some years ago when he was a little more then a Child and that in a time of his much sickness who then enjoyed such joyes as he believes were very beginnings and partakings of Heaven Such as the very Thoughts thereof hath often since much rejoyed him and did much incite him to write some things of Divine and Heaveny happinesse on Earth c. And if he did so declare and tell the same onely to God's Glory acknowledging his own altogether weaknesse and infirmities 2 Cor. 12. being ready to so much glory in such much humble acknowledgments as to question whether it were better for the present to be in Heaven already or here so well preparing for more happiness therein by such acknowledging his own weakness and infirmities that God's grace power and glory may be onely manifested thereby vers 5 9 10. And if any Divine Gloâ—y shall be occasioned by this or some other following Declarings some Enemies might have a little thanks aswel as something else for the same since to them he might say with the much Heaven-joyed Apostle Ye have compelled me And therefore also he may be the better excused if he were apt to think that such Divine and Heavenny Joys and Encouragements in such youngness and sickness aswel as after were a sufficient CALL to write some things in Divinity yea 〈…〉 himself For 〈…〉 a little talk or jest against Day or Temporal 〈◊〉 as some are 〈…〉 term Us their Writing in Divinity they may know theâ—e are very many Scriptures and Reasons for the same whereof some they may see in Sir Richard Baker's â—ommendations thereof printed and many other also may be given and the farre-fetcht Arguments to the contrary may if occasion be well derided to scorn yea insomuch as even the Popish Priests themselves as much as they ride the people are yet ashamed to deny them Writing and Printing in Divinity while onely what is not contrary to their Religion much more have good Protestant Ministers thought well of any mens such good Endeavours which they know Orthodox I might also to the Divine Praise tell how Heaven hath often smiled Joys and Blessings upon his good Resolutions and Endeavours especially in Writing some things concerning Man's Happiness and also particularly of many Divine Providences Protections and Encouragements sometimes notwithstanding ill Enemies and their being evil-ey'd against a Man's good Resolutions and of hopeful turning their wrongful Opposision to his good And how if any with old Satan will be such ill-comb Enemies to go on to much oppose him they are not like to get much thereby unlesse some shewment of their Evil-Combness if not also a little Checkment of their ill-bent Horn-ness though he would rather hope they will not much fling Horns against him and thereby shew long Combs and Ears but that mistakes if any be may be well rectifyed and Christian Love Peace and Right well occasioned And I might likewise further declare to Divine Praise that he is a Man who resolves lives and would endeavour aswel as he can and when convinced of any amissements would presently resolve and glory in amendment A Man that hath so well resolved lived and endeavoured that he doth much protest desiring also the blessing of the Almighty according to the truth of this Protestation that he doth seriously wish that all his faults might be written in the face and sight of the Sun and World to be read of all men upon condition that his good Intents Endeavours and Resolutions by Divine Blessing were therewith also written read and seen of all men And likewise how he is a Man that hath so well lived and well-endeavoured as he hopes and believes that his very Enemies unless there be any as Knavish and Impudent as old Satan they will readily acknowledge or however well think that he hath been and is a much wel-endeavouring and a Well-resolved Man And again I might likewise upon occasion tell how when heretofore a distemper of Natural Melancholy sometimes came upon him much at new Wakings the thoughts of some Divine and Heavenâ—y Joys have quickly dispelled the same And so when Enemies have sometimes occasioned in him a little just indignation yet upon remembring such Divine Joys his Spirits have been quickly composed again and setled in quiet rejoying and then though according to our Saviours counsel Luke 17 3. when Enemies trespass against him yea strangely persecute him he may well rebuke them tyet doth his often lightsome Spirit incline to do it by some lively mirthy yet round Brushes Girds and Derisions father then by such plainer cudgelling Rebukes and more then Rebukes as some deserve yet if they repent as it followeth ver 3 4. and so amend he would much freely forgive them yea doth so even before they repent and amend and while he rebukes them and wishing the same or something might occasion their Conversions with as much Blessings and Happiness as our God will or Heaven can give and bestow on them And so likewise I might tell what Divine and Heavenny Joys he hath sometimes had in health and prosperity insomuch as sometimes ready to forget himself while thinking thereof and hath gone a good time another way then intended before he remembred himself yea somtimes even in company hath bin askt a question twice laught at before he could pull down his Mind to answer though he hopes not so unconveniently to forget himself again hereafter And also how such Joys while well-minding himself and his convenient occasions as every man should have often made his Thoughts Studies Occasions Recreations Enjoyments and much of his life-time more pleasant and delightsome though yet he thinks himself altogether unworthy of the least of any such Joys and Blessings and would the more therefore render praises to his God the Divine Giver thereof And also further the rather if or since Enemies occasion it I might well-tell or suppose that he is a man whom GOD hath so well blest that how much-soever the strong and high-graced whether low or high placed men are beyond him in Joys and Happiness yet that he while he may with Divine Blessing quietly serve his God with such a sufficiency as he hath given him if ill men do not manifestly much wrong him as they are not like to do it very easily without Comb-brushing if they would yea or if Men and Devils oppose to hinder yet while he may continue to enjoy his GOD and study to serve Him and His People would be ready to vye Happiness even on Earth with the most Purse-proud Comb-proud ungracious Man living and that 〈◊〉 so as not onely being ready to both pitty and laugh at him till he shake off his Wicked-Combness but also hoping to out-vye him so far as some Joys being Partakings or Beginnings of Heaven are beyond these of Earth or meer-Man much more of the commonly distempered ill-passionated wicked Man besides the infusions of a kind of Heavened Joy that an Heavenny-mind adds in
on earth to the encrease of the everlasting happinesse in Heaven to divine glory And I have declared also how I intended to write some things with divine blessing concerning publique good and happinesse and right well is it to wish or endeavour what with conveniency we may thereof Psal 122.6 7 8 9. And in the former impression here of some yeares agoe I did give some account of an intended book concerning much hopefull good and happinesse in these Nations and that intermixt among and by way of severall Reasons for submission to Higher Powers But having since above a yeare and half agoe Impressed somthing thereof called A Word in Season or A few words of 34. heads of Reasons for submission to Higher Powers And of much hopefull good and happinesse to these Nations I forbeare to Reprint the same in this Impression and rather referr the Reader thereunto intending to add the same or another Impression thereof hereunto next after this first part And though I wish some ill-minded-men would not be so evil ey'd against the same and other good Resolutions as to occasion much wrongs deceits and hinderances and among other to occasion that in long time I could not or cannot sell have or dispose any thing of a messuage and Lands made over to me by my late brother for some money to him and much engaged for him so as neither I nor the Creditors could yet be paid thereof nor his Children have the Remainder as intended and offered and also occasion such falsenesse in trust that I could not or cannot sell have or dispose any of about fourscore and ten pounds a yeare elsewhere nor yet any unlesse so lit-little as lesse then charges in looking for it of whom I trusted above two thousand pounds worth of the same Lands at St. Peters and Tilmston and also goods or of some hundred pounds of my Rent received by whom trusted or that any would often say or threaten I should get none thereof unlesse I would comply not to Print Books or it seemes be engaged not to Print such things as some are evil ey'd against though good Resolutions And I wish I may have no occasion to Impresse a Tragicomicall Narrative of some wrongs hinderances Ill-triks and persecutions and how yet old Satan is not like to get much by setting on to the same unlesse some exaltation of 〈◊〉 Comb rather then hornes though for other enemyes I wish rather their love and peace with some Rightment But though if some disconcentented unpeaceable sedicious or ill-minded men of severall Cleaks would be so evil-ey'd as to shew their hornes though much longer Combs thereby against such good endeavours and resolutions yet well-minded peaceable and gracious men will I hope much rejoyce and praise our God for such much hopefull good and happinesse as in the following Papers intended to be added hereunto may in some little part appeare though especially more plainly when such further good Resolutions thereof are finished and published Againe In the former Impression hereof I did also mention some things to divine praise of another intended book to be called A Divine Kingdom in Men or the Heavenly age on Earth Of which I had thought likewise to have given some account in another Sect on of this Impression hereof But having since also Imprinted somthing thereof entituled Exalted happinesse or A few words concerning a Divine Kingdom and the encrease thereof to much happy heavenny times on earth and to some degrees of Heaven within us Intending likewise to add the same with the other hereunto I referr the Reader if he please thereunto hopeing that though if some would be so evil or Owle-ey'd ill or narrow-minded addle or thick-headed as to detract from little mind or shew Combs against the same yet gracious heaven-minded men will much rejoyce at such much exalted happinesse and much cheerefully render or sing prayses for the same to him who is so good a God to his Jacoblike his gracious people verse 9. And I may also if occasion in a second part hereof proceed to the next generall observation mentioned in the first Section of checking the ilâ—busednesse of wicked mens hornes though by shewing and brushing their Combs and long eares and otherwise And therein among others some things if occasion of a Tragicomicall Narrative and round Brush or Catechise And some things further then in the former Impression of an intended Tragicomicall book wherein may be shewed how that old Satan hath figuratively a Comb as well as Hornes and his Servants both Combs and long Eares And how they may be well checked derided brushed ordered c. And divine gracious and vertuous men rejoyce and enjoy a much happy age I may also proceed if God please to his praise to a third and fourth part concerning the third and fourth generall observations before mentioned of being at the best side contrary to the worst Comb-men and much partaking of the exaltive happinesse of Gods people according to the end of Psal 75. vers 10. Of which some things may be likewise perceived in part by the two following little discourses especially that of exalted happiness c intended to be added hereunto And so likewise of some more particular observations and among other of gracious mens exaltive dignities and felicities in Jesus Christ in our God and Heaven-Kingdome And of much knowing and enjoying such divine and Heavenny happinesse and thereby also more Heaven-minded enjoyment of temporall felicities And how all things both troubles and prosperity may work to their good either on earth or especially in Heaven And of their much exalted happinesse in severalls therein And so how at last when the obstinate unconverted wicked men shall be all horn-cutied and Comb-shewn elsewhere they that are Gods Children shall to his glory be all exalted for ever and Triumph in Heaven FINIS
A Well-Resolved Man OR Good Resolutions Good Endeavour PSAL. 75.9 10. THE FIRST PART SECT I. THE God of all happiness having been pleased to often give Divine and Heavenly Joys to many of his people and amongst the many to smile some shines thereof to one of his though unworthy servants did thereby the rather move me to study and endeavour aswel as 〈◊〉 could to declare the like Divine Joys and happiness to other And he did by some occasions also set me on work to a little shew the evil follyness of obstinate Popish and some kind of vitious seditious and ill-minded Enemies of Goodness of which likewise some things may be more known in good time And then had I occasion to think that some mens Horns though much shorter then their Combs and Ears did deserve a little checking either by shewing brushing or deâ—iding the same or otherwise And what Monster-men the Wicked are and what kind of Combs aswel as Horns they have and how the illness thereof may be well brushed or checked may in some after Parts hereof be shewn and likewise of being at the best side and partaking of the much joys and happiness of God's People And so it was that among many times being one time so well busied studying and endeavouring aswel as my weakness could to chearfully declare some things of the much goodness of our God to his people and to give some both useful and pleasing checks to wicked follyness and some encouragements to blessed Graciousness and having God's Book before me I providentially turned to the 75 Psalm and reading towards the end thereof as followeth But I will declare for ever and sing praises to the God of Iacob All the Horns of the Wicked also will I cut off c. Psal 75.9 10. It then seemed to me that no sooner had the Kingly Prophet in much zealous-wise set himself to well declare abroad the much goodness of our God and well-sing his praises but the Horns of the Wicked were set in his way Right well did he therefore resolve to all-cut them off to unborn unpower such wicked men aswel aâ— also to encourage the Righteous as it followeth ver 10. Then did I from the same 9th and 10th verses collect these four following general Observations as the Heads of or pertaining to the intended ensuing Discourse First since the Divine-spirited Psalmist was so very well-resolved to declare for ever and sing praises to the God of Jacob c. that every well-resolved man should likewise do right well when and aswel as they may conveniently to cheerfully and with divine praises declare the much goodness of our God to his Jacob-like 〈◊〉 yea though if any ill-minded Esaus or any of old Satan's Messengers â—y wicked Horn combmen would therefore malign oppose or any way set Horns with Combs against them Gen. 27.41 Psal 75.1 4 5. 1 Joh. 12.13 14 15. Rev. 2.17 Secondly since King David was as all good Magistrates should be so well resolved to check or cut off the horns of the wicked so calling the same and figuratively meaning thereby their ill-used power and wrong fulness we likewise may endeavour to check the ill-usedness thereof against us and that partly by shewing and blushing their combs and long ears so calling the same and figuratively meaning thereby their pride folly and wickedness and that to be done partly by good round confutations and both serious and deriding Reprehensions when good perswasions and other good ways will not serve for Conversion and chiefly by or with the Sword of the Spirit called the Word of God or according thereunto Prov. 26.3 Psal 52.6 7. 59.8 75.4 5. 149.6 Eph. 6.17 Heb. 4.12 Thirdly since this so wel-resolved Man the Prophetical K. David was 1. A Type of Jesus Christ 2. A good Magistrate 3. A good Prophet And 4. a good man since he did so well resolve as before-mentioned that we should do very well to side under our Captain-General Jesus Christ as some of his Angel-men against Satan and his Rev. 12. also under such good Magistrates and with such good Ministers and People who David-like do most love God's goodness and praises and most check or Horn-cut much obstinate Antichristian and vitious wicked men who Comb-fully fling Horns or Harms against the same and them And likewise to side with such who do most love or encourage Right Truth and Goodness And so fourthly with them to partake of the much exaltive happiness of God's people for so it followeth ver 10. But the Horns that is the well-used power and happiness of the Righteous shall be exalted and that either partly on Earth by knowing and present enjoying as much as they can of their Divine Felicities and Dignities in Jesus Christ and sometimes it may be Temporal Blessings added with exalted Heaven minded Enjoyment thereof or however may have Divine Joys both in troubles and prosperity and all things working for their good either here or especially hereafter in Heaven and of their much exalted happiness therein for ever Then did I likewise from the same 9th and 10th verses of Psalm 75. note or collect some more particular Observations of which I may write more hereafter but herein I intend some things that have some relation to the before-mentioned four general Observations and that the rather upon some occasions and the first general Observation thereof with some particular Application to partly be the ground of this first Part and so herein to write some things according thereunto First more particularly in the next Section And secondly more publiquely and generally in the after Section of this Part. SECT II. FIrst more particularly A much well Resolved-Man will be right willing aswel as he can when conveniently he may to chearfully declare abroad the Divine Goodness and praises of Him the God of Jacob yea though if any wicked Horn-Combmen would therefore malign oppose or set Horns with their Combs much illy against him And so this Divine-Spirited Psalmist in many other of his Psalms would often particularly tell what GOD had done for Him and that sometimes notwithstanding many ill Enemies and so what particular Blessings Protections Deliverances Joys and Felicities his GOD had given unto him And the like we read of many other Saints in all Ages of which I may elsewhere give many Instancies But here I would occasionally write a few Words of one with whom I am very well acquainted and know or believe him to be a much Well-Resolved and Well-endeavouring Man And here I might to the Divine Praise particularly declare of many blessed and happy Experiences and what Divine and Heaveny Joys his GOD hath sometimes given him both in health and sickness in troubles and prosperity But now onely a little of some things And so if he did formerly in something published to God's Glory particularly tell and that with a much asseveration for the truth thereof and wishing God's Blessing according how that he knew a man
or with both Troubles and Prosperity and so as raising all terrene good and happiness to a much better and higher Enjoyment Prov. 16.8 37.6 and besides in whatsoever condition the assurance of all working to his good especially to the encrease of his everlasting happiness 1 Pet. 1.8 Rom. 8.28 2 Cor. 4.17 7.4 8.2 In summe If I should suppose and particularly declare the many Divine Experiences Providences Protections Directions Blessings Joys and Encouragements which he hath had in health and in sickness and among some good friends and notwithstanding some ill Enemies and so both in Troubles and Prosperity and if I should so declare that all men might fully know the same though if evil-ey'd hinder-good men would very much vex thereat yet would the good or best men all presently wel-know or be ready to say-out that he blessed man though much unworthy had and hath yet very much reason with the Psalmist and other well-resolved men to particularly declare the much goodnesse of our GOD to his praise c. Verse 9 SECT III. SEcondly more publiquely also will a much well resolved man be willing when occasion to speak or any way declare abroad Gods goodnesse and praises yea thoâ—gh if any evil ey'd ill-minded men would therefore shew horns with Combs against him vers 9. c. And so like this well resolved Psalmist professes also in Psal 40.3 5 7 8 9 10 and in severall other of his praisfull Psalmes And likewise many other much well-resolved Saints in all Ages have been so willing to publiquely well imploy their Talents either by acting speaking studying writing or the like when occasion though often-times some ill minded men have therefore much detracted from and opposed the. And so likewise in these and times to come will many such well-resolved men be cheerefully willing to do any good when conveniently they may and to let their light shine to their Heavenly Fathers glory though Owle-sighted hate-light men or evil-ey'd hinder-light men or such whose hornes or Combs hang in their light would therefore much envy maligne gainsay or ill oppose them Math. 5.15 16. and 25.17 18.22 23 Mark 4.21 Psal 75.1 4 5 9 10. But here a few words of some application Good men I hope will think right well of my good endeavours and resolutions in this publique impressing way I hopeing to do some good thereby how little soever and having more then ordinary engagements and occasions thereunto and the rather while I do not censure or blame these who though much able do yet think it more discretion to forbeare in this Impressing way while yet we may well blame check or brush some ill-detracture sneaking evil-ev'd base-spirited hinderers and opposers of goodnesse But of this I may if occasion write some things elsewhere and how detracters and persecuters are the worst of men and most Father-Satan-like and of their base and rediculous humours and among other things how they deserve to be crowned instead of Lawrell with a Coronet of two bigg Eares on a Knaves cap with a Coxcomb and bell And now to come to what I cheefely intend in this Section I being willing for want of Tallants to bring a few Mites into the publique Treasury I desire upon occasion to give some very short account of some of my intended good endeavours and resolutions tending to a declareing of Gods goodnesse to his praise and his peoples happiness verse 9. And first to name one book intituled A Divine Mirrour or The happy Man c. Wherein a regenerate gracious man may behold much of his divine heaveny happiness on Earth Which book is well begâ—n printed and might have been published a good time before now if first some intended additions and since some occasioned diversions had not hindered the same By which it may be well known to our Gods praise that a much gracious man can or may often much rejoyce in many severall respects yea often times though if ill-minded men would comely shew their hornes against him And so how he can rejoyce much more then the ungracious men even in externall and morall felicities though especially indivine and heavenny happinesse And well is it if therein as likewise in some other intended Treatises I hope to see farr better my former litte and weak though gracious and vertuous endeavours and so to declare such divine and heavenny happinesse however yet weakly as to gâ—ve some occasion to hope as well as wish of some conversation amongst Angells and of learning some divinity in Heaven and of God himself Phil. 3.20 Heb. 12.22 Joh. 6.45 Psal 71.17 And to give onely here this little short account of the intents of the before mentioned book Wherein by way of Character of an happy man is or may be shewed as in a Divine Mirrour to such severall things of the following heads Of Gods love to him in Jesus Christ Of his blessed Union in Christ Of the divine Spirit in him and much blessings and felicityes of all these Also of his divine graces his divine happy heavenny faith And of his such hope And so of his divine love Likewise of his Evangellicall humilliation Repentance and filiall feare occasioning much exaltation joy and love in God Also of other his divine graces and of his morall virtues ingraced and so raised to more happinesse Of his divine gracious and often joyous prayers praiseings and other good Christian exercises and good endeavours and resolutions Of his Orthodox Religion and felicities thereof Of his blessed peace as farr as he may with all men and much love to and Communion with the Saints Also of his divine gracious courage and of his contentment and often divine joyes in Troubles And how the same and oppositions do and may often turne to his good And of his good use and heaven-minded enjoyment of externall happinesse and prosperity Of his much happinesse in God And so in and with him of his divine and heavenny life welfare Wisdome Power Amiablenesse Freâ—nds Riches Honors pleasures and how his God gives is and will be such happinesse to him Also of his divine joyes and how the same are alwayes habituall and often actuall free ready quick instant lively much Angelliseing his soul and thereby adding to all his other felicities And how somtimes may be unexpressable and how superterrene super-humane divine and heavenny Of his entertayning enjoying and encreasing such divine and heavenly infusions And of his soul often eying and having conversation in Heaven and enjoying in some degrees the felicities thereof already And of his divine Communion and fruition of God And so how his soul may be more sublimed to an heavenny temper often entertayning and enjoying partakings of the divine self and Heaven within him Also how such divine and heavenny graces joyes and felicityes are in some respects communicative to such as are capable thereof And how if all men would seriously endeavour to be such as he we might behold a more Angellicall Heavenny age