first Parents in Paradice How wonderfull those Plagues and Destructions upon Pharaoh and the land of AEgypt for their oppressing Gods people And before that how fearfull and horrible was that destruction and burning up of Sodom and Gomorrah and other Cities with fire and brimstone from Heaven And before both these how wonderfully fearefull and universall was the destruction of the whole world in that choaking and All-o'rewhelming flood or deluge How fearfull were the stroaks of Gods displeasure upon his owne people of Israel in their many Destructions and Captivities How fearfull the rejection of the tâ—…n Tribes wholly swallowâ—…d up and lost for so many agâ—…s and generations How lamentable were the destructions and especiall that by Titus and Vespasion of the holy City that glorious Jerusalem in the slaughter and captivity of 1100000 thousand Jewes men women and children How fearfull was the rejection of that whole Nation of the Jewes ever since but a curse and a scorne to all the rest of the Nations of the world to this day And above all who can but tremble at the impartiall flames of Gods justice on that green and innocent tree his owne and only begegotten son Christ Jesus when he stood surety in the room of sinners to make satisfaction for their transeressions Object Grant Gods justice and fierce wrath to be so hot so fiery and fearfull towards his enemies yet what need his children fear his justice since that it is satisfied and his wrath appeased towards his people by the sufferings and blood-shed of Christ Jesus I answer It is so evident that although Christ Jesus his blood hath quenched the fire of Gods eternall wrath toward his people and sweetned the bitter Cup of all present Judgements and afflictions yet for his Name and Justice sake in this world Gods children have temporally felt the fearful stroks of his displeasure and judgment must begin at the house of God Hence that dreadfull blow of Gods righteous hand upon our first Parents Adam and Eve cast out of Paradice with their posterity even the whole race of mankind notwithstanding their belief in the promised seed Christ Jesus Hence the heavy stroakes upon Lot upon Lots wife upon Moses upon Aaron upon Sampson upon Eli upon David upon Hezekiah upon Josiah c. Object But some may say God sees no sin in Jacob c. I answer Their calamities are Judgements that is righteous sentences of the most high Judgements though not eternall Judgements these vindicate Gods name and Justice before an unrighteous world and beare him witnesse of his impartiality even toward his owne children these humble and bring his people to repentance and confession and quicken their pace and their hearts to watch against future sins and provocations Hence saith the Spirit of God expresly 1 Cor. 11. For this cause that is for his childrens abuse of the Lords Supper many are weak and sick and some are falne asleep God chastiseth his own people true christian Churches for the abuse of his holy Ordinances and appointments In the second place let us cast our eyes abroad and behold the direfull signs and tokens of Gods severe Justice executed at this present in the world How lamentably doe we sce before our eyes the daily and continued effects of that first wrath upon mankind in so many sorrows of all sorts for the first transgression Let us consider of the great constant reproach and misery over all the Nations of the World by reason of Gods righteous Sentence in the division of so many Tongues and Languages O come and see saith David what Desolations Psal. 46. the Lord hath wrought in the Earth How many hundred thousands of men women and children have of late years been swept away in the world by wars famines and pestilencies And since we are commanded to weep with them that weep O that our heads were fountains and our eyes rivers of waters that wee might weep with Germany weep with Ireland yea weep day and night with England and Scotland to speake nothing of other remote Nations in laying againe and again to heart the stroakes of Gods most righteous judgements in their mosâ—… fearfull slaughters and desolations The effects and marks of these most dreadfull blowes every eye is forced to see but yet there are some stroakes more fearfull and yet not easily pâ—…rceived such are the righteous judgements of God giving up the Nations of the world to so many horrible and blasphemous worships idolatries and superstitions To speak nothing of whole Nations and Kingdomes that know not at all the true and living God how cold and hard is that stone that lyes upon the mouth of that wonderfull grave of unbeliefe wherein the Nation of Gods choice and love the Jewes lye buried ond o'rewheImed to this day Who can but wonder and tremble at so many hundreth thousand and millions of men given up for so long a time in so many and so mighty flourishing Nations of the world I say given up to those two monstrously bewitching Worships of Mahumatisme and Antichristianisme the dire effects of Gods most righteous judgements upon the Easterne and Westernâ—… professors of the knowledge of God in Christ Jesus Adde to these that most fearfull and deplorable captivity of the very soules and coâ—…sciences of Gods owne people for so many hundâ—…ed years under false and superstitious Worships A righteous judgement though not so easily discerned yet in it selfe most dreadfull and exceeding all the temporall calamities in the world But thirdly from these two times of past and present let us cast our eyes on the third which is yet to come as sure and wonderfull will shortly be thâ—…se two most wonderfull and dreadfull downfals of those two so mighty Monarchies so great enemies to Christ Jesus the Turkish and the Popish according to the Prediction of the holy Propheâ—…s How fearfull the effusion of the Viols in part fulfilled and yet to be powred forth in their season And not a little wondâ—…rfull is that mighty destruction of the Nations Gog and Magog gathered as the sand of the Sea against the camp of the saints of the holy City And to come to the full period and finall sentence of the most righteous Judge of the whole World with what horrours and terrours shall these Heavens and Earth passe away this Earth with the works thereof being consumed and burnt up How inconceiveably direfull will the last eternall judgement be when two worlds of men the former destroyed by water and this by fire shall appeare before the most glorious Tribunall of the Son of God When all the most secret sins shall be brought to tryal and an account shall be given for every idle word O who can conceive the terrours of that thundering sentence Goe yee cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels where the worm never dyes and the fire never goes out Object
continually say with David Psalme 143. Thy Spirit is good lead me c. and Psal. 139. Search me O God and try my heart and see if thou findest any way of wiekednes in me and lead me in the way evâ—…rlasting These and many more are the trials 〈◊〉 spirituâ—…ll strength health and cheerfulnes in matters concerning God We now come to the second Head of trialls of spirituall health and strength in matters concerning our selves First then it is an Argument of spirituall health and strength when especially after known sins committed our hearts are in a broken frame and temper when our spirits are as it were contrite and pounded like spice in a Morter then yeelding the most delightfull smell and savour unto God Hence Isa. 66 a contrite and broken heart is an House wherein God dwels an House well ordered swept and garnished Hence a Spirit of trembling Isa. 66. is an Argument and character of the most dutifull children of God but of this formeâ—…ly 2ndly It is an Argument of spirituall strength when we make it our work to observe watch and kill our corruptions and rebellions and labour to keep under and beat down our body to an holy fitnes and readines for Gods service in fasting and prayer against temptations Obj. But may not Hypocrites humble themselves and labour to mortifie their lusts and corruptions I answer no question but in horrour of conscience and fear of Gods judgments an Hypocrite may humble himself in fasting as Ahab c. but to kill sin as sin and to desire to be ready for Gods will in denying and subduing his own is only the character and property of a child of God 3ly It is an Argument of spirituall health and strength when we so look upon our sins and our sinfull dispositions that we not only loath our sins but also loath our selves for them So saith the Lord Ezek. 6. My people shall loath themselves for their abominations and for their whoorish heartâ—…gainst me Thus Job when he recovers himself from his murmurings against God he cries out Behold I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes And David Psal 73 looks upon himself for his murmuâ—…ing against Gods providence as an ignorant person as a fool and a beast in Gods presence Object But may not an Hypocrite loath and abhor himselfe for sin I answer It is possible for an Hypocrite to be sorry for some sins and to be angry with himselfe and to loath himselfe but not properly for his sins which he loveth but as theeves whores drunkards c. for the danger damage and disgrace which his sin may bring upon him It is onely the property of Gods children to look at sin as sin with a loathing eye and to behold themselves vile and loathsome even for the most pleasing and profitable and delightfull and most secret sins Fourthly It is an Argument of the strength of Spirituall life when we lay downe our selves at the feet of God when as a Servants will our wils are subdued to the Lords will when the Lord is become our selfe when his ends are our ends which give us content and pleasure although our selves our ends are lost and destroyed that wee may finde new ends and delights in God Hence Epaphroditus to further the worke of the Lord Phil. 2 he regarded not his health and consequently not his life as a true Souldier in the Service of his heavenly King and Captaine Object But may not an Hypocrite deny himselfs his owne ends his pleasures his profits his credit his liberty his life I answer It is impossible for all that he doth is still for himselfe like Israel Hosea 7. He is an empty vine he bringeth forth fruit to himself All that he aims at in using the name of God his glory his Christ is still to exalt himselfe to save himselfe But Gods children eye ever a greater end then selfe to wit the glorifying of their God although it be in their own destructions Fifthly Our hearts are then in an healthfull frame and disposition when we are cordially willing to goe from hence that we may be with Christ Phil. 3. yet for the service of Christ and his Saints we are cordially willing to stay in hard and difficult Service Object But may not an Hypocrite desire to dye and to be with Christ I answer An Hypocrite may defire to dye and to be with Christ in a glorious condition but no Hypocrite can endure to dye to be with Christ in an holy and spirituall condition free from sin and therefore can he not endure uprightly c. to worke for Christ on Earth Sixthly Then are we in an healthfull frame of Grace when God hath brought down our hearts to be content with the changes of his right-hand upon us when we have learnt the lesson of Paul to be content with food and raiment with a travellers and strangers portion of so much as may serve us in our Journey When we can tell how to abound without Pride or security or â—…rust in earthly things and when we can tell how to want all outward mercies with quietnesse and contentation Obj. But may not Hypocrites be contented with smal matters and suppresse their desires of great things and say with Esau unto Jacob Keep that thau hast my brother I have enough I answer The desires of all men are not alike greedy but yet the desires of men are truely satisfied with out God Now when changes and the losse of all things fall upon the Hypoâ—…rite he cannot finde those changes and those losses made up in God No Habakkuk tels us That it is the Character of Gods children when the corne is gone and the flocks and the heards and the vine and the figtree faile to rejoyce in God alone for a portion and to glory in the God of their Salvation Seventhly Then are our hearts in an healthfull frame when we are not onely willing to suffer for the name of Christ Jesus but whâ—…n we also conceive a kinde of pleasure in it so saith Paul I take pleasure in necessities in distresses and for Christs sake Hence the Saints Heb. 13. 10. not onely suffered the spoyling of their goods but they took the spoyling of their goods with joy Object May not Hipocrites suffer joyfully for Christ I answer An Hypocrite may doe and suffer with a seeming joy for Christ But he can never doe this out of love to Christ 1 Cor. 13. but alwayes out of selfe-love for his owne glory and honour out of strong conviction of conscience least he be damned in denying his light c. Onely Gods children can out of love to Christ Jesus rejoyce as some true friend or wife to be afflicted and to sorrow and loose for their Souls beloved Object Why then are many of Gods Children so heavy in their sufferings and losses for Christ Jesus I answer This hapneth sometimes out of distemper of
is not the grossest Protestant or Papist but pretends to the Spirit of God yea that horrid Monster Mahomet blusht not to avouch that in the Forme of a Dove the holy Spirit of God did whisper in his eare from Heaven Now blessed is that Spirit publike or private who is truly willing and joyfull to lye downe in the Ballances of the Lords weighings Hitherto tend these Experiments of personal Communion with God in the Spirit of Holinesse Rom. 1. 3. 'T is true all publike and private Christian Spirits pretend the Spirit of Holinesse yea how great a part of the World pretend to be Christendome the Christian world that is anointed with the Spirit of Christ Jesus But was it Death in Moses Rites to counterfeit that ceremoniall and figurative Ointment Exod. 30. what shall it be to counterfeit the Spirit of Life and Holiness it self What I beleeve therefore as David and Paul once spake I freely speak Yea who can but speak saith Peter and John the Things they have seene and heard I confesse I spake these first but in a private Letter in America and thought not that the light in Europe should have seen them But a two-fold desire hath prevailed with me to expose these Tryalls to the Trying of all men 1. The earnest desire of some Godly Friends 2. Mine owne desire of sowing a little handfull of spirituall seed while the short Minute of my seed-time the opportunity of life lasteth My scope is to fill each truly Christian soule with triumphing and rejoycing I speak peace and joy to the Weakest Lamb and Child in Christianity that is so low so weake so litle so poor in its owne eyes that it sometimes saith it hath no Christ no Spirit no Faith no Love no nor true Desire in it selfe To this poore weake one I speak peace and joy and say this spirituall poverty is blessed and is the first step or round of that spirituall Ladder Mat. 5. Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdome of Heaven Secondly I sound joyfull Alarums of Encouragement to the strong to grow as Peter exhorteth in the Grace and Knowledge of the Lord Jesus T is true the communion of Saints is sweet and joyfull strong and powerfull eternally gainfull and profitable and holy and blessed is that Spirit that makes the Saints who are the Excellent of the Earth its Delight and after that blessed hour of the Saints uniting in one Heart one Spirit one Worship let all that love Christ Jesus mourne and lament and breath and pant And yet the weakest and the faintest Lamb that comes but stealing in the Crowd to touch the hemb of the Lord Jesus his garment that is content to be esteemed a Dog and to wait for crums of mercy under the Table of the Son of God let them I say rejoyce also for he that hath begun that blessed work by his owne free and eternall Spirit will by the same his owne holy Arme gloriously finish it I end Deare Christian with the proposall of two Christian knots or Riddles not unsuitable to these present Times and Spirits First Why is the Heart of a David himself Psa. 30. more apt to decline from God upon the Mountaine of Joy Deliverance Victory Prosperity then in the dark Vale of the shadow of Death Persecution Sicknesse Adversity c. Secondly Why is it since God worketh freely in us to doe and to will of his owne good pleasure that yet he is pleased to command us to work out our owne Salvation with Feare and Trembling Let us all humbly beg the Finger the Spirit of the Lord to untie these Knots for us I. desire to be thine unseighned in Christ Jesus R. W. The Contents of this Discourse The Heads are three UNder the first are contained the Arguments of Spirituall Life wherein the Weakest and the Sickest Child of God may finde its Spirituall Life apparent though over-cast and eclipsed with spirituall Weaknesse and Distempers Under the second Head Arguments of the strength and vigour of the Spirit of Life and Holinesse In which the strongest and the eldest in Christ may find Experiments of Spirituall Health and Christian Activity and chearfullnesse These Experiments respect 1. The Souls private correspondenâ—…y with the Lord himselfe 2. Converse and correspondency with Men 3. Private Retirednesses with it selfe Under the third Head are proposed some Means wherein the Spirit of God usually breatheth for the preserving and maintaining of a truly Spirituall and Christian Health and Chearfullnesse The Letter which the Author sent with this Discourse to his Wife M. W. upon her recovery from a dangerous sicknesse My Dearest Love and Companion in this Vale of Tears THy late sudden and dangerous Sicknesse and the Lords most gracious and speedy raising thee up from the gates and jawes of Death as they were wonderfull in thine own and others eyes so I hope and earnestly desire they may be ever in our thoughts as a warning from Heaven to make ready for a sudden call to be gone from hence to live the rest of our short uncertaine span more as strangers longing and breathing after another Home and Country To cast off our great cares and fears and desires and joyes about this Candle of this vaine life that is so soon blowne out and to trust in the living God of whose wonderfull power and mercy thou hast had so much and so late experience which must make thee sing with David Psal. 103. Blesse the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me blesse his holy Name Blesse the Lord O my Soul and forget not all his benefits who forgiveth all thy sins and healeth thine infirmities who redeemeth thy life from destruction and crowneth thee with mercy and loving kindnesse My dear Love since it pleaseth the Lord so to dispose of me and of my affairs at present that I cannot often see thee I desire often to send to thee I now send thee that which I know will be sweeter to thee then the Honey and the Honey-combe and stronger refreshment then the strongest wines or waters and of more value then if every line and letter wâ—…e thousands of gold and silver Hezekiah upon his recovery from his sicknesse made a writing Isai. 38. as an everlasting monument of his praise unto God and as a Goad or spur to himselfe and others in the wayes of godlinesse for the future Thy holy and humble desires are strong but I know thy writing is slow and that thou wilt gladly accept of this my poore helpe which with humble thankefulnesse and praise to the Lord I humbly tender to his holy service and thine in him I send thee though in Winter an handfull of flowers made up in a little Posey for thy dear selfe and our dear children to look and smell on when I as the grasse of the field shall be gone and withered Wee know how it pleaseth the spirit of God to distinguish between
the outward and the inner man 2 Cor. 4. Though our outward man perish yet our inner is renewed day by day It hath pleased the most high to cast downe thy outward man and againe graciously to lift him up and thereby to teach us both to examine and try the health and strength and welfare of the inner I will not now enter upon the Disputes about that question what is the Inner-man whether Christ himselfe as some say or an Image or likenesse of Christ Jesus as others say That is a Candle or Torch to me which is written Ephes. 3. That Christ may dwell in your Hearts by faith unto which agrees that of the first of John As many as received him that is received Christ Jesus into the house of their hearts to dwell there by beleiving and obeying of him they are borne of the Spirit and are the Sons of God This Inner man this new-man which after God is created in holinesse and righteousuesse I say this Inner-man hath his tempers and distempers his health and sicknesse as well as this outward-man this body of Clay Hence we hear so often mentioned the renewing of the inward-man the growing and increasing of Faith and Love and other breathings of Gods Spirit the losse that is in a measure of the Ephesians first love Hence the many falls of the Lords best Servants recorded in Scripture and the sleep of the Spouse of Christ Jesus although her heart wake in the truth of marriagelove which can never wholly dye in her and be extinguished The holy Scripture mentioneth a three-fold persoâ—… in all that are borne againe First the body of Flesh and clay this outward naturall being which must be dissolved and dye then rise againe to Glory The second is the body of corruption or old man which being deadly wounded by the Son of God alreadie in all that are his shall shortly give up the ghost and rot and never rise again The third is this holy heavenly inner man of whose health and daily renewing I now discourse who is born of an immortall seed and therefore can no more die then Christ himself Rom. 6. Now as this outward man desires not onely life and being but also health and cheerfulness in all the living motions and actions thereof So and much more ten thousand fold requires the inward and spirituall man an healthfull and cheerfull temper For as the Lord loveth a cheâ—…rfull giver So loves he also a cheerfull Preacher a chearfull hearer a chearfull prayer and a chearfull sufferer for his Name sake He loves that the fhoes of preparation be on our feet ready to run all wayes and weathers the paths of his Command â—…ents That like a vessel our leaks be stopt and our whole soul be ready in an holy trim and tightness for all his holy employments of us in the greatest tempests â—…hat like heavenly souldiers our Arms be fixt or like an Instrument the strings of our affâ—…ctions and parts be all in tune to make heavenly musick in the holy ears of our heavenly Lord and King T is true as it is between a loving couple and as it was in the Church at Ephesus it is not easiâ—… to keep in the first flame of Love fresh and equall although the fire of the truth and sinceritie of marriage love never die or be extingnished It is true that Paul cries out how much more may we O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death T is true that sometimes corruption and Satan surprize and carry away the stâ—…ongest champions of Christ Jesus as slaves and captives for a time untill Christ Jesus rescue redeem and ransome by giving repentance unto his Israel as he did to David Peter c. as Abraham rescued Lot and as David recovered all his precious captives led slaves away from Ziklag I am far therefore from passing the sentence of death upon the least of the little ones of Jesus notwithstanding their spirituall weaknes and sicknesses in whom the leaâ—…spâ—…rk or breathing of the spirit of Life can be discerned And I desire to see and lament the spirituall sicknesses and diseases of mine own and others Spirits which yet are not unto death as Christ Jesus spake of Lazarus but for the glory of God in the fall and rising of his servants Yea as Paul distinguisheth of Gods afl cting hand on his Saints at Corinth so must I distinguish between these three death sicknes and weakness Every sicknes of Gods Children is not a death for the inner man cannot die no more then Christ himself Rom 6. Again every weaknes is not a sicknes for some are weak little ones in the knowledg and love of Christ while others are grown to be strong and aged in Christ Jesus Yea the strongest and oldest Souldiers of Christ Jesus who have not thought their dearest Heart blood to dear for such a Lord and Master have yet been troubled with some weaknes and fits of spirituall distempers Weaknes in their Eyes is not discerning aright the mind of Christ Jesus weaknes in their hands and Feet hindring their spirituall chearfulnes and activity in Christs wayes which weaknesses yet have not brought them to a down right halting in Christianity I propose therefore with the assiâ—…tance of Gods holy spirit to examine these three particulars First what a ethe Arguments of that measure of spirituall life in Chrâ—…st which yet may stand with great spirituall weaknesses and diseases 2ly What is that 〈◊〉 of the grace of Christ Jesus which may be called the health and chearfull temper and disposition of the inner man 3dly What are those spirituall preservatives which may keâ—…p the Soul in an healthfull temper free from spirituall sicknesses and dâ—…stempers In these Examinations I professe two thinâ—… First not to oppresse thy thoughts and memory with any long discourse intending only to send thee after thy sicknes a little posey fit and easie for thy meditation and refâ—…shing 2ly All my Flowers shall be some choice example or speech of some son or daughter of God pickt out from the Garden of the holy Scriptures for our spirituall refreshing and consolation I begin therefore with such trialls and arguments as declare the true life of the inner man notwithstanding spirituall weaknes sicknes and distempers First then when the Spirit of the Lord in 1 Job 2. describeth the severall Ages and grouths of this inward man to wit a child a strong man and an old man it pleasath him to describe the young or little one by this difference that He knows the Father to wit that he knows the Lord so as to look upon him in his measure as to a Father that he fears him loves him obeys him and calls upon him as on a Father according to that of Gal 4. Because you are sons he hath sent forth the spirit of his Son crying in your Hearts Abâ—…a Father Father pardon me Father help
retired alone to private prayer and sometimes spent the whole night in prayer to God with strong cries tears and supplications And therefore is it that all true Christians are the spirituall Israelites that is wrastlers and strivers with God in prayer like unto their Father Jacob who wrastled all night in prayer with God wiâ—…h weeping and supplications and would not let the Angel go untill he blessed him and therefore his name was called Israel a wrastler or prevailer with God as well as Jacob a supplanter and prevailer with men Ob. But may not Hypocrites be frequent and fervent in prayer to God Did not the Pharisees and Iews pray and fast often Do not the very Turks solemnly pray five times each 24-houres And the Papists not onely keep their solemn morning and evening times of prayer but many other solemn prayers unto which the severall orders of Friars Monks and Nuns bind themselves And how easie is it by worldly engines to wheel about the Indians of America to become frequent prayers unto God c. I answer Many are the differences between the true prayers of Gods children and the false of dissemblers and hypocrites I will name a few for instance First then hypocrites pray but in a form and lip-labour as a tâ—…sk and work to be done for carnall respects to merit at Gods hand or to stop the mouth of conscience which tels them they cannot be Gods children except they pray But true prayer is the pouring out of the heart to God the true breathing of the soul to God arising as Incense and perfume unto God Hence no doubt although Paul before his conversion prayed much unto God for he was a Pharisie yet he never praid indeed untill his great change and the descending of the holy Spirit of prayer upon him And therefore the Lord sends Ananias with this incouragement unto Paul Behold the prayeth Act. 9. Hence Gods children find a kind of holy pleasure and delight in prayer whatever be the event or issue it pleaseth God to give like as a man finds delight in casting off an heavy burthen from his shoulder or in the unbosoming of a grief into the bosome of a friend Thus Hanna opprest with grief weeps no more when she had powred forth her supplication before the Lord And the Lord Jesus pâ—…wred forth his prayers and tears in the bosome of his Father and then rostâ—… quiet in his Fathers pleasure as touching the passing by or drinking of the bitter cup Oâ—…j Bâ—…t may not the children of God want holy pleasure and delight in prayer and depart from Gods presence as heavy as they came I answer some spirituall distempers may hinder and obstruct the operations of the Spirit of prayer nevertheles the soulâ—…nd spirit praies and mourns for the absence of holy pleasure and delight in this holy exercise Hence Davids mourning as a Turtledove in his prayers and Jeremies lamentings for the obâ—…ructions between the Lord and their souls in this holy Communion The second difference is the Hypocrites prayers more respect the ears of men then God as the Lord Jesus tells us They pray that men may know so much and esteem them Religious Gods children like true lovers delight to be private and fervent with their heavenlâ—…Father and Husband Thirdly Hypocrites in their prayers most commonly respect earthly things and therefore Hos. 7. they cry and howl upon their Beds for corn wine or at the best they respect but themselves c. although it be in the pardon of their sins and saving of their Souls But the prayers of Gods children chiefly eye heavenly things Hence the wonderfull spirituallity of Christs prayer to his Father John 7. for the glorifying of his name and spirituall Grace and mercy in the souls of Beleevers Hence the admirablâ—…spirituallity of Davids prayers for spirituall and soul mâ—…rcies Psal 119. And the fervent prayers of Paul in all his Epistles for heavenly and spirituall mercies to the Saints oâ—…God Hypocrites like Dogs howl and fawn for bones and crusts c. But Gods children beg the proper tokens and characters of a spirituall Father to his spirituall children and Beloved 4thly Hypocrites will not always cry unto God Jâ—…b 27. but at last with Saul if God answer not they run tothe Devill in evill means murmur and despair But Gods children can no more cease to cry unto God then to live a spiritual life and therefore resolve to give God no Rest untill they receive an answer and therefore also wait for his holy pleasure and leasure and at last are satisfied with the Lords holy pleasure and sentence alâ—…hough it seem crosse add bitter to flesb and blood So Moses in respect of his suit to God for his going into the land of Canâ—… So David praying for his child So Christ Jesus in respect of his bitter cup So Paul praying against hiâ—… great temptation Obj. But may not Hypocrites pray long and also wait upon God I answer they may yet at last out of â—…nbelief and anger like an angry Dog or sturdy Beggar they cry out in murmur and wrath as the unbelieving King of Israel wâ—…at should I waiâ—… upon God any longer But Gods children never give over for when they grow weary they like Moses beg help to their fainting hands in prayer and desire their eyes may never cease trickling tears unto God untiâ—… he look down from Heaven Lament: 2. A 5th Argument of spirituall health and strength is a constant holy sence of our own unwortbines vilenes and â—…asenes in Gods presence Hence Jacob professeth himself lâ—…sse then the least of Gods mercies that is then the least crum or drop or rag or look of mercy Hence the Centurion professeth himself not worthy that Christ should come under his Roof Hence Elizabeth her holy wonder whence is it saith â—…he that the Mother of my Lord should come unto me Hence Mephiboseth wonderâ—… that David should look upon such a dead Dog Ob But may not Hypocrites professe they are not Papists that they can deserve nothing at Gods hands that if they had their deserts it were woe wiâ—…h them I answer Hypocrites may say so but yet are angry when God seems not to deal with them as he deals with others Hence they quarrell with God as if that God seemed not to respect their offerings of prayer and fasting Isa 58. But Gods children conâ—…essing themselves Beggars at Gods door and Dogs under his Table they wait for and are humbly thankfull for every crum of grace and mercy So Christ Jesus teacheth us to give thanks for the mercy of a little bread and then for a little Fish Maâ—…k 6. So after most heavy and wonderfull aflâ—…ctions Jeremie cries out Jehova is righteous and professeth it is mercy that it is not worse and that they were not burnt up and consumed A 6th Argument of the spiritual health and temper is when the affections work strong and lively after God after
body sometimes out of distemper and weaknesse of minde which they labour against and chide themselves for as did David Psal. 42. 43. why art thou disquieted O my Soul and why art thou so heavy within me still trust in GOD for I will praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God Eighthly It argues strength of Grace when we use this world and all the comforts of it with a weaned eye and mind as if we used it not as English Travellers that lodge in an Indian house use all the wild Indians comforts with a strange affection willing and ready to be gone or as Passengers in a Ship willing and ready when God will to land and goe ashoar in our own countrey to our owne House and comforts in the Heavens Thus Gideons Souldiers in a figure of such as are fit for Christs Battels are not onely couragious and depart not with the cowards but also lap at the comforts of this life with a speedy necessity but lye not downe to them in excesse of affection and delight Object May not Hypocrites use this world with a strange affection weaned from the vanities of it c. I answer Doubtlesse not onely a false Christian or Hypocrite but other naturall men out of the sence and experience of the vanitie and uncertainly of this life and the comforts of it may attaine to a great seeming dispising of these earthly things though never without sorrow that they are not more full and certain as being their portion Onely Gods children who have made the Lord himselfe their portion and his word and Ordinances their inhâ—…ritance they only I say use them as from God tokens of his Loveâ—…nd goodnesse and as golden chaines to draw them unto him and humbly submit to Gods holy pleasure in his gracious bestowing or withdrawing of them Ninthly It is an argument of a strong fear of and affection to God when in all our earthly businesses wee see God and mindâ—… his name and praise Hence saith James Yee ought in all Journeys and purposes to say If God will Hence Boaz that holy man when he comes into his Field hath God in his mouth The Lord blesse you sayd he to his Reapers Hence the poorest Christian able to contribute 1 Cor. 16. observes weekly and therefore daily the dispensations of God towards him He observes the givings and takings of Gods hand and walks with him though in the poorest and meanest calling and condition Object But may not Hypocrites observe Gods blessing in worldly things in faire winds good voyages in the encrease of children corne wine cattel c I answer Naturall conviction enforceth even Pagans to confesse a Manittoo an Invisible Deity and God-head in these visible things But to make it a worke and Businesse in all these earthly things to see and glorifie God to walke with him and to be full of his praise all the day-long this is onely the Character of Gods children who only truly see his hand and love his name and glory Tenthly It is an Argument of strength and vigour of grace to keep a constant watch and bridle on our lips and tongue that no words passe but such as are seasoned with Salt to the glorifying of our Maker with our glory and the edifying or benefitting of others This Tongue of ours the Lord compares to the bridle of a Horse to the Helm of a Ship which if well managed rules the horse and ship with safety and comfort and the Spirit of God concludes that he is a perfect and strong man in Christ that is thus able to command his Speech and Tongue in this world Hence Christ Jesus preacheth Judgement to the world for the abuse of the Tongue and the idle words of it when our words are not working words and tend not to heavenly profiting of others Hence the Spirit by Paul commands Ephes. 5. that neither uncleannesse nor covetousnesse nor foolish talking nor jeasting be once heard from the mouths of the Saints but rather giving of thanks and praising of God Object But may not worldly persons set a watch before the door of their lips I answer Morall wisedome may teach persons the vanity and grosse wickednesse of the Tongue but onely Gods spirit and strength of it doth teach Gods children in true feare and love of God not onely to restraine from vaine and foolish but also to attaine to a spirituall and heavenly Language Lastly It argues strength and life and Grace in Christ when our hearts by Gods spirit are wrought to such a degree of hatred of sin that we not onely abhor the acts thereof but also fly and shun the looks and appearance of it so that we not only fly pride and passion and covetousnesse and uncleannesse but also the appearance of them Hence Boaz when Ruth lay downe at his feet in the night as claiming marriage by right he not only refrained from uncleannesse or uncIeane touches but also he gravely advised her to be gone so early in the morning that no man should say there came a woman into the floar Object But may not worldly persons not only avoid sin but also the appearance of it I answer No worldly or unregenerate person can truly hate sin or the appearance of it for it is his nature and Element they can onely hate the dammages and disgrace and discredit of it and so a Whore may hate whoredome 'T is only the property of Gods children and the new-borne to hate sin as sin with the sinfull appearances of it as opposite to their new and heavenly nature in Jesus Christ I Now come to the third head of the tryals of spirituall health and strength and that respects our conversation with men in which First I argue that it is a strong argument of a strong constitution and spirituall health when we can make it our worke and trade to aime at glorifying our Maker in doing good to men Thus our great example Christ Jesus made it his worke and trade to goe about to doe good which he did abundantly and constantly to the souls and bodies of men Obj. Christ Jesus and his Apostles and messengers were endâ—…ed with power from on high not only to preach the Word for conversion but also with power of casting out Devils and healing bodily diseases I answer as an holy witnesse of Christ Jesus a Woman once answered a Bishop I am a member of Christ Jesus as wel as Peter himselfe The least Believer and Follower of Jesus pertakes of the nature and spirit of him their holy head and husband as well as the strongest and holiest that ever did or suffered for his holy name Therefore it is that we read not only of the service of those great master-builders and work-men of Christ Jesus the Apostles but also the service and helpe of Christian women for instance Rom. 16. Phebe Priscilla Mary Persis were eminently noted for helping forward the work
drink of the hope of the joyesâ—…o come Lay hold saith Paul to Timotbie of eternall life and as the Souldier meditates upon the glory of his victories The sick passenger at Sea upon his sweet refreshings on shore the Traveller upon his journeys end and comforts at his home the Lâ—…bourer and the Hireling on his wages the Husbandman on his harvest the Merchant on his gain the woman in travail on her fruit so let us sometimes wâ—…rm and revive our cold hearts and fainting spirits with the assured hope of those victories those crowns those harvests those refreshings and fruits which never eye hath seen nor ear hath heard nor never entred into mans heart the things which God hath prepared for them that love him Of which however it pleaseth God to give his servants a taste in this life yet the harvest and the vintage are to come when they that suffer with Christ Jesus shall reign with him and they that have sown in tears shall reap the never ending harvest of inconceiveable joyes Sixthly as it is in the restoring of the body to health or in the preserving of it in an healthfull condition it is often necessarie to use the help of sharp and bitter things bitter pils bitter potions bitter medicines sweatings purgings vomitings blood-lettings c. So is it with our souls and spirits and preservation of the health and chearfulness of the spirituall and the inner man The sharp and bitter things which it pleaseth God to make use of in these cases are of two sorts First such as himself is pleased to use towards us in the way of his fatherly afflictions of all sorts on our spirits our bodies our yoak fellows children servants cattel goods c. out of which yea also out of the injurious and slanderous and persecuting dealing of others yea and out of our own sins and failings his most holy and infinite wisdâ—…m fetcheth all sorts of cleansing and purging yea and sometimes cordiall and healing physick The second sort of sharp and bitter means are such as we voluntarily use anâ—…apply our selves unto our selves for the slaying and the purging out of the filthy humeurs and corruptions of pride securitie uncleanness self-love covetousness and what ever else remains behinde of the body of deaâ—…h in us It is true that the word of God and all his holy Ordinances they are not only of a feeding and nourishing but also of a purging and cleansing Nature of a preserving and a restoring Quality and therefore out of these we must take direction for all our spirituall Remedies against those soul distempers unto which our spirituall and inuer men are subjâ—…ct First then it is an wholsome though bitter pill often to call to mind our many our great our known our unknown transgressions against the Lord as a Creatour against the Lord as a Father against the Lord as a Redeemer against Christ Jesus against his holy Spirit against his Ordinances against his Saints against our selves c. Yea the sins and severall corruptions of our Natures callings and conditions to which we yet are subject and lye open and without supply of Grace and strength from Heaven we shall fall and tumble into as well as the strongest of Gods servants of whose wofull falls we read of in holy Scripture Obj. It is a part of the Lords New Covenant that he will forgive our sins and remember our iniquities no more I answer unto all the promises of all sorts Ezek. 36. it pleaseth the Lord to adde this Gospel Proviso For all this I will be sought unto saith the Lord according to that most holy direction of the Lord Jesus to pray daily not only for daily Bread but also for daily forgivenes Obj. The Lord hath forgiven them already in Christ what need to pray for forgivenesse of them again I answer We must marke the Lords Ordinance for all this I will be sought unto Prayer and other spirituall Ordinances hath the Lord appointed for our souls good as well as corporall meanes for our bodily comfort Hence the many examples of the servants of God throughout the whole Scripture both before Jesus Christ and since David Peter Mary Magdalen breaking forth into heavenly showres of godly teares Hence the Paschall Lambe the figure of Christ Jesus was appointed by the Lord to be eaten with bitter herbs implying and teaching that Jesus Christ himselfe his blood pardon of sin Life and Salvation and all the spirituall and eternall sweets that here below we finde in Christ Jesus they have not their native and proper rellish without the helpe of such sharpe and bitter hearbs What though therfore in Gods councel before the world was all his works of creation and redemption vocation justification glorification are knowne to him and acted by him I say in the most inconceiveable deep councels of his will according to which he worketh all things Ephes. 1. 11 yet were it presumptuous madnesse in us and a tempting of the jealous eyes of the most High to neglect the wayes and meanes and paths of mercy for Soul or Body which his most holy Wisedome out of infinite Grace and goodnesse hath appointed to us A second sharp and bitter pill to puâ—…ge out spiritual corruption is a due and serious pondering of the nature of the justice of the most High notwithstanding all the infinite sweetnesse of thâ—…Ocean of his mercy and not withstanding all thâ—…colours and pretences which we poor sinners invent to our selves to hide from our eyes the greatnesse and dreadfulnesse and terrours of it Well therefore might Job say therefore am I troubled at his presence and when I consider I am afraid of him and David Psal. 119. My Flesh trembleth for fear of thee and I am afraid of thy judgements Object But John saith perfect love casteth out fear I answer The true love of God never casteth out the true feare of God but only that which is false and counterfeit that which is the fear of a Beast of slaves and Devils Hence it is that the Spirit of the fear of the Lord was poured upon the Lord Jesus himself This feare is an holy awe or reverence proper to a true and heavenly ingenuous child of God even first and chiefly to Christ Jesus the elder Brother in a sence of all the children of God To cherish which holy fear of God let us cast our eyes upon the fiery flashes of his severe justice revealed unto us in a three-fold time the time past present and to come For the time past how dreadfull is that we finde of the rejection and ejection of so many glorious heavenly Spirits the Angels tumbled downe for their sin of Pride from the heigth of Heaven and their glorious attendance upon God to the depth of Hell in horrible slavery to everlasting sinnes and torments How dreadfull was that dolefull Sentence upon the whole race of mankinde for the Sin of the first root our