one Angel to Guard us while we are Travelling through the Wilderness of this World to the Heavenly Canaan we should be strongly guarded But 〈…〉 Secondly How strong is this Guard if you consider the number of Angels if there be so much strength in one Angel what is there in an Host of Angels Jacob calls them Gods Host Jacob went on his Way and the Angels of God met Gen. 32. 1 2. him and when Jacob saw them he said This is Gods Host and they make a numerous Host I heard the Voice of many Angels The Chariots of the Lord are Rev. 5. 11. Psal 68. 17. twenty Thousand even Thousands of Angels Our Saviour saith he could have Mat. 26. 23. prayed to his Father and should have given him more then twelve Legions of Angels If this be not enough the Apostle tells us that there be an innumerable Heb. 12. 22. Company of Angels So now we see that every true Christian hath a strong Life-Guard when all the Angels that excel in might and exceed in number are charged by the Great Commander of Heaven and Earth to Minister to them but they have a stronger Guard yet for Secondly Not only the Angels of God but also the God of Angels is their keeper Behold he that keepeth Israel shall Psal 121. 4 to 8. neither slumber nor sleep The Lord is thy keeper the Lord is thy shade upon thy right Hand The Lord shall preserve thee from all Evil. We read that the Lords Portion Deut. 33. 26 27. is his People and that he keeps them as the Apple of his Eye and surely then they must be well kept the Chap. 30. 9. Lord will Guard them before and behind and round about and then who can hurt them he will be their Vant-Guard The Lord your God which goeth Deut. 1. 30. Isa 52. 12. before you he shall fight for you c. For ye shall not go out with haste nor go by flight for the Lord will go before them and the God of Israel will be your Rereward As the Mountains are round about Jerusalem so the Lord is round about his Psal 125. 2 People from henceforth even for ever So it is clear that the Lord will Guard his People In the next Place that he is a strong Guard I cannot think any arrived at the heighth of Atheism and Impudence as to deny it for if he was Impotent nay if he were not Potent he could not be God But I am speaking to Christians who will be satisfied with Scripture In the Lord Jehovah is Isa 26. 4. Job 9. 19. Everlasting Strength If I speak of Stâ—ength he is strong Our Saviour useth this as an Argument why his Sheep shall never perish My Father which gave them me is stronger than all and none is able to Joh. 10. 29. pluck them out of my Fathers Hand I could produce many more Scriptures as Psalm 24. 8. Psalm 89. 8. but I need not multiply Texts to prove so plain a Truth I shall only mention one more Behold all the Nations of the Earth are as Isa 40. 15. the drop of a Bucket and are accounted as the small Dust of the Ballance But this doth not sufficiently set forth the Power of the Omnipotent therefore it is said All the Nations before him are as nothing ver 17. but this doth not reach it neither and therefore it follows they are counted to be less then nothing and Vanity So you see what his Word saith but we may further consider his Infinite Power by his Works He is the great God who made Heaven Gen. 1. and Earth out of nothing who shaketh the Earth out of her Place And the Mountains melt before him Who hath gathered the Wind in his Fist Who hath measured Judg. 5. 5. Prov. 30. 4. Isa 40. 12. the Waters in the hollow of his Hand and â—meted out the Heavens with a Span and comprehended the Dust of the Earth in a Measure and weighed the Mountains in Scales and the Hills in a Ballance The Sea retreats at his Command and the Rock becomes a standing Water and the Psal 114. 8. Flint a Fountain The Pillars of Heaven tremble and are astonished at his Reproof Job 26. 11 and Hell is naked before him Lo these are the Parts of his Ways but how little a Portion is heard of him But the Thunder of his Power who can understand Consider further what Acts of his Power God hath put forth from Time to Time for the Safety and Preservation of his People He hath restrained the Fire from Burning and the Water from Dan. 3. Ezek. 14. 21. Dan. 6. 22. Drowning and the Hungry Lions from Devouring them He hath put a Hook into the Nostrils of the most inraged Enemies hath reproved Kings for their sake yea for their sake He smote great Psal 136. 17 18. Kings and slew famous Kings And lastly He hath reserved their greatest Enemies the Devils in Chains to the Judgment of the Great Day Behold what Jude 6. safety have all the Saints who have this God to be their Lord Protector He can raise all the Posse of Heaven and Earth for the safe Conduct of those who are Travelling to his Kingdom but if he Arm the least and most contemptible Creatures they shall be strong enough to secure them and destroy their Adversaries By this Time I hope thou art satisfied that the Children of God are well Guarded in their Journey towards Heaven and therefore it will follow clearly that they need not fear being hindred in their Way nor robbed of their Treasure What God saith to Abraham he saith to all who are Children of Abraham Fear not I am thy Shield Sure he must needs be safe who is sub Omnipotentis clypeo under the Buckler of the Almighty Well then Christian go on thy Way with Courage and Chearfulness What is it that thou Fearest Is it Satan Why the Lord shall trample him under thy Feet shortly for the Gates of Hell shall not prevail Mat. 16. 18. against any of his Dost thou fear Men the Lord is on thy side what can Flesh do unto thee Thy Protector can look all thy Enemies into Confusion as he did Proud Pharaoh and all his Host or consume Exo. 14. 24. them with the Breath of his Nostrils Do thou keep on in Heavens way and all the Power of Earth and Hell shall never be able to keep thee out of Heaven For the Lord shall preserve thee by his Power through Faith unto Salvation 1 Pet. 1. 5. CHAP. XVIII Though the Traveller find good Entertainment at his Inn yet he takes not up his abode there but is Restless till he come to his own Home A Wise Christian looks upon this World as his Inn and takes it but in transitu in his Way to a better World He doth not say It is good to be here Let us build Tabernacles but
of the Plague of the Heart Well then be perswaded to set out for Eccl. 12. 1. Heaven in the Morning of thy Days sacrifice the first Fruits of thy Time to God Remember thy Creator in the Days of thy Youth Say not with Austin before his Conversion Da Domine Poenitentiam sed non ad huc Lord give me Repentance but not yet But rather cry out as he did after Conversion Lord why not now why not now Plutarch reports of one who in the midst of his Feasting and Jollity received a Letter which gave him notice that his Life was in present Danger he put up the Letter in his Pocket saying Seria Cras I will think of serious Matters to Morrow do not thou say after him least it cost thee the Life of thy Soul as it did him the Life of his Body for he was poyson'd at that Dinner but do thou labour to say as another once did Cur avi in Juventutâ— ut benè viverem in Senectute ut benè moriar I took care in my Youth to livâ— well and in Old-age to die well And learn this Lesson of the Wise Traveller He that sets out most Early will finâ— his Journey most Easie CHAP. V. He that hath Loitered or Deferred setting out his Journey in the Forenoon must double his Pace in the Afternoon I Have endeavoured in the Application of the foregoing Observation to give thee serious Advice to set out in thy Journey towards Heaven in the Morning of thine Age and certainly this would make thy Journey much more easie and comfortable and would free thee from many Fears and Doubts and prevent much Sorrow and Grief of Heart but if this Counsel come too late and thou hast loitered and deferred to begin thy Journey in the Forenoon of thy Day then learn this Lesson of the â—arthly Traveller to make all the speed thou canst in the Afternoon since thou hast set out late make the more haste now thou art on thy Way Run like Ahimaaz who though he did set out after Cushi yet over-ran him 2 Sam. 18. 23. and got before him labour to overtake those who were in Christ before thee give double Diligence to make thy Calling 2 Pet. 1. 10. and Election sure labour to redeem the Time and to abound in the Work of the 1 Cor. 15. 58. Phil. 2. 12. Lord to make thy Religion thy business and to Work out thy own Salvation with Fear and Trembling And what Advice I give to thee herein I desire to give it to my own Soul For I must acknowledge and I desire to do it with shame and sorrow that in the Days of my Youth I walked after the Fashion of this World and after the Lusts of mine own Heart and have even wearied my self in ways of Wickedness but as for the pleasant Ways and peaceful Paths of God my corrupt Heart accounted them too strict and did wholly decline themâ— Oh that my Head were Water and mine Eyes a Fountain of Tears that I might weep Day and Night for my great Folly and Madness How can I sufficiently bewail it if it were with Tears of Blood that I should so miserably mispend the Prime of mine Age and put my self so much behind-Hand in my Journey towards Everlasting Happiness that while my Understanding Memory Affections and all the Faculties of my Soul were lively and vigorous and fit for â—he Service of my God I should serve â—ivers Lusts and Pleasures and that while I enjoyed Youth and Health and â—trength I should not take one step in Heavens-way How did Pride and â—assion and Wantonness and Volupâ—uousness devour my precious Time and â—y Heart too How often have I spent â—he whole Day in Hunting or Bowling â—nd a great part of the Night in Danâ—ing and Carding sure this was not the â—ay to Heaven Oh the Infinite Mercy â—nd Patience of my God that had not â—hen cut me off and made me to reap â—he Fruit of mine own Ways But O my Soul how canst thou sufficiently admire the free Grace and infinite Goodâ—ess of my Blessed God! who stopped â—hee in thy Carrear towards Hell and â—urned thy Feet into the Way of Peace Consider now what thou hast to do Bless the Lord O my Soul and all that Psal 103. 1. within me bless his Holy Name Who hath opened thy Eyes at last and hath given thee an Heart to forsake the Ways of Death and to chuse the Way of Life Be heartily humbled and bewail that thou hadst not set out sooner in so Good so Sweet and so Holy a way and that thou didst so linger in Sodom and wer 't Content to abide so long aâ— it were in the Suburbs of Hell anâ— now thou art in the Right Way walâ— on chearfully in it lift up thy feeblâ— Knees and make straight Paths Thinâ— thou canst never do enough for thaâ— God who hath done so much for Theeâ— since he hath set thy Heart at Liberty do thou run the Ways of his Commandments since thou hast done 〈◊〉 much against him in the former paâ—â— of thy Life labour to do the more foâ— him in the remaining Part that sâ— though thou didst set out late thoâ— maist with Safety and Comfort arrive 〈◊〉 thy Journeys end For shame do noâ— thou whose Feet were as Hinds Feet 〈◊〉 the Way of Sin creep on a Snails pacâ— in the Ways of God Now Christiaâ— who readest these Lines if thou haâ— obtained that special Grace and Favouâ— to be Converted and brought into thâ— Right Way in the Days of thy Youtâ— O Live in Admiration of the Riâ—â— Grace of God and shew thy thankfuâ—â—ness by walking chearfully in his Way But thou art in my Condition if thoâ— hast neglected to seek the Kingdom 〈◊〉 God in the first Place and to walk 〈◊〉 the way of Holiness which leads 〈◊〉 that Kingdom as I have done Let us now set to it with our whole Heart Let us now forsake our wicked Ways and Isa 55. 7. unrighteous Thoughts and let us return to â—he Lord and he will have Mercy upon us and to our God and he will abundantly Pardon Let us who have brought forth â—one but bitter Fruits in our Youth bring â—orth the Fruit unto Holiness in our Old-Age and then our End shall be Everâ—asting Life Let us learn this Lesson â—rom our Horse for the Lord sends us â—o School to the Bruit Creatures tho' â—e seem weary and tired yet when he â—nows he is come near his Journeys End â—e will mend his Pace and go with â—ew Mettle and Courage CHAP. VI. A Traveller is many times put out of his Way by false Directions A Christian had need be very Circumspect in his walking and orâ—er his Steps according to the Infallible Rule of God's Word for he will meet with many Seducers and Opposers who will endeavour to put him out of hiâ— way The three grand Seducers 〈◊〉 the Devil a Man 's own Lusts and thâ— World First The
Mat. 17. 4. he useth the World as if he used it not If God giveth him Riches a plentiful Estate a convenient Habitation kind Relations he blesseth God and saith This is a good Inn But this is not my Home this is not my Heaven I desire to be thankful that I find so good Entertainment in my Way but I look for better at my Journeys End I have cause to bless God that I meet with so fair Quarter here where I am a Stranger but I expect far better when I come to my Home and to my Fathers House and therefore I long to be there When a Traveller comes to his Inn though he like his Chamber very well yet he doth not send for rich Tapestry and Hangings and other Ornaments to furnish and adorn it for he considers that he is to lodge there but one Night and then must resign it to another So a Saint of God who is a Citizen of Heaven though he may enjoy comfortable Accommodations here on Earth yet he looks upon them all as â—uch as he must shortly part with and leave to others and therefore endeavours that his Heart may sit loose from them If he hath a goodly House on Earth he knows he must shortly be turned out of it and therefore he looks out for a House not made with Hands Eternal in the Heavens and for a Mansion which Christ is gone to prepare for him and though he hath 2 Cor. 5. John 14. 12. a very fair earthly Inheritance yet he knows he is but a Tenant at will and therefore he looks for a Heavenly For 1 Pet. 1. 4. an Inheritance incorruptible undefiled that fadeth not away reserved in Heaven for him If he be as Rich as Solomon was yet he knows that these are uncertain Riches and will soon take Wings and be gone and therefore he looks after durable Riches and Treasures in Heaven which no Rust can corrupt no Thieves 1 Tim. 6. 17. rob them of Though he hath Dear Friends and Relations on Earth yet he Mat. 6. 20. knows he hath better Friends and Relations in Heaven and upon these Considerations he useth the World but as a thorough-Fare and seeks for a better Country even a Heavenly But how is it with Heb. 11. 16. the greater Part of Men Do they use the World as if they used it not Do they use it as a Traveller doth his Inn Surely no but they use it as a sottish Drunkard doth the Ale-house where you may find them Day and Night where they spend all their Time and all their Substance too Alas most Men make the World their Home their Portion their Heaven their God This World hath all their Hearts all their Thoughts all their Care all their Time all their Affections In the mean Time God Heaven and their immortal Souls are wholly neglected God is not in all their Thoughts the Children of God make them Friends of the unrighteous Mammon but the Children of this World make Mammon their God When the Rich Fools Wealth and Corn came flowing in upon him he takes up his Rest in them Soul saith he Take thine Ease thou hast Goods laid up for Luke 12. many Years But when God had established good Jehosaphat in the Kingdom 2 Chron. 18. 1. 2 Chron. 17. 6. and blessed him with Riches and Honour in abundance his Heart was not lifted up with these things but his Heart was lifted up in the Ways of the Lord. A real Christian should use all the Comforts and Enjoyments of this World as they may be helps and not hinderances to him in his Way to a better World He saith with Luther Nolo sic satiari I will not be so satisfied I will not be put off with these things and with Austin Domine nolo omnia quae dedisti nisi das teipsum qui dedisti omnia Lord I will not be content with all that thou hast given me unless thou givest me thy self who hast given me all His Soul is unsatisfied with all his earthly Enjoyments and he is restless till he comes to Heaven which he counts his Home to the immediate and Everlasting Enjoyment of God in Glory CHAP. XIX Many a Traveller hath been ready to faint in his Way and to fear that he should never reach his Journeys end who yet hath attained it with Safety THis Chapter is very applicable to a Christian in his Journey to Heaven in both the Parts of it First Is not he subject to fainting fits while he is in his Earthly Pilgrimage Is he not full of Doubts and Fears that he shall never hold out to the End Doth he not sometimes fear least his evil Heart of unbelief will cause him to depart from Heb. 3. 12. the Living God least a Promise being made of entring into Rest he should Heb. 4. 5. come short of it Sometimes his Lusts and Corruptions are so impetuous and violent that he cries out These Sons of Zerviah will be too hard for me sometimes the Devil pursues him with such hideous Temptations and Hellish Injections that he saith in his Heart I shall â—one Day perish by the Hand of Satan Sometime he is under Spiritual Desertion he sits in Darkness and sees no Light He hath no Sense nor feeling of the Love and Favour of God and then his Heart fails him and then he saith with Jonah I am cast out of thy sight Jonah 2. 4. and in this Condition he is so far from being Confident that he shall attain the end of his Journey that he fears he was never yet in his right Way he calls all in Question and thinks that his Repentance and turning from Sin proceeded only from legal Terrours and from the Conviction of a natural Conscience and not from the Work of saving Grace He bears false Witness against himself and makes desperate Conclusions that he is a Hypocrite a Cast-a-way one of the Foolish Virgins that shall be shut out of Heaven for ever And this I think doth plainly prove the first Point that a Christian is apt to be surprized with fainting in his Way towards Heaven and to fear that he shall never attain his Journeys End These things may seem Riddles and Paradoxes to the Mad World and may be to them matter oâ— Scorn and Derision but those who arâ— acquainted with the Ways of God and with the Method of his carrying on the Work of Grace upon the Hearts of hiâ— People do know that these are experimental Truths But Secondly Though a Child of God be in this Condition though he seem to despair that ever he shall hold out till he comes to Heaven Yet he shall assuredly attain it with Safety and Comfort David said in his Heart and we may say in haste too I shall one Day perish by the Hands of Saul but we know he did not nay indeed he could not for the faithful God had promised that he should succeed Saul in the Kingdom So
Good Jacob calls his Life a Pilgrimage and saith That the Days of it were Few and Evil Gen. 47. 9. that is full of Affliction and so they were He was fain while Young to fly from his own Countrey or else his own Brother would have been his Murderer Gen. 27. 41 42. being gone what harsh and unfaithful dealings did he meet with from Churlish Laban what hardship did he undergo Night and Day and how ill was he requited His Wife was changed once Gen. 29. 23. Gen. 31. 7. and his Wages ten Times At his return how terribly was he frighted when he heard of his Brother coming to meet him with four hundred Men What bitter Crosses had he afterward in his Children Reuben defiled his Fathers Bed Gadding Dinah was Ravished Simeon and Levi were Brethren in Iniquity in a cruel and bloody Act Judah committed Incest His Darling Joseph was as he conceived Torn in Pieces with Wild Beasts and at last he must part with his Beloved Benjamin too upon hazardous Terms or he and his Family must perish with Famine all these things were against him and were like to bring down his Gray-hairs with Sorrow to the Grave so that he might well say the Days of his Pilgrimage were evil Next see how it was with David a Man after Gods own Heart while he was a Stranger and a Sojourner here as all his Fathers were His Life was so full Psal 39. 12. of troubles that I believe he enjoyed more quiet while he was a Shepherds Boy then he did all his Life after before he came to the Crown he was hunted up and down by Saul and after he came to the Crown by Absolom It were endless to give you a particular Relation of his Sorrows of Sauls Injuries of Nabals Reproaches Shimei's Railings and Cursings Michals Mocking Doegs Treachery his great Dangers and Fears while he was with Achish his very great Distress at Ziglag his many bitter Crosses and Afflictions in his Children and Family and the trouble he had with his great Commanders the Sons of Zerviah so thou seest what a troublesome Passage he also had through this Valley of Tears I shall mention one more in the Old Testament and that is Job a Man who had this Character from the Mouth of God himself That he was Perfect and Vpright and one that feared God and eschewed Evil What entertainment did he meet with while he was Travelling through this World How was he used by the Caldeans and Sabeans What sad Counsel did his Wife give him What miserable Job 2. 9. Comforters were his Friends to him But I shall not enlarge for as the Apostle saith You have heard of the Patience of Job so I may say we have heard of the Afflictions of Job If thou desirest any more Instances of Old Testament Saints Read the 11th Chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews which is called a little Book of Martyrs and there thou wilt have enough who all confessed They were Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth Then consider how it was with 2 Cor. 5. 20. New Testament Saints whether they had a more easie Journey or a more smooth Passage Paul and the rest of the blessed Apostles who were Ambassadors sent from the great God of Heaven and Earth to offer poor sinful Creatures Terms and Conditions of Peace and to beseech them in Christs stead to be reconciled to God to proclaim a Pardon and an Act of Oblivion to Rebels and Traitors if they will lay down their Arms and come in and accept of it one would think should be well treated and kindly dealt with for their Message sake but none were treated worse where-ever they came they were used like Rogues they were Whipt and put into the Stocks nay as if they had been the greatest Malefactors they were cast into Prisons and Dungeons they were Stoned and put to several kind of Deaths you may see a Catalogue of Pauls Sufferings 2 Cor. 11. from ver 22. to 30. I shall add but one Instance more and that is beyond all the rest our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ when he took our Flesh upon him and came into the World upon the most blessed Errand that ever was viz. to save Sinners What Entertainment did he find here One would think that if they had no Care of their Souls yet Christs feeding their Bodies and healing all their Diseases should have procured him very good Quarter among them but it was far otherwise the Kings of the Earth set themselves and the Rulers took Counsel together against this Christum Domini this anointed of the Lord the High-Priest and Priests and People all conspired together against him and they never left till they had brought him to the Cross I shall forbear to mention his particular Sufferings because I intend Brevity But in General he was persecuted from the Cradle to the Grave and though he knew no Sin yet he knew more Sorrow and Sufferings then all the Saints that ever were upon the Earth put together And he hath told us we must look to be troubled as he was So now Isa 53. 3. Mat. 10. 24. this is clear that the Children of God in this World are like Travellers in a strange Land where they must look to be dealt with as Strangers and to suffer many Injuries and Hardships But Christian let not this discourage thee for though thou meet with much toil and trouble in the way yet thou wilt meet with none at the end of it but with Everlasting Rest Joy and Glory CHAP. XII He that Travels about Business which highly concerns him resolves to gâ— through all Difficulties and Discouragements A Christians Journey is of vast and infinite Concernment to him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 about business of absolute Necessity that must be done or he is undone It concerns no less than the Eternal Happiness or Misery of his immortal Soul He â—s Travelling for Heaven for a Crown for a Kingdom He is flying from Hell from the Wrath to Come from Everlasting Burnings and therefore it concerns him to Arm himself with invinâ—ible Courage to go through thick and â—hin to overcome all Oppositions and Discouragements which he shall meet with in the Way and so the Lords Worthies of old have done approving 2 Cor. 6. 4 5. themselves as Servants of God in much Paâ—ience in Afflictions in Necessities in Diâ—resses in Stripes in Imprisonments in Tumults in Labours in Watchings in Fastings A slothful Man saith There is 〈◊〉 Lyon in the way Daniel will not fear Prov. 26. 13. â—o go on though there be a Den of Lyâ—ns in his Way this shall not fright â—im to forbear Praying to his God â—hough but for a few Days then to make â—ne Prayer less then aforetime So the Three Children of God would rather Dan. 3. go into the fiery Furnace then go out of their Way Joshua and Caleb were â—ot discouraged with Walled Cities â—nd the Mighty Giants but
Holy Brethren this is oâ— of your great Professors that would reâ—prove another if he did but Swear aâ— Oath or if he did but Drink a merâ— Cup or two with his Friends and noâ— he hath done a great deal worse himselfâ— you may see what they all are for theâ— are all alike though some can carry 〈◊〉 more closely and smoothly then otherâ— What Reason Ingenuity or Honestâ— is there in such arguing Judas was 〈◊〉 Devil what therefore must all Chrisâ— Disciples be Devils Surely none bâ— the Devils Schollars would make suâ— an Argument besides by what falâ— Rule do they judge the Person offenâ—ing For they judge him by one singâ— Act of his Life which if he belong 〈◊〉 God he will be deeply humbled foâ— and obtain the Pardon of when in tâ— mean time they condemn those as ceâ— sorious and uncharitable who judge their present State by a right Rule namely by the constant course and tenour of their whole Conversation While there be so many mocking Ishmaels so many Railing Shimei's and Ranting Rabshekahs in the World the Children of God must look for Railing and Reviling But Christian despise them all and imitate the Traveller who regards not the Barking of every Cur but keeps on his Way till he comes to his Journeys end or rather imitate the generous Horse which when the Dogs follow him with Balling is so far from slackning his Pace that he mends it and Gallops on the faster so let the Calumnies and Slanders of evil Men cause thee to be more careful and wary that thou go not out of thy Way and the more resolutely to hold on thy Way till thou come to Heaven where thou shalt have Admission but Dogs shall be shut out Rev. 22. 15. CHAP. XIV He that Vndertakes a long Journey and through difficult Passages had need to be a strong Man and well provided for his Journey IN the Application of this I shall endeavour to shew 1. That the Christians Journey to Heaven is a long Journey 2. That he will meet with many Difficulties in his Passage 3. That therefore he had need to strengthen and prepare himself for it First A Christians Journey is a long Journey It is not a Days Journey or a Week or a Months or a Years Journey but it is a Life's Journey His Journey and his Life should begin and end together We should seek the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness in the first Place nay we should seek this First and Last and all our Life all our Days on Earth should be spent in fitting us for Heaven and making us meet to be Partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light We read that the Angel said to the Prophet Elijah Arise and eat for thy Joâ—rney 1 Kings 19. 7. is great and the Angel said to him the second Time Arise and eat for thy Journey is too great for thee And he arose and did eat and drink and went in the Strength of that Meat forty Days and forty Nights unto Horeb the Mount of God So I say unto thee Christian arise and strengthen thy self with Spiritual Food for thy Spiritual Journey is great yea I say unto thee again arise and eat not of the Bread which Perisheth but of that which endureth unto Everlasting Life for thy Journey is too great for thee unless thou be assisted with Strength from above Therefore arise and feed by Faith on the Lord Jesus who is the Bread of Life strengthen thy self in the Word of God and the sweet Promises of the Gospel and in the strength of this Meal thou shalt be able to go all the Days and Nights of thy Life till thou come to Heaven so thou seest thy Journey is great â—condly Thou wilt meet with many Difficulties and rough Passages in thy Way why else doth the Word of God require striving wrestling labouring working circumspect walking giving all diligence c. Sure the Way to Heaven is not a smooth Way though it be a clean Way Thou dost not know with what hideous and hellish Temptations Satan may assault thee Thou knowest not how impetuous and unruly thy Corruptions may grow Thou knowest not with what outrage and cruelty the World may pursue thee And therefore thou hadst need to strengthen thy self with Zeal and Courage least thy Heart fail thee in thy Journey as the Israelites did at the Report which the Spies brought them What if thy Faith should be tried as Abraham's was What if thy Patience should be tried as Jobs was What if thy Love to Christ should be tried by this viz Whether thou wilt leave House Brethren Sisters Father Mother Mat. 19. 29. Luke 14. 33. Wife Children Lands and all thou hast for his sake and the Gospels What if the fiery Tryal should come upon thee Or thou must resist unto Blood striving against Heb. 12. 4. Sin Would not these things try what mettle thou art made of And would they not require Strength and Resolution to undergo them And these Christian thou maist meet with in thy way to Heaven if thou come there And therefore Thirdly Since we have a great Journey to go and since we may nay we must expect to meet with so many and so great Difficulties in our Way had we not need to be Men of Courage and Strength to be strong in the Lord and in Heb. 6. 10. Gal. 6. 9. the Power of his might that so we may not be weary of well doing but may persevere in the Way of Holiness and hold out to the end that we may be saved Had we not need lay aside every weight Heb. 12. 2 3. and every Sin which do so easily beset us and run with Patience the Race that is set before us Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith who for the Joy that was set before him endured the Cross and despised the shame and now is set down at the Right Hand of the Throne of God Therefore Christian the work we have to do if we will keep on in Heavens way and to finish our course with Joy is to follow the Apostles Exhortation To grow in Grace and that is to be done 2 Pet. 3. 18. two ways Addendo Augendo First By adding one Grace to another Giving Diligence to add to your Faith Vertue 2 Pet. 1. 5. and to Vertue Knowledge and to Knowledge Temperance and to Temperance Patience and to Patience Godliness and to Godliness Brotherly-kindness and to Brotherly-kindness Charity Secondly By encreasing every Grace we have we beseech 1 Thes 4. 10. you Brethren that you encrease more and more Let us get all the Grace we can we may have need to use it all before we die The Times may be such that weak Grace will not serve the turn weak Grace will not be able to encounter strong Temptations It is ill trusting to a weak and tattered Ship when the Seas are raging and the Storms boysterous Weak Grace