so weighty a conclusion 〈◊〉 may return to this most certain and most compendious way to her own Happiness which is to be acquired by bearing Afflâ—ction patiently and endeavouring to overcome whatever tempts her during the time of this her Pilgrimage â—ith a careful preparing of her self for her future Condition by such Noble Actions and Heroick Qualifications of Mind as shall render her most welcome to her own Country which belief and â—uâ—pose 〈…〉 in an utter in câ—pacity of eâ—ther 〈…〉 at nothing but what is not in the Power of Mâ—n to confirm upon her with Câ—urage she â—ets upon the main Work and being still more â—aithful to her self and to that light that asiâ—â—s her at lasts she tasts the Fruites of her Future Harveâ—â— and does more then presage that great Happiness that is accrewing to her and quits her from the troubles and anxieties of this preâ—â—nt World stays with it in Tranquility and Content 〈◊〉 at last leaves it with Joy. Therefore let us furâ—â—er consider that the Soul has Four Qualities beâ—â—use her Faculties are Fourfold The First is Unâ—erstanding The Second is the Will The Third 〈◊〉 the Memory The Fourth is the Affections 〈◊〉 Heart which is the principle Seat of the Rational 〈◊〉 The Mind is the inward Act. The Thoughts 〈◊〉 the Mind the Fountain of Counsel the soul of Life 〈◊〉 understand by the Mind and live by the Soul. 〈…〉 A Deceision or a Demonstration of the Mutual and Reciprocal Relation betwixt the Soul and the Body 1. THE true Love of God raises the Soul to the highest Perfection the purest and fullest Love shall wear always the weightiest Crown of Gloâ—y Where this Love is if it meet with hard Precepts it desolves it into sweet promises and fills the Heart with the shining Beauty of Soul ravishing delights by Divine Respiration giving it true Repose causing the Delights and Pleasures to be as Capacious as the Soul that lovely Creature of God whom his Majesty is always pleased to fill with an Ineffable Pleasure in perpetually extending their Knowledge of Intellection by Consequences and Lights always New which they draw from their Light and their Knowledge always acquired they always find something to be discovered in the Immense Spaces of Truth they always find some-Shing to be enlightned with of the Perfection of the aupream Essence which they always see all entire and ill exposed to their Eyes and which they never knew so perfectly but that there always remains something further to be known and discovered they always Drink of this Lively and Eternal Spring and are always a Thirst they drein from thence every moment by a full and entire Knowledge of the intuitive Vision but they always find it full and inexhaustable to Reason and Intellection which they always make a further Progress into and further still find something to be known in the Fountain of its infinite Incomprehensibility The Reprobate Souls do also find by the exercise of their reasonings a Thousand and a Thousand New dispairs in their State of Reprobation and Misery The Prophets say they always remain awake to the End they may always see their Misery and Woe which does express the exercise of the active Faculty in Unhappy Souls which proves that all Souls have out of the Body the exercise of the Faculties of Perceiving of Imagining and of Recollecting which they do not exercise here but dependent upon the Body For thus we say without difficulty that they may compare one thing with another that they Conceive the Nature of Bodies by pure Intellection by which they form Universal Notions from whence they draw Consequences and frame Ideas but these Ideas do not cause us to Believe that the Body and the Soul can be united like two Liquors or like two Metalls which are melted one with the other which are made either by an Unctuous or Viscous Humor which binds the Parts of them together nor by Nails Pegs and Joynts We may not imagine here any thing material for we are to cut off every thing that presents it self Corporeal to our Spirits for we are to conceive precisely only a mutual and necessary Dependance in such a manner as God has directed and disposed which is the way to conceive the manner how our Souls are in our Bodies as well as we are capable to comprehend They are not in us by a Local and Corporeal Circumscription they are not there as Liquor is in a Vessel or as a Bird is in the Nest or Cage or as the Body is in the Air which environs it but they are in us as God is in the World in which we must conceive him as saith St. Augustin Much more containing than contained for we may remember that tho the Nature of the Soul is a Spiritual Nature which doth as Essentially exclude Local extention and by Consequence all sorts of Ideas of Local Presence such as we commonly conceive under Corporeal Images of Immediation of Preportions and of Coextention of Substances as it doth Essentially include the Grounds and the Acts of the knowing Faculty Bodies have their proper Fashion of being within Places and Spirits have theirs likewise there is nothing of likeness betwixt one and the other for to think otherways were to subvert and destroy both Corporeal and Spiritual Nature for it is with the manner how the Soul is in the Body as it is with the Soul it self We cannot comprehend it as oft as we conceive it by Imagination what Corporeal Image so ever we make of it or under what material Form soever we may conceive of it for the manner how the Soul is in the Body is altogether as Spiritual as is the Substance of the Soul if it be demanded after this in what Part of the Body the Soul is or whether she is in all the Body the Question will be difficult to resolve However the Learned say that all the Soul is in all the Body and all of it in the Essential and Integral Parts of it as God is in all the World and in all the Parts of the World not by that Co-extension and Local Chimerical Presence which gross Spirits do imagine but by the intimate Presence of his Essence Essentially operating in all the World. We must say the same of the Soul that it is in all the Body by relation of its dependance and activity but this does not hinder but that we may say she is more properly and more particularly in the Brain since it is by that Part that the action of the Soul upon the Body immediately Commences and that all the actions of the Body upon the Soul terminâ—tes wholly in that Part as it sensibly appears by that which interrupts and suspends the action of the Soul upon the Body and the action of the Body upon the Soul for as often as it happens that the action of the Body upon the Soul is interrupted it is because there is some relaxation or some obstruction in
King Solomon's RECANTATIONS BEING AN EXTRACT Out of the Famous WORKS Of the Learned FRANCIS QVARLES Cup-bearer to the Queen of Bohemia Sister to the blessed Martyr King Charles the I. of venerable Memory With an Essay to prove the Immortality of the Soul by way of Symetry or Connexion Licensed July 21. 1688. Rob. Midgley LONDON Printed by I. R. and are to be sold by Randal Taylor near Stationers-Hall 1688. Advertisements T'Here is lately Printed a Book Intitule The way of Life is Pleasant Or tâ—â— Church of England is the Best Guide Coâ—â—taining several useful Discourses for every Christian to Read and Practise for the support of their Spirits and comfort of the Minds With some Evangelical Reflection upon the Apostolical Observation of thâ— Lent-Fast With short and useful Prayer upon the Church-Festivals and most other Emergent Occasions With several prepaâ—ratory Prayers for the Holy Sacrament anâ— Thanksgiving after Receiving Licensed Iun 〈◊〉 the 4th 1686. and Sold by Randal Tayloâ— near Stationers Hall I. Harding at the Biâ—â— and Anchor in Newport-street Rich. Sare a Grays-Inn Gate in Holbourn and by most Book sellers in London and Westminster 1686. KIng Solomons Experimental Observations of Himself Time and Things deducted from his Recantations by Way of Soliloquie in a well digested Method Sold by Randal Taylor near Stationers-Hall 168â— King Solomon's RECANTATIONS c. OH 't is much better not to Thirst at all Than Thirst in vain or quench thy Thirâ—t with Gall. â—hose profit can accrue to Man what gains â—an Crown his Actions or reward his Pains â—â—nless he trample on the Asp and tread 〈◊〉 the young Lyon and the old Dragon's head Or else the Clouds of Sorrow may multiply â—â—d hide from thee the Crystal of the gloomy Sky â—â—oad not thy Shoulders by the Sin of unwise desire â—hat all thy bedrid Passions may quite expire â—â—earch for and find such Words which have the might 〈◊〉 intermingle profit with sweet delight Than shalt thou have hopeful worth to Crown thy last â—ith Peace and Honor yea such rare Sons thou hast â—â—nce Frolick Midnight Madness is quite expir'd and thou requite Thy wild attention with Heavenly delight Thy courage indeavouring to deserve the name Of heroick Martyr by giving thy Body to the Flame This will give true Life so sweet to every one That takes pleasure in the Worlds redeeming Son From Earths pleasures by striving to refrain Knowing those short-liv'd flattering pleasures vain Therefore rejoycing greatly in true Spiritual ways By Heavenly contentment chearing youthful Days Banishing false-eyed Mirth let it be truly disposest Of those lewd Firs that are apt to inflame thy Breaâ—â— For Earths best injoyments are short and vain But for a season rejoycing but cannot remain For feeble Strength her ruins smite thee And grinds thy clod to dust tho not afrights thee One Generation gives another way But Earth abides in one perpetual stay The Prince of Light put on his Morning Crown But in the Evening lays his Glory down Where leaving Earth to take a short repose He soon returns and rises where he rose His Wisdoms choice affections own His Churches good much dearer then his Throne For us subduing beneath the spangled Sky What ever might hurt us That in Wisdom we may decry All Evils and seek all Hevenly sweet felicity Yet injoying such pleasures that Earth could lenâ— that I Might find Earths Mirth and Beauty but vanity My thoughts yet pondering all that hath been done Betwixt the solid Center and the glorious Son And yet no knowledge can reduce the state Of crooked Nature to a perfect straight For some Mens Ignorance which surmounts The learned Language of Arithmeticks accounts Oh! then thought I how are the vain desires Flesh and Blood Baffled in their mistaken things called good Yet travel seeks them yea unwearied Hearts Makes them the objects both of Arms and Arts Yet many certan obvious Evils attend Our Ways to our uncertain Journies end We tire the Night in thought the Day in toil Sparing neither sweet nor lucubrated Oyl â—o seek the things we cannot find or found â—e cannot hold or held we cannot ground â—o firm as to resist the various swings â—f fickle Fortune or the frowns of Kings That if his Royal Power please to commit â—â—is Pastorial Staff to such as are more fit â—o Eat and Drink Kill or recommend his Flocks â—o such dumb Dogs of whom ne'r Wof nor Fox â—â—ill stand in awe or shew their fears by flight Not having Tongues to bark nor Teeth to bite Yet by the way advise Obedience then Always he sure to please rather God than Men. â—f the Embers of his rage should chance to lye Rak'd up or furnace from his angry Eye Quit not thy Duty 't is thy part to asswage â—y due Obedience the jealous flames of consuming rage Curse not the King nor them that bears the Sword No not in Thought tho Thought express no Word â—or secret report shall vent such hidious things To punish those who oppose the legal Authority of Kings For all that attempt thus to act casts a shame Upon the beauty of an honor'd Name Ah then my Soul take heed to keep thy Heart At thy right Hand where there she will impart Continual secrets and direct thy ways â—n secret Ethicks sweetning out thy Days With season'd Knowledge Wisdom past the reach Of dangerous error and instruct and teach Thy Heart-wise silence Wisdom when to beak Thy clos'd Lips and judgement how to speak â—uch wise Mens Words are gracious where they go But foolish Language doth themselves o're-throw Folly brings in the Prologue with his Song Whose Epilogue is rage and open wrong Yea the tedious actions of every Fool doth try The solid patience of the weary standers by Because their weakness knows not how to lay Their actions posture in a civil way Yea such rude folly stains their Fame But fair repute for Wisdom lends a name Therefore our steps will measure out the way Our Garb our Looks our Language doth betray Our Wisdom or Follies read by all we meet Our selves proclaiming our Follies in every Street But 't is a grief that grates beneath the Sun That like events betides to every one A like be false to Good and Bad Wise and Fooâ— Yea both To him that Swears and him that fears an Oath Better to be a living Creatures tho vild they plead Then to be known a wealthy Wiseman that is dead For they that live well know that they shall die Therefore take time but theâ— that lie Rak'd up in deaths cold Emâ—rs they know not Or Good or Ill their names are quite forgot No Friends they have to Love nor Foes to Hate They know no Virtue to spit Venom at They sell no sweet for gains nor do they buy Pleasures with pains or tread beneath the Sky But yet go thou rejoyce and Eat let a full Bowl Cashire thy Cares and chear thy frolick Soul What Heaven hath lent thee with a liberal
There be no Ears no Eyes to hear to see The living Soul have not such rest as he Who stands upright in Courts with unshaken Mind For the Test proves him and he is found refin'd If thy superiour happen to incense His jealous wroth at thy suppos'd Offence Do thou thy part yield for yielding slacks The raging flame great transgressions makes He that shall dig a pit that shall prepare A snare shall be ensnar'd in his own snare Happy is the Just and Holy for who but he Can judge of things or what their Natures be For these are Heavens favorits sent down from thence Unfolding secret Mysteries in Heavenly Eloquence Knowing there 's a time true Justice shall preceed On every purpose upon every deed With God all future Times are present ALL Times to Heaven are now both first and last God sees things present yea future as we see them past But we transgress his Laws 't is time to part For why the Laws of Nature break the rules of Art. A smiling Conscience a contented Mind A sober Knowledge with true Wisdom joyn'd Sleep seasonable moderate and secure Actions heroick constant blameless pure A life as long as fair and when expir'd A glorious Death unfear'd as undesir'd The World is a Book writ by the eternal Art Of the great Maker Printed in Mans Heart 'T is falsely Printed tho Divinely Pen'd And all the Errata will appear at the End. Believe it Christian by how much near Thou get'st to Heaven the less will Earth appear Call home thy dearest wishes and recal Thy hopes expect the worst that can befal Grace giveth Virtue opinion not Glory For Princely favours are but transitory Humane Nature curious without corrupt within A glorious Monument of inglorious Sin Yet much our Saviour have endured yea more To make us Kings that were but Slaves before He that grieves because his grief is so small Has a true grief and the best Faith of all He vows his Faith and the sincere perfection Of undissembl'd and intire affection And such in doing well Shall seek for Heaven not find the flames of Hell. ` Oh! let the Church my Mother instruct me Give savory Meat Cloath and Conduct me Into my Fathers Arms These Hands shall never Trust to the poorness of their own endeavour Bring I a Kid but of my Mothers dressing 'T will please my Father and procure a Blessing Most Sins at least please Sense but some are Treason Not only against the Crown of Sense but reason But 't is an error as foul to call Our Sins too great for Pardon as too small The reason is easie to be riddled out One's dispair the other not doubt Lord weaken this Rebellious Flesh That 's apt to oppose Grace Oh! quicken and refresh My dull and coward Spirit that would yield And make Proud Satan Master of the Field Because 't is Grave not Bed that I am in Not a-sleep but dead in Sin. Serve God in Plenty and in Affliction trust No thanks to serve our God when he feeds us Promise is a Debt and Debt implies a Payment How can the Righteous then doubt Food and Rayment Let not my Thoughts so divided be But they mix again and fix on thee Oh! thou who didst appear in cloven Tongues oâ— Fire Direct my Thoughts and with thy self inspire That I may search the Scripture to increase In the Diviner Knowledge of thy Peace That when all things shall cease that are transitory Thy Gifts of Grace may be Crown'd with perfect Glory The Rich Mans sum of untold descended Wealth Can give his Body Plenty but no Health The Poor in pains and want possesses all The other in plenty finds no Peace at all 'T is strange and yet the cause is easily known The one 's at Gods finding the other at his own The formers filken Robes his costly Diet Can lend a little Pleasure but no Quiet The latter seldom slacks his Thirst but from the Pump And yet his Heart is blithe his Visage plump Such Truths are Subjects far more fit For Holy Admiration than for Wit. 'T is said of Alexander that he complain'd And wept because there was no other Worlds to gain His griefs and thy complaints are not amiss He has grief enough that finds no World but this Our trust in God for Riches never must Exclude our Care nor Care exceed our truâ—t Thy Sacred Will be done Great God To spend or to suspend thy Rod If possible my Will 's to miss it If otherwise to stoop and Kiss it However submit we shall not be this the worse If Conscience Bless what if Shimei Curse ' Some say the Sacrament's a Supper and 't is fit 'To use the posture of a Meal to fit ' Can thy Discretion Phares or thy Zeal ' Give Carnal gestures to a Spiritual Meal 'A Heavenly Supper and a Fleshy Heart ' Thy posture has discover'd what thou art Of those Sacraments which some call Seven Five were Ordain'd by Man and Two by Heaven As saith the Eternal Word whose high Decree Admits no change and cannot frustrate be What thing is Man that Gods regard is such Or why should Heaven love wretchless Man so much His age is Sinful and his youth 's Vain His life 's a Punishment his death 's a Pain Yea Man who ought to be a Watch-light in the Temple Is as a Snuffer wants the Oyl of good Example Can he be said to fear the Lord that flys him Can Word confess him when as Deed denys him For this Men should strive to have their Hearts relent Such Hearts which never knew what Mercy meant Gods Love is boundless apt and free To turn to Man when Man returns to thee Adjourn thy Sanguine Dreams awake arise Call in thy Thoughts and let them all advise Before the Soul can a true comfort find The Body must be prostrate and the Mind Truly contrite and repentive within And loath the fawning of a bosom Sin But Lord can Man deserve or can his best Do justice equal right which he transgrest When Dust and Ashes mortally offends Can Dust and Ashes make Eternal mends â—s Heaven unjust must not the recompence Be full equivalent to the offence What mends by moral Man can then be given To the offended Majesty of Heaven O mercy mercy on thee my Soul relies â—n thee we build our Faith we bend our Eyes If thou wilt thou canst change our lot That we and ours may Live and perish not Thy Glorious Wisdom and tender Love Transcends thy sharper justice will remove ' Judge not that Field because its stubble ' Nor him that 's poor and full of trouble ' Tho the one look bare the other thin ' Judge not their Treasure is within Injur'd inocency while the Enemies Unhallow'd Tongueâ— Makes her a Glorious Martyr in their wroâ—gs The Devils believe all know they do But their belief does make them tremble too Men rail at Iudas him that did betray The Lord of Life yet doâ—t Day
by Day They Curse that Traytor Life and Limb Tho Curse themselves in Curfing him The Thief and Slanderer are almost the same The one steals my Goods the other my good Name The one lives in Scorn the other dies in Shame But from these dark som Clouds Good Lord deliver us Let them not interpose betwixt thy Glory and us For thou alone art our Creator in whom we trust Some trust too much in their doing well In seeking Heaven they find the flames of Hell But the pure of Heart have Power to refuse Being endow'd with Wisdom the Evil and Good to chuse He that gives Wisdom to refuse Inspires the Art which to chuse ' In thee O King my pensive Soul respires ' Thou art the fulness of my choice desires ' Thou art that Sacred Spring whose Waters burst ' In streams to him that seeks with Holy Thirst ' Thrice happy Man Thrice happy Thirst to bring The fainting Soul to so sweet a Spring God is just what his deep Counsel wild His Prophets told and justice hath fulfill'd But Man the Child of ruin to avoid Less dangers by a greater is destroy'd Whose Spring is like a Flower for a Days delight At Noon we flourish and we fade at Night If Plants be cropt because their Fruits are small Think you to Thrive that bears no Fruit all But who so Fruitful is and worthy to Drink this Shall be receiv'd unto Eternal Bliss Such cannot Dye the Sacred Nine deny All Souls that merits Fame shall ever Dye For these must survive for their self clos'd Eyes That now lie slumbering in the dust shall rise The highest Heavens have Decreed to Bless The Fruitful Souls and with a fair success For that they built their Bliss not on the blaze of Glory Nor seated their Happiness in things transitory O Lord how great is the Power of thy Hand Glorious is thy Name in every Land Great God Unlimited are thy Confines And assistest Man in his good Designs Thy Mercies like the dew of Hermon Hill Or like the Oyntment dropping downward still Thy Love is boundless thou art apt and free To turn to Man when Man returns to thee â— Sacred Subject of a Meditation Thy Works are full of Admiration Thy Judgments all are just severe and sure They quite cut off or else by lancing Cure. ' My Faith not Merits hath assur'd thee mine Thy Love not my Desert hath made me thine Unworthy I whose drousie Soul rejected Thy precious Favours and secure neglected Thy glorious Presence how am I become A Bride befitting so Divine a Groom ' It is no Merit no Desert of mine Thy Love thy Love alone hath made me thine Since then the bounty of thy dear Election Have styl'd me thine Oh let the sweet reflection ' Of thy Illustrious Beams my Soul inspire ' And with thy Spirit inflame my hot Desire ' Unite our Souls oh let thy secret rest ' Make a perpetual home within my Breast ' Instruct me so that I may gain the skill 'To suit my Service to thy secret Will. Then shall my Soul that suffers through dispite Of Error and rude Ignorance have right Then shall my Soul injoy within this Breast A Holy Sabboth of Eternal rest And my dearest Spouse shall Seal me on his Heart So sure that envious Earth may never part Our joyn'd Souls let not the World remove My chast Desires from so chast a Love. ' All you that wish the bountiful encrease ' Of dearest Pleasures and Divinest Peace ' I charge you all if ought my charge may move ' Your tender Hearts not to disturb my Love ' Vex not his gentle Spirit nor bereave ' Him of his Joys that is so apt to grieve That he may teach his living Plants to thrive And such as are a dying to revive He walks about such tender Plants To smell their Odours and supply their wants That he may leave his secret Spirit in their Breast As Earnest of an Everlasting rest To thy Creatour hast my Soul and let thy Sacreâ— Vows Plight Holy Contracts with so sweet a Spouse His Left Hand 's full of Treasure and his Right Of Peace and Honor and unknown Delight Then shall it please our gracious Lord To Crown with Audience his suppliants Word O Glory chace Disloyal Thoughts let not thiâ— World allure My chast Desires from a Spouse so pure He 'l endow my ardent Soul with sweetness and inspire With Heavenly ravishment my rapt Desires O let all times be prosperous and all places Be Witness to our undefil'd imbraces Sure is the Knot that true Religion ties And Love that 's rightly grounded never dies ' If Error lead not my dull Thoughts amiss ' My genius tells me where my true Love is ' He 's busie labouring in the flowry Banks ' Inspiring Sweetness and receiving Thanks ' Watering those Plants whose tender Root are dry ' And Pruning such whose Crests aspire too high ' Transplanting Grafting Reaping from some ' And covering others that are newly come Then take from each to make one perfect Grace Yet would my Love out-shine that borrow'd Face So perfect are his Graces so Divine So full of Heaven are those fair looks of thine O Sacred Symetry O rare Connexion Of many Perfects to make one Perfection O let my Lips like a perpetual Story Divulge thy Graces and declare thy Glory Hear comes a Critick close thy Page Thou art no Subject for this Age Thou hast no Guilt that does require That thou should'st lurk nor yet retire Thou hast no Lustre of thy own But what 's deriv'd from Heaven alone Fear not thy Heaven instructed Page Will either please or teach the Age For the Wise with ease shall riddle out Which is the voice of Wonder which of Doubt For God sends an Angel to protect As well from Evil as to Good direct O thou the beginning and the end before whom Things past and present and things to come Are all alike O prosper my Designs And let thy Spirit inrich my feeble Lines Rejoyce my Soul and give my Pen the Art Wisely to move and me an understanding Heart Earthly Glories are scarce worth craving to obtain They are Happinesses that must be lost again Gasp not for Honour wish no blazing Glory For these will perish in an Ages Story Nor yet for Power Power may be carv'd To Fools as well as thee that hast deserv'd Thirst not for Lands nor Mony wish for none For Wealth is neither lasting nor our own Riches are fair Inticements to deceive us They flatter while we live and dying leave us What fit of Madness makes us love them thus We leave our lives and pleasure leaveth us Pleasure is fleeting still and makes no stay It lends a smile or twain and steals away The pleasures of this World soon abate They are lively emblems of our own Estate Which like a Banquet at a Funeral show But sweeten Grief and serve to flatter Woe How slight a
thread 'twixt Death and thee ' This darksome Place thou measur'st may be thy Grave ' And sudden Death rides Proud on yonder Wave By thoughts dive down into the Abyss of Hell And there in Justice doth the Almighty dwell Death is a Calander compos'd by Fate Concerning all Men never out of date Yet chear up I have a message in store Whose Comforts much and joyful News is more We have yet a Friend Puissant and of Might Will see us take no wrong but do us right Le ts offer up Sacrifice with one accord And pay our solemn Vows unto the Lord And with penitent Hearts implore him And Day and Night pour forth our Souls before him For shall I be silent no I 'le speak Till Tongue be tired and my Lungs be weak Proclaim to us thy Mercy for we thurst for Grace For thou art free of Mercy to those that Mercy will embrace O save us harmless from our Foe-mans Jaws Who art turned Orator to plead our Cause How are thy Mercies full of Admiration How sovereign sweet's their Application How redefâ—â—ed are we with the Rust of Sin Which hath abus'd thy Stamp and eaten in But yet at length if we repent Instead of Plagues and Direful Punishments We shall find Mercy Love and Heavens Applause For the Great Almighty himself will plead our Cause Thine Eye that views the moving Spheres above Ought to give Praise to him that makes them move Here may we see how Prayer and true Repentance Do strive with God prevail and turn his Sentence From Judgment Just and Plagues Infernal To boundless Mercies and to life Eternal All o're the World how should these Mercies make a sound As Blessings fall Thansgiving must abound â—dge then did ever Record round thine Ear That God forsook the Heart that was fiueere But often have we seen that such as Plow â—â—wdness and Mischief reap the same they sow The Moral says all Wisdom that 's given â—o Hood-wink'd Mortals first proceeds from Heaven Far safer 't is of things unsure to doubt Than undertake to riddle Secrets out It was demanded once what God did do Before the World was fram'd Whereunto ' Answer was made he built a Hell for such As were too curious and would know too much at such curiosity preceds from him who can â—â—ly accuse Man to God and God to Man â—â—no Hourly sows fresh Schisms among the Saints â—ea buffets them then laughs at their Complaints O Chastity the Flower of the Soul â—ow is thy perfect fairness turn'd to foul There are thy Maiden-smiles thy blushing Cheek â—hy Lamb-like Countenance so fair so meek â—ay not other Virtues serve but must this Queen 〈◊〉 made the Subject of Unchast spleen So young is Man that broke with Care and Sorrow â—e's old enough to Day to die to morrow â—â—e gives us Passage to endure great Woes â—â—ath frees us from all Temporal Foes â—t tho secure my Soul did never slumber â—et do my Woes exceed both weight and number Both Poor and Rich are equal in the Grave â—rvants no Lords and Lords no servants have â—hat needs there light to him that 's comfortless â—r Life to such as languish in distress â—bjects of pitty are Bodies in distress â—nd worthy to injoy eternal Rest Lord make Wise thy Servant a Wise forecast Grieves for things present not for things are past Satan have Servants who can make true boast They gave away as much as thine have lost Others with Learning made to Wisely Mad Refuse such Fortunes as Croesus never had Lord make me Champion give me such belief A strong and fervent but not crafty Faith. I know a forc'd Love neeeds no such great Applause Since they Love Ill that Loves not for a Cause I bespeak leave to Answer all this before I knew They want no Grief that find such Friends as you Be not discontent no no forbear for I Hate less your Censures than your Flattery Succour I sought and begged but none was there To give the Alms of one poor trickling Tear. See how I lie devoid of Help or Friend O make me humble and mindful of my End. Lord make me Just in Image like my Divinâ— Creator Pollish and 〈◊〉 yea Refine my Nature Let me receive all as 〈◊〉 thy Hand With a thankful Heart as living in thy Land And consider the self-same Sorrow Grieves others to Day may make me groan to moâ— row Great King be my Comfort in my highest Grief I will not trust to Mans but thy relief I know Great God upon my true Repentance Thou wiâ—t determine to reverse thy Sentence Make me tho in a blind Age Wisely to see And in a seeing Age not bâ—ind to be He that would save his Life when Honour bids hiâ— die Steals but a Life and lives by Robbery Dishonours his God and that likens to the Powâ— Divine That made and placed her in her Fleshly Shrine The Wise and Good-like kind Physicians are That strive to heal us by their Care Their Physick and their Learning calmly use Although the Patient them strangely abuse For since the Sickness is they find A sad Distemper of the Mind The Wiseman in the midst of Woes May enjoy and feel a sweet repose Might pitty all the Griefs we see By compassion Anoint every Malady While our selves are calm our Art improve To rescue them and shew our Love That we with open Eyes may see The brightness of Gods Majesty And never more in Chains of Darkness lie 〈◊〉 be secure from Bondage and all Iniquity That comforts Divine may fortifie and raise the Soul To Heavenly Joys where none can controul The World 's a hurly burly and the Court All Tongues were fill'd with Wonder and Report The Watch is set pursute was made about To Guard the King and find the Traytors out To punish him according to his due That did not Peace nor Loyalty persue Had Man been Kind Loving True and always Good As formerly in the Golden Age they stood Then had we lived in all Delights and Glory full of Love Blest as the Holy Angels are above But now we suffer for evil Deeds Reaping the fruit of our ill Weeds But thou O Holy Jesus who did'st for us Die And on the Altar Bleeding for all Men lie Bearing all Torment Pain Reproach and Shame That we by Virtue of the same Tho Enemies to God might be Redeemed and set at Liberty Let us likewise favour to others show And live in Heaven on Earth below Let 's prize their Souls and let them be our gems Our valuable Temples and our Diadems Rich Spoils and Trophies our own Joys Compar'd to Souls all else are Toyes O let them be such unto us as they were to thee Valued as Vessels of Glory and Felicity What would I give that I might likewise see The Brightness and true Glory of thy Majesty The Joy and fulness of that high Delight Whose Blessedness is Glorious yea Infinite And while we feel how much our God doth
but prefer the care of the Soul before all the World for it is more to be valued than Ten Thousand Worlds Wherefore take heed to your selves and be Wise in time before it is to late for though you know not what the Soul is because you see it not neither can you feel it yet it is a Particle which came from Heaven and when it goes out of the Body it goes to God to Live for ever it sleeps not neither doth it die for it is Immortal and of an Immortal Nature and so impossible to be destroy'd for we have our Saviours own Word for it when he saith Ye cannot kill the Soul St. Luke 12. 4. and when he saith My Father is the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob St. Matt. 22. 32. whereby he plainly shews that the Soul which is the nobler part of Man tho it be taken from the Body is alive for saith he My Father is the God of the living and not of the dead as dead but of the living that are dead So that thâ— Souls of all departed people are alive for althougâ— their Bodies are crumbled to Dust from whence theâ— were taken their Souls are with God that gave them or in some place of Gods appointment according 〈◊〉 their lives have been Because God have prepared maâ— Mansions for us St. John 14. 2. and as we have improved our Talent so shall our Station be St. Paâ—â— also saith That one Star differeth from another Star 〈◊〉 Glory and since these things are so let us not loâ— a Minutes time but improve it to the Glory of Goâ— and our own Souls Good and begg of him to giâ—â— us a Heart inflamed with Love and winged wiâ—â— Duty that we may give up our Souls totally to hâ—â— Adorable Majesty that he may dwell in the Throâ—â— of our Souls for ever And after this Life we may 〈◊〉 admitted to the Vision of Bliss and have free Inteâ—course with all Holy Souls in those beautious Regions Fourthly 'T is evident that Spirits fill no rooâ— tho they could see all things which point is veâ—â— dubious and unsertain for that Holy Souls can behoâ—â— the visible Actions of Mortal Men to us is altogethâ—â— uncertain tho we doubt not but they do behold whaâ—soever is Acted in those Regions where they dweâ— in those Infinite Dimensions or Heavenly Habitations tho they are inriched with Liberty and made brigâ—â— by Knowledge derived from the Illustrous and Illumâ—nated Power of the Omnipotent God who is infinitâ— Communicative to be Good and to do Good to 〈◊〉 Mankind and hath made the Soul of Man on purpoâ—â— that it might see him in his Kingly Country wheâ— St. Paul saith We shall be like him for we shall 〈◊〉 him as he is not as we now behold him darkly througâ— a Vail in deep Obscurity but Face to Face in Unvaâ—â—ed Glory And if the Eye of the Body that was maâ—â— for the World being so little a Ball of Earth aâ—â— Water can take in all and see the visible World i. e. â—hat part of it on which the sight of the Eye can be â—resent much more is the Soul able to see and be preâ—ent with all that is Divine and Eternal tho the Soul 〈◊〉 unhappily divided from God is a weak and inâ—onsiderable Creature but when United to God 't is 〈◊〉 Transcendant and Celestial Thing God being its Life â—reatness and Power for as the Apostle saith he â—hat is ioyned to the Lord is one Spirit for his Omniâ—resence and Eternity fills the Soul and makes it able 〈◊〉 contain all hights and depths and all things may â—e in it as it were by Thoughts and Intellections and Magnanimous desires are the Natural result of such 〈◊〉 Magnanimous Capacity Such a Soul then in respect â—f its Capacity is an Immovable Sphere of Power and â—nowledge and by imagination is able to pass â—â—rough the Centre of the Earth and through all â—xistencies for it is most Capacious and Swift Comâ—and it then by thought to go into India and sooner â—â—en thou canst bid it it will be there not as passing â—â—om Place to Place but by Thought and Immaginaâ—on suddenly in a moment as you may send it to â—eaven by the slight of a Thought as you may at any â—â—me command it to fly tho not by the assistance of â—ings in a Bodyly manner but after the manner that â—ouls pass from Place to Place not locally but after â—e manner of Spirits For the Soul of Man is said to 〈◊〉 an Immutable Essence his Power of Reasoning is â—ive even when 't is quiet and the Body unactive â—is one and the same for Nature in all Men tho not â—r Indeuments of it self equally inclined to Great â—ransendent Things tho in most Men 't is misguided â—â—ffled and suppressed but where it has the common â—ssistances that God has prepared for it it is a Miracuâ—â—us Creature and of near alliance to the Divine Maâ—sty For a Man being Wise and Holy his Soul is 〈◊〉 it were in the Heavenly World and it 's no trivial â—â—jury can make him contend being Liberal and Magnanimous he is prone to do Heroical Things and to make himself Venerable to his very Adversary being averse to all Wroth Clamour and Anger scarcely in any thing being defective and becomes a great Man by contemning Danger having an Infinite felicity in his Dayly view and may justly strengthen himself in the hopes of Divine assistance knowing the Infinite value of his Soul and believing the Blessedness that is in reserve for it by reason of the greatness of interiour Bliss and is therefore environed with the bright Beams of his own injoyments and always beggeth of God that as Sin hath abounded so may Grace superabound that all Souls may receive the Blessed advantages of the Divine Forgiveness that all may have the Blessed Assistance of Grace to lead us into all Virtues which are themselves our Aids to bring us to Glory For these acquire good Habits and infuseâ— Grace causing us to incline to the secret Study of Felicity that we may be even now possessed with sincere and pure delights for Godliness is a kind of God-likeness a Divine Habit or Frame of Soul that may fitly be accounted the fulness of the Stature of the inward Man. For 't is an Inclination to be like God to please him and injoy him and he may be said to be God-like that is High and Serious in all his Thoughts Humble and Condescending in all his Actions full of Love and good Will to all the Creatures and bright in the Knowledge of all their Nature Covering all the Treasures of God and Breaths after the Joys of Heaven Recollecting all his broken and scattered Thoughts nothing less than the Wisdom of God will please the God-like Man for God-likeness is the comment of Amity betwixt God and Man Eternity and Immensity are the Sphere of his Activity and are often frequented and filled With his
Thoughts he must injoy God or he can enjoy nothing nor himself for nothing will satisfie him but the Glory of his great Creator the great Counsellor of Nature and the perfect Beauty of the whole Universe And to be exalted to this frame is a very sublime and glorious perfection and Blessed are all those that are thus Beautified in their Minds and are Blessed with such an Angelical Soul and are thus curiously acquainted with these things I heartily wish that all that shall happen to peruse these things may be a little higher elevated with the true inward Sense of what is here described and with the secret Perfection of the Decrees of God and the Nature of his Divine Essence that they may be worthy to partake of his sublimity and hereby aspire to dwell with him for ever and covet the Treasure of his Immensity and be able to expaciate therein by being Blessed with the Wisdom of an Angel in being as Divine and Heavenlly by being truly eminent in inward and outward Worth not being either weak or defective For Virtue is base and not Virtue while it is remiss or not carried to the highest pitch 't is possible for then it is that their Glory shall suâ—mount the rage of their Enemies and their true worth continue Immortally shining throughout all Kingdoms and Ages for ever Inheriting the benefits of their own Virtues in the Peace and Tranquility of their own happy Condition and this because they have been prepossed with true gratitude and felicity and in all their actions been Cloathed with Meekness and a condescending behaviour having been highly kind and serviceable in their Generation free from the spots and blemishes of the World having frequently arrived to an universal Applause and truly deserved to be exceedingly Honoured by all People for it 's a very hard matter to Hate a very excellent Person No Man was ever uppraided for being a Wise and Gallant Man but it often happens that for some Infirmity that a good Man have he may suffer the misfortune of being censured but meerly for being Good or Wise 't is not usual to suffer reproach contempt or slander for it would be cruel for being Wise and Good Holy and Chast Just and Liberal Honest and Merciful Meek and Couragious to be vilified Perhaps he may be censured and haâ—â— at his first setting out but when he have made a gooâ— proficiency in Goodness he will be sure to overcome the rage and malice of his Enemy because he have made himself Eminent and Conspicuous and therefore is admired by all that love Virtue because he is a Man of intire and approved Virtue well known for a Person of Honour and Worth and therefore the first envies and censures abate because he hath long exercised Virtue and Goodness with great Activity and Courage Prudence and Wisdom Thus Moses after his long Meekness and invincible Fidelity to the Jewish Nation was in the close of his Life most exceedingly Honoured by all People and injoyed a veneration of high Degree for his Glory surmounted the rage of his Enemies and he will for ever continue Immortally shining throughout all Kingdoms and Ages All good Men delight in his Eternal Praises for he is now glorified and admired for his Sanctity He therefore is a full and adequate Object of our early humble Imitation not in working Miracles but in Meekness Love and Magnanimous Actions enriched with Liberality and made bright by Knowledge guided by Wisdom to the highest end every action being mixt with Gravity and Chearfulness for in the due use of these means we may actually injoy all Blessedness and Glory Righteousâ—ness Holiness and Goodness Love and Christian Charity are the true Lineaments and Colours of suchy Menâ— Minds for these are the true Ornaments of every Blessed Soul they shine upon the Face and make him Glorious in the perfection of Beauty This Man is 〈◊〉 Humility and yet all injoyment amazed at its owâ— nothingness and vileness yet at the same time ravished with wonder at the height of his Felicity and yet this is no Paradox for the whole System of Religioâ— is Mysterious for the lower the Man is in his owâ— Eyes the more doth the goodness of God appear in â—im and the more transcendently Sweet is his Adoratiâ—â— and Satisfaction by his gratitude he Sacrifices himbâ—â— to the Deity Pride aimeth at the utmost height of Esteem and Honour and is feed by its own Beauty and Glory yet Foolishly undermineth the Person it would advance with the greatest baseness and shame imaginable it devours the Beauty which ought to feed it and destroys the Glory in which it delights The higher the greater the more perfectly Glorious and Blessed the Person is that is exalted is the baseness and ingratitude of Pride and is therefore the dregs of Impiety and forfits and renounces all delights and blackens whatsoever might appear auspicious which provokes detestation in all that delight in the Truth for this turns the brigthness of Seraphims into the abominations of Devils Fifthly Some Men imperfectly Virtuous abhor others for being more excellent than themselves at â—east for being more Honourable and more Prosperous but this proceeds from a naughty and a vitious Heart unacquainted with the Truth of Goodness and the true Aâ—mity of real Virtue For true Goodness is excellent from the quality of its Object and all that have true Goodness dwelling in them will undoubtedâ—y venerate it and all those in whom they find it for whosoever is so happy as to be truely Good will with Moses wish that all the Lords People were Prophets and that every Soul were a Fountain of Delights For it 's a Beautiful thing to be exceeding Good for there â—s an infinite and eternal force in true Goodness it â—ideth Luster and Beauty to all that are Blessed therewith for it 's Beautiful thing to be exceeding Good or every degree hereof have exceeding Sweetness in it and these are filled with hope Divine and have infinite Felicity in their Daily view they know their Duâ—y and their Master and the infinite value of their Souls and have a fore tast of interior Bliss Being acquainted with the true Habits of Divine Grace and are as it were prone to Celestial Epicurisme if may be premitted so to speak by being really engaged in the true Study of Felicity A Pious Man hath great Treasures high Honours pure Pleasures having a true tast of infinite Delights but is not ravished with Temporal Pleasures nor Treasures not melting with these nor flinching at any Temporal distresses for neither of these can move the fixed Mind of a true good Man for his Thoughts Divine are upon higher Objects for his inward Stature is miraculous and his Complexion Divine he pities poor vitious Princes that are oppressed with Heavy Crowns of Vanity whether of Gold or Emralds whose Souls ought to be endued with Generous and Noble Principles that they may be worthy the infinite perfections of the great God who
from the dismal Thoughts that 't is impossible to acquire the good so much wished for for we should not be afflicted penetrated and overwhelm'd with the Privation of good if we did not Love it which made St. Augustin say That the Eternal Dispair of the Reprobates in Hell is a true Love of the Sovereign good but this being a nicity that concerns us not we may not with saifty dive into it or amuse our selves about it but strive to be Cloathed with the true Love of God whereby we are sure we may be qualified to enjoy the full Bliss of Heaven the true hopes of which fills every Holy Soul with exceeding Joy even such reviving Joy as may give him some small glimmerings even in this Life of what hereafter will undoubtedly be his Portion in those Glorious Regions above where every true Penitent will be a Favorite of that great tremendious King who is the searcher of every Heart and observer of every Action here and the Infinite rewarder of every Virtue hereafter To him therefore be Glory and Praise Might Majesty and Dominion ascribed by us â—nd all the whole Creation now and for ever A Recapitulation of the moral consequences drawn from what have been established concerning our Souls and for the Conviction of our Duties and the Condemnation of Disorder NO Man of Reason can believe that Ingratitude is an Ornament to Nature or that Injustice Meâ—s a reward nor that Treachery is a Virtue or an Honest and Commendable Quality nor on the contrary that Justice Fidelity and Gratitude are things Condemnable and Wicked Men make Laws according to their Fancy they make themselves Obey'd for fear of Punishment when they have the Power in their Hands But it 's remarkable that Men who make Laws cannot make themselves Obey'd nor be Beloved or Beleived when they act things disagreeable For Unjust and Tyrannical Laws People pay only an exterior Obedience to their Commands but the Heart and the Spirit cries out and demandâ— Justice from him whom all Men naturally feel over their Heads as a Protector of Justice and an avengeâ— of Oppression and Unjust Authority We sometime receive Unjust Laws but we do not believe them to be Just for all that but as to the natural Laws oâ— Duty and Consciences all Men receive them and be lieve by an invincible Determination of a Superioâ— Light which equally perswades them alike for Natural Light convinces us with invincible force and this is an Infallible Character of Natural Light. Conscience is then in us undoubtedly Natural and as certain as it is an Essential Companion of our Nature and a Propriety inseparable from our Soul From hence arises in us by the help of Grace all Moraâ— and Christian Virtues because it is impossible to conceive that Corporeal Nature can be the subject oâ— Magnanimity of Justice of Fidelity of Continencâ— and of Truth for a Corporeal Nature alone cannoâ— have the Light of Order or of Duty or the Inclination or Determination of Duty or the Pleasure oâ— Performance or the Pain of the Violation of Duty for Duty Order and Justice have no Bodies they arâ— things totally Spiritual and Intelligible and there fore without the assistance of the Soul cannot havâ— the Idea or the Sentiment of them because it is by the Soul that they are Ingrafted and poured into ouâ— Corporeal Nature God having assembled togetheâ— both these in one single whole not as one but acting by this Indubitable Method God have prescribed by reason of their dependance one upon another or to say better the Union betwixt each other and are all animated with one and the same Influence of Divine Life and marked with one and the same resemblance and equally Impelled by the same Love of Duty For which reason we are obliged to Love and to Accomplish all the extents of Justice of Truth of Charity and of Civility and of Mutual or Reciprocal respect towards all Men upon the consideration that this Life is short and troublesome and all things in it are frail and perishable and the noblest Pleasures in it are essentially false as well as empty they leave the Heart even during this Life Sick and Famished and if not retired from before Death they will leave the Soul Eternally deceived by a cruel Privation and an insupportable desolation of regret For the best injoyments of this Life are a perpetual alternativeness of real Cares and Torments all things here being but false shadows of Repose and lucid Intervals of Reason a Theater of Eternal Mutations a Chain interlinked with short and transitory Felicities and long and durable Miseries a vehement and impetuous Whirl-wind of Hurry and Ambition which after having much tormented and agitated the Body and Soul having raised a Thousand snares in the Heart and Spirit it disappears into Air and Smoak for so it is that this Life doth not exercise it self but upon the false and perishable Objects of Time and â—s deceitful and deceiving Oeconomy whereas the nâ—ture Life exercises it self upon Objects wholly True and wholly Solid because the future Life is â—ut as it were one Day all Uniformity for there very Holy Soul will Eternally be United to eversting Triumphs and Felicities for there every Soul â—ill be Essentially Living infinite Happy and Joyous no here it have been exercised in Trouble in the future Life it shall rest in Glory and endless Felicities as the Apostle saith Such as Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard nor Heart conceived 2 Cor. 12. 4. Much less can the feeble Eloquence of Man express by any description that his Idea or Sentiment can conceive to put into Method to declare or so much as describe Our Soul is said to commence when it goes out of the Body That which we call time is taken either by relation to the duration of the abode of every Soul in its Body or by relation to the duration of the whole present Oeconomy of the visible World destined to the Tryal of the Souls in the Bodys and in whatsoever signification we take Time in opposition to Eternity it signifies precisely a State of Instability of Change and Vicissitude i. e. a State which ought to have an end for these are two things which enter Essentially into the Idea which is called Time Vicissitude and End the space of the duration that our Souls are in our Bodies is called Time for these two Reasons First because it is to have an end And Secondly because in the interim so long as it endures it holds us exposed to a Thousand Chainges and Vicissitudes and which is to be lamented that Vicissitude of being obnoxious to pass from Good to Evil from Virtue to Sin to Crimes or Vice but on the contrary Eternity is Immutable and an Interminable State and Order of things As much as Time includes Instability and End so much does Eternity excludes both Time speaks Changeâ— and End Eternity speaks the Being always the same and never ending Thus as our
carries a desire of being united to him and which makes one Man pleased with another that is called sympathy And when on the contrary this sensation is made with confused sentiments oâ— disagreement and straingeness that is called antipathy And this is the general Idea of sensation which are the Knowledges that we have by the determination of present Objects by which we are able to chuse to do Acts free and voluntary tho there is 〈◊〉 distinction to be made betwixt free Acts and voluâ—â—tary Acts for every thing that is free is voluntary but every thing that is voluntary is not free but no thing is voluntary in us but what is made by the determination of the Will for this is a necessary and iâ—â—vincible motion of our Souls towards God causing 〈◊〉 invincibly to love Good in general with a full deteâ—mination of our Mind and Will by the which also wâ—â— shun Evil and every thing that hurts and afflicts 〈◊〉 and we persue some times one particular Good thaâ— an other as they more or less immediately concerâ— us for Liberty is always accompanied with the Wilâ— Now Liberty is precisely that Empire which we haâ— of being able to determine our selves which to chuâ—â— and which to refuse when the Objects are presentâ— to the perceptive faculty of the Soul. We mâ— easily shut our Eyes and not let that reflective Lig â— to enter in from the superficies of the Object whiâ—â— Ingraves it in our Retina But yet we cannot hind â— the Impression of Light if once it be entred into 〈◊〉 Eyes nor that ordor of savor if they have affected those Nerves which are proper to carry the Impression of them to the Brain But our Soul cannot see the Objects in those passages of the Brain nor the species as in Pictures as we have endeavoured to â—llustrate in our former presuppositions This is a thing which we know by an indubitable sentiment We may then presuppose that it is not all these Taâ—les whereon the Soul sees the Object she being formally knowing having in her self a lively representation or an inward sentiment of the Objects which â—â—ders themselves present by the material Impression â—hich is received in the Body by the assistance of the â—ctive faculty of Thinking which is sometimes calâ—â—d the faculty of Reasoning for by these the Obâ—cts which strike the Senses are lively represented tobe passive or the active faculty of the Thinking Soul â—hich come from the diversity of the temperament â—nd from the material Structure and Harmony of the â—ody by which the Understanding the Judgement â—d the Memory with all the other Natural Qualiâ—â— receives advantage to act every one its part â—hen occasion shall present in its proper season for â—e Soul is inclined to all great and transcendant â—â—ings The Mind is sometimes said to be the Soul â—â—erting its Power into Heroick Actions wherefore great Soul is Magnanimous in effect i. e. when our â—nd is applied to mighty Objects and such a one said to be the Son of Eternal Power and the Friend infinite Goodness a Man whose inward State is raculous and his Complexion Divine because he lights in the Celestial way of true Bliss he turns his â—mporeal Riches into Obligations by wining Souls God and thus gaining the Affections of the â—se For to be rich in the Hearts and Affections Good People can be no deformity and every such â—n is as it were his own end while he considers it 〈◊〉 for nothing is more conducive to the 〈…〉 Honour of the Holy Man than to be bountiful and munificient for this proves true Riches to his own Soul and puts a double lustre upon that noble Jewel for this beautifies it and makes it truly aimable and Praise worthy all these being shut up in Goodness For these Men make themselves truly great by Enriching others for the Eccho of their Works are sweet and pleasing in the Ears of all that are surrounded with them and may be said to be like the Sun in the Rays of his Glory and Reigns like a King by the sole Power of Virtue and thus beautifies their Religion for these delight in the felicity of all that accost them and thus puts Embroiderie on Religion by the chearfulness of their Spirits and the Heroick Actions of their Souls and thus carries a Light wherâ—ever they go and attracts the esteemâ— of every Good Person so that these Men move in a Sphere of Wonders their Lives are a continuaâ— strem of Miracles for they are always sacrificing their Persons and Possessions to the benefit of thâ— World. Benifits and Blessings are their Life-guard foâ— that they live Holy and Temperate and strive to iâ—â—mediate the Wisdom of Angels whose guardian Shâ— is never wanting to their assistance so that their iâ—ward House is a Habitation of Joy and Felicity anâ— so brightens their outward behaviour that almost aâ— their Actions yields a spectacle of Contentment 〈◊〉 every beholder There is a generous confidence dcoursed in all their Actions and some glimps of Heâ—ven in all their Behaviour Therefore a Life beautifie with Virtues is the greatest Gift that can be give to Man. For the return of it in Holy Actions is aâ—ceptable to God For when all things shall be râ—vealed the Life of these secret Persons shall perfect appear in all their perfections May we therefore careful to adorn our Persons and Palaces with thâ— kind of Riches seeing they are so Delectable aâ— Pleasant For these Men have a Love within the Souls that is willing to impart all these incomprehensible Treasures and Glories to every Soul for such a Mind and such Affections must Perfume and Eâ—rich our Sacrifices For the Greatness and Goodness of our Souls consists in such inlargements for a Will inlarged with an infinite Fancy is a prodigious depth of Goodness for infinite Desires and Intentions of pleasing God are real Objects to his Eye for such a Soul being all Love would do Millons of things for â—ts Object For infinite Love puts an infinite value on the Gift wherefore it must needs be Magnificence to give a Gift of infinite value and infinite valuable every Good and Pious Action in the Eyes of him who have told us that no Thought or Action shall â—emain uncovered but every Thought Word and Action shall be seen clearly by all for ever And all â—hall be admired for their inward Piety and Holiness â—nd every discovery of Virtue in one shall be an occasion of Joy in each other so that every secret Virâ—e that have been long concealed but only to those â—ho have enjoyed the benefit of it shall be a new â—ause of Eternal Joy to all when in Heaven it shall clearly discovered For our Actions in passing pass ot away but in the Sphere of our Life abideth for 〈◊〉 so that a Good Man's Life all at once is a Myerious Object interwoven with many Thoughts â—ccurrences and Transactions and ought to be preâ—â—ted to God like a Ring a
Garland or a Jewel to a â—agnificent Benefactor Therefore we had need to be â—ry choice in the mixture of our Flowers and cuâ—â—ous in the enammel of so rare a Present that it may â—ove to us a Royal Diadem to adorn our Souls for 〈◊〉 Therefore to let any dirt or blemish be in it â—ould be inconsistent to our Felicity Therefore â—ight and clear apprehensions Divine and Ardent â—ffections are highly necessary to this Compleatment â—eing upon the sincerity of the affections and intenons depends the Honour of the Work it concerns every one therefore to cleans his Heart from all Impurity and Insincerity that his whole Man may be an acceptable Present to God that his infinite Immensity may graciously accept him and all his Works for his Wisdom never rejected the sincere but endews them with inward and outward Ornaments such as an infinite clesiâ—e and delight in Goodness enabling them always to Love his Eternal Majesty with an infinite Love and Deiight greatly Thirsting to be fully satisfied with him and him only for the Soul is to Noble a thing to be satisfied with any thing less than his Transcendent Majesty whose Goodness extends to all even to the Unthankful But he is most the Friend of those who delight most in him for infinite Love and eternal Blessedness are near ally'd for all Delight springs from the satisfaction of violent desires for which cause when the desire is forgotten the Delights are abated The coming of a Crownâ— and the Joy of a Kingdom is far more quick and powerful in the surprize and novelty of the Glory than the length of its continuance The greateâ— part of our Eternal Happiness consist in a greatfuâ— recognition not only of our Joys to come but oâ—â— Benefits already received True contentment is thâ— full satisfaction of a knowing Mind i. e. a long habiâ— of solid Repose after much Study and serious Consiâ—â—deration or a free and easie Mind attended with Pleaâ—sure that naturally ariseth from ones present Condâ—tion yet to be content without a true Cause is tâ—â— fit down in our Imperfections and to seek all onâ— Bliss in ones self alone and as it were to scorn aâ— other Objects which is in it self a high piece of Pride that renders a Man good for nothing but makes him Arrogant and Presumptious in the midst of his Blindâ—ness whereby he leads a living Death by shuting uâ— his Soul in a Grave in that it tramples under Foâ—â— the Essence of his Soul which in Truth turns his Fâ—licity to Malevolence and Misery or in other Word Disorder and Confusion Therefore Man is an unwelcome Creature to himself till he can delight in his present Condition provided his Condition be such as is pleasing in the sight of God for this must be the Condition that can make our pleasure exquisite For otherways we shall be tormented with the contriety of our desires The happiness of a contented Spirit consists not only in the fruition of its Bliss but in the Fruits and Effects it produceth in our Lives which makes every Virtuous Man truly Great within and Glorious in his retirements Magnanimity and Content are very near aly'd they spring from the same Parents but are of several Features Fortitude and Patience are Kindred too to this incomparable Virtue for these fill a Man with true Pleasure and great Treasure which makes him Magnanimous and truly Great not in his own Thoughts but in the sight of God The Magnanimous Soul is always awake the whole Globe of Earth is but a Nut-shel in comparison of his Injoyments for God alone is his Sovereign delight and Supreame complacency So that nothing is great if compared to a Magnanimous Soul but the Sovereign Lord of all Worlds But Man divided from God is a weak and inconsiderable Creature But every Soul united to God is a Transcendent and Celestial thing for God is its Life its Greatness and its Power its Blessedness and Perfection for he that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit 1 Cor. 6. 20. His Omnipresence and Eternity fills the Holy Soul and makes it able to contain all heights and depths and lenghts and breadths whatsoever In a Word it 's the desire of every such Soul to be filled with the fulness of God. Magnanimous desires are the Natural results of a Magnanimous Capacity the desire of being like God of knowing Good and Evil. But in a grosser sence this was the destruction of the Old World Not that it is Unlawful to desire to be like God but to aspire to the Perfection in a forbidden way by Disobedience and following our own Inventions by seeking to the Creatures in opposition to the great Creator A Magnanimous Soul if we respect its Capacity is an immovable Sphere of Power and Knowledge far greater than all Worlds by its Virtue and Power that it passeth through all things the Centre of the Earth and through all existencies and allsuch Creatures as these he counteth but Vanity and Trifles in comparison of his true Object the great Almighty whose Transcendent Goodness desendeth in full Showers upon all Men by his communitive Goodness which is freely extended to every Man. The Seven last WORDS our Saviour spoke upon the Cross I. FATHER forgive them for they know not what they do O Lord forgive me wherein I have forgot thy Presepts and done that which is Evil. To the good Thief II. This Day shalt thou be with me in Paridise O God say to my Soul in the Day when thou takest it from my Body This Day shall thou be with me in Heaven III. Woman behold thy Son. In Futurity let me behold the Vision of Bliss IV. Eli Eli lama sabachthani that is to say My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Forsake me not in my greatest Afflictions V. I thirst Grant that I may thirst for thee the Fountain of Living Waters VI. Father into thy Hands I commend my Spirit Receive my Soul when it is returning unto thee VII It is finished Finish my Course with Joy and grant O Jesus that I may be worthily qualified to receive that sweet Voice of thine Welcome to the Kingdom prepared by my Father Meditation for the Sick. THEY that Glory in their Ancestors in the Nobleness of their Birth and Blood must make their Beds in the dark and acknowledge Corruption for their Father and the Worm for their Mother and Sister they that are already Dead and crumble away to make room from us that must come after them are secluded from Men but live with Angels Dust thou art and to dust thou shalt return Gen. 3. 19. What Man is he that liveth and shall not see Death Psal 89. 48. Our Bodies shall return to the Earth from whence they were taken but our Spirit shall return to God that gave it Eccl. 12. 7. It is appointed for all Men once to die Heb. 9. 26. We must needs dye and are as Water spilt upon the Ground that cannot be gathered up