on choice universally without the least reservation absolutely without any limitation or conditions of our own eternally without any expiration and term of this grant and to be attested by all overt acts within your power Isa 44. 5. One shall say I am the Lord's another shall call himself by the name of Jacob another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord and surname himself by the name of Jacob. Whatever may most fully ensure and express an absolute devotedness unto God must be done by those that ever expect to thrive in grace and godliness Verse 3 4. I will pour water upon him that is thirsty and floods upon the dry ground I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed and my blessing upon thy off-spring and they shall spring up as among the grass as willows by the water-courses When once this implantation into Christ is dispatched then will the Lord give prosperity to that soul then are you in a sure way to success in all your holy undertakings and like to speed well in this Heavenly Trade when you become entirely the Lord 's in order to it O be not
who can know it none but he who searcheth the deep things of God can reach this bottom and bring to light the hidden things thereof The work of grace is a secret full of mysteries that none can open and fully know but the eternal Spirit that formed it in the womb of a Believer's heart Seeming grace hath so near a resemblance to saving grace that it puzzles the most curious and searching eye if not enlighten'd with a beam from Heaven to discern the difference besides the slender measures of the Spirit that most have attained to in this life with the subtil insinuations the false representations and treacherous prevarications of that bloody and irreconcilable enemy of mankind all which conspire to put a cheat upon the professing Christian and render his Salvation exceeding doubtful And suppose thy state should be safe yet how perplexing and full of anxiety is it to have the least suspition of thy unsoundness To have the life of thy precious soul hang in suspence and to be unresolv'd in that great case whether thou must live or die to all eternity O! how tormenting and heart-sinking is this An awakened Soul that cannot rest in sin nor yet hope in grace or upon any Scripture-warrant come to a determination about his real interest in God and things eternal is like a troubled Sea that cannot rest Instruments of Musick cannot allay its disquietude no Creature-comforts can charm its heart to a peaceful composure who does in reallity but suspect his eternal welfare and but think he reads this hand-writing on the wall Mene mene tekel upharsin Thou art weighed in the balance and art found wanting Dan. 5. 25. 27. Nothing in all the World can be a Plaister broad enough for such a wound no Cordial can cheer that heart till Grace decides the controversy and assures the Soul of an unquestionable title to the Heir of all things and to the inheritance with the Saints in light And have you not reason then to be restless till your propriety in these glorious treasures be attested which though difficult yet is possible and feasible to all that follow Wisdom's counsel in order to it The eternal truth hath opened a way to the decision of this question whether I have eternal life or no and laid down certain marks of a Soul entitled to things above 1 Joh. 5. 13. These things have I written to you that believe on the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life Vers 12. 19. Chap. 3. 14. The Lord hath charged this to be the duty of all that profess their hopes of glory to make their Calling and Election sure 2 Pet. 1. 10. To examine themselves whether they be in the Faith 2 Cor. 13. 5. To prove their own work that they may have rejoycing in themselves Gal. 6. 4. which he would never have done were it impossible He hath also promised the Spirit to help them in this work and to lead them into all truth bearing witness with their spirits that they are the Lords Joh. 16. 13. Rom. 8. 16. And upon this very account exhorts them to holiness that they might not impede this sealing work of the Spirit Eph. 4. 30. And upon the arrival to this certainty hath ensured great consolation and advantage 2 Pet. 1. 8. 10 11. All which words signify nothing and reflect unrighteousness on the spirit of truth were not an evidence of right to these heavenly things obtainable Quest But how may I come to the knowledg of this desirable truth that Heavenly Treasures are surely mine and that I may make a warrantable claim to God to Christ and these things of the other World Sol. 1. First By your conjugal union with the Heir of Heaven All things in Heaven and Earth are Christ's he is the Heir of all things Heb. 1. 2. Hath in these last days spoken to us by his Son whom he hath appointed Heir of all things All things in Heaven and Earth are his by donation purchase and inheritance juridically conferred over to him in the new covenant and actually put into his hand upon the finishing of his meritorious work and victory over death Matt. 28. 18. All power 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is given to me in Heaven and Earth Lawful power right priviledg and authority as the word imports and with this is the Lord Jesus invested and hath all things put into his hands and all creatures under his feet Heb. 2. 7 8. And all right to true riches is derived from him through union with him 1 Cor. 3. 21. 23. All things are yours and you are Christ's and Christ is God's If you are Christ's then all things are yours not else your title is founded on your marriage-relation to him Gal. 3. 29. And if you are Christ's then are you Abraham ' s seed and Heirs according to the promise A title to these glorious treasures is made over in the new covenant which covenant is confirm'd in Christ and made in him and through him to all that are his He is the way there 's no coming to these treasures but by him he is the door no entring into them but through him He is the treasury it self in whom all the riches of grace all the fulness of pleasures and satisfaction lies you must have the treasury before you can have the treasures the well it self before the waters are yours He that hath the Son hath life hath him by way of possession as an owner and proprietor If you have Christ you have all that is his his person and purchase go together Rebekah must consent to go and marry Isaac before she could be invested with that substance and wealth which was his This new covenant which interests a soul in the Lord Jesus and his unsearchable riches is a marriage-covenant Hos 2. 19 20. And I will betroth thee unto me for ever yea I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness and in judgment and in loving-kindness and in mercies I will even betroth thee to me in faithfulness and thou shalt know the Lord. Ezek. 16. 8. I entred into covenant with thee saith the Lord and thou becamest mine this was a marriage-covenant Jer. 3. 14. Turn O back sliding children saith the Lord for I am married to you If you would see your title to heavenly treasures try your conjugal union to the Lord Jesus the Heir of Heaven Every relation to Christ is not a conjugal relation There is a general relation as dead branches to the tree Joh. 15. 2. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away A person may be in Christ as the luxuriant branch or sucker is in the tree that sucks the sap of priviledges and gets some nourishment of frames and comforts but brings not forth fruit it sprouts out of the stock as proud-flesh grows on the wound but hath no right union with the root or nourishment from the head Such are obtruders and hang-bies which take
in the subject that 's contrary to it But spiritual mortification is not purely privative but while we live there 's something left that is of a contrary nature to holiness which must be daily opposed and destroyed Sin in Believers is driven from the royal fort of the heart upon Christ's entrance into it but possesses the suburbs and out-works of the soul from whence it must be gradually expell'd also by the mortifying influence of the spirit like the Canaanites which were remov'd from the Mountains but could not be wholly driven out of the Valleys that Israel might by them be prov'd and taught to war Judg. 1. 19. ch 3. 1 2. So the Lord Jesus Christ doth not presently destroy corruptions from the people that by them their sincerity may be proved their graces exercised and the mighty power of his spirit manifested This makes a Christian's work busy and constant having to do with potent enemies within and without Eph. 6. 4. which must be fought every day and a continual war maintained with them during life without fighting no conquering without striving no crowning 2 Tim. 2. 5. 'T is with a child of God as with Israel when fighting with Amalek if the hands of Faith and Prayer be not held up no conquest when these are down spiritual Amalek prevails O the losses that Christians sustain for want of mortification by reason of which their foil'd corruptions rally up and take their graces captive Let men neglect the constant practice of mortification b Si neglexerint perpetuam praxim mortificationis vitia conculcata subacta resumunt vires corruptio abstensa repullulat suffocata gratia spiritus sancti redit homo ad ingenium suum Dav. saith Davenant and their vices that were trod down and subdued will soon resume their strength their corruption that was lopt off will bud out again and the graces of the Spirit in them being almost strangled man returns to his former temper Hence come those dreadful fears of good souls that the grace of God was never in truth in them but that they are still in a carnal state and shall perish at last and all this for want of carrying on the work of mortification in them As a lively Faith overcomes sin so prevailing lust weakens Faith 1 Joh. 5. 4. Eph. 4. 2. 30. withstands the sealing-work of the Spirit and overthrows the work of the Soul's hopes filling it with fears about the unsoundness of his estate and the miserable issue of all his profession experience and labour By this ladder of unmortified sin the Devil scales the royal fort of Faith throws down its Towers and mans it against the Soul's peace comfort and holiness O the mischief that Christians do to themselves by indulging sin and for want of a vigorous pursuit of this great duty of mortification which makes them like to Israel who being once upon the borders of Canaan were by their unbelief and unsubdued lusts brought back near the confines of Egypt again and after a wearying unconstant life were consum'd in the wilderness at last So 't is with gracious Souls by their unmortified lusts after some accesses to grace tastes of divine love hopes of glory and fairness for Heaven they are brought back to the borders of Hell again and made to spend their life in an uncomfortable and souldistressing wilderness Christians 't is not security enough for your peace and spiritual welfare that sin hath lost its dominion unless its strength and life be impaired also dethroned sin may bid you many a battel and give you sore foils and though it may not recover the Scepter yet it may keep the Sword and when it cannot mount the Throne may get into some strong hold and put the soul to much trouble e're it be beaten out again Neither is it safe to acquiesce in some temporary truce with thy corruptions bloody overthrows have been oft-times the events of a cessation of war for a season Joab blew the Trumpet and all the people stood still and pursued after Israel no more neither fought they any more i. e. for that time 2 Sam. 2. 28. And yet 't is said ch 3. 1. Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David but the house of David waxed stronger and stronger and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker Sin may seem to yield and trouble thy soul no more for a time but carry it quietly with thee as Joab did to Abner and on a sudden smite thee to the ground though not to death 2 Sam. 3. 27. Nor is it enough that sin be in chains and under restraint through the present strength of overcoming grace unless it be hang'd up in chains as a dead malefactor Secured lust may break prison and escape from under thy hand as Benhadab did from Ahab to thy greater hurt 1 King 20. 42. What mischief have chained Bears and Lions done when broken loose Believer thy condition is not safe till thy sin be dead what Saul said to Jonathan 1 Sam. 20. 31. may be applied to thy case As long as the Son of Jesse liveth upon the ground thou shalt not be established nor thy Kingdom wherefore now send and fetch him to me for he shall surely dye So can thy Soul obtain no stability in grace but be always full of ups and downs and have wars and changes against thee till thy corruptions be subdued Quest But how shall I do to get sin mortified I am convinced 't is my duty but find it not my capacity After all my strivings prayers and hopes I am still foiled and fear I shall one day perish by the hand of these Sauls O when shall the Kingdom be restored to Israel When shall the deliverer come to my soul What shall I do to get these mountains a plain before Zerubbabel and these Thieves crucified with my Lord Christ Sol. If ever thou meanest to get the death of thy sins take these directions Direct 1. First Do nothing that might tend to strengthen sin Rom. 13. 14. Make 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 no provision for the flesh to fulfil the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lusts thereof the word signifies a provident care of the flesh as men do to maintain themselves and families Don't take up your thoughts about it how to feed and please your lusts Never think to kill your corruptions while you secretly feed and maintain them Many complain of their corruptions and yet all the while feed and strengthen them There are several things that do contribute maintenance to mens lusts First Delightful Remembrance of former sins do wonderfully please a carnal heart and stir up desires to future sins As the remembrance of former mercies is food to present faith Psal 74. 14. Thou brakest the head of the Leviathan in pieces and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness Israel's deliverance out of Egypt and the breaking of Pharaoh's power seriously thought on was
First Be sure the matter of your employments be good that your Callings be lawful and the things you do be just and honest in the sight of God Evil things can never be well done meddle not with prohibited goods do nothing that either in its nature use or by divine Law becomes evil 2 Cor. 13. 7. Phil. 4. 8. Eph. 4. 28. Let your Callings be a Versetur circa id quod licitum est in se utire generi humano famae bonae Ames lawful of good report and useful in your generation not onely for your own interest and advantage but for the service and good of others For no man liveth to himself Rom. 14. 7. Such a calling as hath God for its Author m Opera Deo placere non possunt si vitae suae institutum non est a Deo Frid. Baldm being according to Scripture and hath God for its Teacher n The works of that calling cannot please God where the calling it self is not of God saith Fenner Isa 28. 26. And as a man can manage with peace of conscience and be assur'd his work doth please God and he can pray for a blessing upon it which they cannot do who set on employments that tend to nourish vice and wickedness Rom. 13. 14. That your Recreations also be lawful such as are free from scandal and temptation used by and with persons fearing God and such as have a tendency to refresh the mind and body the better disposing it to its necessary duties being sparingly and wisely used so as to be no occasion of evil to others and religiously entred on by seeking to God for a right management of it and blessing on it Such actions as come not under these characters are not becoming Christians who must give an account to God for every vain word much more for idle actions Mat. 12. 36. 'T is part of that which will trouble souls when their sins are bearing on them that they have inherited lies vanities and things wherein is no profit Jer. 16. 19. Saints should be working nothing but what hath a good in it Working with his hands the things that are good Ephes 4. 28. and which can bring some glory to God Whatsoever you do of which Recreations is a part do all to the glory of God 1 Cor. 10 31. But what good to the body foul or estate what glory to God what peace to conscience in the day of Christ can be found in carnal sports scandalous plaies cards dice lascivious dancings and the like which are the off-spring of chambering and wantonness things wherein is little praise virtue or good report but rather the spots of Christianity and bane of piety which tend to debauch the affections to deaden the conscience to nourish wantonness and seed a fleshly carnal mind the end of which is death Rom. 13. 13. Phil. 4. 8. Jude v. 12. 2 Pet. 2. 18. Rom. 8. 6. For to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace It is a double content to a generous and well disposed nature when he doth good for his pleasure Games of hazard saith Du Moulin of Contentment a worthy Divine do very much discompose the mind they also provoke passion and cause much disturbance in the soul for things of nothing Games that consist in dexterity of body or mind are much to be preferred before these Chess will sharpen the wit but busie it over much and toil the spirits instead of recreating them which is the proper use of play Of all gaming the less the better and when it disorders the passions the least is too much He that ventures much money at play ventures with it not onely the tranquillity of his mind but makes a certain loss of it whatever becomes of the money Squandring away of money in play is not the way to make friends of that unrighteous Mammon that receive a man into everlasting habitations but an enemy rather that will turn him out of his temporal habitation it is the way to lose both Earth and Heaven So then whether we win or lose we commit robbery for if we rob not our adversaries we rob our selves our families and God We may add this also such unprofitable Recreations devour that precious treasure of irrecoverable unvaluable yea salvation-time and useth those hours in posting to Hell which are too much neglected for hastening to Heaven O how careful then should souls that profess heavenly hopes be of their earthly work that it be such as may conduce to their accomplishment of them Rule 2. Secondly Set upon earthly things in their proper place and order Seek first the Kingdom of God and the righteousness thereof and all these things shall be added to you a Caetera aut aderunt aut certe non oberunt Mat. 6. 33. Let God have the uppermost Throne in your hearts the fore-foot in your walk the first stroke in your work give heavenly things the precedency both in estimation affection and time as things of greatest worth and to which you are chiefly obliged That 's the due order and method of heavenly Traders to begin every day and work with God serve God first and then your selves Set apart some time for religious duties before you set upon earthly employments Men will not go abroad into unwholsom air fasting The things of this world have a contagious breath in them Break your fast with God every morning before you adventure on heart-ensnaring businesses Labour with God first for his presence with you his wisdom to direct you his grace and strength to help secure and bless you in your earthly labours Antidote your hearts with divine cordials every morning before you get into the Pest-house of this world and let something of Scripture lye nearest thy soul for counsel comfort quickening every day He saith Augustine that hath tasted the sweetness of Divine love will not care for temporal sweetness Meddle not with the thorns of this world till you have fenced your hearts and hands by prayer and the sword of the Spirit 'T is more haste than good speed to run into the world before you have spoken with God The lawful way to earthly employments lies by Heavens gates Christians God will sue you for trespasses if you take any other way to your trades and employments in the world than his prescribed way of religious duties Besides you have need of God's eye and hand in every thing you do You know not the snares and deaths that lye in your employments and the dangers you are subject to in every step you go and in every thing you do You may go forth in the morning and never return more some have died as Israel did with meat in their mouths others have fal'n down dead in their work broke their necks in a journey been found dead in the way O set on earthly work in God's way go not about the world till you have been with
God and secur'd your All in his hands Rule 3. Thirdly Keep your earthly business within the bounds of due time He that hath allotted you your work hath allotted you your time for it it consists not with man's state relation and interest to be arbitrary in any thing but to walk by rule There is a time for every thing under the Sun Eccles 3. 1. A time for every purpose and for every work verse 17. Job 7. 1. As there is an appointed time to man on earth so there is an appointed time to man for earthly things He that hath set bounds to the world hath not left worldly employments without bounds but hath fixed mens earthly affairs within their proper season Psal 104. 23. Man goeth forth to his work and to his labour until the evening The Psalmist acknowledges here the power and providence of God in setting bounds to his creatures bounds to the Sun and Moon Verse 19. He appointed the Moon for seasons and the Sun knoweth his going down Bounds to the day and night Verse 20. Thou makest darkness and it is night he limits the labours of wild beasts and men the beasts have their preyingtime confined to the night Verse 20. 22. And it is night wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth the Sun riseth they gather themselves together and lay them down in their dens Men have their working-time allotted in the day Man goeth forth to his work and labour until the evening that is to the end of their working-day which consisted among the Jews of twelve hours John 11. 9. Are there not twelve hours in the day the usual time for men to dispatch their earthly work in The Lord would not p Providentia ergo Dei noluit sic prolixam operandi continuationem ut hominum vires nimium atteret sed modum constituit saith Musculus have mens labours drawn out so far as to wear out their strength but hath set bounds to it As the Lord would not have the world to take up mens hearts so he would not have it to eat out their time or encroach on these seasons that are due to greater concerns God Nature Grace thy own soul and the spiritual good of others have their claims as well as thy earthly calings to this little inch of this time O consume not thy precious day on things that are temporal and neglect thy opportunities for things eternal do not enslave thy body beyond thy beasts which have their times of rest nor exhaust that strength which better things call for upon an empty perishing world Excessive labours beyond their due time do argue either too much desire of these things or too little faith in God and are reprov'd by the Lord as the vanity and practice of them who are not his beloved ones Psal 127. 2. 'T is lamentable to see such as would be thought the heirs of Heaven so excessively taken up in enlarging their possessions on earth engrossing all their time early and late about their earthly affairs leaving nothing but a few unserviceable minutes for God and their souls O Christians Keep the stream of your earthly affections and labours within the banks of allowed time rob not God of his time of special service nor nature of her time of needful rest and refreshment nor thy own or others souls of time for their spiritual concerns for such poor perishing things Shew charity to thy redeemed body make it not a drudge to thy earthly lusts Man is too noble a creature to be a vassal to this world 'T is a sad spectacle to see the Nazarites of Heaven like Sampson with their heads shaven and their eyes pluckt out to grind in the world's mill till they pluck down the house about their ears Judg. 16. 21. How do men macerate their bodies and starve their souls onely to help them with supplies in their passage to the grave and all the while neglect the work of God and their souls leaving the reliques of their wasted strength and the world's refuse for the service of an immortal God This is not to follow earthly things by heavenly Rule Rule 4. Fourthly Be diligent in the use of your working time take heed you waste it not upon impertinencies or by needless diversions or by idleness and unfaithfulness in your work this is a sin against both Law and Gospel which requires diligence and faithfulness in mens earthly callings Labour and calling-work was man's duty before his fall Gen. 2. 15 The Lord God took the man and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it And after the fall painful labour was injoyn'd and inflicted as a punishment of his sin Gen. 3. 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread until thou return to the ground This duty of bodily labour in mens Callings is of equal sanction and regard with the duties of Gods Worship being inserted in a positive Law and as that which is necessary to the sanctifying of God in Sabbaths Exod. 29. 9 10 Six days shalt thou labour and do all thy work but on the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt not do any work The injunction of working in six days 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Mayer is given in the same commanding terms in the Original that the injunction of not working in the seventh is and the same reason is given for both the one is taken from Gods resting on the seventh day and the other from his working the six days So that not to labour faithfully in thy Calling the six days is a breach of the fourth command as well as the working on the Sabbath-day Not as if the six days labour were to exclude all religious Worship of God on either of these days when the Lord calls to it by extraordinary Providences as to mourning or rejoycing or by ordinary tenders of Gospel-mercy in Week-day Lectures or the like for this would cross his other commands Preaching in season and out of season and labouring for the bread that endures to eternal life This diligent labour doth not exclude private worship every day and publick worship on week-days so far as it consists with faithfulness in mens Callings for which time must be redeemed Eph. 5. 16. but it requires diligent attendance on mens Callings on the week-days as opposed to sloath and sinful waste of time without which God is not duely served on the Sabbath This diligence in mens Callings is also required in the Gospel 1 Thess 3. 10. Idleness is a Gospel-scandal and renders Christians worthy to be abstained from as not obeying the Word of God and such must not eat 1 Thess 4. 11. such are unprofitable servants who improve not their talents for God and the good of others Matth. 25. 30. and are worse than Infidels who do not by diligence in their Calling provide for their own 1 Tim. 5. 8. Rule 5. Fifthly while your hands
world Rule 7. Seventhly Follow your duty but cast your care on God abide in your callings but live above them 1 Pet. 5. 17. Casting all your care on God for he careth for you Depend not on your wisdom labour or success in your employments but upon the promise love and care of God for you If the Lord blesseth your substance don't you bless your selves in it See an emptiness in all your abundance and shortness in these to answer your many wants God can soon make a hole in your money-bags blow on your encrease turn your prosperity into contempt and make your expected comforts as the dream of a night vision Live not on large barns but on the full breasts of promises for the good of what you do enjoy or for the supply of what you want The poor Christian hath the keeping of his purse in his Father's hand the rich in his own hand If sight fail live by faith Faith assures you of the good issue of all difficulties in your way and gets advantage from the worst condition and sweetness to mingle with every bitter providence you meet with It may be thou hast a great family and little to live on lyest in debt and hast nothing to pay it hadst a little th' other day but the Caterpiller and the Cankerworm hath devour'd it this loss and th' other stroak hath wasted it In this case thy duty is to live on God by faith for a sanctified fruit of his hand upon thee and for making up this lack by his abundance When thou canst see no way out of thy perplexing trouble let thine eye be unto God for help 2 Chron. 20. 12. 2 Chron. 25. 8. Go not out of God's way for relief He that wounds must heal he onely that casteth down can raise up Deut. 32. 30. Neither faint thou in the day of adversity or way of thy duty Prov. 24. 10. Prov. 16. 3. but commit thy way to the Lord and he will bring it to pass Psal 37. 5. Mat. 6. v. 25. 1 Cor. 7. 32. Phil. 4. 6. Take heed of carking cares and fretful vexings these cannot lessen thy trouble but will greaten thy sins a provident care is thy duty but a distrustful vexing care both thy sin and affliction Rule 8. Eightly In all your labours pray for a blessing If you would live well you must beg as well as work add duty to thy diligence prayer to thy provident care calling on God to thy calling in the world As every creature so every condition and work is sanctified by the word and prayer 1 Tim. 4. 15. In every undertaking seek to God for counsel Prov. 3. 6. In all thy waies acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths Christians should not set upon the smallest matters without enquiring the will of God not to go to this or that place to buy or sell to do this or that work without seeking to God for direction Jam. 4. 13 14 15. Our journeys saith one must not be undertaken without asking God's leave Dr. Mant. on Jam. This would evidence a life of dependance on God and bring all thy affairs under divine care and blessing Abraham's servant begins his journey with prayer Gen. 24. 12. 27. and concluded it with praise Gen. 28. 20. And so Jacob Israel's folly in concluding with the Gibeonites contrary to the command of God was laid on their not asking counsel of God Josh 9. 14. The men took of their victuals and asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord. O the snares and disadvantages men are exposed to in their earthly concerns for not taking counsel from God and engaging his hand and blessing with them Prayer will further your work sweeten your pains and difficulties in it and secure the comfort and good of it When you want mercy seek God for it when you receive mercy see God in it and return praise to God for it Rule 9. Ninthly Though you live in the World yet be dead to the World Heaven-born souls though in the World yet are not of the World but chosen out of it Joh. 15. 19. and crucified to it Gal. 6. 14. God forbid that I should glory save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom the World is crucified to me and I unto the World This crucifiedness to the World * Se mundum cum omni suo fastu pompa gloria aspernari contemnere quasi rem nihili vanam mortuam saith Paraeus signifies the contempt and despising of this World he intimates hereby that the World with all its scorn pride pomp and glory are despised by him as a nothing empty dead thing A soul crucified to the World sees nothing lovely and desirable in this World but God his Word and Works there 's nothing in earthly things that can be taking with spiritual hearts if God be not enjoyed in them all the glory of the World is no more to them than a dead carkass if the love of God breath not through it on their hearts nay the very Garden of the Lord is a Wilderness to them if the Rose of Sharon be not in it A mortified Saint wonders that a rational immortal Soul can see such worth in riches pleasures honours and poor perishing things of this life which to him are nothing he can easily part with all at the Lord's bidding And he feels no such evil neither in the bad things of this World as to make men startle at them wants losses reproaches torments for Christ lose their frightfulness to them whose hearts love to the Lord Jesus hath reconciled unto the bitterest affliction that can befall them for his sake If Christ stand and do not perish saith Luther what matter is it if Wife and Children perish If liberty estate life and all go so he stay Such should thy heart be in pursuit of these things as one that is dead to the World and sits loose from all its glory and above all its threatnings content to have or not to have to use or want to enjoy or be denied or deprived of it as God pleaseth Rule 10. Lastly Do all your work within the view of death judgment and eternity transact the employments of every day as dying persons who are leaving this World and liable to a remove every moment How would frequent and serious thoughts of a near approaching end wonderfully check mens greedy pursuits of this World and help to keep their actions in a consistency with their accounts King Philip would have it proclaim'd before him every morning Remember that thou art mortal And when falling upon the Sand he afterward saw the print of his body said O how litle a parcel of earth will hold us when we are dead who ambitiously seek after the World while we are living When Severus was old he called for an Urn or Pitcher in which the ashes of a dead person were put and looking a while on it said a Tu virum capies quem orbis
in this heavenly Trade Religion is much advanc'd by a spiritual improvement of mens talk and converses this way did the searers of God keep alive Religion in evil times when other helps were wanting Mal. 3. 16. Prov. 10. 21. By this souls come to be fed and nourished in their holy Faith 1 Tim. 4. 6. A great deal of good or hurt comes by mens discourses O the mischief Christians do to each other by their vain carnal and earthly communications when they come together Evil communications corrupt good manners 1 Cor. 15. 33. Whose word doth eat as doth a canker 2 Tim. 2. 17. This way does Satan put off much of his wares even by Wisdom's Merchants making them to weaken cool deaden and corrupt one anothers spirits stir up feed and strengthen each others corruptions become temptations and provocations to one another to sin by their sinful corruptions 'T is sad to think how the work of God ceases and the work of Satan prospers this way Persons come warm sometimes from a Sermon and are soon cool'd by impertinent and vain discourses come from secret duty when their hearts are quickned and raised and presently deadned again by spirit-quenching discourses O how many labours of the Saints and Servants of Christ and how many strivings of the Spirit are overturned and come to nothing by vain and rotten discourses no wonder the Apostle tells us The tongue is a fire a world of iniquity it defileth the whole body and setteth on fire the course of nature and is set on fire of hell Jam. 3. 6. Through the organ of an unsanctified tongue doth Satan shoot his fire-balls of temptation into the hearts of hearers are you afraid of that fire which burns down your houses beware of that fire that burns down souls to hell 'T is no small part of a Christian's wisdom to speak a word in season and to order as his conversation so his converses to edification When the Apostle presses the Ephesians to wisdom Eph. 5. 17. the next thing he advises to is holy conference ver 19. by mens language are they known of what Countrey they are so are persons discover'd whether Citizens of Heaven or the World by their ordinary and desir'd language 'T is said of Augustine he went not so willingly to a feast as to a conference to reduce any that erred He that is of the Earth is earthly and speaketh of the earth he that cometh from Heaven is above all and what he hath seen and heard that he testifieth Joh. 3. 31. He will be speaking of heavenly things which he learnt of God A good man out of the abundance of his heart bringeth out good things for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh The tongue is but the index and bucket of the heart that tells men what things are within and draws out of those deeps to others men use to find out what metals are hid in the earth by the colour of the sand which the waters wash away from the mountains if the streams be low the spring is weak an empty heart yields empty discourses By your words you shall be justified or condemned The tongue of the just is as choice silver Prov. 10. 20. in that it is enriching to those that are near it The tongue of the wise is health Prov. 12. 18. It sendeth out sound and wholsome words to the strengthning of hearers 't is said of the Spouse that her lips did drop as the honey-comb honey and milk are under her tongue Cant. 4. 11. And the roof of her mouth like the best Wine that goeth down sweetly causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak Cant. 7. 9. This doubtless is one reason of the little thrivings of Christians in communion this day 't is from their barren and carnal communications this starves Religion both in thy own soul and in those thou conversest with 't is not maintained by gracious converses and soul-edifying discourses Christians lay this to heart how can you bear the charge of all that decay in godliness this day upon your non-improvement of this part of your heavenly Trade Lastly Then do you carry on the heavenly Trade when you improve every thing to heavenly advantages getting good from every thing you meet with do or enjoy 'T is so in earthly Trades all men seek their gain from their quarters Isa 56. 11. endeavour to turn every thing to some profit And so should heavenly Traders be getting some spiritual good from every thing that comes under their hand and in their way if ever they intend to thrive this comports with the great design of God in all his administrations to his people which is to do them good Who fed thee in the Wilderness with Manna which thy Fathers knew not that he might humble thee and that he might prove thee to do thee good at the latter end Deut. 8. 16. To this end are his providences directed The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him Ezra 8. 22. And this leads to the accomplishment of the promises towards Believers I will set mine eyes upon them for good Jer. 24. 6. I will not turn away from them to do them good Jer. 32. 40. All their occurrences are brought under a promise of working for good All things the best and worst things of providence shall work for good to them that love God Rom. 8. 28. And why is this but that gracious souls should be expecting good from every thing every affliction as well as mercy that doth befall them and be comporting in all their capacities with this design of God by an improvement of all to this great end of soul-advantage What more good O Lord was the usual saying of a godly man when the Lord brought any new affliction upon him with which he was much exercised and from which he ever got some spiritual advantage For this end are gracious souls made capable to use their mercies to bear and improve their afflictions to some spiritual good they have a principle of grace planted in their hearts and of divine light into their minds and have received rules and instructions of purpose that they might be able to reach this end They are made men of wisdom for this end that they might hear God in affliction Mic. 6. 9. and see God in mercies and are skill'd in divine Chymistry that they might extract the spirit of providences and good of every condition duty and mercy 'T was said of pious Mr. Dod that he used to turn Earth into Heaven by a wise and spiritual improvement of all earthly affairs A blessed metamorphosis and an argument of excellent skill and high attainment in this heavenly Trade to turn Copper and Brass into Gold and to convert every thing the worst things to some good This Christians is your priviledg duty and interest so to manage every affair condition occurrence and experience as to help on your soul-enrichings There
are waies of pleasantness and all her paths are peace The Word of God yields out but half its sweetness until it becomes the way and walks of men Psal 10. 11. In keeping them there is great reward My witness is in Heaven saith Mr. William Cooper upon his death-bed That the love of Jesus and his peoples souls made preaching my pleasure and I had no such joy as in doing God's work They are blessed that do his Commandment not onely in that they have right to the tree of life but in that they eat the pleasant fruits of it and feed upon that hidden Manna unto which bare hearers are strangers Thirdly Get all the good you can from Providences from favourable Providences and from frowning Providences These are the North and the South winds which the Beloved causes to blow upon his garden Cant. 4. 16. that the spices might flow forth Providences whether prosperous or afflictive are to saved souls but the fulfilling of Divine Purposes and the accomplishment of precious promise which are designed for the good of Believers Observe the Providences of God if you would get good from thence Observable things saith worthy Mr. Blair do follow them that are given to observation Doth God bring thee under smiling Providences get some good from them In these the Lord writes legible characters of his Covenant-love to his people O read the tenderness love bounty and faithfulness of God in them and be affected Get thy heart to write back letters of love and thankfulness to God again entertain giving Providences with thanksgiving hearts and the sacrifice of praise 2 Chron. 29. 31. Let the Lord communicate with you concerning receiving as well as giving Phil. 4. 15. If left-hand mercies flow in upon you take heed lest those floods break their bounds and carry away the banks of your affections and circumspection Christians 't is a safe rule to fear your mercies as well as afflictions There is usually less fear and therefore more danger of professing friends than professed enemies 'T was the prayer of Queen Elizabeth To be delivered from her friends as for her enemies she would take care of them Further if you have now a spring-tide of outward mercies prepare for low-waters The comforts of this world are not standing pools but running streams and rolling Seas that ebb and flow expect not too much from them entertain your comming mercies as strangers who have their time to go as well as come The Lord gives and the Lord takes Job 1. 21. Get good also from taking as well as giving Providences be blessing God for them There is more self-denial and pure love to God expressed in such acknowledgments than in praises for bestowing mercy Job 1. 2. Besides divine grace runs as well through the empty chanels as broad streams of outward comforts 'T is the same hand of the Father that uncloaths which dresses his children the Fork as well as the Rake belongs to the Covenant of Grace and Peace neither is love or hatred known by these things Eccles 9. 1. Some have never found more than when they have lost all The Lord oft-times makes mens losses their gains and their gain of earthly things their losses Saul lost his Asses and found a Kingdom Shimei found his servants and lost his life Place not then your happiness no nor your comforts in these things How many prick their fingers to get a few fading Roses which as soon wither as they are pluck'd Think well of God under scattering Providences and believe he loves you as much when he removes your mercies as when he gives them Look to God in Providences see whence those winds come that blow down your houses and scatter your comforts enquire wherefore God contends with you Job 10. 2. Doth not that worm which devours your gourd breed in your security pride unthankfulness and abuse of them while you had them search out the cause of God's displeasure justifie God in it and bear his indignation humbly come down at his feet kiss his rod and hear the voice of it This is to get good from the worst of Providences Fourthly Get good from the world and things thereof by seeing its wiles and deceitfulness its vanity and emptiness Mark 4. 19. The world is a fading thing the fashion of it passeth away and it is gone Trades-men care not for over-much of those goods that are soon out of fashion Eccles 1. 2. O care not for the world the fashion whereof soon passeth away 1 Cor. 7. 31. The world is a dirty thing 't is hard to touch it and not be defiled Christians be not like Swine who love to run into the dirt and if you would keep your selves unspotted take heed of the world The world is a heavy ponderous thing by faith make it portable and more easie to be born 2 Cor. 4. 17. that it may not clog your feet and stop your race towards glory Faith will soon lessen your burden and mend your pace it will turn brass yea clay into gold and make it light in carriage The world is a strange Countrey to the Citizens of Heaven get good from it by living as strangers in the world by making you long the more for your own home by converting it to the service of your souls and interest in glory The Scorpions in Caria when they sting kill home-bred people not strangers Apollon Be a stranger to the world and it will not hurt thee The world is a subtle Strumpet shun her embraces lye not in her bosom stop your ears against her charms and shut your eyes from her allurements The world is an enemy beware of it when it promises believe it not when it kisses you take heed of the sword in its hand 2 Sam. 20. 9 10. when it cries peace peace then fear swift destruction set thy feet on its fair neck to keep it down get it nailed to the Cross of Christ and pierced to death with the sword and spear of the Spirit Get good from every state and condition God puts you into whether high or low rich or poor If you are above others in place be above them in grace if you enjoy more than others labour to do more than others Matth. 5. 47. The higher you are in the world be so much the lower in your own eyes The tallest Cedars bow most Ships of the greatest burden draw most water and go deepest Exalted Angels rejoyce to be ministring spirits Yea the Son of God delighted in being the servant of men Israel was a Prince and prevailed with God and yet counted himself beneath the least of all God's mercies Gen. 32. 10. By how much the greater I am saith Maximinus so much the more I labour and the more I labour the greater I am Paul the chiefest Apostle and yet in his own eyes less than the least of all Saints Ephes 3. 8. Humble your selves when God exalts you and when you humble your selves God will exalt you Have you
much of the world take heed of puffings up the more you have the more you owe the more you have of Earth the less you may have of Heaven The poor in the world may be rich in faith and the rich in the world may be oft-times poor in faith If God give you much here be fearful lest he give you your All here When one offered Luther much gold he protested God should not put him off with these things 'T is said of Gregory the Great he could never read these words Son remember thou in thy life time receivedst thy good things without horrour and astonishment lest having such dignities he should be excluded his portion in Heaven Have you little in the world you have the less to reckon for you have the lesser temptations the fewer bryars and thorns to go through Are you mean in reputation you are so much the safer and the more beneath envy 'T is more to you said Mr. Rutherford to the Lord-Keeper to win Heaven being ships of great burden and in the main Sea than for little vessels that are not so much in the mercy and reverence of the storm Are you low in the world the more reason you have to lie low in your own spirits a Prince's heart and a beggar's purse do not well agree Are you in want make more use of Christ's fulness 'T is blessed misery that brings souls to Christ for mercy Had it not been for affliction Christ would have had but little company whiles in the world The whole need not the Physician the sick the blind the deaf dumb and possessed of Devils might bless God for their maladies which were the occasions of bringing them to the Physician of their souls as well as bodies 'T was well for the poor Canaanite that her daughter was ill for by that means she was put upon seeking crumbs and while she asked for them got the childrens bread to boot Matth. 15. 27 28. Fifthly Get good from your Callings and Employments in the world by preserving a sense of the snares and dangers that lie in the management of them If men would take a strict survey of their Calling-carriages and be true to their observations they must needs confess there are many evils they are guilty of in the management of them every day either idleness or excess of labours deceitfulness earthliness lying cheating selfishness covetousness carnal-mindedness vain discourses multitude of words murmuring unthankfulness with many other sins of omission and commission which they are exposed to in the pursuit of their Employments Now when the experience and sense of this do keep them more humble and watchful against the occasions and appearances of such evils when this helps to break and melt the heart before the Lord in prayer fly to Christ in the sense of their weaknesses and inability to hold up under their temptations for all their help and grace to stand Ephes 5. 15 16. And when they labour to keep a tender spirit in all their dealings and a holy jealousie of their hearts in every thing they do exercising self-denyal and mortifiedness to the world and things below then they get profit from their Callings Prov. 41. 3. Psal 141. 3. When they make their particular Callings to comport with and subserve their general when mens businesses in the world do not unfit them for but are helpful in their religious duties to keep their hearts in a meetness for spiritual service even while they are in their earthly Employments maintaining a walk with God in them then they get good from their earthly Callings Ephes 6. 18. Titus 3. 1. Sometimes God blesseth your Callings and makes your basket and store to encrease then to be enlarg'd in thankfulness and preserve the memory of God's goodness is not onely your duty but will sweeten the enjoyment of your mercies With my staff I passed over this Jordan and now I am become two bands Gen. 32. 10. To love him more and serve him better with more chearfulness and gladness of heart this is profiting by your Callings Sometimes God blasts your labours and crosseth your hopes makes a breach upon your Trade follows you with losses one after another In this case to look to the hand of God to search out God's end in all to get good by it to be the more weaned from the world and to cease from earthly stays is a profitable use of your Callings Sixthly Be getting some good from your company you reside amongst meet or converse with The Lord offers and souls may get much good this way O the mercies that God deals out through mens company 'T was well for Rahab that ever the spies came to her house for by that means she obtained the salvation of her self and family What a mercy 't was to the woman of Samaria when she came to the Well that she found Christ there who instead of filing her pitcher with perishing water by this means got her heart filled with the waters of life John 4. 15 What good did the Disciples get by company in the way to Emmaus who by that means had their cold hearts warmed their weak faith strengthened Luke 25. 15. to the 32. Others have had company fatal to them Had it not been for Potiphar's house Joseph might have escaped temptation to uncleanness Gen. 39. 7. And had it not been for Pharaoh's house he had not learn'd to swear by the life of Pharaoh Gen. 42. 15. As long as Peter kept with the Disciples he was faithful and couragious but when once he fell into evil company and got into the High Priest's Hall he presently fell into that fearful sin of denying his Lord and Master Luke 22. 55. When they sate down together Peter sate down amongst them Christians beware what company you come into for the peace and welfare if not the life of your souls is much concerned in it Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them Ephes 5. 11. Prov. 1. 15. chap. 4. 14 15. Chuse not wicked company for advantage sake as Lot did with the loss of his goods and hazard of his life and a dreadfull fall to boot Gen. 19. 15. 36. Advantage was his end why he chose the Plains of Sodom but loss was the issue of his choice So Balaam for Balacks goods run himself into those temptations that cost him his life Gen. 31. 8. Go not into wicked company except duty call you if you have God's warrant you have his protection and if by providence or in the way of obedience you meet with evil men be good with them The Sun saith Diogenes visits kennels and is not defiled either by taking an occasion to do them good as the Israelitish Maid did to her Master Naaman directing him to the Prophet Elisha for cure 2 King 5. 2 3. Or by putting a stop to their sin as David did Psal 75. 4 5. I said unto the fools deal not foolishly and to the
that strive with him shall perish there is no contending with God bow we must or break return or be ruined Wash ye make ye clean put away the evil of your doings Isa 1. 16. Get washt away your blood by sound Repentance get into Christ's blood by saving Faith set upon a thorough reformation personal family publick each one in his place help to carry out the uncleanness of thy heart hand house and land to the Brook Kidron 2 Chron. 29. 16. Get tradingsins removed if you would have trading mercies enjoy'd Take every man his Censer and stand in the gap pour out strong cries for returning-mercy that the Lord would cease from his fierce wrath and turn again and heal our Land and bless our substance accept the work of our hand and dwell in our Land Counsel 5. Fifthly Get advantage from decaies in your Earthly Trade to further your Heavenly Trade gather materials from your earthly ruines for your heavenly building Christians there 's a great deal of good you may get from these evil things in the world to quicken your pursuit after the things of Heaven First By your earthly losses you may be convinced of the vanity and uncertainty of all things below God Men are apt to take up too much pleasure in their booths till God sends a devouring worm and consumes them and to sit down under their shadows with great delight and therefore doth God make them like shadows to fly away what expectations do men raise from their swelling-comforts thinking their mountains are made so strong they shall not be moved till the Lord by some levelling providence soon corrects their fond opinion and what dependencies do we usually take up on those uncertainties leaning so hard on our reeds till they break under us and send splinters into the arm which staies upon them O the contentment pleasure profit men fancy to be in creatures friends relations honours estates before by some killing stroak they see themselves to be deceived What mercy is it then to meet with disappointments in these groundless hopes that we may come to see before it be too late what poor empty perishing things all the wares of this lower world are This way David came to have his errour seasonably corrected And Solomon by a serious review of past enjoyments comes to see that all was vanity and vexation of spirit Eccles 2. 1. Surely every man walketh in a vain shew they are disquieted in vain he heapeth up riches and knoweth not who shall gather them Psal 39. 6. Secondly Divine rebukes on mens earthly interests help them to a discovery of those sins that procure them Deut. 31. 17. Afflictions are Christ's clay and spittle to open his peoples eyes and to bring them to see those evils that have brought those deaths upon their comforts and breed those worms that have destroyed their substance Times of correction are times of instruction Job 36. 8 9. When Jacob's Sons were cut short of their provisions reduced to great distress and plunged in sore dangers then they thought upon their sin and wrong done to their brother Joseph Gen. 42. 21. Then they said one to another verily we are guilty concerning our brother in that we saw the anguish of his soul when he besought us and would not hear therefore is this distress come upon us Whence one hath this note Affliction is a dark condition yet it brings much light into the soul Men come to read their miscarriages best by the fire-light of affliction then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God 2 Chron. 33. 13. Now the soul comes to see his abuse of these mercies he hath lost his inordinate love to them and wandrings from God and this helps to after-wisdom and greater freedom from these entanglements for the time to come which is no small advantage to future godliness Thirdly By this loss of earthly things the soul comes to see a necessity of looking after and ensuring better treasures Heb. 13. 14. Here have we no continuing City but we seek one that is to come Uncertainties on Earth should put souls the more to look after Heaven The Prodigal never thought of returning till all was gone Luke 15. 14. to verse 18. The Steward never considered how to secure his future state till goods were wasted and Stewardship in danger of removal Luke 16. 1 2 3 4. Think of swiming ashore said Mr. Rutherford after a shipwrack 'T is a mercy in this stormy Sea to get a second wind for none of the Saints get a first This is advantage indeed when having nothing you seek to enjoy all things and when the world flies from you to pursue Heaven the faster Could a Heathen say I never gain'd mere than when I lost all because his shipwrack became the occasion of obtaining knowledge and will not you Christians by your earthly losses be provoked to make after heavenly interests Fourthly Losses in the world have an advantage through grace to loosen the heart from the world Afflictions on mens estates are like wormwood on the breast that tends to wean the hearts of God's children from them Love of the world hath been the sin of this Age and the shipwrack of worldly things is the likeliest way to cure it this disease is best conquered by fasting Absence of Lovers is sometimes the way to starve affections and poverty with distress is God's usual method to chastise mens wanton affections to this world Afflictions when sanctified are Sanctuary-fire to purge away the dross of our affections Mal. 3. 3. 5ly Soul-enlargement is another fruit of sanctified straits and so a help to the heavenly trade Christians are never fit to make any speed in the way to Heaven until their hearts be enlarged Psal 119. 32. Enlargements in the world are oft-times bonds to the soul He that hath most of the Earth hath usually least liberty for Heaven When the Lord cuts short the interest of his people he doth but knock off golden fetters from their feet that he may bring their soul out of prison Afflicting Providences are God's dieting his racers that they may be more long-breath'd and swift in their run towards glory O how imprison'd are redeemed souls in the many things of this world they cannot have time to pray read hear confer for the entangling-affairs of this life till God by some deaths upon their employments sets them at liberty Removes of worldly treasures are but the taking off of a heavy cloak-bag from the shoulders of Sion's Travellers that they may the more comfortably travel to their journeys end Good souls whiles crouded with earthly businesses are like persons in the midst of a thicket and thorny grove when they would be going forward one briar hangs in their skirts and another thorn stops their way so that when God takes off their interests he doth but cut out a way for his children to pass the more comfortably and swiftly through the brakes of this world and lighten the vessel that it
the death are eternal of all which by their backslidings if uncur'd they are depriv'd O who can count the sum and value the worth of those glorious things they fall short of who fall back and go down in Christianity till they come to nothing Fifthly Their case is dangerous also and their wound hardly healed not one of many that fall back in Religion if they go far recover again Joh. 6. 66. From that time many of his Disciples went back and walked no more with him When Judas Simon Magus Hymeneus Alexander Demas went off from Christ they returned no more John tells us of some that went out from them and thereby declared that they were not of them 1 Joh. 2. 19. They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us The Apostle speaks not of such as fall out of infirmity falling in the way which gracious souls may do both falling into some sin for a time as Peter and fall back by some abatements of grace as the Church of Ephesus yet be recovered such he intends not here but those that fall out of the way both totally and finally these recover no more Quest If persons that fall back in Religion after a high profession may never be recovered again how may one know if he find decaies and falling back in Religion whether he be one of those that shall never be bealed or recovered more This is my case I find great declensions in my soul and conversation and I fear I shall never be restored but wax worse and worse and perish at last Sol. 1. First Are not thy declensions thy choice upon judgment and consent but against the standing bent of thy heart the renewed purposes of thy soul through Christ Thy errour is not thy aim thou dost not deliberately contrive thy departure from God but hast a secret would-not against every backsliding then thy backslidings shall be healed again Psal 119. v. 10. Rom. 7. 19 25. Secondly Are thy backslidings and spiritual decaies thy soul-trouble and restless burden because of thy distance from God as the God of grace and Father of thy mercies and because of the injury thereby done to thy graces and inner man and from an enmity in thy nature against sin Then there is hope in Israel concerning this that thy backslidings shall be healed Rom. 7. 24. Psal 5. 1 7. Luke 15. 21. Gal. 5. 17. Thirdly Are thy backslidings after thy Effectual Calling and thy sincere choice of God to be thy peculiar and alone portion Thou canst appeal to the searcher of hearts that thou hast taken the Lord to be thy God and onely Treasure here and to all eternity to be thy last end and chiefest good and hast taken Christ to be the onely way truth and life thy Lord and righteousness and hast made a full and actual surrender of thy self and thy All to God in exchange to be presently unreservedly and eternally his and not thy own to be led and governed by him onely If so thy after-errours cannot make void this Covenant but are under a promise of healing such cannot sin unto death because the seed of God remaineth in them 1 Joh. 3. 9. They are undertaken to be kept that they should not totally and finally depart from him Jer. 31. 18. Isa 57. 18. Jer. 3. 14 22. Hos 14. 4. Jer. 32. 40. Fourthly Art thou restless in thy backslidings until the Lord doth heal thee thou canst give him no rest till he establish thy soul and be as the dew to thy dry and barren heart When God sets a soul a crying it 's a sign he will hear Jer. 30. 15 17. Isa 19. 22. A man saith Mr. Dod can never be in a bad condition except he hath a hard heart and cannot pray Will he delight himself in the Almighty Will he alwaies call upon God Job 27. 10. Backsliders in heart are heartless in prayer as they decay so do they restrain prayer Job 15. 4. Ye have said it is in vain to serve God Mal. 3. 14. As sin becomes more delightful so duty becomes more burdensom cold and formal but a gracious soul that shall be healed is importunate with God and will not let him alone Exod. 32. 10 11. or let him go until he bless him Gen. 32. 6. The worse his condition is the more fervent his cries are the more his piety goes down the more his prayers go up Psal 6. 2. Such a soul shall be healed who would be healed where he works to will he will work to do Fifthly Are thy vitals sound under all thy decaies then thy consumption is not mortal Is thy heart sincere thou canst not hide or reserve iniquity but walkest before God in truth thy desires after grace are not feigned Psal 17. v. 1. Thy love to God is not pretended lip-love but real thy faith and love are not wholly gone but maintained in the truth thereof though abated thou canst not let God go but hast a secret rest on him and resolved recumbence on his grace and faithfulness There is hope of that tree though it seems to be cut down that it will sprout again and the tender branches thereof will not cease Job 14. 7. Sixthly If under all thy decaies thou findest a humble heart and contrite spirit thy backslidings make thee lie low before God and to become more vile in thy own eyes every day thy soul-poverty makes thee poor in spirit also rating thy self beneath the least mercy and judging thy self unworthy of all that patience priviledge and mercy shewn to thee thou dost not fret at afflicting providences nor charge God foolishly but bearest his indignation justifiest his displeasure and wonderest at his forbearance then will revivings come again and recovery after thy falling back Dan. 9. 7 23 25. Mat. 5. 3. Isa 57. 15. But on the other side There are five dangerous symptoms of falling back that shall hardly be restored First If thy falling back be before thy falling in with Christ in truth thy decaies before thy quickenings then 't is dangerous If thy building were on the sand and the towring heights of thy frames and profession from which thou art fal'n were onely structures of thy own raising in which the Sanctifying Spirit had no hand then thy decaies are not likely to be repaired Art thou a stranger to the new birth and to any inward change upon thy soul the principle of thy new profession and actions is is still an old heart Thou never didst take the Lord for thy God and onely Treasure nor hadst to this day any heart-union with the Lord Jesus then thy fall is dangerous Mat. 7. 26 27. 1 John 5. 14. 2 Tim. 3. 5. Secondly A falling off from the foundation is dangerous When men depart from the Faith turn to another Gospel and deny the Lord that bought them fall from the Doctrine of Grace after enlightenings to a Covenant of Works
laying the foundation of Salvation-hopes upon creature-performances and improvements when they go from the Rule of Faith and Word of Truth to natural light and seducing spirits which have not their evidence and approbation from the Scriptures When persons at once disclaim dependency on the true foundation and disposal by the Rule of Righteousness 't is much to be feared whether such shall be restored Gal. 1. 6. ch 5. 4. Heb. 10. 26 39. 2 Pet. 2. 15. Heb. 6. 4. 6. Thirdly When men make Merchandise of the Truth and sell their profession for worldly interest having loved the reward of iniquity and made a swap of their Religion for advantage-sake This is a mighty provocation to the Spirit when men can sell themselves to work wickedness and value the great things of God's Law of his Truth and Salvation at so low a rate to part with them for a mess of pottage and the dirty Cabals of this world 'T is seldom that such find repentance though they seek it with tears See Judas Simon Magus Balaam Demas Spira What remarks of furious indignation God makes such Apostates to be who can part with their Religion for worldly interests 2 Tim. 4. 10. 1 King 21. 20. 2 Pet. 2. 3 15. Acts 1. 18. Fourthly Backsliders in heart shall surely perish and be filled with their own ways Prov. 14. 14. when falling back is upon choice and with delight like a deceitful Bow that is then at rest when its string is broken Psal 78. 57. When a man casts off Religion as one doth his burden and a beast his yoke Jer. 5. 5. and is glad he is rid of his troublesome work as one that is got out of prison Rom. 1. 32. This argues a spirit of Belial and a dangerous state Many have taken up a Lamp upon constraint for fashion or interest or for companies-sake as the foolish Virgins did Prov. 14. 14. Psal 78. 57. Jer. 5. 5. Mat. 25. 1. But when opportunity hath offered it self for a fair riddance they have soon appear'd what they were by their chearful returns to Egypt and the broad way of error and looseness falling in with other interests and finding pleasure in it Now the world reputation and pleasure take away the heart and they are well-pleased with other Lovers this is a bad sign of a desperate state of marish-ground that shall never be healed Ezek. 47. 11. Lastly When persons are prejudic'd against the means of recovery hate them that rebuke them in the gate Amos 5. 10. shun the light and cannot endure those that would reclaim them from the error of their way Joh. 3. 19. their hearts rise against any attempts to reduce them Amos 7. 10. cannot bear them that are good slight and hate the people of God they formerly loved avoiding their company jeer and reproach those Ministers people and ways they once took pleasure in this shews a dangerous state such a persons condition seems desperate and not far from the Chambers of death O you that are fallen back in Religion get your hearts affected with it do you begin to decay you know not where it will end are you gone back 't is questionable whether ever you may return and then what will your latter end be your last state will be worse than your first and if twice dead you will be pluck'd up by the roots if after showers and dressings you decay your end will be to be burned Advice 2. Secondly If you would recover out of your wasting decays in this heavenly Trade search out the causes and get them removed There must needs be something more than ordinary when men who have a good Trade which may be driven in the worst of times and will ensure advantage if followed do notwithstanding fall back and decay Such is Religion it will maintain and enrich its followers if they be not wanting to themselves there must needs be some great causes and miscarriages then that doth cast back the professors of Christianity and bring a consumption on their soul-prosperity some of which may be these First When they enter upon this heavenly Trade and have not a stock to set it up Religion is a great thing and cannot be carried on without a stock of saving-grace to maintain it Common grace is not a sutable stock for this spiritual Trade it may help men to transact the external part and common works of Religion but cannot do the inward secret and choicest services of godliness A stranger intermeddles not with its joy Prov. 14. 10. no nor its work They that are in the flesh cannot please God Rom. 8. 8. The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink Rom. 14. 17. it lies not in outward duties but righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Ghost which no hypocrite can reach to This spoils many they take up a form of godliness without the power of it and being strangers to the work within they cannot carry on the works of grace without which this state calls for and so fall back and come to nothing When persons get some knowledg parts frames and temporary graces they presently take up a Lamp of profession and get into the company of the wise climb up to the enjoyment of priviledges and then sit down contented and fall asleep and when they come to temptations and spiritual duties to the work of faith love patience self-denial mortification and the like having not grace to support them and a principle that suits such work they fall short of duty and into sin and so Trade and fall away Common grace is as a standing-pool which having not a spring to feed it dries up when supplies cease and scorchings come whereas true grace is as a well of water that springs up to life eternal Secondly Another thing that casts back Traders is this when they set upon an employment and have not skill to manage it Every Art hath its principles rules and mysteries by which it is carried on to deviate from these is to mar the excellency and miss the advantage of it Irregular actions seldom thrive so 't is with the heavenly Trade when persons set upon it and have not skill to order it to best advantage no wonder if they prosper not but fall back in godliness Solomon directing to this heavenly Trade advises to get wisdom as the principal thing in order to it Prov. 4. 7. And when the Apostle would further the Saints in holy walking as the necessary way to it he begs wisdom for them Col. 1. 9 10. That ye may be filled with the knowledg of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding that ye may walk worthy of the Lord to all well-pleasing being fruitful in every good work Two things made David thrive so much in his proper publick work Integrity of heart and Understanding Psal 78. 72. He fed them according to the integrity of his heart and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands Some books read it in the plural
live above their capacities and proportion that 's casting back when persons have little and yet live high have but a little light and yet spend that too in works of darkness have but a short day and yet so many hours of that one day consumed in vanity this is to live above thy estate and will be soon impoverishing When men have but a little grace and strength and yet adventure upon great temptations and run into soul-ruining dangers rush into vain company set upon entangling affairs and take much business on their hands and yet have but a little portion of Wisdom and Grace to manage them this is to live above thy estate in Christianity To be low of stature and yet high in conceit of little spiritual worth and yet think highly and speak highly of thy self and to expect estimation from others also is to live above thy estate To have nothing to maintain thee but what comes in by thy soul labours no longer work no longer eat thy daily bread depends upon thy daily work so poor and yet in this condition to expect an easie life to lie down to slumber to dwell carelesly and set thy hand but by fits and starts to thy work This is to live above thy spiritual estate and will soon bring thee to breaking in this Heavenly Trade Sixthly Great debts are breaking and will cast men back in Wisdom's Merchandise when men owe more than they are worth and know not how to pay it run further on book every day till their credit will pass no longer they have often promised payment but still fail'd and now their word will not pass they can get no more goods Creditours will not trust them but begin to suspect them and threaten to take them up then men shut up shop and break This also is pernicious to Heavenly Traders when they become unfaithful to God and men run on score for mercy but never pay or render to God again are deep in debt to God for divine goodness receive one mercy after another one talent after another and make no returns of any God sees not principal or interest but they remain fruitless and unthankful under all make promises of better improvements but still break them Come to Sacraments and renew their Covenant with God and go away and break it again make promises to God under affliction that if he will deliver them this once they will never grieve and provoke him more as they have done make large engagements if God will hear this prayer and give that mercy but when their turn is serv'd forget God and break all their vows again be ready to pass their word on every occasion and then look after it no more this begets a jealousie in the Lord of Hosts that he will trust them no more Deut. 32. 21. but hold his hand and part with no more goods but threatens to take them up and to cast their souls into prison begins to sue them in the Court of Conscience and to out-law them at the bar of Justice to seize on what they have then away goes peace joy hope and then comes breaking These are some of those reasons why Christians go back in Religion and decay in their Heavenly Trade O Christians bring the plummet to the line and thy heart and life to the ballance and try from which of these comes thy soul-decaies and then get it to bear upon thy heart till thou art fully convinc'd of thy evil and willing on any terms to obtain remedy Advice 3. Thirdly Compound with your Creditour get your peace made with God through Christ make haste to prevent a seizure on your person and goods by a timely composition Agree with your adversary while you are in the way with him lest at any time he deliver thee to the Judge and the Judge deliver thee to the Officer and thou be cast into prison Mat. 5. 25. 'T is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of an ever-living God who is a consuming fire Heb. 10. 31. ch 12. 29. O tremble in the sense of his righteous Judgment and force not the Lord by thy delaies to commence a suit against thee and to make an entry upon all that thou hast but go humble thy self and make sure thy friend Prov. 6. 3. Fall down before thy Creditour and sue for terms of reconciliation cast thy self at the feet of mercy confessing thy sin Pay the debt thou canst not go beg remission and offer a Surety to discharge the score even such a one as the Father himself is well pleased with Thy Creditour must be satisfied or thou art undone but this you can never do Away to a Mediatour to obtain terms and to procure your peace make Christ your friend who is able to satisfie all the Father's demand to cross the book and send your discharge by the Spirit of Grace who can witness the pardon of all your sins to your consciences Come to him in the sense of your folly bearing your shame Forsake your wasting waies and with the prodigal return from your harlots to your Father's house rating your selves beneath the least of his mercies and consenting to the meanest condition so he would but take you in again Luke 15. 17 18 20 21. Subscribe all his terms and make a new surrender of your self and your All to Christ to be no more your own but more entirely his than ever Jer. 50. 5. Enter into a new Covenant with God in Christ taking him for your Surety and fetching all your abilities to fulfil it from him and get thy soul more firmly bound to the Lord in it by the bond of the Spirit Advice 4. Fourthly Set up no more for your selves but enter your selves Factors for Christ It may be you traded formerly for your selves and that broke you if you would prevent that danger for the future you must be no more for your selves but for him trading as his Factours not your own Now three things are required in a Factor which must be observed also by wisdom's Merchants if ever they will drive a thriving Trade in Godliness 1. To trade upon anothers Stock 2. To be regulated by anothers Advice 3. To drive on anothers Interest First If you will be Christ's Factours you must trade upon his stock you must not onely take all your goods from him but as his not onely fetch in your graces abilities skill success from him but use and improve them as his not as your own Joh. 1. 16. Of his fulness have all we received grace for grace 'T was not onely part of his fulness before it was received but 't is his grace after reception Col. 1. 19. It pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell not onely the fulness of the Divine Nature but the fulness of habitual grace both which are in Christ the latter is chiefly intended here which dwells in Christ as in a head not for himself onely but for his body as beams in
the Sun and water in the Fountain for the use of man The Father hath laid up all that grace that Believers need here and for ever in the Lord Jesus as in a Treasury or Trustee's hand for their use or made it over to him not onely as a deed of gift but as a purchase which he hath bought by his blood for the good and use of his children 'T is his fulness right and interest but for their use and advantage but so as the property and disposal be still his Fal'n man hath for ever forfeited his credit with God since his first defection to become any more the disposer of his interests and inheritance or be intrusted again with his own portion God deals with saved souls as parents do with prodigal children secures their estates in the hand of a Feoffee Believers Treasures are laid up in Christ that so grace as well as glory sanctification and salvation may be sure to them and not liable to forfeiture or loss to be disposed of and parted with by them as they please but be certainly and eternally theirs that so they may come to Christ for all they need as heirs under age who have no more in hand than what they want but must come to their Overseers for all they have use of and not only as such but as Stewards also that must be accountable for what they have and how they bestow it Poor decay'd souls Would you recover your losses and renew your Trade then you must come to Christ's fulness and be beholding to his free grace for all you need Do you want grace for your duties places tryals sufferings come to Christ's fulness for your supplies send to him by the hand of prayer an intimation of all your wants Make known your requests to him Phil. 4. 6. Be careful for nothing but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God Cease not from following God in the Name of Christ with requests till the Spirit meet you with returns The Lord Jesus hath ordained his people to receive their supplies sallaries and stipends from Heaven in the Court of Requests Matth. 7. 7. Ask and you shall receive All things whatever you shall ask in prayer believing you shall receive Matt. 21. 22. Seek it by prayer receive it by faith Go to Christ in the promises for all you want judging him faithful who hath promised Heb. 11. 11. God's Word is as good as present pay and shall be fulfilled by him who cannot lye to all that by faith receive it and wait for its performance All his promises are in Christ Yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1. 20. Who came down from Heaven to confirm them with his blood and is returned to Heaven to fulfil them by his intercession Heb. 7. 25. You may boldly adventure on divine assurance and shall not be asham'd if you sincerely roll on Christ in his Word Be well acquainted with the promises clear up your interest in them by believing and expect their fulfilling through Christ It may be thy graces are low thy corruptions high guilt heavy fears many refuge fails thy prayers not answered no good news from Heaven or Earth thou prayest hopest waitest but no answer in this case nothing but firm reliance on divine faithfulness can keep thy head above water Are you in wants go to that promise My God shall supply all your wants Phil. 4. 19. God will give grace and glory and no good thing will he with-hold from them that walk uprightly Psal 84. v. 11. Do you find changes in your spirits and frames and condition See that word Believe in the Lord your God and you shall be established believe his Prophets and you shall prosper 2 Chron. 20. 20. Are corruptions high apply that word He will turn again he will have compassion upon us he will subdue our iniquities Mic. 7. 19. Sin shall have no dominion over you for you are not under the Law but under grace Rom. 6. 14. Who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity Titus 2. 14. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the Devil Joh. 3. 8. I will save her that halteth Zeph. 3. 19. When thou seest nothing but witherings and dyings in thy soul apply these promises So wilt thou recover me and make me to live Isa 38. 16. The righteous shall flourish like the Palm-tree he shall grow like the Cedars of Lebanon Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the Courts of our God thy shall still bring forth fruit in old age they shall be fat and flourishing Psal 92. 11 12 13 14. I will be as the dew to Israel he shall grow as the Lilly and cast forth his roots as Lebanon they that dwell under his shadow shall return and shall revive as the corn Hos 14. 5 6 7. They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength Isa 40. 31. In these and such like promises as in wagons sent of purpose to fetch you go over to your Joseph and get them laden with the riches of his Kingdom that you may be relieved and carried on in your Trading for Heaven improving these not as yours but as your Lord's goods That 's the first Trade upon Christ's Stock Secondly Follow his instructions be guided by his order in the management of your Heavenly Trade Take Letters of Advice from your Creditour how to lay out his moneys and how to dispose of his goods Prov. 3. 5. Lean not to your own understanding which is the most close and subtil kind of Idolatry saith Cartwright Seek not after your own heart and your own eyes after which ye use to go a whoring Numb 15. 39. Man is mightily propense since his first defection from God to take the Scepter into his own hand and to become the governour of his own waies But this God cannot bear as being inconsistent with his Supremacy and that State also into which man is by grace redeemed which is an absolute devotedness unto God 2 Cor. 8. 5. Ye have likewise chosen the Lord to be your Law-giver and King if you are his and are now upon your own consent determinable by his pleasure in every thing you do The rectitude of every action lies in a conformity to his will who is your Lord and Soveraign And as the eyes of a Handmaid wait on her Mistress so should Believers on Christ for direction in all they do Psal 122. 3. Christians your former irregularities in the prosecution of your Heavenly Trade have almost lost you and cast you back O be more observant of Divine Instructions for the future follow your advice walk by Rule As you have received how you ought to walk and to please God so abound more and more 1 Thes 4. 1. Beg Wisdom of God to know his Will in every thing to do that which is well-pleasing in his
sight having a warrant for every action you perform both civil and religious this will be your comfort now and your peace in the day of your accounts Thirdly Drive on his interest not your own Rom. 14. 7. For none of us liveth to himself God can more justly say what Laban did to Jacob concerning his children and goods These daughters are my daughters and these children are my children and these cattel are my cattel and all that thou seest is mine Gen. 31. 43. The cattel on a thousand hills are his Psal 50. 10. with the corn wine wooll and flax Hos 2. 9. Both the improvement as well as principal are his Mat. 25. 27. He hath right to the exercise and fruit of your graces and duties with all that you enjoy and do Put Christ's mark on all your goods whatever you gain by his talents put on his account and let your disbursments be expended to his use Seek not your own things your credit peace comfort interest but in subordination to him If the Lord by his Word calls for any of your enjoyments you must let them go If by his Providence he takes off any comfort murmure not say 't is the Lord Let him do what he will with his own Mat. 20. verse 15. Advice 5. Fifthly Follow your Trade better than you have done remember how former carelesness formality sloth hypocrisie have undone you and amend The slothful soul is as the door on his hinges Prov. 26. 14. that never makes any progress in Religion or comes to any excellency in grace No Christian saith Mr. Sedgwick is so able in the habits of grace as he who is conscienciously frequent in the practice or exercise of grace Christ's Counsel to his languishing Church Would you recover your state and come to any eminency in godliness then make Religion your business That sleightiness of spirit in the way of God which lost you at first will never restore you The recovery of a faint soul saith the same Author will never be effected by faint workings You did fall into your decayed state by remissive actings and think you that which was not able to keep up your graces from sinking can now quicken and raise them being sunk Christ's Counsel to his languishing Church p. 148. If negligence did cast you back diligence must help to recover you Take more pains with your hearts follow your work of godliness every day and in every place Be early and late in your shops of duty and in the warehouse of your hearts Beware of spiritual sloth and soul-losses take heed of unfaithfulness with God conscience or others keep touch with your Creditour be tender of your vows to God and men keep from prodigality live not above your condition waste not precious time parts and grace in vain walk strictly in the whole course of your life keeping your selves from iniquity and in the Love of God Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ Jude v. 21. Tit. 2. 13. 5th Branch of Exhortation to good Traders in Religion Lastly You whoever you are that drive on this Heavenly Merchandise and have any good Trading in Religion be you exhorted Advice 1. First To bless God for good trading Is it well with your souls Doth the South-wind blow upon your Garden and the Spices flow out Cant. 4. 16. Doth the Fig-tree put forth her green Figs and the Vine with the tender Grape give a good smell Cant. 2. 13. What reason have you then to be always giving thanks you whose trading turns to any spiritual advantage thou canst say 'T is good to draw nigh to God in keeping his commands is great reward The Lord is not a barren wilderness to thy soul but peace is within thy Walls and prosperity within thy Palaces Psal 122. 7. Thy glory is fresh in thee and thy bow renewed in thy hand thy root spreadeth out by the waters and the dew lying all night between thy branches Job 29. 19 His ways are pleasantness and his steps drop fatness to thy soul and he commands his blessing upon thee and thy faith and love do grow Is it thus in any measure with thee O then bless the Lord with thy soul let all that is within thee bless his holy Name Make the Lord thy glory and triumphing praise Thou hast abundant reason to be admiring grace and exalting divine glory Because First Soul-thriving is a great mercy at all times a little spiritual goods is beyond all the World's treasure one piece of Christ's tried Gold weighs down all the Pearls and Diamonds on earth and whatever can be found below grace cannot be compar'd with it Job 28. 11 12 16. or named the same day with it The light of God's countenance pardon of sin participation of the spirit fulfilling of Promises fellowship with the Father Son and Spirit heart-breathings after love to and delight in God are things of inestimable worth if you weigh them in themselves or with other things or if you consider the grace from whence they come or price which they cost Spiritual thrivings are an evidence of sincere love to God Judg. 5. 31. Let them that love thy Name be as the Sun that goeth forth in his might and of special love in God to that soul Tit. 3. 4 6. Eph. 1. 3 5 7. God may prosper in the World those he hates Esau had his fat things here but grace and peace are new-covenant-blessings which spring from eternal love in the heart of God to that soul Heb. 8. 10. Zech. 8. 11 12 15. Secondly 'T is a singular mercy at this time a mercy that few enjoy in the day we live in What a rare thing is it in this long winter to see a green Olive a tender Grape appear or Pomgranate bud Cant. 7. 6. or one Berry in the uppermost branch Isa 24. 13. It was a peculiar glory put upon the head of Thyatira that she was thriving when other Churches were decaying She had works and works and the last were more than the first Rev. 2. 19. Ephesus had lost her first love Sardis had decayed and wasted her first strength and was ready to die Laodicea was luke-warm ready to be spued out by the Lord Jesus Rev. 3. 1 8 16. only Thyatira flourished exceedingly and grew in the winter and this honour she had to have it recorded by the Spirit for a monument in after-ages 'T is not the lot of every one to thrive in evil times few Thessalonians whose faith and love did grow 2 Thes 1. 3. A single Timothy who had flourishing affections to the things of Christ I have no man like minded Phil. 2. 20. One Gaius whose soul out-prospered his body 3 Ep. Joh. v. 2. A flourishing Christian this day is like a flower in winter an Apple-tree amongst the trees of the wood Surely if there be a Soul who this day flourishes to any heighth of Christianity who lives in intimacy with
when you meet with company what goods do you put off to them Do you labour in every society to vend something of heavenly wares to put off some holy counsel and instruction some gracious experience and observation to leave something behind you in every place and company you come that may fasten a savour of God on them then is it good Trading and you are in a soul-thriving way Thirdly Men count it good Trading when they are richer in stock when they have more goods more variety greater quantity of wares than first they had and that clear too and paid for their shops and warehouses are fuller than they were and the goods their own also this men reckon good Trading And can you say 't is thus with your souls also Are you increased with spiritual goods your graces are more as well as gifts your faith love hope fear are more grown and stronger than they were 2 Thes 1. 3. Can you trust God more than you could and hang upon a naked promise more strongly than you could when sight fails 2 Cor. 5. 7. Can you think well of God when he frowns upon you Can you love him when he corrects you Isa 39. 8 Can you stay on him when he strips you of your visible comforts and cleave to him when he seems to reject you Job 13. v. 15. Then are you richer in stock Is your Faith more cleansing and quickening your Love more warming your Zeal more fervent your Hope more adventurous your Patience more bearing your Joy more delighting your Humility more self-abasing then are you encreased with goods Have you more of every grace it may be at first you had much affection but little sincerity great desires but little faith much comfort but little patience and self-denial you could pray talk rejoyce do some duties but could not bear trials want comforts live by faith when sight failed you were much it may be in some duties but negligent in others but now you have more variety of graces enlargement in duties and more universal respect to all God's commands Psal 119. 6. And if you are less in the bulk of duty you are more in the spirit of it when 't is thus there 's a thriving Trade in Christianity Fourthly Are you less in debt than you were that 's another sign of good Trading Do you make conscience of rendring to God again for all his benefits Psal 116. 12 13. Is it your trouble when you are behind-hand with grace and fall in arreer to the mercy of God by your unthankfulness Dan. 9. 10. Indeed in compensation of the grace of God you are defective to make requitals of mercies you cannot you see possibly an infinite shortness in your performances of the meanest favour that the Lord bestows upon you but such as you have you give to the Lord you render all possible praises though not all praises due Exod. 15. 2. This you are careful of and charge upon your hearts every day to walk as becometh the grace that brings salvation and the mercies bestowed on you 't is the desire of your heart and labour to walk worthy of God to all well-pleasing and to answer the end of mercy in which you are willing beyond your ability and grieve at your falling short herein Now this doth the Lord count for the deed and accept at his peoples hands as full pay through the satisfaction of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 8. 12. And where 't is thus that persons live in the daily sense of Divine Grace and grateful acknowledgment of every mercy there is a thriving Trade in spirituals Fifthly Have you much owed you and is it secure This also bespeaks a thriving Trade Men count sure debts as good as ready money though they have little in bags yet if they have the more in book and good debt too they rate themselves accordingly and reckon themselves worth so much as is due as well as to what is in hand And is it so with you Christians are you rich in promises is much coming to you upon a new-covenant score It may be you have little in hand little comfort peace and sweetness you meet with from day to day You sow much but reap little you ask but have not and yet seek with your whole heart Goods are received but no money returned if so you have good grounds of hope for a plentiful harvest because you sow store of good seed are much in holy duties and sincere in them many a prayer upon the file many a tear droped into God's bottle much grace laid out in duty and time spent in it a daily care to please God and upon Scripture-grounds can lay claim to many a promise on the account of Christ What you sow you shall reap Gal. 6. 8. Your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord 2 Cor. 15. v. 58. Say unto the righteous it shall be well with them for they shall eat the fruit of their doings Isa 3. 10. And the less is received the more is behind Improvements of grace do book down many a mercy for Believers which possibly they may not receive all their life and yet be sure and turns to account in the Inheritance prepared for them and this is good Trading which brings in bonds and bills that are sure and shall be paid to Heavenly Traders in their own Countrey Sixthly That 's good Trading where the present incomes maintain the Trader and so much is got by it as they may live by when a person can live comfortably upon his gettings without impairing the stock If it be so with the Believer in thy Heavenly Trade then hast thou good Trading Try Christians your thriving by your livelihood can you live comfortably upon the fruits of Religion Cant. 2. 3. Isa 40. 31. doth your Religion maintain your Souls and Graces well Joh. 4. 30. at what rate do you live Men that thrive in the world usually live well have good fare and good cloathing Diet Apparel Expences do soon shew mens gettings Indeed Prodigals may spend high live well for a time but then they cannot hold it they soon break but when men can bear liberal expences and their Estates not impaired it argues such do thrive apace and get well in their Trades so 't is with thriving Christians they ordinarily live at a higher rate of peace and comfort than others Ps 119. 165. Ps 80. 19. their fare is better unless the health of their Souls do sometimes call to fasting and affliction strong Christians overcoming Souls have better Provisions promis'd them than others such feed on hidden Manna Rev. 2. 17. and marrowy bits milk is for babes but strong meat for strong men Prov. 21. 15. 'T is joy to the just to do judgment Joy and Pleasure saith Mercer is the fruit of wel-doing to such h Laetitia obvenit ci ex juste factis suis Such can expend more than others who have larger proportion of Blessings on their Souls A person
may be truly gracious and yet live uncomfortably in his Soul and in the wayes of God but he that thrives in Godliness hath larger incomes of sweetness and peace and makes many a merry meal on the review of his integrity and the grace of God in and towards him Psal 112. 2. Seventhly Layings up as well as layings out bespeaks good Trading when men fill their bags and enlarge their possessions turn Purchasers and begin to join house to house and field to field then they manifestly shew their thrivings So when Souls thrive in their Heavenly Trade they begin to lay up for Heaven and to be preparing for another world they lay up Treasure in Heaven Mat. 6. 21. get bags that wax not old weak Christians are all for their comforts here how they may maintain their peace and pleasure in the way but strong Christians thriving Souls they have their thoughts upon their journeys end and to make provisions for their future state Bread and Water contents them here Gen. 28. 20. a little spending Money in the way to help them home is all they indent for But their chiefest care is to lay up for Heaven When shall I provide for mine own house saith Jacob Gen. 30. 30 So the thriving Christian is thoughtful about his house in Heaven to make all the provisions he can for that he will lay up in store a good foundation to lay hold on eternal life 1 Tim. 6. 19. he is for securing all he can for Heaven and for such works as will follow him he will turn all he may into moveables that he may transmit them into his Countrey The interests of this world are stak'd down to the earth and cannot be removed but thriving Christians are for such goods as they can knock up and carry with them to their own home They strive to pray hear think speak do suffer and all for eternity their affections are gone before to Heaven while their bodies are imprison'd in the World As 't is said of the Athenians when besieged by Sylla their hearts were with him without the walls whiles their bodies were forc'd to serve within a Animos extra moenia corpora necessitati servientes intra muros habuerint Paterc So 't is with enriched Christians the World is a Prison to them a strange Countrey where they have been sent to trade and when they have fill'd their sacks and got all they can they long to depart into their own Countrey By these things Christians may you know what kind of Trade you drive for Heaven and what share you have in this great engagement to thanksgiving Object All this makes against me and confirms my just fears that I am a stranger to spiritual thrivings I now see 't is a pittiful Trade I drive in godliness I profess hear pray perform duties enjoy priviledges but am never the better O how may I write lost labour on all my performances I need no greater proof than these evidences nor other judge than my own conscience to convince my languishing soul of daily wastes and poverty in my heavenly Trade What shall I do to get my case mended and once attain to true thrivings in this holy Calling Sol. There are four things which usually make men thriving in their earthly Trades which do also contribute to prosperity in this heavenly Merchandise 1 A provident care 2 A diligent hand 3 A secret trade 4 A divine blessing First Men that are thriving in the World are provident and careful to prevent their dangers to secure their interests and proportion means to their advantage And so must Christians that think ever to flourish in godliness what losses and miscarriages in Religion might a provident care prevent were temptations way-laid and corruptions timely guarded against souls might escape many surprisals of sin and abatements in grace Never think to prosper in holiness till you are provident to prevent its weaknings and contribute all you may towards its strength and enlargement One enjoys a good frame of soul much peace and joy in believing and for want of watchfulness loseth all again Another hath got a little power over his corruptions for a time and for want of a provident care to avoid ensnaring occasions is overcome again Another hath a choice advantage put into his hand for spiritual good but not exercising a timely care and preparation to improve it miscarries in all his hopes and labours and by these changes and interruptions their spiritual welfare is impeded Go learn of the Ant she provideth her meat in Summer Prov. 6. 6 8. Be wise as Serpents they decline danger as soon as seen and guard their noblest part though with the hazard of their All Matth. 19. 16. Walk circumspectly as wise Eph. 5. 15. O how happy might Christians be were they as provident for their souls as they are for their bodies and did exercise their reason care and fore-sight to further their spiritual interests and without this provident care never think to prosper in this heavenly Merchandise Take heed of grace-wasting sins of any secret lust allowed or sweet morsel rouled under your tongue that will prove a moth in your spiritual estate and keep you low in your heavenly interests Souls under some perplexing lust are like Israel under the prevailing hand of Midian against them Judg. 6. 3 4 6. When Israel had sown the Midianites came up and the Amalekites and the children of the East and they encamped against them and destroyed the encrease of the earth and left no sustenance for Israel neither Sheep nor Ox nor Ass and Israel was greatly impoverished So 't is with such no sooner have they got any mercy frame experience hope or soul-advantage but presently a prevailing lust riseth up and destroys all Cry unto the Lord as Israel did until he deliver you from every iniquity make no peace with any corruption never let it rest till wholly destroyed if you think to prosper in your souls and conversations Be provident also to take all advantages for godliness watching your opportunities for every duty keeping every soul-market and fair and taking the best season to lay out grace and get in profit Prov. 8. 34. Be careful to get some good from every thing and to keep and save what you have and this will tend to soul-thriving Acts 2. 46. Secondly A diligent hand tends to thriving men that prosper in the World take pains and follow their employments rising early sitting up late neglecting no business that may help on to profiting So must you that intend to thrive in Religion you must make it your business you must be labourers in God's Vineyard Joh. 6. 27. and workmen indeed that need not be ashamed 2 Tim. 2. 15. Christians for the most part are too slothful in their spiritual business to have their profiting appear it will cost you more striving to enter into the strait-gate and get ground in the narrow way that leads to life more blows must pass
me from evil that it may not grieve me and God granted him that he requested Prayer brings down the Spirit sometimes insensible and almost intolerable measures thereof When that precious Servant of the Lord Mr. Bruce in Scotland of whom King James said he was worthy of the half of his Kingdom had sadly represented the Churches case then under eminent danger there was such a sensible down-pouring of the Spirit that they could hardly contain themselves yea an unusual motion on those who were in other parts of the house not knowing the cause of it at that time O what great things did Abraham Jacob Moses Jehoshaphat Samuel Elijah and other Servants of God get out of the hand of God! Luther was a mighty man in Prayer 't is said of him he could get of God what he would n Ille vir potuit quod voluit nothing is too hard for Faith and Prayer because it seeks nothing but what God is willing to spare and hath promised to give Labour to get a mighty Spirit of Prayer the gift of Prayer will not do it must be the Spirit of Prayer which is a pure and heart-cleansing Spirit and cannot dwell with the least regarded Sin Gifts of Prayer with natural affections may be mighty on the Spirits of men but are no way prevailing with God for the Blessing 'T is said of Naaman He was a mighty man in valour but he was a leper 2 Kings 5. 1. So there are some that seem mighty men in Prayer and can wonderfully raife the affections of others pray like Angels but all the while are Lepers under the ruling power of some secret lust pride passion covetousnness uncleanness and the like which they hide vnder their tongue but such are far from this mighty power of prayer which brings down the Spirit on their own hearts or others Ah Christians if you would prosper in grace get and improve the Spirit of Grace and Supplication Thirdly Another thriving way is to engage God with you in all your undertakings 'T was this made Joseph so prosperous in all he did God was with him Gen. 39. 23. Because the Lord was with him and that which he did he made it to prosper 2 Sam. 5. 10. And David went on and grew great and the Lord God of Hosts was with him 'T was not his wisdom valour nor any means he used but the gracious presence of God with him that made him to grow so great This made Solomon to prosper 2 Chron. 22. 11. Now my Son the Lord be with thee and prosper thee When persons lose the gracious presence of God they soon find an alteration and begin to wither and decay in their soul-comforts and prosperity Thou did'st hide thy face and I was troubled Psal 30. 6. Troubled like a withered flower that loseth sap and vigour Mr. Leigh Jonah soon found a change in his soul it ceased to be with him as before when once he fled from the presence of God He never had a good day after he lost the presence of God but storms tempests shipwrack of peace safety and prosperity and a casting into the deeps of distress and ruining dangers Jonah 1. 3 10. Ah Christians as you love your souls and your spiritual welfare take heed of losing God's gracious presence whose company soever you lose keep the Lord's presence with you abide with him and he will abide with you 2 Chron. 15. 2. The Lord is with you while you be with him and if you seek him he will be found of you Put away the unclean thing and he will dwell in you and walk in you 2 Cor. 6. 16. Love him and keep his commandments and he will take up his abode with you Joh. 14. 23. Content not your selves with any priviledg except you have God with you If thy presence go not with us carry us not up hence Exod. 33. 15. I protest saith Mr. Bruce when wrestling for the presence of God with him in his going to preach I will not go except thou go with me Fourthly Follow the counsel of God if you would thrive in the work and way of God Josh 1. 8. This Book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth but thou shalt meditate therein day and night that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous and then thou shalt have good success Jer. 38. 20. Obey I beseech thee the voice of the Lord which I speak unto thee so it shall be well unto thee and thy soul shall live One cause why men prosper no more in Religion is that little conscience they make of doing the will of God men hear but forget the word others know their Lord's will but prepare not themselves to do it We live in an age of notions not of motion after God like men that see Countries in a Map but care not to travel into them bare knowledg pleaseth most Mens zeal after truth is like Absalom's love to his Father David only to see him not to serve him 2 Sam. 14. 32. Let me see the King's face which he no sooner did but conspired against him So most care for no more than to behold truth not to dwell with it and hence 't is that prosperity is such a stranger to them 'T was not directions could heal Naaman of his leprosy but obedience he was never the better till he followed the Prophet's counsel and washed in Jordan that which made the ground rain'd upon to be nigh to cursing was not bringing forth fruit meet for them by whom 't was dressed Heb. 6. 8. Do not only seek after but walk after the truth if you think to prosper in Religion Jam. 1. 25. The doers of the word shall be blessed in their deed Object 'T is the desire of my soul to live in the exercise of every grace and discharge of every duty and some weak endeavours I have had though too too short with many cries for this soul-prosperity but cannot yet attain unto it Methinks I am like a wither'd arm a dry tree and barren womb nothing doth me good no food seed or showers make me thriving and fruitful I fear I shall be at last cut down and bundled for the fire Sol. First Thou mayest thrive in Religion and not know it for a season thy profiting may be though not appear The Tradesman may bring home gain in his purse though untold men know not their gettings till they cast up their accounts thy prosperity may be as a casked Jewel and friend under disguise If you would estimate your advantage survey your selves compare your present with your former state what were you what are you speak out soul was there not a time when thou wert blind thou could'st see no evil in sin nor excellency in grace but now thy eye is opened and things appear otherwise to thy soul than they did Now there is nothing so vile as thy wicked
for Heaven the greater regard you have from God the more of his presence is with you his delight in you and blessing upon you the Spouses growth and fruitfulness was much taking upon the heart of Christ How fair and how pleasant art thou O Love for delights Cant. 7. 6 7. This thy stature is like to a Palm-tree and thy breasts to clusters of grapes The Palm-tree is an emblem of growth and fruitfulness the more it is opprest the more it grows and no tree more fruitful 't is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 alway having leaves Naturalists say 't is never without leaves and fruit when some fruit is ripe as Pliny tells us other fruit is growing It hath leaves in the highest branches wherever the sweet sap comes saith Alsted 'T is a tree that 's exceeding profitable some reckon three hundred and sixty advantages that this Palm-tree yields o In fructuum jam maturorum locum alii fructus eodem in loco eadem parte statim succedunt Plin. and hence the Egyptians make it a symbole of the solar year which consists of three hundred sixty five daies and its fruit is wonderfully restorative and nourishing repairing the decayed strength and radical moisture of man's body Alsted Theol. Nat. and therefore a fit metaphor to express the Church's fruitfulness in which the Lord Jesus takes such great delight he gets up early to the Vineyard to see if the Vine flourish whether the tender grape appear and the Pomegranate bud forth Cant. 7. 12. So delightful is the view of a flourishing people unto Christ The more you thrive in grace the more will you have of Christ's company and that 's honourable Eighthly The greater Trade you drive for Heaven the more useful you are while on Earth the larger capacities you have to do good to others and to serve your generation which is a blessed thing 'T is more blessed to give than to receive Acts 20. 35. 1 Tim. 6. 17 18. Charge them that are rich in this world that they do good that they be rich in good works that they be ready to distribute willing to communicate The richer you are in grace the more able you are to do good and not only able but the more willing also The reason Christians have no more heart to do good and to communicate is their soul-poverty they are not rich in grace they have but little spiritual Treasure little grace to communicate their hands are shut because their hearts are empty but the more divine treasure you have the more ready will you be to do good and to lay out both your outward and inward riches O how useful may rich men be in the places where they live if God give them hearts to do it and how helpful may such be in this day of soul-wants who are encreased with spiritual goods there are many impoverished souls this day who are ready to perish for want of light peace and comfort perplexed with doubts darkness and distressing fears and have none to help them O how refreshing in such a day of soul-exigences would it be to have some rich neighbours among them some prosperous Jobs Who with-hold not the poor from their desire nor cause the eyes of the Widow to fail Job 31. 16 17 19. Who would draw forth their soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul Isa 58. 10. Who could not eat their morsel alone or see the poor to perish for want of clothing To be eyes to the blind and feet to the lame Job 29. 15. To speak a word in season to him that is weary and to comfort others with the same comforts they have received of God Christians make haste to be rich in grace that ye may be rich in good works that ye may cast in much into the Lord's treasury Mark 12. 41. and out of your abundance cast into the offerings of God Luke 21. 4. Then should the blessing of the poor that was ready to perish come upon you Job 29. 13. and the fruit of well-doing be your savoury meat on which the Lord would daily feed you Ninthly The greater Trade you drive for Heaven now the greater will your estate in Heaven be hereafter 2 Tim. 4. 8. Henceforth is laid up for me a Crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous Judge will give me at that day and not to me only but to all that love his appearing To me who have run my race finish'd my course and kept the faith To me who have wrought hard in the Vineyard and traded diligently for Heaven in the World For me yea for all such as enlarge their heavenly Trade is laid up 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Parents do Portions for their children saith Zanchy a Crown of righteousness glory sutable to their improvements of grace called a Crown to note its excellency and of righteousness to note its equity It shall bear a proportion to all that grace labours and faithfulness that is in Saints and infinitely beyond it A far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory 2 Cor. 4. 17. God will not leave out the least item of the Saints right in the great day of righteousness A cup of cold water a little meal to the Prophet Elisha a mite in the treasury a desire to build God's house all shall be remembred in that day Mercy gives the Crown but Justice fits it for the overcomer's head God crowns saith Beda p Dona sua coronat non merita tua Donavit haec tempore misericordiae coronabit illa tempore judicii Beda in loc his own gifts not thy merits He first gives grace in the time of mercy and then crowns it in the day of Judgment And is not this argument enough yea constraint on an ingenious heart to labour after the greatest latitude of holiness Is not Heaven enough to requite all thy duties and hardships on earth What 's enough saith one if Rome be counted little q Quid fatis est si Roma parum So what can be counted great if Heaven be small and not price enough for all thy holy strivings and utmost progress in the way of life O attend your proficiency in this heavenly Trade your hearts and hands can never be too deep in the concerns of this upper World in this you can never be too covetous 1 Cor. 12. 31. Covet earnestly the best gifts r 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 modis omnibus studio precibus consequi annitimini Take heed of putting stands and limits to your holiness the course of all unsanctified souls In this only is it lawful to remove the ancient bounds and enlarge your spiritual inheritance as far as possible Reaching forth to the things that are before and pressing forward to the mark for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus Phil. 3. 13 14. Nothing undoes Professors like to stinting their measures of holiness and contenting themselves with present attainments if they can get to
such a pitch of light grace and comfort as will secure their salvation and present welfare they sit down and go no further this makes formalists and starvelings in Religion Speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward Exod. 14. 15. is God's charge on his people in their passage to the heavenly Canaan Be adding to your faith vertue c 1 Pet. 1. 5. The greatest skill in this holy Arithmetick lies in Addition and Multiplication Be still enlarging your store get in more choice of heavenly wares greater quantities and more costly goods and be putting off more and more goods as you have opportunity seeing great is not only your present advantage but your reward in Heaven also Mat. 5. 12. Advice 3. Thirdly You that have good times for trading now make provision for bad times Lay in for changes be not like the Grashopper that spends her All in Summer and when the Winter comes starves Every Summer hath its Winter North-winds have their season to blow on Christ's Garden as well as the South Cant. 4. 16. Good and evil have their turns with Christians in this life 'T is only the Diveses that have their good things in this life here have the Saints no continuing City Heb. 13. 4. Created comforts whether spiritual or carnal have their shakings and removes Heb. 12. 27. And this word yet once more signifies the removing of those things that are shaken as of things that are made that those things which cannot be shaken may remain The life of Believers is made up of vicissitudes with Naomi now full then empty Ruth 1. 21. like Ships in their passage to their Port now they have calms then storms none but wicked and they not always neither are exempted from their changes in this life Psal 55. 19. 'T was an error in David's apprehensions which he soon saw to his cost that his mountain was made so strong it should not be moved Psal 30. 6. I said in my prosperity I shall never be moved Lord by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong thou did'st hide thy face and I was troubled Prosperity and affliction have their different saies and thoughts think of thy most promising state here though this be a beautiful structure yet 't is but a tabernacle Sin puts wheels on every condition below and makes them moveable What that Ambassador said to the Romans who boasted of the heighth and strength of their Walls they were not so high but sin could bring them down may be said of the most flourishing condition of Saints in this World Is thy store full now a spending time may come Dionysius the second had four hundred Ships an Army of one hundred thousand foot nine thousand horse and the richest Magazine of any Prince and yet lived to lose all Christians have their spending as well as getting times and should lay in for times of need There are four special seasons when gracious souls will have need of all their store to relieve them Times of Temptation Times of Desertion Times of Affliction And The time of Death First Times of Temptation are spending times and call for great succours to be laid in against such seasons First Because such times are certain to Believers they will come Psal 11. 5. The Lord tryeth the righteous There 's never a gracious soul but some time or other the Lord trieth it either immediately by his Spirit or mediately by afflictions or temptations from men or devils The Apostle tells us every man is tempted James 1. 14. But every man is tempted when he is drawn aside of his own lust and enticed The best of men saith one are tempted and that when they are at the best Capell of Temptation Adam in Paradise Gen. 3. 6. Solomon after God had twice appeared to him 1 King 11. 9. Job after the evidences of his uprightness before God and religious duties Job 1. 1 5. Peter after he had made a confession of Christ and entered into covenant never to be offended at him Mat. 26. 33. Yea Christ himself after his Baptism and the Spirit 's resting on him as a Dove and the Father's owning of him by an audible voice from Heaven Matth. 3. 17. chap. 4. 1. He saith the former Author that thinks he is so good that he ought not to be tempted and so strong that he need not fear to be tempted hath need of a temptation that by experience in himself he might prove what he ought to have found in the Word that of our selves we have no strength Capell Four things make temptations unavoidable to gracious souls 1 God's good Pleasure 2 Satan's Rage 3 The Saints Corruptions 4 And their Profit First 'T is God's good Pleasure to have them tryed The fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is 1 Cor. 3. 13. whether it will bear the fire or no hereby the excellency of his work the greatness of his power appears in the enduring graces of the Saints and their standing after all By this the Lord will confute the slanders of men and devils who are still charging his people with hypocrisie and falling away when tryal comes Doth Job fear God for naught Job 1. 9. Put forth thine hand now and touch his bone and flesh and he will curse thee to thy face Job 2. 5. This is the usual calumny of the Saints enemies to confute which and prove them lyars doth the Lord suffer his people to be tempted 'T is his will and purpose that all his people should be tryed and therefore 't is unavoidable Secondly Such is Satan's Rage he cannot alwaies keep his fingers from them if he lets them alone 't is but for a season Luke 4. 13. When the Devil had ended all the temptations he departed from him for a season Is Satan busie then his work is not done hast thou any rest 't is because his tempting-time is not come he is a roaring Lion and cannot rest from seeking to devour though he forbears attempting to devour for a season when it makes to his greater advantage Never expect freedom from temptation till Satan's chain be shortened or thy remove without his reach obtained Rev. 20. 2 3. Thirdly The Saints corruptions expose them to temptations Where the carkass is there the Eagles resort Mat. 24. 28. While the Saints have gall'd backs they can expect no freedom from flies If Sampson be bound the Philistines will be upon him The cause of those sins is in us whereof the occasion is from Satan Capell Till the fire of Hell be out in the Saints the Devil will not lay down his bellows where there is no sin there is no matter for temptation to work on as where there is no morbid matter there contagion cannot so easily fasten corruption keeps open the door for Satan never look for silence from Satan till you find cessation from sin Fourthly The profit and good of gracious souls do necessitate it By this means they come
to see their own vileness were it not for temptation they could not see the greatness of their corruption David Solomon Hezekiah Peter did not think their hearts were so abominable till left to temptation which stirs the mud and brings up the bottom to the top and this helps to abase them and make them more vile in their own eyes By this also they see their own weakness and their need of Christ and are more effectually brought out of themselves to the Lord Jesus for succour and victory And by temptations from Satan they come to be acquainted with his devices 2 Cor. 2. 11. and more skill'd in his wiles and stratagems no small advantage to one that is in a state of warfare with him This way also doth the Lord winnow his Saints and by these high winds fan and cleanse them Luke 22. 31. Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat and brings them to more conformity to their head and to greater establishment in grace which are glorious advantages to Believers promised in the New Covenant and this way accomplish'd which makes temptations necessary to Wisdom's Merchants and renders it their great concern to lay in provision against them Secondly As temptations are certain and will come so they are shaking when they come they are part of that rain flood and wind which did beat vehemently on the sandy building that it fell Mat. 7. 27. Luke 6. 49. Temptations are part of the Devil's Artillery his fiery darts and cruel buffettings which none can bear without the whole Armour of God upon him and then too all they can do is but to stand Ephes 6. v. 13 16. They are so potent and prevailing as that none but such as are in Christ can stand their ground under them And in time of temptation fall away Luke 8. 13. Receive the Word with joy seem to love God and delight in his waies for a season till temptations come to the purpose and then fall away There are some temptations are more easie to be born but when Satan sets on a soul with all his might there 's no standing without divine succour and the Lord 's opening a way to escape Temptation is reckoned amongst the sorest afflictions that the Saints do undergo 1 Cor. 10. 13. Heb. 2. 18. Heb 11. 37. They were stoned they were sawn asunder they were tempted they were slain with the sword No suffering like temptations for they draw the soul to sin which is more cruel than death to a soul that loves Christ O Christians what need have you then to be laying in for an hour of temptation seeing it will surely come and seeing it will be so terrible when it comes Get your selves well furnish'd with wisdom that you may know Satan's devices that you may be able to distinguish between temptation and corruption and able to answer the Objections and subtle reasonings of Satan you must have experience also to encourage your hope and strengthen your patience that instances of former relief in the like cases may lift up your head and strengthen your expectations in new Tryals also You must lay in store of faith to guard your hearts and shield your heads from the fiery darts of Satan you must get your integrity cleared and the uprightness of your heart and way evidenced that 's of great use also to bear up your Spirit under all his charges against you Make much of every breathing of his Spirit in you and take care you quench not any of his motions God saith one doth often leave us to own Satan's suggestions for our own because we do not own God in his holy motions and breathings And have good evidences of your interest in Christ and assurance of his love to you and assured help in the time of need taking special care to have corruptions weakened and a growing mortification in your souls that so when Satan comes he may find nothing in you to fasten his temptations on This calls for your provident care to store your souls against times of Tryal Secondly Times of desertion are spending-times which will need a full stock when the Lord doth hide his face and withdraw the sense of his love and influence of his quickening presence This the Lord may do and hath done he hath left the dearly beloved of his soul gone from his habitation compass himself about with a cloud left his children in darkness as those that have been long dead 'T is just with God saith Mr. Cooper to deny us the comfort of our graces when we deny him the glory of them Isa 45. 15. Verily thou art a God that hidest thy self O God of Israel the Saviour Job 23. 8 9. Behold I go forward but he is not there and backward but cannot perceive him on the left hand where he doth work but I cannot behold him he hideth himself on the right hand that I cannot see him Isa 49. 14. But Zion said The Lord hath forsaken me my God hath forgotten me This was one of the greatest sufferings on Christ his apprehensions of his Father's forsaking him O God my God why hast thou forsaken me Mat. 27. 46. Here was a total and final desertion that our Lord Jesus came under as to his sense and the effects of it he saw nothing of the comforts of the Divine presence to the last breath of life but died in this darkness Verse 50. Jesus when he had cryed again with a loud voice that is as he had done verse 46. he gave up the Ghost and had no comfort to the last minute of life And if God hath done so to the green tree how much more may he to the dry if he forsake his natural and onely beloved Son he may surely hide himself from his Adopted Sons even to their dying hour And this is a condition full of consternation and terrour The poena damni the loss of God and all good is thought to be a far greater punishment to the damned than all the punishment of sense and torment O the dreadful apprehensions that good souls have had about God's forsaking them 'T is a Hell on Earth and the beginning of the second death to be under a real sense of God's removal from the soul O the amazing dread and consuming rerrour that Job Asaph Heman and others were fill'd with by such apprehensions of God's withdrawment from them and his wrath lying hard upon them Soul though now it be a time of light with thee the Candle of the Lord shines upon thee thou walkest in the light of his countenance lyest in his bosom and art dandled on his knee yet may the days of darkness be many and thy soul lie in the shadow of death and under real apprehensions of the Lord's departure from thee and displeasure against thee and then thou wilt find need of all the cordials light and hope imaginable O lay in sure and unquestionable satisfaction about this great case that God is
chargeable not only for violating the royal righteous law of Christ but for being guilty of subverting his Government Crown and Dignity and endeavouring in his measure the ruining his interest of hindering the conversion and edification of souls and whatever damage hereby comes to the spiritual or eternal welfare of souls it will be laid on their heads in the day of the righteous judgment of Christ Another greatly concerning duty contain'd in this Scripture is charitable communications feed the poor feed the hungry clothe the naked relieve the oppressed Bede Alapid This is to honour God with your substance not to spend it on your lusts to live high to fare deliciously to build your nests on high but to make your abundance a supply for the good of those that are in wants 2 Cor. 8. 14. Isa 58. 7. 10. Mat. 5. 42. Jam. 1. 27. Heb. 13. 16. Luke 14. 12 13. Otherwise First All your Religion is in vain James 1. v. 26 27. Your knowledge desires affections frames tasts enjoyments marks experiences seeming graces duties are all nothing and can never prove the truth of your grace the safety of your estates and goodness of your religion if you are found defective in this great duty of Charity Psal 112. 4 5. Vnto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness he is gracious and full of compassion and righteous A good man sheweth favour and lendeth Let men say what they will if they be covetous hard-hearted have no compassion to them that are in wants have no heart to give or lend to needy ones they have no true grace in them Verse 9. He hath dispersed he hath given to the poor his righteousness endureth for ever Men may talk and pray and seem to be eminent Christians profess love to God and their neighbours and yet all the while be deceived and have not a jot of grace in them while their hearts are cruel their hands shut to their poor Brethren Remember the young man in the Gospel and fear thine own estate if thy heart be glued to thy possessions How dwelleth the Love of God in him 1 Joh. 3. 17. He loves not God and God loves not him that shuts up the bowels of his compassion from his poor and afflicted Brother That 's pure Religion and undefiled before God to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction and to keep himself unspotted from the world Jam. 1. 27. Shew me thy faith by thy works Jam. 2. 18. Religion saith one is not onely contemplative but the greatest part of it like the Mathematick's bargains how will they stand for a penny in chacharity how cold are they how hard is it to screw an alms out of their hands if this be Religion the Lord keep me from such Religon This begets an odium in the men of the world against Religion and the waies of God But woe to that man by whom offences come it had been better for him that a milstone were hanged about his neck and that he were drown'd in the midst of the Sea Mat. 18. 6 7. Fourthly Acts of Charity purely done will evidence your right to glory Mat. 25. 34 35. 36. Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundations of the world for I was an hungred and ye gave me meat I was thirsty and ye gave me drink I was a stranger and ye took me in naked and ye cloathed me I was sick and ye visited me I was in prison and ye came to me The enquiry in that great day will not be after mens profession light frames and duties of Worship but after the fruits of their faith and love as evidential not causal of their right to glory Here is held out saith one not the b Non causa salutis sed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Testimonium credentius his verbis innuitur cause of their salvation but the sign and testimony of them that believe c. c Opera quae Christus praedicaturus est non 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sunt sed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 respectu fidei finis ejus vitae aeternae Glass The Kingdom is obtained by way of Inheritance Come inherit the Kingdom aad prepared for them as a portion for children not purchased by them as the procurements of their works The reward is freely bestowed on all interested in Adoption-grace of which title the bearing proof in that day will be the fruits of love to those that are Christ's words will not be sufficient to demonstrate this love then it will not serve mens turn to say they loved Saints except it were extended to all yea the least of Saints and proved by acts of love and communications to all their necessities and that not some small pittance of their abundance which they valued not but it must be such portions and kinds of relief which their necessities call for in visiting feeding cloathing owning comforting receiving into their houses and whatever help they were capable to express and this as readily and heartily expended to them as they would lay them out to themselves and theirs that being the rule of Charity Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self Matt. 22. 39. The want of this evidence whatever else may be pretended will finally and eternally cast souls in that last and terrible day Mat. 25. 41. to the end Do not deceive thy soul with false hopes of glory not one mark will pass for Heaven where there is a hard heart and close hands towards poor and distressed Saints For he shall have judgment without mercy that hath shewed no mercy Jam. 2. 13. There is no room for you in Divine bowels if you shut up your own bowels against them that are in misery See in that Parable Mat. 18. 33 34 35. the dreadful end of those who are any way cruel to their fellow-servants having themselves tasted the mercy of their Lord. The liberal distributions of your estates to the poor is the onely way to make them truly serviceable to your souls whiles this becomes the occasion of your reception into everlasting habitations Luke 16. 9. Make to your selves friends of the Mammon of unrighteousness that when ye fail they may receive you into everlasting habitations d Opus hoc receptionis in aeterna habitacula solius Dei est tribuitur autem pauperibus quia ipsi sententiam Christi Judicis de salvatione piorum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 approbabunt beneficentiae quae fidei fructus est testes erunt Glas The mammon or riches of this world is called the riches of unrighteousness because they are unrighteously gotten or unrighteously kept to the detriment of those that need them or unrighteously spent to the hurt of those that have them but the way to change their nature and to make them profitable is to lay them out to the poor who will receive you or witness for you in that day to prove the truth of your love by
Christian get if he did but follow his victory over his corruptions and not suffer them to recruit and gather strength again Give no rest to thy lusts nor space for reviving no not for a moment but keep up thy warfare every day Sixthly If you would further the death of sin keep up the life of grace As the life of sin weakens grace so the life of grace keeps down and weakens sin Gal. 5. 16. Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh Keep up grace and sin will down As when the house of David waxed stronger the house of Saul waxed weaker 2 Sam. 3. 1. 'T is written of Ephrem Syrus that though he was a man much given to passion in his youth yet after he entered into a strict course of life he was never seen to be angry with any man As you cannot get power over sin but by the Spirit of Grace so you cannot keep the head over sin but by the Life of Grace Get your graces strengthened and you will find your corruptions weakened Thirdly You must carry on Renovation in grace and the inward work of Sanctification every day Ephes 3. 23 24. And be renewed in the spirit of your minds And that ye put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Schol. After the work of Mortification the Apostle presses Christians to this work of Renovation or Internal Holiness be renewed in the spirit of your minds i. e. in your minds by the Holy Spirit the mind being put for the whole man and internal faculties of the soul both understanding will affections and conscience all must be renewed by the Spirit called the New Creature 2 Cor. 5. 17. or Workmanship of Christ transformed after his own Image in righteousness and true holiness and renewed in knowledge Eph. 4. 24. Col. 3. 10. When the soul is truly regenerated there is the stamp or eexmplar of Christ's holiness placed in the whole soul in truth but in weak measures at first which must be renewed or enlarged in the soul till it comes to the fulness of the measure of the stature of Christ Christians at the first change are compar'd to new born babes 2 Pet. 2. 2. weak in grace but under a natural disposition and obligations to growth and encreases in this grace of God both intensively and extensively This is a Christian's duty by divine command and comports with the appointment of God in order to it 2 Pet. 3. v. 18. 1 Pet. 2. 2. Ephes 4. 11 12 13. 'T is the way by which grace becomes glory and is greatly necessary to perfect a soul's holiness that so he might come to his full stature and conformity to Christ Ephes 4. 16. Rom. 8. 29. And by the encreases of grace may be enabled to dispatch all his duties bear his burdens and bear up under his temptations that he might be capable to enjoy all his mercies to glorifie the God of grace and to be made meet for the enjoyment of God in glory On all which accounts it becomes the Christian 's great concern to press after larger measures of grace every day to grow up into him in faith and love who is the head in all things Ephes 4. 15. To grow downward in humility and self-denial to grow extensively in every part of holiness and greater enlargements in every grace to wax stronger and stronger in the grace that is in Christ Jesus Perfecting holiness in the sight of God and pressing more and more after the price of the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus The want of which encreases of the Spirit doth much obscure the glory of Christ in Believers cloud their evidences and render them too weak for their corruptions their growing tryals and duties Christians content not your selves with the truth of grace without daily growth in grace Improve your interest in the Resurrection of Christ by believing for the dailing quickening of your hearts and raising of your affections to things above and attracting your desires and whole souls after God grace and glory Be much in internal soul-work of heart searching soul watching divine contemplation secret ejaculations and soul breathings after God and higher manifestations of his light life and love Be constant in every appointment of God publick and private of prayer reading hearing holy conference that you may get nourishment thereby administred to your souls Get under all the dews and showres of grace for your fruitfulness Be spiritual as well as frequent in exercising grace under the means of Grace without this you cannot serve God acceptably Heb. 12. 28. or receive from him who is the head nourishment to your souls but by these bands and joynts of faith and love Col. 2. 19. Formality eats out that sap which should make you green and flourishing A dead cold heart under the Word can no more digest it to nutriment than a dead body can concoct natural food Maintain hungring desires after the word of grace and appointed means to your spiritual growth 1 Pet. 2. 3. Hungring after food argues a good digestion and a sound concoction furthers nourishment Keep up warm affection to every way of God living on Christ for all the good and blessing of them Psal 84. 5. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee in whose heart are the ways of them who passing through the Valley of Baca make it a Well the rain also filleth the Pools they go from strength to strength every one in Sion appearing before God When Jehoshaphat's heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord 't is said he waxed great exceedingly 2 Chron. 17. 6. 12. Heart-enlargement in the ways of God is a notable help to soul-thrivings Take this one thing more be poor in spirit if you would be rich in grace Such are under the promise of being satisfied of being guided in judgment of encreasing their joy to such he will give grace and revivings Humble souls a Reyner Excellency of Grace saith one are empty vessels which God will fill are low plants which God will make to grow To be nothing in our own eyes is the way to receive all good things even grace in abundance from God Psal 22. 26. and 25. 9. Isa 29. 19. Prov. 3. 34. Isa 57. 15. Fourthly To keep your evidences for Heaven fair and legible is another part of your Salvation-work this will abundantly comfort you under all your tribulations quicken you to a lively dispatch of your duties give you a humble boldness in your approaches to God arm you against the fears of death and administer to you an abundant entrance into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Beware of quenching and grieving the Spirit of grace by which its sealing-work is hindered Take heed of laying blots upon your evidences by any allowed iniquity in your hearts or unpurged defilement in your hands which will weaken
your confidence in the Lord fill you with dejection and despondency of spirit and give your spiritual adversary great advantage over your souls 2 Pet. 1. 10. 1 Joh. 5. 13. 2 Cor. 1. 12. 1 Cor. 15. 58. Heb. 10. 22. Job 19. 25 26 27. 2 Pet. 1. 11. Keep up your sincerity and truth in the inner-man be often looking to the principle of your actions that it be gracious and to your ends in every thing you do that they be pure singly and ultimately aiming at God his will and glory in every duty action and undertaking If you would evidence the truth of grace you must be every day in the exercise of grace and conscionable endeavours to live up to known duties exercising a conscience void of offence towards God and man not resting in any measures of grace but going on towards perfection and aiming at greater enlargements in your souls and graces continually Thirdly Carry on all these natural moral and religious duties that concern others This is the will of God and part of your sanctification Matth. 5. 16. Let your light shine before men and by your good works glorifie your Father which is in Heaven 1 Cor. 10. 32. Walk unblamable towards all men giving no offence to any lest the Gospel be blamed Phil. 1. 10. That you may be sincere and without offence to the day of Christ 1 Pet. 2. 12. Having your conversation honest among those you have to do with dealing justly with all men rendring to every man his due doing good to all as opportunity serveth Gal. 6. 10. Psal 35. 13. and be kind to the just and unjust seeking the salvation of sinners mourning over them praying for them instructing of them seeking by a humble holy and affectionate carriage to win them over to the Lord Jesus who are not won by the word Luke 19. 41. Psal 51. 13. 2 Pet. 3. 1. Loving praying for doing good unto your greatest enemies Vertues separated saith Chrysostom are annihilated equity without goodness is severity and justice without piety cruelty 'T is better to do good than to receive good 'T was said of Mr. Hooker That he was born for the good of many but few born for the good of him That you love delight in and do good to all Saints as Saints that carry the image of God on them That you make conscience of your relative duties both in your own houses and in the house of God Psal 101. 2. Walking within your own houses with a perfect heart to be Christians at home as well as abroad shewing the same spirit zeal and affection to your Families as to others doing your utmost to keep up the service of God in your houses both together and asunder morning and evening in prayer and reading the word of God Acts 10. 2. 9. Josh 24. 18. Psal 25. 10. Matth. 6. 6. That you faithfully discharge those mutual duties you owe to each other as Husband Wife Parents Children Masters Servants Eph. 5. 22. to the end of chap. 6. To be meek loving peaceable in your words and carriages towards one another giving that due respect as the place and relation calls for from each other To be holy and profitable in your discourses seeking the spiritual welfare edification and salvation of each others souls as of your own Deut. 11. 19. Prov. 22. 6. ch 23. 13. Col. 3. 12 to 16. Heb. 12. 14. Gen. 18 19. The want of which due and Christian carriages in your houses brings up an evil report on the ways of God rendreth the truth of your grace questionable hinders the gracious presence of God with you and removes his blessing from you Eph. 4. 29. Rom. 11. 14. You whom grace hath priviledged with a place and name within the walls of God's house do stand obliged to fellowship-duties of love care and faithfulness to each other considering one another to provoke to love and good works Joh. 15. 12. Heb. 10. 24. and esteem each other better than your selves To seek one anothers good as your own serving each other in love Phil. 2. 3. 1 Cor. 10. 24. 33. Gal. 5. 13. To sympathize with each other in affliction Col. 3. 12. and to be helpful to them in bearing their burdens supplying their wants comforting counselling and supporting them in all their tribulations Heb. 13. 3. visiting the sick and imprisoned feeding the hungry cloathing the naked warning the unruly admonishing the offenders bearing one anothers infirmities covering their weaknesses avoiding whatever might offend and injure each others souls or lessen their affections or break the unity of spirit and bond of peace between them but by a sweet humble-self denying and faithful carriage to engage the heart to each other praying for the whole body and every member To be gracious and spiritual in all your communion and converses seeking the prosperity of Sion rejoycing in each others graces and good as in your own doing all you may towards their comfort and salvation Mat. 25. 42. Acts 20. 35. 1 Joh. 3. 17. Rom. 15. 1. and 16. 17. Lev. 19. 10. 2 Cor. 12. 20. Col. 4. 6. Phil. 2. 17 18. Tit. 2. 12. 2 Cor. 13. 7. Psal 15. 2. Col. 3. 9. In your Callings commerce and dealings with men to be just honest and faithful doing as you would be done unto not defrauding one another but speaking the truth in all your bargainings and performing your promises though to your hurt This is a considerable part of your heavenly Trade and that wherein the credit of Religion doth eminently lye the pleasing and glorifying of God the good of others the propagation of the Gospel the peace and salvation of your own fouls even in the faithful discharge of these natural moral and religious duties you owe unto others This is the first part of heavenly work work of a heavenly nature as well as manner both with respect to God our own souls and others Secondly Another part of heavenly work is to do earthly things in an heavenly manner Though the things of the World are of a different nature from things above yet when rightly managed they are subservient to them and come within the compass of this Heavenly Trade To which three things are needful 1 To do earthly things by heavenly rules 2 With heavenly hearts 3 To heavenly ends First Then is earthly work part of your Heavenly Trade when you transact it by heavenly rules every Science hath its Maxims distinct Governments have their distinct Laws So hath every Trade its rules principles and instructions by which it is carried on Earthly Traders have their rules and methods by which they manage their businesses as may most comport with the end they propose and the advance of their own earthly interests and so 't is with heavenly Traders though they have to do with earthly things yet they must act about them by heavenly rules Now there are ten rules which heavenly Merchants must observe in the management of their earthly affairs Rule 1.