thoughts I can leave my children no earth but I can leave my children Heaven I cannot leave my children this hilly Country nor that neither the blessing of hils nor vallies here but I can leave them the blessing of the everlasting Hills as the expression is of Josephs blessing Heaven was eyed in that expression I conclude all thus we are under age here hardship is fit for us and ours Such heires must comfort themselves with what they shal have You which are partakers of the divine nature shall be partakers of more felicity then the tongue of men and Angels can expresse and yours for your sakes will be blessed below when you are so blessed above FINIS USEFULL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THESE Evill Times COLOSS. 1.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Giving thankes unto the Father which hath made us fit to the part of the Lot of Saints in light THE greatest favours come most immediate to us Eternall mercies fall as a Lot in our lap no art no medium no merit Gods own finger points them to persons to such and not to such Who hath made us fit to the Lot of Saints Doct. Providence hath a mediate and an immediate course to give out favours to man This that expression of the wise man gives us House and riches are the inheritance of fathers but a prudent wife saith he is of a higher descent is from the Lord. The mercy is higher and therefore disposed by a more immediate and speciall providence As things rise in the Nobility of their owne nature so they rise in the manner of their birth and bringing forth to us Grace and glory are simply and absolutly the noblest natur'd things and these in the noblest way descend upon us by a very immediate disposing hand of God like a Lot Things are of a double descent There is mans off-spring and Gods off-spring wee are his off-spring saith the Apostle The noblest things are onely Gods off-spring the great things of eternity come onely out of the wombe of a God Heaven comes forth from betweene his 〈◊〉 Some things come down along in such a line to us through so many wombes through so many hands into our hands Heaven comes out but of one wombe but that wombe as blessed as God from Gods immediate hand by providence not to be explained just as a Lot the Lot of Saints c. Some things have succession others have none Melchisedeck neither father nor mother The great'st favours come all so into the World neither father nor mother but God Out of nothing came al from nothing comes al stil to the Saints heaven which is a Saints al from nothing but from Heaven From what house doth that great house descend upon us to be ours From what progenitors but Christ Is it not disposed to such and such secretly wonderfully by a hand and power unknowne to all the World Upon Christs vesture they did cast Lots and as that fell so the vesture went by a supreme hand onely Heaven is Christs vesture the Sons best garment his robe of state and glory and this goes by Lot too t is put upon the back of none by any art of their owne but by a power supreme by that hand which disposeth Lots which none sees so all the Saints get their greatnesse The lot of the Saints c. As power did create so providence doth dispose A very unknowne creation had the Heaven of Heavens * Above speculation therefore not subjected to it wisdome would nor dazell weake eyes The Angels and all the state and glory of that brave World to come Doe you finde any piece of that stately building above so much as once expressely mentioned in the dayes of Creation T is disposed as 't was created in a very close way as a Lot by such a power and providence as no Ceature can explaine or peep into This World was made by an immediate hand but that above after a more close more entire and more supreme way i utterly without all hint to be guessed at So this World is disposed of by a providence of God but by a providence working very externally and very humanely i al-along in such and such humane and secular wayes as usually knowne unto us But that glorious World above is disposed by such a providence as workes very internally very hiddenly in utter unlikely meanes and in these moves utterly out of our sight and reach just as that hand and those fingers doe which dispose into your bosome such a Lot of great treasure Some motion is peculiar for state Kings give low things by Offices and take no notice of them themselves what they are nor to whom they goe But other things of a more noble nature they give with their own mouth and with their own hand such and such noble things to such and such noble persons Heaven is nobility confer'd with Gods own hand 'T is the best robe put upon the Prodidall by the hand of his Father and none else 'T is lame Mephibosheth advanced by word of mouth from David himselfe as a piece of the state of his greatnesse to which God had raised him and as a high point of love The more immeditate things come out of one friends hand into another the more they speake out love and render parties honorable I did it for him with my own hand you have such a common expression when you would worke your respect with such and such to a great height The King gives a Jewell and he gives it with his owne hand his love and honor doublely sparkle in such a Jewel every time 't is look 't upon Heaven is a Jewell hanged about our neck by Gods owne hand God makes a rich portion and as it were rolles it up in a Lot and with his owne hand without any art of man casts it into our lap the lot of Saints Some motion is peculiar for complement 'T is a filling up of Love to give and to give with a mans owne hand to give an onely son and the father to do it with his hand onely this is Love to admiration love filled up to the brim God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Sonne Some persons give as if they would give themselves too if they knew how that makes the gift mighty big yee shall have gift and hand and al words and armes and all A gift fully circumstanced with love is a double gift Heaven given and cast into our lap with Gods owne hand is a double Heaven A Lot in a good ground and to fall there Heaven and to fal as out of Heaven that 's two Heavens Gods love motions are fully circumstanced with love the Sun wants not a beame to give forth its glory Heaven comes from God to the soule as the soule it selfe came from God the soule and the felicity of the soule both breathed from Gods own mouth Some motion is pecular for Echo * A trumpet is soūded so and
things note for the right understanding of this point Divine power where it workes lowest in any Christian workes above the ruining power of sinne Greater is he that is in you then he that is in the World saith Christ greater when least and where least then that power which opposes him in a Christian heart Christ according to ordinary and daily residence carries the soule above the ruining power of sinne greater is hee that is in you c. They might suppose their condition the lowest of any as it is common and comely for Christians to doe and Christ condescends in speaking and takes it so and speakes of it under such a consideration and yet sayes he feare not the power that is in you is greater then the power that is against you The lowest degree of power that workes in a Christian will hold the soule that it shall not eternally miscarry what strength soever be raised to this end so that the devill shal lose his grand designe to wit the destruction of the soule The lowest degree of Divine strength is supreme strength to all power resisting as the lowest good Angel * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fortes robore Angels of his which are mighty i transcending in strength T is an Hebraisme notes a superlative Ps 103.20 Excelleth in strength all bad 2. A second note is this The state of Christians in generall under the Gospel is a very capable state of the highest revelations of power Verily verily I say unto you he that believeth on me the workes that I doe shall hee doe also and greater workes then these shall hee doe because J goe unto my Father Ioh. 14.12 Accession is now very free intercession very potent blessings are answerably necessary The expression of Christ forementioned notes that there is a peculiar intercession suited to this bright Gospell-age where in wee live our grace-capacity now is answerably necessary What intercession workes in Heaven such power and love workes forth upon Earth We live under the richest climate under the richest Heavenly influence all might and all excellence may with all ease bee obtained now in comparison of former times Vse 1 A double use I would make of this point to try you and then to stir you to acknowledge mercy as you finde it That Divine power workes gradually should make much inward observation to see how God workes in our hearts whether little or much Should be the sickenesse of your soules to finde little of God stirring in them t' will be the death of your soules not to finde power of God â—nough stirring in them to salvation Our great worke is to eye how Divine power workes without in the World but our greatest worke is to eye and observe how it workes within in our hearts I wonder at some mens temper which least of all minde this The soule of man is the noblest thing in the World t is above the world and doest thou think that hee which made it so above all for himselfe to work in is least to be heeded what he works here All paines spring from one that we have so little of God all paines and cares therefore should be turned into one what have I of God how might I have more more of his love more of his power working in my soule God gives all might to many and yet remains all might for any Man has his Heaven as hee will Hee that will have it in the full and all enjoyment of the Creature hee has it in this God filles men's bellies with this treasure Those that will have their heart in nothing but in the full and all enjoyment of God have it so hee satisfyes mens thirst let it bee what it will or how great it will Hee satisfyes the hungry belly and the hungry soule Affection is a graduall working thing and a various working thing as the power of God is Cautio est men had neede looke how it rises in thirst after any thing but God they may have their longing else in wrath and have enough of every thing in their hands to fill their bellies but not enough of the power of God in their hearts to save their soules and this will be sad indeed The power of God workes gradually say I in the hearts of men in some much so much that one may say they have all might in others little so little that one may truly say there is not power of God enough unto salvation I am not ashamed of the Gospell saith the Apostle for 't is the Power of God unto salvation Is there power of God enough working in you to rise to so much as this to salvation to soule-salvation eternall salvation Power enough to make you the sons of God T is a great unhappinesse to fall short of any power of God communicable that any blessing power of God which workes in any man should not worke in me but to fall short of so much as will make the soule fall short of its eternall rest ah Lord what misery shall I call this ScrutinuÌ„ What faith what love what joy what passion doth that power make which workes in you by this you may know whether t will prove a power Divine enough and strong enough to save your soules Yee believe in Christ wee must believe this well yet this is but one thing that power which workes this workes more and further if it worke effectually unto life Yee believe in Christ t is well doe yee love Christ too his word his people his wayes How strong is this love as strong as death to the death of sinne and selfe I meane the deniall of both Remember this one thing for all power where it works unto salvation strong enough to save a sinner it makes strong passion lasting passion and all towards Christ and truth Christ is faire fairest the fairest of ten thousand that is the fairest of all so to day so to morrow so every day to the last day to the end as that love which set power at work in the heart is Divine power when and where it workes unto life takes the heart first there it begins A man loves assoone as he lives Christ truth whatsoever is holy There is a desire of milke yea sincere milke in new borne babes in babes assoone as berne there is love love to truth love to pure and sincere truth to the pure and Holy word and wayes of God there is even in babes desire Divine affection panting after that light which came downe from Heaven O what is truth what is Christ would I know him would I could enjoy him First faith is most indiscernable first love which workes from it is most discernable t is so strong and pure and therefore I most mention this passion in this case to discover the power that workes in you Divine power makes a divine nature where it workes to salvation a man is another Creature in desire then what he was
to make him know him that speakes to be God and him that is spoken to but man God speakes so as to make man admire tremble stoop Man is a creature conceited and yet of no reach his conceptions and expressions lessen the dimensions of God his wisdome his power and the like and in this way man growes upon God by sinfull boldnesse and therefore God is faine to put titles and epithites upon his things himselfe to name things according to their nature himselfe which fallen man could have done once but now cannot to call love Love passing knowledge and wisdome infinite his wisdome is infinite saith the Psalmist and power glorious * To call an Angel an Angell and gold gold he is faine to cloath every attribute himselfe with royall apparell with titles suitable that so man may know and keepe his distance heare and feare heare and admire heare and stoop to him that is so glorious and so far above him in every Limb that hath such a glorious Arme glorious power Finally God shapes expression so to man as to hint him of and move him to his highest state He fetches expression from Heaven and from glory to minde man what should take him up and whither hee should drive in all hee sayes and does he goes before man in glory to draw man after him he speakes gloriously to man that man may eccho to him and call divine power as hee does and be taken with divine power as he is that man may looke about and turne away his eye from things that are vaine-glorious to that which is indeed glorious and will indeed make man so being strengthened with it Strengthened with all might according to his glorious power Vse God speakes as one in Heaven how doe you heare He makes his sword two-edged one terrible t'other glorious how does it cut He uses his rod and his scepter sharpe words and glorious words what doe they worke His scepter hee in layes and gilds and makes a glorious Scepter and so holds it forth to your senses to your eyes to your eares what impression doth it make upon your hearts Can yee heare God speake gloriously and yet not be stird'd Can yee heare God speake from Mount Sina and yet not shake Can yee heare him speake from Mount Zion as one in Heaven and yet not admire him adore him and be taken with him To unstir'd soules I must first speake from this point certainly you are dead This is the first principle that springs from this point Unstir'd soules are dead soules he that speakes speakes so gloriously so movingly that all men unlesse they be dead must needs be stirr'd Were your soules alive the words of Christ are so sweete so full of glory and divine force that they must needs stir and take you were you but asleepe the words of Christ are so glorious and so shining in your eyes that they would awake you T is a remarkeable place to this purpose Cant. 7.9 and the roofe of thy mouth like the best Wine that goes down sweetely causing those that are asleepe to speake Christs glorious words are very taking they goe down sweetely if there be any principle of life in the soule t will stir it If the heart be asleepe in the lap of any lower sweete in the lap of any low delights if onely asleepe and not dead in the nest this higher sweete and glory will awaken it and make it speake to the praise of him that so exceeds all in sweetnesse and love Solomon was asleepe for a while in the lap of low delights but when once Christ began to speake in a glorious stile to his sleepy soule hee awoke presently and made songes of that glory that transcendent glory which he saw Surely therefore I conclude that they are dead men whom words of glory words full of Heaven cannot stir How glorious the expression of Christ is here yee heare how gloriously Christ hath spoken upon it out of the mouth of a babe out of the mouth of a Worme and no man yee have likewise heard of what force and power all hath been upon your hearts yee know how much more in love with Heaven and with the Word of Christ and how much lesse in love with the World and with your lusts then you were you know yee that yet are as yee were not a jot better surely yee are dead yee that are yet dead ah Lord when when will yee bee alive Let every heart attend I will ring the Funerall of the dead Hearts dead and unstir'd when Christ speakes lively and gloriously have certainly stopt their eares against the charmer this soule is a prisoner to perverse will there is no damnable prison but this hee is resolved that nothing shall sway that is holy that his heart shall rule truth and not truth his heart which will damne a man if he had a thousand soules This man hath the plague in his heart and hath shut up himselfe that none may come at him no not the King of glory not words of glory write Lord have mercy upon this mans doore upon his forehead for he will die in his sinne all the World cannot save him Whom truth cannot stir nothing can whom glorious words of truth cannot stir nothing shall the man is stretcht out for dead I am now ringing his knell does any dead soule heare me A Scepter of gold a glorious power held out gloriously the God of glory speaking in glory and yet the heart of man not taken nor stir'd ah Lord this heart is taken already this heart is certainly catcht with some fading glory Were there any soule at home when the King of glory and the King in glory knocks certainly 't would open What answer can be made who can open when no body is at home Dinah is gon abroad and ravish't by the Shechemites the heart is gadded abroad taken and lost in a lie in a fading vexing glory that will be the death of it An unstird soule is a dead soule a dead soule is a lost soule a lost soule in sinne will be found in judgement seldome any where else I have not yet done ringing the Funerall of the dead one peale more and I have done Yee dead soules Christ is making your grave doe yee not see it he is comming to take the length of your corps with a sword he will bleed you first and then burie you afterward Yee have bled your soules dead and Christ will bleed your bodies dead and then will yee be twice dead and pluckt up by the rootes When yee are gasping for life will yee be taken and stird with that mortall power which wounds you when yee are descended to your long home will yee be taken and affected with that power that sends you to Hell Surely glorious power gloriously expressed will take your soules or destroy them In what stile God speakes according to it will he make operation in every man upward or downward GODS Words shall
past by should account so and spell his death out of it Abels offering accepted and Cains nor this was to hint to Cain how things went in Gods breast and it did so but wrought desperately Christ in the same breath in the same expression can speake consolation and condemnation life and death life plainly death noddingly so hee doth here in this forme of expressing himselfe Who hath made us meete c. Vse This point dischargeth a broad side against an errour of the World Every one thinkes himselfe in the favour of God That wherein God is most curious the World thinkes he is most carelesse his love workes very choisely and they thinke it workes very commonly What man alive but promises himselfe the love of God when hee dies What mans state so bad but he thinkes â—will end in Heaven Ignorant soules make Heaven and the Bosome of God â—he center of soules that to which all soules necessarily goe and can goe no whither else I am pain'd at the heart to heare prophane mens opinions and their principles respecting the love of Christ and their eternall estate I will give you two or three of their principles and speak to them They thrive in the World therefore â—ove hath given them her favour and chosen out them to be the onely happy men who ever be miserable Did not the sunne shine upon Sodom was not Dives a wealthy man and yet where is he Where is hee was not â—ophet prepared for the King The things of this life are consistent with death with wrath A man may lie in the bosome of the Creature and in the bosome of the divel too nothing more common A full Table speakes snares and death as well as love That man will certainly choke his soule that will not rise from his Table to fetch an argument of Gods favour towards him I am beloved of all men in this some blesse themselves as beloved of God Truth seldome gets so much favour 't is a strange carriage that will carry it with all All men may speake well and God speake ill of a man All men love thee Doe Gods people love thee there is a love of pity David loved Saul a 〈◊〉 yet Saul was not beloved of God There is a love of relation David loved Absolom yet Absolom not beloved of God Gods people may fasten love where God will not Gods people are weake 't is usuall with them to fasten love where God cannot And as for the Worlâ— they love their owne they hug one another to death what then can'st thou argue from hence touching Gods favour to thee I am not more jealous of any man then of him that aleadges a generall approbation for his goodnesse The World gives no certificate to Saints nor Saints give no certificate to the World he that gets a certificate from both Lord what is he a Saint or a worldling good or bad or made up between both Common vote for goodnesse speakes common goodnesse commonly seldom is this height a height to argue speciall love from Some men can goe in and fetch thee out an evidence of their eternall state My conscience is as cleare and as good as any Mans my heart is at rest J thanke GOD. The soule is corrupt 't will lie downe with a lie There is settling upon lees this speakes not love but deadly hatred When the strong man keepes the house all is at peace Some are quiet because there is no grace to oppose corruption The old man is quiet enough if he may have what he will The divell is as quiet as another Creature if hee be let alone to rule all as hee list's There is peace peace and yet no peace have you never heard of that They shall cry peace peace and yet no peace no favour with God but wrath burning and judgement at the doore Peace may be in a sinners mouth and wrath in Gods peace may be in a sinners heart and wrath in Gods heart yea when wrath is in Gods Hand and ready to cut him off There is a peace of mans speaking and a peace of Gods speaking When they shall cry peace peace meerely they and not God this peace peace this double peace speakes double wrath Delusions are many sinners looke to your soules This is certain love elects she goes forth with choyce not promiscuously she makes some not all blessed Who hath made us c. Are ye amongst this number Can yee say thus who hath made mee meete and mee meete for Heaven Every one thinkes speciall love embraceth him I 'le therefore give you the proprieties of an electing love 'T is in living Sun rayes generate Vita sun rayes regenerate Love is warming heate makes life The Love of God revealed begets love in man Wee love him because hee loved us first God gives all great favours so as to returne to him naturally Divine love shed abroad in the heart carries the heart to God The spirit returnes to God that gave it the naturall spirit doth so at death the holy spirit doth so before death all along even unto death Gods Countenance where 't is similing 't is winning where 't is winning 't is drawing where divine love is drawing the soule is running to Heaven A favourite is much at Court ever at the Kings elbow Gods favourites are much with him still bending Heaven-ward Love is alwayes in her journey towards her beloved No bosome so sweete as that from whence shee came forth Divine love makes divine it comes from Heaven it carries to Heaven Chosen are called electing love hath a still sweet calling voyce This is the way saith love and there is no way to this saith the beloved Grace echo's to God the giver Wisdoms wayes have the name for pleasantnesse with a chosen soule Love inflames the Kingdome of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force Vâ—atal's Infinite love makes a kinde of infinite it generates simile Love is as strong as death 't is spoken of the love of the Spouse The Husbands love is unexpressible strong so is the Wives Love sets the soule for Heaven with full saile All the heart and all the might Electing love carries al captive to Christ 't is not to be exprest how strong love is when made divine That love that is set upon God is the strongest of all 't 'as such a transcendent object and such secret transcendent influence No sinner loves sinne as a Christian loves Christ Love is made from the object no object so lovely so soule-drawing out as Christ is No such rapture did Salomons soule ever make in the Creature as in Christ nothing is so drawing out of love as Christ the very vastnesse of the soule is suited in him how vastely doth the soule love when fully suited When every power of the soule hath enough to take full hold on Thou hast put joy in my heart more then they when corne and wine and oyle increased Gods Countenance drawes more
BAULME FOR BLEEDING ENGLAND AND IRELAND OR SEASONABLE Instructions for persecuted Christians Delivered in severall Sermons By NICHOLAS LOCKYER Master of Arts. ISA. 8.17 J will waite upon the Lord which hideth his face from the house of Jacob and I will looke for him LONDON Printed by E.G. For John Rothwell and are to be sold at his Shop at the signe of the Sun in Paule Church-Yard 1643. IT is ordered this fifteenth day of April Anno Dom. 1643. By the Committee of the house of Commons in Parliament concerning Printing that this Booke intituled Vsefull instructions for these evill times be printed by Iohn Rothwell John White The true Effigies of the truly Religious Learned and Iuditious Divine de Nichola Lockyer Mr of Arts Note well the Substance of this shade so bright Lo t is a Burning and a shining Light Neat Elegant Sententious High and Rare Lo all his Sermons and Expressions are R D To the Persecuted Christians In England and Ireland BLeeding hearts you are honour'd to be Baptized with Christs Baptisme to pledge your deare Saviour in his owne Cup. Count not call not honour misery The Wine in your Cup is red indeed but without dregs to you Christs drinking first hath sweetned it well to Saints Wrath makes sufferings misery let the World Houle in their wounds but doe not you complaine let them curse as bearing Caines marke but doe you blesse God and glory as bearing the markes of the Lord Jesus Love in the bottom of a bloudy Cup and the deeper a man drinkes the sweeter Christ powers out love upon the Soule when the body powers out bloud upon the truth A Spirit of glory is a bleeding Christians glory There is inward advancement when outward debasement The soule is in Heaven when the body is in Hell for Christ Was that a Dungeon or a Heaven in which they sang so sweetly at midnight Gods dealings are righteous when Mans dealings are wicked a man might beare suffering upon this ground that hee hath sinned but how sweetly may they be borne when sugar'd with love and all sinne forgiven Yee prisoners of hope what is your hope What say you of Englands night Will it ever have day Would my Soule could enter into your secrets Would I could participate with you in some of your Prison-enlargements If you finde a Heaven in Hell what will your Heaven be Now in the I le of Patmos * A patrimoniis jam ejecti What say's GOD to your soules concerning these bleeding Jlands Many Christians for whom you have bled are now a flying from you to save their Bloud write after them yee bleeding hearts preach your Prison-experiments the faith and hope of your Bonds and conclude like Paul Remember our Bonds and Wounds for Christ and you Surely if there be any Bowels this will bring them backe to die with truth and you I believe the Resurrection of thy dead O bleeding England Your Graves shall open yee Prisoners of hope and your buried glory and honor shall return to you Truth shall out-live tyranny Righteousnesse shall wash her Feete in the Bloud of the wicked Pride shall be dethroned and shame shal be her pavilion Your integrity yee Parliament-worthies Christ will vindicate your great paines and labour of love Christ will returne to you and yours Steele good resolution and Christ will carry you through all opposition You are great sufferers I would this little Booke might give some refreshment to you together with the rest of Gods suffering ones Bleeding Ireland God also is with thee and will be Thy Land is full of murderers but not too many for God to overcome God is as just as Man is cruell cruelty will cut its owne Throat when thou canst doe nothing to evade it Venomous Creatures die in thy land by a providence from Heaven which reason cannot reach God and the whole Creation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fight against barbarous bloud-shed Thy naked Women and Children which mourned starv'd and died in winters past will fight against the monsters which stript them in â—ummers to come when thou want'st men money and meanes to doe it The Vipers which have gnawed out thy guts are got into our Bowels too that we might afford thee no reliefe Moriendo Christiaâ—o vivit Christus but God will relieve both thee and us 'T was a cursed crue which brought Gall and Vinegar when Christ cryed Eloi Eloi England had helpt thee Ireland had â—â—t not beene for this cursed Generation but the bloud of both Kingdomes will be upon them Christ was not overcome when killed Many may die but Christs cause in these poore enviâ—d ilands will live Mannage your bloudy businesse bravely yee Souldiers of Christ in England and Ireland the Lord of Hosts â—s with you Your sufferings are many your pay will bee great Two Heavens are before you one for you and posterity here another peculiarly adorned for sufferers unto bloud Câ—â—ant an pâ—nn slagellum above flinch from Christ and his cause and lose both Vale. Yours in continuall Prayers Nicho. Lockyer To the Reader REader there are some Errata's here and there throughout this Booke notwithstanding all our diligence to prevent them but yet such as with thine own observation of what preceds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and followes with a spirit of love may easily be set right to thy understaÌ„ding Be not a mouth murderer kill two at once my Name and thy Soule What is candidly presented to thee candidly receive and blesse Christ and the next Authour who is at Prayer for a blessing upon this Worke and thee Nicho. Lockyer The Table THE Power of God relieves weak man Page 2. Isa 8.17 The propertie of Divine power p. 3. 4. c. Strengthening power peculiar to Christians p. 6. Divine power workes in man to an eternall end p. 3. Power working relievingly walke humbly p. 9. Cheerfully p. 11 12 Faith should kill feares p. 13. What looseth divine strengthening p. 16. The evill which followes upon it p. 18. Power relieving is lost sometimes only according to our apprehension p. 20 The wicked will never beate the righteous out of heart p. 25. What al might in a ChristiaÌ„ is p. 28. 29. c. How differing from that power which Christ had and used here p. 32. 33. The Divell allmighty in some p. 36. How all might comes into the heart p. 38. 39 The happinesse of an Almighty Christian p. 41. 42. c. Divine power Workes gradually in a Christian p. 45. When power workes lowest in a Christian it workes above the ruining power of sinne p. 49. Power working according to higher or lower degrees we should observe how it workes in us p. 51. All paines spring from one that we have so little of God p. 52. How to know whether divine power workes strong enough to save p. 54. 55. Divine power should be acknowledged as it workes with thankfulnesse p. 57. 58. Apprehension should make due impression
a Christian all these sweet expressions aptly point out this in my Text to wit that strengthning and relieving power which carries along and finishes the first worke strengthened with all might c. Divine power as it workes towards a Christian works effectually The word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe 1 Thess 2.13 An effectuall power subjected to worke for man works and works again and never leaves working till it hath effected its worke which is preservation unto salvation grace unto life This power works creando corroborando creating and strengthening it maks the soule passe from strength to strength till it be above all opposing strength and expired safe and compleat into that breast from whence it was first breathed This expression effectuall power is an expression of dreadfull importance it notes that divine power works sometimes by halves not effectually Something towards birth and towards a man-child some pangs and throwes but makes but an abortive at last some things towards reliefe but sinkes and dies and le ts that which seemed to be come to nothing but when it works effectually it makes grace and carries on that grace to glory it makes a Christian and then it strengthens him to abide so to death against deadly opposition Strengthened with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulnesse Finally Divine power as it works about a Christian works perpetually 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the utmost as you have it expressed which is very lively Heb. 7.25 it layes out it selfe to the furthest all vires Divinoe potentiae are stretcht and made to beare and carry to eternity to carry unto death thorough death beyond death above death as that mighty expression is Ps 48.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Supra mortem To resolve it selfe into everlasting Armes that is a power subjected to use a Divine power subjected to humane use everlastingly so as to leave no place no possibility of miscarrying to a Christian let what will be or can be on this side death in death or beyond death so long as the soule is Divine power is so subjected to worke about a Christian as not to lose its worke no whit of its worke what ever losse he made otherwise upon the man as a man troubles may make losse upon a man as a farmer as a Gentleman as a Noble-man but not upon man as a Christian power is subjected so to worke as to carry up carry on carry out all its own works about the soule in perpetuum To all eternity Argumen ∣ tum Power subjected to worke about a Christian works from speciall love power which workes from such a love can never leave working till it has its end because love workes to the end and it works by power and all other attributes for the good of the beloved Upon this ground the Apostle Paul was confident of the Phillippians perseverance in the truth being confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good worke in you will performe or finish it unto the day of Iesus Christ Phil. 1.6 Divine power as it workes strentheningly and relievingly Media explicandi is peculiar to Christians it s the same power which began a good worke continued working to finish it Where Divine power works not creatingly it works not relievingly hence 't is that one which is not a Christian indeed holds not out alwayes to be a Christian in shew hence 't is likewise that Christ saith I have lost none but a lost Creature one that was never found a child of perdition lost from the beginning a child of wrath unto wrath had he ever had grace in truth I would have strengthened it and kept it those which thou gavest me I have kept c. Ioh. 17.12 Keeping power waites about those that the Father hath given to the Son and none else all others are lost and to goe for lost Strengthening power works towards all Christians successively that is from Generation to Generation by act of solemne intercession Christ made it a solemne businesse to make free way in Heaven for a relieving and securing power to worke here on Earth as long as any Saints should be in it And now am I no more in the World but those are in the World and I come to thee Holy Father keepe through thine owne Name those whom thou hast given unto me that they may be one as we are c. Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their word Ioh 11. 20. The state of a Christian is botom'd in bloud founded in Christs death made out by life by Prayer and intercession all is merited by Christs bloud particulars are drawne out and conferred upon solemne intercession Christs intercession ceased not when he was on Earth the requests above mentioned I conceive to be a continuation of solemne intercession which must last till all the Saints be above all wants Heb. 7.25 He ever lives to make intercession for them he that lived on Earth was an intercessor he that dyed lives againe and goes on with that worke which he began from the wombe of the morning from the beginning of love breathing upon fallen Adam he that lives prayes he has done so from the first Saints and will doe so to the last on Earth hee makes all Prayers of Christians Gods rest and mans relief pleasing to God and strengthening to man Strenegthned with all might c. Finally all powers which worke in man worke to an eternall end powers of darkenesse all powers judiciarie which worke in sinners are to finish sin and bring sinners to their place To a condition miserable as neere the Devill as may be So all the powers which work in Christians subduing power strengthening power leading keeping carrying bosoming power are to perfect grace and bring them to glory Holy Father keepe through thine own Name those whom thou hast given me that they may be one as we are the end of keeping power Ioh. 17.11 you see is a compleate state that they may be one as we are Divine powers worke shapingly to the highest and happiest similitude as their end and never leave working and shaping this way till they have made the felicity of the elect together the nearest and the liveliest emblem of the felicity of the Trinity which each person hath in and with each other Vse 1 Christians walke humbly this is the first thing that I would commend to you from this point your state needs reliefe your best state your graces need supporting and strengthening You had your being by grace so you have your standing by grace as strengthening and relieving mercy and compassion work towards you so will yee doe well as this declines so will yee faint and doe ill 2 Cor. 4.1 As we have received mercy we faint not saith our Apostle Our strength and supply
you and fetch you from the ends of the Earth to judgement and to your place Glorious power can put you into darkenesse into utter darkenesse into blacknesse and darkenesse as Jude speakes into exquisite darkenesse and yet where you shall see exquisitely to wit spirits which here you cannot do damned spirits spirits burnt black with everlasting burning spirits flaming spirits spirits all a fire burned and burning sucking in and breathing forth in one anothers face nothing but fire unquenchable fire Glorious power can put you into darkenesse yea under darkenesse they are reserved under darkenesse saith Jude Glorious power can bundle up you and bundle up darknesse and put one bundle upon another and put you under-most under all the waight of Hell Christ can put all the waight of hell upon one cursed spirit Glorious power can cast you into the bottome of the bottomelesse pit and chaine you there with everlasting chaines reserved in everlasting chaines under darkenesse unto the judgement of of the great day saith Jude These things sinners have I spoken that you may dread glorious power seeing you will not love it and seeke out to be saved by it A fourth principle which springs out of this point and which concerneth us all is That our condition is very advanceable Power workes gloriously you may live very neare Heaven as well as very far of if you will you may see the holy Land you may eat clusters of the fruit of the Country above As you order things you may live in Heaven or Hell here Christians I have a high question to aske you how neare Heaven do you live doe you see it do you feele it did you ever have you any bunches of the fruit of the holy Land The spirit of God is in you but is the spirit of glory and of God in you you have grace but have you grace and peace you may have grace and peace but are these multiplied as the Apostle speaks to a glorious height doth a glorious spirit and power dwell and worke in you my Dove which art in the cleft of the Rockes saith Christ let mee see thy countenance and heare thy voyce c. So say I to you Christians which are in desolate conditions mourning amongst Rocks and hard-ships like doves let me see your countenance let mee heare your voice what is your peace your joy your love your hope all these are the rays and beams of a glorious power I have none says one I never had says another I doubt whether ever I shall says an other this last I like worst for surely hee is furthest off from the blessing of glorious power There be but two things that I know which hinder power from working gloriously glorifyingly in the soule and they are sinne loved and unbeliefe I will insist upon these a little because I would have those that mourne comforted all that belong to Heaven in Heaven From sinne no man can cease but cease love to sinne if yee would have a Heaven upon earth a glorious power and presence of GOD in you Render your spirits free to God let them not be insnar'd with any lust such intanglement spoiles your glory kills a glorious working spirit and power in you Set wide open your hearts those everlasting-doores to the King of Glory and onely to the King of Glory and the King of Glory in much glory wil come in a glorious Throne will hee erect in your soules Pure hearts see the Face of God impure onely the black back-parts of GOD. Blessed are the pure in heart they see GOD. The heart is pure as love is pure love is pure as it goes all to Christ to him that is all pure As love goes all to Christ so it turnes all into Heaven in the heart into glorious presence All our worke should be to be disingaging out hearts still from all here Heaven comes into the heart as earth goes out the heart sees God as it purifyes it selfe Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God Purity makes capacity of Heaven a cleane heart is Christs most intimate companion hee spreades open his Glory in this Bosome The holy'st men have alwayes had the most glorious visions as Daniel and Iob. God chuses his place to make Heaven he makes Heaven above in Jerusalem that is above in soules that are above above the vanities of this World in love and desire he makes a Heaven Moses is led up to a mount to see Canaan Christ upon a mount had his glorious transfiguration he had his Heaven upon a mount Love must mount above all these low things ere the soule can see Heaven enjoy glorious presence You cannot lie-along upon earth and see the Heaven of Heavens you may lie along upon earth and see earthly Heavens that must passe away Sinne loved and the soule chuses his Heaven here no man shall have two Heavens two Heavens that differ specie Power will not work gloriously in that heart that works filthily A man may see hell in his sinne but shall never see Heaven It falles out unhapily still with man when hee goes about to make a heaven here when hee sets love at worke to take her fortune to make her glory and felicity here below as shee can this checkes the working of a glorious power in any heart and sets it a working another way to whip the man with vexation of spirit for seeking Heaven in Earth in glorious vanities So far as the heart is unmortifyed 't is not simple with God simplicity is an absolute requisite to make capacity of a glorious working power in the soule God descended like a Dove upon a Dove sweetely and gloriously upon him in whose mouth was no guile A heart and a heart has none of Gods heart God never proclaimes himselfe well-pleased in that heart which makes not him his pleasure Divine Power workes not gloriously where the heart works basely An hypocrite has least of Heaven of any man and most of hell As men draw neere to God so they see him neere to him in quality and neer to him in duty We see heaven best upon our knees As wee glorify God so hee glorifyes us When we open our mouths wide hee gives us great things filling things when we beg for flaggons we are stay'd with them At the throne of grace we finde grace grace in glory heaven at Gods feet when most in his presence most in Heaven A man must goe to heaven to finde heaven a man must live in heaven to have heaven live in him Much going to heaven brings heaven at last downe along with one Things doe worke best in their owne element power works most gloriously in heaven the neerer the heart comes to heaven in simplicity in purity in pure qualities and habits in pure acts and exercise the more glorious doth power woâ—ke in the soule still Unbeliefe is another hinderance of a glorious working power Said I not if yee would believe yee should see
how they grieved him by their murmuring you would think much if he should be so long a telling England of her present murmuring So afterwards he took eight yeares and then eighteen yeares and then twenty yeares to tell Israel what they did under their Judges and then seventy yeares to tell Israel what they did under their Kings not any publique body that I know of in the Scripture but when God hath come to administer Justice to it he hath taken some yeares to doe it Great houses that have many roomes in them and these very foule cannot be swept presently Secondly as God takes time to administer Justice to publick bodies so he takes time to administer mercy to publick bodies The Tabernacle was long a raising the first Temple which was to exceed that longer the second Temple which was to exceed that much longer and the third which is to exceed all longest of all The tent or Tabernacle which was but small I judge was a yeare a making the first Temple seaven yeares the second Temple forty and six yeares if this had any typicall signification as I believe it had it might well point at this that a publick house for Christ under the Gospell would be long a raising I meane a worship suiteable to Gods Will borne up by publick authority According to what way God will dispence himselfe 't is Justice and duty to waite for him I finde not one hint in Scripture of suddaine raising this last house You shew your selves ignorant men you erre not knowing the Scriptures which are impatient because travailing England is not delivered in an houre in a yeare We have scarce travailed so long yet as the Tabernacle was a building sure I am not so long as the first Temple was a building there is no ground therefore of impatience who have more noble things in hand The son rises more and more and so must up to the perfect day this is the order that Christ will proceed in to bring full mercy into the World will you be impatient that the sun rises no faster that he is not at the meridian as soon as the day dawnes A second principle is this God doth fit for favours and then gives them he doth hew stones for this last Temple We are a generation low in spirit and yet impatient that we have not high things Doe you give children and fools what they desire doe you not instruct and discipline and then give yea and then too what in your wisdom you know good We are utterly below high things affraid of full mercies is it not the feare of some that the Puritan faction as they call them will be too strong the discipline of the Gospell too strict our spirits are base to God and yet we wonder that noble things are not given unto us Doe not men play with their light prefer policy to truth Judge that Christ may weare a party coloured coat mans wisdom mixt with Gods our own inventions and truth weaved together Tell me the best of you all which are so impatient for reformation which amongst you all doth deale so fairely with your light and so simply with your conscience as to render your selves capable of so great a good as you seeme to wrangle for Let things goe how they will you can still shuffle along is not a shuffling condition fit for a shuffling spirit God walkes to you as you walke to him and yet you are impatient he cuts you out a condition with his Sword suitable to your hearts he sees what consciences you have that you stick at nothing why should he remove what you can swallow why should you thinke much to live upon Huskes if you can eate Huskes when I looke upon that cold neutrall indifferent spirit that is in English Christians generally I wonder to heare any complaine that their best mercies are so long a comming You impatiently talke of the Parliament of the Army of this and that one is this and another is that and therefore your misery lives your mercies linger and you die I tell you 't is Englands neutrality that hath brought her to this state that keeps her in this state that will spend her and end her with bleeding if any thing doe A third principle is this inferiour agents are all over-ruled Judas and his bloudy crew move by a supreame councell they could not else have done to Christ what they did and so Christ told them Providence orders all agent and actions to her own end not to such an end proposed by such a man if love be in the breast of the first agent 't is no matter how all other agents act you are to conclude they act well still though you cannot see it no heart could be impatient or wrangle if this principle were but well swallowed Actions and agents may move very strangely in our view and yet very orderly to the greatest good as their supernaturall end I would aske any impatient soule but this what is in the breast of God respecting our cause love or not love if you Judge love to be in God to our cause believe that all agents and actions are ordered by it and will bring forth in Gods time a blessed end A fourth principle is this The imployment of War is a new thing to England a councell of War and a councell of State are two things experience makes Expertnesse 't is weakenesse to fall out which young beginners because not expert every one doth not know how to stick a Hog to the heart at one thrust such must have the liberty to thrust againe and 't is well if they kill him at last Would you have men old Souldiers which never saw the field before let any Chronicle produce braver courage and carriage by young beginners then ours have hitherto shewen both at Kenton and Branford Passion makes uâ— looke over what God doth by us and for us A fift principle is this Gods providence makes up mans improvidence God we see is by so much the more watchfull that we are unskilfull have we cause then to be impatient did not Gods providence make up our improvidence at Branford could so many else have been kept from comming to the gates of your City by so few and so unarmed our men wanted powder and shot and our God shot off for them and for us or else certainly we had had their Cannon thundering about our Ears for a Sabbath peale Many advantages we have given them but they are curst to the adversary they doe not thrive with them they labour in the very fire and blast themselves upon the top of their best advantages When God is al-sufficient in such a redundant sence as this to supply over sight by his watchfull Eye what soule dares to murmure A sixt principle is this Impatience against called instruments to any worke is impatience against GOD and hee will take it so who is Moses and who is Aron that you murmure against them who
't is so precious such meere treasure The new man is of the clearest reason of all men he discourses worth at a greater height then any man besides and so makes out He lookes with a very piercing eye upon every thing through Pearles and through gold though the hardest things to be pierced and finds out exactly what they are and calls them exactly as they are corruptible things grace only goes for Jewells with the new man in these onely no losse no lumber in these onely no vanity no vexation in these God so much of these so much of God 〈◊〉 â—hese Jâ—wels in my bosome and aâ—◠〈…〉 â—ll Heaven there Thus the new 〈◊〉 â—â—scourseth worth at a mighty height and makes a very exact judgement goe before and then a very vast desire and endeavour answerably to follow after give all of that which is above all of that which will make me above all in the lowest state give me all might all patience all joy Things have their rule and so must be prosecuted Things earthly have their bounds things heavenly none neither poverty nor riches when one prayes for earthly things no poverty but riches not some but all when one prayes for Christ this is the rule The measure is no measure the stint is all all might all patience c. All paines all prayers must al run out at this height for all grace or they will runne all too low below their rule here in my Text. Vse The World is damnably beside this rule examine your reach what do you graspe after after what do you open your hands and your mouths wide which way lies your ambition your covetousnesse to have all the World or all Christ to have much honour much wealth or much grace to be an all within your selues or to be an all in and unto Christ Fallen man is a greedy creature as Banckrupts usually are hee has lost all and he is grasping for an all againe Know your state 't is wrong 't is wretched observe the greedinesse of your hearts and which way it lies or your soules will be lost in an evill covetousnesse Two things make up an evill covetousnesse when a man desires illicita simpliciter or licita illicitè Things forbidden in themselves or things forbidden so to make nothing all vanity chiefe * Earth Heaven Earth all You seeke great things to your selves do you seeke great things for your soules every man is grasping after much after a little all tell me what is that all 'T is a lost man that observes not which way the strength of his soule works and spends it selfe 'T is horrible wickednesse to let a mans strength passe unnaturally from him to let his precious soule spend its reines in a bed of vanities A mans soule wastes it selfe unnaturally when it workes greedily towards any thing but Christ and grace There is more done to this man then hee will believe 't is a man let loose to the Creature for not taking pleasure in GOD. When a man cannot finde enough in God to make him his all God gives up that man to some lust to make nothing all affection flies out strongly fearefully now behold a man sick of love to a lie a man that will kill himself with love to an Harlot 'T is one that beares his judgement already conscience wounds kils this man dayly for burying love in a dunghil for prostituting his glory to base Earth God vexes this heart as the expression is Ezechiel the 32.9 I will vex the heart of many people c. God is a vexing God to the heart of an earthly man he wakes sleeps eates talks laughs with a sad restlesse soule he sleeps but his conscience wakes hee rises but his heart is downe 't would bee loaded with thick Clay and 't is loaded with a witnesse Ah Lord has not he Earth enough that cannot beare up his earthy heart 't is so heavy This soule is in a deepe Consumption farre gone from GOD if any thing will fetch him back 't will be to consider his folly and how favour stil waites to bee gracious to him All earthen Cisternes are crackt what folly is it to seeke for all in that which will drop out all Things cannot hold much things shall not hold much which you too much bend after All is lost when the World is made all Death is in the Pot when you are taken with the Broth the Birth-right is as good as actually gone when affection is so strong to Pottage Ah Wretch thou hast lost thy soule to gaine the World If this wil not fetch back the Prodigall this added will or nothing Favour yet waites A Soule that hath beene a great Traveller in the World that hath gone through the vanity of the Creature through strength of desire and curiosity may returne to Christ and be welcome 't was the Prodigalls case hee had spent all wasted prime love prime strength and then returned and God accepted 'T was likewise Salomons case Love turned at a low ebb it met with Love Inclinations of heart are deare to Christ Smoaking flax is not troublesome to his eyes hee will stoop and blow it to make it flame Christ is taken with a sinner whensoever hee beginnes to pant after him Bestow love upon Christ when you will hee will meete you or what Love you wil hee wil out-Love you Promise to your selves what you will in Christ you shal finde it and more make a God of Christ you shal finde him so make him al and you shal finde him al more then al the World beside But take this Item along with you A Soule in extremities cannot last long Passion strong to the Creature will provoke much and consume speedily what is done therefore in point of remedy must be done speedily or the Soule is lost a Soule a Fire to the Creature must bee snacht as a Brand out of the Fire 't will suddenly bee consumed else A Soule posting to Hell wil quickly be there Greedinesse surfets surfets make quick dispatch Death is at the doore when the Soule is exorbitant the Creature is now made a God GOD will not now endure nor forbeare longer Let exorbitant Soules thinke of this and thinke what they have to doe and doe it The End of the first Verse USEFULL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THESE Evill Times COLOSS. 1.11 12. Long suffering with joyfulnesse Giving thankes to the Father c. Doct. STand at the end of one Verse and looke to the beginning of another and you wil see what is the property of divine joy It sets out the soule for Heaven It makes a very ascending frame of heart it tunes and winds up every string to praise God with joyfulnesse Giving thankes to the Father c. As the Soule has its Divine advantages so it mounts as the body hath its advantages so you know with facility it vaults and leapes Joy is a soule lifted up by God 't is the soule upon Eagles winges the soule
you looke to your joy in this sensuall season and make it divine Let your laughter be turned into weeping as the Apostle speakes if ever that were seasonable 't is now Some can smile and weepe 't is a comly countenance now if you can so joy now doe Remember God when your hearts are cheer'd remember the afflictions of Joseph in your bowles what a wonder is it that this cup of beere is not a cup of bloud thus lay your hand on your breast In your chiefe joy forget not your selves forget not your brethren Forget not God lest God write up your wickednesse on the walles in your consciences as hee did belluine Beltshazzars and make your soules ring of your unseasonable joy to the day of your death Germani'es wicked feasting 't is deadly cured their great drinking is turned into great bleeding their great feasting into famine Be instructed England be instructed so else wil be the deadly cure of thy excesse You observe dayes and good times as you call them I am affraid of you observe your soules observe your joy how holy it keepes these holy dayes These holy dayes are betraying dayes they are the divels snare to thousands how many thousands have more wrong'd their soules in these few dayes then in al the dayes of the yeare besides and yet this soule-undoing time must be call'd a blessed time Our wickednesse upon this blessed time hath brought many a curse our evil joy much griefe if we shal yet continue it when shall our griefe end The devil hath many snares for the poore soule of man but they are worst which are wrapt up in joy least discerned but catch most and kil deadliest Slips in mirth and in joy are pleaded for the divel hath enough now the man does the divels worke the divel may keepe Christmas holy-day too now if he wil his work is done for him I am led to brand a bad joy I am commanded by this point in hand to stigmatize al joy that is not divine that makes not an ascending frame of heart I will doe this in three or foure things briefly Bad joy hath this grand evil in it It strips God of all No evil carries the heart so totally from God as evil joy it carries away the heart and every heart string The soule and all that is within as that ful expression of Davids is the soule and all within the body and al without every sinew and nerve are set intensely awry when joy is awry A man is very heartily wicked very totally wicked every faculty every sinew stretch themselves to sinne when sinfull in joy There be many sacrificers to the divel but none sacrifices so bountifully to the divel as joy doth when corrupt she sacrifices totum universale totum particulare al in generall al in particular al the man al the joints nerves and sinews of the man to the utmost All the bloud all the spirits in the bloud al the spirits generaly throughout the whole state doth bad joy set a dancing after the devill so that God hath nothing left him in this man A merry divel jostles Christ out of all Bad joy hath this ground evill in it 't is stiffnecked hardest of any to returne to be reclaimed A mans joy commands all and is all and wil be all to the heart A man is most hardely brought to part with his joy What is so deare to a man as his joy let it be what it wil 't is his Heaven the soule and Heaven are inseparable they are so identified so one in another above al other things Joy and the soule are more identified more one in another then the soule and any other passion or thing whatsoever 'T is almost impossible to separate things which are so neere onely the power of a God which can doe any thing can doe it Hence 't is that t' is so hard to bring a man to leave sinne when his soule hath found out joy in it when the sinner can make musicke to himselfe in his sinnes when the sinner by art hath made an instrument of his sinne a Lute to play upon and delight his senses withall Joy 't is a fragrancy made from many flowers with much picking choosing and composing of flowers t is honey gather'd with much art from much variety the soule is not easily brought to put that by which it hath so spent it selfe for and so laid out its utmost art and skil after Bad joy 't is the soule in the armes of the divell hee holds fast 't is the soule in the bosom of the devil two evil spirits deare each to other making their felicity in and of each other evil spirits endear'd are harder to part then evil bodies Bad joy 't 'as this grand evil in it 'T is the completion of evill 't is wickednesse ful sinne growne old out liv'd al vertue yea out liv'd all conscience for till conscience was quite dead bad joy could not live Bad joy is an evil that hath conquer'd vertue truth conscience God and triumphs in this victory all the tone now is hang sorrow and yet hell now gapes for the man and never so wide as now Sinne may be growne old when the man is young 't is many a young mans case the Lord knowes nothing mature in them but sinne as you may see by their joy and triumph in it fit for hel ere they come to age to be fit for their patrimony Bad joy hath this grand evil in it It sets the Soule very neere wrath at the gates of hel knocking to goe in Evil joy 't is a Malefactor upon the gallowes there is but a step betweene him and turning off The triumphing of the wicked is short Job 20.5 when once a sinner beginnes to triumph he has but a little time to live Seest thou a sinner laughing stay a little the next change of countenance will be weeping and wailing and gnashing of Teeth You say of some notorious persons that the gallowes groanes for them when you see a man notoriously wicked joying and triumphing in sinne Ah Lord hel groanes for this man hel opens for this man in a moment he will goe down to the pit We leave him there and conclude FINIS USEFULL INSTRVCTIONS FOR THESE Evill Times COLOSS. 1.12 Giving thanks to the Father c. Defin. THanksgiving according to the sense of this and other Texts is a divine returne of divine love 'T is a Sea going forth into al the veines of the Earth and returned againe to its selfe by Rivers and Streames God is infinitly out here below and yet all upon finite man man is to make a returne of al and in Gods own coyne love for love to make Gods owne doings and dealings acknowledge him and own him al love to the Creature respecting body and soule in prosperity and adversity to cal him Father giving thankes to the Father Man is the mouth of the Creation to make all the workes of God speake and
limitation it speaks restraint to such a species to such kind of things and no other Creatio est illimitatio fertur ad omnia Creation speakes illimitation boundlesse processe you may have what you wil that stand under the blessing of this power You stand in a capacity of al what would you be that creating power cannot raise you to I am made all things to all men sayes the Apostle making power makes a generall Christian make me to heare joy and gladnesse sayes the Psalmist No blessing too big for making power t wil make joy and gladnesse in the most bleeding soule Heaven in Hell FINIS USEFULL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THESE Evill Times COLOSS. 1.12 Giving thankes to the Father who hath made us meete to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light Doct. OF power creating and making we have already spoken the persons to whom this is refer'd is our next thing to consider who are noted in this terme 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 us Who hath made us meete c. Love singles out her objects shee chooses her breast and bosome to lie downe in shee does not wantonly and promiscously kisse as shee meets but picks and chooses and so embraces who hath made us meet c. Love workes freely Christ makes many nothing makes him The holy Ghost cannot be bought with money he is in the gall of bitternesse that thinkes so Nobility no more then peasantry wisdome no more then folly to take Christ hee embraces as many of one as t'other more more poore then rich more foolish then wise His will is his pleasure therefore is will cal'd often in Scripture the pleasure of God Whom hee will pleases if 't be a theife an harlot a Publican Christ is a good fortune but never catch't full of beauty but eyes none full of wealth but lookes at none of great inheritance but lookes not at dowry hee marries where hee will whom he will whom he does he makes who hath made us meete Love workes righteously mercy leaves roome for Justice shee can hold al in her Armes but she chooses but few and leaves the rest to bee embrac'd with more rough hands The sunne shines as it can get roome in a little place it cannot bring in all its rayes onely one or two some few but in the open World all Christ hath his course now in an open World All are under sinne hee may put forth all his beames and glories and be righteous here a beame of Justice and there a beame of mercy he may shine upon one part as upon Sodom bloudily upon another part as upon Goshen blessedly Christ is not necessitated to goe about and kisse all in this lower roome as he doth above he may kisse or he may kick kick many and kisse a few and come off righteously he may goe killing and saveing making and marring through this congregation so as to leave the Apostles liberty for mee in speaking of you who hath made us meete c. Love workes very purely purity is choise a Virgin is not for many Pure love lookes upon many but chastely cleaves onely to one Christ singles out a Spouse and cleaves onely to her The Church singles out Christ she is onely for him Christ singles out a Church he is onely for these My beloved is one this is the Language of the Church and this is the Language of Christ both electing in their love and a few serves turne on both sides The Churches love gathers into one breast so doth Christs Him and no other sayes the Church these and no other saith Christ The property of love is to be entire to use many but to choose but few who hath made us meete c. Love workes strongly she contracts her beames that 's her strength The more contracted the sun beams are the stronger in heat Love is love indeed that loves but few one of a Tribe two of a City us of all Colosse three or foure poore persons of such a great famous City and all the rest left and lying under wrath Running in many channels breakes the strength and greatnesse of a streame That love which runnes common is no thing Love and upon the matter no love 't is consistent with all misery both here and hereafter Speciall love workes strongly she travailes to bring forth a Heaven a Heaven fit for man and men fit for it those wombes which bring forth great ones bring forth but few Multitude is made up in magnitude a few kinges are considerable to many thousands of inferiour men one Kindome is considerable to many mannors a few Saints considerable to many wicked Love travailes and works stongly shee brings forth Kinges Kingdomes great things and therefore but few Who hath made us meete c. Love worketh nobly the channels are al earthly and base in which shee runnes here below and therefore shee runnes but in few Nobles will be intimate and frequent with Nobles but with few others with few that are low and base onely with here and there one that they have a minde to preferre 'T is so with Christ he moves nobly hee is intimate with all the nobility above frequent with all those royall spirits but he lookes but upon few here below here and there one which hee hath a minde to advance Christ doth not throw downe himselfe when he sets up man hee ennobles himselfe in every thing that goes forth from himselfe hee so makes great as to make himselfe great he advanceth men and advanceth himself in such advancement Christ doth so speake love and worke love as to make all echo to his owne honour Much amonst few will hold its muchnesse and they will confesse the donor noble and their inheritance great thus doe these here in the Text they admire love Giving thankes to the Father who hath made us meete to be partakers of the inheritance of Saints in light Love workes hintingly Christ doth so kisse and embrace in this lower roome where he comes that it may be plainly discerned that he is not a like pleased with all The very going forth of mercie speakes Justice to the wicked she kisses one over anothers shoulder is not that deadly hinting and damnably nodding to him that stands betweene Love comes very neere a man and yet steps over him and kisses the next Two grinding at a Mill one taken and another left two lying in one bed one taken and the other left doth not this manner of loves working speake wrath to standers by hath not mercy in its dispensation a tongue a voice doth shee not give a deadly cast and glote with her eye that shee is not pleased with all that some shall die under a sleight that she never meanes Heaven to this man nor that man what ever they promise to themselves love smiles and goes close by one soule and kisses another why this very transcient smile is a deadly frowne 't is a smile and yet 't is a deadly frowne too the soule
out more love more joy then Corne and Wine then any thing can doe 't is so fully soule answering Electing love is a transcendent love stronger then that which is borne to all the Creation besides so it makes a transcendent love a love stronger to Christ then to any thing My love is white and ruddy faire yea fairest of ten thousand A man whom Christ loves cannot see such another as Christ is as the Apple-Tree among the Trees of the Wood so is my beloved among the Sonnes Electing love is separating I have chosen you out of the World The body in the World but the soule out of it off of it i in esteeme all earthly things dung stinking Earth that which is taking to a carnall man is stinking to a Christian Earth is base to a heavenly soule thick clay a loade yea the very flesh upon the back a load to a divine spirit life this life but a death The best house here but a groaning house in this house wee groane panting after another better built A house from Heaven Christ finds men lost in the Creature but leaves them lost in himselfe I esteeme all losse but Christ A choyce person hath a choyce affection he can put no prize upon any thing but Christ A Christian is the worst bidder for the World in the World A Judas bidds basely for Christ A Paul bids basely for all besides Christ he bids nothing hee esteemes all dung he prizes it at no rate onely worthy of strong contempt The glory of this World takes not a glorious soule I am crucified to the World and the World to me Paul had nothing of the World nor cared for nothing there was as little of the World in his heart as in his hand as little in his spirit as in his purse Divine love is very estranging from worldly things knowes nothing no no person after the flesh A brother is nothing a sister a mother nothing divine things All 't was so with Christ 't is so with a Christian All Christs children take after him Whether chosen of God whether singl'd out by love now speake Whom love hath not singled out wrath now will Justice hath no other Butt to shoot at but a rejected soule Mercy sets her children under her wing Justice killes her children with death yee rejected soules what will yee doe The great Shepheard is separating between sheepe and swine tares shall no longer stand amongst the Wheat plucking up by the rootes is come Bleed under your condition sinners the quarrell at this day in the Land is betweene Christ and rejected persons there should not a stroke be struck more in the Land were it not to cut off that which is cast off Every Souldier is Gods bloud-hound you will see wrath single out the stoutest Goat in the heard and pull him by the throate Justice drinke the bloud of every Judas and make Filii perditionis filii perditi the greatest men in misery as deepe as their merit persons cast off by GOD cut off by Man Justice is going once againe to give every Cain his marke Not a rejected person through the Land but shall feele the power of Gods Wrath. Yee forlorne Soules what will yee doe Shall your sinne finde you out Will you goe on in your sinne till God make your rejection visible and write your doome in your bloud for posterity to reade and tremble Is it a small thing that you have lost your name and honour with men Will you desperately lose your honour eternally with God Yee Malignants yee seede of the Serpent you say you have but a life to lose I say you have Soules to lose You say you will honour the King so doe but honor God too or else the King of Kings will crush you all I conclude this point Duty with a word to Gods chosen ones your Duty your safety lies in this point Love singles out her beloved Who hath made us meete c. You are of this little Number admire love this is the use made in the Text. Give thankes to the Father who hath made us meete c. What knotty pieces hath God hewed and made fit for himselfe That Gods Love should center any where but in himselfe aâ—l the Creation should admire that God will foule his hands to mould and make up Earth for Heaven for ever admire mans love is all from motive Gods love from none God layes out cost on a dunghill and makes it a stately Throne Things which so move that wee can see no spring their very forme set's us into admiration Divine Love moves thus altogether singles out kisses embraces and no spring nor principle but it selfe loves because it loves can you reach this reason No why then admire and adore that love that has your Soules in her Armes to carry them to Heaven Safety Your safety is in this point Whom Love hath singled out wrath shall never wrong The favour of God is a sufficient defence against the frownes of the greatest man Love is as tender to keepe as choyce to take into protection shee commandes men shee commands Angels shee commands the whole Creation to serve her Beloved A man ha's the Munition of Rockes that is in the Armes of Christ A Christian cannot object his sinne to turne of this consolation from him Divine love beganne freely it goes on so it chose out the man freely it chooses out mercies for the man freely A man is Universally made that is chosen out by God to bee happy hereafter happy here happy in every condition here happy Christ leaves none to the hazard of sinnes or times hee secures his choyce as his owne eternall felicity Hee bindes them up as His Jewels sets the Righteous apart As for Himselfe All. Your safety your All is in this point 'T is your Spring of supplies 't is a Fountaine open Free-Love is a Canaan of blessings Milke and Honey Flowing Free-Love 't is infinite mercy set to make you her Heire to bestow all shee hath upon you and yours Would yee have your selves blessed the Kingdome blessed Free-Love hath in it to doe all Free-Love hath a long Arme and a full Hand mercie for thousands and from Generation to Generation FINIS USEFULL INSTRVCTIONS FOR THESE Evill Times COLOSS. 1.12 Giving thanks to the Father who hath made us meete to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light Doct. LOve workes freely Christ chuses what persons he pleases to advance Who hath made us c. Love works fully What persons Christ chuses to worke upon hee makes thorough worke in he renders them meete fit sufficient the Originall word will beare all these to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light Sinne hath it's fitting and finishing and then it brings forth its end Sinne finished brings forth death c. The Divell is a thorough worke-man where hee layes a foundation he raises up the building till all be fit for himselfe and
stirring of every Finger of every Toe of every Haire of every one in Heaven a Heaven to behold There is no distinction of habit and act time and place meanes and end in point of felicity as here is as you know there is misery all along in the meanes with us and felicity onely in the end and that uncertaine too and so a little good habitually scarce any at all actually and the like In Heaven there is none of these miserable distinctions but Heaven in all in every quality Heaven in every action Heaven in every time Heaven in every place Heaven in every meane to such an end equally as in the end it selfe Heaven Simili dissimile In things which are but like there is some dislike Light is not universally permanent Our Sunne sets and rises rises and sets so 't is with most parts of the World very few parts have all day and no night all light and no darknesse 'T is not so above our felicity there is universally permanent there is all day and no night to all that upper World the Sunne goes round that glorious Globe without any interposition to any There is no drooping Soule in Heaven no wounded spirit in all the Land above nor never will Our life above is everlasting Shall of the spirit reape life everlasting c. Saith our Apostle There is such inspiration as shall never admit the least expiration in any comforts never faint nor flat no soule growes weary of place company habit dyet imployment every ones Heaven is an eternall Heaven every ones rest an eternall rest Some have beene in Heaven many thousands of yeares and yet not a thought of dislike of any thing there nor the least desire stirring to be any where else but the strong desire of all that all Gods deare ones were there The spirit and the Bride say come Christ and all those members hee has above pant for the rest that all were as they are one as they are one Joy is made as vast as the soule as lasting as the soule and the soule as lasting as Christ There are no broken Cisternes above not one Vessell drops out one droppe of its felicity in the space of eternitie though hee stand brim full No consumption no Disease above every thing lives yea and thrives for ever There is eternall Revelation in Heaven Infinite excellency taking suitable time to lay open it selfe to all others there 's Johns rapture to all eternitie All these particulars gathered up render the meaning of the Metaphor to be this That our felicity above is a full and absolute felicity a transcendent blessednesse suiting such a transcendent being as the soule of man is Vse Now my question to you all is what labouring for absolute felicity for blessednesse to suite your soules for ever 'T is the judgement that lies heavy upon the soules of most men they seeke not after full mercies a perfect blessednesse Feele your Pulse tell mee how your hearts beate how nimble doe they worke out after Earth How slow after Heaven I looke upon some men's Lives and my heart trembles to thinke what will become of their soules al the care is for the body how does Trading goe on How does money come in When is the Question How will 't goe with my soule for ever What blessednesse is provided for my soule to inherite Are your bodies everlasting Is this World everlasting Can any thing but Heaven make an absolute felicitie for you Are not your soules everlasting Can any thing lesse then Heaven make a suitable felcity for them Pravity is misleading but when the Soule is judged for this there is noe turning the man this consideration makes mee shake indeede when I consider how Earthy some men are and how wilfull in their way Speake to them of minding their Soules and beating off their thoughts from this VVorld you are as Vinegar to their Teeth and smoake to their Eyes When corruption thrives in the soule 't is dangerous but when it has got a head Ah Lord The state of that man is desperate Who shal save that man from Hell and bring him to Heaven which is earthy and wil be so still The Creature is seducing much is promised but it s still a lie to the soule the fulnesse of the World makes up no fulnesse to that noble part within If there bee any absolutenesse in things here below 't is in point of vanity they are Vanitie of vantie and vexation of spirit i Perfect vanitie just nothing as our English phrase is Consider all the Word in reference to the spirit and t is a heape of perplexitie A Bush of Briers and Thornes shall all your industry lie to Crowne your soules with Thornes With our Saviours Crosse and Curse Are you not scratcht enough with the World yet Will not your spirits be vext enough hereafter but will you be vexing of them here too Will you begin your Hell in Earth and inure your spirits to tearing and torment before the time Know your soules and what is the felicitie of them and what you doe do in good earnest to attaine it you move as you love Christ concluded that when the Jewish Church sleighted him If you love darkenesse better then light you will never seeke out for light nor for that Inheritance which hâ—s there If Heaven were more absolute felicitie or more transcendent blessednesses then 't is a heart pre-engaged i set upon an other Heaven will sleight Heaven indeede your life lies upon this poynt to looke how and where your love is picht where a mans Treasure is there will his Heart bee if you make money onely your Treasure you will onely bend in good earnest after it If you make not Heaven your chiefe Treasure you will not seeke after it heartilie Heaven has beene shadowed out to you according to the Metaphor in the Text is it now of any price in your Eye Has it gained your love 'T is a transcendent blessednesse are your hearts taken with it as such a blessednesse Till this I shall not looke to prevaile with any soule to seeke out after Heaven to any purpose 'T was the Art that Christ used when hee spake of eternall things first to set out the excellency of them to make that sparkle gloriously in the Eye to stirre love and then answerablie come on to doe good J am the Bread which came downe from Heaven c. J am the Bread of Life c. And hee that shall drinke of the Water that I shall give him shall never thiâ—st c. Many such expressions to take love you shall finde in the Scripture What have wee gained upon your love by all our discourse of Heaven An love bee as it was the man will be as hee was if Heaven be at his doore hee will step beside it into Hell Divine Love is that flame that carries the soule upward where this is not Heaven though all is nothing There is darkenesse And
sitting in darkenesse looke to that as you love your soules 't is excluding from the Inheritance in light sit in darkenesse love your lusts and you will never part with them for Heaven The condition of your Inheritance in light is that you must cast away the unfruitfull workes of darkenesse The Soule lives and dies in that it loves you will rather cast away your soules then doe this if your affection bee impure If your love to sinne live you will have your pleasure in it though you die for it If love to sinne live there is but one way with your soules they will die in that sinne Love of sinne and Heaven opened to the soule 't is rejection of Christ with his greatest blessing in his Hand Christ casts off every Soule that thus desperately casts off him A Man must set his Knife to the Throate of an Isaack Judge his Soule in that which is dearest if sinnefull GOD will not else looke towards a Man with great things Hee looketh upon Men if any say I have sinned and perverted that which was right and it profited mee not hee will deliver his Soule from goeing downe into the Pitte and his Life shall see the light Consolation must conclude this poynt Christians I am to give you a glad word in this sad Time Your Inheritance here is spoyled you have one that lies above spoyle in light Can Men or Devils pull the Sunne out of Heaven Then may your highest fortune bee spoyled You have one Sunne turned into blood but you have another which cannot Your felicitie here is broken and growes every Day more broken and bloudy you have a felicitie compleate full absolute as full of Blessednesse as the Sunne of light a felicitie as full of Beames as the Eyes of the Soule can receive Draw up your soules to Heaven quicklie Earth is posting away Let good bloud stirre every drop will bee lost else You will be killed in all on Earth to make you more Heavenly ere GOD hath done with you Thinke how absolute you shall bee above and feedeâ—â— that Let not tyranny trample downe your soules though it doth your bodies a perfect felicitie waites for you Let Englands bloudy misery make you cry Come Lord Iesus come quickly set mee as high and as happy as mine Inheritance Jn Light Inference THat which by way of Inference may be taken from this Metaphor I shall but name and conclude all Time and Text. GOD doth lively shadow out to Man here his condition hereafter what hee shall be and where he shall be for eternity There is death and the shadow of it before it come So there is life and the shadow of it light is here made the shadow and semblance of Heaven of a glorious estate to come As there be Tasts of the World to come so there be sights Light gives glimpses below of the glory that is above There is a beholding the Land that is far off the Face of Christ in a Glasse the glory above by the glory here one Heaven in another Heaven in Light Man hath many Sermons preached to him to make him Heavenly as many Heavenly Sermons as there be rayes in the Sunne by every glimpse of Light you should set before you Heaven As long as the Sunne shines you should not want a Sermon to send your soules to Heaven God deales with flesh as flesh Man is a Creature taken with shadowes Things drawne out to the life take The Soule now fetches in all from sense God stoops to helpe in things this way at such doores as they will goe in at GOD wraps up the higher Heaven in the lower glory in Light and so brings it downe to carnall sense and enobles it there to enoble it within catches the senses to catch the Heart and save the Soule If Light be so glorious what is Heaven This is the secret Soule-taking argument that is wrapt up in this Metaphor Though your bodies have yet no Heaven your soules if you walke as you should neede never be without one As long as your Eyes bee open to see the Sunne you may sweetely send your Soules to Heaven Some sweare by the Light this is to send their soules to Hell not to Heaven by the Light God moves in meanes powerfully Pictures are powerfull upon flesh and bloud Make things glitter and Man will gaze make Earth glitter although so base and fallen Man will be taken with it worke it up from its basenesses but so little as to looke golden and glorious and man will dote upon it How taking is golden Earth to al the World Heaven is wrapt up in Sun-beams and made to glitter to catch a foole Christ is expressed by the Sunne Heaven by Light that if sense have any power upon the soule no soule may goe to Hell whilest the Sunne gives Light There were transient Visions now there are standing Truth and the Creature are Gods standing Vision Things below are all made at Divine pleasure to speake out things above The Word of God uses the Workes of GOD to shadow out what cannot bee plainely seene here invisible things are brought to understanding by visible Heaven by light Hell by darkenesse Hell beneath by Hell here The gnawing Worme is used to shadow out gnawing conscience gnawing conscience to shadow out Hell Man hath his vision what shall bee in things round about him The Word of God the Workes of God Light darkenesse Serpents Dragons Worms Lambes Doves all Creatures are used to give apt vision to man of things to come All runs into this CHRIST makes lively apparition of things to come Looke about you sinners your Sun is turned into bloud this is speaking to you pro futuro Strange Lights and sights have beene in Heaven looke about you all this is God using the Creature to shadow out to dull sensuall man something to come a Heaven or a Hell 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 blessed is every English heart that can discerne the signes of the Times FINIS