the body of a Mortall made an Immortall body of a Corruptible an Incorruptible of a Naturall a Spirituall of a Weak a Powerfull of a Deformed a Beautifull A Body shining as the Stars the Soul in glory exceeding the Body as far as the Moon exceeds the Stars Christ in brightnesse exceeding all as far as the Sun the Moon Thus it shall be done to the Man whom the King of Glory will honour At the last doom will Mountains burn Devills mourn Man shall be mounted up with Angells and Christ the Archangell towards Heaven Open ye Gates be ye opened ye everlasting Gates and let the King of Glory come in with all his troops of Glory Say all Creatures what is any Creature What is Man Lord what is Man that thou conferrest this glory upon him Sing all Creatures Men Angells with Hymns Anthems Hallilujah's keep an everlasting Sabbath of Thanksgiving with Holy holy holy Lord God of Sabbaths heaven and earth are full of the majesty of thy glory To thee we give all Honour and Glory both now and for evermore A SERMON Preached before the Generall of all the Forces of South-Wales and the West of England The Text Matth. Cap. 13. v. 45 46. Again the Kingdome of Heaven is like unto a Merchant man seeking goodly Pearls Who when he had found one Pearl of great price he went and sold all that he had and bought it HEAVEN is not feisable for mony then shall an earthly price run in equipage with it Well might this seem a Paradox if it were not a Parable That 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Cor. 4. 17. excessive weight above transcends our Scales below Earth is but an Atome and what we see is scarce worth to make an Emblem of what we hope to see Well said Empedâ—cles Terra terram inspicimus aeihere aetherem In an earthen Globe we see the earth's Diameter and in a paper-Sphear the Circle of the Sphears A Mapp displaies the World Counters the revenues of a Crown and if we look up higher a Pearl a Palm of Victory For The Kingdome ef Heaven is like a Merchant-man seeking goodly Pearls Seek saies our Saviour and you shall finde and if ought this Pearl is worth the scrutiny Earth hath her pretious Stones the Sea her Pearls then what hath Heaven The World is a Sea the Church a Ship sailing for Pearles and bound for Heaven the Haven The Pixis of our Saviours speech through this whole Chapter points at this Pole In the first verse we finde Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the Sea In the second 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 entring into a Ship and that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on the Sea And here resembling Heaven 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to a Merchant-man trafficking by Sea Scripture hath her rich Mines oâ— Rhetorick and in every Mine a Mystery This sweet conflux of the History with the Allegory was not for nothing Well then make on for this Kingdome Christ is the Gate the Word the Way the Key This Key hath many Wards In the third Verse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Parable of the Sower 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the 24. another Parable of the Tares 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the 33. another Parable of the Leaven 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 44. Again the Kingdome of Heaven is like unto a hâ—dden Treasure And in the Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Again the Kingdome of Heaven is like unto a Merchant-man A Parable a Parable and then another Parable Again and again and all these Parables and Againes but Parallelisms to Heaven Line upon Line and Precept upon precept Lord how blinde are our eyes that need so many Lamps to enlighten them The three first pointed at the power of the Gospell the fourth at the price this fifth at the superlative transcendency of the price Gold is the best of Mettalls Pearles better than Gold Heaven is like Pearles nay the best of Pearles The Kingdome of Heaven c. Parables had their birth in Paradise He shall bruise thy heel and thou shalt break his head Gen 3. 15. Plato commends them in his Dialogues and does not Christ They are fit similitudes or if you will comparisons That which no mortall eye hath seen and such is Heaven must be made known by that which hath been seen Princes send Pictures to inform their Paramours Some things sublimed above a mortall reach must be read below in Characters proportioned as the Sun's splendour in a Pail or as Medusa's head is fained in Perseus glittering Shield Moses his face must have a Vail before he can be spoke with These are three-fold Typicall as foretelling Apologicall as illustrating Methologicall as instructing This Parable is all by Faith giving forefight by Knowledge sight by Sanctification insight into Heaven Then take up this Optick-glasse The Kingdome of Heaven is like c. The parts in generall of this Apologue are two First 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the thing that is compared or like Secondly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to what it is compared or like The thing that is likened is the Kingdome of Heaven the thing to which it is likened is a Merchant-man seeking goodly Pearles The Antapodosis or reddition to the former part is not expressed but by collection to be gathered from the latter As Synchronisms so Parallelisms that begin together must needs end together Thus then take the Diagramma First a man under sin is compared to a Merchant-man Secondly his seeking of some good things as omnia appetunt bonum to seeking of goodly Pearls Thirdly the price of glory in Heaven being found is compared to that one Pearl of great Price the Merchant found Fourthly as the Merchant sold all that he had to buy that Pearle so must we forsake all Earthly things for this Heavenly Pearle A Christian then is as a Merchant probable good things as Pearls Heaven is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that most pretious of Pearles thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by inversion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by alternation These are the two passions the Philosopher makes of a Parable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one thing alike irradiates another For as face answers to face in a Glasse so the Kingdome of Heaven to this Pearl For the Kingdome of Heaven is like c. Of these Parts by Divine assistance and your Christian patience in order so using the Similitude as Painters their Shadowes to illustrate the Portraicture of the Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saies St. Chrysostom In Apologues we must have an eye at the Authors purpose lest by too curious inquisition we wring out blood Thus then take the Paraphrase as a Chart to direct our Compasse in the future discourse St. Jerom by goodly Pearles understands the godly Precepts of the Law and the Prophets by that one Pearl of great price the precious blood of our Saviour by which we were bought with a price The Merchant sold all to purchase this Pearl so with St. Paul we must forsake
continuance by reason of our unthankfulnesse all places have become Aceldamaes houses of blood fields of blood ditches of blood towns of blood Churches of blood in this land that was once Insula pacis an Island of peace Lord water our eyes with tears of godly sorrow like Gideon's fleece while others are drie that we may be drie saved from those waters of afflictions wherein others are drowned beget in us fruits of contrition worthy of repentance and then repent that thou hast sent this spirit of division and destroying Angell amongst us Secondly this necessity of afflictions may comfort Gods children in all troubles on this consideration that afflictions are sent of God consecrated by his Son Jesus Christ suffered of all Saints that are now triumphant in Heaven that he that sowes in tears shall reap in joy that he that wears a Crown of thorns with Christ here shall wear a Crown of glory with him in heaven hereafter Seriously meditating in our hearts that God afflicts us not in fury but in mercy and that for these ends 1. That he may draw us from the Love of the world 2. That he may cure our spirituall sicknesses 3. That he may preserve us from fearfull falling into damnable sins 4. That he may deliver us from the wrath to come and the torments of hell 5. To try and examine the sincerity of our faith 6. To make us run unto God the fountain of living waters 7. That God might shew his outstreched arme in delivering us 8. That they may be sanctified to the increase of our glory Now our afflictions are of two sorts either internall in soul or externall these either in our names or in our goods or in our persons here we have comfort against all Is any in prison look upon the Irons entring into Joseph's soul and yet delivered Is any in banishment look upon David restored from thence to a Kingdom Is any hungred starved naked full of soars look upon Lazarus in Abraham's bosome Is any afflicted with losse of goods health children look upon Job's triumph after misery Does any suffer for conscience sake look upon the crowned Martyrs in heaven Is any a man of sorrowes look upon Christ before whose Throne Angells Saints and Cherubims throw down their Crownes and Palms of glory Thirdly the necessity of afflictions may teach us not basely to fear them but rather fear sin that laies us naked to Gods fierce indignation and the malice of our enemies fear indiscretion that creates unto us many needlesse troubles fear superstition and ignorance for that makes a man mistake his cause fear singularity and presumption so as to rest upon our own sufficiency These are worse then affliction as much as the sin is worse then the punishment Fourthly the necessity of them may make us lift up our eyes at Him that rules the wheel of providence No affliction springs out of the dust but comes from God he hath tempered the cup and said Drink this Christ could not escape it though he besought it thrice with tears and then shall we Our sins deserved afflictions to the full God turned them to our good Moses at the first called the Rod his but when he had wrought miracles with it it was God's The rod of affliction is Gods let us therefore kisse it Thy rod and thy staffe saith David hath comforted me Swine feed upon Acorns and look not up at the Tree Doggs snarl at the stone and mind not the hand that threw it But David minded Shimei not so much that cursed him as God that sent that shame upon him A Christian that makes this right use of afflictions is the worlds wonder with the bush in which Jehovah appeared to Moses he burns and yet consumes not Hananiah the false Prophet broke off the timber yoke from Jeremie's neck but had one of iron put upon his own He that burnes God's Rod shall be beatt with Scorpions Fifthly if this life be a passage through the wildernesse of afflictions then here we are not perfect as we would be The word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 passe through afflictions Every passage is a motion every motion as the Philosopher said is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an imperfect act moving for an end running for a goal this end this goal is the Kingdom of God for We must through much affliction enter into the Kingdom of God So the second Proposition offers it selfe That through these afflictions or waters of Marah we shall at length come to heaven This is somewhat sweeter and sugars the former therefore I beseech you observe it For a storm here we shall have a calm for Christ's crosse an eternall Crown our nights of mourning shall be turned into Halcyon daies for months of affliction we shall have years of jubilee for a rod of correction we shall have a palme of victory our mournfull Elegies of lamentation shall be turned into Hallelujah's of consolation With this Athanasius comforted the Saints under Iulian's persecution that affliction was but nubecula citò transitura a storm that would quickly end in a sunshine or calm So did our Saviour his disciples Matth. 5. 10. Blessed are they that suffer persecution for righteousnesse sake for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven Nay as if they were already in the suburbs of glory v. 12. Rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven Take up the perspective glasse of Faith and look towards Heaven and there you shall see the noble Army of Martyrs Prophets Apostles Evangelists set down with Abraham Isaac and Iacob in the Kingdome of God yet if you look at their journall towards heaven you may trace them by their blood These afflictions are sometimes called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 passions but such passions as are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lessons of no lesse than Christ and his kingdome Here they are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of straitnesse elsewhere 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of narrownesse Matth. 7. 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 strait is the gate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 narrow is the way But it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 leading unto life into a heavenly Canaan that flowes with milk and hony Hony in the Bee is not without the sting neither the Kingdome of God without affliction 2 Cor. 4. 17. we have an unparallel'd parallelism of these two This light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding great and eternall weight of glory Here they are both cast into the scales and their weights duely poysed where first consider the difference between the subjects or things weighed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 worldly affliction is cast into the one scale and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 heavenly glory into the other Secondly their quantities and that either durationis of continuance affliction is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 momentary for a day glory is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 everlasting for ever or molis of weight affliction is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
21. which St. Paul presses Heb. 12. 1 2. Let us 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 crosse and despised the shame Fourthly these sharp humours have run in all the veines of the mysticall body of Christ hitherto no afflictions befall us but such as are accomplished in our brethren that are in the world Joseph was in prison Daniel in the Lion's den the three Children in the fiery furnace Job on the dunghill Lazarus prostrate at the rich Man's gates the blessed Virgin 's heart was pierced with a sword the Apostles in the gaole And we have a promise that the God of all grace after we have suffered a while will make us perfect stablish strengthen and settle us And that God of his fidelity will not suffer us to be tempted above that we are able but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that we may be able to bear it Fiftly God hath put bounds to the storms of this troublesome Sea huc usque thus far the waves shall rage and no further Thirty years were appointed the sick man at Bethesda's pool twelve years to the woman with the bloody issue three months to Moses ten daies of tribulation to the Angell of the Church of Smyrna three daies plague to Dâ—vid Yea the number of the godly mans tears are registred in Gods book and the quantity kept in his bottle they are but a showr that will end in sun-shine a troublesome torrent that will waft us to the haven of rest Be faithfull unto death and thou shalt receive a Crown of life Sixtly we are called to give an account of our Stewardship how we have improved our Talent to repetitions in Christs school to see how much faith patience and godlinesse we have learned all this while and whether we cannot like â—ob receive at the hand of God some evill as well as we have hitherto received a confluence of good As therefore we have alwaies prayed Thy will be done so let us not be now offended at this which is done by his holy will Seventhly meditate that all things shall work together for the best to them that love God insomuch that neither death nor life nor Angells nor principalities nor powers shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Every pang is a prevention of hellish pains every sanctified respite an earnest of heavens rest It is but the Crosse of Christ sent before to câ—ucifie the love of the world in us let us therefore with Simon of Cyrene carry it after him the pains will shortly passe the joy will never passe away Lastly consider there is no equality no proportion betwixt the houre of temptation here and the everlasting jubilee hereafter As is the centre to the circumference an instant to eternity a molehill to a mountain a drop of water to the sea so are the Saints crosses to their crownes as is the earth little or nothing in respect of heaven so is our earthly sufferings in respect of it therefore glory is called the kingdome of God of the Father of Heaven Abraham's bosom Matth. 8. 11. it 's called a Paradise of pleasure wherein is the Tree of life the house of our Father all fulnesse of joy the new Jerusalem an inheritance incorruptible undefiled that fades not away reserved in the highest heavens It 's called the glory of God our glory rest refreshment such felicity as neither eye hath seen ear hath heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man For it is the habitation of God of Christ of the holy Ghost as great a difference as there is betwixt a Snailes house and a Palace a Tortoise shell and Solomon's Temple Jonah's Gourd and the Towers of Ninivey so much and more difference is betwixt heaven and any thing that can be upon earth We see this is the composure of the World that finest things are scituated in the highest places the earth as grossest is put in the lowest room the Water above the Earth the Aire above the Water the Fire above the Aire the Sphears of Heaven purer then any of them above the rest which you see beautified with Sun Moon and Stars shining more gloriously then all the pretious Stones in the world and all this but the neather side of the pavement of that Palace then what shall be the glory of the Heaven of Heavens within able to drink up all afflictions as the Sea does the River Iordan There are three distinct places in which every Saint successively is resident first in his mother's wombe secondly in the world thirdly in heaven As much as the whole Universe is larger then our mothers wombe so much is heaven larger and ampler than it for if one star exceed the earth so much in bignesse then what shall the heavens that contain infinite stars Secondly as in largenesse so in time our time to be in our mothers wombs is but nine months but on earth it may be an hundred times nine months but our beeing in heaven is without period of daies months or years Thirdly as no man can remember what sorrow he had in his mothers wombe so shall our joies in heaven drink up all our sufferings upon earth And this glory consists either essentially in the beatificall vision or operatively in the effects it works in us Essentially in the beatifical vision though the Familists and Millenaries understand it not confounding grace and glory but no man upon earth hath seen God neither can he be seen that is perfectly it is true we may see God here in a naturall vision in his Creatures as in a Glasse wherein some splendour of his glory shines he may be seen in a specular or symbolicall vision by signes and characters of his glory so Moses is said to have seen Gods hinder parts Esa 6. 1. I saw the Lord sitting upon his throne high and lifted up his house was full of majâ—sty and the Seraphims stood about him We see God here by the vision of faith when by Doctrine of Christ his Son and the operation of the Spirit we know the will of the Father But the beatificall vision in heaven is to behold God and Christ Jesus face to face we shall see him as he is no veiles being put betwixt us Stay here and pause a while What comfort will this be to see the Lamb sit upon his seat of state If the wise men of the East came so far and rejoyced to see him in the manger what will it be to see him sitting in his glory If St. Iohn Baptist did leap at his presence in his mothers wombe what shall this his presence do in his royall and eternall Kingdome If the Queen of Sheba was astonished at the sight of Solomon what shall we be at the sight of millions of Saints in his Court
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 light easie supportable but glory is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 heavie weighty beyond all possible Epithite superlatively great a phrase able to challenge all the profane Writers in the world neither Sophocles his high buskin nor Demosthenes his lofty strain is able to come neer it Lastly it 's amplified by the act 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it works forth which is as it were the Trutina or pin to turn the beam of the scales where affliction hath no more proportion to glory than the drop of a bucket to the whole Ocean or the dust of the ballance hath to a mountain This then may serve for a ground of comfort to every soul distressed with the tedious bitternesse of this life for short sorrow here we shall have eternall joy for a little hunger an eternall banquet for light sicknesse and affliction everlasting health and salvation for a little imprisonment endlesse liberty for disgrace glory In stead of the wicked to oppresse and afflict them they shall have the Angells and Saints to comfort and solace them in stead of Satan to torment and tempt them they shall have Christ Jesus to ravish and affect them Joseph's prison shal be turned into a palace Daniel's Lion's den into the presence of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah the three Children's hot fiery furnace into the new Ierusalem of pure gold David's Gath into the Tabernacle of the living God Obj. But shall every affliction bring the patient to the Kingdome of God shall the frenzie of Cain terâ—our of Iudas horour of Achitophel trembling of Felix be turned into triumph Ans No afflictions to the wicked are like often baiting to some beasts which grow mad at the stake and makes them worse specially if the cause be bad It was a golden saying of St. Austin and I hope we are all of his minde Non ex passione certa justitia It 's not suffering that makes a cause righteous sed ex justitia gloriosa passio but its righteousnesse that makes sufferings glorious It was well observed by Saint Cyprian that the first Martyrs that suffered for Christ were Innocents and as well said Non supplicium sed causa facit Martyrem Not the punishment but the cause maketh the Martyr Who suffered more then the Cicumcelliones those Donatists in this Father's time and yet no Crown How many are there who when they are punished for their misdemeanours do lift up a hideous noise like Swine and cry out They are persecuted Hujus farinae of this leaven are our Ranters Quakers Levellers their language you know is persecution altogether and when they suffer for their opinions or rather disordered practises they are persecuted they say for their consciences as if every conceit were conscience every groundlesse opinion religion We must not measure the cause by the sufferings but the sufferings by the cause for unlesse a mans cause be good his conscience good and his carriage in some measure good too his sufferings will amount to no more then a condigne punishment unlesse the end crown all which makes St. Cyprian and St. Jeroâ—â— say That the Thiefe's suffering on the Crosse was turned to Martyrdom What if then in a good cause thus circumstanc'd our afflictions as in the Text be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 many no single appellation but a compound of all cruelty nomen multitudâ—nis like the possessed that lived amongst the Graves her name is Legion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because they are many her Pavilion hung about with trophies of death fetters and whips racks and strapadoes halters and swords stakes and fire What if one affliction still treads on the heel of another and where the old went off new scenes of miseries have taken up their cues here is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Kingdome that will recompense all It pitties me when I read what those Romans Cocles Mutii Curtii Decii what those Graecians the people of Marathonia Salamina Plataea and Thermopolâ— endured toget them a fading name upon earth that we Christians should not do as much or more for this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Kingdome of God a Kingdome in regard of the dignity of it of God in regard of the author and giver of it one Kingdome but the estates are two one Militant another Triumphant of Grace of Glory one in substance varying in degrees but not an earthly not a fading Kingdome but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of God Herod was a King so was Ahab Jezabel was daughter wife mother sister to Kings and yet still afflicted Alexander wept when he had all the Crowns and Scepters in the world piled as it were at his gates that there were no more to be subdued Godfrey of Bollene refused to be crowned at Jerusalem with a Crown of Gold where our Saviour was crowned with Thorns 'T is only this Kingdome of God that can wipe all tears from our eyes Go then a pilgrimage to this holy Land Heaven is feisable and more easie to be attained then an earthly Kingdom here we cannot all be Kings there are not Kingdoms enough but lo in Heaven there is none under the degree of a King And in this Kingdome Revel 21. the Metropolis or chiefe City is of pure gold the walls of Jasper having twelve foundations of twelve pretious stones twelve gates made of twelve pearles every gate of severall pearl The streets of the city paved with gold interlaid with pearls and diamonds The light of this city is the splendour of Christ himselfe in the midst thereof from whose throne issues a river of water as clear as crystall to refresh the city and on both sides of the banks there growes a tree of life bearing continually twelve kindes of fruit Into this city no darknesse nor any unclean thing shall enter Now afflicted soul tell me thou that wouldst upon earth have wondered with the Queen of Sheba at Solomon in his royalty at the Grand Sultan going to his Seraglio at the Pope in his Procession tell me how thou wilt wonder and glory to see that wonderfull glory that neither eye hath seen ear hath heard nor hath entered into the heart of man Which glory God of his mercy bring us all unto 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A SERMON Preached the fourth day of June 1656. at the Funerall Obsequies of James Parry Gent. The Text 1 Sam. 3. 18. And Samuel told him every whit and hid nothing from him and he said It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good HEre we have a divine Oracle sent not from Daphne or Delphos but from the Tabernacle of God at Shilo wherein two things specially remarkable are couchant First Samuel's Revelation And Samuel told him every whit and hid nothing from him Secondly Eli's Acceptation And he said It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good It is the Lord there is his humble confession Let him do what seemeth him good there is his patient submission In the former branch is considerable first the Persons
and trembles like a recoyling Canoâ— and mourns as with a sympathie while the heavens weep the flowers droop and closes up their heads within the lap of their mother earth the grasse withers the corn is blasted the fruits are thunderstroke and in stead of pagles daizes and roses of paradise bryars brambles nettles thistles spring out of her wombe and saies that sin is the cause All Nations all States all Kingdomes are troubled and saies that sin is the cause The Pagans against Turks Turks against Christendom one Province against another as whirlewindes in a strait move tumults Victorious Sweden hath long sit in Sable as a Matron mourning under the Myrtle trees deploring the dismall fate of her deceased Worthy which occasion'd so many alterations in government since and fluctuations in State and saies that sin is the cause Poland lies sick licking the scars of her lately received wounds and saies that sin is the cause Denmark bewailes her ill â—ccesse abroad and feeles the smart of her losses and intestine jarrs at home and saies that sin is the cause Whole Italy is distracted with convulsions and the State of Venice can scarce finde a pillow to sleep securely upon and saies that sin is the cause France before she could recover her bloodshed at the great Massacre hath begun to bleed afresh with civill jarrs and saies that sin is the cause Whole Germany hath been for many years in a combustion burning of Cities is no greater wonder then the sparkling of a Smith's forge slaying of men of as small account as of sheep in a slaughter-house to die in Troops as familiar as to live in Trenches such overflowing of blood that Rivers were dyed with the crimson tincture old grey heads mourning yoâ—ng infants crying women like Leah blear-eyed with weeping like Rachel lamenting the death of their children and cannot be comforted because they are not and all conclude that sin is the cause We of these Nations once styled fortunate Ilands garded like Goshen in the midst of Aegypt with turelar Angells have for these many years layne under the stroke of the destroying Angell and the stage of War hath been set up in our Territories making all places Aceldama's fields of blood the Common-weal distracted with factions the Church rent with schisms and as if these intestine broyles at home were not sufficient engagements with the Hollanders abroad to the losse of life and treasury with whom no sooner was a Peace if lasting made but Spain that had fed us with her blandishments proclaimes her selfe an enemy preparing hostility against us as if the Armado in eighty eight were but an earnest of what they intended to pay us Thus this poor Church and State lies bleeding and is not sin the cause Well then to sum up all shall not the petitions of the Heavens darkned of the Stars bedimn'd of the Aire poysoned of the Sea troubled of the Earth cursed of Kingdomes ruinated of the unreasonable Creatures groaning under the burden and looking up towards heaven as if the Stars that fought in order for Sisera would pitty and rescue them shall not these I say awake the Lord out of sleep as a Gyant refreshed with wine to put on his Brigandine and to gird on his Sword If souls for this deserve to die then how much more the body And shall not these that were petitioners become also executioners Lo the heavens as if it were their task to kill and slay hath for her armes hung up in the Zodiack man's anatomy the Planet Mars as though he were still the god of War the Dog-star and Saturn murders their children the Ayer poysons with infections feavours plagues the Sea is become a devouring gulph and contrary to Nature's intent is made a Goigotha or place of sculls the Earth that with her fruites should have nourished and with her conserves cherished is become an Aceldama or Theatre of blood one Nation one City one Kingdome one Family one Brother rises up against another as if man were born with those that arose of the Dragon's teeth in the Poet mutuis periâ—e gladiis bleed to death on one anothers sword And then shall not Gods just wrath our just desert so many executioners in heaven in earth by sea by land bring ruine and calamity of Church and State Cities and Families Hence as the case stands we are blame-worthy in a four-fold respect 1. Of Satan 2. Of security 3. Of pride 4. Of intemperance First of Satan who by his subtle sleights as he hath killed the body would murder also the soul and yet we sleight it as though we should die neither body nor soul Satan is that Panther that with his sweet odours allures us till he have gotten us within the reach of his talants that he may tear us that Crocodile that commiserates us till he have murdered us that Hyena that flatters us till he have killed us that Syren that sings till she hath drowned us that with Jael allures in with milk and murders with a nail with Joab embraces with one hand and stabs with another that whore of Babylon that gives poysoned drink in golden cups that cunning fisher that baits his hooks with the pleasures of sin that lies as a Snake in thy greenest grasse as an Enemy to assault thee in thy securest travails as a Ruffian to cut thy throat in thy sweerest sleep Art thou banquetting like Job's children with thy friends take heed Satan's there Art thou with Job praying take heed Satan's there Art thou with Iudas and the Apostles receiving the Communion take heed Satan's there In thy eating in thy drinking in thy hearing in thy praying in thy meditating beware Satan is busie about thee take heed he that hath wrought thy bodily death would also of thy soul O man of God beware mors in ollâ death is in the pot Secondly this discovers the security of carnall secure men that mind death no more hanging over their heads then Ierusalem did the blazing Star and Army in the aire then Damocles did the glittering sword perpendicular over his head then Ionah did the swelling of the waves over the Ship while he was under the hatches sleeping but they lie snorting in a lethargy of sin till a deluge of death overwhelme them as the flood did the old World as fire and brimstone did Sodom and Gomorrah as the house of Dagon did the Philistims that then death and grave and worms and hell and destruction seazes upon them Thirdly this discovers the vanity of pride many while their life is consuming as a candle burning within the socket as a coal taken out of the fire growing black studies only to varnish and paint over that rotten stock the body robbing all creatures to adorn it from one takes his wool from another his skin from another his fur from another their excrements as silk from worms beggs pearles of the fishes diggs into the ground for gold and silver turnes up the sands of the sea for
every one greater than Solomon throwing down their Crowns before him the King of Kings To this joyne the communion of Saints imagine what a comfort will it be to meet with the noble Army of Martyrs the goodly fellowship of the Prophets the holy society of all the Apostles Evangelists Confessors where we shall see their Crowns of glory set upon their heads which Christ confers upon them not for their merits but for his mercies sake The effects the beatificall vision works on us are radiant either in soul or body in soul where first the understanding shall be truly enlightned with divine and heavenly knowledge which God shall immediately reveal unto us without the ministry of men and Angells Secondly in our Will which shall be filled with righteousnesse and holinesse perfect love towards God charity towards our fellow Saints for ever Thirdly in our Affections which shall be composed without at axie or disorder into eternall harmony as Beâ—nard saies sweetly Deus implebit animam rationalem luce sapientiae concupiscibilem justitiâ irascibilem perfectâ tranquillitate God will fill the soul with light of wisdome the concupiscible faculty with righteousnesse the irrascible with perfect tranquillity The effects it works on the body consists in these particulars First of mortall bodies they shall be made immortall of corruptible incorruptible our flesh that is subject to so many mutations vexed with so many diseases defiled with so many corruptions pestered with so many infinite calamities shall be made most glorious and most perfect to endure for ever without change and to raigne with the soul world without end Secondly of a naturall it shall become a spirituall body not in essence and being but in quality and condition because it shall be freed from all paines and troubles that belongs to the same as sin eating drinking sleeping and the like Thirdly of a weak it shall become a powerfull body by reason of agility and nimblenesse able to mount towards Heaven and meet our Saviour in the Aire Fourthly of a deformed and imperfect it shall be a perfect and beautifull body Iacob shall not halt Leab shall not be blear-eyed nor Mephibosheth lame but all shall be as nimble as Harts Fiftly in our bodies shall appear resplendent glory beautifulnesse and shining brightnesse we shall be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 like Angells glistering like stars conformable unto Christs glorious body Dan. 12. 3. They that be wise shall shine as the brightnesse of the firmament and they that turn many to righteousnesse as the stars for ever and ever Well then seeing it is thus let us say with Eli It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good so we may enjoy him with Austin Hic seca hic ure Lance here seare here so we may have glorified bodies with Ignatius Fire gallows wilde beasts breaking of our bones quartering of our members crushing of our bodies so our bodies so that we may enjoy our Lord Jesus and his Kingdome Take our earthly possessions so that we may raigne with him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A briefe APPENDIX Concerning the nature of TITHES IN these free times wherein every one takes liberty to expose his thoughts to the world give me leave also to offer up my Mite into the publick Treasury which shall consist but of a twofold consideration first whether dishonouring of the Ministry secondly whether robbing of God in Tithes and offerings and defeating of Christ's Embassadours of a comperent livelyhood may not portend misery and calamity if not ruine to a Church or State For the former when God gives up a people to dishonour their Ministers it argues Religion is declining They are his Souldiers Stewards Angells He is their Portion He hath promised to be with them to the end of the world that the gates of hell shall not prevail against them that he will recompence a cup of cold water that is given them he that heareth them heareth Him he that despiseth them despiseth Him When the Prophet would discover the Jewes to be ready to be swallowed up in the whirle-pool of destruction he gives them this character that they are like a people that contest with their priest Corah and Dathan murmured against Moses and Aaron and the earth swallowed them up with all their partakers For the latter which here I principally intend the danger of robbing of God in Tithes and Offerings and defeating Christs Spouse of her joynture let three things be seriously weighed First whether the tenth part of the fruits of the earth are not as due to God as the seventh part of our time and so the moralitie thereof founded upon the same bottom that our Christian Sabbath is Secondly if not so whether there is not an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 morall equity if the Priesthood under the Law received the tenth part and more the Ministry under the Gospell which is more honourable and laborious should not receive at least as much and whether that be not the principall scope of the Apostle 1 Cor. 9. which he makes good by severall arguments Thirdly if neither of these Rocks should prove impregnable whether this be not a wall of brasse able to endure what siege Antichristian forces can lay against it that being once consecrated and by speciall donation appropriated unto God a Power lesse then Divine can not reduce them to any other use without sacriledge and taking the Scepter out of Gods hand And whether that signall judgment inflicted on Ananias and Saphyra Act. 5. for retaining that which they had devoted unto God onely by their private vowes be not a miraculous confirmation of this truth and a piller of salt to be looked upon to the worlds end Israel is a thing hallowed to the Lord and his first fruits all they that eat it shalloffend evill shall come upon them saith the Lord Jer. 2. 3. Tithes are Gods portion whereby we acknowledge His royalty and superintendency over us and therefore being once solemnly bequeath'd unto him may seem to be inviolable by any just Law of man for these reasons First Abraham and in him Levi payed Tithes to Melchizedeck 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 even of the spoiles taken in war Gen. 14. 20. Heb. 7. 4. and that above four hundred years before the Law was given Secondly Jacob vowed as he went to Padan Aram that if God would blesse him the Lord should be his God and that surely he would give the tenth unto him Gen. 28. 22. Now that the Lord should be acknowledged for his God was a morall duty and no lesse the other for substance especially after his vow and reducible to the duties of the first Table Thirdly God strictly commanded to pay the tithes of all things to the Priests and Levites nay the first fruits first and second tithes heave-offerings wave-offerings which amounted to nineteen in the hundred or above the sixt partâ— which Precept if it be not purely morall but judiciall in some circumstances respecting equity betwixt Priest and People