reasonably thought a prophanation of and violence done to his Excellency He who was consecrated in the womb had sorrows in his soul before on the cross wounds from spears in his side that he might appear to be A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief whose soul had the propassion before his body the Passion Yet further verse 10. It pleased the Lord to bruise him he hath put him to grief What means this is there any degree of misery beyond that of a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief Is not every twitch of anguish an Orator to God and mans pity What can be a depression more irrecoverable then to be condemned to the Cross for the Son of God to bear the sins of men yet this puts a further emphasis on Christs Suffering God permitted him to be bruised in the mortar of mens malice that the fragrancy of his charity may affect his and make them admire him for this savour of his oyntment Cant. 1.3 And 't is well coupled To bruise him with It pleased the Lord God commended his love to man by giving his San to die an act of pure choice and perfect charity 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Simul affectum acceptationem includit Pagn in verbo Nothing could have moved Christ to come from heaven to suffer on earth but free and unmerited benignity Christ had a body given him to be broken for us that our Ransome might be effected by his lifes dissolution our debts solution Thus it pleased the Lord what to doe To bruise him not to humble him as a Virgin robbed of her Ornament that could not be Christ is what hee was and ever will be a Lamb without blemish this Hellen of heaven hath no mole or black spot on the face of his glory though Hee was apprehended by Club-men yet was Hee Lord of Millions of Angels The humiliation of Christ consisted in this that Hee should lie in the dust as man Home rarus home singularis home extra omnium hominum numcrum solus talis in hoc mundo Corn. Mussus in concione de Pass habâ—u Romae in Palatio who could not see corruption in the grave because God that he must die an unusuall way who was an unusuall Sacrifice He must be bruised Our Lord Jesus not like Jonah for disobedience but like him in the tumultuous sea of sorrow had a grave prepared to lodg him in till his time of detension was over and that of Ascension was come then hee opened Deaths prison doors and took a speedy cours â—o heaven where he is now sitting at the right hand of God the Father O Lord how great sorrows pressed upon Christ What unparallell'd grief had he who was the Son of God and could not sin the Son of God and deserved not to suffer 't is we O Lord that provoked thee what did that Lamb do Nay rather Lord what did hee not do that deserves our admiration and eternal gratitude yet behold his sorrowes Sorrow that 's an unworthy singular of detraction such a prelation of passion calls for a plurality of expressive Gratitude Come then O holy soul to this sacred Audit and behold sorrowes numberless Love without merit O opus absquâ— exemplo O gratia sine merito O amor sine mensura Cornel Mussus Epis Bitont in Ser. de Passione Luke 2. Charity beyond Measure Had he not sorrow who was the Son of God yet became the son of Man and that of no King no Grandee but the reputed son of a Carpenter born in an Inn in the Stable of that Inn laid in the Manger of that Stable Had he not sorrow who wanted a hole to hide his head in bread to feed upon unless by Miracle whose Followers were poor whose Tribute was paid by a fish and Triumph solemniz'd by an Ass Colt and by boughs and garments spread in the way Had he not sorrow who spake and did as never man his enemies being Judges yet was traduced envied followed with Reproach betrayed by his own servant and put to death by his Country men after a shameful manner and by a lingring and protracted Engine of dispatch the Cross on which he was exposed to shame naked unpitied reviled given Vinegar and Gall to yea as it were forsaken of God What call yee this if not forrowes Was is shall be any sorrowes like these sorrows of Christ When his soul was made an offering for sin his body subjected to violence yea body and soul for a time parted to joyn God and man together whom sin had severed whom only his death could reconcile Mat 2.7.45 Wel might the Sun refuse to give light to such a deed of darkness as was the Jews cruelty in crying to death their King John 19.15 which the wisdom of Pilate hinted to them by way of Reproach in these words Shall I crucifie your King Well might the vail of the Temple be rent when the Temple of his body more glorious then Solomons Temple not made with hands as was that but compaginated by the miraculous art of Omnipotency was torn apieces by cruelty Matth. 27.51 52 53. Well might the graves open and the dead yeeld themselves no longer prisoners when Jesus Lord of the grave was on his march to the grave Well might the dead appear to many in the holy City since the City appeared but a grave of dead men who knew not what they did nor whom they acted cruelty upon O holy soul since it is thine ambition to have Christ thy reward resolve to follow him bearing his reproach Fear not the infultings of men nor the oppositions of flesh and bloud If to accompany Christ to Golgotha be to be vile be yet more vile The Cross of Christ hath treasure under it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Marcus Anton ad Silenum much glory results from contempts for his sake There is nothing so becoming thy holy Prosession as to imitate Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greg. Nissen de relig Christian Profes Christianity is nothing else but to live holily and die patiently as did Christ and so much neerer him shall we be in glory as we are here like him in our Conversation Christ made it his meat and drink to do his Fathers will Thou O holy Soul must not think his good pleasure thy pennance his providence thy disappointment his service thy slavery He uttered no discontent thou must not rave and rage He suffered contradiction of sinners thou must not expect approbation from them Hee forgave his Enemies thou must not remember injuries to revenge them Percussorem Episcopum ille condemnat qui dorsum suum posuis ad flagella maledicius non remaledicit S. Hieron Epist 83. ad Oceanum Hee came unto his own and they received him not thou must not wonder if thou suffer from those whom thou hast obliged He wanted a hole to put his head in use thy plenty well that thy Lord
cohabit they in intense degrees in the same Subject at one and the same time because they are inconsistent and are made what they are by the non-being of each other Fire is no fire if water prevail against it for it is suppressed and led captive by the Victor and so water ceaseth its moysture and liquidity if the heat of the fire accede it to Mastery whereas other things that are not at this variance meet like Mercy and Peace and kiss each other Active heat and Passive moisture make way for Generation Steel and the Load-Stone are in amity and do with eagerness approach each other so is it in Love by the will disposed of to any object There is no Soveraign more absolute as to things subjected to his will then the will of man for it wheels about the totum mobile in him This moved Samson to love Dalilah Archimedes to dye with his Art Judas to betray his Master Julian to Apostatize and by Gods severity this seals as the meritorius Cause the wicked under unbelief that they may be damned who have pleasure in unrighteousness for this once perverted and engaged 2 Thess 2.12 the whole man is circumferred and hurled after the genius of its project by this are the affections alarm'd and keened to good or evil and without this Velliety is nothing feasible without the power of God come to aid yea and that too deales mildly by a sweet compulsion and insuperable perswasion transforming the soul from what it is and as corrupted would into what it is not but ought to be submissive to sequacious of and voluntarily captived by God Now all the quarters of the inner man are beat up and Proclamation is made in the name of the great King of Heaven now the word is I am not what I was Isai 26.13 Other Lords have had dominion over me but the desire of my soul is to thee and to the remembrance of thy Name ver 8. now there is this only outcry None but Christ none but Christ That is the second Step and the Advance is great Acquaintauc is in a good progress when we understand the worth and will that worth to be acquainted with But there is more Marches to be made to this Conquest Step 3 therefore the 3d. Step is Discovery of this Desire to that Object we love and this though in regard of Gods Omniscience needs not Psai 132.2 For he knows our thoughts afar off yet in order to our Obedience and his declared Will ought to be done by us again and again the Canon is Matth. 7.7 Ask and ye shall have seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened 'T is a minute trifling boon that is not worth asking God hath entailed Bliss to our Prayers and tears not as the price but the way to them as he hides not himself from his people that pray so doth he not own them that look big with the Pharisee and have too stiff knees to bend before him Hab. 2.4 He knowes the heart is not upright when it is unhumble and condemns it as a false Character of a good heart not to ask Dost thou O man conceive God the best Good and thy self miserable without him and wilt thou not seek by Prayers and tears to gain freedom Dost thou think he will ever be waiting to be gracious who ought to be waited upon because he is and will be still so unless thou provoke him to turn his back and not his face Thou art blind and wilt thou not ask Eye-salve Rev. 3.18 Naked and art thou too sturdy to beseech Christ to cast his Garment of Salvation upon thee If thou canst not confess thy sins 1 John 1.2 9. he declares not himself a Forgiver of sins for his fidelity is engaged only to Penitents Will any man that 's worthy put his friendship upon an unwilling party or motion amity but upon the request of him whom thereby he shall oblige It becomes those that will have part of anothers propriety either to beg or purchase it all the Coyn in thy purse and the pride in thy heart will not capacitate thee to gain God for thy friend upon any termes but repent and believe These are the wedding Garments which bring thee into the Feast of fat things with approbation and if thy holy Motions be as eager as they ought and as thy acquaintance with God deserves then thou wilt not find a repulse for thy God is ready to meet those with open armes who offer their service to him upon bended knee and with abashed faces Step 4. to Acquaintance with God is his Word Step 4 Psal 77.13 John 5.39 Psal 25.14 his Servants his ways God is known by his out goings in his Sanctuary the Scriptures testifie of him his secrets are with them that fear him If any man be a seeker of God him he hears But above all be sure of the favour of the Well Beloved he that comes from his hand is carryed into the Bed-chamber and refreshed with the good things of his right hand Christs bloud crosseth the Roll of Indictments and dischargeth the guilt If thy soul be dipped in that bloud it will hold colour against all waters against all assayes to interpose perhaps Satan puts in his plea and informes thou art his What though a stronger then he hath taken possession Suppose thy sins rest upon thee as upon Mary Magdalen yet if thou lovest much why shouldst not thou hope to be forgiven as was shee There is no sin in Mortal man can out-poise the mercy in an immortal God nor the merit of a spotless Saviour whose blood in value out-prizes them as far as the noblest Gemme doth the most vulgar pibble To this bounteous Emanuel who when he was Rich became poor that we through his poverty might be made rich who when he was in the bosom of his Father came to converse with men that he might elevate men to communion with God in Grace and compartying with him in glory do thou O holy soul conjoyn thy self by a Covenant never to be broken He he it is that soders God and man that gives thee access with boldness to the Throne of Grace that moves thee to good confirms thee in it rewards thee for it by the Holy Ghost which the Father sends in his name Is thy Peace begun and perfected thy Comfort continued and encreased in the assurance of this thou wilt live a life of good example to men Phil. 3.14 Psal 149.9 and of glory to God and after all reach the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus For this honour have all his Saints And the better to keep thee in this less and lower to that better good it becomes thee O man to attend on the revealed Will of God that bears witness to the Truth Mercy Justice Patience and other Holy Attributes of the Divine Nature it records also what thy
Lord speaks of who sell all to purchase the Jewel of Divine Intercourse these are they that cry out for the light of Gods countenance Psalm 4. and care not what they suffer so they have it To these humble prostrates are the Doles of Heaven dealt out on these that cry out as Rachel did to Jacob Give me Grace or else I dye doth God give the blessing of Acquaintance and for these and these only hath he a Reserve a Mansion in his Kingdom Jerusalem above which is the vision of Peace and in the fruition of which by holy Acquaintance with God as the way and means we shall obtain adunition to God as the end and fruition of Peace in that felicity for so saith the next words Acquaint now thy selfe with God and be at peace But stay man a while There is somewhat intercurrent 'twixt Acquaintance and Peace there are bars and bounds to keep the Stage free from pester God hath appointed Means and Degrees by which to come at length to this Culmen this top of the Mount on which shall be our Transfiguration Christ Moses and Elias are to be met with when we can say our Christian Alphabet roundly when we can say not only as Saint Paul Phil. 3 12. Rev. 5.9 10. Nondum attigimetam but sing that Epinichyon Thou art worthy O Lord for thou hast redeemed us from sin sorrow the world and made us Kings and Priests to thee Till then there is aliquid agendum if ever thou wilt come to the end of thy race it must be by the Means ordained to that end which is the second Scruple to be explicated Scruple 2 2 What are the Meanes of obtaining this Acquaintance The Solution of this is partly done in the foregoing Consideration and therefore will require the less answer here the prescribed Steps of assent are also many several Paces towards it what is necessary to be added by way of Illustration is only this God requires of every Acquaintance 1. Reconciliation to Christ 2. Resignation to his holy Spirit 3. Adoration of his Ordinances 4. Admiration of his Works 5. Renovation of life 1 Reconciliation to Christ All sin is Hostility against him 't is Rebellion against the Prince of Peace and folly against him the Wisdom of the Father He came to unite God and thee and thou O man labourest the Defeat of his advent the end of his descent from Heaven to earth was to draw men after him thou in stead of coming to him that thou mayest have life John 5.40 runnest away from him in stead of casting down thy self at his feet and craving his pardon thou holdest up Weapons of unrighteousness against him Is this thy kindness to thy friend Is this thy Loyalty to thy Prince Is this the Badge of Acquaintance and friendly intimacy Dost thou crown Christ with thorns and expect he should kiss thee with the kisses of his lips Dost thou deliver him to the Corss and lookest from him for a place in Paradise Do these rough hands of Esau deserve from Isaak any Blessing O man mistaken erring thorow the Delusion of thy Prospect and the Temptation incumbent on thy heart Return and seek to him by tears whom thou hast provoked by Treachery crave his blood thine Attonement which thou hast shed in triumph to thy Lusts thou hast made him thine Adversary by sin humbly prostrate thy self as his Purchase and Penitent Let him see thy tears trickle down thy tender cheek from a pensive heart and a gracious eye that now lookest upon thy self with greater scorn then ever sinfully thou didst upon him when wickedly thou saidst I will not have this man raign over me and let no hour day moment pass without some earnest Petition for Reconciliation That he would cease to be what thou hast deserved thine Upbraider Accuser severe Judge and be what he hath promised to all that turn to him with all their hearts an Advocate a Load-stone the Way the Truth and the Life An Advocate to plead thy Cause a Load-stone to touch thy heart the Way in which and Truth by which thou shouldest walk and the Life to crown thee after thy work done But perhaps thou concludest thy self at too great a loss to recover too far out of favour to be re-ingratiated Why so If where sin abounds Rom. 5 2◠Grace superabounds there is hope for thee Bespeak not O man thy denyal do not stay thy career towards heaven because thou fearest the door of Grace is shut Such Conclusions may hinder thy endeavour they cannot add to thy comfort therefore covet in the second place the Holy Spirit to thy comfort entertain him kindly grieve him not by reiterated sins quench him not by averse obstinacy An nescis anima te verecundum habere sponsum This holy Dove sent from the Deity brings the Olive Branch with him the Peace is bought by Christ but the Spirit seals and applies the Purchase the Salve is rare but works not kindly except that hand layes on the Plaister therefore resign thou thy self to the Spirit of God let him rule in thee and by his Steerage be thou acted follow this Star it ever leads to Christ hearken to his voice it is vox dilecti it s a clam sweet lovely lightsome voice be ravished with this Musick which with Hyper-Syrene notes charms most wisely give up thy self soul and body to this Besieger that summons thee to deliver up the strong Holds of Sin and Satan to Christ the King of Saints and the Saviour of his Body the Church Make no terms with him the Holy Ghost will not be tyed to Articles He is free to intercede and thou must be free to render as he will have good quarter so gives he sure comfort The soul that receives him is Scot-free from Terror and Fear of Divine displeasure for this Guest secures his Quarters yea the power of the Almighty overshadoweth those with Grace whose hearts are prepared to cry Veni Spiritus Sancte And till O man this be thy temper thou art as unfit for Acquaintance with God as for Heaven of which it is a real Type and to which it is the Baptist for as into Heaven flesh and blood quà such cannot enter so into familiarity with God can none be admitted who have not the Test of this Comforter who never beares witnesse that they are the sons of God who rest unreconciled to Christ unresigned to him But how may these Graces appear in me may the soul say God Christ and the Holy Ghost have their Court in Heaven I am in the Valley of Bochim in the frigid Zone of earthly vanities where dust and ashes wormes and no men live and acclamate the Diana of Pomp and splendid nothing my bucket is not deep enough my stature not high enough to reach Heaven my bulk will not bear those breadthy Sails which that Glory fils What shal I do How may I contract acquaintance with God by union with Christ
it makes them cry out of Prosperity as captived Craesus did of Solon O Solon Solon had I hearkned to thy premonitions I had never been so unprovided for bonds and captivity Of these then that which the Apostle saves of the Unchaste widdow is most true they are dead when they live 1 Tim. 5.6 But to the Godly it is far otherwise their peace outward is ever sanctified not as to the present use of it for they may faint in the Sunshine they may be lifted up through abundance of Revelation but as to the Sacred end and ultimate result of it God shall turn this by the Sacred Chymistry of Omnipotency into Good Rom. 8.28 This is within the pale of All things work together for good to them that love God Away then thou Accuser of the Brethren avoid thou Tempter to Evil and thou Mortar Piece of Divine Fury Satan Away yee children of Darkness who hate those of Light because your deeds are evil forbear your tauntings of those whom the Lord hath smitten justifie not those whose Iniquitous Ballances have made themselves onely weighty and all others too light the Standard of Justice is coming round Dan. 5.25 your doom is Mene tekel Vphursin the glory of your forged Sanctimony is defaced God will humble the pride of men and polish his rusted Saints by the arising beams of the Sun of Righteousness The Churches Soveraigne is at hand and though his first coming was in humilitie his next will be in glorie to ride in triumph over all feigned Piety and to set these Goats of Lust and Rage on his left hand Lift up O holy ones your heads Your Redemption draws nigh Hee that dyed for you will owne you and expects you should owne him in preserving his seamlesse coat from rents and in keeping unity of Spirit though there be difference of Language Peace be O holy souls to you the peace of this world not by its gifts but by Donation of him who hath subjected all things prepare your selves by holy love to deal out your Riches to those that want freely ye receive freely give O far be it from you to give vinegar and gall to your brethren since your Father in Heaven gives you the generous liquor of Love and bids you do as you would be done by Take your fils of the waters of outward plenty Marah is cured the bitterness of death is past Christ hath by his Cross so crucified the world to you that it is now become your Vassal not your Lord remember there is the portion of Peace annexed to Acquaintance with God So do and so have But is this all are the grains of allowance only in Externals Is my Carcass more worthy then my Soul What shall be done to that animula blandula 2 Pet. 1.4 which is after a sort Partaker of the DIVINE Nature is there no accrewment to that Doth God take care of Sparrowes and of the haires of our heads and is there no provision made for that which is the Nightingale of Eternity Surely yes two for one the double portion for this first-born One portion respects its conjunction here with the body and the other its separation from and glorification with the body in Heaven the first in Grace the second in Glory the first in via the Comfort and Peace of a good Conscience and the latter and better in Patria of a good God in a glorious Kingdom Heaven 2 Peace Internal not Physical sans Palpitation of the Heart sans exclamation of the Passions or their crowing shrils in the brain but peace Metaphysical the peace of God in the brest of man God as it were incarnate sitting on the Tribunal of a Mortal Judicatory Now the winter is past the stormes are over the singing of birds is come the voice of the Turtle of the Primum Mobile is heard O Extatick Elamire O Seraphick Ela O Note stept aside from the Quire of Angels to entice our Admirations Doth God dwell with man can these houses of clay contain him that is whatever is Infinite and Incomprehensible which he is Be thou O Lord with my pen and let it be thine Instrument to decipher this which is so rare which is whatever Nature can aspire to value Peace of Conscience a Jewel which abates not price a child of light admired in all Ages Persons Countries sought after when not had cherished where possessed deplored when lost whom Patriarks Prophets Apostles Martyrs Confessors Christians valued and to which they peered nothing Peace of conscience the Salt that seasons Mirth sweetens Sorrow and the Plummet that sounds the bottom of every coast and discovers Shipwrack and safety Peace of Conscience the Touchstone of our innocency the probate of our Zeal the Furnace of our Charity for then only can we love God and our Neighbor when his love is shed abroad in our hearts by his holy Spirit who works this peace in us Peace of Conscience that Phenix nest made up of the Persumes of Graces out of which expiring rises peace of Eternitie Peace of Conscience heaven on earth glory in weakness light in obscuritie Abrahams bosom in Lazarus sores Peace of Conscience Goshen in Egypt Gods Segullah to the Alchimy of the worlds Admirables the fat kine of holy serenity that by a miraculous transposition swallow up all the lean kine of worldly cares and confounds the wisdom of secular interests Peace of Conscience the Lily of the vallies in which Christ nestles the Rose of Sharon on which the Sun of Righteousness smiles to which Solomons bravery is but Beggery and Herods oratory but babling Peace of Conscience compared with which Balm of Gilead is but like the trifling Compound of a Quack Salve and the Gold of Ophir but as dross and dung Peace of Conscience to which Power and Policy Arts and Armies Councels and Senates are but as Molehils to Mountains Ants to Men Atomes to the body of this earth and the dwindling light of the candle to the center of light enveloped in the Sun Peace of Conscience the Musick to which Orpheus his Harp and Arions Pipe helped on with Syrens voice are but so many straines of perfect discord and displeasing Harmony Peace of Conscience the best companion of life the sweetest Confessor at death the noblest Memorial after death nay the souls prodomus next under Christ to Heaven for thither it ran on Cornelius his errand to display his Almes and thither it must go to the credit and comfort of all that have it For there is none of this peace to the wicked saith my God Here O profane worldlings here O wretched Politico's yee are outstripped pleasures profits honors have no suffrage in this confistory they cannot make their Masters partakers of this delight to which all others are but shadowes as far beneath them as drops to the Ocean Neither Alexanders Power nor Solomons Wisdom nor Mithridates his Wealth nor Justinians Learning nor Galens Receipts nor Archimedes his Experiments can