he was forty years old now from that Acts 7.23 or being grown a great one and so sufficiently understood himself and knew very well what he did he did little less than make a Foot-ball of Pharaohs Crown witnesse his refusing with an holy scorn and disdain to be called the son of Pharaohs daughter and so to succeed Pharaoh in the Throne And so in that Rev. 12.1 2. And there appeared a great wonder in heaven a woman clothed with the Sun and the Moon under her feet and upon her head a crown of twelve Stars The Church here is compared to a woman for her weaknesse fruitfulnesse and lovingnesse and it is observable that she is clothed with the Sun that is with Christs own comlinesse and righteousnesse which resembles the Sun in its several properties and effects not now to be insisted on Now this woman the Church is said to have the Moon under her feet by the Moon we are to understand all temporary and transitory things now the Church treads upon all these things as trash and trumpery that were much below her and despised by her Look as the great men of the world do commonly look upon all portions that are below their own with an eye of scorn disdain and contempt Esth 5.9 ult Psa 73 4-13 as Haman did and as those bold daring sinners did Psal 73. So do those that have God for their portion look upon all things below their God with an eye of scorn and disdain I have read of Lazarus that after his resurrection from he dead he was never seen to laugh his thoughts his heart his affections were so fixt upon God and so taken up with God with his portion that he was as a dead man to all the gay and gallant things of the world he saw nothing in them worthy of a smile And so when once Galiacius that famous Italian Marquesse came to understand that God was his portion in the face of the highest offers imaginable of honour favour profit and preferment he cried out Cursed be he that prefers all the glory of the world to one dayes communion with God The old Grecians who had altogether fed on Acorns before Eustath in Homer when bread came in among them they made no reckoning of their mast but reserved it only for their Swine And the Lacedemonians despised their iron and leathern money Seneca de Benefic when gold and silver came in use among them so when a man comes once to experience God to be his portion ah at what a low rate will he value the swelling honours John 4.14 the deceitful riches and the vanishing pleasures of this beggarly world Christians are compared to Eagles Matth. 24.28 now the Eagle is a Kingly a Princely bird 't is a bird of a sharp piercing sight and of a swift and lofty flight it flies high and sets light by things below except it be when necessity compells her and so 't is with those that have God for their portion they fly high and they live high in God and therefore they cannot but set light by the toyes and trifles of the world But Eighthly If God be thy portion then thy God is most precious to thee then thou settest the highest price and value imaginable upon thy God every man sets the highest price upon his portion though a man may set a good price upon his delightful gardens his pleasant walks his delicate fish-ponds his fruitful trees his sweet flowers c. yet 't is no price to that which he sets upon his portion Well sayes a man though here be an hundred things to delight my eye and to please my fancy and to satiate my appetite yet I infinitely value my portion above them all And who but a fool in Folio will value a thousand a year above a few accommodations that are onely for pleasure and delight So though a Christian may set a considerable value upon all his outward comforts and contentments Psa 23.24 25. Psa 4.6 7. yet 't is no value to that he sets upon his God upon his portion this and that is precious to me saith a Christian but my God is infinitely more precious than all A Christian sets up God above his goods Heb. 10.34 and above his lusts Gal. 5.24 and above his relations 1 Sam. 30 1-7 yea and above his very life Rev. 12.11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony and they loved not their lives unto the death Psa 63.3 Thy loving kindnesse is better than life the Hebrew is Chaiim lives put many lives together yet there is more excellency and glory in the least beam in the least discovery of divine love than there is in them all A man may be weary of life but never of divine love Histories tell us of many that have been weary of their lives but no Histories can furnish us with an instance of any one that was ever weary of divine love Look as the people prized David above themselves saying 2 Sam. 18.3 Thou art worth ten thousand of us so they that have indeed God for their portion O how do they prize God above themselves and above every thing below themselves and doubtlesse they that in a course do not lift up God above all they have no interest in God at all Whatever a man eyes as his greatest interest that he sets up above all and before all other things in the world Now if a man eyes God as his greatest interest he cannot but set God atop of all I have not faith enough to believe Luk. 14.26 that ever such did truly love God who love any thing more than God or who set up any thing above God Look as Darius set up Daniel over all and as Pharaoh set up Joseph above all so a man that hath God for his portion he sets up God over all and he sets up God above all One set so high a price upon Christ Austin that he hath long since told us that he would willingly goe thorow hell to Christ Bernard and saith another I had rather be in my chimny-corner with Christ than in heaven without him When one of the Martyrs was offered riches and honours if he would recant he made this excellent answer Do but offer me somewhat that is better than my Lord Jesus Christ and you shall see what I will say to you Johannes Mollius And I have read of another that set so high a price upon the Lord Jesus that whensoever he did but mention the name of Jesus his eyes dropt tears were every Star in the Firmament a Sun yet a man that hath God for his portion would prize him above them all Do you ask me Plutarch in Photion where be my Jewels my Jewels are my husband said Phocions wise do you ask me where be my ornaments my ornaments are my two sonnes brought up in vertue and learning
dry but God is an inexhaustible portion that can never be drawn dry and this discovers the excellency of this portion above all other portions But Thirteenthly As God is an inexhaustable portion so God is a soul-satisfying portion he is a portion that gives the soul full satisfaction and content Psal 17.15 Psal 16.5 6. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup thou maintainest my lot The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places yea I have a goodly heritage 'T was as well with him as his heart could wish And so in that Psal 73.25 Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee or as some render it Vide Jerome Calvin Cajetan Marlorat Mollerius c. I would I were in heaven with thee or as others read the words I have sought none in heaven or earth besides thee or as others I desire none in heaven or earth but thee or I affect none in heaven nor none on earth like thee I love none in heaven nor none on earth in comparison of thee I esteem thee instead of all other treasure and above all other treasures that are in heaven or that are on earth The holy Prophet had spiritual and sweet communion with Christ to comfort and strengthen him he had a guard of glorious Angels to protect him and secure him and he had assurance of heaven in his bosome to joy and rejoyce him and yet 't was none of these nay 't was not all these together that could satisfie him 't was only an infinite good an infinite God that could satisfie him he very well knew that the substantials of all true happinesse and blessednesse did lie in God and his enjoyment of God 'T was not his high dignities nor honours that could satisfie him 't was not the strength riches security prosperity and outward glory of his Kingdome that could satisfie him 't was not his delightful musick nor his noble attendance nor his well-furnished tables nor his great victories nor his stately palaces nor his pleasant gardens nor his beautiful wise nor his lovely children that could satisfie him all these without God could never satisfie him but God without all these was enough to quiet him and satisfie him Joh. 14.8 Philip said unto him Lord shew us the Father and it sufficeth us a sight of God will satisfie a gracious soul more than all worldly contentments and enjoyments yea one sight of God will satisfie a Saint more than all the glory of heaven will do God is the glory of all the glory of heaven heaven alone is not sufficient to content a gracious soul but God alone is sufficient to content and satisfie a gracious soul God only is that satisfying good that is able to fill quiet content and satisfie an immortal soul Certainly if there be enough in God to satisfie the spirits of just men made perfect Heb. 12.23 24 25. whose capacities are far greater than ours and if there be enough in God to satisfie the Angels whose capacities are far above theirs if there be enough in God to satisfie Jesus Christ whose capacity is unconceivable and unexpressible yea if there be enough in God to satisfie himself then certainly there must needs be in God enough to satisfie the souls of his people If all fulnesse and all goodnesse and infinitenesse will satisfie the soul then God will there is nothing beyond God imaginable nor nothing beyond God desirable Ephes 3.2 nor nothing beyond God delectable and therefore the soul that enjoys him cannot but be satisfied with him God is a portion beyond all imagination all expectation all apprehension and all comparison and therefore he that hath him cannot but sit down and say I have enough Gen. 33.11 Psal 63.5 6. My soul shall be satisfied as with * Cheleb vade shen Fat and sat So the Hebrew hath it hereby is meant satiety of pleasures c. marrow and fatnesse and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips When I remember thee on my bid and meditate on thee in the night-watches Marrow and fatnesse cannot so satisfie the appetite as God can satisfie a gracious soul yea one smile from God one glance of his countenance one good word from heaven one report of love and grace will infinitely more satisfie an immortal soul than all the fat and all the marrow and all the dainties and delicates of this world can satisfie the appetite of any mortal man My soul shall be satisfied with fatnesse and fatnesse so the Hebrew hath it that is my soul shall be top-full of comfort it shall be filled up to the brim with pleasure and delight in the remembrance and enjoyment of God upon my bed or upon my beds in the plural as the Hebrew hath it David had many a hard bed and many a hard lodging whilst he was in his wildernesse-condition it oftentimes so fell out that he had nothing but the bare ground for his bed and the stones for his pillows and the hedges for his curtains and the heavens for his canopy yet in this condition God was sweeter than marrow and fatnesse to him though his bed was never so hard yet in God he had full satisfaction and content Jer. 31.14 My people shall be satisfied with goodness saith the Lord. And my God shall supply all your need Phil. 4.10 according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus saith Paul that great Apostle of the Gentiles the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies to fill up 2 Kings 4.4 even as he did the Widdows Vessels till they did overflow God will fill up all he will make up all he will supply all the wants and necessities of his people That water that can fill the Sea can much more fill a cup and that Sun which can fill the world with light can much more fill my house with light So that God that fills heaven and earth with his glory can much more fill my soul with his glory To shew what a satisfying portion God is he is set forth by all those things that may satisfie the heart of man as by Bread Water Wine Milk Honours Riches Raiment Houses Lands Friends Father Mother Sister Brother Health Wealth Light Life c. And if these things will not satisfie what will Gen. 45.28 'T is enough sayes old Jacob that Joseph is alive so sayes a gracious soul 'T is enough that God is my portion A pardon cannot more satisfie a condemned man nor bread an hungry man nor drink a thirsty man nor cloathes a naked man nor health a sick man c. than God doth satisfie a gracious man But Now worldly portions can never satisfie the souls of men Eccles 5.10 Some read the words thus He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver and he that loveth it in the multitude of it shall not have fruit He that loveth silver shall
mourning and complaining O Christians till you come to see God to be your portion your doubts will lie down with you and rise with you they will talk with you and walk with you till they make your lives a very hell 'T was an excellent expression of Luther The whole Scripture saith he doth principally aim at this thing That we should not doubt but that we should hope trust and believe that God is a merciful bountiful and gracious God to his people And what will bring a mans heart over to answer to this blessed aime of the Scripture certainly nothing below an assurance that God is his portion It was a noble resolution of blessed Bradford who in one of his Epistles saith thus O Lord sometimes methinks I feel it so with me as if there were no difference between my heart and the hearts of the wicked my mind is as blind as theirs and my will as stout stubborn and rebellious as theirs and my affections as much disordered as theirs and my conscience as much benummed and stupified as theirs and my heart as hard and flintie as theirs c. shall I therefore conclude that thou art not my father nay I will rather reason otherwise saith he I do believe thou art my Father I will come unto thee that thou mayest enlighten this blind mind of mine and bend and bow this stout and stubborn will of mine and that thou mayest put order into these disordered affections of mine and that thou mayest put life and quicknesse into this stupified and benummed conscience of mine and that thou mayest put softnesse and tendernesse into this hard and slitie heart of mine And thus he nobly reasoned himself and believed himself out of all his fears and doubts There is no such way for a man to be rid of all his doubts as to live in the sight and faith of this truth that God is his portion Plutarch reports of one who would not be resolved of his doubts because he would not lose the pleasure in seeking for resolution like to him that would not have his Physician to quench the thirst he felt in his Ague because he would not lose the pleasure of drinking and like those that would not be freed from their sins because they would not lose the pleasure of sinning But I hope better things of all those that have God for their portion than to find them in love with their doubts or to be unwilling to be rid of their doubts Next to a mans going to hell it is one of the greatest afflictions in the world for a man alwayes to live in doubts about his going to heaven Next to damnation it is one of the greatest troubles that can attend a Christian to be alwayes exercised and perplexed with doubts about his salvation Next to being damn'd 't is the hell of hells to live in continual fears of damnation Now the onely way to prevent all this is to know that God is your portion But Thirdly A clear personal evidence that God is a mans portion will exceedingly sweeten all the crosses losses and changes that shall attend him in this world Habakkuk knew that God was the God of his salvation and that he was his poâ—tion and therefore he rejoyces though the Fig-tree did not blossome Hab. 3.17 18. and though there were no fruit in the vines and though the labour of the olive did fail and the fields did yield no meat and the stocks were cut off from the fold and there were no herd in the stalls And the same noble temper was upon those Worthies in Heb. 10.34 They took joyfully the spoiling of their goods knowing in themselves that they had in heaven a better and an induring substance they took joyfully the spoiling of their earthly portions being well assured in their own souls that they should enjoy an heavenly portion 1 Cor. 5.6 to her 2. an everlasting portion And so the Apostles knew that they had an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens and this carried them bravely thorow honour and dishonour thorow evil report and good report and thorow all weaknesses sicknesses distresses wants dangers and death and this made their heavy afflictions light 2 Cor. 4.16 17 18. and their long afflictions short and their bitter afflictions sweet this was that tree which being cast in the waters of Marah made them sweet Exod. 15.23 24 25. and this was that that did unsting all their crosses losses and reproaches and that made them rejoyce and sing under those very burthens and trials that would have broke the necks backs Acts 5. Ch. 16. and hearts of others When a man hath a clear personal evidence that God is his portion then no outward changes will make any considerable change in him Gen. 31.7 Though Laban had changed Jacobs wages ten times yet Jacob was Jacob still let times change and meâ— change and Powers change and Nations change yet a man that hath God for his portion and knows it will never change his countenance nor change his Master nor change his service nor change his work nor change his way under all changes he will still be semper idem alwayes the same Many great and dreadful changes past upon Joseph Gen. 49.23 24. but yet under all Josephs bowe abode in strength When a man knows that God is his portion whatever changes may passe upon him yet his bowe will still abide in strength Marcellus the Pope would not change his name according to the custome of other Popes to shew his immutability and that he was no changeling but how many are there in these dayes who were look't upon as better men who have changed their names their notes their coats their principles their practises and all for worldly advantages these changelings that change from better to worse and from naught to be very naught yea stark naught are the worst and naughtiest of men and deserve to be hang'd in chains and certainly when the wrath of God breaks forth Mal. 4.1 Heb. 10.38 these changelings shall be as stubble before it God abhors none as he doth those who run from him to serve other lords and who gad about to change their way Jer. 2.36 37. Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt as thou wast ashamed of Assyria yea thou shalt go forth from him and thine hands upon thine head for the Lord hath rejected thy confidences and thou shalt not prosper in them There is nothing that will keep a man from apostacy and from making a defection from God his wayes his worship his glory c. like a blessed perswasion that God is his portion 2 Pet. 1 5-11 But Fourthly A clear personal evidence that God is a mans portion will exceedingly raise and advance the comfort and joy of a mans heart 't is not meerly my having of God for my portion but 't is my seeing 't is my
call upon my Name and I will hear them I will say it is my people and they shall say The Lord is my God O Sirs as ever you would have the great and glorious God for your portion plead out this noble promise cordially with God plead it out affectionately plead it out fervently plead it out frequently plead it out beleevingly plead it out resolutely plead it out incessantly O Sirs this choice promise is an hive full of heavenly honey 't is a paradise full of sweet flowers 't is a breast that is full of the milk of consolation Isa 66.11 and therefore be still a sucking at this breast be still a pleading of this promise follow God with this promise early and late follow him with this promise day and night Luk. 18.1 to the 9. v. follow him with this promise as the importunate Widow followed the unjust Judge and give him no rest till he hath made it good to your souls that he is your God and that he is your portion and that he is your salvation and that he is your all in all O tell him that above all things in this world your hearts are set on this to have God to be your God to have God to be your portion O tell him that you cannot tell him that you dare not tell him that you may not and tell him that you shall not be satisfied with any thing without God with any thing below God with any thing on this side God with any thing but God and therefore humbly intreat him and earnestly beseech him to be your God and to be your portion But Fourthly If you would have God for your portion Deut. 32.9 Jer. 12.10 Zech. 2.12 then you must be willing to be his portion God is resolved upon this that he will be no mans portion that is not willing to be his you must make a resignation of your selves to God if ever you would enjoy an interest in God you must be as willing to be his people as you are willing to have him to be your God you must be as much at Gods dispose as earthly portions are at your dispose or else there will be no enjoying of God to be your God God will ingage himself to none that are not willing to ingage themselves to him he that will not give his hand his heart to God shall never have any part or portion in God O Sirs as ever you would have God for your portion it highly concerns you to give up your selves to God with highest estimations and with most vigorous affections and with utmost indeavours according to that precious promise Isa 44.5 One shall say I am the Lords and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob and another shall subscribe with his hand to the Lord and sirname himself by the name of Israel God stands upon nothing so much as the giving up of your selves to him nor he is taken with nothing so much as the giving up of your selves to him Seneca do Benesic l. 1. I have read of Aeschines who seeing his fellow-scholars give great gifts viz. gold silver and jewels to his Master Socrates and he being poor and having nothing else to bestow he gave him himself which the Philosopher most kindly accepted esteeming this present above all those rich and costly presents that his other Scholars had presented to him and accordingly in love and sweetnesse he carried it towards him So there is nothing that God accepts loves likes and esteems like the giving up of a mans self unto him this is a present that God prefers above all the gold silver and sparkling jewels in the world Well Sirs remember this Such as are not as willing to say Lord we are thine as they are to say Lord thou art ours such shall never have God for their portion But Fifthly If you would have God for your portion then you must take up Christ in your arms and treat with God upon the credit of Christ there is no acquaintance with God Ephe. 2.16 Heb. 2.17 Col. 1.20 21. Ephes 1.6 7. there is no reconciliation to God there is no union nor communion with God there is no re-admission into the presence and favour of God without a Mediator God out of Christ is incomprehensible God out of Christ is exceeding terrible Heb. 12.9 an absolute God is a consuming fire and therefore sayes Luther Nolo Deum absolutum Let me have nothing to do with God himself The blood of Christ the blood of the Covenant is that and onely that that can cement re-unite and knit God and man together Themistocles understanding that King Admittus was highly displeased with him took up his young son into his armes Plutarch in Vita and treated with the father holding that his Darling in his bosome and thereby appeased the Kings wrath O Sirs the King of Kings is offended with you and upon the account of your sins he hath a very great controversie with you Now there is no way under heaven to pacifie his wrath and turn away his displeasure from you but by taking up Christ in your armes and by presenting all your suits in his name There is no Angel in heaven nor no Saint on earth that can or that dares to interpose between an angry God and poor sinners 't is only Christ Isa 9.6 the Prince of peace that can make up a sinners peace with God John 14.6 Jesus saith unto him I am the way the truth and the life no man cometh unto the Father but by me There is no way to the Father but by the meritorious blood of the Son Isa 33.14 there are none that can stand between everlasting burnings and us but Christ You shall not see my face except you bring your brother Benjamin with you said Joseph to his brethren so sayes God Sinners sinners you shall not see my face Gen. 43.3 6. except you bring Jesus with you except you bring Christ in your armes you shall never see my face with joy you shall never see my face and live There is a Writ of Vengeance that is issued out of the Court of Heaven against poor sinners and except Christ stops in they will certainly fall under an eternal arrest and be thrown into everlasting perdition and destruction But Sixthly If you would have God for your portion then you must break your league with sin you must fall out with sin if ever you fall in with God sin and you must be two or God and you can never be one there is no propriety to be had in God except your hearts rise against that which first dis-united and dis-joynted you from God sin and you must part or God and you can never meet You shall as soon make an accommodation between light and darknesse 2 Câ—â— 6.14 ult heaven and hell noon and midnight as ever you shall be able to make an accommodation between God and sinne So long
portion Look as they that are most wounded stand in most need of a Surgeon and as they that are most sick stand in most need of a Physician and as they that are in most danger of robbing stand in most need of assistance and as they that are in most peril of drowning stand in most need of a boat and as they that are most impoverished stand in most need of relief so they that are the greatest sinners stand in most need of having of God for their portion for no tongue can expresse 2 Thess 1 7 8 9 10. nor no heart can conceive the greatnesse of that wrath of that indignation of that desolation of that destruction and of that damnation that attends and waits upon those great sinners that have not God for their portion and therefore the greater sinner thou art the greater obligation lies upon thee to get God to be thy God and portion for till that be done all thy sins in their full number weight guilt and aggravating circumstances will abide upon thy soul But Sixthly and lastly I answer that God is a great God and he loves to do like himself Now there are no works no actions that are so suitable to God and so pleasing to God and so delightful to God as those that are great and what greater work what greater action can the great God do than to bestow himself as a portion upon the greatest of sinners It was a great work for God to create the world and it is a great work for God to govern the World and it will be a great work for God to dissolve the world and to raise the dead and yet doubtlesse it is a greater work for the great God freely to bestow himself upon the greatest sinners The love of God is a great love and the mercies of God are great mercies and the compassions of God are great compassions and accordingly God loves to act and therefore there is ground for the greatest sinners to hope that the Lord may bestow himself as a portion upon them But Secondly Object 2 Others may object and say hereafter we will look after this portion for the present we are for living in the world we are for a portion in hand we are for laying up portions for our selves and providing portions for our posterity we are first for laying up of earthly treasures and when we have done that work to purpose then we will do what we can to obtain this excellent and glorious portion that you have been so long a discoursing on c. Now to this Objection I shall thus answer First Thus to act is to run counter-crosse to Christs express commands Mat. 6.33 But seek ye first the Kingdome of God and his righteousnesse and all these things shall be added unto you The Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies a casting in as an overplus as some over-weight measure or number And so ver 19 20. Lay not up for your selves treasures upon earth where moth and rust doth corrupt and where theeves break through and steal But lay up for your selves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt and where theeves do not break through nor steal And so in that Joh. 6.27 Labour not for the meat that perisheth but for the meat which endureth to everlasting life O Sirs to act or run crosse to Gods expresse command though under pretence of Revelation from God is as much as a mans life is worth as you may see in that sad story 1 Kings 13.24 O Sirs 't is a dangerous thing to neglect one of his commands who by another is able to command your bodies into the grave and your souls into hell at his pleasure Shall the wife make conscience of obeying the commands of her husband and shall the child make conscience of obeying the commands of his father and shall the servant make conscience of obeying the commands of his Lord and shall the souldier make conscience of obeying the commands of his General and shall the subject make conscience of obeying the commands of his Prince though he be none of his Council and will not you make conscience of obeying his commands that is the Prince of the Kings of the earth 1 Rev. 5. But Secondly Who but children mad men and fools in Folio will pitch upon a lesse good when a greater good is offered to them what madnesse and folly is it for men to pitch upon bags of counters Children mad men and fools will part with a pearl for a pippin when bags of gold are laid before them or for men to chuse an hundred pounds per annum for life when rich inheritances and great Lordships are freely offered to be made over to them for ever What were this but Esau-like to prefer a messe of pottage before the birth-right and yet this is the present case of these Objectors God is that rich that great that glorious and that matchlesse portion that is held out and freely offered and tendered in the Gospel to poor sinners and they neglect slight and reject this blessed offer and fix their choice their love their hearts their affections upon the perishing vanities of this world O the folly of such that at a Feast feed upon kickshawes and never taste of those substantial dishes that are for nourishment O the madnesse of such that prefer the flesh-pots of Egypt before the dainties of Canaan Would not such a Merchant such a Tradesman be pointed at as he goes along the streets for a fool or a mad man that should neglect such a season such an opportunity such an advantage wherein he may be made for ever as to the world and all because he is resolved first to secure such a bargain of rags or such a bargain of old shooes which will turn but little to his advantage when he hath bought them Surely yes now this is the very case of the Objectors for they neglect the present seasons the present opportunities of grace and mercy and of being made happy for ever by enjoying of God for their portion and all because they are resolved first to secure the Treasures the Rags of this World Certainly in the great day of account these will be found the greatest fools that have fool'd away such golden opportunities that were more worth than all the world and all to secure the rags of the world But Thirdly and lastly How many thousands are now in hell Matth. 7.22 26 27. how many thousands have now their part and their portion in that burning lake which burnes with fire and brimstone for ever and ever Rev. 21.8 who thought when they were on earth that after they had laid up goods for many years with the fool in the Gospel that then they would look after heavenly treasures and secure God for their portion but before they could find time or hearts to set about so noble work divine vengeance hath overtaken them and justice
hath cut the threed of their lives and given them their portion among hypocrites Ah how many be there that have died in the time of their earthly projects and designs Luk. 12.15 to 22. before ever they have set about that great work of securing God for their portion and how many thousands be there that God in his just judgment hath given up to insatiable desires of earthly things Phil. 3.18 19. and to a cursed endlesse covetousnesse all their dayes Some write of the Crocodil that it alwayes growes that it hath never done growing and just so 't is with the desires of worldly men they alwayes grow they have never done growing now they are for one thousand then for ten then for twenty then for fourty then for an hundred thousand now they are for this Lordship and then they are for that now they are for this good bargain and then they are for that their hearts grow every day fuller and fuller with new desires of further and greater measures of earthly things they please themselves with golden dreams till they awake with everlasting flames about their ears and then they fall a cursing themselves that they have made gold their confidence and that they have neglected those golden seasons and opportunities wherein they might have secured God for their portion But Thirdly Object 3 Others may object and say we would fain have God for our portion and we would willingly apply our selves to all those wayes and means whereby we might obtain the Lord to be our portion but we are poor unworthy wretches surely the Lord will never bestow himself as a portion upon such miserable unworthy ones as we are we are worthy of death we are worthy of wrath we are worthy of hell we are worthy of damnation but we are no wayes worthy of having God for our portion Did ever the Lord cast an eye of love upon such unlovely and such unworthy sinners Lepers as we are c. Now to this Objection I shall return these answers First Though you have no merits 2 Cor. 4.15 1 Tim. 1.14 1 Pet. 1.3 yet God is rich and abundant in mercy your sins your unworthinesse can but reach as high as heaven but the mercies of God reach above the heavens Psal 103.11 For as the Heaven is high above the earth so great is his mercy toward them that fear him Psal 108.4 For thy mercy is great above the heavens and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds The highest comparisons which the world will afford are not sufficient to expresse the greatnesse of Gods mercy to poor sinners Though the heavens are exceeding high above the earth yet the mercies of God to his poor people are above the heavens But Secondly I answer that the Lord hath never bestowed himself as a portion upon any yet but unworthy ones David was as unworthy as Saul and Job as Joab and Peter as Judas and Paul as Simon Magus Mat. 21.31 32. and the Publicans and Harlots that entered into the Kingdome of heaven were as unworthy as the Publicans and Harlots that were shut out of the Kingdome of heaven and the thief that went to paradise was as unworthy as the thief that went to hell All the Saints in heaven and all the Saints on earth are ready with one joynt consent to declare that they were as unworthy as the most unworthiest when God first bestowed himself as a portion upon them This Objection I am unworthy is a very unworthy Objection and therefore away with it But Thirdly I answer that God hath no where in all the Scripture required any personal worthinesse to be in the creature before he will bestow himself upon the creature O Sirs it never came into the thoughts of God it never entered into the heart of God to require of men that they should be first worthy of his love before they should enjoy his love and that they should be first worthy of his mercy before they should tast of his mercy and that they should be first worthy of his goodnesse before they should be partakers of his goodnesse and that they should be first worthy of himself before he would bestow himself as a portion upon them If we should never enjoy God for our portion till we are worthy to enjoy him for our portion we should never enjoy him If a man had as many eyes as Argus to search into the Scripture and as many hands as Briareus to turn over the leaves of Scripture yet he would never be able to find out one Text one line yea one word wherein God requires a personal worthinesse in the creature before he gives away himself to the creature Should God stand upon a personal worthinesse to be in the creature before he would look upon the creature or before he would let out his love to the creature or before he would extend mercy or pity to the creature or before he would in a Covenant of free grace give himself to the creature no sinner could be saved man would be for ever undone and it had been good for him that he had never been born But Fourthly I answer 't is not mens unworthinesse but mens unwillingnesse that hinders them from having God to be their portion though most men pretend their unworthinesse yet there is in them a secret unwillingnesse to have God for their God When they look upon God as a gracious God then they are willing to have him to be their God but when they look upon God as an holy God then their hearts fly back when they look upon God as a merciful God and as a bountiful God O then they wish that he were their God but when they look upon God as a commanding God and as a ruling and an over-ruling God O then their hearts do secretly rise against God there is a real unwillingnesse in the hearts of sinners in all respects to close with God and to have God to be their God Isa 53.1 Who hath beleeved our report and to whom is the arme of the Lord revealed Ch. 65.2 3. I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people which walketh in a way that was not good after their own thoughts A people that provoke me to anger continually to my face How long Prov. 1.22 23 24 25 26. ye simple ones will ye love simplicity and the scorners delight in scorning and fools hate knowledge Turn you at my reproof behold I will pour out my Spirit upon you I will make known my words unto you Because I have called and ye refused I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded But ye have set at nought all my counsel and would none of my reproof I also will laugh at your calamity I will mock when your fear cometh c. For thus saith the Lord God the holy One of Israel Isa 30.15 in returning and rest shall ye be saved in quietnesse and in confidence shall be