sprinkled before the Mercy-Seat Now that blood typified Christ's satisfaction and the Cloud of Incense his Intercession Some of the learned think that Christ intercedes only by vertue of his merits others that 't is done only with his mouth I conjecture it may be done both wayes the rather because Christ hath a tongue as also a whole body but glorified in Heaven and is it likely that that mouth which pleaded so much for us on earth should be altogether silent for us in Heaven There is no coming to the Father John 14. 6. but by the Son Christ is the true Jacobs Ladder by which we must ascend to Heaven Joseph Gen. 43. you know commanded his Brethren that as ever they looked for any good from him or to see his face with joy that they should be sure to bring their Brother Benjamin along with them O Sirs as ever you would be prevalent with God as ever you would have sweet choice and comfortable returns from Heaven to all your Closet-prayers be sure that you bring your Elder Brother the Lord Jesus Christ in the arms of your faith be sure that you treat and trade with God only in the name of the Lord Jesus 'T is a notable speech that Luther hath upon the 130. Psalm Often Dulce nomen Christi and willingly saith he do I inculcate this that you should shut your eyes and your ears and say you know no God out of Christ none but he that was in the lap of Mary and sucked her breasts He meanes none out of him When you go to Closet-prayer look that you pray not in your own names but in the name of Christ and that you plead not in your own names but in the name of Christ and that you believe and hope not in your own names but in the name of Christ and that you look not to speed in your own names but in the name of Christ Col. 3. 17. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Whatsoever we do we are to do it by the authority of Christ and through the assistance of Christ and in the name of Christ and for the sake and glory of Christ Christ's name is so precious and powerful with the Father that it will carry any suit obtain any request at his hands Jesus in the China Tongue signifies the rising Sun When a man writes the name of Jesus upon his Closet-prayers then he shall be sure to speed though God will not give a man a drop a sip a crum a crust for his own sake yet for Jesus sake he will give the best the choycest and the greatest blessings that heaven affords that name is still mighty and powerful prevalent and precious before the Lord. The prayers that were offered up with the incense upon the Altar were pleasing Rev. 8. 3. and came up with acceptance vers 4. Josephs Brethren were kindly used for Benjamins sake O Sirs all our duties and services are accepted of the Father not for their own sakes nor for our sakes but for Christ's sake There are no prayers that are either hard owned accepted regarded or rewarded but such as Christ puts his hand to If Christ doth not mingle his blood with our sacrifices our services they will be lost and never ascend as incense before the Lord. No coyn is currant that hath not Caesars stamp upon it nor no prayers goe currant in heaven that have not the stamp of Christ upon them There is nothing more pleasing to our heavenly Father than to use the mediation of his Son Such shall be sure to find most favour and to speed best in the Court of Heaven who still present themselves before the Father with Christ in their armes But My eleventh and last advice and counsel is this VVhen you come out of your closets narrowly watch what becomes of your private prayers look at what door in what way and by what hand the Lord shall please to give you an answer to the secret desires of your souls in a corner It hath been the custome of the people of God to look after their prayers to see what successe they have had to observe what entertainment they have found in heaven Psal 5. 3. My voyce shalt thou hear in the morning O Lord in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee and will look up In the words you may observe two things First Davids posture in prayer Secondly His practise after prayer First His posture in prayer I will direct my prayer unto thee Secondly His practise after prayer And I will look up The Prophet in these words makes use of two military words First he would not only pray but martial up his prayers he would put them it battel-aray so much the Hebrew word Gnarach imports Secondly when he had done this then he would be as a spy upon his VVatch-Tower to see whether he prevailed whether he got the day or no and so much the Hebrew word Tsaphah imports When David had set his prayers his petitions in rank and file in good aray then he was resolved he would look abroad he would look about him to see at what door God would send in an answer of prayer He is either a fool or a mad-man he is either very weak or very wicked that prayes and prayes but never looks after his prayers that shootes many an Arrow towards Heaven but never minds where his Arrows a light Psal 85. 8. I will hear what God the Lord will speak for he will speak peace unto his people and to his Saints If David would have God to hearken to his prayers he must then hearken to what God will speak and upon this point it seemes he was fully resolved The Prophets prayer you have in the seaven first verses of this Psalm and his gracious resolution you have in the 8th verse I will hear what the God Lord will speak As if he had said Certainly it will not be long before the Lord will give me a gracious answer a seasonable and a suitable return to my present prayers Psal 130. 1 2 5 6. Out of the depths have I cryed unto thee O Lord. Lord hear my voyce let thine ears be attentive to the voyce of my supplications I wait for the Lord my soul doth wait and in his word do I hope My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning I say more than they that watch for the morning Those that watch abroad in dangerous times and tedious weather look frequently after peep of day How doth the weary Sentinel that is wet with the rain of heaven or with the dew of the night wait and watch look and long for the morning light Now this was the frame and temper of Davids spirit when he came off from praying he falls a waiting for a gracious answer Shall the husbandman wait for the precious fruits of the earth and shall the Merchant-man
But many will be ready to object and say We have much business upon our hands and we cannot spare time for private prayer we have so much to doe in our shops and in our ware-houses and abroad with others that we cannot spare time to waite upon the Lord in our Closets Now to this Objection I shall give these Eight Answers that this Objection may never have a resurrection more in any of your hearts First What are all those businesses that are upon your hands to those great businesses weighty affaires that did lye upon the hands of Abraham Isaac Jacob Moses David Daniel Elias Nehemiah See the first Consideration Peter Cornelius and yet you find all these worthies exercising themselves in Private prayers And the King is commanded every day to read some part of Gods word notwithstanding all his great and weighty imployments Deut. 17. 18 19 20. Now certainly Sirs your great businesses are little more than ciphers compared with theirs And if there were any on earth that might have pleaded an exemption from private prayer upon the account of business of much business of great business these might have done it but they were more honest and more noble than to neglect so choice a duty upon the account of much business these brave hearts made all their publick imployments stoop to private prayer they would never suffer their publick imployments to tread private prayer under foot But Secondly I answer no mens outward affaires did ever more prosper than theirs did who devoted themselves to private prayer notwithstanding their many and great worldly employments Witness the prosperity outward flourishing estates of Moses Abraham Isaac Jacob Nehemiah David Daniel and Cornelius these were much with God in their Closets and God blest their blessings to them how Gen. 22. 17 did their cups over flow what signall favours did God heape upon them and theirs No families have been so prospered protected and graced as theirs who have maintained secret communion with God in a Corner Private prayer 1 Chron. 11. 9. doth best expedite our temporal affairs he that prayes well in his Closet shall be sure to speed well in his Shop or at his Plough or 1 Tim. 4. 8. what-ever else he turns his hand unto 'T is true Abimelech was rich as well as Abraham and so was Laban rich as well as Jacob and Saul was a King as well as David and Julian was an Emperour as well as Constantine But 't was only Abraham Jacob David and Constantine who had their blessings blest unto them all the rest had their blessings curst unto them they had many Prov. 3. 33. Mal. 2. 2. good things but they had not the good will of him that dwelt in the Bush with what they had and therefore all their mercies were but bitter-sweets unto them Though all the sons of Jacob returned laden from Gen. 43. Aegypt with corn and money in their sacks yet Benjamin only had the silver cup in the mouth of his sack So though the men of the world have their Corn and their Money c. yet 't is only God's Benjamin's that have the silver Cup the Grace-Cup the Cup of blessing as the Apostle calls 1 Cor. 10. 16 it for their portion O sirs as ever you would prosper and flourish in the world as ever you would have your water turn'd into wine your temporal mercies into spiritual benefits be much with God in your closets But Thirdly I answer 'T is ten to one but that the objecter every day fools away or trifles away or idles away or sins away one hour in a day and why then should he object the want of time There are none that toyle and moyle and busie themselves most in their worldly imployments but doe Myrmecides a famous Artist spent more time in making a Bee than an unskilful workman would do to build a house Plutarch spend an houre or more in a day to little or no purpose either in gazing about or in dallying or toying or dourting or in telling of stories or in busying themselves in other mens matters or in idle visits or in smoaking the Pipe c. And why then should not these men redeem an hours time in a day for private prayer out of that time which they usually spend so vainly and idly can you notwithstanding all your great worldly imployments find an hour in the day to catch flyes in as Domitian the Emperour did and to play the fool in and cannot you find an hour in the day to wait on God in your closets There were three special faults whereof Cato professed himself to have seriously repented one was passing by water when he might have gone by land another was trusting a secret in a womans bosome but the main was spending an hour unprofirably This heathen will one day rise up in Judgment against them who notwithstanding their great imployments spend many hours in a week unprofitably and yet cry out with the Duke of Alva that they have so much to do on earth that they have no time to look up to heaven 'T was a base and sordid spirit in that King Sardanapalus who spent much of his time amongst women in spinning and carding which should have been spent in Ruling and governing his Kingdome So 't is a base sordid spirit in any to spend any of their time in toying and trifling and then to cry out that they have so much business to do in the World that they have no time for closet-prayer they have no time to serve God nor to save their own precious and immortal souls But Fourthly I answer No man dares plead this objection before the Lord Jesus in the great day of account And why then should any man be so childish foolish so â—ccl 11. 9. Rom 14. 10. 2 Cor. 5. 10. ignorant impudent to plead that before men which is not pleadable before the Judgment seat of Christ O sirs as you love your souls and as you would be happy for ever never put off your own consciences nor others with any plea's arguments or objections now that you dare not own and stand by when you shall lye upon a dying bed and when you shall appear before the whole court of heaven c. In the great day of account when the secrets of all hearts shall be made manifest and God shall call men to a reckoning before Angels Men and Devils for the neglect of private prayer all giulty persons will be found speechless there will not be a man or woman found that shall dare to stand up and say Lord I would have waited upon thee in my closet but that I had so much business to do in the world that I had no time to enjoy secret communion with thee in a Corner 'T is the greatest wisdom in the world to plead nothing by way of excusein this our day that we dare not plead in the great day But.
they are upon the wing So Satan shoots his most fiery darts at men when they are most idle and sloathful And this the Sodomites found by woful experience when God rained Ezek. 16. 49. hell out of heaven upon them both for their idleness and for those other sins of theirs which their idleness did expose them to It was said of Rome that during the time of their wars with Carthage and other enemies in Africa they knew not what vice meant but no sooner had they got the conquest but through idleness they came to ruine Idleness is a sin not only against the Law of Grace but also against the light of nature You cannot look any way but every creature checks and upbraids your idleness and sloth if you look up to the heavens there you shall find all their glorious Lights constant in their motions The Sun rejoyceth as a strong man to run a race the Winds Psal 19. 5. Psal 104. 23. blow the Waters run the Earth brings forth her pleasant and delightful fruits all the Fish in the Sea Fowls in the Air and Beasts in the Fields and on the Mountains have their motions and operations all which call aloud upon man not to be idle but active Solomon sends the sluggard to the Prov. 6. 6. Ant to learn industry The Ant is a very little creature but exceeding laborious nature hath put an instinct into her to be very busie and active all the Summer she is early and late at it and will not lose an hour unless the weather hinder And the Prophet Jeremiah sends the Jews to school to learn to wait and observe of the Stork Jer. 8. 7. the Turtle the Crane and the swallow And our Saviour sends us to the Sparrows and Lillies to learn attendance Mat. 6. 26 28. upon providence And let me send you to the busie Bee to learn activity and industry though the Bee be little in bulk yet 't is great in service she flyes far examines the fields hedges trees orchards gardens and loads her self with honey and wax and then returns to her Hive Now how should the activity of these creatures put the idle person to a blush O Sirs Man is that most noble creature into whom God hath put principles of the greatest activity as capable of the greatest and highest enjoyments and therefore idleness is a forgetting mans dignity and a forsaking of that rank that God hath set him in and a debasing of himself below the least and meanest creatures who constantly in their order obedientially serve the Law of their creation Nay if you look up to the blessed Angels above you you shall still find them active and serviceable Are they not all ministring Spirits sent Heb. 1. 14. forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation And if you look down to the Angels of darkness below you O how laborious and industrious are they to destroy and 1 Pet. 5. 8. damne your precious and immortal souls For a close remember that idleness is so great an evil that it hath been condemned and severely punished by the very worst of men Among the Egyptians Idleness was a capital crime Among the Lucans he that lent money to an idle person was to lose it By Solons Law idle persons were to suffer death And Seneca had rather be sick than idle The Lacedemonians called men to an account for their idle hours Among the Corinthians idle persons were delivered to the Carnifex Antonius Pius being Emperour caused the roofs coverings of all such houses to be taken away as were known to receive an idle people affirming that nothing was Capitolinus more uncomely or absurd to be suffered than such idle Caterpillars slow worms to have their food and nourishment from that Common-wealth in the maintenance of which there was no supply from their industry labour All which should steel us arm us against sloth and idleness I have the longer insisted on this because there is not agreater hinderance to Closet-prayer than sloth and idleness Slothful and idle persons commonly lye so long a bed and spend so much precious time between the comb and the glass and in eating drinking sporting trifling c. that they can find no time for private prayer Certainly such as had rather go sleeping to Hell than sweating to Heaven will never care much for Clos 〈◊〉 t prayer And therefore shun sl 〈◊〉 th and idleness as you would shun a Lyon in the way or poison in your meat or coales in your bosome or else you will never find time to wait upon God in your Closets Secondly Take heed of spending too much of your precious time about circumstantials about the little things of Religion as mint anise and cummin or in searching Mat. 23. 23. into the circumstances of worship or in standing stoutly for this or that ceremony and in the mean while neglect the studying of the covenant of grace or about enquiring what fruit that was that Adam eat in Paradise or in enquiring after the Authors of such and such books whose names God in his infinite wisdome hath concealed or in enquiring what God did before the world was made when one asked Austin that Question he answered that he was preparing Hell for such busie Questionists as he was It was a saying of Luther From a vain-glorious Doctor from a contentious Pastor and from unprofitable Questions the good Lord deliver his Church 'T is one of Satans great designs to hinder men in the great and weighty duties of Religion by busying them most about the lowest and least matters of Religion Satan is never better pleased than when he sees Christians puzzled and perplexed about Col. 2. 21. those things in Religion that are of no great moment or importance Such as negotiate and trade in Religion more for a good name than a good life for a good report than a good Conscience for to humor others than to honour God c. such will take no pleasure in loset-duties Such as are more 2 Tim. 3. 5. busied about ceremonies than substances about the form of godliness than the power such will never make it their business to be Mat. 6. 1 2 3 4 5 6. much with God in their Closets as is evident in the Scribes and Pharisees Such as are more taken up with the outward dress and garb Luke 11. 34. 40. of Religion than they are with the spirit power and life of Religion such will never affect to drive a secret trade heaven-wards There can't be a surer nor a greater character of an hypocrite than to make a great deal of stir about little things in Religion and in the mean while neglect the great and main things in Religion Such as these have all along in the Scripture discovered a strangness and a perfect carelesness as to Closet-duties I never knew any man hot and zealous about circumstantials about the little things
from the presence of the Lord and 2 Thes 1. â— 8 9. from the glory of his power And therefore put your mouths in the dust and be silent before the Lord. He that hath deserved a hanging if he escape with a whipping hath no cause to murmur or complain and we that have deserved a damning have little cause to murmur or complain of a whipping yea though it should be with a Pestilential-Rod But The thirteenth Lesson that you are to learn by the Rod or by the raging Pestilence is highly fully freely and signally to justifie the Lord and to think well of the Lord to speak well of the Lord under the Rod to that purpose consult these Scriptures Psal 119. 75 137. Neh. 9. 33. Ezr. 9. 13. Lam. 1. 3 5 7 8 10 4 15 18. Dan. 9. 12. 14. 2 Kings 20. 16 17 18 19. Jer. 12. 1 2. Psal 129. 17 18 19 20 21 22. Psal 22. 1 2 3. Psal 97. 2. But The fourteenth Lesson that you are to learn by the Rod or by the raging Pestilence is personal reformation When the Rod smarts the Pestilence rageth God expects that every man should smite upon his thigh and turn from the evil of his doings 2 Chron. 7. 13 14. If I shut up heaven that there be no rain or if I command the locusts to devour the Land or if I send Pestilence among my people If my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray seek my face turn from their wicked wayes then will I hear from heaven will forgive their sin will heal their Land that is I will remove the judgments that are upon the Land I will confer upon my reforming people all those favours blessings that they stand in need of Consult these Scriptures Ezr. 10. 14 19. 2 Chron. 30. 8 9. And chap. 29. 8 10 15 16. But The Fifteenth Lesson that you are to learn by the Rod or by the raging Pestilence is to make God your habitation your shelter your refuge Ponder seriously upon these Scriptures Psal 91. 2 9 10. Psal 90. 1. Psal 71. 3. Psal 57. 1. They dwell most safely most securely most nobly who dwell in God who live under the shadow of the Allmighty and who every day lodge their souls in the bosome of eternal loves But The Sixteenth Lesson that you are to learn by the Rod or the raging Pestilence is to set up God as the great object of your fear Psal 119. 119 120. Isa 8. 7 8 13 14. compared When the Judgments of God are either threatned or executed feared or felt it highly concerns us to lift up God as the main object of our fear we should fear the hand that layes on the Rod more than Job 13. 11. Jer. 36. 24. the Rod it self When God takes up the Rod when he draws his sword and when he shoots his Pestilential arrows amongst us O how highly doth it concern us to fear before him with a child-like fear with a reverential fear with a fear that fortifies the heart against sin and with a fear that fits the Soul for duty that draws yea drives the soul to duty But The seventeenth lesson that you are to learn by the Rod or by the raging Pestilence is to expect Gods singular presence with you and his admirable protection over you Consult these Scriptures Isa 43. 2. Dan. 3. 24 25. Gen. 39. 39 40. Psal 23. 4 5. Psal 91. Isa 63. 9. Isa 26. 20 21. Ezek. 9. 4 6. God is above his people and beneth them Deut. 33. 25 26 27. He is under them and over them Cant. 2. 6. He is before them behind them Isa 52. 12. chap. 58. 8. He is on the right hand of his people and he is on the left hand of his people Psal 16. 8. Psal 121. 5. Ps 118. 15 16 Exod. 14. 22 29. God is round about his people Psal 34. 7. Psal 125. 2. And God is in the midst of his people Zech. 2. 5. Psal 46. 5. Psal 12. 6 O the safety the security of the poor people of God for God is above his people beneth them he is under them over them he is before them behind them he is in the front in the rear and he is round about them and in the midst of them But The eighteenth Lesson that you are to learn by the Rod or by the raging Pestilence is to live every day in a fresh choice frequent excercise of grace Consult these Scriptures Psal 91. 2 3 4. Jer. 39. 17 18. Mic. 7. 7 8 9. Psal 40. 1 2. Hab. 2. 1 2 3 4. Jer. 30. â—1 That man that lives dayly in an exercise of grace that man lives every day in heaven on this side heaven what-ever affliction or judgment he is under The Ninteenth Lesson that you are to learn by the Rod or by the raging Pestilence is to quicken up your hearts to seek the Lord by extraordinary wayes means viz. by fasting prayer Consult these Scriptures Num. 16. 46 ult Psal 106. 23 29 30. Isa 22. 2 3 4 5 12 13. Jon. 3. 5 ult 2 Chron. 12. 2 3 4 5 6 7. 1 Kings 21. 21 ult Joel 2. 12 13 14 15. 16 17. But The Twentieth and so the last Lesson that you are to learn by the Rod or by the raging pestilence is To prepare for death it is to be in actual readiness to dye Ah Friends every ach every pain every disease is one of deaths warning pieces There is not a head-ach not a tooth-ach not a gripe not a grief not a fall not a wrench not a plague-sore but is a divine warning to man to prepare to die 'T is a soleemn work to die and therefore we had need prepare to die 'T is a work that is to be done but once and therefore we had need prepare to do that work well that is to be done but once In this world we hear often pray often read often and meditate often eat often drink often Job 14. 14. Heb. 9. 27. and that which is worst we sin often but we must die but once Death will try all our graces all our experiences all our evidences all our comforts all our attainments and all our He that would see more of this may read my String of Pearls and the Funeral Sermon that is at the end of my Book of Assurance enjoyments and therefore we had need to prepare to die Though there is nothing more certain than death yet there is nothing more uncertain than 1. The time when we shall die 2. The place where we shall die And 3. The manner how we shall die as whether we shall die a sudden death or a lingring death or a violent death or whether we shall fall by the sword abroad or by famine or pestilence at home or whether we shall fall by this disease or that and therefore we
out of Christ that sleight or neglect Ordinances under pretence of living above them that are growing in spirituals or decaying that are tempted or deserted afflicted or opposed that have assurance or want it on 2 Cor. 2. 11. 2 Heaven on Earth Or A serious Discourse touching a well-grounded Assurance of mans everlasting happiness and blessedness discovering the nature of assurance the possibility of attaining it the Causes Springs and Degrees of it with the resolution of several weighty Questions on the 8. of the Romans 32 33 34. verses 3 The Vnsearchable Riches of Christ Or Meat for strong Men and Milk for Babes held forth in two and twenty Sermons from Ephes 3. 8. Preached on his Lecture-nights at Fish-street-hill 4 His Apples of Gold for Young Men and Women And A Crown of Glory for Old Men and Women Or the Happiness of being Good betimes and the Honour of being an Old Disciple clearly and fully discovered and closely faithfully applied With the young mans objections answered the old mans doubts resolved 5 A String of Pearls Or The best things reserved till last delivered in a Sermon preached in London June 8. 1657. at the funeral of that Triumphant Saint Mrs. Mary Blake late Wife to his worthy friend Mr. Nicholas Blake Merchant 6 The Silent Soul with Soveraign Antidotes against the most miserable Exigents Or A Christian with an Olive-leaf in his mouth when he is under the greatest afflictions the sharpest and sorest trials and troubles the saddest and darkest providences and changes with Answers to divers Questions and Objections that are of greatest importance to win and work souls to be still quiet calm and silent under all changes that have or that may pass upon them in this world c. 7 The Crown and glory of Christianity Or Holiness the onely way to happiness discovered in 58. Sermons on Heb. 12. 14. 8 An Ark for all Gods Noah's in a stormy day Wherein is shewed the transcendent excellency of a Believers portion on Lam. 3. 24. 9 The Privy Key of Heaven Or A Discourse of Closet-prayer twenty Arguments for it with the resolution of several considerable Questions c. Eight Treatises lately publish'd by Mr Ralph Venning 1 A Warning to back sliders with means for the recovery of faln ones on Rev. â— 5. 2 The way to Happiness or way to Heaven opened on Mat 7. 21. 3 Mercies Memorial or a thankful Remembrance for Gods merciful Deliverance on the 5. of November 1605. on Psal 1â—6 23. 4 Canaans Flowing or Milk and Honey being a Collation of many Christian Experiences Savings and Sentences printed in an Alphabetical order to which is added 125. Heathen Speeches spiritually improved 5 His 543. Orthodox and Miscellanious Paradoxes concerning God Christ the Spirit Election the Scriptures the Creation Angels Men Sin the Law Grace the Sacraments the Resurrection Heaven and Hell 6 The new Command renewed or love one another 7 Mysteries and Revelations or the Explication of several Allusions and Metaphors in the Scriptures 8 Things worth thinking on or Helps to Piety being 412. Meditations with a Sermon of The beauty of Holiness Several useful Treatises published by Mr. Nicholas Lockyer and others 1 Christs Communion with his Church-Militant on John 14. 18. 2 His Divine Discovery of Sincerity on 2 Cor. 1. 12. 3 His seasonable Instructions for suffering Christians on Col. 2. 11. The Godly Mans Ark Or City of Refuge in the day of his distress discovered in divers Sermons The first of which was preached at the Funeral of Mrs E. Moor. Whereunto are annexed Mris. Moors Evidences for Heaven composed and collected by her in the time of her health for her comfort in the time of sickness By Edmund Calamy B. D. and Pastor of the Church at Aldermanbury Helps to improve the Holy Scriptures For our spiritual Comfort and Benefit Viz. Scripture Prophesies Promises Precepts Threatnings Drawn from their Stability and inviolable Authority By Robert Perrot Minister of Gods Word Dr. Thomas Taylor his Treatise of Circumspect Walking on Eph. 5. 15. A Treatise on the Sabbath by Mr. Thomas Shepheard Mr. Turners Breast-plate for the Heart Mr. Culverwels White stone of Assurance Mr. Fenor on Wilful Impenitency And his four profitable Treatises Spiritual Experiences of sundry Beleevers recommended to the Christian Reader by Vavasor Powel The wise Virgin a Narration of Mrs. Martha Hatfield a Childe of a eleven years old how God inabled her to utter many glorious truths concerning Christ Faith and other subjects The Diligent School-Boys Directory Being certain plain and profitable Rules and Directions for the better understanding of the English Orthography by Thomas Hunt Master of Art School-Master at St. Saviours in Southwark The Expert Physitian Learnedly treating of all Agues and Feavers essential whether simple or compound confused Erratick and malignant shewing their different Nature Cause Sign and Cure written Originally by that famous Doctor in Phisick Bricius Bauderon and translated into English by Dr. Wells Licentiate in Physick by the University of Oxford A Book of Short-Writing the most easie exact lineal and speedy method fitted to the meanest capacity composed by Mr. Theophylus Metcalf Professor of the said Art Also a School-Master explaining the Rules of the said Book with many new additions very useful Another Book of new Short-hand by Tho. Crosse A Copy-Book of the newest and most useful hands All to be sold by John Hancock at the first shop in Popes-head-Alley next to Cornhill FINIS THE PRIVY KEY OF HEAVEN Or a Discourse of CLOSET-PRAYER Matth. 6. 6. But thou when thou prayest enter into thy Closet and when thou hast shut thy Door Pray to thy Father which is in secret and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly THese words of our Saviour are plain and to be taken litterally and not Allegorically for he speaketh of shutting the Door of the Chamber In this chapter there is a manifest opposition between the Pharisees praying in the Synagogues and corners of the streets and others praying in secret In the Text you have a positive Precept for every Christian to pray alone But thou when thou prayest he saith not when you pray but thou when thou prayest enter into thy closet c. as speaking not so much of a joynt duty of many praying together as of a duty which each person is to do alone The command in the Text sends us as well to the Closet as to the Church and he is a hypocrite in grain that chooses the one and neglects the other for thereby he tells the world he cares for neither he makes conscience of neither He that puts on a religious habit abroad to gain himself a great Name among men and at the same time lives like an Atheist at home shall at the last be uncas't by God and presented before all the world for a Bellarm. de Sanctis lib. 3. cap. 4. c. most egredious hypocrite Bellarmine and some others turn the Text into
in favour with God a man that art very pleasing and delightful to God God loves to lade the wings of private prayer with the sweetest choicest and chiefest blessings Ah how often hath God kissed a poor christian at the beginning of private prayer and spoke peace to him in the midst of private prayer and fill'd him with light and joy and assurance upon the close of private prayer And so Cornelius is highly commended and graciously rewarded upon the account of his private prayer Acts. 10. 1 2 3 4. There was a certain man in Cesarea called Cornelius a Centurion of the Band called the Italian Band a devout man and one that feared God with all his house which gave much Alms to the people and prayed to God alwayes He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth houre of the day an Angel of God coming in to him and saying unto him Cornelius And when he looked on him he was afraid and said what is it Lord and he said unto him thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God Vers 30. 31. And Cornelius said four dayes agoe I was fasting until this hour that is until about three a clock in the after-noon vers 3. and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house and behold a man stood before me in bright cloathing and said Cornelius thy prayer is heard and thine Alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God Mark as he was praying in his house namely by himself alone a man in bright clothing that was an Angel in mans shape vers 3. appeared to him and said Cornelius thy prayer is heard he doth not mean only that prayer which he made when he fasted and humbled himself before the Lord vers 30. 31. but as vers 2 3 4. shews His prayers his prayers which he made alone for it seemes none else were with him then for he only saw that man in bright cloathing and to him alone the Angel addressed his present speech saying Cornelius thy prayers are heard vers 4 31. Here you see that Cornelius his private prayers are not only heard but kindly remembred and graciously accepted and gloriously rewarded Praying Cornelius is not only remembred by God but he is also visited sensibly and evidently by an Angel and assured that his private prayers and good deeds are an odour a sweet smel a sacrifice acceptable and well pleasing to God And so when had Peter his Vision but when he was praying alone on the house-top Acts 10. 9 10 11 12 13. On the morrow as they went on their journey and drew nigh unto the City Peter went up unto the house-top to pray about the sxith hour And he became very hungry and would have eaten but while they made ready he fell into a trance and saw heaven opened and a certain Vessel descending unto him as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners and let down to the earth wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth and wild beasts and creeping things and fowls of the air And there came a voice to him Rise Peter kill and eat When Peter was upon the house-top at prayer alone then he fell into a trance and then he saw Heaven opened and then he had his spirit raised his Mind clevated and all the Faculties of his soul filled with a Divine Revelation And so when Paâ—l was at prayer alone he saw in Acts 11 18. a Vision a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him that he might receive his sight Paul had not been long at private prayer before it was revealed to him that he was a chosen vessel before he was filled with the gifts Graces and Comforts of the Holy Ghost And when John was alone in the Isle of Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ whither he was banished by Domitian a most cruel Emperor then he had a glorious Euseb l. 3. c. 18. Rev. 1. 9 ult Rev. 5. 1 to 9. sight of the Son of man and then the Lord discovered to him most deep and profound Mysteries both concerning the present and future state of the Church to the end of the world And when John was weeping in private prayer doubtless then the sealed book was opened to him So when Daniel was at private prayer God dispatches a heavenly messenger to him and his Errand was to open more clearly and fully the blessed Scripture to him Some comfortable encourraging knowledge this holy man Doctor Ames got his learning by privat prayer and so did Solomon his wisdom of God had attain'd unto before by his frequent and constant study in the word and this egges him on to private prayer and private prayer posts an Angel from heaven to give him a clearer and fuller light Private prayer is a Golden-key to unlock the mysteries of the word unto us The knowledge of many choice and blessed Truths are but the returns of private prayer The Word dwells most richly in their hearts who are most in pouring out of their hearts before God in their Closets When Bonaventure that seraphical Doctor as some call him was asked by Aquinas from what books and helps he derived such holy and divine expressions and contemplations He pointed to a Crucifix and said Iste est liber c. Prostrate in prayer at the feet of this Image my soul receiveth greater light from heaven than from all study and disputation Though this be a Monkish tradition superstitious Fiction yet some improvement may be made of it Certainly that Christian or that Minister that in private prayer lyes most at the feet of Jesus Christ he shall understand most of the mind of Christ in the Gospel and he shall have most of heaven and the things of his owne peace brought down into his heart There is no Service wherein christians have such a near familiar and friendly entercourse with God as in this of private prayer neither is there any Service wherein God doth more delight to make known his truth and faithfulness his grace and goodness his mercy and bounty his beauty and glory Bene orasse est bene studuisse Luther to poor Souls than this of private prayer Luther professeth That he profited more in the knowledge of the Scripture by private prayer in a short space than he did by study in a longer space As John by weeping in a corner got the sealed book opened Private prayer crownes God with the Honor and Glory that is due to his Name and God crowns private prayer with a discovery of those blessed weighty Truths to his servants that are a sealed book to others Certainly the soul usually enjoyes most communion with God Nunquam minus solus quam cum solus Never less alone than when alone said the Heathen And may not a Saint say so much more that hath communion with God Jer. 13. 1 2. in secret When a christian is
6 7 8. So Luther perceiving the Cause of God and the work of Reformation to be greatly straitned and in danger he went into his Closet and never left wrestling with God till he had received a gracious answer from Heaven upon which he comes out of his closet to his friends leaping and triumphing with Vicimus vicimus we have overcome we have overcome in his mouth At which time it is observed that there came out a Proclamation from Charls the Fifth that none should be further molested for the Profession of the gospel At another time Luther being in private prayer for a sick friend of his who was very comfortable and useful to him had a particular answer for his recovery whereupon he was so confident that he sent word to his friend that he should certainly recover and so it fell out accordingly And so Latimer prayed with great zeale for three things 1. That Queen Elizabeth might come to the Crown 2. That he might seale the truth with his heart blood And 3. That the Gospel might be restored once again once again which he expressed with great vehemency of spirit All which three God heard him in Constantine commanded that his Effigies should be engraven not as other Emperours in their Armour leaning but as in a posture of prayer kneeling to manifest to the world that he won more by secret prayer than by open Battles Mr. Dod reports that when many good people had often sought the Lord in the behalf of a woman that was possessed with the Devil and yet could not prevaile at last they appointed a day for fasting and prayer at which time there came a poor woman to the chamber door where the exercise was begun and craved entrance but she being poor they would not admit her in upon that the poor woman kneeled down behind the door and sought God by prayer But she had not prayed long before the evil spirit raged roared and cried out in the possessed woman take away the old woman behind the doore for I must be gone take away the old woman behind the door for I must be gone And so by the old womans prayers behind the doore he was cast out Oh the prevalency of prayer behind the door And thus you see by all these great instances the great prevalency of private prayer Private prayer like Sauls sword and Jonathans Bow when duely qualified as to the person and act never returns empty it hits the marke it carries the day with God it pierceth the walls of Heaven though like those of Gaza made of brass and Iron Isa 45. 2. O who can express the powerfull oratory of private prayer c. Ninthly consider that secret duties are the most soul-enriching duties Look as secret meales make fat bodies so secret duties make fat souls and as secret Trades brings in great earthly riches so secret prayers makes many rich in spiritual blessings and in heavenly riches Private prayer is that privy key of heaven that unlocks all the Treasures of glory to the soule The best riches and the sweetest mercies God usually gives to his people when they are in their closets upon their knees Look as the warmth the Chickens find by close sitting under the Hens wings cherisheth them so are the graces of the Saints enlivened and cherished and strengthned by the sweet secret influences which their souls fall under when they are in their closet-communion with God Private prayer conscienciously performed is the privie key of heaven that hath unlocked such treasures and such secrets as hath past the skill of the cunningest Devil to find out Private prayer Midwifes the choicest mercies and the chiefest riches in upon us Certainly there are none so rich in gracious experiences as those that are most exercised in closet duties Ps 34. 6. This poor man cried saith David and the Lord saved him out of all his troubles David pointing to himself tells us that he cried that is silently and secretly as Moses did at the red sea and as Exod. 14. 15. Neh. 1. 11. 2. 4. Nehemiah did in the presence of the King of Persia and the Lord saved him out of all his troubles And O what additions were these deliverances to his experiences O my friends look as the tender dew that falls in the silent night makes the grass and herbs and flowers to flourish and grow more abundantly than great showrs of raine that fall in the day so secret prayer will more abundantly cause the sweet herbs of grace and holiness to grow and flourish in the soul than all those more open Publick and visible duties of Religion which too too often are mingled and mixt with the sun and wind of pride and hypocrisie Beloved you know that many times a Favourite at Court gets more by one secret motion by one private request to his Prince than a Trades-man or a Merchant gets in twenty years labour and paines c. So a Christian many times gets more by one secret motion by one private request to the King of Kings than many others doe by Trading long in the more publick Duties of Religion O Sirs remember that in private prayer we have a far greater advantage as to the exercise of our own gifts and graces and parts than we have in Publick for in Publick we only hear others exercise their parts and gifts c. in Publick duties we are more passive but in private duties we are more active Now the more our gifts and parts and graces are exercised the more they are strengthned and increased All acts strengthen habits The more sin is acted the more 't is strengthned And so 't is with our gifts and graces the more they are acted the more they are strengthned But Tenthly Take many things together All Christians have their secret Sins Psal 19. 12. Who can understand his errors cleanse thou me from secret faults Secret not only to other men but himself even such secret sins as grew from errours which he understood not 'T is incident to every man to erre and then to be ignorant of his errours Many sins I see in my self saith he and more there are which I cannot espy which I cannot find out nay I think saith he that every mans sins do arise beyond his accounts There is not the best the wisest nor the holiest man in the world that can give a full and entire list of his sins Who can understand his errors This interrogation hath the force of an affirmation Who can No man no not the most perfect and innocent man in the world O friends who can reckon up the secret sinfull imaginations the secret sinful inclinations or the secret pride the secret blasphemies the secret hypocrisies the secret Atheistical risings the secret murmurings the secret repinings the secret discontents the secret insolencies the secret filthynesses the secret unbelievings c. that God might every day charge upon his soul Should the best and holiest man on earth have
The End which is twofold 1. Subordinate and that is the certainty of our salvation 2. Ultimate and that is the praise of his glory Sixthly The Time how long this seal and earnest shall thus assure us and that is till we have the compleat possession of what it is an earnest To prevent mistakes and disputes about the Sealings of the Spirit on the one hand and to support comfort and encourage the poor people of God on the other hand let me briefly hint at the Spirits â—pecial sealing times As First Conversion times are often the Spirits sealing times Luke 15. 22 23. Upon the Prodigals return the fatted Calf is killed and the best Robe is put upon his back and the Ring is put upon his hand and shooes on his feet Some by the Robe understand the Royalty of Adam others the Righteousness of Christ And by the Ring some understand the pledges of Gods love Rings being given as pledges of love and by the Ring others understand the seal of Gods holy Spirit men useing to seal with their Rings Among the Romans the Ring was an ensigne of vertue honour and nobility whereby they that wore them were distinguished from the common people I think the main thing intended by the Robe and the Ring is to shew us that God sometimes upon the sinners conversion and returning to him is graciously pleased to give him some choice manifestations of his gracious pleasure and good-will and to seal up to him his everlasting love and favour And hence it comes to pass that some that are but babes in Christ are 1 Pet. 2. 2 3. 1. John 2. 12 13 14. Acts 9. 3 4 5 6. so diligent and active in religious duties and so consciencious and dexterous in the exercise of their Graces At first conversion God helps some of his people to read their own names written in legible letters in the Book of Life No sooner are some converted but the Spirit stamps his seale upon them Secondly Beleeving times are sealing times Ephes 1. 13. When they were in the very exercise of their faith when they were acting Rom. 15. 1 Pet. 1. 8. of their faith for so much the Original imports the Spirit came and sealed them up to the day of redemption He that honours Christ by frequent actings of faith on him him will Christ honour by setting his seal and mark upon him Thirdly Humbling times mourning times are sealing times When a holy man was askt which were the joyfullest dayes the comfortablest dayes that ever he enjoyed he answered his mourning dayes His mourning dayes were his joyfullest dayes and therefore he cried out O give me my mourning dayes give me my mourning dayes for they were my joyfullest dayes Those were dayes wherein God sealed up his everlasting love to his soul Job 22. 29. Isa 29. 19. When the Prodigal had greatly humbled himself before his father then the best Robe and the Ring were put upon him Luke 15. 17 24. There are none that long for the sealings of the Spirit like humble souls nor none set so high a price upon the sealings of the Spirit as humble souls nor none make so choice an improvement of the sealings of the Spirit as humble souls And therefore when mens hearts are humble and low the Spirit comes and sets the privy seal of heaven upon them Fourthly Sin-killing sin-mortifying sin-subduing times are the Spirits sealing times Rev. 2. 17. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna and will give him a white stone and in the stone a new name written that no man knowes saving he that receiveth it God will give to the victorious Christian a secret love-token whereby his soul may rest assured of the unspeakable love of God and of its freedom from condemnation White stones were of very great use among the Romans and among the Athenians and served to acquit the accused in Courts of Justice When Malefactors were accused arraigned and condemned in their Courts they gave them a Black stone in token of condemnation but when they were acquitted they gave them White stones in token of absolution And to this practise the holy Ghost seems to allude He that is victorious over Isa 56. 5. his lusts shall have a new Name that is better than the names of sons and daughters and he shall have the pardon of his sins writ in fair letters upon the white stone so that he may run and read his absolution The victorious Christian shall 1 John 1. 7. have assurance of the full discharge of all his sins he shall have a clear evidence of his Justification and a blessed assurance of his eternal Election all which are hidden and mysterious things to all but those that have experienced and tasted what these sweet meats of Heaven mean Among the Romans there were solemn feasts held in honour of those that were victorious in their sacred Games Now those that were to be admitted to those Feasts were wont to have their names written on white shels and white stones and by these Tickets they were admitted Now some think the holy Ghost alludes to this practise and so would hint to us a privy mark whereby victorious Christians may be known and admitted as bidden guests to the heavenly banquet of the hidden Manna according to Rev. 19. 9. O sirs when predominate lusts are brought under when bosom sins lye slain in the soul then the Spirit comes and seals up love and life and glory to the soul Fifthly Suffering times are sealing times Act. 7. 55 56 59 60. Rev. 1. 9 10. 2 Cor. 4. 15 16 17. The primitive Christians found Acts 5. 40 41 42. Psal 71. 20 21. Psal 94. 19. Rev. 1. 9 10. them so and the suffering Saints in theÌ„ Marian dayes found them so When the Furnace is seven times hotter than ordinary the Spirit of the Lord comes and seals up a mans pardon in his bosom and his peace with God and his title to heaven When the world frowns most then God smiles most when the world puts their iron chains upon the Saints legs then God puts his golden chains about the Saints necks when the world puts a bitter cup into one hand then the Lord puts a cup of consolation into the other hand when the world cries out Crucifiè them crucifie them then commonly they hear that sweet voice from heaven These are my beloved ones in whom I am well pleased Blessed Bradford looked upon his sufferings as an evidence to him that he was in the right way to heaven And saith Ignatius It is better for me to be a Martyr than to be a Monarch Sixthly Self-denying times are the Spirits sealing times Matth. 19. 27 28 29. First There is sinful self which takes in a mans lusts Secondly There is natural self which takes in a mans arts parts gifts with Reason Thirdly There is religious self which takes in all a mans religious duties and services whether ordinary or
extraordinary Fourthly There is moral self which includes a freedome from gross hainous enormous wickednesses and a fair sweet harmless behaviour towards men Fifthly There is relative self which takes in our nearest and dearest relations in the flesh as Psal 45. 7 8 9 10 11. Wife Children Father Mother Brothers Sisters c. Now when a man comes thus universally to deny himself for Christ's sake and the Gospels sake and Religion sake then the Spirit of the Lord comes and seals him up unto the day of redemption This is a truth confirmed by the experiences of many Martyrs now in Heaven and by the testimony of many Christians still alive Seventhly Sacrament times are sealing times In that feast of fat things God by his Spirit seals up his love to his people and his covenant to his people and pardon of sin to his people and heaven and happiness to his people There are many precious souls that have found Christ in this Ordinance when they could not find him in other Ordinances though they have sought him sorrowingly In this Ordinance many a distressed soul hath been strengthned comforted and sealed I might give you many instances take one for all There was a gracious woman who after God had filled her soul with comfort and sealed up his everlasting love to her fell under former fears and trouble of Spirit and being at the Lords Supper a little before the bread was administred to her Satan seemed to appear to her and told her that she should not presume to eat but at that very nick of time the Lord was pleased to bring into her mind that passage in the Canticles Eat O my friends Cant. 5. 1. But notwithstanding this Satan still continued terrifying of her and when she had eaten he told her that she should not drink but then the Lord brought that second clause of the Verse to her remembrance Drink yea drink abundantly or be drunk as the Hebrew hath it my beloved or my loves as the Hebrew hath it All faithful souls are Christs Loves and so she drank also and presently was filled with such unspeakable joyes that she hardly knew how she got home Which soul-ravishing joyes continued for a fortnight after and filled her mouth with songs of praise so that she could neither sleep nor eat more than she forced her self to do out of conscience of duty At the fortnights end when God was pleased to abate her measure of joy she came to a setled peace of conscience and assurance of the love of God so that for twenty years after she had not so much as a cloud upon her spirit or the least questioning of her interest in Christ But Eighthly When God calls his people to some great and noble work when he puts them upon some high services some difficult duties some holy and eminent imployments then his Spirit comes and sets his seal upon them Jer. 1. 5. Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctifyed thee and I ordained thee to be a prophet unto the Nations The Lord sending the Prophet Jeremiah to denounce most dreadful judgements against a rebellious people an impudent brazen-faced Nation he assures him of his eternal election and of his choice presence and singular assistance in that work that he set him about vers 8 17 18 19. Thus the Lord dealt with Peter James and John Matth. 17. 1 to the 6th and thus he dealt with Paul Acts 9 to 23. Ninthly When they are taken up into more than ordinary communion with God then is the Spirits sealing time When was it that the Spouse cried out My beloved is mine and I am his but when Christ brought her to his banquetting house and his banner over her was love Cant. 2. 16. 3 4 5 6. compared c. Tenthly and lastly When Christians give themselves up to private prayer when Christians are more than ordinarily exercised in secret prayer in Closet duties then the Spirit comes and seals up the Covenant and the Love of the Father to them When Daniel Dan. 9. 20 21 22 23. had been wrestling and weeping and weeping and wrestling all day long with God in his Closet then the Angel tells him that he was a man greatly beloved of God or a man of great desires as the Original hath it There was a gracious Woman who after much frequenting of Sermons and walking in the ways of the Lord fell into great desertions but being in secret prayer God came in with abundance of light and comfort sealing up to her soul that part of his Covenant viz. I will take the stony heart out of Ezek. 11. 19 20. their flesh and will give them an heart of flesh that they may walk in my statutes and keep mine ordinances and do them and they shall be my people and I will be their God And thus I have given you a brief account of the Spirits special sealing times Now mark This seal God sets upon all his wares upon all his adopted children for sooner or later there are none of his but are sealed with this seal God sets his John 3. 3. 2 Thess 2. 13. Heb. 12. 14. seal of Regeneration he stamps his Image of Holiness upon all his people to difference and distinguish them from all prophane moral and hypocritical persons in the World Doubtless the sanctifying work of the Holy Ghost imprinting the draughts and lineaments of Gods Image of Righteousness and Holiness upon Man as a seal or signet doth leave an impression and stamp of its likeness upon the thing sealed is the seal of the Spirit spoken of in Scripture 2 Tim. 2. 19. The foundation of God standeth sure having this seal the Lord knoweth them that are his And let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity But to prevent mistakes you must remember that though the Spirit of the Lord first or last will set his seal upon every real Saint yet the impression of that seal is not alike visible in all for some bear this impression as Babes others as men grown up to some maturity All Gods adopted children bear this impression truly but none of them bear it perfectly in this life Sometimes this seal of Regeneration this seal of Holiness is so plain and obvious that a man may run read it in himself and others and at other times 't is so obscure and dark that he can hardly discern it either in himself or others This seal is so lively stampt on some of Gods people that it discovers it self very visibly eminently gloriously but on others it is not alike visible And thus I have made it evident by these seven particulars that all the children of God have the Spirit of God Now mark The Spirit of God that is in all the Saints is a Spirit of prayer and supplication Rom. 8. 15. Ye have received the Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba
of Religion that was ever famous for Closet-prayer But Thirdly Take heed of curiosity and of spending too much of your precious time in searching into those dark abstruce misterious and hidden truths things of God and Religion that lye most remote from the understanding of the best and wisest of men Curiosity is the spiritual adultery of the Soul Curiosity is a spiritual drunkenness for look as the drunkard is never satisfied unless he see the bottome of the cup be it never so deep so those that are troubled with the itch of curiosity will say they can never be satisfied till they come to the bottome of the most deep and profound things of God they love to pry into Gods secrets and to scan the mysteries of Religion by their weak shallow reason and to be wise above what is written Curious searchers into the deep mysterious things of God will make all Gods depths to be shallows rather than they will be thought not able to fathom them by the short line of their own reason O that men would once learn to be contentedly ignorant where God would not have them knowing O that men were once so humble as to account it no disparagement to them to acknowledge some depths in God and in the blessed Scripture which their shallow reason cannot fathom They are only a company of fools in Folio that affect to know more than God would have them Did not Adams Tree of knowledge make him and his posterity meer fools He that goes to school to his own reason hath a fool for his school-master The ready way to grow stark blind is to be still prying gazing upon the body of the Sun So the ready way to spiritual Deut. 29. ult blindness is to be still prying into the most secret and hidden things of God Are there not many who by prying long into the secrets Rom. 9. 20. of nature are become arch-enemies to the grace of God O that we were wise to admire those deep mysteries which we cannot understand and to adore those depths and counsels which we cannot reach O let us check our curiosity in the things of God and sit Rom. 11. 33 down satisfied and contented to resolve many of Gods actions into some hidden causes which lye secret in the Abyss of his eternal knowledge and infallible will Christ when he was on earth very frequently severely sharply condemned John 21. 22 Acts 1. 6 7. Luke 1â— 23 24. curious enquirers as is evident by the Scriptures in the margent and the great reason why our Saviour did so frequently check this humor of curiosity was because the great indulgers of it were too frequent neglecters of the more great necessary and important points of Religion Curiosity is one of Satans most dangerous engines by which he keeps many souls out of their Closets yea out of Heaven when many a poor soul begins in good earnest to look towards heaven and to apply himself to Closet-duties then Satan begins to bestir himself and to labour with all his might so to busie the poor soul with vain enquiries and curious speculations and unprofitable curiosities that the soul hath no time for Closet-prayer Ah how well might it have been with many a man had he but spent one quarter of that time in closet-prayer that he hath spent in curious enquiries after things that have not been fundamental to his happiness The Heathenish Priests affected curiosity they had their Mythologies and strange canting expressions of their imaginary unaccessible Deities to amaze and amuse their blind superstitious followers and thereby to hold up their Popish and apish Idolatries in greater veneration O that there were none of this heathenish spirit among many in these dayes who have their faces toward heaven Ah how many are there that busie themselves more in searching after the reasons of the irrecoverableness of mans fall than they do to recover themselves out of their fallen estate Ah how many are there that busie themselves more about the apostasie of the Angels than they do about securing their interest in Christ And what a deal of precious time have some spent in discovering the natures distinctions properties and orders of Angels That high-foaring counterfeit Peter Martyr saith that to enquire of the Angels accurately and subtilly is Magis ad curiositatem nostram quam ad salutem And he wisheth that the school-men in their knotty thorny and unprofitable discourses had observed this Dyonisius describes the Hierarchy of Angels as exactly as if he had dwelt amongst them he saith there are nine orders of them which he grounds upon nine words which are found partly in the Old Testament and partly in the New as Seraphims Cherubims Thrones Powers Hoasts Dominions Principalities Arch-Angels and Angels and at large he describes their several natures distinctions and properties as that the first three orders are for immediate attendance on the Almighty and the next three orders for the general government of the creatures and the last three orders for the particular good of Gods Elect That the Arch-Angels surpass the beauty of Angels ten times Principalities surpass the Arch-Angels twenty times and that Powers surpass the Principalities fourty times c. How he came by this learning is not known and yet this Hierarchy in these nine several orders hath passed for currant through many Ages of the Church The Platonicks were the first that divided the Angels into three Orders as some above Heaven called Supercaelestes others in Heaven called Caelestes and others under Heaven called Subcaelestâ—â— and accordingly they assign them several Offices As First They above Heaven I mean this visible heaven continually stand before God as they say praising and lauding and magnifying of his name Secondly They in Heaven are there seated to move and rule and govern the Stars Thirdly They under Heaven are some to rule Kingdomes others Provinces others Cities others particular Men. Several Christian writers that have written of the Hierarchy of Angels follow these opinions Now if we should take these surmises for real truths then it will follow that the highest Angels do not minister to the Saints but only and immediately to God himself which is Jude 9. v. Luke 1. 19 26. Zech. 4. 10. Rev. 5. 6. Heb. 1. 14. expresly contrary to several Scriptures as you may see by them in the Margent among others When I was upon the Ministration of the blessed Angels I did then prove in several exercises as some of you may remember That all the Angels in Heaven were commanded and commissionated by God to be serviceable and useful to the heirs of Salvation Are they not all ministring Spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of Salvation The Devil knows he is no loser and the curious soul but a very little gainer if he can but perswade him to spend most of his precious time in studying and poring upon the most dark mysterious and hidden
cover me even the night shall be light about me Yea the darkness hideth not from thee but the night shineth as the day the darkness and the light are both alike to thee 'T is not the thickest Clouds that can bar out his observance whose eyes fill Heaven and earth What is the Curtain or the darkest night or the double lock or the secret Chamber to him who cleerly observes all things in a perfect nakedness God hath an eye upon the most inward intentions of the heart and the most subtile motions of the spirit Those Philosophers were out that held the eye and care of God descended no lower than the heavens Certainly there is not a creature not a thought not a thing but lyes open to the all-seeing eye of God The Lord knows our secret sinnings as exactly as our visible sinnings Psal 44. 21. He knoweth the secrets of our hearts Would not a malector speak truly at the Bar did he know did he believe that the Judge had Windows that did look into his breast Athenodorus a Heathen could say that all men ought to be carefull in the actions of their life because God was every where and beheld all that was done Zeno a wise Heathen affirmed that God beheld even the thoughts 'T was an excellent saying of Ambrose If thou canst not hide thy self Ambros Offic. l. 1. c. 14. from the Sun which is Gods Minister of light how impossible will it be to hide thy self from him whose eyes are ten thousand times brighter than the Sun Though a sinner may baffle his Conscience yet he cannot baffle the eye of Gods omnisciency Oh that poor souls would remember that as they are never out of the reach of Gods hand so they are never from under the view of his eye God is totus oculus all eye Jer. 16. 17. For mine eyes are upon all their wayes they are not hid from my face neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes Job 34. 21 22. For his eyes are upon the wayes of man and he seeth all his goings There is no darkness nor shadow of death where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves Jer. 32. 19. For thine eyes are open upon all the wayes of the sons of men to give every one according to his wayes and the fruit of his doings You know what Ahasuerus that great Monarch said concerning Haman when coming in he found him cast upon the Queens Bed on which she sate What saith he will he force Est 7. 8. the Queen before me in the House There was the killing emphasis in the words before me will he force the Queen before me what will he dare to commit such villany and I stand and look on O Sirs to sin in the sight of God to do wickedly under the eye of God is a thing that he looks upon as the greatest affront and as the highest indignity that can possibly be done unto him What saith he wilt thou be drunk before me wilt thou swear and blaspheme before me wilt thou be wanton and unclean before me wilt thou be unjust and unrighteous under mine eye wilt thou prophane my Sabbaths and polute my Ordinances before my face wilt thou despise and persecute my Servants in my presence c. This then is the killing aggravation of all sin that it is done before the face of God that it is committed in the Royal presence of the King of Kings whereas the very consideration of Gods Omnipresence should bravely arm us against sin and Satan the consideration of his all-seeing eye should make us shun all occasions of sin and make us shy of all appearances of sin Shall the eye of the Master keep the Scholar from blotting his Copy shall the eye of the Judge keep the Malefactor from picking and stealing shall the eye of the Master keep the Servant from idling and trifling shall the eye of the Father keep the Child from wandring and gadding shall the eye of the Husband keep the Wife from extravagancies and indecencies shall the sharp eye of wise Cato oâ— the quick eye of a neer Neighbour or the severe eye of a bosom Friend keep thee from many enormities vanities shall not the strict the pure the jealous eye of an All-seeing God keep thee from sinning in the secret Chamber when all Curtains are drawn doors bolted and every one in the house a bed or abroad but thee thy Dalilah Oh what dreadful Atheisme is bound up in that mans heart who is more afraid of the eye of his Father his Pastor his Child his Servant than he is of the eye the presence of the eternal God O that all whom this concerns would take such serious notice of it as to judge themselves severely for it as to mourn bitterly over it as to strive mightily in prayer with God both for the pardon of it and for power against it The Apostle sadly complains of some in his time who wallowed in secret sins Ephes 5. 2. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret He speaks of such as lived in secret fornications and uncleanness there were many that had put on a form of godliness who yet did allow themselves in the secret actings of abominable wickedness and filthiness as if there were no God to behold them nor Conscience to accuse them nor Judgement day to arraign them nor Justice to condemn them nor Hell to torment them O how infiniitely odious must they be in the eyes of a holy God who can highly court and complement him in publick and yet are so bold as to provoke him to his face in private these are like those whores who pretend a great deal of affection and respect to their Husbands abroad and yet at home will play the Harlots before their Husbands eyes Such as perform Religious duties only to cloak and colour over their secret filthinesses their secret wickednesses such as pretend to Pro. 7. 13 14 15. Job 24. 15. pay their vows and yet wait for the twilight such as commit wickedness in a corner and yet with the Harlot wipe their mouths and say What have we done such shall at last find the Chambers the Stones Hab. 2. 11. out of the Wall the Beame out of the Timber the Seats they sit on and the Beds they lye on to witness against all their want on daliances and lascivious carriages in secret Heb. 13. 4. Who remongers and Adulterers God will judge He will sentence them himself and why but because such sinners carry it so closely and craftily that oftentimes none but God can find them out Magistrates often neglect the punishing of such sinners when their secret wickedness is made known and therefore God himself will sit in judgment upon them Though they may escape the eyes of men yet they shall never escape the judgment of God Heart-iniquities fall not under any humane sentence Usually Whoremongers and Adulterers are
marvelous close and secret and subtile to conceal their abominable filthiness therefore the Harlot is said to be Rab. Sol. in hunc vers subtile of heart Prov. 7. 10. The Hebrew by Rabbi Solomon is translated munito corde and having her heart fenced for saith he as a City is environed with fortifications so her heart is fertified round about with subtilty or else it may be rendred occlusa corde fast shut up in the heart even as close as a besiedged City that is most secret in the subtilty of her heart how open soever she be in the boldness of her outward carriage So the Prophet Agur reckoneth the way of a Man with a Maid and the way of an adulterous Woman among those things which neither himself nor any other man was possibly able to discover and find out and compares it to the way of three things which no wit nor industry of man is able to descry but yet God seeth all and will bring them Prov. 30. 19 20. to the Bar for all But Secondly Consider That secret In my Treatise called Apples of Gold c. I have proved by many arguments that the sins of the Saints shall not be brought into the judgment of Discussion and discovery in the great day pag. 155 to pag. 172. and therefore understand this second particular of such who live and die in their secret sins without Repentance and faith in the blood of Christ sins shall be revealed The most hidden works of darkness shall be openly manifested for though the actings of sin be in the dark yet the judgings of sin shall be in the light Luke 8. 17. For nothing is secret that shall not be made manifest neither any thing hid that shall not be known and come abroad The slanders of the Jews concerning the magical arts of Christ and his Apostles the horrible lyes of the Pagans concerning the incestuous copulations of the Christians and their drinking mans-blood were in time discovered what they were Eccl. 12. 14. God shall bring every work into judgement with every secret thing whether it be good or whether it be evil Mark he doth not say some work but every work and not only works but secrets and not only secrets but every secret and not only secret good things but evil to whether good works or ill works whether secret or open all must be brought to judgement The Books of Gods Omniscience and mans Conscience shall then be opened and then secret sins shall be as legible in thy forehead as if they were written with the most glistering Sun-beams upon a wall of Chrystal All mens secret sins are printed in Heaven and God will at last read them aloud in the ears of all the world 1 Cor. 4. 5. Judg nothing before the time until the Lord come who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the heart Look as there are a world of flies and motes in the Aire which we never see till the Sun shines so there are many thousand thousands of proud thoughts and unclean thoughts and worldly thoughts and malicious thoughts envious thoughts and bloudy thoughts c. which the world sees not knows not but in the great day when the counsels of all hearts shall be manifest then all shall out then all shall appear both to the upper and the lower world In the great day all Masks Vizards and Hoods shall be pulled off and then all shall out all that ever thou hast done in the secret Chamber in the dark corner shall be made known to men and Angels yea to the whole Court of Heaven and to all the world beside Rom. 2. 16. In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ In this great day God will judge not only our words but our works not only our open works but also our secret works and wayes When Jehoiakim 2 Chron. 36 8. was dead there was found the characters superstitious marks and prints of his sorcery upon his body which shews how deeply Idolatry was rooted in his heart seeing he bare the marks in his flesh during his life he being a King bore it out bravely and kept all close but when he was dead then all came out then the marks of his abominable Idolatry appeared upon his body Though sinners though the greatest of sinners may hide and keep close their horrid abominations for a time yet there will come a time when all shall out when all their secret marks and secret abominations shall be obvious to all the world But sinners may be ready to Object and say Let us but alone in our secret sins till that day and then we shall do well enough And therefore in the Third place Consider that God many times doth even in this life Isa 41. 21 22 23. discover and make known to the world mens secret sins God loves to act suitable to his own names Now to be a revealer of secrets is one of his Names Dan. 2. 47. and accordingly even in this world he often brings to light the most hidden things of darkness Of all the glorious Attributes of God there is none that suffers so deeply by secret sins as the Attribute of his Omniscience and therefore in this world God often stands up to vindicate the Honour of that Attribute by unmasking of sinners and by bringing to the light all those secret paths and wayes of wickedness wherein they have long walked undiscovered 'T was for the honour of this blessed Attribute of God that the secret plotted Acts 5. 1 12. sin of Ananias and Saphira was so openly discovered And great fear came upon all the Church and upon as many as heard these things Josephs Brethren for a long time hide their malice their craft their Gen. 42. 21 22. Chap. 50. 15 22. cruelty their envy their tretchery in selling their Brother into Egypt but at last by amazing and amusing providences all was brought to light Conscience that for a time may seem to be asleep yet will in time awake and make the sinner know that he is as faithful in recording as he is fearful in accusing and this Josephs Brethren found by sad experience So Gehazi 2 Kings 5. 20. ult he sins secretly he lyes fearfully and after all he defends it stoutly but at last all comes out and instead of being cloathed richly he and his posterity was cloathed with a Leprosie for ever and instead of two changes of Garments God hangs him up in Chains as a Monument of his wrath to all Generations So Achan secretly and sacriledgiously steales a goodly Babylonish Garment and two hundred Shekels of Silver and a Wedge of Gold of Fifty Shekels Weight and hides them in the earth in the midst of his Tent and by reason of this Israel flyes before their enemies but at last Achan is taken and all comes out and his Golden Wedge proved a Wedge