be so exercised as to bear all such changes so as to avoid the snares and temptations accompanying them To this height St. Paul attained that he could thus manage all conditions Phil. 4.12 I know both how to be abased and I know how to abound c. Want or no want having nothing or possessing all things make no change of the frame of my heart So he saith I am instructed in every thing This is the excellency of the principles of godliness That though truths and falshood things morally good or morally evil are at such a distance that the same principles cannot turn to either side yet Poverty and Riches a full Estate and a poor and mean Estate liberty or restraint are not at such a distance but that the same gracious principle can apply it self to both the one and the other and may be exercised so as the Soul may prosper and may be spiritually a gainer both by the one and by the other And as we desire our Souls should prosper these principles ought to be exercised that we may find it so For so far as corruption mingles with the Providences we are under so far if there be any grace in the heart it will be so far from thriving that it will wither and decay It is observed that when things go well with a Man in his outward condition if corruption be not kept at a distance from it the Man will grow proud and passionate high and self conceited Earthy and Selfish impatient of being crossed in any thing having as he finds wit enough for every thing else and that therefore every one must stoop to him And so when things go cross and as the usual phrase is The World frowns upon him if his corruptions be not kept at a distance from his condition the Man will grow fretful discontented unthankful for what he hath envious at those with whom it is better then with himself And to speak all in a word sin will sit light when crosses fit heavy Therefore it is of absolute necessity that as ever we desire our Souls should prosper this with the uttermost of our care should be looked unto 1. That when the good hand of God is for us so as all our Goings out and Comings-in the beginning and ending of every thing we undertake succeeds well according to our desires that then these principles of grace ought to be exercised that nothing come betwixt Jesus Christ and our hearts but that the more we have of the World the more our hearts may be in Heaven As Jacob was then desirous to be in Heaven when God had given in the unexpected sight of his lost Son his best Son and that as great as he was good Gen. 46.30 And Israel said unto Joseph Now let me dye since I have seen thy face Jam. 1.10 Let the rich Man rejoice in that he is made low because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away when he is made low i. e. When his heart is low and meek humble and patient when his condition is full and high though perhaps not so in it self but as compared with others who had the same opportunities for the World that he had reckoning of all that he hath but as food that perisheth but as a flower that fadeth accounting this as the chiefest excellency of the plentifulness of his Estate that he hath a larger opportunity of doing good and of doing more for God then he could have had if his portion had been as little as once it was Thus to exercise grace To bear such full a cup without spilling argues not only the truth but also the strength of grace and is the way to make the Soul prosper as fast as the Estate 2. In all our civil converse with Men principles of godliness must be exercised with righteousness and sobriety Tit. 2.12 Yea with all courtesie and kindness 3 Epist of John v. 6. Gaius is exhorted in his kindness to the Brethren that travelled up and down about the affairs of the Gospel when he brought them onwards on their Journey to do it after a godly sort That which the Apostle presseth on aged Women is the duty of all both old and young Tit. 2.2 That the aged women be sober grave temperate Zech. 14.20 21 In that day shall be written upon the Bells of the horses Holiness to the Lord And every Pot in Jerusalem shall be holiness to the Lord. This was written upon the High-Priests Mitre as he was a type of the great High-Priest the Lord Jesus who was holy and undefiled That which Men are thereby taught is this That the meanest things of common use should be holily used In all we do we should act as persons consecrated to God that are not our own and therefore we ought to glorifie God with our Bodies and with our Spirits which are God's 1 Cor. 6.20 Even in our natural actions Whether we eat or drink or whatever we do we should do all to the glory of God 1 Cor. 10.31 Now I have told you already and I told you the truth that God is not glorified it will appear so one day but when the principles of godliness are exercised Neglect hereof even in these natural actions is charged upon Men as their sin Jude ver 12. That they did feed without fear 3. In all companys So as where ever we are we always keep our hearts under the awe of God Eph. 4.29 Let no corrupt Communication proceed out of your mouth Col. 4.6 Let your speech be always with grace seasoned with Salt But of this more under another head in the next use of this Point SERMON XI I Come now to the third Particular The reasons why these principles of godliness ought to be stirred up So as to be set about and kept close to their proper work that they may bring forth their proper and peculiar fruit in due season and that in order to Soul-prosperity 1. This is that which specially falls under the authority of Command Observe it and you will find that when the Scripture speaks to professing Christians the principles are supposed to be infused and the exercise is specially required as Eph. 4.24 Put on the new Man saith the Apostle Not by Conversion that is supposed for he owns them as faithful Brethren in Christ Ch. 1. vers 1. But put them on for operation for exercise The new Creature the first day of its birth is a new Man It is born at once though it grows up by degrees and every particular principle of godliness is a member of this new Man Put them on so as ye may have them ready and nothing may be wanting when Providence calls for their exercise so that Your loins be girded about and your lights burning Luk. 12.35 Thus also Eph. 6.10 Put on the whole armour of God Be ready furnished to break through whatever snares and temptations ye may meet withal in running that race which God hath set
Testament yet he is blessed whose Soul prospers For as it is said of every Man in his civil capacity In his best estate he is altogether vanity Psal 39.5 He is subject to changes none can tell what a day may bring forth Here we have no continuing City Heb. 13.14 So it may truly be said of a person whose Soul prospers whatever his outward condition be he is altogether blessed Psal 94.12 Blessed is the Man whom thou chastenest O Lord and teachest him out of thy Law When instruction hearkened to goes with correction the Soul prospers he is a blessed Man In Job 1. we have a description of Job's prosperous estate First it is said That he was a Man fearing God But we have farther as it were an Inventory given in of his outward condition He had so many Sheep so many Oxen so many Asses so many Camells c. These were a superadded blessing to Job This is set down to shew the praise of Job's patience who bare such a change so as he did 'T is very true a Man may easily over-rate and over-value his worldly estate Verily if Soul-prosperity do not go before outward prosperity outward prosperity is but like a Cypher and signifies nothing if a figure don't go before it A Man may write a sheet of Paper full of Cyphers but all do not make One When Soul-prosperity goes before God hath done much for such persons They have the Earth they shall have Heaven They have the Nether Springs they shall have the Upper Springs so that if it were asked them as Christ did his Disciples Luk. 22.35 Lacked ye any thing They must answer if they will speak as the matter is as the Disciples did They want nothing God hath not dealt so with all those that have shot the gulph and are past danger for Eternity Many of them are cut short yea they may say many times as Peter did Luk. 5.5 We have fished all night and caught nothing Laboured hard and caught not so much as a Sprat for their breakfast Many a Man that labours all the week hath very much ado to bring both ends together his Gettings and his Expences The wants of some are so many that they often know not what to do and the wants of others are so few that they want nothing but to know how to improve what they have To know how to abound is a far greater blessing then to abound Eccl. 3.14 whatsoever God doth is for ever If God give a Man an outward worldly estate it is for ever What to enjoy it for ever No things seen are but for Time But in respect of the use or abuse of them they are forever Now to speak to that which in particular John desires for his friend Gaius That he might be in health Gaius was not sick now that 's clear from vers 6. He did not keep his Bed nor his Chamber nor his House for John adviseth him to bring the Brethren on their way after a godly sort But he was a sickly Man Note Those that have much of the heart of God and live much in the love of God may feel much of the hand of God as in other troubles so in long continued bodily weaknesses That they may be sick is no marvel for they must dye but we speak of long continued weakness Timothy was such a Man 1 Tim. 5.23 It is observed of Calvin that in his latter days he was very sickly and weak contracted as 't was thought by eating too much Alöes Thuanus saith he was so seven years before his death We find Job observed this in his days Job 21.25 One dyes in the bitterness of his Soul never eats his bread with pleasure One dyes What one Even one good Man as well as one bad Man He speaks indifferently of either all things fall alike to all The good Man dyes in bitterness and pain seldom made a good meal Thus ye see it hath been And I note this only for this purpose that we may see that no new thing befalls them with whom God deals so at this day but that which hath been the lott of those whose Souls have prospered 1 Cor. 10.13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to Man 2. Gaius was very well with respect to his Spiritual state but he was weakly and sickly therefore John prays that he might be in health Hence note Note A healthy constitution of Body though a Man may be bless'd without it yet in it self is a very great and desirable blessing It is a comprehensive blessing It is the Epitome and Abridgment of all outward blessings It is like Salt that Seasons every Meat It is too true this is not so feelingly acknowledged as it ought to be by those that do enjoy it But when as it is in Job a Man's bones are chastened with a multitude of pains and a Man is worn away with pining sickness it is rare to find such a person that doth not set an higher price on health then he did before And verily it is a very great blessing whether it be by preservation from sickness or by recovery out of sickness 1. If it be by preservation from sickness prize it as a very great mercy It is left upon Record as a very signal Providence and gracious Priviledge vouchsafed to the people of Israel when they were in Egypt where there was so much Sickness Plague and Death Yet Psal 105. there was not one feeble person among them when they came forth for it is said Exod. 12.27 they were able to come for thon foot six hundred thousand Persons And ought it not to be esteemed at this day in this place as a great mercy by those Families which God is pleased to preserve from those sicknesses that some are under If ye do not labour to improve this so that God may not repent that he hath spared you ye do not well 2. It is a very great mercy to have health by recovery from sickness and weakness Hezekiah judged it so Isa 38.19 The living shall praise thee as I do this day David speaks to this Psal 103.5 My Soul praise thou the Lord. He renews thy strength as the Eagle The Eagle as it is said all Birds of prey do casts her feathers once a year new feathers grow up again and then she is fresh and lusty and mounts up as high as before Now that health is so great a blessing will appear in this because while the Lord gives it he puts a very great price into the Man's hands that hath it to further his Soul-prosperity A weakly sickly person is under many disadvantages as to that For observe 1. Weakness long continued infirmity often deprives a person of the publick Ordinances Possibly some may at this day by weakness be deprived of such Meetings as this which we are to reckon publick Ordinances not in respect of the Place but Administration Isa 38.22 What shall be the sign that
fear and prepared an Ark to the saving of his House This is not too low for the best grown Faith to act nor be acted upon God thought it not unmeet for Adam to make use of in Innocency Gen. 2.17 Job found it in himself chap. 31.23 Destruction from God was a terrour unto me and by reason of his Highness I could not endure 4. A thriving growing faith with all thankfulness accepts the Promises and with all heartiness relyes upon God for the performance of mercy promised Resting upon the promise when he hath nothing else to avouch it when there is neither Sense nor Reason to second Faith So Abraham Rom. 4.17 18 c. He believed God who quickeneth the dead and calleth things that are not as if they were Who against hope believed in hope And being not weak in faith he considered not his own Body now dead c. He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief but was strong in faith giving glory to God being fully perswaded that what he had promised he was able to perform 2 Cor. 5.7 We walk by faith and not by sight i. e. By the sensible enjoyment of what God hath promised but by faith believing and waiting for the accomplishment Notwithstanding all the real improbability and seeming impossibilities that are in the way When faith thus grows the Soul prospers exceedingly Now the heart will be kept more sweet and clean then ordinary Act. 15.9 purifying their hearts by faith The World will be Conquered 1 Joh. 5.4 And this is the victory that overcometh the World even your faith And hereby Satan himself is trodden under foot 2. When Repentance grows which is as the Radical moisture then the Soul prospers Now Repentance grows 1. When there is a growth and increase in the necessary adjunct of Repentance in that which is as inseparable from it as heat is from the fire and that is in an hearty grief and godly sorrow for sin This is necessary that the Soul may experimentally know the bitterness of sin and taste as it were the Gall and Wormwood that is in it Jer. 2.19 Thine own wickedness shall correct thee and thy backslidings shall reprove thee know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God and that my fear is not in thee saith the Lord God of hosts And it is inseparable for it cannot be rationally imagined that a Man whose Eyes are opened to see what great provocation there is in the least sin as it is against the most high and most holy God it is impossible that it should be without some pricking of the heart as they felt Act. 2 37. Now when this grows and increaseth so as it reacheth not only Beams but Motes not only Camels but Gnats melting the heart with godly sorrow before God for the least vain word proceeding out of the mouth yea for sinful silence in not speaking when and what we ought to speak and for the least sinful thought in the secret of our Souls when this brings us upon our knees before God and that with the first opportunity after the first discovery of it as it did David 1 Sam. 24.5 And it came to pass that afterward David 's heart smote him When it is thus the Soul is in the high way of prospering For what tenderness what watchfulness what humility what high prizing of Christ are likely to thrive and prosper in such a Soul when it sees how it forfeits all its hopes every day and therefore hath such need of Christ every day that the forfeiture may not be taken 2. The Soul prospereth when there is a growth and increase in the Essential parts of Repentance and they are these two 1. Turning from sin and 2. Turning to God Herein the very Essence and Nature of this grace doth consist To work this was the scope of the Apostles ministry Act. 26.18 And this is that which sorrow for sin if it be godly sorrow indeed doth work 2 Cor. 7.10 For godly sorrow worketh Repentance to salvation 1. For the former of these When the heart is heated with holy indignation against the least sin and against it self for being through its own carelesness surprized by it and defiled with it as Job was chap. 42.6 Wherefore I abhor my self and repent in dust and ashes And when holy and humble resolutions in the strength of Christ are more hightened to keep himself that the wicked one touch him not 1 Joh. 5.18 so as to leave any of his polluting impressions upon him Psal 17.3 thou hast tryed me and shalt find nothing I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress Psal 39.1 I said I will take heed unto my ways that I sin not with my tongue Hos 14.8 Ephraim shall say What have I any more to do with Idols Isa 30.22 Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven Images of the ornament of thy molten Images of Gold Thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth thou shalt say unto it Get thee hence 2. For the latter part Turning unto God it is evident that this is an Essential part of Repentance For every sin so far as it prevails turns the heart from God Jam. 1.14 Every Man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed Jer. 32.33 And they have turned to me the back and not the face Now the repenting sinner that prizeth the loving kindness of God as better then life then life with all its fillings up with earthly comforts cannot but set himself to turn unto God as they did Hosea 6.1 Come and let us return unto the Lord for he hath torn and he will heal us Turn unto God and that 1. As the chiefest good out of an unfeigned desire to have his good will to live in his love and to enjoy Communion with him Psal 4.6 7 Lord lift up the light of thy countenance upon us Thou hast put gladness in my heart more then in the time that their Corn and their Wine increased Psal 73.25 26 Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee My heart and my flesh faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever 2. As our utmost end reckoning upon it that therefore we live that we may exalt him and sanctifie his holy name in our hearts and please him in all our ways still endeavouring that in all things our end may fall in with his Rom. 6.11 Likewise reckon ye also your selves to be dead indeed unto sin but alive to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom. 14.7 8 For none of us liveth to himself and no Man dyeth to himself For whether we live we live unto the Lord and whether we dye we dye unto the Lord whether we live therefore or die we are the Lords Thus ye see when Repentance may be said to grow and that in the growth thereof
to his Chamber because he believes that he doth it out of love and care for his health And surely those Souls who when they are under the lash of Divine Rods and are tossed with storms and tempests perhaps more then any they know of can thus exercise their faith and find satisfaction in the promises of God so as to rejoice in tribulation in hope of a good issue surely they are prosperous Souls Thus the Soul of Habakkuk prospered when he exemplified his own Doctrine That the just should live by faith in the time of the Invasion of the Babylonians by his own practice Hab. 3.17 18 Although the Fig-tree shall not blossom c. Yet I will rejoice in the Lord I will joy in the God of my Salvation It is observable what I have read to this purpose Magdeburg Cent. 5. cap. 10. that when Attila King of the Huns came into France Lupus Bishop of Troges met him and asked him who he was that made such spoil and devastations in the World He answered Dei se esse flagellum That he was the scourge of God whereupon he commanded the City-Gates to be set open unto him and welcomed him with these words Faustè ingrediatur flagellum Dei Whilst the Rod is in Gods hand there is no danger If this were so as it related by good Authors the Mans heart was in a good frame his faith was above his fears This is the third Particular 4. The Soul prospers when grace is so exercised that it grows more and more clear in point of Covenant-interest Observe here these two things 1. When it grows into such a well-grounded hope and comfortable apprehension thereof as ordinarily it prevails over fears and doubts though it doth not wholly silence them nor free the Soul from them This is that which the Apostle calls The joy of Faith Phil. 1.25 Arising from the solid satisfaction which the heart receives by a firm adhering to Christ in whom all fullness dwells for perfecting the work of Redemption and Salvation who is a faithful and merciful High Priest and able to save to the uttermost all those that come to God by him This is surely Soul prosperity 2. Much more when the joy of faith grows into the joy of spiritual Sense which is called Full joy Joh. 16.24 Ask and ye shall receive that you joy may be full 1 Joh. 1.4 These things write we unto you that your joy may be full When the love of God is shed abroad in the heart as Rom. 5.5 When the spirit doth tell us a thing in the Ear as the expression is 1 Sam. 9.15 It is said there The Lord told Samuel in his Ear. that we are sealed to the day of Redemption witnessing unto us our Adoption so as the Soul knows it is no delusion but the very voice of the Spirit of God as Abraham knew that it was God himself that spake to him and commanded him to go and sacrifice his Son and no temptation from Satan so as the Soul can say as Psal 116.7 Return to thy rest O my Soul the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee Now I see the invisible God is my God All the Greatness and Goodness all the Truth and Faithfulness all the Power and Wisdom yea all the Holyness and Justice of the Eternal and Ever-living God are the things which are the portion of my Soul Now I see that all the Eternal counsels of God wrought from all Eternity to make me Eternally happy Now I know that Jesus Christ came from the bosom of the Father for me and my Salvation That my sins are put upon his account and his righteousness is put upon my account Now I know my place where I shall stand in the great day of the Lord even at the right hand of my Saviour and hear that joyful sentence Matth. 25.34 Come ye blessed of my Father This is in some sense I think the uttermost hight of the Souls prosperity For when ever the Soul is thus high in point of Comfort it is as high in point of Holiness Whilst this continues the Soul can do and suffer any thing for God which he calls unto As the believing Hebrews whilst they knew their interest in the enduring substance Heb. 10.34 Ye took joyfully the spoiling of your Goods knowing in your selves that ye have in Heaven a better and an enduring substance The heart being thus enlarged it goes not a foot-pace but runs the way of Gods Commandments Psal 119.32 I will run the way of thy Commandments when thou shalt enlarge my heart That which we have Ephes 3.17 18 19. is clear to this purpose The Apostle prays on their behalf that they might know the breadth and length and depth and highth of the love of God And why did he pray so It was that they might be filled with all the fullness of God according to the uttermost measure attainable in this life and in full and absolute perfection in the life to come Thus I have given you all that I shall say concerning those things which particularly demonstrate the truth and reality of the Souls prosperity Only I desire to leave these two things with you in the conclusion to prevent mistakes 1. That none ought to argue against themselves that their Souls do not prosper because as yet they come short it may be at sometimes altogether short of what hath been laid down in this fifth and last particular They are seldom so clear in point of their Covenant interest as to feel the joy of Faith much less the joy of Sense To endeavour to be clear in this matter is every ones duty 2 Pet. 1.10 Wherefore the rather Brethren give diligence to make your calling and election sure To attain it is part of our Reward But when it is not attained yet the Soul may be thriving and prospering for all that Moses his face did shine and he did not know it Exod. 34.19 This was at his second being with God in the Mount We read of no such thing at the first time We may see by this that God doth not communicate himself in the same measure at all times alike to any of his Servants It hath been so of old and is so now Many partake much of the quickening presence of God when they have but little or none at all of the comforting presence of God Isa 50.10 Who is among you that feareth the Lord that obeyeth the voice of his Servant that walketh in darkness and hath no light c. Hence it is that they oftentimes as sadly complain as Zion did but all without cause Isa 49.14 But Zion said the Lord hath forsaken me and my Lord hath forgotten me q. d. I am cast out of his love not only forsaken but forgotten when it was neither so nor so as ye see vers 15 Can a Woman forsake her sucking Child c. They may forget yet will I not forget thee 2. Though all that hath been hitherto said
in his Fatherly care for them remembring them in their low estate and the workings of their own hearts toward God in that through grace they are enabled to reckon upon it That God's allowance is best for them and that by faith they can live upon him for their livelihood when they have little in sight to live upon So that they can subscribe to what the Apostle saith 1 Tim. 6.6 as a true saying and worthy of all acceptation That godliness with contentment is great gain They have the clear gain of a quiet and well-composed spirit so that their Souls dwell at ease as Psal 25.13 And is not this real prosperity Verily it is so Are not these prosperous persons Surely they are so Thus we see the first branch of the first reason is confirmed That the prosperity of Mens outward condition in the general depends upon Soul-prosperity 2. The other branch will be as clearly made good That the health and well-fare of the Body stands upon the same bottom No Man therein ever did or ever shall truly and really prosper but in conjunction with Soul-prosperity This may seem at the first mentioning as great a Paradox as the former But it is a just and measured truth and cannot but be acknowledged to be so if we consider the state of the Body either in reference to this World or the World to come 1. In reference to this World Though it be true that many whose Souls are death-struck sinfully sick unto death the second death eternal death in respect of their bodily health live to a great old age in great health scarce knowing for a long while together what a days sickness means As Job observed in his time Job 21.23 One dyeth in his full strength being wholly at ease and quiet yet Bodily health as a blessing is certaninly annexed to Soul-prosperity Prov. 3.7 8 fear the Lord and depart from evil The Soul prospers that doth so and while it doth so And what then It shall be health to thy Navel and marrow to thy Bones Now according to the store of marrow which moistens and feeds the Bones so is the strength of the Body And then it shall be health to thy Navel This is expressed because as Physicians say Bodily health in a natural way depends chiefly on the vital parts and entrails which are comprehended under the Navel because there they are knitt up and fastened The meaning then is this Fear the Lord and depart from evil and thy Body shall be strong and healthy This shall be health to all thy flesh as Prov. 4.22 For they are life unto those that find them and health to all their flesh Thus it is and will be till sickness and weakness be better for the well fare of the Soul as it was to Gaius in the Text whose Soul prospered the better under his Bodily weakness And when sickness and weakness grow upon us the gracious workings of a healthy and prosperous Soul are in some sense the best Physick and the most cherishing Cordials to a weak and languishing Body When the Soul can say as Psal 73.26 My heart and my flesh faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever Isa 38.2 3 Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed unto the Lord and said Remember now O Lord I beseech thee how I have walked in truth before thee and with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy sight It is observable what ye may read in the Book of Martyrs concerning Mr. Saunders that whilst he was in examination before the Bishop of London he felt a most ravishing sweetness from every part of his Body come together to the place and seat of his heart and from thence it did ebb and flow to and fro to every part of his body to his marvellous consolation This he told to one of his friends Thus far this branch of the reason is made good That the health and wellfare of the Body as it is a blessing may be expected and cannot otherwise be expected then in conjunction with Soul-prosperity Whatever Men think of it this is true That though Nature be an enemy to Grace yet Grace especially thriving and prospering is a friend the best friend to Nature 2. In reference to the World to come the well-being of the Body to all Eternity depends absolutely upon the well-being of the Soul That fares as the Soul fares If the Soul perish and be undone the Body is undone and perisheth too We read Luk. 16.24 25. that when the Soul of the rich Man was in Hell not the least refreshment could be had for his Body not a drop of water to cool his Tongue Therefore as Job 27.8 He hath no hope of all that he hath gained when God taketh away his Soul But if the Soul prospers while it is in the Body as it doth when it doth lay up its treasure in Heaven and hath its conversation in Heaven then the Body when it is laid in the Grave as it is still a Member of Christ death doth not dissolve that union It sleeps in Jesus 1 Thes 4.14 And by virtue of that union it shall be raised up and made like the glorious Body of Christ Thus ye have the first reason made good in both the branches of it that Soul-prosperity is so far all in all c. 2. Of all prosperities Soul-prosperity is the most desirable prosperity because it is made up of the most desirable materials Those goods whereof it consisteth are the best things the most desirable blessings It 's true the materials whereof Worldly prosperity consists are good things too We read Luk. 16. that the rich Man's purple Garments and fine Linnen which were his every-days-wearing and his sumptuous fare wherewith his Table was furnished every day and his great estate which maintained all this were good things in themselves and might have been good to him if he had used them well So they are said to be vers 25. But what are these things to the principles of Spiritual life thriving and increasing in the Soul Verily great heaps of Gold and Silver are but great heaps of Dust and Dirt to the least grain of grace The price of it is far above rubies Job 28.18 The Apostle speaking of one particular grace the grace of Faith one of these choise materials which make up soul prosperity saith That the Trial of it when it is exercised is much more pretious then Gold 1 Pet. 1.7 No marvel then if Solomon who knew the worth of every thing as much as ever any Man did saith of it That the Merchandize thereof is better then Silver and the gain thereof then fine Gold But of the excellency of the materials of Soul-prosperity I need say no more then what hath been said in the explication of the point only I shall shew you a little of that exceeding much which the Scripture speaks of the materials of Worldly prosperity
is truth and is no lye Joh. 17.26 I have declared unto them thy Name and will declare it This affords sweet refreshing nourishment I will instance only in two Cases 1. When many things are heard something at one time and something at another from the word And it may be something at this time which is not understood at least not so understood as that the heart is affected with it Here is relief to be had he can and undertakes to teach the heart Jer. 24.7 And I will give them an heart to know me for they shall return unto me with their whole heart Thus he taught David Psal 51.6 In the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom 2. When a Person walkes in darkness under many sad fears whether ever the foundation be well laid for Soul-prosperity whether ever he were brought into a state of Union with Christ so as to receive the first principles of Spiritual life from him Here from this Office of Christ which is to reveal his Father's mind in all things that we are concerned to know there is relief to be had Joh. 14.19 but ye see me They were in Christ their Union was begun but they did not know it but Christ undertakes so as they will leave it to him to take his own time that one day they shall know it Thus I have shewed you more largely then at first I intended That there needs no food for the Soul to feed upon so as to prosper but Christ alone For as all that is nourishing in the meat is for the health and well-fare of the Body so all that is in Christ is for the health and well-fare of the Soul I have very few words more to speak 4. Of the fourth and last Point Something by way of direction How to feed upon this food so as to receive that nourishment which our Souls stand in need of I shall only mention these four Particulars 1. We are to apply our selves to this Spiritual food with a Spiritual appetite Natural life desires Natural food Appetite unto it is called Hunger as it desires meat and Thirst as it desires drink So it ought to be where there is Spiritual life after this Spiritual food wherein we have both Spiritual meat and Spiritual drink Joh. 6.55 For my flesh is meat indeed and my blood is drink indeed And our appetite after it ought to be quick and strong We should be able to say as Isa 26.9 With my Soul have I desired thee in the night and with my Spirit will I seek thee early i. e. I have most affectionately desired thee in my most retired thoughts and so I resolve to do That 's the sense For when the Soul is said to do that which nothing else but the Soul can do it imports the strongest and highest actings of the Soul in doing it Now though that which hath been said already might be sufficient thus to quicken this appetite That there is no other food for our Souls but this That they must feed upon it or starve Yet I shall farther add this That we deliberately consider with our selves What work God requires of us every day and that we labour with our hearts to do it as we ought The work of every day is great in respect of the inward exercises of grace when not clothed with any outward duty As To live by faith To sanctifie God in our hearts To walk in the fear of the Lord And when we awake to be still with God setting the Lord always before us c. The external work of every day is great also The duties of Religion The duties of our particular Callings and Relations All these ought to be done so as to approve the sincerity of our hearts to God and find acceptance with his Majesty 2 Cor. 5.9 Wherefore we labour that whether present or absent we may be accepted of him The Apostle speaks of Epaphras that he laboured earnestly in his Prayers Col. 4.12 And we are required To do with our might whatsoever our hand findeth to do Eccles 9.10 Now hard labour gets a Man a stomach makes him both hungry and thirsty It will do so in a spiritual sense when we set our selves to make something of Religion To work and walk with God every day as we ought we shall be even constrained to cry out Who is sufficient for these things We shall see we need more spiritual food for the nourishing and strengthening of our Souls This will quicken our spiritual Appetite after Christ That we may be more and more strengthened in our inward Man by his Spirit Eph. 3.16 That we may be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Eph. 6.10 2. That in applying our selves to this food we manage the matter for our Souls as discreet persons do in making provisions for their Families when the Market-day comes They consider whether there be Bread-corn enough in the House or whether any thing else that is necessary be wanting and so according to their ability they provide So ought we to do in this case we ought to consider what our Souls stand most in need of that they may prosper Some days we may find we most of all want strength against one corruption some days more strength against another Some days we stand in more need of one grace and sometimes of another suppose of Faith or Repentance Meekness or Patience and accordingly we ought to apply our selves to our spiritual food the Lord Jesus for nourishment and strength in that particular Christ expects this that we should be sensible of our particular wants We read Luk. 18.35 36. that a blind Man hearing that Christ passed by that way cryed out Have mercy upon me O Son of David And vers 40 41. Christ asks him what he would that he should do unto him Christ knew what he would desire but he would have him to particularize his wants Thus we ought to apply our selves to Christ with a sense of what we want in particular And because as I told you all in Christ is some way or other for our spiritual food both Christ in his Person and Christ in his Offices We should apply our selves to that in Christ which may most of all relieve our faith in seeking after that particular supply which for the present we see we need whether it be in his Person or in his Offices either as Priest or Prophet or King When we know there is such a thing in such a Cupboard when we go to it the next way to find what we seek for is to go to the Box wherein it is 3. What dispensation soever we are under what mercy soever we have received or are receiving what cross soever we are exercised withal or is likely to come upon us what Ordinances soever we address our felves to God in we may spread the matter before God and tell him our case and our dependence upon him and pray most for the
Paul had it Phil. 4.13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me And he exhorts all that when they have put on the whole armour of God and have every grace ready for exercise yet then to Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Eph. 6.10 11. 3. Let this be thought on too That though we ought to rest upon Christ for his assistance herein as if he were to do all and we our selves were to do nothing at all yet we ought so to stir up our selves and exercise our most serious thoughts and endeavours herein as if no help at all were to be expected from him Phil. 2.12 13. Work out your salvation with fear and trembling For it is God who worketh in you both to will and to do Thus I have shewed you the expressions in the Text leading me that way that what in a natural way is necessary for the health and well-fare of the body that in a spiritual way is as much necessary for the health well-fare and prosperity of the Soul And this I have shewed in four Particulars I told you when I entred first upon this use That when in the use of these means all begins to be well within the Soul begins to thrive and prosper Yet it may possibly have its fainting fits sometimes by reason of continued afflictions sometimes from a deep sense of invincible infirmities For the more of these gracious principles there are in the heart and the more they are exercised the more sad impression the least failing makes upon the heart No marvel if it be with such as it was with Jonah when the waters compassed him about and the reeds were wrapt about his head then he said his Soul fainted within him Jon. 2.5 6 7. And David had like to have done so when false witnesses were risen up against him I had fainted saith he unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the Living Psal 27.12 13. Now as when Nature is almost spent and bodily strength fails there is need of relief by some comfortable Cordials As that poor Man 1 Sam. 30.12 being faint David's Men gave him something and then his spirits came to him which it seems were departing from him Now as the Lord Jesus was very tender over those that came from far to hear him and had been three days with him lest they should faint in their way homeward and therefore he wrought a miracle to relieve them Matth. 15.32 So without doubt he is as tender to prevent Soul-fainting Isa 57 15 16 to revive the Spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones For I will not contend for ever neither will I be always wroth for the spirit should fail before me and the Souls which I have made Something therefore must be said to this Therefore though I cannot descend to particulars that would be too great a work I shall only give some general rules which may be indifferently applyed to all cases Let then every Soul that is ready to faint 1. Do as Jonah did in the place before quoted chap. 2. ver 7 My Soul fainted within and I remembred the Lord. Remembrance implies dependence Psal 20.7 But we will remember the name of the Lord our God This is prescribed for a fainting Soul Isa 50.10 Who is among you that feareth the Lord and obeyeth the voice of his servant that walketh in darkness and hath no light Let him trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon his God Now we must know that the Name of the Lord may have reference to that name Exod. 34.5 6 7 The Lord the Lord God merciful and gracious c. This is very chearing For a fainting Soul may sometimes take encouragement from an Attribute of God when he doubts whether he may touch with a promise or no. Or it may have reference to that name Jer. 23 6 The Lord our Righteousness Certainly when a Soul seeth nothing in it self whereby it can challenge any interest in any ground of comfort yet because there is grace and mercy enough in the name of God and merit and righteousness enough in the Son of God such a Soul may see ground enough to resolve as Isa 8.17 I will wait upon the Lord that hideth his face from the house of Jacob and I will look for him Psal 34.5 They looked to him and were lightened and their faces were not ashamed Though all the clouds were not presently scattered yet they had some light And a little Candle in a dark room in a very dark night though it do not make it day as the Sun doth yet it is some reviving till the day do appear 2. Let it be well considered what God imposeth upon fainting Souls as one great part of their work in such a season Psal 55.22 Cast thy burden upon the Lord and he shall sustain thee he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved When thou art ready to faint under thy burden cast it upon me saith the Lord Matth. 11.28 Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden Do then as David did he hears the command speaking in general unto all Psal 27.8 Seek ye my face and seeth himself concerned in it and therefore resolves Thy face Lord will I seek It is observable that when Christ commanded the blind Man to come unto him Mar. 10.49 Be of good comfort say those that were by-standers the Master calls thee Such commands in this case may sometimes be of greater use then promises and more effectual for the silencing of doubts and discouragements For the best are apt when in the dark to dispute their interest in the promises till they have disputed themselves out of all heart to close with them But Commands are not to be disputed but obeyed See Luk. 5.5 There was discouragement enough They had fished all night and caught nothing nevertheless say they at thy word we will let down the Net 3. Taking it for granted that a fainting Soul in obedience to the command of Christ is willing if able to come to Christ and to close with him And if the question were put to him as it was to Rebecca Gen. 24.58 Wilt thou go with this man He would answer as she did I will go And hearing the terms whereon he promiseth to be ours can and doth yield unto them as heartily as Laban did to Jacob's and desire as he did Gen. 30.34 I would it might be according to thy word Then let every fainting Soul know his right and claim it and know his duty upon this account and set about it 1. Know his right and claim it What 's that Even the promises of God as his inheritance for those that yield to Christ's terms are received into the number of his adopted Children Joh. 1.12 And if Children then Heirs Rom. 8.17 Heirs of what See Gal. 3.29 And if ye be Christs then are ye Abraham's
under the greatest obligations that are imaginable to beware of Relapses So they ought with as great care and constancy to realize the presence of God with them day by day For it is without all controversie true that the exercise and so by consequence the growth and increase of the principles of godliness wherein Soul-prosperity specially consists is founded upon and preserved by the due consideratio … 〈◊〉 God's presence with us and his all sâ—eing eye upon us This is that which is specially comprehended in that expression of walking with God and walking before God And this is as specially to be observed That those that did so whilst they did so their Souls prospered We have it exemplified in Enoch Gen. 5.22 And he had this testimony that he pleased God Heb. 11.5 So Noah Gen. 6.9 Noah was a just Man and perfect in his generations and Noah walked with God So David Psal 26.3 I have walked in thy truth Psal 119.168 I have kept they precepts and thy testimonies for all my ways are before thee This was the best testimony that Solomon his Son could give of him when he was dead 1 King 3.6 Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my Father great mercy according as he walked before thee in truth and righteousness and in uprightness of heart with thee This is that which God gives in charge to Abraham and that upon this account Gen. 17.1 walk before me and be thou perfect As thou desirest and I know thou desirest to hold fast thine integrity Let me live in thy thoughts and see to it that thou so live so think so speak and so do as remembring thou art always in my sight This is that which hath a very great influence to draw as it were the draught of the Image of God day by day in our Souls in more and more lively colours For in the state of glory the glorified Saints that are with the Lord and always behold his face are like him and see him as he is 1 Joh. 3.2 Even so it is in the state of grace so far as this duty is conscientiously observed and discharged 2 Cor. 3.18 We all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the spirit of the Lord. It is true it is not said of Moses that his face did shine the first time that he had been with God in the Mount but when he had been with him the second time Exod. 34.29 This then is that we ought to have deeply engraven upon our hearts as ever we desire not to lose the things we have wrought to do as David did Psal 16.8 I have set the Lord always before my face Always that implies that we ought to make it our daily work what a Man does every day he is said to do Always And Always i. e. one day as well as another to our last day This is no more then is expresly required Prov. 23.17 Be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long And 1 Pet. 1.17 pass the time of your sojourning here in fear It is the exercise of the fear of God which hath a very great influence upon Soul-prosperity 2 Cor. 7.1 perfecting holiness in the fear of God And it is this realizing the presence of God which hath the great influence into the exercise of the fear of God Hence it is that true child-like fear is said to be fearing before God that is out of an awful respect unto and due consideration of his All-seeing eye Eccl. 8.12 it shall be well with them that fear God that fear before him This is that then which above all other things ought not to be omitted for the very sinews of all heart-godliness are as it were cut in sunder so far as this is neglected For there is nothing left then which hath any power over the inward man the hidden man of the heart but it enjoys a lawless liberty as if there were none to observe it nor to judge it 3 Epist of John ver 11 Beloved follow not that which is evil but that which is good He that doeth good is of God but he that doeth evil hath not seen God Deut. 32.18 Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful and hast forgotten God that formed thee All their wickedness is charged upon that I shall say no more to this Second general Direction but only these Three things 1. That untill the Soul be spiritually alive to God and so in a capacity of prospering there is neither delight nor desire to entertain any thoughts of God Rom. 1.28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge They cast the notions of God out of their minds as of no use to them Psal 10.4 God is not in all his thoughts i.e. Not in his thoughts at all Job 21.14 They say to the Almighty Depart from us for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways Some say so in words at length and all of them say it in their hearts Thò God saith Wo unto you when I depart from you Hos 9.12 Yet they think it best when he departeth from them and the farther the better This frame of heart is the very blackness of Hellish darkness It speaks the very language of Satan Matth. 8.29 What have we to do with thee thou Jesus the Son of God art thou come to torment us before the time Thus it was of old Isa 30.11 Cause the holy one of Israel to cease from us 2. Though the Soul be alive to God yet so far as the Image of the old Adam is unmortified and any particular lust indulged so far God and the heart will be strangers Not only the beam but even such a moat in the eye will make such Souls to shun what they can the presence of God and the presence of those who they think will speak the mind of God unto them as Ahab did the presence of Micaiah 1 King 22.8 Such Souls are far from prospering This is the very image of old Adam Gen. 3.8 He heard the voice of God and hid himself from the presence of the Lord. 3. Even those whose Souls do live and in some measure may be said to prosper though they dare not omit any external duty of Religion yet they do too often and too easily slip over this without timely observation till they take a review of their hearts and then they see they have cause to say as Psal 36.11 Unite my heart to thee that I may fear before thee all the day long Or unite my heart within it self that it may not be diverted or distracted not carried this way and that way but that I may be able to say It is fixed it is fixed Thus I say it is and that too often with Souls that prosper according to their measure Therefore we ought to charge our selves with this duty and renew the charge from
day to day To set our selves under the actual consideration of God's All-seeing eye who hath absolute Soveraignty over us to whom alone we must stand or fall who can tell us all our thoughts and will render to every Man according to his works and therefore hath a Book of remembrance for those that think upon him and fear his name Mal. 3.16 And hath a bag for iniquity wherein he doth as it were seal up mens sins to bring them forth as Evidences and charge them upon every one as the matter requires And as God is said to have a Book and a Bag so he is said to have a Bottle Psal 56.8 Put my tears into thy bottle are they not in thy book This I say we should charge upon our hearts and renew this charge from day to day till we have some power over them For though it be true that God alone hath the Soveraignty over and is the great disposer of our hearts yet under him we may do much What Man is there whose conscience will not tell him if he consult with it that when his heart is flat and dead alienated from all serious thoughts of the presence of God with him that this is his own neglect his own willful neglect for he knows that when he hath a business to manage of any considerable concernment for his outward estate he can easily command his heart to think on it yea and cannot put it out of his mind when he would so that The abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep Eccl. 5.12 Therefore let us not neglect any longer to exercise that authority which God hath given us over our hearts if we desire our Souls should continue to prosper We must serve him in righteousness and holiness all our days and every day But all we do will come very far short not only of what it ought to be but of what it might be unless we do what we do before him as in his sight Luk. 1.75 Thus of the Second Direction 3. Spiritualize the Providences of every day I mean improve them to some spiritual advantage so as thereby some gracious impressions may be wrought upon your hearts that thereby the duties of the day may be better performed principles of godliness more seasonably exercised and the workings and stirrings of corruption more timely checkt and throughly mortified This will exceedingly help scarce any thing more to preserve the Soul in its thriving and prospering frame Consider then that every day in respect of the Providences of God it is filled up withal is either one of those two days mentioned Eccles 7.14 Either a day of Prosperity or a day of Adversity Or else like that day mentioned Zech. 14.6 Neither clear nor dark but mixt mercies given in one part of the day and crosses taking their turn in the other Now it hath been experienced to be a great means of promoting and preserving Soul-prosperity to spiritualize both the one and the other 1. If the day be a day of Prosperity i. e. if no evil befalls us but that according to the promise Psal 121.7 8 The Lord shall preserve thee from evil The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in When God blesseth the beginning and ending of what we undertake this hath enough in it to raise up in our hearts high thoughts of God that he should load us with benefits Psal 68.19 Such as may be very effectual to keep us under those obligations which his bounty and goodness lays upon us Thus it wrought in David Psal 116. He is reckoning up the mercies of God toward him Then ver 5. He exalteth God in his heart And ver 7. His Soul retires into God and takes up its rest and satisfaction in him alone And ver 9. He heightens his resolution Thus it was with David and thus it may be with us Especially when the thriving prospering Soul hath ground and reason enough to see the present mercies of what kind soever they be as having relation unto and being pledges of Eternal mercies This sweetens them and heightens them how little soever how common soever they be that they may say as David 2 Sam. 7.18 Who am I and what is my father's house This makes them more heart-melting more heart-obliging then otherwise they would be or possibly can be to any Soul that is either dead in sin or in a dying withering languishing condition Six pence received only as a six pence doth not affect the heart like that which is received as an earnest of a greater Sum which shall certainly upon such a day be given to us so it is here when we can conclude that he who kept us this day from evil that it hath not grieved us as Jabes prayed 1 Chron. 4.10 and hath given us quiet and comfortable rest this night can and certainly will keep us by his mighty power through faith unto salvation and this night's rest is a pledge unto us of Eternal rest in those heavenly mansions above in our Father's house And this conclusion though no Man else can yet thriving and prospering Souls may make 2. If the day be a day of Adversity a day filled up with sad tidings or sad events yet the Providences of such a day may be spiritualized to the spiritual advantage of the Soul By a believing consideration from what hand they come as Job did ch 1. ver 21 The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away For what cause A man for the punishment of his sin Lam. 3.39 What God aims at therein sc our profit that we might be partakers of his holiness From what principle David believed that it was in faithfulness to the interest of his Soul that God afflicted him Psal 119.75 A believing consideration I say of these things in such a sad and dark day will conduce to preserve the Soul in a prospering frame By melting down the will into the will of God and by raising up the heart in the exercise of faith hope and patience quietly to wait for support under benefit by and in due time such a deliverance from them all as they shall be able to say to the praise of God's free grace truth and faithfulness as Jacob notwithstanding all his troubles in his life-time which were neither few nor small did on his Death-bed That the Lord delivered him from all evil Gen. 48.16 3. If the day be a mixt day as most days are some comforts some crosses some things going for us and some things against us these parti-coloured Providences may be spiritualized for our Souls advantage and be unto us as the side-wind to the Ship that best fills all the Sails variety of gracious principles may be exercised In such a day we find enough to humble us enough to make us thankful and thoughtful what to render unto the Lord. That it is no worse That it is so well as the King of Spain said when he heard of the miscarriage of
was full of good works Peter finds a great many about her Corps weeping and telling him what good she had done whilst among them and shewed him not her own Wardrobe but the Coats she had made for them Doubtless she that had so many Tears shed for her when she was dead had many prayers put up for her while she was alive Perhaps they were not like to find another Dorcas It might be then as it is now All seek their own none the things of Christ. All look after their own particular interest These are like to be as that wicked Prince 2 Chron. 21.20 who lived undesired and dyed unlamented What will persons say of such Psal 49.19 They will bless them while they live in hope to get something by them but when they dye farewel they They were good for none but themselves But it was not so with Gaius it was not so with Dorcas It is Calvin's note He thinks God raised Dorcas to life out of respect to the poor people 2. Observe our Translation I wish 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is in the margent I pray And the word is indifferently rendred Act. 27.29 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They wished for day But 2 Cor. 13.7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I pray God that ye do no evil and yet vers 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I wish your perfection Paul's wishes were his Prayers Note That it is no inconsiderable part of a Christians wisdom to be wary and well advised in what they wish for Wishing is like Praying We find in Scripture that very much guilt hath been contracted and very much folly expressed by wild and extravagant wishes I shall instance in the miscarriages of good people this way Job wisheth that he had never been born chap. 3. Jeremy wisheth that either he had never been born or dyed by and by chap. 20. Jonah wisheth he were dead and as much under ground as he was above ground chap. 4.9 David wisheth that he had dyed for Absolom But the saddest wish is that of Joshua chap. 7. v. 9. He was at prayer but forgate himself sadly Would God saith he we had not come over Jordan He wisheth that God had never made good his Promise of their coming into the Land of Canaan There is much folly expressed hereby Many persons please themselves if they may have liberty of wishing That they might wish for what they would have and have what they wish for then they would be in a brave condition A fond and foolish conceit this is Eccles 6.12 Who knows what is good for himself in this life The words are spoken question-wise and we are to understand them negatively That is only good for us in this life which is improved in order to our Eternal life Now God can carry on that course to bring us to Eternal happiness which he hath chosen his people to by adversity as well as prosperity Therefore this is the duty and wisdom of the people of God to leave it with God as it is Psal 47.4 Thou shalt choose our inheritance for us Wisdom is required to make a good choice in any thing God is the only wise God he will choose well Note this farther In three things God hath set us bounds Bounds to our Faith what to believe Bounds to our Actions what to do And bounds to our Prayers what to desire and what to ask And why should our Wishes be unbounded since they are like Prayers Idle wishes are at least as bad as idle words which no man can give account of Matth. 12.36 Many have gotten their death and destruction by getting what they wisht for They wished they might dye in the Wilderness and they did so Num. 14. Farther John here wisheth That Gaius might prosper John's wish was a prayer to God for him From hence we may take this note Note The well-being and prosperity of every man's outward condition is wholly at God's disposing Psal 127.1 Except the Lord build the house c. It is neither the care of the Master nor the faithfulness of the Servants nor any thing else that can do any thing at all if God say Nay If God doth not make the house to grow as David useth the expression 2 Sam. 23.5 certainly it will wither The Estate the House the Family will decay and in time come to nothing I note this that we may be all stirred up to acknowledge God to be the Fountain and Spring of all outward Blessings whatsoever And accordingly 1. As we desire any thing should succeed that we take in hand relating to our worldly affairs engage God in all that he may work with us therein We have Warrant in every thing to make known our requests to God Phil. 4.6 In every thing be it never so small engage God to be with us therein and say as Abraham's Servant did Gen. 24.11 Lord send me good speed every day 2. As we desire to prosper so serve the Providence of God wait upon him and keep his ways and believe his promises David gives his Son this counsel Keep the charge of the Lord that thou mayest prosper and have good success 1 Kings 2.3 And he had so while he did so It is spoken of such a person Psal 1.3 Whatsoever he doth shall prosper It shall turn to good in order to the furtherance of the Soul's prosperity 3. When the Lord is pleased to bless the labour of our hands to make our going out and our coming in the beginning and ending of what we go about successful give God the praise Sacrifice not to your own Net as that worldly person Psal 49.18 who bless'd himself No give God the glory though the matter be never so small Ruth 2.18 19 20. Naomi being brought into a low condition though she had been a woman of fashion when her daughter-in-law had sped well in gleaning O blessed be the Lord saith she Truly this would be well thought of Psal 73.4 Delight thy self in the Lord and he shall give thee thy hearts desire When God hath given us our hearts desire we should delight our selves in the Lord And the Mercy of God should raise us up to rejoyce in the God of our Mercies This would make every days Mercies to reach our Souls 4. I wish that thou mayest prosper c. It was well with Gaius already He prospered with the best prosperity but John wisheth that he might be royally blessed That mercy might compass him about on every side Hence Observe That though it be a just and measured truth That that Man is a blessed Man whose Soul prospers in what outward condition soever he be yet outward prosperity Soul-prosperity going before is a superadded blessing and may be sought for at the hands of God with submission to the will of God for our selves and in the behalf of others It is without all controversie Though a Man's outward condition were as low as Job's in the Old Testament and as Lazarus's in the New
were impossible that a Man believing this to be true and that his Soul must live with him when he is dead either in Eternal happiness or Eternal misery should suffer such an excellent thing to be lost and perish through his own default In respect of the latter one would think it impossible that such a vile such an abominable thing as sin hath made it should ever come to be good and prosper And indeed it is beyond the power of Men or Angels to effect it The recovery of a lost Soul is more pretious then so But to this it may be said as our Saviour said to his Disciples Mat. 19.26 With Men it is impossible but all things are possible to God 2. I proceed to the second thing proposed to shew wherein the prosperity of the Soul consists and when it may be said to prosper By way of Answer to this we must take notice that Soul-prosperity comes under a double consideration 1. In respect of its Rise 2. In respect of its Growth 1. In respect of its Rise and first Foundation This must be considered two ways 1. Either as looking after it upward without us 2. Or looking after it inwardly within us 1. If we look after it upward we shall find its first foundation laid in God's Eternal Electing Love 2. If we look after it inwardly within us then we shall find that it begins in that day and hour when by the word and spirit of Christ the whole Man both Body and Soul is brought into a state of Fellowship and Union with Christ Which is done and not done any other way I speak not of Elect Infants dying in their infancy then by obeying the call of Christ to come to him and abide with him and in him resigning our selves to him to be ruled and saved by him in his own way Thus understand it 1. God's Eternal love is God's Eternal purpose to work in the Soul in his appointed time that good thing which he knows will put it into a capacity of prospering Eph. 1.9 He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure as he had purposed in himself ver 11 In whom that is in Christ we have obtained an inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will This Eternal purpose ye see to do so and so for to work so and so in such and such a Soul is his Eternal love to those Souls The time when this purpose takes effect is then and not till then when the Soul obeyeth the call of Christ Then it is that an actual Application of that good thing which was intended is made This is exemplified in the Lord 's dealing with Paul He was a chosen Vessel from all Eternity Act. 9.15 But then was not this good thing wrought in him by the improvement whereof his Soul might prosper untill he obeyed the Call of Christ For till then he was a Persecutor of the Church of God and that beyond measure But when it pleased God to call him by his grace and to reveal his Son in him then that good thing was wrought in him according as God had purposed as he declares Gal. 1.13 14 15 16 Immediately he conferred not with flesh and blood But as Act. 9.20 he straitway Preached in the Synagogue that Christ was the Son of God for as he tells King Agrippa Act. 26.19 He was not disobedient to the heavenly Vision Now if ye ask what this good thing was which he received in obeying this call in improvement whereof his Soul began presently to prosper I shall give it you in a word It was a Heaven-born principle of Spiritual life 1 Joh. 5.12 He that hath the Son hath Life and he that hath not the Son hath not life Then as he saith Eph. 2.5 He was quickned who before was dead in sins and trespasses Then his Soul was in a way of thriving As a Tree when there is life in the Root it is capable if well ordered of prospering and bringing forth fruit Thus it is evident that if we look upward we find the first foundation of Soul-prosperity is laid in God's Eternal Electing Love But if we look inward it is then laid when once we are effectually called 2 Tim. 1.9 Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling That is He hath brought us into a state of Salvation which is the only state wherein the Soul prospers And there it shall prosper Rom. 8.28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them that are called according to his purpose vers 30. Moreover whom he did predestinate them he also called and whom he called them he also justified and whom he justified them he also glorified When this Call is first obeyed the Soul begins to prosper for the Understanding begins then to be savingly enlightened 2 Pet. 1.9 But he that lacketh these things is blind and cannot see far off In that day of God's power the Soul is made willing Psal 110.3 And then the Conscience begins to be purged from dead works Heb. 9.14 And this good thing thus in this day begun shall one day be made perfect in full and absolute Soul prosperity 1 Thes 5.23 The very God of peace sanctifie you wholly So prays the Apostle for them and is confident his prayers shall be heard vers 24 Faithful is he that calleth you who will also do it He saith to the Corinthians 1 Cor. 1.8 9. Who shall confirm you to the end that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ God is faithful by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ. I might now dismiss this point concerning the first Rise and Foundation of this Soul-prosperity and proceed to shew the growth and progress of it But I must first speak a few words to prevent if possible all mistakes by any thing that hath been said It cannot be denyed but in some that never yet heartily and unfeignedly obeyed the call of Christ what by one means what by another they living under the ministry of the Gospel there may be wrought not only a fair Reformation of the outward Man but likewise some inward work upon the Soul and that in each of the three forementioned excellent Faculties which have an appearance of very great tendency to Soul-prosperity but indeed come very far short of it as to the truth and reality of the matter 1. In the Understanding there may be much light in the things of God We read Matth. 7.22 that not only one or two but Many shall say we have Prophesied in thy Name Some think they lyed in saying so as if none were partakers of such excellent gifts in their unconverted state but the Scripture is clear to the contrary Heb. 6.4 Those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift and were made partakers of the
the life we live so far as it is gratious and it ought to be so in all things is more in Christ and from Christ and what we expect to receive from Christ then in and from our selves when we think with our selves as the Apostle said Gal. 2.20 Nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God Therefore interest Christ in all that ye do Look unto him for assistance in every thing Phil. 4.13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me and for acceptance of all 1 Pet. 2.5 Ye also as lively stones are built up a spiritual house an holy Priesthood to offer up spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ Let us go on thus leaning upon our Beloved The heart of Christ was much upon this that all that are in a state of Union with him should learn this and live under the actual consideration of it Joh. 15.4 5 Abide in me and I in you as the Branch cannot bear fruit of it self except it abide in the Vine no more can ye except ye abide in me I am the Vine ye are the Branches he that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit for without me ye can do nothing And the more this is learned and accordingly reduced into practice the more the Soul will prosper It is worth our noting that true growth is noted by our growing in Christ Eph. 4.15 But speaking the truth in love may grow up into him in all things which is the Head even Christ 2 Pet. 3.18 But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ As if to grow in parts in duties or any thing else without growing in him were a swelling rather then a growth The swelling of the Leg or Arm is no good sign that the party grows stronger It is thus indeed whiles we are full of our own strength our Souls prosper not 1 Sam. 2.9 for by strength shall no Man prevail Therefore a prospering Soul though it hath and when it hath put on the whole Armour of God yet it is not to trust thereto but to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Eph. 6.10 Certainly the more deeply this principle is engraven in our hearts and the more we act according to it the better it will be with us He that laboured more abundantly then they all that could say He had finished his course fought the good fight and kept the faith was he that said Not I but the grace of God that was with me 1 Cor. 15.10 Happy are those Souls and more happy they are like to be that are so trained up in a continual sensibleness of their own insufficiency as to what is spiritually good that still there is a looking up for more supplies that we may exercise what we have Phil. 1.19 and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ What Paul prayed for the Thessalonians 2 Thes 3.5 The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and the patient waiting for Christ i. e. into the exercise thereof A Soul that would prosper must pray for it self Yea and for that which Paul desired others to pray on his behalf Eph. 6.18 19 Praying alwaies with all Prayer and Supplication that utterance may be given unto me Paul had already a great gift of utterance and memory and had great experience of Gods presence with him in the exercise thereof having preached so well and so long now twenty five years together yet desires their prayers not only for the continuance of these gifts but also for the actual exercise of them so often as ever there was occasion of using them And no doubt Paul did pray thus for himself as often as he was to preach and as little doubt there is but that he did his work so much the better for it and with the better success Thus ye have what I have to say concerning the first thing proposed What concerns the prosperity of the Soul in general wherein it consists and when a Man may be said to prosper SERMON IV. I Now proceed more particularly to demonstrate that in truth and reality the Soul doth prosper according to the degree and measure wherein the Soul abounds in them 1. The Soul prospers when it is full of Praises to God So kept from day to day under the Law of thankfulness that it abounds in thanksgiving to God Col. 2.7 Abounding therein with thanksgiving It is possible some may think otherwise that this is no such great matter but let these following particulars be duely considered and I hope ye will acknowledge it to be as I say Consider then 1. Though it be true that there are some solemn Seasons which call for solemn Praises when God hath abounded in the expressions of his love to us and Fatherly care for us in some special favour bestowed upon us giving us to experience the truth of what David found Psal 31.7 I will rejoice and be glad in thy mercy for thou hast considered my trouble and known my Soul in adversity Though I say this be true yet we are under express obligation to make it part and a great part of our business every day Heb. 13.15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of Praise to God continually that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his Name It was David's resolution to keep his heart under the power and authority of this Law Psal 145.2 Every day will I bless thee and I will praise thy Name for ever and ever 2. Though it be true likewise that there be some days when the Lord calls to mourning As Isa 22.12 Yet the saddest hours that the all-disposing Providence of the most wise God brings us into bring no discharge from this duty Neither need we look for it for these two duties are very well consistent together Otherwise we may be sure that God who gives a command sometimes to Mourn would never have given us a command alwaies to Rejoyce if these two had been contrary one to another And besides even in those daies when divine Dispensations call for mourning when things go most cross to our desires and affections yet we have matter of Thanksgiving if it were but for this That it is never so bad with us but it might be worse Paul acknowledgeth this to be a mercy that he had less cause of sorrow then he might have had Phil. 2.27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death but God had mercy on him and not on him only but on me also lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow Psal 118.18 19 The Lord hath chastened me sore but he hath not given me over unto death Open to me the gates of righteousness I will go in to them and I will praise the Lord. This needs not seem strange at all for even then when
the Providences of God have very much appearance of contradiction to the Promises and are therefore most sadly cross to our hopes and expectations a gratious person if his Soul prosper and be kept in a gratious frame may by the eye of Faith foresee the good hand of God working even then for good unto him David in one of the saddest days that ever befell him as dark as it was with him had a glimmering of this 2 Sam. 16.12 Let Shimei alone said he let him curse it may be the Lord will look upon mine affliction and will requite me good for his cursing me this day I can tell you of one whose spiritual sight was clear in this matter One that when sad tydings were brought him that cut deep and went near his heart Well saith he I will go and bless God for that good which in due time I believe he will work out by the heavy burden now laid upon me He did believe there would Honey be found at the end of that Rod. These persons knew full well that all things that do befall the Lords Covenant people are either blessings in their own nature or are turned into blessings in the Issue Psal 25.10 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his Covenant and his Testimonies He always hath and ever will so order all things as that they shall all work to bring electing love and glorifying love together This Jacob experienced Compare Gen. 42.36 Joseph is not and Simeon is not and will ye take Benjamin away All these things are against me with Gen. 48.16 The Angel which redeemed me from all evil bless the Lads And David did hope to find it so when his condition was very low and his spirit very much sunk and fallen Psal 42.11 Why art thou cast down O my Soul and why art thou disquieted within me Hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God Thus ye have the first Particular that it is our duty every day Though we are sometimes called to Mourning yet we are always called to Thansgiving therefore we ought to resolve with David Psal 34.1 I will bless the Lord at all times his praise shall continually be in my mouth 2. When the Soul is always habitually prepared and as the matter requires abounds in the actual performance of this duty it is in a prosperous and spiritually thriving frame This will appear if we enquire into the nature of Religious Thanksgiving For these three things we shall find necessarily required to the essence of it 1. A Cordial acknowledging of God alone as the Supreme cause and first mover in all the good we have of what kind soever it be by what hand soever it is conveyed unto us This is necessary for we shall never pay our Rent to him whom we do not acknowledge our Landlord We have cause to say of every thing the least thing we receive as Psal 118.23 This is the Lords doing 2. A real sensibleness that it is the Almighty goodness of God and that alone that sets his all-disposing Providence on work to give forth any thing the least thing unto us that may be any way useful unto us And this in conjunction with an humble sense of our own unworthiness to live in the thoughts of such a God who hath all the World to care for for our good even the least good Thus did Jacob Gen. 32.10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which thou hast shewed unto thy Servant Gen. 33.5 The Children which God hath graciously given thy Servant 3. An hearty and humble resignation of our selves to live unto God because of his goodness unto us This is the Law of thankfulness and so far as a thankful heart lives under this Law so far he must be able to say as Paul did Phil. 1.21 To me to live is Christ These thing are essential to the acceptable discharge of this duty and so far as Men fail in any of them so far they come short in the due performance thereof And this being duly considered it is very evident that that work of praising God so as to give him the praises due unto his name as the expression is Psal 29.2 is so humbling so melting so self-abasing so God-exalting taking all from Self and giving all to God so heart-engaging and obliging that it cannot be otherwise but that the Soul doth prosper yea exceedingly prosper when it is faithful therein Read 2 Sam. 7. vers 10. to the end And 1 Chron. 29. from vers 10. to the end of the 19th And ye shall find in both those Chapters that David's heart was never more after Gods own heart nor ever did his Soul more eminently prosper then at that time when it was so warm in this duty And this would be farther taken notice of that we never read in all the Scripture so far as I can find that any whose Soul was not at least in a capacity of prospering whatever they might do formally did ever set themselves seriously about it We find Saul sometime sacrificing and now and then enquiring after God We read of Ahab humbling himself and walking in Sack-cloth but not a word of Praising God either by the one or by the other No marvel for pure need may drive a Man to his prayers As Jon. 1.5 Then the Mariners were afraid and cryed every Man to his God But it is pure Grace that makes a Man thankful as thankfulness hath been described in its Essential parts Formal thanksgivings are common and with some more common then formal prayers But neither the one nor the other signifie any thing with God Job 35.13 Surely God will not hear vanity neither will the Almighty regard it A mouthful of words is but a mouthful worth no more with God then a mouthful of wind It is certain there is no more real thankfulness then there is a real resignation of our selves to God to live unto him 2 Tim. 3.2 Vnthankful and unholy are conjoined Though they may be somewhat distinguished yet they are not divided Eph. 5.4 Neither filthiness nor foolish talking nor jesting which are not convenient but rather giving of thanks Ye may collect from thence that a thankful Soul is a mortified Soul It is true we read that the Pharisee began with a Lord I thank thee Luk. 18.11 but he stumbled at the Threshold for read over all that he saith to the end and ye will find that he doth not so much praise God as commend himself I shall conclude this with Eph. 5.19 20 Speaking to your selves in Psalms Giving thanks always for all things to God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ These two verses speak fully to that which I aim at for observe the connexion between them and ye will find the Apostle makes giving of thanks always for all things an effect
concerning Soul-prosperity are such things as are wrought in and laid up in the hidden Man of the heart yet these things are in the Soul as the Candle in the Lanthorn to shine forth in a holy and blameless conversation and in the constant performance of the visible part of Religion and that in conjunction with others as opportunity is offered For though frequency therein doth not infallibly prove that the Soul doth prosper yet in the neglect thereof the Soul never did nor will prosper We read Joh. 20.24 25. What a very bad frame did grow upon the Soul of Thomas by the neglect of one good meeting Whether it was out of too much fear of what mischief might befall him from the Council that condemned his Lord and Master or from too much care to settle his own private concernments it is hard to determine but certain it is that his Soul was thereby brought into a sad condition Therefore as we desire our Souls should prosper we should attend daily at the gates of Wisdom Prov. 8.34 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own Soul Prov. 15.32 It is no easie matter for a Man to prosper in the World Prov. 10.4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand So it is here therefore as Deut. 4.9 Keep thy Soul diligently lest thou forget SERMON V. I Now proceed to the third and last Particular The reasons for the confirming of the truth of the Proposition 1. The first is this Soul prosperity is so far all in all both to the prosperity of every Man 's outward condition in general and of the health and wellfare of the Body in particular that it is absolutely impossible that either the one or the other should truly and really prosper but in conjunction with Soul-prosperity There are two branches in this reason and if both of them be made good then the proposition is so far made good That of all prosperity Soul-prosperity is the most desirable prosperity And it is easie to make them both good by Scripture 1. That there is no true and real prosperity to any Man 's outward condition without Soul-prosperity This is true yet it must be granted that very many whose Souls are poor and blind and naked that lye dead yea rotting in the lusts of ungodliness do divide the good things of this World among them Their portion is made fat Psal 73.12 Insomuch that the Prophet Jeremy was astonished at it Jer. 12.1 Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper Wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously But this is far from true prosperity for all this while as their Persons so their Prosperity is under the curse of God Mal. 2.2 I will even send a curse upon you and I will curse your blessings That which was threat'ned of old Deut. 28.17 lyes sore and heavy upon such to this day though they neither see it nor fear it nor feel it Cursed is their Basket and cursed is their Store This will be demonstrated more fully under another head after I have made this good That outward prosperity truly so called and as it is a blessing depends wholly upon Soul-prosperity And that it doth so is evident by this That as all those so only those whose Souls do prosper are within the compass of the Promise of prospering in their outward condition The two first verses of the first Psalm give a fair character of a prospering Soul and the third verse gives the Promise That whatsoever such a Soul doth according to the rule of the Law wherein it delighteth shall prosper so far as is consistent with Soul-prosperity Beyond that the Promise cannot reach it neither doth any truly prosperous Soul desire it Here note two things 1. That this was most eminently made good in the Old Testament Where under that dark Dispensation of Spiritual Truths and Blessings the promises ran most upon externals The only-wise God saw it best of all so to encourage his then Infant Church as I may call it to their duty We read in Deut. 28. that after God had engaged himself upon serious minding their Soul prosperity in this and that and other particulars In vers 8. he engageth for all whatever in that kind could be desired assuring them that he would command a blessing upon them in all their Store-houses and in all that they should put their hand unto and accordingly this was made good Whilst Solomon kept the charge of the Lord all things went well with him 2 Chron. 7.11 It is said whatever he took in hand he prosperously effected Thus God always dealt with that Nation while Religion flourished and Soul-work prospered then all things prospered Hag. 2.19 God calls upon them there to observe that their outward prosperity should bear date from that day forward that they began to mind the good of their Souls In the Second of Jeremy God challengeth them to produce one instance at any time to the contrary but it was more then they could do There in vers 31. of that Chapter thus the Lord speaks unto them O generation have I been a barren wilderness unto you O generation Of what Nay that is not expressed but a void space is left that any thing might be written of them that was naught O generation of Vipers of Monsters that might have prospered and would not Well then thus far it is clear that Soul-prosperity had the promises of outward prosperity and under that Dispensation eminently made good 2. As it was eminently so then it is really so now even at this day All they whose Souls do prosper as they are Heirs of all those ancient promises so they have promises superadded of a later date 1 Tim. 4.8 Godliness is profitable unto all things having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come Matth. 6.32 33 Your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you And sometimes as Prov. 28.10 the upright shall have good things in possession A full share of outward blessings is given unto them suitable to persons of their condition beyond what once they could have expected or it may be did desire so that they have just cause thankfully to acknowledge as David did that their Cup runs over 3. When the only wise God sees it good either to preserve their Souls in or to bring them into a more prosperous frame then they are to exercise them with some straights and to keep them short yet even then they may say that which David saith Psal 23.6 even then when their Cup is low That the loving kindness of God follows them so far that what they have not they want not having learned to want being satisfied with that which they have of their own within Prov. 14.14 A good Man shall be satisfied from himself Experiencing the workings of the heart of God toward them
the great work next to the glorifying of his Father and therein he did glorifie his Father that was in his heart to accomplish in and by that mysterious work of his Incarnation in taking upon him Man's nature and for which he made himself of no reputation in the World for which he suffered so much and still doth so much by his intercession in Heaven to this day that as Isa 53.11 he might see the Travel of his own Soul and be satisfied in the complete and Eternal prosperity of all their Souls which God the Father gave unto him and for which he engaged himself John 6.38 39 40 For I came down from Heaven not to do my own will but the will of him that sent me And this is the Fathers will which sent me that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up again at the last day In 1 Pet. 2.25 Christ is said to be the Shepherd of Souls Now a faithful Shepherd though he will be ready to do his Master what good service he can in any thing yet his chiefest care is for his Master's flock Such a faithful Shepherd is Jesus Christ he highly minds the meanest thing wherein any of his are concerned Satan to his own great vexation cannot overlook this Job 1.10 Hast thou not made an hedge about him and about his house and about all that he hath on every side And we know that when he was visibly in the World he was exceeding helpful to the Bodies of Men yet his chiefest care was over his peculiar flock as the Shepherd of Souls He laid down his Natural life to procure their Spiritual life That dead Souls might live and living Souls prosper That they might have life and live in abundance Joh. 10.10 11. For this end he ever lives to make intercession for those that come unto him that they might be saved to the uttermost Heb. 7.25 And as the effect of his intercession according to his promise Joh. 16.16 he sends the Spirit of Grace into their hearts to work in them all the graces that accompany Salvation And to abide in them to preserve what he hath wrought that in believing their Souls might be saved Heb. 10.39 And that they might receive the end of their Faith the Salvation of their Souls 1 Pet. 1.9 This is the first thing that Jesus Christ minded this most in our behalf that for this cause he came into the World to seek and to save lost Souls Luk. 19.10 2. This is the great end he aims to carry on by all his Ordinances The Law of God that is the whole Doctrine revealed in the word is for the Conversion of Souls Psal 19.7 And for Edification of Souls Act. 20.32 I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up The Sacraments are Spiritual Food for Souls 1 Cor. 10.3 4 And did all eat the same Spiritual meat And did all drink the same Spiritual drink Yea Excommunication that dreadful Ordinance so it be managed according to the mind of Christ for it is a delivering a Man to Satan yet it is with reserence to the good of his Soul 1 Cor. 5.5 To deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the Spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus For this end he appointed the Ministry to be a standing Ordinance unto the end of the World that they might watch over Souls Heb. 13.17 This was that which the Apostles aimed at according to their Commission from Christ Paul saith That he was made all things to all Men that by all means he might save some 1 Cor. 9.22 In his removal from one place to another he aimed at the conveying of some Spiritual gift where ever he came for the good of Souls Rom. 1.11 For I long to see you that I may impart to you some Spiritual gift In all his prayers for those to whom he wished all the good that might be this was the great thing he desired in their behalf that their Souls might prosper Eph. 3.14 15 16 17 That he would grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner Man That Christ may dwell in your hearts by Faith c. Gal. 6.18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your Spirit Prospering Souls were his joy and Crown Phil. 4.1 3. This was and is the great end of all his Providential Dispensations They are or may be all them either Food or Physick for the Soul Thriving in holiness as ye have heard is Soul-thriving Now this is the end that all comforting desirable Providences seem to drive on Obad. vers 17. But upon Mount Zion there shall be deliverance and there shall be holiness All afflicting saddening Providences are for the same purpose Heb. 12.10 God chasteneth us for our profit that we might be partakers of his holiness Yea for this very cause it often goes very ill with many of those that live highly in the love of God in their outward condition that their spiritual condition may prosper and flourish Isa 27.9 By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged and this is all the fruit to take away his sin Which is the sickness and otherwise would be the death of the Soul and its destruction Psal 119.71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy Statutes And therefore he acknowledgeth to the praise of the wisdom and rich grace of God that in very faithfulness to the interest of his Soul the hand of the Lord had been upon him so as it was Now lay all this together That this was the great end of Christ's Incarnation Death and Suffering and Intercession The great end for which all Ordinances and Providences are appointed to be subservient unto and it will evidently appear that this was and is above all things else most upon the heart of Christ in our behalf that our Souls might prosper therefore it ought to be most upon our hearts and it is most rational it should be so 3. It is every way most agreeable to the best and highest principles of reason with all possible diligence and seriousness to mind that the neglect whereof will be our utter undoing to all Eternity and bring both Body and Soul under the most absolute and unavoidable wo and misery that ever befell or possibly can befall any Creature that ever God made next unto the Devil himself That principle of self-preservation planted in the heart of Man by Nature if improved cannot but teach him this That it is most rational for him to mind that the neglect whereof would bring this ruine upon him Now what wo and misery is laid up for a neglected perishing unprospering Soul ye have fully expressed beyond what can be conceived in one verse Matth. 25.41 whereof I shall mention but these two particulars
power with any of his Rods especially when we our selves without any call from God have called for them and desired them would be well considered of 2. As the Evil of Affliction is not to be desired for this end but only to be made use of for this end when God brings it upon us So it is with the Evil of Sin God is pleased often to make use of his peoples miscarriages to work much this way bringing Soul-health out of Soul-sickness Thus God wrought with Peter Compare Matth. 26.33 with John 21.15 And with Hezekiah 2 Chron. 32.26 Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart And thus he wrought with David That great sin of his through the mighty working of the Spirit of God upon his heart occasioned as great exercise of his Repentance and of his Faith as ever he gave any evidence of in the whole time of his life from the first day of his Conversion to the time of his Death So that incestuous Corinthian his sorrow was so deep that he was in danger to have been swallowed up by it Thus the Lord is pleased to work as we have heard that skilful Physicians according to the rules of Art can temper poisonful ingredients into wholesome Medicines But this is proper for them only to medle withal that are skilful in their Art So this is a divine skill proper only to the great Physician of Souls But this we may not apply our selves unto I mean not to give way to sin in hope that Faith and Repentance may thereby be set on work and our Souls prosper the better after it No No Man ought to give way to the least sin though he had the greatest ground of hope that might be that he might be preserved thereby from a greater sin It 's true in respect of the evil of suffering when there is no remedy but one of them must be chosen the less may be chosen to avoid the greater But in respect of the evil of sin we ought not to swallow a Gnat in hope thereby to avoid a Camel Not to take up a Moat in hope thereby to shift off the Beam but stand out against all and leave the success to God Rom. 3.8 I once met with a godly Man who being in great heaviness under the sense of the hardness of his heart was tempted to adventure upon some great sin and then his heart would melt and break presently But the Lord graciously preserved him and wrought in him that tenderness in a great measure which he desired whereas yielding to that temptation had been the way to have been hardened by the deceit of sin as that young Man Dr. Preston speaks of who being in much anguish of spirit for his wicked course of life and often resolving upon a course of Reformation was tempted to do but once more as he had done and then he should never be troubled more He yielded to the temptation and he was never troubled any more as he had been but was given up to work all iniquity with greediness We see then it is God's sole Prerogative to bring Good out of Evil and as I said Soul-health out of Soul-sickness But this way we ought to abhor Only when this comes to be our sad condition we ought to do as Manasses did 2 Chron. 33.12 13 When he was in Affliction he besought the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly And prayed unto him He besought the Lord and he prayed that is he prayed and he prayed and humbled himself greatly So did Peter Matth. 26. ult Thus ye see there are some means we ought not to adventure upon in hope to make use of them for the prospering of our Souls 2. There are some other means which ought immediately and daily though at some times more solemnly then others to be made use of according as we find that we have contracted any guilt or defilement upon our Souls either great or small more or less and that is in the renewed exercise of Repentance and Faith to apply our selves to the Lord Jesus Christ that he would wash us and purge us both from the one and the other 1. In the renewed exercise of Repentance and godly sorrow reallizing the sad consequences that may possibly follow and are very likely to follow the least sin that is slighted and indulged Thus Job 42.6 Wherefore I abhor my self and repent in dust and ashes He was no vile person he had not committed any gross sins but guilty he was of many unadvised speeches of some mixture of that corruption which is contrary to that grace wherein he was so eminent I mean of impatience and of distrustfulness as to God's delivering him These were his failings and for these he renewed the exercise of his Repentance even to abhorring himself so as he was vile in his own eyes whilst he was pretious in the eyes of God This is a great Purger 2 Cor. 7.11 For behold this self-same thing that ye sorrowed after a godly sort what carefulness it wrought in you yea what clearing of your selves c. Jam. 4.8 Cleanse your hands ye sinners and purifie your hearts ye double-minded 2. In the exercise of Faith that draws and purges Hereby virtue is drawn from Christ As that Diseased Woman said and found it by experience when she touched him It was the touch of Faith by which her fountain of blood was stopped Mark 5.28 29. Thus faith also purifies Act. 15.9 That which we have Mal. 4.2 is very considerable to this purpose Christ is said to be the Sun of Righteousness And when he ariseth and shineth upon the Soul he ariseth with healing in his wings What are these wings The wings of the natural Sun are the beams of the Sun whereby light and heat are conveyed from the Sun And the wings of the mystical Sun the Sun of Righteousness are the Gospel of Christ and the Spirit of Christ These are the healers Ezek. 47.8 There were the waters of the Sanctuary which healed the waters of the Sea When these waters have free course according to what the Apostle prayed for 2 Thes 3.1 so as they meet with no stop in the mouths of the Ministers nor in the hearts of the people their healing efficacy will evidently appear It is said indeed in the fore-mentioned chapter of Ezekiel v. 11. that the miry places were not healed In such places where the water hath not its free course but stops it mingles with the softer parts of the Earth and makes Mire So the truths of the Gospel though they meet with no stop in the mouths of the Ministers yet if they meet with obstructions in the hearts of the hearers so as the motions of the Spirit are not observed and the operations of the Spirit resisted Then corruption mingles even with the word it self turning the freeness of the grace of Christ into wantonness and the efficacy of his grace into laziness This makes a miry polluted dirty Soul Therefore
sprinkling of the blood of Christ upon all that for the merit of his blood it may be blessed unto us so as it may afford some spiritual nourishment for our Souls the power of his Holy Spirit working with them and in them and by them It is he alone that teacheth to profit Isa 48.17 David knew this and therefore he prayed That he might feel the power of God in all Psal 62.1 2 3. 4. Do this daily as the matter requires Nature will decay if not daily repaired The Egyptian who had eaten nothing for three days and three nights was faint but when he had eaten his spirit came to him 1 Sam. 30.12 So it will be with the new Nature as Rev. 3.2 The things that are ready to dye if not fed with fresh supplies Phil. 1.19 It was a sore affliction which made the Church forget to eat her bread Psal 102.4 It is some strong corruption that makes us forget our spiritual bread as they did forget their resting place Jer. 50.6 I conclude all with this Our needs if we be sensible of them we cannot but acknowledge are very great every day That invitation and encouragement is for every day which we have Prov. 9.5 Come eat of my bread and drink of my wine And Cant. 5.1 Eat O friends drink yea drink abundantly O beloved Therefore come and eat every day as we desire that every day our Souls should prosper SERMON IX A Third thing which I shall take notice of as necessary for the health and well-fare of the Body which I intend now as the Lord shall assist to apply to the Point in hand is this That we be well clothed God hath given to every living Creature some kind of clothing or other Even to the Birds of the Air and the Beasts of the Field They could not endure the extremity either of heat or cold without it Adam and Eve when they were at first created needed no clothing but their own innocency when they needed it God provided it for them before they did for themselves Gen. 3.22 Cold if extream is very prejudicial to Man's health and may be so to his life Paul reckoneth it among his great sufferings 2 Cor. 11.27 in cold and nakedness Therefore up and down in the Scripture we find it spoken of as a commendable act of charity To cloth the naked Isa 58.7 Act. 9.30 This is one thing then we ought specially to mind as ever we desire our Souls should prosper that as the Apostle saith 2 Cor. 5.3 we may not be found naked Now the Scripture tells us what the Garment is wherewith the Soul that prospers must be clothed Rev. 19.8 And it was granted unto her the Bride the Lamb's Wife that she should be arrayed in fine linnen clean and white for the fine linnen is the righteousness of the Saints This fine Linnen this Righteousness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 comes under a double consideration 1. The Righteousness which is wrought for the Soul by Jesus Christ himself in his own Person and is imputed to every Believer 2. The Righteousness that is wrought in the Soul by the Spirit of Christ and is inherent in every new Creature The one may be called The outer garment the other The inner garment of the heart So far as the Soul is clothed with this double garment of Righteousness so far it prospers and no farther Something must be said to each of these 1. Of that garment of Righteousness which Christ hath wrought for the Soul This is that White garment Rev. 3.18 I counsel thee to buy of me white raiment that thou mayest be clothed This is the only garment that gives a title to Heaven Isa 61.10 I will greatly rejoyce in the Lord my Soul shall be joyful in my God for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness This is not like Saul's Armour that was not fit for David it will fit every Soul that really feels the want of it and indeed and in truth is willing to put it on and therefore we are exhorted Rom. 13.14 To put on the Lord Jesus Christ In prosecuting of this Point a few words to each of these Particulars 1. Consider the materials whereof this garment is made 2. That it is of absolute necessity that it be put on else the Soul cannot prosper 3. How it is to be put on 4. What influence it hath into Soul-prosperity when it is put on 1. For the first of these the materials whereof it is made briefly thus It is the Obedience of Christ as Mediatour in doing and suffering what God the Father appointed and which he accepts in the behalf of all those who are clothed with it so as upon that account they are delivered from the sentence of Eternal Death which they had righteously deserved and are accepted as righteous unto Eternal Life of which they were utterly unworthy Observe then these two things 1. That God the Father accepts it as full and perfect satisfaction to his Justice for what ever was appointed for them to suffer by way of punishment and curse for sin It is said 1 Pet. 2.24 That Christ his own self bare our sins in his Body on the Tree i.e. The punishment and curse due for sin With this God the Father is well pleased so that the Sentence of Condemnation shall never be executed upon the Soul that is clothed with it And this he accepteth as a valuable consideration for all the wrong that their sins have done him Eph. 4.32 forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you It is said 1 Pet. 4.8 that love to our Brethren covers a multitude of sins i.e. It doth not strictly take notice of but in silence passeth by many failings of others especially those that concern our selves But this covers All so that no notice is taken of them so as according to the sentence of the Law to curse and condemn such a Soul Jer. 50.20 In those days and at that time saith the Lord shall the iniquity of Israel be sought for and there shall be none and the sins of Judah and they shall not be found for I will pardon them whom I reserve The book is cross'd all the black bill that otherwise would have been brought in against it whereof it could not have answered one of a thousand i.e. none at all is crossed Well then might David say Psal 32.1 Blessed is the Man whose iniquity is covered 2. God accepts it in the behalf of all those that are clothed with it for all that is required by way of perfect obedience to the Moral Law It is said Rom. 10.4 Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness Christ i.e. Christ and his Righteousness is the end of the Law i. e. the perfection of the Law Now the end of the Law was to invest those that perfectly fulfilled it with a Righteousness that would give a true right and title
how near soever they come how deep soever they cut and how long soever they continue is to keep silence before the Lord to sanctifie his name in all as holy and righteous faithful and gratious believingly waiting for a blessed issue to all This is the proper work of patience and in doing this consists the exercise of patience as we see it exemplified in Job cap. 1 c. 2. Faith hath its peculiar work 2 Thes 1.11 The work of faith with power And the proper work of faith is to receive Jesus Christ and rest upon him and his righteousness for a full discharge from the guilt of every sin and for acceptance with God as righteous unto Eternal Life And to carry the Soul to Jesus Christ daily for supplies of grace for strength against temptations from the World the Flesh or the Devil and for ability to perform what is daily required of us in those relations wherein we stand and in that condition wherein we are so as we may be enabled to hold on cheerfully and comfortably in the race that is set before us notwithstanding all the difficulties we meet with in our way Thus it was Prophetically promised of and to the believing Jews Hab. 2.4 The just shall live by his faith and to all believers to the end of the World Still keeping heart in their hopes for the accomplishment of whatever God hath promised notwithstanding all the real improbabilities and seeming impossibilities that be in the way This is the proper work of faith and in doing of this consists the exercise of faith Thus did Abraham Rom. 4.19 20. For we walk by faith not by sight 2 Cor. 5.7 We do not enjoy all that is in the promise but in the exercise of faith we wait for it 3. Repentance hath its proper work too which is to bring forth fruits meet for Repentance suitable to the nature of such a gracious principle Matth. 3.8 Such as heart-humbling and afflicting the Soul with godly sorrow for sin joined with the turning of the heart against every known sin so as we may attain to the sense of God's reconciliation with us and keep our hearts in a reconciled frame toward his holy Will in all things This is proper work for this grace and in doing hereof consists the exercise of Repentance See this exemplified Jer. 31.18 19 turn thou me and I shall be turned for thou art the Lord my God Surely after I was turned I repented c. And Psal 51. 4. Self-denyal hath its proper work To deny self-will self-ends self-interest in all worldly concernments whatsoever and how far soever they stand in oposition unto or in competition with the command interest and glory of Jesus Christ And are inconsistent with the Conscience of that duty which we owe unto his Majesty This is the work which God hath appointed unto this grace Luk. 9.23 If any Man will come after me let him deny himself And in doing of this work this grace is exercised See it exemplified in Moses Heb. 11.24 By faith Moses when he came to years refused to be called the Son of Pharaoh 's daughter 5. The grace of Fear hath its proper work to keep the heart in an holy awe of God sensible of his all-seeing eye upon us regulating all our thoughts words and actions as becomes the presence of so holy a God This is the proper work for the fear of God Prov. 8.13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil And in doing of this work consists the exercise of this grace 2 Cor. 7.1 Let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God i.e. In the exercise of this grace See this exemplified in Joseph Gen. 39.9 How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God And in Nehemiah chap. 5.15 But so did not I because of the fear of God 6. The grace of Meekness hath its proper work And that is in the just moderation of the passion of anger preventing or quickly cooling and subduing all undue heats so as this unruly passion may never be moved without cause or when there is cause not without measure to walk in the exercise of this grace And because there are so few examples of it among the proud froward unbroken-hearted generation of Men we are called upon to learn it of Christ Matth. 11.29 Learn of me for I am meek and lowly of heart This being such a grace as no Christian without the exercise of it can possibly walk worthy of his Calling Eph. 4.2 I beseech you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called with all lowliness and meekness 7. The grace of Charity hath its proper work Ye have it described 1 Cor. 13.4 5 6 7. In doing this work the grace of Charity is exercised and the command of Christ so far fulfilled who commands us To walk in love Eph. 5.2 And requires it of us 1 Cor. 16.14 That all our things be done in charity These few instances shew what it is to live in the exercise of godliness Ye see here are gracious principles in the heart and gracious actings suitable thereunto and issuing from them And these are the things wherein the prosperity of the Soul consisteth 2. Wherein ought we to exercise our selves unto godliness Ans In every thing we do Whether we eat or drink or whatever we do we ought to do all to the glory of God 1 Cor. 10.31 Though we are necessitated often to change our Actions yet we ought never to change our End This must be always the highest and most supreme End And this can never be done but in the exercise of the principles of godliness It cannot be expected that I should instance in every thing I shall instance in those things that may be most comprehensive Consider then 1. That these principles ought to be exercised in those spiritual outgoings and holy actings of the inward Man which are immediately acted upon God and raise the heart Heaven-ward though not drawn forth in acts of instituted worship 2. As they are drawn forth exercised and as it were clothed with the external duties of Religion or any thing else wherein the visible part of Religion as far as it may be visible to Man doth consist 1. For the former In the spiritual out-goings and holy actings of the inward Man So as to do something toward the performance of that great duty injoined both in the Old Testament and in the New Isa 8.13 Sanctifie the Lord of hosts himself and let him be your fear and let him be your dread 1 Pet. 3.15 But sanctifie the Lord God in your hearts But how is this That God who is the God of all grace should sanctifie all those whom he sets apart for himself And that he should sanctifie his own name in vindicating it from those low and unworthy thoughts that Men have of him This is somewhat easie to be apprehended But how shall a poor
Creature loaden with many infirmities do it For the present I cannot think of any better way then this even in the spiritual out-goings and actings of the principle of godliness immediately upon God himself so as to compose our affections thoughts purposes desires resolutions and all the inward workings of our hearts in a suitable proportion to those glorious discoveries that God hath made of his name as infinitely holy wise just and gracious present every where seeing all things observing all things ordering all things according to the counsel of his own will The instance the Prophet Isaiah gives makes for this For when he had called them to their duty To sanctifie God in their hearts he directs them how to do it Let him be your fear and let him be your dread Thus the Prophet Habakkuk sanctified God's Name in his heart drawing in all his hopes and all his comforts into God alone resolving to rejoice in him when he had nothing else to rejoice in Hab. 3.17 18. according to Phil. 4.4 Rejoice in the Lord alway and again I say Rejoice This is that which is required in the first and great Commandment wherein indeed if we consider it well we shall find all the other Commands wrapt up for always before we do any thing amiss against God we either think amiss of God or think not of him at all Therefore as ever we desire our Souls should prosper let us be careful at all times in all places thus to sanctifie God's Name in our hearts And whatever our condition be how sad soever it be with us still both think well and speak well of God as such a God ought to be spoken of and thought of Satan hath baffled many eminent Persons when they have been under tryal with temptations contrary to this Jeremiah in his distress le ts fall such sad words as these Chap. 15.18 Why is my pain perpetual and my wound incurable which refuseth to be healed Wilt thou be altogether unto me as a lyar and as waters that fail And David being as we say under hatches said in his haste though upon second thoughts he call'd in his words again that he had served a hard Master and that all his exercising himself unto godliness had been in vain Psal 73.13.14 It concerns us therefore as we desire our Souls should prosper so to exercise the principles of godliness we have received that even when the dealings of God with us are most contrary to our desires and hopes to think of God according to that representation which he makes of himself Exod. 34.6 7 The Lord the Lord God merciful and gracious c. We may observe that David when he acted like a Man after God's own heart did so Psal 119.68 Thou art good and doest good Yet how it was with him in his outward condition we see vers 61. The bands of the wicked have robbed me and vers 28. My Soul melteth for heaviness So Psal 31. aster he had expressed his sad condition vers 9 10 I am in trouble mine eye is consumed with grief My life is spent with grief and my years with sighing Yet he breaks out into admiration vers 19 O how great is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee And yet he saw but little of it laid out upon him Psal 52.1 the goodness of God endureth continually This is the first way proposed wherein we ought to exercise our selves unto godliness 2. I proceed to the second thing proposed How these principles of godliness ought to be exercised as they are to be drawn forth and clothed as it were with the External duties of Religion or any thing else wherein the visible part of Religion so far as it may be made visible to Men doth consist And here note two things as to External duties of Religion 1. That we ought to exercise our selves in them all 2. That these principles of godliness ought to be exercised in them all 1. For the former Those that really mind as we all ought to mind the prosperity of our Souls must compass them all and take them all in in their walk though not all at once nor all it may be every day but all in their Season It is a dangerous yea a desperate thing To perform one duty that we may dispence with our selves in the neglect of another As to perform duties in conjunction with others and give our selves on that account a dispensation to neglect personal and private duties It is our duty as 1 Tim. 5.21 to do all things without partiality especially all things in Religion This I desire may be considered There is no Duty or Ordinance of Gods own appointment which he hath not blessed at one time or other to some one or other of his People so as sometimes they have found him in one when they have not found him in another As for instance God hath been found in Prayer private Prayer Psal 34.6 This poor man cried unto the Lord and he saved him out of all his troubles In praying with others Act. 4.31 And when they had prayed the place was shaken and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost In private reading of the word as the Eunuch Act. 8.27 28. In hearing the word Act. 2.37 1 Cor. 14.24 25. While the two Disciples that went to Emmaus were discoursing of Christ Christ himself drew near to them and went with them Luk. 24.15 And their hearts burned within them while he talked with them by the way and opened the Scriptures to them vers 32. So in singing 2 Chron. 20.22 And when they began to sing the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon c. That is He cut them off suddenly as when Men are cut off by their enemies that lye in ambush against them and so accomplished what was foretold vers 17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battel stand still and see the Salvation of the Lord. Memorable is that story of the Protestants of Mountaban in France who when they were besieged being compelled to take up Arms in their own defence always when they went out to fight went out singing of Psalms which was so terrible to the Enemy that in the end when they heard them singing which they usually began before the Portcullis was drawn up and the Gates opened their hearts failed them and away they would run crying out They come they come And as this is true that there is no duty but that at some time or other God hath been found in it by some or other so they have sometimes found him in one when they could not find him in another Cant. 3.1 compared with ver 4 She sought him in private duties and found him not then she went to the publick and found him whom her Soul loved Daniel was certainly a Man of much prayer Dan. 6.10 and no doubt found very frequently sensible acceptance with God but yet it seems God reserved the fullest
his Fleet in Eighty eight whether he said so or no depends upon the credit of the Historian But I am sure the Prophet Jeremiah said Lam. 3.22 It is of the Lords mercy that we are afflicted and not consumed cast down but not cast off Look to that place once again Eccles 7.14 In the day of adversity consider What should we consider Why consider this and mark it well that both these days with all their fillings up are from the Lord. That it is he who thus sets the one against the other that we may see that his account will be so balanced that our receipts when they are least will balance our sufferings when they are most And that therefore we have enough to reason our selves both into a submission and into a thankful frame Job 2.9 10 Shall we receive good at the hands of God and shall we not receive evil And would not these think ye keep our Souls in a thriving and prospering frame It would sure 4. Besides all these we meet with daily passages in what we hear and see which though they do not immediately touch us yet may be thus spiritualized Every Creature of God is a Text for our hearts to raise some Doctrines some spiritual Meditations from We have a Proverb That there is never an outside but it hath an inside Understand it thus There is nothing that comes under our observation but there may be extracted from it some inference or other to employ our thoughts about and that to good purpose even to keep our Souls in their good frame For as a Bee can suck honey out of many a flower where a flye finds no such thing as wanting a principle for it So a prospering spiritualizing Soul may and therefore ought to endeavour to extract some good out of every thing even out of its own and other Mens failings as we may read Pro. 24.30 31 32 I went by the field of the slothful I looked upon it and received instruction Upon this ground among others the principles of godliness are called a partaking of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 For as God according to his infinite power and wisdom brings light out of darkness good out of evil Even so may the principles of godliness much more out of every good thing though of a very mean concernment And would not this help to preserve it in its prosperous frame It would sure That Man is like to thrive who gains by every thing he deals in And that Soul is like to continue to prosper which raiseth Earth into Heaven and fetcheth Heaven out of Earth as every one doth so far as he is faithful in the fore-mentioned particulars And besides it is one of the best helps that I know of to make improvement of that portion of our time which runs between one solemn duty and another which otherwise would lye upon our hands and be rendered useless as to Soul-concernments 4. Another great work which prospering Souls have to do in order to the preserving of themselves in a prospering frame is this To preserve a deep sense of their spiritual poverty when it is best with them in respect of Soul-prosperity The Apostle Paul from the first day after his conversion to the day of his dissolution for ought we read or have any appearance to suspect to the contrary did thrive and prosper in his spiritual estate His inward man was renewed daily 2 Cor. 4.16 Yet what he thought of himself we find by what he speaks of himself Rom. 7.23 24 I find another law in my members warring against the law of my mind O wretched Man that I am 2 Cor. 3.5 Not that we are sufficient to think any thing as of our selves Eph. 3.8 Vnto me who am the least of all Saints is this grace given This is as needful a direction as any of the rest For it is a hard matter to starve this sin of pride and self-exalting thoughts because it will feed almost upon any thing Nothing so good yea nothing so mean but pride will feed upon it Absolom was proud of his long locks he wore his hair so long that when he polled it it weighed about four pound in weight 2 Sam. 14.26 But I speak not now of this kind of pride but of that kind of pride which without special care may breed out of those excellent things which are found in prospering Souls as pride of gifts There is the root of that pride in a prospering Soul which Solomon speaks of Pro. 18.2 A fool hath no delight in understanding but that his heart may discover it self Of that in the Pharisee Luk. 18.11 God I thank thee I am not as other men are Joh. 7.49 This people which knoweth not the law are accursed Pride of Grace Though corruption that is in the heart hates the grace that is in the heart yet it is apt to be proud of it when it is taken notice of Grace cannot be proud but he that hath it may be proud of it As Paul was in danger of being lifted up and exalted above measure through the abundance of revelations which were given unto him 2 Cor. 12.7 Now which way soever pride works ye will find it like the wind sometimes at one door sometimes at another Resist it for God resisteth that Man that doth not resist it Jam. 4.6 He gives more grace to those that walk humbly with him but he resists the proud by abating and lessening what he had given So far as the heart begins to be lifted up so far it is naught how good soever it was before Hab. 2.4 Behold his Soul which is lifted up is not upright in him Therefore whensoever the inward man begins to be renewed and that it begins to be better in the frame and temper of the heart then formerly Then watch and pray that ye do not fall into this temptation And consider when it is at best with us how much we come short of the holiness of that rule we ought to walk by and of the holiness of that God which is proposed for our pattern 1 Pet. 1.15 As he which hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of conversation Let us compare our selves with that Rule and with that Pattern and the bright-shining beams of the Sun will not discover more motes in the Air then the holiness of God and his law would convince us of sin to be in us And when it is at best with us would make us to see reason to complain of our selves as Paul did Rom. 7.14 The law is spiritual but I am carnal sold under sin And to pray as Psal 143.2 Enter not into judgment with thy servant for in thy sight shall no Man living be justified And in the strength of Christ to resolve as Phil. 3.13 14 I count not my self to have apprehended but this one thing I do forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth to those things which are before I press
I shall go up to the house of the Lord while he was sick and weak he could not do it 2. It very much indisposeth a Man for the solemn performance of the private Duties of Religion We have a clear instance of this Jam. 5.13 Is any afflicted Let him pray Is any sick Let him send for the Elders of the Church Is not sickness a great affliction It is Why then should not the sick pray Sickness and weakness indispose a person for the solemn performance of that duty 3. Persons subject to long continued weaknesses of body are often in much darkness of mind apt to question the grace of God in them and the love of God toward them For sickness and weakness indispose a Man's mind He cannot infer comfortable conclusions from his former experiences of God He is full of confusion like a skain of Silk that a Man can neither winde nor draw So it is with an infirm Man Psal 80.3 Heman when his life did draw nigh to the grave he saith His Soul was full of trouble It is a sad case a weak Body and a troubled Soul too Satan is very skilful at his work He knew this and therefore he reserved this as his last temptation for Job hoping that would stick to afflict his Body Now to Apply this 1. Let all such as God is pleased to bless with any competency of health and strength keep their hearts under the obligation that this lays upon them Deut. 8.16 The Lord gave them Manna to humble them We say Oh if we were fit for Mercy God would give it Thus Folks talk that never endeavour to be more fit If we should never have a Mercy till we were fit it would be long enough before we should have any God many times gives a Mercy first and makes a people humble afterward Well then considering that life and health and strength are given to every Man for the same end and purpose for which Paul improved them Phil. 1.21 To me to live is Christ Therefore we should every one of us while we are well set about doing of that which it will be very well if it be done before we are sick but 't is of absolute necessity to be done before we dye even what we have 2 Pet. 3.14 Give all diligence to be found in Christ Jesus in a state of union with him If a Man be not in Christ while he lives he cannot live to Christ nor shall he dye to Christ when he dyes Col. 1.27 Christ in us is the hope of glory Consider then 1. Though health and strength be a very great blessing yet it is a blessing quickly blasted Job observed it in his days Job 21.23 One dyes in his full-strength God gives him no warning at all Alas saith James what is a Man's life A vapour a little warm breath turned up and down in the nostrils when that is stopt a Man dyes 2. Consider this Say God should give us warning and do with us as he did with Jezabel cast us upon a bed of sickness and give us space to repent yet times of Bodily sickness and weakness are ill times to begin to look after a neglected Soul and to do neglected Duties Sicknesses and weaknesses bring a Man under many disadvantages of looking after Soul-concernments 2 Sam. 25.35 God smites Nabal he was sick ten days that was more time then many persons have yet he could no more repent then the very stone his heart dyed within him Therefore what we have Joh. 9.4 should be lay'd to heart The night will come when no Man can work Do the work that God calls to while it is called To day 2. If so be health and strength be so great a blessing then let all that do enjoy it take heed how they do any thing that may prejudice their health and do what God would have them do for the preservation of their health and not stick at any due charges suitable to what they are able to bear 1. Take heed of prejudicing your health They are very much to be blamed that will ride wind and weather to get money Matt. 6.25 The Body is more then Raiment Health and strength are better then riches Much more do they transgress that prejudice their health to gratifie a sensual lust For no Man ever yet hated his own flesh Eph. 5.29 I have read of one Theotinus who was very much given to drinking and had very sore eyes his Physitian told him he must either leave his drunkenness or lose his eyes Then saith he farewell sight He would rather lose his sight then leave his sin 2. Do what may be done to preserve health Therefore the Apostle saith to Timothy Drink no longer Water but use a little Wine for thy stomachs sake and thine often infirmities The poor Woman Mark 9. spent all she had upon the Physicians This is worth observation That we must so mind the wellfare of our Bodies for the preserving of health and strength when we have it and recovery of it when it is lost for the preservation of the health and well-fare of our Souls It is an hard matter to do those things out of obedience to God from a principle of grace which a principle of nature inclines a Man to Tit. 2.4 That they may teach the young Women to be sober to love their Husbands to love their Children Now for the Amplification of this wish 1. For the manner It was heartily Above all things Observe It is the duty of every gracious person to be hearty and real in his prayers desires and wishes for the prosperity of the people of God and for the health of those that are sick and weak The Apostle speaks to the praise of them Col. 1.4 That they loved all the Saints of God Ruth 4.11 The Elders said to Boaz The Lord bless thee and this Woman How heartily did the good Women bless God for their old neighbour Naomi Ruth 4.14 It is a rare thing to find such a spirit Corruption doth narrow and straighten Mens hearts Their eye is evil because God is good Corruption streightens but Grace enlargeth a Man's heart It is a brave spirit To rejoyce with them that rejoyce and to mourn with them that mourn Observe again Who it is that desires this so heartily It is John the beloved Disciple who pressed hearty love upon others 1 Joh. 3.18 And he expresseth it to Gaius Hence note Note It is the duty of every Minister to labour to exemplifie in his practice the Duties he presseth upon others The Prophet Hab. 2.4 speaking of those sad times in the captivity of Babylon saith The just shall live by faith But they might reply Can you do so your selves And he answers Yes Hab. 3.17 18 Although the Fig-tree shall not blossom yet will I rejoyce in the Lord I will joy in the God of my Salvation 2. Consider the pattern measure and degree according to which John desires this outward prosperity might be