that which I see not teach thou me A gracious Soul not stung in Conscience by former miscarriage when he sails in a Storm calmly ponders that a milder Gale may breath from the South and better days may come He may as suddenly be drawn out of as cast into the pit The ratling Hailstones may be melted by a warmer Sun and a dark thundring night may end in a bright morning to cherish his vital Spirits Junge nigra candidis as Bernard Bernard Epist 78. f. 195. b. Songs 2.12 Set black by white and clouds by clear and winter by spring and remember the singing of Birds will come when bitter and deadly Gourds are in the Pot 2 K. 4.44 Elisha may come with a handful of Meal and cure both taste and danger When bitter afflictions fill a Cup to the brim cast in the fine flower of a Sanctuary offering and pardon will come and mercy will fly down with silver wings and a shining countenance from Heaven and then the ravishing sense of divine love will extinguish all discontents from earthly sorrows Nothing can be very sharp on the back of a Saint when Gods Love sweetens his heart We are as we love if worldly then earthy love and earthly losses break an earthy heart if holy and spiritual then treasures pleasures and affections all suit and center in Heaven And what affliction can make him miserable whose heart 's above it Every Saint does gradually arrive to a Masculine Heroick Angelical Spirit Be patient then Rom. 8.28 and things will work together wonderfully for the good of such as are called according to purpose When we pore upon the down-end of the Cross we are ready to faint as if it could never be pull'd up As the Romans dismayed at an inauspicious Omen when their Eagle Ensign could not be haled for a March But let 's consider the upper end reaches Heaven and the same Hand that fixed it can rear and raise it at pleasure And remember there is an appointed time for every Tryal moneths and days that it cannot pass Though the Waves toss themselves yet cannot prevail Jer. 5.22 they roar yet cannot tumble beyond the Sandy Banks oppos'd by an Omnipotent Arm. Israel came out of Egypt the self same night according to the Promise of 430 years to Abraham Exod. 12.42 Affliction is the Churches Physick and will certainly work cum summa euphoria with great success and ease Earthly Physicians often complain of Ineffectual purges but here stay a while and the Event will issue happily When affliction makes us jealous of sin it begins when sick of sin when hateful to it when holy resolutions rise against it then it works to purpose When we see the depth of Corruption in the Flouds of Affliction Rom. 5.3 't is then sanctified and the Love of God is shed abroad in the Heart Afflictions are known to be sanctified when sin begins to wither Affliction sanctified and is in part mortified The rust is filing off when persons begin to shine in meekness humility and patience and accept correction when discontented fumes are scattered and the Thorns of fretfulness are burnt up Oh how plyable and capable of gracious impressions when the Wax is melted by the fire of trouble Take heed then of being rough and furious again when danger 's over Ask Pharaoh if this be not the fruit of a proud and hard heart Again 1 Tim. 2.8 't is then sanctified when it whets prayer to lift up Holy Hands without wrathful revenge and despondent diffidence when it deadens the Spirit to worldly enjoyments and crucifies the heart to carnal vanities Gal. 6.1 When it renders us compassionate and tender-hearted forgiving and forgetting injuries remembring how ourselves were tempted when it sweetens Heaven and prepares the heart for a holy departure and while here makes us ready for service in every good work knowing that all shall end well with a Saint when every tear shall be turned in an Oriental Pearl to adorn his Crown in Glory Are such great Mercies sown in the furrows of affliction and suddenly wax green even in the winter and under cold blasts of adversity With what submission and expectation of issues should we behave our selves under the hand of a Wise and Holy Father Set Faith to work in its Heavenly Imployment of thirsting for Christ Rev. 21.6 Is 45.22 Joh. 6.35 Joh. 1.12 Songs 8.5 4 Pet. 5.7 Luk. 23.46 Heb 3.14 of looking towards him of coming to him receiving of him leaning upon him a casting the cares of our Souls into his Bosom and commending our spirits into his hands and after all in fainting times cast not away the beginning of your confidence but hope to the end Phil. 1.8 1 Cor. 1.8 1 Thâ—s 5.24 since he will perfect what is begun to the Day of Christ and confirm us to the end From reflection upon Faith if careful of Holiness in due time will rise assurance by beholding our Faces in the Glass of Promise when the Soul has been sometime nourish'd by the sincere Milk of the Word at length it may take off the Cream of Joy and Assurance 1 Joh. 3.19 which lies in perswading the Heart of the Love of God So that a sound Christian may arrive to this Heavenly Pitch by discerning the true Acts of Faith and the lively workings of it in times of troubles by the growth of the fruits of the Spirit in times of Tentation and a vigorous conflict against Sin with success and by the immediate Testimony of the Spirit of God witnessing with our Spirits that we are the Children of God Rom. 8.16 These things have I mentioned as preservatives of the Heart in the Flouds of many Waters and as preparations for sudden mercies which will season the Spirit to bear up valiantly in our present stations and qualifie for emergencies of future Joys For when the Soul sits down quietly under hatches in a present storm and buckles to it with an even frame light arises suddenly shines illustriously and beautifies the Soul with joyful and abiding Deliverance Let 's conclude this Chapter with a Memorable Story of Mr. Leverton's Escapes in his West-India Voyages contracted out of the Manuscript of my good Friend Mr. Ch. Morton which thirsts for light to shew what wonderful methods God sometimes uses in bringing out of deep and amazing distresses This Gentleman putting to Sea from the Isle of Sr. Christopher in a French Frigat commanded by Monsieur de Voe of Rochel after a fortnights sail fell under a dead calm in the vast Atlantick Ocean Victuals being almost spent they stinted each person to 8 Spoonfuls of Pease and one pint of Water in a day till at last they grew black with famine and their Backs and Bellies shrunk together Twice a day he prayed with and fed them with Spiritual Food they hung upon his Lips with greedy attention They had much Manna though no Corn and streams
testifie both thy sincerity and gratitude He that always makes conscience of secret duties and secret sins is a sound and sincere Christian A good conscience is a continual feast and makes a cheerful Christian Pr. 15.15 Pr. 15.13 Pr. 17.22 And a cheerful heart does good like a Medicine and places a man in a Paradice of peace and delight One of the most dreadful roarings in Hell will most probably flow from the neglect of the warning voice of conscience upon earth That 's the Salamander which lives in perpetual Flames and stings like a Scorpion both with head and tayl looking backward upon ill-spent life scorning the rebukes within and forward upon endless and remedyless misery What makes men so fearful here at the noise and alarm of any temporal judgment without but guilt within As Juvenal mourned over the Varlets of Rome in his days Hi sunt qui tripidant ad omnia fulgura pallem Cum tonat examines primo quoque murmure coeli At every flash of lightning they wax pale When distant thunder rumbles villains quail O happy Man that makes peace betimes with that inward Viceroy Sueton. lib. 6. c. 48. Commertar Schild before the thunderbolt overthrows the luxurious Table and strike the Cup out of his Hand as it did to Nero Obey the faithful counsel of Conscience now and he 'll prove a faithful friend at death and judgment Let him be thy present Counsellor and he 'll be thy future Comforter He that 's sound at Coar needs fear no searching Whoso hath judg'd himself already may with peace and comfort expect the judgment to come 1 Cor. 11.31 Upon sincere scrutiny of thine own Spirit thou mayest with some Holy Confidence lift up that gracious Prayer Ps 139.23 Ps 19.12 Lord search and try me and cleanse me from secret sins In the close renew holy covenants purposes and resolutions with God Col. 1.11 and in the might of his glorious power to perform If thou find thy heart thus sincerely ingaged in the Court of Conscience to condemn and arraign thy self to ponder and consider thy ways hence will arise a Fountain of unfeigned repentance under the Threshold of this Tribunal as in Ezekiels Vision hence thou mayest conclude that thy sins are pardoned and a Christian may surely know it by these Signs 1. If after deep Humiliation and serious care of Holiness the Soul find some inward relish and some lively sweetness from the Hope of Pardon 2. If he finds that the Spirit of God infuses some sweet inclinations to lay hold of the Covenant founded in Christ and closes with him on Gospel-foundations that is the meer grace and mercy of God in Christ to lost Sinners coming weary and heavy laden to his Throne That man is in the happiest condition in the whole world The consequence will shine out most illustriously when God shall heal iniquity graciously Ps 103.1 by pouring peace into the Conscience and subdue iniquity victoriously Mic. 7.19 Ps 19.12 that no sin shall have dominion over him Secret tears for secret sins are an excellent sign of an Holy Heart and a Healing Balsam for broken Spirits God well understands the Language of half words interrupted with sighs and interprets them as the Steems and breathings of a broken Heart My groaning says David Ps 38.9 Ps 69.5 Ps 69.6.20 is not hid from thee And as all our foolishness is before him to cover it so is all our heaviness to ease it and therefore shall our Souls praise and please him more than a Bullock with young Horns and Hoofs upon his Altar Bochart de animal vol. 1. col 944. Holy mourning keeps out carnal sorrow and produces spiritual Joy It stirs up the Heart of a Saint to beg preventing grace which no false heart can perform without secret reserves This inward sorrow prevents open shame God will never give up such a soul to be trampled on by spiritual Enemies who are already humbled by themselves In Saints humiliation there 's a door opened for secret hope because of the precious promises that are plighted to it and especially of preventing future Sin by strengthning grace Jam. 4.6 For as the Love of God is the Fountain of all true repentance so 't is the attractive of more incomes of divine Love to the Soul According to our Love so is our Faith and Trust in God and according to our trust such is our freedom at the Throne of Grace Trust in him Ps 62.8 and pour out your hearts before him pour them out like water in joyful tears For when the stone in the heart is melted by mercy the eyes will issue like a fountain of tears 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Good men have melting Spirits 'T is a branch of the Covenant Ezek. 36.26 and a fruit of the effusion of the Spirit of Grace It 's asserted by the Learned in Chymistry that no Menstruums are so powerful as Sulfureous and Oily Liquors to melt down the hardest Minerals To be sure there 's nothing like the Oil of Mercy so potent a Solvent for an Iron Heart A true Holy Soul takes up his time within and begs the presence and assistance of the Spirit He principally labours at inward corruptions to hack down that cursed thorn and stub it up by the Roots He judges himself for secret iniquities because God being a Spirit has a special eye upon the frame of Spirits Not the issues of the Tongue and vaunting of High Attainments is pleasing in his Sight but the Spiritual issues of a humble Heart God abhors that person who wallows in hearts defilements and much more if he has a Golden Tongue tipt with Hypocritical Eloquence The numbers of heart sins as to their kinds are many as to their acts innumerable Yet an Israelite indeed is continually bending his Bow and shooting forked Arrows into their bowels Such are inward anger pride envy revenge earthiness sloth of Spirit security unthankfulness unpreparings of heart for Holy Communion and the like I might spread forth the odiousness of some of these inward Sins and lay open the sources and springs of many outward enormities which break out into the life but shall surrender that Province to Moral Philosophy or rather the Divine Ethicks of Solomon to cure these inward corruptions and advise all Christians to beware of the first motions and conceptions of the Heart to set a guard against sudden Tentations and to startle at the first occasions to sin A gracious person may be surprized and fall suddenly among Thieves that lurk behind the Bushes Occasions Nay very holy men unless wonderful wary may be quickly tript up by sudden Questions and unexpected Emergencies Who knows the subtilty of sin and the deceitfulness of his own heart Take heed of answering quickly and send up sudden Ejaculations to Heaven before you reply to a weighty and doubtful motion Ps 106.33 Abraham fell twice in the case of Sarah Moses spake
deriving all her nocturnal beauty from the Sun Eâ—e 1.14 so must Saints shine by the comeliness of Christ And as a Gracious Husband labours to change his Spouse into his own Image and likeness by kindnesses precepts and example that he may take the more delight in her person Ps 45.10 So does our spiritual Solomon change the hew of his Egyptian Queen to deem of things and persons as her Lord and Husband judges and frames her Spirit to delight in doing his Will and Pleasure and take the highest solace in obedience to enjoy a heavenly freedom mixt mith aimiable and joyful reverence He roots out of her heart all changeable affections worldly fancies and hankering longings after the fond fashions of Shechem Gen. 34.1 and all carnal inclinations to the Daughters of Canaans Linage and all the beggerly humours of the besotted world and to pass by with a Holy scorn all the pitiful Pageantry of this perishing and fading life and rise to a mean estimate of the Baubles and trifles that inchant a carnal Heart At length she arrives to a noble and generous judgment counting all but dung and dross that she may win Christ As her Prince of life was crucified by the World for her Redemption so she begins to be crucified to it in token of conformity to him and at length becomes all glorious within She takes down the Pendants of folly Ps 45.13 and hangs all her Jewels within Her Pearls and Diamonds are the gracious Sermons and dying Prayers of her Holy Lord they hang at her ears Songs 1.13 they lye between her Breasts all night Her clothing is of the Gold of Ophir made with Needlework of divers colours Judg. 5.30 twined by the Daughters of the New Jerusalem The 12 precious Stones in the breast-plate of Aaron are upon her Heart She is Holy like him and goes about doing good with the ornament of a meek and quiet Spirit with a Crown of Carbuncles of flaming love to Christ upon her Head and thus reflecting the Glory of Christ here is preparing and fitting for fuller visions and brighter reflections of Glory hereafter Here 's nothing but noise and confusion in the dust and smoak of folly This World is like the Sea in Habakuk Hab. 1.14 where the great Fish swallow the small storms and pirats rocks and sands shipwrecks and new furprizing dangers every moment Let 's long and pack up for our best and sweetest home looking upon every secret Mercy every joyful income of the Spirit as so many earnests of glory as so many bent tokens put in hand to secure Heaven Let 's draw off and wean our affections from sublunary vanishing Vapors which perish in the very use Carnal persons in their heights have but a wordly Heaven and Saints while here in their lowest depths by the Sunshine of divine Favour have a sweet portion of Heaven here upon Earth Oh what a Heaven shall they have in Heaven it self Here though sometimes deep in the mire of affliction yet when conscience sings 't is fair above head still travelling towards Zion Since our natures are chang'd like a Cion or Graft inserted into the Vine of the Church we shall in due time be transplanted to Paradise Strengthen assurance by perseverance and both by the promises to each and mix prayer with Praises Our Harps must always sound while our Sacrifice burns on the Altar Every day adds to the treasury of evidence Like laborious Bees increase your stock from the flowers of Scripture and the Honey of Assurance will sweeten every Prayer and cheer persevering grace and enliven the strings of praise till we come with Harps in our hands well tuned to the Gate of Heaven Let our chaste Souls be a Garden enclos'd to Christ Our eyes ears Song 4.12 affections seal'd and shut up from worldly communion Hearken O Daughter Ps 45.10 11. and forget thine Egyptian people and thy Fathers house in Zoan So shall the King of Glory greatly desire to see and enjoy thy beauty for he is thy Lord and worship thou him Some Passages to be inserted in page 26. which through a casualty did happen to be misplaced AS that Person in Bisseter Market who having a piece of Bread in his Mouth and turning suddenly to answer a question while the Bread was swallowing was immediately choack'd and though he survived about two or three days yet no remedy prevailed Remarkable was that providence of a poor Taylor at Reading choak'd with a bit of Mutton having wish'd it to himself as he was eating if he had stoln the Stockings whereof he was accused Which story is set down in the Register of one of the Parishes of that Town A sudden accident also besell Colonel Rossiter endeavouring to crack a Plum-stone as I am informed brake a Tooth and thereby lost his Life I would not let pass two or three stories more of signal providences as to sudden accidents There lived some time since in Grassechurch-street LONDON a Vintner Mr. Fowler by name who playing with his little Child abed received a scratch of a Pin First it rankled and cost him a Hundred Pounds-under design of cure but at length his Arm was cut off and shortly after lost his life There hapned also a notable memorial of Divine providence upon a Child in Bishops-gate Parish where sometime the good hand of God was pleased to use my poor labours in the honourable service of the Ministry This little Child looking up through a wooden case to a ponderous Jack-weight in that very moment the Weight drop'd down and kill'd it I have also received intelligence of a Person worthy of credit that a Woman having a very fair Hand molested by a Wart and submitting to the skill of a Chirurgeon at Thomas Hospital in Southwark in order to cure But the sore place began to be angry at the improper Medicines and Festers and shortly receives from his hand the cure of all her Diseases To end with a comfortable story My good Friend Mr. Ch. Morton then at Sea and yielding to the advice of a Ship-Chirurgeon to lay the Lapis Infernalis to eat down a Wart his Arm swelled very dangerously but the Lord delivered him So true is that saying of Paracelsus That the greatest Wounds may issue prosperously and little Scratches may end disastrously since the Keys of Life and Death are in the Hand of God FINIS Books printed toy and are to be sold by John Hancock at the Sign of the three Bibles in Popes Head Alley in Cornhill TWelve Books lately published by Mr. Tho. Brooks late Preacher of the Gospel at Margarets New Fish-street 1. Precious Remedies against Satans Devices or Salve for Believers and Vnbelievers Sores being a Companion for those that are in Christ or out of Christ 2. Heaven on Earth Or a serious Discourse touching a Well-grounded Assurance of Mans Everlasting Happiness 3. The Vnsearchable Riches of Christ held forth in 22 Sermons 4. Apples
to amuse yea amaze us under the sense of Divine Goodness and to draw our Hearts with the silken cords of love It 's his favour that drops the inclinations of affection into the hearts and tempers the reciprocal tides in the breasts of such whom he ordains for conjugal relation His Eye guided out-cast Hagar to a shrub in Paran Gen. 24.39 40 58. 29.11 and rather then her son should perish for thirst an Angel must point out a Well to slake her sorrow Wonderful are the instances both in sacred and civil Story in discovery of means ordering of method guiding of accidents to the prevention of dangers and preservation of life and the sudden issuing of sudden distresses No less admirable are many quick and stupendious deliverances out of Dungeons and Prisons to great and famous Advancements and by providences to us occasional and accidental flow high and exalted manifestations of God to his Church and people Not to be curious in ranking under distinct heads give leave to mention a few mixt Examples in various kinds Pharaohs Daughter coming occasionally to the Rivers side Exo. 2.6 had compassion on little Moses weeping in his Cradle of Bulrushes Her heart wept over the tears of Moses she brought him up like a Prince in Egypt to be Prince of Israel Thus God makes his enemies to foster their own Supplanters and to build up their own destroyers After this the Humanity of Moses to the Daughters of Jethro in watering their Sheep advanced him to be Son in Law to the Prince of Midian A poor Captive Maiden in the Land of Syria by a few words was the occasion of the cure of Naamans Leprosie both in soul and body And another finding favour in the eyes of the great King of Persia was the occasion of delivering the Jews from destruction in 127 Provinces and the Reading of that Kingdoms Chronicles opened a door to Mordecai's Glory and Haman's Infamy Joseph and Daniel arrived to unexpected Preferment by exposition of Princes Dreams whereby the Church of God was strangely preserved and at length delivered from Exile Simeon and Anna coming into the Temple at an instant of Providence met with the Lords Anointed and saw his Salvation Many of the choicest Mercies fall under this head The first and primary Mercy to the World the Protevangelium the preaching of the Gospel to Adam by God himself transcended the thoughts and imaginations of our fallen Parents The sending of the Messiah's Sceptre out of Zion among the Gentile Idolaters who sought him not and the Conversion of whole Nations to the Obedience of his Spiritual Law was performed by preventing Grace to the whole world and the particular turnings of Rebellious Souls to God are often managed by secret instincts Austin would needs sail over Sea to Rome against the prayers and tears and fears of his holy Mother She dreaded his being corrupted by the debauchery of Rome but God sent him to Milan to be converted by Ambrose and as he speaks sweetly of Gods denial of her prayers as to his journey Confes 1. â— c. 8. Sed tu alte consulens exaudiens cardinem desiderii ejus non curasti quod tunc petebat ut in me faceres quod semper petebat But thou in wise counsel didst regard the hinge on which her desires turned didst reject her present prayer to give in the effect of her constant petitions Many times such who run from the means of their own Salvation fall into the happy snares of Divine Mercy and such who are naturally unwilling to be saved Austin praevenisti ut vellem the secret Wisdom of Providence allures to become a willing people in the day of his Power Should I enlarge upon the many rare cases of special preventing Mercies this Discourse would run over the banks of Volumes Famous is the Instance of that man whose Horse in a dark night wafted him over a Plank laid upon the breach of Rochester Bridge and the next day coming to see the place of his strange deliverance sunk into the deep waters of Amazement and died away Great Salvation did the Lord work also for a Friend of mine M. Charles Morton who riding in the night along the High Way at Menegizy Cliffs in Cornwall which was fallen down into the Sea at a vast depth might have perish'd inevitably had not a man suddenly stept out of his door at his passing by and prevented the mischief More admirable the safe fall of a Butcher upon his Sheep from the Cliff at Dover Castle as the Inhabitants report How did an impulse upon Mr. Dods Spirit to visit a Friend two miles off in the night prevent the Self-murder of that person by a Halter who was esteemed truly gracious but overwhelmed by direful tentations How did an unexpected Fog prevent a second Battel between the English and Dutch in the late Wars And the like happened in the days of King Edward the Confessor upon the Navies addressing to fight How admirably have many persons been cured preserved delivered by sudden accidents Memorable is that story in Tilingius of one who being cured of a Dropsie by the poison of a Toad designed for his destruction became the Publisher of that Specifick Some by Falls into Rivers have been cured of Madness others by sudden frights restored to the use of their Limbs and others by Shipwreck have escaped Piracy And which is distinct as to relief unexpected in deep poverty that of Accesilaus is remarkable who caused a Bag of Money to be conveyed under the pillow of a sick Friend modestly hiding his poverty that he might find it rather then receive it And others that have let fall Money into the laps of persons from a window as if it fell from Heaven As to preventing Mercy in reference to prayer â— 65.24 Sometime before we call God is pleased to answer When the Heart is but a tuning he discovers the Lesson and turns it into a Song of praise Ps 32.5 When David was under resolutions of Confession God actually forgave the iniquity of his sin Gen. 24.15 45. Before Eliezer had done speaking in the case of Isaac out comes Rebecca with the answer of prayer When Hezekiah was praying and weeping 2 Kings 20.5 Turn again says the Lord to Isaiah and tell the Captain of my people I will heal thee And Gabriel told beloved Daniel Dan. 9.20 21 23. that at the beginning of his Supplication he was commanded to fly more swiftly down to Daniel then his prayer could fly up to Heaven So ready is our gracious Father to smell a savour of rest when the Incense of prayer is but newly kindled CHAP. III. The Numerousness of Preventing Mercies THE glittering Stars of Heaven the drops of the briny Ocean and the Sands upon the winding Shores the Dusts of the Earth and the Atoms that swim in the Sun-beams are not so numerous as these excellent Mercies Archimedes could write a Treatise
of the Sands but no person that ever appeared on the stage of Being though he should spend all his time in writing Volumes of his own Life could trace the measures of his Mercies were he never so observant or did pry never so curiously into the passages of Divine Providence Every draught of Air into the Lungs is attended with Mercy When it carries out the fuliginous Vapours of the Heart who can attract it in again for the refrigeration of the Bloud and mixing the volatile balsam of the air to circulate that purple liquor in its motions The pulses of providence are quicker then chose of our Wrists or Temples How manifold are his mercies Ps 139.14 The soul of David knew right well their multiplicity but could not multiply them aright by any skill in Arithmetick Nay the very summ or chief heads of divine kindnesses were innumerable His wonderful works and thoughts towards him could not be reckoned up in order by him they were more then could be numbred Ps 40.5 It 's impossible to follow the footsteps of these mercies Heaven it self is not sufficient for a finite capacity to measure them They endure to eternity in preventing our lapse from happiness Le ts try a little speculation on 2 heads 1. On some gracious occurrences in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the compass of day and night and 2. The preventing mercies that are laid up in the bowels of afflictions both as to subsequent sins and dangers As to the first When we rise in the morning that sudden palsies do not unloose our Nervs or painful Convulsions shrink them up that we are not able to descend our Stairs that when we are down some Messenger of Death doth not appale us with terrible tidings and give us a bitter breakfast that we have Hearts and Spirits to call upon the God of our mercies in our Families as an Antidote against the evils of the succeeding day When we come into our Shops that the rapines of night Villanies hath not stript us naked of all our Goods and that we find all our Relations in health and peace when we walk abroad that we suck not in Contagious Atomes from the Air that the East wind does not blast us that sudden violent rains in hasty walking do not cool our sweats into Surfets or that we hurry not the blood into fermentations for new and surprizing distempers In vain should we be wary if holy providence were not wakeful That the earth we tread on doth not suddenly open its mouth to swallow us as it did the Rebels in Numbers Num. 16.32 That we dash not our feet against a stone our Shins against Posts Ps 91.12 or strain our Ankles in plain ground that the Tiles or Timber falling from Houses or the sweepings of gutters do not brain us that mad dogs infect us not with an Hydrophobia by their venemous bitings that wilde Oxen let forth by careless and wicked Butchers do not gore us or Carts crush us or damnable Hectors stab us or that casual arrows bullets or stones do not dispatch us The memorial of such a mercy stands upon the top of the Free school and Alms-house at the South end of Islington Lady Owen where Iron arrows are planted to signifie the gratitude of a poor Milk Maid to Gods mercy who upon escape of an arrow that was shot into her clothes vowed to build it if she rose to an estate and at length being raised to the degree of a Lady performed her vow We ought to be thankful that Coachmens whips do not accidentally scourge out our eyes That in the days of general Trainings or publick Shows strange disasters brings us not to the evenings of our lives That meddling with unconcerning quarre's in the ring of a tumult twist us not into danger through our own folly since wise Solomon hath warned us Pro. 26.17 He that medleth with strife belonging not to him is like one that taketh a dog by the ears When we ride that every step is not a path to the grave that the Horse stumble not or the Waggon break not or the Coach overturn not That we sink not into unfenced Gravel-pits overwhelmed with quick-sands overflown with waters That Lightnings do not lick up our spirits or hot Thunderbolts rend us in sunder We should reckon our mercies not by miles or hours but by steps and moments When we come to our meals that fitting refreshes when many by painful Fistula's pine away into Consumptions and cannot repose their bodies into any grateful posture That we bring appetites to our Tables and are not by cares and vexations from abroad rendred snappish and currish to a tender Wife and sweet obedient Children at home and our stomachs stuft with choler unfit to crave a blessing or receive it That we have our lovely Vines to chear us and our Olive plants about our Table to soften and sweeten our spirits Ps 128.4 So shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord. That some of us behold our Tables spread with furniture from the Air from the Seas and Rivers from the Mountains and Valleys from the Fold and Stall nay some with Olears from Spain and curious rarities from Turkey Muscovy and both the Indies and served up in Porcellane Dishes from China in Silver from America Gold from Barbary and 12 sorts of wine in Venice glass from Murano and yet like Jesurum was fat and kick That any one of these curious Viands meet not with an ill-habited Scurvy in the blood and especially all confused together carry not thousands from the Table to the Pillow and thence to the chambers of death When at our meals what a mercy that every bit doth not strangle us since story remembers some to have received their last by a raisin stone a fly a hair When our dayly food passing over the Larynx the bridge that covers the windpipe that it doth not choke us as the rump of a Capon did the Earl of Colrain When after meals in our repose or walking in Gardens or Fields no sudden accident attaches us and spoils Concoction That when we have eat and drunk that we can render our urine and uncover our feet thousands perish by stopping the chanels of Nature Let 's daily bless the Lord for Evacuations as well as Ingestion It 's wonderful that mens cutting their Hair tends not by distillations on the Lungs to Consumption or by letting bloud that an Artery be not cut as some who have lost their Arms. Or so inconsiderable a thing as the cutting a Corn does not rankle to death as in the Lord Fairfax When we sail upon Rivers or Seas Oh what mercy that the Vessel founder not that the Sands suck us not in nor the Rocks split us nor sudden Gusts overturn us and wandering Pirats catch us not that he makes the waves to obey his word and the stormy wind to fulfill his pleasure When we converse that Pride and Passion do
vocal Instruments for new Songs to bear a part with the Harmony of Angels for ever CHAP. V. Of the Instruments used for conveyance of these Mercies WHatever Hand presents our Mercies or whosoever's Heart was inclin'd to hand them all flowes from the grand Original Every Mercy is the Fruit of the Thoughts of God When David was poor and needy Ps 40.17 Gods thinking upon him enrich'd his Spirit But Instruments must have their due place in our respect and reverence since God honours them They were Golden Pipes that convey'd Golden Oyl in Zechaery Zech. 4.12 Heavens Ambassadors deserve Angelical Salutations remembring what 's due to Servants without prejudice to Divine Glory who bends and inflects the hearts of of men to shew that Benevolence which passes through them as a River between its Banks but springs from the infinite Fountain of Divine Mercy Few or no Enjoyments but have their enamelled means and methods of Providence and when its Beryl Wheels move towards us full of Eyes and Glory Ezek. 10.13 we may cry out with admiration of God O Wheel Our Health Beauty Feature Strength good Name Estate Utterance or any other Endowment of Soul or Body are the Product of Divine Love though second Causes may intervene for those very causes have their Creation Motion and Direction and Success from God Children are the Heritage of the Lord Ps 127.3 and yet the fruit of the Womb by his Reward Prov. 18.22 He that findeth a Vertuous Wife as if by casualty obtaineth favour of the Lord by the Designation of Heaven Whoever wishes he receives those wishes dropt into his Heart from higher influence Gen. 24.31 And faithful Eliezer must be called the Blessed of the Lord when he knocks at the Door and brings the Tidings The Presents which David sent from the Spoils of Amalek to his Friends though taken from his Enemies 1 Sam. 30.25 yet were given of the Lord. Senders and Messengers may vary but all comes from Heaven God is pleased sometimes to send an Olive-Branch by the Hand of a Dove to Noah Food by the Mouth of a Raven to Elijah at Cherich and sometimes by a Jay to others sometimes a Star passes before the Zabii the Wisemen of the East and enlightens them to Bethlchem and otherwhile an Angel is employed to the Prophet at Rithmah and many times the Methods of great Mercies are deep and intricate and we can never dive to the bottom of Wisdoms Ocean The stately River Nile rises from a latent head and the foundations of Famous Cities are under ground The Great and Holy God sometimes stirs up the Hearts of Relations most times Strangers and now and then even Enemies themselves are turned to help and favour his People Ps 106.46 Rare is that story of a good Woman at Sandwich imprisoned by the Major for a Religious Meeting and being askt by him how she would do in Prison being poor She reply'd I serve such a Master that rather than I shall starve I shall be fed from your Table The Magistrates Wife overhearing her confidence in God sent every day constantly from the Majors house a portion of Meat for about three Weeks being the time of her Restraint So that whatever are the Motives in the Hearts of inferiour Agents still the Supreme and Heavenly Cause is to be eyed with Adoration and Worship Many may unwillingly profit us we then owe not the benefit to them but the great Incliner the Soveraign Mover of Hearts Let us not trouble our Spirits about that question Quo animo with what design their Favours are calculated to our use Ignoble Spirits may perform some noble Actions upon a superstitious or vainglorious aim as to merit Heaven to gain applause to restrain the barkings of Conscience to stop the Mouth of Reprovers and to oblige men to their humours or some base intrigue or other Of all persons Ministers should be most sagacious and the Seers of the Temple must be blind in such Emergencies When sordid tempers exact difficult Secrecies for a little pelf while themselves spend ten times more on a base lust like those that fat their Horses for a riding or their Slaves at Algier for to sell in the Market at a higher Price Homines vaenalis animae that buy and sell their souls for advantage and are meer Merchants of all the Benefits they exert to others Some Mens Favours are like Chrystal Glasses of a curious frailty every Spider of suspicion cracks them He that ponders too much upon the Publican return of his benefits gratifies the trade of gain and covetousness not his Conscience to God or the genuine good of others There be many that take a pride to be counted liberal when they let fall a few drops of charity upon famished poverty and love that the Sun should shine upon their forward bounty and make their Cock crow at the scratching out a few Corns from their lofty Dunghills that can empty their laden Stomachs into China Dishes and hang Jewels and Pearls the price of whole Cities upon their Ears and vest themselves with the Tribute of large Territories and make as great a noise in scattering their Offals among the Poor as when the Russian Emperor blows his Trumpet after Dinner and all the World must know when they give that which their high-fed Lap-curs many times refuse They 'le wear Silk Garments like the Roman Matrons of such a fine Web that neither their Bodies are defended from weather nor their Chastity from observation but think much of a few Rags to cover a poor Lazarus at the Door God gives them Hundreds by the Year and they carry single Pence in their Pockets or brass Farthings to buy off the Clamours of Conscience But yet such as are inward Enemies to true Evangelical Charity shall be Instruments sore against their will to preserve the Soul of the Needy from death and ruine Wicked and debauched Persons Prov. 13.22 shall in the issue lay up Treasures for the Righteous But when Instruments act generously like wise Stewards of the manifold Talents of Gods Mercies they are to be highly esteemed like the Gold Ring that encompasses an Orient and Sparkling Diamond They are to be nourished and cherished like the Doves of Aleppo to whose Feet the Missives and Letters of Merchants are tyed for speedy conveyance Embassadors are Sacred Persons and are to be sacredly handled The very Feet of them that bring glad tidings of Peace and Mercy are to be washt and anointed with Oyl and counted beautiful There 's a Glory shines upon the Sandals of them who come down from Heaven and we ought to crows the Footsteps of the Messengers of Heavenly Favours with Branches of Olives and the persons sent back to Heaven with grateful Acclamations to the Harps of Joy to hold in consort with the Host of Angels praising the Divine Beneficence CHAP. VI. The Beneficial Improvement of sudden and unexpected Mercies WOnderful Mercies speak
wonderful Language and call aloud for admirable and joyful returns Lessons sung to Shoshannims the seven-string'd Instruments of Adoration and Honour Let 's hear the ravishing Musick in these seven succeeding Chapters that may be cordial to the very Hearts of Angels 1. Of the excellency of Love under the fense of Mercies 2. The Honourable Duty of Gratitude 3. The Exaltation of the Divine Name for his Munificence 4. The Anatomy and Vnbowelling of Secret Mercies 5. The Ingenuous meltings for sudden Sins 6. The softning Leniment of sudden Sorrows 7. The Contemplation of the permanent Mercies in Heaven I shall begin with the First and treat it as the Subject of this Chapter what an excellent Frame of Spirit is kindled by the sense of Mercies The most noble and generous love is that which streams from Heaven to ingratiate the hearts of Enemies by Springs of munificence to sweeten the tartest and sowrest tempers to break Flints upon Pillows to melt adamantine hearts in the warm blood of affection to lead Lyons in Chains of Gold and tame Hyrcanian Tygers into Doves Masculine and Heroick Love changes the frame and alters the constitution and texture of hostile Hearts Suspicion Suspicions which is the very Bane and Poyson of Love is by this Art fermented into a brisk volatile and balsamick Liquor To stand upon the Guard and watch to eye and try is but a feminine and childish trifling to subdue others by kindness is God-like to melt the Rocks of Caucasus by flames from Heaven Weak and low-statur'd Love insists upon the catch and so becomes touchy and waspish puts forth its captious sting at every buzz of false Flatterers and Backbiters Noble Love is like the Ointment of the right hand Pr. 27.16 which bewrays it self like a soft River of Oyl that runs down speedily in a direct Chanel of inclination into the Ocean of enjoyment He that can command his Love when attracted by the Magnetick Influence of genuine Friendship has but little true love under his Obedience Suspicion and Distrust grows upon the Root of a weak Love Generous and Noble Spirits had rather be deceived than distrust True Love is not easily provoked and thinks no evil 1 Cor. 15.5 it beareth believeth hopeth and endureth all things To lay heavy load upon sudden conjectures is to tread upon quick sands and walk among the Irish Bogs Such a Friend did not so courteously salute me in the street did not invite me among others brake off his speech abruptly lookt not so pleasantly and turn'd suddenly out of my company Suspicion blinds the understanding and is a Cloud that an evil temper turn'd upon the Sun of affection It cast Eve out of Paradise and leads fretful persons into desarts full of Bryars and Thorns It mischieves the owner and presents to himself a Cup to drink up his own Poyson Pro. 5.22 That Person is held with the cords of sin and may complain with Eve The Serpent within hath deceived me When Men can out-wit the Devil in Policy and be too strong for Divine Justice then they may walk in the shades of this Fools Paradise Men never gain by the ill bargain of Suspicion but at last their very thoughts will upbraid them with weakness and folly Deaw not long Arguments from the slender twine-thread of Suspicion We need a Dove-like simplicity and a benign estimate of every Accident Words misplac'd must not hurry our raw conjectures into Passions It 's the sign of an evil temper to construe the worst when a fair Gloss may be more sweetly truly and decently given Believe nothing but what 's manifest use both your ears and your heart too before you whet your tongue and when suggestions once appear to be vain chide your too frequent credulity Be not hasty to conceive an injury lest you bring forth a lye the frequency of self-rebuke through experience will pare away sudden reflections Let not little touches and small scratches set you in a flame of anger Because your drink is not warm enough or your servant slow or the Table totters a little at Meat or the Door is not presently shut to be in a scurvy Feaver of wrath betrays dirty blood and sordid spirits within Because a Flea or a Fly troubles you or a pot falls or a pipkin boyls over or a glass broken or children make a noise or a thing is misplac'd or ancient people cough or as Myndyrides because the roses in his bed were a little doubled to be in a rage shews a proud weak and effeminate Spirit deserves the rebukes of silence on deserting their company as unfit for humane converse Some persons have Souls good for little but to salt their bodies and exercise the graces of others and are alive by providence for increase of wisdom patience and pardoning mercy in their Alliances Like Vermine subtile to do mischief and whet mens fancies to devise traps and gins to catch them spend their days in trifles to spin perishing Webs catch Flies and spit their Venom Let 's turn our eyes from miserable deplorable forlorn Creatures to him whose Throne is in the Heavens and counts it a condescending humility to behold the Angels Ps 113.6 All his works praise him Ps 145.10 and his Saints bless him Le ts set out the glory of his Excellency and admire the operation of his hands with heart and tongue We are too like the poor Disciples that wondered at the Marble-buildings of the Temple Mark 13.2 are these things fit for a Saints wonder Le ts adorn our time by comparing Precepts with Providence The rule of his Wisdom with its product and issue and narrowly espy how God glorifies every Attribute in the management of Heaven and Earth Providence comments on the Text of Prudence and delights in Mercy and Love as the Issue of his own glorious Bowels What stirred up Divine Wisdom to plot the mutual kissings of Righteousness and Peace together but rowling bowels of compassion towards perishing man when Angels fell from Heaven without recovery yet according to the Multitude of his tender Mercies Wombs full of Mercies hath blotted out our transgressions Ps 51.1 Hebr. Let us be inflamed with Love to God that sweetly provides for our bodies out of his Store house from the Air and Woods from Seas and Rivers from Hills and Plains not only for necessity but delight and ornament withholding nothing from us that 's good for grace or glory But the Master-piece the Top the Flower of love shines forth in the beauty of Gospel-Mercy Le ts dwell in the Temple of Meditation upon the infinite Love of God in Christ till our hearts he enlarged and amplified with flames of affection service and praise when Divine Love is the Fountain of ours we shall need no other arguments of bounty to Saints than the sweet apprehension of his Love to us We need no motives from Plato Tully or Seneca who range up and down the Mountains of Fancy and
should predict benign Configurations before the distilling Influences and praise him at the dawning and day-break of Mercy Nay our lives should be a whole Tenor of praises since we are hemm'd in and compast with kindness We are laden with benefits Angels encampabout us in Chariots of fire to protect both us and the mercies given We should raise up a Temple of praise with walls ringing Marble Every breath we draw in should go forth warn with Anthems The blouds Circulation should run round in Songs like the Hydraulick Instruments of Water Musick and every Pulse should beat upon the Strings of David's Harp The wholesome Herbs should cure our Murmurs Ps 148.2 c. and all the Creatures of Air Land and Water should by our hands pay tribute of praise to God The pleasant Rivers should convey our Songs to Paradise and in the fragrant Flowers smell the goodness of God The showers that cool the Somers heat should inflame our Love and make our Palm-trees flourish with fat Dates in the Courts of God Ps 92.12 In Medicinal Baths and Springs we should hang up our Testimonical Crutches and write a votive Table The precious Metals whose marks above ground betoken the enamelling of natures Bowels the divining Rod and skill to dig them and melt their Oars into plate should all be formed into Golden Flagons to be consecrated and hung up in Zions Sanctuary When the May-Quiristers sing with a Thorn at their Breasts by night to allure us from the Thorns in ours and delight us when we cannot sleep or awake us like Princes with the Musick of their Spring Lyries we should answer their praises of our Holy Mutual Maker like the Musician in Strada with sweeter Elegance and cause the Nightingale to fly to us and pant upon the strings of our Lutes in transcending praises and confess themselves conquered and at the ceasing of our warbling melody dye in consort We dwell in this World as in a sumptuous Palace arch'd over with spangling Stars and transparent Saphirs which fears neither fire nor falling Should not we set up Jacob's Pillar or Solomon's Jachin and Boaz in the porch Yea let every House be a little model of the Universe anoint pillars in memory of protecting and providing Mercies and consecrate them daily unto God Set up Monuments in each Vally of Bacah and pen Psalms for the Birth of every favour and our Right Hands never forget their cunning He crowns the year with his goodness let 's compass his Altar with Songs Let annual Mercies dictate perennial Melody and perpetuate his Bounty by graving every Iota and Tittle of Mercy on the Empiraean tables of our hearts Let 's remember God the Glorious Original of all Enjoyments and the Gifts of each Beneficent Hand let 's pourtray upon both our palms to be lifted up to Heaven at morning and evening Sacrifice and call upon all Creatures in order from the Heavens to the meanest Atom in an Universal Diapason of Praise and Triumph in God CHAP. VIII The Exaltation of the Divine Name for his Munificence and in particular for Secret Mercies in the structure of Man and his Preservation DID the Ancient Heathens erect their Hermaea or Statutes of Stone to the honour of Mercury in Memorial of some casual and contingent happiness Suidas and shall not we anoint Jacob's Pillar with fresh Oil to the true â—nd living God with whom all contingencies are determinations of Mercy Gracious Souls delight in his precepts because wonderful Ps 129.129 and admire the Ocean of his benefits because unfathomable Reverence to his Majesty is the Mother both of Obedience and Gratitude We cheerfully obey him because we love him and he loves is the more because we obey him His love is the free Spring and the munificent Reward of all sincere services He excites and enables us to Holiness and then crowns us A genuine Child takes pleasure in conformity to the Fathers Will and this Heavenly Father makes them conformable to his Sons Image He plants the Spices of Lebanon in our Hearts then breaths by his Spirit Son 4.16 walks in his Garden and eats his pleasant Fruits A rare Master that strengthens his Servants to work in his Vineyard and then leads them into his Joy Mat. 5.21 There 's no mercy but he helps us to improve as a clue to Heaven No duty but he forms into a Ladder to Glory Whether we eat or drink or whatever we do 1 Cor. 10.31 let 's do all to the Glory of God and Christ who died for us 1 Thes 5.10 that whether we wake or sleep we should live together with him Let 's sleep to refresh our Spirits for service and when we awake let 's be still with him Ps 139.8 He holdeth our eyes waking to ponder on his Mercies and watcheth our eyes while sleeping to serve him with more alacrity We cannot sufficiently prize that secret Mercy that lodges with us every night within our Curtains Sleep How many fiery Feavers doth cool sleep extinguish From how many deaths does that brother and Image of death deliver us Those silver slumbers are golden mercies How great a favour that temperate repast should send up cooling vapours to the brain to tye up our Senses while we repose our limbs from labour Nor let us pass the lovely Fields in Harvest without remark when wise Nature hath crowned the Wheaten Ridges with numerous heads of Poppies to minister both Food and Physick Wedelius de Plani p. 17. Hook Microgr p. 155. And whereas one ingenious Physician hath observed That the the Salt of humane Skull so another curious Searcher hath delivered That the Seed of Poppy which causes sleep is also of an Hexagon or six-corner'd Figure and it may be its Salt may be yet more curious As if the Atoms of the Fumes of Poppy were fitted and cized to the Texture and Cells of Mans Noble Capitol Should we give a glance at the Eye when waking as well as sleeping greater wonders would appear in opening its Humours Coats Nerves Seeing and Muscles And yet further contemplate the goodness of God in these later days in blessing the world with those perspicacious inventions of convex Glasses to help and delight our sight by Spectacles Telescopes Microscopes and Chamber-Landscapes Such exquisite Glasses have so been formed polish'd as some have conceived they have had a prospect beyond the Stars into the glitterings of the Empiraean Heavens to their ravishment and amazement and have been carried as it were into the Seat of the Blessed Nor less marvellous is the contrivance of the great Architect of Nature as to the Sense of hearing Hearing With what Artifice are these gristly Portals of the Ears set before and round about the inward cavity both for beauty and benefit that great sounds may not enter with violence and be defensitives against immoderate heat and cold And that musical Tunes by the fallacy of its circuit may
their Silver Trumpets Glory be to God in the Highest peace upon Earth and good will to Man whose grand imployment should be to study discern and applaud the Infinite Love of God in all his Mercies which in a few words shall close this Period 1. When we taste some sweetness and relish the goodness of God in every Mercy which is that Divine Symploce on David's Harp or an elegant Complication of two figures the Anaphora and Epistrophe together O give thanks to the Lord Ps 136.1 for he is good his Mercy endureth for ever That as the Name of God in our native Tongue is from good so our Souls should spell the nature of his goodness and every passage of his Providence 2. When Mercies return down to us upon the wings of Ejaculations sent up to Heaven when enlargements of heart follow straits in prayer What Divine Benefits shine out suddenly like Stars in a dark night 3. Then mercies come in love when they flow in by sucking at the Breast of a Promise for hence we know that God is in covenant with us For then the Spirit seals our interest when he who penn'd the Promise writes it in our Heart when he that breaths them warms us by them 4. When we feel supporting strength in a dark night when ready to faint feel sudden Cordials when trouble is nigh and God is nigher When the Heart fails and God enlivens Ps 73.26 A Saint may perceive it by the suddenness sweetness soul-calming quietness of a word within consonant to the word without and encourages a Saint to carry every new Emergency upon the memory of former experience in a Chariot of Love to Heaven That no sudden accident knocks at the Door of our Hearts or Houses but we as suddenly knock at the Gate of Heaven If any tentation new motion or weighty affair surprize us at unawares we instantly carry it through the Roof of our Closets into Heaven then our Spirits are in a holy calm as gracious Rebekah found it Gen. 25.22 Prov. 15.24 knowing that the sudden desires as well as the set Prayers of the Righteous shall be granted And now it 's high time to conclude this Chapter with God its whole Scope being to recount some portions of his manifold mercies and to adore him for all his bounteous beneficence to us who is the only first Spring and principal Mover and Conducter of all the Kindnesses we receive from Men being his Instruments Servants and Ordinances CHAP. IX The Anatomy of Mercies FOR the Higher Advancement of Divine Goodness in all our Enjoyments and to learn that excellent Lesson of Godly Contentment in all Estates it were expedient to peruse consider and unbowel every mercy that comes down from Heaven We have little reason to expect any when we remember our inability to merit unskilfulness to improve our ingratitude in slender returns of the least Benefits wherewith we are laden every day It 's meer free grace that showers down Kindnesses upon our barren murmuring and repining Spirits Did we but refresh our memories with the many thousands better than us who are yet below us Ps 37.1 we should never fret at the prosperity of the wicked that are above us In what a pleasant Paradise might our thoughts expatiate did we beautifie our Meditation with the prospect of the Flowry Medows interwoven with Chrystal streams and the gentle rising Hills crowned with lovely Groves more delicious than those of Woodstock when we contemplate the various numbers curious methods amazing circumstances the unexpected ends and surprizing designs in the Lawnes and close Walks of Mercy When we pore upon sins pry too curiously into afflictions grieve too smartly for imbitterments by Relations and toyle our Spirits with the losses and crosses of this Life we disquiet our selves in vaine and are too subject to mutter at every little disappointment and inconvenience We augment our troubles prolong our miseries and run upon the brink of danger to charge a Gracious God foolishly Let us then turn our eyes into the Anatomy-School of Mercies and cut open the Inwards and spend a diligent view on the curious Situations and various turnings and smaller Arteries of every Divine Favour and holding up hands with Holy Jacob Gen. 32.10 proclaim our unworthiness of the least of mercies and while we are musing what might comparatively be esteem'd the least as that we have a Being and Life and draw one Breath of Air the Original conducts us into his Courts with praise and gratefulness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Katonti I am lessened in mine own eyes before every mercy the least of which should humble and lay us low in the sight of God What am I and what is my Fathers House that the great God should cause to great faithfulness and truth to shine before us and lighten our Path to Glory The School of Salerne writes of the Body of Man Ex tricentenis decies sex quinquéque venis That it consists of 365 Veins one for each day of the Year To be sure there is not one particular Mercy but yields matter of Contemplation all the days of our Life We should cut open the Root climb the Branches smell the Flowers and taste the Fruit of Divine Love in every Mercy O rare Imployment when we ride or walk or sit or lye waking in the Night Ps 77.5 to ruminate in the days of Ancient times run over the state of the Church from Genesis to the Revelations and compare our case with any of the Saints of old and work our hearts into praises as David often begins his Psalms with mournful Elegies and concludes with joyful Extasies As the Ancient Church sprang in Aegypt past through Paran to Sinai and at length sat under their Vines in Canaan So every Saint enters his life with a Tragedy but ends in Heaven The first curiosity of each mercy lies hid in the Texture of a minute seed which though exceeding small yet by the influence of Heaven ferments and swells into a mighty Cedar Who would think that the spreading Oaks of Bashan should sleep under the shadow of a small Acorn and the sweet-sented Trees of Lebanon in a petty Berry What vast Crocodiles of Nile break Shell from a small Egg What Rivers of Fire the first little sparks of Sulfur do kindle from the bowels of Aetna What little distaste at first overthrow mighty Empires at last and what great Estates and Dominions start out of little casualties The grand Ottoman Empire arose first out of the Flight of Mahomet and Darius by the neighing of a Horse rode into the Throne of Persia One glance upon a poor captive Maid brought Esther to a Kingdom Haman to the Gallows and Israel to deliverance David brought Cheeses to the Army perhaps in the same Bag wherein he carried stones to fling into the Fore-Head of Goliah and in the same brought back his Head to Saul Nay Saul himself when seeking of Asses
found a Holy Prophet and a glittering Diadem The magnificent Kingdom of Solomon was almost all quite rent from his Son Rehoboam by a few harsh inconsiderate words to his People A Dream hurries Joseph from Canaan to Aegypt and a Dream hands him out of Prison into Pharaoh's Chariot 2 Kin. 7.6 A meer rumour saves Samaria from Famine and a Kingdom from ruine Ezek. 38.10 An evil thought in the Heart of Gog in the later days shall bring the Turkish Armies into the Mountains of Israel and there to a fatal slaughter in the Vally of Harmageddon The motions of Hearts are sometimes infused but always conducted by God Sacred Story derives from Heaven the kindness of Abimelech to Abraham of Laban and Esau to Jacob of Ruth to Naomi of Boaz to Ruth and Jonathan to David When others think of kindness to us Ps 40.17 let 's imitate David 'T is the Lord that thinketh upon me and forms those thoughts within their hearts This should calm our Spirits when a former Friends heart is alienated by rash admissions of false suggestions or when any faithful Jonathan expires his Spirit into the bosom of God It should not be lost what Hobson the late noted Carrier of Cambridge said to a young Student receiving a Letter of the sad tidings of his Uncles decease who maintain'd him at the University and weeping bitterly and reciting the cause of his grief he reply'd Who gave you that Friend Which saying did greatly comfort him and was a sweet support to him afterward in his Ministry The ever-living God is the Portion of a living Faith and he can never want that hath such an Ocean He that turns the Hearts of Kings like Rivers at his pleasure turns all the little Brooks in the World into what scorched and parched ground he pleases The Seed-plots of Mercy are often moistned with soaking showers of affliction before they sprout and appear above the ground Our hopes may be long buried under clods of pressing troubles the Blade nipt and withered by keen Frosts and lye foot deep under Mantles of Snow before the quickning Spring Jacob had the Seed of the Promise in his bosom and carried it to Padan in Mesopotamia and 20 bleak Winters must blow over him before he comes to set one foot upon his Rich Inheritance Joseph's Feet were hurt in Irons to fit him to tread more delicately in the King's Palace at Zoan and when the Lord's time was come Ps 105.18 by the same stairs which winded him into the Dungeon he climbs up into the next Chariot to Pharaoh's Few can bear great and sudden Mercies without pride and wantonness till they are hampered and humbled to carry it moderately Many heads run round in a maze of folly if their haughty stomachs be not well cleansed with the Wormwood-wine of adversity The prints of the Babylonian Iron fitted the Neck of Manasseh to wear a Chain of Gold and the weight of his Fetters prest down his Knees to Prayer Some are forced to stoop like Camels and take up their Loads and trace many a weary trot in a sandy desert and drink their own Tears to slake their thirst lest they should kick when Provender-prick'd with prosperity Such insolent Spirits like Beggers suddenly advanced on horse-back will ride most tyrannically on the backs of others because never made to bite on the Bridle Did not wise providence in great mercy to their Souls by breaking a Leg or an Arm break their Hearts the Earth were not able to bear some proud impotent insulting Rufflers Wise and wary and well-advised persons remember that the Wheel is alway turning and that they who have been low may below again Solomon had seen Servants on Horse-back Eccl. 10.7 and Princes walk on foot upon the Earth Bajazet was a mighty Emperor commanding a great and puissant Army in the morning and shut in an Iron Cage by night And Valerian the Roman Prince that ruled from Euphrates to the Atlantick Ocean was made a Foot-stool for Sapor King of Persia to ascend on Horse-back Matthias Hist Rom. p. 263. Ex Agathiae l. 4. Goth. Eccl. and at last had his Skin flead off and his Body seasoned with Salt and perish'd miserably Let none boast of to morrow for who knows what bloudy Rain may follow upon a red evening It hath been reported that a Learned Doctor of Oxford hung up his Leathern Breeches in his Study for a Memorial to Visitors of his mean Original The truth I avouch not but History tells us of Agathocles who arose from a Potter to be King of Sicily and would be served in no other Plate at his Table but Earthen Ware to mind him of his former drudgery 'T were well if some would remember whose Shoos they have cleaned whose Coals they have carried and whose Money they have borrowed and deal gratefully with their Creditors Fox Martyrol vol. 2. as the good Lord Cromwel did by the Florentine Merchant in the time of Henry the 8th when Woolsy like a Butcher forgot the King his Master 'T was otherwise with Holy David who being in Kingly dignity Ps 78.71 graciously calls to mind his following the Ewes great with young when now feeding the Sheep of Israel His Golden Scepter points at his Wooden Hook and he plays the old Lessons of his Oaten Pipe upon his Algum Harp and spreads his Bethlehem ' Tent within his Marble Palace on Mount Zion There be profound Mysteries of Mercy in the deep of Affliction and golden Oar is often dug from the dark Caves of restraint and great deliverances slide into us upon the streams of Sorrow God sometimes sets our Corn fields on fire to enlighten our path to himself Storms in the Voyage to Tarsus drive Jonah 2 Sam. 14.30 quite back to Nineveh He shuts our Shops that we may open our Souls to him Many break and are undone here that they may be made for ever A crack'd credit heals a Shipwreck'd Conscience Their Coin is melted by a London Fire that the Heart may not trust in uncertain Riches and a melted Heart is more worth than a Kingdom of Bullion Naked Job when scraping his Boils on the Dunghill was clad with the rich Array of Humility and his Ruby Botches glittered with patience and became a more honourable Person than in Purple among the Elders at the Gate of Aezia Earthly Riches take wings and fly up to Heaven to receive a new disposal Pro. 23.5 and Heavenly Riches fly down and make a happy change When poor and sordid Spirits are listed up by a yellow Muckhill Is 4.6 God is pleated to sink their Ships by a southwest wind that they may learn in their old Age to swim naked to the Rock of Ages When Estates flow into mens Chests and their aflections ebb from God if good in the main no wonder if shortly their Ears tingle with a rousing Hurrican and a Moth of envy reproach eat up their credit
12.1 while under the Moon 't is changeable but when clothed with the Sun in John's Vision she will be iâ—lustrious and tread the Moon under her Feet The Church has a time to sing the Song of the Lamb more melodiously than the Song of Moses Rev. 15.3 Moses his Song was a mixt Song there were Amorites to conquer after the Egyptians were sunk in the Mighty Waters After songs of deliverance come the bitter waters of Marah and new Elegies The Church sings that Song upon Earth but this Song of the Lamb in Heaven where no more troubles The Church in Apostolical times had a Sea of Glass as clear as Chrystal Rev. 4.6 wherein to see their faces and wash their spots 15.2.21.1 In Antichristian times of persecution a Sea of Glass mingled with Fire They enjoyed pure worship but attended with fiery tryals But in her Heavenly state there shall be Sea no more A State of perfection needs no more washings for communion in glory Here God wisely mingles comforts and crosses to keep us in a holy awe of sin and to encourage us in spiritual Services We contract much dust and soyl from worldly company and need washing and purging every day whereby to save our selves from this untoward Generation Act. 2.40 Israel had lain among the pots in Egypt and needed scouring in the Wilderness that the Thorns of Sinai might fetch the Onions of Egypt out of their squeazy stomachs Nay Gods people enjoy not only successive but temporary mixtures For in the midst of sorrows arises spiritual joy to support and quicken and in times of prosperiry are exercised with spiritual sins and heart-sorrows to humble and keep them steddy Nabal and Haman like other wicked wretches were either all joy or all sorrow and by turns overwhelm'd with both 1 Sam. 25.36 their hearts were as light as a feather or else sunk like lead Let 's beware when fatned with mercies lest we kick with Jesurun and when were are brought to the salt waters of Marah lest our imbittered Spirits fret against the Holy One of Israel while we proclaim our anger against instruments let 's take care that our clamours reach not the ear of God himself Men often mask their impatience at God under colour of shooting at others miscarriages We may grieve under afflictions and carry our sins by prayer to Heaven for pardon and our troubles to the Mercy-seat for relief I poured out my complaint before him Ps 142.2 says David I shewed before him my trouble Mourn we may Ezek. 7.16 Is 51.20 Songs 2.14 but murmur and mutter we must not Mourn like Doves without Gall in the Clefts of the Rock but not toss the Horn and roar like wilde Bulls in the Net full of the fury of the Lord. When we have mourned meekly and patiently for sin Mic. 7.9 and born the Indignation of the Lord we may look up for mercy till he plead our cause and execute judgment for us and say fiducially God's our God which is often the last stroke upon Davids Harp Does God chuse us for his Is 48.10 and chuse us in the Furnace of Affliction and refine us but not with Silver non quasi argentum not as if we were pure Silver already before refinement but in the midst of our dross and faeculency to make us bright for Temple-service then let us take him for our gracious and watchful Refiner and reflect his Love back again to Heaven Chuse him before all the Angels in Heaven and the sweetest familiars on Earth Ps 73.25 and then all afflictions will work kindly when the Fire of Love and the Fire of Affliction melt the Soul together and as the flaming beams of the Sun extinguish our Kitchin Fires so the heat of Divine Love will damp and put out the sense and smart of all and the most fiery trials here below Let but a Saint recollect his thoughts that there 's excellent reason why God afflicts and as the waters cannot Song 8.6 so neither the fires out burn the vehement flames of Divine Love 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 called by the Wise Man the Flame of God Succurrat non tantùm quid patiamur sed quid fecerimur Senec. Ira. l. 2. p. 33. Remember what we have done as well as suffer said the Spanish Moralist Compare our merits and sufferings and then our unworthiness and mercies together and we have little reason to complain since there is less reason why we should draw a breath in the Land of the Living Lam. 3.39 Mercies flow from the innate Bowels of God Judgment is his strange work Is 28.21 Kindness flows from the Divine Essence more naturally than streams from a Fountain or beams from the Sun but sin and affliction is rooted in us Justifie God in all and that will extinguish murmurs 1 Cor. 11.30 Sometimes there 's a particular cause for affliction which though many times latent is always just Let 's search and try our ways Lam. 3.40 and turn unto the Lord. Ask the inward Viceroy and he 'll tell thee As Clocks strike clearest in stormy times so does Conscience in the hour of Judgment though we top and clog it never so much in the fair weather of prosperity Wouldest thou know the plain truth hearken what thy heart condemns and smites for in the hearing of a searching Sermon sometimes Affliction it self points at its relative sin Adonibezek deprived of his Thumbs Judg. 1.7 could tell upon his fingers the 140 Royal Thumbs which he had cut off Is a dear Relation taken consider thy sins both in it and toward it Si res angusta domi If poverty pinch remember abused plenty and careless expences Does God withdraw his shining face it may be thou hast grieved his Spirit and therefore he grieves thine most righteously Hast thou cooled and quenched his Heavenly Motion wonder not if he stop his ear at thy cries and at length leave thee to coolness and deadness of heart Rev. 3.16 Thou art lukewarm in his cause Grumble not at Laodiceas Portion to be spew'd out of his mouth Art thou puff'd up with parts which are but gifts Gods not thine repine not if others prick thy swoln Bladder with the pin of infamy Want of pity and relief to thy Brother reaps just unkindness in time of straits Censorious persons must run the gauntlet patiently and a lashing Tongue needs a Launcet to let out its Salt and fiery Bloud or may be prickt with Pins as Fulvia dealt by Cicero Cassius l. 47. p. 331. d. Angry persons often meet with sturdy matches as good at fifty cuffs as themselves It 's usual for men to be measured by their own bushel and for froward affronts to meet with divine requital unless for sins of daily infirmity sudden tentations and disorderly provocations from others Then to mourn watch and pray is a Saints Armour and go to Heaven with Elthu Job 34.33
its Faeces or Terra damnata having opened it by Chymical Anatomy and other Methods we may infer something though but rudely of its Nature Or when we observe its Power in several Effects and Experiments in cleansing the Blood from Leprosies and Scorbutical Infections or the Head and its Nerves from dizziness swimmings and paralytical or waterish resolutions of the Tone of any its curious Engines by its Volatile Tincture We conclude its powerful vertue in Physick though as to the modus operandi the Methods and Manner of its influence we are still at a loss But alas an Angel hath an other-guess Knowledge by an intuitive speculation into the profundity and depth of its Nature without Argument or Process of Medicinal Trials which Method of ours is but a mean low and crazy inquisition and subject to foul Errors But in that Angelical manner we may deem that the Soul shal arrive to that high dignity of penetrating into its Objects by intuition far beyond what Adam or Noah or Solomon ever attained What pleasant work will the Material Beings which may then survive the fatal Fire administer to the Souls Contemplation in that happy Pitch 2 Pet. 3.12 13. whereby to glorifie and honour the infinite wise Creator of all When as these things which we now handle by sense and the dwindling light of the Soul like a Rush-candle in this Night of ignorance being the Objects of our laborious and erring speculations are but middle beings between thousands transcending these in Magnitude and Glory and such innumerable minute essences vastly beneath us as to our power of inquisition as the others are in sublimity beyond and above us So that it may be questioned whether the Majesty of our infinitely to be adored Maker will in that day shine forth more radiantly in the Heavens and other stupendious portions of his Workmanship for greatness or the unspeakable curiosity of Nature in the lesser Fabricks which sink beneath our observation for excess of littleness which the Acumen of our Eyes are not able to discern Besides these upon what immaterial Objects may we a little imagine shall the Soul then feastits Paradisian Faculties Such as may entertain our thoughts with sacred wonder and sit down in the dust of astonishment that their unconceiveable varieties will fill up the capacity and run beside the august and comprehensive Spirits of the Cherubims and yet the Saints shall have and enjoy some cognizance of these transcendent pleasures For the Soul in Glory shall have a neerer Union to Christ then now nay than Angels themselves Heb. 2.16 For he took not upon him the Nature of Angels Joh. 17.22 And our Blessed Lord prays that the Saints may be one even as the Father and the Son are one They shall constitute one mystical body with the Son in a purer and closer Union than possible in this wilderness state The Hypostatical Union of Christ to the Deity is of a sublimer nature than the most Glorified Creature can unfold For the Angels do 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 stoop and pry into the Mystery of the Golden Mercy-seat 1 Pet. 1.12 and were fixed in that place continually to abide and therefore the Cherubims in that Emblem were made of one piece of Massy Gold together with the Mercy-seat Exod. 25.19.37.7 to shew not only the standing of the Elect Angels by the vertue of Christ's Mediatorship 1 Tim. 5.21 but also to indicate that they could never exhaust and drink in the Knowledge of the Mystery of that Union Mat. 18.10 though they are constantly beholding the Face of our Heavenly Father Yet still this Mystical Union implies a Glorious Approximation of the Saints to Christ in some similitude with Christs Union to the Deity Joh. 17.12 For the Glory which the Father gave unto Christ hath Christ given to the Saints who are blessed in Heavenly Places in Christ and shall sit down with him in his Throne Eph. 1.3 as he is set down with the Father on the paternal Throne Rev. 3.21 and as all Judgment is committed to the Son so shall Saints also judge both the World and Angels A glimpse of this Glory in this State shines into the heart from the Spirit of Christ dwelling in Saints They that are joyned to the Lord Paul says not shall pertake of but are one Spirit 1 Cor. 6.17 and thereby in an unspeakable manner become Partakers of the Divine Nature Yet we must ponder on these Deeps with sacred caution For this Mystical Union is infinitely distinct from Hypostatical The Spirit of Christ as he dwells in the Head though in a more eminent manner yet so he also does intimè pervadere enter into the Essence of the Souls of Saints and this Inhabitation may be embleme◠by the Rational Souls dwelling in the Animal Spirits of the Bloud But in Christ the Head he dwells fully and in the Members according to distinct measures and proportions Col. 2.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Again the state of the Soul shall be admirable not only in the Limpid Chrystalline clearness of its glorified Eye but the unclothed Majesty of the Objects without Vails and Curtains and the pure Emanation or Eradiation of their Beams into the Soul Saints shall be like unto God and see him as he is a word that has no bottom which Heaven it self cannot sufficiently expound to a finite capacity We shall see him without the Glass of Reflection by Argument as here inferring his Divine Power and God-head from the Works of Creation and without the Magnifying Glass of Ordinances to help the weakness of our spiritual senses and without the Perspective Glass of Faith and promises They shall behold his Face 1 Joh. 3.2 Rev. 22.4.1 Cor. 13.12 Joh. 14.8 Exod. 33.20 23. and know as they are known Philip's desire of having the Father shewn shall then suffice indeed when glorified Saints shall enjoy what was denied to Moses not only to contemplate the Being of Beings but as the Causality the Fountain and Principle of all Essences yea and comprehend with all Saints by the Spirit the unlimited Eph. 3.16.19 unfathomable Love of Christ and be filled with all the fulness of God and hereaster conceive more how the three infinite Persons stand in relative Glory and enjoy more ample light as to the Sons Eternal Generation and the Spirits Divine and Everlasting Procession They shall drink of the River of Light that flows from his Essence Here upon Earth we behold the Sun at a distance but cannot mount up to walk in those Mountains of brightness But then the Church shall be clothed with the Sun of Righteousness Rev. 12.1 There was of old a little spark of Glory in the Temple Ps 27.4 and Holy David desired to see that beauty which shined in the Sanctuary But Oh what perfusions of Glory shall animate the soul in Heaven when it shall be illustrated with the morning knowledge of Angels
We may justly wonder at the ravishing delight of those Holy Spirits wherewith they are nourished to ever-springing and soul-fustaining Extasies in their Ministration before him and studying the beautiful Volumes of his Essence Saints shall see him as distinct from all Creatures and unvailed of all Relation and yet take superlative pleasure in that all the Excellencies in their God are in him as an Everlasting Father and he that sitteth on he Throne shall dwell among them Rev. 7.15 17. and the Lamb in the midst of the Throne shall feed them in the Pastures of Glory and lead them to Living Fountains of Water In that day it 's likely they may understand more of his Eternal Counsels of Election Creation Redemption and Salvation then now and dive into the Ocean of his inscrutable Providences and walk among those Coral Rocks and Mines of Pearl that now lye hid in the great Deeps It 's no small advantage to this withering old Age of the World to reflect upon the Passages of all successive Generations both before and since the Floud both before and since the Incarnation of our Blessed Saviour 'T is a Cordial to refresh our drooping Spirits in this sink and sullage of times to recal the state of the three Worlds in Peter 2 Pet 3.6 7. and to gather Maxims for direction in difficult and stormy Deluges To revolve the Prophesies and their fulfillings as to the rise growth decrease and fall of the 4 mighty Monarchies in Daniel and to observe that when they touch'd upon the Church the Apple of his Eye how then they began to totter and decline to ruine and thereby to encourage us as to the fatal Destruction of all the Adversaries that shall arise till the Glory of the New Jerusalem That all the Toes of Daniels Image shall as certainly be broken in pieces as the Head and Shoulders Dan. 2.35 the Legs as the Breast and Belly and the Statue shall become like the Chaff of the Somer thresning flowers which the Wind shall carry away and no place be found for them and the Stone that smites that Image shall become a great Mountain a Glorious Kingdom filling the whole Earth But these though such Illustrious Fruits of the Eternal Counsels of God are small things in comparison of what the Saints shall see perfectly in the Mount of Glory Then the reasons of all the motions of the Wheels in Ezekiel conveying the Chariot of Cherubims shall shine as bright as the Wheels themselves Then they shall admire at Heavens Reasons of state for all the Intricacies Perplexities and afflictions of the Church in all Ages and Nations the Foundation of the glory which then shall follow Then shall the saints behold an object which shall transform the Subject of the Spectator into the same refulgent Glory to be like him as he is 1 Joh. 3.2 Ps 34.5 As they in the Psalmist were enlightned by vision and the longer they behold the optick Nerve of the Soul will advance stronger into the depth of Intellectual beauties 2 Cor. 3.18 and be changed from Glory to Glory Yea when their countenances shine beyond the Sun in his strength they shall sit down in the Kingdom of their Father at a Glorious Supper where blessed Angels shall attend the great Lord and Bridegroom of his Church They shall drink abundantly Songs 5.1 Hebr. Mat. 26.29 Rev. 2.9 be inebriated with new Wine and eat of the Tree of Life in the midst of the Paradise of God alluding to that of Eden in the State of Innocence While the Learned dispute about that Trees real existence in nature Danaei mund antiq p. 31. Ep. Augustin de civ l. 13. c. 21. Junius c. though hid from mortals in the Regions of Mesopotamia while others fancy it to be the Imputrible Cedar and that a first Ens or Balsamick Oil may be extracted from it for prolongation of Life Helmont Grembs while they argue let us determine that Saints shall then seed upon the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Tree of Life Is 65.22 the Lord Jesus himself when the union of our nature in and by him to the Divine shall communicate to all his Mystical Members Eternal Life not only by donation but influence The Jews affirm Joh. 10.28 that Manna tasted to the Palate of their Fathers according to every ones wish and sancy However that story stands we are certain that in this Bread of Life the very desires and wishes of Saints shall be transcended It hath not entred into the Heart of Man to conceive what is prepared for them that love him 1 Cor. 2.9 That Heavenly Feast will be soul-satisfying to the utmost When I awake says David i. e. in the Resurrection Morning I shall be satisfied with thy Likeness For in the Presence or Face of God will be fulness of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a word used for the Exhilaration of the Spirits by Wine Ps 17.15.16.11 Judg. 9 1◠Eccl. 10.19 For infinite Grace and Glory will shine from the Light of his Countenance Rivers of Eden or pleasure flow at his Right Hand for evermore Ezek. 47.7.12 Rev. 22.1 to nourish the delicious Trees of Paradise for Food and Medicine whereby to preserve a Glorious Immortalily in the Life to come In that Triumphal Coronation and Nuptial Feast there will be satiety without cloying satisfaction connex'd with longing a continual enjoyment of the same delights without fear or sense of deprivation For its Duration shall be everlasting It shall never be sung Tibi deserit hesper Olympum No evening shadows shall darken these Olympian Mountains Saints shall never rise from that Festival Table Is 35.10 Rev. 7.17 but everlasting Joy shall set upon their heads and hearts and the everlasting Father shall wipe away all Tears yea the spring of Tears out of their Eyes There King Solomon will sit down with all his Glory in that day in the gladness of his Heart Song 3.11 There will be present the everlasting Comforter abiding with the Saints for ever Joh. 14.16 Rev. 22.17 Heb. 12.22 The Spirit faith Come as well as the Bride There will be an innumerable company of Angels Luk. 24.4 in their Gorgeous Attire of white and shining Raiment and Crowns of Gold upon their Heads Rev. 4.4 Oh what a glittering shew will stand round about the Celestial Saphire Throne Whenas one Angel in his magnificent pomp and splendour were enough to extinguish the Sun and all the bright Lamps of the inferiour Heavens Rev. 21.23 There will be the whole Congregation of the First born from Abel to Enoch from Noah to Abraham from Moses to Samuel under the waving Standards of the Tribes of Israel solacing in each others communion Lazarus talking in the Arms of Abraham and beloved John once again asking questions in the Bosom of Christ The persecuted Thessalonian Brethren shall be the Joy and Crown of Rejoycing to Holy Paul