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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
love_n	faith_n	jesus_n	lord_n	9,726	5	3.7449	3	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A56309	The weavers shuttle displayed and the swiftness thereof unfolded, or, The words of a dying man to a dying people, in the midst of a dying nation wherein is held forth I. That the time is short, the way is narrow, the prize is great, the runners are many, the obtainers few, II. That repentance and turning to God is not in one call or command, wherefore wait upon the means appointed by God to work it, and that diligently and constantly this work deferred will be still greater, the time to do it wil[l] be shorter, the strength to do it by wil[l] be less, III. If we endeavour to the uttermost to improve the present opportunity and ability that the Almighty gives us, we shall, for ought I know, live with more comfort here and die in full assurance hereafter, for the greatest evil threatned or feared, may through wisdom be timely prevented / by Robert Purnel.	Purnell, Robert, d. 1666.	1652 (1652)	Wing P4244; ESTC R32258	54,417	168

earthly treasure thou mayst give all diligence to get heavenly And while some are spending their time in vanity one endeavouring to exceed another in folly thou mayst redeem precious time for spiritual ends endeavouring to excel others in piety That so while others that have great possessions are with the Young man in the Gospel going from Christ sorrowfull thou mayst with Zacheus receive Christ joyfully and be willing to part with some of thy goods cheerfully My second Request is That in thy addresses to the Father and approaches to the Throne of Grace in the name of the Son by a lively faith in him in whom are all our springs from whom are all our supplies that among all thy requests to the Lord of Hosts both for a supply of spiritual things and natural things for thy self and friends that thou daily standest in need of thou would'st have one request one ejaculation one sigh one breathing or one petition for me also That the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of glory would give unto me a more full cleer powerful knowledge of his will in all wisdom spiritual understanding that I might walk worthy of the Lord being fruitful in every good work that he would pour out upon me that Spirit of Faith spoken of in the Gospel which was once given to the Saints which we are commanded to contend for and that Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him the Spirit of councel and might the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord that I might act for God from a pure principle of love to God that so not onely sinful self might be denied in me but that also natural self and religious self might be laid at the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ as dung and dross in point of justification and salvation which is all of free grace That so when I come to cut off my life like a Weaver for my dayes flie away swifter then his shuttle I may say with Simeon Luk. 2. 29 30. Lord let thy servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seen thy salvation Or at least I might say with Hezekiah Isa 38. 3. Remember now O Lord I beseech thee how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart or else that I might say in the sincerity of my soul with Paul 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. I have fought the good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith there is laid up for me a crown of glory O that our Parliament would consider with Job that although they have sate long yet now their days are swifter then the Weavers Shuttle and they shall shortly cut off like a Weaver Isa 38. 12. that so they might minde what David saith Psal 15. 4. He shall abide in Gods tabernacle and dwell in his holy hill that keepeth his word and Promises Oh that it might be your study so to do and that you would yet further improve the present opportunity in discharging the Trust reposed to you by God and his People for his Glory and their Liberty and this will bring you more comfort in the end then all your honour and estates which hath been now is and ever shall be my request to God for you O that our Armies whom God hath made so victorious would now pay their Vows that they made to the Lord of Hosts in the day of their distress and that speedily because their days are swifter then the Weavers Shuttle O that Magistracy and Ministry would consider how swift this Shuttle flies and yet their days flie swifter that so the one might not judge for Reward and the other teach for hire that so the first wheel that moves them to act might be out of conscience unto God and faithfulness to his People whose servants they are O that all men of all Opinions by what nick-name soever they be known viz. Episcopacy Presbyterie Independency Lutherans Socinians Arminians Anabaptists Antinomians would consider that their days are swifter then the Weavers Shuttle and give off that excessive contending about the garment of Religion and the Form in which they are to Worship which is but as paying Tithe of Commin and Annis and the while the Power of Religion is much abated and the weighty matters of the Law neglected Faith and Repentance Self-denial and an holy Conversation these by many are shut out of doors and so whiles we lie contending for the Form the Power of Religion is much abated and so the gravy marrow and sap of our souls is almost eaten out so that we had need and that speedily to take the Councell of Christ Rev. 3. 2. Be watchfull and strengthen the things that be ready to die for I have not found thy works perfect before God thou hast a name that thou livest but thou art almost dead for thou hast but a little strength ver 8. Now my Brethren let me tell you that I fear most of you instead of considering the great work that you have yet to do and the little time allotted you to do it and how swift that little time passeth away I say instead of considering this you all fall a weaving of the Spiders Web Isa 59 5. that is you are contriving Plots as may intangle others as the Spiders do the Flies to their dammage and detriment or to their utter undoing and destruction but let me tell you as in Isa 59. 6. Your Web shall not become garments which is your devices plots and practises though they may hurt and mischieve others yet they shall not help or avail your selves all the good or gain you gather by them shall stand you in no stead they will not be able to shelter you against Gods wrath no more then a coat of Cobweb is able to shelter you from a fierce storm or a thick volley of shot they shall all prove in conclusion as Cobwebs to your selves for any succour or benefit that you shall receive from them or reap by them See Isa 28. 15. 18. 20. Vse 5. Forasmuch as the soul is a more excellent piece then the body it is but reason that we should spend more time and pains in seeking the well being of the one before the other and if men did so indeed they would make Religion their business In seeking first the kingdom of heaven and the righteousness thereof knowing that all things that concern the well being of the body shall be added unto them But alas we serve the world which was made to serve us and so we become our servants servant Religion is not our business but the world and the things thereof is our business and Religion is a thing but by the by when we have nothing to do about our particular calling we will a little look after our general calling if we be called upon to hear such a Sermon to confer with such Christians about the business of our souls and our thriving in Spiritual things

died and rose again even so them also which sleep in Iesus will God bring with him The Holy Ghost in this place forbiddeth not Christian sorrow for the dead but Heathenish sorrow not moderate but excessive and immoderate either in respect of time or measure of our grief we may water our plants for our deceased Friends but not drown them 7. Let us consider the priviledges of Believers after death for death is unto them but a Porter opening a door into a dark entry or a servant of thy Fathers sent to put thy dear friend to bed for a little while till corruption shall have put on incorruption and mortality shall have put on immortality Death is but a sleep and the grave a bed and all things that be on the other side death are taken away by Iesus Christ Death openeth the great gate that leadeth to thy Fathers house that so thou mayest go home for we are but Sojourners Pilgrims and Strangers here in this World it is true unbelievers are at home whiles they live here they be called the inhabitants of the earth and dwellers upon the earth when they die they do not go home as thou doest it is true they go to their own place and to their own Father so that death to them is the King of Terrours but to thee and thy believing deceased Friend death should be looked upon as the Messenger of glad tidings which is come only to crack the clay walls which is our Prison that you may flie home and be at rest and when thou comest home to enjoy the presence of thy Father and Saviour Christ and to be filled with the Spirit and to be with all the holy Saints of Heaven thou wilt then rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory 8. Let us consider that although I and thee be like to loose our own lives or else have lost some of our nearest and dearest friends yet let this comfort us this also shall work together for our good Rom. 8. 28. Wherefore let us not so fear death but hearken what death doth whisper in thy ears saying fear not me I came from the Father and have no Commission to hurt you although my countenance be grim my message is sweet and pleasing Christ your beloved husband hath taken my sting from me before he would let me come to you I am come without a sting to tell you that God and Christ loves you and hath sent me on purpose to invite you into their presence where is fulness of joy and pleasures at his right hand for evermore only you must put off your filthy garments that the earth may return to its earth the fire to its fire the water to its water the aire to its aire for these were the Elements thy body was made of and so thou must endure a little pain in putting off these cloaths they be somewhat little and strait but thou must with Paul put off this earthly Tabernacle for that must be dissolved before thou canst be with Christ in whose presence there is fulness of joy where all relations will be made up in God there is no complaining in the Streets of this new Ierusalem no want of Relations God will be a Father Christ will be a Husband Saints gloryfied our Brethren Sisters and associates so we shall want no Relation neither shall any Relation want Perfection There is but a breath between thee and this condition 9. Let us consider that the Scripture doth pronounce them blessed that die in the Lord Rev. 14. 13 For from henceforth they rest from their labours See Eccles 4. 2. Job 3. 17. The greatest evil death can bring unto us is but a more speedy way to happiness Lastly let us consider that our dear beloved brother David although he mourned fasted and prayed whilst his Child was sick yet as soon as it was dead he arose and began to comfort himself saying I shall go to it ere long for my dayes are swifter then the Weavers shuttle saith Job Then shall the dust return to its earth saith Solomon Eccles 12. 7. The dust that is the body to shew the original of it Gen. 2. 7. and the weakness of it Dust is the weakest part of the earth Psal 103. 14. the basest and vilest of it Job 4. 19. Phil. 3. 21. Job 30. 19. Our original from the dust our return unto the dust This should humble us in our own eyes and should warn us to improve all our ability and every opportunity to make our calling and election sure that there might be nothing wanting in us to secure a better life before this be ended and not to put off the endeavours towards it as most do unto old age which haply we may never attain unto and if we do it will bring it self work enough for us to do Death comes swift and uncertain Sin the longer lived in doth the more harden Repentance is not in our call or command when we please it is a work of the whole man and of the whole life this work deferred will be greater the time to do it in will be shorter the strength to do it by will be less bodily infirmities will disinable spiritual actions God will have less honour and service from us and we our selves shall have more sorrow and less comfort For my own part I can speak something by woful experience of the sad effect of not imbracing the present opportunity and ability that God hath given me I am assured that I have lost much of my comfort here for hearkening to the motions of my own spirit and slighting the motions and strivings of the Lords Spirit by which means I have deprived my self of manifestations and apprehensions of heavenly and spiritual things that the Lord begun to pour out upon me And now if I would give all the world I cannot recall one day that is past nor one of those blessed opportunities that I have lost Only I desire if the Lord will to redeem this little inch of time yet remaining like an idle servant that hath loitered all the forenoon begins to work twice as hard in the afternoon I have two Requests within me to make unto thee whosoever thou art that readest these lines If there be in thee any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if any fellowship of the Spirit if any bowels and mercy then my first Request is I do beseech thee beg thee in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ if thou mindest his glory or thy own good that thou wouldst seek the Kingdom of Heaven in obedience to his command in the first place for in so doing the Lord will be glorified thy light shining before men that they seeing thy obedience to him may glorifie thy Father which is in heaven that so while the whole World with Martha are troubled about many things thou mayst with Mary choose the better part That so while some are giving all diligence to get

thy after-services are but like Cain's Sacrifices procuring a curse rather then a blessing In a word we were not made to serve the world the world was made to serve us and we were made to serve God Let every creature especially Man continue in his place for man is the most excellent creature of all on earth Let him then transcend all in his holy obedience to his Maker We are not our own we ought not to live to our selves we have forfeited our lives many a time the wages of the least sin is death and cursedness and yet our lives have been restored to us again For what end why saith the Scripture that we might not live to our selves but unto God Oh how often times doth he call how earnestly doth he knock at the door of our hearts how powerfully doth he strive how long doth he wait upon us to get us to yield unto him namely to have our hearts dis-ingaged from all things beneath himself and yet such wretches as we are we will not yield What is become of that frame of Spirit that was upon the Saints in former days Nathan used but one parable to David and he was converted Jonah preached but few days to Nineveh and they repented Christ looked back once upon Peter and he wept bitterly but there is such a spirit of slumber fallen upon most of the people in these days that nothing will prevail unless it be that place Rev. 21. 11. He that is unjust let him be so still and he which is filthy let him be filthy still And so they make good this place as it is spoken by way of precept and not by way of caution never considering what will become of them in the end thereof O ye sons and daughters of men did not our tender loving Lord God make us Lords of the Creation and are not we become Servants unto it Did not he make man the wisest of all Creatures and is there any Creature under the whole Heaven so unwise as man Did he not put a fear and a dread upon every creature Gen. 9. 2. And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every fowl of the ayr and upon all that moveth on the earth and upon all the fishes of the sea into your hands are they delivered But how is poor silly man afraid of and become a Servant to the meanest of all these Creatures in a Spiritual sense These were made our servants and have been faithfull in their service to us we were Created in the Image of God and appointed by him to be serviceable unto him and yet the whole Creation are more serviceable unto him and do not dishonour him as man doth Jer. 8. 6 7. I hearkened saith the Lord and heard but the most excellent piece of my workmanship man spake not aright no man repented him of his wickedness saying what have I done So I was fain to repent my self that ever I made man for every one runneth into sin as the horse rusheth into the battel Yea the Stork in the heavens knows her appointed times and the Turtle and the Crane and the Swallow observe the time of their coming but my People know not the judgments of the Lord. Man that was made the wisest of all is become the variest fool of all And oh that we saw it 1 Cor. 3. 18. Let no man deceive himself If any man among you seemeth to be wise let him become a fool that he may be wise We like fools take a great deal of pains to make our selves miserable We forsake the Fountain of living endurable waters and ride and run through thick and thin labour and toyl dig and hew unto our selves Cisterns yea broken Cisterns that will hold no water Jer. 2. 12 13. If John were to write an Epistle to the Professors of our dayes as once he did to Gaius 3 Ep. Joh. v. 1 2. Beloved I wish above all things that thou mayst prosper be in health even as thy soul prospereth I say if he were to write to us he would undoubtedly change his voice and say O ye Professors now extant in the English Nation I wish above all things that ye may prosper in your souls even as your bodies prosper O thou hast a flourishing body but a starved soul thy eyes stare out with fatness thou hast more then heart can wish thou art like the green Bay tree or the Willows by the water side thou hast given thee thy hearts desire but thou hast a lean famished starved soul and I could wish above all things that thy soul prospered as thy body prospereth Oh is it not better to go to Heaven with poor Lazarus then to Hell with rich Dives Is it not better O sons and daughters of men to be often saying with our head Christ The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head then to be saying in effect as most do at this day with that rich man Luk. 12 17. 18 19 20. Soul thou hast much goods laid up for many years take thine ease eat drink and be merry but God said unto him Thou fool this night shall thy soul be required of thee c. We have forgotten those words 1 Joh. 2. 15. Love not the world neither the things of the world if any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him O how few such can we find in a whole Parish in a whole City in a whole Shire nay how many think you are there in a whole Nation that love the world and so have not the love of the Father abiding in them In this Epistle of John the Spirit of the Lord in the mouth of his servant cals to all the sons of men and craves their diligent attention I have written to you Fathers I have written to you Children I have written to you Young men Why what is the Spirit of the Lord about to make out unto us Only here is the sum ver 15. Love not the world nor the things of the world for if any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him Object But some will be apt to say We do love God we do not love the World Answ How shall that appear If I should try thy practice by the Scriptures I shall find that thou dost love the world and not God 1 Ioh. 3. 17. Whoso hath this worlds good and seeth his brother in need and shutteth up his bowels of compassion how dwelleth the love of God in him That thou hast faith shew it to me by thy works and if thou hast love shew it by its fruits Indeed there is abundance of Faith and Love in the Nation but I can find but little in my self and others in the powerful operation The Power of Godliness is but here and there in a corner and when it doth

THE Weavers SHUTTLE DISPLAYED And the Swiftness thereof Unfolded Or the Words of a Dying man to a Dying People in the midst of a Dying Nation Wherein is held forth I. That the time is short the way is narrow the Prize is great the Runners are many the Obtainers are few II. That Repentance and turning to God is not in one Call or Command wherefore wait upon the means appointed by God to work it and that diligently and constantly this Work deferred will be still greater the Time to do it in wil be shorter the strength to do it by wil be less III. If we endeavour to the uttermost to improve the present opportunity and ability that the Almighty gives us we shall for ought I know live with more comfort here and die in full assurance hereafter for the greatest evil threatned or feared may through wisdom be timely prevented By Robert Purnel Job 14. 1. Man that is born of a Woman is of few days and full of trouble Psal 39. 5. Verily every man at his best estate is altogether vanity Job 7. 6. For his days are swifter then a Weavers Shuttle London Printed for Giles Calvert and are to be sold at his Shop at the black spred Eagle neer the West end of Pauls 1652. The Epistle to the Impartial READER Courteous Reader AS death is the King of Terrors to Christless Souls who have made the World their portion and Lyes their Refuge c. To Christians it is but a Servant sent from their Father to put them to Bed or sleep for a little time till Corruption put on Incorruption and Mortality Immortality to the first Death comes in full Power Force and Vertue to execute all the Plagues written so puts a period to all his good things But to the latter it puts a period to all his Troubles of what kinde or nature soever they are for Christ hath born all their griefs iniquities transgressions sorrows stripes and chastisements c. Fear not me saith death to a Saint I come from your Father who hath taken away my sting I am come to tell you that God and Christ doth love you and they love you so well that they can not suffer you any longer to be out of the full enjoyment of their love I have but one thing more in my Commission and that is only to crack the clay Walls which is the Prison that you may flie home and be at rest and this will be to the advantage both of thy body and soul thy body shall be healed of all its diseases of what nature or kind soever Death puts an end to all hunger and thirst cold or nakedness labour and weariness and then thy soul shall be taken up into the perfection of Gods eternal Love free Grace full Glory and everlasting Purity and so be for ever with the Lord in a word Death comes to put an end to a dying life which finisheth that work which begins so soon as we begin to live for the whole life is but a progress of death all the time we live we die invisibly and when we die indeed it is but a compleating of what we have been doing all our life long So that all the sons of men may say as once Iacob to Pharaoh Gen. 47. 9. Few and evil have the days of my life been few in comparison of his forefathers evil in the respect of his manifold crosses first in his Infancy secondly in Youth thirdly of Manhood fourthly of old Age each of those states accompanied with as many miseries as an hour is with minutes as doth appear by those words of Christ Mat. 6. 34. Sufficient to the day is the evil thereof c. And as for the things of this life when we have taken all the pains we can to rake and scrape them together it will be with us as with the children of Israel they that gathered little had no lack and those that gathered much had nothing over The Scripture tells us that the World was made of nothing Heb. 11. 3. and Iob telleth us it doth hang on nothing Iob 26. 7. Therefore to depend upon it is to depend on nothing Prov. 24. 5. VVilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not I have endeavoured in this Treatise to hold forth the frailty of man and the miseries that do accompany all men and women that do take up their rest in any thing beneath God I have exhorted all to improve the present opportunity and ability to the best advantage that all their good meanings and purposes might end in speedy performances in all which I do not say or mean that man should or could act without the Lords enabling him for we cannot get life by any action as it is mans without God for there is a flaming sword so that there is no coming to the Tree of Life but by Iesus Christ the new and living Way the true and only way We may assoon stand upon the Earth and touch the Sun in the Firmament as perform any Spiritual action without him or have any Acceptance either of our persons or performances but only in him Look upon whatsoever I have written as my thoughts or judgement who am a man knowing but little I must confess I rather lisp then speak plain in the things of God wherefore cover all my imperfections with a Mantle of Love this Piece is the only Work of a few redeemed hours compiled in the midst of many personal tryals if thou finde any imperfections yet let not the Truth of God suffer through my weakness but ascribe them to me even to me to whom of due they belong wherefore to the Law and to the Testimonies wherein I come short of speaking according to that Rule it is for want of light I am content to decrease so the glory of God may increase let my name perish so his may flourish let me cut off like a Weaver and die so his Name and Glory may live R. P. THE Weavers Shuttle Displayed And the Swiftness thereof Unfolded Job 7. 6. My days are swifter then a Weavers Shuttle THE Book of Job whereof this Text is a Part in general lays before us these things viz. 1. Gods Omnipotency 2. Mans uncharitableness 3. Jobs Patience and Thankfulness arising from his living in the will of God He giveth and takes away blessed be his name Job 1. 21. Now there were many things very eminent in Job 1. Uprightness of life in these words And Job was an upright and just man one that feared God and hated evil Job 1. 1. 2. Patience in Affl●ction Shall we receive good at the hands of God and not evil Job 2. 10. Job further holds forth viz. 3. The vanishing frailty of mans Nature 4. The envy of the Devil Job 1. 11. 5. The mercy of Almighty God in these words He maketh the wound and bindeth it up Job 5. 18. In the first of these to wit the Uprightness of his Life there are these

so to them 2. Secondly Consider whatsoever ye do for them the Lord takes it as done to himself Matth. 25. 40. Forasmuch as ye have done it to one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it to me 3. Thirdly Consider that whatsoever we give it shall be paid us again with interest Luk. 6. 38. Give and it shall be given to you again good measure pressed down and shaken together 2 Cor. 9. 6. He which soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully 4. Fourthly Consider that which you have in your Possession is not your own thou and I are but Stewards and we must give an accompt of our Stewardship Prov. 3. 27 28. Withhold not good from him to whom it is due when it is in the Power of thy hand to do it c. 5. Fifthly Consider that in Scripture phrase he that considereth the poor the Lord will deliver that man in the time of trouble Ps 41. 1. Also consider that Scripture 2 Cor. 8. 2 3. How that in a great tryal of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their liberality For to their power I bear record they were willing of themselvs Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift and take upon us the ministring to the Saints Therefore as you abound in every thing in Faith and Utterance and Knowledge and in all diligence and in your love to us see that ye abound in this also and set speedily about the work make no delay for the time is short our days are very swift yea swifter then the Weavers Shuttle It will be said shortly that Time shall be no more so Revel 6. 7. And the Angel lifted up his hand to heaven and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever who created heaven and earth and the things that therein are and the sea and the things that are therein that there shall be time no longer But in the dayes of the seventh Angel when he shall begin to sound the mysterie of God shall be finished as he hath declareth to his servants the Prophets Methinks I see the words of Christ come to pass Mat. 24. 29. Immediately after the tribulation of those dayes shall the Sun be darkned and the Moon shall not give her light and the Stars shall fall from heaven and the powers of heaven shall be shaken and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven and all the Tribes of the earth shall mourn for they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds with power and great glory Then he shall send his Angels with the great sound of a trumpet and they shall gather together his elect from the one end of the earth to the other Mat. 24. 30 31. O let all the inhabitants of the earth tremble for the day of the Lord cometh lo it is nigh at hand A day of darkness and of gloominess a day of clouds and of thick darkness there hath not been ever the like neither shall there be the like again A fire devoureth before him and behind him a flame burneth before his face the people shall be much pined all faces shall gather blackness the Earth shall quake before him the Heavens shall tremble the Sun and Moon shall be dark and the Stars shall withdraw their shining Oh this day of the Lord is great and very terrible who can abide it yea where will you find a man that can abide the day of his coming and who shall stand when he appeareth for he is like a Refiners fire and Fullers sope Oh what a terrible day will this be to most of the sons and daughters of men 2 Pet. 3. 12. The heavens shall be on fire and dissolve the earth shall melt with fervent heat If the rocks and mountains would fall on thee thou wouldst think it a favour to hide thee from the face of him that sitteth on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb for the great day of his wrath is come Rev. 6. 16 17. All both small and great shall be gathered together before the Judgment-seat of Christ Mat. 25. 32 33 34 c. yea the Sea shall give up her dead and the grave shall give up their dead death and hell shall give up their dead Rev. 12. 13 14 c. So we shall all appear before the Judgment-seat of Christ and all that ever we have done good or evil shall be laid open before all the world yea all our sins shall be brought to light and each man shall give an accompt of himself to God and be judged according to his works Mat. 25. 32 33 34. Rev. 20. 12 13. If ever thou wilt improve time do it presently Luk. 21. 34 35 36. Take heed to your selves lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness and cares of this life and so that day come upon you unawares For thy dayes are swifter then the Weavers shuttle and as a snare shal it come upon all them that dwell upon the earth Watch ye therefore and pray always that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all those things and to stand before the Son of man This day will come as a thief in the night Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness looking for and hastening to the coming of that day wherein the heavens shall be on fire and the lements shall melt with fervent heat Seeing then that ye look for such things be diligent that ye may be found in him in peace without spot and blameless But if any say I will be diligent hereafter Let me tell thee If ever thou intendest to do any thing for the glory of God the good of thy self and the benefit of others do it presently for the time is short Oh then get oyl in your lamps grace in your hearts that you may not be like the foolish Virgins Mat. 25. 7 8 9 10. The wise Virgins considered that their time was short and their dayes swift and so made it their present work to get oyl in their lamps which was grace in their hearts But the foolish Virgins put it off from day to day never minding that their dayes were swifter then the Weavers shuttle Our time is short wherefore bid adieu to the world For what is the World but vanity All the Honours are but as so many dishonours all the Riches but poverty and all the Joyes but sorrows and all the Pleasure is but pain And if in this life only thou and I have hope we are of all men most miserable Our dayes are but as a bubble we no sooner have our being but we are going to our end All our strength is but as grass and all our beauty is as the flower of the field the grass fadeth the flower with ereth and our strength and beauty is gone Death will bring

but a little peep out or put forth its head the Dogs of Egypt begin to bark for a long space without any intermission and these Dogs are as cunning as Achitophel and as eloquent as Herod and so make the poor ignorant people believe that they do bark at Thieves that would break open their Church-doors and steal away their Religion when indeed they bark at the Sheep that would hear Christs voice and follow him But no more of this at present Again consider that the love of the world is brought in by the Apostle to be the root of all evil 1 Tim. 6. 10. For the love of money is the root of all evil c. Now by money we commonly understand gold and silver which is the purest metal of all and one would think in reason if any thing of the world were to be beloved then the most choise things should be the object of our love but gold and silver although the purest and choisest thing of all that will buy any thing in the world nay Solomon said of it Eccles 10 19. Money answereth all things Yet to love this saith the Spirit of the Lord in his word is the root of all evil 1 Tim. 6. 10. In a word consider A man takes a great deal of pains in getting goods and a great deal of care in the keeping of them and a great deal of sorrow in losing them and but a very little comfort in the enjoyment of them We may look back upon them all as Solomon did Eccles 2. 11. Then I looked upon all the works that my hand had wrought and on the labour that I had laboured and behold all was not only vanity but also vexation of spirit and there was no profit under the Sun Here wise Solomon writ Vanity upon the Crown of all worldly treasures and pleasures and why is this written but for our learning upon whom the end of the world is come But there are but few of us of Solomons mind and that will appear in our taking so much paines in gathering wealth and then we set our affections and minds abrood upon them until as a hen her chickens we have hatched them and then a little while after they get themselves wings and flie from us Oh why do we set our eyes upon that which is not See Prov. 23. 5. In a word the Scriptures which are written for our learning and are profitable for doctrine for reproof and for correction and for instruction that the man of God might be throughly furnished unto every good work These Scriptures so excellent if you read them you shall find there is contained in them at least ten precepts or commands to look to the being and well-being of our souls for one command to look to our bodies and at least ten promises for a blessing upon that for one promise of a blessing upon us in point of a large enjoyment of outward things and yet such fools are most of us we take ten times the pains and care for the latter more then we do for the former Gods order is Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven and then in the second place those things shall be given unto you but our practise is to seek the things of this life first and the Kingdom of heaven at last when we have nothing else to do The Lord saith Lay up treasures in heaven first but we will lay up treasures on earth first Oh how contrary is our practise to the Commands of our Creator It would be endless for a man to instance in what is written in Scripture to this thing therefore I shall instance in one Scripture for all and that is in Mat. 6. in which Chapter from the ninth verse to the 34. our blessed Saviour draws at least ten Arguments against Covetousness 1. Saith he Lay not up treasures on earth for the moth and rust will corrupt it and thieves will steal Matth. 6. 19 20. 2. Saith he If your treasure be in the world your hearts will be in the world ver 21. 3. Christ tells us we cannot obey him and the world too No man can serve two masters God and Mammon ver 24. 4. He bids us Take no care what ye shall eat and drink or for rayment what ye shall put on ver 25. And that for these Reasons The fowls of the ayr do not sowe nor reap nor gather into barns Are you not better then they saith our Saviour ver 26. 5. He demands of us why we do take such thought for rayment Consider saith he the Lillies of the field how they grow they toyl not neither do they spin and yet Solomon in all his royaltie was not arayed like one of these verses 28 29. 6. He demands this question of us Which of you by taking thought can adde one cubit to his stature ver 27. 7. Wherefore if God so cloath the grass of the field shall he not much more cloath you O ye of little faith ver 30. 8. Therefore saith the Lord Christ if this be true as most true it is Take no thought at all what ye shall eat or drink or wherewithall ye shall be cloathed for after all these things do the Gentiles seek ver 31 32. 9. If for all this ye will be seeking these things Be sure you seek first the kingdom of heaven and the righteousness thereof and then ye need not seek so earnestly for these they shall be added unto you ver 33. 10. Take therefore no thought for the morrow nor pray for no more then daily bread for the next day shall take thought for it self sufficient to the day is the evil thereof ver 34. Then let our conversation be without covetousness for he hath said He will never fail us nor forsake us Heb. 13 5. Some of our humane Scholars say that in the original of this Text the words I will never leave thee is mentioned five times but I have searched the Scripture and I finde it written in the Scriptures above five times five I will never leave thee nor forsake thee The candle that gave me light to read it was lighted in Heaven and the key that opened the book for it was sealed was the Spirit of God the eyes by which I saw it was the eyes of my understanding being enlightened according to the that Eph. 1. 18. Also minde those words of 〈…〉 Luk. 12. 15. And he said unto them 〈…〉 heed and beware of covetousness 〈…〉 mans life consisteth not in the abund 〈…〉 things which he possesseth nor in 〈…〉 for then Pharaoh had been ble 〈…〉 in wit for then Achitophel h 〈…〉 blessed nor in wealth for th 〈…〉 had been blessed but true blesse 〈…〉 from above The blessing of the Lord 〈◊〉 ●●keth rich and bringeth no sorrow with ●● Prov. 10. 22. Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom neither let the mighty man glory in his might let not the rich man glory in his riches but let him that

effects of sin are viperous Sin was the first founder of hell and laid the first stone thereof and is the sole cause of all the torments therein and yet all this is but the effect of sin the essence of it which is the cause of all these evils must needs be much more abominable hence sin is called poyson and sinners are called serpents sin is called mire sinners swine sin sinners are called darknes blindnes shame nakedness folly madness In a word whatsoever is filthy defective infective painful and hurtful proceeds from this nasty filthy and stinking fountain and one sin vertually more or less containeth in it the nature of all sin No sooner did one sin sit upon our father Adam his heart but he had all sin in him which infected him and all his posterity and so defiled him and all his posterity eternally so that as I said before nothing can wash away the stain thereof but the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ shall we then live in that for which Christ died shall that be our life which was his death shall we indeed enjoy the pleasure of sin and Christ undergo the torment of sin No no let us improve the present motions of the Spirit in us against sin least the Spirit of God cease striving with thee and me and so we shall fall to commit sin with greediness without any reluctancy O all ye sons and daughters of men put on all the armour of God stand on your guards make ready for your soul-murthering enemy whose name is Legion never be at peace with him maintain a continual war against him acquaint all the men and women in the world of his base deceitful cheating tricks that their ill savour in the nostrils of all men and women under the Sun may make them loath it and stand upon their guards to oppose it and if the love of Christ doth not constrain you yet let the fear of punishment compel you to refrain from that abominable thing called sin If thou canst not say with Joseph Gen. 39. 9. How shall I do this great evil and sin against my God Yet thou canst say with Thamar 2 Sam. 13. 12. 13. verses If I should commit this sin whither should I cause my shame to go So much shall serve at present to be written of the third particular to wit that if we made it our business to follow the Lord and were not wanting to our selves we might have our conversations in heaven even whiles we live upon the earth and be more then Conquerors over those sins that do often conquer us 4. That Religion may be our main work let us consider that the Lord that made us hath undertaken the care of us He commands us to wait on him and he will feed us and cloath us We have but a body and a soul and both we received from the Almighty God who hath undertaken to provid● for not only the being but also the wel-being of both only he requires of us to seek unto him and to wait upon him in the use of those means instituted by himself without too much carefulness 1 Cor. 7. 32. But I would have you without carefulness that is so to use this world as if we used it not ot not so using it as most do by too much doting upon it and cleaving unto it as Martha did but rather with Mary choose the better part and so much the rather because of those many promises of so many legacies left us by the Lord in his word as to instance in a few Psal 37. 5. Commit thy way unto the Lord trust in him and he shall bring it to pass Commit or roll thy way upon him Psal 55. 22. Cast thy burther upon the Lord. Prov. 16. 3. Commit thy works unto the Lord and thy thoughts shall be established 1 Pet. 5. 7. Cast all thy care upon him for he careth for thee and hath said that He will never leave thee nor forsake thee Heb. 13. 5. Some Expositors upon this Text do affirm that the Greek word hath five times together I will never never never never never fail thee nor forsake thee to assure us of the truth of this O my friends doth God take care for Oxen and feed Ravens and clothe Lillies and take care of Sparrows and will he not much more take care for Man whom he hath made Lord of all these creatures Read and well consider from the 19. to the 34. verse of Matth. 6. There we find in that one Chapter ten arguments that Christ hath laid down to assure us that he taketh care of us Psal 27 3. Trust in the Lord and do good and verily thou shalt be fed and so shalt thou dwell in the land See 1 Tim. 6 7 c. We brought nothing into the world and it is certain we can carry nothing out and having food and raiment let us be therewith content But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and noisom lusts which drown men in perdition and destruction For the love of money is the root of all evil c. But thou O man of God flee these things and follow after righteousness godliness faith love patience meekness c. 5. Consider that this God that hath undertaken the care of us is a faithful God and will make good every tittle promised He hath not only said but sworn and sealed that oath with his blood to assure us that he will make good whatsoever he hath promised Besides that he is a faithful God keeping promise in every tittle to a hairs breadth both Old and New Testament doth abundantly declare and testifie so that we have not only witnesses but clouds of witnesses besides our own experiences and inward evidences that we have not only read but experimentally found him to be a God keeping covenant a God keeping promise yea a God giving more then we were able to ask or think so that we can truly say we never found him worse then his word but often better for he never said unto us Seek ye me in vain He hath often knocked at the door of our hearts and waited upon us to shew mercy to us there is no one thing that he hath promised either for soul or body for our being or well being but shall be made good to us in its time And that he hath promised to give us food and raiment and all things necessary for us you may see it doth cleerly appear in the foregoing head to wit the 4. particular And that he is faithful and true and will make it good doth clearly appear by these and the like Scriptures 1 Tim. 1. 15. Heb. 10. 23. Mat. 24. 35. Luk. 16. 17. Tit. 1. 2. 1 Cor. 10. 13. Deut. 7. 9. 1 Cor. 1. 9. 1 Thes 5. 24. 2 Thes 3. 3. 2 Tim. 2. 13. Heb. 11. 11. 1 Joh. 1. 9. 6. If we consider these five things seriously it

will beget in us this unspeakable benefit namely To behold a hand of Providence in and read love under every dispensation You and I should say with Iob when we loose all blessed be the name of the Lord and with Paul Phil. 4. 11. I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be contented and so we shall serve him without fear and not be afraid of Armies of men and Legions of Devils Psal 3. 6. He will not fear death and hell Why because he will see both overcome by Jesus Christ Death that was the King of terrours hath now lost his sting 1 Cor. 15. 56. and the Devil hath lost his power as to one that is in Christ for he is overcome by Christ Heb. 2. 14. Sin also the cause of death which did shut the door of Gods mercy and grace upon us is overcome for us by Christ upon whom it was laid Isa 53. 6. And so he made an end of transgression and sin The world also that did so often deceive us and perplex us is overcome for us by Jesus Christ Joh. 16. 33. The Law also which brought in many Bills of Indictment against us is fulfilled by Christ for us Rom. 10. 4. The Justice of the Almighty that did lie in the way of our peace and quiet untill it was satisfied is now taken away quite and appeased towards all true Believers by the Lord Iesus Christ Psal 85. 10 So that now come what will come all shall work together for the good of those that love God If prosperity come let us behold God smiling upon us and trying of us If imprisonment come let us with Paul and Silas sing Psalms if tribulation come let us rejoyce knowing that tribulation shall work patience and patience experience and experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed In a word if our wills were resigned up into his will we should be saying such words Good is the word of the Lord let him do what seemeth him good for nothing can separate me from the love of God in Christ Rom. 8. 38 39. Neither can any thing do me harm Rom. 8. 28. 7. This is the way to have our conversation in Heaven whilest we live on the earth Now what makes Heaven but Union and Communion with God in Iesus Christ now this being attainable in this life what hinders but a Christian may live in Heaven whilest he lives upon earth 1 Ioh. 1. 3. Truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Iesus Christ Phil. 3. 20. Our conversation is in heaven again I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God Gal. 2. 20. All these were men on earth subject to infirmities as we are and yet they lived in Heaven and these things are left written in the Scriptures for our learning to wind up our hearts to the like frame Let Religion be our business then and more time spent on that and less time on the world For as hath been said before the time is short the remainder of our season is now folding up as a Sail or Curtain into a narrow room time is short and life shorter and the end of all things is at hand Thus have I endeavoured as briefly as I could to lay before thee whosoever thou art that readest these lines viz. the shortness of mans life or fewness of his days and the many miseries that do befall him and how a Christian might if not escape them yet have them lessened and sweetned unto him so that he might walk through these Seas of troubles and winds and floods of afflictions and fiery trials by open secret buffettings from thy many enemies and sometimes from pretended friends and neer relations with comfort c. Was not Abel murthered by his brother Noah mocked by his sons Job and David scoffed by their wives was not Iacob threatened by his brother banished from his Father abused by his uncle in the day he was consumed with heat Gen. 31. 40. in the night with frost then there arose a division betweeen his two wives two sisters brawling for one husband after this they both run from their father now see a fresh pursuit behinde him Laban following him with an hue and cry before him Esau coming with four hundred men to go forward intolerable to go backward unavailable then a little after his wife Rachel dies his daughter Dinah is ravished his son Reuben lies with his Concubines then his son his Ioseph they report is lost and now see a man of sorrows indeed I will go down saith he to the grave unto my sons mourning after this a Famine begins and another of his sons in prison and nothing can redeem him but his only Benjamin here was loss of son after son Ioseph is not Simeon is not saith he and now ye take away Benjamin all these things are against me Thus every Christian more or less though he be a few days yet they are full of trouble and both flie away faster then the Weavers shuttle which if well considered will rouze up those many sleepy professors living in these crazy times and slippery days wherein both lives and liberties health friends wealth pleasures honours and priviledges are in such extremity of extraordinary uncertainties I say the serious consideration hereof might serve to rouze up all sorts of men to improve the present time to the best advantage that so they might have an unshaken foundation of true spiritual peace and consolation For we must al die and that speedily our days flie away swifter then the weavers Shuttle It is said that when the Egyptians found their first born dead in their Families there was a great cry throughout Egypt a great cry in every Family Now were we as sensible of our souls as we are of our bodies oh what a great cry would there be in most of our Families one crying out and saying O Lord I have a dead childe another O Lord I have a dead servant another O Lord I have a dead wife in my Family whose soul is dead another I have a dead husband a dead friend and if the Lord doth not raise them speedily I fear they will die the second death from whence there is no redemption for they shall be cast into everlasting fire which is an intolerable eternity our life is like a candle in a paper Lanthorn there 's but a breath between us heaven or hel Wherefore O earth earth earth hear the voice of the Lord even while it is called to day which is swifter then the weavers shuttle FINIS