the truth and the life John 14. 6. The resurrection and the life John 11. 25. Or more particularly thus In the first place He gave us our selves and all the creatures to be our servants yea he created us after his own Image in righteousnesse and holinesse and in perfect knowledge of the truth with a power to stand and for ever to continue in a most blessed and happy condition and this deserves all possible thankfulnesse But this was nothing in comparison For when we were in a sad condition when we had forfeited all this and our selves when by sinne we had turned that Image of God into the Image of Satan and wilfully plunged our souls and bodies into eternal torments when we were become his enemies mortally hating him and to our utmost fighting against him and taking part with his only enemies Sin and Satan not having the least thought or desire of reconcilement but a perverse and obstinate will to resist all means tending thereunto He did redeem us not only without asking but even against our wils so making of us his cursed enemies servants of servants sons of sons heirs and coheirs with Christ Gal 4. 7. Here was a fathomlesse depth a wonder beyond all wonders 2. But that we may the better consider what an alms or boon God gave us when he gave us his Son Observe that when neither Heaven Earth nor Hell could have yielded any satisfactory thing besides Christ that could have satisfied Gods justice and merited Heaven for us then O then God in his infinite wisdom and goodnesse did not only find out a way to satisfie his Justice and the Law but gave us his Sonne his only begotten Son his only beloved Son out of his bosome And his Son gave himself to die even the most shamefull painfull and cursed death of the Crosse to redeem us that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life John 3. 16. The very thought of which death before he come to it together with the weight and burthen of our sinnes put him into such an Agony in the Garden that it made him to sweat even drops of blood A mercy bestowed and a way found out that may astonish all the sonnes of men on earth and Angels in Heaven Wherefore O wonder at this you that wonder at nothing That the Lord should come with such a price to redeem our worse than lost souls and to bring salvation to us even against our wils The Lord Jesus Christ being rich for our sakes became poor that we through his poverty might be made rich 2 Cor. 8. 9. Even the eternal God would die that we might not die eternally O the deepnesse of Gods love O the unmeasurable measure of his bounty O Son of God! who can sufficiently expresse thy love Or commend thy pity Or extol thy praise It was a wonder that thou madest us for thy self more that thou madest thy self man for us but most of all that thou shouldest unmake thy self that thou shouldest die to save us 3. And which is further considerable It cost God more to redeem the world than to make it In the Creation he gave thee thy self but in the Redemption he gave thee himself The Creation of all things cost him but six daies to finish it the Redemption of man cost him three and thirty years In the Creation of the world he did but only speak the word in the Redemption of man he both spake and wept and sweat and bled and died and did many wonderfull things to do it Yea the saving of one soul single is more and greater than the making of the whole world In every new creature are a number of Miracles a blinde man is restored to sight a deaf man to hearing a man possest with many Devils dis-possest yea a dead man raised from the dead and in every one a stone turned into flesh in all which God meers with nothing but opposition which in the Creation he met not with What shall I say God of his goodnesse hath bestowed so many and so great mercies upon us that it is not possible to expresse his bounty therein for if we look inward we find our Creators mercies if we look upward his mercy reacheth unto the Heavens if downwards the earth is full of his goodnesse and so is the broad Sea if we look about us what is it that he hath not given us Air to breathe in fire to warm us water to cool and cleanse us cloathes to cover us food to nourish us fruits to refresh us yea Delicates to please us Beasts to serve us Angels to attend us Heaven to receive us And which is above all Himself and his own Son to be injoyed of us So that whethersoever we turn our eyes we cannot look besides his bounty yea we can scarce think of any thing more to pray for but that he would continue those blessings which he hath bestowed on us already Yet we covet still as though we had nothing and live as if we knew nothing of all this his beneficence God might have said before we were formed Let them be Toads Monsters Infidels Beggars Cripples Bond-slaves Idiots or Mad men so long as they live and after that Castawayes for ever and ever But he hath made us to the best likenesse and nursed us in the best Religion and placed us in the best Land and appointed us to the best and only Inheritance even to remain in blisse with him for ever yea thousands would think themselves happy if they had but a piece of our happinesse For whereas some bleed we sleep in safety others beg we abound others starve we are full fed others grope in the dark our Sun still shines we have eyes ears tongue feet hands health liberty reson others are blind deaf dumb are sick mained imprisoned distracted and the like yea God hath removed so many evils from us and conferred so many good things upon us that they are beyond thought or imagination For all those millions of mercies that we have received from before and since we were born either for soul or body even to the least bit of bread we eat or shall to eternity of which we could not well want any one Christ hath purchased of his Father for us and yet God the Father also hath of his free grace and mercy given us in giving us his Son for which read Psal. 68. 19. 145 15 16. 75 6 7 Yea God is many times working our good when we least think upon him as he was creating Adam an help meet for him when he was fast asleep And as much do we owe unto God for the dangers from which he delivereth us as for the great wealth and dignities whereunto he hath alwaies raised us CHAP. XV. But the better to illustrate and set out this Love it will be good to branch it out into some more Particulars As First Call to mind all these external inferiour earthly and temporal
pretend what they wil he that hath Grace or the love of God in his heart wil shew it in Works of mercy to the end that God may be honored and others won and edified thereby Blessed are the pure in heart faith our Saviour for they shall see God Matth. 5. 8. They must lead vertuous lives on Earth that ever expect in Heaven to see the Lord Jesus Now the inward disposition of the heart is outwardly ingraven in the life Shew methy faith by thy works sayes James Jam. 2. 18. That is by thy active obedience which consisteth in doing God's Commandments and passive obedience in suffering his Chastisements Though Faith be alone in Justification yet not in the justified as the Eye though alone in seeing yet not in him that seeth but joined with the Ears Nose Hands and many other members of the body Faith the Queen of Graces hath her Gentleman-Usher before and her Servants following after If you see not Repentance go before Faith nor Works attending on her know that it is not she There is a zeal without knowledge and there is a knowledge without zeal there is a faith without obedience and there is an obedience without faith there is a love without fear there is a fear without love both are hypocrites We are justified by faith sayes Paul Rom. 4. 3. We are justified by works says James Jam. 2. 21 St. James dealt with them that stood too much upon Faith without Works S. Paul dealt with them that stood too much upon Works without Faith Wirked men if we mark it are all for extreams and extreams onely bear rule in this World because there is still but one virtue for two vices which cowch so close beside her that the natural man can scarce see her as for instance you shall ever see Pride on the one side Rusticity on the other side and comeliness in the midst Flattery on the one side Malice on the other side and Love in the midst Diffidence on the one side Presumption on the other side and Faith in the midst Superstition on the one side Atheism on the other side and Religion in the midst Ignorance on the one side Curiosity on the other side and knowledge in the midst Carefulness on the one side Carelesness on the other side and Diligence in the midst Covetousness on the one side Prodigallity on the other side and Frugallity in the midst But to these Virtues or to keep the mean Worldlings are always to seek as hereafter they wil be of a blessing Gods Servants are known by this they square all their actions and intentions by the Rule of the Word as knowing that if they do never so much to satisfie anothers Will or their own it avails nothing with God if it be not done for God Therefore David prayes Teach me O Lord to do thy will not my Will for we need not be taught to do our own wills every man can go to Hell without a Guide Now he that wil do Gods Will and live by the direct Rule of his Word must repent and believe the Gospel Mark 1. 15. that is joyn with his faith in God's Promises obedience to his Precepts For Faith and Obedience are as inseparable as life and motion the Sun and its light And altbeit in our Justification Christ saith Fiat tibi secundum fidem tuam be it unto thee according to the Faith Matth 9. 29. Yet in our salvation Redditur unicuique secundum opera sua Every man shall be rewarded according to his works Matth. 16. 27. Neither wil Christ say when he shal sit upon his throne Ye have believed but you have done Come ye blessed Matth. 25. 35. and in Matth. 25. 21. Well done good Servants not wel known nor wel spoken nor wel purposed but wel done This is the perfect Rule Gal. 6. 16. And as many as walk according to this Rnle peace shall be upon them and mercy and upon the Israel of God Again it is not knowing or hearing or preaching or casting out Devils in Christs Name nor praying Lord Lord c. but he that doth his will and when he hath done it accounts himself an uprofitable 〈◊〉 that shal be saved Luke 17. 10. And 〈…〉 men were not wilfully blind and did not 〈…〉 follow the deceitfulness of their own 〈…〉 then believe God's Word It were impossible they should ever hope for mercy without filial Obedience since the scripture thoroughout continually calls for practice as to ad some instances to the former If you ask God who shall dwell in his holy Mountain he faith The man which walketh uprightly Psal. 15. 2. If ye ask Christ who shall enter into the Kingdom of heaven he saith Not they which cry Lord Lord though they cry twice Lord but they which do the will of my Father Mat. 7. 22. If you ask him again How you may come to Heaven he saith Keep the Commandments Luk. 18. 20. If you ask him again Who are blessed He saith Blessed are they that hear the Word of God and do it here are none but doers If you ask an Angel who are blessed he saith Blessed are they which keep the words of this Book Revel 22. 7. Here are none but doers If you ask David Who are blessed He saith Blessed are they that keep judgement and he that doth righteousness Psal. 106. 3. 103. 18. If you ask Solomon Who are blessed He faith The man is blessed that keepeth God's Law Prov. 29. 18. Here are none but doers If you ask Esay Who are blessed He saith He which doth this is blessed Esay 56. 2. If you ask St. James Who are blessed He saith The doer of the Word is blessed in his deed James 1. 25. Here is none but doers mentioned Matth. 7 21. Rom. 2. 13. So that blessedness and doing go always together For as the works that Christ did bore witness that he was Christ Job 10. 25. So the works that we do must bear witness that we are Christians And least any man should look to be blessed without obedience as Christ calleth Love the greatest Commandment so Solomon calleth Obedience the end of all as though without obedience all were to no end Eccles. 12. 13. When God created the Trees in Paradice Gen. 1. hee commanded them to bring forth fruit So when he createth a lively faith in any one he commandeth it to bring forth Works And when our Saviour would prove himself to John to be the true Messias indeed he said to his Disciples Tell John what what things you have heard and seen not only heard but seen Matth. 11. 4. So if we will prove our selves to be Christs Disciples indeed we must do that which may be seen as wel as heard Iohn was not onely called the Voyce of a Cryer but a Burning Lamp which might be seen James doth not say Let me hear thy Faith but let me see thy Faith As the Angels put on the shape of men that Abraham
and danger that a man wishes for or desires Let him become one of those little ones that believe in Christ then may he trust to a guard of Angels Mat. 18. 10. and be assured of Gods protection without which a worm or fly may kill a man with it no Potentate on earth can do it As for Instance When Valens the persecuting Emperour should have subscribed an order for S t Bazils banishment such a suddain trembling took his right hand that he could write never a good letter whereupon he tore the order for anger and there was an end of the businesse Laremouth Chaplain to the Lady Anne of Cleave a Scotchman being in Prison in Queen-Maries daies it was said as he thought once twice thrice Arise and go thy waies whereupon he arising from prayer a piece of the prison wall fell down and he escaped beyond the Seas CHAP. VIII Sixthly Wouldest thou have God to prosper all that thou hast or doest then get grace to serve him so shalt thou be blessed in all places and delivered from all temporal evils as it is Deut. 28. Nor can it be other in reason For if when the Ark of the Covenant which was a sign of Gods presence was in the house of Obed Edom then the Lord blessed him and all his house how much more shall that man be blessed in whose heart even God himself by his Spirit dwels and by his grace which is a more sure and infallible sign of his presence then was the Ark. So that if thou beest wise thou wilt more esteem of grace and God blessing accompanying it than thou wouldest of Jasons Golden Fleece or the great Chams Tree-full of Pearles hanging by clusters Seventhly Wouldest thou with all these have all peace and joy than get Grace and Holinesse For as the Vnicornes horn dipped in the fountain makes the waters which before were corrupt and noysome clear and wholesome upon the suddain so whatsoever estate grace and godlinesse comes unto it saith like the Apostles Peace be to this house peace and happinesse be to this heart to this man c. That Regeneration is the only best Physick for melancholy I can sufficiently evidence out of fifty years experience I most gladly acknowledge that when I was in my natural condition without the pardon of sin and some assurance of Gods favour I seldome wakened in a morning but my heart was as heavy as lead as fearing an hell after that purgatory which since my heart was changed I have not I blesse God been acquainted with An old Disciple of Christ being asked the cause why he was ever such a merry man answered when I was a young man I studied how to live well and when I became an old man I studied how to dye well and so desiring to seek God in this his Kingdom of grace and hoping to see him in his Kingdom of glory one day to me was better than a thousand unto those who weary themselves in the waies of wickednesse and destruction Now if grace and Gods favour brings such peace and joy what fools are sinners to deprive themselves of it What mad men are Misers As how do their hearts droop with their mammon How do they weary and turmoyl themselves vex their spirits torment their consciences making themselves a very map of misery and a sinke of calamity Whereas it is nothing so with the servants of Christ. Perhaps at their first conversion they are much troubled in mind though it fares not so with all and conscience for their long and grievous offending so good a God but that sorrow is soon turned into joy and abundantly recompenced When the Angel had troubled the waters in the Pool of Bethesda then stept in those that were diseased and infirm and were healed It is Christs manner to trouble our souls first and then to come with healing in his wings Yea the very teares of repentance are sweet whereas the covetous mans heart even in laughing is sorrowfull and the end of that mirth us heaviness Prov. 14. 13. An evil life saies Seneca causeth an unquiet mind for as the least moat in the eye hinders the ease and sight of it or as the least gravell in the shooe hinders the traveller in his comfortable going on as the least bone in the throat hinders our eating and threatens to choake us So the least sinne in the soul unrepented of hinders the peace and joy and hope thereof But least which is not likely I should glut you with joy observe with me In the eighth place That there is nothing can be wanting to a man but grace and Gods savour will more than supply it When reverend Calvin was upbraided by the Papists with the want of Childâ—â—â— in marriage he could answer That is nothing for God hath insâ—â—ad of such children given me many thousand children of far more excellent kind and of nobler breed through the whole world And surely a man shall see the Noblest works and Foundations have proceeded from childlesse men which have sought to expresse the Images of their minds where those of their bodies have failed CHAP. IX Ninthly Godlinesse hath the Promises not only of this life but also of that which is to come The quintessence whereof consists in these two things freedom from all pain fruition of all pleasure which is the purchase of Christ for his followers For when he sits upon his Throne he shall say unto them and only to them Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from before the foundation of the world where are such joyes as eye hath not seen nor eat heard c. And are there any pleasures like those at the right hand of God for evermore Whereas to those that have not had the grace nor the wit to serve him he shall say Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels And is there any pain like the separation from Christ into everlasting and ever-flaming fire Mat. 25. 41. Think of this you that prefer the service of sinne and Satan before that of our Saviours Heaven you will confesse to be best of all yet for Heaven you will use labour least of all For I may boldly affirm it your covetous man takes more paines to goe to hell than do the godly to get to Heaven he riseth early and resteth late and eates the course bread of sorrow and after a great deal of tedious and odious misery goes to the Devil for his labour But look to it this will one day cost men dear For it will be the very hell of hell when they shall call to mind that they have loved their sinnes more than their Saviour or their own souls When they shall remember what love and mercy hath been almost enforced upon them and yet they would by all meanes and that of free choice perish Now I might go on to other Particulars yea I might alomost be infinite in these things
the wheels one way such an oyl is upon the heart that it makes all nimble and current about it but without the heart all is mute and dumb As the tongue will not praise because the heart doth not love the ear doth not hear because the heart does not mind the hand does not give because the heart does not pitty the foot will not go because the heart hath no affection All stay upon the heart like the Captain that should give the onset Nor is any service we can do accepted without the heart and affections flowing thence Therefore Davids prayer is Create in me a new heart and renew a right spirit within me Psal. 51. 10. The Scribes and Pharisees did fast and watch and pray and hear and read and give and do all that we can do and yet Christ rewarded all their works with a wo because they wanted a good heart and true affections flowing thence They honoured God with their lips but their hearts were far away from him Whence he also calls them hypocrites Mark 7. 6. The Disciple that betrayed Christ heard as much as the Disciples that loved him CHAP. XIII But here least I should be mistaken let me joyn to what hath been said and what shall be further said by way of caution Expect not that this should be done by any power of thine own for except God give thee repentance and removes all impediments that may hinder thou canst no more turn thy self than thou couldst at first make thy self We are not sufficient of our selves to think much lesse to speak least of all to do that which is good 2 Cor. 3. 5. We are swift to all evil but to any good immoveable We can lend no more active power to our conversion than Adam did to his creation than the Child doth to his conception than the dead man to his raising from the grave It was the Lord that did open the heart of Lydia to conceive well Act. 16. 14. the ears of the Prophet to hear well Isa. 50. 4. the eyes of Elishaes servant to see well 2 Kings 6. 17. and the lips of David to speak well Bid a man by his own strength do the least good or bear the least trouble you may with as good successe stand in the street and bid a chained prisoner come out of his dungeon S t. Paul before his conversion could do as much as the best accomplished moralist of them all his words are If any man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh much more I Phil. 3. 4. Yet when he speaks of his doing or suffering he sheweth that it was because the love of God was shed abroad in his heart by the holy Ghost which was given him Rom. 5. 5. Of himself he could do nothing though he were able to do all things through Christ and by the Spirits assistance who strengthened him Phil. 4. 13. Man is like an Organ-pipe that speakes no longer then wind is blown into it Wherefore as when David came to fight with Goliah he cast away Sauls armour so let us in this case cast away all trust and confidence in our selves and only set forward in the Name of the Lord God of Israel If we trust to our own resistance we cannot stand we cannot miscarry if we trust to his Yet this is to be considered that God does not work upon us as upon blocks and stones in all and every respect passive but converts our wils to will our own conversion He that made thee without thy self will not justifie nor save thee without thy self Without thy merit indeed not without thine endeavour When those deadly waters were healed by the Prophet the outward act must be his the power Gods he cast the salt into the spring and said Thus saith the Lord I have healed these waters there shall not be from thence any more death or barrennesse Elisha was the Instrument but far was he from challenging ought to himself Wherefore be sure to use that power which Christ shall give thee and then my soul for thine he will not be wanting on his part And amongst other thine endeavour exercise Prayer Omit not to beg of God for the grace thou wantest and praise him for what thou obtainest Abhor to attribute or ascribe ought to thy doing trust only to Christs obedience in whom only what we do is accepted and for whom only it is rewarded Now you are to know that as no Sacrifice was without Incense so must no service be performed without Prayer And Prayer is like the Merchants Ship to fetch in heavenly commodities It is the Key of Heaven as S t Austin terms it and the Hand of a Christian which is able to reach from earth to Heaven and to take forth every manner of good gift out of the Lords Treasury Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my Name saies Christ believing he will give it you John 16. 23. Matth. 21. 22 Unto fervent Prayer God will deny nothing It is like Sauls Sâ—ord and Jonathans bow that never returned empty Like Ahimaaz that alwaies brought good tydings It is worth the obseâ—ving how Cornelius his serious exercies of this duty of Prayer brought unto him first an Angel then an Apostle and then the Holy Ghost himself Hast thou then a desire after that happinesse before spoken of seek first to have the asistance of Gods Spirit and his love shed abroad in thine heart by the Holy Ghost Wouldst thou have the love of God and the asistance of his Spirit ask it of him by Prayer who saith If any of you lack in this kind let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not and it shall be given him James 1. 5. Wouldst thou pray that thou maist be heard Ask in faith and waver â—ot for he that wavereth is like a wave of the Sea test of the wind and carried away Vers. 6. Wouldst thou have saith be diligent to hear the Word preached which is the sword of the Spirit that killeth our corruptions and that unresistable Cannon-shot that battereth and beateth down all the strong holds of sinne and Satan Rom. 10 17. Unto him therefore that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think I commend thee CHAP. XIV Lastly For conclusion of this point Wouldst thou be a contented and Happy man then strive to be a Thankefull man and when God hath the fruit of his mercies he will not spare to sow much where he reapes much Wouldest thou become thankefull then bethink thy self what cause thou hast by calling to mind and considering what God and Christ hath done for thee As first That he is the Authour of thy natural life For in him we live and move and have our being Act. 17. 28. Secondly Of thy spiritual life Thus I live saies Paul yet not I now but Christ liveth in me Gal. 2. 20. Thirdly Of thy eternal life 1 Joh. 1. He is the way
Psalm 103. and 36 Therefore seeing mercy and goodness do make us above all other graces to resemble God and then the creature 〈◊〉 to greatest perfection and blessednesse when he is the likest and cometh nearest unto to the excellency of the Creator And seeing we professe our selves to be children of our gracious and glorious God and we can no way grace our selves so much as by resembling our heavenly Father in those attributes wherein he most shineth and excelleth and nothing maketh us more like him then mercy and compassion let us hearken unto our Saviours injunction and imitate our Father in being beutifull as he is These are some of the spiritual blessings and benefits which God hath promised for reward to the mercifull in this life it would take up too much time to mention the many more that might be added therefore I will leave them and so procced to those that are eternall concern the life to come which I would have you especially mind yea if it be possible pluck up all your senses into your â—ars that you may the more mind and better remember for it is enough to ravish any Christian soul and to make him to stretch his estate upon the tenters that he may be the more liberall in relieving Christs poore members for the greater the liberality the greater the recompence of reward Phil. 4. 17. 18. CHAP. XXIX That the merciful man who distributeth liberally to the poore on Earth in conscience and obedience to Gods Word whall be rewarded with the unvaluable gain and matchless profit of everlasting salvation is assured us here and shall be injoyed of us hereafter First at the Hour of Death Secondly at the day of Judgement is fully declared Luke 14. 13 14 16 9. Prov. 11. 17. 1 Tim. 6 18 19. Math. 5. 7. and 6. 〈◊〉 and 19. 29. But take these two places for all Sell that ye have and give almes at no hand let the poore want what shift soever ye make rather sell then want to give provide your selves baggs which wax not old a treasure in the Heavens which faileth not where no thief approacheth neither 〈◊〉 corrupteth Luke 12. 33 34. this is the first the second is more full then that When the Son of man shall come in his glory and all the holy Angells with him then shall he fit upon the throne of his glory and before him shall be gathered all Nations and he shall separate them one from another as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats and he shall set the sheep on his right hand and the goats on the left Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world For I was an hungred and ye gave me meat I was thirsty and ye gave me drink I was a stranger and ye took me in naked and ye cloathed me I was sick and ye vifited me I was in prison and ye came unto me And in as much an ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me Maâ—th 25. 31. to 41. See here the incomparableness and infinite difference between the work and the wages ye admire the love and bounty of God and bless his name who for the performance of so small a work hath proposed so great a reward and for the obtaining of such an happy estate hath imposed such an easie task Here is a Kingdom even the Kingdom of Heaven Which cannot he valued with many millions of worlds in recompence of a little mear drink and apparell who then that is in his right sense would not turn all his scraping into giving yea what can we think too much what not too little to give to attain eternity for this incorruptible Crown of glory 1 Pet. 5. 4. for this Kingdom where are such joyes as eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither hath entred into the heart of man to conceive 1 Cor. 2. 9. A place where shall no evill be present nor good absent Matth. 6. 20. In comparison whereof all the Thrones and Kingdomes upon Earth are less then the drop of a bucket Isay 40 15. and 66. 1. Yea how little how nothing are the poore and Temporary Injoyments of this life to those we shall injoy in the next 1 Cor. 2. 9. Dost thou desire Beauty Riches Honour Pleasure Long Life or what ever else can be named no place so glorious by creation to beautifull with delectation so rich in possession so comfortable for habitation nor so durable for lasting Rom. 8. 18. Heb. 12. 22. 1. Pet. 1. 4. 2 Cor. 4 17 There O There one day is better then a thousand there is rest from our labours peace from our Enemies freedom from our sins there is no Death nor Dearth no pining nor repining no fraud sorrow nor sadness neither tears nor fears defect nor loathing Revel 7. 16. 17. and 14. 13. and 21. 4. Job 3. 17. But of this I have spoken at large in The whole duty of a Christion Now all this is propoâ—â—ded as a recompence for such as give what they have have they but a very cup of cold water Matth. 10. 42. Yea we cannot give so little to a disciple in the name of a disciple but it assures us of our right and title unto this eternall inheritance Heb. 6. 10. Prov. 14. 21. Col. 3. 12. 14. 2 Pet. 1. 7 8 10. 11. Phil 4. 18. Matth. 5. 7. Christ hath promised to make thee a great one in Heaven if thou but relieve one of his little ones on earth Almes is a seed which we cast into the earth as it were but we gather them crop in Heaven Whence the Apostle would have Timothy to charge them that are rich in this world that they be not high minded nor trust in uncertain riches but in the Lord who giveth us richly all things to enjoy And that they do good that they be rich in good workes ready to distribute willing to communicate laying up in store for themselves mark his reason a good foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold on eternall life 1 Tim. 6. 17 18 19. And hereupon it is that he telleth the Philippians he was glod that they had sent him a supply not so much for his own benefit as for their gain which should be great in the day of account Phil. 4. 14. 17 18. And this makes Solomon say that he who is mercifull doth good to his own soul Prov. 11. 17. So that to distribute to the poore on earth is before hand to provide a rich treasure in Heaven And who then that believes this would not think himself happy in such an exchange Is not this the best Chimistry to turn Earth into Heaven is not this a good bargaine to part with vaine and uncertain things to partake of real and durable riches Believe it this is the best improvement
we should imploy them to his honor and best advantage that gave them us For that he may be honored by our wisdom riches graces is the onely end for which he gives us to be wise rich gracious Matth. 25. 27 30 1 Cor. 12. 7. 14. 26. Rom. 12. 6. Ephes. 4. 11 12. Yea it is the onely end for which we were created Isa. 43. v. 7. therefore it hath alwaies been the aim end mark which all the Saints have ever indeavoured to hit though with several shafts as the same beams are many but the light one For whereas the ignorant ascribe the effects and events of things to Fortune the Atheist to Nature the Superstitious to their Idols the Politician to his plots the Proud-man to his own power and parts too many to second causes in all these the Servants of God look higher resolving all such effects to their first principle Digitus Dei the finger of God ascribing to Him the praise as I might abundantly shew from the Word could I stand upon it Yea even Titus the Emperor when he was praised for a victory that he had got made answer That it proceeded from God who made his hands but the instruments to serve him as Josephus testifies The Godly as they do all by his power so they refer all to his glory CHAP. XLV BUt the Worldling hath neither heart nor brain so to do or once to cast an eye or have the least aim at God's glory even in their greatest undertakings or whatever they either receive or do but instead of giving glory to God they take it to themselves as Herod did Acts 12. 23. ascribing the increase of their corn wine and oyl their honors successes c. either to the goodness and sharpness of their Wit and skill or to the greatness of their industry or of their power and authority saying with proud Nebuchadnezar Is not this great Babel which I have built by the might of my power c. Dan. 4. 30. Have not I got all these goods victories preferments c. my self and by mine own wisdom and providence which the Prophet calls sacrificing to their own net and burning incense unto their drag Hab. 1. 16. Even as it fared with the children of Dan Judges 18. who ascribed the honor of their success to their Idols Or as it fared with Israel God gave them sheep and Oxen and they offered them up to Baal He gave them Ear-rings and Jewels for their own ornament and they turned them to an Idol Yea poor silly souls they are like Swine that feed upon Acorns without ever looking to the Oake from whence they fell Or the Horse that drinks of the Brook and never thinks of the Spring Christ rains down Mannah they gather it and eat it and scarce ever think from whence they had it at least the thought of his blessings is out of their minds as soon as the taste is out of their mouths As but one of those Ten that could lift up their voices for cure of their Leprosie return'd with thanks when they were cleansed so it is ten to one if any give glory to God Luck or wit or friend one thing or other still lies in their way and takes up Christ's glory and the thanks ere it can come at him Customary fruition hath made men scarce think themselves beholding to God But as he that having fed his body and asswaged his hunger and gives no thanks steals his meat so in all other things In visible benefits not to see the invisible givâ—r is great infidelity and blindness and indeed if any thing infallibly proves an hypocrite it is when base ends are the first movers of good duties Now what I have spoken of good men in this point I might shew of good Angels and glorified Saints in Heaven yea of Heathens and Idolaters yea I might add that not to be thankful nor to acknowledge what God our bountiful Benefactor bestows upon and does for us is to fall short of the very brute Beasts The Ox knows no Owner but man and him he does acknowledg and love according to his capacity Isa. 1. 3. And it 's well known what strange things are recorded of Lyons Dogs Eagles yea how oft shall we see a Dog welcome home his Master with all possible expressions of love and thankfulness when perhaps his Wife entertains him with frumps and frowns And certainly had beasts the like knowledge with us of their Maker they would worship and serve him better then do their Masters but for proof of this enough Though indeed if the very worst of men did but know and consider how they should pleasure themselves in being humble and thankful they would use all their possible endeavours to that end As most pleasant it is to God and most profitable to us both for the procuring the good we want and for the continuance of the good we have CHAP. XLVI INto the humble and thankful soul that giveth him abundance of glory his Spirit enters with abundance of Grace sowing there and there only plenty of Grace where he is assured to reap plenty of glory But who will sow those barren Sands where they are not only without all hope of a good Harvest but are sure to loose their Seed and Labour And in common Equity he that is unthankful for a little is worthy of nothing whereas thanks for one good turn is the best introduction to another Holy David was a man according to Gods own heart and therefore he continually mixeth with his Prayers Praises and being of a publike spirit he discovereth the secrets of this skill As when he saith Let the people praise thee O God let all the people praise thee then shall the earth bring forth her encrease and God even our God shall give us his blessing Psal. 67. 5 6 7. When Heaven and Earth are friends then Summer and Winter Seed-time and Harvest run on their race When God was displeased what was the effect Ye have sown much and have reaped little Again when God was pleased mark the very day For from that very day I will bless you Hag. 2. 15. to 20 Whensoever glory is given to God on high peace good will shall be bestowed on men below Luk. 2. 14 Psal. 84 11 12. Noah gave a Sacrifice of Praise for his deliverance from the Flood And God being praised for that one deliverance he perpetuateth his blessing and promiseth an everlasting deliverance to the World from any more Floods Again it is the only way to procure Gods Blessing upon our endeavours It happened that Bernard one day made a curious and learned Sermon for which he expected great applause but received none The next time he made a plain wholsom Sermon and it was wonderfully affected liked and commended A friend of his noting it askt him what might be the reason Who answered In the one I preached Bernard in the other Christ in the one I sought to win glory
and praise to my self in the other the glory of God and the salvation of souls which received blessing from above and that made the difference yea were there nothing good else in it yet this were the way to gain true honor We cannot so much honour our selves as by seeking to honour God To seek a mans own glory says Solomon is not glory Prov. 25. 25. 27. but to seek Gods glory is the greatest honour a man can do himself For as Cicero said of Julius Caesar That in extolling of dead Pompey and erecting his Statues he set up his own So who are more venerably esteemed and spoken of then such as are most tender of Gods glory and least seeke their own They are the Lord 's own words to Saul They that honour me I will honour but they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed 1 Sam. 2. 30 The way for a man to be esteemed the greatest is to esteem himself the least It is humility that makes us accepted both of God Man whereas the contrary makes us hated and abhorred of both The Centurion did many excellent things but he never did a Work so acceptable in the sight of Christ as was his disclaiming his own Works While Saul vvas little in his ovvn eyes God made him Head over the twelve Tribes of Israel and gave him his Spirit but when out of his Greatness he abused his Place and Gifts God took both from him and gave them to David whom Saul least respected of all his Subjects 1 Sam. 15. 17. 28. 16. 14. Other proofs of such as he will honor for honoring him you have Gen. 39. 21. Zeph. 3 19 20. Dan. 2. 19. to 50. as when Nebuchadnezzar sought his own honor honor departed from him and he was made like a Beast but when he sought God's honor honor came to him again and he was made a King Dan. 4. 34. to the end Before honour goeth humility Prov. 15. 33. But when pride cometh then cometh shame Prov. 11. 2. And commonly great Works undertaken for ostentation miss of their end and turn to the Author's shame nor have any less praise then they that most hunt after it It 's true the Lord sometimes gives wicked men even what in their thoughts they ask as some desire riches onely and God gives it them with a curse some honor and dignity and they have it that their fall may be the greater others fame and reputation as loving the praise of men more then the praise of God and these have many times what they aim at they are extolled to the skies and that shall be the reward of all the good that ever they do Lastly God's people make spiritual and eternal things Grace and Glory and God's favour their onely option and they have their desire yea not seldom are riches and reputation super-added though they seek them not they seek onely God's glory on Earth as for their own glory they let that alone till they come to Heaven knowing that he onely is happily famous who is known and recorded there True he lives so well that the praise of men especially good men will follow but as I said before so say I again he wil not follow it least to gain the shadow he should lose the substance as Absolom in seeking a Kingdom lost himself CHAP. XLVII IT is a sad thing to consider how many formal Christians gul themselves in thinking that Christ will reward them when they have done him no service As for example we find the Jews in the 58. of Esay urging God with their fasting as those Reprobates Luke 13. alledge unto him their preaching in Christs Name casting out Devils We have fasted say they and thou seest it not we have afflicted our selves and thou takest no notice thereof they expect some great reward but the Lord answers Have ye fasted to me No such matter and therefore sends them away empty ver 25. to 29. And so will he say unto these that perhaps do many good works for the matter of them Have ye done these and these things in love obedience and thankfulness unto me and that in Christs Name that my Name may be magnified and my People won and edified No but in love to your own credit profit and such like carnal respects and therefore look to it as you love your own souls for if in doing good and discharging our places we have served our selves and sought our selves rather then God when we come for his reward as Esau when he had brought the Venison came for the blessing making himself as sure of it as if he had had it before he kneeled for it God's answer will be Let him reward you whom you have served Thou servedst thy self reward thy self if thou wilt for I never reward any service but mine own The Pharisaical giver gives to himself not to God Dat sibi non Domino He aims at his own praise what reward can he look for let him pay himself But our Saviour Mat. 6. makes the case so plain that none can question it Take heed saith he that ye do not your almes that ye pray not that ye fast not to be seen of men otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven ver 1 and in ver 2. 5 16 speaking of the Scribes and Pharisees that did give their Alms prayed and fasted to be seen and praised of men he saith affirmatively That they had their reward And that we might the rather be warned he adds to it Verily Verily v. 5. 16 Yea in the next Chapter he gives us several instances of such as shall at the last day knock at Heaven Gates as it were and cry out Lord Lord open unto us for by thy Name we have done many good things To whom the Lords answer will be Depart from me all ye workers of iniquity I know you not whence ye are ver 22 23. And the reason of it is Civil mens good works are as a meer Carkase without the soul since Faith is wanting Nor is it any excuse before God to plead that the matter of the Work is good when the end is not so for which see Isa. 66 3 Secondly That the proud and unthankful shal lose the reward of all their performances is not all for as thankfulness and humility are the onely means to enrich us with God's Blesâ—ings so pride and unthankfulness is the onely way to make God withdraw and take from us both himself and his blessings yea instead thereof to send his curse and to cross us in all we do as may be proved plentifully When the people became murmurers it displeased the Lord and the Lord heard it therefore his wrath was kindled and the fire of the Lord burnt among them and consumed the utmost part of the Host Numb 11. 1 2 Because the King of Assyria said By the Power of mine Arm have I done it and by my wisdom for I am prudent therefore saith the