of an ill action like a Rule it will presently shew vs the crookednesse of it point vs to the right way from whence we haue straied and if it haue beene too long deferred so that the sinne is past before it was called for then will it bee a Seer vnto thee to tell thee thy sinne and to deliuer thee ouer to the larger meditation of Repentance Secondly if thou art in a good and right action it stands by thee to abet and incourage thee thou art in the path of Gods protection in the way where the Angels gard and watch Goe on valiantly feare not what man nor euill angels can doe vnto thee Thus shall the soule cōtinue her flight towards heauen if euer among shee anoynt her feathers with this Oile of the Spirit For in this respect shee is not vnlike those flying fishes whose wings by flying grow drie and by being drie lose their flying so that still they must haue recourse to the Sea by the moysture thereof still to make good their flight So the soule flying through this world vnto heauen her wings euen her cogitations purposes and conceptions will grow drie by earthly conuersation and therefore must bee new oyled with grace if they will carry her throughly to her iourneys end The cares and temptations of this life quickly dry vp the heauenly Vnction and so the soule is in danger to fall if she doe not often moisten her selfe in the Riuers of Oyle which flow from the eternall Spirit and thither doth this short Meditation direct vs. Lastly we may adioyne hereunto incident occasionall Meditations which will bee very vsefull vpon the receiuing of extraordinary blessings or the suffering of vnwonted chastizements It is fit wee should search out Gods meaning as neere as we may by the light of his Word when he speaketh to vs in his fauors and frownes His blessings should bee esteemed like so many bands of obedience and thou shouldest acknowledge both in heart and actions that each of them calls to thee for more Loue more Thankefulnes more Holinesse Yea thou art by them led vnto Humilitie for when thou lookest on Gods blessings and thy sinfull selfe at once thou must needs cry out I am lesse then the least of thy blessings and what is man that the Lord regardeth and visiteth him yea the bountie of God leadeth thee to Repentance and God is often to vs a patterne of ouercomming euill with good euen our sinnes with his Mercies Hee dresseth and manureth many times a fruitlesse Tree that he may receiue fruit from it Therefore bee thou amended by his benefits and increase thy fruit otherwise blessings made vnfruitfull are the fore-rūners of cursings and dressing if to no purpose is the way to digging vp and casting into the fire Likewise let the chastizements of God be entertayned by Meditation vnto thy profit and aduancement They would haue thee either to examine thy selfe of some neglected sin or they would haue thee repent euen for thy secret sinnes for though thou know nothing by thy selfe yet art thou not thereby acquited or they would haue thee humble thy proud heart vnder the mightie hand of God or they would spurre thee to a speedier and more actiue Zeale or they would teach thee the skill of that excellent vertue Patience and instruct thee to loue God afflicting and to trust in him slaying Some of these are commonly the purposes and ends of affliction and if thou take occasion by chastizements to put them all in execution thou shalt bee the surer to hit the right one and so to bee a gainer by thy sufferings But before wee leaue this subiect if wee would know which is generally the best and fittest habitude of Man for the receiuing of profit by the larger and more leisurable kinde of Meditation Surely it is when the body least burdeneth the soule especially when shee is least clogged with the grosse vapours of fulnesse and repletion It is truely said by the Wiseman That the corruptible bodie weigheth downe the soule and therefore as truely it may be said That the bodie rarified and lessened by abstinence lighteneth the soule when the eyes or eares which see and heare the soule are stopt vp by thick exhalations the soule cānot tel the dul body what the Spirit of God doth tell it But since spirituall things are spiritually discerned surely then are spirituall things best discerned when the bodie is most spirit-like and least bodily When the Lanthorne of the flesh is pared and thinned by Abstinence then the Light of the soule shineth most cleerly through it Saint PAVL spake of the Man that saw Reuelations vnvtterable that whether hee were in the body or out of the body hee knew not so if wee will see Reuelations otherwise inconceiuable wee must striue to goe out of the body so farre by abstinence as wee may with preseruing the bodie For certaine it is That the soule inlightened by Grace if it were not for the cloud of the bodie would shine out to vs in many notable and excellent Truths and therefore hee takes the true course to meete them that goes a little out of his body towards them And surely such soules so walking toward God by going out of the flesh into the Spirit GOD hath often met with heauenly Visions whereas others shutting vp their windows by continuall fulnes haue lost great Reuelations To DANIEL fasting GABRIEL appeared to PETER fasting the Sheete was let downe from Heauen and to CORNELIVS fasting euen to the ninth houre an Angell was sent from God And surely this latter kind of fasting seemes most profitable for Meditation euen the fast of the Morning rather then of the Euening For in the Morning after rest the Spirits are freshest and most capable both of Light and Action they are most lightsome most actiue for Meditation And as fasting kindles the bright flame of Meditation so the true and kindly fire of Meditation sends vp to Heauen the smoke and incense of Prayer For fasting is an excellent Preparatiue to Meditation and Meditation to PRAYER Without abstinence Meditation lesseneth her Light without Meditation Praier lesseneth her might but Meditation ioyned to Abstinence mounteth the higher and Prayer mounted on Meditation pierceth the swifter and reacheth the neerer to Heauen Againe as by Abstinence we are made the fitter to meditate and by Meditation made the fitter to pray so by Prayer wee get a greater fitnesse and ability both for Abstinence and Meditation Such Prayer blesleth the meanes by which it is begotten by going to the Father of blessings and it is of a great power with GOD euen so powerfull that some kind of Deuils go not out but by it Let vs therefore often abstaine that wee may often meditate and when wee haue dwelt awhile in Meditation let vs goe forth into Prayer For Prayer thus inflamed by Meditation is as the Sacrifice of Israel kindled by the fire of Heauen and such a Sacrifice is indeed
haue set their rest on their Creatour and haue made him the end of their being and the meanes to the end euen a God to rule a Sauiour to redeeme and a happinesse to blesse these arise with the Image of God in their fore-heads God seeth his face in the face of their soules their workes also testifie the same for them These are clothed with pure White the Righteousnesse of Christ and the Righteousnesse of the Spirit with the first the Iustice of GOD is satisfied with the last the Mercie of God is pleased and by the last the first is adiudged to them They haue fed clothed and visited Christ in his hungry naked and imprisoned members these workes are the fruits of Loue and Loue is the fruit of Sanctification and Sanctification is an inseparable companion condition and witnesse of Iustification So by the works of Loue they are proued and approued to bee the sonnes of God who is Loue and if sonnes then also heires if heires they shall for euer dwell in the house of Glorie euen in the presence of God Their right to eternall Glory is by inheritance euen by being heires annexed with Christ but their admittance into their right is by the Euidences and Testimonies of the workes of Holinesse For it is a true Rule That none but the pure in heart can see God and againe None can be pure in heart but he must first be new begotten by God euen a sonne and heire of GOD. And now to these is sounded forth that most blessed voice which openeth the doore of eternall Felicitie a voice that consummateth that Supremest Marriage wherein Man is matched to the highest Essence the chiefest Blisse Come yee blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdome prepared for you In this Kingdome the ragged and filthy garment of the body of sinne the diseased infirmities of this sinful bodie the tears of oppression yea all griefe is wiped away And in stead of these Man is infinitely purified sublimated and so fitted for the presence of the highest Being In the Puritie of Holinesse hee is pure without blemish washed from guilt by the bloud of the Lambe and from corruption by the holy Ghost yea there is a new Light as a new Eye plāted in the vnderstanding exceedingly quickened and enlarged to a spacious view of Truth and Glorie Likewise new Vertue anoynteth and bedeweth the Will steeping and seasoning it in a Diuine Nature by which it excellently agreeth in harmonie with the will of God and is holy as hee is holy In the puritie of Substance the Soule shall be highly clarified vntill it be capeable of the vppermost and chiefest Light And the body shall bee lifted vp into a proportion with the Soule for the body shall then bee a spirituall Body euen a Body like a Soule euen so pure shall they both bee that they shall admit into themselues the beames of the Fountaine of Light vntill they bee filled with Light and Glorie God will bee their Sunne and hee will shine into them as into Christall and in his Light they shall haue the fulnesse of Light Then shall the Knowledge of Man ascend into Perfection farre aboue these poore pieced and patched knowledges which we call Arts and Sciences Euen the highest Degree of knowledge which in this mistie time of Ignorance Imperfection iustly holdeth the highest degree of Eminence shall then be the bottome and lownes of this new knowledge and then shall it be knowne that this kind of Learning is of vse much like to that of a Lanthorne It may doe vs seruice in this Night of Mans fall and corruption but in the Orient brightnesse of the Kingdome of Glorie the new light by surmounting it shall make it vselesse yea darken and discountenance it For whereas now wee doe but flutter about the branches and extremities of Wisdome then shall we behold Wisdome in the roote The Glorie and Fabrike of the Creature shall be seene in the Originall euen in the Creatour in whom it was first made within before it was made without In him shall wee reade the Resolution of all profitable vnknowntruths and his Wisdome shall bee a most perfect Oracle instructing all glorified and blessed Soules And with this Wisdome shall we also behold an infinite Treasure of Power and Almightinesse The right Hand and holy Arme of the Omnipotent God shall bee reuealed vnto vs and then shall wee wonder at this Power alone and not at the mightie Wonders which this Power hath done for then shal we plainly see that such Power might well worke such Wonders And while wee view and consider this Power the Power of GOD will point vs to the loue of God For so meane a thing as Man may well bee amazed at so infinite Power and Maiestie but that at once with the power there appeares an infinite Loue which tells the Soule that though Power not matched with Loue be a Terror yet tempred with loue it is the very Safetie Rest and Blisse of Soules beloued For as much power as there is in God so much is God able to blesse those whom hee loues and as much loue as there is in GOD so much willing is hee to blesse those whom by his Power hee is so much able to blesse Thus from Gods Wisdome his Power his Loue and his Light issue continuall obiects and spectacles of Ioy. Yet is not this all of that which cannot all be expressed For this whiles there flowes from the Deitie into the Heart of Man a most pleasant streame of the gladding Spirit wherein is the extremest power vertue of reioycing This is the new Wine of the Kingdome of Heauen which makes the Soule drunken with high comforts raptures and extasies which inward comforts meeting and clasping with outward ioyes fill vp a Man with an excesse of Ioy and Happinesse that he shall be euen swallowed vp and ouer-rauished with Ioy. And yet their Happinesse stinteth not for there is an addition of a most delectable and soule-pleasing Harmonie Harmonie is a chiefe pleasure and the most excellent Harmonie is the chiefest of this chiefe pleasure and the most excellent Harmonie is the chiefest of this chiefe Pleasure and the Harmonie of the most excellent Essences is the most excellent Harmonie and the most excellent Essences are Spirits and the Harmonie of Spirits is in the Kingdom of glory This Musike of Spirits exceedingly exceedeth the Musike of mortall voices yea that chiefe Musike of hearts which between men is called Friendship and betweene Man Wife is called marriage-Marriage-Loue is but a counterfeit resemblance and carries but some small rellishes of that Diuine and Celestiall Harmony For in the Quire of Heauen the Saints and Angels euen the blessed Spirits agree in a perfect Vnison of Truth and Loue. Their vnderstandings think one thing their hearts euen their wils loue themselues and their companions with one loue They delight themselues each in other especially all in God For as there is between themselues a perfect consent so there is also a true agreement between these Spirits and the chiefest Spirit which is the very top of pleasure and delight What perfection can be higher then that of the highest Creatour And how can a Creature bee more perfect then when he is consorted tuned to this highest perfection God speaketh to the hearts of these blessed Soules and the hearts of these blessed Soules thinke and vtter thoughts agreeable to the heart of GOD. God that saw his Workes of Creation that they were good and pleased himselfe in their goodnesse Now beholdeth his worke of Blessing and Glorification and reioyceth in the rest ioy which he hath giuen to his Beloued The glorified Soules behold and admire the Goodnesse and Mercie of God that gaue not only the workes of the six daies but the rest of the Seuenth to rebellious dust and sinful ashes In the infinite Loue of God their loue still steepeth and drowneth it selfe and the more it seeth the Loue of God the more it loues God and the more it loues God the more it is beloued And out of the feeling of this surpassing Loue of God breake out those Songs of Ioy and Voyces of Exultation Glory and Honour and Prayse bee to him that sitteth on the throne to the Lamb for euermore And Halleluiah For the Kingdome of the Lord God Almightie is come And Let vs be glad and reioyce and giue Glorie to God for the Marriage of the Lambe is come his Wife is readie and shee is arayed in pure and shining Silke And yet this felicitie is not all but that it may bee as long as it is large and as infinite in continuance as it is in extent there issues from the Deitie into the glorified Soules the sap and nourishment of an eternall Life The Tree of Life nourisheth eternally the branches of the same Tree Death is swallowed vp into victory and it selfe dyeth by the Word which is Life But the Soules partakers of God from him who is Eternall doe sucke Eternitie and so become that Kingdome whereof there is no end And yet this is not all of that inexpressible Felicitie but the greatest and chiefest is yet left in silence for that must needs be greatest which cannot enter into the heart of Man But let the transcendence of that which is vnknowne be a double spurre vnto vs in this Race of Happinesse one because it is transcendent another because vnknowne Let the Eminence prouoke our Ambitions the Secrecie our Curiosities Let vs desire and striue earnestly to enter into that which now by reason of wonderfull excellence cannot enter into vs. Let vs indeuour carefully to walke in the light of Grace which will bring vs to the full Reuelation of the yet inaccessible light of Glorie where Happinesse shall at once bee fully knowne and fully enioyed In the meane time it may be sufficient for me to discouer That the Soules seated in Beatitude passe their time which shall neuer bee past in the very top of Blisse and Delectation They laugh at sorrowes past and are secure for infinite ioyes to come God is theirs and they are Gods and in this Vnitie is the fulnesse of Felicitie FINIS
Truth which vsually by Multitude is most forsaken There is a sure saying that a competent portion fit to defend vs from hunger and nakednesse that is a measure able to serue and satisfie our naturall vses hath attayned the fulnesse of the substantiall goodnes thereof Wee are trauayling thrugh this world to death if we haue enough to beare our necessarie charges by the way how is not superfluity rather a burthen then a comfort to a trauayler whatsoeuer is beyond our vse wee can but behold with our eies or put a vaine confidence in it which often hath deceiued those that trusted in it for euen that which they haue put their trust in hath been the same thing that hath betrayed them Therefore it is fit that care and feare as commonly they do should accompanie Abundance as well as Pride and Confidence And if so then what a motley and minggled happines ariseth from a doubtfull and carefull superfluitie And surely very commonly and very iustly the owners of this excesse are called miserable For besides that it often deliuers them vp into the hands of miserie it makes them most wretched in themselues because most wretched to themselues There is a beastly kinred betweene the heart of man money and this kinred begets such a loue that the heart will goe neere to starue it selfe before it will part from its most beloued obiect Yea money begets the loue of money and stirs vp the affection in such a vehemencie towards it that pos session doth inflame the desire and not satisfie it Now what can giue rest to such a miserable Soule when obtayning which in other things giues some though short satisfaction yet to this man it giues new appetite farther motion a longer busines yet this aboundance thus brought forth by the Mid-wiferie of torment and perplexitie many times flyes away like an Eagle by the following generations Folly or Luxurie and this certainly is a great vanity and wretchednesse of riches that they are so often left to a foolish sonne who is lesse kin to a true wise man then an honest stranger that somtimes they are left to a sonne that is no sonne and sometimes left and there is not a second to enioy them Howsoeuer left they must bee euen all things wherin thou hast shewed thy selfe wise and industrious and that to some who laboured not in them to some whom thou knowest not after two or three generations therefore knowest not whether they shal be wise or foolish whether they shall perform thy purposes and desires with thy substance yea whether they shall turne it into the price of a Whore or a Dogge which both are an abomination in the sight of Wisedome But if riches might escape all this succeeding miserie yet is not the present possessor of them happy The common miserie of man laies claime to all and will not bee bought out by Riches Therefore the Rich man shall meete with crosses losses in friends or estate he shall be sicke in minde and sicke in body yea fulnesse it selfe shall make him sicke in both And if hee might escape all this yet riches which are the Seruants of his body cannot make his soul happy which is better then the bodie for farre be it from the soule to finde her happinesse in her seruants seruant especially such a fugitiue vagabond vncertaine seruant These massie and grosse riches are too course an obiect for a pure and spirituall Essence they carry no likenesse or proportion vnto it and therefore can giue the soule no addition of her naturall pleasure or profit much lesse of her perfect happinesse wherein shee must haue a part so farre greater then the body as shee is more excellent then it CHAP. V. Of Knowledge BVT some morall Wizzard will tell mee that Knowledge hath some high priuiledge aboue Miserie and such a one as can giue Happinesse to this in spight of it vnhappy life Indeede knowledge is a dim light which is better then very darknesse It hath an excellency as dawning aboue night but though it be better it is not that chiefe good which can make vs happy It may indeede bee vsed as an instrument for the discouery of happinesse though seldome it bee put to that vse But in it selfe neither in any thing created shall it euer be able to discouer it Yea rather it shall finde in it selfe and in all things of this world many imperfections and faylings of those iust conditions absolutely necessarie to bee found in Mans soueraign good Our knowledge is but of a short reach the things beyond it are infinitely more then the things on this side of it Therfore when knowledge is come to a supposed perfection a speciall qualitie of it is to know it selfe to be imperfect euen those things which are within the compasse of it it searcheth by piece-meale part after part as one that reades a great Volume in the darke with a Glow-worm which shews him but letter after letter so a great deale of trouble goes to a very little profit Hence are our Sciences but many littles pieced together while the great body of truth wisedome stands beyond our sight and by the incomprehensiblenesse thereof accuseth our knowledge euen to it selfe of weakenesse as the glorie of the Sunne doth our eies by dazeling them And this magnified little knowledge which we haue what extraordinarie vātage doth it bring vnto Man Surely it often bestowes vexation on the owners of it and by increasing increaseth sorrow for to the greatest knowledge the vanitie and miserie of man doth present it selfe in a most full apparance yea great knowledges vsually take vp afore-hand euils to come and make them present Hence it is that many learned Philosophers haue vexed their liues with the consideration of their deaths which many ignorant and sturdy Clowns without premeditation haue vnder-taken with more ease as missing the troubles of anticipation haue dispatched with lesse businesse and wrastling as being hood-winked with a blinde contentment to doe as their fathers haue done before them For this cause also some of our greatest knowers haue winked against knowledge and haue desired that ignorance should coozen them of their griefs to which knowledge would continually and lowdly awake them Surely when the knowledge of man hath discouered throughout this frame of the world an excellent wisdome and order when it sees that there is an excellent beautie in the face of Goodnesse yea some excellence in knowledge it selfe how must not this needes torment the heart of the knower while the same knowledge seeth also the actions of mankinde to runne so madly and confusedly whiles it sees Iustice or at least Power treading vpon the face of goodnesse and exalting wickednesse while it sees an vndistinguishing chance to come vnto all and finally while knowledge seeth knowledge despised and yet not able to helpe it selfe not any of those euils which it sees Certainly these things are a vexation of minde to the men
entertaynement of blessednesse and thus knowing God in Christ euen to the welcomming of the Spirit resting on him resigning our selues to him wee sucke happines from him who is both the Fountaine the Conduit of happinesse Hauing done this I know not how to inioyne thee more though happines be infinitly more worth for how can Man giue more then all And how can hee receiue more then all saluation and a whole Sauiour But if thou dost not this thou art short of that which thou art able to doe And Mercy that accepts the vtmost of thy little power will not accept a voluntary defect scantnesse Now this great dependance fixing and surrender of the whole soule to the whole Sauior is that blessed affiance trust and beliefe Famous in holy wisdome for knitting soules vnto the same Sauiour Which as it hath beene approued because it is the highest fullest and mightiest indeuour of the soule so also it is iustified by the fitnesse it hath of receiuing and by the fitnesse and proportionablenes it hath with Christs manner of entring It is fit to receiue for the eye of the soule being fixed in Christ stands as an open window readie to receiue him who enters by a lightsome and illuminating Spirit The eye of the Spouse thus in lightned reflects the light to him which sent it and with spirituall glances shootes the arrowes of loue into the heart of her beloued so that hee confesseth Thou hast wounded my heart with one of thine eyes And no otherwise the wil wholly willing desiring and gasping after Christ is a doore wide opened to receiue the same Christ entring into vs by a quickning and sanctifying Spirit Yea the Will hath in it a power to hold and knit what it hath receiued euen by a knot of vnitie So the heart of IONATHAN was knit vnto DAVID and the Spouse of Christ is knit vnto Christ and runnes after him as one tyed vnto him and drawne by the cords of this vnitie And surely the soule thus knitting it selfe vnto Christ Christ also knitteth himself vnto the soule and this is the knot of happines Then begins that Song of ioy I am my Wel-beloueds and my Wel-beloued is mine To confirme this we haue also diuers promises which haue told vs that hee who giues happinesse will enter with the gift of happinesse into this posture and station of the soule GOD himselfe hath promised the Seekers to find and the Hungrie to be filled and the Sellers of all for the Treasure of happinesse to be the Buyers of that Treasure for which they sold all Hee telleth the Vnderstanding that to know God and his Sonne Christ is Life eternall and that in the knowledge of God is Mans chiefest glorying and therefore by the knowledge of God is mans chiefest happinesse Hee telleth the Will and Affections I will be found of them that seeke me euen of them that seeke mee with their whole heart Hee that cleaueth to God by a strong vehement loue shall dwell in his holy Mountayne He that cōmeth to Christ that is vpon the feete of the soule which can bee no other then these two the Vnderstanding and Will shall neuer thirst Let vs therefore goe out of our selues as out of tabernacles of miserie and leaue a large and open roome for him to enter who is the fulnesse of infinite felicitie Next if wee consider Christs manner of entring Christ enters into vs killing and giuing life killing our old nature and begetting in vs a new These workes are chiefly and fundamentally wrought in the vnderstanding will But if the vnderstanding know not Christ to be happinesse it will not stand still to haue the filme of naturall blindnesse taken from it neither to haue an vnknowne light and wisedome contrary to the old nature infused into it If the will bee not wholly deuoted to Christ as to the soueraigne Good and doe not trust in him alone as the only giuer of this soueraigne Good it wil neuer suffer the fleshly nature which hath so much delighted it to be cut off slaine by the sword of the Spirit nor a new inclination to be inspired into it by which it shall be subiect to Lawes and Commandements and things future and vnseene shal be wholly preferred before things present visible But if Christ bee knowne willed and trusted as our chiefest good and the way vnto it then let him enter circumcising cutting and slaying Our heart is only on our happinesse Hee may doe what he will so we may obtaine that blessed obiect of our vnderstandings and wills Againe our vnion with Christ is by a spirituall marriage Now let vs consider how such a marriage may most fitly be made Surely wee must first know him to be the fairest of men to be anoynted with the beatificall oyle of gladnesse and happinesse aboue all his fellowes and then forgetting our fathers house euen all the pleasures of the old ADAM we must wholly fasten our hearts on him and wholly cleaue vnto him resoluing to be his alone and to put our selues wholly vnder his shaddow protection and then the King will haue pleasure in our beautie Yea he will loue vs and come and dwell with vs If Christ bee the light of our eyes and the ioy of our hearts If his loue be pleasanter then Wine euen all earthly Comforts If it bee hee alone whome our soule loueth If we take delight and sit downe vnder his shaddow Cant. 2. 3. Then will hee set vs as Signets vpon his hand and as seales vpon his heart he will bring vs into the marriage Chamber and call vs his Loue his Doue and his Spouse Loue shall bee his Banner ouer vs this fruit shall bee sweet to our mouth and wee shall be no longer two but one flesh and one Spirit Now if this great affiance which worketh dedication resignation and so an application of the Soule yea of the whole Man vnto Christ bee the Key of our harts which openeth those euerlasting Doores that the King of glorie may enter in let vs take heed that this Key bee put home into the locke that our hearts be fully opened vnto him otherwise as much of our hearts as is shut vnto him so much of happinesse is shut out of vs. Let vs bee carefull that this Key of Faith bee not stayed and stopt within our vnderstandings but let it proceede to our wills and affections and make way to the bottome of our hearts that Christ may enter iust as far euen to the bottom For as far as this Faith enters so farre Christ followes And as far as Christ enters happinesse followes Therefore let not thy faith leaue entring vntill it hath made made roome inough for Christ to take vp his full rest in thee It seemes that the vnderstanding is but the Porch but the Will attended vvith the Affections is the chiefe roome of Christs rest and residence When the will is so seasoned by Faith that it hateth all felicities
taught vs that importunitie is a way to ouer-come him Earnest prayer vseth violence toward him and thereby we that are weaknesse are too hard for him who is infinite power But how commeth this to passe that wee who haue no strength but from GOD should ouer-come him from whom wee haue our strength surely if we looke neerly vnto it we shall find that praier perswades God to ouer-come himselfe It moues his owne goodnesse to ouer-come his owne power so that we feele only the effects of power mastered and conquered with goodnes Therefore is God by prayer as it were troubled and stopped in some actions outwardly proposed to haue beene effected So LOT holdeth the Angels hand from destroying of Zoar a towne of the sinfull Plaine and to her growth equally lyable for wickednesse to fire and brimstone And MOSES hindreth and doth not let GOD alone when in his furie hee would destroy Israel but diuerteth the plague denounced against them Goodnes cannot denie the importunitie of beloued-ones The bad whereof is in an earthly father whose bowels are turned within him if hee cannot giue what his hungrie childe doth craue of him But the roote here of is God who is goodnesse it selfe in whom is the Fountayne of that drop which wee call good Nature in Men. The same God who is goodnesse is also loue loueth his Children farre more tenderly then earthly fathers and loue workes vpon the will to make it willing to communicate to the beloued the fruits and effects of goodnesse The same God is also Almightie so that whatsoeuer streames of goodnesse the will moued by loue would particularly distribute the Almightinesse of GOD is able to fulfil accomplish Wherefore in confidence of the great goodnesse the loue the power of God let vs boldly hopefully yet humbly repaire vnto him beleeuing that a power so mastered with goodnesse loue cannot denie a vehement importunate prayer But if we faile of obtayning it is certainly some impediment on our owne side so that either we haue asked in an ill manner or for an ill matter or to an ill end or else we haue limited the most High telling him how and when we wil haue our request But if wee aske for good things in a good manner to a good end submitting the conditions and seasons to that infinite Wisdome to whom to submit is mans chiefest wisedome then let vs bee assured that wee are in the way of hearing let vs fasten our foote in that way and resolue neuer to turne from it though checked with the woman of Canaan and deferred with IOB This way ends assuredly in granting and thou shalt either haue the same thing thou crauest or a better For as all Gods actions to his children are for their good and aduantage so are also his deferrings and denyals And this the daily experience of the Saints can testifie who haue found that they were then heard vvhen they thought themselues most neglected The vision and message of the most High as that of DANIEL was botimes sent forth though the time of accomplishmēt was appointed to bee later GOD will not breake the Couenant of Prayer but vvould raise thy faith to that high pitch euen to beleeue that God is good to Israel euen when thou feelest the smart of thine owne miserie and seest the prosperitie of the wicked or hee would raise thy patience to such a degree that though GOD should kill thee yet thou wouldest submit thy self to his mightie hand or hee would humble chastize and nurture thee that he might do thee good in thy latter end Therfore stand thou strong in the path of prayer and therein especially hunger thirst after Righteousnesse euen spirituall graces for therewith thou shalt surely bee filled But if with the stubborne King of Israel being grieued thou say It is the Lord Why should I seeke him any more thou turnest thy selfe out of the way of obtayning thou forsakest him who is the onely giuer of euery good and perfect gift thou changest him who only heareth and granteth prayers for miserable helpers who without him like IEROBOAMS politike Calues through a wise foolishnes shall become their Masters destruction Now that our prayer may yet haue a farther increase of force and so a fuller preuayling let our prayers partly consist of praise Let the remembrance of benefits past accompanie the Petition of benefits to come let vs pray that Gods Name may bee hallowed when wee pray that his Kingdome may come more into vs. In the Law of Nature thankfulnesse for one benefit inuiteth another and much more with the Father of Grace and Nature doe thanks for a lesse degree of Grace perswade for a greater Praise glorie to God is the end and fruit of Gods gifts and where God reapeth this fruit abundantly there will he abundantly sow the seed of this fruit For if Christ called his Father an Husbandman wee may boldly say he is a good Husbandman and therefore he will not commit that ill husbandrie to sow little that hee may reape little when hee sees that by much sowing he may reape much GOD will not bee wanting to his own glorie by sowing smal grace where by much grace hee might reape much glorie That this was agreeable to the heart of God well knew that holy Man who was according to GODS heart and therefore continually hee mixeth his prayers with praises yea sometime he plainly discouereth the secrets of this skill as when hee saith Let the people praise thee O God let all the people praise thee then shall the earth bring forth her increase and God euen our God shall giue vs his blessing Examples confirme this instruction NOAH gaue a sacrifice of praise for his deliuerie from the floud and God being praised for that one deliuerance perpetuateth his benefit and promiseth an euerlasting deliuerance to the earth from any more flouds When SALOMONS Leuites Singers and Priests made one sound in praising the Lord the glorie of the Lord filled the house of God When the Singers of IEHOSAPHAT praised the Lord because his mercy indureth for euer God laid ambushments against the children of Ammon Moab and Mount Seir and they slue one another What doe these things shew but that prayer is sharpned with praise and it enters more powerfully into the acceptation of the Highest They teach vs plainly that God willingly opens his eare to receiue his due praises and into his eares so opened the adioyned Petitions haue more speedie admittance Surely God well accepts his owne glorie he accepts his glorifier and with his person his prayers But as farre on the other side doth vnthankfulnesse shut vp the bountie of God and make it fast against our selues God will not long giue benefits whereof himselfe may haue no benefit but if there bee gifts like benefits bestowed on the vnthankfull let it be thought that these seeming benefits are very curses euen gifts giuen in wrath as Quailes and a King vnto Israel
soundeth as ill as the old It is the very kind of man to bee miserable while hee breatheth as it is the kinde of sparks to flie vpward And if a man striue to cure his present miserie with present mirth commonly the miserie of such is not taken away but changed and of temporall made eternall The rich Man that was euery day gorgeously arrayed and euery day fared deliciously ended his luxurie in miserie and his iudgement is Thou hast taken thy pleasure therefore art thou now tormented The cure of our miserie must be by vulneraric potions not by outward playsters by the bloud and Spirit of Christ inwardly receiued not by the naturall Balme of Gilead euen the pleasures of this world The things of this world are to serue and cherish vs in our way to happines not to be taken as our happines or the absolute cure of our miserie For if so vsed they cure our miserie but with a greater miserie and by making vs happy they make vs lose a greater happinesse Thus must man bee content to see himselfe of himselfe wretched and miserable He must needes crie out What is Man that he is so regarded And Man is of a short continuance and his life is full of trouble surely Man is altogether vanitie Hee must also complaine of his filthinesse our righteousnesse is as a filthy cloth and if wee should wash our selues our clothes would defile vs. In iniquitic haue we beene begotten conceiued in sinne And vvho can bring a cleane thing out of filthinesse Thus lothing and condemning our selues and being weary of our selues Christ IESVS stands with open armes ready to receiue such weary laden soules and to refresh them Hee will refresh vs with the Riuer of the Citie of God euen with fresh streames of grace and the holy Oile shall drop downe from the head of our high Priest vnto vs who are the skirts euen the humblest parts of his garment And then shall wee be filled with the sweet sauour of Holinesse and life Eternall CHAP. X. Of Patience LAstly for the preseruation aduancement of the estate of Happinesse wee haue great need and vse of Patience Our need of patience is absolute because the Saints of God are here with the rest in a world of miserie and beyond the rest in a vvorld of enmitie Euery houre there is a likelihood of some trouble and temptation and euery trouble without patience which is the Ward of the soule breaketh in vpon the soule and carries her away into tumultuous enormous and vnreasonable perturbations But on the other side Patience raileth in the soule amidst the prease of temporall euils and keepeth her in a continuall quietnesse and repose consequently in an abilitie of iudgement discretion and direction and this is a first and chiefe vse and benefit of Patience For doth not that greatly aduantage vs and the graces bestowed on vs which makes vs Owners and Masters of our selues them By Patience wee can with the Centurion call for this seruant and hee commeth and send that Souldier and he goeth We can make vse of our vnderstandings and by our vnderstandings of those very euils which are the subiects of our patience We can make vse of our wills and affections to will and loue God to will and loue that which GOD wills and loues yea to will and loue the very troubles and incumbrances which vrge and presse vs. Hence come those excellent voyces Though God kill me yet will I trust in him and Before I was chastized I went astray but now doe I keepe thy Lawes Blessed is the man that beareth the yoke in his youth Hee sitteth solitary and is quiet because God hath laid it on him By Patience wee can make vse of our memories to call to mind the mercies of God in old time how our Fathers trusted in him were deliuered yea how often God hath beene our helper and therefore wee need not to feare what man can doe against vs. Hereby wee may also call to mind those wise and holy Precepts and counsailes which euery wise and holy man doth prepare and lay vp for times of trouble and temptation For it is fit that in calmes wee should prouide for stormes we should in the quiet times of life sit downe and according to our Sauiours most prudent aduice cast vp our reckonings what the forces of our enemies be what kind of fighting they vse how their wounds may bee preuented and how cured if suffered for want of preuention Hee that hath performed this act of consideration he fitteth himselfe with spirituall armour proper to each kind of conflict As soone as he sees the trouble he chooseth out a fit shaft to pierce and encounter it when he sees the blow comming he knowes the Ward that must defend it And all this is put in execution by the benefit of patience For the impatient lyes open to al blowes his wits are confounded when he should hold vp his shield hee striketh with his sword and when he should take an arrow from the quiuer of the Spirit he catcheth at a club proffered to him by the flesh To such a one all things are confused hee is besides himselfe and therefore knowes not the choise of actions Againe by patience wee haue the vse of Charitie a principall and Mother-grace For hereby euen in the midst of persecutions we can pray for our Persecutors and say Father forgiue them for they know not what they doe and Lord lay not this sin to their charge This qualitie of ouer-comming euill with good and likewise the helpe of patience toward the performance of it must wee beleeue to bee a chiefe preferment to a Christian in this race vnto glorie For certainly it is so neere a resemblance of the perfection of God that God exceedingly delighteth in the doers thereof and takes speciall notice of such as those who are lifted vp aboue the dregs of humane corruption into a high participation of a diuine and godly Nature They are good out of an inward goodnes and not because they looke on good and pleasant obiects For whatsoeuer their obiect is they are still good account the excellency of goodnesse and the fauour it hath with God to be sufficient causes of goodnesse though in the world they see nothing but euill which of it selfe deserueth onely euill And that this must needes procure a great loue blessing from God doth appeare by the effects it worketh in creatures infinitely inferiour to God yea impure and depraued For euen SAVL himselfe whom the Deuil draue to the hunting of DAVID as a Partrich in the Mountaynes this SAVLS euill and wicked rage melteth away with the beames of DAVIDS shining and glorious goodnesse and being preserued by him whom hee sought to slay he is so ouercome and changed by that goodnesse of DAVID that he is inforced to blesse him as a sonne whom hee had taken such paines to slay as an enemie And if a