only Object of God's hatred while this remains his Holiness cannot but hate us when this is removed his righteousness cannot but love us remission and favour are inseparable and can never be dis-joyned 'T is by this he makes us as a Diadem upon his Head a Bracelet on his Arm it is by this he writes us upon the Palms of his Hands makes us his peculiar Treasure even as the Apple of his Eye which Nature hath so carefully fenced 2. Access to God A Prince may discard a Favourite for some guilt and though he may restore him to his liberty in the Common-wealth yet he may not admit him to the favour of his wonted privacies But a pardoned man hath an access to God to a standing and perpetually settled Grace Rom. 5.1 2. Being justified by Faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom also we have access Guilt frights us and makes us loath the very sight of God Pardon encourageth us to come near to him Guilt respects him as a Judge Pardon as a Friend Who can confidently or hopefully call upon an angry and condemning God But who cannot but hopefully call upon a forgiving God Sin is the partition wall between God and us and Pardon is the demolishing of it Forgiveness is never bestowed but the Scepter is held out to invite us to come into God's presence And what can be more desirable than to have not only the favour of but a free access at any time to the Lord of Heaven and Earth and at length an everlasting being with him 3. Peace of Conscience There must needs be fair Weather when Heaven smiles upon us All other things breed disquietness Sin was a Thorn in David's Crown his Throne and Scepter were but miserable comforters while his guilt overwhelmed him The glory of the World is no soveraign Plaister for a wounded Spirit Other enjoyments may please the sense but this only can gratifie the Soul God's Thunder made Moses tremble Heb. 12.21 But the probability of a gracious Pardon would make a damned Soul smile in the midst of tormenting flames How often hath the sense of it raised the hearts of Martyrs and made the Sufferers sing while the Spectators wept Though this I must confess is not always an inseparable concomitant There is much difference between a Pardon and the comfort of it that may pass the Seal of the King without the knowledge of the Malefactor Pardon indeed always gives the jus ad rem a right to peace of Conscience but not always jus in re the possession of it There may be an actual separation between Pardon and actual Peace but not between Pardon and the ground of Peace 4. It sweetens all mercies Other mercies are a ring but pardon is the Diamond in it A justified person may say I have temporal mercies and a pardon too I live in repute in the world and Gods favour too riches increase and my peace with God doth not diminish I have health with a pardon friends with a pardon as Job ch 29.3 6 7. among all other blessings this he counts the chiefest that Gods Candle shin'd upon his head A Prisoner for some capital crime may have all outward accommodations for lodging dyet attendance without a real happiness when he expects to be called to his tryal before a severe judge from whom there is no appeal and that will certainly both pass and cause to be executed a sentence of death upon him So though a man wallows in all outward contents he cannot write himself blessed while the wrath of God hangs over his head and he knows not how soon he may be summon'd before Gods tribunal and hear that terrible voice Go thou cursed What comfort can a man take in Houses Land Health when he considers he owes more than all his estate is worth So what comfort can a man have in any thing in this world when he may hourly expect an arrest from God and a demand of all his debts and he hath not so much as one farthing of his own or any interest in a sufficient surety We may have honour and a curse wealth and a curse Children and a curse health and long life and a curse learning and a curse but we can never have pardon and a curse Our outward things may be gifts but not blessings without a pardon 5. It sweetens all afflictions A frown with a pardon is better than a thousand smiles without it Sin is the sting of crosses and Remission is a taking the sting out of them A sight of Heaven will mitigate a cross on earth The stones about Stephens ears did scarce afflict him when he saw his Saviour open Heaven to entertain him To see death staring us in the face and an angry and offended God above ready to charge all our guilt is a doleful spectacle Look upon my affliction and my pain and forgive all my sins saith the Psalmist Psal 25.18 Sin doth embitter and adds weight to an affliction but the removal of sin doth both lighten it and sweeten it USE 1. An unpardoned man is a miserable man Such a state lays you open to all the miseries on earth and all the torments in Hell The poorest begger with a pardon is higher than the greatest prince without it How can we enjoy a quiet hour if our debt be not remitted since we owe more than we are able to pay You may dye with a forfeited reputation and yet be happy but what happiness if you die with unpardoned guilt 1. There must either be pardon or punishment The law doth oblige either to obedience or suffering the Commands of it must be observed or the penalty indured God will not relax the punishment without a valuable consideration If it be not executed the creature may accuse God of want of wisdom in enacting it or defect of power in maintaining it Therefore there must be an exact observance of the law which no creature after the first deviation is able to do or an undergoing the penalty of it which no Sinner is able to bear There must therefore be a remission of this punishment for the good of the creature and the Satisfaction of the law by a surety for the honour of Gods justice If we have not therefore an interest in the surety the purchaser of remission we must lye under the severity of the law in our persons 2. You can call nothing an act of Gods Love towards you while you remain unpardoned What is there you do enjoy which may not consist with his hatred as well as his Love Have we knowledge So have Devils Have we riches So had Nabal and Cain Have we honour So had Pharaoh and Herod Have we Sermons So had Judas the best that ever were preacht Nothing nothing but a pardon is properly a blessing How can that man take pleasure in any thing he hath when all the threatnings in the book of God are as so many arrows directed
For the raising good thoughts 2. Preventing bad 3. Ordering bad when they do intrude 4. Ordering good when they appear in us 1. For raising good thoughts 1. Get renewed hearts The fountain must be cleansed which breeds the vermine Pure vapors can never ascend from a filthy quagmire What issue can there be of a vain heart 2 Cor. 5.17 Jer. 4.14 Wash thy heart from wickedness c. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee but vain imaginations Thoughts will not become new till a man is in Christ We must be holy before we can think holily Sanctification is necessary for the dislodging of vain thoughts and the introducing of good A sanctified reason would both discover and shame our natural follies As all animal operations so all the spiritual motions of our heads depend upon the life of our hearts * Prov. 4.23 as the principium originis As there is a law in our members to bring us into Captivity to the law of sin Rom. 7.23 so there must be a law in our minds to bring our thoughts to the obedience of Christ 2 Cor. 10.5 We must be renewed in the spirit of our minds Ephes 4.23 in our reasonings and thoughts which are the spirits whereby the understanding acts as the animal spirits are the instruments of corporeal motion Till the understanding be born of the spirit †John 3 6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the spirit is spirit it will delight in and think of nothing but things suitable to its fleshly original but when 't is spiritual it receives new impressions new reasonings and motions suitable to the Holy Ghost of whom it is born A stone if thrown upwards a thousand times will fall backward because 't is a forced motion but if the nature of this stone were changed into that of fire it would mount as naturally upward as before it sunk downward You may force some thoughts toward heaven sometimes but they will not be natural till nature be changed Grace only gives stability †Heb. 13.9 It is a good thing that the heart be established with grace and prevents fluctuation by fixing the soul upon God as its chief end and what is our end will not only be first in our intentions but most frequent in our considerations Hence a sanctified heart is called in Scripture a stedfast heart There must be an enmity against Satan put into our hearts according to the first promise before we can have an enmity against his imps or any thing that is like him 2. Study Scripture Original corruption stuffs us with bad thoughts and Scripture-knowledge would stock us with good ones for it proposeth things in such terms as exceedingly suit our imaginative faculty as well as strengthen our understanding Judicious knowledge would make us approve things that are excellent and where such things are approved Phil. 1.9 10. toys cannot be welcom Fulness is the cause of stedfastness The cause of an intent and piercing eye is the multitude of animal spirits Without this skill in the Word we shall have as foolish conceits of Divine things as ignorant men without the Rules of Art have of the Sun and Stars or things in other Countries which they never saw The Word is call'd a Lamp to our feet i. e. the affections a light to our eyes i. e the understanding Psa 119.105 Psal 19.8 enlightens the ey s. It will direct the glances of our minds and the motions of our affections It enlightens the eyes and makes us have a new prospect of things as a Scholar newly entred into Logick and studied the Predicaments c. looks upon every thing with a new eye and more rational thoughts and is mightily delighted with every thing he sees because he eyes them as clothed with those notions he hath newly studied The Devil had not his engines so ready to assault Christ as Christ from his knowledg had Scripture-precepts to oppose him Lectione assidua meditatione diuturna pectus suum bibliothecam Christi secerat Hierom Ep. 3. As our Saviour by this means stifled thoughts offered so by the same we may be able to smother thoughts arising in us Converse therefore often with the Scripture transcribe it in your heart and turn it in succum sanguinem whereby a vigor will be derived into every part of your soul as there is by what you eat to every member of your body Thus you will make your mind Christ's library as Hierom speaks of Nepotianus 3. Reflect often upon the frame of your mind at your first conversion None have more settled and more pleasant thoughts of divine things than new converts when they first clasp about Christ partly because of the novelty of their state and partly because God puts a full stock into them and diligent trades-men at their first setting up have their minds intent upon improving their stock Endeavour to put your mind in the same posture it was then Or if you cannot tell the time when you did first close with Christ recollect those seasons wherein you have found your affections most fervent your thoughts most united and your mind most elevated as when you renewed repentance upon any fall or had some notable chearings from God and consider what matter it was which carried your heart upward what employment you were engaged in when good thoughts did fill your soul and try the same experiment again Asaph would oppose God's ancient works to his murmuring thoughts he would remember his song in the night i. e. the matter of his song and read over the records of God's kindness * Psal 77.6 7 8 9 10 11 12. David too would never forget i. e. frequently renew the remembrance of those precepts whereby God had particularly quicken'd him †Psa 119.93 Yea he would reflect upon the places too where he had formerly conversed with God to rescue himself from dejecting thoughts therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan and of the Hermonites from the hill Missar ‖ Psal 42.6 Some elevations surely David had felt in those places the remembrance whereof would sweeten the sharpness of his present grief When our former sins visit our minds pleading to be speculatively reacted let us remember the holy dispositions we had in our repentance for them Luke 24.32 Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked with us by the way and while he opened to us the Scriptures and the thankful frames when God pardoned them The Disciples at Christ's second appearance reflected upon their own warm temper at his first discourse with them in a disguise to confirm their faith and expel their unbelieving conceits Strive to recollect truths precepts promises with the same affection which possest your Souls when they first appeared in their glory and sweetness to you 4. Ballast your heart with a Love to God David thought all the day of
them of when he subjected them to vanity Such a view of spiritual truths in sensible pictures would clear our knowledge purifie our fancies animate our affections encourage our graces disgrace our vices and both argue and shame us into duty and thus take away all the causes of our wild wandring thoughts at once And a frequent exercise of this method would beget and support a habit of thinking well and weaken if not expel a habit of thinking ill 2. The second sort of directions are for the preventing bad thoughts And to this purpose 1. Exercise frequent humiliations Pride exposeth us to impatient and disquieting thoughts Prov. 30.32 whereas humility clears up a calm and serenity in the Soul 'T is Agur's advice to be humbled particularly for evil thoughts Frequent humiliations will deaden the fire within and make the sparks the fewer The deeper the Plough sinks the more the weeds are killed and the ground fitted for good grain Men do not easily fall into those sins for which they have been deeply humbled Vain conceits love to reside most in jolly hearts but by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better Eccles 7.3 4. There is more of wisdom or wise consideration in a composed and graciously mournful spirit whereas carnal mirth and sports cause the heart to evaporate into lightness and folly The more we are humbled for them the more our hatred of them will be fomented and consequently the more prepared shall we be to give them a repulse upon any bold intrusion 2. Avoid entangling your selves with the world This clay will clog our minds and a dirty happiness will engender but dirty thoughts Lutea faelicitas Aug. de Civ Dei l. 10. Who were so foolish to have inward thoughts that their houses should continue for ever but those that trusted in their riches †Psal 49.6 11. 1 Tim. 6.9 If the world possess our Souls it will breed carking thoughts much business meets with crosses and then it breeds murmuring thoughts and sometimes it is crown'd with success and then it starts proud and self-applauding thoughts Those that will be rich fall into many foolish and hurtful lusts such lusts that make men fools and one part of folly is to have wild and sensless fancies Mists and fogs are in the lower Region near the Earth but reach not that next the Heavens Were we free from earthly affections these gross vapours could not so easily disturb our minds but if the World once settle in our hearts we shall never want the fumes of it to fill our heads And as covetous desires will stuff us with foolish imaginations so they will smother any good thought cast into us as the thorns of worldly cares choak'd the good seed and made it unfruitful Matth. 13.22 As we are to rejoyce in the World as though we rejoyced not so by the same reason we should think of the World as though we thought not Rom. 12.2 A conformity with the World in affection is inconsistent with a change of the frame of the mind 3. Avoid Idleness Serious Callings do naturally compose mens spirits but too much Recreation makes them blaze out in vanity Idle souls as well as idle persons will be ranging As Idleness in a State is both the Mother and Nurse of Faction and in the natural body gives birth and encrease to many diseases by enfeebling the natural heat so it both kindles and foments many light and unprofitable imaginations in the soul which would be sufficiently diverted if the active mind were kept intent upon some stated work So truly may that which was said of the servant Mat. 25 26. Tâ—ou wicked and slothful servant Mat. 13.25 be applied to our nobler part that it will be wicked if once it degenerates into slothfulness in its proper charge As empty minds are the fittest subjects for extravagant fooleries so vacant times are the fittest seasons While we sleep the importunate enemy within as well as the envious adversary without us will have a successful opportunity to sow the tares whereas a constant imployment frustrates the attempt and discourageth the Devil because he sees we are not at leisure Therefore when any sinful motion steps in double thy vigour about thy present business and the foolish impertinent will sneak out of thy heart at this discountenance So true is that in this case which Pharaoh falsly imagined in another that the more we labour the less we shall regard vain words †Exod. 5.9 As Satan is prevented by diligence in our Callings so sometimes the Spirit visits us and fills us with holy affections at such seasons as Christ appeared to Peter and other Disciples when they were a fishing †Joh. 21.3 4. and usually manifested his grace to men when they were engaged in their useful businesses or religious services But these motions as we may observe by the way which come from the Spirit are not to put us out of our way but to assist us in our walking in it and further us both in our attendance on and success in our duties To this end look upon the work of your Callings as the work of God which ought to be done in obedience to Him as He hath set you to be useful in the community Thus a holy exercise of our Callings would sanctifie our minds and by prepossessing them with solid business we should leave little room for any Spider to weave its Cobwebs 4. Awe your hearts with the thoughts of God's Omniscience especially the discovery of it at the last Judgment We are very much Atheists in the concern of this Attribute for though it be notionally believed yet for the most part it is practically deny'd God understands all our thoughts afar off †Psa 139.2 as He knew every creature which lay hid in the Chaos and undigested lump of matter God is in us all * Eph. 4.6 as much in us all as He is above us all yea in every creek and chink and point of our hearts Not an Atom in the spirits of all men in the world but is obvious to that All-seeing Eye which knows every one of those things that come into our minds †Ezek. 11.5 God knows both the order and confusion of them and can better tell their natures one by one than Adam named the creatures Fancy then that you hear the sound of the last Trumpet that you see God's Tribunal set and His Omniscience calling out singly all the secrets of your heart Would not the consideration of this allay the heat of all other imaginations If a foolish thought break in consider What if God who knows this should presently call me to Judgment for this sinful glance Say with the Church Shall not God search this out Is it fit either for God's glory or our interest Psal 44.21 that when he comes to make inquisition in us He should find such a nasty dunghil and swarms of Aegyptian
are peculiarly breath'd in by the spirit There are ordinary bubblings of grace in a renewed mind as there are of sins in an unregenerate heart for grace is as active a principle as any because 't is a participation of the divine nature But there are other thoughts darted in beyond the ordinary strain of thinking which like the beams of the Sun evidence both themselves and their original And as concerning these motions joyn'd together take these Directions in short 1. Welcom and entertain them As 't is our happiness as well as our duty to stifle evil motions so 't is our misery as well as our sin to extinguish heavenly Strange fire should be presently quench'd but that which descends from heaven upon the Altar of a holy soul 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Polycarp Epist ad Phil. terms holy persons must be kept alive by quickning meditation When a holy thought lights suddenly upon you which hath no connexion with any antecedent business in your mind provided it be not unseasonable nor hinder you from any absolutely necessary duty either of religion or your calling receive it as a messenger from heaven and the rather because 't is a stranger You know not but you may entertain an Angel yea something greater than an Angel even the Holy Ghost Open all the powers of your souls like so many Organ-pipes to receive the breath of this Spirit when he blows upon you 'T is a sign of an agreeableness between the heart and heaven when we close with and preserve spiritual motions We need not stand long to examine them they are evident by their holiness sweetness and spirituality We may as easily discern them as we can exotick plants from those that grow naturally in our own soil or as a palate at the first tast can distinguish between a rich and generous wine and a rough water The thoughts instill'd by the Spirit of adoption are not violent tumultuous full of perturbation but like himself gentle and dove-like solicitings Gal. 5.22 warm and holy impulses and when cherished leave the soul in a more humble heavenly pure and believing temper than they found it 'T is a high aggravation of sin to resist the Holy Ghost Acts 7.51 Yet we may quench his motions by neglect as well as by opposition and by that means lose both the profit and pleasure which would have attended the entertainment Salvation came both to Zacheus his house and heart upon embracing the first motion our Saviour was pleased to make him Had he slighted that 't is uncertain whether another should have been bestowed upon him The more such sprouts are planted and nourished in us the less room will stinking weeds have to root themselves and disperse their influence And for thy own good thoughts feed them and keep them alive that they may not be like a blaze of straw which takes birth and expires the same minute Brood upon them and kill them not as some birds do their young ones by too often flying from their nests David kept up a staple of sound and good thoughts he would scarce else have desired God to try and know them Psal 139.23 Tâ—y me and know my thoughts had they been only some few weak flashes at uncertain times 2. Improve them for those ends to which they naturally tend 'T is not enough to give them a bare reception and forbear the smothering of them but we must consider what affections are proper to be rais'd by them either in the search of some truth or performance of some duty Those gleams with shoot into us on the sudden have some lesson seal'd up in them to be opened and learned by us When Peter upon the crowing of the cock call'd to mind his Master's admonition he thought thereon and wept †Mar. 14 72. he did not only receive the spark but kindled a suitable affection A choice graff though kept very carefully by us yet if not presently set will wither and disappoint our expectation of the desired fruit No man is without some secret whispers to disswade him from some alluring and busie sin †Job 33.14 17. God speaks once yea twice that he may withdraw man from his purpose as Cain had by an audible voice Gen. 4.7 which had he observed to the damping the revengeful motion against his brother he had prevented his brother's death his own despair and eternal ruin Have you any motion to seek God's face as David had Let your hearts reply Thy face Lord will I seek * Psal 27.8 The address will be most acceptable at such a time when your heart is tuned by One that searcheth the deep things of God †1 Cor. 2.10 and knows his mind and what airs are most delightful to Him Let our motion be quick in any duty which the Spirit doth suggest and while he heaves our hearts and oyls our wheels we shall do more in any religious service and that more pleasantly and successfully than at another time with all our own art and industry for his injections are like water poured into a pump to raise up more and as Satan's motions are not without a main body to second them so neither do the Spirit 's go unattended without a sufficient strength to assist the entertainers of them Well then lye not at anchor when a fresh gale would fill thy sails but lay hold of the present opportunity These seasons are often like those influences from certain conjunctions of the Planets which if not according to the Astrologer's opinion presently applied pass away and return not again in many ages So the Spirit 's breathings are often determined that if they be not entertained with suitable affections the time will be unregainable and the same gracious opportunities of a sweet entercourse may be for ever lost for God will not have his holy Spirit dishonoured in always striving with wilful man Gen. 6.3 When Judas neglected our Saviour's advertisement John 13.21 the Devil quickly enters and hurries him to the execution of his traiterous project v. 27. and he never meets with any motion afterwards but from his new Master and that eternally fatal both to his body and soul 3. Refer them if possible to assist your Morning Meditation that like little Brooks arising from several Springs they may meet in one channel and compose a more useful Stream What straggling good thoughts arise though they may owe their birth to several occasions and tend divers ways yet list them in the service of that truth to which you have committed the government of your mind that day As Constables in a time of necessary business for the King take up men that are going about their honest and lawful occasions and force them to joyn in one employ for the publick Service Many accidental glances as was observed before will serve both to fix and illustrate your Morning Proposition But if it be an extraordinary injection and cannot be referred to your
forelorn Gentiles as stupid as stocks and stones he raiseth up Children a great posterity to Abraham Those that he imployed in the erecting Sion and establishing the Law that went out from her in the rubbish of the Gentiles he struck off from all humane assistances all strength and power in themselves when he commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem but to wait there for a power from on high before they ventured to be Witnesses to him and publish his Name not only in the uttermost parts of the Earth but in Jerusalem the City where they were to abide or in any part of Judaea Acts 1.4 8. They were not to speak a word of him in their own strength or in any strength less than a Power from Heaven which was to be given them by the sending the Spirit and this he calls the promise of the Father as signifying his purpose to enlarge his Church as well as build it at the first by himself and his own power 'T is this the promise of the Father our Saviour there pitches their faith upon and 't is this our faith should be established in in all conditions of the Church Now hath God thus rear'd up a Church out of the ashes of mans original Apostacy setled it among the murmuring and ungrateful Israelites that industriously longed for the Garlick and Onions of Aegypt as weary of the greatness of his mercy to them and propagated it to the Idolatrous Gentiles fill'd with all unrighteousness as bad as bad could be as is described Rom. 1.29 30 31 To what purpose was the enlarging the Churches Patent if he did intend the footsteps of her should ever be rooted out of the world He pickt out the weakest poorest persons as the matter of it that he might shew his own honour in preserving it he hath yet supported her all the while she hath carryed the cross of her Lord he hath sent his spirit to frame a succession of new materials for her how fruitless would all this be if he should let Hell waste the Temple erected for Heaven What did he gather and enlarge the Church only to make it a richer conquest and a fatter morsel for the Devil How vain would his former kindness appear if he should let it utterly sink as long as the world endures It cannot be imagin'd with any semblance of reason that God hath taken all this care about the nursing and growth of the Church from small beginnings to let his darling be a prey to the mouth of Lyons and be of no other use than to fatten his enemies 4. In regard of the cost and pains he hath been at about Sion Did the creation of the world ever cost him so much Was there one tear one groan one sigh much less the blood of the Son of God expended in laying the foundation of it When the matter of it was without form and void the beauty of it was not wrought with a washing with blood When God established the clouds above and strengthn'd the foundations of the deep when he gave the sea his decree and appointed the foundations of the earth the Son of God was by him rejoicing in the habitable parts of the earth and his delights were among the sons of men Prov. 8.28 29 31. Not bleeding and dying But this he must do he must take humane nature be bruised in his heel by the serpent and be a Sacrifice himself make an atonement for sin before a stone for the building of spiritual Sion could be fram'd and laid What pains have been taken also in the effecting it The birth of the Church was a work of greater power than the fabrick of the world a few words went to the rearing of that in the revolution of six days it was set upon its feet but many a year was God in travel before Sion was brought forth there was an enemy as potent as Hell to deal with in setting it in Adams family after mans Apostacy The corrupt nature that had then got the possession of the world to contest with The world must be drowned to bring it to a second nativity and establishment in Noah The forming the Church of the Jews was not without some pangs of nature what signs and wonders and great terrours were wrought in its bringing forth out of Aegypt and striking off the chains of her Captivity Deut. 4.34 What fire blackness darkness tempest that made a convulsion in the Souls of those that were to be her materials Heb. 12.18 19. And the bringing forth the Gentile Church and enlarging the cords and stakes of Sion was preceded by the darkening the Sun the trembling of the Earth the opening of the Graves the suffering of that which was dearest to God himself No Power was ever employed so signally in the Affairs of any worldly concern as in the settlement of Sion The devouring waves of the Red Sea have been made her Bulwarks and the Sand the Grave of her Enemies hath been a path for her passage The Sun hath forgotten his natural Race to gaze upon her Victories Josh 10.13 Angels have been commissioned to be her Champions and fight her Battels 2 King 19.35 The whole Host of Heaven have been arrayed to fight for Sion on Earth The merciless nature of the fire hath been curb'd to preserve her children when she seemed to be reduced to a small number and the mouths of hunger-starv'd Lions have been bridled for the same purpose Dan. 6.22 The proudest Enemies to her have been vanquisht by Frogs and Lice and Tyrants that would lay their hands upon her have been made to their disgrace a living Banquet for Worms the vilest creatures Act. 12.23 And indeed after the malice of the Devil had usurpt God's right in the Creation and had drawn the chiefest of his sublunary creatures into an Apostacy with himself no less than an Infinite Power could be engaged against the greatest of created Powers if God would not forego his own honour in suffering himself to be deprived of the fruit of his works No less than Infinite Power could erect a Church in the world that God might have the fruit of his Creation he ordered this Power to appear struck down the Gates of Hell sent his Son to rescue his Honour and his Spirit to polish stones for his Temple Every one that is fitted for this Building had Almightiness at work with him before he was form'd Eph. 1.19 20. Every stone was hewed by the Spirit and the Image of God was imprinted by a Divine Efficacy Shall the fruit of so much Power and the mark of his own Image want an establishment God would seem to be careless of the Treasures of his own Nature wherewith he hath endow'd her Shall all this cost and pains be to no purpose Were the Gates of Hell taken down to be set up again more strongly and the chargeable Counsels of God to be puft away by the breath of Satan Doth it consist with his Wisdom to let
their office of teaching Since he promised his presence with his ministry to the end of the world he will have a Church to the end of the world to enjoy the benefit of that promise to be taught by them It consisted not with the wisdom or faithfulness of Christ to promise a perpetuity to that if he knew it were to be cut short before the end of the world And this himself also assures the Church of in all its variety of states Revel 2.1 These things saith he that holds the seven Stars in his right hand who walks in the midst of the seven Golden Candlestiâ—k Not only seven Stars at one time or seven Golden Candlesticks in being together but in all the successions of the Church to the consummation of the world And as he describes himself by this title when he speaks of the Church of Ephesus which was the first state of the Church not only assuring her of his holding her Star and walking by her Candlestick but all the rest that were to follow so he doth renew the same expression in part when he speaks of the Church of Sardis which is the rising of the Church from the Apostacy wherein it had been covered in the Thyatirian state Revel 3.1 These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God and the seven Stars The seven spirits of God signifies the gifts for the building and perfecting the Church still in the hand of Christ which should be in a more plentiful way poured out than for some time before as they were in the first reformation He is still therefore as a Prophet walking in the Church in all ages Not only in the first Foundation of it by the Apostles but in the reformation of it after it had been buried in Superstition and Idolatry And at the restauration of the Church in the world there shall be a pure river of water as clear as Christal proceeding from the Throne of God and the Lamb Revel 22.1 i. e. Pure doctrine without any mud and mixtures 2. 'T is his part as a Priest to establish it in the favour of God and look to the reparations of his Temple The Church is his Temple A Temple is the proper seat the proper care of a Priest He is a Priest still upon his Throne Zach. 6.13 and that for ever As he hath therefore some thing to offer so he hath always some for whom he offers who are they but his Church His prayer on earth John 17. was but a model or draught of his intercession in Heaven one part of it is for preservation of them through the truth of God John 17.17 The keeping up the Gospel in the world in order to a sanctification of some is the matter of his intercession which is one part of his Priestly Office And we cannot imagine his plea for his Church to be weaker on his throne it being also a throne of grace than it was for his enemies when he was upon a cross of suffering The compassions annext to his Priesthood remain still Heb. 4.15 If his office be perpetual the qualifications necessary to that office are as durable as the office it self as long as there is any object for their exercise To what purpose are his compassions if he should not pity her for whom they were designed and for whose behoof he was furnisht with them He cannot be faithful to God in his office if he be not merciful and tender to Sion in her distresses He certainly pities her as he would himself were it possible he should be in an infirm condition He must lose his Soul before he can lose his pity and the Church must cease to be his body before she can cease to be the object of his compassions He hath the same sentiments now that he had when he called to Paul from Heaven Act. 9.4 It was not then Why persecutest thou mine but why persecutest thou me Nor is it so now as the relation continues the same so doth the compassion so do his sentiments so do his cares To what purpose doth he as a Priest sit upon a Throne of grace if he did not shew grace to his Sion against the cruel designs of her enemies As God pities us when he remembers our frame Psal 103.13 14. So no question doth Christ when he remembers Sions oppressions as a distressed child is the object of the fathers pitty Add to this That since the death of Christ was one part of his Priestly performance and that the virtue of his sacrifice is as eternal as his Priest-hood what a disparagement would it â—e to him and the virtue of his death if ever the world while it stood should be void of the fruits of it There can be no moment wherein it is not valid to expiate the sins of some men and therefore not a moment wherein the world shall be without a Sion whose sins are expiated by it Should the standar'd of Sion be snatcht away and torn by the powers of darkness what would become of the glory what would become of the virtue of the Redeemers death Would God consecrate him so solemnly by an oath to be a Priest to so little purpose How could it be for ever if the execution of that office should be interrupted by the cessation of a Church as long as the world stands upon its pillars Would it not be an empty title if the end of it were not performed We cannot imagine the falling of Sion but we must question the merit of his death the truth of his exaltation the strength of his intercession the faithfulness of his office and the sincerity and candor of his compassions 3. 'T is his part as a King to establish Sion in being and govern her The Prophets always testified that of his Government there should be no end If the Church should cease for one moment in the world what subjects would he have to govern here Can he be a King without a Kingdom or a governour without subjects to bear a voluntary and sincere witness to his name If he be King in Sion he will also have a Sion to own him and a Sion to rule in not only a conquest of the Serpentine brood and infernal powers was promised but the total and perpetual victory Gen. 3.15 The sted of the woman was to bruise the Serpents head When the head is bruised there is no more wisdom to guide or force to Spirit the arm and the other members of the body It was a promise made not only of Christ to man but of a compleat victory to Christ that he should outwit the Serpents wisdom and utterly discomfit the Serpents power If the conquest were not perfect and perpetual it could not be called a spoiling of principalities and powers as it is Col. 2.15 but an interruption or temporary check whence they might rescue themselves He is therefore said to still the enemy and the avenger * Psal 8.2 I make no scruple
to understand the whole Psalm of Christ since the Apostle hath interpreted part of it of him Heb. 2. i. e. Make them utterly silent not knowing what firm Counsels to take or what successful orders to give And it being his end to destroy the works of the Devil the destroying the works must be the root of the being and preservation of the Church Did Christ then rise as a Conquerour out of the grave and sit down as King upon his throne to let the Devil and the world run away with the fruits of his victory Will he be so injurious to himself as to let his Throne be overturned by his enemies And to let the adversary of Sion repossess himself of that which he hath been so powerfully and successfully stript of Christ being King cannot be chased out of his Kingdom nor wants power to keep it from being utterly wasted To be the governour of Sion was as much in his first Commission as to be her Redeemer * Isa 49.10 He was to feâ—d guide his flock which is often in Scripture put for Ruling Christ as King will never leave beating up the quarters of Hell till he hath utterly routed their force and made the partizans of it his footstool and thereby established Sion beyond the fears of any tottering Therefore when he speaks of the Church of Smyrna which was to have a sore conflict with the Devil and feel the smart of him for 10 days understanding those 10 Ancient persecutions of the Church he assumes a new title for her encouragement Revel 2.8 These things saith the first and the last which was dead and is alive I was the first that listed you and embodied you for the war and I will be the last to bring up the rear I was first in raising you and I will be the last in preserving you Fear not the terror of those persecutions though they be to blood and death I was used so I was dead but I am now alive and I live for my Church to behold her battles to procure her victory and to Crown those that shall fall in the fight against her enemies Christ in encouraging them to suffer for him assures them of the security of a Church the Devil should not wast the whole but cast some of them into prison not all and that for their refining v. 10. The Devil shall cast some of you into prison that you may be tryed Christ lives still and acts as King for the security of Sion and preserving a Generation to serve him till the time comes that is promised Rev. 22.3 that there shall be no more curse but the Throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it and then his Servants shall serve him with a full security from all trouble 3. The Foundation of Sion is sure 'T is founded upon Christ the corner stone Christ is called the Foundation 1 Cor. 3.11 The Apostles are the Foundation Eph. 2.20 Christ is the Foundation personally the Apostles doctrinally Christ meritoriously the Apostles ministerially the Apostles in regard of the publication of the Doctrine Christ in regard of the efficacy of the Doctrine whereby the Church is established 1. The Church is ingrafted in Christ united to him one with him the parts of it are reckoned as his seed * Psal 22.30 A s ed shall serve him it shall be counted to the Lord as a generation As if they had sprung out of his loins as men naturally did from Adam's that as Adam was the Foundation of their corruption so shall Christ be the Foundation of their Restauration They shall be looked upon as the Children of Christ and Christ as their Father and as Father and Children legally counted one The Church is his own body Eph. 5.29 30. In loving and establishing the Church he loves establisheth himself Whatsoever is implanted in nature as a perfection is eminently in God Now since he hath twisted with our natures a care of our own bodies this care must be much more in the nature of Christ because his Church is as nearly united to him as our members to the flesh and the bones and he hath an higher affection to his mystical than we can have to our natural bodies Christ will no less secure and perfect his own body than a man would improve the beauty and strength of his natural body to preserve it from wounds from being mangled or scarrified unless it be for the security of the whole If he did not do it it would be a hatred of his own flesh which never any man in his right wits was ever guilty of The Eternity of Christ is made the Foundation of the Churches Establishment Psal 102.27 28. Thou art the Son and thy years shall have no end The Children of thy servants shall continue and their seed shall be established before thee There could be no strength in the Argument without union and communion with him The Church is settled upon him as a Foundation and therefore is of as long a duration as the Foundation upon which it stands the conjunction is so strait that if one fails the other must especially since as Christ is the head the Church is his fulness Eph. 1.22 23. Sion cannot be compleat but in him and Christ cannot be compleat without her A Foundation is of little use without a Superstructure a building falls not without a discredit to the Foundation upon which it stood Sions compleatness depends upon the strength of Christ and Christs mystical compleatness depends upon the stability of Sion he will not leave himself an imperfect and empty head 2. 'T is founded upon the Covenant Upon that which endures for ever and shall survive the Funeral of the whole world Heaven and Earth shall pass away but the Church is founded upon that which shall not pass away 1 Pet. 1.23 the Word of God c. Not such a word as that whereby he brought forth light in the world and form'd the Stars at the Creation a word that engaged him not to the perpetuating of it * Tarretin Sermons p. 330. This Covenant is more firm than the Pillars of Heaven and the Foundations of the Earth The Stars of Heaven shall dissolve the Sun shall be turned into darkness the Elements shall change their order for confusion But the Church being founded upon an eternal and immutable Covenant shall subsist in the midst of the confusions and flames of the world Isa 54.10 The Mountains shall depart and the Hills be removed but my Covenant of Peace shall not be removed 'T is more establish'd than the world The Apostle clearly intimates it in his commendation of Abraham's Faith when he tells us He looked for a City which hath foundations by virtue of the promise of a numerous seed Heb. 11.9 10. As if the world had no foundation in comparison of the Church 'T is beyond the skill of Hell to raze up the foundation and therefore impossible for it to beat down
power and he knows his promise Let us therefore first eye the promise which God loves and the Devil fears and then call in his power to back his word 4. Regard not man Too much eye upon him implies too little upon God as if Gods Word were not enough to create and support a confidence without the buttresses of secular strength All dependance on man is either upon a broken reed that cannot support it self or a piercing reed that wounds instead of healing Isa 36.6 'T is a dishonour to God and provokes him to lengthen a misery and retard a deliverance The nearer Sion comes to a final settlement the more God will act by himself either without instruments or in a more signally spiriting Instruments that himself shall be more visible in them than themselves The Highest himself shall establish her If he be the Highest he is fit to be trusted by us if he will do it himself it is fit we should couple none with him The nearer the time comes wherein God will appear himself the more we should depend upon him himself the exercise of faith should be strongest when the promise the object of faith is nearest its Meridian Let us be more careful to keep our faith from sinking and let God alone to keep his Church from sinking Use 2. of Comfort The Churches Patent is singular the greatest worldly Society could never shew the fellow of it The Highest himself shall establish her There is not such a clause in the settlement of any nation Why should we be afraid then of the joynt conspiracy of men or Devils He that hath laid the Foundation can and will preserve the Superstructure not only because he formed it but because he hath promised it When Christ would reveal to John the future condition and conflicts of the Church to the end of the world he appears like a conquerour with all the ensigns of authority and power about him Revel 1.13 14 15 16. He hath eyes like a flame to pierce his enemies Feet like brass to crush them a two edged Sword out of his mouth to pierce them and this while he is in the midst of the seven Candlesticks The several alterations and periods of the Church to the end of the world to preserve and cleanse them 1. Here is comfort in the confusions and troubles of the world The shaking of Heaven and Earth were the harbingers of the appearance of Christ for Redemption and laying the corner stone of Sion Hag. 2.7 The same methods will be used when he shall come to lay the top-stone and compleat all the fruits of Redemption Luke 21.25 26.28 The confusion of the world is the restauration of Sion a storm or rushing mighty wind preceded the plentifull effusion of the Spirit upon the Apostles for the blowing the Gospel into every corner Act. 2.2 Never were the disciples in so hopeless a condition as before the Resurrection of Christ the ground of the Churches stability they then expected to see his face no more What commotions and thunders are described in the Revelation before the new Jerusalem comes down from Heaven God pitch his Tabernacle among men But he suffers not those commotions to be raised in the world by the ministring Angel till the servants of God be sealed in the forehead for their preservation in those confusions which shall be the ruin of their enemies Revel 7.2 3. The ark may shake with the motion of the oxen but it cannot fall Noahs Ark may be tost by the waves that drown the world but not sink and at last rest upon the mountains of Ararat * Gen. 8.4 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. the curse of terrors the removal of fears Christ came not to the Disciples but in the fourth Watch of the night and that when the Ship was tossed by the waves and was tugging against a contrary wind Mat. 14.24 25. 'T is no hardship for Sion to be in a Boat beaten by the Sea when Christ walks upon the waters and bids her be of good cheer saying 'T is I be not afraid An Earthquake preceded the deliverance of Paul and Silas out of Prison Acts 16.26 And Lightnings and Voices and Thundrings Earthquake and great Hail shall accompany the opening of the Temple of God in Heaven and the manifestation of the Ark of the Testament in that Temple Rev. 11.19 2. Here is comfort in Persecutions Persecution is yet for a while the Lot of the Church a Sea and a Wilderness are yet the passage to Canaan The first Promise to Abraham of a numerous Seed was with the comparing it to the dust of the Earth Gen. 3.16 Dust that is trampled upon Dust that is removed by a puff of wind But the next was by comparing it to the Stars in Heaven Gen. 15.5 that are bright and fixed and have their orderly motions Before the Introduction of the Philadelphian State of the Church or Brotherly State which it is likely we are not far from the Promise of Glory to them that overcome intimates a Combate and the Promise of Christ's confessing the names of such before his Father implies a time before the Period of the Sardian State wherein the Church is to bear a signal Testimony to the Truths of Christ in the way of a Conflict Rev. 3.5 The glorious State of the Church at the Resurrection of the Witnesses shall be preceded by such a calamity as shall be the terrour of the godly and the triumph of an Enemy devoted to a sudden and unexpected destruction Rev. 11.9 10 11 12. Persecutions make way for Sion's stability Never was she firmer and purer than in the time of the Apostles and those immediately following them when the Witnesses for the Truth to the loss of their blood were as numerous as the Survivors she was then when the flood was cast out against her clothed with the Sun and crowned with a Crown of twelve Stars Rev. 12.1 2. Such troubles now may dim the outward splendour but increase her inward Spirit and refine her to that temper she was in in the Primitive Ages of Christianity Prosperity was never much the Churches Friend Poyson was flung in her dish when she gain'd an earthly felicity and the fondness of great ones Her stability consists not in this but in the graces and spirit of Christianity That which establisht her Head establisheth the Body her Captain ascended not from Mount Oliver till he had suffered on Mount Calvary The Church was never described so glorious in her outward Attire as her greatest Enemy that is clothed in Scarlet and deckt with Gold Rev. 17.4 Sion's glory is internal Psal 45.13 The King's Daughter is all glorious within All those Persecutions that are yet to come upon her shall not demolish her Walls The rigours of her Enemies and the Treasons of her pretended Friends have not yet expelled her out of the Earth she hath not yet sunk though her Masts have been sometimes cut close to the
such an end As Balaam and Balak offered their Sacrifice chearfully hoping to ingratiate themselves with God and to have liberty to curse his people 3. A delight in the precepts and promises of God which are the ground and rules of Prayer First David delights in Gods testimonies and then calls upon him with his whole heart A gracious heart must first delight in precepts and promises before it can turn them into prayers For prayer is nothing else but a presenting God with his own promise desiring to work that in us and for us which he hath promised to us None was more chearful in prayer than David because none was more rejoycing in the statutes of God Gods statutes were his Songs Psa 119.54 And the divine Word was sweeter to him than the hony and hony-comb If our hearts leap not at divine promises we are like to have but drowsy Souls in desiring them If our eye be not upon the dainties God sets before us our desires cannot be strong for him If we have no delight in the great charters of heaven the rich legacies of God how can we sue for them If we delight not in the covenant of grace we shall not delight in prayers for grace It was the hopes of reward made Moses so valiant in suffering and the joy set before Christ in a promise made him so chearful in enduring the shame Heb. 12.1.2 4. A delight in prayer itself A Christians heart is in secret ravisht into heaven There is a delight in coming near God and warming the soul by the fire of his love The Angels are chearful in the act of praise their work is their glory A holy Soul doth so delight in this duty that if there were no command to engage him no promise to encourage him he would be stepping into Gods Courts He thinks it not a good day that passeth without some intercourse with God David would have taken up his lodgings in the Courts of God and regards it as the only blessedness Psalm 65.4 And so great a delight he had in being in Gods presence that he envies the birds the happiness of building their nests near his Tabernacle A delight there is in the holiness of Prayer a natural man under some troubles may delight in Gods comforting and easing presence but not in his sanctifying presence He may delight to pray to God as a storehouse to supply his wants but not as a refiners fire to purge away his dross Prayer as Praise is a melody to God in the heart Eph. 5.19 And the Soul loves to be fingering the instrument and touching the strings 5. A delight in the things askt This heavenly chearfulness is most in heavenly things What delight others have in asking worldly goods that a gracious heart hath in begging the light of Gods countenance That soul cannot be dull in prayer that seriously considers he prays for no less than heaven and happiness no less than the glory of the great God A gracious man is never weary of spiritual things as men are never weary of the Sun but though it is enjoyed every day yet long for the rising of it again From this delight in the matter of prayer it is that the Saints have redoubled and repeated their Petitions and often double the Amen at the end of Prayer to manifest the great affections to those things they have askt The Soul loves to think of those things the heart is set upon and frequent thoughts express a delight 6. A delight in those graces and affections which are Exercised in Prayer A gracious heart is most delighted with that prayer wherein grace hath been more stirring and gracious affections have been boyling over The Soul desires not only to speak to God but to make melody to God the heart is the instrument but graces are the strings and prayer the touching them and therefore he is more displeased with the flagging of his graces than with missing an answer There may be a delight in gifts in a mans own gifts in the gifts of another in the pomp and varnish of devotion But a delight in exercising spiritual graces is an ingredient in this true delight The Pharisees are markt by Christ to make long prayers vaunting in an outward bravery of words as if they were playing the Courtiers with God and complementing him But the Publican had a short prayer but more grace Lord be merciful to me a sinner There is relyance and humility A gracious heart labours to bring flaming affections and if he cannot bring flaming grace he will bring smoaking grace he desires the preparation of his heart as well as the answer of his prayer Psalm 10.17 2. Whence this delight springs 1. From the Spirit of God Not a spark of fire upon our own hearth that is able to kindle this Spiritual delight 'T is the holy Ghost that breaths such an heavenly heat into our affections The Spirit is the fire that kindles the Soul the spring that moves the watch the wind that drives the ship The swiftest ship with spread sails will be but sluggish in its motion unless the wind fills its sails without this Spirit we are but in a weak and sickly condition our breath but short a heavy and troublesome Asthma is upon us Psal 138.3 When I cryed unto thee thou didst strengthen me with strength in my Soul As prayer is the work of the Spirit in the heart so doth delight in prayer owe itself to the same author God will make them joyful in his house of prayer Isa 56.7 2. From grace The Spirit kindles but gives us the Oyl of grace to make the lamp burn clear There must not only be wind to drive but sails to catch it a prayer without grace is a a prayer without wings There must be grace to begin it A dead man cannot rejoice in his Land Money or Food he cannot act and therefore cannot be chearful in action Chearfulness supposeth life dead men cannot perform a duty Psal 115.17 the dead praise not the Lord nor dead souls a chearful duty There must not only be grace infused but grace actuated No man in a sleep or swoon can rejoice There must not only be a living principle but a lively operation If the sap lurk only in the root the branches can bring forth no fruit our best prayers without the sap of grace diffusing itself will be but as withered branches Grace actuated puts heat into performances without which they are but benum'd and frozen * Reynolds Rusty grace as a rusty Key will not unlock will not enlarge the heart There must be grace to maintain it There is not only need of fire to kindle the lamp but of Oyl to preserve the flame natural men may have their affections kindled in a way of common working but they will presently faint and dye as the flame of cotton will dimm and vanish if there be no Oyl to nourish it There is a temporary joy in hearing the word
and if in one duty why not in another why not in prayer Mat. 13.20 Like a fire of thorns that makes a great blaze but a short stay 3. From a good Conscience A good heart is a continual feast Prov. 15.15 He that hath a good conscience must needs be chearful in his religious and civil duties Guilt will come trembling and with a sad countenance into the presence of Gods Majesty A guilty child cannot with chearfulness come into a displeased fathers presence A Soul smoakt with Hell cannot with delight approach to heaven Guilty Souls in regard of the injury they have done to God will be afraid to come and in regard of the soot of Sin wherewith they are defiled and the blackness they have contracted they will be ashamed to come They know that by their sins they should provoke his anger not allure his love A Soul under conscience of sin cannot look up to God Psal 40.12 Nor will God with favour look down upon it Psal 59.2 It must be a pure heart that must see him with pleasure Mat. 5.8 And pure hands must be lifted up to him 1 Tim. 2.8 Jonah was asleep after his sin and was out-stript in quickness to pray even by Idolaters The marriners jogg him but could not get him that we read of to call upon that God whom he had offended Jon. 1. Where there is corruption the sparks of sin will kindle that tinder and weaken a Spiritual delight A perfect heart and a willing mind are put together 1 Chron. 29.2 There cannot be willingness without sincerity nor sincerity without willingness 4. From a holy and frequent familiarity with God Where there is a great familiarity there is a great delight delight in one anothers company and delight in one anothers converse strangeness contracts and familiarity dilates the Soul There is more alacrity in going to a God with whom we are acquainted than to a God to whom we are strangers This doth encourage the Soul to go to God I go to a God whose face I have seen whose goodness I have tasted with whom I have often met in prayer Frequent familiarity makes us more apprehensive of the excellency of another an excellency apprehended will be beloved and being beloved will be delighted in 5. From hopes of speeding There is an expectative delight which ariseth from hopes of enjoying Rom. 12.12 Rejoycing in hope There cannot be a pleasant motion where there is a palsie of doubts How full of delight must that Soul be that can plead a promise and carry God's hand and seal to Heaven and shew him his own Bond when it can be pleaded not only as a favour to engage his mercy but in some sense a debt to engage his truth and righteousness Christ in his prayer which was his Swan-like song John 17. pleads the terms of the Covenant between his Father and himself I have glorified thee on Earth glorifie me with that golry I had with thee before the world was This is the case of a delightful approach when we carry a Covenant of grace with us for our selves and a promise of security and perpetuity for the Church Upon this account we have more cause of a pleasant motion to God than the ancient Believers had Fear acted them under the Law Love us under the Gospel He cannot but delight in prayer that hath Arguments of God's own framing to plead with God who cannot deny his own Arguments and Reasonings Little comfort can be suckt from a perhaps But when we come to seek Covenant-mercies God's faithfulness to his Covenant puts the mercy past a perhaps We come to a God sitting upon a Throne of Grace upon Mount Sion not on Mount Sinai to a God that desires our presence more than we desire his assistance 6. From a sense of former mercies and acceptation If Manna be rained down it doth not only take off our thoughts from Aegyptian Garlick but quickens our desires for a second shower A sense of God's Majesty will make us lose our garishness and a sense of God's Love will make us lose our dumpishness We may as well come again with a merry heart when God accepts our prayers as go away and eat our bread with joy when God accepts our works Eccles 9.7 The Doves will readily fly to the windows where they have formerly found shelter and the Beggar to the door where he hath often received an Alms. Because he hath inclined his ear to hear me therefore will I call upon him as long as I live Psal 116.2 I have found refuge with God before I have found my wants supplied my soul raised my temptations check'd my doubts answered and my prayers accepted therefore I will repeat my Addresses with chearfulness I might add also other Causes as a love to God a heavenliness of spirit a consideration of Christ's Intercession a deep humiliation The more unpleasant sin is to our rellish the more delightful will God be and the more chearful our Souls in Addresses to him The more unpleasant sin is to us the more spiritual our Souls are and the more spiritual our Souls the more spiritual our Affections The more stony the more lumpish and unapt for motion the more contrite the more agil From a spiritual tast report of a thing may contribute some pleasure but a tast greater 3. Reasons Without chearful seeking we cannot have a gracious Answer 1. God will not give an answer to those prayers that dishonour him A flat and dumpish temper is not for his honour The Heathens themselves thought their gods should not be put off with a Sacrifice dragg'd to the Altar We read of no Lead that lumpish earthly metal imployed about the Tabernacle or Temple but the purer and most glistering sorts of metals God will have the most excellent Service because he is the most excellent Being He will have the most delightful Service because he bestows the most delightful and excellent gifts All Sacrifices were to be offered up with fire which is the quickest and most active Element 'T is a dishonour to so great so glorious a Majesty to put him off with such low and dead-hearted Services Those Petitions cannot expect an answer which are offered in a manner injurious to the person we address to 'T is not for the credit of our great Master to have his Servants dejected in his work As though his Service were an uncomfortable thing as though God were a Wilderness and the World a Paradise 2. Dull and lumpish Prayer doth not reach him and therefore cannot expect an answer Such desires are as Arrows that sink down at our feet there is no force to carry them to Heaven The heart is as an unbent Bow that hath no strength When God will hear he makes first a prepared heart Psal 10.17 He first strings the Instrument and then receives the sound An enlarged heart only runs Psal 119.32 A contracted heart moves slowly and often faints in the Journey 3. Lumpishness speaks an