joyfully into another world and this I say again a man acquainted with God may do he hath this to comfort him death doth more properly give him life then take it away from him and that as soon as he is dead his sin shall dye too and his grace live and act without controul then he shall live a life of joy a life of perfect holiness such a life as Saints and Angels live such a life as Christ lives the life of God a life without death an everlasting life and why then should he be afraid of dying As for his old Companion the body it is gon to rest and will ere long be awakened and rise from his bed more vigorous and fit for those Noble imployments which it must be engaged in for ever and Soul and Body shall meet with more comfort then now they part with pain when the body shall be in another kind of dress then now it wears and that also shall in some respects be like the Soul agil holy immortal This is such a man that I can call happy and so ere long will those that now scorn and persecute him call him too Blessed is he that in his life is holy and cheerful but most cheerful and perfect at his death This is the happy portion of Gods acquaintance this is the heritage of the Friends of the Bridegroom I have read of a wise man that would commend and be thankful for every thing because he was sure a friend of his had the management of every thing whose understanding was infinite and whose wisdom was unsearchable who could would work his own honour and his Friends comfort out of every thing yea though seemingly evil for the greater the evil seems to be the greater will be the real kindness which makes so much good out of it O but I have lately lost many of my most neer and precious relations If thou art one of Gods Friends let me tell thee for thy comfort you will meet them at your Friends house when you come thither It was no unsuitable advice that he gave to his Friend Lucilius to cheer him up after the loss of a dear Friend Let us consider my dear Lucilius that we our selves should be glad to be in that place and to enjoy that company which you are so sad that your Friend is gon to and he that you say is lost is not so but happy before you We do not judge rightly of things Well then would you know what a man is would you pass a true estimate of him and understand his worth and value Why then consider the man without his riches lay aside his honours take away all his externals from him nay further le ts see the man raked out of his body and how doth the Soul look is it now rich beautiful joyful can it stand confidently before God doth it appear cheerfully in the presence of it's maker Why this is something It matters not much whether his body were fed with Pulse or Dainties cloathed with Rags or Scarlet it matters not whether his Soul went out of his mouth or at a wound whether he dyed in bed of doun or in flames Methinks by this time you should be ready to think that Religion is an excellent thing that Gods acquaintance is desirable and that no life is like the life of a Christian all whose sorrows end in joys whose miseries make him more happy whose shame for Christ will make for his glory In a word whose death brings him into life This is the generation of them that seek thee that seek thy face O Jacob. 5. Another effect of acquaintance with God is That it will make us more highly to honour him Here familiarity is far from breeding contempt Those that are stangers to God see not his worth and excellency they honour him not but they have the most vile low contemptible thoughts of the infinitely glorious Majesty and they think any thing will serve his turn they make more bold with him then they would do with a man like themselves they put him off with the leavings of the world When they have been feeding their lusts and serving their pleasures and gratifying the Devil all the day long then they come between sleep and awake and pretend a great deal of love to him and anger with themselves for their sin whereas God knows they do but play the hyprocrites in all they do mean nothing that they say Lip-devotion knee-religion God shall have and but a little of that too and that pitiful stuff that they present him with they think God is very much beholding to them for As for the sanctifying the Lord God in their hearts as for inward hearty-hearty-love as for high prizings and admirings of God as for a real honouring of God and worshipping of him in Spirit and in Truth it is that which they understand not and as for them which do they laugh at them as if they were guilty of the greatest folly in the world But now he which converseth with God beholds such a beauty excellency majesty and glory in him that it is ready quite to swallow up his soul he speaks much of God but yet he thinks more he wonders that a God of such infinite goodness should be no more loved that a God of such infinite greatness justice and holiness should be no more feared that a God of such unspeakable power should be no more obeyed and while he remembers his own contempt of God in former times and the too mean thoughts that he hath at present of him he doth even stand astonished to think that he should be on this side the state of the damned He that before thought every thing too much for God now thinks nothing enough for him The man is strangely changed by his new acquaintance so that he may not improperly be called a New man all things are new with him In honor to this new guest he hath got on new cloaths he is clâ—â— with Righteousness as with a garment new food it is his meat and drink to do the will of his Father which is in Heaven new drink Wine on the Lees well refined he draws all out of those wells of Consolation the Promises he hath new thoughts words and actions God invisibles and all the things of faith are now Substances with him Now the threats or promises of a God are not counted small matters Heaven Hell and Eternity go for the greatest Realities because God saith they are such So he that sometimes lived without God in the world had no respect at all to his glory but valued himself and his most base lust and the Devil himself before God doth now respect Gods glory in all that he doth he ventures upon nothing deliberately but what may please him Religion runs through all he doth he eats he drinks and sleeps and cloaths himself he prayes he works he recreates himself with a design for God The grand project he
but those that are acquainted with God know these things and upon the mention of them their hearts leap within them As face answereth to face in a glass so experience answereth these things When this string is struck their hearts do harmonize as when a Lute-string is struck the other strings of nighest concord with it move also But these things are a mystery to the world and they say as those of Christs word We know not what he saith And it is no wonder for they are the actings of a Divine life to which all are naturally dead till they are raised to newness of life by the quickning of the spirit of God But I proceed to shew what is meant by this acquaintance with God Fourthly To this Acquaintance with God there is required a mutual Communication Where there is acquaintance between man and man there hath been a mutual Interchange of conference and discourse Thus when the soul is acquainted with God there is an Interchange of conference between God and the soul The soul openeth its wants breaths out its complaints spreadeth its necessities before God God openeth the treasures of his love in his Son the rich Mynes of his precious Promises and the secrets of his good Will to the soul Thus Psal 25.15 The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him and he will shew them his Covenant Gen. 18.17 The Lord saith shall I hide from Abraham the thing that I do Those that are friends and acquaintance they will let out their thoughts and purposes one to another they gave out themselves mutually into communion one with another Thus Christs knocks at the door of the soul Rev. 3.20 Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man hear my voice and open the door I will come in and sup with him and he with me Here is Christ offering himself to the soul the soul is to entertain him at another time the soul goes to God and God entertains it God hath promised that he will open Mat. 7.28 Knock and it shall be opened unto you and to him that knocks it shall be opened There are frequent actions among those that are acquainted And by these are expressed to us the acquaintance of the soul with God Now the Communications that are between the soul and God are exceeding transcending all communications that are between mens acquaintance Men may communicate their thoughts their estates their assistance to one another but they cannot communicate their life nor their nature nor their likeness but such communications there are between God and the soul that is acquainted with him All being is a communication from God the first being nay the several degrees of being have several communications from God some greater and some lesser spiritual beings have a higher communication then natural but Gods highest communications have been to man in that mystical Union of the Divine Nature to the Humane Nature in Christ and next in the mystical Union of the Sons of God to Christ and in him to the Father Thus Christ is said to live in us Colos 2.20 I live saith Paul yet not I but Christ liveth in me Thus Christ prays the Father for his Children that they may be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they be one in us Joh. 4.17 21. Joh. 1.15 16. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God God dwelleth in him and he in God He that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God 2 Pet. 1.4 We are said to be partakers of the Divine Nature This expression implyes high communication of God to man Again there are high acts of communication from man to God for though God receives not from man yet man is to act as giving out himself to God such as to give up the will to Gods will As that of Eli It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good And that of David 2 Sam. 15.16 If he thus say I have no delight in thee behold here am I let him do with me as seemeth good unto him Another act of high Communication of a mans self to God is parting with present enjoyments for future hopes in confidence of Gods promise Thus the Spirit of God works in the children of God a readiness to forsake Father or Mother and Brethren and Sister and life it self for the cause of God Thus John Baptist was willing to become Nothing that Christ might become All to be cast down that Christ might be lifted up Joh. 3.13 He must increase but I must decrease Thus Abraham gives his Isaack to dye when God calls for him Thus Moses esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt Heb. 11.26 Paul counted not his life dear for Christ Acts 20.24 These have been the actings of the souls of those that have been acquainted with God and such workings as these are the feeling of a child of God I have shewed you four things which are requisite to acquaintance with God First Knowledg of God Secondly access to him Thirdly Converse with him Fourthly Communication to him and from him Fifthly There is likewise required to acquaintance a loving compliance Amongst men Acquaintance implyes Affection And so it is between God and Man Never any soul was acquainted with God that did not love God and such a soul is an enemy to God therefore very few are acquainted with God but all that are not acquainted with God are enemies to God If we should come to a person that is not acquainted with God and say Thou art an enemy to God this would seem a heavy imputation but I speak it freely thou whosoever thou art that art not acquainted with God thou art an enemy to God for thou art still as thou we'rt born but we are all enemies to God according to our corrupt nature and abide enemies till we come to be acquainted with God Love to God and acquaintance with God go together are heightned by one another First God lets into the soul by his Spirit a partial discovery of himself and by this with the working of his Spirit he incline the heart in love to him Then on the first working of the soul towards God he lets in a clear light whereby he draweth the soul to a further degree of love A clear place for this Ephes 3.17 18. And that being rooted and grounded in love ye may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the length and breadth and depth and heighth and to know the love of God which passeth all understanding that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God The love of God fits the soul to comprehend the glorious discoveries of God and the discoveries of God doth heighten our love to God Acquaintance with God makes us like unto God as in Joh. 3.2 We shall see him as he is And our likeness to God as it makes us the delight of God so it makes us delight in God
are wretched miserable and poor and blind and naked And this makes David Psal 139.24 to cry out after he had been trying himself Search me O God and know my heart try me and know my thoughts and see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting This unaptness in us to make a right judgement of our selves in our relation to God ariseth First From that deep root of self-self-love that is in us by nature whereby we are apt to apprehend well of our selves and please our selves with a good conceit of our selves though we are never so bad And such is the nature of this affection that it blinds our eyes and prejudiceth the mind that it cannot make a right judgment As affection in some Parents to their Children makes them reckon that which is a blemish to be a beauty in their children so doth inordinate self-love work in men in the judgment of themselves Men when they judge themselves they look into a flattering glass which presents them in greater beauty then that which is their own Secondly we judge amiss of our selves because we take not a right rule for our judgments as those whom Paul speaks of 2 Corinthians 10.12 Some commend themselves but they measure themselves by themselves and comparing themselves with themselves are not wise If we take our selves to be the rule and measure then we cannot discern our own crookedness and irregularness Thirdly We judge amiss of our selves because of the deceitfulness of our hearts The heart of man is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it Jer. 17.9 Gross wickedness is apparent to the pur-blind eye but where there is an abstaining from gross outward sins there are special workings of Corruption such as pride self-self-love distrust of God and love of the world any of which shut up the soul against God as with bolts and bars and these lying inward are not discerned Other accounts may be given of the unaptness to make a due judgment of our selves it concerns us therefore to be exact in our tryal and trust not to a sudden answer for we are ready to make a short work of it and to save our selves the labour and to sit down with charitable thoughts of our selves Whatsoever answer therefore our hearts give us let us see cleared and have such reason for it that we may know how to proceed with our selves upon a right judgment of our selves The chief work of trial in this particular acquaintance with God will be from those particulars wherein I opened the nature of the souls acquaintance with God Let us therefore take those Heads and our own Experience of our selves and by a rational deduction let us find out our own estate As thus Those that are acquainted with God are brought nigh to God Whereas sometimes there was a strangeness and remoteness a vast separation now the partition is taken out of the way and I am made one in Christ I have took God to be my portion and my Father I have been a Prodigal and have departed from him but I finding my self lost and undone and that nothing could satisfie my soul in the world therefore I resolved I would return to my Fathers house and try if he would receive me again into his family and so I have done I have cast off my old converse with the world and with corruption I have broken my league with Hell and have entered into a covenant with the Father through his Son Jesus Christ therefore I may comfortably conclude that I am now in a state of acquaintance with God But if in the enquiry into my self I find not these things if I find that now I am as in former dayes I have felt no such change in my self and that all things are with me as they were of old I never was sensible of any loss in my self I never knew what strangeness and nighness to God meant I never understood what union with God and distance from God was this signifies ill it is a symptome of a bad state of a state of unacquaintance with God 2. So again for our converse with God He that is acquainted with God he hath had his converse with God he hath dwelt with God and God with him he hath supped with Christ and Christ with him his great business and employment hath been nigh God in those things wherein is most of God If I find my soul much conversing with God oft sending out breathings to Heaven oft casting my eye towards God if I find the great work of my mind to be with God my great business lies in Heaven my treasure is laid up there and my thoughts and desires and joys and delights and meditations are there I may comfortably conclude that I am in some measure acquainted with God But if in the inquiry into my self I find that I have my whole converse with the world that I can afford no time for Prayer to God in my family and in secret If I find all the day long my cares and desires and thoughts run out most naturally and fully without controle towards the things of the world or that I will mind my self in a natural carnal way and mind not the things of God this signifies to me my unacquaintance with God and it will be an ungrounded presumption in me to reckon of my self any other then a stranger to him 3. So for communion and fellowship which is in acquaintance Those that are intimately acquainted their communion in the way of discourse is very frequent in making known their thoughts and apprehensions their fears and wants their minds are open one to another and that which is the propriety of one is by their acquaintance communicated to the use of both If then I can find in reviewing the workings of my soul that there hath been this sight of Heaven this Spiritual Communion between my soul and God that my heart hath been open to God that I have gone to God when my heart hath been burdened with sorrow I have discharged it into the bosom of God as into the bosom of a friend that in my doubts I have betaken my self to him expecting comfort from him that upon hearing his voice I have opened to him and upon my opening he hath come in with smiles of love and given me tokens of his favour these things signifie a state of acquaintance with God but if I know not what it is to have given up my soul to God to be his and to have taken God to be mine if I have had experience of receiving nothing else from God but a partaking of the things of the world if I have not been wont to communicate the workings of my mind to God it betokeneth my unacquaintance with God 4. And again for that friendly working of love and affection in the soul towards God Those that are in a state of acquaintance are supposed to comply with each other in
come muster up all your jovial Blades together call for your Harps and Viols add what you will to make the consort compleat bring in your richest Wines come lay your heads together and study what may still add to your comfort well is it done Now come away sinner this night thy soul must-appear before God Well now what say you man What doth your courage fail you Now call for your merry Companions and let them chear thy heart Now call for a Cup a Whore never be daunted man shall one of thy courage quail that could make a mock at the threatnings of the Almighty God what so boon and jolly but now and now down in the mouth Here 's a sudden change indeed Where 's thy merry companions I say again all fled Where are thy darling pleasures have all forsaken thee Why shouldest thou be dejected there 's a poor man in rags that 's smiling What art thou quite bereft of all comfort What 's the matter man What 's the matter There 's a question with all my heart to ask a man that must appear before a God to morrow morning Well then it seems your heart misgives you what then did you mean to talk of joy and pleasures are they all come to this Why there stands one that now hath his heart as full of comfort as ever it can hold and the very thoughts of Eternity which do so daunt your soul raise his and would you know the reason he knows he is going to his friend nay his friend bears him company thorow that dirty Lane Behold how good and how pleasant a thing it is for God and the soul to dwell together in unity This 't is to have God for a friend O blessed is the soul that is in such a case yea blessed is the soul whose God is the Lord Psal 144.15 Psal 69.15 16 2 Cor. 1.3 Joh. 14.16 Isa 51.11 12 Neh. 8.10 Psal 30.5 Psal 43.4 Prov. 14.10 Isa 29.19 Rom. 14.17 1 Pet. 1.8 Nay David when he seem'd to be somewhat out of tune leaves this upon Record as undoubted truth Psal 73.1 That God is good to Israel even to such as are of a clean heart Let the Devil and his Instruments say what they will to the contrary I will never believe them I have said it before and I see no reason to reverse my sentence Truly God is good Though somtimes he may hide his face for a while yet he doth that in faithfulness and love there is kindness in his very scourges and love bound up in his rods he is good to Israel do but mark it first or last The true Israelite in whom there is no guile shall be refreshed by this Saviour The Israelite that wrestles with tears with God and values his love above the whole world that will not be put off without his Fathers blessing he shall have it with a witness He shall reap in joy though he may at present sow in tears Even to such as are of a clean heart The false-hearted hypocrite indeed that gives God only his tongue and lip cap and knee but reserves his heart and love for sin and the world that hath much of complement but nothing of affection and reality why let such a one never expect while in such a state to taste those reviving comforts that I have been treating of while he drives such a trade he must not expect much of Gods company but of that hereafter What a charge doth God give to his Ministers to keep up the spirits of his people Comfort ye comfort ye my people saith their God speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem It 's a gross mistake to think that God loves to see his drooping and hanging down their heads no no he counts it his honour to have his servants chearful O why then should any of the precious sons and daughters of Zion walk up and down as if their friends company were not sufficient to solace them even in the lowest state that a child of God can be conceived to be in While you think God is honoured by you you can't imagine what wrong you do him The world stands by and looks upon you the Devil bids them look on still and ask them how they like such a dumpish life and the service of such a Master all whose servants and friends lead such a doleful life Stay hold these Satan that 's a lye and a loud one too there are and have been thousands of Gods Children that have lived as it were in the Suburbs of Heaven while they have been upon Earth many thousands there have been that have spent their days in true solid joy and peace many that have gone from one Heaven of comfort here to another of glory and comfort in that other world As I said before so I say again It is not the company of God but the want of it makes those sad which you see so besides let me tell you tears and joy are no way inconsistent It may be also those tears that sad countenance may be for thy sake when he sees what comfort thou despisest and knows what a God what a Friend thou refusest he can't but weep it 's no rarity for the people of God in the midst of their spiritual enjoyments to pity poor foolish sinners that slight those things which they know to be so refreshing Thus David did when his heart was solaced with the love of God when his soul was ready to be over-burdened over-powered with the abundant incomes of Gods kindness he can't but with grief and pity think of their state who have nothing to live upon but husks whilest he seeds thus high O let my soul be but acquainted with God let me but taste more of those true comforts drink of that river of pleasures that is at his right hand and then I could spare these lower sensual pleasures then I should scarce envy the most merry ranting Blades their comforts I will not say but then I should with sorrow think of their wants It was spoken by Galeacius Caraxiola one that sometimes had none of the least shares of worldly enjoyments and might have had more could he have dispensed with the absence of this friend could he but have been willing to have wanted those spiritual comforts Let him perish that values not one hours communion with God and the comforts of a divine life above all the pleasures and comforts that the earth can afford Give me such comforts such a friend whose smiles may refresh me upon a death-bed whose presence may revive me when nothing else can Naturalists tells us of a Bird call'd Charadius that being brought into the room where any one lieth sick if he look upon the sick person with a fixed eye he recovereth but if he turn away his eyes the person dies It is true I am sure of this friend in whose favour is life and in whose frowns there is death Ar. Epic. l. 3. cap. 24. Can you help me to
imployed in the great acts of Religion The more any one is acquainted with God the more delight he takes in the Ordinances of God as one of Gods Children he desires the sincere milk of the word before he was acquainted with God he found it far otherwise then nothing almost would down with him the pure word could not be relished except it was adulterated with flourishes of humane wit He had very little appetite to good wholsome Food his stomack was ready to turn at it except it were so cook't and sawc't and set out that an understanding man could scarce tell what to make of it What do you say to this you that are so faint and cold in what you do in the service of God Come a little nearer get better acquainted with God and you shall find such entertainment from him that you will scarce be able to keep long from his house get oft into his company and you shall feel your Soul strengthned with new spirits animated with a strange life Heat and Warmth You will not complain that the Sabbath is the longest day in the week you will not say what a weariness is it When will the new Moons and Sabbaths be at an end But you would think long till the Sabbath day come and when it is come the pleasure that you take in the work of that day would make you to think it the shortest day and gon too soon and when you have spent it in the most diligent attendance upon God you would wish it were to begin again or that you were to begin such a Sabbath that would never have an end This is the condition of one that is very intimately acquainted with God his nearness to his Master makes him to follow his work and he knows he shall lose nothing by it something will be coming in ere and anon which will more then quit his cost So that when God calls he is at hand and readily answers Speak Lord for thy Servant heareth When God hath any message any hot service to do he accounts it his great honour to be imployed in it and saith here I am send me I believe he that spoke it Ar. Ep. l. c. 9. might be a little confident when he said Lay what thou wilt upon me O God I have power to bear it it shall not be my Burden but my Ornament Yet I am perswaded one that is acquainted with God can say it and say it again in good earnest Lord what wilt thou have me to do wilt thou have me to preach for thee to run through Fire and Water for thee to dye for thee to go or come O Lord do but bare me company and give me strength and it shall be don I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me This is one of Gods Champions he watches he keeps upon his guard he fights stoutly he stands his ground in every thing he demeans himself gallantly he quits himself like a Souldier of Christ and that which makes him thus valiant is because he is so near his Captain Ask Epictetus what made Socrates do as he did and he will tell you l. 3. c. 22 It was because he was a Friend of God his Servant and partaker of his Kingdom This is strang Language of a Heathen but had he known what it was to live under the most lively sence of Gods love to have had such intimate converse with him as some Christians have had what would he have said As for the Saint that keeps close to God he keeps close to duty his work is to serve love and praise God this is his business both by himself and with others 7. Another excellent effect of this acquaintance with God is it will make a man Patient under all the dispensations of Gods providence in all conditions to be content in quietnesse to possess his Spirit Acquaintance with God will make him be at peace not to open his mouth against God whatsoever he lays upon him What was it that kept such a calm in Pauls heart when there was such a constant storm without him was it not his sence of his interest in Gods love though all the world were his enemies yet as long as Christ was his Friend he doth not care though men and devils be against him yet if God be for him he passeth not much upon it though men be never so unjust yet God will never be so that 's his comfort It 's a small matter for him to be judged with mans judgment as long as he is sure that God will acquit him he knows that justice it self will do him no wrong infinite goodness could not be unkind and that wisdom it self could work glorious effects out of these things which the world call evil if he do receive evil at the hands of God he is confident he deserves more if it be good and but a little he is thankful because he deserved none at all Let the worst come to the worst if all the Devils in Hell and all his instruments upon Earth should combine against him as long as he is sure of the love of God and that none of them all can pluck him out of the Arms of the Almighty he is not very much concerned Heaven will make amends for all whatsoever he suffers it is nothing to the displeasure of a God it is nothing to everlasting burnings He believes that if his persecutors did know what he knows they would as soon eat fire as do as they do therefore he rather pitties them then is angry with them as seeing that their day is coming How seldom have you eitheir Paul or Silas complaining of their sufferings How rarely bemoaning their condition And what is it that makes them so patient what have they to sweeten such bitter draughts Why God loves them and so long they do not much care though others hate them Mans frown can't sink a Soul to Hell nor his favour make one happy for ever It is but a little while and all tears shall be wiped away from their eyes The kindness and faithfulness of God is enough to make a man cheerfully to hold up his head when all the world is against him When the most Spiritual Christians do complain it is more of themselves then of their persecutors O my unbelieving heart O that I should love God no more O that my heart should be no more taken up with the great things of Eternity This is the condition which those that are most Spiritual are in Poverty Imprisonment Banishment and all these things which most call dreadful when they come to a man that is much in Communion with God they find him Patient Meek and Calm these are not the things which put him upon the rack God is his Friend and that answers all 8. Another glorious effect of Acquaintance with God is That it will make all our enjoyments doubly sweet He hath what he hath in love he need not be afraid of
Keeper inquire further and you shall be informed if their experience be not too big for to be clothed in words How oft have some of Christ favourites after they have Dined with their Lord been led forth into the Garden to walk and oh the delightful shades that they have sat under At another time Christ not Satan hath carried them as it were in his Arms and Bosome and set them upon the Pinacle of the Temple not to make them giddy and hazard their fall but to let them understand how much he hath preferred them before others and as long as they are upon that great Corner-Stone no Storms can shake in Christs Arms no fear of falling At another time the Soul hath been carried into the Mount of God and there it hath seen Christ Transfigured and beheld so much Brightness Glory and Majesty in him that hath reflected a Glory upon it self and even Transfigured the Soul that its scarce like it self and there it could say its good being here and then Christ hath bid the Soul lift up its Eyes and look up to the Heavens look round from one side to the other and look beyond the visible Heavens by Faith to the Seat of the Blessed well all this is thine to thee will I give it I purchased it I have paid for it and 't is thine and live like one that is worth more than a world live up to your Estate expect that shortly I should set you in the Possession of all And as for the World look down upon that if it be worth thy accepting so much of it as is good for thee thou shalt have also O did weak Christians but know what strength joy and comfort this Ordinance doth afford I believe they would not be so hardly perswaded to come when they are invited Did they but understand how sweet how wholsome how dainty the Dishes are which Wisdom prepares could they but conceive what satisfaction and fulness there is for the empty what joy and sollace for the Mourning and Disconsolate what strength and quickning for the Weak I am ready to think that they would scarce be so long absent from the Lords Table but think not that every one that sits down is made so welcome nor that Christ gives his dainties to strangers or enemies many may come and receive and yet only feed upon a piece of Bread and Drink two or three spoonfuls of Wine and and really if this were all the Provision that a Saint were to have it were scarce worth so solemn an Invitation It 's possible to come thither to eat and drink your own Damnation and instead of an affectionate Treatment to be dismissed with a Friend how comest thou hither not having on the Wedding Garment Yet the sensible Hungry burthened Souls notwithstanding all their fears may come nay they must and its little less than giving ascent to Sathans callumnies which he raiseth against Christ and his wayes to forbear it s too ungrateful a Contempt of one of the excellent Cordials which the great Physician hath provided for the recovering and strengthning of his poor swooning Patients and in a word it s too like a foolish being fond of our Sin and Sorrow when we refuse the comfor-fortable Appointment which the Goodness and and Wisdom of a Father the Love and Tenderness of a Husband and the Sweetness of the Holy Spirit doth so freely offer perswade command the Spirit saith come and the Bridegroom saith come and why should not he that is a thirst come thankfully humbly speedily Well now poor weary Soul what hast thou to say against the excellency of rest Poor sick Soul what Fault canst thou find with Ease Health and Strength Poor guilty Soul that looks upon thy self as next to condemned What harm would a Pardon and the publique sealing of it do thee Who would think that man hungry that had rather eat Ashes than Bread who would judge that person thirsty that had rather drink Gall Tears and Wormwood than the clear refreshing Streams that come from that Rock the Lord Christ Will you never believe that Christ invites you look into the Note that he hath sent out his servants wish whose Name do I read there Who are the persons that are invited of what Rank and Quality Are they the Great ones of the World Are they the Learned Are they the Proud and Self-conceited Pharises Why I find none of these in the Writing Who are they then that may come with Confidence to draw water out of these Wells of Consolation The Poor in Spirit the Hungry the Sick the Wounded the Lost these are Pools of Bethesdah where the Angel of the Covenant doth oft descend and move the Waters and where is it fitter for the Impotent to lye than there where they can not miss of a Doctor a visit or Cure What do you think of this poor Heart are they but flourishes do I speak or doth Christ and if he say it who can dissanul it will he can he be worse than his word I know he is usually better but never short of his Promise will you Credit the Experiences of Christians have they not seen have they not known have they not felt yea have not all your Spiritual sences been exercised and refreshed at that time when the King hath been at his Table One is ready to say if ever I could have left the World at a minnutes warning and have stept immediately into Eternity it was then when mine eyes beheld the King in his beauty when he held out his Golden Scepter unto me and took me into his Imbraces Yea when the Ministers of Christ presented me with the Jewels and Bracelets and ask't me whither I would go with them to Christ my Soul made a speedy and thankful reply my Heart and Love is his and his will I be for ever O that I were once safe in his Armes O that I might live with him and never part O when shall it be Come Lord Jesus come quickly I remember I have heard it reported of that Reverend and Holy man of God Master Allen who lived at as high a rate as most on this side Perfection and Glory that he was before he died in a very rare seraphique raptures of Joy and Love so that he could not chuse but burst out into unusual Expressions of Praise such as these Ten thousand praises to the King of Saints for the freeness and riches of his Grace to any poor Soul let every corner of Heaven ring with Hallelujahs let all the Angels help me to praise thy incomparable lovely and glorious Jesus O the Joys that he feasts my Soul with I who would not be Christs Servant never did I feel such transcendent pure Divine Joys except at the Lords Table and then indeed I have been oft so raised in Spirit that my Nature except sustained by a Miracle could scarce bear a greater weight of Comfort O the unspeakable vast satisfying Pleasures that Christ
he walks now ask him what his practice is and go you and do likewise have a care of harbouring ill thoughts of the people of God or for the sake of one Hypocrite of censuring a thousand sincere Ones Judg you whether this be just and equal doing How would you like it if one that bears some Relation to you should do some vile abominable thing and bring himself to an untimely end and people should say all the whole Family is like him though it may be you are grieved to the very heart that such a thing should be done by any in the world much more by any that bears any kind of Relation to your self I tell you as contemptibly as the world speak of the godly they are not such odious Creatures as they are represented to be The Saints they are not Troublers but Peace-makers they love to make peace between man and man and what in them lies also between God and man Your converse with such as fear the Lord will make you like them at least they will endeavour as much Ar. Epict. l. 3. c. 16. He spoke no untruth who said That company is of an assimulating Nature A living coal laid to a heap of dead ones may kindle them all but they are more like except it be blown up to put the live one quite out therefore saith the said Author You must be very cautions of your company It is stored of Socrates that he had a rare Art of making his familiar Friends of his mind Some active Christians take as much pains to make their familiars of Christs mind Prov. 13.20 He that walketh with the wise shall yet be wiser but a Companion of Fools shall be destroyed Prov. 10.10 21 33. The tongue of the just is as choice Silver but the heart of the wicked is little worth The lips of the Righteous feed many but Fools die for want of wisdom The lips of the Righteous know what is acceptable but the mouth of the wicked speaketh froward things Such as these will do what they can to make you our of love with sin and in love with God Such as these will from their own experience be setting forth the goodness of God and tell you that which may stand you instead as long as you live it may be they may tell you that when God began first to work upon their Soul he was pleased to make use of the particular Application and the spiritual conversation of such a Christian Relation and when God came in with comfort and spake peace such a one lead them to such a promise which was like a Cordial to their fainting Soul When they were abroad they will tell you and were necessitated to the company of them which were strangers to the life of Religion and were at such a time troubled with horrible Temptations that they were in a wilderness condition and thought that never any that walked Heaven-ward could be in the like state but now when they got acquainted with the people of God they found that as Face answered Face in a Glass so their experience and the experience of many of the dear Children of God was exactly alike and that that which they thought none in the world could parallel they find that most of the Christians that they meet with know as well as themselves and at the first hearing are able to go on with the story before them so that they have sometimes wondred how any one living should know their Hearts and Thoughts so well to whom they did not communicate them I think it not altogether impertinent here to insert an observation of mine own I remember when I was once speaking concerning the duty of Christians in Relation to their Unconverted Friends and urging them upon doing what they could for God and Souls in the places where God had set them in speaking to this subject I said that there was not the meanest Christian but might be an instrument of the Conversion of a Soul Upon this I rehearsed a couple of Experiences that I had of two persons strangers one to the other who gave this account of their Conversion they were upon the matter both alike and therefore I shall tell but one of them which take as followes There was a Poor Civil yet very Carnal Creature a Servant in a Religious Family who did from his Soul abhor the Spiritual Conversation of those in the Family insomuch that he was resolved to run away from his Service he was so weary of such doings But one Night hearing a strange sound somewhere he arose out of his Bed and went to listen what was the matter upon which he heard one distinctly praying on the other side of the wall he still hearkning heard one praying very earnestly for him who did not know but he might be asleep and opening the condition of his Soul so particularly and with so much Tenderness that he was wonderfully awakened to think that one that he hated should so much love him and pitty his Soul and to consider how it was possible any one in the world should know his Thoughts so well as that person did who prayed for him upon this he began to be very much startled to think of his condition concluding thus surely I am in a lamentable state and they see it or else they would never do as they do they are praying for me when I am asleep they love me when I hate them upon this the man was very much troubled and his trouble daily increased till he was forced to open his condition to the person who had been praying for him which was a poor Maid-servant upon which the work of Regeneration was carryed on very sweetly and the man became an excellent Christian whereas the Instrument that God used in this great work was but a poor servant Now when I rehearsed this thing which was the condition of two as I said before a third person stood by whom I never saw in my life before who fell a sweating for trouble that any of his Friends should tell such a thing of him to me and thought I had meant himself in all the particulars though I heard not a word of the man before in my life This by the by I could not but hint this for the encouragement of parents to get their children into Families that are really Religious and to encourage all to associate themselves to such as fear the Lord. You see by what hath been spoken that acquaintance with the people of God may be of great use for the bringing the Soul acquainted with God VII DIRECTION If you would be acquainted with God entertain all the Messengers that he sends to you kindly When God calls answer and when he sends any of his servants to you bid them welcome let the feet of those which bring glad tidings be beautiful in your eye do not think much if they deal plainly and roundly with you know that it is out of love to your
are separated from our sins we cannot be united to God Thus ye see our separation from God and our necessity of returning to God before there can be any acquaintance with him Thirdly To our acquaintance with God is required an abiding with God We reckon not our selves acquainted with any person upon the first meeting or when there hath passed but a word or two between us but it is supposed to acquaintance that we have made a considerable stay with him and have had frequent access to him Thus it is between God and us we must not only come to him but abide with him or else we shall never be acquainted with him Joh. 8.13 If ye continue in my Word then are ye my Disciples So I say if you return to God and continue with God then shall ye be acquainted with him indeed Acquaintance signifies not a bare Act but a State or Habit. Now this is the difference between an Act and a State that an Act is passing and is gone but a State signifies an abiding and continuance There may be a drawing nigh to God without abiding and continuing with God upon some deep Conviction or strange providence or eminent danger as it is said In their affliction they will seek me early Yet they may soon forget and forsake God This is but a seeming and practical approaching to God a drawing nigh in appearance when the heart is far from God but that approaching to God which makes acquaintance with God is abiding with him Those that are acquainted with a spiritual life know these things what they are and that they are the greatest realities in the world they know that sometimes there is a greater nearness of their souls to God they are sensible of the approaches of their heart to God and of the withdrawing of their souls from God they know what it is for the soul to feel the approaches of God and his smiles sill their souls with unspeakable Comfort And to feel God withdrawing from the soul this clouds their joy and makes them go mourning They can tell you at such a time they were brought unto his Banquetting-house and his Banner over them was Love They can tell you at such time Christ came into his Garden to eat his pleasant Fruits at such a time they heard the voice of their Beloved saying Open to me my Sister my Spouse my Love my Dove my Vndefiled And when the soul hath neglected this knock of Christ to open to him that then he hath withdrawn I opened to my Beloved but my Beloved had withdrawn himself and was gone These things are the experiences of a precious child of God which I fear are little felt and little known amongst us but where these things are not there is no acquaintance with God For First They do know him Secondly They draw nigh to him they have near access to him Thirdly They have intimate Converse with him This is another thing required to acquaintance We are not said to be acquainted with any person unless we have had intimate converse with him We may be next Neighbours and yet have no Acquaintance unless our conversation hath been mutual So it is between God and us there may be a nighness between the Soul and God and yet no Acquaintance between the Soul and God We are nigh to God in our dependance upon him we are near to God by his immediate providence and sustentation of us and by his Omnipotence There is a nearness to God by way of Dedication As God set apart the Children of Israel to be a people near unto himself so the visible Church of God is nearer to him then those that are not of the Church There is a nearness of Dedication among us by Baptism But all this may be without Acquaintance There is therefore required to our Acquaintance with God an intimate converse with God We have great converse with those who are of the Family or society with us Now such is our acquaintance with God as those who are of his Family God is called the Father of the Families of all the earth and the visible Church is reckoned as Gods Family but in a great Family there may be little Acquaintance with those persons which be of remote employments but to acquaintance with God there must be such a relation as implies familiar converse This intimacy that the people of God have to him is expressed by the nearest relations in Scripture As Abraham is called The Friend of God 2 Chron. 20.7 Jehoshaphat prayes unto God and saith Art not thon our God who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel and gave it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face as a man speaketh to his Friend Exod. 33.11 John 15.15 Henceforth I call you not servants but friends for the servant knows not what his Lord doth but I have called you Friends for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you Now by Friend is commonly understood a state of converse and society one with another And this intimacy is expressed likewise by the relation of Husband and Wife Isa 54.5 For thy Maker is thy Husband Hos 2.7 Then shall she say I will go and return to my Husband for then was it better with me than now By Husband there is meant God And the whole Book of the Canticles is a relation of the mutual converse betwixt God his people betwixt Christ and his Church under the relation of a Bridegroom and his Spouse Now what converse more intimate than between Husband and Wife Such is that between a soul acquainted with God and God Again this is shadowed out to us under the relation of a Father and his Children 1 John 3.1 Behold what manner of Love the father hath be stowed upon us that we should be called his sons And the holy Spirit is given to be the Spirit of Adoption in the hearts of Gods people Rom. 8.15.16 Ye have received the spirit of Adoption whereby ye cry Abba Father The spirit it self beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God What is signified by this Relation but a nigh union and intimate converse between the soul and God And this is necessary to our acquaintance with God even intimate converse with God By this I mean a nearness of employment when the Objects of our employments are the same then are we said to converse with God when we are employed about those things wherein God is most When there is as it were a mutual commerce and trading between the soul and God man giving himself up to God and God giving himself out to man man taking up the interest of God and God undertaking for the interest of man these such like actings are the converse which the soul hath with God I speak of things which the men of the world are not acquainted with
kindness and love and good will and affection If then I can upon search into my self find that God hath the highest room in my affections that my heart is his that his love is prevailing with me above the love of all things beside and that I love those that are his beloved for his sake then I have in me a sign of regal acquaintance with God for love is the very quintessence of acquaintance but if in the search into the workings of my mind I can find no such friendly compliance but that God was still thwarting and crossing my designs that I should find my self better content if there were no God and that those workings of my mind that are about God are sower harsh and tearing upon my spirit then it is to be feared that I have no acquaintance with God And hast thou made an impartial inquiry into thy state And how stand things between thy Soul and God Art thou acquainted with him or art thou not Consider seriously O sinners that this is one of the weightiest questions in the world and if this question were but well resolved it would put an end to a thousand other questions He that can say of God and Christ this is my beloved and this is my friend he need not very solicitously ask what news He hath heard good news from Heaven which will easily ballance all come what will come he need not much pass as long as there stands that one Text in the Bible That all shall work together for good to them that love God He hath no cause to goe a begging to the world and to say who will shew me any good As long as the Lord hath shined upon him with the light of his countenance He need not complain what shall I do I have lost this or that dear friend when he hath found him who can make up all with one look whom he can never lose In a word he need not ask how shall I do to live and what shall I eat and what shall I drink and wherewithall shall I be cloathed So long as he knows that he hath a noble friend who will ease him of all this care and never see him want Well then hast thou answered this great question or not Or wilt thou do by thy conscience as Felix put it off and say thou wilt hear of these matters at some more convenient season and I wonder when that more convenient season will be and why not now I pray What season more fit then the present I am sure God saith Now is the acceptable time and do you know better then he What hast thou to do that is more necessary Speak out I pray is the following of thy pleasures Is the serving of Satan Is the damming of thy Soul more necessary then the saving of it Is the life and death of a Soul nothing Are everlasting glory and misery small matters Is the love or hatred of thy God so inconsiderable a thing Awake O sinner what meanest thou Arise speedily and look about thee man Consider seriously as thou valuest thy Soul what best becomes a sinner in thy condition What answer shall I return to my Master Are not these things worth the thinking of Shall I say for all this that thou art not at leisure to look after an interest in his favour or any thing that rends to it Shall I tell him that thou hast somthing of greater weight and higher importance to trouble your head with And do you in sober sadness think so For you make account that excuse is sufficient I pray then make use of it your self for I dare not When God shall come to ask you why you did no more vigorously mind the getting acquaintance with himself tell him then if you think that answer will serve your turn that you were not at leisure you had such urgeth occasions which took up the whole of your time such and such a friend you had who sent for you to the Tavern and you could not possibly come when he invited you tell him if you believe that plea will hold water that you would have been glad to have come upon his invitation but that you were taken up with such good old friends the World the Flesh and the Devil How do you think such an answer will be taken You may think to put us off with such kind of reasons as this but do you hope by this answer to satisfie your Judge Believe it sinner God will not thus be put off Wherefore I do again with all the earnestness I can for my soul renew by suit to thee that thou wouldest act like a man in his wits make some serious inquiry into the state and condition of thy soul And consider for the Lords sake again and again before you send me away thus what errand I come to you on It is to treat with you about a rich match for thy poor undone soul therefore consider well what you do before you make light of this business and know when you are well offered believe it God will not long send after you in this manner and you are not like every day to have such proffers Divine Patience and Goodness will not always plead at this rate with you God will ere long say let them alone the Lord will ere long speak to scornful sinners in such language that will make their ears to tingle he will despise and slight as well as they and who is like to have the worst of it at last I leave to any rational man to judge The time is coming when your ungodly hearts shall ake to see him whom you might have had for your husband when you shall have him for your Judge whom you might have had for your Advocate And though we could not get you to be willing to be acquainted with him no not so much as to have any serious thoughts about it or to make any enquiry after him to inform your self concerning him yet you shall have him for your enemy whether you will or no. But O let us not part thus let me a man like thy self reason the case a little more with thee come tell me poor ignorant creature thou that still standest demurring and sayst Shall I shall I what evil is there in thy God that thou shouldest be thus hardly brought so much as to discourse this business with thy own soul What is the reason that thou scarce thinkest it worth the while to trouble thy head about any thing that doth concern your interest in his love Thou that mindest his love so little tell me what do'st thou think had become of thee long before this if God had regarded thee as little as thou dost him What wouldest thou have done had the Lord said to any Disease the least of his Messengers fetch that Rebel before me that values not my favour he shall know what my anger is seeing he will not prize my love O what a lamentable
lives for him some of them were willing to quench his thirst though with their blood and yet for all that in all his life he never met with so faithfull a friend as his God Psal 89.8 O Lord God of hosts who is a strong God like unto thee or to thy faithfulness round about thee He had rather trust his God then any of them all God is a real true faithful Friend he tells us things as they be he doth not speak of more things then the nature of them doth require he doth not tell the best and hide the worst he doth not speak all of Heaven and nothing of suffering but saith plainly all that will live godly in Christ Jesus they must suffer persecution and Christ saith Those that will be his Disciples must take up their Cross and follow him and that through many tribulations they must enter into the Kingdom of Heaven He speaks of sowing in tears as well as reaping in joy of fliction as well as glory And when he speaks of the glory of another world he doth not too highly advance his excellency When he speaks of his Wrath or Hell or Sin he doth not make them greater evils then they be The Lord is faithful in all his dealings and that they which love him know right well Whatsoever doth happen in the world doth happen justly and faithfully and so if thou wilt but well observe thou shalt find And what sayest thou after all this thou who hast tried many and many a friend so called and hast by sad experience first or last found them all unfaithfull and art almost ready to say of all men that they are lyars and that truth and reality are rarities thou thinkest there is scarce a man upon the earth to be trusted and wilt thou never be affraid of such a friend wilt thou at last be wise and be acquainted with a friend that never proved unfaithfull behold such a one that would be glad with all his heart to entertain you would you but forsake your old treacherous acquaintance Here here 's one that never fails nor forsakes those that put their trust in him The Heavens shall depart and the Hills be removed out of their places but his faithfulness his love shall never depart from his and wilt thou not think such a friend after all this worth the having Come come never stand fretting thy heart out with discontents men will be men that is unfaithful as long as the world lasts Do you expect as long as sin reigns in mens souls that as long as Satan doth so much act therein that they should forget to be selfish covetous deceitful but now God will alway be like himself a God faithful true holy just and if any one in Heaven or in Earth can condemn God justly of the least unfaithfulness my mouth shall soon he stopped In this thing I confess my self to be of Antoninus his mind who said That if there be a God as there is most certainly why that God must necessarily be most faithful most wise most good but if there be no God it is not worth the while to live in a world in which there is nothing but sin confusion disorder and no hopes of a redress the excellency of our being our Reason would make our misery more exquisite and our lives less desirable But blessed be God it is not come to that pass that we should need question the being of a God for as one saith wisely Thou hast far more reason to question thy own being then Gods Now I say again methinks he that hath been so oft perplexed with many unfaithful unworthy carriages from them which he called friends should be at last perswaded to try what this one friend would do for him O what abundance of sorrow would it prevent if men would but trust God more and men less This this is the friend sick and well rich and poor living and dying always the same Make sure of this Friend and thou art safe thy All is then in safe and faithful hands Seventhly He is a rich Friend the earth is the Lords and the Fulness thereof cattel upon a thousand hills is his He it is that hath the absolute disposal of Crowns and Scepters he it is that can easily raise all his Favourites to a high estate if the world and all its glory can do his any good if Kingdoms and vast Dominions can advantage them he can with better reason then he did to Christ say All this is mine and if thou wilt love me and worship me I will give you as much of it as will do thee good and who would account it a kindness to be given that which will do one hurt but these are but toys and trifles in comparison of what God hath to bestow upon his friends List up thine eyes and behold those glistering Stars look upon that stately Canopy that hangs over thy head why all this is nothing almost to the glory which shall be revealed there is a far greater disproportion between what we see and enjoy at the best here below then there is between the footstool and the Crown O could you but by faith draw the curtain and see what is within O did you but know what 's behind those hangings which you see wrought so curiously the work of his fingers O that that 's the place there 's a house indeed there 's a palace couldst thou but by faith and meditation take a view of it could you but make a voyage into that far Country and see that City of God and discourse with the inhabitants of the New Jerusalem what discoveries should you then have of the Riches State and Granduer of that Princes Court shouldst thou but see those Treasuries opened and know the worth of Gods Jewels thou wouldst wonder what men and women meant that they should need so much perswading to be acquainted with him that had such things to bestow you would judge him worse then mad who should not joyfully embrace any Overtures of this nature in a word they would reckon that person besotted that should not with all possible gratitude close with such kind of proposals Come along therefore with me poor soul thou that art not worth a groat and hast never a friend that can or will give you any thing to speak of come along with me and take a short prospect of the Territories of this mighty Monarch let 's get up to mount Pisgah make a survey of that goodly land let 's take a turn or two in the Courts of his place consider well the pleasantness of this seat how rarely it is accommodated the richness of the furniture the nobleness of the inhabitants the sweetness of that harmony that founds night and day in that Temple the unconceivable costliness riches glory and excellency of every thing Do but look a little about thee are not thine eyes even dazelled at the sight do you see what building that is
whose walls are Jasper and the City is all of pure Gold like unto clear glass and the foundation of the walls of that City are garnished with all manner of precious stones Rev. 21 c. And what think you now where is the Prince upon earth that ever was master of such an estate what are his attendants the the meanest of those that stand in his presence is no less then a King the least of his servants is more rich and glorious then the mightiest Potentate that ever trod upon earthly mold that was a stranger to God This God doth not grudge to give that which is more worth then a thousand Kingdoms to his Darlings I might tell also at what a rate they live who are fed always at his Table and what dainty dishes they feed upon I might speak of their Cloathing and Robes all which speak the riches of that Lord which maintains his servants so highly But what am I doing Can I Grasp the heavens in my arms or take up the Sea in the hollow of my hands Can I measure the heaven of heavens or weigh the mountains in scales or the hills in a ballance Could I do all and a thousand times more yea could not give you an account of the Estate of him who would be your Friend your husband at the best I can but give you a superficial gross relation of it and when I have said all that I can speak of and all the men in the world with all their tongues have spoke what they can too nay let Angels with their heavenly Rhetorick do what they can to set out the glory of his Kingdom I say when all this is done you must remember all falls short of what it is and that since the beginning of the world men have not heard neither can it enter into the heart of man to conceive what a God is worth what a friend you may have of him if you will but speedily be acquainted with him His Kingdom hath no bounds and his Dominions reach futher then both the Indies The small love-tokens that he sends now and then to his Beloved into a far country are of infinitely more value then all the Lockets of Diamonds and richest Pearls and Jewels in the world Pro. 8. Behold how merrily Rebeccah looks upon a sorry Jewel or two presented by Eliezer from his Master how soon is her heart conquered and why should we not be more taken with things of far greater worth What is all this as much as nothing with you Methinks your hearts should be all in a fire methinks you should quickly say O that I could but see him who will bring me acquainted with him he shall have my heart my dearest love Methinks should I ask you the same question that they did Rebeccah Wilt thou go a long with me to such a friend you should readily without any further dispute say yea with all my heart and think long to be up and going Why then do you talk of a year a mouth longer O what ail poor Creatures to make us stand waiting so long for an answer Do you ever expect a better offer Do you look to advance your selves somewhere else Can you hope for a better a richer match Go thee and search out among all thy Lovers which make suit to thee which of them can feed thee with such costly viands which of them can cloath you in such Royall Apparel which of then can make you such a Joynture Consider wisely and speedily that I may turn to the right hand or the left What saith thou canst thou amongst them all better thy self Is there any one like him Is there any of the Sons of the mighty comparable to him Are any of the Kings or great ones of the Earth able to make you such an offer or should they can any of them make it good What have you yet resolved upon the point or not What it is you stand for I pray do you question the truth of what I speak Do you make account I speak of the highest and make the best of things Why then let me tell you further I have not I cannot tell you the half of what you will find to be true if you would come to be throughly resolved or of what you will believe hereafter to your sorrow if you still refuse him And I must further add to what I said before that whatever riches God possesses he will joynture you in as soon as you shall in good earnest be willing to accept him for your Friend all that I can speak of and more too you may call your own Ask and it shall be given without prescribing how much more then you can ask or think shall be given you Your Lord and husband is not so niggardly as Ahashuerus who said What is thy request and what is thy petition Queen Esther and it shall be given thee to the half of my Kingdom But God saith what is thy request and what is thy petition poor Soul and it shall be granted to the whole of my Kingdom what is it thou wantest what attendants dost thou lack to wait upon thee to my Court are they Prophets Apostles Ministers Angels they shall be given 1 Cor 3.21 Do but try him he bids you ask and you shall have Let me give you this one memento Ask like one that hath to do with a rick King who hates to do any thing below himself remember it is he that delights to give like a God widen therefore thy desires as large as Heaven be bold and speak a great word and I warrant thee thou shalt not be denied tell God that seeing in his infinite goodness and condescention he hath been pleased to give thee leave to ask without restraint thou dost humbly request his Son for thy Lord and Husband himself for thy Father God and Friend his Kingdom for thy Dowry the Righteousness of his Son for thy Ornament Cloathing and Beauty the comforts of his Spirit and abundance of his grace to bear thy charges handsomly till thou comest to his house This is high indeed but thy great and noble Lord loves dearly to hear such covetous Petitioners who will be put off with nothing but such great things When do any of these go sad from his Court When do any of the seed of Jacob seek his face in vain This this is the generation of thriving ones who seek for life immortality and glory who seek thy face O God of Jacob. And now what do you say will you believe all this Dare you take my word I am perswaded none of you all think I dare tell you a lye and do you any wrong but for all that I do not desire you should take my word nor the word of any man living in a thing that concerns Eternity but take his word who cannot lye Psal 8.18 Riches and honour are with me yea durable riches and righteousness vers 19. My fruits is better then gold
in honour Deut. 26.18 19. And upon this account might a wise man have his choice whether he will wear a Crown and he a stranger to God or rags and be one of his nearest servants he will not stand long before he determine the case he will soon answer with him That he had rather be a door-keeper in the house of God then dwell in tabernacles of wickedness If mens actions may speak their Judgements most of the Gallants of the world are of a far different opinion But O let me dwell for ever in his house and stand always in his presence happy are they that see his face happy are they that behold his beauty This this mans Crown this is his highest honour and dignity for God to be mindful of man and for his Maker to visit him this sets him but little below the Angels this Crowns him with Glory and Honour Psal 8.45 This is that which puts a true personal worth upon any one and therefore the Psalmist thinks those the excellent persons in whom is his delight Upon this account the Scripture saith The righteous man who is in covenant with God is more excellent then his neighbour The pur-blind World they judge altogether by the outward garb they see the face the rich apparel they see the estate but they see not that inward excellency and beauty that may be under but mean habit they are ready to despise the Noble Worthies of the World such as can look upon Kingdoms as small things in comparison of what they have an interest in who can call God Father and Christ Brother Have you never heard of a King in mean apparel of a Prince without his Robes upon his back or his Crown upon his head and will you say that therefore he was but a common person But those heavenly Creatures that have a more spiritual resined sense that understands something of things and Persons are quite of another mind they can look upon great ones in the midst of their gallantry without a friend in Heaven as mean persons that have no interest to speak of and many of them for all their greatness to be in a far worse condition then Dogs and Toads They can also look upon a poor despised Saint a contemned Christian though as to a carnal eye he should look as if he could scarce speak sense to be a favourite of Heaven a person of quality such a one as this he values as the Son of a King a Citizen of Zion one of the Royal Race one of that glorious Retinue that stand always in the presence of God to serve him the least of which are Kings and Priests to their great Lord Rev. 1.6 By faith he sees their Crown and looks upon that Royal Diadem which shall ere long be put upon their princely heads This was the great preferment they sought this was the honour they most desired as for the world and all its glory they can well spare it for those that shall never be advanced to any higher dignity to any better preferment As for the Saint as contemptible as he looks he hath higher designs nobler things greater honours in his eye and if that which the world so admires were the highest glory that a rational creature were capable of the top of mans preferment why then he could look upon brutes themselves as his equals except in this that their pleasures are more certain and their miseries less understood It is storied of Constantine and Valentinian two Roman Emperours that they subscribed themselves Vassellos Christi the vassels of Christ and that Numa Pompilius esteemed it a higher honour to be a Friend of God then a Lord of Men. Consider poor sinner consider what honours you slight what preserments you refuse what dignity you undervalue when you make light of acquaintance with God Had that brave Stoick Epictetus I mean known God in Christ he would much more have wondered at the inconsiderateness of them which make nothing of being related to God as a Father he would much more have pitty'd them which cleave to their lower meaner kindred beast who had rather be like Swine then God and rather be companions to their servants then their Maker Seems it to you but a light matter to be a Kings Son is it but a small matter think you to call God Father is it nothing to be born to a Crown Immortal that sadeth not away This is honour this is preferment worth the having worth the looking after worth the venturing ones life for This is true Nobility to stand thus nearly related to him before whom the Angels do vail their glorious Faces and at whose feet the four and twenty Elders lay their Crowns The Queen of Sheba thought Solomons Servants happy who stood always in his presence and heard this wisdom but what would she have said had she but known the Honour and Glory of his Prince O blessed are those that stand always in thy presence O God blessed are thy servants blessed are those which see thy Glory and hear thy wisdom blessed are they that may have free access to thee O let me have this preferment though I live like Job at his lowest and dye like Lazarus Let others sue for the favour of Princes let them make the best of what the world can give let them desire that which hath been dangerous to more then Haman I hope I should never envy them might I but have more frequent and intimate converse with God may I be but acquainted with him O may I have but a heart more to admire love and delight in him and serve him with the strength and inrensenss of my Soul while I am here and stand for ever in his presence and behold his glorious Face with joy hereafter O my Soul what meanest thou that thou still speakest so faintly and coldly of such infinitely glorious things Why doth not a new life animate thee at the very mention of these things Hast thou not far more cause to raise up thy desponding Spirits with chearfulness then old Lacob when his Son Joseph who was Lord of that Land sent for him into Egypt Thy Father O my Soul thy Brother is Lord not of Egypt nor of Goshen but of Eden of Zion he is the King of that glorious City the new Jerusalem Heaven is his Throne and Earth is his Foot-stool and yet behold the waggons that he hath sent for thee behold the provision that he hath sent to maintain thee comfortably in thy journey from Egypt to Canaan is not this enough O my Soul awake up and see him before thou dyest behold he is coming the Bridegroome is coming Joseph is coming to meet thee with a gallant Train in a glorious Equipage It is but yet a little while and thy husband will come and fetch thee in Royal State attended with a numberless retinue of Saints and Angels O hadst thou but an eye to behold their Chariots and Horsmen coming upon the mountains
that doth so long hold back thy heart What is the matter that we can no more speedily and effectually manage this great affair What is it that thou dost prefer before God What is it that thou thinkest more worthy of thy warmest love then Christ What is that great thing that thou stickest not to venture thy soul for Act like a man that is rational and not beside himself If the World be God if Earth be better then Christ then choose that if Christ be God then choose him How long will you stand halting between two love that which will last longest be acquainted with him that is willing and able to do most for thee Is the world worth more now then it was in Davids time when he preferred the favour of God before thousands of Gold and Silver Is the price of it raised Can it bribe death and stop the mouth of Divine Justice and procure thee a reaâ— respect in another world Go chaffer and see what bargain thou canst make tell God that thou wilt give him thousands for thy brothers life and as much more for the lengthning the lease of thy own to Eternity What doth God say is the bargain made is it not enough why add a world to it will that do If it will not do this if this purchase be too great for thy purse then go lower can all thou hast keep thee from fears get thee a stomach procure thee ease rectifie thy constitution will it do this or will it not if not why shouldst thou value that which can do so little for thee before that which can do all things for thee Be perswaded at last to be wise What is God like to get by your love or lose by your hatred What have you to boast of What excellencies to set you out what portion to advance you that you stand thus upon your tearms Come let 's hear a little what it is thou thinkest so highly of thy self for I am sure your over-great beauty can't commend you for a Black-moor may with better reason brag of comliness then such a deformed loathsome creature can of beauty I am sure your helpfulness will not speak for you for thou art a crazy decrepid sickly creature that will cost God more to cure thee then thou art worth a thousand times It can't be for thy Estate that thou art so much desired for all thy Gold is adulterate thy Jewels counterfeit thy All forfeited and what is it then that thou hast yet to boast of come and set it before us that we may acknowledge our mistakes Are the Cloaths upon thy back as fine as thou art thy own is the Food that thou eatest paid for and is this the Creature that must be wooed with so much earnestnes Behold all ye Inhabitants of the world and admire hear O Heavens this is that I want a name to call her by which thinks it below her to be match't to Christ and an undervaluing to be acquainted with her Maker and a shame to have God for her Father from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot there is nothing but wounds and bruises and putrified sores running plague-sores that are broken are her greatest beauty and here 's a thing to be lov'd with all my heart Ezck. 16. Whosoever thou art that readest these lines this was once thy condition in these ornaments he found thee when God came to ask thy heart this was thy dress though thou art thus highly advanced And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are cleansed And after all this O Sinner art thou still as stout and proud as ever Is Christ so willing to bring thee to his Father is he willing to Cloath thee from head to foot with glorious Robes such a dress as may become thee in the presence of a King doth he offer to lead thee in his hands to his own Palace is God so willing and desirous to be your Father and Christ to be your Husband are all the Ministers of Christ so willing to do their utmost to bring this match to protection shall they lie at you day and night to give your consent and to be willing and are you still unwilling Well if all this signifie little and you miss of Christ at last and be not acquainted with God after all remember it was your own doings and that you thought it greater wisdom to marry the Servant then the Master to obey the Rebel rather then your loving Prince Remember you preferred Darkness before Light Hell before Heaven I call Heaven and Earth to Record this day that I have set Life and Death before you and you stand as if it were so difficult a matter to resolve which were the best This sounds strangely and every one will be ready to write Fool upon that mans forehead that acts thus Hold man be not too ready to pass thy censure before thou look within thee Dost thou see an absolute need of Christ Dost thou adore his infinite love and kindness Dost thou give up thy self to him for thy Lord and receive him for better for worse come on it what will Or dost thou not rather spend thy thoughts and let out thy affections upon the vanities and pleasures of the world Dost thou not love Father and Mother Wife and Children Brethren and Sisters House and Lands more then him Why if this be thy case I must say thou art one of the Fools that loves Death and hatest Life thou callest that folly in another which in thy self thou countest wisdom I wonder who it is that you strive to please all this while Is not the hand of Joab in all this hath not Satan been deep in retarding this match hath not he a design to marry thee to some painted Lust though he undoe thee for ever and must he be pleased rather then Is it more necessary to gratifie him that never yet intended to do any of the Sons of Adam any kindness rather then thy best friends Come away for shame and let us lose our breath no longer and let that time we spend in pleading with you for God be spent in singing with you and praising God for you and congratulating your happy acquaintance with God and you matching to his only Son 20. But because man is so wedded to the world and dotes upon his lust that all the arguments that we can use are most commonly unsuccesseful I shall add one more upon this sort of motives drawn from the qualifications of him whom I would fain have you acquainted with and that shall take in all that can be said on this head and that is this Consider that he is altogether lovely he is made up of love goodness and all excellencies and whatsoever pleasure delight and content you find in the Creature it is transcendently in him he is the chiefest of ten thousands ask of them that by Faith have seen him inquire of the Spouse in the Canticles
and ask her what is her beloved more then another beloved what there is in God and Christ more then in the world and she will almost wonder that any one that is rational should ask so foolish a question she thinks you might with as much judgment and reason have ask'd what there is in Heaven more desireable then in Hell What is there is in ease more then in torments in Gold and Jewels more then in dross in a living healthful beautiful Creature more then in a stinking rotten carcase Did you but see his face you would soon think there were something in him more then in another could you but see his eye your heart would be in a flame did you but understand what it is to be brought into his banquetting-house you would say that they are neither fools nor mad-men that can find in their hearts to scorn the beauties and glories of this world in comparison of one look or smile from God and believe that his love was better then wine to be preferred infinitely before the greatest worldly pleasures and think that the Virgins had reason enough to love him Cant. 1.4 How high doth the Church run in his commendations How doth she endeavour to set him out to the life that every one may admire his excellencies and be taken with his beauties as well as her self neither doth she fear to lose him by this nor indeed is unwilling that others should fall in love with him as well as she Cant. 5.9 10. c. She begins first with his face it is white and ruddy the most exact beauty so that she must be blind that is not taken with him and so she goes on as well as she can to set him out but he is so infinitely above her commendations that she wants words to express her self therefore she speaks one great one He is altogether lovely and if you will not believe come and see Do but look upon him by Faith and meditation contemplate his beauties and then if you have any thing yet to object if after you have had a true sight of him and have well weighed all you do not find that there is in him infinitely more then I can tell you why then let me bear the blame for ever Well now let us gather up all these things together and if a multitude of arguments and if weight and reason if vehemency and earnestness may prevail I should have some good hopes that I should not want success in this work nor you of the acquaintance with God and everlasting glory Therefore I say again if kindness and love be taking who so sweet and obliging as he If comfort joy and pleasure be desireable who is there when the Soul is surrounded with a multitude of perplexities that can so much delight refresh and raise it If Power Glory and Majesty if ability to defend from injuries and revenge wrongs might signifie any thing with poor shiftless Creatures who is there that ever yet prevailed against him Who ever contended with God and prospered If vigour activity and care in all the affairs of his friends can intice the dull helpless sinner to receive him who will take more care for and do more for them then he If his humility may engage us if freedom of access notwithstanding that infinite distance that is between us and him signifie any thing as to the commending of him to our acquaintance where can a poor beggar be more welcome then at the house of this mighty Prince Can Faithfulness in the greatest streight raise the esteem of a friend who ever yet trusted him that was deceived Are riches and wealth taking Who is there that can give a Kingdome for a portion a love-token and give everlasting glory and Heaven for a joynture but God Doth pitty in misery simpathy in suffering compassion in distress indear and commend a friend who is more tender-hearted then he Are Honours and preferments such great things Who is that which will make all his favourites Kings and Priests and set them upon Thrones and reward and commend them before the whole World is suitableness a considerable qualification to make up this match who so suitable for the Soul a Spirit as God a Spirit Who can satisfie it's vast and infinite desires but infinity it self Have poor simple Creatures that have quite undone themselves by their folly and indiscretion need of a wise Counsellor to wind them out of their sad intricacies who is there among the profound Polititians and grave Sages of the world to be compared unto him Doth a dying man that hath a never-dying Soul that is to pass speedily into an eternal state lack an ever-dying immortal friend that may stand him in some stead when immortal Are not friends sometimes furthest off from one when one hath most need of them Is not he then a friend highly to be prized who can who will never be absent Doth not God fill heaven and earth What think you of a Soul-friend Is not such a one worth the looking after who takes care that your Soul to be sure shall not miscarry Who ever did more for Souls then Christ Will it not be true prudence to make sure of such a friend as we must have for our friend or we are miserable for ever and where is such a one to be found but he that hath the keys of heaven an hell which is most considerable Time or Eternity and whom shall I most value him that promiseth present pleasures that are lost as soon as felt or him that will bestow everlasting favours and are there not at Gods right hand pleasures for evermore If the trial and experience of so many millions may speak his commendation will not all that ever knew God say truly God is good to Israel Will Gods willingness desire and earnestness prevail with you to come to him What is the substance of the whole Bible doth not almost every Chapter speak the desire that God hath to be reconciled to man if the perfection of all excellencies meeting in one can render him amiable how can he be slighted who is altogether lovely And what say you now are you resolved or are you not Shall the infinite Majesty of Heaven condescend to offer himself to be loved and imbraced by sinful dust shall God say I will be thy Father and shall not the sinner say I would be thy Child Why should not the heart of every Apostate rebellious Traytor that hath forfeited Estate Life and Soul leap at such good news and say will God for all this lay aside the controversy and conclude a peace Will he receive the rebell to mercy will he open his doors to his prodigal and is there yet any hope Is it possible that such sins as mine should be forgiven Can it be conceived that such a Creature as I should be imbraced what look upon me will God indeed take me into favour Yes thee behold he calls thee he offers thee
his Son a Kingdom a Crown behold the Father meets he makes hast to meet his returning prodigal behold the King hath sent to invite thee to the feast nay he will give thee his only Son in marriage the wedding garment is made ready the Bridegroom is coming the wheels of his Chariot run-apace the friends of the Bridegroom are come to bid you make ready up deck your self put on your glorious Apparel make hast make hast ye Virgins your companions are ready all stay for you the Bridegroom is at the door Behold he is at the door and will you still let him knock What! Father Husband a Kingdom What words are these Wilt thou O mighty Jehovah be my Father Wilt thou O blessed Jesus be my Husband shall I have a Kingdom What me a Child a Spouse for the King of glory an Heir of glory Grace Grace Amen Hallelujah Be it to thy servants according to thy word but who are we and what is our fathers house that thou hast brought us hitherto and now O Lord God what shall thy servants say unto thee for we are silenced with wonder and must sit down with astonishment for we cannot utter the least tittle of thy praises What meaneth the highth of this strange love O that the God of heaven and earth should condescend to enter into Covenant with his dust and to take into his bosom the viperous brood that have often spit their venome in his face We are not worthy to be as the hand-maids to wash the feet of the servants of our Lord How much less to be thy Sons and Heirs and to be made partakers of all those blessed Liberties and Priviledges which thou hast setled upon us but for thy goodness sake and according to thy own heart hast thou done all these great things Even so Father because so it seemed good in thy fight Wherefore thou art great O God for there is none like thee neither is there any God besides thee what nation on earth is like thy people whom God went to redeem for a people to himself to make him a name to do for them great things and terrible for thou hast confirmed them to thy self to be a people unto thee for ever and thou Lord art become their God Wonder O Heavens and be moved O Earth at this great thing For behold the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them and be their God Be astonished and ravished with wonder for the infinite breach is made up the offender is received and God and man are reconciled and a Covenant of peace entred and Heaven and Earth are agreed upon the tearms and have struck their hands and sealed the Indentures O happy conclusion O blessed conjunction Shall the Stars dwell with the dust Or the wide distant Poles be brought to mutual embraces and cohabitation But here the distance of the tearms is infinitely greater Rejoyce O Angels shout O Seraphims O all the friends of the Bridegroom and Bride prepare an Epithalamium be ready with the marriage Song Lo here is the wonder of wonders for Jehovah hath betrothed himself for ever to his hopeless Captives and owns the marriage before all the world and is become one with us we with him he hath bequeathed to us the precious things of the earth beneath with the fulness thereof and hath kept back nothing from us And now O Lord thou art that God and thy words be true and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servants and hast left us nothing to ask at thy hands but what thou hast already freely granted Only the word which thou hast spoken concerning thy servants establish it for ever and do as thou hast said and let thy Name be magnified for ever saying The Lord of Host he is the God of Israel Amen Hallelujah And how do you like this musick O ye the lost Sons and Daughters of Adam how do you relish these Dainties what do you think of this march Some you see have been so wise as with the greatest gratitude they can for their souls to close with those happy offers of grace You hear how bravely such and such have bestowed themselves and now they are made for ever And what do you say to the same proposals have they so much reason to bless the day that ever such a motion was made have they cause to rejoyce for ever for those blessed overtures or are they all to be slighted by you will Christ be worse to you then them is Heaven and happiness less necessary for you then them will the loss of a Soul be more inconsiderable to you then it would have been to them Will not Heaven Christ an Glory be as well worth your acceptance as theirs What are you willing to be shut out when the Bridegroom comes to fetch his Spouse home Can you bare it to see such as you thought your inferiours advanced and your self despised What shall I say what words shall I use what shall I do to prevail O that I could pity you a thousand times more than I do O that my eyes might weep in secret for thy folly O that you also might do as some have done before you though indeed they be but few that be so wise O that you would also bestow your heart upon Christ give him your heart-heart-love or he will have your heart-bloody Do not make your self miserable to please any living do not slight Christ because must do so go not with them to Hell for company But that if it be possible I might perswade you I shall add some more motives to prevail with you to get acquainted with God which I am certain will either work that blessed effect or rise up against you to the aggravation of your confusion in that great and terrible day II. HEAD OF MOTIVES The next Head of Motives which I shall insist upon for the inforcing of this Duty of acquainting your selves with God I shall take from the glorious effect of this acquaintance with God 1. The first effect of this acquaintance with God is it makes the soul humble and consequently fits the soul for greater communications from God still and to do God the greater service but of that particular afterwards Acquaintance with God it makes the Soul humble When God comes into the Soul he brings such a glorious light along with him that he makes the Soul to see not only his beauty but it s own deformity Psal 119.130 The entrance of thy word giveth light it giveth understanding to the simple Before the Soul was acquainted with the word of God and by that had some discoveries of God made to it out of the Word why it was in the dark and saw nothing at all of its own vileness it took no notice of that Sink that Hell that was within it consider not its own Treason against the Lord of Heaven
and Earth and the dangerous hazzards that it did run every moment upon that account but the Soul thought very well of its own state it slattered it self in its own in-iniquity the man thinks he is rich and increased in goods and hath need of nothing but when he comes to look into his Purse to open his Treasury and to tell over all his Gold and Silver in the light why then he perceives a sad mistake all his Silver is drossie and the best Riches that he hath is but dung When the light comes in he sees the darkness of his Understanding the perverseness of his will the disorderliness of his Affections the distemper of the whole soul He before took himself for a beautiful creature but by his light this glass he sees his beauty is great deformity he beholds heaps of lusts crawling up and down which before lay undiscerned and then that man that reckoned himself so happy cries out O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me what shall I do to be saved I am undone undone how shall I live where shall I dwell for ever Time was that the man admired what the Ministers ailed to Keep such a stir about sin but now he wonders that they are no more earnest in their preaching of it down It was a little while ago that he thought himself whole but now he feels himself sick to the very heart wounded sainting and ready to dye he made full account that he was pure but now he cries out unclean unclean it was not long since he said with indignation am I blind also but now he cries out and will not be silenced have mercy upon me Jesus thou Son of David and grant that I may receive my sight His language is much altered he can now say was ever such a sinner as I pardoned Will such a prodigal ever be received shall such foul offences as mine be forgiven if God should look upon me and give me a Christ and pitty me and cast his skirts over me while I lye in my blood if the Lord should look upon me it would be such a wonder that all that ever heard of it may justly admire Now the man which thought himself the best of Saints believes himself as bad as the worst of sinners When a man begins to be acquainted with God he begins also to know himself He that saw no need of washing by Christ would now have hands feet head and heart all washt He that thought himself sometimes far enough from Hell now begins to admire that he did not fall into it and although there be a sweet alteration in him for the better and Saints begin to delight very much in him yet he wonders that any one should see any thing in him that should cause any affection in them towards him much more to inflame their hearts in such vehement love to him if he hear of any reproaches that are cast upon him he is ready to say with that wise stoick Epist If he had known me better he would have spoke much worse of me If any praise him he judgeâ—h that it proceeds from their ignorance of his weakness rather then from any knowledge of his worth and if he hear any such language he is ready to tremble for fear of his own heart and cries out not unto me not unto me but unto his name be the praise yet not I but Christ which dwelleth in me Thus it is with one that begins to have some saving knowledge of God the nearer he comes to God the further he goes from himself the more he sees of him and his righteousness the less he sees of his own the more he is exalted the more he debateth himself like those four and twenty Elders he lays his Crown at the feet of God Thus it was with Job when God as I may so say stood at a greater distance from him he is ready to speak a little too highly he stands much upon his own righteousness he stifly justifieth himself but when the holy God comes a little nearer to him when he throws off that dark cloud with which he had mantled himself and when he caused that glorious brightness to break forth upon Job and made him to see a glance of his Holiness Wisdom and Justice then how is he even ashamed and confounded within himself that he should ever stand so much upon his ovvn justification Job 42.5 6. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear but now mine eye seeth thee Wherefore I abbor my self and repent in dust and ashes When he comes to be better acquainted with God how strangely is his note changed and I might say when he was thus abased how speedily doth God raise him to a wonder A man may hear of God twenty years together and yet never abhor himself with dust and ashes never see any vileness that is in his nature never be brought off from his own righteousness never admire that he is kept out of hell O but when he comes to see God and to be acquainted with him how doth he cry out of himself as unworthy to breath in the air as deserving nothing but wrath then he hath not a word to say for the goodness of his own heart now he can say with astonishement O infinite patience O unmeasureable goodness O the dephts of Gods love He must be merciful indeed that can pardon such sins That must be goodness indeed that can be so to me That is love with a witness that can imbrace such a loathsome monster What was it that made Abraham call himself dust and ashes What made David to say he was a worm and no man What made Isaiah speak so debasingly of himself why these were the Friends of God they had visions of that holy One When is it that the people of God are most ingenuous in their confesions when do they most freely pour our their souls before God When is it that they most readily open their soars and desire that they should be searched but when this great Chyrurgion comes to their chamber those which before where whole are now sick full of plague soars head and heart sick dangerously sick and no whole part in them they can say more against themselves now then ever the Minister could they can aggravate their sins and lay loads upon themselves and they see themselves vile and even are ready to wonder that the earth did not open and swallow them up before this they admire that God should indure them so long and think it no small miracle that they were not crushed in the Egge that they were not cast from the darkness of the Womb to the darkness of Hell Now they can cry out of Original Sin and the indisposition of their souls to any thing that is good and inclination to that which is bad They say as well as David That they were born in sin and in iniquity did their mother conceive them they
sold all that he had for that Pearl of great price he was sure he should be no loser by such a bargain Bring me a heavenly Creature that hath had a view by Faith of the Glory of Gods countenance that hath been in his company that hath been brought into his Banqueting house such a one I am confident can easily spare that which most keep such a fearful stir about he can spare the world for them which are like to have no better a portion Give him but more of those spiritual pleasures which he hath had in communion with God and he desires no more He can now speak it and speak it in good earnest that there is no comparison between this world and another he can now call this world a shadow and the glory of it grass and write Vanity Emptiness and Vexation upon its beautiful Face and contemn all its smiles and frowns and look upon its greatest Lovers as persons that deserve to be pittied rather than envied whose portion is so small whose happiness so short and whose misery and mistake is so great and dismal It is a common thing for men to declaim against the world and to say it is but a little muck it 's no unusual thing for its greatest Lovers to speak against it and say that it is that which passeth away but yet for all that they pursue it more than Heaven and are more earnest for it than the Salvation of their Souls and more troubled at the thought of parting with it than at the thought of their parting with God and the loss of it troubles them more than if we tell them of the loss of their souls Such as these will not say but that God is infinitely more to be loved than the whole world but yet if the World and God stand in competition they stand not long disputing which must give place the World hath the uppermost room in the heart But whence is this mistake How comes the Servant to Ride and the Master to go on foot Why is the world preferred before God Why hence it is men know not God they are not acquainted with his excellency the World is sensible he sees it he feels it he tastes it and so he doth not the things that are invisible And no wonder then that sense bares the sway the man wants Faith to realize invisibles he wants senses spiritually exercised But now he that knows God and is acquainted with spiritual things he hath quite another apprehension of the World and that not only from Faith but sometimes from a spiritual sense and he can say that Divine Pleasures Riches and Enjoyments do as sensibly refresh him yea abundantly more then ever the world did And when he hath been newly taking a walk in that heavenly Paradise he looks back upon this World with grief and indignation that he should ever love the world with his heart when there was one that did infinitely more deserve his love when there was a God Christ and Holiness to be loved that he should be such a child such a fool as to run after Butterflies quarrel for a feather hunt for a shadow while God Christ and Glory those great Substances lay by unregarded Now he grudges that any thing should have his love but his God his dearest Relations if they stand in Gods way must be run over despised hated That which the men of the world fight and kill and spare not to damn their souls for he sees now to be a pitiful worthless thing which can't defer Death a moment nor stand him in any stead in another world He is all for that coin which will go currant in another Country and if he be but rich in promises rich in spiritual relations rich in grace he takes himself for no unhappy man let the world speak or think what they will of him he doth not much pass upon it he believes that he is but a pilgrim and stranger here and if he meet with no great kindness it is but that which he expected The truth of it is he is almost afraid of the smiles of the world not being ignorant of this that whom it kisses it intends to betray he can't be overfond of that which in all probability will keep God and him at a greater distance and make his passage to glory next to impossible He reckons that it 's better being rich in grace then rich in purse and he that which lay up for his body and provides not for his soul is the greatest fool in the world Tell such a one as Moses of riches honours preferments he thinks them but poor sorry things for a man of Israel to be taken with and he will rather see them in the dirt then part company with his suffering brethren much less with God It is storied of Anaxagoras that he seemed to be very little concerned when his countrey was in a flame upon which being taxed by some he made this reply There is none of you all care more for your country then I do for nine pointing with his finger up to heaven Thus it is with the people of God let others talk of Riches and Honour but there is none of them all do value true Riches as they do but here 's the difference one thinks he hath Riches when he hath the command of a great deal of Gold and Silver the other knows he hath Riches when he hath Christ and Grace and can have good returns out of that other World And which of these are the wisest will ere long be seen One looks upon heaven glory as a shadow a fable and the things of this World as the only realities the other he looks upon Heaven God and Eternity as the greatest realities and most worthy of his highest valuation and the things of this world as flying shaddows which can't fill the arms of him that doth imbrace them And under this apprehension and sence of things no marvel that he doth prefer the substance before the shadow He believes with that Worthy that he was born for other things than to eat and drink and sleep or to take his pleasure or to get an estate he knows that the business in this world is to provide for another to get his peace made with God to contemplate Heaven and to get thither and therefore you must not count it strange that such a person as this is somewhat cold and remiss in his carrying on of lower designs he knows that the disproportion between Finite and Infinite Times and Eternity is no such inconsiderable one as the most count upon Again he hath more than once experienced this that the very joys and comforts that are to be had in the enjoying of Communion with God even in this world are unspeakably more intence and refreshing than the highest sensual pleasures in the world One that is acquainted with God will take the word of his Friend for true which word tells him that
still is carrying on is the honour of God He will undertake nothing of importance before he consult with and hath the advice and direction of his Friend Whatsoever he hath that is worth any thing he sends it to this Friend he presents him with his first fruits he sacrificeth his male the best of his flock desires that his Friend may be always at his house and that he may have the best entertainment that he can possibly give and he is ashamed at the best that he can make him no more welcome whom he so highly honours he is grieved that his entertainment is no better he would fain give God his first and last thoughts his warmest affections he would gladly have the strength and vigour of body and soul spent in his service he studies how to improve all mercies and enjoyments for God to take hold of all opportunities that he can possibly and to make the best of them for the promoting that grand Design which he hath on foot his Honour He thinks not wife and children houses and lands body soul and all that he can make in the world too good for him Whatever temptations he conquers whatsoever sin he slayes whatsover piece of gallantry or prowess he hath done in his inrods upon Satans Kingdom he gives the honour of all to the valour conduct and assistance of this his noble Ally and Friend He sets the Crown of the King of Ammon like Joab upon the head of this King David He hath such a high esteem for God that he thinks nothing well done but when it is done exactly as he would have it he thinks every thing then best when it is done according to Gods will and he counts it no small weakness to be unwilling that infinite Wisdom rather then folly should have the managing of all the affairs of the world He desires to maintain a quick and lively sense of the Divine Majesty upon his Soul and that he may here and hereafter give him as he hath infinite cause all honour glory and praise 6. Another effect of this Acquaintance with God is this It would put abundance of life and vigour into the soul it would as it were oyl the wheels and set them a running There are none in the world that act at so high a rate as those do which are most acquainted with God O how undefatigable are they in their pains with what earnestness and faith do they pray as if they saw the glorious God before them and were talking with him with what reverence seriousness and delight do they read meditate and hear the Word and do all that they do They know in some measure what it is to present their bodies and souls as a living sacrifice to God through Christ they understand what it means to be fervent in spirit serving the Lord they will not serve God with that which cost them nothing kneeling down and saying a few formal words before God in the evening repeating the Lords Prayer and the Creed and the Ten Commandments between sleeping and waking doing no body any wrong and the like is not enough to serve his turn his conscience will not be thus put off but he labours with all his might to stir up his soul to lay hold upon God he is not content to go off from his knees without his Fathers blessing This is the Friend and Acquaintance of God this is the brave Israelite that spiritual Prince that will not let God go till he hath prevailed with him He doth not go to his work as if he caved not whether he work'd or no he is not sick of the service of God but he rejoyceth and works righteousness his work is his pleasure and he goes on merrily with his business Those that are intimately acquainted with God are not so cold faint and dull in the service of God as others be Such a one as knows God very well and hath been oft made welcome by him why he comes with a great deal of confidence and knocks at Gods door and for his part he will not go away though the door be not presently opened but he continues knocking because he is sure that his Friend is within he knows that he is never from home and that he can never come unseasonably to him He comes to Prayer as if he were going to storm Heaven he gets spiritual things by violence he comes to Duty as to fight for a Crown he is ashamed to offer the lame and the blind to God but he chooseth for the best in his flock he desires to improve his interest in God to the height this favourite of Heaven comes frequently to the King to beg some great thing or other and he is sure that his Friend will deny him nothing that it is not a greater kindness to deny then give he knows that his King hath a large purse and as large a heart and he is not willing to lose such excellent things that are to be had for the asking for he is not ignorant that Spiritual things are worth the seeking for and therefore he will seek and seek earnestly he hath tried more then once and he remembers to his joy that wonderful things are to be had if we will but take pains for them and prefer our Petitions or rather get them preferr'd by that great Master of Request the Lord Jesus Christ and follow our business close that it can't possibly miscarry let it be what it will the comfort in enjoying will abundantly pay all the charges we can be at in seeking therefore he layes about him as one that is in good earnest the confidence that he hath in the good will of God it puts life into all his petitions A poor Creature that very rarely injoys any communion with God that is very little or not at all acquainted with him is ready to take up with a few formal complemental performances he is weary of his work before he hath well begun it he is quickly out of breath but now one that is very well acquainted with God is not so soon weary of his company it may be he may be somewhat cold when he sets out but by that time he hath gon a few turns with his Friend his blood grows warm he is sometimes so taken up with God in duty that he can scare tell when to have don O he thinks it 's good being there O it was a sweet season These are the actings and experiences some Noble Soule I have heard some Christians say that had not God made it their duty to follow their callings they could be glad with all their hearts to do nothing else day nor night but hear the mysteries of Gods love in Christ opened Read Pray Meditate and be immediately engaged in the service of God Sure something is the matter with these persons more then ordinary that their Palate should be so Spiritualised as that it is their Food their Wine their Dainties to be actually
poyson in any of those Dainties which comes from his dearest Friends Table he may eat his meat with a joyful heart and not tremble for fear of the reckoning at last what he enjoys is freely given him all his Dishes have this brave Sauce they are season'd with Love and come out of the hand of a Father He that is the great Proprietor hath given him leaven to use these things and hath promised also to give him better things then these He knows that this is not his portion that this is nothing to what he shall possess it is no small comfort to him to think that he shall never want any thing that is needful for him or that if he be brought into some exigences he hath a Friend that he can go to when he will and be heartily welcome he hath a portion an estate in another Country that can never be spent though he live at never so high a rate and the more he spends upon it the greater it is he hath a key to that storehouse which can never be emptied he hath an interest in him in whom all fulness doth dwell his Friend is noble let him but ask and he shall have seek and he shall find knock it shall be opened unto him God is so free that he takes care of all his creatures yea so great is his Royal Bounty that it doth largely provide for his enemies and shall his friends his children starve Hath he not done so in ancient dayes when his people were in the wilderness he sent them their Dyet from his own house he fed them with Angels food But if this should not be if he kept them short that may be done with as great kindness to them as the former fasting may fatten the soul more then feasting doth the body and this makes all welcome if he have a great deal he rejoyceth to think that he shall have more still one day if he have but a little he is satisfied and so his condition is made more comfortable to him then the greatest enjoyments of the wicked are to them 9. Another effect of this Acquaintance with God is That it will make a man wise He that before he was acquainted with God had not the wit to know his Friends from his Foes by his converse with God is made more wise then the great Sages and grand Politicians of the world Upon his acquaintance with God he is soon able to know right from wrong to distinguish between good and evil He hath now the wisdom to look after the salvation of his soul to seek the Kingdom of Heaven in the first place and not to be laughed and jeered into Hell He is so wise that he doth outwit the Devil himself he doth get so much wisdom by his acquaintance with God that God will reveal many of his great secrets to him I know one my self that was little different from those which are commonly called Naturals whom when the Lord had wonderfully wrought upon and brought near to himself after his converse and acquaintance with God his very natural understanding was exceedingly refined and afterward he became more discreet and fit to manage worldly affairs But however this be I am sure the knowledge of God gives understanding to the simple A good under standing have they which love the Lord and the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom Converse with men of wisdom doth not a little improve a man but converse with the wise God it makes a strange alteration indeed they are made wise unto Salvation Of such as these David thought it best to make his privy Council These are the persons that are the fittest to advise with in businesses of the greatest importance in the world they have learned the art of managing the affairs of greatest concernment with the greatest care and prudence I know the wise world usually look upon these persons as the veriest fools living To converse with God to take all possible care to make their calling and election sure to do what one can to be happy for ever goes amongst them for a ridiculous thing and more then needs But it is no great matter they will not be beat from their work thus they should be fools indeed if such things as these should make them turn their backs upon God they will not be jeer'd out of Heaven they pass not upon mans censures He is wise that God calls so and he will be sound to be a fool which God faith is so As for the man that is acquainted with God all his actions speak him a man of prudence one that hath a deep reach with him he is a man of an excellent foresight he sees the clouds a gathering a great way off the storm before it riseth and he hides himself in him are hid the treasures of wisdom he makes no foolish choice he is a child of wisdom he doth in some measure understand himself and knows where his interest lies and is faithful to it he makes no foolish bargains when he parts with Dung for Diamonds Brass for Gold Earth for Heaven Sin for Holiness present short-liv'd Pleasures for sure everlasting Delights the Devil for God How say you ye mad Gallants that look upon the Saint as a Fool and Religion as a ridiculous thing Are these such foolish actings is it so undiscreet a choice to prefer Heaven before Hell If this be to be a fool I wish I were more such a fool if this be so contemptible a thing O that I may yet be more vile Let me say further as great a folly as it is there are none of you all but ere long will wish you had been such fools A few years will make you all of another mind when you see what those that you counted fools have got and what you with your wisdom have lost then let 's hear you calling them fools for chusing Christ for their portion and your self wise for despising him and chusing of this present world for your portion Now it is their being acquainted with God that hath made them thus wise time was that they were as very fools as any in the world till they fell into Gods company and ever since that they have acted with a great deal more prudence their being much in Gods company hath much improved them They may thank God for all that skill that they have attained to for he it is that teached them he is always at their elbow to direct them when they are about to be cheated he whispers them in the ear le ts them understand the fraud and when God speaks they lissen to his counsel It was no falshood which Seneca spake though he understood not the meaning of this Doctrine of Reconcilitation in the commendation of Wisdom Wisdom faith be is a great spacious thing it instructs us both in Divine and Humane things it teacheth a man how to demean himself in relation to things past present and
be men of a deeper reach and a larger understanding then others because they made it their business to get acquainted with God and thus to make their interest as large as Heaven and their peace and prosperity as sure as the oath of a God could make it Do you think that all these men were mistaken did their wisdom lie only in a prudent management of their worldly affairs to their best advantage what then did they mean some of them to leave all that they had so chearfully upon the command of God dare you say that they prized the favour of God at too high a rate as for their parts they thought they could never value such a friend as God too much What else was the meaning of their longing panting and breathing after him Why else are they so glad of his company his presence How loath were they to do any thing that might be in the least displeasing to him What bitter moans did they make if he did but withdraw a while if he did but a little absent himself from them how wonderful desirous were they of enjoying communion with him how earnest to live in his house for ever Dare you say that there were all fools and mad men for refusing the embraces of this present world for slghting its smiles and undervaluing its greatest kindnesses and choosing that favour of God though with the scorns and reproaches of the world rather then to hazard his anger whose wrath burns to the bottom of Hell Behold what a glorious company of these stand upon mount Zion with Harps in their hands with those hundred and forty and four thousand and the Lamb with an innumerable multitude of all Nations People and Languages Why all these were of the Friends and Acquaintance of God or else they had never had those Crowns Robes and Palms in their hands Now why should not our souls be as dear to us as theirs were to them Will not Heaven be as good for us as them is it not as needful for us to get a friend of God as them Will not God do as much for us as them if we will but do as they did walk with him The truth of it is the number of them which are saved is but few in comparison of the multitudes of them which know not God and go the broad way yet for all that take them absolutely they are abundance so many that the Scripture saith they are innumerable Do but read over the History of some of their Lives turn over the holy Records look sometimes into those Sacred Chronicles and behold how chearfully they served God how actively they followed the Lamb wheresoever he goes through thick and thin Hear what their language is now they are got home fafe now Christ hath brought them to glory and they are at their Friends house What do they talk of what is their discourse about do they complain what a sad journey they had of it through a howling wilderness after they had passed the Red Sea through a thousand sorrows and trials do they say that now they are at their journeys end they are weary and wish they had never taken so long and tedious a journey do they not rather speak the quite contrary and that if it were to go again they would do it with far more speed and chearfulness then they did Lissen hark methinks I hear them from the walls of the New Jerusalem crying out Come away come away fall on bravely follow your business gallantly but a little while longer and the City is your own fetch your scaling ladders run up apace mount the rampiers fear nothing though the Devil play his Artillery upon them yet it is but powder he shall never give you a mortal would resist him and he will flee and the field is yours the Spoil the Crown the Honour will pay for your pains bloud and danger Fall on brave souls fall on the valianter you be the more safe you are Methinks I hear those noble Saints encouraging of you to get acquaintance with God and saying to you that are yet afar off come near Come away poor souls come away what do you mean thus to delay O little do you think what a friend we now find of God it was but a little a very little that was told us of the excellency of Christ and the glories of this place to what we experience It was no false report that we heard when we was upon earth of the happiness of Heaven O here 's a prize worth the running for a Kingdom a Crown worth the fighting for an Estate worth the looking after We have not now our stint we are not dieted with those Spiritual Dainties we have not now and then a sip a draught a bit in a corner but we are at the fountain we are daily feasted with infinite pleasures our hearts are full brim full they run over we swim in an ocean of spiritual enjoyments these things are beyond your capacity now to understand Were we to live upon earth again and did we know what we do now know we should ever pine with our earnest longing for God the living God to be in his immediate presence and to be at that angelical work of praising serving and loving him for ever Wherefore brethren let us encourage one another Come let us go up to the house of the Lord his dwelling is in Salem his palace is upon mount Zion Why should not we go on as merrily in the paths of Wisdom as the wicked in the road of Hell How do the Devils Champions encourage and hearten one another up How do they laugh sing and roar as if their life were the only life for shame let 's tell them they lye in their teeth Who hath the best company they or we the Patriarchs and Prophets the Apostles and thousands of Martyrs are gone finging before some of our dear Relations Fathers Brethren and Sisters are newly welcomed by Christ to his Fathers house and they are blessing that rich mercy that hath conducted them to such a place to such a friend we have many thousands of Saints Militant that are going along with us as fast as they can and God himself will bear us company and why do we yet linger O that we were upon the wing O that our souls were like the Chariots of Aminadab O that the Lord would strengthen poor short-winded Creatures O that we could run and not be weary and walk and not faint O that we might have now and then a hearty meal and that in the strength of them we could travel to the mount of God! O that that acquaintance might now be happily begun which may never have an end O that God would visit us oft and get into our hearts O that he that gave those Worthies in former times so much grace would pour out of the same grace in abundance upon our souls O that he would shed abroad his love in our hearts O
house for these to keep off so to come so seldom for them which have fed so high at the Kings Table to sall to their Trash their Husks this is a shame indeed as if the Devil kept a better house than God Christians doth God deserve this at your hands How unkindly do you think he takes this from you What will the world say Look how his own acquaintance despise him How will the Devil insult O how do the hearts of your fellow Christians ake to see how strange your carriage is How do they tremble to think what if that fine House be built upon the Sand Christians you which seldom or complementally visit God bethink your selves well what you do when you begin to be cold in your affections to this Friend remember from whence you are fallen and repent and do your first works remember what entertainment you have sometimes had at Gods House forget not all his Kindnesses of all the Creatures in the world you have no cause to carry your selves so towards God I tell you again the World stands by and looks on to see what there is in you more than in others they mark your lives more than you are aware of it may be Wherefore look to your selves take heed how you carry your selves before them O why should they see your faces pale when you may feed so highly O shew them by your countenance that you feed upon wholsome food O let your breath smell sweet let your discourse be more savoury of the things of God! Labour to maintain a sweet constant unintermitted intercourse with God to walk with him O little do you think what you loose by your coming so seldom to this Friend I appeal to your own experience was not that dish you eat last at his Table sweet And what do you think that God doth not still keep as good a House as he did Do you believe that he hath spent all his best Wines Can that Fountain ever be emptied Is there not Bread and good Chear enough in your Fathers house Believe it God hath other kind of Entertainment richer Chear better Fare still to make you welcome with if you would not be so strange if you will but come oftener to him As for Christians methinks I need not use so many words to perswade you methinks you that know how sweet his company is should desire to be never out of it Christians I tell you plainly if you ever expect true peace in your life and true joy and comfort at death it 's your only way to keep close to God visit him oft by secret Prayer and other kind of Duties and then you shall ever and anon meet with that which will sweeten your greatest diligence and abundantly make amends for your pains Knock at his door ask for him and resolve to stay tili he come though he come not at the first second or third knocking yet I am sure he is within and will come at last if you will but wait and when you have once again met with him O let him not go but tell him seriously that you can't bear his absence he shall be your God and Friend living and dying death it self shall not part you Go also and tell your Friends you have found him whom your soul loves that you have met with Jesus and see if you can get them to come out and see him bid them to taste and see how good the Lord is commend him all you can to your poor Christ-less Friends But you are not the persons that I intended to speak to only thus a little by the by that I may a little warm my own heart and yours in this great duty of maintaining an intimate close converse and acquaintance with God But my business is to go out into the High ways and Hedges and to invite poor wandring strangers that have nothing to live upon themselves and that do not know what a noble open house God keeps that never tasted of his kindness in Christ to come to this Royal Feast and to Eat their fill of such food as they can never eat too much of never be surfeited with Vuto you O men I call and my voice is unto the sons of men O ye simple ones understand wisdom and ye fools he ye of an understanding heart Prov. 8.4 5. Hear O ye deaf and see O blind let the dead hear the voice of God and live Then hear what I have been speaking of I have almost done my message consider well of these things as you tender the displeasure of God as you value your Souls be serious remember what it is that I have been discoursing to you about Read it over again and study on it Read and Pray Pray and Read and turn this exhortation into Prayer take with you words and say O that this might be the Sermon that might bring me acquainted with God! O that this might be the man that might bring me to some knowledg of Christ O that this might be the happy day wherein a Match may be concluded between my soul and the precious Jesus But alas alas where are the hearts that are thus smitten Where are the Souls that are any white taken with this infinite Beauty How few have any real love or good-will for Christ O who hath believed our report and to whom is the Arm of the Lord revealed Though I and many hundreds more have been pleading thus with sinners though some of the Embassadors of peace weep bitterly that their message is no more kindly entertained though their publick Preaching be followed with private Prayers and secret Groans though they expostulate the case with poor refractory Creatures with all the earnestness that they can for their lives though we use the most powerful arguments that we can and deliver them with all the vehemency seriousness and compassion that we can for our Souls Yet how are the greatest part of our hearers unconcerned Is not a great part of our Auditory as stupid and senceless as the very stones they tread on The more is our sorrow we fear as to the most of them that hear us what we speak is lost It may be they may be a little affected just at the hearing or for an hour or two but O that these truths might have a lively and abiding impression on mens hearts I fear O that they were causeless fears I fear that most of you that have heard of these things will go away and quickly forget what weighty things you have heard perhaps some of you may say the man was very earnest and some of his Expressions were piercing O Friends I hope it is not your commendation that I desire O that I may with a single heart respect Gods glory I say again I would not be pleased with your praise nor would I fear your dispraise it 's your Souls I want and may but I manage my great work in this successfully and see you acquainted with God
undervalue the favour of God so as you do what reason have you thus foolishly to cast away your selves and to slight acquaintance with your Maker Let me plead with you in the language of a Reverend Divine R. B. of our own Look up your best and strongest Reasons and if you see a man put his hand into the fire till it burn off you 'l marvel at it but this is a thing that a man may have reason for as Bishop Cranmer had when he burnt off his hand for subscribing to Popery If you see a man cut off a Leg or an Arm it 's a sad sight but this is a thing that a man may have good reason for as many a man doth it to save his life If you see a man give his body to be burnt to ashes and to be tormented with Strappado's and Racks and refuse deliverance when it is offered this is a hard case to flesh and bloud but this a man may have good reason for as you see in Heb. 11.33 34 35 36. and as many an hundred Martyrs have done But for a man to forsake the Lord that made him for a man to run into the fire of Hell when he is told of it and intreated to turn that he might be saved this is a thing that can have no reason in it that is reason indeed to justifie or excuse it For Heaven will pay for the loss of any thing that we can lose to get it or for any labour that we bestow for it but nothing can pay for the loss of Heaven Read on in Mr. R. B's Call to the Vnconverted pag. 169. Do you still believe the Word of God to be true and the things contained in it to be the most weighty and yet will you still pass them over as if there were nothing at all in them Quest 4. My next Question that I shall propound to you and desire your serious and speedy answer to is this Do you believe that you can find a better friend then God can you mend your self any where else is there in Heaven or Earth any that can do as much for you as God can is there any one that can take you off when you come to be accused for High Treason against the King of Heaven and to be arraigned before that just Judge have you got that which will quit your cost in getting of it and countervail the loss of a Soul what is it that still hath an interest in your heart that is thought to be an equal competitor with God for your dearest love If it be indeed that which will shield you from the arrests of Death and the wrath of the Almighty if it be that which can shelter you from the storm of his displeasure if it be that which will do you as much good as Heaven and make you as happy as God can why then I have little to say make your best of it But consider well what you do first be sure that you be not mistaken have not many thought as you think and have found their mistake when it was too late Quest 5. Do you think that this world will last always with you do you not believe that ere long you must die and your soul appear before God and by him be sentenced to its everlasting state where is all the glory of those great Monarchs which despised God and oppressed his people what is become of all their pomp which of them that flourished three thousand years ago stand alive now in glory and are you better then they shall the worms which have made a prey of them spare you is Death more favourable now a days then he was before is not the world still as it was but vanity is not all flesh still but grass and the beauty of it as a flower that is cut down and withereth suddenly Well then this being granted that nothing is more certain then Death and that it is appointed for all men once to die would you not then be glad of something that will stand you instead after death a Friend in another world why then do you not speedily get acquainted with him who alone can befriend you in that dreadful hour Quest 6. What do you think will become of you if after all this you go on in your old ways what will become of you do you think if you should die without the knowledge of God what hopes hath you of life in peace if you bid defiance to the Lord of life and contemn the Prince of peace how shall you escape if you neglect so great salvation what do you think that those which did once as you do now slight Christ and never look after Reconciliation with God are now a doing in another world what would you do in this case should one come to you either out of Heaven or out of Hell how wonderfully do you think you should be affected with the Narration which they would give you of the affairs of the invisible world why then will you not now be affected with what we say for assure your selves whatever you may think our testimony is as true and hath a better foundation of credit then if one should tell you he came from the dead and speak to you of these things Quest 7. Another Question I would propound to you is this Are you willing to bear the displeasure of God can you undergo the weight of that wrath which made his back to ake who was mighty to do and suffer can you with any patience hear that dreadful word pronounced by the mouth of that Judg which will see to the execution of his sentence Depart from me ye cursed unto everlasting torment Depart from me ye workers of iniquity for I know you not Can you endure without any trouble that scalding hot wrath which is abundantly more painful then Fire and Brimstone more intolerable then to be shut up in a burning fiery Furnace or to be boyled in a Caldron of melted Lead or whatsoever torments the wit of men or Devils can invent Can you with any patience bear the Stone Gout Tooth-ach Chollick or some such distempers of body which last but for a while O how long do you think the time when you are in that condition how do you toss and tumble what lamentable moan do you make do not you think you can't be too much pitied in that condition how then will you be able to lie down in those torments the least drop of which is abundantly more painful then the greatest torment that ever you felt in your life If these seem dreadful to you why do you not go the way to avoid them which is by getting an interest in him who hath the Keys of Hell at his gridle for there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus to them that are brought into a state of Reconciliation and Acquaintance with God by his Son our Mediatour Quest 8. Are you contented to lose everlasting
DIRECTION If you would be acquainted with God you must visit him often be much at his house knock at his door many times in a day and resolve to continue knocking till he open and if he do not come presently wait for him you would do as much for your Prince and it may be to a meaner person We can't expect to be acquainted with them that we will not come near It is to no purpose for that man to speak of acquaintance with God who never speaks to him comes at him or enquires after him Neither will a slight visit or two in a Transitory complemental manner serve the turn a man may do this and yet not be said to be acquainted with God A stranger may come once to your house that was never there before and never intends to come again and I believe you will scarce write such a own down amongst your special friends and intimate acquaintance So in Spirituals for acquaintance and converse with God are no such slight things as the world commonly take them to be If you would make any thing of this great work of getting acquaintance with God you must not jest in it you must give God many solemn and set-visits and carry your self with all the observance and respect to him that you can for your soul This is that which keeps many thousands of strangers from the life of Grace and intimate acquaintance with God because they know not what those more peculiar visits of God mean they understand not what it is to draw nigh to God in secret they come not to him with those more spiritual acts of Religion they pray it may be in their Families and it may be that but seldom but by the way never let such pretend to the Knowledge of God who call not upon him in their Families but what they do it is but in a poor formal perfunctory manner between sleep and awake and will you call this acquaintance with God will you call this an act of Adoration and spiritual Worship Is it to bow down a while before God and to read or speak a few words and there 's an end their work is over their task is done and they are glad of it But now such as these do not come into Gods Chambers they come to his House as I may so say but they regard not whither he be at home whether they speak to God and have an answer from God or no they call indeed but desire not much to be heard they knock but are not very careful to stay till the door be opened But alas alas such as these can't tell what it is to enjoy communion with God They have got it may be into some course of external performances by reason of the Example of their Superiours Education or by being under the sound of the Gospel and from some force that natural conscience doth put upon them which will not be content except something be done But such as these may not be said to visit God in that manner that I would perswade them to which would be acquainted with God for all this they stand a great way off from God and may be termed strangers and forraigners How seldom are they upon their knees in secret How rare a thing is it for them with Isaac to go into the field to meditate They visit their Farms they visit their Flocks they visit their Swine they go often to uisit their sottish drunken Companions whilest God and Christ their Bible their Closet their Hearts are forgotten and seldom or never visited And is this true kindness to ones self Is it any wisdom to slight such a Friend as God would be to us and to make so much of such sorry Companions O stupid and dull souls O what do we mean so strangely to forget our selves For who is like to get by it God or we when we come and feed at his Table and spend upon his cost O little do people think what they might enjoy would they purposely set themselves to meet with God and go to his house with a strong resolution not to come away from him till they have seen him or heard from him Now the great duties in which the soul may be said to visit God in and in which God doth many times give out much of himself to to the soul are these 1. Solemn Meditation 2. Secret Prayer 3. Fasting 4. Community of Experiences and Communion with the Saints 5. The Lord's Supper 1. Meditation When the Soul doth fix it self upon the Thoughts of some Spiritual and Divine object such as the love of God in Christ the glory of another world c. This is as it were going out to meet the Lord and to take a walke with our Beloved this is the getting up to Mount Pisgah to take a survey of that goodly Land When the soul doth as it were bathe it self in the Contemplation of Christs beauty and labours to enamour it self more and more with his love and to throw it self as I may so say into that Ocean of Divine goodness it will scarce leave till it be wound up to the highest pitch of admiration of that infinite boundless love which should do such glorious things for so vile and contemptible for so rebellious and unthankful wretch as that is O what manner of love is this O that I were sick of love O that I might die sick of love O that I were once in the embraces of my dearest Lord and Husband O that I could do nothing else day and night but praise love and admire this infinite boundless love And did Christ indeed offer up his life for my sin Did he not think his precious heart blood too dear for me And shall I think my heart-heart-love too dear for him What for me Lord which am the chiefest of sinners Here here 's kindness with a witness Stand still O my soul and admire stand looking upon this lovely sight till thou art all on fire These are the pure flames here thou needest not to fear to exceed widen thy soul let thy affections run without controle More fire still blow hard it doth yet but smoke O for some coals from the altar O for more fire more fuel O that my heart were vehemently inflamed in the strongest love to him who still deserves a thousand times more Help me all ye Angels to bless and adore his marvellous loving kindness Christ is a friend to Publicans and Sinners indeed or such a one as I had never been on this side of Hell O love love love What shall I render unto the Lord O that men would bless the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men O what meanest thou O my soul that thou art yet so cold Awake awake Psaltery and Harp I my self will awake and praise admire and love thee O my God whose love to my soul is beyond expression and thus while the soul is musing the
Fire begins to burn while the Spouse is thinking of her glorious Husband he knocks at the door she draws the Latch and be comes in smelling of Mirrhe Aloes and Cassia he comes and kisses the soul with the kisses of his lips his love is better than wine he comes and takes the soul into his arms O the sweet pleasure of Divine Love infinitely transcending all carnal Affections O the joy that is at this meeting far surpassing humane apprehension O the sweet entertainment that God and the Soul gives each other at such a time I appeal to the experience of those that have been much exercised in this great Duty of Meditation if they have been in good earnest in the work I am confident they can say something to this point What sayest thou O Christian which art used to imitate Isaac didst thou never meet with another-guess Companion than Rebeccah As he met with a Wife so thou hast met with thy Husband When thou hast been in the Field or Closer at this work hath not Christ then taken you by the hand and led you into his Garden and made you to taste of his pleasant Fruits hath he not brought you into his Banquetting-house and brought out some of his choicest dainties are not those Flaggons more full of Spirit more Cordial and refreshing than Wine O little do any but those who have tried it think what a life they might lead if they would with seriousness engage in this duty Speak O ye gracious ones that make conscience of this Soul-ravishing duty speak I beseech you and do not smother the kindnesses of God to you speak and let him have the praise It may be by your ventring your experience hundreds may be encouraged to set upon the same work and hundreds may also have the same experiences What do you say have you not found the benefit of this duty did you never find Meditation a sweet work was it worth your while or no to sequester your selves a while from the world to talk with your Beloved did you ever repent you of your Labour and think your time lost have you not been able to say that at such and such a time when you were in the Mount that it was good being there could you not have been almost content to have lest the dearest Relations and to have quitted your interest in all Creature-comfort so you might have had fuller enjoyments of God could you not have been contented to pass from Contemplation to Vision and Fruition why speak then for the Lords sake and for the sake of precious souls and keep not such a thing as this is in let your unexperienced Neighbours know what a Soul-ravishing and Soularaising Duty Meditation is Let me ask thee which readest these Lines did you ever try what there was in this Duty of Meditation I suppose if you converse much with such Books as speak of Communion with God you can't but desire something of it and I am perswaded you have sometimes wept since you began to read this Book to think how little you experience I believe you would be glad with all your Soul to know what it is to be acquainted with God and to have such a Friend as I have been speaking of Why let me ask you again did you ever try what Meditation is You may read much of the excellency of this Duty and Directions about it in Mr. Baxters Saints Everlasting Rest did you ever get out of the world and intensely fix your heart and thoughts upon any of the glorious Attributes of God Did you ever set before your eyes his love in Christ If not O try and fall to this work seriously and speedily and you shall soon find the sweetness of it you will soon say that you lost many a good meeting many a dainty bit for want of going for it A carnal worldly heart I must confess may possibly spoil this Duty as all others and grow formal in it and be weary of it and cast it off though let me put in this I believe its marvellous rare for a Hypocrit to have any thing to do in such a secret duty as this is but if they were true to the interest of their own souls in the management of this work I am confident they would be every day more and more in love with this duty For I am perswaded that when the soul is in good earnest nay I can speak it positively there is no duty doth so much raise and warm the soul there is no duty wherein the people of God enjoy his sweet company more than in this This opens the treasures of Gods kindness this takes his Love tokens and presents them to the view of the soul this unlocks the Cabinets and fetches out those precious Jewels by this the soul doth as it were talk with its Beloved and in this Christ doth as it were take the soul by the hand and lead it into his Palace and shews it all those glorious things which it shall shortly have in her possession for ever And how can this choose but engage the soul to express its gratitude to the height in answer to such love and when the soul is in this frame Christ will not be behind-hand with her no love shall be lost between them If the Spouse walk out to look for her Beloved she shall find him before she hath done 2 Another duty by which the Soul doth visit God in a special manner is Secret Prayer by this the Soul knocks and God is quick of hearing and none of his Friends shall wait without doors so long as to catch cold By this the Soul doth as it were storm Heaven by this it gets into the presence Chamber and presents its requests In this duty a Christian doth as it were return the Key of Heavens Doors and by this he unlocks the door of his own Soul and so there is free access on both sides the Soul visits God and God visits the Soul and this creats an intimacy The poor wounded Creature opens his wounds and then the great Physician comes with the Balm of Gilead When Jacob is thus weeping and praying alone he meets with God he meets a blessing he wrestles he conquers This duty of Secret Prayer and that other of Meditation are two fatning duties by which the Souls of Believers come to Gods Table and eat and drink of strengthening food and for want of these many poor souls are thin O why do Christians why do Professors maintain no fairer correspondency with God in such duties wherein he doth manifest himself more than ordinary to the Soul The reason of this may be because God accounts himself more highly honoured and more truly loved by them which are much in these than by others By this a man doth as it were honour the goodness of God in that it shews it worth the while to steal out of the world and to leave the best company on Earth to go to God
in that Ordinance doth afford some of his sometimes I have heard another dear Brother say that for some years together he scarce ever failed of some notable Token of Love at that great Ordinance But I would not instead of comforting and incouraging the poor Saint bring him into greater fears and dispondings Judge not therefore that this is the portion of all Gods Children nor of any at all times to have such large Discoveries as these Heaven is reserved for Heaven some have a single Messe some a double some five times more than their Brethren let all be thankful if the great Joseph instead of a Prison give a Feast and in it make himself known to us to be our brother let 's love him and admire his condescention and be ready to wonder that he doth so much for us rather than repine that he doth more for others If thou hast some drawings and longings and mournings after Christ and a deep sence of thy hardness unbelief and worldliness be thankful it may be this is more wholsome entertainment and fitter for the present Temper and Constitution of thy Soul than those Flagons of Wine perhaps they would fly up into thy head and make thee giddy proud and wanton if thou be but well wrought poor and hungry thou wilt be thankful for a little and a Crumb that falls from the Table to an humble Soul is better Intertainment then it knows it deserves or could without a Miracle of Kindness have expected mistake me not as if I would have Christians sit down satisfied with little or no comfort at that Ordinance no t is quite another designe that I am carrying on t is only a hint to quell Ingratitude my great work at present is to quicken diligence in Preparation and to raise the Saints Valuation of that Ordinance and his Expectations from Christ in it I say again Christ usually proportions his Intertainment to the diligent faithful humble preparations of the Soul to meet him they that trim their Lamps and have Oyl in them are most like to meet that Bridegroom with Joy he that hath on the Wedding Garment can't miss of a Welcom and the good and faithful Servant is most likely to have the Masters commendation and to enter into his Joy But more or less every sincere Soul at one time or another will meet with Refreshment at that Supper and amongst all the rare Dishes that are served up no question but some will be sutable if not all to a hungry Spiritual Stomach I can scarce leave this sweet Subject the time draws nigh and the Servants are sent out to invite and thou O my Soul art one of the Guest that art bidden Hark methinks I hear a Royal Proclamation Whosoever is a thirst let him come and drink of the Waters of Life freely Methinks the silver Trumpet of the Gospel and Divine Love sounds a Jubile Methinks the Air ecchoes with a strange Harmony somewhat like that Luke 2.14 Glory to God in the highest and on Earth Peace Good will towards men Don't the very Heavens ring with these Blessed Words A Saviour a Saviour a mighty Redeemer a Pardon a Pardon Liberty Liberty a glorious Liberty and again the Congregations of the Saints and Redeemed ones cry Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah I had thought to have done but the Feast is so sweet I must fall on again Here no Surfeiting the more I feed the more hungry and yet the more satisfied the more delighted Here 's nothing but Fulness Swectness and Love may be written upon every Dish and Royal noble everlasting Bounty may be proclaimed before every Course All the dismal Bonds are thrown in Cancelled all our Debts forgiven and paid the great Surety shews the Acquittance long since granted in the Court of Heaven now it s given in to the Court of Conscience The bloody War is concluded by a happy and firm Peace God is no longer a Judge an Enemy but now the Soul hears such words Friend Father Husband The Challenges of Law Conscience and Sathan are now silenced the Inditements against the Soul are all quashed the Soul may walk now at liberty and fear no Arrest who can lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect its Christ that justifies who can condemn Christ saith it swears it seals it it cannot but be true why art thou then cast down poor Soul and why art thou disquieted Christ hath made a blessed exchange with thee he hath drank the bitter Cup and offers thee the sweet which is spiced with Grace and Love Christ both purchased the Crown for thee and taken the Cross to himself he took the Rags and gives thee the Robes he became Poor that thou mayst become Rich he emptied himself that thou mayest be filled he was esteemed as nothing that thou mightest from worse than nothing possess all things and what now remains but that with the greatest Gratitude you accept of Christ's offer whensoever he invites thee to his Table what doth better become thee then the deepest resentment of the highest kindness and a grateful closure with all the overtures of Divine Goodness O happy are the people that are admitted to this Intimacy happy are the Souls that know the worth the use of this Ordinance and make it their business wisely to improve it O what an opportunity have such of Christ here what Request may they not then have granted and when Christ is giving what will he what can he deny them which have his heart already I have been the more large in this because it was the particular request of one of my Brethren a Reverend Minister that in the next Edition I would not forget that Ordinance in which God usually doth most signally discover his Love to his people III. DIRECTION If you would get acquainted with God get Christ along with you when you go to God You are like to speed no way so soon as this way nay let me say all that I have said before signifies nothing at all without this There is no Name under Heaven by which we can be saved but by the Name of Christ and whosoever comes to the Father by him he will in no wise cast out God can't deny his own Son any thing he can never forget that great undertaking of his by which he glorified his Fathers infinite Justice and infinite Love and did him more honour than all the Saints and Angels in the world His Son the Lord Christ hath such an interest in his Father that he can as soon despise his own honour as to refuse any request that is presented to him by his Son If Christ come to him and say Father here is a poor sinner that I have undertaken for and that flew to me for refuge Look upon him for my sake why the Fathers Arms are presently open he will not reject his Sons Petitions The truth of it is this is the greatest cause of the miscarriage of poor Creatures that go about to do that
say it again set your self as in the very immediate presence of God and when you hear a word that you are very nearly concerned in put up such a short Ejaculation as this Now Lord strike this hard heart of mine now Lord come in I beseech thee O that this word might be the key which might open my heart for the King of Glory to come in O command thy loving kindness this day to break into my soul O that this might be the day in which Salvation might come unto my house O that this might be the man that might be my Spiritual Father that this might be the Messenger one among a thousand that may bring me good tidings O that this might be the sentence that this might be the hour of Love O that this might be the day that I may have in everlasting remembrance O that I might presently without any more delay set out for Canaan Cry out with as much earnestness as that poor man did who brought his possessed child before Christ O Lord I have brought my unbeliving heart before thee to cure it exposes me a thousand times to unspeakable hazards but Lord if thou wilt but speak the word it shall be dispossessed I would believe Lord help my unbelief I have brought my hard heart before thee Lord soften it and let me not go from time to time with these dreadful diseases hanging about me to infect and undoe my self and others O melt me O Lord melt me and let me have such a look from thee as Peter once had which made him to go out and weep bitterly But I shall speak a little more of this nature under another Direction VI. DIRECTION If you would be acquainted with God you must get acquainted with some of his Friends and they will do all they can and be glad of it too to help you to be acquainted with him they will not spare to give you their utmost assistance in this great business And when they shall hear you asking what you shall do to know God they are glad at their Heart and will not be at quiet till they have got thee home with them to their Fathers House they watch for your Soul and no greater Joy than to help forward such a work as this then to be imployed any way in the service of your Souls They are glad when they hear any saying let us go to the house of the Lord and asking the way to Zion with their faces thither-ward O! Christians society good company is of exceeding use one good servant in a house the whole Family may fare the better for him Laban and Potiphar though ignorant enough in Spirituals could not but observe this that the Lord blessed their Families for the sake of one godly Servant I do not speak this only with respect to Temporals because of that Diligence and Faithfulness in their places that Religion will put them upon but with respect to Spirituals they will be dropping something that may tend to the awakening and convincing of their sleepy unbelieving ignorant companions they have an inward principle which puts them upon communicating what Grace they have received they know the more they impart to others the more they shall have themselves they have a Compassion for Souls and would fain have as many as they can along with them to Heaven they will be teaching little Children to Pray and Instilling something that the very Babes may set forth Gods Praises and they will be pleading with God for them But this only by the by Now if those that are gracious endeavour what they can to bring in those that are open enemies how much more will they be ready to give all the help they can to you that earnestly desire it Now when any one comes to this pass that he sees a difference between the godly and the wicked and to say that the righteous is more excellent than his Neighbour and to have an earnest desire to associate themselves with them it is a very great sign that God hath an intention to do such a Soul good Wherefore if you would be brought to the knowledge of God go speedily to them that know him well and they will tell you great things of him and how they came first acquainted with him and how this acquaintance hath been kept they will tell you where they first met him they will give you to understand that at such and such a time when they little thought of God they were strangely brought acquainted with him When they came out of Fashion or curiosity or to laugh at him that taught them or it may be to pick some Quarrel with him to hear such a man they were made to see what they never took any great notice of before that they were in an undone condition by Nature and that except Christ would pitty them there was no remedy but to Hell they must go whereas before they thought themselves as safe as could be But then they saw that it was no light matter to be out of Christ and Aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel After this they were made to understand something of Christs undertaking for poor lost sinners and they heard of his exceeding willingness to receive the chiefest of sinners and that then they began to see an excellency in his love and goodness and to be somewhat more taken with the kindness of Christ than ever they were before and they felt some longings after the precious Jesus O that they had but a Christ for their Souls and that after this they were by the Spirit of God in some measure enabled to cast themselves at the feet of Christ for mercy and that upon his own terms knowing that if mercy came not that way to them they must sink for ever and that upon this act of recumbency after they had for some time waited upon God in the way of his ordinances they began to taste and relish the things of God and at last they met him whom their Souls loved Inquire of them I say and they will talk thus to you and tell you also that there was a time wherein they were foolish disobedient and unto every good Work Reprobate and miserably neglectful of their Souls that they did not at all mind their Eternal welfare but made light of Christ made a mock of sin and made nothing of Eternal Damnation And they will direct and encourage you also Let me tell you they have an interest in God and their prayers for you may be more advantagious than you are aware of Yet I would not that you should make Christs of the Saints nor forget what is the work of the Mediator alone Saints are to be valued but Christ is to be valued infinitely more Get acquainted with some warm rare experienced Christian and make him your bosom Friend and observe him and you shall see much of the beauty of Religion shining in him and you shall see how chearfully and comfortably
not sleep to thine eyes or slumber to thine eye-lids but deliver thy self from the hand of the hunter and as a bird from the hand of the fowler Go to the Ant thou sluggard Consider her ways and be wise which having no guide over-seer or ruler provideth her meat in the Summer and gathereth her meat in the Harvest How long wilt thou sleep O sluggard When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep Yet a little sleep a little slumber a little folding of the hands to sleep so shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth and thy want as an armed man and will you now labour to get acquaintance with God as you would to get food for your body will you endeavour as much to make sure of his love as you would do to make sure of a pardon in case of the forfeiture of your life If so we have some hopes the work may have some considerable issue IX DIRECTION If you would be acquainted with God be much in expostulating the case with God and in urging those arguments which the Scripture doth afford you in such a case Take with you words and come unto the Lord and spread your requests before him and say O Lord thou hast sent thy servant the Ministers and hast invited me to come unto thee and thou offeredst peace and reconciliation and to be acquainted with me O God I desire from my soul to come upon thy call and would fain be acquainted with thee I see myself in an undone state while I am a stranger to thee but O Lord I have a cursed base heart that keeps me back from thee and I can't tell what in the world to do O Lord I beseech thee help thy poor Creature to come unto thee lead me by the hand let thy goodness and love constrain me conquer me by thy kindness come Lord into my soul and let me see thy face look upon thee till I am in love with thee O why art thou as a stranger to me wilt thou forsake me for ever shall I be one of those thine enemies which shall be slain before thy face shall I be one of those that shall dwell with everlasting burnings O Lord pity pity pity for Christ his sake a poor creature that would fain love thee be acquainted with thee I am convinced that I must be damned without thee come to thee of my self I cannot O draw me O carry me O compel me constrain me make me willing in the day of thy power I cannot get loose my heart is too hard for me my lasts are too strong for me my temptations are too many for me to conquer of my self O Lord help me Turn me and I shall be turned Pluck my feet out of the snare or I shall be utterly destroyed for ever Forgive mine iniquity make me a clean heart make me thy servant Tell God that thou hast heard of his goodness and mercy and that the King of Israel is a merciful King and that it is his nature to pitty Say to him O I am a poor undone creature and wilt thou send me away without mercy will the God of Grace send me away without Grace hast thou not called me O God thy servants tell me so O Lord speak and give me ears to hear O Lord I am come in upon thy merciful Proclamation and I desire to lay my self at thy feet mercy Lord mercy upon what terms thou pleasest Didst thou not say in thy Word Ho every one that thirsteth come and buy Wine and Milk without Money and without price Have not thy servants pleaded with me to come and hast thou not sent for me O! a blessing a blessing for me even for me O my father Hast thou not a blessing for me shall I be sent away as I came O Lord I come at thy word Do not say unto me Be gone out of my sight I cannot go I will not go whither shall I go from thee For thou hast the words of Eternal Life Though I cannot say Be just to me a Saint yet I will say Be merciful to me a sinner You may read more in R. A. his first part of his Vindiciae Pietatis pag. 232. the whole Treatise is excellent Plead the blood of Christ you may safely say that if there be not enough in Christ to save you you do not desire Salvation for in him there is all fulness You may plead your own absolute necessity Tell God that if ever poor creature in the world had need of mercy you have tell him that you are resolved not to be content without his love You may plead his promise in which he hath said That he will take away the heart of stone and give a heart of flesh that he will put his fear in our hearts write his laws in our inward parts You may plead also the power of God whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself and many such like arguments you may find in many places in the Scripture But because I have touched upon this before I shall pass this by X. DIRECTION If you would be acquainted with God look after it speedily defer not a moment your enemy is marching on apace you may be surprized your soul is hasting upon it's Eternal state your glass is almost run there are but a few sands behind therefore seek the Lord while he may be found and call upon him while he is near Ere long it will be too late wherefore what thou dost do quickly What is the voyce both of Scripture and Providence Doth not the Word of God say Now and commend the present time above all Acquaint now thy self with him Remember now thy Creatour Turn now unto the Lord. Let a poor Heathen Epict. En. c. 75. shame you into greater speed in this necessary work I shall translate his words into English How long saith he will you defer the looking after the best things How long will you abuse your reason Have you not heard such Precepts which you ought to agree to and you seemed very well to like of What kind of Teacher is it that you stay for For whose coming do you defer before you will mend and turn You are come now to years of discretion if I should say you were not you would be angry if you will neglect and delay and add one delay to another if you will add one put off to another and make one resolution and purpose after another and set one day after another in which you will think of these things consider that all this will do you no good for all your resolutions and promises for all that I see you are like to die a common man therefore now live as a perfect growing man and follow that which is most excellent unalterably If any thing of difficulty intervene remember that now is the time for you to shew what respect you have for your God and your soul Remember the goal is not
in them 1 John 2.15 Whence is it that so few great ones go to Heaven and that it is next to impossible for such to be saved Is it not because they have chosen Mammon for their Friend rather than God He hath their heart their Love their Time their Service and they have little to spare for God therefore God hath but a little happiness a little heaven a short glory for them they shall have but a little of his sweet company little Acquaintance with him Why doth James speak so terribly to the rich men bid them go and weep and howl was it not because their riches were like to undoe them Did the wealthy man in the Parable live ever the longer for his riches or fare ever the better for his greatness when he came into another world There is no question but he might have more flatterers there is no doubt but he hath more worldly Friends but bring me a man upon the Earth that lets his heart without controle fly upon the world cleaves to it and takes it to be his best friend that knows God that 's acquainted with his Maker that prizeth his Redeemer It was a wise man who said that it 's absolutely impossible to mind externals and internals this world and another with earnestness at the same time but it was wisdom it self who said That no Servant can serve two Masters for either he will hate the one and love the other or else he will hold to the one and despise the other he cannot serve God and Mammon Mat. 5.24 c. 3. Take heed of Hypocrisie Who are the persons that God doth denounce his dreadful threatnings against Are they not such as honour him with their Lips when their Hearts is far from him With what Abhorrency doth he look upon such and all that they do Isa 1. They never bring their heart to visit God with and therefore they have little reason to expect that he should bring his Dainties to entertain them with 4. If you would be acquainted with God take heed of being acquainted with wicked company We read that many wicked men have fared the better for the company of the godly but we scarce ever heard that any godly man ever fared the better for being in the company of the wicked except they went on Gods Errand amongst them This is clear in the case of Lot who first lost his goods and was made a Captive by being in Sodom and though they were restored to him again for a while one would have thought that should have been a fair warning how he came again into such company yet because that would not do a while after you may read how dear Lot paid for dwelling in Sodom Poor man he lost all that he had and was fain to fly away without either Flocks or Herds and little more than his cloathes on his back and that which was more sad to leave some of his own dear Relations behind him roasting in those dismal flames Whereas had he never come to Sodom or upon the sight of their wickedness speedily left them it had been much better with him in many respects Jehosaphat fared never the better for joyning in affinity with his wicked Neighbours it had like to have cost him his life But were it only loss of Temporals that a man hazarded by such society the danger were not so considerable but the peril is greater than so for by it they make God stand at a distance they must never look to have such company and Gods company both together I mean when they do unnecessarily or delightfully converse with God If therefore you intend to be acquainted with God you must not have them always in your company whom he hates and which hate him and will labour all they can to cool your affections towards him Wherefore be ye not unequally yoaked with unbelievers For what Fellowship hath Righteousness with unrighteousness And what communion hath light with darkness And what concord hath Christ with Belial Or what part hath he that believeth with an Infidel And what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols For ye are the Temple of the living God as God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them and I will be their God and they shall be my people wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you and I will be a Father unto you and ye shall be my Sons and Daughters saith the Lord Almighty 2 Cor. 6.14 to the end But I would not here be mistaken as if I would commend an ungodly proud separation from all that are not just of our mind or as if a man ought to have nothing at all to do with wicked men no no Every one ought to do what he can in his place for the good of Souls O that Christians would thus converse more with their poor ignorant carnal Christless neighbours O that they would thus be more acquainted with the wicked and then they should have never the less of Gods company but the more but it is an unnecessary delightful associating of our selves with them that I mean especially such of them which will stifle every spiritual discourse and divert you from any thing that tends to the promoting of the interest of Religion and such as have frequently expressed their detestation of the way of Holiness and make but a mock at your serious Counsels stop their ears so who some Advice or make some undecent reflections upon the strict prosession of godliness such as labour to make you believe that all Religion but that which will consist with their wickedness is but a Fansie As for such as those abhor their company fly from them as those that have the plague the marks of death are upon them and you may write Lord have mercy upon us upon their doors but go not in lest you be Infected 5. If you would be acquainted with God take heed of unbelief Unbelief will make your soul depart from God and God quite to depart from your soul This This is one of those dreadful and God-estranging sins which leads on whole Legions against the Almighty This is that bold daring sin which gives Truth it self the lye and saith That the Word of God is false his Promises airy his Threatnings but a Wind But know this O sinner such a wind they be that will rise to a dreadful storm and turn your strong confidence up by the roots and blow them into Hell if you make no more of them than you do 6. If you would be acquainted with God beware of sensuality To be sensual and devillish are near akin To be lovers of pleasures and haters of God are usually concomitants in a word to fare deliciously every day and to be despised of God are no strange things But I wave the further prosecution of these things because they are so largely and