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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A13561	Three treatises The pearle of the gospell, The pilgrims profession: and A glasse for gentlewomen to dress themselues by. To which is added A short introduction to the worthy receiuing of the Lords supper. By Thomas Taylor, Doctor of Diuinity, and late preacher of Aldermanbury Church in London.	Taylor, Thomas, 1576-1632.; Taylor, Thomas, 1576-1632. Pearle of the gospell. aut; Taylor, Thomas, 1576-1632. Pilgrims profession. aut; Gunter, H.; Taylor, Thomas, 1576-1632. Glasse for gentlewomen to dresse themselves by. aut; Taylor, Thomas, 1576-1632. Short introduction to the worthy receiving of the Lords Supper. aut	1633 (1633)	STC 23856; ESTC S113869	74,858	266

will par● with them In which Parable conside● foure things 1. What is this kingdome 〈◊〉 heauen 2. What is this Pearle and th● goodnesse of it 3. Who is this Merchant ma● 4. What are his actions nam●ly three 1. He seeketh good pearles 2. He findeth a pearle of great price 3. He sold all to buy it For the first By the kingdome of heauen is not meant the blessed estate of the Church triumphant in heaheauen as in MATTH 5. 10. Yours it the kingdome of heauen Nor the Church militant and visible as in MATTH 13. 47. which is like a net cast into the Sea Nor the time of grace vnder Christ exhibited to preach in his owne person MATTH 3. 3. For the kingdome is at hand Nor the estate of grace wherin the elect bee iustified by faith and are lead forward by grace toward the kingdome of heauen as MAT. 13. 51. The kingdome of heauen is like a graine of mustard-seed Nor the kingdome of power by which God in heauen as a King gouerneth al the world and euery particular creature in it But by it is meant the preaching and publishing of the Gospel called here 1. A Kingdome 2. A Kingdome of Heauen A Kingdome for three reasons 1. Because the doctrine of the Gospel bringeth vs to Christ that hee as a King may reigne in vs hence it is called The Gospel of the kingdome MAT. 4. 23. 2. Because it is a powerfull meanes ordained by God to pull vs out of the kingdome of darknesse and translate vs to the kingdome of his deare Sonne Coloss 1. 13. and the Apostle calleth it The power of God to saluation Ro. 1. 16. 3. Because God hath set it apart not onely to erect vp the kingdome of God within vs which standeth in inward righteousnesse peace of conscience the ioy of the holy Ghost ROM 14. 17. but also to lead vs thorow to the participation of that kingdome of glory reserued in heauen for vs. Secondly of heauen 1. Because of Distinction from earthly kingdomes it preacheth Christ a King but withall that his kingdom is not of this world hee ruleth not after a temporall manner but sitteth as King in the spirits of his subiects and ruleth the conscience and holdeth vp this scepter of his kingdome in the hearts of men so as this kingdome is heauenly and spirituall 2. For Exaltation and aduancement lifting it vp aboue all that earthly kingdomes can afford for worth and excellency and so to stirre vp our affections and pull our eyes toward it the very name of it should rauish vs and commend the priuileges of the Gospell vnto vs. 3. For Admonition and caution that the subiects of this kingdome should receiu● th●ir lawes from heauen and cont●mning earth and ●arthly things should aspire meditate frame themselues to heauenly conuersation this very title of the Gospell should bee of power to lift vs aboue the earth Now what is meant by this pearle By the pearle is meant 1. The happy estate of grace here 2. The happy estate of glory hereafter Of which latter see REV. 21. 21. the foundations of the new Ierusalem were garnished with all manner of precious stones Iasper Saphir Chalcedon and the twelue gates were twelue pearles c. But here it signifieth the happy estate of grace in which wee are still seeking and purchasing the pearle and the good things of the Gospell as namely the glad tidings of it the offer of Christ with his merits the gift gift of faith iustification sanctification and these are called a pearle for sundry reasons 1. For the value and worth of them which passe all other treasures in excellencie and estimation As siluer is beyond brasse and gold beyond siluer so pearles are beyond gold and the good things of the Gospell beyond the most precious pea●les so saith SALOMON PROV 3. 14 15. The merchacaise of wisedome is better than the merchandise of siluer the reuenue of it is b●tter than that of gold it is more precious than pearles and all thou canst desire are not comparable to it What a world of wealth both spirituall and heauenly is manifested by the Gospell which exhibiteth Christ in whom are all treasures of grace and glory What a rich store-house is Christ himselfe the least drop of whose bloud was more precious than all the world How preci●us are all his merits and plentifull for redemption What a good thing and precious grace is faith which storeth a man with all the good things of heauen How precious is the doctrin of saluation which must not bee cast to swine as MAT. 7. 6. Well doth our Sauiour therefore call this a pearle of Great price for the most precious pearles in regard of these good things of the Gospell are but dust and clay 2. For the rarenesse Pearles are not so common as pibbles nor in the hands of common and ordinary men but fit for Princes and great personages common men know them not nor the price nor the vse of them euen so the good things of the Gospell are not knowne or obuious to euery one but Hidden mysteries vnknowne to the most part of the world and a wisedome reuealed to Babes And as Pearls are easily contemned of vnskilfull persons who are ignorant of their price and vse so the mysteries of the Gospell offer them to the Gentiles they esteeme them Foolishnesse to the Iewes they are as a Scandall Christ crucified is the very scorne of the world onely a few beleeuers aduanced to bee Kings and Priests to God know the price of this commodity and lay out for it 3. In regard of the hidden vertue and secret excellencie of them The body and quantity of a Pearle is small but the vertue and power of it great so the Gospell seemeth small and contemptible but it is the Power of God to saluation and faith in the Gospell draweth vertue from Christ to open blinde eyes to cure all spirituall diseases to raise from death in sinne to driue away deuils and breake the force of temptation all the Pearles betwixt heauen and earth haue not such power onely faith as small as a graine of mustard-seed draweth vertue from Christ and grace though it be neuer so little if sound it is of power to open blinde eyes and to carry the Saints along vnto their saluation 4. In regard of their excellent qualities as purity and cleerenesse and orient brightnesse so The Law of the Lord is pure PSAL. 19. The doctrine of grace for the brightnesse and perspi●●ity of it is as a resplendent gemme which draweth all eyes to it Secondly in Pearles is Firmnesse and strength so hard and firme are some of them as fire consumeth them not nor much strength can breake them euen so firme and sure are the promises of the Gospell all of them are Yea and Amen fire no● water prosperity nor aduersity can conquer them so

firme is sauing grace which can neuer be shaken out of the hart Thirdly their Magnitude and greatnesse so great is the mystery of godlinesse amongst all Gods secrets there is none so great as this of mans redemption in the beholding of which the Angels cannot yet satisfie themselues 1 PET. 1. 12. Fourthly Equality and roundnesse much commend pearles The Gospell is offered to all alike to beleeuers and vnbeleeuers to masters and servants rich and poore it is no fault of the Gospell if thou beest not saued by it 5. In regard of their effects Pearles supply our needs at all seasons and therefore NONIVS a Senator of Rome persecuted by M. ANTONIVS prouided onely for himselfe an Vnion of inestimable price to carry with him in his flight by which alone he was rich enough So the Gospell supplyeth all our wants Christ in the Gospell supplyeth vs all things prouideth for vs bread of life and water of life and garments of his owne righteousnesse hee payeth all our debts inricheth vs with inestimable treasures and naked Christ is wealth enough Secondly Pearles serue for ornament and honour and shew a man to bee in dignity some hang them in their eares some hang them in golden chaines vpon their brests some set them in gold and weare them on their fingers So the Gospell is the honour and ornament of a Christian and maketh vp all his indignities and wrongs while he hangeth it on his eare by diligent and carefull hearing while he fastneth this Vnion and Pearle and maketh it shine by faith in his heart● and while hee weareth it as a ring on his finger by conscionable practise of the commandements of the Gospell which is to beleeue in the Sonne of God and loue one another this man is honoured of God and all his Saints Thirdly many Pearles are of great vse and effect to preuent poyson to preserue naturall strength and recouer it decayed many of them great Cordials and others great comforters of the principall vitall parts of man So the Gospell and good of it preserue the soule from the poyson of sinne preserueth supernaturall strength restoreth and reneweth strength of grace decayed is the onely heauenly Cordiall to comfort the heart in gripes of temptation and accusation it is the comforter in all afflictions that a Christian may say of of it as Dauid of the Law Had not my comfort beene in thy law I had perished long agoe in my trouble Labour then to see the worth and price of the Gospell that with Christ thou mayest preferre this Pearle of the Kingdome aboue all Pearles and Kingdomes and value this Pearle of grace aboue all naturall Pearles Our Sauiour would haue vs see how carnall wee are while such supernaturall treasures are so slightly accounted and at so little and low a rate with vs. How carnall is it to preferre other Pearles which are from earth or sea before this Pearle which only is from heauen How vnwise are wee so highly to value the Pearles whose matter is dust and slime and whose beauty is by the Sunne-beames included and contemne the Pearle the matter of which is the eternall loue of God by Iesus Christ and the beauty the light and grace of Christ the Sunne of righteousnesse which for the orient brightnesse excelleth the Sunne shining in his strength Beside neuer shall this Pearle be purchased before it be prized nor euer be of vse to vs vntill we haue purchased it as a Pearle keepeth its shine beauty and vertue wrapped vp in the darkenesse and bowels of the earth but no whit inricheth him that findeth it not Also let vs place our riches in the Gospell which is so farre aboue Pearles as the substance is aboue the shadow Pearles here doe but shadow forth the worth of grace but there is no proportion betweene them in shining vse or beauty First because opinion setteth the price of the one but worth on the other the true worth of the grace of the Gospell heightneth it to him that can truly esteeme it Secondly no Pearle can buy a graine of grace but grace may bring riches and Pearles hauing the promise of this life as well as of that which is to come Thirdly no Pearle can auaile in the day of wrath onely grace opposed to Gods displeasure stinteth it PRO. 11. 4. Fourthly Pearles and treasures can no way further a mans saluation many wayes doe and may hinder it many for gaping after the world lose their owne soules but the wealth of the Gospell onely saueth soules and there is no other meanes besides it Fiftly Peales may make a man rich in this world and adorne the outward man but not the inward neither will they goe with vs hence to doe vs any good here we finde them and here we leaue them But the rich Pearle of the Gospell is indeed ours and maketh vs richest in heauen content thy selfe therefore with it as the blessed Disciple Peter saying Master thou hast the words of eternall life and whither shall we goe How haue the Saints esteemed and made grace their onely jewell and treasure Ps● 119. 111. DAVID made the testimonie of God his Heritage yea the ioy of his heart EPH. 1. 7. The Apostle calleth it a Rich grace and CHAP. 2. 7. The exceeding riches of his grace and COL 1. 17. which riches is Christ in you But men that seeke after grace are the poorest men meane and vnprosperous in the world No they are the richest men though neuer so meane in the world they haue many wayes to bee rich which the worldling wanteth They haue a rich knowledge 1 Cor. 1. 27. they haue faith a rich cōmodity more precious than gold that perisheth 1 Pet. 1 7. they haue Christ liuing in them and dwelling in them they haue prayer a Rich store-house they haue title and are indeed heires of the Kingdome of Heauen And suppose they bee afflicted reiected and scorned amongst men yet can they with MOSES account the rebukes of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt HEB. 11. 46. Oh what a world of sweet content lodgeth in the heart with Christ in want of all things he hath all things If one aske a Christian What is thy Country he may answer Christ and his Countrey What is thy kindred ANS Christ is my kindred MAT. 12. 50. Behold my mother and my brethren and my sisters What is thy wealth and honour ANS Gods Kingdome is mine yea God himselfe he is al things to me here and hereafter Men cast vp their heads and looke aloft if they bee Lords of some small Manour or possession but to be a King or Prince of a peece of earth lifteth them in their conceits aboue the tops of the clouds But a poore Christian is better contented with poore and naked Christ than with all such high and stately vanity We must also doe for the Gospell as men will doe for pearles and treasures take

but it is a death to him to goe backward and to see his estate of grace rather to decrease than increase hee hath no comfort in his present vnfruitfulnesse much lesse in Apostacy and backe-sliding but his comfort and account to the Lord is onely when he can say LVK. 19. 13. Lord thy talent hath increased ten talents Let this consideration also comfort godly poore men despised in the world thou that art a poore Christian in a low estate in the world labor busily for grace and thou maist be as rich a Merchant haue as rich a stocke and deale in as great and rich commodities if poore in spirit as the richest Thou that hast no mony and but little credit in the world maist here make as good a bargaine and as gainfull returne for thy selfe as he that hath thou sands of mony beyond thee The poore receiue the Gospell saith our Sauiour that is few but the poore in estate none but the poor in spirit for this trading is without money like the poore womans curing who speut all her money on the Physitians and yet was not cured but Christ commeth and cureth her freely Againe art thou a poore man hast thou a great charge of children and no meanes to put them forth to trades here is a rich trade make Merchants of them teach them and binde them to this trade of godlinesse this is the way to make them prosperous in earth and bring them happily towards heauen Prou. 14. 26. The feare of the Lord is an assured strength and his children shall haue hope Haue likewise a care that hauing bought and purchased the Pearle thou dost not sel it againe Pro. 23. 23. Buy the truth but sell it not likewise wisdome instruction vnderstanding for what we sel we esteeme it lesse worth thā that we sel it for but we must value this Pearle aboue riches glory liberty Pearls and life it selfe by no means part from wisdome neither by our forgetfulnesse security or ouer-sight any way Besides wee can sell it for nothing which is not vncertaine gaine but this is most certaine and most lasting and therefore not to be exchanged with any other This of the third generall The Merchant mans actions are three 1 He seeketh a good Pearle 2 Findeth an excellent one 3 Selleth all he hath to buy it Euery man naturally will be seeking some thing to make him happy the naturall man hath some naturall Pearle or other on which hee setteth his affection and in which he taketh greatest delight Some Merchants esteem pleasure their best Pearle some honour some riches and the most of the world seeking some perle light vpon some counterfeit or other wherein they content themselues and blind both themselues and others which made an ancient Father cry out Happy is that Merchant that knoweth to seeke not hurtful things as the ambitious doe nor vnprofitable things as the curious doe but the most wholesome things as doe the Saints but this a supernaturall both seeker and seeking and things sought ● The thing sought is the grace of the Gospell a good Pearle indeed as before the seeker was the wise Merchant But how can any man seeke grace seeing Psal. 14. and Rom. 3. no man seeketh after God Answ. No man by nature can seeke after grace nor of himselfe once aske after it because hee is destitute of the spirit of God no more than the lost groat can aske after her that lost it or a wandring sheepe after the Shepherd or a dead man after life So as those places are meant of men before conuersion and calling for the elect seeke not God till God first seeke them and findeth them But this is to be vnderstood of men called conuerted already found of God and mooued by the Spirit of God who mooued by God can now moue themselues and sought by him now can eeke him Which both setteth out our infinite misery who of our selues neuer minde the meanes of happinesse and also magnifieth Gods mercy which is infinite who offering vnto vs a free grace doth truly say I was found of them that sought me not and giueth him also the honour of goodnesse and of our seeking of him Onely the godly and all they are seekers of the good Pearle they seeke after God in Christ and the grace of the Gospel euery where the godly are called seekers of God and seekers of wisedome Prou. 2. and seekers of the kingdome Mat. 6. 33. and wicked men are described to bee such as seeke not after God Psalm 14. 4. And why 1. These onely doe see their owne want and beggery which is implyed in seeking No man seeketh that hee wanteth not or that first findeth not in himselfe a want of grace Dauid desired grace as the thirstie ground and grace is not promised nor giuen to any but the thirstie Psa. 55. 1. Euery one that thirsteth come yee to the waters Psalm 14. 2. First they must vnderstand namely their estate and then seeke after God 2. All these and they alone doe see the excellency as well as the need of this Pearle and God hath let them see in some measure the worth of it Why are men so earnestly carried to seeke Pearles farre and neere swallowing insensibly all toiles dangers and charges but because they know their worth and price and that if they can light on them they shall be wel paid for all their labour Euen so such as to whom God hath made knowne in some mea sure the worth of this inestimable Iewell are quickned daily to the vnweariable inquisition after it Paul knew that one graine of grace would weigh downe all world and therefore would procure it through all perils and dangers through good reports or euill through wants and losses euen of the dearest things most desirous in all the world whereas Ignoti nulla cupido none will seeke that hee knoweth not or not any goodnesse in it 3 They onely know that without painfull seeking they shall neuer attaine the Pearle for as Pearles doe not lye on the face of the ground but are hid in the bowels of the earth or in the sands so the mysteries of the Kingdome lye not abroad for euery one to stumble vpon vnawares but they are a hidden treasure not discerned by the naturall man nay hated by the wisedome of the flesh and scorned by the wisest of the world Besides that this is the condition vpon which the Lord bestoweth his best blessings if wee dig for wisdome as for treasures which words imply that it is not easie to come by hee knoweth our nature that we lightly set by what we lightly come by and if Pearles were as common as pibbles we should as lightly set by them as we doe by the other 4 The godly alone see that without the Pearle they cannot by any thing else be satisfied for so seeking implieth a discontent in the

want of the thing sought for Common men if they finde health wealth friends pleasures and the like outward things are well contented corne wine and oyle to cheere their hearts But these wise Merchants seeing grace no other thing contenteth them but grace one glimpse of Gods countenance through Iesus Christ is sweet aboue all And as he that seeketh a Iewell doth looke still after it a thousand things come in his way and eye but he passeth slightly ouer them and seeth them not nor seeketh he them euen so doth the Christian Merchant and as the ciuill Merchant attaining Pearles doth rest ioyful in them as in such commodities as will helpe his happinesse in the world So the godly Merchant finding this one Pearle of the Gospell which is the grace of life goeth away reioycing and resteth well appaid for all his labours and sufferings He was before he light vpon this Pearle the most vnhappy man in the world but now he cannot hide his ioy but as the poore widow which called in her neighbors to reioice with her because she had found the lost groat Luk. 15. 9. so can he neither wholly hide nor yet expresse halfe the ioy he conceiueth in his new commodity and purchase But many seeke and that with tears that faile of grace as Esau and many shal striue to enter saith Christ and shall not be able and Ro. 9. 31 32. Israel sought righteousnesse but obtained it not Ans. Many seeke but amisse and therefore faile so Israel sought but not by faith Now the true condition of seeking as the wise Merchant and as the Word directeth standeth in fiue things 1. With an earnest and true loue desire and estimation of the thing sought this wilmake a man seeke diligently and as a thirsty person not coldly carelesly remisly slightly or negligently for such seeking shall neuer find for why did the Church seek Christ so laboriously till she found him but because it was he whom her soule loued ●an 3. 3. The watchmen that went about the City found me to whom I said Haue yee seene him whom my soule loueth And why did Mary seeke Christ hauing lost him three dayes Because shee loued him and reioyced in his person and presence which made her heart so heauy in his absence Luk. 2. 42. Behold thy father and I haue sought thee with heauy hearts The Merchant because he loueth and esteemeth of siluer doth seeke it carefully and earnestly Pro. 2. 4. and the heauenly Merchant shall finde grace vndoubtedly if he seeke it as the other doth siluer Loue is laborious hee that loueth Christ and his grace will neuer cease to seeke him nor faile to finde him See the promise in Jer. 29. 12 13 Then shall you cry vnto mee and you shall goe and pray vnto mee and I will heare you and you shal seeke me and finde mee because you shall seeke mee with all your heart Who soeuer then euer meaneth to finde God and his saving grace must vnfainedly and hartily seeke after him 2. It must be sought in the likely place and meanes of finding the ordinary place where this Pearl is to be found is the assēblies of the Saints there God holdeth forth his scepter and maketh offer of the grace of life Where was the Church to finde Christ with his graces at noone in her thirst but in the steps of the shepherds And these assemblies are the suburbs of heauen called therefore the Kingdome of grace and he that refuseth the good offers of grace in the word sacraments prayer hearing reading conferring and the like shall neuer find it No wise Merchant will slacke any good opportunity of aduancing his estate now the likely meanes in wise seeking are diligently to be vsed as 1 To search the euidence of the Pearle and this euidence is contained in the Scriptures John 5. Search the Scriptures for they witnessee of me Secondly the grant of it is from heauen by prayer Let vs therefore goe boldly to the Throne of grace that we may find mercy and grace to helpe in time of need HEB. 4. 16. Thirdly the couenant is by the application of these meanes singed and deliuered yea and witnessed by the blessed Spirit of God by a blessed change in the beleeuing heart by mortification and subduing the corruption of nature by heauenly motions heauenly mindednesse and gracious conuersation standing not in a shell a forme or shew but in the kernill power and substance of sound godlinesse Thirdly it must be sought first and principally yea onely sought and that for it selfe it must bee sought first in time As Psa. 63. 3. Early in the morning will I seeke thee The Isralites must seeke Manna the first thing they doe in the morning Esau seeketh but too late the foolish Virgins doe knock but the doore is shut 2. It must be sought in the first place Mat. 6. 33. ●eeke ye first the kingdome of heauen the righteousnesse thereof Seek neither other things before it as worldlings nor other things with it as prophane Epicures who would grasp heauen and earth together nor yet seeke it for other things as Hypocrites who professe the Gospell for fauour credit profit or some other in respect of that base things But seek it alone for it selfe and in sincerity for only such seeking findeth it Neuer will Christ be sought for loaues nor can the same eye looke to heauen and earth together Fourthly it must be sought humbly that is first out of thy selfe a man that wanteth water wil goe to the fountaine the waters of grace must flow from the fountaine and wel-head Christ Iesus seek it therfore in him and from him The eye of faith spyeth it in him and the hand of faith doth take it vp from him Secondly it must bee sought with godly sorrow repentance for sin Isa. 1. 16. Wash you make you cleane take away the euill of your works from before mine eies cease to doe euill Thirdly with reformation of heart and life Ps. 14. 4. The workers of iniquity are vnfit and vnworthy seekers of grace Fifthly it must be songht constantly Mary and Joseph neuer gaue ouer seeking Christ vntill they found him nor the Church till she found him neither must we giue ouer seeking hauing sound grace for it is not in this seeking as in other things where hauing found we rest contented and seeke no more but here hauing found the thing we sought we must seeke still for a Christian is euer wanting of grace if not in whole yet in part if not in substance yet in some degree and measure of it and therefore this worke as the husband mans is neuer at an end This must needs condemne many of vs of extreame folly and sinne how few of vs haue sought after grace as after siluer for siluer we will take great paines rise early goe to bed late and eat the bread of carefulnesse but when doe we so for grace

manners fashions and customes of his own countrey a Christian stranger although he be in the world yet he is not of the world hee is of another corporation and therefore though he walke in the flesh yet hee must not warre according to the flesh He carrieth this body of flesh about him as others doe but he must fight against flesh and the lusts of it contrary to the Patrons and defenders of the corruptions that are in the world through lust The world may and must enioy our presence for a time but must at no time gaine our conformity to it Rom. 12. 2. Fashion not your selues according to this world that is the customes and guizes of it because it lyeth in wickednesse and the Christian is cast into another forme of doctrine and conuersation Art thou now sollicited to follow the lusts and fashions of this world thinke with thy selfe that thou art a stranger here and of another countrey thou liuest vnder other lawes thou maist not cast in thy lot with the wicked of the world nor giue voyce or suffrage in their meetings but be as Lot who though he were in Sodom was not of Sodom but was perpetually vexed with the vncleane conuersation of those wicked men Art thou prouoked to sweare to drinke excessiuely to lye for aduantage to breake the Sabbath for gaine to vncleannesse or any other soule lust Now say to thy selfe I am of the kingdome of light but this is a worke of darknesse this is an vnlawfull act in my Countrey and why should I practise it here seeing my Lord and King must needs know it if I commit treason here against my King and Countrey my King hath informers enow and I shall lose my whole estate there and bee banished out of my Countrey for euer Shall I saith Joseph commit this sinne against my God against my Master Seeing my Master hath kept nothing from me but sinne I will not doe this thing I will not sinne and commit this high wickednesse Fourthly A fourth duty is that seeing we are strangers here to learne to affect our own countrey and highly to esteeme it Euery man by nature loueth his natiue country best neither thinketh himselfe so well in any forraine land and strangers especially hauing parents kindred and great reuenues in their natiue soyle and being hardly intreated where they so●ourne would be glad to returne home and enioy the sight of those whomu they haue long longed to see Euen so the Christian Pilgrim Neuer did Israel more affect and extol their owne countrey in their banishment from it and captiuity in Babylon than the Christian stranger doth affectedly desire and prefer his heauenly Countrey aboue this strange land the Countrey of his captiuity For he discerneth that this is not his Country first That is a mans Country where he was borne brought vp but whence taketh a Christian his spirituall birth or where is he brought vp but in the Church and kingdome of Christ Earth giueth him a birth and being as he is man but as a Christian he is borne of God Secondly againe that is a man● countrey where his parents his ancestors deare kindred dwell and inhabit Now where dwelleth a Christian mans Father but in heauen Where is his elder brother but there Where are all his brethren and sisters sons and daughters of the same parents but there and therefore heauen is his Country Thirdly further that is a mans Countrey where his principall estate and goods are where his patrimony and inheritance lyeth and where is the chiefe portion the treasure the immortall inheri●āce of the Christian but in heauen And where else is his Countrey Now then a Christian considering on the one hand that he is in a strange Countrey and how hardly he hath bin intreated in it and so likely to be still and on the other hand that he hath a home and a father there that loueth him dearely and that his elder brother Iesus Christ and all his spiritual kindred the Saints of God are there And besides that he hath a rich portion and a large patrimony euen an immortall inheritance in heauen how can he choose but to be reared in his affections yea rauished to be there desiring nothing in the world more than to be dissolued hence to be with Christ which is best of all A Traueller hath his minde and thoughts still vpon home and saith with himselfe Home is homely And the Marriner or Sea-faring man in a storme or rough Sea hath his desires on the Shore and his minde is not where his ●ody is So is it with the Christian Passenger his minde is not where his body is and if he cannot get home in the body as soone as he desireth yet in his spirit he will mind heauen and heauenly things he will get as neere home as he can if hee cannot get into the heart of the city hee will be sure to get into the sub●bs the Church of God If hee cannot get suddenly into that Jerusalem which is aboue he will get into the Ierusalem which is from aboue and where his person cannot bee for the time his conuersation and meditation shal be in heauen for where his treasure is there will his heart be also Vse 2. In that wee are strangers with God we learne diuers things 1. The soueraignty and power of God who is the great owner and ruler of the whole earth Kings themselues who are the highest earthly Lords and commanders are but strangers with God for the earth is the Lords and all that therein is And no man sitteth in his owne but are Tenants at will vndre this great Land-Lord The greatest of men yea of Kings are but as Dauid was soiourners in his sight Leuit 15. 23. The Land is his and we are but strangers and soiourners with him 2. We must hence gather out our owne duty towards God in whose Countrey we soiourne and our duty is manifold 1. To aske leaue of God to passe through his Countrey so did Israel of Edom a wicked Prince and people Numb 20. I pray thee that we may passe thorow thy country c. It is fit to ask leaue where no right is Besides that by daily prayer for Gods leaue and fauourable loue in our way we both ascribe vnto God the honour of soueraignty and bounty as also sweeten his mercies which he giueth vs leaue to enioy all which are sanctified to vs by the word and by prayer 2 Binde thy selfe from trespassing in the way and Countrey through which thou passest So did Israel vnto Edom We will not goe through the fields nor the vinyards neitheir will we drinke of the water of the wels we will goe by the Kings way and neither turn to the right hand nor left til we be past thy borders So must the Christian be carefull he transgresse not the lawes of the Countrey in which he soiournes to sturre vp against himselfe the wrath