Charity to his dear Brethren that they may cover the Infirmities of their poor weak Brother in Love and not seek to hurt him by that whereby he desires to do others Good Oh that thou wouldest be pleased to put it into their Hearts from the discoveries of thy poor servants Weaknesses to take an occasion to adore the Riches of thy free Grace and to exalt thy Name with Praises for that thou hast been pleased to intrust them with more excellent Abilities for thy service So shall thy servant have cause to glory in his Infirmities when thereby some Glory shall redound to thy Name But as for the Proud who make it their Glory to oppresse the Poor keep thy servant ever in that Resolution to which by thy grace thou hast raised his heart rather to perish by their Power then by any unworthy Compliance to seek his own Preservation or Advantage to thy Dishonour Fill his Heart and the Hearts of all thy faithful servants with a holy Contempt and Scorne of their Favour whose Friendship is flat Enmity with God Make thy servant one of them in whose Eyes a vile Person is contemned how Great or Glorious soever he be in the World's eye but let him ever honour them that feare the LORD Let not thy servant think it strange if he suffer Reproach from them that cast Dishonour upon Thee but rather rejoyce in their Reproaches as the Badges of his Faithfulnesse and weare them as his Crown and Glory Let him not study to please men lest he loose the Honour of being the servant of Christ Oh let thy servant behold Smiles in thy pleased Face and tast the sweetnesse of thy precious Promises and so shall he not fear the Frownes nor regard the Threats of Proud Perfidious and Presumptuous sinners Let him never desire to have them for his Friends who by their horrid Enormities have made God their Enemy Let him never seek to be esteemed by them whose Insolencies proclaime to the world that they contemne God Yet Oh that thou wouldest open their Eyes to see their sins before thou tumble them from their Earthly Glory into Hell Oh that in stead of accounting thy servant their Enemy for telling them the Truth they might see and consider that it is the highest act of Friendship to shew them their Danger before it be too late Oh that it would please thee by thy Spirit to convince them of those sins and fearful abominations which thy servant hath endeavour'd herein to represent as in a Glasse before their faces Oh give them to repent of their wicked Deeds and to humble themselves for their insolent Actings However Lord by thy powerful Providence restrain them in their wayes of wickednesse whose Ambitious and aspiring spirits prompt them to the most Audacious and illegal Actings for the securing of their own Interests and the Establishment of their own Glory and Greatnesse upon the Ruines of the Church and Common-wealth restrain them O Lord lost they pluck down Judgements not onely upon their own heads but also on the too guilty Nation And vouchsafe O God to look down from thy high and holy habitation upon this sinful Land but not with an Eye of Fury and Revenge but with an Eye of Mercy and Love Thou seest what fearful Abominations are committed amongst us Thou knowest what perillous Times are come upon us Thou seest how cruel enemies do rend the body of thy dear sonne the CHURCH which he hath redeemed with his own blood Thou hearest with what hellish Oaths and Blasphemies vile Creatures daily teare thy sacred and glorious Name Oh! If thou wast not infinite in Mercy and Patience thou hadst long ago rain'd down Fire and Brimstone upon our heads or involv'd the whole Land in Confusion and Blood It is of the Lords mercies we are not consumed because his compassions fail not But now O Lord hear O Lord have Mercy O Lord forgive the many and great sins and Provocations of this Land and do not forsake us utterly nor irresistibly destroy us as we have deserved We must needs confesse that we and our Princes have greatly sinned against thee and fearfully provoked the pure Eyes of thy Glory Lord humble us from the highest to the lowest give us a true Repentance for all our sins and Grace to turne to thee our God with our whole hearts and so spare us and heale our Land Oh stirre thy people up to those special Duties which are at this Time in a special manner incumbent on them Let this Warning and Call which thou givest them by the hand of thy servant become through thy Blessing effectual for the Awakening of thy servants out of their Security and the Engaging of them to those Duties whereby thy Wrath and Judgements may be prevented and a wide Door may be opened whereby thy Blessings may flow in abundantly upon us O Good God punish not this Land with a Famine of thy VVord Oh take not thy Gospel Ordinances from us Remove not thy golden Candlestick Oh never let it be said The Glory is departed from England It were better for us to see our streets runne downe with the Blood of the slaine and to behold the Bodies of thy Saints burnt in flames then to live in peace and grow cold in our love to thy Truth till we have utterly lost the Gospel Prayers put up in Flames and Blood might recall it againe when a general sloth and security in sinne may forfeit it for ever But O Lord continue thy Gospel preserve thy People and blesse thine Inheritance in the Land But if for our sinnes thou shalt suffer those stormes to arise whereby thy Church shall suffer Shipwrack Oh let this poor Plank cast out by the hand of thy unworthy servant be a Meanes to save some Soules Oh let this small Light direct some soules in the right Path for their eternal Salvation to the Glory of thy free Grace through the Lord Jesus our onely Mediator and Redeemer Amen FINIS Errata Typographica Some small Mistakes have escap't the Press whereof some few are amended with the Pen. Some few Mispellings Mispointings crave their Pardon of course as Things of such ordinary Incidency in Printing that the greatest Diligence can hardly prevent them Some of the most material Mistakes which offer'd themselves to Notice upon a swift Review are these that follow Errata Correcta Pag. Lin. intended extended 13 29 Premuniti Praemuniti 14 24 overcome overtake 16 20 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 37 19 Vial Viol 48 6 Frevalency Prevalency 54 5 Excess Excess 93 13 he the 93 14 Octavious Octavius 94 16 victus vinctus 97 marg scatter'd shatter'd 150 22 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 141 marg Corne Corke 257 5 thus there 263 11 Diabolos Diabolus 275 1 Name Doctrine 275 5 Baits Balls 287 23 Baldwin de Cas Conse Balduin de Cas Consc 289 marg he was proceeded against he was to be proceeded
a one as so loves himself as that he despises others in comparison of himselfe and seeks his owne Praise in all things Thus do hypocrites under the cloke of Religion seek themselves their own Honour Praise Pompe and the like and this is a sinful self-love 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 igitur sunt isti qui sibi vehementer placent suisque Commodis impensè student †Jodoc Vilich in loc Addo ex Bullingero * In locum aliorum rebus vel neglectis vel afflictis etiam Lovers of themselves therefore are such as extreamly please themselves and mainly study and pursue their own Interests yea not only with the neglect but to the Prejudice of others This is that sinful self-love which as a drop of Poyson extinguishes both Life and Heat banishes both Piety and Charity from the Heart Such men are their own Idols and their own Idolizers They set Self above God they set Self in the Throne and God at the Footstoole This self-Self-love is the Root of all Vitiousnesse It 's here set in the Van of a Troop of Vices Self-denial is the Foundation of all Christian Vertues But self-Self-love is the Groundwork of a Babel of sinne and Vice Vanity and Confusion Self-love occasions the souls losse and so becomes the ground of Self-destruction The second Character 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Qui nummos admirantur Tales sunt qui Religionem in Questum convertant †Aret. in loc 2. Covetous Silver-Lovers as the Word impo t s Such as are over-in-love with Money Such are they that take up Religion for Advantage * 1 Tim. 6.5 supposing that Gain is godlinesse These men are no better then Idolaters and †Mat. 6.24 Mammon is their God Sure we are * Col. 3.5 Covetousnesse is Idolatry And Idolatry cannot be consistent with true Piety Silver-Lovers what ever their pretences be cannot well be Saints The third Character 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Veritati opponitur est ejus Excessus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quaedam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hi praeterea fingunt honestas Causas ubi nullae sunt Tales in Religione perniciosi sunt Ad hos pertinent qui ob Flagitia pulsi Nomine Evangelii exulare se fingunt de Persecutionibus suis ac constantia gloriantur sine Ratione †Aret. in loc 3. Boasters Now Boasting according to the Import of the Word here used is a Vice whereby men speak of them selves and to their own Praise more then the Truth It 's a feigned shew as are the Colours of the Rainbowe without substance a flourishing Ostentation of some Excellency which is not in them These in Matters of Religion are very Pernicious Such are they who coine good Causes for the credit of bad Actions Such are they also who when banisht for their Wickedness pretend they suffer for the Gospel and so without any Cause at all glory of their Persecutions and Constancy in their sufferings They are * Elati Ver. lifted up with a high Conceit of their own Excellencies wherein they †Gloriosi Bez. Syr. glory Such are they Qui plura sibi arrogant quà m revera possident * Keck Ethic Vel Plura promittunt quà m praestare possunt †Ulpianus Who arrogate more to themselves then they do indeed possesse and promise more to others then they can performe The word here used * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the proper Epithete of a Peacock Such have a glorious traine but foule feet Their Lives proclaim their Pollutions while their Lips boast of their Perfections Boasting is ever a signe of Emptynesse Empty vessels give the greatest sound The fourth Character 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 comes est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isti enim se in omnibus quaerunt arrogantes sunt animo elati †Aret. in loc 4. Proud This Pride is the Daughter of Self-love the Sister of Covetousnesse and Mother of Boasting 'T is near akin to the former Vices and the Venome of them runnes in the Veines of this For such men seek themselves in all things arrogate to themselves more then they ought and are lifted up with high conceits of themselves Pride is the Companion of every Vice and the Ring-leader in every Faction Proud Persons gild themselves with an outward glory while they are utterly empty of real worth They spread a great Saile upon an empty Bark They are painted Bubbles shining Meteors gilded Nothings lying Vanities The fifth Character 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Maledici * Bez. Syr. 5. Blasphemers Evil-speakers †Died. Slanderers and Defamers This is a Vice of the Tongue as the former were Vices of the Heart The Tongue is a Conduit-pipe by which the evil of the Heart flows out and this is that which defiles a man * Mat. 15.18 Herewith they blaspheme God and defame men the word here used imports both reviling both Magistrates and Ministers Obtrectantes fidelibus Doctoribus Deum ipsum traducunt †Pareus in loc They are such who not onely defame their faithful Ministers but presume to traduce the Name of God himself Whither will not desperate Atheisme and unbridled Impiety carry men Thus is the Word used in the Scripture as when it s said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Rev. 16.11 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †Jude 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Rom. 3.8 They blasphemed God They spake evil of Dignities As we are slanderously reported The Hebrew word †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 used to blaspheme or curse * Num. 23.13 signifies also to strike or pierce thorough †Hab. 3.14 Blasphemies are impoyson'd Arrows which wicked men shoot at God Almighty's Face slanders are venemous Darts wherewith they transfix the Names of his children The sixth Character 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Qui hominibus suis i. e. iis qui presunt sibi non obtemperant * Syr. Interp Trem. 6. Disobedient to Parents Who are not subject to them that according to Gods order are set over them By Parents according to the Hebrew Idiome †Exod. 20.12 we are to understand all Superiours Rulers Governours whether Domestical Civil or Ecclesiastical There are Natural Spiritual Political Parents The first are properly called Father and Mother the two last are Ministers and Magistrates the word then in the latitude of its signification denotes such persons as being children are refractory towards their Parents such People as are regardlesse of their Pastor such Subjects as are rebellious against their Prince It imports that sin which stands in the Violation of the fifth Commandment Such are the persons here describ'd as cast off the Golden Yoke of Government and break the silken bands of wholesome Laws whether founded in a Natural Moral or Civil Interest The seventh Character 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ingrati * Beza Negantes Beneficium †Syr. Interp Trem.
Jam. 1.27 keep your selves unspotted from the world Thus Noah kept himself cleare from the Corruptions of the old world Lot preserv'd himself pure from the Pollutions of Sodome Daniel was not defiled with the Idolatries of Babylon Thus the Fish retains its Freshnesse in the salt Sea the Rose its sweetnesse amongst the noysome weeds and the Diamond its Brightnesse though it lie in the Dust Gold though melted in the Furnace will not mix with the Drosse Keep your selves pure from sin as you desire God would preserve you as Noah in the Ark safe from Danger in perillous Times If you cannot make the Times better yet see that the times do not make you worse In Times of a common Contagion there 's much danger to e-every particular Person Take heed of Decayes of grace by the encrease of sin in the World When †Mat. 24.12 Iniquity abounds take heed lest your Love to God and goodnesse wax Cold. Though Errours abound be careful you decay not in your love to the Truth You have been forewarn'd of these Evils in the Word of God that you might not be insnared with them when the perillous Times therein foretold are come upon you Let me bespeak your eare and watchfulnesse in this respect in the words of the Apostle * 2 Pet. 3.17 18. Ye therefore Beloved seeing ye know these things before beware lest ye also being led away with the Error of the wicked fall from your own stedfastnesse But grow in Grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to him be glory both now and for ever Amen The second Branch STrengthen not by an active Compliance the hands of Evil Doers These are they which make the Times perillous A quiet submission to the Providence of God wisely ordering all the Changes in the world does well become the Saints It is good for a Saint to take notice of Gods hand in all things and to submit to his Will as well in permitting of Evil as in Depriving of good with silence So David though at the first †Ps 39.1 2 troubled to see the wicked in Power while the righteous was opprest at length exprest his submission by silence * Psal 39.9 I was dumb I opened not my mouth because thou didst it But every Godly man must have a singular care lest by any active compliance he should strengthen the hand of Evil Doers in their irrâ—gular actings This was the sinne wherewith the Lord sharply charg'd Jehoshaphat a good King by the hand of Jehu the Prophet and threatned wrath for it †2 Chr. 19 2 Shouldest thou sayes Jehu to Jehoshaphat help the ungodly and love them that hate the Lord Therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord. And therefore though the Lord of all may permit great changes to be irregularly made both for the manifestation and punishment of the Pride of man yet must not his people yeeld any consent or concurrence to them that irregularly make them This is the wise Counsel of the wisest of men which was dictated to him by the wisdome of God * Prov. 24 21 22. My son fear thou the LORD and the King and meddle not with them that are given to change For their calamity shall rise suddenly and who knoweth the ruine of them both Take heed therefore Christians of contributing to the Rise of Evil Doers lest you fall in their Ruine †Rev. 18.4 Partake not in their sins lest you partake of their Plagues and feele the smart of their Punishments for having tasted the sweetnesse of their Favours * Esay 8.11 12. For to speak to you in the words of the Prophet the Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people saying say ye not A Confederacy to all them to whom this people shall say A Confederacy neither fear ye their Fear nor be afraid Take heed therefore lest by your concurrence with them whose pernicious practices do make these perillous Times you contract to your selves the guilt of their sinnes and contribute to the Evil of the Times Let not the Desire of Gain or Glory nor the Fear of Disgrace or Danger induce you hereunto A man can never be undone by the greatest losse he can sustaine for the keeping a good conscience and preserving an interest in Gods Love and Favour He is Rich and Happy that hath God for his Portion and Heaven for his Inheritance how great soever his sufferings and losses be when he that wants this notwithstanding his greatest worldly Gaine or Glory is Poore and Miserable Account not that Gaine which may hazard the losse of your immortal soul * Mar. 8.36 For what shall it profit a man if he should gain the whole world and loose his own soul Abhor the basenesse of serving your self of the evil of the Times by seeking a private gaine by that which will turn to the publick losse Abhor the basenesse of fearing to adventure a private losse by that which may turn to the Publick gaine Never expect that God should blesse those Riches to you or yours which are rais'd out of the Ruines of the Church or Common-wealth He is no good member of either that hath not learn'd to deny his Private Interests for the Publick Good The third Branch COnsider one another to provoke unto Love and good Works †Heb. 10.24 When a Fire is kindled in a House in a City every one that can should contribute his help to quench it O labour to quench the Flames that are kindled in the Church which is the * 1 Tim. 3.15 House and †Heb. 12.22 City of the living God O stir up one another to the exercise of Brotherly Love and Charity and so help to cement the Breaches that are amongst Brethren in the Family of God 'T is the Policy of your enemies to Divide you to your Ruine 'T is your wisdom joyntly to endeavour after that Union which is your beauty strength and glory Stir up one another also to good works as meanes singularly conducible to the amendment of evil Times There is no season so sharp but the Trees of Righteousnesse should be laden with fruit Good Works are a singular Ornament to the Saints in evil Times Good Works are a Christians Shield and Crown his safety in Danger as they interesse him in the * Psal 41.2 Promise of Preservation and in Disgraces his Crown of glory Now it well becomes Christians to encourage one another to those duties whereby they may most honour God in times of danger and discouragement When the Proud were invested with Power and profane Politicians had exalted themselves they were perillous Times for the People of God yet †Mal. 3.16 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another by way of Counsel Comfort and Encouragement in the wayes of God O labour to do as much good as
you can in a little time For when the Dayes are Evil you know not how little time you may have how few Opportunities of well-doing you may enjoy * Eph. 5.15 16. See then that ye walk circumspectly not as Fooles but as Wise Redeeming the Time because the Daies are evil The fourth Branch LIve in the exercise of your most excellent graces Let the Lustre of them appear in the eyes of the World that so you may diminish the Darknesse of an evil Generation When the Nights are darkest every one should be careful to hang out their Lights When the Sun the Chariot of Light hath carried the Day to another World the Night comes forth deckt with all her Jewels Search your Cabinets put on your Jewels exercise your Graces your Faith Love Patience Humility Zeale Hope Confidence and so labour to preserve a Day of Light and Holinesse in spight of all the encroachments of the darknesse of Sin and Vice Labour to be every whit as Good as others are Evil. Stir up your selves especially to the exercise of those Graces which stand in opposition to the reigning Vices of the Times Study to shew your selves as Active for God as others are for the World as truly Content with your condition as others are Covetous Oppressive Ambitious as Faithful as others are False as Pious as others are Profane as much to excel in Charity Moderation Humility as others exceed in Cruelty Censoriousnesse and Pride It well becomes Saints to be best when the Times are worst So Fire burnes hottest in the coldest weather and Stars shine brightest in the darkest Nights So shall you lift up the Name and Glory of God in the World and your lives shall be illustrious Testimonies for the cause of God against a wicked world Beg Grace of God therefore that in evil and perillous Times you may live to his Glory * Phil. 2.15 That ye may be blamelesse and Harmless the Sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse Nation among whom ye shine as Lights in the World The fifth Branch DAre to appear in your places for the Cause of God against the Evils of the Times Why should not every pious Christian dare to do more for God and the interests of his Glory then any profane Politician dares to do against him Why should you be afraid to appear on the stronger side It is indeed desperate Folly and Madnesse in impotent man to presume upon any action or undertaking which carries in it an apparent or consequential Opposition to an Omnipotent God upon whose Providence he hath a continual dependance insomuch as without some concurrence thereof he cannot move a Hand nor stirre a step Alas This Almighty God can with the least Finger of that glorious Hand by which he governes this All in one moment crush the greatest Armies of the mightiest men upon earth as a †Job 4.19 Moth and crumble them into dust But for the Saints that are guarded with an Omnipotent Arme they may with a holy confidence appear in the Cause of God against the most potent adversaries in the world For greater and stronger is he that is with us then they that are with them For as the good King Hezekiah said to the Captaines of his Army at the approach of the King of Assyria * 2 Chron. 32.7 8. with them is an Arme of Flesh but with us is the LORD our God to help us And †Rom. 8.31 if God be for us who can be against us Fear not then ye sonnes of the mighty ye children of the most high to appear for God and his cause against the impieties and iniquities of evil and perillous times Remember * Rev. 21.8 the fearful are set in the Front of that Troop of Rebels that shall be sent to Hell Know you not that in this case when Gods Cause and Glory suffers He that is not for God is against him Take heed then lest while you fear a lesser danger you fall into a greater 'T is then your greatest wisdome and safety to take the strongest side and that is to appear for God So may you say with David †Ps 118.6 The LORD is on my side I will not fear what man can do unto me And again * Ps 56.11 In God have I put my trust I will not be afraid what man can do unto me †Psal 118 8 9. It is better to trust in the LORD then to put confidence in man It is better to trust in the LORD then to put confidence in Princes Dare to appear for God therefore in your places and to plead his Cause against wicked and unreasonable men with more Courage Resolution and Boldnesse then they have to oppose it Stand up therefore in Dayes of Danger and appear for the Truth and Glory of God that made you for the Honour and Interests of the Lord Jesus Christ that redeem'd you with his own precious blood appear for his Word and Worship his Ordinances and Ministers his Sabbaths and Sacraments his Church and Saints and all the just Rights Dues and Priviledges thereof against a wicked Generation of men that dare openly deny the Truth and profane the Name of God that are not afraid to cast Contempt and Reproach upon his Word and Worship to scoff at his Sabbaths and Sacraments and slight his holy Ordinances to abuse revile and vilifie his Ministers his Ambassadours seeking to pluck their meat from their mouths desiring to imbrue their hands in their blood endeavouring their utter extirpation out of the Church of God that dare to lay sacrilegious hands upon the Rights and Revenues of the Church which she holds by a firmer Title then the greatest Lord in the Land does or can do his inheritance and thereby seek to turne her children out of their Possession that they may enrich themselves as too many have done by the Churches Ruines Now Christians will you be afraid or asham'd to appear in so just a cause against such wretched men such wicked Adversaries as these Shall these come under the Name of Religion and rob you of the thing while you sit still and do nothing Shall the Interests of Christ and Glory of God fall to the ground rather then you will rise up and appear for the maintenance of the one and defence of the other How will you answer it to God at the great day of account O therefore be not afraid to appear for the Cause of God against the Evil of the Times in the Places and Stations wherein God hath set you This will be your Crown of Glory and Cause of Rejoycing at the great Day of the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ And oh that those that are Highest in Place and Power would seriously lay these things to heart and quitting all self-interests inconsistent with the Cause and Interests of the Kingdome of Christ sincerely study and endeavour the advancement of Gods Glory in
am helped therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth and with my song will I praise him Quest But how may I clear my Interest in God Answer By these Evidences 1. Faith in Him 2. Love to Him 3. Conformity to his Wil revealed in his Word Faith unites the soul to God Union is the very Foundation of Interest and so a sufficient Evidence thereof Faith interests the soul in the Covenant of Grace and the †Mar. 16.16 Salvation therein promist Now 't is by vertue of the Covenant of Grace the soul comes to have an Interest in God The discovery therefore of the Grace of Faith is a sufficient Evidence of the souls Covenant-Interest in God Faith unites the soul to Christ Who dwels in the heart by Faith †Eph. 3.17 Now it is in and through Christ that Believers have an Interest in God Hence is the life of a Believer said to be hid with Christ in God * Col. 3.3 He then that is by Faith united to Christ is thereby interessed in God And as Faith is the Band of our Mystical so is Love the Band of our Moral Union with God and so it likewise evidences the souls Interest in Him Our Love to God springs from Gods Love to us For we love Him because he first loved us †Joh. 4.19 Now who are they that have an Interest in God but they that are beloved by him Now it s the Nature of both these Graces Faith and Love to work the soul wherein they are seated to a Conformity to the person upon which they are acted The Eye of Faith beholding the Beauty of Holiness in the Face of God transforms the soul into the same Image So the Apostle speaking of the Glory and Efficacy of the Evangelical Administration thus expresses himself †2 Cor. 3.18 For we all with open Face beholding as in a Glass the Glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. So likewise Love assimilates the person loving to the person beloved When Mettal is melted it bears the figure of the Mould into which it is cast Indeed in God the immutable Pattern of all Perfections Love is of a more transcendent Nature and Efficacy in all its operations God by loving us assimilates us to himself but we by loving God are assimilated to him For this Assimilating motion of Love springs from the Quickering Motive thereof which gives Life Vigour and Activity to Love Now the Motive of our Love to God is in him but the Motive of Gods Love to us is not in us but in himself 'T is a Flower that springs from the Root of free Grace But now this Conformity to God in the Beauty of Holiness being produc'd by the Efficacy of these excellent Graces Faith and Love must needs evidence the souls Interest in God 'T is Grace flowing from God to the soul which raises the soul up to a Conformity to God and his Will revealed in his Holy Word And Communication of Grace speaks the souls Interest in God If the Branch flourish by Virtue of sap derived from the Stock it is certainly ingraffed thereinto Now doth your soul rest upon God in a way of Believing Doth your Heart go out after God in a way of loving Do you express a Conformity to God and his Will revealed in his Word in a way of Holy Living Doth your Faith work by Love Doth your Love produce Likeness Doth this Likeness nourish your Love Doth this Love strengthen your Faith Do yon find your soul to move towards God by Faith and Love and to press after Conformity to God in Holiness of Heart and Life Then have you good and sure Evidences of your Interest in God The second Work ACT all the Powers of your soul upon God Let your Understanding eye him in his glorious Excellencies and All-sufficiency as infinite in Wisdom Power Goodness and Truth Let your Will choose him as the chiefest good and your highest Happiness and rest in him as your only Satisfaction and Security Let your Affections with full tide carry your soul to him as your only Rock and Refuge Let your Love be to him your Desires after him and your Delight in Him above all things in the world Stir up your self also to the lively Exercise of your most excellent Graces whereby your soul may be lifted up above Difficulties and dangers in the world and much advanc't and advantag'd in its nearest Approaches and Approximations to God Set your Faith Hope Trust on work Act your Faith on his Promise your Hope in his Mercy your Trust in his Power So shall you be ever near unto God as a Child under his Fathers Arm a Favorite in his Princes Bosom There is a sort of * Echini Fishes called by Cassiodore for their delicate Temper and curious Colour Croceae Deliciae divitis Maris The Saffron-colour'd Delights of the rich Sea These when a Storm arises gather to themselves little stones the same thing have some observed of the Bees to poise themselves in swimming thorough the boysterous waves as the Bees in flying thorough the blustering Winâ—s and so they make to some Rock as the Bees to their Hâ—ve as their Refuge from the tempestuous Fury of the sea So Believers who are Mundi Divitiae Deliciae Christi The Riches of the World and the Delights of Christ when any Storm or Tempest arises in the Church or State gathering to themselves the Pearls of Gospel-Promises to keep them in an even Poize in Perillous Times that they may not be driven away with every †Eph. 4.14 Wind of Doctrine nor discomposed by every Wave * Luk. 6.48 of Temptation should speedily make to Christ as a Hive of sweetness and a Rock of Strength for their Security and Peace Now this Application to him is made by the Believing souls Acting of Faith upon him in time of Trouble And thus must the Saints act the Powers of their souls upon God if they would be interessed in that Protection which pertains to the Saints by Divine Promise Sanctifie the Lord of Hosts Himself saith the Prophet †Isa 8.13 14 and let him be your Fear and let him be your Dread and he shall be for a Sanctuary Now what is it to sanctifie the Lord in our Hearts as the Apostle expresses it * 1 Pet. 3.15 but to present his glorious Excellencies and Perfections his infinite Power and Greatness before the view of our souls and to stir up our selves to those Actings which carry in them a suitableness and correspondency to such manifestations of God to us And what is this but to act all the powers of our souls upon him as a God who for his greatness is worthy to be feared and adored for his goodness is to be loved and desired for his Wisedome Mercy Power and Truth is to be trusted in and submitted to in all Things Now he
be uncloath'd of this Mortal Body before they can enter into that Region of Light to put on the Robes of Immortal Glory For Induci in Nubes penetrare in plenitudinem Luminis irrumpere claritatis Abyssos lucem habitare inaccessibilem nec temporis est hujus nec corporis * To be taken up into the Clouds to pass into the fulnesse of light to break into the Abysses of Claritude and to dwell in the Light which is inaccessible †Bern. sup Cant. Ser. 38. is neither consistent with this state of Body nor competible to this present Time But why should we not be wiling that God should cast down our * 2 Cor. 5.1 Tabernacle of Clay when we are assur'd he will raise us up a †1 Cor. 15 43 glorious Temple in the roome of it a fit Mansion for an immortal soul ally'd to God array'd with Glory We are indeed incompast with Mercies on Earth but we shall be surrounded with Glories in heaven Mercy speaks a state of Imperfection and Misery but Glory speaks a state of perfect Felicity Ah Christians Your Enemies will pursue you till you are entred into the Sanctuary of God The Avenger of blood will pursue you untill you have taken the City of Refuge Who are these Enemies but your Sins with those Troops of Miseries which they lead up against you to destroy you Who is the Avenger of blood but Satan who seeks the Life of your souls to destroy it Now what is this Sanctuary What is this City of Refuge 'T is Heaven the place of the Saints Rest and Peace Joy and Glory Ah Christians Why are your affections like ravenous Vultures seeking their Prey upon Earth when with the Royal Eaglâ— they should be mounting up to Heaven to seek their Rest in Glory Ah Christians What amiable Objects can you behold upon Earth which make you so loth to be going hence at least to long so little to leave this World that you might live for ever in the Contemplation of the Glorious Beauties of Heaven Surely it grieves your Hearts here to see Christ in his Blood as he is daily * Heb. 6.6 crucifi'd afresh by the sinnes of men but then oh how will it joy your soules to behold the †Is 33.17 King in his Beauty Christ at his Fathers right hand in glory where he shall sit till all his Foes are made his Footstoole * Ps 110.1 Heb. 1.13 Oh me thinks if Christ be indeed the dearly beloved of your souls and infinitely more precious in your esteeme then all these earthly enjoyments you should extreamly long to be dissolved that you may live with him for ever in Heavenly Glory Ah Christians What can you find or expect but Troubles and Miseries on Earth What then should your desires and longings be but to be at †Heb. 4.9 Rest with Christ in Heaven Why does it please the Lord who by his powerful Providence and Government orders all things that come to pass in the World to suffer these stormes and tempests to arise and so sorely shake the * Isa 61.3 Trees of Righteousnesse of his own planting but to loosen their Roots from the Earth and so to prepare them to be transplanted into Paradise It s the Priviledge of the Saints of God that * Rom. 8.28 all things work together for their good And it 's a considerable advantage that the people of God have by perillous Times that thereby they are weaned from the world made willing to be dissolv'd and desirous to leave the Earth to live for ever in Heaven Oh labour Christians to fetch this honey out of the Carkass of the Lion to make this good use of bad Times Let your hearts sit loose to all your earthly Contentments and let your souls daily long more and more to be uncloath'd of your mortal Bodies and to live in immediate communion with Christ in heavenly Glory Oh long and labour to get out of this Wilderness of Thornes and to enter into that Flowry Paradise of everlasting Delights which God hath prepared for his children when this life is ended O long to see an end of these evil Dayes that those glorious Dayes whereof the Pious Father speaks may at length begin which never shall have an end 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †Basil in Psal 33. Now sayes he indeed our Dayes are evil but there are other Dayes that are good Dayes whose light shall never be cut off by darknesse Dayes that shall never be severed by the dark Curtaines of Night For God himself shall be their eternal Light crowning them with the resplendent Raies of his own glory O the difference betwixt our Dayes on Earth and these Days of Heaven Here we have often cloudy stormy Dayes but there 's an everlasting Calm an everlasting Sunshine of Love and Glory These are oftimes days of Trouble and Torment but those above are alwayes Dayes of Triumph and Joy These are Dayes of Sin and Labour of suffering and sorrow but those are all holy Sabbaths of Rest and sacred Festivals of Divine Delights So the same Father stiles them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Delicious Holy Everlasting Sabbaths Dayes of eternal Delight So sayes the Apostle also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Heb. 4.9 There remaineth therefore a Rest an everlasting glorious Sabbatisme for the People of God Oh how should the Saints long and labour to enter into this glorious Râ—st Happy are you Saints if all the Waves of afflictions and rolling Billows upon which you are tost in the troublesome Sea of this World set you daily hourely nearer to the faire Havens of everlasting Happinesse But O then be sure you steer your Course by the sacred Compass of the Word of God Oh be daily preparing your selves by a holy Life for a happy Death if you desire to enter into a glorious eternity In vaine shall you long for Heaven if you still live in sinne which is but to walk in the way that leads to Hell Unlesse the Image of God be renew'd upon your soules in the Beauties of holinesse while you are yet on Earth never shall you see the Face of God in Heaven For †Heb. 12.14 without holinesse no man shall see the Lord. Oh then be daily crucifying your Corruptions exercising your Graces * 2 Cor. 7.1 perfecting holinesse in the Feare of God and so preparing your selves for heaven that you may be †Col. 1.12 meet to be partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light Then may you with comfort look for Christs coming who will receive you up into his Kingdom and Glory True believers are such as * 2 Tim. 4.8 love the appearing of Christ such as may with confidence †2 Pet. 3.12 look for and hasten unto the coming of the Day of God But then consider * 2 Pet. 3.11 What manner of Persons ought you to be in all holy Conversation and