can God will have the disposing of it in love You see then heavenly Inhabitants you are not this worlds children that the house you must put on is a house from Heaven immortalitie everlasting life 2 Cor. 5. 2. and this is that home the Lord would have you groane earnestly for that you may be cloath'd therewith Fourthly he 's a stranger who ha's double duties and burthens laid upon him because he 's not a peculiar native of that Countrie where hee dwells such are Saints while in the bodie and dwelling here for they have burthens of their owne to beare and they also beare the burthens of other men First of their owne they have that made burthensome to them which is not made so to others to earthlie men sinne is their burthen both the sinnes of themselves and others though God ha's laid the iniquitie of Saints on his Sonne that they shall never be their burthen hereafter and that themselves shall never feele their weight for future yet ha's hee made their weight heavie to them whilest in the bodie My iniquities are gone over my head and are a burthen too heavie for me The good man could not stand under the burthen when the crie of his crime was ascended on high and tells you he ha's no rest in his bones nor soundnesse in his flesh by reason of his sinne That he 's troubled with it and bowed downe greatly that it makes him goe mourning all the day long What though 't is better to feele their pressures here than lie under them in Hell yet in that they are a burthen to Saints here and not to sinners it demonstrates them strangers in this world For men of this world find not sinne ponderous in them they can swallow it downe without any the least dislike checke or curbe given to it But sinners what though you 're incensible now you shall find your sense of feeling hereafter I can guesse at your diseases suffering grieves you more than sinning sinne is your Heaven such as 't is if not what means your complaining and crying out of the one but not of the other Secondly burthens of others the sinne that others feele not because 't is in them as its proper place even that I say makes the Saints know sorrow A righteous soule 's vexed fretted sadded from day to day whilest hee 2 Pet. 1.8 heares sees and observes the unlawfull deeds of men and 't was such a trouble to the Prophet that rivers of waters ran downe his eyes for the breach of the Law viz. abundance of teares shedd he for other mens sinnes whereas alas in this age men are seldome seen to weep for their owne sins Oh England thy people grow in knowledge but not in practise they 're all for speculation Many of thy people know sin but few there are who have a heart to sorrow for sinne I le tell thee thy disease thou art Judgement sad but not sinne sad Joy ha's so much transported some whether headie or heartie let experience speake that there 's little growth of other graces found Faith Love Patience Meeknesse Gentlenesse Mercifulnesse and Brotherlie kindnesse are rarities in these tottering times Ah Lord what will the end of these things be English Atheists must Saints beare your burthen here what then why you shall bear 't your selves hereafter ungratefull hearts you have melting Prophets whose soules weepe in secret places for your pride whose eyes weepe sore and runne down with teares on your behalfe such strangers have burden enough and more then they can beare did not God lay help on one that 's mightie they have burdens of suffering too Both their owne and others the Saints have many reall feares sorrowes sufferings fightings and smitings within which the children of this world feele not many sower morsells and many a bitter cup which others taste not of is not this to be us'd like a stranger what feares of falling cares of standing desires of beleeving living and loving the Lord Jesus are there found in them that are not elsewhere and are there any sorrowes like to theirs Children of this world are safe in the hands of Satan who acts them and workes in them hence they are not disturb'd not molested and tormented by him as Gods children be who can have no rest in the world by reason of him and sinne which is his creature when any rest they take 't is in him whose dwelling is farre above this unworthie station Strangers can hardly live in a strange Land such is the opposition they have from sundrie causes Souldiers of Jesus Christ endure hardship whilest in the Church Militant adde to this the sufferings of others who is weake and 2 Tim. 2. 3. 2 Cor. 11. 29. they are not offended and they burne not afflicted and their bowells yerne not stirre not certainely there 's a sweet nearnesse and blessed dearnesse of affections betwixt united members of Christ's bodie mysticall for their affections doe all runne in one and the same veine a veine of 3 Ep. Ioh 1. 7. truth as those who love in truth knowing truth and for the truths sake When God brought evill on Iâ—m 3. 1. to 25. the Church Jeremiah cries out I am the man that have seen affliction by the rod of his wrath I am brought into darknes he ha's turn'd his hand against me he ha's broken my bones coÌ„pass'd me with gall travel made my chaine heavie ha's shut out my prayer as for the wormwood the gal my soule ha's them still in remembrance with many expressions of like importance And Paul was but one Member of the Church yet there came upon him dayly 2 Cor. 11. 23. the care of all the Churches he bare their burthen as well as his owne and so fulfill'd the Law of Christ The like to Paul is the case of some now Some one Christian takes care for all the Churches surely then these acts so strange to the world must needs prove Saints to be strangers here But whence is it and why do's God serve his sonnes and daughters thus put them into a strange Land Let them live for a time so farre from home whence is it he puts them into the hands of this world which is so unkind a nurse to them and whatsoever else is his we 'l shew you whence 't is that so kind a father puts his children into such an unkind world First that they may see the vast difference which is betwixt earth and Heaven unsanctified ones see no difference betwixt the one and the other all 's alike to them could they live below and know no wants not meet with changes have their hearts desire they would seeke no other Heaven bee content to live below and not above the world for Christ's unsavourie and verie fulsome to such full hearts selfe-sufficient ones who barre out the sufficiences of Christ keepe at a distance from him sensuall selfe-content with seen things and seeing is beleeving
with such an one Besides this Rest is sweet to the labourer as the Proverb is so Heaven's then exceeding good to the godly after their wearied stepps and long and irkesome travailes on earth mercies are best when most missed Heaven is to Saints as the Inne to the traveller a great refreshment Heaven is by so much the more glorious by how much Earth's ignoble And was 't not the Lords intention that a Rest should remaine for the children of God when the time of refreshment should come from his presence Is not this to put a difference betwixt rest and trouble what do's it more Saints are bid to run ne the race that 's set before them Now you know there 's a great disparitie betwixt the beginning middle and end of a race these honest foot-men have great wearinesse trouble and rubbs yea sometimes falls and bruises in their heavenly race but the end is in Heaven and there 's rest with reward in fulnesse Secondly to glimpse out glorie to a faithlesse people by persons under their owne forme that his light may shine in them and from them in the midst of a perverse generation there 's much of the glory of God in his Image on the godly hee could take them hence and state them in Heaven as soone as they open the wombe but that evill men may see there 's some that love him and live like him as well as others that slight him and live like the Prince of darknesse Doe not these children of blessed light let the world see by their conversation what a life their Father leads and lives note this well earthlie men are much led by examples of men and God sends good men to give examples to the bad yea he ha's sent a good Christ who ha's left an example that all should tread his stepps This takes off the cloake of excuse from the back of sinne now men have seen ther 's no cloake for their sinne because there 's nothing imitable and observable in any person or thing which may not bee found in Christians or Christ in one or other the sons of God Thirdly besides this God sends some into the world even their strange Land and place of captivitie to save others from fatall ruine for a time the Saints being in this world supports many and keeps them alive God would soone put an end to such cumberers of the ground did not his sonnes stand in the gap then unkind world how canst thou abuse such props of thy peace as these be when Lot's out of Sodom the whole is set on fire so when all the Lords righteous Noahs are got into the arke Christ and Heaven the whole world 's destroyed with fire for the Spirit ha's said it who cannot lie that vengeance shall bee taken 2 Thess 1. 7 8 9. by sire when troubled Saints shall have rest and when the Lord Jesus shall be reveal'd from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and obey not his Gospel who shall bee punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glorie of his power when he shall come to be glorisied in his Saints and admir'd by all them that beleeve and then shall the wicked themselves be revealed too with all their sligh secret trickes and shifts whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of his mouth and shall destroy with the brightnesse of his comming as the same Apostle affirmes Then consider these things prophane 2 Thess 2. 8. soules esteeme these strangers more least that you incurre the displeasure of God and your beings here be of no value no long duration Fourthly God sends his hither to dispose of them for higher things some are sent to lesser schooles to fit them for exercise in greater places this world 's the schoole of the Crosse to the Saints and when they have learned how to beare a Crosse they shall weare a Crowne when they have learned to be sustained under a losse they shall inherit all Christ and whatsoever is gaine Saints must enter heaven but 't is as the Scripture speakes through many tribulations Gold is not pure if not tried water 's not sweet without a current Vessells are not bright if not scowred nor are Saints fit to enter Heaven if not prepar'd Hence that saying Give thankes to the Father who ha's made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in Light made us we are not found meet but the Lord makes us meet while wee are survivers in this world holinesse and heavenly mindednesse in Saints is their fitnesse for Heaven and happinesse and suffering fits for reigning our light afflictions if wee be 2 Cor. 4. 17. sonnes of God worke for us or worke us unto as the word signifies a more exceeding weight of glorie Light afflictions to exceeding massie glorie and momentarie sufferings fit us for worke us to eternall reigning God prepar'd Mat. 25. 34. for his children a Kingdome before the foundation of the world and the same God prepares them to bee fit Subjects for such a Kingdome yea and which is more to be fit Princes and Kings in that Kingdome hee ha's washed away their sinnes in his owne bloud and ha's made them Kings and Priests unto God and his Father saith the Spirit to the seven Churches of Rev. 1. 5 6. Asia Fifthly that grace might have a being as well as Glorie grace ha's a being onely in the gracious here and had not God brought them into this strange Land where should especiall grace have existed save in the brest of its Originall true it is there had been glory to God on high as the Angels sang when they appear'd to the Shepheards but where would have been peace on earth and good will towards men if God had not brought forth his chosen vessells to make peace with them make knowne his good will towards them what brought the babe Jesus into the wombe and world bred him up in the shape of a man made him doe and suffer like a God but the power and good pleasure of his Father for his childrens good whom hee knew would be strangers in this world and is not the Kingdome of grace on earth in the hearts of these strangers where is' t else how are all the manifestations of grace and favour from God made apparent but to his chosen being here they are here to be called sanctified justified and sav'd from hence Oh great mysteries rarely observ'd of any Now to applie would you know your state and relation in which you stand as to the businesse in hand then note these things and marke them well 1. What price doe you put on Vse 1 the worlds glorie how high is that in your esteeme what thoughts have you of it I must tell you that a holy one and hee who 's a stranger on earth do's more esteeme the repairing of the Lords Image in his
stranger in heaven a In caelo nullus erit alienus Aug. Ep. 6. ad Italicam in glory S t s shall know not onely their acquaintance in this world but also those whom they ne're saw here even as persons seene and known before Yet in a carnall manner after the flesh shall no man possibly know or be known Yea that very Jesus that on earth was known after the flesh shall bee knowne so no more All knowledge there shall be spirituall even as is the object and Medium thereof Add to this that knowedge of Saints in Heaven shal be personall as well as spirituall That this is so many men of God have fully cleared by Scripture and Reason 1. By arguments drawn from Adam who knew Evah as soon as he saw her though hee had ne're seene her nor known her before b Si enim Adamas virtuae imaginis divinae concratae Evam de corpore suo sūptam cum è somno evigilasset illico agnovit c. Kemnit 2. By arguments fetched from the Disciples knowing Moses Elias in the transfiguratiō where glory was but weakely shadowed forth Arguing that in the fulnesse of that glorious light they would know them better c Petrus in monte in mortali corpore Mosem Eliam quos nūquam viderat revelatione interne cogno vit Mat. 11. 34. Buchan 3. d Boni bonos in regno mali malos in supplicio agnoscunt Greg. By arguments fetcht from Dives his knowledge of Abraham in Heaven when the distance was great betwixt them and that therefore the knowledg of Saints in Heaven who are present with each other must needs be certain and excellent with some others of like concernment e Vide Kemnit Harm Evang. C. 87. Buc. Ioc. 39. Greg Dial. l. 4. c. 33. Alwhich are impregnable for matter of proofe And although some thinke they have never prov'd a point sufficiently till all is spoken thereunto that may be with whom I consent not yet shal I adventure to give in something more sith I am upon the subject 1. That knowledg which may most augment the comfort of communion and without which lowship is not sweet shall be in glory but that 's a personall knowledge of each other therefore such a kinde of knowledge shall be there How uncomfortable it is to have fellowship with strangers persons we know not let all men judge Who will lay open his heart to a stranger or mind almost the words of a strāger yea trust himselfe in the company of strangers 't was a great heart-smart grief to David that God had put his lovers and friends farre from him yea his acquaintance into darknesse that Psalm 88. ult hee must be yoked to the society of strangers so 't was matter of great complaint to Job that his acquaintance were estranged from Iob 19. 13. him become strangers to him But as 't was said before there shall be no stranger in glory nor shal there be any cause of such complaints there for acquaintance cannot bee put farre from us there for wee shall then bee link'd to each other and all of us unto the Lord so as not to stirre from him without him But. 2. That knowledg which may most encrease the joy of the Just in their heavenly Mansions shal be in that heavenly place but a perfect knowledge of Saints will most encrease the just man's joy All my delight is in the Saints and in them that excell Therefore the righteous shall know one another in the Kingdome of their Father A sight had of the Saints persons faces on earth do's much encrease the joy of a believing beholder They that feare thee will be glad when they Psalm 119.74 see mee because I have hop'd in thy word said the sensible Prophet and me-thinkes 't is a great refreshment to see the face and have the society of a sanctifyed Saint I have known some converts that have long'd and lov'd to look on such and to be where such have come much more then will a sight and knowledge of them being had in Heaven where knowledge is fully perfect delight a believing soule 3. That knowledge by which a man shall know as hee 's knowne shall bee in Heaven but that 's 1 Cor. 13. 12. personall and corporall God knowes the Saints persons Personall did I say yea more then personall for Saints in Heaven in Glory shall know each other by their names God knows them by their names thou hast told me saith Moses thou knowest mee Exod. 33. 12. by my name And so shall Saints know each other in glory else how can they know as they are knowne On earth wee sometimes know many persons by sight but wee know not their names Now in glory wee shall know one another by the same names we had on earth 2. Wee shall have in glory a perfect knowledge of our selves that great lesson of man-kinde before the whole man is glorified wee cannot see our selves and what wee are Who knowes the spirit Eccles 3. 21. of a man that goes upward as the wise man speaks 'T is above the reach of a mortall wight to know what spirit hee 's of fully and who can know the nature of that heart that 's deceitefull above all things and desperately wicked as the spirit spake in the Prophets time Oh what a neast of uncleane sinnes is made there what depths of darkest decets and closest shifts are harboured there whose inclinations being sometimes scann'd doe promise a sweete frame for God when at another time upon an opportunity and advantage of sinning their carriage is such that they render a man desperately vile So as that a man can at no time know what hee is or would be And is' t not hence that he one while hopes and another while fears now presumes and anon despaires is one while as high as Heaven another while as low as hell in his owne account And here 's the misery while we are in the flesh we cannot or will not see into them and have right thoughts of them but in glory wee shall know what insides wee had before wee came there how much more vile we would have been here had not God restrain'd us yea and that we had in us as bad natures as the worst of men before grace made the difference And shall we not then see how great a mercie and favour the Lord vouchsafed us when he pull'd us out of the fire our legs out of the stocks and our whole man out of the chaines of darknesse clawes jawes of Sathan and from under the power of sinne but chiefly for that mighty gift we receiv'd when the Father made Christ our own And all this that we may give thankes to the Father who ha's made us meet being vile sinners to become glorious Saints That we may clearely see what cause wee have given us to magnifie the Compassions cares and
some how hardly doe they live and how uncheerefull doe they spend their dayes on earth because the Comforter who should releeve their soules is farre from them as the Church once said Others also would be glad at the heart could they graspe Christ in the precious Promise by a precious Faith and what hinders this even this is the thing corruption and carnall reason intervenes comes between the soule and home Hence objections are rais'd against God Gospel Christ Promise selfe and all because the evidence is darkned do's not at all exist To support such build up such it pleaseth the Father of mercies as well as Spirits to convince and perswade the soule that he 'l supplie what 's wanting will heale back-slidings freely worke both will and deed fullie and thus hee sustaines the soule in life raises it up as it were from the grave of despaire and dismall distresse Fourthly Christ help 's some to live above glorious manifestations of his Fathers love 'T is after this sort viz when in the absence of those manifestations just ones are made to live and rejoyce in the invisible essence of God viz. when they live rejoyce in the Lord when they see him not and that with Joy unspeakeable and full of glorie when a Christian can live waiting on him who ha's hid his face from him as the Prophet said hee would doe 't is an easie thing to swimme when the head 's held up but 't is a singular thing to be kept from drowning when the whole man 's kept under water Christians through Christ you may and can doe singular things this is one when the Sunne is no more thy light by day neither for brightnesse Isa 60. 19. doth the Moone give light unto thee yet the unseen Lord's to thee an everlasting light and thy God 's thy glorie When as the Church said Micah 7 8. thou sittest in darknesse yet hast determin'd the Lord shall bee a light unto thee When as Paul said thou seest no light of Sunne Moone or Starres appeare for many dayes and yet canst live like a child of light in thickest darknesse tell me tell me thou spirituall soule is not this to live above even glorious manifestations of dearest love if not what is' t then verilie verilie I say unto thee thou that so livest livest by Christ like Christ with him in him whilst he thus acts in thee for thee and by thee Thirdly Christ builds his and that hee do's by cherishing and nourishing them with heart-ravishing comforts and solicitations Christ's comming into a soule is verie restorative his being solicitous with her is verie instructive when hee comes to her much good comes along with him for he ne'r comes into an emptie heart with an emptie hand He filleth the hungrie with good things Satan's all for emptiing the soule of good things but Christ is all for filling Christ makes his abound towards Heaven and heavenly minds Did you ever see such a guest you keepers of his Temple which is within you which you have of him do's not his custome make you rich to keepe open house for ever Alas my friends and worthies of the other world when hee first used your hearts his house you were worth nothing had nothing but sinne that 's nothing 't is but vanitie emptinesse what insides had you and how uncleane were they and were your outsides ought but bodies of unsanctified parts what were all your members lesse than weapons of unrighteousnesse raised up both against your selves and Saviour also was not your whole man a slave of Satan his captive prisoner now when he repaires you puts a glorie upon you dispossesses Satan in you fills your hearts with himselfe do's hee not then build you up as a spirituall house for himselfe True Converts answer to the question is not this one thing that Christ hath done for you in your conversion from sinne to himselfe is not this course the meanes of bringing and breeding up your soules for the heavenly Academie above is not this to make you fit to be partakers of that inheritance of the Saints in light Do's Col. 1. 12. not this kindnesse deserve a giving thanks to the Father who ha's made you so Fourthly Christ confirmes his even those he will save First by giving them some setlednesse of Spirit concerning their finall condition the knowledge of what a man shall bee in the end and for ever is the great Question and most stated by some and when the Spirit speaks that it shall bee everlastingly well then the soul 's safe What breeds doubts fear 's and distrustings so much as this whence are those cries I am a wretch shall be damned and goe to Hell am a cast-away have deceived many and am deceiv'd my selfe whilest I seem'd what I was not and so beguiled my owne soule There 's no mercie for me I have so sinn'd against it Christ dyed not for mee such a one as I there 's much in God but nothing for mee my heart 's hardned against the use of meanes Is' t not hence their unacquaintance with the certaintie of what their condition shall be for then the Serpent subtilly winds himselfe in and makes the condition of such to be worse than ' t is Now when Christ the Sunne of Righteousnesse doth arise shining into and upon that soule all those mists of ignorance and errour are soone disper'd and then at the last the unsetled soule is made steadie you cannot move it though feares arise and doubts be many and trialls more yet this is the result of all in such a soule well let God doe what hee will with mee I 'le hang on him though he kill mee yet will I trust in him I have many rubs in my heavenly race but I shall get through all at last I am often brought to call in question what my finall estate is but yet I cannot say but God ha's done something in me sure I am I would not allow of sinne for all the world and if my heart deceives me not I would be better then I am would faine love God serve him and feare him that 's my desire and I doe not sinne but I am troubled at it troubled in the actings and it brings me on my knees to the God of pardons Thus it pleaseth Jehovah to work secretlie the soules settlement in a fit season which may fitly bee called Christ's way of bringing up his children Secondly by assuring them of his abilitie and activitie to keep them from a totall Apostasie and fatall destinie Will you know how confirm'd Christians speake 'T is thus When I fall I shall arise God first or last fastens Micah 7. 8. that truth upon the soule which the Psalmist speakes of Viz that though a good man fall he shall not be utterly cast downe and what 's the reason for the Lord upholds him with his hand Feares of falling from Christ in tribulations that attend Christians or towards the close
of time keep some under makes them sad till Christ confirmes them and makes them glad Persevering grace thou art a Jewell and happie is that soule that ha's thee and holds out to the end HEB. 11. 13 14 15 16. And they confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a Countrie And truely if they had been mindfull of that Countrey from whence they came out they might have had opportunity to have returned But now they desire a better Countrie c. CHAP. III. Of the Saints perigrination in this evill world HEavenly minds whilest ranging through an earthlie Region are farre from their heavenly home this world 's a strange Countrie to the worthies of the other Dayes on earth are but dayes of pilgrimage to heires of Heaven and few and evill are all of them the wise in heart covet to escape the foolish snare of placing soules rest and happinesse in earthly contentments loath are they that full Barnes faire structures goods heap'd up for many yeares should keep them out of their owne Countrie the Canaan above for this were to dwell in a strange land for ever or else in some worseplace Citizens of Heaven are strangers here We'lshew you first what it is to bee a stranger Secondly whence it is Thirdly the use you are to make of it FIrst 't is to bee there where a man 's out of his proper place as a fish on the drie Land and this is the case of all Saints under the Sunne when a man ha's holinesse Heaven 's his home he may seeke the things of this world yea great things but not for himselfe for God ha's said seeke them not he 's to bee for Christ as well as to doe for him and to seeke things which are above where Christ sits at the right hand of God hee may use this world but it must bee so as Col. 3. 1. though he us'd it not holy hearts you may love things below in measure putting bounds to your love but you may not set your affections fix them upon these things lodge them in and on these things here When you 'r about to set them saith the Apostle set them on things which are above and why ver 2 3. for your life is hid with Christ in God speake out you Denizens of Heaven Doe not you survive in Christ dwell in him Is this world your owne and onely home will you heare what other strangers have said that did precede you 't was this our conversation is in Heaven You Phil. 3. 20. Saints and servants of the most High when you dwell much in and upon the world you doe not like your selfes refin'd but like your selves depraved not like strangers in the earth and sojourners in the world but like great housholders lasting earthlie inhabitants Secondly He 's a stranger who lives under the dominion of a strange King the children of this world live under the reigne of the God of this world who ha's blinded their eyes and hardned their hearts so as that they are waxen fat and full as though they lack'd nothing if not what meanes their subjection laying downe of their necks to the yoak of the Lawes customes fancies and fashions of this world what 's the reason they follow the multitude to sinne and drinke in iniquitie as the fish do's water Is' t not hence they 're under the rule and Regiment of the Prince that rules in the aire and workes in the children of disobedience Prophane soules do's not this speake you strangers in Heaven and unto the life of holinesse without God in the world What can you say for your selves and what reason can you give why that sentence of the Judge should not passe upon you which is if you amend not you shall not enter into his rest and making excuses to keep your selves from Christ shall not taste of his Supper eat of his dainties are your actions a captivation of your selves and affections to Christ or Satan sinne and the flesh who are Antichrists Consider it sadlie for your case is put seriouslie as to the businesse in hand Now the worthies of the world to come are strangers in this land for this verie reason they have another King are the subjects of another Kingdome and are guided rul'd and govern'd by the Lawes and customes of that Countrie which is above whence they come and to which place at the end of their travailes and the travailes of their soules they shall returne Beleevers you are or should be govern'd by the Law of the Spirit of life a Law of love an inwritten Principle receiv'd from Father Sonne and Spirit so that were it possible you should not know the Law Morall yet would you not be as Paul speaks Rom. 2. 14. of some justly a Law unto your selves would not grace command you and the divine nature constraine you into a dutifull frame doe not dutifull children love to doe duties to their Parents Not to bee and doe like sonnes is to force an abdication from the Father what could Heathens having no Law doe the things contain'd in the Law and that by nature and shall Christians doe lesse with grace which do's so much excell the most refined nature The Apostle affirmes they had an inwritten principle viz. the worke of the Law written in their hearts so Christ's familiars make report doe not your soules long to bee subject unto Christ are not you under his Dominion if so that proves you blessed pilgrims and strangers here Thirdly he 's stranger-like Ad placitum Principis who lives in a land or leaves it onely at the pleasure of the Prince such strangers are Saints here when God the King of Saints pleaseth their beings must receive their periods God hath put bounds to earthlie beings and 't is from the good pleasure of his will to Christ's co-heires Strangers to Heaven as well as strangers on earth have bounded Object beings too But 't is not pleasure 't is displeasure Answ from God to them such forbearance is an effect of wrath not of love 't is but his willingnesse to shew his wrath and make his power knowne that hee endures with much long suffering the Rom. 9. 22. vessells of wrath fitted to destruction saith the Apostle What though all things come alike to all as the wise man speakes and that there is one event to the Righteous and to the wicked yet ther 's Eccles 9. 2. Gods good will appearing to the one whilest his ill will breakes forth in the events of the other the good man ha's peace in his end whilest ther 's no peace to the wicked saith my God but they are like to the raging seas which cast up mire and dirt Saints are here at the good pleasure of their Prince and therefore stranger-like on earth so also is their substance with them at the good pleasure of his will get what they
soule his restitution to his ancient or a better discent his re-estating in the possession of God and the societie of Angels than all the honours pleasures and treasures of this glittering delighting and advancing world hence hee indeavours to rid himselfe from such feculent matters here and out of the greatnesse and goodnesse of his Spirit with the noblenesse of his divine disposition is altogether ambitious of the presence of the Lamb and immutable good things Strangers on earth can tell you the truth of this Relation and you Denizens of Heaven tell me ha's not God wrought your heart to this frame if he ha's not he will doe it first or last for the Citizens of Heaven set not much by the best things on earth when they are themselves and act like their Saviour Secondly a stranger on earth is knowne by his Language thou art a Galilean for thy speech bewrayes Mat. 26. 73. Mark 14.70 thee Or as another Evangelist thy speech agrees thereunto so one who 's a Citizen of Heaven is knowne by his speech hee speakes a language different from the worlds natives the Scriptures tell you of a sound speech which cannot be condemned that 's the language of Heaven and all its Natives whereas the children of this world have a putid unfound rotten language such as the holy Lord cannot owne but will call to account for everie idle Col. 4. 6. word that 's spoken by them hence the Apostle moves the Church of the Collossians to speake like Christ words with grace season'd as with salt that have the savour of God in them and in the new Covenant the Lord bound himselfe to give to his children a pure language that they might call on the Zep. 3. 9. name of the Lord with one consent What 's all this but to shew that he would have them differ from other people be knowne by their speech a Christian should bee knowne by his discourse in all societies what though sinners can speake the language of Saints yet Saints should not speake the language of sinners will you heare how these spake who are now in Heaven 't was thus as they were allowed of God not as they who please men but God which approveth 1 Thess 2. 4. the heart and can the heart be good when the speech is bad the Scripture saith nay and in this the worlds Proverb may convince it viz. As is the man such is his speech uncleane speakers a word to you your speech bewraies you too shewes you are earthlie men have earthly minds for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speakes What will you doe in the day of inquisition for sinne the great and terrible day of the Lord Dare you use uncleane speech then before the spotlesse Lambe of God and Judge of quick and dead if so use it now if not shun it that Christ may give you a discharge from that and all other your sinnes Thirdly a strangers mind and motion 's homeward he may be where hee lacks nothing is well accommodated ha's many friends and more pleasures yet still his heart 's at home his mind 's carried thither and all his motion 's that way for home's homely as we say 't is even so with men of the high Countrey whilest in this low Region Paul tells you hee pressed forward after the marke he was in the world and injoyed enough for a stranger too but yet his mind was with Christ and in Heaven his owne Countrie his motion was that way also and was 't not his good opinion of his heavenly home that caused those words to fall from him I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ And why for 't is best of all I have Christ while I live but when I die I shall have gaine what motive more strong to provoke to longings after heavenly mansions Children of God hie you home for the night drawes on and the posting Sunne of worldly Joyes treasures and pleasures is almost set let the Lord then trie your hearts and search your reines in this respect for if you bee strangers 't will thus be knowne aske your hearts this question whither and to what place or end doe all my actions and motions tend when you draw nigh to God querie thus what doe I approach his holy presence for is' t to put on my house from Heaven is' t that my love may be lessened to my earthly Tabernacle say to thy soule in the night season where have I been what have I done this by past day and to what end did my being and doing tend some mens paines cares and feares tend to intomb them in the world burie them in the earth these are not strangers here are not in a strange land Earthlie soules and sensuall Looke about you and consider your estate for heavenlie ones are lost in God drown'd in Christ Heaven 's their home Fourthly strangers in a strange land content themselves onely with things needfull as they passe through the land of their pilgrimage aspire not after any great matters If they mind their home sincerely is' t not as true of such who are Citizens of Heaven a little contents them when they are themselves Paul had learned what ever his condition was therewith to be contented and why 't was because he was a stranger and his hope of the things of this world was very little So honest hearted Israel desir'd but food rayment and then promised the Lord should bee his God so Abraham was content to dwell in Tents who might have had statelie Heb. 11.9 10. structures to shew hee was in a strange Countrie and looked for a Citie which ha's foundations whose maker and builder is God and me thinkes I should heare all sayings of Saints about outward things to hold harmonie with that of Agur Lord give Prov. 29.8 9. me neither povertie nor riches but seed mee with food convenient and on the same ground he had left you be full and denie him which 't is a thousand to one you 'l doe and then say who 's the Lord or being poore steale and so take the name of your God in vaine adde to these two things more to cause content in strangers First fulnesse is onely at your owne home if you looke for 't here you doe but beat the aire for it ha's pleased the Father that all fulnesse should dwell in Christ now when you are at your Fathers house and have Christ in your armes you may say you 're full have bread enough but ne'r till then do's not the wise man tell you that all 's vanitie under the Sunne viz vacuitie emptinesse and lightnesse it ha's left the creature as wee said before you must bee above the naturall Sunne before you can espie or take in a spirituall fulnesse and is' t not better to have it there where you may hold it Lay these things among your cutting cares and carefull thoughts and then you shall find those
then that Glory will be apparant above which is not so apparant here below Three things there are that make everlasting Glory 1. The Lords revealing of himselfe to the soule clearly and immediatly 2ly His communicating of himselfe unto her fully and at once 3. The convolution or turning of the whole soule on God according unto what hee reveales of himselfe in such a manner 1. A clear revelation of God Tunc et enim justi cuncta scient quae Deus fecit scienda tam ea quae praeterita quam ea quae post modum sunt futura Anselm de similitud Cap. 54. Neque sola visio Dei sanctis hominibus in coelo promittitur sed etiam omnium rerum quas fecit Deus c. Greg. â—e aetern felicit l. 3. c. 2. and in him many other secrets Then shal be made evident those sacred secrets and glorious mysteries of the holy Trinity of the unity of Christ's Humanity with the Divine nature and of Christians with Christ then all the causes of God's eternall Councell in Election and Reprobation as also the manner of the Creation of the World with the fall of the Angels and all the mysteries of the work of Redemption together with the spirituall substances offices orders and excellencies of those Angels that stand The nature immortality operations and originall of our owne soules and that after a way unutterarable Visions of God and glory on Earth are darke we see darkely saith the Scripture would we see clearly we must waite then til we are in Heaven * For whilst he talked with God the skin of his face did shine so as that the people were affraid to come nigh him Ex. 34. 29 30. God told Moses hee could not see his face viz. all his Glory live a part he did see But no living man is found capatious enough to take in such a degree of glory as is the fulnesse of Gods face and favour Is' t not the darknesse of the vision and the obscurity of the evidences of Gods grace favour that sometimes makes a child of light sit in darknesse and can see no light what save this very thing made the Church cry out Lord thou Lam. 3.44 hast covered thy selfe with a cloud so that our Prayers should not passe through and Job Loe he goeth by Job 9. 11. me and I see him not hee passeth on also but I perceive him not If it be said the Revelation is not dark in it selfe but to such as it concernes 't is the apprehension which is darke that such have of it It 's granted but still 't is evident we see darkly here and that God and glory are but reveal'd in part whiles we are here so that imperfect revelations are darke comparatively referring to what they shall be How doe some precious souls grieve take on mourn and complaine because they cannot see God to be theirs themselves to be his and abiding in him clearly To such bee it now spoken ere long disconsolate soul thou shalt Gloria habitat rupibus Clem. Alex. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Where there 's an excellency there 's a great difficulty be in his armes behold his glory and thine own too which he ha's given thee even there where this kind of darknesse nor any other of what nature soever can ever approach Revelations of God in heaven are immediate also as well as cleare there languishing soules you that here mourne after God cry night and day after the Father of Spirits are sick of love there I say you shall not need to be staid with flaggons or comforted with Apples as the Spouse once desit'd for God shal be all unto you then The Greek Poet when he had recited an obscure Poem and all his Auditors had left him except Plato spake thus Plato is to me in steed of al. Plato est mihi pro omnibus So a soule that 's forsaken of all except God findes God in stead of all to her And you also that now take great paines and have many weary fits in prayer hearing reading conference meditations shall then rest from those labours and enjoy God and Christ without any such meanes Others also whose hearts are now full of cares feares and sorrowes about the maner of doing such services one while bewailing badnesse of memory another while coldnesse of affection at another time deadnesse of heart drowsinesse and dulnesse of spirit with all carnall idle wandering thoughts uncheerfulnesse unfitnesse and unsuitablenesse to and for such holy employments even those I say shall then bee freed from all such burthens they shall have nothing there to care for nor shall they have any employment to take paines in for it shall be not a paine but a pleasure to follow the Lamb whither soever he goes with whom is fulnesse of joy and at whose right hand are pleasures for evermore 2ly His communicating of himselfe fully and at once On earth God communicates of his fulnesse but the communication of all fulnesse it selfe is onely in Heaven Besides the communication of fulness which Saints receive here is onely of grace for grace Believers if you 'l receive glory for glory expect till you be where Christ is in whom such fulnesse dwels Father I will that they may be where I am to behold my glory That even that will be their renowne who shall dwell in light marvellous God do's this first to keep under selfe-advancing sins wee Alas are invincibly prone to lift up our selves and let Christ lye low who ne're deserv'd such unkindnesse at our hands we rise in our owne conceits immensly above measure hence wee constraine the Lord to leave thornes in our flesh something or other to beget anguish in us sometimes a Satan a Devil to buffet us beat us out of our high holds If in-comes from heaven abound on mens spirits oh how apt are they to waxe fat and forget the rocke whence they are hewen yea the very brests that gave them suck ran out freely for their nourishment But what a sad and bad thing is this that men should be evill because God is good That God cannot abound in Revelation but man will abate in humiliation Paul sinn'd once thus but it brought him on his knees thrice to the God of pardons God will not communicate all his fulness on earth least men should be full of spirituall tumours on such a bottome hee 'l first have them where they can bee proud no more and then they shall inherite all fullest glory Oh the height and the depth of the wisdome of God! how unsearchable are his Counsells and his wayes past finding out but. 2. God gives not out all his fulnesse here for earthly vessells unglorified Christians cannot hold it all whilst in the body The Widdowes oyle increast whilst her Vessell could receive it but when once the Vessells were straitned its encrease was suspended Christians have had and still have as much of God
of a heartie Christian 't is this As the hart panteth after the water brookes so panteth my soule after thee oh God! my soule thirsteth for God for the living God Psa 42. 12. when shall I come and appeare before God the sweetest presence of sweetest Majestie is refreshing that babes of Christ doe know full well Sixthly a babe of the naturall birth in the day of its nativitie is a poore polluted helplesse and shiftlesse creature ha's nothing but what 's given it nor ha's it a power to deserve any thing 'T is an object of loathing to many but is not an object of love almost to any and 't is shiftlesse it may lie and sit still as in the open field to the loathing of its person but cannot stirre head hand or foot to help it selfe to releeve it selfe So in the Spirituall do's not God when hee comes in to change men find them in their bloud polluted with a navell uncut unwashed not salted unswadled not pitied and much loathed and who can shew mercie to such if God did not did not God cast his skirt over such how naked would they be and appeare Eze. 16.4 5 6. 7. A child of the naturall birth being brought forth by an instinct of nature lives lingring after the mothers brests so in the spirituall the new-borne child lives hungring after the brest 's of Christ's consolations and that by an instinct of grace were there no meanes to stirre up no reward to accrue yet babes of Christ could doe no other but long after the sincere milke of Gods word as new borne babes that they may grow thereby The purest word and freest 1 Pet. 2. 2. from mixture is that they most covet Christians what are your desires and how strong are they this way you see what some by an instinct of grace can doe be you wise in heart then prove your selves and tell me is this your worke Eightly a new-borne babe sucking is satisfied with sincere milke and that alone when nothing else can please it satisfie or appease it's crying-out loud so in the spirituall when a poore soule ha's rang'd the world through for delights and fulnesse ha's tryed all wayes and meanes to quiet it selfe at last it sits downe finding no rest in the creatures and resolves the Lord shall be its resting place and when it wants the comforts of this life yea sometimes even bread for his hungrie stomack it can goe to his Fathers house and home and there find bread enough even the bread of God can bee content with the brests of Christ when if you give it all the world you cannot still it fill it for its wanting still but at the brest it can suck and bee delighted with the abundance of that glorie as the Prophet speakes Oh sweet Isa 56. 10 11. God! how good art thou and how much good do'st thou to the soules of men And now let all seeke after this Vse as after hidden treasures viz. to be borne againe God do's you a greater favour when hee makes you live the life of Christ than The life of grace is farre beyond the life of nature when he causes you to live the life of man 'T is a more blessed thing by innumerable degrees to be borne twice than once for the one can but give you enterance into an earthlie Canaan at the best which do's not alwayes doe so well the other gives you enterance into an heavenly one which birth never do's amisse to any Who that 's wise will then boast of his naturall birth when hee ha's ne'r come under the power of the spirituall ne'r felt it's pangs nor been partaker of it's priviledges Carelesse soules doe you want a spurre to this purpose consider as there is a paritie betwixt them so there is a disparitie in respect of the excellencie of the one above the other For first the natural is by carnall copulation and is a fleshlie Generation the first man is of the earth earthie and how can hee bee cleane 1 Cor. 15. 47. that 's borne of a woman as Job ha's said But the spirituall is by a spirituall Job 25. 4. union and communion of God and Christ with the soule of man and is a spirituall Regeneration he that will enter the Kingdome of God must be borne againe of the Spirit said Christ and that which is so borne is spirit as that which is borne of the flesh is flesh The second man is the Lord from Heaven Doe not you see then the last is more noble then the first and that the spirituall excells who considering this desires not to bee borne again 2. The seed of the naturall is corruptible mortall may perish and die but that of the spirituall is incorruptible immortall remaines for ever Yee are borne againe saith the Scripture 1 Pet. 1. 23. not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the word of God which lives and abides for ever He that is borne of God sinneth not that is not unto death and why marke that for the seed of God remaines in him the seed that 's in 1 Joh. 3. 9. him is of an immortall nature 3. In the naturall the conception is sinfull David tells his God that hee was shapen in iniquitie and in sinne did his mother conceive him and may wee not all trulie say to each other as the Pharisies to the blind man thou art altogether borne in sinne I am altogether borne in sinne shapen in sinne ô vaine man why boasts thou so much of thy noble birth who know est nothing of thy Regeneration But the spirituall is a holy conception of the grace and goodnesse of a good and gracious God a gracious spirit can tell you he is what hee is by the grace of God that is in him Are not 1 Cor. 15. 10. all the conceptions of Gods Spirit in the soule like himselfe verie holy verie spirituall verie heavenly what conceptions like them or to be compared with them Surely none In the naturall birth men are borne brutish vaine man would be wise but he is borne like a wild asses colt Men by nature are cruell crosse Iob 11 12. perverse unteachable hard to be intreated but by grace holy heavenlie harmelesse 4. In the naturall babes are born to griefe sorrow and trouble Although afflictions come not forth of the dust neither doth trouble spring out of the ground yet man is borne to trouble as the sparkles flie upward 'T is naturall for a man to know sorrow But in the spirituall he 's borne to peace Joy and quietnesse When a man 's begotten againe he 's begotten to a 1 Pet. 1. 3 4. lively hope to an inheritance uncorruptible and undefil'd that fades not away reserv'd in Heaven for him And are not the fruits or births of the Spirit Love Joy Peace Goodnesse Faith and the like By the naturall birth you are brought forth into a troublesome irkesome world but by the
spirituall out of troubles into peace In the world babes of Christ shall have trouble but in him they shal have peace which passeth Ioh. 16. understanding Now tell me you wise virgins whether Martha or Mary ha's chosen the better part Whether Heavens quietnesse bee not better then earth's cumbrances whether interest in Christ and by that a right title to the creatures bee not better then a portion in the creatures by usurpation without Jesus Christ By the spirituall birth priviledge you inherit all things by the naturall nothing although you possesse something You have seen what the spirituall birth is by its likenesse and vnlikenesse to the naturall wee 'l now shew you how God brings in and brings up returning sinners Thus. First He principles them Secondly acts them Thirdly builds them And fourthly confirmes them First God is said to principle man when by uniting himselfe to the soule by his Spirit he do's invisiblie sow the seeds of all grace in the heart at once grace is called the seed of God Union disposeth for communion communion corroborates union Ioh. 3. 9. 'T is a passive reception of Christ that now I meane that whereby a principle is begotten in the will Christ joynes the meanes and end together so should the godly doe Election vocation Justification Sanctification Humiliation then comes the end which is glorification Secondly Christ acts them drawes out those principles also First his first act is illumination he shines out from Heaven with a cleare light upon the hearts of men and upon their wayes Light was the first thing that appeared in the old Creation and 't is the first that appears in the new Creation also Light Gen. 1. 1. was the first ornament of the world wherewith the Lord decked it as with a garment * Answ and this light is Christ For yee were once darknâ—sse but are now Light in the Psal 104. 2. Eph. 5. 8. Lord Light discovers darknesse Regeneration is a translation from darknesse into light True Converts how like you that his light discovers sinne all the closest secrets of closest hearts and Justice incensed against the sinner Light discovers the unevenesse of a mans way and what it is in the account of Justice it selfe Ioh. 1. 9. This light 's immediate Christ in you the hope of glorie it ha's no meanes of conveyance but acts like it selfe scrutinously the light of this Sunne like the wise mens starre never leaves a soule till 'tas lead it to a Saviour a meanes of escape from all sinnes evill Divine light informs men on whom the Lord hath laid help 2 Cor. 4. 6. even on one that 's mighty and able to save that 's the next act of illumination viz a discovery of the sufficiencies as well as the efficiencies of a Jesus that he 's able to save to the utmost all that come unto God by him and that he can in no wise cast out them that come unto him it brings glad tidings to sad soules sinne may bee mightie but Christ is mightier will subdue it sins may be many but Christ's mercies are more sinnes may be greatlie incensing but Christ is greatlie pleasing unto an offended Majestie and sinners in the Sonne cannot bee displeasing unto the Father he loves light for hee dwells in it this divine light reveales 1 Tim. 6. 16. all Returning sinner why droopest thou Can thy sinne undoe thee when 't is laid on Christ sad soule why weepest thou as one without hope canst thou bee worse then whom God ha's pardoned and Christ ha's purchased cleansed and sav'd Thinke not so least thou sinne against the remedie it selfe Light from Heaven will reveale Christ to thee and thee to thy selfe thou sinking soule thy wants and Christ's supplies shall meet together then doe not distrust of that Secondly Chri'sts second act in man by which hee drawes out his owne principles is humiliation begetting in the subject low thoughts of selfe and all selfes worth shall I tell you what they say sincerelie whom God and Christ by the Spirit ha's humbled 't is this I am a worme and no man I am not worthie to be call'd a sonne make me as a hired servant I am the least of all the Saints yea the least of all thy mercies Oh! that I were but a doore keeper in thy house Christ humbles whom hee will exalt Gods method is first to lay low and after to set aloft yet note you 't is truth in the inward parts he chiefly aimes at some are so graduall in putting upon much that they prove irregular in discouraging little though truth of grace selfe-loathing also for selfe-defilements joynes hands with this grace would you know how Christ humbles breakes the heart kindlie 't is thus by setting himselfe with his wounds open before their eies as peirced by their sinnes I will powre upon my people a spirit of grace and supplication marke that and then they shall looke on him whom they have pierced and mourne for him as one mournes for the losse of a first borne Can you looke on a pierced Zech. 12. 10. Christ you flintie hearts and not be broken pierced your selves if you doe 't is because the Spirit of grace is not poured out upon you When Peter set forth a crucified Christ were not Acts 2 36.37 his hearers pricked at the heart when they beleeved through grace given that they were the verie men the preacher meant Could his lookes fetch teares from Peters eyes and will not his wounds doe the like to others what hinders This is Christ's way to abase men kindlie and who more kindled in love to Christ than such who are so laid low you see his acts and his wayes to effect his blessed will on man Christ ha's his ends too in humbling such as he 'l save we 'l shew what his ends be as briefly as may be First Christ humbles that hee may inhabit he dwells in the highest Heavens with him also that is oâ— a contrite humble and low spirit to revive him And as it is uncomfortable not Isa 57. 15. to dwell in God so in like manner 't is disconsolate not to have a God dwelling in us are not Cities and Kingdomes without Inhabitants verie solitarie even so is a soule without God verie dismall verie uncheerefull Christ's presence is reviving this Christ knowes and thus hee humbles that hee may inhabit make the heart his mantion dwelling place God dwells in highest heavens and lowest soules Secondly Christians are humbled to make them lovely in the sight of the Lord An humble soule is a comelie one meeknesse is a great inward ornament is in the sight of God of great price a 1 Pet. 3. 4. proud heart is void of Christ's comelinesse weares not his robe of graces Consider Do's God prize greatly prize the meeke in heart the quiet in spirit then you that studie to bee esteem'd of him covet to bee humbled by him Thirdly Christ humbles
thoughts will be eaten up of these the lesser things will bee lost among the greater When David doated much on the world what was the issue 't was this he thought himselfe a foole for so doing tells the Lord he was ignorant and as a beast a bruit before him Psal 73. And at last he sweetly sings whom have I in Heaven but thee and there 's none on earth that I desire besides thee then he had enough beloved strangers let me tell you you either have or shall have enough too as the Proverb is for when you awake you shall be satisfied with the Lords Image at the Resurrection God will make you amends I am sure for all your hard measure that you receive in this strange land Secondly unnecessarie things things you need not are not in straights for are but as lumber and luggidge which will hinder you and presse you downe as you 're running your heavenly race Do's not experience teach that some have more of the worlds wealth than they can tell how to use do's not that hinder in heavenly ingagements I know nothing more obstructive Oh! how good is God to his then when he rids them of needlesse luggidge strips them of seen things that hee may cloath them with unseen things an invisible incorruptible immortall substance do's not one staffe support the Traveller when a bundle of staves brings him under Oh then that all who intend for Heaven would seek no more provision for the journey then will help them thither Oh soule will it not grieve thee to consider that when thou hast certainely thought thou art as high as Heaven thou shalt by an evill world be laid as low as Hell be then in earnest a stranger to it and in it for to be a stranger to the other world will hinder from entering into thy Masters Joyes Fifthly strangers ingage not themselves too much in the affaires of the Natives of strange lands strangers must not bee medlers as the Proverb is Citizens of Heaven would you shew your selves to be strangers here plunge not your selves too deep then in the negotiation of the Natives of this world who make it their busines to be mightie wealthie honourable pleased and pleasur'd here but doe not you doe so meddle not with that their businesse hasten home and why for their 's most might wealth pleasure and treasure in heavenly places What can you thinke of which is in this world and is not in your Fathers house And now you strangers you Vse 1 may be glad 't is with you as 't is that you are no better acquainted here Oh be not loath then neither feare to leave this strange land would you hasten to your journeyes end is your heart at home let these things then give life to your indeavours that way First till you leave it you 're farre from your best friends and chiefest favours When the prodigall child was from his Fathers house 't is said hee was in a farre Countrie and is not your case the same who dwell in God What are huskes hardly got so good what shall they bee more in esteeme than bread if you will not come from among the swine your Father will fetch you 't is better then to goe and meet him while his armes are open to receive you his head bowed to salute you and his heart drawn out to feast you feed you cloath and adorne you with Jewells Consider your father is of another Countrie he that begot you again lives in Heaven a great way hence and what are you here for but to dispatch your Fathers businesse as Jesus told his Mother Are not you the Lords factours and must factours stay alwayes abroad what shall they forget their native Countrie and not hasten to it who that 's wise do's not strive lawfully to be at his heavenly home What! know you not that your Father 's your best benefactour Besides your spirituall brethren and sisters with all your holy acquaintaince are within those heavenly places a godly child may have his thoughts running out on his godlie parents deceased a husband his thoughts on his wife and on the contrarie the wife on her husband but alas they cannot see their faces till God hath taken them out of this strange land who then would bee wedded to this world and not rather wean'd from it and married to the Lord Yet further your portion and dowrie is above also your reward 's with the Lord in the land of the living how then can you like to dwell in a land where there 's such dying of persons and portions some live by bread only in a sence but children from on hie cannot the mind or soule is the man as wee say and that cannot may not survive in such a manner by such meanes This strange land can onely minister to the bodie ha's not one savourie morsell for the soule do's rather contaminate and desile the soule than refresh it O divine Celestiall soule 't is the safest way for thee then to flie from this strange land in all thy motions as from the face of a Serpent Secondly you should not bee loath to leave it when providence will have it so for till then you 'l be foiled vexed and soiled with filthie sinnes they 'l beare you downe keepe you under bring you low when you would be on high with God in the Heavens whilest the soule is in the bodie sinne lodgeth with her will have roome as well as shee Oh how unrulie a guest is sinne Besides here in this strange land you cannot sing your Hebrew songs so sweetlie with such fulnesse of Joy as in your owne Countrie if this world which sometimes inthrals you should require of you songs bid you bee merrie Alas this is no place for such Joy as is a Joy of heart heartie Joy is in Heaven and me thinkes I should heare such a voice from Christians as was heard in the Temple before the fall of the Jewes Migremus hinc let us goe hence let us goe hence Thus as children learne to speake and delight in the language of their Parents so should you in imitation of Christ Finally I beseech you if you be strangers that you would as Pilgrims and strangers abstaine from fleshlie lusts which warre against the Spirit so saith the Lord of Rests for certainly sinne cannot enter Heaven Oh what a blessed good would it prove to you if you would bee and doe now what you are willing to bee and doe then when purest glorie must make the scrutinie for and into impurest sinnes 1 CORINTHIANS 15. 51 52. Behold I shew you a mysterie wee shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed c. CHAP. IV. Of the Saints last and best change MUtable man ha's made his times variable Adam chang'd his mind and God chang'd his mansions Paradise could not hold him who held not God in his thoughts let goe an unparaleld good When man alter'd his doeing God alter'd his
Christ will carrie thee through Christ did not give himself for thee in vain that he should give thee up in thy last greatest triall give thee into the hands of Satan Why then leane on him who 's a stay of strength and you 'l not miscarrie He that hath and is had of a good Christ shall bee sure of a good death with strength and peace Thirdly by giving his a through taste of that heavenly joy heartie holinesse and reall happinesse that themselves shall possesse in the fruition of Christ when once they are changed This the Scripture calls first fruits of the Spirit and of glory And is' t not this that makes the Saints themselves groane within themselves waiting for the Redemption of their bodies Rom. 8. 23. The Lord ha's said it Oh how do's the taste of Heavens joy and of the powers of the world to come strengthen a renewed Christian leaning on Christ to lie under the stroake of death yea even to long that so great a worke were over and thus God sweetens death to the good gives it a good savour when they come to taste it it being the same cup which Christ himselfe did first drinke of Now you have heard how it fares with the good at their last change and how good such a change is to them But alas for the bad the Christ-lesse man 't is bitter unto him These things imbitter death to the gracelesse 1. The biting and tumifying sting of death that indisposeth to dying well 'T is biting oh how will the wofull thoughts of a mispent life of by past sinnes of slighting Jesus and his holy waies like fiery darts and scorching Scorpions peirce through the soule and Spirit Then uncleane sinners as James speakes of James 5. 3. the rust of ill gotten and ill kept gold the guilt of your sins shall eat your flesh as it were fire Then even then all scruing deceivers shall be forced to say of their own unlawfully acquir'd goods as Israel of Idolls get you hence But alas these are thy workes and they will follow thee flow faster into thy mind then thou canst get them out and make thy soule wearie even to the death Secondly Death's sting tumifies also Judas sinn'd betraid his Master improved the reward But what was his end hee fell head-long burst asunder in the midst and all his bowells gushed out Death had stung him and the sting made him swell so that his tumour being great the world could not hold him and for hast that hee might the sooner bee at his owne place he betrayed himselfe into the hands of Satan was his owne executioner There 's a time when stoutest sinners shall burst asunder under the hand of austeerest Justice If the Lord's love makes not breaches on mans Spirit drawes him not up towards Heaven his wrath will breake it beat it even to powder and cast it downe into the lowest Hell O sinners Learne then while a Saviour teaches what an evill sinne is Secondly the sudainnesse of an Heb. 4. 27. approaching Judgement After death comes Judgement and what 's the Judgement Christ-lesse man or woman I have sad newes for thee thou thy selfe and all thou art must bee presented before a Holy most Just and mighty God And with thee shalt thou bring all thy vaine thoughts will thou nill thou idle words uncleane and sinfull workes mispent time and Talents In a word all the secrets of thy heart shall then bee torne in pieces reveal'd and unfolded yea those secrets which no eye hath seen but his which is ten thousand times brighter then the Sunne yea even those secret sinnes which have been cover'd here by restraint from God or men shall be uncover'd there so that thou wilt bee fill'd with astonishment to see that which thine eies never did nor ever would behold There the hearts closest corners darkest depths shall then bee laid open made visible before the face of God Christ Angels and men A meere discourse of Righteousnesse and Judgement to come God being in it and Foelix hearning of it what effects did it worke in him thinke you why the Text tells you it made him to tremble and to bid Paul be gone hee could not endure to heare on 't So Belshazzar Dan. 5. 5 6. saw but the writing of Judgement upon the wall which did but import a temporall scourge And his countenance was changed his thoughts troubl'd him so that the joynts of his Ioines were loosed and his knees smote one against another And what 's any carnall man more then sensuall Belshazzar or carnall Foelix that he should thinke himselfe secure from Judgement You then that put this evill day farre from you beare in mind this thing A sonne of Love could not indure that hee prayed Enter not into Judgement with thy servant ô Lord How then can a child of wrath abide it who is by nature nothing else It 's called in Scripture the day of the Lord his great day his terrible day 'T is the day of Christs's comming Ioel. 2. 11. saith the Prophet Malachie And who shall stand when Mal. 3. 2. he appeareth for he is like a Refiners fire and fullers sope Thus you have seen things that imbitter the change to some even all that know not Christ and obey not his Gospel Thirdly the certaine standing before an impartiall Judge of quick and dead who cannot will not connive at sinne and sinners When all flesh shall appeare before the Judgement seat of Christ that every one may receive the things 2 Cor. 5. 10 11. done in his bodie according to that he hath done whether it bee good or evill knowing therefore the terrour of the Lord We perswade men saith the Apostle Oh! how terribly intollerable are the thoughts of this surely words cannot utter it then he who said Lord depart from me I le have none of thy wayes shall find that God ha's said Amen to his prayers Adde to this that though he stand to be judged yet hee shall fall in the Judgement For the ungodly shall not stand in the Judgement as the Psal 1. 5. Psalmist notes You then whose destruction is of your selves if your precious soules miscarrie Consider sensibly in whom your helpe lies make out towards a Jesus betime for there 's no mercie shewed on the other side the grave one drop of water which is but a verie small thing if mis'd and desir'd cannot be obtain'd Then if ever you 'le owne free grace and fellowship with Christ Doe it now even while 't is called Heb. 4. 11. to day heare his voice and harden not your hearts for this day let slip you may ne'r have another Resisting sinners I wish you well my bowells are troubled for you oh pitie your selves and let not sinlive to kill your soules as it hath serv'd others who are gone to their owne place Remember and forget not Jerusalems fall and follie least sweet Christ hide the day of
here as such Vessels will hold speak experience Are not some so full of Christ at some times as that they can scarce containe themselves in a huge world and hence would faine be with Christ that they may bee more inlarg'd like their object to receive as much of him as can bee given What mortall can tell how much the affections of Saints are inflamed and how much their zeal is kindled when God comes in sweetly and comfort breakes in upon them like a flood Then even then how loose they stick to the Creatures and how much they long to be above them with the Creator I want words to expresse These like the Israelites when once they had got a taste of the grapes of Canaan they cannot be at quiet untill they are caried thither Is not this to keep men longing who would bee found lothing had they all fulnesse here what is' t else God speaks good to the heart but 't is here a little and there a little to keep their stomacks open that he may put in more when he ha's a minde so to doe God communicates all at once in heaven too though some have other thoughts this puts a difference betwixt fruition of his communications on earth the possession of them in heaven for here he gives out himselfe but by degrees now a little and then a little as we said before God serves his children as you deale with yours an heire in his minority is kept under to make him know himselfe and hee receives his substance only by parcels and small pieces but when he comes to be of full yeares then his whole inheritance comes in at once a And in this sence as the Apostle speaks the believing heir while he is a child differs nothing from a servāt though he be Lord of all But when he 's of ripe yeares comes into those heavēly places hee is made a Lord yea a King his Father gives him his portion all at once Gal. 4.1 If discoveries of God in glory bee not full and at once then these absurdities would follow 1. The vision of God then would be but graduall but imperfect and in part there as wel as here and stil the glorified would stand in doubt when the rest should be revealed which kinde of doubting would argue distrust which cannot possibly have place in heaven Nor did it ever enter into the thoughts of the most High that the least occasion should be given to such an evill And certainely when Saints are where they can sin no more from any cause in themselves or without themselves such as urge the Principle must needs be guilty of charging God For by the rules and lawes of such kinde of arguing 't will easily be gather'd that the Lord 's shutting in of himselfe though but for a season makes the soule question the certainty of future discoveries Concerning which persons I had almost said their blasphemie is of a very high nature but. 2. Where then were the Saints cessation from labour would there not then bee a continuall want of the exercise of grace yea even of faith hope patience and long-suffering untill the accomplishment of such a full discovery of God to the soule And who knowes not that those graces shall cease to exist be when once the Saints are made glorious For what need will there be of faith to evidence things visible and such things as are not at a distance from the S t s what need of hope to waite for that which is had already and what an uncomfortable Doctrine will this bee found to dying Christians In a word grace is swallowed up of glory yet I grant that love shall be ever active in those heavenly places The third part of glory is the convolution or turning of the whole soul on God according unto what he reveals of himselfe in such a maner here alas Christians cannot roule themselves on God immediately fully Here the means is cal'd in to help and wee see little is done but by the meanes Faith comes by hearing as the Scriptures speak Besides who can doe it fully when as hee that knowes but in part trusts and believes but in part for how can he assent unto what he knowes not Adde to this that here the thoughts wander from God cannot be kept in in holy employments and the heart is oft absent and afarre off when the person is present as God complains and this either from some defect in the manner of the administration of the word the absence of the spirit and power concurring or some cause subordinate thereunto But in Heaven the presence of God holds the soule close to it selfe so that it cannot wander cannot stir from God and the Majestie and glory with the amiablenesse of the same presence drawes out all the abilities of the whole soul to act answerable unto the lawes nearenesse and dearenesse of such a relation as is betwixt God and her selfe Hence 't is as easie for a glorified soule to bee turn'd on God and to doe for God as to be God having freed her from all power of acting otherwise having also implanted in her an in-written constitution an innate instinct by glory To be compleatly glorified is to be freed from all imperfections of soule and body and to enjoy all perfection in them both joyntly which by reason of Terminus â quo viz. the miseries and evills that Saints are delivered from is fitly call'd in sacred writ Redemption and in regard of terminus ad quem 't is as truely and properly 1 Cor. 1. 30. Gal. 3. 13. Eph. 1. 13 14. Eph. 1. 3. Iohn 3. 36. 1 Pet. 5. 10. Cap. 1. 4. stiled beatification life eternall Glory glorification and an immortall inheritance On which two branches there growes that blissfull fruit which the glorified eate in the midst of the Paradise of God Of these 2. in their order it is that we intend to speake Wee begin first with the immunities of the soule which are a part of her glory The first is glorious liberty such as is peculiar to the children of God viz. freedom from all infringements and soule-straitning powers 1. All power and possibility of sinning against her soveraigne good conceptions of sinne shall then cease to be much more then shall the births of sin which are Death be annihilated There remaines no Condemnation for her because she 's in Christ walkes after the spirit of God and followes the Lambe whither soever hee goes Sin Death Divels and Hell are swallowed up in the victories of her Husband 2. From al spots of sin all spiritual impurity all low thoughts of God and high thoughts of her selfe all irregularity of will as it was rebellious to right reason with greatest opposition Though here she could not elect or reject like the Lord yet in glory shee shall Adde to this her freedome from all unsoundnesse of judgement and taints of error which while she was unglorified she
was subject unto in all her apprehensions receptions and conceptions of the most Holy God and his most Holy things or of her selfe and others Besides her freedom from all impuritie and imbecility of affection her love then shal be undefiled like unto Christs and not weak cold or feeble as 't is whilst in an earthly Tabernacle 3. From all instruments of sin Shee 'l then be freed from such a body whose members are all weapons of unrighteousnesse and rebellious servants to her as shee 's a soule the Law viz. the power of the members can rebell no more against the law of her minde to lead her captive to sinnes law viz. sins power The unruly Carkasse shal never crosse vexe and disquiet her more Serenity and Magnanimity shall then cover her as a garment Shee shall then have the substance dominion and strength of a Spirit which is such as is in the Angels of God one of which did in one night slay 185000. 2 Kings 19. 35. Nor shall the vile body ever let in sinne by the sences to contaminate the precious soule any more The senses of hearing seeing smelling tasting and touching shall be spiritualiz'd ere that the soule will employ them againe The soul shal never re-enter into an unglorious body when once she 's rid on 't Nor shal shee ever have need so to doe for shal she not be contain'd in God and is not that better then to exist in a naturall body The soules of S t s although their strength bee now held in and buried in their massie sinful weake bodies shal then appeare in their native and originall strength Finally there shal be then mens sana in corpore sano a sound mind in a sound body The parts of the bodies glory are such as these 1. Freedome from all wants weaknesses distempers and uncomelinesse Neither blindnesse lamenesse deafenesse nor crookednesse shall enter that place of perfection The bodies of Saints though they dye imperfect yet shall they rise made perfect in all their parts What though their bodies be without form comeliness fashion yet they shal be made handsome beautiful and comely just like unto the glorious bodie of Christ yea and which is more they shal saith the Text be fashioned in the whole body like unto his bodie bee as handsome bodied as Christ is and have as comely a Person and feature as he himself ha's whom the Father loves dearly Mephibosheth shall have no lamenesse in his feet then he shal not halt before God in glory nor shall Moses stammer and falter with his tongue or need an Interpreter in that day For ha's not God promised to turne unto Zeph. 3. 9. his people a pure language that they may all call upon the Lord to serve him with one consent or as in the Originall with one shoulder 2. It shall have no want of outward sustenance Beings on earth may consist in what men shal eate and in that where with they shal be cloathed Providence existing in such supportments but the Kingdome of Heaven and Saints beings there consists not in meates or drinkes but in righteousnesse and true holinesse They shall hunger Revel 7. 16 17. no more neither shall they thirst any more for the Lamb which is in the midst of the Throne shall feede them and leade them to living fountains of water as the spirit speaks Thirdly adde to this that the bodies weakenesse with want of health shall cease then Here the discord of the bodies Elementarie qualities and its corruptible nature concurring begets distempers diseases putrifactions and contagions Although afflictiōs come not forth of the dust neither doth trouble spring out of the ground but in glory by the powerfull influence of Divine Majestie upon the whole man there shall be a perfect harmony and agreement among all such qualities and dissonant humours Their bodies whether hot and dry or cold and moist shall have perfect health and strength Then ulcerous Lazarus shall be found as whole as a fish and in that day all inward or outward contagions and hurtfull impressions shall cease to be They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my Isa 11. 9. holy mountaine saith God There 's no beating bruising wounding stabbing or killing of bodies in glorie then the most high God with a stretched-out arme will free the Carkasse from all disposednesse to any inward decays of strength or vitall spirits which estate in Scripture is aptly cal'd a Condition or Inheritance incorruptible 1 Pet. 1. 4. Potentia non moriendi ex quadam hypothesi unionis cum anima originali ter perfecta immortali undefiled and that fadeth not away reserv'd in heaven for them Hence the body is invested with Potentia non moriendi immortality it can never be a dying body any more nor shall the Saints ever have cause to cry any more oh who shall deliver mee from this bodye of death and is not this that blessed day of the bodies redemption from sinne death its wages What but this made those followers of Christ who had receiv'd the first fruits of this glory wee speak of to groane within themselves waiting to enter this rest 4. And what misse of sleep can there be then when the body ha's ceas'd from its labours which makes it wanting in such a kinde Besides there will be no lacke of fire to heate us or aire to coole and strengthen the bodies breathing for there shall be an aura Quae supplet defectumaeris corporibus glorificatis caelestis as some affirm which shal supply the want of aire to glorified bodies but I rather judge there shall bee no misse of such things because there shall be no sunne to scorch them neither cold to pinch them the sunne shall not light upon them nor any heate as the holy Ghost ha's said 5. And can you think that he who cloaths Lillios on earth without their owne paines taking will let Saints in heaven goe naked Ha's not the Lambe of God promised that his shall walke with him in white and that his raiment is so fit and large and covers so wel as that nakednesse cannot appear Who tooke away Joshuah's filthy Revel 7. 16. garments when hee stood before the Lord caus'd his iniquities to pass from him and cloath'd him with change of raiments was 't not the Angell of the Covenant Jesus Christ 6. It s universal freedom from Sicut spiritus carni serviens non incongrué carnalis ita caro spiritui serviens recte appellatur spiritualis c. Aug. de civit Dei l. 13. c. 20. all power to affront the spirit of Christ by disobedience and dishonour And as subjection to sinne and Satan shews the body is naturall whilst here so submission to the spirit of Christ there will shew it is a spiritual body which is another part of its glorie 8. A general exemption from Restat ergo ut suam recipiat quisque mensuram quam vel habuit in
endeavours of the Trinity for our Redemption advancement in the Paradice of God And that wee should eternally sing Halelujahs to the Lamb that sits on the Throne of matchlesse Majesty wee shall Non est beatus esse quise non putat know our selves and that we are in an estate of Blisse Wee 'l say no more of the first kind of perfection viz. exquisite knowledge which the whole man possessing is thereby very glorious 2. Perfect holinesse happinesse Spiritualia erunt non quia corporaesse desistēt sed quia spiritu vivicante subsistent Aug. and spirituality Happiness puts not an end to holinesse but makes it perfect Holinesse is most perfect in Heaven ther 's no sight of holiest Majesty without it This shall be both of nature and actions crossenesse and foulnesse of nature cannot enter into those places which are on high Our natures shal be spotlesse and our actions they shall be blamelesse There 's nothing done in glory that can be blame-worthy but to this purpose wee spake before 3. Superiority No man shal be under the jurisdiction of others all Saints are superiours in Heaven ther 's no difference betwixt him that was the Master and him that was the Servant He that was a King on earth fare's no better in glorie then do's the meanest subject in respect of command Saints are all fellows in Heaven Yea those wealthy Christians which here will scarce vouchsafe to look upon the meanest of their fellow members in Christ wretched thing that it is shall in that day see those poore ones of Christ eyed and priz'd of God in glory as much as themselves and shall seee them as rich and as well Crown'd and Thron'd as he that was willingly ignorant of them Doubtlesse thou art our Father Isa 63. 16. though Abraham be ignorant of us Israel acknowledgeth us not thou O Lord art our Father and our Redeemer said the Prophet Though the Brethren wil not know them the Father will doubtlesse hee 'l doe like himselfe And then all Oeconomicall Politicall Ecclesiasticall Relations shall cease There shall be none to command nor any to bee obeyed but the Lord and his Christ our Jesus There the poore shall not feare the frownes of the rich dread their threats nor want their aids but poore Lazarus shall sit downe with rich Abraham Isaac and Jacob and with David the King on the same Throne in the Kingdome of his Father And the poore widow of Sarepta as well as rich Dorcas of Joppa Acts 9. 36. 39 shall have a Throne and a crown in glory For God is no respecter Matth. 8. 39. of persons Saints shall be all alike in preferment there the Lord makes no difference in giving grace nor will he do 't in conferring glory Hee put no difference betweene us and them purifying our hearts by saith as Peter speaks Peter had truth of grace and they had it too God minded not their persons Though Peter and some of the rest had beene his ancient servants and the other had ne're seene the inside of his house God purg'd them as well as the Apostles 't is so in glory all shall sit as neer to Christ as can be For the weak and poor Christian is as much allied to Christ and as deare to him as the strong and wealthy can bee Christ shed as many teares sweat as many drops endur'd as many stripes and paid as great a price for the one as for the other And in glory it shall be known how hee takes his Lambes in his armes carries them in his bosome and leades gently those that are with Isa 40. 11. young Adde to this Dominion perfect rule o're the Creatures which we lost in our first Parents He that overcommeth is crown'd with glory shall have power over Revel 2. 26. Nations and shall rule with a rod of Iron as 't is said Lastly an orient splendor and peerelesse brightnesse of resplendent light shall cover the whole man as a garment Then shall the righteous shine Matth. 13.43 forth as the Sunne in the Kingdom of their Father Who hath ears to heare let him heare And will not this even this occasion an infinite unconceivable and unparallel'd gladnesse Nonquia solis etiam splendorem non superabunt sed quando nihil fulgentius sole videmus proptereà re apertissimâ nobis ad exprimendum usus est Chrysostom in Mat. Hom. 12. throughout the very soule spirit and whole man In a word there shall bee first that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a necessary supply of outward things Secondly that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a being in Gods favour and having a good aspect from God Thirdly that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a well-doing or right acting according to the emminencies thereof Thus of the parts of glory a word or two of the adjuncts and we apply the whole First 't is a coherent glory such as agrees with and is sutable unto the whole man For a man to be cloathed with the perfections of Plants or Animalls that will not make him glorious the perfections of other things will not doe it it must bee such as is sutable to him as he 's a man even a man renewed Secondly 't is emminent ha's worth in 't for glory is the most lofty condition a thing that 's better then a man's selfe All the creatures besides man are inferiour to a soule an unseen soule can't be advanc'd with any seene substance for shee is more noble then any such thing And things below the soul can't set the soule aloft it must be something better then a soule which can do that Now nothing but God is better and he 'l do it Thirdly 't is a contenting good causing calmenesse and serenity of spirit so that when once the soule ha's what shee likes and loves and is assur'd of the sufficiency thereof knows she 's not to seek hath and lyes on her Center This makes her estate delectable full comfortable and well-pleasing and as hee said in a bad sence so may a glorified person say in a good sence Soule take thine ease And with the Prophet Soule returne to thy rest for the LORD hath dealt bountifully Psal 16. 7. with thee and ha's delivered my soule from Death mine eyes from teares and my feet from falling Fourthly perfect love there shall bee no jarres nor stirres in glory no heart-burnings and evill surmisings against each other there shall bee no prosperity that can bee envied nor shall there bee any adversity to bee despised but of this before Fifthly lasting everlasting it ha's perennity and perpetuity in it and thus the difference is made apparent which is found betwixt things above and things below things of heaven and things of the earth Sixthly and all this is made ours by it's conjunction with us as the conjunction of the soul with Christ and Christ with the soul is a means to strengthen the proprieties of them both which they
for though 't is sweet yet 't is of an earthlie breed It ha's a glorie too but the best glorie of a flower must be preserv'd by a shower and when all 's done it withers and is lost at last Secondly Deaths certaintie it will not faile you 't will find you wherever you goe therefore when thy bones are full of marrow and riches comes in as a floud Argue thus yet I must die Christexpecting Christians can tell you that a wife a child a friend nor any of them can be injoyed for ever That their estates comforts and lives are going declining will desert them and therefore doe long for and desire a change after which they can change no more 'T is further cleare thus First from Gods decree It is appointed Heb. 9. 27. for all men once to die Secondly from the constitution of our natures Mans nature is a composition 2 Cor. 5. 1. of wasting ingredients he 's made up of dying materialls The Apostle calls the bodie a house of earth and know you not that earth may be and is corrupted do's breed that which will infect and infest it with a noisome stench Besides a house of earth is weake and what is there which hath not power on that which is weaknesse it selfe Adde to this that a Tabernacle is not made to last long 't is made on purpose for a short time of exigence and distresse Thirdly the defilements of our nature they put us to the sword murther us in our comforts have given being to this last change as well as others Trees and plants breed the wormes which at last make them lifelesse and so doe we serve our selves and soules If Adam give Rom. 3. 12. leave to sinne sinne will give way to death There 's no man living who shall not have his fit of dying though the death of Saints bee precious in the sight of the Lord yet die they must for his onely begotten sonne did not escape it What then though a man strive repine order his diet intreat and shun occasions yet as the Psalmist speakes none shall deliver his soule from the hand of the grave Live hee as long as Methuselah yet must hee die at last Gray-headed sinners what meane you to stand it out with God so long to breake with God for a trifle what 's your life that should bee spent laid out for him and that he requires from you 'T is not worth the honour to be accounted of force to draw your soules from God Oh then make no more waste of time redeeme it for if Christ ha's redeem'd you you cannot squander away the whole thereof and give him none Remember 't is a difficult thing to die well Thirdly mans necessitie and that first in respect of the bodie A corruptible bodie cannot enter into the incorruptible Heavens it must die and be chang'd It must leave its filth in the grave before it can be meet to dwell in the heavenlie places above The bodie is now the substance and matter of all diseases putrifactions infirmities and deformities although you take in the comeliest Creature your eyes have seen within the bounds of this observation For is' t not conceived in the likenesse of flesh heat of lust and staine of sinne the sensible Prophet sincerely confessed it Besides who knowes Psa 51. 5. not that knowes Christ that 't is the livelie instrument of sinne The verie excrements of whose nostrills ear 's pores and other passages duelie and trulie considered will seeme more loathsome then the uncleanest sinke or vault Oh! what vile bodies have wee and how great need have wee that they should be chang'd buried in the dust and refined Trees and plants bring forth leaves flowers fruits and pleasant smells But mans bodie brings forth naturallie nothing but vermine wormes rottennesse and a filthie stench Lord what is man that thou art mindfull of him and what ha's hee to bee proud of who 's made of such materialls First in respect of the soule that she may be freed from that discord which is in the bodie untill the change comes for whilest the bodie lives a naturall life there 's no businesse can bee dispatched which concernes the soules welfare without a mutinie in the heart the flesh is a home-bred enemie a bosome Rebell that 's daily against the Spirit because they are contraries The flesh alas forestalls all Divine motions actions and indeavours of the soule and Spirit and it begets and breeds an indisposednesse towards them all though all the wayes of God be pleasantnesse and all his paths peace yet this bodie of flesh will make them seeme irkesome burthensome and full of trouble Is' t not high time then that the bodie should be changed made a better servant to the soule Besides it 's sinne-sick distempers are infanable whilest it is here for ha's it not brought on man a certaine necessitie of sinning so that we cannot but displease the highest Lord. Doe you doubt of this why the Scriptures tell you that those who are in the flesh cannot please God that wretched Law of the Rom. 8. 8. members wars against the Law of the mind and Spirit of life which brings the whole man into an insupportable bondage This is mans miserie in his uprisings and downe-lyings a depraved nature Rom. 7. 23. is his associate and as David speakes innumerable evills doe encompasse him about and have taken hold of him that he 's not able to looke up to Heaven This bring 's Psal 40. 12. to mind a worthie saying of like concernment O flesh flesh I can neither live with thee nor without thee Now at the rebreathing in or the re-uniting of the soule to its owne proper person the bodie shall be found incorruptible and that even that will be found the last and best Resurrection Secondly rejoyce in and at the Vse 2 thoughts of such a change consider first 't will rid you of all uncleane societie with sin and sinfull flesh whilest we are here we converse and commerce with greatest sinners and with innumerable sinnes we alas walke among the Tombes with men that lie under the powers and pledges of the everlasting death persons who die living and will at last live dying and yet ne'r bee dead In this life Gracious Christians you heare the greatest Majesties name prophaned his wayes blasphem'd truths defam'd and doe see his friends are foil'd and spo'ld But after death you shall never heare such evill tidings any more Who then that 's wise will love and long to live with the dead more then the living or in the societie of condemned persons in a noysome goale rather than to have fellowship with the glorious Princes of God in the Heaven of matchlesse and endlesse glorie In this Babylon faithfull Jewes are forc'd to hang their Harpes upon the willowes are much disabled from singing sweetlie to the Lambe their Hebrew songs certainly then all whose mansions are with God are or should be
wearie of this world wean'd from this scituation peinched with the coldnesse of this climate for this world alas is a great cooler to the heat of a gracious heart And were they as subject to it as its children are were they as much intangled with it Though now they may have a little heat yet then they would have none at all Secondly 't will free and remove you from all carnall objects then there shall bee no more Gold nor greatnesse to allure you from God no sinne nor sinnes pleasure to intice and bewitch you lie prostrate before you no selfe nor Satan to tempt and intrap you Good Lord what a good case will thine then bee in who or what can expresse those joyous rarities and transcendent verities of such glorious beings Oh! how unsearchable are the riches of such grace and favour Narrow hearts open your selves and the gates of your soules and let the King of glorie come in why should he be unto you as a wayfaring man that staies but for a night and is gone Thirdly 't will alter the nature of all your spirituall distresses there shall bee then no more doubts unresolved no more sins the ' I le be destroi'd no more graces unrevived no more feares of finall falling no more queries about the truth of your high calling no more want of God Christ and the good desired no more dislike of and from unknowne Christians no strangenesse of carriage among knowne members of Christ's bodie mysticall In a word there shall after this change never bee any more hearts hardnesse minds blindnesse wills perversenesse loves coldnesse zeales rashnesse listlesse desires heartlesse prayers tiresome spirit or rebellious flesh But holy hearts you shall be God-like Christ-like in all things 3. Suffer God to dispose you for it sith 't will come and you must be changed Men square wood before they build discipline their Troopes e're they joyne in battell rigg trimme and furnish their ships ere they launch put forth to Sea so God is fitting some every day of life for the day of death Would you know the way by which the Lord effects this blessed fitnesse for so glorious a change so great a worke as is the worke of dying observe then rightly these serious things in the sequell God fits his children for such a decease thus First by making the bodie of sinne irkesome to them There are some who with David have their sinnes ever before them cannot forget them are greevously Psal 51. 3. burden'd with them and their crie is such as this Oh! who shall deliver me from the bodie of this death This even this ha's made some wearie of the world yea and wearie of themselues too all the while longing to be there where they might never see or seele it more Such had rather die a thousand deaths then live dishonouring him in whose favour stands their life and whose loving-kindnesse is better than life as David speakes Hence also everie sanctified sorrow and suffering of this earthlie life puts him upon minding his last and long'd for home every decay of strength dimnes of sight dulnes of hearing and disabilitie of being and doing with all sicknes weaknes aches and pains these I say doe forewarne him of his approaching decease And thus with Job he waites all the dayes of his life untill his appointed change comes Holy hearts you 're well acquainted with the state of this distresse and therefore you must signe and seale to the truth of this experiment yet let not your hearts be troubled for sinnes burthen shall bee remov'd and you your selues certainely secur'd and sav'd Secondly by making death to them desirable this is a deathsweetning way and he acts in the businesse after this manner First suggesting into their thoughts that when death surprizeth them it shall be stinglesse and what 's the sting of death why the Scriptures tell you 't is sinne sinne is deaths Arrow which when 't is shot into the bowells of the soule at the appointed time of change oh how do's it wound with horrour cut with amazement and pierce with dread of a great just and glorious Majestie And then how do's the poore soule fester with despaire whil'st she cannot beleeve or hope to bee well and doe well after death who ha's been and done so ill in time of life And certainely if in life there 's no discharge from sinne in death the soule will greatlie feare if not throughly feel its discharge from Christ But to you that are in Jesus Christ be this word spoken The Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made you free from the law of sinne and death The sting of death is sinne and the strength of sinne is the Law viz. sinnes Law Rom. 8. 1.2 1 Cor. 1. 15. for this place seemes to explaine the other Thus you are freed from both the power of sinne and death also I may adde and the victorie of the grave which cannot imprison or infringe your bodies long so long as to retaine you for ever Give thankes then unto God who ha's given you the victorie through your Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and sing with Paul ô death where is thy sting ô grave where is thy victorie For when a poore soule considers within her selfe thus well I am now neere my time of change I must leave the world But Christ ha's promis'd that he 'l bee with me to the end of my course and ha's also assur'd me that my sinnes are forgiven and forgotten I have a discharge from them through the mercie of God Is she not then readie to crie out Come Lord Jesus come quicklie Death doe thy dutie freely and thus the poore drooping doubting Christian lives dying yet ne'r tastes of the second death God acquits the soule in Justification from sinnes guilt and cleanseth the soule through Sanctification from sinnes filth hee that 's washed from his old polutions hath the heavenly ornaments of Christ's Spirit He 's fit to solemnize a marriage with the Lambe God also perswades the soule that he ha's found a righteousnesse as well as a ransome for her Now beleevers may conclude then as the Scripture speakes that Righteousnesse delivers from death And that the righteous hath hope in his end He fits his to be changed by mortification also for when God by his Spirit has crucified sinne that would have slaine the soule Death cannot hurt much in smiring the carcase Hence is that of Christ Feare not them who kill the body but are not able to kill the soule Secondly the Lord makes the change desirable to some by inlightning Heb. 7. 25. their eyes and strengthning their hearts unto a fight and sense of all the al-sufficiencies of Christ to sustaine the soule under the straights of such a death what though sinne upbraids thee Satan affrights thee and thine owne heart trembles within thee that thou art at a stand knowest not what to doe nor how to die Yet beleeve for