varieties to be another perfection we may consider what a multitude of severall degrees of glories there are in that bright and blessed Palace when every order of Angels and each Angell in his own particular seat and place is distinguished both in office and lustre though all united in their wils and obedience that makes the greater harmony which number for ought I know may be above a million of millions whom as I say we shall all know and see without corruption or impediment not as we doe now people of this world subject to inconstancy and imperfections but alwaies united with sweet countenances and pleasind dispositions producing variety of new delights to our imaginations that cannot be deceived with any false objects Besides we shall behold all the Patriarchs Prophets Apostles and Martyrs that ever have been in the world bearing about with them the honourable Ensignes of their sufferings and vertues to our most unspeakable delight in every particular but above all we shall be more then transported with a heavenly satisfaction to contemplate the diversity of favours bestowed upon the blessed and incomparable Virgin by the love and power of the holy Trinity who is placed as we may suppose upon a Throne of one intire Carbuncle clothed in a garment wrought all over with such heavenly varieties that nature never knew or Angels can imitate bearing also upon her head a Crown of stars enterwoven with rich stones of all colours and beauties in comparison of which Diamonds and Rubies are more base then the roughest pibles are to the most rarest Jewels that were ever yet worn by Princes upon earth with a thousand other excellencies no more to be numbred then to be described Truly if the severall and variable fancies of this world have so much power to intoxicate our brains towards a perpetuall confusion and eternall damnation I see no reason why these excessive and satisfactory varieties of Heaven well considered should not oftentimes if not continually settle our judgements to more profitable and more necessary considerations for certainly it is no other thing then diversity of earthly Chymeras that couzen our appetites to so disorderly and extreame prejudice suggests to our imagination strange and impossible frutions both against reason and contrary to faith But as certainly these varieties of Paradise are more then numerous so may we conceive the society to be answerably excellent thereunto in every respect in regard there is none can be thither admitted but those who have been extraordinary and I may say in some sort admirable for their vertues and goodnesse in this world and being there glorified and refined their excellencies of nature and dispositions appeare as through a transparent glasse not onely to themselves but to each one of the blessed in particular to an infinity of satisfaction in society and conversation though it be not exercised by the tongue or senses according to humane practises but rather in a concordancy of wils and affections wherein charity and love principally predominates by which means every soule is induced to desire and covet the good prosperity of each other equall with his own so that not onely every appetite of envy is absolutely banished from that glorious and heavenly society but the least repining is taken away at any others preferment and advancement however it is not to be doubted but that there are severall degrees of happinesse in that blessed mansion which must needs render the conversation admirably sweet and delightfull by reason of so absolute an unity in affections For as none shall be lead away with any manner of passion of self-love and as little will he conceive that he wanteth an absolute perfection in his own state and condition so the chiefe felicity any soule shall possesse in that heavenly habitation is to see God and by that consequence must accompany her fellows in the honour and worship which is not onely due to his divinity but shall be thought the greatest increase of her own glory can possibly be enjoyed since from that infinite Majesty each blessed Spirit doth extract all pleasure content and satisfaction as from a vast Ocean of blessednesse resembling our naturall Sea here upon earth that bestows benefits and vertues upon every great River and little Brook according to its property and capacity whilst in the interim our blessed and all powerfull Saviour resembling also in some sort the resplendent Sunne that hath the domination of every earthly thing by his influence exhales from his fathers goodnesse and lustre a convenient proportion of all heavenly graces to bestow what quantity he pleaseth of consolations in every respect upon those of his perpetuall Kingdome united as I may say in so harmonious a society as can never be severed in the least kinde either by distance or disaffection Last of all we may reflect upon the absolute security of this happy Assembly not onely so in effect but also assured in their owne knowledges which renders any condition satisfied beyond measure for it seems to be a triumphant Crown that makes all endeavours majesticall by reason of the confidence in the conclusion since without such an opinion new perturbations will continually arise to disquiet the possession of any felicity and delight enjoyed which as I say is so absolutely purchased in this celestiall Paradise that God Almighty neither will nor can loose his subjects and friends And as little is it possible he should be deficient in his own mercies and goodnesse so that being once placed in his sight we shall not need to feare either circumvention or inconstancy for all actions will be the same and every thought free from variation In like manner as our State will be intirely perfect so cannot our wils be any way perverted since those sensuall imperfections of surfeit and desire must be all taken from our natures as dependant only upon earthly transitory possessions for that however there will appeare in that glorious station severall degrees of beatitudes all disposed to nothing but to God Almighties will and pleasure though with a reference to each particular desert yet none of any degree but will be fully contented with his own proportion abundantly without coveting more or doubting what he hath since in beholding God he enjoyes what he can wish in whom is contained all knowledge happinesse and security Now if all these particulars be well considered with competent understanding not onely concerning this celestiall being of the blessed but of the miserable condition of the damned sice the principles cannot be denied by any Christian faith certainly the thoughts thereof cannot chuse but stirre up in people either some sparkles of devotion or at leastwise procure much abatement of vice especially if it be also remembred with any manner of contemplation that perpetuity infallibly appertains to both these places Certain consideration of Eternity A Vast Sea of amazement may eternity be esteemed that neither can be bounded for its extent or fathomed in its
will let suffer them one night to lie in their beds quietly the Clergy that bore jurisdiction in their several Parishes and Provinces are now forced to quit their habitations and livings the Lawyers that commanded respect and money from Clyents know not at present what Law is to be observed the Universities filled every where with dainty wits and Learning are derided for their over much knowledge and last of all may be considered the rich City of London that seemed to rule over the Ocean and arbitrate the Trade of the world is now so much impoverished that it dares not set ships to Sea for fear of being robbed all which being confessed we may very well conceive some divine anger and revenge hath caused this sudden change especially the issue being not yet determined But if these representations be not of sufficient force to move our considerations in a convenient sense of our own danger and by consequence to stir us up to some moderation in our courses yet let us see whether there be left any spark of religious hónour in our dispositions so far as to be perswaded by the extraordinary love of Almighty God alwayes shewed to mankinde from his first Creation to more goodness since it may be supposed no reasonable creature can be so unworthy as not by way of humane gratitude to be willing to repay some requital for benefits received at leastwise to expresse desires of acknowledgement though we may want an absolute power to do what we would in regard of our own frailty and the rather do I use these just perswasions for that it shall appear by the following Discourse that God Almighty hath taken more care in the preservation and salvation of mankinde then in conserving the very Angels in heaven Considerations of gratitude in regard of Gods goodness and love shewed to man-kinde CErtainly however we must confess that those Spirits were created to enjoy a perpetual and a most sublime blessedness yet were they not the ordained in so certain a condition of continuance but that they were subject to fall as afterwards multitudes of them did and the rest were constrained to confirm their establishment by a most sharp encounter with Lucifer and his ateendants over whom at last they got a most glorious and heavenly victory through the constancy of their wills to serve their Lord and Creator by an intire spiritual obedience Wherein as I may say Gods justice appeared something severe to their adversaries if we reflect but upon the extraordinary mercies shewed unto our selves upon all occasions for that he imposed upon the fallen Angels an eternal condemnation and punishment without revocation or hope of redemption by the observation of any new injunction whereas he did not alone at the first make man with an intention to bestow upon him that happiness which they had lost but implyed an infinity of love and care to preserve him still in the same capacity for when he had placed him in that delitious Garden with an absolute power and free-will to do good or evil which was plentifully furnished with all the ornaments of nature for the commodity of his being and subsistence he onely imposed upon him one single Commandment no way seeming difficult to be observed and notwithstanding he soon broke this easie precept by the peevish frailty of his nature that overcame his Grace yet God Almighty neverthelesse was so far from not having compassion of his person and taking commiseration of his offence that immediately he promised him Redemption by the death of his Son as also the more to honour the contemptible substance of his Creation being nothing but earth he obliged our blessed Saviour to take upon him the very cloathing of our flesh and blood because all man might also be capable of a perfect felicity and enjoy a priviledge and Prerogative beyond all the Quires of Angels in Heaven Who not onely stood most stupendiously amazed at the favour bestowed upon mankinde but the very Devils themselvs that then were also Angels foreseeing the mystery in regard of the excellency of their knowledg became perpetually damned onely for endeavouring to resist Gods will and pleasure in that intention which exprest above so much beyond all humane apprehension that the consideration of it onely is able to confound all our actions and astonish our thoughts to the day of judgement if this dull sensuality of our natures did not so much intangle our senses with worldly concernments that the cleer faculties of our Soul cannot operate at all nobly to our advantage And yet further to shew the continuance of God Almighties affection towards man although his just wrath had chased Adam out of Paradise as from a place onely intended for his innocency yet he did not presently commit his person to some dark and horrid prison there to be deservedly punished according to the nature of his offence for the breach of his former injunction in part of satisfaction until his Salvation could be effected by the Passion and death of his dear and onely Son as his Mercy had determined but put him into a world created with all manner of convenient varieties for his necessary recreations though to be injoyned with labour and pains to keep down the stubborn rebellions of his flesh and in the interim comforted him with continual hopes of his speedy Redemption with many promises to make his posterity by Grace a most glorious Nation above others until more particularly Abraham setled both a Church and people in his own family so that Iacob his grand-childe having many sons from whence proceeded the twelve Tribes though they were by accident brought into Egypt where they were forced to confess their sin against their brother Ioseph for which fact as it may be supposed their posterity were detained captives for some hundred of yeers to shew that God had not altogether forgot the offence yet being afterwards released by the religious and painful conduct of that great and good Captain Moses whom God Almighty had specially chosen to put an end to his peoples miseries he established them as a particular Nation of his own whereby to be worshipped with some form and order from whence his own Son also and their Messias was to come in the flesh notwithstanding they never left murmuring in their journey not onely against their Commanders but even at God himself which shewed they carryed still with them the former corruptions of nature and ingratitude with augmentation however he neverthelesse bare with their peevish disobedience until he brought their posterity into that Land promised to Abraham his Seed as if his whole thoughts had been imployed onely in their consideration since the like rebellious proceeding from such multitudes of preservations could not probably be imagined to have almost come from the damned themselves And there as I say being arrived he never left their protection until they had absolutely subdued all their enemies to their mercy they possessing in the interim their
have procured some compassion in their stony hearts however they persisting still in their devilish malice against his person for no other cause as I say but that he had preached against their luxuries and pride cryed out violently to the Judge that unless he crucified him for making himself a King contrary to the Lawes he could be no friend to Caesar which words of theirs so terrified the unjust and fearful President that he delivered Barrabas a most notorious malefactor and sent our Saviour with a company of barbarous souldiers wearing a Crown of sharp Thorns upon his sacred head to the common place of execution as also bearing his own Cross upon his bloody shoulders for his greater contempt and indignity where at last being arrived with many a weary and painful step he was fastned with rough nayles to that Tree that was ordained though for his torment yet for our comfort and being after a time lifted up into the ayre between two thieves excessively heated by his intollerable sufferings he called for something to allay the outragiousness of his thirst but their unexampled and most cruel inhumanity could afford him no sweeter a mixture but Vinegar and Gall to give him any refreshment as the uttermost and last period of all their wickedness and ingratitude which several torments certainly being put together by our consideration cannot be thought but to exceed the affliction of all the people that ever suffered persecution for as he was more pure and perfect in his constitution then other creatures so by consequence must it be thought those pains he endured were sharper and livelier tasted by his senses in regard of the excellency of his making then by other men since obstructions as we know in the Organs vital parts cause sometimes a kind of stupefaction or insensibility in the flesh apprehension which he was not subject unto either by nature or accident besides we may ad that as he was free from all the passions of vain glory or any manner of hope of future reward for his sufferings being both God and man so could he not be eased in his torments by those hopes which do use oftentimes to abate much of the torture in other people and on the other side his grief was increased all the time of his life by his omnipotent foresight knowing before hand that he should not onely die in the general but also what particular cruelies he was to endure so that as I say his imagination was alwayes full of such grievous considerations both in regard of himself that was personally to suffer them as also out of a dear compassion to his most beloved mother that he knew would be present at his passion mournfully accompanyed with his Disciples and the rest of his kindred and friends Secondly If we further reflect upon the parties that used him in this manner and the principal occasion of their malice we shall finde ever causes still for the augmentation of his afflictions in many other particulars And to this purpose we must consider that those who were his chief persecutors were his own particular people chosen above all other Nations in the world by himself to be cherished and loved and from whom in the flesh he was naturally descended so that it was no other then their own blood into his veynes which they sought most lavishly and maliciously to spill upon no other reason but that in a sweet and mild way of conversation accompanied with miracles and benefits he laboured to perswade them to their own salvation that the Gentiles might not bereave them of their ancient inheritance possessing themselves of those places in Heaven that he wished them before others Next what a Corrasive was it to his gentle heart and Divine soule to see them make use of no other creature to betray his innocent person but his own Disciple instructed with his domestick affairs and expences which made him most bitterly to complain that he that eat his bread for a little money had both unnaturally lifted up his hand against him and had been won to undertake so great a treason contrary to all the rules of friendship duty and fidelity which almost no heathen would have performed for any reward could have been promised Thirdly after he had at his last Supper bequeathed unto his Apostles the pretious Legacie of his body and blood to remain ever amongst them as a most admirable token of his love presently going into the Garden to pray and there being in an excessive agony at the remembrance of his approaching Passion sufficiently demonstrated by those distilling drops of blood and sweat that plentifully fell upon the ground from his most blessed body he could not obtain from his three chief Disciples to watch one hour with him notwithstanding his earnest entreaty and the great gift he had a little before bestowed upon them which cannot again but be thought extraordinary troubles to his already afflicted minde Fourthly when he was apprehended by the cruel souldiers with violence and fury certainly it could not be but some present horrour to his confused imagination as he was man to see himself suddenly left by all his friends who fled fearfully away to prevent the like danger to their persons however they should have rather chosen to have dyed with him according to their several professions when he was yet safe amongst them And most of all that his chief Apostle upon whom he had conferred so high a dignity and in whose special friendship it is to be supposed he imposed trust and confidence should not onely timerously amongst the rest leave him with his enemies but most cowardly deny him before a few contemptible servants with oathes and protestations being so transported with the sense of his own danger that he would not so much as own his Masters acquaintance in that assembly to his further disgrace he being at the instant most disdainfully used by all the spectators that were present at his examination before the high Priest which may be added to the rest of his afflictions Fiftly we may remember that when he was brought before King Herod who was inflamed with an earnest desire to see him in regard of the general fame that was spread abroad of his wonders and miracles and to this purpose had an intention no doubt to have honoured his person of the contrary to be sent back again from his presence with all the scorn and contempt in the world cloathed in a white garment either like a mad man or a fool which opinion the rude and barbarous souldiers prosecuted in so violent a manner that it was one of the chiefest causes of his being crowned with Thornes whereby in derision they might the more properly salute him as a mock King of the Jewes putting in the interim a contemptible Reed in his hand in lieu of a Scepter with other ornaments of spight and disgrace over his blessed shoulders which instruments also they made subjects for
one Country and therefore could not so easily differ in points of Faith or be corrupted in manners for want of due information yet neverthelesse we see God Almighty held it so necessary a thing with those few people though united and circumscribed as I say into a most narrow and small circuit of ground and Territorie that he had alwayes his Church and High Priest amongst them unto whose Decrees our Saviour Christ himself commanded the Jewes to be obedient however the men at that present that governed were most corrupt and wicked onely because they sat in Moses chair and enjoyed of right a supernatural prerogative by way of an orderly succession which he intended should onely continue until after his passion that he might establish his more lasting and holy Church which by his own promise is to indure without interruption until the end of the world being invisibly to be alwayes governed by the Holy Ghost for the more assuredness of infallibility which plainly shewes that such a thing must be upon earth Whereunto are annexed also these marks of power and perspicuity since it is said he would not onely place his Tabernacle in the Son figuratively meaning his Church but we are admonished in holy Scripture from our Saviours own mouth that whosoever will not hear his Church shall be esteemed no better then a Heathen and a Publican which truly would seem to any man a most impertinent saying if there were no such Assembly upon earth to be heard and listened unto For it is not to be supposed we should upon all occasions mount into Heaven either to be instructed in our doubts or to give information against our neighbour erring so that of necessity there must be some Congregation or Tribunal on earth established to that purpose besides by the very Articles of our Creed we are to believe the Holy Catholick Church which implies a certainty of there being such a thing before we can believe what it sayes So that we may conclude it a most ridiculous madnesse to think there is no visible and real place or Chair upon earth where men may go to receive true and undoubted information concerning matters of Religion especially when it is not credible that every particular person should have sufficient direction by Revelation since the greatest Prophets that were ever sent into the world were constrained to fetch their instructions oftentimes from others In the next place it is as necessary to believe that this established Assembly must be infallible as that it is at all since if it should be otherwise our directions would sometimes misse and so consequently we might ignorantly contract errours in our wayes and endeavours instead of running surely in the direct path of Almighty Gods principles and commandments towards our future salvation For it is evident by the rules of reason upon all intended certainties there ought to be some means prescribed us whereby we may be sure we are right As for the purpose in all humane matters we are accustomed to use the benefit of weight measure or some other experience before we have sufficient assurance any thing is just according to our intention much more are we to believe that our Saviour Jesus Christ after having shewed such a mystical love in our redemption would not have carelesly exposed us to a dark Labyrinth of confusion and incertainty concerning the knowledge of his Law of such a consequence to be observed nay rather it is to be supposed he would have written it in brasse for our better instruction if he had not ordained an Assembly onely for that effect but for a greater confirmation of our purpose we may remember what the holy Scriptures tell us that the Church is the pillar of Truth and therefore consequently cannot be false neither could Gods revealed will and pleasure in an ordinary way and without miracle come to be known to our humane understandings but by the Records delivered unto us by the unquestionable Authority of the Churches tradition that renders them Authentical to our belief without which they have no seal of exemplification or testimony since it is not enough to say that one place of Scripture is perfectly able to interpret another without a more assured rule when as we do not know by our own reading and particular Science what places are true Scripture and which not having onely the letter of the book to look upon and as little can we be assured that we do expound those writings right as they were intended because it belongs not to any private spirit so to do of the contrary it may be feared according to the words of Saint Peter especially if we use too much presumption that being unlearned and unstable we may wrest the Text to our own damnation So that of necessity there must be something above our selves not onely to be the interpreter of this Law but also to tell and shew us the Law it self that was ordained so that I must leave it to any common understanding to consider what can be more proper for this then the Church of God that he hath promised to be withal until the consummation of the world We may also extract another assurance out of the old Testament which is that God Almighty said in time to come he would chuse such an Assembly by orderly succession whose spirits as it is written should conserve knowledge and the true Spirit should be put into their mouths from generation to generation for ever Wherefore I say as this must needs be meant onely by the universal Church so of the other side such persons cannot be but esteemed most ridiculous in their opinions that will not allow this Assembly the prerogative of knowledge and interpretation and yet do assume to themselves perhaps being ignorant in a high nature a most infallible way of understanding as well what books are Divine Scripture as also what interpretation ought truly to be given to every Text though they are plainly forewarned of the danger by those very Epistles that they themselves have judged to be true Scripture but as these few proofes may be sufficient as I said before to perswade any reasonable and competent understanding concerning the infallibility of this Assembly instituted by our Saviour and governed by the Holy Ghost this being granted that of necessity we must believe the Assembly we cannot by any reason deny our obedience to the Authority But here perhaps may come a new question according to some Athiestical Tenents of these times whether or no God Almighty have appointed man any other rules then the Law of nature measured out only by his own private judgement which certainly are most grosse and absurd opinions for by these maxims there should be no difference between men and beasts in their course of living since the latter have a kinde of order allowed them to use by the meer instinct of nature though they want reason As for example they ingender seasonably procure to
that in a word to sum up all this whole discourse whosoever seeks any thing but Heaven for his utmost and eternall period is either a foole or a mad man since as I said before not onely all other things are defective but the very time it selfe when they can be enjoyed in regard of eternity is not so much as the least moment compared with a million of ages Besides I may affirm that all worldly actions at the best must be buried in obscurity and at the worst they end in misery and confusion for though honour fame riches and the like are convenient benefits to be sought by noble dispositions as well for examples to encourage vertue and goodnesse as to avoid sloth and idlenesse yet must they notwithstanding be joyned with absolute intentions to procure something more then either earthly satisfaction during this life or a bare hope of a fantasticall opinion afterwards since eternity will reach beyond the worlds dissolution when all things of flesh and blood must end being so ordained by an omnipotend decree before either nature or time was created But now that we haue as I suppose spoke sufficiently of Hell Heaven and Eternity Let us a little take a view of this earthly life of ours that we seem so exceedingly much to value and esteem in this world since for it we hazzard all these before-mentioned good and evils Considerations upon the shortnesse of mans life upon earth with many other inconveniencies thereunto belonging IN the first place we may consider the shortnesse of our time here upon earth according to the computation of the best knowing judgements since by way of purchase in any estate there is no Lawyer that reckons another persons life at above ten yeeres let his complexion and constitution be never so strong and healthfull considering the diversity of accidents that belong to our humane condition so that dividing this ten yeares space into three parts we must confesse one of them is wholly taken up in sleepe wherein we possesse no pleasure at all however some necessary satisfaction may be reaped thereby to our tyred and wearied nature for we remaine as I may say all that while both uselesse to our selves and to others Another third part of this time we may give to the crostes and vexations of the world with other imployments that must be personned though perhaps we receive neither delight or content by actions of that nature All which being indifferently calculated there will remaine to our own proper share and commodity entirely but a very few yeares wherein can be fully and totally enjoyed these violent desired felicities of the earth that so much contrary to all reason bewitch our soules and senses as onely for the fruition and possession of them we in a manner cast away the very thought of this great and infinite eternity already so largly described accompanied by all those incomprehensible pleasures of heaven and runne desperatly into the danger of enduring such horrid torments as no Pen can write or tongue can utter But put case notwithstanding we have allotted but ten yeares to mans life considering all casualties as I said before of this world either by plague famine warre feavours sicknesse or the like we could enjoy a hundred yeares of durance which I will be bold to say not one man in an hundred thousand doth arrive unto by any Physicke and temperance can be practised yet dividing this terme also into three parts as we have done the former we shall finde that very little of it will bring us that satisfaction we may suppose As for example the first season of our infancy is wholly spent in ignorance and instruction wherein for the most part we live according to our apprehension under such subjections that we receive no contented satisfaction in our present condition however I may affirme it to be the best time of our delight If we consider the middle of our age we shall finde it perpetually accompanied with such care vexations and troubles that they prove continually interruptions and impediments to any content or satisfaction our soules can entertaine since at the best we are alwayes in feare to be deprived of what we have or too much solicitous to gaine what we have not And for the latter part of our time we have enough to doe instead of expecting delights to thinke of curing our infirmities and patching up the breaches and decayes of nature that are daily made in our bodies by age like old leaking vessels who however they may for sometime be preserved with much care and paynes yet can never be made for any use of long continuance Truly if we well observe our concernments after fifty which is the age allotted by that wise Philosopher Marcus Aurelius the Emperour for man chiefly to begin his misery we shall finde it wholly debarred from any manner of constant felicity as for example if we have no children to succeed us in those worldly fortunes and honour which we so much labour for in this humane life certainly it cannot but be esteemed no small defect to our condition neither are those apprehensions to be blamed in us when as we have for a patterne the example of that holy man Abraham who complained being extreamly sensible of such a crosse that the steward of his house was to be his heire for want of naturall posterity I for if this good person apprehended it as a cause of affliction to his thoughts much more must our exceeding weake frailty be moved with the consideration of the other side if we have children given us by God Almighty according to our wishes yet want we not daily perturbations in our minds left they might miscarry at one time or other by reason of worldly accidents considering the many chances that hourely happen to all manner of conditions and of the contrary if they prove untoward and disobedient answerable to the customes of the age what greater crosse can possibly afflict our thoughts or torment our rest which perpetuall vexation at last may constraine us perhaps a thousand times to wish they had never beene borne to their own destruction and our griefe Of the other side if our delights be chiefly in friendship and conversation how soone may that esteemed felicity be taken from our possession either by suddain jealousies or froward accidents when we least expect the unhappinesse if the gaining of riches best please our appetites though we have imployed many yeares in the acquisition of golden mountaines either warre oppression or some law-suite or other may soone deprive us of all we have and cast us into an unrecoverable and desperate poverty since our affaires depend upon the will and intentions of men wicked and uncertaine For truly either our owne servants may betray us corrupt judges undoe us or our debtors prove banckrupt all which often happen and then quickly vanisheth away all our esteem Besides a hundred other casualties that cannot be mentioned at present because not