profanesse and impiety 1. Tim. 4.7 I will altogether exercise my selfe to godlines which hath annexed vnto it the promise of the life present and of that that is to come Psal 71 14. The Lorde is my helper and deliuerer in the time of trouble he is my Rocke and my defence I will continually waite vpon him and wil praise him more more My mouth shall rehearse his righteousnesse and my tongue shall speak of his saluation XXX IT is not good for a maÌ„ to bee confident in his owne strength It is a broken staffe and wil deceiue his trust Hee that is in heart a Christian must worke out his saluation with feare and trembling Mat. 26.35 Who before hand so bold in vaunts protestations to followe Christ as Peter and yet alasse Iohn 11.16 who at the point more timorous Who so ready to dye with him as Thomas yet in the end who more incredulous Vnlesse hee might see in his handes the printes of the Nailes Ioh. 20 25. he would not beleeue his resurrection Let him that standeth therefore looke well vnto his footing that he do not fall Let him not think vpoÌ„ Security while hee is heere It is not a Creature of this world The Angels are not sure of it in Heauen There Lucifer did fall euen in the presence of the Godhead Poore Adam found by woefull experience that it was not amongst the Trees of Eden for there fell hee from that estate of blessednesse in which hee was created Much lesse ought we to hope for it in this Vale of misery 1. Pet. 5.8 where our aduersary like a roaring Lion walketh about and seeketh whom hee may deuoure I will alwaies therefore stand vpon my guard Mat. 26.41 I will continually keepe Centinel ouer my heart and without ceasing wil I pray that I enter not into Tentation The GOD of Abraham the Shielde of Isaac and the strength of Iacob shal protect me The watchman of Israell that neyther sleepeth nor slumbereth shall stil preserue mee as the Apple of his Eye XXXI HEE that walketh in the Sunne shall bee tanned and he that medleth with Pitch shall bee defiled A Man can hardly conuerse with such as are infected and yet rest free from all contagion Ioseph was but a while in Aegypt Exod. 34 5 when he learned to sweare by the life of Pharaoh And hence it was that the Children of Israell were commaunded by the Lord to make no Couenant with the Inhabitantes of Canaan nor to take their Daughters eyther for theÌ„selues or for their Sonnes least when they went a whoring after their Goddes and did sacrifice vnto theÌ„ they likewise might bee induced by them to do the like Iudg. 16 18 But notwithstanding the strictnesse of this Mandate Sampson would haue his Dalilah and shee indeede did dally with him till shee had destroied him Dauid would entertain a league of amity with Hanun for the courtesies he had receiued from his Father Nahash 2 Sam. 10.4 but the euent of it was this His kindnesse was suspected his Messengers disgraced There were not women enow in Israell for King Salomon 1 King 11.1 but he must take vnto him the Daughter of Pharaoh and he must haue with him them of Moab Ammon Edom Zidon Heth. 1 Kings 11.11 But the lord grewe angry with him for it Hee rent his Kingdome from him gaue it to his Seruaunt For these had weaned him from God vnto Idolatry and had enticed him to builde high places vnto Chemosh Gen. 24 3. vnto Molech The holy Patriarks were more obedient Abraham would none of them for Isaac Ibid. 27.2 Isaac woulde none of them for Iacob nor Iacob for himselfe Hee went according to his Fathers wil to Padan-Aram to the House of Bethuel for a wife when wicked Esau of purpose as it were to spite both God his Parents did go to Ishmael and tooke vnto the wiues he had already of the same stocke Mahalath his Daughter but for this his disobedience the promise vvas confirmed vnto his Brother and he himselfe was made a Seruaunt vnto him Though I soiourne therefore here on earth my conuersation shall be in Heauen froÌ„ whence I looke for my Redeemer the Lorde Iesus Christ Phâ—l 3.20 who shall chaunge my vile body and fashion it in glory like vnto his owne according to the working whereby he is able euen to subdue all thinges vnto himselfe Let the Daughters of men bee neuer so faire Gen. 6.2 I will auoyd their company I knowe the World had net beene drowned if the Sonnes of GOD would haue forborne them Our heauenly leader is exceeding iealous If he see vs familiar with his Enemies hee misdoubtes our hearts and thinkes that eyther wee are already of the party or may in time bee easily made so The destructioâ— of Ahaziah the Son oâ— Iehoram King of Iudah came of God in that he went downe to see Iehoram the Sonne of Ahab who lay diseased at Izreel 2. Cron. 22. If mine eie do therefore cause me to offend I will pluck it out if my hand I will cut it off and cast it from me Math. 18 6. Better it is that I should want a member then my whole body should be cast into Hell There is not any one eyther in bloud or otherwise so neere vnto mee but if hee fall from God I will fal from him Our Sauior Christ hath taught me both by precept and example that I shold acknowledge nonâ— for my Brother my Sister or my Mother buâ— such as do the will of my Father Mat. 12 50. which is in Heauen XXXII MY Sonne saith Salomon Prou. 3 11. despise not the chastening of the Lorde nor faint with griefe at his rebuke Hee correcteth him whom hee loueth best euen as the parent doth the Childe in which he delighteth most Hee will see how patiently hee can endure his wrath with what constancy abide the smarting of his rod. For there are some that are onely followers of his Table and not of him let neuer so little euill come vpon them they will presently put in practise the counsell of that foolish Woman and like vnnaturall and disobedient children Iob. 2 9. Blaspheme the name of God and dye Let not the Shuhite then vpbraid the afflicted Iob Ibid. 3.8 nor alleage his punnishment as an argument of his vnrighteousnesse Those eighteen persons whoâ— the fall of the Towers Siloam slew were not assuredly greater Sinnes theÌ„ all the rest that dwel in Hierusalem Luke 13.2 Let noâ— him therefore that hatâ— not so much as tasted the bitternesse of his indignation say in his vants My holinesse hath preserued me For howsoeuer he coÌ„ceiteth of himselfe surely the Lord accounts him but a bastard and cares not it shoulâ— seem what doth becoâ— of him Heb. 12 8. Did he esteem him as a Sonne he sholâ— not want his portion Hee would looke
an Angell mourn I will from hence-foorth therefore furnish my selfe with a religious godly sorrow and being so prouided I will run and seek for my blessed Sauiour His Mother founde him not till shee had greeued exceedingly nor Marie Magdalene Luke 2.48 till shee had wept excessiuely they both lamented mourned bitterly Iohn 20.11 as for the losse of an onely Sonne Iere. 6.26 or they could neuer else haue heard of him I will not hope for better hap but encourage my selfe by their example LV. THe blewnesse of the wound serueth to purge the euill Pro. 20 30 and the stripes within the bowels of the belly For it is indeed the after-wisdome and Epimethean had I wist of mortall men neuer to looke vp vnto Heauen for help but in the midst of their affliction And then Come say they let vs returne to the Lord for he hath spoyled vs Hos 6.1 and hee wil heale vs he hath wounded vs and he will bind vs vp In their prosperitie they growe forgetfull of him that made them and neuer thinke vppon the Crosse of Christ til they be crost themselues Till Paule was strooke with blidnesse he neuer asked Iesus of Nazareth what was to be done nor did the Prodigall acknowledge his fault til hunger forced him to returne Manasseh remembred not 2 Cron. 33.12 to pray vnto the Lord til he was in tribulation then he humbled himself greatly before the GOD of his fathers The carnal man will quickly ryot in his groth if he bee not either by infirmities reproaches necessities persecutioÌ„s or anguish suppressed and kept downe When I am weak saith the Apostle then am I strong 2. Cor. 12 10. And hereupon the kingly Prophet desiring the conuersion of sinfulmen Fill their faces O Lorde saith he with shume Psal 83.16 that they may seeke thy Name and in another place Let thy chasticementes and thy corrections bee multiplyed vppon them and they will hasten to thee out of hand They may be likened to a seruant that obeyeth not his Maister but when his Sword is drawne or vnto Swine that till the comming of the storme will not leaue their wallowing in the mire Nay some of them there are so desperately enamoured with that painted Iezabell Iniquity that no indifferent meanes can weane them from her allurements 1. Cor. 5 5. they must of necessity be deliuered vnto Sathan for the destruction of the flesh or their Spirit will bee hardly saued in the day of the lord And such were Hymenaeus and Alexander 1 Tim. 1.20 whome Paule surrendred vp vnto him that they might learne not to blaspheme A thing exceeding strange and like to Sampsons Riddle Iudg. 14.14 That out of the deuourer shold come meat and sweetnesse out of the strong yet so it is Vice sheweth it self vnder his Roofe euen in the height of her bestiality the nakednesse thereof is quite discouered no part of hir deformity but here is stalled out to the full showe and thrice thrice wretched is that man whome this cannot distast With al submission therefore both of heart and minde will I drinke the Cup which my heauenly Father shal put into my hand the bitternesse thereof shal not affright mee 't is for the strengthening and recouering of my crazy soul and I will not grudge to take it I will repaire vnto the Lorde for helpe while my hurt is green if once it putrify there is no vse of Linitiues it cannot possibly be cured but by Cautere or Incision I will obey the summons of his glorious ministers and not stay til I be called by him His voice is terrible as thunder it breaketh the Caedars and maketh Lebanon and Shirion leape like the younger Vnicornes Psal 29.6 it diuideth the flames of Fire and maketh the Wildernesse of Kadesh to tremble at the sound thereof the Hindes doe Calue and the Forrests are discouered Let Moses therefore talk with Exo. 20.19 me and I will heare him but let not God talk with me least I dye LVI SLoath is an enemy to Christian Venues he that serueth vnder the Lord of hoastes must labour to auoide it His Souldiers must be still in action and vppon their march To make a stande in the way of righteousnesse is as distastfull to the King of heauen as to retyre The man of God that came vp from Iudah to prophesie to Ieroboam the destruction of the altar King 13.24 though seduced by the Spirit of Vntruth did pay the same forfeiture for hiâ— lingering whâ—ch the Wife of Lot did for her looking bâ—cke And it is auouched by the Oracle of heauen That he which is sloathfull in his worke Prou. 18 9. is euen the Brother of him that is a great waster I will awaken therefore my sluggâ—sh thoughtes and with the preceptes of my blessed Sauiour will I quicken their dull motion Standing waters doe quicâ—lie putrifie and without exercise the healthiest constitution waxeth faint feeble The Canker doth consume the Brasse and rust the Iron if they bee not vsed yea the lustre of the purest Golde abateth by beeing long imprisoned in the Coffers of the Couetous The Lorde therefore shall enlarge my heart Psal 119.32 and I wil run the way of his Commaundementes In vaine hath hee receiued the grace of God that doth not showe some signe of his proficiency I wil imitate those Kine that carried the Arke from EkroÌ„ 1. Sam. 6.12 who lowed as they went alwaies kept one path not turning till they cam vnto Bethshemesh eyther to the right hand or the left I haue already charged my shoulders with the yoake of my Redeemer and am entred into the straight and ready way no worldly consideration or respect shall make me slacke my pace I will onwards still and not cease to sigh vnder the burthen of it for my sinnes till I come vnto the glorious habitation of my blessed Sauiour Christ Iesus the Son of euerlasting righteousnes LVII GOD is the Well-spring of true knowledge eternall wisedome from whence those Fountaines of liuing Waters flowe which who so tasteth of shall neuer thirst It is hee that searcheth the heart and reines it is he that declareth vnto man what is his thought Hee knoweth all things intuitiuely and nothing can bee hid from his discerning Eye But yet such is the loue hee beareth vs that willingly wittingly hee suffereth himselfe to bee deceiued by vs. Hee proffereth vs the Kingdome of Heauen at a low rate as if he knew not iustly the worth therof The Apostles bought it of him for a leaking Fish-Boate and some few broken Nets to boote Zacheus had it for halfe his goodes the Widdow for her mite and some O happinesse beyond all hap for a Cup of colde Water onely Nay the good will alone and sincere affection of many towardes it hath beene accepted and thought sufficient for the purchase Whatsoeuer we haue of him is vndervalued but he
doth not looke for sumptuous preparation The Holy-Ghost is his Harbinger who so the heart bee cleane respectes no Ceremonies Luke 11.40.41 Martha busied her selfe about his seruice but Christ reproued her he tolde her shee was troubled with many thinges but one alone was needfull and that her Sister Mary who sate at his feete and heard his preaching had chosen the better part which shold neuer be taken from her For indeede it is not the statelinesse of the house nor the sumptuousnesse of the Table that he delights in He visiteth the Sonne of Alpheus at the receite of Custome Mar. 2.14 he goes in with Zacheus Luke 19 5 sits at board with Publicans and Sinners There is no man so meane but may find meanes to content him Hee that heareth and beleeueth his worde dooth feast him royally Let any Man Ioh. 14.23 saith he harbour in his bosome a louing affection towards mee Reuel 3 20 and beholde I and my Father will come and dwel with him for euer I will endeauor therfore to clense my Soule from all impurity I will cast out of it those many vices imperfections wherewith euen from my Cradle it was tapistred It shall no longer be a Denne of Theeus and Murtherers It shall no longer bee a Rendez-vous for Sin and Sathan I will make it a House of Prayer a Tabernacle for the liuing GOD. I will adorne it with Faith and hope but aboue al 1. Cor. 13 1. with Loue and Charity Mat. 21 14. without which the very voice of Angels is but as sounding brasse or a tinckling Cymball and there will I present vnto him my halting Thoughtes and blinded vnderstanding that hee may heale them XIX IT were better neuer to haue knowne the way of Righteousnesse 2. Pet. 2.21 Heb. 6 4. then hauing known it to forsake the holy Commandement which was giuen vnto vs. It is impossible that such as haue tasted of the heauenly guift were made partakers of the Holy-Ghost if once they fall away should be renewed by repentance They crucify again vnto themselues the Sonne of God count the bloud of the Testament as an vnholy thing Mat. 12.43 The Spirit of vncleannesse is retired vnto his former home and with him seauen others worse then himself are come so that the latter end of these is more disastrous far then their begining They are returned like the Dogge to their own vomit Prou. 26.11 and like the Sowe that was washed to the wallowing in the Myre Ephraim is gone backe to Aegypt Hos 9.3 and eateth thinges that are vncleane in ASHVR They hadde the victory of sinnefull flesh but they knew not how to vse it 'T is snatched againe as it were out of their Iawes and loe Of Conquerours they become Captiues Their actions haue a fair beginning but the ende is faulty They resemble Nebucadnezzars Image Dan. 2 32. their head is of fine gold but the feete of them are Clay They hold forth a Rod with Aaron and behold it flourisheth Num. 17 8 Exod. 14 3. but by and by it falleth to the ground and becommeth a Serpent Last of al they are like him that offereth a Lambe for his Oblation to the Lorde Leuit. 3 9. but the taile of it is wanting which God himselfe coÌ„maunded the Priest so strictly and precisely to take euen altogether to the very Chine and burn vpon his Altar I wil endeuour therefore to bee constant in my vndertakings and like the Bee till I haue sucked the sweetnesse which I look for out of one floure not range vnto an other being wel assured that the Apostls themselues had they not continued in Prayer Thanksgiuing to the Lord could neuer haue receiued the holy Comforter XX. THE Foxes haue holes Math. 8.20 the Birdes of the Heauen haue nestes but the Sonne of man complayneth that hee hath nothing whereon to rest his head T is compassed about vvith Thornes and few there are that dare suffer him to approach them The Couetous man will not endure him Whosoeuer he be Luke 14.33 that forsaketh not all hee hath can neuer bee my Disciple woulde pierce him to the quicke The proud cannot away with him Mat. 11 29. Learne of mee for I am meek and humble wold much disquiet him The carnall and voluptuous liuer will by no meanes entertain him for shold hee but looke vppon the austerenesse of his life consider with himselfe that Math. 5.8 Blessed onely are the pure of heart it would so goar his conscience that hee shoulde not possibly rest In a worde all men in a maner vtterly forsake him Hee commeth into the Countrey of the Gadarenes Marke 5 17 and ere he enter their Citty they beseech him to depart theyr Coasts He repaireth vnto Hierusalem and there they seeke to stone him Som of the meaner raâ— would willingly receiâ— him but the Pharises 〈◊〉 terre them from i◠〈◊〉 bid them looke i◠〈◊〉 the Rulers did 〈…〉 He fin◠〈…〉 in the breast of Pilate to shade him froÌ„ â—â—nas 4.6 that canicular scorching heate wherewith his aduersaries did pursue him But alasse It sprung vp in one night and perished in another Priuate-Respect came as a Worme and wasted it And now behold the burning Sun and the blasting Winde begin to beate vppon 〈◊〉 head hee brings him 〈◊〉 and deliuers him 〈…〉 â—sse It is to bee 〈…〉 The Heire 〈◊〉 â—ineyarde accor◠〈…〉 is Fathers a◠〈…〉 comes 〈◊〉 〈…〉 â—ites tâ— but the husbandmen are agreede to cast him out of it and slay him So that his complaint is not without iust cause For want of harbor he seeks the desert places and is forced in the night to rest his weary Limbes euen in a Garden where hee hath no Bed but the cold Earth no sheet but the moyst Ayre no Canopy but the wide Heauen I will runne thâ—â—â—fore and meete him 〈◊〉 Lot and Abra◠〈…〉 Angels I 〈…〉 him to wit◠〈…〉 selfe vnd◠〈…〉 my roofe and when his Enemies shall come and aske for him I will not part with him I will bring forth my Daughters my beloued Sins that they may glut their malice vpon them He shall rest in my bosome I will make for him a little Chamber as did the Shunamite for Elisha and set therin a Bed a stoole 〈◊〉 Table and a Candleâ—â—â—e that he may dwell 〈◊〉 â—e for euer Let his 〈…〉 neuer so sharpe 〈…〉 â—ll bolster it 〈…〉 â—hinke that 〈…〉 â—ge hath tooke impression there vnlesse I see it like himselfe all bloudy and full of woundes XXI THE Prince of darknes is exceeding politicke much abounds with craft in his proceedinges He knowes thâ—â— things which were o◠〈◊〉 bruised may bee 〈◊〉 broken He kno◠〈◊〉 Wood whi◠〈…〉 times kind◠〈◊〉 â—ly burn 〈…〉 hee st◠〈…〉 commit such sinnes as in former times they were accustomed vnto Hee is withall a cunning Rhetoritian and doth vse much Sophistry
Iudg. 19.5 He neuer comes to the point but by insinuatioÌ„ He vsurps vppon them by degrees and deales with them as the father of the Leuites did with him by little little hee procures theyr â—â—nsent vnto that which â—e it summarily proâ—â—ed would perad◠〈◊〉 â—tterly reiec◠〈…〉 are twoe 〈…〉 oftentimes 〈…〉 captiuate the Soule of Man The one is Pleasure which wheÌ„ he saw that Christ resisted hee did assaulte him with the other which was Griefe the surer Engin as he thought for battry of the twaine And lo he stirred al men vp against him his Disciples hee caused to deny their Maister the Souldiers to deride their caâ—taine the passengers 〈◊〉 blaspheme their Guâ— and in a word th◠〈◊〉 to crucify their 〈◊〉 that hee forc◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 out Beh 〈…〉 〈…〉 see if euer there were any griefe that may bee thought to parallel this of mine Lam. 2 12. But notwithstanding this hee findes him still inuincible The cruell dolours of his torments cannot make him forget to praye for his Tormentours I will alwaies therefore striue to fortify the weaker place and where the Foe shall haue made a breach I â—â—ll erect a Bulwarke 〈◊〉 the perswasions of 〈◊〉 â—baddon of that Bad 〈…〉 euer so enticing 〈…〉 â—te my Maister 〈…〉 â—eeke t◠〈◊〉 them with a Seriptum est When God hath giuen mee a precept I will endeauour to performe it The Spirite of Vntruth 2 King 13.18 though in the mouth of a Prophet shall not be strong enough to diuert mee from it The Lorde will sende a Lyon to deuour the disobedient his Carkase shall bee denyed the Sepulcher of his Fathers XXII THere is a league of amity between God and the good nay there is an inward familiarity a very neer affinity They are his friendes they are his followers they are his true borne Sons But notwithstanding this the Lord of might the strict exactor of all vertues is no way fonde of them he carrieth a sharp hand ouer them and doth invre them to hard-meate euen from their Cradle Hee loues not to make a wanton of the least Hee doth try them hee doth traine them and maketh them fit for his own purpose There is not any thing wherein hee more delighteth then in seeing theÌ„ encounter stoutly with aduersity Thrice onely were the Heauens opened First Ezech. 1 1. to Ezechiell when at the Riuer Chebar he did addict himselfe vnto diuiner contemplation Secondly to Christ Mar. 3.16 when on the bankes of Iordan he was Baptized of Iohn And last of all to Stephen Actes 7 56 wheÌ„ in honour of his deceased Mayster he plaid his prize with Death wrastled with the Deuill and the damned and theÌ„ were they opened wide that both himselfe and his whole Court might behold the braue performance of the Combattant The Earth is as his Theater whereon hee stageth such as are his maketh them a spectacle as the Apostle saith for the World 1. Cor. 4 9. for Angels and for Men. Sloath shal not consume their Mettle nor ease effeminate their mindes Hee will make them sweate euen vppon Holy-daies One accident or other shall prouoke their valour Gen 32 28 keepe it from growing sluggish thorough want of exercise An Angell if all shoulde faile must come down from aboue and wrestle with them till the breaking of the day to keepe them continually in breath and to preuent their Sinnewes from waxing numbe for lacke of motion And they themselues are well contented with it They count affliction but a recreation and are in pain but when they are imployed They know not what it is to yeeld when they can stand no longer on their feete they will fight vppon their knees Theyr death shall be the Trophy of their victory their patience the monument that must adorne their graue Though there be cries and lamentations throughout the Land of Aegypt yet rest and quietnesse is found in Goshen Aug. de Ciu. Dei 1 cap. 8. The fire may consume the wood but it makes bright the gold the Flaile may bruise the Huske but it cleanseth the Corne Pharaoh and his Hoast are ouerwhelmed in the Sea but Moyses and the Israelites doe march with safety thorough the middest of it The wicked shrink vnder the burthen of temptation but the courage of the righteous is no more altered therewith then is the saltnesse of the Sea with the violent and impetuous fluxe of those many waters which continually doe fall into it Let affliction therefore come I will meete it patiently as Iob did I will desire it for the loue of Christ as the Martyrs did yea I will reioyce in it as the Apostles did Actes 5.41 who after they had been beaten by the appointment of the Sadduces departed from the Counsell reioycing that they were counted worthy to suffer rebuke for his Name Iames 2.2 I will not thinke my ioy accomplished but when I see my selfe hedged in on euery side with crosses hindrances and tribulations The thought of the price shal make me delighted with the paine 1. Cor. 5 5. I will not care for the losse of my flesh so my Spirite may be saued in the day of the Lord. XXIII THere are some vices of that Nature 1. Cor. 6 8. they cannot bee vanquished but by auoiding Fly Fornication saieth the Apostle Paule Trust not to thine own strength presume not vppon thine owne sufficiency Her faction is exceeding strong there are those in thee and about thee which vnlesse thou ouerlooke them with as many eyes as had those mysticall Creatures of Ezechiell will treacherously betray thee The Flesh is an alluring Dalilah Cant. 3 7. Not Sampson with his strength nor Salomon with his Wisedome are able any way to preuent her Stratagems The sixty strong men of the valiant of Israell that were about his bed could not protect him If shee get within thee shee is sure to foyle thee When I see her therefore make towards me I wil thinke it no disparagement to turne my backe There is valour euen in retreate Our Sauiour fleeth and Herod followeth yet in the ende the Tetrach becomes his Captiue and notwithstanding the aduantage which hee had must grace the triumphall Charret of Christ the Conquerour But whether I bee forced to fly from Herod or from Aegypt from Sinne or from Sathan I wil desire the Lord I may be stil accompanied with Mary Math 2.13 Ioseph and the litle Babe the first is the bitternesse of Repentance the last is the purenesse of Conscience and the other an augmentation or supply of Grace with which euery where euen in the mouth of Hell without which no where not in the Gates of Heauen can we rest securely We may crye out vnto him with the foolish virgins Lord Mat. 25 11. Lord open vnto vs but if these bee away his answere will be I doe not know you XXIIII THere was not any thing in the world after the fal
of Adam which did not in some measure beare a part of his punnishment All things did degenerate from theyr creation and from that time became obnoxious to corruption The Elements themselues did waxe impure The earth brought nothing foorth but Thornes Thistles It had in it that mightie Behemoth to molest it Gen. 3 18. Iob. 40 10. the Water that monstrous Liviathan to infect it But Christ the holy one of holy ones came downe from Heauen and sanctified the one by walking too and fro vpon it the other by causing himselfe to be Baptized with it He purified the Ayre by suffering in it and the Fire by sending his holy Spirite in the likenesse of it Man who was indeed that sower Leauen which corrupted the whole lump was to be cleansed from his impurity not vvith the fat of Buls and goats nor with the Ashes of an Heyfer Heb. 9 14. but with the precious bloud of that immaculate and spotles Lambe who thorough the eternall Spirite offered himself without blot or blemish to the Lord that he might purge the Conscience from dead workes and make it fit to serue the liuing God As the Childe of obedience therefore I will no longer fashion my selfe to the former lusts of an vnbrideled Affection 1. Pet. 1.13 I will bee sober and relye wholly on the grace which is brought vnto me by the reuelation of my blessed Sauiour The Meditatiō of his wounds shal be the Iordan wherein I wil alwaies wash my loathsome leaprous and exulcerated Soule I will endeauour that as hee which hath called me is holy so may I likewise be holy in all manner of conuersation that both of me and of others hee may bee glorified in the day of the visitation 1. Pet. 2.12 XXV PRofanenesse is the badge of basenes but a religious and vpright heart is the ensigne of true gentry Such as are the Children of Abraham will doe the works of Abraham Iohn 8.39 They will bring foorth nothing to disgrace their birth to preiudice their breeding 1 Ioh. 3 10 Their Actions shal haue alwaies written in theyr fronts the liuely Characters of their Progenitors Others may boast of their descent but they are no better then the spurious Issue of an Heroike Father Gen 16 12. They are a wilde and sauage generation The Bond-Woman is their Mother They haue nothing in them that is truely generous Gen. 21 10 and shall therefore be cast out with Ishmael from beeing partners of the promise with the lawful Heire The father of Canaan for his impiety shall be made a Slaue and the King of Babell for his pride shall become a Beast The Wealth and and glory of the World with those hydropicall and puffed vppe Titles which are the foode and Fodder of Ambition what are they else but imaginary and fantastick graces of slender substaunce of short continuaunce The feare of the Lord is the height of Honour and hee that is vertuous is only Noble I wil labor alwaies therfore to doe righteously teach my hart the way of Gods Commaundements Actes 17.11 The Men of Berea were preferred by the holy Ghost before those of Thessalonica because they searched the Scriptures with more diligence and receiued the word which was taught them with morewillingnesse I will doe as they did and obtain the same stile which they had I will delight in the Statutes of my God with his precepts will I solace my Soule XXVI THE Lord is a good God slow to anger and of great kindnesse Hee desireth not the ouerthrowe of a Sinner Why will ye dye saith he O House of Israell Eze. 33 11 But rather that he should returne from his wicked waies and liue Though in the heate of his wrath and indignation he pronounce the fearefull sentence of Death against him yet notwithstanding if he fal from his former courses and subiect himselfe vnto his ordinaunce hee will reuerse his iudgements hee will annihilate his doombe Hee knoweth of what Moule we be made hee remembreth that we are but Dust Psal 103 14 that our daies are but Grasse and that as the flower of the field so flourish we He excuseth our manifold transgressions vpon our weaknesse that hee may not punish them as proceeding from wilfulnesse I know saith he ye did it of ignoraunce Actes 2 17 There is in his bosome a louing and kinde affection towardes vs. Hee pleadeth our cause himselfe and seeketh to remooue the guilt that hee may spare the guilty He forgetteth the place of a Iudge to performe the part of a father He inuiteth them that are thirsty to the Fountaines of liuing Water and willeth such such as are heauy laden to come vnto him that he may ease them And when thorough vile and obstinate contempt of this his kindnesse they fall into a bottomlesse immeasurable Gulfe of miserie his hart is ouercome with pittie and cōpassion and out of the commiseration which he hath of the wretchednes of their estate he cryeth out by the mouth of his holy Prophet Oh! That thou hadst hearkened to my Commandements Esay 48.18 Iere. 48.31 then had thy prosperitie beene as the Floud and thy righteousnesse as the Waues of the Sea Hee is in all thinges GOD omnipotent yet there are three thinges which lye without the compasse of his power He cannot deny his pardon to him that seeketh with inward sorrow and deiection for it nor with draw his grace from him that is vnwilling to part with it Cadant amici dummodo inimici intercidant Farewell Friendes so Foes may perrish is no principle in his Politiks no precept of his propounding Hee cannot punish the wicked where there is danger of offending the godly hereupon when hee intended the ruine and subuersion of Sodome and Gomorrah Gen. 19 22. Hast thee said he to Lot from hence and saue thy selfe for I can doe nothing til thou be gone And in the Gospell he would not suffer the Seruants of the houshold to pluck vp the Tares for feare they should offende the Wheate Mathew 13 29. Hence-forward therfore I will forsake my wicked wayes Psal 123 2. I will abandon mine own imaginations and with speede returne vnto the Lorde As the eyes of a Seruant looke vnto the handes of his Maister or the eyes of a Maide to the handes of her Mistris euen so shal mine without ceasing or interruption waite vpon my GOD till hee doe crowne me with mercy till he receiue mee to his glory XXVIII THe Maiesty of christ is wondrous great his Empire is exceeding large There is nothing in all this spacious Vniuerse which lyeth not within the compasse of his iurisdiction The heauens are his by birth as he is the onely Sonne of his Father begotten before all Worldes And heere are those selected troopes of Saintes and Martyrs those triumphall Conquerors that haue giuen the ouerthrowe to Sinne and Sathan and doe now waite vppon the Throne
the Eies of them that sit in darknesse and in the shadow of Death Then shal I bee able with blessed Stephen Actes 7 55. euen in the heat and fury of the skirmish to behold through al the heauens the glory of the Lorde for which I doe contend and my Redeemer Iesus standing at his right hand ready to succour me if need require and then with an vndaunted courage will I abide the fight and die vpon the place ere I giue ground in any fainting manner to the raging of his might Christ is my second who I know wil witnesse my valour and reuenge my quarrell Why should I feare the powers and principalities of Hel When God is with vs who shal stand against vs XXXV BEhold saith the Prophet the day commeth rhat shall flame like an Ouen Mal. 4.1 and they that sweare by the sinne of Samaria and say Amos 8.14 Thy God O Dan liueth and the manner of Beer-Sheba liueth yea the proud with all such as doe wickedly shall bee Stubble the day that commeth shall cleane consume them it shal leaue them neither root nor branch The Lorde will hast him from Teman Hab. 3.3 and the holy one from Mount Paran His Maiesty shall couer the Heauens and the Earth shall be full of his glorie Consuming fire shall march before him and burning coales shall coÌ„passe him about Hee will summon all the Nations of the Earth to make their appearaunce before his Tribunall seat and giue to euery one according to what he hath don 1. Pet. 4.17 whether it be good or euill To put the wicked out of al comfort he will begin his iudgments in his owne house and call euen the righteous according to that of Iob vnto a strict account of euery idle word Thou writest bitter thinges saith he against me Iob. 13 26. and makest mee possesse the iniquity of my youth Thou puttest my feete into the Stockes and lookest narrowly vnto my pathes The printes thereof are in the heeles of my feet Now if the Caedar of Lebanon be shakeÌ„ thus Luke 23.31 what shal becom of the bramble in the Wildernesse If this bee doone to the greene Spring what is remaining for the dry Stumpe If the iust man be so hardly saued wher is the hope of the vngodly I will high me therefore to the lord my God with al the speede I can I will not deferre my going to him by repentance till the seting of the Sun Ibid. 24.25 O fooles and slow of heart saith he to such and will not stay with them but with great constraint Nor will I put it of vntill the euening Ibid. 24 37. least hauing found him I should bee doubtfull and think I see a Spirit when I looke on him No no I will rise betimes with Mary Magdalen Math. 28.1 and with the Mother of Iames will I seek for Iesus of Nazareth before the dawning of the day Prou. 8 17. Hee loueth those that loue him and they that seeke him early shal sind him XXXVI GOD is no respecter of persons Ephe. 6 9. Iohn 4.47 The Ruler entreated him to come vnto his Sonne he would not Luke 7.2 The Centurion did but sende vnto him for his Seruant and immediatly hee went It is not the beauty of outward obiectes that attractes his Eye nor the quality of ambitious Titles that stirres vp his respect When he past thorough Iericho Ibid. 17 5. there were many that came foorth to see him moâ—â— specious to the viewe of weaker sence of higâ—er place and ranke in the Cittie then Zacheus was yet he alone was grace by him aboue the reâ—â— Ibid. 7.25 The Baptist was not clâ—thed in soft rayment Math. 3.4 noâ— fed with delicates Hâ—â— meat was Locustes with wilde Hony and his gaâ—ment of Camels Hayre yet did hee make him greater then a Prophet Peter was not arrayed it Purple Ibid. 16.18 nor did hee liue deliciously in Courtes of Kinges and yet he made him Prince of his Apostles So the body bee sound hee cares not for the bark If the liuing be good let the outside bee as ragged as it will I wil not therefore greatly eie my present condition Though I bee rich I will not presume vppon my wealth though I be poore I wil not despaire for my want He that called vnto the Fisher-men that were in their Ship Mat. 4.21 mending their Nets not minding him and sayde vnto them Come followe me will out of question giue kind and courteous entertainment vnto him who out of loue and of his owne accord doâ— humbly sue vnto him fâ—â— his Liuery Againe I know that Diues was 〈◊〉 torments Luke 16 23 when Lazâ—râ— was in Abrahams boson XXXVII Esay 21.28 IVstice is a worke when with the Lord is scare acquainted It is a straâ—ger and an alien to him he knowes not how no which way to begin iâ— In Sodom there was noâ— righteous but only â—a or he would neuer haue wasted it with fire none in the whole world saue onely Noah or he would neuer haue destroyed it with the floud Till the Tree bee past hope hee applyeth not his Axe No nor then but with much vnwillingnesse and great commiseration He looketh at Hierusalem Luke 19.41 weepes to thinke on the destruction that shoulde come vpon it He houles for Moab he cries out for it his heart doth mourn for them of Kirhareseth Iere. 40.31 He weepeth for the vine of Sibmah as he wept for Iazer he watereth Hesâ—bon with his teares Esay 16.9 are Elaleh is drunke with thâ— showers of his coÌ„plain because of the destroye which is to fall vppoâ— their Summer fruites vpon their Vintage Hâ—â— wrath and indignatioâ— hath many Motiues tâ— incite it Iob. 64 6. but his mercy none For all our righteousnesse is as a filthy Cloute wee fade like a leafe and our iniquities like the windes doe carry vs away yet notwithstanding he lookes down vpon vs from the throne of his heauenly grace with the eye of Pitty compassion he remembers that wee are the workemanshippe of his handes and in the ende out of the zeale of his affection towardes vs he crieth out Ose 13.9 Thy iniquities O Israell haue destroyed thee but thy help is in me He doth not onely tolerate our imperfections but oftentims he dissembleth the knowledge hee hath of them he turneth away his face and will not see the sinne because he would not punish the Sinner There is no daie wherein to fauour the transgressour hee doth not breake the Tables of the Law Our GOD is a iealous God Exod. 20 5. he visiteth the sinnes of the Father vpon the Children vnto the third and fourth generation of them that hate him but sheweth mercy vnto thousands of them that loue him and keepe his Commaundements The Kingly Prophet therefore speaking of them both saieth of the one Thy mercy ó Lorde
Psal 103 11 is in the Heauens and of the other Thy Iustice ô God is like the hils to signifie vnto vs that his mercy doth as much exceed his iustice as the high Heauens doe surmount the Hils The holy one is milde and ful of gentlenesse free from anger and of long patience Esay 27.4 Wee haue seene the Lord said the Disciples but Thomas beleeues theÌ„ not yet Christ forbeareth to reproue him and commeth not till eyght dayes after to rebuke his incredulity and euen then the vttermost of his wrath is onely this Put thy Fingers into my woundes Ioh. 20.26 and thy hand into my side and bee no longer faithlesse When sinfull Adam after his fall had stoln as he imagined out of the sight of his Creator idly conceiting peraduenture that himselfe being hid his fault wold not bee seene Gen. 3 8. God came not to correct him with a furious and hasty pace he did but walk and that against the winde desirous as it were to bee detained in his proceedinges by that gentle blast He walked against the wind saith the Text not in the Morning nor at Noone-day but towardes the Euening at the very setting of the Sunne so slow so slack so remisse is this deare Father of ours in the execution of his iudgements Hee dealt otherwise with the Prodigall hee sawe him no sooner comming but his heart was ouer-ioyed hee ran vnto him and hauing entertained him with kisses and kind embracements hee calleth vnto his Seruants Goe quickly bring me forth for him the purest Robe Luke 15.22 kill me instantly the fattest Calfe that wee may eate it and bee merry my Son was dead and is aliue againe lost he was but heâ— is found Eze. 36 25 So that his fauours are powred ouâ— vpon vs with some violence but his chasticementes and his corrections are distilled drop bâ— drop Cant. 5 5. My hart saith he shall not drop down vpon Ierusalem by the hand of Shishak 2. Cron. 12.7 He is patient wold haue no man perish but willingly draw all men to repentaunce I will not therefore despise the riches of his bounty Rom. 2.4 and long sufferance he seekes to leade mee by it to saluation nor as one that is contentions will I disobey the truth and obey vnrighteousnesse but I wil labour by continuance in well doing for honour glory and eternall life I looke for new Heauens and a new Earth according to his promise Esay 65 17. and will be therfore diligent that I may bee found of him in peace without spot and blamelesse 2. Pet. 3.11 XXXVIII PRayer is the Mindes Ambassador to God It is the onely Agent for the Soule but if it haue not Faith and Humility for Assistants it will neuer bee admitted to his presence The one is so much interested in him That whatsoeuer we desire when we pray Mar. 11.24 let vs beleeue that wee shall haue it and it shall bee done vnto vs. The Woman that had so long bin troâ—bled with the fluxe did but touch the Hem of his Garment withour further entreatie he turned him about and said vnto her Daughter be of good comfort Math. 9.22 thy faith hath made thee whole His graces are proportioned by this Math. 9 28. According to your Faith be it vnto you said he vnto the blinde that came and besought him for their sight And to the Captaine Math. 8 13. As thou hast beleeued bee it vnto thee The other is of that excellency might and power that it maketh way for our Requestes euen thorough the regions of the Ayre commands their passage thorow the thickest clouds It vshereth them into the Priuy Chamber of his imperiall Maiesty obtaines both hearing and dispatch for them without stop or stay The Prayer of the Centurion sent forth in the behalfe of his diseased Seruaunt was well accompanyed with both I haue not found saith our Sauiour of the first such faith Luke 7.9 no not in Israell and for the last it was not to be parallelled I am vnworthy said hee ô humblenesse of mind that thou shouldst enter vnder my roofe and by so saying hee shewed himselfe worthy not into whose house but into whose heart the Lorde might enter By making himself vnworthy saith S. Chrisostome to receiue Christ into his Gates he was made worthy to bee receiued of Christ into his Kingdome But beside these it had with it the encouragement of Charity that with the more assurednesse better confidence it might appeare before him To pray for our selues proceedes from Nature but to pray for others is the worke of Grace Necessity enforceth vs to that but brotherly loue exhorteth vs to this And it is indeede a far sweeter sauour in the Nostrils of the Lord theÌ„ that which ariseth from the sensitiue apprehensioÌ„ of our own misery I aduise you therefore saith Saint Paule to Timothy that first of all Supplications 1. Tim. 2 1. Prayers Intercessions and Thankesgiuings be made for al men The word which we professe instructeth vs by precepts and examples that the conseruation of duty to the publique should bee much more vnto vs then the conseruation of eyther life or being and that whatsoeuer good is CoÌ„municatiue should be preferred before that which is but priuate and particular Rom. 9.3 S. Paule desired to bee anathemized for his Bretheren and Moses to bee razed out of the Booke of life for the Children of Israell Exo 32 32. such was their zeale vnto the Church and such their feeling of Communion I wil continually therfore labour to lift vp pure handes to Heauen without doubting Luk. 18.13 I will imitate the lowlinesse of the Publican and in my bosome will I cherish his meane conceite When I pray I will not stand in the Synagogues Math. 6 6. nor kneele in the corners of the streets that I may bee seene of men but I will enter into my Chamber and hauing shut my doore I wil cal vpon my heauenly Father He seeth in secret and shal reward me openly In my Prayers I will bee mindfull of my afflicted Bretheren that so the lord may be more mindfull of mee God is exceedingly in loue with Charity Cant. 1.1 the very name thereof to him is as an oyntment powred out She is his onely darling hee dooth kisse her with the Kisses of his mouth when shee commeth to him hee lodgeth her betweene his breastes and neuer sendes her from him but with ladeÌ„ hands The Gâ—oler washed Paul and Silas froÌ„ their stripes Acts 16 33 and by so doing himselfe was washed from his sinnes XXXIX GOdlinesse is not a thing hereditarye nor can true Piety be bequeathed by Legacie an vpright heart requireth much manurance and is not gotten but by great Husbandry Esay 5.7 I had a Vineyaâ—d saith the Lord in a most fruitefull Hill what could bee done which I did not to it Yet in the
ende it brought forth nothing but sower Grapes in steade of iudgment it gaue oppression in stead of righteousnes it affoorded crying The Nettle growes where the Rose was looked for and out of the Egge a Chicken is expected but beholde a Cockatrice The stock is often good but without continuall pruning the Plantes degenerate Out of the lodge of ADAM came murderous Caine out of the Arke of Noah impious Cham out of the House of reuerend Eli Ophni and Phinees the Sonnes of Belial out of the Court of Dauid came trayterous Absalon out of the Schoole of Iesus perfideous Iudas out of the company of the Deacons Nicholas the Hereticke So that Vertues are not maintained by propagation nor is a vertuous habite purchased but with much sweat It will cost vs the breathing ere we can actually possesse it as our own Free-hold There is not an Elijah nowe to graunt so hard difficult a suite at the redoubling of his Spirite 2. King 2.9 nor is there an Elisha residing heere that is worthy to obtaine it I will not therefore brag that I haue Abraham for my Father but I will labour to doe the workes of Abraham and when I glory Iere. 9.24 I will glory in this alone that I vnderstand know the Lord to bee the only very God who sheweth mercy iudgement and righteousnes in the Earth and Iesus Christ whom hee hath sent to be his onely Son Luke 11.28 begot before all worlds which who so doth shal remaine for euer For indeede it is not the womb that bare him nor the Paps that gaue him suck which are blessed but rather they that hear the word of his Father and do thereafter Little had it auailed the Virgin to haue conceiued him in hir Wombe or Simeon to haue receiued him in his Armes if by the Eye of Fayth they had not both perceiued that hee was sent from heauen to redeeme the world XL. SAthan is a bolde Intruder Hee resides not alwayes in the Graues nor is hee still abyding in the Desertes You shall finde him somtimes in the company of Gods electe and chosen Children On a day when they came and stood before the Lord Iob. 1.6 he likewise came and stood among theÌ„ Somtimes among his Ministers Iehoshua Zacha. 3.1 the High Priest standes before the Angell and loe the Deceiuer is at his right hand to resist him Sometimes again with his Apostles Haue I not chosen twelue Iohn 6.70 saith Christ and one of you is a deuil He is a guest that will come without great bidding the least cast of our eie doth serue him for an inuitation the slightest complemeÌ„t will embolden him to be insolent If we make him our Companion he will be presently our Master If he get but a foot within our doores hee will cast vs out like a merciles disseisour put vs by our right nor shall it ought auaile vs to plead our Title when hee is in possession I will bee alwaies therefore verye carefull how I suffer him to approch me If I canot barre him my presence I wil deny him my countenance and make him knowne by my lookes that he shall not lodge in my heart XLI VNhallowed thoghts are the Scouts of Sathan He sildome suffers them to lye idle in theyr Tentes but sendes them alwaies forth vppon discouery Hee fashioneth his attempts by their aduertisements and as hee vnderstandes their passage he restes assured of his own Themselues delight in pillage and are therefore glad of theyr imployment They leaue not a corner about the heart vnsearched to find out an entrance If the doores bee barred they will assay to climbe the Walles and get in at the Windowes They doe with cunning mannage their Captaines busines and husband the least occasions to his best aduantage It falleth out sometimes that these stragling Aramites happen vpon some little Maide oâ— the land of Israell 2 Kings 5.2 to wit some simple and vntutored Soule that strayeth from the way of Truth and is altogether destitute of that heauenlie Conuoy of spiritual graces which should protect it from the craft and fury of the Aduersarie and hauing suddainely surprized it lead it away Captiue to their leprous Generall Sometimes againe these sons of Remmon 2 Sam. 4 6 these wicked Berothites finding the minde vnfurnished of a Gaurd and snoaring euen at Noone with honest Ishbosheth in her owne security doe enter stealingly vpon it and in an instant cut the throat of it I wil not therefore with the reprobate put far awaie the euill day nor promise safety to my selfe where nothing can bee looked for but Death Danger Mans life is a continual Warfare The Prince of darknesse is his Enemy who if need require hath wherewithal to piece out the Lyons skinne and when he cannot preuaile by open battery will neuer sticke to compasse his designes by hidden treacherie I wil endeauour therefore alwaies Mat. 24 43 as much as in me lyeth to bee well prouided for the comming of the Thiefe Let it bee at what houre in the night he will he shall finde me wakefull if not watching neuer sleeping though sometimes peraduenture slumbring I wil bruise the Serpent in the head I will breake it in the shell I wil not suffer a sinfull cogitation to come to perfect groth It shal die in the conception and ere it neede the Cradle possesse the Toombe The Soule in cases criminall saith â—sidore hath the precedency of weaker flesh I wil driue it therefore from thence that this may noâ— offend Cant. 2.15 I will striue to catch the Foxes the litle Foxes that destroy the Vines Blessed I knowe assuredly is hee Psal 137 9. that taketh and dasheth these against the stones XLII THE life of the iust is a continual day It is not troubled at any time with stormes nor ouercast with Cloudes buâ— is altogether calme and cleare The Morning oâ— it is when Christ the Sunne of righteousnesse doth shine out vpon the heart of one regenerate and by the influence of his beames doth scatter dispierce those mistie vapours and exhalations of ignorance stinking errour which Sathan himselfe had belched forth to hinder the soule from finding out the way of truth the noon therof is that hourely progresse and ascent of spirituall grace which brings them to the Zenith of all true perfection The way of the godly shineth as the light saith Salomon beholde the Morne Prou. 4 18. It encreaseth more and more vnto the perfect day beholde the Noone After the iustification of wretched Sinners by the Law of Faith there is a continued augmentation supply of guifts whereby their mindes are by degrees made fitter for the knowledge and vnderstanding of the loue of GOD and by which afterwards they are entituled Children of the light and Children of the day 1. Thes 5.3 They are gone out of Aegypt and dwell now in the Land of Goshen they neede no
contentes himselfe with the Water of Iohn Luk. 3 16. and doth not seeke to be baptized of Christ with fire and the Holy-ghost is made the only But and scope of his attempts It is not therefore a superficiall ayring that shall satisfy my cold desires I will so heate them in the well-kindeled flames of true Deuotion that like a searing-Iron hee shall no sooner stretch out his hand to touch mee but I will brand him for his bolde presumption and for euer after make him so fearefull of mee that when hee seeth me though at neuer so great a distance he shall come creeping towardes mee like a Spaniell with his belley on the ground he shall cry out to me with an extended voice and say Maâ—ke 5.7 What 〈◊〉 to do with thee thou Seruant of the mosâ—â—igh GOD I charge thee by thy Lorde and mayster that thou torment mee not XLVIII THe Crosse of Christ is that Rod of Moses by which the Deuil that spirituall Pharaoh is strooke with such diuersity of plagues that at the last he is enforced to driue from him those which erâ— while he â—old haue drawâ—e vnâ—â—â—â—m It is a glorious and immortall monument erected as a Trophy by the hand of Victory to the dishonour and confusion of that oppressor and insulting Tyrant Hee standes aloofe and stares vpon it with an enuious eie but is affraid to draw neere vnto it least hee and his temptations might chance to bee deuoured by it as were by that the Serpents of the Enchanters It is that blessed Tree with the boughs whereof the waters of Marah were made sweete It altereth the bitternesse of Tribulations and makes the Cup of the Lord which of it selfe is exceeding sharpe delightful to the tast 2. Cor. 12.10 I take pleasure sayth Saint Paule in all repreaches and persecutions for his sake the Apostles after they had been beaten by the appointment of the Counsell at Hierusalem Acts 5 41. departed thence with cheerefull countenances reioycing that they were reputed worthy to suffer rebuke for his Name It is that princely Scepter of Ahashuerosh which beeing stretched out dooth license our approach vnto the Throne of his Celestial Grace It is that key of the Kingly Prophet which hath opened vnto vs the greatest misteries and the profoundest secrets that were euer heard of It is that ladder of the Patriark by which our passage inro heauen is easier nowe then euer it was before In a word it is that golden Candlesticke in which the life and light of men was set Iohn 1 4. whose brightnesse was so great that the Centurion by meanes thereof euen through the Aegyption darknesse of those times was able to discouer his Diuinitie when opprest with feare hee cryed out and said Truely this was the Sonne of the liuing God Mat. 27.52 I wil not therfore reioice in any thing Gal. 6.14 but in the Crosse of our Lorde Iesus Christ by which the World is crucified vnto me I vnto the world Night day will I make it the subiect of my Meditation and so I may attaine to the knowledge of this 1. Cor. 2.2 I will not esteeme of any other wisedome whatsoeuer What doctrine is it which is not heere comprized His passion is the Epilogue of all There is not any thing either in Heauen or in Earth but as the Apostle saieth is recapitulated to the full in Christ Ephe. 1 10. Mount Caluary shall therefore bee my Schoole and the Booke which I will reade shall bee the lanched side and bloudy bosome of my blessed Sauiour I will thinke vpon his wounds I will consider his skars the prints of the nails shall bee as breathing-stops to helpe my Contemplation XLIX AS Siluer drosse ouerlaid vpoÌ„ a Potshard so are burning lips Pro. 26.23 and an euill heart Hee thaâ— dwelleth in the Heauen doth abhorre it and wilâ— for euer haue it in derision It is not complement that pleaseth him The Kinges Daughter was al glorious within Psal 45 13. or little would the Lorde haue esteemed her sumptuous cloathing of Broidered Gold If the in-side of the Vessel be not cleane let the out-side bee as glorious as it will our GOD will none of it The Figge-Tree was delightfull to the Eye but yet it could not escape the curse He wold haue nothing seem that which it is not Eyther make the Tree good Mat. 12.33 and his fruite good saith he or the Tree euill and his fruite euill worship either God or Belial and halt no longer betweene two opinions For one to haue the Voyce of Iacob and the handes of Esau is a degree of Hypocrisie beyonde his knowledge apprehension and conceite The thought of it dootâ— cleane amaze him Hoâ— can you ô ye viperous broâ— when your selues are iâ—wardly nothing else bâ— filth and putrifaction Luke 6.6 vttâ— thinges that are of a differing constitution For 〈◊〉 of the abundance of thâ— heart the mouth speaketâ— So that in vain it is to 〈◊〉 him Maister Maister vnlesse withall we doe the thinges which hee propoundeth Our righteousnesse must exceede that of the Scribes and Pharises Math. 5 20. or we shall neuer enteâ— into the Kingdome of Heauen I will not therefore be like the blinde and lame that sit begging at the entrance of a Citty and shew the way to them that passe along but set no foote in it themselues I will accompany them my selfe vnto the place and alwaies as neere as I can countenaunce a godly precept with a good precedent The word of the Lord is called a Sword Take the Sword of the Spirite Ephe. 6 16. which is the word oâ— God It cannot bee employed but by the hand And hence it is that iâ— sundry places of thâ— Scriptures we read in the originall that it was iâ— the handes of his Prophets as namely in the hand of Isaiah Esay 20 2. in thâ— hand of Haggai in thâ— hand of Malachi Mal. 1.1 c. tâ— signify vnto vs that the instructions which we giue our brethren shoulâ— not consist so much iâ— wordes as in workes anâ— good examples He thaâ— can doe that which hee saieth hee alone is that Salt of the Earth Math. 5 13. which shall neuer loose his sauour hee alone is that Citty on a Hell which cannot be hid in a word he alone is that Candle in the Candlesticke which giueth light to all that are about it and shineth out so clearely and so brightly that they which see it cannot but glorifye the Lord which is in heauen I will continually therefore so speake and so do Iames 2.12 as one that looketh to be iudged by the Law of Liberty Christ Iesus hath left me an example Ioh 13 15. that I should do euen as hee that hath done and surely I will striue to followe it in all thinges as Moses did that patterne which was shewed him in the Mount Exo. 25 40. L. THe World
hath nothing from vs which is not ouer-bought Our earthly bodies cost him the shedding of his most pretious blood our cankered soules the laying downe of his immaculate and spotlesse life and what alas is there in vs poore sinfull wretches that we are which may deserue such an inestimable price Mat. 19.29 Hee giueth vs a hundreth folde more then hee taketh and suffereth himselfe to bee beguild euen with vnequall shares For many times wee giue our youth to Sathan and our age to him who notwithstanding hee should haue both doth take it quietly and like a gentle Creditor is content with any thing from a bad Debter But this conniuence kinde forbearance of his shall not embolden me in any carelesse course All that I haue will I giue vnto him yet thinke that al too little for so great and glorious an inheritance Whatsoeuer I pay nothing can equall it in estimation The whole world in comparison hereof Luke 15 8. is not to be valued no not at the lost groate I will consider how dearly my redeemer bought me and endeauor to render vp my selfe in that regard into his hands as pure and perfect both in mind and body as I can I wil consecrate my selfe vnto the Lorde in the strength and vigour of my yeares and in my flourishing and able daies will I deuote my selfe to the seruice and inuocation of his most holy name Hee that diuideth ill though he offer well cannot but offend LVIII THe waies of the Lorde are in the Whirle-wind and the storme the cloudes are the dust of his feete Bashan and Carmel wast at his rebuke and the floure of Lebanon doth wither The Mountaines retire from before him the hils do meâ— His Maiestie is great his power wonderfull yet many wayes there are and many meanes to vanquish subdue him At the sight of our dejection Hos 11 8. His heart is turned within him and his repertings are rouled together He must of force reuerse his iudgements and stay to execute the fiercenesse of his intended wrath But when with a zealous and feruent spirit we doe encounter him in prayer then doe we bind him as it were hand and foote that hee cannot stirre Let mee alone saide hee to Moses and giue my fury leaue to wax hot against this people Exo. 32 10. But the Prophet continued his charitable intercession and would not suffer him to goe till he had changed his minde Esay 38 1. Hee had determined the death of Hezikiah by the mouth of Isaiah willed him to put his house in order for hee should not liue but the King hauing notice of this firme arrest turned his face vnto the wall by the vertue of his prayers and teares preuaild so farre that in the end Mat. 15 22. Vixit vicit he both liued and ouercame By this the woman of Canaan did surmount that setled hardnesse whereof our Sauiour did make shewe vnto her Gen. 32 28 In a worde this is that wrestling of the Patriarch in which hee behaued himselfe so valiantly that he bore away the glorious title and renowned name of Israell in token of his victorious triumphall Conquest But this doth maister but his person onely The Saints and Martyrs by their paines and sufferances doe breake into his territories make their station euen within his Confines Himselfe beholdeth it and cryeth out Mat. 11 12. The Kingdome of heauen suffereth violence and the violent take it away by force I will humble my selfe therefore before the Lord my God and vnto him will I ingenuously confesse how sinne and Sathan haue vtterly spoyled me of all spirituall graces and endowmentes and that my conscience onely hath escapt their fury to bring me tydings of the losse With my misery will I excite his mercy and awake his compassion with the vehemency of my owne passions I will fasten on him by deuout and earnest supplications and not let him goe except hee blesse mee With patience wil I arme my selfe against all hardnesse slight both Death and Danger to make my passage to the top of Sion and through the streetes of his imperiall Citty the New Hierusalem FINIS